Tol Barad

Tol Barad was an early human kingdom centred on the islands dotting Baradin Bay. The islands were ruled by the House of Baradin who were one of the many Island Dukes that made up the island chains that would eventually make up the Kingdom of Kul Tiras. The kingdom lasted barely a few months before it was reconquered and became no more than a duchy.

History
Formed as one of the many islands colonized by Arathor during the golden age of expansion, Tol Barad was one of the many island chains that would eventually come to be colonized. As with the rest of the islands colonized, referred in unison as the islands of Kul Tiras, Tol Barad was formed with the prospect of being home for the building of naval ships and to explore to find new goods for trade. Under House Baradin, the island prospered for sometime, relying mostly on fishing and trade to survive.

Duke Baradin settled himself and his closest advisers and relatives on the southern most island where he established a lavish keep in the center of the region. Visitors to the island noted that the island chain was very segregated, while the common folk kept to the northern isle, the rich were often found congregating amongst the southern isle.

The Kingdom
After sometime of isolation and Arathor's issues beginning to arise, Duke George Baradin, supported by his people, declared himself King of Tol Barad and separated from the Arathorian Empire. Unwilling to allow this to stand, Lord Proudmoore of Boralus was ordered to quell the uprising in the name of the empire and bring Tol Barad back into the fold. Rallying under Proudmoore's banner, the various island dukes invaded and pillaged Tol Barad, landing at the north most island where ports had been established. Unwilling to allow himself to be captured, King Baradin destroyed the bridge that connected the two islands, leaving his people to the Arathi Kul Tirans that had come to seek their return to the fold. Due to the southern island's focus on lavish wealth rather than practical living, and its lack of ports due to high elevation and no suitable port land, the island began to starve a few months after the northern isle had been occupied. Tales of cannibalism amongst the southern islanders ran rampant after the north isle had been subjugated, and it was only after the soldiers of King Baradin rebelled that Kul Tiras was able to achieve victory.

Having stationed a guard of highly trained archers across the ford that separated the two isles, construction of a new bridge was near impossible. However after about two months of occupation, the archers refused to open fire on the Kul Tiran forces, allowing a new bridge to be made. Once the bridge was constructed, the archers laid down their arms and surrendered and were later absorbed into the Kul Tiran forces that had marched their way onto the island. The formerly lavish and decorated southern isles had fallen into squalor, with manses and homes burnt down to the frames in what appeared to be riots amongst the wealthy. Due to the marshland that dominated part of the island and the over building of lavish estates rather than any farm houses, the southern island had run out of food relatively quickly. With no allies to support him, King George was captured within his own hold, reportedly shouting profanities and wildly kicking as he was taken away til his sentencing. Declaring that his decision to secede from the empire was worthy of capital punishment, Duke George was beheaded on the island of Crestfall and his son, Henry Baradin, was elevated to the position of Duke.

Aftermath
Following the invasion of the other Kul Tiras islands, the Kingdom was dissolved and a heavy garrison of Arathi troops was stationed in it's place. Fearing the other islands of Kul Tiras might eventually rebel, the Emperor ordered the construction of a large stronghold where Lord Baradin's home once stood on the southern island. Baradin's Hold and the outlying areas became the home for the garrison that made up the forces on the island as well as the island dukes of Baradin; leaving the island in relative disrepair for quite some time following the war.

Ironically enough, the lords of Kul Tiras rallied under the banner of the House of Proudmoore later on sometime following the War of Aderic. Of the many islands that made up the Kul Tiran chains, Tol Barad was the only one to remain loyal to Strom, and remained in it's hands for hundreds of years.

Second War
During the Second War, the Orcish fleet invaded the many islands of Kul Tiras, including Tol Barad. Tol Barad put up a fairly strong resistance but was ultimately conquered by the Orcs after Stromgarde pulled its armies back to prepare for the land invasion. Seeking asylum after his island's conquering, Duke Reginald Baradin II fled to Boralus, which had remained strong after several of the islands had fell under King Daelin Proudmoore. Following the defeat of the Orcish Horde, Tol Barad was annexed by Kul Tiras with little complaint from Stromgarde and Duke Baradin formed the Baradin's Wardens to watch over the new prison established on the islands.

Hellscream's Assault
Tol Barad remained relatively untouched for years following the Second War, only seeing an influx of refugees following the fall of Lordaeron. It was not until the new warchief Garrosh Hellscream launched a naval invasion on the island that the denizens of Tol Barad faced huge tolls. Areas such as Farson's Hold, Wellson's Shipyard, Largo's Overlook, Rustberg Village and most importantly Baradin's Hold were all lost within a matter of weeks from the severe onslaught. Without any hope of survival otherwise, the Baradin Wardens reached out to the Alliance for aid.

Throughout the battles of the Shattering, Tol Barad was a constant warfield that shifted back and forth nearly every day; though decisive victories were scored for the Horde near the discovery of Pandaria.

Currently
Tol Barad is still a warzone, but the war against Hellscream has caused the battles to have died down in the region as a result. However, the Baradin Wardens still hold a large holdout and occasionally are able to retake parts of the island in the name of the Alliance. With Hellscream's dethroning as Warchief, it is unknown if the Horde will continue assaults upon the island.