Major Houses
“Honor
and Fire!”
Though one of the smallest families, their rich
history is alive in the tapestry of Titania.
Benarius, founder the family, held that his house would rule over Westra
by divine right, a decree that none questioned until recent times. Though powerful and proud, their enemies
multiply daily; it will only be a matter of time before open rebellion across
the kingdom will begin. Their banner is
a white dragon serpent wrapped around a silver lance.
Lord
Daniel Dragonfell
Lord of House
Dragonfell
First-born son
of Eric and Lucia Dragonfell
King of Westra, and
Lord of Lords. He is a wise, humble,
and good king. His training, under the
guidance of Avatnor, brought him to the Southrun lands where the priests of
Delano raised him on the path of a Savior Knight, a rare paladin who upholds
his powers, not through divine influence, but through justice and honor. His reign has been a peaceful one, albeit an
ominous one as well. With the kingdom
swiftly coming under debt and dark rumors of strange creatures in the east, the
populace at large grows restless. There
is even whispering among the nobles that several families believe that the time
has come for King Daniel to step down and a new, more potent leader to take his
place. Recently, Daniel Dragonfell was
poisoned—a sickness that even Avatnor could not remedy. His time running out, Daniel must save the land
from a destructive rebellion before it is too late. The only problem is… who
should be the next king?
Princess
Celia Dragonfell
First-born
daughter of Daniel and Celia Dragonfell
Named after her
mother, who died during her birthing, Celia is a strong willed child for her
age of six years who does not understand the importance of her position as the
last Dragonfell, for the one to marry her is the one who will have legal rights
to the throne.
The Lord Baron
First-born son
of Eric Dragonfell and Jennifer Tellman
Lord Stephan, younger
half-brother to King Daniel and a bastard, the product of a brief affair with
Jennifer Tellman, a young maiden of a minor family, while Eric Dragonfell was
putting down a rebellion in the north.
His mother died not long after she brought him to the court of
Dragonfell to present him to his father when he was three; some say that she
was assassinated. In his adult years,
he has become the Pontiff of the Lord of Light and head of the Council of
Justice; he is said to be cold, ruthless, and calculating—dealing justice with
an even hand. Many families fear him,
for his power and influence rivals that of King Daniel himself. The Lord Baron eyes the Throne of Dragons,
it is known, and knows that the only two people in his way are King Daniel and
young Celia. It is said that he holds
sway over several of the major houses, perhaps even their allegiance. It is no secret that one day, with the help
of his secret supporters, he may rise up and usurp the throne over Westra. King Daniel is aware of his brother’s
treacherous intentions and seeks for some legal recourse to stop his dastardly
ambitions.
“We
are the strength of stone!”
The Stonewall family
is a strong and honorable family. One
of the eldest families in all of Westra, they can trace their lineage all the
way to the time of the Exiled. Builders
of Stonewall Keep, the greatest keep in all of Westra and from which they have
taken name, they stand as a symbol of freedom and peace. It has been said that the word of a
Stonewall is worth more than gold.
Their banner is a grey fortress.
Lord Grey Stonewall
Lord of House Stonewall
First son of William and Erin Stonewall
Lord
Stonewall is a man of integrity and honor; yet, he is also a harsh man who does
not tolerate deviancies from the letter of the law. He is loyal to House Dragonfell and to King Daniel himself having
fought with him in a campaign against the ogre clans near Northrun. Daniel does enjoy his loyalty, but knows
that should the Lord Baron take the Throne of Dragons through legal means, Lord
Stonewall would not be easily swayed to resist. Lord Stonewall himself represents house Stonewall at the court of
Dragonfell and handles all affairs of house from there.
First-born son of Grey and Valera
Stonewall
An honorable man and a childhood friend
to Daniel Dragonfell, Brandon Stonewall is first in line to take up the
Lordship of House Stonewall, something that his father reminds him of
constantly. To train him for the day
when he must take up the mantleship of Lord Stonewall, Grey Stonewall sent him
to Southrun at the Temples of Delano.
There, Brandon Stonewall was raised on the path of a paladin. It was also here that Brandon become friends
with young Daniel Dragonfell.
Illian
had an unfortunate childhood where he was afflicted by a sickness that nearly
killed him. Desperate to save their
son, Lord and Lady Stonewall sent their child to the nearby Temple of Light,
temple of the Lord of Light and ran by House Talbert, in the city of
Calcoon. There, under the care of the
priests, Illian made a miraculous recovery.
Overjoyed, the Stonewall family owes the life of their son to House
Talbert; as part of their debt to them, the Stonewall family allowed Illian to
be taken into their care and raised in the fashion of the Lord of Light, which
Illian was only too pleased to do. In
his older years, it is plain that Illian’s mannerisms are far more Talbert-like;
he possesses extreme loyalty to House Talbert, a loyalty which may even surpass
his loyalty to House Stonewall. It is
also whispered that he has taken Sendra Talbert, his guardian sister, as a
lover. These, and other rumors, have
greatly disturbed Grey Stonewall and has caused quite a bit of friction between
the two Great Houses.
A
knight of renown with a keen tactical mind.
He holds great popularity with the common folk through his championing
of many tourneys.
Ser Gaston
A popular knight amongst the commoners, Ser Gaston bases most of his popularity on his winning of many tourneys. A loyal follower of House Stonewall, he is one of Lord Stonewall’s most influential knights.
“Strength
through steel!”
House Algoth is known for its cunning, its
charm, and its wealth. Known among the
other Great Houses as “the House of Cards”; they show a great many faces to the
world, but little know their true intentions.
Though now one of the more powerful houses in Westra, they only very
recently came to power fifty years ago after silver and iron was founded in
their holdings; their economic prominence quickly shot them up the ladder of
power and prestige and now they are second in influence only to House
Dragonfell. Their army, though small,
is well equipped, for even their lowliest footman sport half-plates and
shields. Their technological and
industrial leadership makes their house a marvel indeed. Their banner is a hammer striking an anvil.
Lady
Shana Algoth
Lady
of House Algoth
Third-born
daughter of Thelgar and Amy Fallosworth
Lady Shana Algoth is
currently head of house Algoth after the untimely death of her husband when he joined
King Daniel in his campaign against the ogre clans. She is yet very young, only 17 years of age, but she has taken up
the leadership of House Algoth with the skill of guile of a noble twice her
age. Many people believe her to be
“unbecoming” to take such a great undertaking at her age, especially
considering the economic importance of House Algoth, and she has been pressured
by many families to take a husband. As
of now, she remains quite adamant about retaining her leadership and says that
she will “find a suitor when she is done with her grieving”. Her cousin, Lady Allister, serves as advisor
until she is marred once again.
Maiden Sarah
Allister
Third-born
daughter of Kevin and Gwain Allister
Sarah is daughter to the
late Lady Allister and cousin to Lady Algoth.
Lady Algoth and Maiden Sarah were very close as children and have come
to see each other as sisters. Shy, but
intelligent and observant, she serves as representative of House Algoth at the
court of Dragonfell.
“Take
to the winds!”
House Riverman is another Great House that
makes its influence felt through the might of its wealth. One of the families who helped the
Dragonfells against the Dragonlords, they have since become wealthy through their
virtual monopoly on ships that travel on the river Wyvern and the river Sarith,
the two major rivers that span the length and breadth of Westra. From the city of Trident, where the river
Wyvern feeds into the river Sarith, House Riverman sports a huge merchant
community and mediates the trade for Westra as a whole; it is said that they
are the life-blood of the kingdom.
Though they have enjoyed great popularity and esteem in the past for
this great charge, the recent failing economy of Westra has made them the
target of blame by many houses and commoners alike. Their banner is a white diamond in a blue river. (It was legend that the first mother of
house Riverman was a mermaid born out of a diamond.)
Lord
Jandert Riverman
Lord
of House Riverman
Second-born
son of Robert and Elisia Riverman
Lord Jandert is a
reserved and paranoid leader. Recent
unpopularity of House Riverman has caused him to be very mistrustful of late.
Aegin Riverman
Second-born
son of Jandert and Elisia Riverman
Aegin is very much
different than Lord Jandart; pleasant, eager to learn, and very fond of
people. Yet, he also shares the fear of
his family at large, for he knows that many blame House Riverman, as well as
House Dragonfell, for the current economic downfall of Westra; this fear makes
him very cautious of those he would call friend. Aegin represents house Riverman at the Court of Dragonfell.
“Ours
is the wrath of heaven!”
House Darius draws
their lineage from a time even before the Exiled came into Westra. Indeed, their unusual names and traditions
have made them a reputation of being descended from elves (though, of course,
that is only a legend). Nevertheless,
they are a house built on pride and righteousness, with an unusual time-honored
(and very secret) fighting style—elegant to watch, and dizzying to behold. Since they are very cautious about who they
have marry into their house, they are a very small house (in fact, the
smallest of the Great Houses). However,
their knowledge of the past is very much valued in Westra and to Dragonfell in
particular, and House Darious is renowned for its fine artists and
musicians. Not only is House Darius a
leader in the arts, but also in construction and education, making their strongholds
and towns popular centers of learning.
If House Riverman is the life-blood of Westra, the high culture of House
Darius makes it the soul of Westra.
Their banner is the curved white blade on a tree.
Lord Arathoras Darius
Lord of House Darius
First-born son of Valeaus and Mary
Darius
An old and wizened man of ninety, Lord
Darius still has much life in him—he even participated in the campaign against
the ogre clans with King Daniel four years ago before he finally laid down his
sword. Lord Darius remains a steadfast
supporter of House Dragonfell and King Daniel’s claim to the throne. He has since taken to staying at his castle
Chalandra near the Great Forest. It is
said that Avatnor often visits him.
Valeaus
is a quiet one, and deeply troubled…
for reasons that can only be guessed at. Whenever he is not at court, he stays locked in his study or
talks with Avatnor. Valeaus represents
House Darius at the Court of Dragonfell.
“Death
brings life.”
House Shadowbane is a mysterious house steeped in superstition. They are a House who’s ancestors have championed against the forces of darkness since the Age of Dreams; yet, through this deep connection with the darkness, their history is fraught with many unfortunate and black tales and several families believe them to be truly cursed. Yet, through fear or reverence, most of the nobles agree that House Shadowbane is, indeed, a powerful house whose members are not to be trifled with. Their deep superstition has driven many of its members to mysticism and, some whisper, the black arts. As such, it would not be uncommon to find a Shadowbane walking the path of a gypsy or a monk. Their predictions and premonitions are unusually accurate, even if they are cryptic in nature. Despite these powers of foresight, House Shadowbane is generally mistrusted and most of the houses distance themselves from its members. However, House Shadowbane is deeply proud of its heritage and its family members are extremely close and loyal to each other. It is rumored that they worship a god other than the traditional Old Gods or the Lord of Light; if they do, then their practices are well guarded for no one has ever confirmed it. Their banner is the black demon stabbed through the heart with a red blade.
Lord
Trevor Shadowbane
Lord of
House Shadowbane
Second-born
son of Gareth and Ivanessa Shadowbane
Lord Shadowbane, well suited to the fearful image of House Shadowbane, is a frightening man, well muscled and an Arms Master in his own right. Trevor has called his banners several times in his forty years of rulership to conduct Crusades demanded by the precepts of his family; once, his army was away from Westra for an entire decade before they returned (a journey of which he never speaks of). Regarding matters of state, he is quiet but bears a matter-of-factly and no-nonsense attitude whenever he speaks. He is mistrusted among the nobles simply because he is unpredictable and powerful—a lion which no one wishes to wake.
Ser Mica Shadowbane
Second-born son to Trevor and Dana Shadowbane
A superstitious knight of renown. Though he has not won any tourneys, it is said that he has journeyed far to the lands in the east and has picked up some of the outlandish customs of Eastra. At present, he is on such an outing; since he is the representative of House Shadowbane at Dragonfell, his absence means that House Shadowbane has no presence at court.
“Pride
in honor.”
House Allister was
founded by Ser Guy Allister before he became the First of the Dragon Guard to
Benarius Dragonfell and help to slay Ghashanamu, the mightiest dragon in
Titania. They are the poorest of the
Great Houses, and it is only through their fierce loyalty to House Dragonfell
that they still retain their status as one of the greater families of
Westra. Following in the footsteps of
their founder, many members of House Allister join the Dragon Guard to protect
the King—unfortunately for their house, this tradition has stifled House
Allister’s growth since the Dragon Guard can hold no land or wealth; yet they
continued this tradition for centuries and have produced some of the most
famous knights in the history of Westra.
In fact, one of their women, Maiden Raeya Fay Allister, petitioned
herself for knighthood in the Dragon Guard and was accepted; however, she died
protecting the king before she could be knighted. Her sorrowful tale is a classic one of love and pride, and it is
a favorite one among the bards of Titania.
The banner of House Allister is the silver dragon protecting a crown of
gold.
Lord Kevin Allister
Lord of House Allister
Second-born son of Kevin and Ana
Allister
Lord
Allister is a kindly and wise old man who, in his youth, trained to become one
of the Dragon Guard before his elders brother’s untimely death by a sweeping
epidemic. Changing life styles from a
knight-in-training to the Lord of a major house barely retaining their
influence and status was a harsh lesson that took many years for Kevin to
learn. His life is a long one of betrayal,
unrequited love, and other hopelessly romantic themes—the result of which has
tempered Kevin into a bright and outstanding noble during the latter part of
his life. He did not marry until he was
fifty, and fathered three children before a tragic riding accident took his
mind. His wife Gwain, it is said, died
in grief a few days later, only a scant seven months after the birth of Sarah,
their second daughter. Now little more
than a mumbling old man who rambles incoherently, the great Kevin Allister
spends most of his days in Castle Galmore under the care of Maester Johan,
slowly wasting away. Though Sarah is
often kept busy with matters of court for House Algoth, she visits Lord
Allister as often as she can.
Lady
of House Allister
First-born
daughter of Kevin and Gwain Allister
Pronounced the Lady Allister by King Daniel after the death of her mother, Tamriel is a strong minded person and an absolute master at the game of power; she is deeply troubled by the slipping influence of House Allister. She has become obsessive with restoring their honor and glory and goes through great lengths and pains to assure their rise to power. Currently, she resides in Castle Ironheld with Lady Algoth, where she advises her cousin on matters of state and, it is said, to solidify their alliance with House Algoth.
Balmore Allister
Second-born son of Kevin and Gwain Allister
Balmore Allister, though not a knight by training, is famed to be extremely skilled with the blade and bow for he has won many tourneys and has even won the title of Knight of the Realm (after a close battle with Ser Gaston, the Bear). Though not lord in title, Balmore oversees the activities of House Allister. Balmore represents House Allister at the court of Dragonfell where he keeps a watchful eye over Sarah.
Oarman
“Feel
the crash of the sea!”
House Oarman actually started as a pirate clan many centuries ago… their loyalty to House Dragonfell eventually landed their family House titles and many holdings. Called Saltmen, Men of Salt, (or the more derogatory Salties), the House Oarman are a proud and fierce house, built on individual freedom, free trade, and self reliance. They take great strides at court to make their opinions heard and felt (literally with their fists sometimes), and finding an Oarman vocalizing loudly in a town square has become commonplace. The nobles, for the most part, detest House Oarman and their lot, for House Oarman only has a “loose nobility” among their own sphere of influence, preferring to see each other as “brother” or “sister”, even amongst the commoners. They intermingle freely with their smallfolk, often even marrying them into their family (“polluting” the line as Lady Allister would say). Descended from a line of western ebony sailors, they make their livelihood on the sea; in fact, they are the only family without a castle stronghold for their House Seat. Instead, they have made their flagship Resolution their family’s station, and they sport the largest fleet of ocean-going ships in the kingdom. Their outrageous attitude and defiance of time-honored traditions has caused them to meet anything from ridicule, resentment, anger, and curiosity amongst the other Houses of Westra. Their banner is the broken skull against a triangular sail.
Lord Elias Oarman
Lord of House Oarman
Fourth-born son of Icard and Vahalla
Oarman
Unlike
most of the other houses, House Oarman takes prestige in sailing the oceans and
exploring new worlds, not in claiming titles.
As such, the other children of Icard and Vahalla are, in fact, sailing
the oceans in faraway lands. Elias took
up the title of Lord Oarman simply because no one else wanted it; it suits him
fine, however, for he is the most vocal of the Oarmans about matters of
state. He spends most of his time near
the Small Towns, a collection of river townships located where the river Sarith
splits into over a hundred rivers before emptying into the Ocean Aydanus,
mingling with his commoners and trying to make his lands more progressive.
Gandor
Fourth-born son of Elias Oarman and
Misty
Gandor
is the second son of Elias Oarman and Misty who had been born out of
wedlock. Yet, he is the only Oarman of
high station who takes great interest in matters of court. Unlike most of his family, Gandor is in
favor of the current system of nobility and he currently seeks to make
knighthood, along with the lands and influence that knighthood gives. The grave difference in philosophy has
created a deep chasm in his relationship with his father, but Lord Oarman
rightly believes his son to be an honorable and intelligent lad who can be
entrusted with the voice of House Oarman at Dragonfell. Despite his relatively conservative views
with House Oarman, most of the other nobles shun Gandor because of his bastard
status, an image which Gandor desperately tries to shake free of.
“We
are the light of the Lord!”
House Talbert started as a poor but influential religious family for the Lord of Light, eventually attaining the necessary wealth and power to win status as a Great House in recent years. Their extraordinary hold over the general populace gives them great leverage in matters of state, and all the houses, sometimes even House Dragonfell, must concede to decisions of House Talbert, lest they loose the faith of the people. Since House Talbert makes its power felt through its religious might, they go through great pains to alleviate the influence of the Old Ways; though they do not outright deny the powers of Draenor and Imperia (and possibly start an all-out religious war), the priests of House Talbert are obligated to belittle the faith in the Old Gods if they wish to extend Talbert’s sway over Westra; their sermons usually plant the seeds of doubt in the Old Ways and reinforce faith in the miracles begotten from the New Faith. Their extremist views on matters of divinity puts them in direct opposition with House Darius, the strongest supporters of the Old Ways. Since House Talbert now owns most of the temples to the Lord of Light, they are one of few Houses who are quickly growing in wealth, even in times of economic crisis. The banner of House Talbert is the sun and stars.
Lord
Gerold Talbert
Lord of House Talbert
First-born son of Elijah and Mary Talbert
Second
only to the Lord Baron in power over Ministry of Light, Lord Pious Talbert is
known as a man of mercy and wisdom.
Yet, it is also clear that he seeks power and influence as well—over the
past decade, Lord Talbert has increased the power and influence of his House,
and his station in particular, two fold.
He works very closely with the Lord Baron to amass the political
strength that he desires.
A
popular priest in Dragonfell, Simon is a rising star in the ranks of the
Ministry. Learned in matters of
politics, he is a great manipulator of the words of law and possesses the
charisma to get away with it.
Intelligent and outspoken in court, Simon has a great amount of
influence over the decisions of Dragonfell.
Simon currently represents House Talbert in the court of Dragonfell.
“Only
the strong survive.”
Both feared and revered throughout the history of Westra, House Conrath represents the culmination of centuries of military tradition and power. Before the days of Dragonfell, before even the days of the Dragonlord, it was their house that ruled over Westra after they conquered both the Exiled and the Wanderers. Born from the days when the sword and spear was the final word, the ancestors of House Conrath bred their children to be warriors nearly from the day of their birth; this tradition endured even to this day where the children of House Conrath, including the women, are taught to use the blade and the spear to near perfection and arts of warfare are to be drilled daily after their Nameday. During the days of the Dragonlord, the might of Conrath was split in two as they sought to flee the Dreadlegions; not trusting to the haunted wood of the Great Forest, what was left of Conrath fled either north past the Spine of Draenor or south beyond the Shadow’s Wake (near the plains overlooked by the ancient tower, Sia Astrana). In time, Benarius traveled all over Titania, summoning the last of the freefolk to fight for Westra and both Conraths answered the call under Benarius’s banner. After the success of Benarius, House Conrath was united once again and swore an oath of allegiance to House Dragonfell; what followed, however, were bitter feuds within House Conrath about the leadership of their house; who should lead, the north or the south Conraths? Eventually, the northerners overpowered the southerners in an internal civil war; the southern folk were thusly separated and broken up into minor houses, sworn to follow the Lord of northern Conrath. Bitterness over this feud remains even to this day. Since House Conrath honors a strong tradition of military strength, they boast the largest army in all of Westra (more than all of the other houses combined, in fact), which gives them incredible influence at court. Their banner is the lion, the sword, and the spear crossed into one.
Lord Dante Conrath
Lord of House Conrath
Second-born son of Bolgar and Estelle
Conrath
Since
the eldest son of Bolgar was lost to plague at an early age, Dante was told early
on that he was to lead House Conrath, the most powerful military family in
Titania. Dante was a sickly, thin
child, whom many did not believe would survive the string of harsh winters that
swept through Westra. Yet, through
miraculous determination and iron will, Dante survived his ordeals and fought
his way to become one of the greatest swordsmen who has ever lived. His life is one of constant struggle with
his decaying body and his undying responsibilities as House leader, for the
plague still yet affects him. Living
his life through these torments has made him into a hard man who drives his
children as hard as he drives himself.
Though an effective and charismatic leader, he is also feared—he is a
man who’s wrath knows no bounds.
Currently, he rides his lands, trying to keep House Conrath together and
rooting out would-be traitors to his House.
Lady Beatrice Conrath
Lady of House Conrath
First-born daughter to Thelgar and Amy
Fallosworth
Beatrice
is a kind and gentle person, somewhat the opposite of Lord Conrath. Yet, she truly loves her husband, as he does
her, and their bond remains true to this day when they’ll need the strength to
keep House Conrath together. In recent
days, she has fallen ill and spends most of her time at Castle Wyvern, House
Seat of House Conrath.
Ser Valnor Conrath
First-born son of Dante and
Beatrice Conrath
Well liked, loud and boisterous, Ser Valnor isn’t exactly the model lord that Lord Conrath was hoping to raise. Nevertheless, Valnor is dependable, intelligent, and loyal to House Conrath and the crown. His skill with the blade is well known among the nobles and commoners alike, for he often participates in the tourneys. He is also one of the few people in his family who has taken a liking to Jaden, the “ugly duckling” of the family.
Jaden Conrath
Third-born son of Dante and Beatrice Conrath
Jaden,
while both disciplined and dutiful, has little else but blood in common with
the rest of his family. He is not
physically strong, nor does Jaden possess any interest military tactics. And his skill with a blade is deplorable (at
least by Conrath standards). Jaden is
shunned by his father, much of his immediate family, and is largely unpopular
within his House from which he is shown repsect only grudgingly. As a young boy, his closest friend was his
cousin Sarah Allister- he hasn't seen her for the last eight years, since her
tenure began as a ward to House Algoth.
Soon after Sarah's departure, Jaden's life took a strange turn, marked
by the arrival of an unusual pup.
Morte, having grown immensely large for a hound, can always be found at
Jaden's side and is whispered among the smallfolk to be not of this world. With the guidance of Avatnor, he has learned
to deal with both a dark secret, and his unfortunate relationship with his
family.
Piccarda Conrath
Fourth-born daughter of Dante and Beatrice Conrath
Piccarda has taken her training in the military to almost unprecedented heights for women in the family of Conrath; a born leader and a cunning warrior, she has been named General of the Armies of House Conrath. With nearly unparalleled skill with the blade and a dangerous, albeit simple, tactical sense, she is greatly favored by Dante.
Child of Avaria
Sixth-born daughter of Dante and Beatrice Conrath
Called Child of Avaria since her Nameday is yet to come, little Conrath is only six months old. Though her role in the future is unclear, she appears to have started a sort of bond with Jaden.
Eric
Dey’ La Conrath
First-born
son of Edward and Margaret Dey’ La Conrath
Eric is a descendent of the southern Conrath Lords (Dey’ La Conrath is a minor house who have retained their name in the Old Tongue). Popular among the common folk under the lands ruled by House Conrath, none of the nobility truly know what to make of this black horse.
“Tremble
before Nature’s fury.”
In the times of Benarius, House Berristan was little more than a loose collection hunters and rangers. When Benarius summoned the might of Westra, these brave men and women united under one banner and served Benarius as his eyes and ears in the wood. It is said that the so-called leader of Berristan was a druid, though this is a rumor that cannot be confirmed. Now, centuries later, they are quite different after settling in with civilization; however, they still retain a strong sense of bond with nature and are very environmentally conscious of all their actions. They are deeply loyal to Dragonfell, and have a long history of protecting the family Dragonfell in particular. Their banner is the oak against the sun.
Lord
Wren Berristan
Lord of House
Berristan
First-born
son of Isis and Sariana Berristan
A born woodsman, Wren spends most of his time on expeditions about the southlunds. A staunch supporter of King Daniel, they have been friends for many years. Lord Wren lost his right arm during the Ogre campaigns four years ago.
Ser Fenrick Berristan
Second-born son of Wren and Accolania
Berristan
More enchanted with tourneys and women than the woods, Fenrick is a jovial, if immature, individual. Yet, under his accommodating personality lies a calculating, shrewd noble who knows the game of politics very well.
“The
light of justice is ours.”
House Fallosworth
makes their power felt through the justice system in Westra. Seeing themselves as the enlightened family
of justice, they have very strong convictions in the system of laws and the
preservation of peace. Also important
to their family is the pursuit of knowledge and scientific endeavors—their
family, in fact, heads the only University in all of Westra, located in the
Rising Glades. A somewhat unusual trait
that runs in their family is the fact that most of their members are women
(about seven women to every man, in fact).
It has been jested that they are descended of nymphs and fairies. Indeed, their women are graceful,
intelligent, and beautiful; their daughters are thought of as valuable prizes
throughout the kingdom. Also, their
family is unusual in that their Lords and nobles oft take multiple wives, as is
their custom. Their banner is the red
rose against the black.
“Once
for honor, once for family, once for life.”
House Abith is one of
a few major houses who has been a major house since Benarius held the
crown. Boasting a tradition of honor
and duty, it is a matter of pride for House Abith to serve the realm to the
best of its abilities. When the king
calls the banners, they answer; when the people need food, they feed them; when
the realm is in peril, they prevail.
House Abith has been, and remains today, one of the most popular Houses
in the realm--especially amongst the commoners. In recent times, plagues and deficits have severely hurt the
power of House Abith and it struggles to survive the current crises of unrest
throughout the kingdom. Currently,
House Abith is the primary provider of food for the rest of Westra, but harvest
has been poor for the last half decade—while even members of House Abith are
strapped for food, this means that the rest of the kingdom is currently
suffering from starvation on an unprecedented level.
Lord Charles Abith
Lord
of House Abith
First-born son of Miles and Celeste
Abith
Normally
a good-hearted and kindly man, the stress of recent losses have weighed heavily
upon the noble lord and has hardened his spirit. The loss of his lady wife to plague, the death of his son in the
Ogre Campaigns, and lack of good harvests during the last decade have strained
Lord Charles to the point of despair.
Though a loyal subject to King Daniel, a part of him blames him for the
loss of his son. Feeling powerless,
with an entire country of starving peasants, desperation now dogs every
decision that the House Lord makes.
Minor Houses
Tellman
“Remember today what
will be forgotten tomorrow.”
Tellman House lies in
the upper north reaches of Westra. They are minor nobility, but it is not
their political power that is important- it is their life work. For the
Tellmans are historians, and geneologists. They chronicle the story of
Westra, trace the bloodlines and observe with a keen eye the tapestry of power
that flows throughout the kingdom as blood flows through veins. Tellman
house is powerless politically. They are not wealthy- they have a simple house
and a few servants. They are nigh invisible to the remaining nobles, but
they see everything. They follow the course of power with an observant
eye, and sometimes, just a little bit, nudge events into place. With all
due discretion, of course. Their banner
is the gold scroll unfurled against the black.
Lord
Horace Tellman
A
historian
Lady
Margaret Tellman
Wife
to Lord Horace
Maiden
Jennifer Tellman (deceased)
The
daughter of Horace and Margaret, Jennifer gave herself to King Eric Dragonfell,
producing the Lord Baron Stephan. She died under mysterious circumstances when
she presented her three year old son at court.
Ser
Walter Tellman
Walter
left his training as a geneologist in order to become a knight of the realm.
Lady
Juliette Tellman
The
Lady wife of Walter and a former lady-in-waiting at court, Juliette taught her
daughter the nine ways to identify a lie, the techniques of subtle observation,
and the art of a well placed dagger.
Maid
Beatrice Tellman
Daughter of Walter and Juliette, young cousin to
the Lord Baron, and grandchild of Horace and Margaret. On the surface,
Maid Beatrice is a mousy bookworm, entirely unprepossessing. Beneath her dowdy
exterior though, Beatrice is calculating, shrewd and unexpectedly
educated in the ways of court politics. Beatrice uses her invisibility in the
eyes of the nobles to play a behind the scenes dance of cat and mouse doing
privately what Jaden and Eric dare not do publicly. And if a noble drops
dead of poisoning here, or a lady dies of suffocation there, what business of
Beatrice's is it?
Cranhold
"Impenetrable."
Minor House of House Dragonfell
Located west of the Pass of Elindor where the mountains turn south, Cranhold
holds more land than most minor houses. Trouble is, it's mostly inhabitable,
and merchants rarely wish to make their way up the steep and winding pass that
constitutes the only way to the Last Vale and Bane Fort. A small gate house
with a broken tower guards the way into the vale. Usually inhabited by one or
two bribable guards. The Last Vale is small hidden oasis of green in an immense
rocky waste of mountain land. It boasts of one small village called Buckler
populated primarily of sheep and oxen herders. A few miners risk life and limb
daily for the chance to find precious metals, gems or even a dragon scale live
in Buckler. Also, folks who'd prefer that the rest of Westra was clueless to
their whereabouts find Buckler to be a reasonable sanctuary.
Bane Fort is a fortress the size of Castle Dragonfell with an immense stone
wall blocking the pass beyond. The other outer walls are considerable smaller.
Much of Fort Bane is in a rotted ruin and is deserted. The Lord, his family and
their servents reside in what used to be the royal apartments in the days when
kings still cared to visit the boundaries of Westra.
Benarius gifted Bane Fort and the lordship to the Dragonknight Wovin who commanded
the pass in a brutal onslaught once upon a time. Their sigil is the White Shield cracked in a zigzag at its top
center on Red Field
Lord Devin
Old beyond his years. He squired for King Daniel's Grandfather. He has seen 3
kings in his lifetime and has low expectations for the 4th. He'll support
whoever sits on the throne however. He is guarded about his political
allegience preffering to stay out of the way. His aim during his lordship was
to father as many heirs as possible as he was the last in his line. His health
is declining but his mind remains alert. A Deep grief currently weekening him
and he sees almost no one.
Lady Cavara
Deceased
Died giving birth to Kavin. She was Lord Trevor Shadowbane's aunt.
Baron Tevin III
Deceased.
Died with his wife and teenage son coming up the pass to return to the Vale
after visiting Dragonfell (2 years ago).
1st Son
Ser Sevin and Ser Hovin
Deceased.
Died bravely in the Ogre battles.
2nd and 3rd Sons
Baron Wovin IX
Deceased.
Taken by bandits traveling the Amber. (6 months ago)
4th Son
Baron Navin
Deceased
Died of a crippling illness. (last week)
5th Son
Baron Levin
Deceased
Slipped off the ramparts of Bane Fort (3 years ago)
6th Son
Ser Kavin
7th Son.
Ser Kavin grew up as
the most isolated and forgotten member of an isolated and forgotten family. His
birth caused the death of his lady mother. His family kept an unspoken
discomfort around him. Most left him alone. His Step-mother neglected him in
favor of her trueborn son. His half brother, Ardred, liked to fight him
whenever possible and was usually left with bruises and cuts after a fight.
Ardred would raz him by calling him Ser Craven.
Left to his own devices, Kavin explored the expansive ruins of Bane Fort. He
discovered an ancient book of dragon lore which he endeavored to decipher. He
would sneak off every chance he got to study this tome. He commmited the words
to memory. In the practice yard, he often found himself reciting the words
soundlessly as he moved his sword to strike at dragon figments and straw
dummies. During one of Kavin's frequent trips to the forgotten depths, he found
the serpantine hilt to an ancient sword of the Dragonguard. Bane Fort's master
smith, forged a blade for him that would befit a Dragon Knight of old. Kavin
carries this weapon to this day and keeps it clean and sharp.
When he wasn't studying or training, he could be found with his mount a Light
Warhorse named Rabbit. Rabbit is a jumper. And a climber. She is specially
trained to navigate the harsh rocky terrain around the Last Vale. She becomes
unweildy near large bodies of water like rivers, lakes and oceans. She will
jump a creak or wade into a pond without problem. She is smaller than most
horses of wat but makes up for it in spirit.
Being the 7th son of Lord Devin, Kavin never thought about the possability of
becoming lord himself and contented himself to pursue knighthood. He started
squiring for a minor noble in Dragonfell until an old Dragonknight spied his
blade. When the Dragonguard approached him about his blade, he was embarrassed
by his boyhood fantasies of dragons and told him the unromantic truth of his
sword. Pressed further, nervous and excited, Kavin lost control and spewed a
steady stream of information about dragons. The Dragonguard eventually
interepted his excited jibbering to ask Kavin to squire for him. Kavin promptly
fainted.
Since that time, Kavin has become a Dragonknight in his own respect. He travels
the countryside in search of good causes and dragon lore. He has come to
realize that steel and brains count for little without a deft tongue. To this
end, he has teamed with Armand Picarro who seems to have a hero's lust for
justice.
Lady Arienne
2nd Wife.
Soft lady from the Riverlands. Much younger than Lord Devin. Miserable most of
the time. Feels haunted by Cavara. Ignores Kavin and dotes upon her son.
Baron Ardred
8th Son of Devin and 1st Son of Arienne.
Heir to House Cranhold.
15 yrs old
Bully and mommma's boy. Has respect for Kavin as he is bested Ardred in many
tussels growing up. Wishes to be a knight like Kavin but Arienne keeps him
reigned in. Thinks all problems can be solved by force. Has little patience for
the subtleties of court or the duties of a lord.
Dey
la Conrath
“Honor
and Might”
The very definition
of Cornath displine and might, the de la Conrath are the offshoot of the
southern ruling family of Westra, whom the Norhtern Conraths conquered after
the times of Benarius. Proud, courageous, and deeply prideful of their
heritage, they are a family that has always stiven to attain that glory that
was once theirs over half a millenia ago. Their banner is the Prideful Lion
with a shield of scratches on its back.
Beren dey la Conrath
First-born son of Edward and Margaret dey la Conrath
Lord of House dey la Conrath
Beren is a descendent of the southern Conrath Lords (dey la Conrath is a minor
house who have retained their name in the Old Tongue). Popular among the common
folk under the lands ruled by House Conrath, none of the nobility truly know
what to make of this black horse.