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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 6:49:56 GMT -5
Cruinthe has had many families attempt to make a name for themselves over the centuries. Nevertheless, thirteen houses have made a permanent mark on the history, and legend of Cruinthe. These families through fealty in ages past have gained power both economically, but also militarily. It has only been through recent events that these houses and families have fallen from their former glory.
House Justea
House Mardok
House Karligar
House Charyn
House Corday
House Rozenbell
House Ardesta
House Telestere
House Havenkor
House Sharalyre
House Van'Cressa
House Leddentine
House Farfalles
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 7:03:40 GMT -5
The Destroyed House Justea
Every child knows that before the Sorcerer King Julgrava there was a dynasty of Royalty that lead humanity under one banner. House Justea was they Royal house of Cruinthe for most of its history. It's kings and queens, princes and princesses, sat upon they Hydrillium thrones in either Helkorth or Fordeth. They led the country in dark times and in golden ages.
According to oral history, it was the Sorcerer King and his imperial legions that destroyed House Justea, and hunted every last royal down.
As of this time period there is speculation that the leaders of the Republic of Cruinthe and Royal Justean Guard are true heirs of this royal house.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 7:16:35 GMT -5
The Marching House MardokCoat of Arms: Black ant mandibles crossed on a field of red The house Mardok has been around for centuries sitting upon ancestral lands. In recent times House Mardok pledged fealty to the Sorcerer-King upon the destruction of House Justea. For two hundred years the family maintained their lands and kept to themselves. The ancient castle had fallen into ruin due to an earthquake that sealed it's entrances and collapsed it's outer wall, trapping many family members inside. The ruin was deemed unsafe and the seat of Mardok power moved to a manor near the castle town. Recently the Duchy's control was transferred to Tyr the new Duke. This Duke has been different than those that came before him in that he has expansionist ideas and has moved in and taken control of ancestral House Rozenbell lands that had fallen to chaos.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 7:28:17 GMT -5
The Carnal House KarligarCoat of Arms: An open wolf's maw in white on a field of navy blue. House Karligar has occupied it's ancestral lands for centuries, much like the other ancient houses of Cruinthe. It has a history of violence and cruelty against its neighbors and own citizenry. It's name carries a sense of gravitas. I the ancient fortress is one of the most easily defended locations in Cruinthe sitting atop a mountain that is the center of their lands. In recent times control of the Duchy has passed to King Redgar Karligar who had murdered his father and his uncles in a bloody coup to gain control. His bloodthirst has not been slaked, however, as he is also responsible for House Karligar taking over Corday ancestral lands, and invoking a bloody rebellion in Morith against Sorcerer-King Julgrava. House Karligar is now officially a rogue state with its current duke wanted for crimes against the kingdom.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 7:46:46 GMT -5
The Expansive House Charyn
Coat of Arms: A red hydra on a field of white.
The House of Charyn was a loyal member of the kingdom during its period of chaos. Much like the other houses, it has had control of its ancestral lands since the Justea gave them she died centuries ago. They've since retained an iron grip on their land, attempting to rule it like a small kingdom all their own.
House Charyn has, in recent times fallen into ruin. Rogue dark mage have used areas close to their land as bases, and as such many of their members have been killed or kidnapped. The title of Duke has fallen to a cruel man who is an unapologetic mage and warrior who may be linked to these dark cults.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 8:17:07 GMT -5
The Abandoned House Corday
House Corday had only recently become a power over the ancestral lands it occupied as the previous house had no heirs and the name switched and was passed to the son of a man, not noble, who married into the family. The villagers have some dispute as to whether or not Duke Henri Corday was actually the son of the previous family and her husband, but there is no proving that one way or another presently.
After a half-breed drokagr had come through the castle town Henri Corday had disappeared with her, reportedly to the east. It is rumored that Henri is in Korasus with that woman. Bewitched by their culture and magic. Since Henri had no heirs the duchy fell to chaos until the Karligars took control of the duchy in a series of bloody nighttime ambushes. Since this time most of the Corday ancestral lands are under Karligar control.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 8:26:14 GMT -5
The Exiled House Rozenbell
House Rozenbell was powerful in ages past and had a close relationship with House Justea. Their loyalty to House Justea did not falter when the Sorcerer-King took control of the kingdom and destroyed that family. As a reward for their loyalty many of their members were executed for treason or exiled. They were stripped of their lands and titles. As there was no one to care for their land the castle fell into ruin.
The Lost Battalion was granted a charter to take control of ancestral Rozenbell lands upon the family's dissolution. That faction has since been routed and nearly destroyed by House Mardok, which now controls House Rozenbell's ancestral lands. The remaining members of House Rozenbell are either married into other houses or exist in exile from their lands from within the kingdom.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 8:41:41 GMT -5
The Artisan House Ardesta
Coat of Arms: A yellow paintbrush crossed with a sword on a field of blue.
House Ardesta has had a storied past in its members having been patriots and traitors alike. What they are best known for are their artistic contributions to cruinthe though the ages. House Ardesta has produced some of the best painters and musicians the kingdom has ever seen.
The hilly and mountainous land that the Ardesta have controlled for centuries has been the primier wine country in cruinthe. Due to the passing of the previous duke, it's wine trade has dried up, and it's contracts terminated. The flow of wealth to Ardesta House has forced the family into hard economic times. It's castle has since fallen into ruin while the new Duchess, Maevi Ardesta, has gained control.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 9:20:15 GMT -5
The Militant House Telestere
Coat of Arms: A golden spear, sword, and axe, crossed on a field of black.
House Telestere was quick to change sides during the war that destroyed House Justea. Once the writing was on the wall and the Justea were losing and being hunted down, their loyalty wavered and they backed out of the war.
On their ancestral lands lies a hallow forest known as the faewood. It is forbidden land. No one that enters it leaves alive.
During recent times House Telestere has been responsible for providing military grade resources to the kingdom. A training mishap had rendered stored fire salts in their castle extremely volatile. These fires alts exploded one day, annihilating much of their ancient castle and killing dozens of family members. This left a young son who was out on a field training exercise to inherit the title of Duke.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 9:44:57 GMT -5
The Sentinel House Havenkor
Coat of Arms: A red hawk from top down view on a field of dark green.
House Havenkor is secretive and solitary. Rarely do they come into contact with other houses and they tend to avoid national politics at large. When House Justea fell they pledged their fealty and went on their own way. They avoid best known for the production of various ales, lagers, and other beers inside the kingdom.
In recent times a crop blight has wiped out their ability to produce their main export: beer. Hard financial times have ruined the family. Simultaneously the previous Duke fell ill and passed away from stomach rot. His title passed to an inexperienced daughter, who is now Duchess.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 10:17:03 GMT -5
The Towering House Sharalyre
Coat of Arms: A black rook on a field of yellow.
House Sharalyre has always been steadfast and loyal to House Justea, even after their fall. Despite this loyalty they have sworn fealty to the Sorcerer-King so as to not be destroyed. House Sharalyre has consistently been obstructionist in the council of dukes on every issue that would benefit the sorcerer-king, his armies, or his administration.
In recent times House Sharalyre has fallen into ruin due to a small interior conflict between a cadet line and the main family line. This conflict saw that the previous Duke be drowned in the great lake, and the entire cadet line be wiped out. In response to that a survivor carried out a suicide attack on the main castle using bombs made from fire salts. A main load bearing wall was destroyed, and the castle fell into ruin.
The current Duke is a young, politically active survivor from that attack.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 10:49:01 GMT -5
The Righteous House Van'Cressa
Coat of Arms: A white sun on an orange field.
The Van'Cressa family have not held the land it is in control of for as long as some of the other families have. They took it over after the ancestral house they were a cadet to was destroyed during a war in ages past. They claim to be the sole owners of several religious artifacts and texts.
In recent times the house has fallen to ruin due to several natural disasters. These disasters were directly linked to several family members deaths. Currently a young woman is the Duchess.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 11:04:08 GMT -5
The Golden House Leddentine:
Coat of Arms: A white pickaxe crossed with a Spear on a field of gold.
House Leddentine has been in control of its ancestral lands for centuries like many of the other houses. Unlike others it has not had any financial troubles as it has several deep gold mines in operation on its lands. The western darthaks have provided it with much gold and silver throughout the ages. Despite its wealth it has had trouble keeping it's members alive.
In recent times it's castle and land feel to ruin from several large cyclones coming up from the south. Those cyclones also killed the previous duke, leaving a younger man with the title.
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Post by Azuloth on Jul 20, 2017 11:35:04 GMT -5
The Bountiful House Farfalles:
Coat of Arms: Golden wheat on a field of green.
House Farfalles has been around for centuries like many of the others. Unlike the others it hasn't had trouble with food or money as it is the most abundantly producing land in the whole of cruinthe. Locals refer to their duchy as "The breadbasket" and many of cruinthe's cities rely in part upon the food that is exported from Farfalles. As the rumor goes, the majority of the house members are druids and their use of magic maintains the land and it's productivity.
Recently disaster struck the family itself when several members contracted Hacklung and Stomach Rot. This left a springy youth with the title.
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