Inspiration for Apostates, Fallen Nobility.
01-30-2020, 04:28 PM
House Nemean
Overview: House Nemean were, in their heyday, second only to the Pelleaux in their mastery of magic. However, where the Pelleaux famously stood wary of the potential dangers magic afforded, The spellcasters of House Nemean were reckless in their pursuit of ever greater magical powers.
It was, in the end, this pursuit which led to their treason and fall from grace as they began searching out magics best left forgotten. Frequently financing trips to the darkest corners of the world in search of ancient secrets. the ruined castles of Necromancers, fallen angels, and eventually to the land of Atrellya where Grigor Nemean, then head of the house, struck a bargain with a demon of the Tiger Clan. In exchange for their aid in destroying that demons enemies, the demon would provide them with secrets.
Ever since, the folk of House Nemean have been damned, their involvement in the occult uncovered by agents of house Grimmore at home, even as their head of house reveled in their newfound powers. A Purge followed not long after, leaving only those members of the house abroad to carry on it's legacy.
Suggested Traits: Bitter, aloof, prideful. The members of House Nemean pride themselves on their mastery of Dark Sorcery and even now hold a burning grudge against the Members of house Grimmore for the purges.
Demonic Alliance: The House Nemean is loosely Allied to the Demonic Tiger Clan. Both stand aloof to the other, and it is not unknown for the two to come into conflict over conflicting goals, usually ending in the death of the Nemean who stepped out of bounds.
House Lernia
Overview: The Noble House of Lernia was ever an odd one. The founder of their house was a Mercenary by the name of Cadmus Lernia, who was ennobled by the Royal family for 'rescuing' the then King. Though not one to turn down a Kings Gratitude, the violent altercation that had led to the king's freedom was in fact, Cadmus stabbing his own liegelord over a dispute in pay. Whereupon he attempted to use the king's escape as a distraction to make his own bid for freedom, however fate was not so amenable and he was forced to abscond with the king himself.
The following years of House Lernia's Ennoblement were wrought with such debauchery, hedonism, and lack of decorum that when the time came for Esshar to send a punitive Expedition to Atrellya, in response to a demonic incursion in the year 1583, House Astor, in tandem with the Crown strongarmed the entirety of the house into joining.
Naturally, they responded to this perceived death sentence with treachery. Purchasing their own continued well being by betraying the other members of the Expedition to the Demonic Fox Clan. Over Time, the surviving Members of House Lernia have adapted to the ways of their new allies, and the concept of trust is an alien one to this dissolute house, as when there is noone else to betray into their claws the fox clan oftentimes can't help but hunt their own servants.
Suggested Traits: Treacherous, Shortsighted, and Selfish. While possessed of great cunning the Descendants of Cadmus Lernia are no great schemers or spies like House Grimmore. They are ultimately nothing more than particularly talented, and lucky, charlatans and rogues. Always seeking to buy just one more day to fill with idle hedonism.
Demonic Allies: To call the House of Lernia and the Fox Clan allies, would be a great disservice to the term. The Fox Clan finds the houses antics amusing, but given the opportunity and lack of other prey, will happily hunt the Lernia as well. While The House prefers to lure innocents to the demons to keep the peace, there have been times where instead covert battles have been waged between the two when no innocents are to be found.
House Kerberos
Overview: The House Kerberos had a Knightly Tradition going back to the founding of Esshar known for both honor and brutality on the battlefield. House Kerberos was among the many lesser houses led by Lightbringer Kaldwin Astor on the punitive Expedition to Atrellya. There they were deployed to the northern landing point, coming into conflict with the Wolf Clan in the swampy forests of northern Atrellya. Over the months of fighting the Wolves and the Stubborn Kerberos gained a begrudging respect for the other, and so it was that when the Wolf Clan had the last remnants of the northern expedition force surrounded and at their mercy the men and women of House Kerberos were offered a choice. Swear Fealty, now and forever, to the Wolf Clan and the other members of the Expedition would be permitted to leave the island in peace, so long as they left before the sun descended that very day. Or they could all die together, and a monument raised to their Valiant effort on their grave.
The Kerberos chose to swear Fealty, saving the Kingdom the loss of multiple lesser houses, and the Lightbringer General of the Expedition.
Ever since, they have served their new lieges with the same zealous honor and vicious brutality as their old. Though never before have they been deployed against their old homelands.
Suggested Traits: Honorable, Physical, and Brutal. The Kerberos are knights bound by competing ethos of Honor and Pragmatism. They will never break their word once given, and have nothing but contempt for those they do. Because of this however, they are unlikely to make compacts with enemies, and most bargains with them are viciously pointed about the always short time limit of such alliances.
Demonic allies: While at one point they were reluctant in their service to demonkind, in the passing years since their oath of Fealty to the Wolf Clan, the Knights of House Kerberos have long since learned to live with their new Masters. Serving as a dark mirror to the selfless Fealty of Essharan Knighthood.
Overview: The Noble House of Lernia was ever an odd one. The founder of their house was a Mercenary by the name of Cadmus Lernia, who was ennobled by the Royal family for 'rescuing' the then King. Though not one to turn down a Kings Gratitude, the violent altercation that had led to the king's freedom was in fact, Cadmus stabbing his own liegelord over a dispute in pay. Whereupon he attempted to use the king's escape as a distraction to make his own bid for freedom, however fate was not so amenable and he was forced to abscond with the king himself.
The following years of House Lernia's Ennoblement were wrought with such debauchery, hedonism, and lack of decorum that when the time came for Esshar to send a punitive Expedition to Atrellya, in response to a demonic incursion in the year 1583, House Astor, in tandem with the Crown strongarmed the entirety of the house into joining.
Naturally, they responded to this perceived death sentence with treachery. Purchasing their own continued well being by betraying the other members of the Expedition to the Demonic Fox Clan. Over Time, the surviving Members of House Lernia have adapted to the ways of their new allies, and the concept of trust is an alien one to this dissolute house, as when there is noone else to betray into their claws the fox clan oftentimes can't help but hunt their own servants.
Suggested Traits: Treacherous, Shortsighted, and Selfish. While possessed of great cunning the Descendants of Cadmus Lernia are no great schemers or spies like House Grimmore. They are ultimately nothing more than particularly talented, and lucky, charlatans and rogues. Always seeking to buy just one more day to fill with idle hedonism.
Demonic Allies: To call the House of Lernia and the Fox Clan allies, would be a great disservice to the term. The Fox Clan finds the houses antics amusing, but given the opportunity and lack of other prey, will happily hunt the Lernia as well. While The House prefers to lure innocents to the demons to keep the peace, there have been times where instead covert battles have been waged between the two when no innocents are to be found.
House Kerberos
Overview: The House Kerberos had a Knightly Tradition going back to the founding of Esshar known for both honor and brutality on the battlefield. House Kerberos was among the many lesser houses led by Lightbringer Kaldwin Astor on the punitive Expedition to Atrellya. There they were deployed to the northern landing point, coming into conflict with the Wolf Clan in the swampy forests of northern Atrellya. Over the months of fighting the Wolves and the Stubborn Kerberos gained a begrudging respect for the other, and so it was that when the Wolf Clan had the last remnants of the northern expedition force surrounded and at their mercy the men and women of House Kerberos were offered a choice. Swear Fealty, now and forever, to the Wolf Clan and the other members of the Expedition would be permitted to leave the island in peace, so long as they left before the sun descended that very day. Or they could all die together, and a monument raised to their Valiant effort on their grave.
The Kerberos chose to swear Fealty, saving the Kingdom the loss of multiple lesser houses, and the Lightbringer General of the Expedition.
Ever since, they have served their new lieges with the same zealous honor and vicious brutality as their old. Though never before have they been deployed against their old homelands.
Suggested Traits: Honorable, Physical, and Brutal. The Kerberos are knights bound by competing ethos of Honor and Pragmatism. They will never break their word once given, and have nothing but contempt for those they do. Because of this however, they are unlikely to make compacts with enemies, and most bargains with them are viciously pointed about the always short time limit of such alliances.
Demonic allies: While at one point they were reluctant in their service to demonkind, in the passing years since their oath of Fealty to the Wolf Clan, the Knights of House Kerberos have long since learned to live with their new Masters. Serving as a dark mirror to the selfless Fealty of Essharan Knighthood.
