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History
House al'Callenta is the dominant military power in Aequor, ruling over the Duchy of Murnord. For centuries they have been the sword and shield of that Kingdom, but their reputation has suffered in recent years due to crushing defeats in the Thirty Years' War and the Icenialan Crusade.
House al'Callenta was founded by Sir Eduard Benide al'Callenta, in the earliest days following the Vir Sidus' Empire's retreat to the east. Eduard Benide al'Callenta was a young Knight of the Holy Order of the Templars, who had been assigned to the Northern reaches of the Empire. When the then-Duke of House al'Ramar was ambushed by Icenialan raiders, Sir Eduard, against the orders of his superiors, took a company of Cavalry and rescued the Duke from harm, slaughtering the raiding party in the process. Eduard was removed from the Templar order for his insubordination, but was raised to the nobility by the al'Ramar Duke, granted the Barony of Murnord. Baron Eduard and the Duke would remain lifelong friends, with Eduard marrying one of the Duke's young daughters, who would give him many sons and daughters of ihs own. At the age of 61, Eduard's tale would seem to repeat itself in reverse: When he heard that a small fortress of Templars was being beseiged by a great horde of Incenialan savages, he took his entire army North and met the would-be-invaders in battle. Consumed with righteous fury he made a now-legendary stand in which he slew dozens of the attackers single-handedly, and turned the siege into a rout. For his part in saving the Fortress of Benide from falling, the Templars posthumously readmitted him into their order, granting him the rank of honorary Lord Captain-Commander. He would go on to be canonized by the One Faith in just a few short years, forever known as Saint Eduard the Victor. The small watchtower he had rescued would eventually grow to become a great fortress, named Fortress Benide in his honor.
Eduard's sons continued the family line, and for a time the al'Callenta family prospered. After House al'Ramar consolidated its' power over the Kingdom of Aequor, the al'Callentas became Dukes rather than Barons, and stood as the trusted right hand of the King…his mighty sword arm. Over the years they would build a reputation as one of the most formidable military powers in the Civilized West, particularly noted for their highly skilled Knights. Indeed, for the people of Aequor, it was the Knights of the Argent Legion that came to represent the ideals of Knighthood. All of that was thrown into turmoil, however, when a particularly ambitious son of the Duke attempted to claim the Duchy as his own despite his elder brother being the rightful heir.
The internecine war between Duke Stephen al'Callenta and his brother, Lord Randall al'Callenta, lasted for nearly five years. Randall was supported (covertly) by assets provided by House al'Sylenthar, whom his wife was born to. Stephen, prideful and confident in his ability to put down the insurrection himself, refused the offers of House al'Ramar and House al'Mordran to throw their military support behind him, a decision which he would later reverse when it became clear that he lacked the capability to easily crush Randall's forces. While Duke Stephen was eventually victorious (and the traitor and his wife executed), he ended up losing much face for needlessly prolonging the conflict. For the next several generations, the Dukes of House al'Callenta rebuilt their infrastructure and military and worked to regain the trust of both their lieges and their people, and were largely successful in that pursuit. When it was decided that Aequor would begin their great Northern Crusade, House al'Callenta was ready, and eagerly joined the campaign alongside the Holy Orders.
For many years, the Crusade seemed to go well. House al'Callenta and its' warriors (particularly its' Argent Legion) fought well against the Icenialans, and along with the Templars and Reliant pushed deep into Icenialan territory. So great were their victories that the King of Aequor grew bold, and so did those of House al'Callenta. When the Thirty Years' war broke out, House al'Callenta thought nothing of dividing its' forces, and indeed for the first several years of the War, they at the very least managed to hold their Galenthian counterparts to a standstill. Late in the war, however, they started to lose ground. Angered by this turn of events, the King of Aequor recalled Knight-General Andre al'Callenta from the Icenialan front, a commander who had enjoyed great success against the Icenialans. At first the change renewed the spirits of the men fighting in the south, then it all went wrong.
Knight-General Andre al'Callenta was accustomed to fighting the Icenialan savages. There was probably no finer commander in all of Aequor and possibly the West when it came to knowing their tactics and how best to counter them. There was only one problem: He was no longer fighting Icenialan savages. When faced with the bold tactics and innovations of the young Sir Gauvain Tarris, the veteran General was quickly outmaneuvered and overwhelmed. While the men of Aequor fought bravely on an individual level, on a strategic level they were thoroughly routed over the course of a few months, losing all the gains they had made in Northern Galenthia over the course of the Thirty Years' War. Compounding matters, General Andre had been replaced by a novice commander in the North, and when the Icenialan "Queen" made her great push southward, he and his forces were easily overrun, retreating back to Fortress Benide with the Knights of the Holy Orders, where they barely held out against the siege that was directed against them. The northern commander did not survive the siege of Fortress Benide, and Andre al'Callenta fell upon his own sword in disgrace at his defeat. By the end of the Thirty Years' War, House al'Callenta's reputation and fortunes were considerably diminished.
Still, hope has not fled the Duchy of Murnord entirely, the current ruler, [[Cesare]] al'Callenta, distinguished himself in some of the toughest fighting of the Thirty Years' War, and has worked hard to once again rebuild his House and their fortunes, and with an eye directed towards the future, is following in the footsteps of his ancestors, who had raised the house up out of the shame of its' past insurrection. Their troops are again strong…their armies mighty. They only need a foe to prove themselves against. With a dose of the humility and wisdom that can only come with defeat, House al'Callenta will yet prove a formidable opponent to any foes that threaten the Kingdom of Aequor.
Overview
- Cover
- Culture
- Lands and Holdings
- Vassals
- Military
- Economy
- Legends
- Reputation and Rumors
- Current Members
- Quirks
- Recent Events
Religion: House al'Callenta is renowned for its' unshakeable devotion to the Faith of the One. No House in the West has sent more sons to the Holy Orders, and it is tradition that the third child (regardless of gender) of every noble family is sent to Rikton to either join the Clergy or the Holy Orders. Noble and Commoner alike tend to be pious and devout, at least outwardly.
Inheritance: House al'Callenta is traditionally patriarchal, though this is not iron-clad. Additionally, having achieved Knighthood is generally seen as a requirement for inheriting within House al'Callenta, though the head of the house can waive that requirement in extreme circumstances. Women can inherit if no sons are available, though the Knighthood requirement is usually not waived for them. Perhaps paradoxically, this means that House al'Callenta and their vassals actually field more female knights than any other House of the West.
Nobles: Nobles of House al'Callenta tend towards military pursuits, particularly Knighthood, which is considered the most honorable of all professions. They tend to be an odd combination of pride and humility, believing themselves the truest representation of Knighthood in the West while clinging tightly to their devotion to the One Faith. If not Knighthood, then the second-most-honored profession for Nobles in the lands of House al'Callenta is becoming part of the Clergy of the One Faith. Nearly every noble Household has at least one son or daughter that is either a clergyman or a member of one of the Militant Orders. Nobles of House al'Callenta can be implacable foes, and they have been known to carry grudges across generations. They do, however, tend to be very honorable in their dealings, and respect those that show the same in return. Nobles of House al'Callenta also tend towards being extremely polite and courteous, at least until offered insult or disrespect, when they can go from polite and courteous to fiery-tempered in the blink of an eye.
Commoners: The Common folk of Murnord are as a whole industrious and pious folk. Much of their toil is of course geared towards supporting House al'Callenta's military might, and their rulers have fostered a certain sense of pride and community within their smallfolk by regularly highlighting their contributions. Hedge Knights are highly respected in the lands of House al'Callenta, and many a common lad tries very hard to attract the attention of a patron that they might join their ranks. To a lesser extent, all manner of professional men-at-arms are appreciated, and in families of any particularly large size it is unusual to not have at least one or two yeomen warriors amongst them. Joining the lay clergy is also a fine and honorable pursuit amongst the common folk, even more so if they achieve entry to the ordained clergy.
Province: The Duchy of Murnord
Towns: The community from which the Duchy derives its' name is a large town, standing at a major crossroads in the southern portion of the Duchy. Over the centuries it has become a sprawling affair, but the Town of Murnord still has its "center" which is a walled-in, heavily fortified area, at the center of which stands Northwatch Hall, the seat of House al'Callenta. The town is a bustling one, and famed for producing excellent smiths. Winters here can be harsh, however, to the point of nearly shutting the town down when the heavy snows come. The town is also home to a large cathedral of the One Faith, and many of the folk of Aequor travel to see it in the warmer months.
A scattering of many small towns and communities spreads across the landscape of Murnord, with many of them being communities of woodcutters, miners, or hunters.
Fortifications: Northwatch Hall, despite its' name, is a heavily-fortified castle that stands in the center of Murnord. It has been the seat of House al'Callenta since they were a mere Barony, but has been added on-to and built-up over the centuries to become a formidable fortification. No one has ever successfully besieged Northwatch Hall from outside, though it was nearly undone by treachery in the past. The castle is an austere, almost forbidding place, with trappings of the One Faith being nearly the only decoration throughout most of it, though the Great Hall stands in contrast, bearing many works of art and a very fine collection of tapestries.
The Duchy of Murnord also has a system of watchtowers along its' major roads, keeping watch over travelers and allowing for rapid passage of messages to locations along those roads as relay riders stand ready at all hours.
Fortress Benide, while not under control of House al'Callenta, rests in the northernmost portions of the Duchy. House al'Callenta's long-held ties to the Holy Orders means there is much traffic and communication between the Fortress and the Duchy beyond.
Terrain: Occupying much of the northern reaches of Aequor, The Duchy of Murnord bears thick, temperate pine forests in the south (where the seat of the Duchy resides), and rises to rolling forested hills as it spreads northward, until the elevation increases sharply into the northern mountains. Major roads link the Town of Murnord to Fortress Benide, Lyionesse, and other major trade hubs (as well as to their iron and coal mines).
House al'Callenta has two Counties under its' domain, as well as an independent Barony. The Counties within the Duchy of Murnord tend to be larger than normal geographically speaking, but with smaller-than-normal populations.
The Argent Legion: The Argent Legion is House al'Callenta's elite cavalry. It is built around a core of the most highly-trained and experienced Knights, supported by skirmishers and horse-archers (lighter cavalry). They are renowned for their exceptional mobility, perseverance, and skill, as well as their honor and gallantry. When House al'Callenta suffered its' first major defeat by House Tarris in the Thirty Years' War, the Argent Legion were the only warriors on the field that managed to kill as many of House Tarris' attackers as they lost in their own men. A later engagement saw the Tarris Cavalry receive a counter-charge from the Argent Legion, which resulted in some of the bloodiest fighting of the entire War, inflicting considerable losses on both sides, even if the Argent Legion was ultimately forced to withdraw due to a lack of support on its' flanks. While House al'Callenta as a whole has had its' reputation tarnished by the defeats in the Thirty Years' war and Icenialan Crusade, the Argent Legion remains a feared and respected unit known throughout the Civilized West, even if they have had to institute considerable rebuilding since the War.
Argent Legion: Breakdown of Professional soldiers. The rest of the Legion, 3800 are filled by Levies and are Legionaries and Archers broken down into Centuries of 100 men.
50 Knights (The Argent Legion)
150 Heavy Cavalry (50 are Non-Argent Legion Knights)
50 Cavalry Archers
100 Light Cavalry
300 Legionnaires (Three Centuries of 100)
150 Men at Arms (The Prime Centuries)
300 Archers (Three Centuries of 100)
50 Engineers
50 Scout-Rangers
Total Professional Soldiers: 1200
Peasant Levies: 3800 at full strength, primarily Legionnaires and Archers, broken into multiple cohorts of 100
The Militant Orders: While the Templars and Reliants technically answer to the church, House al'Callenta has long had very strong ties to the Militant Orders, and with Fortress Benide within their Duchy, they tend to have more Holy Knights within their Duchy than any other (on a per-capita basis). Not to mention that a great many nobles of House al'Callenta seek to be named to the Holy Orders. In any case, while they cannot order these knights into battle, there is little doubt by either party involved that the Crusaders would come to the defense of the Duchy of Murnord in the event of invasion, giving them what amounts to a very, VERY potent garrison force…and even better one that they don't have to pay for (for the most part).
Armies of the North Aside from its' renowned cavalry forces, House al'Callenta fields well-rounded military forces. Their infantry has been well-seasoned by the Thirty Years' War and the Northern Crusade, and they also field highly experienced siege engineers. Their garrison forces are also at least a notch above the standard soldier (even when not including the Holy Orders among them).
Iron, Coal, and Timber are the Duchy of Murnord's chief exports, and House al'Callenta makes plenty of profit selling them to the other Duchies of Aequor. Additionally, House al'Callenta makes coin charging other houses to train their military forces, though this source of revenue has slacked somewhat following their somewhat recent defeats. Finally, House al'Callenta charges modest tolls to pilgrims coming to view the Cathedral at Murnord. While half of these tolls is granted to the Church, the other half goes right into House al'Callenta's pocket (so to speak).
The Duchy of Murnord has lesser interests in furs and pelts, as well as a few ice-wine vinyards in the southernmost reaches of the Duchy.
Saint Eduard Benide al'Callenta, The Victor: The founder of the current al'Callenta line. Sir Eduard was said to be a Templar of unmatched skill and charisma, and claimed descent from the original warriors that had fought along The One during his earthly tenure. It is said that in his last battle at the ripe old age of 61, he was possessed with a holy fervor that allowed him to slay nearly three-dozen invaders from the north, rallying his nearly-broken men and turning what seemed like certain defeat into a grand victory. He promptly knighted his youngest son, who had served as his squire during the battle, thanked his men for their service and sacrifice, and then fell dead on the spot. He was canonized by the Church of the One Faith just six years after his death, and most Knights of House al'Callenta and even some in lands beyond Aequor carry medallions, coins, or other trinkets honoring Saint Eduard to this day. The Fortress of Benide in the north is named after him, and a memorial to him rests within the Fortress courtyard, supposedly marking the very spot he fell.
The Snow Peddler: A folk tale among the people of the northern reaches of Aequor, the Snow Peddler is an odd fellow that appears after the first snows of winter, and offers to sell those he comes across a bucket of tightly-packed snow. If the buyer agrees and pays a "fair price" (always expensive enough to feel like a real sacrifice, but not always in coin) for the bucket of snow, then they will have a mild winter, or at least will suffer no great ills during the winter to come. If the buyer refuses, then the winter will be harsh and misfortune will likely strike. Legend claims that if one buys the bucket of snow, and uses the melted snow to brew teas, they enhance the invigorating and healing properties of the tea itself. Of course, this has led to a good number of charlatans posing as the Snow Peddler popping up every winter, trying to bilk the gullible and overly cautious out of hard-earned coin. There is no uncertainty, however, that many of these pretenders have been found dead later on, often in drastically humiliating or horrifying circumstances, and usually having perished from exposure. Whether it is the Snow Peddler extracting vengeance for sullying his "good name" or cheated patrons exacting vengeance of their own remains a matter of much debate among the smallfolk.
The Goblyn in Winter: There are many Goblyn sightings in the lands of House al'Callenta, and they tend to rise sharply in winter months. Most people in other provinces and kingdoms that hear of it dismiss it as the somewhat isolated folk of the north going a little stir crazy when cooped up by heavy snows. Those that give the rumors more credence, however, begin to wonder if somewhere in the Duchy of Murnord might lie an entrance to the fabled Maze of the Goblyn Lord.
Tarnished Armor: Twin defeats in both the northern crusade against Iceniala and the Thirty Years' War with Galenthia have significantly sullied House al'Callenta's reputation in the present. While the current head of the house is working diligently to allay any concerns of weakness, and nobody denies that House al'Callenta still has the largest army within Aequor, some wonder if this is the start of a long decline. King Maris al'Ramar does not call upon the ruler of Murnord as often as his predecessors did, and there are even rumors that the next Grand Marshal of Aequor might not be a member of this House for the first time since Galenthia's founding!
Not-So-Good Faith? Rumors persist that a several years ago the Head of House al'Callenta and the Archbishop of Murnord got into an explosive argument with then-Archbishop Lucien Ramius. Now that Ramius has been elevated to Cardinal, and House al'Callenta has taken a hit to its' reputation, it seems House al'Callenta is not on the Cardinal's list of friends, whereas they had been favorites of the previous Cardinal. Cardinal Ramius even halted his yearly pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Murnord, a tradition that had stood for centuries beforehand. Are the al'Callentas losing the favor of the Church as well as the King?
A Match Made In Bloodshed? House Tarris of Galenthia delivered a humiliating defeat to the forces of House al'Callenta during the Thirty Years' War. There is much bad blood between the two families, but rumors persist that the head of House al'Callenta is strongly considering marrying one of their daughters to the unwed Duke of Griffon Point, or barring that, his heir.
Michael al’Callenta (b. 1758, d. ?)
m. ?? (TBD)
- his children:
- Thomas al’Callenta (b. 1766 d. ?) m. Bellina al’Callenta (nee d’Cadri) (b. ? d?)
- their children:
- Allen al’Callenta 1795-1840 (war) m. Isolde al’Callenta (Arkanin) 1795-1822 (childbirth)
- .Cesare al’Callenta 1815 - Duke of Murnord NPC m. Florencia al’Callenta (d’Arran) 1816 Duchess of Murnord NPC
- their children:
- Louisa al’Ramar 1834 m. Jean-Paul al’Ramar 1832 See House al’Ramar
- Michael al’Callenta 1842 - Heir to Murnord PC m. Bella al’Callenta (Viscarin) 1848 NPC
- Gabriel al’Callenta 1842 PC
- Anelie al’Callenta 1845 Appable
- Genoveffa d’Synclarre 1848 PC m. Joffrey d’Synclarre 1831 PC See House d’Synclarre
- Peter al'Callenta (b 1816) m. Devona al'Callenta
- Jeanne d’Cordova 1818 m. Stephan d’Cordova 1814-1840 See House d’Cordova
- Angelina Romante 1820 m. Ulfhain Romante 1817-1853 See House Romante
- Gerard al’Callenta 1822 m. Vivienne al’Callenta (d’Guardine) 1825
- their children:
- Rosemary al’Callenta 1840
- Claudia al’Callenta 1843
- Sebastian al'Callenta 1847 PC
- Carlene al’Callenta 1849
- Samuel al’Callenta 1851
- Orson al’Callenta 1854
- Aelleria d’Lario 1822 m. Ludwig d’Lario 1820 See House d'Lario
- .Cesare al’Callenta 1815 - Duke of Murnord NPC m. Florencia al’Callenta (d’Arran) 1816 Duchess of Murnord NPC
- Andre al’Callenta 1800-1862 - Committed Suicide m. Rachelle al’Callenta (d’Lario) 1808-?
- their children:
- Annalise d’Tremaine (b 1824) m. Benjamin d’Tremaine (b 1812) See House d'Tremaine
- Blaise al’Callenta b 1829 m. Callie al’Callenta (d’Carriex) b 1832
- their children:
- Bessa al’Callenta 1849
- Elian al’Callenta 1851
- Kyle al’Callenta 1855
- Teresa al’Callenta 1858
- Catherine al’Callenta 1832-1862 - Died at the Siege of Benide m. Joffrey d’Synclarre 1831 PC See House d’Synclarre
- Lynette d’Calen (1835) m. Orion d’Calen 1824
- Carriane Charing 1801 - Abbess of St. Martha’s on the Mountain m. Edric Charing 1798-1832 See House Charing
- Warren al’Callenta 1802-1850 m. Maxine al’Callenta (d’Azule) 1810
- their children:
- Adrian al’Callenta 1826 m. Jennifer al’Callenta (d’Lario) 1832
- their children:
- Theodore al’Callenta 1849
- Calliet al’Callenta 1853
- Alan al’Callenta 1855
- Elijah al’Callenta 1828 m. Meghan al’Callenta (d’Korbina) 1831
- their children:
- Amber al’Callenta 1849
- Borric al’Callenta 1852
- Richard al’Callenta 1856
- Edwina al’Mordran 1829 m. Carey al’Mordran 1825 See House al'Mordran
- Corrent al’Callenta (b 1833)
- Uriel al’Callenta (b. 1783), old but in robust health; m. Etana al’Callenta (nee al’Mordran) (b. 1786 d. ?)
- their children:
- Daniel al’Callenta (1806-1838, 30 Years War) m. Tiana al’Callenta (nee d’Gercarre) (b 1810)
- their children:
- Susan al’Callenta (b 1830, missing 1840), presumed dead;
- Warrick al’Callenta (1832)
- his recognized bastards:
- Tobias Harsmith (b 1857)
- Leona Harsmith (b 1860)
- Paul al’Callenta (1833-1848), died as a squire in the 30 Years War
- their children:
- Elisa al’Callenta (b 1808), old.venerable, a notorious Old Maid
- Eduard al’Ramar (1811-1841) m. Karyn al’Ramar (b 1814)See House al’Ramar
- Kalyne d’Mollari (b 1814) m. Tanner d’Mollari See House d’Mollari
Archbishop of Murnord - House al'Callenta has an Archbishop of the One Faith firmly linked to their family (possibly even a member of their family). This Archbishop also presides over the Cathedral at Murnord (APPABLE, Elite Character)
Master Smith - House al'Callenta has a supremely talented smith in their direct service (APPABLE).
Assumed Quirks:
Code of Honor - Honor and duty are serious business for most of the al'Callenta. Chivalry in particular is practiced by the vast majority of the family, but even those that do not tend to embrace at least certain aspects of it in their daily lives. They usually adhere rigidly to the accepted "rules of warfare" and get very angry when others don't.
Devout - al'Callentas are well-known as pious folk, with strong ties to the Church. For the most part, they really do "walk the walk" when it comes to faith.
Courteous - al'Callentas are usually exceptionally polite and well-mannered, even to their enemies.
Justified Quirks:
Talented Lancer: - The Knightly arts are extremely highly-prized in House al'Callenta, and they produce some of the most skilled lancers in the West, both on the Tourney Field and the battlefield. (Skill Quirk: Polearms)
Born In The Saddle: - House al'Callenta produces a breed of very fine war-horse in abundance, and with its' emphasis on the skills of Knighthood, many of the finest horse(wo)men originate in al'Callenta lands. (Skill Quirk: Horsemanship)
Skilled Commander: - More al'Callentas have served as the Royal Marshall of Aequor than any other family by a wide margin. There is a reason for this. al'Callenta commanders tend to blend the inspirational and tactical qualities of battlefield leadership in equal measure. (Skill Quirk: Command)
Religious Education: With the Grand Cathedral of Murnord literally right next door to their family seat, al'Callentas have ready access to the type of education that only the Church of the One Faith can provide. (Skill Quirk: Religion)
TBD