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History:
House Al'Morena rules the Duchy of Alasce in southern Aequor. They have a rather checkered reputation, with a history of treachery and rumors of dark dealings in the present.
It was the noble house of al’Doran who ruled the lands prior to the al’Morena family, the lands being the stunning Duchy of Alasce, which had once covered a good portion of the lands long since ceded to the city state of Four Corners. The most noble house of al’Doran ensured that the Duchy of Alasce grew in strength and power, it’s ties to the Royal family strengthened by loyal service from each and every member of its family. It was through this loyalty and keen grasp of how to govern, that Alasce grew. Trade near to the heart of Alasce, as it was prospered, and the lands were slowly, but surely, protected as fortresses were built and roads were strengthened. Soldiers and watchmen were raised and hired and the lands prospered because of it, the relative peace away from the rampaging hordes of Garaili tribesmen was indeed kind. Peace allowed the peasants to toil in their fields and the nobles to enjoy their pursuits, while others died defending this way of life. Such pursuits allowed the al’Doran to build relationships with their vassals, the al’Morena amongst them. Carousing, hunting, gaming and war. Pursuits that forged the nobility.
As one of al’Doran’s apparently loyal vassals, the al’Morena family sought to ingratiate themselves with their liege lord. Skilled in such matters, the al’Morena family managed to become firm friends with the al’Doran family. It was Adrien al’Morena who headed the vanguard of the al’Morena ‘assault’, befriending Alain al’Doran to such an extent that the two became inseparable, each relying on the other, or so it would seem. The two would hunt together and each would be each other’s counsel and their friendship was truly thought one of the strongest, and admired by those who only wished that they could so impress their liege lord Alain al’Doran. Notably, it was the two together who stemmed the tide of the Garaili hordes, aiding eachother in battle and the planning of various rather underhand tactics that sought to bring the vicious hordes to a halt. Indeed between conventional and warfare less so, the Hordes were halted and then driven back.
It was as the al’Ramar family ascended, unifying Aequor, that the al’Doran family was noticed, though Alain certainly ensured that Adrien received his due. Though Alain was not long for the world, it was as he returned to Alasce, that he found himself waylaid by trained soldiers and killed, not a single guard managed to fend off the dire assault that was eventually put down a couple of converging groups of Garaili tribesmen who had managed to evade capture and took a great risk in attacking such a small but well armed and armoured contingent of Aequorian nobility. Adrien himself upon hearing the news, returned to Alasce, apparently distraught. As if that wasn’t enough, Alain’s wife passed away, apparently of a broken heart and ill-humours upon hearing the news, leaving not a single heir to the Duchy of Alasce, for Alain’s brothers had all died in battle, the Garaili having apparently claimed more than their due in noble blood.
With such a title standing empty, there was a need to ensure continuity and stability after such a time, and so the Duchy of Alasce was granted to the al’Morena family, given their good standing and apparent loyalty. Rewarded in kind, for it was some cousin of Adrien who ensured the poisoning of Alain’s wife, said cousin suffered a most unfortunate accident and tumbled to his death down a flight of stairs, having apparently drank too much. It was said that the cousin was perhaps a touch too insistent for a reward with regard to his efforts. Such neediness was quite unseemly and as such, he was silenced before the neediness turned to an equally unseemly demand.
The troops that has ambushed and massacred Alain’s contingent returned to Alasce and were formally named as the Shadow Legion, rewarded for their efforts and set up as the al’Morena’s own personal cohorts. Skilled in the darker side of warfare, there are the occasional whispers of duplicity from those peasants who have yet to accept the change of their liege lord.
A time of peace followed, with the Garaili hordes vanquished to a middling threat of raided farms as and when their food supplies dwindled, the al’Morena family strengthened their bonds with the populace, and indeed the Royal family, for one Cherise al’Morena, a beautiful young lady was wed into the al’Ramar family, strengtheining their bonds even further. Though even as peace settled, the years passed and war inevitably came in the form of the Thirty Years War. Galenthian soldiers turned the fields and lands of Alasce to bloodied mud, every inch paid for with the blood of Aequorian and Galenthian alike.
The Shadow Legion came into its own, bringing the feared Galenthian Huntresses to a halt within their lands, stymying the skilled huntresses with equal skill when it came to their most unconventional manner of warfare. While on the field, Aequorians perished, the Duchess Leonore al’Morena proved an inspiration to her commanders, while due to her marriage to a cousin of the Queen, reinforcements were readily available for the killing fields of Alasce. What was once fertile green, was little more than a bloody bog as the war took its toll. Families on both sides were never to see loved ones again, lost to the murk of the battlefields of Alasce.
As the war drew to its end, Leonore signed the Wolf Company, one of the largest and best equipped mercenary bands there was and indeed is, signed in perpetuity, from their employers in Four Corners. And even as the war came to an end, the Wolf Company managed to claim a few laurels in the bloody fighting that ensued. But the war was not to last, in 1844 peace was demanded by the Church and a great portion of ruined lands were ceded to the City State of Four Corners and peace settled once more on the lands. Leonore died shortly afterwards, loved by her people given the steadfast defense of her lands. The rebuilding fell to her heir, James al’Morena. With a good portion of the lands ceded, the Duchy of Alasce was recompensed with funds from both the Church and the Royal family of Aequor, and it was with this money that James set to repairing his shattered lands and building on the legacy of Leonore.
Overview:
Province: The Duchy of Alasce
Cities and Towns: The Duchy of Alasce incorporates much of the southwestern portion of Aequor. It's capital shares the name of the Duchy, and the port city of Alsace is also the largest city within the Duchy. The City of Alasce is a bustling trade port, and its' proximity to Four Corners means that it is no surprise that many different Guilds operate within the Duchy (but particularly in Alasce). Alasce is a remarkably small city (barely large enough to qualify for the term) despite the amount of trade that goes on here, but it is slowly growing as the Duchy has recovered from the Thirty Years' War. Several smaller towns dot the Alasce countryside, linked together by a well-maintained network of roads, to include major roads running from Alasce to Lyionesse in the north of Aequor, Alasce to Rhone in the East, and Alasce to Four Corners in the south.
Fortifications: The seat of House al'Morena is presently called Highwater, named for the speech that Duchess Leonore gave upon its' completion, describing it as "The High-Water Mark" of the attempted Galenthian Invasions. It is not particularly large as castles go, but well-fortified and in a more than adequately defensible location just outside the city of Alasce. From the Ducal bedchambers in the highest tower of the castle, the dawn's light enters every morning from the window facing the east…while a second window facing to the North can look out upon the burned ruin of Alain's Rest, forever reminding the rulers of House al'Morena of the deeds they must sometimes undertake to secure the strength of their family. Of course, rumors persist that Highwater is riddled with secret passages and hidden rooms, in keeping with the al'Morena's shadowy reputation.
Terrain: The Duchy of Alasce is largely dominated by light forests, occasionally broken up by patches of grasslands or low rolling hills. Several streams make their way from these hills through the forests, but they lack a major river system. House al'Morena controls the direct administration of the City of Alasce and its' surrounding countryside for about five days' ride to the east and north. The rest of the Duchy is divided between two Counties administered by the al'Morena's vassal Counts.
d'Geroux (County)
- d'Arx of Riverwind (Barony)
- d'Rynelle of Greenfields (Lordship)
- d'Orianne of Stonewall (Lordship)
- d'Attardo of Five Waters (Lordship)
- open seat (Lordship)
- d'Cauthone (Barony)
- d'Magro (Lordship)
- d'Cremani (Lordship)
- d'Rana (Lordship)
- open seat (Lordship)
Direct Vassals:
d'Bellet (Barony)
d'Picot (Barony)
d'Alasce (Lordship)
d'Lacroix (Lordship)
d'Martine (Lordship)
Open seat (lordship)
Former vassals:
d'Myrin (Lordship, utterly destroyed)
The Shadow Legion:
The Shadow Legion is a battle group that makes up House al'Morena's official military. They have a reputation for ambushes and daring sneak attacks that kept the Huntresses of Galenthia particularly occupied in the 30 Year war. One of the units called simply Blood Seekers, specializes in what might be considered darker tactics. These men and women hide in shadows and strike when appropriate. Though people might call them Assasins, they are well versed in unit tactics and can fight in both Melee and Ranged combat. The Legion itself works closely with the Argent Legion, and usually sends out river patrols to assist d'Armaz in guarding the rivers from White Hall attacks.
The Shadow Legion follows the Mercenary make up of units stemming from the House's past as Mercenaries. This tradition has been kept since the house's founding, and it is usually the 2nd child who commands the Shadow Legion, while the 3rd child commands the Blood Seekers. The Heir, while usually busy with learning how to run the house, is expected to spend at least two years in the Legion to learn humility under the command of a younger sibling.
The Legion consists of Two Dragons that form the First and Second Shadow Cohorts who are the House's professional Soldiers. The Militia, consisting of Seven other Dragons train on a rotating weekly basis so that at any time, at least one Militia Cohort is active. A cohort is broken down as follows:
250 (A wing) of Legionnaires
125 (A Talon) of Cavalry
125 (A Talon) Of Crossbowmen
There are only ever 250 Blood Seekers who when in mass combat operate in Scales to assist the cohorts and act as scouts.
Wolf Company:
The Wolves are a company of Mercenaries that flesh out the Shadow Legion. Like the Shadow Legion the Wolves favor hit and run and ambush attacks that disorient and confuse enemy lines. The Wolves are commanded by Lord Killian d'Lacroix, who was recently lorded and given lands. The Wolves work for House al'Morena and act as a police force in the towns and villages, but primarily patrol the docks of the Duchy capital and other towns of the al'Morena lands.
The Wolf Company is comprised of the following Troops
125 (A Talon) Of Heavy Spearmen
125 (A Talon) of Peltasts (Heavy skirmishers)
75 (Three Scales) Of Lancers
50 (Two Scales) of Heavy Cavalry
125 (A Talon) Of Longbowmen
The Duchy of Alasce: As Dukes of Alasce, the lesser nobility of Alsace are their bannermen, and House al'Morena can call upon those forces in times of need.
The bulk of House al'Morena's funds come through taxes (particularly from the spectacularly wealthy D'Armaz family) and tolls on goods passing through their lands, whether from the port of Alasce or simply along their roads. A great deal of goods comes through the port of Alasce. They also have a robust fishing industry, and make no small profit selling timber from their forests and livestock from their grasslands. Alasce also has well-regarded shipyards and shipwrights, though the ships built here tend to be of the mercantile variety more so than the military.
Unofficially, House al'Morena makes tremendous amounts of wealth due to their ties to the Syndicate. They are careful not to flaunt it (lest their liege lords become suspicious,) but suffice to say House al'Morena wants for nothing, and if pressed could likely hire virtually half the Mercenaries in Four Corners to reinforce themselves.
Main Line:
Head of House: Duke Jordan al'Morena
Ducal Spouse: None Yet
Current Heir: TBD
Eldest Child: No Children
Secondary Line:
Enrique al'Morena (b 1818), older brother to James (Open, PC)
his wife, Tiara al'Morena nee al'Demense (b 1820) (Open, PC)
their children
Rickard al'Morena (b 1838), (Open, PC)
his wife ?? al'Morena nee ??
their child
?? (son) (b 1862);
Harlan al'Morena (b 1840), (Open, PC)
Catrina al'Morena (b 1841) (Open, PC)
Narcissa al'Morena (b 1826), youngest sister to James (Open, PC)
her husband, Warren al'Morena nee d'Salvetore (b 1821, d 11-19-1846 of a horse-riding accident)
their children
Florence al'Morena (b 1842) (Open, PC)
Maryanna al'Morena (b 1844) (Open, PC)
Allen al'Morena (b 03-15-1847) (Open, PC)
Master Alchemist/Blacksmith: House al'Morena enjoys the services of a master alchemist and blacksmith within their household, a Lord Aron D'Acuto.
Courtesans: House al'Morena has two Courtesans that attend to entertain guests and such while they wait for audiences, etc… (and covertly to suss out gossip that might be of use). (appable characters)
- one is unnamed (Open, PC)
- The other is Ariana Fremont (b 1844); daughter of Jacqueline Fremont. Half-sister to the Duke's bastard Corvin through his mother. Due to the Duke's fondness for her mother, was offered the position in the house's court. She is not a recognized bastard of the Duke; in fact, her mother says her father could have been any one of three different men; of which the Duke was not one of them. Trained at the Academie d'Alasce. (Open, PC)
Head of the House Guard: Non-noble head of the House Guard, occasionally acts as a bodyguard to members of the family. (appable character) (Open, PC)
An assortment of Shadow Legion members and Blood Seekers.
Assumed Quirks:
Ruthless - al'Morenas have the unpleasant (well, maybe less unpleasant to them) task of being the dirty-job House of the Kingdom of Aequor. To this end, there are few, if any boundaries that most of them will refuse to cross in service to their family and their Kingdom.
Agnostic - While they acknowledge that the Gods exist, the al'Morenas are often dismissive of the hand of the divine being present in everyday affairs, and equally dismissive of the trappings of faith, though they of course pay the necessary lip-service to it to avoid political trouble.
Loyal - For all their purported treacherous deeds and sinister nature, the vast majority of al'Sylenthars genuinely work for the good of the Kingdom first, and their own family second, even if they do so through underhanded means. In a somewhat twisted and frightening way, one could rarely ask for a better friend or ally than an al'Sylenthar. Though it is of course difficult indeed for outsiders to earn their genuine friendship and loyalty.
Justified Quirks:
Deceptive - al'Morenas are skilled liars, well-accustomed to concealing information they do not wish to be known, even if it means cloaking it in half-truths and misdirections. (Skill Quirk: Deception)
Schemer - Those who serve House al'Morena tend to be politically adept, easily capable of navigating the currents and eddies of Royal Courts and Kingdoms as a whole. (Skill Quirk: Intrigue)
Skilled Investigator - al'Morenas are often quite capable of ferreting out the secrets of others. What kind of spies would they be if they couldn't? (Skill Quirk: Investigation)
Perceptive - Most al'Morenas are trained to make maximum use of their senses, particularly when it comes to determining the intentions of others, even more so when they're trying to conceal them. They thus often have an eye for detail and a knack for "reading" people that borders on the uncanny. (Skill Quirk: Perception)
Culture
Religion: As with all of Aequor, The Duchy of Alasce and House Aequor hold to the One Faith. This is particularly true among the common folk. The nobility at least pays lip service to the faith, even if privately many of them are less-than-devout, regardless of how close they might be to Aequor's Cardinal.
Inheritance:
Nobles:
Commoners:
To be Written
To be written
Wedding Errata: With marriages into House al'Morena, both members of the couple wears masks, and after the kiss removes each others mask (like they put on the rings, first the husband, then the wife) to represent being open with each other and keeping no secrets.
Aftermath: When the al'Morena say they keep no secrets from their spouses, they really mean it. Within a short time after the marriage (sometimes as early as the morning after, sometimes it may be a week or so) is performed and consummated, the new member of the household is let in on all the house's secrets, as well as any personal secrets of their spouse. Generally, this 'unmasking' takes a day or so (and is generally disguised as a honeymoon sort of period), sometimes even more. During this time, the new spouse is heavily guarded (usually by their spouse!), unable to sent any notes or letters, and may ask any questions and is expected to be given truthful answers. It is expected that the new spouse responds in kind, though admittedly, most take a year or two before they are capable of unmasking themselves.
Depending on how they react to these truths will be how the household handles them for the foreseeable. Despite the thought that a negative reaction initially will be an instant death sentence for the newest member of the family, the al'Morena are not fools; they know that some people take awhile to come around to understanding what they've been brought into. Even a positive reaction does not necessarily guarantee that the new spouse will not be watched carefully. It is made very clear what the cost of treachery is, and those who cannot come to terms with the position of the house and what it does often are handled quietly after an heir and a spare, at least, have come from the pairing.
There are very few true love matches in house al'Morena. Often, even those who can handle the rigors of being wed in and can be trusted to keep the family's secrets close are, in large part, resentful of the strict code of silence and the casual open sociopathy that the family displays in private (a sad but necessary thing in order to do what they do); and it isn't strange for couples to 'part ways' after they have at least have two children (and often in quick succession) and keep to other beds. They are still expected to act as confidants to each other, of course, and not keep secrets… so, yes, if they keep to other beds, their spouse is very well aware of with whom.