oryP 972 Share Posted September 16, 2023 THE HISTORIES OF HOUSE RUTHERN “By Bones and Barrows.”Per Ossa et in Barcis Issued by the County of Marsana. The 6th of the Grand Harvest House Ruthern is an ancient Raevir house, dating back to as far as the realm of Asulon. Currently sitting under the Count, Demetrius var Ruthern and his beloved, Estella Maria Tatiana Ruthern. House Ruthern was founded upon a bastard cadet branch of House Carrion. Through Boris I, came Ruther ‘Bonebreaker’ Barrow, the founding member of House Ruthern. Ruther ‘Bonebreaker’ Barrow would bring House Ruthern to its eminence and prestige. Living Members to the Mainline of House Ruthern: THE RIGHT HONORABLE, Ser Demetrius Laonicus var Ruthern, Count of Marsana. @oryP Children of Count Demetrius var Ruthern HER LADYSHIP, Dame Viktoria Carosa vas Ruthern, Heiress of Marsana. @retro HIS LORDSHIP, Sigmar Demetrius var Ruthern. @TheGreasyChef HER LADYSHIP, Odette Mariya vas Ruthern. @Heart_Spam HIS LORDSHIP, Jakob Bzyas var Ruthern. HIS LORDSHIP, Mikhail Afanasiy var Ruthern. @Sebbysc HIS LORDSHIP, Jan Aleksandr var Ruthern. @Kaii HER LADYSHIP, Elizaveta Sofia vas Ruthern. @Emi_2006 Living Kin of House Ruthern: HIS LORDSHIP, Rhys Marcelo var Ruthern. @Nilyeet HER LADYSHIP, Madalena Alexei vas Ruthern. @LucyHeartfilia HIS LORDSHIP, Kristoff Alexios var Ruthern. @Imperium HIS LORDSHIP, Ivan Gregory var Ruthern. @Wavey HIS LORDSHIP, Alaric Diocles var Ruthern. @andydreww Histories of House Ruthern House Ruthern comes from a wedlock between Prince Boris Carrion and a courtier of the courts, Ruther Barrow had been a bastard. Raised by servantry and other governesses housed there, Ruther had been an ill-mannered and cruel brat. Throughout his militaristic ventures, his weapon of choice had been a hammer, favoring naval battles on the frigid, blue waters that rinse out the blood of battle as he was fond of fighting due to his intense bloodlust. He would wear the teeth, spines, and bones of his opponents as battle trophies while preventing all of his troops from wearing gold jewelry, a barbaric strategy that is being used by the House today. The courtiers and servants of Lord Borislav plead that Ruther be sent off to a foreign soils befitting enough to kill him. Ruther was sent off with 16 longships and a levy of conscripts and convicts. In spite of Ruther’s circumstances, the raiding party had infiltrated rival Kosanov Holding and made waste to within and its entirety. When the Carrion Lords he had been in service of attempted to claim the hold, the boy had garrisoned the castle and demanded legitimization for his efforts in battle. Ruther and Borislav reached a deal by surrendering the noble estate. No vassal surrounding Borislav would have wanted the malevolent Ruther, a legitimate Carrion, to inherit his holdings, but the fortress was essential to bringing the campaign to an end, and an amphibious raid was out of the question. Ruther's warband was nonetheless granted access to a deserted beach due to appeasement efforts and sincere hopes that doing so would please the cruel monster. Ruther was soon compelled to leave his estates as the fighting spiraled out of control. He led his fleet away from the House of Carrion's in a fit of rage and madness, taking the people with him to a number of island civilizations between the continents of Asulon and Anthos. The untimely and unexpected death of Ruther was followed by that of his trueborn son, Boris. Because of the hammerhead shark's ferocity, association with water, and association with his father's weapon, Boris chose it as his personal sigil. Boris had two sons, Ivan and Ailred, and carried on his father's heritage of launching violent expeditions against various trading archipelagos. But unlike his father, Boris lacked the ruthless tenacity and violence. He stumbled, and as a result, competing slavers abducted his second son, Ailred, when he was still a tiny child. Ailred was sold to Augustus Blackmont in Anthos and was never found by the family; he was reared as a Dreadfort child soldier. Boris eventually developed scurvy, which caused him to pass away. This caused the "Fleet of Bones" to be dispersed across the abyssal seas, with each Captain vying for the title Ruther and Boris had held. The ensuing, bloody conflict between friends and family members became known as the "Night of Broken Ships." Ivan was able to consolidate his own forces from new recruits and relics of the Bones' crews the following year, where he learned about a new landmass and began making plans. Ivan had a talent that his father lacked. Crimson Chapter [Anthos] Ivan set out for Anthos with the few stout conscripts and thralls he had left. Despite his weakened fleet, he had anticipated a war-ready continent. After showing up on the Red Isles, Ivan and his armada are met on the shore by an entourage of fighters, faithful to House Blackmont. Ivan and his crew are taken to the Dreadfort after accepting a meeting with Lord Augustus Blackmont; a massive, terrifying location. Inside, the conversation was productive because Ivan realized that Lord Augustus shared his views, which led to the integration of his men into the Flay forces. As an officer, Ivan served the amazing bandit lord as a formidable brigand on his own. Ivan and his brother, Flay bannerman Ailred, were reunited in what can only be described as a fortuitous turn of events. During their time apart, Ivan had earned the nickname "Red Ruth" for his flayish brutality. Before gaining his freedom and ascending the ranks due to his abilities as a swordsman and commander of men, Ailred had been raised in a harsh environment. The Ruthern brothers and their men enjoyed prosperous years of banditry, raiding, and amassing considerable power and influence. However, like all good things, the House Ruthern's tenure as bannermen was short-lived. Augustus Blackmont, the one who had collected the regard and unwaveringly of many, kicked the bucket, leaving his child Tiberius, known to be uncouth, to acquire. The "Crimson Banquet," where Tiberius' death at the hands of an unknown poisoner led to a feast in the Flay Keep that devolved into wild accusations and fighting, marked the culmination of Tiberius' incompetence. The chaos that ensues and the spilling of blood cause the Dreadfort to catch fire and burn to ashes. After Horen V's death and the fall of the First Orenian Empire, many of the former Blackmont loyalists join the vast majority of people in the Great Exodus, leaving Anthos in search of the fabled land of Aeldin. Their status increased once more as Ivan and Ailred remained and ruled the lands that had previously belonged to House Blackmont.Second Orenian Empire [Anthos] In lieu of the Orenian Empire, the Kingdom of Ruska rose in its place as the predominant realm for humanity. Siegmund Carrion, king of Ruska and second cousin of Ivan and Ailred, is in charge of it. A figure with charisma and power to captivate. Ivan and Ailred were sought out by King Siegmund as a means of expressing his desire for a united humanity with them as members. Ivan and Ailred agreed, convinced of his sincerity and lack of ulterior motive, and the lands held by the Ruthern siblings became part of the Kingdom of Ruska to aid Siegmund. When the remaining human states join forces and make the Apostolic Kingdom of Ruska the only nation of humanity, the vision becomes ever more real in the years to come as the Second Orenian Empire is reconstructed with a Kaorvic at its core. Ivan and Ailred were rewarded for their loyalty by becoming Marquess and Counts and establishing the Decterum Order, the Empire's largest and later state military, with Ailred serving as its Marshal. While Ailred's influence and power grew over the next few decades, his brother Ivan became increasingly frail and weak as he grew older. Ivan dies in the middle of the night in his bed in late Anthos. He leaves behind both trueborn and baseborn children, but Ailred becomes the new patriarch of the House of Ruthern. When Emperor Siegmund I died, he dismantled the Empire and left the throne of the Kingdom of Oren to his nephew, Heinrik "the Warrior'' van Roy, who became King Heinrik I. A few years later, the continent of Anthos fell under the waves after routine floodings swallowed large swaths of land and forced the Rutherns and the rest of the Kingdom to flee to the Fringe, a temporary land mass where the descendants The bloodiest and most destructive period in the House of Ruthern's history, which began with the King's death, was witnessed in The Fringe. Oren Civil War [Fringe] Upon the demise of King Heinrik I of Oren in 1456, Franz Josef Remains, the third born child of Exalted Emperor Siegmund and nephew of Heinrik, was broadcasted successor to the high position in the last will of the departed lord. Questionably, Franz had recently been High Pontiff (alluded to as High Ecclesiarch at the moment), under the name Radomir I, however surrendered his ecclesiastical titles and got back to mainstream life as a Prince of the Kingdom of Oren. Franz was notable for his strategy and maneuvers and it was accepted among individuals of Oren that he would bring a more serene time after the wealth of war, strikes and military activities of his ancestor. In spite of his standing, there were those from the honorability and ministry who were against his delegation, boss among them the High Pontiff Regulus I and Ecclesiastical overseer John Jrent of Darfey. Regulus accepted that it was entirely off-base for a Pontiff Emeritus to look for a crown, a demonstration which was in infringement with Franz Carrion's own ecclesiastical directs, and developed neurotic over the stimulated spread of Ruskan Orthodoxy, which Regulus and his ancestor High Pontiff Lucien II had previously needed to make various concessions for. Thus, High Pontiff Regulus I postponed and abstained from delegating Prince Franz Carrion as King of Oren for a long time. Only the genuine High Pontiff might crown a King of Oren and hence Franz Carrion looked to dodge the cycle by being delegated as King of Ruska by an enemy of pontiff fitting his very own preference rather in the City of Vekaro. During his royal celebration, the Request for Order of Saint Lucien being available accepted it upon themselves as a Sacred Request faithful to High Pontiff Regulus I to capture the anti-pontiff. They bombed in this endeavor when an assault on the fort by cronies of Iblees known as the Scourge started, compelling the Lucienists to manage them as opposed to proceeding with their confinement of the anti-pontiff. Pressures developed when this act was misconstrued as a bombed death endeavor and Regulus denounced Franz' activities. After the denouncement of King Franz' endeavors by those of the True Church, Franz continued by his arrangement and gave a letter to Pontiff Regulus expressing that he had defrocked his own enemy of pontiff and wished to apologize depending on the prerequisite that the Pontiff enthrone him as King of Oren. King Franz Remains could never consider this work out as expected to be the Archbishop supervisor John of Darfey, Chancellor of the Council of Bishops, had schemed with the head of the Decterum and Lord Marshal of Oren, Count Ailred Ruthern, to dismiss King Franz no holds barred. The Archbishop supervisor had evidently offered Ailred the crown of Oren, a commitment he had no ability to give, and Ailred acknowledged. Pretending proceeded with steadfastness to his Ruskan liege, Ailred and his Decterum were conceded passage into Vekaro where they started to organize their blood upset. Franz and those in his court, being Lord Chancellor Wilfriche Buron later to be consecrated as Saint Wilfriche of Hanseti, Nobleman Lorethos Basileus, thirteen year old page Damon Kovachev, nine lowborn courtiers, and one priest, were killed by the men of the Decterum and Lucienists. King Franz Carrion was killed by Ailred Ruthern by and by with a portion of 100 cuts before he imploded, just to be set upon by different plotters who ravaged him further. High Pontiff Regulus I objected to the double-crossing that would from now on be recognized as the 'Franciscan Slaughter' of 1456 yet designated Ailred Ruthern and Commandant Jack Rovin of the Request for Order of Saint Lucien, among other striking heads of Human groups, as an individual from the Tetrarchs, a brief regime chamber, as the Pontiff was reluctant to name a solitary replacement to the privileged position to stay away from additional splits between humankind. Simultaneously, Velky-Strannik, generally meant Grand Knight, Fredek Royce of the Request for Stranniks, bastard child of King Heinrik I, was available in the regal palace in Vekaro while the Decterum and Lucienist powers killed all men present and faithful to King Franz Carrion. Fredek, after finding the selling out, had the sense to stay undetected while he advanced out of the palace. En route he went over the kid Dederick Varodyr, who he whisked away to the general security of the Excoriate claimed, Mount Augustus. Individual enduring observers and the Raevir occupants of Vekaro had advanced toward Mount Augustus additionally where they related Ailred's foul play to any who might tune in, acquiring Ailred Ruthern the moniker 'the Turncloak'. When Dederick Varodyr was out of danger and rejoined with his family Tuvya and Boris Remains, Fredek Royce rode back to his settlement of Stranniks where he requested the men to energize up and move on their ponies. Dashing back to the city, the Stranniks had the goal of recovering the city or, bombing that, recuperating the assemblage of King Franz Remains. Among their numbers was a Ruthern charlatan by the name of Dmitri of the Dreadfort, remembered to be a grandson of Ivan 'the Seafaring' Ruthern, filling in as Borsa-Strannik, the second most elevated position in the request. When inside Vekaro, the Request for Stranniks was met with additional numbers than Fredek Royce had expected and in the wake of battling for a really long time, the Stranniks were at last compelled to withdraw into an edge of the city. Realizing that there was minimal likelihood of coming out on top or departure, Fredek Royce, Dmitri Cart and the leftover Stranniks made one final dash into the Decterum and Lucienist powers in a final desperate attempt to get through their line in what counterparts have alluded to as a self destruction charge. The Stranniks were all chopped down against the infinitely better numbers. Following the Franciscan Slaughter and the last Strannik charge, Ailred kept up with command over Vekaro for various weeks with fortifications from the Request for Order of Saint Lucien and avoided any endeavors to recover the city. Contradict started developing inside the positions of the Decterum in any case, just exacerbated by the developing conviction that Ailred Ruthern wouldn't be delegated the following King of Oren and a general hatred for the deplorable acts committed by him. Coming to a peak on the eleventh of the Deep Cold, 1456, Ser Abner Rahl 'the Red Crow', the most veteran fighter in the Decterum, slay Ailred Ruthern. With the help of individual Decterum knight Ser Rowan McHaryn, Abner took command of the Decterum as Marshal and turned most of the ordermen back to filling in as Carrion supporters which held Vekaro in their name. Notwithstanding their reestablished faithfulness, the Decterum battled for neither side in the following Attack of Mt. Augustus, rather focussing on reorganizing the request. Ailred Ruthern's child, Lyov Ruthern was broadcasted as patriarch of House Ruthern as definite in a letter given by Ser Abner Rahl wherein he likewise officially apologized for the activities of Ailred and the Decterum to the Place of Remains. The assemblages of the fallen Stranniks, including that of Dmitri Hand truck's, were handed back to the Carrion followers in Mt. Augustus and given the fitting last rituals prior to being let go. Dmitri, for his part in the endeavored recovery of his master's body, was made Honored and legitimized post mortem as Dmitri Ruthern. Tuvya 'Rosebud' Carrion, the baseborn stepbrother of King Franz Carrion , arranged the safeguard of Mt. Augustus for the impending attack that had been arranged by Ailred before his homicide. The usurping Orenian powers had reinforced their military with Urguani crowds and other non-people (becoming known as the Zionists), starting to encompass the post. Days went by yet the thick walls didn't give anything and repulsed the continuous goes after however the Carrion followers inside could endure so lengthy with restricted food and men, dwarfed four to one. Whether they got unsuspecting due to having lost Ailred Ruthern, their most veteran leader, the besiegers were killed after the Carrion officers stomped out to meet them in a fight that boiled down to the last second. A Carrion triumph left the eventual fate of Oren unassuming and questionable. Such was the situation until a note from the High Pontiff Regulus I spread the word about that a specter of the Commended Godfrey appeared to him and his entourage on a journey to the vestiges of the Magnificent capital of Abresi. The apparition called for Peter Chivay to be delegated and reform the Empire of Oren. The Pontiff sent letters teaching the Chivay to get back from Aeldin. He arrived on the shores of the Periphery with the Request for the White Rose close by where he was delegated as Emperor Peter I of Oren by Regulus. Emperor Peter made a détente with the Remains under the terms that Boris Carrion, Tuvya's child and in this manner grandson of Lifted up Sigismund, be made a Princewith land for the Ruskans. For Ailred's leading role in the Franciscan Massacre and Carrion overthrow, House Ruthern had little spot in the Third Empire with the rage of all the Raevir people groups on them. His bet for the kingdom had failed. As such the couple of enduring Rutherns lived far away, banished for good, remembered to be wiped out, until the times of Vailor. The last sign of them, the Decterum, was disbanded in early Athera once a Carrion monarchy was thought secure once more. Erochland and the County of Metterden [Vailor / Axios] During the exile of descendent Dmitri and his wife, Emma, was the birth of two twins, Alric and Maric. Deep into their adolescence they set sail for Vailor to carve out a future within the Fifth Empire. Finding themselves upon the shores of the Province of Erochland, caught in unrest and mayhem since its annexation. Governed by Emperor John I’s son, Prince Alexander Louis, with quite the opportunity to seize, both Alric and Maric pledged their allegiance to Prince Alexander. Further into adulthood, both twins found themselves a spouse, Alric wed to Lopkaea Marbrand and Maric to Isabel Stafyr. Alric had one son with his wife, Joseph, in contrast to his brother Maric and his wife, who had a plenitude of kin. Starting with his firstborns, the twins Dmitri and Marjorie, then following was Godric, Odette, and Arik. Osgord Colborn granted Alric the Imperial title of Count of Metterde. Alric was an astute warrior and even more so a commander, passed the title in recognition for his noble stock and abilities to oversee the Southern Chapter of the Golden Corps in Osgord’s name. Alric suffered from depression and melancholia that left the man insensible at times. Upon his climax after continued breakdown in Alric’s mental state, he went on to disown his only son, Joseph, which would leave the boy to take his mothers name. Afterwards, Alric would disappear, leaving his wife, being last seen entering the forests of the Imperial Capital, Felsen, never to be seen again. Maric var Ruthern, Alric’s brother, would go on to become the next Count of Metterden after his disappearance. Maric, having the senses that his brother lacked, quickly restored his minor estates and provinces, proving himself to be an effective replacement for his brother and would find his fortune to be raised after the death of the Prince, Alexander Louis. Osgord Colborn, was raised to the title of Duke of Erochland in view of his control of the island’s lands and peoples. Osgord’s obligation to lands in the north became problematic, due to such, he appointed Maric as Regent of Erochland, as to rule whilst Osgord wasn’t on the island.The orcish plague spread across the continent of Vailor, forcing the descendents to flee the lands and set sail for the Axios Isles. Maric proved to be a qualified Regent of the Erochland, and such was rewarded when Orsgord vouched for House Ruthern to the newly risen Kingdom of Haenseni-Ruska within the Empire. King Petyr, of House Barbanov was the descendent of the last Carrion’s, still forgiving House Ruthern for the actions of Ailred’s role in the Fransiscan Massacre. Welcoming Maric to the Kingdom as a vassal and had the County of Metterden transferred over to him, making the Court Maric the first of a long line of Haenseni Rutherns. Not long after was the withdrawal of Maric’s health, which led to his passing. Dmitri, one of Maric’s first sons took over House Ruthern, he would accept his former cousin which had been disowned. The new Count would continue to lead House Ruthern in the coming years as one of the more prominent houses of Haenseni-Ruska.Deep Cold Uprising and Aftermath [Axios]Philip Frederick, the youngest son of Emperor John III, was engaged to Princess Tatiana, the youngest sister of King Andrik, but they soon separated. The Princess Royal of Haense Julia was paired with John III's son and successor John Augustus in order to maintain the connection between the two Houses. Ser Edwyn Harwyn, who summarized Prince John as being nasty and weird, added that "His Imperial Highness has degraded to the point of sheer madness, cunningly brutal yet brutally cunning." King Andrik began to lose faith in the imperial crown despite Emperor John III's best efforts to keep them united because it was generally known that John had made a number of derogatory remarks about both his fiancée and Princess Tatiana. When Prince John's father, Emperor John III, was murdered and he unexpectedly assumed the throne as Emperor John IV in 1585 at the age of 17, Andrik's hatred for the prince reached a fever pitch. The newly appointed Emperor and King Andrik II met as was usual, but historians have subsequently discussed the possibility that Emperor John IV exploited the occasion to humiliate and make fun of King Andrik. Whatever the motivation, it is a certainty that King Andrik assassinated John IV just two months into his Imperial rule, working with his friend Margrave Brandon Vanir. Both later said that the regicide was an act of self defense since the Emperor had threatened and was ready to kill Andrik himself. King Andrik quickly returned to the north to start reinforcing the Haeseni frontier in anticipation of the impending Crownland retaliation because his revolt had already started. To stop any army from moving upon the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska via land, he fortified the ranks of the strategically placed forts and castles with his own troops and barred the route through the Greyspine Mountains. The vassals of King Andrik, who had at first backed him, became uneasy as time went on. Only two generations prior, the Dukes' War had caused the ruin and exile of numerous Haeseni noble families for decades. Many of King Andrik's nobles revolted against him because they didn't want to lose their status and wealth once more and because Emperor Philip I had promised to keep a Barbanov on the Haeseni throne and had granted clemency to any Lords in his letter, the Olive Branch Petition. Count Sergei Kovachev was the first of these, and Count Dmitri Ruthern arrived next. King Andrik had little choice but to resign to his two-year-old son Marus due to the loss of his top vassal's allegiance and crucial checkpoints like the Ruthern Mountains. Regardless of the real cause of his failed insurrection, Andrik surrendered to the Imperial army and was carried back towards the Palace as a prisoner. Andrik was put to death by milk boiling under Emperor Philip. Due to his participation in the regicide of Emperor John IV, Brandon Vanir was arrested by imperial soldiers the same year and had his hand amputated. As he upheld his end of the bargain and permitted the Haeseni vassals to maintain their lands and keep Andrik's son, King Marus I, on the throne of Hanseti-Ruska, the Emperor Philip's word was proven to be trustworthy. Also given territory in the Imperial crownlands was Count Dmitri. Dmitri and his brother Godric take advantage of this right away by founding a worker's guild that served both Karlsburg, the capital of the Haeseni, and Johannesburg, the capital of the Imperials. Dmitri, and consequently House Ruthern, had one of the greatest coffers in Axios thanks to wise management and a booming economy. However, Dmitri's luck changed at the end of the 1500s when his wife Sofia committed suicide, sending him spiraling into a deep depression that consumed the rest of his life. The wealth amassed was lost in a couple of months, and Dmitri almost completely abandoned his family in poverty as a result of the worker's guild's rapid descent into obscurity and final collapse. Before the dejected Count could worsen the situation, he petitioned King Marus I in 1595 to award his son and successor, Boris, his fortune right away while Dmitri was still alive. When it was granted, Boris was made the fourth Count of Metterden. Boris' tenure as Count was largely steady, with just a few unforeseen events that cropped up. During his time in office, a succession dispute involving the connected Marbrand family and the barony title led to Boris seizing the estates and assuming the title of Baron of Rostig for himself. In the years that followed, he also orchestrated the weddings of his sisters Adelajda and Aleksandra to King Marus I and Count Sergei's grandson Stefjan Kovachev, in order to preserve the fictitious alliance that had been forged and end any conflicts that could have persisted from the Deep Cold Uprising. Succession Crisis and the Great Northern War [Axios]In his six years as Count, Boris kept a firm hold on the County and faced no challenges to his authority; none of his immediate successors, however, could make the same claim. Boris never got married or had kids, thus Viktor is the presumed successor. Boris secretly drafted a will to make sure Viktor would never inherit anything since he was afraid of his brother's abilities and character. He said in it that a distant relative named Arik Ruthern would instead receive the County. In what is now known as the period preceding the Great Northern War, tensions grew between the Kingdom of Courland and the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. In order to secure the release of the Courlandic Princess Annabelle Staunton, who was being detained under house arrest, Lord Palatine Lukas Vanir sends Count Boris as the Haeseni agent. He rode toward the Courlandic capital of Aleksandria, but a Courlandic knight named Ser Demetrios Palaiologos intercepted him outside the gates and murdered Count Boris. After Boris' death, his will came to light, and it immediately led to a rift in the House Ruthern between those who supported Viktor Ruthern's claim and those who wanted to honor Boris' wishes by supporting Arik Ruthern. The County was awarded to Arik after King Marus I decided in favor of his claim to it. Outraged Viktor Ruthern and some of his kin, including his uncle Adelwen Ruthern, left Hanseti-Ruska and made a deal with the Kingdom of Courland, swearing allegiance to them in a declaration of fealty. Arik was dubbed "the Black" by Viktor's side, who argued that they had been wronged and that his claim was invalid. Viktor and the relatives who followed him were branded traitors and cowards by Arik and his followers for siding with the Kingdom that executed Boris. The Great Northern War began the next year, with Rutherns fighting on both sides. King Marus I was forced to submit to King Tobias Staunton as a result of a string of defeats for Hanseti-Ruska that reached a crescendo during the victorious Siege of Vasiland, which left no more effective defense sites for the northern kingdom. With King Marus still claiming his titles but being driven into exile along with any Haeseni who were reluctant to remain under the subjugators, the former Haeseni domains are taken over by the Kingdom of Courland. King Tobias appointed Ivan Ivanovich as Warden of the North in order to oversee the seized territory and maintain good relations with the vanquished Haeseni. Ivan had no children when he passed away, thus the notorious Archduke Franz Kovachev of Akovia was named Warden. King Tobias gave Viktor Ruthern the entire County of Metterden in appreciation for his assistance during the war after the Courlandic triumph. The 'Ruthern Restoration Act of 1604' was issued by Viktor and his uncle Adelwen, and it formally disowned and renounced Arik's claim to the Ruthern name, as well as his claims to lands, assets, and titles. Greyspine Rebellion [Axios] Only three years would Count Viktor be the ruler before his untimely death. At the young age of seven, his son and successor Joren became the 8th Count of Metterden. With the help of his advisers, Joren overturned his father's Ruthern Restoration Act and named Vladrick Ruthern, a distant relative and lineal descendant of Ailred "the Turncloak," as his regent. After a few years, House Ruthern began to exercise its vassal rights, and to the chagrin of both Archduke Franz Kovachev and King Joseph Staunton, who had it ruled illegal, it seized control of the County of Istria, which at the time was a de jure part of Akovia. Outraged, House Ruthern asserted that the Archduke of Akovia had planned the massacre with the aid of the King of Courland after Joren had arrived in good faith, under the authority of the Metterden master-at-arms Harren of Metterden. Harren predicted that the men of House Ruthern would launch a rebellion to take back the Northern territories from the southern masters in his letter "Courlanda Delanda Est." The Greyspine Rebellion started in this manner. The House of Baruch and the Ruthern men joined forces to gain the much-needed reinforcements and confirm that this was the real reason to reunite Haense. Former Haeseni under the tyrannical rule of Courland flocked to the rebel side and took up arms against the dictatorial Archduke and King of Courland as a result of back-and-forth raids and invasions into Ruthern and Courland areas from both sides. In one of the subsequent raids, Joren var Ruthern was executed before the Courland forces, and Harren of Metterden continued to serve as both commander and chief war advisor. The banished Haeseni arrived back, headed by Stefan Barbanov, son of King Marus I, just in time to take part in the Second Battle of the Rothswood, the battle that would define the war. In a decisive victory that allowed the rebels to reclaim their territory, Vladrick Ruthern and Harren of Metterden routed the remaining Courland forces and killed the majority of them, with the help of Lord Stefan Barbanov, Count Otto Baruch, and the Kingdom of Lorraine. The First National Duma was called in order to elect a new King of Hanseti-Ruska, with the question of who would rule the retaken territory as top priority. The three claimants were Baron of Rytsburg Adolphus Vyronov, Count Uhtred Ruthern, and Lord Stefan Barbanov, the unfortunate son of deposed King Marus. The Ruthern claimant withdrew and backed Stefan Barbanov, who won in a landslide victory, following a protracted back-and-forth between the groups favoring a Ruthern monarch and those backing the revival of the Barbanov royal line. Stefan I, King of Hanseti-Ruska, was crowned. After the battle of Greyspine, House Ruthern donated a portion of their land towards the Barbanov’s Hanseti-Ruskan Capital. Count Uthred Ruthern inexplicably vanished in the years following the Haeseni victory against the Courlanders and the restoration of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. His body was never discovered, and there are no indications as to what may have become of him. Uhtred marked the end of the Ruthern family line, which dates back to Ivan "the Seafaring" Ruthern. As a result, the descendants of Ailred "the Turncloak" Ruthern, who had previously served as Count Joren and Uhtred's regent, succeeded them as the new Counts of Metterden. It was a stable and constant period for House Ruthern during Vladrick's twenty-eight-year reign, but he ruled with an iron hand and a stone face. Vladrick allegedly was a violent father, which gave him the nickname "the Cruel." Vladrick was ruled to have died of natural causes on the voyage to Atlas. Stalwart Rulership [Atlas]Rhys Vladrick var Ruthern, the eldest son of the Count of Metterden, was a quiet and distant individual who was the heir to his father's land and titles. His mother raised him and his sisters, and Rhys's curiosity led him to explore Haeseni city. At twelve, Rhys met Rickard Kovachev, who became a competitive rival. Rhys pushed himself for a better education in Haeseni history and cultural values, focusing on military strategies and swordsmanship. In 1643, Rhys's father was declared dead during a voyage to the new continent of Atlas. His father's death led to Rhys becoming the eleventh Count of Metterden and inherited the title Baron of Rostig. Rhys's father's death led to his father rebuilding his family and their name. He married Angelika of Vasiland, the daughter of a house with a prestigious history, and the couple had a son, Joren, who was bestowed with the same name.Rhys joined the army and served in the Czena Conflict against Renatus and the ongoing raids. The Czena Confederation collapsed after defeats and the death of the Haeseni King, Otto III, as a plague swept across the land. Rhys created a small colony in the countryside, but he wished to return to the royal city as soon as it was declared safe.Rhys conducted himself in politics and managed other governmental activities, signing the Greyguard Pact with House Baruch to end a feud. The Atlas Coalition War provided an opportunity for Rhys to continue his rise in military and governmental affairs. He participated in the war and supported those who were persistent in the continuation of the war. In 1661, Rhys acquired land on the frontier of Haense, but it was not a home of beauty and comfort.Helmholtz, a fortress built near the Renatians, was built to withstand their relentless attacks. The Black Company, led by Godfric Black, was formed in Helmholtz. Haense, an ally of the Silver State of Haelun'or, was left alone against the National Army of the North (NAA) after the war. Rhys, a prominent figure in the family, was vocal about his disliking those who left Haense to stand on its own against the NAA. The war ended with the disbandment of the NAA, leaving Haense in defeat. Rhys's absence from politics led to a succession crisis, with his wife, Lady Angelika, dying before his fourth trueborn son Uhtred's birth. The Second Atlas Coalition War broke the nation into a state of war, with Prince Franz Jakob becoming king. Rhys's sister, Tatiana of Metterden, became the Queen of Haense, and his other sister, Caterina, married into the royal house of Barbanov. In 1668, Rhys led the Black Company into the Southern Frozen Wastes on a scouting mission. He pursued a quest to retrieve the long-lost Ruthern Hammer, which was discovered in a shipwreck off the coast of Atlas. The family name became a source of rumor, as Tatiana and Karl of Rothswood were having an affair. The crown fell into the exiled Prince Sigmar I, who would return in 1669 and retain the throne. Rhys was promoted from Lieutenant to Lord Marshal of the entire army, gaining favorable support from the royal. Rhys isolated himself from his family after his son's death and focused on his newfound work ahead of him. He allowed for little error and tolerance for cliques to arise, and his son, Aildred Ruthern, died of food poisoning in 1670. His second-born daughter, Anneliese, was born, and many young of House Ruthern were left under his care.Rhys var Ruthern, the Lord Marshal of the Haeseni, was a prominent figure in the empire, known for his efforts in upbringing the Haeseni armies. He was granted the Duchy of Vidaus in 1672 as a sign of gratitude and recognition for his work in bringing the Haeseni armies to their current state. In 1679, the first iteration of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl was formed under Rhys' leadership, combining all Haeseni forces into a unified army. This centralized army continued to exist until 1793. The threat of the Vaeyl grew in prominence, and unrest in the Southern Wastelands grew. Scouting missions were enacted, and the army traveled for months to search the land. In 1681, King Sigmar I died of his fatal wounds, and Robert I was crowned, prompting Rhys to enlist his granddaughter, Elizaveta, as consort. The first engagement between the Brotherhood and the Vaeyl Knights erupted at the Siege of Nekristadt, with the soldiers driving back the Vaeyl Knights and their army. Rhys stepped down as the Duke of Vidaus in 1687, but he continued his duties as Lord Marshal. He gained more influence in 1688 when Demetrius was made Lord Palatine to King Robert I. During his tenure as palatine, Rhys' daughter, Lady Anneliese, married the Viscount of Grauspin, Sergei Stafyr. Rhys served as the Imperial Parliamentary Prefect for Markev until 1694. He led the combined forces of the Empire of Man against the Vaeyl, resulting in the loss of the fortress and the Vaeyl's retreat. Rhys named his successor in leading the army, Henrik Kovachev, after his many years of service and leadership. During his final years, Rhys spent time with his family, including his granddaughter, Aleksandra Ruthern, and his grandson, Prince Marius and Lady Valera. Despite the chaos, Rhys var Ruthern was lost during the chaos, presumed to have been killed by the Vaeyl.Pair of Palatines [Atlas / Arcas]As Duke Rhys outlived all of his children, he gave Demetrius Ruthern the title of Duke of Vidaus. At the age of 23, Demetrius was chosen Lord Palatine and served for the majority of King Robert I's reign. Rather than having a talent for it, Demetrius kept his job because of his marriage to the King and his personal connection with him. His secretary and other employees at the Office of the Palatine handled the majority of the work during his administration with little inspection or consent from him. Lerald Gambinoel, a contemporary of his, summed up his era when he said, "If he was not the most competent placeholder known to our realm, I do not know who is." As Duke Rhys outlived all of his children, he gave Demetrius Ruthern the title of Duke of Vidaus. Duel of Hammerheads [Arcas]Viktor II Ruthern succeeded to the title of 4th Duke of Vidaus after his father abdicated and joined a Holy Order. He witnessed and guided the House of Ruthern through the remaining stages of the War of the Two Emperors, but he was unable to reverse the stagnation that had crept into the House during the rule of his father. He married Princess Mariya, sister of King Marus II, after the war, after a mutually satisfactory courtship. Sigmar, the couple's lone surviving child, lost his twin sister during pregnancy, much to the dismay of his wife, who was already under pressure from her husband's growing contempt for his obligations and estates due to his frequent absences for weeks at a time without explanation. On one of these trips, he vanished for a long period of time, which worried many people, signaled the beginning of the end for his marriage, and resulted in the revocation of the duchy title. After this, Mariya requested an annulment due to Viktor's neglect of their marriage with the assistance of her nephew King Andrik III, but there were rumors that she had been having an affair with Prince Vladrick Alimar. After hearing the news, Viktor went back to Reza and confronted his wife in a private meeting. He then walked out and called her a harlot in front of the public. A month later, Viktor's younger brother Tuvya Ruthern confronted him in the main plaza of Reza and openly challenged him to a duel for the title of Count of Metterden. Tuvya insulted Viktor for losing the title and expressed his displeasure with his deeds and failings as Duke and Count. Viktor consented to the death duel, and after being fatally stabbed by Tuvya, he returned fire with his own blow and used the House artifact Ruther's Hammer to crush the skull of his own brother. This event, which became known as the Duel of the Hammerheads, serves as a clear illustration of House Ruthern's kinslaying practices. Despite winning, Viktor only lasted a short while before succumbing to his injuries and passing away in the Haeseni clinic. At the age of four, Sigmar, Viktor's only child, succeeded his father as the Count of Metterden. Konstantin, the younger brother of Viktor and Tuvya, was appointed as Sigmar's guardian and regent. Redeemer [Arcas] At the age of fifteen, Sigmar embarked on a trip but vanished in the middle of it, earning him the nickname Sigmar "the Lost." Sigmar was assumed dead after receiving no word or reports of his whereabouts for several months, making his uncle Konstantin II the heir apparent and regent. Sigmar resurfaced four years later, but this time he was happy to accept his uncle as Count of Metterden rather than reclaiming it as his own. Konstantin had a more logical and patient approach to life than other Rutherns, which made him a good candidate for law school. He focused on Haeseni and vassal law. Konstantin took over the majority of the High Justiciar's duties shortly after High Justiciar Gerard Stafyr and King Andrik III passed away, including maintaining the first Haeseni law codex at a time when Hanseti-Ruska was experiencing a loss of autonomy under the Holy Orenian Empire. Konstantin was named High Justice once King Andrik IV ascended to the throne. He served both King Andrik IV and his son King Sigismund II for the entirety of his twenty-seven-year tenure, up until his passing. Even though he was a vassal at the time, his tenure was primarily focused on upholding the specialized Haeseni law. Many of his originalist viewpoints have been studied in royal academies since his passing, including the Royal Academy of Saint Catherine and the Royal Academy of Saint Charles. The Ruthern cadet House Batavus was founded under the reign of Count Konstantin II. started when Ivan Ruthern, Konstantin's nephew, and a few of his allies quickly laid siege to the region once known as Brunswick. Ivan received the title of Viscount of Batavia, which included the seized territory, after the heretical residents submitted to King Andrik IV in exchange for becoming his vassal. King Andrik ordered Ivan to give up the land and return to the Capital where he would shortly give him another parcel of land after concerns about the land's location, which was remote from the rest of Haense, surfaced. Nevertheless, Ruthern-Batavus' nobility and status were maintained over the years, and Ivan received a knighthood in recognition of his extensive military service. As the years passed, things continued to become worse. When King Andrik IV grudgingly acceded to Peter III's demand that the Haense aristocracy be placed under greater imperial supervision, the Batavus nobility and title were abolished. The cadet branch eventually disbanded and was taken back into the main House of Ruthern under Ser Ivan's son Ruben.Four children—three daughters—who later came to be known collectively as the Daughters of Metterden—were born to Konstantin and Katherine Stafyr. The Scyfling Invasion of Hanseti-Ruska under Konstantin's reign made Metterden a frequent target for Scyfling assaults and sieges. The first of these led to the abduction of Aleksandr Ruthern, Konstantin's only son and heir. Most believed that Aleksandr had died after being taken captive by pagans and primitives, leaving Konstantin's eldest daughter, Viktoria, as the presumed heir despite having married the young King of Hanseti-Ruska Sigismund II two years earlier. Reclamation of a Duchy [Almaris]Whereas Maric's father, Aleksandr, had been content and, in some ways, idle, Maric was ambitious and politically astute, giving House Ruthern new life. Alric, Maric's twin, used his talent and skill with a sword to become a crow knight and subsequently, Knight Paramount during the reign of King Henrik II. Maric also had the good fortune to have similarly obstinate siblings. Although he oversaw the Haeseni knightly orders at a time when they were numerous and successful, Alric is probably best known for following his liege's orders to brutally execute the disowned princess Nataliya Reza by having her burned at the stake and shot with a crossbow bolt. The second famous sibling of Maric turned out to be less contentious. For many years, Camilla Ruthern served as an effective Haeseni judge known as a Jovenaar, and she is noted as having been well suited for the position. It is more difficult to summarize Maric's life. Maric served as a temporary replacement for his aunt, Lady Speaker Irena, who was unable to lead the Royal Duma, the legislative body of Hanseti-Ruska, in his first foray into Haeseni politics and administration. During the meeting, Viscount Fiske Vanir started berating Anabela Vilac for supporting the Lordship Reforms Bill. The Duma was unaware that Count Maric had compiled and written the majority of the Bill. Lord Vanir was ejected by Maric from the meeting, which sparked outrage among the other Lords and resulted in a walk-out. Because of the event, Maric challenged Fiske Vanir to a duel outside the Duma Hall. After a brief struggle, Maric emerged triumphant, easily defeating the Lord. When Baron Stefan Vyronov challenged Maric again, the Ruthern Count also defeated him. Maric is known as "the Duellist '' in memory due to this incident and his subsequent dueling reforms. Maric afterwards married Dame Anabela Vilac, with whom he had four children: Ailred, Antonina, twins Harren and Tatiana, and Marjorie. A decade later, Anabela passed away from complications related to her severe alcoholism. Even though he had established himself in Haense's political scene and was making progress, family problems soon sprang up during his tenure as Count. Since Haeseni independence around ten years prior, Erik, the son of former Count Sigmar "the Lost," had harbored Imperial inclinations that were opposed by the majority of the Haeseni peoples, including the bulk of his Ruthern family. Erik and Maric got into a furious dispute, and Maric, as patriarch, decided to forbid Erik from moving to the Orenian Empire. Erik disobeyed Maric, the false patriarch’s wishes, and left for the Holy Orenian Empire. The Ruthern Schism [Almaris]Irene Cecilya vas Ruthern was sent to Oren alongside Erik, the son of former Count Sigmar, building himself both family and status as an Imperial Officer of the Holy Orenian’s Empire. After the passing of Irene, Erik opted to stay within the Empire as he had built a family Upon the separation of Erik from the Haenseni line, Erik var Ruthern would instate House Ruthern as a noble household within the Holy Orenian Empire. Such began the divide between the Senior House, in Oren, and the Junior House, in Haenseni-Ruska. The Sons of Horen engaged in battle with the Kingdom of Norland, proclaiming they attacked on behalf of the Holy Orenian Empire and High Pontiff, following this engagement, the Kingdom of Norland would make a declaration of war out to the Empire. The allies within the Iron Accord would join forces with the Kingdom of Norland, declaring war upon Oren as well. The first battle of what Orenians claimed to be the ‘Final Nordling War’ erupted within Southbridge, ending in Norlandic Victory. The Duke of Elysium being captured in a following raid, the Empire being criticized by their tactics afterwards. Later in the war, Captain Erik var Ruthern’s spouse, Theresa d’Arkent was captured by a band of Ferrymen, soon after, being driven from Orenian soil by the Imperial State Army. His Imperial Majesty, John VIII, Holy Orenian Emperor, announces the Norlandic Surrender six years after the wars start. The Treaty of Providence being signed, officially ending the Final Nordling war.After failure to reach diplomatic relations between the Holy Orenian Empire and Grand Kingdom of Urguan, the Dwarven Kingdom provided an ultimatum to the Empire, which ended with the Emperor’s refusal, such causing the declaration of war from Urguan. Following many raids and battles, varying in both Imperial and dwarven victory, Phillip III issued demands of surrender to the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, the dwarven nation refused these demands and so the war wages on. In the midst of nightfall during the turmoil, the Orenian forces crept through the moonlight into dwarven territory, kidnapping the Grand King, Ulfric, taking him to the Imperial Capital, where they would shave his beard, a dwarves most prized attribute. Many small skirmishes and raids continued until the war reached its turning point, the Ferrymen and Blackvale company switching from the Tripartite Accord to the Holy Orenian Empire’s side. The largest battle throughout the entire war takes place within the lands of the Kingdom of Haenseni Ruska, whereas members of the Imperial Forces, Ferrymen, and Blackvale Company raid the Capital City of Karosgrad, ending in a stalemate. Count of Kositz, Erik ‘The Strategist’ var Ruthern died of age within his manor, his will and testament passing the title of Head of House to his grandson, Ivan var Ruthern. Seven years following the Raid on Karosgrad, Grand King Ulfric resigns, making way for Bakir Ireheart to claim the throne and declare he will bring glory to Urguan. The Principality of Savoy joins the Tripartite Accord and wages war against the Holy Orenian Empire, following Savoy, The Vale of Nevaehlen signs a treaty with the Grand Kingdom, joining with the Tripartite Accord as well. The Ending Battle, otherwise known as the Battle of Eastfleet begins, though only brief as it ends in a decisive Tripartite Victory, leading Emperor Phillip III to begin negotiations with the Tripartite Accord, before surrendering to the Grand Kingdom of Urguan and ending the War of Wigs with Tripartite being victorious.The Two Brothers War and Road to Balian [Almaris]With the passing of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Phillip III of Novellen and Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Anastasia of Kositz. The throne became vacant, before the declaration of His Royal Majesty, Frederick I. Dividing the lands of the Holy Orenian Empire into two, that of the Margrave of Arichsdorf and the Kingdom of Oren. Leading to the Brothers War, with Phillip Aurelius leading the Empire and His Royal Majesty, Frederick I leading the Kingdom of Oren. After many battles, such as the Battle of Vuillermoz, Fort Linnord Standoff, and the Battle of Reutov. Only then would the Royalists, led by Frederick I, further their lead with the death of Prince Peter IV. Prior to its fall in the final battle of Reutov, Duke of Reutov, Ivan var Ruthern would be executed before His Royal Majesty, Frederick I. Inevitably after great losses, the turmoil that the war had created, the Empire had fallen. Months later the formation of the realm in which the Senior Line of Ruthern now coexists in, the Grand Duchy of Balian had come to be. The position of Head of House passed from the Duke of Reutov, Ivan var Ruthern, to his son, Viktor Erik var Ruthern. As the Kingdom of Balian grew in prestige and size, Viscount Viktor Erik var Ruthern however, remained too idle during his time as head of house. The passing of his first wife and children, all at an early age left the man reclusive and idle. The widowed Viscount, upon remarrying to his second wife, Chloe Giselle de Rosius would sire a son named Gaius Geoffrey whom he would then designate as his heir. Viktor spent most of his time as viscount managing the Ruthern arena underneath the city of Balian and on occasion participating in the Balian Senate as a senator. Regardless of his idleness and lack of ambition, the Viscount would do his best to care for and impart knowledge to his only son, Gaius. However, his idleness soon and mismanagement of the Viscounty, led to the demotion of House Ruthern to Barony. Not long would come his passing, leaving him with the name Viktor ‘The Idle’ var Ruthern, and the Barony of Marsana to the hands of his fourteen year old son, Gaius. The Lonely Baron [Almaris / Aevos]Gaius' childhood was nothing shy of horrid, growing to the ripe old age of fourteen before being granted the burden of Head of House. His mother, Chloe Giselle de Rosius, disappeared early on into his life, leaving him with his father who had not been around much, departing to the Seven Skies soon after his mother vanished. At the age of fourteen, the now baron of Marsana was left to feed for himself as he was raised by a multitude of people, one coming to be known as the First Amiratus of Balian and Second Lord Seneschal, Ledicort Vuiller. Ledicort was more of a father than Viktor could’ve hoped to be, leading Gaius by the hand as he helped him to the position of Minister of Interior whilst under the squireship of his future father-in-law Peter d’Arkent, Gaius rose to the ranks of corporal in the Company of Balian. Amidst his rise in Balianese politics, Gaius set his focus on reviving the ailing House Ruthern. First, he had to set a plan. Thus, Gaius’s main philosophy for the direction of his family was to return its focus on the seas, a “return to their roots' ', as he would put it, for the Rutherns were once the most feared and skilled corsairs of mankind. Gaius would then incorporate the Balianese culture into Ruthern, whilst sticking true to their Raevir origins and lineage. Thus, Gaius would create a Raevir-Balianese identity in Balian to ensure Ruthern’s continued survival and prominence. Gaius began to carefully establish his family’s prominence within the political world of Balian and Almaris. This would further be noticeable through his guidance of his future children. As Gaius’s and the Ruthern family’s prominence in Balian and Almaris grew, problems arose within the South. The impending threat of Cloudbreaker growing closer by the day. Ledicort would organize the Atrus Covenant, a collective of nations all throughout Almaris which banded together to defeat Cloudbreaker and enemies to the descendants alike. Gaius would play an indispensable role in the build up of the Siege of Cloudbreaker. Establishing many barricades and making use of weapons provided by the Atrus Covenant and its allies. Though the preparations would prove to be fruitful, the descendants were victorious against Cloudbreaker. Long after the Kingdom of Balian and its triumph, Gaius Geoffrey var Ruthern and his childhood friend and former Princess of Sedan, Mariya Elizabeth Novellen would be blessed in holy matrimony. Gaius and Mariya were blessed with two twins soon after they had been wed, The Heir of the Barony of Marsana, Demetrius Laonicus var Ruthern, and the Spare, Charlotte Valentina vas Ruthern. The young baron was named the Second Amiratus and Third Lord Seneschal of Balian, the Head of the Duana and right hand to His Royal Majesty, Alexander I. Following his appointment, his wife Mariya would give birth to two more hammerheads, Rhys Marcelo var Ruthern and Madalena Alexei vas Ruthern. Throughout the start of his tenure as Amiratus it was proven to be quite prominent, with the creation of the Sol Entente, a pact between the nations of the Iron Horde, Crown of Amaethine, Silver State of Haelun’or, and the Kingdom of Balian. Alas the peace and prosperity came to an abrupt halt with the passing of His Royal Majesty, Alexander I, the second King of Balian. Placing all of Balian in a period of mourning at the loss of their Monarch. Prince of Monterosa, Hadrian succeeded his father as King Adrian I, with His Royal Excellency, Gaius Geoffrey Ruthern at his side. However, in coexistence with Balian’s continued prosperity, war and conflict was renewed within the heartlands. Adria’s secession from Aaun brought the human nations into the brink of conflict. As a prominent member of the Canonist League, Balian was considered a major player in the now cold war turned hot between the Canonist League and Adria. As Amiratus, Gaius would have to navigate the deep waters of warfare and diplomacy, demanding for Adria to answer for its war crimes as the balance of Canondom was precariously positioned on a razor’s edge. Thus, the Ruthern family was considered a prime target for the Adrians. Gaius and Mariya would have their youngest daughter, Natalya Rosario vas Ruthern. The progression with the Kingdom ceased entirely as the Capital of Atrus faded into a deep Sandstorm, forcing all of Balian and its inhabitants to move to the Camps of New Savoy as the end of Almaris encroached. Gaius would go on to pen a missive for King Adrian I of Balian, calling all Balianese who have lost their homes in Atrus to come to Savoy with guidance from the nation. The Fall of New Savoy was grim; even whilst Gaius led the Sol Entente and the Balianese forces against the onslaught of the Mori invasion of Savoy as they secured a few key victories in the battle, it was not enough. The descendants of all nations fled to the caverns beneath Almaris as they escaped the Mori who forced and gradually conquered the lands en masse. With the discovery of Failor, the descendants had the option to hide away underground or explore their temporary lands and construct small settlements all over as they waited for the sighting of proper lands in which could House and allow all of the descendants to settle upon. Such leading to the findings of the Realm of Aevos, where the Ruthern Family had begun to reinforce its value within Balian, Gaius still remaining in his position of Lord Seneschal, His Eldest son who had just returned from his long years in the Kingdom of Aaun maintaining a high rank inside the Royal Balianese Armada, and his youngest son Rhys proving to have capability as a seasoned practitioner and alchemist. Not long after Gaius’s tenure as Amiratus, the House of Ruthern would be elevated to Viscounty for its accomplishments. Much to Gaius’s elation. As the advancements of the Ruthern Household continued, a new member was tossed into the mix, Little Kristoff Alexios var Ruthern, the now youngest son of Viscount Gaius var Ruthern and Viscountess Mariya Elizabeth Novellen. Long after the birth of Kristoff, Demetrius, the eldest son would be and declared Heir of Marsana would be knighted due to his works within the Armada. Announcing to be wed to Estella Maria Tatiana Kervallen and following his matrimony he’d be declared Viscount of Marsana. Gaius’s ailing health, the mental stress of both running a nation alongside the Crown and the sudden passing of his youngest daughter-Natalya-left the man a shell of what he once was. Shortly after her passing, he retired from position of the Amiratus, as reward for his service, His Royal Majesty, Adrian I, would elevate his houshold to the peerage rank of County. He knew he had to pass on the mantle of head of the family to his eldest son, Demetrius, for he was confident in his abilities to lead the family to further greatness. Afterwards, the Count-Emeritus would go on to spend the rest of his days in retirement. A Ruthern’s Ordinance The grouping of laws in which every member of House Ruthern must follow to its letter. Otherwise, the Head of House is entitled to instilling punishment upon the Ruthern who have violated these principles. All Rutherns are equal, and must be treated as such. No impurities within the Senior Line, we are of a noble people. Taking to a second spouse is forbidden. Any marriage must be endorsed by the Head of House. No Dragonfolk or Darkspawn of any kind, elsewise you will be executed upon the House of Ruthern’s authority. House Ruthern are of a loyal people, Any acts of treason or regicide of any count will be treated with disownment and execution by Head of House. The Right to Heirship Trials to claim succession of the Line of Ruthern will be required as a means to determine if the heir is worthy of taking over as Head of House. The Trials must be completed as follows in an orderly and punctual time period as soon as the Heir is to meet the age of 20 or sooner depending on the health of the active Head of House. The Clash of Beasts: Strength being seen as a redeeming quality amongst men, shall be put to the test within the first of an heir’s trials. Three successful hunts must be completed, severing and displaying the head of the creature that is triumphed against. Confession: One must confess within the confinements of a Canonist Church to that of a Priest or higher, let any sins be known to all. Finally atone for your sins as the Priest deems necessary. Bound by Blood: Find peace and serenity with each sibling of your blood, spend that of a day doing something they wish. Duel: Dependent on the overall health of the head of house, a bout of willpower and sheer determination should be carried out. The heir must best the head of house in a duel, which will finally prove the heir worthy of claiming head of house when the active head feels its right, in which the heir will be given the Blade of House Ruthern, proving they are worthy to be the next Head. House Ruthern Relics Blade of House Ruthern - An ornately designed black ferrum blade handcrafted by Ivan var Ruthern. The pommel of the blade was crafted to resemble the head of a hammerhead shark, symbol of the House of Ruthern. This sword had many curious properties. Whenever the wielder of the sword entered a room, torches and candles would burn brighter and then dim themselves if the wielder left the room with the sword. The sword is also known to erupt into flames upon contact with blood. It is a family heirloom meant to be in possession of the head. Mace of House Ruthern - A flanged thanhic-steel mace forged from Thanhium. The handle of the mace was forged from Daemonsteel. This mace originated from Viktor var Ruthern and has been passed down to his heir Gaius Geoffrey Rosius var Ruthern. Ghiskwena - A one-handed single edged ulfberht sword forged from Daemonsteel. This blade originated from the current head of House Ruthern Gaius Geoffrey Rosius var Ruthern. Traditions of the House These customary traditions of house Ruthern are meant for all that bear the last name Ruthern. Many are common practice amongst the Rutherns which can take place whenever the Ruthern asks the Head of House to partake in such. Depending on the request, the Head of House will permit the member and so it will begin. Blooding: Once a young hammerhead ( Kin of Ruthern ) reaches the age of twelve summers, the child must exercise their “Blooding” right. In which their paternal figure, if not present then maternal figure may suffice. Must seek a form of game for the young Ruthern to trail and exterminate. Signed, THE RIGHT HONORABLE, Ser Demetrius 'The Valiant' var Ruthern, Count of Marsana, Almirante de la Operazions, Cavalier to the Order of Saint Michael. HIS LORDSHIP, Gaius var Ruthern, Count-Emiratus of Marsana. Spoiler This post took ages, I started it in April 2023 and have been working on it consistently since then. I have received help from many, ranging from @WaveLincoln @Imperium @Nilyeet @SmartScout & @tadabug2000 I can imagine all 21 pages of our google doc was not enjoyable in the slightest. They deserve as much credit as I do, they were a big help in the writing of this post. While it will have faults, the recorded history is here and updated. It would be improper to say that I didn't do this, however all information was provided by the original post here: Rutherns History of the Haenseni House of Ruthern & House Ruthern Be sure to check those two posts out, they were a lot of help! 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperium 3300 Share Posted September 19, 2023 Rhys var Ruthern enjoys a drink with Erik as they watched over their kin from the seven skies. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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