BLOOD FOR ASHFORD

[Vikenz 1162]

 

 

 

 

 

 

s has become of all great houses in this modern age, those which have endured the passing of time and the cunning of men, which have once held  dominion over the throne that governs all Mankind, and which have beheld its rise and fall time and time anew, so too has disunity and strife sundered the  House of Ashford,  survived now only by junior cadets.  For  in the  days  of  Velwyn  Ashford,   recognized   by   the   more   astute   students  of  history  as  the Saint Lucien

of Ulmsbottom, the House stood as one. And whence his sons inherited his seat, it was cleft in twain. And from that divide sprang a dynasty, one of statesmen and diplomats, of war-lords and mercenaries, of priests and wisemen. And of these statesmen and diplomats, war-lords and mercenaries, priests and wisemen, nigh all have laid claim to the most august inheritance and legacy of Saint Lucien of Ulmsbottom. And from such contestation as this, the House of Ashford has been rendered base. Thereby did the Rouennais take upon themselves the charge of raising the House of Ashford once more. And, through bonds of blood and steel, the lines of Ashford were made unified. Let this missive therefore stand as testament and decree, to name and codify the Houses of Ashford, both those that endure and those now extinct, that none may hereafter cling to the vanities of glory long since spent, hard earned by men long since past. 

 

 

C O N T E N T S

 

I.                     The Blood of Lucien  

II.                   The Persistent Lines 

III.                      The Extinct Lines 

IV.          The Ashford Inheritance

V.                                    Conclusion

 

 

 

From the blood of Saint Lucien, brought forth from his sons, descends the Great Houses of Ashford, those of Savoie and Bar. Enshrined in history as the eldest of the sun's son, these houses have long borne the weight of GOD's divine favor and dominion over the Savoyard ilk. For it was Velwyn Ashford, known by his canon name of High Pontiff Lucien I, who emerged from the colony of Ulmsbottom to reshape the house of Ashford and Church.

 

T H E

E S H A E V E U RD 

H O U S E

 

o f

S A V O I E

 

Founded by Roland Ashford de Savoie, first son of Saint Lucien of Ulmsbottom, in the year of Our Lord, 1414.

 

The House of Ashford de Savoie traces itself to Roland Ashford de Savoie, eldest son of the saintly Lucien of Ulmsbottom. For generations, the House of Savoie has held dominion over the Savoyard people, as the Savoyard state waxed and waned. The House would reach its zenith upon the coronation of Olivier I as King of Oren, thereby making him ruler of all humanity. His demise some twenty four years following his coronation, however, delivered the Crown to his cousin, Guy de Bar. Thereafter did the descendants of Olivier I ruler as Dukes of Savoy, reigning for a number of years afore the martyrdom of Jon Renault. Henceforth was the House of Savoie then relegated to obscurity for the  years to come, until the restoration of the Principality of Savoy under Olivier Renault. Brief was this restoration, however, for misrule laid waste to the restored Savoyard realm, alongside the House which ruled it. Further dynastic struggles between the Ashford lines would then, at last, see the line of Savoie nigh extinguished by the Rouennais. The few who survived either bear new names, have taken the cloth, or lie buried with the old.

 

PATRIARCH:

Extinct.

 

T H E

E S H A E V E U R D

H O U S E

 

o f

B A R

 

Founded by Gwenael Ashford de Bar, second son of Saint Lucien of Ulmsbottom, in the year of Our Lord, 1414.

 

The House of Ashford de Bar traces itself to Gwenael Ashford de Bar, secondborn son of the saintly Lucien of Ulmsbottom. The more junior of the two brother lines, fortunes for the House were greatly advanced through the serendipitous rise of Guy de Bar, who did ascend the seat of all humanity as King of Oren. Yet, his reign, inauspicious and ill-fated, was brought to an untimely end by treachery but three years hence. Thereafter was the House de Bar relegated to obscurity for the next several centuries to come, before at last being rendered extinct with the passing of Remus of Drusco, the final acknowledged and true patriarch of the House Ashford de Bar.

 

PATRIARCH:

Extinct.

 

 

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From the blood of Lucien, the Houses of Savoie and Bar, sprang forth many lines of both great and little renown. These houses have taken upon themselves the charge and burden of stewardship over the Savoyard ilk in lieu of those great Houses which preceded them, laying claim to the legacy of Saint Lucien, and draping themselves in the august mantle of their forebearers. Let this section, therefore, stand as record and decree, to name those true and rightful Houses which, by divine providence, have withstood all calamities visited upon the House of Ashford. 

 

T H E

E S H A E V E U R D

H O U S E

o f

R O U E N

 

Founded by Joachim Ashford de Rouen in the year of Our Lord, 1830.

 

The House of Ashford de Rouen traces itself to Joachim Ashford de Rouen, a bastard sired by a Ruberni mercenary of the House Ashford de Bar. Through strength of arms, Joachim, and his descendants did raise themselves from lowly birth to lordly station, taking upon themselves the name of Rouen for their ancestral stronghold. In these latter days, the House Ashford de Rouen has established itself as the strongest of the Ashford ilk, having rendered due fealty from the persistent Eshaeveurd lords. A house of warrior-lords, the Rouennais are most renowned for their marital prowess and swordsmanship. Further has the House Ashford de Rouen asserted itself as right patriarchs of the House of Ashford, demanding obeisance from its wayward branches through sheer strength of arms.

 

PATRIARCH:

Roger Leonche Ashford de Rouen

 

T H E

E S H A E V E U R D

H O U S E

o f

L E W E S

 

Founded by Leufroy Renault Ashford de Lewes in the year of Our Lord, 1853.

 

The House of Ashford de Lewes traces itself to Leufroy Renault Ashford de Lewes, third born son of Prince Olivier I. Styled the Outlaw Prince, Leufroy is best remembered for his fruitless pursuit of his brother’s throne, which would result in his exile. His issue, spared his restless ambition, did forego his schemes, instead taking upon themselves his lordly title of Lewes for their name, and expanding upon their influence through advantageous matches. In modernity, the House Ashford de Lewes has rendered true and faithful fealty unto the House Ashford de Rouen.

 

PATRIARCH:

Jon Renault Ashford de Lewes

 

T H E

E S H A E V E U R D

H O U S E

o f

A R Y N

 

Founded by Alexandre Ashford d’Aryn in the year of Our Lord, 1396.

 

The House Ashford d'Aryn traces itself uniquely from the matrimony of Marie Ashford and Calderic de Aryn. A noblewoman borne of strong blood and a lowly statesmen whom advanced his line into prominence with adept scheming, the Ashford House of Aryn has long been regarded as a house of astute diplomats and statesmen, many of whom served in high court positions within Savoy and the Holy Orenian Empire. In modernity, the House Ashford d’Aryn has rendered true and faithful fealty unto the House Ashford de Rouen.

 

PATRIARCH:

Rosceline Lisette Ashford d’Aryn

 

T H E

E S H A E V E U R D

H O U S E

o f

B R I O N N E S

 

Founded by Lucien Raymond Ashford de Brionnes in the year of Our Lord, 2030.

 

The House of Ashford de Brionnes traces itself to Lucien Ashford de Brionnes, a wayward scion of the last of the Princes of Savoy. Called Lucien ‘Brothersbane’, Lucien is said to have inherited his father’s prowess with the sword and his mother’s madness, owed to her own House of Ivanovich. A reckless kinslayer, Lucien’s line would rise to prominence whence its founder took to slaying his brothers and cousins at the behest of the Rouennais. In modernity, the House Ashford de Brionnes has rendered true and faithful fealty unto the House Ashford de Rouen. 

 

PATRIARCH:

Lucien Raymond Ashford de Brionnes

 

T H E

E S H A E V E U R D

H O U S E

o f

B R U G E S

 

Founded by Edgar Ashford de Bruges in the year of Our Lord, 2030.

 

The House of Ashford de Bruges traces itself to Edgar Ashford de Bruges, a wayward scion of the last Princes of Savoy. Though among the younger branches, it has endured the fall of Savoy through shrewd tradeship alongside the merchant routes of Aeldin. Fiercely devout, its members have long upheld the zealous tenets of their radical progenitor, Prince Louis, styled ‘the Mad’, whose fevered visions and austerities became a hidden rite between the household of Bruges within the Rouennais court. In modernity, the House Ashford de Bruges has rendered true and faithful fealty unto the House Ashford de Rouen.

 

PATRIARCH:

Edgar Ashford de Bruges

 

 

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For the House of Ashford has weathered many a storm, so too has much of the stock of Saint Lucien been laid low. Though many rose with ambition and held their own banners high, time, war, and want of heirs saw their lines wither. Yet in their passing, they remain a part of the greater Ashford tapestry. Let this section, therefore, stand as record and decree, to name those true and rightful Houses which have been recognized as extinct, that none may usurp the legacies of worthier men. 

 

T H E

E S H A E V E U R D

H O U S E

o f

F A L S T A F F

 

Founded by Baldwin Ashford de Falstaff in the year of Our Lord, 1549.

 

The House of Ashford de Falstaff traces itself to Baldwin Ashford de Falstaff, the sole offspring of the infamous matrimony betwixt Frederique de Bar and Otto Rovin. The line of Baldwin, monikered ‘the Black’, first came into prominence upon the slaying of his uncle, King Guy de Bar, by whose death, wrought through the workings of the Polycarp Plot, the Horen Restoration was brought to fruition. From then on, the House Ashford de Falstaff would persist in passing, as lords of their humble demesne of Falstaff, from whence they derive their name. Renowned for having yielded a number of statesmen and diplomats, the last recorded patriarch of the House Ashford de Falstaff was Conrad Armande Ashford de Falstaff, whose issue thereafter did cast aside the Ashford name all together, instead living as heathens and infidels. 

 

PATRIARCH:

Extinct

 

T H E

E S H A E V E U R D

H O U S E

o f

A N J O U

 

Founded by Robert Ashford d’Anjou in the year of Our Lord, 1595.

 

The House of Ashford d’Anjou was established by Robert Ashford d’Anjou, a distant scion of the House Ashford de Bar descended through Count Adrian of Peremont, the younger son of Saint Richard of Aldersberg. A minor footnote in the greater annals of the House of Ashford, the line of Anjou, with some cunning, finessed the County of Cleves through a marriage to its sole heiress. Yet, neglect would see the holding fall into decay and, in due course, its lords would all pass due to illness, rendering the line extinct.

 

PATRIARCH:

Extinct

 

 

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For the House of Ashford is counted among the great Houses of humanity, whose dominion over Man has stretched across centuries, so too has the House of Ashford amassed a number of titles and honours over time, whether it be through filial union, through leal fealty, or through conquest. Therefore, the inheritance of House Ashford is of paramount importance, not merely as a reflection of noble prestige, but as the framework through which the house has asserted its claim to power and permanence. Each title has borne its own weight, whether won through diplomacy, or through sanctity or conquest. That said, none are so sacred or binding as that of the princely seat of Savoy. To reign in Savoy was to sit upon the sunlit seat of Saint Lucien’s bloodline, and it is this crown above all others that has shaped the destiny and doctrine of the Ashford name.

 

Below are the titles ever held by a recognized member of Ashford lineage, honors from sovereign lordships to knightly orders, to princely coronets. Though borne by many across time and place, all stem from the singular trunk of the Ashford line, whose branches reach from Savoie to Drusco and beyond. Let this section, therefore, stand as record and decree, to enshrine those titles once held by the House of Ashford, that its histories not be forgotten.

 

TITLES:

 

King of Oren

Prince of Savoy

Prince of Ulmsbottom

Archduke of Savoy

Duke of Corazon

Duke of Drusco

Duke of Anjou

Marquis of Ponce

Marquis of Drusco (Held by Roger Ashford de Rouen)

Count of San Luciano

Count of Aldersberg

Count of Aldersport

Count of Felsen

Count of Leuvaarden

Count of Peremont

Count of Petrus

Count of Lewes

Count of Leuven

Count of Chambery

Count of Mardon

Count of Metina

Count of Cleves

Count of Castern

Baron of Lumen

Baron of Virdain

Baron of Wett

Baron of Guise

Baron of Northhaven

Baron of Blackwald

Baron of Falstaff

Lord of Rouen

Captain-General of Luciensport

 

 

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For humanity finds itself renewed in its unity, so too has the House of Ashford cast off the burden of disunion, its wayward branches bound once more in unity beneath the Rouennais standard. Let this missive thereby stand as record and decree, marking the unity now restored and naming those Houses that yet endure, alongside those whose legacy has been left to the annals of history. Further let none, save by writ and blessing of the Patriarch-Dynast of Ashford, lay claim to these hallowed names, lest they incur the wrath of the House of Ashford.

 

 

Penned under hand and seal at Waldemer Keep,
This 9th of Sun’s Smile in the year 2035.
By the grace of GOD and command of Marquis Roger de Rouen.

 

[SplitTheG 7740]

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

 

With Darkness, there will always be light, and so too will the sun always rise. 

The path home felt longer these days, not because the land had stretched—but because memory weighed heavy on the farmer's conscience with each footstep. Yet, the fields of Ulmsbottom still danced with barley in the breeze, as the world continued to move on beyond him. 

As he stood, leaning against the old fence that once kept lambs from wandering, the warmth of the rising sun brushed his face. Not the warmth of spring, but the kind that only the blood-hued dawn could offer: a solemn promise that even the darkest night must yield to the light.

He remembered faces, countless faces, many of which were a blur. Some Friends, others foes. Once fire, now ash.

Yet the soil did not forget. Nor did the sun. There was something sacred in that constancy.

Because with darkness, there will always be light. And so too, will the sun always rise; on pasts that haunt, or on names long whispered, regardless the sun will always smile.