House Amador
(Orginal Family Crest Dating to 1330)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEeAN471boQ
Prologue
House Amador’s origins lie within the ancient lands of Asulon. While much of their history has been lost throughout the ages, what is known is what has been passed down as an oral tradition over the centuries. Many details have been lost as priorities and opinions of the importance of certain knowledge have changed, but luckily some information of their origins have survived.
A duo of a Human and high elf settled a large island east of Renatus and called it Crestfall. The man was named Jack Amador and the high elf was named Jiraiya. Their skill in manipulation of trade and ship building attracted the attention of King Godfrey the first and the holy canon church and through Jack’s talents and loyalty was named Duke of the surrounding area under the banner of the Holy Islands due to a presence of fallen stars that were, by Pontiffic declaration, sent by God Himself as proof of their god given right of rule of the area in the year 1378. Their reign was seen as prosperous and virtuous by all of those under their influence. Jiraiya was known to have saved many slaves and run an influential orphanage that saved countless children from the grasps of poverty. While Jack Amador was a master diplomat and helped unite the human nations under Horen to form the first empire of Oren and then later on assisted in establishing the renown Order of the White rose in a sub territory called Ceru within his domain.. Jack Amador and family Loyal served his Liege house which was that of House Hightower.
(A painting of Jack Amador discussing land with the Leaders Of the White Rose.Dated to 1397.)
In the later times of their rule, particular members of the gentry of House Soulblade would marry into House Amador, effectively merging the strong stock and prowess of the Soulblades with the cunning and judgement of the Amadors. It is from this merging that we find the main bloodline of Amadors descended from today.
As time would have it though, the transition to the land of Elysium caused a fall in influence of the house due to their land and supplies being lost from Asulon. In this change, many resources of the House were consumed by greater houses.
These events would be the catalyst for the obscurity that became of the Amadors and their struggles onward in attempting to be heard in a period of tempestuous political events.
A New Bloodline
(The Wedding of Joan Amador and Ruslan Soulblade, circa 1471)
Following the merging of House Soulblade with House Amador, there began a bloodline within the Amadors which, for a time, brought about a strong warrior culture. Those Amadors descended from Ramdir Soulblade found themselves particularly strong in physique.
(Painting of Ramdir Soulblade in the battle of Salvus Unknown Date)
As time would have it though, these Amadors would survive despite the odds being against them, perhaps it was in their blood, or perhaps it was simply their GOD-given destiny. The members of House Amador who descended from this merging were of a particular build and mentality, sharing the strong traits known of the Amadors as well as the Soulblades. They were honorable in their character, motivated in their actions, and loyal to their liege and allies. Although their physical appearance would change with time as they married throughout the centuries, their stance and expression remained constant.
From Ashes
Following the supposed disappearance or “fall” of House Amador, those few Amadors who found themselves in obscurity struggled to make themselves known in an era that would dismiss them as strangers and pretenders despite all truth to the contrary. So these Amadors would struggle on, determined to receive the recognition that was theirs by right.
Wandering from county to county, they asked for support in regaining lands lost to them, but were denied at every turn. Eventually becoming a patrician House of minor importance until they were officially unrecognized as a noble house whatsoever. This turn of events would cause much disparity among the Amadors assets as the lack of recognition caused their resources to dwindle away. Eventually forcing the family to seek work in various forms just to get by, but this did nothing to dissuade them from their goals.
In the decades that followed, the Amadors worked their way around as mercenaries, labourers, and merchants. As powerful with their words as they were with their blades. At one point they even aided in the Dukes’ War as several relatives had signed up with the Reformed Kingdom of Oren as soldiers serving across several battles. After the war ended, with many Amadors dying in the service of the crown, what remained of the family used the money and prestige they acquired from the war to build up a small mercantile investment that they would subsequently receive profit from.
The profits generated from the investment would turn out to be more prosperous than expected and were used in a variety of business ventures to fund a few trade expeditions to other lands as well as dowries for marriages to help bolster the family and relations. The contacts made from these expeditions would eventually form small trade routes specific to the Amadors’ business ventures. As a result, a consistent source of revenue would be formed, and for the first time in many decades, money was no longer a concern.
The Rise
The lands of House Amador, circa 1591
With a consistent source of revenue in hand, the Amadors proceeded to hire servants and bodyguards to support their purposes and to protect their interests. The influence garnered from this would prove beneficial in their conduct in trade and interactions, with some Amadors even requesting their bodyguard to accompany them on outings to new lands when merely visiting as a small show of prominence. This pattern of prosperity, consolidation, and exploration would continue over the years to come as they focused on reforming and restructuring themselves. Although they would never forget the obscurity cast upon them, the newer generations of Amadors would do everything they could to avoid having such disparity brought upon their House again. It was from this general consensus among the eldest generation of Amadors in the 1560’s that a more inspired determination formed within the House. So they began petitioning the courts of Oren for one request, that of re-ennoblement.
Offers and requests were made to and fro’, but eventually it was under Duke Petyr Barbanov, with the Haense, that the Amadors found an ally. As they made their way to the Isles of Axios, they settled with the rest of the Haense outside of Johannesburg, awaiting for their charter to settle in the north. With the backing of the various Houses involved, they set about integrating themselves among the culture and people while retaining their own traditions. As time would have it, a year would pass before they migrated to the north. The cold being quite a change for the family members of the House.
Upon arriving in the north the Amadors were granted a fief in which they were entrusted to maintain. They named it Mondstadt, for the wonderful night skies they had seen in the cold north, along the mountains and Godswood, and as a slight homage to the past. To that end, they set about tilling the hard northern soil to make for adequate farmland, constructing buildings for themselves and their bannermen, and traversing the mines of the Haense for rich ores. For it is that struggle was never a surprise to the Amador, but more so, an expectation. It was from the ashes of their hardships that they rose to prominence, as ever loyal and bright as they always were. So it was that they were ennobled by His Imperial Majesty the Holy Orenian Emperor John III Owyn, on the 19th of the Amber Cold, 1573. From this moment, the family adopted the House words “From Ashes, We Rise” As a testament of the centuries long struggle they had endured, but also as a promise that they would only continue to flourish from this point onward.
Within this time period Ruslan the First, would work tightly with his brother Lionel, A merchant, steward, and officer of the Amador Bannermen; to further the family wealth and firmly planting the Amadors within Haense. During this time period it is to be noted, Ruslan fought across many battlefields serving in countless wars all in his loyalty to the crown within his life. House Amador did nothing but support the Crown working mindlessly to supply goods and to grow their own personal wealth which flourished within his reign. In the midst of battle, Ruslan I had stumbled across a very cold and bloody axe still sheathed. It would be later revealed to him through research it was a Thanium axe later to be declared Ruslan I personal weapon of choice. This would be passed on to his only son along with the staff of Jack Amador I to be passed along many generations.Eventually death would creep upon Ruslans path and at the age of 48, he would pass unto GOD’s judgement. While his time in Amador history is short, he was a prominent man who only deepened House Amadors roots within the Kingdom of Haense.
A notable figure during the return of the house during the times of Axios was a Bearded man named Dorm Amador. His arrival was unexpected but having heard of the return of the noble house, he rushed to their support and offered his services to the Barony. His position within the household was a Diplomat for non-haenseti ventures. He carved himself a name within the holy order of st. Wilfriche, and once saved the life of pontiff Saint Sixtus IV during his services by throwing himself in front of a crossbow bolt. He also finalised many trade settlements with the nearboring dwarven nations. A new family crest was painted after this event after a dialogue had been established between Lionel and the Pontiff, cementing House Amador as a House dedicated to GOD and his mysteries.
Turbulent Times
Following the death of Ruslan Amador I, his son Ramdir Amador took the reins as Baron of Mondstadt and married Anna Sophia Horen-Preussens. Together they bore three children, the most notable of which was Owyn ‘The Iron Hand’ Amador. Who would inherit his father’s barony at the age of seven after he was executed by the hands of a reformed imperial military order during the Coalition war. For a time a co-regency was established over Mondstadt headed by his uncle, Dorm Amador, and his Mother until he was of age. When the regency ended, Owyn sought to increase revenue and influence in Mondstadt. He married Adrijana Kovachev, sister of the then Duke of Carnatia, his Grace, Sergei Kovachev. With Adrijana, Owyn found a partner of esteem and beauty. Together they bore four children, their twins, Henrik and Ruslan II, Diana, and Jack. Their efforts lead to Mondstadt being declared a County and House Amador becoming one of the richest noble houses in the Haense at the time.
When the second war with Courland broke out, the Amadors found themselves in quite a bind. During the ebb and flow of battle, Owyn had had his hand cut off during a period of capture, prompting him to use his resources to acquire a replacement, an iron golem hand. As the war ended, the Amadors lost the land they had so dutifully and vigorously cultivated. Owyn was forced to take his family elsewhere, to the fledgling Republic of Carasca.
In the Republic, with what money they could bring with them, Owyn had established himself as a powerful man. He became the Treasurer and one of four Senators that headed the Republic for several years. Time and effort in the Republic went steadily but lacked growth, so as the events in Oren settled down, Owyn relocated to Mardon and swore fealty to House Horen. The Amadors were granted a County and began the construction of Castle Blackfen. When the Empire reformed, Owyn was given the position of Lord Treasurer, serving honourably until he died of sickness in his early thirties. It is at this point the current patriarch, Lord Henrik Ramdir Amador, inherited his father's titles at the age of sixteen.
Henrik found himself in a predicament, his family’s income had run low as a result of all the travel and purchases they had made after losing Mondstadt. So, without a proper means to continue the construction of Castle Blackfen, he sought the aid of the Crown of Mardon, his Majesty King Peter Sigismund. The King offered Henrik the County of Gravelhold in exchange for Blackfen and a promise from Henrik to swear his levies to a new military order, the Legion. Henrik accepted and became the Deputy Constable of the Imperial forces. In the years that would follow his brothers would show interest and talent in other areas. His twin, Ruslan II, went on to work in the Imperial Administration as it’s Seneschal and his youngest brother, Jack, went on to become the Archbishop of The Archdiocese of Johanus. While all this occurred, Henrik found love and matrimony in Princess Artemis Palaiologos. With a tired but reinvigorated sense of honour, House Amador has persevered despite all odds, as the house sayings goes…
Current Times
In the last few years of Atlas however, a young man who had not yet shed his family name rose from the shadows to lay claim to the family name. Henrik Amador, styling himself Henrik II, was of a lesser branch of the family and initially not the heir of the House. His granduncle Ruslan II however was the man holding the family title of Patriarch until he died childless at an old age. This then meant Henrik II suddenly had the right to claim the Patriarch title for himself and so he did, ruling over an essentially powerless family in the waning days of Atlas.
Upon arriving in Arcas, the ambitious and young Henrik went to work on regaining whatever there was to regain for his seemingly lost House. He eventually managed to take back the nobility status of House Amador and married a Santegian princess, Tamar of Biscay, with whom he had four sons: Ruslan, Albert, Edvard and Karl. Not long after these first successes however, Henrik became sick with an unknown disease, probably believed to be tuberculosis. The young family of 6 could not find a medic in Arcas capable of healing Henrik, but heard there were doctors in Aeldin that could, before setting sail for the faraway continent. After many years, the Amadors returned to Arcas, their Patriarch having survived his disease, but by now being an old man and a mere shadow of his youthful, energetic self. This return marked a turning point however, as the House of Amador managed to, within a few years, regain the nobility status they had lost in their absence, becoming Lords of Haense and Barons of Mondstadt once again.
Ruslan III Amador took over after the death of his aged and sickly father Henrik. It was through the hard work and diligence of not only Ruslan, but also his brothers Albert, Edvard and Karl, that the family was once more restored to the Barony of Mondstadt. Ruslan III would go on to marry Katherina Ludovar, and the couple would have three children together, Ruslan Andrik, Warren Ingolf and Katerina Sofiya. Ruslan III remains an elusive figure, rarely making public appearances in Haense or the Empire, even though he is the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords.
Rennard Amador simply has brought wealth and prosperity back to the house alongside his cousins, Ruslan, Edvard and Karl. Moving through positions within the Haense Government going from High Steward, to Lord Treasurer in a short period of time. With these advancements Rennard ran business for the family to ensure their wealth and has given everything for the family to ensure their success for the later years to come.
Edvard Amador has simply risen to a great position within the Haense government following in his footsteps of his younger cousin Rennard, who he trained under as in Rennards time of being the High Steward. With Edvard he helped Rennard on the business venture of the crown assisting with the Haense Fur Trading CO and his cousin Brewing company. Since then he has been promoted to High Steward after Rennard taking the reins of the treasurer position. This man has made sure many projects within Reza have taken place and simply furthered Amador reputation in the Kingdom.
