transcribed by Anton Gionas, circa 5023
The Empire was a bastion of stability across the Realm for thousands of years, born of the will of Emperor Vicarian of House Eldstone, and expanded by his descendants. Among that time, great Houses rose, fell, or faded from existence. For those unfamiliar with the Houses, I have compiled what I could here.
I write this all from memory, and from my own personal recollections of the Houses. I am certain that I have missed a House or two in my retelling, and I can only beg those who come after me to forgive the failing memory of an old soldier.

Altorra

Rebel
Creed: With Wisdom Comes Strength
Heraldry: A white lion on a purple field with a black border
Home: Altorra
Lady Kiristine Altorra

A House far older than the Empire, it has waxed and waned throughout the ages, going from positions of great stature to nearly fading from the Realm completely. Many historians refer to Altorra as the “second greatest House of the Empire”, when obviously giving deference to House Eldstone as the greatest. A curious physical trait marked all of those who are of the blood of Altorra, unusually pale eyes, often referred to as “The Eyes of the Lion”.

With their Stoneborn allies in Clan Coldenhammer, the plateau that the city sat upon quickly became a prominent center of industry, second only to Nacizain. Unlike the City of Soot, Altorra basked in the comfort of industrial progress. Wandering through the city streets even in the middle of winter was a comfortable affair, as warm vents kept the air from growing chill. 

House Altorra was known for their luxury, and some even believed them to be overly decadent. Some Stoneborn viewed them with suspicion, believing that Clan Coldenhammer was being taken advantage of, yet even those that dwelled below the city experienced a life of luxuries that was unseen throughout much of the Realm.

When the Warlock King called for them to swear new Oaths as he rose to power, Lady Kiristine initially balked, until the second group of dark-clad envoys appeared at her gates. She invited them in, and for a week she made preparations for a massive entourage to make the trip to Caledona, a trip that took the better part of three months and utilized four dozen wagons and accompanying staff. At the rise of the Rebellion, Arthur went to speak with his distant cousin, and she received him well, ensuring that he and his soldiers were taken care of while she and Arthur held long counsel. After several nights of discussion, Arthur left the city, along with five hundred Altorran soldiers, and a handful of Coldenhammer craftsmen, all of them bearing Altorran forged blades and armor.

Arvassi

Loyalist
Creed: Rouse to Ferocity
Heraldry: A red dragon on a grey field with a sable chevron
Home: Maderghast
Lord Vintros Arvassi

The Lords and Ladies of Arvassi have long taken the moniker of “Red Dragon” as they ascend to their position. They wear no crown and carry no scepter, but instead upon their belt they wear a blade of reddish steel, said to have been originally wielded by Imbraele Arvassi, the inceptor of the House. They are seen as stern and steadfast, stoic and resolute.

The forces of the Red Dragon were long concerned with the horrors of the Valach Marsh, and rarely concerned themselves with the greater politics of the Empire. The single messenger that arrived from the Rebellion was treated cordially, fed, and given quarters before being turned away by Lord Vintros Arvassi. The messenger was informed “That which dwells within the heart of Valach is of a more terrible nature than the Warlock King. At least he can be reasoned with.”

Later during the War, House Arvassi barely sent a token force to reinforce the Warlock King’s forces during the Siege of the Ebon Tower once they were summoned. It is said that they arrived not long before Arthur sundered the Gate, and rather than needlessly throw themselves into a battle already lost, they camped upon the flank of the Rebellion forces and posted their banners.

Atynos

Rebel
Creed: Glory to the Peaceful
Heraldry: A white horse on a green field with a sable bend
Home: Iradem
Lord Willistar Atynos

The nobles of the House are renowned for their cordiality and are always quick to receive visitors. They looked out for their people, and there was little destitution within the walls of Iradem. Instead, everyone was prosperous, and the city was always a delight to visit. 

Their heraldry seemed to have been chosen long ago by a Lord who may have had some Erdanian blood within his veins due to his love for the creatures. The forces of the House were known to have several hundred cavalry, and as many foot soldiers, all of whom dwelled in the nearby farmlands. 

Lord Willistar Atynos held council with Arthur and a few of his companions in the early days of the Rebellion, spending nearly two days in talks behind closed doors. Finally, the doors were flung wide, and Lord Atynos sent his troops to war. The white cloaks of many of the city guards were traded in for mail shirts as many joined the cause to cast down the wickedness of the Warlock King.

Cadwall

Loyalist or Unaligned
Creed: Prosper and Prevail
Heraldry: A white stag on an green field with a black border
Home: Torvaless
Lord Madran Cadwall

The lands of House Cadwall were always bountiful, and many remarked that their grain fed over half of the Empire. While the farmlands always seemed to be green despite droughts that plagued much of the rest of the Empire in later years, the nearby forests always seemed to be teeming with game. Some have long remarked that their coat of arms should bear a spear or bow, as the Lords and Ladies enjoyed hunting the great stags that roamed the nearby wood.

For ages the White Stag of Cadwall was a loyal defender of the crown, even defending Astor Eldstone against the Claim of the Bastard, despite a rumor that Lord Cadwall knew that the crown should have passed to the Bastard Reynard. House Cadwall upheld the throne because they believed it was for the good of the realm to maintain order and stability.

When the Charlatan War erupted, Lord Madran Cadwall was willing to listen to Arthur’s pleas, and even let his men pass through his lands unchallenged. However, despite Arthur’s belief that he had a friend and ally, Lord Cadwall would not answer a summons to send aid. In the end it mattered little, as Torvaless felt the same end as the rest of the Empire.

Derent

Rebel
Creed: Loyalty, Courage, Honor
Heraldry: A golden lion on a sable field
Home: Sacar
Lord Idris Derent

It is said that long ago, the House of Derent split with the House of Altorra, with those of Derent’s blood having eyes of startling gold. While House Derent and Altorra shared a common border, they often did not share the same viewpoints. Those loyal to Derent often saw Altorra as being overly decadent, and prone to lavish hedonism and outright laziness, while those of House Derent were often quick to action.

Often seen as being honor-bound to a fault, the Lions of Derent never backed down from a challenge. It is said that the Bastard Reynard once tricked the Lions into an ambush simply by insulting their honor, while the forces of several other Houses retreated rather than face their foes.

During the Charlatan War, House Derent was possibly the first to side with Arthur’s meager rebellion. Sacar proved to be a suitable training ground and recruitment arena for the Rebellion, as numerous veterans of Ughol raids would lend their aid and experience to the early efforts. Strangely, it was also the site of a bristling group of over a hundred greenskin warriors descended from the mountain under a banner of peace and offered their loyalty to the rebellion. Their expertise in guerilla warfare and wilderness survival would be crucial at several points during the Rebellion.

Enasra

Unaligned
Creed: From Our Perch We Keep Watch
Heraldry: A grey hawk on a red cross
Home: Northledge Castle
Lord Orn Enasra

For three thousand years the Hawks of House Enasra have kept watch from their perch atop the cliffs of Northledge. Far below, the Endyrian Forest is a great expanse through which the Vyaldur and Ughol raid southward, razing villages and stealing crops to take back to the cold northlands. The Lords and Ladies who stand vigilant dispatch their soldiers, as well as the fast-moving Farstriders to thwart those raids, and ferret out bandits who set camp within the wood.

One rumor persists through the ages that the Lords and Ladies of the Enasra bloodline are so adept at noticing potential problems from a distance because of their ability to see through the eyes of the great hawks. Others dismiss such claims, instead referencing the dizzying height of the High Balcony of Northledge Castle, as well as a well-established spy network operated by the Farstriders. Regardless, those who speak to the Enasra note their piercing eyes and predatory demeanor. 

While it is said that Lord Orn Enasra chose to remain uncommitted to either side during the Rebellion, rumors persist of several Farstrider scouts slipping into Arthur’s camp and relaying information about the movements of Imperial troops.

Krellion

Loyalist
Creed: Strength of the Mountains
Heraldry: A grey goat’s head on a grey field with a blue pale
Home: Myrneas
Lord Vorman Krellion

Once the rulers of a powerful city-state, the forces of House Krellion bent knee to the Empire after a long drought, and the Lord took the crest of a hardy mountain goat, a cunning creature common on the craggy mountainsides around Myrneas. The forces of Krellion assisted in the assault on Verosca, also bringing them into the fold.

Over the centuries, the line of Krellion has taken a few interesting twists, with more than once the Lord falling in love with a mountain chieftain’s daughter. Such trysts often produce a line of bastards, but notably a thousand years ago, Lord Gustavus Krellion married Nagra Hillbreaker, and from that union produced a half-dozen sons. However, upon the Lord’s demise, the six brothers began fighting among themselves, turning Myrneas into a bloodbath. While the second-eldest son survived, the others had their remains scattered over the nearby hillsides.

Initially, Lord Sergei Krellion, a great bear of a man, spoke against the Warlock King when he assumed the throne. He was said to be traveling to speak with another Lord, and when his entourage never arrived, a search party was dispatched. They found that the Lord and all his men had been butchered on the road, with crude arrows pointing to the local Ughol tribe being the culprits. When a group of knights were dispatched to bring the Ughol to justice, they were unable to locate the tribe.

Sergei’s half-brother Vorman assumed the title of Lord, and seemed to be a staunch supporter of the Warlock King during the Rebellion.

Legarros

Loyalist
Creed: Iron and Honor
Heraldry: A broken sword on a blue field with a black vertical stripe
Home: Nacizain
Lady Carima Legarros

The great City of Soot was made so through industrious labor and shrewd diligence of the Lords and Ladies of House Lagarros. For centuries the city was slowly transformed into a center of innovation, with nearby mines providing ample quantities of coal and metal to fuel the progress. 

While the first Lord of the city had taken up a stance of pacifism after being defeated by the Imperial forces in the First Expansion, his successors turned instead to production. For the entirety of the Empire’s existence, the Lords and Ladies of Lagarros sought out methods of efficiency and craftsmanship. House Lagarros had a reputation for sponsoring craftsmen, and in turn using their abilities to great effect. 

At the outbreak of the Charlatan War, the Rebellion was worried that the industry of Lagarros would be turned against them to terrible results. When Lady Carima Lagarros could not be swayed to their side, Arthur dispatched saboteurs in hopes that they could at least slow the great wheels before they ground the Rebellion to dust. Despite such efforts, the Rebellion would face numerous cannons, ballistae, and other engines of war bearing the Lagarros mark throughout the entire war.

Macarda

Loyalist
Creed: Vigilance Our Charge
Heraldry: A white owl on a purple field with a black saltire
Home: Rotharion Keep
Lady Jaerys Macarda

A House once great in stature, resolute in its watch over the pass at the foot of Bleakwind Mountain, they were but a faded shell of what they had once been. In the decades leading up to the Rebellion, the House was in a slow decline, and when called to rouse their troops, they were only able to send a handful of knights and a hundred soldiers to answer.

The House held Bleakwind Pass against several attempts by the northerners to push their way south into the Empire, each one thwarted by the discipline of their soldiers and the steadfastness of their knights. It is said that two centuries before the Rebellion, a force of a thousand howling Northmen came pouring down the pass, only to find the assembled legion of Imperials positioned on the rise before them, muskets raised. Not a single shot was fired before the would-be raiders turned tail and returned to the cold lands.

House Macarda was also instrumental in quashing several issues with northern Baronies. When tensions rose and things appeared to be capable of being handled politically, Rotharion Keep was often the setting for discussion, and on more than one occasion a child of the House was wed to a child of a Baron to seal an allegiance, which would often persist for a generation or two. Thus, many Barons were comfortable negotiating with someone with strong Vyaldur blood within their veins.

During the early days of the Rebellion, Arthur and his forces slipped into the north, some say to rouse a number of Barons to his banner, in an attempt to temper the ferocity of the Vyaldur into his growing army. On their way south, they stopped at Rotharion Keep, to sway Lord Macarda to side with the Rebellion. Unfortunately, Lord Macarda attempted to trap Arthur and his men, only allowing them to leave under the provision of a marriage. When Arthur refused, a bloody skirmish erupted, and Lord Macarda died not long after of his wounds.

Mercene

Loyalist
Creed: Look to the Horizon
Heraldry: A golden trident on a field of azure and sable
Home: Caracathos
Lady Dacia Mercene

A long-time vassal of House Krellion, the resolute Lords of Mercene were shrewd businessmen, using their port to great advantage, and known to always be prompt in handling problems as they arise. Despite a few attempts over the years to create contention among the House by outside forces, the members of the House always upheld loyalty and maintained a unified front.

While never boasting as powerful a fleet as House Wistreys, the small fleet that called Caracathos home was composed of many gunships and fast clippers. The waters near their harbor were always seen as safe from assault by those flying the black flag. Many would thus use the port as one of their destinations on their journeys across the waters, adding to the prosperity of House Mercene.

During the Rebellion, it is said that House Mercene’s navy tripled in size. Before the end of the war, some of the newest and heavily armed ships sailed forth from Caracathos, often bearing ensorcelments upon their prow, and their sails dyed black. It is said that these midnight sails were woven with spells to grant them the wind, regardless of which direction they were headed.

Murrel

Unaligned
Creed: Beware Our Horns
Heraldry: A gold oxen on a red field with a sable cross
Home: Errestan Keep
Lord Tarsten Murrel “The Young Bull”

Several hundred years ago, Errestan Keep was little more than a crossing point in the Baridan River for cattle drivers, and it wasn’t until an actual Keep with a garrison was built that the lands included a title. A young knight was gifted the lands as the reward for a tourney. Ser Larris Murrel was the first Lord, and took his coat of arms from the large amount of livestock that were raised in the area. 

For the entirety of House Murrel’s existence, it has been known for virility and the amount of livestock raised upon the surrounding lands. It is said that these are the two defining attributes of the family, but some also claim that they are as stubborn as oxen. Also, with such large families, the House quickly propagated into the surrounding town, so that almost half of the population of Errestan Keep could trace their lineage back to a prior Lord or Lady Murrel.

As the Warlock King rose to power, Lord Drugan Murrel opposed the idea, stating that Vaerlys was no noble, and thus had no claim to the crown. One threat from the Emperor was received, and Lord Drugan called Vaerlys “A withered old fish, too ripe in his own stew” to the Emperor’s messenger. Unfortunately, barely a month later, Lord Drugan was on a hunt and fell from his horse and perished. Not long after, the squire who had been his only company during the hunt went missing. His son took up the mantle, and when the Warlock King called upon him to supply troops, the call went unanswered. The young Tarsten Murrel was believed to have said “If that corpse wants my men, he can come collect them himself.” Word spread across the realm that “The Young Bull Does Not Bow”.

Nereas

Rebel
Creed: Thunder and Lightning
Heraldry: A gold lightning bolt on an azure field with a black border
Home: Castle Stormwatch
Lord Ruskov Nereas

Known for their reverence of the Storm Maiden and their tenacity, they were often called upon to swiftly settle issues of bandits, and the Order of the Tempest would often ride out at the behest of House Nereas and the Emperor bring their fury upon enemies of the Realm.

The line of Nereas has been known to always have a streak of silver running through their hair, what some have long called “The Storm Maiden’s Mark”. However, it is said to have only manifested after the construction of Castle Stormwatch, and has been born by every true child of Nereas, even from their youth. 

House Nereas tried twice to build a castle after being granted lands by the Emperor. The first collapsed due to an unusual flood in the area brought on by two weeks of constant rainfall. The second castle, built upon a stony hill, was named Stormwatch, and has since weathered many centuries.

The Lord of Stormwatch believed that Yshanga was guiding them in where the castle should be built, and venerated her in the construction of the new castle. Years later, when attacked by the forces of Warlord Kraddon, the sky darkened and rain fell in torrents. Lightning began striking the bronze-capped tower, illuminating Stormwatch, and causing a number of Kraddon’s warriors to flee. The next morning, the forces of the Warlord charged the Castle and found themselves mired in the thick mud. Lord Nereas sent out a hundred archers, and they utterly devastated the stuck warriors who were unable to reach the archers. It was said to be such a massacre that runners had to be sent back to the castle because the archers ran out of arrows before they ran out of targets.

When the Warlock King demanded their loyalty, Lord Casovar Nereas consulted the storms, and found that a darkness hung over Caledona. When he refused to submit, he simply disappeared, although some say he was last seen standing on the balcony, looking out towards Caledona and a storm that was rushing in from the mountains.

His brother, Ruskov Nereas assumed the title of Lord, and after receiving a request for aid from Arthur Eldstone, Lord Ruskov rode forth with the Order of the Tempest to break the Siege of Belagor, where he met with the Wolf of Vanterheim on the road, and with their combined forces scattered the Imperial forces.

Restonis

Rebel
Creed: Harvest What You Sow
Heraldry: A black boar’s head on a green field
Home: Belagor
Lady Evane Restonis

Initially Lord Restonis was the hereditary title passed down from some forgotten point in the far past, the family controlled much of the land in the area, and oversaw hundreds of families, settling disputes and ensuring that the farms were protected against raiders. When the Empire rose to power and swept toward them, there were some brief negotiations that ended up not bearing fruit. Thus, a wall was erected around a small town to serve as a defensible position. When the Empire attempted to take the lands by force, they met with a wall of shields and spears, and after a brief skirmish, the Empire made a better offer, allowing the locals to maintain their self-governance and appointing House Restonis as wardens of the Westerly Plain.

The lands around Belagor are constantly hit with heavy rains in the spring, turning the land into a sodden mess. Many jokes have followed the House and their heraldry, claiming “Pigs always like playing in the mud.” However, when the rain stops, there is a frantic few weeks where local farmers plant as much as possible, and the crops that spring forth from the area are bountiful.

When the Warlock King demanded that House Restonis renew their Oath, Lady Evane scoffed and made no move to travel to Caledona. Three times messengers arrived, and three times they were turned away at the gates of Belagor. Less than a week after the third messenger, Lady Evane was attacked in the dark of the night by a tongueless assassin who carried poisoned blades.  Lady Evane survived, despite losing an eye and part of her left hand in the attack. When Arthur arrived seeking refuge with his band of Rebels, she had the gates thrown wide, and invited them inside. When Imperial forces arrived, she swore allegiance to Arthur, and was heard to have said “When you injure a boar, it only becomes more ferocious”. It is also said that she was among the archers who filled the Imperial General Marlaster with arrows in the ambush.

Shavian

Rebel
Creed: Faith and Honor
Heraldry: A gold chalice on a sable field with a red border
Home: Tytheros
Lady Ysmirra Shavian

Once the line of King Zadares, during the First Great Expansion, the Imperial forces overcame their forces and Emperor Asyrus gave the squabbling heirs of Zadares an option. Of the three children, only Lady Shavia emerged, carrying her father’s bloody sword. 

Centuries later, Lady Mirami Shavian would have the Cathedral of the Divines built within the city of Tytheros, within but a short distance of the grand manor that housed the noble family. Since then, not only has House Shavian been devout in their religious dedication, but they also seemed blessed by the Divines, often faring better than the rest of the Realm during periods of turmoil.

During the Rebellion, House Shavian did not decide to back Arthur until just before the Battle of Red Crossing. Lady Niza Shavian rode forth riding a black mare, a golden mace in hand, and following her were all of those loyal to the Chalice, including a retinue of priests.

Sterein

Rebel
Creed: We Hunt for the Realm
Heraldry: A white wolf on a sable field with an azure bend
Home: Vanterheim
Lord Vendar Sterein

The cold north forges people as hard as iron, and the City of Winter has long been known for hardy people. When the city was blanketed by snow as deep as a tall man several centuries ago, an old Lord Horden Sterein ventured out with his troops to clear the roofs of the buildings, so that houses did not cave in under the weight of the snow and ice. Legend says he lived another decade after the Great Blizard of 3830.

Many say that the blood of Vyaldur runs deep within House Sterein. With the origins of being a trading post with the north, it is no wonder that any annals written about the House would note various marriages between Lords and Ladies and Baronets and Jarls. One saying that passes through the north is “When the White Wolves of Sterein go hunting, it is best not to be a deer.” During the Charlatan War, House Sterein became one of the most steadfast supporters, but it was not initially so. Even though Lord Vendar Sterein was the cousin of Hiram Eldstone, the Last Emperor, he put little faith in the rebellion, he doubted the veracity of yet another Arthur. However, when a messenger arrived with a message bearing the seal of House Eldstone, Lord Vendar Sterein donned his helm, reportedly saying “We ride for the Realm.” and with his garrison, the Wolf of Vanterheim rode with haste to break the Siege of Belagor.

Tycharus

Loyalist
Creed: Others Fail. We Thrive.
Heraldry: A black rose on a red field with a white bend
Home: Rosenkeep
Lord Adaran Tycharus

Tycharus was not the first House to take charge of Rosenkeep, but it was the last. Previously, the halls of the Tower knew at least six other Houses. Originally constructed by King Embraele, it served to house a small garrison of soldiers loyal to the King of Roses, until some unnamed tragedy befell the line of the Rose and the Tower fell into disuse.

During the Second Great Expansion, the Empire annexed the lands and appointed Ser Alster Madrianis as a new Lord, and charged him with repairing the Tower of Five Roses and being the warden of the lands. Five centuries later, House Madrianis ended in patricide, with the heir apparent committing a horrid act of murder and cannibalism. In an attempt to maintain the honor of the House, when the guards found the eldest son and what he had done, one of the guards stepped forward and unleashed a crossbow bolt which ended the line. 

The Lady Recyne had a terrible spiral of paranoia, and eventually bricked herself up in the basement, issuing commands through a small hole… until she eventually didn’t.

Houses Lackaries, and Maremund passed into history without producing heirs, as elderly Lords let their lines end. House Oristes fell when the stagecoach overturned after the horses pulling it were spooked, killing both the Lord and Lady within. And finally, House Gestunius went out in a blaze as the young Lord was convinced that he was covered in insects that only he could see, and thus doused himself in lamp oil.

Each House that passed before took on a sigil of a Rose, and thus when Ser Tycharus was gifted Rosenkeep by the Emperor, and appointed as Lord, he took a black rose. His line seemed to be fruitful, and some claimed that the curse of Rosenkeep had finally been broken. For over a century, House Tycharus was prosperous and strong… until it ended with the nightmare that engulfed the Empire.

Unistra

Rebel
Creed: Blood of the Sea, Blood in the Sea
Heraldry: A white crab on an orange field with a sable saltire
Home: The Seas
Lord Tarlan Unistra “the Steel Claw”

Originally little more than a fleet of pirates and raiders, the House was lifted to legitimacy not quite five centuries ago, when Emperor Nalan the Steadfast offered terms to the survivors of a combined naval assault from Houses Wistreys and Mercene. Rather than face annihilation, the Pirate Lord took the offer and became Lord Kardak Unistra, First Lord of the Far Seas. 

While the appointment to Lord offered House Unistra a handful of rocky islands in the southern waters, the headstrong raiders instead had a massive ship constructed. Some say the flagship was funded from booty and plunder that they had secreted away on unknown isles. Others claim it was from forced payment to escort merchant ships through their waters. Regardless, when it was completed in five long years, the Great Under was the largest ship the Realm had seen before or since.

The Crabs mostly focused on lands outside of the Empire, and their flags were seldom seen, save for when they brought goods to port cities or when they served as escorts to lands beyond. They also adopted a strategy of hiring on pirates and criminals while in port, saving them from the noose and cage, and allowing them to serve out their terms on deck.

During the Rebellion, Arthur spent several days meeting with Lord Unistra aboard the antique Great Under, and they struck a deal. The bloodthirsty sailors and raiders would be set loose on the seas, making war against Imperial ships and raiding any town that did not fly the banner of Eldstone. Curiously, the Crabs met with little resistance.

Valgrave

Unaligned
Creed: Keeping Omens
Heraldry: A sable field with a white pale, bearing a passant raven
Home: Raven’s Keep
Lord Wildarn Valgrave

Founded by Karsten Valgrave in the second millennium of the Imperial Era, House Valgrave was charged with maintaining Raven’s Keep, after the passing of the last member of the Ravensend bloodline. With the Keep came the charge of overseeing both Talder Wood and the Drudgemire, which they kept free of bandits and dangerous beasts. To aid the House in their endeavor, they formed the Raven’s Guard, a group of hardened rangers who could be identified by their black cloaks and silver raven pins. Much of the Raven’s Guard were younger sons and daughters of other noble Houses, who were sent so as not to be a concern for their elder siblings at the time of inheritance. 

During the Rebellion, House Valgrave remained silent. While Lord Valgrave had sworn his oath to the Warlock King, when called upon to help put down the Rebellion, he simply refused to answer the summons. Rumor says that he simply tossed the message into the fire, and went back to his cups. None are sure if he did so out of some fondness for Arthur, some distaste for the Warlock King, or more likely because he was a dour old man who saw no reason to commit the Raven Guard to an ambush.

Wistreys

Unaligned
Creed: Might of the Sea
Heraldry: A black kraken on a blue field
Home: Verosca
Lord Karsov Wistreys

Known for their great fleet for countless generations, they were often seen as the Imperial Navy. The ships of House Wistreys generally patrolled the shores of the empire, escorting merchant vessels and keeping the seas generally free of piracy. While small groups of Vyaldur longships would sneak south along the coast, at the first sign of the Kraken’s flag, they would flee north, or set to shore and attempt to flee across dry land rather than face cannon and saber.

Lord Karsov originally stood against the claim of the Warlock King, claiming that the title should pass to another of Eldstone blood. However, shortly after the denouncement, half of the ships bearing the kraken caught fire, and Lord Karsov fell silent. 

When the forces of Unistra began to aid the Rebellion, both by transporting soldiers and by attacking any merchant vessel traveling under the banner of an Imperial House, many questioned why the Kraken didn’t sail forth and send the Crabs to the bottom of the sea. Some say that it was because they had not faced any proper opposition in over a generation, while the Unistrian sailors had been fighting against pirates and reaving unaligned lands in the southern waters. Others say that the death of the heir apparent had taken all of the wind out of Lord Karsov’s sails, and he would rather sit in his tower in a state of melancholy, looking out at the waves instead of commanding his fleet. 

Zaltain

Rebel
Creed: Knowledge, Wisdom, Daring, and Silence.
Heraldry: A golden wheel on a dark blue field
Home: Iremzahr
Lord Eradius Zaltain

Known as the House of Sorcery, it is unlike most other Houses, in that it did not pass title to the eldest living child, but instead, it passed to the first member of the House who could complete Seven Tests of Sorcery. On occasion, this resulted in the House not being ruled by an individual Lord or Lady for years or decades at a time. 

All members of House Zaltain were gifted with sorcery and were proficient in its Art. Some believe that the progenitors of the House made a deal with some dark force to bestow eldritch ability upon all of their descendants. Others whisper that not all of House Zaltain are descended from the same blood, but instead are found among promising children and whisked away to live within the ensorcelled walls of Iremzahr.

House Zaltain were often called upon for their counsel, or for their assistance with things arcane. They would arrive in threes, often riding upon the backs of great black steeds, and after conducting their business, would ride off once night had fallen. Some scouts once reported that the steeds crested a hill and simply vanished, their hoofprints disappearing and making it impossible to track their passage.

During the rise of the Warlock King, all attempts to contact House Zaltain met with silence. Messengers found the gates to Iremzahr closed, and none answered a summons. Interestingly, during the years leading to the Rebellion, no one can recall seeing a member of the House. Their absence would not be ended until they were seen in Arthur’s encampment, weaving grand rituals and hurling motes of eldritch fire at winged horrors.

Player Character Restrictions:

Saronean characters may be from any House, save for Eldstone.
Erdanian and Vyaldur characters may be extended family of the Houses.
Any character may have been in service to any House, save for Eldstone.