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History
Rivana's premier cavalry men house Haldis has been the backbone of the kingdom's military for centuries with members of House Haldis distinguishing themselves in conflict after conflict. These years of conflict have come home to roost however with the Succession War and the more recent Thorn Uprising which saw considerable fighting within the Duchy and leaving both the Duke's line less than secure but stirring up bad blood among their vassals as well.
Overview
Province: Eastfield
Settlements: Charger's Rest is the main settlment controlled by House Haldis. It is a large town not yet fully the size of a city but is close, it enjoys the benefits of sturdy stone walls, the waters of the River Divisus and the the protection of the Vorlonian mountains to the east. Unsurprisingly the township is also home to the Haldis seat of the same name.
There are several other settlements under direct Haldis control most of them ranching towns where herds are bought and sold but some along the river are bustling trade towns with barges poleing goods up and down the Divisus.
Fortifications: Charger's Rest is the largest castle in the Duchy a sprawling stone structure on a hill above the town that share's it's name. The house also commands two other castles. The first one Rivergate commands a small island in the Divisus near the border with Seaguard. The second castle called Longfield but better known as The Forge sits on a hill in the plains of Easrfield and serves as the main training ground of the Unbridled.
Faegates: TBD
House Lockley (County)
House Marwyn (Countty)
House Dardin (Barony)
House Giraldi (Lordship)
House Lowell (Lordship)
The military of House Haldis is some of the best in Rivana and includes their specialized cavalry unit the Unbridled who are counted as some of the best horsemen in The Edge. Having suffered major losses during the Thirty Years War, Succession War and the Thorn Uprising that followed the forces of House Haldis are being rebuilt a long and expensive process for the Duke and his kin but one that provides opportunities for those with the skills and the will to fight alongside some of Rivanan's best fighting men and women.
Minimum: 900
Maximum: 1250
Maximum w/ Special Unit: 1000
Current Level: 750 + Unbridled
Horses are the major trade good of House Haldis. Their chargers are renowned throughout Rivana and are in very high demand. Besides horses the house trades in cattle, sheep and other livestock grazed in the Haldis lowlands.
Major NPCs
Duke Darren Haldis – Born 1834. Bastard son of Duke Bryar Haldis and his mistress Miranda t’Alvi, legitimized by King Lucas Tracano when Duke Bryar’s wife failed to produce a legitimate son. Forthright and bold, Darren is a hero of the Succession War and the Thorn Uprising. He is known to be an excellent fighter (perhaps second only to Jaren Cassomir amongst Rivanans) but a less certain Duke, and is acutely aware that he is not as gifted a strategist as his father, though he tends to make up for the lack by inspiring strong camaraderie and loyalty with his soldiers.
Dowager Duchess Esme Haldis (nee Marwyn) – Born 1806. The wife of Bryar Haldis, while she did not produce an heir for her husband she was a key player in managing Eastfield while her husband was in the field and was in her day a skilled rider and battle commander.
Available Members
Randall Haldis – Born 1809. Darren’s uncle and heir, not the most reliable of men, he has been at odds with his nephew several times in the past but has returned to favour after each falling out. Married to Cynnia Haldis (Haver) and the father of Lorrana, Sebastian and Almer Haldis.
Lorrana Haldis – Born 1832. Daughter of Randall Haldis, wife of Dracen Haldis (nee Dardin) and mother of two children born 1850 and 1853.
Liam Haldis – Born 1850. Squire to Jaren Cassomir, son of Lorrana Haldis.
Sebastian Haldis – Born 1836. Married to Ellaria Haldis (Bazan) in 1856 by his father when Randall was looking at switching to the Roses. The deal fell through however leaving Ellaria stranded in the Thorn camp. They have one child born 1860.
Almer Haldis – Born 1840. Son of Randall Haldis. Currently unwed.
Stefan Haldis – Born 1837. Son of Coren and Felicia Haldis who died in the Thirty Years War and the Succession War respectively. A distant cousin of the Haldis mainline he wed Ida Haldis (nee Reid). They have two children born in 1859 and 1863.
Children of Coren and Felicia Haldis – Distant cousins of the mainline Haldis and born in 1842 and 1844. Their parents died in the Thirty Years War and Succession War respectively, their elder brother is Stefan Haldis.
Duke Darren's Half-Siblings - See House Giraldi.
Historical Members
Archduke Bryar Haldis – 1800-1860. One of Rivana’s best generals, he and his brother Alphard were key figures during both the Thirty Years War and the Succession War. Most famous for "Bryar's March," whereupon he struck further into Couviere than any other Rivanan Commander of the Succession War, overrunning the Duchy of Ostvor and engaging the forces of House l'Corren and their vassals in Murnord, before finally being turned back after a stalemate with Duke Cesare l'Corren. Was murdered in 1860 apparently on the orders of Anton Tracano.
“Duke” Alphard Haldis – 1807-1866. Called ‘The Butcher’ for his brutal tactics he was a battlefield commander who was both hated and feared in equal measure. Anton Tracano appointed him Duke of Eastfield after the death of his brother Duke Bryar and Darren Haldis being accused of his murder. Alphard’s reign only lasted a few months and he was believed killed in the Battle of the Ascendant Rose in 1860, then replaced by Darren. Alphard returned in 1866 as the military mind behind the Thorn Uprising and was finally killed by Darren Haldis in personal combat. He married Corrine Haldis (nee Godwin) near the start of the Succession War and neither she or their two children have surfaced since his first death in 1860.
Adriana Tracano (nee Haldis) – Sister of Bryar and Alphard who wed Roger Tracano and gave birth to Anton Tracano in 1818 forging one of the critical ties between Anton and House Haldis.
Duchess Mariah Haldis (nee Aquilla) – 1836-1863. Wife of Darren Haldis, a fanatical Thorn supporter she was wed to Darren to help ensure his loyalty. After the death of Anton and her family in 1863, she jumped to her death from a tower in Charger’s Rest taking her infant son by Darren Haldis with her.
Andre Haldis 1776-1820, died in the Thirty Years War m. Angelina Haldis (nee l’Faust)
- their children :
- Bryar Haldis 1800-1860 m. Gwendolyn Haldis (nee Lockley) 1802-1822
- m. Esme Haldis (nee Marwyn) 1806
- his bastards by Miranda Giraldi (nee t’Alvi)
- Darren Haldis 1834 m. Mariah Haldis (nee Aquino) 1836-1863
- their child:
- Andre Haldis 1855-1863
- Adriana Tracano (nee Haldis) 1801 m. Roger Tracano 1800-1847
- Alphard Haldis 1807-1866 m. Corrine Haldis (nee Godwin) 1829-1860, missing presumed dead
- their children:
- Iain Haldis 1853-1860, missing believed dead
- Collette Haldis 1857-1860, missing believed dead
- Randall Haldis 1809 m. Cynnia Haldis (nee Haver)
- their children:
- Lorrana Haldis 1832 m. Dracen Haldis (nee Dardin) 1830
- their children :
- Liam Haldis 1850
- Unnamed Female Haldis 1853
- Sebastian Haldis 1836, a famous member of the Unbridled m. Alexandra Haldis (nee Marwyn) 1847
- Almer Haldis 1840
Teresa Lockley (nee Haldis) 1778-1830 m. Thorner Lockely 1776
Marc Haldis 1783-1814, killed in a duel with Julian Farrant m. Isabel Haldis (nee Howlett) 1790
- their children:
- Gabriel Haldis 1808-1834, Famous Lancer, died in the Thirty Years War m. Lyonel Haldis (nee Cassomir) 1805
- their child:
- Royce Haldis 1832 a Royal Lancer m. Marcia Haldis (nee Reid) 1840
- Coren Haldis 1812 m. Felicia Haldis (nee Bayard) 1816
- their children:
- Unamed Haldis 1837
- Unamed Haldis 1840
- Unamed Haldis 1844
- Jace Haldis 1814-1835, died in brawl with Greycen troops.
- Siege engineer: unnamed, served in the succession war (30-50yrs old)
- Captain of the Guard (any age)
- Master Healer (50+yrs old)
Personality Quirks:
Aggressive - House Haldis is a house of hard fighters who seldom back down and can let their tempers get the best of them when provoked.
Strong Willed - It is hard to change a Haldis' mind when it's made up and part of their military success has always been built on the will to push on despite the odds.
Skill Quirks:
Born in the Saddle - Rumor has it most Haldis can ride before they can walk. While this is hardly true, many Haldis are skilled horsemen.
Military Genius: - House Haldis has birthed more than it's share of military geniuses. Whether it is in the blood or the military bearing of the house is up for some debate but the truth of their skill is not.
Social Quirks:
Bad Reputation - The Haldis supported the Thorn through the first part of the Succession War before later joining the forces of the Rose Queen, while the turn was understandable (the Thorn after all had their Duke murdered) there are some who hold grudges against them for the deeds done when they still served Anton.
Grudge: House Greycen - House Greycen and House Haldis have been at odds for centuries over minor (to anyone else) territory disputes and House Greycen's rise to ducal status has not improved things. Both sides will often go out of their way to make trouble for the other if they can.
Rough Around the Edges - Folk of House Haldis tend to be earthy and by the standards of most nobility somewhat crude, but some find their straightforward manner refreshing rather than off-putting (especially if they've spent a lot of time around them). Still, it doesn't stop plenty of jokes that the Haldis get along better with their Horses than other people. It's not a matter of remoteness or recent nobility, either. It's that the Haldis as a whole tend to not care so much what other people think of them.
Culture
Religion: House Haldis practices the One Faith.
Nobles: Nobles of House Haldis are expected to be able to ride and fight and are trained in both from their early years. Those who show a talent for combat and the knightly arts are sent at least for some time to Longfield Castle better known as The Forge, where the Unbridled train. There they take on the role of a basic recruit and train alongside the men who will one day serve them. This serves a double purpose, giving the perspective Haldis knight some advanced training in cavalry warfare and building a bond between the house and their most elite horsemen. Some opt to stay and earn their spurs with the Unbridled and others do their time and are knighted by other means. Those who do not take the knightly path are not scorned in House Haldis but are certainly a minority and of those most go to the church.
Regardless of the path they take, at sixteen most members of the house are given a horse to mark their coming of age (a warhorse for squires and a fine riding horse for those on other paths) and a Haldis knighting is also a much feted occasion with the knighted members of the house celebrating until the wee-hours of the morning with their new brother or sister.
Bastards in House Haldis are not an uncommon occurrence and most of them if they show the talent for it are pushed towards the Unbridled or serving in the Haldis military in some capacity. However a few of the more noteable Haldis horse breeders have been from bastard stock, and it is seen as an honourable profession for those so gifted.
Inheritance: The eldest child inherits as long as he or she can ride and fight.
Commoners: The stereotype of the common folk of Eastfield is that they come in only three types, soldiers, horse breeders or boatmen. This is far from true but those three types are most often seen beyond Eastfield's borders. Common born soldiers serve in the house troops or the Unbridled, the boatmen ply the Divisus trading with the 'southern devils' in Seaguard and the horse traders live well on their trade and their stock is in demand across Rivana. There are of course other professions as well but most farmers, craftsmen and miners rarely leave the Duchy.
A House Divided - The death of Duke Darren's wife and child have left something of a schism in House Haldis. His less than reliable uncle Randall has become the heir to the house and some say that he is keen to see to it his nephew does not marry again to ensure that his arse or at least that of his daughter or grandson sits the ducal seat next.
Kinslayer - There are a good many bad rumours about Darren Haldis. The first and oldest say that it was him and not Anton who had Bryar Haldis killed. Those rumors were put to good effect by his uncle Alphard when he was fermenting rebellion against his nephew and are still repeated by a bitter few even today. The second rumor is that it was Darren and not the Duchess Miriah who started their fatal brawl which left the Duchess and their child splattered across the cobbles of Charger's Rest.
Hero? - There are some who see Darren Haldis as a hero and not a villain. He was the one to brought the treachery of his uncle and Anton to light and saved the Duchy and the Kingdom from being ruled by those who would murder their kin, more than that he brought both men to justice by his own hand.
Sidhe Steel House Haldis is known to be in possession of at least two Sidhe steel blades the first and most famous is 'Bloodthirster', the family bastard sword worn by the Duke himself. The second blade has no official name but most have come to call it 'Spur' and is sometimes worn by the Dowager Duchess Esme Haldis at official functions.
Besides the custom of the bride and groom performing a ceremonial ride between the church and castle to allow the commoners a chance to cheer the happy couple Haldis weddings are more or less in line with the standard ceremony. Though the Haldis generally seek brides and grooms for their members who will be able to meet the standards of the Haldis military lifestyle, which most often means knights.
1814
- Alout - After years of conflict over the castle of Whitewalls, the Farrant and Haldis accept a royal proposal to share it's control, the agreements see the castle garrisoned by men from both houses.
1818
- Janvier - The Beginning of the Thirty Years War between Rivana and Couviere
- Marse - The Battle Without Blades slaughters house Farrant the Dukes of Seaguard.
- Avril - With the status of House Farrant uncertain, House Haldis assumes full control of Whitewalls.
1838
- Mai - The Third Siege of Carsonne seizes the Couvieri Duchy of Carsonne. The attack is led by Archduke Bryar Haldis, his brother Alphard and their cousin Anton Tracano.
1840
- Janvier - Archduke Bryar Haldis's bastard son Darren is legitimized by King Lucas when his wife Gwendolyn proves childless.
- Marse - Octobre - Bryars March: Archduke Bryar Haldis leads a chevauchée campaign through Ostvor and Murnord, burning and destroying as they go. The campaign gains no new territory but inflicts damage on large swaths of both Duchies especially the Barony of Hartswood where the Couvieri forces turn back the Rivanans. Upon their return in Octobre the survivors of the March are hailed as heroes.
1851
- Fevrier - End of the Thirty Years War
1853
- Julliet - The Succession War begins and House Haldis sides with their kinsman Anton Tracano against his cousin against Arturo Tracano for the Throne of Rivana. During the course of the war Alphard Haldis, already known as 'The Butcher' for his harsh tactics employed in occupation of Carsonne earns his side the name 'The Thorns' for his equally brutal attacks on their rivals known at the 'Roses'.
1858
- Novembre - Randall Haldis, the youngest brother of Archduke Bryar attempts to make a separate peace with the Roses and give them Whitewalls castle. He is discovered by Darren, who has him removed as Castellan of Whitewalls but does not report his treachery to Anton.
1860
- Mai - The Battle of the Rose and Thorn: Anton kills Arturo in open battle. A Thorn victory looks inevitable.
- Juin - Archduke Bryar Haldis is killed in an ambush in Eastfield his son Darren is blamed for the attack and goes on the run. Alphard is named the Duke of Eastfield by Anton.
- Septembre - The Battle of the Rose Ascendant: Darren Haldis re-appears with proof that Anton and Alphard slew his father, this turns some of his vassals from Anton and they attack their former allies as the main hosts of the Rose and Thorns are about to do battle. This leads to a crushing victory for the Roses. Darren Haldis is recognized by Arturo's successor Alysande as the Duke of Eastfield. Alphard Haldis is believed to be killed in the battle.
1863
- Marse - Duke Darren Haldis along with Jaren Cassomir capture Anton Tracano. He is executed seven days later.
- Avril - Alysande is crowned Queen of Rivana. Darren is once again confirmed as the Duke of Eastfield and does homage to her for his titles along with the rest of his vassals.
1864
- Marse - Darren summons his mother Miranda Giraldi and his half-siblings to live at Charger's Rest. Neither are particularly welcomed by his step-mother the Dowager Duchess Esme Haldis or her Marwyn kin.
- Novembre - Duchess Mariah Haldis, a devoted Thorn Loyalist attacks Darren before killing herself and Darren's heir Andre, leaving his uncle Randall as Darren's heir.
1865
- Decembre - Alphard Haldis returns with the resurgent Thorns and sacks Charger's Rest. Later the same month he lays a trap for Darren Haldis in which the Duke is nearly killed and the Thorns claim Bloodthirster, the Haldis family sword. After Duke Darren's defeat several houses loyal to the Thorn rise up against the Haldis and the Queen, including House Hume, House Russell and House Godwin leading to a general civil war in Eastfield.
1866
- Janvier - Duke Darren recovers from his wounds enough to re-take the field, he along with reinforcements manage to defeat the rebels in Eastfield and they along with other Loyalists go to Normont and face Alphard Haldis. In the battle Darren kills his uncle in single combat and when the battle is done Alphard's body is burnt. Darren however re-opens his wounds and thus remains in Sunsreach while the armies ride north to aid Couviere, coordinating mop-up efforts against remaining Thorns and maintaining the defense of Rivana for the Queen.
- Marse - Duke Darren Haldis has his mother and half-siblings ennobled as House Giraldi, a move met with some resistance by members of the royal court and back home in Eastfield.
- Juin - The Duke returns to Charger's Rest to coordinate the rebuilding of the Duchy.
House Relations
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Queen Alysande : Our liege lords, we may not have served the ruling line from the first but we have always served the Tracano. |
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Duchess Eleanor Greycen : We have been frequent rivals since the start of your house and we trust you not. Though we will be open to be peace, if you offer it. |
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Duke Symon Gerrell : We know what it is to suffer for the follies of a few and we hope you recover. That said it is something of relief that we will not need to watch our northern borders as closely as we once did. |
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Duke Cesare l'Corren : Our rivals from the Thirty Years War. We speak of peace and friendship now and that is good, though the same things were said before the last war, so if it comes to war again we will be ready to face you. |