The Royal houses of Ylisse

[victorie]

Had a conversation about this within the C-box, and it was figured that a list of the established that a list of noble houses that certain characters come would be helpful in managing plots in the future. I'll be updating this each time a house is lifted so we can have a comprehensive master list! Of course, a lot of this is just fluff but it's always fun to brainstorm.

I might even make it pretty one day!

Now, without further delay:

The House Superior
Head: Duke Superior of Ylisse
Region: Southern Talys, edging upon the border of Ylisse proper.
Sigil: A silver stag with a wreath of flowers, upon a purple field.
Words: Excellence in all.
Background: The Superior Duchy is known for it's abundant trade in luxury goods and as the home of the best stallions and steeds in all of Ylisse. But, in recent years at has also garnered a reputation for deep seeded corruption following the effective dissolution of the center of governance in Ylisstol and any oversight on the duchies that it had provided. It's this corruption that allows the personal wealth of duke superior to rise ever higher, and cement his power in the area, but it leaves the common folk under the yoke of an arbitrary ruler more concerned with money and power than the welfare of his people or the country at large.
Notable Members:


Duke Superior; A large, beady eyed man, Duke Superior lavishes in his ill gained fortune. At one point in time he had been quite the righteous individual, but with the death of his wife and the Exalt gone, he's turned to power to secure a place in this world for his daughters and his legacy. It's all very pragmatic in the end, and really? Who doesn't want to get a little something in return for all the good they've done the world?

Celeste; The eldest daughter of Duke Superior and the most likely heir to the Duchy, she stands as one of the most sought after potential brides in all the Halidome. Renowned for her beauty and skill at diplomacy, she is quickly becoming a major player in the courts of Ylisse, and with her ambitions that is unlikely to change. 

Ceres: The Middle Daughter, Ceres is a fervent follower of the teachings of the past Exalts and holds to their message with fanatical zeal. Known for her kindness and soft words, even if she seems to have withdrawn from the balls and courtrooms in which she used to flourish, which is quite a queer thing indeed, for someone who used to take to the social crowd like a fish to water.

victorie; The youngest daughter and black sheep of the Superior House, an accomplished jouster but never one to attend court. She stands as the military representative for her father and if the duchy's levy is ever called up she will be riding at their head. Even if she will be wearing the largest frown known to all man.

[Isolde]

The House Althaus
Head: Grand Duke Althaus of Ylisse
Region: Northern Talys
Sigil: A lion with a snake pinned down to the ground, with a wreath of dianthuses
Words: Succeed in truth.
Background: The Althaus Duchy is known for its schooling on the teachings of how to be a proper person. It also known for its assistance for the poor and holds charities for them. In the past year, the Grand Duke has been strict with one of his rules, causing the people to rebel against him, though he would not relent. It is suggested that he might have more strict rules for the people to follow, much to their chagrin.

Notable Members:

Grand Duke Althaus - An imposing gray-haired man, he has a strict demeanor due to growing up in a rather strict household and rules over the Duchy and the family with an iron fist. He has also had a dislike of his granddaughter becoming a Pegasus Knight lately.

Simon - The eldest son of Duke Basil and Duchess Adelaide; also the eldest grandson of Grand Duke Althaus. He has a good heart, but fears that his grandfather may force him to do something against his nature which is why he tends to be rather stoic. He seems to care greatly for his younger sisters and loves to read battle tactics during his spare time.

Isolde - The middle daughter of Duke Basil and Duchess Adelaide; also the middle granddaughter of Grand Duke Althaus. She is a sweet and kind young woman who fights for peace amongst the Ylissean nobility. She cares greatly for her younger sister and wants her to do well and she is committed to her goal as the next Duchess and later Exalt. Also, she has begun to have a resentment towards her grandfather, mostly because she had became a Pegasus Knight when she should be studying how to be proper. She has also recently hired someone to be her bodyguard, but he is more of a battle butler above everything else. Also has a secret crush on him, but don't tell anyone else.

Sophia - The youngest daughter of Duke Basil and Duchess Adelaide; also the youngest granddaughter of Grand Duke Althaus. She is a bit naive, but would nonetheless support both her sister and brother's decision as a sibling. She also has a fascination with the tales of Ylisse and has a desire to get out more despite the dangers that her grandfather had told her.

Gairovald - The recent bodyguard of Isolde. Puts on a stoic demeanor which tends to not know what he's actually thinking since he had tragedies in his life. Loves to cook and do housework, though he often denies doing the housework. Also acts as her champion and puts his protectorate above everything else.

[Eric]

The House Eldrich
Head: Duke Eldrich of Ylisse
Region: Northern Pyrathi along the border of Plegia
Sigil: a solid gold Griever on a purple background, a silver x embroidered as a background to the symbol.
Words: Honor in Truth, Action in Injustice
Background:

The oldest of the Noble Houses, the House Eldrich spans back to the days of Marth as a loyal supporter to the true king.  The Eldrichs have always been avid supporters to the Crown, often offering their sons and daughters to the line of service.  As the years progressed the territory of the Eldrichs grew smaller and smaller as more nobles were appointed.  Even so, their reputation has always been pristine and the heirs of the lineage have always been expected to be nothing but the most devout working to better the conditions of Ylisse.  The Eldrichs have always been in charge of the border's defense, maintaining a vigilant watch to keep the rest of the Halidom safe from attack.  Being a prominent house within the line of nobility, they are connected with many of the other houses and have many friends and supporters nobleman and commoner alike.  

The Eldrich Duchy spans from the center borders of Plegia back to the capital of Ylisse.  With the large amount of land under their management they were the central providers of food within the Halidom along with the late Lord Wrys who had been murdered of late.  Their land also bears a major trading route from Plegia to the capital and is even home to a clan of Tanguel living in the mountainous area near the Plegian Borders, though sightings of such are very rare.

Since the death of the last Exalt, however, their contacts within the Halidom have all but withdrawn each of them interested in the title of Exalt.  There are those who believe the House Eldrich should succeed the throne, there are those who wish for themselves to attain power believing a mere child such as Eric and finding similar or other problems with the other candidates. It was nothing but common sense the House Eldrich would offer their son Eric as the next successor to the crown, however the boy had always been reluctant to the title.  It wasn't until Plegian soldiers and the Grimleal started attacking villages within the Dukedom that the young Lord seriously started considering his candidacy to Exalt and with the attack on Halebend his quest was set into motion.

Notable Members:

The Duke Eldrich;  A kinder faced father there was not in the kingdom.  His only flaw was his short hair, but such transgressions could be overlooked when one talked to him.  He was a very intelligent man with a keen sense of business and management that had been taught to him by his father.  Often he's locked away in his study going over paperwork and handling the running of the Eldrich Duchy, even after the Exalt's death he has been slaving away day and night trying to keep his charge from deteriorating.  While somewhat successful, even the Eldrich Duchy could not escape the rise in criminal activity and poverty that ensued as the country started to spiral into chaos.  

The Lady Eldrich;  An over protective mother bent on turning her energetic and outgoing son into a proper lord.  This turned into a very tough chore indeed as the little Eric.  Full of curiosity and quick to smile, he would have sooner run outside to play in the rain getting his clothes filthy with mud than practice dotting his t's and crossing his i's... or was it the other way around?  She got exasperated with her hands as full as they were and vowed to never again have another child as one was certainly enough.  Even so, she loves her son and takes more stock in his succession to Exalt than anyone else in the family, constantly putting in good words for him at parties and acting as his ambassador while he's 'off on another of his little adventures'.

Eric Eldrich; The only child conceived within the house Eldrich, the serious lordling grew up in what he would consider to be a normal household.  In his early years he was introduced to many people and taken everywhere to meet many families of different lords and to see Ylisse as a whole.  As he aged, he kept more to the Eldrich estate advancing through his studies.  A Swordmaster was hired as his teacher, teaching him the art of self defense when he was six years old, progressing steadily even to this day with the lord at nineteen years.  Now, he has taken part of his father's responsibility, managing the defense of the Eldrich Duchy and leading the Eldrich Private Army.  With his teacher ever watchful over him, he has taken it upon himself to do what he can to promote the welfare of those under his protection.

[kamille]

House Ordwin

One of the few remaining ancient houses in Ylisse, House Ordwin's lineage is said to date back for more than 2, 000 years before Ylisse even came to be. For generations, House Ordwin have produced prominent military figures that have served Ylisse's military in a golden record. Many smaller houses were formed from House Ordwin and even more minor families belong in the same house.

Head:
Region: They have lands all over Ylisse.
Sigil: A black armour-clad knight solemnly bowed to an upright jousting spear. The older family crest included a black dragon alongside the knight, but has since then been removed due to the dragon resembling Grima.
Words: Fealty to the land, nation, and ruler.

Notable Members:

kamille - Only son and heir of House Ordwin's main family. Kamille's speedy rise in military ranks was a statement to House Ordwin's excellence; however, ambitious and proud, Kamille found little satisfaction in his own country and defected to Plegia to prove his greatness.

Others: Ordwin was the founder of Grust, making Kamille (and Korrae?) a descendant of the former royal family of Grust prior to the schism. It is nothing more than a poetic tale to symbolize the House's glory now.