House Astilor

House Astilor was a noble house in the Valreach Imperium, primarily situated in the West of the nation with Fortress Ludenstadt the seat of power for the House. The current Patriarch is Istvan Astilor (Glubenstein). The House owned various fiefs of different ranks, and reached the height of a Kingdom under Karl I, King of the West. The House is known for its diligent building, mercantile outlook and integrity in the important values of loyalty, honour and above all else bravery. As such the House bears the Motto: Mighty, Brave, Bold. 
== History ==
=== Origin ===
The House of Astilor began with a family on a far away island. This family lived in the Commonwealth of Archos in the far east, and were at the mercy of pirates when the Commonwealth collapsed. As funding from The Paragon Banking Clan waned, so to did the mercenary protection of the island; the raiding fleets of pirates grew bolder by the day and eventually a full scale pirate raid was launched. The Head of the Family, Edward and his wife Margaret were killed in the attack leaving their three sons and daughter orphans. In a valiant defence of the escaping Archosi ships, the oldest brother Arthur perished whilst fighting off mutiple pirates and securing the life of his son and the rest of his family. The survivors took what possessions they had and travelled as refugees westwards to escape the piracy which had taken their home. As Archosi ships dwindled in number, with storms raging and the threat of pirates ever present, the family landed on the shores of Valreach and journeyed inwards, finding social housing in the capital. It was here that Friedrich Aulian, noticed the diligent work ethic and smarts of the oldest living brother Charles. After speaking about their shared experiences and the world, it became clear to Friedrich Aulian, that an opportunity to reignite the lands of the West in Valreach lay in front of him. Charles was created Baron of Ludenstadt, and it was his responsibility to create a Noble House. 
==== Establishment in Ludenstadt ====
House Astilor sought to establish a quick presence in The Barony and capitalise on what infrastructure was still operational. Thus Baron Charles appointed his nephew, who he considered another son, Robert Astilor Lord Mayor of Raghrena, the Baronies largest settlement. The family rallied around Charles in securing connections and building bridges with other noble families, as they all knew this would help secure their new opportunity at a stable, and prosperous life. 
The Old Castle of Ludenstadt had fallen into total ruin, dirt and rubble made up most of the walls, broken ceilings allowed heavy storms to rot away the wood and carpets of throne rooms and banquet halls. So Charles decided that for Astilor to grow and succeed, in both standing within Valreach and even just in what remained of Ludenstadt a new seat of power would need to be constructed. Thus a grand construction project began to create a fortress worthy of a Valrean Noble.
==== Seat of Power ====
The House taxing the city of Raghrena as an inland trading city, was able to secure funds to finalise their Fortress Ludenstadt and hire a retinue of heavy infantry to defend it. Land was seized from malign nobles to the West of Ludenstadt, including land linked to the Mayoralty of Port Haven. This land wasn't built on, due to the limited funds of Baron Charles I, however plans were drawn up for a plethora of buildings to be constructed on the western cliffs of the Fortress. 
==== New Vassals ====
With Ludenstadt's presence and prestige growing amongst the magnates of the Imperium, Charles ambition's in the west grew. The House was growing slowly, with the extended branches taking in many members. The House utilised ancient noble adoption rules, as well as the natural growth of the family via marriages and children. Astilors began to populate towns cities, and even take positions the bureaucracy of government. The House was granted, as a gift from the new Emperor Tyros II, new lands to the north of Ludenstadt, stretching the borders of the growing House handsomely. This land was marked for a town from its first inspection via Charles and Albert. It was at this time, that a young man was discovered from amongst the various rabbles of the Imperium. His intelligence and diligence encouraged Charles to adopt him into the family. Bruno Astilor was appointed Mayor of Braunlande, named after the rich soils of the area. The town grew rapidly, and with it so did the prestiege and power of the Astilors. 
==== Foreign Opportunities ====
The House intervened into the succession crisis of the Starian Kingdom, a small island nation many leagues away from Valreach yet one the many mercantile adventurers in Raghrena spoke of. The agents of the House, along with a company of Imperial Knights commanded by a Guy Eslington, seized the Coastal fort of Stellos, and with it made contact to Pedro, a personally weak candidate for the throne and with his vassalge to Charles the power of the Knights would be his. Through this seizure a cadet branch of Astilor was established in Staria. 
The House was also granted an opportunity for territorial conquest against the pretenders of Hesia, a strange sect of warriors who had seized the assets and lands of an old Archosi ally of Charles' father. The Hesia Campaign promoted Charles to the front of the Court in Valrean politics, and with it the House gained its most powerful title yet, the Marquisate of Edenheim and all of its territories, along with many other grants of land in the liegless Jorvheim to the south. 
==== An Heir ====
Charles Astilor had no heir, other than his brother, but with his power growing and the Ludenstadt court a vibrant second city of the Imperium, it was necessary to cement the dynasty. Charles sought a wife, one which would compliment the growing power of the Astilors, now the single power in the West of the Imperium. Amongst the nobles of the Imperial House Hrafn, a young lady of the name Revna, daughter of Birgir Hrafn, was selected. Due to the friendship between Feloks, and Charles due to their camaraderie at the Invasion of Hesia, this was done without issue and with it Revna Hrafn married Charles Astilor. Soon an heir was born, named Karl. 
Category:Families
Category:Valreach
Category:Traveler's Era
Category:Drakaes