House Ross

**House Ross of Sunderly** is one of the Great Houses of Aqoris, one of its richest and most powerful families and one of the newest ruling dynasties.

The Rosses rule over the Southlands from the vast fortified city of Sunderly, which has stood for over a millenia as it was the seat of House Highhand. The city sits atop a one of the largest goldmines in the Southlands. They are the Lords of Sunderly and the Wardens of the South, a title bestowed on them following the Durham Rebellion. House Ross' sigil is a golden stag on a crimson field. Their words are "Risen and Leaping".

## History

### Background

House Ross is one of the Great Houses of Aqoris. Their lands are in the south of the continent. Their seat is the city of Sunderly, overlooking the mouth of The Crop into the Expanse. Sunderly is the second largest city in Aqoris, just narrowly behind Newcastle itself. Sunderly sits atop a goldmine which is one of the most productive in Aqoris as well as being in one of the most fertile regions on the continent. They are the wealthiest family in the realm.

For a millennia, House Ross served dutifully as the Master Stewards of Sunderly to House Highhand who were the Kings of Field and Grain. Overtime they grew in prominence as one of the strongest noble Houses in the Southlands, and even intermarried with the royal line. House Ross stayed loyal to the Highhands during Barden's Foundation Wars but when King Luthor 'the Red' Highhand was killed in battle at the Last Harvest, House Ross surrendered Sunderly and the Southlands to the Boyces - an act that caused many years of laughter at their expense. House Durham, a House which rebelled against the Highhands and allied with the Boyces, were granted the title of Warden of the South and overlordship of the Southlands but House Ross was granted lordship of Sunderly.

House Ross quickly rose in prominence in the Southlands and the realm, causing great worry to House Durham. King Byrron I Boyce ended the Winter Road in Sunderly instead of Arkridge which further spiked the rivalry between the two Houses. This culminated in the Durham Rebellion, with House Durham under Lord Karlon Durham, declaring themselves as Kings of the South. House Ross answered the call to arms of House Boyce and was quick to raise an army. Lord Tylin Ross defeated the Durhams in numerous battles and ended the rebellion. For their actions, House Ross was granted the title of Warden of the South and the son of Lord Karlon having to pledge fealty to House Ross.

House Ross remained loyal to King Dannis I Boyce during the War of the Bears; as the head of the family, Lord Rodrick Ross, served as the Adviser to The King and was a key supporter of King Dannis. During the war, they frequently fought against forces of House Durham, who had sided with the rebels under Prince Kaegan. A majority of the Southlands, except House Perle and House Durham and their vassals, stayed Royalist due to the strength and fear of House Ross. House Ross surrendered at the Assault on Sunderly, ending the War of the Bears, and were pardoned by King Kaegan III Boyce and allowed to remain as the Wardens of the South, despite House Durham having fought on the rebel side against House Ross. House Ross has never married into the royal House Boyce, although there have been hundreds of proposals and attempts by Lords of House Ross.

Ruban Ross is the current head of the family. His father, Rupert Ross, presided over a period of decline for House Ross which saw resources and wealth being wasted and several Houses began to ignore House Ross' command. As Lord Chancellor, he lent money to the crown to fund King Harlow's lavish parties and wars. After Rupert's death in Harlow's Northern War, Ruban took control over the Southlands and began to crush the rebellious Lords and re-enforced the fearsome reputation of the House. House Durham and House Ross still engage in skirmishes which cause devastation to the Southlands and despite having the power to properly crush House Durham, Ruban Ross has not done so and allowed the skirmished prompting people to either laugh at him and his house or to begin suspecting that he is planning something. Ruban serves as Lord Chancellor, like his father, and took advantage of the debt the crown is in to his House to use as political leverage.

Ruban has two children: Julan and Alara by his wife Keira Hayard. Julan Ross is a knight of the realm and a commander of House Ross' Guards and Alara is an unmarried maiden at ninteen years of age, despite her unrenowned beauty and numerous marriage proposals.