Lormeir

## Introduction to Lormeir

“The Herald of Lormeir symbolizes the Kingdom quite aptly. It depicts a field of grain, in which 3 pillars arise from, and a jeweled mace which is displayed prominently in the center. The pillars represent the most powerful groups in Lormier, the Lormerian Dynasty and the Royal Banner Houses, the Consortium, and the Church of Kothir. The mace represents order, structure, and authority, and the field in which the pillars stand symbolize the common worker and laborer of Lormeir. Lormeir was a peaceful country until a tumultuous event that plunged Lormeir into turmoil, known colloquially as the Night of Betrayals, in 112 EU. An attempted coup resulted in assassination of King Raulat the Good and the young heir, Morvir, by his trusted advisor and court mage, Tallesk. In the same night, an attempt to poison Algot of Godfred, an especially eminent and leading Guild Master occurred, but it only succeeded in the assanation of his courtesan. Seven Tulkan men were executed in an alleged plot against the Banner Houses, and only the Church escaped conspiracy. This obviously sent massive tremors of fear and panic, not only through Lormeir, but through Ennebrin. Tallesk or the Poisoner were never caught, but the lethal dose of poison was later identified to be from the lowlands of Pyrth, by the chief alchemist. Many arcane instuitons throughout the continent were dissolved, voluntarily or involuntarily almost overnight. Wizards were persecuted and tortured for information regarding the elusive Tallesk the Treacherous. The Church was looked at with suspicion for avoiding any sort of plot, and aggrieved glances were cast at Pyrth. The Lormerian Dynasty struggled immensely, as two factions emerged claiming the throne, Raulat's bastard, and Raulat’s once removed cousin. Some settlements revolted in the chaos that followed the death of their King. Half of House Yfeir was lost. The kingdom is now enveloped in intrigue.”

*Daius the Scribe*

## Dispute for the Throne

"When King Raulat Dothbourn, age sixty-five, fell to treachery, the entire nation of Lormeir cried out simultaneously. The royal guards were executed immediately for failure to protect their king. The streets and roads were filled with crying and grief. “The Good King is Dead!” Unfortunately with Morvir’s death, a new King has not been chosen to be crowned. Only two proper heirs have stepped up to claim the throne.

Desmond Ike Marshdin, known as Desmond the Fierce, the second cousin of Raulat, claims the throne. His brilliant tactical mind was put to use as a general in the Red Marches, driving off the besieging barbarians, and then in the east, protecting the border garrisons. He is known to have bouts of paranoia, lashing out at those around him. Desmond supposedly earned the title of fierce. for single handedly wrestling an adult boar to the ground as a teenager. This aggression has earned him the ire of the Church, who believe in Ryla’s mercy. His legally dubious army, known as the Marshdin Company, composed of the best soldiers from the Banner Houses and battle-trained mercenaries, is rumored to be one of the best throughout the continent. Desmond is a master strategist, but a raving and distrustful martinet. His claim to the Lormeir throne is backed with his sword arm. Garren of Lorim, eponymously known as the Bastard Prince is the twenty-two year old bastard son of King Raulat. He is Morvir’s senior by two years. Royal bastards are common, though according to Raulat the Good himself, he was charmed by a sorceress posing as a female castle servant and hypnotized the King to have intercourse with her. This is how Garren was conceived. These claims are widely believed by the Lormeir populous and backed by the Kothiri Patriarchs, though they have never been proven. Due to the Good King’s kindness, he raised the bastard as his own son, much to the dismay of the Lorim Aristocracy. Unfortunately, Garren was a cruel and bitter child, though the circumstances of his banishment remained secretive, multiple rumors have spread, such as a failed assassination attempt on his older brother Morvir, and stealing a Dothborn family heirloom. There are also unfound rumors of an attempt to provoke the High King of the Moor, as an excuse to declare war with Tulka. No matter what happened, King Raulat, with the blessing of the Church and the Banner Houses, banished the Bastard Prince to live with the Dothbourn’s minor cousins, the Tarneafs, a relatively minor noble family in Kodas. King Raulat never explicitly said what would happen if Garren were to return, but it was implied it would not be good for Garren. With the death of his father, Garren has returned with a small closely knit band of supporters. Garren has already been seen with multiple high ranking members of the Consortium, but the Church frowns upon him.  An astute conniver and intriguer, his claim will not be taken lightly. I've heard rumors of his opponents mysteriously disappearing. "

*Lann Endwil, currently missing*

## Early History

At the beginning of time, around 300 LE, the first humans slowly inched south from the First Landing. These were not first generation humans from Dalmar, but their grandchildren and great grandchildren children. In huge slow marching bands, numbering thousands, they slowly spread out. Some went South towards the Brukstyff sea. When they found Lormeir, literally “the land of rivers” they settled down with their families and cousins and friends. The ones that could, that is. This land was full of slow rivers to farm, fertile dell to farm, and tall trees to cut. Of course, the lands near the Emmercour mountains were home to Dwarves, and the lands near the three rivers were home to elves. This did not stop the humans. These Humans had an uncanny ability, unlike the Valley Elves and the Quilled Dwarves, to form tribes, families, clans, or whatever you want to call them, almost immediately. These bands of humans had already grouped themselves up.

When these clans of humans arrived in Lormeir, they organized into Banner Houses. This was done naturally and independently. They were called Banner Houses as each family created a banner to raise as they carved out their slice of Lormeir. The smaller Banner Houses were absorbed into the larger ones. Cantrefs were quickly established. Unlike Meditul, Indrid, Kast, Rasa, Sargos, or the Proud Kingdoms, these humans did not drive out or kill the native Races. As with all of Inner Ennebrin, the humans tried to befriend and co-exist. Of course, this general trend of amicability was dotted with violence and pogroms.”

Jerran “The Judicious” K’sellst

The Six Banner Houses

## Banner Houses

**House Dewen Amn:**

They say that the Lord of Amn, and the Lord of Dewen, two minor villages outside of First Landing, migrated south. Of course, First Landing was getting too cramped. The Dwarves that took in the humans were getting tired of having to deal with the short lived humans. So, the two Lords took their vassals and each left for greener pastures. There is a dispute of who arrived first. What is known is that both Affren houses eventually set their sights on the Dirn River. Both houses were proud and noble, and could not tolerate the others. To prevent war, both Lords married sent their first born heirs to be married: Hairy Merrick Dewen, the brute with the heart of gold, and Faire Cerys Amn, the beauty with the heart of stone. Merrick’s four of the ten grooms-in-waiting swore to pledge their lives to protecting the new Dewen-Amn union, and became the first Red Knights, which now are depicted on the heraldry of Dewen Amn. It could also be said the House Dewen Amn is the least “Lormeirish” out of the Banner Houses, even if it is the oldest, simply because the other Houses were created in Lormeir, while Dewen Amn is the by product of two per existing human families. Of course, everything back then are pseudohistorical myths, anyway.

When Brenhalt the Brave overthrew the Viscount of Lormeir and killed him in decisive battle in the Red Rorick Valley, Brenhalt’s right hand man was Lord Bryn Dewen Amn. Dewen Amn, in Lormeir’s 1700 years of sovereignty, has historically been the wealthiest of all the Houses. Dewen Amn’s treasuries could even compete against the Crowned Banner House, Duthbyrn. How did this happen? Dewen Amn’s Cantrefs stretches from the Mortahg Hills to Estorowood, and from Gandmar to Lorim. Now, the people of Dewen Amn are not masters of the river like House Gwynafon. They only have a few fishing boats, and the Dirn River is not as fertile and slow-moving as the White River. The people of Dewen Amn are not warriors. They have not the experience of fighting against the screaming Calvary of the Shieldfiefs, like House Sefyr. Their land is too rocky and over populated to be a center of farming and horticulture like House Braenar. Dewen Amn does not have the Dwarven influence to allow them to be master craftsman, shipwrights, and artisans, like House Yefeir to the north. Dewen Amn does not have the political power of House Duthbyrn, the Crowned Banner House. Yet what they lack for in all of those things, they compensate with trade. Dewen Amn’s economy is more thriving then that of Toror Pass, and even Lorim. Cantref Dewen Amn is in the middle of Lormeir. Dirnpost sits right in the middle of the Broken Road. Dewen Amn merchants and lords are silver tongued and smart. They are heavily aligned with the Consortium. Merchants and nobles are almost interchangeable, that is how intertwined the Consortium’ and House Dewen Amn is. They say that Lord Braken Dewen Amn sleeps under golden linen and eats a golden egg from the Dewen Amn Golden Goose every night. What we can know for sure is that Dewen Amn is perhaps the richest, most influential, and oldest Banner House. Keep this in mind.”

*Jerran “the Judicious “ K’sellst, Royal Advisor to King Raualt before his assassination*

“If a man in red plate and a serrated great sword approaches you and nods, you are safe. If he points his blade at you, I’m afraid it is too late.”

*Kaldin of the Shieldfiefs, Household Bard to King Raulat before his assassination*

“Every product in Inner Ennebrin You can be most anything in the market of Dirnpost. *Anything.* Well, almost anything. Not people of course. Well…now that you mention it…”

*Mikkael “The Prince of Palm Street”*

**House Duthbyrn (Anglicized - Dothbourn)**

**House Sefyr**

**House Yfeir**