House De Lysse

> "*There is no such thing as pride before the fall...*
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> ...Pride is the fall.*"*
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> ― attributed to Renart Leece
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**House de Lysse** is a noble house who serve as the exarchs of the Terreme province of *Pemberlum*, a verdant and fertile land located in a strategic position between Northwind and Terresol. Their status is currently threatened by the growing influence of John de Burgh.

## House History

The House of De Lysse began with a mercenary by the name of **Renart Leece**, whom according to legend, befriended an ancient Lord of House Dumagne over the course of several small wars. In one such occasion, he would allegedly have saved the life of his lord's only son (and by extension the Dumagne bloodline), going far above and beyond the call of a sellsword for the sake of their battle-wrought friendship. As a means to thank Renart for his selfless loyalty, the old lord decided to formally knight Leece and grant his descendants fiefdom over some lands near Lake Amirei.

Whether this romantiziced tale holds truth or is pure fabrication matters not. House de Leece (later De Lysse) have been staunch allies of the Dumagnes ever since, inheriting many ways and customs from their Terreme overlords. Most notably, the martial culture of Falsa, and it's traditionalism.

House Dumagne's new vassals were instrumental in the war fought between Terresol and Northwind for control of the breadbasket region known as "the Gray Hills", and in the aftermath of the conquest, House Dumagne convinced King Reinhardt Vortigern of Terrasol to grant fiefdom of the newly created province of Pemberlum to House de Lysse. Given the recent developments in Northwind, and the ever growing corruption at the heart of the House, only time will tell if this trust was not misplaced.

## Pemberlum

Originally, the Lysses ruled but one of the many Exarchies of Terresol, frontier territories no larger than a Demarchy that were established in the aftermath of the Gray Hills conquest. But as the Exarchies fell slowly to Northwind’s chaos, the House took upon itself the duty of reconquering as many of them as possible for the Terreme crown's sake. This well-intentioned endeavor resulted nevertheless in House de Lysse absorbing many of the formerly independent fiefdoms into their own domain until in 316 they became the last of the Exarchs. Their bloated territory became a new Archonate in all but name, and it wasn’t long until delusions of grandeur followed.

Their control over the fertile lands of Grey Hills ensures constant harvests and the chokepoint location of their fiefdom allows the House to tax all trade passing through the Sun Gate. One must remember however, that this land was originally part of Northwind, and it's ursurpation by Terresol is part of the reason behind the northern kingdom's precary situation. With John de Burgh in ascendance, it will not be long until the armies of Northwind march to reclaim what once was rightfully theirs, and House de Lysse will be the first to feel it's wrath.

## Scions of De Lysse

The scions of the House are known for two iconic features: their purple eyes, and grey hair. A combination of exotic traits that are seldom found in the south, let alone the rest of Marin, and fuel many of the rumors concerning the House's incestuous relationships. They tend to be tall but slender, and their haughty demeanor is often accompanied by a concealed scorn. Personality-wise, they have a reputation for being proud to the point of arrogance.

But if House de Lysse is known for something, is its love for all things sophisticated and elegant: they’re known patrons and connaisseurs of the arts, and they enjoy sumptuous lives in the Keep Sempiternal. The house is also known for its martial pride (some would say martial hubris), maintaining a standing army in an attempt to ward off the ever-present threat of John de Burgh in the north.

Albeit equipped with the finest wargear that the wealth of their house can offer, most scions of De Lysse are otherwise unexceptional fighters, and they aren’t known for their tactical brilliance either. The strength of the house lies within its logistics: being able to levy well-equipped armies of peasants with surprising speed, and maintaining efficient chains of supply at times of war. Not that mant Lysses are able to recognize this, cleaving instead to romanticized ideas of chivalry and grand strategy.

From an outsider's perspective, House de Lysse is a force to be reckoned with: they control one of the greatest trade hubs in eastern Marin, they’re supremely armed, and they have the means to sustain long and ressource-draining campaigns during wartime. However, their status and privileged position have turned them indolent, and pride has caused them to grow entitled, weakening their resolve over the decades. This inner corruption reaches it’s apostheosis in the form of a series of hedonistic cabals and secret societies lurking beneath the polished facade of house, informally known as the 'serpent lodges'.