Rise and Fall of the House of Goldlor

Rise and Fall of the House of Goldlor is a historical book contained with the hoard of Balzanok, the Sardonyx Prince.

## Description

A dutifully bound tome decorated with gold leaf and a magpie with apple-sprig in claw, the personal sigil of the eponymous noble family, the Rise and Fall of the House of Goldlor details the major histories of the family, including their near unbroken rule from the time of Aita's Second Gift. Penned by the hand of the elven historian Adran Amastacia, this copy is signed with the following message:

*"Ethnarch Erafus Albimond,*

*Should you wish to know the histories of the place now yours,*

*A.A."*

## Research

### Completed by Exander Havenshade

The Goldlor Family claimed to have an unbroken line from those chosen during the Second Gift by Tohmos himself to rule. Into their veins he placed his blood of blue, not red, declaring them the rulers of the lands that would become Atralran. In conjunction with the efforts of Gaityas, the Master Tinkerer, who was said to make the seat of Chalimar for Tohmos' chosen, the Goldlors quickly established themselves to be capable rulers. For 22 generations they would rule what was at its peak one of the largest and most powerful Realms of Ahlus. The dynasty stretched from the years of the Second Gift itself to that of 552AG, in which King Larkin III Goldlor lost both his family's home and golden haired-head to a military coup staged by the Lord-General Kassian Margaste.

After some three and a half years rule by the Lord-General, he was assassinated whilst at a feast and his brother Theozen Margaste would take power in his stead. This would prove even more shortly-lived, as he was turned on by the general populace of Atralran on his way back to Chalimar Palace from the Atral Military Academy, an occurrence most likely orchestrated by King Larkin III Goldlor's son, who had fled to the neighbouring Realm of Gawylthlan following his father's deposition. With Lord-General Theozen Margaste's demise, he would return to Chalimar Palace, ascending to the throne as King Irving II Goldlor. His reign, while still minorly troubled, would be largely uneventful and marked the restart of his family's rule for another thirteen generations before the decline of the Realm of Atralran itself following the breaking of the Siege of Iron in 974AG.

The last defiant realm of the south, the Kingdom of Atralran had held its own against superiorly-equipped Astedian forces for near a decade before finally their strength faltered after the Siege of Iron. As their neighbours signed peace treaties with the Empire, Atralran continued to maintain their stubbornness before the Sanridges, who served as the Stewards of Chalimar Palace, systematically butchered the remainder of the House of Goldlor monarchy in the night and sent forth envoys to treat with the Astedians in their place. For their actions they would be first rewarded - granted the rule over Atralran in recognition of their decision. This would last only until a second statement arrived the Increscrent Six of the Council of the Moon, that which declared them plainly treacherous and cruel-spirited. For this, they would have their nobility stripped of them, resulting in the Palace and the lands around it being granted to assured and known folk of the Empire, the Albimond family.