House Wolf

## "Noble" House Wolf

An unofficial House of the Southern Esean Kingdoms located along the eastern mountainside of The Mountain Of The Earls. Their ruler is currently King Ansel, who like many of the inhabitants belong to no official family but instead come from the many barbarian clans that ransacked the region decades prior. As stated previously, House Wolf is a barbarian clan whose capital is Stormbermi Castle, the castle once belonging to the Noble House Stormbermi who have long since been eradicated decades ago by the barbarians. The "Wolves", as they like to call themselves, are a sadistic cruel bunch who often terrorize the countryside; coming down the mountains in massive groups of mounted horsemen, which they also like to call "Wolfpacks", the barbarians swoop into neighboring regions, sacking villages and kidnapping peasants. The neighboring Noble Houses of Aelia and Analia are often the victims to these raids and are most times defenseless to the droves of armed barbarians. House Wolf has been condemned by the Celestial Church many times and many times have efforts been made by the Church to rid the area of the invaders.

### Wars Against House Wolf

During the 1st Condemnation of House Wolf by the Celestial Church, a coalition of Southern Esean Kingdom states consisting of Noble House Marter, Noble House Altonia, Noble House Aelia, Noble House Maxwen, and additional support from the Church and Winter Knight Order would declare war on the barbarians. After only 3 months of campaigning across the countryside and along the mountain ranges, the barbarians were driven out from Stormbermi Castle ending the campaign against House Wolf and the temporary end to the ransacking by the barbarians. Stormbermi Castle woud be given to House Marter by the Church for their cooperation in the war, however, only 2 years later would the castle be abandoned again as the 3rd Marter-Guilland Wars would commence seeing all soldiers of Marter fighting up North. Seeing this opportunity, the barbarians would once again retake the castle and eventually would return to plundering the countryside.

#### Death of Princess Margaret Aelia

Following the retake of Stormbermi Castle by the barbarians, House Wolf would be reestablished and so would the looting and sacking. During one stormy night just right outside the gates of Overeach a caravan would be ambushed by the Wolfpack, inside would the barbarians find a young Princess Margaret of House Aelia. In brutal barbarian fashion, the ambushers would slay the young princess before escaping into the night. As soon as news of the death of the youngest princess of Noble House Aelia began to surface, leader of the clan, Queen Hilde Aelia would send a letter to the Celestial Church with details of what had transpired while also asking that they condemn House Wolf. A small contingent force led by the older sister of late princess Margaret, Princess Mirielda would ride for Stormbermi Castle. Arriving at the castle Mirielda would be vastly outnumbered as forces from the castle along with the same Wolfpack would emerge quickly surrounding the princess and her troops. Despite her bravery and willpower, her small band of bodyguards would be defeated along with Mirielda being taken captive by the barbarians.

After news of the death of a child belonging to Nobility spread, the Church quickly approved of the Condemnation of House Wolf and thus another coalition of Kingdoms this time led by House Aelia and following closely behind them House Marter would march back to Stormbermi Castle. However, this time the barbarians were prepared as earlier they had formed an alliance with their warrior brothers of House Guilland. As such the Siege of Stormbermi Castle would prove to be one of the bloodiest battles in Esean history. A force of nearly 12,000 Marter and Aelian soldiers would face off against the vastly more numerous forces of House Guilland and House Wolf with over 20,000 soldiers. During the battle, House Marter and Aelia were on the brink of defeat but suddenly reinforcements from the Winter Knight Order would arrive relieving the Marter and Aelia forces. During this battle the King of House Guilland would be killed along with the head of House Wolf. However, during the battle the Queen of House Aelia would take a fatal arrow shot leading to her death as well. Princess Mirielda would be rescued thankfully and despite the costly battle, most of the Guilland force was wiped out and the remaineder of the Barbarians scattered back up into the mountains. Princess Mirielda would be crowned Queen of House Aelia and Stormbermi Castle would be again given to the Marters.

#### Rise Of The Bastard King

Almost a decade after the bloody siege of Stormbermi Castle, most of House Wolf would be gone. However, a new promising leader would arise, a young man by the name of Ansel would attempt to restore House Wolf. Ansel was born a bastard to a noble of House Orest and thus discarded by his father and family. Left to fend for himself Ansel would resort to thievery and other criminial acts in order for him to survive. By the age of 16, Ansel would come across the battle site of the siege at Stormbermi Castle and upon learning of the fate of the defenders would vow to avenge