House Dorevytch

Empire of Arkhosia

Dorevytch is an Oskarian noble family of landed gentry by knighthood dating back to the Kingdom of Orden. Descendants of the Dorevytch clan trace their lineage back to Pyotr Dorevytch. The clan is patrilineal with male-preference primogeniture, meaning that the first born son inherits leadership of the family and its estates either upon the death of his father or when his father relinquishes the right.

## Traits

Classic Dorevytch traits include light skin, dark blond to brown hair, and light hazel to blue eyes. However, the Dorevytch propensity towards fiendish or monstrous partners has muted those traits considerably. Typically, the traits resurface after one generation if no new fiendish blood is introduced.

Another key trait are solid gold or gold-touched eyes. Dubbed 'Gore's Treasure,' many tieflings of Dorevytch blood possess golden eyes as their foremother, Avere, had. The trait is less frequent in human members of the clan, but does sometimes appear as golden flecks or central heterochromia as seen in Gorrem's yellow-green eyes.

Dorevytch are typically tall and broad-shouldered, varying from lean to thick builds. The reoccurrence of similar body types throughout the Dorevytch line could be genetic, occupational, or both. Without the intermingling of monstrous blood through the pass four generations, the Dorevytch have more or less maintained these classic traits and appear mostly human.

## History

### Origins

Aside from Pyotr forming House Dorevytch in 6E 45 upon his securing of the family estate, little is known of his family. Before becoming 'Gore,' Pyotr was one of many children from squalored parents and social standing. He participated in the campaigns against Yua to make a name for himself and himself alone. For his long career, Gore was given a large tract of land containing Sungennes at the base Mount Yolmiraad.

### Rise

House Dorevytch rose to minor nobility and maintained their land holdings and ancestral home since founding. This land would expand as Sungennes grew from a village to a proper city, and through conquest. Goracide, great-grandson of Gore, culled the land of a cult dedicated to the Horned King, Baphomet, and reclaimed the land for Orden. Goroslav and Drogoslav tied themselves to their goliath mother's expansive clan through shows of valor and subsequent marriage. And Gorran, great-great grandfather of Gorrem, expanded the house considerably by tying the family to several well-respected families like Wiédgrey and Beltane.

### Decline

Like the Kingdom of Orden, House Dorevytch suffered from multiple challenges to the head of household and divisions in allegiance during the First War of Succession. Gorrus, being the head of House Dorevytch and its estates, pledged the house under Prince Kazimir Ordensson the second born son of Good King Omund. Though he was under Prince Persival on campaign in Yua, Gorrus respected the prince's claim as Omund had not yet appointed an heir. For Omund not to choose his firstborn upon birth or adulthood meant something profound to Gorrus. And from what he saw in battle of his commander, he felt secure in Dorevytch's allegiance to Prince Kazimir.

This angered Gorrus' family, namely his second cousins Branimir and Marijun who were also on campaign, and Risa, and fractured the clan. Branimir, grandson of Goran Dorevytch's second born son Thomislav, seized this opportunity to challenge House Dorevytch's standing traditions of succession. He claimed that if Gorrus would align their strength to a second born based on merit as opposed to birth order then House Dorevytch should follow suit. Citing his grandfather's prowess in battle, Branimir claimed that his family was the strongest of the Dorevytch and challenged Gorrus for control of the estate. Gorrus not only accepted the challenge, but publicly shamed Branimir in battle for using the fracturing of Orden as a power grab. After being humiliated in battle, a fight that would be known across Orden as the 'Judgment of Ordenson's' Blade,' Branimir aligned his family with Prince Persival and broke away from the main house.

Marijun, the adopted half-elf grandchild of Goran, was primarily concerned with the honor of the Dorevytch name. Believing the rumors that Kazimir murdered the King, Marijun refused to align House Dorevytch with a king slayer at first. But, honoring the traditions set out by their forefather, Marijun joined Gorrus and yielded to his position as head of house. However, during the march to Skyfall, Marijun turned on Prince Kazimir and participated in the mutiny that took his life. Gorrus was not meant to live past the mutiny. Marijun laid a quiver of arrows into the head of house, but Gorrus barreled through the ranks till his sword pierced the betrayer. As an example to the mutineers, Gorrus stripped Marijun of all connection to house Dorevytch, exiled them from his lands on threat of execution, and hobbled them with utter savagery. This would earn Gorrus a new moniker: 'The Merciless.'

Risa, granddaughter of Ordana, the second born child of Goran, claimed that House Dorevytch should abstain from the war as they were aligned with Orden and King Omund. Despite Gorrus agreeing with this stance in theory, he thought that inaction would lead to the demise of House Dorevytch caught in the midst of four waring children. And while remaining loyal to the dead was admirable, Gorrus couldn't justify aligning the clan to a dead king. Risa, unable to sway the head of house, remained silent til witnessing the humiliation of Branimir and the near death of Marijun. Fearing that the stress of war and power was corrupting Gorrus, she separated from the clan with her family and renounced their connection to Dorevytch.

### Social Standing

House Dorevytch has always been of poor social standing in Orden. Their preference for monstrous partners and love of violence has cemented their status as outsiders in noble circles and tyrants in common circles. They are avoided at best and feared at worst. Under Gordot, however, the house was officially recognized as nobility by way of landed gentry and began to experience some levels of acceptance. This increased under his son Gorran, who sired the largest generation of Dorevytch and married many of his children off into well established, respected families to further Dorevytch's social standing.

However, the First War of Succession would bring the family down further than before. Gorrus Dorevytch's brutal nature, both to enemy forces and his own family, struck fear into the new country of Oskaria - a fear that would follow his son Gorrem into his ruling of House Dorevytch.

## Traditions

### Knighthood

The first son is expected to not only take on Dorevytch estate, but the mantle of knighthood and the defense of Orden. All children of Gore pledge fealty to the Kingdom of Orden and are expected to defend her sovereignty justly. House Dorevytch's allegiance to Orden began as freelance, career soldiers permitted by the Crown to cull the lands. As time went on, Dorevytch was accepted into the ranks and orders of the Ordic Royal Army and became knights by title. Gordot is cited as the First Ordic Solider of House Dorevytch, and therefore bared the title *Seventh Knight of Gore, First Knight of Orden.*

### Naming

To honor the accomplishments of Pyotr, the firstborn son of all subsequent generations has the prefix 'gore.' This delineated the firstborn from his siblings in the family hierarchy and in society. To bear the name 'gore' means that the son is expected to not only uphold the Dorevytch name in battle, but the estate, cadet branches, and the honor of Orden. Second-born sons and daughters are still expected to uphold these values by taking spouses of strong stock and social standing.

### Courting

It is said that Gore proposed to Avere by impaling her enemies on stakes outside her family home. Goretrous wooed the cambion Vylielle by killing her absent Succubi mother. And Gorran captured the stone heart of Dayla, a fearsome warrior, with the Mage's Noose. In short, the Dorevytch court with ardent brutality. This tradition can be traced back to Gore and has been integral in expanding house Dorevytch. The practice has somewhat died down in the house, but violence is still very intertwined with matrimonial relations.

The Dorevytch also have superstitions around love at first sight. They say that the blood of the Goring Bull becomes searing when you find your soulmate, and just a single glance at one's beloved inspires brutal devotion. Gorrus felt this when he first met Ekaterina and she held a knife to his throat. Gorrem too felt this when he first laid eyes on the devil Faustus.

### Marriage

The Dorevytch have a tendency to marry outside 'normal' conventions. Gore believed that tieflings were to be revered for their infernal heritage and inherent strength. For these reasons, Gore married the tiefling Avere and began the family tradition. With their preference for fiendish partners, the Dorevytch clan regularly married 'monstrous' folk like Goliaths, Dragonborns, and Firbolgs. This preference also extends to practitioners of the dark arts, like Selen, Warlock of the Horned King, and Ekaterina Etrovna, a witch of unknown practice. However, societal pressures from attaining noble status discouraged future Dorevytch from this practice somewhat. Gordot, being the first official Knight of Orden, was the last to take a non-human as a partner.

## Family Tree

House Dorevytch traces its lineage back to Pyotr 'Gore' Dorevytch.

Gorrem Dorevytch is the current head of house while Branka Tomirović and Rosalynn Ljudevit are heads of the secondary houses. Of the secondary houses, Branka has the strongest claim by his parentage to House Dorevytch in the case that the main house cannot produce an heir.

## Cadet Branches

### Ljudevit

House Ljudevit is a younger house following a matrilineal line. Known for their small but efficient trade, House Ljudevit is based out of Warden and lives up to the Oskarian tradition of 'light' espionage. Risa, great-granddaughter of Gorran, married into the family after renouncing her connection to house Dorevytch. Her daughter Rosalynn, however, vies for greater control of her father's house. It was Rosalynn, in fact, who persuaded the Ljudevit matriarch to align with house Dorevytch after the passing of her mother. Though they are friendly to House Dorevytch, Gorrus and subsequently Gorrem were always suspicious of their true intentions.

### Tomirović

House Tomirović of Vasovia is a branch off from the main line of House Dorevytch. Thomislav Dorevytch, second son of Goran Dorevytch, is the originator and eventual namesake for the family as his grandson, Branimir, sided with Prince Persival and took up the name 'Tomirović' in his honor. The houses were not officially aligned until Branka sought Gorrem for reconciliation in the middle of his military career during the Second War of Succession. Upon Gorrem's blessing, Tomirović realigned with Dorevytch and Oskaria. Despite the rough history, the family ties may be remedied further by the saving of Branka's son, Duršan.

### Velryekane

Though not an official cadet branch of House Dorevytch, the Goliath clan Velryekane is a close ally. Since Drogoslav, son of Goridices, married into the tribe, the blood of Gore runs strong. The clan moves within the Sungennes mountains and its surrounding plains, often passing through Dorevytch Estate. House Dorevytch is loyal to the Velryekane, even if they are not often seen.

### Wiédgrey

House Wiédgrey of Budec is another military family similar to the Dorevytch. Though younger, the noble family stayed united during the First War of Succession and remained loyal to Gorrus's position as head of house. However, contention arose from this decision years later and resulted in a duel between brothers Darragh and Dòmhnull. Both died from wounds sustained in the process, leaving the seat vacant. First cousins Rannoch and Beatrice currently vie for Head of House Wiédgrey.

They're connection to Dorevytch is somewhat strained. Dayla of Mishra, the illegitimate daughter of Dhonahan Wiédgrey, inexplicably linked herself to the house despite being non-legitimized. Though this angered her father, Dayla's prowess in battle as a War Cleric gave her much pull in the military family and allowed her to marry Gorran Dorevytch. This coupling spawned the largest generation of Dorevytch, and further tied Wiédgrey to Dorevytch by the arranged marriages of Alma and Ulysses Wiédgrey to Gorride and Ordanna Dorevytch.

## Notable Members

### Blyth of Dis

Blyth was a gifted sorceress of infernal blood and the great-granddaughter of Gore. Her mother, the cambion Vylielle, bestowed this power within her and encouraged Blyth to seek out more of their kind. Blyth did so and married into the lower Infernal courts of the Nine Hells. Though her husband Ignatius was not of high rank, he was a skilled assassin blessed by Tiamat. While on a mission to cull a rogue syndicate of Tiamat in Orden, Blyth struck a deal with the devil that eventually lead to their marriage. Together they raised a son, Melchoir.

Blyth was a tempting beauty. She was known to advance herself and her family through flattery, seduction, and charm. It is said she won Ignatius's heart in the same fashion.

### Branka Tomirović

Branka is the first of house Tomirović to offically align with Dorevytch after becoming Head of his house. In the event that Gorrem cannot produce an heir, Branka has the strongest claim to the estates by his paternal and maternal line because both are descended from Dorevytch.

### Branimir Tomirović

Branimir Tomirović, formerly Dorevytch, was a peer and fellow solider of Gorrus Dorevytch prior to the First War of Succession. He followed Prince Percival along with Gorrus and the rest of Dorevytch until the fracturing, and continued his allegiance after the house fractured.

Gorrus labeled Branimir as the fall of House Dorevytch. Though a gifted solider, Branimir was never content with his station as a supporting pillar to the main house. In seizing an oppurtunity to overturn the clan, Branimir only wrought the anger of Gorrus and began the rapid breakdown of Dorevytch. And while the new house Tomirović experienced some support, Branimir's public beating at the hands of Gorrus disgraced his name beyond repair.

### Marijun the Shamed

The adopted child of Dragica, Marijun is a half-elf whose parents died in raids along modern day Vitrand of Caltalla. Pitying the child, Dragica adopted them fully into House Dorevytch. Despite having no blood relation to their new family, Marijun was a proud, strong Dorevytch and loved by the clan.

Revered for their archery prowess and historical intellect, Marijun sought to expand the house outside of their solider rankings. They set their sights on academia, the justice system, and political office to bring new glory to the House. Their ambition and mind was always respected and sought after by the heads of house, particularly Gorrus until the War of Succession. Despite their friendship and mutual respect for one another, Marijun’s betrayal of Gorrus at the March to Skyfall resulted in their exile from the house. Marijun lives, but their whereabouts and station are unknown.

### Selen, Priestess of The Horned King

It is believed that Selen was a high priestess of Baphomet descended from an extensive line of cultists. Imbued with the essence of the demon lord, Selen and her family took on the visage of their patron in the form of thick black hair, small iron horns protruding from their skulls, and infernal-touched eyes. The union between her and Goracide began as a brawl; Goracide managed to take down the cult, but Selen bested him in battle. Instead of killing him, she found him amusing and they eventually sired a son Goridices.