House of Goldlor

* Coat of Arms
* Territory

### Coat of Arms

*Gold Magpie Rising Maintaining a Sprig of Apple on a Field of Black with Gold Semy Casseau and Gold Orle*

## Relationships

### Vassals

House of Alcourt
House of Charbafosse
House of Montwell
House of Verninac

## Current Information

### Current Head

Gilbert X Goldlor

The House of Goldlor is the Royal Noble house from Atralran, the rulers upon the Gildhearth Throne.

## History

It is claimed by Atral historians that the first individual to be granted nobility by Tohmos the True during Aita's Second Gift would be the man who would become Gilbert I Goldlor, the first King of Atralran and progenitor of the House of Goldlor. Having given chase to a magpie carrying an apple sprig across the continent, Gilbert discovered the hill of Orchard Crest, and upon it started the construction of Chalimar Palace. As his lands and influence expanded, he would find himself in need of aid and support to watch over the fledgling lands of Atralran, and to his most loyal vassals land was given to rule, creating vassals to strength his Realm in times of peace and war.

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 Increscent 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.

Come the Manifestation however, even they would be extinguished, naught but names and stories in the history books. After the return of Eldarion I Goldlor from his sanctuary in the Feywild, his efforts to rebuild and refound Atralran anew guided him to seek out new gentry, forging the Realm once more. Titles aplenty would be given out to those that supported his efforts to reclaim his Throne against threats monstrous and humanoid alike during the Years of Consolidation, while even a few of his defeated foes would find themselves raised by to titles in recognition of their Mettle in standing fast against him.

## Recent History

Eldarion I Goldlor's wife, the former Queen of the Sapphire Sovereignty Lysiphoia suddenly deteriorated while pregnant with a daughter, claiming the lives of both, and leaving Eldarion with just one heir, Gilbert. After the passing of Eldarion I Goldlor in 128WD, Gilbert X Goldlor would be crowned King at the age of one-hundred and seventeen. In a lesser soul, this wait would have generated bitterness and impatience towards his late father, but Gilbert has not shown any such vices - though seeks to serve in the role that he considers his destiny.

## Coat of Arms

The House of Goldlor flies banners displaying a *Gold Magpie Rising Maintaining a Sprig of Apple on a Field of Black with Gold Semy Casseau and Gold Orle*. The Coat of Arms take direct inspiration from the legend of the House's founding, as often recounted by Gilbert X Goldlor.

### *The Founding of Goldlor*

*"At a time, there was a man. In that time, there were not many men, but even then, this man was special, for he had been told so. Chosen so. This man spied a magpie, a curious creation, dappled black and white. Many chagrin birds for their ignorance, their lack of intelligence, but never the magpie. Smart creatures, they are, but even this, this magpie was special, for it had been created so. Chosen so. The man too, knew this, and so followed the magpie as it took to wing, monochrome against the new world in its splendour, its vibrancy. For days, weeks, the man followed the bird, and the bird never tired - and so the man had the wisdom to know that he must follow. After a time, his feet bled, trailing azure along the soil and stone, and his heart, lungs and belly screamed for rest. And yet, the man had the mettle to continue onwards, clambering up a vast featureless hill, from which he could see the lands in all directions sprawl, a land to be proud of. Famished, parched, exhausted, the man slipped into a deep slumber, watching as the magpie buried the sprig of green caught between its beak deep into the soil upon which he now rested."*

*"He woke in the shade, a sweetness upon his lips. Had it not for his vigilance, then the apple would have surely landed upon his brow, but his wits and hands were quick, and so he caught it as it fell in the morn’s breeze, tasting of its honeyed juice, its tart flesh. Atop the hill now sprawled an orchard, and so the man called it Orchard Crest. The trees would not be alone on the gentle hill for long, for others came in time, drawn by fealty, for they too knew the man was special, for he had been chosen by the True. Guided by ambition, alongside trees homes and houses grew, then taverns and towers. Libraries in which one could learn, markets in which one could earn. Prosperity came with the collaboration of many peoples, loyal even through hardship, through misfortune."*

## Description

The House of Goldlor are amongst the Truetouched, a collection of individuals from across the Principal Races gifted with an extended lifespan, bolstered mental faculties and preternatural resistance to some forms of harm. The royal name of Gilbert is particularly common amongst the House with ten crowned individuals, while at four Kings have bore the names Maxence and six the name Larkin.

The House of Goldlor possesses vibrant hair of gold that fades to platinum-white with age, as well as vibrant blue irises.