Borgström Manor

**Borgström Manor** (Swedish: Borgstrøm Herrgård) is the Ingiärdian residence and administrative headquarters of the House of Borgström, House of Westermark, as well as distant relatives of the Emperor and Empress of Dagmar. Located in the highly populated city of Ichabod, in the Ingiärd Governate; the manor is often at the center of court gossip, due to it`s close proximity to the Dagmarian Imperial Family`s official residence. It has been a focal point for the Dagmarian people at times of national rejoicing and mourning. Consequently, the manor is also home to some rather unsavory characters much to the anger of the Imperial Family—such as Princess Cecilia`s parents (Prince Fredrich and Princess Fredricka)—much to the horror of Avalonian citizens, both of them were assassinated on the orders of Princess Cecilia. Originally known as **Angel Manor**, the building that later became Borgström Manor was a small townhouse built for Princess Amelia of Dagmar and Chanta in 1509 on a site that had been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It had been acquired by Princess Kendrick`s husband, Prince Henry in 1900 as a private residence and family summer home for Princess Kendrick, Prince Henry, and their two children. During the 19th-century, it was enlarged on the orders of Princess Kendrick, with three wings being constructed around a central courtyard. It was later renamed Borgström Manor, and became the Ingiärdian residence for the House of Borgström and the House of Westermark; two cadet branches of the House of Irene-Aquitania. The last major structural additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the East Wing, which contains the well-known public garden where the graves of Princess Amelia of Dagmar and Chanta, Princess Kendrick, Prince Henry, their two unnamed children, and Princess Cecilia are located.

## History

### **Site**

   In the Middle Ages, the site of the manor formed part of the Manor of Loithe (also called Loi). A large river was located inside of the estate, named Motionless River, which still flows throughout the property; it is imbued with magic, making it both a potent weapon and a terrifying defensive countermeasure to protect the residents of the Manor and it`s subsequent grounds. Where the river was fordable (at the far eastern-side Estate grounds of Raven Manor), a ceremonial magical garden dedicated to the river spirits of the Motionless River (Ansfrida, Anneis, Adelaida, and Albercia) was erected which served to protect the residents from invasion. Ownership of the site changed hands multiple times; owners included Hedwig the Unrivaled and her empress consort Matilda of Wessex in late Saxon times, and, after the Loranian Conquest, Victoria the Conqueror. Victoria bequeathed the plot of land to her own Empress consort, San of Akishino, who ordered a small portion of the land to be developed into a place to venerate guardian spirits. As part of several laws issued by the Imperial Family, the land could never be sold or transferred out of the Imperial Family of Dagmar. It later came in possession of Princess Amelia (a younger sister of the reigning Emperor Kakashi), and their two younger sisters (Karin and Dana) bequeathed upon them to do as they will; they expanded the garden which San of Akishino had installed and imbued their own magic into the Motionless River to have it serve as a guardian.

### **First houses on the site**

#### **Akishino House**

Akishino House is historically regarded as the first house built on the site, around 1124 by San of Akishino (the Empress consort of Victoria the Conqueror). The next owner was Cora of Chanta, who from 1133 extended San`s house and personally hand-carved a marble shrine by hand only from which to pray to the river spirits Unbeknown to Cora, in 1140 the land defaulted to her husband and daughter rather than her cousin in the event of her death. Her daughter later inherited the estate and had marble statues of the four River Spirits placed in Akishino House, as well as in the ceremonial garden.

#### **Hessian House**

Princess Octavia inherited Akishino House from her own mother in 1332, having been occupying it at the time that it was set on by fire by anti-monarchists in 1374. She later named it Hessian House, following which she commissioned portraits of the four river spirits to serve as protectors inside the Hessian House—the location of the Hessian House is where the southern wing of Borgström Manor stands today—the next year. In 1398, Lady Isobel Sheffield, acquired the lease. Hessian House later burned down while Lady Isobel, her wife, and their sixteen children as well as their servants were sleeping, killing them by burning them alive.

#### **Angel Manor**

After that for several years, the property was uninhabited as there were reports of "ghosts" killing people with cleavers or hammers