House Morasster

"Those who dream in death will rise"

### History

The Morasster family first arrived in the kingdom about 300 years ago when Xazcockzax Morasster, an extremely powerful sorcerer broke from his clan, Morom. Pushed by a difference in beliefs from the Morom he left the gloom of the Eastern Swamp lands. He and his family traveled across the plains to settle in the human kingdoms. They quickly established themselves in the boggy river lands. They were seen as filthy peasant lands for beggars and Xazcockzax built a giant and forboding palace out of black foreign stones from the eastern swamps called the Blackrot Tower this served as the Morasster seat of power and the center of the the town, which eventually became Mortfen. Xazcockzax's sons and daughters took spouses from the local unorganized families gaining a fierce loyalty and consolidation of power. 100 years of prosperity and growth occurred while Xazcockzax, and then his Daughter Aevea led the family and the city. The Moraster family brought with them the trades of the Eastern Swamps including horticulture of poisonous and medicinal plants, mortuary arts, and the synthesis of a gaseous drug called Somninudd, a highly prized by magicians, and those rich enough to purchase it for it's mind altering properties. These goods as well as the Morasster's Intelligent maneuvering turned Mortfen into prosperous and powerful city.

Mortfen, and the Morassters while powerful were the subject of much superstition. much of their economy revolved around the treatment, and burial of the dead, as well as a magical liquid. Their strange customs and culture from the eastern swamplands did not help. Xazcockzax as well had an unnaturally long life and rule. many believed him to be undead, or a Lich. It did not help that religious buildings, practices, and symbols of any kind were outlawed in Mortfen with strict punishments for those who disobeyed.

Aevea had three children. one of which, Xaphofax was a bastard Fathered by wealthy and young Renner Willow. He took the bastard name of Fen. Aevea eventually abdicated her leadership to her son Ozdog'odzo who was impotent and could not have a child. Many in Mortfen blamed his wife the outsider from the plains, Ruth. to protect his wife, and allow the family to live on he abdicated his leadership and left for the Eastern plains and the Swamps. Xaphofax Fen felt that the house should fall to him. Shae'ash refused and banished him and all Willows from Mortfen. Xaphofax eventually married Rela Willow to gain the Willow name, and the leadership of their house. They founded the city of Willowwood.

Shae'ash the youngest daughter of Aevea and Aydan married a commonlord named Otto they had three children Zemki'mez, Lorrag'arul, and Gillig. Shae'ash eventually passed away leaving the house to Zemki'mez. At the same time Xaphofax Willow (Fen) decided to take what he thought was his. he led the entirity of the Willow forces against Zemki'mez and the Morasster army. Xaphofax had become a great warrior and was winning easily. Zemki'mez while beautiful, bold, and strong, was not a great tactician. Zemki'mez eventually fell to his bastard uncle. as Xaphofax prepared to enter the city he was thwarted by Lorraq'arui in a cunning move. he had woo'd Ara <**ROYAL FAMILY NAME>** and married her. her house and the King came to the aid of the Morasster. who in the past they would have never helped due to rivalry. Xaphofax was killed in the battle. Ara and Lorraq'arui decided to spare the Willows as long as they pledged fealty to the Morassters and the Royal Family. House Willow was allowed to continue.

Ara and Lorraq'arui had three children, Xazax, Eltahte, and Otho. Eltahte was a cruel, and mean person. while Xazax was seen as a great favorite of the people being of both royal blood, and Morasster blood. He was believed to be the one to eventually bring Morasster family into a new age. Eltahte and Xazax unfortunately drowned along with Eltahte. many conspiracies exist as to why. the stress of this later led to the death of Lorraq'arui. This left the very young Otho to lead the house. because of that Gillig Morasster, who had been away after the war with the Willows returned to act as House regent until Otho came of age.

Many expected Gillig to refuse to abdicate, but upon Otho's 18th Name Day Gillig happily stepped down and left Mortfen to continue traveling he took with him a bastard girl who worked in the kitchen stating he couldn't live without her cooking. he later married her. Otho married and had one Child Renner Morasster. both Ortho, and Renner had long peaceful, and prosperous rules. Their legacy was that of moving the city away from its weird and superstitious image. The did much to increase relations with surrounding houses turning Mortfen into a grand and important part of the Kingdom. They were the first house to pledge fealty to the Royal Crown when allegiances were declared. Gillig had a son named Liril who was raised and traveled throughout the Eastern Continents. He fell in love with a Easterner named Delia.

Renner married a commonlord daughter named Tela. THey had five children: Gulzazlug who married Lisa a well known and well loved noble woman from the city of Eplen, Cozak Selalles Twins gifted in magic, Issinissi, the beautiful and kind and Ellile a great artist and warrior who married a high house's daughter. The years of peace and prosperity had made Morasster a powerful house. The most beautiful of Renner's daughters Issinissi Won the heart of Crown Prince Herald of the <**INSERT ROYAL FAMILY NAME>.** they married and had 6 children. The Morassters where now royalty.

Cozak and Selalles became more, and more entrenched in dark magics it was eventually discovered by Gul'zazlug that Cozak and Selalles where engaged in a incestuous relationship in hopes to gain greater insight into their dark magic. Herald saw this as a blight upon his name and future rule. He executed them both publically in the center of Mortfen on the steps of

. within a week a great sickness had swept through Mortfen. many died including all of the Morassters and their children, including the Crown Prince, and his royal children. It is believed this was a plague sent by the twins as retribution from the grave.

This event solidified Mortfen, and the Blackrot Tower as cursed and evil places. Because of the losses of the wives, and Crown prince all from the major houses the Mortfen declined rapidly into haunted decrepit shells of what they once where.

Meanwhile on the Eastern Continents Liril and Delia gave birth to Roshar, who married Venya of the East. They gave birth to Salaz Morasster who married Inya of a great Eastern Merchant family. they gave birth to Xax Morasster. Xax who was raised while traveling all over the strange east and many other places. it was said he spent time in the Swamplands where he learned of his family's true history before traveling to Morasster and Blackrot Tower to take the mantle. he has ruled ever since. It is rumored that a demon touched love child of Cozak and Selalles was secreted away by one of their occult followers.

### Beliefs and Culture

The Morassters clan has unusual traditions compared to others in the kingdom. They put a large emphasis on death not believing it to be the end, but only a brief pause before the return. Because of this they do not bury their dead, instead they encase them in a mixture of liquids and soil from the swamp and entomb them within the Blackrot Tower. The have a strange reverence for the occult and magics it was an encouraged artform in the city of Mortfen as long as it was not religious in its nature.

the outlaw of religion was seen as a way to keep zealots, and repressive thinking from taking hold in the city. this led to a much more progressive and "strange" town compared to the rest of the kingdom. It also helped to feed the mystery and superstition of the Morasster family.

Otho, and Renner did much to undo this, but all of the relics, and secrets of Mortfen, and Blackrot Tower still remain. Much of the Morassters had a great lust for knowledge both occult, and magical. the Blackrot Library is one of the greatest collections of occult knowledge.

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