House Fairfax

**House Fairfax** **of** **Nightwatch** is a vassal house that swears fealty to House Blackstone of Blackhaven. The leader of House Fairfax holds the title of Lord of Nightwatch. Their sigil is a black bat on a violet background.

## History

### Robert Maddox's Rebellion

During Robert Maddox's Rebellion House Fairfax joined Oliver Blackstone after he overthrew the loyalist faction of House Blackstone and imprisoned Richard Blackstone. House Fairfax would later join the main force of House Maddox for the duration of the rebellion. Eventually, House Fairfax would surrender to House Beaufort after The Reclamation of the Pale. The leaders of House Fairfax, Felix Fairfax, and his young children Nicholas and Lydia were able to avoid execution or punishment by Lydia marrying the aging Lord of the newly formed House Clareworth who had betrayed Oliver Blackstone and allowed the royal army access to the Pale.

### Beaufort Civil War

At this point in the realms, House Fairfax was among the most powerful Houses in not only the Pale but the entire realms and thus it was imperative for The Alliance's success that Lord Ivan Fairfax ally himself with them opposed to the Coalition. Lord Ivan was a proven warrior and battle commander and the combined strength of House Fairfax and House Clareworth could've easily overwhelmed House Blackstone, taken control of the Pale, and posed a severe threat to House Maddox in the south or Alliance forces quartered at Val Royeaux in the east. Fortunately, Lord Ivan resented Octavian Beaufort and the way he usurped his father's throne and thus mercilessly lead the very sizeable armies of the Pale in support of the Alliance. Lord Ivan became an invaluable member of Maximilian's campaign and became one of his principal counselors and commanders during the later portion of the war.

### War of the Heirs

House Fairfax was among the most powerful and influential Houses in the realms and by far the greatest ally of King Jacques Beaufort during the War of the Heirs. Lord Thomas Fairfax had been a member of The Small Council for many years and had served Jacques's father and predecessor King Maximilian Beaufort as Master of Coin. When Lord Scipio Arx was forced to resign his position as Hand of the King, Jacques anointed Lord Thomas, who was wisest and most experienced of the remaining councilors, as the new Hand. As Hand of the King, Lord Thomas proved to be extremely effective and consolidated Jacques's power (as well as his own) and acquired key allies through the marriage of the Master of Whisperers and his eldest daughter, Lena, to the Master of War Lord Kosta Corvinus and his youngest daughter, Cecilia, to Lord Roland Reyne, younger brother of Lord Haris Reyne and the acting Lord of Whitehill. Additionally, Lord Thomas lead his sizeable personal forces in the defense of The Palace of the Kings against Emelia Arx's attack.

While Lord Thomas remained in The Palace of the Kings, Lord Thomas's younger brother Lord Gregory Fairfax remained in the Pale as acting Lord of Nightwatch, while Thomas's son and the heir apparent, Lord Simon Fairfax, engaged in multiple skirmishes with Lord Alaric Clareworth who was acting Lord of The Moon Keep. After Lord Alaric failed in his attempted Siege of Nightwatch, and after Lord Gregory fell in battle during the Battle of the Alpines Lord Simon reciprocated and conducted the Sack of The Moon Keep with the help of Lord Dennis Mason of House Mason which effectively removed House Clareworth from the war.

After the Great Battle of the Reach and Jacques Beaufort's death, Thomas Fairfax assumed the position as temporary Ruler of the Realms and gathered Jacques Beaufort's remaining allies on a final assault on The Citadel. After the execution of Emelia Arx, Lord Thomas called a cease to hostilities and convened a Great Council with the remaining supporters of each of titular heirs. The council decided that the last surviving Beaufort, Raphael's son Emeric, would reign as King and that a Regency Council would be created to rule until Emeric came of age. Lord Thomas remained in his position as Hand of the King and became the de facto leader of the Regency Council.

## Notable Members

* Queen Lydia Fairfax- Wife of Dorian Beaufort and Third Queen of the Realms.
* Lord Nicholas Fairfax- Served as Dorian Beaufort's and Christophe Beaufort's Master of Whisperers.
* Lord Ivan Fairfax- Renowned general and veteran of The Beaufort Civil War.
* Lord Thomas Fairfax- Served as Master of Coin for Maximilian Beaufort, Jacques Beaufort, and Emeric Beaufort. Also served as Hand of the King to both Jacques Beaufort and Emeric Beaufort. Additionally, lead the efforts to reconcile the realms after The War of the Heirs and became the most powerful of all of Emeric Beaufort's regents.
* Lord Stroud Fairfax- Served as Laurent Beaufort's Master of War.