House Bennas

**Head of House**
 **Heir**
 **Seat**
 **Lands**
* County of Summerfast
* County of Illyria
 **Overlords**
 **Vassals**
* House Valerius
* House Thale
 **Founder**

Hailing from Arathor during the days of its Empire, House Bennas consider themselves proud defenders of the Alliance. They are a Stormwindian noble house that rules over the Duchy of Summerfast in Elwynn.

## History

### The Mists of Antiquity

House Bennas traces its lineage to one of many noble houses within the Empire of Arathor during its withering days.
Noting the decline of the Empire and its inability to maintain itself, General Arianne Bennas plotted her departure. While she initially marched her legion north to the Hinterlands, she quickly retreated when discovering the extent of forest troll opposition.
The General followed Faldir south to the lands that belong to Stormwind today. Arianne founded her camp, along with her soldiers and their families, settled the area that would become Summerfast. She took a husband from amongst the Arathorian settlers though kept and passed on her family name. Such a tradition was thus enshrined amongst her family to the present day.

Arianne instituted the Path of Honors and many other customs that guided life and politics in Summerfast into the modern era.

### Dark Age

Formally a part of the Kingdom of Stormwind, House Bennas’ fortunes waxed and waned before steadily declining. By the opening days of the Gnoll War, House Bennas held little formal power over Summerfast, its Council, and its own vassals, who held loyalty to the Lord and Lady in name only.

Duchess Ithica Bennas was faced with dire fiscal crises, an outdated defense force, and disloyal vassals. In an effort to reassert the prominence of the position of her House and herself, she offered the hand of her daughters and granddaughters to other nobles in marriage which shocked and horrified both the Council and the commonfolk alike.

House Bennas however, adapted and endured as it always had done. Sir Karl Bennas served in the Gnoll War as an elite knight and returned to his home both a hero and a rebel to his grandmother. Bringing with him the friends he had made and new equipment and tactics to a populace eager for change, he was able to overthrow his grandmother. He was able to capitalize on the state of the rest of the Kingdom to propel Summerfast back into a state of economic well-being while subjugating his war-ravaged vassals.

### First War

Following the death of the ruling Lord and Lady of House Bennas in the opening days of the First War, their son, Edward, took up the mantle of Duke. Though Summerfast was inevitably lost in the process, Edward and his family escaped to Lordaeron where he dwelt with his wife’s family.

### Second War

The once dispossessed Lord of House Bennas reclaimed Summerfast, During his recapture of the city, the Duke dragged the orcish commander through the streets of his home.

### The Crowmore Treachery

Emboldened by the jovial atmosphere following Summerfast's recapture, Lord Arnaud Bennas, Duke Edward’s younger brother, began courting Lady Julia Crowmore much to her father’s disapproval. When the girl’s father, Lord Januviel Crowmore, informed Lord Arnaud that this arrangement did not have his blessing and demanded he ceased, the young Gryphon referred to him as a barbarian. The couple eloped and Lady Julia was welcomed into the House of Bennas and soon gave birth to a daughter.

After the birth of his granddaughter, Lord Januviel Crowmore extended an invitation to his son-in-law offering reconciliation. Lord Arnaud accepted and journeyed to Castle Crowmore with his retainers and companions. Once there, Lord Arnaud was taken prisoners and his companions slain.

The news of his brother’s kidnapping reached the Duke not long after and sent him into a fury. The Council’s vote was unanimously in support of Duke Edward as such treachery was a personal affront to each citizen of Summerfast. Mustering the Armored Companions, Duke Edward, his wife, the Duchess Alyssa Bemnas, and his retinue stormed Castle Crowmore under cover of night. What had been initially a rescue mission turned into one of revenge when Duke Edward found his brother’s corpse in the dungeon.

In the apartments of Castle Crowmore, Duchess Alyssa Bennas challenged the Lord to combat on her husband’s behalf, much to the Duke’s protests, and slew the Lord of House Crowmore in single combat. The experience changed Duke Edward and Summerfast assumed a more standoffish approach to the outside world.

### The Valerius Defiance

Sensing the somewhat volatile nature of Stormwind and Summerfast’s political system, The Count of House Valerius, citing Duke Edward’s welcoming policy towards outsiders and his Lordaeronian wife specifically, rose in revolt.

After several battles, Duke Edward demanded a duel from the renegade Count. In sight of their armies and their families, Duke Edward slew the Count in single combat causing the rebels to capitulate.

### The Second Valerius Defiance

Following the retirement of Duke Edward and the ascension of his son during the conflict against the Legion, Duke Theodore, change again came to Summerfast. The Duke’s wife was a quel’dorei and his son and heir, a half-elf. This brought concern to the more conservative circles of Summerfast society. In conjunction with Duke Theodore’s welcoming of outside nobles and peoples, some grumbled of the erosion of the traditions of Summerfast.

It was in the wake of this and following the defeat of the Burning Legion that Countess Clarensia Valerius, still upset at the death of her father at the hands of the former duke, raised her banners in revolt.

Duke Theodore moved decisively in rallying a field army and the limitanei to counter the movement. When the two armies met, the Duke arrayed his men on the high ground and encamped. During the night, he sent Gilnean allies to harass the army bellow and ravage their supplies. For three days, Duke Bennas, making himself scarce from the field himself, arrayed his lines for battle but did not leave his high ground. After the third day and with the men of Alba demoralized, hungry, and sleep-deprived, the Master of Summerfast made his appearance on gryphonback. Like his father before him, he challenged and defeated his Valerius opponent in single combat. But unlike his father, when his foe was defeated, he offered her clemency in exchange for loyalty. An exchange grudgingly accepted.

### Present Day

House Bennas has continued its policy of openness towards the world and eagerly seeks allies. Through marriage, conquest, and diplomacy, the House counts three new counties within its domain.

## Lands and Vassals

### Summerfast

Summerfast is of prime importance to House Bennas. Their second home and their refuge, the duchy and its constituent counties has been theirs for a thousand years. It is the jewel of their home and the site of most of their history. For better or worse, the two are linked in the House’s mind.

### Illyria

A county in Lordaeron inherited in name by Lady Alyssa Bennas by virtue of any surviving heirs, this land was reclaimed by Duke Theodore Bennas during the Fourth War.

### The Alo’evan Willows

This county in the Blasted Lands was added to House Bennas’ possessions through Duke Theodore Bennas’ marriage to Ann’belyn.

### Vassals

House Mysticos and House Valerius hold counties in the Duchy of Summerfast. House Bennas counts the mayors of Summerfast’ towns and villages amongst their vassals as well as the knightly House Thale among others within the Duchy.

Clan Brenagh holds Autumnhold in Redridge Mountains.

**Motto:**

Victory through Valor

**Provincial Compartment:**

Elwynn, Lordaeron, the Blasted Lands