The Mialin Household

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The Mialin Household is a primarily military-based house that helps train many of the Absalom guard, as well as supply them with guard posts in various areas of the isle. Overall considered a minor house in comparison to many of the other houses of Absalom, the Mialin Household details that they are descendents of one of Aroden's close advisors- stating a name "Cotorius Mialin." They also proclaim they are descendents of Azlanti blood, which gives them pedigree over the other houses. This claim, being rather common amongst nobility, does appear to have some level of repute in that Cotorius Mialin was once a man who served in Absalom long ago, but the degree of the household's connection to him- or even whether or not he was even connected to Aroden in any way- is a tenuous thread.

All the more tenuous is the household's belief that Aroden was slated to be eventually returned to life, resurrected, as one of the heirs of the household- citing some prophecy. Unlike the rest of the claims which are fairly common and not overly remarkable amongst noble families, this belief tends to not overly endear the household to others in Absalom. The concept of Aroden reincarnating as a human to aid humanity against some great evil is not a new one, but many view the Mialin household's claim to being "prophesized" to this end is viewed by many as- at best- vainglory... At worst, blatant arrogance and disrespect. This isn't helped by the family's use of spiritualistic traditions and rituals, blending traditional militant training and concepts with almost shamanistic principles, especially in regards to their rights of ascension, many consider the household practically 'religious fanatics' and cite these beliefs as part of why the family has never made it beyond lesser nobility.

## The Rite of Succession

Every generation, members of the main line of the family perform a ritual to see who shall be the next head of the family. This practice is done in a contingency of singular rituals involving each of the children of the current head attempting to invoke a spiritual weapon to guide and serve their child. The one who succeeds at invoking a spirit weapon is believed to be the next successor to the family, with the weapon acting as a guide and confidant, in exchange for the ability to maintain a form and life in the material world. The most recent to succeed in this ritual, Katusia Mialin, is the first non-human to be labeled the successor. This tumultuous

situation has caused many in the family to begin questioning the connection to Aroden themselves, as it seems almost paradoxical that a household that follows the teachings of Aroden would have a non-human successor according to the family's beliefs. While they do not believe Aroden to look down on other races, as a house meant to bear the eventual revival of the god, it seemed contradictory that a non-human could be part of that contingency.

Regardless of this fact, the spirit weapon chose Katusia, and she is now believed to be something of a harbinger of change for the family, either in approach or belief. The spirit weapons they believe were a relic left behind by the Azlanti would not guide them astray, so there is a high expectation that Katusia has something to teach the household, and many of them are worried- to say the least- that it is a lesson they are not ready or willing to hear.

The children of the previous head who are not chosen are expected to become vassals of the new head, as well as expected to go search for pieces of the house's history and relics of their involvement on the world stage. The spirit weapons themselves tend to not bear any information- it is unknown how old they are, but they do not share the history they have, simply guiding their current bearers in the right direction through counsel... and sometimes by applying force to the enemies of the family.

## Mialin's History

The household have a manor in the Ivy district like most nobles, although the one in particular they hold had been destroyed four times. The most recent, during the Rovagug event, seemed almost like an insult- a stray blast that just so happened to destroy the house while nobody save for a few servants were inside, not even a targeted destruction. It was rebuilt within the year, however during each destruction, much of the history of the house has been lost.

It is no doubt to anyone in the nobility that the Mialin family is an old one- perhaps as old as, or even older than Absalom itself- however given the constant destruction of their relics, heirlooms, and bearings, it is questionable the validity of almost anything, and many people source this to some of the confusion in the household's belief system. Many of the Mialin family hold reservations about this as well, but for the most part refuse to voice them due to how it would affect the household if people started backing down on their claims. One of the duties of members of the household is to search for relics that can be connected to the family to assist in proving the family's claims.

## The Future of the Mialins

As of now, with Katusia at the forefront of the family's attention- both internal and external- there are a lot of questions without answers. These burning questions are expected to be answered by Katusia in time, but at the moment the girl is just as confused as the rest. She herself had not expected to be accepted by a spirit weapon, and only the spirit weapons may know why she was accepted. However, as usual, they refuse to answer these questions- whether or not they truly know themselves. More often than not, questions about such things are met with cryptic answers at best.

Regardless of this, the household is currently in an era of change, and not all of the household is accepting of this. While many of them are worried or upset, much of the household is simply waiting to see what happens, or searching for themselves... however there are certain elements within the house that are contentious of such changes, fearful that it may disprove what claim the family has to power... Or worse, make the family appear as something directly opposed to what they claim. A hypocrisy at the core of their formative beliefs might just shatter the family entirely, bringing it to ruin.