House L'Estrange

## History

A thousand years ago, in the middle of the Age of Dynasties, the head of Clan Morgen in Ashsuru received twin sons as his firstborn. The two brothers Caspar and Vahid had a fierce rivalry, competing against one another in everything, including taking their father’s place and ownership of the relic he guarded, the head of an ancient intelligent construct called Auspex. Said to be old enough to have been around before recorded history, it possessed thousands of years of knowledge and insight.

When the time came, Vahid was chosen as heir over Caspar. It infuriated Caspar to no end, enough to cause a rift in the family. Supporters on both sides argued fiercely, to the point where fighting broke out several times. As the anger and violence escalated, it looked like the house was going to have a civil war, both sides trying to convince other clans to support their claim. Which is when the Khaldun stepped in.

Wanting to prevent any further splintering within his city, the Khaldun banished Caspar and his followers from Ashsuru under threat. Outnumbered and humiliated, he had to capitulate. But not before one last act of vengeance. On the day that he was to leave, Caspar tried to capture the Auspex. As the small fleet he had hired to carry himself and his followers sailed off, a group of hired adventurers broke into the clan compound using Caspar’s information on its defenses and stole the relic.

No one is quite sure what happened next. Vahid believed that the adventurers made off with the relic and got it to Caspar. Caspar believed that Vahid was able to stop the adventurers, as they never reached the drop off point down the coast. Ever since, both clans have told their descendants that the other has the Auspex, which is rightfully theirs.

Exiles continued heading east to Darkwall. A place of foul magic and smells, Caspar urged the clan to continue. They sailed along the coastline, up the river to the Caluna Isle and entered the Kindgom of Myandra. As foreigners to these lands, the clan splinter took up a new surname in the native tongue to mark their exile and permanently cut ties with their despicable relatives. Now called the L’Estrange, they presented themselves to the King’s court as nobility from a faraway land and skilled with engineering and technology.

Integrating themselves into the kingdom, they were granted the rank of Baronet and left on the edges of civilization near the Brinewood River. Through many generations of effort, the House was able to improve the equipment and production of Stockdown and Golshaw. Some scions went on to become master shipwrights, helping to give Myandra a technological edge on the sea and eventually in the air.

Raised to the rank of Barony for all their efforts the lord of that time laid the foundations for the House’s castle. Built on a small peninsula called Bark Point, between Stockdown and Golshaw to take advantage of the Brinewood River’s current, Castle Aintisar rose. Using the expertise passed down from Ashsuru and incorporating the insights of dwarven engineering, the L’Estrange built a great waterwheel as the turbine for a gargantuan generator within the castle. This powered many of the House’s inventions for centuries to come.

The L’Estrange continued to climb the ranks of nobility, eventually earning the rank of Gravin under House Nomont due to their excellent management of the Brinewood River, not only helping lumber production keep up with the Lightreach shipwright’s demands but also a few well-placed technological gifts amongst the noble houses. The L’Estrange’s territory covered the river between the two lumber towns, the sawmills, and carpenters within.

In the current age, a great invasion of fish creatures known as Skum struck the kingdom, attacking up and down the coastline. One of the Skum armies made a push down the Brinewood, hoping to set up staging grounds further inland. But to do that, they would need to take castle Aintisar first. Scrying lenses set up generations ago to watch the river for thievery helped give advanced warning, enough time to send away all but the soldiers. Gravin Giovanni, along with his son, rallied the troops and readied the war machines L’Estrange had made over the years for the incoming tide of enemies.

Like many of the battles during the invasion, it was desperate. The fortified position, magitech artillery and sacrificial automatons helped hold the line. But wave after wave of Skum battered the defenses, washing away just a little more every time. When all seemed loss, Giovanni ordered the rest of his troops to retreat while he stayed behind and overloaded the generator. A massive explosion destroyed the Skum army and the castle, leaving behind only ruins.

For the sacrifice Giovanni made in service to the kingdom, House L'Estrange was raised to Dukedom and given control over the Brinewood River Valley and the towns within. This title, in turn, was passed down to his surviving son Próspero.

## Members

**D~~uke Próspero Bellomo L'Estrange~~**

**Lady Luciana Isidora L’Estrange** – Mother of Próspero and widow of the late duke.

**Duke Giovanni Ferrari L’Estrange** – The late duke of House L’Estrange. Died in battle with the Skum.

**Duchess Margherita Silvia L’Estrange** – Daughter of the previous duke and duchess and younger sister of Próspero, now the Duchess of House L'Estrange.

## Membership

A prospective vassal may request an audience with the duchess, who will interview the candidate. Should she find it acceptable, she will require an oath - to serve the duchess, the house and the kingdom faithfully.

## Holdings

**Lightreach**

A guild house and shop centered around magitech have been built in Lightreach to help fund House L'estrange, along with a couple boarding houses for employees.

**Golshaw**

They own several lumbermills in Golshaw, providing wood for new ships in Lightreach. A fully functional dock was recently built to benefit from the trade that comes through the coastal town. With the local lord's permission during the skum invastion, several guardhouses, barracks and a keep were built to defend Golshaw.