House Mehrkuri

> ***"Only the primarchs and their immediate families are permitted to wear purple, yet the progeny of House Mehrkuri often possess captivating purple-coloured eyes. Is such a genetic trait a portent of future greatness? Or insatiable ambition?"*** - excerpt from *Great Houses of the Empire* by Salur Darrikun, imperial historian.
>
>

House Mehrkuri is one of the Familiae Martiales, the Turian Hierarchy's military elite. They are one of the older of the empire's military families, rising to prominence during the Unification War of 336 BCE, when it was founded by Valeria Mehrkuri. Their sigil is a golden trireme on a blue field. Their motto, *Ex mehri ad astra*, translates as "From the sea to the stars". They are one of the *Semper et Unus*, the eight great houses of the Aurelian Empire.

Individuals with Mehrkuri blood often possess purple eyes and tan plating, two unique genetic features of the house. Both Mehrkuri men and women have a reputation for luring unsuspecting individuals away from duty and seducing them with their eyes. Many such stories are attributed to past Mehkruris throughout history, including Calaea Mehrkuri, whose husband, Caherix Partinax, was said to have immediately fallen in love with her upon first looking into her eyes.

## History

House Mehrkuri's ancestors were skilled mariners who roamed Palaven's shallow coral seas. After the founding of the first empire, they transitioned to a naval force that struck fear into the hearts of those who would oppose the new order. Their ships are depicted in ancient Palavenian art as being able to spit jets of fire that could not be extinguished by water, with their prows painted to resemble mythological beasts.

With the advent of space flight, House Mehrkuri's ancestors began to migrate from Palaven towards the stars. They eventually came to settle on Digeris, one of Palaven's seven original extra-solar colonies. There they continued their tradition of naval exploration, both on the sea and through the stars, extensively mapping the Castellus System and establishing supply lines back to Palaven.

Over the centuries the colonies began to grow more distant from Palaven, establishing their own cultural identities. By this time House Mehrkuri had cultivated a reputation for being the best naval commanders in the known galaxy, with a spacefaring fleet powerful enough to rival Palaven's own. When Digeris broke from Palaven it was House Mehrkuri who maintained order, ensuring that total anarchy did not erupt.

This system of martial law endured until the time of the Unification War when Aurelion Aurelos came to Digeris with his forces seeking to reunify the empire. Knowing that any war of Digeris would be costly, Aurelion chose instead to treat with House Mehrkuri, promising to invest them as Primarchs of Digeris in exchange for their ships. Their leader, Valeria Mehrkuri, accepted his terms and aided Aurelion in pacifying the parts of Digeris that resisted. Her skills as a naval commander and cartographer earned her the position as the admiral of Aurelion's fleet. Valeria and Aurelion were steadfast allies for the rest of their lives, with Aurelion bestowing the ancient honorific of *Mehrkuri*, translating as "voyagers of the sea", upon her and her descendants as a reward for her service. Thus, House Mehrkuri was born.

## Known members

**Key:** Parriachs **/** Bloodline Members **/** Matrimonial Members (*note that all parriarchs are also bloodline members of the house*)

* Valeria Mehrkuri (founder)
* Fidericus Mehrkuri
* Castella Mehrkuri
* Asterion Barro
* Maxim Mehrkuri
* Palaea Natanus
* Melaira Mehrkuri
* Astraea Mehrkuri
* Antraxes Partinax
* Erinia Mehrkuri
* Valerio Mehrkuri
* Lidia Mehrkuri
* Astraeus Mehrkuri
* Valexa Victus
* Fideia Mehrkuri
* Fidericus Mehrkuri
* Caeistia Mehrkuri

## Imperial and Primatial Families

### Imperial Family of Antraxes Mehrkuri (illegally declared)

* Antraxes Mehrkuri and his second spouse, Fidellion Victus
	+ Erinia Mehrkuri *(Antraxes' daughter by his late wife, Astraea Mehrkuri)*
	+ Astraeus Mehrkuri *(Antraxes' son by his late wife, Astraea Mehrkuri)*
	+ Sairus Arterius (Victus) *(Antraxes' step-son)*

### Digerian Primatial Family of Astraea Mehrkuri

* Astraea Mehrkuri and her husband, Antraxes Mehrkuri
	+ Erinia Mehrkuri *(Astraea's daughter)*
	+ Astraeus Mehrkuri *(Astraea's son)*
* Castella Mehrkuri and her husband, Asterion Barro *(Astraea's mother and father)*
	+ Caeistia Mehrkuri *(Astraea's sister)*

### Digerian Primatial Family of Astraeus Mehrkuri

* Astraeus Mehrkuri and his wife, Valexa Victus
	+ Fideia Mehrkuri *(Astraeus' daughter)*
	+ Fidericus Mehrkuri *(Astraeus' son)*
* Caeistia Mehrkuri *(Astraeus' maternal aunt; granted special status, on the grounds she was Astraeus' last living Mehrkuri relative before the births of his children)*