House Victus

House Victus is one of the *Familiae Martiales*, the Turian Hierarchy's military elite. They are one of the older of Palaven's military families, rising to prominence during the Unification War of 336 BCE. Notable family members include Primarch Adrien Victus, Decurio Tarquin Victus, and Primarch Fidellion Victus. They are one of the *Semper et Unus*, the eight great houses of the Aurelian Empire.

## History

### Origins

The Victus family trace their lineage back to Valexus Victus, a Bostran soldier who served under the rule of Primarch Aurelion of Palaven. Valexus was originally a lowly infantryman in the Bostran Colonial Army, obedient to his consul and loyal to Bostra. However, when Bostra became a rogue province under the rule of Dux Soterian, Valexus found himself questioning a lifetime of blind loyalty.

After the unlawful public execution of his former consul and Soterian's declaration of Bostra's independence from the empire, Valexus gave an impassioned speech on the steps of Petraea's Signis, denouncing Soterian's rule and asserting that Bostra had *always* been and would *always* be a part of the empire. Soterian called for Valexus' head, prompting Valexus to preemptively move his family off-world and flee to Palaven.

After landing in Cipritine, Valexus demanded an audience with Aurelion, camping out on the Primacy Palace steps when the Praetorian Guard denied his request. But while the Praetorian Guard scoffed at Valexus for being little more than a colonial peasant, Aurelion did not. Instead, the Primarch invited Valexus and his family into his palace as honoured guests, granting them asylum. As a show of loyalty, Valexus then bent the knee and swore an oath of fealty to Aurelion, before requesting that Palaven's armies retake Bostra, depose Soterian, and restore imperial rule to the colonies.

Despite Valexus' pleas, Aurelion was reluctant to throw his forces at a fortified rogue state. Instead, he decreed that he would have his fleets hide in the Cyrenaica system's asteroid belt. From there they could observe the neighbouring Bostran and Epyran rebels skirmish over the system's resources from a safe distance, allowing both sides to whittle each other down before engaging both in their weakened state. His plan culminated in the famous Battle of the Cyrenaican Reef, a pivotal moment in the Unification War which saw the imperial fleet obliterate the waring Bostran and Epyran ships, who had been obliviously fighting over the mineral-rich asteroid Palma-3.

After his victory at the Cyrenaican Reef, Aurelion sent the newly promoted Tribune Valexus to Bostra as his envoy, accompanied by a full legion. Upon sight of the legion landing at Petraea, Soterian's surviving men left his side in droves. Knowing defeat was upon him, Soterian then barricaded himself inside the Signis, refusing to acquiesce in Aurelion's demands of peaceful surrender. Valexus, speaking to Soterian through the Signis' barred gates, called him a coward and stated that, if he had any true honour, he would face him in a duel to the death.

Enraged by Valexus' insinuation of cowardice, Soterian unbarred the gates and appeared before his enemy with a shotgun in hand, spouting the frenzied rantings of an egomaniacal despot. The first shot from Soterian's weapon overloaded Valexus' shields. The second tore a hole in his chest. The third never came; Valexus impaled Soterian on his blade before the tyrant could take the final shot.

Valexus was rushed to the capital's medical centre for emergency treatment but ultimately succumbed to his wounds. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Legatus (*"General"*) by Aurelion, who publicly described him as *"the most loyal and upstanding of all Bostran citizens"* and *"a humble man whose blood ran the bluest"*. Valexus was entombed with the highest honours within the Petraean Necropolis on Bostra. Upon his tombstone the word *"Victus"* is inscribed; this was the first documented use of what would become universally recognised as the nomen gentilicium of House Victus for centuries to come.

### Resurrection

#### *Spes Nova*

After its near extinction at the hands of Astraea and Antraxes Mehrkuri, the house's new *parriarch*, Fidellion Victus, made it his mission to strengthen his house and ensure its future. As such, the newest generation of House Victus, born after Fidellion's anointing as *Primarch* of Palaven in 2241 CE, has become colloquially known as the *Spes Nova* - the "New Hope". As per Fidellion's instructions as *parriarch*, each of them is to be wed to an individual of lower rank, preferably from a house belonging to the Seven and One, to preserve House Victus' numbers and ensure future offspring of the Victus bloodline.

The only member of this generation completely exempt from this grand plan is Claudia Victus, who is instead a member of the Bostran priesthood and thus forbidden from taking a husband and producing children. There are also lingering questions regarding Gaius Victus, who has several developmental and learning disabilities which significantly reduce his marriage prospects; because the vast majority of the turian elite practice selective breeding to ensure only the strongest and most desirable genes are passed down to their offspring, no family of good breeding would ever wish for their daughter to procreate with a man who could pass on his "weakness" to her children.

## Etymology

The family's name comes from an ancient and now extinct Palavenian dialect, translating as *"he who brings victory"*. The name was awarded to Valexus and all his descendants by Aurelion for his martyrdom in the name of unification. It was later adopted as the official nomen gentilicium of his house by his descendants, in honour of their founder. In addition to its use as a nomen gentilicium, Victus was also used as the House's motto, often in the form of a battle cry. The female and neuter versions of this motto are *"Victa"* and *"Victum"*, translating as *"she who brings victory"* and *"we who bring victory"* respectively.

## Known members

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

These names are written as transcribed in the *Caudex Gentis Victi,* the ancient genealogical codex of House Victus.

* Valexus Victus
* Aritaea Victus Sparatiana
* Valexia Victus
* Kestrien Victus Sparatinus
* Fabien Victus Marninus
* Matidia Victus Verrikiana Tiervina
* Adrien Victus Verrikinus
* Saira Victus Caesoniana
* Tarquin Victus Caesoninus
* Iacoba Victus Parviana
* Fidellion Victus Parvinus
* Sarena Victus Arteriana Kryina
* ~~Sairus Victus Arterinus~~ (became 'Sairus Arterius Victinus' after re-founding House Arterius)
* Selena Victus Quentiana
* ~~Desolas Victus Quentinus~~ (became 'Desolas Arterius III Victianus Quentinus' after House Arterius' re-founding)
* Marcia Victus Abrudiana Caelina
* Keirix Victus Abrudinus (left House Victus to marry Callian Vecturis)
* Leila Victus Aventiana (left House Victus after her divorce from Keirix Victus Abrudinus)
* Livia Victus Aventina
* Adriana Victus Victiana Abrudina
* Septimus Victus Victianus Invectinus
* Justinia Victus Victina
* Irixia Victus Abrudina
* Kiron Victus Caelianus
* Euphemien Victus Caelinus
* Gidion Victus Caelinus
* Iacoba Victus Caelina
* Gaius Victus Abrudinus
* Aritaea Victus Parvina
* Ennius Victus Valianus
* Ida Victus Valina
* Flavian Victus Aurelianus
* Malkum Victus Parvinus
* Alia Victus Sparatiana
* Aren Victus Sparatinus
* Claudia Victus Sparatina (left House Victus to become a spirit priestess)
* Fabia Victus Verrikina
* Jonas Victus Sparatianus
* Matien Victus Sparatinus
* Laurentia Victus Koriliana
* Claudius Victus Korilinus
* Lysia Victus Marniana
* Lysius Victus Marninus
* Julia Victus Parniana
* Julien Victus Parninus
* Justinien Victus Sparatinus (left House Victus to become a spirit priest)
* Valexian Victus Verrikinus
* Amadea Victus Orakiana
* Vivien Victus Orakina
* Carrix Victus Dorianus
* Ariteus Victus Dorinus
* Caela Victus Invectiana
* Valexa Mehrkuri Victiana Invectina (left House Victus to marry Astraeus Mehrkuri Partininus)

## Succession

As with all the *Familiae Martiales*, the rules of a house's succession are dictated by a fusion of meritocracy and dynastic inheritance. The title of *parriarch* is inherited by the highest-ranking member of the house, upon the death of the previous *parriarch*, reflecting the turian's meritocratic society as a whole. However, there are some additional rules left over from a time when absolute primogeniture (inheritance of the eldest child, regardless of their sex) was the norm. Only bloodline members of a house can inherit the title of *parriarch*, which automatically excludes matrimonial members from the line of succession. Illegitimate children may also inherit but only if no legitimate heirs exist; legitimate heirs can be of a lower rank than any illegitimate pretenders, as blood purity is of paramount importance, to the point where it supersedes any display of merit.

Being the heir to a *parriarch* is no certain thing. As one's relatives are promoted up the ranks of the turian hierarchy, one may lose their status as heir presumptive if a relative achieves a higher rank. The result is each *parriarch* having a multitude of different heirs throughout their lifetime, with only the heir at the time of their death having the right to succeed them. This encourages healthy competition between relatives to become the true exemplar of their house and thus earn the right to lead through supreme merit.

## Imperial Families

### Imperial Family of Adrien Victus

* Adrien Victus and his second wife, Iacoba Parvus
	+ Aritaea Victus - *Adrien's daughter by his second wife*
	+ Malkum Victus - *Adrien's son by his second wife*

* Fidellion Victus and his first wife, Sarena Arterius - *Adrien's grandson and granddaughter-in-law*

* Fabia Victus and her husband, Jonas Sparatus - *Adrien's sister and brother-in-law*
* Valexian Victus and his wife, Amadea Oraka - *Adrien's brother and sister-in-law*

### Imperial Family of Fidellion Victus

* Fidellion Victus and his second wife, Marcia Abrudas
	+ Sairus Arterius (Victus) - *Fidellion's son by his first wife, Sarena Arterius*
		- Desolas Arterius III and his wives, Achaea Corinthus (predeceased) and Senestra Pavoninus (divorced) - *Fidellion's grandson and granddaughters-in-law*
			* Desola Arterius and her husband, Pireius Lokarion - *Fidellion's great-granddaughter and great-grandson-in-law*
			* Fidellion Arterius - *Fidellion's great-grandson*
			* Selena Arterius - *Fidellion's great-granddaughter*
			* Achaea Arterius - *Fidellion's great-granddaughter*
			* Solaeus Arterius - *Fidellion's great-grandson*
	+ Keirix Victus and his wife, Leila Aventen - *Fidellion's son by his second wife, and his daughter-in-law*
		- Livia Victus - Fidellion's granddaughter
	+ Adriana Victus and her husband, Septimus Victus - *Fidellion's daughter by his second wife, and his son-in-law/second-cousin-once-removed*
		- Justinia Victus - *Fidellion's granddaughter*
	+ Irixia Victus and her husband, Kiron Caelax - *Fidellion's daughter by his second wife, and his son-in-law*
		- Euphemien Victus - *Fidellion's grandson*
		- Gidion Victus - *Fidellion's grandson*
		- Iacoba Victus - *Fidellion's granddaughter*
	+ Gaius Victus - *Fidellion's son by his second wife*

* Aritaea Victus and her husband, Ennius Valen - *Fidellion's half-sister, and half-brother-in-law*
* Malkum Victus and his wife, Alia Sparatus - *Fidellion's half-brother and half-sister-in-law*

## Primatial Families

### Bostran Primatial Family of Valexien Victus

* Valexien Victus and his wife, Amadea Oraka
	+ Vivien Victus and her husband, Carrix Dorian - *Valexien's daughter and son-in-law*
		- Ariteus Victus and his wife, Caela Invectus - *Valexien's grandson and granddaughter-in-law*
			* Valexa Victus - *Valexien's great-granddaughter*
			* Septimus Victus - *Valexien's great-grandson*

## Members of the priesthood

House Victus, like many other Bostran families, subscribes to the Bostran tradition of dedicating its second-born children to the priesthood, Many of House Victus' second born have served as members of the priesthood over the centuries. House Victus in particular have a very close relationship with those family members it dedicates to the priesthood, going as far as to appoint the most senior spirit priest of the Victus bloodline as the personal spirit priest of the house. This is due to the Bostran belief that a priest who shares the same blood as a petitioner can more easily channel the spirits of their mutual ancestors. These priests are given the unofficial title of *Vox Maiorum*, "Voice of the Ancestors".

In the modern day, two members of House Victus have taken holy vows and surrendered their house name:

* Justinien Victus - the second child of Fabia Victus and her husband, Jonas Sparatus. Upon his birth, he was promised by his mother to the priesthood, destined to serve the spirits and the honoured dead, as opposed to his older brother, Matien Victus, who was destined to serve the empire as a soldier. He entered the Bostran priesthood as a lay brother at the age of sixteen, a month before the Reaper War began. He survived the war alongside his paternal relative Sibella Sparatus, a fellow member of the priesthood, who would later become the High Priestess of Bostra. Justinien would assist Sibella in her efforts to restore the Petraean Necropolis after the war duties, becoming her righthand man. He was ordained as a member of the priesthood at the age of eighteen, two years later. He continues to serve in his role and is viewed as a potential successor to Sibella, should he continue to follow her example. Justinien was one of House Victus to survive the Night of Martyrs, owing his life to the fact he was a priest, which the coup refused to target out of fear of public backlash. His brother Matien was not so lucky; he and their parents were all murdered for supporting House Arterius' claim to the Aurelian Throne. Aside from his nephew, Claudius Victus, who escaped Palaven to travel with the Arterius family to Andromeda, Justinien is the last living descendant of Fabia Victus.
* Claudia Victus - the second child of Malkum Victus and his wife, Alia Sparatus. Like Justinien, her father promised her to the priesthood, while her older brother, Aren Victus, was promised to the military. She entered the Bostran priesthood as a lay sister at the age of sixteen, before taking her vows two years later at eighteen. She was close with Justinien, who served as House Victus' personal spirit priest for decades.

## Sigils

Fidellion Victus and Sarena ArteriusSigil of House Victus
## Lineage

### Descendants of Fabien Victus and Matidia Verrikan

What follows are the members of House Victus who are descended from Fabien Victus and his wife, Matidia Verrikan, in order of precedence.

* Fabien Victus and his wife, Matidia Verrikan
	+ Adrien Victus and his first wife, Saira Caesonia
		- Tarquin Victus and his wife, Iacoba Parvus
			* Fidellion Victus and his first wife, Sarena Arterius
				+ Sairus Arterius (Victus) and his now ex-wife, Selena Quentius - *left House Victus to re-found House Arterius with their son*
					- Desolas Victus (Arterius III) - *left House Victus to re-found House Arterius with his parents*
			* Fidellion Victus' second wife, Marcia Abrudas
				+ Keirix Victus and his wife, Leila Aventen
				+ Adriana Victus and her husband/third cousin, Septimus Victus
					- Justinia Victus
				+ Irixia Victus and her husband, Kiron Caelax
				+ Gaius Victus (unmarried)
	+ Adrien Victus' second wife/former daughter-in-law, Iacoba Parvus
		- Aritaea Victus and her husband, Ennius Valen
			* Ida Victus and her husband, Flavian Aurelos
		- Malkum Victus and his wife, Alia Sparatus
			* Aren Victus and his wife, Caesarea Fedorian
			* Claudia Victus (unmarried) - *left House Victus to become a spirit priestess*
	+ Fabia Victus and her husband, Jonas Sparatus
		- Matien Victus and his wife, Laurentia Korilius
			* Claudius Victus and his first wife, Lysia Marnek
				+ Lysius Victus (unborn son)
			* Claudius Victus' second wife, Julia Parnum
				+ Julien Victus
		- Justinien Victus (unmarried) - *left House Victus to become a spirit priest*
	+ Valexien Victus and his wife, Amadea Oraka
		- Vivien Victus and her husband, Carrix Dorian
			* Ariteus Victus and his wife, Caela Invectus
				+ Valexa Victus - *left House Victus to marry Astraeus Mehrkuri and join House Mehrkuri*
				+ Septimus Victus and his wife/third cousin, Adriana Victus