Darrington family

**The Darringtons** are a noble family of the Dwendalian Empire. Most of their former fortune came from real estate business and rent collection.

## **History**

The Darrington family is a noble house in the city of Deastok within the Truscan Vale. Originally powerful land barons under the rule of Lord Oberon Darrington, they almost lost everything after his death because of Lord Jaipher, a rival baron. Facing the risk of losing their power and influence, Oberon's son Lord Howaardt Darrington became indebted to the Myriad. These debts began to impoverish his family little by little, and as he tried to maintain his family's position he became a bitter man who was cruel to his son Taryon for not fulfilling his expectations. Eventually he disinherited Taryon in favor of his daughter Maryanne.

In a last ditch attempt to save the family, Howaart entered into an agreement with Lord Truscan to marry his daughter and heir, Lydia, to Taryon. This would have solved the Darringtons' economic problems and ensured their loyalty to the Truscan family in line with Lord Truscan's plan to take control of Deastok through marriages, debts and political assignments made by himself as Prime Arbiter. Unfortunately, Howaart had forced Taryon into leaving home and breaking all contact with his family after his reaction to Taryon's romantic relationship with his tutor, Lawrence. He then hired K'ryyn to find his son and bring him home.

Instead of following his father's plan, Taryon, with the help of Vox Machina, dealt with the Myriad, clearing out an infestation in a Myriad-controlled platinum mine and agreeing to new terms: the Myriad would seize the Darrington lands and tax revenue, minus the Darrington estate itself and enough taxes to provide a reasonable income for the family.
Tary also successfully negotiated that the Darringtons would get to keep a small farm adjacent to the Darrington estate as a source of crops and food for the family; however, he failed to get a percentage of the platinum mine's profits for his family.

After this, despite Lord Howaardt Darrington's opposition, the Darrington estate became a home for the poor. Taryon also started the Darrington Brigade, a group of adventurers similar to Vox Machina, that would operate in Wildemount. Howaardt's wife, Mariya, became the manager of the Brigade, keeping this position the rest of her life.

## **Known members**

* **Oberon Darrington:** First baron of the family.
	+ **Unknown Lady Darrington**
		- **Howaardt Darrington:** Oberon's son and heir. During his administration the family faced near-bankruptcy.
			* **Mariya Darrington:** Howaardt's wife. Manager of the Darrington Brigade.
				+ **Taryon Gary Darrington:** Founder of the Darrington Brigade and former heir of his family's barony.
					- **Lawrence:** Taryon's husband and former family tutor.
				+ **Maryanne Darrington:** Howaardt's technical heiress, and current leader of the Darrington Brigade.

## **Trivia**

* While it has been implied several times that the Darringtons are one of the noble families of Deastok, owning titles and lands having a line of succession of their own (in which the eldest son is considered to have a "birthright"), and being part of the local politics involving other houses, their specific title is a bit ambiguous. Howaardt was originally described as a land baron, in a way reminiscent of the capabilities of a modern landlord, his job seen as a business to inherit; at the same time he himself described how Lord Jaipher, the man who nearly took his titles and lands, was from a rival barony, implying the Darringtons have a barony as well. Thus, it is possible that House Darrington belong to the lower nobility and their main function is to act as landlords, or that they are Barons who also have a business as land barons.
	+ On stream Howaardt is never styled "Lord Darrington" or "Baron Darrington", although this could be simply because from the beginning the character has been seen from the perspective of his son Taryon and his own friends (and therefore there would be no need for such a formality, especially taking into account the treatment he gave his own child in his youth); or that by the time Vox Machina meet him in person the ruined land baron no longer holds noble titles. A third explanation could be that the Darringtons are a type of noble house who do not use the "Lord/Lady" treatment.

## **References**

1. ↑ *The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II*, p. 48.
2. ↑ See "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97) at 3:36:39.
3. ↑ See "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97) at 3:37:40.
4. ↑ See "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97) at 3:41:07.
5. ↑ See "Jugs and Rods" (1x94) at 1:18:58.
6. ↑ See "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97) at 3:39:50.
7. ↑ See *Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*, p. 83. Sydnock was Arbiter in 835 PD.
8. ↑ See *Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*, p. 83.
9. ↑ See "Jugs and Rods" (1x94) from 1:18:00 through 1:20:38.
10. ↑ See "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97) at 3:08:51.
11. ↑ The task was laid out at "The Mines of the Many" (1x98) at 1:46:51. Vox Machina went to the mine, battled and defeated Symphior, and escaped a swarm of ankhegs later in the same episode.
12. ↑ See "The Mines of the Many" (1x98) from 1:39:20 through 1:46:38.
13. ↑ See "Masquerade" (1x99) at 0:33:17.
14. ↑ See "Masquerade" (1x99) at 0:58:55.
15. ↑ See "Masquerade" (1x99) at 1:13:25.  Tary asks Mariya to manage the Darrington Brigade.
16. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 272.
17. ↑ See "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97) at 3:36:39.
18. ↑ *The Chronicles of Exandria - The Legend of Vox Machina Volume II*, p. 48 and 129.
19. ↑ See "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97) at 3:39:50.
20. ↑ See "The Chapter Closes" (1x115) at 3:50:48.
21. ↑ See "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97) at 3:36:39.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Fan art of the Darringtons, by Kileigh Gallagher (source). Used with permission.