House Chimaeros - The Seed of Discord: The Orks had taken a fearful toll on the Knight Houses of Adrastapol, but none had suffered more than House Manticos, which lost several keeps and their ruler to the battle-hungry xenos. It was while contemplating the devastation left by the Orks that High King Gerraint Tan Chimaeros encountered a wounded child as he wandered alone in the ruins of a Manticos fortress. It was a girl -- on the cusp of womanhood, certainly, but a girl still -- almost naked and afraid in the fire-burnt ruins of her home. She was slowly bleeding out, and if the steps of the High King had not taken him to her hiding hole, she would have likely died from blood-loss or infection. Acting as every noble son of Adrastapol would, the High King lifted her from the ground, her frail body easily fitting in his strong arms and rescuing her, riding hard to get her to a medicae. Only later would Gerraint learn the name of the beautiful girl he had saved: Alicia, daughter of the former ruler of House Manticos.In the following years, inspired by the firm friendship that had developed between High King Gerraint and Tolwyn Tan Draconis, House Chimaeros and House Draconis led the remaining Knight Houses to war against the survivors of WAAAGH! Skarjaw which had scattered into the wild regions of Adrastapol and subsequently turned feral. With their ruler yet too young to rule, House Manticos was placed under the tutelage of House Chimaeros, the beginning of a process that would lead it to become first a client of the High King's House before being completely absorbed by it. This evolution came in no small part as a consequence of High King Gerraint's growing attachment to Alicia Dar Manticos. As the girl turned into a young woman, this attachment grew into love until both legitimised their relationship in marriage. Thus did Alicia Kar Manticos become consort to the High King of Adrastapol, but she would not rule. Yet, her diplomatic talent and natural intelligence quickly made her the High King's most trusted advisor. Through her counsel was the friendship between House Chimaeros and House Draconis cemented, but then came the baleful events of the Galhorm Crusade, a war whose repercussions would guide House Chimaeros along a much darker path.The extensive tally of the dead, especially within House Chimaeros, suggests that the Imperial forces indeed faced and vanquished a terrible threat, but the identity of the enemy remains mysterious. For House Chimaeros, the victory left the bitter taste of defeat as High King Gerraint's only son and heir, Gedric Tan Chimaeros, was killed by the enemy. According to the ancient laws of Adrastapol, the crown of the High King then passed on to House Draconis as Fedric had no legitimate heir. That at least was the official story.Few objected to the transfer of the crown despite the fact that Alicia Kar Manticos had already given birth to a second son, Luk Tan Chimaeros, who would grow up alongside Tolwyn's own son, Danial Tan Draconis. While outwardly maintaining a façade of loyalty and friendship, Alicia Kar Manticos began to prey on Gerraint's grief. Now bearing only the title of Viscount of House Chimaeros, Gerraint's sorrow concerning the loss of his firstborn son and his love for his consort birthed a rancour which was directed towards the Imperium of Man and his former friend, Tolwyn Tan Draconis, whom he perceived as an usurper denying him his legitimate claim to the throne.Outwardly, the changes were minimal, but inwardly this altered allegiance ran deep. Under Alicia's tutelage Viscount Gerraint began to secretly worship one of the forbidden Gods of Chaos, Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways. In the years that followed, the remaining House Manticos Knights were further integrated into House Chimaeros' military structure, allowing House Chimaeros to maintain its numerical superiority over House Draconis.At the same time, Gerraint began to look for allies amongst Adrastapol's other Noble Houses and found a willing ally in Archduke Dunkan Tan Wyvorn, the leader of the brutal House Wyvorn. All they awaited was an opportunity to strike at their enemy from an unexpected quarter. After years of patience, that opportunity presented itself when the Imperium yet again called the Knights of Adrastapol to war, this time to liberate the Industrial World of Donatos Primus from the enemy that had befallen it.