De La Coeur Family

The De'La Coeur family made their fortunes in the Copper mines of Westerfield and through generations accumulated a large power base in the area. The Lords presided over this fortune for seven generations becoming influential in both military and political pursuits of the region.

Lord Caliban, is the current master of the family fortunes, but is elderley and frail, as his health has descended so has his ability to govern effectively. Worse still he was left with only heiresses and no male heir. The Westerfield Peninsula was always governed by Salic principles whereby the daughters could not inherit.

To prove their worthiness and attempt to gain the skills to retrieve their estates, the daughters of Lord Caliban are now crossing swords with and for foreign realms. Eventually their skills will see them return victorios to challenge the rule of their home land. Or at least that is their aim.

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Iolanthe

Iolanthe is the fourth child and the elder of the twin daughters of Lord Caliban and his second wife Marianne. Her mother died when Iolanthe was five years old during the birth of one of her sisters. As a child she was educated by her governess Elodie, her fathers older sister. Elodie had remained single following the death of her betrothed in an accident at sea. Her education was largely focussed on pursuits which would aid her in becoming a good match for one of the local Lords. She has a keen mind, very like her Aunt, and was set to attend a finishing school so that she may assume a Courtiers life. Her personal maid and playmate, Roxanne, was a regular feature of her childhood and education. Widely regarded as a great beauty in the household, Roxanne gained the often unwanted attentions of many of the lower standing men folk. After an attempt upon her chastity, both Elodie and Roxanne left the household.

Iolanthe's education was allowed to languish for the next two years and she spent many hours with her fathers gamekeeper, walking the boundaries, and learning how the lands worked, as well as mixing with some of the more unsavory characters within her fathers estate. At the age of fourteen her fortunes were to change when a sickness was visited upon her family. Her three elder brothers were struck down and her father was left frail, and at times feeble minded. Letters were sent to Lady Elodie for her to return to the household as the most senior member of the direct relatives of the family. She was at once embattled, as female rule was regarded as both incorrect and virtually illeagal within the Westerfield penninsula. She immediately refocussed Iolanthe's education, comissioning tutors in both politics and fencing. After her wild years with the gamekeeper, she thrived on the combat training and was soon besting many of her male counterparts.

Accusations were made that Elodie was traing the daughters of Lord Caliban in pursuits unbefitting of a noblewoman. The household was visited at greater frequency by more distant relatives, and the pressure grew upon both the infirm Caliban and the redoubtable Elodie to find a match for the daughters of the lord. The presence of so many male relatives made Elodie's position untennable and she was eventually forced to marry . Iolanthe was il-equipped to take her aunt's place at the side of her father and the estate began to buckle under increased pressure from the cousins of Lord Caliban, including the proposition that Iolanthe should marry one of their number. One evening her chamber was invaded by the proposed gentleman, who was intent on forcing the issue with her. Instinctively relying on her Wilson, the gamekeeper was to be Iolanthe's salvation once again