Ishida Family

House Ishida

Origins

The origins of the Ishida are lost to the mists of time, but historians have suggested that the Ishida were a loosely affiliated clan of aristocrats from the prehistory of the Far East. For reasons unknown, the Ishida never rose to prominence on the Far East.

Present Day

The family as it is known today is a branch of the Ishida lineage that settled on Atamara a century ago.

Under the leadership of Mizuhiro Ishida the family managed to elevate itself into the ranks of Atamaran nobility. Given that the original home of the Ishida on Atamara was the mountainous region of Sauvia, the family has largely been aligned with the Cagilan Empire.

During the Great Atamaran War, Mizuhiro saw fit to relocate the family home and heirlooms to Craigmore. They have maintained an active presence in Atamara ever since.

Heraldry

Ishida heraldic device on round shield

The heraldic emblem of House Ishida is a stylised raven with outstretched wings. It is often featured as an argent charge upon a sable field. Individual nobles may include their personal heraldry or initials. The primary colour of House Ishida is sable, as found on the surcoats of Ishida troops and nobles.

The Raven Guard

A captain of the Raven Guard

House Ishida maintains a standing force known as the Raven Guard. Companies of the Guard are assigned to Ishida nobles when they begin their career, and it becomes the noble's responsibility to see that his or her company is maintained and trained for the inevitabilities of service to realm and family.

The 1st Company

The 1st Company of the Raven Guard is led by the Head of the House and represents the best that the Raven Guard have to offer. The 1st Company are nominally equipped as cavalry. Clad in mail hauberks and the signature sable cloaks of the Ishida, they are trained to bring the fight to the enemy with lance and sword. Befitting a cavalry unit, the 1st Company will usually be deployed in the wedge formation to maximise the weight of their charge.

It is a point of pride for the Ishida that the Head of the House will often lead the 1st Company from the front, riding the charge alongside the company captain and banner bearer.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Companies

The battle companies of the Raven Guard are trained to fight as heavy infantry. Each man is given a kite shield from the House, fulfilling the Ishida's duty to provide for those in its employ. It is then up to the individual troop commanders to outfit their companies as they see fit.

Given that the battle companies are trained to fight in close, defensive formations, most commanders will choose to equip their troops for the role. As a result the men of the battle companies will usually be found wearing leather or mail armour and equipped with the broadsword or gladius.

The battle companies of the Raven Guard are well known for two things; an innate stubbornness and a fondness for digging in. They will always prefer to fight in the box formation, and will always fortify their camp, even if they intend to remain in the region for merely a half-day.

Active Nobles

in Atamara

Mizuhiro Ishida of the Cagilan Empire, the Viscount of Craigmore

Tetsuko Ishida of Strombran, the Viscountess of Tarree

in Beluaterra

Himeko Ishida of Melhed, a Knight of Gor Ault, and Vice Marshal of the Wolf Inner Guard

• Formerly of the Obsidian Islands in the East Continent, Baroness of Lundel, and Marshal of the Obsidian Highguard