Olik Family

The house of Olik originated in the County of Rustton, in the Kingdom of Abington, on the continent of Atamara. A small river region, Rustton had always been overshadowed in history by the presence of Stoneville to the south and mighty Riverholm to the north. When Oleg Olik, the eldest of three noble children, decided he had had enough of the boredom of idle time at the Olik manor and emigrated to South-West Island, the name of Olik was set on a course that would eventually lead to fame - or perhaps infamy.

Olik Manor

The pater familia of the House of Olik is currently Trostian Olik, a fourth generation Abington noble with the respected status of a retired knight - and the respected status of 1,225 Gilders. The manor house is modest (for an Abington noble), but presents a pleasant and commanding look over the fields and the road to the village. Trostian, approaching threescore years of age, is reputed to be moderately generous but standoffish. His unmarried daughter, Takani, lives at home after barely escaping Belaturra before the last invasion; War-scarred and seeking quiet and isolation.

The land is a bump in a stream which feeds into the Riverholm River pouring into the Ash Sea to the north, about an hour's journey from the seat of the County and the residence of Lord SH. The woods around the area contain pheasants and geese, flax, and Olik's serfs are known to grow apples of fine quality. The stream contains a specie of mountain river fish which can grow up to two and a half feet in length and are very oily in taste when in season. There are eight men-at-arms vassal to the House who help guard the estate and enforce shire law in the attendant village, whose inhabitants total about 120. The village is called 'Slet' by the locals. Traders rarely make stops here, but travelers from Matakonis, Stoneville, Riverholm, even Monagle are common and often receive good welcome by the peasants. The Oliks retain one physician, Kulmos of Hratmi, whose services can sometimes be rendered to the stranded and wounded, especially during war, or for low fees in general.

The family crest consists of an eagle, being strangled by a snake, being impaled by two crossed swords with red jewels in them. A red-jeweled ring that Trostian wears is a family heirloom and symbol, as are two red-jeweled swords currently residing in Olik Manor.

Should Trostian die, the manor will go to Oleg, but with Oleg currently fighting for the Barony of Makar in the frigid and barbaric wastelands of the far north, there may be some question of the actual inheritor, most likely posed by Gauihu, the second-eldest son. The steward of the estates is a man named Jan Tolmy, son of Yari Tolmy. The lady of the house, Ereihu, died last April, and Trostian's demented brother Asov, lives in the manor house. (He would stand to inherit the family house, but for his status as a mentally unfit.)

The Olik family is moderately famous; Oleg had made a name for himself as General of the ill-fated realm of Ikalak on the South-West Island, and Maltheo's position as Banker, Count and later Duke of a Far Eastern land had made it into many letters home and in a few scribe's notes at the busier marketplaces of the world.

• Trostian
• Ereihu
• Asov
• Oleg
• Gauihu
• Takani
• Maltheo

Maltheo

Maltheo of the House of Olik the youngest son of old Trostian Olik, and he shares traits with both his elder brothers. He has the warrior's spirit of Oleg, and is rumored to be quite adept at swordplay having mentored at the Republican Conservatory of Osaliel. He also has the ambition and political cunning of Gauihu, and though he began his career in Nighthelm, he joined Soliferum after a tour in it's dungeons, then in the hands of Grand Justiciar Annwn.

After being titled Count of Cutnipaniel he later accepted the title of Duke of Osaliel. He is known for recruiting archers from Cutnipaniel, whom he termed the Eastern Bowmen and involved himself in their training. As the Finance Minister of the Soliferum Republic, helping to fight a war against secessionist Lunaria and the Commonwealth of Antoza, he apparently wanted to be known as a Merchant Lord or Trade Lord, and was often seen making a food-trade run from Osaliel to Batesaor.

He was later imprisoned by Lunaria after coming to Ortedail to negotiate a peace treaty. Released early, he found himself without title and, after a brief time as Grand Justiciar, lost a second close re-election to Cid. During his period as Judge, which lasted just a few days, he tried and banished Lady Ariana and another noble for conspiring to commit treason. He also took ten men from the Senate Guards and began patrolling the streets of Osaliel regularly, arresting suspected rebels and searching for the assassin known as Aspire, who made an attempt on the Prime Minister's life.