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. Lately, Gauihu has seen accomplishments as Minister of the People and a landed noble in Abington.

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

Oleg

The eldest son, and a born warrior, Oleg left a peaceful Abington for the war-torn South-West Islands. He was promoted to General quickly, but found the job too much management for his tastes, and stepped down to return to a life avowed only to the art of honorable fighting. After the sack of Ikalak, he returned home to Atamara, only to have his journey abruptly end at the Barony of Makar where he can still be found at any battlefields he considers worthy of his sword. He continues to refuse the wages of power and politics.

He was the first to leave Rustton for adventure and exploration (as all nobles should) of the brothers, and waded first into the thick of a nearly endless conflict. Like his younger brother, Oleg disdains horses. A larger man, he prefers plate armor and a two-handed sword as he marches with the infantry into war. He engaged in a personal dispute with an enemy soldier from Taselak, named Olwe, whom he disrespected for the latter's lack of noble virtues in the looting of a region and rape of it's women, and called Olwe the "Baron of Mud," referring to the rural and harsh southland over which Olwe was lord over. The Gods decided the war was over, and Oleg forgot his lost wars and his battles and escaped to the far north of Atamara.

Since leaving to the realm of the northmen, Oleg has written less and less to his family, and not at all to his brothers. Though still considered honorable by many, he is clearly less so than he was once, rampaging around with the berserkers of the Barony. His deeds on the other hand, have largely become unknown, and it is said at Olik Manor that Oleg has 'faded into the shallow sea' (an old Abington folk expression).

• Began his career in Ikalak of the South-West Island 2004-10-08
• Appointed as General of Ikalak 2005-01-03
• Stepped down as General 2005-02-01
• Appointed as Count of Triewa 2005-05-20
• Emigrated to Barony of Makar, Atamara, 2005-06-03

Gauihu

The second oldest son, Gauihu is often underestimated by his unfavourable appearance. He has changed careers several times between soldier and trader, and seems to have too little patience for the latter. Although some have considered him cowardly, he has fought in several battles in service of Abington, and it is rumored he has a penchant for depraved killings and other crimes involving enemy prisoners or peasants. Of course, these are only rumors, and likely to prove as false as those about his cowardice...

Of all the Oliks, he has taken part in the largest and often times the most frequent battles, though unlike his brother Oleg he has never been seen at the front of a line fighting alongside the common men. However, unlike many nobles he disdains the use of a horse, and doesn't strain his troops to fly the family crest. Some see this as a sign of shame or disrespect for his family, but in fact Gauihu is a fairly practical fellow and prefers to have every man capable of fighting doing so. Although he has never waded into the midst of melee combat, on occasion he's been seen drawing a bow and firing, in the command of an archer unit. Like many nobles he has excellent skill with the bow, but it is not his strong suit. When it comes to riding upon a horse, Gauihu is clearly uncomfortable.

A quiet man, he can nevertheless be egregarious when it comes to drinking and engaging in festivities alongside his fellow nobles, especially after a victorious battle. He has never been known to be a great teller of tales or one for flowery public speeches. When on occasion he has spoken out, it has usually been with caustic criticism or abrupt cynicism. He seems to possess an embittered streak ever since being wounded in a battle of Chasnoff when the Northern Alliance attacked, and believes he never received orders or notification and that the army had in fact, abandoned him deliberately. Still, as time goes by, he does mention this less and less.

• Began his career in Abington 2004-10-04
• Appointed as Minister of the People (late August/early September 05)
• Nominated as Lord of Wynford (week of September 10)
• Appointed as Count of Wynford 2005-09-19

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.

• Began his career in the Kingdom of Nighthelm 2005-02-06
• Left Nighthelm after battle and imprisonment to join Soliferum 2005-03-02
• Appointed as Soliferum's Minister of Finances 2005-07-02
• Appointed as Count of Cutnipaniel 2005-07-02
• Appointed as Duke of Osaliel 2005-08-15
• Elected as Grand Justiciar of Soliferum 2005-08-30