Ishida Family
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, remaining a house of minor nobility on the continent.
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 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 naturally been aligned with the Cagilan Empire.
With the fall of Sauvia into anarchy, the Ishida saw fit to relocate the family home and heirlooms to Craigmore. They have maintained an active presence in the Cagilan Empire ever since.
Heraldry
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 also include their personal heraldry or initials.
The Raven Guard
Unlike many other families, House Ishida maintains a standing militia known as the Raven Guard. At the time of writing, the Raven Guard numbers four companies.
The companies 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 equipped and trained for the inevitabilities of service to realm and family.
The 2nd, 3rd and 4th companies of the Raven Guard are equipped as heavy infantry. Clad in mail and black cloaks, they are trained to fight in tight, cohesive formations. Standard issue arms consists of either a short sword or hand-axe and a kite shield bearing the family heraldry.
For this reason the Raven Guard specialise as a defensive force. Given a choice, they will prefer to dig in and form a shield wall rather than to advance and risk breaking formation.
The honour of commanding the 1st company has always been traditionally given to the family heir. The 1st company is nominally equipped as cavalry. Equipped with lance and mail, they are trained to bring the fight to the enemy in the form of the cavalry wedge. Many a Carelian soldier has been transfixed by the sight of a black-clad Raven Guard charger, only to be impaled in the next moment by its rider.
Active Nobles
- Cagilan Empire, Atamara -
Mizuhiro Ishida - Viscount of Craigmore, Commander of the Raven Guard 1st Company
Tetsuko Ishida - Dame of Nardil, former Imperial Inquisitor, Commander of the Raven Guard 3rd Company
- Obsidian Islands, East Continent -
Himeko Ishida* - Baroness of Lundel, Marshal of the Obsidian Highguard, Commander of the Raven Guard 2nd Company
- Himeko is somewhat of an anomaly within the family, having been headstrong enough to emigrate away from the family before being elevated into the peerage. Her success has, however, earned her the family's reluctant support (it is an inconvenience sending money and letters to a family member overseas, anyway).
