Du Valroux Family
Origin
The Du Valroux family originates from settlers mostly of York, Leohampton, Northhill, and possibily Rothertorpe.
They were in ancient times a group of families united by marriages among the lines of Chieftains in a patriarchal rule. Sometimes confusing, this marriages (called "Chaffing") over the centuries obscured the "royal" lines among this tribes.
A famous historian of the family genealogy, Markus Dévoix, suggested the name " Du Val-et-Roux " (From Val-et-Roux, a location wich is today a part of York City) for its historical meaning- The warlords of the tribes used to hold their reunions and feast at Val-et-Roux. This was largely accepted.
The clan Du Val-et-Roux was born, and its coat-of-arms had a silver sword and a silver parchment crossed, golden scales at the background, red and purple colors adorning the shield.
With the passage of the time and simplification of old terms, Du Val-et-Roux became Du Valroux. Hunting and farming was replaced by lobbying favors, trading overseas and more recently leading troops for rulers.
The Du Valroux family first entered the struggles in Atamara shortly before the fall of Vikland by the request of the realm's late King. Since then, the family expanded its holdings to the East Continent, having territorial claims both in Troyes and Bruck.
Famous members of Du Valroux family
- Jean-Luc Du Valroux, Count of Bruck
The older son of the patriarch Louis, Jean-Luc fought both for Vikland and Minas Ithil. Sadness filled his heart during to the infamous sacking of York, so he decided to emmigrate to Beluaterra and oversee the trade of his family.
Most of the trade was being made over Wudenkin and Vale, so he swore fealty to the Grand Duchy of Wudenka. He was titled Count of Vale and fought bravely to defend his people during the undead invasion.
He was forced to retreat west to Marca da Pantera, and there he became Duke of Latlan, a honor still remembered in the halls of the family. A second wave of undead destroyed Marca da Pantera, forcing Jean-Luc to exile in Varyamo Nolvo. This proved a bad choice when he was captured and forced to flee to the East Continent, where he joined Old Rancagua in their struggle against the Church of Rancagua.
The exiled Duke of Latlan fought many years under the banner of his new realm with fierce loyalty. Now he is considering retirement from leading troops, his many scars and bruises from the past starting to slow him down. He believes that the campaign against Kalmar will be his last one.
He was recently titled Count of Bruck by Sir Dekion, King of Old Rancagua, in honor for accomplishments in the last few years.
In his prime, Jean-Luc was considered sort of a happy-go-lucky and carefree nobleman, enjoying the "finer things" in life. His immigration to Beluaterra was "made out of emotion and childish behavior", as he declares in his memoirs, but he is better known is his late years, as a steady, calm scarred war veteran who talks little and prefers not to involve himself in politics. Highly regarded to become the next Patriarch of the family.
Miscellaneous
A letter from the King of Old Rancagua, Sir Dekion of House Flockhart:
I would like to announce Jean-Luc, for his long and excellent service to the realm shall now be named the Lord of Bruck.
Jean-Luc, I am pleased with your performance and grant you this title. May you continue to serve Old Rancagua honorably.
- Countess Étienne Du Valroux, deceased
Cousin of Jean-Luc, Étienne also fought for Vikland and Minas Ithil. In that time, Minas Ithil had too many troop leaders and she was asked to find another place, in favor of her cousin. Étienne never took that well and severed relations with Jean-Luc, travelling north to the Barony of Makar.
She lived on the Barony for almost ten years. There Étienne started a trading bussiness in the name of the family and after various trips in search of good prices she decided to leave this kind of work to employees of her House, starting a career based on sacking other realms as a troop leader of Makar.
News of trouble in Beluaterra worried Étienne, who feared that family holdings would be destroyed. As she judged Jean-Luc less capable than her, she immediately embarked on a ship to the new world. There she discovered that Wudenkin was ravaged by plague and undead, ruining the trade routes of the family. Then Étienne decided to invest her time on a promising realm in the east, Midas Chia.
She was warmly welcomed by troops leaders of that Realm, strengthening their borders with her experience in tactics from Makar. After some time of service Étienne was appointed Countess of Glongin and given the task of protect the county against the neighbor realm of Luz de Bia.
Étienne died at age 29, during an open field battle in Glongin against Luz de Bia. Outnumbered and weary from many battles, Étienne was cut down along her entire unit in a desperate charge attemping to gain time for reinforcements.
A woman that never married, Étienne had few friends and an adventurous approach to life. Sometimes a bit rude and unpolite, she wasn't much liked in social circles, being somewhat of an outsider. She had an younger brother, Gaspard, who became inspired by her history and joined the realm of Tara as a mercenary.
- Leon Du Valroux, Count of Troyes, Marshal of the army of Westmoor
