Difference between revisions of "Graves Family"

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== History of the Graves ==
 
== History of the Graves ==
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Brief summary would go here.
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Due to the fragmentation of the House, and its lack of a long-lived heir, much of its history has fallen from common knowledge, even to members of the House.  
−
====In the Beginning====
 
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The House of Graves, like many other noble houses, has roots that can be, if so desired, traced back to the dirt of the earth and the peasants who lived upon it. From those peasants it could furthermore be traced back further-- to the very beginnings of time itself, but for simplicity's sake the House of Graves generally claims that the first of their line was a man by the name of Jake who earned his keep on his lord's manor by burying the dead and making sure the graveyard was in good keep. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and a barreled chest that he was wont to throw out at times to accentuate his speech. Though common born he had a noble bearing and was often the subject of much gossip for the lord of the manor was fond of him and had him taught well, gave him a decent plot of land near the woods and even license to hunt in the wood at times if he so desired. Life was decent, even if difficult, and Jake grew into full manhood with the status of a noble's bastard son: given certain attentions by his liege-lord, the best of scraps, but ultimately left alone to live out his life among those who plowed the earth.  
 
  
 +
==Notable Members of the House of Graves==
 +
===Deceased===
 +
====Kanali====
 +
Kanali Graves sought her fame in [[Minas Ithil]], near where her family had, under the guidance of her father Jacob, relocated their estate. She spent much of her early career as a soldier, seeking fortune and honor but ultimately fufilling the role of what normally the eldest son would have-- upholding the honor of the family through duty to the realm, etc. As the only child of Jacob she was not only entrusted with the family line but with taught much in the way of swords and men. She began to follow the path of the [[Hero]], for before or worse, and survived several wars. Still young, though not as young as she had been when she began, she was appointed as [[rank#lord|Marchioness]] of [[Atamara/Amdor|Amdor]]. Kanali fell in love with Amdor quickly and was never the same afterwards, as Amdor was soon to be given away to the northern realms as appeasement. When [[Norland]] attacked and war came regardless, Kanali was [[rank#lord|Countess]] of [[Atamara/Lothruin|Lothruin]]. She, with most of the realm, gathered faithfully in [[Atamara/Winwich|Winwich]]. The first few skirmishes her men, called faithfully The Dogs, did well with no dead and she herself fared fine. Soon, though, her luck turned. She took a wound when a relatively small force of northerners moved across the border in attack and continued to fight. She died, along with twenty three of her men.
  
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Several years into his prime, Jake heard rumors of an impending war between his lord and of another lesser noble over poaching in the woods. His lord's sons, all of them knighted except for the youngest, who was squired off to a family in the north, returned home from abroad to aid their father in the campaign and groups of serfs, bringing what rudimentary weapons they possessed, were organized under them into four groups, the fifth group (of which Jake was a part of) being organized directly under the lord himself. Jake was given loose control over the group in the abscence of his liege as he was considered most able, having become proficient with the hunting bow during his time hunting in the woods, and his lord leaned towards meritocracy in that regard. The campaign itself was straightforward and relatively simple, especially on paper. Three of the groups of peasants-- that of two sons and the lord of the manor-- would circle around the woods, cut onto the other lord's fief, and meet with the enemy east of a gently sloped hill. The other two groups would cut through the woods on foot and hope to surprise the enemy by an attack from the side.  
+
====Erwin====
 +
Erwin served in [[Fontan]], though did eventually migrate to [[Minas Ithil]] to take up an [[estate]] in [[Winwich]]. It did not last long, given his choice of career - he made a poor infiltrator, and paid with his life.
  
−
They met with the enemy as planned and began a steady advance forwards after firing off a short, poorly aimed arrow volley. Jake, who wore a padded tunic and carried a battered wooden shield on his left arm, took up his dull, rust-bitten sword in his right and proceeded with the rest of the serfs across the field, to clash with those serfs who were also coming across the field towards him. The groups met noisy and hectic; Jake's clumsy shield was shorn in half just above the plank attached to his arm and rendered useless by an axe swipe meant for his face. Another stroke gashed his arm deeply but Jake by then had regained his wits and countered with a slash that disembowled the axe wielding man who had just previously rushed him like a maniac. This would later be proved to have been the enemy lord himself who, thinking Jake was noble born by his stature and bearing, had rushed forward to kill him. The battle broke quickly after the rival lord was slain and further ended by the surprise attack from the woods on part of the other two groups.  
+
====Jai====
 +
Jai served primarily in [[Fontan]] after the fall of [[Oligarch]] and during her lifetime held several lordships, her last being the Duchy of [[Akesh Temple]]. Unfortunately, she died defending the region from several realms who had sought to encroach on Fontan territory.
  
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After the fight, Jake found himself knighted by an overly eager lord and given a small holding on what had been part of the rival noble's land. He settled down and took as his shield a solid blue field, a black stripe running diagonal across it, with a broken shield off center of the stripe itself. Several years passed and, though he bore scars to the end of his life and had the hands of a peasant, he married a young girl from the town, who's father had made a small fortune as a merchant, buying and selling among the various noblemen. He gave his house the name Graves after his first profession-- that of the undertaker and gravedigger.  
+
====Daniel====
 +
A bastard of House Graves, Daniel reclaimed his lost birthright and served in several realms, and on several continents. He was even appointed Baron of [[Azohib]], but after being deported to [[Beluaterra]], was captured and executed by [[Cimmerian]], a vile daemon.
  
 +
====Alinys====
 +
Alinys migrated to [[Dwilight]] during the early days of colonization, and served first in [[Madina]], then later in [[Melodia]] - but when schemers took over the realm, and drove it to ruin with incompetence and nepotism (and not merit, as had originally been intended by its first King) - she traveled north to [[Caerwyn]]. There she became a devout follower of [[Verdis Elementum]] and attempted several colonization attempts of the great city of [[Darfix]]. None succeeded, and she eventually became a region lord of [[Mech Derris]] and then later the pirate-haven of [[Itau]]. When the dukedom of the city was passed on, she traveled to [[Ordenstaat]] to aid the colonists there in their fight against [[D'Hara]] but it proved to be her undoing - she was captured and executed after being appointed Banker of [[Ordenstaat]].
  
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His wife, Katlian, bore him two sons and a sickly daughter who died only days after her fourth birthday. Jake never got over the death of his precious girl, but his sons grew up strong and strapping-- the picture of their father in his youth, but educated and brought up as young noble men ought to be, even if only poor noble men of birth. Youngest was Keith and after him, two years his elder, was John. John would grow into manhood and become a priest in service of a local pagan cult; it would be Keith, the youngest, who would carry on the fledgingly House and keep it from ruin in the days ahead.  
+
...[[Graves_Family/Alinys|Archived Roleplay Associated with Alinys]]
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====Fie, a soldier, and a'feard?====
+
 
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Information on Keith's life.  
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====Tarkus====
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====The Rise of Jacob====
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Jacob, son of Keith.
+
Originally a noble of the [[Grand Duchy of Fissoa]], Tarkus was a hot-headed youth who grew impatient for war and glory. He left to join [[Madina_(Realm)|Madina]] and aide them in their war against rebels to their west. Unfortunately, Madina's military might was stagnant and unable to hold off the efficient waves of soldiers sent by their rebellious lords. Many Madinans fled during the final battles, joining other realms, and Tarkus remained behind trying to hold the fractured, dying realm together. He eventually joined the rebels after they promised amnesty for his underlings, and promised his duchy would remain intact.
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== The (Short) Life of Kanali ==
+
 
−
Kanali Graves sought her fame in Minas Ithil, near where her family had, under the guidance of her father Jacob, relocated their estate. She spent much of her early career as a soldier, seeking fortune and honor but ultimately fufilling the role of what normally the eldest son would have-- upholding the honor of the family through duty to the realm, etc. As the only child of Jacob she was not only entrusted with the family line but with taught much in the way of swords and men. She began to follow the path of the Hero, for before or worse, and survived several wars. Still young, though not as young as she had been when she began, she was appointed as Marchioness of Amdor. Kanali fell in love with Amdor quickly and was never the same afterwards, as Amdor was soon to be given away to the northern realms as appeasement. When war came regardless, Kanali was Countness of Lothruin. She, with most of the realm, gathered faithfully in Winwich. The first few skirmishes her men, called faithfully The Dogs, did well with no dead and she herself fared fine. Soon, though, her luck turned. She took a wound when a relatively small force of northerners moved across the border in attack and continued to fight. She died, along with twenty three of her men.  
+
This was not to be, however, as they demanded he step down from his position, and began to dictate that he allow regions to go rogue. He was reappointed Duke of Madina after its former Duchess (a young noble woman who had only served in the realm for a short time) disappeared mysteriously in the midst of an attack of monsters along the eastern coast. To counter any influence he may have had, however, the city of [[Madina]] was made a separate duchy in and of itself and shortly declared its independence. Tarkus, enraged that he had been lied to again and again and fearing for the remainder of his regions, opted to join the rest of his duchy to the [[Grand Duchy of Fissoa]] despite promises from [[Mendicant Anhangar]] himself that [[Madina Gardens]], [[Panabuk]] and [[Lugagun]] would never be given to this new [[The Falkirkian Freestate|Falkirk Freestate]] and would always remain in [[Aurvandil]] control.
−
===Description===
+
 
−
...would go here.
+
After joining the Fissoans, the Freestate began to demand the regions he still held and declared war, stating those lands were legitimately theirs. Tarkus was captured in several skirmishes with the Falkirk forces, and tortured numerous times - five times, once, during a single prison stay. This left him physically, and mentally, broken.
−
===Personality===
+
 
−
...would go here.
+
He died on the beaches of Lugagun, cut down by troops led by the same man who had tortured him.
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== The Feuding Cousins ==
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As the House of Graves gradually grew up out of what had basically amounted to poverty, they began to expand-- John, the priest, would father several children who took the name Graves though they were not truly of the House. Keith's own large family saw children married off to other distant families, dispersing the entire House throughout several continents. On the East Continent, two such cousins of the daughter of Jacob, Kanali, are prominent:
+
====Madison====
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===Erwin, son of Hrothal===
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See: a grungy adventurer with a habit of wandering.
−
Brief background/summary.
+
 
−
====Description====
+
See also: zombie armies are nothing to sneeze at.
−
...would go here.
+
 
−
====Personality====
+
===Retired -- But Alive!===
−
...would go here.
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====Ronald====
−
===Jai, daughter of Hrothal===
+
 
−
Brief background/summary.
+
Ronald Graves, a short man with broad shoulders, a thick chest, red hair and green eyes, did not look like a typical noble from House Graves. He served on the war islands, a member of Toren, and when those islands sank into the ocean he found himself in [[Mesh]] just prior to the daemon invasions. Given lordship of [[Mokut]], he held it until [[Poitra]] was recaptured, and afterward became duke of that city, also serving later as Judge of the realm. When Mesh fell, he fled to the nearby mountains, but grew restless and traveled to [[Dwilight]].
−
====Description====
+
 
−
...would go here.
+
Arriving in [[ Aquilegia]], he found a stagnant realm being strangled by a corrupt rural lord. After becoming Duke of [[Flowrestown]], he used his influence to encourage others to rebel and reform the realm, but the damage was too extensive and it fell into anarchy several weeks later. Disgusted, Ronald returned to [[Beluaterra]], where he served briefly as General, until he was deported to [[East Continent]]. Though he joined the [[Obsidian Islands]] and was later elected to the position of Baron of [[Venas]], he soon found paperwork to be tiresome, and opted to retire from the limelight to let younger members of the House make their names.
−
====Personality====
+
 
−
...would go here.
+
===Living===
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== The Bastard==
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====Katelyn====
−
...would go here.
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Currently serving as the Duchess of [[Wetham]] in the realm of [[Lukon]], Katelyn is ambitious and reckless, though this is not atypical of the dwellers of the [[Colonies]].
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===Daniel Graves===
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−
...would go here.
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====Cassidy====
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====Description====
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Currently serving as the Marshal of the Army of Narville in Suville.
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...would go here.
+
 
−
====Personality====
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====Waldor====
−
...would go here.
+
* High Marshal of the Grand Duchy of Fissoa
 +
* Margrave of Madina Gardens
 +
* noble of the Grand Duchy of Fissoa
 +
 
 +
 
 +
There are two stories to tell when it comes to Sir Waldor Graves - the true one, and the lie.
 +
 
 +
The lie is that Waldor was born into House Graves as a bastard of Lord Tarkus and served as the nobleman's captain-at-arms until being elevated to the noble lord's heir following the loss of Madina. Before Tarkus's death, he was recognized and legitimized, and took over the man's estates as son and heir.
 +
 
 +
The truth, which is not known outside a tight inner circle, is that Waldor was born a commoner - not a bastard, just a peasant, the son of a pig-thief and a camp follower. After the hanging of his father, he traveled with his mother, who whored herself out to soldiers on the march, and when he came of age, he joined a band of mercenary bowmen. He acquitted himself well and rose to the position of Captain when he was just seventeen years old. Lord Tarkus hired his mercenary band during the war against the [[The Falkirkian Freestate|Falkirk Freestate]] and, taking advantage of the maimed lord, Waldor engineered a situation that would see him elevated to the rank of nobleman - writing a contract that acknowledged him as Tarkus's bastard son and heir, and presenting it to the blind man to sign in the guise of weekly pay increases.
 +
 
 +
...More about [[Graves_Family/Waldor|Waldor]].
 +
 
 +
 
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[[Category: Families]]

Latest revision as of 04:36, 5 June 2013

This page is under construction.

History of the Graves

Due to the fragmentation of the House, and its lack of a long-lived heir, much of its history has fallen from common knowledge, even to members of the House.

Notable Members of the House of Graves

Deceased

Kanali

Kanali Graves sought her fame in Minas Ithil, near where her family had, under the guidance of her father Jacob, relocated their estate. She spent much of her early career as a soldier, seeking fortune and honor but ultimately fufilling the role of what normally the eldest son would have-- upholding the honor of the family through duty to the realm, etc. As the only child of Jacob she was not only entrusted with the family line but with taught much in the way of swords and men. She began to follow the path of the Hero, for before or worse, and survived several wars. Still young, though not as young as she had been when she began, she was appointed as Marchioness of Amdor. Kanali fell in love with Amdor quickly and was never the same afterwards, as Amdor was soon to be given away to the northern realms as appeasement. When Norland attacked and war came regardless, Kanali was Countess of Lothruin. She, with most of the realm, gathered faithfully in Winwich. The first few skirmishes her men, called faithfully The Dogs, did well with no dead and she herself fared fine. Soon, though, her luck turned. She took a wound when a relatively small force of northerners moved across the border in attack and continued to fight. She died, along with twenty three of her men.

Erwin

Erwin served in Fontan, though did eventually migrate to Minas Ithil to take up an estate in Winwich. It did not last long, given his choice of career - he made a poor infiltrator, and paid with his life.

Jai

Jai served primarily in Fontan after the fall of Oligarch and during her lifetime held several lordships, her last being the Duchy of Akesh Temple. Unfortunately, she died defending the region from several realms who had sought to encroach on Fontan territory.

Daniel

A bastard of House Graves, Daniel reclaimed his lost birthright and served in several realms, and on several continents. He was even appointed Baron of Azohib, but after being deported to Beluaterra, was captured and executed by Cimmerian, a vile daemon.

Alinys

Alinys migrated to Dwilight during the early days of colonization, and served first in Madina, then later in Melodia - but when schemers took over the realm, and drove it to ruin with incompetence and nepotism (and not merit, as had originally been intended by its first King) - she traveled north to Caerwyn. There she became a devout follower of Verdis Elementum and attempted several colonization attempts of the great city of Darfix. None succeeded, and she eventually became a region lord of Mech Derris and then later the pirate-haven of Itau. When the dukedom of the city was passed on, she traveled to Ordenstaat to aid the colonists there in their fight against D'Hara but it proved to be her undoing - she was captured and executed after being appointed Banker of Ordenstaat.

...Archived Roleplay Associated with Alinys

Tarkus

Originally a noble of the Grand Duchy of Fissoa, Tarkus was a hot-headed youth who grew impatient for war and glory. He left to join Madina and aide them in their war against rebels to their west. Unfortunately, Madina's military might was stagnant and unable to hold off the efficient waves of soldiers sent by their rebellious lords. Many Madinans fled during the final battles, joining other realms, and Tarkus remained behind trying to hold the fractured, dying realm together. He eventually joined the rebels after they promised amnesty for his underlings, and promised his duchy would remain intact.

This was not to be, however, as they demanded he step down from his position, and began to dictate that he allow regions to go rogue. He was reappointed Duke of Madina after its former Duchess (a young noble woman who had only served in the realm for a short time) disappeared mysteriously in the midst of an attack of monsters along the eastern coast. To counter any influence he may have had, however, the city of Madina was made a separate duchy in and of itself and shortly declared its independence. Tarkus, enraged that he had been lied to again and again and fearing for the remainder of his regions, opted to join the rest of his duchy to the Grand Duchy of Fissoa despite promises from Mendicant Anhangar himself that Madina Gardens, Panabuk and Lugagun would never be given to this new Falkirk Freestate and would always remain in Aurvandil control.

After joining the Fissoans, the Freestate began to demand the regions he still held and declared war, stating those lands were legitimately theirs. Tarkus was captured in several skirmishes with the Falkirk forces, and tortured numerous times - five times, once, during a single prison stay. This left him physically, and mentally, broken.

He died on the beaches of Lugagun, cut down by troops led by the same man who had tortured him.

Madison

See: a grungy adventurer with a habit of wandering.

See also: zombie armies are nothing to sneeze at.

Retired -- But Alive!

Ronald

Ronald Graves, a short man with broad shoulders, a thick chest, red hair and green eyes, did not look like a typical noble from House Graves. He served on the war islands, a member of Toren, and when those islands sank into the ocean he found himself in Mesh just prior to the daemon invasions. Given lordship of Mokut, he held it until Poitra was recaptured, and afterward became duke of that city, also serving later as Judge of the realm. When Mesh fell, he fled to the nearby mountains, but grew restless and traveled to Dwilight.

Arriving in Aquilegia, he found a stagnant realm being strangled by a corrupt rural lord. After becoming Duke of Flowrestown, he used his influence to encourage others to rebel and reform the realm, but the damage was too extensive and it fell into anarchy several weeks later. Disgusted, Ronald returned to Beluaterra, where he served briefly as General, until he was deported to East Continent. Though he joined the Obsidian Islands and was later elected to the position of Baron of Venas, he soon found paperwork to be tiresome, and opted to retire from the limelight to let younger members of the House make their names.

Living

Katelyn

Currently serving as the Duchess of Wetham in the realm of Lukon, Katelyn is ambitious and reckless, though this is not atypical of the dwellers of the Colonies.

Cassidy

Currently serving as the Marshal of the Army of Narville in Suville.

Waldor

  • High Marshal of the Grand Duchy of Fissoa
  • Margrave of Madina Gardens
  • noble of the Grand Duchy of Fissoa


There are two stories to tell when it comes to Sir Waldor Graves - the true one, and the lie.

The lie is that Waldor was born into House Graves as a bastard of Lord Tarkus and served as the nobleman's captain-at-arms until being elevated to the noble lord's heir following the loss of Madina. Before Tarkus's death, he was recognized and legitimized, and took over the man's estates as son and heir.

The truth, which is not known outside a tight inner circle, is that Waldor was born a commoner - not a bastard, just a peasant, the son of a pig-thief and a camp follower. After the hanging of his father, he traveled with his mother, who whored herself out to soldiers on the march, and when he came of age, he joined a band of mercenary bowmen. He acquitted himself well and rose to the position of Captain when he was just seventeen years old. Lord Tarkus hired his mercenary band during the war against the Falkirk Freestate and, taking advantage of the maimed lord, Waldor engineered a situation that would see him elevated to the rank of nobleman - writing a contract that acknowledged him as Tarkus's bastard son and heir, and presenting it to the blind man to sign in the guise of weekly pay increases.

...More about Waldor.

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