House Caerthall
Sigil:
A golden lion rampant on a deep blue field
Motto: "Honor in Steel, Strength in Duty."
Status after The Gilded Rebellion:
Participated in the rebellion, lost most of their wealth and status
Capital:
Caerhold
Vassals:
Family Members of House Caerthall
House Caerthall's strength has always resided in its bloodline, with generations of formidable warriors, shrewd politicians, and honorable leaders shaping its legacy. Even in their current diminished state following The Gilded Rebellion, the family maintains the dignified bearing and martial prowess that once made them amongst the most respected nobles in Eldoria. The current generation faces the monumental task of rebuilding their house's reputation while navigating the treacherous political landscape of post-rebellion Eldoria.
The Caerthall family members are known for their distinctive physical traits: tall stature, often with broad shoulders suited for bearing armor; hair ranging from dark blonde to light brown; and striking blue-gray eyes that are said to reflect the steel of their blades and the storm clouds gathering over their western holdings. Their manner of speech tends to be direct and formal, eschewing the flowery language favored by courtiers in Aurendell for the more straightforward communication valued on the battlefield.
Despite their fall from grace, the Caerthalls maintain certain traditions that date back centuries. Each family member receives military training from a young age, regardless of gender. They observe the Ritual of First Steel on their twelfth nameday, where they forge their first blade under the guidance of the family's master smith. The annual Feast of the Lion's Vigil commemorates their ancestors' first defense of the western borders against a now-forgotten enemy, featuring martial competitions and the renewal of oaths of fealty from their remaining vassals.
Lord Garran Caerthall (Deceased)
Lady Ilyra Caerthall
Sir Braeden Caerthall
Lady Elenna Caerthall
Notable Retainers of House Caerthall
Despite their diminished circumstances following The Gilded Rebellion, House Caerthall maintains a cadre of loyal retainers who form the backbone of their remaining power structure. These individuals, bound to the family through generations of service, personal loyalty, or shared beliefs in the rebellion's cause, play crucial roles in the daily operations of Caerhold and the family's ongoing efforts to rebuild their reputation and influence.
Beyond the household's most prominent servants like Ser Orlan Treymore and Mistress Vara Tallen, House Caerthall retains a network of lesser-known but equally important retainers. Master Thaddeus Voll, the elderly house historian and former tutor to Lady Elenna, maintains the family archives and continues to document their history even as others would seek to diminish it. The brothers Hallen and Merrick Stonebridge oversee the remaining Caerthall mines, ingeniously finding new veins of ore when the primary deposits were lost with territories seized by the crown. Dame Lysa Torrun, one of the few knights to survive the rebellion and remain loyal to House Caerthall, now trains a new generation of guards and soldiers, carefully selecting recruits from families sympathetic to the rebellion's original cause.
The relationship between the Caerthalls and their retainers has evolved since the rebellion, becoming less hierarchical and more familial as shared hardship has broken down traditional barriers. Where once the great hall would see servants and nobles dining separately, now Lady Ilyra often invites key retainers to share her table, recognizing that House Caerthall's survival depends on the loyalty and ingenuity of those who serve it. This change in dynamics has not gone unnoticed by other houses, some of whom mock the Caerthalls for their "common" associations, while others—particularly younger nobles with progressive ideas—view it as a potential model for a more equitable future should political winds shift again in Eldoria.
Ser Orlan Treymore
Ser Orlan Treymore, the last remaining knight commander in service to House Caerthall, cuts a striking figure despite his advancing years. At 63, his once-imposing frame remains muscular though slightly stooped from decades of wearing heavy armor. His weathered face, dominated by a prominent broken nose and a thick white beard kept meticulously trimmed in military fashion, bears the scars of countless battles. Most distinctive is the patch covering his right eye, lost during the final confrontation of The Gilded Rebellion while defending Lord Garran from a royal champion's thrust that would have been fatal, sadly, he was not present when Lord Duskbane executed him, something he still blames himself for.
Before the rebellion, Orlan served as Master-at-Arms for House Caerthall, responsible for training their considerable forces and overseeing the defense of their western holdings. His tactical acumen and unwavering loyalty made him one of Lord Garran's most trusted advisors, a position he maintains even as the family's circumstances have diminished. Orlan's loyalty to the Caerthalls never wavered, rooted in a blood debt from his youth when Lord Garran's father saved his family from starvation during a harsh winter, taking young Orlan as a squire despite his common birth.
In the rebellion's aftermath, Orlan has taken on multiple roles necessitated by the house's reduced circumstances. He serves as commander of House Caerthall's remaining forces—now barely fifty men-at-arms where once he led hundreds. Three times since the rebellion, Orlan has personally intercepted assassins sent by unknown masters seeking to eliminate the Caerthall line completely, keeping these incidents secret even from Lady Ilyra to spare her additional worry. Though he presents a stoic face to the world, in private moments Orlan grapples with his failure to secure victory for the rebellion and the knowledge that his remaining years may not be enough to see House Caerthall restored to its former glory. His greatest hope lies in Sir Braeden, whom he believes has the potential to surpass even Lord Garran as a military leader, if only the young man's resentment can be tempered with wisdom.
Mistress Vara Tallen
Mistress Vara Tallen serves as the steward of House Caerthall, a position that belies her true influence and clandestine activities. At 51, she presents a deceptively unremarkable appearance: average height, practical brown clothing adorned only with a small golden lion pin denoting her official position, and gray-streaked black hair typically bound in a severe bun. This deliberately understated presence allows her to move through Eldorian society without drawing undue attention, an advantage she exploits fully in service to her hidden agenda.
Vara's connection to House Caerthall predates The Gilded Rebellion by decades. Born to a merchant family with longstanding trade relationships with the Caerthalls, she demonstrated exceptional aptitude for numbers and logistics from an early age. Lady Ilyra's mother recognized this talent and sponsored Vara's education with the Royal Exchequer's Guild in Aurendell. When Vara returned to Caerhold fifteen years before the rebellion, she revolutionized the house's financial operations, establishing new trade routes and investment opportunities that significantly increased their wealth. During the rebellion, she managed to preserve key assets by transferring them through complex networks of intermediaries, ensuring that House Caerthall, while diminished, was not completely ruined like some other rebel houses.
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