Duchy Araisal

House Allaric, Duchy of Araisal

"The Allarics? Good folk if you don't mind waiting two lifetimes for them to make up their damned minds. But I'll grant you this—when an Allaric gives their word, it'll hold longer than the stones of Araisal Keep." — Sir Sorek Redmarch

House Allaric has long been defined by patience, tradition, and a faint whisper of elven blood. Duke Eldric Allaric and Duchess Maris Allaric rule from their ancestral seat at Araisal Keep, a fortress steeped in quiet dignity, wrapped in ivy, and bathed in morning mist. Their longevity—born of subtle elven lineage—grants them exceptional patience and foresight, but fewer heirs and a shrinking political footprint.

"The duchy grows quieter every year. One wonders if eventually they'll all simply fade away." — Duke Wilhelm Vogel

Organization of the Duchy

County Blackbriar

Led by Count Alistair Amadis, recently widowed by the loss of Countess Anna Amadis, Blackbriar is famed for its rich, thorned vineyards producing wines renowned throughout Gorundia. Additionally, Blackbriar breeds exceptional destriers, blending the grace and beauty of elvish horses with the sturdy resilience of Dominion draft stock. Though these mounts lack the sheer brute strength of Vogel's mighty chargers, they are celebrated for their elegance, endurance, and intelligence.

• Heir: Alistair Amadis the Younger (currently unmarried)
• Barony Drakemoor: Ruled by Baron Henric Draal and Baroness Elira Draal from Drakemoor Keep. Known for its deep lakes and reputedly haunted moors.
  • Heir: Ser Lonric Draal (married to Lady Yselle Tarnen)
• Barony Ashwyn: Ruled by Baron Roderic Helbron and Baroness Sybelle Helbron from Ashwyn Hall, celebrated for exquisite textiles and fine wool.
  • Heir: Lady Mirelle Helbron (widowed; formerly married to Sir Cedric Valmere)

"You haven't truly tasted wine until you've had a glass of Blackbriar's best." — Baron Henric Draal

County Veymont

Count Vorias Serrin, also a widower (Countess Evelyne Serrin deceased), presides over Veymont Fortress, a bastion of military and magical scholarship. Serrin himself is possibly Gorundia's mightiest mage but remains a reclusive figure, spending his days in arcane contemplation, rumored widely to serve as a mystical spymaster.

• Heir: Lady Alayna Serrin (married to Lord Tarquin Meldrin)
• Barony Darkstone: Ruled by Baron Remy DeSalle and Baroness Lisette DeSalle from DeSalle Manor, noted for iron-rich hills and skilled blacksmiths.
  • Heir: Ser Jareth DeSalle (married to Lady Avelina Calrin)
• Barony Fenwyck: Ruled by Baron Aldren Veymar and Baroness Roselle Veymar from Fenwyck Tower, surrounded by dense forests and fabled for their herbalists and apothecaries.
  • Heir: None (Baron and Baroness childless)

"Some say Count Serrin sees all from his tower. I'd wager he's too busy admiring his reflection in those orbs of his." — Baron Remy DeSalle

Cultural and Political Landscape

House Allaric adheres rigorously to Oeridian customs: embroidered tabards, precision timing for tea, and duels at dawn—traditions upheld with solemn dignity. Yet, beneath this genteel exterior lies the slow demographic erosion brought by their elvish lineage. With fewer children and longer lifespans, the Allarics face quiet isolation, lacking firm ties to Gorundia's other great houses.

"They're holding tight to tradition. Admirable, but one must wonder if it's wisdom or mere stubbornness." — Count Alistair Amadis

Political Relations

• Duchy Grevandar : Maintains wary distance and thinly-veiled disapproval, particularly over Allaric's increasingly vocal advocacy for halfblood rights.
• Duchy Royonad: Carefully neutral, maintaining cordial relations but quietly observing which way the political winds blow.
• Duchy Ravenster: Strongest allies among the great houses, openly supporting Allaric's progressive stances and championing their inclusive policies.

Center of Elvish Learning

Despite their shrinking political sphere, House Allaric's duchy is unrivaled in Gorundia as a beacon of elvish culture and magical study. The prestigious academies and scholarly enclaves within Araisal attract most of Gorundia's mages—few though they may be—turning the duchy into an intellectual and mystical hub. Elven sages, Half-elf scholars, and Human mage aspirants alike journey here to learn, teach, and preserve arcane traditions nearly forgotten elsewhere.

"If one wishes to learn true magic, one travels to Araisal. But bring patience—nothing moves quickly there." — Lord Elyndor Starbreeze

Prominent Elvish Lords and Ladies

Since the elvish diaspora 220 years ago, elves have been limited to lord or lady status, barred from inheriting higher Titles. Notable young elvish figures include:

• Lord Faelar Moonshade – Renowned historian and keeper of ancient texts
• Lady Sylvaris Dawnstar – Esteemed healer and botanist
• Lord Elyndor Starbreeze – Noted for mastery of illusion and diplomatic finesse
• Lady Aylaen Mistwood – Famous for her enchanting voice and influential bardic tradition

In the long term, House Allaric must balance their refined cultural prestige against looming political isolation, ever mindful that their greatest strength—the patience granted by their elven blood—may yet be their greatest vulnerability.