House Aetius
House Aetius is the family most known for its security and general policing Halruaal. Most of the sentries throughout the country have been trained in the Academy under Castle Aetius. However House Aetius maintains the more elite soldiers as honor guards for themselves and the royal family. While not having the pure strength and the large armies of House Odinson, sentries of Aetius are known for their success in small scale engagements and bodyguard work. As a policing force, House Aetius hold courts and at least one watchtower in almost every city of Halruaal.
Focusing in school of Abjuration, wizards of the house train alongside the basic sentries as well as in warding spells - specifically against outsider forces. Unlike most wizards, each has gained a basic knowledge in fighting with spears, shortswords (the gladiolus), and light armor, although most prefer to fill the role of support to their non-magically inclined counterparts. When faced with situations of possession or extra-planar invasion, no other House can boast of prowess in banishment or negation.
House Aetius proposed the foundation of The Order of the White Oak. When they and the other Noble Houses finally established them, House Aetius transfer Aenor (Ay-en-or), the largest and most secure jail in all of Halruaal, to them. The prison is noted for its success in holding wizards of magister level abilities. The mountain fortress has seen all manner of dark wizards, criminal warlords, and conspirators without ever having a single escape. Many among the other houses are curious as to the methods employed, yet for centuries House Aetius has kept the secret to its power all the while maintaining its allegiance to Royal House of Udaku.
Structure
House Aetius acts primarily as a quasi-military. Rank and form make up a key foundation of this Great House. Even though House Aetius follows the political ranks used by the Magisterium, most nobles in the house and their vassals have additional ranks.
At the top of the structure is the Archon, the most powerful of the House. Currently this is Archon Caseus Aetius, Captain and Warden of the Isole. He comes from the primary branch of his family and has - despite many suspect events - held power from his various cousin and other relatives. These cousins, while technically being from the original Aetius family have spread out, inter-married, and married other members of the nobility. They now command multiple lesser houses which act as vassals (and branch departments of the Aetius sentinel service).
Overall, like many Great Houses, there is the main branch and the main family of House Aetius. But at the same time, there are dozens, if not hundreds of minor houses and courtiers who support and serve under them. The three Major Houses hold titles of Dukes and Duchesses, but beneath them are a plethora of Lords and Ladies who may or may not be counts/countesses or barons/baronesses. Still, for each of these houses, civil service is an art form and way of measuring their worth.
Culture
As evident by their house words, House Aetius - and to a lesser extent the lower houses - find civil service and duty important values to their society. In order to be a citizen of the various cities and towns, one must be a member of the guard for at least five years.
In theory this requirement was meant to provide a basic education in the magical arts to the common citizen. However with the rise of Elitism and the policies of the Magisterium, this goal was never reached. Instead, the requirement in practice fostered a deep sense of connection and comradery among the common people. As a result the mandatory service has lessened the visible crime rate in cities and created a dedicated reserve force that could be called upon in cases of an emergency. A fact that House Aetius has taken advantage of during the now burgeoning civil war.
Public Agenda
House Aetius has always publicly advocated for the maintenance of peace and order. "Laws in this sense applies to everyone for the good of the realm." While there are a few outspoken critics, for the most part the phrase holds true. Are there a few nobles, merchants, or priest who bend the rules for their own personal gain? Of course given the fact that people are mortal and fallible, but for the most part, members of House Aetius rigidly stick to their word and duty.
Assets
The Isole Ululant region - and by extension House Aetius is blessed with a strong set of naturally occurring resources. Trees from the Keilder Forest provide much of the lumber for building and ships. Water from large lakes and underground caverns supply clean water, and the wildlife from both (the beast of the forest and the fish from the lakes and ocean) feed their people. But what truly marks the Isole Ululant region is the mysterious ore known as Wardstone.
The material is three types as strong as Iron and hold a quality that makes it remarkable at storing abjuration spells - a boon heavily taken advantage of by House Aetius, the abjuration specialists. Aside from regular buildings, much of their fortresses and estates are built from Wardstone and as such nearly impervious to damage or the effects of time.
History
For more information on the History of Aetius, please view the timeline (WIP).
Territories
House Aetius rules the Isole Ululant, a region shrouded in perpetual fog, floating landmasses and the frigid tundra of the North.
Military
House Aetius' military is not truly a military force, it is more of a police force bolstered by every man, woman, and non-binary member of their populace.
Religion
As the primary religious organization in Halruaal, the Church of the Seven is the most popular religion within the region. Still, most members and citizens under House Aetius hold special piety to the Gods Azotyr and Ignitus (the twin Deities of Fire, Law, and War respectively).
Foreign Relations
The following are the various perspectives of the other Houses in regards to House Aetius. Generally House Aetius is well regarded by the other Houses as they have served as the security force for the various Houses, but with the war, that has changed:
House Blackharbour
Aetius has their usefulness, in terms of trade partners, they are fantastic customers. However; their philosophy on magic borders on the naïve. Wizards are meant to push the boundaries, challenge the principals of the universe, and evolve to a place of power. Those fools want to build stronger walls to keep things out and limit growth in an over abundance of being "safe". It's a shame that they are so wrapped up in their loyalty to the failings of the Crown, but it is of no matter, they will fail.
House Hanover
They are a remarkable culture! Their sense of duty and their adherence to a code of ethics is admirable and has kept them safe and prosperous all this time. Were it not for the current war, there could be a great deal of knowledge we both could gain from each other. Unfortunately, it's hard to talk when we're throwing fireballs at one another.
House Kamose
they are disciplined and structures, keeping the peace has always been their jobs and they were satisfactory at it - until they failed. While the war between the Noble Houses is not their fault, one cannot help but wonder how they missed the signs and failed in their duty to protect the First Archon. Death comes to us all eventually, though for House Aetius it might be an incredibly slow death.
House Odinson
Most of the time Aetius spends too much time worrying about how something should be done than actually doing it. Still, they're good at what they do and the Wards around Halruaal and in our various cities have staved off many a disaster. They're fighters, and while overly cautious at times, it's hard to ignore their skill and the results. Just wish they'd loosen up a bit and enjoy the thrill of combat.
Clan Oni
Their discipline is to be commended, and their vigilance is not to be underestimated. No other house poses nearly as much of a threat to us in this war as House Aetius. Their very magic seems to be the antithesis of our own other than House Romanos - thank the gods, they're not in this war yet. But any wall can be breached, any defense can be bypassed. It's just finding that hole in their defenses that will be the challenge.
House Romanos
Our two cultures are almost identical: duty, order, and prosperity. Though were they seem hell on preserving what already is, than fostering what can be. Though this is not their fault. The study of Abjuration is protection and preservation, whereas divination asks the questions of what is, what was, and what will be. There is much that we can learn from one another, but it will take time.
House Udaku
House Aetius has long been a stalwart friend and ally in maintaining the peace. They have sacrificed much so that others don't have to and that should be honoured. While not as close as House Odinson, there is a familiarity with House Aetius - a kinship that harkens back to the old Age. Some say they are stuck in the past, but they recognize the injustices done to the people of Halruaal. In their own way they are trying to change it and help bring about a new age of peace and prosperity.
Stalwart in Duty
Maps
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Carteia
Gold governs the economy of House Aetius, though most of the citizens will primarily use the denominations in Silver and Copper. The exchange rate of this is by a factor of ten: One Gold piece equals ten Silver Pieces. One Silver Piece equals ten Copper Pieces. On a much Grander scale, those at the top of House Aetius might traffic in Platinum Pieces (a coin that is almost never seen by the common citizen). One Platinum Piece is equivalent to ten Gold Pieces.
Overall Halruaal is technically run by the word of the First Archon of House Udaku and the combined laws enacted by the Magisterium's Imperial Senate. Yet under this, the Archon of Aetius has the responsibility of governing and deciding what happens in their land.
The Archon essentially is a King, or Grand Prince of their region, and the legislative body of House Aetius resides with the lesser Senates of the two Major Cities: Carteia and Egara. The Archons of House Aetius consent to the lesser senate's handling of the regional law, with their approval of course. In theory, the Archon's understanding pushes the law, which is organized into codes and practices enacted by the Lesser Senate, and enforced by the bannermen of House Aetius.
The lesser senates of Carteia and Egara act as a judicial body on top of their legislative powers but only within the city limits. In the regional towns and villages, this responsibility is shared between the local noble and the Church of the Seven (which technically holds lesser power to the noble, but can vary in practices). Granted the Nobles and Priests in the Carteia and Egara can intervene and advocate for certain practices - which most do - but the lesser senates have the final say. This is true for all things save for Treason or Blasphemy, which the Nobles and Church handles exclusively.
the Supreme Authority of the executive body lies with the Archon of House Aetius, though in the feudal state, power is delegated to the regional and local nobility. For instance, house Namur rules over the city of Carteia. The house of Capulet protects and rules the great city of Egara. Other minor houses and elites holy power throughout the region, serving House Aetius.
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