The Alder House of Malin (Mal-in)
Few families in Dekmire wear a mystique as galant or as foreboding as that of the Alder House of Malin. A Noble family in The Kingdom of Dekmire that had once been Kings and Queens themselves in their own lands. What is today known as The Aldership of Malicourt. But unlike their contemporary Houses. The Malins boast a layered history. In one hand, they have a proud lineage of galant knights and even places among the aristocracy of The Ellician Empire during its time. But in the other, vague and strange exploits follow the Malins. Tales of prophetic visions, near outlandish deaths, and a potent history of madness.
The Malins occupy a very tenuous place among the Alder Houses. Respected, and even praised for its galant history as a house of valorous knights. But they are also looked upon with a certain distain. Their name scared by the stigma of insanity. Which has ever been a family curse for the Malins. A madness that appears randomly in many in their family line. Some have said that they are cursed for some wicked deed committed long ago by a distant, unrecorded ancestor. Yet, for all their strangeness. The Kingdom of Dekmire has known few patriots that can boast such loyalty as the Malins.
The Malins occupy a very tenuous place among the Alder Houses. Respected, and even praised for its galant history as a house of valorous knights. But they are also looked upon with a certain distain. Their name scared by the stigma of insanity. Which has ever been a family curse for the Malins. A madness that appears randomly in many in their family line. Some have said that they are cursed for some wicked deed committed long ago by a distant, unrecorded ancestor. Yet, for all their strangeness. The Kingdom of Dekmire has known few patriots that can boast such loyalty as the Malins.
Assets
As an Alder House, the Malins have almost limitless resources of Gold, Silver, Metals, Minerals, and various other Goods. They also have a number of political alliances among the lower Noble Houses of Dekmire. As well as correspondances with the Nobility of The Kingdom of Esterval. The later, earning them a sneer or spit on their path by the more ill tempered Nobles of Dekmire. Who remember too well the rivalry that Esterval and Dekmire shared.
Unofficially. The Malins operate a vast spy network through out The Heartland in the name of the Dekmirian Crown. What they lack in public and political charisma, they make up for in loyalty and cunning.
The Malins can call upon seven-thousand soldiers from their vassal lords. As well as the corps of six-hundred Knights in service to the Aldership of Malicourt. As well as sixty ships for maritime warfare.
Unofficially. The Malins operate a vast spy network through out The Heartland in the name of the Dekmirian Crown. What they lack in public and political charisma, they make up for in loyalty and cunning.
The Malins can call upon seven-thousand soldiers from their vassal lords. As well as the corps of six-hundred Knights in service to the Aldership of Malicourt. As well as sixty ships for maritime warfare.
History
The History of the Malins is not an easy thing to read or learn. Not for any sort of vulgarity, gore, or indecency. But because so much of the families history has been lost to the ages. During the period in the history of the Western Heartland when the Alder Lords of Dekmire where Kings and Queens of what is now their Aldership territories. The City of Malicourt, capital of their territory and ancestral seat of the Malins, was attacked and burned by their ancient rivals. The Kings of Lorcard, who are now The Alder House of Kenmore. The Malins ancestral home of Croafaell Castle was burned. Laying waste to the family archives, and ending the life of Corgrave Malin. Called "The Black Feather King." Corgrave was the only one of his generation of the Malin family to know the entire personal and private history of the family. And that history died with him amongst the ashes that were once the family records.
Efforts had been made to reconstruct the Malins history. But precious little has been confirmed as true. Since the Malins of those days did not venture beyond their Kingdom. Much less beyond their castle. What has been uncovered. Paints a history of noble origin. The first mention of the name Malin occurs in the session records of The Ellician Conclave, the second component of the government of the Ellician Empire. Second only to the Aesar or Emperor. Dated to The Third Aeon, 3201 E.A. 17th of Maras. The Malin on record is one Baerdos Malin. A Proeda representing the region that is today the Aldership of Malicourt in Dekmire. Proving that the Malins dominion of the present day territory has its origins in the Ellician system of government.
Records lead to records with mentions of the Malins. Even an expedition into The Great Deeps of Duordemar in the Third Aeon, 3440 E.A. by a Saelea Malin, but the mention also says that Saelea did not return from her expedition. Some journal pages had been located and translated from Old Ellician, detailing a discovery of The Coaraeaduor. But no details of the ensuing investigation.
Family stories from among the people in the Charge of the Malins Sovereignty, say that the Malins crowned themselves as Kings and Queens. As had many in the years following the fall of the Old Empire. But the first stories paint the Malins as a family of honorable rulers and wise monarchs. Who loved and cared for their people. All the later stories, begin to portray the signiture of madness that follows the Malins wherever they go. Stories of foggy-eyed Kings standing atop the battlements of their castle under the moonlight. Leaping into the open air to join the crows that populate the skies above the Aldership of Malicourt. Only to paint the ground below in their blood. Other stories tell of Queens wailing through out the castle, tears pouring from their eyes in grief for the loss of children that had yet to die.
One story stands out, in record. In The Fourth Aeon, 1361 A.E. Lord Varstark Malin began to swing his blade wildly, frantically in the grand hall of Croafaell Castle. Shouting curses at vaccant spaces. Cursing the Kenmores for treason that they wouldn't commit for another three and a half centuries. Varstark then cried for a wife that was not his, while he called himself by a different name. The Castle guard surrounded Varstark in an attempt to wrest his blade from his hand and keep him from harming himself and others. But in the end. Varstark would rest his blade in his throat. And let flow Malin blood in the Malin home. Varstark was not the first of the Malins to suffer from extreme madness during its time as an Alder House of Dekmire. But it was Varstark that would forever cement the Malins as a House of maniacs and unspoken pyriahs.
In the Fourth Aeon, 1718 A.E. When Deron Deremand IV, the Last of the Deremand Kings of Dekmire, died without an heir. The laws of Dekmire dictated that the Alder Houses convein under Conclave. To determin who among them would now wear the Crown of Dekmire and hold the mantle of Griffon of the West. For days, the throng of Alder Lords shouted over each other. All except Peoter Malin, the Alder Lord of Malicourt and Head of the Malin Family.
Considered half mad himself. Peoter was a silent observer to many Courtly Assemblies. But that day, when the Alder Lords conveined a Conclave, a gentle vision struck him. In which he saw Eorman Fermont, the Alder Lord of The Aldership of Northwatch and Head of The Alder House of Fermont, as the rightful, and just King of Dekmire. Peoter struck a barister with a wooden tankard and shouted for all to hear him. And in a moving speech, Peoter swayed the Alder Lords to elect Eorman Fermont as King of Dekmire. The only Alder Lord who was not sincere, was Furst Kenmore, Alder Lord of The Aldership of Lorcard, and Head of The Alder House of Kenmore.
In the Fourth Aeon, 1725, A.E. The Longest Winter had begun. The twenty year war between The Skaari of Bulgaard, and the Heartland Men of Dekmire. Peoter assembled his lords and joined his King in defense of their country. But then Furst Kenmore revealed his treachery. The same treachery that Varstark Malin had cursed them for three and a half centuries earlier. The Kenmores declared open rebellion against the Fermonts. By fortunes grace however, Lord Carson Krastmere, a Lord in Liege to the Kenmores, renounced them in loyalty to the Fermonts. Holding the Kenmore forces in the Aldership of Lorcard by allowing them to lay seige to Fort Krastmere. Sending word by Courier Raven to the Fermont Loyalists on the situation.
Peoter Malin himself volunteered to lead the counter attack against the Kenmores. Out of loyalty to the Fermonts, but also in retribution for the burning of Croafaell Castle. Incapable of arguing with a loyal madman, Eorman Fermont granted Peoter leave to lead an assembled army of loyalists to smash the Kenmores and their confederates. In a swift strike, Peoter smashed the besieging Kenmore forces. First by a daring raid leading a Flight of two-hundred Griffon Riders. Then on the ground with an assembled eighteen-thousand soldiers and his own six-hundred knights against the Kenmores weary ten-thousand. The Kenmores were routed. And Peoter Malin avenged his ancestors by sacking the Kenmores own seat of Kenmore Castle. With Peoter himself being the one to bring Furst Kenmore before the King.
By Peoters own valor, and loyalty. The Alder House of Malin recieved an acclaim they had not known for nearly a thousand years. And under his leadership, the Malins will continue to thrive.
Efforts had been made to reconstruct the Malins history. But precious little has been confirmed as true. Since the Malins of those days did not venture beyond their Kingdom. Much less beyond their castle. What has been uncovered. Paints a history of noble origin. The first mention of the name Malin occurs in the session records of The Ellician Conclave, the second component of the government of the Ellician Empire. Second only to the Aesar or Emperor. Dated to The Third Aeon, 3201 E.A. 17th of Maras. The Malin on record is one Baerdos Malin. A Proeda representing the region that is today the Aldership of Malicourt in Dekmire. Proving that the Malins dominion of the present day territory has its origins in the Ellician system of government.
Records lead to records with mentions of the Malins. Even an expedition into The Great Deeps of Duordemar in the Third Aeon, 3440 E.A. by a Saelea Malin, but the mention also says that Saelea did not return from her expedition. Some journal pages had been located and translated from Old Ellician, detailing a discovery of The Coaraeaduor. But no details of the ensuing investigation.
Family stories from among the people in the Charge of the Malins Sovereignty, say that the Malins crowned themselves as Kings and Queens. As had many in the years following the fall of the Old Empire. But the first stories paint the Malins as a family of honorable rulers and wise monarchs. Who loved and cared for their people. All the later stories, begin to portray the signiture of madness that follows the Malins wherever they go. Stories of foggy-eyed Kings standing atop the battlements of their castle under the moonlight. Leaping into the open air to join the crows that populate the skies above the Aldership of Malicourt. Only to paint the ground below in their blood. Other stories tell of Queens wailing through out the castle, tears pouring from their eyes in grief for the loss of children that had yet to die.
One story stands out, in record. In The Fourth Aeon, 1361 A.E. Lord Varstark Malin began to swing his blade wildly, frantically in the grand hall of Croafaell Castle. Shouting curses at vaccant spaces. Cursing the Kenmores for treason that they wouldn't commit for another three and a half centuries. Varstark then cried for a wife that was not his, while he called himself by a different name. The Castle guard surrounded Varstark in an attempt to wrest his blade from his hand and keep him from harming himself and others. But in the end. Varstark would rest his blade in his throat. And let flow Malin blood in the Malin home. Varstark was not the first of the Malins to suffer from extreme madness during its time as an Alder House of Dekmire. But it was Varstark that would forever cement the Malins as a House of maniacs and unspoken pyriahs.
In the Fourth Aeon, 1718 A.E. When Deron Deremand IV, the Last of the Deremand Kings of Dekmire, died without an heir. The laws of Dekmire dictated that the Alder Houses convein under Conclave. To determin who among them would now wear the Crown of Dekmire and hold the mantle of Griffon of the West. For days, the throng of Alder Lords shouted over each other. All except Peoter Malin, the Alder Lord of Malicourt and Head of the Malin Family.
Considered half mad himself. Peoter was a silent observer to many Courtly Assemblies. But that day, when the Alder Lords conveined a Conclave, a gentle vision struck him. In which he saw Eorman Fermont, the Alder Lord of The Aldership of Northwatch and Head of The Alder House of Fermont, as the rightful, and just King of Dekmire. Peoter struck a barister with a wooden tankard and shouted for all to hear him. And in a moving speech, Peoter swayed the Alder Lords to elect Eorman Fermont as King of Dekmire. The only Alder Lord who was not sincere, was Furst Kenmore, Alder Lord of The Aldership of Lorcard, and Head of The Alder House of Kenmore.
In the Fourth Aeon, 1725, A.E. The Longest Winter had begun. The twenty year war between The Skaari of Bulgaard, and the Heartland Men of Dekmire. Peoter assembled his lords and joined his King in defense of their country. But then Furst Kenmore revealed his treachery. The same treachery that Varstark Malin had cursed them for three and a half centuries earlier. The Kenmores declared open rebellion against the Fermonts. By fortunes grace however, Lord Carson Krastmere, a Lord in Liege to the Kenmores, renounced them in loyalty to the Fermonts. Holding the Kenmore forces in the Aldership of Lorcard by allowing them to lay seige to Fort Krastmere. Sending word by Courier Raven to the Fermont Loyalists on the situation.
Peoter Malin himself volunteered to lead the counter attack against the Kenmores. Out of loyalty to the Fermonts, but also in retribution for the burning of Croafaell Castle. Incapable of arguing with a loyal madman, Eorman Fermont granted Peoter leave to lead an assembled army of loyalists to smash the Kenmores and their confederates. In a swift strike, Peoter smashed the besieging Kenmore forces. First by a daring raid leading a Flight of two-hundred Griffon Riders. Then on the ground with an assembled eighteen-thousand soldiers and his own six-hundred knights against the Kenmores weary ten-thousand. The Kenmores were routed. And Peoter Malin avenged his ancestors by sacking the Kenmores own seat of Kenmore Castle. With Peoter himself being the one to bring Furst Kenmore before the King.
By Peoters own valor, and loyalty. The Alder House of Malin recieved an acclaim they had not known for nearly a thousand years. And under his leadership, the Malins will continue to thrive.
"Against the Night"
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The Mad Malins
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