House Wintersbane

"Honor Above All"

Head: Hugh Wintersbane

Heraldry: A black bear standing on a rock.

House Colors: Teal and Silver

Providence: The Krel Freeholds

Structure

House Wintersbane is a patriarchal house, passing the role of "High King" down to each successive firstborn male, though anyone within the family may steal the right of succession through an honorable duel. Due to the nature of the Providence, they rule over, House Wintersbane does not control any vassal houses, having a relatively loose grip on the various clans that inhabit the Krel Freeholds.

Public Agenda

House Wintersbane serves as the final arbiter of all conflicts within the Krel Freeholds. They remain mostly neutral in petty squabbles amongst the smaller clans and only take direct action if a war between clans begins to have a clear influence from outsiders, or risks spilling over into other providences.

Assets

While House Wintersbane does have an impressive army, their capital of Iarann Adhmaid is not defensible, taking up a large swathe of fertile riverland with few natural barriers. The only thing truly preventing a coup is the legend that should anyone march against the direct descendants of Darragh Wintersbane should find themselves facing the man himself.

History

House Wintersbane was founded in 71 of the Age of Flame, as part of the settlement reached at the end of the Krel Wars. Their founder, Darragh Wintersbane, was a notable Krel leader during the Krel Wars, sacking towns and caravans in an attempt to steal Beacons from the Cierans. At the end of the war, he became the de-facto leader of one of the four original Krel Clans, along with his three allies, Aed Flannagan, Dubhan O Foghladh, and Maeve Caomhanach. Darragh's status grew in the War of the Faltering Flame, where he helped command the defenses of the Siege of Hearth, and defended Grenssian supply lines from enthralled raiders. Once relief arrived in the form of the famed ride from Heiko the Silencer, Darragh famously led the charge out of Hearth's gates to help clean up the remaining resistance. For his valiant efforts, and all around calm and just temperament, Darragh was elevated to High King of the Krel Freeholds, a position that his descendants can claim to this day.
Accounts differ as to how Darragh Wintersbane met his demise, but most sources cite him slaying a Fae then known as "Moyna of the Unrelenting Chorus", before collapsing from injuries sustained in the battle. His unconscious form was transported back to his Clan's hold, before being placed on the ground near their Beacon, where he soon perished. Folklore continues to say that Darragh proceeded to grow into a large oak tree, right by their Beacon. The more widely held belief is that the oak opened to meet him and that to this day he remains recuperating within the tree. Regardless, most Krel clans believe that Darragh Wintersbane remains dormant, either as or within the Ironwood Oak of Iarann Adhmaid, waiting for the day his clan may need him to do battle once more.

Demography and Population

House Wintersbane is primarily made up of Krels, though they've intermarried with the occasional Cieran house to guarantee a trade route, or to settle a dispute between the Freeholds and another providence. The only reason that House Wintersbane errs towards classification a Cieran House instead of a Krel Clan is the fact that the founder married a Cieran commoner after his time spent at the Siege of Hearth.

Type

Geopolitical, Great house

Alternative Names

House Wintersbane is occasionally referred to as Clan Wintersbane, as it walks the line between being a Cieran House and a Krel Clan.

Related Ethnicities

• Cieran
• Krel