House Asperan
Overview
One of the oldest noble houses of Huran, House Asperan stands near the top of the hierarchy of the Empire. They have their fingers in every pie, with several of their members holding key positions within the military and government. Indeed, it seems as if each and every Asperan goes out of their way to excel and bring glory to their house and country in one way or another. As such, House Asperan's contributions to Huran thoughout its history are pretty much uncountable, and they have always held an esteemed position within the Imperial court.
Politics
Like several of the kingdom's most powerful nobles, House Asperan belongs to the Hurani supremacist faction. They believe that the Empire's resources are best utilized to protect and promote the interests of Huran rather than the Empire's vassal nations. While House Asperan publicly declare their support for the Emperor, they disagree with many of his recent decisions regarding the other parts of the Empire. They think he should focus his 'improvement' efforts on his own people instead of outsiders. These beliefs have intensified due to Huran's recent economic struggles and social unrest.
The Hurani suffer while the Emperor plays nice with outsiders.
Unlike other noble houses that share their beliefs, however, House Asperan promises no support for the vizier either, despite his professed interest in curbing the power of the non-Hurani countries of the Empire. While the vizier still attempts to sway the powerful family to his side, they do not seem to trust his promises or vision for Huran.
Alliances
The Asperans are spread out through nearly all circles of Hurani society and, as such, have formed several notable alliances. Most commonly known is their alliance with Houses Shimor and Pelen, two of the noble families of Huran. In particular, House Shimor is a minor noble house which is indentured to the Asperans. Their own lands lie within Asperan territory, and several of the family members have taken up roles assisting the Asperans or managing their affairs. House Pelen, on the other hand, is another powerful noble family that shares House Asperan's Hurani supremacist agenda, which has led to the two houses forming an alliance to promote their shared goals. The marriage of Maselet Pelen to the current head of House Asperan, Tatemon Asperan, has cemented the two families' alliance.
In addition, House Asperan has connections among the scholars of Huran, mainly through Hattepa and Gunotas Asperan, the sister and youngest son of Tatemon Asperan, both of whom are involved with the Tuolan Academy. The family head's sister, Nitima Asperan, a religious devotee, also maintains the family's relationship with Huran's religious circles.
Conflicts
While House Asperan is greatly respected in Huran, they have made many enemies throughout their history. Their reciprocal animosity toward House Mardoram is nearly legendary. It is said that any conversation between a Mardoram and an Asperan would surely end in violence or tears within less than ten minutes. This is not an exaggeration. Another noble family that shares the Mardorams' strong dislike for everything Asperan, although to a milder extent, is House Ledis, most known for not being 'pure' Hurani with a few members along their family tree hailing from Notar. The family's impure blood has put them at odds with House Asperan, among others. Interestingly, amongst the Asperans' enemies is also a member of the imperial family. The Emperor's nephew, Enaten, has a vendetta against House Asperan due to his rivalry with Dalep Asperan over his position in the government. However, despite Enaten's grudge, the Asperans remain in the good graces of the Imperial family and maintain a cordial relationship with imperial loyalists, although they are not fully trusted by either.
Oh, great; there they go again. Someone put the cake away.
Geography
Asperan lands occupy the southwestern part of Tralb, which is populated with large forests. They provide a large portion of the country's timber, which is essential for ship-building and construction. Their northern border is shared with House Mardoram, which has led to several territorial conflicts over the years. To the east, the Asperan lands are bordered by House Sentalen's lands.
Religion
Although some of the members are religious, such as Nitima Asperan, the family head is not particularly concerned with religion. A politician through and through, Tatemon Asperan prefers to spend his time at court rather than with men of religion. However, the family still maintains good relations with Huran's religious faction.
Social status
Their control over the timber industry is House Asperan's source of power and the reason for their high standing amongst the Hurani noble houses. Moreover, their dedication to preserving Hurani interests has endeared them to many of the common populace, as they have been involved with opening up hospitals and schools and investing in Hurani businesses to improve the economy. A member of the family has also set up several charities, as well as educational campaigns to teach the higher sciences- medicine and astronomy- to the poor.
Notable members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Rashat Asperan | Military officer |
| Hattepa Asperan | Head of medical research at Tuolan Academy |
| Imondas Asperan * | Government official |
| Salen Asperan * | Imperial architect |
| Dalep Asperan | Government official |
| Mimah Asperan | Court scribe |
Culture
House Asperan greatly values loyalty- to family and country. It is said that to cross one Asperan is to cross all of them. Perceived disloyalty is punished harshly, as in the case of Mestar Asperan, who was killed through poison by the family head at the time for exposing family secrets to an outsider. As part of their intense loyalty to their country, House Asperan also strongly believes in the supremacy and superiority of Huran. They disapprove of the Emperor's recent attempts to improve the standing and condition of the non-Hurani nations within the Empire. Why waste precious time and resources on outsiders when they can pour their efforts into their own people instead? This is the prevailing mentality amongst the family. As such, Asperan youths are encouraged to dedicate themselves to the betterment of Huran, either through government, education, activism, or joining the military.
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