House Maursus
The ruling house of the Empire of the Palatines since 464, the Maursines have somewhat exceeded expectations by so far surviving two successions. Coming to power in the wake of the court scandal that resulted in the abdication of the last Valgine emperor, the house of Maursus has held on to the throne despite their lack of traditional allies in the senate of Atrans.
A comparatively young senatorial family, the house of Maursus currently consists of Empress Visellia, her uncle Hegio and his descendants, as well as Visellia's husband from the Cupitas family. The family possesses substantial landholdings in Atrans and its surrounding environs, as well as old allies among the Sevestrian orcs. This, coupled with the plebeian support base the family used to get on top of the turmoil of the 460s has not endeared them to the senators, and has made every coronation a battle that so far the Maursines have won each time.
Nevertheless, infighting in Atrans has made their position difficult. The ongoing revolt in Rovs has been particularly difficult for them, as any senator they dispatch to deal with the situation could use it to attain political capital to use against them.
Culture
The Maursines have a reputation among the senatorial families as being closer to the legionaries, plebeians, and the Sevestrians than to the other Atrans nobility. The family, for their part, have certainly made use of such connections but consider themselves to be blue-blooded through and through. The family has scrupulously tried to keep clear of scandals, for they know anything that jeopardized their standing among the priests or the common people could easily lead to their deposement.
The symbol of house Maursus is the brown bear, found in the northern reaches of Palatine land.
I like them. They are liked by the common people and that is enough for me.