[OOC] Fatal Souls: The Third Age (Page 4)

For twenty four generations, and almost seventeen hundred years, those whose name would one day be "Kentham" left the shores of Vintarland and began to dwell in the mountains of Skavia. Their seat, Fort Windcutter, was built by Noririan stonemasons upon their arrival near the peak of Mount Bracken, the tallest mountain in Skavia. Virtually impregnable, Fort Windcutter would slowly grow to cover the mountain peak, with expansive tunnels hidden away underneath the stone. Known for being incredibly sturdy to the unyielding Northern mountain winds, and constructed entirely of stone, steel, mythrite, and oak, it was said "The easiest way to siege Windcutter is to pray for it to fall."

These mountain-dwellers were known as "Sraav kodar" in their native Noririan tongue, meaning "Sheep Breeder", as they bred what is now known as the "Northern Diregoat", a horse-sized goat that was, and remains, a creature used in lieu of horses on the treacherously steep mountains. Although originally a simple beast of burden, these massive goats would later become animals of war used against Kristof the Zealot, aiding the North as a cavalry. House Kentham's use of their diregoats made them wealthy -- They could pull carts of gold and gems from the mines three times heavier than any horse could, they were sold to surrounding houses for exceptionally high prices, and yielded extremely thick pelts used for the harsh Northern winters. Naturally, when House Kentham created their sigil, they chose the very beast that gave them their riches.

These humble sheep breeders gradually became wealthier and wealthier, farming what land they could, mining mythrite, gems, and gold from their mountain and the mountains around them, and selling their infamous diregoats. Content with their wealth, House Kentham enjoyed a long age of peace and prosperity, even while war waged near their own borders. House Kentham chose to support the war financially rather than leave their fort for the majority of the war, having a traditional policy of isolation. Originally, in fact, their words were "Standing Alone", rather than "Standing Strong". House Kentham had refused to leave their borders for centuries, and this would not easily be changed. When Alfon Espet, a commander of Kristof the Zealot, captured and killed the young Prince Benji Kentham, Kentham's centuries of isolation was ended, and their neutrality was changed. In response to Prince Benji's death, the skull of a diregoat was sent to Alfon's encampment, along with the simple message "We are coming."

House Kentham joined the other Northern houses, adding every able-bodied man from their vassal houses, and many members of the Kentham line and its extensions themselves. The entirety of their fortune they had amassed was spent buying sellswords from Vintarland. Their combined forces, nearly four thousand strong, were a much needed source of relief for the battered Northerners. However, it was not until what is now known as "The Battle for Cairncul" that House Kentham would truly take a stand. After seven days of constant fighting, Northern troops were beginning to falter and tire -- Wounds sustained were in dire need of treatment, men were exhausted, and shields were splintered. Most of the remaining troops fled to rest and recuperate, and it appeared to have been a major loss for The North, even with Kristof's troops suffering the same fate. It was on the seventh day, nearing the end of the battle, that the Kentham army and their sellswords arrived, after making the long trek from their mountain home.

Seeing that the northerners were in desperate need of relief, General Parcivel Kentham ordered his troops to "Stand strong" and march onward on the Southern forces. Although the Southerners were equally sleepless and battered as the Northerners, they had overwhelming numbers in comparison -- Of the South's army of fifty thousand, ten thousand were at Cairncul, while of the North's army of twenty thousand, only six thousand were at Cairncul. Kentham's large numbers of well-rested and uninjured soldiers proved an immense help for the North. The Kentham Army battled the Southern forces for another three days, forcing the already badly damaged Southerners to battle for ten consecutive days, each more grueling than the last.
With three days to rest and recuperate, the original Northerners stationed at Cairncul rejoined the battle, and their combined forces wiped out the ten thousand Southerners, along with five thousand reinforcements that were brought in on the twelfth day. House Kentham's words, "Standing Strong" are based off of this battle, and Parcivel's own words to his troops. Following the victory at Cairncul, House Kentham was made the ruling house of Skavia, and has held their seat in the mountains for generations.

Miscellaneous [+]

House Kentham's royal family's appearance is not extremely unusual, but not wholly typical for northerners. They lack the muscular, insulated bodies that most descendents of the Noririans are granted -- Instead, they are typically a tall and gaunt people, with pale skin, black hair, and light brown eyes. They are known for being determined and unshakable in the North, and for being pigheaded and stubborn further south. In the North and in the South, however, they are always known for their diregoats.
Their words, "Standing Strong", harken to the second age when House Kentham stood against the forces of Kristof The Zealot, as well as their own steadfast and determined ways. Their sigil, the black goat, references the diregoats they had originally bred upon their arrival in Orlandis, to which they owed their original fortune.

Godfrey Kentham took the throne at age twenty-eight, when his father drowned in a fishing accident. He had already sired one bastard by then, Solmon Grey, who was the child of Godfrey and one of his servants, when Godfrey was fourteen. His bastard would later grow up to be a Knight of Skavia, member of The Vanguard, and his father's own guardian. As he was ambidextrous, Solmon fought with two swords, and was rarely seen far from his father in public. His other children, Raud, Reliwen, and Rangifer, would also grow into very distinct paths.
Raud Kentham, more commonly known as "Raud the Raven" was groomed to be one of the finest marksmen in Skavia, frequently visiting Northern tournaments featuring archery, solely to win. Rangifer Kentham, the youngest heir, was said by the Kaardic priests to have been born blessed, and was assigned a monk as a young child. Seen as a religious sort of prodigy, he was ordained as a priest at the young age of eleven. Although constantly short of breath brought on by a disease he was born with, he recites prayers and hymns during all of his free time, as well as meeting commoners who visit Fort Windcutter for his blessings.
Princess Reliwen, while not an exceptional swordsman like her half brother, an exceptional archer like her older brother, or exceptionally holy like her younger brother, was born exceptionally beautiful. Although she has been faced with over two dozen suitors, her father has remained staunch in turning them all down, preferring to wait for one more suitable.

Although diregoats are now widespread in lands under House Kentham's control, and the lands near them, the Kentham diregoats are among the finest, being bred from the original stock. Godfrey Kentham's diregoat is called "Rootstomper", and is steely white, with black eyes. Solmon's goat is simply named "Orphaner", a black goat with green eyes. The remaining Kentham children, Raud, Reliwen, and Rangifer, ride grey, white, and brown goats, named "Stonehoof", "Pearlpelt", and "Skygazer", respectively.

Noririan Language [+]

[OOC] Fatal Souls: The Third Age Page 4

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