The House of Jardinier

[Grandmaster]

Jardinier

Status:

Noble House of Demeria, Dukes of Fairfield

Duchy Seat:

Fairfield

Current Head of House:

Lord Hadrian Jardinier, Duke of Fairfield

Primary Productions:

Agricultural Products - Crops
Herd Animals - Cows, Sheep
Apiaries/Honey

Banner Houses:

Fontaine
Rousseau

Home:

Redfort Keep



Brief History of the House:

The Jardiniers started as a tribe along with the other three great houses, but they did not rise as quickly to their level of prominence. The reasons for this are many and obscure. The most important reason, however, was their tireless endeavor to tame the land which they claimed as their own. Located in the richest plains in all of Demeria, the Jardiniers had to battle with other tribes, bandits and nature herself to master the domain. It was only by swearing fealty to the St. Claires that they were able to finally do so.

Under the Jardinier’s steady and sure hand, the plains remained a lush and valuable piece of land for farming. The occasional floods from the nearby river kept the lands fertile. Soon, they styled themselves as the veritable breadbasket of Demeria. Their wealth, trade practices and quality food helped the family slowly rise to equal status as Carlisle, St. Claire and Lancaster. Then, after one hundred years as vassals to House St. Claire, they were granted a duchy. Initially, the idea had been met with some resistance from the St. Claires but the combined influence of the Carlisles and Lancasters worked in the Jardiniers' favor.

Now a great house of Demeria, the Jardiniers gained two vassal houses of their own and their combined work continued to maintain their reputation as the breadbasket. The Jardiniers are a hardy and practical people, preferring to work matters out with words rather than fists. The Lords of Fairfield sometimes consider themselves nothing more than the farmers over which they rule, granting them much respect and power among their people. While a typical Jardinier is well aware of their wealth and influence, they do not let it get to their heads for an important reason. Nature is the true mistress of the plains, and what nature can give generously she can take away just as terribly.

This is not to say they are not without their own ambitions. They work hard to maintain their place within Demeria and to keep their voices heard, preferring to the voice of reason in the face of tradesmen, schemers and military leaders. They are natural stewards, both in terms of land management and money. For many years, the Duke of Jardinier has felt that one of them should be the Steward on the King’s council, feeling that the de Veres have let their own personal ambitions get in the way of reasonable thinking… but would others agree?

Geneology

Bartholomew Jardinier – Lucinda de Lac
Charles Jardinier – Nicole Peveril
Hadrian Jardinier – Mariana Carlisle
Nicholas Jardinier
Alexander Jardinier
Daughter

Florian Jardinier
Violet Jardinier
Cadmus Jardinier

Charlotte Jardinier – Richard Warwick
Alton Warwick
Jared Warwick

Rene Jardinier – Louise Kendall
Eloise Jardinier
Rebecca Jardinier
Robert Jardinier 

[Grandmaster]

The Vassal Houses of Jardinier:



Fontaine

Status: Vassal House
Current Lord: Lady Tamara Fontaine, Countess of Wooldale
Primary Productions: Sheep, Lanolin, Wool, Meat

Home:

Vertacre Castle



Brief History of the House:

House Fontaine has a long history. The family arrived at the same time as the Jardiniers, Rousseaus and Gagniers. Since the western portion of Demeria was unclaimed, these four families toiled to tame the land as their own. The Jardiniers stayed in the plains, the Rousseaus ventured to the south while the Fontaines and Gagniers trekked to the mountains in the northwest.

Thanks to the stones of the mountains, the lands possessed rich soil but the rocks made it very difficult to farm. This did not discourage the Gagniers, who were spurred by the success of the Jardiniers in the plains. The mountains would be theirs and theirs alone. Though the Georges Fontaine insisted that they work together, Robert Gagnier would have none of it. The Fontaines, as a result, were left to their own devices.

Realizing that it would be a folly to attempt to farm crops, Georges turned to a different style of farming: sheepherding. The Fontaines only had a few herds to start with, but over time, they acquired more herds and learned husbandry practices to ensure the healthiest and heartiest sheep survived the rugged terrain. As the decades rolled on, the success of the Fontaines grew while the Gagniers were frankly suffering.

The Jardiniers recognized the financial success of the Fontaines and granted them lordship over the mountains, styling them as Earls. The Gagniers were outraged by this notion, demanding that they receive some recognition for their efforts. Indeed, the Jardiniers did just that by granting them a small parcel of Jardinier land and styled them as baronets. Though the Gagniers failed, they still had farming skills that were useful in more tolerable lands.

The Gagniers have never forgotten their failure and to this day are still very jealous of the Fontaines’ success. The recent deaths of Hector and Nicholas were met with glee. If Tamara Fontaine were to be removed, the Gagniers could move in to claim the Fontaine lands once and for all…

[Grandmaster]

The Vassal Houses of Jardinier:



Rousseau

Status: Vassal House
Current Lord: Lord Rousseau, Baron of Morgande
Primary Productions: Cattle, Leather, Meat, Horse Breeding

Home:

Morgan's Keep