The House of de Winter

[Grandmaster]

de Winter

Status:

Noble House of Demeria, Dukes of Oakdale

Duchy Seat:

Oakdale

Current Head of House:

Lord Jasen de Winter, Duke of Oakdale

Primary Productions:

Furs/Hides
Game Meat
Copper

Banner Houses:

Halton
Marbury

Home:

Oakleigh Hall



Brief History of the House:

Once situated on the border of the Artonese empire, the House of de Winter chose to break away and join with the Kingdom of Demeria after yet another war of attrition threatened their very existence. Too many sons, husbands and fathers went to answer the emperor's demand for troops, never to return. By nature a peaceful family, they could not longer support a ruler who wasted the lives of his people and appealed to the King of Demeria for sanctuary.

Warily received at first, they quietly submitted to Vassal House status under House Lancaster, resuming their normal trades of leatherworking, lumber trade and the finest bows crafted for leagues around. Only after they stood shoulder to shoulder with the Carlisles to repel yet another attempt by Arton to reclaim its lost land, the patriarch losing his life in the protection of the King were they granted Noble House status and the Duchy of Oakdale was created over the objections of House Lancaster.

Loyal to Carlisle even now, the de Winters serve as border watch against any future incursion by the Artonese, but by virtue of their isolated status, have some of the Kingdom's finest herbalists and physicians. As part of their tithe to the Kingdom, each generation sends two de Winter children to Triadon to enter the Monarch's service - one as a personal bodyguard/knight, the other as physician. Unlike some Houses, the de Winters do not restrict their daughters from learning either the sword or the healing arts and see no reason why gender should limit service to the Crown.

To this day, the de Winters remain a peace-loving, neutral family, preferring to keep out of the machinations of the other Noble Houses until or unless it can no longer be avoided. Instead, they occasionally serve as arbitrators and advisers, settling the disputes that might otherwise demand the King's attention. The wisdom and fairness of the de Winters is well known, perhaps their greatest asset... or detriment.

Geneaology:

Arthur de Winter – Amalie Ravenna (Artonese)
Ramsay de Winter – Lirianne Trevelyan
Jasen de Winter
Christopher de Winter
Sebastian de Winter
Katalin de Winter

Carly de Winter – Nathan Salwick
Anthony Salwick
Jared Salwick
Cordelia Salwick

Madselin de Winter – Alexander Rose
Severn Rose
Zoe Rose
Patricia Rose
Meredith Rose
Brenden Rose

Logan de Winter – Liara Paladine (Lintenian)

[Grandmaster]

The Vassal Houses of deWinter:



Halton

Status: Vassal House
Current Lord: Lord Dominic Halton, Baron of Haltire
Primary Productions: Furnishings, Cabinetry, Bowying/Fletching

Home:

Birchspire Castle



Brief History of the House:

A family renowned for its forest region and its impeccable woods, the Haltons were previous vassals to the de Winter family during their tenure as Imperialists. Loyal to the family rather than to the Crown, the Haltons deemed it prudent to change allegiances when their Clan chief did so; they enjoyed the de Winter's lord's protection, repaying his kindnesses with service and the finest archers around.

That tradition has continued today; the Haltons remain the foremost archers in Demeria. Further, they are the premier bowyers and fletchers, receiving contracts to supply the Royal Guard. Each family member is instructed in archery from a young age, the exceptionally skilled granted additional training in mounted archery, trick shooting, and so on. It is considered a great honour to receive a Halton-crafted bow.

As a rule, the Halton family are salt of the earth. They are good, honest and hardworking people who tend to prefer their forests and their own people to the pomp, circumstance and politics of Court. However, the threat of the Empire looms near-constantly, and as those who help to guard the border, as those who recall the loss of the Duke of Oakdale, they have put aside their hereditary distaste for Court in support of the young Duke and their people.

[Grandmaster]

The Vassal Houses of deWinter:



Marbury

Status: Vassal House
Current Lord: Lord Marbury, Earl of Marbow
Primary Productions: Lumber

Home:

Maplehurst Keep