The Boyarn of Gollitha

House: House Vallis-Caers
Motto: “Never Forget.”
Sigil: A Frost-Griffon and Ironbark Tree on opposing fields of slate and white.

House Lord: Kerrigan Vallis-Caers, aged 23
Domain: The Boyarn of Gollitha
House Seat: Gollitha
Liege: House Vyre of Luska

Family Members: Morrigan, Twin Sister; Gavrosh, Uncle, aged 47; Matthias, Cousin, aged 28.



Summary: The House of Vallis Caers is an old Trevastine House which grew from humble beginnings. It’s founding patriarch, Serwyn Vallis, is a controversial figure in the eyes of many who view him of any consequence. To the members of his house, he is remembered as a cunning and determined visionary who sought to bring his family status and privilege, whereas in the eyes of some whom they rule over, he is looked upon as a brutal conqueror who humiliated the peoples he subjugated. What is universally understood is he came from the humble beginnings of serving as a mid-tier officer in the Imperial Army during the reign of Emperor Arturas Caspian I, and he was able to rise to the ranks of a General under the direct service of House Vyre shortly after it’s formation. And it was through his actions thereafter that the Boyarn of Gollitha was founded and stabilized, with his memory and influence maintaining that stability for the centuries that followed. Today, his heirs are viewed in a checkered light, with their future uncertain.


Modifiers:

Law and Order: +1 Loyalty, +1 Army The Boyarn of Gollitha places a high importance on law and order. They maintain several garrisons of troops throughout the isle of Oslan to ensure stability and security for themselves and those within their domain.

Hegemonic Tendencies: -2 Espionage, -1 Logistics - While the status quo of society has been maintained for centuries between the native Salkans and Trevastines, that doesn’t mean it’s always been easy or stable. There is a deep seated animosity for the level of control the Trevastines of this region hold over the natives, who have lived upon their lands since far before their overlords took power. Navigating the political climate of the region and maintaining peace between the two peoples isn’t easy, and requires much effort and resources to do.

Salt in our Veins: +2 Navy, +1 Economy - The culture in Gollitha is based strongly around the sea. The natives Salkans have always looked to the seas for their livelihood, namely in fishing the bountiful waters around the islands, and in their past, in raiding and reaving their neighboring rival tribes. The Gollithan Trevastines too have boasted a naval tradition of their own, deriving from their ties to the mainland Trevastines in Luska, who have engaged in numerous naval engagements against major powers in their entire history. Together, the Salkans and Trevastines of Gollitha are capable of launching a sizeable and efficient naval force, complete with an elite detachment of soldiers trained in amphibious engagements and in ship to ship combat, known as ‘Reavers.’


Army: 1+1=2 (Total Troops = 15,000)
Castle: 2
Economy:3+1=4
Espionage:3-2=1
Logistics: 2+2-1=3
Loyalty: 2+1=3
Navy: 2+2=4 (Total Ships = 8 Heavies, 32 Lights, 2,400 Reavers)



Biography:


Prior to the Trevastine Empire, the islands to the north of the Wolf’s Spine were dominated by native Salkan tribes who warred between each other over territory, resources, women, and petty disputes. When House Vyre migrated north, a contingent of soldiers and colonists was led by a man known as Serwyn Vallis, a general who had won favor in the eyes of the then-Emperor, and the head of House Vyre. Serwyn held the intention of staking a claim in conquering the isles to the north, receiving leave to do so on behalf of House Vyre in exchange for pacifying the Salkans in the isles and serving House Vyre loyally forever more. His first attempt at claiming what was viewed as ‘land for the taking’ was a resounding success, as he turned his attention to a pair of islands just north of the mainland. The natives who lived on the smaller of the two were caught completely by surprise, and he quickly overwhelmed the communities which. He quickly set about building a fortified settlement on this island, thereafter bequeathing it as the ‘Island of Gollitha’. The original Trevastine settlement was comprised mainly of wood stakes and paneling, with stone being added over time to fortify it, but even still it was considered to be a strong fortification for the protection of his people in the face of what was to come.

What Serwyn didn't know was the reason his first conquest came to an easy victory was due to the fact that ‘the Isle of Gollitha’ was primarily comprised of fishing villages that supported Salkan tribes on the larger island to the north, known to this day by it’s native name of Oslan. When word had reached the Salkans that a brute armed with steel weapons came and slaughtered innocent men women and children, they soon reacted in kind by dispatching warriors of their own. This became part of the greater conflict between native Salkans vs the Trevastines of House Vyre, which sparked throughout the region and surrounding islands.

For many years the Trevastines under the command of Vallis on his little island fought off the savage Salkan incursions, and in turn the tribesmen of Oslan would overwhelm the probes sent by Gollitha. This pattern repeated itself for many years until, resulting in grizzly attrition in both manpower and resources. Eventually, Vallis knew he would not be able to win this war at the rate he was losing his men, and with grumblings of a peace treaty looming between the Salkans and Luskans, him and his men contrived a plot to 'win', and forge a path of glory he so desperately sought to cement through his own legacy. As per the custom of the Salkan people, he decided to challenge their chieftain to single combat, with the conditions that whomever won would be the victor of their long embittered war.

With the natives war weary and strapped for supplies, they accepted. The duel between the two warriors was fierce and hard fought, with the two men locked in combat for the better part of the morning they set about. Eventually, the chieftain representing the tribes of Oslan stuck his sword into the ground after Vallis struck a severe blow to his chest, with the chieftain, known as Caerygg, ready to accept death. Knowing that he would never secure the loyalty of these natives if he slaughtered their chieftain, Vallis did what was at first considered a noble deed, but in retrospect solidified his house's power for centuries to come. He spared the life of the Chieftain, grasping his arm and raising him to his feet. But as the victor of the duel, he demanded two things:
First, he demanded that Caerygg and his people serve Vallis and his lineage as friends and allies forever more, and second, he asked for Caerygg's daughter's hand in marriage, who was also the chief’s only child and heir.

This put Caerygg in an unwinnable position, as to accept would mean consigning his people to the fate they desperately tried to avoid, but to refuse the request of the man who owned his life would bring dishonor to himself before the gods. Seeing defeat in the eyes of his people, he agreed, with his daughter Ciartha wedding Vallis, and peace settling between their two peoples in advance of the peace treaty signed between Luska and all the Salkan peoples months later.

Over the following centuries, the divide between these two peoples both strengthened but melded in an ironic union, with the newly minted ‘House Vallis-Caers’ along with their Trevastine merchant barons and nobles serving as a distinct class separate from the Salkans. This is shown by the very fact that the vast majority of the Trevastine remnant live in the burgeoning outpost of Gollitha, which grew over the many centuries into a bustling trade and cultural hub - the city almost completely occupying the island it stands upon, and the native Salkans primarily remaining on the island of Oslan and clinging to their way of life - save now owing taxes and tithes to their overlords. This tenuous relationship has held together over the simple fact that with the marriage of the chieftain's daughter and Lord Vallis many years ago, their descendants now and always hold the legal right to rule both the Trevastine remnant of Gollitha, and the native Salkan peoples.

Today, The Boyarn of Gollitha, as the region has come to be known, serves as a strong stabilizing source of Trevastine culture in what would otherwise be a pagan north, whilst also housing a unique fusion of the native culture. While this rigid hierarchy remains in place, in recent history it has not been unheard of to see Salkans ascend into positions of power and prominence within Gollithan society, albeit much at the chagrin of the bourgeois who seek to maintain the status quo.

This is due to an increase in the quality of life for the Native Salkans, who have historically lived significantly simpler lives than those who live on the island-city of Gollitha. As of late the natives have seen their lot improving under the rule of House Vallis-Caer's current Boyar, a young man who thus far has sought to maintain his power after the controversial reign of his late father, and who thus far seems to focus on quietly boosting his power and influence in the region. While this has lent itself to a slight easing of tensions between the two peoples, the cultural lines and restrictions thereof remain ever in place.



Military:

True to their heritage, men and women who serve in the armed forces of the Boyarn of Gollitha carry a strong sense of duty in serving. However, much has changed since the days of Serwyn Vallis, primarily due to the pockmarks of the war he himself fought. Although peace was accomplished between the Salkan and Trevastine peoples, they were not immune to the wounds inflicted upon each other. The population of the Trevastine remnant was severely crippled for one, with an estimated surviving population of several thousand after the conflict where there once had been tens of thousands (although due to how long ago this was, accuracy cannot truly be determined). On the part of the Salkans, much of their infrastructure was decimated. Their once proud naval force was turned into driftwood to crash upon the rocky outcroppings of their island.

When the two peoples were joined together, they soon begrudgingly came to understand that they could only recover together and with each other’s help. The recovery was slow, but has borne today a highly unique military structure. The Gollithan military is divided into three professional branches - The Gollithan Guard, The Freehold Navy, and The Reavers.


The Gollithan Guard:





The Gollithan Guard is the evolution of the army that originally conquered the isle that is now their namesake, but a vastly different makeup and purpose. During the original Conquest, their numbers were easily thrice their current number if not more, with all manner of troops from axemen to cavalry, trained to fight on vast stretches of land but instead being forced to adjust to quick strikes from shore. Early successes were lent to the use of cavalrymen, as Cavalry were not native to the isle of Oslan and therefore took the native Salkans by surprise.

Today, The Gollithan Guard serve more as peacekeepers and garrison troops for the city and island of Gollitha itself and several outposts which dot the isle of Oslan. While they are primarily a defensive force now, they have been deployed in defense of Luska’s interests as a whole as supporting troops. In total, the Gollithan Guard numbers to some 5,000 men and women alike (as the mixture of Trevastine and Salkan culture has resulted in a much more egalitarian approach to women serving in military), outfitted in mail, halfplate, and scale. Their numbers are divided accordingly:

2,500 - Men at Arms, outfitted with chainmail or half plate, a spear and sword combo, along with a round wooden buckler.

1,000 - Archers, outfitted with chainmail, tanned leather, and cloth layered for maximum flexibility and protection. They are armed with a slightly curved bow made from the hard Ironwood of Oslan, along with a short sword and buckler.

1,000 - Horsemen, outfitted with lightweight scale armor with curved short swords, short recurve bows, and leaf-tipped lances. They are often used for patrols and screening skirmish formations of foot soldiers.

500 - Griffon-Guard, outfitted with plate mail and greatswords, the Griffon-Guard are considered the elite arm of the House of Vallis-Caers, and serve as the palace bodyguards of the Lord and his family. When Luska is at war and Gollitha’s banners are called, it is almost unquestioned that a sizeable contingent of Griffon-Guard are called up in response. Typically, the ranks of the Griffon-Guard are filled by Trevastine nobility, and train nonstop so as to defend their charges and, if the need arises, bring the Lord’s justice upon any who may oppose it.







In the event of war, and should it be required, an additional 10,000 men and women can be called up from the tribes of Oslan. At such a time, the Chieftains are requested to fill the required amount of soldiers, with the men and women rising to the occasion being trained and adept at the use of hand axes, spears, bows, and shields, and preferring to wear lightweight chainmail and furs. The people of Oslan have proven to be a reliable source of levies during such times, as the hard lives these people lead and their natural background at warfare and strife have bred them to be valuable vanguards during times of war.



The Freehold Navy:





The Freehold Navy is a respectable force to be reckoned with in both wartime and maritime. Comprised of some 40 ships, they are often deployed in combating piracy and in protecting shipping/trade lanes, given their important geographical location. Command of The Freehold Navy’s ships is typically relegated to those of Trevastine blood, with crewmen occupying their ships being a mixture of the Trevastine remnant’s lower classes or native Salkans who answer the call of salt in their blood and opt to serve as able-seamen.



Reavers:





The legendary Reavers of Gollitha are among the elite of the Boyarn’s armed forces, holding a status almost equivalent to that of the Griffon-Guard among the people. The difference however, lies in two key facets, chief of which being: their ranks are filled almost entirely of Salkan warriors. Second, they serve as the true ‘teeth’ of Gollitha’s armed forces. While the Gollithan Guard is well trained and well disciplined, they are almost entirely a defensive force. Reavers on the other hand, strike hard, strike fast, and leave nothing but ashes in their wake. Their history and integration into the Boyarn start with the War of Conquest. As Serwyn fought his bloody crusade against the native Salkans, and a brutal war of attrition was fought, one chieftain had done what Caerygg couldn’t during the war - make Vallis bleed while remaining almost entirely unscathed. Chieftain Brynjolf Ironhide was known to be a large, mountain of a man, with a personality as unyielding as the crashing waves against the shore. Whilst most of the chieftains of Oslan were content to unify under Caerygg and send their young men to slaughter in fighting Serwyn’s war Serwyn’s way, Brynjolf was the only one who didn’t. Instead of chasing Serwyn’s steel-clad soldiers across the island in a game of bleeding and hiding, Brynjolf mustered his men and longships, and struck out to take the fight to Serwyn. Him and his fleet were almost solely responsible for crippling Vallis’ supply lines from mainland Luska, preventing precious materials and reinforcements from arriving and allowing Vallis forces to press their advantage.

Brynjolf’s Reavers were so successful at what they did, that they almost claimed Serwyn’s life in a surprise ambush near the end of the war. The only thing that saved the noble’s life were his army’s unrelenting drive to win no matter the cost. The battle was known as “The Chaos of Dragon’s Tooth,” The Dragon’s Tooth being a particularly rocky outcrop on Oslan. Serwyn was losing ships and men almost as fast as Brynjolf could get to them, but to his demise, the Lord of House Vallis was able to muster a desperate ploy which lured Brynjolf onto what appeared to be the Lord’s ship. While it was the Lord’s ship, Serwyn and his commanders quickly abandoned the vessel, with a hastily prepared trap laid with torches resting on sconces over barrels of oil meant originally for burning Salkan villages. The ship was set to crash amidst the rocks of the Dragon’s Tooth, and when Brynjolf realized what was about to happen, it was too late for him to avoid the inevitable. The ship ran aground on the rocks, with the torches dislodging and setting fire to the oil. The resulting inferno engulfed the ship, with the Chieftain Brynjolf upon it.

And in that battle, despite the fact that Serwyn lost over eighty percent of his men and ships, Brynjolf’s otherwise successful campaign came to an end. After the duel between Caerygg and Serwyn, it was largely expected that the Reavers were to be executed considering the fact they had committed atrocities to those they encountered during the war. Instead, in large part due to Caerygg’s influence, Serwyn spared them of such a fate (save for the few who were responsible for making the decisions to commit the atrocities), and offered them one chance. To swear their fealty to him, and serve him unflinchingly, or to be put to the sword. Without Brynjolf’s iron will, the pressure of the other Salkan tribes made the decision for the surviving Reavers, and the war was officially over.

Since that time, the Reavers had grown again into prominence, molded into a similar fighting force as they had been under Brynjolf. Trained from youth on, men who become Reavers are well trained in the use of axe, sword, bow, and even in wielding two weapons at once. While they may not be as glamorous as the Gollithan Guard in the eyes of Trevastines, they are the pride of the Salkan tribesmen, and always have little trouble in filling their numbers with eager young men who wish to prove themselves. They are the true muscle behind Gollitha’s armed forces, and when called into war, prove to be hearty reminders of how effective they were back during the Conquest.

As of late, they have been deployed in containing the ever increasing incursions of pirates and all manner of scoundrels from the east, and have thus far proven to be equal to the task. For now...


Governmental Structure:


The Governance of the Boyarn of Gollitha is unique, and thus far has been effective. As is to be expected, the Boyarn is ruled by the heir of Serwyn, and has been for generations, dubbed as Boyar or Lord Protector of Gollitha. Beneath the Boyarn however, is a rigid hierarchy and cast structure. The second tier of this hierarchy includes a handful of Counts and Countesses who rule the small townships and fortresses that garrison Oslan, with their lineage of strictly Trevastine descent. They often serve as advisers to the Boyarn, and keep a pulse upon the people they rule over so as to keep the Lord of House Vallis apprised of what is going on.

Next, are the Viscounts, or the unlanded nobles who primarily descend from cadet branches of both Vallis-Caers and the Counts above them. They serve as aides to the Boyarn, and often also commit themselves to the Gollithan Guard or to the Freehold Navy as officers and commanders. These three positions serve as the Trevastine Remnant, which is a distinct class in Gollitha. Below this class, lay the Chieftains of Oslan. The Chieftains descend from the same Chieftains who followed Caerygg to war, and the same ones who upheld the tenuous alliance between the Trevastines and Salkans of the region. Events as of late have seen them being given more latitude and considerations from the Trevastine remnant, if for no other reason than to avoid further resentment from festering.

Under the rule of Kerrigan Vallis-Caers, there appears to be the notion of a nascent government. The Salkans of Oslan seem optimistic in expectation of his rule, whereas the old guard appear wary and all too willing to guide their new Boyar in properly ruling his people.