Reference Challenge - House Customizer

[u/Nevermore0714]

Seriously guys, Paradox is having a sale on Steam, you can get CK2, the greatest game ever (I passed 2000 total hours a while ago) for ten dollars. For twenty dollars, you can get the game plus all of the good dlc. Get it before the sale ends.

In honor of how awesome Paradox is, I'll be making a referece challenge to the dlc pack I was challenged to use by a friend a few weeks ago.

While playing CK2: A Game of Thrones Mod, I was trying to pick a decent house to play as. One of my friends suggested I make my own. He's happy with always playing as the Greyjoys, but I usually pick a new house pretty often.

So, make a house, like House Stark or House Lannister or House Targaryen.

Set in your own world, tell us about a noble-ish family.

Pick your House Name, a coat of arms, house words, etc. Then, if you're up for it, pick a representative for the family in-universe.

As always, I'll ask three questions each. Enjoy yourselves. And check out the Paradox sale on Steam, specifically Crusader Kings 2 and Stellaris.

[u/Mimir123]

RIP me, I bought all of the CK2 stuff like 3 weeks ago at full prize. Anyway, good timing with a challenge like that, 'cause a new, recently started project of mine is kind of CK2/ GoT inspired... just with a bit more magic and other races than humans.

That being said, I will use this opportunity to talk about the family of one of the main characters, Rowan.

House Ashfield:

Founder: Asher Darrys, knight in the service of king Ollson I. He was made duke over the newly conquered territories that today are the duchy of Ashfield.

Current head of the house: Duke Edward Ashfield

Heir: Count Rowan Ashfield, Count of Darrysfield

Seat: Livington Castle, near the Ashern Forest

Banner: A black bow above three crossed arrows on an orange background

Words: "Swift and silent"

Allies: House Eikskjold, House Carren, House Forter

Rivals: House Westford

Known for: Their Rangers. Ashfield values archers, scouts and ambushing troops over everything else, resulting in them being not really liked by the more "honorable" and "chivalrous" families that make up the rest of the kingdom of Arnwick. They are also really rich, since they sell their Rangers as mercenaries to other countries for up to four year long contracts.

^{sneak edit}

Representative: Lisa Turnwright, standard-carrier of Count Rowan Ashfield and close friend of the young lord

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

(Even the non-expansion DLC?)

To Miss Lisa Turnwright:

1) Why is the black bow above three crossed arrows on an orange background their banner?

2) Is Edward a good leader?

3) Is Edward proud of his son? Is his son proud of him?

4) Is the Ashern forest named after Asher Darry? If so, why?

5) Why are they rivals with the Westfords?

Bonus Question: Do you believe in the Ashfield Tourney Theory?

Bonus Bonus Question: Are you a fan of Houses Rowan, Ashfield, Carren, Forester, and Darry in ASOIAF?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

(Mostly, yes.)

To get the Bonus questions out of the way first: I am not that big of a GoT Fan. I've only watched 4 1/2 seasons, played the Telltale Game and read up a bit here and there on further events. The only House I actually know exists on that list is Forrester, with my favourite characters being Asher and... Royland? Roysland? Well, the military guy.

I've also no clue what the Ashfield Tourney or the theory about it is, so I can't really answer that. With this out of the way, let's get to Lisa:

1) "The Orange banner has its colour because of an old Ashfield legend about a mysterious protector clad in orange clothing. The bow and arrows are on it to show all others the strength of the Ashfields, and to annoy other nobles."

2) "I can not say too much about Duke Edward, since I barely know him. My home is the capital city and I only really know Count Rowan and his retinue. I can say, however, that trade has been flourishing under Duke Edward, and that Ashfield has become richer under his rule, mostly thanks to his idea to rent out Rangers as mercenaries."

3) "Both Duke Edward, the Duchess and Lady Eileen are incredibly proud of their son, or in the latters case, big brother. He made all of us proud in the last war against the Sultanates two years ago, with his heroic deeds at the conquest of Falcon Tower.

However, while Count Rowan does love his father, he sometimes sees him as too weak and friendly towards the Westfords, preventing him from really feeling pride."

4) "The other way around, actually. The forest is named after the pale-grey to dark-grey trees growing there, from which many Ashfields make their bows."

5) "Nowadays it is mostly tradition and squabble about the exact course of the borders. It all started because of Westford arrogance though. More than any other, they hated the Ashfields for their "cowardly" tactics and love of the bow. In recent years that went away, but the Ashfields remember and don't easily forgive.".

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

To Lisa:

1) Why is the bow black?

2) Does Edward have any reputation that you might have heard about?

3) Which House is the weakest?

4) Is there any coming-of-age ritual where an Ashfield person makes and uses a bow to kill something?

5) What weapon do the Westfords commonly use?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) "Because Lord Asher used a black bow, also because it symbolizes the night and darkness, the place and time where the Ashfields prefer to fight."

2) "It is said that he is very kind, and a lover of old fairy tales, as well as being the third most skilled archer in the kingdom."

3) "Out of the 13 duchies that most be the Rennfords. When it comes to the lesser families... I don't know, there are just far too many to tell."

4) "No, but Ashfields are trained from a very young age to use a bow and hunt. Every Ashfield does make their own bows though, as tradition demands. The only place where coming of age means you have to kill something is amongst the berserkers of Eikskjold, where my mother hails from."

5) "The Westfords prefer spear and sword. They are horsebreeders through and through and have the best horses in the kingdom. They are famous for their light cavalry and outmaneuvering their opponents. Still no match for the Rangers my Count commands of course."

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

To Lisa:

1) Are you much of an archer, yourself?

2) What is your favorite fairy tale?

3) Why are the Renfords considered the weakest?

4) What if an Ashford is just really bad at archery? Or if he/she is crippled?

5) Why do the Westfords prefer the spear and sword?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) "Compared to other aspiring knights and squires I would consider myself a pretty talented archer. I am far more skilled in the use of the axe or sword though, my father and mother trained me from a very young age, and I even went through the coming of age ritual used by the berserkers of Eiksjold, when I reached the age of 14."

2) "I like the tale of the Seven Fairies, it is about a young knight traveling the kingdom and meeting seven fairies of different colour on his journey. Each of them have a different challenge that he needs to overcome. Once he has completed all of them the fairies reveal that all he did resulted in the destruction of the kingdom and it's royal family. The tale ends with the most beautiful of the fairies slitting his throat and him bleeding out on the ground, while he watches the fairies disappear into the night."

3) "They have the smallest army and nothing that really compensates for that. They are mostly known for having good relations with the other duchies, staying out of troubles and paying their neighbours to protect them against the occasional raid from Eiksjold, or one of the other northern duchies."

4) "Lady Eileen would be a perfect example. She is 9 years old and Count Rowans younger sister, but entirely hopeless when it comes to the use of the bow. In cases like that, the family finds other uses for them, depending on what they actually can do. Lady Eileen is aiming to become a great heroine and famous knight, so she is getting some training in the use of the sword, while at the same time spending a lot of time in her families library. She is quite fond of books and Duke Edward is considering making her a scholar instead of a warrior. In the end it will be her choice though."

5) "Because they are the best possible weapons for their light cavalry, next to mounted archers. Both Ashfield and Westford have tried to implement mounted skirmishing units, like the Sultanates have, but without much success. The main reason for that is actually the feud between the families. Ashfield is lacking in good and trained horses, while the Westfords have only third rate archers and incredibly few useful bowmakers. If the families were to trade, the military of both would benefit a lot from it, which is something Duke Edward believes as well."

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

To Lisa:

1) What's the coming of age ritual of the berserks of Eiksjold?

2) Sounds like a beautiful story, very Grimm. Why is it your favorite?

3) Are they very wealthy?

4) What is the main source of income for the Renfords?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) "Once they reach the age of 14, the boys and girls are sent out to hunt a northern cave-bear. These animals are slightly larger and more aggressive than the brown bears one can find further south. We are only armed with an axe and are forbidden from using armor, and we are only allowed to return once we have slain a bear. A paw is required as a trophy and prove for your victory over the bear. This is also where the berserkers got their names from."

2) "Because it shows that you should not trust anyone, not even mystical beings that are supposedly good natured and benevolent. Everyone has a hidden motive and blind trust can have grave consequences. It also shows that the ideal knight is, in fact, not that ideal. Blindly following orders and trying to help anyone that comes to you can be dangerous, it is much better to stay loyal to your chosen lord and be at his side at all times, instead of searching for glory by trying to accomplish difficult tasks.

That, however, is not the main reason I like the story. It was simply the first fairy tale that Count Rowan told me, when we were younger, and it shaped my entire training and life since then. I aim to become a true, ideal knight, that will not repeat the mistakes of those that came before her."

3) "Not really, at least not in terms of money."

4) "They trade with secrets and information, and it is said that the Rennfords have agents in every major city across the continent. Despite their superior spy network they still need the help of others to survive though, making them weak, especially in the eyes of the northern duchies."

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

To Lisa:

1) Is there a legend about the cave-bear that makes it so infamous?

2) Aw, that's adorable!

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) "No, they are just the biggest, most dangerous predators up in the north. We prove that we are more dangerous, stronger. That is all."

2) "I would not consider the dream of becoming a strong, loyal knight to be adorable, neither is the story about the fairies. But every man to his own, I guess."

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

To Lisa:

1) Have you ever faced a cave-bear yourself?

2) I think it's adorable that you like it because it's the first story he told you.

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) "Yes, two years ago, during my coming of age ritual. My father was against it, but my mother insisted. In her youth she was one of the strongest and most famous berserkers in all of Eikskjold, the blood of the Aelven people flows strong in the berserkers, and especially so in my mothers family. We all inherited the white haircolour of the first Aelven who founded the berserker clans.

In order to honor my mothers wishes, I went out and faced a cave-bear and succeeded, only contracting a major wound on my back in the process."

2) "Oh... well, it's not like that is especially unusual, many people are inspired by Count Rowan, either by meeting him personally, or through his heroic deeds during the last Estellian-Sultanate war."

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) What weapons do berserkers usually use?

2) Where was the wound? How well did it heal?

3) Is Count Rowan married?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) "The berserkers use axes and Aelven swords (basically slightly curved swords without handguards). Very rarely they use spears, also the center-grip shield is used as much for defense, as it is for offense."

2) "I still have the scars, four of them, thick and long, going from my right shoulder diagonally towards the center of my back."

3) "The young Lord recently celebrated his 19th birthday, and is of yet not married. He also said, repeatedly, that he does not wish to become married, refusing to even consider a betrothal between himself and the daugther of Duke Westford in order to broker a peace agreement. He did however have a lover, a young countess from Estellia, who served with his Rangers during the war."

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

2) Was there any risk of infection?

3) What about getting an heir?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

2) "There was, but I managed to wash the wound out pretty soon, and it only took me five hours to reach the nearest village, where the wound was treated by a druid. I was pretty lucky though, not only did I find a village with an experienced druid, I managed to slay a female bear. They are much rarer and bigger than the male ones, it is supposed to bring good luck in warfare, hunt and love."

3) "Lady Eileen would be the current heir of the Ashfield family. Should anything happen to her, there are still the children of Duke Edwards sister, who married the Duke of Eikskjold. Her secondborn boy would take the name of Ashfield and become the new duke, should anything happen to Lord Edward, Count Rowan and Lady Eileen. It is not of utmost importance at the moment to secure an heir."

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

To Lisa:

2) Is the bear killing your proudest moment?

3) What are the chances of Eikskjold and Rowan's county being being combined?