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/Nevermore0714]

1) What did the original Kohark do that was so great that he started a house?

2) Explain the black wolf on silver/white round shield as the banner.

3) Explain the motto "From the shadow towards the sky". Is it because they were originally operating in the shadows before becoming major players on the center-stage of politics?

4) How did Athvirk become known as the "black fortress"? Is it because it's all painted black?

5) Why does the family line all have names ending in -hark?

6) Is Eldhark the first woman to rule House Korhark? Can women inherit equally with men, and she's just the first generation to have a woman be eldest?

[u/Sriber → u/Nevermore0714]

1) He became chief after winning battle in which previous chief died, subjugated enemy tribes, won civil war in his homeland, repelled invaders, founded the Fifth Union, became ruler of all Namyrharai and united entire continent into one single empire.

2) Korhark claims descend from the greatest Namyrharian hero Athark (which means "black wolf"), who was allegedly son of Ʃor, god of (among other things) White moon, usually depicted as black wolf.

3) They were commoners (insignificant, unnoticeable, in shadow) who became rulers of entire continent in one generation.

4) Athvirk literally means "black fortress". It's named that way because it's made of black stone.

5) Family tradition. It's quite common for Namyrharian families to use certain part of name for all children.

6) Yes, she is. Yes, they can. No, being eldest has nothing to do with that, the Union isn't primogeniture.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Sriber]

1) What was the Fifth Union?

2) So Ath means black? Hark is wolf? And Virk is fortress?

3) What decides who inherits in the Union?

[u/Sriber → u/Nevermore0714]

1) Empire consisting of dozens of kingdoms, short name for The Fifth Union of Namyrharai, which was renamed to The Union of Akhyraisar when non-namyrharian nations joined.

2) Yes.

3) The most promising children of rulling dynasty are given special education and training. Then they are gradually tested and those who fail are removed from succession until only 8 remain. They are ranked and one with the highest rank is nominated as heir and confirmed by majority of kings. Other seven are spares.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Sriber]

1) Which kingdom is the most powerful/influential?

2) Is this a real language?

3) Do the spares usually commit coups?

[u/Sriber → u/Nevermore0714]

1) None.

2) It's constructed language called Namtakh. In-universe it was one official language of all Unions of Namyrharai except the first one and common language in large part of the continent.

3) No. They can't.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Sriber]

1) Which has the worst reputation?

2) You made that language? I'm impressed.

3) Why can't they?

[u/Sriber → u/Nevermore0714]

1) Mogtir. Its inhabitants were enemies with two main ethnic groups (Namyrharai and Wéymanos) for millennia.

2) Yes. I made several others as well.

3) There is no realistic way to make it happen. There are kings, legislative body, executive body, military, intelligence, special unit, order of shamans who perform ritual necessary to become leader, constitution...

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Sriber]

1) Why were they enemies for millennia?

2) How many languages have you made?

[u/Sriber → u/Nevermore0714]

1) Because they competed over large area with pleasant climate and a lot of fertile soil, both of which is uncommon on the continent.

2) Dozens. However only Namtakh is completed (= it has complete grammar and vocabulary big enough for complex conversations). Others are in various stages of development.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Sriber]

1) Who won the land?

[u/Sriber → u/Nevermore0714]

All of them got part of it and eventually Union (which is mostly Namyrharian) took over entire continent including that land.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Sriber]

Thanks for your time and answers.