The North
Lodric (X)
Founded:7th Century A.M
Founder: Lodric, The Prince that was Promised
Seat: Eiswald (Ice-wall), or simply "the Wall."
Overview: Perhaps the most mysterious of all Aethling Houses, no one is quite sure of the exact origins of Lodric, though many a Maester has put theory to paper. Having appeared in the midst of the Long Night, stories in the North tell of the common cause he made with the last Stark "King" of Winter, Lyanna. Forever remembered as Lyanna the Last when the death of her brothers and Father ended the male line of Stark Kings, though her son Brandon Lodricson continued the Stark dynasty in submission to his half-brother. Their tragic love and quest to defeat the Others are the subject of the Lodricsaga, one of the last great works of Northern Firstman poetry. Though the veracity of the events the work puts forth has often been put into question, none can deny the golden lineage of House of Lodric. House Lodric governs from Eiswald, an immense wall of ice that once served as a prison and barrier against Giants and wild men, said to be so old it was ancient even when Holy Aelric was young. Today it serves as a barrier between the Juttenslog and Mannenslog, the laws of Giants and the Laws of Man.
Athrus (XV)
Founded:2159 A.M
Founder: Athrus der Vinblekt (The Wind-Bleached)
Seat: Whiteharbor
Overview: 15th in seniority, this House descends from Athrus, second son of Lodric VII, an ancient Prince of Eiswald, and a daughter of King Elroy III. Called "Vinblekt," for his pale complexion. It was said that as a youth he wandered the upper wall of his father's seat so often that the frigid wind scraped the color from his skin and beat his hair into a pale golden white. When given the honor of forming his own royal branch, he surprised many by taking The Wolf's Den as his seat, which he promptly renamed Whiteharbor. A former prison and ruin more often used for torture, Athrus clearly saw the potential power that controlling the Bite would bring, and Whiteharbor has since grown into the largest city in the North, though it is less than 1/5th size of Oldtown.
Iron Islands
Argus (VII)
Founded:326 A.M
Founder: Argus Seesturn (Sea-star)
Seat: Sturshiff
Overview: Unique amongst all Princely families, the House of Argus rules alone as the sole Princely House of the Iron Islands. The reasons for this can ultimately be pinned to a lack of geographic need for more than one administrative center, though cultural reasons play their part. It is said that even the King/Queen would be left speechless at the amount of authority wielded by this familial branch in their native territory. By tradition, this House admirals the Royal Fleet, though they are known to relinquish this responsibility to other lords when their Princes are too young or incapable. Like their lords, they are sometimes described as being belligerent in their conduct.
The Reach
Aelan (VIII)
Founded: 4th -5th Century A.M
Founder: Aelan Süttgeist (Sweet-face)
Seat: Tollwiess
Overview: By and large considered the second most powerful branch of Aelings, behind only the Aelrics. This branch has for millennia been tasked with governing The Reach, a task they are known to do well. Far beyond the shores of Westeros peoples speak of the western continent as a land where fruit ripens in a day, or where wheat grows through the snow. This is in no small part due to the Aelans' particular brand of agricultural Aelkemie, the study of which has allowed The Reach to outproduce every other province three-fold (on a bad year). The wealth and power derived from this influence has largely allowed the House of Aelan to force even the other Princely houses of the Reach to submit to their authority. Much to the chagrin of the Aelrics of antiquity that sought to break their influence by splitting their power between different familial branches.
Winfried (XVII)
Founded: 2467 Century A.M
Founder: Elwin, Saint of Swords & Alfried le Opiniâtre (The Obstinate)
Seat: Deuxscherd
Overview: Few women in Westerosi history are as admired and lauded as Princess Elwin. Born the eldest daughter of Meric V Aelan, Elwin was considered boyish in youth and demanded inclusion in the fencing lessons of her brother. Her father (and later brother) indulged this habit as it became increasingly apparent that she was endowed with extraordinary skill in all martial pursuits. By five and ten she had surpassed the skills of her instructors and developed a habit (to the woe of her father) of sojourning across the Reach and participating in tourneys under various pseudonym, but most famously as, "The Knight of Goldenlocks," for it was rumored that the silent undefeated knight who wore his hair outside his helm had taken a vow of silence and refused to cut his (really her) long hair until the day of his defeat. It never came, but at the Great Tourney of Oldtown in 2460, Alfried son of King Aelric XXI did the unthinkable and during a public duel, knocked the mystery knight's helm off her shoulders, revealing her identity to the shocked masses. Surprisingly, Alfried asked that they continue the duel, earning Elwin's respect, but also a humiliating loss. The courtship that followed, if it could be called that, took seven years and 777 duels (depending on the story), and is deserving of its own analysis. Suffice to say, that their descendants took on the name Winfried (an amalgamation of their names) to honor their heritage. Their son Edwin formalized the female students of his mother into a Knightly order of their own, to honor the legacy of his mother. The Order of Goldrose remains the only order of Knights exclusive to female nobility and is still based in Duexsherd (Two-swords, named in honor of Elwin and the Prince that never relented).
Praestus (XXI)
Founded: 2732 Century A.M
Founder: Praestus Prudenhertz (Proud-heart)
Seat: Tonberri
Overview: Originally empowered by his father King Elroy II, to be a powerbase of royal influence in the Reach. Praestus, who was his father's fourth son, initially seemed deadset on fulfilling his task to the best of his ability. Unfortunately, this set him against Aelan XII "The Bemused," who was far too cunning for the young Praestus to have ever hoped to challenge. Still, Aelan did marry no less than three of his daughters to the young Praestus, who never believed he was anything less than three steps ahead of the lord of the Reach. Praestus' story is considered a lesson in accepting one's place in society, but his marriages (which were fruitful and have tales of their own) also make it a lesson on the benefits of not fighting against greater currents. House Praestus is the youngest Aethling House, but their less than heroic origins doesn't mean they haven't contributed anything meaningful to Westeros. Praestus and his wives were great lovers of music and theater. Having patronized so many, they jointly opened The Collegium, a collection of colleges based in Tonberri that trains the best bards and performers throughout Westeros. Unlike the Citadel in Oldtown or the Alcazar based in Almasca, the Collegium has always been open to both genders.
Dorne
Ansim (XIII)
Founded: 1645 A.M
Founder: Ansum Sabenwies (Dornish Dialect; Sabynwys, Literally; Sage of Sages/Wise Sage)
Seat: Almasca
Overview: The House of Ansum or in the Dornish dialect; Ansim, is sometimes referred to as The Elder House of Elmira, in reference to Saint Elmira, Shepard of the Fetid, the first Princess (Of any kind) to govern Dorne as a region, and who split its rule between her twin sons Ansum and Saegus. Ansum continued the work of his mother in centralizing Dorne (a long process that deserves it's own time and place) and protecting/integrating Nymeria's refugees (By now 1-2 generations had been born in Westeros, but again, time and place) with the often confrontational Dornish lords. This family's policy of integration, adaptation, and tolerance has not always been easy to uphold through the centuries but has paid dividends to their descendants who now govern one of the richest and most unique regions in Westeros. Ansim's greatest accomplishment was the formalization of the Alcazar (Rhoynari word meaning: Fort), an institute of higher learning he started for his daughters, and Rhoynari/refugee women who desired a place to pool the knowledge of their destroyed or lost homelands. Today, the Alcazar educates Noblewoman from across Westeros, but also many less well to do girls (and some boys, when they can't be bothered to educate themselves). Maesters often credit the stereotype of savvy, even saucy Dornish merchantwomen with the education many receive here. The Sisters of the Alcazar tend to agree.
Saygis (XIV)
Founded: 1645 A.M
Founder: Saegus Saurobach (Dornish dialect; Sorobak, Literally; Sorrow-Bearer)
Seat: Saghbad
Overview: The House of Saegus, sometimes referred to as The Younger House of Elmira descends from Saegus Saurobach, or Saygis Sorobak when peppered with a Dornish accent. Often simply referred to as Sorobak, Prince of Thieves, he is a favorite of young boys who see him as the quintessential Dornish rogue. Stories concerning him and his brother are numerous and range from saving damsels from the rapacious Blackfang (Likely a Duke of Wyle), foiling the machinations of Yohan "The Hate" Yronwood (and often Saygis' chief antagonist), and sometimes even fighting each other, but always finding common ground in the end. The city he built in the Dornish Blaze (The hottest area of the Great Dornish Desert) is considered a miraculous feat of Aelckemic engineering, and almost sacrilegious, as he incorporated the last of the Rhoynish water mages in its construction. The waterway that serves as the city's sewer and water generating facility is mysterious and a place of wonder to outsiders, for parts of it serve as secondary districts of sorts (And some say, The Thieves Guild base themselves here). The domed architecture of the city is infamous throughout Dorne and Westeros.
The Stormlands
Aurim (IX)
Founded: 6th Century A.M
Founder: Aurim Blitzspeer (Lightning-Spear)
Seat: Enalore
Overview: By the 6th century A.M, Andals had already largely spread into the Stormlands, often intermarrying with the Firstmen, and slowly converting the native petty kingdoms to the Sevenfold Religion. A coalition of Old Faith holdouts who refused even the offer of mediation by Tethatuwelika (A great chief of sorts to the Southern Children) was led by the last great Storm King, Darrek "The Daring" Durrandon. They did not face an Andal Army, they faced only a single Prince. Aurim Blitzspeer who descended from the more ancient Julian line of Aelrics (Who had been entrusted with the ancient Aelkemie of Lightning), had volunteered to face the coalition alone. While the exact site of the battle is in dispute by Maesters, the battle itself is sometimes referred to as the Aelwrath. Darrek perished with his men that day (Though his infant son was allowed to continue the Godsgrief line), and the event served to cement Aethling rule in the Stormlands for millennia to come.
Laerian (XVIII)
Founded: 2506 A.M
Founder: Laeris the Auroch
Seat: Rainwall
Overview: Prince Laeris, 4th son of Alfon X was often called "The Auroch," by those who knew him well, for his tall muscled physique and quiet disposition. Bookish to a fault (A trait that did not match his frame), he spent incredible amounts of time in the royal library and expressed a desire to join the ranks of the Powder Monks. A request his father infamously quashed, though he did allow an informal apprenticeship. As Alfon X continued the slow policy of diminishing the authority of the Elder Princes, started mere centuries before by the Royal Aelrics. It became increasingly apparent that the Stormlands (The region he hoped to splinter) was far ornerier than he initially calculated. In 2505 A.M, Prince Edwick (Laeris' elder brother) was badly injured during a "Friendly" duel with Prince Aurim XXI Aurim, who was called "Blackshock" by his enemies. The correspondence that accompanied the injured Edwick back to the capital all but dared King Alfon to send another son. It is said that before Alfon could decide the best course of action, the furious Laeris had begun to make his way to Enalore in hopes of avenging the injustice done to Edwick. When he arrived, he infamously used a new brand of Aelkemie that he had developed using secrets garnered from the Powder Monks to issue a challenge to Aurim (He nearly took his head off). Aurim accepted the challenge, and even offered to split the rule of the Stormlands and wed his daughter to Laeris should he win. Maester Ludwick of Enalore gives a detailed account of the duel, suffice it to say, Laeris avenged his brother. And in so doing, reestablished Royal authority in the Stormlands.
All houses by Seniority
Founded during the lifetime of Edward Elric
Aulderblud or Gauldblud (Older-blood or Goldbloods[1})
1. Aelric 0-1 A.M CL-1
2. Aelinor 1st century A.M RL-1
3. Gwyndol 1st century A.M CL-2
4. Alm 1st century A.M GV-1
Goldstein(s) (Gold-stones[2])
Founded during the Greater Andal Expansion
5. Elucifer 2nd century A.M WL-1
6. Manas 3rd century A.M CL-3
7. Argus 4th century A.M II-1
8. Aelan 5th century A.M Re-1
9. Aurim 6th century A.M SL-1
Founded in the midst of the Long Night/ Considered Goldstein [3]
10. Lodric 7th century A.M No-1
Warboren (Warborn[4])
Founded Slightly before/during/after the Warsung
11. Yulian 1467 A.M CL-4
12. Caelum 1594 A.M GV-2
13. Ansum 1645 A.M Do-1
14. Saegus 1645 A.M Do-2
Jungold(s) (Young Gold(s))
Founded during the Era of Alphon the Great[5]
15. Athrus 2159 A.M No-2
16. Joxter 2260 A.M RL-2
17. Winfree 2467 A.M Re-2
18. Laerian 2506 A.M SL-2
19. Aurmos 2554 A.M WL-2
20. Aelfin 2646 A.M RL-3
21. Praestus 2732 A.M Re-3
Notes:
The Reach-As one can imagine, the area is influenced greatly by french culture. Imagine people here speaking with a heavy french accent. "Jon le Chat" as opposed to "John der Kat" which would be "John the Cat" more often than naught.
Dorne- As in the books is heavily inspired by arab/spanish/berber influences. They would use a stereotypically spanish accent when speaking in Andolosi, but due to the circumstances of the region, language there has drifted furthest away from coherent Andal/German. Having incorporated so many languages from so many cultures (there's a story to this).
Seniority Notes:
I've separated the families into 4 distinct hierarchies. Don't take it to mean that people (in general) call particular families "Warboren," or "Jungold." It's really something a Sister (Alcazar) or Maester would use when academically referencing distinct families. Or when talking about group behavior/culture etc.
[1] Oldest families, usually founded by a grandchild or great-grandchild or Edward, but by individuals that directly interacted with him. A "certain" degree of respect is reserved for these four, but don't take that to mean other princes grovel. House Aelinor and House Alm have spiritual authority rivaling that of the King (More the former than the latter, though).
[2] Golden stones because they were the foundation of the Kingdom. Ages vary wildly between each other. Historians consider them to be the most historically belligerent.
[3} I mention they are mysterious. That is because Lodric has no written ancestory, and the Long Night cut communication for decades and almost caused a civilizational collapse. Who was he? How was he born? Is it even relevant? All we can say is that his eyes and sigil-less alchemy definitely make him an Aethling...but still...
[4] Formed either close, during, or after the Warsung. Considered Young, comparing them to their elders is like comparing Julias Cezar to Gilgamesh. The 500-year gap between them and the Jungolds gives them a certain distance in seniority.
[5] Jungolds are as the name implies, the youngest of the Aethlings. Alphon the Great started a slow process of creating new branch families in each region with mixed results. As a whole, it has served its purpose in centralizing the Kingdom at the expense of the regions.
Thoughts:
While making this, I thought it might also be funny if there were more ancient hidden branches of Aethlings. Ones that were thought destroyed or lost to history. Some ordered never spoken of again. They may be the best source of antagonists when I think of it. Admittedly, I've had a bit of trouble thinking of an overarching antagonist.
Question: For those that have read so far. I'm planning a possible big event in the Capital. What were your favorite houses from parts 1 and 2? If...don't hold me to this...if a "tournament arch" were to happen. Who would people like to see? Cameos, interactions, possible romances, I don't care. Were there any houses that stood out?
This will also be my last Informational before the next chapter, I've held off on writing it for to long. Going forward, I think it would wiser to only add informationals that are relevant to the chapters as they come.
I'd like to thank AngelFaux for being a Beta, and giving this a once over.
Chapter 2 Incoming...New Years?...January sumthin? Merry Christmas Ya'll.
Update: Sorry, it seems I may have messed up the upload with when I went back to make some corrections.
Ciao!
