H̶o̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶C̶y̶g̶n̶u̶s̶

"Ah, the stench of betrayal. A familiar smell around Victorum at this time of year. It's a shame this conspirator did not consult the Cygnuses about his gamble. They might have warned him how your lord father deals with betrayal." "There are no Cygnuses." "Exactly my point, dear." - Lady Darkcorht speaking with Alleria Mengsk In 975 3A, rumors that a third war between the Oreion Inquisition and Crescent Empire was planned began circulating across Solanus. At the time, there existed the original seven noble houses that presided over the country of Oreion. House Cygnus, the house that most adamantly protested against war, viewed the possibility of a third war as a breaking point. Dissatisfied with the decisions of the new Grand Inquisitor Pontius Mengsk, House Cygnus declared that they planned to secede from the Inquisition, viewing their region of Lake Cygnus as a soverign state. They rebelled against House Mengsk by not sending their quota of soliders to The Veiled Hand or their contribution of gold to the capital. House Cygnus hoped that these actions would cause Pontius to appear weak before the other houses, causing them to quickly follow suit. Unfortunately for House Cygnus, Pontius used the rebellion as an opportunity to establish himself as one of the most feared and respected leaders Oreion has ever had. Almost overnight Olor Castle, the ancestral home of House Cygnus, was utterly destroyed, along with the heads of the house. All remaining members of the Cygnus house were forced to flee and assimilate with the six remaining noble houses. Even today, association with House Cygnus is a punishable offense. As a reminder of his strength and the heavy cost of betrayal, Pontius left the ruins of Olor Castle abandoned on Lake Cygnus; the lake now the only reminder of House Cygnus' existence.