House Orlov
The scholars of the Winter Court. They favor intellectual pursuits, and are the top patrons of most of the great Ruskovian Universities, magical colleges, and more. As a result of their strong connections to the engineers and more practical applications of magic, they control more of the country’s airships than anyone else.
The Orlov family is headed by Kir Orlov and his spouse, Jasoslava. Their children are three in number, with Veronika being the eldest. Her younger sister Alia, was nudged towards the clergy, where she is currently climbing the ranks within the Ruskovich Institution of Barasios. The youngest sibling is ‘normal’ by comparison. Akimon, (named in honor of the god) is being raised to know the lands of the familial estates, as well as the management of those lands when one of his older siblings potentially takes over the throne of the Winter Court.
Also of Note, Kir has an older brother that was passed over due to a dispute with him and the patriarch of the family at that time, Ulyav. Count Feodor took his younger brother’s ascension bitterly, but dutifully supports the House in dat-to-day activities. He oversees the lands passed to him, and has expanded upon them through marriage to his wife Zeranika, and through skill of arms. He has a single child, Vadim, who has been an apt pupil both of his father’s philosophy and skills. Vadim has begun building his own political force within the Winter Court. Kir had four other siblings, but all of them died either in battle or mysterious circumstances: Karloff, Mitria, Levicus, and Jarigor.
Jasoslava, meanwhile is from one of the human counties under House Lortkipanidze, the Werdu family. The arranged marriage was considered amenable by both Ducal families, in that the offspring would look more kindly towards the militaristic house, while giving House Orlov a foothold into the military bloc controlled for so long by the Lortkipanidze. It is, in fact, this marriage that pre-empted the naval crown that has recently been added to the Orlov Heraldy. Jasoslava’s family are career military, acting as thralls for the elven Dukes.
History
The Orlov family has a long and storied history within the Imperial borders of Ruskovich. Before the institution of the revolving rulership of the Ducal families, the Winter Court was ruled by only Elves. The Human and Orc tribes were ruled by the Elves, and racial primacy was originally foremost on the mind of the Winter Court in the earlier years. Then came the depredations of the Iridescent Horde. The Plains of the East were scoured by centaurs, led by their brutal warlord. The cities of pre-Empire Ruskovish fell to the Horde, and many outright surrendered rather than succumb to the siege and massacre the Horde would visit upon them.
It was during this time that the Orlov family first came into the spotlight. Danika Orlov, the wife of her late husband, Greduski Orlov, led her lands in a counter-offensive against the Horde that had killed her husband. She was able to synchronize a strike against the Horde that killed their chieftain during the Siege of Zimnij Dvorets, the final stronghold of the Winter Court at the time. With the lifting of the Siege, Danika could have attacked the Winter Court in an attempt to finish off the Elven rule, but instead moved to secure the lands for the Winter Court again.
The acts of Danika Orlov were recognized by the granting of being allowed to place a double-headed phoenix upon their family coat of arm, signifying the loyalty to the Winter Court that would eventually lead to the sharing of power by the Elven aristocracy, and the emergence of the Ducal court that rules over Ruskovich today. It was still many years before the Orlov family would be bestowed the Arch-Duchy of its name, and the honor of placing a ducal crown upon its heraldry, under the careful ministerial guidance of Ergazy Orlov. His son, Yulov was the first Orlov to sit upon the throne of the Winter Court.
Most recently, the naval crown was awarded to the Orlov family for its domination of the air ship industry within Ruskovich, and the reluctant acquiescence of the Lortkipanidze as to military importance that the air ships provide in the arms race that seems to be starting in Europa, as well as the domination of the plains to the East should another Horde manifest. These three emblems dominate the chief of the Orlov heraldry, and are the pride of all family that are a part of it.
Knowlege Grants Power
Type
Family
Family Leader
Parent Organization
Location
Related Species