House Dillestone
Dillestone have enjoyed their time in the sun, bolstered by the Church of the Six Saints and their mercantile dealings with Dunefalle, but the status quo has also come with costs. Their loyal Oake retainers have borne the brunt of the losses during several peasant uprisings, the Antyrians chafe against the heavy levies imposed upon the Untamed Clans, Luneste quietly accumulates power and wealth from their foothold, and the bitter Sandoreales have never forgiven Dillestone for usurping their royal title. Surrounded by enemies at their moment of weakness, will Dillestone be devoured by wolves or somehow survive with their hand still resting upon the throne?Ah, glorious Dillestone. Forged in the fires of rebellion against King Robern, the Dillestones defiance at Barreste changed the face of Banteavan politics forever. While they were never known as the greatest house of warriors, they never had trouble finding brave souls to fill their ranks with inspiring speeches, honeyed words and gilded promises. Masters in the art of compromise (and at times coercion,) the rulers of Dillestone have shielded The Kingdom of Banteave from threats of destitutions and famine thanks to clever negotiations, treaties and bargains both domestic and foreign. While the sale of Sandoreale's coastal holdings to House Luneste was a bold and controversial move, few can argue that another course of action would have saved Banteave from further perils.
But generations later, Dillestone's "Gilded Glory" has diminished and the cracks are starting to show. The Tambar Rebellion that wracked the Heartlands should have been just one more easily quashed peasant rebellion, but the Dillestone's blasé approach to the rebels lead to the conflict spiralling out of control and costing many lives... including noble ones. The Church, constant backers of House Dillestone, want them to renege on the Dunefalle Bargain and demand conversions from House Luneste, lest their foreign religion proliferate further on Banteavan soil. From their northern perch, House Antyre grumbles at the lack of Antari influence in the royal courts, and the Untamed Clans they represent hunger for the retribution preached by their blood goddesses.
And Sandoreale? Sandoreale never forgets. Beset by pressure on all sides, House Dillestone might survive the coming storm if they could band together... but their king is practically absent now, awash in tragedy and a shade of his former self. The question of succession is on everyone's lips.
If Dillestone's enemies don't bring about the downfall of their house, a war within the House may well do it for them.
Culture
Honour, grace, chivalry and faith are core tenets of House Dillestone.
Public Agenda
They seek to retain the crown to ensure stability and prosperity for the realm.
Assets
- — The Champions of Ash, honoured warrior order
- — Heavy Infantry
- — War archers
- — Heavy cavalry, lances brightly apennant
- — Ten longships
- — The Gardens of Valor, temple and mausoleum
- — Tatcher’s Pass, an unwalled market town
- — Risevar Town, wealthy, overspilling its useless walls
- — Redehall Castle, seat of power
- — Summer Palace, a grim fortress warding the war-torn north
- — Galeste, fortified shipyard on the Seaward Coast
History
Emerging into the spotlight during The Banteavan Invasion of Ostamber, House Dillestone lead the revolt against King Robern that would ultimately see House Sandoreale stripped of its royal title.
Religion
House Dillestone are devout followers of the Six Saints, and the Church's fortunes are heavily intertwined with Dillestone's. The Church has faithfully endorsed the Dillestone line for four generations now, and in return the House has ensured Church holdings have continued to grow. More recently, The Tambar Rebellion threatened Church holdings across Banteave, and House Dillestone and its allies lead the fight against the Tambarists, bearing the brunt of the losses on the Church's behalf.
With Wisdom and Faith
Type
Geopolitical, Great house
Capital
Demonym
Dillestonian
Leader
Leader Title
Family Leader
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Allied
Friendly
The Church is heavily invested in Dillestone's future, as their clout and holdings have only grown with each passing generation under Dillestone rule. The Dillestones, in turn, benefit from the Church's regular endorsement, and their kings have been anointed in the light of the Six for the past three generations.
Friendly
House Highmont owes a debt to House Dillestone for the barony they were granted.
Peace
In order to settle the country's debts, House Dillestone sold titles stripped from House Sandoreale to House Luneste , granting them a foothold in Banteave.
Peace
While House Dillestone has had little in the way of issues with House Ildrafn over the years (and even benefitted from their underhanded ways during The Bloody Harvest that lead to the downfall of House Sandoreale), they still are wise to hold House Ildrafn at a distance. Their quiet devotion to the Red Sisters irks Dillestone's staunch allies in the Church, and one can never be sure just how much to trust an Ildrafn.
Peace
Peace
Bitter and antagonistic, but not openly hostile yet. Dillestone usurped Sandoreale's crown a hundred years ago. They haven't forgotten.
