House Blackthall

Principal House of House Carantus, House Blackthall rule Goodsoul, located in the northern tips of The Lance. House Blackthall is known for one, singular thing. Their horses. Revered for their destriers, Blackthall is known to breed the best warhorses in all of Iron's history, and it is something they take great pride on. The device of the Blackthall House is a rearing, black warhorse on a field of green grass. Many nobles laugh at the Blackthall House because of their representation through an animal, like a Highland barbarian. It is a noble's view that because the Highlanders used to organize themselves in clans, and each clan was represented by a beast, that doing so themselves puts them at the same level. But most forgive Blackthall this sin. Their horses are essential to the knights of Iron, who in themselves are essential to the might of Iron.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Sir Solleus the Kicked, Lord of Goodsoul. Had his knee kicked in by one of his many warhorses when he was a child and walks around with a pair of crutches. However, he is almost always seen atop a massive beast, more comfortable in the saddle than on the ground.

• Yara Blackthall, of House Aegis. Wife to Solleus and mother of Thavius.
• Thavius Blackthall, Soulomancer studying at the Thorn. Son of Solleus. Thavius is studying Soulweaving with the intent of finishing his studies and bringing his knowledge back to then rule the Blackthall House after his father. He wants to use souls to fuel their horses, to produce an increasing number of stallions to keep up with the all-too-high demand.
• Sir Pyrael Blackthall, cousin to Solleus. A renowned knight known for his unmatched skill on the horse in tourneys. It is said that Pyrael has never been unhorsed. Pyrael is famous rivals with Sir Norman the Battlelance, Lord of Duskport.
• Eltath Sentel, of House Blackthall. Wife to Roderick Sentel IV. Sister to Solleus the Kicked.

Arika Carantus, of House Blackthall. Married Castinus Carantus and mothered Abelardus Carantus, Duke of the Radiant Lance and Iron Lord of the Lance, Sir Crane "The Handsome" Carantus, and Kaela "The Widow" Carantus.

Culture

The Blackthall House revolves around their destrier warhorses. That is their source of income from outside their own town, what they are known for, and what the Iron Emperor requires of them to create an Iron army that lives up to the Iron name. They take this task upon themselves, not afraid to get dirty and work hard on the pastures alongside the horses, not trusting mere commonfolk to do the task. Despite their nobility, they tend to be more humble people, willing to put in work to get results instead of just expecting reward. However, due to this being coupled with their old-fashioned banner showing a horse, they are thought to be animalistic, even savages by other nobles. Closer to Highlanders than should be allowed, and there are many rumors that they are half-horse themselves, and the reason their warhorses are so smart is because they have some human DNA in them.

Public Agenda

The Blackthall motto emphasizes the Blackthall warhorses' speed and power, and suggests that they were born to run into battle and conquer their enemies.

Assets

House Blackthall are very prideful of their charges, and do not let commonfolk tame or breed their horses. They do this because they believe one of the reasons their horses are so brave and strong in battle is that they are raised only by noble blood. True blood. This means that the quality of charges is kept extremely high, but there is always higher demand than they can provide. This has accentuated the myth behind Blackthall charges. If you ride a Blackthall horse into battle, the horse will not shy away from sharp spears, it will not buck or throw you off, it will not hesitate to bite and kick your foes and they are even trained in combat, rotating when surrounded by foes to allow the rider to hack and slash in all directions.

History

Blackthall is an old House, made obvious by their family crest. For king and country we ride. Blackthall existed during the time of the Last King and was at the forefront of the Burning War, conquering land in the great Iron Legions for their king astride their great destriers. They were and still are horse tamers, and started on the small island of Old Iron alongside House Glore and House Sentel. The Last King and his mighty troop all rode warhorses bred by House Blackthall and rewarded them greatly by granting them a large swath of land specifically low in roaming Lost. Goodsoul is sheltered from the worst of the winds that rage in from the East along the Lance, and the natural barrier of the Lance itself protects against the worst of the Lost. Hero's Rest, the center of Iron civilization lies to the Northwest, its surrounding areas constantly patrolled by Iron Knights.

Born to Run, Bred to Conquer

Type

Political, Family

Leader

Solleus the Kicked

Ruling Organization

House Carantus

Leader Title

Lord

Parent Organization

Iron Empire

Location

Goodsoul