House Glore

Considered the Greatest House of Iron. Glore is the oldest and most powerful, linking back to the earliest leaders of who became the Iron people, and House Glore instated the first Iron emperor, and united Old Iron, the Highlands, and the Ember Dominance.
House Glore rules from the Empire's capital, Hero’s Rest. The first and greatest of the Great Iron Houses. House Glore founded the Old Iron Kingdom at the end of the Blood Age, and its history is filled with noteworthy leaders that eventually led to the Burning War and conquering of the Highlands and Ember Dominance. Originally named House Glorius, House Glore has ruled since the empire’s founding, the leader of House Glore has sat on the emperor’s throne and wielded the Iron Spear. They control the capital city Hero’s Rest, have the sworn fealty of other Great Houses and their cities, and control all other towns within the Iron Empire.
Members of House Glore are distinguishable from others because of their jet-black hair that looks a shade darker than the darkest black imaginable in a supernatural way. Their eyes match their hair and are pools of darkness with no whites or iris. Their banner is the Iron Spear in the center aflame with crimson fire unfurling to either side in the shapes of snarling dragons.
Simplified, Glore can be identified by their flapping banner's of crimson, etched through with the silver and grey of iron. Their surcoats are stark scarlet and adorned with purest iron.
Every single Iron House in the Empire is technically a Principal House of Glore. They can call bannermen to arms from every province, Highlands and Ember included. This is the case even for the Great Houses, with Principal Houses of their own.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Emperor Leocius Glore, Blood of the Burning Conqueror, Seen by the First Witness, King of Iron, Emperor of Iron, and Wielder of the Iron Spear. Leocius the Ivory. Named that for beginning the Ivory Age when he began his reign 30 years ago. Later becomes known as the Ivory Butcher after the Blood Council.

Witness Cassian Glore, his younger brother. An outrage in the eyes of their father, Hostilus Glore, as Witnesses carve out their own eyes and swear to never father any children. Alongside Arthumar not fathering any heirs, that left only Leocius' line.

Arthumar Glore , his youngest brother and scholarly partner of Bellarion of the Alchemists. Alongside his partner, Arthumar created the theory around the Arcane as a fifth element, alongside fire, water, earth, and air. They honed this theory and perfected its use through the material found in Ember volcanoes known as Aether. Arthumar died heirless and many say that he was more than just scholarly partners with Bellarion, and that they were lovers and Arthumar refused to take a wife. The Arthumar-Bellarion Theory

Queen Flora Glore , Wife of Emperor Leocius Glore. Second wife. Of House Isdemor. Died recently from an illness.

Prince Ventarion Glore, Duke of Hero’s Rest and Iron Lord of Virnach, sole heir of the emperor, heir to the Iron Spear and future ruler of the Iron Empire. Son of Leocius and Flora.

Queen Valeris Glore, of House Sentel, first wife to Leocius and died in childbirth alongside the unborn babe.

Velides Glore, unborn first child, a daughter, of Valeris and Leocius, died in the womb.

King Theodosius Glore, The Last King of Iron, great-great-great-grandfather of Emperor Leocius Glore. Theodosius the Last King.

Khelsie Glore, the Last King's wife.

Isidorus Glore , first noble son of the Last King. Later becomes the first Emperor, the Subjugator.

Pantensus Glore , daughter of the Last King and wife to the great hero the Black Blade. Through their son's line, Bedirion Blackblade, House Blackblade was started, which would trail through great names such as Kars Blackblade to the rebel Sir Dragen Blackblade, the Serpent. Pantensus and the Black Blade's daughter Paratus Blackblade would infamously marry a lowborn man known as Jaze, whose sons would start House Paratus after their mother's namesake.

Isidorus Glore II , second noble son of the Last King. Known for his hate and disgust of women. His son, a Bastard Isidorus Glore III was his opposite and was known for his love of women of all kind, fathered a large host of bastards during his lifetime, known as the Bastard's Brood

His bastard simply known as Rottcolt . The Iron Bastard was named Rottcolt because it is said he once fought a pack of Lost alone astride nothing but a young colt that had rotted from the inside out due to a horrible blight. The horse should have died but somehow the bastard rode it into battle and came out victorious, receiving the name Rottcolt and being acknowledged by his father and allowed to start House Rottcolt. He later has a daughter and a son, Rufrius Rottcolt .

Rottcolt's granddaughter through his son Rufrius Rottcolt, Payne Carantus, wife to Cayde Carantus, the Father. The founder of the entire family line of House Carantus.

Rottcolt's daughter, Leoria Glore, wife to Emperor Isidorus Glore, her uncle.

Emperor Isidorus Glore , the first Emperor of Iron. Son of Theodosius GLORE. Isidorus the Subjugator. Unlike the Last King, Emperor Isidorus Glore is remembered as a hard, unforgiving man with an iron heart who was forced to kill his humanity in order to try and finish creating the empire that his father started. He had always been a loving man and was always kind to those of Iron, but he was cruel to the outsiders, namely the Highlanders and Emberlings.

His sister, Pantensus Glore , married The Black Blade whose heirs started House Blackblade and House Paratus .

His brother, Isidorus Glore II , fathered the Bastard Isidorus Glore III who then fathered the group known as the Bastard's Brood .

His bastard brother, Rottcolt, father of House Rottcolt.

Calavius Glore , his firstborn son who would later become Emperor.

Armenia Sentel, his daughter who marries Roderick Sentel II and mothers Hersy Sentel and Paulus Sentel, whose heirs are the leaders of House Sentel.

Rickardis Glore , second son of Isidorus Glore. Marries Margareth Glore of House Carantus, the Graycut, who is the daughter of The Father, Cayde Carantus and Payne Carantus . Rickard fathers Sir Leandros Glore, the Grey, and Elayne Glore. Both of which died at the center of the Grey Tragedy.

Emperor Calavius Glore , son of Isidorus Glore. Calavius the Demon. Was ruthless and barbaric at times, forced to try and hold together the new empire that his father left him with while suffering through the Grey Tragedy of his brother. Calavius was given the name 'Demon' because of the ruthless decisions he was forced to make during the Ashenblight as he was first placed in a position of power. Married Rufiniana Glore of House Edricson.

His brother, Rickardis Glore , married to Margareth Glore of House Carantus and whose children were at the center of the Grey Tragedy.

His sister, Armenia Sentel , married to Roderick Sentel II

Hostilus Glore , his firstborn son and future Emperor.

Valeria Glore , the Highland Lover. First daughter. Banished from the House for rutting with the animals of the north and died alone.

Sir Vesuvius Glore, his secondborn son and First of The Soulsworn . Married Petasius Rangor and fathered Isidorus Glore IV, who also died a tragic death, and Classicius Glore, who married Oetrinius Cortys and mothered the current leaders of House Cortys.

Anderett Glore, second daughter of Calavius who married Grag Vaele, the son of Gorm Vaele who founded the Great House Vaele.

Emperor Hostilus Glore, son of Calavius Glore and father to Leocius Glore. Hostilus the Burnt. He was burned badly as a child and scarred for life. Hostilus died an old man in his bed. Married Aldreda Glore of House Skelsmith , daughter of Sir Wulfric Skelsmith.

His first sister, Valeria Glore , the Highland Lover.

His brother, Sir Vesuvius Glore , the First Soulsworn, swore to protect his older brother and founded the Soulsworn company when his older brother was almost killed by a fire as a child. Vesuvius accidentally started the fire while playing with Hostilus and blamed himself even though he was a child. He solemnly swore to never let any harm come to his older brother and was successful as Hostilus died of old age. Vesuvius formed the Soulsworn and was its first. Vesuvius fathered a heirless son, Isidorus Glore IV , also known as the Scyllia after his Rangor heritage, and a daughter, Classicius Glore, that married into the Cortys House.

His second sister, Anderett Vaele, wife to Grag Vaele and mother of Arice Vaele.

Leocius Glore , his firstborn son and future Emperor.

Cassian Glore , his secondborn son and a Holy Witness.

Arthumar Glore , his thirdborn son and scholarly partner of Bellarion of the Alchemists. Alongside his partner, Arthumar created the theory around the Arcane as a fifth element, alongside fire, water, earth, and air. They honed this theory and perfected its use through the material found in Ember volcanoes known as Aether. Arthumar died heirless and many say that he was more than just scholarly partners with Bellarion, and that they were lovers and Arthumar refused to take a wife. The Arthumar-Bellarion Theory

Priscilla Glore. A woman of the Glore family during the beginning of the Storm Age. She is the great-aunt of King Paramonus Glore, the Settler, who ruled between 289AW-337AW.
Lucianus Glore , the Failed King: 338AW – 371AW, and his wife Dexamene, who was burned alive for heresy against her husband.
The Iron Triumvirate: 249AW - 288AW Ruled after the death of Glorius and before the Settler. This was a time of poetry, peace, and overindulgence.

Arkesios Glore, younger brother of Glorius
Philokrates Glore, son of Glorius
Nikandros Glore, cousin of Glorius

NAMES

Almost all names bestowed upon Glore children are of the old tongue from Old Iron, similar to names found in House Mallus. These names traditionally end in 'ius', or 'us' as most words did during the ancient Blood Age from where the House originates. Also throughout Glore's history are names referencing their savior, Veler, the Tempest. He is the one who bestowed them with the right to rule and lead them out of the Blood Age and into the Storm Age. Examples:

Leocius, Isidorus, Hostilus, Calavius, Vesuvius, Pantensus, Gallus
Velaria, Valeris, Velides, Ventarion, Velri

Culture

People with Glore blood are considered above all other humans. They are holy in the eyes of the Gods, worthy in the eyes of Veler, and rightful rulers in the eyes of the commonfolk. They are faster, stronger, longer-lived, and better in everyway. At least that is the common belief. However, this may be due to the fact that each member of House Glore has been able to hold more souls that the average man. Some theorize that emperors of House Glore absorb a certain amount of souls as part of the private coronation to empower them, to protect them from assassination and increase the length of their rule. The downside of this is that it can drive them mad, like any other man. They are definitely more tolerant of souls, if history is any sign, but they still suffer the drawbacks of The Soul Logic. Their obsidian hair and dark pools of eyes can easily hide a low amount of souls stored within as well, reinforcing this theory. Others theorize that it is the actual Iron Spear that increases their life beyond the expected 50-60 year range, but either way, this means that the death of a Glore is an incredible tragedy, and loss to the Empire. See, the Grey Tragedy.

Public Agenda

The agenda for House Glore is the same as for the Iron Empire itself. To conquer the land and protect the people within. To bring the light of Ethos to all the unbelievers and to bring the entire world under one banner, their own. The motto emphasizes House Glore's powerful bloodline and their use of the Iron Spear to establish their dominance over the world. The use of the phrase "By Blood" acknowledges their ancient lineage, while the reference to "Iron" underscores their martial and conqueror nature. The phrase "We Rule All" leaves no doubt about their ambition and domination, and suggests a sense of absolute authority and control.

Assets

House Glore possesses all assets in the entire empire. All other Houses, great or small, are bannermen to them, and the leader of House Glore holds the right to call upon any amount and bring together a large army. Glore possesses all the silver and iron and tin and copper of the Stone Labyrinth, all the gold and boats of the Radiant Lance, all the meat and fruit and wood of Emerald Falls and everything besides. For artifacts, House Glore currently hold the Glorius Effigi, Primus Lands, and Calamis Verba for ancient Priscillan Artifacts. They also possess the Dragon's Breath Xandrian Artifact. Full list can be found here: Soulweavers.

History

House Glore's history traces back to the beginning of their religion, The Iron Creed , and the beginning of the Iron Empire itself. The Blood Age, a time period that spanned two hundred years, was endless war, constant bloodshed and fighting between barbaric tribes of the desolate lands within the Ivory Wall. None knew their history, and it seemed like the land itself was trying to kill them. Although it doesn't sound like too different of a time to the now, Vaskeer itself was vastly different. The Blood Age began with the erection of the Ivory Wall and concurrent apocalypse within and without the Wall. Everything was restarted, the land and peoples of before completely forgotten. Along with them where their cultures, history and laws. The surviving people, saved by the great God Ethos, God of Death from the monsters that destroyed the world created by his brother Ydall, God of Life , were but savages, living as animals.
The Blood Age was their time, and it was not until Veler, the Tempest appeared that things started to change. This is the beginning of the Iron Creed religion, the Glore's rule as Kings and then as Emperors. Different versions of the Hallowed Writ give different stories of how Veler first appeared. Some say that he materialized out of nothing, sent by God. Others claim him to be natural born, or at least an extraordinary birth. A terrible monster large enough to scale the great Ivory Wall slithered or crawled over it and started destroying the land of Vaskeer. The individual tribes of the Blood Age where powerless against it and fell in droves. One man stepped forward and wielded the Storm itself, smiting the horror down with the power of Death and Lightning. Veler saved the land that would become Vaskeer, and then showed the people what he had seen, the truth of what happened to the world. He took the people he had saved to the tallest mountains and showed them the truth of what the Burn was, and why their souls rose into it. He showed them the face of Ethos, and wrote the first Hallowed Writ. Veler created the mythical Dragon Riders and situated them atop the Wall so that no other monster could get in again, even after Veler himself passed on. Before he passed, Veler told his people that one day, his soul would be reincarnated in one of his descendants, when Vaskeer was at risk and he would appear once again, to save his people. During this time, House Glore became prominent. Veler, the Tempest blessed a man named Glorius, his right hand man in the campaign that followed the slaying of the monster from the Wall, where smaller fragments of demons also got in and ravaged the countryside. Glorius was the leader of an entire tribe and, if the Hallowed Writ is to be believed, even saved Veler's life in a battle with the demons. Veler held him higher than anyone else and as his best friend. Members of House Glore view themselves as Veler's descendants, although it is blasphemous to believe so. In the past they have claimed that Veler had a child with one of Glorius' daughters, who then started the House. The common belief is that Veler bestowed Glorius with half of his infamous Windspear, a weapon so large that even its halves were 7 feet in length. He gave him this weapon and bestowed Glorius with the gift of long-life and strength in return for his undying loyalty and friendship. The other half of the Windspear was buried alongside Veler when he passed away from old age in Hero's Rest, in the mound that is now known as Veler's Barrow. The spear given to Glorius has been passed down to each House leader and is now the item that signifies rulership of the Iron Emperor; the Iron Spear. House Glore was chosen to rule. Their House has given birth to all the current noble Houses in some way, small or large, as all Houses can trace their origin back to Glore eventually. House Glore has always aligned themselves closely with The Iron Creed religion, which supports their right to rule, and worship Ethos and Ydall as Gods, and Veler as their savior.
Veler and Glorius together were an unstoppable duo. Although Veler slew the great beast who is known in the Hallowed Writ as the Dark Father, more of Ydall's horrid creations flooded through the crack. Veler and Glorius traveled the land, uniting surviving tribesmen under them and slaying demons wherever they could. This was named the Yellow Campaign, after the strange blood of the demons. They managed to fix the Ivory Wall and exterminate all the monsters, but there was irreparable damage done to the land around them. Veler spent almost his entire life in this campaign, and the younger Glorius intended to continue it, but as the campaign finished, Veler erected the island Old Iron and gave it as a gift to Glorius, where he settled and fathered the People of Iron. This is where the family line of Glorius became Kings. The First King of Vaskeer was one such man. Old Iron was rich in iron and ore, but soon the Old Iron Kingdom prospered too quickly and they grew too populous for the small island. The advanced society sailed across the Rusted Sea to arrive at what is now modern Iron and conquer the clans and tribes their in great battles. Then, they settled in the lands that would later become known as The Shield ,The Lance , Virnach and the Heartlands. However, the Last King and his son, the First Emperor settled at the base of the Virnach mountains in Hero's Rest, where they brought the preserved body of Veler to be buried and protect their new home, as he had protected their ancestor Glorius all those years ago. Later, assured of their superiority, House Glore would lead the Ironers against the Highlanders and Emberlings in the Burning War under the Last King and his son, the First Emperor, discontent with such small provinces for their ever-growing people. They conquered, believing the savages that still lived like people of the Blood Age would prosper under their guidance and they were doing a kindness by conquering their lands. A more detailed look at the timing of the history of House Glore can be viewed in the History of Vaskeer .