House Valtoria
Valtoria rule Marsonia, a town in the north-west of the Thundering Flats.
Their banner is pure yellow, with a device of two unfurled eagle wings the color of silver. Although animals are looked down upon in Iron as symbols, the iconography of wings is not. It is not the animal they represent, but the action of flying, of freedom.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Sir Hasting Valtoria of the Inferno. Lord of Marsonia. A true hero in the eyes of the Empire, even though he is just from a lesser House. Forefront leader in quelling an Ember rebellion and sole surviving lord of the ‘Inferno of Souls’ battlefield. Has given him much renown and prestige among lords, leading Vaele to pursue the House’s support. Fully supports Vaele in the election, but Hasting is a close ally to the Serpent and works with him to make the south independent.- Vansea Valtoria/Blackblade. Wife of Sir Hasting and younger sister of Sir Dragen Blackblade, the Serpent.
- Sir Kaeso Valtoria, the Limp. Soulsworn. Sir Hasting's younger brother and also a renowned knight. One of the few Soulsworn.
- Marcis Valtoria, engaged to Kianne Vaele. Son of Hasting and Vansea.
- Vanesha Valtoria, a religious woman forced to marry Khasmus, a scholar who she dislikes. Daughter of Hasting and Vansea.
- Bertram Valtoria, the Pallid. Cousin of Sir Hasting. An otherwise undesirable man known for his sickly demeanor and complexion. He has just married the beautiful Harper Edricson. It is believed this only occurred because of Sir Hasting's massive increase in fame following the inferno.
History
The Valtoria House appeared during the Triumvirate Era. They originated as a family of performers, sought after across all of Old Iron for their physical prowess and skill. They performed acrobatic feats, swinging from ropes high above the ground and somehow always catching each other. They became runners, as the Triumvirate Games took precedence in Gloripoli, and sports started (The Triumvirate Era was truly different to anything else seen in the history of Vaskeer, which is instead filled with survival alone) in the prosperous city. The Valtorians took part, led by their best man, Marsonius, and became famous for their speed. They were as fast as lightning, and could run faster than a lion. To honor this skill, which seemed to be hereditary as the whole family participated and was likewise skilled, Nikandros Glore of the Triumvirate declared the family of noble blood, for how else could they be so skilled? Valtoria was given as their new House name as lowborn do not otherwise have a family name, which in Old Sacrim meant 'winged', or 'to take flight'.
The new House continued to participate in the games, and became known for attaching silver wings to their shoes, to show that they could basically glide across the ground. These boots became famous and parts of stories, telling of the fastest Valtorians running with winged feet across water itself. As the Iron Kingdom prospered and subsequently fell to their own industriousness, forced to migrate across the Rusted Sea, Valtoria went with them. The wings became their house banner, silver wings on a yellow banner and a tie to their origin. Valtoria was given land by King Paramonus, the settler. A western river ran through and a small woods had gathered nearby. But it was constantly beset by storms. Not as bad as the areas slightly to the south as this land would occasionally have a small reprieve, but it was a volatile land needed to be tamed. Compared to the cramped confines of an overpopulated Old Iron, the vast lands of the Thundering Flats were still a welcome gift to Valtoria, and they settled, founding a town in the namesake of their first famous ancestor, Marsinius: Marsonia.
Marsonia was the only town in the Thundering Flats that kept in contact with the rest of the Iron Kingdom during the abandonment of the South Exodus. They were disconnected and isolated, but acted as the bordermen between the establishing Iron Kingdom of the north and the thunderous southlands in case another Burnstorm hit, Soleri broke through, or another catastrophe occurred. They were to watch the newly abandoned south for threats to the vulnerable Iron Kingdom, and use their famed speed to get valuable information north to Hero's Rest if need be. During this time, most thought of Marsonia as a town in the Heartlands, not in the South. However, with progressive cartography, Marsonia has been confirmed to be in the Thundering Flats. Valtoria was kept busy defending their land against Lost during this time, as more and more appeared with the decrease in knight patrols. They were hard-pressed to protect themselves and lost many to the monsters before the call to war was sounded.
In the Burning War, the members of House Valtoria fought valiantly as knights, making up a large part of the renowned regiment. They brought great honor to their House, slaying Emberling and Highlander in the dozen, and earned the favor of the Last King. At the end of the war, they were given the Stormcaller, a Xandrian artifact. It is a horn that, when blown, summons a massive thunderstorm to rain down. This, given to Sir Galenius Valtoria by Xandros himself, and was meant to show how united Valtoria is with the storm, and so that they can take it with them wherever they go.
The Marsonian Games. First a failure. The Valtorians wanted to bring back the old Triumvirate Games, and attempted to do just that. However, the people of the Iron Kingdom (during the era of the Failed King) were suffering. They were beset on all sides by horrendous storms and vicious Lost and no time could be spared to 'play'. Valtoria was rebuked and suffered great financial losses. However, after the Burning War, and deep into the rule of Emperor Hostilus the Burnt, Valtoria brought the Marsonian Games back, focusing on knightly tourneys. Knights had become even more prominent since the forging of the Empire, and they could always use the chance to hone their skills in competition. Since the Empire was forged, the living situations for those in the Empire has slowly improved. Towns were more defensible, adapted to the land. There were fewer Lost, and the Soul Logic was well known and avoided. The people welcomed such entertainment. Of course, only nobles were rich enough to afford guarded transportation to the Games. The Marsonian Games slowly became known as one of the best events, and other knight tourneys and jousts throughout the Empire strive to compete at this level. The Marsonian Games have slowly introduced more events and entertainment that harks back to the Triumvirate Games while still focusing on knights and tourneys, introducing races and feats of strength as well, since they have a captive audience. Now, the Marsonian Games occur once every two years.
Sir Hasting of the Inferno. In the year of 487AW, the Ember Dominance rebelled against the Empire, lead by descendants of Uulia Emberling, a forsaken daughter of Roderick Sentel II and Armenia Glore, daughter of Emperor Isidorus. These descendants, led by Fire, the Murder King, had blood of House Glore and fought for independence, but were ultimately put down by the combined might of the Iron Houses forming together into one massive, bloody battle that left almost no survivors due to the nature of souls and how they work in a large-scale battle, all were infected except one survivor: Sir Hasting Valtoria of the Inferno, Lord of Marsonia. This battle left only Sir Hasting alive because the Ember Dominance enacted a new project of theirs that was not fully ready. They released the Souls of the Burning King, which were elite troops that can only fight all out once. They wore Sulfur-infused Iron armor as they charged into battle, and expelled their own soul slowly out of their body, draining their life away, but empowering the armor they wore to burst into powerful fire. The soul alights, and the sulfur transforms the fire into a magical blaze that encompasses the wielder and protects them and harms enemies. The Souls of the Burning King can only do this for so long, roughly an hour, and then they die, their soul extinguished. They massacred the Iron troops completely and utterly in blazing fashion despite being outnumbered, and then died. Hasting was the only knight they could not fell before their own flames consumed them. The Inferno of Souls also led to the depression of Ashfield and its destruction of the ruling House Drakis, later replaced by Courage. The technique of expelling one's own soul is slightly akin to Soulomancy, except a Soulomancer cannot expel their own soul, only those accrued, and the Souls of the Burning King held no soul but their own. It is still a secret, despite the Empire's attempts to uncover how it was done.
Now, Sir Hasting is a hero amongst those of the Empire. His word is gold, and his appraisal is sought above all else. He was already a renowned knight who took part in the Blackblade Valtoria duel to win the favor of his wife, and was known as a great warrior, but the Inferno of Souls showed him to be paralleled. It also sparked fear in the heart of many of Blackblade's enemies, who was thought to be Sir Hasting's equal. Sir Hasting rules with a firm hand, but is known to be a good Lord.
The new House continued to participate in the games, and became known for attaching silver wings to their shoes, to show that they could basically glide across the ground. These boots became famous and parts of stories, telling of the fastest Valtorians running with winged feet across water itself. As the Iron Kingdom prospered and subsequently fell to their own industriousness, forced to migrate across the Rusted Sea, Valtoria went with them. The wings became their house banner, silver wings on a yellow banner and a tie to their origin. Valtoria was given land by King Paramonus, the settler. A western river ran through and a small woods had gathered nearby. But it was constantly beset by storms. Not as bad as the areas slightly to the south as this land would occasionally have a small reprieve, but it was a volatile land needed to be tamed. Compared to the cramped confines of an overpopulated Old Iron, the vast lands of the Thundering Flats were still a welcome gift to Valtoria, and they settled, founding a town in the namesake of their first famous ancestor, Marsinius: Marsonia.
Marsonia was the only town in the Thundering Flats that kept in contact with the rest of the Iron Kingdom during the abandonment of the South Exodus. They were disconnected and isolated, but acted as the bordermen between the establishing Iron Kingdom of the north and the thunderous southlands in case another Burnstorm hit, Soleri broke through, or another catastrophe occurred. They were to watch the newly abandoned south for threats to the vulnerable Iron Kingdom, and use their famed speed to get valuable information north to Hero's Rest if need be. During this time, most thought of Marsonia as a town in the Heartlands, not in the South. However, with progressive cartography, Marsonia has been confirmed to be in the Thundering Flats. Valtoria was kept busy defending their land against Lost during this time, as more and more appeared with the decrease in knight patrols. They were hard-pressed to protect themselves and lost many to the monsters before the call to war was sounded.
In the Burning War, the members of House Valtoria fought valiantly as knights, making up a large part of the renowned regiment. They brought great honor to their House, slaying Emberling and Highlander in the dozen, and earned the favor of the Last King. At the end of the war, they were given the Stormcaller, a Xandrian artifact. It is a horn that, when blown, summons a massive thunderstorm to rain down. This, given to Sir Galenius Valtoria by Xandros himself, and was meant to show how united Valtoria is with the storm, and so that they can take it with them wherever they go.
For you o' Valtoria, the Stormcaller! Most thunderous of knights whom take the storm with you. May you never be lost, at home in the winds of Veler even if you must travel far from the Flats.Some would have taken this as a slight. As an ironic joke for the people who had to leave their faraway town undefended to fight in a war to the north. To leave the storms of their home behind, their people savaged by the Lost, to travel north. But the loyal Valtorians gratefully accepted. Later, when the Flats were re-settled, Marsonia grew and prospered, becoming an important connection to the southern towns for the rest of the Empire.Xandros, the Soulweaver
The Marsonian Games. First a failure. The Valtorians wanted to bring back the old Triumvirate Games, and attempted to do just that. However, the people of the Iron Kingdom (during the era of the Failed King) were suffering. They were beset on all sides by horrendous storms and vicious Lost and no time could be spared to 'play'. Valtoria was rebuked and suffered great financial losses. However, after the Burning War, and deep into the rule of Emperor Hostilus the Burnt, Valtoria brought the Marsonian Games back, focusing on knightly tourneys. Knights had become even more prominent since the forging of the Empire, and they could always use the chance to hone their skills in competition. Since the Empire was forged, the living situations for those in the Empire has slowly improved. Towns were more defensible, adapted to the land. There were fewer Lost, and the Soul Logic was well known and avoided. The people welcomed such entertainment. Of course, only nobles were rich enough to afford guarded transportation to the Games. The Marsonian Games slowly became known as one of the best events, and other knight tourneys and jousts throughout the Empire strive to compete at this level. The Marsonian Games have slowly introduced more events and entertainment that harks back to the Triumvirate Games while still focusing on knights and tourneys, introducing races and feats of strength as well, since they have a captive audience. Now, the Marsonian Games occur once every two years.
Sir Hasting of the Inferno. In the year of 487AW, the Ember Dominance rebelled against the Empire, lead by descendants of Uulia Emberling, a forsaken daughter of Roderick Sentel II and Armenia Glore, daughter of Emperor Isidorus. These descendants, led by Fire, the Murder King, had blood of House Glore and fought for independence, but were ultimately put down by the combined might of the Iron Houses forming together into one massive, bloody battle that left almost no survivors due to the nature of souls and how they work in a large-scale battle, all were infected except one survivor: Sir Hasting Valtoria of the Inferno, Lord of Marsonia. This battle left only Sir Hasting alive because the Ember Dominance enacted a new project of theirs that was not fully ready. They released the Souls of the Burning King, which were elite troops that can only fight all out once. They wore Sulfur-infused Iron armor as they charged into battle, and expelled their own soul slowly out of their body, draining their life away, but empowering the armor they wore to burst into powerful fire. The soul alights, and the sulfur transforms the fire into a magical blaze that encompasses the wielder and protects them and harms enemies. The Souls of the Burning King can only do this for so long, roughly an hour, and then they die, their soul extinguished. They massacred the Iron troops completely and utterly in blazing fashion despite being outnumbered, and then died. Hasting was the only knight they could not fell before their own flames consumed them. The Inferno of Souls also led to the depression of Ashfield and its destruction of the ruling House Drakis, later replaced by Courage. The technique of expelling one's own soul is slightly akin to Soulomancy, except a Soulomancer cannot expel their own soul, only those accrued, and the Souls of the Burning King held no soul but their own. It is still a secret, despite the Empire's attempts to uncover how it was done.
Now, Sir Hasting is a hero amongst those of the Empire. His word is gold, and his appraisal is sought above all else. He was already a renowned knight who took part in the Blackblade Valtoria duel to win the favor of his wife, and was known as a great warrior, but the Inferno of Souls showed him to be paralleled. It also sparked fear in the heart of many of Blackblade's enemies, who was thought to be Sir Hasting's equal. Sir Hasting rules with a firm hand, but is known to be a good Lord.
On Silver Wings
Type
Political, Family
Leader
Leader Title
Parent Organization
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