Lihin (lee-HIN)
"The mountain keeps." The translation of our motto, which I've only just learned. But keeps what? Or is it a reference to us -- are we the keepers of the mountain? I can't help but think of that terrible night we descended within, and rescued Thadea and Rosa...the secret buried at the heart of it. The mountain is us, and we keep atrocities.The Lihin family has ruled the town and province of Atton for thousands of years. Said to have been granted the province by a Queen of the First Age, the rule of the Lihin family has been steadfast -- despite what certain mythologies may say about Atton's past. Trademarks of the Lihin line include fiery red hair and both a physical and emotional hardiness. Over the millennia, many Consorts have been chosen from the Lihin line, or related offshoots of the family. It is perhaps not a stretch to say that, if the Queen's line plays favourites with the nobility, the Lihins are always at the top of the list.
Structure
Lady / Lord
The Lihin family is ruled by a Lady, who becomes Lady Lihin (no first name). Other members of the family will also have the title Lady or Lord, but with the first name. As with the rest of Athering , male children are not heirs, but married off in the hopes of producing heirs. Any men who marry into the family will be given the title Lord, no matter their origins, but they will never be ruler of Atton. At most, they can be Regents for their female children who are not of age yet.Public Agenda
Lihins are the staunchest, most steadfast supporters of the Queen of Athering and her agenda. For millennia, the Queen and the Lihins have had an alliance that dips deep into the land of friendship.
However, this does not mean the Lihins always agree with the Queen. They simply will never disagree publicly.
Assets
Land and Household
The Lihin family rules Atton under the grace of the Queen, but they still do own certain assets. The Manor, which has housed Lihins for thousands of years, and everything within it -- furniture, art, historical artefacts, and more -- is deeded to the leader of the Lihin family. However. If such a time comes that the Queen of Athering -- no one else -- decides it is time for the Lihins to step aside and make room for a new family to rule Atton, the law is such that the Manor must be ceded to the new family. Items within the Manor may or may not be ceded under this law, depending on if they are deemed personally valuable to the Lihins or culturally valuable to Atton. Untouched by the secession law is the Lihin family fortune. In addition to the Manor and all it contains, the Lihins own a few tracts of land in the Atton province. These are owned by the family, purchased with their family fortune, and cannot be taken by them in the case of the secession law.Family Fortune
The "family fortune" of the Lihins refers to liquid money in their possession as well as any jewellery or valuables that are not considered cultural or historical artefacts (see above). This fortune has been amassed over many, many years, and it mostly remains untouched by the family. They are legally bound to only build the fortune via money they accrue through honest work: Atton taxes are not to touch it at all. Because it is expected the heir and the leader of the family will spend all their time working for the people of Atton, they are afforded a modest living allowance from the collection of taxes. In return, they do not touch the family fortune nor try to add to it with extra jobs. Other members of the family may work outside of the realm of politics and use their gains to add to the family fortune. The family fortune is used in times of emergency, or to purchase things the family would like to own outside their stewardship of Atton and its surrounding lands.History
It is said the Lihins came across the waters with the first Queen of Athering. The leader of the family at that time was a close friend and confidante of the Queen, and when it came time to divvy up the provinces for rule in Athering, she was given first choice. The Lady Lihin was a rugged sort who loved mountains, snow, and winter, so Atton was a paradise for her. (Not so much for other Atherians, who chose to live elsewhere.)
The true history is, of course, a bit more complicated. When the first ships landed on New Erika from Landing, the people aboard them were not Atherians -- nor was there a Queen. They were descendants of the original Terran colonists, still carrying legends and tales of the planet their ancestors had left behind, and trying to find their way on a planet that was at turns forbidding and welcoming.
The family Lihin almost certainly existed then, as did the family Zarqon -- but whether they were Queen and Lady or simply friends cleaving to each other in the face of possible extinction remains unknown.
mons servat ("the mountain keeps")
| Current Members |
|---|
| Alexandra Lihin (current head of house) |
| Ghia deCharity Lihin (heir-apparent) |
| Jules deTania Lihin (spouse of heir-apparent) |
| Ather deGhia Lihin (non-inheriting child of Ghia) |
| Deceased Members |
|---|
| Marcus deAlexandra Lihin (chosen as Consort by Queen Zameera) |
| Terence deAlexandra Lihin (father of Ghia) |
Type
Political, Family
Demonym
Lihin
Ruling Organization
Location
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
Comments