The history of the House Silverstone
by Harri MäkiComing to Highlands
When the Alphatian General Halzunthram arrived in Highlands in AC 786, amongst his followers was 50 year-old battlemage Tostian from Randel. Tostian soon rose to be Halzunthram's closest advisor and was consequently made the first Count of Silverston in AC 803, the first amongst Alphatian nobles in the area. Tostian chose Silverston because Schloss Silberstein (as it was called earlier under the hold of Graustein family) was in prime shape. After this Tostian shared fiefs to his loyal followers: Savalo was made Viscount of Volnay, Potiorek Viscount of Eriadna and Sanapria Viscount of Redstone
Tostian was not very impressive. He was very fat, with bull-neck that dwindled into sloping shoulders, and was awkward in his gait. His eyes were deep-set, his features heavy and coarse, and his face suffused with a flush. He wore his hair long and had a frantic stutter. But he was no fool, he was very competent magician, in fact the only time he didn't stutter was when he was casting spells.
As a ruler, Tostian was not effective. He had little time to spare for anything except fighting. He left ruling mostly to his sons, Vortram and Geilan. He was also violently impatient, which somewhat explains his lack of interest in the ruling of a dominion.
Tostian was killed by a grizzly bear in a hunting trip in AC 810 at the age of 74. Halzunthram was only one to mourn his passing.
Vortram
Vortram was 42 when his father died. He had come to Highlands with his 40 year-old brother, Geilan in AC 791, after their mother had died in Alphatia. They were first been fighting alongside with their father, but after AC 803, they stayed in Silverston to rule a County.
Vortram wasn't like his father. He was a big man, who loved showy clothes. His father had mostly used simple uniforms, but Vortram wanted to be seen. He was genial, extroverted and merry. He loved parties and despised the hardships of military life. He was also a poet, scholar and musician. His fluency with languages was also impressive, during the first 20 years in Highlands he learned to speak every major language in the area without any accent.
Vortram had been married just year before arriving to Highlands, and his wife and newborn daughter followed him. He however sent them back to Alphatia in AC 801 for safety. He never saw them again.
As ruler of Silverston, Vortram was highly efficient, wise and just. Although when he was getting older, there surfaced also tendencies to cruelty and despotism. He also had many illegitimate children who he favoured.
War Years
Vortram ruled at the height of the Forty Years War, where Halzunthram lead the Alphatians and their allies against the rebel forces. Vortram remained loyal to Halzunthram until AC 821. Even the joining of the elves with the rebels in AC 806-808 didn't break his loyalty. Only when Wilhelm von Drachenfels, leader of their Hattian allies, joined the rebels in AC 820, did Vortram begin to wonder if Halzunthram is going to loose the war.
Vortram contacted the other Alphatian nobles, Prusias, the new Viscount of Volnay, Arden, new Viscount of Redstone, and the son of Viscount Potiorek of Eriadna, Lendup, to discuss about the matter. Together they decided that Halzunthram's cause was lost, and if they wanted to keep their dominions they would have to change sides. They secretly contacted Wilhelm von Drachenfels, and started the negotiations with the rebels. The next year they declared their allegiance to rebel side. (Lendup had to kill his father who wanted to stay loyal to Halzunthram.)
Halzunthram was again forced to bring more troops from Alphatia, but that didn't help him anymore. He was captured in AC 828 and Forty Years War was over.
Republic of Highlands
Negotiations after the war were hard for Vortram. The Flaems were demanding expulsion of all Alphatians from the area and more than once Vortram and his allies walked out of the negotiations just to be called back later. In the end, the influence of Alexander Glantri and Wilhelm von Drachenfels got the Flaems and the other Thyatians to accept the Alphatians staying in the area.
The other Alphatian nobles unanimously chose Vortram to represent them in the council and his title as Count of Silverston was also accepted in the Parliament. At this point, Vortram was already 61 years old and as tired of the war as everyone else in the area.
At the first Council meeting, Vortram was given the charge of Chamberlain of the Highlands. His most important duty was to rebuild roads that the war had destroyed and open the mines that had been closed.
Vortram's last years were not happy. His brother Geilan was murdered in AC 831, and his daughter Mariadna refused to come back from Alphatia. Because of this, Vortram named - to everyone's great surprise - Geilan's son, Ambrosion, to be his heir. It was generally expected that he would recognise some of his illegitimate sons and named him heir.
Vortram was executed in AC 835 after killing Alexander Glantri and Birkai Virayana during the Council meeting. There were never given any reason for his deed.
Ambrosion
Ambrosion was 41 years old when he followed his uncle as Count of Silverston. His first deed was to expel Vortram's siblings and illegitimate children from Silverston. He hadn't been very popular earlier and this didn't improve matters a bit.
Ambrosion's selection to represent the Alphatians in the Council was challenged by Lendup, Viscount of Eriadna. However, Ambrosion had the backing of Prusias, Viscount of Volnay, and their ally, Johan of Haaskinz, Baron of Egorn, against Lendup's sole backer, Viscount Arden of Redstone. Prusias and Johan choose Ambrosion because they disliked him less than the racist Lendup. In the Council, Ambrosion was elected to be Chamberlain, because no one else wanted the position.
Ambrosion was more like Tostian in appearance than his uncle. He was ugly, little man, who however, enjoyed company of ladies and was fond of gambling and high living. Consequently he spent more time in Glantri City than in Silverston.
Ambrosion was not up to ruling. He was perpetually at loggerheads with various cliques amongst Alphatians and with other Council members.
Ambrosion's real troubles however began only in AC 843, when his cousin Mariadna suddenly came from Alphatia, and began to demand her father's inheritance. Ambrosion, of course, refused to give up Silverston, where he had already ruled eight years.
Old divisions amongst Alphatian nobles surfaced anew. Lendup and Arden backed Mariadna's demands. Prusias had died in AC 839, and everyone now waited what his son, Stefan Cornhearst will do. Stefan backed Ambrosion, as did Johan of Haaskinz. Parliament decided that this was a matter Alphatians should resolve by themselves.
This resulted in the so-called Alphatian War, which lasted next ten years. It was not an actual war, but more of little skirmishes, marauding, robbing of merchants and assassination attempts among the Alphatian dominions. At any rate, the areas south of the Red River were not safe for travellers during this time.
Only once during these years were the Alphatians united. In AC 845, the creation of the County of Wylon for Alexander von Taafnen was unanimously protested by every Alphatian.
Viscount Arden of Redstone was killed in a skirmish against Volnay's troops in AC 847, and in the end, he proved to be only real casualty of this war. His son Gisel stayed loyal to Mariadna. But when Lendup died in AC 852, Mariadna's case began to unravel. Lendup's son, Bias, was not interested in continuing the feud.
In AC 853, Mariadna died at the age of 63. If she would have been less unpleasant a woman, she might have won this war. Two months later, Ambrosion' s wife Tirana, and only son, Eustasion, died of a fever.
After this, Ambrosion was a broken man. He contacted Mariadna's son, Vitalin, who had come to Glantri only recently in AC 852, and proposed an ending of the war. He promised to make Vitalin his heir, if he would lay down his arms. Vitalin accepted this.
Ambrosion died next year in the age of 60. He had lost all will to live.
Vitalin Aendyr
Vitalin was only 21 when he inherited the County of Silverston. He began immediately to use his father's name as his surname. He also began to heal wounds that feud of his mother and Ambrosion had been caused, by marrying the cousin of Viscount Bias, Eriadna.
In the Council, Vitalin demanded the position of Chancellor, but lost it to Friedrich von Drachenfels (mostly because others thought Vitalin was too young). He then vied for the position of Treasurer, but lost it to Matteo di Sfonti. He ended up with the Viceroyalty of Nordling, which he was not happy at all. Unfortunately, he was stuck with it for 32 years.
Vitalin was already fat in this young age. He had problems with his eating and it showed. He was otherwise the typical pure Alphatian: pale, black-haired and bearded. He was also a bit difficult to work with. He was cruel, oppressive and was hardly ever known to say a civil word to anyone. He was also greedy, and it was suspected later that he pocketed some of the money that were meant to be used for keeping Fort Nordling in shape.
Vitalin was however effective as a ruler. He managed to pacify the Alphatians areas in only two years. And after creation of Principalities, Vitalin created a very effective local government in the Principality of Blackhill.
Vitalin proved also be a good military leader during a short campaign against Alexius Glantri in AC 859. He led troops from Blackhill and Caurenze and crushed Alexius's troops in a battle fought between Westheath and Hightower. This lead Friedrich von Drachenfels to appreciate him bit more. But his difficult nature didn't help him to get too many allies during the next years.
Vitalin's most visible achievement was his large family. Between AC 855 and 867 Eriadna gave birth to four sons and three daughters. This didn't however mean a happy domestic life. Vitalin and Eriadna had been quarrelling since AC 863 and two years after their youngest, Owain, was born Eriadna left Vitalin and migrated to Alphatia.
Consequently Vitalin's two oldest sons, Vitalin II and Pelagiri, began to blame him for this. They both left Silverston in AC 875 and began a life of adventurers vowing never to return. They did however return in AC 883, when they tried to kill Vitalin with the help of their younger brother Gepin. They however were no match for the old mage. Vitalin executed his son Vitalin II and imprisoned Pelagiri and Gepin. He had to spare those two, because he knew already that Owain wouldn't be a good ruler and he didn't want to leave Blackhill to any of his daughters. Of course, Gepin was not even magic-user, but he also realised that Pelagiri would need him to help in ruling. Vitalin released Pelagiri and Gepin the next year, after they have promised not to try to kill him again.
Vitalin's daughters gave him no troubles. They were totally obedient to him and he used them only as a tool to get allies. His oldest daughter Mariadna married Eric Bluebeard, son of Marquis John Bluebeard in AC 880. The second daughter Eriadna married Arnulf of Haaskinz, grandson of Count Robert of Haaskinz in AC 882. And the youngest daughter Jonna married Bernard Batril, son of Archduke Bohemon Batril in AC 883.
In AC 886, Vitalin was chosen to be Chancellor after the death of Friedrich von Drachenfels. His opponents were Robert McGregor and Galeazzo di Sfonti. Galeazzo didn't get any support, because of his bad reputation and young age. Real choice was between Vitalin and Robert. In the end, Vitalin was chosen, simple because he was the less unpleasant alternative.
Vitalin got sick and died in AC 889 at the age of only 56.
Pelagiri Aendyr
Pelagiri was 32-years old when his father died. He was a tall man, with big, bushy beard. Some said that he looked like a bear. But he wasn't gruff or grim, he had a beaming smile and he radiated an infectious gaiety around him. He was a friend of poets and troubadours; being bit a poet himself.
Pelagiri had been adventuring for eight years with his elder brother, Vitalin II. It is said that they even visited their mother in Alphatia, but there is no proof about this. They tried to kill their father after coming back to Silverston in AC 883. Vitalin II was executed and Pelagiri spent next year in prison with his younger brother Gepin. In prison, a close personal bond was born between them.
Pelagiri spent the years from AC 884 to 886 in Fort Nordling as Castellan. During those two years, he achieved much fame in military matters that earned him the position of Warden of Marches after he became a Prince. Council also chose him to be a Viceroy of Monteleone.
Pelagiri left Silverston totally in Gepin's hands. Of his 10 years as a Prince, he spent nine and a half in Monteleone. He knew that he had no talents for ruling a Principality and that Gepin was ten times better in that role.
Pelagiri spent his time improving Monteleone and making raids to the Broken Lands. It was very clearly seen that he wanted more fame than power. He was also a great hunter, one time he even killed a bear by using only a dagger.
Pelagiri also proved to be his father's son. In spite of his gaiety, he proved to be very antagonistic. He was easily insulted and spent much time blasting away his adversaries. But Pelagiri managed to get a new ally in AC 893 when his cousin Serena married Albrecht von Drachenfels, heir of Prince Ernst.
Pelagiri died in AC 899 in the age of only 42 fighting against band of ogres.
Owain Aendyr
Pelagiri was followed by his 32-years old younger brother Owain as Prince of Blackhill. Pelagiri wasn't married and Gepin had earlier been murdered in AC 897. Owain had been already ruling Blackhill for these two years. It had been suggested that he was behind Gepin's murder, but then again there was nothing he could gain from this, because he was already Pelagiri's heir, Gepin being a mundaner.
Owain was squat and bottle-nosed man who used to wear tall hats. He was also slovenly, rude, ill-tempered, obstinate, stupid, cruel, quarrelsome, tyrannical, selfish, bad-mannered, lax, sybaritic, oppressive, dishonest, crude, devious, cynical, liar, coward, braggart, bully and fool. No one could trust him. Someone would say that he was a typical youngest child spoiled by his father.
Owain had a wife and two young children so inheritance of Principality was secure. He had married Isidora Cornhearst, daughter of Count Arnulf Cornhearst in AC 895. Their first son Cadwallon was born in AC 897 and second son Ricelion just before Owain became a Prince.
In Council, Owain was chosen to continue as Viceroy of Monteleone. He was not content with this charge, so he flattered other Princes hoping to get better position by this method. It worked at last in AC 902 when he was chosen to be next Treasurer after the death of Galeazzo di Sfonti. He also continued his charge of Fort Monteleone.
At first everything went quite well. Owain seemed to be a perfect Treasurer. Everyone was content with his work there. In fact he proved to be a very good with numbers and giving positions to his henchmen. From AC 908, every major position in Treasury was in his pockets. He forged also tax-reports and pocketed some of the taxes.
Owain's undoing was his greediness. Trade agreement with Darokin in AC 920 was mostly result of his close co-operation with Chancellor Albrecht von Drachenfels. It was a good agreement for both countries, but next year was exposed that Owain had been taken some heavy bribes from some Darokinian merchants. Owain's reputation was totally discredited; he and most of the upper officials were promptly removed from the Treasury. He was however allowed to keep his position as a Viceroy although only with a narrow margin.
After this Owain was a broken man. His past deeds began to haunt him. He confessed to his son that he had murdered Gepin's son, Huberion in AC 903. He lived his last years in Silverston without leaving his tower. He died in AC 926 at the age of 59.
Cadwallon Aendyr
Owain's oldest son Cadwallon was only 29 when he succeeded his father. Unlike his father he was tall, handsome young man, with pure Alphatian features. In AC 924, he had made a trip to Alphatia and came back with wife Thendara. She was a distant relative of the Emperor of Alphatia.
Cadwallon had a deep sense of duty since he had been governing Silverston already before his father isolated himself in his tower. Since that time, he had also been a real ruler of Blackhill. He had already nominated his brother Ricelion to represent him at Parliament.
In Council, Cadwallon was chosen to succeed his father as Viceroy of Monteleone. He wasn't good in this charge as he wasn't interested in Fort Monteleone and neglected it almost totally. He tried to get a position of Treasurer unsuccessfully for three times: in 927 he lost to Simon Vlaardoen VI, in 936 to Malcolm McGregor and in 937 to Filippo di Sfonti. The losses were mostly because Cadwallon clearly was not very effective in handling the money.
Instead, Cadwallon was a perfect host and clearly had diplomatic abilities. So when Chancellor Albrecht von Drachenfels died in AC 940, Cadwallon was one of the candidates for Chancellor of the Princes. However, he lost to Pieter Vlaardoen VII. But after Pieter was drowned in 947 Cadwallon succeeded him.
As Chancellor, Cadwallon proved to be very successful. His most visible achievement was establishment of diplomatic relations with Wendar in AC 970. However after this, his mind began to deteriorate rapidly and he began to suffer from bouts of insanity. He died in AC 972 at the age of 75 when he just walked out of the roof of his tower in Parliament.
Volospin Aendyr
Cadwallon's oldest son Uthar was unable to understand magic, so it was his 42 year-old younger son Volospin who succeeded him.
Volospin Aendyr was chosen to be a Viceroy of Nordling by the Council. He showed as less interest for this charge as his father has shown to Monteleone. Unfortunately, there was no openings for other more interesting charges for the next 19 years.
It was only in AC 991, after the death of Mario di Malapietra, that Volospin was chosen to be a next Chancellor of the Princes, with the support of Jaggar von Drachenfels.
Summary
Tostian b.736 d.810
First Count of Silverston 803-810
Vortram, son of Tostian b.768 d.835
Count of Silverston 810-835
Chamberlain of the Highlands 829-835
Ambrosion, son of Vortram's brother Geilan b.794 d.854
Count of Silverston 835-854
Chamberlain of the Glantri 835-854
Vitalin Aendyr, son of Vortram's daughter Mariadna b.833 d.889
Count of Silverston 854-889
First Prince of Blackhill 859-889
Viceroy of Nordling 854-886
Chancellor of the Princes 886-889
Pelagiri Aendyr, son of Vitalin b.857 d.899
Prince of Blackhill and Count of Silverston 889-899
Viceroy of Monteleone 889-899
Warden of the Marches 889-899
Owain Aendyr, son of Vitalin b.867 d.926
Prince of Blackhill and Count of Silverston 899-926
Viceroy of Monteleone 899-926
Treasurer of the Council 902-921
Cadwallon Aendyr, son of Owain b.897 d.972
Prince of Blackhill and Count of Silverston 921-972
Viceroy of Monteleone 926-947
Chancellor of the Princes 947-972
Volospin Aendyr, son of Cadwallon b.930
Last Prince of Blackhill and Count of Silverston 972-1008
Viceroy of Nordling 972-991
Chancellor of the Princes 991-1008