History of
House Silverstone
By Harri Mäki
Coming to the Highlands
When Halzunthram arrived in the Highlands in AC 786 amongst his
followers was 50-years old Randelian battlemage Tostian. He soon
rose to be Halzunthram’s closest advisor. And consequently
was made in AC 803 as first Count of Silverstone, to be first
amongst Alphatian nobles in the area. Tostian chose Silverstone
because Schloss Silberstein, which had earlier been hold of
Graustein-family in the area, was in a prime shape. After this he
share 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 only time he didn’t stutter was when he
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 a dominion.
Tostian was killed by a Grizzly bear in hunting trip in AC 810 in
the age of 74. Halzunthram was only one to mourn his passing.
Vortram
Vortram was 42 when his father died. He had come to the Highlands
with his two years younger brother Geilan in AC 791 after their
mother had died in Alphatia. They had at first been fighting
alongside with their father, but after AC 803 they stayed in
Silverstone 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 the
Highlands and his wife and newborn daughter, Mariadna, followed
him. He however sent them back to Alphatia in 801 to be safe. He
never saw them again.
As ruler of Silverstone Vortram was highly efficient, wise and
just. Although when he was getting older there surfaced also
tendencies to cruelty and despotism. He also had enormous amount
of illegitimate children who he favoured.
Vortram stayed 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 joined the
rebels in AC 820 he began to wonder if Halzunthram was going to
loose the war. He contacted Prusias and Arden, viscounts of
Volnay and Redstone, and Lendup, son of Viscount Potiorek of
Eriadna, to discuss about the matter. Together they decided that
Halzunthram’s case was lost and if they wanted to keep their
dominions they had to change side. They secretly contacted
Wilhelm von Drachenfels and started the negotiations with the
rebels. Next year they declared their allegiance to rebel side
and Lendup killed his father who wanted to stay loyal to
Halzunthram.
Halzunthram was again forced to bring more troops from Alphatia,
but it didn’t help him anymore. He was captured in AC 828
and Forty-Year’s War was over.
Republic of the Highlands
Negotiations after the war were hard for Vortram. Flaems were
demanding expulsion of all Alphatians from the area and more than
once Vortram and his allies leave the negotiations just to be
called back later. In the end Alexander Glantri’s and
Wilhelm von Drachenfels’s influence got the Flaems and other
Thyatians to accept their staying in the area.
Other Alphatian nobles chose unanimously Vortram to represent
them in the council and his title as Count of Silverstone 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 for 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
Silverstone. His first deed was to expel Vortram’s siblings
from Silverstone. He hadn’t been very popular earlier and
this didn’t increase it a bit.
Ambrosion’s selection to represent Alphatians in the Council
was challenged by Lendup, Viscount of Eriadna. Ambrosion was
however elected with the backing of Prusias and Johan of Haaskinz
against only Arden backing Lendup. Prusias and Johann choose
Ambrosion because they disliked him less than totally racist
Lendup. In the Council he 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 Silverstone.
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 his father’s inheritance. Ambrosion of course refused
to give up Silverstone, where he had already ruled eight years.
Old divisions amongst Alphatian nobles surfaced again now. Lendup
and Arden backed Mariadna’s demands. Prusias had died in AC
839 and everyone now waited for his son’s, Stefan
Cornhearst, move. He backed Ambrosion, as did Johan of Haaskinz.
Parliament decided that this was something Alphatians should
solve by themselves.
This resulted in the so called Alphatian War, which lasted next
ten years. It was not an actual war, but more like little
skirmishes, marauding, robbing of merchants and assassination
attempts. But anyway the area south of the Red River was not safe
for travellers during this time.
Only one time during these years Alphatians were united. The
creation of County of Wylon for Alexander von Taafnen in AC 845
got protests from everyone of them.
Arden was killed in skirmish with 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
852, then end began to be seen. His son Bias was not interested
in continuing the feud.
In AC 853 Mariadna died at the age of 63. If she had been a less
unpleasant woman, she might have won this war. Two months later
Ambrosion’ s wife Tirana and his 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 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 at the age of 60. He had lost his
will to live.
Vitalin Aendyr
Vitalin was only 21 when he inherited Silverstone. He began
immediately to use his father’s name as his surname. He also
began to heal wounds that the feud of his mother and Ambrosion
had been causing. He married Viscount Bias’s cousin Eriadna.
In the Council Vitalin demanded first the position of Chancellor,
but lost it to Friedrich von Drachenfels (mostly because others
thought Vitalin to be too young), then Treasurer, but lost it to
Matteo di Sfonti. He ended up getting Viceroyalty of Nordling,
which he was not happy at all with. Unfortunately he ended up
being stuck with it for 32 years.
Vitalin was already in this age fat, he had problems with his
eating and it showed. He was otherwise 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 moneys that were
meant to be used for keeping Nordling in shape.
Vitalin was however effective as a ruler. He managed to pacify
the Alphatians area in only two years. And after creation of
Principalities he created a very effective local government in
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 a 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 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 Owain, their youngest child, was born Eriadna left
Vitalin and went to Alphatia.
This consequently meant that two oldest sons, Vitalin II and
Pelagiri, began to blame Vitalin for this. They both left
Silverstone in AC 875 and began an adventuring life, vowing never
to return. They however returned 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 a magic-user, but he
also realised that Pelagiri would need help in ruling. Vitalin
released Pelagiri and Gepin the next year after they promised not
to try to kill him again.
Daughters gave Vitalin no troubles. They were totally obedient to
him and he used them only as a tool to get allies. His oldest
daughter Mariadna married in AC 880 Eric Bluebeard, son of
Marquis John Bluebeard, while the second daughter Eriadna married
in AC 882 Arnulf of Haaskinz, grandson of Count Robert of
Haaskinz. The youngest daughter Jonna married in AC 883 Bernard
Batril, son of Archduke Bohemon Batril.
In AC 886 Vitalin was chosen to be a 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 because
he was seen as the less unpleasant alternative.
Vitalin got sick and died in AC 889 at the age of 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
beard. 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 had been said that they even visited their
mother in Alphatia, but there is no proof about this. Anyway they
tried to kill their father after coming back to Silverstone 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 between them was born.
Pelagiri spent the years from AC 884 to 886 in Nordling as a
castellan. During those two years he acquired the fame in
military matters that got him the position of Warden of Marches
after he became a Prince. The Council also chose him to be
Viceroy of Monteleone.
Pelagiri left Silverstone 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, and once 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 was very antagonistic. He was easily insulted and
spent much time blasting away his adversaries. However, 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
some bands of ogres.
Owain Aendyr
Pelagiri was replaced by his 32-years old younger brother Owain.
Pelagiri wasn’t married and Gepin had been murdered in AC
897, so Owain was the only logical choice left. Owain had already
been ruling Blackhill for two years when he ascended to Prince
status. It was 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 commoner.
Owain was a 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 favoured
by his father.
Anyway Owain had a wife and two young children so inheritance of
Principality was secure. He had married in AC 895 with Isidora
Cornhearst, daughter of Count Arnulf Cornhearst. Their first son
Cadwallon was born in AC 897 and the 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 began flattering other
Princes hoping to get a better position. It worked at last in AC
902 when he was chosen to be next Treasurer after the death of
Galeazzo di Sfonti. He also mantained his charge of Viceroy of
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. From then on, he started forging tax-reports and
pocketed some of the taxes.
Owain’s undoing was his greediness. The 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 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 Silverstone
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 outlook. In AC 924 he had made a trip to
Alphatia and came back with a wife, Thendara. She was a distant
relative of the Emperor of Alphatia.
Owain had a deep sense of duty since he had been governing
Silverstone already before his father isolated himself there.
Since that he had also been a real ruler of Blackhill. He had
already nominated his brother Ricelion to represent himself in
Parliament.
In Council he was chosen to succeed his father as Viceroy of
Monteleone. He wasn’t good in this charge, he wasn’ t
interested in Monteleone and neglected it nearly totally. He
tried to get the 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 reason was mostly
because Cadwallon was not very effective in handling money.
Instead Cadwallon was a perfect host and had clearly diplomatic
abilities. So when Chancellor Albrecht von Drachenfels died in AC
940, Cadwallon was one of the candidates. He however lost to
Pieter Vlaardoen VII. But after Pieter was drowned in 947
Cadwallon at last succeeded.
As Chancellor Cadwallon proved to be a success. His most visible
achievement was the establishment of diplomatic relations with
Wendar in AC 970. However after this his sanity began to
deteriorate rapidly, 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-years old younger son Volospin who inherited
him.
Volospin 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 19
years for more interesting charges.
It was only in AC 991 that Volospin was chosen to be a next
Chancellor after the death of Mario di Malapietra with the
support of Jaggar von Drachenfels.
Summary
Tostian b.736 d.810
First Count of Silverstone
Vortram b.768 d.835
Chamberlain of the Highlands 829-835
Ambrosion b.794 d.854
Chamberlain of the Glantri 835-854
Vitalin Aendyr b.833 d.889
First Prince of Blackhill
Viceroy of Nordling 854-886
Chancellor of the Princes 886-889
Pelagiri Aendyr b.857 d.899
Viceroy of Monteleone 889-899
Warden of the Marches 889-899
Owain Aendyr b.867 d.926
Viceroy of Monteleone 899-926
Treasurer of the Council 902-921
Cadwallon Aendyr b.897 d.972
Viceroy of Monteleone 926-947
Chancellor of the Princes 947-972
Volospin Aendyr b.930
Prince of Blackhill and Count of Silverstone 972-1008
Viceroy of Nordling 972-991
Chancellor of the Princes 991-1006