Race: Omicron
Allegiance: Brothers of Barald
Head: Lord Torvald Sunderoak
Heraldry: A Green Oak Sundered upon Black
Motto: “Against all odds.”
Source of Wealth: Forestry, Game, Rare Herbs and Reagents, Farming.
Faith: Lady of Steel. Many secretly practice druidism.
Seat of Power: Sunderoak Castle, Derbinshyre
The Sunderoaks are the descendants of a famous hero of the rebellion, a lowborn solider named Gavon the Black, who early on in the war won an impossible victory, seemingly by divine intervention. He was cornered atop a hill by a much large Imperial force, his commanding officer was dead, and he had only a handful of men.
Legend has it he was a powerful druid, and casted a mighty spell, calling down lightning upon the Imperials. Others say he simply prayed to the spirits, and they chose to aid him. At any rate, lightning struck an oak at the top of the hill, split it down the center, branched out, and slew half the imperial force. From it's heartwood sprung an ancient cold iron blade, which Gavon took up, and used to lead his men on a desperate charge against the Imperials, who were routed with great slaughter. Gavon himself slew the Lord Commander of the opposing force.
After that, he was no longer Gavon the Black, but Gavon Sunderoak, the man whos faith slew his enemies and split even the mightiest trees apart. He was promoted, and used the intelligence gathered from the beaten Imperials to plan a tight defense of the Town of Derbinshyre, once again thrashing a numerically superior Imperial attacker.
Subsequently, he was granted Lordship of Derbinshyre and it's lands, and his descendants have ruled it ever since. Early on they were wealthy, as their region was the breadbasket of the Omicron lands. Lately, however, they and their town have fallen on hard times, as the blight of the barrens have begun to creep past their borders. It is whispered by some their their continued hushed devotion to that ancient, dangerous, religion; druidism, is what has cursed their crops. Others point out it is probably their worship of the old spirits that has kept their lands from utter ruin, as even through the hard times, they somehow manage to grow crops, husband their woodlands, and protect their people.
More practical minded individuals point to more mundane means of survival; naming the marriage of Torvald Sunderoak to Diara Tramell, youngest daughter of the wealthy merchant Rickos Tramell, as the real reason the family has been able to keep their head above water. As the southernmost power still loyal to the rebellion, their position on the marches of Omicron land necessitates that they maintain a large standing military force, should Tel Vinrae's neutrality waver, or should corsairs raid from the sea, monsters from the wastes. In exchange for warriors willing to guard his caravans, it is rumored Rickos Tramell now finances the purchase of provender for these rebel soldiers, thus furthering the Brothers' cause while assuring his own investments are well guarded.
House Sunderoak's current head, Lord Torvald, is an omicron man in his mid fifties. While his age and wounds have slowed him somewhat, he is still a skilled fighter, and his tactical and strategic abilities rank even with the most skilled Imperial commanders. He sits on the Council of Baraldmere, residing in his family's fortified hall in the Gentile District, along with his wife, Diara, and a large contingent of men at arms. His eldest, Ymir, rules as acting Master of Sunderoak Castle and Lord of Derbinshyre in his father's absence.
Kown NPCS:Torvald "Mighty" Sunderoak, House Head. 55 years old.
Diara Sunderoak, Lady. 36 years old.
Travos "Tricky Trav" Sunderoak, younger brother to Torvald. 44 years old.
Ymir Sunderoak, Firstborn and Heir Apparent, 21 years old.
PC Slots:[Children of Torvald and Diara]
OPEN [20 yr Omicron Female]
Devon Sunderoak [19 yr Omicron Male]
OPEN [18 yr Omicron Female]
[Children of Travos]:
? [Numerous Bastards]
