NationStates Jolt Archive

The houses of Valgard are extremely ancient house holds that have long held a vast importance in the Empire. Since its earliest days these Houses have played a central role of the Empire and continue to so today. As well, these houses are the signal most influential, politically powerful, and wealthiest group in the whole of the Empire. The purpose behind them maintaining their pure blood to such a degree is due to the fact that if they marry a non-Valgardian their marriage partner will have a much shorter life span and the long life genes will severely weaken in their children.

Higher Houses:

Name: House of the Emperors (Erid)
Age: 5,000+ years
Numbers: 2,650
Assets: 08.7 trillion Darvians (Darvin roughly equals $1.58)
Description: The most important Houses of the Empire directly descended from the first Emperor. The Emperors, as the name implies, come from this household and the Emperors are the eldest sons of the pervious Emperor and have maintained a line since the founding of the Empire. Yet, they often will intermarry, not to a degree of close cousins, but of distant kin.
Characteristics: Life span up 440 (for the direct heirs being up to 515), being on average over 6’10”, platinum blonde or silver hair, light grey or sky blue eyes, and a for their piercing eyes.

Name: House Erida
Age: 4,850
Numbers: 3,650
Assets: 10.25 trillion Darvians
Description: An offshoot of the house of the Emperor they possibly the greatest in splendor, save for the Imperial household, and in glory. From this house has sprung many great generals and philosophers who have made a great impact on Imperial culture. As well, they are the most noble of the houses and the most dedicated to the service of the Emperor. Further, a number of Empresses have been chosen from this house. Added they also are in the many of the titular and most important administrative positions of the Empire.
Characteristics: Life span up to 420, on average over 6’8”, platinum hair, and emerald and sapphire eyes.

Name: House Harilod
Age: 4,200
Numbers: 9,100
Assets: 9.28 trillion Darvians
Description: One of the wealthiest of the Houses they have long been merchants, slave traders, landowners, investors, businessmen, master craftsmen, etc. They have long been important in the expansion of the Empire and in investing in its economic growth.
Characteristics: Life span up to 385, on average 6’5”, strawberry hair, and emerald eyes.

Name: House Ariotagi
Age: 4,500
Numbers: 12,150
Assets: 11.75 trillion Darvians
Description: The household dedicated above all to the Imperial line and are loyal to the end of all to the true Emperor. As well, from their ranks are chosen the elite personal bodyguard of the Emperor, which numbers 500. Further, many of their members serve in the House of Lords, the Imperial High Command, and a number of other departments. Also, they supply a great deal of the Imperial Grand Generals.
Characteristics: Life span to 405, average 6’9”, have light blue or brilliant light grey eyes, blonde or fine gray hair, and are more stocky then the other Houses.

Name: House Tietoi
Age: 3,875
Numbers: 1,050
Assets: 3.25 trillion Darvians
Description: The Tietoi have long been advocates of the Emperor and long have they served as servants of his will, but they also have long been a single minded house for the good of the Empire, as long it was with the will of the Emperor. Further, they long invested in the building of new cities and thus they are one of the wealthiest real estate owners of the Empire.
Characteristics: Life span of 395 years, white hair, silver or ocean blue eyes, and average 6’7”.

Lower Houses:

Name: House Rietioa
Age: 4,100
Numbers: 27,000
Assets: 2.1 trillion Darvians
Description: a relatively large lower house they often serve as officers of upper rank in the Imperial army and are responsible for the training of many of the knights of the Empire.
Characteristics: Life span of 360 years, blonde hair, grey eyes, and about 6’5”.

Name: House Elfhand
Age: 4,000
Numbers: 18,000
Assets: 2.45 trillion Darvians
Description: A shipbuilding and seafaring house they have long been captains and admirals in the Imperial navy and often have been responsible for the growth of the Empire’s colonies across the world.
Characteristics: Life span of 350 years, silver hair, sea blue eyes, and about 6’6”.

Name: House Gaiel
Age; 3,600
Numbers: 40,500
Assets: 3.2 trillion Darvians
Description: A long producer of traders, warriors, and merchants they have played a key role in the internal and economic growth of the Empire.
Characteristics: Life span of 375 years, platinum hair, bright steel eyes, and on average 6’8”.

Name: House Fieaiorit (Thor’s Hammer)
Age: 3,750
Numbers: 31,500
Assets: 2.8 Trillion Darvians
Description: A mighty house of priest and warriors dedicated to the old faith and for the service of the Emperor. In more recent times they have become a house from which many of the advisors to the leaders of the provinces and to that of the Imperial courts.
Characteristics: 345 years life span, grey hair, grey eyes, and 6’8” on average.

Name: House Ripieori
Age: 4,525
Numbers: 35,000
Assets: 6.75 Trillion Darvians
Description: An ancient house that long has served as commandants of recently conquered lands and later as hereditary vassal kings and lords of those lands. An tradition and powerfully entrenched house they continue many of the Empire’s most ancient customs and laws and are possibly is the most dedicated house to the Emperor and have in the past considered things never to base when defending the rule or person of the Emperor.
Characteristics: 375 year life span, golden hair, deep blue, green, or grey eyes, and on average 6’6”.

Name: House Hamude
Age: 4,200
Numbers: 64,000
Assets: 6.8Trillion
Description: This house is one of bureaucrats, businessmen, and traders that have often taken advantage of the new markets gained in newly conquered lands and thus they for years have been one the more powerful of the many hundreds of Valgardians houses, long acclaimed as one the greater lowers houses.
Characteristics: 330 year life span, emerald eyes, strawberry or red hair, and 6’5” on average.

Higher House: The houses that have the longer life spans, are the most pure of the houses, carry the blood of Imperials in their veins, wealthiest per person of the houses, most powerful, and are considered the only ones suitable for the kin of the Emperor to marry into to.

Lowers Houses: Houses that are strong houses, have pure Valgardian blood, are fairly large, not descended from Imperials, shorter, have shorter life spans then the higher houses, and not considered as noble of blood as the higher Valgardian houses.

OOC: This is open to both negative or positive comments of this.

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Expanded

The problem with these kind of powerful kings who have second sight and live very long is the problem of the "kenning"-- in poetic terms this is skaldic poetry, in mystical terms it is second sight, which separates them from ordinary men, while it is beneficial in some ways, it makes some of them "mad as hatters" and prone to do crazy violent things prompted by their own view of the world which others cannot perceive. The Eddic Sagas and the various Irish and Celtic sagas make this very clear. People with funny shining brows, an ability to go into an extremely focused violent rage, and other things may be noble, but very often are unstable, prone to fits, and extremely violent.

To eliminate this and claim goodness and light for a line of super kings is a problem. This is the problem with the purity of kings with mystical powers, regularly true lunatics in an extreme sense pop up who put ordinary kings to shame. This is further made a problem by the idea of purity of the line making it very likely to happen. Where do you hide your more dangerous progeny, and how do you stop some of the more capable appearing lunatics. I can imagine there are some prone to darkness like the Dark Eternals in your other storylines. It would make sense.

The other issue is one of extreme environmental susceptibility which goes with most things tied with a second world elfland, nilfheim, whatever you may call it, which puts many more at risk for "heavy metal poisoning", iron being a euphemism for other things that are worse like mercury and other heavy metals. This would go with an urge to limit certain technologies and keep a very close watch on the environment which your kingdom does.

A number of good points where made, but as to them I tend not to add in those elements as that would change the current view of the Valgardians greatly. Yet, there has been a little inbreeding in the past.

So...you're choosing not to add character flaws but instead have a perfect race of rulers? Yeah...that's not wanky, and it's super realistic!

So...you're choosing not to add character flaws but instead have a perfect race of rulers? Yeah...that's not wanky, and it's super realistic!Have you seen the recent actions of my emperors?

No, no I haven't. I hear they're rather racist and dictatorial, but that, arguably, is not a flaw. Having them be super-human is wanky, regardless of what you have them do. Unless, of course, you have them be insane. And I'm not talking about pillage every weak nation out there and curb stomp your people to make them fall in line, I'm talking about running around in underwear and a cape crazy. Talking to imaginary people crazy. Ordering a pizza the size of your nation in the middle of the night because it will open up a portal to the resting grounds of the fountain of youth crazy.

Or, if you want to be historical, appointing your horse as general of the armies crazy.

No, no I haven't. I hear they're rather racist and dictatorial, but that, arguably, is not a flaw. Having them be super-human is wanky, regardless of what you have them do. Unless, of course, you have them be insane. And I'm not talking about pillage every weak nation out there and curb stomp your people to make them fall in line, I'm talking about running around in underwear and a cape crazy. Talking to imaginary people crazy. Ordering a pizza the size of your nation in the middle of the night because it will open up a portal to the resting grounds of the fountain of youth crazy.

Or, if you want to be historical, appointing your horse as general of the armies crazy.As reflected one of my posts I told people to ignore the life spans and heights, yet their inbreeding has lead to them having a couple of wacky genetic predispositions. Though, the horse appointment was a veiled reference to the Julio-Claudians.

Ah, well if the life spans and heights are ignored, then I can't complain much.

Good.