House de Rouen

House Ashford de Rouen Lupus ferox sicut sol Country: Duchy of Adria Holy Orenian Empire (Formerly) Parent House: House Ashford de Bar Titles: County of Metina Barony of Blackwald Barony of Virdain Lordship of Rouen Lordship of Barrows Crossing Founder: Joachim 'Ashes' de Rouen Ethnicity: Druscan

"May a golden sun rise, and bathe humanity in an age as golden, and may such a sun never set." - Edmond de Rouen

History ☼

Ashford of Rouen traces its lineage as far back as Guy, King of Oren. The first with the namesake of Rouen was the bastard of Luciensburg, Joachim. Joachim Ashes was raised within the Principality of Sedan under the tutelage of his father, Antonio. Serving as a squire during the Sedan Rebellion had forged the protege into a warrior with cunning and bold tendencies; something dynastic members of the house are still known to display. After the defeat of Robert’s Folly, he would retreat alongside the remnants of Savoyard-Arentania forces to the South; in which Joachim resided within Luciensburg and later went on to construct the Lordship of Rouen. Thereon, Baron of Blackwald went onto serve many foreign contracts and in which he acquired a disdainful reputation. He later returned to his home of Blackwald, a bloodied but legitimized bastard. It was soon after that Joachim fell ill, and left the unfruitful barony to his teenage son, Edmond. Edmond left the castle empty for several years as he served as a Field Marshal of the Sedan army. Shortly later, without proper care, the castle fell to ruin, and Edmond, along with a small band of Blackwald levyman, roamed the Urguani countryside as mercenaries. Only a few years after abandoning the castle, Edmond and his men were signed by the Prince Olivier I of Savoy, who he had been tutored under for several years. Edmond served as Marshal for the Savoyard forces and played a major role in the conflicts leading up to the Aster Revolution. Once he assisted in deposing Emperor Philip II, Edmond went on to assist his close friend and confidant, Leufroy de Savoie, in an attempted coup on the young Prince’s claim for the Principality of Savoy.

After the coup was put down, and Oren fell into turmoil, Edmond committed himself to the Orenian Prince Frederick Charles. In the Prince's personal county of Mardon, Edmond raised an entourage of troops and later used his leadership tactics to help Frederick Charles overthrow the Empire in the Brothers’ War. He was soon appointed Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and knighted for his service and loyalty during the war. House Ashford de Rouen then migrated to the Commonwealth of Petra, where Edmond was granted the fort of Barrow’s Crossing. He settled in Petra, and married the daughter of his old companion, Leufroy. She gave birth to two sons, named Lucien Edmond, and Ferdinand Leufroy. Edmond would serve in countless conflicts as he aged before passing away and leaving his styles to his eldest son, Lucien.

Culture ☼

The men and women of Blackwald are skilled hunters and foragers who have a strong connection to the mountains that surrounded them. These practices are also used by House Ashford de Rouen, which has a rich history of self-sufficiency and relies significantly on agriculture to sustain themselves. They are well-equipped to traverse rugged terrain and extreme weather conditions with comfort due to their time living in the highlands. At the core of House Ashford de Rouen's pride is their military tradition, with generations of Blackwald men serving as knights and soldiers. The family is reputable for their history of distinguished warriors and accomplished tacticians. Despite their martial reputation, House Ashford de Rouen is also a family that places great emphasis on education and knowledge. Members of the family have a strong interest in the history of ancient strategy, and tactics. This intellectual curiosity extends to other fields of work, with House Ashford de Rouen also known for their fine smithing.

Genealogy The lineage of Ashford de Rouen is reputable for their history of distinguished warriors and accomplished tacticians. The lineage of Joachim endures to this day, with descendants of his bloodline inheriting dominant traits of fair skin and green eyes, while possessing black or brown hair. This is a common trait of House Ashford de Bar.

House de Rouen Relics ☼

Blaidd Aur

The Blaidd Aur is a rondel dagger with a reputation that precedes it. This formidable weapon is named after the Esheveurd words for "golden wolf," and it lives up to its name by delivering devastating blows to weak gaps in plate armor. The dagger's blade is made from high-quality black ferrum steel, which has been expertly sharpened to a razor's edge. Its unique design allows the wielder to pierce through chain armor with ease, making it a deadly weapon on the battlefield. The handle of the Blaidd Aur is carved out of a Sedanian goat horn, which gives it a distinctive look and feel. The horn has been intricately carved to create a comfortable grip, which allows the wielder to have better control over the blade. The handle is also adorned with scratches that speak to the dagger's long and storied history. The Blaidd Aur is passed down to the heir until he reaches his tenth winter. This (blank) dagger has claimed many lives and has partaken in countless battles serving as a fine weapon for the Barons of Blackwald.

The Mitts of Edmond de Rouen

The Black Ferrum Gauntlets were once a magnificent piece of armor, crafted to withstand the harshest of battles. However, time and the elements have taken their toll on these once-mighty mitts, and they now bear the marks of rust and decay. Despite their worn appearance, these gauntlets still hold a great deal of strength and resilience, having been worn by one of the most skilled swordsmen of his time, Edmond Ashord de Rouen. What makes these gauntlets truly unique are the rubies that have been carefully inset into the knuckles of the mitts. These precious stones have utilitarian uses in battle in addition to being visually appealing. They give the wearer's blows more weight, enabling them to hit more powerfully. Despite the signs of wear and tear, the Black Ferrum Gauntlets have seen their fair share of battles and have helped the Kingsguard Commander achieve many victories on the battlefield.

Wars ☼

Blackwald Battle Standard

• Tenth Nordling War ⚔ (22 S.A. - 27 S.A.)
• War of the Wigs (56 S.A. - 72 S.A.)
• Brothers' War ⚔ (72 S.A.)
• Almaris Coalition War ⚔ (82 S.A.)
• Acre Rebellion ⚔ (86 S.A.)
• Petran Civil War ⚔ (112 S.A. - 113 S.A.)
• Adrian Rebellion ⚔ (120 S.A. - 122 S.A.)

Patriarchs of de Rouen ☼

Name	Portrait	Birth Parentage	Marriage(s) Issue	Death	Coat of Arms	Title(s)
Joachim I Joachim Ashford de Rouen		1803, Sedan Son of Antonio de Bar	Lillian Barbanov Edmond Leonard, Robert Guy, and Adrian Tobias	1835 ✝		Baron of Blackwald Lord of Rouen
Edmond I Edmond Leonard Ashford de Rouen		1819, Blackwald Son of Joachim de Rouen	Régina Élisabette Lucien Edmond, Ferdinand Leufroy, Osmond Ashes	1914 ✝		Baron of Blackwald Lord of Barrows Crossing
Lucien I Lucien Edmond Ashford de Rouen		1879, Petra Son of Edmond de Rouen	Adelheid Jrent Baldwin Aimery, Olivier Roland, Renee Narcissa	Alive		Count of Metina Baron of Virdain Baron of Blackwald