Falt
ArmsofFalt.jpg
HOUSE STATISTICS
County: Salisbury
Religion: Roman Christian
Motto: Fortis et Fidelis
Colors: Black and white, silver, or grey
Liege: Sir Oswallt d'Ebble
Starting Glory: 168
Passions: Hatred (Saxons) 10-16
Love (Family) 15
Loyalty (Oswallt) 15
Loyalty (Robert) 15
LEADERSHIP
Head of House: Custennin de Falt
Predecessor: (Regent: Sir Cadogan de Falt)
Sir Rhun de Falt
Heir: Eirian de Falt

Manor Overview

A manor of the County of Salisbury, bound in fealty to Sir Oswallt: as might be expected for a fief in service to the castellan of Ebble, it holds a 'frontier' post as the last manor before the expanse of Camelot Forest. Though its inhabitants are firmly Cymric, they adhere to the Roman rite of Christianity and have tended to espouse the old 'imperial' ideals of unity and civilisation. Rumour is that they might even maintain a library, and that more than just the family steward and priests might be literate.

Sadly, they are perhaps best-known for an unfortunate habit of losing their lords prematurely, with the manor often in the hands of under-age heirs.

Background

Sir Gwydion's feats of arms three quarters of a century ago were sufficient to win the promise of a manor for his line - but the award was only made when his posthumous son and heir, Urien, was knighted and invested with Falt fully 25 years after his father's death in battle.

The de Falt can point to a fine record of service against Vortigern's men, Irish invaders, Pictish raiders, and several of the tribes and kingdoms of the Saxons, and can furthermore claim to have served on both land and sea, in raid and battle, in siege and garrison… but for almost half of the time since they took possession of the manor, the violent death of successive heads of the house has left Falt in the hands of a child or a squire.

Consequently, the family has often been an irrelevance in local politics (let alone those of the broader County), and though there is much for a de Falt heir to take pride in, there are simply too many gaps in the familial roll of honour for the house to enjoy much renown.

Coat of Arms

Sable, a corvus volant argent - a white (or silver or grey) raven in flight, on a black field.

This is in honour of Sir Gwydion and his wife, Branwen (bright raven): Gwydion bore a 'bright raven' into battle on his shield, and the lady herself not only gave birth to Urien after his death but held the Earls of Salisbury to their promise over the span of a full generation.

The family tends to focus upon tales of the raven as a messenger and protector, scorched black during the loyal fulfilment of its duties - rather than as the bird of ill omen that many (especially their fellow Christians) view it as being.

Colours

Black and white are the core colours - but with 'argent' representing silver, and every shade of grey and near-white, the range of tones is much broader than might be expected. To these are often added various shades of red, in a nod towards Roman tastes (especially for their legions).

Family members are usually expected to provide a clear nod to their affiliation: a badge or token is certainly sufficient. There is no uniform to which they (or their servants) must adhere, though on formal occasions visible use of the family colours is likely to be appreciated.

Motto

Fortis et fidelis

"Steadfast and true", "strong and faithful", or various other translations. Adopted by Lady Branwen during her son's long wait for his fief, it was both a declaration of her dead husband's service and her own loyalty, and a less-than-wholly-subtle reminder to her liege of the debt his County owed.

Now, it's a rather more conventional motto, taken by the family as denoting their tiers of loyalty to Sir Oswallt and Earl Robert (and now to King Arthur), and also their steadfast adherence to the greater ideals they feel that the fallen Empire of Rome represented in Britain.

Location

Falt overlooks the Eastern bank of the Avon, where the County's main river turns towards the sea: it sits on the boundary between the settled lands of the County and the mysteries of Camelot Forest.

To the North-West, Falt's immediate neighbour is the manor of Laverstock; due West, Clarendon sits on the far side of the Avon; Bodenham is also across the Avon, to the South-West, with their liege's castle of Ebble beyond it in the hills. Venturing in the opposite direction (to the North-East), one would reach Pitton and eventually Buckholt and Broughton, but the land in between is sparsely settled; still farther East, around the eaves of the forest, a day's ride would take one to the castle of Du Plain where it guards the road to Camelot. To the South and South-East, Falt's lands encompass the verges of wild Camelot Forest.

The manorhouse itself is in large part a restored Roman villa - a matter both of convenience, with the structure already in place when the grant was first made, and as a conscious nod towards the family's ideals. Over the generations substantial elements of the building have been repaired with rather less than Roman expertise, but the overall style and design are clear.

FaltVilla.jpg

Thus far, the Falt estate is neither particularly well-defended nor heavily developed, but it has succeeded in maintaining the family knights and funding replacements for lost and damaged equipment through the generations of warfare.

Political Relationships

  • Bodenham - Envy (one-sided): There are no specific grudges here… just a quietly-muttered resentment of a family that is in many ways similar to the de Falt, yet doesn't keep having its lords die prematurely. Bodenham's greater renown is not a result of having more heroic lords, just a reflection of their managing to stay alive long enough to get involved in a higher number of glorious events. There's no Bodenham slight for which to seek revenge, nor any injustice to be righted - but there's a bit of a chip on many a de Falt shoulder when their lucky neighbours come up in conversation.
  • Cholderton - Alliance (mutual): Finalised in 514 with the marriage of Custennin and Myfanwy, this is very much a strategic affair (arranged by the widowed dowagers of two low-Glory houses within riding distance of each other) rather than a close union of sympathies and morals. But what could be more civilised and a better demonstration of the dreams of Earl Robert and King Arthur than Roman and Pagan lineages uniting freely?
  • Dinton - Marriage (distant): Kamron de Dinton's mother Matilde was born a de Falt, though as a cousin of the main line marrying a cousin of the main Dinton line, the bond is not as close as it might be.
  • Ebble - Liege-Vassal (mutual): Sir Oswallt is the Castellan of Ebble Castle, and the liege of Falt and several other manors on or near the Southern frontier of the County, where it borders Camelot Forest. He and his family have been consistently tolerant and supportive of Falt, throughout its periods of regency.

Residents

Noble Family Members

Custennin de Falt
custennin The eldest surviving son of the main line of de Falt, and the newly confirmed lord of the manor. Recently both knighted and wed. Already renowned for his justice in administering the family fief.
Myfanwy de Falt, nee Cholderton
myfanwy Custennin's wife, and new mother to their daughter Eirian.
Leodwen de Falt
leodwen Oldest living child of late Sir Rhun de Falt and his wife Rhiannon, sister to Custennin; married once to Sir Dafydd de Chalke, widowed; no children; returned afterwards and now once again a resident of Falt Manor.
Elsa de Falt
elsa The other twin daughter of Sir Cadogan de Falt.

Commoners

Family Tree

Family Tree (image recommended; ask Arian if you would like a Family Tree image created)

Timeline

  • 439: Great Grandfather (Sir Gwydion) participates in Battle of Carlion vs the Irish
  • 440: Sir Gwydion killed by Pictish raiders - manor promised to his heir
  • 441: Urien born as posthumous heir to Sir Gwydion
  • 465: Sir Urien knighted (at age 24), and enfeoffed with Falt
  • 466: Sir Urien marries; Rhun born
  • 466-467: Sir Urien at Siege of Carlion, vs Vortigern's forces
  • 469-472: Sir Urien engaged in fighting Saxon raiders
  • 472: Sir Urien slain by Saxons
  • 485: Rhun knighted (at age 19)
  • 487: Sir Rhun participates in an expedition that burns invaders' ships at Pevensey, Dover, Maldon and the Wash, with a sea-battle vs the East Saxons en route
  • 488: Sir Rhun marries Rhiannon
  • 491: Leodwen born; eldest surviving daughter
  • 493: Custennin born; eldest surviving son
  • 495: Sir Rhun participates in Uther's victory over the Saxons at the Battle of St. Albans; is fortunately not invited to the celebratory feast at which the King and his commanders are fatally poisoned
  • 501: Sir Rhun at war in Gales
  • 503: Sir Rhun helps to defend London against a siege by two Saxon kingdoms; it negotiates a surrender on terms
  • 505: Sir Rhun dies in a hunting accident; his illegitimate half-brother Sir Cadogan becomes regent

Starting Glory: 168

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