Houses Palamyr and Caerlyn

The Regents of Merewald

House Palamyr and House Caerlyn have a long history of conflict. Both Houses are Primus Houses, cadet branches of Noble families that can trace their roots to Holy Terra. Both can also claim connections to the first Warmaster of the Prosperitas Crusade, Jacinta Durovera, and it is no coincidence that this is the origin of the conflict between them. The life-rich planet of Merewald was a prize desired by both Houses, but Jacinta Durovera left no known Will to express her desires as to what Houses should be allowed divide the conquered holdings of the Crusade, and so both Palamyr and Caerlyn claimed promises from the Warmaster from separate conversations. (It is highly likely, based on what is known about Jacinta Durovera, that she did in fact promise them both the same prize to keep them loyal.)

After the loss of Jacinta in 101.M41, disagreements over the regentship of Merewald erupted into outright conflict, resulting in over seventy years of civil war. During The Strife, the two Houses nearly tore Merewald apart before eventual truces were made, and Merewald was partitioned between them with each House laying claim to the system as well as several surrounding ones.

Today this conflict remains between the two Houses. Over the last five hundred or so years the conflict has flared again and again: assassinations, tit-for-tat raids by House Guard into rival territories, and the general Northern/Southern Hemisphere divide engrained culturally into their feudal subjects, have kept the Regents of Merewald divided.

This has only changed in recent years. The romance of Peyton Caerlyn and Ysabella Palamyr has brought the Houses closer together, but even their marriage has not formally allied them and the bad blood between the families will take many years to heal. But there is one thing that both Houses agree upon, and that is that the Regents of Merewald will bow to no other House.

House Palamyr

House Palamyr, sometimes known as the House of Truth and Secrets, traces its noble routes to the Hy Brasil Administrative region of the Sud Merican landmass on Terra. It takes great pride in tracing its routes to Aline de Palamyr, the Arch-Militant of Jacinta Durovera - a veteran of the Hy Brasil ‘Dracos’, the unique Terran Imperial Guard produced from that region. It was Aline de Palamyr who began the conflict between her House and House Caerlyn, from the broken promises and lack of Will left by Jacinta Durovera.

Begrudgingly sharing Governance of its homeworld with House Caerlyn, and controlling most of the Northern Hemisphere Territories of the planet, the House is known for its erudite courtiers and appreciation of noble affairs. In the wider sector this has benefited their power, as they are often called upon as a broker of peace in conflicts between the Houses of the Prosperitas Sector, and Palamyrs are favoured as advisors and consultants by the Administratum in the Sector. Through these connections it is not uncommon to see a Scion of the House abroad, though some say that it uses its awareness of affairs to great effect - and keeps many secrets.

Staunch believers in tradition, the Palamyrs have held to the standards expected of the Nobility for hundreds of years. Much like their counterparts in House Caerlyn, they are also committed to preserving said tradition, which has kept their rivalry alive with their foe-House. Youthful rebellion is commonplace, however, and it is not uncommon for Scions of the Houses to pursue relationships as acts of youthful rebellion. One such act brought about the marriage of Ysabella Palamyr, daughter of the Lord of the House, and Peyton Caerlyn, Heir-Designate of House Caerlyn.

Such a thing might have been a minor blip in history had it not occured at a time of internal strife within the House itself. It is not known exactly what forbidden religion the Lord of House Palamyr began to practice within his halls and the deep woods of Merewald, where ancient sinkholes are found, but the forbidden primal rites threatened the sanctity of the House. Loyal to the God-Emperor, Ysabella feigned obedience to her father’s new religion, but, in one bloody night, orchestrated a purge of numerous members of the House to prevent Inquisitorial censure - including her father.

This placed her as the Head of her House, and the Baroness Palamyr, fundamentally turning her dalliance with Peyton Caerlyn into something more significant. Despite their marriage, the pairing’s commitments to the tradition of rivalry, and the pressure of their Houses to maintain tradition, meant that neither spouse would accept the idea of merging their Houses. As such, a new round of conflicts have begun in earnest.

More closely resembling high-stakes games, with each spouse attempting to collapse the other’s House through non-violent means, these are done with the attempt at forcing the other to live permanently under the banner of a single House. Given that this strange stalemate appears to amuse the two very enamoured Nobles, there is no sign of it changing anytime soon - much to the consternation of the vassal families of both Houses, who remain unnerved by the unusual situation and uncertain as to what to do to solve it.

House Caerlyn

Though strongly resembling its rival, House Caerlyn has some unique quirks despite its intertwinement with House Palamyr.

House Caerlyn traces its roots back to the Nord Merican region on Terra. Its founder, Romeyn Caerlyn, served as Envoy to Warmaster Jacinta Durovera, and, much like his rival Aline de Palamyr, was granted status for him and his descendants in the last Will and Testament of his Mistress. As noted above, the family has stuck to tradition, much like its counterpart, and has continued something of a farcical ancient rivalry with House Palamyr for hundreds of years since its foundation.

Much like House Palamyr, it claims fully half the surrounding systems of Merewald, and begrudgingly shares Governance of its homeworld with its rival, controlling most of the Southern Hemisphere Territories of the planet. Known for its prowess in blood sports and hunting, the House’s Scions have often been eager volunteers for Officer positions within the Merewaldian Regiments of the Imperial Guard. There, they have often proven themselves more than just hereditary officers with a sense of entitlement, instead having a storied history of famed commanders of the Prosperitas Crusade.

Unlike House Palamyr, the House has experienced no major upheavals in the past few years. It is believed by most that the unusual situation with Peyton Caerlyn, former Heir-Designate and now Baron, could have been avoided by simply removing him from the line of succession. However, the House is nothing if not stubborn in its commitment to tradition and has, as such, enabled the situation that it finds itself in today. Peyton is as gruff and stubborn as any traditional Caerlyn noble, with the history and demeanour of an Officer of the Imperial Guard.

Notable Nobles of Houses Caerlyn and Palamyr

Baron Peyton Caerlyn is head of House Caerlyn and husband of Ysabella Palamyr, locked in a war with her House since the unfortunate events surrounding their betrothal earlier in the century. The Baron Caerlyn commands a considerable and effective House Guard, and is well renowned for his service in the 12th Merewald Regiment of Foot ‘The Gladewardens’ of the Imperial Guard prior to his ascension to head of his House.

Baroness Ysabella Palamyr is head of House Palamyr and wife of Peyton Caerlyn. Forced to commit familicide and slaughter a number of her family compromised by malign influence, Ysabella assumed control of House Palamyr at a young age. Having eloped with her husband against the wishes of both their Houses, she remains in a precarious position because she still refuses to take his name and leave the ruling of her House to join his. Inexplicably, she manages to put down every single potential threat to her before they arise.