House Scurlock
House Scurlock is an old house formed in the ancient world. When The Brickertonian Empire was setting up colonies in the 500's they found that there were already humans and rock gnomes living in a valley of the eastern Hansolan mountains. The rulers of those people sent a delegation and peacefully joined the empire without fighting, with the promise of the right to rule and a few tax concessions. The Scurlocks have been overseeing the area ever since, always keeping hold of it despite the various wars, always choosing the correct side.
They have a reputation of neutrality, they care very little for house politics and the problems of nations. They mostly keep to themselves, many explore the world in their youth only to become a recluse once they take control of their house. It seems that whenever one becomes Lord Scurlock, they return home and focus on governance. They also rarely, if ever, use marriage as a political tool, usually letting their heirs choose their spouses. Many Scurlocks are also recognizable by their family rings, nearly every member of the family wears a ring of shadesteel with a ruby in the shape of their crest(a red wolf head on a black background).
The head of House Scurlock holds the position of both Lord and Baron, generally favoring Lord. They alone among the Hansolan Baronies hold this honor. This is because they sided with Alberon in the 2nd Unity War. A fact that is still held against them in some circles. But since they don't care for house politics their reputation doesn't really matter to them.
The Scurlocks oversee the city of Nightfort and its surroundings, a section of the eastern mountains. They have several mining towns and farming villages in the valleys. They are generally self sufficient, the only imports being wood and fruit, while exporting stone and metal. By all accounts they are decent lords, but heavy-handed with punishment. Generally, if your crime is worth more than a year of jail time they will sentence you to death instead. That said their region has the lowest crime rate in the country. The soldiers of House Scurlock, the Nightguard, wear black armor and double as the region's police force. Anything not handled by local guards quickly becomes the duty of the Nightguard. They are rumored to be some of the greatest soldiers in the world and many have tried to spy on their training or infiltrate their ranks, all have been found dead of some unrelated "accident". Same with any spies sent to infiltrate the court, found dead by their employers in a tragic "accident". The message is clear, Stay Out.
They have a reputation of neutrality, they care very little for house politics and the problems of nations. They mostly keep to themselves, many explore the world in their youth only to become a recluse once they take control of their house. It seems that whenever one becomes Lord Scurlock, they return home and focus on governance. They also rarely, if ever, use marriage as a political tool, usually letting their heirs choose their spouses. Many Scurlocks are also recognizable by their family rings, nearly every member of the family wears a ring of shadesteel with a ruby in the shape of their crest(a red wolf head on a black background).
The head of House Scurlock holds the position of both Lord and Baron, generally favoring Lord. They alone among the Hansolan Baronies hold this honor. This is because they sided with Alberon in the 2nd Unity War. A fact that is still held against them in some circles. But since they don't care for house politics their reputation doesn't really matter to them.
The Scurlocks oversee the city of Nightfort and its surroundings, a section of the eastern mountains. They have several mining towns and farming villages in the valleys. They are generally self sufficient, the only imports being wood and fruit, while exporting stone and metal. By all accounts they are decent lords, but heavy-handed with punishment. Generally, if your crime is worth more than a year of jail time they will sentence you to death instead. That said their region has the lowest crime rate in the country. The soldiers of House Scurlock, the Nightguard, wear black armor and double as the region's police force. Anything not handled by local guards quickly becomes the duty of the Nightguard. They are rumored to be some of the greatest soldiers in the world and many have tried to spy on their training or infiltrate their ranks, all have been found dead of some unrelated "accident". Same with any spies sent to infiltrate the court, found dead by their employers in a tragic "accident". The message is clear, Stay Out.
