Do you know what doesn’t last long? A half-way decent emperor. They drop like flies. They kick the bucket. They are…well, incinerated. Troubling, that.
Fortunately, if you haven’t noticed, the royal family in my books is rather extensive. Bearing that in mine, I thought I would give you an idea of the scope you’re working with in my books for their maddened political frenzy. If you couldn’t tell: today, we’re talking The Hollow March and its sequels, so bust out those fantasy hats, people. Now, some of the folks below don’t even appear in the books, mind you—either fled or already dead, and the list is far from complete. This is not nearly so complete as something George R.R. Martin would whip out, for example. This list references those mentioned in the books and, in some cases, more prominent offspring. It does not capture the full embodiment of spawn, grandspawn, or the namesakes of the reigning house’s offshoots—the lines of Mauritz and Portir.
It is but a recording to give you some semblance of the House of Durvalle, and the uphill battle anyone (Cullick lions, perhaps?) facing them must surmount.
But really, do you see how eye squinting an experience this COULD have been?
House Durvalle (Royal House of the Idasian Empire)
Foremost of the houses of Idasia, following their rise to power in “The Children’s War” a little over a century prior. Few still name them pretenders, though, largely due to the success of their reign. Three Durvalle Emperors have claimed the throne since then, with the current Emperor Matthias having the distinction of being the longest reigning monarch in the history of the Empire. Their descent is traced through the southwestern Duchy of Dexet, where a branch of the family still rules.
Emperor Matthias Rogimer Durvalle, styled “the Bold” and “He Who Rides,” aged 77 years.
- His wife, Empress Noelia Tirozzi—deceased 15 years. Visaj.
- His wife, Empress Surelia Jerantus. Binding their house to the Kingdom of Banur. Farren.
And their children: (13 children and 3 known bastards)
- Joseph, aged 54 years. A Lord General. Visaj.
- His wife, Mariline Debourge, binding their house to the Kingdom of Asantil.
- His son, Prelate Barise
- His son, Ser Haruld
- His son, Yorne, the youngest, considered lost at sea.
- Sarre—Deceased 30 years. Visaj.
- Moira—Deceased 12 years. Visaj.
- Leopold (later Emperor Leopold II), aged 38 years. Prelate. Visaj.
- His wife, Ersili
- His son, Anatole, aged 8 years
- His daughter, Fiore, aged 6 years
- Heinrich, aged 37 years. Principal Secretary to the Chancellor. Visaj.
- His wife, Marren Certeri, binding their house to the Principalities of Ravonno.
- Sara, aged 32 years. Handmaiden to Empress Surelia. Farren.
- Her husband, Count Hernando of al-Saif, of the court of Narana in exile.
- Gerome, aged 28 years. An Ambassador. Visaj.
- His wife, Jesmere Turgitz.
- Matthias, aged 25 years. Visaj.
- His wife, Mecthilde Rusthöffen
- Rufus, aged 23 years. A Count and Cavalry Officer. Visaj.
- His wife, Anna Marie Venier, binding their house to the Principalities of Ravonno.
- Molin, aged 20 years. A Cavalry Officer. Visaj.
- Kanasa, aged 18 years. A Maiden. Visaj.
- Rosamine, aged 9 years. Farren. (From the line of Surelia)
- Lothen, aged 5 years. Farren. (From the line of Surelia)
- Kyler Tessel, a legitimized bastard, aged 36 years. Styled Ser Tessel of Affing. Farren.
- Gerhard of Torruf, a bastard.
- Ilse of Anscharde, a bastard.
His brothers, Mauritz, called “the Wild,” aged 75 years. Master of Arms and Lord Justiciar. Visaj.
Portir, called “the Devout,” aged 70 years. Master of the Imperial Treasury. Visaj.
- His grandson, Duke Urtz of Dexet
His sister, Atilde Debourge, wife of King Jon III of Asantil, aged 63 years.
Symbol: Two white, coiling, snake-like Gryphons, their heads ringed by the silver halo circlets of the Holy Church, a scepter in one’s claw and a sword in the other’s.
Traits: It has been said that all Durvalle eyes are green. This is baser rumor than earnest truth, but it is a trait which holds strong in their line, regardless.
The Waking Den 