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INTRODUCTION
The Black family is a premier Regalian naval family, the House's most prized material possession being its vast private fleet of armed tall ships. In addition to patrolling the Empire's waters, and defending her coastlines in times of strife, the House Black typically exhibits an aggressive attitude in regard to foreign shores, harbouring a deeply rooted interest in nautical exploration and further territorial conquest in the name of Regalia. Hailing from the Dragenthal region of the Archipelago, the family historically made their living by providing armed nautical escorts to local merchants, and privateering for their noble overlords. The House was risen to nobility during the period of the Expansion Wars of Regalia, approximately 180 years ago when, upon the commissioning of privateers by the Empire to aid in efforts of territorial gain, the Black family was awarded landed titles and financial gratuities for its successes. In the present day, given the family's elevated military and political ambitions and reputation, and relative financial stability, the House chooses to pursue more reputable and honourable lines of naval work, leaving their pirating roots behind them. The House also notably maintains leadership over various merchant associations, the Duchy of Narlas (the Black family's native land holdings) historically providing an important gateway for trade between the Crown Isle and the rest of Dragenthal.
REGALIAN TITLES
CURRENT LANDED TITLES
- Duke of Narlas: Christopher Black
- Regent Duchess of Narlas: Dianne Black
- Baroness of Worthing: Dianne Black
- Heartland District Director: Maximilian Black
- Division Admiral of the Imperial Marshal Cabinet: Christopher Black
FAMILY LINEAGE
The year 32 AC saw Amery Schwarz, a strategic thinker among a group of native Drachenwald hunters, urge some of his kin to establish a small, family-operated outpost, in an emerging and distant coastal hamlet called Narlas. The outpost was to be a depot at which the Schwarz would store some of the product of their forest hunts, before transporting it onwards to the Crown Isle or Anglia, where it would be bartered for other goods. Concurrently, Amery also convinced those of his kin tasked with maintaining the coastal depot to purchase a small, third-hand elven galley from their meagre savings. In addition to providing the means of transporting their goods, the galley allowed the Schwarz to maintain their independence, in terms of not needing to utilise the shipping services of outsiders.
By 98 AC, those Schwarz now residing in Narlas had fully adapted to the new opportunities that their first galley had provided, and had additionally invested in a second and third small vessel. The Schwarz were exporting their forest product to an ever-widening group of buyers, enjoying exploring the expanding realm, and returning home with exotic goods. The family had invariably experienced by now some of the hazards of water travel too; namely, pirates and enemy raiders. As opposed to cowering, the Schwarz fought back, arming themselves and their vessels. After many hits and losses, the family eventually became proficient defenders of their vessels and cargo, turning the tide on the pirates and raiders. Other local merchants, who couldn't afford the luxury of an armed escort provided by one of the rich noble houses of Narlas, began to travel with the Schwarz given the protection that traveling with an armed and willing companion boat offered. These merchants willingly paid a fee for such an escort, and the Schwarz found that providing an armed escort service was lucrative financially, enough so that it became the primary focus of their business model. The Schwarz invested more money into increasing their fleet size, armaments and crews. They advertised their services and petitioned the local barons and counts for contracts, offering to help defeat problematic local pirates, and to join conquests for the nobles further afield.
In 113 AC, the Baron of Narlas, a local Heartland Ceardian, asked long-time confidant, Griswald Schwarz, Schwarz patriarch of the time, to eliminate a particularly troubling and ongoing local pirate problem. Griswald did, and was awarded the post of Mayor of Narlas upon his success. As a further reward, Griswald was permitted to marry the Baron's eldest granddaughter, on one condition: that he changed his family name, from Schwarz, to Black. (Bastard connotations associated with the Alt-Regalian surname Schwarz prompted the Baron to want to steer away from any stigma. After some consideration, he eventually determined that a new Heartland Ceardian variant of the surname would be a passable enough solution.) A series of conquest-orientated nautical victories during the ongoing Expansion Wars, led by the next Black family patriarch, Godfrey Black (and the fact that the aging Baron of Narlas and his only son died in battle during the wars), saw Godfrey awarded the Barony of Narlas by Emperor Henri I. Over subsequent generations, the Blacks continued to push in regard to their ambitions: building their fleet, arming it and their crews; participating in conquests and wars for the Regalian Empire; increasing their land holdings and titles upon achieving milestones and successes; and working with the local merchant class to establish solid economies and protect Regalia's trade routes.
Alistair Black, a more recent patriarch, represented Narlas in the Regalian Senate over the course of its existence. Deemed to have a formidable countenance publicly because of his steadfast ways, and to be a fierce Admiral and conqueror behind closed doors, Alistair earned the nickname 'The Pirate Lord' after once taking 153 Songaskia prize ships in a single year. Travis Black, Alistair's only son, was set to follow in his father's footsteps, frequently attending Senate assembly meetings with Alistair to garner political experience. In 302 AC, however, disaster struck. The Count of Narlas, Travis, still relatively inexperienced politically and now the family patriarch (following Alistair's retirement), found himself the subject of the neighbouring Red family's ongoing attempts to acquire more land and claim Narlas for themselves. After a series of bribes, threats and other underhanded tactics on the part of the Reds, Travis ordered that sewage and waste be dumped on their borders. The result of this poor decision was a catastrophic fatal plague of cholera that swept across a number of realms in Dragenthal. Travis was publicly whipped and subsequently executed by the Regalian State for mass manslaughter. The remaining members of the Black family were cast, by Emperor Alexander I, from their Dragenthal homeland, and sent to the Earldom of Rogdland in the north of the Archipelago, under orders to maintain it instead. Travis Black's eldest first cousin by blood, Christopher Black, was called in from his duties at sea, to become the new family patriarch and Earl of Rogdland.
Christopher Black steadfastly committed to putting his broken house back together. While not without his own political learning curves to navigate, hard work and determination have so far seen Christopher garner the support of Regalia's Admirals and Captains; lead the Black Armada to many victories for Regalia in her recent wars; participate actively in Regalia's political sphere; and build fame for the Black family's merchant guilds in the Crown Isle. A year after their exile to Rogdland, Alexander I permitted the Black family to return home, to their Dragenthal lands. Christopher is currently the Duke of Narlas; and is married to Dianne, sister of William Howlester. The couple have a young family of their own.
TRAITS AND UPBRINGING
The Black family is a family of Ailors. They tend to be taller, rather than shorter, in height, and exhibit black hair and blue eyes as a product of their Alt-Regalian ancestry. Due to multiple Heartland Ceardian marriages into the family, other traits such as dark brown hair and green eye colour are also present. Marriages are strictly permitted to be to other noble Ailors only.
Their public, outdoor, navy-orientated lifestyle favours the members of the family to be healthy and physically fit. Some behavioural characteristics encouraged within the family include: independence, bravery, intelligence, leadership, loyalty to the Empire, strong bonds between family members, and warmth. On the flip-side, some of the family patriarchs have been known to exhibit stubbornness, pride, recklessness and broodiness.
While the Black family's ancestors were Alt-Regalian, upon and following their rise to nobility, the family was subjected very heavily to Heartland Ceardian influences from their local peers, such that the family now exhibits aspects from each of these cultures. The males are almost always raised to have nautical-related interests; in particular, to undergo a naval education and take up senior positions on board warships in the family's (or Regalia's) fleet. The females are encouraged to take up active roles of leadership within society.
HERALDRY
Family Motto: "Hunters of the Sea"
Family Sigil: A black bear from the Dragenthal region of the Regalian Archipelago. The sigil stems from the family's ancestry. The Schwarz of the Drachenwald were hunters of bear (for their pelts) and other forest game. The bear is said to signify strength, cunning and ferocity in the protection of one's kindred.
Family Colours: The primary colour used by the House Black is black. The secondary colour used is a dark grey.
Family Crest:
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