House Rote
"With faith in the heart and a blade in hand, we fight!"
"Med tro i hjertet og sverd i hand, så kjemper vi!"
Family Information
- Family Etymology: Rote, originally derived from the Skodje word of "rot", meaning "root". Hence, the name Rote means "the root".
- Family Head: Leopold Diggory Rote
- Family Animal: The Lion.
- Family Sigil: The Rote Lions flank the sigil, depicting a burning Tree of Life, a representation of both the Burning of the North, as well as the failings of the Faith of the Old Gods and its eventual death. The flames of the tree stretch up, though fail to harm the radiating Eye of the Spirit, representing Unionism's status as the one true faith, as well as its superiority over the barbarism of the Old Faith.
- Family Values: Military might, Unionist dogma, Imperial Loyalty, Ailor supremacy, Anti-Velheimer dogma.
- Title: None, currently
- Colors: Wine Red, Gold, Raven Black.
- Culture: Colonial with Alt-Regalian and Velheimer heritage.
- Religion: Sancellist Unionism.
- Family Trade: Shipbuilding, Military work.
Family History
The House of Rote was formally founded in the year of 268 AC, though the origins of the House go back all the way to the halfway-point of the second Century AC. The House has its origins in Calemberg, from the old commoner house of Rothbart. Under the leadership of their first Patriarch Walther, the House migrated towards the shorelines of the Dragenthal Region, bordering on Calemberg, and begun their shipbuilding business.
Over the course of Walther's life, the business grew, much due to the rising demands for warships following the turning tides of the Skagger Wars following the Battle for Bashtur's Sword. Walther held a close relationship with that of the local Calemberger and Dragenthal Lords, and his economic influence begun growing as he dealt with the Regalian state.
His business would not reach is height however until he decided to capitalize on the Ithanian Gem boom in 173 AC. He built massive trade vessels, selling them to, and shipping them for the Loiree Lordship. This would prove to strengthen his business to the point where he would soon be able to buy up a sizable portion of land. He was Lorded soon after, and took over the Barony of Griptham.
Walther's leadership lasted until his death in 184 AC. Over the course of his life, he had projected the House into an age of prosperity, an age his less than competent son would soon end.
The second Patriarch Laurens was a weak ruler. He was born with a physical deficiency that had lead to him having a massive inferiority complex. His rule was one plagued by a string of warfare, and failure. He entered into conflict with a lesser Velheimer House, and lost. His bannermen begun plottig against him, and around Wintertide of 196 AC, they revolted. Laurens and his kin had to flee their ancestral home, boarding a ship with some of their remaining loyal men and the family treasury to rebuild. Laurens had been humbled, and would soon pass on leadership in all but title to his wife, Selina.
She lead the House to Essalonia, where they would soon begin rebuilding their former wealth, and claim a sizable barony for themselves. It was around this time that Selina begun hammering in some of the Family traditions that would be inherrited over to the House of Rote. Her biggest cultural change would be the introduction of the Andsrudgeiver to the family, in essence giving a greater amount of control to herself in regards to her cousins. She also begun a campaign within her lands that was meant to promote matriarichal rule over the House's lands in order for her to usurp the House's baronial title. This failed however, and her marriage to Laurens would soon end up being anulled. Laurens had grown old by the time the marriage was ended, and would therefor not rule the House for long before he would succumb to tuberkolosis in 212 AC.
The final Ruler of House Rothbart, and the first Ruler of House Rote was Laurens son Caspian. Caspians rule was one of reform. He introduced the Rote Council of Elders, and utilized them to the fullest of his extent. He was also aggresively expansionist, and entered into a war with his colonial neighbour, the weak Velheimer House of Flatvoll. The war lasted from the age of 226 to 227 AC, and ended with the utter defeat of the Velheimer House.
Caspian entered their lands, but met upon resistance and pushback against the staunchly Old-Gods loyal denizens of their lands. In a brilliant political move, he had a marriage arranged between him and the oldest daughter of the Flatvoll Patriarch. Alongside this marriage, he decided to change the House's name from the staunchly New Regalian Rothbart, to the much more ambigous Aep Roten, which would be abreviated to Rote. The move was a success, and he would soon hold control over the Velheimer regions. Through clever use of propaganda, Caspian managed a large-scale conversion effort within the lands of the younger generation, ensuring that the latter generation would grow up within Unionist Households. With a firm grip of the region, he begun slowly moving away from their Velheimer origins. His final act of Velheimer appeasal came when he had his eldest son married to a Velheimer noblewoman. His campaign ended with him being heightened from a baron, to a count.
His death would come soon after, just after the beginning of the Regalian Pessimism in 267 AC. His eldest son, Thurnolf took over the House. His militaristic form of governing and mercantilistic economy ensured that the House was hit hard by the pessimism. They begun hoardig their wealth, and taxing the commonfolk harshly. This lead to an eventual revolution within their lands, followed by the House's projection back to a baronial tile. This decrease would not stop until the beginning of the Chrysant wars; suddenly, the House's shipbuilding business begun getting a whole slew of requests from the state. The economic decline ceased, and the House's economical growth would soon begin going back into the positive.
The Chrysant wars would also mark the House's full rejection of their Velheimer cultural heritage. They embraced the Calemberger ideology, and begun an aggresive campaign of Unionist cleansing, known as the first Rote Inquisition. Inquisitors barged into houses and places of worship, and arrested and tortured those suspected to be Old Gods worshippers, and those of dubious Velheimer of Non-Human origins. These Inquisitions lasted for two years, until the Regalian state stepped in and put an end to the atrocities. The effect was strong however, their lands was now a humogonous ethnostate, much like what Thurnolf had wished for. He would soon pass on seven years later in the year of 295 AC. Leadersip passed to Thurnolf's eldest son, Abelhard Rote.
Abelhard brought the House into an age of prosperity. His large personality and inclination to make friends gave him a lot of power. Through clever use of colonization and proaganda, he managed to recapture the rebel lands that his father had lost, and restored his Countal title. The Abelhard age was defined by years of prosperity. His leadership was much more liberal than that of his father, and he managed to make an uneasy peace with most of his neighbouring Houses. Despite his friendly demeanour, he was far from a liberal man, and his conservative inclinations came through during the Second Rote Inquisition, in which he appointed his younger brother Leopold to wash out their lands of any Non desirables. The second Inquisition was defined by a higher amount of secrecy, much of it happening off the books and off public records. It would take years before word of it would come out, not until Abelhard's death.
Abelhard was killed in the year of 307 AC by rebel insurgents. The House title was passed on to Leopold Rote, who immedeatey picked up the mantle. He managed to, after a few descisive victories, and losses, end the war that his brother had started within Essalonia through the cooperation with Houses such as of Brilonde and Yaotl.
With peace being restored within Essalonia, Leopold turned his eyes towards the Archipelago, intent on recapturing the ancestral Homelands of his house that had been lost during Laurens the Incompetents string of failures. Through a descisive powermove, he managed to convince the local barons to take them back, citing both the growth that had come as a ressult of Caspian Rote's leadership, as well as providig ample funds for them. Once he was landed back in their ancestral homelands, he begun to make close relations with his neighbouring houses of Von Rahm, as well as House Harhold.
After an unsuccessful merger with House Typhonus, the Rotes decided to abdicate their titles and reform under their previous name to become a commoner family. They are still currently working to make their way back up into the peerage once more.
Patriarch Spotlights
Family Traits
The mainline of House Rote has individuals of two extremes, but share their unifying traits of thick blonde hair due to the constant reintroduction of Velheimer stock into the family within the mainline; a tradition that has continued even to the current patriarch in spite of being broken by his father. Those who were more active, training daily under the doctrine of their father became strong, tall examples of Velheimer stock. The physically active members of the mainline are those that have a physique that comes hand in hand with a ravenous appetite. The others, those who didn't inherit the martial aptitude most Rote's have, became smaller, and more often than not a little plumper than their more active siblings. Those mainline members that take more after their mother are often more elegant in their features than their strong-jawed siblings, and sport plumper bodies.
Mainline Rotes include the current patriarch, Leopold, and sisters Thea and Adeleide. The deceased black sheep of the family Hanzfreund is buried back at home, while the recently assassinated Abelhard was buried in Regalia.
Cousin Rotes
The cousin lines of House Rote keep some of the defining traits of the house, among other traits that have entered their blood through differences in heritage, having less of a strong focus towards Velheimer spouses. Rote cousins can exhibit any of the strong blue eyes, thick blonde hair or towering physique that sticks to their line, but dashes of burning red hair, green eyes and a shorter, plumper form, are not uncommon. The angular features of the mainline are usually the first to be diluted out in the cousin lines and the mainline will keep the faces of the new blood coming in, than their ancestral Rote ones.
Cousin Rotes fit within two types:
Lutheran – Individuals born beneath Luther Rote can have mousy brown hair or green eyes in replace of their typical Rote features, and are always shorter than the mainline.
Old Ceardian – Individuals born beneath Reverend Johan Rote or Ludecke Rote fit into the more stereotypically Ceardian black or brown hair, with blonde cropping in from time to time, with the same striking blue eyes of mainline cousins, they come in a variety of heights and builds, but stick within the height boundaries of normal colonials.
Bastard Rotes
While incredibly rare due to their staunchly zealous Unionist faith, bastards do crop up from time to time. Unless legitimized, Rote bastards are always known as Rote-Brandts, or they take on their mother's maiden name. Rote-Brandts come in a variety of shapes, sizes, cultural and racial mixtures.
Playable Characters
Green = Playable
Blue = Played
Purple = Playable under exceptional circumstances
Black = Dead/Shelved/Missing/Unplayable
Mainline characters
- Thurnolf Rote – Father of the mainline children, Thurnolf is an incredibly disciplined veteran who fought in countless wars for Regalia. He instilled martial prowess into the talented among his children.
- Maessa Rote (62) – Mother of the mainline children, Maessa is a Velheimer married into the family. She is a fussy, plump lady who abhors foul manners. She frequently knits.
- Abelhard Rote (Deceased) – Previous patriarch of House Rote and Count of the Griptham Charter, Abelhard was known to be socially awkward, but jovial, proudly Unionist and a somewhat impressive combatant. @TheyCalledMeKiko
- Esther Rote (4) – Daughter of Abelhard and his assumed deceased wife, Esther is a troublesome but intelligent child.
- Aelfric Rote (4) – Son, and heir of Abelhard and his assumed deceased wife, Aelfric is a enamoured by the Imperial Spirit.
- Thea Rote (37) – Eldest sister of the mainline and current Matriarch, Thea has a complicated relationship of love and hate with her siblings. A bit less devout but nonetheless fierce, Thea is an alcoholic who bullies her siblings constantly and has a tactical mind. @Rochelle_
- Leopold Rote (35) – Second eldest brother of the mainline, Leopold is commonly known for his odd antisocial tendencies, deep zealousness and his proneness to self-flagellation. He's a proud veteran of fighting against Kathar, Demons and other monstrosities. @Optimalfriskies
- Caspian Rote (16) - The firstborn son of Leopold Rote, and heir to the Rote title. Caspian is an honest and hardworking young man, with aspirations to become a great swordsman one day.
- Abelhard Rote (Deceased) – Previous patriarch of House Rote and Count of the Griptham Charter, Abelhard was known to be socially awkward, but jovial, proudly Unionist and a somewhat impressive combatant. @TheyCalledMeKiko
- Boris Rote (32) – Third eldest brother of the mainline, Boris has an appetite unmatched by even Abelhard and does not exercise nearly as much as he should. However, Boris is an exceptional diplomat and socialite.
- Octavia Rote (30) – Second eldest sister of the mainline, Cassandra is a courteous socialite who places family first at all costs. She is renowned to be incredibly well-connected with people in all walks of life. @Sheeple_Herder
- Elizabeth Rote (29) – Third eldest sister of the mainline, Eliza is a bookworm who, while being capable of socializing, prefers to study and read. She is a capable and skilled admiral as well, having recieved informal training in the arts. @Shibani
- Adeleide Rote (20) – The youngest of all the mainline, Adeleide is zealously protected by her elder siblings. She is innocent, sweet, if not a bit naïve, but she has strong beliefs just like her siblings.
- Hanzfreund Rote (Deceased) – Hanzfreund was a vain little brother who went mad and tried to kill Rodrigo Peirgarten out of nowhere for no good reason. He was executed on the spot.
- Frederick Rote (52) – Youngest uncle to the mainline, Frederick is a well-known, beloved prankster and esteemed general. Frederick is also a rampant Iron Bulwark enthusiast, eager to force Ailor superiority over the other races, but, like his nephew, surprisingly tolerant of Allar due to his time spent fighting alongside them in the Chrysant War, holding them in higher esteem to Elves or even Dwarves because they 'know their place'.
- Johan Rote – Quiet and humble Reverend, Johan Rote, is tirelessly working to convert refugees in the colonies. He is a good and kind father who had a more relaxed approach to raising his children.
- Helga Rote – Wife of Johan Rote, Helga is a formidable warrior, who wields a warhammer. She was a disciplined mother who struggled to connect with her children beyond scorn.
- Thomas Rote (37) – Thomas was frequently Abelhard and Thea's sparring partner throughout their childhood and is subsequently very close to them. He is a proud Blackmark mercenary.
- Anna Rote (30) – Up for discussion.
- Bethany Rote (26) – Up for discussion.
- Isaac Rote (23) – Isaac is a renowned young Regalian Ranger.
- Thomas Rote (37) – Thomas was frequently Abelhard and Thea's sparring partner throughout their childhood and is subsequently very close to them. He is a proud Blackmark mercenary.
- Luther Rote (Dead) – Luther Rote was one of the most beloved family members and a proud Lion Pelt knight. He was torn limb from limb by a troll in the Essalonian frontier while he was camping.
- Beatrice Rote – Beatrice is a very emotional woman, who, while loving her family, cannot shake the horrific death of her husband Luther. She was not a particularly present mother, and has since gone mad, living out the rest of her days in her chambers and leaving her children to be raised by others.
- Balthasar Rote (28) – Balthasar follows the footsteps of his father incredibly closely and wishes to become equally as much of a glorious Lionpelt Knight. He is incredibly proud and jovial, and is particularly beloved by others.
- Alec Rote (25) – Alec was a particularly cruel child, who has an incredibly twisted morality in his later years. He dabbles in alchemy and stole excessively from other members for sport.
- Colleen Rote (22) – Colleen is a bright and intelligent young lady who has always had a passion for history. She was particularly close to her aunt Maessa and still is to this day.
- Balthasar Rote (28) – Balthasar follows the footsteps of his father incredibly closely and wishes to become equally as much of a glorious Lionpelt Knight. He is incredibly proud and jovial, and is particularly beloved by others.
- Ludecke Rote – Ludecke is an estranged member of the family who was cousin to the father of the mainline. His branch of the family was kept in seclusion up until recently.
- Herman Rote (16) – Herman is a Viridian knight squire, who has only recently contacted the rest of his family, but has yet to meet them. He is the youngest of six siblings. @HodlinG
- 5 Write in Rotes (16<) – Up for discussion.
- Herman Rote (16) – Herman is a Viridian knight squire, who has only recently contacted the rest of his family, but has yet to meet them. He is the youngest of six siblings. @HodlinG
- Hilde Rote-Brandt (35) – No one knows exactly where Hilde came from, and she is rumoured to either be Luther or Thurnolf Rote's bastard daughter. Hilde is a half-orc and has been in service to the family since her discovery as a house-guard, trained by her aunt Helga from a very young age for the purpose of defending the family. Hilde is an excellent warrior, but would much rather take part in the socialising, ladylike activity and dancing her fellow female cousins get to engage in.
Application
- Name of Character you will be applying for:
- In-Game Name (IGN):
- Any previous character application(s):
- Reason for wanting to play the character:
- (Optional) Anyone who is willing to be a reference for your roleplay:
I, as the family head, reserve the right to reject any application, and remove any member from the family on any grounds. I will NOT remove players for unfair reasons, and a dialogue will be opened before a player is rejected, however.
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i Lanreith, though hes out of date now
