HOUSE MORANCAIRE
ALL FOR THE ABUNDANCE OF THE WAVES.

SUMMARY

House Morancaire is one of the noble houses under the Serene Monarchy, governing the northeast islands of the Mist Isles on behalf of ruling House Moran, seated on the jagged landmass known as the Serpent’s Fang. Their most notable claims are the small but cosmopolitan city of Fangtip and the Candles, the jagged rocks that lie at the northeast passage to the rest of the Mist Isles.  Established in the late 1480s, the House builds upon the legend of its founder, Cadfael Morancaire, by providing security throughout its watery claim, promoting fairness and abundance of opportunity, and above all, representing the might and generosity of the Siren Serene.

ORIGIN

The Tale of the Boy Morancaire

The tapestry of House Morancaire is multifaceted, colored with the successes of great craftsmen, threaded with a spirit of hard work and shared prosperity. While its festivals and varied celebrations boast of great fortune, it is said that the House’s story begins with a forgotten scrap of fabric - a young heir, raising his voice, bolstered by the roar of the waves.

Long ago, the Maestro under Lord Celyn I of House Moran, bore witness to a promising portent - many hands would raise the discolored banner of House Moran over an era of uninhibited prosperity and development, singing songs of praise to their Siren. Overjoyed, Lord Celyn christened his firstborn son with the same name, in hopes that at least his moniker would be able to bear witness to the abundance soon to come to his House.

Years later, Celyn the II, lacked such discipline that his late father had instilled upon him, instead entertaining himself with the great spoils earned by his elder, who had been entrusted with maintaining the safety of fishers along the waters of their claim, and to ensure safe passage of ships through the Candles. Though he would maintain a dignified, even sharp presence in the Court of the Serene Monarch, that same attention to detail was not spared for his sailors and his fishers, who found themselves in constant conflict amongst themselves and foreign entities from the Northeast, attempting various occupations. 

In his time at court, he became entangled with the Dame Ancaire of the North, a former Mistan who immigrated to one of the many Northern Kingdoms and became one of the first foreignborn knights of her order. Having sired a son out of wedlock, he convinced her to abandon her post as representative of her kingdom, and to reside with him as his bride in the Mist Isles. Though he adored her and their child, the boy Cadfael, his Maestro insisted that such a dishonorable heir to the Moran name would surely change the fate promised to them by his father’s portent. In fear of losing his good fortune, Celyn heeded his Maestro’s words, marrying the advisor’s daughter and casting out the former Dame and their son to a life of obscurity.

The Great Drain & The Boy’s Rebellion

The young Cadfael grew to be a handsome, charming man, honed under the discipline of his mother and warmed by the presence of his fellow fishers, who raised him with great respect and wonder for the Siren Serene. He came of age during “The Great Drain,” where fishers began to find their once-laden nets empty, unable to meet the harsh quotas placed by the now aged and embittered Lord Celyn whose sights had now turned to expanding trade with the North in hopes of restoring favor with the Serene Monarch. Emboldened to improve conditions for his fellow man, Cadfael confronted his father for his unrealistic demands - Lord Celyn responded by sending his order of knights to threaten and coerce fishers to give up their meager shares of fish and earnings meant to support themselves and their families.

Heartbroken that his actions brought further anguish, Cadfael began to challenge those knights who appeared in fishing villages for the demanded quotas, deft at defeating them thanks to his mother’s training. Songs of his bravery began to spread throughout the claim of House Moran, inspiring even the most inexperienced fisher to raise their harpoon to challenge the cruelty of Lord Celyn. This growing resentment turned into the Boy’s Rebellion, headed by Cadfael Moran and Dame Ancaire as his steadfast right hand.  

The Festival of the Siren’s Mercy 

The Rebellion came to a head on the Festival of the Siren’s Mercy, a holiday of supplication to the Siren Serene; fishers and sailors from all over the Moran claim gathered along the east side of the Serpent’s Fang, making a pilgrimage down to the lowest dock of the city now known as Fangtip. Their voices, meant to lift songs of great praise and hope for another year of peace among the waters, soon began to screech and wail, once again threatened by Lord Celyn’s knights. Cadfael, at the head of the pilgrimage, did his best to prevent fighting from escalating, but it was too late - the waters, meant to be pure and clear in the name of a serene year, were now bloodied. The survivors took the water, staining the Moran banners and lifting them high, bringing them to hang on the Moran Fortress.

Fearful of completely losing his legitimacy in the eyes of the Serene Monarch, Lord Celyn quickly withdrew the presence of his violent knights. Knowing that he had lost the favor of the common people, he restored the Moran name to Cadfael and knighted him under that same, cruel order, hoping to placate him and his followers. Cadfael, wanting to separate himself from the violence of the Moran name, instead founded the House Morancaire and established a new order of knights, the Order of the Chorale, who now maintain dominion on behalf of House Moran, promoting abundance and safety for all among the waves.

COURT PRESENCE

House Morancaire is welcomed in the Court of the Serene Monarch, renowned for its contributions to expanding the disciplines of navigation and architecture throughout the North. Among other Noble Houses, they have been known to attempt to leverage this influence and its position controlling the northeastern passage to the rest of the world in hopes of turning Fangtip into a rivalrous port with Sirensong and Marionsport. However, in recent years, House Morancaire has become deferent to the guidance of ruling House Moran, following their blunders against House Aeronwy in Marionsport.

MAIN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD

• Lord Cináed of House Morancaire, the Current Head of the Household, the Weathered
  • Lord Cináed is the stubborn and stalwart head of the Morancaire household; though he has not received any particular boon from the Siren, his steadfast nature and political prowess in advocating for his people have made his claim undeniable.
• Lady Corine of Sirensong, bestowed with the Honor of the Dame
  • The daughter of a lowbrow merchant in Sirensong, Lady Corine is an unnatural beauty made known by her rarified, blessed voice. She is often present at court to represent House Morancaire’s interests, a balmier presence than her spirited husband.
• Lady Elide of House Morancaire, Heir to the Morancaire Name
  • The only surviving child of Lord Cináed and Lady Corine. Heavily guarded, much mystique surrounds the young heir of House Morancaire and her potential in strengthening the position of the House in the Court of the Serene Monarch, where her mother is hopeful for her to begin serving as a lady-in-waiting - an education contrasting the more manual training each heir to the Morancaire name starts with during their youth.

CULTURE | TRADITIONS

The traditions of House Morancaire center around a deep respect for the everchanging nature of fortune, personal triumph over worldly tribulations, and communal celebration, regardless of rank or occupation. 

The Festival of the Siren’s Mercy

• A tradition first created by House Moran, the Festival of the Siren’s Mercy is a reverent celebration practiced across fishing villages throughout the claim of House Morancaire. At sunset, fishers and their families host a great feast, celebrating their success throughout the past year. Following the evening meal, the entire community processes from the highest point in their community, singing through every street bearing incense and candles before making it to the lowest point of the village, closest to the water. At the end of the procession, villagers return quietly to their homes, buoyed by the hope the Siren has heard their songs.
• In the city of Fangtip, the tradition holds particular prominence in remembrance of the Boy’s Rebellion against Lord Celyn the II. The city’s residents make their way through the city bearing banners of House Morancaire alongside the usual incense and lights, ending at the Siren’s Diadem for a vigil in respect to the fishers harmed in the conflict.

Candle-Lighting

• Halfway through each year, all young sailors who reach adolescence are called to Ffynhonnell, where they will be designated crews and make the journey around the Serpent’s Fang and the Pebble before making their way through the treacherous Candles, capable of wrecking ships under the direction of inexperienced hands - if successful, they return to the lighthouse town to celebrate their triumph through the Siren’s endless fog.

Cadfael’s Tourney

• Cadfael’s Tourney recalls the efforts of the house founder, Cadfael Moran-Ancaire, who traveled the length of his father’s claim and defended the rights of his fellow fishermen against that cruel order. The citizens of the Morancaire claim submit their fellow man for the tourney, in which different competitors are paired off to duel in different settlements, culminating in a final battle at the city of Fangtip. Various members of House Morancaire travel to watch the progress of the Tourney in hopes of fostering a connection with their subjects, and to encourage further integration among the different settlements and cities. 

HOUSE MORAN & AFFILIATES

House Moran is one of the oldest ruling houses in the Mist Isles, believing themselves to be the stewards of the tangible, chaotic domain and intangible, spiritual will of the Siren Serene. Mirroring aspects of the court of the Serene Monarch, House Moran maintains its own order of advisors to discern the wishes of the Siren Serene to guide their decisions, all led by the Maestro, the chief advisor to the head of House Moran. These advisors are meant to balance out the influence of the Maestro; they are determined not by rank or bloodline, but their prowess in their respective fields and  their relation to the Siren Serene. The current Lady Moran is Caitrìona Moran, a formidable sailor and naval strategist, the second daughter of the Lord Emeritus. 

Following the disgraceful period of violence under Lord Celyn the II, the following Lords of House Moran established traditions valuing discipline and self-refinement, where one must replicate the constant smoothing of the shore by the waves in their own lives. The individual should be constant in their pursuit of trials, in hopes of clarifying themself in tribute to the Siren Serene.

⚬──────────✧──────────⚬  

THE ANCAIRE COMPANY OF MARIONSPORT

In 1600, Lord Alasdair Morancaire, frustrated that his prized city of Fangtip was unable to compete with the ports of Marionsport and Sirensong, sent his younger son, Alasdair the II, to lead the Ancaire Company, a small group of traders, fishers, and navigators meant to establish the presence of House Morancaire in the land claim between House Moran and House Aeronwy to the east and the west, respectively. Alasdair the II, though well-meaning, lacked the same political prowess his father had, eventually dying without making the Company relevant within the city. 

Though the Company is helmed by full-blooded descendants of House Morancaire seated in the Manor of Marionsport, the current household considers them fringe members of the family who were foolish to attempt to branch out within the claim of House Aeronwy. They fear the day that the Siren calls them to bring their brethren back into the fold.

NOTABLE FOLKS

• Arran Ancaire: First Son of Alasdair the II, felt that the worldly responsibility of managing the company was better suited to his sharp-tongued brother. Surrendered his role as the Hand of the Ancaire Company, instead serving as the family shrinekeeper in Marionsport until his peaceful passing at sea. Sired the Siren’s Blessed, Callan Morancaire, with his estranged partner, Ho-Sook of Great Clan Moon.
• Irvine Ancaire: Second Son of Alasdair the II, believed that he could capture the attention of House Morancaire and establish relevancy in Marionsport by manufacturing a myth that could win the hearts of the common sailor as Cadfael did. Served as the Hand of the Ancaire Company until his passing, naming his niece, Callan Ancaire, his successor.
• Moira Ancaire: Daughter of Irvine; practical and uninterested in the Siren Serene, she has since abandoned her father’s strategy, and now works to keep the Company from going into bankruptcy, despite her unofficial status as the Hand of the Ancaire Company.
• Callan Morancaire: Daughter of Arran; mentored in performance and political dealings by her uncle and guided in spiritual matters by her father, she reluctantly sailed for the Spire under the conditions of a dubious will left behind to make her heir to the Ancaire Company. The first to claim the Morancaire name since her grandfather’s arrival in Marionsport years before.