House Imperialis
House Jeherrizon
I am the Emperor, and these are the tenents i lay down upon you
-Jeherrizon Marhtrym XXVIII
The Imperial Family has been the driving force of the North for three and a half millennia, it's power being absolute and it's will indomitable. To speak of the Imperial Family is to speak of its founder, Marthrym the First, Lord of the North.
Marthrym the First
Marthrym's own origin is lost, as he took deliberate efforts to conceal it, though we do know he was a Fythiril, that is to say the last knight of a particular order, one who's death would carry with it the end of the order and its long history. He entered the scene during the final war of the first age, when he and the knights who would eventually become House Cairlynen arrived at the lost Cathedral of Dark Saints to do battle against Agraithian the Dark, Lord of the Netherworld. He and his knights did battle along with other forces of good, trying to hold the Dark Army from the gates of the Cathedral.
Marthrym himself stood at the steps of the Cathedral, smiting evil as it attempted to force open the doors and allow its Master freedom into the world again. Marthrym held his ground for three long days before Agraithian emerged from the Cathedral, the overwhelming evil freeing him despite the battle raging around the doors. Marthrym saw the Dark Lord emerge, nodding to one of his lieutenants, an archer named Lythin. The entire host pulled back, allowing Marthrym to duel with the Dark Lord on the steps of the Cathedral.
In the battle with the Dark Lord, Marthrym was dealt a mortal wound, his blood flowing freely across the steps and down onto the pathway leading up to them. The Dark Lord attempted to move down into the army that had been gathered around him, intent on slaughtering them all. He had not expected the young knight to stand, his very blood pulling him to his feet, coiling and writhing. With his blood animate, the young knight stepped forward to battle the dark lord.
The sun faded and darkness fell across the battlefield, the Dark Lord confident in his abilities to slay the knight before him, using hte darkness to unleash sorcerous balsts of unmitigated power. The Knight advanced forward, his own blood stained blade at the ready. Sorcery met steel, and steel carried the day, as the sword of Marthrym pierced the side of the Dark Lord. With a howl and ferocity unknown to mortal creatures the Dark Lord drew his own blade and prepared to duel a second time with Marthrym.
The battle was short, the Dark Lord so confident in his own strength. Marthrym battled him all the way into the upper floors of the Cathedral, and the battle ended suddenly, almost without warning. The Dark Lord's body was thrown down from the spire of the cathedral, Marthrym's blade through his face. The knights that would make up House Cairlynen and the young nobles of the elven court entered the Cathedral to recover Marthrym's body, knowing that he could not have survived the battle.
They found Marthrym sprawled down a flight of stairs, making his way out, to ensure that the battle was truly over. They carried him down, bringing him down in front of the assembled army. Surprisingly, he rose to his feet, his blood pulling itself back inside of him. The humans around him fell to their knees, believing that this must have been the work of the Creator.
Marthrym was chosen by the assembled humans to rule over them until the extinction of his line and was made Emperor. Marthrym the First, or Marthrym the Purple, set about the business of creating a government and organizing his newly chosen people...
