House Larteton
The origins of House Larteton are as varied as they are uncertain, with no single account commanding universal acceptance. The version most often advanced by the family itself holds that Larteton the Fox was a Ranger lord of no small skill, who fought alongside Kaegor during his rebellion and distinguished himself through both loyalty and daring. In this telling, he was a man of the wild marches, a hunter and tracker of rare ability, whose knowledge of terrain and irregular warfare proved invaluable in the early, uncertain days of the uprising. For these services, he was granted lands and honours once victory was secured.
Their detractors, however, offer a far less flattering account. According to this version, Larteton was no lord at all, but a brigand chief of considerable infamy, imprisoned for banditry, extortion, and general lawlessness. His freedom, it is said, was purchased at a price: he swore service to Kaegor and delivered into the rebellion’s ranks a hardened band of cutthroats, smugglers, and other ne’er-do-wells. In this light, his later elevation is seen not as a reward for noble service, but as a pragmatic bargain struck in desperate times.
Whatever the truth, certain facts are not disputed. Larteton never married, yet fathered fourteen sons by various women, all of whom he acknowledged openly—an act that, while unconventional, ensured that none could easily challenge their legitimacy. Upon receiving lands and titles from Kaegor, he divided his holdings among these sons, either out of practicality or preference, thereby ensuring that his legacy would spread rather than remain concentrated.
From this beginning, House Larteton became both widespread and deeply fragmented. Its branches can now be found across the Empires, the Successor States, and even along the distant Crimson Coast. Some lines have prospered and risen to considerable influence, while others have dwindled into obscurity or disrepute. Cooperation between branches is common when interests align, particularly in trade or matters of mutual defence, yet unity is far from assured. Rivalries, disputes over precedence, and outright feuds have erupted more than once, occasionally spilling into open violence. The branch established within the Divine Empire lays claim to seniority and authority over the rest, though this assertion is widely contested and, in many cases, outright ignored.
The reputation of the Lartetons is a complex one. They are widely regarded as cunning, a trait proudly associated with their fox emblem, and are seldom content with their current station, always seeking advantage, opportunity, or advancement. Larteton the Fox himself is often cited as the archetype of the self-made man—one who rose, by wit and resolve rather than birth, to carve out a lasting legacy. Though he was said to be a man of few letters, he possessed a sharp mind and a keen understanding of both men and circumstance.
Alongside this reputation for shrewdness runs another, less respectable but no less persistent. The Lartetons are often described as libertines, particularly in matters concerning women, and tales of their excesses are common in both courtly gossip and common rumour. Whether exaggerated or deserved, this lecherous notoriety has become entwined with the family’s identity, at times opening doors through charm and audacity, and at others closing them through scandal and mistrust.
Despite their divisions, the many branches of House Larteton retain certain unifying features. Chief among these is the fox, which appears in some form upon all their varied coats of arms—sometimes proud and central, at other times subtle or stylised, but never wholly absent. Among their number are renowned warriors, capable commanders, silver-tongued courtiers, and infamous rogues. Taken together, they form a house of great variety and contradiction—but rarely one lacking in intrigue or ambition.