Ruling Family:
The Castylls - Edythen Manor

Capital City:
Everbury

Motto:
"For the greater good"

Religion:
Catholic

Color:
Black, jet black being reserved for the highest of nobility, ash grey for those of lesser rank, and smokey grey for the in between.

Standard/Flag:


Cultural Notes:
Out of all the duchies, Harleston is the most pious. Everyone attends mass every Sunday, alms are regularly given to the poor, charities are common... if one wants a career in the church, to Harleston they should come. The poor are very well cared for in this duchy, especially in the capital of Everbury where hand-outs of food and clothing are regularly given to the needy.

When it comes to fashion, the courtiers of Harleston are much like those of Marcheford in the common lack of decoration and preference for simple, elegant silhouettes. High necklines and fitted bodices are common among the women while with men, excessive cloth and expensive cuts are the fashion.

Rarely will you ever seen a Harleston woman with uncovered hair. Either beneath a hood or a veil, it will always be covered once she has come of age.

Both girls and boys come of age at 15.

PM Alma (Duke Westley Castyll), Rose(Lady Rose Castyll/Princess Abigail Castyll) or Steve (Duke Richard Castyll) with any questions or requests of the Castyll Family. We are currently accepting new members, PM for information and details.

Duke: Duke Richard Castyll
Duchess: Duchess Alexandria Castyll (unknown if alive or not)
Children:
- Catelyn Castyll (daughter, 27)
- Peter Castyll (son, 17)
Other Members:

• Lady Rose Casytl, 36, Dowager Duchess of Harleston, Mother of the King of Adesia
• Princess Abigail Castyll, 17, Princess,of Adesia, sister to King of Adesia
  
  
• Lord Dauid Castyll, 18, Marquess of Everbery, brother to King of Adesia
• Lady Nicola Casyll, 17, Marchoness of Everber, sister-in-law to the King of Adesia
  
  
• Princess Elise Castyll, 15, Princess of Adesia, sister to the King of Adesia (name up to Alma)

Family History:Harleston

The Castylls have not forever reigned over Harleston. Indeed, Harleston was already quite well-developed before the Castylls even arrived in the land, natives originally of the Duchy of Marcheford. It was Henry Castyll who first raised his head to feast upon the glory that was held by Edythen Manor and felt the first bits of envy begin to stir in his soul. Harleston had, for quite a bit of time, been a duchy filled with the ideals of the church, but Henry had the idea that it could become something quite more, quite strict, quite holy. His wisdom and craftiness when it came to matters of politics and economics were discovered when he began a discussion with one of the duke's chief advisors in the streets of Everbury. So impressed was the advisor that he went immediately back to Edythen Manor and informed the duke of what he found, leading Henry to go from being a simple courtier to becoming one of the most favored among all of Harleston. He worked his way slowly through a great circle of advisors to where mere whispers into the duke's ear could sway his opinion on many a thing. It was in this way that as the duke lay on his deathbed, widowed and childless, Henry convinced him to name Henry as the newest duke.

Many changes were in order once Henry came to power. Laws were enacted to cover all of Harleston, that a woman must keep her head covered at all times, that all must attend mass every Sunday, that one must use only what was necessary and then donate the rest to the poor and homeless of Harleston as alms for penance. Anyone found not complying with said laws were thrown into the stocks or prison and risked being deported to another duchy without any of their belongings or family. While many might have rebelled under such treatment, Henry softened the sudden intensity of the laws with lower taxes, less brutal guards, and, of course, greater assistance to the poor and homeless that originally wandered the streets with little mind paid to them. A great revival took over Harleston, leading every individual to mass of his or her own accord, and soon the greater majority of the land took to the pious way of life with more seeking greater divine assistance arriving each week.

Not everything could be so golden, however. 'Twas rather gilded instead when it came to those in the Castyll family. If an unholy covetous feeling could be born in the bosom of one, more could certainly be born in another. Henry's three sons took to a completely different lifestyle than their father, taking themselves to Pemberton for grand parties, where they could get drunk without being noticed and consort with the local women of lesser morals. They would return to Harleston spoiled and proud, but not even their own parents could force them on their knees to do penance to the Lord. It was the night when the eldest son, Westley, returned home drunk that his father confronted him face-to-face about his behaviors in the privacy of their study. Voices were soon raised and, before anything could be done, blows began to be struck. The quarrel ended with Henry on the ground, stabbed through with the blade gifted to him by his father on his sixteenth birthday. Shocked at his own actions, Westley promptly removed the blade and, with a shaking hand, cleaned it of the bloodstains with his handkerchief. He took to the countryside in terror, hurling his sword over a cliff and into the ocean, before sending his horse back toward Edythen Manor in a great fury. Upon arriving, he had calmed slightly, enough to form a feasible story in his mind. He ran up the stairs to the study, reacted to his father's corpse in shock, and turned quickly to shout for help.

The next morning, the horrid sin of gossip was what spread the news of Duke Henry Castyll II's death through all of Harleston. All believed the murderer to be a poor man possessed by some sort of demon who had wandered the manor in search of alms and, upon seeing Henry, was forced to murder him and then flee from the consequences. What else could have coaxed someone to do such a thing but pure evil? The eleventh bell had barely been struck when Westley became Duke Westley Castyll I at the age of twenty-two and took on all that his father left behind. Driven by guilt for his actions for the first time in his life, Westley enforced every rule to the strictest possibility. However, the Castylls have never been quite able to resist temptation. The lure of the lifestyle that he had vowed to leave behind was much too difficult to resist. The past thirteen years have been spent with Westley quietly taking to sins in secret such as consorting again with harlots and gambling. Every morning that he rises and feels gripped with guilt from succombing to temptation, he gladly gives a great deal of money to the church or the poor as his penance, though the people of Harleston seem to see it simply as his mercy among the people.

Though nearly all live in Harleston with little qualms to their situations, there is a new day carrying a new temptation rising in the heart of Duke Westley Castyll I. With his heart filled with lust for the crown to rule over all of Adesia, he knew he had to form an alliance. And what better alliance then with Ashton? At first, he set his eyes on the Duchess Lucy herself, but after making the visit and discussing the matter with her, he found she was unwilling to marry, but instead offered her sister, Rose. Lucy thought she was the perfect candidate, shy, introverted, and terribly loyal to her family. There was no doubt she would marry the Duke without any outward complaint. This is not to say Rose was disappointed in the match. Indeed, she grieved over it, for she had dreamed of marrying for love.

For a few months, their engagement was kept a secret, and during that time, Rose and Westley spent time with each other. Rose thought of Westley as man who she should be frightened of, and he, well, lusted after her more and more each day. Despite this, or maybe because of this, when Rose and Westley married, nothing happened that night. No, he realized he easily frightened his doe of a wife, and so decided he needed to be more gentle, to lure her.

Rose didn’t need any luring, though because soon, Lucy sent a letter voicing her concern for no heir. Granted it was early in the marriage, but she didn’t want to take any chances. Rose knew that it was her duty to provide Westley an heir, and so, she finally gave one uncomfortable and dark night. She did conceive and nine months later, the young Nathaniel was born. He was destined to be the king, but at that time, no one knew that.

As years passed, Dauid, Abigail, and Elsie were born, and surprisingly watching her husband interact with his children touched Rose. Over that time, she slowly began to fall in love with him, and he began to appreciate his wife’s gentle nature. They finally had what Rose thought was never possible in any sort of arranged marriage. Thirteen years after their marriage, the two were happy and Harleston thrived under them. By this time, their son Nathaneiel was thirteen, and soon, word got to Rose that her son might be the possible king. After years of careful planning and signing, Rose watched her son become King Nathaniel Castyll at the age of 15. He was young, but Westley did his best to make sure his son was well equipped.

As happy as Rose was, she was soon met with great sorrow, for Westley, then 51, became deathly ill. For months, she stood by his side, and invited the best doctors to help him…they could not, and so on cold winter night, he died, leaving Rose a Widow. While naturally the title of Duke would fall to the son, Westley realized that other son was only 13, too young. After much deliberating, before Westley died, he gave the Duchy to his brother, Richard. Now, five years later, Dauid is 18, a prime age to be a Duke and some are unhappy with Duke Richard’s rule. No, instead, they think Dauid might make a better Duke, but what will happen is unknown. Harlestonians are eager, and tension is rising in the air, but there is someone out there who does know Westley’s dark secret, and the whole Castyll name would be stained should it ever come out…you could say there’s black under the coat of Harleston. Sin is all over. How long will it go unpunished?

Family Estate: Edythen Manor

Big thanks to Bryan for his mad map-making skills.