Clan Ceselryd

The name Ceselryd is a mixture of old Jarinese and Lythian dialects and can be roughly be translated as "he who rides". The origins of the clan are obscure. It is likely that some of their early ancestors were among the Lythian horsetribes who came to Hârn during the Atani Wars. The known history of the clan dates back into the 5th century TR. Ceselryd clansmen have been yeoman farmers in several settlements in the Harden area of mainland Melderyn for several generations.

When King Balesir of Chybisa gathered an army in his Melderyni exile, to win back his kingdom from Kaldor, several members of clan Ceselryd joined him as mercenaries. The clanhead at that time was Barian Ceselryd. He led a sizable force of clansmen and retainers and was one of the most important non-noble warlords of Balesir. The most prized possessions of the clan were three trained war-horses. Barian and his brothers, Uthred and Alagos, rode as light horsemen into the battle of Geda in 687. While the battle was won, the spoils of war were meager and the Ceselryds lost all three horses and several clansmen in the final charge.

Having won the battle, but facing the prospect of long sieges at Geda and Burzyn, Balesir promised rich rewards and booty to his mercenaries. To the Ceselryds he said: "The towers and turrets of Chybisa shall pay the price for your horses and the weregild for your kinsmen."

While it was obvious to both the king and the Ceselryds, that this promise was deliberately ambiguous, it still planted the hope in the clansmen for something more than movable booty.

However, when Balesir's army advanced and manors were taken, it became apparent that land and titles were rewards reserved for the noble followers of the king, especially those who had held land from him before. Other landholders simply changed sides, thereby retaining their lands and further lessening the prospect of rewards for Balesir's mercenaries.

Barian was unwilling to be shunted aside with a bag of pennies and perhaps a few more yeoman acres. While on a foraging expedition, Barian and his men crossed the Ulmerien river and found Shenadun only lightly defended and its fortification incomplete. Barian seized the opportunity and attacked.

While most of his men would have been content to pillage the village and get back over the Ulmerien, Barian had more ambitious plans. He forbade any plundering and instead took possession of the manor, sending a message to the king that the village of Shenadun had been taken. Balesir received the message while negotiating with the garrison of Burzyn - among them the Kaldoric lord of Shenadun, Raelf Gwantir. Using the information to best effect, he was able to undermine the morale of the besieged. Eventually, the Kaldorians surrendered Burzyn and withdrew, beaten and dispirited.

Barian Ceselryd wasted no time in establishing himself as lord of Shenadun. Sending the peasants back to work, arranging feudal obligations and reopening the manorial court and hall moot, he tried to return the settlement to normal. He also sent food and supplies to Burzyn, but otherwise kept a low profile in the weeks following the truce.


Sable on a chevron dovetailed gule, between three horses rampant or, a tower or
Motto: No mercy for the wicked
Registry: Tower of the unicorn, 690 TR
Holdings: Shenadun manor
Major Tenants: None

King Balesir was under much pressure to consolidate his realm while old and new followers constantly schemed and haggled for power at his court. Knowing that the only way to take away Shenadun from the Ceselryds was by force of arms and also knowing that this breach of his promise might undermine his own position with his vassals, Balesir eventually chose the path of least resistance and knighted Barian, confirming him as lord of Shenadun.

Since this bestowed noble status only to Barian and his offspring he made a pact with his brothers to take their sons as squires. Lesser clansmen were given land as yeomen.

Barian married the third daughter of the Melderyni lord of Gebundy, who is a vassal of the earl of Harden, Lady Mildred Caderyn in 691. Mildred gave birth to three sons, Cheorl (689), Lardis (694) and Hrothgeir (698). Her only daughter, Analeth, was born in 702 TR and is married to the bailiff of Dunlorik in the barony of Aereben.

Uthred was killed in a tavern brawl by Gwantir clansmen while the was traveling in Kaldor in 697 TR. The feud between the two clans was not pressed by either side sincethen, but has never been officially ended and could flare up again anytime.

Alagos died of a fever in the winter of 706 TR. His son Birhtric is eighteen and the squire of the lord of Brigmer. In 716 Barian and Cheorl were ambushed and killed by Pagaelin and Lardis inherited the fief. Lardis made a few attacks on Pagaelin camps and hunting parties to avenge his father and brother. The local Pagaelin had enough after a few bloody skirmishes and withdrew into other hunting grounds, moving their camps out of the vicinity of Shenadun.

The Ceselryds have always been on excellent terms with their liege, usually responding quickly and in force to any of the baron's calls.

Sir Lardis is unmarried and therefore has no legitimate children. In the event of his death, his line would end and the fief would theoretically fall back to the baron. However, the Ceselryds believe that there is an understanding that Torald Ceselryd is presently the heir to the manor.

The Ceselryds play an important but dangerous role in the relationship of Chybisa to its barbarian neighbors. The Baron of Caermel is eager to expand his lands into Pagaelin territory, which risks conflict and even open war. At the same King Verlid VII ha sought to appease the tribes by disputing the claims of Kaldor to the Pagaelin lands in the north.

Both the baron and the lord of Shenadun know that the king would not thank them for a war with the tribes - not unless it can be won quickly. The eastward expansion of the fief is pursued without official knowledge or consent of either the baron or the king. Both know, of course, what is going on, but prefer to wait to see the results before making any official statement.

Members

More prominent members are detailed elsewhere. The remaining lesser personages are described here.

Lady Mildred Sir Lardis' mother is a shrewd politician, who tries to use her family ties to Melderyn to her clan's best advantage. While her sons busily increase the clan's holdings and influence in Chybisa, Lady Mildred tries to establish contacts to the nobility in northern Melderyn. This is a dangerous game since the position of the the Melderyni crown towards Chybisa is by no means clear and King Verlid VII is very wary of any Melderyni influence. Since the earldom of Harden would be important as a basis for any military operation towards Chybisa, Mildred would quickly learn about any preparations for such a venture. While this might become a useful source of information for Verlid VII or allow him to use Mildred as a secret emissary if need be, it might also enable Mildred to enact private negotiations, which would be considered treason. So far, Lady Mildred has made the right steps, by faithfully reporting anything she learns about developments in Harden. King Verlid VII, however, is vigilant and will make sure that her activities are closely watched.

Chamberlain Hadran of Ganze is the younger brother of Peul. He is a competent administrator, but has recently become quite uneasy due to the attempts of Hedri of Fertedes to get a position among the household servants. Hadran is only too aware of the fact that the manor offers far less luxuries than most fiefs south of the Ulmerien. While this is mostly due to the fact that the lord has little interest in anything except military and economic issues and not Hadran's fault, he still fears the yet unknown skills of his competitor.

Cook Addo of Kandelg is responsible for the preparation, cooking and storing of food, Addo's rank among the servants is second after the chamberlain. He is addressed "Master Addo" and coordinates everything that has to do with the food supplies within the manor. Addo thoroughly enjoys his position and has been known to drive the lesser servants pretty hard.

Gardener and Beekeeper Leofric of Ganze tends the lord's bees and the large orchard. A quiet man of 54, he spends most of his time alone. His honey is one of the necessary ingredients for mead that the innkeeper brews.

Grooms Wernek of Meller and Olwart of Thelgan are two young serfs. Both handsome lads, they will work at the manor for a few years, before the lord decides to give them some land on their own. If they show aptitude and behave well, Sir Lardis is likely to make the half-villeins or even villeins when they have found a suitable bride.

Laborers Beorn of Kiring and Morca of Barsen are seasonal farmhands who have come to work in Shenadun over the summer. Given the constant labor shortage, Sir Lardis would like to keep them in the village and has offered them freemen acres. Neither of the two is particularly interested as both are adventurous spirits and plan to go to Thay in the fall to become sailors.

Washerwoman Hilda of Bankeld is an attractive woman of 35. She is unmarried and rumored to have various love affairs with several villagers among them the lord's men-atarms.

Chambermaid Mehtild of Ertgen is sixteen and the eldest daughter of Putur. Her father wants to find her a husband as soon as possible, but so far she has turned down all proposals. Mehtild hero-worships the chaplain and secretly dreams about becoming a priestess of Larani herself.

Chambermaid Ota of Jonel is 43 and has been a Chambermaid ever since her twelfth birthday. She never showed any inclination to marry and seems to be quite content to serve in the manor.

Pantrymaid Imma of Meng is the fourteen year old sister of the beadle, Kalan. She has hopelessly fallen in love with the laborer Beorn. She has flirted with him and hopes that he takes her with him when he leaves.

Ostler Carl of Dall is the only household craftsman. His rank is equal to the cook. He cares for the lord's five war horses and three palfreys.