Category:Hiregaard Family

This section contains canon info from officially published sources

The Hiregaards are a noble family that own the Borchava Duchy in northwestern Nova Vaasa. Faerhaaven, the strongly fortified seat of the family, overlooks the Little Borchava River. The family's patriarch is Duke Tristen Hiregaard whose preferred title is Sir Tristen. Although he collects the full taxes of Prince Othmar, Sir Tristen levies the tiniest amount of his taxes among the patriarchs of the Five Families (see below), a condition that's left the Hiregaard's finances in bad shape according to "S". The family's troop number is low, and Faerhaven is in a state of decay. Yorgi Hiregaard, Tristen's likely successor, is looking to remedy the situation.^[1]

The Hiregaard family is one of the Five Families that ruled Nova Vaasa by rotating the position of prince among their respective patriarchs according to a schedule called the Cycle of Stewards. In 729 Kethmar Bolshnik was serving as prince when he died in office. His son Othmar became prince in his sted, under the tutelege of a regent at his father's request. At the end of the Bolshnik term of office, the regent, Duke Tristen Hiregaard, stepped down but Prince Othmar refused to do likewise, claiming that the regency had robbed him and his family of their turn. By remaining in office, Prince Othmar broke the Cycle of Stewards. He remains in office today.^[2]

Curse and Character of the Hiregaards

The Hiregaards stand tall, both physically and in the public stage of Nova Vaasa. Of the Five Families, they may hold the most political and economic influence despite the Bolshniks' control over the realm as a whole. Their honor and generosity, particularly towards the poor and the needy, is well known, though this does not mean they are light on punishment toward the wicked and deserving. To punish transgressors, the Hiregaards go to the furthest degree Vaasi law allows.^[3]

In addition to their dashing natures, the Hiregaards are also well-known for their appreciation for and engagement in all things pertaining to the body. While this include physical contest of skill and the fighting arts, it also includes the pleasures of the flesh, particularly that of carousing and lust. For example, Sasha Hiregaard is a subject of particular gossip even in such distant places as Darkon and Kartakass. Illegitimate children are not an unknown phenomenon among the Hiregaards, but thankfully they are welcoming to new claimants to heritage once it is proven.^[4]

Although blessed with healthy and handsome countenances and longevity that is virtually supernatural, not all is well in the house of Hiregaard. Stemming from his rivalry with Tristen, Malken and his crime ring bear a notable antipathy towards the Hiregaards. In addition, horrible madness runs in the family, stemming from a blood curse that afflicts the Hiregaards. Those who stray from the path of righteousness (as in, fail Powers Checks) gradually fall pray to the Hiregaard Path of Madness.^[5]

An even direr malady is passed from generation to generation in the form of Malken himself. Stemming from the vile actions of Romir Hiregaard and the curse of his murdered wife, Malken himself is a malignant alter-ego that shares the body of one of the Hiregaards, currently Tristen, Romir's son. During times of stress, Tristen reverts to Malken whom takes control of the body for a time. If Tristen is slain, then the curse will pass onto another Hiregaard. The pattern will repeat so long as Hiregaards continue to remain in Nova Vaasa.^[6]

References

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

		Ravenloft Third Edition The Awakening Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume V
		Secrets of the Dread Realms - p46 Ravenloft Third Edition - p134 Domains of Dread - p69,71 The Awakening - p7,28 Ravenloft Gazetteer Volume V -p 31,33-34