House Abraxas

House Abraxas is a comparatively young noble house of Bal-Morath. The House is located on the Western coast of Bal-Morath, and founded in 90 IC as a reward for its founder's services to the crown. It is said that to live within House Abraxas' lands is to live within interesting times; whether this is a curse or a blessing is up for debate.

Identity

House Abraxas are a family of patriotic Tiefling sorcerers who try to make the best of a Demonic pact none of them wished to be part of but have little choice other than to live with. They take pride in using their powers to better their lands, resenting the implication that Tieflings are second class citizens within the empire and seeking to disprove that notion.

Wealth

Most of the family's wealth comes from trade via Port Abraxas, noted for having the calmest waters in the region thanks to a long standing treaty between the house and the local druids. In the past trade through the port had ensured a steady flow of capital into their coffers, but between dealing with the aftermath of the last war and the punitive loans they took out to sustain their war effort, the house's funds are stretched dangerously thin. As of 343 IC it is currently amongst the poorest of the noble houses.

Politics

With their much of their fortune being made from naval trade and the current ruling branch owing their status to Imperial intervention, it should come as no surprise that house Abraxas tends to view the Empire favourably. Their first loyalty however is still to Bal-Morath; their attitude toward Morathian Imperial membership is that it should be a mutually beneficial partnership rather than a one sided affair, and thus often push back against measures that would reduce Morathian autonomy or otherwise harm local interests. They also take pride in their Tiefling identity, believing that in spite of its source it's more constructive to make use of what it granted their people than lament what they lost. This attitude has led to some friction between them and the all human house, Sarris. Finally, given their magical abilities house Abraxas are inclined toward employing sorcerous solutions to various problems, with varying results.

Strangeness aside, House Abraxas' lands are a relatively pleasant place to live. Whether due to wanting to prove themselves unaffected by the folly of their forefathers or trying to make up for their sins, the members of the House invest much into improving the lot of the people living there.

Notable people

Proteus Abraxas (165 IC - 235 IC):

Amid the rise of the Cult of Orcus and the increasing alarm at the direction Bal-Morath's new rulers were taking, the Chancery decided that it needed a 'man on the inside' and, after much deliberation decided to contact Proteus Abraxas (the then head of House Abraxas). Abraxas was known to be pro-Empire (unlike many the head of many of the noble houses) and although initially reticent to act as an informant against the Cult his strong personal moral code meant that he had little choice.

Via Proteus the Chancery learnt that the state of affairs was far more dire than it appeared from the outside. Blood sacrifices and demonic summonings were carried out behind closed doors, and terrible rituals condemned the souls of the unborn to demon lords. Indeed, it was because of one such ritual that Abraxas, and a good portion of his family, decided to abandon their homestead, lest their objections to selling the souls of each of their firstborns to Orcus for sorcerous power earn the ire of Cult.

In the aftermath of the Cult's sudden dissolution, House Abraxas split into two branches; the deposed pro-Cult branch, and the Imperial loyalists (who were reinstated for their part in documenting the Cults actions). It's unknown as to whether the pro-Cult branch is extinct, or in hiding and biding their time. Loyalists maintain close ties with the Chancery, while the Chancery (partly due to their new-found sorcerous bloodline) keeps a close eye on them.

Proteus Abraxas though, is now held up by the House as an idealised figure for putting the lives of Morathians ahead of any government or even his own family.

Makara Abraxas (174 IC - 243 IC):

Makara Abraxas was the sorceress behind House Abraxas' ill-fated magical crop enhancement project, now known as the 'Dire Potato'.

Although a respected botanist in her day, Makara Abraxas is now considered the luckiest fool the House has ever begotten. A somewhat bawdy drinking song in her dubious honour ("Makara's Magical Meaty Melons") is often sung in the taverns along the docks.

Kraken Abraxas (309 IC - Present):

The eldest son of the current generation of the family, Kraken is a decorated captain in the Imperial navy. He is known among naval and pirate crews alike for his bombastic theatrical persona, daredevil attitude and apparent inability to feel fear. Many rumours about him are swapped between superstitious sailors, although the one about his soul being sold to the devil has an element of truth to it. Among his family he's known for his gregariousness and generosity, as well as the outlandish stories about his exploits on the high seas he'd tell to his younger siblings.

Trivia

Family Curse

During the rule of Bal-Morath by the Cult of Orcus the Abraxas family, as many others, were forced to take part in a number of rituals to bind them to the service of Orcus. Despite rebelling against the Cult, the family is not exempt from the deal struck with Orcus. To this day the firstborn of each generation of the family will have their soul devoured by the demon lord. These cursed individuals have dealt with this knowledge in different ways: some turned to the gods in the hope of salvation, some became obsessed with life extension, some (like the notable naval Captain Kraken Abraxas) adopted a 'devil-may-care' attitude, laughing at the world in the knowledge that the worst has already happened to them.

Another side effect of the Condition is that members of the family are notably more otherworldly than the average Tiefling. Slitted yellow irises, large unconcealable horns, a faint smoky odour and silvery-white hair number amongst the many odd traits members of the family have possessed over the centuries.

Naming:

Nearly all members of the house are named after various mythical sea creatures. This can be attributed to their region of the Western coast being rife with legends of terrible sea monsters; In the distant past it was thought that by taking the names of such beasts one could ward them off, as even monsters won't attack their own. Now it's just a regional peculiarity.

Succession:

While nominally the eldest of each generation of the family is the one to become the next head of house, it's often the case that the second eldest will get the position instead. The firstborn don't usually take the revelation that their soul is forfeit well, and thus tend toward obsessive or self destructive behaviour that greatly curtails their ability to take care of the family's affairs (or indeed, live long enough to take the job).

The Bone Orchard:

As a consequence of House Abraxas' involvement in the last war, the house runs the collection of farms known as 'The Bone Orchard'.