CrimsonStar:House Tartaros

Game: Children of the Crimson Star

The Noble House Tartaros (Tar-Tar-Ohs) is a very powerful house with vast fertile holdings to the north of Tyr. Noted for being very skilled in "The Way" as well as having several Scions skilled the arcane arts (Arcanist are mostly seconded to the Templars). Due to bargains with primal powers, their elder ranks are touched by elemental magics, becoming the not-quite-human beings called "genasi" by the learned. Their humanity is likewise suspect; untold generations of dabbling in primal forces leave many of them with the unmistakable mark of elemental magics.

Economy

Tartaros has exclusive noble privilege to a small aquifer to the north of Tyr. While the lands are somewhat further away from Tyr itself than many other noble holdings, Tartaros lands are very prosperous. Tartaros is very adept at growing crops and various types of herbs/vegetables/mushrooms. Tartaros is also very adept at concocting a number of different types of alchemical substances such as the variants of "Dream Honey" the regular type is used to keep the vast number of slaves in line and docile a slightly altered form of Dream Honey (known as Nightmare) turns a recipient into a berserker. The number of slaves that Tartaros has and seemingly produces at an astonishing rate no can say if it’s by forced enslavement or forced breeding. The slaves serve a secondary function as the main portion of the military (see below).

Military

House Tartaros also contributes the most soldiers to the Grand Army of Tyr. That being said these tend to be slave soldiers deliberately addicted to "Dream Honey" a powerful narcotic. What the Tartaros battle-slaves lack in skill and equipment they make up for in their berserker frenzy from a slightly altered formula of Dream Honey known as Nightmare. The battle slaves are followed quickly by the regular house troops, a much smaller contingent of sane well equipped regulars.

Political

Powerful due to number of soldiers they can contribute the contingent of seconded Templars, and wealth. The weakness of the house politically is their implied connection to several plots that fell flat.

Rivalries

House Erinyes: House Tartaros is the only noble family whose claim to antiquity rivals that of Erinyes. The two houses clash frequently, in subtle machinations and street duels alike. The warring has only grown worse in recent times, with the Templarate lacking the power or inclination to step between such powerful and cruel forces.

Known Goals

• Total destruction of House Erinyes.
• Become the "First house of Tyr"
• Keep the formula of "Dream Honey" and "Nightmare" secret (thus far very successful)

Crest and Motto

Our Strength in the Earth

Scions

Astraeus

Astraeus of Tartaros is well-respected, if not well-liked, among his house; though his skill in the Way is substantial, it is the power which he has gained from the elemental spirits which makes him truly formidable. This strength, along with a forceful and commanding personality, have permitted him much more sway in house policy than one of his relatively junior birth would normally wield. Now, with his sister Felice's death at the hands of snake cultists, he is poised to become a dominant force in the house. That a man of his age and influence is unmarried might seem surprising, especially when coupled with his chiseled appearance; those who remember that he was married once before try to avoid comment. It is, after all, purely coincidental that his rise to prominence began shortly after his pregnant wife died in a mysterious accident.

It was revealed that:

• There was an outbreak of poisoned crops from Tartaros, and many Templars died. Turns out Astraeus was peeing in the aquifer
• Astraeus is sterile, following a deal with supernatural beings to kill an heir of a rival house
• He takes advantage of social events to indulge the fact that he is a serial rapist