# Intro House von Kessel ruled [[Westemär]] from the capital of Drakkenheim for one hundred fifty years. The last monarch, [[Ulrich IV]], inherited a period of relative political stability, and so pursued interests in architecture, education, and carnal affairs instead of politics and warfare. He married a Caspian princess, [[Lenore]], and they had three children: [[Leonard]], [[Katarina]], and [[Eliza]]. [[Ulrich IV]] was ten years into his reign when the meteor struck Drakkenheim. The King, his wife, and their children were never seen again after that day, but their true fate remains a mystery. ![[House von Kessel.png|700]] However, many members of the royal household were not in Drakkenheim when [[the meteor]] struck, including the King’s younger siblings, [[Mannfred]] and [[Cecilia]] von Kessel. The two spent vast sums commissioning the clergy of the [[Sacred Flame]] and the mages of the [[Amethyst Academy]] to use divination magic to discern what happened, but to no avail. They nearly bankrupted themselves by launching multiple large-scale military expeditions attempting to reclaim Drakkenheim, all of which failed. Eventually, [[Mannfred]] became convinced further efforts were futile, and proposed he would take up the crown and relocate the capital. However, [[Cecilia]] contested the claim, arguing there was no conclusive evidence that confirmed their brother and his children were dead. The nobility was divided over the issue, and a civil war ensued that raged for nearly a decade. As [[Westemär]] itself descended into political and financial ruin, [[Mannfred]] von Kessel and his children were assassinated in a dramatic betrayal. [[Cecilia]] von Kessel herself died unexpectedly only a few days later, leaving behind no heirs of her own. Lacking a clear successor, [[The Civil War]] ended with a whimper. # The Royal Family ```mermaid flowchart TB subgraph Family id1[Ulrich IV]o===oid8 id2[Lenore]o===oid8 id8{Marriage} -->id5[Leonard] & id6[Katarina] & id7[Eliza] end subgraph Siblings id1---id3[Cecilia] & id4[Mannfred] id3---id4 end Family-->Siblings class id1,id2,id3,id4,id5,id6,id7 internal-links; ``` %% # Fate None have yet discovered that King [[Ulrich IV]] and Queen-Consort [[Lenore]] von Kessel were both transformed into monsters. [[Ulrich IV]] is now part of the hideous Amalgamation in [[City Locations/Castle Drakken]], and [[Lenore]] has become a mad creature hiding in [[Queen's Park Garden]]. Their children haven’t been seen in fifteen years. %%