House Mindolin
- March of Mindolin
- Sworn to the Duke of Vass
- Crest: The Crest of House Mindolin is a Red Ram’s head on a Black Triangle over a field of blue and green.
- Motto of House Mindolin: “We Hold our Ground.”
House Mindolin has a long history with the Great House Vass, and in fact it is believed that an ancient second son of House Vass became wealthy and powerful enough to form his own Cadet branch of the House, which eventually came to be the House Mindolin we see today.
The main difference between House Mindolin and House Vass lies in the unique type of cavalry employed by the House in the Eastern portion of the March. House Mindolin have tamed a megafauna variety of Sheep which are found in the Black Mountains that divide Mindolin from Dravos. Called Blackrock Bighorns, the males of these sheep weigh between 1000 and 1200 pounds, and can carry a rider of 200-300 pounds. Due to their breeding of the Blackrock Bighorns, House Mindolin has a thriving trade in wool.
The Capital of the March is in the City of Brokewater, but a major military community is stationed at the Blackfort near the Black Mountains.
Culture of House Mindolin
House Mindolin shares House Vass’ respect for multi-disciplinary men. However, they have a stronger tradition of cavalry than House Vass, which led the Ram to feature heavily on their crest.
Martial Traditions
House Mindolin is most famous for their ‘Ram Riders,’ a form of cavalry unseen in other parts of the realm. Their mounted ‘Ram Riders’ are trained with the scimitar and lance, but also with compact, recurve short-bows which they fire accurately even from a Ram in motion.
Dark Secrets of House Mindolin
House Mindolin was responsible for the Invasion of the Dune Bandits which occurred 50 years ago. Most of the realm considers the invasion the result of barbarian tribes who sought fortune by conquering Brydd lands. But the truth is that an elder son of House Mindolin, sent on a diplomatic expedition to the Dune Sea, fell in love with a Dune Lord’s daughter. He stole her away, compelling the petty Kings of the Dune Sea to retaliate. When the invaders kept demanding the return of the noble daughter, she was killed by the Marquis of Mindolin and her body burned, to conceal the truth of what had caused the conflict.
House Mindolin is also complicit in the secret, illegal slave trade that comes through the city of Brokewater, often consisting of slaves supplied by House Madrona.