Family Morningstar

Though hundreds of years old, the Morningstar clan is a relatively new clan to the Conclave that had never intended to be a clan at all. It is a mixture of all sorts of diverse cultures,races and beliefs formed from the outcasts and dregs of society that combined together out of necessity to fight off their mutual enemies. And eventually became the strong, free spirited and diverse county we see today.

In the beginning, Layola Thunderbrook was the young and new favorite concubine of the King. As a young peasant girl of 13 years, Layola was renowned for the combination of her use of the bow and her great beauty. She came to the Kings notice during the annual Kings Slayers Hunt when Layola slew a great stag at 29 paces with a single arrow as it charged the Kings youngest daughter who was about Layola's age. As a "reward" the King lifted her from her near destitute living conditions to the pampered life of a concubine.

Layola soon learned all the pleasuring skills of the concubine and like most things she did, she excelled at it.Yet she experienced no real joy from the act like the other concubines did and she wondered at that. It was said that the King was a fabulous lover. To her he was a kind and attentive man but it was nothing more than another job to be performed.

Until one faithful day, the Princess Applebottom, the very same girl she had saved from the stag years before, needed a female escort while traveling to the next County. Layola who had still practiced her bow every day, was now considered one of the finest bowman in the Duchy, She was the perfect choice for the job. Little did Layola know that Princess Applebottom retained a mild crush on Layola all these years for saving her from the stag.

As they traveled together and conversed, they realized that they had nearly nothing in common with each other. Nearly. The one thing they had was a near irresistible attraction for each other. One day it was the Princess nonchalantly putting her hand on Layola's thigh as she spoke. The next Layola whispered something in the Princess' ear and they both pulled away blushing and giggling at what was said and from the proximity of being so close to each other. Then one day a quick kiss. Then a quick fondle and a longer kiss and Layola soon felt feelings she had never felt for the King. The Princess, being bolder and more worldly was much less circumspect and made her feelings more easily known.

Nothing further happened that trip but upon returning, the Princess made it a point to find a means to see Layola at every chance she could. And soon the Princess was giving Layola what the King could not. It wasn't long before they were found out and the matter brought before the King. In a jealous rage, the King banished both women from his Kingdom with not much more than the clothes on their backs.

Now it turned out that the two women having nothing in common was a boon for their survival. Layola could cook, make a camp and hunt. Princess Roundbottom was versed in diplomatic and more refined skills of the court and being a very attractive woman herself was able to garner needed items from the town folk that Layola was incapable of getting. So the two lovers traveled from town to town and doing quit well for themselves.

I won't go into detail and these stories are all written down in the Morningstar Annals after all for you to read at your leisure but over time and many adventures the two women invited others to join them. Often they were the poor, picked upon, shunned or someone in need of a favor or help of some kind. Or someone who offered help to them.

One such story was when Layola killed a bandit leader that was terrorizing a small hamlet and was elected to the town council. By then their band had grown to over 20 people. So come next election it was not surprising to see Layola elected mayor. She immediately changed the town name to Roundbottom Commons in honor of her lover. At this time Princess Roundbottom desired a baby from her own womb. Though it crushed her to do so, Layola made Princess Roundbottom regent and set off to the next County in search of a suitable mate.

Layola was captured by the evil but hansome Pirate King Lucky Jack and raped. Soon she found she was with child and plotted her escape. Using her concubine skills, Layola seduced the 1st mate to her cause and they fought a hard won mutiny. She freed all the slaves and divided the considerable plunder amongst the crew and set back to her lover Princess Roundbottom. With her came about 30 hardened, battle tested but loyal pirates and the 1st mate. Who Layola was rather fond of.

But it had been many months that she was gone and when she arrived she found that Princess Roundbottom, now Countess Wolfbane, was with child herself. She had given up on Layola ever returning and married the local Count. Countess Wolfbane was overjoyed at her lovers return but Layola was infuriated that she had married. An argument ensued and to keep the peace, Countess Wolfbane talked her husband into bequeathing a hamlet to Layola to have for her own. Layola and her Pirate band traveled to the out of the way Hamlet deep in the woods and Established Kare Etling.

Both women had their babies. Girls both. A few years passed and Layola proved to be a good mayor and soon her hamlet was prospering and had grown to a small walled town. The hardened pirates turned out to be excellent traders and great at games of chance and contests of daring.And it wasn't long before the small town gained a reputation for a place to visit if you wanted to test your combat skills or dared to try your luck at the various games of chance offered by the pirates. And the town flourished.

The year hey both turned 30, Countess Wolfbane had a grand ball for all the towns and hamlets in her County and invited Layola whom she had not seen in years. Instantly all the troubles were forgotten and they fell into each others arms weeping their apologies. Now Count Wolfbane knew the two women's history and was jealous of Kare Etling's quick success and popularity as a town. By this time, Kare Etling was almost as large as his County seat, of Wolfgar. He also didn't like seeing the two women reunited like this and plotted to break them apart forever by raising his army and attacking Layola's town on false pretenses.

Unfortunately for the Count a spy of Layola's got wind of the attack and her and her pirate band were well prepared for the Counts attack. The battle tested pirates made quick work of Count Wolfbane's troops and while trying to escape, The Count was slain by Countess Wolfbane's troops( Now Countess Roundbottom ) as they came to help Layola's troops.

Countess Roundbottom and Layola met after the battle in the early morning light and Countess Roundbottom elevated her lover to Countess so they could rule the county as one. Layola looked to the sky and saw one single star still visible in the morning light and named herself Countess Morningstar. They vowed that the oldest female heir would rule the County. If their was none, then and only then would a male take the tittle as Count. And even so the eldest female shell rule from his discharge as well.

The two towns prospered but Kare Etling prospered more and in the two countess' dotage, Kare Etling became a city. Then County seat. The Morningstars tended to be more amongst the people and ruling them more as equals. The Roundbottoms more of a traditional elitist type of rule. Countess Morningstar's child was the elder by a month and when Countess Roundbottom finally died at the age of 96, it became obvious that the County would be run by Morningstars from there after as Layola was still alive and would live another 4 years.

And there you have it. A brief history of  Morningstar County. For further adventures and histories it is best advised to visit the Great Library in the County seat. Where you may be able to find all sorts of histories now lost to time. Or yet to be written.