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Per pale, dexter Gules, sinister Or with two torteaux Gules ranged in pale.

     Text in quotes is from Dillen Makurrin.

The Estate

     "My family's ancestral estate is Attinia, on the north slopes of the Vimmark Mountains. While only 70 miles from Cumberland as the crow flies, by road it is more than 170 miles. The road is not the fine Imperial highway -- we get few visitors most of the year."

      "Some villages, mines and noble estates are found in the Vimmark Mountains, and a few Chantry establishments. My father is governor of the canton -- no great position, as barely 2000 persons live in it, and the noble or Chantry holdings are exempt from most of his authority."

     "Olive groves and vineyards are found in the deep valleys, along with cattle; in the summer the cattle are moved up into the higher meadows, where young herders spend solitary months tending to them. Rivers and streams run north, only to disappear into the dust and rocks of the plain."

      "The few other noble estates in the canton are just country homes or dragon-hunting lodges for great families -- some of them are only inhabited by caretakers all year round..

     "I have visited Cumberland several times, most recently during last year's Wintersend Tournament."

Baron Bruno Fezensac Makurrin

     "My father is a Baron of the Kingdom of Nevarra, head of the Makurrin family, and proud of the family's reputation. He is just under fifty years old (born 8:80 Blessed). Generations of his ancestors fought on behalf of Nevarra; he himself took part in several campaigns between 8:98 Blessed and 9:8 Dragon."

      "He met my mother in Nevarra City in 9:8, when he was recuperating from serious wounds received during his last campaign. They married a few months later, and she moved to his family home. I have only seen her relatives once, during a trip to Nevarra City myself for a funeral service."

     "There are other members of the Makurrin family -- my aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces -- mostly in and around Cumberland; some of them have married into more important families."

     "Father has high hopes for me -- I am his only child. He trained me hard from a young age, in running, swimming, jumping, swordplay and grappling, military history and tactics, and the codes of proper noble conduct. Tutors were engaged to teach me dance, etiquette and basic reading and writing -- my father's own education outside of military matters is thin."

The tutors usually stayed in the Blue Bedroom.

      "He did not seem comfortable during our visits to Cumberland or Nevarra, and he has told me that in his youth he was an avid duelist. Perhaps these were related?"

Sylvie Anzorfin Ungern Makurrin

     "She is one of seven daughters from a noble household in Nevarra City, she's just over 40 years old (born Blessed 8:88). She taught me most of what I know of the particular features of proper Nevarran society. She manages our home with only three score or so elven servants, and bustles over the hills with an elf, collecting plants and crystals for her herbalism projects. A balm of her own creation is a sovereign remedy for all sprains, strains and cuts."

It's possible Dillen is prejudiced in favor of his mother's talents, and inexperienced in other medical items.

The remedy may work on him better than on other persons.

Sylvie may have other herbalist skills.

     "She's almost never corresponded with her family in Nevarra City; I think there was some scandal, or an incident that drove her to leave. I only traveled there once, for her mother's inhumation two years ago. I met a lot of aunts and cousins, but my mother was uneasy, and we returned home earlier than I expected." 

Dillen was probably quite popular with his female cousins and other young women during that visit to Nevarra City.

He wore plate armor for a procession there.

Dragon Hunts in the Vimmark Mountains 

     For several centuries, increasingly ceremonial dragon hunts have been taking place in various Nevarran provinces and cantons. Young nobles (and some ambitious non-nobles) would climb into the hills to ancient dragon nests -- prizes and minor fame were likely. Somewhat impractical polearms were carried, entirely as a handicap -- the "hunts" were entirely cross-country races.

     No dragons had been seen in Nevarra since the Steel Age, and the Hunts became an excuse for a ball ... until three decades ago, when dragons suddenly re-appeared after centuries of absence, and devastated the Nevarran countryside! All attempts to slay them ended in disaster, and the "sport" of dragon hunting became very dangerous. Climbing alone into the mountains with a polearm did not bring an end to the draconic depredations -- unlucky dragon-hunters found a dragon, and usually died.

      After a few years, the dragons mostly left -- or were destroyed -- and the dragon hunting sport resumed, but with more public interest. A few of the recent contests have been won by Makurrins -- but not by Dillen, since even in the best winter few noble families travel so far into the Vimmark Mountains. Even so, his father's training prepared him well for the sport  -- though perhaps not for an actual encounter with a dragon.

Baron Bodissey

     "When my mother came with my father to the Makurrin estate, before I was born, there was a neighbor:  an Orlesian nobleman, Bodissey by name. He was either renting a minor castle or hunting lodge, or had been given the use of it -- he wasn't a property-owner on the canton rolls. I have no memories of him, but my parents both speak fondly of him. A few letters and gifts have come from him over the years. He lives in Val Royeaux now, and my father has given me a letter of introduction."