House Jasner - Earldom of Chaos

Location: Courts of Chaos
Status: Minor House
Formerly: House Yaznir
Heraldic Colours: Black, White, and traces of Red
House Crest: An onyx face engraved with a white seven pointed star. The bottom and top two spokes of the star are elongated, the other four somewhat shortened. Entwining the star is an obsidian serpent, the reptile's one eye flashing with a brilliant ruby.
Colonies: Alamharja/Dreamlands, Araby Mythica, (Eastcroft), Gaslight, (New Megadon), Paititi, Shamballa, Turan
Protectorates: Alchera, (Darkthorne), Maelstrom, Minraud
Email address: [email protected]

History:

From the primordial darkness were born three siblings, the Children of Yaznir: Balistus, Caladorn, and Mirium. There were others, many others, but none so great an influence as these three, the founders of Jasner. Balistus was a thinker and strategist. Under his direction, House Jasner rapidly rose to Minor Status, with plans underway to become a Major House. Mirium was a powerful Sorceress, a practitioner of the Dark Craft who dealt with many sleeping sources of power, out in obscure shadows and Beyond the Rim. Caladorn was a warrior, but an Artist at heart, and prone to introspection. Of the three, he had the least love for the politics of the Court, gladly allowing his brother Balistus to make the calls and deal with the intrigues. He was like a weapon, to be aimed and unleashed. However, he had his code, and from that he would never stray. But Balistus and Mirium did.
Balistus and Mirium did what in Caladorn's mind was the unthinkable, they became lovers. At first, Caladorn was willing to turn a blind eye to this, pretending not to know. But when Mirium was finally with child, and Balistus proudly claimed to be the father, it was too much for Caladorn. In his rage he swore never to return to House Jasner and disbanned his troops and fled off into Shadow. To this day he has kept his word, and the Jasner military force never regained its former glory. A few of his scions have returned to the family nest from time to time, seeking the past that Caladorn rejected, but never Caladorn himself.
The child of Balistus and Mirium, Jabbar, was hardly treated kindly by his father. Balistus blamed the child for his brother's departure and showed no love for the growing boy. When Balistus had twin sons by his mistress Cassilda, Dengerin and Dyster, Jabbar was all but forgotten by his unattentive father. Mirium did not take kindly towards this behavior, and a rift formed between the sibling lovers. It was Dengerin who was the apple of his father's eye. Everything was Dengerin.
Dyster was basically raised in the shadow of his older brother, born but seconds before him. He spent a good deal of time with Jabbar, and they had an uneasy friendship because of Mirium's hatred of Cassilda's children. After a time, this hatred became less obvious, and Mirium allowed her son to mingle with the 'favored' children. In the end, she even accepted Dengerin with all too open arms.
Dengerin reveled in the attention of his father, but even greater than the affection he had for his dad was his hunger for power. He would have it all, that he knew, but the question on his lips was always "when?" Mirium seemed to have the answer for him. Secretly, Mirium encouraged the young Dengerin to prepare to rule House Jasner. Heady with the idea of power, Dengerin listened and obeyed her directives. Balistus, all too in love with his boy, never saw how Mirium was twisting his child against him. When Mirium had 'trained' Dengerin to her satisfaction, she gave him his final lesson. She took Dengerin down the all but forgotten crawlspace she had so often used to come to Balistus' bedchamber and presented him with a gift. The gift was a knife, its target his father.
The next day Dengerin was the Second Lord of Jasner.
At this time, Mirium slipped away into obscurity, taking her son with her. Dyster was not entirely happy with this series of events, but saw a sort of tragic justice in it, since there was never a doubt who would be made Lord Jasner. He took this time to delve further into his secret projects, trying to stretch the limits of personal experience, toying with forbidden forms of Shape Shifting and pursuing his unhealthy nihilistic fascination with the Abyss. Dengerin's murder of his father lost House Jasner many of the allies who would have brough the House to Major Status, and Dengerin was always bitter. He took as his wife Aeristal, a woman whom many say was almost a reflection of his aunt Mirium. Dengerin's cut-throat political maneuverings won him few allies, and fewer friends. It was during Dengerin's climb to power that Dyster took his fall. In an insane wish to learn what it was like to think and live like a creature from Beyond the Rim, Dyster dove into the Abyss. The House Shock Troopers were able to recover him, many dying in the attempt, but as the saying goes, they couldn't put him back together again.
Dyster was severly disturbed, his mind shattered and constantly trying to rebuild itself. In his madness he snuck into the chambers of one of his aunts, Camilla, and kidnapped her. The House was in a panic, all of Jasner's forces combing through Shadow. Camilla was found, in a coma, and pregnant. Dyster was never caught.
Dyster's madness was but a prelude to Jasner's own Fall. When word of his actions got out, Dengerin's already weak support dwindled and he found himself floundering for power and allies. In a final, very desperate, act, Dengerin held an elaborate ball, inviting allies, enemies, and former allies to the family Ways. The ball was a wonderous Masquerade, formal gowns and colourful costumes filling the vast Dance Hall of the West Wing. Dengerin promised a surprise at the unmasking, everyone was suspicious.
True to his word, at the hour of unmasking, all present revealed their true identity; Barons, Counts, Dukes, all were uncovered, and then Dengerin removed his mask. . . at the very same moment unleashing Primal Chaos upon the collected guests.
The House was destroyed. The family was scattered, many surviving enemies hunting down the surviving Jasners for revenge. Only a millenia later has the House come back to any of its former power, a Petty House once more recognized as a Noble bloodline. Eltanan, son of Dengerin, rebuilt upon the ruins of the old Ways, determined to follow in the path of Balistus. He was able to reassemble a collection of the lost family, one of which was Aeristal, his mother and wife to Dengerin, and assume the position of the Third Lord Jasner.
Awhile ago a power struggle occured within the House ranks. To regain a modicum of Jasner's former glory, Eltanan resumed a dark family secret, Project Leviathan. Not many details are available, and no one seems to be talking about it. Especially not Aeristal or Eltanan, the rival heads of the project, both of whom have vanished.
Now, under the guidance of Mikloshe, born of the unholy union between Dyster and Camilla, House Jasner seeks to reunite its divergent bloodlines. Divided between Chaos, Niera, and Megadon, it is no small task to rejoin family through personal and political ties and goals. But the efforts of the Fourth Earl of Jasner have not gone unrewarded and now, after a millenium, the family has been returned to its former standing as Minor House in the Courts, promoted by its peers in the Council of Lords. However, the flock is still being gathered back again to the fold, intrahouse ties being rebuilt, allegiances strengthened. Only time can tell if things will succeed, Serpent willing.

Related works:

1. House Jasner Bloodline: Balistus
2. House Jasner Bloodline: Caladorn
3. House Jasner Bloodline: Mirium
4. Courts of Chaos Page
5. AmberMUSH WWW Page