Customs
Language & Naming
The Ardeleans, as a whole, are fluent in Romanian as well as the common tongue. Other fluencies tend to depend on any languages their non-Ardelean parents, partners, or friends might speak. For example, Cezar would most likely be fluent in Spanish at this point, considering it is his wife's native language and they've been married for most of their lives.
That being said, this means the majority of their naming themes tend to be Romanian, though exceptions are always welcome! Usually exceptions to this rule would be in the form of the non-Ardelean parent naming the kid(s) in question, or perhaps a close friend getting the honor of naming a kiddo. They're fairly chill about most stuff, these guys.
Feel free to come up with whatever backstory you'd like for a different name, as long as it makes sense and you clear it with the parents!
Marriage & Divorce
Ardeleans tend toward monogamy, but this is not a hard and fast rule; if everyone involved consents to a polyamorous arrangement of some sort, then that's fine! Each partner will be welcomed into the family with open arms. That being said, in the case of familial leadership, only
one spouse can be named a Shepherd or a Fang.
This is generally the first spouse, but if they do not want the position or are not suited for it, then the position can be granted to a different spouse. In the case of divorce, the family does its best to remain on good terms when and where possible. They've found it helps ease the stress all around, especially when there are cubs involved.
If the divorced pair are incapable of interacting with one another without blatant hostility, someone else in the family will step in to mediate and facilitate any necessary arrangements. This is done to preserve the peace and wellbeing of all parties involved in the divorce dispute, and to avoid any further headaches that might be caused by the former couple's fighting.
Inheritance
The Ardeleans are an egalitarian, merit-based family. This essentially means that gender and birth order have nothing to do with succession - rather, one must prove themselves to be the best fit for a position if they wish to lay claim to it. This can be done in a variety of ways based on the position one is attempting to claim.
The Claws of the family have input on the matter of choosing new Fangs, but the Shepherds always have final say on the matter. If a Fang or Claw proves themselves unfit for the role later on, then a vote can be called amongst the family to have them removed from the position and replaced by another member of the family.
The same process can be used to oust a Shepherd, should one become unfit for the role at any point in time. These votes are exceedingly rare, however, and would usually be triggered by some kind of major concern. An overwhelming majority (70%) of the family must vote to oust the individual from their respective position in order for the vote to pass.
History
Modern Era
The Ardeleans are a Highborn family in Sestrala Commonwealth, holding a respectable handful of positions within the court. They are loyal and devoted to their Queen, just as their ancestors before them have always been.
Nousha, Alexandru's wife, is an Al Su'ud - of the Royalborn House Al Su'ud from Eldtril Retreat. Her marriage into the Ardelean family helped to strengthen ties between the Commonwealth and the Horizon, and she serves Sestrala as its official Diplomat.
The most notable event in very
recent Ardelean history is Shadi's disappearance. The family remains on vigilant lookout for her return, but they've yet to spot her - only the traces she leaves behind when she visits the well-tended grave of her lover.
She has been missing for a year, but leaves mementos at the grave every few months, so the family knows she's alive - they've just struggled to track her down because she never remains in any one place for very long. I look forward to her reunion with the family!
Ancient Alliances
TBA - please contact me if you'd like to hash something out for connections with your families!
Chronicled Clashes
TBA - please contact me if you'd like to hash something out for conflicts with your families!
Founding Era
The first Ardelean was a warrior. A commoner, she drew notice thanks to her large size and impressive abilities - as well as her temperament. Most knew her to be calm, collected, and rational; a gentle giant, kind to everyone. A few individuals, however, had the misfortune of discovering that beneath the kindness was an unbreakable mountain with a molten core.
She was cream and sugar with honey-colored eyes and the softest dusting of cinnamon. The woman with whom she fell in love was cocoa powder and milk, bearing striking violet eyes. A commoner as well, with no surname of her own, she bore the name Ardelean alongside her beloved wife. She was a healer, stern and no-nonsense, always shaking her head at her dear wife's softhearted foolishness.
When they learned of the blessing resting in her womb, it is known that the First and her Beloved were overjoyed.
"I hope they all look just like you," the Beloved is known to have said.
"That is fine with me," replied the First,
"as long as each of them have your lovely eyes." Thus, their first children were born exactly as each of them had hoped; palettes of sugar and cream, with eyes of lilac and violet and almost-evening skies.
It was around this time that the little Ardelean clan gained a great deal more notice, as the First unknowingly rescued a lost and wounded little prince. Taking him home to the Beloved, she got him patched up before reporting to the city guards; it was this incident that first drew that long-ago king's eye. He kept his attention on the little family, but it was not until the little prince was king that the Ardeleans were elevated to Highborns.
The First served amongst the royal guard; her Beloved as advisor. Their children, all grown and with children of their own, filled various other open court positions practically overnight. They worked hard, and after a couple more generations, the tenets of the family were established. They were determined not to forget where they'd come from, or to take for granted what they had gained.
Things did not always go smoothly for them, of course; there were those who looked down upon them for their commoner origins, but they did not let it stop them. They worked, and worked, and worked, and got themselves involved in their communities - always seeking to go above and beyond in each of their duties. Not only to prove that they were
worthy, but simply because they
cared - for their people, for their duty, for each and every member of their family.
This attitude persists even today.
