House of Ilios-Brigantine
 Coat of Arms | |
| Countries: |  Nouvelle Alexandrie
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| Ancestral seat: |  Castillo de la Luz, Pharos
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| Founded (AN): | c. 1480 AN |
| Founder: | Erasmus Ilios |
| Current head: | Theron Ilios-Brigantine |
| Titles: | Count of Pharos |
| Motto: | Lux in Tenebris (Light in Darkness) |
The House of Ilios-Brigantine, also styled as the House of Ilios or the House of Brigantine in informal usage, is a noble house of Nouvelle Alexandrie holding the title of Counts of Pharos. The family traces its origins to the Lighthouse City State, where the Ilios family served as hereditary Keepers of the Light and maintained the ancient Lighthouse on the island of Skerryvore from the late fifteenth century AN until the city-state's collapse in 1668 AN.
The hyphenated name emerged in the early seventeenth century through the marriage of Theron Ilios to Alva Cavanagh-Brigantine, daughter of the Captain General of the Coast of Wrecks. The Cavanagh-Brigantine family claimed descent from the officers of the HMS Brigantine, the famous shipwreck that became the administrative center of Brigantia on the Coast of Wrecks. This union consolidated two of the most prominent families of the Lighthouse City State.
Following the integration of New Luthoria into the Federation of Nouvelle Alexandrie in 1687 AN, the family was formally recognized by King Manco Capac I and granted the title of Counts of Pharos in 1692 AN. The grant acknowledged the family's centuries-long association with the Lighthouse, their role in maintaining order during the interregnum period between 1668 AN and 1687 AN, and their cooperation with the New Luthoria Settlement Company.
The family seat is the Castillo de la Luz (Castle of the Light), located on the northern promontory of Pharos near the historic Lighthouse. The coat of arms features a silver (argent) tower on a grey field with flames issuing from its summit, representing the ancient Lighthouse beacon. The family motto is Lux in Tenebris (Light in Darkness).
History
Lighthouse City State era (1457-1668)
The Ilios family rose to prominence during the early history of the Lighthouse City State, which was originally established as a condominium between Treesia and the Republic of Baracao. Erasmus Ilios (c. 1460-1521 AN) served as one of the earliest Keepers of the Light during the 1480s, holding the position responsible for maintaining the ancient Lighthouse beacon that guided ships through the treacherous waters of the Skerry Isles.
The position of Keeper of the Light carried both practical and ceremonial significance. The Lighthouse was one of the oldest structures on Micras and had been in semi-continuous existence since the earliest days of the Micronational Cartography Society. For the Ilios family, the role became hereditary in practice, with successive generations maintaining the structure even when they did not hold the formal political office. This continuity earned them the informal title of "Lightkeepers" and considerable prestige within the city-state's merchant and maritime communities.
The family's influence expanded considerably following the marriage of Theron Ilios (1589-1651 AN) to Alva Cavanagh-Brigantine (1595-1664 AN) in 1612 AN. The Cavanagh-Brigantine family held significant status on the Coast of Wrecks, the second of the Lighthouse City State's four captaincies. Their ancestor, Captain Dermot Cavanagh, had commanded the HMS Brigantine when it ran aground on the rocky shoals in the early sixteenth century. Rather than abandon the vessel, the survivors patched and moored it in place, eventually building the coastal village of Brigantia around the old ship. The Brigantine remained the administrative center of the captaincy, and the family maintained their connection to both the vessel and the position of Captain General.
Through this marriage, the newly styled House of Ilios-Brigantine united control over the Lighthouse itself with substantial influence on the Coast of Wrecks. During the height of the city-state, the family held the Captain Generalcy of the Coast of Wrecks twice (1602-1618 and 1634-1652), maintained significant shareholdings in the city-state's trading companies, and provided officers to the Light Brigade, the military wing of the Lighthouse City State.
The family prospered from the city-state's role as an economic haven. The fusion of Treesian, Baracaoan, and later Babkhan cultures created a unique commercial environment, and the laissez-faire approach to governance attracted bankers, merchants, and private investors. The Ilios-Brigantine family invested in maritime trade, ship chandlery, and the provisioning of vessels that called at Pharos.
The interregnum (1668-1687)
The collapse of the Lighthouse City State in 1668 AN coincided with broader regional instability across Micras. The first Wechua Kingdom and Caputia both fell during this period, the latter devastated by the White Plague. As order disintegrated, the territories of the former city-state fell into the chaos of the Green, the unclaimed and unowned wastes that marked the absence of organized governance.
Gaius Ilios-Brigantine (1641-1709 AN), head of the family during the collapse, made a fateful decision that would determine the family's future. Rather than flee to more stable regions as many prominent families did, he chose to remain on Skerryvore and attempt to preserve what order he could. Drawing on the family's accumulated wealth and longstanding relationships with other Lighthouse families, Gaius organized an informal governing body that came to be known as the "Council of Lights."
The Council comprised representatives from the remaining merchant families, former officers of the Light Brigade, and the heads of the major trading houses that had not abandoned the island. It exercised no formal authority and made no claim to sovereignty, but it provided a framework for resolving disputes, coordinating defense against banditry, and maintaining essential services. Most significantly, it ensured that the Lighthouse itself remained operational.
The family maintained a small private militia, funded from their remaining capital, to protect Pharos and the immediate surrounding settlements. They continued to staff the Lighthouse and keep its beacon lit, providing navigational aid to passing ships regardless of nationality. This service generated goodwill from multiple naval powers and provided income through informal "appreciation payments" from merchant vessels that benefited from safe navigation. These payments, while modest, helped sustain the family and the Council through the difficult interregnum years.
When the New Luthoria Settlement Company arrived in 1686 AN-1687 AN, backed by the nascent Federation of Alduria and the Wechua Nation, the Ilios-Brigantine family was positioned as natural intermediaries. Gaius Ilios-Brigantine negotiated with the Settlement Company on behalf of the Council of Lights, offering local knowledge, established networks, and guaranteed cooperation in exchange for recognition of property rights and a formal role in the new order. These negotiations proceeded smoothly, as the Settlement Company recognized the value of working with established local elites rather than attempting to impose authority from scratch.
Integration into New Alexandrian nobility (1687-present)
The formal integration of New Luthoria as a Region of the Federation occurred in 1689 AN, following a period of settlement company administration. During this transition, the Ilios-Brigantine family petitioned for recognition of their historic status and contribution to the peaceful integration of the Skerry Isles territories.
King Manco Capac I, who had established a practice of incorporating local elites where they demonstrated commitment to the new Federation, responded favorably. In 1692 AN, the King granted the family the title of Counts of Pharos through letters patent that recognized four distinct contributions: the family's centuries-long association with the Lighthouse and its maintenance; their role in preserving order during the interregnum period; their cooperation with the New Luthoria Settlement Company; and their investment in the development of New Alexandrian infrastructure in the Skerry Isles.
The grant included confirmation of the family's ancestral estate, the Castillo de la Luz, and the surrounding lands, formalized as the County of Pharos. Following standard New Alexandrian practice, the title carried no governmental authority. The County is purely honorific and territorial, with actual governance handled by regional and municipal authorities under the structures established by the Local Government Act, 1694 and subsequent legislation.
The 1st Count of Pharos, Gaius Ilios-Brigantine, died in 1709 AN at the age of sixty-eight. He was succeeded by his son Erasmus (1672-1742 AN), who had worked closely with his father during the interregnum and the transition period. The 2nd Count consolidated the family's position within New Alexandrian society, expanded the family's commercial interests, and began the restoration of the Castillo de la Luz, which had suffered from deferred maintenance during the difficult interregnum years.
The 3rd Count, Alexios Ilios-Brigantine (1701-1750 AN), served during a period of relative stability and prosperity for New Luthoria. He reportedly declined consideration for a peerage appointment to the Chamber of Peers, preferring to focus on regional rather than federal affairs rather than assume the obligations of federal legislative service. The 3rd Count was active in the Regional Assembly of Luthoria and served as a patron of heritage preservation efforts across the Skerry Isles.
The current head of the family is Theron Ilios-Brigantine, 4th Count of Pharos, who succeeded his father in 1750 AN.
Family tree
- Erasmus Ilios (b. c. 1460 AN, d. 1521 AN), Keeper of the Light, m. (c. 1488 AN) Theodora Maris (b. c. 1465 AN, d. 1532 AN)
- Nikolaos Ilios (b. 1490 AN, d. 1558 AN), Master of the Flame, m. (1518 AN) Helena Stavros (b. 1495 AN, d. 1562 AN)
- Alexandros Ilios (b. 1520 AN, d. 1589 AN), Master of the Flame, m. (1552 AN) Sophia Cavanagh (b. 1528 AN, d. 1595 AN)
- Orion Ilios (b. 1555 AN, d. 1625 AN), Keeper of the Light (1602-1618), m. (1584 AN) Marguerite Duval (b. 1560 AN, d. 1638 AN)
- Theron Ilios (b. 1589 AN, d. 1651 AN), Captain General of the Coast of Wrecks (1634-1652), m. (1612 AN) Alva Cavanagh-Brigantine (b. 1595 AN, d. 1664 AN)
- Gaius Ilios-Brigantine, 1st Count of Pharos (b. 1641 AN, d. 1709 AN), 1st Count of Pharos (1692 AN), m. (1668 AN) Cassandra Voronov (b. 1645 AN, d. 1718 AN)
- Erasmus Ilios-Brigantine, 2nd Count of Pharos (b. 1672 AN, d. 1742 AN), 2nd Count of Pharos, m. (1698 AN) Lady Isabelle Fontaine (b. 1676 AN, d. 1751 AN)
- Alexios Ilios-Brigantine, 3rd Count of Pharos (b. 1701 AN, d. 1750 AN), 3rd Count of Pharos, m. (1720 AN) Eleni Petrakis (b. 1702 AN)
- Theron Ilios-Brigantine, 4th Count of Pharos (b. 1722 AN), 4th Count of Pharos, m. (1746 AN) Marguerite Leclerc (b. 1725 AN)
- Lady Theodora Ilios-Brigantine (b. 1724 AN) m. (1745 AN) Baron Armand de Vaucelles (b. 1720 AN)
- Lord Nikolaos Ilios-Brigantine (b. 1727 AN), officer in the Federal Navy
- Lady Sophia Ilios-Brigantine (b. 1730 AN) m. (1750 AN) Lord Henri Marchand (b. 1726 AN)
- Lady Helena Ilios-Brigantine (b. 1703 AN, d. 1748 AN) m. (1724 AN) Sir Rodrigo Vidal (b. 1698 AN, d. 1745 AN)
- Lord Orion Ilios-Brigantine (b. 1706 AN, d. 1742 AN), Captain in the Federal Navy, lost at sea
- Alexios Ilios-Brigantine, 3rd Count of Pharos (b. 1701 AN, d. 1750 AN), 3rd Count of Pharos, m. (1720 AN) Eleni Petrakis (b. 1702 AN)
- Lady Alva Ilios-Brigantine (b. 1675 AN, d. 1738 AN) m. (1696 AN) Captain Dermot Halloran (b. 1670 AN, d. 1732 AN)
- Lord Theron Ilios-Brigantine (b. 1678 AN, d. 1716 AN), officer in the Light Brigade, killed in bandit raid during interregnum
- Erasmus Ilios-Brigantine, 2nd Count of Pharos (b. 1672 AN, d. 1742 AN), 2nd Count of Pharos, m. (1698 AN) Lady Isabelle Fontaine (b. 1676 AN, d. 1751 AN)
- Lady Marguerite Ilios-Brigantine (b. 1618 AN, d. 1685 AN) m. (1640 AN) Captain Lucius Vardas (b. 1612 AN, d. 1678 AN)
- Lord Alexandros Ilios-Brigantine (b. 1620 AN, d. 1668 AN), killed during the collapse of the Lighthouse City State
- Gaius Ilios-Brigantine, 1st Count of Pharos (b. 1641 AN, d. 1709 AN), 1st Count of Pharos (1692 AN), m. (1668 AN) Cassandra Voronov (b. 1645 AN, d. 1718 AN)
- Lady Sophia Ilios (b. 1592 AN, d. 1655 AN) m. (1615 AN) Captain Henrik Strand (b. 1588 AN, d. 1652 AN)
- Lord Nikolaos Ilios (b. 1595 AN, d. 1652 AN), officer in the Light Brigade, m. (1620 AN) Elena Komnenos (b. 1598 AN, d. 1665 AN)
- Theron Ilios (b. 1589 AN, d. 1651 AN), Captain General of the Coast of Wrecks (1634-1652), m. (1612 AN) Alva Cavanagh-Brigantine (b. 1595 AN, d. 1664 AN)
- Lady Helena Ilios (b. 1558 AN, d. 1620 AN) m. (1580 AN) Master Petros Katsaros (b. 1552 AN, d. 1618 AN)
- Orion Ilios (b. 1555 AN, d. 1625 AN), Keeper of the Light (1602-1618), m. (1584 AN) Marguerite Duval (b. 1560 AN, d. 1638 AN)
- Lady Maria Ilios (b. 1523 AN, d. 1590 AN) m. (1545 AN) Master Georgios Raptis (b. 1518 AN, d. 1585 AN)
- Alexandros Ilios (b. 1520 AN, d. 1589 AN), Master of the Flame, m. (1552 AN) Sophia Cavanagh (b. 1528 AN, d. 1595 AN)
- Lady Irene Ilios (b. 1493 AN, d. 1558 AN) m. (1515 AN) Captain Antonios Drakos (b. 1490 AN, d. 1552 AN)
- Nikolaos Ilios (b. 1490 AN, d. 1558 AN), Master of the Flame, m. (1518 AN) Helena Stavros (b. 1495 AN, d. 1562 AN)
Family traditions
Maritime heritage
The family maintains strong connections to the seafaring traditions that defined both the Lighthouse City State and the broader culture of the Skerry Isles. Several members have served in the Federal Navy of Nouvelle Alexandrie, continuing a tradition of naval service that stretches back to the Light Brigade of the old city-state.
The family sponsors the Ilios-Brigantine Maritime Scholarship Fund, established in 1712 AN by the 2nd Count, which provides financial support for New Luthorian youth pursuing careers in maritime trades, naval service, or marine sciences. The fund has supported over two hundred scholars since its founding.
The most visible expression of the family's maritime heritage is the annual "Lighting of the Flame" ceremony, held on 1.I (the first day of the year) at the historic Lighthouse. The Count or Countess of Pharos ceremonially ignites the lighthouse beacon, a tradition maintained since the 1490s. The ceremony draws visitors from across New Luthoria and has become a significant event in the regional calendar.
Architectural patronage
The family seat, Castillo de la Luz, retains elements of the original Lighthouse City State architectural style, though it has been modified significantly over the centuries. The structure combines defensive features appropriate to its original purpose as a fortified residence with more refined domestic spaces added during periods of peace and prosperity. The castle suffered damage during the 1715-1716 eruption of Mount Broadshaw, and restoration efforts remain ongoing.
Beyond their own estate, the family has invested significantly in heritage preservation across Pharos and the wider Skerry Isles. The Ilios-Brigantine Heritage Trust, established in 1735 AN, provides funding for the restoration and maintenance of historic structures dating to the Lighthouse City State era. The Trust has supported preservation projects in Brigantia, Smuggler's Cove, and the historic core of Pharos.
Cultural syncretism
The Lighthouse City State emerged from the fusion of Treesian, Baracaoan, and later Babkhan cultures. This multicultural heritage left a lasting mark on the families that remained on Skerryvore, including the House of Ilios-Brigantine. The family has historically maintained an eclectic approach to religious and ceremonial practice, incorporating elements from the various traditions that shaped the old city-state.
In the New Alexandrian context, most family members have adopted mainstream religious practices while maintaining certain private ceremonial traditions. The family chapel at Castillo de la Luz contains iconography reflecting this mixed heritage, and the family observes several feast days that combine elements from multiple traditions.
The multicultural legacy of the Skerry Isles extends beyond the families descended from the Lighthouse City State. The Askerr, a population on Dromosker Island with distinct customs and beliefs, represent one of the more isolated elements of Skerrian heritage. Though the Askerr developed largely apart from the Lighthouse City State's cosmopolitan culture, their presence is part of the broader tapestry of Skerrian peoples. The descendants of the Askerr who migrated to the urban centers of Pharos and New Luthoria City over the centuries have occupied an ambiguous position in regional society, with some integrating into mainstream New Alexandrian life while others have remained marginalized.
Notable members
Historical
- Erasmus Ilios (c. 1460-1521 AN): Founder of the family's prominence, served as Keeper of the Light during the 1480s and established the family's hereditary association with the Lighthouse.
- Theron Ilios (1589-1651 AN): United the Ilios and Cavanagh-Brigantine families through his marriage to Alva Cavanagh-Brigantine in 1612 AN, creating the hyphenated house name.
- Alva Cavanagh-Brigantine (1595-1664 AN): Daughter of the Captain General of the Coast of Wrecks, brought substantial property and influence to the merged house.
- Gaius Ilios-Brigantine, 1st Count of Pharos (1641-1709 AN): Organized the Council of Lights during the interregnum, negotiated with the New Luthoria Settlement Company, and received the comital title from King Manco Capac I in 1692 AN.
- Erasmus Ilios-Brigantine, 2nd Count of Pharos (1672-1742 AN): Consolidated the family's position within New Alexandrian society, established the Maritime Scholarship Fund, and began restoration of Castillo de la Luz.
- Alexios Ilios-Brigantine, 3rd Count of Pharos (1701-1750 AN): Patron of heritage preservation, active in the Regional Assembly of Luthoria, declined consideration for a peerage in the Chamber of Peers.
Current
- Theron Ilios-Brigantine, 4th Count of Pharos (b. 1722 AN): Current head of the house, succeeded his father in 1750 AN. Active in reconstruction efforts following the 1715-1716 eruption of Mount Broadshaw and advocate for enhanced disaster preparedness in the Regional Assembly of Luthoria. Elevated to the Chamber of Peers in 1751 AN following his public service during the Chop Chop Shops crisis.
Current status
The family weathered the 1715-1716 eruption of Mount Broadshaw with some property damage to the Castillo de la Luz but no casualties among immediate family members. The 4th Count has been active in reconstruction efforts across New Luthoria and has advocated for enhanced disaster preparedness measures and improved early warning systems for volcanic activity.
The 1749 crisis
The succession of the 4th Count in 1750 AN came during a period of profound crisis for New Luthoria. Beginning in 1749 AN, a wave of violent crime swept through the Pharos industrial district, centered on the activities of the so-called Dromosker Crew. This criminal organization, allegedly composed of descendants of Askerr communities who had migrated from Dromosker Island to the urban centers of Pharos, operated a network of torture facilities dubbed "Chop Chop Shops" in the chicha press. Victims, primarily tourists and business travelers, were kidnapped and subjected to extreme violence to extract banking credentials before being murdered. Federal investigators eventually confirmed that the organization had operated at least six such facilities across the Pharos industrial zone, extracting an estimated NAX€4.2 million from victims.
The crimes terrorized the region and paralyzed normal commerce. Shipping volume through the Pharos Port District dropped by 23% as companies rerouted cargo to avoid the area. Regional Governor Enrico Lamas declared a state of emergency and imposed curfews, while the Department of Justice launched Operation Hot Iron to dismantle the criminal networks. Rumors circulated, largely unsubstantiated, that some of the victims' remains had ended up in unregulated food stalls, leading to mass health inspections and a collapse in consumer confidence.
The new 4th Count publicly condemned the violence and opened the grounds of Castillo de la Luz to house displaced workers from the Pharos port district whose livelihoods had been disrupted by the crisis. The family contributed funds to a victims' relief organization and the 4th Count spoke before the Regional Assembly of Luthoria in support of emergency security measures, while cautioning against measures that might unfairly stigmatize the broader community of Askerr-descended residents who had no connection to the criminal gangs.
The crisis was largely resolved by 1751 AN, following a crackdown under Governor Joanna Wisely that resulted in 156 arrests, including 27 Dromosker Crew leaders. The gang's leader, identified in court documents only as "The Butcher," was sentenced to life imprisonment. Port commerce recovered to NAX€3.4 billion annually, exceeding pre-crisis levels. The ritualistic elements that had terrified the public, including carvings and altars made of smartphones and bones, were later assessed by prosecutors as largely theatrical, designed to cultivate a reputation for supernatural cruelty that would intimidate victims and discourage cooperation with police.
Economic position
The family's wealth derives from multiple sources: commercial real estate in Pharos and New Luthoria City; historical investments in shipping and maritime insurance; tourism ventures connected to the historic Lighthouse and Castillo de la Luz; and agricultural holdings in the less volcanic-affected areas of Skerryvore.
In 1751 AN, following the resolution of the Chop Chop Shops crisis, the Royal Peer Selection Committee nominated the 4th Count for elevation to the Chamber of Peers. The nomination cited his public service during the emergency, including his provision of shelter for displaced port workers and his advocacy before the Regional Assembly of Luthoria for security measures that balanced effectiveness with protection of civil liberties. King Sinchi Roca I confirmed the appointment, and the 4th Count took his seat in the Chamber of Peers in III.1751 AN. Unlike his father, who had declined consideration for a peerage, the 4th Count accepted the appointment, stating that the crisis had demonstrated the importance of New Luthorian voices in federal deliberations.
As New Alexandrian nobles, the family carries no automatic legal privileges beyond ceremonial honors and styles of address, and is subject to the nobility wealth tax surcharge instituted in 1704 AN.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of the House of Ilios-Brigantine was established in the 1520s during the tenure of the early Ilios Keepers of the Light.
The arms feature: a silver (argent) tower on a grey field, with flames proper issuing from its summit. The tower represents the ancient Lighthouse of the Skerry Isles, and the flames symbolize the beacon that guided mariners through treacherous waters for centuries. The motto Lux in Tenebris (Light in Darkness) appears on a scroll beneath the shield.
