» Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:36 pm (This is still being edited and I have to flesh it out a bit before it's complete, but I wanted to get a few people's opinions on it. For example, any where that you'd like to see a little more detail or other tips/ideas you have. I know the formatting is a little wimpy, but I can't seem to get the forums to do what I want them to.)
House Longstride
The Longstrides of Whiterun have always been a powerful family, but their rise to Thanehood did not take place until the days of Tiberius Longstride, who was proclaimed a Thane before going to fight during the Oblivion Crisis. Since that day, every patriarch of House Longstride has held the title of thane and Protector of Whiterun (the man who takes care of the military aspects of the hold), receiving his father's title and responsibilities at the moment of his death. The Longstrides are unique among the other great clans and families of Whiterun in that they bury their own dead, possessing a crypt beneath their manor in Whiteun, where the Patriarchs of House Longstride are entombed. Traditionally, only members of the family who have held the title of Thane, or before Tiberius who had been the Patriarch of the family, are buried there.
Below is a timeline of the Thanes of House Longstride, featuring the dates of birth, death and ascension, from Tiberius to the current Thane of Whiterun, Targon, each one having served in the legion at some point in their lives, most joining at the age of eighteen to gain combat experience. A great deal of this timeline is devoted to the life of Targon Longstride's immediate family .
Woven into this timeline are also the births and deaths of the Bosmer of the Line of Greenleaf, who came into the service of House Longstride and proved to be their most staunch of servants and protectors.
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4E 0 – The Oblivion Crisis ends. Tiberius Longstride is current Thane of Whiterun. He has a son, Tartarus, who is two years old.
4E 26 – Jon, son of Tartatrus is born. It is the first time in several hundred years that three generations of Longstrides have lived during the same time.
4E 36 – Thane Tiberius dies at age 70. Tartarus succeeds him as Thane.
4E 52 – Erik, Son of Jon is born.
4E 74 – Thane Tartarus dies in battle at age 76. His reign lasts 38 years. Jon succeeds him as Thane of Whiterun.
4E 78 – Aedan, Son of Erik is born. Valahil - a bosmer who has escaped from the Dominion, enters the service of Thane Jon Longstride.
4E 96 – Thane Jon dies of wasting sickness at age 70. His reign lasts 22 years. Erik succeeds him. Valahil continues his service under Thane Erik.
4E 109 – Stafford, Son of Aedan is born.
4E 117 – Valahil is gifted with a son, Valorin.
4E 127 – Thane Erik Longstride, after reigning for 31 years, dies of wasting sickness at age 75. Aedan takes his place, and Valahil remains behind to serve under his third Thane.
4E 135 – Targon, Son of Stafford is born. Valahil dies in the defence of Thane Aedan; a violent end to 57 years of serice. He was 74 years old. Valorin enters the service of Thane Aedan at the age of 18.
4E 137 - Falhof, Second Son of Stafford is born.
4E 140 - Bjorn, Third son of Stafford is born.
4E 149 – Targon shows signs of being capable of learning the Thu'um, and is sent to High Hrothgar to begin study under the Greybeards. Thane Aedan passes away due to old age the same year, after reigning 22 years. He was 71.
Stafford is named Thane. An old seer approaches him with a prophecy, that his sons would be killed by a great bear. Stafford dismisses the prophesy as false, but Valorin is not so sure.
4E 155 – Thane Stafford Longstride dies in battle after reigning for only five years, at the age of 46. Falhof goes to High Hrothgar and pleads for Targon take their father's place. Targon is told that if he leaves he can never return. Despite this, Targon returns to Whiterun to become Thane. After that he immediately enlists in the legions at age 20. Valorin enlists as well and serves as his lieutenant. The title of Protector of the Hold falls to Stafford's Housecarl - Ragnar Barrowblade.
4E 157 - Falhof Longstride takes over from Ragnar, who retires and moves to Solitude. Falhof, though young proves quite capable of the task.
4E 158 – Targon, having risen through the ranks becomes a garrison commander in Falkreath Hold, in charge of one fifth of the Hold's legionnaires. During this time he meets a young shieldmaiden, Freya Riverdane (17), the daughter of a powerful farm-holder of Falkreath. The two start to get friendly with each other.
4E 160 – Falhof dies during a hunting accident at the age of 23, when he is killed by a Cave Bear. Bjorn avenges his death by killing the bear. Upon hearing the news, Valorin believes that the seer was only partially correct, and the prophecy has come to pass. The position of Protector of the Hold is left vacant. Freya comforts Targon in his grief, and their relationship quickly turns to become more than friendly. Targon breaks the family tradition and buries Falhof in the crypt alongside his father.
4E 162 - Targon asks for Freya's hand. Initially she refuses, claiming that she is still young (21) and not ready to settle down yet, hoping to live many more years of adventuring before marriage and children. Targon's age (27) is also a concern for her. The same year, Freya almost meers her end at the hands of Draugr while delving into an old Nordic ruin. While she managed to survive the ordeal, the memory of her near death puts her off a life of adventure, and she agrees to marry Targon. They are wed that year.
4E 163 - Jon II, Son of Targon is born. Targon, having attained the rank of Preafect, resigns from the Legion and returns to Whiterun to live with his family, and becomes Protector of Whiterun. Valorin's son Vanion is born in the same year, but his mother dies in childbirth. Freya takes on the role of Vanion's mother. Bjorn, having already gained experience among the Hold Guards of Whiterun, joins the Legion, and becomes a garrison commander.
4E 164 - Ned, Second Son of Targon is born.
4E 171 - The Great War breaks out across Tamriel. Targon is recalled to fight in the Legions, who need all the experienced officers they can get. He leaves a heavily pregnant wife and goes south to fight in the war. Valorin goes with him, along with Bjorn. Freya gives birth to Aedan II, Third Son of Targon, later that year. She becomes very ill afterwards, and is never able to fully recover, becoming frail and prone to illness.
For the duration of the war, Targon is stationed in Colovia along with Bjorn and Valorin. During the course of the war, Targon is promoted to Legate, while Bjorn takes the rank of Praefect. While fighting in Colovia he meets Dominion forces led by one Commander Elethael - a bosmer warrior with a fierce reputation. Targon's legionnaire's emerge victorious and Targon keeps Elethael as a prisoner. Though suspicious of her, she is treated fairly well, and Elethael comes to respect her captor. When the Imperial City is taken, his army is recalled to Bruma for further instruction.
4E 175 - The Battle of the Red Ring. Valorin falls defending Targon at the age of 60. He served the Longstrides for 40 years. Targon and Bjorn are both awarded with military awards, and honourably discharged from the Legion. On their way back to Skyrim through Bruma, a local priest approaches the pair with a baby named Talen. The boy's mother, who died in childbirth, claimed the father was Bjorn, and upon hearing her description Bjorn confirms that he spent the night with her. The child's resemblance to Bjorn cements the fact. Bjorn agrees to take the child with him back to Skyrim. Now orphaned, Vanoin's fate appears uncertain, but Targon ensures that the young bosmer is cared for, and essentially becomes another son.
Elethael is released that year, but upon returning to the Dominion she is placed under arrest by the Thalmor, under suspicion of treason against the Dominion. She escapes from her prison and makes her way to Skyrim. She pledges herself to Targon and becomes his Housecarl.
4E 179 - Already frail, Freya falls ill to a wasting sickness and passes away at the age of 38. Targon buries her in the Longstride crypt, breaking the family tradition again.
4E 181 - Jon Longstride joins the Legion. Ned joins the following year. Both are transferred to Cyrodiil, though the visit Whiterun on occasion. Jon becomes a commander of several centuries, with Ned as his second-in-command.
4E 187 – A group of Forsworn begin to ravage the lands around Rorikstead. Targon rides out with soldiers to meet them. Elethael dies defending her lord, but her sacrifice allowed Targon to lead his men to victory over the forsworn. Elethael was 63 when she died, having served Targon for 12 years. Targon takes on a young nord warrior from the Pale named Erik, as his housecarl.
4E 193 - When a Colovian lord threatens to cause a rebellion in Cyrodiil and gathers an army, the legionnaires under Jon Longstride are sent to destroy them. Alas, Jon is killed in the battle, though the legion emerges victorious. His body is taken back to Whiterun, where Targon breaks tradition a third time and has him buried in the Longstride crypt. He was 29 years old. Ned is promoted and returns to Cyrodiil after the funeral to take up his brother's post.
4E 201 - The Thalmor begin another major crackdown on Talos worshippers following the outbreak of the Civil War in Skyrim. Ned is in the field with his men when his commanding officer, Legate Varus, orders him to gather his men and attack a caraven of travellers that the Thalmor claim are Talos extremists. When Ned notes the lack of proof, he challenges the Legate but is quickly shut down, and ordered to carry out the attack himself. Deeming such as action as breaking his own personal moral code, Ned deserts from the legion and flees to Skyrim. Though hunted for a time, Ned's case slips through the cracks once he reaches Skyrim, due to more pressing matters involving the Civil War, and Ned is able to return to Whiterun.
Upon his arrival, Targon arranges for a ceremony and eventually Ned takes the oath of Vanion to become his housecarl, even though Ned has yet to become Thane; an indication that Targon intends to step down at some point in the near future.
With the Civil War encroaching on Whiterun, the fate of House Longstride is uncertain...
