The House of Li Halan

Old and distinguished, this house's current prestige belies its sordid
past. Once renowned for its extreme debauchery and callous disregard for
its subjects, its revels put those of the Decados] to shame. Traffic with
demons was one of the milder accusations.

Then, in the midst of the Barbarian Invasions, House Li Halan found the
Pancreator. The entire family converted in a single night - though some
were never again seen. Since then, the house has been tightly tied to the
Orthodoxy, serving both as its chief lay ally and as a check upon internal
attempts to change the Church. One of Emperor Alexius's concessions which
brought the Emperor Wars to a close involved backing of an Orthodox Patriarch,
thus (temporarily) blocking the aspirations of the other sects. While the
Patriarch has not yet openly opposed the new Emperor, he is known to take
much of his advice from the Li Halan.

The family's orthodoxy carries into all other areas as well. They are
the strictest adherents to the noble code of etiquette, and many proselytize
on this subject as much as on religion. The House and its domains are both
rigidly structured, with many Li Halan territories seeing the beginnings of
an intricate caste system. While it is nearly impossible to improve in
status, it is extremely hard to lose it - the security and stability of Li
Halan control appeals to many of their subjects, while only the Hawkwoods
(sometimes) provide more services for their peasants. And, of course, the
priesthood tends to work closely with the Li Halan, preaching the benefits
of conformity.

Stereotyopes: Crusader, pious knight or musketeer, martyr, incognito friar
(posing as a common man), Fisher King, sectarian rebel, secret pagan priest
or demonologist (antinomist).