Goodmane family history
This is the history of the Goodmane family legacy. If this is in the wrong post, please let me know.
Originally from Damara, the Goodmane family (Originally known as the Von Guter Mahnes) were a hardy bunch of miners and mercenaries. Growing tired of the cold climate and harsh living, they decided to travel southwards, owing to some outside trade connections they had. It is not entirely known exactly when they arrived in Tantras, but it's said they traveled for a few months to get there and were settled in around 1358 DR/158 AR.
Arriving at a rather inopportune time, it was the 'Time of Troubles', when deities took on mortal form and the tablets of fate were stolen from Celestia. Two years later (1360 DR/160 AR), King Azoun IV of Cormyr led a massive crusade against the Tuigen Horde, who were threatening Impiltur and 'The Vast'. Many Men of the now Goodmane family, volunteered for the crusade. It is around that time, during the Crusade, that one Benjimen Goodmane fell in love with one of the 'Aasimon' (or angels), though it is not clear which kind.
After the Crusade, a few members of the Goodmane family elected to travel back to Cormyr and offer their services as mercenaries and Merchants to the Nobility of Cormyr, hoping to start a new life. Benjimen Goodmane was among them. It is not clear if his Celestial lover traveled with him to Cormyr or not, but Benjimen settled down in the city of Arabel, joining a local Mercenary company (Soaring Eagle Company).
In 1362 DR/162 AR, Benjimen Goodmane along with members of his Mercenary company uncovered and thwarted a Sharran plot to over through the Royal family and plunge Cormyr into eternal darkness. In recognition of this (and the fact he was the sole survivor of that daring adventure), King Azoun IV bestowed upon Benjimen and his family fiefdon over land and stewardship of 'Château de l'Aube' (Castle of Dawn), which they changed to 'Château de la Bonne Crinière' (Castle of Good Mane), though many still refer to it as Castle Dawn. Publicly they could not acknowledge how close the Sharran plot came to undoing the Royal family, they instead attributed the Goodmane's elevation to minor nobility to the Defense of a rural town against a Goblin invasion. This is only known to the most senior and powerful members of the Goodmane family.
The descendants of Benjimen became known for their wanderlust and restlessness. Several members have opted to travel far and wide to answer a 'call' to action, which for most manifested as a dream. The only noble branch of the Goodmane family reside in Cormyr, but there are other secondary branches still living in Tantras and even in Sembia. They have created a network of traders which proved beneficial to the countries they resided in, particularly Cormyr (arguably, one of the main reasons the family were considered for nobility to begin with). Today, they are known as a lesser but well respected house, now ruled by Benjimen's son, Alexander Goodmane along with his wife, Sophia Goodmane. Their role is to offer protection to the roads north of the Kings' forest as well as the nearby rural settlements.
The Goodmanes have ever since become well known for the following things:
- Paladins in service of Torm, Lathender and Tyr (Castle Dawn originally had a Chapel dedicated to Lathender).
- Silver tongued negotiators (including being Diplomats, Mercheants and Bards)
- Owning a large vineyard (Goodmane Vineyards)
- Being monster hunters, Vampires in particular (though this is less known)
- Breeding horses for warfare (usually for the Purple Dragon Knights).
- Having had secret dealings with the Zhenterim (a dark secret they wish to keep hidden)
- Every so often an Aasimar would appear in their family bloodline, showing.
