House Winters

House Winters is the extinct ruling house of The Winterlands. They were most known for uniting the Winterlander nations, and being the first house to embrace federal imperialism, as well as isolationism.

Foundation
Their accurate origin is unknown, as it reaches back to the tribal era in the Valendorian plains. Many tribes called their rulers "Winterlords" or "Lords of the Winter", and believed to be the messengers of their god, The Frozen One; who came to protect them from the harsh environment of the island, as well as mythical creatures.

Dorrick is the first noted king of Valendoria. While he wasn't the first chieftan to unite the Valendorian tribes under one banner, but he was the first to introduce feudalism to the island, founding House Winters. The original crest was blue-white split similarily to the current coat of arms of Ghost Kingdom).

Rapid expansionional era
The winters were always the most leathal seasons on the island, most Winterlanders believed it's when the Frozen One comes down from The White Reach to claim the lives of those who he deems unworthy to live. The newly founded kingdom always waited for a snowstorm to occur before invading it's neighbors, annexing land most of the times. Others would willingly join the kingdom, in exchange of protection and occasionally land.

Valendoria was the first Winterlander nation to deny the the ancient Bosothist tradition of "letting The Frozen One judge the people", in favor of a higher population. He has constructed "Peasant keeps", which were hospital-like buildings, the smallfolk could reside in during the winter for a fee. The conditions were poor, but they were able to minimalize casualties.

Ironically enough, despite the church originally deeming the practice hereticaland unholy their relation quickly changed after the king awarded free access for bosothist priests. The clergy eventually annouced Valendoria as "the one ruler of the Winterlands", which only accelarated it's growth.

It was also during this time the coat of arms got its inverted borders added.

The rise of the empire
The absolute Valendorian endgame was obvious, they wanted to create a united Winterlands under one banner. While Valendoria was able to expand to the west with ease (Adding Melandia, Cerinia, Pripat and Phirousia and temporarily Mella to their kingdom), conquering the east was a much bigger challenge.

On the south, another threat appeared when Mella broke off and over the decades founded the Kingdom of Maevilla (annexing Venderland and Indola). While conquering the north was also difficult due to the Norrish Horde, a dominant tribal confederation against the expanding kingdom, that has been harassing the two for centuries (Made up of Tovaria, Proshland, Kuvia, Kender).

The tense stand-off between the three lasted for decades, the silence was only broken when Maevilla made an alliance with the horde. The Valendorian king considered this a threat and declared war on both nations as soon as they've found out about the alliance.

Defeating both of its biggest rivals in a single war is still considered Valendoria's greatest military achievement, both nations were absorbed into Valendoria. Standing as the sole sovereign nation of the Winterlands, it proclaimed its status as The Empire of Valendoria, adding the two headed eagle to its crest to symbolize power.

The reformation
Many argue that conquering all of The Winterlands was a mistake, Valendoria upkept the Winterlander isolationism, refusing to expand south to The Hales, and they were left with no direct rivals. As a result unrest broke out all over the empire, many between the different cultures, but most against the empire, calling for the restoration of their sovereignty.

The Winters were losing their influence over their provinces, so they decided to reform their empire into a federal one; that would change how it operates in many way: While numerous rebellions still broke out, the reform was enough to appeal to most lords, who stayed loyal.
 * The Empire of Valendoria was renamed to The Empire of The Winterlands
 * Each culture would reclaim some sovereignty, letting them have their own kings, lords and dynasties who manage the internal laws.
 * These rulers were still serving under the emperor of Valendoria.
 * Each of the new winterlander nations had to swear loyalty to be recognized.
 * Annexing land from another wasn't allowed without the emperor's permission.

Contact with The Lauch Empire
While The Winterlands managed to stay independent from southern affairs, the rapid expansion of Lauchette did catch their attention, while many compared it to Valendoria's expansion, most people were suspicious of their borders approaching. It took over two decades after The Hales was annexed for the emperor to even allow Lauch visitors and merchants.