Barony of Lesterac

Good morning, heroes.  In accordance with our previous discussion, my writings regarding your dealings in Dalganaf and the spellforge are being withheld from general publication.  I hope you have found the records of my research to be of value.  However, the below piece has been released for wide distribution as I did not believe it to contain any sensitive information.

Be well and safe.

Khelek

As word of Vildanel's wonderous resurrection travels along the Sword Coast, attention is once again turned to the golden-crested heartlands and the travels of one company of champions as they make their way about the region.  Yesterday we learned that the champions were visiting Vildanel's nearest neighbor, the Barony of Lesterac.  Here they were hosted by Baron Grenville Lesterac, and we thought it fitting to highlight the glory of this humble-yet-honorable hamlet and its unique lineage.

The history of the Lesterac family traces itself to before the Time of Troubles, with the earliest records found by the public in 1199 DR, noting the birth of Hallen Lesterac to Margaret and Conner Lesterac at their home in the heartlands.  At this time the Lesteracs owned one of the larger farming estates in the area but were not of noble blood and did not command any soldiers or servants.  However, they were renowned amongst the locals and the birth of Hallen was noted as a joyous regional affair.

In these times, the heartlands were truly perilous - yes, moreso than today - as forces of humans from Amn, humans from the dales, and beasts from the east all vied for hold of the land's rich soil.  Much blood was shed, and with no unified government of the dales (ed. the Lords Alliance was not founded until 1325 DR) many such farming families could lose everything in a single conflict.  Indeed, Conner and Margaret did fall to invading orcs in 1221 DR, leaving young Hallen as the master of the estate.  At the time, Hallen was studying abroad and returned home to find his parents slain, but his family home defended by other local families.  In the coming years Hallen would rise in prominence in the community, having made a vow to build up the surrounding land to a region of prominence with its own defenses.  He divvied up large tracts of the family farm to gift to other local families and they subsequently bestowed upon him the title of Baron 1230 DR.

Hallen's family home was burned down in another orc attack in 1258 DR.  The manor which now stands watch over the barony would be built within two years.  Hallen left the construction to be supervised by a trusted attendant whom he recruited on his travels: a high elf named Venaire, who still serves the family to this day.  During the construction period Hallen left again to wander the region and speak to other human settlements.  What he discovered was a shattered people who often struggled to care for their wounded, elderly, and orphans.  Having never conceived an heir, Hallen now saw an opportunity to further expand the impact of his mission and he took six local orphans as his adopted children, bringing them to live and learn at his new manor.

And thus a humble farm boy did rise to the rank of Baron - by his own doing - and granted succession not born by blood.  Individually these accomplishments were not remarkable in the region, but Hallen having done both in a single generation did not sit well with the human lords of the north who had begun to solidify their power and did not want to acknowledge that it might be so simple to rise to the ranks of lordship.

Hallen was succeeded by Percival Lesterac - an orphan from a village lost to the ravages of war - in 1271 DR.  Percival then took in a daughter named Sophia from an orphanage in Easting and she came to power in 1317 DR.  And the lineage proceeded as thus, with Grenville's father Marius succumbing to illness in 1488 DR.  Grenville himself was born in Secomber and caught Marius's attention when he was caught stealing books from the library.  Marius adopted the boy as part of a plea to keep him from jail.

To this day, Grenville continued the mission set out by Hallen over two centuries prior: to grow and protect their community, both in and out of the barony.  And yet in the eyes of many in the Lords Alliance, the Lesterac family claim does not bear full legitimacy.  But for what reason, after so many years of strife and prosperity, can the lords deny the venerable posture of this humble land?

Kelehk of the Quill

Leaffall 16, 1491