Old Imperial Great House, holders of the Duchy of Charsanon in the southwest — capital city Ankarata; an estate by the small town of Castromar (S8). House gift: Air and Weather. Leaders of the Expansionists.
Family
- Mettius Vesilius Menenius, Duke of Charsanon — fiftyish (S8)
- His wife, Festinia Titiana — late thirties, pregnant; no other children (S8)
- 1st brother, Aulus Sabucius
- His wife, Camillia Balventia (House Balventia)
- His son, Herius Rufius (ungifted)
- His daughters, Opia (19) and Silvia (15)
- 2nd brother, Drusus Sornatius
- His sons: Atilius (cartography enthusiast, ~25) and Julius (24, Knight Captain of the Order of the Eagle)
- 3rd brother, Herius Cluntius
Politics
-
Lead the Expansionists: reclaim the old imperial lands to the south (not necessarily for themselves). (S2)
-
Closely aligned with the Mercantilists of House al-Fahd via shared trade interests. (S2)
-
In the Old Empire, House Mennenius used navigation devices similar to Master Najlad’s “revolutionary” instruments — found in AHU library research. (S3)
-
The Knowledge & Technology primer confirms the reputation as common knowledge (GM): the house is famous for navigational expertise — and for guarding recovered or reconstructed Imperial methods as family and commercial assets, not discoveries to publish. A house that hoards Imperial navigation while leading the Expansionists and holding the Air & Weather gift is a house built end-to-end for the sea road south.
-
“Obsessed with this kind of stuff” — Master Baram’s description, shown the pilgrim’s route to the mirror lake. (S8) And indeed Atilius had a map with the mirror lake on it. The house that hoards Imperial navigation also holds the old maps of the lands south.
Ties to the Party
- Early discussions exist about Gnaeus marrying Silvia Menenia. (S2)
- Julius Menenius was cold to Gnaeus at the Balventia party — “likely due to my reputation.” (S1)
- During the riot, the house’s capital-estate servants survived by locking themselves in the wine cellar (without drinking the wine); Gnaeus posted guards to keep looters away from the estate, with orders to run from any significant force. (S7) A concrete courtesy to the prospective in-laws — see also the letter oddity on Silvia Menenia’s page.
- The party’s visit to the estate at Castromar (S8). Gnaeus wrote ahead asking to meet Silvia and for access to the house archives. Four days: a ride, gifts shown, ale tasting with Silvia; map work with Atilius, who found the mirror lake; and on day 4 the Duke hinted that Opia might be a better match than Silvia. Silvia has been instructed to make sure this goes well. The house wants the Ulpia match — which bride is now open. Whether the archives were opened, as opposed to Atilius’s maps, the notes don’t say.