Bold and passionate in all they do, nobles of House Fiona are courageous to the point of recklessness and pleasure-seeking to the brink of decadence. The hospitality of this house is legendary, as is its willingness to deal with common fae on an equal footing. Although many look askance at House Fiona's excesses, the fact that nobles of this house are by and large friendly and accomodationg to all, regardless of station, assures that they are well-liked. If members of the House of the Lion are quick to indulge their epicurean natures, they have good reason to be. Although staunchly upholding the Seelie Code, nobles of House Fiona are prone to falling into their Unseelie personas if thwarted of an opportunity to enjoy themselves. To accomodate this shortcoming, many ladies and lords of this house become adept at mixing business and pleasure. House Fiona does not particularly care whether they hold preeminent position in the Seelie Court. Instead of contesting the leadership of the noble houses, they see their role as the provocateurs whose unpredictability prevent the traditionalism of the Seelie Court from fossilizing into stagnation.
Although there were four knights and dames of House Fiona in the entourage of Count Malcolm Mac Dougal when he arrived in Rowan-Oak, none of these have survived to the present day. Sir Finndo ap Fiona was killed in a single-combat at the Siege of Ben Bison when he unwisely challenged the eshu Benjazet Johnson to a duel to the death. Dame Lorraine and Sir Oscar were devoured by a monstrous chimerical Wurm called the Ouivre while attempting to rid the county of the river-dragon, a fate that later claimed Malcolm's successor, Count Vathek. Lastly, Dame Siobhan Seville, once chamberlaine to the household of Fair Oaks, fell prey to the wiles of a Ganconer and was destroyed before the chimerical horror was unmasked.
The former countess, Rosamund ap Fiona, mother of the current Count Almond, came to the area some ten years ago to pursue her mortal career as a professor of drama and literature at Blackstone University. Although already holding a baronial rank within the house, she was challenged by the ruling Count Vathek ap Gwydion to prove her worth by reproducing the feat for which she had initially earned her title - the creation of a freehold on the university campus. She did so, and ruled as the Baroness of Caer Ondomorna for several years, and it was here that her satyr son chrysalized.
Rosamund claimed the county pennon by lottery after the demise of Count Vathek, much to the chagrin of highborn lords who had a longer residence in the region. It was she who invited an associate of her house, Dame Ausmandine, to take control of the potent freehold of Ben Bison Brugh, a task set by her duchess to test the worth of her rule. Ausmandine had lately been stripped of her own knightly fief after siding with commoners who had presumed to pass sentence on a lord of the sidhe in a commoner court of justice. Dame Ausmandine was able to capitalize upon her reputation as well as her considerable talents at diplomacy in negotiating an arrangement with the common fae of Ben Bison, and ruled as baroness in fealty to Countess Rosamund until the former countess stepped down. Ausmandine is now Lady Chancellor of the county, and heir-designate to its leadership.
Count Almond was invested with the county titles, fiefs and pennon at his mother's retirement, the second lord of House Fiona to hold the county, and the first of common kith to rule here since the Accordance War. He has already established his rule on a controversial note, suspending the leadership of the Seelie nobility during the winter months, and reconvening the old Free Moot, a commoner conclave which ruled the region before the Resurgence, to govern his demesne in his stead from Samhain to Beltane. During this season, he serves merely in an advisory capacity to the Free Moot in his office as bard, retaining only his lordship of Ben Bison Brugh, which he largely leaves in the hands of the Lady Chancellor, its former baroness.
Another controversial personage of the House of the Lion resident in the county isLady Jane Marlow, who was granted a title and membership in the house for her loyal service to the former countess. A kinain of satyr heritage, Lady Jane serves as scribe to the Free Moot, and as the Count Almond's aide for mortal and kinain affairs. She is also frequently employed as an ambassador to other courts to speak on his behalf, enjoying the diplomatic priviledges of a herald.
House Fiona's members are a restless lot, and their thrill-seeking is indeed a two-edged sword. While they are fearless in the face of perils which would freeze the very blood even of other sidhe lords, they are prone to be careless in assessing risks, especially where romance beckons.
Boon
Members of House Fiona cannot be intimidated or suborned through fear and any attempt to do so whether natural or magical, automatically fail. The exception to this are threats to a lover's life, which have an ordinary chance of succeeding.
Flaw
Those belonging to House Fiona are irresistably attracted to danger. Especially in affairs of the heart, the House of the Lion is drawn to the extreme, falling in love with unfortunate or even tragic results. While it is possible to overcome this impetuosity, those members of Fiona's House who do so become embittered and scornful of all romance, which wins them few friends in their house or elsewhere.
Quote: "How can I presume to rule people I do not know? These soirées of mine aren't evasions of responsibility, but rather how I pursue it. When people are well-fed and have had a bit to drink, they'll usually tell you how they really feel. And besides, this way is more fun. Won't you have another glass of wine?"
- Her Excellency, Rosamund ap Fiona, former Countess of Rowan-Oak
