House of Rutherford

House Rutherford is an ancient Arathi noble clan sworn to the Trollbane dynasty, their ancestral holdings a small mountain territory and citadel known as Godric's Redoubt.

History
It is believed, or at least told in stories and tales, that House Rutherford was founded by Godric of Ruthern, a 'hero' of ancient times who was in truth an aggressive warlord who roamed the eastern hills of Arathor with his warband, pillaging and conquering as he willed, during the times before unification under King Thoradin.

It is said that while being pursued by a vicious storm Godric and his followers retreated to a cave resting on the side of a mountain, there constructing a shelter that expanded and became known as Godric's Redoubt.

After the formation of the first empire, Godric made a brief effort to resist being assimilated into the nascent realm, however at the sight of Thoradin's vast armies he bent the knee to him and offered his levied blades in the Troll Wars, where he became known as a gallant knight to the Arathi, but a bloody and merciless killer to the Amani trolls. It is said that Godric's forces killed trolls indiscriminately during the wars, civilian, woman or child.

Eventually Godric's descendants became known as House Rutherford, and his line has weathered many a generation, having survived into modern times. The current lord of House Rutherford is Ederic Rutherford.

It is unknown why exactly Godric or his descendants chose three golden roses on emerald as arms to represent their house, and it is considered one of the greatest of ironies on account of the line's bloody, warrior history.