Alnwick Castle, Neville estates.

[Mary The Quene]

Neville Household

Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Northumberland Neville Biography: Ralph Neville is the son and the only child to his father John Neville, Baron Neville, and his mother Anne Holland who is the daughter of the second duke of Exeter. Not only his father had married a Holland bu so did his grandfather John Neville too by marring Elizabeth Holland, daughter of the second Earl of Kent, Thomas Holland. Thus Ralph has a very prestigious line with Lancastrian blood. The 25 year old who had been born in 1456 was nephew to his uncle, Ralph Neville, second earl of Westmorland until he got attained by the former Lord Protectorate Lord Norfolk, on the ground that he provided assistance to the invading Lancastrians in 1464, thus the earldom and its few lands were granted to the much hated junior Nevilles, John Neville, brother to the accursed 'kingmaker'. It was very unfortunate his uncle had become senile at this point and therefore could not try to get his inheritance back. Thus so the senior Nevilles lived of charity in the Holland Household, a situation that continued until his uncle finally died in 1480 with both his son and daughter predeceasing him. Thus his nephew is the new head of the senior Neville branch, with Ralph being sound and healthy of mind he is fully focused on regaining the old Westmorland earldom and its lands that have slipped out of the senior Neville control for nearly twenty years. Ralph knows this to be a difficult task ahead and knows he will have to carefully plan and gain allies, particularly those opposed to the junior Nevilles, such as the Percies for example. However he knows his desires to regain his occupied lands and stolen title's (in his mind) is more of long term work. In the grand scheme of politics he is utterly disgusted by new blooded men like the Kyriells and Woodvilles whom Ralph only sees as 'low born upstarters' in his eye's and wants to see the old and prestigious nobility returning to the center of the court and government. However this position is somewhat difficult to uphold as he was married to a woman of obscure origins, she goes by the name of Isabel Booth, not that he utterly hated her, she had given him two boys afterall, but he had hoped for a better match, Isabel died in 1478. Certainly he hopes to secure better matches for his children in the future and he intends to remarry with a better match. To others Ralph might seem to be a stoic always carefully to hide his true feelings to those who are foreign to him (like his disgust for new bloods) and some would paint him as cold and harsh to those who stand in his way to achieve what he desires. Physically Ralph appears of average heigth with blonde curly hair and a little beard and mustache to show he has grown out of his adolescent years. Ralph has one son from his wife born in 1476 also called Ralph. Traits and Temperament: Melancholic: - Meticulous: This character loves to analyze situations down to the last minutiae before acting. On one hand this means they'll probably have a clear picture going in, on the other their decision-making abilities could easily become paralyzed as they spend too much time analyzing and not enough acting. +1 detection rolls, -5% movement speed. - Haggler: This character is obsessed with getting the best possible deal for themselves, and ever watchful (even paranoid) for anyone trying to rip them off. This sort of fellow is rarely the sort others like, but none can deny their ability to sniff for gold. +2% income and improves loot from raids, -2 Charisma. Phlegmatic: - Reserved: This character is a stoic who generally keeps to him/herself and exercises strict control over their emotions. While this means they're not likely to make reckless moves in court or on the battlefield, they can come across as unfeeling robots to others. +1 battle rolls, -1 Charisma. +3 Survival +3 battle (2base) +1 assassin. -3 charisma Family tree John Neville x Anne Holland Ralph Neville x Isabel Booth ----------- Ralph Neville----------

Incomes and Estates

Castle Possessions Northumberland Alnwick Castle (Main residence) Yorkshire Spofforth Castle Topcliffe Castle Cumberland Cockermouth Castle Sussex Poynings Manor Total Income - £2200 Yorkshire 22. Easingwold - Prosperous Income. Northumberland 1. Norham/Berwick - Sparse Income. 2. Bamburgh/Belford - Sparse Income. 4. Alnwick/Warkworth/Dunstanburgh/Chillingham - Sparse Income. 10. Morpeth/Belsay/Mitford - Sparse Income. Cumberland 2. Penrith/Brougham/Armathwaite/Yanwath - Sparse Income. 4. Wigton/Rose - Poor Income. 5. Workington - Poor Income. 6. Egremont/Ennerdale - Poor Income.

Regional bonuses

Northumberland: Border Lords: Those whose estates are close to the Scottish border are used to dealing with raiders and invading armies. -2 raid rolls, -5% soldier cost and upkeep. Provincial Bonuses: Alnwick: Alnwich castle: Originally built in 1096 by Yves de Vescy, Alnwick Castle came into Percy possession in 1309 and has served as their residence ever since. It is a large and strong castle, which has only been taken by storm once in 1136 by the Scottish (technically it also fell to English royal forces in 1403, but its defenders surrendered instead of facing a bombardment & assault then). It's protected by the River Aln to the north, its baileys are divided by tall stone walls dotted with towers and it also has one of the first non-square-shaped keeps in all of England, where the defenders can shelter if the outer walls are lost. +4 Siege rolls, -4 Raid rolls, and the castle's central keep is strong enough that a defender who loses its outer walls can hold out there for half a year more (3.5 days).

Buildings

Northumberland0 Tier 1 - Tenant Homesteads: +5% estate income

Troops

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[Lucius Malfoy]

Edward Percy rode hard for the North, heading for Alnwick with best speed. He could only hope that Ralph Neville was a true Lancastrian, otherwise the Percies would be without help. He approaches Alnwick castle, exhaling deeply at the sight of Neville banners that now decorated it. Damn the Woodvilles, thought the Baron Poynings. He shook his head and rode for the gatehouse, requesting to speak with Lord Neville.

[Mary The Quene]

Audience granted. Percy is led to the solar of Neville where he is found writing some papers.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Edward Percy sees Lord Neville in the familiar solar that his brother, Henry, once had used.

My Lord Neville, it is good to see you are here.

His horse was practically dead from riding up North.

My Lord, why have you not headed south to join the battles that brew for the fate of England?

[Mary The Quene]

''I was preoccupied with settling and all that, my lord''

Said Neville who finished writing a letter about his finances.

''But i have raised troops some hours ago, i have yet to hear from my uncle Lord Exeter about what he is to do.'' Said Neville, he'd likely follow his uncle in whatever he would do.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Percy resists the sigh, seeing that Ralph was following the direction of Lord Exeter. He could only hope that Lancaster won then.

​Then... may I ask where my brother's wife and children are then?

[Mary The Quene]

Percy resists the sigh, seeing that Ralph was following the direction of Lord Exeter. He could only hope that Lancaster won then.

​Then... may I ask where my brother's wife and children are then?

''They are safe, they are in Cockermouth Castle''

Said Neville, he considered the percies as friends still, his own uncle had married a Percy.

''Don't worry, i will provide for them, i am not like others in my family....'' Said Neville reassuring.

[Gandalfus]

A messenger finally arrives from Exeter, for Ralph only.

Nephew,

Gather your men and march south. You may miss the coming battle, but if it does not prove decisive then the support of Northumberland may prove vital in swaying the balance.

H. Exeter.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Sir Thomas Bourchier arrives to meet Ralph Neville.

[Mary The Quene]

Bourchier is welcomed in a smaller private room, Bourchier was invited to take a seat next to Neville close to the fireplace.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Thomas took a seat and greeted his host."my lord Neville, thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I trust you are well?"

[Mary The Quene]

''I suppose i am well''

Said Neville without enthusiasm, Lancaster was defeated and now York would rule for many more years, it didn't settle with him well to say in the least.

''What have you come for?'' Asked Neville blunt, he had a terrible headache raging and had no appetite for pleasantries.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"My lord, I am sure you have heard of the unfortunate death of Arthur Plantaganet, who was my niece's husband." he began "I seek to find a match for her. Perhaps I could make an introduction..."

[Mary The Quene]

''Oh, you speak of the Lady Anne Bourchier surely?''

Said Neville, raising a brow, apparently he was offered a new bride.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"The same, my lord." he continued "after a suitable period of mourning, perhaps I could supervise a visit at Colchester, a banquet perhaps."

[Mary The Quene]

''I see, i see, i would be honored to meet her''

Said Neville formulaic, he wasn't sure about this, Bourchiers always had been Yorkists whereas his family branch had been always Lancastrian of allegiance.

''There is something i would require before i could consent to the match'' Said Neville, he still had a strong claim to the old Westmorland inheritance.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Thomas was surprised, for rich estates would now come with a marriage to his niece. "And what condition might that be?"

[Mary The Quene]

''I have a claim to the Westmorland inheritance of my late uncle, God rest his soul, but that inheritance was robbed from my uncle by a certain Lord Montagu during the Lord protectorate some twenty years ago because of attainment which is now lifted''

Said Neville, Bourchier could be an ally in regaining that old inheritance.

''I seek to have the Westmorland inheritance restored to my family branch.'' Said Neville, he could end up a powerful northern magnate.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"It seems to be a lot to ask, given the King's recent additional grants of land to my niece. One would think such a dowry would whet the appetites of any man. An additional price to pay on my part seems...less than curteous." Little was in it for Thomas as it stood.

[Mary The Quene]

''This is just the Law of inheritance that should be respected''

Said Neville, in fact that distant relative of his had no leg to stand upon.

''But there are other peers who support my claim, so you would not be alone supporting me, by God, your beloved niece would be a rich woman'' Said Neville, Salisbury, Bedford, Holland and the Queen Dowager were those who promised support.