House Crossland

Our History

“A name of convenience, not bloodline—a banner taken up by those who had none.”

— Robert Broadwick

The Rise of House Crossland

The name Crossland was not always known in the Marches. In truth, it’s a name of convenience, not bloodline—a banner taken up by those who had none. It was whispered into being by a collection of strays, traders and opportunists who saw strength in numbers and prosperity in unity.

At the heart stands Marcus Crossland, the first to bear the name. Where he came from is a matter of speculation. Some say he was a disgraced farmhand, others that he cut his teeth dealing in debts and disputes before setting his sights on something greater. What’s certain is that he gathered the right sort of people—those who had fallen through the cracks of Marcher society but weren’t ready to be trampled.

The Early Years

It started small, as such things do. A few odd jobs, a little trade, a handful of favors called in. A deal struck in Hay. A debt settled in Meade. A problem quietly resolved in the night. Before long, the Crossland name began to mean something.

In the Marches, where land and loyalty hold power, House Crossland offered something different—a place for those without either. Not sworn to any one household, not reliant on favour, but moving between them, making themselves indispensable.

Growth and Influence

In recent years, with the Empire looking outward—toward war with the Jotun, toward reclaiming Bregasland—House Crossland took root in the Marches. With a keen sense for opportunity, they built connections rather than claims, trading in information, supplies and solutions to problems others would rather not acknowledge.

They spread their reach across the Marches, but never tied themselves down. Their people were seen at market fairs and in military camps, on the road with traders, or raising tankards in distant taverns. To some, they were an insult to tradition, a group who skirted the rigid order of Marcher life, refusing to be bound to one farm, one stead, one banner. But to others, they were a lifeline.

The Yeoman’s End

As their influence grew, so did their presence in Anvil. The Yeoman’s End became their base of operations—a place where deals are made, fortunes won and lost, and fates decided over bowls of their now‑famous soup. What began as a simple gathering spot has become known throughout the Empire as a nexus of opportunity and intrigue.

Where We Stand Now

House Crossland has grown beyond a handful of vagabonds scraping by on odd jobs. Our name carries weight; our presence in the Empire cannot be ignored, and when we take interest in a venture, it tends to prosper—or disappear. We are not noble, not yeoman, not militia, and yet we command respect. Where we go next is up to us. One thing is certain: House Crossland is not a family easily crossed, nor one to be taken lightly.