This history is easily known to anyone within the family.
Once upon a time the great and noble duchy of Chantris produced a young son of the house, Otto, cousin of the heir. Otto was an extraordinary and heroic military figure who served the realm and was made a baron by Oberon, thus creating the family Solaris. He married Persephone, daughter of Duke Karm, and begat many children. The eldest of these was Melchior, and when Otto died heroically in battle at an advanced age, Melchior succeeded him.
Melchior married his second cousin Laura, the daughter of Otto's cousin, duke Chantris. Melchior was Navy, and as stuffy and formal as they come, with a barrel chest, a giant moustache, and very blond hair. His children addressed him as "Your Lordship" and had to obey strict etiquette in his presence even on 'vacation' at the country estate, Fidelity. His wife, Laura, was always, "Your Ladyship," in front of him and by habit but sometimes, "Mamma" or "Aunt Laura" in absolute private.
Eventually, about 80 years before game opening, Melchior died in his sleep and the house passed on to his heir, Godfrey. Laura remains at Fidelity as the dowager baroness, a largely-retired social doyonne, once famous for her remarkable beauty and preferring to have it fade out of the limelight. This does not prevent her enjoying her summer estate in Montevalno when she is at liberty, but for the most part she guards the family's reputation and moral backbone from a backseat position while lending grace and charm to the country seat.
Melchior's heir was Godfrey, who went into the navy like his father, and rose to command the Amber Navy's Lyonesse flotilla as commador. He then retired (after Lyonesse sank into the water) and took up with Random and ran around being a useless drunk for a bit.
Meanwhile, Beatrice, the 2nd born, went Army, and when she was about 65, followed Benedict into shadow for 100 years. She came back 100 years ago, expected to be married to Benedict, but Ben never showed up for the wedding. So she quietly had his child out of wedlock and the family shielded her from scandal and told no one who the father was. She went back into the army, and her son, Henry (Henrik) followed her there, where they served the Defenders of Kolvir. (Beatrice has since retired, and married Benedict, who has now fully legitimized Henry, which is considered a win for the family.)
About eighty years ago, Melchior died in his bed, and Godfrey inherited. He promptly gave up drink, married Anthea Bayle, and settled down to manage the barony. He never did manage to have children with Anthea, and about twenty years ago, she died in her sleep. He was distraught — some in the family think mad — and was 'resting' for a long time while his mother and sister managed the barony's affairs for him. Eventually he returned to Amber, served for a short time under Corwin's rule in an ambassadorial role under Random, then retired to Fidelity once more. Since then, Beatrice and Laura have been managing the baronial affairs.
