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| It is said that Lord Preston was born sometime in the late 1500�s, though he is not entirely sure when. The son of a local landowner he lived with his family in a large estate in the north of Brighthelmstone as it was called at the time.
He was apparently in his mid teens when the conflict between the forces of King Charles and Oliver Cromwell first broke out, and as the Lord Protector of England�s influence spread across the country, all of the larger family were paid a visit. Lord Preston�s father, Bartholomew, was presented with an option of supporting the King or the forces of Cromwell. Being a staunch royalist and opposing what he saw as a military coup of a God-granted right, Lord Preston�s father refused to assist or swear any allegiance to any other power than God or the King. The Preston�s land and possessions were confiscated, and the manor burned to the ground. Lord Preston�s father, though somewhat severe in manner, had always treated others fairly and with respect and the generosity and kindness of other locals ensured that they did not starve. However their new standard of living was hard, and Lord Bartholmew soon succumbed to an illness from which he did not recover, and his wife followed soon afterwards. The new Lord Alexander Preston found the loss of everything he knew to be too much and soon sank into the depths of despair and drink. It was in this time that Alexander discovered the World Below, and Philomena, now his wife and Lady Preston Alexander learnt of Brighton Below and saw the situation how it truly was. He decided that from then on this would be his new home (not realising that he didn�t have a choice) and that he would re-establish the Preston Household in this new domain. He had lost everything in the World Above with little chance of recovery, but there was a new opportunity here in the Underside Preston saw this as a sign from God, and returned to his father�s teachings on the way forward. Though Alexander had signed up for military service, he had not yet been called into duty. His father however had formerly served in the Kings army, and taught that power comes though loyalty and respect, and those are gained from showing discipline, strength in the face of adversity and honour. Preston took these beliefs and the basic military drilling he had received and put this into practice Within weeks he was sober, and assisting others within the Underside to also clean up their act. He gave them some basic military training, to instil some self confidence and discipline Those people became the first members of the Preston Household. In return for assisting them Lord Preston merely asked that they work with him and for him for a year. Many of those who had completed their year of service decided to stay on. The Preston Household is the strongest of the four Hosueholds in regard to physical might. All members of the Preston Household receive some form of training in combat, and many others have skills which would be useful on the battle field. It is that training that often brings the control over ones life back into the hands of those who need it the most The "origins" of Lady Preston Lady Philomena Preston was born in the Underside, though she has no idea when exactly this was. It is believed to be around the 1750�s somewhere. Her parents were both craftsman of unique ability having both been trained by The Engineer, and there are apparently few who are as gifted with their hands as Lady Preston (Some of the more uncouth residents of the Underside have suggested that this is the reason that Lord Preston married her in the first place). She has a knack for identifying Artefacts Lady Preston was simply Philomena Clyde prior to about the 1800�s when she married Lord Alexander Preston. They met whilst Philomena was assisting The Engineer in activating a rather perplexing flute which had come into the possession of Lord Preston. Not realising that the Engineer had a new �apprentice�, Lord Preston assumed that she was a thief who had broken into the Engineers quarters and seized her. Once the truth became apparent Lord Preston was apparently so embarrassed and apologetic that he offered whatever the lady desired in way of compensation. Apparently Philomena asked merely that Lord Preston take her for a picnic in the World Above And the rest the say is history The Curse Some time ago Lord Preston uncovered a plot by certain members of the Roe Household to kill him. He was to be slain and his family banished form Brighton Below and his lands confiscated by the Roes. Having lost everything in the World Above to such greed, Preston was not prepared to let this happen again. Rather than simply kill Roe or reveal that he was aware if the plot, Lord Preston called upon a Mystic to assist him. Using ancient curses, Lord Preston cursed the Roes, and all their generations and all their supporters with a vile rot. This ailment was originally believed to be a natural disease, and the other Households of the Underside immediately quarantined all members of the Roe Household into a small area of the city (known as the Rotting Dean) to prevent the spread of the disease The Roe Household lost many followers and family members, including Lady Roe who unable to bear the hideousness of her face, took her own life. The Roes suffered with poverty, starvation and isolation After a number of years, Lord Preston revealed the true origin of the disease and promised to lift the curse if Roe would confess to the plot and ask for forgiveness. Lord Roe was not prepared to go through this indignity, and so the curse remains Lord Preston�s Prophecies Lord Preston has a well known �hobby� which is collecting the many pieces of the prophecies which have been issued by the Dial child and also by The Druid. Lord Preston has stated on more than one occasion that he would offer a great reward to anyone who could locate it and present it to him Apparently Lord Preston has over the years collected over one hundred of the prophecies. Many of them have been identified however a good portion have yet to be �translated� or have perhaps still yet to occur Lord Preston will offer rewards to anyone who can increase his collection further Lord Preston�s stubborn mannerisms It is known that Lord Preston has something of a stiff upper-lip, and a respect and adherence to the rules. Lord Preston would support a decision which he was not happy with merely because the rules and traditions state that they must be done that way Lady Preston has apparently chastised him on more than one occasion due to his failure to support friends or family instead of the rules, and believes that his rigid thinking has held the family back in more ways than one Many have said that Lord Preston should lift the curse on the Roe Household. They have suffered enough, and whatever evil deeds were plotted by Lord Roe and whoever else was involved, the sins of the father are not the sins of the son. Lord Preston still steadfastly stands by his decision, but the offer of the removal of the curse remains provided that Lord Roe will admit the plot and beg for forgiveness |
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| The Noble Household of Alexander Preston |
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| Lord Alexander Preston |