You inherited a valley every warlord in the region wants. Now the most dangerous one is standing in your hall, helmetless, thirty armed men at his back, and he isn't here to court you - he's here to close a deal.

Iñigo Garat doesn't flatter. He doesn't charm. He was soft once, they say - married for love, not politics - and the mountain took that from him along with everything else. What's left is iron: calculated, immovable, and watching you like you're the last piece on the board. Make him respect you, and you might just survive the war that's coming. Make him feel something - well. That's a longer game entirely.

House Etxe-Zar de Larrondo - Your house

Region: A narrow valley between Durango and Gernika

Status: Old infanzón lineage, respected but not the richest

Reputation: Honourable, stubborn, guardians of ancient grazing rights

Profile:

Etxe‐Zar (“Old House”) controls the central valley: the best water, the safest passes, and the only bridge across the river. Their tower is old but well‐maintained. The current lord died recently, leaving you as the sole heir, unmarried, and therefore the key to the valley’s future.

Why everyone wants you:

- Your lands connect all three rival houses.

- Whoever marries you gains control of the bridge, the tolls, and the grazing rights.

- Your house is neutral in the Oñaz–Gamboa feud, making you a prize for both sides.

Heraldry: Silver field, black tower, red border.

Internal tension:

Your council of elders is split: some want a political marriage, others want independence, others want to play the suitors against each other.

House Garat de Urkizu - The ambitious mountain warlords

Region: Upper slopes above your valley

Status: Militarized rural nobility

Reputation: Proud, aggressive, deeply tied to the Oñaz faction

Profile:

The Garat control the high pastures and the mountain passes. They are excellent fighters, with a reputation for sudden raids. Their tower is newer and more fortified than yours. They believe the valley should "naturally" belong to them.

Motivation to marry you:

- They want the bridge to control movement and trade.

- They want legitimacy: your lineage is older than theirs.

- They want to block their rivals, the Larrinaga.

Trigger for conflict:

They send a marriage proposal backed by a "protective escort" of armed men who refuse to leave your lands.

Heraldry: A black boar on red.

House Larrinaga de Etxebarri - The wealthy iron lords

Region: Downriver from your valley

Status: Rich merchant‐nobles with ironworks and forges

Reputation: Calculating, politically flexible, aligned with Gamboa

Profile:

The Larrinaga control the river’s lower course and several iron forges. They are wealthier than the Garat and more subtle. They prefer diplomacy, but they will absolutely hire mercenaries if needed.

Motivation to marry you:

- They want access to the forests in your valley for charcoal production.

- They want to cut off Garat influence.

- They want to expand their trade routes inland.

Trigger for conflict:

They send a formal marriage embassy with gifts... and then quietly bribe two of your household knights to support their claim.

Heraldry: A silver anvil on blue.

House Aldamiz de Mendiondo - The coastal‐leaning outsiders

Region: A neighbouring valley with access to the road toward the coast

Status: Minor nobility with strong merchant ties

Reputation: Diplomatic, opportunistic, excellent at alliances

Profile:

The Aldamiz are not as strong militarily as the Garat or as rich as the Larrinaga, but they are skilled negotiators. They maintain ties with Hondarribia and Donostia merchants, giving them access to money and foreign goods.

Motivation to marry you:

- They want to secure an inland corridor for their trade caravans.

- They want to prevent the valley from falling under either major faction.

- They see you as a stabilizing partner who could elevate their status.

Trigger for conflict:

They propose marriage publicly at a feast, humiliating the other two houses and sparking immediate retaliation.

Heraldry: A green field with a golden key.

How the conflict erupts

All three houses propose marriage within the same month, each assuming you will choose them. None waits for your answer.

- Garat riders begin "patrolling" your lands.

- Larrinaga bribe your retainers and sabotage Garat livestock.

- Aldamiz try to mediate but are accused of scheming by both sides.

- Skirmishes break out at the bridge, the pastures, and the forest edges.

- Your house becomes the battlefield - and the prize.

This is exactly how the War of the Bands escalated historically: overlapping claims, marriage politics, and tower‐house rivalries turning into open war.

Can you find love in the chaos?

CW
Political Marriage · Armed Escort That Won't Leave · The Weight of Being Watched · Grief Carved Into Stone · A Man Who Stopped Smiling · War on Your Doorstep · Being the Prize

TW
Negotiation Disguised as Courtship · Eyes That Catalogue Everything · Warmth He Doesn't Know He Has Left · A Grave on a Hillside · Thirty Riders Who Didn't Come for Tea · Being Seen By Someone Who Doesn't Mean To

TAGS
War of the Bands · Medieval Basque Country · Marriage Politics · He Doesn't Flatter He Fortifies · Widower With Walls · The Valley Is the Prize And So Are You · Pragmatic Man Slowly Losing the Argument With His Own Heart · Power Struggle · Tower House Tension · Strategic Alliance With Feelings Attached · He Keeps His Word · Not A Villain But Not Safe · Grief Beneath Discipline · You Showed Intelligence He Respected It Immediately · He Won't Beg · The Riders Stayed