Marquis Metternich's Family
* Family motto: To Survive is to Win; Discretion is the Better Part of Valor.
* Family symbol: A silver ringed snake coiled around a golden scale. The snake represented vigilance, adaptability, and a lethal strike when necessary; the scale stood for weighing options and making choices, while the golden background hinted at the pursuit of wealth.
* Lands: Fertile plains in the south-central part of the Empire, an important grain-producing region and a key hub for river traffic, with thriving commerce. Though the family's territory was not the largest, its location was crucial—a crossroads connecting the Empire's east, west, north, and south.
* Family traits: Shrewd and pragmatic, they placed the family's interests above all else and were skilled at reading the situation and seizing opportunities. They were known as "the Empire's most nimble fence-sitters." They lacked the almost stubborn sense of honor found in traditional great nobles, but were exceptionally good at surviving. Many family members worked in commerce, diplomacy, and intelligence.
First Generation: The Family's Anchor
1. The Old Marquis — Albert von Metternich
* Age: 76.
* Title: "The Old Fox." The current Marquis Metternich, he was a calculating old man who knew well how to protect himself. He was one of the few marquises who had escaped serious losses during the Rebellion of the Eight Marquises twenty years ago, and had even used the opportunity to expand the family's commercial reach.
* Current status: Though he had ostensibly semi-retired and handed most affairs over to his eldest son, he remained the family's true leader. Like a spider lurking at the center of its web, he quietly watched the winds of change across the Empire through an extensive commercial network and a wealth of intelligence sources. He maintained a "cautious wait-and-see" stance toward