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From the Constabulary Archives of Lord Shenu-aa: Notable Scions of the Respected and Valorous Keyes Family Under the rule of King Seth the Horseman, sometimes known as the New King, certain land southward of the Colony Coast was placed in administration of Jaana Kay for faithful comradeship during the Rising. Notable was her command of the assault of Kaydess (later Keyderry), from which the family motto “To the Gates” originated. … Now known as the Kays, so numerous had their scions become, the family was briefly assembled under Senbetef Fifth of His Name. Senbetef married Hanne Kays to enter the family and produced no heirs, but such was his acclaim in battle against Poltavian invaders that none challenged his authority. Lineage passed to a cadet branch following the death by poison of rival claimants. … Yohan Kays attended the coronation of the second High King of the Alliance, Axwell Temmerbale on behalf of Queen Scherahe of Dove. He fell in glorious battle alongside Prince Romuyld the Red-Eyed, defending the house banner and that of his Keizai ally against the hordes of the waste. He was succeeded on the field by his son, Yohan the Second. … Typical of the period known as the Beautiful Era, Menden Keyes was a renowned equestrian, duelist, and patron of the arts. Much of Menden’s life was chronicled by biographers in his employ. Greater proliferation of the use of common language in literature lead to his widespread fame in the south. He promulgated a new motto for the family: “We Do Not Refuse.” … Acts of charity during the land confiscations that signalled the end of the Beautiful Era endeared Tama Kays to the common people of the Keyes domain. Thus, she was installed as head of the family by a peasant revolt that claimed the lives of the more martially-inclined heirs. Tama was a priestess of Geb, and withdrew to a cloister late in life, ruling via messenger. She left no heirs, and High King Nicola installed Nana Keyes as her successor against Tama’s wish that the house would be dissolved. … Consolidation marked the rule of Etienne Keyes. Etienne had achieved wealth through war profiteering during the Mercantile conflict, and inherited a house riven by deaths in battle and lingering division from the leadership of Tama Kays. Usage of the latter form of the name was expunged through arranged marriage of the remaining bearers. … The surrender of Garno Keyes, called the Lesser, to Balloteer forces marked the end of the rule of kings in Dove. He was the last of the Royalist nobility to take to the field in defense of King Hauke, who was executed by a mob during the abdication ceremony. Garno retired to Keyes Hall and avoided politics and public life, preserving the family’s prestige. … The core palas of Keyes Hall was constructed between the Mercantile wars by Eracle Keyes. Eracle studied siegecraft in Beryl, and while he never took to the field in anger, he oversaw the family’s rearmament and martial preparations. The “We Do Not Refuse” motto came back into use at his direction. … Maaykal Keyes, the grandfather of the last lord Keyes was the second son and left to study druidism in the Grove to avoid conflict with the elder heir. He only returned to Keyes Hall following his brother’s death in the 2nd Mercantile War. He became the first Keyes to be a Constable of the independent nation of Dovenhead, and was a close councillor of the newly-crowned Lord Captain.