Lore Excerpt: Ruling Families (Patreon)

House Helene: 

A human Great House and one of the 7 Ruling Families of Hollow Shade. They are the youngest of the ruling families, coming to prominence after the founding of Hollow Shade. They are known to stay neutral in any disputes within the city council.

Their founder, Helene, is considered a legendary shrewd figure in the Ebon Realm. She was a woman of great intellect and beauty who had settled in Dusk Valley a few years prior to the Schism. She used her wisdom and wit to establish herself as a prominent leader, and made treaties with the Valley tribes, eventually rising to the title of Merchant Lady.

When humanity became stranded in the Ebon Realm after the Schism, Helene consolidated her power among the ensuing wars and rose to become the first human Great House of the Realm. With her newfound power she bargained with the Ebon Lords and bought a place for herself within Hollow Shade.

House Goldelm: 

A dwarven Great House and the wealthiest of the 7 ruling families of Hollow Shade. They are known for their enchanting magic. The family tends to have blonde hair and gold irises (a very rare trait among dwarves).

Originally a minor House within the Great City of Frost Rim, the Goldelms gained prominence when their family leader became an apprentice to the legendary enchanter Ebon Lord Koval. The family has since sired various Mage and Merchant Lords.

The family is known to produce powerful chromatic brown magi specializing in enchanting magic. The family has become the number one producer of enchanted items within the city, having the most smithies and shops in Hollow Shade. They are also the main supplier of docility collars.

Oginum, a magical golden hammer, was a gift from Koval to his apprentice Lady Goldelm II. Oginum has since been implemented in the family’s sigil and has been the symbol of leadership within the family, similar to Krikolm for House Veres. In fact, both weapons are often compared to one another.

House Ashe:

A vampire Great House and one of 7 ruling families of Hollow Shade. They are a House known for their religious ideals and are in charge of the religious proceedings of Hollow Shade. Like House Helene, the Ashes hold a  strong stance of neutrality within the city council. The Ashes have produced many lords and ladies, including merchant, war, and mage lords throughout the generations. 

Hollow Shade’s people revere the family as a sacred House, with Calantha Ashe said to be blessed by Bellum, goddess of war. Because of their sacred reputation among the common folk, House Ashe is the most famous House within Dusk Valley.

Author's Note:

The other 4 Ruling Families already have excerpts within the glossary.