House Poff
House Name: House Poff
Motto: “Think More, Say Less.”
Sigil: A golden wheat sheaf with a perched sparrow, set against a diagonal field divided rose (upper) and ash gray (lower).
Colors: Rose and Ash Gray
House Persona: Intelligent, Unreligious, and Cautious
Main Hold: Wheldrek
Head of House: Voice of Reason, Hugh Poff
~ Bio ~
House Poff rose to power through its recent marriage into House Darkner. In their short tenure they have become the main source of Evermoor’s coastal trade, and mediator. They avoid conflict when possible, and rely on House Darkner when no peace can be negotiated.
Culture – House Poff believes that the spirits of their ancestors watch over them, offering guidance through mundance daily occurances. They maintain shrines with modest offerings to secure good fortune and favor.
Education and Arcane Mastery – House Poff sponsors private salons and small academies focused on ethics and theology. They collect and debate treatises, striving to educate their peers and commonfolk.
Espionage and Subterfuge – They excel at building friendships with powerful figures who provide information or favors without realizing they’re being used.“A well-placed question and a shared pint work as well as any wizarding nonsense.”
Military – Professional halberdier guards serve as elite bodyguards for family members and caravan escorts. They are disciplined and formation oriented, turning aggressive only when commanded by House Posh directly.
Political Influence – House Poff manages the brewing guild in Evermoor, and heavily influences the guilds throughout the coast.
Wealth – Most of House Poff’s wealth comes from their vast hop fields and granaries. There are few among the coast that don’t drink the ale that House Poff brews.
FACTIONS
The Giddy Sparrow
The Giddy Sparrow forms the economic heart of House Poff and serves as its primary source of wealth and intelligence gathering. Publicly known as a respected coastal brewing and trading consortium, it controls nearly all ale houses and tavern across Evermoor and maintains a fleet of merchant caravans.
The Voice of Reason, Oath Sword Hugh Poff holds ultimate authority as Guildmaster, though day-to-day operations are managed by the brilliant and soft-spoken Brewmaster Catryn Harris, who has loyally served the family for eighteen years.
Their most successful brews, found across the coast at all taverns, are:"
Hopping Rose Ale
A crisp, floral pink-hued ale brewed with rose petals and premium hops from the Poff family fields. Light-bodied with a refreshing citrus finish and subtle sparkle.
Price: 8 cp per mug, 4 sp per gallon.
Everstout
A rich, dark stout with roasted barley, hints of coffee and dark chocolate, and a smooth, lingering finish. Robust and filling.
Price: 1 sp per mug, 5 sp per gallon.
Little Sparrow Lager
A pale, golden lager with subtle citrus and herbal bitterness. Simple, highly drinkable, and the everyday favorite across the coast.
Price: 6 cp per mug, 3 sp per gallon.
The Ash Men
The Ash Men serve as House Poff’s fighting force that strike only when necessary, and let thought guide their spear.
They are responsible for protecting the Voice of Reason and his family, safeguarding guild shipments, escorting Giddy Sparrow caravans, and providing security at poltical gatherings.
A Brief History of House Poff
24 years ago: Oathsworn Hugh Poff, a shrewd philosopher-merchant, marries Meralith Darkner (first cousin once removed of the current Head of House Darkner). This elevates the Poff family from prosperous brewers to minor nobility and grants them initial land and titles in Darkner Territory.
20 years ago: After a dozen successful trade negotiations and serious economic growth, Hugh Poff is named the Voice of Reason in Evermoor.
18 years ago: Hugh establishes the Brewing Guild of the Sparrow, uniting independent brewers under Poff oversight. This creates a monopoly on high-quality coastal beer trade.
13 years ago: A scouting party of Ash Men are sent into the southern marsh to investigate the Monster Crisis. While they suffer some casualties, they return with word of an ancient dungeon to be explored, and treasure found within the first chamber. Hugh Poff dawns the treasure personally, outfitting himself with enchanted chainmail armor and boots, allowing the older gentleman remarkable maneuverability.
9 years ago: Hugh Poff’s wife, Meralith Darkner dies from illness without leaving an heir.
4 years ago: Oathsworn Hugh Poff begins sending town criers throughout the coast, offering employment as Ash Men for those brave enough to travel to Wheldrek.
House Henshawe
House Name: House Henshawe
Motto: “Order Forged in Passion.”
Sigil: A silver greataxe crossed with a blooming sapphire poopy, set on a field divided sapphire (upper) and light gray (lower).
Colors: Sapphire and Light Gray
House Persona: Orderly, Emotional, Presumptious
Main Hold: Tegaron
Head of House: True Sage, Edmond Henshawe
~ Bio ~
House Henshawe is a young house that recieved promotion after helping defend their city. They specialize in wilderness exploration and alchemy. Their poppy-derived remedies and bold experiments have made them valuable allies with House Darkner.
Culture – House Henshawe rewards merit over blood, and is willing to let anyone of value join their House, so long as they can prove their usefulness.
Education and Arcane Mastery – The majority of House Henshawe’s education focuses on alchemy and the natural world. They maintain modest libraries, labratories and greenhouses to field their experiements.
Espionage and Subterfuge – Henshawe agents travel the coast offering healing and supplies as a means of gather intelligence, planting informants, and earning good will.
Military – Henshawe warriors are trained to wield the greataxe, in a style passed down through their bloodline called the Reaper’s Axe. They use powerful strikes to shatter armor and morale in a single blow.
Political Influence – House Henshawe invests in strategic outposts that provide vital medicines and alchemical goods, ensuring they’re always involved in trade and local gossip.
Wealth – The majority of House Henshawe’s wealth comes from their poppy fields alchemy labs, where they make medicine that is used throughout the coast.
FACTIONS
The Sapphire Order
This disciplined brotherhood of alchemists, philosophers, and merchants oversee the vast poppy fields that stretch across the fertile hills of Evermoor, cultivating and harvesting the flowers that make their medicines and alchemical reagents.
The Order maintains a network of fortified trading posts throughout the coast, where travelers can purchase goods and medcines, no matter what domain they’re in. These outposts often double as taverns.
The Grim
The Grim are House Henshawe’s finest warriors. Clad in gray armor accented with sapphire trim, these greataxe specialists embody the house’s philosophy that order must be enforced. Most serve as personal bodyguards to the Henshawe family, protectors of Sapphire Order caravans and trading posts, and the first line of defense when monsters threaten the frontier.
A Brief History of House Henshawe
12 years ago: As Oathsworn alchemists and guides, Edmond Henshawe (only 14 years old) helped defend the city of Tegaron using alchemical fire to turn the tide against monster hordes. Then, when the fighting was finish, he tended to the injured.
8 years ago: Oathsworn Caleb Henshawe led a major expedition into the northern forest and hills, and brought his son Edmond with him. They were ambushed by monsters, and though he fought vigilantly, Caleb died. Edmond returned with the surviving men, along with the heads of all the monsters they killed, and hundreds of rare reagents and detailed maps. Caleb was given a hero's funeral, and Edmond became the head of his house.
5 years ago: After proving his brilliance for the court a dozen times, boosting the quality of life for the common folk, and never shying away from combat, Edmond proposes to the youngest daughter of Senan Darkner, Keila. After a minor dowry is exchanged and long lasting trade agreement signed, (ensuring Senan’s domain will receive regular alchemy shipments), House Henshawe is wed to the Darkners.
4 years ago: The Sapphire Order establishes a healing outpost in every domain, quickly becoming essential to locals and caravans.
3 years ago: Plague begins to sweep across Evermoor, and Oathsworn Edmond Henshawe intercepts it. Using new alchemical techniques, he manages to stop the plague before it can run rampant. He is celebrated as a genius by the commonfolk, and Zandran Darkner bestows upon him the prestigious title of True Sage, adding him to his council of Sacred Guardians.