The House of Veskett

HOUSE VESKETT: A DYNASTIC HISTORY   "Silentium Custodimus" — We Guard in Silence A Chronicle of the Scholar-Lords of Sarheenia  

Overview

  House Veskett is one of the oldest noble lines of Sarheenmar, the esteemed river-city of Sarheenia. Though not royal, the Vesketts have shaped the political and intellectual landscape of two nations for centuries. Their influence comes not through armies or wealth, but through scholarship, diplomacy, and the preservation of dangerous knowledge.   While the family’s roots remain firmly in Sarheenmar, House Veskett has maintained a continuous presence in Lankhmar for over four hundred years. In the City of Sevenscore Thousand Smokes, they hold recognized but minor noble rank—respected as foreign lords of good pedigree, though not counted among Lankhmar’s entrenched aristocracy.   Their subtle power has always stemmed from silence, insight, and discretion.  

Origins of the Line (2340–2600 RJ)

  Aldren Veskett, the first patriarch, served as an unassuming court scribe in Sarheenmar’s Ministry of Records. His discovery of a forged tax decree prevented political turmoil and earned him elevation to minor nobility. Aldren accepted the post reluctantly but served with legendary diligence.   The early Vesketts inherited:   • Noble rank in Sarheenia
• Land along the southern river terraces
• A charge to safeguard the truth of the realm
  This mission shaped the house’s destiny.  

Rise of the Scholar-Guardians (2600–2880 RJ)

  Aldren’s descendants expanded the family’s reach from scriptoriums to council chambers. Under figures such as Mereth Veskett, the family became known for philosophical rigor, historical precision, and unshakable integrity.   During this era, the Vesketts established their first long-term residence in Lankhmar, acting as archivists, historians, and legal scholars. Their meticulous work earned them courtesy titles, limited political standing, and long-standing respect.   This period also birthed whispered legends of a Veskett shadow-curse—a phenomenon never confirmed.  

Era of Quiet Influence (2880–2980 RJ)

  Under Lord Therovan Veskett, the family’s influence deepened in both Sarheenia and Lankhmar. His diplomacy resolved several crises without bloodshed. His children continued the dual nature of the house:
  • Ser Melkan Veskett – commander in the Northern Patrol of Sarheenia
• Lady Orsella Veskett – archivist of forbidden manuscripts
• High Scribe Tern Veskett – rumored source of modern Veskett shadow tales
  By the end of this era, House Veskett had become known as:   “The Shadow Scholars of Sarheenia.”   They carried knowledge other houses could not be trusted to keep.  

The Modern Patriarchs (2980–3007 RJ)

  Lord Halverin Veskett (2960–3007 RJ) was born in Sarheenmar but divided his service between Sarheenia and Lankhmar. His quiet counsel earned the trust of King Edwynn Werrish I, marking the height of Veskett influence in Lankhmar.   He held two homes:   • The Veskett Ancestral Estate (Sarheenmar)
• The Veskett House (Lankhmar’s Temple District)
  His marriage to Lady Lorenthea Arclent, a diplomat from a noble Ilthmarian line, created a formidable intellectual partnership. Together they refined the family’s modern identity: scholarly discipline, strategic silence, and a loyalty that bridged nations.   Their sudden deaths—connected to Sarheenian political unrest—shook both realms.  

The Present Generation

  • Lord Rhaim Veskett – Head of House Residing in Sarheenmar, Rhaim controls the ancestral estate and the main Sarheenian archives. He wields formal authority in Sarheenia but only modest influence in Lankhmar.   • Lord Edran Veskett – Lankhmar Branch The second son now oversees the Lankhmar residence. His brilliance, discipline, and subtle presence have earned him the informal respect of scholars, diplomats, and even members of the royal household. Though a minor foreign Lord, his personal reputation exceeds the house’s official standing.   • Lady Jorelle Veskett Now active in Lankhmar, she works within its mysterious religious undercurrents. Her role is quiet but increasingly influential.  

House Veskett Today

  In Sarheenia, the Vesketts remain a solid pillar of noble academia.
In Lankhmar, they are:
  • Respected foreign nobles
• Trusted mediators
• Quiet scholars
• Advisors who serve with disciplined silence
  Their true power lies in the respect afforded to them by rulers and historians who value accuracy over flattery.  

Why the Veskett Estate in Lankhmar Is So Large

  Although House Veskett holds only modest political influence in Lankhmar compared to their high standing in Sarheenia, the family possesses one of the largest private estates in the city—a sprawling property situated near the Great Library rather than within the Noble District. This unusual circumstance is rooted in history rather than status.   The Veskett estate predates the Noble District by centuries, established during the Era of the Scholar-Kings when Lankhmar granted land to foreign scholars, archivists, and diplomats who served the city’s intellectual needs. Mereth Veskett, the Sarheenian historian who first aided Lankhmar in restoring corrupted royal archives, was awarded a broad tract of land adjacent to the Great Library as a permanent base from which to continue his work. At the time, the Temple District was far from desirable—thick with incense, noise, fog, and religious activity. Land there was inexpensive and often given freely to those whose contributions strengthened the city’s scholarly foundation.   Over generations, this practical foundation developed into a sprawling estate. Unlike the ornate residences in the Noble District, the Veskett manor was designed not for prestige but for function: a hybrid of residence, archive, diplomatic office, and storage vault for rare manuscripts and foreign treaties. Its size reflects centuries of accumulated records and the family’s role as long-standing custodians of knowledge. As the Great Library grew in significance, the surrounding district transformed from a chaotic religious quarter into a hub for scholars, mages, and academics. The Vesketts—once tucked into an overlooked corner—found themselves in one of the most valued locations in the city.   Lankhmar’s rulers historically allowed foreign nobles to own substantial land so long as their presence benefited the city and did not threaten internal political balance. House Veskett fit this condition perfectly: wealthy enough to maintain their holdings, scholarly enough to enrich Lankhmar’s intellectual life, and foreign enough to pose no dynastic threat. Their estate remained intact through eras of political upheaval simply because it was too useful to remove and too old to contest.   The final layer of protection comes from the Great Library itself. Various scholarly guilds rely upon Veskett records, annotations, and foreign manuscripts; thus, interfering with the family’s estate is considered unwise by anyone who values Library privileges. In Lankhmar, political power wavers, but knowledge endures—and House Veskett guards knowledge as part of their identity.   For these reasons, the Vesketts remain uniquely positioned: a foreign noble house of limited political influence within Lankhmar but significant scholarly value, anchored to an estate whose history and purpose justify its exceptional size.  

Legacy

  House Veskett is a dynasty built not on conquest but on memory. Through betrayals, wars, and political upheaval, a Veskett has always been present:   • preserving histories
• safeguarding forbidden texts
• serving as quiet diplomatic stabilizers
• bearing secrets no other house wishes to carry
  Now, as Lord Edran emerges as the center of the Lankhmar branch—and as Aråndal enters the family’s sphere—House Veskett stands on the threshold of a new era.   Whatever awaits them, their ancient motto remains:  

Silentium Custodimus — We Guard in Silence.