Weekes House
Summary
The Weekes are the smallest of the British Major Houses. The family makes most of its money as arms manufacturers. They are very important to the colonial powers, and are basically supplying everyone. The Weekes are ambitious but fairly politically incompetent as Major Houses go. That said, they have a tight loyalty with the British colonials, and can make anyone's life miserable if they want to.Business
- Arms Manufacturing
- Machinery Manufacturing
- Engineering - Infrastructure
- Assorted Trade and Manufacture
Cultural Presence
- Close Partner to British Colonials
- Hosts of a number of civic events
- Main Patron of Bailen Historic Society
Primary Family
Arthur Weekes - partiarchEsther Weekes - matriach, née Morris
Eleanor Weekes - mother of Arthur, widowed
Key Staff
Josie Odell - seneschal
Type
Political, Family
Loose Allies
Given that the Weekes and the Outterridges have very complementary industries, a lot of effort has gone in on both sides to make sure that the Houses remain in unison on most things. This was potentially jeopardized in the last House war, as they ended up on opposite sides, but both Houses were careful not to cross the other directly, and that meant they could come out of it letting bygones be bygones. Given the recent uptick in military operations on Umbra, the Weekes in particular want to make sure they have allies in the other Houses to protect their operations, and so they are very cordial with the Outtrridges at the moment.
Respectful Distance
The Weekes and Foracks were essentially on the same side in the Guerre de la Lamproie, but they were never specifically allied; they were just fighting the same enemies. The Foracks don't see the Weekes as a major threat, and the Weekes don't see the Foracks as a viable target, so both Houses are maintaining a mutually respectful distance from each other. They won't do anything to help each other, but they aren't actively suspicious and are not currenty aggressing against each other.
Deep Ties
The Weekes are the family that is most in bed with the Foulds in terms of investment. This has been very profitable for the Foulds, and the Foulds would be very hurt if the Weekes fell apart or became antagonistic. Basically, Fould money fuels Weekes growth when the occupation picks up. This makes a good relationship necessary for both parties. They don't really like each other that much -- the families are very different and they are often at odds about what they want to happen in Ecumene politically or culturally -- but at their base, they have long-standing contracts and debt obligations that keep them from ever separating. In the last House war, the Foulds in part stayed out of it so as to not have to get too nasty with the Weekes. Both sides would prefer not to have this co-dependency, but there's no easy way to separate, so they all play nicely.
Shared Indifference
The relationship between the Weekes and the Harrimans is largely determined by the Harvest Moon treaty. Since the Americans don't fight on the same side as the British or French in the Umbran occupation, the Weekes don't have any business dealings with the Harrimans beyond some Canal negotiations. The Harrimans actually can't get too close with the Weekes without betraying American allegiences. So the two Houses basically have no grounds to talk. They also don't fight, because an attack on either side would jeopardize the war effort, and the mutual non-aggression understanding between all side on Umbra means that Houses sponsoring the occupation do not throw the first punches. The Weekes are a bit more negative towards the Harrimans because they know the Harrimans want to get around the Canal tax, and the Weekes make quite a bit of money off of that, so while the Harrimans are fairly neutral, the Weekes often take small shots at the Americans just to keep them in their place.
Embers of Resentment
To say the LaPointes and Weekes dislike each other is an overstatement. Both sides remember they were fighting during the Guerre de la Lamproie, but the Weekes never hit the LaPointes very hard and the LaPointes saw the fight as with the Baudins really, so no one did anything that left a mark. The two families don't really connect over anything, but nothing beyond that is happening. If both sides don't escalate, this will likely simmer down to neutrality soon, but expect a snide remark if you mention one House to the other.
Confusion
In the last House war, the Weekes backed the Baudins in an attempt to take a peg out of the Outterridges and the LaPointes. That did not end will for the Weekes, but following their normal conservative approach, the Weekes didn't invest enough to get too hurt. Given their alliance and the Weekes walking away only minorly harmed, you would think these two Houses would be quite close, but the Léandre lawsuit has destroyed all of that. The Weekes feel betrayed and are angry enough to really start fighting. The Baudins for their part haven't explained anything about why they suddenly turn on their ally, which is all the more infuriating to the Weekes. This is one small step away from outright war.
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