Legacy and Lineage
House Ebonwood has long been the embodiment of
Elysoria’s noble traditions. Rising to prominence nearly six centuries ago, they became famed for their unmatched diplomatic acumen—able to bridge divides, forge alliances, and keep the continent's fractured powers from descending into chaos. While
House Valthorien governed, House Ebonwood united, serving as the realm’s voice of reason.
Their house crest—a silver willow set against a black field—represents deep roots and widespread influence. The house colors, royal blue and silver, once flowed freely within royal courts, a visible sign of counsel and calm during an age of growing tension.
“Strength lies not in steel, but in the words that stay its swing.”— Lord Eldred Ebonwood
Founders and Heirs
Lady Isolde Ebonwood, the current matriarch, descends from the legendary Lord Eldred Ebonwood—renowned for brokering the Peace of The West. His words once quelled entire armies. That legacy of poise and persuasion defines House Ebonwood to this day.
Lady Isolde’s father, Lord Elric, foresaw the Holy Dominion’s rise and took steps to preserve the house’s cultural treasures in hidden vaults before the tide turned. After her parents’ deaths during the transition to theocracy, Isolde assumed leadership as the eldest of three siblings.
Her brother, Lord Ivar, leads a secret band of loyalists and often disagrees with Isolde’s approach. Where she prefers diplomacy and patience, he demands action. Their younger sister, Lady Ilene, serves as a quiet but vital bridge between them.
The Next Generation
Lady Isolde’s legacy continues through her children:
Sir Cedric Ebonwood — The eldest, trained in statecraft and diplomacy. A measured voice at clandestine councils and the future face of the house’s noble front. He is married to Lady Rosaline, with two children: Edric and Liana.
Lady Elysande Ebonwood — A scholar, harpist, and guardian of the family's vast collection of artifacts. She resembles her grandmother in both grace and vision. Whispers hint at a secret romance that may entangle the house in unexpected alliances.
Lord Draven Ebonwood — A tactician with both wit and fire. He commands a hidden order of knights, prepared for conflict if diplomacy fails. Married to the poet Lady Sylaine, their daughter Orlena is already showing signs of brilliance in swordplay and subtlety.
“There is music in diplomacy, and steel in silence. We raise both.”— Lady Elysande Ebonwood
Hidden Wealth and Cultural Power
The great manors of House Ebonwood, though secreted away, remain palaces of art and memory. Eastern vases, tapestries of long-forgotten wars, and carved deities line their halls. These are not mere decorations—they are weapons of identity in a world reshaped by the Dominion.
Their vaults also fund quiet resistance. While Lady Isolde hosts secret conclaves with allies of the old nobility, House Ebonwood invests in underground education and art to preserve the spirit of
Elysoria.
“Let the Church write laws—we shall write history.”— House Ebonwood proverb
A Living Legacy
Though they wield no throne or army, House Ebonwood holds power in subtler forms: influence, heritage, and the strength to endure. Through diplomacy and preservation, they continue to resist the Dominion’s erasure of the old world.
In the quiet corners of
Elysoria, the silver willow still grows—its branches reaching, its roots unbroken.
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