House of Eldermark
The House of Eldermark resides in a modest yet elegant estate on the eastern edge of Lavonia’s Royal District, its stone facade adorned with aqueduct-fed ivy and a small tower housing a library of collected tomes, a testament to their scholarly roots since their establishment. Led by Lord Tristram of Eldermark, a wiry man with a keen intellect and a merchant’s shrewdness, the house thrives on mercantile trade, dealing in manuscripts, spices, and navigational charts sourced from harbor routes, their wealth bolstered by a water-powered press that prints watermarked scrolls. They live a life of measured luxury, their days filled with bartering in the Harbor District markets and poring over astrolabe-aided star charts in their tower, their evenings warmed by underfloor heating.
The house’s influence stems from their dual focus: Tristram oversees a network of traders, employing couriers and navigators, while his sister, Lady Eryn of Eldermark, a scholar with silvered hair, curates a collection of Markian histories and Lavonian lore. Their estate features a small forge where they craft bronze medallions etched with historical sigils, sold to nobles, and a hidden vault beneath the library, accessible via a qanat-like tunnel, guarded by their personal guards. Access requires Tristram’s approval, aligning the house with quests for knowledge or trade.
Socially, the House of Eldermark navigates Lavonia’s elite with care, favoring the House of Hartley for shared scholarly interests and the House of Veynehold for maritime trade opportunities, fostering ties with Lavonia's Demihuman District. However, they harbor a quiet disdain for the House of Goldmere, whose aggressive mercantile tactics threaten their niche, and a wary respect for the House of Thornhill, whose military might could disrupt their peaceful pursuits. Their modest status limits their council influence, but their historical insights and trade connections make them valuable allies.
Noteable Members and Retainers
- Gorim Stonehand is a 157-year-old dwarven artisan born in a northern mining hold, brings his expertise to the Eldermark Estate, crafting bronze medallions. Beyond the forge, this gruff yet proud dwarf manages the house’s business ledgers with meticulous care, tracking trade profits from spices and manuscripts, and negotiates deals with couriers and navigators. Clad in a soot-stained apron while at work, Gorim’s deep-set eyes soften with loyalty, offering gemed medallions, trade advice, or ledger insights, though his impatience with novices challenges those seeking his aid in meeting deadlines or defending the forge production rate.
- Lysa of the Vault is a 31-year-old human born in the Working Quarters, serves as the lead guard of the House of Eldermark, her muscular frame and dark hair in a tight bun a commanding presence. Tasked with managing the family’s private soldiers, she oversees the hiring of retainers and mercenaries for caravan travels. Stoic and suspicious, Lysa watches over the locked vault in the lower chambers.
Assets
Physical
- Eldermark Estate: A modest stone manor on the eastern edge of the Royal District, featuring a small library tower with rib-vaulted ceilings, aqueduct-fed ivy gardens, and underfloor heating channels for warmth during Deepsnow. The estate includes a small forge for crafting bronze medallions and a hidden vault beneath the library, accessible via a qanat-like tunnel, housing historical artifacts.
- Water-Powered Press: A compact mill located near the estate, powered by aqueduct water, used to print watermarked scrolls and charts, a key tool for their manuscript trade. It’s operated by a single treadwheel crane for loading paper, enhancing their production efficiency.
- Trade Caravans: A fleet of sturdy wagons, each reinforced with segmental arch frames, pulled by mules with collars, used to transport spices, manuscripts, and navigational charts. These are guarded by retainers and hired mercenaries.
- Navigation Tools: A collection of astrolabes and dry compasses, meticulously maintained in the library tower, aiding their trade routes and scholarly star charts.
Financial and Material
- Trade Goods Stockpile: A reserve of rare manuscripts, exotic spices (e.g., saffron, cinnamon), and navigational charts, stored in the estate vaults, a modest but steady income source.
- Bronze Medallion Inventory: A cache of medallions, each etched with sigils and inlaid with minor gems (e.g., Topaz, Aventurine), sold to nobles and scholars for cultural prestige.
- Historical Archive: A library of 200+ tomes and scrolls, including Markian histories and Lavonian lore, some hinting at bloodline magic of various houses that is guarded fiercely.
- Vault Contents: A fragmented Markian map collection and a few minor artifacts, their true value in historical insight rather than market sale.
- Astrolabe Collection: Five precision astrolabes, used for navigation and celestial study, enhancing trade routes and scholarly work.
Influence and Connections
- Trade Network: Alliances with minor harbor merchants and the House of Veynehold, providing access to shipping lanes, though their influence is limited compared to major houses.
- Scholarly Ties: A working relationship with the House of Hartley for shared research, offering occasional access to their library, though they lack the council’s full endorsement.
- Vassal Status: Serve as suppliers to the House of Goldmere, providing spices and charts, a tenuous link that bolsters their trade but exposes them to mercantile rivalry.
Location
Notable Members
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
