The Van Darkwood Codex

[Jokinghills 825]

The Van Darkwood Codex

 

-=van Darkwood Codex, most of the time carried with Viktor van Darkwood everywhere he went=-

 

 

Created within the year 1879 with the purpose to make a stable foundation for the van Darkwoods as they began to establish themselves within the Kingdom of Oren. This Codex details the basis of House van Darkwood and cements its nature as the one and only true successor house to the Darkwood House that existed before them, the information being detailed in multiple chapters.

 

 

 

Chapters of the Codex

 

I

Foundation of House van Darkwood and summary of the ancient history of the Darkwood house.

 

II

Values and Traditions of the House.

 

III

Relations of House van Darkwood to other Houses and families.

 

IV

The eternal purpose of the House.

 

V

Oaths and dues of the House.

 

 

 

I 

 Foundations of House van Darkwood and summary of the ancient history of the Darkwood house.

 

 Foundations

 

House Van Darkwood was founded by one Viktor van Darkwood(Previously Viktor Darkwood) after his return to the Kingdom of Oren as a means to turn a new page and redeem the Darkwood name. This was done only after settling down in the Kingdom of Oren and starting to repay the debt owed to His Royal Majesty, Frederick I.  

House van Darkwood is founded upon the foundations of House Darkwood, using what knowledge was salvaged from surviving records and from the memories of Viktor van Darkwood.

 

The Meaning of “van”

 

Mainly used as a distinguishing feature from the old version of the surname it takes inspiration from the origins of the Darkwood and the Grenzi use of the “von” Nobiliary particle. While the Darkwoods were an old noble line of the Grenzi Viktor van Darkwood had chosen to use “van” due to the lack of achievement and influence in the new line as opposed to the old Darkwoods and the amount they had possessed in their prime. Due to this the “van” was used to mean “from” instead of “of”, a sign that at the point of the foundation of the line they were nothing but commoners, even if having noble blood in their veins. Though it could change as time goes on if the house ever regains the glory their ancestors held.

 

Notable figures

 

Velhrun William Darkwood

 

The founder of the Darkwood house in the Holy Orenian Empire, its first head within it and the first Baron of Darkwood. Records note of the individual being a military man with a long time of service and many awards, though not without faults and failings of his own. It is noted that the man barely focused on the family and spent most of his time on the Imperial State Army. Not much else is known about the man, mainly due to the lack of surviving records.

 

Quinn Darkwood

 

Creator of the first Darkwood Codex, high ranking Military Officer prior to his demise and A father. A more recent house head who left a relatively small mark on history, suffering an end near the Darkwood estate, the nature of how his life ended is still unknown to this day.

 

George Darkwood

 

A man of Law and order, it has been noted that this Darkwood had done many jobs for the Holy Orenian Empire, some more known than others, serving in many high up positions both in the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial State Army, disappearing and reappearing due to unknown reasons. Not much more is known about the man or his character, and his full impact on history can only be left for speculation.

 

Viktor van Darkwood

 

Creator of the van Darkwood Codex, merchant, mapmaker, soldier. A traveller at a young age, later a soldier serving for a cause he did not fully understand, later more a Captain of a force he grew to despise. As time passed, a merchant and mapmaker, working to restore the former glory of the Darkwood name and founding the van Darkwood House.

 

Origins of Darkwoods

 

Darkwoods as a family has existed for hundreds of years, only making active moves in the last few hundred, starting with Velhrun Darkwood in Arcas, though the family has existed as a noble line of the Grenzi for far longer and originating from the ancient days of Old Hanseti.

 

II

Values and Traditions of the House.

 

Core Values of the House

 

Loyalty

 

To be a van Darkwood is to be loyal to the cause of the family and to the oaths given, placing them above all else. All promises are to be kept, all debts repaid, such is the way of van Darkwood.

 

Bravery

 

For one to achieve anything in life, to hold any promises or oaths one must be brave enough to stand against the whole world if need be. As such, it is only proper that any van Darkwood who is true to their name shall not cower in fear against any foe.

 

Diligence

 

There is no such thing as too much or enough, there is only barely enough.  To work above and beyond is the norm, and even then it is not enough. To be a van Darkwood is to work and deem one's work only barely passable when it's done. To carve out a mountain and deem it a terrible job due to it being a sole mountain not a mountain range.

 

Ambition

 

To be a van Darkwood is to hold ambitions, for even in our loyalty and diligence we must hold ambitions equal to our work and loyalty, to reach above all else, above all others and still not be satisfied.

 

Traditions of the van Darkwood House

 

Naming Customs

 

Names are picked from traditional Grenzi Names upon the birth of the child and are to be held in high regard, their change only approvable by the house head and deemed a drastic action. It is established that in any marriage the female must take on the name of the male.

 

Celebration of Life

 

Upon a child reaching the age of 5 a celebration of life is held in their name with a feast and other celebrations, at this age, if possible, the child is also blessed by a priest.

 

Reverence of Ancestors

 

Upon a child reaching the age of 16 they are to pick an ancestor to act as their spiritual guardian, watching them and protecting them from the Seven Skies. In addition to this a weapon to master is to be chosen and wielded by the child for their whole life, paying respect to the military origins of the house.

 

Feast of Maturity

 

At the age of 21 a celebration is held for reaching adulthood, honouring the new adult and introducing them to Important Individuals, friends of the house and possible marriage candidates. At the zenith of the feast the new adult of the House is to declare his passion in life and the path in life that he shall take, after this speech the house head presents a gift to them, cementing their adulthood in the family.

 

Burial of the passed

 

Those individuals who have done much in their lives are to be buried in a ceremony, their remains resting within the family crypt or a noteworthy location in the case where a crypt is not constructed.

 

Ceremony of the New Dawn

 

A ceremony organised to solidify the succession of the next Head of House after the passing of the last. Until then the house head holds no power beyond organising the ceremony. The ceremony entails the liege of the House handing the new head of the van Darkwood house the van Darkwood Codex along with the chosen weapon of the previous house head and giving the new house head a task to fulfil.

 

Relics of van Darkwood

 

The Darkwood Blade

 

The ancient family blade of the Darkwoods, used and held by the house heads of the Darkwood family for centuries, seeing a large amount of use during the conflicts on Arcas while wielded by one Velhrun William Darkwood. It was lost during the Brothers war. It is unclear if the sword was in the family manor when it burned or with the house head, lost during fleeing, but no matter the case, as it stands now, the sword is lost and it is unknown if it shall ever be found.

 

The van Darkwood Codex

 

A heavy tome containing the history and records of van Darkwood along with some history of Darkwoods. Created by Viktor van Darkwood and made to be used and expanded for generations to come.

 

III

Relations of House van Darkwood to other Houses and families.

 

Galbraiths

 

The history of Darkwood and Galbraith is a long one, originally a friendship spanning more than a hundred years broken during the Brothers war by the Galbraiths. Due to the transgressions of the Galbratihs against the Darkwoods before, during and after the Brothers war, the relations between Galbraiths and van Darkwoods are not friendly, rather quite hostile and the actions taken by the Galbraiths are not to be forgotten quickly.

 

Hopes

Remaining at good relations for most of their history the two houses did not engage in further relations until very recently when, during the arrival of Hopes into the Kingdom of Oren after some talks they swore fealty to the van Darkwoods and the van Darkwoods swore to protect them and grant them prosperity under the family. Overall, even though the Hopes have sworn fealty the van Darkwoods view them highly as trustworthy friends, allies and most recently subjects.

 

Helvets

 

Main relations between houses started in Almaris where both became quick friends and allies, making many plans and supporting each other. This bond between the Darkwoods and Helvets was dissolved during the Brothers war and no contact between the houses has happened since, though House Darkwood still views House Helvets as a highly respectable house.

 

IV

The eternal purpose of the House.

 

Origins

 

The purpose of the House originates from the old purpose of the Darkwood house that was created during the times of Arcas - To serve, support and bring glory to the Holy Orenian Empire. House van Darkwood is founded with similar principles, based on the original.

 

The Purpose

 

The purpose of House van Darkwood and all its members, now and forever more, is to serve, support and bring glory to Oren and its rulers, no matter its title or rank. In the case where there is an absence of such a state the family is to serve the largest human nation and ensure its superiority. 

V

    Oaths and dues of the House.

 

Oaths

 

The eternal oath to serve Oren and its Monarchs.

 

Dues

 

To pay back what was taken from the brothers war to Frederick I and Oren in order to repay for the committed crimes.

 

 

[𝖂𝖆𝖌𝖜𝖆𝖓 740]

2 hours ago, DarkWrath94 said:

The history of Darkwood and Galbraith is a long one, originally a friendship spanning more than a hundred years broken during the Brothers war by the Galbraiths. Due to the transgressions of the Galbratihs against the Darkwoods before, during and after the Brothers war, the relations between Galbraiths and van Darkwoods are not friendly, rather quite hostile and the actions taken by the Galbraiths are not to be forgotten quickly.

Charles of Rivia peers to his Cat o' Nine Tails for a moment then back to the missive in front of him, fondly remembering the intimacy he felt with Viktor Darkwood during the flogging of the man. 

Spoiler

 

[XOCO 502]

13 minutes ago, 𝖂𝖆𝖌𝖜𝖆𝖓 said:

Charles of Rivia peers to his Cat o' Nine Tails for a moment then back to the missive in front of him, fondly remembering the intimacy he felt with Viktor Darkwood during the flogging of the man. 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Pisspot also fondly recalls the flogging of the van Darkwood.

[kuerbis 3802]

 

5 minutes ago, XOCO said:

Pisspot also fondly recalls the flogging of the van Darkwood.

Luisa of Rivia recalls that same event with an absent minded smile. Upon being asked what she was smiling about, the lady merely replied with: "Oh, nothing really."