The Reformed Darkwood Codex

[HIGH_FIRE 5490]

The Reformed Darkwood Codex

 

“One must live and die by his own sword.” 

Vivendum est et suo gladio moriendum.

Originally created in the year 1852 by the 3rd Baron of Darkwood, Quinn Darkwood, and later reformed in 12 B.A by his son, the 4th Baron of Darkwood Drako Darkwood, the pages of the codex describe how the values, traditions and outlooks of the family and its members should be, the friends, relatives and outlooks on life of the house, in addition to records of previous barons and their accomplishments.

 

The reformations would be a direct response to the downfalling and splitting of the family, a promise by the young Baron to rebuild what was once a powerful and strong family, back into its prime.

 

Chapters of the book

 

I     Known History of the house

 

II    Values and traditions of the house

 

III    Friends of the House

 

IV    Goals and purpose of the house

 

V    Oaths and Debts

 

VI    Artefacts of the House

I Known History of the House

 

The Darkwoods first arrived within the empire during its time in Arcas when it fought against enemies, originating from old Hanseti.

 

Joining during the end of the war Velhrun Darkwood(referred to in papers as William Darkwood after being granted the peerage), joined the Imperial State Army as a recruit.

 

After finishing the combat academy he joined the 3rd and ascended through their ranks, becoming the captain of the 3rd, later climbing further to the rank of Major, Lieutenant Colonel and finally becoming General in Almaris.

 

During his time in service the Darkwood house had been granted a non-hereditary peerage in the year of 1808, later to become hereditary after the 10th nordling war.

 

Few years after the war Velhrun Darkwood retired from the Imperial State Army, he was granted the position of magistrate in Dobrov but failed to achieve anything of note there, his years seemingly clouding his mind.

 

The title then was taken by George Darkwood who previously served as the Deputy solicitor general and a Supreme court judge, he sadly passed away after a few years of managing the title.

 

Due to George Darkwood having no heirs the title went to his brothers line, where the title went to Quinn Darkwood, mainly due to other family members being busy with other matters.

 

With time in part due to the location of the estate and their occupations the house follows a mix of Grenzi and other local cultures and norms.

 

    The Darkwood ascension into nobility has been brought by the sharpness of our mind and the swiftness of our blade, where others may have crumbled, we fought and struggled to get ahead in life.

 

 

Upon the untimely death of Quinn Darkwood towards the conclusion of the Tripartite War on the Empire, his son and heir Drako Darkwood would take up the mantle of Viscount until it was decided by Emperor Phillip III that they should be demoted to a Barony due to the state of the family.

 

He would come to meet his cousin Orelia Darkwood who would have discovered some information dating back to the earlier Darkwoods, who would be descended from the Old Kaedreni.

 

Before they would be able to complete their conversation and dive into their families history, the Brother’s civil war of Oren would find the two splitting up, due to difference in regards to who should be the heir. 

 

Drako would leave Oren at the conclusion of the war and partake in the creation of Balian, offering his family’s wealth, materials and manpower to construct it. Eventually he would find himself as the Taverneer of Balian and a Leftenant in the Brotherhood of Balian, the Brotherhood itself a creation of his Brother, Viktor. 

II Values and Traditions of the House

 

    Darkwoods hold 5 values dear to them:

   

    Loyalty, as a Darkwood, one must hold themselves responsible for ensuring the house’s loyalties are kept true, as well as their own personal loyalties.

 

Integrity, only once all family members have ensured their own integrity is intact, holding strong moral values in all they do, will the family itself have integrity.

 

Steadfastness, both the house and its family will likely experience a great many adversities and it is imperative we maintain ourselves in the face of them, remaining headstrong in all that we do.

 

Honesty, the Darkwoods can and must remain truthful in all their actions and interactions throughout life, those who do not will be viewed as false Darkwoods.

 

Altruism, the people of Almaris, no matter who they be, must be treated with respect, and as such the Darkwoods must ensure they help all people in a selfless and honest way.

 

 

A new, but nonetheless proud tradition of the Darkwood family is the hunt. Hunting is a rite of passage for all children of the Darkwood family. Upon their coming of age at 18, the Patriarch or Matriarch of the family will take the child out on a hunting trip for them to draw their first blood, bringing back the kill for the family to feast on.

 

The heir of the house will be tasked with killing the mother brown bear of a cub, which will then be entrusted to the child to care for until its death. This tradition dates from Drako’s own hunt in which he found himself the carer for his bear Bertislav Darkwood.

 

 

III Friends of the House

The De Rosius House - The members of the De Rosius house are to be regarded with respect as they are relatives even if distant ones, as such they are to be aided in times of need and trusted as relatives.

 

The d’Arkent House - The d’Arkent house and its members are to be treated with the respect that they house deserves and to be regarded as honorable and trustworthy individuals, in some cases even as friends due to their house heads serving alongside Velhrun Darkwood and their overall assistance to the empire.

 

The Vuiller House - The Vuiller house are to be treated with high regard, not only as a powerful family in Balian, but as a good friend of the Darkwoods. Rev Vuiller having taken Drako under his wing as a kid and Johanne Vuiller as close companionship to Drako.

 

IV Goals and Purpose of the House

 

The first goal of the Darkwood family is to maintain their loyalties, be it to their friends or to the Grand Duchy of Balian, they must be maintained by the family.

 

The second core goal of Darkwood is to strive to be the greatest self they can, working as hard as they can to improve the standing of their family and oneself in Almaris as a whole. 

 

The third core goal of Darkwood is to ensure that the descendants of Almaris are protected from the abnormalities of the world. This includes any malevolent ghosts, vampires, azdrazi etc.

 

To each new head of the house will go three items, The Darkwood Codex, The Darkwood Handkerchief and the Darkwood Broadsword. These must be used by the Darkwood house leader to ensure the family endures.

 

    When a new head of the house takes their title, they must host a hunt for any members of the family to partake in, subsequently ending in a feast for all members of the family.

 

The family must survive and endure, for themself and to benefit those they are loyal to.

 

V Oaths and Debts

 

The Darkwood house is never to forget its debts, favours and oaths , these are to be repaid and honoured no matter what. Similarly favours granted to other houses, individuals or nations are to be recorded and in times of need they are to be called upon to be repaid.

 

Current debts, favours and oaths.

 

• Oath given by the Darkwood house to the Grand Duchy Of  Balian to serve it and defend it against any foes.

 

VI House Artefacts

 

Traveller

An estoc sword made by the Imperial forges of Philip II, this weapon was gifted to the Darkwood family by the Imperial Household as a reward for their years of service to the Holy Orenian Empire

 

The Darkwood Broadsword

A large broadsword of Kaedreni make, this sword was lost to the family many centuries ago, being recovered by Baron Drako Darkwood after a long and tiresome search through the family’s history.

 

The Darkwood Handkerchief

While a rather odd heirloom, the Darkwood Handkerchief was made of sleetsilk by Lady Johanne Vuiller, the wife of Drako Darkwood, as a gift. It is a cherished item and shows the union of the two, and the beginning of a new chapter for the Darkwood family as Drako sets about rebuilding the family.

Signed,

The Honourable, Leftenant of the Brotherhood of Balian,

    Drako Rickard Darkwood, Baron of Renduzzo

   

 

[tadabug2000 4924]

Now Baroness-Consort of Darkwood, Lady Johanne Vuiller approves of the reformed codex, surprise coming to her features as the handkerchief she'd made her new husband was listed as an heirloom. She tampered down a grin, working on the sewing wheel as a tapestry is in the makings, holding the COA of the Barony of Renduzzo and the County of Aquilae.