The House of Whitewood

[_RoyalCrafter_ 3358]

 

The House of Whitewood is a newly established House, settled within the Aetherwood, west of Aevos. Although its formal history as a formal House is short it proudly instils the values of truth and piety in its members, and its founder is an experienced lord and warrior, establishing titles and land for the House in a matter of years.

 

The House of Whitewood was officially founded in the year 143 S.A | 493 E.S, with the withdrawal of Marquis Ser Sterling Whitewood from his birth House of Amador, due to him acquiring a title in the Halfing realm of Dunfarthing.

 

Though this is the official date when the name was created, the seeds of the House date back to the establishment of its first title, Swan’s Keep, upon the island of Failor in the year 129 S.A | 478 E.S, when Ser Sterling Whitewood founded a small keep and hamlet to provide respite for the displaced Haeseni, though it was not an officially recognised title.

 

Regardless, this act laid the foundations for the House, its Patriarch having proven himself to be a competent leader, being able to provide for his people. 

 

PURITY

The House’s motto is “Purity from Truth,” referencing the casting out of the Denier from the camps of Horen by Julia. The House of Whitewood interprets this passage as meaning that the purity of one’s tabernacle can only be maintained by casting out deception, and thus the motto. Due to this, members of the House are most comfortable with repentance through confessions; Baptism is a common tradition for newborns as well.

 

Purity, in general, is considered to be a virtuous trait by the House due to its association with Exalted Owyn, with the founding patriarch of the House being an Owynist. Due to this, piety is also highly important to the House. Regular attendance and prayer is required. 

 

MARTIAL

Furthermore, following the lessons of Exalted Owyn, the House raises all its kin to have a degree of martial experience in order to be able to defend themselves and others from Darkness.

 

The House in particular focuses on the use of heavy armour and weaponry, often wearing full plate and using arms such as great swords and maces. When it comes to ranged weaponry, the House prefers the use of crossbows, since they take less time to train with, allowing them to focus more on their preferred styles of combat.

 

With the Forest of Aetherwood being very hospitable to horse-rearing, many Whitewoods have taken to practising cavalry, an art which compliments their use of heavy equipment well.

 

EDUCATION

It is not sufficient for kin of Whitewood to be merely honest warriors, for people cannot navigate the world without sufficient knowledge. Members of the House tend to choose a scholarly field to pursue, after receiving a basic education. Common scholarly fields members of the House pursue are literature, astrology, history, governance and so on. Though the House has a particular preference towards the quill.

 

The mixture of both a martial and scholarly education allows the Whitewoods to be robust in their abilities, believing that battle should be done by the astute, and governance by the brave.

 

 

HAESENI ASTROLOGY

Following their values of scholarly education, the House follows the old horoscopes of Haense. They are a pious people, believing God guides all men, meaning they do not follow the stars to a fault, but instead believe some predictions or intent may be divined through them.

 

It is a common tradition that, before going on an expedition, the movement of the stars is scried, to determine one’s fortune. More often than not, this simply acts as a way to improve morale, rather than utilised as genuine strategic information.

 

AUDUNIC GODSWOOD

The First Patriarch of the House had squired in the Marchdom of the Barrowlands in his formative years, The local Adunian culture and beliefs influenced his development deeply and such traditions can be seen maintained by House Whitewood.

 

The most common principle of this is the concept of maintaining a Godswood, a protected area of woodland held by nobles for the sake of meditation and spirituality. Due to the belief that GOD’s creation is perfect and cannot be marred.

 

The House of Whitewood, however, extends its Godswood beyond a garden, extending its protection over the entire forest of the Aetherwood, forbidding damaging industries within its Marchdom, and limiting tree cutting to a point where the forest seems untouched. This has not impacted their lumber industry, however, since a single tree of the gigantic birches of the Aetherwood can provide enough timber to construct several houses.

 

AETHERWOOD BAKING

The House has a tradition of preferring baked cuisine, which proves to be a challenge to the house due to the fact that the Aetherwood forest in which they have settled, is not suitable land for agriculture. This means that products like refined flour or sugar are difficult to acquire.

 

However, the staunch love of baking has caused the house to pursue unorthodox ingredients. They hand grind flour out of anything that may be foraged within the Aetherwood: Hazel nuts, pecan nuts, wild rye and millet, etc. In addition to this, they sweeten their food using the sap of birch trees or with certain types of flora found within the Aetherwood.

 

 

 THE FIRST FABLE

On the fifth nameday of a child, a special ceremony is held at the family's home. Family and loved ones gather to hear an elder of the House recant a story or fable of the House that has a particular connection to the child in question. This tradition helps forge a meaningful connection between the child and their family's heritage, teaching them the values and ideals of the House.

 

THE SYLVAN MARRIAGE

Whitewood marriages are typically conducted within the Aetherwood, to symbolise the purity of marriage. If a Whitewood is marrying out of the House, they must wed within the woods of their spouse’s lands.

 

In addition to wedding rings, the future spouses must adorn each other with flower crowns that represent each other’s feelings towards one another.

 

THE EARTHLY FUNERAL

Instead of graveyards, House Whitewood opts to bury their relatives under the trees of the Aetherwood. This tradition comes from the original House of the Founder, the Amadors, and has been adapted to suit the religious beliefs of the Whitewood House.

 

It is believed that as the body of the deceased is slowly returned to the soil, their soul is liberated to the Seven Skies, and the tree under which they were buried remains a long-lasting and pure reminder of their legacy.

 

WHITEWOOD WREATHS

Titled and mainline members of the Whitewood House wear wreaths or flower crowns. The flowers that compose the crown are meticulously chosen to reflect one's unique traits. As the wearer of the crown progresses and changes with time, so their their flower crown.
 

The first flower crown is granted on someone’s 11th nameday, a tradition established in honour of Aurelia Augusta Nikuldov-Whitewood. The flower crown represents one’s youthful innocence. A new crown is bestowed upon one’s 18th nameday, to symbolise a coming of age.

 

 

TORATHI BANNER

A banner from the Torathi Clan of the Mori legions, which was taken after a victorious battle against them in the siege of Reinmar on Almaris, in the year 127 S.A | 476 E.S

 

 

 

THE ANCIENT BLADE OF BARROWS

An ancient blade of a fallen Adunian soldier turned undead. The Undead warrior had stalked the Barrowland for weeks until it was finally tracked down and slain by Ser Sterling at age 16.  120 S.A | 469 E.S

 

 

THE KING’S ROD

The fishing rod of King Georg I of Haense. The King had gifted this fishing rod to Ser Sterling when he was a young commoner, and it serves as an eternal reminder to the House of the grace of a ruler. 118 S.A | 467 E.S 

 

 

 

INHERITANCE

I. The Position of Patriarch/Matriarch and their respective titles are passed to the heir, who is chosen by the current Head.
II. Only their own children, mainline children, can be chosen to be the heir.
III. There is no preference for gender.

 

BASTARDY

I. Individuals who were not born in a legitimate union, or those who have been disowned by the House are to take the last name Thorn.
II. Legitimisation is the sole decision of the head of the House.

 

CONFLICT

I. Conflicts between House members are to be adjudicated by the House Head.
II. If conflict cannot be resolved through discussion, then the conflicting parties may duel.
III. Duels to the death are forbidden amongst House members.

 

COURTING

I. For House members to court, or be courted, approval is required from one’s parents and the House Head.

 

 

MARCHDOM OF LOTUSGRAD

EST. 143 S.A | 492. E.S

1st of Godfrey’s Triumph | Vzmey ag Hyff

The principal title of the House of Whitewood is the Marchdom of Lotusgrad. The heraldry represents a blue lotus on a white field. The Lotus and Field both represent purity. The golden waves within the lotus symbolise prosperity. 

 

REEVE OF SWAN’S KEEP

EST. 129 S.A | 478 E.S

16th of Sigismund’s End | Joma ag Umund

The first title created by the house, it was never officially recognised as the Patriarch had established a keep upon Failor on his own, and out of a sense of propriety due to him being a subject of Haense, he never gave himself an official title, only going by Lord of Swan’s Keep. With the Whitewood’s ascension to Nobility, the House reclaims this title.

 

The Swan is the moniker of the Patriarch of the House and the House animal. It wields a sword which ends in a star, indicating the professions of Ser Whitewood, being a knight and astrologer.

 

It is tradition for the Patriarch of the house to always maintain this title for themselves, due to its historic importance for the House.

 

REEVE OF LILENBURG

EST. 143 S.A | 492. E.S

1st of Godfrey’s Triumph | Vzmey ag Hyff

The capital town of the Marchdom is the Barony of Lilenburg. The heraldry is straightforward, with a tower to represent the Castle of Cygnetstone, and a lilly to reflect the flowers that go around it. The COA is coloured with the house’s colours. 

 

 

[!] Official Seal of House Whitewood

 

Edited September 10, 2023 by _RoyalCrafter_
fixed the bullet points

[Lirinya 2672]

The disgruntled mother to Whitewood's founder turned her head, retreating back to retirement.

[Cheese 2349]

2 hours ago, Lirinya said:

The disgruntled mother to Whitewood's founder turned her head, retreating back to retirement.

The Whitewood founder's aunt, who also has had her fair share of children leaving her house, goes to comfort her sister.

 

The cousin of Sterling, however, feels as though she needs a vacation. She can already feel her hair turning gray at 38!