House of Brais

From Felaguria: The Struggle for Power
Jump to navigationJump to search
"HONOUR THE MAPLE!"
The Origin of House Brais

There was a young man long time ago, who came into the West from the Unknown World when the lands of Felaguria were uninhabited. Some say he was of noble blood. Others say he was just a ranger or a slave who ran away from captivity. Some say he was a huge muscular man, that he came from the Unknown World carrying a sack with the severed heads of many monsters. Other accounts claim he was just a farm boy. However, destiny never chooses. You can be a King or you can be a beggar, but if you fall in disgrace with the Gods, your fate will be a dark one, regardless of your birth.

That man had a wife who died after giving birth to a daughter. This daughter was called the Golden Leaf of the Maple. Her father took care of that pretty fragile thing as if she were more precious than a Queen. She was kept safe in the house, that even the smallest breeze would not be able to touch her golden hair. She felt alone and sad, like a prisoner kept in a cage. This girl hated her father, but her father's love for her grew with each day that passed. As years went by, she started to look more and more like her late mother, which may or may not have led to the man believing his poor daughter to be his dead wife. It was whispered behind his back, as other people living in the same area started to fear he would marry that little leaf and drag her into his bed.

People prayed to the Gods to save that poor soul. And maybe those prayers where heard, because on one fateful day the girl just disappeared. Someone saw her climbing through the window and going to the river. She was dressed in white, and could have easily have been mistaken for a ghost, which she possibly intended to become, when she dived into the refreshing water of the river. These news were delivered to the man, and his heart grew heavy with pain and worry, and he was quite out of his mind, with dreams about her wandering on the bottom of the river, looking for the right path back to home, haunting him even in his sleep.

And so the man wrestled the river Gialneas apart trying to find his daughter's body, thus creating the two rivers Gialdra and Verneas. Failing to recover her, he built a house with his own hands right where the river parts, and made himself a small boat to roam the rivers at night, in search for his beloved daughter.

Such desparation attracted helpful souls. People came and offered their help. There were more boats, more houses built in the course of few years. So slowly from one house and one boat a town grew, with temples for the old Gods, houses and even a castle. While the man was looking for his daughter in the rivers, people started to live their common lives there, exploring even the woods in hope of finding the daughter, they went even so far as to peek into the closest parts of the Unknown World.

The daughter was never found, however, and so the man finally ended his life and drowned himself in the same river too. After taking another wife, a woman who would never be able to gain his love in a way as his first wife did, but still gave him a number of children.

The man of the legend is believed to have originated House Brais, to be the ancestor of the current King of the Two Rivers. It remains a legend though, especially since Castle Mergorand is not situated at the point where the Gialneas parts into the two Rivers, but on the Hill of Perescan instead. But ancient ruins at the point where the river parts, as well as another legend claim that the Old Castle was destroyed by dragons two hundred years ago, and rebuilt at a strategically more advantageous position.

The Maple Tree

Maple trees are very common in the Brais lands, and they are even one of the symbols of the house. A very huge and old maple tree grows in the main Courtyard, where rituals of marriage and burial are performed. According to the beliefs of House of Brais, a person must be named under that Maple, receive his first kiss under that Maple, be married under that Maple and his soul shall leave the body under that Maple.

The reason for the great meaning this tree has for House Brais is not widely known. But the way it changes with each season somehow reflects the circle of life, aiming for a more philosophical approach to explain the workings of the world, an approach that has found more followers after the faith into the old Gods was lost.

The Family

The society of the Two Rivers is a patriarchy. Men have the power, they rule and they speak justice; while women are fragile creatures, there to care for their men and give them heirs. Daughters of House Brais are called the Leaves of the Maple. They are regarded as the highest treasure of their family, and so they will be more guarded than mountains of gold. They will not be allowed to be trained in any martial arts, not even archery, their education will aim for arts and needlework rather, means to decorate the castle in a more pleasing way - to provide a comfortable home to the men. They will be prepared to become good wives.

However, the eldest daughter of the King is awarded with an office of surprising responsibility. She is the Golden Leaf of the Maple, the Treasurer of the Realm, and as such the only woman allowed to attend the meetings of the Royal Council. Younger daughters of the King are called Silver Leaf of the Maple and Bronze Leaf of the Maple, but these names do not go with any important offices they will hold.


Right now the royal family is grieving. The huge and strong House has been weakened, because the Plague took its toll on House Brais as well. King Barret Brais lost his two sons, one daughter, his wife, a sister and a brother. Remaining without the heir he needs and just two other daughters.

The question of who will become the King's successor is being heavily discussed at the moment. Will he announce his older daughter Luanda as the heir to the throne, a move that has been unthinkable so far in this kingdom? Or does he feel strong enough to marry again and father more children?


FAMILY TREE
Brais familytree.jpg
POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP
THE KINGDOM OF THE ISLES
Onimus.png
Soon
Zorich.png
Soon
Kiari.png
Soon
Machuri.png
Soon
THE KINGDOM OF THE GOLDEN LION
Nuru.png
Soon
Sefu.png
Soon
Imamu.png
Soon
Eniola.png
Soon
THE KINGDOM OF THE TWO RIVERS
Lenouvi.png
Soon
Istivean.png
Soon
Fennim.png
Soon
THE KINGDOM OF THE ESTORIA
Gylkrohn.png
Our King married Princess Livia of House Gylkrohn
Bjornsvartr.png
Neighbours
Arnstor.png
Neighbours
Hrossmork.png
Neighbours
Galtiblar.png
Neighbours
The HOUSE OF BRAIS
Brais.png
Kingdom: The Kingdom of the Two Rivers
Seat: Beresgond
Fortification: Castle Mergorand
Colors: Red & Black
Vassals: Houses of Istivean, Fennim and Lenouvi
Minor Vassals: Houses of Yldon and Bainsworth
Rank: King
Honorific: Your Royal Highness
Head of the House: King Barret Brais
Predecessor: King Tearvin Brais
Heir: No living male heirs
Wealth: Used to be rich, now comfortable
CURRENTLY PLAYED CHARACTERS

Active characters:

NPCs: