House Ķeles

== Overview ==
House Ķeles were a house of Velosorn whose seat was The Articák in the ancient city of Ensorinu. Ķeles were most known for the eldest of their family to the position of the High Priest of Ensorinu, deeply entrenching them in the day-to-day religious affairs of Enso-Sendanism within the city. Much like the broader populous of Ensorinu, though the Ķeles shared an intense religious devotion with other houses in Velosorn, they were distinct from the rest of the kingdom when it came to their main interests and trading partners. This was primarily due to the extremely strong relationship Ķeles maintained with the likes of House Grenthyx, Clan Kazadi and many close-by Truvenscian houses and other such entities whose relationship with other Velo houses was seldom more than just friendly. Despite this, Ķeles exhibited a more or less harmonious relationship with other Velosorni houses, particularly the ruling House Velo who had gifted them the right to the title of High Priest of Ensorinu in 38 BG - the days in which Sorn'Yzra still existed. However, this harmony was infamously disturbed during the Uprootings, whereupon Ķeles came to the aid of the desperate Grenthyx Dynasty, flouting the terms of the Delegation of Neutral Kingdoms. By 301 AG, rifts with House Velo had mostly healed, though the house remained as fervent as ever on seeing House Grenthyx return to power and in their support of Clan Kazadi. 
== History ==
=== Attaining High Priesthood ===
Ķeles had inhabited Ensorinu in some form since its founding around 1,996 BG by the exiled Bitep Velo. For nearly 2,000 years, Ķeles were devout and loyal in their following of Bitep's Enso-Sendanism, holding at one point or another important positions in the city's clergy hierarchy. In 38 BG, in order to grow closer to the now extremely powerful Clan Kazadi by locating themselves further south at the Oppidan Delta and to concretise the settling of their rivalry with House Zeri, House Velo vacated the more northerly Ensorinu. Having previously held the title of High Priest of the city, they officially granted Ķeles the honour, entrusting the devout family to mediate religious affairs in the city and assume a high degree of responsibility of its people, a development many of whom welcomed due to the respect Ķeles commanded in the city. Additionally, they were permitted residence in the ancient Articák, a black-stone palace built sometime in the latter years of Bitep's prominence in the area. During the intervening years between this point and the Unified Retaliation in 5 BG, the House attempted to attract the attention of Clan Kazadi also - though to a far less successful degree given the flourishing closeness between House Velo and the Kazadis. Nonetheless, the Ķeles opened up most favourable friendships with Pierton Grenthyx (and later Jorjaeryn I Grenthyx) of House Grenthyx and various neighbouring Truvenscian houses - a move that seemed sensible given their geographical proximity and growing prominence. Having only just asserted themselves in their positions, conflict broke out in the continent in the form of the Unified Retaliation - forestalling further relations until after the conflict had passed.
=== The split of Sorn'Yzra and Rise ===
Following the conclusion of the Unified Retaliation in 0 AG, Houses Zeri and Velo were keen to further consolidate their newfound friendship as well as their newfound political (and geographical) proximity following the unifying conflict. As a consequence, the two houses decided to split the kingdom of Sorn'Yzra, sanctioned by now King of The Continent, Jorjaeryn I Grenthyx, into Zerisorn and Velosorn. This, they reasoned, was the natural next step to celebrate their cultures and to set aside their ancient rivalries. Needless to say, the promised continuing closeness of the two houses of new kingdoms gave House Velo less reason, aside from their growing ambivalent towards their trading practices, to distance from Clan Kazadi. Ķeles saw an opportunity to finally secure the friendship they had sought with the Kazadis, and were keen to expand their list of allies following a historical friendship with House Grenthyx which paid off upon the formation of the Grenthyx Dynasty. Naturally, Kazadi turned to the Ķeles, gradually shifting from House Velo as their primary Velosorni trading partner to Ķeles. Ķeles subsequently brought immense wealth to Ensorinu, owing to both of their new significant alliances. In the years following the establishment of the Dynasty, this trend continued, with the Dynasty opening up many new doors to prosperity for the house and their city. Though Ķeles now distinguished themselves with House Velo in their list of strongest allies and interests, the two houses remained amicable and maintained a mutually-beneficial friendship, which only strengthened during the rule of the widely celebrated Cénura Velo starting in 125 AG. Unease grew by 190 AG however, as the once prosperous Grenthyx Dynasty had begun to struggle to stay afloat among political turbulence of the time. House Ķeles decidedly allied themselves still with the house, and their sense of kinship with both it and its natural allies strengthened in this time of hardship, with the Ķeles even offering their financial support in the most troubled times. In their eyes, it was the least they could do when they owed the majority of the prosperity they now enjoyed to the fabled Chaestish house. As such, House Ķeles and more broadly the city of Ensorinu became a known safe and welcoming place for those who remained loyal to the Grenthyx Dynasty during its waning years. 
=== The Uprootings ===
=== Shifting Landscape ===
== Members ==
Family tree
Category:Families
Category:Velosorn Houses