House Selwyn

# **Summary**

**House Selwyn** is an Ancient and Noble House of the Wizengamot, part of the seventeen (17) original Roman families who invaded Britannia after the Fall of Rome. The current Lord is Adramelech, the Heir Cassilda, and Seneschal is also Cassilda.

# **History**

## **Background**

House Selwyn were one of seventeen (17) Roman families that emigrated to Britannia following the Fall of Rome. The founder of the House was a battle mage named Hastur Selvanus, leader of then-Roman House Selvanus. Part of breaking ties with Mother Rome involved utilizing nomenography to select new surnames for themselves to help shape their destinies in their newly conquered lands. Hastur chose 'Selwyn', meaning 'good friend'.

After centuries warring and interbreeding with each other and the preexisting Druid and Briton clans, the families established the Wizards Council in the 7th century, ruling Britannia for almost three (3) centuries. House Selwyn's motto - ***Oderint Dum Metuunt*** - represents the family's fearsome reputation that endures despite whatever opinions their feeble lessers possess. Their crest - a blood-red rose dripping blood - furthers their reputation. The House Charter is seemingly egalitarian; the Heir Presumptive is hand-selected by the Sitting Lord or Lady so long as they have direct blood descendancy from the mainline family.

In 1066 A.D., William the Conqueror invaded, and following his successful invasion of Britain, twenty-nine (29) Norman, Breton, and French wizarding families relocated to Britain. These twenty-nine new houses immediately challenged the power of the Wizards Council. The conflict between the entrenched Roman families and the younger, more numerous invader families continued for decades, long after the Normans themselves had subjugated Britain. The erstwhile Lord Malfoy broke his family's alliance with the other Roman families and engineered a peace treaty between the two factions. House Selwyn was granted Ancient and Noble Status as having been members of the original Roman invaders.

At some point, the Selwyns established four cadet lines - the Carrows, Travers, Warringtons, and Yaxleys - from offshoots of their mainline family. All four were elevated to Noble Status after swearing their fealty as Vassals. The House also possesses five (5) Order of Merlin holders plus a Ministry-seat holder from among their five families, bringing their total Wizengamot votes to a staggering thirty-two (32).

At the current time, House Selwyn possesses majority control in the Potions' trade, import-and-export business, and other such influential spheres. The family had approached House Greengrass to establish an import-and-export alliance (along with a political alliance) in exchange for supporting their ascendancy to Ancient and Noble status. However, the schemes of Harry Potter and Tom Riddle thwarted those plans, with the Greengrasses being elevated through a Gaunt-Longbottom-Black-Prince alliance instead. It has also been noted that Cassilda is unhealthily fixated on Tom, and has attempted to seduce, charm, and assassinate Lord Gaunt, all to no avail.

## **The Family Residence**

**Cauchemar Abbey** is located in Dark Peak Moor in Derbyshire, under several centuries-olde blood wards. It oft referred to as **The Abbey of Nightmares**, accessible to those bearing the blood of House Selwyn. The Sitting Lord or Sitting Heir can provide temporary ward access to a guest via Floo. Cauchemar Abbey has been in use by the Selwyn family since somewhere in the 8th Century, boasting several subterranean caverns and tunnels that contain Spawning Pools...among other things.