House Valtheim

The Burnished Black Stag

**House Valtheim** like house Castellan and other Castell nobility originates from the Castellan Heartlands. Unlike the Castellan's the Valtheims did not take part in the grand Castellan migration from Konshum to the frost wasteland that is Sparwood. However as is the nature of members of house Valtheim and in a ways of the Castellans of the past they became stewards loyaly serving their new kings. House Valtheim is the third great house of the Kingdom of Grand Castell and one of the longest reigning houses in Castell's history the lords of Valtheim have been men of honor, chivalry, generosity, and kindness no man must wonder what sort of welcome they will receive when calling on a Valtheim for it shall always be a warm one.

### The Beginnings of the house of Valtheim

Saxem “the Savage” was the first lord Valtheim famed for winning fifty battles and during the twenty-first after slaying lord Mathis Marbrand he married his only child the First Lady Elaine Marbrand and gave her six strong sons and three comely daughters his firstborn son would not outlive his father Sixtus died at the age of thirty and five in battle only leaving a daughter to mourn him his widow the lady Jocillin Penrose would not mourn him long and flung herself at his younger brother Kallius the new heir who married her within a month of burying his brother. But that same brother who shared his brother's wife shared his brother's death on another battlefield and like his brother left behind only one daughter. Thus was Ser Vickarey the third son named heir and unlike his two elder brothers he had sired heirs of his own the twins Otto and Osgery Valtheim and another son Sixtus named after his uncle, however sadly Sixtus the younger was not long for this world he at the age of ten and three fell from the castles battlements crushing his neck. Unable to take this loss it was only a year after that when the ailing lord Saxem passed on he was ninety and six years of age and was succeeded by his third son Vickarey.

## Lords, Brothers, and Sisters of Valtheim

**Vickarey “The Vigilante”**

A seasoned military commander Vickarey “The Vigilante” would be known as one of the finest warriors of his generation and as a model of chivalry and self-sacrifice, his deeds would go on to become legends. As the heir of Saxem and second lord of Valtheim Vickarey would go on to strengthen the house and build further works such as the Silver Stag Statue that still remains at the castle of Valtheim. He would also go on to build more alliances through the best way possible, a marriage. In his time as lord, he arranged 6 marriages that would define the family for generations for good or bad. First and most crucially he married his elder sister Sabatha to Lord Vespasious Tarbeck the 4th Earl of Tarbeck Hall he then also married his younger sisters Betha and Faye to the twin's Hector and Kalton Bramwood in exchange for the house of Bramwood swearing abeyance to him. Then he turned to his brother Jackquin Valtheim known as Jack “The Jape'' he was the life of every party and threw lavish feasts so as to match his appetites Vickarey found Katie Kastayne whose family endowed with her their modest mance of Greeweld to them and to rid him of his erstwhile brother he gave him the mance and sent him and his wife away. Finally, he found for his sons Otto and Osgery the best matches he could for Otto his heir he gave him Lady Sabetha Sandroquoe the heiress to one of the richest Castellan families she was a wise investment. To Osgery he was wed to Lady Fandreaya Harlaw, a minor house but Fandreaya brought with her something of great import the blood of kings for her mother was Violet Castellan of the royal bloodline. Vickarey after fighting a war of quill and ink would go on to fight in another war the 2nd Daxem rebellion and during the final battle, he would after leading the vanguard be cut down by a reign of arrows after throwing himself in the way of his son Otto. Dying in his son's arms Otto would go on to win the battle and to forebode Otto's madness he mounted every man who shared an ounce of Daxem's blood on spikes ending the rebellion with a sour taste even for the victors.

**Otto “The Accursed”**

Otto wasn’t always “mad” during his youth he showed promising signs and great ambitions however after the death of his father something snapped. After returning home from the battle with his father's body he was greeted with even worse news his firstborn son Sixtus was dead at the age of three. Otto was said to be inconsolable for days. It was Osgery his brother brought him back from his grief. After a year of rule, he and his brother were both blessed with sons Simon for Otto and Sandro for Osgery but more tragedy was to come for Otto's wife died giving birth to Simon who only lingered a couple weeks more until he passed on. Otto was convinced they were both murdered but as there was no proof he was eventually satisfied by Osgery's words. Otto was never the same; he only talked to Osgery, his last son Liam and a small circle of Lickspittle’s. It was exactly one year after Otto's wife’s death that his final son Liam was also taken from him at the age of six he choked on some pigeon pie and died Otto at this point was convinced that his family was murdered and worse Osgery was no longer there to defend him. Osgery Valtheim “The Black Lion '' was slain saving his lady wife from bandits. Otto was said to weep for days until he cracked fully; he called for the heads of his cousin Ser Kevin Bramwood and his son Deric Bramwood. This pushed his bannerman over the edge of the Bramwoods with the Kastaynes and Erenfords raising their own banners and marching to Valtheim Castle where they called for Otto to abdicate. Spotting back “Traitors, all of you! Like the Daxems your blood will claim nothing but the ground” Ser Gendrey Erenford spat back “You shall die on the morrow my lord, sleep well and pray for forgiveness” Otto would not even live till sunrise he was found dead in his quarters a dagger in hand and his throat slit many deemed it suicide but rumors abound to the truth of the matter some say Gendry bribed a guard others say that it was suicide and yet some whispered Otto was murdered by his own nephew and heir Sando son of Osgery.

**Sandro I**

Married to the lady Gwen Erenford he had three children with a reign of peace and prosperity rebuilding the Valtheim image after the “Hour of Madness” as was deemed the revolt against Otto “The Accursed” Sandro was a man of little repute but a good diplomat and ever a gracious host.

**Saxem II “The Good”**

Saxem, the second of his name, is known as the good for many reasons most of all for the marriages he forged. His first was for his younger sister Elaria to Lord Daven Kastayne III an alliance and family tie that endures to this day. To his younger brother, he found the lady Laena Connington, a woman whose wits matched the dowry brought with her that being, enormous. For his own lady wife, he chose duty over love, marrying the lady Barbra Kelton the great-great granddaughter of the lady Vaela Valthiem uniting the blood of Sixtus the firstborn to the main line via a patrimonial line. Saxem increased the rights of the peasants and gave new life to the arts and music his court was for a time the envy of even the Castellans, but as is so common in this world it was not to last for after the death of Saxem one and only son Sixtus Saxem would drink his way to a early grave leaving the lands and house to his younger brother Otto II who would stop the court of its opulence and sell every work of art and ornate chair undoing his brothers work.

**Saxem III “Iron Fist”** and **Callius “The Cunning”**

Born too late Callius was the favorite of his father and all knew it, especially Callius and even more so his elder brother Maelor. Saxem III was known as the best military strategist ever to grace the family of Valtheim more so than the founder of his house Saxem “The Savage” known best for the Battle of the Emerald Ford he was able to not only defeat a force three times his size but capture Ishivald 'The Half-Blood” in his misguided attempt to size the Castellan Crown. However, the capture of Ishivald should be credited to his son Callius a man marked at birth with mismatched eyes of black and white and a crooked smile he was unmatched in wits and said to have a thousand ears knowing what happened before it even happened. Saxem would reign for nigh on thirty years where he won battle after battle never losing a fight, but where no man could beat him on the battlefield his sons were a whole other matter a battle was said to have raged in the keep, and was the only one Saxem couldn't win Maelor refused to wed some say out of religious zeal others that a man had caught his eye. Callius had been murdered by one of his spiders who had grown tired of his constant “check-ups”. Hadrian was too full of a hunger for adventure and was said to have visited the castle 5 times after he was first allowed to sail, every time was to show off his spoils and ask for more men to crew his ever-growing fleet. Finally Valear youngest of the four and most hateful and said to also deal in secrets and assassins due to low order in succession he married at once deming it as a way to buy into his father's good graces and thus wed Sandrey Svaeton his 4th cousin.

### Current Positions

House Valtheim still retains its title as lords of Valtheim and as the third most prominent Castellan house with Hadrian III as the current lord of Valtheim after his brother Sonic I abdicated in favor of joining his family friend the newly crowned king Skavier III to be a part of the new nation (at that time) of Grand Castell Llozhar. Sonic was not only offered the title of Steward of Gaular (a tile the family still holds) but also became the first Baron of Axelm (another title the family still owns). After the passing of Skavier instead of returning home, Sonic would go on to teach and train Skavier's son Marcus Emerald Castellan I in matters of state. To help with this effort was Sonic's close friend Fazen Castellan (later to be Fazen I).

Sonic however isn't the only Valtheim as after he departed from Valtheim his nephew Saemos would follow him across the sea 5 years later. Saemos Valtheim could not be more different from his uncle whereas Sonic is passionate and a renowned warrior, Saemos is a quite well-mannered man with little appetite for battle. Saemos as the son of Hadrian III is the current heir to Valtheim however most agree that it will go to Hadrain's younger brother Killian an unmarried man of twenty and eight years a loyal and able man Saemos has no care for it as deemed by Marcus he was granted the stewardship and then barony of Warlington (now Jorylonica) after the savage struggle that was the Warlington Rebellion as of now Saemos holds the title Baron of Warlington and (temporary) steward of Rett Lerress.