House Dravnonia

Banner of House Dravnonia, by @partbearpartnot

House Dravnonia, located in The Eastern Marks, is a major Noble House in Merion. As the home and seat of power of one of The Twelvescore Enobled it is a major geo-political force in Merion, and an important contributor to the events prior to The Cataclysm and the resulting Merionese Succession Crisis.

## Geography and Climate

### Natural Landmarks

* **The Swath:** A large forest that sprawls across the northern aspect of the Eastern Marks. This portion of The Swath is home to a unique breed of wolves that descended from the Eastern Slate Mountains. These wolves were eventually tamed into unique war hounds, becoming the symbol of House Dravnonia.
* The River Drevel: a winding river that flows from the north east to its mouth at Brightshore. The river runs through the territories of Houses Hollyholme, Lugas, Loame, Dravnonia, and Larch. The mouth of the river is known for a series of dangerous shoals.
* Whitestone Quarry: a partially flooded marble quarry that is a popular swimming hole for members of House Dravnonia and their guests, located northwest of Edgewoode.

## History

House Dravnonia was a cadet branch of the now extinct **House Drevelsyc**, and was acknowledged as a separate noble house by the Candlebrooks for their service approximately 400 years ago. After the last heir to House Drevelsyc was killed by an insurrection against Candlebrook rule, Lord Alaric Dravnonia was given a stretch of uncivilized forest that had been neglected during this period of strife, and tasked with bringing the area under order.

A local portion of **The Swath** forest proved to be home to a unique breed of wolf that had descended into the forest from the Eastern Slate Mountains. A clever nephew of the house’s founder managed to tame a handful of these wolves, which were bred with wolfhounds to create a unique breed of war hounds. These hounds have become the symbol of the house. While the Dravnonians keep the bulk of their hounds for their own use, they do export limited amounts to interested parties.

House Dravnonia are based out of their castle overlooking the small city of Edgewoode alongside the banks of the Drevel river. After seeing what happened to House Drevelsyc, Dravnonia has attempted to keep their collective heads down, largely interacting with the region through their patronage of the Earth Academe.

Following the recent cataclysm leading to the succession crisis and impending civil war, it seems like House Dravnonia may not be able to escape the notice of the world at large for much longer.

## Leadership and Government

House Dravnonia is led by the young Lord Adumar, married to Lady Alysane (formerly of House Loame,) with the recent addition to the family of Conor Dravnonia, their healthy infant son.

Lord Adumar inherited the position from his long lived grandfather, Lord Jeridan. He has opted to keep several of Jeridan's governing traditions, notably the continuation of his advisory council. The Council includes all of the knights sworn to the house, the potential regent of the house (this seat would normally be held by his heir, but is currently occupied by his wife,) the Elector of Edgewoode (an elected position from the smallfolk of Edgewoode,) a seat for a representative of the Earth Academe, and a currently vacant position that has traditionally been appointed to a rotating neighboring Twelvescore house.

## Traditions and Culture

### Notable Buildings and Monuments

* *The Path of Remembrance*: a series of marble statues adorn the approach to Caer Eidolyn, which was mined from the nearby Whitestone Quarry. The Path was the personal project of the late Lord Jeridan Dravnonia. There are monuments of notable achievements of the Dravnonian family and those sworn to their service. As one approaches the keep, they walk farther back through time. The statue closest to the keep is to the House's founder, Lord Alaric Dravnonia. The current beginning of the path is a memorial to Osric Dravnonia, as Jeridan's tribue to his dead son.
* *Caer Eidolyn*: the keep that was initially constructed near the banks of the river Drevel, which the city of Edgewoode was later built around. It is the seat of power of the House.
* *The Scholar's Haven*: a longhall located near the center of Edgewoode, the Haven maintains a small rotating collection of books which may be read by anyone as long as the books do not leave the premises. While House Dravnonia keeps their rarest tomes within their private library in the keep, their belief in the pursuit of knowledge lead to the development of the Scholar's Haven.
* *Swiftpaw Kennel:* Built over a century ago off of Caer Eidolyn, the kennel is the second largest home to the majority of the Dravnonian war hounds. It is the primary site to see war hounds outside of the city guard and woodland patrols, as foreigners are not permitted access to the hounds' primary breeding and training facility.

## Relationships and Diplomacy

### Relationships with The Crown

House Dravnonia has had a handful of successful political marriages, notably with a Candlebrook marriage two generations ago.

### Relationships with The Twelvescore Enobled

* **House Larch** Bound by marriage a generation or two ago.
* **House Loame** Bound by marriage. Alysane Dravnonia was a member of House Loame becoming the Lady of the House.
* **The Magewood Intra-Library Loan System** While not located within the Magewood, House Dravnonia has been known to trade books with several houses within the southern region, including House Amaria.
* While the House traditionally keeps to the Eastern Marks and has a few ties to the Magewood, House Dravnonia does have a small handful of ties farther abroad. They have sent a detachment of warhounds to House Deepfen in exchange for a series of maps for their library. They have recently exchanged a hand crafted wooden chair with House Arbor.

## Trivia

House Dravnonia is written and played by a giant nerd, who can intermittently be found on the Crave the Throne Discord..