House Redwood

**House Redwood of Port Bera** is one of the Governor Houses of Eastspire, and a powerful house within Craedani, being liege lords of houses south of Copia Bay. A large and wealthy house, only being surpassed in wealth by a small number of houses within the continent, the Redwoods earn the majority of their wealth from their port and trade routes in and out of the Bay. Due to their location, House Redwood have the second largest naval fleet in Eastspire behind the royal household of Davensy which, itself, is situated on the other side of the same Bay.

Port Bera has been the ancestral seat of the Redwoods for nigh-on one thousand years, only being deposed from their position for less than half a year when House Whitgard led a revolt where they effectively locked the family out of their house and briefly took control of the port. Because of this, throughout the continent, the Redwoods are commonly referred to as Lords of the Port.

## History

### Origins

House Redwood traces their descent back to a man called Galwyn the Hunter who lived in the small town of Bera that hugged Copia Bay. Galwyn was known to be a hunter of game in the forests outside of Bera where he quickly became a successful merchant, selling the cuts of the game he had hunted the day prior.

Accounts differ as to when Galwyn lived in Bera. Magister Marin, the magister for the house between 449 KE and 489 KE, believed that Galwyn was alive during the Age of Warriors, when the continent wasn’t five kingdoms, but hundreds, and men clashed with beasts and elves and the like from lands far. While Magister Ludman, the current magister for the house, simply refers to the time that Galwyn was alive as Time Before the Kingdoms as spoken and written history is often altered or incorrect when it isn’t handled by the right hands.

As Bera grew, so did Galwyn’s business and demand for the game. It is said that he earned a nickname amongst the other hunters within the town as when he hunted he killed so much game that the woods turned red with blood and he would be called Galwyn Red. This name is believed to have evolved into Galwyn Redwood, a play on the joke about the woods turning red, and where the Redwoods get their name from.

### Anglo Era

#### War of Succession

During the War of Succession, House Redwood played a key role in assisting Eritin Anglo with securing the Eastspirian throne with Lord Dorian Redwood leading at the helm, securing the south while Eritin attempted to conquer the north. Dorian, alongside his brother Ser Emrier, rallied the banners of Whitgard, Rainwell, Harbray and Arnwell and held the south, quelling anybody who would make their own attempt for the throne.

After riding the banners north to assist Eritin with the remaining conquest, Lord Dorian met with the lords of the recently reclaimed western side of Andor to broker an alliance and possible aid in the war. Dorian sent Emrier to join Lord Anglo near Rafai. The lord met with the lords Edmann and Swann, Lord Lancel Swann was unconvinced, but Lord Kern Edmann was happy to create the alliance but did not want to get involved in the war, rather create an alliance with House Redwood alone. Dorian agreed to this, and did not tell Eritin.

After the war was won by the southern houses and the now King Eritin sat the throne, his true colours began to show and Dorian slowly stopped associating the Redwoods with the crown. King Eritin’s second son Prince Leon was somehow made privy to the agreement made by Dorian and Kern and threatened to destroy House Redwood and declare war on Andor. Outraged by this, and knowing House Anglo did not have the men to make true on such a threat, Lord Dorian no longer pledged his house to the crown; other houses south of the Bay soon followed suit.

King Eritin, learning of this news, reluctantly apologised on behalf of his son and the crown and offered compensation to the houses who again swore fealty to his house. Redwood and the majority of houses south of the Bay agreed, but House Redwood never fought beside House Anglo again.

## Recent Events

Ser Gemos attended the Blackwyne Tourney in 666 KE intending to participate in the melee, but after Ser Cassian Caster was knocked off his horse and broke his back the rest of the tourney events were cancelled.

## House Redwood at the beginning of 667 KE

### Members

* Lord Sylan Redwood, Lord of Port Bera, Watcher of the Bay.
	+ Lady Martilla Brewburn, his wife.
		- Erliia Redwood, their eldest daughter. Married to Arthur Edmann.
		- Soran Redwood, their eldest son and heir. Betrothed to Sofina Greyburn.
		- Verelis Redwood, their second son. Betrothed to Lucyia Hollowmore.
		- Coliana Redwood, their second daughter.
		- Nolarus Redwood, their third son.
* Lady Ysende Larion, his mother.
* Lady Orena Redwood, his sister. Married to Lord Aston Towers.
* Ser Gemos Redwood
	+ Renald Fields, Gemos' bastard son.
* Augon Redwood, his brother. Married to Ellen Bellfort.
	+ Augon II Redwood, Augon and Ellen's Son.
* Lady Vitara Redwood, his sister. Married to Lord Medrick Westfort.
* Mariel Redwood, his sister. Widower of Ralf Greyburn.
* Amon Redwood, his uncle.
* Ser Mark Redwood, his uncle. Retired Commander of Crownwatch City Guard.
	+ Janis Redwood, his cousin. Married to Corman Varen.
* Lady Danise Redwood, his aunt. Married to Lord Harold Marsh.

### At Port Bera

* Magister Ludman, counsellor, healer and tutor.
* Ser Bernard Haddington, master-at-arms.
* Ed Spyre, Sylan's ward.

## Historical Members

* Lord Vinori Redwood, father of Lord Sylan Redwood.
* Ser Ryard "Ry" Redwood, member of King Aeryl IV's kingsguard from 334 KE to 338 KE.
* Lord Ranfor Redwood, a lord that ruled during the reign of King Sigaer II.
* Lord Dorian Redwood, lord during the War of Succession.
* Galwyn the Hunter, founder of House Redwood.
* Sarisa of the Stones, Galwyn's wife.