House Aggelem

**Head of House**

((OOC Note: I decided to change the house name so this stuff is not canon/fanon until further notice-Exio/Ryo))

**House Aggelem** was a vassal noble house to House Stormsong. They ruled over the Barony of Krakenskull Shallows in Stormsong Valley.

Known as one of the most loyal houses to both House Stormsong and the Tidemother, each son and daughter of the Aggelem family line was trained to be an elite Tideguard in service of their liege lord, learning mastery over each weapon from the moment they could lift a sword, and then beginning their Tideguard training once they came of age. While anyone could become a Tidesage, Tideguard, or Warrior, only those of Aggelem descent could be trained in the ancient combat styles. Notably, all children of Aggelem descent grew up to be Tideguards. Any other ambitions were swiftly expelled. Although Aggelem Tideguards were respected for their prowess, it was rumored across the valley that the elders of House Aggelem employed brutal training techniques.

Before any aspiring Warrior of House Aggelem could begin training, they had to take the Oath of Honored Arms before the Tidemother. This oath simply means that the sworn will only wield weapons that are either retrieved from an honorably defeated opponent, or granted to them by either a person, order, or faith that they are otherwise sworn to, or with an accepted charge. The Oath of Honored Arms assures that no expertise will be misused for long, as the sworn must wield the weapon of the inferior for a time, and that no opponent will die in vain, as the blades of the fallen will be cleansed by the blood of heretics. Oathbreakers will drown in the Tidemother's wrath.

Krakenskull Shallows was hidden away from the rest of Kul Tiras, but the people of House Aggelem did not mind. They were reclusive, with even the intermediate family of the Lord Aggelem only appearing for the most important events, such as weddings, funerals, and ones related to the Tidefaith, House Stormsong, and the Proudmoore Admiralty. Thus, the Aggelem family was not seen very often. The nobles that did interact with them would say that they are a stern people of few words, all business, conservative, and pious. They abhorred any and all non-Tidefaith magics, along with any non-Tidesage science, declaring all of these things heresy against the Tidemother. It was because of these behaviors that the Tideguards of Aggelem blood would come to be known as Ultramarines.

House Aggelem was very military focused, so much so that their seat was named Krakenskull Compound, although it was a whole town. While most only believe in three virtues of the Tidemother; Radiance, Wrath, and Pride, the people of House Aggelem also revered the Tidemother's Fury, going so far as to make "TIDEMOTHER'S FURY!!!" their battlecry. Spelling it lowercase or with any less than three exclamation points was considered a punishable offense.

## History

### Founding

House Aggelem was founded during the initial founding of the Stormsong Valley by Captain Avery Aggelem, one of the followers of the first Lord Stormsong. Although the true tale is lost to time, all of House Aggelem's subjects would swear that Captain Avery gained his nobility by slaying a Sea Skrog leader with a flail made of a rock tied to a piece of kelp. There are many suitable icons that represent strength and the sea; whales, sharks, crabs. anchors, ships, even just a boulder. But Captain Avery simply chose a wave and a low sun. Whales, sharks, and crabs die and waste away. Anchors rust, ships sink, and boulders erode. All because of the sea. The sea is endless, and immortal, like the sun. Thus, a cresting wave with a sun aligned with its tunnel was chosen as the crest of House Aggelem.

### Second War

During the Second War, many Aggelem Ultramarines led in the fight against the Orcish Horde on the eastern seas, and most died, causing discontent within House Aggelem. The Aggelem elders blamed Lord Admiral Daelin Proudmoore for the losses of their children and grandchildren, and they began to detest their nation's monarch, but they remained loyal as long as House Stormsong would.

### Third War

Upon learning of the death of the Lord Admiral at the hands of the Horde, the members of the Aggelem family held secret celebrations, taking it as a sign that the involvement in Kul Tiras with mainland wars had finally ended, and reveling in the irony that the Lord Admiral was killed by the same Horde that his soldiers had died against. Nevertheless, House Aggelem remained loyal to House Stormsong, and thus to the Proudmoore Admiralty.

### Fourth War

Leading up to the Fourth War, House Aggelem began to favor Lord Admiral Katherine Proudmoore for her isolated approach to the rule of Kul Tiras. However, when Lord Stormsong began to decree in favor of secession, House Aggelem was one of the first to enforce his cause. Lord Stormsong promised a Kul Tiras united under the Tidemother's radiance, no longer ruled by the corrupt and haughty nobles of Boralus and Drustvar. All of the Aggelem Tideguards and Tidesages were given access to the dark powers granted to them by what had seemed like the Tidemother. The only people of House Aggelem who were not given these powers were the civilians, the children, and one particular Warrior who had only just started his Tideguard. Exiotyr Aggelem was a prodigy of swordsmanship, and a resourceful Warrior with all other weapons that he could wield. But since he had not yet taken his Tideguard vows, he was deemed unworthy of the magic of the depths.

When the forces of House Stormsong were mobilized across the Valley, Exiotyr still wanted to aid his House and his faith, so he was given a job as an inspector, stationed at Highland Pass and tasked with helping to obstruct the southern traders.

Upon the fall of House Stormsong at the hands of the Storm's Wake, all of the Aggelem elders and Aggelem Ultramarines were put to the sword for their crimes. Exiotyr hadn't partaken in the use of Void magic, hadn't killed anyone in the war, and he broke no vows, as he never reached that level of Tideguard ascension to begin with. Thus, he was pardoned, but only on the condition that House Aggelem swear fealty to the Storm's Wake, and the new Lord Brannon Stormsong.

Before he was given the chance, however, Exiotyr was forced to watch all of his surviving aunts, uncles, older cousins, and older siblings be executed publicly in Brennadam. He became enraged, and with all of the Tidemother's fury he could muster, he broke free of the Storm's Wake soldiers, and renounced the Storm's Wake, the Proudmoore Admiralty, and the Alliance, with hundreds of onlookers as witness. After knocking out a few men, he was once again apprehended and eventually sent to Tol Dagor to await his sentencing. Back at Krakenskull Compound, Maximillion Aggelem, a boy of 13 years and Exiotyr's next youngest brother, was named the new Lord Aggelem, swearing the fealty of House Aggelem to the Storm's Wake and to Lord Brannon Stormsong.

Shortly after, The Barony of Krakenskull Shallows came under siege by the Horde. A messenger was sent on horseback to alert the Storm's Wake. With the bulk of the Aggelem forces dead or captured, Krakenskull Compound was swiftly razed by the Warfang forces. When the Storm's Wake minutemen arrived, they beat back the Horde, but there were no survivors. This was the perceived end of House Aggelem.

Once word of this reached Boralus, Exiotyr's punishment was lightened from execution to banishment. Brought to the northern border of Freehold, Exiotyr was last seen boarding a Goblin trade vessel. His whereabouts are unknown.

## Notable Members

### Captain Avery Aggelem

House Aggelem was founded by Captain Avery Aggelem.

### Exiotyr Aggelem

Exiotyr Aggelem is the last surviving descendant of the Aggelem line.

### Allister Aggelem

Allister Aggelem is the second-latest Lord Aggelem, and the late father of Exiotyr Aggelem and six other late children.

### Maximillion Aggelem

Maximillion was the latest, last, and shortest-ruling Lord Aggelem, and the late younger brother of Exiotyr Aggelem.

## Lands

### Krakenskull Shallows

Krakenskull Shallows was the land over which House Aggelem once reigned, a strait of rock, sand, and aquatic life that would surface and flood as the tides changed. Krakenskull Compound, the formerly high-walled seat of House Aggelem, was a town built directly in the middle of the strait. While this seemed impractical, the waters and slippery plant-covered rocks served as a natural defense and moat against enemies. The Compound was a bastion against would-be invaders of the Shrine of the Storm. To the western shore of the strait was Krakenskull Village, a simple fishing village that provided food and trade for House Aggelem. House Aggelem notably never held any lands on the holy isle that housed the Shrine. Within the center of Krakenskull Compound was the Aggelem Estate, a relatively small mansion home that also survived as the barracks for the Aggelem Ultramarines.

## Coat of Arms

**Crest:** A wave cresting with an orange eye aligned through the formed tunnel, styled to look like a rising or setting sun.

**Helm:** A rusted Tideguard helm.

**Coronet:** Baron Coronet

**Torse Colors:** Blue, Purple, and Proudmoore Green

**Supporters:** More waves, and withered Star Moss up and down the shield as not to obstruct the crest.

**Description of Shield:** A blue castle wall in front of a lighter blue background. The base of the shield is purple with orange borders.

**Orders:** Order of the Ironhull

**Motto:** TIDEMOTHER'S FURY!!!

**Provincial Compartment:** The ocean