House Vela

House Vela was an Ancient House, and the briefly the ruling house of Aodh. They rose to the status of royalty in 1700 with the death of the last Soleil King, Amadeus, and lost it in June 1702 when King Isador was killed.

## History

House Vela is one of the Ancient Houses, and one of the first noble houses founded during the dawn of Aodh’s existence. During those early times, the Vela House was hugely influential, and known for their shrewd handling of finances, making them one of the richest Houses in Aodh. Intermarrying with the Soleil line would come to produce some of Aodh’s early monarch’s – such as Kings Ignitis (920-950) and King Fintan (1035-1090), further increasing the prestige of the Vela.

For centuries, Vela enjoyed the knowledge of being one of the powers behind the Crown, and they were content.

Then, catastrophy.

Falling out of favor during the reign of volatile King Seraphine (1178-1200), the Vela line was further dishonored by their lack of contribution in the war of King Brenton (1435-1473). Overshadowed by many other Houses, they received a horrible blow during the reign of King Edna (1593-1641) after backing the wrong horse, and joining in too eagerly with Mishal’s Inquisition.

After this, the Vela fell from the spotlight. Still influential and rich, but not in the limelight – not favored. A new generation raised to turn the tides did much to restore the House to greatness, but it was not until Isador that the Vela reclaimed their place at the very peak of Aodh’s social order.

### Fall

Isador's Kingship lasted from autumn 1700 until summer 1702, when he was overthrown and killed. In the aftermath, King Aleksei disbanded what little remained of House Vela, and redistributed their wealth among Houses Cardea, Bracken and Julius. Isador's elderly parents were given a house and allowance to live comfortably, but House Vela ended with Isador.

## House

The Vela House had always been marked by ambition and the desire for greatness. Among the Ancient Houses, they had enjoyed both unusually high amount of royal favor, and royal disfavor. A staple of the Aodhian political life for many centuries before their downfall, the Vela had only recently regained their old prestige in style.

### **Home**

Their ancestral home was Ashpeak Manor, a lovely building with ash grey marble façade. It is located near the Hearthstone Palace, overlooking it from a slight hill. The manor is built in two floors and has it’s own private “mini Sanctum” for particularly pious family members. The building is currently unoccupied and unfurnished.

### **Wealth**

The income of House Vela had traditionally come from landownership and shrewd financial investments. They had not showed much interest in starting business’, instead choosing to back existing ventures, or purchasing cuts in them. The House’s wealth had always been secured by extremely tight leash held on private ownership, and any private ventures from members of the House were always securely returned to the shared coffers in the end.

### **Looks and Traits**

A rarity among the noble houses, Vela were always predominately common horses – their ancestors were Breimen, and due to the dominant genetics of the common horse, the line had held strong throughout generations. Many Vela have been grey, and great many of them have proudly worn the bloody shoulder mark, making them “kissed by fire”.

### **Values and Beliefs**

Like most Ancient Houses, the Vela were very proud of their ancestry and history (even the parts you probably shouldn’t be so proud off). They were appropriately elitist, supported slavery and believed in the traditional Aodhian values of capitalism, classism and hedonism. The Vela represented a very traditional view of nobility and its duties.

## Former Members

King Isador Vela – 1664-1702

Clio Vela – born 1635

Delphina Vela (by marriage) – born 1638

Some extended family; Clio's younger siblings and their children. All belong to other (Great) Houses with established families.