House Name:House Brewer
House Words:"Praise be the Harvest"
Coat of Arms: A golden frond of wheat, on a background of blue
(Pantone 2905 U, to be specific)Seat: The Lakelands, "Chicago", Citadel of the Lakes (Old Shedd Aquarium)
Titles: - Lord of the Lakelands
- Sovereign of Illinois
- Warden of the Great Lakes
- Marine Masters of the Mississippi
History: House Brewer, or rather, the Brewers, has been around for ages. The Brewers have always served the old lord in the North, working as laborers and occasionally men at arms. Over the centuries, Brewer men have always worked hard and, when necessary, fought bravely. However, even with their hardy nature and tireless work ethic, the Brewer's as a house did not amount to much.
Until one faithful campaign.
The lands to the West of the Lakelands, namely Minnestar and the Dako Plains, were considered strategically important and some were even fertile farm lands. The old lords in the North oft waged wars against the tribes in the North to seize the lands for themselves and the kingdom as a whole. These campaigns were mostly successful, but often at the cost of men and war beasts alike. One campaign, aptly named "War of Grains" saw the lords of the North, along with Brewer men at arms, wage a costly war against the tribes of Minnestar. On the morn of the decisive battle, one Camden Brewer was a common man at arms, fighting under the banner of lords of the north. The battle raged on around him. Arrows loosed from drawn bows and men cleaved at each other with crude iron swords.
Camden, knocked from his horse, rose to see that he was one among a few. One of those was the lord of the north. A tribesman was about five paces from the lord and had an arrow drawn. A sudden burst of courage overcame young Camden. He charged forth and tossed a nearby spear at the tribesman while diving in front of the lord. A whizz was heard. The lord, unharmed, pulled Camden to his feet but noticed that he was wounded. An arrow stuck out from his left shoulder like a grotesque branch from a tree. The action of Camden, however, served as the rallying cry for the rest of the troops, as the act of a young soldier in the face of danger is oft to do. The battle, and the rest of the campaign, was theirs. The lords of the north took over the fertile lands of Minnestar for their own.
For now.
Young Camden, for his bravery, was given a title and a minor land to hold as his own, in Illinois. Now, as lord of Wind Castle, Camden's family finally was able to settle and prosper. As a port on one of the great lakes, Illinois had plenty of commerce and trade. Over the years, House Brewer moved on from simple laborers to merchants and traders. Of course, their men at arms still fought for the lords in the north. The campaigns west never quite stopped, or were they as successful for the lords in the north as War of Grains. The foothold they gained west of the Mississippi were eventually ceded back to the tribes of Minnestar, in order to forge a peace treaty...
This was about 300 years ago now. Over the century, House Brewer grew strong. From simple farmers, to knights, to lord. Things of note that occurred within the past century. One major event of note was the marriage of Camlion Brewer, son of Camden I, married Starlinea, daughter of the high chieftain of the United Minnestar tribes. Starlinea, a weaver of dreams for the tribe, prophesied that a son of Camden would rise to rule the Lakelands, and with his blood unite the Tribes of the Lakes once again. Camlion, seeking glory and prosperity, moved the ancestral seat of House Brewer from Wind Castle, located within the heart of Illinois, to a location by the coast of the great lakes. Upon that land, he built Citadel of the Lakes, the new seat of House Brewer that has remained since.
One more thing can be said about Camden I, and his rule as lord of the lakelands. Along with his physical might, he had insight. He was able to think and plan for the future of his house. He knew that in order for his house to truly grew strong in the land he has been given, he has to expand the realm of control of House Brewer. A minor lord with naught but one keep to his name would never amount to anything. House James, the former ruling house of the Lakelands based in Ohio, held the Lakelands as a region with an iron fist. With such a rule, there were bound to be dissent among the people. The taxes are always too high, the working hours are always too long and the pay is never enough. However, he had to bide his time. He had already endeared himself to Lord Leron James, the former lord of the Lakelands. With his hold being at Wind Castle, Camden I worked to secured himself a trade route to and from the both the coast of the great lakes and the mighty Mississippi. He made recommendations, often tenaciously, to Lord James, about how to tax and regulate trade. Over time, Camden I was able to increase profits from trade five-fold while not incurring the gripe of the locals over heightened taxes. Satisfied with this work, Lord James made Camden, now in his fifties, accompany him to The Old Dominion and to see the King. The King, liking the potential that he saw, promised Camden I a substantial title, should he be deemed capable of succeeding Lord James.
Camden, being still younger than old Lord James, effectively took control of House James, as the old lord did not have a proper male heir. The old lord passed the lands, and holding to Camden upon his death. Having been exposed to the high courts in The Old Dominion, Camden passed on that knowledge to his successor, Camlion. Camlion was raised to understand that politics is a treacherous slope. One must tread with caution but also be brave for his people's sake. Camlion, taking his father's words to heart, moved the house's seat from Ohio back to Chicago and established Citadel of the Lakes. Camlion, young and full of ambition, continued to leverage the path his father had laid before him and continued to amass wealth for his house. As the second generation to an upstart house, murmurs were bound to sprout up about the competency and potential changes that Camlion was going to bring. Camlion, being a forward-thinker, started forging an alliance with the western frontier. Sending emissaries, missionaries, and other friendly scouts, Camlion made his presence known amongst the tribesmen as a even-minded and fair leader. Small skirmishes still rose, but Camlion dealt with them with as little bloodshed as possible, often preferring to broker peace through trade rather than wielding iron.
The prophecy of Lady Starlinea rang true as Camlion is currently Lord of the Lakelands through the acts of his father who was declared heir to House James... The sons of Camden I would continue to rule the Lakelands for as long as the starts shone at night.
Another major event was the War of Seventy Five. A 'civil war' of sorts that took place 100 years ago between factions within House Brewer. Lysander Brewer, cousin to Camden I, thought he should take the seat at Wind Castle and be the rightful lord of House Brewer. Camden, and Lysander, both in advanced age at this point, could not come to an amicable resolution of this issue. Lysander roused his household troops, and anyone who would like to share his 'spoils' and thought to march on Camden and forcibly take Wind Castle. Seventy five men, including Lysander and his son Lycon, marched on Wind Castle. Camden, seeing this farce from his bastion, called out to his cousin one last time, hoping for peace. When the troop did not stop, Camden ordered his archers to open fire on the men below, but spare Lysander and Lycon. The aftermath was obviously bloody, and with Camden taking zero casualty. Lysander, in his foolishness and madness, knelled and fell on his own sword. Lycon was banished to the Badlands as a result. Spies that brave the frontiers for House Brewer last reported that sons of Lycon had braved the wasteland that lie beyond the Dako Plains and was headed further west, in search of the fabled Celestial Empire of California, in search of riches and a force to take back what is rightfully theirs.
The life of Camland, son of Camlion, was quite uneventful. Camland was a born scholar, preferring the company of books and arts to people. Under his rule, House Brewer established the Museum of Fields, an emblematic display of the rich natural history of his lands and its people. He established many places of higher learning, including the establishment of the College of Greater Chicago, a place of higher learning that is ranked amongst the best in the Five Kingdoms.
Camden II, son of Camland, was born during a winter storm that seemed to have raged on for a fortnight. Born to starless nights and cloud-covered days, Camden II has carried the nickname of "Stormbringer" with him as he grew up. His father, Camland, has been bedridden for years now. At first, before Camden II's coming of age, Camland's counselors, some of his closest allies, ruled the lands in his stead while teaching young Camden II how to be a benevolent lord. Under their tutelage, Camden II grew strong, both intellectually and physically. Now, in his early twenties, Camland peacefully abdicated his seat at Citadel of the Lakes to his son, who some people have said to share the wisdom of Camland alongside the physical might of Camden I...
Head: Lord Camden "Stormbringer" Brewer II
Heirloom: "Jewel of the North Star" A prize given as a sign of peace from the Minnestar Tribes. An aquamarine gem of flawless quality, found in one of the great lakes. Currently inlaid into the pummel of the great axe used by Camden II.
Traits: Brewers are known to be fair-skinned, golden haired with piercing blue eyes. Typically, they are quiet friendly and are known to be great hosts of feasts.
Misc: Given the fact that half of House Ironwit was banished into the Badlands of the Dako Plains, House Brewer often serves as the first line of defense against the would be usurpers. Brewers are also known as clan of hardy people, unafraid of the cold they often endure.
-Received from trade with the Lakeland tribes, some weapons and perhaps even tools used by the highest ranking members of those who serve House Brewer are forged from a sacred metal, mined from the Northern reaches of the Minnestar. Colloquially known as Starmetal, and officially known as the Gift of the Morning Star, tools made from this rare metal are lighter, and more durable than their normal counterparts. Two-handed greatswords maybe wielded single-handedly, swings from a pickaxe feel much less taxing. However, these tools are not indestructible. Maintenance and care are still required. The raw form of this metal looks like typical iron ore, but with another unidentified metal woven within, giving it a shimmer like stars on the surface of a lake in twilight. Lords of House Brewer often send smiths and craftsmen to live with the tribes to learn their methods of refining this metal, but the process is still arduous. Grand smiths have spent years in their younger years in the harsh North to broaden their knowledge of this precious metal.
Quote: "Ah, the Brewers. They surely live up to their name. The ales they brew are known far and wide for their subtle honey taste, and a refreshing finish, like a quick dip in a lake on a hot day"
-The blabbing of a local drunkard.
"What we know of the Brewers are that we have a peace treaty with them. We gave them our L'Étoile, they gave us His helm. But, if I had to wager a bet, I'd bet they're readying themselves to take our lands and harvest again..."
-Whisperings of Minnestar tribal chiefs, said with a slight tinge of contempt.
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