House Name:Seval
Head of House:Eretes II Seval
House Speciality:Generations spent tracking the great whales of the western ocean have endowed the Seval family with an unparalleled skill in navigation on the open seas as well as an intimate knowledge of the denizens below the waves. So acclaimed has this skill become that it is said no ship run by a Seval has been led off course in a hundred years.
House Ancestral Artifact: Said to have been granted to Rentes Seval as a symbol of his divine right to the throne he had seized the artifact of House Seval is Sceptre of the Usurper. Four feet long the golden staff carries intricately etched patterns depicting the great rebellion of Aeche and is topped with a great stone of flawless Topaz. The scepter is said to provide its keeper a near total immunity to the foul magic of Azureal, though this claim has gone untested for many generations.
Important Members:
(53) King of Aeche, Eretes II Seval: The current ruler of Aeche, Eretes is considered gregarious by most and has long been a man known to engage in all the necessary social activities with eager readiness, but to entirely disregard those not specifically requiring his presence. In truth Eretes does little he is not required to, and while he engages in the affairs of court and state it has been silently noted by many an observer that often the king will simply choose the viewpoint of another and support it unwavering rather than forward any original ideas. This has led many to dub Eretes the quintessential sycophant, a man who only speaks so that others might enjoy what he says.
Of course to those closer to the king such a label would be disingenuous, the truth being that while Eretes may not seem to be personally opinionated during his many public appearances, this is merely because he has no opinions concerning the governance of the kingdom and the empire. Obsessed with the stars Eretes has long held a certain disdain for politics, and even against the will of his late father spent most of his youth in the study of mathematics and theology. It is in these pursuits that Eretes spends the majority of his waking hours, leaving all but the most basic of court work to his wife.
Indeed, much of what can be called official policy in Aeche can be traced directly to Mera Seval. Whether this is a result of an explicit arrangement or merely the king’s eccentricities is anyone's guess, but few could deny it.
(48) Queen of Aeche, Mera Seval: A shy woman by the reckoning of most the current Queen of Aeche is a mystery to all but her immediate family. Behind doors she and the king do seem to be in a loving, if not peculiar, marriage. The two are often separate, but it seems they enjoy this as much as they do each other’s company. The only dispute known between the two known to others in the royal court is the matter of his majesty’s minimal involvement in raising his children. Nevertheless, Mera has been the de facto ruler of the kingdom for years as a result of her husband’s disregard for the matters of court, with most of the Queen’s decrees being presented only in written form or by the king on the few occasions he is forced to appear in public.
(26) Prince of Aeche, Neset Seval: The heir apparent of the Kingdom of Aeche, Neset is a man few would consider more worthy of the crown than is father. Seeing rulership less as a responsibility than a route to prestige and status Neset is arrogant and entitled to the point that his very personality has become the subject of mockery in many a tavern where he is commonly known as Prince Arse-Head the First.
(18) Princess Helena Seval: The middle sibling of Eretes children and renown for her beauty Helena is known for her sociable nature, as well as her entrenched and often cynical opinions. This stubbornness has often put her at odds with the religious authorities, but extensive connections made through a lifetime of social events have done much to shield her from any animosity some may hold. Helena is married to Guillame Duvard, an arrangement many find considerable amusement in given the couples conflicting personalities.
(16) Prince Cevest Seval: The second son of Eretes II, Cevest is the youngest of the king’s children and easily the most adventurous. Having trained with his cousin and brother Cevest is a capable navigator and sailor even at his age, and of all his family none have participated in more hunts on the open ocean. On his recent sixteenth birthday Cevest was granted a small vessel and crew by his father and now spends his time between court and touring Ethica.
(25) Duke Certes Seval: Son of the recently deceased Duke Rente Seval and the nephew of King Eretes II, Certes is nothing but ambitious. In the short three years since inheriting his father’s position Certes has led an effort to turn previously minor the port city of Ramoni into one of the largest centres of trade in the province, a venture that has managed to eliminate one of the largest smugglers guilds in Aeche and even attract merchants from across the sea. This sudden and seemingly inexplicable success has led many to question whether Certes exploits have been entirely legal, some even suggesting he orchestrated his father’s death.
(22) Kelae Seval: Daughter of Rente Seval and niece of King Eretes II Kelae was once known as an affectionate and loving individual with perhaps a worrying disregard for the lines of class. The days of her leading spontaneous efforts of charity in the slums with little or no guard however ended abruptly upon the death of her father. Exactly what she has occupied herself doing is unknown, but she has not been seen leaving the palace in years.
Nation/Realms Name:Aeche
Flag:House Motto:Luck In All Things.Region/color on map:Lime Green
Race name:Aecheian
Racial appearance:Aecheian's tend to have a fair complexion and often stand between 5'6 and 5'8 regardless of gender. Black hair is almost ubiquitous, with a lighter brown being indicative of the southern regions. Eye colour is less homogenous, though green and blue tend to be the norms.
Racial traits:Looking simply at the location of Aeche many would be surprised to learn its people are famed for anything other than their seamanship, which while a point of pride on the island happens to be but the second thing its people have found renown in. The first is the seemingly supernatural ability of Aecheians to increase the yield of their crops and render all but the most hopeless land fertile. Generations of traditional innovation and what many know to be a fair bit of Drathii blood bolstering an innate magic have turned constant scarcity to abundance, and now the skills of Aecheian farmers are sought after by many across Ethica.
Capital: Vestera, the capital of Aeche is located at the base of Feste bay and on the Festen river that flows into it. The capital is built around the three great bridges spanning the river and the royal palace in turn is built upon the central and largest of this bridges. Known for its colourful and bustling seaside markets Vestera is the most populous city in Aeche and the home of the provinces many glass blowers.
Capital Population: 16,300Other Major Settlements: (8,300) Caspen: The capital of the duchy of Caspe the city of Caspen is the surrounded by farms and often considered the breadbasket of the province. The city itself is said to be the oldest in Aeche, dating back to the era of unification when it was the capital of the local petty kings territory.
(3,900) Argosie: The capital of the duchy of Argoe the city of Argosie isn't particularly notable save for the fact it stands as the centre of the ever important whale hunts and houses most of the provinces hunting fleets.
(6,100) Eserote: The capital of the duchy of Esren the city of Eserote hugs the edge of the only mountain range in Aeche. Eserote is often called the ringing city, and fittingly as what little metal is produced in Aeche can all be traced here, to a city where the pounding of iron can be heard well into the night.
(3,600) Ramoni: The capital of the newly formed duchy of Ramoi the city of Ramoni was nothing but a minor port as little as three years ago. However under the guidance of Certes Seval the city has blossomed into the largest trade hub in the province.
(2,300) Velre, Castle of the Mist: Often called the greatest fortress in the west Velre was built on the lesser island of Verche with the duty of repelling any would be conquerors from the black continent. Grand in scale and built overlooking the precipitous cliffs of the island many have claimed that a direct siege of Velre would be all but impossible. Over time the castle has also become the central point of the islands settlement, and a city of its namesake has sprung up in its shadow
Internal Map: 
(The smaller island is known as Verche, while the greater is Aeche proper.)
Population: ~102,100
Culture: For generations the rulers of Aeche have been reluctant involving themselves in the affairs of the mainland, and this has bred a grand misconception among the people of Ethica that Aecheians are cold and insular. In truth the island province while not particularly outgoing prizes hospitality above all else, and many a traveller without a place to stay have found the locals more than willing to share a bed.
This courtesy is not merited only to strangers however; it is an inherent part of Aecheian culture. The common people of the province are more than inclined to share what they have if their neighbours need it, though they are not so gullible as to be tricked by dishonest scarcity. With such tight knit communities the people of Aeche have also become known for their lack of inhibition amongst each other during their yearly harvest celebration, events which many say predict the next generation with disturbing accuracy. Friendly, accommodating, and unconcerned with the needless boundaries between strangers Aecheians are perhaps the exact opposite off what many expect.
There are however, some parts of the culture that do fit the stereotype, namely the island people’s reliance upon the whale hunts and their love of the sea. Should one ever find themselves in Argosie upon the return of a successful hunt they would be witness to a spectacle of religious devotion wherein the local priest would preside over the vast beast give thanks to Kayo, and this is not without reason. Beyond the local crops there exist precious few sources of meat on the island, and while local fisherman provide for the coastal communities only the meat of such vast beasts as the whales of the western ocean lasts for it to be distributed throughout the island. This simple truth has been curiously unifying for the people of Aeche, and many say that the whale hunts are the back bone of the people’s culture.
Type of Government: The law of succession is Aeche is that of Absolute Primogeniture, though this isn’t a constant among the lower nobility. Below the king all the various Dukes are granted the right to choose their own laws concerning inheritance, and some have deviated from the norm considerably.
Military: WIP
Landscape: Both greater Aeche and lesser Verche are dominated by rolling grassy hills, though only greater Aeche peaks in a small set of mountains. The islands rise suddenly out of the ocean in most cases, but there are a number of locations where both islands level off to smooth beaches rather than precipitous drops.
Wildlife: WIP
Economy: A mere generation ago Aeche was a kingdom that had become insular and detached from the Imperial economy, save for its import of Ignesian goods. However in recent years not only has the kingdom opened up to the many trade guilds of the west but it has reacted proper trade agreements with many other great houses allowing it’s famed glasswork and whale oil to be widely distributed.
Religion: WIP
History: Perhaps uniquely among the high houses of Ethica, House Seval was founded not by wealthy land owners or dependable warriors, but by an apprentice shipwright who was a mere twenty one years old during Lalaifia's war of unification. Born in what was then the High Kingdom of Aeche, a poor and insular realm, Rentes Seval was as insignificant as any peasant until the first Empress delivered her ultimatum to Ethica.
The Aecheian King of the time, Herun Evet, would openly mock the ultimatum and declare that 'No Tilrin would be so lucky as to survive the landing' in defiance of Lalaifia. However as time went on and kingdom after kingdom knelt or fell Herun choose to raise his levies, still certain any assault would be repulsed. These levies however, did not share their King's headstrong conviction that defeat was impossible. Hearing rumours of the holy warrior come to bring peace and prosperity the impoverished throng that composed the kings army were struck with doubt, and it was that doubt that Rentes would harness. Declaring Lalaifia a saviour coming to lift their struggle Rentes exuded a hope that most within Aeche had longed for, and with this hope in their hearts the people and army of the island kingdom turned on their liege. Storming the then-capital of Caspen this peoples army would tear Herun from his throne and bring him bound before Rentes for judgement. Drawing upon his old skills and a morbid showmanship the new ruler of Aeche would sentence the fallen monarch to crucifixion upon the bow of the royal flagship and have the vessel sent adrift.
One by one the other nobles of the realm fell and Rentes soon held singular command of the island. Securing this hegemony the peasant-king would hold mock trials and have the former upper class executed for the ironic charge of rebellion against Lalaifia. By the time the Empress to be reached Aeche at all Rentes held the island in his firm grasp, and following through on his promise he yielded it to her unquestioningly. While sickened by the deaths of so many in her name and the brutal manner of the fallen kings demise, Lalaifia accepted Rentes oath of fealty and recognizing the popularity of the new peasant-king and the hope of his people declared him lord of Aeche by divine right.
In the years to come Rentes would work with various generals, in particular Chalarensis, undermining and conquering the enemies of the new Empress. Yet despite his oath of loyalty Rentes sentiments as a leader of the people never changed and when Chalarensis received a command to spare the nobles of house Practen in his assault upon their keep in Dreiben it was Rentes that pushed the accomplished general to defy it.
In the reckoning to come Chalarensis would be exiled and Rentes would be marked forever with a title of dishonour bestowed by the Empress. While the event would turn Rentes against his liege for the rest of his life the ruler of Aeche would never cease to praise her and sing the virtues of the new empire, always looking to keep the people who loved him content.
In the coming centuries Aeche earned the status of a quaint, if not backwater province and was largely unremarked upon save for the rare occasions it came to the Emperors attention for one petty reason or another. (Drathii War here, once worked out OOC)
In modern times House Seval has prospered under what many call the strangest leadership in its history. Under the reign of King Eretes II, or more precisely the governance of his wife, the island kingdom has relaxed its restrictions on foreign merchants and reinforced relations with the imperial court. The latter made possible largely by the marriage of Camilla Seval to Emperor Taramyth, an action that permitted Aeche immense influence above its actual relevance to the empire.
Strengths: -The fleet of Aeche is a capable and sturdy one manned by well trained sailors, when it comes to war they will rarely back down from an engagement unless victory is utterly impossible.
-Surprisingly enough Aeche can
export foods as the innovations used to increased the fertility of the land have become so efficient near any plant can grow plentiful on the island.
Weaknesses: -Positioned as it is Aeche takes the brunt of most disasters from the west, ether they be storms, raiders, or enemies from across the sea.
-The lack of woodlands on the island makes it forever beholden to mainland imports of lumber, a weakness that would mean disaster should the province be blockaded.
Export:
-Whale Oil.
-Smoked, Salted, and Pickled Fish.
-Seagoing Vessels.
-Glass.
Import:
-Lumber.
-Refined Metals.
-Beasts of Burden.
-Spices.
