![[DALL·E 2025-02-22 16.28.32 - A noble heraldic crest for House Lebeda, one of Brevoy’s great noble houses, featuring a majestic golden swan gliding across a deep blue shield, symbo.webp]] ### **House Lebeda** - **Motto/Sigil:** *“Trade and Triumph”* / A golden swan on a deep blue field. - **Region & Holdings:** House Lebeda controls **Lake Reykal** and its surrounding fertile lands, with their seat at **Silverhall**, a prosperous trade hub. - **House Colors:** Deep blue and gold. - **Societal Standing:** **Wealthy merchant nobility**, often seen as upstarts by more traditional houses. - **Primary Industry:** **Trade, river commerce, and mercantile ventures.** Their control over **Brevoy’s water routes** makes them an economic powerhouse. --- ### **House Structure & Leadership** - **Current Head of House:** **Dame [[Sarrona Lebeda]]** – A shrewd and calculating matriarch, balancing ambition with pragmatism. - **Heirs & Family Members:** - **[[Lander Lebeda]]** – A young heir, untested in politics, rumored to be ambitious but unproven. - **[[Evelyne Marwin-Whitewood]] (née Lebeda)** – Brinn’s mother, a connection tying Whitewood and Lebeda together through marriage. - **Loyal Retainers & Advisors:** - **Sir [[Kalas Montclair]]** – Military advisor, commanding Silverhall’s defenses. - **[[Nerissa Fairwind]]** – Diplomatic envoy, skilled in negotiations and subterfuge. - **Notable Ancestral Figures:** - **Lord Kellan Lebeda** – Expanded the house’s influence into international trade, securing ties with the River Kingdoms. --- ### **Politics & Influence** - **Alliances & Rivals:** - **At odds with House Surtova**, seeing them as oppressive tyrants. - **Willing to ally with Rivermarch**, but only if it benefits their trade empire. - **Neutral with House Garess**, but eyeing their control over the Golushkin Mountains. - **Political Ideals:** **Expansionist, opportunistic, and profit-driven.** They believe Brevoy should be ruled by wealth, not lineage. - **Reputation:** Known as **cunning dealmakers**—some call them visionary traders, others call them **scheming opportunists**. - **Enemies & Feuds:** House Surtova sees them as **a growing threat** and would love to undercut their power. - **Military Power:** - **Household guard of well-trained mercenaries** rather than a formal army. - **Naval control of Lake Reykal, with river patrols and trade vessels.** - **Magical Affinity:** Employs **arcane consultants** for navigation, economic divinations, and weather control. --- ### **House History & Lore** - **Founding & Origins:** - Once a **humble mercantile family**, Lebeda **bought** their nobility through calculated marriages and economic leverage. - Their rise to power was **fast and disruptive**, earning them both **envy and resentment** from Brevoy’s old bloodlines. - **Greatest Triumphs:** - Establishing **Silverhall** as Brevoy’s **trading capital**. - Outmaneuvering House Surtova in key trade negotiations, forcing them to concede control over several lucrative routes. - **Darkest Secrets:** - Rumored to **fund pirate operations** along the Sellen River to harass rival merchants. - Some suspect they are **secretly backing a Rogarvian restoration** to overthrow House Surtova. - **Current Struggles:** - **Political isolation**—without strong allies, they risk being surrounded by enemies. - **Internal conflict**—traditionalists within the house dislike their rapid expansion and mercantile focus. --- ### **Culture & Traditions** - **Core Values & Customs:** - **Trade is king.** Every deal must be profitable, and every opportunity must be seized. - **Education in business and diplomacy** is expected of every Lebeda heir. - **Preferred Fighting Style:** - **Duelists and skirmishers,** favoring speed and precision. - Employs **mercenaries and privateers** over traditional levies. - **Religious Affiliations:** - Worships **Abadar**, god of commerce and civilization. - **Symbols of Power:** - **The Golden Ledger** – A record of every trade agreement and contract in the house’s history. - **The Reykal Fleet** – A private navy patrolling the lake and riverways. --- ### **Additional Notes** - **Inspiration & Vibe:** - **Venetian Merchant Princes** meets **Renaissance-era trade moguls.** - **Potential Story Hooks:** - House Lebeda might be willing to invest in Rivermarch’s economy—**for a steep price.** - **Surtova is looking to sabotage them**, and Rivermarch could be caught in the crossfire. - **A hidden contract or debt might come due**, forcing unexpected obligations.