![[DALL·E 2025-02-22 16.36.17 - A noble heraldic crest for House Calvain, a fallen house of Brevoy once known for its scholarly pursuits and magical expertise. The shield is deep gre.webp]] ### **House Calvain (Faded into Obscurity)** - **Motto/Sigil:** *"Knowledge Endures"* / A silver owl perched atop an open book on a dark green field. - **Region & Holdings:** Once controlled a **modest estate in northern Brevoy**, near **Grayhaven**, but now reduced to scattered holdings. - **House Colors:** Deep green and silver. - **Societal Standing:** **A fallen house**, once respected scholars and advisors, now nearly forgotten. - **Primary Industry:** **Academia, magical research, and historical preservation.** Their libraries were once among the most extensive in Brevoy. --- ### **House Structure & Leadership** - **Current Head of House:** **No central leadership.** The last known head, **Lord Eldrin Calvain**, died decades ago without a strong successor. - **Heirs & Family Members:** - **Scattered scholars and minor nobles** still claim the name, but none have restored the house’s former glory. - **Loyal Retainers & Advisors:** - **Professor [[Halden Varst]]** – A reclusive scholar rumored to hold forgotten knowledge of the house’s past. - **[[Sorina Calvain]]** – A distant relative, known for her expertise in ancient ruins and ley lines. - **Notable Ancestral Figures:** - **Archmage Vaelis Calvain** – A legendary wizard and historian, once an advisor to Brevoy’s rulers. - **Lady Annelise Calvain** – A diplomat whose treaties once held Brevoy together before the Rogarvian disappearance. --- ### **Politics & Influence** - **Alliances & Rivals:** - **Respected by House Medvyed** for their knowledge but seen as politically irrelevant. - **Looked down upon by House Surtova**, who see them as relics of the past. - **Potential allies to Rivermarch**, if given the chance to reclaim lost knowledge. - **Political Ideals:** **Scholarly neutrality, preservation of history, and the pursuit of magical knowledge.** - **Reputation:** Once **trusted advisors**, now seen as **a scattered, irrelevant lineage**. - **Enemies & Feuds:** - **House Surtova** may have contributed to their decline, fearing their knowledge of past Brevoyan secrets. - **Military Power:** - **Minimal.** House Calvain never had a strong martial tradition. - **Magical Affinity:** - **Historically strong in arcane research**, but many of their most powerful mages have been lost to time. --- ### **House History & Lore** - **Founding & Origins:** - House Calvain was founded by **scholars and mages**, not warriors, and served as **advisors, tutors, and historians** for centuries. - **Greatest Triumphs:** - Establishing **one of Brevoy’s most revered magical colleges**, now abandoned. - Recording **pre-Rogarvian history**, potentially holding secrets House Surtova would prefer buried. - **Darkest Secrets:** - Some say they **possess knowledge of Brevoy’s true past**, including **forbidden histories of the Vanishing.** - **Their decline was no accident**—there are whispers of **a political purge** aimed at erasing their influence. - **Current Struggles:** - **No strong leadership.** House Calvain’s remnants lack unity and resources. - **Lost libraries and research.** Many of their greatest works have been stolen, sold, or destroyed. --- ### **Culture & Traditions** - **Core Values & Customs:** - **The pursuit of knowledge above all else.** - **Magical study is paramount**, and every Calvain heir was once expected to become a scholar or mage. - **Preferred Fighting Style:** - **Defensive magic**, relying on wards and barriers rather than direct confrontation. - **Religious Affiliations:** - **Nethys (god of magic)** and **Irori (god of knowledge and self-perfection).** - **Symbols of Power:** - **The Vault of Calvain** – A lost archive rumored to contain forgotten arcane knowledge. - **The Owlstone Amulet** – A magical relic said to grant its wearer vast knowledge at a terrible cost. --- ### **Additional Notes** - **Inspiration & Vibe:** - **Fallen scholars, lost knowledge, and hidden truths.** - **Potential Story Hooks:** - The **Vault of Calvain** could hold forgotten magic—if it can be found. - **House Calvain’s lost members** might still have influence in secret. - **Did House Surtova play a role in their downfall?** Secrets buried in their history could shift Brevoy’s balance of power.