House Ravelle
Sigil: A white spire wrapped in golden ivy.
Motto: "Foundations of Stone, Towers of Gold"
Status after the Gilded Rebellion: Stayed Loyal, kept their status.
Capital: Ravellion
House Ravelle's wealth flows from generations of architectural genius; the name Ravelle appears no fewer than seventy-three times in the royal archives' catalogue of protected architectural designs. Their designs shape Eldoria's skyline—from the Royal Palace's impossible spires to the walls that protect major cities. They hold monopolies on certain building materials and jealously guard architectural secrets that have become family heirlooms more valuable than gold.
The family motto—"Foundations of Stone, Towers of Gold"—reflects their belief that true power comes from creating the structures civilization depends upon. The Ravelles see themselves not as servants to the crown but as essential partners who have made Eldoria's grandeur physically possible.
Their architectural dominance rests upon three carefully guarded monopolies: exclusive mining rights to quarries producing rare stone with inherent magical conductivity; secret fabrication techniques for creating enchanted glass that can bear impossible structural loads while appearing delicate; and most critically, proprietary ward-schemas passed down through generations of Ravelle master-builders, each adding refinements visible only to those with specialized magical training. Together, these monopolies have transformed House Ravelle from mere artisans to indispensable partners in projecting royal authority throughout the kingdom.
Historical analysis reveals the Ravelles' meteoric rise beginning approximately three generations after Malagar's heroic stand against the forces that sough to destroy the Veilbinding. This timing has prompted speculation among certain scholars regarding possible connections between House Ravelle's architectural innovations and recovered pre-veilbinding magical principles—speculation the family actively suppresses through their considerable influence over academic institutions. Their ancestral estate, Gilded Prospect, serves as both showcase for their design philosophy and experimental laboratory where new architectural enchantments are tested away from public observation.
The family's breeding practices demonstrate the same calculated precision as their buildings. Marriages are arranged not merely for political advantage but according to a complex system evaluating magical aptitude, aesthetic sensibilities, and intellectual capabilities across multiple generations. Children who fail to demonstrate sufficient talent in architectural disciplines quietly disappear from public life, redirected to managing distant family properties or obscure diplomatic assignments where their perceived inadequacies won't tarnish the house reputation.
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