Von Housen
“A good trade doesn’t just profit you — it makes the world want to trade with you again.”
The Von Housens are an ancient noble human family from the capital of Voltaris, known for their quiet influence, exceptional trade acumen, and unwavering emotional strength. As influential merchants and trade liaisons, they serve as a stabilizing force between Voltaris and Oralthis, notably managing the movement of resources and people to assist with the dwarven population crisis.
They are not a family of rulers — they are a family of builders, whose power is measured in trust, legacy, and longevity.
Philosophy and Legacy
The Von Housens are unified not by bloodline expectations, but by a shared belief in earned success.
A child who wishes to inherit the family wealth must first start from the bottom and prove they can earn it through independence and perseverance.
“Trust is currency, and no trade can be made without it.”
— Von Housen family maxim
This belief system has created a lineage of disciplined, thoughtful people who are deeply proud of their name — not for the status it gives, but for the standard it sets.
Reputation
- In Voltaris, they are respected as cultural anchors and economic powerhouses.
- In Oralthis, they are trusted partners in logistics and trade coordination.
- Among merchant circles, they are admired — even envied — for their competence, stability, and refusal to let wealth rot into arrogance.
Other nobles often speak of them with a mix of frustration and admiration:
“They have everything — money, family, and they aren’t miserable about it.”
Family Dynamics
- There are no formal ranks within the family — only parents and children.
- Those who wish to join the family business may do so, but no one inherits control by default.
- Internal disputes are resolved through mature, private conversation.
- There are no known disgraced branches, and no rivalries of note.
Despite the infernal taint in their bloodline — a legacy of demonic victimization generations ago — the family has always chosen love over fear. When Tiamat was born a tiefling, the only real struggle was figuring out which side of the family it came from — not whether he belonged.
Known Members
- Tiamat Von Housen – The youngest and most troublesome son, known for his charisma, unpredictability, and deep (but hidden) loyalty to his family.
- Tiamat’s Brother – A respected researcher who helped pioneer solutions to the dwarven population crisis. Currently married to a dwarf and expecting a child.
- Both Parents – Still alive and closely involved with family matters. Fiercely proud of both sons, even if one sets their ledgers on fire now and then.
Culture and Traditions
- Funerals and weddings are private, joyful affairs — peaceful and intimate.
- The family’s greatest fear is not poverty, but the loss of their legacy.
- They avoid political entanglements, though they observe closely and understand power as well as they understand profit.
They carry no magical relics, no crowns, and no delusions of grandeur.
They have something more dangerous: a reputation for competence, decency, and enduring wealth backed by earned trust.
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