House Vaelis
House Vaelis is one of Graepor's most respected sea-faring houses, known not for wealth or warfare, but for knowledge of the sea and the stars. With bloodlines steeped in both arcane power and maritime tradition, they are the mapmakers, storm-callers, and pathfinders of the Dominion's eastern coast. Their halls are filled not with gold, but parchment scrolls, brass instruments, and tomes inked with saltwater and storm lore.
Their influence comes not from raw power, but from their intellectual monopoly on the Prost Ocean—they have charted dangerous currents, hidden coves, and icebound passages, and sell these secrets to merchants, nobles, and naval commanders alike.
Structure
- Matron Marilla Vaelis (Current House Head) – An elderly but sharp-witted woman with silver hair that constantly drifts as if caught in a breeze, Marilla is a master cartographer and storm sorcerer of no small renown. She is revered among Graepor's mage circles but rarely appears in public, preferring her towers and scrolls.
- Captain Vayden Vaelis (Marilla’s middle son) – A rough, sun-scarred sailor who personally sails the most dangerous trade routes. Known for having lost an arm to a sea beast, which he replaced with an enchanted harpoon prosthetic.
- Lorekeeper Sevrin Vaelis (Archivist and Magister) – Oversees the house's cartographic vaults and teaches navigation at Graepor’s naval academy. Quiet, meticulous, and ruthlessly secretive.
- Selyn Vaelis (Apprentice Stormcaller) – A charismatic young sorceress known for her dramatic weather demonstrations in the plaza. She may secretly be plotting to modernize or expand House Vaelis's role in naval command.
Culture
Cultural traits include:
- Precision and patience — a poorly drawn chart is a death sentence.
- Arcane-seafaring tradition — many in the house are storm sorcerers or weather diviners, blending spell and sail.
- Legacy in ink — every journey is meticulously recorded. House Vaelis maintains one of the largest private cartographic archives in the Dominion.
- Guarded knowledge — their most valuable charts are kept under lock and seal, and some routes are known only to members of the House.
Public Agenda
House Vaelis embodies the spirit of exploration, tempered by the discipline required to survive the ocean's fury. Though noble, they are less concerned with luxury, instead focused on expanding the Dominion’s understanding of weather, tides, and distant shores.
While not warlike, House Vaelis wields political leverage through necessity: merchants, admirals, and nobles alike rely on their guidance. They often act as neutral advisors, but their loyalty lies with the Dominion.
They have a quiet rivalry with House Kortegga, who seek to control port tariffs and maritime trade but rely on Vaelis charts to do so.
Assets
House Vaelis occupies a cliffside estate near Graepor's outer docks. The manor is built into a wind-worn crag and surrounded by observatories, star-mapping towers, and a private storm-dock carved into the stone.
Their private fleet includes trim coastal vessels and enchanted sky-seekers—small sailing ships that can hover briefly above the water using weather manipulation spells.
