The Valyr are 1 of the oldest families of Volantis, who can be traced back to an Old Valyrian Elite House of Wyvern Riders. However outside of Volantene high society, very few would know that as they have only ever appeared as a decently sized family with some ties to the moneylenders and merchants as well as the military, with known members of the family being Elephants and Tigers. In fact, the only recognizable feature of the scions of the Valyr is that all members of the family wear a pendant at all times that can identify them to those who are informed.
The Valyr's true influence is kept hidden behind closed doors with the firm belief that true power can only be hidden away so that the greedy do not covet it. They have a strict but varied education system in place that can allow any child of the family to make use of their talents as well as a strict Rite of Passage that would have all Valyrs on their 20th Name day go out into the world and make a name for themselves under a pseudonym with nothing but their own merit within 2 years before they can return and earn the right to take power in the family. This tradition ensures that every generation of the family in power is truly capable of making good use of it.
The Valyr have deep connections with many old families and have secretly been the key supporters of many previous Triarchs' rise to power. Most recently they have strongly supported Triarch Gracchus' smooth integration into the Tigers and his following rise to controlling the military. However as a family with deep influence, they were naturally heavily impacted by the Doom. It is through this chaotic turbulence that a family which has maintained it's presence in the shadows for centuries may now see a shift in it's doctrine to a more public approach, unified under an ambitious head with dreams of seeing the Valyr retake the prestigious position of their ancient ancestors and more.
The Valyr Pendant
A Ceremonial Tradition of the Valyr Family dating back to Old Valyria is the bestowal of a Dragonglass Pendant, with the Valyr Sigil (Both old and New with the Old hidden within) and the Individual's name carved into it and then lined with Melted gold. Every Child's parents are expected to carve this Pendant themselves with the Family's ceremonial Dagger, Wyvern Fang and every Valyr of the Main branch of the family is expected to do the same for their life partner.
The tradition has been maintained throughout their history even as a hidden family, with the source of the Dragon Glass and Gold being unknown to outsiders.
The Pendants are buried in the Ashes of the Deceased Valyr within their personal Urn as a funeral Rite, symbolizing the fact that the family remains with them, throughout their Life and Death. If a Valyr were to lose their pendant it would be considered a great shame on them.
Background / Origin of the current Valyrs
Ashara Valyr could be seen as a person who has lived 3 lives. Born and raised to be a tool for marriage for a house full of greedy opportunists that would jump at any opportunity to expand their influence and power, without considering the long standing consequences. House Umber made many enemies among their own countrymen in their mad bid for power, least of all Ashara's originally promised spouse, a member of a now enemy house who deeply resented anyone with the name Umber. Though this fact didn't seem to matter to her parents who were happy to sell her off to the enemy anyway.
After living her life as a doll, Ashara finally made a choice for herself for the first time. Rather than spend a future with a husband who hated her for her name or with a family that saw her as a disposable tool, she would take control of her own destiny. under cover of darkness, she took all the coin she could and charted a ship to Essos to leave the chaotic and collapsing Umbers and the North in general to their fate.
However the life of a doll is rarely without problems, even if that doll has attained freedom. Since she was a child, Ashara was complimented for her quick learning capability and talent. Had she been properly raised and trained, she could have been a competent leader or fighter, but she wasn't and her lacking experience cost her greatly during her early days in Essos. Her ignorance and lack of life experience taken advantage of, she quickly lost all of the coin she'd saved up and found herself in a desperate situation.
During a fateful encounter when she tripped an escaping thief over, she received thanks from the victim of that thief, the leader of a small mercenary group who then offered to take her in, which she accepted having little prospects otherwise. This mercenary carried himself with grace and dignity unbefitting of his apparent position and he began to educate her and train her upon noticing her keen mind.
Over the next year Ashara showed her talents with both the pen and the sword and thanks to her support, the young mercenary, who she came to know as Young Master Maelon Valyr succeeded his Rite of Passage with flying Colours. Maelon brought the small mercenary group he'd grown attached to back to his home in Volantis and asked the lady he'd become smitten with to be his wife.
The Following years saw the now Ashara Valyr welcome 3 children into her new family in Maelor, Maelena and Maelyra, though throughout this time, she never lost her keen mind and her newfound passion in statecraft and swordsmanship, finding time to practice both every day. The next years of her life passed by in bliss, with her holding great influence in the deep and powerful House Valyr after helping her husband expand it's reach further into Volantine society. This all changed on young Maelor's 15th Name Day
The end of Ashara's 2nd life came with the end of Volantis itself. The horrors of that day cannot be so easily spoken of. But that tragedy left it's mark, even on a family as deceptively mighty as the Valyr. The beating heart of the Valyr family and Ashara's own heart was rent asunder that day as Maelon Valyr and much of the Valyr family's people and assets were lost. An eternal mark was left on those who remained
The Doom taught a lesson to all who experienced it. Young Maelyra was taught to run. Run as far as she could and live every day like it was her last because she never knew when the end of days will arrive. Maelena was taught that R'hllor rejected the previous status quo and demanded a great change to sweep the land like an unstoppable tide. Maelor was simply taught that his name day was something that would never be celebrated again.
Ashara's lesson was something else though. Ashara was taught that there is no use in power that clings to the shadows. No longer would the Valyr family hide behind the scenes. Ashara's 3rd life would be a life that brings glory to the name Valyr.
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