House Clefford

"Strength and vigilance"
The words of the Cleffords, a solemn assurance to our allies and a warning to those who would seek our end. Our line has always been that of noble warriors, skilled tacticians, and desirable bachelors. What better sigil to loom over our great halls than that of the bear? The same bear that has watched over the Wright for centuries.
Our home is Moss Den, a stout keep in the depths of the Northern Bardholt. As a great house that sees over Murk Bay and the coast, many scholars would expect us to rule from a port on the Duskwater. Many scholars would be mistaken. You see - sails alone do not grant you power over the tinted waves, it's the men sailing those ships who bear the Clefford paw. Pirates and unruly Lords throughout the years have failed to recognize this simple truth and none worse than the late Lord Ember.
During the Wine Drought, most of the seeds sowed in the muddy pond we call "trade-waters" were eventually reaped by the Thorned Crown, not our lords. The Vinlands had seen many droughts throughout the years, but the reserves of wheat, barley and fruit never succumbed. No matter how long the rainless months, the lands that fed the realm continued to do so. This drought, however, was unlike any other. As if half the realm was under siege, whole towns ran as silent as the grave or cursed by the wailing of starving newborns in their cribs.
At the gods' mercy, King Beaumont, thereafter known as the Redeemed, saw to the end of the Drought. The hungry eventually had food in their bellies, but the seed of unrest had already been planted in the Setting Isles. Lord John Ember of Woolsday denounced the "cubs of Moss Den" for our seeming incompetence and selfish ruling. "Why should the line of Ember swear fealty to bears in their caves? A new Lord of the Wright is so aptly needed, following this crisis." - exclaimed the old and weary Lord Ember. To no one's surprise, the nobleman revoked his family's oath and cut all ties with Moss Den.
The day he raised his banners against house Clefford was the day he doomed his line in what is known today as the Blacksun Defiance. Lord John Ember was surely blinded by the false security of his island keep on Great Eye, for no drunken courage could have persuaded him to thrust his men into what was to come.
My forefather, Brandon Clefford, gathered his army and set sail directly for Great Eye. To his surprise, the Ember fleet met him at open water. In a swift decision, Brandon rammed his galleys into the traitor's ships. Though outnumbered, the awkwardly clumped ships in the wooden mess cemented the bear's advantage, for the Clefford army cut through the scattered rebel sailors and put a swift end to house Ember's military aspirations. The commanding galley was manned by Lord John Ember himself. His men fought tirelessly, but were eventually mauled nonetheless. Lord Brandon dismounted from a rope onto the blood-soaked deck and cut through seven guards before reaching the unruly lord.
John Ember prayed for mercy, but the just hand of my ancestor knew well not to pardon treachery. He hanged the oathbreaker's slit body from the ship's mast, along with any and every remaining member of house Ember. The blood of the traitors dripped into the sea and the waves washed away their family's heritage. Woolsday is now a black ruin, and serves warning to the unwise. Even the town fool knows not to poke the bear.

Strength and vigilance

Leader

Burne Clefford

Parent Organization

The Thorned Crown

Subsidiary Organizations

• House Ember

Controlled Territories

• Moss Den
• The Wright