House Thewisy
Founding
"Nine a generation shall be gifted by Repute, with honorable warfare as their strong-suit. Blessed by the gods, these nine shall be, to crush the Obscure Ones, their destiny." - Prophesy of the Order of AstraeAs one of the original nine major houses of Anhara, House Thewisy was founded by a legendary courtesan of Vestria's, Galindaan The Wise. Wooing Vestria with his silver-tongue, this young Astral Paladin convinced the goddess to send him east, carving out a small territory in the Eastmarches. Through his reputation and the divine mission of his order, tasked by the gods were safeguarding the mortal realm from the Obscure Ones, his new city of Somae was left alone on the banks of the Nyara River.
Rise
Intellectual Power
While their founder's reputation got the house, who's name came from a corruption of "the Wise," through the early years of Anhara safely, his death led to the need for more safeguards against larger neighbors. Surrounded by House Salis to the north and west, and the mighty Keepers of the Eastmarches, House Caersea to the south and east, their survival was not guaranteed. To prevent their absorption or vassalization, Galasthion I began the construction of the Library of Somae, and the formation of House Thewisy's famed court. Founders of the Familial Movement, Galasthion I's court would become the model for all subsequent Thewisy endeavors."Around the Lord Thewisy, each generation, the greatest minds and artisans naturally gravitate. To be in Somae is the peak for every courtesan, for in those beautiful halls your skills will be seen, your wits tested, and your character valued." - Book of the CourtesanSomae during the time of Galasthion I was the center of learning outside of Meridia, a source of pride for all rural noble houses. Here, the Thewisy family gathered the greatest thinkers of the age to develop what would later be called the Familial Movement. This school of philosophical thought is the antithesis to the beliefs espoused by the Coquet Height's urbanized nobility, with the lord being viewed as the father of a family, composed of all their vassals and citizens, rather than a class existing to maintain their own wealth and power. The tenets of the Familial Movement were adopted by House Caersea, House Salis, and House Osage in particular, raising the Thewisy family to a position of intellectual might and influence, and earning them their sought-after security.
"When I journeyed with him to Meridia to watch the Rostrum for the first time, my father pointed out an older man in simple red robes, sitting silently in the Debate Hall. 'He rarely rises to speak, this one, but do not be deceived, for when he does, all listen,' he said. That was House Thewisy's Rhetor, and when I got older I would learn his family was what taught us rural lords pride." - Olivi Caersea, Lord CaerseatSomae itself expanded greatly during and following the reign of Galasthion I, with subsequent lords growing the famed Library of Somae to include the Academy Somae and The Crimson Quill. At the Academy Somae, the Familial Movement was developed into an educational system, and the first Masters of the Arts were educated. The "Master of the Arts" was a title conferred upon graduates of the institution, who would leave versed in the five arts of rhetoric, grammar, geography, arithmetic, and geometry. This feat could be earned regardless of social status, unlike at the University of Alarca.
"...a grizzled older man, sunburnt and hunched under the weight of his pack, is not the eventual victim of some brigand on the road. Rather, he is the keeper of Anhara's history, maintainer of her traditions, and guide of her children." - The Crimson Quill, A HistoryBased in the Library of Somae, and heavily involved in the Academy, the Crimson Quill formed the vanguard of Thewisy influence throughout Anhara. These scholars have two tasks crucial to the house's means of power. Firstly, there are the roving Crimson Quills, who traverse Anhara and the greater world with packs upon their backs and books in hand, tasked with recording history as it unfolds. Secondly, are the archivists, who translate the notes made by the roving Quills into books, stored within the library and under their management. This structure has persisted since their founding in 130AM to the present day, even as House Thewisy has evolved into the Keepers of the Eastmarches.
Keepers of the Eastmarches
While the Thewisy territories were small but powerful for hundreds of years, all that changed in 10AM with the sack of Caerseat. House Caersea had been a longtime ally of the Thewisys, as the Caerseas were Keepers of the Eastmarches, protecting the region from incursions from al-Tahat. However, the family also had a rivalry with the Nemura's Cay Pirates, which would ultimately spell doom for the house. In 10AM, the largest pirate raid in history hit Caerseat, burning down the structures, demolishing the castle, and killing much of the family. Young Olivi Caersea was the only surviving heir, as he was in Somae at the time, studying in the Academy. Upon his elevation to Lord Caersea, Olivi saw the writing on the wall and earned eternal honor in the eyes of his fellow Anharans by yielding the title of Keeper of the Eastmarches to Eleric II Thewisy."Peaceful Assent! In the greatest work of national pride, Lord Caersea elevates House Thewisy to Keepers of the Eastmarches, for our borders and security, says he, is more valuable than any title! Truly these pirates have cost us one of our greatest houses, but shown us our greatest strengths!" - The Whistling Observer, on the Fall of House CaerseaOlivi's pledging of fealty to Eleric II returned House Thewisy to the status of warriors as well as scholars, much like their legendary founder. This sudden shift in the politics of the east also gained the house huge tracts of land, and with the Caersea family vassalized and gifted the city of Imgreshold, many new and mighty minor houses fell under their sway. While Olivi was immortalized as a hero who cared more deeply for his country than his house, the Thewisy ascent was seen by most rural houses as a vindication of their culture over that of the Coquet Height's more urbanized families. This swept into power Galindaan IV Thewisy, who became in 31AM, the first rural Rhetorlord of the Age of Men.
"Murder in the capital! The Rhetorlord Killed in Treacherous Ambush in the Debate Hall Itself, Just as Bill is Introduced to Stem Excess of Rhetors! Minor Houses Cry Foul!" - The Whistling Observer on the Eve of the First Climbing WarSadly for House Thewisy, their ascent to this long sought-after position fell short in 35AM with the assassination of Rhetorlord Galindaan IV. Thus, foreshadowing the start of the Second Climbing War after the death of Rhea Ilia, this assassination led to the beginning of the First Climbing War. While the political implications of, and full lead up to, that conflict are discussed elsewhere, House Thewisy played not only a crucial part in its beginning, but its end as well.
Evelyn Thewisy
"House Oeis Falls! Their vassals, House Leone and House Moray declare for the Climbers, toppling one of Anhara's most ancient families." - The Whistling ObserverWhile the First Climbing War begun with the death of the Thewisy Rhetorlord, Galindaan IV, it would be ended by his granddaughter. Evelyn Thewisy, who would go on to be one of the few Matriarchs outside of House Leone, was blessed in the tradition of so many of her ancestors. Repute always smiled upon the Thewisy bloodline, and like the house's mystical founder, Evelyn too was born an Ecomial Paladin. These divine warriors, prophesied to always number nine at a time, somewhere in the world, exist to do battle against forces of darkness and chaos.
"The Oeis Seat is Sacked! Lady Evelyn Thewisy leads a Climber army against the last remnants of House Oeis, at the foot of Nyara's Peaks, destroying that ancient city." - The Whistling ObserverLady Evelyn embodied the best of both traditions, one of the most academically successful women in Anhara's history, she also had strength and power to rival her ancestors. Ending up leading the forces of the Climbers against the Conservatives, she did battle at the front, spilling much of the finest blood of Anhara's oldest families. Following the end of the war, she would serve ably as the Thewisy Rhetoress under her father, until ascending to the position of Matriarch upon his death.
Kind Hand, Steady Blade
"I think I shall regret voting for this Talen Ossus fellow, the Discourse has shown he is truly blessed by the gods, but his heart, I think, longs for war. Repute shall keep us safe from his ever-clutching grasp, for the gods saw fit to grant me power as well." - Diaries, Edmund II Lord ThewisyThe Thewisy motto has been their guiding motive in the 300 years since the First Climbing War. Since their heavy losses for the sake of reforming Anhara, the house has kept to themselves, focusing on the upkeep of their educational aspirations as well as their comparatively new duties protecting the nation from al-Tahat. House Thewisy's memory is long, and they maintained a technically neutral, but pro-rural house, stance until the Second Climbing War. When Rhea Ilia was struck down by an assassin in a similar manner to their long-past Rhetorlord, House Thewisy once again rose to the challenge, and led the charge against the Conservatives. However, House Thewisy is less enthusiastic about Talen Ossus, the new Rhetorlord, and grows increasingly cautious towards his militaristic stances.
"When Thewisys venture to the capital, it seems to never go well. We shall wait here, amongst our tomes, and watch for trouble. The East shall be safe." - Edmund II
"Kind Hand, Steady Blade"
Leader
Leader Title
Parent Organization
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Controlled Territories
Comments