Worldbuilding: The Greenhaven family
May 22, 2011 11:21:50 GMT -8
Post by Airellian on May 22, 2011 11:21:50 GMT -8
The Greenhaven family
History
The Greenhaven family began as a family of physicians. In those days, the Arbiter walked the land, and all the Greenhavens lived in Sanctuary, their ancient home. Their founder had built a modest burrow to house all their family. It was called Greenhaven Manor.
Over time, this large family of careful, methodical physicians grew in knowledge and influence. They catalogued the various herbs and plants that aided in healing. They learned the medicinal arts, and their reputation as physicians grew.
Early in their history, Dale Greenhaven married a beautiful seamstress named Yolanda Brandywythe. Their romance was gossipped far and wide and for many years. After their marriage, the children became split between physicians and tailors.
Around the year 400, Samantha Greenhaven, the then-matriarch of the family, decided that Sanctuary was not big enough for their successful businesses. Expansion soon began, and the Greenhaven family became professional merchants. Their medicines were highly sought in the Deltalands, and their tailored clothing were equally prized and fashionable.
Shortly after First Contact, the youngest son of the family, Matthias Greenhaven decided that he would like to go to Lindendale and expand their business northward into the plains. In those days, the family was divided between Homesteaders and Frontiersmen, though they had yet no names for their disagreements, as those political factions had not yet formed. The Greenhaven family split that day, and Matthias took his family to Lindendale to settle there. The rest of the family stayed in Sanctuary. By this time, Greenhaven Manor had grown very large indeed, having been expanded under several of the surrounding hills. But Matthias' exodus left a very big hole in Greenhaven Manor.
Matthias built a modest home in Lindendale, which he called Greenhaven Hall. His eldest son he named Benjamin. Matthias soon began to plan expeditions into the Freewind Plains, and at first, business was good as they established reliable trade routes, and the Lindendale-Greenhavens became quite wealthy. Matthias soon passed off the mantle of leadership to Benjamin. Not long after, though, their troubles began.
The raids were terrible, and the expansions of the Raptor Empire even worse. Benjamin decided to take matters into his own hands and formed the Outriders with the help of seven other merchant families. This helped stem the tide of expansion, and encouraged commerce and free trade.
At around this time, Benjamin decided to do what his father could not and end the feud with the Sanctuary-Greenhavens. Their long feud drew to a close, and both sides made amends. However, there still exists a subtle lingering competitive spirit between the two halves of the family.
During their reconciliation, the Greenhavens helped form the Trade Guild. It was then decided that the Sanctuary-Greenhavens would take charge of the merchant arm of the family business, while the heirs of the Lindendale-Greenhavens would be devoted to the Outriders.
In the year 589, the Greenhaven family suffered their greatest tragedy. A full generation of Greenhavens was slain in the Battle of Black Cloud. Only Annabelle and Sunny Greenhaven managed to survive, escaping on horseback while the battle raged behind them.
Both halves of the Greenhavens pulled together in their hour of need as they tried to pick up the pieces of their former lives. The younger daughter and Sunny's sister, Gracia Greenhaven, swore revenge and trained to one day become an Outrider captain. Annabelle became the matriarch of both halves of the family and concentrated on keeping their business afloat. She remained unmarried for a long time. Sunny was sent to the Temple to study with the clergy, as he was uninterested in becoming either an Outrider or a merchant. Slowly, the family grew stronger and stronger until they regained some of their former stability. They are still recovering, however, to this day.
Annabelle Greenhaven, with her flame colored hair and her dark brown eyes, was highly sought after as a suitable wife. She turned down may suitors, however, as she was devoted to her family and to her work. Soon it became clear, however, that the matriarch of the Greenhaven family would need to marry, and so she began to look in earnest. Soon she met Braddock Hornbuck, the mayor's son from Bronzeshire. Their courtship and romance began amid much hubbub and gossip, and they married in the year 605. A year later, Annabelle gave birth to a girl, who they named Celia.
Annabelle still runs the family business with a keen mind and a deft hand. Gracia got her wish and became an Outrider captain, where she is anxious to get her revenge.
Leader
The matriarch of the Greenhaven family is Annabelle Greenhaven, the elder daughter of the now-deceased Arter and Beatrice Greenhaven. She is often called Belle by close friends and family. She is forty-one years old and married to Braddock Hornbuck. She has one daughter named Celia.
The matriarch is in charge of producing goods for trade, including medicines and tailored clothes (jackets, trousers, shirts, et cetera), though the Greenhavens under Annabelle's leadership have since diversified their exports and imports to include a wide variety of items. She is in charge of planning foreign expeditions to increase commerce and trade. She must fulfill the Greenhaven contributions to the Outriders. She is also in charge of sending Greenhaven representatives to the assemblies. As both an old and new family, the Greenhavens have seats in both the first and outerland assemblies.
Physical attributes
All members of the Greenhaven family are tall, fair haired, with brown eyes of various shades.
Symbol
The symbol of the Greenhaven family is the owl. This hearkens back to their days as simple physicians. The Greenhaven owl is everpresent on their family caravans, and most members of the family will wear a small badge depicting the Greenhaven owl on their jacket lapels, declaring their affiliation.
History
The Greenhaven family began as a family of physicians. In those days, the Arbiter walked the land, and all the Greenhavens lived in Sanctuary, their ancient home. Their founder had built a modest burrow to house all their family. It was called Greenhaven Manor.
Over time, this large family of careful, methodical physicians grew in knowledge and influence. They catalogued the various herbs and plants that aided in healing. They learned the medicinal arts, and their reputation as physicians grew.
Early in their history, Dale Greenhaven married a beautiful seamstress named Yolanda Brandywythe. Their romance was gossipped far and wide and for many years. After their marriage, the children became split between physicians and tailors.
Around the year 400, Samantha Greenhaven, the then-matriarch of the family, decided that Sanctuary was not big enough for their successful businesses. Expansion soon began, and the Greenhaven family became professional merchants. Their medicines were highly sought in the Deltalands, and their tailored clothing were equally prized and fashionable.
Shortly after First Contact, the youngest son of the family, Matthias Greenhaven decided that he would like to go to Lindendale and expand their business northward into the plains. In those days, the family was divided between Homesteaders and Frontiersmen, though they had yet no names for their disagreements, as those political factions had not yet formed. The Greenhaven family split that day, and Matthias took his family to Lindendale to settle there. The rest of the family stayed in Sanctuary. By this time, Greenhaven Manor had grown very large indeed, having been expanded under several of the surrounding hills. But Matthias' exodus left a very big hole in Greenhaven Manor.
Matthias built a modest home in Lindendale, which he called Greenhaven Hall. His eldest son he named Benjamin. Matthias soon began to plan expeditions into the Freewind Plains, and at first, business was good as they established reliable trade routes, and the Lindendale-Greenhavens became quite wealthy. Matthias soon passed off the mantle of leadership to Benjamin. Not long after, though, their troubles began.
The raids were terrible, and the expansions of the Raptor Empire even worse. Benjamin decided to take matters into his own hands and formed the Outriders with the help of seven other merchant families. This helped stem the tide of expansion, and encouraged commerce and free trade.
At around this time, Benjamin decided to do what his father could not and end the feud with the Sanctuary-Greenhavens. Their long feud drew to a close, and both sides made amends. However, there still exists a subtle lingering competitive spirit between the two halves of the family.
During their reconciliation, the Greenhavens helped form the Trade Guild. It was then decided that the Sanctuary-Greenhavens would take charge of the merchant arm of the family business, while the heirs of the Lindendale-Greenhavens would be devoted to the Outriders.
In the year 589, the Greenhaven family suffered their greatest tragedy. A full generation of Greenhavens was slain in the Battle of Black Cloud. Only Annabelle and Sunny Greenhaven managed to survive, escaping on horseback while the battle raged behind them.
Both halves of the Greenhavens pulled together in their hour of need as they tried to pick up the pieces of their former lives. The younger daughter and Sunny's sister, Gracia Greenhaven, swore revenge and trained to one day become an Outrider captain. Annabelle became the matriarch of both halves of the family and concentrated on keeping their business afloat. She remained unmarried for a long time. Sunny was sent to the Temple to study with the clergy, as he was uninterested in becoming either an Outrider or a merchant. Slowly, the family grew stronger and stronger until they regained some of their former stability. They are still recovering, however, to this day.
Annabelle Greenhaven, with her flame colored hair and her dark brown eyes, was highly sought after as a suitable wife. She turned down may suitors, however, as she was devoted to her family and to her work. Soon it became clear, however, that the matriarch of the Greenhaven family would need to marry, and so she began to look in earnest. Soon she met Braddock Hornbuck, the mayor's son from Bronzeshire. Their courtship and romance began amid much hubbub and gossip, and they married in the year 605. A year later, Annabelle gave birth to a girl, who they named Celia.
Annabelle still runs the family business with a keen mind and a deft hand. Gracia got her wish and became an Outrider captain, where she is anxious to get her revenge.
Leader
The matriarch of the Greenhaven family is Annabelle Greenhaven, the elder daughter of the now-deceased Arter and Beatrice Greenhaven. She is often called Belle by close friends and family. She is forty-one years old and married to Braddock Hornbuck. She has one daughter named Celia.
The matriarch is in charge of producing goods for trade, including medicines and tailored clothes (jackets, trousers, shirts, et cetera), though the Greenhavens under Annabelle's leadership have since diversified their exports and imports to include a wide variety of items. She is in charge of planning foreign expeditions to increase commerce and trade. She must fulfill the Greenhaven contributions to the Outriders. She is also in charge of sending Greenhaven representatives to the assemblies. As both an old and new family, the Greenhavens have seats in both the first and outerland assemblies.
Physical attributes
All members of the Greenhaven family are tall, fair haired, with brown eyes of various shades.
Symbol
The symbol of the Greenhaven family is the owl. This hearkens back to their days as simple physicians. The Greenhaven owl is everpresent on their family caravans, and most members of the family will wear a small badge depicting the Greenhaven owl on their jacket lapels, declaring their affiliation.