House Pelleaux
House Pelleaux is one of the three Major Noble Families of Osrona, representing the Lion's Head of the Constellation of Leonaus. The dynastic heraldry of the Pelleaux family is a blue unicorn rearing up upon a white field.
Contents
History
During the golden age of the Petrakis monarchy, the Pelleaux family largely held a reputation as unparalleled academics and administrators. As House Astor was to the martial side of the Kingdom of Esshar, or House Grimmore was to the diplomatic side, House Pelleaux were the intellectuals and the governors, with it not being uncommon to find a member of the Pelleaux family as a mayor of a city - or if not, certainly a close advisor to the mayor. The Pelleaux family boasted master artificers and alchemists, as well as magical theorists and savvy businessmen. Indeed, if one was an aspiring individual in the Arts, a Pelleaux was considered the best person to seek for funding, as their patronage was generous and often easily acquired, so long as you were genuine in your intent. It was also something of an expectation that the Imperial Academy of Osrona would have as its Headmaster a Pelleaux, solidifying the family as the academic hub of the nobility.
In the turmoil of the 18th century and the collapse of the Essharan Empire, administrators of House Pelleaux fought tirelessly to ensure trade routes continued to function and cities stored adequate supplies in expectation of sieges during the Myllenoris-Osrona War, and their efforts are considered to be responsible for several Essharan cities surviving the collapse of the empire, as their ensuring of stored supplies helped prevent wide-spread food shortages.
The Pelleaux family did not object to the end of the monarchy, and supported the Archmagidom of Osrona’s formation. Indeed, the family prospered in this era, with several of its members becoming famous and influential members of Osronan society, to the point that following Archmagi Amori’s marriage to Stellus Geztelle akh Pelleaux it became a common joke that the Pelleaux family secretly ruled the city. While this was not necessarily untrue in many ways, the family regardless supported the appointment of unaffiliated Archmagi following Amori’s retirement. Partial sponsors of the establishment of Starfall Academy - with Alistair ven Pelleaux being its first Headmaster, and the Academy being his brainchild in the first place - the Pelleaux family’s most notable achievement, perhaps, was the restoration of the Petrakis Monarchy by Arista rei Petrakis - born Pelleaux, following the death of Archmagi Aeliana.
Customs and Traits
- The Pelleaux family - like the Astor and Grimmore families - may be identified by the particles 'ven' and 'vey'. The ‘ven’ particle is for the main branch only; i.e. the branch down which the Headship passes. If the Head of a noble family has three children (Child A, B, and C), all three hold the particle ‘ven’. If child A becomes the Head of the family, child A’s children will hold the ‘ven’ particle; the children of child B and C, however, will be ‘vey’, as they have passed outside of the direct line of succession.
- Naturally gifted with cosmic magic like the other major nobles of Osrona - in particular the technique referred to as ‘Starlight Overdrive’. This blessing of their blood has several side effects, including a generally greater affinity to Blue stars amongst their members and - perhaps more unusually - the complete lack of any non-human Pelleaux members being born, even with a beastkin parent.
- Perhaps one of their most notable physical traits, Pelleauxs are often born with blue hair.
- Pelleaux family members are some of the earliest to begin academic education, and show a larger than normal propensity for joining the clergy compared to other noble families.
Notable Members
Aradia ven Pelleaux - 1722-1835 AC
Born as the youngest daughter to Lord Forsythe ven Pelleaux, Aradia was the student of Serea ven Astor, learning both her connection to the cosmos and her skill with a blade from the Queen Mother shortly before her capture and assassination. Sometime afterward, Aradia was placed into an arranged marriage by her father with the youngest Petrakis prince, Odin to unify their bloodlines when all stood on the brink of destruction. It was said that their wedding was held only four nights before the destruction of their empire, forced to flee to the loyalist village of Nysea for fear of their lives. She was thrust into the role of the Head of House Pelleaux shortly after this, as her three brothers and father had perished along with many other loyalists to the household.
Aradia ras Petrakis was a kind, gentle woman and had three children with the Prince, but it was rumored that he had eyes for another; this would never be confirmed as he was murdered in a surprise attack, leaving the Petrakis princess alone with their remaining offspring. Even in tomes detailing the Pelleaux family history, there is little mention from her perspective on these matters as it was said she became reclusive. As one of the few remaining students of the Stellus, Filia, Aradia took her place as the head of the Celestial faith when her niece, Aeliana ras Petrakis reclaimed the city for their people, as Aradia ven Pelleaux once more.
Her teachings bordered on kindness, redemption and the true meaning of their faith, finding solace in the teachings of St. Calael of the White. Nearly all members of the Pelleaux family descend from her, as one of the few that remained after the massacre of the Teraphim. Her life, after the reclamation of Osrona was said to be peaceful, having died of old age in 1835 AC.
Geztelle akh Pelleaux 1780-Present
Born into a tumultuous time, Geztelle akh Pelleaux was in her youth first in line to take over the Pelleaux Lordship. A pious individual even in her youth, her time was spent reading of the Saints. Indeed, Geztelle ultimately eschewed her birthright in favour of joining the Celestialist Church, where she quickly climbing the ranks in a meteoric rise, named Stellus at the extremely young age of twenty.
As a Stellus, Geztelle struck a balance between progressive and traditionalist. Under her watch, the Church was reformed to reflect modern society, and faiths that did not actively conflict with Celestialism were accepted under her. Despite this, she did not hesitate to excommunicate the Grimmore family following its defection, and dispatched missionaries to the Moxtli tribes.
Geztelle was a practicing White Mage, and considered by most the most powerful such magi in the past century. This reputation was solidified by her resurrection of Dallen Aegeus, an Osronan slain in a surprise attack on Osrona by Achyon. Considered by many as a Prophet, she regardless was willing to let the new generation take charge when the time came, passing down the position of Stellus. She currently enjoys retirement in Osrona.
Alistair ven Pelleaux 1785-Present
Born in a time of turmoil, Alistair ven Pelleaux served Osrona faithfully and ceaselessly. Following in the footsteps in tradition, Alistair became a highly proficient Artificer, to the point he is often considered the pre-eminent artificer in Osrona in the first two decades of the 19th century. It was Alistair who forged the famous Roundtable Relics of the Order of the Second Dawn, even as he served as Knight-Keeper of the Church. He did attract some small degree of scandal in his early adulthood for siring bastard children, something considered a faux pas in Osronan nobility.
Even as Osrona continued to develop around him, Alistair worked ceaselessly for the betterment of his city, forging an alliance between Osrona and the Fireblooded of Garljing’s Coat against all expectations following a bloody war through the arranged marriage of his bastard son Fennel Loire to Violet Vartuul. It was Alistair who was the mastermind of the Starfall Academy, gaining near universal support with the powers of the day even as Osrona and Achyon remained at war - albeit in a ceasefire. Serving as the Headmaster of the Academy until yielding the position to Ethric Athelier following the graduation of the first class, Alistair has since largely retired into comfort.
Regardless of this, he remains active in Osronan artificing circles, and his personal stocks are often contributed to city infrastructure projects. Alistair is also an occasional guest lecturer at Starfall Academy.
Valeria akh Pelleaux 1807-1843
Born the daughter of Geztelle akh Pelleaux, Valeria from a young age had lofty expectations to meet. Entering the church in her youth, Valeria dedicated herself wholeheartedly to Celestialism, and was said to even receive visions from the stars. Rising first to High Priestess, and later Stellus of the Faith, Valeria followed in her mothers footsteps by also becoming a White Mage.
Largely sticking to the established order in her role as Stellus, with a focus on the education of younger church members and ensuring the safety of her father’s - Archmagi Amori - soul in the face of the trials he underwent, Valeria pushed for a bold project known as the ‘Holy Well’. Though it did not ultimately come to fruition, the seeds of this project served as inspiration for the development of the Aurora Chasm, which used several materials she had gathered for the Well. Valeria also eschewed tradition by marrying the Rhoynish knight Cortado, with whom she had three children.
Valeria persevered in the face of terrible tragedy, outliving both of her siblings yet remaining a kind, gentle person before perishing trying to replicate her mother’s White Magic to resurrect a fallen Osronan, sacrificing her life in the failed attempt which instead of a resurrection instead healed the wounds of those injured in the final Battle for Starfall. She was canonized as a Saint by Stellus Zhrani akh Gardios for her selfless actions.
Relics
Paragon
This long zweihander is but a pale shadow of its former glory. Its core is made of an unknown alloy of dark blue, extending from its grip to the end of the blade. Dull mythril composes the rest of the blade, which is coated in a number of dents and chips. Traces of enchantment linger upon the weapon, but its clear they’re nowhere near their original strength. Despite this damage, it is still an exceptional weapon- an example of the peak of ancient Pelleaux artificery.
