House Valeros
"I always wondered why you supported the annexation of Southbrook but didn't actually attempt to claim any of the land for yourself, it wasn't until years later when the other houses turned their attention back to matters at home that I realized what you had done. Nobody thinks about the logistics it takes to ensure a community continues to function, and when everything runs with no issues there's even less attention given........ Unless you go out of your way to give it. Community leaders who needed support, ensuring the lower classes of the community were taken care of, making day to day problems go away. Suddenly the common citizen wasn't as willing to do favors for people who had ignored them. What those nobles gained in annexation they lost in influence, and you did it with a clean conscious." - Calhem Pebbleboot, Chief Steward of House Valeros, Journal entry concerning Alanis Valeros
History
The Valeros family first came on the scene shortly after the founding of Shimmer Cliff, Zaler Valeros was one of the original prospectors and supported the plan to cause an avalanche. He amassed a small fortune as a gem miner but it wasn't until he started courting his future wife, Galiena, that he started to think longer term. He took a sizeable part of his fortune and proceeded to prospect deeper into the Berkmark Mountains, he and his small band would face down many monsters, after a year (many thinking he was dead) he returned with more wealth and hired a crew to extract more gems. The veins Zaler did find would be exhausted quickly but it was enough to feel secure and he married Galiena, having 3 childern; Cedrine, Yesenia, and Lukas. Zaler was able to pass on his ability for long-term planning to Lukas, who led the family forward after the death of their parents. Lukas started prospecting for new sources of gems, he did not experience the same success as his father, but it wouldn't be for naught. At the time of his death he had secured 3 claims that hadn't been fully explored, he passed these claims on to his 5 childern, only two had the will to carryon their fathers work (Goeran and Brynn). The claims were in escpecially hazardous areas, if the monsters that lived there weren't getting in the way then there were risks of instability and cave-ins. The siblings spent decades working the claims, but in the end they were rewarded, they had found several veins that seemed to have no end. This marks the point that House Valeros starts to expand beyond being prospectors.
In 1199 AGF House Valeros had achieved a great fortune, but this only made them wealthy, with little influence outside Shimmer Cliff, Alanis Valeros sought to change this. At this time Bralor had expanded it's eastern border to the Fortress of Barthmont and Lakecliff, but there was still much land to the south that laid unclaimed. Great debates were brought before the king, one side argued that the land should remained unclaimed to act as a buffer between Bralor and Druebar while the other side argued that it would be occupied by someone (either Druebar or the hordes of the Wildlands. Alanis threw the Valeros fortune behind the annexation of this southern land, the king supported annexation and ordered expeditions into the region. With the expansion of Bralor came an expansion of potential influence in the royal court, with several nobles gone or otherwise distracted, Alanis began to work and gain influence. Alanis used the Valeros fortune to act quicker when supplies were needed in the south and created a messenger network to receive news faster. While other noble house were trying to grab land, they neglected their duties and supporters, Alanis exploited this opportunity and started to consolidate political influence. This culminated in the distant relative of the king marrying Alanis' son, Thurlow Valeros, while this gave them no claim to the line of succession, House Valeros would become part of the nobility.
House Valeros stayed in Shimmer Cliff, they treated their subjects with respect and were repaid with loyalty, this would further elevate House Valeros when the Bralorian civil war started. Shimmer Cliff didn't experience the social grievances that effected Bronze Cliff or Stormhold, the city flourished during this time. With the signing of The Barthmont Accords a new government was formed in Highsummit, and they needed people they could trust, house Valeros would be called upon to oversee the newly formed Royal Mint in Bronze Cliff.
In 1199 AGF House Valeros had achieved a great fortune, but this only made them wealthy, with little influence outside Shimmer Cliff, Alanis Valeros sought to change this. At this time Bralor had expanded it's eastern border to the Fortress of Barthmont and Lakecliff, but there was still much land to the south that laid unclaimed. Great debates were brought before the king, one side argued that the land should remained unclaimed to act as a buffer between Bralor and Druebar while the other side argued that it would be occupied by someone (either Druebar or the hordes of the Wildlands. Alanis threw the Valeros fortune behind the annexation of this southern land, the king supported annexation and ordered expeditions into the region. With the expansion of Bralor came an expansion of potential influence in the royal court, with several nobles gone or otherwise distracted, Alanis began to work and gain influence. Alanis used the Valeros fortune to act quicker when supplies were needed in the south and created a messenger network to receive news faster. While other noble house were trying to grab land, they neglected their duties and supporters, Alanis exploited this opportunity and started to consolidate political influence. This culminated in the distant relative of the king marrying Alanis' son, Thurlow Valeros, while this gave them no claim to the line of succession, House Valeros would become part of the nobility.
House Valeros stayed in Shimmer Cliff, they treated their subjects with respect and were repaid with loyalty, this would further elevate House Valeros when the Bralorian civil war started. Shimmer Cliff didn't experience the social grievances that effected Bronze Cliff or Stormhold, the city flourished during this time. With the signing of The Barthmont Accords a new government was formed in Highsummit, and they needed people they could trust, house Valeros would be called upon to oversee the newly formed Royal Mint in Bronze Cliff.
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