House Von Griswold

House Von Griswold is well renowned for being the family with the most land outside Nexus proper, this is due to their propensity to become Judges, in fact no other House even comes close to the number of Judges and Exarchs the family has had in its long tenure. The Von Griswolds have long been experts in the creation of techniques and tools for hunting the most notorious of undead: Vampires

Culture

Family members are taught young their purpose in House Von Griswold, they have bat themed mobiles as babies and are given stakes and holy symbols for toys when they are children. They are a force for good in the kingdom but are often seen by others as harsh and severe because "hunting the night", as they put it, is no laughing matter to them and one simple mistake can lead instantaneous death... if one is lucky. The family cares little for etiquette and the luxuries of nobility, they are single minded in the pursuit of their House's goals.

Public Agenda

The Von Griswolds are the most well renowned vampire hunters of the realm, it takes very specific knowledge, training and equipment to give true death to a vampire and even then it is a too often lethal endeavor. They are summoned when a vampire presence is suspected, even Judges will often times call for them and await the arrival of a Von Griswold before investigating such claims. The House has a great number of Judges among it's nobles, it is seen as a revered position within the family since they are the ones who best serve it's interests. Many such Judges became Exarchs and were given their own land to govern thru out the centuries, the vast majority of which are still ruled by branches of the extended Von Griswold family to this day, with so much land at their disposal they are self sufficient and even turn a profit.

Assets

Land (many towns, villages, hamlets, outposts and keeps)

Garlic fields

Silver mines and refineries

Logging camp and Sawmills

History

700 years ago the couple who will come to create the Von Griswold family barely survived a vampire attack that had eradicated their home settlement, afterwards they showed great interest in the dark arts and forbidden knowledge of necromantic rites. This led the people of the Kingdom to fear them and assume that they had been turned to vampires themselves. Due to this, the couple were banished and lived away from civilization for a generation, until the same vampire count that had destroyed the settlement gathered enough power to bite and turn the King himself. At this time, no other person, man or woman, was able to stand up to the puppet King's forces or his Vampire overlord. The clergy of the old Gods prayed for guidance and were sent to search for the walled compound of the couple. Their search was fruitful when they found a young aasimar man by the name of Grimsbane son of Griswold. Grimsbane had been trained by his mother and father from a young age to know every weakness the blood suckers had and exploit them. He slew the vampire lord and his puppet king by using his advanced knowledge of the creature and its abilities; he could not find the thing's coffin so when he destroyed its corporeal form he caught the vampire's mist form in a bellows and thru it in a swift river. Grimsbane was crowned King and his family was elevated to nobility, he named his House Von Griswold (which means from Griswold) in honor of his father.

Military

House Von Griswold has many specialized elite hunters but little in the means of organized foot soldiers so they employ mercenaries to act as their house guards and standing army. They have a good relation with The Snipers  mercenary band.

Religion

The Von Griswolds are fond of the old ways of doing things so it is no surprise that they would worship still the Old Gods and not the new. They worship exclusively Lathander the morning lord.

"Hunt the Night"

Type

Geopolitical, Great house

Leader

Athanasius Von Griswold

Parent Organization

The Noble Houses

Notable Members

• Athanasius Von Griswold