Šiwke (Zeribian Great House)

Šiwke is a Zeribian noble house. They are part of the new revolutionist nobility that rose to their status during the Zeribian Revolution of Der Fem. before their ascend to nobility, they were a wealthy merchant family. They claim to descent from refugeed noble lineages from Old Moon (City state).
Etymology in Ngad i zerib (Zeribian language): The most commonly accepted etymology is 'Blacksail', but ke can also refer to types of fabric other than sails, such as clothes. This is a refrence to the grim omen the sight of the refugee ships during the The Black Years (Crescent Eruption) was.
Members of the house:
Ûzeŋadise-bargwel Šiwke Gwelzuh (King), the third king of Der Fem

History

The house stems from the elite population of City State of Old Moon before the Crescent eruption. After the eruption Crescent was uninhabitable and the members of the elite had to seek refuge on the other islands. The refugees spread aroud the Eastern Islands during the winter 620 AH. Unfortunately some refugees carried the Plague of the Black Years.
The plague, combined with the volcanic winter following the eruption, devastated the Eastern Islands. The ill-fated refugees were thought to be cursed, and were driven away from many settlements. Some high-ranking refugees managed to settle on Der Fem, and remain influential over the years despite loosing their noble status.
They remained rather unnotable until Ûzeŋadise-bargwel Šiwke Gwelzuh (King) became a leading figure in the Zeribian Revolution of Der Fem, and later the first Vizier of the new kingdom. They took the name šiwke 'black sails' to solidify their connection to their (claimed) refugee ancestors from Moons, and thus to legitimize their claim to the noble titles.

Critical perspective

The chaotic state of famine and plague during the The Black Years (Crescent Eruption) makes it hard to be certain what actually happened to the refugeed nobles. The direct lineage of the King is thought to have perished soon after the eruption, but many of the less influential relatives surely survived.
Despite the general view being that the last rulers of Moons were cursed by the gods, Moons was still such an important part of the early history of the Zeribians that Šiwke is hardly the only family that is claiming to descend from them.

Religion

Stemming from volcanic area of Moons , the Šiwke are traditionally affiliated with the volcano god Sahar .

Founding Date

800

Type

Geopolitical, Great house

Family Leader

Šiwke Kvešur

Parent Organization

Zeribian nobility

Location

West Island

Notable Members

• Šiwke Gwelzuh
• Šiwke Kvešur
• Šiwke Synter

Related Ethnicities

• Zeribians