The Founding of House Ildrafn

The Sixth House was elevated to minor Banteavan nobility by King Solmi shortly after the Treaty of Farran in 995. They were granted the Barony of Rhythavn in exchange for their material support during the Antari Vengeance War.
From the notes of Birri Tralsdotr, scribe of The Sixth House. Speaker unknown.

We of The Sixth House were not always as we are today. Our roots, though we may deny them, were much more humble. Among the earliest settlers of The Kingdom of Banteave , we had no particular skills or trades. What we did have, though, was humility and luck. The First of Our name was just a man. Neither a warrior nor a tradesman, and lacking even the skill to work the land. His name is forgotten, as it should be. It was through sheer good fortune that he married into an Antari clan, and picked up the language quickly. He used his connections and his linguistic ability to establish a trade business in The Antar Highlands , coordinating and facilitating deals between Banteavan and Antari alike. This stroke of good fortune led to a thriving trade business, and a small holding for our House.
Thus were we contented - for a spell. In 976, Eovold, Blessed Be His Name, whose portrait hangs above our hearth to this day, ascended to the title of Patriarch of The Sixth House, and set about changing our fortunes. With tensions and hostilities rising between The Antari and The Banteavan Norvalleds, Eovold looked at the status of our House, and began to make preparations of his own. For Eovold knew that our house held deep ties with the Antari, and though we did not cling to Antari traditions, those within our dominion kept the words of The Old Gods on their lips, carved into their doorframes and shrines.
When The Antari Vengeance War kicked off in earnest in 989, the fortunes of The Sixth House were, unfortunately, tied up in investments and assets. We provided to King Sigvi that which we were able, as was our duty as Loyal Banteavans, but it was a paltry amount, much to our shame.

(Birri’s note: Though the master seemed to express regret, I do not believe this to be true, as he confided in me later that this was by design - a victory for King Sigvi would certainly have been ill-tiding for the fortunes of The Sixth House.)
King Sigvi, who rode out to face the Antari on the field of battle, was unfortunately slain on the campaign in 992 when he crossed paths with a druid of the Red Sisters. The war between Banteave and the Antari continued, but it had reached a bloody standstill. Rather fortuitously for The Sixth House, one of the business ventures which had occupied much of our resources came to a lucrative conclusion shortly after the death of King Sigvi, and we were at last able to offer the resources Banteave so sorely needed.
The Sixth House availed King Sigvi’s brother, King Solmi, of our wealth, as any Loyal Banteavan would do, and within only 3 years, by 995, King Solmi would bring the Heads of The Antari Clans to table, where negotiations and concessions were made to bring the war at last to a peaceful resolution at the treaty hall of Farran. Among those concessions was one that would be appreciated by all of those within the confines of the domains of The Sixth House - The Antari people had earned the right to keep the Old Gods and their traditions alive and well in The Highlands.
Grateful for our service, and in recognition of The Sixth House’s unwavering loyalty to Banteave, King Solmi elevated our House, granting us Noble Standing, and Dominion over Rhythavn Castle  and Rhyver Bay  - Sometimes referred to as Lighthaven and Reaver Bay, respectively. From this position, we were able to grow and expand our influence, engaging in a thriving sea trade, up and down the Seaward Coast.

Written by Matt T.