Serene as the Deepest Wood
Posted by Samantha on 07/31/21
Greetings!
Marquessa Samantha Deepwood has a new player (me), and one thing I noticed right away is that a good portion of House Deepwood is on the roster. I would love to try to remedy this, and see characters of House Deepwood picked up. If you are looking for something intruiguing, and likely to get you involved in something interesting, Deepwood may be a good choice!
Information About House Deepwood
Within the deepest reaches of the Gray Forest in the northeastern region of the Crownlands, lies the mysterious March of Old Oak, ruled by House Deepwood. A vassal of House Bisland within the Crownlands, the March shares a close relationship with the Duchy through the Marquessa, whom some refer to as "Ivy". She was raised as a foster child by Duke Gabriel Bisland, after he rescued her from a tragic fate. She is practically a member of the family, and so their ties run deep. After a case of mistaken identity, through no fault of her own, 'Samantha Deepwood' was discovered to be an impostor, and a servant named Ivy no less, who was a decoy meant to protect the real Samantha Deepwood. Still, given she was the sole survivor of the Deepwood Massacre, and there was no one else, and she was already serving as Marquessa, she was given the title in truth after she bravely stepped forward to tell the truth of her origins, rather than succumb to blackmail.
Since then, she proved herself up to the task of becoming a noble in truth, with her riveting oratory in the Assembly of Peers, which resulted in her being dubbed 'the Conscience of the Peers'. Since then, she has proven time and again to be a firm advocate for the rights of commoners and prodigals entering the Compact, and while some look at this somewhat askance, her reputation cannot be argued with. She commands a deep loyalty among her people, and many of the prodigals she has brought into the Compact, though she is not without her enemies and dissidents.
Deepwood's holdings are known as Old Oak, and its vassals include House Seliki, and other NPC Houses, including the NPC County of Grayreeve headed by the NPC Count Thomas Grayreeve, and various others. These Houses may or may not be made up of certain prodigal Houses that Samantha worked hard to bring into the Compact. The March of Old Oak once included the Twinfort and House Riven and the barony of Whitehawk, until Mia was raised to Marquessa and the lands were split up between the two Marches.
The March is best known for its Harvest Festival and contributions to the Great Road. The town of Deepwood Hold, another name for the holding, is a major trading hub and center of commerce for Arvum, with numerous merchant Houses keeping offices there, including House Mercier. The March's primary industry is in lumber and its various byproducts, fur, freshwater fish and produce. The March is especially known for its apples and, as a consequence, its cider.
Characters Wanted
Lord Grady Deepwood - Grady is the Voice of House Deepwood and Minister of Population. He is an easygoing man, and a skilled diplomat, and it's little wonder he was named Voice. His wife is Jessa Deepwood. He married into the house from House Greyridge, which seems to be quite a tradition of inter-mingling between the two Houses. He is a true Child of the Woods, and seems happiest there, or buried in his books. He and Jessa have three children: Zelde, Liam (fostered) and Livia (fostered).
Lady Jessa Deepwood - Lady Jessa is the wife of Grady, and the sister of Lord Joxur Deepwood and older sister of Lady Emily Deepwood. She is a very intense, protective individual, who gives of herself wholeheartedly in everything she does. She is fiercely protective of her family and those she cares about, and is a soldier, having trained her skills from a young age. She once dreamed of joining the King's Own, but all that changed when she met Grady. When Emily set out to join their ancestral House of Deepwood, Jessa joined her in returning to House Deepwood.
Lord Joxur Deepwood - Joxur is the Sword of Deepwood, and brother to Emily and Jessa. He came to Arx to make a name for himself, and has proven himself to be capable enough to carry the honor of Old Oak. He does not seem to have a lot written about him, and I've not seen him off the roster very often, so he might be a good clean slate if you want a character that you can make your own.
Lady Braelynn Deepwood - Sunny Braelynn Deepwood finds her greatest peace within the woods. She is most comfortable outdoors, and seems to be a scout type of person, and a gardener! There is a reason the Deepwoods are called the Greenthumbs, and maybe she's a good part of the reason. :)
Lord Maddox Deepwood - Lord Maddox is the Bearer of the Silver Crown, which means he is the economic minister of House Deepwood. A scholary sort, and brother to Braelynn, he is very much a listener and a scholar.
Lady Taliene Deepwood - Once a Princess of House Valardin, Taliene married into House Deepwood for love. Her husband, Bennet, died fighting in the Saffron Chain, but for mysterious reasons, she chose to remain with House Deepwood. She fostered at a young age with her grandparents in Gemecitta, far from Sanctum, and is sister to Baron Talwyn Saik and Princess Terese Valardin. Maybe you want to figure out why she stayed with House Deepwood, rather than returning to life as a princess? I sure would like to know too. :)
Sir Kerr Redsteel - A Knight of House Deepwood, he is Marquessa Ivy's loyal knight retainer. Given the times, it's always good to have a protector about! I would very much like to see him off the roster and played as well.
Commoners Welcome!
The Marquessa, once a common servant herself, is known to have a soft spot for the common folk. Are you a commoner looking for a place to belong? Deepwood has a need of commoners as well. Trusted servants, retainers, tradmesmen, crafters, merchants, agriculturists, entertainers, and more. The sky's the limit, really! I will also probably be looking for a protege or three.
If any of this sounds of interest, and you would like to learn more, please feel free to reach out to me either via OOC mail or page. I am happy to answer any questions and work any story angles that make sense for the March. Help me to bring the house back to life! I have a feeling amazing things are in store.
~~Sam~~