House Husteem

House Husteem

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Personages

Patriarch: Orbos Husteem Consort: Luna Husteem Heir: Boreas Husteem (fourth son) Membership (Nobles): 20 Predominant Faith: {{{faith}}}

Faction Details

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Faction Ranks

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Interests

Trade & Interests: Mercenary fighting, land-owning Holdings: Sea Ward, Street of the Singing Dolphin (Estate); North Ward (Orlpar)

History

Ethnicity: Chondathan Founded: 1248 DR

A House of land-owners and mercenary company owners, the Husteems have a reputation as belligerent and forceful. It is generally agreed that they found their way into Waterdhavian nobility solely through the depth of their pockets and the military power they wield - it certainly isn't through any inherent nobility on their part.

The family in modern nights is capably led by the politically astute Lord Orbos. Though Lord Orbos plays down the military nature of his House, it doesn't change the fact that there are plenty of mercenary captains who depend on the Husteem for their paychests.

Members of the Family

Main Branch

• Lord Orbos Husteem: Patriarch of the House. Lord Orbos is a cunning man who emphasizes his family's land interests over their mercenary investments. Indeed, he has been known to coldly stare down those who make mention of the Husteem mercenaries until they wither and depart his presence or take up another topic. He is severe and very organized, with little tolerance for failure (even if that failure is simply to live up to his unexpressed expectations). He finds his brother frustrating, his children disappointing and his wife's condition unfortunate (even if her bed-ridden nature makes his own affairs a simple matter). (Age: 41y)
• Luna Husteem: Consort. A daughter of House Roszna, Luna's dowry was significant in land and reemphasized House Husteem's image as primary land-owners first and foremost in Waterdhavian eyes. Luna herself is mother to five children, but has almost never taken much of an interest in them. Of course, this is largely because she has always been somewhat sickly, keeping to her bed most of the time and suffering terrible trembling when he overexerts herself. (Age: 43y)
• Alyra Ammakyl (Husteem): First Daughter. As soon as she was old enough to elope, Alyra did so, with the love of her life, Chusya Ammakyl. A gentle girl who always lived in terror of her father, Alyra seems much happier being the consort of the beautiful Chusya. It is known that the two young women eloped without either of their parents' permission, but simply refused to allow their happiness together to be dictated to by their respective parents. (Age: 22y)
• Evendur Husteem: Second Son. Reckoned a disappointment by his father for his "weak spine" (to hear Lord Orbos tell it), Evendur is an ordained priest of Mystra, and has recently been accepted as one of the apprentices of Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun. (Age: 20?y)
• Olegh Husteem: Third Son. A rake and avowed hedonist, Olegh is his uncle Orlpar's right hand. Lord Orbos finds Olegh's carousing and dabbling in illegal activities distasteful, and has refused to make him heir until he gets out from under his uncle's influence. Olegh maintains rooms at his uncle's home in North Ward, eschewing his family home. (Age: 16y)
• Boreas Husteem: Fourth Son. The Heralded heir of House Husteem, Boreas is quite young and has watched his older siblings all be chased from the household one at a time. Though a young boy, he is very aware of the solemnity of his father's naming him heir, and is diligently obedient to his father. Most days, he spends his time in the company of a tutor. (Age: 13y)
• Ilyda Husteem: Fifth Daughter. Just barely out of swaddling clothes, Ilyda is tended by a trio of nurses, who care for and raise the child as its own. "The Grannies" (as these old women are called) have all but raised all of Lord Orbos' children, as their parents are far too occupied to do so themselves. (Age: 4y)
• Orlpar Husteem: Patriarch's Brother. Handsome and rakish, Orlpar is a fencer and dilettante. He sleeps late, spends too much gold and is happiest when venturing into the seediest parts of town, with a gathering of other nobles out to get into trouble with wine, lovers and the finest drugs money can buy. (Age: 38y)
• Audyna Husteem: Patriarch's Sister. A Loviataran priestess ordained in Melvaunt, Audyna tends occasionally to duties at the Loviataran shrine in the Plinth. For the most part, however, she moves in many of the same circles her brother Orlpar does, enjoying the company of those who find joy in excess. By the same token, however, she is deferential to Orbos and retains his trust. It is said that she works to find a way to bring reconciliation between her brothers. She is often seen in the company of Hlethvagi Anteos, a scion of House Anteos and suspected Loviataran. (Age: 34y)

Other Branches

• Coremita Husteem: Patriarch's Aunt. Known as "Lady Warchest" both because she controls the pay chests for Husteem mercenary companies and for her ample busom, Coremita is a woman of advancing years. It is Coremita who arranges for contracts, selling the services of Husteem mercenaries to this principality or that, negotiating with clients and generally overseeing mercenary operations. She has never married, as she prefers to take her lovers (male and female alike) from among the soldiers she interacts with regularly, vastly preferring their brutal honesty to the silks and whispers of noble life. She is almost always accompanied by her nephew Ianhorne and his consort Aaromore, her apprentices. (Age: 55y)
• Jamril: Patriarch's Uncle. Dear old Uncle Jamril has been captain of the Silver Scimitars for as long as he was old enough to go to war. Though he's not the best military strategist in the world, he is canny enough to surround himself with lieutenants who are quite canny in that regard. Since the death of his beloved Cornys some twenty years ago, Jamril rarely returns to Waterdeep. Jamril's branch of the family tends to focus on running House Husteem's mercenary concerns. (Age: 53y)
• Xyrvyra: Ricward's Widow. Since the death of her husband in the field leading the Arrowhawks, Xyrvyra has started playing the role of "merry widow" in Waterdhavian society, and has fallen in with the Veiled Vixens, a semi-notorious cabal of other nobleborn ladies around her age who have also worn the widow's weeds. She has acquired control of one of the Husteem properties in the North Ward and turned it into the center for the Vixens' evenings of entertainment, where they retire to after a night of carousing. (Age: 33y)
• Gurcaryn: Patriarch's Cousin. A headstrong and clever young girl, Gurcaryn and Boreas are fast companions. Though she adores her cousin, she does not like "Uncle Orbos" one bit, and tends to avoid his notice when possible. Unfortunately, Audyna has brought the girl to his notice of late, as she insists that the girl ought to enter into a Loviataran novitiate in a few years, a fate that horrifies Gurcaryn. Worse, her mother seems inclined to let Orbos make such decisions for her. (Age: 11y)
• Beltiin: Patriarch's Cousin. A young boy expected to one day take his place in command of one of the Husteem mercenary companies, so his grandfather Jamil has already sent one of his retired lieutenants, a man named Kostos al Jaim, a Tethryian swordsman, to train the young man in arms. Beltiin idolizes the gruff old mercenary, and relishes their time working at blades. (Age: 8y)
• Ianhorne: Patriarch's Cousin. Young and handsome, Ianhorne was well-loved by the young nobles of Waterdeep. He loved nothing better than a good party and a gathering of fellow nobles to share it with. Eventually, however, Lord Orbos tired of rescuing him from the clutches of the Watch, and so sent him away to apprentice with Coremita. Though he hated it at first, he found true love while there: the soldier Aaromore, whom he has wed by Loviataran rite. Though he once served as the captain of the Hellstags, he is now apprenticed to his aunt Coremita, accompanying her on her tasks. (Age: 27y)
• Aaromore: Ianhorne's Consort. Swarthy where Ianhorne is fair, thick muscle where Ianhorne is wiry and lithe, and with a bearded face to Ianhorne's boyish visage, it is hard to imagine a less likely match for his lover and consort. Nonetheless, the scarred veteran and Ianhorne are inseparable. Aaromore doesn't speak much, but neither is he intimidated by most people he meets, including Lord Orbos (to Coremita's cackling delight). (Age: 33y)
• Magstine: Thonan's Widow. Magstine's husband Thonan managed most of the House's property concerns, and she has inherited those responsibilities. Indeed, she tended to most of the concerns even when Thonan (a man notorious for his drunken tour of festhalls on a several-nights-a-tenday basis) was alive. Magstine and Lord Orbos are close confidants. (Age: 48y)
• Zinnaora: Patriarch's Cousin. Headstrong and boisterous, Zinnaora is best known for her full-throated laugh and head of wild red hair. Though she cut a swathe through the handsome young nobles of her early adulthood, Zinnaora married a city clerk. The two tend to the family's properties outside of Waterdeep, stopping in occasionally to see Elisys and catch up with the family...and to deliver their profits to the Husteem vaults. (Age: 28y)
• Leorry: Patriarch's Cousin. Thin and gawky, with a full head of wiry blonde hair, Leorry is clearly out of his element in the company of the Husteems and the rest of nobility. Rather than embarassing her, Zinnaora seems to find this awkwardness endearing. (Age: 31y)
• Elisys: Patriarch's Cousin. Zinnaora and Leorry's only daughter so far, Elisys lives in Waterdeep with her grandmother Magstine, who wished to keep her close. Sweet little red-headed Elisys used to be Beltiin's boon companion, but all that ended when he got a swordsmanship tutor. In response, Magstine has started her up at Mother Tamra's House of Graces (Mendever Street in Castle Ward), a school to teach her the graces of a young noblewoman. Elisys is a fine student, although she is clearly only interested in the schooling because he grandmother wants her to do well. (Age: 8y)

Holdings

• Resources Limit: If necessary, House Husteem could probably generate about 28,000 gp in liquid coin and valuables within a month, or about 10,000 gp within a tenday.

House Estate

Central Street of the Singing Dolphin, Sea Ward, Waterdeep x

Waterdhavian Properties

• Dock Ward Properites: X
• Castle Ward Properties: X
• North Ward Properties: X

Other Land

x

Mercenary Companies

• The Silver Scimitars: Light cavalry, crossbowmen, infantry.
• The Arrowhawks: Archers, scouts.
• The Hellstags: Heavy infantry.
• X: Heavy cavalry, light cavalry, engineers.

Rumors About House Husteem

It is said that...

• ...Wandthana Husteem, the mother of Lord Orbos, Orlpar and Audyna, was one of the few apprentices who escaped Maaril's Tower. Some claim it is because he was in love with the lovely Wandthana, and she outwitted the usual fate that rumor says awaits his apprentices. Others say that it is simply because she was an apprentice to him in the days before he soured. Those who enjoy such tales claim that is true, but that his souring and turn towards evil is because she broke his heart.
• ...Lord Orbos Husteem keeps a secret Calishite-style harem somewhere hidden on the Husteem estate, and that his conflict with his brother comes of the younger Husteem's constantly helping himself to the lovely slaves his older brother keeps. It is said that any boys born into the harem are raised in a Husteem property somewhere until they are of age, at which point they are shipped off to fight in one of the Husteem mercenary companies.
• ...Luna Husteem is not simply perpetually ill - she is addicted to a variety of drugs. Those who once knew her say that she used to be a fiery-tempered woman used to getting her way, and whisper that her husband had her addicted so that he could manage her easily.
• ...Alyra Ammakyl didn't just marry into House Ammakyl - she found refuge there. She fled to her friend Chusya's house late one winter evening, covered in bruises and welts from her father's wrath over some perceived failing. Chusya could see no way to keep her family from sending Alyra back to Lord Orbos without instigating a feud with House Husteem, so the two girls eloped to the Plinth and found a drunken priest there to marry them. Alyra took the name Ammakyl, and became part of Chusya's House, much to Lord Orbos' fury.
• ...Evendur Husteem only entered the faith of Mystra to infuriate his father, and only because he was manipulated into it by the Temple Magister of Mystra, Meleghost Starseer. Meleghost and Lord Orbos were rivals for the affections of Luna in their youth, and the high priest of Mystra has always hated Orbos for his victory. Part of his revenge involves luring the young and promising son of House Husteem away from his father's graces and into the priesthood, where he has power over him.
• ...Orlpar Husteem is not simply a wastrel and celebrant. He is also one of the foremost dealers of haunspeir, mordayn powder and tekkil among the nobility. He is even said to have a variety of contacts and distribution networks so vast that part of House Husteem's fortunes depend on its operation, which is why his brother hates him so.
• ...Audyna Husteem has been known to employ her divine gifts - for pay or other rewards - to those nobles that have someone they wish put to the question with discretion and alacrity. In short, she has occasionally rented out her gifts at inflicting pain on others to nobles with a need to torture someone.
  • It is also said that Audyna is in the process of making plans with Hlethvagi Anteos to establish a Waterdhavian temple to Loviatar. They are doing this by slowly spreading Loviataran worship among the young, decadent nobles of Waterdeep as perverse bedchamber games, turning others to the reverence of the Lady of Pain and gaining financial support for their project.
• ...Jamril and his nephew Lord Orbos quarrelled when Orbos was newly-made lord, and Jamil drew steel on him. Orbos - nowhere near as capable a fighter as his uncle - survived only through the intervention of his aunt Coremita. In retaliation, though, he has put a contract on his uncle's life. Even today, Jamril has to deal with occasional attempts on his life, which is why he tends to remain out in the camps of his mercenary company, an environment he can control the security of.
• ...Xyrvyra Husteem and the Veiled Vixens are a secret cabal of Bhaal-worshippers who lure men in with their wiles and riches and then sacrifice them to the Lord of Murder. (This rumor is mostly told about the Veiled Vixens in general, owing to the fact that several of them are widows several times over. Xyrvyra is simply included because she is part of their circle.)
• ...Magstine Husteem and Lord Orbos are more than simply confidants, but actually lovers. It is said that Magstine was a festhall girl in her youth, but quickly snared the philandering Thonan for herself early on, and now has her hooks in Lord Orbos.
• ...Zinnaora and Leorry Husteem remain outside the city because Leorry is wanted by the magistrates as part of an investigation into some possibly illegal doings. When he was a city clerk, he used his position and influence to help House Husteem acquire some lands in illegal ways, benefiting the House enough that he earned himself a noble bride. The couple intend on staying outside of the city (except for the occasional day-or-two visit, just short enough a time for the authorities to not notice before they're gone) until the investigation has died down some.