Location Craven Manor

[Fable]

Craven Manor As stately as it is it peculiar, Carven Manor has stood for as long as anyone can remember. Only the Cravens know who built it and for what purpose. Ever changing as the city around it, there is always a constant about the structure: it is not inviting. There is a nature about the illusions that surround the house, one of foreboding, that tend to see most people on their way. Though it is technically part of the sunlight side of Alvadas' duality, the Manor seems as if it is a creature risen from the Underground, and one not to be taken lightly. The Cravens have existed within the city of Alvadas for as long as anyone can remember. Their name alone carries a tacit understanding that the bearer of such a title is one given respect and not a little amount of fear. Rising to the forefront of power and prestige when Deshira Craven created the seals to protect the city from the unnatural hidden away in the Sealed Grounds and those that lurk outside the city's walls, the Cravens have maintained their place as a family of repute, continuing to follow in Deshira's footsteps, producing and grooming some of Mizahar's greatest spiritists. The family itself is composed of those deemed worthy through both blood and prowess, though if the latter is impressive enough it is possible to join the family as a new blood line. The title, as it has become known to be, of "Craven" is bestowed upon only those who prove themselves worthy. While rare, it is not unheard of for a non-spiritist related by blood to receive the title. The Cravens themselves are structured into a pyramidal scheme with the head of the family at the top, the scribe and teacher below her, then those favored by the three, and under them those worthy to bear the name and undergo the training to rightly earn the name of Craven. While the name itself brings many perks, the Cravens do not forget those of their blood, even if a different name may be displayed, the family is a family first. One of the few Old Families to boast a detailed documentation of their genealogy, there is no such thing as a "lost Craven". Every birth, every death, ever mar and polish is documented by the family's scribe, and there has never been a mistake made nor an event unrecorded. To be a Craven is to be a part of something great and powerful. While still part of Alvadas, the family has become something of its own entity. The name "Craven" carries with it an authority to rival even that of the Speakers, and while this title is rarely ever taken advantage of (for you can be sure should that come to pass, it would be swiftly revoked), there are inherent perks that come with being considered one of the family. Shops and businesses are far more likely to consider their wares not quite as expensive as they might have advertised. Speakers may occasionally look the other way while Listeners may find something more interesting to observe. The city itself, at times, has been known to show blatant preference to a select few of the family, allowing them to move unhampered through its streets, as they are the defenders of the life the city finds so amusing. To date, the family has grown to an impressive size. It is not uncommon to hear a shopkeep claim he is an eighty-third Craven, or orphan children to dream of being taken away to the Craven Manor on some vain hope that they were overlooked in the cataloging of names and births. Yet, there is simply something about the Cravens, every single one, that isn't quite right. It is something like a shadow that can only be seen for a tick before the rise of the moon, or a whisper on a sea breeze. They are a powerful family, but their power has not changed the fact that they are as much children of Ionu as any other Alvad. NPCs : Madara Craven Spiritism: 91 Auristics: 53 Glyphing: 62 Tactics: 76 Intimidation: 40 Negotiation: 72 Persuasion: 59 Rhetoric: 43 One of the two sisters of what is often considered the purest line of the Craven ancestry, Madara is by far one of the most powerful spiritists the city has ever seen since Deshira's death. As with all heads of the family, she is accompanied by the souls of the previous heads, their will to remain bound by grand oath to protect and nurture their succor up to the fifth generation after them. Guided by the advice of those before her and those around her, Madara carries herself with a poise that, in the skin of any other, would most certainly be a pompous vanity. She is powerful, and it is something that no one forgets while in her oppressive presence. Like the majority of the native Alvads, Madara has a deep seated interest for the peculiar. Stern and disciplined, Madara's favor is not easily won. She considers all those below her truly beneath her, and though she has borne children as is her duty as a Craven, they are no more important to her than any other Craven. To her, the only children worth having are those who prove themselves to be as such. Minerva Vigliacco-Craven Negotiation: 82 Persuasion: 77 Politics: 62 Tactics: 51 Rhetoric: 58 Minting 2 One of the few non-spiritsts to claim the title of Craven and of the even more rare first bloodline, Minerva is commonly referred to as the Silver Tongue. With a smile and a wink, it is rumored the woman could dissolve the entire Womiyu, leaving the city as defenseless against itself as a newborn babe. Vivacious and hot-headed, Minerva does not settle for anything less than exactly what she wants and then some. Through her efforts, and her efforts alone, in the past twenty years the Cravens have expanded their influence throughout the entirety Kalea and even into the boarder cities of Sylira. Her mastery over the trade of both goods and information is second to very few, and almost none are packed up in the ever neat, ever bustling bundle that is Minerva. As bright and wild as the Festival of Illusions itself, she finds use in everything and everyone, and it is not uncommon for her to hire and fire as she sees fit. To work for Minerva is to subject one's self to a hurricane of emotion and calculation: while in her employ, one's own profits will often rival that of a monsoon's downpour, but it is wont to cease as quickly as it begins. Leto Craven Spiritism: 90 Auristics: 62 Glyphing: 95 Rhetoric: 74 Negotiation: 52 Persuasion: 50 Painting: 60 The other sister of the most pure Craven line, Leto is like a soprano's whisper of Madara's booming alto. Born blind and sickly, few thought she would grow to claim her blood right, but where Madara had progressed with an icy, unfaltering rampage Leto floated as easily behind her. While a terrible combatant, Leto is one of the most powerful sealers since Deshira, her abilities in the specific realm of spiritism far surpassing those of her sister. Humble and soft-spoken, Leto is often thought of as the kind, loving counter part to Madara's steely strictness. This is hardly the case. Certainly far less of a presence than her sister, Leto possesses a razor sharp mind, and her gentle words often carry with them a honey coated acid. To gain Madara's respect is one thing, to gain Leto's is near impossible. She is not interested with those of the family, having been raised by her sister and her sister alone. To her, there are no Cravens but the two of them. This does not stop her from answering questions in her deceptively benign manner, and she is an impressive resource when it comes to seals. However, if one seeks comfort in the arms of Leto, one will leave far more wounded than upon arrival. In spite of her sightless condition, she is also an impressive painter, one that is much sought as her pieces are few and far between. Rune Caitiff-Craven Research: 80 Writing: 67 Calligraphy: 90 Organization: 82 Planning: 76 Spritism: 10 Auristics: 45 Glyphing: 30 Scribe 1 Another peculiar case, Rune is actually one of the worst spiritists in the entire bloodline, this including those who have been turned away for lack of skill. His prowess, however, lies not within the skill itself, but the wisdom behind it. A head naturally inclined to remember everything it comes across, he was apprenticed to the family's previous scrivener at a very young age, showing both an aptitude for reading and writing as well as mind that absorbed knowledge like a trap. His mastery of theories in spiritism, projection, shielding, and auristics alike combined with his intimate understanding and ever ongoing research into the family line has placed him into an invaluable position within the family's hierarchy. Far more at home among the books filled with the blood of his quills, Rune is an awkward individual. He does not make eye contact, and often he will spout facts without precedent. It is rare for him to leave the Manor's expansive study, and should he depart, it will never be for longer than a few chimes. Well past the boarder line of genius, Rune is easily distracted with new information regarding his subjects of study, but is strangely apathetic towards any other forms of knowledge. Half of the Craven's history is written, while the other half is all neatly tucked into Rune's head as is tradition, extraneous information is neither needed or desired. Frode Varlet-Craven Spiritism: 80 Projection: 76 Shielding: 62 Auristics: 52 Leeching: 65 Negotiation: 52 Persuasion: 45 Singing: 34 As eccentric as he is sickly, Frode is a walking carnival of both power and terrible, terrible jokes. His skill in spiritism as well as the host of magic he possesses paired with his claim to the blood right made him a quick addition to the family's ranks. His magical nature paired with his proclivities towards risk taking led to dabbling within the magic of leeching, effectively shredding his own health and reducing him to the grinning, shaking figure that he is today. His failing health, however, has only served to make him all the more invested in the advocation for caution. He is a kindly man who often forgets trivial things such as names or birthdays, but his comprehension of magic and the burdens and privileges that it can bestow upon its wielders is ever crystal clear in his mind. He will initiate those Cravens desiring his specific magics (with the exception of Leeching) only under Grand Oath, that those who learn from him will be forever bound the family they serve. His magic and his wisdom is not gained without price. Paris Korkak-Craven Spiritism: 76 Sewing: 76 Planning: 52 Organization: 63 Mathematics: 40 A powerful spiritist in his own right, Paris proved himself too timid to be an effective spiritist in the field. Between his stutter and surprisingly weak constitution, he was turned away from the Craven name. Choosing not to wallow in his rejection, Paris decided instead to invest his time and effort into becoming something useful the family could use. He proved far more effective with needle and string than anything else, and is one of the leading minds Alvadas' darker lines of fashion. His soulmist is incredibly powerful, and even among the Cravens, it is rare to possess an entire outfit imbued with the impressive protective qualities of his work. Rarely ever seen, Paris communicates through his clothing: typically macabre monochrome frills and tresses with a juxtaposed sleekness and elegance. His fabrics, while imbued with soul mist for those specifically tailored to the spiritists of the Cravens, are often ever shifting, never quite the same black more than once. He was later given the title of Craven not just for his contributions but for his ingenuity and tenacity as well. Everard Varlet-Craven Spiritism: 70 Projection: 45 Intimidation: 47 Tactics: 30 Acrobatics: 43 Brawling: 32 Powerful but wild, Everard is like a wild beast. Invaluable in a fight but a liability in negotiations, Everard is a loose canon. His mind was not always so clouded, but recently he has been prone to questionable activities. In danger of losing his place in the family, Everard is easily irked and often irritated. Brooding, moody, and cocky, he has dusted the single highest count of ghosts in Craven history. His maverick nature, however, has made those numbers questionable indeed, as even the most violent of warriors should know when a battle is instead a slaughter. At the forefront of most operations where negotiations have failed, Everard rarely considers the safety of others and himself. Destructive and dangerous, he is a sheep teetering on the edge of a tar pit, just waiting for the gentle push to plunge himself into depravity. Einar Varlet-Craven Spiritism: 64 Shielding: 45 Intimidation: 47 Tactics: 60 Organization: 51 Writing: 45 Calligraphy: 50 Research: 38 Unlike his twin, Einar is a quiet, introspective young man. His intelligence is expansive, further honed by Uncle's tutelage. Fiercely loyal to the family while also a paradoxical devotion to his brother, Einar teeters between what is right in the name of the Cravens and what is right by his own family. Fascinated by the workings of the mind, Einar is an observer. A tactician on the battlefield and a philosopher in the privacy of his home, he often takes nightly walks to speak with the more benign spirits of the dead. Far more interested in what Frode considers to be extraneous information, it is no secret that he is being groomed to become the next scrivener, in spite of his impressive talents. Careful and calculated, when Einar speaks it is in a crisp, clear tone that often conveys only exactly what he wants to say. While his patience is legendary, so too is his temper when it comes to his brother. Any derogatory comment made towards Everard is quickly silenced through either intimidation or force. Godric Caitiff-Craven Spiritism: 75 Auristics: 80 Projection: 57 Shielding: 52 Tactics: 45 Negotiation: 62 Persuasion: 51 Acting: 53 Subterfuge: 34 Handsome, wise, and strong, Godric is the perfect heir. From his golden locks and piercing blue eyes to his prowess in both combat and parley, his reputation borders on godly. This, however, is an inaccurate view of the young man. While certainly powerful, he is far more manipulative and conniving than he lets on. He takes great pleasure in the torture of the living, a sadistic secret known only to him and his victims. Pristine and noble in his exterior, Godric is a twisted and dark creature within, and while he has been named heir, it is well known that Leto distrusts him greatest out of all the other members of the family. If encountered, Godric is a gentleman, all smiles and firm handshakes, perhaps even a dashing smile. His talent for auristics has allowed him to conceal his nature, and effectively allow him to live two very separate lives; should Godric ever drop his gallant facade, is is quite likely there are several month's worth of pain ahead to end in eventual death and dust.