House Bluethorn

Head of House: Tressian van Ravenholdt

How did the family rise to nobility?

The Bluethorn line comes from the amalgamation of two Noble families in the wake of the First War, but Tress has always identified more strongly with his mother's side- The Redthorns. Their lineage can be traced back to the early days of Alterac with the foundation of the Seven Kingdoms and the schism of the Arathorian Empire. The Redthorns had no family name in those days, but had proven to be strong adversaries in battle and were taken as household guards by one of Alterac's early tribal chieftains.

As the generations passed by and the peerage began to form, the family line strengthened in wealth and prestige, and the first Redthorn was born. He was raised as per the rest of his family in the warrior tradition, but as his father's second son left to become a hedge knight within the kingdom. He found work where he could before settling as a lesser knight in a city known as Greenburge.

With little to do in the peaceful hamlet, the Knight took to herbalism in his spare time, and became known as The Rose Knight. He took the rose for his sigil and painted it on his shield. However, his rise to nobility took place when a small tribe of Trolls was forced out of the Hinterlands by a rival tribe and tried to find a foothold in the Highlands of Alterac. They targeted Greenburge, and in a valiant display of heroism, The Rose Knight defended the Lord and Lady of the village when the Amani broke through the walls and into their manor. Having saved their lives, the Lord and Lady granted him land at the edge of the village, as well as servants.

Their daughter, unwed, took to the brave knight, and upon their marriage and her father's death, the Rose Knight became the Lord of Greenburge, taking the surname Redthorn in honor of his former sigil, which then became his coat of arms.

Fast forward to the modern day, Tressian's mother married into the Bluebloods of Strahnbrad. As he was not the Lord of the city he came to live Greenburge. Stubborn as she was, Tressian's mother would not take her Lord husband's name, and as such, they settled on combining their two houses.

How does the family sustain its wealth? How does the family not fall to ruins with over-spending, what is their source of income?

In the interim years between the Fall of Alterac and the modern day, the Bluethorns have kept their wineries fully functioning. They've produced enough income to keep up the illusion of their affluence, but in truth it is hardly enough to keep the manors in proper condition. As Lord of the house, Tress has managed to make several trade agreements with other houses, notable Whiteshore and Blackstone in the past, but with the dissolution of both respective houses he is beginning to feel the pressure on his coffers once more. As his hamlet grows, the taxes he begins to gather take him closer and closer to his previous position as a self sufficient landed gentry.

What sort of assets does the family have? How big are the lands? What sort of structures are on said land? Do they have a guard force? Personal army? Fleet of ships? If an asset is not listed, it cannot be claimed, however a PD can be posted later asking if a new asset can be added.

The Bluethorn Manor, and the Hamlet of Greenburge, as well as hunting rights in the surrounding forest. With the dissolution of the Syndicate after the Shattering, Tressian is attempting to gather up what former Alteracian citizens he can in a near futile attempt to bring the Kingdom of Alterac back to its former glory. The population of the village is small at the moment, but will grow with time.

A summer estate on the shores of Lordamere

An isle Vineyard/Plantation where the house's wine is produced.

A small personal guard made up of former Syndicate.

What is the family known for? Is the family a group of cruel tax collectors that works their servants like dogs? Are they a military family the produces fine soldiers who rise in rank quickly? Magic users? What makes them known?

For centuries the family was known for producing arguably some of the greatest Knights within the kingdom, but within the last hundred years they have turned to darker pursuits. For two generations prior to the Fall of Alterac, the Redthorns had been positioning themselves to marry an heir off to the Perenolde family, and had become well known for their conniving political and economic pursuits. Unfortunately, both of those ventures fell with Alterac, and the House was left in shambles.

How old is the family? How long has the family been nobility?

While placing the exact date of The Rose Knight's rise to nobility is difficult, it would be about 650 years ago.

What can be obtained by creating a new family over joining one already in existence? Simply put, what does this family bring that isn't provided by others?

I'm not sure if I need to fill this out or not, considering I've been RPing House Bluethorn as illegitimate in the eyes of the Alliance for so long, and thus not really needing a profile... But regardless, I figure better safe than sorry. I consider event ideas, which I have of course, as 'activity' so I'll leave that be. I'd say Bluethorn is different from other houses in that's its A) A more neutral house, not in so much as faction (Although, Tress does blur faction lines when other Alliance members aren't looking) as alignment. Tress walks the line between good and evil, falling into a more Lawful Neutral area, which I don't believe any house does at the moment.

B) I have, quite frankly, a LOT of time, effort, and lore put into house Bluethorn. I know Tress' profile was the longest for quite some time (Maulbane just beat me out with that 16,500 word beast) but I have almost as much written across my different computers just for his house as well. I really doubt (breaks for school and such aside) that House Bluethorn is going to be going anywhere any time soon.

C) Alterac! It's a relatively lonely Kingdom, in terms of people that play it, but it's still one of my favorites, as well as the zone it's in. Unless I've managed to miss it, I don't think anyone has filled this particular Noble Demographic yet.

Is the family open for members to join? If so, let them know how to contact you here as well as what you're looking for.

Yes. No. Sort of. I've generally kept it invite only in the past, taking people in if storylines and such lead to it, but if someone was eager to get in they could PM me and we could work out getting them involved in some RP.