Pom Talvos

House Talvos is a noble house of the Emirate of Najer. It was founded in 57 AB by Hirudo Talvos, although the line itself actually dates back to the High Seyohs of ancient Nahrayn.

Origins
The earliest the line can be traced back to is a man named Tejarel, the founder of the city of Nahrayn. Around 4,000 BB, he and other followers of the Lost God of Heat, Ajvudah, were persecuted by their countrymen for their worship, due to a series of heat waves and drought that had afflicted the region at that time. Tejarel was instrumental in gathering the followers of the God of Heat, rescuing them from being driven away to die or exiled.

He and the others migrated eastwards toward a new home, settling in the junction between two rivers, and named it Nahrayn, which meant "Two Rivers." There, they built a community of worshippers, a civilization that lasted several thousand years. Tejarel reigned over them as High Seyoh, taking a wife and fathering a line of descendants.

Scattering
However, around 600 BB, the political climate in the area had shifted drastically. A war with the neighboring Mahait people ravaged Nahrayn, and many of its inhabitants were killed. Those that were not either fled or assimilated into other cities. Among these people were the descendants of Tejarel, who kept records of their genealogy.

Peculiarly, the name of their tribe, if it had one, was never recorded. This, along with the passing of years and the loss of their historical home, eroded the memory of Tejarel and his significance. By the time of Najera'jad, the family was reduced to only a few direct descendants and several cousins.

Revitalization
One such descendant, Hijam, had settled in Najera'jad. He took a wife, and they had a son together, whom the wife named "Hirudo" after the manner of her culture, which was not Najer. Shortly after, the wife disappeared. By 29 AB, Hijam was pressed into service in a foreign war, leaving Hirudo effectively an orphan. Thankfully, he was adopted by another tribe, distantly related, who effectively raised him, teaching him the traditions and history of Najer.

Over time, Hirudo would grow, becoming an independent nomad, and on a fateful trek through the desert, he rediscovered Nahrayn. Guided by the goddess of his forefathers, he had stumbled upon his heritage, although both of these facts were unknown to him at the time. He began to work on revitalizing the city, and many friends, family, architects, historians, and other Najer flocked to the city. Together, they began rebuilding the city-complex.

The city would grow and grow continually, increasing Hirudo's notoriety within Najer. He eventually became the governor of the province Nahrayn was located in, which led to him becoming Emir only a decade later. Throughout this time, Hirudo perused and parsed through thousands of documents that had been buried with Nahrayn, letting him read the ancient history of the place. Eventually, looking at his genealogical records, he connected the dots and realized who he was.

Years later, during the time of the Sapphire Commonwealth (59 AB), and at the urging of his wife, Hirudo reestablished his line, naming it "Talvos," or Proud Song.

Growth and Modern day
Slowly but surely, Hirudo's relatives adopted the surname as he met with them and explained their heritage. It transformed from a simple name to a true family. Eventually, Hirudo's son Alsham carried on his work, eventually also becoming Emir.

Alsham, by popular demand, implemented a noble house system within Najer, which had existed informally for decades. In 103 AB, he registered the Talvos name as House Talvos, officially establishing the family's nobility. Over the next few decades, the Talvos clan both grew in numbers and power, quickly becoming the de-facto authority of the city and establishing their absolute control.

As a result of controlling Najer's capital and running the city's various industries, House Talvos became very wealthy and developed into an aristocratic house for the most part. Unlike other houses, such as the Basha or Bacri, members of the House contented themselves with politics in and around the capital, and often sponsor the production of fine art and other luxuries. Despite also investing heavily into national efforts such as infrastructure and sporting, public perception of House Talvos is often of a reclusive and even selfish clan.

Structure
The house is a collection of families, most of whom are descended from two Najer known as Ankha and Parel. Their oldest grandson, Hirudo Hijam-faj niv Talvos, was the second Emir of Najer and the re-founder of the Talvos line. Many of his cousins and their families would later end up being absorbed into House Talvos as it's prestige grew.

The house is lead by the Royal Branch, who act as the "main" Talvos family to which all others are subordinate. This branch contains all of the Emir Talvoses: Hirudo, Alsham, and Jakkev. There are two other major branches. The first is the Faithful Talvoses, so named due to their quick adoption of the Talvos name and a pun on the name of their main ancestor, Aleod Talvos, whose name means "faith" in the Najer language. The other is the Remnant Talvoses, so named due to their desire to stick to the old ways and original name of their family (Raidah), which roughly means residue or remnant. They often do not take the name Talvos but are considered to be part of the family anyways by nearly everyone.

The Faithful Branch fills out most of the Talvos, and consequently Nahrayn, leadership, given that the Royal Branch has produced very few non-heir children. The Remnant branch occupies a lesser, but still notable position in city politics. Although their main line is very true to their roots, many of the children of the branch break off to join the Talvoses proper.

Notable Members

 * Hijam Parel-faj niv Raida (Royal Branch progenitor)
 * Yeztari Ankha-faj niv Raida (Remnant Branch progenitor)
 * Aleod Ankha-faj niv Raida (Faithful Branch progenitor)
 * Hirudo Hijam-faj niv Talvos (Royal Branch)
 * Alsham Hirudo-faj niv Talvos (Royal Branch)
 * Jakkev Alsham-faj niv Talvos (Royal Branch)
 * Korra Talvos (Remnant Branch)
 * Narator Raida (Remnant Branch)
 * Aestys Talvos

Symbols
There are a number of symbols associated with the house, detailed below:
 * Hummingbird
 * The Najer River Hummingbird is represented on the House Crest. Native to the lush regions south of Nahrayn, it is a common symbol of beauty, passion, and sex.
 * Sunflowers
 * Sunflowers are the national flower of the Emirate of Najer. Having produced three Emirs, House Talvos is also sometimes associated with sunflowers.
 * Green and yellow colors
 * The flag of Nahrayn also prominently feature green and yellow (representing life/fertility and the desert, respectively), and as Nahrayn is the ancestral seat of the House, the connection is natural.

Culture
The culture of House Talvos is heavily tied to the customs and beliefs of the Hreyu people and the city of Nahrayn. Although mainly an aristocratic family, it can be found in all levels of society in Nahrayn. As a result, the city is deeply nepotistic, with favored positions being given to clan members. Young Talvos children, wealthy or not, often find work in the palace as message runners, stable hands, and errand boys. Rich families send their children to learn the value of hard work, while others send their children in hopes of attaining higher status.

Much of the clan is also religious, adhering to the Mae-Ahso Faith endemic to Nahrayn. Shrines are common in Talvos households, and the Talvos clan is one of the faiths strongest adherents.

Much of the House is confined to Nahrayn due to social and geographic reasons, gathering either inside the city or around it. However, there are several exclaves of House Talvos in western Najer, primarily in Najera'jad, and Fort Sikkari, owing to the latter's acquisition by Alsham Talvos in 121 AB.