House Kaerfels

House Kaerfels is the Royal House of Daelyria, originating from the Midlands and besides the throne also directly ruling over the archonate of Duskyon. The family is currently made up of six members, namely the head of the family Alpha Kaerfels, his son Rhaegar Kaerfels, Alpha's brother Spoken Kaerfels, Shade Eptaskia Kaerfels, FranceMiner Kaerfels, Icy Kaerfels and Malve Kaerfels. The latter being the sole member of a branch of the family that split apart several generations ago. Its seat is located in Frostarch. Like most Daelyrian nobility it can trace its roots back to Daelos and Illyax Ashborn. Through Alpha Kaerfels the house is intermarried into House de Relmont, Faern Vién de Relmont to be specifically.

Origin
The Kaerfels family originated Maekar Ashborn's son Aemon, about whom not much is known. His name translates to "the blessed one". He lived an incredibly long life for a mortal of his time and lived alone in his homestead in the Illeryon forests. Despite his little contact to the outside world, in the towns he was known as one of the most sapient men in the lands. He adopted a young boy, Lyrkar, who later became a wealthy merchant in Illerya. Aemon taught him everything he knew, so that Lyrkar, who had always helped him from time to time, had the best chances of changing the future. While generating large amounts of wealth, he settled down one day and married Vrenya adopting a new family name: Kaerfels. He is most known for inventing the Daelyrian overhang which is used in Frostarch to this day as a homage to his legacy.

Lyrkar's children, Allyris and Sonys Kaerfels carried on their tradition while also making the name more popular among the people. The Kaerfels family, proud of their invention, became a symbol for architecture. From there the family tree split in two halfs with the two brothers Tywin and Vesarys Kaerfels. Tywin lived a rather secluded life in honour of Aemon ,while Vesarys stuck with the mercantile life in Illerya. Tywin's grandson would later become Malve Kaerfels, mayor of the rural town of Milet.

The shift
It was only a few generations later when the Vesarys branch of the Kaerfels family gave up being merchants. Elyria Kaerfels, together with her husband Siegfried Eichenbach moved to a ruined estate near Hilbor, which they bought from Dusk Synderys and repaired, making it a monument of Kaerfels architecture. While living there, they brought forth Spoken and later Alpha Kaerfels. However, the Hilbor estate was raided and destroyed by bandits and marauders. While Spoken and Alpha could flee, the parents are still missing and presumed long dead.

Kyrepion era
After a long time where the Kaerfels family had little official power, the family, revived under Alpha and Spoken, House Kaerfels would soon rise up to become one of the most powerful families in Daelyria. First leading the Midlands region, expanding the family and both senior members soon sitting on the High Council of Daelyria. At this time Kaerfels were lords of Andoria and the Midlands, and mayors of Milet, Frostarch, Vederya, and Andoria. The family would also expand with new members such as Shade Kaerfels through Spoken and Icy Kaerfels and France Kaerfels through Alpha Kaerfels. Eventually the latter would become Archon of Duskyon, around the same time engaging with and marrying Faern Vién de Relmont. His brother Spoken would be assigned the position of Royal Scribe ever since the reestablishment of Daelyria. A few years later Alpha would assume to the position daelyrian High Prince, around the same time his wife becoming Archon of Astor. After the passing of Maekar I Blackfyre Alpha, or his new royal name Aelvar, was chosen to become new High King of Daelyria, therefore elevating House Kaerfels to the status of Royal House.

Traditions
The Kaerfels family is a family of key Daelyrian culture and tradition. A custom the family is most known for is tourneying. Alpha Kaerfels was the first Daelyrian to host games to the people commonly. The events eventually evolved to entire tournaments which even brought forth a new type of tourney game, Jousting. Jousting has ever since been a symbol of Kaerfels tradition in Helmia. The construction of the Wyrmpit from the ruins of New Hilbor is the embodiment of this tradition, being the largest arena in the North.

Feasts and banquets have also played important roles in Kaerfels tradition, with the local cuisine being as rich as nowhere else in Helmia with specialties such as Hvaekar Wine or Gaelkrys. The fate of Elyria Kaerfels and Siegfried Eichenbach has influenced the mentality of the Midlands people. The lacking defense and protection during the bandit attacks shaped the build style of Frostarch, which was aimed to be defendable and pretty at the same time.

Thorne
The family is in posession of the ancestral heirloom of the sword "Thorne". It is said to have been forged by a dwarven master blacksmith with the name of Arrmitharin under the comission of Lyrkar Kaerfels, the great-grand father of Spoken and Alpha Kaerfels. Since then it was passed down to Lyrkar's son Sonys and to his son Vesarys, and to his daughter Elyria Kaerfels. When her estate was attacked by bandits and she and her husband presumably died, with only her two children managing to escape, the sword was looted by the outlaws. It eventually was recovered by authorities in Duskyon, where it was taken into protection of Dusk Synderys. After over a decade and after some research it he gave it to Spoken Kaerfels, who would begin to style himself after the sword. After the reunion of the Kaerfels brothers it was kept by Spoken as a symbol of the united family. The blade is made out of hard steel, with the blades edge still being incredibely sharp to this day. It is claimed that Spoken has cut himself several times while studying the blade.