House Goldcrest

" House Goldcrest of Kaer Barad is one of the Ten Noble Houses of Umbra and one of the richest and most powerful families in the Realm. The Goldcrest sigil is a sack of gold and a sword crossed with a battle axe, yellow on black. It was also considered a royal house for a brief stint of time during the Siege of Wintercrown before returning the crown back to House Silverwind, a gesture that has prompted historians to call them "the selfless goldcrests" - a moniker many historians see as ironic considering the ruthless methods House Goldcrest handles those who owe them debts.

The Goldcrests rule over the western coast of Umbra, where they remained neutral in all conflicts the Ten Kingdoms have faced. One thousand years ago, during the Stormbreach Incursion, the Goldcrest family played both sides of the conflict by bankrolling the manufacturing of weapons and hiring sellswords to stoke the fires of war. When House Silentdawn performed a ritual that tore apart the Stormbreach Coast and nearly swallowed the Isles - House Goldcrest defected from their side entirely and instead supported House Silverwind and House Umbra in stopping the Incursion.

After the liberation of the Ten Kingdoms and Emry Silverwind's coronation as the first King of Umbra, the Goldcrests were appointed special advisors to the crown for trade and commerce. In this role they own every bank, and budget the spending of the crown - stimulating the economy where they see fit.

In 2865 Growth, King Talos Silverwind III was on a diplomatic mission visiting House Wintersong in Skellig's Fall when rebel North-men sieged and took the castle. They assassinated King Talos, and kidnapped his three sons. This event was named by historians as the Siege of Wintercrown, and lasted for several months. With no heir to the throne in Stormtalon, Eredar Goldcrest was appointed Warden of Umbra, and ruled over the Ten Kingdoms for a time. It was his silver tongue and a mountain of gold that talked the rebels into retreating from Skellig's Fall, and no further blood was spilled. When the three princes returned, House Goldcrest submitted their power back to House Silverwind - to the surprise of everyone in the Isles. Although they would henceforth be known as the "selfless goldcrests", some historians speculate that it may have been House Goldcrest that orchestrated the Siege to gain favour and control over the young future Kings of House Silverwind - but this theory has little evidence to support it.

The Harbour City of Anglepoint is their capital, and continues to be a main hub for trade and work. Sellswords and mercenaries are regularly hired to retrieve debts, or hunt down monsters that block trade. The Harbour always receiving incoming shipments or new arrivals from outside the Isles looking for work. They say that not a single gold coin trades hands in Anglepoint without the Goldcrests knowing about it..."