House of Blackspeare

House of Blackspeare is one of the 10 High-Noble Houses and was once a Cadet branch of the extinct House of Obsidia and are one of the most powerful yet newest of the houses of Armerle. They have many Strongholds but their many one being Falconsreach, an immense castle atop of The White-Cliffs that overlooks the city of Westreath, the Capital of the Rivoc Isles.

The lands the family rules over are a small group of islands in the North-West of the Realm. Their stronghold is called Falconsreach, an old castle that sits atop of The White Cliffs overlooking the

capital City of Westreath and the vast Rivocian sea. The Blackspeare's are the High-Lords of the Rivoc Isles and Lords of Stormgard the central, main and largest island in the Rivoc Isles. Their Coat of Arms consists of a Black Great-Eagle with a blue spear signifying the Great-Falcons of the Rivoc Isles and the Blackspear the famous ancestral spear of the Blackspeares. Many of the main Protagonists from the series belong to this family.

The Blackspeares were one of Tysopher's key supporters during The Obsidian War and with a just reason too: Myre's elder brother and sister (Willhem and

Ida Blackspeare) died at the hand of King Henri Fortaine, even though his sister Ida's murderer was never found; Myre still suspected the king all the same. Myre's older brother Willhem was one of Henri's counsellors who advised him not to go to war with Arenweyr in 491 NE, as a result of this he had their tongues ripped out and their heads removed.

Founding of the House:
House of Blackspeare was founded during the Rivocian Conquest in 374, when Prince Arther of Obsidia (Arther of the Blackspeare) decided to conquer the Rivoc isles and join them with Armerle. At the time the Rivoc Isles were inhabited by Rivocian Tribes who had an entirely different culture to the Main-Land Armerlians. It is believed that the Prince brought 500 soldiers to the Rivoc Isles, and set sail for the the islands in winter 372 and arrived on the western coast of Stormgard three weeks later. After spending a week camping on what is now known as The Obsidian Bay his men were ambushed by a troup of Tribal warriors. The tribal men overpowered them with ease, despite being less in number. The survivors took them to their camp, a small island in the centre of a lake (Now known as Westerforte), and there they interrigated them. After Arther had told them his story he was informed that they were a tribe known as the Noirenhaft, meaning Black-spear in Rivocian, the prince was released by their chief: a man named Angvard ad Noirenhaft - Angvard of the Blackspeare.

As it turned out Angvard was able to speak the same language as Arther and his men and they spoke about the princes intentions of conquering the Rivoc Isles. The chief didn't like the plan at first but after a few hours he came up with a new suggestion. Angvard had taken a liking to the young prince and came up with a new alternative, if Arther sent his men back to Obsidia and lived as a Noirenhaft warrior for a year then his men would aid him in his conquest, he also requested that some day he should be taken to Aldsea. Angvard claimed that as little as 100 Noirenhaft warriors could conquer the Rivoc Isles, and so the Prince agreed lived his next year as a tribal warrior and over time became fascinated with their culture and language and learnt how to fight like a Noirenhaft warrior and after a while he developed a love for Angvards daughter Avis. The prince asked for her hand in marriage and Angvard agreed in 374 the two were married and after having consummated their marriage he created The House of Blackspeare and proclaimed himself the High-Lord of The Rivoc Isles. Arther now requested that Angvard fulfil his end of the bargain and the conquest began shortly after that. In 374 the island of Stormgard belonged to him and at the same time his first and only child and son Angvard was born. He finally conquered all of the Rivocian islands in 380 and at this time brought his father in law back to Aldsea, fascinated by the city and structures Angvard lived the rest of his days in the city.