House Cress || Blood & Brimstone
A Dalmascan & Ishgardian noble HouseFFXIV - Balmung
The Family
⸸ A hardened man of House Cress with extensive training in swordsmanship and the battlefield, Baron was one of two sons born into the Cress name and was tasked with upholding the traditions of the House along with assisting his brother to oversee the House businesses and the Cress mines that were responsible for providing a significant amount of iron, silver, and copper to the region and even as far as into Othard and Aldenard.During this time the weaponry business that the Cress Household had been dipping its hands into started to boom beyond what anyone could have anticipated. Within this period of great wealth, the brothers had been in the thick of a quarrel with one another and neither side could decide upon what was the proper course for the family name with opposing ideals. This disagreement eventually twisted into a separation of the brothers and the Cress name had been splintered with bad blood.
Lord Baron Cress
( Deceased )
⸸ Maiden name Fontaine, Charlotte is the daughter of Camille and Julien Fontaine and the eldest sister to Eleigh Eirwen (Fontaine) and wife of Baron Cress. Her side of the family had been known for their light and mousey colored hair ranging from deeper blondes and chestnut browns and blue or hazel colored eyes. Charlotte is also half Elezen and half Hyur which originally introduced the Cress bloodline to Elezen and Ishgardian ties. It is said that the Fontaine family was also deeply rooted in Sharlayan affairs.Charlotte and her sister Eleigh had a close relationship and their children often played together as they grew up, Charlotte’s only son had become quick friends with his cousin Beau. It is said that Charlotte was a very sweet woman but had a very gracious, gentle, and stern nature when circumstances called for it. It was through her family, The Fontaine name that the Cress family had been exposed to expanding their ore and trade business through manufacturing siege weapons for the city of Ishgard working in tandem with the Skysteel manufactory when the Cress family relocated to Ishgard after the Empire invaded parts of the Dalmascan region.It is now, thanks to House Eirwen and Charlotte’s sister, Eleigh, that the Eirwen House remains a staunch contributor to the Skysteel Manufactory after Charlotte’s death and House Cress begun to explore avenues of Trade further.
Lady Charlotte Cress
( Deceased )
⸸ The only son of Baron and Charlotte Cress, Adrian grew up as an avid lover of the outdoors and often partook in hunting parties, specifically with his cousin Beau when time would permit. When his father Baron passed away, Adrian was easily into his mid-twenties and the burden of the family responsibilities had fallen into his lap. Charlotte remained for several more years to help her son lead what was left of the family in the right direction. With the Cress name splintered since Baron Cress and the two sides of the family still living in Valnain, appearance was everything, and finding a proper match for Adrian in a life partner would prove to be quite difficult.Since taking on the mantle of the patriarch to the family, stressors had begun to pile up and Adrian had grown to become resentful, cruel, and stoic and would often scare off all prospects of a suitable match for the bloodline to continue, he even took it upon himself to change the traditional black and gold associated with House Cress and changed the House colors to black and silver once established in Ishgard. Traditionally in the Cress House, family, bloodlines, and reputation were extremely significant to them.Not having a knack for business and acting as quite the poor financial advisor to his own affairs of wealth and being too stubborn to hire another, Adrian plunged the family into debt once the industry in Ishgard became oversaturated. In a shut-in city and plenty of hands in the cookie jar, Adrian began to panic about what would become of the Cress coffers and would then commit an act that would have a lasting, traumatic effect on his two daughters for the rest of their lives.It is rumored that Adrian died well into his 50s and that he was murdered in his study. He was not tombed with the rest of his kin in death and was instead cremated and his ashes were set haphazardly into the winds of Ishgard; to this day, Adrian is spoken about in a negative light for his failure to his family name and the debt he had left them in. One notable quality about him was that the man was skillful with weapons, and hunting and had quite the passion for alchemy and poisons, a ‘talent’ one of his daughters would later inherit.
Lord Adrian Cress
( Deceased )
⸸ A willful woman with quite an ambitious streak. Such work ethics were impressed on Odessa at a young age as she came from more of a Matriarchal family located abroad and within Coerthas, an Ishgardian family living within the high reaches of a noble society.It was Odessa’s lengthy list of languages she could speak, grace, business ethics, and go-getter attitude that drew Charlotte into solidifying Odessa as the best choice for her son, Adrian.Odessa was well-versed in literature and the ins and outs of how a proper noble Household was conducted and could even play four different instruments. Over time she would become a valuable asset to the Cress name and even more so with her quick wit, sharp mind, and skills in business affairs. Three years after marriage to Adrian, Odessa would give birth to two girls, fraternal twins who bore the trademark golden eyes that originated from the Blackheart bloodline. She had given the twin girls the names Valeria and Vahalia as the namesake of the home they once had in Valnain.Once her daughters arrived, Odessa’s role within House Cress shifted drastically from shrewd businesswoman and wife of a mogul to a doting mother. Odessa went above and beyond for her girls and ensured they were both well-educated, self-sufficient, and loved since the girls hadn’t received much attention or praise from their father. Still, Odessa and Adrian tried for a son and failed several times.Shortly after the birthdays of her daughters who had just turned seven and ten, Odessa fell gravely ill. Months later after a lengthy struggle with sickness, it claimed her. It was later dragged to light that Adrian Cress, her husband had been her killer, and the reason for it had been to claim her inheritance from the Blackhearts that would have gone to her children, only to save his business from the inevitable ruin that became of it anyways.
Lady Odessa Cress
( Deceased )
⸸ The youngest daughter of Adrian and Odessa Cress and the twin sister of Valeria. Vahalia was proven to be a bit of a prodigy in her younger years, having been taken under the wing of a traveling Sharlayan who had taught her and two other students the skillset of what it meant to be a Red Mage. Throughout her extensive training, Vahalia had also excelled in things such as the violin, several languages, and having a knack for mathematics, balancing ledgers, and crafting poisons. To her dismay, she had followed in her father’s footsteps in that regard but had eventually taken more after her mother in the area of business and vigorous trade practices.Over the years she had built up a reputable circle for herself and began working for Hadriel Isenhart well into her adult years, from there she was given rank and title to go along with the extensive slew of work he had entrusted her with. Coupled with such came new doors that opened for Vahalia that welcomed her into the more lucrative and exotic side of trade and business. From there, she spent a good few years as a staple for the Ashen Wolves and black market trading between organizations and partners. She had taken the opportunity to build up her side hustle for her future endeavors that eventually came to pay off in due course.After the death of Adrian Cress and Valeria’s disappearance (and assumed death for nearly 4 years) Vahalia spitefully sold Adrian’s company and started to rebuild the Cress ancestral home. It took her three years to pluck the Cress name from the brink of ruin and upon Valeria’s return, Vahalia swore she would see the name hold great weight, meaning, and respect in the future to come; mainly to spite Adrian but also to give the bloodline the respect she thought it deserved.She has become quite an integral part of her partners within the Circle of Thorns that was formed between several noble Households (mostly interconnected in one way or another) providing just about anything to increase the wealth and success of House Cress and to solidify alliances for future generations.She is often seen lurking within and around soirees and events, balls, and salons if only to keep up on idle chatter looking for nuggets of opportunity to latch on to. It is rumored that Vahalia had taken the life of Adrian Cress as revenge for what he had done to both her mother and her sister, Valeria.Over the swell of years that Vahalia had taken over the House to see it rise above its ruins it has progressed significantly. It has vastly expanded through the business of trade and beyond, having three ships working under its banner while also setting its gaze beyond close horizons. They have come into an outstanding amount of wealth, an island which has been consistently seen to with additions and improvements to both bolster business, trade beyond into neighboring waters, and keep it a neutral place for outsourcing.In addition to fortune, land, and holdings, House Cress has seen the marriage to Osric Slater (now Giroux) dissolve with Vahalia and the pair having welcomed their twins shortly after the divorce was finalized. It is said the pair continue to parent the children with some measure of respect between them as they strive to work together rather than against one another despite the rumored parentage of Evran and Idalia.
Lady Vahalia Cress
⸸ The eldest daughter of Adrian and Odessa Cress and the twin sister of Vahalia. Unlike her sister, Valeria had been the more docile, quiet, and gentle of the two sisters, even into their adult years. Valeria – like Vahalia – also had an extensive education having spent quite a lot of time with the Astrologians in Ishgard and out and about at the Atrologicum. Over time, her interest in books and relics brought her into a hobby and job at which she excelled in Ishgard itself. Restoring old books and historical tomes of the history of Ishgard as well as artifacts and relics that would be well-kempt and conserved within the city archives.Valeria plays the harp and is quite the songstress; she is the first and only in her family who has been said to have a lovely singing voice. At birth, she was born with golden-colored eyes like her sister but due to an accident that rendered her comatose for nearly six months, her left eye had changed to a soft green color and she now sports a light scar along her left temple. While being bedridden for a long period, Valeria’s health began to decline and upon waking, she soon came to take note of the unexpected ‘curse’ that walked through life with her. Voices in the halls, shadows in the room and the sense of something always looming. She is capable of sensing the dead as they pass and otherworldly beings, catching voices from people that are crossing over into the lifestream, and having a sensitivity to residual magical effects that linger in either objects or the air. Sometimes, this can be extremely debilitating for her but she has been learning to manage it much better in recent days, learning how to cope and use her abilities to her advantage.
Lady Valeria Cress
( Deceased)
⸸ Having spent the entirety of her life under the name of Corvin and eventually assuming her marital name of Gray upon her nuptials to Lord Ambrose Gray, Cordelia now finds herself adjusting to the uncovered knowledge that her lineage lies not within Corvin but Cress.Born out of wedlock as the outcome of a heated and hidden affair between Adrian Cress and Elsbeth Corvin, Cordelia’s true identity had been kept locked away within various letters and business dealings that would in time be intertwined with her betrothal to Ambrose Gray. She has taken both houses of Ishgard, Corvin, and Gray, combining them and taking over all assets upon the untimely death of her husband while building them up to expand and grow, thus her hesitation to fully take on the Cress name as it were.Jewelry maker and fabrics designer, Cordelia and her businesses provide the upper class of Ishgard and now even cities abroad with elegant fashion pieces and delicate embroidered textiles all while offering a bit of magicks woven into the yarn or melded within the crystals should such a specific request be made the proper way.Many find the woman to hold an icy demeanor, solemn and mostly stoic in her personality, though she does manage to lighten a bit when in company she relates to and finds comfort in. She speaks with a soft, ethereal voice yet the tone still commands respect and carries poise. The halls of her home are often filled with the melancholic tunes of the piano as she spends much of her free time playing, otherwise, she enjoys walking about the city of Ishgard despite the rumors that once followed her regarding her theorized involvement in her husband's death.As the days go on, Cordelia allows herself to grow closer to her half-sister, Vahalia, little by little while they not only carry the same bloodline but are business partners as well. A stubborn and steadfast woman who continues to find her way, Cordelia forges her path and overcomes obstacles that attempt to lead her astray.
Lady Cordelia Gray
Land & Holdings
Upon the purchase of the island, the old Keep that was left to the Northern most of Black Water Bay was renovated and reconstructed into Bell Keep which acts as the current and main residence for the Cress Household.Located on this parcel of land that accompanies the Keep is also a large greenhouse, gardens the family mausoleum, and the northern Lighthouse for the Island. One of the unique features of the Keep is the lower portions of the foundation have been built into the cliffs and natural rock structures of the island.It is noted that the family relocated here from Ishgard after the untimely death of Valeria Cress.
ㅤBell Keep, Black Water Bayㅤ
This is the main estate in Ishgard belonging to the Cress family. It’s a very old house located in a quiet portion of the city. It is said that the family mausoleum resides on the grounds and that the tunnels of the old house go down into the depths of the ground and attach to the mausoleum below. The House itself is now overseen by Lady Vahalia Cress, matriarch of the household, her sister Valeria and assistance from her Advisor. The building itself is made of heavy and intricate stone and has beautifully crafted mansionwork throughout. It has fireplaces in every room of the house along with the original architecture within that has large vaulted ceilings, long corridors and well decorated throughout with old family heirlooms. The staff within the house is a small handful of trusted folk, their names being Marion, Annette, Bruce, and Wyland though the sister of Vahalia, Valeria, is also living here and it’s not amiss to see other members of extended family or alliance Houses popping in for business; or pleasure. The House was originally passed down through the family from Charlotte Cress and the Fontaine family line. It is said that the family originated from Valnain and simply married into land and full coffers through the Fontaine and Eirwen names.
Ishgardian Estate, Ishgardㅤ
A modest Keep that houses the Cress avians from Chocobos to Falcons. Here in this establishment, the family’s Chocobos are kept, bred, and trained. Much of the trained Chocobo birds here are used for those within the Barracks. House Cress assigns a bird to those within their employ or under their banner. Each is given a hatchling to imprint with and it is said that guardsmen, knights, and wards are trained alongside of their chocobo for the field be it battlements or combat. These Chocobos are said to be heavier, sturdier birds of high pedigrees and aren’t used for entertainment or flight but instead to withstand hard temperatures, rugged terrain, dense impacts, and to be able to harbor armor as well as their armored riders. The size of these birds is significantly bigger and bulkier than the typical Chocobo or those who are designed and bred for leisurely activities such as racing. It is said that the Cress family hires breeders, and trainers and ranchers for the positions, outsourcing to assist in facilitating jobs and work in and around the region of Aldenard instead of having staff or employees of the House handle the delicate processes.
ㅤCoerthas Keepㅤ
As vassal house to High House Durendaire, House Cress prides itself on being an active part of society in as many pursuits as possible that coincide with the abilities, outreach, and interests of their suzerain. With this at the forefront, House Cress has been adamant about helping to rebuild structures and renovate them to reuse them as appropriate places of employment for those seeking work; honest pay for honest work. Within these ranks, there are hired instructors, Knights, and capable working bodies that offer their services to Ishgard and the call of necessity when it is required. In the eyes of House Cress, they aim to help play their role in securing their hearth and home from any possible threat. All efforts in that vein of concern have been at the forefront of the Cress's intent since the end of the Dragonsong War to assist in ensuring history does not repeat itself. The Barracks and its operations was and still is overseen by Ser Hyaka Taka who strives ever forward to better the undertaking with new ideas and hiring a variety of different instructors beyond Squires and Knights. It is rumored he is currently training Hunters and Pathstalkers though the reasons are undisclosed.
ㅤBarracks & Training Groundsㅤ
An Island that was purchased from three noble Lords of Ishgard who each sold their land and shares of the Island to House Cress. It is said that the Lady Cress has finished construction of the port on this vast portion of land. It is said to have a small tavern, lodgings, and warehouses specifically built to accommodate travelers, and provide work in and around the port itself and it is open to all sorts of travelers finding their way to partake in trade or to have something transported. There is a local market within the center of the port called The Quill & Coven, generally a night market of sorts where peddlers from all over sell their taboo and unique items. Some artifacts, obscure and cursed in make, exotic goods that some might find difficult to find, and other times, rare charms or mere artisan items from gifted crafters.As of late, the Lady Cress and her family have taken up residence on the Island of Black Water Bay near the Northern most part of the Island itself in Bell Keep.
ㅤBlack Water Bayㅤ
Located in the heart of the port in Black Water Bay is a section of the island dedicated to a market called 'Quill & Coven'. It is a night market that sparks to life every evening and brings all manner of folk from across the sea and land to peruse more obscure exotic goods, occult items, and rare finds that are hard to come by anywhere else. Such a place is littered with spices and herbs, typical nonnative weaponry, and armor. Here there are plenty of deals to broker including information -- anything is up for trade for the right price. There is a shroud of mystery here as it can very easily be perceived to be more of an underground outfit with clandestine dealings. Once a month, many of the vendors and the overseer visit various towns and free cities to offer their services and peddle their wares; sometimes being seen at local fetes and bazaars.
ㅤQuill & Covenㅤ
Located at one of the points located in Valnain, is a sizeable lighthouse built for the sole purpose of a gift for Valnain and its people and port. Alongside the lighthouse itself is a modest but carefully crafted bell tower to symbolize the Cress namesake in the region. The belltower itself is to help harbor safe passage for vessels coming in and out of the port of Valnain coupled with the guiding light of the lighthouse in the worst of climates. The din of the bells can also be heard even on clear days ringing out when vessels leave the harbor to manifest safe passage of fair winds and following seas. While built by the Cress House, it was very much established for locals in the region and travelers in good faith.
ㅤLighthouse & Bell Towerㅤ
Knowing the right people, large contributions, contracts outlining agreements of employment, and having the right family name that had once owned the same land over 30 years ago; has made the Cress family a large player in their holdings within the Valnain region. Such a prospect was brought about by Vahalia's confidant and Advisor, Belgrave, which then later developed into House Cress reclaiming ties to the ancestral lands in the Valnain region to later use for trade ventures in the near future. There are warehouses in the region by the port of Valnain (despite the land and its people still recovering from the Empire's invasion) that are currently being well-kept byHouse Cress and have recently seen a timely overhaul.
Ancestral Lands (Valnain)
Ships
The first ship purchased by House Cress since their relocation to Ishgard a little over thirty years ago. It is a newer vessel fully outfitted with weaponry for protection during transport and built for decent speed as this vessel sails from ports between Black Water Bay in the Bloodbrine Sea, to Old Sharlayan, Limsa, Ul’dah, and even Gridania. The ship (as well as her sister ship, The Sea Scorpion) is said to transport everything from food, building supplies, spices, textiles, and even more exotic and illegal goods that make their way through various black market vein locations all over the great continents. It is likely to see the Sirensong in La Noscea or Limsa while she’s in the region on business. It is said that this ship and her operations in and out of Black Water Bay are not only overseen by Vahalia Cress herself but also by Edalene Slater.
The SirenSong
The secondary vessel owned by House Cress and while it is smaller in stature than its sister ship, The Sirensong, The Scorpion is known for its speed and agility that is unmatched by very few sea fairing vessels. The Scorpion is a ship that sails much of the world's eastern regions, including places such as Kugane, in and around Yanxia, and even trips into the Thavnairian region. This ship and crew operates solely out of Valnain and the port there and is under the operations and overseeing of Hakan Belgrave.
The Sea Scorpion
Little is known of this ship though some rumors are floating about that the Red Queen was a warship that had been commandeered by the Cress and Gray family and turned into something a little more apt to their outfit. It was one of the newer ships in Ophelia Whitlock’s possession before she succumbed to her death for the betrayal of the Circle of Thorns. Rumor has it that all other ships that had crossed into the waters of Black Water Bay belonging to Ophelia Whitlock were stripped down and all parts were sold to neighboring cities, used for building projects and all ammunitions were given to the Blackheart family, and their ammunitions company.
The Red Queen
Affiliations
Hakan Belgrave
A son of the antediluvian kingdom of Dalmasca, Hakan is as the nation itself; scarred, yet unbowed. His life is as much an open book as his past a mystery, one that has been shaped by war, resistance, and a burning desire to survive regardless of the cost. There were no toys for him living and growing beneath the shadow of foreign rule, no companions save the gun and the blade. Where he should have learned to harness the magic that thrummed within his chest at the hands of sages, instead he studied from would-be overlords how to take apart and put together their magitek contraptions. What better weapon to use than that which your enemy used? Thus he is a cynical, calculated, and oftentimes cold individual to those he meets and knows. Yet with the collapse of Garlemald, the source of nearly every woe imaginable to all lands beneath the sun, his priorities have shifted. With no great enemy to fight or dog his footstep, a recently acquired airship of some speed, and an abundance of time, Hakan has fully put to use what skills he gained fighting in the Far East for his own benefit. For the nonce he has taken to aiding the Ishgardian House Cress, a family whom he has built some relation with, in their burgeoning trade Empire in-between missions he now gives to himself.
Carrera Blackheart
The Blackheart family dug their talons, slithered their choking tendrils, and sunk their sharpened teeth into every facet of noble society in Ishgard. Their heirs bore golden eyes from their overflowing mana and an unfathomable capacity for aether and knowledge both. Such were the daughters of the House. And their daughters, and their daughter’s daughters- such were Carrera, and Vahalia, and Valeria. Next in line to be the Matriarch of the House, Carrera, the daughter of Adelle, has embraced the traditions of the Blackheart family going back countless generations. A veil of secrecy surrounds the woman at all times; Hidden within her serene smile was a sinister twitch. Between acting on a whim and living deep within the complexities of her own scheming, she is unpredictable in her actions. A curse to both her opponents and, unfortunately, allies as well. She considers herself beholden to no one but those who share her blood. On the surface she is the very face of elegance, excess, and hedonism.
Chione Eirwen
The only daughter of a Sharlayan mage and an Ishgardian Temple Knight. Her father, Beau Eirwen, currently serves alongside Aymeric and Lucia Goe Junius, and her mother a retired mage and healer for House Eirwen. Chione was trained in both ways - melee combat and magic thanks to the professions of both of her parents who have extended such skills to their daughter. She has been known to be well-versed in metal and craft and familiar with various materials, minerals, and ore.Chione has seen battle and lent her aid against the threats that faced Ishgard be they big or small; her service is and will always be in service to her patron city whether it is combat service or healing troops back at camp. House Eirwen is the vassal house to House Haillenarte. Chione tends to workers and paperwork foreseen by the Foramen who works in Skysteel Manufactory, which led to the opening of the Eirwen Stone and Steel factory, which Chione runs independently on behalf of House Eirwen and Fontaine by extension and as a collaborator to the Skysteel Manufactory within Ishgard. In her spare time, she had learned to play the Harp and sing. On rare occasions, she feels like performing, but most of the time she performs alone and usually sings to herself while filing papers. While the family works in the city and remains in full service to Ishgard, the Eirwen estate resides outside the city walls near Falcons’s Nest.
Household Attendants
Brutal Bear AKA 'Bruce'
A Hellsguard Roegadyn who has been with Vahalia since her days working with the Ashen Wolves. Bruce and Vahalia formed a bit of a friendship when Vahalia started paying Bruce for any gossip he would hear among the halls in the Ashen Wolves establishment. When Vahalia sought to explore her own enterprises abroad with her business and began working through the rubble of her family House, Bruce willingly went with her.Bruce, while quiet and mean-mugged is actually quite intelligent and tends to shock people when they first hear him speak or when they come upon meeting him. Even Highlander’s have been impressed by the sheer size of the man.
Annette
An elderly Midlander woman who has a history of being both a stewardess and midwife. While Annette is the eldest within the staff of the Cress Manors, she is spritely and wise. Often coming off very motherly towards even the most hardened of folk.She oversees the meals for the House and works alongside Vahalia when it comes to hiring new blood into the fold. She has been a trusted source of wisdom and caution for Vahalia, often having a very motherly role in the Matriarch’s life.
Marion
A young Midlander woman in her mid-twenties who was hired on around the same time as Annette and acts as a personal attendant for those within House Cress. While under the mentorship of Annette, Marion has also branched off as a bit more of a caretaker role for Evran and Idalia when Vahalia and Hakan aren’t present.Often, Marion can seem unsure of her own abilities or come off as shy and tends to sit with her thoughts rather than make them known as she is generally a quiet woman by nature.
Wyland
One of the newest additions to House Cress after having been left in the care of House Cress by Osric Giroux after the separation and divorce of Vahalia and Osric. Without many options and naught the heart to cast him aside, Vahalia welcomed Wyland into the fold despite not entirely trusting the gentleman fully as of yet due to his loyalties lying with the Slater name.Wyland is an elderly Elezen gentleman and comes off as poised, wise and well-structured with the ins and outs of Ishgardian nobility.
Colette
Another new face in the Household staff within Bell Keep is Colette who was hired on as a Nanny and Governess for Evran and Idalia. She is the woman behind the scenes who assists Vahalia with caring for the Cress children and while the children are young, she prides herself on tending to their physical needs as well as their educational needs.She often accompanies the Household during their travels and is the main caretaker for the children outside of Vahalia herself and her husband as well as her ex-husband, Osric Giroux.
Here you will find a bit of a compendium of House Cress in FF14 and how it came to be. You will find inspiration of a real life story, the application of the story into roleplay pertaining to House Cress in FFXIV, indepth information about House Cress and their affiliation with House Blackheart, curses, traditions and more!
House Cress was first birthed in October of 2011 when two individuals began world-building for the game known as Guild Wars 2 eventually released in the summer of 2012. Ever since the Cress name has been re-established in other MMOs such as World of Warcraft and eventually into FFXIV, whether it had been both creators with their hands in the building from one MMO to the next or solo acts, some variation of the Cress name by those two individuals existed.House Cress in FF14 was first established in 2019 on Balmung and since it has keep up with it’s nature for being a reputable source of dedicated story telling while staying within the parameters of what some would call ‘lore abiding’. Those who actively write for the House itself or are associated with the family in some way be it acquaintances, business partners, or immediate family members and extended have also begun entrenching themselves with rich storytelling and creative ideas that all feed into one another.The Cress name being established in FFXIV was a solo endeavor and works generated by one of the creators who was known to play a character named Hale and eventually, the name evolved into Vahalia by the time House Cress reached the MMO. From there it was established through stories as to be a house that was being led poorly by its current Patriarch – at the time – known as Adrian Cress.
I took inspiration for a lot of the Cress lore in FF from a real family that existed in Leitmeritz, Bohemia by the name Krzes in 883AD. Krzes held his allegiance to Duke Hostiwit to where he asked Krzes to defeat a rebel by the name of Sukolaw. Krzes took his knights to Sukolaw where he marched on Sukolaw’s estate until he agreed to meet upon the battlefield. Three hundred men died that day including Sukolaw’s son. This is when Sukolaw swore revenge and began plundering villages.Summoned yet again to contend with Sukolaw, Krzes and the Knights attacked Sukolaw’s castle where he and his men had barricaded themselves inside. Krzes and his Knights had tried everything from torches and rocks to break away at the exterior of the castle and hoping to torch the inside spaces of the castle as well as attempting to burrow under the structure all while avoiding a barrage of arrows, hot oil, boiling water and thrown objects that Sukolaw’s men attempted to rain down upon them. Eventually, a standoff transpired and Krzes endeavored to starve Sukolaw and his men out over time.Krzes put those who tried to sneak supplies to Sukolaw to death or took them as prisoners until Sukolaw eventually gave up. He was sentenced to life in prison by Duke Hostiwit and the castle was then destroyed to keep future outlaws from taking up residence within.However, the men who fought against Sukolaw held such hatred and resentment towards him that Sukolaw’s hands and feet were removed and they then threw him to the river Eger. Shortly after, Krzes was recognized by the Duke and awared a chunk of land and permissions to build upon it. This is where the story of Krzes and the descendants would come from. They named it Krzesein.(In 1930 it was a village of 82 houses with approximately 500 inhabitants of Czech nationality. Until 1226 AD the location was residence of a noble family named after it. The village was bought by the Monastery of Doxan in 1226 AD )In 1190, Emperor Henry announced a tournament that would be taking place in Nuremberg that the Kress men chose to attend. It is here that they were provided entertainment as well as being able to prove their skill and valor. With Nuremberg in their sights and only nine good horses, they entered into the competition.They partook in events such as jousting and melee. At the end of the tournament, the Emperor announced his campaign against Donauewith, Swabia. It was when the Kress men accompanied the Emperor during the war and ultimately won him over due to their bravery and commitment to the task. At the end of the war, the Kress men returned to Voigtland.It is said that some 300 years later the family had moved southwest into a place called Nuremburg where the first records of the name had been changed from Krzes to Kress.Born at about 1240 was their descendant, Heroldus Kress whom is considered to be the ancestor of all the Kress and Cress family.In 1752 Johann Kress and his three brothers immigrated to America from Germany aboard the American ship called the Neptune. They were headed to Pennsylvania and during this, the German pilgrims were kept in lists of those on the ship who were immigrants and gave their oath of allegiance to the King.It was said that the trip took twelve weeks and the voyage had hardships such as there being little to no room on the ship and people being packed in with other humans and cattle alike. Of course that subjected the travelers to diseases such as scurvy, dysentery, and sicknesses such as smallpox and typhoid. Sadly, it was the children who suffered first and they passed in large numbers. It was written that a count of 32 children died on that ship and that there was a witness to a pregnant woman about to give birth being shoved through a porthole.By 1750 the Kress immigrants settled well into America to begin their lives. During this time there were many changes to the spelling of the surnames of the German settlers and thus Kress was forever then known as Cress. The Cress folk of German origin who migrated into Rowan Country made farming their main principle as they were known to experiment with crops their ancestors had tended in Germany. These included things such as silk, grapes, and olives among other notable attempts that ended up failing due to being unfamiliar with the soil and climate. With new soil, they had come to learn that there was a large variety of things they could attempt to grow. In time, cotton had become the preferred crop as it sold for a good price. Eventually, corn, wheat, peas, beans, tobacco, and rice were also being exported across the sea to Europe from Rowan County.The Cress name eventually dabbled in log rolling and being the type of people they were, the German migrants would often help one another without pay and did their own work. A sense of community was strong within those who called each other Neighbor. After large portions of work and completing projects they would then hold a feast which was often heard about many years after and considered a tradition.The women also worked hard and gathered together to do their work. They would hold gatherings called a “Quilting Bee” where women from miles around would gather to quilt together.In short, the Cress descendants had become farmers and traders while also expanding on their villages who often sought out help and good favor from one another knowing that in the end, it benefited them all. It was a sense of community and becoming. With hard work and dedication, they overcame all obstacles and plucked themselves from hardships to forge forward. To this day, some of the old buildings remain in the North Carolina region from the 18th century and the Cress settlers and their descendants.
House Cress originated from the eastern sands of Dalmasca and cities such as Rabanastre, Valnain, and Lea Monde. It’s unclear how far back the name Cress goes or if the origins of the family remained local to Dalmasca since the very beginning, but some time later, the family had migrated to the west to escape the invasion of the Garlean Empire.Baron Cress established his family in the city of Ishgard, a small mercy that his wife Charlotte had been of both Elezen and Ishgardian descent, which made their entry and journey to creating a new life all the easier. With little money to their name, the Cress family leaned on their in-laws, the Fontaine and Eirwen families for support.Shortly after the Cress family had amassed enough prestige and gil to open a business, Baron placed his focus to ore and manufacturing weapons for the city of Ishgard via the small factory he had. The factory was eventually passed down to his son Adrian and then sold upon Adrian’s death when it was handed down to Adrian’s daughter, Vahalia.After the suspected death of Valeria and the confirmed passing of Odessa and Adrian Cress, Vahalia – as the last living Cress at the time – took upon the mantle of Matriarch to House Cress and began her work in rebuilding what was left of the Cress name as well as building on the foundation for possible future generations to come.For many years, Vahalia planned, utilized, and ever changed her agenda to fit the needs of her end goal. If someone were to be made a friend or foe, she did so without hesitation. Rubbing elbows with proper dignitaries and opening herself up to the prospect of business within the underground spaces of society while also playing the role of a single, charming, and popular noble within society’s circles of Ishgard. Over time, she came into ownership of a small island for the House, a port, ships, and meticulously planned each and every step towards operating her own trading business. From there she only allowed the House to grow more with each piece prospected whether it had been a new business deal with a necromancer, expanding on properties with her cousin Carrera Blackheart, finding lucrative and exotic buyers that commissioned her, and filling the Cress coffers to continue investing in things and communities around them until the Cress name was no longer a burden to bear.Now, House Cress stands as one of the most influential and wealthy small Houses in Ishgard. Vahalia kept the House in service to House Durendaire and has kept the sigil of House Cress a bell as an homage to her ancestors and their past as well as respect to House Durendaire and the fealty that has been there since she can remember.The only bells in existence to this date that traveled from Dalmasca and the ancestors there was through Baron and Charlotte Cress the bells were gifted to her children Evran and Idalia which they hang above the cribs to the babies to this day to give remembrance of where the family came from.House Cress sources its own herbs and produce upon their Island known as Black Water Bay where their port is located for both sea fairing ships and a landing for Airships. It is a small space that is properly cared for on behalf of travelers and traders alike and acts as a small community and safe haven.The family has built barracks and houses and trained Knights and high-pedigree bred chocobos in service to Ishgard on behalf of House Cress. Such a task was seen to its construction so that Ishgard and House Durtendaire may call upon their vassal house to receive aid in times of need.The Cress name is no stranger to hardship but they’ve been said to be hearty and resilient people with a stubborn streak who place family and their bloodline above all else. With Valeria returned and Vahalia having placed House Cress near the top of the chain, the House itself strives forward as ever and has currently set its sights on the lands beyond. The rest I have plans for remains to be written but we are inching closer to additional story pieces unfolding..
Many have oft claimed to be true mages of the Black, yet they follow tainted teachings from false prophets or those that think they have learned the secrets of the Black, only to be consumed by it. Some follow the wayward and erroneous teachings of Shattoto who gained their knowledge from the ancestral homeland of the Blackhearts: the fabled city of Mhach.“Advances in Mhachi sorcery were made for one reason and one reason only: cataclysmic destructive power. And the swiftest─and most dangerous─method of acquiring that power was through the enslavement of voidsent entities.” - Cait Sith, familiar of Mhachi High Voidmage CessairThe Blackhearts have known for generations where their true power lies– beyond the rift into a dense void where the power of Darkness reigned supreme. Armed with this forbidden knowledge they harness the power of Darkness bled forth by Voidsent poking holes through the veil and boundaries between worlds. But power does not come without cost. Being exposed to dense amounts of aspected aether would take its toll on the bodies of the family. Some were born frail and needed to use their fine aether control to supplement or bolster their constitution, among other side-effects of corruption.When it came to House Cress, House Blackheart was where the affinity for magic came into play. Both family and coven, a Matriarchal line of witches (sometimes called voidmages), they pass on their talents through lineage and training since their nature only becomes stronger when nurtured and fed. The current leader is Adelle Blackheart, who is sister to Odessa Cress (Blackheart) and guards the dark secrets of Mhachi sorcery and intimate knowledge of voidsent. Though not in name, Vahalia and Valeria were born Blackhearts true to their blood– they had the predisposition and unfathomable thirst for magic and knowledge; through the annals of the family’s past it would be described at times as a hunger for power. It seemed Vahalia over Valeria absorbed the brunt of those genetics.The daughter of the Matriarch was Carrera Blackheart whose closest family outside her mother was the Cress sisters. Though unrelated in name, their blood and houses were tied together, both as vassal Houses to the same Great House and as closest living blood relatives. For those that are privy: the golden eyes the Cress girls bear are a tell-tale sign of their Blackheart lineage. It was through connections, honest relations, and some measure of manipulation of the great House Durendaire that the vassal houses came to be in and of Ishgard.
The term curse is merely a play on words. The curse itself is seen as a gift within the family since Vahalia’s pact with a Voidsent named Creature. Known as the ‘witch’ in the family, Vahalia’s need for power to better protect the family name knows no bounds and she is willing to do what it takes to ensure the family continues on long after she’s gone. There is nothing too morally out of reach for her even if it means killing, maiming, or creating pacts with an entity from the void.The Voidsent was linked to Vahalia through her blood, there in connecting Creature to her bloodline until the well of Cress ran dry. Creature has proven to provide his strength and abilities to the wearer of the onyx stone Vahalia possesses and wears along the heirloom necklace she crafted as a child.The trade-off is simple as Vahalia provides Creature with a proper vessel and nourishment as needed or requested while also receiving the power of void magick via the voidsent linked to her as her avatar. Creature lives forever as long as his interests align with the bloodline to keep it well guarded. It is unknown if Creature itself has an agenda of its own.
It is a common tradition within the Cress House to bury their dead. It was practiced by the family well into the hundreds of years where the dead would be buried with their most intimate and personal positions to accompany them into the aetherial sea. Much of the headstones were ornate and of exquisite condition. However, once the family relocated to Ishgard and with only so many allotted parcels of land available within the city, the Cress family placed their burial space below ground in a family mausoleum where the stone coffins are kept of Baron, Charlotte, Odessa, and Adrian though Adrian’s coffin remains empty as well as the urn that accompanies it. It is common practice to build vertically as opposed to outward and horizontally.Another tradition within the house that has followed the family from Dalmasca was the practice of the children of the family having their first proper hunt at 10 summers. It is during this time that the children are exposed to the nature of death, what comes after, and the importance of the bounty that remains. It is a reminder that all things come to an end and that there is a cycle of life that continues in various ways. This tradition at its core is a lesson but also a time in the life of a young family member when they embark on a journey of making their own heirloom piece with their own hands. Some of the pieces include and are not limited to earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, quivers, scabbards, sheaths, bracers, and even weapons such as bows or harpoons.Documentation such as keeping names of all those associated with the Cress blood within the volumes that are passed down through the generations. Currently, there are two Volumes in existence belonging to the Cress name, both of which are within Vahalia’s ownership and will be handed down to the next head of house; and so forth.Bringing bread into the new home of someone you know as a gift is a small token of celebration. The bread is meant to be symbolic of the home and its inhabitants always having a happy and full stomach and never having to go hungry. Sometimes the bread is accompanied by salt which symbolizes the hope to live a full life full of flavor.Some of the older ancestors of the Cress lineage practiced gifting a kitten to a new bride. The cat was typically said to bring good fortune but to always keep the house, home, and hearth free from disease and to bring protection.