House of Hopesfire

House Hopesfire
Coat of Arms	Black anchor on a white field, twin castles charged
Words	Trust in Hope, Strive by Fire
Seat	Banemoore
Current Head	Azmerlane Hopesfire
Region	Blackmarsh
Title	Master of the Forbidding Sea
Overlords	House of Albrecht
Founder	Azenjis Hopesfire

The House of Hopesfire (also i'l-Azathor) is a knightly house of Lordaeron. A young house, though not as young as the new lineages forged in the wake of the Second and Third Wars, the Hopesfires owe their creation to Azenjis Hopesfire, a notorious Southsea corsair who, some centuries ago, wed the lady Levinia d'Comte, the scion of an old Stromic house facing extinction in Kul Tiras.

Initially preying upon Blackmarsh's infantile fleet, they were persuaded into acting as a privateer force by Wilhelm Albrecht, 3rd Viscount of Blackmarsh who saw them as a rowdy though quite capable group.  His son, Hadrian Albrecht, disparaged them to some extent but could not deny their utility.  It was the strong alliances that they formed then that proved to be a boon in the future.  

Though their family seat, Banemoore, is considered among the poorest citadels in Blackmarsh, the Hopesfires possess both an extensive collection of merchant vessels and a powerful squadron of warships to their name.  The Hopesfire fleet was put to decisive use during the Siege of highpass, when Azrahil Hopesfire crushed the blackade flotilla commanded by Rayr Fisher. They were awarded Banemoore after the War of the Ebontide, a position bordering the Dawn but within the Dread. 

At present they act as the naval force for Blackmarsh, with manses in most ports.  In exchange for being allowed to maintain their holdings, they were prevented form preying upon Blackmarsh merchant flees, however, they routinely attacked Highpass vessels.  An almost playful, though at times quite deadly, rivalry between the admiralty and the pirates formed, with the two banding together only when an outside force threatened them.

Traditions

The Hopesfires are notable for practicing several rustic traditions within their bloodline. The names of all newborn infants are preceded with either Az if male, or As if female. Further, it is considered exceptionally dishonorable to ignore one's bastards, and the Hopesfire actively recognize and foster such accidental consummations. This tradition stems from their less-savory origins, though the Hopesfires themselves claim that a true man will reap what he has sown.

A second and even more esoteric convention regards taking of names; a Hopesfire may add to his full address the names of all his or her children. As the lineage has grown, this has become something of a cumbersome quirk: Azmerlane Hopesfire's full name stands, by rights, Azmerlane Azgevin Asmarjine Azraphel Asceyra Asmoira Azurimbor i-Azalthar Hopesfire. This tradition even continues posthumously: a full recounting of the entire name of Azenjis Hopesfire himself would yield several pages of offspring.

Because maintaining a large family is important to the Hopesfire household, disputes are settled by a means of seizing the ships of a rival.  This prevents deaths and encourages further progeny, as there are but two ways to restore one's honor: acquire enough wealth to achieve a new ship, which in itself makes the defeated a desirable mate, or produce for the family five additional children that might one day crew ships of their own. 

As land is of little utility to the Hopesfires, it is the fleet of the father that is greatly desired.  As a result, sons or daughters inherit the best ships from their father's fleet, with captains that served with distinction being granted freedom to begin their own companies if they would like.  These "cadet" branches often remain relatively close to the old fleets, but some ambitious pirates may set off on their own.

Common Dispute

Although in common the term "il-Azathor" roughly translate to Hopesfire, there is within the household a certain disparity as to what the titles mean.  Because the Hopesfires are seen as "landed knights," they are often met with apprehension by their il-Azathor relatives.  In almost all cases the disputes are never bloody, but it is a dangerous thing to use the term "domesticated" when speaking to either group.  

Notable Hopesfires

• {Azenjis Hopesfire}
• {Azrahil Hopesfire}

• {Azaerys Hopesfire}
• {Azaesar Hopesfire}

• Azraphel Hopesfire

• {Azgevin Hopesfire}

• {Azanton Hopesfire}

• Azrhaegon Hopesfire

• Azmandon Hopesfire

• Azsinj Hopesfire

• Azmyles Hopesfire

• Azrindon Hopesfire

• Azeffon Hopesfire
• Asvinia Hopesfire
• Azmerlane Hopesfire
• Azragnar Hopesfire
• Asmydia Hopesfire
• Azristan Hopesfire
• Azdarron Hopesfire
• Azmartel Hopesfire
• Asmarjine Hopesfire*