| The Reed Family | |
|---|---|
 Crest of the Reed Family | |
|
House Motto |
"Build for those who come after." |
|
Head of House |
Exavier J. Reed |
|
Heir |
Luca Reed |
|
Seat |
Kincardine, Arathi Highlands |
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Lands |
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For as long as humanity has kept written records, there has been a Reed alive to contribute to them. While few, if any, ever penned a page, there was never a time in which the Reed family was scarce. Originating in humanity's cradle - the Arathi Highlands - the family grew large and, in recent history, powerful.
| “ | Build for those who come after. | ” |
– Early words of the Reed Family | ||
In present day, the strongest branch of the Reed family still thrives in the Stromic motherland of the Arathi mountains, though the family's patriarch has brought new promise of expansion to the Alliance capital of Stormwind City.
History[]
The Earliest Records[]
The earliest mention of the Reed family name was found in records from the Empire of Strom, dating as far back as 2,997 BDP. During the period of the first few millennia, receipts of business and records of sale, as well as the name showing up frequently on census records reflected that members of the family dealt in various trades. Due to the diversity of profession across the Reed family tree, no one particular mastery would form from the branches over the millennia, but rather various masteries in the various trades meant that a Reed could be found across the Empire performing any number of duties in the cities, towns, and villages.
The Birth of a Legacy[]
Across the various branches of the Reed family tree, none had ever achieved illustrious title or meaningful status over the thousands of years during which the bloodline had thrived. Bound to the mundane and humble life, a Reed would always be two things: A hard worker and a lowborn one. Marriage outside of their social caste was infrequent and no Reed, regardless of the success of their trade, ever held land or resource enough to be worthy for consideration by members of the social elite. And so, when Stromgarde fell during the Third War, the family had no wealth or power to fall back upon. What they did have was one another. The majority of the surviving Reeds - of which, there were many - fled further east into the Arathi mountains to seek refuge in the still-standing Stromic towns and cities nestled in the hills of the highlands. Of the settlements sought out by name was the city of Kincardine, though smaller neighboring villages and towns would be home to many other Reeds who sought out smaller crowds whilst keeping close to their family. Fewer still were the Reeds who chose to flee south, into the Kingdom of Stormwind, far from their families but still closely tied. Over the months spent settling into Kincardine, formerly insignificant members of the Reed family - namely Exavier Reed and his brothers, Vito and Luca - sought to establish themselves in this period of strife and opportunity by entering into the liquor trade. What took place over the next two years would be remember by the Reed family and residents of Kincardine as the “Tawny War”, and would solidify a new legacy for the Reed family as more than just humble farmers and crafters.
The Tawny War[]
The period which would later be called the Tawny War was a stretch of time lasting no more than 2 years, during which a bitter and bloody rivalry took place between the budding Reed Family and the already-established Sienna and Caprenzi Crime Families. This rivalry began over the Reed-controlled market of Stormwind Tawny in the then-dry Stromic city of Kincardine and was the direct cause of death for many members of the Reed family, with a higher mortality rate than the fall of Stromgarde, itself. The Tawny War dangled the threat of destruction over Exavier Reed and the rest of the Reed family in Kincardine, and was only avoided through Exavier’s decisive actions on what would later be remembered as “The Night of Broken Bottles”, which ended in the destruction of the Reeds rivals instead and solidified the Reeds as a crime family.
Read: "The Tawny War"
Read: "The Night of Broken Bottles"[1]
The Consolidation War[]
Newly established as the strongest crime family in Kincardine, the Reed Crime Family - as it would now be referred - assumed control of the monopolies previously held by the rivaling families which it had conquered. Consolidating these monopolies under the Reed Crime Family, now governed by its earned patriarch, Exavier Reed, meant that new wealth and influence not previously enjoyed by the Reeds was now abundantly at their fingertips in quantities beyond what they anticipated. No longer solely cornering the market for liquor, the Reed Family now also controlled the market for textiles, grain, spices, lumber, and iron. Assuming direct control of the mining industry, previously held by the Caprenzi Family, Exavier founded the Reed Mining Company with the experience he, his brothers, and his father held in the trade. To better manage the other trades, Exavier also founded the Northwind Trading Company, under which the Reed Mining Company would become a subsidiary. Appointing various members of his family to positions of authority within the company, Exavier legitimized the monopolies his family held and, through a series of bribes, threats, and blackmail, had forced the Kincardine Guard to look the other way regarding any less-than-legitimate business practices. Paying his due in taxes to the liege of Kincardine, any interest in challenging the Reed Crime Family had been dissolved, allowing the Family to operate within the city with near-impunity.
Following the death of the Sienna and Caprenzi Crime Families, a power vacuum was left open in Kincardine. The events that followed are remembered as the Consolidation War - a 5-week period of conflict during which the Reed Crime Family secured its authority in the city and solidified their control over entire monopolies.
Read: The Consolidation War
| “ | If they sow defiance, they will reap war. | ” |
–Exavier Reed | ||
Over the next 10-12 years, the Reed Crime Family operated in and around Kincardine, with the city of Kincardine as the seat of its power and home of its patriarch. The city’s economy reached a golden era with Northwind wagons and caravans connecting the land-locked city with the rest of the world - something that hadn’t been done since the collapse of the centralized government with the fall of the Kingdom of Stromgarde. By the start of the Fourth War, the Reed Crime Family controlled most of the businesses in Kincardine and the strength of its mining industry meant that the Reed Family would gain new relevance through its booming iron industry and the rebuilding of the city of Stromgarde. Expanding its influence into the rebuilding of the capital city, Exavier Reed had also turned his sights south toward new opportunities in the Kingdom of Stormwind. Appointing trusted members of his family to govern its needs at home, Exavier took his most-trusted men and women with him to personally pave the way for his family to do business in the capital city of the Alliance.
Expanding Influence[]
The arrival of the Reed Crime Family to Stormwind City was a turbulent period of change. Though he anticipated the presence of rivaling criminal bodies, Exavier had failed to anticipate that they might be in collusion with one another as well. The arrival of the Reed Crime Family was seen as a threat, and the Family was plunged into conflict almost immediately over control for the city district of Old Town. Smaller street gangs were swiftly stomped out or brought to heel, but larger bodies violently resisted Exavier’s attempts to tame the city’s criminal underbelly, leading to a bloody turf war. Unlike in Kincardine, where the Guard had remained largely uninvolved in the rivalries of the crime families for one reason or another, the Stormwind City Guard took a more direct and frontal approach to checking the violence that had erupted in response to the Reed Crime Family. And while Exavier cultivated many strong relationships within the City, both criminal and otherwise, the pressure from the law had become too much of a risk. Leaving most legitimate business hooks in play, Exavier withdrew the criminal element from the city or forced it onto an indefinite silence while the streets cooled off. It was during this time that Exavier’s rivals, having not followed suit, found themselves pressed upon by the law in ways they could not endure and, eventually, burned out completely.
The crack-down of law enforcement kept crime tame for several years, but it’s return to the streets of Stormwind was an inevitability. However, with the Family’s larger rivals dead or incarcerated, their return to the city was not met with the same resistance as it had once been. Instead, old names and familiar faces soon found the return of the organized criminal family as a good omen for the underworld and lucrative business would resume again. Regarded widely as the “dark ages” among the Reed Crime Family and its closest associates, Exavier was determined to prevent the city’s backslide into chaos and wanton violence by asserting the Family as the authority over underworld law and seizing control of many Stormwind streets and districts with an iron fist. Establishing a cooperative pact with his close associates, Exavier founded the “Network” - a collaborative system of criminal organizations and key individuals - to maintain control over the criminal underworld, to organize the criminal activity, and to apply order where there would otherwise be chaos. Today, the Network consists of several criminal organizations, guilds, and companies with control stretched across much of Stormwind City. The Reed Crime Family enforces its idea of underworld law across the Districts, leading to a notable decline in violent crime in exchange for a rise in the white-collar variety. Streets controlled by the Family are quiet streets with "safe" businesses, abundant families, and watchful eyes to oversee the adherence to order.
Family Traditions, Rituals, and Superstitions[]
The Reed Family is anchored in tradition and entangles the Old Ways with the New. Between the ancient druidic practices of early human civilizations and the new-age faith rooted in the ways of the Holy Light, the family speaks of both with equal reverence and meaning. These traditions are most prevalent in response to death, but also carry weight in the family's morality and determination of 'right', 'wrong', and 'tolerable'.
Death and Funerary Traditions[]
- Death in the Reed Family is always a mournful affair. When a member of the family dies, living relatives flock from all corners of the Arathi Highlands to see their kin off into the Light's embrace. Failing to attend a funeral without good reason is seen not only as an act of disgrace, but some in the family believe it is a bad omen of who death shall seek out next. While this superstition has never had grounds to affirm itself, it remains a wives tale across the many branches of the family tree.
- Reed funerals are - unless the circumstances of the death prevent it - an open-casket affair. This is to allow each member of the family an opportunity to kiss the deceased one final time in farewell. Circumstances that prevent an open-casket funeral are especially mournful, and members of the family will instead kiss the lid of the casket. Withholding a kiss during the funeral is seen as a sign of disrespect.
- It is customary for a Reed funeral to open and close with a prayer. While the opening prayer often calls for strength, peace, and remembrance, the closing prayer will always be a plea to the Light to accept the soul of the deceased.
- When a Reed dies, whether from old age or by other means, it is the duty of their closest relative to "assist" the deceased in completing their Final Prayer. This is when the next of kin must gently wrap the deceased prayer beads about their hands as though they were preparing to pray. This is a private and very intimate moment, as often the next of kin must wrestle with the stiffness of long-dead hands in order to properly wrap the beads. This holds symbolic significance, representing the struggle of a loved one to let go.
- Funeral bouquets are customary at Reed funerals, and the flowers chosen for the bouquet often possess different meanings to the family member bearing them. For example, those closest to the deceased will often include orchids in their bouquets to represent an everlasting love while the inclusion of rosemary in their bouquet would represent forgiveness for an unsettled grievance. These bouquets are placed around the casket, and will be tossed into the grave once the casket is lowered into the earth.
- Regardless of where a Reed dies, their final resting place will always be in the Arathi Highlands. This is because the Reeds believe that family ought to always remain together, even in death. No expense is spared in recovering the remains of a Reed who dies abroad, and delivery of remains is seen as a top priority.
- Among the family there is a saying, "Roses for a friend, earth for an enemy". This refers to the act of tossing flowers atop the casket while it is lowered into the ground. While it is practically unheard of for anyone to throw a handful of soil during a Reed funeral, this family custom has seen use in attendance of the funerals for others.
- The receptions that follow funerary services, in contrast to the service itself, are lively events. They are celebrations of a life well-lived, and sport a variety of foods, traditional music, and stories of the deceased. In the event that the deceased did not die of natural causes but was, instead, murdered, it is during the reception period where the Rite of Revenge is decided. During this time, those closest with the deceased - be them a spouse, a child, a parent, a sibling, etc. - will convene privately with the patriarch of the family. Each family member in attendance will present their claim to the Rite of Revenge to the patriarch who will then decide which among them who has the strongest claim. The family member deemed as having the strongest claim will be given the sole responsibility of taking revenge for the wrongful death of the deceased. The chosen family member may choose to bring whomever they desire with them, but the act of exacting revenge will only belong to the member whom the patriarch chose unless they surrender the rite to another.
Family Superstitions[]
- The Reeds light candles for their dead. A candle is lit atop the tombstone of their deceased and is kept burning for one week after they are dead to ‘help light the way’ for their soul. They light the candle again during the Day of the Dead and any additional times in which they visit the grave of a loved one to ‘guide them’ back.
- A Reed can offer various different holy blessings, but a Reed will never invoke the name of a Saint in a blessing they do not mean with sincerity. It is sacrilegious. It is considered disrespectful to discuss business during a meal. A Reed will discuss business before or after, but never during.
- When engaging in business dealings, a Reed will never accept or offer a left-handed shake. It is considered a “dark deal” and is associated to bargains made with witches, warlocks, and demons. Deals sealed with a left-handed shake are doomed to be unfulfilled and are bad luck.
- Breaking an unopened bottle of alcohol is seen as a bad omen. A fresh bottle must be opened and poured out to ward against bad luck.
- Since the Tawny War, serving Stormwind Tawny at a party or to a guest is a bad omen. Sending Stormwind Tawny as a gift is almost always seen as a threat.
- The ancient runic pattern of protection is carved into the frame above the front door in a Reed household. It is believed to ward off unwanted guests, evil spirits, and bringers of bad luck.
- A Reed will always pay what they owe. Cheating a debt is a bad omen and it is believed that anyone who cheats a debt will be cheated in the future. A Reed who repays a cheated debt must offer more than they owed in order to lift the bad omen.
- A Reed always carries a silver coin on their pocket that they will never spend. Considered to be the purest form of metal, it is believed that carrying a coin of pure silver in one’s pocket wards off evil spirits and bad intentions. The coin must never touch money meant to be spent.
Family Oaths, Blessings, and Prayers[]
For a Reed, an oath is an unbreakable thing. And while one cannot simply demand an oath from a Reed, when an oath is given or received it is regarded with heavy-hearted severity. Oaths are seen as gestures of loyalty, and there is no greater crime to a Reed than the act of betrayal - the violation of an oath. This is so prevalent, in fact, that of the three lines in the family's blessing, one is dedicated to keeping an oath. Over the last several decades, with the establishment of the Reed Family as an organized crime family, members have been inducted into the lifestyle from outside of the Reed bloodline. Each of them give an oath to the Family, and keeping the oath is regarded as the ultimate duty. To be an oath-breaker is to be a traitor, and the Reeds do not suffer traitors lightly.
Family Oath[]
"May I pay my dues, honor my debts, and earn my keep. May the Family never question my loyalty, may my friends never doubt my sincerity, and may my kin never want for something I can provide. May I be ruthless toward our enemies, may I be decisive in my vendettas, and may I always bury a clean hatchet. May I keep a strong and healthy spirit, and may the Light protect me in times of war. I commit myself to a life of honor, obedience, respect, and loyalty. I commit myself to the Family. Before my friends and before the Family, I make this oath. May my word be like iron, upon which I stake my name. And if I betray it, may I be struck down to hell."
Family Blessing[]
"Blessed be the knife that knew restraint. Blessed be the coin that paid the debt. Blessed be the man who never broke an oath."
Notable Members[]
- Exavier Reed (Boss) - Patriarch of the Family
- Luca Reed (Underboss) - Eldest Son and Exavier's successor
- Cain Reed (Soldier) - Nephew of Exavier; raised equal to a son.
- Cecilia Reed (Civilian) - Wife of Exavier Reed
- Antonio Reed (Civilian) - Youngest son of Exavier and Cecilia
- Mateo Reed (Civilian) - Second son of Exavier and Cecilia
- Jacob "Triggerman" Weaver (Capo)
- Javier Castillo (Capo - Deceased)
- Cadeius "Cade" Beckwith (Capo)
- Lemar Stonebridge (Advisor)
- Jerrick Reinhardt (Soldier)
- Callie "Pockets" Beckwith (Soldier)
- Cinda "Whisper" Falcon (Soldier)
- Shelby "Bishop" LeCroix (Soldier)
- Gage Tanner (Soldier)
- Nikorov Sutherland (Soldier)
- Trishanne Lockwood (Soldier)
- Valentin "Snips" Summers (Soldier)
- Duston "Dusty" Branson (Soldier)
- Amari "Falconsbane" Seduv (Soldier)
- Rae'danas Silverwind (Soldier)
- Jim Blade (Soldier)
- Donal Doyle (Soldier)
- Vince Draedon (Soldier)
- Cooper Marl (Soldier)
- Jake "Jackie" Beans (Soldier)
- Remmy Beans (Soldier)
- Clyde Morbitack (Soldier)
- Garyson Sloan (Soldier)
- Reynauld "One-Eye" Freidricks (Soldier)
Lands and Territories[]
The lands and territories controlled by the Reed Family are not controlled as a Lord rules a fief. Instead, the Reed Family's control over land and territory comes through economic, social, and political efforts that pressure, extort, or threaten local landlords to comply. No example of this is greater than the Stromic city of Kincardine, in the eastern mountains of the Highlands, where the liege-lord submits to the will of the Reed Crime Family. Other locations, such as Pigeon Port in the north-west of Stranglethorn Vale, are owned as company towns and only serve a commercial purpose toward the benefit of business and trade.
Pigeon Port (north-western coastline; Stranglethorn Vale)
Little more than a blip on modern maps, the colony of Pigeon Port is a company town under total ownership of the Northwind Trading Company. Located along the eastern coast of Stranglethorn Vale, the shipping colony was established 12 years ago for the purpose of convenience in shipping tobacco from nearby Northwind tobacco plantations. Today, it also deals in the export of oil, spices, and minerals from Northwind industry across the jungle. The name is derived from the reliable courier bird which the colony frequently used for communication with the capital prior to the establishment of technologically superior communication methods. Despite greater accessibility to long-range radios today, pigeons remain a part of the colony’s history and iconography of the bird appears in company letterhead originating from the port industry.
The colony of Pigeon Port is not widely recognized; almost unheard of to the average man and only slightly more recognizable by merchants who deal in trade between Stormwind City and Booty Bay. Among the few familiar with the colony, it is not for luxurious architecture or culture but rather for industry and opportunity in the business of tobacco, oil, spices, and other goods exported from the Northwind industrial complex stretched across portions of eastern Stranglethorn. Maritime merchants - both independent and corporate contracted - frequently moor or anchor trade vessels for reasonable fee to offload cargo, take on new cargo, or to resupply for lengthier journeys around the Cape of Stranglethorn, favoring business with humans over price-gouging goblins in Booty Bay.
As a company town, every structure standing in Pigeon Port has the Northwind Trading Company to thank; from residential structures to recreational establishments to the chapel. Meticulously planned and constructed with practicality in mind, the colony consists of: 1 tavern, 1 civilian trading post, 1 post office, 1 stable and caravan station, 1 chapel, 1 corporate office, 25 residential structures, 2 bunkhouses, 1 oil refinery, 3 storehouses, and 4 docks. The residents of the colony are either employed by the Company or are family of an employee working out of the colony. The tavern serves to entertain Northwind laborers after long shifts in the refinery, though the infrequency of travelers means the tavern has no rooms for rent. The ale, beer, and tawny are imported from Stormwind City. Food is provided to the colony residents; quantity assured so that no family goes hungry. The trading post offers, for the resident willing to spend, a wider variety of food not provided by the weekly ration, as well as clothing, tools, alcohol, and cigarettes.
Crown Jewel Plantation (north-western Stranglethorn Vale - miles from Pigeon Port)
Cultivated in a swathe of fertile, deforested jungle in north-eastern Stranglethorn, the Crown Jewel Plantation is the primary plantation for the Goldcrown Tobacco Company (subsidiary of Northwind Trading Company) and is responsible for nearly all of the company’s tobacco production. Nearly 200 acres (or roughly .80 kilometers), the plantation produces approximately 500 tons of tobacco (estimated at around 2.5 tons per acre) each harvest season, making Goldcrown Tobacco Company one of the largest tobacco producers in the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. The Goldcrown Tobacco Company employs over 400 laborers year-round and generates approximately 23,025 gold per harvest yield and can harvest between 3-5 times per year, depending on various conditions.
Located approximately 12 kilometers from the company town of Pigeon Port, connected by road, the Crown Jewel Plantation receives its life line through the Northwind Trading Company’s supply chain. It is through this chain that the Crown Jewel Plantation receives food, tools, and other necessities for managing and operating the massive expanse of farmland. Likewise, the plantation’s contribution to the chain comes in the form of harvested, dried tobacco which is regularly sent to the colony of Pigeon Port by armed caravan where it is shipped to Stormwind City for distribution.
Though the plantation sits on extremely fertile ground, it also sits in contested territory. Various tribes of jungle troll pose constant threat to Northwind operations in the area and as such, the Crown Jewel Plantation is guarded by gunpowder. A unit of no fewer than 48 guards operate the various guard towers and patrol routes securing the plantation. A new unit of Company soldiers arrives each fortnight, replacing the former for 12 days then repeating the cycle. A barracks exists on the plantation grounds to quarter these guards, and an armory stores all accessible munitions and rifles assigned to the on-duty men and women. Guards in the field are always mounted on horseback during patrols armed with lever-action rifles.
The plantation grounds are host to the following: 200 acres of cash crop, 2 storehouses, 3 drying barns, 8 bunkhouses, 1 foreman’s office, 1 barracks, 2 stables, 10 guard towers, and 1 meal hall.