House of Blackfyre

The house of Blackfyre is an old, but relatively minor Stormwindian aristocratic line, whose origins can be traced as far back as the year 200 K.C. The house of Blackfyre holds the Earldom of Blackwood in the region of Duskwood. Though they were never a politically influential house, the Blackfyres were very wealthy--due in large part to the silver mines located in the northern reaches of the Blackwood. Due to the 7th Earl's treason, the house of Blackfyre was nearly stripped of its Earldom for the second time, shortly after the fall of the Defias Brotherhood. Fortunately, Stormwind's House of Nobles maintained that because David Blackfyre brought his lord father's treason to their attention, he and future generations ought not pay for the crimes committed by Lord Damon and his daughters. The male Blackfyre line nearly ended in 623 K.C. when the 8th Earl was accidentally killed while jousting in a tournament held at Castle Blackfyre. The Earldom and the entire Blackfyre fortune passed to Lord David's only nephew, Arryc Blackfyre Ashvale.

Titles
Earl of Blackwood - A hereditary title, established for Daren Blackfyre in the year 210 K.C. (See List of Past Earls)

Viscount Blackfyre of Westbank - A hereditary title, held by the Blackfyre's since the year 200 K.C. In past generations, it has been used as a courtesy title by the Earl's eldest male heir.

Baron of Westvale - Now a courtesy title, used by the heirs of the Earl of Blackwood, the title dates all the way back to the founding of the Kingdom of Stormwind, when the Blackfyres were mere barons. Westvale House in Stormwind City takes its name from the barony, initially serving as the Blackfyres Stormwind residence while the house of nobles was in session.

Land Holdings
With just over 21,000 acres, unlike many of the more respected houses of Stormwind, the house of Blackfyre holds relatively little land.

Blackwood - 14,000 acres

Westbank - 7,300 acres

Castle Blackfyre
Located in the center of The Blackwood, Castle Blackfyre has been the seat of the Earls of Blackwood since the year 200 K.C.

Rivergrove
A 4,000 acre agricultural estate, located in Westbank County.

Westvale House
Rebuilt shortly after the reclamation of Stormwind and located on the Western block of the Cathedral District, the home's current design was the vision of renowned architect, Edwin VanCleef. Once the personal residence of Lady Danica Blackfyre, the home now serves as the main offices of The Ashvale Trust, and houses the Danica Blackfyre Art Academy.

Blackwood House
Destroyed during the orcish occupation of Stormwind, the house served as both a residence and place of business for the Earls of Blackwood while the house of nobles was in session. Though the lot now stands empty, the 9th Earl has hired an architect, and construction of a new house is set to begin in early August of 624 K.C.

Coat of Arms
The Blackfyre coat of arms has changed many times throughout the Kingdom's history, with each generation adding new elements or changing the old.

The Grey Tower was the personal standard of Daren Blackfyre, and has remained unchanged since his time.

The Arms - Quarterly, 1st Sable a Tower (Blackfyre); 2nd Argent a Lion Passant, Guardian Or; 3rd Argent a Horse Sinister Gules; 4th Sable an Ankh Or. (Ludlow)

The Crests - 1st A Horse Sinister Argent, Armed Or; 2nd an Earl's Coronet.

The Motto - "Bravery Alone Is Not Enough"

Notable Blackfyres
(See also, List of Past Earls) The house of Blackfyre has had a colorful history, and despite the honorable deeds of many of its past members, there remains a great deal of controversy with regard to their ties to Edwin VanCleef and the Defias Brotherhood.
 * Damon Blackfyre  - 7th Earl of Blackwood. Attainted for treason for his conspiracies with the Defias.


 * David Blackfyre - 8th Earl of Blackwood, son of Damon. Betrayed his father and younger sister by exposing their treason.


 * Danica Blackfyre - Daughter of Damon Blackfyre and official mistress of Ethan Ashvale.


 * Arryc Blackfyre Ashvale - Son of Danica Blackfyre and Lord Ethan Ashvale. 9th and present Earl of Blackwood.


 * Cinthia Blackfyre - Eldest daughter of Damon and Captain of Queen Tiffin's Revenge.
 * Elisabeth Blackfyre - AKA, Lisabet Blacksail. Youngest daughter of Damon and First mate of Queen Tiffin's Revenge. Later Captain of her own ship, Cinthia's Revenge.

Trivia

 * Cinthia Blackfyre, who was known to have had ties to the Defias Brotherhood, turned to piracy shortly after the Stormwind Riots, and was later killed when her ship, Queen Tiffin's Revenge was sunk off the Northern coast of Westfall.
 * Notably wealthy, the house of Blackfyre was among the few Stormwind peers who wished to see the Stone Masons paid in full for their labor during the reconstruction of Stormwind.
 * Nearly all past Earls of Blackwood have been Knights of the Brotherhood of the Horse.
 * Damon Blackfyre was among those who conspired with Edwin VanCleef and Gregor Lescovar just before the fall of the Defias Brotherhood. For his crimes, the Earl was sentenced to death by beheading. His son, David is said to have brought the matter to the attention of the house of nobles, and later inherited his father's lands and titles for remaining true to his oath to the Crown.
 * Damon and his daughter were not the only Blackfyre's who had committed crimes. The sixth Earl of Blackwood, Thomas Blackfyre engaged in an illegal land war with a rival, and was eventually slain in battle. After his death, the house of Blackfyre was stripped of its Earldom. The title was eventually restored to Thomas' great, great Grandson, Damon Blackfyre after nearly a century, during which they remained Viscounts of Westbank, but were unable to take their seats in the house of nobles. (See list of past Earls)
 * The 9th and present Earl of Blackwood is the only child of Lady Danica Blackfyre and her paramour, Lord Ethan Ashvale. Although he was made legitimate before inheriting the title, many of his peers see him as little more than a bastard who profited from the death of his uncle.