House Rees

House Rees is one of the three merchant houses that rule Balic now that the city has no sorcerer king to lead and protect it. Life in Balic depends on which section of the city one live in. Rees controlled Balic is considered marginally better than life under Andropinis. The Rees's are hard masters, but if the workers do their jobs, they are treated fairly, though extravagent payment is not something one can typically expect, though bonuses for exceptionally good caravans are not unheard of. 

The head of House Rees is Lady Essen (hf LN Psi4 /Trader 12), as no nonsense a negotiator and trader that exists in the city. It has been her stern and brilliant leadership that has kept Rees an elite House in the Tyr Region. Lady Essen is a thin woman of average height whose sharp features are not unattractive - she has raven black hair and a certain regal bearing and an air of command that even those who are unfamiliar with her (which is uncommon in Balic) can sense. Those she commands know that disobeying her, or even not carrying out her orders expeditiously enough, is cause for harsh punishments or harsher words, but she has the respect of her peer and subordinates for the heights to which her house has achieved.

Lady Essen shares her home, a large building described in the next installment, with her husband Taren ( hm LN trader 6), a fair trader in his own right, who handles most of the day to day management of the resources that Rees controls. Taren is slightly taller than his wife, though his temperament is far more moderate than hers. Most of the Rees employees deal with Taren, and prefer it that way, as he tends to be more forgiving than she. However, any dealings with foreign cities or caravans carrying important or high profit shipments deal with Essen, as do any negotiations with other merchant houses. Essen cares for her husband, but thinks he does not have the heart or mind to handle the complex transactions that can make or break a leading house.

Essen and Taren have a son and a daughter, Galen and Athenis, who also play a part in the family business. Essen is grooming Athenis to be her successor, a fact that annoys Galen, as he is the eldest of the two. However, Athenis, more so than Galen, has inherited her mothers business sense, and Essen sees continued success of House Rees as above petty matters such as birth order.

Galen (hm LN fighter 5) is the same height as his father (six feet) and shares his fair hair and skin. He has put forth a concerted effort to learn the business of House Rees, but he has also inherited his father's lesser business sense. He does have a promising future as a caravan leader, and that is what Essen has planned for him. He is a competent warrior and has a vested interest in seeing the caravan reach it's destination, so he will soon lead his first train across the desert.

Athenis (hf LN trader 6) inherited her mothers sharp mind are her fathers fair features, which works to her advantage. She has softer features than her mother and long blond hair and pale eyes which turned many a man to her (and her families) side. And though she does not yet have her mothers experience and skills, she will no doubt be a formidable opponent one day.