House Helgram: The Helgram Aunts

Other Members of House Helgram

Dowager Grand Duchess Joan Hendrake-Helgram, Warmistress

Joan is the widow of Grand Duke Graham the Younger. She was born into House Hendrake, and was brought up within that House, learning the military skills which would be appropriate to one of her status: she is Aunt to the current Hendrake Grand Duchess, Belissa Minobee. Her marriage to Graham was initially a political one, although husband and wife grew very fond of each other, and when the previous Helgram Warleader died, Joan was willing to take over the position.

Children of Graham Junior and Joan

The Helgram Aunts (which also includes Duchess Matilda and Duchess Eleanor, in the previous generation) are a formidable lot. Definitely they who shall be obeyed. They have a habit of fighting with their daughters as rivals, and tend to favour their sons. However, they won’t hesitate to block unsuitable marriages for any of their children, if they don’t like who gets brought home for approval, sometimes going to great lengths (including land seizures and kidnappings) to stop a marriage they don’t approve of going ahead. They also prefer their sons to have short-lived marriages or none at all.

Duchess Clarissa

As she is the mother of the current Grand Duke, Clarissa is considered to be a member of the Ruling Line, and more details can be found on the Ruling Line page.

Duchess Rosemary

Rosemary is very much the kind of person who works behind the scenes to make sure that the laziness she sees elsewhere in the House doesn’t mean that things grind to a halt. She works in the Helgram bureaucracy and is highly effective in keeping people organised and getting the job done…whatever the job may be. She has almost as many contacts in Thelbane as a whole as her Aunt Eleanor. She is known to be a Trump artist, as well as a sorceress specialising in teleporting and communications magics.

She works closely with her daughter, Isabel, who recently joined her office in the Long House.

Duchess Florence

Despite her gossipy exterior, Duchess Florence is very highly educated, and is one of the legal powerhouses of House Helgram. She was formerly a Judge within the House (and is now Helgram Chief Counsel?). She is also very involved in House politics.

Florence was married to Douglas Fitz-Channicut, and they have two pairs of twin sons: Robby and Roddy; and Dougie and Dhugal. She is very protective of her children – some might say over protective – especially after Robby was mauled by a Hellhound belonging to Julian Rilgason when he was a child, although she is slightly more relaxed about her younger boys than her older ones. Thus far, none of the assorted girlfriends they have brought to home to meet her have passed muster, so they remain bachelors.

She is pretty liberal in many areas, in common with Matthew, son of Brand: for example, opposing universal compulsory military service, which has been floated in some countries. Robby and Robby are working for him in Shadow on some of his personal ventures, and she encourages them to debate philosophy and politics on a regular basis. She occasionally guest lectures at the Academy, on House and Thelbane governance, and is one of the main proponents of restoring the old Helgram Parliament and greater autonomy for the Grand Duchies, rather than the current, more ‘provincial’ arrangement.

Her most notable feature is her striking robin’s-egg blue eyes.

Duchess Athena Helgram, Headmistress of the Amber Mage College

Duchess Athena is a highly competent magic user. She formerly ran the Helgram Academy, as Headmistress and Chair of the Academy Council, but recently moved up North, to become the equivalent at the Amber Mage College. She is a no-nonsense individual, with a rather stern exterior; underneath she is honest and fair but also very pragmatic. If she decides a student has done something warranting chastisement, she will usually devise a punishment aimed at encouraging practical and good behaviour in the future, rather than discomfort in the present.

She stays out of Helgram Family politics but stays up to date on it as a sensible step. One of her daughters, Anne, was recently named as a Maid of Honour to Marquesa Morgana, which is proving something of a challenge.

Athena is owned by dozen cats, many of whom have accompanied her to Amber, but a few remain who have the run of the Academy Ways.

Duchess Marguerita

Marguerata, like her Aunt Matilda, is one of the prouder, more aristocratic Helgram aunts, and has a lot of friends and contacts throughout the House and Thelbane as a whole. She is also less inclined to meddle in the affairs of her children than some of the others. She can be kind and considerate, but is a very bad person to get on the wrong side of, and can have a very sharp tongue if angry. She is also a strong believer in knowledge and is often sought for her influence and advice. She has a reputation as a strong Ritualist, and often lectures at the Helgram Academy.

She loves cats in all their forms, from Tiddles to tigers. She is usually seen with a long silver cigarette holder and enjoys her personal brand of cigarettes that she has had made for her.

Duchess Juanita

Juanita is an honourable lady, but very stiff backed and traditional. She is also very proud, and is a tough matriarch, who is very capable of taking on those who displease her. She is of the pro-Chaos party, believing that Chaos can be reformed and brought back to its old days of a strong king, countered by a conservative parliament blocking unnecessary changes sponsored by mischief making would be tyrants, and has little time for those who believe the Grand Duchies should be independent. She has a thorough dislike of Grand Duchess Dara of Sawall, and her henchman Mandor, especially given their less than supportive actions during King Swayville’s recent illness.

She has two daughters, Alexandra and Joyce. Joyce is married to Vilhelm FitzChannicut, a natural son of a brother of Tubble Channicut, and they have four children: the blond twins Gottfried and Manfred, a daughter named Amelia, and a younger son called Thaddeus.

Duchess Diane

Diane is an unlikely wealthy merchant – usually looked down upon in House Helgram. She is known to be loving and friendly to all. She is usually very hospitable and loves to feed everyone. She owns large trading houses and many trade ships. She dotes on her children as well and will cater to their needs. She has various children, including a son named Pinkus and a daughter named Sorcha, who in turn had a daughter called Brigit (now deceased). She and Pinkus are blonde/blond Helgrams. She was an early inspiration for the late-Clarabelle Helgram who married Jericho Channicut, RIP. She is known for being very ethical in her dealings and is not known for rapacious prices.