The strong social bonds that characterize Lithian families often include their servants--who are often treated like blood relatives--and in the case of the Velez family, into Tegene's relatives as well.  Additionally, because Lithians enjoy longevity that extends for centuries, their families tend to grow very large.  For the sake of brevity, this page focuses on Lynden, Alexina and their children.

Lynden met Alexina while playing on opposing teams during a lacrosse match.   A fateful collision between the two of them inspired Lynden's interest, and though both sets of their parents did not initially approve of their dating, Lynden persuaded Alexina's father to permit their courtship.  It was also during this period that Lynden and Tegene became friends.

Lithians persue unhurried dating relationships.  Lynden and Alexina attended each other's family functions for nearly five years before Alexina's father invited Lynden to move in to his household.  Lynden lived with Alexina's family for three years before the two of them moved in with his family and became an official "couple" in the eyes of other Lithians.

While Lynden worked for his father and saved money for Alexina's bride price, the Lithian people experienced increasing conflict with the Azgaril on their southern border, and the Kamerese to the west.  Lynden's labor was interrupted several times by the need to engage foreign enemies in combat.  In the crucible of this conflict, Lynden proved his capability as a military commander, attracting an army that wrestled control of disputed lands from Kamerese drug lords.  He built a small fortune in the process.

While it's traditional for Lithian couples to move back to the woman's family after marriage, the social and political instability of their surroundings prevented this from happening with the newly wedded couple.  They initially settled on Tranquility Vista in order to protect their land holdings, building an estate that commanded a lovely view of The Great Valley, where the western Lithian people lived.  On its western border, the ridge line that once separated Illithia from Southern Kameron, tribalism and opium production created constant chaos.  Throughout this period, with their lives under constant threat, Alexina gave birth to Brenna, Acacia and Cynthia.

When Brenna became a young woman, Alexina persuaded Lynden to move the family to Shirak, believing that they would be safer there.  Though the family had studied the Lithian scriptures and knew that their days in this lovely place were numbered, their villa in Shirak served as the family home for 14 years.  Camille, their youngest daughter, was born there.