" Heroes aren’t born, they’re made. "
Thus the words of Commander Angelo Dragonfall and guiding principal of the Whitestone Company. The world is harsh, especially here on the frozen edge where Cor Gelidum stands a lone bastion against the darkness below. Contracted into service by the Church of Shevarash upon the failure of the Dawn’s Crusade initial push into the Underdark, the Company was originally intended only to protect the surrounding countryside and monitor crime within Cor Gelidum itself. However, as time has marched ever onward, the responsibilities of the Company have only increased. Where once they were simple patrolmen, now they guard the halls and conferences of the city’s elite, rubbing shoulders with the merchants, nobles and priests who keep the beating heart of Cor Gelidum alive. Now, with the Crusade’s disbandment, the Company have become the de facto military force of Cor Gelidum as a whole- defending against incursions from below as well as the surrounding countryside. It’s a dangerous job- more dangerous than it was when the Crusade took the brunt of the work- but then…
The pay is better, too.
The company was forged in the heart of the man who became it’s commander- Angelo Dragonfall, slayer of beasts, courter of queens, lord of the battlefield and a damned menace at the gambling tables. Now long past his prime, perhaps, the commander still cuts an imposing figure- though those who meet him wonder if his reputation truly matches the man he is. Or perhaps it’s the man he’s become? Either way, he still commands the respect and attention of the company higher ups (so he believes), and it is for Angelo that rulers call- his reputation is a large part of what keeps the Company in the minds of the mighty, in the hearts of those seeking a better life.
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Commander Angelo Dragonfall (NPC):
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High Marshal of the Company
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Ruled Over By:
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The Council of Blades:
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3 Company Captains, led (ostensibly) by Commander Angelo, in reality by the First Sword
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Primary Deity:
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Various. No primary deities or pantheon designated for members of the Company
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Area Controlled:
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Surface Tunnel, Entrance of Orbb Dra'sa, Cor Gelidum
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This is a company where any can make a name and living for themselves, no matter their birth, so long as they work for it. They will take on experienced fighter and novice alike, so long as they can keep up. Or at least, so the higher ups always claim. Comes down to which captain you sign up with, in the end. Some take better care of their men than others- one may see you trained and equipped with a fatherly smile, another may toss you into the flame to see what you’re made of without a care. Steel is forged in fire, after all. And sometimes the smiles come with lighter purses. You have to be realistic about these things.
Leadership - The Council of Blades
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Grandmaster: Commander Angelo (Titular head)
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First Sword: (faction lead, apply by ticket)
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Second Sword: (faction second, apply by ticket)
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Third Sword: (faction second, apply by ticket)
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Proven:
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Initiate:
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Recruit:
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Non-combatant:
" In Hardship we rise"
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Matron Abraxa had been a skilled and intelligent leader for House Niravar. It was as if she had a perfect read of the politics of Orbb Dra'sa. She knew when to approach the Llothites, when to turn away their emissaries, and when to treat with them. After the war that saw the arrival of the Crusade to Orbb Dra'sa, Abraxa skillfully navigated the political turmoil of her own house amongst those that felt making any kind of amicable compact with the Llothites was a mistake.
"They're playing us!" Some said. "We're only ever a means to an end for them!" Others said.
While Abraxa was at the helm of her house, the house was singular in focus: maintain the status quo with the Llothites for as long as possible, and to join forces with them to combat the Crusade.
During the fighting with the Crusade, in the Battle of the Long Bridge (the battle that ended active combat in the city), Matron Abraxa was killed. Grief-stricken and driven mad by the sight of her mother being cut down by numerous Crusaders in their golden, resplendent armor sent Abraxa's daughter — Azeeza — into a rage. Azeeza was a gifted magic-user and she could cast a dizzying array of spells and curses on whole groups of people at a time. But she and her forces were too few.
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Ruled Over By:
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A Council was convened after the death of previous Ilharess. If interested in council leadership, apply with a ticket.
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Primary Deity:
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Mixed, followers of other Dark Seldarine figures
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District Controlled:
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Market District
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Azeeza wasn't powerful enough. She too was overwhelmed, however, and subsequently perished. The line of inheritance was believed broken by the fact that there were no other known daughters to take up leadership, and so the house wizard, weaponsmaster, and other lesser functionaries formed a council to oversee the family until new leadership emerged or was appointed. The new leader need not necessarily even be female.
Perhaps a male will ascend to the very height of power in House Niravar, but what would that mean for their relations with House Alethar?
There was even another possibility that while it was never possible to consider it under Abraxa's leadership, it could become feasible for a new leader. A deal could be struck with the Crusade to side against House Alethar. Would the War Cleric and his council of emissaries even consider siding with House Niravar? Such an alliance would be very unpopular in both the Crusade encampment and the halls of House Niravar. The initiation of talks between the two enemy factions might see the initiation of assassination attempts on both sides.
House Niravar Rank Structure
- Head House Merchant (leader): Apply by ticket. After launch, the leader of the faction can be dismissed by 2/3rd majority vote. Electing a new leader will be done by simple majority.
After the death of the last matron, the rest of House Niravar met with the intention of dissolving the house as was customary in the wake of such disastrous events. Dying without an heir to the house, how could it go on? The Head House Merchant proposed a radical course of action: what if they continued the House in name and devoted themselves fully to mercantile matters, as has always been Niravar’s focus.
The House is ruled by committee now, with the Head House Merchant acting as its head. He or she will lead the house council and have great sway in house negotiations, particularly during strategic planning. The Head House Merchant is expected to have strategies for maintaining House Niravar’s market share of Orbb Dra’sa, and indeed, to expand that market share. The primary sources of income for House Niravar are mostly through slave sales, with some income being realized from mines.
- High Priest/Priestess (any Dark Seldarine deity will do):
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During the years when Abraxa had been matron, the house’s religious head did not worship Lolth. Indeed the priest had even been male. The previous occupant of this station worshiped Vhaeraun, and the one before that was an Eilistraeen. The only reason the merchant house continued this posting was out of Drow tradition; it was seen as unprestigious to have a vacant noble position. House Niravar need not necessarily maintain this tradition anymore. It would be useful to have a qualified person in this posting, but may not be that crucial to whomever comes to lead the house.
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- Head House Wizard:
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Not unlike a Lolthite house, House Niravar had a position for a head house wizard. They had all the same kinds of responsibilities to the house. Setting of glyphs and other magical wards to protect the house was one thing, but the Head House Wizard of either house had a dual role; command of the house’s magi, under the overall leadership of the House Weaponmaster during war. When not at war, the House Wizard sees to the training and continuing education of all magic-users within the house.
In House Niravar, some magi were even known to be bound house slaves. This was rare, and risky, as such a powerful slave could cause a great deal of headaches for the house leadership. The House Wizard only chose the most loyal slaves to learn magic.
- Weaponmaster:
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The house Weaponmaster is the most skilled warrior in the house. If he is found to be lacking, his replacement is only a knife between the ribs away. Although mercantile matters dominated House Niravar, it was still very much Drow. And only the strongest can hold the noble titles. The Weaponmaster coordinates with the priestesses and the matron to oversee the defense of the house. What tactics and which weapons will be used and when. The Weaponmaster oversees the training of all warriors in the house, under his command. The Weaponmaster is in charge of the training, arming, and organization of the house’s slave troops.
- Captain of the Guard:
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House Niravar also has a captain of the guard. While some guard captains would insist that this is a prestigious, noble title, House Niravar doesn’t really see it that way. The Guard Captain is just that: the most senior house guard. They have no more or less obligation placed on them to ensure that the guard rotations are kept up, the guards are trained, and if necessary the guards are disciplined. That is the sole area of responsibility House Niravar has assigned to this role. It’s not that different from House Alethar, except the Lolthite house has a different level of importance placed on the role.
- Master of Slaves:
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The slave master may be male or female. This is an important and prestigious office in House Niravar. As so much of the house’s finances depend on the income earned from the sale of slaves, the quality of the slaves is paramount. The master of slaves ensures this quality. From overseeing the rigorous and arduous training a slave must endure, to occasionally having to mete out corrective action, the job is important. If slaves of low quality and low training are sold, the reputation of the house will suffer. For any noble Drow house ill repute would be difficult to stand, but for a mercantile house, the stakes were much higher. Therefore only the very best and most qualified should become the master of slaves.
- Master of Secrets:
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Some would say that House Niravar needs to dabble in espionage less than other Drow houses. Coin could in most cases learn any secret, but sometimes a Drow house needed a little bit more. The truth is that House Niravar values secrecy, cloak-and-dagger operations, and dirty deeds in general. All Drow are intoxicated by secrets and crave to uncover them and use them to their general advantage. House Niravar’s master of secrets is responsible for executing covert actions against other Drow houses (and lately against the Dawn’s Crusade). If there is a secret worth hearing, the Master of Secrets should know about it.
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Entry Level Positions:
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Traders
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Warriors/Guards
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Magic-users
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Priest/priestesses
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Spies
" Power Personified. "
The years after the duergars were removed from Orbb Dra'sa were the greatest for House Alethar. The city was theirs, uncontested, and wherever the darkness touched, a person could be sure that space would be full of spiders. The city grew and prospered. The priestesses of Lloth ensure public order so that the city would not descend into chaos. The slave trade accelerated in Orbb Dra'sa as more and more surfacers ended up in the subterranean slave markets. This led to the rise of the mercantile house of Drow in the Market District overseeing and facilitating most of the city's trade.
As money flowed away from House Alethar and toward House Niravar, Matron Maligna decreed that alternative sources of wealth must be discovered so as to keep pace with the martial growth of the very wealthy mercantile house. And that was how their animosity truly started. Wanting to protect their wealth, the mercantile house grew and expanded, increasing its ranks of warriors and magic-users to protect their niche in the city. Time went by and House Alethar had still not solved their problem. The answer arrived on their doorstep one day quite by chance when a goblin appeared at the gates of House Alethar wanting to trade his treasure for shelter and safety.
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Ruled Over By:
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Autocratic matron (player controlled, apply for position with a ticket)
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Primary Deity:
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Lloth
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District Controlled:
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Manor/Temple district
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What did this goblin have to pay with? What could possibly be good enough for the great House of Alethar? When the goblin opened his travel sack, he retrieved several precious stones of varying quality. Matron Maligna's eyes lit up and shimmered more than the gems in the goblin's possession. Sensing an opportunity, she told the goblin that she would agree to his demands if he revealed where these gems came from. The goblin, just relieved at not being mistreated, immediately revealed the location! The old Duergar mines below the city! Of course! The wealth of the Duergar had not been so depleted as had been originally thought!
Laborers and slaves of House Alethar were immediately tasked with mining the old Duergar tunnels further. The Drow had to dig deeper than what was deemed safe by the Duergar and there were a lot of tunnel cave-ins. Many slaves died prying the precious gems from the rocky earth. As wealth was once again entering the treasury of House Alethar, they were able to hire on unaffiliated Drow. Once again the House was strong and was able to keep up with the growing strength of House Niravar. Life was looking good again for the Drow of Lloth.
Then the Crusade arrived. The heated war was fought. The Crusade was defeated and forced to withdraw away from the city's interior, although they could not be forced from the tunnels. Matron Maligna's focus was not on chasing the Crusade further or improving relations with House Niravar. In truth Maligna desired to destroy House Niravar and take over the lucrative slave and spice trade that dominated mercantile matters in Orbb Dra'sa. Years later, Maligna died under mysterious circumstances though. Which one of her daughters will take the reigns of power and guide the house to wealth and glory?
Maligna's mission was to keep the Crusade away and conquer House Niravar. Only the fear of the return of the Crusade kept Maligna from giving an order that would again plunge this section of the Underdark into war and fire.
House Alethar Rank Structure:
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- Matron Mother:
The Matron Mother is the ultimate authority in an orthodox, Lolth worshipping Drow house. Her word is literal law and people live and die by that word without much consequence. Most Matrons delight in pitting her favorites together in combat just to satisfy an idle curiosity about who would win. They revel in chaos, but temper their chaotic desires with the balancing force of order. Or else Orbb Dra’sa would devolve into utter anarchy.
Everything that happens in her house is her direct responsibility, and though her powers are great, the Matron is not above scrutiny. Lolth has eyes and ears everywhere, some posing as regular day-to-day Drow, silently watching all and taking note.
She leads the house. She is the house.
- Patron:
The House Patron is a coveted position. It has none of the responsibility or power of the Head House Wizard or Weaponmaster but has all the prestige, and more. House Patrons aren't seen as merely an object for the Matron to use as she pleases. This is a position of trust and status.
A House Patron is presumed to be absolutely loyal to his matron mother. He is recognized by all as an extension of the Matron’s will and functions as both her eyes and her ears. Trust no seditious secrets to him! Being Patron however comes with a certain benefit; no matron mother allows anyone else to interfere with their Patron.
- High Priestess:
Every noble Drow house has a High Priestess. In House Alethar, this High Priestess is loyal wholly to Lolth. The responsibilities of the High Priestess is to direct the worship of Lolth through rigid adherence to established orthodoxies. The order must be maintained. Lolth must be venerated before all other considerations. The training of other priestesses in the house is the responsibility of the High Priestess as in most cases, the High Priestess’s word on religious matters was the law.
The High Priestess is responsible for the chapel of worship in the house. Some larger houses have whole cathedrals. Wheresoever worship of Lolth was conducted in the house, that was the High Priestess’s responsibility. The rigid dogma must be obeyed and most priestesses had fearsome snake-headed whips to help enforce the religious order.
- Head House Wizard:
The Head House Wizard is, theoretically, the most powerful magic-user in the House, a position usually held by a male Very often a matron’s favorite males find themselves with a position like this. This is important for aspiring mages as the head house wizard is not necessarily the best and maybe a convenient accident or disappearance could happen. Wise matrons usually chose the very best for this position.
The Head House Wizard is in charge of all things magical in the house, unless the matron is herself a sorcerer of some renown, then the head house wizard functions as an assistant to the matron. The Head House Wizard maintains the house’s all-important library of tomes and scrolls. Their preservation is paramount. They are also responsible for the magical defense of the House, placing glyphs and other such magical wards against intrusion and attack. The magical training and education of all the house wizards is the responsibility of the Head House Wizard.
- Weaponmaster:
The house Weaponmaster is the most skilled warrior in the house. Or at least he should be! If he is found to be slacking, it might be time to ensure he has an accident. The Drow way. The Weaponmaster coordinates with the priestesses and the matron to oversee the defense of the house. What tactics and which weapons will be used and when. The Weaponmaster oversees the training of all warriors in the house, under his command. The Weaponmaster is in charge of the training, arming, and organization of the house’s slave troops. This is considered an unworthy charge, and few Weapon Masters approach this portion of their responsibilities with any enjoyment.
- Captain of the Guard:
The Captain of the Guard functions as a second to the weaponmaster and overall leader of the House’s guards. The Guard Captain is usually a female but there have been exceptions. Though all guard captains have aspired to become the Weaponmaster through all ways legitimate or controversial, the best guard captains stay in their positions for years. Guard Captains set the watch and guard rotations daily and ensure the absolute security of the house and of those within. This is a position of some prestige.
- Master of Slaves:
The Master of Slaves is responsible for setting the daily routine of the house slaves and they are responsible for ensuring those duties are completed in a satisfactory fashion. The slave master is responsible for the training of all new slaves as well as maintaining excellence in all slaves. If a slave runs away, fails in their duties, then it is the master of slaves that is held responsible. Some slave masters have free (or even enslaved) assistants to help maintain order over the slaves if there are too many for one person to manage. Some houses have even delegated this specific job to non-Drow magi.
- Master of Secrets:
The house’s Master of Secrets is the matron mother’s eyes and ears outside the house and within. The master of secrets is responsible for monitoring information, following leads, and chasing down sources to uncover information important to the house. He or she is a spy. Not just any spy, but the master of all the house’s spies.
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Entry Level Positions:
(All new house members will fall under one of these classifications)
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Warriors
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Mages
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Spies
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Priests/priestesses
