Factions
" 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.
​
-
Commander Angelo Dragonfall (NPC):
-
High Marshal of the Company
-
-
Ruled Over By:
-
The Council of Blades:
-
3 Company Captains, led (ostensibly) by Commander Angelo, in reality by the First Sword
-
-
-
Primary Deity:
-
Various. No primary deities or pantheon designated for members of the Company
-
-
Area Controlled:
-
Surface Tunnel, Entrance of Orbb Dra'sa, Cor Gelidum
-
​
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.
" In Hardship we rise"
​​
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 House Alethar, 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 House Alethar 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 House Alethar 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.
​
-
Ruled Over By:
-
A Council was convened after the death of previous Ilharess. If interested in council leadership, apply with a ticket.
-
-
Primary Deity:
-
Mixed, followers of other Dark Seldarine figures
-
-
District Controlled:
-
Market District
-
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.
" 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.
-
Ruled Over By:
-
Autocratic matron (player controlled, apply for position with a ticket)
-
-
Primary Deity:
-
Lloth
-
-
District Controlled:
-
Manor/Temple district
-
​
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.
