the House of Wolves
A crimison journey.
"Captain, we are surrounded, there is no way out!" The Captain rotated the ships wheel furiously. "Man the cannons and raise the sails, I want everyone on deck to help out or-." The Captain went silent as a piece of burning shrapnel soared through the air and etched itself in the wood right next to her. "Fire, fire damnit!" She yelled out on top of her lungs as she brandished a rapier. The cannons howled out and the lead soared out of the ship to decimate one of the pirate vessels, but their own had already suffered large damage. "Captain, they have sunk half our fleet, we should just surre-" The first mate took a bullet right to the neck and fell to the ground, with a pool of blood developing underneath her, the crimson revealed the reflection of the boarding pirates behind the Captain. She span around and swiftly slashed with the rapier, cutting the closest pirate's throat, then in motion she took a step backwards and parried a cutlass with the symphony of another barrage. She felt the heat to her back as another cannon hit the ship, and small splinters stabbed her in the shoulder, yet she was not about to give in. The Captain took a swift step forwards and stabbed the pirate in the eye, to then kick the body away, followed up closely by a fencing rampage that carved her way to the invading harpoons that bound their ship to one of the many pirate vessels. She had no time to look around on the following combat, and thus hacked off the ropes, one by one. Another barrage hit, this time from a friendly ship, which sent the pirates close by to an explosive demise. Yet, out of the smoke smoke of carnage, a new ship arrived. It was five times the size of any ordinary pirate friggate and carried thirty cannons on the broadside. It opened fire and let loose hell. The Captain had just cut off the last rope as a cannonball hit the railing and sent her flying. She looked up and saw two of her men torn apart, then the air got filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood, and she could hear nothing but a ringing, as two large clouds of fire started to shine from the left of her. She got up slowly, but another human pirate that had survived her rampage sent a kick to the Captains chest. She lost her breath and fell back down as the man grabbed her own weapon and held it aloft with the tip pressed against her throat. He smiled viciously, but soon his mood darkened, along with his whole body and floorboard, as a massive wave formed behind him. The massive pirate vessel was drowned as the wave struck and sent the Captains ship into the air. 5 hours later. The ears where ringing, everything was light, she could barely breathe. The mouth tasted of sand, salt and blood. She started coughing heavily. A bit of water flew out her lungs, before the pain came seeping. She had atleast two broken ribs, splinters all over her left shoulder, one broken foot and one finger on her right hand was missing, but she was alive, on a large shore, and she wasn't the only one. Dozens of her own had survived and a few ships had even made it out alive. A doctor and two sailors noticed her and went up to the Captain. They took hold of her shoulders and started to drag her away to one of the field camps they set up. Thats when she saw it, the massive redwoods towering in the distance, all empty from civilization but sprawling with life and potential. She knew they had succeeded, found it. Home.
Structure
The house is structured by a head nobility. The Wolf and her potential daughters and sons rule over the people that belong to their house. Other elves with power are the most important people, Generals, Spymasters, Advisors, etc.
Public Agenda
The house of wolves are tasked with an important mission to protect the Wolven Valley against foreign intruders that seek to defile the rich nature. They are also the main animal breeders of the Dark Elven empire and pride themselves with their role of assisting the warmachine.
Assets
While having a lack of currency as most is spent on necessary supplies to keep the population living, the house of wolves still have a massive supply of pegasi, unicorns and other war-beasts. They have several ships and tons of weapons and poisons. They have one fortification in the shape of a massive castle where the head family reside, but several of the natural caves serve as outposts and barracks for Taurus the main kind being lycanthropes.
History
The house of Wolves is the youngest of Dark Elven houses, but it swiftly found it's way to power and importance, even if it's quite seperated from the rest of the empire.
It all started as a small colony of Dark Elves that tried to sail away to new lands, but found themselves prevented by human blockades. After days of bad luck and several lost ships, desperation set in, but then, they found something. A strange shore, close to both human and elven territory, left alone however. They landed and set up shop.
The weeks went and turned to months, and a small community grew, and with it, the desire for exploration, for what these lands held. It didn't take long before they realized, they were on anceint and sacered grounds, overrun by wild animals, all from common to never seen before species. Even the trees and fauna made no sense, as not even the southern jungles held their elegance.
The Dark Elves set out to exploit these woods, but instead found something weird. A massive wolf, the size of a smaller dragon is said to have approached the expeditions leader. The choice was simple, to become the woods guardians or be slain by a beast they could not possibly slay. And thus the house of Wolves was formed, with the endless goal to protect the Wolven Valley
Demography and Population
Approximately 50.000 Dark Elves serve the house of Wolves. All of them live within the valley, with a bigger percentage in the towns and villages, and a smaller percentage in the city. The High nobility is counted to consist of 392 inhabitants while the low nobility reaches 35.021 drow.
The birthrate is high, with a medium deathrate, so population is expected to rise to 60.000 within 10 years.
Territories
The House of Wolves control a few isles just outside their valley. They are mainly resided on by trained troops and shipworkers as they are used for naval protection. Each of the few isles also carries a large mortar within a smaller coastal castle. There are also a few farms and fields on the middles of each island, to supply the garrisons.
Military
The House of Wolves, even with less population than the rest of the great houses, it still carries a formidable military might. The house of Wolves has no small fleet, but still suffers from piracy. The island fortresses and it's guard helps a bit, but some more infamous pirates rather see the island fortresses as potential land ripe for claiming.
The main army within the Valley is not that large, but carries many more experienced and trained, our outright big and deadly units. All from bladesisters and guerrilla rangers to dragon-knights and warbeasts. And as if it wasn't enough, they control many of the lycanthrope packs that roam the caves.
Technological Level
The house of Wolves have as high Technological and scientific levels as the rest of the Dark Elven empire, but do not relie much on it. They rather use more effective means to live side by side with their nature, than try to dominate it. This effect is seen on their less developed weapons, armour and buildings, along with their higher knowledge in animal husbandery, tools and incredible skill in using things to their maximum potential. They are even the first to build terrace farms and use a soil made of different animal manures that are far more efficent than other cultures.
On mystical levels, they are the best of their kin on carving Green runes and using nature mystics. Their tattoo's for example has granted some individuals within the house the ability to control animals to an extent, and also makes pathfinding easier.
Religion
Besides the usual belief in Sarak, the god of Death and Justice, this Dark Elf faction believes in the Mystwarg. The rangers that carry the green runetattos of the Mystwarg are allowed by the godess of nature to exploit her resources in order to survive and keep defending the forests.
Foreign Relations
Letters from the House of Wolves, surrounding the states of foreign affairs. "It has been brought too our attention that a certain boar is stirring up troubles in the southern mountainrange and pass. This peculiar human has unified criminals with the Ysandraian Inquisition, with intents of raiding our resources and borderlining elven towns. This can not be allowed go for much longer. Our supplyroutes by the sea that carry out trade are yet free to sail as they please, but a fleet is being built within the Wyldburg canal. I have dispatched my bladesister to deal with the troublesome pirate captain residing within Wyldburg, but she is yet to report back. A message has also been sent to the Twin Emperors, asking if they can finally make a decission to aid us in the cause to reclaim Wyldburg once more and turn it into a Dark Elven port, ruled underneath our house, lest they want our supply-routes of War-beasts to be heavily crippled by these criminals. I've also sent a demand for Queen of Diestria, with the intent on pressing the brat to keep her unchivalerouos subjects in line, but with the corruption and feuds going on there, I doubt we'll get much of an answer, still, it is better to try than not. Finally, I'd like to personaly seek a meeting with the Holy order of Ysand. It's about due time they did something about their zealots, and if not, I shall see them assassinated in order to protect my people. -Signed, the Wolf.
Infrastructure
The House of Wolves infrastructure is far less developed than the rest of the empire's impressive obsidian holds and spires. Rather they live in wooden houses close to the coast that are surrounded by watchtowers and a lumber wall that connects them. Each village and town also inhabits a large animal pen, townhall and huntress barracks. The towns right by the waters also carry ports.
We howl by the feast!
-House of Wolves Motto
Do you remember the days of long past? When our nation was nothing but plundered, starved and defiled pilgrims. We were broken and hopeless. Then, in what we believed to be our final moments, a stream found us, and brought us to these holy shores. We made our home on the coast and walked the trials of the forests, were he found us. By the Mystwarg's endless wisdom, we were made into guardians, warriors. No longer do we fear the pirates, the pillagers, the zealots. If they wish to defile our woods, raid our shores and hunt our people, let them come! We will await them in the shadows, and as they trail our roads, we will howl before the attack. The bloodchilling echoes will pierce them, and send the evil in panic. As they break rank and run in fear, we will charge in and tear our victims limb from limb. When the ground runs red, we shall feast on the dead, to show the petty fools whom are the real hunters.
Founding Date
926-1-16
Type
Geopolitical, Great house
Alternative Names
Howlies, House of the Wolf
Training Level
Semi-professional
Veterancy Level
Veteran
Demonym
Dark Elf
Leader
Government System
Tribalism
Power Structure
Dependent territory
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
Elven silverleaves
Legislative Body
The Dark Elven Empress writes the laws, but as the Wolven Valley is so seperated from the rest of the Empire, they have something of a lawless tribal lawsystem, were the people decide the crime and justice.
Judicial Body
The Wolf herself, Bladesisters or large masses of people.
Parent Organization
Location
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments