House Varani

This article is about the Dvekmenu Great House, for the sovereign state, see House Varani (country)

House Varani, officially Great House Varani (Dvekmenu: Ашанай Дома Варану) was a Dvekmenu Great House. The longest lived Great House, it existed from its founding by Gadvyn Varani in 3E86 until the disappearance of the High Varani Arcanum in 5E63.
House Varani was always an eccentric house, having historically been the only house not based on familial ties, but rather a meritocratic magocracy. It was controlled by a small council of powerful mages called the High Varani Arcanum. Besides serving as the political power centre of the house, they also served as one of the foremost authorities on magic in the world, and would publish the Encyclopædia Arcana.
During the Trofiriyan secession from Dvekmenya, house Trofir promised them increased autonomy in exchange for their support. Today they still benefit from this autonomy, even after the crown centralised power. They barely cared or noticed the diminishing of their power, as they care very little for political power, viewing it as transient and fickle, inferior to the power they gain through their knowledge and magical skill. They did object to the seizure of Godhome by the crown, as it was (and is) a major site of archaeological significance, but terms were eventually negotiated that allowed House Varani exclusive and unconditional right to archaeological work within the city. The crown is infinitely suspicious of the other houses, but less so of House Varani, as their aims are often amenable to the crown: leave them alone or bribe them with some old, magical whatsit and they will go along with nearly whatever. The crown is, however, fearful of House Varani. House Varani has been around even longer than House Trofir, the ruling house of Trofiriya, and would be the only house capable of putting up a meaningful fight against the crown, but they largely keep themselves in line, wanting to avoid petty political squabbles or waste their time in meaningless disputes with others.

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Type

Political, Faction / Party