Frozenheart

Drow Great House

Frozenhearts are one of the most profilic arcane family lines of the Silver Shore Island. Having their root in the holy city of Zaetron Derraz, this drow family is very influential in the area of Mori'tarna. Counted as part of the The Children, their family have pristine position among the Great Houses of Zaetron Derraz and chairman seat at the Arcane Council of Zaetron Derraz.

Icy-eyes

The most distinctive quirk in Frozenheart-line is passing on ice-blue eyes to their children. Without fail, all children on Frozenheart mother-line have this otherwise rare trait for a drow, and even sons directly from the mother-line are surprisingly often giving blue-eyed children. After the next generation from father, though, trait starts to fade off from prominence. It's commonly joked around that all blue-eyed drows on the island are related to Frozenhearts in one way or another - which actually might be the truth!

Arcane Legacy

Ever since Llothian times, Hun'sekathani, and it's later strand Frozenheart have been known from their magical prowess and association with the arcane. Most famously Frozenhearts have had their talents on magic schools of Conjuration and Necromancy, with deep associations of portals and summoning fiendish or animating undead creatures. Frozenhearts are also tightly associated with the duality of ice and fire, often preferring these elements above others.

Assets

The palace of the family, Xar'zith Kyorl in Zaetron Derraz , is only one of the several states under the house's possession. Frozenhearts hold a major share in the all matters arcane in the Mori'tarna, and are extremely wealthy. Their influence and reputation, combined with their wealth, make them someone one doesn't want to mess with.

History

Coming from llothian House of Hun'sekathani, Frozenheart-family took it's name after Moondancers rose to power and Eilistraee became the goddess of the Children.

While lots of this early history is hidden in the chaos that was the transition years and purges that came from that, there is some evidence to support that the family didn't make the transition smoothly. Maybe to compensate that, Frozenhearts famously destroyed lot of the Llothian artifacts publicly, inspiring one of the sons of the early family, Ant'gloth, to hoard the items to himself. And it was partially Ant'gloth's legacy that helped the family to stay in relevancy and secure their place among the Great Houses.

Bauthdril Frozenheart was the first matron to bear the house name, and she famously maneuvered herself amid the changing times with exceptional grace and elegance. She is remembered as the house ancestress. Hun'sekathani was suffering on constant infighting under the rise of the new religion and caused a lot of trouble for rising cult with their magical arsenal. Bauthdril would become in the lead of the family on the side of The Children, and give her loyalty to G'eldefryn Moondancer and Faith of Children of The Dancer. The transition was further complicated by their previously high standing in the city under llothian, and that position was now questioned in the new hierarchy.

Ant'gloth Frozenheart was born during these turbulent times, and the promising young wizard would have a deep fascination towards magical artifacts. Accounts of Ant'gloth's live achievements and motivations vary a lot depending do you ask it from the house Frozenheart or surface historians, but this much is clear: Ant'gloth ended up in trouble after taking interest of preserve the dead body of the last known drider seen in Silver Shore Island. His fascination to preserve and research the old llothian relics did not help him either. Records of how his own family percieved his fascination vary greatly, but the common consensus is that other drow of the area were not as excited of his collections.

Ant'gloth would take his collection and research to swamps of Lokinanda, building his laboratory to the surface in the land of the druids. He would conduct his reaseach together with his wood elven friend Kelfir Windwhisper. Research would gain interest of gnomish mage Yodira Pyrocrystal, and together the three would eventually establish the Silver Shore Academy of Magi, Ant'gloth taking the position of very first Keeper of Secrets, and build the famous vaults of the Academy.

While Bauthdril secured the family's future in Underdark, Ant'gloth would do the same on the surface, cementing the family to public consciousness. Frozenhearts would take great interest in the Academy and famously take part in its development even long after Ant'gloth was gone. Ant'gloth would later be one of the first Eilistraeen Saints, though the concept was conceived long after his time.

Frozenhearts have managed to keep their relevance through hard work, and have remained part of Arcane Council of Zaetron Derraz ever since it's conception, as well as remained as its chairmen for generations with minor relapses.

Religion

Frozenhearts are very supportive towards the Faith of Children of The Dancer, yet are not as religiously focused as many other families among the Great Houses of Zaetron Derraz. While not ideal in the big scheme of things, it has worked to the house's benefit. Loose ties to the Clerical Council of Zaetron Derraz mean less power the families in the council, but also less power for those houses over Frozenhearts. Issue of Lloth is still a sore point for the family, as the family is believed to have turned against itself several times in times of Eilistraee's rise. As much as the llothian roots have been condemned by the family, there is certain uneasiness around the subject.

Education

Thanks to their vast libraries and expertise that has been passed on through generations, Frozenheart family members are very respected among the arcane academics of the island. They are coveted teachers and mentors, and their sons appreciated as mates, as they bring some of that knowledge with them as they are married to a family. Regardless of their talent level, house Frozenheart takes great pride from the education they pass on their children, and they are expected to excel. Even the worst caster of the house is expected to understand the principles of magic and the ability to remember complicated magical formulas. They are regularly tested and judged by their family members, to make sure they match the family minimum standard and hopefully surpass it with bright colors. Non-casters in the family are seen unfavorably, yet not being caster isn't seen as big sin as lacking intellectual capacity. It's not unheard of that children that family find too "simple" of their liking are hidden out of sight, stripped from their House name, and sent to grow up in more remote estate to not ruin the family's pristine reputation. Smart non-caster, however, do get a chance to impress their family in other ways, often encouraged to take more scholarly professions or interest in arts. Besides talented casters, Frozenhearts have had several talented musicians, artists, poets, historians, writers, sculptors and different types of educators in their midst.

"Clear as ice, burns like fire."

Type

Geopolitical, Great house

Alternative Names

Hun'sekathani (old Llothian name)

Family Leader

Gaussara Frozenheart

Parent Organization

Great Houses of Zaetron Derraz

Subsidiary Organizations

Rimesworn

Location

Xar'zith Kyorl

Controlled Territories

Xar'zith Kyorl

Manufactured Items

Fancy Staff of Fanciness

Ethnicity

The Children, Eilistraeen

Typical family traits

Middle gray skin, ice-blue eyes, a strong disposition towards magic

Allied through marriage

Nightfang

Frozenheart

Allied through marriage

Frozenheart

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Shadowblade

Shadowblades and Frozenhearts have experienced several incidents during the past generation that have kept them in a mutually beneficial relationship, but this relationship has become strained thanks to past discretions. Occasionally there are signs of levels of passive aggression between the parties.