The city-states of Drossus are ruled by a 'noble peerage' of influential families bound by oaths of loyalty and mutual interest. While the Drosni nominally pass their titles along to their blood heirs, in truth their culture values their progeny only as far as they prove their worth. Principally, the Drosni value excellence and ambition, and the peerage frequently shifts to various rises and falls of houses. In this way, noble titles in Drossus are less a reflection of a respectable heritage, and more a representation of the families and allegiances that are the most successful. While few Drosni houses last for multiple generations, those that exist presently often have their position after an accomplishment in living memory.
Titles and Ranks
The
Il'rintri consists of the Valsharessen (Radial Leaders), along with their vassals. A few titles are also maintained for heirs or consorts, along with champions of the court. Non-nobility within Drossus are also categorized into various castes or responsibilities, depending on their patronage, skill, or origin.
(Hover over names for a full description)
Drossus Peerage
In order of senority
- Valsharess
- Valuk
- Quasharess*
- J'haress*
- Ilharess*
- M'Saress*
- Ilkyaress
- Malla
- Vel'saress/Vel'saruk
*title can be inherited
Non-Nobility
In order of senority
- Jabbress/Jabbuk
- Qu'Abban
- Ulryld
- Ilryld
- Shebali
- Rivvil
- Ryld
Soverign Radials
At present, there are six houses, known as the Radials, that serve as the governing body of
Drossus. There is no legal constitution, religious text, or sacred commandment that grants these houses their power. Instead, they hold their positions based on their overt, or at least presumptive power and influence. They wield this power by controlling one or more major institutions within the Sovereignty, as well as appointing and patronizing lesser houses or enterprises. While the loyalty of these vassals is never taken as an absolute, it has been many centuries since any major reversal has been attempted.
Radial Houses
Below are the Leading Houses under the Drossus Soverignty
House De La Vaine
Known as the House of Harmonic Wellspring, it is led by
Valsharess Jehanne de la Vaine . House De La Vaine is the oldest house among the Drosni, tracing its lineage back to Iloelth’s own Illrin. As the leader of Naath Lenora, the house de la Vaine has defacto control over the territory and spinneret that protects the Sacred Cistern, and the seat of power for the Communion of Illoelth. As such, House De La Vaine is closely entwined with the Communion’s influence.
House Labrode
House of the Thrumming Vault, lead by
Valsharess Aalis La Brode . House Labrode is one of the youngest houses in all of Drossus, having earned its position through painstaking accounting, and exacting duplicity. House Labrode maintains its influence through a strict management of commercial financing and legal contracting. Despite the Drosni’s reputation for subterfuge, Labrode has managed to cultivate an almost fiendish reputation for legalistic integrity.
House Labrode’s rise to dominance is owed greatly to the growing international trade with the surface, especially with the Gnau nations of Maibusi and Tu-quet. Despite the Sovereignty's general disposition to mistrusting independent cooperation with outsiders, Labrode has walked a fine line in building its own internal influence whilst distributing much of its gains throughout the Court as a whole. While House Labrode is far from trusted by the other Radials, the other members understand the need for some measure of expertise in dealing with the surface. Better the devil they know.
House Lyassier
House Lyassier, of the Sonorous Den, is lead by
Valsharess Collette Lyassier. House Lyassier is a newer house that is steeped in an old tradition, and gains its influence through a network of marital matchmaking and community benefaction. House Lyassier boasts the largest patronage network of any house, and collects gifts from all manner of farmers, shepherds, botanists, doctors, and apothecaries.
Despite their control over many valued domestic commodities, House Lyassier’s true power lies in their informal matchmaking network. Courtiers within the house's purview are on constant lookout on possible mating opportunities for producing exceptional offspring. Lyassier also offers many families several options regarding the ‘cultivation’ of their family lineages. In this way, House Lyassier shepherds the families of high society, and carefully guards the community against the perceived ills of ‘natural decay’.
House Auberée
House Auberée, of the Resonant Grotto, is the embodiment of Drosni elegance and excellence, at least seen from the outside. Lead by
Valsharess Symonne Auberée, the house has a reputation of sophistication, seduction, and secrecy. As a purveyor of artists and hedonistic pleasures, Auberée's near monopoly of these pursuits allows it to occupy a unique position of influence within Drossus society - namely that of privilege and access. As the tastemaker of all things cultural and sophisticated, House Auberée is able to dictate the venues and access of many of the other houses.
Along with this access, House Auberée takes great care in the careful instruction and patronage of various individuals. In addition to musicians, dancers, and courtesans, House Auberée is rumored to train a number of detectives and spies. It is likely that many of the latter operate outside Drossus, and help supply vital information to the Sovereign Court - thus sustaining House Auberée’s delicate position.
House Doujan
House Doujan, of the Laconic Fissure, is lead by
Valsharess Talauia Doujan. Once considered the militant arm of the sovereignty, House Doujan is now kept in careful check by the Court. A few centuries earlier, the early ancestors of House Doujan were on the cusp of united all Drosni under a single rule, but failed to completely eliminate key rivals. Often thought of as the instigator of the Silent Reformation, House Doujan managed to save legacy and carve out a place in the new order only by the slimmest margins. Among the many constraints placed upon House Doujan is the prohibition upon the development of a large ‘standing’ army for any internal military action. Since that time, House Doujan has sought to instead focus more on external forces for any conquests.
Their prime asset is an exclusive trove of traditions and secrets pertaining to magic, particularly battle magic. The Doujan Archives have been slowly curated with tomes and secrets collected (and often stolen) from various kingdoms and libraries dating back over a millennia. Many of the secrets are then carefully doled out to bonded houses in terms of apprenticeships and martial training regimes as a reward for loyalty. In turn, these trainees are organized into martial outfits that seek to defend Drossus territory from external threats, as well as engage in more mercenary commitments.
House Sauvaige
House Sauvaige, of the Lilting Chamber, is perhaps the most underestimated or overlooked radial of any Drossus Great House. While few outsiders would ever consider ascribing altruism to the Drosni, House Sauvaige, led by
Valsharess Violette Sauvaige, has a reputation for being the most diplomatic or honorable - which in the minds of many of their kin, make them appear weak. This reputation necessarily puts House Sauvaige at a disadvantage in negotiations among its peers, but paradoxically, also frees it to break from traditions other Drosni may hold. One major schism is the elevation of their male population within their bonded territories.
Yet despite this reputation, House Sauvaige is able to maintain a hold on its centers of power through a careful mix of prudent agreements with foreign allies, and an almost cult-like mystery surrounding their Duhrian prospecting. The nature of the Underdark is semi-morphic in nature, and save for a few well-traveled paths, many routes through the Underdark appear and disappear with little pattern. Necessarily, a careful monitoring of these paths requires a level of skill and talent that few outside of House Sauvaige have been able to rival. As a result, despite their general disagreement, the other houses find themselves often at the mercy of Sauvaige in order to organize any major transit through the Underdark that may need to remain ‘undetected’.
Heirarchy of Noble Houses
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