House Aleanth
Culture
House Aleanth is what could be considered what Drow society should model itself after. Elegant, Ruthless, Cutthroat, and Suspicious. The noblewoman of House Aleanth look down on even Drow of other Great Houses, for they see themselves as the true daughters of Lolth. They are also some of the greatest slave drivers in the Drow community. No other house is able to secure, hide, and turn a profit better then those of House Aleanth. In fact being a slaver is a highly competitive job market, with some even growing to almost celebrity status, or even forming noble lines over their job as a slaver.
Dogmatic adherence to the faith of Lolth is of course, enforced under the pain of death. While they have had to play nice with surface dwellers, the guards stationed outside the walls of the Drow cities typically are paid in many, many different luxuries to simply look the other way. In fact some guards seek to be stationed on the premises of Drow immigrant cities in the hopes of being "bribed" with many different exotic pleasures. Noblewoman also bribe politicians with many different favors and comforts to further their countless schemes against their political rivals and even rival surface dwellers.
History
The history of House Aleanth is ancient and many, for they are the oldest of the houses. It is said their founder was one of the first priestess of Lolth, after the Drow race would discover the Underdark after hearing the whispers of Lolth lead them to their new underground home. This house would be responsible for forming the first great city of the Drow, Nemalion, and from there they would send out parties to secure and grow their race. More cities would be built, but it was always clear that House Aleanth was favored by Lolth above others.
This house would carve a brutal name for itself as the model example all Drow society should strive to be. It would kill all forms of rebellion, and even was the first Great House to organize official raids against the surface dwellers for slaves and loot. It would survive wars with other houses, foreign invaders, and even demonic incursions as some Drow failed to keep their demonic summons on their leash, causing the forces of hell itself to try and ravage the Drow for all of their belongings and the Drow themselves. The Priesthood of Lolth was strongest in Nemalion, and through this it afforded them to prevent many enemies from taking action against most of their activities. They cornered the slave market and it looked like nothing could stop the juggernaut of a house.
The cataclysm put an end to such overconfident attitude, for a time at least. Nemalion was his especially hard, being the epicenter of the great flood, and so precious little of the cities population managed to get out in time. Those that did were left directionless until the daughter of the Matron Mother, Zilvnitra Aleanth, took the reigns and would lead her people to the nearest surface dweller territory. This was the capital Aramoor, of the Kingdom of Ashenfeld. After a incredibly tense standoff with the city guards being at first ready to fight but then confused as typically Drow raiding parties do not bring their children with them, Zilvnitra would parlay with the king of Ashenfeld at the time, one King Aldo the I. No one is entirely sure what was said in that meeting, as nothing was put to paper, but it was granted that the Drow be allowed to stay in immigrant towns build around the city. Soon other nations followed suite, as well the Drow were notorious raiders and slavers, they couldn't exactly bring themselves to just slaughter their entire race outright.
This cataclysm would greatly weaken the once prestigious house, and due to living under the watch of surface dwellers, they have had to hide some of their more "morally questionable" activities. However this house has begun to in recent years, rebuild itself. Its slave market, though hidden in dark rooms and alleyways, has grown stronger. Thanks to the rulership of Zilvnitra, the Matron Mother stokes the fires of passion in the hearts of the truly faithful, seeking to quash the rebellious younger generation worshipping the heretic goddess Eilistraee. This house may one day rule if not the Underdark, then may seek to rule over the surface races. However they still are by no means able to take on the surface dwellers. However with the Great Ashenfeld Civil War, the wheels of the endless schemes of the Drow are beginning to turn once more.
