THE HIGH HOUSES,
𝒏𝒐𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒍𝒚𝒓𝒊𝒂.

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❚ high houses.
elyria has eleven high houses and many minor houses. high houses are composed of a long lineage of grossly wealthy men and women desperate to keep the wealth among their own relatives. over the course of centuries, families have made names for themselves but most herald one person as their founder regardless of who came before them. the man who raised the house into glory is generally seen as the founder. people born to high houses are of the highest societal tier and are very politically involved. usually men of high houses become the king's hand, a master of military, treasury, spies, agriculture, or armaments, and sometimes they go on to become high-ranking military leaders. and sometimes they just remain an insanely wealthy man or become the patriarch of their house. you know, rich people things. as for the women of high houses, they have relatively high dictation over people beneath them in station, but mostly all they get to do is serve their queen, potentially marry into royalty, marry for noble alliances, or just marry to marry. the high houses are as follows:

house valaryen.
the white tigers of silver & platinum.
lord | not named.
lady | eilena valaryen, deceased.
founder | vaegon valaryen.
the wealthiest of the high houses, the valaryens stand as the most influential high house and the only one able to steer clear of the king's wrath. cunning & brutal, the valaryens are ruled by a ruthless patriarch who teaches his men cruel efficiency and his women cunning deception. they are perhaps the smartest house and the best at playing courtly games and tricks. they've never lost before and they don't intend to ever fail. their house is responsible for the fall of the storms although they were joined by house blackthorn.

house storm.
the everwolves of black & purple.
last lord | evander storm.
last lady | nymira storm.
founder | aleric storm & lilith storm.
though the house has been declared extinct for over a decade now, house storm was the most powerful house in terms of force. their bloodline inherited some of the strongest magic ever seen and their politics were considerably liberal and matriarchal. they were a very close family with a very honest and true core. though strong and efficient, they tended to be one of the more gentle houses in regards to justice. they believed people were innocent unless there was enough evidence to convict someone. due to their power and their religious influence, house storm was untouchable until they made a few wrongs, and, of course, harbored magic. be warned, though, they aren't all quite dead yet.

house everlin.
the doves of lilac & silver.
lord | not named.
lady | saera everlin, deceased.
founder | kaerson everlin.
a western, agricultural family of great beauty, house everlin is the second most wealthy house. their seat is lush, green, and beautiful no matter the season. even in winter, their people never starve. blessed with great beauty and prosperity, house everlin makes its name through wealth rather than military might like many others. they are a notably more demure house, having raised gentle women and noble men, they are considerably less prepared for great conflict but they are essential to have on your house's side if you are not an everlin. even if you're up against the most powerful houses, everlin gold and crops will definitely boost your chances at winning immensely.

house rayne.
the reiwolves of gray & dark blue.
lord | not named.
lady | alyse rayne.
founder | nikolai rayne.
seated on a beautiful eastern island with exotic wildlife, the raynes are a most intelligent family, finding ways to root many family members into council seats. they usually dominate the king's council and their children are very cunning. currently the lord of house rayne serves as the king's hand. though they are not the most wealthy, they are one of the houses that uses their intelligence and spywork to intimidate other houses. lastly, with the raynes, everything they do is a political move. okay, maybe not holding hands but i mean, you can never tell what kind of ulterior motives they have.

house lynesse.
the white peacocks of gold & cream white.
lord | austen lynesse.
lady | alyra lynesse.
founder | esmund lynesse.
sitting upon a land rich with metals and precious gems, house lynesse is well known as the keeper of jewels. decked out with the best attire and jewelry, they are the third richest house in the land. their house is an ambitious one and many say it is house lynesse's ambition that secured eliya lynesse as queen. powerful and manipulative, this house is known for being deceptive and despite their reputation, people always manage to fall for their irresistible charm. it's common talk that the lynesse house is chalk full of people of diverse sexual orientations but their wealth and charming personas protect them—and they're so charismatic that they can persuade you to see things their way. after the death of eliya lynesse and her brother, their house took a blow to their reputation but they've handled it well but they are officially enemies of house blackthorn and it worries the king immensely. be wary around them, it's rumored they're capable of controlling minds. as for the lord and lady, they are playful yet vicious people. they talk to people as if they truly matter and once they have what they need, they cut you down with brutal efficiency. however, they love every member of their house very much and the family often offers biting criticism to one another as a form of playful affection.

house raelyn.
the foxes of teal & gold.
lord | tomas raelyn.
lady | helyn raelyn.
founder | aeron raelyn.
the raelyns are a tight knit, traditional family. they live in woodlands and host many meets and tourneys. their men and women alike are skilled hunters and horseback riders. though they're not the most cunning house (their rivals too great for them to compete in that arena), the men of their dominion work mostly in defense and make up the majority of guards and defenders. though many can overlook that, the raelyns use their servants as spies who only report findings when it's asked of them. if a house stays out of their way, there is no need to learn their secrets. it's a shame, though, how most of their subjects serve noble jobs. it makes it difficult to root them out when it would be frowned upon by the king himself. house raelyn is highly favored by the religious leaders and house blackthorn, therefore making them untouchable by default. well, almost. no one is truly safe if the right person learns all the right secrets—or the right person can convince people something is true when it isn't. lastly, the lord and lady of raelyn are good people. they're family-oriented and traditional although that also means they are rather strict. usually tomas is busy with lordship duties so it's usually the staff of helyn tending to the children.

house bellevae.
the ravens of black & blue.
lord | varian bellevae.
lady | veera bellevae, deceased.
founder | marcell bellevae.
seated up in the cold north, house bellevae lives within a beautiful region. though harsh, the northern lords and ladies are well used to it. after the fall of house storm they became the dominant house in the north. after the short reign of queen kathryn (and her subsequent fall), their house took some hits but they stand their own well enough. they're a rather wealthy house who warden the north and they are very close to house lynesse. the two houses work together very closely in plots and business. bellevae men are raised as diplomats and ambitious politicians while bellevae women are raised to be adaptive and able to mold to their environment and the people they are around. the reigning lord is an ambitious man working closely with the lynesse and troy family. honestly, he could cost his whole house a great deal if things came out about him.

house agnaris.
the hydras of red & silver.
lord | eirian agnaris iv.
lady | aelyn agnaris.
founder | eirian agnaris.
house agnaris is currently still attached to the royal family since zarya agnaris is the reigning queen but considering she's days away from execution, they've since fallen out of favor. headstrong and argumentative, house agnaris does not intend to sit idly by. with their power-hungry ways, the agnaris family intends to wipe out everyone who stands in their way no matter how large or how small. the current lord and lady are ambitious and callous people. they do not care who they have to hurt; they are people willing to cut down family and friends for their own personal gain if need be.

house troy.
the snow owls of white & ice blue.
lord | maeron troy.
lady | kassida troy.
founder | kastor troy.
house troy is full of winter children filled with ambition and passion. they are not the most talkative group but when they speak, they are strategic. a member of house troy is selective with their words. they have level-headed, clear minds that allow them to react reasonably to whatever situation is thrown at them. kasmira troy, however, did not seem to work like that under high stress situations. after kasmira lost her head, the troys' relationship with the royals has not changed if not a little strained. the troys are much too ambitious to say anything to upset the blackthorn family. as for the lord and lady, they are very jovial people with a secret rage simmering beneath the surface. they are close to house bellevae and house lynesse and you can expect them to group up to plot against the others.

house marsei.
the lions of red & gold.
lord | not named.
lady | none but the lord's
mother, aurina marsei, was
lady until her husband died.
founder | alexius marsei.
among the greatest of the high houses is house marsei. unmoved by violence, marsei men are trueborn warriors and marsei women find their fun in hunting and executing. though marsei is no house storm, their women go hunting with their men and sometimes become executioners despite their birth sex. though house marsei is not the smartest, they are among the bravest, most loyal of the houses. with minds of steel and hearts of stone, there isn't any way you can get a marsei to change their views. if you do, they'll probably just cut your head off. i'm literally not kidding, they're a cruel house however they've had some changes recently. queen kylla marsei was a notably dutiful, religious woman who did not believe in violence and after her rise to power, her house's cruel ways faltered and now you see a mix of "pre-kylla" marseis and sometimes you see "post-kylla" marseis.

house talorian.
the undying birds of white & gray.
lord | hanson talorian.
lady | arla talorian.
founder | damien talorian.
house talorian is one of the more friendlier houses but do not take that as meaning they are gentle (they are not). wealthy and mild in their manners, the talorians lead people to believe that they are humble and charitable. are they? of course not. nobody that wealthy wants to give it up and nobody that powerful wants to yield. so, the talorians are another manipulative family although it seems they sometimes appear more charitable than others. however, be careful with talorian gifts. though they buy many gifts for many people, should they grow to dislike you they will demand repayment and at that point you're in debt to them. as for the lord and lady, they're very manipulative people down to the bone. it doesn't matter who you are; they're so stuck in their ways that they don't see the difference between manipulating their children and some nobody on the streets.

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TO KILL A KINGDOM, 2020.