Glossary #3
Patron Ancient: Aurilenne the Gold Weaver and her husband, Rumenstiel the Debt Keeper
Lord(s): Keysia
Symbol: Gemstone and wreath
Colors: Rose-and-sky blue
Flower: Peonia
District Festival: The Weaving of Gold Festival.
A nod to their common, grasping roots and acknowledgement that they are one of the few House who pulled themselves up completely from nothing over generations.
Fashion and jewelry design competitions, demonstration of any who have transmutation abilities.
Everyone wears rose gold and are taught the secret language of flowers. Take places the peak of spring.
Character: Social climbers, highly political, Montague sycophants, but don’t dismiss them. Not warriors, bureaucrats.
Known History: They will eviscerate you through Court filings if you say it aloud, but in Ninephe they were merchants, courtesans, and House servants.
Keysia’s father threw his lot in with Renaud and played his cards right.
They are still sensitive about their roots, which makes them insufferable.
Keysia’s father died in the Everenne House wars—he angered a Ramonne matriarch.
Not smart. It is also interesting to note that they are said to be the origin of the Rumpelstiltskin myth.
Trade/Income: Fashion, fabric, fine jewelry (not gems, but finished), fine art, flowers/floral
Stamp: Strawberry-blonde hair, light gold skin, rosy undertones, freckles and light eyes
Allies: Montague, Lavigne, Sivenn e
Enemies: Faronne, Ramonne, Wyvenne
HOUSE SIVENNE
Al uad'lesh yuddorah, al khalshi'lesh amynat
Our hand is steady, our heart is true
Status: Betrayed Faronne in recent events, allied with Montague at beginning of Night in His Eyes. Hwasana took the House and re-allied with Aerinne.
Patron Ancient: Hyunnath, the Blood Bard
Lord(s): Hwasana (new Lord)
Symbol: Chisel and mandolin
Colors: Brown-and-copper
Flower: White orchid
District Festival: The Festival of a Thousand Notes.
This is a music festival and artisan’s festival, celebrating the perseverance of artists.
That it comes from time and mastery, not innate talent.
In fact, they prefer stories of those who rose from mediocrity and through patience and work became masters of their crafts.
Talent contests, woodworkers and instrument makers present in booths and shows.
Young folk can apply to masters for apprenticeships.
Takes place at the start of fall. Also have acrobats, beer tastings and an exchange of orchids to begin new courtships.
Character: Changeable, creative, insular, reserved. Artisans, not warriors, but have gymnasts.
Known History:
Trade/Income: Furniture, wood crafts, architecture, hand made instruments. Will partner with Labornne for overlapping projects. They also brew really good beer.
Stamp: Fine black hair, black eyes, cool pale skin
Allies: They kinda fucked everything all up. No one respects them right now.
Enemies: No one has time to be their enemy. Go. . .carve something.
HOUSE LAVIGNE
Anfa lifyu damm, ni lifyu dawaad—dawaad miy'eld
You Spill Blood but we Spill Ink, and Ink is Forever
Status: Neutral in most conflicts, prefer to be the city observers
Patron Ancient: Adullenne, Keeper of the Book
Lord(s): Saiellen
Symbol: Scroll and Eye
Colors: Green-and-purple
Flower: Iris
District Festival: The Keeper’s Quill Festival.
Winter, celebrates their patron and great writers, poets, and investigators.
Those who have achieved levels of mastery receive new tattoos of rank.
Writing contests, memory and puzzle challenges—escape rooms are becoming a thing among the youth.
They have tents for coffee, tea, and wine and are connoisseurs of each.
Gifts of fine paper, heirloom pens, and original editions are exchanged.
It is a very civilized and erudite festival—on the surface. (Freaky when drunk.)
Character: Thoughtful, deeply intellectual. Sardonic. Writers and academics. These people are quietly vindictive. They will destroy your life with a few well-published words.
Known History: It is said Adullenne created a Book that is the repository of imprisoned Temthrennes souls. Rumors never confirmed. We do know that this House fled Ninephe with Renaud because their meddlesome scribblings offended Assariel himself.
Trade/Income: Control the city newspapers, journalists, information gathering, publishing, fine art in competition with Labornne
Stamp: Deep purple-red hair, silvery to silvery-green eyes, cool midnight skin
Allies: Neutral
Enemies: Neutral
OTHER HOUSES
House Temthrennes of Ninephe
Ancient ruling House of Ninephe, and the entire continent. Don’t fuck with them.
House Kuthliele of Avallonne
Conquered ruling House of Avallonne, absorbed ten thousand years ago into the Temthrennes line, but direct descendants are allowed to retain their House name through much fighting and political maneuvering on Muriel’s part.
POLITICAL STRUCTURE
Prince’s Cour t
This is literally the Prince himself because you have, you lucky dog, captured his personal attention. This “court” also includes the rumored Executioner, the only person dubbed with the authority of the Prince to be judge, jury and executioner in his name.
High Court
Supreme ruling body comprising all High Lords and their Heirs. Only convenes while the Prince is awake. Holds authority over all Houses and can dictate terms of alliances, treaties, and individual status.
Low Court
Secondary ruling body including Heirs, Lords, and Commanders. Operates when High Court is not in session.
District Court
Individual District courts, ruled by the House Lord, but delegated to District Lords and flunkies
TERMS
Bloodgilt - A fine levied by the Prince against a House for extra-judicial killings, payable in money, assets, or lives.
Glamour - The Fae ability to mesmerize others or subtly alter appearance. Victim is unaware.
Compulsion: Mental coercion the victim is aware of, but can’t fight.
Line - One's lineage or bloodline, carrying significant social weight.
Mindmerge - Telepathic communication between mate-bonded pairs.
Shield - Magical protection barriers. When Bridged, becomes exponentially more powerful.
Vow - Formal promises made by Fae that carry deadly consequences if broken. Central to political and personal relationships in Everenne.
White Guard - The Prince's personal guard who surrender their House names and identities upon joining.
Ward: A stationary boundary. Once it is cast, it doesn’t move. You can tear it down fast and recast it depending on the complexity of the ward.
Fae: This is a pejorative term that stuck for some reason. In the very, very ancient original dialect it means “child.” They say faeling now. The real species name is Adalessikai.
LANGUAGE
Everennesse - The Fae dialect of Everenne, mixing Old Realm Ninephene with Avallonnian, French, and English influences. Has a distinct accent. House Faronne has also absorbed the Kikuyu language.
Note : Fae are natural polyglots. Most speak Everennesse, French, and English, with upper ranks knowing more of the Ninephene language. Avallonnian is a defunct dialect spoken mostly by locals to that area.
Ninephene is a fantasy constructed language (conlang) inspired by Arabic and Aramaic.
It features Semitic phonetic patterns, consonant clusters, and uses apostrophes to indicate glottal stops.
The language includes gender inflections and compound word constructions.
It is a tonal language and word meanings change based on inflection.