Legends of Belariath

Dark Elf Houses

House Vor-Mstrag`Koiu

Tierrah`Nah is where they call home. One of the premier Houses of the Fifth City, they call only House Kinslayer their rival or equal. (The public knows better, however.) They mainly exist Below, rarely making appearance on the surface due to their quest to conquer an underground kingdom of dwarves, another realm of unknown gnomes, and finally a connecting passageway to a seafaring elven subrace.

This House was the last one to leave the First City. Hanging on until the very last, they managed to extract most of what they had originally created and cart it magically and through use of extensive slave trains to the Third City, and then again to the new Fifth City House Kinslayer (then known by another name) was constructing. The House has a nose for advancement, and has never missed an opportunity for power and influence if they could seek one out. They skipped over joining the Second or Fourth cities, as both were a little too "stable" for their personal tastes.

They are not known for being wealthy, are House Vor-Mstrag`Koiu. In fact, for a premier House, they are relatively poor when it comes to monetary things. They have enough to survive on, but their philosophy to thrive strays far from power derived from physical wealth. Gold, platinum, rare gemstones - all of these things are nice, but not essential to what they determine true and lasting power comes from. If they could do without coin entirely, they would. However, having it does have its uses...

This House is second to none in all around magical talent. Not a single member of the House is without some spell on their lips, a scroll in their backpack, or an amulet of warding around their throat. They are well known for being strapped with incantations or sigils of some sort, some even going so far as to carve runes into their flesh with enchanted blades, ensuring the presence of their favorite evocation. The sorcerers and priestesses sponsor many examinations into the true nature of magic, even going so far as to kidnap and force surface dwelling wizards to do their bidding.

Not to say that some of their number do not scorn such reliance on magic. In fact, there is a small order within House Vor-Mstrag`Koiu that have dedicated themselves to living without as much magic as possible. Known for their skills in assassination, alchemy, and herbalism, this order is responsible for defense against external threats from other Houses. To see them in action is to see death, for that normally means you are on their kill list.

House Vor-Mstrag`Koiu is not well known for their niceness towards other Houses. They even claimed responsibility for the exile of three Houses from the Fifth City, including the former House Na`Aycmk Hniussag (now House Mze`Nkula).This attitude has earned more than one duelist a rather hectic day in the arenas, and at least three maulings of patrols led by Vor-Mstrag`Koiu by "unknown creatures of alchemical origins." This has in no way slowed their pride's walk; to the reverse, it has actually increased their pace by leaps and bounds. Every attack they repel is considered a victory, ever duel signal of their prowess. Some have even tried to appeal to House Huri-can`Lodar to take them down a peg, but "Kirva's Chosen House" has received girl children from Vor-Mstrag`Koiu in the past to raise as priestesses, so they are happy to hear of any strife that House may cause others.

House Vor-Mstrag`Koiu has allegiances with not only House Huri-can`Lodar, but also House Tor-Nocturne. These binding links have only been enhanced in recent years, with the "behind the silk curtain" trading of secrets between the three. A fourth House has also come into the fold, but it has yet to be named. All that is known is that House Vor-Mstrag`Koiu was directly responsible for their being scouted as a potential ally, and were sponsored by Vor-Mstrag`Koiu to become the latest member in this quiet coalition. Nothing good can come of this, of course, but little can be done without active proof.

Kirva is well pleased by the efforts of this House.

Matron

The Matron of the House is a well known priestess of Kirva, as well as an artist in her own right. Multi-talented, Whip Maiden Evitam`Ixorpa is also an accomplished sorceress, and the teacher to her House of all means of torture and torment. Originally a fifth daughter, Evitam`Ixorpa was "elected" to become the Matron her House when all her older sisters without waver gave up their right to the title. Very suspicious an acclimation to such a position, given that the previous Matron - their mother Egdir-Breanna Khothosi - died of purely natural causes. (She was over eight hundred years old at the time.)

Apparently, all the daughters had their own designs for their lives, and wished not to have the weight of the House on their shoulders. Evitam`Ixorpa quickly was given the throne of duty and power, and set to work on strengthening her House from the ground up. The four elder sisters went into their respective duties as Necromancer, Warrior Mage, Warlord, and Head Priestess of Orbilharn of House Vor-Mstrag`Koiu. Not once has any challenged the sisters to their rightful positions within the House. Quite simply, they know better.