The Houses

 

 

House Placement

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From a young age, young Terra Deiens are closely watched for behavioral traits and interests that might align them with one of the Great Houses.  Most children will remain in the house their mother is in until they can be tested for placement. Each house does their own testing in a group with the other houses, with Daemona going first. 

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(If a child is born into one of the Great Houses, they will be tested.  If they are born anywhere else, their parents/caregivers can take them to be tested, or they can walk into a testing site (in every major city) to be tested themselves.)

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Daemona's test begins with an easy identification of a magical object that is benignly warded against accidental picking up. If the child is unable to identify the object, they fail the Daemona portion and the other houses begin their portion.  If they pass, Daemona holds additional testing to confirm magical ability.  The tests includes a written portion (multiple choice, and scaled strongly agree/strongly disagree) as well as an interview. 

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When a child is accepted, it's always with the understanding that they might grow into one of the contracting members, or that they may not pass the training to become a full member. If they should fail (usually due to a major life event; low quality work is an indication more training is needed and not cause for failure), they can stay as a non-contracting member (such as a servant, a cook, etc) or they may approach a lower house for placement.  The House tests are administered when the child is between 6 to 13 years old. The test can be administered at later years for those that have not been tested, or those that are far from any major cities and testing sites. 

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Internally, a house functions very much like a family.  Externally, they function much like a guild. What we mean by that: internally Houses focus a lot on rearing the children they have, as well as training new members that come in from external sources. Externally, individual members can be contracted like members of a guild to complete a task. 

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Blood relation is not required for House placement. Please also note that Matriarch or Patriarch (or both) may be exchanged for Parriarch.

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Leadership responsibilities include:

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- orphanages, hospices, at home care, renegotiation of contracts to allow family members to stay at home and care for ill/dying family. Felis helps at all temples (main staff at temples are the people that live in those territories), they also care for the sick at those temples, single parents, etc. 

- Great Houses fund universal healthcare for everyone that lives within their territory and House. 

- Punishment for criminal offenses if the crimes do not go to court. 

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In ranking order:

- House Felis - The House of Diplomats - Followers of the Goddess Quan - Highest of all houses, Felis is known for their trustworthiness and their loyalty to the Queen or King. While most choose to become diplomats, they also are known for being devout followers of many different Gods and Goddesses, though always unwavering in their worship to the Goddess Guanyin Goddess of Compassion.

 

Matriarch: Kalvra Felis

 

Patriarch: Kaladin Felis

 

First: Tarrin Felis

 

- House De La'Mor - The House of the Lovers - Followers of the two great lovers Del and Amor - Members of this house often train with Maldorian and Sanee, though are adepts at neither receiving nor inflicting pain. Indeed, their one truest love is love itself. They are frequently chosen as Consorts to the Queen or King-elect. It is often said that they hold the bed-secrets of the empire and for this reason, they often need the most protection against enemies of King or Queen. Second of the High Houses.

 

Matriarch: Nadezhda De La'Mor

 

Patriarch: Jasker De La'Mor

 

First: Amaris De La'Mor

 

- House Andorian - The house of warriors - Followers of the God Andores - (Think Ancient Spartans) Trained from a young age to fight and to be the best. Often chosen as bodyguards for nobles. Nearly all members of the army have trained under a member of House Andorian or lived there until they bought their contract.

 

Matriarch: Ilendyis Vernifort Andorian

 

Patriarch: Zekiel Andorian

 

First:

 

- House Maldorian - The House of Sadists - There is a rumour that once House Maldorian and Sanee were the same house and each recruit said to have a twin -- one trained in the art of inflicting pain and the other in receiving it, but it's not happened in over a thousand years. The members of this house are adepts at hurting others for sexual pleasure -- but always with consent. Abuse is not tolerated. The lowest of the four High Houses.

 

Matriarch: Malis Maldorian

 

Patriarch:  Ved Maldorian

 

First: Vieda Maldorian

 

- House Sanee - The House of Masochists - Members of this house are trained in the ways of receiving pain for sexual pleasure. Each is given a safeword. Violation of a safeword always earns a black mark in the book of Sanee and the perpetrator forever forbidden to contract with them again. The highest of the Lower houses.

 

Matriarch: Faeryn Sanee 

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Patriarch: Ephraim Sanee

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First: Faerylina Sanee

 

- House Jeonosis - The House of Creators - Artisans and architects, jewelers and tattooists. Their greatest joy is in the creation of something, whether it be building or designing a new building, drawing, painting, sculpting, or fashion design. They train for years with a mentor and then for another decade on their own before they are allowed to buy back their contract price.

 

Matriarch: Everly Jeonosis

 

Patriarch: Joselyn Jeonosis (formerly Zachariah Jeonosis)

 

First: Liyu Jeonosis

 

- House Weaver - The House of the Pen - Followers of the Sexless Deity Marqe - Writers, poets, historians, storytellers, all claim this house as their own. They have a great love of words in all their forms, some of them choosing to turn their words into dramatic arts such as storytellers and singers, while some are content to be lost in great tomes, recording the history of Terra Dei.

 

Matriarch: Marisa Weaver

 

Patriarch: Savant Weaver

 

First:

 

- House Daemona- The house of Dark Things - Follower of the God Daemon - The most enigmatic and least well known House of all the Great Houses. Though they have a temple in the every main city, their main base of power is in the northern tip of the continent of Terra Dea, where the nights are long and the days short. It is said that members of this house alone retain the mysteries of magic that have since been lost to every other house. Many assassins hail from this house, if they are ever caught. Lowest of the Lower Houses, but maintain a tight grip on their position. Many members of House Daemona infiltrate the other houses as members.

 

Matriarch: Savine Daemona

 

Patriarch: Gnosis Daemona

 

First: Rudolf Daemona