House Aesin
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Only lately returned from Arcadia, the House of the Owl is perhaps the most aloof of the sidhe nobility, and little is known of their ways with any certainty. Such lore as can be gathered hint at a closer tie to the animal world than most sidhe possess, a primal atavism that House Aesin has retained through centuries of isolated adherence to their own ways. Traditionally counted among the Unseelie Court, the Aesin are nonetheless strict in maintaining the ancient ways. Perhaps their conservatism has preserved some lore or Art that can help to avert the Fomorian foe (whom the Aesin call the Jotuns) who are rumored to be slipping free from their long captivity and awakening once more. In any event, it is these rumors which House Aesin bring to the Autumn Lands in hopes of rousing the kithain to oppose the ancient enemy. Remaining in Arcadia while other houses were banished to Earth in the Resurgence some thirty years ago, House Aesin played no part in the Accordance War or the establishment of the county. If their reputation is accurate, these nobles could only have added to the misunderstanding, refusing even to consider the validity of commoner concerns. By all accounts, House Aesin is stiff-necked and gruff, easily surpassing House Dougal as the least socially skilled house. Even House Balor somehow comes off as more accomodating than the lords and ladies of Aesin. Originally formed as an elite corps of sidhe warriors to stand as a defense against the Elder Dark, the band was split by a war of leadership between its Seelie and Unseelie members. Ragnelf, surviving sister of the siblings whose private war had nearly destoroyed the band, took command and made the decision to make the Aesin a noble house, putting loyalty to kin above allegiance to Court. So was House Aesin founded in war, and its return to Earth while a red star burns in the firmament of the Dreaming is surely a sign of a cold and bitter season to come. Aesin is a strictly ordered House, with firm notions of tasks appropriate to the sexes. While the occasional male sorcerer or female warrior may be found, by and large Aesin abide by their traditional divisions of labor. This extends to their dealings with other fae as well. Only other sidhe nobles find them at ease. When dealing with commoners or mortals they speak as if they expect obedience without question. Needless to say, this has not endeared them to commoner kithain who are used to the egalitarian spirit of the Concordian Dream. |
| Boon |
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Members of House Aesin made pacts with animal allies in ancient days when the very birds and beasts fought against the fearsome Courts of Fomhoire. To this day, any Aesin can speak with woodland animals (for some reason not now remembered this does not work with domesticated creatures). Rolling Intelligence + Empathy against a difficulty equal to the character's Banality + 3 determines hte number of minutes for which an Aesin may converse intelligibly with the animal in question. |
| Flaw |
| Children of the Gods, the Aesin do not comprehend why the commoners of the Autumn Lands would presume to question their rule. When dealing with anyone other than another noble, all Social rolls are made at a difficulty increased by 3. Only an Aesin's mortal family is exempt from this prejudice, due to strong feelings House Aesin holds regarding familial bonds. |
| Quote: "If I were having to play by the rules of the old House of the North, I could be a barmaid alright, but being a warrior and a skald would probably not be well thought of. I do revere the ways of my ancestors, but I will also take a silver lion over a golden owl any day, especially if it means the freedom to be who I am, with honor." Lorloch Sytrisdattir, Castlethane of Caer Ondomorna and Bard of Rowan-Oak |
