House Varich
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Born of mingled darkness and daylight, House Varich is appropriately a house of contrasts. Meticulous and orderly, the sidhe of this house are nonetheless a tempestuous lot. Although the House of Sun and Shadow holds allegience to the Unseelie Court, they also hold to their right to rule both commoners and their ill-understood inanimae allies. Only lately summoned to the cold shores of the Autumn Lands from fabled Arcadia by the rising of a bloody star in the Dreaming's heavens, House Varich has much to learn about contemporary events, but so have the other houses much to learn, or recall, about this long-absent noble line. Ancient rulers of north-eastern Europe, House Varich has little history in the lands of Tir na n'Og, lately called Concordia. With the Second Resurgence, however, they have as it were discovered the New World. Reputed to cultivate close ties to nature and the faerie spirits of wind, wood, fire, water and stone, the House of Light and Darkness may find much in Rowan-Oak's wild places to commend it to their attentions. The Countess Rosamund is therefore gathering what intelligence she can, determined to win House Varich as allies rather than contest with them for control the county's natural wealth. Indeed, it would seem that she has already begun. Although the only sidhe of this mysterious house yet to emerge in Rowan-Oak is but a childling, the countess has confirmed young Piotr ap Varich as heir to the Barony of Baywood at the request of his guardians, Lord Dar'Nall and Lady Celeste. Further, acting upon the advice of her own son and heir, the satyr Almond, she has named Piotr envoy for Rowan-Oak to the Slow Empires, as the inanimae courts are known. It has said that Almond has had other dealings with House Varich beyond Rowan-Oak's bounds which raises the possibility of further Varich involvement in the region. |
| Boon |
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Gifted with a sense of order even in the most chaotic events, members of House Varich are notable strategists. Given a chance to asses a situation over three Rounds, the difficulty of any contest against the person or situation observed is reduced by two, whether acting in opposition or partnership. Once a lord of Sun and Shadow has observed the same subject thrice, he also receives an extra die to apply to such endeavors. |
| Flaw |
| House Varich finds more scope for its Boon in challenges than in partnerships, however, due to the twin geasa by which the house is bound. Members of House Varich are unable to swear oaths of love, although others, such as fealty, are available to them. Further, if a Varich should fail to accept an honorable challenge, she loses one point of Willpower per day - and that deficit may not be remedied until the challenge is accepted. Preventing a member of this house from accepting a challenge is effectively crippling, as one so constrained loses first their Strength (one point per day, to a minimum of 1 point) and then Stamina (one point per week) eventually resulting in chimerical death. The severity of this weakness is not well known to other fae, and House Varich ahs no plans to educate them. Their obligation to accept challenges is known to all conversant in the lore of the Unseelie Court, however. |
| Quote: "If House Varich can help us to grow closer to our estranged inanimae cousins, then I welcome their aid, so long as they are willing to serve such an embassage for the good of all kithain. I certainly feel it is worthwhile to at least make the attempt."
- Sir Almond Ondomorno ap Fiona, Heir to Rowan-Oak |
