NOBLE HOUSES

All sidhe belong to a noble house, and have a Boon and a Flaw related to that house. Commoners may also belong to a noble house if they swear an oath of fealty to that house. Some houses will not accept commoner members, and some others may have very stringent qualifications that must be met.

Several "Lost Houses" have recently arrived from Arcadia, in response to a red star that shines in the Dreaming, heralding the awakening of the Fomorians. Their impact on the political scene has yet to be fully felt.

House Aesin: The sidhe of House Aesin originally came from Scandinavia, and call themselves the "Guardians of the North". House Aesin are lords over nature and able to speak to animals, but have little sympathy for commoners that don't know their place. Though highly dutiful and honorable warriors, the majority of House Aesin are Unseelie. House Aesin is detailed in Book of Lost Houses: The Second Coming.

House Ailil: The most widespread and influential of the Unseelie houses. Members of House Ailil are political maneuverers without peer, although proud to a fault. House Ailil is detailed in The Shadow Court, The Book of Lost Dreams, and more extensively in Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2.

House Balor: This Unseelie house supposedly originated from the offspring of a sidhe and a fomorian. They do not suffer from the Banality's Curse Frailty, as most sidhe, and are also more comfortable with cold iron than most changelings. They always suffer from some deformity (physical, mental, or social) that results from their fomorian blood. House Balor is detailed in The Shadow Court, The Book of Lost Dreams, and more extensively in Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2.

House Beaumayn: The sidhe of House Beaumayn are seers and prophets and sworn enemies of the Shadow Court and all minions of the Fomorians. This house originated in France, and the name, roughly meaning "good hand" comes from the house's founder, Jalendrel the Good-Handed. House Beaumayn spent many years imprisoned in Arcadia for the actions of one of its fringe groups, but was the first of the "Lost Houses" to return to the Autumn World, charged with the task of battling the agents of the Fomorians and unifying the Seelie houses. House Beaumayn is detailed in Book of Lost Houses: The Second Coming.

House Daireann: An Unseelie house specializing in warfare and poisons, House Daireann is a Celtic house named after a daughter of Dagda. The great flaw of the house is their penchant for bragging and letting loose secrets in the process. Members of House Daireann are courageous fighters and renowned hosts, giving their hospitality to friend or foe if asked. House Daireann is detailed in Book of Lost Houses: The Second Coming.

House Dougal: A house with little political power, but probably the most practical of all the noble houses. Members of this house are usually excellent crafters, and smiths. They are able to weave Glamour into their undertakings, but suffer from some sort of handicap that may be compensated for with the use of some cunning bit of craftwork. Much more extensive information on House Dougal is in Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses.

House Eiluned: The "house of secrets", these nobles are known for their mysterious natures, their love of intrigue and their skills with the Arts. Much more extensive information on House Eiluned is in Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses.

House Fiona: This house is the most popular among the commoners, and tends to be the loosest in its interpretation of tradition (at least among the Seelie houses). They are known for their exceeding bravery, and tendency to get involved in epic tragic romances. Much more extensive information on House Fiona is in Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses.

House Gwydion: The most powerful of the noble houses, politically, they see themselves as the true rulers of the fae. They are able to divine the truth from lies, and have an unfortunate tendency to go berserk in battle. Much more extensive information on House Gwydion is in Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses.

House Leanhaun: The most artistic of the Unseelie houses suffers from a curse that causes them to age at an accelerated rate. They are able to retard this effect with Glamour, and reverse it with the Glamour gained from a terrible and forbidden form of Ravaging called "Rhapsody". House Leanhaun is detailed in The Shadow Court, The Book of Lost Dreams, and more extensively in Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2.

House Liam: The defenders of mortals, those of this house are those most likely to retain strong ties to humans. They are known for their skill in affecting mortals with Glamour, but are dishonored, and considered oathbroken to the other houses. Much more extensive information on House Liam is in Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses.

House Scathach: These sidhe are the only house to remain on Earth during the Interregnum en masse, and as such, reincarnate much as the commoners do. They are unaffected by Banality's Curse, but are unable to use the Art of Sovereign. They are silent and skilled warriors, but often fall into bloodlust while in combat. They are reviled by the other houses even more than House Liam, as they are not even considered to be true sidhe. House Scathach was originally detailed in Nobles: The Shining Host, but revised and covered in much greater depth in Book of Lost Houses: The Second Coming.

House Varich: A Russian house named after the progeny of the Sun and the Moon. Members of this Unseelie house are able to see the patterns in anything, and consider themselves to be lords over the Inanimae, as well as Kithain. They are unable to swear oaths of love, and must answer any and all challenges brought before them. House Varich is detailed in Book of Lost Houses: The Second Coming.

NOBLE HOUSES OF THE MERFOLK