History of the House
House Ibex existed in Arcadia as a small respected commoner fae house of Satyrs in service to the great and noble House Alopex, a strict house of noble Fox aspected fae who rules their wide-spanning Arcadian lands with great power and sternness. For many years the lands of House Alopex, despite the somewhat stern nature of their governors, lived in relative peace and prosperity, however the Great Cataclysm that swept the land, bucking the nature of reality and, amongst other things, rendering the fae mortal and infertile bought that peace to destructive end.
A belief arose amongst the groups of commoner fae that were in the service to House Alopex that some form of outside influence had affected the fae race, cursing them with mortality and simultaneously denying them the ability to procreate and thus continue their race. However, the nobles of House Alopex, took a different view.
Based on omens and portents received from their Augurs (the 'advisors' to the rules House Alopex), the noble fae of the House had reached the conclusion that a just punishment was being levied against the race of fae for their iniquities and the sins that members both of their House and fae outside their House has committed in the past. Guided by the prophecies of their Augur advisors the noble fae of House Alopex became more puritanical and oppressive in their beliefs, seeking to stamp out any trace of the sins that had bought this judgement.
The members of the three foremost commoner Houses who worked in service to House Alopex decided to meet secretly and discuss the problems that were facing all fae-king, the meeting was held by candlelight in a dark boudoir far from the noble warrior patrols that now stalked the land, seeking and punishing any signs of vice. The three houses that attended the meeting were...
...unfortunately, somehow the Grand Inquisitor of House Alopex, Uncas Todhunter learnt that the meeting was to be taking place. Just as one of the members of House Ibix was passionately exalting the assembled crowd, telling them that finding a way to continue the fae race had to be a priority now that they would all eventually fall victim to the Black Ram, the doors of the meeting hall burst open and a patrol of noble warriors lead by the Grand Inquisitor stormed in and arrested the most vocal elements of the gathering. None of them were ever seen again.
On the following day, announcements were made across the lands owned by House Alopex, stating that the worship of the Great Horned One (a previously well loved fae ancestor of fertility and plenty) was now outlawed on pain of death; many of the best hosts and hostesses of House Ibix began to mysteriously disappear following the announcements. It was later discovered that they had been imprisoned in the castle of the Grand Inquisitior Uncas Todhunter, who was allegedly trying them for crimes against the new laws of House Alopex, although other, less savoury rumours about his actual uses of them began to circulate amongst the commoner fae of the three Houses.
Unable to stand for such treatment any longer House Ibix gathered those from the other two commoner Houses who were sympathetic to their plight and forsook the vows of fealty that they had made to House Alopex, throwing off their old name and taking the new name House of the Rising Horn to symbolise their new future, free from the tyranny of House Alopex. The new House was a secret at first, existing only as an underground movement, desperately seeking a way to escape from Arcadia and the reach of House Alopex; at first they had little success and existed always with the threat of discovery hanging over their heads, those that were discovered disappeared, taken to the Inquisitors tower or dragged to face the Augurs of House Alopex, then one day a miracle occurred.
Mamara, the most powerful seer amongst the commoner fae and a member of the underground movement discovered a doorway between Arcadia and Edreja, an abandoned and barely functioning fae gate that had long lain forgotten; the underground movement began to help commoner fae to sneak through the gate in small numbers, spurred on by tales of half fae and of younger races born in that world. Each fae who passed through the gateway did so in the hope that they could find a way to save their race.
Eventually the leaders of House Alopex discovered that the commoner fae had broken their vows of fealty, in response the noble fae pledged to exterminate House Ibix and any commoner fae who has affiliated themselves with the deviant movement known as the House of the Rising Horn. The Augurs of House Alopex supported this act, seemingly fearful that the Satyrs and their allies would, through their deviance and treachery, bring down an even greater curse upon the heads of the fae race.
Franklin James Taylor Cassidy von Strumphousen was a wily old trickster and an aged member of House Alopex, however he had been vocal in his discontent about the current direction that the noble House was taking, remembering a time when those of his blood had not been so hard-lined in their beliefs nor so unwilling to listen to others. As a highly placed member of the House Franklin James Taylor Cassidy von Strumphousen discovered the Houses plans to exterminate the majority of the commoner fae and, realising that the nobles had gone too far attempted to warn the satyrs about the impending attack. Realising that his actions would bring disgrace on his relations and would possibly see them killed, the wily old fox begged the members of House Rising Horn to take his infant son (one of the last fae born before the Cataclysm) through to Edreja with them.
In order to buy themselves some time the finest warriors of House Rising Horn, including many a strong minotaur and tenacious satyr, sought to lead the knights of House Alopex away from the fae gate, acting as a diversion whilst the rest of the movement fled to Edreja. Unfortunately they were betrayed when Jorgen (a member of House Rising Horn) revealed the actual location of the fae gate to the knights of House Alopex; ignoring the diversion, the legion of knights, lead by the Grand Inquisitor, rode straight for the gate. Jorgen also informed House Alopex of Franklin James Taylor Cassidy von Strumplehousen's betrayal and the old fox was taken captive.
When the warriors of House Alopex arrived at the gate, only a handful of the commoners had escaped; fully half of those remaining in Arcadia were butchered brutally whilst, in a plan born of desperation, Mamara used her powers to destroy the gateway, causing a mana spike that tore her pattern to shreds.
Arriving blinking into the harsh light of Edreja, those refugees who had made it through the gateway before the explosion were left with no way of knowing the fates of their family and friends remaining on the other side of the fae gate. Determined that the sacrifice of their loved ones would not be in vain, those who survived pledged all their efforts and energy into accomplishing the original goals espoused by the House of the Rising Horn, finding a way to breed and thus continue the fae race.
The old fae gate had bought the refugees out in a desolate area of the world known as Siberia, quickly establishing themselves and making the most of their situation the members of House Rising Horn soon gained a reputation for hospitality with the local tribes; over time the glamours of the surviving fae began to adapt to their new environment, taking on appropriate colourations and becoming more bestial to enable them to survive the harsh Siberian winters.
After a few years re-grouping in a frozen area on the borders between Siberia and Norsika, the House of the Rising Horn had made several allies in Erdreyja, including the fae of the Korpiklaani, the beastkin Sons of Meles Meles, and the demon touched Kurga; it was through these allies that the House learned about the Great Erdreyjan Fayre; and Roy Ovis Aries led a small delegation of five to attend...
...however, on route to the Fayre the delegation were attacked by strange black ethereal figures with glowing eyes; during the battle Roys name was called out by Boom; as the name hung in the air the black figures laughed in strangled voices and Roy collapsed to ground dead as the blackened shapes withdrew into the dusk.
A belief arose amongst the groups of commoner fae that were in the service to House Alopex that some form of outside influence had affected the fae race, cursing them with mortality and simultaneously denying them the ability to procreate and thus continue their race. However, the nobles of House Alopex, took a different view.
Based on omens and portents received from their Augurs (the 'advisors' to the rules House Alopex), the noble fae of the House had reached the conclusion that a just punishment was being levied against the race of fae for their iniquities and the sins that members both of their House and fae outside their House has committed in the past. Guided by the prophecies of their Augur advisors the noble fae of House Alopex became more puritanical and oppressive in their beliefs, seeking to stamp out any trace of the sins that had bought this judgement.
The members of the three foremost commoner Houses who worked in service to House Alopex decided to meet secretly and discuss the problems that were facing all fae-king, the meeting was held by candlelight in a dark boudoir far from the noble warrior patrols that now stalked the land, seeking and punishing any signs of vice. The three houses that attended the meeting were...
- House Ibix - House of the Satyrs, hosts of reknown who managed the banquets and social functions of House Alopex, they were often employed as ladies maids and footmen by the noble House.
- House Ovius - Commoner fae whose glamours often bore resemblance to sheep and other wooled/furred animals, they has been placed in charge of the domestic duties of the noble House, receiving great respect from the other commoners due to their unflappable nature and professional attitudes.
- House Moo - A House of reknowned Minotaur warriors, also known for their huge hearts and their love of life.
...unfortunately, somehow the Grand Inquisitor of House Alopex, Uncas Todhunter learnt that the meeting was to be taking place. Just as one of the members of House Ibix was passionately exalting the assembled crowd, telling them that finding a way to continue the fae race had to be a priority now that they would all eventually fall victim to the Black Ram, the doors of the meeting hall burst open and a patrol of noble warriors lead by the Grand Inquisitor stormed in and arrested the most vocal elements of the gathering. None of them were ever seen again.
On the following day, announcements were made across the lands owned by House Alopex, stating that the worship of the Great Horned One (a previously well loved fae ancestor of fertility and plenty) was now outlawed on pain of death; many of the best hosts and hostesses of House Ibix began to mysteriously disappear following the announcements. It was later discovered that they had been imprisoned in the castle of the Grand Inquisitior Uncas Todhunter, who was allegedly trying them for crimes against the new laws of House Alopex, although other, less savoury rumours about his actual uses of them began to circulate amongst the commoner fae of the three Houses.
Unable to stand for such treatment any longer House Ibix gathered those from the other two commoner Houses who were sympathetic to their plight and forsook the vows of fealty that they had made to House Alopex, throwing off their old name and taking the new name House of the Rising Horn to symbolise their new future, free from the tyranny of House Alopex. The new House was a secret at first, existing only as an underground movement, desperately seeking a way to escape from Arcadia and the reach of House Alopex; at first they had little success and existed always with the threat of discovery hanging over their heads, those that were discovered disappeared, taken to the Inquisitors tower or dragged to face the Augurs of House Alopex, then one day a miracle occurred.
Mamara, the most powerful seer amongst the commoner fae and a member of the underground movement discovered a doorway between Arcadia and Edreja, an abandoned and barely functioning fae gate that had long lain forgotten; the underground movement began to help commoner fae to sneak through the gate in small numbers, spurred on by tales of half fae and of younger races born in that world. Each fae who passed through the gateway did so in the hope that they could find a way to save their race.
Eventually the leaders of House Alopex discovered that the commoner fae had broken their vows of fealty, in response the noble fae pledged to exterminate House Ibix and any commoner fae who has affiliated themselves with the deviant movement known as the House of the Rising Horn. The Augurs of House Alopex supported this act, seemingly fearful that the Satyrs and their allies would, through their deviance and treachery, bring down an even greater curse upon the heads of the fae race.
Franklin James Taylor Cassidy von Strumphousen was a wily old trickster and an aged member of House Alopex, however he had been vocal in his discontent about the current direction that the noble House was taking, remembering a time when those of his blood had not been so hard-lined in their beliefs nor so unwilling to listen to others. As a highly placed member of the House Franklin James Taylor Cassidy von Strumphousen discovered the Houses plans to exterminate the majority of the commoner fae and, realising that the nobles had gone too far attempted to warn the satyrs about the impending attack. Realising that his actions would bring disgrace on his relations and would possibly see them killed, the wily old fox begged the members of House Rising Horn to take his infant son (one of the last fae born before the Cataclysm) through to Edreja with them.
In order to buy themselves some time the finest warriors of House Rising Horn, including many a strong minotaur and tenacious satyr, sought to lead the knights of House Alopex away from the fae gate, acting as a diversion whilst the rest of the movement fled to Edreja. Unfortunately they were betrayed when Jorgen (a member of House Rising Horn) revealed the actual location of the fae gate to the knights of House Alopex; ignoring the diversion, the legion of knights, lead by the Grand Inquisitor, rode straight for the gate. Jorgen also informed House Alopex of Franklin James Taylor Cassidy von Strumplehousen's betrayal and the old fox was taken captive.
When the warriors of House Alopex arrived at the gate, only a handful of the commoners had escaped; fully half of those remaining in Arcadia were butchered brutally whilst, in a plan born of desperation, Mamara used her powers to destroy the gateway, causing a mana spike that tore her pattern to shreds.
Arriving blinking into the harsh light of Edreja, those refugees who had made it through the gateway before the explosion were left with no way of knowing the fates of their family and friends remaining on the other side of the fae gate. Determined that the sacrifice of their loved ones would not be in vain, those who survived pledged all their efforts and energy into accomplishing the original goals espoused by the House of the Rising Horn, finding a way to breed and thus continue the fae race.
The old fae gate had bought the refugees out in a desolate area of the world known as Siberia, quickly establishing themselves and making the most of their situation the members of House Rising Horn soon gained a reputation for hospitality with the local tribes; over time the glamours of the surviving fae began to adapt to their new environment, taking on appropriate colourations and becoming more bestial to enable them to survive the harsh Siberian winters.
After a few years re-grouping in a frozen area on the borders between Siberia and Norsika, the House of the Rising Horn had made several allies in Erdreyja, including the fae of the Korpiklaani, the beastkin Sons of Meles Meles, and the demon touched Kurga; it was through these allies that the House learned about the Great Erdreyjan Fayre; and Roy Ovis Aries led a small delegation of five to attend...
- Roy Ovis Aries: an ovine (sheep) satyr with a heart of gold, who was a great protector.
- Madame Capra Horn: a she-satyr who is tougher than she looks, a reader of cards and trader in aphrodisiacs.
- Boom: a male satyr, expert in application of the healing arts and master of herballism.
- Yabloko Moo’govniuk: a young minotaur, a brave warrior who pledged to guard the delegation.
- Franklin James Taylor Cassidy von Strumplehousen II: son of the hero who warned the House about the intended attack by House Alopex, a slick trader with nimble fingers.
...however, on route to the Fayre the delegation were attacked by strange black ethereal figures with glowing eyes; during the battle Roys name was called out by Boom; as the name hung in the air the black figures laughed in strangled voices and Roy collapsed to ground dead as the blackened shapes withdrew into the dusk.
