House Alopex
Puritanical noble fae House
(enemy of House Rising Horn)
House Alopex are a house of noble (sidhe) fae, since time immemorial many of their glamours have born the aspect of the fox since their ancestors admired the keen hunting instincts and ability to survive of this creatures, however, this varies somewhat, traditionally the more highly placed members of the House have more distinct glamours since they have proven themselves and earned the right to wear bestial glamours without the instincts and desires of the animal corrupting them.
House Alopex were always strict in their rule, even before the Great Cataclysm that bought the twin curses of mortality and infertility down on the heads of the fae race; they saw themselves as stern stewards who were firm but fair, providing some much needed stability in the chaotic realm of Arcadia. Under their wise leadership the Houses of commoner fae (including House Ibix, House Ovius and House Moo) who served them prospered and, for a time, life was good for noble and commoner fae alike.
House Alopex were always strict in their rule, even before the Great Cataclysm that bought the twin curses of mortality and infertility down on the heads of the fae race; they saw themselves as stern stewards who were firm but fair, providing some much needed stability in the chaotic realm of Arcadia. Under their wise leadership the Houses of commoner fae (including House Ibix, House Ovius and House Moo) who served them prospered and, for a time, life was good for noble and commoner fae alike.
The Great Cataclysm
Without any warning the Great Cataclysm changed everything, the fae were no longer immortal and, as if to punish them even further, they lost the ability to breed and continue their bloodlines in the manner of the younger races; certain fae still awoke naturally, born from convergence of wild forces and magic, but this occurred only rarely and was chaotic in the extreme. Whilst the commoners searched high and low for an answer to this trial, the leaders of House Alopex turned to their Augur advisors in search of a solution.
The Great Prophecy
The Augurs of House Alopex retreated into isolation and used every method in their power, from casting of the bones to the reading of entrails in order to discover a solution to the problem at hand; eventually one of their number announced that he had discovered the reason for the twin curses laid upon the heads of the fae race. This, now unknown, Augur revealed that she had peered into the future and had beheld a time when the commoner fae aligned with House Alopex would run rampant over the land, giving vent to their animal natures and causing the race of fae to grow beyond all control or reasoning; surely the twin curses were divine punishment sent to prevent this future from occurring?
After weeks of debate the Augurs came to conclusion that this prophecy was indeed correct (little knowing that they were creating the very future that they sought to avoid) and called together the ruling council in order to present their findings; emerging from that meeting the noble lords of House Alopex announced that the cataclysm was divine punishment for the lustful natures of the fae race and that, only when they had suppressed this part of their nature would the curse be lifted. Thus started a pogrom that began with the selective 'erasing' of certain Ancestors from polite society and the detention of those who continued to openly worship these 'proscribed' Ancestors, and that ended with the formation of House Rising Horn and their flight to Edreja (as detailed on the History page).
After weeks of debate the Augurs came to conclusion that this prophecy was indeed correct (little knowing that they were creating the very future that they sought to avoid) and called together the ruling council in order to present their findings; emerging from that meeting the noble lords of House Alopex announced that the cataclysm was divine punishment for the lustful natures of the fae race and that, only when they had suppressed this part of their nature would the curse be lifted. Thus started a pogrom that began with the selective 'erasing' of certain Ancestors from polite society and the detention of those who continued to openly worship these 'proscribed' Ancestors, and that ended with the formation of House Rising Horn and their flight to Edreja (as detailed on the History page).
Organisation of House Alopex
House Alopex was originally lead by a council of Fae Lords supported by their legions of Knights who were in turn supported by units of commoner fae (mostly minotaur) warriors from their serf Houses, the Lords were in turn advised by a mysterious group of hags and soothsayers known as the Augurs. Following the Great Cataclysm and the resultant defection of a large proportion of the commoner fae, the structure of House Alopex has changed somewhat.
Lords of House Alopex
Ostensibly the Fae Lords still run House Alopex, noble fae of great power who make and dictate the laws that govern their lands, each of them is a powerful warrior and some have been known to use the power of the Ancestors in their quest to bring purity to their lands.
Ostensibly the Fae Lords still run House Alopex, noble fae of great power who make and dictate the laws that govern their lands, each of them is a powerful warrior and some have been known to use the power of the Ancestors in their quest to bring purity to their lands.
Augurs
Previously the advisers to the Lords of the House, since the Cataclysm more actual power has been handed over to the Augurs; some subjects even whisper that the Great Prophecy that lead the extermination of many commoner fae was actually a cunning plan of the Augurs to ensure that they remained the ones who would steer the destiny of House Alopex in the future: of course, those who whisper these rumours too loudly disappear, never to be seen again.
Previously the advisers to the Lords of the House, since the Cataclysm more actual power has been handed over to the Augurs; some subjects even whisper that the Great Prophecy that lead the extermination of many commoner fae was actually a cunning plan of the Augurs to ensure that they remained the ones who would steer the destiny of House Alopex in the future: of course, those who whisper these rumours too loudly disappear, never to be seen again.
Knight Legions
The Knight Legions are the heavily armoured noble warrior fae who serve as the military arm of the House; elite legions are comprised solely of these great fae whilst normal legions are commanded by them and mostly made up of commoner fae warriors (usually minotaurs or other bestial fae).
The Knight Legions are the heavily armoured noble warrior fae who serve as the military arm of the House; elite legions are comprised solely of these great fae whilst normal legions are commanded by them and mostly made up of commoner fae warriors (usually minotaurs or other bestial fae).
Warrior Legions
These legions form the majority of military forces under the command of House Alopex and are made up of warrior commoner fae (mostly satyrs and minotaurs) either still loyal to the House or that have been compelled into service by the magics of the Augurs of House Alopex. Each of the Warrior Legions is lead by one of the heavily armoured Knights of the House, acting as the commander of the Legion.
Since the defection of so many commoners to House Rising Horn, House Alopex have allowed their commoner warriors no further chance for disloyalty - most of the commoner warriors are compelled to fight for the House by magical nose-rings or ear-tags; the Knight leader of the legion carries an item to which the commoners bindings are connected, forcing the commoner fae to be fanatically loyal to the Knight holding the item (normally a staff or a crook).
These legions form the majority of military forces under the command of House Alopex and are made up of warrior commoner fae (mostly satyrs and minotaurs) either still loyal to the House or that have been compelled into service by the magics of the Augurs of House Alopex. Each of the Warrior Legions is lead by one of the heavily armoured Knights of the House, acting as the commander of the Legion.
Since the defection of so many commoners to House Rising Horn, House Alopex have allowed their commoner warriors no further chance for disloyalty - most of the commoner warriors are compelled to fight for the House by magical nose-rings or ear-tags; the Knight leader of the legion carries an item to which the commoners bindings are connected, forcing the commoner fae to be fanatically loyal to the Knight holding the item (normally a staff or a crook).
The Grand Inquisition
Following the creation of House Rising Horn the Lords of House Alopex (advised by their Augurs) saw that similar underground movements may arise and cause problems in future; in an attempt to deal with the burgeoning defection movement, the Lords allowed their Augurs to create an organisation (exempt and separate from the rules that governed the House military forces) whose remit was to hunt down and deal with any fae plotting against the House, worshipping proscribed Ancestors or carrying out activities that were 'unwholesome' or 'deviant.' Comprising many of the most sadistic fae in the House (or at least those who knew well enough to mask their sadism behind a facade of righteousness) and lead by the Grand High Inquistor Uncas Todhunter, the Inquisition became the terror of commoner fae, dragging people from their beds in the middle of the night, never to be seen again.
The Inquisition answers only to the Council of Augurs and many people suspect that, should the Augurs ever make an overt play for control of the House (instead of just prodding events from behind the scenes) that the Inquisition will be one of the most dangerous tools in their arsenal.
Following the creation of House Rising Horn the Lords of House Alopex (advised by their Augurs) saw that similar underground movements may arise and cause problems in future; in an attempt to deal with the burgeoning defection movement, the Lords allowed their Augurs to create an organisation (exempt and separate from the rules that governed the House military forces) whose remit was to hunt down and deal with any fae plotting against the House, worshipping proscribed Ancestors or carrying out activities that were 'unwholesome' or 'deviant.' Comprising many of the most sadistic fae in the House (or at least those who knew well enough to mask their sadism behind a facade of righteousness) and lead by the Grand High Inquistor Uncas Todhunter, the Inquisition became the terror of commoner fae, dragging people from their beds in the middle of the night, never to be seen again.
The Inquisition answers only to the Council of Augurs and many people suspect that, should the Augurs ever make an overt play for control of the House (instead of just prodding events from behind the scenes) that the Inquisition will be one of the most dangerous tools in their arsenal.
