House Ouclaurn
House Ouclaurn is a Drow House that is known for their lack of subtlety.
Upon completion of the fort they swarmed the guards and took control over the plantation. They declared themselves House Ouclaurn. In the next few days they received military aid from an unknown ally, rumored to be from the surface, as well as provisions and building materials to make outposts near the entrances to the vast open cave that housed the plantation.
House Halroun dispatched spies and assassins in an attempt to destabilize the uprising and allow for a, by Drow standards, peaceful resolution. Though many leaders of House Ouclaurn were assassinated, their slave like status meant that anyone of the uprising could take over and take the name Ouclaurn.
House Ouclaurn was anticipating a full out war, but that never came. House Halround had sterilized most of their Kechèna and as such they thought they needed only to hold out for about a hundred years or so. A hundred years was annoying, but no big deal to them. They always considered the bigger picture and quickly moved on to other matters.
This did not sit well with House Ouclaurn. They knew many of them were sterile but not all. Those who were could not live a simple life, this uprising was their only hope at rectification. Malika Ouclaurn, a sterilized young woman, was exceptionally sorrowful. As she was carrying pots to the lake to get water she stepped on a flask, shattering it. She fell and broke the pots she was carrying. She broke down, sat in the middle of the shards and wept for the state of her life and that of the many young women that were part of House Ouclaurn. She picked up the shards and cut herself with it. Her intense emotional state attracted the attention of Theranis and Jescrin. They convened with the other deities of shadow and together several of them bestowed Malika with divine power. She would not die by her own hand, no matter how hard she tried. Nor would she be killed by any mortal as long as the divine favor was with her.
Others witnessed this act. When she arose and turned to the mass of people that had gathered, they saw eight arms sprouting from behind her, each wielding a different object. She herself held a shard of glass and a shard of pottery which she crushed in her hand. Blood dripped from her hands and all who saw her felt the pain. Many fell to the ground unable to bear the pain. As she left the fields, heading for the fort, those who were left standing followed her without saying a word.
From the fort the then declared leader of House Ouclaurn, Lady Seliac, described the march of Malika as a dust storm slowly picking up volume but it was no dust but shadows. Blessed shadows from numerous deities joined in a most holy covenant of vengeful malevolence. Lady Seliac tried to withstand the pain that radiated from Malika. She bowed down and surrendered the title of Lady, but Malika saw weakness. As blood was still dripping from her hands Malika held the head of Lady Seliac in a gentle embrace. Overwhelmed by the pain Seliac screamed out in agony. In response Malika crushed the head of Seliac with her bare hands.
From the ramparts Malika instructed her followers to take up arms. "Pick up whatever weapon you can find, we shall take the fight to them." she exclaimed. Her words echoed through the cave. It was heard by even those on the other side of Varalimhe. House Ouclaurn won many battles but were eventually defeated when Malika committed the unforgivable sin of slaying a Deep Titan Moth and was stripped of her powers. The remaining forces retreated and defended the cave from the soldiers of House Halroun that had given chase. A ceasefire was brokered that has been in effect ever since. The two houses are officially still at war.
The doctrine of House Ouclaurn hasn't changed much. They are still savage, direct, and in an eternal struggle to get on top.
They perform frequent raids on both the surface and in the Depths. To them all other beings, including other Drow houses, are all guilty of mistreating them in the past and as such all is permitted against them. Though they have served many deities in the past they currently worship Yi'tank as their main deity.
When Ouclaurn go on raids they forego subtlety and instead come as a show of force, surrounding their target ensuring nobody escapes. They only show mercy to Elven slaves, who they allow to join their Kyzgani.
History
Kechèna (see Ancient Drow Philosophy) working for House Halroun had finished Fort Ranta overseeing the mushroom plantation now known as Vereya Stanoth at the shores of Varalimhe and all seemed right. The slaves then started an uprising, backed by insurgents from House Ustyln (though it isn't public knowledge who the insurgents were from).Upon completion of the fort they swarmed the guards and took control over the plantation. They declared themselves House Ouclaurn. In the next few days they received military aid from an unknown ally, rumored to be from the surface, as well as provisions and building materials to make outposts near the entrances to the vast open cave that housed the plantation.
House Halroun dispatched spies and assassins in an attempt to destabilize the uprising and allow for a, by Drow standards, peaceful resolution. Though many leaders of House Ouclaurn were assassinated, their slave like status meant that anyone of the uprising could take over and take the name Ouclaurn.
House Ouclaurn was anticipating a full out war, but that never came. House Halround had sterilized most of their Kechèna and as such they thought they needed only to hold out for about a hundred years or so. A hundred years was annoying, but no big deal to them. They always considered the bigger picture and quickly moved on to other matters.
This did not sit well with House Ouclaurn. They knew many of them were sterile but not all. Those who were could not live a simple life, this uprising was their only hope at rectification. Malika Ouclaurn, a sterilized young woman, was exceptionally sorrowful. As she was carrying pots to the lake to get water she stepped on a flask, shattering it. She fell and broke the pots she was carrying. She broke down, sat in the middle of the shards and wept for the state of her life and that of the many young women that were part of House Ouclaurn. She picked up the shards and cut herself with it. Her intense emotional state attracted the attention of Theranis and Jescrin. They convened with the other deities of shadow and together several of them bestowed Malika with divine power. She would not die by her own hand, no matter how hard she tried. Nor would she be killed by any mortal as long as the divine favor was with her.
Others witnessed this act. When she arose and turned to the mass of people that had gathered, they saw eight arms sprouting from behind her, each wielding a different object. She herself held a shard of glass and a shard of pottery which she crushed in her hand. Blood dripped from her hands and all who saw her felt the pain. Many fell to the ground unable to bear the pain. As she left the fields, heading for the fort, those who were left standing followed her without saying a word.
From the fort the then declared leader of House Ouclaurn, Lady Seliac, described the march of Malika as a dust storm slowly picking up volume but it was no dust but shadows. Blessed shadows from numerous deities joined in a most holy covenant of vengeful malevolence. Lady Seliac tried to withstand the pain that radiated from Malika. She bowed down and surrendered the title of Lady, but Malika saw weakness. As blood was still dripping from her hands Malika held the head of Lady Seliac in a gentle embrace. Overwhelmed by the pain Seliac screamed out in agony. In response Malika crushed the head of Seliac with her bare hands.
From the ramparts Malika instructed her followers to take up arms. "Pick up whatever weapon you can find, we shall take the fight to them." she exclaimed. Her words echoed through the cave. It was heard by even those on the other side of Varalimhe. House Ouclaurn won many battles but were eventually defeated when Malika committed the unforgivable sin of slaying a Deep Titan Moth and was stripped of her powers. The remaining forces retreated and defended the cave from the soldiers of House Halroun that had given chase. A ceasefire was brokered that has been in effect ever since. The two houses are officially still at war.
The doctrine of House Ouclaurn hasn't changed much. They are still savage, direct, and in an eternal struggle to get on top.
Current situation
House Ouclaurn struggles to be recognized by other houses given their origin. Unlike most houses they don't consider nobility a trait of blood or social standing but a trait of ability. Their raider culture has earned them the respect of mercantile Drow families and of the more savage surface tribes.They perform frequent raids on both the surface and in the Depths. To them all other beings, including other Drow houses, are all guilty of mistreating them in the past and as such all is permitted against them. Though they have served many deities in the past they currently worship Yi'tank as their main deity.
When Ouclaurn go on raids they forego subtlety and instead come as a show of force, surrounding their target ensuring nobody escapes. They only show mercy to Elven slaves, who they allow to join their Kyzgani.
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