House Information
Little is known of this strange Qu'ellar other than they simply appeared in the city for more than a year ago. More like a mercenary group than a Qu'ellar, this strange House tends to offer its unseen support to many people who carry the right price for their skills in espionage and assassinations. Despite the rumors that Qu'ellar Barra has been responsible for aiding in the fall of several Houses, none have been able to provide sufficient evidence nor witness to prove anything other than their mysterious nature to appear when things seem to be just right.
Lead by an enigmatic masked leader, the House tends to keep pretty much to itself other than the occasional "special" service. Other than trading in illicit services, the House also serves as a trading house for items from the surface to underground world. Their means of transporting large quantity of goods remains a secret, but one thing is for certain: if you can't find it, Qu'ellar Barra will. From weapons to armor to simple supplies and basic needs, the House trades in them all. Several merchants outside the city walls are rumored to be secret Barra agents, aiming to do more than gain wealth for their House.
Another strange quality of this unique house is how it is run. Unlike most Qu'ellar, Barra runs on a quasi-Patriarch, though females are treated at the same level as males within the compound walls according to their rank and seniority. A female soldier is seen as an equal when compared to a male and vice versa. According to their culture, those who pull in their weight will receive respect equal to it. Instead of carrying titles such as "Matron" or "Patron", the leader of the young House is titled as "Head of Household", though when addressed, they may be addressed as "Ilharn/Patron" or "Ilharess/Matron" for the sake of respect and appearance. Also, another strange trait of the House of Shadows is the fact that they do not worship a particular deity. According to members of the House, "The Head of Household is open to all faiths and beliefs, however, he prefers them to be worshiped in privacy and if one were to cause any trouble within his walls with their religious views, that said troublemaker will be removed from the compound, via without the teleportation platform."
Though recently, a set of rumors have became popular about Qu'ellar Barra being responsible for missing young female Drows. The claims are secret warriors of the House would sneak into the lesser Houses of the cities and kidnap them, using drugs found from the surface to subdue their prey. According to rumors, they would then bring their victim back to the Qu'ellar and from there, the rumors vary depending on the story teller. From slave trading to sacrifices to a darker, and perhaps crueler, God/Goddess have been told in correlation to the missing Drowesses. Though if questioned, any member of Barra would give an honest answer of no acknowledgment of such acts nor the House being responsible for anything other than providing great services in their trades.
About four hundred beings occupy the compound, nine tenth contributing to the military/magical area while ten percent provide miscellaneous duties around the House. Out of the ten percent, two thirds are loyal free servants while the other one third are slaves. All members are trained for fighting though and are proficient with the weapon of choice of the House: the rapier. If the House was to fall under attack, every man, woman, and child will stand their ground. As for races to reside within the compound, eighty percent are Drows. The other twenty percent are Orcs, High Elves, and a few Dwarves. About ten percent of that of the non-Drows are slaves. The others are hired on help who aid in the Qu'ellar through a variety of means.
Interested? Post me a link of your character from the PORTFOLIO OF VILLAINOUS PROPORTIONS. Starting Positions are open for: Mageling (Wizards, Sorcerers, Witch, etc.), Soldiers (Fighters, Barbarians, Rogues, etc.), and Slaves. Once hired on and your performance has been gauged, some will be promoted to either: Senior House Wizard/Sorcerer or Captain of the Guards. Slaves do not get a promotion (surprise!). Work with the Qu'ellar long enough, two individuals will receive special honor of Weapon Master or can challenge current Archmage of the Qu'ellar to a duel and earn the rank. Got questions? I've got answers. Either ask here or PM.
