Thiran Nar

Manor of Rampant Shadows

The Manor was raised an unknown number of years ago, this is not to a lack of records, but rather the peculiar flow fo time within the demenses of Thiran Nar. The structure itself is built along Greeco-Roman lines, with long straight lines punctuated by vast rotundas and long porticos that are lined with thick stone pillars. The central axis of the building is oriented towards the elemental pole of wind, and the perpendicular axis, or the wings, are oriented along the magnetic axis of creation. Though quite solid, the manor actually exists entirely within the Fae realms and as such is contructed entirely of extranatural materials.

The stone of the manor's construction, Star Basalt, is hewn from the vault of the heavens, from the darkest parts of the sky between the stars. The material completely absorbs light that falls upon it, and a small piece can leave a bright room left dimmer for its presence. The accumulation of so much stone in Thiran Nar has lead to that realm's aspect of twilight, and only the regular change of seelie and unseelie prevents the realm from slipping permanently into darkness. The material is sensitive to touch, and physical contact causes the stone to release the light it has contained. A casual brush of a hand ignites a sunset panoply of tracer lights in the stone, or fluctuations like the surface of water in a rain storm. A hard strike from a weapon might cause the stone to flare bright enough to blind foes.

The Balefire

If the Manor of Rampant Shadow is the heart of Thiran Nar, then the Balefire is it's soul and source. Located deep within the bowels of the Manor, this billowing conflageration is the font from which Thiran Nar flows. Tending the Balefire is the duty of the current King of Thiran Nar and it is by the flame that a new king is chosen, and it is by the flame that an old king knows his reign is ended, even if his life and power haven't.

The House of Alraunes

For generations, the great and noble house of Alraunes has been the steward of the balefire and masters of Thiran Nar. Heralding from the charismatic and dangerous kith of Dark Elves, their virtues are cunning, oration, warfare, and sorcery. To the Alraunes, nobility isnt a privelage, its a birthright, an inherent part of their essence as much as blood or glamour.

Alraunes the Elder

The balefire started flickering, signalling that the time of the elder as coming to an end soon. While some precipitate an uneventful change of power, others have siezed on the event asa herald of a revolution. Alraunes himself sees this with a mix of trepidation and joy, as the years of tending the flame have left a toll on him and he desires to pass on the flame, but the flame has chosen a successor. Long in the beard and wizened, Alraunes the Elder is a tired old man.

Queen Alraunes

As dark as the new moon over the moors, Queen Alraunes knows that once her husband steps down, she will loose her power as queen. But the flame has brightened in her presence, which she has taken as a sign that she remains a contender for the crown of Thiran Nar. The dark skinned she-elf bides her time and gathers allies to her as quietly as possible, but wonders if her duty is to protect her ailing spouse or hasten his end.

Prince Alraunes

Young and vigorous, Alraunes the younger is a hunter, a lover, a poet, and a sorcerer of some skill. He has some desire in the flame, but would rather see it pass on to another, but knows that such a passover would be a black mark on the blood of the Alraunes line. While he would not desire the power, he would also never shirk from it, and has since started gathering allies to him should the flame choose him.

Other Elves

There are many elves who dwell in Thiran Nar, much alike to the Alraunes in disposition and attitude. Most of these elves are royalists and default support the Alraunes line, mother or son, in some fashion. A few have sided with the opposition, but they are a minority and principally hail from the lower end of the elven society.

The Sage Nightshade

Older than Alraunes the Elder, Nightshade is ancient. The sage recalls a great number of tales, and has more arcane magic at his command than a cadre of human sorcerers. His primary focus is in keeping oral records and sagas, as well as performing divination and magics of illusion and entertainment. Rumor says that Nightshad was once a King of Thiran Nar, other call him a vagabond spirit, a demon is disguise, and the son of a dragon and a banshee.

Princess Belladonna

Ostenably Alraunes paramour, Belladona is a lovely elf from a scion family long loyal to the Alraunes. Quite the opposite of Romeo and Juliet, Alraunes the Younger and Belladonne despise each other with an unnatural ferocity. Headstrong and bullish in demeanor Belladonna claims she needs no man to support her and has made her own claim to the seat of Thiran Nar known.

Courge and the Commoners

The wildcard in the game of houses is self-styled Prince Courge and his motley of retainers and host of supporters. A red-headed Hobgoblin/Knocker, he has gained a large amount of popular support among the commoners and peasantage. The bulk of the hobgoblin/Knocker community supports Courge, as does a signifigant portion of the boggan/halfling septs. The trolls and trollkin are split between the nobles and the commoners, though freetrolls support the common kiths, while knight errants and oath-sworn trolls stand with the nobles.

Grassroots and Coalitions

While the nobility garner the support of various noble factions and their oath-sworn and retainers, Courge has stepped outside of the realms of the fae kiths to the other denizens of the realms, most notably the lupines, the Skraelings, and the vampires. The nobles have attempted to follow suit, but have already been beaten to the table by Courge and his people, however the nobles were able to gain the support of the Emerald Serpent, and the Blood witches.

Plans

Courge is planning a coup d'tat that will remove all of the nobles from Thiran Nar and place himself as the new leader of the Unseelie. Rather than adopting position as an absolute king, Courge plans to have a supporting council that will keep the seat of leadership from being usurped by the treacherous nobles when his time is ended.