House Ailil
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Rulers of Winter from ancient days, House Ailil are the leading noble faction of the Unseelie Court. Adept manipultors and politicians, members of this house share with their Seelie sister-house a taste for intrigue. Indeed, Ailil and Eiluned were siblings and shared many traits in common although eventually their paths led each to found a house with its distinct identity. Nobles of House Ailil are amongst the most vocal proponents of returning to the ancient division of the rule between Summer and Winter courts. Although few lords of House Ailil are able to rule openly, members of this house are occasionally encountered as advisors to other nobles, particularly within House Eiluned or as "grey eminences" ruling covertly behind the cover of weak or vacillating lords. House Ailil played no open role in the Accordance War in Rowan-Oak. Indeed, it was a number of years into Count Vathek's rule that the House of the Dragon first made an open appearance here. Approaching the cynical count with tales of a lost freehold beyond Rowan-Oak's western marches, Sir Clay promised his fealty in exchange for the right to hold Iron Mountain as his own barony should he succeed in finding the rumored fortress and its legendary trove. Count Vathek agreed to this bargain, eager to increase his own holdings and unable to detect any duplicity in Sir Clay's offer. The knight of House Ailil vanished for a time, then returned with a magnificent hunting-horn, which he laid at Vathek's feet as proof of his deed. Receiving this tribute, the declining count confirmed Lord Clay ap Ailil as Baron of Iron Mountain. It was only a few months later that Count Vathek elected to ride out in pursuit of the Ouivre, a chimerical Wurm that was ravaging the borders of his demesne, the wondrous hunting-horn at his side. He never returned. When a lottery was held to determine his successor, and the Countess Rosamund called the lords of Rowan-Oak to pledge their fealty, Lord Clay did not come. Nor were her scouts able to locate his alleged freehold at Iron Mountain. For a time it was believed he had fled. At Samhain he appearead to preside over the Shadow Court pageant, left evidence of his continued presence and absconded again. Since then, he has from time to time been seen, and with each sighting his reputaion grows. Known as a potent sorcerer and master of rare Arts, Clay ap Ailil is suspected of complicity in the Fall of Baywood and the prevalence of darksome chimerae there. He also held the countess' son and heir captive for a time, it is presumed in an effort to convert the satyr to the Unseelie cause. The countess' son was retrieved by Master Coulkan from the Deepward Realms of the Dreaming, and after a period of close care pronounce Almond recovered from his ordeal. Since this incident, Clay ap Ailil has not reappeared in the county. His freehold remains undiscovered. Decendants of kings, nobles of House Ailil remain confident in the face of overwhelming challenges - such as wringing due recognition from the hegemony of Seelie nobility. They are canny and astute politicians, but tend to lapse into complacency, believing themselves equal to any adversary. Whenever members of House Ailil succeeds in attaining a goal against overwhelming odds, the glow of triumph brings out their Seelie nature for at least one day. They accept defeat less gracefully, often taking out their resentment on hapless underlings. |
| Boon |
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All Manipulation rolls made by fae of House Ailil are at a difficulty reduced by one. Further, nobles of this house cannot botch Subterfuge or Politics rolls. |
| Flaw |
| Lords of the Dragon must make a Willpower roll, difficulty 8, to admit they are in the wrong. Further, if they back down from a challenge, such as a fight they cannot win, all social rolls, including Manipulation, are at a difficulty increased by one until some victory is gained to restore self-confidence. |
| Quote: "On the contrary, I have never kidnapped anyone. Young Almond entered my service of his own free will, and I allowed him to depart when that service was ended. Simply because I follow a different standard of ethics does not mean I do not have my own code of honor. I am a lord of the sidhe, and neither you nor anyone else shall deny me Right of Demesne over my own lands and vassals."
- Clay ap Ailil, soi-disant Baron of Iron Mountain |
