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Name five of the most powerful Houses of Menzoberranzan.
One lucky winner with a correct answer will win so get your entry in before 12 PM PST (Pacific) on Monday, April 1. And be sure to check your PMs to find out if you've won! Good luck!
Baenre
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra (destroyed by Lolth in DR1358, described in Siege of Darkness)
DeVir (destroyed by Do'Urden in DR1297, described in Homeland)
Hun'ett (destroyed by Do'Urden in DR1338, described in Exile)
But Oblodra was destroyed by Lolth after the Time of Troubles passed; and DeVir and Hun'ett were destroyed by House Do'Urden during power grabs. And number 8, House Agrach Dyrr, was consumed and vasallized by House Baenre during the War of the Spider Queen.
So that brings the latest known house standings to:
Baenre: The most powerful noble house in the city, House Baenre dominates its trade, politics, military (its forces are reputed to be able to match any other 5 nobles houses combined), and even the schools (with the heads of both Sorcere and Arach Tinilith members of the house).
Barrison Del'Armgo: The second house of Menzoberranzan is also the strongest in magic and and mages, or so it is said. Oblodra: The city's third house is known for its strange mental powers, such as those born by duergar and illithids. Whispers often link them with one or both. They are also the principle overseer of patrol groups. <font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar: The fourth ranked house of the city's power is based on trade and its innumerable trade contacts in the city. They even seem to beat out House Baenre in this regard.
Xorlarrin: The members of the 5th house of Menzoberranzan are known as paranoid recluses. They always travel wearing a veil and concealing robe that hides both identity and gender. Several of the masters of Sorcere are members of this house and they can be hired to arbitrate business and house disputes. Agrach Dyrr: The 6th house is known for both its magical power and its warlike stance. Mizzrym: The 7th house is known for its double-dealing ways but also maintains power through trade (an unusual combination). They are one of the largest employers of mercenaries in the city, proving they have great wealth as well as making them much more dangerous than their rank and house forces would indicate. Fey Branche: The 8th house is also the primary founder of the Brown Mushroom merchant company. The house has a long history, including numerous rises and falls in the city's hierarchy, while surviving the entire time. Common wisdom is that they will suffer some mishap and drop in status again soon (within the next few decades), making room for another house to join the council. Tuin'Tarl: The 9th house of Menzoberranzan is a great success story: a merchant clan that made the leap to nobility and became a very powerful house all in a relatively short period of time. Their power is still based on trade. Duskryn: The 10th house is militarily powerful and many wonder how they can be ranked so low with so many more finely trained troops than some higher placed houses. Srune'lett: The 11th house's position is considered extremely precarious as they are weak in both arms and magic and the trustworthiness of their troops is open speculation even among commoners. Horlbar: The 12th house is known for its long memory as well as its unique rule by two matron mothers. Since the death of one means the death of the other, however, this unusual situation does seem to work (from the outside, at least). They have numerous prosperous farms in the mantle and run regular caravans into the underdark. Kenafin: The 13th house of the city is known for its involvement in trade, though this almost all occurs within the city and never beyond the mantle. Their priestesses have been working on a giant sculpture of Lloth for years, apparently in an effort to gain the Spider Queen's favor. Whisperings in the city alternately say this is a good house to find employment with or an extremely harsh one, even by drow standards. Druu'giir: The 14th house's influence is spread by its domination of almost all money lending in the city. This also makes it extremely wealthy, and able to hire any mercenaries it requires on a moment's notice. The house is feared for its powerful magic, especially spells that open portals between two places or planes, bypassing all defenses. Hunzrin: The current 15th house is in charge of the city's farms and answers to House Baenre and the ruling council in this. They have long held this duty and most drow suspect it has distracted them to such an extent that they have not been able to focus properly on military growth. Shobalar: The 16th house has a reputation for double dealing as well as magical might, though its wizards are almost exclusively female! The members of the house are very reclusive but are always obvious when traveling as they use specially bred spider mounts rather than riding lizards. Vandree: The members of the 17th house are known for their surface world trade (many say raids) which has given them riches and unusual magical might beyond the expectation of such a weak house. Symryvvin: Symryvvin has been 18th house of Menzoberranzan since its founding, or so it is said. Despite its ranking, even Matron Baenre calls on Matron Mother Symryvvin for advice. Some whisper that Matron Symryvvin is the true power in Menzoberranzan, not Matron Baenre or the council. To date, such whispers have not been punished. The house is referred to as "the eyes of Lloth".
Comments
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
Barrison Del'Armgo
<font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar
Xorlarrin
Mizzrym
Make me the happiest man alive, thank you!:)
2. Barrison Del'Armgo
3. Oblodra
4. <font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar
5. Xorlarrin
2. House Barrison Del'Armgo
3. House Xorlarrin
4. House <font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar
5. House Mizzrym
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
Barrison Del'Armgo
<font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar
Xorlarrin
Mizzrym
2. Barrison Del'Armgo
3. <font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar
4. Oblodra
5. Xorlarrin
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
Baenre
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
1. Baenre
2. Barrison Del'Armgo
3. Oblodra
4. <font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar
5. Xorlarrin
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra (destroyed by Lolth in DR1358, described in Siege of Darkness)
DeVir (destroyed by Do'Urden in DR1297, described in Homeland)
Hun'ett (destroyed by Do'Urden in DR1338, described in Exile)
Here are 5 out of 21 Houses of Menzoberranzan
1.Srune'Lett
2.Horlbar
3.Kenafin
4.Druu'giir
5.Hunzrin
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
2) Barrison Del'Armgo
3) Oblodra
4) DeVir
5) Hun'ett
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
Before Drizzt's birth the five most powerful houses were:
Baenre, Barrison Del'Armgo, Oblodra, DeVir, Hun'ett
But Oblodra was destroyed by Lolth after the Time of Troubles passed; and DeVir and Hun'ett were destroyed by House Do'Urden during power grabs. And number 8, House Agrach Dyrr, was consumed and vasallized by House Baenre during the War of the Spider Queen.
So that brings the latest known house standings to:
1. Baenre
2. Barrison Del'Armgo
3. <font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar
4. Xorlarrin
5. Mizzrym
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
Barrison Del'Armgo
DeVir
Oblodra
<font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
Barrison Del'Armgo
Oblodra
DeVir
Hun'ett
2. Barrison Del'Armgo
3. <font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar
4. Xorlarrin
5. Mizzrym
Del'Amargo
<font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tiabbar
Xorlarrin
Mizzrym
"The Upper Third":
Baenre: The most powerful noble house in the city, House Baenre dominates its trade, politics, military (its forces are reputed to be able to match any other 5 nobles houses combined), and even the schools (with the heads of both Sorcere and Arach Tinilith members of the house).
Barrison Del'Armgo: The second house of Menzoberranzan is also the strongest in magic and and mages, or so it is said.
Oblodra: The city's third house is known for its strange mental powers, such as those born by duergar and illithids. Whispers often link them with one or both. They are also the principle overseer of patrol groups.
<font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar: The fourth ranked house of the city's power is based on trade and its innumerable trade contacts in the city. They even seem to beat out House Baenre in this regard.
Xorlarrin: The members of the 5th house of Menzoberranzan are known as paranoid recluses. They always travel wearing a veil and concealing robe that hides both identity and gender. Several of the masters of Sorcere are members of this house and they can be hired to arbitrate business and house disputes.
Agrach Dyrr: The 6th house is known for both its magical power and its warlike stance.
Mizzrym: The 7th house is known for its double-dealing ways but also maintains power through trade (an unusual combination). They are one of the largest employers of mercenaries in the city, proving they have great wealth as well as making them much more dangerous than their rank and house forces would indicate.
Fey Branche: The 8th house is also the primary founder of the Brown Mushroom merchant company. The house has a long history, including numerous rises and falls in the city's hierarchy, while surviving the entire time. Common wisdom is that they will suffer some mishap and drop in status again soon (within the next few decades), making room for another house to join the council.
Tuin'Tarl: The 9th house of Menzoberranzan is a great success story: a merchant clan that made the leap to nobility and became a very powerful house all in a relatively short period of time. Their power is still based on trade.
Duskryn: The 10th house is militarily powerful and many wonder how they can be ranked so low with so many more finely trained troops than some higher placed houses.
Srune'lett: The 11th house's position is considered extremely precarious as they are weak in both arms and magic and the trustworthiness of their troops is open speculation even among commoners.
Horlbar: The 12th house is known for its long memory as well as its unique rule by two matron mothers. Since the death of one means the death of the other, however, this unusual situation does seem to work (from the outside, at least). They have numerous prosperous farms in the mantle and run regular caravans into the underdark.
Kenafin: The 13th house of the city is known for its involvement in trade, though this almost all occurs within the city and never beyond the mantle. Their priestesses have been working on a giant sculpture of Lloth for years, apparently in an effort to gain the Spider Queen's favor. Whisperings in the city alternately say this is a good house to find employment with or an extremely harsh one, even by drow standards.
Druu'giir: The 14th house's influence is spread by its domination of almost all money lending in the city. This also makes it extremely wealthy, and able to hire any mercenaries it requires on a moment's notice. The house is feared for its powerful magic, especially spells that open portals between two places or planes, bypassing all defenses.
Hunzrin: The current 15th house is in charge of the city's farms and answers to House Baenre and the ruling council in this. They have long held this duty and most drow suspect it has distracted them to such an extent that they have not been able to focus properly on military growth.
Shobalar: The 16th house has a reputation for double dealing as well as magical might, though its wizards are almost exclusively female! The members of the house are very reclusive but are always obvious when traveling as they use specially bred spider mounts rather than riding lizards.
Vandree: The members of the 17th house are known for their surface world trade (many say raids) which has given them riches and unusual magical might beyond the expectation of such a weak house.
Symryvvin: Symryvvin has been 18th house of Menzoberranzan since its founding, or so it is said. Despite its ranking, even Matron Baenre calls on Matron Mother Symryvvin for advice. Some whisper that Matron Symryvvin is the true power in Menzoberranzan, not Matron Baenre or the council. To date, such whispers have not been punished. The house is referred to as "the eyes of Lloth".
2) Oblodra
3) <font color="orange">HAMSTER</font> Tlabbar
4) Xorlarrin
5) Barrison Del'Armgo