The Ruling House

The Ruling House, House Andar-Ros

The Ruling House (House Andar-ros) has ruled Velddrinnsshar for over 2000 years. Its rule is absolute and has gone unchallenged for 5 centuries. This could soon change. The Matron Mother (Darnine Andar-ros) has fallen ill and her eldest daughter is rumored to be plotting her death in order for her to take the mantle of the great drow city. The chaos that will follow her death could be greater that the chaos of the Great War between the drow city-states some 2500 years ago - or this could just be another one of Kiaransalee's tests. In either case, beware and prepare.

House Andar-ros has 1500 elite troops, 2000 foot soldiers, 750 archers, and 500 lizard riders along with trained slave formations that number another 1000. The house is the largest and most fortified of the noble houses and is believed to be warded by over 5000 magical traps. The nobles of Andar-ros are the most malicious of Velddrinnsshar - Kless, the eldest female, is the High Priestess of Arach-Tlabbar (the Dark Shrine to Kiaransalee). She has complete control of the Dark Shrine and is noted as one of the mightiest warriors in Velddrinnsshar. Terinal is the second eldest and Matron Mistress of the Fighter Academy (Melee-Mingolith). She has a magical sword from the surface named 'life stealer' and is rumored to be immune to all poisons. Chacata is one of only 2 female mages in Velddrinnsshar. Though not the most powerful of the wizards, she has great powers, and her fighting prowess and being Darnine's favorite has made her the most feared wizard in the city (at least by males!). Verna Andar-ros was Matron Mother of a weaker noble house (House Haerne) before it fell out of favor with Kiaransalee (and House Andar-ros) and now she serves Darnine as high advisor. Ornoss is the youngest of Darnine's daughters but has been the quickest to obtain the High Priestess title. House Andar-ros has 23 other High Priestesses and 19 Priestesses, the other 37 female nobles have roles from diplomatic liaisons, to commander of the house guard. Darnine Andar-ros has had a wicked hatred for males for centuries and no male nobles are present in House Andar-ros because of this (both a positive and negative - depending on who you ask!).

Kroel, a beholder, serves Darnine as advisor and protectorate. Kroel never leaves Darnine's side (except when she enters the inner sanctum of the Dark Shrine) and is probably the main reason why Kless hasn't killed her yet. Darnine is rumored to have a magical devise that controls the beast.

House Andar-ros controls the Ruling Council (by sheer power), the Dark Shrine (through Kless), and the Fighter Academy (through Terinal). Zaktifar is the only organization that is not under the watchful eyes of Matron Darnine and even the wizard academy is not free of Andar-ros influence thanks in part to Chacata and also the beholder Kroel (who is rumored to enjoy the company of mages over clerics). The Bazaar is also under Andar-ros's control due to its control of the Ruling Council, the fact the main caravan route having no less that 15 Andar-ros trade outposts, and that the main exchange platform in Velddrinnsshar is overseen by Illinil Andar-ros (a merchant and priestess). Lastly, House Andar-ros has a strong alliance with the 3rd and 4th Great Noble Houses (Ned'Kosak and GimethDiran), the 13th Noble House (Reikwal) and the 17^th House (Ulrihk). To say House Andar-ros is difficult to deceive is an understatement and the house stands as one of the mightiest in all of the drow undercities.

Recent House history-

The new Matron Mother of Velddrinnsshar, Kless Andar-ros, continues to rule the city with absolute power. Rumored to have killed her mother (the former Matron Mother, Darnine), Kless has possibly surpassed her mothers greatness in just a few short months. Though she initially encountered stiff opposition from several greater houses, the great high priestess utilized her under estimated political skills (as well as a few well placed assassinations and threats) to regain complete control of the city.

The beholder Kroel remains steadfast at Kless side and her younger sisters seem to be content with following her lead (for now at least!). House Andar-ross powerful allies, Houses GimethDiran, Reikwal, Dielz-lor, Olgrum, and Vorsha present a difficult challenge to any alliance of houses (even with its many allies, the powerful House Archel dare not push the Ruling House). And recently, Kless Andar-ros has gained the backing of the mysterious House Keflar from the mage city of Nisari. Again the Ruling House grows stronger....

Finally, the recent improvement in relations with the other drow city-states and the boom in the economy have favored the Matron Mother. At least for the present, it would seem that Kless Andar-ros has Kiaransalees highest Favor.