The Heron's Schism
Within Almira, the balance of the 8 schools of magic is kept by the eight human tribes. In ancient times, thousands of years before the Dusk Crusade, powerful devils signed a magical contract with the leaders of the human tribe known as the House of Herons. The devils schemed to destroy mortal magic by fracturing and unbalancing the human tribes. However, the leaders of this tribe were cunning, and used the schism of the House of Herons to create a new tribe, the Black Eagle Concordat, maintaining the balance of magic while keeping the power and wealth promised to them.
This power and protection manifests as a spell net over the city, which warps reality to ensure laws are followed. For example, when a crime is committed, the spell net detects the crime and sends city guard. Descendants of the four noble bloodlines can manipulate this spell net, adding or removing laws and channeling their own magic through it threads.
This power and protection manifests as a spell net over the city, which warps reality to ensure laws are followed. For example, when a crime is committed, the spell net detects the crime and sends city guard. Descendants of the four noble bloodlines can manipulate this spell net, adding or removing laws and channeling their own magic through it threads.
Four Bloodlines
The city of The House of Herons has 4 noble bloodlines. The human bloodline of Dama, paeori bloodline of Anastos, the wageni bloodline of Samuelson, and the ezymir bloodline of Rachne.
The Bloodline of Dama
Nobles of the human Bloodline of Dama are friendly and charismatic, direct descendants of the original signatory of the Heron Schism Contract. These nobles are often well loved government figureheads. Many Dama nobles marry angels, azata, or other beautiful good aligned outsiders, creating aasimar offspring.
The Bloodline of Anastos
Nobles of the paeori Bloodline of Anastos are disdainful and artistic. Often well spoken orators or talented crafters, descendents of Anastos are known for their creativity and single minded determination. Those of the Bloodline of Anastos who are born with no artistic talent are publicly flogged and disinherited on the eve of their 17th birthday and forced by law to leave the city, often amidst a hail of rotting fruit and laughter.
The Bloodline of Samuelson
Nobles of the wageni Bloodline of Samuelson are xenophobic, vindictive, and untrusting. It is these bureaucrats that write and pass most of the laws which stigmatize outsiders within the city.
The Bloodline of Rachne
Nobles of the Bloodline of Rachne are exceedingly rare. When the Dusk Crusade began, its minions lured the human last male of the Rachne bloodline from the House of Herons and slaughtered him. Months later, an ezymir rose from that very killing field, filled with the bones of the final Rachne. Even now, those bones are passed down, and ezymir who rise from them are considered to be of the bloodline of Rachne. The Bloodline of Rachne is minuscule and often composed of no more than 5 individuals at a time. Ezymir of the Rachne bloodline are known to have the ability to call multiple shadow slaves at once.
The Bloodline of Dama
Nobles of the human Bloodline of Dama are friendly and charismatic, direct descendants of the original signatory of the Heron Schism Contract. These nobles are often well loved government figureheads. Many Dama nobles marry angels, azata, or other beautiful good aligned outsiders, creating aasimar offspring.
The Bloodline of Anastos
Nobles of the paeori Bloodline of Anastos are disdainful and artistic. Often well spoken orators or talented crafters, descendents of Anastos are known for their creativity and single minded determination. Those of the Bloodline of Anastos who are born with no artistic talent are publicly flogged and disinherited on the eve of their 17th birthday and forced by law to leave the city, often amidst a hail of rotting fruit and laughter.
The Bloodline of Samuelson
Nobles of the wageni Bloodline of Samuelson are xenophobic, vindictive, and untrusting. It is these bureaucrats that write and pass most of the laws which stigmatize outsiders within the city.
The Bloodline of Rachne
Nobles of the Bloodline of Rachne are exceedingly rare. When the Dusk Crusade began, its minions lured the human last male of the Rachne bloodline from the House of Herons and slaughtered him. Months later, an ezymir rose from that very killing field, filled with the bones of the final Rachne. Even now, those bones are passed down, and ezymir who rise from them are considered to be of the bloodline of Rachne. The Bloodline of Rachne is minuscule and often composed of no more than 5 individuals at a time. Ezymir of the Rachne bloodline are known to have the ability to call multiple shadow slaves at once.
A Culture of Condescension
The House of Herons is the pinnacle of peaceful disdain. Those within its walls are taught to loathe outsiders, and have a fierce sense of nationalistic pride. The peace and law of the city has allowed it to improve its art and trade presence, though it does so on the backs of its most vulnerable citizens. Most mundane equipment is made here, the products produced by underpaid peasants under the watchful eye of a master craftsman.
Slumtown
All humanoids who are not of the 4 main races of the city, as well as many who are simply too poor to live the luxurious lifestyle of the nobility, live in Slumtown. This shanty town consists of ramshackle homes made from plywood and recycled nails. Residents of Slumtown are treated with utter disdain, and noble children often have fun by setting fire to small houses or residents of this ramshacks shanty town.
Slumtown
All humanoids who are not of the 4 main races of the city, as well as many who are simply too poor to live the luxurious lifestyle of the nobility, live in Slumtown. This shanty town consists of ramshackle homes made from plywood and recycled nails. Residents of Slumtown are treated with utter disdain, and noble children often have fun by setting fire to small houses or residents of this ramshacks shanty town.