House Yassir

## Aspects

* Situational Aspect: A Coat of Red and Black
* Situational Aspect:  Great power, yet not always within reach
* Situational Aspect: Eyes and ears on every corner

## Overview

Far out past the plains of Kryask, and even to the foothills of the Northern Glaciers, whispered tales tell of creatures of profane magic and unholy nightmare.  Utterly inhuman, merciless, and fanatically devoted to their House, in the stories they drink the blood of their victims and devour their souls.  None of the versions are the same, except for one fact.  In each nightmare, the beast in question always wears a high collared coat of red and black.  Most of it is absolute hogwash, of course, but the Great House of Yassir is happy to maintain and even perpetuate the more nefarious mysteries and rumors that surround their red and black bedecked Oathsworn.  It makes travel in more rural areas more difficult, to be sure, but it is a simple enough matter to take the coat off when blending in is what is required.

The greatest and most feared of the Great Houses, House Yassir has maintained their supremacy for the better part of the last three decades through blood, deception, and above all, Craft.

* Situational Aspect: A Coat of Red and Black

## History

One of the first Great Houses of Yosthaven, House Yassir's power has waxed and waned over the last three centuries. Yet from the very beginning of the conflict with the Kryat Arcaneocracy, they were always one of the great powers of Yosthaven and Sundevalda. The House's founder, Matriarch Arnin Yassir, seized the Citadel for herself and her House early within Drusir's founding. A foundation which many have opposed over the years, but none have broken.

Under the broad vision of its current leader, Matriarch Veora Yassir, the House's power and prestige among the turbulent political tides of Sundevalda have remained dominant for almost thirty years.  While most of the Great Houses kept their Oathsworn within Yosyhaven, the Matriarch of Yassir has sent her **Oathsworn** far into the mainland of Tar and the island nations to the South.  They have taken root, cultivating strange magic among foreign Dependents, and solidifying the position of her House among the mightiest of Sundevalda.  Other Great Houses have begun to take notice of this, and are starting to send their Oathsworn outside of the city as well, though as of yet they do not possess the extended networks of favors and contacts controlled by House Yassir. Yet power must always eventually come home, and thus it is within the city of Yosthaven where House Yassir has spent years building their networks of informants, contacts, and Dependents.

* Situational Aspect:  Great power, yet not always within reach

## Domain

House Yassir claims the Old City as its home, and while many have challenged that claim, none have done more than gain a foothold within the twisting tunnels of that place. The exact location of the House is a mystery to all who are not bound to it, potent wards of deception and confusion turning away any who might search. Those who go hunting report being lost in the tunnels for days, if they report back at all. The House claims Dependents all over Yosthaven, but given the nature of their Craft, they hold the most contacts within the Songs.

* Situational Aspect: Eyes and ears on every corner

## Housebound

### Matriarch Veora Yassir

The Head of House for House Yassir, Veora has been in control for 32 years. The slight points to her ears, and the eerie pale violet of her too large eyes reveals the traces of Fey Blood that run in her veins. The years have begun to settle upon her, lines of worry and stress multiplying within her features, and her hair has long since started going grey. Despite possessing the wealth of one of the greatest House of Yosthaven, and a brilliant understanding the power of story and rumor, she has taken no steps to correct what others might see as the weakness of age with Craft. It's not a matter of vanity either, or even of pragmatism. Having restored her House to what she sees as its rightful place, and held it there for thirty years, she is proud of every line, every streak of grey. She has earned them all a hundred times over, and they are testament to her deadly efficiency.

### Oathsworn Thamus Arre

The eldest **Oathsworn** within House Yassir, Thamus Arre serves as Matriarch Veora's right hand man, as well as mentor to most of the House's newest **Oathsworn**. He is rumored to be a vicious man, brutal in his dealings with wayward Dependents and other Houses. House Pravee in particular holds the man in the lowest possible regard, for it is her who was rumored to have ended the life of their Head of House seven years ago. The assassination could not be tied to him however, and while tensions between the two Houses remain high, they have not devolved into street warfare thanks in large part to the totality with which Thamus appears to have covered his tracks.