House Norn

The Norns are one of the City's most ancient families, and the culture they rule goes back even

### Titles

Guardians of the Depths, Lords of the Deep, The Pale Lords

### Members

Kavin Norn, Alicia Norn, Yene Norn, Aldrich Norn, Ulrich Norn.

### Creation

House Norn has no date of creation, and was not created by a superior power.

### Strengths

Transportation, weapons technology, chemistry.

### Fief

The Depths.

further than their own line. They claim descent from the legendary Ordo Diagnosticium, a sacred and powerful order of technicians from the City's Golden Age. The shamans that swear fealty to House Norn still guard the secrets of the Diagnosticians, and dedicate their lives to the maintenance of the Depths.

## Notable Members

### Kavin Norn

Kavin was technically only Lord of House Norn for a few months, following the death of his father Janrad Norn. However, Janrad had long since effectively abdicated control to Kavin. It was Kavin who fought off the devastating Kendar Invasion, and Kavin who fought against the Food-Fix Scheme. He died in an ambush in the territory of House M'kai, near the Coils of Pleasure.

### Yene Norn

The eldest of Kavin Norn's children, Yene was an intellectual and a proud devotee of the Norn religion. She was well-versed in the shamanic rites, including operation and maintenance of the sacred Rig Armor, but never took to the battlefield herself. She was eventually captured by the King of the Depths, and committed suicide in his custody.

### Aldrich Norn

The older son of Kavin Norn, Aldrich was converted to the Ascensionist faith by Fraedrik Leibowitz. He fought to legalize his newfound religion in the Depths, which earned him the ire of many of the Depths' pagan nobility. He was disinherited by his father for conspiring to overthrow him, but was pardoned by his brother Ulrich after Kavin's death. He has been taken into the Far Depths as part of a peace agreement between House Norn and the King.

### Ulrich Norn

The youngest of Kavin Norn's children, Ulrich is a rowdy hunter and reveler who never expected any responsibilities beyond fighting. When his elder brother was disinherited, and their father murdered immediately afterwards, he found the rule of House Norn thrust upon him. He led his family and their vassals bravely and skillfully against the King's forces, but eventually made peace. Some of his sworn families question whether the peace was too desperate or lenient. Never marrying or having any confirmed children, Ulrich caused a succession crisis upon his death in AR 561. Steward Vistrech Arevjorn currently governs the Depths until the crisis is resolved.

## The Succession Crisis

There are four possible successors rumored to be vying for the Seer's Throne. The lords of the Depths have not yet come to a consensus on which to recognize as the heir to Lord Ulrich Norn.

### Shem Zanon

Ulrich Norn's second cousin and closest legal relative, as well as the Lord of House Zanon. An aged and venerable man, deeply devoted to Depths tradition.

### Burkhard Raven

The young Lord of House Raven, Burkhard's claim lies in being a distant descendant of Kavin Norn via an illegitimate bloodline. Lord Nikkail Raven, Burkhard's great-grandfather, was Kavin's bastard child.

### Richter Warhawk

The predictably militaristic Lord of House Warhawk, Richter has no known direct relation to Ulrich Norn. However, the long history of intermarriage between Houses Warhawk and Norn makes him a plausible contender for the throne as well.

### Piyra Duvor… Norn?

A somewhat mysterious businesswoman who spent most of her known life living in Dorith's End. She is rumored to have had many adventures in service to Aldrich Norn, who she insists was her father.

## The Crisis Resolved

Eventually, after several months of the Depths lords rather anticlimactically deciding to mainly attend to their own affairs and not press their claims to the throne very hard, Steward Vistrech Arevjorn, the regent of House Norn, resolved the issue by opening the will of Ulrich Norn. Aldrich Sohlem Duvor Norn, the son of Piyra Duvor, who was found to indeed be the daughter of Aldrich Norn, was named as the heir, and was anointed the new Lord Norn.