Noble Houses of Menzo

House Argith - The first House of Menzo, now and probably forever. Ruled with an iron fist by High Priest  Da'kar, who has been around longer than any other living dark elf. That he isn't dead is the will of Asmodeus, another sign that House Argith is first amongst Houses. House Argith is just more powerful and older than any other House, except House T'orgh, which is the only other House that can trace it's ancestry all the way back the originals. More than 200 dark elves serve House Argith, with around 40 of them being Nobles. House Argith has about 2000 orcs and goblins serving them.

House Hume - The second House of Menzo, House Hume holds it's position due to a crafty leadership. While High Priest Q'lor might not be the most powerful of priests, he makes up with leadership and tactical skills beyond the norm. Although nasty tongues in taverns claim it is in fact
his former concubine Kiera that pulls all the strings. For generations, House Hume has also produced some of the finest dark elf fighters and rangers and not only are they skilled one on one, but they operate at a fearsome level when in groups, commanded by the many Hume captains, all coached by Q'lor and their Weapons Master G'lor. Around 150 dark elves serve House Hume, with the nobles making up about 25 of them. House Hume has about 1600 orcs and goblins serving them.

House Khalazza - The third house of Menzo is perhaps the smallest House, but in some ways, it is also the scariest. Where normally 1/10 noble dark elves show aptitude for magic, every noble born of the Khalazza House show a significant degree of aptitude for the dark arts. Fully half of their sons and daughters are wizards. High Priest F'er is both the one of the most powerful priests and wizards in Menzo. Only around 50 dark elves serve House Khalazza, with almost 20 of them being nobles. House Khalazza has about 450 orcs and goblins serving them.

House Naerth - Where House Khalazza has a tendency to produce wizards, House Naerth, fourth House of Menzo has a tendency to produce priests. It might not have the most powerful priest in Menzo, that honor falls to House Argith, but it certainly has one of the greatest numbers of
powerful priests, especially compared to the size of the House. But House Naerth is very different. Normally the rule of women is not allowed, but for some reason, Asmodeus has never reacted to High Priestess Binael taking power from her former husband that she (allegedly) killed with a dagger through his skull while making love to him. So for now, she rules. A little more than 70 dark elves serve House Naerth, and 25 of them are of noble blood. House Naerth has about 650 orcs and goblins serving them.

House Vrinn - Being the fifth House of Menzo is a relatively new thing to House Vrinn. They are one of two newer up-and-coming Houses that have made their way onto the council, where the 11 most powerful Houses are represented. It's rise to power has been quasi-meteoric, and a lot of
jealous eyes follow High Priest Jarl, who runs House Vrinn. While some are jealous of House Vrinns success, most despice them for the same. House Vrinn has enjoyed an enormous boost due doing what no one has done before. Trading on a large scale with humans. While not forbidden, it is certainly commonly frowned upon, and for some, it is still a sin. House Vrinn also has access to a lot of mercenaries and often employs other races for certain jobs. They also facilitate if other Houses need mercenary contacts. Almost 110 dark elves serve this dark elf House, and close to 15 of them are nobles of the family. House Vrinn has about 1450 orcs and goblins serving them.

House Xiltyn - Another of the very old Houses, House Xiltyn is one of those Houses that seem content, that do not make too many waves, usually siding with the majority (and House Argith). The sixth House of Menzo has a long history of making exceptional magical items and hording lore. What is less known, is that House Xiltyn, under the guidance of its young High Priest Re'qor recently has begun to consort both with drows, to acquire knowledge and certain minerals from the Deep Below,
but also with humans, in order to acquire even more lore from other races. Around 80 dark elves follow House Xiltyn, and 15 of them are nobles. House Xiltyn has about 800 orcs and goblins serving them.

House Dhalmass - By all rights, House Dhalmass, the seventh House of Menzo is way too small to hold the position it holds. But, High Priest E'toe is extremely well connected, and seems to know everything that goes on, both in Menzo and beyond. Thus, armed with that knowledge, he has
an uncanny ability to always chose the winning side in any given dispute or conflict. Failing that, he has at his beck and call some of the best assassins within thousands of miles, his sons, grandsons and
great-grandsons. Only 30 dark elves serve the House of Dhalmass, but 25 of them are nobles. House Dhalmass has about 250 orcs and goblins serving them.

House Jhalavar - House Jhalavar, eigth House of Menzo does not have many live members. In fact, it's mostly just the nobles, everyone else is pretty much undead. Actually, quite a few of the nobles are said to be undead as well, having used foul magics to prolong their lives. High Priest M'zor isn't one of them, at least not yet. Yet he rules and runs House Jhalavar with an iron fist. The House is said to cultivate close connections with a human group of necromancers called the Cult of Bones, that worship dead dragons. Only 25 dark elves serve this house, and 24 of them are nobles. Only one living dark elf serves the House of Jhalavar. House Jhalavar has no orcs and goblins serving them, but instead an army of undead. How many is unknown.

House Mizzrym - Another of the new Houses on the Council, House Mizzrym has also enjoyed a rapid rise to the top of Menzo. While Vrinn rose due to dealings and planning, House Mizzrym owes it rise solely to the brute strength of their minds. Seemingly all master psions, High Priest
J'luk and his family has annihilated no less than seven other families in their quest for power. Allegedly of course. When will they stop, is the question every noble above them ask themselves. Others hate them, such as High Priest Venar of House T'orgh, who took it as a personal
slight, when House Argith and the Council let House Mizzrym jump ahead of House T'orgh in the ladder of power of Menzo. Mizzrym has more than 110 dark elves serving the House, and 25 of them are nobles. House Mizzryn has more than 1200 orcs and goblins serving them.

House T'orgh - The tenth House is one of original six houses in the Silent Forest. It can trace it's lineage all the way back to the original dark elves, sometimes calling themselves the Sons of Asmodeus. Very proud, but no longer very powerful. Ruled by High Priest Venar, one of the oldest of
Menzo. House T'orgh used to be much more influencial, in fact, it was third House of Menzo at some point, but some bad choices over the last couple of hundred years has seen House T'orgh slip down the ranks, and is now close to losing it's seat on the Council. Yet if Venar has proven one thing over the 700 year he has ruled his House, it is that he never gives up. More than 110 dark elves still serve House T'orgh, although the numbers have been dropping over the years. House T'orgh is a vast family, and has more than 35 nobles. House T'orgh has about 600 orcs and goblins serving them.

House Tuin - The last House on the Council, the eleventh House in Menzo, House Tuin owe their power to their trade agreements with other dark elf cities and settlements in the Silent Forest, as well as trade agreements with other dark elf cities around Era. High Priest Ty'rin runs the show, but his position is extremely weak and the assassination attempts have been numerous lately. Many speculate that it is just a matter of time, before he is replaced by his eldest son. House Tuin has around 70 dark elves serving it, with 20 of them being noble dark elves. House Tuin has about 750 orcs and goblins serving them.