A Maze of Grain+Group 4+Non Player Characters
The House of the Navy and Trade.
Twenty years ago this ancient House was on the verge of collapse. Crushed by scandals and looming debts, many members considered exile before Didem the Elder convinced them to try one last desperate gamble. With the help of Xu Quon, he discovered the northern passages had been opened by Wryllen's Fourth Blooming, and established a thriving trade through the now open waters. Together, they built Ohma's first sailing fleet, restoring the wealth of House Doriavo, but not its honor. A bloody Purge was conducted to regain the trust of their fellow citizens, reducing the family to only its untarnished members. For this (and bringing great spoils to the city), Didem was awarded the titles of Consul and then Dictator, and used them to defend the scattered descentants of the Ohmani in other lands. These actions brought the Grasvaran into the fold and many others before his untimely death in battle. Today his son Marko Doriavo is Consul, Grandmaster of the Navy, and Master of the House.
The House of Horses and Iron.
The newest family to grace the Ledge, the Grasvarans are a simple people that represent many things to the Ohmani. Tenacity, compassion, but most of all: tradition. Despite being separated by nearly a thousand years, the Grasvarans have never forgotten their heritage or core values. The Ohmani believe that it is their mission to reclaim their long lost brothers and sisters who fled during the cataclysm, and the return of House Grasvara is the greatest confirmation of that belief so far. As relative newcomers, they have yet to embrace necromancy or the politics of noble courts, but their hard work in the fields and smithy are greatly appreciated nonetheless.
The House of the Army and Low Necromancy.
The peace-keepers of the Ohmani, and their first line of defense against the wild hordes of undead. House Kshatriyo has long been known for their battle prowess, and long reviled for conscripting newly deceased residents to fill out their ranks. It is, however, the law, and so they enjoy the respect of many citizens throughout the other houses. Some say the leadership of the family lies with its denizens, but what is certain is that Aravind, a Consul, rules his territories with an iron grip.
The house of High Necromany.
Originally outcasts from Al'Maqadim, they were first to advise that undead can only be defeated by more undead, and thus they are often credited with saving the entirety of Ohmani civilization. The family is not well liked among residents, but it is held in high regard by citizens and especially so by denizens. Shandor Mulkalo is the Grandmaster of Phylacteries - a position which demands the respect of all denizens. Breaking with tradition, his wife Darane Svato Mulkalo serves as the Matron and Master of the House while Khlyari commands as Master of Denizens.
The House of Cleansing and Chronomancy.
Considered by many to be the oldest house, the Svato family are survivors. Kintàla, the Avatar of the Ohmani, serves as a raw check on the power of the city's denizens. Baxtalo is the young Master of the House, and the heir apparent to his aunt's powers. Both have lived a cloistured, ascetic life for their own protection as much as for everyone else's. They are attended to by a cadre of chronomancers and immortal advisors. The House's official business while religious in origin is now administrative in nature. They oversee matters of ritual purity and pollution, as well as seasonal observances and timekeeping throughout the city.
The House of the Arts
Lavuto enjoys a recent marriage with House Prikazo, but she can only hope to survive their revelry. Having taken up a new artform of "Beauty in Death", this family seeks to use their One Lawful Kill as artfully (and brutually) as possible.
The House of Ill Omen
There was once a time when the astrologers of House Prikazo were sought to help avert disaster. Now that their family has wrought disaster on so many others with their "Beauty in Death", opinions have changed and many seek to put an end to the madness. The House is still wealthy, however, and few dare to strike against those who are said to be able to forsee their own demise.
The House of Farmers and Doctors
Formerly the ancient Guild of Farmers, this up and coming House seeks a debt long due. Vàla, the deaf-mute Matron of the House, still grieves for her lost husband Jeim. Considered by many to be the city's most eligible bachlorette, she's constantly dismissing suitors after her beauty and wealth. House Vushorjo also maintains a large garden complete with a Wryllenic Shrine - the only one in the city. Thus, the grounds are often filled with a mix of devout worshippers and greedy addicts.
The House of Good Omens
Even the House of Good Omens occasionally makes a bad bet. Allegedly Jeim, the former Patron of the House, gambled away his family's fortune and then went into self-imposed exile. Since then, his brother Hokkani has sought to right those wrongs and restore the people's trust in their noble family. The consensus of citizens is that together with the help of his wife Drabarni, he has done so spectacularly. Though largely impoverished, Hokkani is considered a leading contender for future office.
The House of Diplomacy
Also known as the House of the Scorpion, they now live in exile. Descended from the infamous Scorpion Clan, the members of House Yalakráno initially specialized in hunting and defeating intelligent undead. Later, they adapted their skills for the assassination of living prey. In Ohma, such practices were legal when used by Citizens, but eventually the house succumbed to corruption by allowing Denizens and Residents in on the practice. When they refused to purge themselves forty years ago, their Citizens were cast out from the city (into the Draqin Empire, where they often served as ambassadors), but many Denizens managed to escape a final death by hunting down their own phylacteries. Today, the tale of wild assassins hidden in broad daylight has taken on a near-mythic quality.