The Houses of Bone and Lamplight: The Houses.

The Major Houses; when the Houses were formed it was formed on a series of ideals. Since most schools of magic were created by a series of conflicting philosophies. The four strongest or most common philosophies created the Major Houses and the central core of the Houses ruling body.

The House of Staff and Blood: Bound in blood, and following in family name. The House of Staff and Blood is the House formed by the wizards.

They are a centre of wisdom and Strength. Due to the nature of wizards most members of the house of Staff and Blood are born into it. This being said they are not adverse to opening their doors to the learned, the eager, and the strong.

The most common magic users to belong to Staff and Blood, are Magicians, Artificers, Alchemists, Thalmaturgists, and of course Wizards. Their motto is “Blood Binds Us”

The House of Rivers and Stones:  This is the house of the city, the house of those who see magic as a living breathing, sentient thing. The city is alive and they are a part of it. To members of the house magic is instinctual; it is as simple as breathing.

Unlike wizards and magicians who over think everything, with incantations and gestures. Members of the House of Rivers and Stones embrace the city for what it is. They will accept anyone, and are some of the most comfortable with all the spirits and gods of the city.

The most common magic users to belong to the House of Rivers and Stones are Sorcerers, Druids and Shamans. Their motto is “The City is With Us.”

The House of Silence: This is the house of the dead, the house of mourning and nostalgia. They see magic in things that are lost. In things that are hidden and unseen. The see the truth of things, they are diplomats and defenders against the spiritual threats of the city.

They are usually uninterested in the politics of wizards, or the hedonism of the sorcerers. They speak to the dead and they welcome the unusual. The accept the psychics, the undead and the ghosts.

The most common magic users to belong to the House of Silence are Mediums, Exorcists, Necromancers, and psychics. Their motto is “We are the voice of the silent.”

The House of Flesh and Claws: this is the house of the shapeshifters, the skin changers, and a house where magic is more about the self. They rarely are capable of throwing fire or reading minds, but they are fighters.

They are described as being feral by the wizards who see their magic as crude and undisciplined. They are the house most likely to settle their disputes with claws and combat than a philosophical debate.

The magic users most likely to belong to the house of Flesh and Claws are Shapeshifters, skinworkers, werekin, and kinetomancers. Their motto is “Change the Flesh, Change the man.”


The Minor Houses; out of the four major houses several smaller ones were formed, as a result of a new schools of magic emerging or pre-existing schools wishing to look after their own interests while keeping a relationship with other respective houses.  


The House of Words: This is the Speakers. The ones who know the words of the universe and know how to use them. They are very proud of their achievements, and they have been known to kill those who dishonour their house. Though this is uncommon, most Speakers are scholars than soldiers. Underestimate the house at your peril. They are associated with the house of Staff and Blood. Their motto is “Words are Power.”

The House of Misfortune: This is the house of the Curse Spinners. They are wheeler dealers and boarder line amoral with some of their business practises. They will work with any house and any person who is willing to pay for their services. They are not what you would call evil by a long shot they just have a limited sense of caring about the after effects of their curses. Their motto is “Misfortune for a Price.”

The House of The Lanterns: This is the house of the Warders. They are the warrior wizards and defenders of the city. They specialise in combat magics and are a force to be reckoned with. They accept anyone from any house into their ranks. They have a reputation for being brave noble and self-sacrificing for the good of others. Their motto is “We Ward Against the Dark.”

The House of Prophecy: This is the house of seers and oracles, those who see what will be, and what has been. They are considered weird but useful considering their world view. All the houses use them and trust them on their word. Their motto is “We See.”

The House of Melody: This is the house of the buskers, the musicians and dancers. They believe that all magic and life itself flows from music. Magic is life and life is singing. They are an off shoot of The House of Rivers and Stones, and as such are prone to getting lost to the rhythm of things. To begin with most magical academics discounted their ideas out of hand until they witnessed Dancers weaving out of the way of multiple attacks with their eyes shut and listening to their music, or buskers enchanting crowds with their instruments. Their motto is “Life is Singing.”

The House of the Gutters: This is the house of the ignored, the beggars, the street sweepers and cleaners. They are a remarkably good source of information as no one pays attention to them long enough to realise they are even there. Their magic is very attuned to the flow of the city and to being unnoticed, they accept anyone, the exiled, the abandoned, and forgotten. Their motto is “Abandoned together.”

The House of Roads: This is the house of speed, of Bikers, Cabbies, Hitchhikers and Road Seers. Their magic revolves around speed and transportation, they can get anywhere fast. They will work with any house but they get along with Rivers and Stones the best since their magic is so connected to the movement of the city, they barter with elementals for speed, spirits for directions and bend the roads to get somewhere five minutes ago. Their motto is “Anywhere, Anyway.”

The House of Shadows: This is the house of shadow twisters and shade walkers, illusionists. They thrive in the dark corners and silent places. They are information brokers and assassins, they are very antisocial with the other houses except for matters of business and they aren’t usually very well trusted if only for their chosen vocations. Their motto is “Secrets and Knives.”

The House of Cages: This is the house of Summoners and Binders, they consort the elements and spirits of the city and conjure them. They are more likely to defend themselves with something other than their own personal magics, they are a very humble house. Most people are not sure what to make of the house of Cages as they concern themselves with the welfare of the spirits they conjure than the troubles of the other houses. When asked about their name they are likely to reply, “A thing can be put into a cage but also set free”. Their motto is “Bars Hold No Boundary”

The House of Dreams: This is the house of the Sleep Walkers, Dream Catchers and Sandmen. They see the magic of the mind and the world of dreams. They travel the imaginations of others and fight nightmares. The work the night shift and thrive in the burnt out filaments of an evening. Their motto is “Sleep and be Free.”