Jhereg
From the Lyorn Records of the Dragaeran Empire
- This page is about the House of the Jhereg. For the book, see Jhereg (book). For the animal, see Jhereg (animal).
The House of the Jhereg is one of the seventeen Great Houses of the Dragaeran Empire.
The Jhereg is governed by the Jhereg Council, a body of powerful criminal Jhereg bosses that operate much like the mafia. Anyone with enough money is able to purchase a title in the Jhereg. Vlad Taltos's father did this (See Joining Houses).
See also The Left Hand of the Jhereg, The Right Hand of the Jhereg, and the Organization.
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[edit] History
Unlike the other houses, the Jhereg were not a distinct tribe of Dragaerans prior to the foundation of the Dragaeran Empire. At the time of Kieron, fifteen of the most powerful tribes (there being somewhere around thirty tribes originally) banded together to end constant infighting, and found the Empire. With the Teckla, these are the other great houses that exist today.
The Jhereg house was formed by Dolivar (who was Kieron's brother) after he betrayed the house of Dragon, and was expelled. (He was supposed to have been killed, but Sethra Lavode spared his life.)
In retribution, Dolivar gathered other misfits (mostly other Dragonlords, but also members of other tribes) and founded what they jokingly called the "house of the jhereg". This group was allowed to survive because Kieron needed spies and saboteurs for his Great March against the Easterners. It was agreed that in exchange for this service, the Jhereg would be included in the Empire at the end of the war. Kieron is said to have lost his life at the hands of other houses for making this agreement.
As a result of their mixed genetic makeup, Jhereg do not have unique physical traits that set them apart from members of the other Great Houses, although a detailed genetic scan will reveal Jhereg ancestry.
[edit] Role of the Cycle
The Jhereg assume the throne after the rule of a Vallista Emperor, who invariably enforce the tax laws of the Empire to such an extent that the populace becomes weary of it, and supports the Jhereg (whom they would normally shun) in their bid for the throne, as they are seen as the lesser of two evils.
The reign of a Jhereg emperor is, by definition, corruption incarnate. When the populace finally wearies of this situation, (which is made more bearable by the cheap availability of all sorts of sinful pleasures), the House of Iorich steps in to assume the throne, and restore the rule of law.
[edit] House Characteristics
- House colors: Gray and black
- Associated concept: Corruption
- Personality traits:
- Sly
- Will not break a contract
- Physical traits: No distinguishable traits
- Since the Jhereg House orginated as a mixed group and accepts crossbreeds, some Jhereg have single distinct 'house traits' from other houses.
- Social status: Criminal (although Kiera suggests that most members of the house will never be involved in illegal activity)
[edit] Notable Jhereg
(See also Category:Jhereg)
[edit] Rarely Notable Jhereg
| Follows: Vallista | Place in Cycle 10 | Followed by: Iorich |
