Orca

From the Lyorn Records of the Dragaeran Empire

This page is about the House of the Orca. For the book, see Orca (book). For the animal, see Orca (animal).

Orca are known as great sailors and traders. Most of the Imperial Navy is from the House of Orca.

Like the orca itself, they are extremely predatory, making them tough negotiators. This trading skill produces many wealthy Orca merchants. Successful Orca typically buy large estates as far inland as they can manage, and often engage in banking, and other high finance occupations.

Young Orca are often bullies that make life miserable for young Teckla and Easterners.

They made Vlad Taltos' youth especially miserable, seeding his hatred for Dragaerans, teaching him his preemptive fighting style, and easing his path into an assassin's career.

The Orca are obsessively concerned with their rank and Titles, even though all of their titles of nobility are empty—not associated with land holdings the way they are in some of the other houses. This obsession goes to the extent that the Orca will change a person's title when they receive a military promotion or demotion. This ensures that a mate always outranks a bosun, and that a captain outranks a mate—even when simply talking about their social status.

[edit] Role of the Cycle

The predatory instincts serve the Orca well when it comes time to dislodge an exceptionally devious and crafty Yendi Emperor.

In their turn, the Orca Emperor will turn his attention to gaining wealth and power, preying on the weak and the poor of the Empire. Their tendency to increase the power and prestige of the Imperial Navy will often cause an Orca Emperor to employ the use of Press Gangs.

All of this will eventually enrage the peasantry, which, once per cycle, will rise up in a successful revolt and found a Teckla republic.

[edit] House Characteristics

House colors: Pale Blue & Green
Associated concept: Mercantilism and the vicious side of business
Physical appearance: Pale, light brown hair, often blue eyes; sleek face, near-invisible eyebrows; somewhat squat build, tough
Personality traits: predatory, mercantile.
Social status: Noble