Seven Families, Volume 1

Seven Families of Clan Hlaalu

Part One

by Milara Rethan

Hlaalu Historian

Being on the origins, histories, and current state of affairs of the Seven Families of Clan Hlaalu, this text is assembled for men and mer who wish to become more involved in the most lucrative of Houses, or those who are simply students of Morrowind politics.

First Family

The First Family was founded by Narsara Hla-Alu, a prominent wisewoman in the days of Veloth. She and several others had volunteered to guard those who died during the exodus from Summerset, rather than letting them be forgotten in the strange lands the Velothi passed through. With the land still ruled by enemies, these wardens of the dead broke from Veloth's company upon arriving in Resdayn to seek out a place to safely inter their honored fallen.

Eventually they discovered a high plateau surrounded on all sides by rivers, a natural fortress which no enemy could approach unseen; Narsara's followers dug deep into the red spire to create the first Ancestral Vaults. To further safeguard the tombs, Narsara constructed a steading bearing her name to watch over it. Her husband became the first keeper of the tomb and her heirs were entrusted with continuing that duty.

Today, the descendants of Narsara Hla-Alu's firstborn son, Andrus Hlaalu, reside in their manor in the Old Quarter of Narsis, the oldest continuously inhabited building in the city. Their patriarch is Tereldyn Hlaalu. They keep to their sacred duty of maintaining the city's vast catacombs, and remain detached from day-to-day politics.

Second Family

The Second Family was formed by Tharel Hlaalu, the son of Narsara Hla-Alu's second born son. Tharel was more enterprising than his predecessors and is regarded as the first High Hlaalu to emerge. He built up the city of Narsis, constructing a large manor for his family atop the plateau, and formally vassalized the families outside of Narsara's Clan who had followed them: Clans Dren, Hleryn, Raran, and Vedas.

In the Age of the Warring Houses, the Second Family had assassinated the leaders of the Third Family and so remained the undisputed rulers of Narsis until the Red Khans sacked the city. Nerevar liberated Narsis, and after House Hlaalu swore vassalage to Nerevar, the Second Family resumed their position of leadership.

Hlaalu Pasoroth was the last leader of the Second Family to retain its martial spirit from the Age of the Warring Houses. Though Morrowind had long been at peace by his time, Pasoroth saw an opportunity in the then-ongoing Imperial interregnum to make a name for himself. The young lord and his retinue made the ideal mercenary company for a divided Cyrodiil: his smiths could create and maintain ebony armaments, then seldom seen in the West; his Temple-trained crusaders could counter the Nibenese battlemages and their undead legions; and his nightblades could infiltrate the most secure Colovian fortresses. Over the years, Master Pasoroth forged lasting connections with various Western statesmen, which have benefited his house to this day. He eventually returned to Narsis with an immense war chest to be elected the Grandmaster, High Hlaalu Pasoroth.

In the present day, the patriarch of the Second Family is High Hlaalu Athires, a venerable mer who has inherited Pasoroth's acumen and led House Hlaalu through the past decades with a steady hand. However, with the rise of Kragenmoor, the Simulacrum, and the opening of Vvardenfell, the Second Family is starting to show signs that its power is waning. Still, it remains the most powerful of the Seven Families, commanding the respect of the nobility and leading the Hlaalu Council.

Third Family

The history of the Third Family is unknown. During the Age of the Warring Houses, the Second Family assassinated the leaders of the Third and drove out their followers, and their lore was lost. Today, those who would claim descent from this family are few and far between.