From The Orthorbbae Library
The Vloz'ress clan symbol.
Every volatile and evil stereotype of the drow can be found manifest within the Vel’Vloz’ress. Often called mad by even their own peers they are a force of unbridled chaos within the underworld, experimenting with demonic energies with little regard for the repercussions. While brought to prominence through entirely outside means, many see them as harbingers of another demonic incursion and maybe even the downfall of Chel'el'sussoloth itself.
History
The original Vloz’ress was a low-key cult that’s dogma centered around demon study. Their core beliefs rested upon an inevitable demonic resurgence, and only by understanding every facet of the extraplanar creatures could they best defend themselves. Scorned by a society that detested demonic influences they built their home perched atop the great Rift, a location to which few would venture, so that they may perform their studies in peace.
Great change came to the small group of worshipers in two forms. Firstly, Sene'kha Vloz'ress returns from an extended journey with an unusual parcel, an incredibly troubled child by the name of Kharla'ggen. Shortly thereafter an envoy from the Vel'Sharen led by Snadhya’runes arrived upon the clan’s doorstep requesting their expertise in demonology in exchange for enormous wealth. The offer brought before the cult by the ruling clan caused a great stir within the Vloz’ress, but their leader Ven'nedia Vloz'ress eventually refused.
The Sharen responded quickly and violently to their rebuke, slaughtering much of the clan until being destroyed outright when they came upon Kharla’ggen. With the young girl’s terrible polymorphic high sorcery revealed, another council was held concerning the future of the clan where Ven’nedia once again refused to lift the cult into a recognized clan. In retribution Sene’kha sent Kharla’ggen to slay Ven’nedia, turning her into a lifeless golem. With her new found authority, Sene’kha summoned Snadhya’runes back to the cult’s stronghold to accept the Val’s previous offer.
The subsequent meteoric rise of the Vel’Vloz’ress from obscurity to Vel clan occurred amidst a swarm of controversy. Their endorsement by the Vel'Sharen and subsequent seating among the other eight came a mere two years following the Val’Dutan’vir’s collapse.
Culture and Politics
In days past the Vloz’ress performed extensive, controlled experiments with demonic mana. It was general consensus among the masses that demons were mindless, voracious beasts that gorged themselves incessantly upon mana. The Vloz’ress knew differently; these demons were from another world full of creatures occasionally intelligent, and sometimes even benevolent. By summoning these greater demons they hoped to gain an understanding of this opposing world and develop further insight into how best to defend themselves against its more malevolent creatures. The change in leadership and subsequent rise to Vel status however has drastically warped the clan’s mentality and organization to the point that hardly a shadow of its former ideology remains.
The Vel’Vloz’ress of today is a clan of wild dogs. Gone are the days of conversing with demons for the good of drow society as a whole. Instead demonic mana has become a tool of power, a force that the summoners of the clan harness with unparalleled competence to give them an edge over each other and outside adversaries. Discipline has given way to chaos; outsiders often consider the clan unilaterally mad, and the generally cursory actions of its members do nothing to alleviate this viewpoint.
None dare to challenge the clan's dominance by Kharla’ggen, so fearsome is her power, yet for all her authority the Ill’haress is horribly unfit for rule. Her mentality is crippled to the point that she is a perpetual child. Instead, the various summoners of the clan jockey to influence her with suggested goals that she in her innocence is often more than willing to decree. She is seen by nearly all within the clan as little more than a puppet whose ability to approve or veto an endeavor could be bought with a whisper in the ear and a new plaything. Sene'kha Vloz'ress held almost complete sway over Kharla’ggen up until her death. The void left by the loss of the clan’s premiere summoner was quickly filled by Kiel'ndia Vel'Vloz'ress.
Beneath the Ill’haress in rank are the summoners, who act as they will with nearly complete impunity under the disinterest of their master, and it is they who control the everyday workings of the clan. Each summoner has their own contingents of followers in the form of loyal scourges and specialized berserkers, supplemented with mindless naga and golems. In such a chaotic setting it is not uncommon for contention between summoners to arise, cumulating often in assassinations or outright internal conflict. The Vel’Vloz’ress also hosts a large number of underpaid men-at-arms, criminals and vagabonds that have no other place in the society of Chel'el'sussoloth.
Due largely in part to their anarchic behavior the Vloz’ress possess few allies. They contribute nothing of positive note to Chel'el'sussoloth and are poor legislators at best. Most of the other clans hold contempt for the Vloz’ress for the discord that they sow, their demonic qualities and their presence in the seat of the formerly honorable Dutan’vir. The Val'Kyorl'solenurn in particular see the Vloz’ress as the very embodiment of impurity and have declared outright war on the clan. Many however viewthe Vel’Vloz’ress as little more than a dangerous political tool for the Vel'Sharen. With the mandatory tainting policy enacted among the Sharen following the fall of the Nidraa'chal, the ruling clan knew they would no doubt become a target for the Kyorl’solenurn and opted to promote a more compelling threat for the drowussu clan to occupy itself with.
Clan Fortress and Properties
The fortress of the Vloz’ress sits atop the Rift, a deep scar in the earth running along the north-western edge of Chel'el'sussoloth. Discipline appears to have been completely void during its reconstruction following the clan’s rise to Vel status; it is a twisted hold built seemingly at random based upon the craftsmen’s whims. The result is an imposing mass of stonework lit ominously by the constant orange glow of the Rift.
The interior of the fortress is a tangle of simple stone hallways that prove difficult for the unfamiliar to follow. Decoration is rare save for the quarters of the Vels and summoners. Beyond the usual necessities such as eating spaces and living quarters the interior is dotted with numerous laboratories, arenas and at least one holding pen for the clan’s simple-minded naga troops.
Little territory is held by the clan beyond the area surrounding their fortress, and nothing is known of their properties within that region.
Clan Members
Ill'haress
Important Figures
Housed Exiles
Other Members
This article reflects events up to chapter 35.
Archive version of this article can be found here
