I was looking at the conceptualization for Great House Hlaalu, particularly their conspiracy. It's an interesting spin on the faction.
One thing I was considering: since this conspiracy is limited to the upper echelons of the house, how would some of the other nobles feel about it? This could be an interesting source of conflict (and quests). Lesser Hlaalu nobles might depend on Imperial trade or patronage, and actively oppose the anti-Imperial effort were they to be made aware of it. Some might even feel genuine loyalty to the Empire.
As the player progresses, they could be made to work against these pro-Imperial Hlaalu. Alternately, the player could even join them. You could see a group like the Twin Lamps taking the pro-Imperial stance, seeking to steer House Hlaalu to a new path.
2016-01-18 02:00
2 years 2 months ago
Hlaalu Conspiracy, Drayven Indoril, and the Ra'athim
Now that we're combining Mainland and Vvardenfell factions, I think it's really important to incorporate the Drens and their family conflict (Commona Tong, Twin Lamps, Hlaalu, Empire, Fighter's Guild, Thieves' Guild) that was such a core of the house's conflict in Vanilla into a larger conspiracy with focus points in Andothren and Kragenmoor as well as Narsis. We need figures like Orvas Dren in each of these regions.
I think it would be interesting to integrate the plot with the Ra'athim (formerly Lesser House Mora, more recently major players in House Hlaalu) Dynasty, especially since we're redoing Tribunal. Berenziah and Hlaalu Helseth are in the game, and it may be interesting to work into all this the Thirr River conflict with Indoril. TESV's book on the Nightingales refers to the Nightingale often otherwise referred to as Jagar Tharn as actually a Dunmer, Drayven Indoril, a Raa'thim heir of Moraelyn in Old Ebonheart, much like Berenziah. If he's an Indoril, but a Ra'athim, there's another role there.
I'm not saying that Jagar Tharn can't be Drayven Indoril (though we should make a decision on this point), but all this feeds into the conflicts and conspiracy at the core of House Hlaalu. Perhaps even Hlaalu was at the root of the peasant revolt that killed Symmachus, pulling power from that foreign-born Imperial General of a King-Consort over to Berenziah's House Hlaalu uncle. This was back during the Interregnum (TESI: Arena), of course, and while Berenziah and Helseth and Morgiah were off in Cyrodiil and High Rock, but there were more powers at play than just Jagar Tharn, and he may have allied himself with the Commona Tong in an effort to send Morrowind into chaos (much like his actions elsewhere). Meanwhile, the Tong made the alliance with the Nightingale in order to maneuver into greater power, since the main competitor for Hlaalu in continental Morrowind control are the Indoril estates. And if Drayvan Indoril was technically, if not in practice, a Indoril Chapel-Noble, it would seem to me just like them to make an underhanded alliance with a rogue Indoril against the rest of the Indoril nobility, for the sake of undermining the Imperials who dominate their Inner Sea holdings like Andothren through powerholds like Old Ebonheart.
Twilight dwells on the winter coast
the time of the eldest fades
deep in the forest the Dreamer lies
lost to mind and space.