Post/Author/DateTime	Post
dorpond 03-30-06, 11:08 AM	I have a hard time imagining this visually. Are their actual houses? Are they actual buildings that anyone can go into? Are they shops where you can go buy something? Do the houses actually have it written on them or do people just know that the town stuff is run by the "houses"? Just very confused about this whole thing. Can someone paint a picture for me so I can better describe it to the party? Thanks
Bluebrush 03-30-06, 11:30 AM	If you read the ECS bits on the houses, you'll see references to things like Cannith's Tinker's guild, Lyrandar's raincaller guild and other similar organisations. Based on what I've read, the houses operate through smaller sub-offices for different activities. For instance, House Tharask deals in resource prospecting, mercenary employment, inquisitive (detective) services and finding those keys you lost. You wouldn't go to the same office for all of those. If you want an inquisitive, you go to a Tharashk inquisitive agency and so forth. In larger (Sharn, Karrlakton) or more isolated (Stormreach) cities, you may see House enclaves, which function as local headquarters for the houses, along with the main enclave for the house located somewhere in Khorvaire where the house matriarch or patriarch works. House Denieth has it's main enclave in Karrlakton, house Lyrandar has it's main enclave in Stormhome, for example. House members and employees may discuss buisness there and, most likely, you can ask about hiring marked and unmarked employees. Aside from their own offices, houses may also grant services through associates. The artificers of House Cannith cnnot bind elementals to vessels by themselves, so they have to work with the Gnomes when Orien orders another lightning train. Ghallandra doesn't own every inn in Khorvaire, but it can grant a seal of approval to other inns which meet it's standards, which reassures customers. Hopefully your question will be answered a length in the upcoming sourcebook "Dragonmarked" which is coming out this year. (I think)
ieattrollsforbreakfast 03-30-06, 11:32 AM	Pretty much all the houses will have enclaves in the major cities, and it is these buildings which are used to conduct house business. If you want to hire bodyguards, you head to the Deneith enclave. If you want to scout for actors for your play, head on down to the Phiarlan enclave and they'll probably help you browse the talent. Want to charter an airship? The Lyrandar enclave is probably a good place to start. However, it's important to note that the principle enclave of a house may not always be the best place to visit. The important, expensive deals and allegiances will take place in them, along with the administrative work. Many of the houses will have secondary buildings in which most of their business is conducted. For example, the Orien enclave in Sharn is separated from the Lightning Rail station, and the Kundarak Bank is separate from the Kundarak enclave. Phiarlan will have theatres, Lyrandar will have docking towers, Ghallanda will have inns, that sort of thing. All of these buildings will carry the house seal, and it'll be pretty obvious which house they belong to. You'll also find smaller buildings carrying the house seal, and these may be businesses endorsed by the houses. For example, a smithy might pay a portion of his profits to House Cannith in order to use the House Cannith name. The same goes for House Ghallanda certified inns. If it has a house seal, you know you can expect quality.
Lord_Cabby 03-31-06, 02:20 PM	The Dragonmarked Houses (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=442444) A thread by Firballed Mage pertaining to the individual Dragonmarked Houses. One of the best threads I've ever seen on the boards.