House Arainai is a house affiliated with the Antivan Crows.
Background[]
Early in the Dragon Age, House Arainai was First Talon of the Antivan Crows, a position of great status in the organization, and commanded both wealth and power. They acquired young recruits, known as compradi, by purchasing them from various places such as brothels, in Zevran's case, or from shipwrecks in Taliesen's case. Interestingly, Arainai and the other Houses also took in the illegitimate children of Prince Estefan of Antiva, of which Rinnala was one. Recruits appear to take the surname Arainai upon being brought into the fold.
The House trained the recruits in the traditional trials including pain endurance and gauntlets, sometimes even apprenticing the recruits together in units if their skills complemented each other well. Taliesen, Rinnala and Zevran were such a unit within House Arainai.
By the time of Rinnala's arrival in 9:16, House Arainai had descended to Second Talon and Grandmaster Talav made an attempt at reclaiming Arainai's claim to First Talon, resulting in his execution. He was followed swiftly by Grandmaster Isidora, an ambitious if less capable leader of the House. She sent the assassins on any mission available before her death in 9:24 Dragon. Her death stripped the House of its power and it became one of the cuchillos (knives) and fell under the leadership of Master Eoman in 9:26.
Eoman was as ambitious as the late Grandmaster Isidora had been and set out remove another House as Eighth Talon and thereby begin to restore House Arainai within the Crows, which was finally accomplished by 9:28 via a deal with House Valisti. Rinnala, the royal bastard, had aligned with the Rosso Noche (Red Night), a group that sought to establish her as the heir to King Natale. Valisti was Third Talon and eager that one of their own take the throne one day so they paid Eoman to eliminate Rinnala as competition. In exchange, House Arainai would ascend within the ranks. The Crows Zevran and Taliesen killed Rinnala in what they were told was a test of their loyalty to the Crows. Eoman, to his pleasure, became Grandmaster of the House.[1]
Involvement[]
Dragon Age: Origins[]
After killing Rinna, Zevran successfully bids for the sole contract to kill the only surviving Fereldan Grey Wardens following the Battle of Ostagar, the future Hero of Ferelden and Alistair. After he fails to do so, he is either recruited by the Warden or killed outright. Taliesen is sent to Ferelden by Master Eoman to uncover the truth of what happened.
Dragon Age II[]
Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights[]
Eight Little Talons
House Arainai has fought a long, bloody battle to regain their position after Zevran's failure to kill the Hero of Ferelden. Giuli Arainai has managed to claw her way back to Eighth Talon, though her title is still precarious. Nonetheless, she remains part of the Crow leadership, and as such is invited to Caterina Dellamorte's meeting on the Verdant Isle to discuss ways to combat the looming Qunari invasion. However, Giuli is murdered by Emil Kortez, who has agreed to kill the other seven Talons for the Qunari in exchange for the promise of a peaceful invasion.
Known members[]
Guildmaster/Grandmaster[]
- Guildmaster Talav (9:16) – Second Talon
- Grandmaster Isidora (9:16-9:24)
- Grandmaster Eoman Arainai (9:26-9:31) – Eighth Talon
- Grandmaster Runn (c. 9:31-9:34)
- Grandmaster Availa (c. 9:31-9:34)
- Grandmaster Giuli Arainai (c. 9:44) – Eighth Talon
Assassins[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 96
