> *"Preserve and Prosper"* # General The Coucher are one of the [[Houses of Séllur|Greater Houses]] in [[Séllur]]. Founded by [[Blooming Blades|Sir Dorian]] of the Blooming Blades, they are of proud [[Séllurian Species & Culture|Drow]] heritage and date their history in the [[Dusk Counties]] beyond even the [[Thescryan Empire]]. House Coucher flies an indigo banner with a silver raven upon it. They have a sorcerous strain through their blood that grants them dominion over the winter winds. They are the most magically gifted house and administer Séllur's universities and academies. They have special privileges in the creation of spell scrolls, magical items, and the quarrying and mining industries of the Smoothstone Mountains. This house is currently lead by Duke [[Drakith Coucher]]. The Coucher make all attempts at preserving their Drow lineage, not often entering marriage alliances with other Houses. They tend to make their dealings more conventionally and keep the other houses at arms length. House [[Lansois]] is the closest thing to an ally House Coucher has. Part of this distance is due to House Coucher only being conquered by Séllur in the year 532. House Coucher goes about their political machinations differently than the other Houses. Due to their longer lifespans, Coucher plots can take centuries to come to fruition, going over generations of the other houses while the same Coucher lie in wait. Members of House Coucher can be identified from their silver, white, or blue hair, dark elven features, and their distinct wardrobe. # Notable Members **Duke Drakith Coucher** - The patriarch of House Coucher, Count of Sunsrest, and Duke of the Dusk Counties. The younger of Sir Dorian's two sons, Drakith became the leader of the Dusk Counties following the death of his brother, Vykith. Drakith and his motivations are a mystery to the rest of Séllur. By all accounts the Dusk Counties have prospered under his rule. He is known to be quite reclusive, not often leaving his palace in Sunsrest. *For more information see [[Drakith Coucher]] **Sir Leon Coucher** - Sir Leon Coucher is a notable member of the [[Fleurier Order]]. He is the only half-elven child of Duke Drakith, born from an extramarital affair. The identity of Leon's mother is unknown but he was not legitimized or known about until he was 10. He was born with the rare sorcerous ability of the Coucher. **Count Tybalth Coucher** - Tybalth Coucher is the older son of Duke Drakith. He currently serves as the Count of Sleurun, a position he has held since 600. The question of who will succeed his father is between him and Myeni. Drakith has given no official declaration of who his successor should be, leaving Myeni and Tybalth squabbling for the position. **Councillor Darforth** - Darforth is the eldest son of Archduke Vykith. He serves on the [[Primrose Council]] as representative of House Coucher, a position he has held for the last century. He still holds immense animosity towards House [[Midinet]] for killing his father dishonorably. **Countess Myeni** - Myeni is the eldest child of Duke Drakith and his only daughter. She has served as the Countess of Ethnyva since 582. The question of who will succeed her father is between her and Tybalth. Drakith has given no official declaration of who his successor should be, leaving Myeni and Tybalth squabbling for the position. # Midinet and Coucher Rivalry Their rivalry started with Marian and Dorian but reached new heights around 50 years ago during the [[War of Smoke & Shield]]. Duke [[Drakith Coucher|Drakith's]] brother Vykith, the Archduke of the Sovereign Dusk Counties, was captured by Duke Arnaud of the [[Day Counties]], grandfather of Duchess [[Vivienne Midinet|Vivienne]]. Duke Arnaud chose to guard Vykith personally which was unusual for a Duke. Nobody knows exactly what transpired between the two, but they were both found dead in that dungeon. Both bodies were charred beyond recognition. Both houses blamed the other for dishonorably slaying their kin. The Midinet felt that Vykith could only have done this through backstabbing the honorable Duke Arnaud and using dark magic to do it. House Coucher believes that Duke Arnaud attacked and killed the imprisoned Vykith, causing Vykith to try whatever he could to retaliate. Whatever the truth of the situation is, a century of blood feuds cannot be solved overnight. Recent events seem to have stoked the embers of this rivalry, and with the [[Josette Jacquemond I|Queen]] slumbering and the court in turmoil, the two houses have no one to mediate their conflicts.