Kushiel's Legacy
Encyclopedia
Kushiel's Legacy is a series of fantasy
novels by Jacqueline Carey
, comprising the Phèdre Trilogy and the Imriel Trilogy (called the Treason's Heir trilogy in the United Kingdom). Since the series features a fictional version of medieval Europe
, it can be considered historical fantasy
or alternate history
.
It was mentioned that the names for Kushiel's Chosen and Kushiel's Avatar were initially to be Naamah's Servant and Elua's Child respectively. This was changed for continuity and branding. Similarly, the initial title of Naamah's Kiss had been Naamah's Gift before being changed prior to publication.
There is a short story in the compendium Songs of Love and Death (2010), entitled "You and You Alone". It chronicles the story of Delaunay, Phedre's foster father and mentor, and his rocky lifelong love. It is recommended to be read between Kushiel's Dart and Kushiel's Chosen.
), the "Land of the Angels". D'Angelines, as the citizens are called, are descended from Blessed Elua
and his band of fallen angel
s. Elua was born when the blood of the crucified Yeshua
ben Yosef, the son of the One God, mixed with the tears of the Magdalene
and then was quickened by Mother Earth. Scorned by his grandfather, the One God, Elua wandered the Earth with eight companion angels. The eight were Naamah, Anael, Azza, Shemhazai, Camael, Cassiel, Eisheth, and Kushiel. After years of wandering, Elua and his Companions settled in the land that would become Terre d'Ange. Elua espoused the precept Love as thou wilt and he and his companions inter-bred with the native populace, creating the D'Angeline people. Elua himself is a cross between Dionysus
and a wandering fertility god associated with nature, love, and liberty.
Kushiel's Legacy is set about one thousand years after the time of Elua, and the D'Angeline people worship him and his eight companions as gods. They live by his precept, "Love as thou wilt," and, since Naamah sold her body at times to support Elua during their wanderings, consider prostitution
to be a sacred service. This service is regulated by its own guild. Furthermore, to serve in the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers, composed of several Houses, each with their own interpretation of Naamah's reasons for prostituting herself, is regarded as the highest pinnacle in Naamah's Service.
Terre d'Ange is divided into seven provinces, each with a companion as its patron deity. Cassiel, who eschewed mortal love and never fully rejected the One God, is the only companion without a province. The Cassiline Brotherhood, however, follows the ways and philosophy of Cassiel and have a prominent role in d'Angeline society. Naamah (patron Goddess of the Night Court) is the patron of Namarre, Anael of L'Agnace, Azza of Azzalle, Shemhazai of Siovale, Camael of Camlach, Eisheth of Eisande, and Kushiel of Kusheth.
The royal House Courcel rules Terre D'Ange from the City of Elua in L'Agnace. At the beginning of the series relations are generally good with Terre d'Ange's neighboring countries of Aragonia, Caerdicca Unitas, and distant Khebbel-im-Akkad. Skaldia, however, has long sought to conquer the D'Angelines. They also have good relations with Alba and Eire though scarce given the impact of the Master of the Straits.
The heroine of the first three installments of the series is anguissette Phèdre nó Delaunay, whose unique talents lead her to save her nation from several terrible fates. The second trilogy of the series follows Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel, Phèdre's adopted son and Prince of Terre d'Ange in his quest to manhood. The third trilogy within the Kushiel Universe follows Moirin, a half-d'Angeline and half-Alban descendant of House Courcel, approximately 100 years after Kushiel's Legacy.
Anafiel Delaunay:Phèdre's mentor and foster father.
Alcuin nó Delaunay:Phèdre's foster brother.
Joscelin Verreuil:Phèdre's Cassiline bodyguard.
Hyacinthe:a Tsingano, Phèdre's longtime friend.
Melisande Shahrizai:a D'Angeline noblewoman.
Ysandre de la Courcel:queen of Terre d'Ange.
Drustan mab Necthana:ruler of Alba.
Waldemar Selig:leader of Skaldia.
's Kushiel's Legacy
saga, the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers, also known as the Night Court, refers to the thirteen Houses of Mont Nuit in the City of Elua, home to the Servants of Naamah, the most elite cadre of religious prostitutes
in Terre d'Ange.
Each House is run by a Dowayne, the highest-ranking adept, who is in turn supported by his or her Second.
Life in the Night Court is one of rigorous discipline. Most adepts enter their Houses in early childhood, usually born into them but in some rare instances bought. At the age of ten, the Dowayne decides whether they will remain in the House of their rearing, or be sold to another House that would better suit their individual traits. That birthday there is a celebration with watered wine and the ceremonial breaking of a honey-cake, which is shared by the adepts of one's House. It is both a grand and solemn occasion as the child moves out of the nursery and into the fosterlings' quarter, side by side with the apprentices that have already been admitted into the mysteries of Naamah and who often stay up late at night whispering of what they have learned.
The official apprenticeship begins at thirteen, when the children begin learning about the arts of sensuality and seduction, as conforming to the canon of their House. There is again a ceremony at each House's temple to Naamah. A priest/priestess of Naamah performs the ceremony, part of which includes the initiate's releasing a dove previously purchased for the occasion.
An adept's instruction then begins with a Showing, wherein they witness a sexual rite between two adepts, as initiation into the arts. A Showing is a sacred ceremony, open to any adepts of the house who wish to see it, and is always the traditional pair of a man and a woman. After this they learn from other adepts the many great texts including, the Trois Mille Joies, the Ecstatica, the Journey of Naamah, and Emmeline of Eisande's Log of Seven Hundred Kisses.
Children of the house are considered adults at the age of sixteen. The new-made Adepts have a debut where prospective patrons view them and offer a price for their virginity to the Dowayne. Once the first assignation is completed an Adept is free to start paying off their debt to the house and begin earning money towards making their marques, actually paying the marquist (tattoo artist) to limn their elaborate back designs.
The marque is the sign of a Servant of Naamah and is a tattoo
covering the back from the hollow at the bottom to the knob at the back of the neck. It is said that Naamah in her passion scratched the backs of patrons who pleased her, and that the resulting scars never faded; thus the tattoo is done in homage and remembrance. In the Night Court, each house has its own design of which all of its members wear recognizable variants. Money for the marque is earned when a patron gives a gift (usually of money) that is not of the fee paid to the house but freely given to the adept "in honor of Naamah". This is usually placed in a statue (this can be made of any material such as wood, marble, etc.) of two cupped hands. Each statue is a personal one chosen by the adept.
When an adept has completed her or his marque, and thus repaid to the House the cost of the apprentice's training, she/he is free to leave the House or, as most do, to remain and tithe a portion of their profits to the House. By tradition, the Dowayne of the House must see and acknowledge an adept's marque before it can be recorded as complete.
is "With eyes averted." Alyssum House holds that when Naamah offered herself to the King of Persis, she trembled to lay aside her modesty.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Alyssum's adepts dressed in the veils and robes of Yeshuite priests and priestesses.
is "Rest and be soothed" and their marque is based on that of lemon balm. Balm House holds that Naamah came in compassion when she offered herself to the King of Persis. Balm adepts are skilled in massage, which non-adept students also come to Balm House to learn, and other soothing and healing practices.
In Kushiel's Dart
, Phèdre nó Delaunay comes to understand the full meaning of the view of Naamah expressed by Balm House following the battle to restore the throne of Drustan mab Necthana; she sleeps with her longtime friend Hyacinthe
out of compassion, to comfort him after the death of a girl he loved.
Later, in Kushiel's Scion
, Imriel de la Courcel is taken to Balm House on his sixteenth birthday, where he has sex for his first time with the adept Emmeline nó Balm. It is a lovely scene in which Emmeline asks Imriel for his trust, knowing the depth of his fears, and introduces him to the pleasures of his body and hers as "sacred". He is especially moved when she caresses his scars from the abuse he suffered in Darsanga, showing him that she is not repulsed and that "this, too, is sacred."
is "Wealth seeks company." Bryony House says that when Naamah offered herself to the King of Persis, she made a good bargain in the exchange.
Adepts of Bryony House sometimes go on to staff the Royal Treasury once they have made their marques. They are adept gamblers
who almost never lose, even to Tsingani, who are famed for their betting skills. The young Csavin bet against a Bryony adept, including his cousin Anasztaizia in the wager, and lost. He deceived Anasztaizia into an assignation with a patron who paid Bryony well for the chance to seduce a Tsingani virgin. Phèdre nó Delaunay thinks that Bryony house should be held accountable for heresy for the crime of rape against Anasztaizia.
In Kushiel's Justice
, Imriel de la Courcel and his cousin Mavros Shahrizai go on an excursion to Bryony House. There, they lay a wager with the Dowayne of the House, Janelle nó Bryony, for a pair of tokens to the fete on the Longest Night held at Cereus House.
is "Without fault or flaw." Camellia House says that when Naamah lay with the King of Persis, her unveiled perfection caused him to go blind for two weeks.
It is at Camellia House that Phèdre nó Delaunay witnesses a Showing as the initiation into her dedication as a Servant of Naamah. Anafiel Delaunay chooses Camellia specifically because Phèdre has no connections to it. The Dowayne of Camellia House at the time is Edmonde Noualt.
is "All loveliness fades."
Cereus House was the first of the thirteen to be founded, by Enediel Vintesoir, 600 years or more before the events of Kushiel's Dart
. During his time, Cereus House only served those of the royal family. Its Dowayne represents the Night Court on the City Judiciary. It is the privilege of Cereus House to host the Midwinter Masque, one of the grandest celebrations of the year. For all its delicacy, Cereus House is also noted for producing individuals of considerable strength. Some adepts find steel interiors after the blush of youth fades away.
When Phèdre nó Delaunay first arrives at Cereus House, Miriam Bouscevre, an elderly woman with white hair and grey gimlet eyes, is the Dowayne.
Another notable event taking place at Cereus is the birthday party of Prince Baudoin, wherein Melisande Shahrizai contracts the entire House for the night, paying a full night's fee for every adept so that no guest would be refused their services.
is "Upright and unbending." Dahlia House maintains that when Naamah offered herself to the King of Persis, she bestowed herself like a queen.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Dahlia House dressed its adepts in cloth-of-gold as a challenge to the greatness of Cereus House.
, poet
s, artist
s, musician
s, dancers, tumblers
, and clothiers
. They hold that Naamah charmed the King of Persis with the sweetness of her song.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Eglantine's adepts attended costumed as a company of Tsingani. A troupe of Eglantine adepts are responsible for mercilessly mocking Joscelin Verreuil when he follows Phèdre to Night's Doorstep.
, and some go on to become priests of Elua. Their marques bear a moon-and-flower design.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Gentian dressed its adepts as seers
and preceded their entrance with opium incense
.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, the adepts of Jasmine House attended dressed to emphasize the exotic qualities of faraway lands, causing a bit of a scandal with Valerian House, who had adopted a hareem
motif.
is "Yield all." Mandrake is one of two houses to use a signale
, in this case for the patron
's benefit. The other house which uses a signale is Valerian.
Mandrake House maintains an altar to Kushiel, who was the angel responsible for punishing the guilty before he left the service of the One God to follow Blessed Elua. Kushiel is pictured with a rod and flail.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Mandrake's adepts were costumed as the Court of Tartarus.
is "Joy in laughter." House Orchis holds that Naamah lay with the King of Persis "for a lark".
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Orchis House adopted an aquatic theme for their costumes, replete with mermaids and sea beasts.
and submission; the motto is "I yield." Valerian is one of two houses to use a signale, in this case for the Servant of Naamah's benefit. The other house which uses a signale is Mandrake, with which it has a reciprocal agreement.
Valerian selects early on which of its fosterlings will remain in the House, and which will be sold to other Houses. Children at the age of six are given spiced candies, and an adept explains that the pleasure from the candy is derived from the touch of pain that the spice provokes. The children who understand this are kept, while the others have their marques sold. From then on no fosterling or apprentice of Valerian is allowed to experience pleasure without pain, or pain without pleasure.
Like Mandrake House, Valerian House includes an altar to Kushiel, in this case near to the particular apartments maintained by and for the use of House Shahrizai.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Valerian's adepts adopted a hareem motif, though their idea was stepped upon by Jasmine House, whose adepts were similarly dressed in the exotic veils of faraway lands.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novels by Jacqueline Carey
Jacqueline Carey
Jacqueline Carey is an author and novelist, primarily of fantasy fiction.-Life:She attended Lake Forest College, receiving B.A.'s in psychology and English literature. During college, she spent 6 months working in a bookstore in London as part of a work exchange program. While there, she decided...
, comprising the Phèdre Trilogy and the Imriel Trilogy (called the Treason's Heir trilogy in the United Kingdom). Since the series features a fictional version of medieval Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, it can be considered historical fantasy
Historical fantasy
Historical fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy and related to historical fiction, which makes use of specific elements of real world history. It is used as an umbrella term for the sword and sorcery genre and sometimes, if fantasy is involved, the sword-and-sandal genre too...
or alternate history
Alternate history (fiction)
Alternate history or alternative history is a genre of fiction consisting of stories that are set in worlds in which history has diverged from the actual history of the world. It can be variously seen as a sub-genre of literary fiction, science fiction, and historical fiction; different alternate...
.
Novels
Kushiel's Legacy consists of the following novels (with release dates). This is also the chronological order within the story.- Phèdre Trilogy series follows the story of Phèdre nó Delaunay
- 1 Kushiel's DartKushiel's DartKushiel's Dart is Jacqueline Carey's first novel and the first of the novels in her Kushiel's Legacy series. The idea for this book first came to Carey when she was reading the Biblical Book of Genesis, and specifically a passage about "sons of God" coming into the "daughters of Men." Later, when...
(June 2001) - 2 Kushiel's ChosenKushiel's ChosenKushiel's Chosen is a historical fantasy or alternate history by Jacqueline Carey. It is a sequel to Kushiel's Dart and the second novel in the Kushiel's Legacy series.- Synopsis :...
(April 2002) - 3 Kushiel's AvatarKushiel's AvatarKushiel's Avatar is the third novel in Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series. It is often referred to as the last of the Phèdre Trilogy.-Plot introduction:...
(April 2003)
- 1 Kushiel's Dart
- Imriel Trilogy series (UK title: Treason's Heir trilogy) follows the story of Imriel de la Courcel nó Montreve
- 1 Kushiel's ScionKushiel's ScionKushiel's Scion is the 2006 novel by Jacqueline Carey, following on from the Kushiel's Legacy trilogy...
(June 2006) - 2 Kushiel's JusticeKushiel's JusticeKushiel's Justice is a novel by Jacqueline Carey. It is the sequel to Kushiel's Scion. Kushiel's Scion is itself the sequel to the Kushiel's Legacy Trilogy...
(June, 2007) - 3 Kushiel's MercyKushiel's MercyKushiel's Mercy is the final novel in Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey. It is the sequel to Kushiel's Justice. Kushiel's Justice follows Kushiel's Scion, which makes Kushiel's Mercy the sixth book in the series, or the third book in the series dubbed the Imriel Trilogy.-What Came Before:After...
(June, 2008)
- 1 Kushiel's Scion
- Moirin Trilogy series follows the story of Moirin of the Maghuin Dhonn, more than a century after the events of Kushiel's Mercy
- 1 Naamah's Kiss (June, 2009)
- 2 Naamah’s Curse (June 2010)
- 3 Naamah’s Blessing (June 2011)
It was mentioned that the names for Kushiel's Chosen and Kushiel's Avatar were initially to be Naamah's Servant and Elua's Child respectively. This was changed for continuity and branding. Similarly, the initial title of Naamah's Kiss had been Naamah's Gift before being changed prior to publication.
There is a short story in the compendium Songs of Love and Death (2010), entitled "You and You Alone". It chronicles the story of Delaunay, Phedre's foster father and mentor, and his rocky lifelong love. It is recommended to be read between Kushiel's Dart and Kushiel's Chosen.
Background
The main setting of Kushiel's Legacy is the country of Terre d'Ange (resembling FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), the "Land of the Angels". D'Angelines, as the citizens are called, are descended from Blessed Elua
Elua and His Companions
In Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy saga, Elua is the most important deity of Terre d'Ange. Elua's Companions are eight angels who forsook the One God to follow Elua.-The Eluine Cycle:...
and his band of fallen angel
Fallen angel
Fallen angel is a concept developed in Jewish mythology from interpretation of the Book of Enoch. The actual term fallen angel is not found in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament. Christians adopted the concept of fallen angels mainly based on their interpretations of the Book of...
s. Elua was born when the blood of the crucified Yeshua
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
ben Yosef, the son of the One God, mixed with the tears of the Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
and then was quickened by Mother Earth. Scorned by his grandfather, the One God, Elua wandered the Earth with eight companion angels. The eight were Naamah, Anael, Azza, Shemhazai, Camael, Cassiel, Eisheth, and Kushiel. After years of wandering, Elua and his Companions settled in the land that would become Terre d'Ange. Elua espoused the precept Love as thou wilt and he and his companions inter-bred with the native populace, creating the D'Angeline people. Elua himself is a cross between Dionysus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
and a wandering fertility god associated with nature, love, and liberty.
Kushiel's Legacy is set about one thousand years after the time of Elua, and the D'Angeline people worship him and his eight companions as gods. They live by his precept, "Love as thou wilt," and, since Naamah sold her body at times to support Elua during their wanderings, consider prostitution
Religious prostitution
Sacred prostitution, temple prostitution, or religious prostitution is a practice of worship that includes hieros gamos or sacred marriage performed as a fertility rite and part of sacred sexual ritual.-Ancient Near East:...
to be a sacred service. This service is regulated by its own guild. Furthermore, to serve in the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers, composed of several Houses, each with their own interpretation of Naamah's reasons for prostituting herself, is regarded as the highest pinnacle in Naamah's Service.
Terre d'Ange is divided into seven provinces, each with a companion as its patron deity. Cassiel, who eschewed mortal love and never fully rejected the One God, is the only companion without a province. The Cassiline Brotherhood, however, follows the ways and philosophy of Cassiel and have a prominent role in d'Angeline society. Naamah (patron Goddess of the Night Court) is the patron of Namarre, Anael of L'Agnace, Azza of Azzalle, Shemhazai of Siovale, Camael of Camlach, Eisheth of Eisande, and Kushiel of Kusheth.
The royal House Courcel rules Terre D'Ange from the City of Elua in L'Agnace. At the beginning of the series relations are generally good with Terre d'Ange's neighboring countries of Aragonia, Caerdicca Unitas, and distant Khebbel-im-Akkad. Skaldia, however, has long sought to conquer the D'Angelines. They also have good relations with Alba and Eire though scarce given the impact of the Master of the Straits.
The heroine of the first three installments of the series is anguissette Phèdre nó Delaunay, whose unique talents lead her to save her nation from several terrible fates. The second trilogy of the series follows Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel, Phèdre's adopted son and Prince of Terre d'Ange in his quest to manhood. The third trilogy within the Kushiel Universe follows Moirin, a half-d'Angeline and half-Alban descendant of House Courcel, approximately 100 years after Kushiel's Legacy.
Major characters in Kushiel's Dart
Phèdre nó Delaunay:the heroine of the first trilogy, an anguissette.Anafiel Delaunay:Phèdre's mentor and foster father.
Alcuin nó Delaunay:Phèdre's foster brother.
Joscelin Verreuil:Phèdre's Cassiline bodyguard.
Hyacinthe:a Tsingano, Phèdre's longtime friend.
Melisande Shahrizai:a D'Angeline noblewoman.
Ysandre de la Courcel:queen of Terre d'Ange.
Drustan mab Necthana:ruler of Alba.
Waldemar Selig:leader of Skaldia.
Court of Night-Blooming Flowers
In Jacqueline CareyJacqueline Carey
Jacqueline Carey is an author and novelist, primarily of fantasy fiction.-Life:She attended Lake Forest College, receiving B.A.'s in psychology and English literature. During college, she spent 6 months working in a bookstore in London as part of a work exchange program. While there, she decided...
's Kushiel's Legacy
Kushiel's Legacy
Kushiel's Legacy is a series of fantasy novels by Jacqueline Carey, comprising the Phèdre Trilogy and the Imriel Trilogy...
saga, the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers, also known as the Night Court, refers to the thirteen Houses of Mont Nuit in the City of Elua, home to the Servants of Naamah, the most elite cadre of religious prostitutes
Religious prostitution
Sacred prostitution, temple prostitution, or religious prostitution is a practice of worship that includes hieros gamos or sacred marriage performed as a fertility rite and part of sacred sexual ritual.-Ancient Near East:...
in Terre d'Ange.
Structure & Initiation
Each House has its own canon and motto, relating to the reason its residents believe for Naamah prostituting herself. Each also has its own masquerade like the Midwinter Masque but only Cereus House has the one on the Longest Night.Each House is run by a Dowayne, the highest-ranking adept, who is in turn supported by his or her Second.
Life in the Night Court is one of rigorous discipline. Most adepts enter their Houses in early childhood, usually born into them but in some rare instances bought. At the age of ten, the Dowayne decides whether they will remain in the House of their rearing, or be sold to another House that would better suit their individual traits. That birthday there is a celebration with watered wine and the ceremonial breaking of a honey-cake, which is shared by the adepts of one's House. It is both a grand and solemn occasion as the child moves out of the nursery and into the fosterlings' quarter, side by side with the apprentices that have already been admitted into the mysteries of Naamah and who often stay up late at night whispering of what they have learned.
The official apprenticeship begins at thirteen, when the children begin learning about the arts of sensuality and seduction, as conforming to the canon of their House. There is again a ceremony at each House's temple to Naamah. A priest/priestess of Naamah performs the ceremony, part of which includes the initiate's releasing a dove previously purchased for the occasion.
An adept's instruction then begins with a Showing, wherein they witness a sexual rite between two adepts, as initiation into the arts. A Showing is a sacred ceremony, open to any adepts of the house who wish to see it, and is always the traditional pair of a man and a woman. After this they learn from other adepts the many great texts including, the Trois Mille Joies, the Ecstatica, the Journey of Naamah, and Emmeline of Eisande's Log of Seven Hundred Kisses.
Children of the house are considered adults at the age of sixteen. The new-made Adepts have a debut where prospective patrons view them and offer a price for their virginity to the Dowayne. Once the first assignation is completed an Adept is free to start paying off their debt to the house and begin earning money towards making their marques, actually paying the marquist (tattoo artist) to limn their elaborate back designs.
The marque is the sign of a Servant of Naamah and is a tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
covering the back from the hollow at the bottom to the knob at the back of the neck. It is said that Naamah in her passion scratched the backs of patrons who pleased her, and that the resulting scars never faded; thus the tattoo is done in homage and remembrance. In the Night Court, each house has its own design of which all of its members wear recognizable variants. Money for the marque is earned when a patron gives a gift (usually of money) that is not of the fee paid to the house but freely given to the adept "in honor of Naamah". This is usually placed in a statue (this can be made of any material such as wood, marble, etc.) of two cupped hands. Each statue is a personal one chosen by the adept.
When an adept has completed her or his marque, and thus repaid to the House the cost of the apprentice's training, she/he is free to leave the House or, as most do, to remain and tithe a portion of their profits to the House. By tradition, the Dowayne of the House must see and acknowledge an adept's marque before it can be recorded as complete.
Alyssum
The House canon is modesty; the mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "With eyes averted." Alyssum House holds that when Naamah offered herself to the King of Persis, she trembled to lay aside her modesty.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Alyssum's adepts dressed in the veils and robes of Yeshuite priests and priestesses.
Balm
The House canon is compassion; the mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "Rest and be soothed" and their marque is based on that of lemon balm. Balm House holds that Naamah came in compassion when she offered herself to the King of Persis. Balm adepts are skilled in massage, which non-adept students also come to Balm House to learn, and other soothing and healing practices.
In Kushiel's Dart
Kushiel's Dart
Kushiel's Dart is Jacqueline Carey's first novel and the first of the novels in her Kushiel's Legacy series. The idea for this book first came to Carey when she was reading the Biblical Book of Genesis, and specifically a passage about "sons of God" coming into the "daughters of Men." Later, when...
, Phèdre nó Delaunay comes to understand the full meaning of the view of Naamah expressed by Balm House following the battle to restore the throne of Drustan mab Necthana; she sleeps with her longtime friend Hyacinthe
Hyacinthe
Hyacinthe is a given name. It is generally a male name as opposed to Hyacinth, which is feminine.It may refer to the following persons:* Hyacinthe Rigaud, French baroque painter* Hyacinthe-Louis de Quélen, former archbishop of Paris...
out of compassion, to comfort him after the death of a girl he loved.
Later, in Kushiel's Scion
Kushiel's Scion
Kushiel's Scion is the 2006 novel by Jacqueline Carey, following on from the Kushiel's Legacy trilogy...
, Imriel de la Courcel is taken to Balm House on his sixteenth birthday, where he has sex for his first time with the adept Emmeline nó Balm. It is a lovely scene in which Emmeline asks Imriel for his trust, knowing the depth of his fears, and introduces him to the pleasures of his body and hers as "sacred". He is especially moved when she caresses his scars from the abuse he suffered in Darsanga, showing him that she is not repulsed and that "this, too, is sacred."
Bryony
The House canon is cupidity and the aphrodisiac power of money. Bryony's are the only adepts willing to wager themselves in the carnival atmosphere of the House; their mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "Wealth seeks company." Bryony House says that when Naamah offered herself to the King of Persis, she made a good bargain in the exchange.
Adepts of Bryony House sometimes go on to staff the Royal Treasury once they have made their marques. They are adept gamblers
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
who almost never lose, even to Tsingani, who are famed for their betting skills. The young Csavin bet against a Bryony adept, including his cousin Anasztaizia in the wager, and lost. He deceived Anasztaizia into an assignation with a patron who paid Bryony well for the chance to seduce a Tsingani virgin. Phèdre nó Delaunay thinks that Bryony house should be held accountable for heresy for the crime of rape against Anasztaizia.
In Kushiel's Justice
Kushiel's Justice
Kushiel's Justice is a novel by Jacqueline Carey. It is the sequel to Kushiel's Scion. Kushiel's Scion is itself the sequel to the Kushiel's Legacy Trilogy...
, Imriel de la Courcel and his cousin Mavros Shahrizai go on an excursion to Bryony House. There, they lay a wager with the Dowayne of the House, Janelle nó Bryony, for a pair of tokens to the fete on the Longest Night held at Cereus House.
Camellia
The House canon is perfection; the mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "Without fault or flaw." Camellia House says that when Naamah lay with the King of Persis, her unveiled perfection caused him to go blind for two weeks.
It is at Camellia House that Phèdre nó Delaunay witnesses a Showing as the initiation into her dedication as a Servant of Naamah. Anafiel Delaunay chooses Camellia specifically because Phèdre has no connections to it. The Dowayne of Camellia House at the time is Edmonde Noualt.
Cereus
The House canon is pale fragility, fleeting beauty; the mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "All loveliness fades."
Cereus House was the first of the thirteen to be founded, by Enediel Vintesoir, 600 years or more before the events of Kushiel's Dart
Kushiel's Dart
Kushiel's Dart is Jacqueline Carey's first novel and the first of the novels in her Kushiel's Legacy series. The idea for this book first came to Carey when she was reading the Biblical Book of Genesis, and specifically a passage about "sons of God" coming into the "daughters of Men." Later, when...
. During his time, Cereus House only served those of the royal family. Its Dowayne represents the Night Court on the City Judiciary. It is the privilege of Cereus House to host the Midwinter Masque, one of the grandest celebrations of the year. For all its delicacy, Cereus House is also noted for producing individuals of considerable strength. Some adepts find steel interiors after the blush of youth fades away.
When Phèdre nó Delaunay first arrives at Cereus House, Miriam Bouscevre, an elderly woman with white hair and grey gimlet eyes, is the Dowayne.
Another notable event taking place at Cereus is the birthday party of Prince Baudoin, wherein Melisande Shahrizai contracts the entire House for the night, paying a full night's fee for every adept so that no guest would be refused their services.
Characters associated with Cereus House
- Calantia is one of the children with whom Phèdre was reared; she went to foster at Orchis House.
- Cecilie Laveau-Perrin is a former adept of the House.
- Donatien is a boy whose marque was bought by Cereus House. Donatien was reared in Mandrake House and retains a great fear of the place and its adepts. He served at the Midwinter Masque with Phèdre.
- Ellyn is one of the children with whom Phèdre was reared, noted for being tender-hearted. She served at the Midwinter Masque with Phèdre.
- Etienne is one of the children with whom Phèdre was reared, half-brother to Ellyn. Etienne was too young to attend the Midwinter Masque the year Phèdre and Ellyn served at it.
- Jacanth is a boy whose marque was bought by Cereus House. He served at the Midwinter Masque with Phèdre.
- Jareth Moran is the Second to Dowayne Miriam Bouscerve when Phèdre first arrives at the House, and becomes Dowayne upon her death.
- Juliette is one of the children with whom Phèdre was reared; her marque was bought by Dahlia House.
- Miriam Bouscevre is the Dowayne of the House when Phèdre first arrives: elderly, with white hair and grey eyes.
- Phèdre nó Delaunay was fostered in Cereus until her tenth birthday.
- Suriah is an adept of the House who portrayed the Winter Queen at a Midwinter Masque in her youth, and became Second to Jareth Moran later in life.
Dahlia
The House canon is dignity and regality; the mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "Upright and unbending." Dahlia House maintains that when Naamah offered herself to the King of Persis, she bestowed herself like a queen.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Dahlia House dressed its adepts in cloth-of-gold as a challenge to the greatness of Cereus House.
Eglantine
The House canon is genius, song, and performance; the motto is "To create is to live." Eglantine sponsors playersActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
s, artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s, dancers, tumblers
Gymnast
Gymnasts are people who participate in the sports of either artistic gymnastics, trampolining, or rhythmic gymnastics.See gymnasium for the origin of the word gymnast from gymnastikos.-Female artistic:Australia...
, and clothiers
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
. They hold that Naamah charmed the King of Persis with the sweetness of her song.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Eglantine's adepts attended costumed as a company of Tsingani. A troupe of Eglantine adepts are responsible for mercilessly mocking Joscelin Verreuil when he follows Phèdre to Night's Doorstep.
Characters associated with Eglantine House
- Japheth nó Eglantine-Vardennes is a former adept who has become a premier playwright; his play Passion of Naamah is chosen to be performed for King Ganelon.
- Favrielle nó Eglantine is an adept who had a fall just before her debut that left her scarred (some say this was not an accident). She is a clothier, and she designs Phedre's costume for her re-introduction into the Service of Naamah. Phedre ends up paying Favrielle's marque, so that she can set up as a clothier in her own right, instead of being forced to work off her marque in servitude to Eglantine House.
Gentian
The House canon is mystic purity of spirit; the motto is "Truth and vision." Gentian House holds that Naamah was filled with such when she offered herself to the King of Persis. Its adepts seek visions and interpret dreamsDream
Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, philosophical intrigue and religious...
, and some go on to become priests of Elua. Their marques bear a moon-and-flower design.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Gentian dressed its adepts as seers
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
and preceded their entrance with opium incense
Incense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...
.
Characters associated with Gentian House
- Raphael Murain nó Gentian is the adept who aided Phèdre nó Delaunay in understanding the meaning of her dreams, which understanding prompted Phèdre to seek Melisande Shahrizai in La SerenissimaLa SerenissimaLa Serenissima is a British early music/period instrument ensemble founded in 1994 by violinist Adrian Chandler, who has served as the group's director since its creation...
, in Kushiel's ChosenKushiel's ChosenKushiel's Chosen is a historical fantasy or alternate history by Jacqueline Carey. It is a sequel to Kushiel's Dart and the second novel in the Kushiel's Legacy series.- Synopsis :...
. Raphael later became a priest at the Great Temple of Naamah in the City of Elua, who gives Imriel nó Montreve de la Courcel Namaah's blessing in Kushiel's JusticeKushiel's JusticeKushiel's Justice is a novel by Jacqueline Carey. It is the sequel to Kushiel's Scion. Kushiel's Scion is itself the sequel to the Kushiel's Legacy Trilogy...
.
Heliotrope
The House canon is devotion and love; the motto is "Thou, and no other." Heliotrope House holds that when Naamah lay with the King of Persis, she basked in love as in the sun. It is said that if one sleeps with a Heliotrope adept, they will make their patron feel like they were the only one ever to have touched their hearts.Jasmine
The House canon is pleasure and sensuality; the motto is "For pleasure's sake", and that is the reason they give for Naamah giving her sexual favors to the King of Persis. They are reckoned the most exotic of the Thirteen Houses, with Bhodistani blood in the lineage of the adepts.The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, the adepts of Jasmine House attended dressed to emphasize the exotic qualities of faraway lands, causing a bit of a scandal with Valerian House, who had adopted a hareem
Harem
Harem refers to the sphere of women in what is usually a polygynous household and their enclosed quarters which are forbidden to men...
motif.
Characters associated with Jasmine House
- Liliane de Souverain was an adept of Jasmine House before wedding (without the blessing of her House) and giving birth to Phèdre nó Delaunay. As Liliane had made her marque, she was free to do as she wished, but the child of an unsanctioned union was not treated as part of the House.
Mandrake
The House canon is sadism and dominance; the mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "Yield all." Mandrake is one of two houses to use a signale
Safeword
A safeword is a code word or series of code words that are sometimes used in BDSM for a submissive to unambiguously communicate their physical or emotional state to a dominant , typically when approaching, or crossing, a physical, emotional, or moral boundary...
, in this case for the patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
's benefit. The other house which uses a signale is Valerian.
Mandrake House maintains an altar to Kushiel, who was the angel responsible for punishing the guilty before he left the service of the One God to follow Blessed Elua. Kushiel is pictured with a rod and flail.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Mandrake's adepts were costumed as the Court of Tartarus.
Orchis
The House canon is mirth; the mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "Joy in laughter." House Orchis holds that Naamah lay with the King of Persis "for a lark".
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Orchis House adopted an aquatic theme for their costumes, replete with mermaids and sea beasts.
Characters associated with Orchis House
- Miriette nó Orchis is an adept who, after making her marque, sets up her own salon. When Phèdre and Alcuin serve Anafiel Delaunay in Naamah's honor, Mierette lies with Alcuin and soothes some of his strain about being dedicated to Naamah only for the love of his master, Anafiel Delaunay.
Valerian
The House canon is algolagniaAlgolagnia
Algolagnia is a sexual tendency which is defined by deriving sexual pleasure and stimulation from physical pain, often involving an erogenous zone.Studies conducted indicate differences in how the brains of those with algolagnia interpret nerve input....
and submission; the motto is "I yield." Valerian is one of two houses to use a signale, in this case for the Servant of Naamah's benefit. The other house which uses a signale is Mandrake, with which it has a reciprocal agreement.
Valerian selects early on which of its fosterlings will remain in the House, and which will be sold to other Houses. Children at the age of six are given spiced candies, and an adept explains that the pleasure from the candy is derived from the touch of pain that the spice provokes. The children who understand this are kept, while the others have their marques sold. From then on no fosterling or apprentice of Valerian is allowed to experience pleasure without pain, or pain without pleasure.
Like Mandrake House, Valerian House includes an altar to Kushiel, in this case near to the particular apartments maintained by and for the use of House Shahrizai.
The year Phèdre nó Delaunay served at the Midwinter Masque, Valerian's adepts adopted a hareem motif, though their idea was stepped upon by Jasmine House, whose adepts were similarly dressed in the exotic veils of faraway lands.
Characters associated with Valerian House
- Didier Vascon is the Second of Valerian House during Kushiel's DartKushiel's DartKushiel's Dart is Jacqueline Carey's first novel and the first of the novels in her Kushiel's Legacy series. The idea for this book first came to Carey when she was reading the Biblical Book of Genesis, and specifically a passage about "sons of God" coming into the "daughters of Men." Later, when...
; by the events of Kushiel's JusticeKushiel's JusticeKushiel's Justice is a novel by Jacqueline Carey. It is the sequel to Kushiel's Scion. Kushiel's Scion is itself the sequel to the Kushiel's Legacy Trilogy...
, he has become Dowayne. - Phèdre nó Delaunay would have likely ended up in Valerian, had her extraordinary nature as an anguissette not come to the attention of Anafiel Delaunay.