Not all Druchii dedicate themselves to the worship of Khaine and his bloody pursuits. As the pleasure cults of Ulthuan were once the undoing of the High Elves, leading to the civil war that was the foundation of Druchii society, so too do some few of the Naggarothi belong to cults dedicated to the more virtuous, though no less terrible, elven gods of old. Kurnous the Wolf, the god of the hunt, holds special, if staunchly secret, significance to House Sirfalas. The Rootseers dance a delicate waltz with the other dreadlords of Ghrond and Naggaroth beyond. Unlike their ancestors of old, the Sirfalases do not seek open rebellion or even a rejection of the Cytharai, like their Ulthuanii cousins. Rather, Esakh and Enlil would prefer balance between the light and dark sides of the elven psyche. This heresy would see their small empire destroyed, the foundation of their power swept away, were it to ever be known to those outside the family. This balance is the key to the family’s approach to all dealings with the broader world – fair negotiations, brutal honesty, and staunchly-preserved honor, rather than treachery, hedonism, and blood-thirstiness. There is a time for brutality, a time for forthrightness, and a time for pleasure – all are measured, balanced, and executed decisively whenever the exegeses of war and peace call for them.
Though willing to enlist the services of Khainites, none of that god’s chosen serve as inner members of the Farstrider leadership, save one – the master assassin, Nostromo. Having sworn sacred oaths to House Sirfalas in generations past, Nostromo has stood by the family for millennia, to a time before the Sundering, and his duty is to Clan first, god second. Though even he is not completely trusted, especially by the children of Esakh and Enlil. When they arise to lead the Household, Nostromo’s role may change or be eliminated; for now, he serves his Dreadlord and Mistress with unswerving loyalty. To do otherwise, would invite decisive retribution and simple removal – from the family and from this plane of existence.
The saying goes: “Never mistake Sirfalas prudence for weakness” – for they are seldom kind and always careful, but brutal in their effectiveness. Their network of spies and informants stretches to every corner of Naggaroth, and even to their ancestral home of Nagarythe. It is here that the Shades and Dark Riders of the Farstriders of Ghrond make contact with their ancestral counterparts – the Shadow Warriors, and their Shadow King, Alith Anar. Tensions between these hated foes are held in check by shared ancient oaths under the auspices of the god Kurnous. In his deepest dreams, Esakh longs for a time when the elves may reunite – but for now, the network of spies and the tense peace House Sirfalas enjoys with the armies of the Shadow King serve both parties well as the world moves ever closer towards Chaos.
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