Tamriel:House Hlaalu

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House Hlaalu of Morrowind has always been loyal to the Emperor and the Empire. Hlaalu welcomes Imperial law and the Legions, and freedom of trade and religion. They respect the old Dunmer (Dark Elf) ways, the ancestors, the Tribunal Temple and the noble houses. MW Prophecies

One of the three Great Houses of Morrowind, Hlaalu relationships with the other guilds of Morrowind are generally neutral with exceptions to the other Houses and the Thieves Guild with whom they are hostile, and the Ashlanders, their only enemy besides the Vampire clans.

The Great House Hlaalu is one of the five remaining Great Houses of the settled Dunmer. Its council seat is in Balmora, with other Hlaalu-run towns at Suran, Hla Oad and Gnaar Mok, and its main concern is business and profit. This is their great strength - they are fast talkers and intelligent traders - and their great liability; most Hlaalu are bribable, either with gold or with other favours, and their leaders are no exception. House Hlaalu retainers are also masters of thievery, sneaking, lockpicking, blackmailing and backstabbing, both literal and metaphorical. While some councilors will obviously be honest and fair, many are under-handed and corrupt.

Areas of Vvardenfell controlled by House Hlaalu (red outlines).

The Great House Hlaalu is on the surface the most in favor of the Empire of all Great Houses, with allies in all the Imperial trade guilds. If one looks beyond the surface however, close ties to the local criminal organization Camonna Tong are evident. And they are very close ties; the Camonna Tong's leader is the brother of the Hlaalu lord, Duke Vedam Dren, and while Vedam disapproves of his brother's activities he does nothing to stop them. Of course, the majority of Hlaalu members do not know about the connection between their House and the Camonna Tong, nor quite how important it is, and indeed hate and fear the syndicate - for the majority believe they are doing quite well from their trade with the Empire, and have no wish for armed rebellion to disrupt their economic stability.

Among the Great Houses, the Hlaalu are also the most friendly towards foreigners, outlanders and non-Dunmer in general. In fact, at the present time, they are the only Great House to have non-Dunmer on their council: senior positions are occupied by two humans, the Imperial-born Crassius Curio and the Nordic-born Yngling Half-Troll.

House Hlaalu is also strongly against slavery, no doubt a side-effect of its relation with the Empire, and while not going as far as becoming abolitionists, house members make it clear that slaves are not acceptable. The Telvanni, because of this, have a generically low opinion of House Hlaalu, preferring Redoran's spirit and courage over Hlaalu's profit hunger and dishonourable dealings. Actually, one low-profile but well-connected member of House Hlaalu is not just an abolitionist but a leader within the Twin Lamps movement. That's Ilmeni Dren.