House Wikkheiser

House Description
House Wikkheiser is a powerful, Teutonic house. Like the Teutonic people, the house is stoic, self-effacing, and driven. Aligned with Houses Moritani and Harkonnen, House Wikkheiser has earned a reputation as a "bad", feared house...not without cause. Although Wikkheiser is label as an evil house and grouped with houses like Moritani and Harkonnen, it is patently different in that it doesn't gain any pleasure out of defeating others, but merely out of advancing itself. The strict adherence to the faufrelueches and the ambition and ruthlessness of the head of the house are a strong focal point for the IC governing and maintenance of the house.

House Wikkheiser has a reputation for treating people as objects and is often guilty of overweaning self-pride. The coldness of the people and it's ruthlessness will make it a notable adversary for the "good" houses and an interesting one for people to RP in and with.

House History
The Wikkheiser line of ruling is an unending chain of dominant, overbearing rulers. Through some strategic planning and careful controlling of events and people, the house has finally come into it's own within the Landsraad.

The Wikkheiser shield (as shown in the DE) is "Azure an anchor or between alpha and omega white" That is, a blue background with a yellow/gold anchor between a white alpha and a white omega. I believe the combination of the blue background and anchor denotes a society that is sea based. This would also be supported by the Germanic roots as shown in the German domination of the seas in the first part of World War II. I interpret the alpha and omega to denote the strong sense of brotherhood within the house.

House Wikkheiser isn't a cruel, unfeeling house, it is merely cold and calculating.

House Head History
The life history of Ulrika von Wikkheiser, is one that fits in with the background of the house and my personal, IC attitude. ICly, Ulrika sees herself as a puppetmaster, and thus has the tendancy to treat others with abject disregard, especially those who are of a lower socio-economic class.

Ulrika was only 16 when the old, lecherous, widower Baron Wikkheiser noticed her at her coming out ball. Her parents, being social climbers, saw an opportunity to advance themselves within the house. Arranging a marriage between the two, they sealed their place in the house and their daughter's unhappiness. After sulking for a while, Ulrika realized that her position could lead to the realization of her dreams of power, if she could outlast the old Baron. Ulrika made certain to deny the old Baron an heir, so she could control the house without fear of usurpation.

During the next 15 or so years, Ulrika began making friends in the right places and gained in her popularity with the people. Not by being kind, as that was not respected by these cold Teutonic people, but by being ruthless and having an unerring hand in strategic planning.

When the time was right, Ulrika set her aging husband up with a concubine who had been conditioned to inject him with a drug that would simulate a heart attack. All of this was gone secretly, and when Ulrika was publicly notified of her husband's death, she summarily had the concubine put to death and took over the throne with the aid of her useful friends.

Now, within the Landsraad, word of her ruthlessness and strategic ability has preceeded her and caused the other houses to treat her with noticeable caution....as they should.

House Ambitions
-maintain position and the faufrelueches within the Landsraad
-reinforce the fear of the house
-further our own self interests which include
-military might
-financial stability
-self-preservation

OOC:To maintain an "evil" house to keep the balance from becoming cloyingly good. To foster RP within the Landsraad and keep positions within the house fun. It's boring to be a good person all the time, I know Nadia began to bore me to tears. =)

House Members
In addition to myself, there will be positions for:

-a male concubine to be used as a personal assistant and cuncubine for formal events
-a mentat, most likely a twisted Mentat whose personality aligns with the house's
-a warmaster to keep up with the other houses and run any spying or other military activities
-eco-diplomat to work within the Landsraad to keep our trade and diplomatic contacts up to date

This is, of course, barebones.

Planet
House Wikkheiser's home planet, Walhalla, is basically dichotomized. It has a very long, harsh winter balanced by an extremely fertile spring/summer. The main products produced are sea based, such as their well-developed fishing industry and many minerals that are extracted from the sea. Small animals are abundant and used for supplementing the sea-based diet of the natives. The pelts of the animals are used as clothing and are also exported. The harsh climate of the planet has bred a hardy, harsh, self-serving people.