To the south-east of the [[Cerulean Sea]], where the land rises in rugged peaks and dense forests, stands House Guissard, a house renowned for its cultured elegance and intricate web of secrets. Its capital, [[Blackthorne]], is a city of lavish theaters and winding streets, where blood flows as richly as wine. Rumors abound that the best assassins and spies hail from Guissard, and its feud with [[House Aelerion]] casts a tense shadow over their borders, as each house eyes the other warily.