This is the first of three Essay/Lectures that will describe the place of the first three tiers within the House We will discuss their rights, powers, duties and responsibilities. This lecture will cover the Erani'ata.
 

    Who are the Erani'ata? The Erani'ata are members of the House who have entered the House by right of marriage to a House Member, have been adopted by a House Member, or after having proved themselves are brought into the House through Sponsorship of another House member. They generally do not have the House Genetics and are allied to the House out of loyalty to the other House members and a belief in the codes of ethics of the House. They retain all their previous skills, powers, knowledge etc.

    Those who wish to enter the House must find someone to be their sponsor. In the case of those who have a mate or parents within the House this is usually the mate or parents. For those who do not have this it is normally a friend, although in cases in which someone approaches the House and wishes to join and do not know anyone within the House generally a Member will be assigned as a Sponsor. Once a sponsor has been established for the applicant, they must prove themselves to be worthy to that sponser. Once a sponser feels that they are ready and worthy of the House they will put the name of the person before the House for a vote. The House members will each vote or abstain as the choose, and those who vote my explain their votes if they choose. After that the matter is brought to Teloric and he makes the final decision as to their admittance.
After their admittance the sponser is responsible for making sure the new member is comfortable, and to answer any questions that may come up.

((I am sorry but this next section must be Out Of Character because of the nature of the material covered))
    This brings us to our next logical question, what makes someone eligible for the House. There are several key qualities. First and most importantly they must be exceptional role players. This means that they know how to role play, that others enjoy role playing with them, and that they can use words in clever ways. They do not need to be powerful beings, a housewife who knows no more of combat them how to keep away from them is just as eligible as a mage with wands in all directions or a warrior who can put an arrow through the neck of  a bottle. In some ways the housemother has a greater chance because it is harder to play such a limited character and still make them sparkle, so those who do it well are truly valued. They must be willing to stick to the story line even if they personally do not like how things are turning out, but also they must know how to balance that against sticking so firmly to the letter of the law that the game is no longer fun for themselves or others. Even if they are a gifted role player, they are still not qualified if their playing style clashes strongly with the other House members. Those who are members of the House also need to have a certain style, a sparkle that can only be judged as they are watched. Generally speaking House member alignments range through the whole range. But loyalty to the House must be utmost, if it is proven that a member has been deliberately disloyal to the House, sever penalties unto and including expulsion and execution my be brought to bear against that Member. The House is founded on loyalty, faith and trust of the Members, and when that is abused vengeance is exacted. Some of the House members have Evil and even Chaotic Evil alignments, this is fine, there is no prejudice within the House for race or alignment and those with such alignments have proved themselves to be just as loyal to the House as those of more lawful or good alignments. When you join the House it preempts prior commitments and groups and you need to be aware of that before you join. It does not end commitments you have outside the House.
((ok, end of OOC))

    This Tier of the House is the most volatile of the Tiers because it has the most turnover in membership. Those who enter, and then leave either advancing to the second Tier or leaving the House. Any member of this Tier may leave the House at anytime and for whatever reason. Those members who leave the House on their own with no dishonor forcing them to leave will have an easier time re-entering, but if any attempt to make a habit of jumping in and out of the House at whim will soon discover the doors of membership close more and more firmly each time.

    When someone is brought into this level they are given a token of acceptance called a na'ferot. This is an item that has been charged with an ability of the Silverflame, it also contains the identity of the owner and of the one who gave the item, and marks them as a Silverflame. This allows them to use the House gates without assistance, enter areas which allow only Silverflames, it stands for the Eldirav which is not normally possessed at this rank. These items run the range from swords, to amulets, to rods, to other stranger types, there have even been some that were sewing needles. Typical abilities of these items are: to grant light, to extend the range of one of the senses, to allow one to pass unnoticed ((but not invisibly)), to allow one to fall without being hurt, to light small fires, to allow one to never get lost even underground, etc...

Those who belong to this Tier have are expected to follow the First Env'at called Sip'etu which roughly translated means means To Do and Say. This means that those who enter this Tier have a responsibility to live in a manner that brings honor to the House. They need to be willing to defend the House and it's Members and teachings to the best of their ability. Those of this Tier have the right to enter areas which are forbidden to non House Members. They may use the various House gates without assistance and they have access to research information at the House Library which shall be written of in another essay.

As always if there are any more questions feel free to ask me.