The Orsha Une, a name which translates literally to 'blood sisters' are a fanatically loyal group of women warriors who's life's duty is to protect the female heir to the Black Throne, and if there is one, the Empress. They are an elite group of females who's origins span back to the reign of the First Empress of the Black Throne. They are chosen by either a senior Orsha Une, the Captain, or the Vesai, the crown princess. They are usually of the best and most vicious fighters in the Keep, however, 'strays' have been recruited in the past. They have been known to have been serving girls, slaves, laundresses and any other menial laborer before being selected. They will willingly and without question take an arrow for the Vesai...the crown Princess. The Orsha Une will ruthlessly kill to defend her, NO ONE is immune from the danger of dying at their hands, should they perceive a threat.

Origins:

As mentioned above, the Orsha Une first appeared during the reign of the First Empress of the Black Throne. Originally, they were either pure Black or pure Silver females and had been lumped into one group, the House Guard. However, an attempt on the life of the only offspring of the Empress was made, and by chance, she was not alone. A pair of female House Guards had disobeyed the orders of the male Captain of the House Guard, as well as a third, who had become the lover of the Vesai. They had remained at their stations, two outside her door, the third within her private chambers.

This third female also had the duty of serving the Vesai as a hand-maiden. She assisted in every aspect from dressing to bathing and perhaps it was only natural that at some point, the two would eventually have an intimate relationship. The assassination attempt was made, the assailant taken prisoner and in time and with a little effort, had given enough information to the Empress for the true traitor to be found. A Vor'iil of a Renegade House had bought the loyalty of the Captain of the House Guard.

The assassin, the Vor'iil, and Captain of House Guard were executed summarily.

In short order, the House Guard went through a reorganization, with the female guards becoming the Orsha Une, their sworn duty to protect the Vesai at any cost and answer to her command...and hers alone...with NO exceptions. The males became the Orsha Uni *Pronounced oooo nigh*, or Blood Brothers and are to protect the Vesahd, the Crown Prince.

Both factions of the House Guard have existed at all times, however, after the reign of the first three Empresses of the Blackthorn line, there were no female heirs for five generations. Nargus II, not so pleased to have such deadly females in his Keep and NOT be able to command them, ordered them quietly executed. Few actually met with death, however, and simply faded into the mass population of slaves and waited... and watched...until another Vesai was born and permitted to live... Mira Blackthorn.

Well aware of the Osha Une's existance in the shadows of Keep life, Callan Blackthorn sought out the few who had carried on the legacy of the Sisters in Blood, and once again, the Orsha Une protected the life of the sole heir and Vesai of the Blackthorn Throne.

Racial composition and personality traits:

An Orsha Une may be of any race, color, creed or religion. Before being chosen, they are recognized early on for their talents and abilities to fight both with weapons or with their bare hands and/or kill with precision, they are then watched closely, reported on, and eventually approached once their basic personality is understood and approved by the Vesai and/or her Captain.

These women tend to be either gay or bi-sexual, have little or no use for males whatsoever and at times, have been known to be a lover to the Vesai. It is speculated the worship an obscure goddess and have their own motives for protecting the Vesai aside from fantical adoration...no one outside the Vesai and the Orsha Une know for certain.

Afternote:

In the past, there has rarely been more than one Vesai or princess to the Throne. After Callan's marriage to An'Thaya, all An'Thaya's daughters and the Empress herself are now under their protection. Their numbers are small, and far more new recruits are being considered. Current numbers are not over 300, and 15 were assigned to protect Amilyn D'Riel. Of those 15, 12 died in the attempt to protect her from Tallin Modar and Mystical Bellator-Modar's abduction from S'Hea during Scorched Earth.