House of the Hearth

The House of the Hearth is an orphanage run by "The Knave" Arlecchino of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers. Orphans within the house are often raised directly into the Fatui's ranks or remain closely affiliated with the organization by way of their relation to Arlecchino.

Overview

My dear Snezheviches, my dear Snezhevnas, my brothers and sisters
If I were to one day cease my journey and slumber under the white birch, please carry on without me...

—The end of Trofin Snezhevich's Tattered Paper, containing the motto of the House of the Hearth

The House of the Hearth has its origins in Khaenri'ah.^[1] During the era of the Crimson Moon Dynasty, an orphanage was set up to house the many outlanders from the sea of stars who periodically fell down into the kingdom.^[2][3] A new iteration of the orphanage was later founded by an unspecified Knave of the Fatui Harbingers.^{[4][5][Note 1]}

Orphans raised in the House of the Hearth are gathered from all over the continent, likely to make it easier for people who are ethnically from a certain nation to blend in with its people,^[6] and those who clearly belong to a certain ethnicity (such as Lyudochka Snezhevna, who was of Inazuman descent) may study affairs relating to their native land from a young age.^[4]

Once children raised in the House of the Hearth grow up, those who are deemed to "have potential" are enlisted in the Fatui and are dispatched as sleeper agents to other nations to await orders.^[5][7] They could end up as Arlecchino's agents or as the subordinates of other Harbingers and perform assignments other than espionage.

When the previous Knave, Crucabena, oversaw the House of the Hearth, she maintained a cordial front in the children, who called her "Mother." In reality, Crucabena maintained a tight grip, showing no actual concern for them; she would have them fight each other for her own amusement, send them into dangerous missions with no intentions of returning or to Dottore for experiments. Others were blackmailed into compliance.^[8] Only Clervie, her biological daughter, and another, Peruere, knew of her intentions but were unable to or did not call her out for it.

Ten years after meeting Peruere, Clervie would die in a duel against her, though Peruere's unique constitution as a descendant of the Crimson Moon Dynasty resulted in Clervie's shadow being absorbed into her. A year after that, Peruere confronted Crucabena and killed her on the same spot before taking over the House of the Hearth, becoming a Harbinger and renaming herself as Arlecchino. Arlecchino, who did not want a repeat of Crucabena's atrocities, decided to have the children call her "Father" and reworked the House.

Those raised in the House of the Hearth view each other as "family" and refer to their bonds as being "tighter than blood."^[5] Arlecchino is referred to as "Father" by orphans within the House of the Hearth, with the orphans considering themselves children of the Tsaritsa.^[9][10] While Arlecchino was much less strict compared to Crucabena, the one vital rule she enforced was loyalty, with betrayal being punishable by death. However, she could amend the rule and could spare them with potions containing her flame. These potions would only be given to those who had the strength and/or will to fight. When consumed, these potions would erase all of their memories related to the House, safekeeping the House's operations and effectively killing them in her eyes.^[11]

Orphans raised within the House of the Hearth are given the surnames "Snezhevich" and "Snezhevna" for males and females respectively.^[4] Some orphans will be given new names entirely along with their designated surname.^[5]

There is currently only one known location the House of the Hearth operates in, the Hotel Bouffes d'ete in the Court of Fontaine, although it is implied that other orphanages exist outside of Fontaine.^[12][13]

Affiliated Characters

The current director of the House of the Hearth is Arlecchino, who succeeded the previous director Crucabena.
There are 19 other characters who are (or were) part of the House of the Hearth:

Playable Characters

Arlecchino

Freminet

Lynette

Lyney

Trivia

• The House of the Hearth training and enlisting children into the Fatui after they have grown up and shown potential mirrors real life military schools that provide education for children of various ages and train them in military aspects, preparing them for service in the armed forces.

Etymology

• "Snezhevich" and "Snezhevna" mean "Son of Snow" and "Daughter of Snow," respectively. While these two names are officially explained as surnames,^[4] in real-life Russian, the -evich and -evna endings make them patronymics, which are secondary names that are based on the father's given name. Because the orphans have unknown parentage, the "Snow" (Russian: Снег Sneg) is considered their "father," while the Tsaritsa is the "mother."^[10]

Notes

Other Languages

Language	Official Name	Literal Meaning
English	House of the Hearth	—
Chinese (Simplified)	壁炉之家 Bìlú zhī Jiā	House of Hearth
Chinese (Traditional)	壁爐之家 Bìlú zhī Jiā
Japanese	壁炉の家ハウス・オブ・ハース Hausu obu Haasu[14]	House of Hearth
Korean	벽난로의 집 Byeoknanroui jib	House of Fireplace
Spanish	Casa de la Hoguera	House of the Bonfire
French	Foyer de l'âtre	House of the Hearth[• 1]
Russian	Дом очага Dom ochaga	House of the Hearth
Thai	บ้านแสนอบอุ่น Ban Saen Op-un	A Warm House
Vietnamese	Căn Nhà Hơi Ấm	House of Warmth
German	Haus des Kamins	House of the Hearth
Indonesian	House of the Hearth	—
Portuguese	Casa da Lareira
Turkish	Taş Yuva
Italian	Casa del Focolare	House of the Bonfire

Change History

References

Navigation

Factions Transnational Adventurers' Guild Four Great Rulers Hexenzirkel Legion of Soulblazers Northern Intelligence Network Seven Sovereigns The Seven Three Moons Treasure Hoarders Wanderer's Troupe Mondstadt Church of Favonius Four Winds Knights of Favonius Mondstadt Wine Guild Noble Families Imunlaukr Clan Gunnhildr Clan Lawrence Clan Ragnvindr Clan Liyue Adepti Yakshas Feiyun Commerce Guild Guhua Clan Liyue Qixing Ministry of Civil Affairs Eight Trades Communications Office Sword and Strongbox Secure Transport Agency Huishan Hall Shenglu Hall Yinyuan Hall Millelith Mighty Mythical Beasts The Crux Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Inazuma Arataki Gang Grand Narukami Shrine Inazuma Shogunate Shogun's Army International Trade Association Komaniya Express Raiden Gokaden Kaedehara Clan Sangonomiya Shrine Sangonomiya Clan Watatsumi Army Tri-Commission Kanjou Commission Hiiragi Clan Tenryou Commission Kujou Clan Yashiro Commission Kamisato Clan Shuumatsuban Sumeru Forest Rangers Order of Skeptics Seven Pillars Sumeru Akademiya Darshans Amurta Rtawahist Spantamad Haravatat Vahumana Kshahrewar Matra Temple of Silence The Eremites Corps of Thirty Tanit Fontaine Champion Duelist Confrerie of Cabriere Court of Fontaine Maison Cardinalice Maison Gardiennage Garde Gardemek Maison Gestion Maison Ordalie Marechaussee Phantom Daydream Club Golden Troupe Fontaine Research Institute Fortress of Meropide Beret Society Mutual Aid Network Fruity Order Lochknights Narzissenkreuz Institute Narzissenkreuz Ordo Spina di Rosula Natlan Muratans Saurian Relics Association Six Tribes Children of Echoes Collective of Plenty Flower-Feather Clan Masters of the Night-Wind People of the Springs Scions of the Canopy Thirteen Sovereign Lords Snezhnaya Korolevskiy Troupe Rokot Zapolyarny Palace Druzhna Fatui Armory Palace Eleven Harbingers House of the Hearth Royal Energy Commission of Snezhnaya Snezhnaya Royal Railway Transport Bureau Snezhnograd Veche Nod-Krai Conch Gang Curatorium of Secrets Frostmoon Scions Lightkeepers Seahook Gang The Wild Hunt Voynich Guild Khaenri'ah Alberich Clan Abyss Order Court of Khaenri'ah Schwanenritter Universitas Magistrorum