Hi, There might be some clues in the "elegant metaphorical journey" to house characteristics of the Seventeen Houses--but they were much too metaphorical for me. I did not even realize there were seventeen in Zerika's little trip in the Paths of the Dead. "In the event, as is well known, Zerika successfully negotiated the Paths of the Dead (although, in the summary, it is impossible to re-create the elegant metaphorical journey, in which each of the Seventeen Houses was neatly encapsulated and symbolically transcended in a literary exploit of which only modesty prevents the full explication)" The Lord of Castle Black, paperback, Preface, page xiv. Dzurlords have real good hearing better then Tiassas, Lyorns, and Teckla. "I'm generalizing from one example". "'My lord,' said Ibronka. 'Someone is coming.' 'How, coming?' 'Approaching us.' 'I see. Who?' 'As to that, I cannot say. But they are on horseback, and there are a good number of them. Scores.' 'And you say they are coming toward us?' 'Yes, my lord. It began some twenty minutes ago, and it woke me. 'But what woke you?' 'The sound, my lord. Of the horses.' 'Ah! Ah! You are a Dzurlord.' Ibronka bowed. 'Do you know how far away they are?' 'I am sorry, my lord, but I do not. Perhaps ten miles, perhaps twenty.' Khaavren had heard enough. He turned to Clari and said, "Wake everyone up. We leave at once.' The Lord of Castle Black, paperback, Chapter the Forty-First, page 75 I was thinking in relation to David's quiz. Do you wake up in middle of the night to noises that other people sleep through? Can you hear people approaching before others do? Then you might be a Dzur. Teckla can also be road agents and soldiers (not just conscripts). "a Teckla with all the appearance of having been a road agent for a time. And in this, we must say appearances did not deceive' ... "You wish, then, to become part of the Lord Morrolan's private army?' The newcomer (whose name, alas, has not come down to us) nodded as assent. 'You understand that this is not a mercenary army, but, rather, the standing army of a Dragonlord anxious to protect his rightful properties?' The other signified that this fine distinction held no interest for him." The Lord of Castle Black, paperback, Chapter the Fortieth, page 57, 58. The Teckla was probably a Dragon in prior life. No mention that he was a cross-breed. Reincarnation might play a little havok with a House Characteristics quiz. As in the "Easterner who fights like a Dragon". Bye. Linda G.