Another Elohim game (7.55 this time) and no counter. Been running Pacifism since the start, have an assortment of counter-boosting buildings etc (almost 300 turns played, normal speed). I have read the Civilopedia Elohim and Purity counter entries. There should not be another 'invisible' specific early-game trigger I fail to set off? Well, no matter, the Altar-boosted Monks were good enough.
Zarcaz was bow-less. Maybe he misplaced it, it was turn 275ish when I met him..
I know the Houses are in development. Still, some observations:
At mid-game, I had the Hunters, the Bankers, and the Mages, without even trying to get any of them (I wanted to attracht the Harlequins, but no luck). I never even had the Sorcery tech, why would they even want to come to my lands..
All the double-HQs in unison gave such bonuses that it just seemed wrong. As a late-game thing it would have been ok to keep the interest up, but this was around turn 200 (normal).
Also, a conquered city having a House HQ can keep it despite the owner change, so I actually had 3 Mage HQs. Would have had 4, but I backed away from that city, and after reconquering it was lost. Ghallanda offered their services every time I conquered a city they inhabited, but not so with the Mages. Perhaps because I had Trade but not Sorcery? Still, I got the Mage HQs intact and functional.
Receiving 2 HQs as a gift from a friendly AI (who founded the Houses) is too good to be true. Also, the AI spreads the Houses to each and every city it possibly can, so the HQ-bonuses will be huge.
I don't remember if these Houses will start to dislike each other in the future.
Anyway, interesting to see how the upcoming revolt mechanism will change things. Am a bit worried though, this many lead to AI civs becoming weaker because their established cities are converting.