Noble houses of Taldor

Noble houses of Taldor

(Organization)

Type

Noble houses

Headquarters

Taldor

Scope

National

Structure

Familial

Members

Nobles

The noble houses of Taldor are such a complicated web of acquired and inherited titles that a team of scholars in the Primogen Library is dedicated to keeping account of each title's place in the hierarchy of the empire and each year the Grand Prince adds new names to the list.

A selective list includes:

• House Basri: known for producing skilled ambassadors, diplomats, and travelers. The family maintains better relations with the elven nation of Kyonin than any other house.
• House Bourtze: a minor house from the Tandak Plains north of Old Sehir (midway between Oppara and Cassomir), they hold the title of Tribunes of Evondemor.
• House Clement: this noble family are descended from Garundi and Mwangi ancestors who served Taldor proudly during the Sixth Army of Exploration and were awarded titles for their service.
• House Corcina: this noble family came to prominence during the Second Army of Exploration, and maintains a legacy as explorers and sailors.
• House Crabbe: a minor noble family from Meratt County, the house's matriarch Dame Parthena Crabbe is obsessed with finding a suitable match for her daughter Sepsinia Crabbe.
• House Dalsine: this family in decline includes the deceased former leader of the Taldor faction of the Pathfinder Society, Baron Jacquo Dalsine and holds property in the Senate hill district of Oppara.
• House Dalassenos: granted a noble title of Count, the Dalassenos family turned a mining outpost into the now wealthy town of Dalaston.
• House Darahan: known as knights and monster-hunters they are cousins of the extinct House Adella.
• House Disaren: another minor house from the Tandak Plains. Bitter rival to House Bourtze for the past several hundred years.
• House Eiredor: maintains their own house knights.
• House Germande: also maintains their own house knights, with a reputation as good jousters.
• House Karthis: a family with strong imperialist leanings, is known for their military experience, charismatic demagogues, and xenophobic zealotry. The House is based in Zimar Prefecture, they make up the official opposition and are petitioners for war with Qadira.
• House Kastner: a stalwart family that defines itself by opposing their devil-worshiping Chelish cousins, a grudge that inspired some of Taldor's greatest healers, priests, and negotiators.
• House Lotheed: some of the greatest wizards and arcane scholars in Taldor are from House Lotheed.
• House Merrosett: a large family with signs of inbreeding among its knights, with a reputation as powerful wizards. Its members are also known for their service in Oppara's bureaucracy, specializing in tracking lineages and sidestepping red tape.
• House Morilla: a large and ancient family of expert manipulators with many prominent members operating in Absalom and Oppara.
• House Okerra: one of the minor noble families in Meratt County, led by the decorated veteran Nicolaus Okerra.
• House Patrizia: family member Contessa Arieta Patrizia is a resident of Cassomir and childhood friend to the local Pathfinder venture-captain, Hestia Themis.
• House Railford: a small and nearly forgotten house with a barony in Moda Prefecture. Distillers (and heavy consumers) of potent whiskey.
• House Rell: house member, Dominicus Rell, is currently a prominent adviser to Stavian III in Oppara.
• House Talbot: this starkly conservative family are merchants and entrepreneurs first and aristocrats second, preferring to focus on profit rather than duty.
• House Tulwin: formerly led by a lord of minor influence with a large family based in Oppara. He kept his wealth from his despised children by ensuring his sizable fortune was buried with him in Antios's Crown thus effectively ending his noble line's influence. The House's heraldic coat of arms bears an image of a winged boar.
• House Varima: this family is descended from immigrants from Vudra. They earned their place in the nobility thanks to their noble roots, extensive trade contacts, and an unparalleled skill in negotiation.
• House Vernisant: this family is descended from the general Arnisant, Commander of the Taldan forces during the Shining Crusade. They are staunchly nationalistic and imperialistic in their outlook.
• House Vinmark: is a family of newcomers and outsiders in Taldor. First appearing when former Ulfen Guard member Oltar Vinmark was granted the title of Baron of Oppara, the family has been mostly snubbed by established aristocrats, leaving the House on the outskirts of Taldan politics.

Former or dissolved houses

• House Adella: elevated to the aristocracy after the Battle of Istavala Vale in 3758 AR, they have been extinct for nearly 200 years.
• House Betony: a minor noble house that long served as stewards of Meratt County for the more powerful and influential House Lotheed.
• House Teppish: once at the right hand of the Grand Prince, this family is now near extinction. Their fall from immense power and grace occurred approximately 50 years ago. Surviving twins Dalirio and Grench now work against the empire from within.