Faction

Also see Hökaland House List.

This is a brief introduction to the factions of the Midrealm. Some of these have power outside, to the north, south, west or across the seas, but their most pressing matters can be found in the Midrealm and the great city of Capitoleum. (More info here.) A Knowledge (local) or (nobility) DC5 reveals the following:

Capitoleum is the economical and military power of this area with almost ten times the population of any other town or city within weeks of travel. The percentage of fighting people is significantly lower than any other city, but it's almost independent in terms of supplies either from trade during a possible land take-over or by the local areas during a naval blockade. Though low percentage of soldiers, it has the highest concentration of militia for hundreds of miles, and is a prominent contributor to the Stripes divisions patrolling the Coins

Much of the power struggle within the city is between the Governors (the five best placed noble houses), the Court of Houses (all lords in an advisory manner, sometimes referred to as "The House of Lords"), Chamber of Commerce (guilds and local traders), the Harbour Master's Office (mainly merchants and foreign traders), the Sickle (mage guild) and the Church of Pelor. The Family Register, The Capitoleum University, the Stripes (city militia) and the Court of Justice (occasionally confused with the Court of Houses when just referred to as "the court") are also power centres, but not as prolific or as interested in politics.

No Governor noble house really stands out significantly at present and control of the city is only marginally based on owning lands surrounding it. A lot has to do with military placement and power, trade and money as well as political and social might/allies among the houses. All houses want to be part of the Governors because of the superior position for gaining wealth, but it always also comes at a cost.

More Information

Naturally, a character may have a lot of information about a particular House. Adopt the roll as needed.

Recognising the name

• All Court of Houses Members (local)/(nobility) DC5.
• Other houses - Knowledge (local) DC15, Knowledge (nobility) DC8

Basic

For basic information about the individual house, such as key aims and strengths (in general), sigil, rough population estimates and current (or most recent) leader:

• Governor - Knowledge (local)/(nobility) DC10.
• Court of Houses Member - Knowledge (local) DC15, Knowledge (nobility) DC10.
• Other houses - Knowledge (local) DC20, Knowledge (nobility) DC15

Details

Detailed information such as relationships with other houses and organisations or current rough economic status and exports:

• All Court of Houses Members - Knowledge (local) DC20, Knowledge (nobility) DC15.
• Other houses - Knowledge (local) DC25, Knowledge (nobility) DC20.

Inside Story

Inside information such as total military strength, specific cash flow and individual staff members:

• All Court of Houses Members - Knowledge (local) DC25, Knowledge (nobility) DC20.
• Other houses - Knowledge (local) DC30, Knowledge (nobility) DC25.

Below are listed first the Governor houses in rough estimate order of power/influence and then alphabetical order of the rest of the Midrealm houses that have their own kingdoms.

Houses (Governors)

Menthell

• Sigil: Feather pen and quill
• Leader: Richard Haldean the Fourth
• Capitol: The Fork
• Rough age: Old house
• Strengths: Political skills, influence, deep pockets, military power
• Weaknesses: Praise, internal struggles, hated by many
• Export: Merchant trading, road toll, river toll
• Other: Known as a quite strong ally or a vicious enemy

• Exact age: 14 generations (~270 years)
• Support (competition): Haldean
• Peace with: Edmyr, Artipellin (who dislike Menthell)
• Indifferent: Selwen (is under Menthell's thumb and hate Menthell)
• Competition (dislike): Wyny
• Hostilities: Tally (who hates Menthell)

Haldean

• Sigil: A scroll leaning to the right, over a sword tilting to the left
• Leader: Hald Haldean the seventh
• Capitol: Scima (Ognit close)
• Rough age: Old house
• Strengths: Education, influence, deep pockets
• Weaknesses: Administrative
• Export: Education, road toll, some river toll
• Other: Known for interest in education and knowledge. Runs the Capitoleum University and the Scima and Ognit campuses. Proponents of higher learning and supports basic learning for their own vassals. Large and oddly shaped land. Between the Dreadscar and Vasjwoods. Has deep pockets.

• Exact age: 13 generations (~250 years)
• Support (like): the Sickle, Hwett, Wyny (long time)
• Support (competition): Menthell
• Peace: Vasj
• Competition (dislike) Artipellin
• Hostilities: Goldhelm, Oakshield

Artipellin

• Sigil: A golden grail crested with rubies
• Leader: Nicholla Artipellin the First
• Capitol: Gwenport
• Rough age: Old house
• Strengths: Arts, popular support, magic, sea trade
• Weakness: Less military strength than other Governors
• Export: Art, magic, fish
• Other: Known for being creative and artful. They own most high level theatres and art galleries in the realms. Have taken to "knighting" great artists, tying them to the house (though generally not expected to fight). These "paint knights" are looked down upon by all "real" knights except for Artipellin knights who simply see them as knights of the creative arts rather than the sword. The Artipellin has a close connection with the Sickle, which brings power but also some disrespect from magiphobic houses. As the other Governor houses, they have decently deep pockets, though a lot of their wealth is tied up in art objects or facilities. Their knights are admired by commoners of the realms as the purest (and most handsome) of knights in the realms.

• Exact age: 11 generations (210 years)
• Support (like): The Sickle (very close), Wyny
• Support: Edmyr
• Peace (like): Goldhelm
• Peace (dislike): Menthell
• Competition (dislike): Haldean
• Hostilities: Vasj

Wyny

• Sigil: One broadsword with four gold coins places around its blade.
• Leader: Lynsev Wyny the Broad
• Capitol: Westwatch
• Rough age: Very old house
• Strengths: Excellent fighters, good teachers, healthy life views
• Weaknesses: No great natural resources, no sea harbour.
• Export: Combat skills (academy), life coaches.
• Other: Was originally a younger son of Vasj that broke loose from the clan to start his own with a peasant wife and a couple of mercenary bands. In order to find recognition, they started teaching neighbour houses how to fight in exchange from limited protection. This brought in the best warriors in the realms and became the main focus of the House. Helped create The Stripes, and officers are often Wyny.

• Exact age: 16 generations (~320 years)

Edmyr

• Grerey
• Sandy Point

Houses (Kingdoms - Court of Houses Members)

Tally

• Sigil: A pulled wolf's fang
• Leader: Eldig Tally (female)
• Capitol: Tally
• Rough age: Very young house
• Strengths: Reputations of old, ferocious leader
• Weaknesses: Small lands, small army, no connection with The Coins, enemies
• Exports: Farming produce, pelts
• Other: Young noble house which was created through heroic acts of Eld Tally, a knight of much reknown. In the last generation and a half the house did not have a male heir and surrounding houses took bites out of their lands as their leader was seen as weak. They still have a female leader, though she's more fierce and has stalled the advances of other houses. Currently led by Eldig the First (young woman).

• Exact age: 4 generations (75 years)
• Support (like): Selwen
• Peace: Pineshield
• Peace (like): Farlun
• Peace (hate): Eagle-eye (Eagle-eye recently stole the Castle of Tallenera from Tally but has no further hostilities, though Tally would take it back if they could and it's not safe for Eagle-eye nobles to openly travel the highway through Tally)
• Hostilities: Menthell
• Additional: Some surrounding small lords in other kingdoms would be loyal to Tally, if they could be shown that it would be safe to do so.

Wyrd

• Sigil: A squirrel facing right, holding a hazel nut
• Leader: Panido Wyrd the Sighted
• Capital: Grean Weald
• Rough age: Ancient house
• Strengths: Connection with nature (magic)
• Weakness: Weak militia, bad reputation
• Exports: Lumber, pelts
• Other: Known as "wood crazy" and not very well understood by other houses. Experts at navigating the forest and all invasion attempts by any house in the past have *failed when the Wyrd leave their main fortifications and start a cruel guerilla war. No attempts tried in the past 150 years. One of the oldest houses in the Realms, though the family outlook has changed many times over time. Rumours of extensive inbreeding and that they practice beastiality.

• Exact age: at least 25 generations (500+ years)
• Support (like): The Sickle, Vasj (long time and strong)
• Support: Selwen
• Peace: Menthell
• Competition: Nihthelm
• Hostilities: Edmyr