Summary
Here is some information about the great houses.
Naming convention for the noble houses. (WIP)
For noble houses, it is common for them to take their name from the region where they are based, or from a notable landmark or natural feature. For example, a noble house based in the forested lands might be called “Oakheart,” while a house based in the coastal lands might be called “Seabreeze.”
Individuals are typically given first and name of the noble house, with the first name being chosen by their parents. However, it is also common for individuals to have nicknames or titles based on their profession, personality, or accomplishments.
In terms of regional naming conventions, different regions often have distinct names for their towns, cities, and landmarks. For example, in the lush and fertile lands, it is common for names to incorporate references to nature and agriculture, such as “Greenfield” or “Wheatvale.” While in the rugged and mountainous lands, names may incorporate references to the mountains or geological features, such as “Stonepeak” or “Riverrun.”
Overall, naming conventions in the empire are diverse and reflective of the different regions, cultures, and individuals that make up the empire.
The Imperial House of Vorla. Controlling the Crownlands (Lower east)
House Vorla, the imperial house of the empire, has a rich and storied history that dates back centuries to the founding of the first Vorla kingdom after the fall of the old empire. The house is renowned for its opulence and grandeur, boasting vast estates, exquisite gardens, and lavish palaces that reflect their wealth and status.
The house is one of the most powerful noble houses in the empire, and its distinct sigil - a golden rose emblazoned on a white shield - is recognized throughout the realm as a symbol of their authority and prestige. The sigil’s design was inspired by the Vorla River, whose winding course resembles the shape of a rose. The house’s motto, “Supremacy Over All,” reflects their desire to maintain their position as the preeminent great house in the land.
The White City, the capital of House Vorla’s archduchy, is a magnificent coastal city situated atop a major river, making it a hub of trade and commerce. With a population of over three million people, it is one of the largest and most important cities in the empire and the whole world, renowned for its beautiful architecture, bustling markets, and vibrant cultural scene.
As the imperial house of the empire, House Vorla has a diverse and powerful economy. They collect taxes from all the archduchies, providing a steady stream of income to the house, and engage in trade, particularly with the east through the grand port of the White City. The city is a major port that serves as the gateway to the east, with ships coming from across the world to trade with the empire. House Vorla leverages its control of the city to extract wealth from trade and to broker deals with other nations. In addition, the house has invested heavily in its infrastructure, building roads, bridges, and other transport links to facilitate trade and commerce.
One of the house’s most significant contributions to the empire is its establishment of a network of banks and moneylenders based on the eastern banking system of the Far East. This network provides loans and other financial services to individuals and businesses throughout the realm, fueling economic growth and development while consolidating House Vorla’s power and influence.
In summary, House Vorla is a powerful and influential noble house with a rich history, significant economic power, and vast resources that reflect its prestige and authority over the empire.
House Goldstone. Controlling the Ironlands. (Upper east)
House Goldstone, one of the most prominent noble houses in the upper eastern mountains region of the empire, has a long history dating back centuries. The house is known for its vast gold mines and the high-quality materials they produce, including precious metals and gemstones. Their sigil, a golden eagle perched on top of a mountain, represents the house’s power and influence over the region.
The motto of House Goldstone, “From stone and gold we rise,” speaks to their origin as a mining family and their rise to power and prominence. The capital of their Archduchy is Highmount, a castle that sits atop one of the tallest mountains in the region, providing natural protection against potential invaders. Surrounded by rocky peaks and towering cliffs, Highmount is a testament to the house’s strength and resilience.
Members of House Goldstone are highly respected for their wealth and influence, and their economic power has made them a major player in the empire’s politics. They are known for their shrewd business sense and willingness to take calculated risks to expand their wealth and power. Despite their immense wealth, House Goldstone is committed to the well-being of their workers, providing fair wages and safe working conditions in the mines. They have also invested heavily in infrastructure projects to improve access to their mines and support the local economy.
The Archduke of House Goldstone is a stern but fair man, a seasoned warrior, and an astute businessman, well-respected by his vassals. His wife, Archduchess Selene, is a graceful and intelligent woman with a love of literature and skill in diplomacy, often mediating disputes between neighboring lords and ladies. Together, they have two children, a son, and a daughter. The son is a capable administrator and diplomat like his father, while the daughter is a talented musician and poet like her mother, known for her beauty. The family is beloved by their people for their strength, intelligence, and artistic talents.
Together, the ArchDuke and ArchDuchess of House Goldstone have two children, a son, and a daughter. The son is capable administrator and diplomat like his father, while the daughter is a talented musician and poet like her mother, known for her extreme beauty. The family is well-loved by their people, who admire their strength, intelligence, and artistic talents.
For now, House Goldstone maintains good relations with other great noble houses, but their wealth and influence make them a potential target for envy and greed. Nevertheless, they remain a formidable force in the region.
House Westmere. Controlling the Westreach. (Upper west)
House Westmere is an illustrious and influential noble house with a rich history that spans many generations. The house’s extensive lands, which are among the most fertile in the entire empire, have made them the leading supplier of grain and breadwinners of the empire. The house holds a significant amount of power as they control the upper part of the western region of the empire.
Their sigil is a striking golden horse on a red shield, with the motto “Proud and Mighty” serving as a testament to their strength and prestige.
The capital of the archduchy, Rivershield, is a formidable castle surrounded by several rivers, making it a strategic stronghold that has never been conquered.
The Archduke of House Westmere is widely known for his formidable and cunning tactics, which have earned him both the respect and fear of his peers. He can field the largest military force in the empire due to the large manpower he controls. In addition to being a military powerhouse, the house is also famous for breeding the finest horses in the realm, which are sought after by many.
Despite being from the lower nobility, the Archduke’s wife was renowned for her exceptional beauty and grace and was highly respected in the court for her wisdom and intelligence. Many still mourn her passing.
Their son is widely recognized as one of the empire’s most skilled swordsmen, having won many battles and tournaments. He is regarded as a formidable warrior who inspires loyalty and admiration from both his soldiers and subjects alike. Although he never showed any interest in ruling.
The Archduke also has two daughters who are renowned for their beauty, intelligence, and wit. They are highly sought after as potential wives for the empire’s noble bachelors.
House Noorga. Controlling the Bloodgrove. (Lower west)
House Noorga is a feared and infamous noble house in the empire, known for its ruthless tactics and savage nature. Their reputation for brutality is well-earned, as they have a long history of using fear and intimidation to maintain their power and influence over the lower west.
The capital of the Arcduchy controlled by House Noorga is a dark and foreboding castle located deep within the heart of the forest. The castle is surrounded by high walls and guarded by fierce hounds that are trained to attack any intruders. The dark and sinister appearance of the castle adds to the ominous reputation of the house.
Their sigil is a red hound on a black shield, a symbol of their ferocity and tenacity. The house’s motto, “The Hounds are here, Fear us,” further emphasizes their reputation as merciless hunters and warriors.
The region that House Noorga controls is full of dense forests, which they use to their advantage when hunting down their enemies. They are known for their hunting skills, particularly with the use of their specially bred hounds, which they use for both sport and warfare. But brutality is not all that they are known for.
The house has established trade relationships with other houses and cities in the empire, which enables them to export their wood products and generate significant income for their Archduchy. They have a reputation for providing high-quality wood products, which has made them a sought-after supplier for many noble houses and merchants.
Additionally, the house has also invested in developing new technologies and techniques for sustainable forestry. They understand the importance of preserving the forests for the future of their house and have implemented responsible harvesting practices to ensure the long-term health of the forest ecosystem.
The current head of the house, known as the Mad Hound, is a cruel and unpredictable man who uses fear to control. His wife and cousin, Lady Noorga, is a mad woman who is even more dangerous than her husband. They have three children, two sons and a daughter, each of whom is trained in the art of warfare and hunting.
House Frostclaw. Controlling the Northreach. (North)
House Frostclaw is a powerful noble house that dominates the northern regions of the empire, controlling the largest archduchy with the largest vassals number in the entire empire. Their lands are vast and mostly covered in forests, long rivers, and mountains, providing them with abundant natural resources that they have learned to exploit to their advantage.
In the north, honor and justice are highly esteemed and are regarded as the most important virtues for a ruler. The lords of the north believe that a just and honorable ruler is vital in governing their vassals and protecting their lands from their enemies.
The sigil of House Frostclaw is a ferocious black bear emblazoned on a blue shield, representing their strength, courage, and resilience.
The capital of the archduchy, called Icehaven, is located in the heart of their territory, surrounded by dense forests, long rivers, and rugged mountains. The castle is heavily fortified, with high walls, deep moats, and strong towers, designed to withstand any attack and protect the ruling family and their subjects.
The ruling family of House Frostclaw is renowned for their prowess in hunting, herding, and combat, as well as their shrewdness and resourcefulness in diplomacy and politics.
The current Archduke of the house is a wise and just ruler, beloved by his people and his vassals. His wife is a fierce warrior and a wise counselor, always ready to offer advice and support to her husband. They have two sons and one daughter, each with their own unique talents and skills, who are being groomed to take on leadership roles within the family and the archduchy.
Trade is an vital aspect of the north’s economy, with the major cities serving as important trading hubs for goods coming from the rest of the empire and beyond. The north has a thriving market for furs, as the cold climate makes it an ideal location for hunting animals such as wolves, foxes, and bears. In addition, the north has a strong timber industry, with vast forests providing the raw materials for shipbuilding and construction.
Overall, the economy of the north is diverse and robust, with a strong focus on herding, agriculture, mining, and trade. The north’s rulers value honor and justice, believing that these virtues are essential to the proper rule of their lands and the protection of their people.
House Vengar Controlling the Sunlands. (South)
House Vengar is a noble house that has held the Vengar Mountains for generations, acting as the first line of defense against the neighboring Sultanate of Nilea. The house is known for its fierce warriors and skilled tacticians, who have been able to repel countless invasions and protect the southern borders of the empire.
Their motto, “We are the Shield, as well as swords,” reflects their duty to protect their people and their land.
Their sigil is a red sun on an orange shield.
The capital of the Archduchy, Saltport, is located on the east coast, serving as a strategic location for trade and defense. The city has a large port and is known for its bustling markets and skilled shipbuilders. The Vengars have used their strategic location to their advantage, establishing strong trade relationships with other kingdoms across the sea and utilizing their ports to export their abundant natural resources.
The Vengar mountains are known to have rich salt mines that the house has been mining for generations. They have built a strong network of salt traders who transport the salt to various regions in the empire.
House Vengar takes great pride in their control over the salt trade, as it brings them significant wealth and power. The house has even established their own salt caravan, which is heavily guarded and travels across the empire to deliver their salt to various markets. The Vengar salt is known for its purity and high quality, which has made it highly sought after by wealthy merchants and nobles. The house takes great care in maintaining the quality of their salt and enforcing their control over the trade, as it is a crucial part of their economy and power.
Archduchess Vengar is a formidable woman, known for her intelligence, cunning, and unwavering determination to protect her people and her lands. She inherited the lordship from her father, who had no male heirs and has ruled with an iron fist ever since.
As the first female ruler of House Vengar, Lady Vengar has faced many challenges and obstacles, but she has proven herself time and time again as a capable leader and strategist. She is deeply committed to the defense of the southern border against the Sultanate of Nilea and has taken steps to strengthen the fortifications and defenses of her lands.
Lady Vengar is also known for her shrewdness in trade and commerce. She has established lucrative trade deals with neighboring regions, particularly for the minerals and precious metals that are abundant in the Vengar Mountains.
Despite her fierce reputation, Lady Vengar is also a devoted mother and wife. She has two daughters and a son, all of whom she is grooming to be strong and capable leaders in their own right. Her husband, Lord Vengar, is a respected warrior and commander, and the two have a strong and loving partnership.
Lady Vengar’s decision to abolish the male inheritance system in her house was a bold move that set her apart from the other noble houses in the empire. She recognized the potential of her older daughter and saw no reason why her sex should prevent her from inheriting the title and responsibility of the head of the house. This decision was met with some resistance from traditionalists in the house and in the wider society, but Lady Vengar stood firm in her belief that talent and capability should be the determining factors in succession, rather than sex.
Archduchess Vengar’s eldest daughter has since been named as the crown heir of the house, and she is being trained to take on the responsibilities that come with being the head of one of the most powerful noble houses in the empire. Lady Vengar is determined to give her daughter every opportunity to succeed and has ensured that she is receiving the best possible education and training in diplomacy, politics, and military strategy.
House Stefield Controlling the Heartlands (Center)
, it was more of an observation. What I was trying to point out was the lack of character flaws(?) based on that 
