House

The most salient piece of information to know about nobles is which house they belong to. The family name hugely influences how a noble is perceived.

Although the houses have "personalities", individual nobles don't necessarily fit into cookie-cutter stereotypes. For example, while a Baron of House Decados may be cunning and secretive, he may also have his own sense of honour. Similarly, a Knight of The Hazat may actually despise all things military because of being forced to train as a soldier.

Major Houses

Name Notes   House Hawkwood House Hawkwood believes in honour and justice. They won the Emperor Wars -- Emperor Alexius is a member of House Hawkwood. House Decados House Decados is a long-standing rival to House Hawkwood. They have maintained their wealth and position through cunning, deception and liberal amounts of espionage. The Hazat The Hazat have long been involved with the armies of the empire. Almost all Hazat train in the military at some point in their lives, and are currently trying to gain more land through border skirmishes with barbarians. House Li Halen Li Halen was once the most decadent of all the noble houses, until Prince Rikard Cardano Li Halen had a miraculous conversion in the Valley of Skulls on Kish. Now, House Li Halen is the House most closely allied with the Universal Church, and the most pious of all the noble families. House al-Malik House al-Malik have long been associated with the Merchant Leagues. Nobles of this house are keenly interested in exotic goods and the lure of adventure, but have also developed an excellent sense of political strategy.

The Minor Houses

These Houses are much smaller, and therefore command considerably less power and prestige.

Name Notes House Cameton The leading house on the capital, Byzantium Secundus, but with little influence elsewhere. House Juandistas Well-known for their support for equal rights for aliens. There is a long history of intermarriage between the Juanistas and the Ur-Obun although the technology for those marriages to produce offspring is now lost. Juanistas also tend to be very spiritual. House Justinian Although loyalty and honour are their greatest values, the house is constantly at war with itself. House Keddah An ally of House Decados, House Keddah is the only minor house to control a planet: the planet Grail inhabited by the aboriginal Etyri. House Masseri Almost extinct, House Masseri were weakened by the Simbiots, and conquered by House Decados. They are at war with the al-Malik. House Shelit Recently liberated from the Kurgan Caliphate by The Hazat, little is known about Shelit except that they are extremely intelligent. Some say that they have access to Second Republic technology, or that they are genetically enhanced. House Thana House Thana has produced many psionics. As a result, they have been persecuted for years, and only now are free to move through the empire. They value life and tend to be pacifists. House Torenson Known for two things: their mastery of social etiquette and their neutrality toward other houses. House Trusnikron The Trusnikrons are excellent beast masters and known for their ability to work with animals of all sorts. They are often also trained as calvary. They were, until recently, considered barbarians and they don't give much thought to house etiquette or politics, preferring to judge others by their skill with riding. House Van Gelder Formerly merchants, this house is allied with House Decados for survival. They now specialize in espionage and assassination. House Xanthippe A matriarchal house that specializes in elite mercenary forces and wine making. They also have an excellent information network.

Noble Careers

Military

Each noble house maintains a military to protect the House's interest. The military has two main divisions:

1. an army (soldiers); and
2. a navy (starmen).

Military (Soldier) Cost Ability 6 Weapon Familiarities 3 Paramedics 3 Leadership 3 Survival 3 Tactics 2 PS: Soldier

Military (Starman) Cost Ability 3 Weapon Fam: Small Arms, Vehicle Weapons 3 Paramedics 3 Leadership 2 PS: Spacesuit Ops 3 Systems Operation 2 PS: Starman

Diplomats

 

Leisure