The Noble Houses of The Known Worlds

Of the many noble houses throughout the Known Worlds, five have achieved prominence and effectively rule most of the Human Space - under the watchful eye of the new Emperor, of course. The Emperor Wars took a toll on all the nobility, but most especially the five Royal Houses. Those whom fortune disfavored now struggle to regain lost lands and recoup diminished power, while the victors fight to ensure that their rivals stay down. The Emperor, for his part, seems inclined to build bridges to his former enemies, seeking to build a broad consensus for his rule across house lines.

A noble's life is not the leisurely idyll one might expect: there are fiefs to manage, rivals to crush, and wars to wage. While there is much power to be gained, there is always the risk of humiliation or loss of holdings and position. It is no wonder that nobles, for whom life is a continuous struggle, know how to party. Their gala affairs are lavish and awe-inspiring - but also rife with intrigue, innuendo, back-stabbing and even sword dueling. To escape such pressures, noble sons and daughters often take to the stars with only a small entourage of friends and retainers, to better know the worlds they wish to one day rule.

Royal Houses
House Hawkwood | House al-Malik | House Li Halan
House Decados | The Hazat

Minor Houses
Shelit | Juandaastas | Xanthippe | Justinian | Keddah | Gilgar
Van Gelder | Trusnikron | Dextrite | Torenson | Thana | Masseri
Chauki | Cameton | Ramakrishna | Vasalayana | D'Rouge Glace
Basque

Vargen Aristocracy
House Mercedes | Imandura

Knightly Orders
Questing Knights | Swords of Lextius | Knights of the Shroud | Mantis Knights | Knights of Yara | Adamantine Knights | Order of Vladimir

Noble Culture
The Noble Mind | Dueling | Noble Ranks | Warfare | Fashion | Etiquette | Hospitality | New or Landless Nobles

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