Noble Houses of Senera

The Noble Houses of Senera are the most powerful families in the realm. They are responsible for governing the provinces and maintaining the feudal hierarchy.

Major Houses

House Maidenfeld (466 AI - Present)

• Emerged during the Fall of Western Kalassar
• Originally Kalassarian provincial administrators who maintained order
• Consolidated power through agricultural estates and maritime trade
• Ruled Senera from 466 AI to approximately 790 AI
• Still influential in trade and agriculture, especially spices and herbs

House Dragonheart (Drakenhart in Old Seneran) (c. 690 AI - Present)

• Primary Domain: The Ranterg Heights
• Ancestral Seat: Thrantorbury
• Historical Context:
  • Originally a cadet branch of House Maidenfeld
  • Rose to power during the Succession Wars
  • Adopted Kalassarian-style name to project imperial grandeur while maintaining Orthodox legitimacy
  • Name possibly references the “Dragon’s Trial” of Orthodox martyrdom
• Religious Authority:
  • Strong ties to Orthodox Church of the Divine Masochist
  • Built grand Orthodox cathedrals in Thrantorbury
  • Patronage of major monasteries in the Ranterg Heights
  • Maintained tolerance for:
    • Kalassarian Paganism in eastern ports
    • Traditional Hick practices in remote regions
• Key Holdings:
  • The Crown of Thorns (Thraltr Peak fortress-monastery)
  • Sacred Forest Preserves
  • Mountain Pass fortifications
• Title: High Kings/Queens of Senera
• Notable Features:
  • Claims dual legitimacy through:
    • Maidenfeld bloodline (ancient nobility)
    • Orthodox Divine Masochist patronage
  • Balances Orthodox doctrine with practical religious tolerance
  • Strategic marriage policy maintains ties with houses of all faiths

House Surrata (c. 500 AI - Present)

The coastal domain of the Inespell Gulf had been held by House Surrata since the Fall of Western Kalassar. They have been instrumental in the rise to power of the Maidenfeld Dynasty. After the dust had settled, the Maidenfeld monarch had designated the entirety of the gulf as a march under the authority of the first Marcher Lord of Surrey.

After the War of Thyme and Fire, the Dragonhearts wanted to ensure that the powerful House Surrata was kept under their thumb, so the Inespell Marches was designated as a marquessate. The House would hold higher esteem in the peerage, but would lose the autonomy that a Marcher Lordship enjoyed.

In the present day, the head of House Surrata not only holds the title of Marquess, but also commands the Eastern Fleet as Lord High Admiral of the Realm.

• Domain: The Inespell Marches
• Seat: Surrey-on-the-Brams
• Special Right: Lord High Admiral of the Realm
• Key Holdings:
  • Island fortress complex
  • Naval headquarters
  • Eastern harbors
  • Strategic port facilities

Secondary Houses

House Tidemark (c. 500 AI - Present)

• Descended from early Kalassarian merchant families
• Controls significant portions of southern coastal trade
• Historically neutral in Maidenfeld-Dragonheart succession
• Later aligned with Dragonhearts after securing trade privileges

House Northcross (Pre-466 AI - Present)

• Claims descent from pre-Kalassarian maritime traders
• Survived imperial collapse through northern trade connections
• Maintains strong presence in northern Senera
• Key diplomatic links to Carlmark/Iutland

House Keelsward (c. 600 AI - Present)

• Founded when Maidenfelds established Keelswood management
• Traditional stewards of naval timber resources
• Initially strong Maidenfeld loyalists
• Maintained influence through lumber monopoly despite dynasty change

Administrative Divisions

Western Provinces (Hick-dominant names)

The Maltrek Duchy

• Capital: Tregar
• Major settlements:
  • Bramwick (< Hick bram-vik “tide bay”)
  • Thralmal (< Hick thral-mal “sacred pool”)
  • Torward (< Hick tor-ward “peak-ward”)
• Notable features:
  • Ancient Hick astronomical sites
  • Sacred pools
  • Traditional forestlands

The Rannek March

• Capital: Rannekford
• Major settlements:
  • Malterdale (< Hick mal-ter “pool-flow”)
  • Graldene (< Hick gral-den “earth-valley”)
  • Westbram (< Hick west-bram “west-tide”)
• Notable features:
  • Limestone river valleys
  • Traditional water management systems
  • Ancient Hick agricultural terraces

Northern Provinces (Iutlandish influence)

Skelmark County

• Capital: Skelwick (< Iut. skip-vik “ship bay”)
• Major settlements:
  • Torholm (< Hick tor + Iut. holm “peak island”)
  • Havenbeck (< Iut. haven-bek “harbor stream”)
  • Northdal (< Iut. nord-dal “north valley”)
• Notable features:
  • Major shipyards
  • Trading ports
  • Mixed Hick-Iutlandish culture

The Storskey Riding

• Capital: Storwick
• Major settlements:
  • Langdale (< Iut. lang-dal “long valley”)
  • Hegfell (< Iut. høg-fell “high mountain”)
  • Vikness (< Iut. vik-nes “bay point”)
• Notable features:
  • Timber reserves
  • Fishing ports
  • Ancient signal towers

Eastern Provinces (Kalassarian dominance)

The Inespell Marches

• Capital: Surrey-on-the-Brams

  • Originally “Surrata-in-Bramaes” in Kalassarian records
  • Deliberately “Senerized” during military reorganization (c. 500 AI)
  • Combines Kalassarian element (Surrey < Surrata) with Hick hydronym (Brams < bram-aes)
  • Pattern adopted as standard for other strategic locations

• Major settlements:

  • Port Surrey-on-the-Brams (naval headquarters)
  • Bramsgate (former Portbury, renamed in same directive)
  • Eastonton (maintains Kalassarian -ton suffix)

• Notable features:

  • Island fortress complex
  • Primary naval base
  • Administrative center
  • Strategic harbor facilities

Mt. Torters

• Capital: Tortersburgh

Central Provinces (Mixed influence)

The Ranterg Heights

• Capital: Thrantorbury
• Major settlements:
  • Peakford (hybrid Hick-Kalassarian)
  • Highbury (< Kal. high-burrium)
  • Torgate (< Hick tor + Kal. gate)
• Notable features:
  • Mountain passes
  • Sacred sites
  • Forest preserves

The Kethren March

• Capital: Kethbury
• Major settlements:
  • Watchton (< Hick keth + Kal. tonum)
  • Signalgate (hybrid name)
  • Hillbury (< Kal. hill-burrium)
• Notable features:
  • Coastal watchtowers
  • Signal stations
  • Maritime defenses