Behind Artourious Bordevar’s rhetoric of honour, justice and strength is a feudal kingdom replete with the scheming and real politick that saw the dynasty of Bordevar fall in Drummond. This game of power is played by Noble Houses.
While in Drummond noble houses are strictly bloodlines, circumstances differ in Bordevar. A Bordevarian Noble House is a dynasty of individuals who adopt the colours, oaths, and name of the House. From this redoubt of power they are a force within Bordevarian politics, wealth and martial strength, their banner flying high over their achievements or resting over their corpses.
The core of a Noble House are its Peers, those heroes who have claimed the virtues of nobility and been recognised as Noble of the Realm. They are the true members of the House, the only ones permitted to use their houses name as their surname, wear the houses colours in full glory, with its sigil presented proudly. It is from their number that the Master of the House will be chosen and it is on them that the Houses achievements are reflected. Often a Noble House will have a handful of noble bloodlines running through it, the house providing training and sponsorship to see new generations of nobles raised under its sigil. Should a Noble House suffer the loss of all of its nobles, it is considered ‘fallen’, only to rise again if glory is found (See below for more information about Creating a Noble House / In Character).
Beyond the titular nobles, a noble house is supported by its Banner Knights, those commoner Knights who have sworn fealty to and spoken the words of the House. Bound to the service of the House, many Banner Knights are in the process of completing their noble virtues, while others see the true honour that service can provide. These powerful warriors often act as a Houses sworn protectors, military shock troops and tourney entrants alongside any Noble Knights and commoner veterans the house can gather. Banner Knights are permitted to wear the colours of the House and wear a silhouette of the house sigil (often in a simple colour). However, they do not take the House name, instead bearing the epithet ‘of’ (Ser Justin the Drake of House Adderwal for example). To be a Banner Knight is to be seen as living up to the true purpose of a knight, to the point where ‘Hedge Knights’ (those commoner knights without a House) are sometimes viewed with suspicion.
Finally, a Noble House is held aloft by its Household, the commonfolk who wear its colours. For commonfolk swearing fealty to a noble house has several benefits. The simplest is protection and independence. A commoner wearing the colours of a Noble House is in the service of that house as such they cannot be ordered about by nobles of other Houses and are due protection by the Knights and Nobles of their House. Beyond this, service often connects common folk to influential patrons to pursue their own virtue and valour’s, community within the household and legitimacy to grow their own wealth and skills.
Each Noble Household also lays claim to Lands, a territory that it controls and supports itself from. The entire Kingdom of Bordevar (save for its market towns) are divided in this manner, parcelling out the kingdom to the responsibility of one Noble House or another. These Houses are then expected to manage these lands well, producing prosperity for the realm, maintaining the presence of the Church and respecting the Oaken Accords. These lands also determine which Duchy a Noble House finds itself in, determining which Duke it then owes fealty to.
These three cohorts come together on the land to forge both an identity and a destiny. In such a cutthroat nation pushed to the edge of defeat, the colours of a noble house represent your chosen family, those that will stand beside and behind you against deceivers, monsters, and the storms of misfortune. All with the expectation that you will do what you can to raise the prominence and power of the House, never allowing it to fall into the mud.
Creating a Noble House
Out of Character
There are a great many things to consider when crafting a noble house, some more important than others, but all can be the starting point for inspiration.
At the core of a noble house is a pitch, a summary of the House that encapsulates what makes it different to other Houses. It could be something as simple as “A young Noble House from the border eager to prove itself” or as complex as “An old House shrouded in arcane and priestly mystery, our nobles bearing the title of Enchanter and known for meddling in powers beyond the pale.” Being able to summarise what makes your House unique can inform your other decisions while also making it easier to recruit others to your cause.
Your heraldry will be as important as your concept since it will inform your costuming decisions. There are plenty of guides on the internet about mediaeval heraldry and its varied meanings. These you can take as inspiration but you don’t need to follow them as firm rules. Your heraldry should be striking, clear and not overlap too much with other houses.
Importantly your heraldry should contain a sigil, particularly one that looks decent in silhouette (for your Banner Knights) and your heraldry should have a metallic trim. This metallic trim differentiates your noble house from any commoner band, independent noble or fallen house. Finally, all houses carry a motto or ‘House Words, a short phrase that summarises their temper and history. Generally six words or less. Examples include “Blood of Conquerors' ' (House Bordevar), “No mystery unknown' ' (House Gravemarked) and “Feel our Steel, Know our Truth' ' (House Draikos).
Your lands are another important decision, as it will determine which Duke your house owes fealty to and allows you to point to the map of The Concord and know where you are from. It is likely that your house controls a small keep or manor house and manages some of the surrounding lands, including perhaps a hamlet or two and industry. These are best represented in the personal investments of your House members. It is best if you don’t intend to clearly delineate the extent of your controlled lands on the map as these need to be carefully controlled by The Concord team. Better to describe your holdings rather than attempt to measure them.
Your House's traditions form the hidden inner workings of your people. What noble titles are common in the House? How do you select a new Master of the House? Who is the current Master? What meal do you meet for each day? Do you believe in the resurgence of the crown in Bordevar or are you pushing for more power to the Nobility? What is your hidden history and how does it differ from common rumour? What is your trial of peerage? These sorts of questions not only answer the day to day function of the House but also give it those complex secrets that make for a great Band.
You may submit your Noble House through the Player Group submission link found Here. You House may be both a Band and a Sect. A Noble House requires at least 3 members to be founded and at least one of them must be a noble.
In Character
If your Noble House is made entirely of new characters, it is assumed that you have emerged from the dozens of Noble Houses present in the Realm and have decided to make your mark on the world at the Summit and other goings on of The Concord. There is no need to do anything particular in Character, although it would be best to meet with your Duke at least.
If you are raising a new Noble House (or perhaps reviving a fallen one) using established characters, you will need to seek the approval of the Duke for the Duchy you mean to found within. It is traditional for the Duke to put forward a trial to be completed by the whole would-be House in this circumstance, to prove fealty and skill, known as a ‘Trial of Recognition’. These Trials are often short and celebratory, drawing attention to the new House within the Duchy. Perhaps involving retrieving a favour from each Master of the House in the Duchy already or something similar. Finally, the new House completes the Binding ceremony before the Church and swears an Oath of Fealty to their Duchy, binding them to the Spheres and the Crown.
Joining a Noble House
Joining a Noble House varies depending on the social status of the candidate.
For commonfolk the process is often proficiency based. A candidate makes their intent obvious to the Master of House. If the House is seeking to expand their Household then the candidate is assigned to a member of the Household with a similar focus. The candidate assists this member for a time (often a day or two). If they are found skilled and reasonable, then they may take an Oath of Fealty to the Master of the House and complete the binding ceremony before the Church.
For Knights the matter is based upon skill and loyalty, new knights are expected to be powerful fighters and to uphold the valours. A candidate will make their request to join to the Master of the House. When time permits, the Knight would be put through their paces by martial members of the House, or perhaps hired mercenaries if the House has no fighters. If their skill is sufficient, they would be questioned on their Valours, how they attained them and who their mentors were. If they are found acceptable, then they may say their Oath of Fealty to the Master of the House and complete the binding ceremony before the Church.
For Nobles, the process is far more personal. They are intending to become equal members of the Houses peerage, benefitting in both its riches and its failures, an equal voice within the small council. As such they are put through additional scrutiny. A candidate makes their request to the Master of the House, who will consider if their House is willing to expand. If they are, the candidate is put through a ‘Trial of Peerage’. The Trial of Peerage is a private and difficult trial, with the particulars traditional to each House. The intent is to reveal the loyalty, goals and mettle of the Candidate, to ensure that they will not only uphold the House but be willing to die for it. These trials are held away from prying eyes, often involving magic, interrogation, prayer and even violence. They often involve other members of the House, including the commonfolk and Banner Knights. The nature of a House’s Trial of Peerage is a closely guarded secret, and it is a great betrayal to reveal it to the wider world.
Finally, it is seen as a division of loyalty to have a married couple separated into different Noble Houses. As such those wishing to marry into a House must complete the joining process appropriate to their status. In the most extreme circumstances (where two Masters of The House marry) this can see the dissolution of two noble houses and the creation of a new powerful house or perhaps the absorption of one house into the other. Children of house members are assumed to become members of the Household by default, wearing the colours as their Commonfolk status prescribes.
Leadership in a Noble House
Unsurprisingly, Noble Houses are led by the Master of the House. Masters are a member of the House's Noble peerage chosen by the Households own traditions. Some elect from the peerage by vote, others by tournament and even more bizarre methods exist in the older Houses. Masters lead their Houses until they die or step down. Such a thing can be forced, although it is very rare.
Masters exist as the ultimate power within the House. Their word is law and their decision is final. They are an extension of the crown’s will and carry the weight of the Houses legacy on their shoulders, affording them a vast amount of respect and fealty within the Bordevarian social structure.
Masters will be advised by a small group, made up of the Peers of the House (although each House may have different traditions, allowing other voices) known as the ‘Small Council’ or ‘Masters Council’. These councillors help the Master make wise choices and ensure that they are aware of their goings on within the House.
Some Houses may also have other titles within it depending on their needs and traditions. Examples include:
- First Sword (The House's foremost warrior and protector of the Master of the House).
- Seneschal (The member responsible for maintaining the House’s treasury).
- Huntsmaster (The Houses leader of scouts and spies)
The traditional use of Master of the House as a part of a name would be [Noble Title or Ser (if a knight)] [Firstname] [Surname], Master of House [House Name].
Important Notes
Wearing Heraldry
Unlike other groups, a Noble Houses heraldry is a deliberate thing to wear rather than a colour scheme for an overall costume. The exact item of clothing that it is varies from person to person, House to House, but common examples are:
- Tabards and Livery
- Belt banners or sashes in circumstances where wearing full heraldry is not appropriate.
- Surcoats
- Small shields bearing the colours and sigil (if appropriate).
In general, your House's colours should be at the forefront of your kit and immediately recognisable. If you are permitted to wear the sigil in some form, you should be. Representing your House and championing it is the purpose of your Heraldry, not something to fight.