Valtmoor Nobles all hail from a house full of politicking siblings and courtly intrigue. The following list is but a sample of the influential families in the Kingdom of Valtmoor, and each share physical and behavioral traits (like any family) that all descendents carry on. This can vary from person to person, of course, and inter-family rivalries and outright sabotage are not uncommon.
Are all Noble Families equally as powerful?
There are two types of Noble families: Minor and Major. To make things easy, anyone with the Lifestyle Edge (Basic) can choose to be part of a Minor noble family., Anyone with the Lifestyle Edge (Advanced) can choose to be part of a Minor OR Major family. If none of these families suit your character, feel free to get together with your GM and design your own. Any newly established noble families are automatically considered Minor Nobility, no matter your level in the Lifestyle Edge (What, you thought a brand spanking new noble family could just pop into existence and start calling shots?).
What about Knights? Knights are cool!
Knights hold a strange place in Valtmoor society. A Knight is referred to as Sir (Male) or Dame (Female), and holds higher social ranking than a peasant, but is socially beneath the Nobility or Clergy. Those who commit martial services and shed blood for a noble family are often rewarded with the title of Knight, and act as favored agents and bodyguards for their betters. Some nobles choose to take up the call of the Knight and accept a reduction in social status as a result, but a Noble Knight is still socially superior to a non-noble Knight.
What if a Noble wants to join the Clergy?
Sometimes, Nobles answer the holy calling of the Church and enter it formally. In order to do this, a Noble must be unmarried and childless, and vow to uphold these limitations for their entire life, dedicating their entire being to the Church of Valtus and their higher calling. Doing this does not grant much change in status, as Clergy and Nobleman alike are both rivals in social standing, but a sanctified Noble is expected to leave all their family duties and grudges behind when they are born anew into the Clergy. That being said, all benefits of being a Noble are magically undone and the newfound agent of the Church attains the Birthrights of the Clergy. This might not seem feasible, but the Gods work in mysterious ways. Praise Valtus!
Are all members of a Noble House Valtborn?
Yes and no. All blood-relatives of the family are, of course, Valtborn. They are expected to marry other noble Valtborn and make lots of pretty, shiny Noble babies to continue the line. This does not mean that the noble families do not employ agents from other species, mind you! In fact, many of the most influential members (by oath of fealty instead of birth, mind you) of some of the Noble Houses are not Valtborn at all! For instance, the King and Queen’s royal advisor and Court Wizard is the mad Trolloch visionary Radimir Zetchkovy. Many Knights of the Noble Houses are of non-Valtborn origin, as well, a trend that is escalating as the cultures of the world intermingle more and more. Each of the noble Houses (except those awful Tarringdons!) makes use of non-Valtborn who are valued and oathsworn agents, but a blood-relative will always be seen as of higher station than a non-Valtborn. It is what it is.
Can a Serf family ever attain Nobility?
Yes, but it is INCREDIBLY difficult. A fine example of this is the famed House Nentallow, who were once a Serf bloodline that were granted nobility after doing VERY MUCH dirty work for several of the other Houses of Bravehold. The Nentallow bloodline has recently amassed so many favors amidst their peers that they have become invaluable to the running of the kingdom of Valtmoor, and their story inspires other Serfs that elevation in station is possible. These dreamers often forget that the rise of the Nentallow family took about a DOZEN generations to cement itself, and countless dirty deeds. If a Serf bloodline IS elevated to Noble status, they can intend to stay a Minor Noble House for quite a few generations. The Nentallows are literally the only example of a Serf family that pulled itself up by its own bootstraps and rose from lowly Serf to Major Noble House. Even still, many view the Nentallows as a necessary vulgarity in court, not really considering them TRUE nobles.
Family Motto: “Aspire. Inspire. Improve.”
Family Crest: A Blue owl with a Purple rose in its beak
Family Colors: Blue and Purple
The Faldains are renowned for their kindness and utopian ideals. They love beauty and music and aspire to embody the finest qualities of the highborn. They believe in fairness and ruling with a just hand. They realize that their elevated position comes with a great amount of power, which also entails quite a hefty batch of responsibilities. Others say that the Faldain’s are lofty dreamers that border on naive, and they aren’t far off the mark. That being said, the Faldains are honest and trustworthy, and are the most popular Noble family among the peasantry. The current King of Valtmoor hails from this Bloodline.
Birthright (Inspired Soul): The Faldains are social creatures and are incredibly personable. They are staunch fans of the arts and music, and begin play with the Persuasion and Entertain skills at Novice at character creation.
Family Motto: “Unbowed before the onslaught.”
Family Crest: A Red tower beneath a gray cloud standing firm against a lightning strike
Family Colors: Red and Gray
Endurance is the simple key to life to the Proudhelm family. Life is filled with trials and tribulations, noble or commoner alike, and at the end of the day, only the most solid of structures can stand against the ravages of fortune. As such, the Proudhelm espouse stamina and endurance both physically and mentally. The Proudhelm are fascinated (some would say obsessed) with calamity and defending against the random perils of life, and many are architects or warriors that specialize in defensive tactics and siege weapons. Others often view the Proudhelm family as doomsday prepper paranoids…until something goes wrong, that is. The Proudhelm family is exquisitely wealthy, but you would not know it from looking at them. Their wealth is poured exclusively into warfare and defenses, favoring practical quality over ostentatious gaudiness. “Sturdy beats purdy” could very well be their house motto.
Birthright (Militaristic Tradition): The pragmatic Proudhelm are enrolled in military academy at a very young age, spending their life learning about tactics and massive siege weapons. Members of this House begin play with the Melee and Technology skills at Novice rank for free at character creation.
Family Motto: “Creation between our claws,”
Family Crest: A Three headed Hydra attacking itself
Family Colors: Green and Orange
Universally reviled and mistrusted, the Tarringdons are a poisonous nest of vipers that obsess over power and influence in an endless game of acquisition. Nothing is never enough for this foul brood, and the entire family is composed of self-centered, arrogant and egotistical blights upon society. The Tarringdons treat peasants like absolute filth, and look upon their noble peers with suspicion and fear. This machiavellian nature is not reserved for outsiders, however, as the Tarringdons (luckily) hate each other just as much as everybody else. This intra-family warfare has hamstrung their ambitions as of late, but if House Tarringdon were ever to unite under one banner, the Kingdom of Valtmoor would surely tremble.
Birthright (Courtly Cunning): The Tarringdons are adept at favor currying and politicking, but their particular style of persuasion is more like veiled threats and expertly applied blackmail. They don’t care how an arrangement gets made, as long as they end up with the better deal of it. All Tarringdons begin play with the Persuasion skill at Novice for free at character creation. Tarringdons are also keen to all the dirty deeds people in court are up to due to their elaborate network of spies and informants. They often have dirt on a handful of useful pawns that they can extort into favors when the need arises.
Special: In case you have not noticed, the Tarringdons are gross, and unfit to be played in a normal game of FEUDALICIOUS!. There are no “Good” Tarringdons, and none would ever be allowed into the Order of the Stone Weasel due to their selfish natures. However, an evil Campaign where ALL the Player characters play Tarringdons or their agents (House of the Hydra, anyone?) would be wickedly good fun…just sayin’.
Family Motto: “From strife, opportunity.”
Family Crest: A White hand holding a blue skeleton key
Family Colors: White and Blue
Ironically, the house of the white hand is the one coated with the most grime and blood. The Nentallow brood are renowned for their willingness to do the dirty work that the other noble families turn their regal noses away from. Resourcefulness is the ultimate trait for this noble line, and they do not shy away from the harsh realities of rulership. To the Nentallow, you cannot make a kingdom without slitting a few throats, and they are always available to deliver the final blow…for a price, of course. Espionage, sabotage, assassinations and other such covert (but necessary!) activities are the stock and trade of these no-nonsense agents of the court. The Nentallow are not evil, per se, but they don’t mind getting their hands dirty and doing what needs to be done for power. Their stomachs are as strong as their morals are questionable, and this family has amassed sizable power by performing countless grim tasks for their more squeamish peers. Others might think of the Nentallow as little more than a blood-drenched criminal family, but never to their faces, of course!
Birthright (Questionable Upbringing): The Nentallow brood are instrumental in the smooth running of any Duchy. Hey, sometimes people need to disappear, bodies need to get buried, and hands need to be dirtied. When these moments arise, the Nentallow are always in waiting to benefit. All members of this family begin play with the Stealth and Thievery skills at Novice rank for free at character creation.
Family Motto: “Born anew in knowledge.”
Family Crest: A gold winged hourglass filled with purple sand
Family Colors: Gold and Purple
Famed scribes and academics, the Strivany bloodline suffers from an insatiable curiosity to understand all things. This often gets them in absolutely ridiculous trouble (like attempting to study the mating habits of deadly monsters), and family members always seem to be up to some new crazy experiment that leads to countless zany adventures. The Strivany bloodline has the wealth and influence to attain the rank of a Major House, but simply lack the ambition to do so. Courtly politics and machinations would only take away from their study, after all. Members of this house are often prized as tutors, scientists, and scholars. The current Pontriarch of the Church of Valtus hails from this erudite family, and they are quite proud of the fact.
Birthright (Total Nerd): From an early age, members of this family are enrolled in a litany of schools and courses to further their intellect and sharpen their mind. All members of this house begin play with the Bookmark Skill at Novice for free at character creation. Furthermore, the Strivany bloodline is renowned for their faultless memory, and a member of this House has complete recall of anything they have physically seen, heard, or read, and can recall such information at will, as well as perform complex mathematical equations instantly in their head with miraculous speed.
Family Motto: “Friends to the hunt are strangers to hunger.”
Family Crest: A Treant holding an arrow in its mouth and an apple in one branch
Family Colors: Green and Brown
Some of the best woodsmen, trackers, survivalists, animal trainers and hunters hail from this ruggedly self-sufficient bloodline, and the Revaris family are often found in the comforting confines of nature. These minor nobles rarely care for mortal influence, but are invaluable to the Kingdom when matters of survival or the wilds arise. The family has little in the way of holdings, but each settlement in Valtmoor prizes their attendance at court, often taking up places as royal huntsmen or tending to animals. Those of the Revaris family tend to stand out, with men and women alike wearing their hair long and unkept, and men favoring thick, bushy beards. Wearing furs and skins of prized kills is also popular among these rustic nobles. The Revaris family also has an affinity for Primordial Magic, and a great number of them practice it, specializing in Powers that commune with animals or nature. Others might see the Revaris as barely a step above a commoner, but they have a fierce demeanor that none can deny.
Birthright (Self-Sufficient): Give a Revaris a twig and a rock, and you’ll have a fully functional camp in ten minutes. All members of this Bloodline begin play with the Primal Skill for free at character creation. At Character creation a member of this family chooses a type of animal that they have an affinity with, gaining the ability to communicate with that animal at will. Insects, rats and other vermin are not available. Examples include: Dogs, Cats, Wolves, Snakes, Birds, Deer, horses, pigs, etc.
Family Motto: “Never adrift. Never undone.”
Family Crest: A skeletal fish with an anchor for a tail
Family Colors: Blue and Green
This noble family is most comfortable at the helm of a ship sailing across lashing waves, and the Lymonts are seafarers, fishermen, shipwrights and navigators without peer in the Kingdom. It was the Lymonts who famously made first contact with the aquatic Marinauts and opened lines of communication with them, and that is only their most recent claim to fame. The navy of Valtmoor is helmed by Lymonts, and these adventurous souls dream of crashing waves and salty air more than stuffy castles and political intrigue. Despite their status as a Minor family, the Lymonts are incredibly important to the kingdom of Valtmoor, especially now, when the Frost Goblin menace sails the seas in their famous longboats, looking for portside prey.
Birthright (Naval Tradition): As you might expect, the Lymonts are attuned to the water, and spend a great deal of their time at sea. You have access to a ship owned by your family when you need it. If you have the Lifestyle Edge at Advanced, you can even be the Captain of it! A member of this Bloodline can also hold their breath for their Vigor score x5 minutes. (Normally a person can hold their breath for 1 minute per point of Vigor they have if they are not a Marinaut).
Family Motto: “Family first.”
Family Crest: Two golden crowns with onyx gems interlocking
Family Colors: Gold and Black
The story of the Banderwaithe family is a true tragedy among the ruling class of Valtmoor. At one time, the Banderwaithes were the wealthiest, most influential family in all of Creation. Their obsession with purity and preservation of the royal bloodline eventually led to generations of intra-family marriage and inbreeding, which (as you might expect) doomed the descendents of the family with certain…eccentricities. Over time, their line became synonymous with crippling birth defects, and now is but a shadow of its former self. Once hailed as a mighty Major Noble House, the Banderwaithes have been reduced to Minor House status in recent years, and things do not seem to be improving in the future. Today, the Banderwaithes stand as a sobering reminder that even the mightiest of families cannot take their power for granted. Before their line degenerated to its current sad state, the Banderwaithe’s held a monopoly on the Silver Throne of Valtmoor for countless generations until crippling madness and ruinous debilities tarnished the entire bloodline.
Birthright (Idiot Savant): Every member of the Banderwaithe family has an intense, all-consuming focus that they dedicate the vast majority of their time and energy into. This is rarely in any useful subject, and may often seem strange and eccentric to others. It doesn’t take long to see that a member of this family is…well, a bit of an oddball, and they cannot hide their interest in their focus for long. Though, once in a while, their hyper-specialized and obsessive knowledge does tend to pay off in spectacular ways. Some sample obsessive focuses for Banderwaithe characters might be: Knowing all there is to know about one particular monster native to Valtmoor, keeping meticulous records on each and every customer who enters a particular tavern that you frequent, having an encyclopedic knowledge of the bra size of every female Knight in the Kingdom, or any other seemingly useless, time-consuming center of focus.
