Great Houses of the Sancturi¶
"Dominate, Destroy, Devour." — motto of Great House Ocassus (S322)
Every citizen of the Sancturi Empire belongs to a house, "from great to tiny", and wears its sigil tattooed on the wrist (S323). Nine of them are the Great Houses: the houses that pay the most tax, that alone may lease land from the throne, and whose election tokens choose the Great Council and the Warlords of the Imperial Government. The lesser houses hold their land from the great ones as tenants and vassals, and every house, great or lesser, stands in one of the five Sancturi Political Parties.
How the houses work¶
"The great houses are determined based on the tax revenue collected by the empire from the house. A rising house may dethrone an existing house by generating more tax revenue. Inflated tax overpayment is not allowed (and is a capital crime)." Each great house is granted election tokens in proportion to its tax and names a High Prefect to administer its lands. "Only a great house may own (lease) land from the empire. All other houses lease the land in turn from the great houses." When a great house falls, its leases are redistributed by the throne: "the new house's leases become empire leases and to replace the land taken away from the other houses, leases are granted from the fallen house's territory" (S323). The standing of the nine is confirmed at each Great Election.
"Houses may split for various reasons, but the most common is over patronage (one part of a house are tenants to one great house, the others are tenants to a different house)" (S323). Several of the houses below began as such splinters, some "authorized", some in schism.
Honour is the houses' other currency. "Houses gain honor from colonies, financial success and expansion and military victory. Houses lose honor from losing battles, financial failures, failed colonies, etc. Positions in the clergy, military and politics are the most sought after by the noble houses." "Traditional alliances are forged through marriage and business partnerships" (S132). In the legions, "house military officers occupy the high command structure" (S314; see Sancturi Military), and "individual houses (at least the most powerful ones) have their own Runecasters" (S132). Many of the great houses hold "significant shares" in the Broken Sea Merchant Alliance, which is one reason the Imperium tolerates it (S317).
War between houses¶
At home the houses may not fight. On the frontier they may: "Conflict between houses is not managed on the frontier. Houses fight proxy wars using secret alliances with Riven kingdoms. There is also open conflict between openly hostile houses. Defeated enemy citizen leaders are often ritually sacrificed as part of these victory celebrations. Other citizens cannot be held and must be released" (S323). The earliest notes give the customs of such wars: the slaughter of citizens and faithful slaves is prohibited "(Outside ritual sacrifice)"; allying with apostates against the faithful "is blasphemy and treason against the gods"; "ritual sacrifice of the captured leaders is the traditional victory ceremony"; captured loyalists "are normally enslaved and ransomed back to the losing house", though "particularly hateful rivals may refuse to ransom loyalists back" (S132). The campaign planned "Rival Imperial Houses on the frontier. Vesulias & ??" as an arc (S133), and an innkeeper's courier carries "a rune-sealed message" that "only a runecaster from House Vesulias will be able to open", with "directions to hire riven mercenaries to act as bandits and attack a rival house's village" (S145).
The Nine Great Houses¶
| House | Party | Symbol | Motto | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arvumas | Imperialists | four-pointed light amber grain on sky blue | Sow and Reap | 3 High Councillors |
| Ocassus | Imperialists | black spiked crown over a red half circle on orange | Dominate, Destroy, Devour | 2 High Councillors |
| Devjardin | Imperialists | silver crescent moon and five silver stars on dark blue | Honor, Blood and Fortune | 2 High Councillors |
| Vinceric | Crimson Beacon | three white interlocking circles on solid red | Sacrifice, Glory and Strength | High Warlord, 1 High Councillor |
| Novall | Crimson Beacon | deep red sickle on light greenish-yellow | Blood and Earth | Nightshade Warlord, 2 High Councillors |
| Vesulias | Righteous Might | three intertwined black arcs on silver | Truth in Death | Obsidian Warlord, 2 High Councillors |
| Sidcarnon | Righteous Might | three white diamonds on light blue | Explore, Expand, Expropriate | 2 High Councillors |
| Barahd | Prosperity | golden tree on deep green | Patience, Power and Predominance | Griffon Warlord, 1 High Councillor |
| Thanaxa | Crusade | golden ring circled by a dozen small silver rings on black | Break, Build, Prevail | 2 High Councillors |
Three of the original great houses are still in power: Arvumas, Ocassus and Barahd (S322).
Great House Arvumas¶
"Arvumas is one of the few remaining original great houses. It is well known for agriculture and produces more food than all of the other houses combined. It has had a stranglehold for generations on some of the most secure and well developed farmland in the Imperium." Its wealth in land makes it "quite risk averse compared to most houses, making sure lands are only passed on to worthy and honorable members. When the house does involve itself in intrigues, it will be by lower standing house members which will not put its lands at risk" (S322).
Arvumas "has a bitter feud with House Vinceric", the result of "its famous embargo on Vinceric armies some 40 years ago which left their armies to die of starvation and rout to Riven forces" (S322). Its unofficial motto is "You can't eat gold." It holds three seats on the Great Council (Budget and Infrastructure; Labor and Religious; Trade and Infrastructure). Falko Horst, prefect of the Horst Prefecture, is the political notes' example of an Arvumas prefect (S323; see Minor Figures of the Sancturi Imperium).
Great House Ocassus¶
"Ocassus is one of the other 3 original houses still in power. They control a major share of the slave trade within the empire and orchestrate raids on Riven settlements to gather more. It is widely rumored by their rivals that they make deals with Oesterkull Raiders for slaves, which are unproven of course" (S322). Oesterkull raiders do sell their captives to Sancturi slavers, "though this is technically illegal in the Imperium" (S317; see Oesterkull). The spiked crown on its shield represents dominion. Ocassus holds two High Councillors (Defense and Honor; Trade and Infrastructure), and the lesser houses of Thorel, Restault and Manweil are its vassals or splinters.
Great House Devjardin¶
"Devjardin is an old and well-rounded house with significant military, legal and financial assets. Devjardin banks and arbitrators are scattered across the Imperium" (S322). It holds two High Councillors, both on the Judicial Council (Budget and Judicial; Labor and Judicial), and House Restault is among its vassals.
Great House Vinceric¶
"Vinceric has a reputation for brutality and solving problems with violence. They are an old house, but not one of the originals. Their members almost always come from a military background. They have a bitter hatred for House Arvumas and are feared by many" (S322). The three interlocking circles on its shield represent its motto; its unofficial motto is "Victory or Death."
"About 40 years ago, a House Unchera (an ally of Arvumas), was outmaneuvered and destroyed by Vinceric with most of its members ending up killed or as slaves. Arvumas retaliated by cutting off all food supplies to Vinceric's armies, leaving them starving and disrupting several of their campaigns. It was at this point that Vinceric made an alliance with Novall, which helped elevate that house's status" (S322).
Vinceric holds the High Warlord, and with him the Golden and Darkwater Legions, and one High Councillor (War and Budget) (S322, S314). House Thorel was formed by its defectors. The convicted runeblade Kaito Tadaheik, "once a member of House Vinceris and a First Sword in the 6th Strike of the Obsidian Legion", came from the house (S138).
Also called: House Vinceris (S138).
Great House Novall¶
"Novall is a recently elevated house. They have been bolstered significantly by their alliance with Vinceric. They focus primarily on agriculture, trade and manufacturing with iron and wood. They have been working fervently to build up their military strength, but still rely on a lot of mercenaries for their campaigns" (S322). Novall holds the Nightshade Warlord and two High Councillors (Defense and Honor; War and Defense), and the lesser house of Bellamare is its vassal and Vinceric's.
Great House Vesulias¶
"An old house, well known for their runebinders and extensive use of undead minions as laborers and warriors. They revere Namaka as their patron goddess" (S322). Its three black arcs represent "the 3 estates of Spirit, Body and Mind". Its motto is "Truth in Death", its unofficial one "All will serve us, in either this life or the next."
Vesulias holds the Obsidian Warlord, whose legion "is well known for its widespread use of Runebinders and undead battalions" (S314; see Namakan Runecasting), and two High Councillors (Judicial and Religious; War and Hollow) (S322). Its runecasters can seal messages that no one else can open (S145), and it was the campaign's first choice of a house feuding on the frontier (S133).
Great House Sidcarnon¶
"The Sidcarnons are a relatively new great house (less than 50 years old). They were a splinter group from Vesulias which was more focused on shipping, trade, the navy and the frontier. It was an amicable split and they have been close allies ever since" (S322). It holds two High Councillors (Trade and Religious; Budget and Honor).
At the Imperium's end, one of the two High Precepts who led the Unholy Flight from fallen Sanctorum in 904 SM came from "the Houses of Sidcarnon & Barahd"; both were later executed "for their sins (of blasphemy and desertion)", and "their corpses (skeletons) remain on display in the Divine Temple" (S078; see The Divine Alliance).
Great House Barahd¶
"One of the three original great houses still in power. Barahd is an exceptionally wealthy house, but tends to avoid displays of being so" (S322). It holds the Griffon Warlord and one High Councillor (War and Infrastructure). With Sidcarnon it gave one of the two High Precepts of the Unholy Flight (S078).
Also called: House of Barahd.
Great House Thanaxa¶
"This house was born of a house specialized in the slave trade. They have expanded significantly since then into mercantile and manufacturing. They are well known for their quality slaves, for whom they provide extensive training. They have several slave armies, which they lease out as mercenaries to other houses. They are also well-known for beer, ale, textiles and builders" (S322). It holds two High Councillors, both on the Hollow Council (Hollow and Trade; Hollow and War), and leads the Crusade.
The lesser houses¶
The lesser houses are listed by party, and many of them are recorded by name alone (S322).
House Ulchera¶
"(Defunct) A once great house, many of their former members are now slaves (due to machinations by House Vinceric). The remaining members have been legally absorbed into House Arvumas, although you will still hear some members refer to themselves as members of this house. It's symbol was a mauve background with a single silver ring" (S322). Its destruction about forty years before the campaign began the Vinceric and Arvumas feud.
Also called: House Unchera.
House Thorel¶
"This house was formed from defectors from Vinceric due to a schism. They have struggled to prove their loyalty to the party due to their generally militant views and focus, but have made some progress. They are primarily vassals to Ocassus." Its symbol is "a burgundy background with crossed sword and axe" (S322). Imperialist.
House Restault¶
"Formed by an authorized splinter from Ocassus", Restault is a vassal of Ocassus and Devjardin. "It was founded by Runecasters and they run a well known set of Seminary and Runecasting Schools across the Imperium." Its symbol is "navy blue with a silver domination rune" (S322; see Rune Magic). Imperialist.
House Bellamare¶
"An old lesser house. They have mostly been content to stay out of the spotlight and their ambitions for power have been to drive things behind the scenes. They are known for their orchards, wine, tailors, runecasters and association with the clergy." A vassal of Vinceric and Novall, its symbol is "a dark green background with a golden runic sigil on it (The rune depicted is a protection rune)". It holds one High Councillor (Religious and Hollow) (S322). Crimson Beacon.
House Manweil¶
"An old splinter of Ocassus made up of a militant subfaction", whose symbol is "a Brown background with an red chevron pointed up". It holds one High Councillor (Honor and Judicial), and sits with the Crimson Beacon rather than with Ocassus's Imperialists (S322).
House Boivin¶
"An small, relatively new lesser house (less than 100 years old), known for its traders and banking." Its symbol is a crimson trident on olive (S322). Crimson Beacon.
House Osmont¶
One High Councillor (Judicial and Labor) (S322). Righteous Might.
House Illyri¶
One High Councillor (Religious and Defense) (S322). Righteous Might.
House Hanivel¶
Named under Righteous Might, with nothing more recorded (S322).
House Bolli¶
Marked "Fallen", but holding one High Councillor (Budget and Labor) (S322). Prosperity.
House Aequina¶
One High Councillor (Defense and Honor) (S322). Prosperity.
House Cornely¶
One High Councillor (Labor and Trade) (S322). Prosperity.
House Wyvill¶
Named under Prosperity, with nothing more recorded (S322).
House Devere¶
One High Councillor (Infrastructure and Honor) (S322). Crusade.
Houses Malhorte, Gillain and Auvrey¶
Named under the Crusade, with nothing more recorded (S322).
Gap
No source gives the seat or lands of any house, the High Prefect of any great house, the number of citizens in any, or the patron great house of most of the lesser houses. The Sancturi lord Rakai Karanovic, a citizen with "a large estate" and tenant farmers, is given only as "House ??" (S138, S150).
In Play¶
The Sancturi campaign's "Rising in a Great House" arc, "High Politics. High Intrigue. Light Military", opened on an "opportunity to become members of a rising house" and was exclusive with the arc of uniting the Riven Kingdoms against the empire (S202). A house name is also a weapon of the street: an employer reneging on a fee says "I am a member of House X, how dare you commoners impune my honor" (S202). See the Sancturi Campaign chronicle.