SR Theme: Carnac Influential Houses

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Although Carnac has no nobility as such, it is home to anumber of wealthy and aristocratic families. Some of these have a heritage stretching back hundreds of years, others merely decades. In a city such as Carnac, where wealth and power matter more than titles and breeding, influential families can rise and fall in a but a few years. Most of the prominent names are Calderan in origin, befitting the original heritage of the city, but the number of Uruadum in wealthy circles are rising, especially among the merchant class. Here follows a listing of the more prominent of the Carnac Houses:

Dor'falaich
Silas
Hammersfell
MacRath

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McRath
This is one of the most ancient and prominent of the Houses of Carnac, and none is more famous. The MacRaths were once the rulers of a territory stretching from Carnac north to Tynwald, covering the great swath of land in between. They were the most powerful of the Calderan clans, and ruled with the City of Carnac as their base, which was the center of Calderan learning and military might. After the fall of the Calderan nation and the decline of the clans, the MacRath clan fragmented, and gradually the branch which remained in Carnac became estranged from the more rustic, traditional branch outside the city, which maintained large land holdings and a presence in the city of Gwaen Tynwald.

The Carnassian branch soon lost many of its distinctly Calderan traits. No longer rulers of the city, the MacRaths nevertheless have maintained their wealth and position, having for countless generations served as Lord Mayors, prominent governmental advisors and agents, and members of the City Council. Unlike many of the major houses in Carnac, they have not become men of trade and business, but function like aristocrats, living off their accumulated wealth and political power. They currently live in a variety of rich townhouses throughout the city. Their colors are Crimson, Sable, and Yellow.

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Dor'falaich

Originally from the lands of the MacRath clan in the south of Caldera. In ancient times, one of the most esteemed of the noble houses of Caldera, called Dor'falaich in their ancient tongue, in modern times rendered Mane of the Lion, or, by some, the Twisted Mane....become in the latter days a fierce clan of independent warriors, roving the lands. As the shadow of Uruadum rose over the lands, its chieftains in a bid for power pledged their fortunes to the armies of Raughir, and helped to spearhead the conquest of their own land. Grown rich from plunder, the lords of the Twisted Mane established themselves in a great estate, continuing their tradition of excellence in the military arts, and in particular preserving and mastering the ancient Calderan art of swordsmanship. After a time, the lord and his closest associates and family removed themselves from their hereditary lands, seeking greater power and influence, and established themselves in what was becoming known as the free city of Carnac, where it was known that those with great determination and few scruples could very quickly establish themselves in positions of influence.

Having these, and vast amounts of wealth to boot, it did not take long for the lords of the house to secure themselves comfortably in the city's power structure. At this time, too, they cast off the dark stain of their past, and voicing loyalty only to Carnac and its independence, seemed to have fully renounced the more sinister loyalties of their past, at least to all appearances. So they have continued to this day, as the latest heir, having left the city for many years, returned to claim his birthright as the ninth Lord of Dor'falaich.

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Silas

The House of Silas has been a part of Carnac from the inception. The family first relocated to the city as part of a merchant group which decided to settle in the Free City for two main reasons: peace and free trade. Those in the family of Silas have been most associated with two trades: soldiers of distinction and fair business. They were very cohesive and upon first moving here, they pooled resources to buy a grand and sprawling estate of which they could all live. The house had been there for a long time and was of elven architecture. There they lived and thrived for some time, focusing on business and city defense. In time as the family grew, they spread out and were too many even for the ancient family house. They lived in other homes and thrived with their own nuclear families in the Free City. In recent times, the family has come into great wealth and struck mercantile allegiances with foreign kingdoms.

The major resource of the family lies in the company called 'Alliance Holdings' which has everything from land charters for settlement, to mines, mercenaries, a woodcutters league, travelling trade caravans, and many other things. The House of Silas is well known throughout the city and is associatd with a longstanding tradition of businesslike neutrality. For this reason, many rumors abound as to their activities and actual allegiances. They are generally respected as many have recently been leaving their long traditions of being soldiers and turning to politics and administration.

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Hammersfell

The House of Hammersfell is quite an ancient one, and its origins are a matter of speculation to many even within the family, as the passage of time has obscured the truth to all but a very few. Some believe the House to have been founded by a long ago traveler from the west in Carnac's infancy...others that its origins lie in the the shadowy darkness of south Uruadum. And it is true that family members tend toward darkness of complexion, but this is true of many in Carnac. The family originally rose to prominence on the basis of their skill in the craft of smithing, and especially in the production of weapons of war; the word is that Hammersfell wares always go to the highest bidder, and there are many buyers.

More recently, the focus of family activities has shifted from the crafting of arms to their sale and distribution, and the weath generated by shrewd merchanting and business deals has enabled the family to become prominent in the field of politics as well. Many of the family leaders have served on the city councils, known for their strong voice in support of free trade measures, a strong city guard, and friendship towards Carnac's southern neighbor. Many of their rivals and enemies in the city like to make accusations concerning their origins, loyalties, and association with darker forces; a persistent rumor being that the family is engaged in the practice of black magic, and deals with agents of the Soulless One himself. No one has ever proved such accusations, however. The symbol of the House is a striking hammer over a forge.