The ruling seat of Glorethien is located in the city of Nydaria. A large sprawling city of approximately 40,000, Nydaria covers almost 37 square miles, through the city proper near the Castle only covers about 4 square miles. This is the commerce and social center of the city, an eternally active and bustling area. A monarchy, ruled by King Alberdan, Glorethien is a peaceful place, 50 years past the last war with their longtime enemy, the elven Danjani to the east. But rumbling among the nobles to start war again could shatter this pastoral air.
Elaine, only child and Head of House Madaari, was quite comfortable in her position as one of, if not the most, influental members of the Glorethien nobility, when her cousin Halrna arrived and told her of her birthright and Amber.
And Glorethien has not survived its connection to Amber unscathed. In an act related to the attempted assasination of King Random of Amber, the entire Royal Court of Glorethien was brutally murdered, leaving the realm in a precarious position, as King Alberdan had no heir. Moving quickly and decisively in the hours that followed the tragedy, Elaine gathered the Council and using her connections to their fullest advantage, took the throne.
She has also arranged a marraige for herself to William Laramar, one of the sons of a minor noble house, giving herself a temporary heir who can help manage the kingdom while she is otherwise occupied with the situation in Amber..
For Elaine had a higher goal. While it will be playing right into the plans her mother had for her, she will, as soon as Glorethien has settled, claim her birthright at the heir to the Danjani Empire, and bring the two kingdoms together, creating a continent spanning empire...
The nobility of the kingdom is comprised of 7 Major Houses, the heads of which make up the Council of Lords (a secondary ruling body), and 14 Minor Houses, whose heads comprise the Council of Houses (a traditional body that acts as representative for the Minor houses and 50 or so landed and landless nobles throughout Glorethien, but has no real power as does the Council of Lords).
The Council House, where meetings for both Councils are held, is in Nydiaria proper, only a few hundred yards from the Castle. And since both Councils meet on at least a monthly basis, the Nobility is a common site in the city.
Most of the holdings of the Major Houses lie within a 40 mile radius of
Nydiaria. Most of the seven live within the City proper, and
travel on a regular basis to their holdings. Only Madaari and Cigorwen,
whose holdings lie closest to the city, reside full-time on their lands.
House Madaari
Head of house: Jerorewin Olassa
Heir: none
House Cigorwen
Cigorwen is the oldest of Glorethien's noble houses. In fact, part of the
city proper of Nydiaria has grown around the holdings of House
Cigorwen. Cigorwen and Madaari have been longtime allies, and Elaine is
close friends with Erandel.
Head of House: Astay
House Legeania
Head of House: Erath
House Frayweth
Head of House: Afardo
House Haauviel
Head of House: Teilith
House Thenna
Head of House: Gadon
House Jerayn
Head of House: Fad
The Council of Lords in comprised of the heads of the seven Major Houses.
They are a policy-making board. Majority vote by the Council brings a
policy before the King for approval. They also act as a very influential
advisory board to the Crown.
The Council of Lords was formed from the original seven Houses that
fielded troops early in Glorethien's history. 940 years ago, Glorethien
was embroiled in a bloody civil war. The seven Houses above threw in
behind the Gwirewen, you0nger brother of the power-mad and mostly insane
King, and overthrew him.
The Minor Houses usually have small holdings throughout the city. Many of
them reside in City and rent out their lands to farmers.
The Minor Houses were originally lands and titles awarded to those who
fought on the side of Gwirewen in the civil war.
House Chaev - Frendaw
The Council of Houses is a traditional group composed of the Heads of the
fourteen Minor Houses. For all intents and puropses their role is
strictly as representatives for the 20 or so other landed nobles not among
the Minor Houses, and the non-landed nobles.
The non-landed nobles are composed of the more successful members of the
merchant class and the of some of the military.
And, with no direct power over the Crown, but with heavy
influence, are the ArchMagi, the Elder Mages that, for all intents and
purposes, control all magic and wizardry in the Kingdom.
There are five classes of magic in the world: necromancy, conjuring,
sorcery, wizardry, and elemental magic. Each class is organized into
Guilds, and the Guilds are ruled over by a Council composed of two senior
members of each Guild.
Contact between the Guilds is fairly common, though there is always some
friction over some philisophical point or another. While the general
public must pay for the services of a Guild mage, Guild mages are
obligated to freely assist when requested by another mage of any Guild.
Anyone with magical abilities is automatically a member of the Guild
corresponding to their talent, and subject to the rights and rules
thereof.
Necromancy: The smallest Guild, and most feared Guild. Their
studies into the magics of death and dying are whispered about in nervous
and hushed tones.
Conjuring: The ability to create objects and the like out of only
the magical energy around them makes the Conjurers a very popular Guild.
Sorcery: The abilities of these Mages to enspell and ensorcell
living creatures had gained them many friends and enemies, mage and
mundane alike.
Wizardry: The "show-offs" of the Magi, wizards are well-known for
their pyrotechnic displays of power.
Elementalists: The Elementalists control over nature and the
spirits that inhabit the elemental planes has created an air of mystery
and awe about them.
Danjani, a magic capable
elven-like race that holds lands bordering Glorethien, have been at odds
with Glorethien for generations, but with recent massive upheaval in their
political structure due to the death of their heirless Emperor, they have
been unusually quiet. No one knows if this is because they are planning
something, or because they are too caught up in their own internal
affairs.
Glorethien has fallen into a period of increasing unrest. The threat of
war with the Danjani, a magic capable elven-like race that holds lands
bordering Glorethien, has been in existance for generations, but with
recent massive upheaval in their political structure due to the death of
their heirless Emperor, many of the Minor Houses and three of the Major
Houses have been pressuring Alberdan to take advantage of the situation
and press the attack.
The ArchMagi have been unusally silent on the issue, which has only
increased the nervousness of the Minor Houses, and caused a possible
destructive rift among the Council of Houses, with Houses Haauviel, House
Thenna and House Jerayn for the war, House Madaari, House Cigorwen and
House Legeania against, and House Frayweth undecided.
And so stood matters for two years, as infighting among the Danjani
continued over succession.
Houses Haauviel, Thenna and Jerayn have been at odds with Madaari since
the fracture of the Council of Houses some seven years before, when
Madaari fought againt going to war, and brought Cigorwen and Legeania to
his side, and gave Frayweth enough to think about to keep him on the
fence. Led by Haauviel, the three houses have made apoint of making
Elaine's life as difficult as possible, hoping to pull one or more of
Madaari's allies to their side. So far they have been unsucessful.
The ArchMagi have had little to do with House Madaari since Andrys' death.
They have shown neither support or aversion to Elaine as head, and their
silence has been the one thing that has kept the Minor Houses from
deciding either way in regards to supporting Madaari. (The Minor Houses
(and some of the major Houses) hold the Magi in superstitious awe, and
while they never admit it, the decisions of the ArchMagi have heavy
influences upon their decisions).
And that is where things currently lie.
House Madaari is the second oldest noble House of Glorethien, which is why
it's holding are so near the city proper, only a few miles outside the
city outskirts. With Elaine's rise to the Crown, she has named her
distant cousin and former House Guard captain Jerorewin Olassa her
heir. With Elaine's coronation, Jero will become head of house, much
to his dismay.
Seneschal: Darven Ilari
Heir: Erandel
Heir: Griec
Heir: Gwahan
Heir: Beradon
Heir: Haeldan
Heir: Calimas
House Kailif - Ibaot
House Laramar - Edaom
House Maowyn - Ethae
House Gomond - Rhilaf
House Severabard - Glaudon
House Teamar - Dwerimond
House Erilader - Sef
House Umigowin - Lunnon
House Afalennor - Dwy
House Kedelajan - Pelarid
House Nayand - Feannor
House Mirerramar - Yearid
House Prelabwyn - Jeraref
The ArchMagi
The Danjani
Current Events