As promised.
I am only happy with the names of the Dwarven Houses of Gentry. I have placeholders for the Half-Giant and Human Houses of Gentry (adjectives transliterated from Vietnamese and randomized Edo period surnames respectively) but am unsure of what to replace them with. There are some Houses that could do with a bit more elaboration but that will come.
Polygamy is the Nibenese cultural standard per canon and as the whole of the Templarate are Gallard’s wives; they serve as political connections for not only their parents and siblings but their other husbands as well. The Templarate is one large web of property rights connections between Gallard and largely the Houses of Gentry with a fair amount of representation from Freemen families (there are enough to encourage the Freemen families to continue to present their daughters).
The Houses of Gentry are those who manage the lands of Nibenay for Gallard. They are allowed to claim ownership of the profits derived so long as they meet their Land Tax obligations in a timely manner. There are different benefits to owning different types of land in Nibenay. Logging Camps and Mines provide materials to sell or use and currency to hoard or purchase materials with. Owning a farm will entitle the owner to a seasonal subsidy in exchange for their 60% Land Tax obligations and a Burden Waiver. Entities that own multiple farms will receive multiple Burden Waivers that can be distributed as they see fit.
Burden Waivers are non-transferrable (once assigned), seasonal assignments doled out by a designated Head of House for the owning entity. They allow the Bearer to pass Nibenese Tolls equal to their gate value without paying and grant them access to the Waiver Market Auction Floor.
The Nibenese Houses of Gentry (listed by number of Farms managed):
–Copper Tier–
House Naamek owns 227 Farms (200 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains & 27 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & 2 Mines in the Nibenese Windbreaks. Devout, focused agricultural aristocrats. Naamek daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Earth specifically). Naamek sons will likely join the church with great devotion to Earth. Naamek is not an aggressive House but dutiful in pursuit of their civic responsibilities. They have accumulated the largest collection of seasonal Burden Waivers having a near singular focus on agricultural development. They are staunch supporters of the Nibenese State and their contributions are well rewarded by Gallard.
House Arai owns 113 Farms (110 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 3 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. They are the descendants of an esteemed general that served Gallard during the Cleansing Wars. Arai daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Order specifically). Arai sons will likely join the Nibenese Volunteers or perform freelance mercenary work for Shom. As a family, they have long sought to prove their continued relevance in the face of Dwarven and Half-Giant competition.
–Ceramic Tier–
House Yêu owns 79 Farms (73 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 6 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts), a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest & a Mine in the Nibenese Windbreaks. They are direct matrilinear descendants of the very first Half-Giants (at least by this perspective). Decadent old money, they’re examples of all that is wrong with unchecked excess. They’re not especially helpful but neither do they actively get in the way. They appear to be permanently fixed in their position for their initial contributions to the long-term successes of Gallard (the seed population of Half-Giants). The original Yêu matriarch forbade her daughters from joining the Templarate and most still abide by this though it has become traditional that Yêu daughters born during a year of Slumber will be State educated and offered for courtship (Yêu daughters have never not been courted by Gallard). Yêu sons are feckless dandies, raised in opulence and given to hedonism and sloth.
House Ujie owns 70 Farms (67 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 3 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Mine in the Nibenese Windbreaks. They are also the descendants of an esteemed general that served Gallard during the Cleansing Wars. Ujie daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Water specifically). Ujie sons will likely be educated by the Ancestor Temple or the School of Augurs. There are acclaimed combatants among them who draw added crowds when they compete in the Gladiatorial Coliseum.
House Khemek owns 55 Farms (51 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 4 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & 2 Mines in the Nibenese Windbreaks. They’re ancient nobility with peerless metallurgical knowledge. Khemek daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Water specifically). Khemek sons will likely sell their expertise on the open market, finding steady income wherever metal is used. They don’t shy from combat when necessary but will generally not seek it out.
House Kamei owns 50 Farms (39 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 11 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Mine in the Nibenese Windbreaks. Yet another brood of descendants memorializing a favored general of the Cleansing Wars. Kamei daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Air specifically). Kamei sons will likely join the Ancestor Temple or the Nibenese Volunteers. House Kamei has made a number of significant contributions in the past several years.
–Bit Tier–
House Kynang owns 44 Farms (41 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 3 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & 2 Logging Camps in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. They are Freemen Half-Giants elevated to the Gentry more than 1200 years ago after a number of decades of consistent performances in the School of Augurs. Kynang daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Order specifically). Kynang sons are heavily involved with the Mercantile districts though many have also gone on to become Teachers in the School of Augurs. House Kynang is ambitious but not to a detrimental extent.
House Caesek owns 36 Farms (28 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 8 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts), a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest & 4 Mines in the Nibenese Windbreaks. Devout, focused stonemason aristocrats. Caesek daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Earth specifically). Caesek sons will likely sell their expertise on the open market, finding steady income wherever stonework is needed. There are numerous military engineers among them along with a few Road Maintenance Cooperatives.
House Nijo owns 35 Farms (25 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 10 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. Yet another brood of descendants memorializing a favored general of the Cleansing Wars. Nijo daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Air specifically). Nijo sons are nearly evenly divided among the Ancestor Temple, Nibenese Volunteers and the School of Augurs.
House Ando owns 23 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 13 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. They are one more in the string of families memorializing a cherished bastard of the Cleansing Wars. Ando daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Fire specifically). Ando sons will involve themselves in mercantile pursuits most likely with a smaller number choosing to join the Nibenese Volunteers.
House Takeya owns 23 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 13 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. As with nearly all of the human Houses of Gentry, Takeya memorializes a Cleansing War general who served Gallard. Takeya daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Order specifically). Takeya sons will likely join the Ancestor Temple or the School of Augurs. They’re not cowards but they actively pursue positions of social importance more so than those of military importance.
House Danh owns 21 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 11 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & 4 Logging Camps in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. Serf lumberjacks, elevated just under 400 years ago to ease tensions in the growing Nibenese Half-Giant population. They are simple, hardworking folk who have a disproportionate amount of wealth given their demeanors. Danh daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Water specifically). Danh sons are encouraged to keep to the old ways, though the youth are increasingly leaning into behaviors modeled by their Kynang neighbors.
House Mori owns 20 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 10 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. Cleansing War bastard memorial. Mori daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Air specifically). Mori sons are encouraged to join the Nibenese Volunteers or the School of Augurs.
House Tanbao owns 19 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 9 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. Slave-soldiers, elevated just under 400 years ago to ease tensions in the growing Nibenese Half-Giant population. They are cruel adherents of a strict code of honor who maintain an active stance within the Nibenese Volunteers (some would say that they are the backbone of the Volunteers). Tanbao daughters must be State educated and courted for the Templarate (Temple of Fire specifically), otherwise keeping a leash on the sons is exceedingly resource intensive.
House Kuki owns 18 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 8 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Mine in the Nibenese Windbreaks. Cleansing War bastard memorial. Kuki daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Air specifically). Kuki sons will be encouraged to mercantile endeavors, though some choose the Ancestor Temple.
House Gaanhaur owns 17 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 7 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts), a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest & 2 Mines in the Nibenese Windbreaks. Ancient proletariat weaponsmiths, they were made into Gentry when they accepted peace with Gallard and settled in Nibenay. Gaanhaur daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Fire specifically). Gaanhaur sons will make bank selling weapons made from the various materials they’ve access to. They’re dutiful and focused on the pursuit of their ancestral crafts.
House Nagao owns 17 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 7 Farms in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. Cleansing War bastard memorial. Nagao daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Air specifically). Nagao sons are closely involved with the Gladiatorial Coliseum, owning a significant portion of the Training Stables.
House Taanhaur owns 15 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 5 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts), a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest & 2 Mines in the Nibenese Windbreaks. Ancient proletariat armorsmiths, they became Gentry when Gaanhaur did. Taanhaur daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Fire specifically). Taanhaur sons will only work for the Templarate as a matter of House honor. The products they create will go to the Templarate, who will sell any surpluses on the Waiver Market.
House Gosankyo owns 15 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 5 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Mine in the Nibenese Windbreaks. Cleansing War bastard memorial. Gosankyo daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Fire specifically). Gosankyo sons are a common sight in the Mercantile districts and the Gladiatorial Coliseum being avid patrons. They don’t participate personally, but are vociferous proponents of their combatant property.
House Nasu owns 14 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 4 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. They are the descendants of the original ruling family of Nibenay (not that they actively remember this). Nasu daughters are found in every division of the Templarate, but are given exclusively urban assignments. Nasu sons are heavily involved with the Plain of Burning Waters; they’re the ancestral custodians of the Waters. They continue to fulfill these duties and are guaranteed a House in Nibenay.
House Chuyen owns 14 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 4 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. Freeman artisans, elevated just under 400 years ago. They are sculptors of clay, stone and wood who have eyes for precision and beauty. They’ve had a hand in decorating Nibenay since before their elevation to Gentry. Chuyen daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Air specifically). Chuyen sons rub elbows with their Kynang neighbors and continue to invest in the beautification of Nibenese architecture and landscape.
House Doi owns 13 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 3 Farms in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & a Logging Camp in the Nibenese Crescent Forest. They are descended from the merchant house that was in residence here in Nibenay when Gallard settled here. House Doi already had several structures in the vicinity of what became urban Nibenay. These structures were grandfathered into Nibenese building codes. Doi daughters are found in every division of the Templarate, but are given exclusively urban assignments. Doi no longer owns as much of the urban area as they once did but they do administer it for the Templarate. Doi sons will find themselves involved in something that doesn’t require leaving Nibenay.
House Danhek owns 11 Farms (10 in the Nibenese Scrub Plains, 1 in the Nibenese Verdant Belts) & 4 Mines in the Nibenese Windbreaks. Skilled, focused miner aristocrats. Danhek daughters will be State educated and likely courted for the Templarate (Temple of Earth specifically). Danhek sons will likely join the Nibenese Volunteers. Especially recently, there’s been a literally unspeakable scandal within the past 30 years. The Dwarven Houses of Gentry have collectively paid School of Augurs for the precise knowledge of the event to be annulled without erasing the memory of the shame. Danhek may keep their Burden Waivers and 10% of their income, the remainder being divided in equal shares to the other Dwarven Houses of Gentry to repay the debt of their shame.
I need to further develop their precise holdings but I want to get all of the landowners sorted before detailing the farms of each House (I already have the mines detailed). I plan on stepping through the Merchant class next. I imagine them as being the Nibenese Freemen allowed to incorporate under the sponsorship of House Shom (remembering that members of the Dynastic Merchant Houses aren’t citizens of any City-State). Shom is, in effect, the bronze age mega-corp that takes a cut of Nibenese local business as well as facilitating commerce with the rest of the Tablelands.