Kul'Tiras Nobility

The following Lore Clarification was written by Sage, for the purposes of clarifying the nobility and admiralty of Kul'tiras. Below are the Noble Houses, rankings, domains, and sub-groups for each house. These additions and clarifications are followed by lesser ranks.

## The Four Houses

### **House Proudmoore**

Lord-Admirals of Kul Tiras

Vassals: 0 / 12

Domain: Boralus, Proudmoore Keep

Sub-groups: Proudmoore Admirality, Proudmoore Guard

House Proudmoore has ruled Kul'Tiras for generations - and their most notable Lord has been Daelin Proudmoore. Ruling now in his stead is his wife Katherine Proudmoore. Katherine Proudmoore keeps a firm hand and the reins of the house are recently hers, but it is not quite the same.  The Proudmoores rule directly around Boralus - as they find their seat of power in Proudmoore Keep. There is a pall that hangs around House Proudmoore, notably when speaking of Jaina Proudmoore - who has not been seen in the years since her father was murdered. The now shrouded and quiet nation has looked to Katherine for leadership - who has insofar leaned towards Lady Priscilla Ashvane.

### House Stormsong

Sages of the Sea

Vassals: 0 / 8

Domain: Shrine of the Storm, Stormsong Valley

Sub-groups: The Tidesages, Storm's Wake
The House Stormsong has always been the mysterious house said to rule the seas for the nation - for it is their Shrine of the Storm that brings about the teachings of the Tidesages - who utilize the whispers beneathe the waves to guide the fleet. Lord Stormsong of the present has been quiet and has notably taken to his hermitage as of late. The Tidesages have been acting even more peculiar than they have been known for in the past - but the people of the sea have not minded this. Meanwhile, the Storm's Wake acts as the extended hand of the people - to defend the land. The House Stormsong has been eerily quiet - even more so compared to the elusive Tidesages - and whispers murmur among the land of a dark presence in the air.

### House Waycrest

The Guardians of Ember

Vassals: 0 / 8

Domain: Waycrest Manor, Drustvar

Subgroups: The Order of Embers
The House Waycrest has been described as the defenders of the darkened, ancient forests of the Drust in Drustvar. They were the leadership against the darkness of the Drust and became the stalwart keepers of the dark forests when they wrest them out of Drust's control. They were joined thereafter by the Order of Embers - who knew how best to fight witches and Drust alike. They have ruled Drustvar since the formation of the four houses - serving the interests of themselves and House Proudmoore.

### House Ashvane

The Shady Merchants

Vassals: 0 / 8

Domains: Tol Dagor [Prison]

Subgroups: The Ashvane Trading Company
In the realm of Kul'Tiras, House Ashvane is the house that controls the nation's wealth to some degree - especially through the Ashvane Trading Company. This, along with the Lady Ashvane having Katherine Proudmoore's ear, allows the House Ashvane to do as they please - including using the Tirasian prison of Tol Dagor for their enemies unknown to some. The men and women who work for Ashvane are thugs, brutes, and the like - but they keep themselves in line. For now. Currently, it seems that the House Ashvane holds the most sway - having Lady Proudmoore's ear and trust.

## Lesser Nobility

**Vassals**

The four main houses are the ones who control the nation. However, they are not the only ones who have some form of nobility. There are houses chosen by the Four - merchant families, naval families, and more. They are members of the nation raised to high esteem and given land - which is traditionally vassalage - meant to help them act as vassals and serve the nation. The most these lesser houses will hold sway over is their region - and only so far. There is respect and adoration - but they are in the shadows of their liege at the end of the day.

The roles vassals play are that of Trade Bosses, Company Owners, Bankers, and High-ranking Tirasian Naval Officers.

## Nobility and the Navy

While the navy of the nation is not what it once was - it is still manned by good men and women. Some of these men and women have risen to high stations - and been rewarded for their service. Kul'Tiras's minor nobility is far from being barred - in fact, some of the finest vassals have served as admirals and commodores to the fleets. They answered, at a time, to Daelin Proudmoore - whose mastery of the sea made the navy a force to be reckoned with. At this moment, what isn't lost at sea has been kept to home or used in minor endeavors.

## Noble Inheritance

* > The main four houses do not interfere - so long as it is not an inheritor who is a criminal to the nation or to their domains.
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* > Gender does not affect the inheritance. This is clear in the Houses Proudmoore, Waycrest, and Ashvane at the very least.
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* > Age of inheritance tends to be thirteen at minimum, but rare is it for a young lord to come about. Tirasians are stalwart people. The only case was in the aftermath of the Second War.
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* > Half-breed inheritors are a mixed bag. While half-elves have had no ill issue within Kul'Tiras's lands as of late, the rare half-orcs are an issue - due in part to the orc's heinous acts during the Second War. Nobility might scoff at a half-elf or make jabs but anything beyond that is left best behind closed doors. Thankfully, no known half-orc has dared cause an appearance or a stir among the lesser noble.
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## Miscellaneous Clarifications

* > Due to the current nature of Kul'Tiras's isolationist nature, Tirasian nobles only deal within their own lands. To look outward to former allies to considered foolish and childish. After all, Kul'Tiras believes the Alliance abandoned them - or so is propagandized by Lady Ashvane and those who follow her.
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* > All estates pale in comparison to the main holdings of the four houses. There is little room to expand one's estate due to the limited land owned by Kul'Tiras as it is an island nation. A vassal is actively discouraged from trying to expand their holdings. To do so might either endanger the Tirasian people or cause conflict.
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* > Just as easily as land and titles can be given, so too can they be taken. A rare few nobles even ended up in Tol Dagor for earning Lady Ashvane's ire.
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* > There is no way to go "up" as a Kul Tiras noble. They may earn prestige and recognition, but they will forever be vassals to the greater houses. Ambition for higher station and position is seen as wishing to usurp and thus treasonous.
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