Ducal Houses of Arcadia

The following are the 13 Ducal Houses that are *currently* in charge of the Legion of Arcadia. While each one has some strong point or place they invest heavily into, they all have large trading networks, production facilities, and contribute heavily to the military. There are many other major players in Arcadia, some independent of the Dukes and others under their thumb.

## House Lafayette

Lafayette controls space along a border with the New Empire. Alejandro Lafayette is the current duke of the house and rose through the military as a brilliant officer. House Lafayette is a staunch defender of Arcadia’s border and one of the most active supporters of the military. While they have a long and star-studded history of military officers they have also had a tendency to over-indulge in violence and have a very militant outlook on life. Baron DuBois and Baron Arma, two skilled Sword Barons, are the house’s greatest supporters.

The Duke has 2 sons: the recently disgraced Anderson Lafayette (who aligned himself with the Canary Terrorists) and Rafael Lafayette (formerly known as "Omen") has recently been recognized as the heir (despite being a bastard).

## House Trigger

Duke Barrel Trigger is the head of an ancient dukedom with a long history of prestige within Arcadia but it lacks the greater glory of recent victories. Still, the Barrel family’s lineage is beyond a doubt, though they have many grudges going back generations. They are most famous for financing game-changing military projects. Marquess Remington Trigger is the Duke's son. He conducted the trials of the Torus Challenger on Diana where he nearly died. They control Zama, an agricultural planet.

## House Hazzard

A house with a twin pair of dukes- Lawrence and Matthew who are in their early 30s. House Hazzard gained power through entertainment. Originally the family managed stunts, as the operation grew the house expanded into more entertainment mediums. Now the house deals with distribution and copyright. They seem to have a connection to Mama on Cosmic Castaway.

## House Valerio

They are the Ducal house that has been appointed as having authority over matters relating to Fermolia, though they mostly rubber stamp stuff. Dutchess Calavia Valerio is the current head of the family and is known for both her patronage of the arts and her skill at arms. They value personal honor over everything else and are not above resorting to duels to resolve things. They are also noted for their heavy investment in science and technology.

## House Washington

The Ducal lands of House Washington, ruled with an iron fist by Dutchess Yolandi Washington, is sometimes called the “Breadbasket of the Legion” and their crest reads “*An Army Marches On Its Stomach”* in Latin. They rose to power as industrialists but their military might is still one of the most respectable in Arcadia. They control many lucrative trading contracts and are known to strongarm competitors into dropping out of markets.

## House Lost Moon

The Duke of House Lost Moon is a mysterious figure who dresses in an iron mask. Few know the true inner workings of Lost Moon but they have a strong connection to the Arcadian Newtype Cult. They have sporadic holdings but seemingly infinite wealth and influence behind the scenes.

## House Yoshifumi

An industrious house with a history older that goes back before even the founding of Arcadia. They once ruled a small series of worlds called the “Yoshifumi Domain”. House Yoshifumi relies on these core worlds for their support and always acts with a degree of autonomy & independence that other houses lack. The saying goes “Houses come and houses go but Yoshifumi remains”. While they are one of the less powerful dukedoms, House Yoshifumi’s long history, loyal retainers, and deep pockets keep it afloat.

## House Jian

One of the founding houses of the Legion was House Jian. Currently ruled by Duke Xiong Jian, they are a steadfast and loyal house. Some have accused them of war profiteering due to their heavy investment in mobile suit production and arms manufacturing but they always counter that it is what the Legion needs so it is what they produce. The head of the family always takes the name “Xiong” upon ascending to the position as a way to honor an ancient heroic ancestor.

## House Beauregard

The House of Beauregard is a wild card and is the most recent house to join the Ducal council. They are coy, never *fully* committing to anything and are fond of playing both sides. That being said, their information networks are second to none and they produce some of the finest computer systems in Arcadia.

## House Caesar

Along with House Lafayette, the House of Caesar is the most militant. Every member of their family is required by tradition to serve in the military. They are exiled and disinherited both if they don’t enter the military and if they fail to achieve some great military victory within their first decade of service. They provide many soldiers for the Legion and run the most prestigious training institute in the entire Legion. The personal units of the House of Caesar are feared by all. They say that House Caesar has a legendary mobile suit at their disposal but all who have seen it have died.

## House Alucard

An old yet unremarkable house on the decline. In the past they held a stranglehold on the production of ammunition and ships but they have recently been unseated by other houses. The days of House Alucard are numbered but many fear what will happen when one of the pillars of the ducal council fails. Who will they take with them?

## House Freedom

This “House” isn’t really a “House” and it’s “Duke” isn’t really a “Duke”. “House Freedom” represents a powerful colony group in the Legion’s heart. Their “Duke” is the colony group’s president who is elected for life. While this arrangement is unusual, the sheer number of people in the Freedom Colony cluster and its people are so vital as a workforce and for the military that to ignore it would be a sorry mistake.

## House Titan

The major assets owned by House Titan are actually in an exclave (territory surrounded by the territory of another power) and they have been forced to do battle with the New Empire over freedom of movement for generations. They are hardened warriors whose main holdings are on a giant ice-world. They are famous for their pilots, their grit, and their tempers.