Conjurer Nobility

## Overview

Across the globe there exist countless families that have mastered the summoning of Neverborn, forcing them into a physical form and binding them to their will. Most of them act as rulers or powerful influences in most countries on earth, using their amassed knowledge to justify their nobility through the divine right of kings.

## Culture

Although a Conjurers arts can be learned by anyone these Noble Families have practiced excessive gatekeeping across the centuries; fermenting the belief that only those of their blood are capable to establishing a connection to the Outer Realms. Most Conjurer Nobility trace their origins back to the first shamans and priests that communed with the Neverborn and broke open the worldwalls for the first time. While they used to revere and worship both angels and demons as time moved on they started to utilise their powers for their own purposes and power games; realising that the spells that allowed a Celestial into the world could bind them just as easily.

### Great Games

Although the Noble families, both through history and inner workings, have been divided and stretched across the entire globe; there is one event that unites them: The Magnus Ludos. In an annual ceremony the Conjurer Families gather on a dislocated island; sending represenatives to engage in competitive games, festivities and parlour. These games are the stage for many allegiances and feuds; aswell as the founding of political marriages and plots. During the Magnus Ludos every family enagages in the game through a summoned champion; although there are lesser contests with mortals and robots on which the families place bets; none of which can endanger the lifes of nobility. These games are the biggest and most imporant ways to show a families importance, wealth and skill and a success in their staging, games or bets is often a gateway to influence within and without the Bloodline.

## List of Noble Families

### North America

* **Toussaint**- The Toussaints where the only noble family that survived the french revolution through fleeing from europe. They traveled to america and reestablished themselves in Quebec and the american east coast. While they do not enjoy the monarichal rule of their european cousins they have gained tremendous wealth across the last two centuries. The Toussaints have taken over many canadian and american industries (.......)
* **Hauser-** The Housers where always a wealthy family that later founded companies like Lone Star or Gilead & Hauser Pharma; turning them into one of the richest families in America. They where interested in much more than simply growing their estate and political influence however. Through a set of marriages and black market deals the family gained occult knowledge and learned to summon and controll Neverborn like the older Conjurer Nobility.
* **Jin-** The Jin where a noble family from ancient China, having founded one of its most recent imperial dynasties. They fled from China at the end of the Opium wars however, traveling to america to reestablish themselves. Altough they where wealthy and educated they were greeted far less welcoming than expected, due to the recent xenophobic wave inspired by the american civil war. In the end the Jin where not trusted enough to enter in the american buisness world and instead pushed into its growing criminal underworld. They became the leaders of many chinese and pan-asian gangs in the american westcoast; but as time went on they grew their influence into the italian and irish mafia; although they publicly denounce any connections.

### South America

* **Castille-** After the Spanish Revolution in 1936 the western nobility was either assimiliated into the general public or died in the violent protests. Only the House of Castille was able to survive by, like the Toussaints, fleeing into the new world. They traveled to their old colonies in middle america and brasil, establishing a new monarchic reign.

### Europe

* **Pendragon**- As one of the oldest noble families the Pendragon have ruled over the british ilses since the early middle ages. They have notably shaped the image of the modern monarch, massivly expanding europes power in the victorian age. Although the british empire has lost most of its colonies the Pendragon still remain wealthy and influencial. Despite their political influence they have gained alot of wealth through their ownership of the Manchester Corporate Complex.
* **Borgia-**
* **Papal families-** Altough the pope is elected by the papal conclave and any cardinal can be elected; in modern times the only candidates that have a realistic chance are the *Medici*, *Belmonte* and *Altieri*; the greatest noble Houses of Italy. They are in an eternal conflict for power and although they rarely choose open violence intrugies, assassinations and bribery are a daily fare. Although the pope officially only has religious power his political influence in italy great enough to topple or instigate any Marquis or Duke.
* **Valerian Dynasty-** Although Byzantium is ruled by an absolute monarch it is fairly rare for an emperor to choose their own children to become their successor; but instead raise a worthy candidate from the reign of the lesser nobility. This way Byzantiums Dynasties are not form through blood relation but through the spirit given on from one emperor to the next; all of them ruling after the decrees and ideas of the Dynasties founder. The current Dynasty is ruled by the spiritual descendants of Valerian the Great.

### Asia

* **Volkhov-** While most russian Koldun remain and always have been politically disenfranchised, during the february revolution the Romanov offered the **Volkhov-Clan** power and influence if they would aid their powers against the revolutionaries. The Volkhov quickly accepted and it was thanks to their help that the tsar could remain in power. In modern russia they are priviliged oligarchs and high-ranking goverment officials, putting their Conjurer-powers into the service of the Romanov.
* **Conjurer Clans-** Since the days of feudal Japan the great Clans have conjured Neverborn into their service. Although they lost their dominion over the land they became neatly integrated into imperial japan and after the western occupation ended they where instigated as second-class nobility.

## Lesser Families

* **Grimaldi**- Originially part of the Genuese Nobility the Grimaldi where cast out of city after a failed intruige against the Emporers family in an attempt to seize controll over the region. Instead the fled to the city-state of Monacco, overtaking it as their own domain and building it up to the city of luxoriy and excess it is today.