Houses of Ashmoor

Overview
In Ashmoor, a house is your family. Though, only the greater and lesser houses are really acknowledged. A fishmongers family is of no importance to the aristocracy.

House Sterling
Sterling is one of the oldest and most prestigious Houses in Ashmoor. With lines that trace back to the throne and a history in Ashmoor that many houses could only dream of. They have always remained in power with their family holding more chancellorship's than any other. Despite this, there power has begun to wane with the family growing smaller and many believing that the last strong Sterling had passed.

House Montebray
House Montebray is the youngest of the Great Houses by far, having risen through the choking web of lesser house politics under the leadership of its’ revered patriarch and greatest leader, Archibold Montebray. Formerly an impoverished House mainly gaining influence through its ties to the fish industry of Ashmoor, Archibold decided to turn his houses fortunes around by plotting and undertaking a daring and almost fatal expedition to the Far East to forge a lasting overseas trading route between the two hemispheres. On his travels he encountered and made dealings with the exotic nations of the East, personally convincing the divine Dragon Emperor of the R’qi Dynasty to agree to his trade terms.

House Minerva
One of the older Great Houses of Ashmoor, House Minerva has been at the forefront of much of the city's development. The House rose to power as the owner of many of the major construction companies that helped to build the city. They are regarded rather poorly in the lower caste community, as while many of their large factories provide jobs for the less fortunate, they are also considered to be one of the many driving forces behind the outlawing of magic. This of course, is meer happenstance and rumour.

House Canrich
House Canrich is an old house that has been known for its media outlet since its beginning. Though it does not have a monopoly on media, it is the biggest and most trusted. Known for unbiased opinions and truthful content.

House Ravenswood
The House of Ravenswood, Head of the Inquisition and represents them in the councils affairs, Led by the Lord and Lady Ravenswood, dubbed the Raven King and Queen for their affinity with the Black Feathered birds.

House Romanus
House Romanus is one of the youngest Greater Houses, risen only in the last fifteen years. The house is run by Charles ta'Romanus, the Founder and Owner of the largest railroad transportation company within Ashmoor. The House is run with leadership and discipline and has a strict set of guidelines for if you reside there. This is the reasoning behind the low count of residents within the House.

House Bentley
House Bentley is a well-statured warrior family that originated from Glockton, but is closely linked to the Ashmoor military. It has brought forth several high ranking officers for many years and are considered to be 'protectors' -- defined by their honor, not their blood. It is what makes a Bentley. All Bentley children must undergo a test of honor, endurance, and loyalty to officially earn their place in the House. Once they prove themselves, Bentley's kneel to no one. (Inspired by: House of Zod & Klingon Empire)

House Ashdown
Once a Greater House, House Ashdown has been in decline in recent generations. A lack of ambition on the part of its heirs, and some poor trading investments reduced the size of Ashdown’s holdings and influence in the city. Ashdown is noted now primarily for scholarship and patronage of the arts. The death of its patriarch, Sir James Ashdown, has left the House and its future in the hands of his young widow, Madam Cordelia Ashdown.

House Checker
One of the newer houses of Ashmoor, most of it’s wealth comes from small unified business across Ashmoor. Their largest revenues are the weapons and crop industries, both of which account for 50% of their total revenue. Their goals for Ashmoor are a stronger and more modern state, with more R&D facilities and future projects.

House Hull
The house of Hull is young in comparison to other houses in Ashmoor. Build up from a house of Casteless foreigners, the Hulls have grown their title and fortune in exploration. Funding expeditions into new worlds is their primary avenue, and while risky, they have a considerable success rate.

House Harmann
Among the newest addition to the Houses, House Hartmann has been the home of the two most recent Ministers of Justice appointed by the late Gabriel Sterling. Its former patriarch, Kaiser Hartmann, has recently died of an unknown illness and left his only child Hedwig to take the mantle of both his title and his estate. They are a relatively unknown factor, but they have almost no assets of their own save the Ashmoor Asylum for the Mentally Unwell and have funding in most state projects and businesses. Lady Hedwig herself is rarely seen outside, only adding to their general mystique.

House Osman
The Osman household has been a well known part of the spice trade since before the days of the 12 cities. Despite this, however. They are not a great house due to often being out-priced and outsmarted by competitors, paired with a long line of poor business decisions and personal tragedy, they are on the verge of complete obscurity.

Inactive Houses
House Monet

Headed by Doctor Money, House Monet, often called House Money, has an iron grip on the medical infrastructure of Ashmoor. Owning 70% of the available tools and medicine for trade, they make it extremely difficult for local doctors to acquire needed medicine and tools then charge them exorbitant amounts of coin for the tools and medicine they're missing. This is a tactic meant to squeeze the financial life out of them so that they will be forced to join House Money's Ranks as a Benefaction, in essence have their clinic House Money sponsored. They will then be given all the resources they could need for free, but have to give up a portion of their earnings to House Money.

House Wickham

House Wickham has been around for quite some time. They primarily own Wickham Transport, a large transport company that runs in the family. They are incredibly wealthy, and Wickham Transport has reached heights it has no seen in decades, under Jonas Wickham. They own most of the transport companies, whether directly or under subsidiaries. If you need to get somewhere, odds are high any money you spend ends up with Wickham Transport.