Main > Compendia > Factions > Great Houses of Mercatia

The Great Houses of Mercatia (Enchiridian), also called The Conclave of Great Houses, or simply The Conclave, is named for being the most powerful political and economic faction in the nation of Mercatia. Lore about the Great Houses of Mercatia is plentiful, but fraught with lies, deceptions, and misinformation. They have worked both out in the open to be studied by scholars, but have kept countless secrets through the centuries.

The Great Houses of Mercatia all formed at different times in history. The earliest houses were the leaders of pirate companies in Bannor, but the concept of a united group of powerful families that would lead the fleets of Mercatia didn't fully exist until Suentius united the pirate kings under the Mercatian Charter, forming the government that would rule Mercatia for thousands of years.

Like shareholders in a company, the Great Houses are comprised of blocs of voting power based on the constituent family economic powers. The more economic power a Great House has, the more votes it brings to matters of governance. This is manifest in "Diamond Seals", magic rings of incredibly rich materials, which are traded between Great Houses to represent their votes.

Leaders of the Great Houses meet in Mercatia on a monthly basis to attend to matters of state. Most leaders keep estates in the capitol to make this more convenient, which is part of why Mercatia is such a concentration of wealth. In times of emergency, the council of Great Houses will also meet as needed.

Each Great House is organized by its own principles, but most of them are formed around families. Regardless of the individual organization of the Houses, each appoints a representative to the Conclave. It is this representative that holds the Diamond Seals to cast votes, bound to them by powerful magic.

The representatives make up on a small part of the society of The Conclave. Most of The Conclave court is made up of servants and aides from Lesser Houses and Charter Houses who curry favor with The Great Houses and deal in secrets of court.

The resources of the Great Houses of Mercatia are expansive, possibly the most expansive of all the Shards. Collectively, the Great Houses of Mercatia own, operate, or influence over half of the economic might of Acrolon, and countless resources beyond Acrolon. There are few industries that they are not deeply involved with.

The Great Houses of Mercatia are all seated in the Isles of Splendor, though their influence extends far beyond these borders. Just about every major city across the Shards has some Mercatian presence.

There are nine Great Houses of Mercatia, alphabetically: House Alair, House Cassavar, House Drogash, House Fairhull, House Kalovinon, House Malvaxis, House Thelvarran, House Vexel, and House Viridian.