Houses of the High March

The High March is ruled by a number of powerful families, some going back to the first human presence on the plateau. These houses have a wide swathe of holdings, so much so that no territory in the High March is not contended or controlled by at least one family. At this point in history, there is no free territory within the High March.

The great houses control the most territory and wealth, and lesser houses act as vassals of the great houses. Culturally speaking, each of the great houses controls a barony, and there is no king or acting kingdom. The loose affiliation these factions have with one another does not tolerate any one family taking total control of the High March.

There usually is one or more families exerting the most dominance, but historically few things unite the great houses faster than the overthrow of a would-be kingdom.

Great Houses
The most prominent great houses, and their seats of power, are indicated below:

Lesser Houses
The other houses, known in comparison as lesser houses (although surely not appreciating the adjective), and their seats of power and house of allegiance, are indicated below:

Rise and Fall of House Craig
Over 200 years ago, House Craig rallied several other great houses in a bid for establishing a kingdom in the area now known as Draïm. The combined armies were destroyed in the field by an alliance of other houses, the head of House Craig was decapitated, and the head was buried in a cask in the ruined tower now known as Dead King.

In an attempt to prevent further mass bloodshed, and as testament to the goodwill of their alliance, the Fields of Valor was established to allow the great and lesser houses to meet in the field of tournament rather than battle. The final competition, the melee, is held around Dead King.