Calvin on the lesser noble houses
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Calvin enters the library in search of the names and locations of the lesser noble houses residing in the city. In addition to those fundamentals, he seeks out any information or particulars on the names he might discover.
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The librarians immeidately hand him a copy of Noble Houses of Arabel.
In addition he locates a little more information with their help; seeing as nothing in the library appears organized and the librarians are constantly busy moving books around to strange places with no seeming pattern or organization:
The Arabellian Peerage by Vicon of Siamorphe 1366
Prominent among Arabel's lesser nobility are several merchant families with varying ties to more powerful houses. Several of these families have actually purchased their titles within recent memory, while others have held them for centuries. There is always a clear pecking order even amongst these minor forces which include the Baerlear family (cheese), Bhela (weapons and armor), Gelzunduth (winery), Hiloar (brewery), Kraliqh (real estate and banking), Misrim (horses), and Nyaril (grain).
It continues to mention:
Widely referred to as the Mad Lord of Suzail, or simply the Mad Lord, Francis Taylor is renowned for his erratic behavior; falling into a frenzy one moment, only to suddenly turn sombre and reclusive the next. Endlessly eccentric and demanding of his men, the Mad Lord is thought to be bankrupt though nevertheless continues to fuel his wasteful campaigns against fictional foes with streams of gold.
He has been thrown from many a Suzailan banquet in his time after ridiculously challenging other Lords and Nobles to duels over misunderstood phrases such as "What does that have to do with the price of bread?" and the infamous gravy boat disaster of Lady Jacob's wedding. In recent years, the Mad Lord has taken up residence in the Pride of Arabel despite owning an extremely well furnished estate home south of Suzail.
Also:
Lord Calvin Dumas, sole heir of the Dumas family lands. The family has been in steady decline for centuries, and many believe he shall be the last Lord Dumas without a miracle.
Raynaar Marliir is the current head of the House of Marliir, the most powerful noble family in the Arabel area. Although the Marliir family commands little attention at the court in Suzail, they have extensive holdings in Arabel and especially of farmlands surrounding the city. The Marliir family has earned the respect of local citizens and has worked well with the crown's local representatives. Raynaar has been a benevolent landlord to his tenant farmers and remains on good terms with all but a few of the more exploitive merchant companies. His son, Dauneth Marliir has become something of a scandal in recent years, a dilettante and playboy that many whisper will ruin the family's good name.
Finally:
Although not hereditary nobility, the Derlain family is one of Arabel's oldest. They've lived on these lands since the city was founded and remember the days when it was ruled by warrior-kings; long before it was conquered by Suzail. There are literally half a dozen family branches, hundreds of cousins-and these days few genealogists even within the family can keep track of all their relations.
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Having found ample information, Calvin thanks the librarian for his assistance and inquires about the recent reorganization of the library.
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"We're looking for some books the Eclestian Order wishes us to deliver to their building."
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Calvin returns the next day pursuing information on the Lord, Calvin Dumas. Particularly what has brought the family down, and where they now reside.