Houses

Kanto

HOUSE SAFFRON (PSYCHIC). The golden house, the Saffron psychics have long been the archetypal nobility.

In case you didn't know it, they're wealthy. No one has more money than the Saffron nobles, not even the merchant princes of Unova. It seems that they own everything in Kanto. Kings and queens of Saffron City, they also have branch families governing the neighboring Celadon, Vermillion, and Cerulean cities.

Most of their wealth comes simply from owning the land. The prosperous metropolitan center of Kanto pays them a generous tithe. Those that refuse must face the overwhelming strength of Saffron's nigh unmatched trainer army. In recent times, they've given little back except the (rather lazy) protection of the pokemon trainers in their employ.

An accident two years ago has left their head of house crippled and rarely lucid--a poor mental state for a psychic. The rest of the House struggles to hide her from public sight and to disguise her weakness. Since she's without heir, her three younger siblings squabble over the impending succession, not just for themselves but also for their children.

The current main family is split into three segments, each led by one of the head of house's siblings. There are numerous branch families, the most significant of them in charge of running Celadon, Vermillion, and Cerulean.

HOUSE FUCHSIA (POISON). The all-knowing and all-seeing, House Fuchsia nobles are unlike the others. They don't live in the limelight. In fact, they do their best to stay in the shadows, quieting protecting their city.

House Fuchsia began as nothing. They were a fallen house, doomed to fade out of existence like many others, until they fled to Fuchsia City. By deeds of honor and humility, the ninja clan there swore their loyalty. As the years passed, and the fallen house rose again anew, the ninja clan and the noble house became one and the same.

They train their own in poison, assassination, and espionage. In times of peace, they are master spies, selling secrets for a very pretty penny. They treat their people well. In fact, it's house custom that their children learn to blend in with the commoners. Often, it's hard to tell who is noble and who isn't in Fuchsia City.

They are deathly loyal to their head of house. All children are treated as part of one family, with the most talented of them rising in status to matriarchs and patriarchs. The head of house--in this case, the grandpatriarch--reigns until death and is elected by popular vote from amongst the matriarchs and patriarchs.

All existing matriarchs and patriarchs are listed to the right. Younger and/or less influential Fuchsias can be applied for freely.

HOUSE LAVENDER (GHOST). A house in shambles, the Lavender nobles are well aware that their days are numbered unless they do something big--and soon.

Ten years ago, House Saffron attempted to conquer Lavender Town. They were eventually rebuffed and put to rout, but not until after the wholesale slaughter of Lavender's best and brightest. Their saving grace is the family's ghost specialty, allowing their fallen to return to battle as ghost pokemon. Even today, ghosts of the nobles wander the town, escorting the survivors and keeping the peace.

Their entire main family butchered, the branch families have gathered now to put Lavender Town back together. Their successes have been limited. They still live in reasonable comfort--nothing compared to most noble houses--but each year their wealth decreases even further.

If nothing else, House Lavender is united as one. Lead by a crone, mother, daughter trio, there is no dissent in their ranks. Loyal and supportive to each other, they are singularly dedicated to revitalizing their house and their dignity. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

House Lavender is a very small house. Besides for those listed to the right, members will be accepted on a limited basis.

Hoenn

HOUSE LAVARIDGE (FIRE). One of the most dangerous houses around, Lavaridge fiercely protects their own turf.

Eons ago, the hillsmen of Mt. Chimney were the most advanced civilization in the world. To an extent, they still are. They are dangerous, with weapons of folded steel, shamans with skill in surgery, and an unmatched knowledge of pokemon science. Their greatest secret is that they can control the eruptions of Mt. Chimney.

Lavaridge nobles are still hunter-gatherers, living off the land, but the land is generous indeed. Considered savage by many, the nobles command tribes as respected chieftains. Failures are disposed of. The Lavaridge children who are weak or unwise are thrown into Mt. Chimney; those that survive the experience are called burning souls, gods amongst men.

A functioning meritocracy, Lavaridge puts their finest in charge of Lavaridge Town, guarding Mt. Chimney. A second tier of nobles are revered chieftains of the many tribes, each one of them a natural-born leader. The rest are still fighters, shamans, and advisers that are worthy of respect and admiration.

The head of house and the chieftains of the various tribes are listed to the right.

HOUSE SOOTOPOLIS (WATER). The secret house and a secret civilization, few know of Sootopolis' existence outside of Hoenn.

Only a myth and a rumor to the outside world, Sootopolis are the ancient guardians of the Cave of Origin. Their nobles are as mythical as their city, and legends whisper of a supreme race of beings. Known for beauty and wisdom, House Sootopolis carries itself in an air of mystery and other-worldliness.

They are the oracles of Delphi. Most Sootopolis nobles are skilled in reading visions and signs in the reflections of still water, but others read the clouds or even the passage of smoke. Yet sometimes the future is hidden. In those instances, Sootopolis value learning and reason, so their oracles almost always give good counsel.

They are an isolationist and self-sufficient house. The sea and volcanic soil provide them no lack of food. The water spiders produce quailty spidersilk for clothes and tapestries, making weaving is a popular pastime and art. House Sootopolis is often believed to be pacifistic, but they will not hesitate to take up in arms in the defense of Hoenn.

Sootopolis guards their secrets jealously, and they're not inclined to have hordes of children. Few in number, all existing Sootopolis nobles are listed to the right.

HOUSE EVERGRANDE (STEEL). Ever Grande is the future of Hoenn. They are the Pokemon Association in its earliest stage, and they bring with them winds of change.

Evergrande commands a force at sea that none can rival. They claim they come in peace, but they carry cannons, bombs, and swords aboard their ships. They want two things: the end of tyranny and the end of war. They want peasants and serfs freed, pokemon training institutionalized, and the power of (other) noble houses reined in.

Evergrande has done a great deal in recent years to open their territory to tourism and foreign commerce. They are clever businessmen and charismatic politicians. They have many allies and only two enemies: Lavaridge and Sootopolis. What shore cities Ever Grande controls on Hoenn mainland were won tooth and nail from Lavaridge's clutches.

One of the few tyrant houses, Evergrande collects a brutal tithe, keeping most of their people locked in servitude. Loyalty to the house is the only way to avoid hard labor and sweatshop jobs. To the outside world, the people seem happy, but Ever Grande insists on appearances so as to create a pleasant tourist and trade environment.

Evergrande is a house that has married into virtually every foreign noble house. Only the main family is listed to the right, but Evergrande has a presence in every region with many illustrious and ambitious nobles.

UNOVA

HOUSE NIMBASA (ELECTRIC). The heart of culture in the Pokemon World, House Nimbasa is the favorite of gossip mags in any region.

Known for throwing lavish parties, House Nimbasa is the definition of excess. The world is at their fingertips, and they intend to seize it. They live like drunken gods: loving, generous, and often cringe-worthy. They do what they want when they want, and they don't really care what anyone thinks of them.

Nimbasa produces music, movies, sports, fashion, and entertainment of all sorts. It makes them a fortune, second only to House Saffron. Many consider the house weak and soft--creativity is not a great virtue in a harsh world--but they are canny businessmen (when sober) that can maneuver a political minefield as deftly as anyone else.

They have always offered itself as a home for starving artists. Many Nimbasa nobles themselves are artists, athletes, or musicians. They've made Nimbasa City a haven for celebrities. The house has no useful skills besides business management, talent spotting, and funding the right future stars.

The main family is listed to the right.

HOUSE MISTRALTON (FLYING). Flying pokemon wasn't enough. House Mistralton had to invent the airplane.

Dreamers and adventurers, House Mistralton has always been known as explorers. They've been archaeologists and raiders, researchers and knights errant. They were the first to map the world, and they wrote the encyclopedia of wonders centuries ago. That was the illustrious past. In short, they ran out of money.

For the last century, they were considered the pauper house, a family of unwanted vagabonds. As nobility, they were history. Ten years ago, their invention of the plane brought them near instant wealth and relevance. Now, they're living large, wasting money and throwing power around like it's going out of style.

No other house has aviation in any form. If someone wants to fly without Mistralton, they're going to need a pokemon and an HM. With their monopoly, Mistralton primarily runs zeppelins that carry cargo or passengers from region to region. They also have primitive one- or two-man bomber jets ready for war.

The Mistralton main family is listed to the right. Branch families exist all over Unova and even in other regions to oversee landings and takeoffs.

HOUSE DRIFTVEIL (GROUND). When the first Driftveil journeyed west, they were nothing but a ragtag family looking to start a new life.

House Driftveil happened overtime. The first settlers into Unova, they were natural-born leaders, perfectly suited to the rugged lifestyle in pre-modern Unova, when the land was wild and ruthless. Originally frontiersmen, now they're nobility by right of conquest. They believe in liberty, independence, and often violence.

As times changed, Driftveil has always found a way to survive--and to make money. There was a time when they were the sole manufacturers of pistols and muskets. Later they become the purveyors of steam technology. Now, they're mining their land for a new commodity: oil.

Fifteen years ago, Driftveil's beloved main family were wiped out in a war with House Shalour. Since then, Driftveil has been ruled by a council formed by the heads of the four surviving branch families. The reign of the council has filled with petty grudges and political standstills, and the people grow discontent.

All four branch families are listed to the right.