#This is called Kingmaking

[amaiguri]

Amai's Fantasy Noble Houses

^^ The Courthouse of Nouveau Thuille

So yesterday, I went on a big info dump about Nouveau Thuille itself, but its most important aspect is its people -- the Noble Houses of Nouveau Thuille. Factions are one of my FAVORITE PARTS of worldbuilding, so please indulge me as I gush about how COOL all my Houses are <3 <3 ,3

**House d'Magnia**

^^ The Manor d'Magnia

House d'Magnia is Arlasaire's House, my protagonist! Well, kinda. See, House d'Magnia sigil is a winged serpent and its words are "Eshew Axiom for Ascendancy" which basically means "We break the law to win." They are known for being the most brutal and underhanded in their tactics -- Giluniques, the heir, had his eye cut out as a baby with the hopes that he would become a mage. (He did.) And one of the House's favorite things to do is take in society's undesirables and turned them into hitmen. Arlasaire was one such person -- she was effectively Gil's human pet, growing up. He got to teach her to read and write and murder people and stuff. His father probably did this because Gil's mom died in childbirth with his stillborn sister and Arlasaire was a burned orphan child whose village was destroyed in a Dragonstorm. Who was going to say "No"? It wasn't a great environment for her, despite her pride in her upbringing. It really messed with her head. House d'Magnia is known for its Ysse engineering -- though Arlasaire never took to the House's art

**House d'Aramitz**

Ah, the good ole House d'Aramitz! This grand old House has controlled the military since House d'Solais ruled a united North. Their sigil (or maybe they're coats-of-arms?) is a gold sword with two shields on each side. They also are in charge of military production and were probably some of the earliest adopters of the assembly line. They value tradition and typically, their members most staunchly believe in the notion that they are keeping order and fulfilling the will of the long dead Emperor.

As of the start of my World Letters, House d'Aramitz is led by Silvestre and he has two or three sons (idk, doesn't matter) -- the eldest of whom is a sweet gay guy named Cleiv who really wishes his dad would stop trying to make him get married.

Oh, and I think their art isssssssss Martial Arts? Or maybe textilesssss? Idk, I'll roll with it now lol

**House d'Fealtoire**

House d'Fealtoire is currently being run by a young woman and her sisters are all women, but gender isn't the reason it's sometimes called "The House of Wh*res" -- that's because the House's ongoing political strategy is just to suck up to whoever is in power and keep them there. They're considered to be charming but duplicitous -- but hey! It's working! They're extremely rich and they typically end up funding the plots of the other Houses and their many, numerous smaller houses. Their sigil is a bowl of blooming Tobacco violets with vines dripping out on either side.

Lucienne d'Fealtoire is currently running the House, with her two younger sisters, Celia and Derecina. Luce has a sorted history with House d'Magnia -- she was engaged to Gil as a child and they grew up quite fond of each other. But then, her dad tried to poison every other noble at Court. Arlasaire dropped a chandelier on him to stop him. Lucienne and Gil's engagement was technically cut off at that point... except when his dad died of a heart attack a few years later, they promptly picked up where they left off. And you can imagine the kind of relationship two ambitious, horny teens have...

Anyway, House d'Fealtoire is full of musicians and dancers. Performance arts. Unfortunately, over the 5 years since I started Yssaia, I didn't always remember this and I did this whole portrait of Lucienne painting Arlasaire (below). Not that there's anything WRONG with her being multitalented, but she should definitely be an excellent actress and dancer. It just WORKS with her characterization.

**House d'Romanach**

House d'Romanach is a fan favorite because they're the House of the People. They're only three generations old, run by Lady Isaurala d'Romanach, and they're basically a factory and farmer's union that became a noble house. Isaurala's #1 priority is the well-being of the people -- but this puts her diametrically opposed to many of the Houses in the war, who are interested in fighting for independence and sovereignty, where she would rather just surrender to the seemingly less-corrupt South. Of course, she also knows when elections come, she'll keep her power and privilege, even when the others don't, so like... you know... Their sigil is a hammer and anvil, and their artform is painting.

**House d'Solais** (Gone)

House d'Solais -- or actually, just House Solais because grammar worked differently 400 years ago -- died when Riavh d'Solais, the Once and Future Emperor, the Sun King, etc. etc. died in a civil war with his son. Under the justness of his rule (and very nice, Dragon-summoning sword and amazing propaganda machine and a wife who could see all the possibilities of the future to pick the best one), Riavh united the North 400 years ago. He rose to power at age 14, when he pulled a sword out of an anvil at the back of the last king's Trialhall. He married a fairy for his wife. And his champion was the strongest and most charming fighter in all the land. But the world was not ready for a man so pure and kind. And so, he was killed by his own, wicked son in a revolt. (It was definitely the son's fault. Definitely. And Riavh was definitely not a depressed, young father with incredible military advisors who could only unite a culturally diverse North for barely a generation under the threat of force.) Their sigil is a radiant sun-shaped crown. Riavh did not leave behind a Trialhall for a next Emperor -- instead, he is allegedly sleeping until such a time arises that he can rise again and bring about a world without war. And the Noble Houses hold his crown until this inevitable return.

Which House do you think you'd work for?

[yayakoishii]

just read Ch. 366

it got better. it keeps getting better. HOW does it keep getting better and better omg I love love love what's going on, I seriously can't wait to see what happens next 😭 each weekly update just makes it even better, more interesting and my anticipation is making me vibrate;;

Mephistopheles, Kingmaker, I can't wait to see the guiding light you can be when allowed to. I can't wait to see how you can make Iruma grow even more, and how you can make him king. I can't wait !!!

[kingmakerpod]

For anyone who was wondering what a volcanic nightglass straight razor looks like.

[artifeast]

bisexual lighting ily

[slarxsa]

Is it just me that was so 100% certain she was going to say 'The Kingmaker'???

[grifff17]

Audiodrama Sunday 11/3/2024

Happy Audiodrama Sunday! This week, the Victoriocity novel, the pilot of Brimstone Valley Mall season 2, Witherburn After School News, and more!

@victoriocity - Season 3 finale! It was a great ending, I saw the twist coming about 5 minutes before they revealed it. The fake phone call was really good. Also, High Vaultage! I started reading the Victoriocity novel and it's great so far.

@kingmakerpod - I finally listened to the bodyswap episode. It was as good as people have been hyping it up to be. The VAs did such good work.

@brimstonevalleymall - Season 2 pilot! Love the explanation for Nisroch’s VA change. Trainee is quickly becoming my favorite character. Also Felix Trench??? I love audiodrama VA crossovers.

@witherburn-after-school-news - I started this show, and listened to most of the backlog this week. I'm loving it, the stuff about oral history in monster of the week is very cool. The mix of small town antics and weird shit going on in the background is exactly the sort of thing I like. I don't remember who recommended this but it ended up on my to-listen list somehow.

Skyjacks: Courier's Call - The description of a 401k was so funny, followed by “what is kidtown?”, which was such a brutal character move. Aaron Catano-Saez is such a versatile performer.

@secondfiddles - Shapeshifter baby shenanigans!

@lostterminalpod - it must be so weird for Anna playing d&d with 3 AIs.

@midnightburgr - Welcome to the Horizon part 7, out of 11! 2 more episodes! Verge this episode hit me really hard emotionally. They're such an interesting character.

@midstpodcast - The high altitude research station was very cool, I'm still waiting for something horrible to happen and set the tone for the rest of the show.

I still haven't listened to the new Starfall. Sometimes when I get really sucked into a show(Witherburn) I just binge it and ignore most other shows. But I'll get around to it next week.

[harlequinalis]

playing Kingmaker while i ignore my life stressing me tf out in the background. anyways I love characters who lie <3

[secretsimpleness]

Is Kesten a kinda stick-in-the-mud who probably works way too much? Yeah. Did I like him from the very first moment he was introduced? Yeah...

The (newly!) Baroness, Kesten Garess / Pathfinder Kingmaker (c) Owlcat Games

[gae-bolg-alternative-dot-exe]

I think the next stream will be Wrath of the Righteous

[scribblesscribblings]

The newest group of adventurers trying their luck to claim the Stolen Lands!

We’ve got Minerva the elven Silence in the Snow Witch, Xioyun the human Warpriest Cleric of Cayden Cailean, Ashahera the elven Monk, and Belladonna the tiefling Mastermind Rogue!

Hopefully I’ll be able to record their shenanigans where I can!

Height ref for funsies:

[cannibalmukbang]

full body alt of Colette in the Girl from Video Violence 2 outfit because I'm gay and I believe in hairy girl supremacy

[mountainashfae]

Oh? The flea of the Stolen Lands? Well Irovetti, fleas bite.

[loderlied]

having completely normal thoughts (gortash wotr au)

[diredeliverance]

I think Asperia and Gortash are the only ship I've made two playlists for and that is because at a point I made a second one for things that were too romantic to make the cut for the actual one. A "them if they didn't have too many fucking issues" playlist. A "that's cute. anyway" playlist.

[artifeast]

i finally got around to compiling all of the official kingmaker transcripts into one google doc for easier searching, and it wound up totaling to exactly 420 pages. lmao

[boombox-fuckboy]

9, 17, 19 for the podcast asks??

9.) what’s a podcast that you know the characters so well you can recognize their breathing?

I used to be able to do this with Archive 81, but it's been a while since I listened to it.

17.) what’s a podcast that you can’t stop thinking about?

Skyjacks: Courier's Call.

19.) whose your favorite podcast couple?

I could list a dozen of my favourite platonic duos but if we're going for romance?

Hmm... Eisen and Telesphore (The Kingmaker Histories) are a delight, but I also really want to mention whatever Jane and Sophie (The Pasithea Powder) have going on. Very compelling.