United Realms

The government of the United Realms is a hybrid monarchy-oligarchy, led by:

• The Crowned Arbiter – The monarch, believed to be chosen by the will of the Goddess Yami, represents the will of the people and the divine. The Arbiter’s role is to balance law, justice, and guidance with humility, often serving as a mediator between factions.
 
• The Seven Pillars – The heads of the seven founding families, each responsible for an essential aspect of the realm. Together, they form the Council of Balance, which advises the Arbiter, drafts legislation, and enforces policy. While the Arbiter has veto power, most decisions require a consensus of four or more Pillars to pass.

This unique structure has allowed the United Realms to maintain unity through shared power, tradition, and spiritual purpose. While disputes between Pillars do arise, it is said that as long as the light of Yami’s temple burns, the realm shall never fall to darkness again.

Royal Line – The Crowned Arbiters

Ruling Name: House Velmira

Origin: Named after Velmir, the blessed founder believed to be chosen by the Goddess Yami.
Vibe: Regal, mystical, shadow-balanced
Symbol: A black crescent over a silver flame (symbol of divine balance)

Velmira kings and queens are known as Arbiters, not rulers. They serve as the bridge between the Seven Pillars and the people. Each Arbiter is said to be guided by dreams from Yami’s temple.

The Seven Pillar Families

Each of these founding houses represents a domain crucial to the kingdom's stability. Their surnames are based on their founding ancestor’s given name.

House Marrek – Military Command & Defense

Founded by General Marrek the Ironhand. Tactical, loyal, and honorable.
Symbol: A crossed sword and shield behind a mountain.

House Elira – Arcane Studies & Magical Affairs

Founded by Elira Windsoul a mage. Scholarly, mystical, protective of arcane knowledge.
Symbol: A comet descending into an open eye.

House Tholan – Agriculture & Resources

Founded by Tholan Earthroot, a druid-turned-noble. Sturdy, grounded, tied to land and harvest.
Symbol: A tree growing from a furrowed field.

House Ceryn – Trade, Commerce & Guilds

Founded by Ceryn Goldtongue a merchant. Strategic, clever, silver-tongued.
Symbol: A golden coin balanced on a scale.

House Vaelith – Diplomacy & Foreign Relations

Founded by Lady Vaelith the Whisper. Graceful, cunning, skilled in courtly matters.
Symbol: A raven holding a scroll.

House Brennor – Faith & Temple Stewardship

Founded by Brennor the Quiet, a priest of Yami. Spiritual, meditative, guardians of holy sites.
Symbol: A silver flame encircled by thorns.

House Jorell – Education, Lore & Internal Law

Founded by Jorell Sageborn, a codex advocate . Teachers, judges, lorekeepers.
Symbol: An open book atop a set of balanced scales.

Ten Lesser Noble Houses

These are respected houses, often with regional influence, but not part of the Seven Pillars. Their prestige varies, and some have aspirations to rise higher.

House Almaric – Known for elite knights and beast tamers.

House Serona – Renowned glassmakers and alchemists.

House Dalen – Border wardens and scouts, experts in wild terrain.

House Yareth – Keepers of mines and metalworks.

House Riven – Famous for shipwrights and inland river trade.

House Halden – Grain barons and stewards of large estates.

House Liora – Well-known seers and moonwatchers tied to Yami’s lunar rites.

House Corven – Secretive and rumored to have spies; tied to shadow magic.

House Theden – Popular with artists, performers, and cultural preservation.

House Ostra – Known for training war beasts and maintaining mounted units.

Culture of Legacy: Family Names and Lineage

In the United Realms, family is not just blood—it is foundation, identity, and history. Legacy shapes one’s place in society, and names are treated with deep reverence.

Surnames are inherited from the first name of the founding ancestor—the one who first forged the family’s presence in the world. This practice, called Founding Name Heritage, ensures that every name carries with it the echo of its origin. For example, a family whose progenitor was named Thalen would bear the surname Thalen, in honor of the path he forged.

"To bear a name is to walk beside the soul of your ancestor." —Common proverb among the Pillar Houses

Those who are cast out, disowned, or born of scandalous lineage lose the right to bear that name. These individuals are referred to as Unrooted—a term not always spoken aloud but clearly understood. However, if they survive and thrive, they may forge a new name, starting their own family line. These new surnames, while valid, hold no recognition or social weight unless proven over generations.

Creating a legacy is hard. Preserving it is sacred. Betraying it is unforgivable.

In this culture, family ties are among the highest values. Marriages are often seen as both emotional bonds and political unions. Betraying one’s family or name can result in exile, but restoring or elevating it through heroism, service, or innovation is one of the highest honors a citizen can achieve.

The United Realms was forged in rebellion—born from the ashes of tyranny. Centuries ago, the region groaned under the rule of a fractured and failing regime. The final monarch of the old order, consumed by insatiable hunger for power, drove the land into ruin. Under his rule, famine spread, the noble houses turned to infighting, and the people suffered under unchecked greed and fear.

Amid the chaos, a coalition of noble and common folk rose together to overthrow the mad sovereign. At the heart of the revolution were seven great families, each with strong ties to different parts of the realm—military, trade, agriculture, education, the arcane, diplomacy, and faith. These houses united under a single banner, vowing never again to allow one man’s ambition to threaten the future of their people.

It was during the final days of this upheaval that a guiding figure emerged—a visionary said to be blessed by Yami, the Goddess of Shadow, Family and Protection. This leader, chosen not by lineage but by merit and divine favor, became the first Crowned Arbiter, a monarch tasked not with ruling alone, but with guiding the realm alongside the Seven Pillars.

The United Realms is a kingdom built on unity—but not equality. With its origins rooted in a revolt against tyranny and a cultural emphasis on lineage, the kingdom prides itself on stability through legacy. While welcoming to all peoples and races, recognition and respect must still be earned.

Major Populations

In the United Realms you will find Dwarves, Gnomes, Foxfolk and Humans scattered amoung all levels of society. They are represented in the seven pillar families and amoung the lesser noble houses.

Other species—elves, orcs, halflings, beastfolk, changelings, and beyond—exist throughout the kingdom, but in smaller, localized numbers. Some integrate fully into the structure, while others form independent enclaves.

Cultural Integration

Despite its diversity, the kingdom remains legacy-focused. Family names are everything—they define status, access, and opportunity. Those without a recognized surname often find themselves relegated to lower positions, no matter their skill or moral worth.

However, fairness is still a core value of the realm. Laws apply to all citizens, and upward mobility is possible through service, achievement, and time. Individuals who prove themselves through military, magical, or civic excellence may be granted the right to form a recognized house, though it takes decades—if not generations—to rise in true esteem.

“You may earn silver by your hands, but you earn your name by your deeds.” —Common saying in guild cities

This balance of merit and legacy ensures the United Realms remains both a kingdom of tradition and a land of possibility—if you’re willing to fight for your name.

Order of the Nightmother is the original and founding church of the United Realms. It is believed to be the one true spiritual path for the kingdom, having been blessed by the Goddess Yami herself. Her divine guidance and counsel are seen as essential to bettering the realm, strengthening families, and cultivating personal growth. For generations, it remained the sole religious institution within the kingdom. Only in the last fifty years have the The Followers of the Sacred Divine 8 been allowed to establish a few meeting houses—provided, of course, that they pay their dues to the great Yami.