Nobility of Waterdeep

The Tradition of Coming Out

Nobles under the age of 17 tend not to appear at large noble social engagements, unless that engagement is thrown by their family. The reason for this is simple: they have not yet had official Coming Out events yet. Coming Out events are the formal means by which Waterdhavian nobility introduce their newly adult scions to the rest of Waterdhavian society. They are always grand, festive affairs, with the degree of opulence matching the scion's position in the House, and that House's position in Waterdhavian society. They are the go-to social events, particularly for younger folk, and with good reason - everyone wants to meet the new player on the board, whether to simply make a new friend, scout them out for romantic potential, judge their fitness for use in intrigues and schemes, or even to evaluate for potential future marriage.

There is, of course, nothing stopping an eager young Waterdhavian noble from showing up to social events before their official Coming Out, save for a simple truism - "The face already known is not eagerly sought after". That is, there's no practical reason to attend the Coming Out of a young noble who everyone has already met informally while they've snuck out to events they oughtn't be at. A poorly-attended Coming Out is a disastrous introduction to society that some people work their entire lives to recover from, socially speaking, and the nobility of Waterdeep are vicious. If they had to wait for their formal Coming Out, anyone else who does not do so will undoubtedly feel their scorn.

The Game

All nobles play the Game, whether they intend to or not. Indeed, the actions of those most contemptuous or abjurative of the Game can often influence it all the more. In simplest terms, the Game is about which House has the most social standing, relative to the other Houses. It is social currency, and those at the Crown of the Game are wealthy in it no matter their worldly coin.

The board upon which this Game is played is the Waterdhavian Social Season, a series of parties and other social events intended to permit the Houses opportunities to show off, show up their rivals, and in general make an impression.

The Throne

Houses who "sit the Throne" are the current winners of the Game. They are esteemed, mimicked, and courted in all things, and they have social currency to spare. Since it takes social currency to get there, there are some Houses that rise to the Throne over and over again. Generally speaking, no more than five Houses ever occupy this place, and there are never fewer than two who do so.

The Court

Houses that "bide the Court" are well-regarded, even if they're not on the very top of everything. These Houses are the most dangerous to those that sit the Throne, for they are hungry to take that position for themselves. There are usually anywhere from ten to twenty or so Houses that occupy this spot.

The Body

Most Houses occupy this position in the Game - they fail to stand out in any way, blending into the seething morass that is the population of little nobles in Waterdhavian society.

The Dregs

These Houses are the true misfortunates within the game. They are at the very bottom of the heap: ridiculed, scorned, and ignored. Those Houses that occupy this place are often those who have either earned the continued vehement scorn of one of the Throne Houses, or they are a House that actively ridicules the notion or has made enemies of the other Houses in some way.

Of Noble Interest

• Wines of Waterdeep: The five vintner Houses of Waterdeep have a rivalry as fierce as any over their vintages. This is a look at the wines they bring to the table.

The Houses

	House Adarbrent A house of wanderers and travelers, with interests in shipping, navigation, cartography, and exploration.
	House Agundar A house of swordwrights, with interests in mercenary fighting, warrior training, and sword-smithing.
	House Amcathra A house of politicians, with interests in wine, sword-smithing, horse-breeding and -training.
	House Ammakyl A house of rustics, with interests in agriculture and wine-making.
	House Anteos A house of ruffians, with interests in trading, money-changing, and barter (and formerly in slaving).
	House Artemel A house of hunters, with interests in hunting (boar and monsters), and money-lending.
	House Assumbar A house of craftsmen, with interests in carpentry (including the design of exotic and splendid carriages)
	House Belabranta A house of griffon-breeders, with interests in griffon-breeding and -training, and in hunting.
	House Bladesemmer A house of swordsmen, with interests in fencing, sword-smithing, and designing of exotic body armor.
	House Brokengulf A house of explorers, with interests in exploration, guiding, and the hunting and procuring of exotic beats.
	House Brossfeather A house of foresters, with interests in forestry, lumbering, fur-trapping, and guiding.
	House Cassalanter A house of usurers, with interests in banking, money-lending, information-gathering, and rumor-mongering.
	House Cragsmere A house of banksmen, with interests in land-owning, and money-lending
	House Crommor A house of braziers, with interests in brasswork (particularly musical instruments)
	House Dezlentyr A house of caravaneers, with interests in caravan trading and shipping, exploration, island settlement, and establishment of harbors.
	House Durinbold A house of agriculturalists, with interests in mercenary fighting, cattle-rearing, and sheep-farming.
	House Eagleshield A house of husbanders, with interests in tack-making, mercenary fighting, and animal husbandry.
	House Eirontalar A house of hunters, with interests in hunting, tracking, and guiding.
	House Eltorchul A house of arcanists, with interest in mage schooling, magical research, and the procuring of rare substances and items.
	House Emveolstone A house of smiths, with interests in ironmongery and curio trading.
	House Estelmer A house of scholars, with interests in heraldry, sage-lore, and printing.
	House Gauntyl A house of prospectors, with interests in mercenary fighting, exploration, and mining.
	House Gost A house of traders, with interests in caravan-mastering, trading, and armor-smithing.
	House Gralhund A house of soldiers, with interests in mercenary fighting and weapons-crafting.
	House Gundwynd A house of hippogriff-breeders, with interests in the capture, training, and breeding of hippogriffs (and other creatures as aerial steeds).
	House Hawkwinter A house of defenders, with interests in soldiering, garrisons, and guardianship.
	House Helmfast A house of shipwrights, with interests in shipping and ship-crafting.
	House Hiilgauntlet A house of soldiers, with interests in mercenary fighting and military outfitting.
	House Hothemar A house of caravaneers, with interests in trading and ownership of fleets of caravan wagons.
	House Hunabar A house of fashion-wrights, with interests in textiles trading and importation of fashion.
	House Husteem A house of ruffians, with interests in mercenary fighting and land-owning.
	House Ilitul A house of herders, with interests in goat-raising and -herding, and mercenary fighting.
	House Ilvastarr A house of tamers, with interests in beast-taming and -breeding, and preparation of exotic meats.
	House Ilzimmer A house of genteelfolk, with interests in horse-breeding and -racing, making and collecting maps, and the designing of gowns and jewelry.
	House Irlingstar A house of wayfarers, with interests in caravan-running and ship-building.
	House Jardeth A house of garrisoneers, with interests in soldiering, garrisons, and guardianship.
	House Jhansczil A house of traders, with interests in trading, horse-breeding, and mercenary fighting.
	House Kormallis A house of soldiers, with interests in the recruiting and training of mercenaries, outfitting groups of travelers (former slave trade).
	House Kothont A house of trappers, with interests in herd farming and fur-trapping.
	House Lanngolyn A house of shippers, with interests in textiles and shipping.
	House Lathkule A house of lapidaries, with interests in jewelry, gem-mining and -prospecting, and gemcutting.
	House Maerklos A house of rustics, with interests in swine-herding, beer-brewing, and seership.
	House Maernos A house of bankers, with interests in moneylending, banking, financial administration.
	House Majarra A house of musicians, with interests in harping and harp-training, instrument-craftings, and silver mining.
	House Manthar A house of luxurists, with interests in fine metals and perfumes, and mercenary fighting.
	House Margaster A house of traders, with interests in trading and shipping.
	House Massalan A house of lapidaries, with interest in jewelry.
	House Melshimber A house of trend-setters, with interests in sage-lore, research and information-gathering, secrets, and fine wines.
	House Moonstar A house of explorers, with interests in guiding, cartography, exploration, and caravan-mastering.
	House Nandar A house of builders, with interests in house construction and bridge-building.
	House Nesher A house of foresters, with interests in hawking, lumbering, and wood-making.
	House Phull A house of fishers, with interest in fishing.
	House Phylund A house of exoticists, with interests in the training, procuring, and breeding of fearsome monsters.
	House Piiradost A house of herdsfolk, with interests in horse-breeding and cattle-raising.
	House Raventree A house of shippers, with interests in ship-building and procurement of rare foods.
	House Roaringhorn A house of horsemen, with interests in horse-raising and mercenary fighting.
	House Rosznar A house of agriculturalists, with interests in land-owning and winemaking.
	House Ruldegost A house of bankers, with interests in banking, mercenary fighting, bounty-hunting, and caravan-mastering.
	House Silmverhelve A house of defenders, with interests in guardianship, warrior-training, and pandering.
	House Snome A house of distillers, with interests in brewing, distilling, beer and liquor importing.
	House Stormweather A house of seafarers, with interests in shipping and naval exploration.
	House Sultlue A house of soldiers, with interests in mercenary fighting, horse-breeding and -trading.
	House Talmost A house of clothiers, with interests in textiles, fashion clothing, and furs.
	House Tarm A house of horsemen, with interests in caravan-mastering, horse-breeding and -training.
	House Tchazzam A house of hunters, with interests in archery, hunting, bowyers and fletchers.
	House Tesper A house of duelists, with interests in guardianship and skill-at-arms.
	House Thann A house of landowners, with interests in land-owning, merchant shipping, and fine wines (former slave trade).
	House Thongolir A house of scriveners, with interests in calligraphy, limning, and printing.
	House Thorp A house of soldiers, with interests in caravan-mastery and mercenary fighting.
	House Thunderstaff A house of arcanists, with interests in magecraft, mercenary fighting, and caravan mastering.
	House Ulbrinter A house of seafarers, with interests in shipping and ship-building.
	House Urmbrusk A house of landowners, with interests in land-owning and moneylending.
	House Wands A house of arcanists, with interests in mage schooling, magical research and adventuring, dweomercraft-for-hire.
	House Wavesilver A house of seafarers with interests in merchant shipping.
	House Zulpair A house of seafarers with interests in merchant shipping.
	House Zun A house of herders, with interests in cattle-farming and mercenary fighting.