Nobility

Rowan-Oak was founded by sidhe nobles of the Seelie Court in the entourage of Count Malcolm mac Dougal, who fought the commoners of the area for control during the Accordance War. Since his day, two other sidhe have ruled the region after him, the unlamented Vathek ap Gwydion and the more kindly remembered Rosamund ap Fiona. Recently, the county has come under the rule of a satyr, Rosamund's son Almond, bridging the gap between commoners and nobility in a way which many hope will put old resentments to rest.

he count owes fealty to Her Grace, Evelenau ap Eiluned, Duchess of Rhododendrons. Evelenau's relations with Willow's Heart are said to be glacially cold, although the reasons for this are unknown. In most regards, King Meilge seems to have forgotten the duchy on Appalachia's fringe. Indeed, beyond her own realm, few have heard of Duchess Evelenau. It is as if her domain were hidden by the mists, adrift above the clouds that darken the lowlands.

Only a handful of sidhe reside permenantly in the county, and not all are titled. In descending order of rank they are:

• Her Ladyship, Ausmandine ap Fiona, Chancellor of Ben Bison
• His Lordship, Dar'Nall ap Gwydion, and Her Ladyship, Celeste ap Eiluned, Baron and Baroness of Baywood
• His Lordship, Clay ap Ailil, soi disant Baron of Iron Mountian
• Dame Angarhad ap Eiluned, Knight-Banneret of Tyr-o-Yr Glas
• Dame Lillian ap Liam, Lady of Winterlong
• Tamlyn ap Dougal, Squire to Dame Angarhad
• Master Coulkan, consort to the Lady of Ben Bison

Several commoners in the county hold titles. The former Countess Rosamund's satyr son Almond, rlues as Fourth Earl of Rowan-Oak, and also lays claim to the tile of Lord of the Brugh. Elmer Brickie, a boggan, holds both the rank of Baron of Fair Oaks and the freehold of Pine Hall, and Dame Calliope Chelios holds the glade of Fiddler's Green as a fief. Most commoners who have freeholds in their care, such as the nockers at Tinker's Dam, do so without benefit of patents of nobility.

A single kinain in Rowan-Oak has, much to the scandal of traditionalists like the late Lady Quave, been honored with a knighthood. As a dame and personal attendant to the former countess, Jane Marlow is accorded the honorific of Lady, although she holds no territories in her own right. Rosamund's ennoblement of a kinain was not wholly without precedent, but was highly controversial nonetheless. Count Almond haas upheld his lady mother's ennoblement of the kinain in no uncertain terms, however, and few question the decision in his presence.

Turn back to the Freeholds page, read on regarding the commoners of the county, or exit to the County Information page.