Family
Every player character will in some way be associated with a specific family. There are five reputable families in the game, though each may have multiple branches with different names. Family fortune, honour and secrets are the stock-in-trade of the aristocracy and blood ties are the only assurance of lasting loyalty. The Family may not always refer solely to those of a given family name, but includes extended relatives (such as relatives by marriage) and all formally associated with the family (such as protégés, employees or servants).
Each family is controlled by a single Head of the Family, who nurtures the family’s ongoing interests and may task players with certain challenges to advance the family’s honour, wealth or just because of their firm opinion on matters. Due to the extremely hierarchical system of rank and privilege on which the law of the country rests, the Head of the Family does have the legal power to disenfranchise, disinherit, or generally exclude any member who is too troublesome, so it's a necessity to stay in their good opinion.
Bond
Cecil
de Creassey
Webb
White
The Bond family, while not of great rank, have been highly fortunate in their management of their private affairs, and are great patrons of the arts.
Head of the Family:
Sir Thomas Lonsford Bond
The Cecils are a long established and extensive family, part of the nobility of England for over 200 years.
To avoid scandal for so long must take great virtue, or are there skeletons in the closet?
Head of the Family:
Marquess of Salisbury, James Cecil, MP.
The de Creassey family are of 'Ancien' French nobility and have taken refuge in England. They are well known but the persistence of the title is in question given Napoleon's ravages of the French elite.
What are they willing to do to reclaim their position?
Head of the Family:
Viscomtess Dowager de Creassey
The Webb family were known adventurers but are now returned emigreés from the West Indies. They have a range of peculiar contacts from such travels.
Rumour has it they were placed under a curse.
Head of the Family:
Lady Sophie Augusta Roden (neé Webb)
The White family are devoted to their honour and stalwarts of the Crown during peacetime or war. Many have seen real action in battle on land and sea and have travelled widely, but maintaining a regiment has its expenses...
Head of the Family:
Colonel Leighton-White
Service
All gentry, to a greater or lesser degree, will employ people in their household and may also directly employ others to work on their estate. For some servants, household service will be a family tradition and they will be able to count several generations in service to the same family or household.
Such employment relies solely on relations of good character, and upon the traditions of the great estates - there is nothing so formal or complex as a contract of employment (after all, most servants can neither read nor write). Although there might be a degree of informality between a lady and her maid, servants must generally be spoken to formally, with civility and addressed by surname.
Each of the major families are associated with specific names of trusted retainers. These individuals are not part of the family, but if encountered may be believed to be acting in their interest. There may be opportunities to play disenfranchised characters by these names.
Bond
Fairfax
Cecil
Reynolds
de Creassey
Hodges
Webb
Hill
White
Whittaker