Nobility

Rowan-Oak is ruled by sidhe nobles of the Seelie Court, with the exception of the Barony of Fair Oaks, recenty settled upon a boggan Lord Mayor, the freehold of Tinker's Dam, long held by a nocker motley, and the Shire of Buckthorn, held by untitled commoners who pay lip-service to the Countess' rule. The larger part of Rowan-Oak is divided into the Countess' personal holding of Ondomorna, the Barony of Fair Oaks, the Barony of Ben Bison, and the knightly Fief of Tyr-o-yr Glas.

Once derelict, the Barony of Baywood to the southwest beyond Ben Bison has lately been reclaimed. To reward the two sidhe whose quest restored the long-abandoned corner of her demense, Rosamund has granted them the barony in fealty to her. Rumor is rife that this is but the first step in a maneuver to reclaim as well the county's former holdings across the river: the extensive Barony of Iron Mountain. For ever since the death of the late Count Vathek of Rowan-Oak, the lord of Iron Mounain, Clay ap Ailil has refused to answer Rosamund's call to fealty. Clay's baronial freehold is well hidden, and the countess has been unable to enforce her suzerainity.

he countess in turn 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 Excellency, Rosamund ap Fiona, Countess of Rowan-Oak
• Her Ladyship, Ausmandine ap Fiona, Baroness 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

Few commoners in the county hold titles. The heir to the county, Rosamund's satyr son Almond, has the rank of knight but holds no territories. Elmer Brickie, a boggan, holds both the rank of Baron of Fair Oaks and the freehold of Pine Hall, and is the sole titled commoner to have been granted a freehold in the county. Most commoners who have freeholds in their care, such as the Buckthorn Tragos or 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 Lady Quave, been honored with a knighthood. As a dame and personal attendant to a ruling countess, Jane Marlow is accorded the honorific of Lady, although she holds no territories in her own right. Rosamund's ennoblement of a kinain is not wholly without precedent, but is highly controversial nonetheless.

Turn back to the Freeholds page, read on regarding the commoners of the county, or exit to the Shortcuts