The influence of the magical Heartswood Forest - the epicenter of Myzelis’ Leylines - at the center of Gylidd Syn Aethri has promoted a gregarious and generally selfless system of governance. However, the cities outside that metropolis gain distance from systems of social welfare and direct democracy just as easily as they gain distance in miles. While no literal monarchies exist, compounded political clout and centuries of hereditary inheritance led to the emergence of Merchant Lords, powerful families that replicate the status and influence of feudal society.
The cities with the highest concentrations of Merchant Lords are Ormtona and Kor, both of the major ports leading into the heart of Gylidd. Since the Brume cuts the Binding Sea in half between the two ports, nearly all commerce that travels to Gylidd Syn Aethri must pass through these cities to gain access to leylines on the far side of the island. Although the government of the island has strict measures to prevent the Realm’s economy from falling into the hands of a few trading companies, there is still a lot of money to be made from the opportunity of being in the right place at the right time.
Like traditional nobility, these Merchant Lords have domains and vassals, as well as hirelings and mercenaries. Among these mercenaries, some are rewarded with domain and vassals of their own instead of gold. When combined with generational inheritance and sworn fealty to their Lord, these mercenaries assume the responsibilities and powers of something akin to a knight - with varying degrees of the gravitas. While most Merchant Lord families are only locally noteworthy, some have had scions of their houses reborn as Inaethri, which give them particular status even among the other Lords. Particularly noteworthy families and their Inaethri (if applicable) are listed below.
