ord, Duke of Corham, is Baron Godfrey's feudal overlord. He is growing well-known as a leader of the Loyalist faction—the nobles who believe that a Regent should govern Camberland until the true line of Melenor reappears. Rumor says that he is an aging man, a blunt-spoken and stubborn counselor, and a clever strategist. He does not like fighting among his vassals, and if it gets out of hand will crush it—Baron Godfrey has several times been called out by the Duke to quell another noble. His castle, Caer Cowyr, is a many-walled stronghold of great antiquity.

You know of several other great noble houses. The Duke of Aberwys holds lands mostly to the east of Allardsby; the Duke of Thrawn's lands lie to the south. Not every vassal of the crown is a duke: among the most powerful fiefs is that of Sir John of Courcewall, in the heart of the Amber Vale, who holds direct from the King.

A powerful house of a quite different sort is the Armorers' Guild. Most guilds cover a single city or small region; the Armorers' Guild spans the entire kingdom. The Grand Master Armorer, Magister Waldemar, has as much practical power as any noble. You have heard of him because of his fabulous, reportedly limitless wealth: the Armorers have interests in banking and commerce, not just craft.