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Heraldry: A Winged, Golden Crown.
Seat: Knightsborrow (Off Island)
Lord: Zelanze Balestra
Heir: Ariel Balestra
Reputation, Standing, and Favor: Known for it's relief aid and a strong reputation of adventurers, this house maintains a significant position in the eyes of the smallfolk. Tournament wins, grand monster slayings, and victory amongst wars has built a storied history on this house that spreads rumors and sweeping stories. In spite of all of this, this house is small and fledgling. Only founded recently, and with only one significant landing to call upon, it's place in the overall hierarchy is not so prominent as their reputation may lead one to believe.
Primary Income: While reputation stands that their income comes from their various adventures, the reality is no house can stand on "adventure". In truth most of this house's income comes from trades, owning the trade route from Knightsborrow to Port, and then from Port to and Etlan port, means the island has direct trade to the mainland through the house.
Military Strength: Weak, as a fledgling house the only might they have militarily is in Knightsborrow at no more than 500 men. These men represents the town's guard as well as a defensive force. The S.S Faithful is a dependable ship, but it is not a warship and within Knightsborrow's walls they only have enough weapons to supply their men and a few ballistas, cannons, and mortars. Furthermore, Knightsborrow lacks proper highwalls. While it is inarguable they could defend themselves it is difficult to imagine this house fighting a major conflict.
Detailed Description:
House Balestra is one of the smallest known noble houses in Kasuria, but is quite well known for it's humble stature. Often considered a house of heroes and adventurers by the common folk many believe most of it's income and standing come from their grand adventures and heroic deeds in the name of the people, though in reality most of the platinum comes in from trades and deals.
Though such deals are hard fought as House Balestra has little in the way of political allies due to it's refusal to enter in to "pety" conflicts or take sides in wars between noble houses, and those that do ally with this House often only do so superficially to appease their citizenship when stories of heroic deeds hit their ears. The slaying of the Great Ice Dragon in Guildereim, or the Great Fire Dragon over Bannissard. The battle against a Drakorian invading force or the victory at a King's tournament. The raid on a pirate stronghold off of Eileadora or the defeat of the Dire Beasts of the northern lands. Any one of these stories alone brought respect to the name in the eyes of starry eyes youths.
In a practical sense the one or two solid relations they have allow them to control the trade route from the lower Kasurian Mountains and in to Port Lathora where they have created a thriving trade through their lands there, the small town known as "Knightsborrow". House Balestra's most prized possession is arguably The S.S Faithful, it's famous Airship powered by mysterious levistone. Requiring no blimp and unnaturally quick, the ship sails in both air and water alike.
House Balestra can be summed up quite simply as a house that is more popular with smallfolk than nobles, yet is welcomed in to those fancy ballrooms and hollowed halls as a matter of ceremony and almost begrunged respect.
Estate Dream: The dream is usually uploaded in the TGT dream room. It's url is furc://zelanzebalestra:balestraestate
