Bann

Title

Banns make up the bulk of Feralden's nobility. There are a great many banns with widely varying levels of power throughout the kingdom. When the banns speak with one voice, they are the greatest power in Feralden, but this is rare, for they’re a quarrelsome lot. Trivial feuds, which occasionally give rise to petty wars, are far from unknown among the banns.

• Nobility in Feralden is hereditary but not exclusive. It is possible for commoners to become nobles through deeds and service, which stands in stark contrast to nations like Roarlais. Perhaps the most famous example of this is Loghain Mac Tir, who rose from nothing to become one of Feralden’s teyrns. The most common nobles in Feralden are the knights, heavy foot soldiers who swear direct allegiance to an arl, bann, teyrn, or the king/queen. Many young nobles, knowing they will not inherit a position unless an elder sibling dies unexpectedly, turn to adventuring to make a reputation for themselves.

Duties

They must fight for their people against all threats.

Benefits

The nobles of Feralden do not own the land. They likely have some small holdings, with more powerful or influential lords controlling progressively greater keeps or fortresses, but it is the freeholders that actually own the farms, the crops they produce, and the profits that come from selling their goods.

Grounds for Removal/Dismissal

A group of freeholders dissatisfied with the protection they are getting from their local bann can remove their patronage and give it to another bann—though likely one within a fairly short riding distance.

Type

Nobility, Non-hereditary

Status

Active

Source of Authority

It is the commoners who are actually the patrons of the nobility.

Length of Term

Each freehold chooses which bann it gives allegiance to and the decision is renewed each year.

Reports directly to

teyrns

Related Organizations

• Feralden