Riddermark Family
The Riddermark family is a moderately influential noble primongenetor family of Wydmoor Free City and one of the First Families of Wydmoor. Historically, this was a minor plantation-owning family prior to the Third Interregnum, but gained significant power due to their support of Odriss Rockheart. They have remained the preminent agrigultural familiy due both to their large land holding and to their secondary enterprises in peat mining. In the 700 years since their rise to prominence, their power has waxed and waned, and although they have never been among the most powerful noble families, they have historically enjoyed strong populist support and a reasonable standing.
Business
Agriculture is the cornerstone business of Riddermark and its client families, and they are one of the largest landholders in the agricultural regions around Wydmoor. Their success in this area is augmented by their secondary investment in peat mining--a dangerous and limited activity in the cursed Wydmoor Swamp, but one that significantly improves the quality of the family's farmland. Their main products are grain, but they also have significant investments in hemp and botanical medicines. A significant chunk of their income comes from city subsidies to support their grain reserves and distribution projects.
A secondary, albeit minor, source of income for the family comes from their excursions into the swamp to collect resources. While the dangers inherent in the swamp prevent widespread excursions, they also keep virtually all competetors out of the region. In fact, this family must sustain a relatively large contingent of guardsmen, as well as provide subsidies to the Bog Wraiths, to support these operations. However, the Riddermarks have earned a virtual monopoly on peat, which not only augments their agriculture, but also is a commodity of its own. Their operations also provide other valuable resources like medical botanicals, which they cultivate, and rare bog iron, which draws a high value on the market for its supernatural qualities.
Despite the Riddermark's success in these venutres, they hold only a small share of the Red Iron mines of Iros Forge, a fact that severely impacts their income relative to more powerful families.
Politics
Amongst the the First Families of Wydmoor, the Riddermark family holds only a minor to moderate amount of power. Their low stakes in the Iros Forge mines are one factor in this. A second is that the cost of protecting their agricultural land and supporting their own small armed force is a significant burden. Still, their agricultural yields are high and reliable, and their role sustaining the cities strategic grain reserves earns them significant political capital.
Beyond the spheres of noble politicing, the family enjoys a strong reputation. The Riddermark's role in the the regular grain handouts to the citizens and pilgrims of Wydmoor is not lost on the impoverished warrenfolk. As a result, the family has strong populist support, although recent events have dampened it. Also, the family has a strong relationship with the Bog Wraiths, and many members of the famous mercenary organization cut their teeth providing military support for the Riddermark's swamp industries.
Client Families
The following minor families claim the Riddermark lineage:
- Mead -- This family is largely responsible for the peat mining operations, and provides a significant amount of the military support for the family's operations.
- Peelhr -- A somewhat degenerate branch of the family that maintains the largest parcel of agricultural lands, but is best known for producing a pungent wheat liquor distilled over peat fires and seasoned with herbs.
- Harm -- This ironically-named family has a long history of apotheocarys and alchemists, and are known to produces a number of tintictures, balms, and curatives from swamp flora.
- Lilliri -- The most industrial of the families, they run a modestly lucrative textile industry using primarily Riddermark-grown hemp.
