Author's Note: This is not another story, it's just a quick, written guide to the noble families and important characters in my series, The Legend of Zelda: Demise's Gate. I realized I'm expanding the universe quickly and usually without much exposition so this is here to help with that. I hope this helps tie things together! Enjoy!
oOo
A guide to the Noble and Powerful families of Hyrule
By Minister Simen Kalwin, Minister of Religion for King Gustaf Nohansen Hyrule I
House Hyrule
Coat of Arms: The Golden Triforce with the wings and Talons of a thunderbird on a blue field
Current Head: Gustaf Nohansen Hyrule
Heir: Zelda Nohansen Hyrule
The Hyrule family is said to be descended from the Goddess Hylia herself, is the Royal family of Hyrule and as such, is the most powerful. House Hyrule was established 1700 years ago by Zeldin Harkinian Hyrule and came to rule the land under his daughter, Zelda Harkinian Hyrule I. In the era before the unification of Hyrule, the Houses fought amongst each other and were divided into their own kingdoms but when a threat to all of them surfaced, warlord known only as 'The Demon King', House Hyrule, Zelda Harkinian Hyrule I especially, used their extraordinarily powerful magical ability to bring them together into one kingdom, Zelda becoming Hyrule's first queen. The fabled Hero of Legend is intrinsically tied to House Hyrule.
House Lirien
Coat of Arms: A golden eagle on a green field
Current Head: Jakob Lirien
Heir: None
The Lirien family have always been close friends to House Hyrule and are currently the most powerful house in the land, next to the royal family, of course. In ancient times, House Lirien were the ruling family of the Kingdom of Liria, the King, Rivius Lirien, bending the knee to Zelda Harkinian Hyrule I after seeing firsthand the threat that was coming and Zelda Harkinian Hyrule I's ability to stop it. Strong of mind and body, House Lirien has spawned many heroes and commanded quite a few armies but what's even more exceptional is their ambition and innate skill with a blade.
House Stern
Coat of Arms: An orange phoenix on a black field
Current Head: Halston Stern
Heir: Toron Stern
House Stern is descended from the royal family of Sterndon, a kingdom that existed before Hyrule's unification. King Durif Stern bent the knee to Zelda Harkinian Hyrule I after his armies suffered a quick defeat at the hands of "The Demon King". House Stern has been loyal to House Hyrule and at one point even surpassed House Lirien as House Hyrule's closest allies and the second most powerful House in Hyrule. Many Lords and Ladies of House Stern have married Princes and Princesses of House Hyrule, a practice that has continued into the modern day. The Stern's are known for their imposing appearance and physical strength. It is said that; choosing to fight a Stern in his prime is to choose death.
House Ashcroft
Coat of Arms: A silver diamond on a violet field
Current Head: Ronas Ashcroft
Heir: Sienna Ashcroft
House Ashcroft were never Kings, they aren't strong of body, talented with a blade or bow and their minds can only be described as average. The Ashcrofts of today are descended from farmers, being afforded lordship in Hyrule by luck. 700 years prior, a commoner by the name of Korus Ashcroft, while digging a well for his farm, stumbled upon diamonds instead. He quickly unearthed more and turned his well into a mine, using his newfound wealth to seek out more. Aside from decor and jewelry, diamonds are used to make Hyrule's currency, rupees. House Ashcroft capitalized heavily on this, becoming the crown's largest supplier of diamonds and then, the most wealthy family in the land, a distinction that quickly elevated them to the upper echelons of Hyrulean society. There are whispers that someday soon, gold and silver will take diamond's place as Hyrule's currency, Lord Ronas Ashcroft vehemently denies this, however.
House Dearing
Coat of Arms: A bucking red stag on a dark yellow field
Current Head: Rogan Dearing
Heir: Aleksandr Dearing
The Dearings have been Knights in Hyrule's service for as long as anyone can remember, having come with the kingdom of Lyria after House Lirien pledged themselves to House Hyrule. The young Lord Aleksandr Dearing is the one most seen leading the house these days as his father, Rogan, did not marry until late in life and is enjoying his later years while leaving his son to lead the house. The Dearings have a decent intellect for combat, are talented with a sword and bow and are capable of keeping their heads calm and clear even in the most dire of situations, a trait that has earned them recognition from the royal family and other nobles. The Dearings are known as the wardens of the east Lanayru province, being the first to respond if any raiders emerge from the desert.
House Thalmont
Coat of Arms: A black ram's head on a white field
Current Head: Halkkon Thalmont
Heir: None
While being mildly talented fighters, the Thalmonts found their fortune in their business skills. 300 years prior, Noren Thalmont founded Hyrule's first bank, the Golden Bank of the Westlands. House Thalmont does not only safeguard the finances of Nobles, but commoners and smallfolk as well, earning them enough wealth to rival House Ashcroft. Due to their wealth, the Thalmonts quickly became landed Knights, then Lords, the Royal family recognizing House Thalmont for their many contributions to funding tourneys and wars. It is known that the Thalmonts have a hand in much of Hyrule's goings on, some well known, others, not so much.
House Lywater
Coat of Arms: A black falcon holding a sword in it's talons on a white field
Current Head: Alessa Lywater
Heir: None
House Lywater is one of Hyrule's newest Noble houses, it's past tied to the fabled Hero of Legend. House Lywater's founder, the Knight Ashei Lywater, earned recognition through her service during the Twilight War, taking part in many battles and even storming the Castle with the resistance when the usurper took Princess Zelda Nohansen Hyrule I hostage. After the usurper's defeat, Ashei was made the Lady of her own noble house, married famed scholar, Shad Gram, and settled in Ordona Province.
House Talon
Coat of Arms: a bucking red horse with a white mane on a dark yellow field
Current Head: Aldous Talon
Heir: Sara Talon
House Talon dates back at least 700 years, the first mention being made of them in Hyrule Historia during the mythical age. It is said the farmer, Talon, and his daughter, Malon, aided the oft-mentioned Hero of Legend in his battle against a usurper and once the usurper was dealt with and Zelda Rhysling Hyrule IV was restored to the throne the Talon family was raised to lordship. Originally farmers, the family's manor now stands on the site of their former farm within walking distance of Castle Town.
House Svelheim
Coat of Arms: A blue flame on a silver field
Current Head: Trond Svelheim
Heir: None
House Svelheim is an ancient house that once served House Stern before the unification. Exceptionally skilled with magic, the Svelheims have served as the crown's instructors and ministers of Sorcery for hundreds of years.
House Crenissa
Coat of Arms: a blazing torch on a blue field
Current Head: Vera Crenissa
Heir: Erik Crenissa
House Crenissa is known as the most intelligent of Hyrule's houses, having served in many battles as strategists, analyzing enemy movements and forming the best method with which to counter them. House Crenissa started as court historians 200 years prior and were raised to lordship due to their loyal service to the crown.
House Brashford
Coat of Arms: a golden bull on a brown field
Current Head: Jon Brashford
Heir: Rin Brashford
House Brashford were formerly the stablehands of House Lirien, taking great care of their steeds until a century ago when their House's founder, Ronnel Brashford, saved the life of Lord Mikael Lirien after the latter was attacked by a pack of Bokoblins. Ronnel rode one of his Lord's warhorses into the fray and chased the assailants off. Mikael Lirien made Ronnel a Lord and since then the Brashfords have been loyal friends to House Lirien.
House Holden
Coat of Arms: A black mountain lion on a red field
Current Head: Waller Holden
Heir: Kriston Holden
House Holden was established 500 years ago, they first made a small fortune selling furs and pelts, eventually coming to own most of the land around them, demanding a fee from those who wished to hunt within said land. This lead to House Holden amassing more wealth and becoming important enough in the Faron Province to become Lords. It is not uncommon for a soldier to find themselves serving under a Holden Knight as the family is known to be quite large.
House Halland
Coat of Arms: Two crossed, frozen swords colored in white on a blue field
Current Head: Tristan Halland
Heir: None
House Halland rose to prominence during the Mythical Era as their founder, Edmund Halland, was called upon to use his unrivaled skill in ice sorcery to thaw the frozen Zora's domain, bringing them back into the war against the usurper. The aid of the Zora was invaluable and in turn, Edmund Halland was elevated to lordship, his House not only keeping ice magic alive but continuing to be unrivaled in it's usage.
Extinct Houses
House Dastin
Coat of Arms: A silver serpent coiled around a sword on an orange field
Last Known Head: Morrick Dastin
Today, House Dastin are known to be fools. They were a minor house. Being lords of a small portion of Eldin Province, they were able to convince the mayor of Kakariko to join them along with a few lesser, not quite noble, families and waited until a tourney in the Lanayru Province which they knew the King would attend. Once there, they launched an attack, relying on the element of surprise in order to prevail but were still defeated within hours by the forces of the other Houses assembled at the tourney. The Lords of House Dastin were executed for treason shortly thereafter, the mayor of Kakariko managed to escape while the heads of the other families were killed during the battle.
House Blackmoore
Coat of Arms: a black wyvern on a crimson field
Last Known Head: Braudin Blackmoore
Before Braudin Blackmoore had his land and titles stripped from him for treason, house Blackmoore was a proud house that had close ties to House Hyrule. During the First Age, House Blackmoore's founder, Byron Blackmoore, was the advisor to the King of a small kingdom named Tyria, the King in question refused to bend the knee to Zelda Harkinian Hyrule I and vowed to face "The Demon King" on his own. Byron Blackmoore, however, did not approve of this idea and raised the kingdom in revolt after seeing the fate of the nearby Kingdom of Desmeria. After this, Byron Blackmoore pledged his loyalty to the Hyrule and allowed Tyria to become part of the unified kingdom of Hyrule. Many Blackmoores married into the royal family and vice versa, the two families intermingling their blood and becoming close. This ended in the Rhysling era when Crown Prince Alecor Rhysling Hyrule refused to marry his betrothed, Cyara Blackmoore, who then threw herself from the highest tower of Castle Blackmoore. This caused her father, Lord Brydon Blackmoore, to rise in revolt against House Hyrule, many families coming to his aid. This ended with House Blackmoore taking the throne and the remaining Hyrules being exiled to Termina. Years later, Zelda Rhysling Hyrule III retook her family's throne, pardoning the remaining Blackmoores and allowing them to still exist as a house, though a much less powerful one. As of today, Braudin Blackmoore is believed to be alive but his whereabouts are unknown.
House Desemir
Coat of Arms: a Golden Dragon on black field
Last Known Head: Halderich Desemir
The royal family of the ancient kingdom of Desmeria, House Desemir was, by far and wide, the most powerful house during the First Age, controlling half of modern day Hyrule and some of what is now Termina and Labrynna. The Desemir's were powerful shadowmancers who used their abilities to bend dragons, wyverns, wyrms and other powerful creatures to their will. Halderich Desemir, the last King of Desmeria used this power to conquer more and more of the continent until "The Demon King" rose. Zelda Harkinian Hyrule I attempted to convince Halderich to join her but the King rebuffed her. He attempted to fight the Demon King on his own and his kingdom was destroyed in only five days. In the present day, remnants of Desmeria can be found scattered around Hyrule, the site of the capital city of Desmer is now a chasm near Death Mountain. The story of Halderich Desemir and Desmeria is now used as a cautionary tale to warn against pridefulness.
House Nohansen
Coat of Arms: A red lion on a blue field
Last Known Head: Daphnes Nohansen
House Nohansen was a powerful noble house during the Second Great Sealing War. The Youngest son, Daphnes Nohansen was married to the Princess of House Hyrule to secure their allegiance and merge their houses. Unfortunately, all three of Daphnes elder brothers were killed during the war, leaving Daphnes as it's last member, the house dying with him but living on in the names of the current members of House Hyrule.
House Rhysling
Coat of Arms: a silver Knight wielding a sword on a gold field
Last Known Head: Laurent Rhysling
The Rhyslings were renowned Knights and warriors, known for their skill with swords, bows and lances. The Rhyslings once rivaled the Liriens and the Sterns in terms of power in Hyrule but with the last Rhysling lord's marriage to a Hyrulean Princess during the First Hyrulean Civil War, the house ceased to be.
House Harkinian
Coat of Arms: A golden thunderbird, wings spread, on a black field
Last Known Head: Aurelius Harkinian
House Harkinian was one of the greatest houses of the First Age. The Harkinian family was gifted with light magic and was said to be descended from the Goddess Hylia just as House Hyrule was. Naturally, the Harkinians married into House Hyrule frequently, doing so until "The Demon King" rose to power, his army sweeping across the continent. As his force's weakness was light magic, the Harkinians stood at the forefront of the unified Hyrulean army against him, each and every member of House Harkinian being slain during the final battle with the exception of the Zelda Harkinian Hyrule's mother, Sarina Harkinian. House Harkinian's name may have been replaced by the Rhysling name four centuries later, but the Hyrule's still pay tribute to their heroic ancestors.