A baron was a powerful noble in Araluen who ruled over a fief. Those who bore the title of baron were responsible for ruling the Fiefs of Araluen but were required to take an oath of servitude to the King. In Arrida, a Wakir is the Arridi equivalent of a baron. The barons have varying degrees of power, which were each usually tied to the fief they served. Baron Arald has seniority among the Barons of Araluen. There were fifty barons: one for each fief, where they lived in their castles. However, there were currently 49 fiefs as Gorlan Fief has been deserted ever since the First Araluen Civil War, though there are still people living there. If a major crime is committed, the fief's baron acts as judge. The Gallican equivalent of a Baron was a Warlord, such as Lord Deparnieux of Château Montsombre, although other nobleman take the title, such as Baron Joubert de Lassigny. Baron was also a rank in Teutlandt, as, after his banishment, Denison worked as the commander of Baron Heinrich von Grall of Teutlandt's foresters. However, unlike Araluen, where advancement depended on performance and loyalty, in Gallica and Teutlandt, baronies were commonly sold by the countries' kings to the highest bidder.
Each Baron possesses a unique crest and most are knights who bare their crests on their armour. Baron Arald bares a golden boar's head on a blue background, Morgarath's symbol was a yellow lightning bolt over black and Lassigny's symbol is a stylised yellow hawk.
Barons[]
Current[]
- Baron Arald, of Redmont
- Baron Ergell, of Seacliff
- Baron Fergus, of Caraway
- Baron Tyler, of Drayden
- Baron Remeer, of Dacton
- Baron Scully, of Trelleth
- Baron Carrol, of Keramon
- Baron Thorn
- Baron Naylor
- Baron Peller
- Baron Cordell
- Baron Meagher
- Baron Siskin
- Baron Hexel[1]
Former[]
- Morgarath, of Gorlan (stripped of the title and banished for his betrayal of the kingdom)
- Baron Douglas, of Highcliff (arrested for treachery)
- Baron Joubert de Lassigny of Château des Falaise (killed by Will, Madelyn and Halt during a duel with Horace Altman
- ↑ Duel at Araluen, chapter Epilogue - "'Wild goose chase,' he said as he reined Tug in beside the verandah. 'A couple of fanatics shouting slogans and trying to stir up the countryside. Not that they had much luck with that. Halt threw them in a duckpond and that seemed to cool them down. Baron Hexel locked them up in jail for good measure."