The 23 Great Families are the aristocracy of the Imperio. From them the Imperial Electors choose a new Emperor when the old one dies, and they form the backbone of leadership among the military and bureaucracy, those public exams allow for any citizen to attempt to join the governmental ranks. While some occasionally style themselves by titles such a "Duke" or Warden of the ..." etc. these are not official titles, though is they manage to stick for a century or so they are unofficially recognized. The original 23 families were simple wealthy and/or talented families that aided in the formation of the Imperio, now three centuries later they see themselves as a proven aristocracy, but are not yet an hereditary nobility. While not usually as organized as the Imperial Electors, each family has it's own means of selecting it's leader and heirs, and direct heredity is rarely the case, with merit or at least politicking the main force behind choosing a leader of a family. Wealth is still more an effective of leadership than a cause of aristocracy, many of the wealthiest merchants or families in the Empire are not among the 23. Partly this is because even the 23 must pass imperial bureaucratic exams or military exams to join the governmental ranks, and partly because whether due to War, the Murk, or other dangers, the 23 have a much higher death rate than the average wealthy merchant family (and even they have a higher death rate if they actually travel as opposed to manage their trading). There are also many examples of individuals or whole branches of the 23 families that are as or more incompetent or dissolute as the worst of the common or merchants classes both. Several notable cases of children of Emperors and military or bureaucratic leaders being disasters when selected merely for family have minimized open corruption, nepotism and blatant incompetence. Also the 23 families are not permanently fixed, every 33 years the Imperial Electors may nominate up to three candidate families to either be added to removed from the total list, by selection of the Emperor from these nominations. So far, the total number has been kept at 23, either because of tradition or superstition depending on who you ask, but even the earliest tradition says this method may be used to expand or contract the number of families. So far the system has been used to prune under-performing or allegedly dangerous families on several occasions in the Imperio's history. Those families pruned have so far not experience a political resurgence, but at least two have retained or reacquired wealth and influence outside the 23. Those added to the 23 have not always excelled but perhaps due to the fear of the consequences of serious failure have never been kicked out again.
Some of the best known of the 23 Great Families are:
The Lang: Known for the 1st Emperor and several more (including the previous Emperor) and as a wealthy family connected to various Inns and Trading concerns went not serving in the bureaucracy or military.
The Fu: Known for siring wizards and heroes both as well as a couple Emperors, their power outside the government is in the Alchemists Guild and the Wizards Guild.
The Suwu: Known for siring naval heroes and admirals and being connected with much of the seafaring merchants, shipbuilders and chandleries. Also allegely related to Suwu Kong the 'Immortal' Monkey King.
The Kai: Known for one Emperor and their skills as mechanicians, artisans, artists etc. Naturally they are connected to the Mechanicians Guild.
The Jao: Allegedly descended from the Immortals 'Elder Jao' and 'The Maiden," they were involved in the formation of the Lampioneers and have many connections to traders and sea captains, and are also credited with inventing the paddle wheel boats.
The Egg: Allegedly descended from the Immortal 'Egg the Doctor' and so connected with apothecaries, chemists, herbalists and to a lesser degree than the Fu known for wizards, especially the mysterious Egg Shen.
The Chang: Known mostly as soldiers and warriors. Said to have invented the Fire Lance, their armories are still said to make the best firelances and other firearms.
The Li: Known as scholars and philosophers as well as artists. Known for the Li Apothecary shops.
The Shao: Known for mathematicians, book keepers, accountants, and bureaucrats. Also known for the Shao Surveyors and Architects.
The Shaw: Known as adventures and entertainers oddly enough, said to have invented or imported the concertina instrument, also known for the Shaw Mercenary Legion and Training Academy. The Shaw Travelling Operas are also well known throughout the Imperio, especially their Grand Paddle Wheel Opera House.
The Ruan: Known as bankers and money lenders when not serving in the bureaucracy or military.
The other 12 are less well known (and I'm leaving room for myself as GM).
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