Thay has a strict and nuanced hierarchy of castes, with nobles at the highest levels of influence and implicit grades of power within the upper crust.  The vast majority of Red Wizards and higher level clerics come from noble backgrounds, and most of Thay's governors and enclave leaders do, as well.  Those of Mulan blood are allowed to breed with other Mulan, outsiders, and some other races of interest (such as the yuan-ti).  As Thayan enclaves have become fixtures in far-flung cities, a number of Thayans have arranged sanctioned marriages with local aristocracy, as well.  To keep bloodlines "strong" and maintain their social structure, there are many laws surrounding marriage and birth and few Thayans find their desired match an easy goal to reach.

With each new marriage, and sometimes with individual births, nobles pledge their children to one house or another to avoid divided loyalties and feuds. Thereafter, a claimed child is considered to be the responsibility and asset of that house until their status changes. The family provides an upbringing befitting a high ranking citizen, and in exchange it can command the member's services when they reach adulthood. Unsanctioned births are treated with various levels of harshness, ranging from hefty fees to being expelled from the noble sphere to the child being seized as a slave or a sacrifice. Needless to say, most Thayans fear the consequences that could befall them enough to avoid unapproved births. 

Thayan noble houses that do not have a main family business or pursuit tend to splinter, as different family members try to steer the house in too many directions.  Some of the current houses split off from each other, such as the vicious battles that split House Malaerach into House Malaergost and House Onolath.  While some noble houses are in direct competition due to their interests, other houses compete simply to be the most prestigious.  Family lands are highly prized, as are notable magical items.  Many commoners and slaves are attached to noble estates and feud with the servants of rival houses. 

Thay's oldest families are inevitably tied to the nobles of Mulhorhand, although some changed their names when Thay broke free from the god-kings.  A few point to their family ties in Unther, Murghom, and Semphar.  Every now and again, someone tries to trace their lineage all the way back to the Great Artificers of Imaskar, but such attempts are always hotly debated. 

Rather than recording the years that houses were ennobled (and opening themselves up to all sorts of trouble), House Delizan tends to divide families into three categories.  Ancient houses were founded sometime in the years -2000 to -999 DR, middle houses formed from -1000 to 921 DR, and new houses have risen since Thay's independence.

Below are the 90 current noble houses of Thay and their major area(s) of interest, as of the 1375 Census in Eltabbar.  Since they are spread throughout the country, with family estates in and outside of major cities, each house has a variety of alignments, authority figures, and religions.  Given Thay's history, their noble houses separated from the gods of Mulhorand at the first opportunity and do not dedicate themselves to particular deities.  Ancient houses are marked in blue, middle houses are marked in brown, and newer houses are marked in green.

There are currently about 30,533 Thayans of noble blood on record. The 20 ancient houses maintain a strong base of 10,687 members, or around 534 per house. The 30 middle houses have the greatest number, with 13,740 nobles altogether (458 per house). The 40 latecomer noble families share 6,107 nobles, with about 153 members per house. At any given time about 385 Thayan nobles are living outside of the country on a permanent basis, but the vast majority stay close to the comforts and power of home.

Zolphas

Alchemical items

Csittanko

Antiques (nonmagical)

Mediocros

Arcane magic (abjuration)

Odesseiron

Arcane magic (conjuration)

Savrian

Arcane magic (divination)

Ashmeddai

Arcane magic (enchantment)

Thrul

Arcane magic (evocation)

Hunosel

Arcane magic (illusion)

Tam

Arcane magic (necromancy)

Rhym

Arcane magic (transmutation)

Aporos

Architecture (homes)

Hashtur

Architecture (public)

Dagrun

Armor (heavy)

Besklen

Armor (light)

Halphas

Armor (medium)

Gios

Art

Xemelenos

Bookbinding & restoration (spellbooks, scrolls, etc.)

Celski

Calligraphy & tattoos

Rothos

Calligraphy & tattoos

Darnak

Caravan trade

Wenz

Cooking, exotic foods, beer brewing

Volkos

Diplomacy

Zalios

Drugs

Gallegos

Entertainment & fashion

Focar

Exploration

Thullos

Exploration

Kos

Fishing

Vhol

Fishing

Eremal

Foodstuffs (fruit)

Nirresh

Foodstuffs (fruit)

Dervich

Foodstuffs (grains)

Lavartya

Foodstuffs (grains)

Sashenka

Fur trade

Dal

Gladitorial games

Delizan

Heraldry & history

Gordesh

Horse breeding & training

Lectos

Hunting & procurement (exotic beasts)

Mishkov

Hunting & procurement (exotic beasts)

Kallos

Illicit goods

Yaras

Jewelry (gems)

Zandranto

Jewelry (gems)

Givlich

Jewelry (gold, silver, etc.)

Lasko

Jewelry (gold, silver, etc.)

Thal

Landowning

Koraz

Magecraft (exotic components)

Quantoul

Magecraft (magical experimentation)

Yonago

Magecraft (research)

Belos

Magical arms & armor

Nath

Magical arms & armor

Imbros

Magical rings

Doruzed

Magical rods

Vizemod

Magical staffs

Qarto

Mercenary fighting

Rhaenys

Mercenary fighting

Indolf

Mining

Shanived

Mining

Govannon

Moneychanging

Nishka

Moneylending

Sun

Musical instruments

Ilmeth

Perfumes

Malaergost

Poisonmaking

Onolath

Poisonmaking

Agneh

Politics and leadership

Autorian

Politics and leadership

Flass

Politics and leadership

Nymar

Politics and leadership

Szordrin

Politics and leadership

Lloros

Potion brewing

Canos

Shipping, cartography, slave transport

Kul

Shipping, cartography, slave transport

Metron

Slave acquisition & training (alcohol brewing)

Xeraston

Slave acquisition & training (forging)

Zurn

Slave acquisition (enclaves)

Ankara

Slave acquisition (piracy)

Dasselath

Slave acquisition (planar)

Phan

Slave market

Tanzirk

Slave market

Baleth

Slave training (art)

Valgon

Slave training (courtesan) & acquisition

Eshunir

Slave training (high house)

Svarog

Slave training (leatherworking)

Parnath

Slave training (pottery)

Weslir

Slave training (weaving)

Kren

Timber

Elgroth

Timber

Omraj

Trapmaking (magical & otherwise)

Vantur

Weapons

Embian

Winemaking

Gozal

Winemaking

Lyundra

Wondrous items

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