Sure thing.  So, more ideas...<br/><br/>The reason Nadesh is so large is because it used to be the capital of a third kingdom several hundred years ago.  This third kingdom was constantly attacked by both of the larger ones, as well as facing a problem with the uncivilized groups to the south, who were able to sack town after town thanks to the kingdom sending most of its troops off to war with the other kingdom.  Eventually, Nadesh was signed over to the current kingdom as part of a surrender, around two hundred years ago or so.<br/><br/>By the way, I think I'll call Nadesh's current ruling kingdom Damascus, and the opposing kingdom Tamalir.  The third kingdom was also called Nadesh.<br/><br/>So, on to the houses.  I'll come up with more ideas to flesh them out later, but I'm thinking the current ruling house is led by an elf that's old enough to remember Nadesh as a kingdom instead of merely a city, and was good friends with the king that signed the treaty.  One of the noble houses is descended from the old king, and was the ruler of the city for a while until they started to lose favor with the people.  Both of those houses swear fealty to Damascus.<br/><br/>Of the other three houses, two of them pledge to Tamalir, while the third tries to remain neutral, but is under pressure from both sides to throw its vote one way or the other; if they backed Tamalir as well, a revolt in the city would likely follow.<br/><br/>Before I go on though, I want to try and figure out the city's economics; mainly, why it's able to stay prosperous and why it's so valuable to both kingdoms.  Thoughts?