Literally looking down on the rest of the city from the northern clifftops, East Zabrial's elite have had an easier ride than most of Christoté's. A mixture of liberal tax laws and a rather deferential culture – in that it prizes a fixed social hierarchy – have allowed to keep their pre-eminence for centuries. Some of the wealthy families today were wealthy under Tars Tukas. Though the Tukas' themselves have pretty much vanished their other members of the Triumvirate, the Neslans and the Alcanti, still prosper. a family history stretching back aeons isn't always required for membership to the elite – in true Christotan style, money is power – but it helps. One definite change over the years, however, has been the attitude to politics by the East Zabric elite. There seems to be little concern that few of their number make it to the top of the federal government anymore. The more restless can get onto the Town Council – Allyan Zanti being one example – and occasionally they provide a Baron of Zabrial, but that's it. They are similarly indifferent towards the rebellion, the odd Zacci Eustace aside. There's a feeling that they are complacently waiting for independence to arrive, whereupon they will stroll down the cliffs and retake command. Perhaps they will, though the democratically-minded, middle-class Partisans leaders may say something about this. The top families have acquired their wealth from an indiscriminately wide range of sources. Commercial fleets are seen as a gentleman's true occupation, however, and most of East Zabrial's shipping is in the hands of a very few families. Considering how little they contribute to it, the elite clans spend a surprising amount of time in East Zabrial. Some spend years enjoying the fleshpots of the Triple Cities. But it is traditionally only the three 'high summer' months that they escape the heat and smells of their homes. The most popular resort is Bells Dale on the eastern flanks of the Campbells. Just off the Moretti Road and in the heart of Christoté's wine district, the flanks of the valley are dominated by luxurious villas.
The Zanti
Probably the most prominent family of the last fifty years, though tottering somewhat recently. The Zanti are comparatively new intruders, having 'only' been rich since the 1100's. Patrician aristocrats still sneer at the fact that their effective founding father was a shopkeeper from Gesund. Today, though, they command a shipping fleet, own various bits of real estate – mainly around the South Reach Canal, together with bits of land in the Vale of Ancetto – and effectively control the spice trade thanks to a nebulous arrangement with an Ellniss consortium. The Zanti have never been able to buy a sufficiently large house on Dolpass Avenue, East Zabrial's most exclusive street, so settle with a huge mansion on Northside Road instead. The family today is headed by Mezrel, 55 years old, haughty and supremely egotistical. He is chiefly a businessman but does occasional work for the Baron of Zabrial, mainly as an arbitrator in disputes. This is ironic given what is happening in his own family. Five years ago Mezrel divorced his long-standing wife, Buski, and married a much younger woman, Maen. Maen has so far given him one young daughter. This is quite standard practice amongst the nobility but Buski, having quite an ego of her own, refused to accept the humiliation. She has launched what is ostensibly a campaign to get a better divorce settlement, really an attempt to destroy her ex-husband. Her eldest son, Asman, a daughter and her own rich family have supported her. Meanwhile another daughter, the formidable Allyan, has remained loyal to Mezrel. Nobody is sure how far this feud is going to spread.