History Main / LegacyOfService

* The Butler family in ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' has been serving the Fowl family for a long time (the earliest recorded relationship between the two families dates back to the Third Crusade).

* In ''{{Mouse}}'', Mei Momozono came from the family that served Sorata Muon's family ([[LegacyCharacter Mouse House]]) for generations. For her it was more fun, though.

--> --''{{Blackadder}}''

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* A ''{{Blackadder}}'' always seems to end up with a Baldrick as a servant or something or other regardless of his status. What's interesting about this is that we actually ''see'' the bond being formed in the first episode, something we don't usually see in other examples of this trope.

* In ''SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'', four of the Rangers come from families that serve the clan of the fifth, Shinkenred.

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* The original story for [[{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]]'s butler, Alfred Pennyworth, whose father, Jarvis, had been Thomas Wayne's butler. This particular version of Alfred was canon until FrankMiller's ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'', which established that Alfred had himself been Thomas Wayne's butler/valet, and had worked for the Wayne family since before Thomas and Martha Wayne were killed.

* The original story for [[{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]]'s butler, Alfred Pennyworth, whose father, Jarvis, had been Thomas Wayne's butler. This particular version of Alfred was canon until FrankMiller's ''BatmanYearOne'', which established that Alfred had himself been Thomas Wayne's butler/valet, and had worked for the Wayne family since before Thomas and Martha Wayne were killed.

** Also, PlayedForLaughs with [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070601 the kid]] from a family of hereditary [[GraveRobbing grave robbers]].

* In the LiadenUniverse, the family firm of dea'Gauss have served as attorneys to Clan Korval through many generations. One of the prequels reveals that it was a dea'Gauss who did the paperwork for the founding of the Clan, centuries ago, and Korval has had them on retainer ever since.

* In ''FullmetalAlchemist'', Ling's bodyguards Lan Fan and Fu come from a family that has served the Royal Family for a long time.

* Although it's only in the first/second generation it seems likely that the Clinkscales and LaFollet's will become this for the [[HonorHarrington Harrington clan]]. In the case of the Clinkscales two generations have served her as Regent and Honor has actually formally adopted the clan as an extended part of the Harrington clan. In the case of the LaFollets at least four members of the clan have served her in various positions (two male members as bodyguards and two female members as maids/advisors).

* From ''[[SherlockHolmes The Hound of the Baskervilles]]'', John Barrymore, whose family has served the Baskervilles for generations.

Such servants are very likely to stick with the master should they ever become an ImpoverishedPatrician, like the OldRetainer. The servants can take any form, be it a [[{{Meido}} Maid]], a [[BattleButler But]][[TheJeeves ler]], TheIgor, the GirlFriday, or the KindlyHousekeeper. Can lead to BodyguardCrush. Keep in mind, of course, that the trope need not extend merely to servants, and that anything from lawyers or flower girls can be subject to this, too.

** There is also the flower lady who passes on Olivia's message to Mustang, who's family has [[MemeticMutation SERVED THE ARMSTRONG LINE FOR GENERATIONS]]!

* While not outright stated in ''VideoGames/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', a number of hints (in particular [[spoiler:a portrait in Hyrule Castle of the pirates' near-identical ancestors serving as Princess Zelda's retainers]]) suggest that Tetra's pirate crew has been loyal to her family for quite some time.

->'''Blackadder''': So has syphilis, now get out.

* DoctorStrange's manservant Wong is from a family whose ancestor, Kan, pledged that the firstborn males of his family would be dedicated to the service of the Sorcerer Supreme.

* DoctorStrange's manservant Wong is from a family whose ancestor, Kan, pledged that the firstborn males of his family would be dedicated to the service of the Sorcerer Supreme.

* The Shiekah of ''TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' has ever been faithful to the Royal Family of Hyrule, and has served them for generations as retainers, with Impa being the latest in a long line.

* The Butler family in ''ArtemisFowl'' has been serving the Fowl family for a long time (the earliest recorded relationship between the two families dates back to the Third Crusade).

** Also, PlayedForLaughs with [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070601 the kid]] from a family of hereditary [[GraveRobbing grave robbers]].

* ForgottenRealms has some. Cormyrean {{court mage}}s were direct descendants of Alea Dahast (elven magess) and Baerauble Etharr, the first High Wizard of Cormyr from 26 DR on, until Vangerdahast Aeiulvana retired in 1372 DR. Caladnei was the first chief War Wizard not of this bloodline.

* ''GirlGenius'' featured two such families:

** There's also a kinda-sorta-example with the Jagers, who serve the Heterodyne line, but it's complicated by the fact that the Jagers are very long-lived, basically sociopathic {{Super Soldier}}s; it's not so much a familial obligation as a species-wide one.

* ''YoungFrankenstein'': "My father worked for your father." --Igor

* ''[[YuGiOh Yu-Gi-Oh]]'': The Ishtar family has been serving the Pharaoh for thousands of years, most of that living in an underground labyrinth protecting his tomb. Resentment over this is a huge part of what fuels Marik's Start Of Darkness.

* ''KazeNoStigma'', where the first Arc is powered by the rebellion of a family of wind-ninjas who have been serving the Kannagi Clan for centuries, and have finally gotten tired of it.

** There is also the flower lady who passes on Olivia's message to Mustang, who's family has [[MemeticMutation SERVED THE ARMSTRONG LINE FOR GENERATIONS]].

* In ''{{Mouse}}'', Mei Momozono came from the family that served Sorata Muon's family ([[LegacyCharacter Mouse House]]) for generations. For her it was [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean more fun]], though.

* The BattleButtler Sayoko Shinozaki from Code Geass, she is the 37th sucessor of the Shinozaki school.