Kredasene Clans

These geopolitical communities ammounted to little more than gangs of savages, bound together by their heathen customs and beliefs, serving in the shadow of those Perdition beasts they called dragons.

— Saints-Scholar Filipp Ilin on the history of the Kredasene clans

The Kredasene clans were kinship groups, each led by an hereditary clan häuptlinge (chief). Prior to the Raskvaerii invasion of Kredashmi, the country was divided up into seven geographic regions, which each belonged to a certain clan. Kredashmi's six former clan territories cover roughly the same geographic areas as the administrative regions of the modern day, with the exception of the newly created province of Karrkiy Podkhod (the Karr's Approach).
Towards the end of the Hubraic Era, these clans united behind a single König, drawn from the leaders of the Rhalen clan, who were considered chief amongst their number.

History

For the early part of the Hubraic Era, the history of the clans was largely oral, passing from elders to children down through the generations. While some of this history was written down in the aftermath of the Great Confiscation, historians think that around only 20% of the histories were recorded. The rest either died with clansmen during the Raskvaerii Invasion of Kredashmi, or were surpressed and eventually lost during the

Leather Bound Books by Chris Lawton

forced marriages between surviving family members and the conquerors.
Most of the histories that have survived have been demoted, in the modern age, to the status of myths and legends. The stories give a general sense of a country that was once fiercely divided over territory, sparking a vicious circle of kidnappings, murders and outright warfare.

Bonds of Kinship: Clan Membership and Organisation

A Village Wedding by Jan Steen

While clan chiefs did have extensive families, not everyone who claimed clan status was blood relation to the chief. Mostly, clan membership was based on a delicate relationship between communities and towns, who looked to their local chiefs as their lords and protectors, while also working the lord's lands and paying taxes to him. The clan chief could also call fit, elligable men over the age of fifteen to battle with him against rival clans.

Despite the best efforts of the Rasvkaerii to weaken these old allegiances, provincial villages, towns and cities remain fiercely loyal to their traditional clan families, many of which survive in the bloodlines of the Ses Regte (The Six Judges).

The Arrival of the Dragons

It is believed that the dragons first came to Kredashmi 324 HE, blown to the shores during a violent storm. It is said that many of those who sheltered in Drachenruhebaai (or 'Dragonsrest Bay') were exhausted or injured, and were in no fit state to fight the Kredasene clansmen who approached to investigate the fires they had made to keep themselves warm.
After scouts sent word to him of the beasts' arrival, the Rhalen chieftan, Pieter van die

Dragon by Friedrich Justin Bertuch

Rhalen, approached the dragons with meat, water and friendship. The generosity and kindness that he showed the dragons encouraged them to allow his healers to tend to their sick and wounded, and eventually led to a friendship being fostered between them.
It allegedly took a several years before the dragons offered to allow Rhalen clansmen to ride them as steeds, assisting them in battle against other clans.

The Creation of the Kredasene König

Dragon Helmet by Giovanni Battista Foggini

History has not recorded the date in which the clans agreed to make Jurrian van die Rhalen chief amongst their number, crowning him König. It has been suggested that in the three generations following the arrival of the dragons, the Rhalen family's alliance with the beasts led to a gradual lessening of aggression amongst the clans. Those of earned the favour of the Rhalens, or joined their families together in marriage, were rewarded with members of their clan being made dragon riders.
To Be Discovered...

• Any challenges to his rule?

• Perception of the new title of König by other Saeric countries?

• Dropping the 'van die' element of their surname to create the family name, Rhalen.

• The creation of the König's Dragons by Sefien Rhalen? Appointing Jurien Dunheuvelin to the position of Keeper of the König's Dragons.

Raskvaerii Invasion

When the Raskvaerii attacked Kredashmi, it was with the desire to root out the evil of the Raven from their country, and destroy the so-called 'perdition beasts' the Kredasene had formed such a close reliance on. Despite the use of dragons on the battlefields, the Kredasene did not possess as sophisticated military machinary.
The final battle of the invasion brought about the death of König Henryk. However, as was Kredasene military tradition (dating back to clan warware), when their könig was slain in

The Battle Of Lipan, 1434 (1868) by Christoph Christian Ruben

battle, his men fought on, forming a ring around his dead body until they either defeat his enemies or were also killed. Because of this, the death of König Henryk effectively brought about the death of an entire generation of the Kredasene ruling class.

Type

Geopolitical, Clan

Modern Administrative Regions and their rulers

Kredashmi is comprised of eight main administrative regions. With the exception of Karrkiy Podkhod (the Karr's Approach), these regions cover roughly the same geographic areas as Kredashmi's former clan territories.

The Königsown

Administrative head: König Thaddeus Schwannraelen

Noble house: Schwannraelen

Noteable residences: Schwannraelen Palais, and the Vezaleia Palais in Rykfontein

Capital city: Rykfontein

Other

Ancient regional name: Draakruhe

Clan name: Rhalen

Clan status: Deceased through male line. Continues through maternal line of Josefien Theresa in the Schwannraelen royal family.

The Vuurvelde (the Firefields)

Administrative head: the Eerste Regte (First Judge), Ludwig Dunheuvelin

Noble house: the Dunheuvelin Family

Noteable residences: Draakhohen Castle

Main City: Alahnis

Other

Clan name: Dunheuvelin

Clan status: Not extinct through male or female lines

Oost Raskin

Administrative head: the Tweede Regte (Second Judge)

Noble house: Kazanstev

Noteable residence: Frofsiga Castle

Main City: Brehaanbeck

Other

Clan name: Lorkeers

Clan status: Deceased through male and female line.

Die Heiligeval

Administrative head: the Derde Regte (Third Judge)

Noble house: Montjoie

Main city: Vrykraal

Other:

Clan name: Nahuys

Clan status: Deceased through male line. Continues distantly through matriarchal lines in Montjoie and Dunheuvelin families.

Hohenhoek

Administrative head: the Vierde Regte (Fourth Judge)

Noble house: Senyavin

Main city: Port Rhaelis

Other

Clan name: Tauren

Clan status: Deceased through male line. Continues through female line in the Senyavin family.

Rykvlaktes

Administrative head: the Vyfde Regte (Fifth Judge)

Noble House: Hazelaar

Main city: Belowestadt

Other:

Clan name: Hazelaar

Clan status: Not extinct through male or female line.

Vrymaanhoek

Administrative head: the Sesde Regte

Noble house: son Vermaarks

Main city: Fort Viktoria

Other:

Clan name: Kroese

Clan status: Extinct through male line. Continues through female line.