Kel'min

A Kel'min is the political leader of an Elkiedai House and the commander of their House's Ketch.
== Overview[edit] ==
: "Without their Kel'min, Houses usually turn against each other."
Kel'min, or Kel'ish in Elkiedai culture, act as the political leader of their House, ruling their people and commanding their forces with an iron fist and usually commandeer their House's flagship Ketch. Kel'min are also known for controlling their Houses' R'akta supply through the use of an Elder Cipher.
They are mysterious figures rarely seen by lower ranks of the House and often viewed as mad, however the Kel'min travel a delicate path toward understanding and in the Old ways of the Kel'min, sought guidance from the Elders of House Vindication on their ancient codes of dignity and law.
Only the strongest Elkiedai warrior leads the pack. Kel'min maintain order among their House, whose subjects can often be aggressive. Their first command is the word and if unheeded, then the Kel'min's second is the blade, resulting in the punishment of docking. Shamed Elkiedai may later redeem themselves through brutal ceremonial combats such as the Archon's Forge or other means to prove their might. Since the Elkiedai culture has a love for Honor, the weak are Honor-bond into subservience and respect their Kel'min's authority like that of a sniper.
Kel'min also have access to better resources and armaments, they eat better, sleep safer, and live far longer. A strong Kel'min's power is described to be like the wind: swift, howling and everywhere at once, their might is comparable to the Luminarchs of the Imperiums Legiones. The Kel'min are far stronger, faster, and intelligent, than the common Elkiedai due to their consumption of far higher quality R'akta. 
If a Kel'min dies, the House collapses into a civil war between their nobility vying for dominance and Kel'ship. Only the most powerful contender or when all opposition is gone can a new claimant assume control. When the Desolation Kel'min, Veritun Sol, was killed during the Crimson Crusades, three Kasharions fought against each other to become the new Kel'min of Desolation.
However it is possible that a House can still function without a Kel'min, as an Archon, Prime Servitor, or another Kel'min from a different House can assume command of the House. Their loss severely weakens a House and demoralizes its forces, so for this reason, Kel'min are a prime target for enemy forces.
After the fall of most of the Houses in the chaos that engulfed the Phobos System following the Crimson Crusades, few Elkiedai remained who could rightfully claim the title of Kel'min.
Category:Elkiedai Houses
Category:Elkiedai Ranks