Dronshaun

"Dronshaun'', the oldest house, but not the wealthiest,hails from a coastal city on the central continent of Kur. It was founded for having the largest spice trade in the area at the time. It has fallen in and out of power through the eons, but always manages to stay relevant. Modern Dronshaun is a cultural icon and a good house for marriage partners, meaning their main export is offspring and political power. Spouses of Dronshaun mates can boast stronger Chi channels and more viable claims to Heads of Houses for their own guilds. Anyone carrying the last name of Dronshaun for breeding must have at least 3 generations of sibling/first cousin marriages to ensure biological integrity. Expecting parents and their matrix/carrier are sent to Kur to further ensure the pedigree of the offspring. Because the siblings and cousins must be in prime reproductive state, the House organizes windows of expected birth for reproducing couples. Failure to comply to the schedule is considered a failure of duty and admonishable. The resulting offspring is generally less desirable. Dronshaun spouses are highly sought after and many matches are not made out of love but for blood purity and ladder-climbing. Second borns will marry to other houses to spread the power of the House and gain intel for the Hive. House crest is a red flower over a thick black line to represent "Dro 'n Shaun (flower of Shaun) in old Shaunian Kurian.

### **Head of House**

Old Patriarch and sire of 2 highly successful offspring, Kinten d'Dronshaun, is the most well known politician in the Kurian sphere. He is also a bit of a philanthropist who focuses on funding charities treating drug abuse and addiction.

#### Primary Export

The highest grossing industry for Dronshaun is hospitality and tourism due to the beautiful historic buildings the House maintains, and the idyllic beach cities they own on Ha and several small islands back on Kur.

#### Other Exports

Dronshaun has a particular niche on the marriage market, and while not their highest grossing industry, it is the thing people think of when the House is discussed. High value, pure-blooded bachelors and bachelorettes account for a solid 14% of the House's GDP.

### **Politics**

#### House Alliances

House Kwondir is arguably the closest ally to Dronshaun, arranging at least two high profile marriages per generation between the two Houses. The two Houses consequently agree on many social and economic policies, but differ on imperial ideologies. They have historically created a few cartels together, and although there is no proof that they run any cartels currently, it's an open secret that the two are always brewing something together. House Guarndemzhau also has a strong hand in supporting Dronshaun and purchasing marriage candidates. GDZ and Dronshaun focus on a relationship of original Kurian values and blood purity, often leading to Dronshaun turning a blind eye to some of GDZ's more violent methods.

#### Current Conflicts

Dealek and Dronshaun have a tentative relationship, often butting heads on matters of international governance. Dealek currently has a higher tax rate on Dronshaun imports through their territory. The two houses have managed to avoid bloodshed, but tensions are running high. Dronshaun is channeling more military towards guarding and maintaining the human-Kurian space borders and protecting their active emissaries.

They also have issues with rebellions cells inside the major cities that require a fair amount of attention. Kwondir has sent several troops to patrol on the behalf of their prominent ally, and Lonshir has sold them a few new tracking technologies and a few elite soldiers to assist with more discreet missions.

Dronshaun has a highly active embassy in Jyeshaun to keep a close eye on the clan of Mepan. Since the most recent insurrection of Mepan sympathizers, Dronshaun and Kwondir have focused on quelling domestic rebellions than imperial expansion.

#### Religions

**Tattetto Ysho Hissor** is the official religion of Dronshaun, but they respect other cults of religion as well. Coastal tourist locations often host many of the religion's excessive ritual parades and festivals. Not only does this increase revenue of the cities and towns, but it encourages community building. A celibate member of Dronshaun is often elected to speak for the deities **Desh** or **Orokh**. In rural communities, travelling priests called **dwahn**, preach the word of Etu and oftentimes further the agenda of the House. Monotheistic religions are strictly outlawed, as are animal sacrifices.

The Temple of Pazhu is the tallest temple on Kur. The House sponsors the maintenance of most temples and synagogues.

### **Governance**

#### Law and Enforcement

House Dronshaun are held together by the 16th Charter. Historically, charters for Dronshaun began as a way for celibate and non-reproducing House members to maintain some control of the government, as Dronshaun was strictly monarchal in its early incarnation. Now, it is an aristocracy, but a wider range of members, including outlying villages, now have some level of governing power. The current charter includes the creation of village legislation and a small percentage of taxes set aside for specific functions outside of Dronshaun provided facilities.

Like most Houses, Dronshaun does not have a separate police force. They do have, however, a private health care sector that most rural residents cannot afford or even access. Unique laws to this House include, but are not limited to:

1. Active religious involvement is required
2. Purity status is to be registered in House database. Any movement to another House revokes any citizenship perks.
3. First-borns of any pure-blood house, rich or poor, must register as a such. They receive more funding than other offspring in a family unit.
4. Pure-bloods are required to serve 7 years of mandatory military service. Non-pure are only required 5, but they are in separate battalions that receive less funding.
5. Land may be privately owned, but is prone to imminent domain at any time.
6. Tax is collected off of sales and the Kurian lunar cycle.
7. Each community must have a spokesman to send to legislative meetings. Community participation is required and important to contemporary culture.

#### Civil Systems

Electrical and plumbing are privately owned but state funded through high taxes. Education is also privatized, but religious missionaries and dwahn often come to preach and teach in the more rural communities. Public education is not outlawed, but only common in larger cities where the infrastructure can afford it. There is a state-funded art program, but it is only offered to first-borns. Second-borns are encouraged to take positions in their local communities, and the state focuses on sponsoring technical schools and workshops specific to each communities needs. For example, if a village is mostly agricultural, a small college will be set up nearby for agricultural education with a militia training as a requirement. Towns closer to large cities and metropolises are encouraged to attend larger universities. Dronshaun provides scholarships to few second-borns to transfer to cities and change their lives.

Inner city roads and parks funded by Dronshaun are some of the most beautiful an well-maintained. They also have many temples and synagogues that act as not only religious locales, but as tourist attractions. Travel around the coasts is fairly easy with a well funded train system.

The off-planet port, often called Veg Zawhii dem Ahwz, or Vezii'az (branch of the sky) for short has the least amount of funding from Dronshaun for a Kur-based House. They do provide many shuttles to and from the port to the ground.