House Creoda

One of the proudest members of the Peerage in its day and an original member of the Chamber of Lords, House Creoda was once able to trace its lineage back to ancient times. That House no longer exists, but their traditions carry on. The members of Creoda are known for being able to find out a person's secrets no matter how well they thought those secrets were kept. This and their aggressive recruitment practices have kept the House a viable faction despite the loss of their blood ties to the ancient Creoda.

Internal Structure

Carol Little is the current head of the House. Her father was one of the original members of Micah's Question, but was recruited away with the fledgling faction with the promise of a more secure life for his family. Carol's knack for measuring talent has allowed her to rise high in House Creoda and has brought a lot of new talent to the House.

While Carol is considered the head of the House, the official leaders are chosen annually based on an old tradition of the Creoda. A complicated mix of astrology and ritual magic, culminating on the eve of the New Year, determines the leader of the House for the next year. Since the death of the last blood relative of the House, this has meant very little, but the tradition carries on and the "leader" is consulted on most major decisions of the House. While they have no real power, their opinion is respected even if they are a young child during their reign. The current House Leader is Martin Baumless, a fourteen year old, and son of a recruit from the Businessman's Club who died in the most recent war. While House Leaders never serve two years in a row, it is rather common that one will serve many times during their lives. More often than not, the position of House Leader is held by a member whose opinion will be invaluable in some decision of the House that year.

House members are expected to aid in projects within the House whenever they have time available. While it is true that the members of Creoda have less loyalty to the House than other factions based on families, they have had less trouble that one would think. Oscar Creoda, one of original Creoda to come to America had a knack for judging whether he could trust the people whose loyalty he bought. This has been passed down through many generations and almost all members of the House are taught. As always, the effect varies from member to member but the fact remains that House Creoda can measure many things about the character of a person at a glance, something that keeps many from even trying to double-cross them.

Relationships with Others

House Creoda simply does not get along with the other families of New Dunston. While the Shawnee believe that House Creoda was once a strong and honorable House, they refuse to consider the current House in the same light considering their loss of any blood relations to the original founders. The other families, both noble and common find the Creoda to be a pathetic reflection of what they once were. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the House has strong ties to many commoner factions. Many of their members come from the other factions and usually left on amiable terms. They have a rather strong alliance with the Steel Barons and the Coalition of Tradesman, forming a strong voting block against the traditional Houses of the Chamber of Lords.

History

About two-thirds of the House are descendants of adopted members, with the remaining third being first generation adoptees. The last blood descendant of the Creodas died in 1907. But the House had always had an open policy on adoption into the House ever since their early days in America and this only made them open up even more.

Oscar Creoda and his family arrived in Pittsburgh in 1773. He led an expedition to the west later that year. Most of the explorers did not return and those that did resembled walking dead more than men. Oscar replaced the men he'd lost with men he could trust, both immigrants and natives, and returned to the west the following year with much the same results. Three returned from Oscar's third trip; he, his son and a native guide. Other than a few artifacts, the three wouldn't speak of what they found. After that, the Creodas joined with the other English Houses to take control of New Dunston and the surrounding area.

According to ancient tradition the members of House Creoda do not recruit from or join other noble Houses, even by marriage. Rumor has it that this was the price that Oscar paid for returning from the third trip. In any case, the House has always had a very low birth rate even during these early years. This led to the practice of adoption into the House, which has carried on since then.

Since then the House has distinguished itself on several occasions being one of the more politically savvy Houses. They always seemed to manage making allies with the right faction right before needing the alliance. In 1946, when Enfield was removed from the Chamber of Lords, there was talk that House Creoda may be removed as well. But their recent alliance with the Coalition of Tradesmen and willingness to support the new Steel Barons kept the other Houses from attempting.

The Goblin Uprising of 1982 gave the House yet another opportunity. The Pachek Brigade, a group of militant goblins, had joined the government in the late 60's. By the early 80's the Brigade had grown to be one of the largest factions in the government. It housed many of New Dunston's citizens that, for one reason or another, felt discriminated against, usually for their not-quite human origins. In '82 the Goblins, led by Pachek himself, made a short-lived attempt to rise against the government. The Brigade was disbanded, but many of the goblins were allowed to remain in the city in return for their service in the military of the Federated Commonwealth. Because of House Creoda's hand in asking that the traitors not be executed, almost all of the goblins joined with the House once their tour was done.