What are Klingon Family Lines?
The Klingon Empire is composed of hundreds of family lines,
commonly referred to as Houses. A family line may be considered
as a Major or Minor House depending on its size, wealth and political
influences within the Klingon Empire.
A family line is not necessarily composed entirely of blood
relations; if a line is open, it will occasionally adopt new
members if they have skills, contacts or material goods that
will bring honour, fame or fortune to the House. While the customs
for ratification vary from line to line, generally any family
member can sponsor another individual for adoption into his house
line. If the newcomer is ambitious, the offering of handsome
gifts and bribes when requesting adoption with a line could offer
many benefits in return.
Why join a Klingon Family Line?
The average Klingon hopes to gain advantages from alliance
with a family line (see The Kasara
Alliance), not the least of which is protection. In this
context, protection ranges from the money to buy off potential
enemies to the provision of trustworthy bodyguards. In addition
the individual benefits from the reputation and social status
of his new family. The individual line member must contribute
to the welfare of the House with their loyalty and defense in
the cause of the line.
The Klingon Imperial Diplomatic Corps has established a "Klingon
Line Registry" that all Klingons, regardless of affiliations,
may register their family house or lines. Listings will be able
to include such details as background history, open/closed house,
number of members, official website and the family's crest or
logo. While the database is still currently under development,
we have launched a Klingon Family Line Webring, in which the
various family lines can bring attention to their sites, and
perhaps recruit potential new members. If you are interested,
please feel free to visit the site for more information on how
to joing the webring: http://www.KlingonLineRegistry.org
House Leadership
Most Houses are led by a Head of House, usually one who has
achieved the honorific of Zantai or Epetai. The Head of House
may also designate subordinate Heads to oversee the Household
in their stead or in certain sectors of the Empire. This Head
of House is more than just a patriarch or matriarch of an extended
family group. They combine the power and responsibilities of
a financial comptroller, political spokesperson, corporate magnate,
legislative coordinator and the ultimate judicial authority for
each and every line member.
House or Line Composition
A House's composition can be mixed (varying percentages of
Imperial and Romulan or Human fusions) or it can be 100% Imperial
or 100% Fusions. Extended family lines are social/political groups
in which Klingons of different racial backgrounds interact freely
with one another for the benefit of all concerned. The extended
line seems to allow a greater flexibility, and, thus, greater
politial influence. All Houses have their own political and military
views of the Empire and its relation with the Federation and
other worlds. A few of the Houses are active pro-Alliance supporters;
these include House Kasara, House Dyzala, and House Subaiesh.
Although not quite as prevalent as it once was, there as still
some Houses who do not fully support the Grand Alliance** between
the Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets.
For more detailed information regarding:
- Klingon family alliances, you can visit The
Kasara Alliance
- Links to Individual Klingon Families:
House Kasara
House Subaiesh
House G'Bcyn
House K'YaRT'ash
House T'aw
** (The Klingon Imperial Diplomatic Corps has always
had a strong role-playing component; our organization has chosen
to role-play during the period of "The Grand Alliance".
This period of peace between the Klingon Empire and the United
Federation of Planets is considered to have started around the
time frame of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country until
just before the Klingon Civil War.)
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