The Kassen Klan

Some might call the deKassen family dysfunctional, and it has certainly attracted a few comments in its time, but it has held up for a good twenty years now - and has certainly been successful, in its own special way.

The family has money. It owns 'shares' in The Kassen Kompany and property in Skids Landing, including the Animal Training Centre, a few cottages (8) in the village. It means there is enough money to educate the children, and means that none of the senior members need to work - unless they want to.

Some might call the deKassen family dysfunctional, and it has certainly attracted a few comments in its time, but it has held up for a good twenty years now - and has certainly been successful, in its own special way.

Gagak, the head of the family, has three wives. Three very different wives, and he wasn't overly concerned about how they got on together, so long as each of them got on with him, it led to an 'interesting' household.

• Gagak deKassen is a Barbarian-10/Bard-1/Chavalier-1 and Head of the Family. He loves to spend his time outdoors, hunting, shooting, fishing, trekking etc … All of his children get dragged along at some point. Gagak plays the drums as well, and has collected a number of Orc tribal chants, and written material of the same ilk. He has passed that onto Raven, and encourages all of his children to study widely, and into any area that interests them, and makes sure they are all offered a good education, to give them a decent start in life. That said, he hasn't been around much over the last ten years as he has been busy with his other responsibilities. (which might explain while the youngest child is 13 years old)
• Adriana is the 'Senior' wife. It was an arranged marriage, that suited both Gagak and Adriana's family. Adriana's family are relatives of an Aristocratic family who own a legal practice in Magnimar. However, that was enough to give Gagak some ‘respectability’ and to resolve an embarrassing problem for Adriana (an illegitimate son). An arranged marriage was always going to be her lot in life, this wasn't what she was hoping for, but was resigned to it and faced it staunchly. However, now she feels that she has done her duty, and Adriana has rarely been home to Skids since her youngest child (Orion) started school in Magnimar. (Expert with Lesser noble trait).
• Anya (second wife) comes from a rural family, and knows her way around a country home. She knows how to speak to the rural servants, she has always done most of the household management and child care - for all the children. (Commoner-4)
• Delilah is Gagak's third 'wife' although no one is quite sure whether there has been a ceremony or not. She moved in shortly before Drusilla was born, stayed for a few years, then started making more frequent trips away. Her vists home were always frenetic, whirlwind affairs that turned the place on its head. Over the last few years 'away' has been more common than 'Home'and she is currently in RiddlePort visiting 'friends'. (Adept[Calistria]-1, Expert-2)

Adriana never liked Delilah much, and struggled to conceal it. Delilah either didn't notice or didn't care. Anya, just smiled all the way through … See Note2.

Seven children with three different mothers, who all grew up under the same roof.

• Fabien: M, Human (20) Adopted Brother (Adriana). Fabien was the reason that Adriana was married off to Gagak. Adoption and (eventual) inheritance for her children – ‘establishment’ for Gagak. Fabien was sent to a finishing school in Magnimar, and was 'apprenticed' as junior officer on one of Kassen Kompany’s ships - but he didn't take to the life of a sailor …
• Breya: F, Half-Orc (19) Half Sister (Adriana). Breya also went to finishing school in Magnimar, where she learned the skills required of an aristocratic wife (including dress and makeup tricks to minimise her Orcishness) As the main heir, she is expected to inherit a large proportion of Gagak’s estates, which should help her find a partner. Currently, she is looking for a husband in Magnimar. (Probably Expert with the ‘Lesser Noble’ trait)
• Raven: M, Half-Orc (19) ( Anya). Started a finishing school but decided he didn’t like it - it was too claustrophobic for him. He hung out in Sandpoint, as a casual musician, for a year or so, before joining an adventuring party. (Bard)
• Drusila: F, Half-Orc (17) Half Sister (Delilah). Drusila is the apple of her father’s eye, and more time hunting and fishing than all the other children put together. She refused the opportunity to go to finishing school to study at home in Skids Landing. She took responsibility for the dogs kennel, spent time at the KK Animal Training Centre and regularly visited Kat the Herbalist. (Ranger). She is planning to move to Thistletop, Raven's new home.
• Orion: M, Half-Orc (16) Half Brother (Adriana). Orion is, perhaps, fortunate in that his orc heritage isn’t obvious (Almost Human trait). He is currently at Finishing School, and will eventually inherit a significant portion of Gagak’s estates.
• Gale: Short for Nightingale, F, Half-Orc (15) Sister (Anya) Gale like her father, has a fierce temper, although she doesn't lose it very often. She tends to stay indoors through the middle of the day, and only go outside late or early, when the light is not so harsh. While all the family go out of their way to protect her, they are a bit worried for her, and do not have any idea of how her future will turn out.
• Lark: F, Half-Orc (13) Sister (Anya) Like Orion, Lark looks very human (Almost Human trait), she is still at home deciding on her future direction.

Inheritance rules: as per Adrianna's Marriage contract terms. The two thirds of Gagak's wealth will be left to Adrianna's children, while the rest is split between personal bequests. Fabien, Breya and Orion tend to think they are better than the other children, and can be quite condescending. Breya often says that she will sell the Compound as soon as she inherits it, because she wants to live in the big city, where she thinks that she belongs.

Although the majority of the family don't know it, they are a wealthy family. Gagak owns 19% of The Kassen Kompany, which generates an income of about 900gp for the family, however that is reserved for education costs for the children, and his personal needs. However, KK (Gagak) also owns cottages and the Animal Trainer in Skids, which generates an income of over 200gp per month, which is allocated for cost of living and household expenses, it also pays the salaries of the guards at the house. Adriana uses some to fund her lifestyle, while Anya uses most of the rest to run the house. Those children who live at home get a small allowance - but those away from home and old enough to earn their own living, don't get anything. Adriana is the only person who has a rough idea of the actual income, but only Gagak really knows - and he isn't a man for luxuries or giving his children a life of luxury.

Note 1: A Double Cottage consists of: 1x Lodging, 1x Garden, 1x Lavatories, 2x Kitchens. Built as one small block, with a dividing wall down the middle - each side has their own front door and can accommodate up to 5 people. Cottages are built in the two up, two down style. Two small bedrooms on the upper floor, with a small living area and a kitchen on the ground floor. Outside there is a small garden, and a single earth closet for each cottage.

Note 2: The first marriage was very contractual and performed under the rites of Abadar. It gave Adriana's family a way out of social embarrassment, and legitimized the illegitimate child, and contained clauses that meant most of Gagak's wealth would be left to Adriana's children. It gave Gagak a veneer of respectability, a clause that allowed him to marry again under other religious rights, although he could not agree to anything that went against any of the clauses in Adriana's Marriage contract. The second marriage, to Anya, was contracted under Desnanan rites and Gagak sealed the betrothal with an expensive set of jewellery that acts as a dowry and an inheritance. It does not breach Adriana's marriage contract, and Adriana has no claim on Anya's jewellery. The third marriage, to Delilah is not documented at all, and was probably a simple hand-fasting ceremony in the Temple of Calistria in Riddleport. There is (as far as anyone knows) no contract associated with that 'wedding'.