Kadearu Clan

History

Origins

The Kadearu clan descends from Emperor Saumo through his youngest son, Prince Kade (352-287 BP), thus the name of the clan, Kadearu (sons or descendants of Kade). Prince Kade was appointed as Prime Minister twice, from 309 to 300 and from 291 to 285 BP and was famous for his land reforms. He was given the satrapy of Esharia by his father the emperor, a province that the clan ruled until the Two Dynasties era (148 BP- 3 BP). Togash Kadearu, Kade's grandson was the commander of the Seris army who besieged Gerame during the Seris-Ikarian intervention in the Kingdom of the Green Elves was the only noteworthy member of the clan during this era and also the one who lost the control of the satrapy because of his support of prince Satsu, who was defeated by Visuparad IV .   During the following century and a half, the Kadearu clan members served as bureaucrats and army officers, living mostly in the Imperial capital, Sakouramish, where Kane's son, Ai, had built a palace.  

Rise to Power

Things began to change at the turn of the Era, when the leader of the clan, Amida Kadearu supported general Sitakes establishing the Sittakid dynasty, overthrowing Ananda VI, the last Emperor from the main Arsakid line (the Sittakids were themselves another branch of the Arsakids, like the Kadearu clan). Sitakes, as a reward, granted the royal states at Vaneyama to Amida; this place became the seat of power of the main line of the Kadearu clan.   During Asurlan I campaigned against the Desert Peoples, Karu Kadearu was General of the Vanguard and scored an important victory at the battle of Teyr Algaba. His brother, Adichi, accepted the surrender of the Desert Elves at Spearhead, during the war against the Kingdom of Unhelion, his treatment of the prisoners of war granted him a very good reputation in the eyes of the Sun Elves.   After Asurlan I death the clan transitioned from a purely bureaucratic, noble family to Namru warlords. Beginning with the aforementioned Karu, the clan began building its state castle at Vaneyama, which dominated the entire valley and the mountain pass to the sea. During most of this period most of the family heads of the clan lived in Sakuramish allowing subordinates to govern the land in their stead, often trusted members of the family, these people improved the economy of their territories and also increasing their loyal retinue of namru warriors and commoners (as the namru class began to control the Imperial army).   The main event during the late Sittakid dynasty was the concession of a fiefdom in Lishan province in 397 AP to Arshak Kadearu, the youngest son of the family head of the clan at that time. He would settle there, thus founding the Razen Clan. In 422 AP, Ayasi Kadearu became the first family head to reside most of the year in Vaneyama. Ayasi took part in the Apuri War (433 AP- 439 AP) which saw the Kadearu clan doubling its territory after the capture of Ashin Castle in 434 AP.   The Razen clan, the northern branch of the Kadearu took part in the defence of the Northern Coast against Nord raids, but they considered that they weren't rewarded properly for their services, so when general Yüttak Ygasmaru rebelled against the imperial government, the Razen clan supported his rebellion. The main Kadearu family however remained pro-Sittakid despite Razen efforts to convince them to join the rebellion. Both branches of the clan faced each other at the First Battle of Eshanyama (525 AP) each one supporting their respective sides. It was said that the members of the clan refused to kill each other, just wounding and capturing their fellow relatives.     The main branch of the Kadearu was convinced to change sides after the Sittakid loyalist general Otari Sai refused to follow the advice of the Kadearu Clan during the Second Battle of Eshanyama a year later. They not only abandoned the Sittakid side, but they besieged the Otari clan's castle, back then the most "advance" fortress in all Seria, the only one made of stone, Datoji Castle. The capture of this castle became one of the clan's most important military feats and, as a consequence of the war the Kadearu Clan experienced the zenit of its territorial expansion, an also, Datoji Castle become the model for the rebuilding and expansion of Vaneyama castle. But these happy times wouldn't last long.  

Troublesome times

The power of the Kadearu Clan provoked the envy of other clans and noble families, both in the provinces and at court. Yieshi, the leader of the clan, was accused of treason to the crown by an envious local official named Tagash. This official demanded him to get out of the castle to be put under arrest and later face a trial at Sakouramish. He refused as he was an innocent man and demanded a representative of the emperor to be called and hear his case, allowing him to defend himself against these accusations. But his plea wasn't heard and no representative of the emperor came (probably because the letter was intercepted by the official). Meanwhile Tagash gathered a government army in order to besiege Vaneyama Castle and arrest the "traitor".   Yieshi gathered his loyal supporters with their armies in the Castle ready to defend it. Soon the castle was besieged and before the castle defences were finally broken, Yieshi and his loyal retainer Ymil of Astan decided to save their children ( Yuya and Nellerlë respectively) they dressed them like commoners and showed them a secret passage that would allow them to escape from the castle. It it said that both Yieshi and Ymil died defending their home alongside their wifes and soldiers. Many across the land also believed Yuya had also perished but it wasn't true. The slain of the Kadearu clan at Vaneyama sent shockwaves across the country, the members of the clan living in Sakouramish couldn't organize an armed resistance, instead they began to do whatever they could in secret to undermine Togash's new influence at court. The Razen clan, the northern cadet branch of the Kadearu declared war on Togash, who had now taken possession of the old Kadearu fiefdom.   In 628 AP Yuya, accompanied by his friends, returned to Seria recalled by his cousin, Kami, who was a courtier at the Seris Imperial Palace and who had evidence of the innocence of Yuya and Nelli's parents. Together with their friends they embarked on a mission to restore his family's honour and after many perils, Togash, the man who had instigated the murder of his father, was found guilty and executed. After Yuya's return to Brire Kami became the head of the clan and all the old vassals of the clan swore allegiance to him. He began to restore the clan's influence across the Seris Empire.

The clan nowadays

Despite the death of the head of the clan, Togash Kadearu, Kami's grandson, during the War of the Great Call, the first half-elf family head of the family, the Kadearu clan remained fairly stable during the following centuries. Today, Ashen Kadearu is the leader of the clan, who is also a loyal advisor and general of the Seris Emperor. Of course, Vaneyama Castle, now restored once again to the Kadearu family continues to be their powerbase and source of pride as one of the most beautiful and imposing castles in the whole Empire.

Branches of the family

• Razen Clan: Descendants of Arshak Kadearu, they're the northern branch of the Kadearu Clan, they played an important part in the rise of the Yuutakid Dynasty and the formation of the Elian League. Its seat of power is Warai Castle in Lishan Province.
• Asai Clan: Settled in the province of Bamsar, in Dahara castle, South of the Imperial Domains . Members of this branch of the Kadearu took the surname Asai, for the county where Dahara castle is located, and many of them became abbots of the most important Yemuist monasteries around Sakouramish as well as renowned cavalry commanders.
• Kadearu of Rurun: This branch of the family kept the original surname of the clan, in contrast with the previous ones, their powerbase is Goni Castle and its surroundings in Runrun province, thus their name. They have always been staunch allies of the main Kadearu family line . While this clan has seen the rise of many skilful military commanders, since a century ago, most of the members of the clan live in Sakouramish where many members of the clan have obtained powerful positions at court. Members of this branch of the Kadearu clan were really helpful in aiding Yuya restore his family's reputation.

Emblems and symbols

The Clover is the symbol of the Kadearu family, it is displayed prominently on their banners, armours, weapons, castles and fortresses and even their daily clothing. Green is usually their preferred colour but they can also be slight variations (they also use white for their banners, or a combination of white and green). For example, the Kadearu of Runrun use blue instead of green in order to differentiate themselves from the main Kadearu line of the family. Another symbol they use traditionally is the monogram of their clan’s name, both in their seals (alongside the clover) as well as in their war flags.