The Pentadeca

The Pentadeca are considered the 15 "ruling Houses" of the Cascadian Domains. At the founding of the Kingdom in 1867, they were just "The Deca": the Abbott, the Anacortes, Bearpaw, Constantine, Kane, Mayfield, Maynard, Midnight, O'Malley, Sinclair families. The Maynard family became known as the Winstons after a couple of generations. The Veluchi, Frost, Gregory, Prescott and Silvermane families rose to power and status in the 1890-1940 period. The term "Pentadeca" was popularized during World War II and now commonplace.

Pentadeca members have phenomenal wealth and political power within Cascadia- and almost all of them are prodigals. Some have importality (eternal youth), amazing regenerative abilities and resistance to disease. Their ability to channel essence and interact with ghosts and spirits make them seem godlike to the comon people of Cascadia who tend to have minor psychic power and hedge magic. The Pentadeca have traditionally "closed borders" among themselves. Young people who reject arranged liasons or marry outsiders, especially those far beneath them in station have been surrepticiously disinherited and blacklisted. A few vanished completely, whether by their own design or their families, however, is uncertain.

Cascadia functions as a weird blend of meritocracy, oligarchy, plutocracy and nepotism. Wealth, power and social status are supposedly awarded by the Throne to those who demonstrate talent and competence: however, during competitions or crisis, the Pentadeca families constantly assert themselves over others. Abba Midnight was black and many of his children and grandchildren are métis of African-Native descent; The Bearpaw &amp; Silvermane families are heavily native with some métis sprung from inter-marriage with the rest of the Pentadeca. The Veluchi and O'Malley stubbornly cling to their Italian and Irish ethnicity and traditions. The Bearpaws now only allow external marriages to wealthy Natives.