Kryn Dynasty

The Kryn Dynasty is a political entity that encompasses the northern reaches of Xhorhas. The lands of the Kryn Dynasty are covered in dark clouds that blot out the sun. In Tal'Dorei, the Kryn Dynasty is simply referred to as the "Xhorhas Empire".

Description
The Kryn Dynasty is a Xhorhasian society established by drow who renounced the Spider Queen in favor of the Luxon. Having originally emerged from below the ruins of Ghor Dranas following the Divergence, the Kryn have reclaimed the ruins and built the city of Rosohna as the capital of their rule. Aims of the Dynasty include uncovering more Luxon beacons and spreading awareness and acceptance of the Luxon.

Rosohna is deliberately kept under near-constant darkness. While this is often considered by those outside the Dynasty to be a sign of its evil nature, it is in fact a pragmatic measure due to the drow sensitivity to sunlight.

Notable locations

 * Asarius: also known as the "City of Beasts".
 * Bazzoxan: A village at the northernmost point of the Penumbra Range of Xhorhas.
 * Jigow: A northern village on the shores of the Emerald Gulch.
 * Rosohna: The capital of the Kryn Dynasty, built on the ruins of Ghor Dranas.
 * Many Hosts of Igrathad: A collection of villages south of the Sorrowseep Waters.
 * Urzin: A mobile swamp city in the northwestern corner of the Dynasty, home of the horizonback tortoises.

Demographics
The Kryn Dynasty is composed mostly of drow. Essek Thelyss estimated that the total population was somewhere around 300,000. The populace of the Kryn Dynasty inhabits the northern lands of Eastern Wynandir and is spread between concentrated cities, small townships, and nomadic peoples.

Notable people

 * Bright Queen Leylas Kryn: Drow Empress of the Dynasty. She has lived 1200 years, and was the discoverer of the first Luxon beacon found by what would become the Dynasty.
 * Dusk Captain Quana Kryn: Partner of Leylas, and leading general of the Aurora Watch.
 * Zethris Olios: Supervisor of the city of Asarius, and Den Mother of Den Olios, along with her two sisters.
 * Thuron: Assassin sent by Leylas Kryn to steal a beacon from Zadash.
 * Sunbreaker Olomon: Minotaur Champion of Urzin, near to becoming an umavi.
 * Skysybil Abrianna Mirimm: Goblin keeper of beacon history and Den Elder of Den Mirimm.
 * Shadowhand Essek Thelyss: Drow prodigy in dunamancy, member of Den Thelyss and later, the Mighty Nein.

Religion
Those of the Kryn Dynasty primarily worship a deity they refer to as the Luxon. According to their limited research on the Luxon as of 835 PD, the Cobalt Soul considers the Luxon to be a "new and dangerous" false god, and writings within the Valley Archive in Zadash claim the Kryn "seek to bring all under its burning banner".

In Rosohna, periods of worship can involve lowering the city's perpetual night sky such that worshipers may bask in the sun's light, the timings of which are determined by Luxon priests. Followers of the Luxon use the phrase "light be with you" as a farewell. Despite the Kryn's overall devotion to the Luxon, they do not force anyone to follow their religion according to Wursh the blacksmith. Though not nearly as well tended as Luxon temples, small shrines to other deities can be found in the Dynasty.

Artifacts

 * Luxon beacons

Culture
According to stories Yasha had heard, the drow of the Kryn Dynasty would use man, beast, and demons for labor and would use them to fight under their war banner. They also keep the skies above their capital city dark to protect their majority drow population from the sunlight. The Kryn use the Luxon beacons to reincarnate certain members of their society who have earned consecution. These reborn individuals slowly begin to remember their previous lives as they reach adulthood. More lifetimes bring one closer to being an umavi, someone so wise through their life experience they are considered a "perfect soul".

"Crick"
As referenced in the semi-historical portions of the Courting of the Crick, this derogatory slur use against those from Xhorhas by those of the Julous Dominion, and later by those in the Dwendalian Empire, originated from the cricket-like noise the armor worn by the soldiers of the Kryn Dynasty made when they charged into battle. Designed with tubes and holes, the armor would make a high-pitched sound like an orchestral swarm of crickets rushing into battle.

Dunamancy
Many mages of the Kryn Dynasty use a school of magic called Dunamancy, the secrets of which are rarely shared outside the Dynasty. The Kryn Dynasty's experiments in dunamancy focus on the manipulation of gravity, entropy, and time.

Dumamancy is the manipulation of Dunamis, the magical energy of potential. It is connected to the Luxon beacons, and is an important part of Kryn culture. Some Kryn who specialize in dunamancy become wizards specializing in Chronurgy Magic or Graviturgy Magic, while others harness the force of possibility to become Echo Knight fighters who can create shadows of their potential self.

Politics
The Kryn Dynasty was formed in the first century following the Divergence, and has since been headed by its continuous leader Empress Leylas Kryn. The governing power over the Dynasty is concentrated by the three rulling Dens who also control access to the consecution ritual. Sometimes the Dens choose distinguished individuals of the empire who has proven their faith through word and deed to be adopted into their Dens and receive an opportunity to undergo consecution.

Public office and titles
In Kryn society there are different positions in political and/or military fields, and all of them have some function in the Dynasty. A common feature in most of them is that the names they receive are related to the sky, the times of day and night, and the celestial lights.

The known positions and what is known about their functions are listed below:
 * Bright Queen: The title of the ruler of the Kryn Dynasty. Leylas Kryn has been its only bearer.
 * Dusk Captain: The title of the leader of the Aurora Watch. Quana Kryn is its current bearer.
 * Skysybil: This title, based on its current bearer, Abrianna Mirimm, seems to be related with divination, lorekeeping, and spiritual guidance.
 * Shadowhand: This title can be given to "those who focus on the dark mysteries of Exandria for the Bright Queen", such as high-ranking mages, investigators, and spies. Its only known bearer, Essek Thelyss, specializes in dunamancy and seems to have had an authoritative connection to both the Dungeon of Penance and the Lens, indicating these roles can overlap.
 * Taskhand: The title of certain military captains, including Verin Thelyss and Durth Mirimm. Taskhands are "commonly assigned to a location or specific "task"", such as governance and overseeing local military operations. Previous Taskhands include Adeen Tasithar.
 * Sunbreaker: This title, based on its current bearer, Olomon, might be military-related.
 * Starguide: This title, based on its current bearer, Uraya Hythenos, seems to be connected with an advisor-like position.
 * Lightbroker: This title, based on its current bearer, seems to be related to diplomacy.

Ruling Dens

 * Den Kryn: The most powerful of the Dens, led by Leylas Kryn, includes Dusk Captain Quana Kryn and the Bright Child Caelestis Kryn.
 * Den Mirimm: In charge of law enforcement, led by Abrianna Mirimm, includes Taskhand Durth Mirimm.
 * Den Thelyss: Led by Deirta Thelyss, includes her sons Shadowhand Essek Thelyss and Taskhand Verin Thelyss.

Other noble Dens

 * Den Beltune
 * Den Biylan: Includes Lord Biylan, a neighbor of the Mighty Nein.
 * Den Daev'yana: Includes Zyn Daev'yana, a writer and strategist, as well as a secret member of the Children of Malice.
 * Den Duendalos: Established years ago by a consecuted individual born into the Dwendalian royal family, who left for Xhorhas and named the Den in "mockery of their former life".
 * Den Hythenos: Includes Uraya Hythenos, an associate of Essek's.
 * Den Icozrin: The owners of the Icozrin Steelworks.
 * Den Tasithar: Includes Adeen Tasithar, on whom Essek pinned his theft of the Luxon beacons, and Naevyn Tasithar, an Aurora Watch scout in Bazzoxan.
 * Den Omrifar
 * Den Zolaed: Includes Belana Zolaed, a priest of The Luxon in Jigow.

Other Dens

 * Den Delanor: Includes Captain Hallwas Delanor in Vurmas.
 * Den Demona: Includes the clerk siblings Delez and Prima Demona in Bazzoxan.
 * Den Dyrr: Includes Bautha Dyrr, a priest in Bazzoxan.
 * Den Iliera: Includes Gaeya Iliera, a chef in the Aurora Watch.
 * Den Olios: Includes Zethris Olios, governor of Asarius, and her two sisters.
 * Den Telaarin: Includes the Aurora Watch priest Kalym Telaarin in Bazzoxan.
 * Den Trestilya: Includes the Urzinian merchant Vreya Trestilya.
 * Den VaSuun: Includes Lythir VaSuun.

Laws
Sentencing for crimes is carried out by presiding officials entrusted with the wisdom of the Bright Queen. All fines and punishments for crimes against an Aurora Watch soldier or noble are doubled. All fines and punishments regarding crimes against a Den official or member of the Bright Queen's council are tripled.
 * Theft: 2-5 days incarceration and a fine equal to the worth stolen.
 * Slavery: 10-20 months incarceration and a fine of 1500 gp.
 * Trespassing: 5 days incarceration and a fine of 120 gp.
 * Damage to Private Property: 5-20 days incarceration and a fine of twice the worth of property destroyed.
 * Damage to Dynasty Property: 12-50 days incarceration and a fine of twice the worth of property destroyed.
 * Kidnapping: 60 days incarceration and/or fine of 800 gp.
 * Worship of Betrayer Gods: 150 days incarceration, or execution.
 * Assault with Intent to Injure: 12 days incarceration and a fine of 200 gp.
 * Assault with Intent to Kill: 200 days incarceration and a fine of 1200 gp, or execution.
 * Murder: 5-10 years incarceration and/or a fine of 4000 gp, or execution.
 * Treason: Execution.

The Aurora Watch
The regular forces of the Dynasty are called the Aurora Watch, and they perform the functions of both gendarmerie and regular army. Their current established strength is at least 21,600, divided as follows: 13,200 divided among the cities under Kryn protection, 3300 in the capital itself, 5100 stationed at various places in the Underdark and the rest stationed on the border with the Empire. The Aurora Watch seems to consist mostly of well-armed, well-equipped, and well-trained drow. Allied and/or subject peoples of the orcish, goblinoid, gnoll and other communities seem to provide many additional supplemental forces.

Characteristic armor/uniforms
Soldiers and assassins from the Kryn Dynasty wear chitinous insect-like leather armor that protrudes in large sweeping hooks at the joints and the shoulders. Additionally they wear form-fitting helmets of similar black leather that has onyx studs wrapped around the head. The brow plate of these helmets have backwards facing horns, looking almost demonic. Kryn Dynasty soldiers additionally wear metal cups as part of their uniform.

Espionage
The Dynasty's spy network is called "The Lens".

Background
A few centuries prior to the Divergence, some of the drow living in the Underdark in Eastern Wynandir found a Luxon beacon and forsake their worship of Lolth in favor of the Luxon. They developed a society under House Kryn, and following the Calamity emerged as the only nation in the region. While they frequently reach out to the surrounding peoples of Xhorhas, they maintained a fairly closed face towards the rest of the continent until the early 700s PD.

The Dynasty and the Dwendalian Empire had, as of 835 PD, been on a cold war footing for some time. The book Courting of the Crick, featuring a romance between soldiers of the two nations, had been banned in the Empire since 820, and the Empire blamed the Dynasty for recent abductions of adolescent children in Nogvurot. What information Caleb Widogast could find in the Cobalt Soul library in Zadash spoke of a barbaric society being slowly corrupted by Tharizdun.

The Kryn Dynasty, meanwhile, suspected the Empire of having stolen one of the Luxon beacons a few years prior.

The Dynasty, like several other powers in Wildemount, maintains an outpost, Vurmas, in Eiselcross for research and potential military purposes.

Campaign 2
While the Mighty Nein were in Zadash, Kryn operatives attacked the Zauber Spire and stole a beacon that was being kept there. The tower collapsed. While there had been border clashes for some time, this began open conflict between the Kryn Dynasty and the Dwendalian Empire in what would be called the War of Ash and Light. A Dynasty drow named Thuron stole the beacon from the Hall of Erudition in Zadash as part of a detailed plan from Empress Leylas Kryn. It was taken from him when he was killed by the Crownsguard in the Sewers. The Mighty Nein stole the beacon from the Crownsguard as they were taking Thuron's body away.

On the third of Fessuran 835 PD word reached Starosta Wyatt of Zadash that The Ashguard Garrison at the Brokenveil Bluffs had fallen to the Kryn Dynasty. With accounts numbering the dead at over 1000, war had been formally declared against the invading forces and on the wastes of Xhorhas. These advancing armies brought with them the spread of dark skies which hung over the Kryn lands to the east of the Ashkeeper Peaks.

On Bisaft Isle after some time at sea, the Mighty Nein learned that Kryn Dynasty soldiers had attacked Felderwin after finding a way to travel underneath the mountains of the Ashkeeper Peaks. They traveled to Felderwin to investigate the Kryn attack. They learned the soldiers came up from a tunnel under the ground, set several buildings and fields on fire, then left. Nott's husband Yeza was kidnapped, and the drow burned down the surface level of his apothecary. When they investigated the ruins, the Mighty Nein found that Yeza had been working with the Cerberus Assembly to study Dunamancy. The research notes they found talked about Kryn experiments in Ghor Dranas to use Dunamancy in battle. The experiments involved a beacon like the one the Mighty Nein took from Thuron. They decided to travel to the Dynasty to rescue Yeza.

The Mighty Nein took on a task for Lady Zethris Olios involving investigating the source of the rifts to the Abyss spawning in Asarius. Upon completing it, they sought a favor from Leylas Kryn, the Bright Queen, as payment. They met with the Bright Queen in Rosohna, but things quickly went awry as their origins in the Empire and their fight alongside the Muck Men were revealed. Before they were imprisoned, Caleb opted to reveal to the Bright Queen their possession of the beacon, presenting it to her while saying he was "a child of the Empire, but no friend to the Empire." This revelation stunned all present, and the Bright Queen said this brought the Dynasty hope, calling the Mighty Nein heroes to the Kryn. After giving the Dynasty back one of their beacons, the Mighty Nein were rewarded with a house in Rosohna, which they named The Xhorhaus.

The Mighty Nein later notified the Bright Queen of the Laughing Hand's release, considering her their most powerful ally. Additionally, Caleb asked to meet with the volstrucker captured by the Dynasty, and was escorted to her cell to speak with her.

The Kryn Dynasty began an attack on Rexxentrum while the Mighty Nein was fighting to retrieve Yasha, but was convinced to hold off by Allura Vysoren's request, as she along with the Mighty Nein had uncovered people on both sides working together in the Angel of Irons cult, which aimed to unleash the Chained Oblivion. The Mighty Nein's relationship with the Dynasty became known to the Empire, and King Bertrand Dwendal along with Martinet Ludinus Da'leth tasked them with brokering a peace treaty. They negotiated a cease-fire with the Bright Queen. The treaty was completed not long after, on the neutral meeting ground of the Lucidian Ocean off the coast of Nicodranas, following a prisoner exchange.

Trivia

 * Yasha described Xhorhas as a dismal place, and Kryn as frightening people. Ashley later revealed on Talks Machina that this was an exaggeration so that the Mighty Nein would not wish to travel to Xhorhas.
 * The name Kryn is similar to Krynn, the world in which the Dragonlance setting takes place, as well as K'ryyn, the name of the first drow to appear on Critical Role.