The Seafarers

Alone among the Great Kingdoms, the Water Oak has carved its position from the world by pure force of will, seizing destiny where others merely accept what is offered to them. The Water Oak began existence in the early centuries of the Kingdoms.  Rasputin was not loved by any of the heros but Bangor, and at the last battle he arrived with his ships and crews seeking a place at the battle, and in the new Kingdoms to come.  The others wanted to refuse but accepted, pending success upon the battlefield that day, and the Water Oak fought harder than any others. The day was one, the Water Oak were created, and the Water Oak ascended to a kingdom from wanderers and landless refugees. Since that time, three more families have joined the kingdom, and together, they stand tall and proud among their comrades as the house of the Water Oak.

The Rasputin lead the kingdom in the name of their founder, the peerless hero.
The Sorvillo guide the kingdom’s spirit, embracing their ways and forging one path.
The De ruttola lend their bows and their skill at hunting to the family’s pursuits.
The Tilton lend their magic and their respect in the courts to the kingdom’s work.

Despite their position as equals among the other Great Kingdoms, the Water Oak remain somewhat apart from their peers. They are separated both by geography and philosophy, for the Water Oak believe in their hearts that the other kingdoms have never truly accepted them and perhaps never truly will. The recent conflict that the kingdom experienced with the Red Oak within the boundaries of the Colonies only reinforced the opinion of many Water Oak that the other kingdoms do not consider them equals, and while they profess not to care about the opinion of others, the matter rankles them. They have continued to maintain their position of dominance in the Colonies, both in terms of the volume of territory they control and their familiarity with the territory claimed by others.

The Water Oak Champion is Angello Rasputin, known by some as the Growing Storm. His nickname is a result of his sour disposition, and it is said by some, even among his own kingdom, that Angello will never be satisfied until he is convinced that the Water Oak are recognized as equals by the other kingdoms, and that he will never consider this achieved until the Water Oak stand above all others.

Style
The Water Oak usually dress in light clothing, they prefer silks and satin when they can.  Light armor is preferred, made of little metal if they can get away with it.  Many times they will fight in little clothing at all, preferring nimble quick combat over heavy weapons.

Water Oak are usually flourished with words and overly embellish everything they do.  Honesty can sometimes be seen as insulting when telling a story, the story is for the listener to enjoy more then the factual recitation of events.

The food and customs of the Water Oak is varied and diverse.  While every ship and colony hold to the kingdom laws, many other laws may be in place to keep the community in harmony.  There is always a strict line of command in times of war, but outside of this, the formality of command is all but forgotten.  It is not uncommon for someone who is common born to be rubbing elbows with high nobility.  This does cause friction in other lands.