Special Families

Note: SIU has yet to use any specific term to refer to these families as a single defined classification, so we shall refer these families as "Special Families" due to their influence within the the Tower.

Special Families are Families which likely hold some influence in the Tower and are special enough to be awarded privileges or if not, special contracts.

They don't include unknown families who may protect their bloodlines by staying as commoners, so they may hide their outstanding ability to manipulate Shinsoo, for generations.

About
Special Families are different from ordinary residents of the Tower such as Ship Leesoo's family or Hatsu's family, as their amount of political influence or privileges, set them aside from the common class. However they are not part of the nobility or the ruling class such as the Zahard Family nor the 10 Great Families. However, they differ from the common people residing on the Tower.

Apart from the 10 Great Families, the other Special Families probably operate with the knowledge and also, the blessings of the Zahard Empire. This is assumed on the basis the Zahard Empire controls how contracts and even Special contracts are given out. It is unknown if certain Families also serve the Zahard Empire in exchange for these privileges and other benefits.

Characteristics of Special Families
Special Families may possess special/unique techniques, physical traits, contracts or special items. As such, several families have managed to obtain special contracts with Guardians that give specific bonuses. For example, the Mule Family holds the "Iron Man" contract. It is the contract of the Mule Family that regenerates the user's stamina.

It's unknown what surnames some of these derived or branch Families use. Though it seems Laure uses the Phonsekal surname, it's possible his surname is actually Eurasia. Marriage between other Special Families may occur as well and they may even have derived families too.

Being born into a Special Family
In the Great Families, a child isn't accepted as a Family member upon birth. Rather, they must first prove themselves at a certain age, so they can be chosen as a Family member from a pool of candidates. This means they're allowed to bear the crest and surname of the Family. In return for being chosen, they probably get to enjoy certain privileges.

It's unknown if other Special Families practise this as well, to ensure only the qualified remain in their Families.

Examples:
 * 1) At the age of 12, Koon Aguero Agnis was one of the winners of the fights between the children of the Koon branch families. So, he won the right to be chosen to be a member of the Koon Family. This allowed him to use the Koon surname in his name and to wear the crest of the Koon Family (his scarf).
 * 2) For the Bidau Family, certain males are chosen to work in the Research Association and they must prove themselves worthy, so they may be chosen to remain in the Family.

Before a child can be chosen to be a Family member, it's unknown where they live. It is possible the branch Family lives separately from the main Family and in a separate area or house. Or if they live together, the child is unlikely to be accepted by the Family head as one of the Family.

Being Adopted
A person can be adopted into a Special Family and it is likely only a specific few are chosen to be adopted for a specific purpose.

For example, Androssi Zahard was adopted into a branch Family because she showed combat talent, as the branch Family was desperate to produce a Princess so they wouldn't be exiled. Another example is a Ranker being adopted into the Zahard Family to maintain and uphold a set of rules.

After a person has been adopted into a Family, they may receive privileges and so on, in exchange for achieving certain purposes for the Family.

If a person born into a Special Family has been adopted into another Special Family, they may retain their privileges and special contracts from their birth Family. The Special Family they've been adopted into is viewed as their post-Clan. However, in return for bearing the crest of their post-Clan, they probably lose the right to bear the crest of their birth Family. Examples may be Yuri Zahard and Lo Po Bia Ren who don't wear items bearing the crest of their birth Families.

It's unknown if any of the 10 Great Families allow their members to serve another Great Family.

Informal and Formal Adoption
Now, there are 2 types of adoption: informal and formal.

Informal means one is adopted for a purpose, other than being a chosen son or daughter. As a result, they maintain their birth surname for a certain purpose, possibly to indicate where their allegiance is supposed to lie. This person isn't considered a Family member by the Family head. For example: Lo Po Bia Ren doesn't keep the surname of Zahard even if he belongs to the Zahard Family. He maintains the Bia Family's surname.

Formal means one is adopted to be a chosen or daughter of the Special Family and that person wasn't born to the Family head. The person will discard their birth surname and assume the surname of the post-Family, for a certain purpose.

For the Zahard Family, it may be to avoid being bound by heredity (like the Three Lords system) and to place the interests of the Zahard Empire and the Zahard Family before her own. Of course, it's unlikely a Princess will completely switch allegiance and neglect her birth family (common or Special).

Also, it seems Rankers are adopted into the Hendo Family to uphold its image and probably rules. Since they're Hendo's adopted sons and daughters they probably call him "Father".

Being discarded from a Family
Just as someone can be born to a Special Family, they can also be discarded or exiled from a Family for failing to fulfil a certain purpose.

Known Special Families

 * Zahard Family
 * 10 Great Families
 * Bia Family
 * Blitz Family
 * Edrok Family
 * Mule Family

Other possible Special Families
These families may be special, since they have a known family member, with rather a high Ranking and influence. However, their status is not confirmed as of yet.
 * Jaina Family (possibly a Special Family because of the status of Repellista Zahard)
 * Family of Molic One P. GR. Family name currently unknown. His status is equal to that of a Great Family's head.

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