The endless grasslands of the Crimson Savanna are home to the Kreen Khanates, sometimes referred to as the “Kreen Empire” by the soft-skinned races of the Tyr Region. To call the thri-kreen civilization an empire is to invest it with far more centralization than it actually has. Each khanate is a nomadic horde that roams within a vast territory, fiercely guarding its borders from raids or invasions by other thri-kreen khans. The balance of power among the khanates waxes and wanes as the hordes follow their ancient migratory patterns. At present, the Jhol and T’keetch Khanates are the largest, although the J’kez Khanate’s neutrality gives it more influence than its size would dictate.
Each khanate has a similar organization. The khan is usually the smartest and strongest thri-kreen of noble lineage. A council of the wisest scholars and most gifted hunters advises him or her. Below the khan’s advisors are the senior hunters, those who have been blooded in open warfare, and those who have been called to the worship of the Sand Father (a primal spirit that the kreen revere as their creator). Below those ranks are the younger hunters, apprentices to Sand Father worshipers, and kreen who remain in camp to tend to the young and mend or manufacture supplies.
The recent uniting of the Tondi-kreen into a proper khanate under the charismatic warrior Atark Aakusk has upset the balance of power on the Crimson Savanna. The presence of a new khanate establishing its own migratory patterns has thrown off the migrations of the older khanates. Some wonder if Atark might be the haazi, the khan of khans whose coming has long been foretold.