Byzantine intrigues agnate ancestry backstairs influence blood blood relation blood relative clansman cognate collateral collateral relative consanguinean deals distaff side distant relation enate family flesh flesh and blood folks games german influence peddling intrigues kin kindred kinfolk kinnery kinsfolk kinsman kinsmen kinswoman kith and kin lobbying lobbyism near relation next of kin people ploys posterity relations relatives ropes schemes sib sibling spear kin spear side spindle kin spindle side strings sword side tribesman uterine kin wire-pulling wires