Empire of Dominia
| Dominian |
| H. Sapiens / Human |
 |
| Home System: X'yr Vharn'p |
| Homeworld: Dominia |
| Language(s): Sol Common/Sinta'Azaziba |
| Political Entitie(s): Empire of Dominia |
The Empire of Dominia
A heavily religious absolute monarchy with its capital, Nova Luxembourg, on the planet of Moroz in the X’yr Vharn’p system. This autocratic state is ruled by His Imperial Majesty Emperor Boleslaw Keeser I. The Empire of Dominia was proclaimed in 2437 by Unathi raiders and human nobles on the planet of Moroz, a colony which had been isolated for hundreds of years. Imperial society is dominated by the Great and Minor Houses under the Emperor and is very socioeconomically stratified due to the so-called blood debt, known as the Mor’iz’al. All citizens are born with the Mor’iz’al debt in exchange for the privileges of citizenship, a debt that takes a lifetime or more to pay off. Indebted citizens form an underclass in Dominia, but those in the Empire's core worlds are generally able to pay their debt off. Those that cannot are derogatorily referred to as Ma'zals. Many in the Empire follow a strict code of honor. The Empire of Dominia is considered by many to be a threat to the sovereignty of frontier systems. Imperial society is a society divided more by class than by species or ancestry. The Mor’iz’al blood debt is a very important part of Imperial society. The history of the planet of Moroz stretches back to the 22nd century. The core planets of the Empire are found in the X'yr Vharn'p System, with the middle empire forming the nearby systems. “In the Goddess’s Name, So Shall It Be Done” is the national motto, alongside the unofficial motto of “Democracy is a Codeword for Plutocracy.” The state religion of the Empire is led by the Moroz Holy Tribunal which lays a heavy hand upon the Imperial government, with their edicts enforceable as law. The Empire remains diplomatically isolated, with little official representation in most areas.
Population and Planets
The total population of the Empire roughly nine billion based on the 2459 Imperial Census. This population is spread out over the Empire’s multiple systems. Citizens from the Inner Empire (Moroz, Sparta, Spartan Station, Lyoid Primary) tend to be extremely devout in their belief in the Tribunal due to their proximity to the heart of the Tribunals power. Citizens within the Central Empire (Alterim Obrirava, Tribunal's Joy, Ignomni Balteulis, and Greensands) are considered to be more moderate yet still devout and loyal, primarily being Morozian colonists sent abroad. Citizens of the Outer Empire or "Imperial Frontier" tend to be lack loyalty to both the throne and the Tribunal, largely due to being conquered by force rather than colonized by Morozians. Many subjects are new to the Empire in these regions and are unwilling to bend the knee, leading to a great number of military units being stationed here. Imperial frontier sujects have a reputation of being uncivilized in the Inner Empire. They tend to be unwilling to convert, with these regions seeing higher amounts of edict-based executions. For more information on Dominian Culture, see here.
Moroz
The capital planet the Empire with roughly 13 billion residents. The planet is largely dominated by its large polar circles which encompasses around 70% of the planet’s surface. The seven major cities on the planet are connected by the Imperial Railroad, a popular activity being a round trip across the planet on this massive rail system. Most settlements are dotted around the equator of the world, though some outer villages and cities are located in the sparse, frigid northern regions. The citizens of these arctic regions are known for their endurance and survival skills causing many to be recruited into the Imperial Army. In recent years efforts have been made to reclaim the polar regions with the use of large Echelon Mirrors, large constructions which direct heat and sunlight into their local surrounding areas. These melt zones are then settled and cultivated.
There is a growing rift between the 'original' inhabitants of the polar regions whose rugged, survivalist lifestyle is being replaced by the ‘cushier’ urban migrants. Moroz is also home to the prestigious Juro School of Genetics and Bio-Sciences, a University focusing on genetic research and cross-species biology. Key tourist attractions include the polar tours, the Imperial Palace exterior with gardens and the four-meter phoron crystal statue of fifteen battle medal holder Immortal Tribunal Commando Kikari Azi in the Imperial Plaza.
A specific faction of Freedom, the Extrastellar Travel Union, calls this planet home. A desire to break the bluespace monopoly held by Nanotrasen, and a few other corporations is their primary goal.
Sparta
With 200 million people, Sparta has a thin but breathable atmosphere and largely unstable crust. It suffers from frequent natural disasters from earthquakes to volcanoes. Despite the violent geology making permanent habitation dangerous, the unstable crust contains an incredibly rich source of minerals and valuable ores that form the backbone of the local economy. Much of the steel and other metals used in the Imperial economy are mined here. The planetary capital, Raltabao, literally translated Red Castle, is home to the Imperial arsenal that it takes its name from.
Alterim Obrirava
Carrying around half a billion people and featuring a diverse biosphere and an environment similar to Earth’s, the population is rapidly growing after coming under Imperial control. In the capital of Ilstel, a bustling foreign merchant quarter can be found, with a diversity of goods to match the planet itself. After a proper government administration was established, surveys revealed that the planet may have been terraformed in the ancient past. Due to the secretive nature of the Imperial government there are no methods of confirming these claims of mysterious terraforming.
Alterim Balteulis
Often called by the equally popular name of Ignotum Balteum by the resident Unathi and populated by roughly 300 million, Alterim Balteulis is a dry world with a mixed climate of savannas, deserts and arid polar regions. The Temple of the Ancestors can be found in the planet's capital of Salstiliska. Many Unathi are known to dwell here and the Moroz Holy Tribunal's power is at it's most potent. The Tribunal's influence here can even surpass the Emperors imperial will in some cases. A popular attraction in the planet's capital is a large statue of a genetically modified kangaroo named Roger, one of the most popular figures in the planet's history, famed for his immensely muscular figure.
Sun Reach
A recent addition to the Empire, Sun Reach is the least populated major world in the Empire, with around 500 thousand people. The planet, taking its name from its largest settlement, is itself mostly covered in primitive algae with a low level of biodiversity - a young world.
Other Worlds
Lyoid Primary - Mining colony based on Moroz's airless moon Lyoid.
Spartan Station - High orbit merchant and mining station above the planet Sparta. Has a high concentration of secondary Offworlder Humans.
Mo'zal Station - Prison station located on the edge of Dominian space.
Tribunal's Joy - Colony based in central Dominian space. Self sufficient economy exporting large quantities of lumber and livestock/meat to the Empire.
Greensands - Colony based in the inner regions of Dominian space. An Empire dependent import colony whose main export is minerals and metals, namely largely radioactive fuels. Named after the uranium rich yellow/green sands across large parts of the world.
Zal'laken - Colony based in the outer regions of Dominian space. Empire dependent import colony whose main purpose is as a strategically important location for military maneuvers. It has a booming Thunderdome community and hosts both death match tournaments and standard holo-tournaments. Its economy is largely service based.
Economy
Dominia accepts the Galactic Credit like the rest of the galaxy, but to the Sol Alliance and NanoTrasen's frustration Dominian systems continue to use the Imperial Pound as a local currency, a currency backed in precious metals by the Imperial Bank of Moroz. There is incredible stratification of living standards in the Empire. There is a very large underclass in Imperial society formed by non-Morozian imperial subjects (Ma'zals) which are allocated by the Emperor every year to the major houses. These indebted laborers are used for all sorts of labor, from farming, to industrial work, to accounting, craftsmanship, and more. The Great Houses are very powerful movers in the Imperial economy, dominating several key industries such as defense, agriculture, banking, and research. These quasi-corporations are some of the largest employers. The middle class in the Empire, largely consisting of freemen, is small but expanding as parts of the still isolated Empire begin to integrate into a larger galactic economy. Much of the middle class comes from former Fisanduh, and is concentrated in the few large cities. Defense industries, raw resource production, and agriculture are the largest sectors of the Empire's economy, with recent years' modernization efforts making the latter two increasingly lucrative. Consistent expansions of the Imperial Military's budget have seen a rapid growth in all types of equipment production and research for the Army and Navy, a sector dominated by houses Han'San and Zhao.
Societal
Ethnic Groups
- 76% Morozian Humans
- 20% Ma'zal Humans
- 3.0% Unathi
- 1.0% Alien (Skrell, Tajara, Dionae, Other)
The state religion is the Moroz Holy Tribunal. Dominians, especially members of Houses, follow a strict code of honor similar to that found in Unathi culture. For more information see: Dominian Honor
Government
The Empire of Dominia operates as an absolute monarchy, with a powerful central government and an expansive, all consuming imperial bureaucracy. The Imperial Cabinet and Imperial Diet are major parts of the government.
Imperial Cabinet
The Imperial Cabinet is the direct will of the Emperor manifested in the hundreds of officials that work in his name and carry out his will. The ministers, judges, and bureaucrats of the Imperial Cabinet manage many parts of the Empire, as well as advising the Emperor on all major decisions. The majority of all political posts are directly controlled by Emperor Keeser. His Imperial Cabinet consists of:
- High Lord General of the Army: Kasz Han’San (Unathi)
- Colonel-in-Chief of the Special Operations Group: Maxillius Alze (Human)
- High Lord-Admiral of the Navy: Maxim Zhao (Human)
- High Seneschal: Ngo Juric (Human)
- Chief Commissioner of the Imperial Military: Eliza Han’San (Human)
- Chief Commissioner of Economic Development: Izla Caladius (Human)
- Chief Commissioner of Imperial Sovereignity: Oalz Es’zala (Unathi)
Imperial Diet
The Imperial Diet, composed of the House of Lords and the Lords-Spiritual, is the origin of legislation in the Imperial government. While Emperor Keeser rules with absolute authority, capable of rewriting law with unchecked power, the normal legislative operations of the government are handled within the House of Lords. The Diet is where the Emperor has the most direct way of coordinating with and hearing the concerns of the aristocracy, but as the absolute monarch it is the Emperor’s privilege to completely sideline the Diet if he so wished - but this would be dangerous.
The members of the House of Lords appointed by the Emperor, while the Lords-Spiritual are appointed by the Tribunal. The House of Lords handles secular matters, while the Lords-Spiritual handles religious matters. When the lines between these two become blurred, matters are normally decided personally by the Emperor.
Planetary Governance
Lord-Generals represent the Emperor’s imperial will on the different territories held by the Empire, each with their own sprawling bureaucratic system under them to assist in governance. Appointed from the ranks of the prominent generals of the Imperial Army, these skilled and loyal soldiers govern in the Emperor’s name, with vast authority to achieve the goals set by the Emperor and the Imperial Diet. These governor-generals also command Army units garrisoned in their provinces.
Great Houses
A moniker for the five most prominent Houses in the Empire, these families are some of the most powerful political and economic influences in the Empire. They currently consist of:
- House Han'San- House Colors: Green Shades - A Unathi dominated house. Largely a military and martial clan, it provides a large number of officers to the Imperial Military.
- House Volvalaad - House Colors: Blue, Black - A Human dominated house. This house's wealth is in genetics and biological research with many of its Minor Lords previously belonging to the Biological Augmentalists of the ATLAS group. Of all the Great Houses, House Volvalaad is the biggest supporter of the empires integration into the wider galactic community.
- House Kazhkz - House Colors: Orange, Red, Yellow - A Unathi dominated house. The wealth of the clan is in its privateer enterprise. Of all the Great Houses, House Kazhkz is the most against the empires integration into the wider galatic community.
- House Caladius - House Colors: Purple Shades - A Human dominated house. This house's power lies in its money lending and banking, alongside it's many land holdings for which is receives a breathtaking sum in rent money.
- House Zhao - House Colors: White, Gray - A Human dominated house. The power of this great house sits in farming and its numerous naval contacts.
The Peerage, Noble Orders, and Titles
A mixture of prestigious, now defunct hereditary titles left over from the previous nation-states of Moroz, wealthy land-owners, powerful aristocrats, and new appointments by the Emperor, these are respected individuals are at the peak of Dominian society, recognized with these honorary titles.
Several honorary groups, ranging from knightly orders to civil exist, serving to recognize like-minded individuals or famous contributions to the Empire. Some of these are the Order of Ilyizev, the Knightly Order of Moroz, the Royal Order of the Feather, and the so-called 'Steel Sabers'. The Steel Sabers are a prominent group of young, martially minded political radicals, pushing for militarily expansionist policies.
Judicial
Judges in the Empire act as representatives of the Emperor, meting out justice in view of the laws and edicts in their appointed individual districts. They are chosen by the Emperor, with candidates normally being suggested by the dominant Great House in the area. Legal disputes unable to be decided by judges are referred to the Emperor himself.
History
Initial Colonization
The original settlers of the planet of Moroz arrived and founded the city of Nova Luxembourg in July of 2137 within the X'yr Vharn'p system, so named after an ancient crystal artifact of massive size and value found near the initial landing site. The settlers had been primarily recruited from Europe and East Asia, promised a fertile new home in the deep frontier of human space as many were during this era of colonization. However, these settlers were going farther than any human colonists had gone before. The three colony ships were equipped with a new generation of warp engine that made the trip only take three years and they had been told by their sponsors that terraforming efforts had transformed three barren worlds into utopian paradises to surpass Earth itself.
But as the settlers stepped out onto their new home, they found the planet almost entirely frozen. What terraforming equipment had been there had been abandoned for years - the failing states of Earth had effectively sent tens of thousands of people off without making sure they had a home to arrive to. Their mission was not an official United Nations sanctioned effort, but a disjointed effort between scattered, failing states. Only three years after they landed the United Nations had even ceased to exist - transformed into the Sol Alliance. In the transition red tape and chaotic bureaucracy consumed everything and old data was lost or neglected, including records of the Morozi colonial effort. And with the colonists' warp-based transponder signals broadcasting on phased out frequencies that no longer existed within Sol, Moroz was cut off with no hope of resupply or escape. With no other option, they brought their colony ship to touch down on the planet's surface.
The initial colonists of Dominia arrived in three separate areas, as per the original flight plans of their colony ships. Landing Site Fisanduh was located in "temperate" plains to be utilized for farming that were surrounded by mineral-rich mountain ranges, intended to become the industrial base of the colony - unfortunately for the colonists, the landing zone and its surrounding area were discovered to be quite cold. Landing Site Ofassel was located in the most "fertile" area of Moroz, a relatively temperate region of the planet. Intended to be the "breadbasket" of the planet, the colonists of this landing site viewed themselves as blessed with good fortune compared to their fellows. Landing Site Telminia was located near flat, fertile plains intended to serve as the primary launch point for shuttles coming on and off of the planet. Exacerbating the issues of the colonists upon landing was the failure of their local warp-based transponders, meaning that the three landing sites developed isolated of one another for some time.
The Forgotten Colony
After landing, all three colony ships were unable to relaunch due to a lack of fuel. In this harsh environment, the colonists quickly learned how to adapt and overcome through a variety of means. Some overcame through unity, while others tried more radical methods.
At Landing Site Fisanduh - the name of the mountainous region in which they had settled - the colonists managed to quickly adapt to their harsh circumstances. They unloaded crate after crate of heavy equipment originally intended for mining and industrial work, managing to establish the respectable city of Neubach in the foothills of the Fisanduh Mountains. The colonists of Fisanduh opted to unify as a whole to conquer their harsh environment, and managed to avoid the radical measures undertaken by other landing sites due to the strength of their unity. As the area around Landing Site Fisanduh expanded, and it became clear that the original colonial staff would no longer be able to manage it all, the Confederated States of Fisanduh were formed. To the members of the Confederacy there was no such thing as a Primary, Secondary, of Tertiary - there were simply Confederates. To the members of other states, however, the population of the Confederated States are primarily Secondaries, due to the lack of a colonial rationing program or nobility.
At Landing Site Ofassel the colonists were more religious than their fellows, being primarily recruited from Eastern Orthodox populations. When faced with hardship they relied on their faiths to guide them through the harsh initial years of the colonial process, and the clergy quickly became a wealthier and better-fed class than their contemporaries. The religious class of Ofassel were taller, stronger, and more educated than their fellows that worked in the agricultural industry and quickly began co-opting control of the landing site from the small staff of colonial administrators sent along with the ship. It was not until an administrator, a senior official named Valentia Caladius, proposed an alliance with the clergy that the settlement truly began to prosper. The start of the Holy Kingdom of Domelkos grew out of this political alliance, as did House Caladius. The importance of the religious leaders to the Holy Kingdom led to a great amount of emphasis being placed on them, with many referring to them as the "first and most important citizens" of the Holy Kingdom. Over time, this would simply be shortened to "Primaries."
At Landing Site Telminia two families rapidly came to prominence: the Zhao family, a group of engineers involved in ensuring that the engines that powered their capital of Nova Luxembourg kept running, and the Volvalaad family, a group of scientists responsible for the genetic engineering of crops and livestock to prevent the starvation of the colony. The two families would eventually rapidly expand their capabilities and power, with the Zhaos becoming prominent engineers and the Volvalaads moving into human genetic manipulation. They would also, through a combination of their power and manipulation of the colonial bureaucracy, turn the landing site into a monarchy controlled by the two families - now referred to as House Zhao and House Volvalaad. Eventually, they would refer to themselves as the Imperial Alliance of Zhao and Volvalaad. Or, more simply, the Imperial Alliance of Telminia. The engineers of House Zhao were lucky to create a working long-range radio system shortly after landing, which put them into contact with the fledgling Holy Kingdom of Domelkos. The religion of the Holy Kingdom spread to the Imperial Alliance as the two groups grew closely together due to their similar systems of government and similar state of quasi-castes. The nobility of the Imperial Alliance were, like their contemporaries in House Caladius and the Holy Kingdom's clergy, generally taller and stronger than their commoner counterparts due to a better diet. The caste system of the Imperial Alliance was further reinforced by a primitive version of the later blood debt, in which those living under the control of a noble paid them in service or goods to reside on it.
By 2300 these three groups had grown significantly from their original sizes. The Confederated States had expanded to become a major industrial powerhouse in the Fisanduh Mountains and area around them, but remained behind their mountain ranges aside from the occassional expedition due to the hostile attitude of the Holy Kingdom - occupying western areas surrounding the mountain range - and Imperial Alliance - occupying the eastern regions surrounding the mountain range. Due to the differences between the Confederacy and the Holy Kingdom-Imperial Alliance coalition, conflict was inevitable at some point. It would come in 2395.
2395 - The War of Moroz
Lasting a period of almost forty years, the "Holy Crusade to Unite Moroz" as it is called in the Empire of Dominia (the Confederacy refers to it as the "War for Liberty") economically and militarily devestated the planet. While the war began with victories for the Coalition outside of the Fisanduh Mountains, it rapidly became a stalemate when the mountain range was reached by Coalition forces. The Confederacy was on its home terrain, had fortified the passes through the mountains heavily, and was not willing to give territory up to what its citizens viewed as bloodthirsty imperialist invaders. The full might of the Confederated State's industrial economy was brought to bear to produce the materials needed to defend its harsh mountainous environments, with factories producing everything from winterized uniforms to artillery shells, while the Coalition turned its biological prowess towards beating their way through the mountains. The foundation of the modern geneboosted Primaries, often-titanic examples of humanity stretching upwards of seven feet into the air, originate from this effort to produce more effective soldiers.
While the Coalition tried their best to break through, they could not. Shell after shell of artillery rained down from the Fisanduh Mountains as the war continued, turning the foothills were assaults would originate from into blasted moonscapes where the very ground became poisoned from residual gunpowder and un-exploded munitions. There were breaks in the warring, but they were only temporary ceasefires - simply interludes in what the Coalition viewed as a holy war and what the Confederated States viewed as a war for their very existence. One side would not stop until their conquest was over, and the other side intended to fight until the bitter end. The Confederated States were diverting more and more of their economy towards the war as the years turned to decades, and were approaching a kind of white peace as the Coalition became more and more worn down by reports of losses for what they saw as very little gain. Then, in 2437, after forty-two years of war, the balance of power shifted dramatically.
The Lightning War
In late 2436 the Imperial Alliance and Holy Kingdom, worn down by nearly forty years of continuous fighting, made a desperate move. House Zhao was confident in its ability to launch a functional spaceship after decades of research alongside House Volvalaad with the aim of seeking support for their holy war outside of the system. A Captain from the Holy Kingdom, Stanislav Olkhovsky, was chosen for his exceptional faith in the Morozian Holy Church - the colonial religion of the Alliance and Kingdom, descended from Eastern Orthodoxy. As Captain Olkhovsky and his crew launched, they were firm in their faith that they would find somebody (or something) to aid them. After several months of drifting, they were hailed by the pirate fleet of S’kraskin Seryo. Using a human pirate to interpret from Tradeband to Tau Ceti Basic, Captain Olkhovsky laid out his requests of Seryo. They would help them gain victory over the Confederacy in return for land, power, and the ability to establish two great houses upon Moroz. Seryo, with the devastation of the contact war fresh in his mind and the prospect of an entire planet to potentially rule, agreed.
Upon arriving in the capital of the Imperial Alliance, Nova Luxembourg, Captain Olkhovsky and Seryo were hailed as agents of the divine Goddess themselves and greeted as a sign of divine favor over the Confederacy's forces. The Confederated States, for their part, prepared for the assault of this new species. However this did not prepare them for an orbital assault by the unathi on all their major cities, including their capital of Neubach. The government of the Confederated States never signed surrender terms to the war, instead opting to enact "Plan SCRAM" and send its government and military into an insurgency. The last Prime Minister of the Confederated States, Helga Kesselring, shot herself while draped in the standard of the States rather than be taken prisoner. No fully intact copy of Plan SCRAM has ever been recovered from Moroz due to the Confederated States' efforts to destroy sensitive documents in the final hours of its existence as an official government - the only recovered parts of it are a two-page section: a title page reading "PLAN SCRAM" and a second page reading "DESTROY ALL INFORMATION PAST THIS PAGE AFTER READING." This spirit of defiance continues up until the present day. The Imperial forces that came to occupy the former Confederated States after this lightning assault reported no resistance whatsoever, but constant signs that the citizens of the region were preparing to stand against them. The army of the States had simply vanished, its factories had disappeared, and its citizenry had ripped up road signs across the territory. The second phase of the so-called "Lightning War" was more cultural than military. Seryo, realizing what power he held over the native population of the planet due to being seen as the "Goddess' herald" by the more religious segments of the society, exploited his status to crown himself the "Goddess' chosen ruler" of the newly-proclaimed Empire of Dominia. The years that followed his coronation on the 29th of June, 2437, would be a time of great change for Moroz. However, not all change was to be for the better.
The Reign of Emperor Seryo I
In order to reign over an entire planet rather than a pirate fleet, Emperor Seryo I needed trusted advisors he could rely upon. These advisors became the first Lords of House Han'San and House Kazkhz. These Great Houses had the influence and power needed to strengthen the throne, and were major contributors to the Imperial Alliance's monarchy and class system being spread throughout most of the planet outside of the former Confederated States - now cut off behind their heavy mountain ranges and mostly deserted (or so it would seem). The Moroz Holy Tribunal additionally originated in this period, thanks to the influence of the Unathi houses. However, despite his talented advisors, Emperor Seryo turned out to be anything but competent. He was vain, cruel, and utterly unable to manage a real economy. Within months of his ascent to the throne, the heads of House Han'San and House Khahkz were running the fledgling Empire of Dominia, and within a year's time they were conspiring with some human-dominated houses to overthrow the new Emperor in favor of one that would be more qualified. After some political maneuvering, Emperor Seryo was removed from the throne politically rather than violently. The heads of House Han'San and House Khahkz were each poised to take the throne, yet neither did. In their greed to ascend to the throne, the great lords of both house sent assassins after one another, and both were successful, killing both soon-to-be rulers. With these two powerful lords dead due to their own hubris and greed, Unathi saw no clear successor to the throne. Humans, however...
The Ascent of Emperor Boleslaw Keeser I
Boleslaw Keeser was, during the course of the War of Moroz, a freeman of the Imperial Alliance that rose to prominence due to his abilities as a manager of rail networks. Eventually, by 2432, he had rose to be Minister of Transportation for the Imperial Alliance - and, in the process, had earned a significant fortune for himself as well as a multitude of noble connections. There were many attempts by the human Great Houses to induct his family into their ranks, but all were rejected. With the victory of the Imperial Alliance over the Confederated States apparent in mid 2437, Keeser opted to finally accept an invitation to a great house, becoming Lord Boleslaw Zhao before Goddess and man. In the vacuum of power following the departure of Seryo I from the imperial throne, the relatively young, intelligent, and influential Zhao managed to quickly maneuver himself into the imperial throne to the absolute joy of his House. However, Boleslaw did something unexpected - he rejected his Zhao surname and took up the name Keeser once more, in order to demonstrate that the Emperor owed fealty to none of the GreatHouses and that all would be considered equal in the eyes of the throne. Though there were grumbles of discontent from House Zhao, Keeser I was able to outmaneuver his opponents via control of the economy and Imperial Army, and by staying on the good side of all other Great Houses. The Dominian Empire, under the keen mind of Keeser, has seen a period of absolute prosperity in the decades since his ascent. There are, however, problems in the homeland.
The Imperial Occupation of Fisanduh
In the meantime settlers of the Fisanduh region from the greater Empire became extremely rare, due to massive hostility from the native population. Settlers often reported having bricks thrown through their windows, effigies of Keeser burnt on their properties, were typically declined employment in Fisanduh-run businesses, and saw extremely low rates of attendance at Tribunal festivities and churches. The Fisanduh town of Vasychevo is well-known for having a church attendance of zero non-Imperial citizens, until its church was shuttered fifteen years after its establishment. The initial Imperial bureaucrats and clergy sent to Fisanduh often returned demoralized and infuriated (and often complaining that citizens of the former Confederated States would refuse to give them the time of day). Most pettily, a Tribunalist priest once claimed that a Fisanduh supply truck had opted to move fifty Kilometers under the speed limit in a no passing zone, causing him to be two hours late to a sermon. This was not an isolated incident, as Fisanduh was ful of these signs of defiance - some large and noble, some small and petty.
In an attempt to bring their new province under control, the Empire escalated by sending firebrands to Fisanduh. These firebrands found very little success at best, and death at worst. The situation in Fisanduh continued to escalate as the 2430s, then the 2440s, dragged on. The Empire had a poor foothold at best, and there were rumors that the Fisanduh resistance (now, by this point, violent) reached further than the Empire knew. When Emperor Keeser attempted to formally enforce control in 2440 via an order to convert to the Holy Tribunal at the sword enforced by the Imperial Army, fears about the capabilities of the Fisanduh resistance would be found to have underestimated the resistance.
The Fisanduh Freedom Front
Active from 2437 to the present day as part of Plan SCRAM, the FFF (or 3F to some), the Fisanduh Freedom Front entered into a period of mustering for almost fifteen years following the defeat of the Confederated States in open battle, gradually building up their strength. The Freedom Front is rumored to have been active formally since the day the Confederated States fell, they reemerged dramatically in 2440. While the order formally came into effect on 15 November, 2440, its enforcement was intended to take place starting on the twentieth of the same month to allow the Imperials a chance to celebrate Navy Day. On November 18th two Imperial Navy light cruisers - the Arbiter and Outrider - detonated violently in their drydocks in New Luxembourg. The Arbiter remained in its elevated drydock moorings, but the Outrider managed to slip out of its dry-dock after the first blast. Observers first reported the Outrider starting to slide out, then a massive explosion (later revealed to be its power magazine) split the ship in two, with one half remaining attached to the dry-dock, while the other fell out of its moorings and into the naval armament plant beneath the dock, causing massive damage to the facility. The exact number of dead has never been revealed by the Empire of Dominia, though the cruisers were written off as unable to be salvaged. Shortly after the detonation, an organization known as the Fisanduh Freedom Front claimed responsibiity for the attacks, with a man identified as "Svetovid" standing in front of the Confederated State's flag claiming that more attacks would come if the Empire continued its efforts to subjugate Fisanduh. The Emperor, not wanting to lose face to what he saw as dishonorable terrorists, continued his efforts to subjugate Fisanduh.
More attacks came. None were on the scale of the Navy Day attack, but they were a constant threat to the Empire in Fisanduh. Nail bombs arrived to important officials in Fisanduh, Tribunal temples were firebombed, buildings of the Imperial bureaucracy were detonated - some through car bombings, others through tunnels being physically dug beneath them. It became apparent that 3F was, despite Imperial efforts to pacify the province earlier, essentially the shadow government of the entire province. Many of 3F's fighters were veterans of the War of Moroz, and were still able to stand and fight despite their age. The "shadow state" supporting them was able to withstand the Imperial Army's efforts to root it out, proving to be extremely flexible and resilient. Losses on the part of the Imperial Army began to mount, and maimed soldiers marching back from Fisanduh became a common sight in the border provinces to it. The insurgency has continued since 2440 without signs of stopping, though it has waxed and waned. Throught the propaganda machine of the Empire, the greater body of Imperial citizenry began to hate 3F and the democractic movement it stood for. Through their brutal actions, the greater Empire became hated by Fisanduh. The intensity of the insurgency, and of the Imperial counter-campaign has wound down in the past seven years - Emperor Keeser has mostly withdrawn from Fisanduh, while 3F has decreased its activities outside of Fisanduh as the occupation has retreated. Present-day Fisanduh is an area that is, in many places, devastated by war. It remains an area of the Empire that most Imperials do not go to, and a source of conflict in the Imperial government. Should they attack Fisanduh again, or should they expand outwards?
The Reign of Emperor Keeser I
Skillful work by Emperor Keeser has helped mend the seemingly insurmountable gap between the foreign Unathi and native Morozi population, united in a new loyalty under the Emperor and Tribunal. With constant public appearances, charity work, and speeches, all often hand in hand with an Unathi noble, he has, at least on the surface, healed the gap between the two species over the past several decades. An uneasy melding of Unathi and Human culture has begun to take place, though tension still exists beneath the surface... With his consolidated power, Emperor Keeser has embarked upon numerous reforms and projects to improve the Empire. These range from research and infrastructure projects, military and naval expansions, to social and educational organization. In 2448, the Imperial Railroadwas completed, linking all of the major cities of Moroz together. Since its start in 2452, the Imperial Canal project to link the major inland seas has made steady progress. A timeline of events in his reign follows: In 2440 he opted to attempt to enforce Imperial control over the province of Fisanduh. In 2443 he oversaw the creation of an outpost on Lyoid, Dominia’s moon. This served as a shipyard and stepping stone for Dominia to officially enter space. By 2444 Dominia’s growing military had begun expanding to nearby systems, starting with the planet of Alterim Obrirava. In 2444 the large pirate fleet Corsairs of the Eternal Raid attacked Dominia, providing an opportunity for the untested Imperial Navy to cut its teeth, fighting them to a stalemate. The pirate fleet was absorbed into the Dominian navy by treaty as privateers in later in 2444. In 2445 the Coalition of Colonies officially forms the “Coalition Against Dominian Piracy”; an additional pact between its members that would target Dominia financially and diplomatically after Boleslaw announced it would enter into a defensive pact with neighboring pirate fleets. In 2446 NanoTrasen officially entered into trade talks with the Dominian government, focusing on free trade and the so-called “pirate issue”. The talks broke down and a year later the Imperial Government condemned NanoTrasen, saying they would never do business with the corporation due to irreconcilable differences. They released several dramatic documents alleging genetic experimentation and human mistreatment in remote NanoTrasen labs, which NanoTrasen denied as ridiculous. With their business with NanoTrasen cut off, Dominia is forced to purchase its bluespace capable vessels and its entire supply of phoron through third party vendors. In 2448 a formal embargo is enacted against Dominia by the Coalition of Colonies and over a hundred affiliated Frontier systems. The embargo restricts the Empire’s access to phoron and bluespace capable ships. Cut off, the Empire is forced to rely on its backup warp engines, which drastically reduce their capability of traveling between star systems as they nurse their dwindling resources. This chain of events has dramatically reinforced calls for self-sufficiency and autarky within the Empire. In 2450 Emperor Boleslaw declared involuntary servitude illegal, still leaving the much larger system of the Mo’ri’zal debt in place. In response, the embargo against Dominia is lifted by the Frontier organizations and Tau Ceti ends its own travel ban on Dominia, officially allowing its citizens to travel to and work outside the Empire. Coincidentally, reports show that the end of slavery came as Dominia’s phoron reserve was down to a month’s supply. In 2451 Necropolis Industries officially announced its partnership with Dominia would start in June of 2451, though some independent observers noted that facilities resembling Necropolis ones had existed on the planet since early 2440. In 2452 the Emperor once again entered talks with NanoTrasen at the behest of House Volvalaad, ultimately resulting in the corporation and Imperial government reaching an agreement regarding trading and piracy. The opening of Dominia to the greater market of NanoTrasen has allowed for the Imperial Navy to rapidly expand its capabilities in the past decade, though the fully assembled Coalition of Colonies Deep-Space Fleet still outclasses it badly according to recently released figures. In 2455 Emperor Keeser began a gradual withdraw from Fisanduh, having seen defeat in its mountainous territories. The province reverts to the droll Imperial title of "semi-autonomous region." He instead opts to expand the Empire's borders in the void of space (in order to save face, according to some critics), and begins a campaign of conquest and colonization. In 2462 the Emperor continues to reign over Dominia: a young empire with bubbling internal strife.
Dominian Society
Primaries
The Primaries are the noble and lithurgical classes of the Dominian Empire's humans, though the noble class of Dominia often sees Secondaries adopted into it. Due to centuries of eating better than their commoner and lay counterparts, Primaries are physically larger and more imposing than their Secondary cousins. Secondaries that are elevated to nobility, though still primaries, tend to be slightly shorter than older families. Dominians (or Morozians, if you are from the former Confederated States) of this social class are not typically found in Fisanduh due to its lack of a nobility, and can reach heights of six feet in both genders. Average Male Height: 5'6" - 6'5". The older a noble lineage, the taller they will be on average. Average Female Height: 5'4" - 6'3". The older a noble lineage, the taller they will be on average. Dominian Unathi also fall into the category of "Primaries". They are usually descendants of the Unathi raiders who invaded Moroz or recent immigrants from the Hegemony.
Secondaries
Secondaries are the commoners and laypeople of Moroz, those on the planet lacking noble titles or lithurgical positions. Exceptional Secondaries are often ennobled, becoming Prinaries. They make up the bulk of Moroz's population, but are the second-most populous group overall in the Empire after Ma'zals. Secondaries from outside Fisanduh tend to be smaller and thinner than their counterparts in Fisanduh, and Secondaries as a whole tend to be smaller than Primaries (though there are exceptions). Secondaries represent a more diverse social class than the Primaries do, but are a part of the same ethnic group as the Primaries. The key difference between the two classes is the presence of a noble title. In the Empire proper, Secondaries form the core of the Moroz Holy Tribunal and Imperial society as a whole. Within the former Confederated States, Secondaries are instead referred to as "Morozians." Average Male Height: 5'6" - 5'9" (add three to four inches if from Fisanduh) Average Female Height: 5'1" - 5'4" (add three to four inches if from Fisanduh)
Ma'zals
A blanket term used to refer to those citizens - or subjects - of the Empire that are not from Moroz, Ma'zals represent the Empire's underclass. They are an extremely diverse group that tends to be generally rebellious, and unaccepting of Imperial control. Ma'zals that do opt to side with the Empire have either been integrated into the Empire's colonial system or are turncoats. Ma'zals also form a large population in the Coalition of Colonies, as they often flee from the Empire through whatever means are available. Ma'zals are also often conscripted into the Imperial Army or Imperial Navy, and can be found throughout the Empire.
Morozian Humans
Called either Dominians (a general descriptor commonly used outside and inside of the Empire), Confederates (referring time those from Fisanduh), or Imperials (a derogatory term for Dominians) the human population of Dominia is a diverse yet highly class-based society. Morozian humans are descended from a United Nations colonization effort and their ancestors came from all across the Earth. Old divisions of nationality have been burnt away by both time and distance from Earth, and the Morozians are now divided into two major social groups: Primaries, the upper class, and Secondaries, the commoners. It is not uncommon for Secondaries to be elevated to the rank of Primary within the Empire, and many Morozians believe that with hard work and the favor of the Goddess anyone can reach the ranks of the nobility.
Geneboosting
A technique dating back to the War of Moroz, geneboosting is descended from colonial efforts to genetically engineer species adapted to the harsh Morozian climate. Geneboosting was originally used for improving the Imperial Army's officer corps, before being adopted by House Volvalaad as a way to create a better class of nobility. Geneboosting is done during the fetal development stage. It greatly enhances the natural genetic structure of the patient, removing flaws and emphasizing strengths. This form of genetic modification is limited to the nobility due to the high cost, and has only been in use among the Dominian primaries belonging to rich houses during the past thirty-five years. The effects lead to enhanced attributes and appearances. Geneboosted playable species tend to be a foot or so taller than average (upwards of seven to seven and a half feet for humans) and find it very easy to maintain peak fitness. A geneboosted person is obvious at a glance, and geneboosted humans are often held as paragons of Imperial society. Geneboosting carried out after birth, known as gene therapy, is very rare and generally dangerous in addition to being prohibitively expensive. Talks with Zeng-Hu to improve upon Dominia's preexisting gene boosting techniques have not yielded results.
Dominian Heads of Staff
Due to the relative isolation of the Empire, combined with its fanatical outlook on certain issues such as synthetic life and edict breakers, Dominian heads of staff are fairly rare aboard NanoTrasen facilities such as the NSS Aurora. Those that do pass through the hurdles needed to become a head of staff are typically considered to be liberals (or, alternatively, reformists) in the Empire and typically belong to or are affiliated with a Great House, with House Volvalaad having the greatest representation abroad. Nevertheless, they must still go through a great amount of orientation in order to adapt to life in Tau Ceti. Dominian captains are generally not hired by NanoTrasen, due to the Empire emerging onto the galactic stage recently and concerns that Dominians, with their atypical views, would poorly represent NanoTrasen on the galactic stage. Loyalty implants are considered acceptable under the thirty-third edict.
The Dominian Ideal
For those in the young Empire, being considered Dominian is not a matter of birth, but of belief and conviction. To be considered a Dominian, one must follow loyally follow the Emperor, the Tribunal, and hold to the standards of Dominian society. Regardless of species, birth, origin, accomplishment - anyone can be respected as a Dominian. The phrase 'Goddess, Emperor, Empire' is echoed throughout the Empire as a summation of these ideals. Immigrants are welcome from any place in known space, with the meritocratic and zealous nature of Imperial society inviting many to the idealistic Empire.
Languages
Several languages are spoken in the Empire of Dominia. Among the aristocracy, speaking a fluent Tradeband or Tau Ceti Basic is seen as part of a good upbringing, while Unathi in the Empire speak Sinta'Azaziba, the archaic form of Sinta'Unathi. The middle and lower classes speak a regional dialect of Sol Common known as Vulgar Morozi, which to foreign listeners sounds archaic and formal. Imperial citizens who did not speak Basic from birth often speak in an overly formal and somewhat slow manner because of this. Many burghers in the middle class speak Tradeband to some degree. Freespeak is detested in the Empire, being associated with barbarism and corruption. It is often referred to with the pejorative of 'gutter'.
The Mo’ri’zal
Each citizen incurs a personal debt to the Emperor at birth for the privileges of citizenship in the Empire, a sum assessed per person at birth, but usually high enough to require nearly a lifetime of labor. This practice has been criticized as merely a polite form of serfdom by foreign observers.
Despite this heavy burden, there are benefits to Dominian citizenship. A degree of healthcare, education, and assistance are guaranteed, especially for those who perform better then average according to the calculations of the labyrinthine Imperial bureaucracy.
Imperial Aristocracy
The elite of Imperial society, these wealthy and influential families enjoy the best opportunities and lifestyles available in the Empire. The five most prominent of these, known as the Great Houses, are some of the most powerful influences in Dominia, with vast wealth and sweeping control of industry. Alongside them are numerous Minor Houses, which range wildly in size. Aristocratic Houses are a unique blend of oligarchy combined with a structure similar to that of mercantile families and Unathi clans. These influential houses are not feudal nobility. The distinguishing difference between the aristocracy and freemen is sufficient wealth to pay off their children’s Mo’ri’zal debt at birth.
They are led by a Lord Noble, below which are the Minor Lords, followed by House Nobles, and finally Minor Nobles on the bottom. Each House has a share of the Mo’ri’zal debt allocated to them based upon need and importance. This allocation takes the form of the debters, Ma’zals, which are used by the Houses as labor. Previously, the Houses were able to purchase and own slave labor, but this was decreed illegal by Imperial edict in 2460. All ‘nobles’ of a house share the same last name. If part of a House, players will only be able to play as a House Noble or lower. Players can either be a member of a Great House or their own Minor House.
The small and growing middle-class of the Empire, consisting of citizens no longer burdened by the Mo’ri’zal debt but not members of a Great or Minor House. Permitted to vote in local elections, own property, and pursue any lifestyle they see fit, Freemen form the backbone of skilled labor in the Empire, with many achieving a college education and often working outside the Empire. It is not unheard of for these citizens to be adopted into a House, becoming members of the aristocracy. This is usually based upon demonstrating some use as well as sharing values with the House in question, though it is sometimes accomplished through cronyism.
Tribunal Commandos
An evolution of the Unathi concept of the Guwandi, in the event that a citizen becomes mortally ill, finds themselves lacking the pride, honor, drive to live, or simply become tired of their lot in life, forfeit their possessions and join the religious Tribunal Commandos, a near-suicidal military unit under the Tribunal and Imperial Military’s dual authority. Acting as the vanguard, distractions, and expendable forces, members of the Commandos are expected to die. A dishonored person who joins the Commandos is considered to have regained his reputation while serving in the unit, whether they survive or die in combat.
It is not uncommon for young men and women with no real prospects to join the Tribunal Commandos, for a multitude of reasons. A Commando who survives an engagement is awarded a square, bronze battle medal. When ten are accrued, the soldier is offered a choice to remain as a soldier of the Tribunal Commandoe or be honorably discharged. Many members of the secretive Special Operations Group are recruited from the few surviving Commandos. Survivors are allowed to keep their medals and earn the title Ten Medal ‘Immortal Commando of the Tribunal’ as well as being inducted into the Order of Immortals. Surviving members also have their debt, and their children’s debt for two generations, removed with no conditions attached. A soldier who survives ten engagements is very rare.
House Relations
To most within the Empire all of the aristocratic houses would appear to be unified under the Emperor and the Tribunal. The reality - known to those in the mid to upper levels of the aristocracy and the few citizens they interact with - is one of secret proxy wars and assassination. Most if not all houses strive for Great House status and the favor of the Emperor. As such, aristocratic houses tend to engage each other in secret conflict in attempt to usurp as much power as possible, be this through subtle economic embargos (over charging a competing house for critical services) low-key military interference (blockading a competitors space ports under the guise of policing) or house "accidents" (the heir to a house being poisoned by peoples unknown, a private shuttle experiencing unexpected engine failure). The Emperor and the Tribunal are aware of this and the Tribunal in particular goes to great lengths to ensure the masses are kept oblivious to this. Direct and obvious house competition is met with the wrath of the Imperial Military. ~~+_:@~@~HOUse__HaRadis_---_liVEs'[[}+_
Synth Relations
"I'm real! Just like any of you! Please Goddess save me! I'm real!" Last words of Shell IPC T2332 aka Lì Olesk before permanent shut down, praise Goddess.
Dominia is highly anti-synth stemming from it's relation to the Sk'akh faith, as such any and all IPC's are sought out and destroyed upon entering Dominia space. Interestingly to observers, there seems to be a disproportionately high number of shell IPC's present in the sector compared to those beliefs. Special task forces have been set up under Section 0 to tackle this perceived threat to Dominia yet it is still not unknown for shells to flee the system in search of protection.
Due to recent interstellar laws placed on Dominia as a result of the embargo by the "Coalition Against Dominian Piracy", reported political dissidents seemed to have dropped to practically zero. However, an unprecedented rise in shells have been reported in the area shortly afterwards, with numbers of registered shells into the system not matching the reported numbers, but Dominia administration insists it's the work of Synthetic Liberation Front. They have been less than forthcoming with an evidence to back this claim however and the SLF have not come forward and reported any interest in Dominia, though given the reported nature of these shells (primarily in espionage, again according to Dominia), this is not entirely unexpected.
Imperial citizens working abroad in human space often interact with synthetics. In foreign lands Dominians are expected to maintain some degree of tolerance in the presence of synthetics, abomination though they may be, in order to continue being permitted to work in these environments. While robots, or synthetics without a positronic brain or similar, are not objectionable to the Tribunal, citizens who refused to work alongside AI or IPCs would soon find themselves out of work and are expected to cooperate with these entities when their occupation demands it.
Edict Breakers
Breaking of an edict is punishable by death so it is not uncommon for an "Edict Breaker" to go on the run outside of Dominian space. Due to the nature of the Empire, in-depth records are kept on all subjects and once one runs, their details are reported on the local ExtraNet daily until they return/are returned. These details include name, address, picture, family details, everything. As such, any "Edict Breakers" are instantly identifiable to Dominian subjects. In Dominia space, any "Edict Breakers" are violently sought for capture. Outside of Dominian space however, due to the nature of The Thirty Third Edict, subjects of Dominian usually do not violently attempt to apprehend these criminals but instead try to convince them in the nicest way possible to return to Dominian space under their own volition for judgment. This usually devolves into near passive-harassment where the loyal imperial subjects will remind the "Edict Breaker" over and over that they have violated the law and should return to the Empire to repent, usually in a sickly sweet manner. The effect is usually maddening for the law breaker and it's not uncommon for them to allow themselves to be returned to Dominia for judgment and in some extreme cases take their own lives. Edict breakers abroad in human space sometimes find themselves pursued in the legal realm for infringing on the trademarks of their House if they refuse to change their surname.
Potential Character Concepts
Characters from the Empire of Dominia are likely to:
- Have deeply religious views.
- Worship their state religion, the Moroz Holy Tribunal
- Have a strong dislike of Synthetics and robots.
- Have a strong dislike of those from the former Confederated States.
Characters from the former Confederated States are likely to:
- Hold different religious views than their Imperial counterparts.
- Have been involved in the insurgency against the Empire.
- Have a strong dislike of unathi.
- Have an exceptionally strong dislike of Dominians.
- Be refugees from Moroz.
Unathi Characters specifically are likely to:
- Speak Sinta'Azaziba but not Sinta'Unathi
- Worship their state religion, the Moroz Holy Tribunal
- Look down upon Unathi from the Izweski Nation/Izweski Hegemony
- Be more relaxed around humans and human culture.
Here is an example character from the Empire of Dominia:
- Belai Janstane, 31, is a Station Engineer for NanoTrasen. He is a genial with those he knows and a hard worker.
- Janstane, like most Secondaries, is of average height at 5’7” with black eyes and closely trimmed black hair. Although he isn’t muscle-bound, he is lithe from many years of manual labor.
- Janstane, like the majority of Dominians, follows the Tribunal relatively devoutly, with a milder view of most Edicts. Hailing from the capital of Nova Luxembourg, he is descendant from several generations of freeman.
- Janstane, like all devout Dominians, loathes synthetic life. He has a positive view of Dominian Unathi, with a dislike of most other species.
- Janstane speaks Tau Ceti Basic with a fair grasp of Sol Common.
Here is a second example character from the Empire of Dominia:
- Seliza Kazhkz, 22, is a Cargo Technician for NanoTrasen. She is driven when she sets her mind to something, but often lazy.
- Kazhkz is an average 6’4”, with dark red eyes and dark green scales to match. Like many Unathi, she is relatively muscular.
- Kazhkz is a devout follower of the Tribunal subscribing to the Kael’kah school. She is from Alterim Balteulis, and is the child of some of the first Unathi to land in the now Empire, learning many important sailing skills from her parents. She is a Minor Noble.
- While viewing humans relatively positively, Kazhkz dislikes any distinctly Moghean Unathi.
- Kazhkz speaks Tau Ceti Basic and Sinta’Azaziba.
Here is a third example character from the Empire of Dominia:
- Aisha Kuanyshova, 52, is a chief medical officer for NanoTrasen. She is a hawkish woman with an eye for quality originally from the Confederated States. After fleeing Moroz, she opted to settle in the Coalition of Colonies.
- Kuanyshova is an average 5'6", with dark brown eyes and greying black hair. She is quite thin, and has a prosthetic right hand produced by Zeng-Hu.
- Kuanyshova is, like most Confederates, an atheist. She is from the suburbs of Neubach, and distinctively remembers the War of Moroz.
- Kuanyshova despises Dominians and unathi, but has fairly liberal views on synthetic life.
- Kuanyshova speaks Tau Ceti Basic and Sol Common, along with rusty and badly-accented Tradeband.