User:NewOriginalSchwann/Sandbox3 - Revision history

NewOriginalSchwann: /* Culture */

2026-07-24T01:04:16Z

Culture

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	* Palm: The palm is generally avoided in Carian divination, as it is believed the blood from it will cause the fortune to be more obscure than that of a finger’s.		* Palm: The palm is generally avoided in Carian divination, as it is believed the blood from it will cause the fortune to be more obscure than that of a finger’s.
	* Wrist: The wrist is generally avoided in Carian divination due to the danger it poses to a supplicant. Wrist blood, however, is said to be more sensitive to division than anywhere else on the hand, and diviners have been accused of harvesting blood from the wrist for their rituals by non-Carians.		* Wrist: The wrist is generally avoided in Carian divination due to the danger it poses to a supplicant. Wrist blood, however, is said to be more sensitive to division than anywhere else on the hand, and diviners have been accused of harvesting blood from the wrist for their rituals by non-Carians.
	<div><div>		</div></div>

	===Funerary Rites===		===Funerary Rites===

NewOriginalSchwann: /* Culture */

2026-07-24T01:03:37Z

Culture

Show changes

NewOriginalSchwann: /* Carians */

2026-07-24T00:57:14Z

Carians

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	==Carians==		==Carians==
	[[File:Caria flag.png\|thumb\|The flag of Caria. The purple moons represent Lixus, while the twin fires represent protection from evil fortune. The silver backing references Caria's well-known silver industry, and some flags have real silver spun into them.]]
	<center><i>“Stay away from me, witch!”</i> - Unknown [[Sun Reach\|Reacher]] to a Carian merchant, March 2413.</center>		<center><i>“Stay away from me, witch!”</i> - Unknown [[Sun Reach\|Reacher]] to a Carian merchant, March 2413.</center>

NewOriginalSchwann: /* Carians */

2026-07-24T00:56:53Z

Carians

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:56, 24 July 2026
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	==Carians==		==Carians==
			[[File:Caria flag.png\|thumb\|The flag of Caria. The purple moons represent Lixus, while the twin fires represent protection from evil fortune. The silver backing references Caria's well-known silver industry, and some flags have real silver spun into them.]]
	<center><i>“Stay away from me, witch!”</i> - Unknown [[Sun Reach\|Reacher]] to a Carian merchant, March 2413.</center>		<center><i>“Stay away from me, witch!”</i> - Unknown [[Sun Reach\|Reacher]] to a Carian merchant, March 2413.</center>

NewOriginalSchwann: /* Carian Tribunalism */

2026-07-24T00:53:56Z

Carian Tribunalism

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	===Carian Tribunalism===		===Carian Tribunalism===

	Legally the sole faith upon Caria, this Tribunalist sect is a result of the ease of the planet’s conversion and the unwillingness of missionary priestesses to challenge some of the native population’s stranger beliefs. Commonly referred to as Carian Tribunalism, it is officially characterized by the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal]] as an “acceptable deviation” from baseline Tribunalism similar to Reacher Tribunalism and Lyodiic Tribunalism. Unofficially many conservative figures in the Tribunal and House Caladius blame their liberal predecessors for allowing a cult of blood sorcerers and barely-closeted heretics to pass unmolested and entrench itself in what has become the linchpin of the [[Empire of Dominia#The Eastern Military Frontier\|Eastern Military Frontier’s]] connection to the wider [[Empire of Dominia\|Empire]]. The current Immaculate Hand has shown little interest in the question of whether Carian Tribunalism is acceptable or heretical, but — with Emperor Keeser and herself both aging — it is anticipated to be a major issue for her successor.		Legally the sole faith upon Caria, this Tribunalist sect is a result of the ease of the planet’s conversion and the unwillingness of missionary priestesses to challenge some of the native population’s stranger beliefs. Commonly referred to as '''Carian Tribunalism''', it is officially characterized by the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal]] as an “acceptable deviation” from baseline Tribunalism similar to Reacher Tribunalism and Lyodiic Tribunalism. Unofficially many conservative figures in the Tribunal and House Caladius blame their liberal predecessors for allowing a cult of blood sorcerers and barely-closeted heretics to pass unmolested and entrench itself in what has become the linchpin of the [[Empire of Dominia#The Eastern Military Frontier\|Eastern Military Frontier’s]] connection to the wider [[Empire of Dominia\|Empire]]. The current Immaculate Hand has shown little interest in the question of whether Carian Tribunalism is acceptable or heretical, but — with Emperor Keeser and herself both aging — it is anticipated to be a major issue for her successor.

	This branch of the Holy Tribunal is known throughout the Empire for its heavy emphasis on divination, astrological or otherwise, and all but the smallest and most insignificant temples on Caria have at least one diviner on-staff. Considered sanctified by the Tribunal, these diviners are said to augur the Goddess’ will through their predictions and are sometimes employed abroad by Tribunalist authorities for their talents. They must sacrifice a small amount of their blood, and typically cut into their thumbs using a silvered blade referred to as a blood ritual blade or zlimakhin, locally, said to prevent sorcerers or witch-spirits from interfering with the diviner’s readings, and thus corrupting the prediction. Some Katarinians claim this act is itself an example of blood sorcery but have so far not been able to stamp out the practice. Abroad, however, a diviner may find themselves harassed by the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal#The Tribunal Militant\|Tribunal Investigations Constabulary]] or [[Dominian Security and Law\|His Imperial Majesty’s Constabulary]] if they run afoul of a sufficiently powerful Katarinian.		This branch of the Holy Tribunal is known throughout the Empire for its heavy emphasis on divination, astrological or otherwise, and all but the smallest and most insignificant temples on Caria have at least one diviner on-staff. Considered sanctified by the Tribunal, these diviners are said to augur the Goddess’ will through their predictions and are sometimes employed abroad by Tribunalist authorities for their talents. They must sacrifice a small amount of their blood, and typically cut into their thumbs using a silvered blade referred to as a blood ritual blade or zlimakhin, locally, said to prevent sorcerers or witch-spirits from interfering with the diviner’s readings, and thus corrupting the prediction. Some Katarinians claim this act is itself an example of blood sorcery but have so far not been able to stamp out the practice. Abroad, however, a diviner may find themselves harassed by the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal#The Tribunal Militant\|Tribunal Investigations Constabulary]] or [[Dominian Security and Law\|His Imperial Majesty’s Constabulary]] if they run afoul of a sufficiently powerful Katarinian.
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	Traditionally, a Carian Goddess-touched is blindfolded while relying upon her skills. This is said to blind her to all but the will of the Goddess, and better understand Her Word.		Traditionally, a Carian Goddess-touched is blindfolded while relying upon her skills. This is said to blind her to all but the will of the Goddess, and better understand Her Word.

			==Culture==

	{{Navbox Human Lore}}		{{Navbox Human Lore}}

NewOriginalSchwann: /* Imperial Era */

2026-07-24T00:52:49Z

Imperial Era

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	<center><i>“Never forget the mercy Emperor Godwin showed you,”</i> - High Lord General Dorothea-Frieda Strelitz to Grand Estate-Holder Kusarit Maharbal, 2458.</center>		<center><i>“Never forget the mercy Emperor Godwin showed you,”</i> - High Lord General Dorothea-Frieda Strelitz to Grand Estate-Holder Kusarit Maharbal, 2458.</center>

	As when it was controlled by the Pirate Lords, Caria and its government have thrived under Dominian rule. The mostly peaceful nature of its transfer to Morozian rule led to little damage to the Carians, with most disruptions coming from a shift between the native religion of the planet, known as Carianism to Dominians and the 'Hatim Aderlai-Zlim' (lit. “Blood Path of the Great Mother”) to the pre-Imperial population, to Carian Tribunalism. Strategically, the planet’s role as a gate between Sun Reach and the broader region has not shifted, with House Caladius vessels replacing those of the Pirate Lords and colonial bureaucrats having replaced tribute collectors.		As when it was controlled by the Pirate Lords, Caria and its government have thrived under Dominian rule. The mostly peaceful nature of its transfer to Morozian rule led to little damage to the Carians, with most disruptions coming from a shift between the native religion of the planet, known as Carianism to Dominians and the ''Hatim Aderlai-Zlim'' (lit. “Blood Path of the Great Mother”) to the pre-Imperial population, to Carian Tribunalism. Strategically, the planet’s role as a gate between Sun Reach and the broader region has not shifted, with House Caladius vessels replacing those of the Pirate Lords and colonial bureaucrats having replaced tribute collectors.

	Beneficially, Caria never faced the infrastructure and urban decay of Sun Reach, nor the privations of Novi Jadran, enabling it to bargain from a stronger position when it submitted to the Empire. While they lost their native faith to Tribunalism, canny maneuvering – which some claim involved sorcery – saw the Adirim and the Grand Estate-Holder remain in charge under the nominal oversight of a colonial Governor-Viceroy. The massive investment projects which changed life patterns on Sun Reach and Novi Jadran did not occur on Caria, and the planet has retained a level of autonomy alongside its prosperity. This has led to its non-trade economy being less integrated with the Dominian colonial economy, aside from the entry of Dominian textile products into a market once dominated by more expensive local Carian output.		Beneficially, Caria never faced the infrastructure and urban decay of Sun Reach, nor the privations of Novi Jadran, enabling it to bargain from a stronger position when it submitted to the Empire. While they lost their native faith to Tribunalism, canny maneuvering – which some claim involved sorcery – saw the Adirim and the Grand Estate-Holder remain in charge under the nominal oversight of a colonial Governor-Viceroy. The massive investment projects which changed life patterns on Sun Reach and Novi Jadran did not occur on Caria, and the planet has retained a level of autonomy alongside its prosperity. This has led to its non-trade economy being less integrated with the Dominian colonial economy, aside from the entry of Dominian textile products into a market once dominated by more expensive local Carian output.

NewOriginalSchwann: /* Moroz Holy Tribunalism on Caria */

2026-07-24T00:52:36Z

Moroz Holy Tribunalism on Caria

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	==Moroz Holy Tribunalism on Caria==		==Moroz Holy Tribunalism on Caria==
	<center><i>“Blood of my blood, kin of my kin; forever shall we live in Lixus’ gaze,”</i> - Common funerary prayer on Caria.</center?		<center><i>“Blood of my blood, kin of my kin; forever shall we live in Lixus’ gaze,”</i> - Common funerary prayer on Caria.</center>

	Established by the Holy Tribunal when the planet surrendered in 2424 as a response to the native faith, Carianism, the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal]] on Caria has been influenced more by its local people than many Katarinians find comfortable.		Established by the Holy Tribunal when the planet surrendered in 2424 as a response to the native faith, Carianism, the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal]] on Caria has been influenced more by its local people than many Katarinians find comfortable.

NewOriginalSchwann: /* Moroz Holy Tribunalism on Caria */

2026-07-24T00:52:25Z

Moroz Holy Tribunalism on Caria

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:52, 24 July 2026
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	Established by the Holy Tribunal when the planet surrendered in 2424 as a response to the native faith, Carianism, the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal]] on Caria has been influenced more by its local people than many Katarinians find comfortable.		Established by the Holy Tribunal when the planet surrendered in 2424 as a response to the native faith, Carianism, the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal]] on Caria has been influenced more by its local people than many Katarinians find comfortable.

			===History===

			Before discussing Carian Tribunalism it is important to discuss the faith which preceded it: '''Carianism''', or ''Hatim Aderlai-Zlim''. Founded under obscure circumstances during Carian prehistory, Carianism was a monotheistic religion centered around the worship of a female goddess known as the Great Mother, or ''Aderlai'' in the local tradition, who was believed to reside in or on — historical texts cannot agree — Lixus, the planet’s moon. Carianist theology revolved heavily around astrology and divination to predict the future and the Aderlai’s will, as she was believed to reveal her intents only in subtle manners. The faith’s creation myth holds she used her mighty sword to crack Caria’s crust and carve the geothermal vents Carian cities have grown around, and this myth has been adapted by the Tribunal to build on their legitimacy. It is said the Great Mother’s sword exists in the real world and is kept in a deep vault under the grand estate holder’s official residence, and it shall be withdrawn in Caria’s greatest hour of need.

			Carianism’s followers, out of genuine belief or simple pragmatism, were very willing to accept Tribunalist clergy into their planet after its surrender, and the mostly-Jarmilian missionaries sent to the planet were delighted, some would say blinded, by the presence of another female creator deity, which they took to be a sign the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal#The Goddess\|Lady of Moroz]] had left Her mighty thumbprint upon this admittedly heathen faith. It was only sensible, then, that the Goddess’ chosen people — the Morozians — would be required to bring this planet into Her loving embrace. Within a decade, they had: young Carians were raised under Morozian theology which claimed their former goddess as an aspect of their more divine one. But while they had stamped out the Aderlai, the ancient tradition of Carian divination was harder to remove — and fearing a more active opposition to their proselytizing in an era of a thinly-stretched military, they chose to simply let it be.

			===Carian Tribunalism===

			Legally the sole faith upon Caria, this Tribunalist sect is a result of the ease of the planet’s conversion and the unwillingness of missionary priestesses to challenge some of the native population’s stranger beliefs. Commonly referred to as Carian Tribunalism, it is officially characterized by the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal]] as an “acceptable deviation” from baseline Tribunalism similar to Reacher Tribunalism and Lyodiic Tribunalism. Unofficially many conservative figures in the Tribunal and House Caladius blame their liberal predecessors for allowing a cult of blood sorcerers and barely-closeted heretics to pass unmolested and entrench itself in what has become the linchpin of the [[Empire of Dominia#The Eastern Military Frontier\|Eastern Military Frontier’s]] connection to the wider [[Empire of Dominia\|Empire]]. The current Immaculate Hand has shown little interest in the question of whether Carian Tribunalism is acceptable or heretical, but — with Emperor Keeser and herself both aging — it is anticipated to be a major issue for her successor.

			This branch of the Holy Tribunal is known throughout the Empire for its heavy emphasis on divination, astrological or otherwise, and all but the smallest and most insignificant temples on Caria have at least one diviner on-staff. Considered sanctified by the Tribunal, these diviners are said to augur the Goddess’ will through their predictions and are sometimes employed abroad by Tribunalist authorities for their talents. They must sacrifice a small amount of their blood, and typically cut into their thumbs using a silvered blade referred to as a blood ritual blade or zlimakhin, locally, said to prevent sorcerers or witch-spirits from interfering with the diviner’s readings, and thus corrupting the prediction. Some Katarinians claim this act is itself an example of blood sorcery but have so far not been able to stamp out the practice. Abroad, however, a diviner may find themselves harassed by the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal#The Tribunal Militant\|Tribunal Investigations Constabulary]] or [[Dominian Security and Law\|His Imperial Majesty’s Constabulary]] if they run afoul of a sufficiently powerful Katarinian.

			Tribunalist clergy and layperson staff on Caria are drawn primarily from the world itself, with many middle-class and lesser patrician families more than willing to send a child or two to serve the Goddess’ needs in the red cloth of the Holy Tribunal, and many have served with distinction as clergy or laypeople of the faith. A notable exception is the Tribunal Investigations Constabulary: not a single Carian has officially joined the TIC, perhaps due to the planet’s shrouded reputation. Carian clergy are typically not seen off of the shrouded world due to the ill reputation of Carians abroad among many Dominians, though its diviners can be found in many holy sites across the Empire.

			Since the advent of Tribunalism on Caria the Holy Tribunal has recorded a higher-than-average number of [[Moroz Holy Tribunal#The Goddess\|Goddess-touched women]] discovered on the planet than anywhere else outside of the Core Worlds. Carian Goddess-touched are prized locally as diviners and seers, with many of the wealthiest patrician families having having at least one on their familial staffs — the Maharbal family notably maintains a small institute for Goddess-touched it calls the Oracular Institute, and the current grand estate-holder has credited her political survival to their predictions more than once. Carian Goddess-touched who go abroad outside of a patrician family’s employment often do so in service to the Holy Tribunal. The Tribunal views Carian Goddess-touched as effective yet dangerous tools, and always assigns them a designated member of the clergy as a handler and minder.

			Traditionally, a Carian Goddess-touched is blindfolded while relying upon her skills. This is said to blind her to all but the will of the Goddess, and better understand Her Word.

	{{Navbox Human Lore}}		{{Navbox Human Lore}}

NewOriginalSchwann: /* Carians */

2026-07-24T00:50:33Z

Carians

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	While [[Empire of Dominia Great Houses\|House Volvalaad]] is currently attempting to uncover the truth behind what makes Carians so divergent from baseline humanity, multiple theories have arisen to explain why Carians are so unusual. Most grounded are theories the manipulation comes from Carians themselves at some point in their past, or from the Solarian Alliance during its control of the planet. Neither of these theories, however, has any epigraphic or archeological evidence to support it. If documents do exist in the voluminous Solarian Department of Colonization archives covering genetic manipulation of Caria’s colonists, they have never been revealed by the Alliance or by researchers. Less grounded theories include Carians’ appearance comes from the Goddess Herself as punishment for a past sin or that they are not from the Spur at all, having arrived here from some alternate reality where humanity is slightly different.		While [[Empire of Dominia Great Houses\|House Volvalaad]] is currently attempting to uncover the truth behind what makes Carians so divergent from baseline humanity, multiple theories have arisen to explain why Carians are so unusual. Most grounded are theories the manipulation comes from Carians themselves at some point in their past, or from the Solarian Alliance during its control of the planet. Neither of these theories, however, has any epigraphic or archeological evidence to support it. If documents do exist in the voluminous Solarian Department of Colonization archives covering genetic manipulation of Caria’s colonists, they have never been revealed by the Alliance or by researchers. Less grounded theories include Carians’ appearance comes from the Goddess Herself as punishment for a past sin or that they are not from the Spur at all, having arrived here from some alternate reality where humanity is slightly different.

			==Government==
			[[File:Kusarit_wiki_edit.png\|thumb\|Grand Estate-Holder Kusarit Maharbal, here depicted in a 2467 portrait commissioned by the Maharbal family to celebrate their continued dominance of Caria's highest office.]]
			<center><i>“It is the will of His Majesty the Emperor that Caria be granted similar rights to Novi Jadran for its inhabitants’ cooperation in Imperial affairs,”</i> - Excerpt from the Emperor Godwin Accords.</center>

			The Imperial Viceroyalty of Caria is a subject of the Empire of Dominia ruled, de jure, by Governor-Viceroy Gauthier Caladius, an unassuming and humorless man who has spent his life in the Empire’s colonial bureaucracy. De facto, however, the planet is ruled by '''Grand Estate-Holder Kusarit Maharbal''', one of the only Dominian planetary leaders – alongside [[Novi Jadran\|Novi Jadran’s]] Governor-Marchioness Anastazija Glavan – to hail from the planet they govern, and the only not to hold a noble title. Uniquely in the Empire, Caria’s grand estate-holder is elected in a nominally democratic process by the Adirim: a governing council made up of the planet’s richest citizens and its voting body. Maharbal, who has the backing of [[Empire of Dominia Great Houses#House Caladius\|House Caladius]] and the largest faction of the Adirim’s voting seats, has survived many challenges since her election in 2460, where she replaced her father, Watcyn Maharbal, after his assassination by a now-exiled merchant dynasty acting on behalf of [[Dominian Society and Class Structure#Petty Nobility\|House Kaneko]]’s affiliated voting block.

			The grand estate-holder is the most sought-after office on Caria: the leader of its republic, they de facto represent the planet abroad in official dealings with the broader empire, though Kusarit attends these alongside the governor-viceroy, who officially rules the world’s foreign affairs on behalf of the Empire. The loose hand of the colonial administration – a consequence of Caria’s rapid and voluntary capitulation to the Empire – has allowed the grand estate-holder to exercise a greater level of influence than most local officials would ever dream of: they can propose legislation to the Adirim, begin the process of exiling a member of the Carian people, and – prior to the Imperial era – set the planet’s foreign policy. Assuming they can maintain their popularity in the Adirim, they are capable of maintaining their role in perpetuity as there are no term limits. In reality the longest-serving person to hold the position is Kusarit Maharbal, current matriarch of the Maharbal family, who has the backing of the Imperial colonial bureaucracy and House Caladius.

			===The Adirim===
			<center><i>“How long will you abuse our patience, Drubal? This body’s is not so great as the Aderlai’s,”</i> - Kanmi Zimirda, of the same family, 2466.</center>

			The '''Adirim''' is Caria’s assembly and meets in its planetary capital, Yaskarit – the oldest and grandest of its vent-cities. It has 1,500 members, with each corresponding to a prominent merchant family. These families appoint a representative – who may be a non-relative or castellean, should they choose – to vote on their behalf in the Adirim, and owning a seat is considered to be a prerequisite for entering Carian high society. In the event of a total bloodline extinction for a seat holder or a seat-holder falling into relative poverty, only the grand estate-holder is able to choose a new merchant family to fill the vacant seat. This has led to a degree of habitual instability and turnover within the Adirim, particularly with the introduction of Houses Caladius and Kaneko’s influence, as merchant families ascend to the Adirim, withdraw from it, or are killed off by assassination, fall into economic ruin, or are exiled for alleged crimes. To pass an issue is deceptively easy: one must simply attain a pure majority – whether that is 751 or 1,499 – in votes. In practice this is difficult as the pro- and anti-Maharbal blocs of the Adirim are divided into competing interest groups, cliques, extended families, and conspiracies often motivated by their own profit over all else.

			A member of the Adirim is known as a '''representative''', or a '''delegate'''. They come from, or are affiliated with, Caria’s patrician families, and holding a seat has a wealth requirement: if one slips below it, their seat is confiscated and the grand estate-holder chooses their replacement. Per Carian law this replacement '''MUST''' be able to prove their family line dates back to at least the pre-Imperial era, in order to prevent the Adirim from being overrun by non-Carians. New representatives often bring in funerary records of their family to prove their lineage, with some having transported entire steles into the Adirim. One of the few rules about the Adirim is no family can acquire more than one seat for themselves. As a result, seats are spread across the planet and webs of influence can stretch through its mighty underground rivers, enveloping dozens of merchant families, business ventures, and trade networks. They can be recognized by their badge of office: a silvered knife they use to cast their votes. Some of these knives have been passed down in families since Carian prehistory, showing that some seats have remained stable for centuries. Others – by either fiscal ruination, exile, or bloodline extinction – have switched hands dozens of times across the centuries.

			However, five exceptions exist to the Carian ancestry rule: known as the '''viceroyalty''' seats, these Adirim members are Dominian members of the viceroyalty’s government and hold the power to veto anything passed by the body if at least four vote against it. Created by the Emperor Godwin Accords as a way of ensuring Dominian influence on a planet some in the government regard as too independent, these seats are informally known as the '''Imperial Viceroyal Council'''. The five Dominian members of the Adirim are all nobles and are not above involvement in the local government, with rumors having long circulated in Yaskarit that Grand Estate-Holder Maharbal has bribed members of the Council to vote with the Adirim on controversial legislation rather than against it. A piece of vetoed legislation can be sent back to the Adirim for further discussion or banned from discussion at all depending on the Council. The Counil is made up of one member from each [[Empire of Dominia Great Houses\|great house]] and Viceroy Caladius.

			The Adirim’s major blocs – which are defined by their support and opposition to the current grand estate-holder – are the House Caladius-aligned pro-Maharbal bloc and the smaller, House Kaneko-aligned anti-Maharbal bloc. Between these lie a smaller number of undecided voters who either hold no strong stances on Grand Estate-Holder Maharbal or simply wish to avoid drawing excessive attention to themselves. The Maharbal family, which has dominated the position of grand estate-holder since Caria’s annexation into the Empire, is wealthy enough to bribe many of these undecided voters into supporting them during times of crisis, such as when their control over the position is challenged. They are also canny and loyal enough to have secured the backing – financial, administrative, and more – of House Caladius, which views Caria as a vital link between the Frontier and the Empire’s more easterly territories.

			The House Kankeo-aligned bloc is led by the Drubal family, prominent shipwrights who have maintained a close relationship with the Empire’s naval forces since 2424 and are particularly close to the ever-ambitious Kanekos. This is an attempt by the Kanekos to carve out a planet aside from [[Empire of Dominia#Zhurong\|Zhurong]], where they must bend the knee to [[Empire of Dominia Great Houses#House Zhao\|House Zhao]], and Count Kaneko believes having his candidate ascend to the position of grand estate-holder would give the family strong influence over the planet – stronger than what House Caladius possesses, as the Drubal family lacks the immense wealth of their rivals, the Maharbal family. Scheming between the two merchant families has contributed significantly to the Adirim’s general instability.

			Votes in the Adirim are held when a plurality of members are present. Attempting to deliberately block a representative from attending the Adirim to vote is a severe crime and a rule put in place during the [[Timeline#The Twenty-Fourth Century\|mid-24th century]] to avoid disruptions to the voting itself in what had already become a hectic voting body. All members must pass between two large fires at the Adirim’s entrance: a relic from pre-Tribunalist times, the fires are said to cleanse and ward one from evil spirits. Representatives vote by taking their badge of office – a silvered knife – and slicing their thumb open, then daubing their blood onto a voting slip. The blood offering is symbolically and religiously important in Carian culture and is said to signify one’s firm belief in how they are voting for an issue.

			===Caria and the Imperial Government===

			The exceptional degree of autonomy enjoyed by Caria is rooted in its unique relationship with the Empire, which it enjoys thanks to both its position on the edge of the [[Empire of Dominia#The Eastern Military Frontier\|Eastern Military Frontier]] and its early cooperation with the Imperial military during the war against the Pirate Lords in the 2420s. Where other worlds fought against the Empire and for the Pirate Lords, the Carians opted to surrender without a fight and quickly set about cooperating with the Dominians for both profit and state survival. Emperor Godwin, realizing the planet could be an asset and free up Imperial forces for more resource-rich worlds – such as Xiang-Xia and Sun Reach – accepted the Carians’ surrender and symbolically forgave them for siding with the Pirate Lords, then appointed the first Viceroy-Governor to serve as an Imperial minder for the planet. The terms for Caria under the Empire are laid out in the Emperor Godwin Accords of 2424, which offers autonomy in exchange for continued loyalty of the Grand Estate-Holder and the Adirim to the Empire.

			The Emperor alone can retract the Accords, and some conservative actors – those who claim the Carians used sorcery and dark dealings to attain their autonomy from Emperor Godwin – have called for Emperor Boleslaw Keeser to take a firmer stance against Grand Estate-Holder Maharbal and the Adirim, claiming they have acted more to protect Carians’ business interests than for the good of the Empire as a whole. For now, however, the aging Emperor Boleslaw has taken no action for or against the planet.

			It remains to be seen if his successor will.

			===Law Enforcement===

			The [[Dominian Security and Law\|Empire’s laws]] on Caria are enforced by the steady hand of the Imperial Carian Constabulary Service, or ICCS, with limited support from the Tribunal Investigations Constabulary. Uniquely, the ICCS only has an urban constabulary and no rural component as the countryside of the planet is too inhospitable for permanent habitation. While it is well-funded and well-staffed, particularly compared to the haggard colonial constabularies throughout the Eastern Military Frontier, the ICCS has a reputation for corruption and close involvement with the politics of the Adirim and the patrician class. A bad constable will find themselves swept up into the plotting of merchant families and discarded as a pawn, while a good constable will find a way to make themselves useful to the winning side of a dispute. Some constables have become firm allies of certain patrician families and know when it is best to look the other way on behalf of their friends in high places. For normal Carians the ICCS it is common for constables to be tipped or “rewarded” by those who wish to see an investigation accelerated or deprioritized. If one cannot pay up, they will simply have to sit and wait for the wheels of the Empire’s bureaucracy to turn and spit out something resembling justice.

			The ICCS has more diviners on-staff than any other colonial constabulary thanks to the higher number of Goddess-touched on Caria. They typically work alongside regular constables and Carian diviners, and are valuable assets for the Service. Like elsewhere in the Empire, divination-based testimony by a Goddess-touched is highly valuable for either side of a case. Divination derived from non-Goddess-touched diviners and seers is less valuable, but still serves an important role in the Carian legal system, particularly when one side of the case is deceased.

			==Moroz Holy Tribunalism on Caria==
			<center><i>“Blood of my blood, kin of my kin; forever shall we live in Lixus’ gaze,”</i> - Common funerary prayer on Caria.</center?

			Established by the Holy Tribunal when the planet surrendered in 2424 as a response to the native faith, Carianism, the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal]] on Caria has been influenced more by its local people than many Katarinians find comfortable.

NewOriginalSchwann: /* Flora and Fauna */

2026-07-24T00:41:20Z

Flora and Fauna

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	===Flora and Fauna===		===Flora and Fauna===

			With planetary conditions for life generally being quite marginal, the ecosystem of Caria is characterized by highly extremophilic lifeforms that rely on chemotrophic producers as the foundation of the trophic system. Owing to its origins in the planet’s large subsurface ocean, both marine and surface Carian lifeforms are clustered heavily around hydrothermal vents and geysers that provide ample quantities of the necessary hydrocarbons and other chemicals for the production of nutrients and energy. On the surface, places where the ocean or geothermal activity has forced this chemical-rich water out from underground are typically known as sea-seeps, and often resemble vast tracts of inundated marshland.

			At these sea-seeps, coralline structures and fungal-analogues are the most common “flora” analogues, though they largely consist of colonial organisms as opposed to anything that would resemble plant life. “Seep-coral” is the term used to refer to these aforementioned coral-analogues that form the backbone of the ecosystem, which grow continuously and exponentially for as long as sufficient chemical energy is available and grazing fauna do not otherwise intervene. It is worth noting traditional trees and most forms of plants do not exist in large numbers on Caria, as the planet lacks the natural sunlight required for easy photosynthesis.

			Carian fauna, on the other hand, has a strong resemblance to Earth arthropods - with exoskeletons and crustacean-like traits being predominant and pointing to a relatively recent evolutionary origin. Surface and subsurface fauna are notably similar, and many terrestrial species are in fact semi-aquatic. Most species are colloquially referred to as “Grazers”, referring to their typical feeding behavior and their reliance on the limited amounts of edible surface matter available. Grazers tend to be small and relatively slow, conserving as much of their energy as possible, and many species exhibit considerable bioluminescence - largely as a method of communication on the perennially dim world. Owing to the highly nutrient-deprived nature of the Carian ecosystem, the vast majority of fauna species are extremely reliant on the chemotrophic producers that form the backbone of the planetary ecology, and populations are heavily concentrated in proximity to the habitats these chemotrophs rely upon.

			Carnivorous species are limited in number, but do exist, and are typically referred to as “Pouncers”. Like most Grazer species, the Pouncers are small and have a slow metabolism - many species are adapted to lying in wait for extensive periods of time, before engaging in explosive ambush attacks upon their prey upon detecting them. Some Pouncer species use deceptive bioluminescence in order to attract their quarry, having evolved to mimic the coloration and patterns of the species they specialize upon. While generally harmless, humans can accidentally trigger the hunting instinct of a Pouncer lying in wait, triggering abortive surprise attacks that are not very dangerous, but often quite startling to those who experience them.

			While not a major part of the Carian diet owing to their relative scarcity, Carian fauna is edible and generally very palatable - many Grazer species are favorably compared to sweet-tasting lobster or crab, and Patrician families have been known to make extensive use of them culinarily.

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			====Species====
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			* '''Royal Grazer''': Resembling a mixture of horseshoe crab and lobster, royal grazers are a highly successful species which are relatively active in comparison to other species within their clade. They possess a robust exoskeleton and dextrous front claws that allow them to defend themselves from predators and manipulate their surroundings to dig their dens, in which they lay their eggs and keep their young. It heavily relies upon seep-coral for food and the toxins they ingest in doing so imparts upon their meat a slightly numbing and tingly sensation that gives Carian cuisine its distinctive taste. They are the most frequently eaten species of grazer on the planet. Their flavor develops with age and they grow continuously throughout their lifespan, and particularly large specimens fetch a high price from the patrician families - most notably for Yaskarit Risotto, the foremost delicacy on the planet, which makes heavy use of its meat for protein and ground seep-coral for a seasoning and garnish.
			Trapdoor Pouncer: An uncanny fusion of crab. spider, and scorpion, trapdoor pouncers get their name from their dens, which are sealed by a hinged trap-door kept together with sticky mucus. Ambush hunters, they tend to leave their dens and lurk around the most productive grazing spots to wait for their prey. They have a tendency to have their leaping instinct triggered by passing humans, but are quite harmless (if frightening) and disengage upon realizing that they are not attacking suitable prey.

			* '''Common Seep-Coral''': Closely resembling Earther stony coral, common seep-coral is the dominant feature of Carian sea-seeps. They can grow to immense sizes and resemble barren trees, though colored teal, pink, or purple rather than green. They are the most productive single species of chemotrophs on the planet, and provide key sustenance and shelter for a great number of species. Harvested seep-coral is frequently processed for use as a seasoning and imparts a unique tingly and numbing sensation upon those who eat it. Overconsumption is known to cause an upset stomach and must be consumed in moderation.

			* '''Wardweed''': A chemotrophic lichen that carpets the ground in proximity to sea-seeps, wardweed possesses medicinal properties and is frequently used in traditional Carian medical practices as a topical antiseptic and antibiotic. It is effective enough that it is intentionally cultivated to meet foreign demand, particularly on the Imperial Frontier. An alleged connection to Carian witchcraft has led to more conservative members of Imperial society to eschew it altogether, believing it corrupts the link between body and soul through foul sorcery.

			* '''Seep-Flax''': A chemotrophic lichen that thrives in the marshy soil around a sea-seep, seep-flax has long been used as a strong, insulating fiber by Carians. Farms growing seep-flax require a great amount of space to be profitable as the lichen is relatively small and does not produce much material. The introduction of cheaper fabrics from the Empire has devastated the seep-flax industry and many former aquatic farms lie vacant, overrun with the flax they once grew for profit.
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			==Carians==

			<center><i>“Stay away from me, witch!”</i> - Unknown [[Sun Reach\|Reacher]] to a Carian merchant, March 2413.</center>

			The human residents of the Viceroyalty, '''Carians''' are a strange people who are often viewed negatively abroad in the [[Empire of Dominia\|Empire]], where some regard them as a cursed people. Rumors surround them and their heritage, which is lost to the modern historical record. Some Dominians believe all Carians are sorcerers who practice their vile witchery outside of the gaze of the [[Moroz Holy Tribunal\|Tribunal]] and Empire alike. Few serve in the [[Dominian Imperial Military\|Imperial military]], and fewer serve the Tribunal outside of Caria, but they are highly successful merchants and traders across the Imperial Frontier and beyond, with most goods in the Sparring Sea-Badlands Region passing through Carian hands at least once. Some of their oldest mercantile families have trade networks stretching well beyond the Empire’s borders, and can acquire goods from as far afield as [[Assunzione]] or the [[Nralakk Federation]] if they so desire. A small minority of Dominians view the Carians as blessed heralds of the Goddess in the material world due to their strange appearances and the fact the planet produces a great number of Goddess-touched.

			Genetically, Carians show deviation from baseline humanity in their appearance and some organs. Imperial scientists have noted Carians tend to recover more quickly from diseases when abroad compared to other Dominians. They tend to be extremely pale, though they do not burn as easily as their skin tone would indicate, and many appear to have sallow skin. Their hair tends towards darker colors – with most being black-haired – but colors such as silver, white, or blonde are not uncommon. Carian eye colors range beyond the normal human spectrum, with purple shades being relatively common – Grand Estate-Holder Kusarit Maharbal, for example, is known for her striking violet eyes and black hair. Their eyes have been modified or have adapted to see better in the constant semi-twilight of the planet, but are significantly more sensitive to rapid changes in light: flashes and flash grenades commonly used by police may temporarily blind them and most experience discomfort in normal light conditions. Carian eyes feature a larger iris and pupil than normal human eyes, and some wear sunglasses abroad to conceal this.

			Oddly, the traits of “Carianism” – as it is known informally – appear to be highly genetically dominant and are always inherited by the child of a mixed non-Carian and Carian union.

			While [[Empire of Dominia Great Houses\|House Volvalaad]] is currently attempting to uncover the truth behind what makes Carians so divergent from baseline humanity, multiple theories have arisen to explain why Carians are so unusual. Most grounded are theories the manipulation comes from Carians themselves at some point in their past, or from the Solarian Alliance during its control of the planet. Neither of these theories, however, has any epigraphic or archeological evidence to support it. If documents do exist in the voluminous Solarian Department of Colonization archives covering genetic manipulation of Caria’s colonists, they have never been revealed by the Alliance or by researchers. Less grounded theories include Carians’ appearance comes from the Goddess Herself as punishment for a past sin or that they are not from the Spur at all, having arrived here from some alternate reality where humanity is slightly different.


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