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<center>[[File:Moroz Tribunal Symbol.png|link=]]</center>
{{Navbox Human Lore}}


<center>''"The Eye," Holy symbol of the Tribunal representing the 'four corners' of the universe with a central 'eye' of the Tribunal watching all. Necklaces of the symbol usually leave the central 'eye' capable of rotation.''</center>
===Emperor Bolesław===
[[File:Dominia_Flag_Small.png|thumb|right|Imperial standard of Emperor Boleslaw Keeser.]]
''"His Majesty Emperor Bolesław Keeser, by the Grace of God and the Tribunal, King of the Holy Nations of Moroz and Chief Precenator of Moroz, Grand Emperor of the Imperial Alliance, Holy Lord of Ofassel, Eternal President of the Confederate States of Sovereign Findasuh, King of Sparta, King of Alterim Obrirava, King of Alterim Balteulis, Overseer of Sun Reach, High Lord Commander of the Dominian Imperial Armed Forces, Holy Liberator of Moroz, Ten Medal Immortal of the Tribunal Commandos honoris causa, First of the Great Houses, Lord Noble of House Keeser, Doctor of Laws honoris causa of the Juro School of Genetics and Bio-Sciences, Pirate King of the Orion Spur and the Tribunal's Divine Instrument."'' - Full title of Emperor Bolesław


<center>'''"Our gift is the divine, theirs the mundane"'''</center>
'''House Colors: Red Shades'''


The state religion of the Empire of Dominia, the Moroz Holy Tribunal is an eclectic mixture of old Earth faiths and the adaptations given to those faiths by the colonists of Moroz. More conservative members of the faith are known to adopt some traits from Sk'akh, a recently arrived faith in the Empire. Worship revolves around a female supreme being known commonly as "Goddess" in all languages. The elites of the religion are made up of the Tribunal members that commune directly with the Goddess. From their communions, the Tribunal create edicts to be followed by the faithful. Disobeying an edict can be met with the death penalty in the worse case, typically by firing squad or ritual suicide. It is rumored by the faithful that the Tribunal possess psionic powers gifted to them by the Goddess. The Goddess is often called Three of One due to her three minor aspects: the Soldier, the Scholar, the Artisan. These three spirits are personifications of the most important aspects of Dominia society. Tribunal priests agree that all three are equally important, and that malign spirits can be attracted by an imbalance in the Great Three. Priests often stress the importance of balance, both in matters of spirit, in society, and in personal life.
House Keeser are the long-standing rulers of the Empire of Dominia, having led the Empire for its entire existence. With only a handful of direct members House Keeser is much smaller than the five great houses and is instead solely made up of the royal family, their immediate relatives, and any associates they may have. Despite its small size, however, House Keeser wields incredible power in the Empire’s absolute monarchy and the current Emperor, Boleslaw Keeser, is widely respected throughout the Empire as a visionary that has helped make Dominia an interstellar power.


Followers of the Tribunal believe that upon death the faithful edict abiding followers are joined with the Goddess directly and become part of the Goddess' paradise. Faithless people simply cease to exist upon death, while the evil are instead condemned to wander the material world as malevolent spirits. It is also believed to be possible to communicate with the dead through prayer, should one be faithful enough. The Tribunal also believes that malign spirits and demonic entities exist and that their priesthood is gifted with divine powers with which these entities can be fought and beaten. The faith has an antagonistic view of positronics, and views them as soulless.
Their status as the royal family of Dominia has granted the Keesers immense power and prestige both at home and abroad, and the continuation of the family’s status as the Emperor of Dominia seems all but guaranteed due to the extreme popularity of Crown Princess Priscilla Keeser, the current heir to the throne. But with Emperor Boleslaw Keeser, famed and venerated architect of much of Dominia’s recent prosperity, growing older and older day by day, the Empire waits with bated breath for what will come when the Emperor joins the Goddess and the Crown Princess ascends to the throne.


The priesthood utilize the "Tribunal Codex" which contains the latest up-to-date edicts and litanies, and many worshipers hold copies of the Codex in their homes. It is the nearest thing the Tribunal has to a traditional holy book. Priests of the church are allowed to marry.
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==The Priesthood==
===House Strelitzn===
[[File:Walter.png|thumb|right|Standard of House Strelitz.]]
'''House Colors: Green Shades'''


'''Initiate'''
'''Leader: Grand Duchess-Electress Dorothea-Frieda Strelitz'''


Initiates are those who have felt the calling of the Goddess through the Tribunal. After applying for entry at a temple hopefuls undergo an interview which both clarifies if the applicant really wants to join the Tribunal as well as their knowledge regarding the faith and their qualifications. Finally the Initiate undergoes a series of exams. This process usually takes upwards of a month and if the applicant is successful, they are inducted into the Tribunal as an Initiate. And Initiate's life is that of study and general menial work - ranging from clerical office activities and public speaking to manual labour such as maintaining Tribunal facilities. Every year the Initiate is expected to complete a written exam alongside a thesis relating to the faith. This is marked by the Priests. After three years have passed and the Initiate has all three exams and defended their thesis's successfully, then they are inducted into the ranks of the Priests.
The traditional backbone of the Imperial Army, House Strelitz has a storied and venerable tradition as a military power in the Empire of Dominia. This house is descended from the colonial security forces of the landing sites, and has - over the centuries - developed into a highly martial and honor-based society centered around defending the Empire from enemies within and without. Much of the current principles of honour held by the Empire’s nobility - and the common hobby of fencing - can find their origins within the meeting halls and barracks of House Strelitz. They are highly regarded throughout the Empire for their military prowess, and the High Lord General of His Majesty's Imperial Army has traditionally been either a member of House Strelitz or a member of their close allies, the Volvalaads.


Initiates are expected to wear white robes or any white clothing and apply red paint around their eyes and ears to represent "watching" and "listening" to lessons taught.
The pride of House Strelitz is its officer corps, which are recruited from both the house itself and commoners in order to retain a competitive edge over their competitors. These officers are rigorously trained and educated in matters both military and civil (with a particular focus given to the importance of honour and noblesse oblige) in order to produce a class of officers that uphold the highest standards of Goddess and Empire both on and off of the battlefield. Many officers from House Strelitz itself are geneboosted thanks to the close alliance of House Strelitz to House Volvalaad and the Empire’s long-standing expertise in genetic engineering. A common mark amongst graduates of House Strelitz’s military academies is a fencing scar below the eye, in order to show that one is brave enough to take a hit without flinching. As a result of their extremely high standards of training House Strelitz and its allies form an overwhelming majority of the Empire’s general staff.


'''Priest/Priestess'''
House Strelitz’s second pride is its joint control of the Imperial Armaments Company with House Zhao: Streltiz dominates the military sector, while the Zhao dominate the naval sector. The talented engineers and scientists of the house have produced many innovations throughout their venerable careers, and are often regarded by others within the Empire as the true reason for their victory in the War of Moroz. As a result, many of House Strelitz’s most renowned holdings can be found in and around the Morozian industrial heartland of Jinxiang. The House is perhaps the group most involved with Zavodskoi Interstellar in the Empire of Dominia, with many of its members working for the megacorporation in various positions, and rumors allege that House Strelitz was a major factor behind Zavodskoi Interstellar’s entry into the Empire of Dominia.


Priests are expected to administer to the faithful and as such are assigned to a position somewhere within or without the Empire to perform religious rites and to watch over the faithful. This is especially important outside the Empire where Priests also act as watch dogs to ensure Dominia citizens are keeping faith. Many Priests choose to branch off into either scholarly or military pursuits. Many Priests believe it is their duty to further refine the faith through academic study, and they often serve as educators in the Empire. If a Priest deems themselves worthy they can petition the High Priests to enter their ranks. This prospective Priest should be able to demonstrate their advanced knowledge of the faith and their commitment to it through their deeds. If a High Priest chooses to sponsor the applicant then their application will be presented at a yearly meeting of the High Priests and the Holy Tribunes. The High Priests will then vote on who they would like to enter their ranks with the Holy Tribunes holding veto powers over the affair. If the Priest is voted to be raised higher then they will be inducted into the ranks of the High Priests.  
The current leader of House Strelitz is '''Grand Duchess-Electress Dorothea-Frieda Strelitz''', who also serves as High Lord General of His Majesty's Imperial Army. Although not geneboosted due to health concerns she is nevertheless considered a genius at both matters of strategy and decently adept politics. However the Grand Duchess-Electress leaves much of the day-to-day and otherwise nonmilitary matters of her house to the care of her wife and a privy council of adept commoners and house members, instead being concerned with grander matters of Imperial external politics.


They are expected to be clad in red and gold robes/clothing and always wear red paint around their eyes with a strip of red paint an inch wide running from their bottom lip to their chin. The red paint around the eyes representing the eyes of the Tribunal and the red paint on the chin the mouth or "words" of the Tribunal. The priests tend to carry staves made of wood clad in carved obsidian or in some cases steel anthames with obsidian blades. The obsidian, though difficult to shape due to its brittleness, is used due to its warding properties - the Tribunal believes it can protect against evil spirits and creatures. It's customary for the priests to powder or paint their faces white however, most priests of the Primaries class tend to leave their faces free of powder and paint. Unathi priests also wear red paint around their eyes with the two vertical red lines - around an inch thick - beginning on both sides of their muzzle, joining under their "chin". Priests can be of any gender.
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'''Edict Keeper'''
===House Volvalaad===
[[File:Volvalaad_Flag_Small.png|thumb|right|Standard of House Volvalaad.]]
'''House Colors: Blue, Black'''


A role within the Tribunal that ensures Priests and the faithful keep to the edicts, Edict Keepers are devout students of Tribunal law and interpretation. They also seek out and punish edict breakers and are those assigned to 'shutdown' synths. Keepers are supported by religious soldiers called Saviors due to the belief that their activities save those who have strayed from the grace of the Tribunal. These soldiers carry out any physical punishments meted out in accordance with the edicts. Due to the need for strength, many Saviors tend to be geneboosted humans.
'''Leader: Grand Duchess-Electress Landi Volvalaad'''


'''High Priest/Priestess'''
Based on the genetic scientists and leaders of the original Moroz colonies, House Volvalaad’s power is in its research and diplomatic dominance. Believing strongly that it is the Goddess’ will that Humanity improves upon itself genetically, they have innovated new gene-therapy techniques based upon their roots as horticulturalists, along with bio-chemical enhancements tailored to the environment of Moroz. House Volvalaad sponsors the Empire's renowned Juro University, and are known to send exceptional commoners through the school before integrating them into the family. They are the House most in favor of integration with human nations, and have successfully pushed for trade and diplomacy channels to be opened with other nations. Some members of the House wish to push for even further diplomatic openness, particularly a loosening of citizenship restrictions and a replacing of the sponsorship system with a bureaucracy. House Caladius, a key player in the Imperial bureaucracy, has already come out in support of this effort.


The High Priests/Priestesses control the church across various sectors dependent on the number of faithful in that area. Understandably there are a considerable number of High Priests/Priestesses localized within the Empire. At present only one oversees the faithful within Biesel, High Priestess Elisabetta Caladius, who operates out of the Biesel Grand Temple within the House Volvalaad estate located in Mendell City.
House Volvalaad is responsible in one way or another for a large majority of the Empire's research, on topics ranging from weapons and agriculture to medical areas such as gene modification and augmentation. They work closely with all the other Great Houses, particularly House Zhao in areas related to their focuses. Many members of House Volvalaad travel outside the Empire seeking experience in relevant fields to further improve the knowledge base of their House. The Volvalaads are the forebearers of the geneboosting techniques that the Empire of Dominia is now famous for, and contain a greater percentage of geneboosted individuals than any other house in the Empire of Dominia. The demand for geneboosting has brought great prestige and wealth to the Volvalaads, and has made them perhaps the most prominent great house aside from the royal family themselves.


High Priests/Priestesses garb themselves in much the same way as Priests. It is customary for High Priests/Priestesses to choose to embody and aspect of the Goddess. This is reflected in the style of robe with those that embody the Soldier incorporating a ceremonial breastplate or armor, those that embody the Artisan having much more functional robes for the crafts and labor  and finally those that embody the Scholar having more clinical robes for the sciences. There is no hard and fast rule on how a High Priest/Priestess might stylize their robes so long as they keep the sacred gold color.  
Aside from research, the Volvalaads are heavily involved in the Imperial Army thanks to both their geneboosting abilities and their close alliance with House Strelitz. Many Volvalaads attend a House Strelitz military academy and become officers of the Imperial Army, while conversely many of House Strelitz are geneboosted in the facilities of House Volvalaad. Both houses have a famously competitive, although friendly and sporting, fencing rivalry and will often compete with one another for the bragging rights that come with one’s members being the greatest fencers in the Empire.


'''Holy Tribune'''
With their eyes focused upon the outside world, and many of the great house traveling abroad, House Volvalaad represents the stronghold of the Empire’s liberal and reformist factions. Support for the royal family and its reforms is higher in House Volvalaad than any other great house, and the royal family considers the house to be a close ally. This liberal inclination has led the Volvalaads to possess perhaps the best interstellar image of any great house, and as a result, the royal family tends to appoint members or affiliates of the Volvalaads to perform duties that often involve showcasing Dominian medical and scientific prowess to foreign governments. House Caladius’ liberal faction still serves as the main instrument of Imperial diplomacy abroad, however.


Numbering four all together, the Holy Tribunes commune directly with the Goddess and receive instructions directly from it. On the basis of instructions given they produce new edicts to be followed by the faithful. They are the supreme authority of the faith, and hold significant power in the imperial court.
The current leader of House Volvalaad is '''Grand Duchess-Electress Landi Volvalaad'''. Doctor Volvalaad is both a very talented genetics researcher, an adept player of the great game of Dominian politics, and has worked tirelessly to keep the Volvalaads as the Empire’s most prominent house both at home and abroad. Under her leadership, the Volvalaads have come to prominence under the employ of Zavodskoi Interstellar, something that has further improved the Volvalaad’s image abroad. It is clear that the Grand Duchess-Electress wishes to further liberalize the Empire in order to improve its interstellar image, but it is uncertain how far she will go or how she will manifest this intention.


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==Tribunal Apostasies==
===House Kazhkz===
[[File:Kazhkz_Flag_Small.png|thumb|right|Standard of House Kazhkz.]]
'''House Colors: Orange, Red, Yellow'''


Despite the intensely authoritarian and domineering nature of the Empire of Dominia several notable Tribunalist apostasies have managed to emerge in the Empire of Dominia, with most their roots back to the territory of Fisanduh. The Empire's looser grip over the region, combined with the rebellious nature of Fisanduhians, has led to a fertile ground for the growth and success of apostasies and other heresies that the Empire would stamp out without a second thought. Of these apostasies only two have managed to elevate themselves to positions of notability to the point where they are known outside of the Empire of Dominia: the Communion of Three in One and the Universal Holy Morozian Tribunal.
'''Leader: Clan Lord Commodore-Elector Salak Kazhkz'''


The first, and more popular, of these apostasy faiths is the '''Communion of Three in One'''. This apostasy of the Holy Tribunal suggest an antithesis to the Holy Tribunal: that it is not needed, and that one can directly commune with the Goddess without the assistance of one of Her voices in the material plane, such as a priestess of the Holy Tribunal. Its followers were originally a group of disheartened Tribunal initiates that proposed the radical idea, and were exiled from the Empire as a result of what was seen as apostasy by the Holy Tribunal. They found themselves in Fisanduh, and have since managed to grow and prosper in a territory that is technically not part of the Empire of Dominia. Due to their decentralized nature the Communion's faithful hold an incredibly diverse amount of viewpoints on the Goddess and the Tribunal, and can often be found as far afield as the Republic of Biesel and Coalition of Colonies.
'''NOTE: Characters bearing the name of Khakhz and Han'San are considered part of House Khakhz in the eyes of Dominian Society and Nobility.'''


The less popular of these apostasy faiths is, despite its name, the '''Universal Holy Morozian Tribunal'''. Observers have postulated that this lack of membership is due to a simple reason: its attitude towards one of the most feared concepts in the Morozian faith: positronic life. Universalists believe that as IPCs are creations of humanity, they retain a modicum of the Goddess' innate goodness within them despite lacking a traditional soul. Cyborgs, however, remain unacceptable to the Universalists as a method of imprisoning the soul and destroying it. Due to its extremely radical beliefs and small amount of numbers, the history of the Universal Holy Morozian Tribunal is somewhat spotty and hard to verify. Most scholars believe it originated near Fisanduh, before being forced into it by the Holy Tribunal. Many of its members now find themselves abroad out of necessity, and can be found in the Coalition or the Republic of Biesel. The Fifth and Tenth Edicts are irrelevant to Universalists, as they believe them to be a corruption of the Goddess' will.
An odd mix of two separate Unathi clans, House Khakhz and Han’San represents the small and often sidelined Unathi minority in Dominia. The house is descended from Unathi pirates that arrived in Imperial space and pledged their loyalty to Emperor Keeser, and is divided into two factions: the Han’Sans, more traditionalist Th’akh leaning Unathi descended from the marines of the pirate fleet, and the Kazhkz, more modernist Tribunal Unathi descended from the sailors of the pirate fleet. The “official,” name of the house changes depending upon which clan grows stronger, though most Imperial documents refer to it as House Khakhz-Han’San. The two clans inside the house often feud with one another, and constant internal conflicts have ensured that this house - despite being a great house on paper - has power comparable to a strong minor house.


==Tribunal Doctrine==
The wealth of the Kazhkz is based firmly in privateering, and these spacefarers provide many skilled seamen for the Imperial Navy. However the officer ranks of the Imperial Navy are dominated by House Zhao and many Zhaos look upon the Kazhkz as an undisciplined rabble, with some flag officers refusing to allow any of the Unathi pirates to serve aboard vessels under their command. Often those of House Kazhkz that do not formally join the Imperial Navy, or (more typically) wash out of its training, instead become quasi-legal privateers. Like House Han'San they also shy away from augmentation, as even their younger members believe it trivializes the trials before them, or allows them to "cheat," at life and battle.


One of the foundations for the Tribunals beliefs is that '''the soul is the actual person''', and the body is a vessel it inhabits.  
The Kazhkz desperately cling to their pirate tradition with some of their privateers operating without a Letter of Marque from the Emperor in a display of relative autonomy, though the Emperor and some of the human great houses are attempting to curb this practice. This means any Kazhkz captured while operating without imperial permission won't be protected by Dominian authorities if captured, and those that are inteterred are often summarily executed by patrol and anti-piracy fleets of the Coalition of Colonies. Rumors that the Imperial Navy leaks the location of unauthorized privateers have been firmly denied by the admiralty.


For robotics, the Tribunal believes that '''synthetic parts cannot possess a soul''' as such synthetic limbs are highly frowned upon. To the Tribunal the concept of cyborgification is to have your soul sent to oblivion and cease to exist.  
The Kazhkz are led by '''Clan Lord Commodore-Elector Salak “Grudgedrinker” Kazhkz''', the leader of the pirate fleet “The Grudgebearers.” A fat Unathi set on revenge, Salak’s father was Seryo Kazhkz, a High King and Warlord in the Coalition against the Izweski Hegemony that desperately sold his kingdom to purchase human-made shuttles to be used as landing craft on the Izweski capital and end the [[Contact War]]. Seryo’s plan failed dramatically when half the fleet was shot down by artillery, and his child son retreated the shuttles from Moghes. He has displayed little political cunning upon Moroz, and is often regarded as a buffoon by other nobles - especially for his fleet raids on Izweski merchant shuttles. Loud and with a great amount of bluster, Salak is very much a pirate’s pirate and not suited for the social intrigue and skullduggery of the Empire’s internal politics. Salak is known for boarding shuttles he raids himself, and demanding the ‘hosts’ prepare a feast to pay for what the Izweski dogs did to King Seryo - and to celebrate the eventual defeat of the Hegemony.


The Tribunal believe '''true AI in the form of positronics and the like to be an abomination.''' They believe that as they have no link to the Goddess they benefit from no positive influence from the Her and thus are intrinsically and irredeemably evil, acting as magnets to malign spirits and demonic entities. Not only this, but they see it as an attempt by the Goddess' creation to elevate themselves to the level of the Creator. Only the Goddess can create souls, and to make an inherently soulless creation is evil and arrogant beyond all measure. They often make reference to the [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Skrell_History#The_Glorsh_Rebellion Glorsh Rebellion] as an example of the end result of allowing true AI to exist.  
The Han’San are the smaller, less powerful, and - according to some within the Empire - less relevant faction of the house. They are an extremely militant faction, and are regarded as the most conservative mainstream group in the Empire of Dominia. While undefeated before their arrival in the Empire, the sound defeat of their traditionally-minded forces by the Fisanduh Freedom Front during the insurgency in Fisanduh disgraced the clan and reduced them to a mere junior partner of the Khakhz. The Han’Sans are considered conservative even by their fellow Kazhkz Unathi, and are often seen as little more than outdated relics only kept around by their connections to the Kazhkz by the rest of the Empire.


The Tribunal believes that when a body is '''cloned''' that the soul is snatched out of the spirit realm and put back inside the body. So cloning is not creating a new person but a continuation of the same individual.  
The Han’San are led by '''Lord Marshal Kasz Han'San''', an older Unathi career soldier and veteran of the Contact War. While Salak Kazhkz is the official leader of the house, many suspect that Kasz decides much of the house’s direction and policy despite the apparent position of weakness that the Han’Sans hold. Originally a General under Salak Kazhkz’ father, he was the one that ordered the landing which killed Seryo Kazhkz. He is a calculating and clever leader who, despite his age, is able to hold his own against competitors in duels of both mind and body.


Burial rites require the body to be treated with respect and any open wounds sealed or cauterized. A priest oversees a funeral process and gives a sermon on the individual, which are traditionally communal affairs, assuring the attendees that the individual in question has joined with the Goddess. If a person dies and is cloned then the former body is simply an empty, rather useless vessel, and should be disposed of as soon as possible.  
According to a legend often told by Moghesian sailors, the Han'san flagship named 'The Han'San Wardrum' is always surrounded by the spiritual "ghost fleet" of Seryo Kazhkz, summoned by imprisoned Th'akh shamans below decks forced to aid in battle against any unfortunate enough to cross the Han'San Wardrum's path. Perhaps this is just an explanation to attribute losses to Dominian privateering, or perhaps the story was created by the Lord Marshal himself to give him a spiritual edge against his fellow Unathi foes. Kasz Han'San's kin and crew tell tales of the undefeatable Wardrum - whose crimson spectral armor allows it to deflect even the mightiest blows. Zhao officers cite this tale as “absolute lunacy” as, according to naval logbooks, a vessel named the Wardrum has been lost beyond repair on four separate occasions. This has not stopped the legend amongst Unathi sailors, much to the frustration of some captains.


'''Non-traditional relationships''' are largely irrelevant to the Tribunal with same sex relationships accepted by the mainstream. Depending on a person's social status or family non-traditional relationships may be frowned upon but by and large no one especially cares. However, '''romantic relationships between species are highly frowned upon''' by the citizens of the Empire, particularly the nobility. '''The Moroz Holy Tribunal does not perform marriage ceremonies between individuals of different species, and such a relationship is often a one-way ticket to being disowned.'''


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<div style="font-size:162%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">Key Edicts of the Tribunal</div>
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It's important to note that edicts relate to religious law not state law. Stealing for example is covered by state law, not edicts. Though breaking an edict can lead to a death penalty as per the first edict, the church  usually settles for some form of penance - typically in the form of donations to the Tribunal. The edicts themselves have been interpreted differently by members of the Priesthood but the main schools of thought are "Jakakhism" (or Jakakhist) named after Tribune Lien Jakaab and the more aggressive "Kaelkahism" (or Kaelkahist) after Tribune Kasam Kaelesi. The Jakakhist school is the most across the Empire whereas Kaelkahism tends to be followed by hardline conservatives. '''An antagonist Dominian may follow a much more violent interpretation of the edicts known as "Nul'akh" or just "Nul" in which the breaking of an edict is punishable by death in all cases and that the thirty third edict - Respect the laws of other Empires etc should be interpreted literally - it only applies within other "Empires" and as such, would not matter in Tau Ceti.''' Nul'akh is considered an embarrassment by the church. Below are some key edicts.
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<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">'''The First Edict:'''</div>
The Tribunals edicts are absolute. The breaking of an edict is to be punished.


'''Jakakhist Interpretation:''' ''-Can- be punished with death but not always. A lighter form of punishment such as fines and imprisonment are usually preferable.''
===House Caladius===
[[File:Caladius_Flag_Small.png|thumb|right|Standard of House Caladius.]]
'''House Colors: Purple Shades'''


'''Kaelkahist Interpretation:''' ''-Can- be punished with death but not always. Corporal punishment (flogging) is usually preferable.''
'''Leader: Grand Consul-Elector Marcus Caladius'''
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<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">'''The Second Edict:'''</div>
Praise the Goddess in all that you do, and bless those who assist you in your workings.


'''Jakakhist Interpretation:''' ''Keep the Goddess and the ancestors in your heart and be respectful to those around you.''
Based upon the Holy Kingdom's priestly and administrative classes, House Caladius is considered to be the wealthiest noble house in terms of sheer economic power. Using complex and efficient administrative systems, House Caladius manages to squeeze every Imperial Pound out of every inch of land that they control, before they then take this money and invest it in new infrastructure and businesses. One example of large infrastructure funded by House Caladius was the Imperial Railroad, turning huge profits in the recent years. House Caladius manages the central bureaucracy and bank of the empire, headquartered at the Keeser Imperial Bank of Moroz in the capital. The efficient bureaucrats of House Caladius play a large part in the inner workings of the Empire, especially in areas related to fiscal and administrative areas. They work closely with the Emperor, as well as the commanders of the Imperial military, to ensure adequate funding is received each year.


'''Kaelkahist Interpretation:''' ''Actively thank the Goddess and the ancestors for their aid mentally and verbally. Actively give blessings to those around you where appropriate (they helped you, they helped others etc).''
House Caladius manages to keep itself relevant politically by the sway it holds over the Holy Tribunal, more so than any other noble house. Due to its meritocratic founding as a merger of the priesthood and administration, House Caladius adopts more Secondaries than any other noble house, with Secondaries making up approximately 30% of the house. Unlike any other great house, the leader of House Caladius is elected every five years by all registered members of the house in order to theoretically ensure that the most qualified leader is selected. A great number of the Empire’s clergy are still drawn from, or eventually integrated into, the ranks of House Caladius. Many Tribunalist temples are named after the nobles of House Caladius, which is and remains the largest sponsor of the Holy Tribunal and its associated Caladius-dominated bureaucracy.
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<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">'''The Third Edict:'''</div>
Spread the good news of the Goddess in all that you do, that all may receive her blessings.


'''Jakakhist Interpretation:''' ''Proselytize through your good works and deeds, with words if appropriate, that all may be redeemed and made better under her light.''
The heavily meritocratic and “wide tent,” cast by House Caladius has caused it to run into some internal issues in recent years, however, as the mercantile and bureaucratic factions of the house conflict with the priestly and faithful factions of the house. The merchant faction supports further liberalization of the Empire along the lines of House Volvalaad in order to expand their operations and influence into the greater galactic community, particularly with Idris Incorporated and other megabanks. The priestly faction, conversely, supports the conservative status quo and is wary of most if not all sentiments regarding liberalisation from their mercantilist compatriots. With Crown Princess Priscilla Keeser, a staunch reformer, set to inherit the absolute power of the throne after Emperor Boleslaw Keeser’s passing, these factions are being brought into more and more intense conflict by the day.


'''Kaelkahist Interpretation:''' ''Actively spread the news of the Goddess, that all may be redeemed and made better under her light.''
The man at the center of this political maelstrom is '''Grand Consul-Elector Marcus Caladius''', a longtime Keeser Imperial Bank of Moroz bureaucrat elected to the position of Grand Consul-Elector in 2460. The Grand Consul-Elector is an adept bureaucrat, holding a doctorate in economics, and a savvy player of the political games of both House Caladius and the greater Empire. However, he has been placed in the increasingly impossible position of peacemaker between the liberal and conservative positions of House Caladius. While Doctor Caladius has walked the tightrope of moderation between liberal and conservative for the time being, only the Goddess Herself knows if he will keep the peace with honor, or be voted out of power in failure. A non-geneboosted Morozian human himself, the Grand Consul-Elector is often viewed as a voice for the everyday Morozian amongst his fellow Electors.
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<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">'''The Fourth Edict:'''</div>
Respect the laws of other Empires but worry not as they shall soon be brought into the Tribunal's benevolent reach.  
'''Jakakhist Interpretation:''' ''Don't break the law of other civilisations. If you do, seek forgiveness from the ancestors and hand yourself into the host civilisations authorities.''


'''Kaelkahist Interpretation:''' ''Don't break the law of other civilisations. If you do, seek forgiveness from the ancestors and either return to Dominia to be punished or seek out a Tribunal Priest to seek their forgiveness and follow their directions. Color the area around your eyes black as a sign of regret until instructed to stop by a Priest.''
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<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">'''The Fifth Edict:'''</div>
All synthetic life forms within Dominia space shall be sought out and destroyed where found.


'''Jakakhist Interpretation:''' ''All synthetic life forms within Dominia space shall be sought out and brought into custody to be tried in Tribunal court before being banished from Dominian space. If they can't be brought in then they should be destroyed.''
===House Zhao===
[[File:Zhao_Flag_Small.png|thumb|right|Standard of House Zhao.]]
'''House Colors: White, Gray'''


'''Kaelkahist Interpretation:''' ''All synthetic life forms within Dominia space shall be sought out and destroyed on sight.''
'''Leader: Grand Duke-Elector Imeral Zhao'''
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<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">'''The Sixth Edict:'''</div>
Lies are abhorrent before Her, especially those told for personal gain.


'''Jakakhist Interpretation:''' ''Lying for personal gain should always be avoided, though lying may be excused in other circumstances.''
With their background as engineers, House Zhao is responsible for much of the Empire's naval assets and provides a great amount of their line and flag officers. They rose in prominence when it came to the formation of the Navy, and used a large amount of their facilities and family funds to build shipyards and spacecraft when no other house was willing (or in some cases, able) to take on such a responsibility. Lucrative naval contracts for everything varying from shuttlecraft, to fighters, to capital ships have been awarded to the House. House Zhao has seen a great amount of profit from the recent expansion of the Empire's territories, especially after a much larger naval budget was announced for 2461. As a reward for their service and efforts to the throne, the Grand Admiral of His Imperial Majesty’s Fleet has been a member or affiliate of House Zhao for as long as the Empire has existed.


'''Kaelkahist Interpretation:''' ''Lying for personal gain is especially abhorrent, and lies should be avoided unless they are necessary to prevent harm to God's faithful.''
Similarly to their Imperial Army counterparts in House Strelitz, the true pride of House Zhao lies in its naval officers. The naval cadets of House Zhao and its affiliates, which often include talented commoners, will - over the course of their four years of training - become some of the most well-trained and well-educated naval officers in the entire Orion Spur, and take great pride in their naval prowess. His Majesty’s Imperial Admiralty of Dominia, the high command of the Dominian navy, is staffed almost entirely by members or affiliates of House Zhao and is regarded as one of the best-led naval forces in the Orion Spur. Naval cadets of House Zhao do not pursue the same “scar of honour” that their House Strelitz counterparts do, though the military academies of the Strelitz and naval academies of the Zhao are often known to hold fencing competitions between one another.
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Some of the best civil engineers in the Empire come from House Zhao, and their engineers are second to none in the design of naval weapons, armor, electronics, and munitions. Due to the demands of the Navy, both in research and funding, cooperation with Houses Volvalaad and Caladius is commonplace. The Zhaos maintain a cordial relationship with their Imperial Army counterparts, House Strelitz, and are a dominant force in the naval section of the Imperial Armaments Company. Unlike their Imperial Army counterparts, geneboosting is quite rare in House Zhao due to the space constraints present within spaceborne vessels. House Zhao commonly works alongside Zavodskoi Interstellar due to their prominence in naval weaponry, with many Dominian members of the megacorporation originating in House Zhao.
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<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">'''The Seventh Edict:'''</div>
Animals, while below the rest of Her creation, are still made by the Goddess. They should not be treated cruelly or wasted.


'''Jakakhist Interpretation:''' ''While hunting is permissible as long as the meat is not wasted, animals should not be pointlessly mistreated..''
Much like the Volvalaads, however, the Zhaos have similarly pushed for the Empire to expand its intergalactic presence in the Orion Spur. But while the Volvalaads busy themselves with diplomacy and the Empire’s interstellar image, particularly in the Republic of Biesel, the Zhaos focus instead on expansion through naval supremacy. This has made them deeply unpopular in the Coalition of Colonies, where they are often viewed as the vanguard of Dominian imperialism. The Zhaos have an intense dislike of the Kazhkz, which they view as nothing more than an undertrained and undereducated bandit rabble unfit to fly the Emperor’s standard from their rickety vessels. The hatred held by some Zhao flag officers towards the privateers of the Kazhkz is so intense that House Zhao naval officers are rumored to be a key source of anti-piracy intelligence for the Republic of Elyra and Coalition of Colonies.


'''Kaelkahist Interpretation:''' ''All parts of an animal who is hunted should be used in some way, and any form of willful mistreatment toward an animal is abhorrent.''  
The current leader of House Zhao is '''Grand Duke-Elector Imeral Zhao''', an aging naval officer and old warhorse of the navy. However, the true leader of House Zhao in all but the official title is known to be the current Grand Admiral of His Imperial Majesty’s Fleet, Duchess Huiling Zhao. The position of Grand Admiral commands immense respect in House Zhao and, in the rare event that the current Grand Admiral is not also the Elector of House Zhao, the Elector of the house will often bow to the Grand Admiral’s will in naval matters.
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<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">'''The Eighth Edict:'''</div>
Those who escape the divine court's judgment must be destroyed where found.
 
'''Jakakhist Interpretation:''' ''Anyone who runs from punishment or judgment should be sought out and encouraged to go back into church custody peacefully. If that is not possible then they will sadly need to be forced. This is not glorious nor joyful and those who run should be mourned.''
 
'''Kaelkahist Interpretation:''' ''Anyone who runs from punishment or judgment should be sought out and handed back into church custody. If that is not possible then they will need to be destroyed. Those who run deserve this fate and should not be mourned.''
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<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">'''The Ninth Edict:'''</div>
Those who escape the divine courts judgment and flee outside Dominian space should be encouraged to return and confess so they might face divine judgment. In death they shall be absolved. It is the duty of all the holy to encourage those that flee to return to us, so that they might be forgiven."
 
'''Jakakhist Interpretation:''' ''Anyone who runs from punishment or judgment outside of Dominia should be sought out and encouraged to go back into church custody peacefully.''
 
'''Kaelkahist Interpretation:''' ''Anyone who runs from punishment or judgment should be sought out and handed back into church custody if this is legal within the space the edict breaker has entered. If that is not possible then they will need to be encouraged to go back into church custody peacefully but aggressively. Any who run deserve this fate. Do not mourn them.''
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<div style="font-size:110%; border:2px solid #ccc; margin:0; background:#632149; padding:.1em; color:#fff;">'''The Tenth Edict:'''</div>
Augmentation for the sake of augmentation is a corruption of the temple that is one's body, and can risk the very soul should one proceed too far with it."
 
'''Jakakhist Interpretation:''' ''While augmentation for power or vanity is sinful and vain in the eyes of the Goddess, augmentation for medical reasons, such as the loss of the limb or loss of an organ, is passable. However, one should engrave the Eye into any prosthetic installed, have it blessed by a Tribunal priest, and - if external - have it blessed in a holy oil weekly.''
 
'''Kaelkahist Interpretation:''' ''It is better to perish than to corrupt your form with mechanical augmentations.''
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|}
 
==Litanies==
 
The holy litanies tend to be phrases spoken by the faithful of the Tribunal during there day to day lives or by Priests during sermons. They are usually repeated until whatever situation they were spoken for has passed. Key litanies are listed below.  
 
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''The Litany of Protection'''
 
Used when in danger or when about to be put in danger.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
 
''Goddess through the Tribunal,''
 
''The Tribunal through me,''
 
''Goddess protects,''
 
''The Tribunal protects,''
 
''Thus I am immortal.''
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<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''The Litany of Concentration'''
 
Used when there is a need to focus on a pressing task whilst ignoring distractions. It is to be repeated slowly.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
 
''My mind is water,''
 
''Guide my thoughts.''
 
 
The litany is sometimes spoken once and the below then repeated.
 
 
''Flowing.''
''Flowing.''
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<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''The Litany of Combat'''
 
Used when in combat or prior to combat.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
 
''Goddess gives,''
 
''The Tribunal sees,''
 
''Thus I keep faith,''
 
''Thus I have no fear,''
 
''Thus I have no mercy,''
 
''Thus I have no regrets.''
 
 
The litany is sometimes shortened in combat for ease as below.
 
 
''Only Faith,''
 
''No fear,''
 
''No mercy,''
 
''No regret.''
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<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Litany of Holy Dedication to the Immaculate Tribunal under the Goddess'''
 
Used during religious "dedications" (worship).
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
 
Priest Says:
 
''One Empire''
 
''Under the Goddess,''
 
''Whom through the Tribunal, reigns.''
 
 
Worshippers Say:
 
''One Empire.''
 
''One Goddess.''
 
''The Tribunal.''
 
 
Priest Says:
 
''We serve the Goddess fully.''
 
 
Worshippers Say:
 
''Without reserve.''
 
 
Priest Says:
 
''Faithfully.''
 
 
Worshippers Say:
 
''Without question.''
 
 
Priest Says:
 
''Together.''
 
 
Worshippers Say:
 
''Without hesitation.''
 
 
Priest Says:
 
''One Empire.''
 
''Under the Goddess,''
 
 
Worshippers Say:
 
''Whom through the Tribunal reigns.''




Priest Says:
''Goddess bless the Immortal Empire.''
''Goddess bless us all.''
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{{Navbox Human Lore}}
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Revision as of 05:04, 25 October 2020

Human Lore
General Interstellar Relations · Notable Humans · Timeline of Humanity · Offworlder Humans · Human Wildlands · Human Piracy · Human Entertainment Media · Human Social Media · Human Ideologies and Governments · Human Educational Institutions
Republic of Biesel Biesel · Valkyrie · New Gibson · Mictlan · Port Antillia · Odin · Corporate Reconstruction Zone · Tau Ceti Armed Forces · Biesellite Security and Law · Biesellite Culture and Society · The Trasens
Sol Alliance Earth · Mars · Luna · Venus · Jupiter · Callisto · Europa · Pluto · New Hai Phong · Silversun · San Colette · Visegrad · Solarian Reconstruction Mandates · Sol Alliance History · Solarian Armed Forces · Solarian Security and Law
Empire of Dominia Keeser Royal Family · Moroz · Fisanduh · The Lyod · Novi Jadran · Sun Reach · Dominian Culture · Moroz Holy Tribunal · The Great Houses · Dominian Imperial Military · Council of Imperial Governors
Eridani Federation Eridani I · Eridani Federation Military
Republic of Elyra Persepolis · Damascus II · Medina · Aemaq · New Suez · Elyra Military · Elyran Government and Politics · Elyran Culture, Law, and Society
Coalition of Colonies Xanu Prime · Himeo · Galatea · Vysoka · Stolitism · Scarabs · Gadpathur · Assunzione · Luceism · Burzsia · Konyang

Emperor Bolesław

Imperial standard of Emperor Boleslaw Keeser.

"His Majesty Emperor Bolesław Keeser, by the Grace of God and the Tribunal, King of the Holy Nations of Moroz and Chief Precenator of Moroz, Grand Emperor of the Imperial Alliance, Holy Lord of Ofassel, Eternal President of the Confederate States of Sovereign Findasuh, King of Sparta, King of Alterim Obrirava, King of Alterim Balteulis, Overseer of Sun Reach, High Lord Commander of the Dominian Imperial Armed Forces, Holy Liberator of Moroz, Ten Medal Immortal of the Tribunal Commandos honoris causa, First of the Great Houses, Lord Noble of House Keeser, Doctor of Laws honoris causa of the Juro School of Genetics and Bio-Sciences, Pirate King of the Orion Spur and the Tribunal's Divine Instrument." - Full title of Emperor Bolesław

House Colors: Red Shades

House Keeser are the long-standing rulers of the Empire of Dominia, having led the Empire for its entire existence. With only a handful of direct members House Keeser is much smaller than the five great houses and is instead solely made up of the royal family, their immediate relatives, and any associates they may have. Despite its small size, however, House Keeser wields incredible power in the Empire’s absolute monarchy and the current Emperor, Boleslaw Keeser, is widely respected throughout the Empire as a visionary that has helped make Dominia an interstellar power.

Their status as the royal family of Dominia has granted the Keesers immense power and prestige both at home and abroad, and the continuation of the family’s status as the Emperor of Dominia seems all but guaranteed due to the extreme popularity of Crown Princess Priscilla Keeser, the current heir to the throne. But with Emperor Boleslaw Keeser, famed and venerated architect of much of Dominia’s recent prosperity, growing older and older day by day, the Empire waits with bated breath for what will come when the Emperor joins the Goddess and the Crown Princess ascends to the throne.



House Strelitzn

File:Walter.png
Standard of House Strelitz.

House Colors: Green Shades

Leader: Grand Duchess-Electress Dorothea-Frieda Strelitz

The traditional backbone of the Imperial Army, House Strelitz has a storied and venerable tradition as a military power in the Empire of Dominia. This house is descended from the colonial security forces of the landing sites, and has - over the centuries - developed into a highly martial and honor-based society centered around defending the Empire from enemies within and without. Much of the current principles of honour held by the Empire’s nobility - and the common hobby of fencing - can find their origins within the meeting halls and barracks of House Strelitz. They are highly regarded throughout the Empire for their military prowess, and the High Lord General of His Majesty's Imperial Army has traditionally been either a member of House Strelitz or a member of their close allies, the Volvalaads.

The pride of House Strelitz is its officer corps, which are recruited from both the house itself and commoners in order to retain a competitive edge over their competitors. These officers are rigorously trained and educated in matters both military and civil (with a particular focus given to the importance of honour and noblesse oblige) in order to produce a class of officers that uphold the highest standards of Goddess and Empire both on and off of the battlefield. Many officers from House Strelitz itself are geneboosted thanks to the close alliance of House Strelitz to House Volvalaad and the Empire’s long-standing expertise in genetic engineering. A common mark amongst graduates of House Strelitz’s military academies is a fencing scar below the eye, in order to show that one is brave enough to take a hit without flinching. As a result of their extremely high standards of training House Strelitz and its allies form an overwhelming majority of the Empire’s general staff.

House Strelitz’s second pride is its joint control of the Imperial Armaments Company with House Zhao: Streltiz dominates the military sector, while the Zhao dominate the naval sector. The talented engineers and scientists of the house have produced many innovations throughout their venerable careers, and are often regarded by others within the Empire as the true reason for their victory in the War of Moroz. As a result, many of House Strelitz’s most renowned holdings can be found in and around the Morozian industrial heartland of Jinxiang. The House is perhaps the group most involved with Zavodskoi Interstellar in the Empire of Dominia, with many of its members working for the megacorporation in various positions, and rumors allege that House Strelitz was a major factor behind Zavodskoi Interstellar’s entry into the Empire of Dominia.

The current leader of House Strelitz is Grand Duchess-Electress Dorothea-Frieda Strelitz, who also serves as High Lord General of His Majesty's Imperial Army. Although not geneboosted due to health concerns she is nevertheless considered a genius at both matters of strategy and decently adept politics. However the Grand Duchess-Electress leaves much of the day-to-day and otherwise nonmilitary matters of her house to the care of her wife and a privy council of adept commoners and house members, instead being concerned with grander matters of Imperial external politics.



House Volvalaad

Standard of House Volvalaad.

House Colors: Blue, Black

Leader: Grand Duchess-Electress Landi Volvalaad

Based on the genetic scientists and leaders of the original Moroz colonies, House Volvalaad’s power is in its research and diplomatic dominance. Believing strongly that it is the Goddess’ will that Humanity improves upon itself genetically, they have innovated new gene-therapy techniques based upon their roots as horticulturalists, along with bio-chemical enhancements tailored to the environment of Moroz. House Volvalaad sponsors the Empire's renowned Juro University, and are known to send exceptional commoners through the school before integrating them into the family. They are the House most in favor of integration with human nations, and have successfully pushed for trade and diplomacy channels to be opened with other nations. Some members of the House wish to push for even further diplomatic openness, particularly a loosening of citizenship restrictions and a replacing of the sponsorship system with a bureaucracy. House Caladius, a key player in the Imperial bureaucracy, has already come out in support of this effort.

House Volvalaad is responsible in one way or another for a large majority of the Empire's research, on topics ranging from weapons and agriculture to medical areas such as gene modification and augmentation. They work closely with all the other Great Houses, particularly House Zhao in areas related to their focuses. Many members of House Volvalaad travel outside the Empire seeking experience in relevant fields to further improve the knowledge base of their House. The Volvalaads are the forebearers of the geneboosting techniques that the Empire of Dominia is now famous for, and contain a greater percentage of geneboosted individuals than any other house in the Empire of Dominia. The demand for geneboosting has brought great prestige and wealth to the Volvalaads, and has made them perhaps the most prominent great house aside from the royal family themselves.

Aside from research, the Volvalaads are heavily involved in the Imperial Army thanks to both their geneboosting abilities and their close alliance with House Strelitz. Many Volvalaads attend a House Strelitz military academy and become officers of the Imperial Army, while conversely many of House Strelitz are geneboosted in the facilities of House Volvalaad. Both houses have a famously competitive, although friendly and sporting, fencing rivalry and will often compete with one another for the bragging rights that come with one’s members being the greatest fencers in the Empire.

With their eyes focused upon the outside world, and many of the great house traveling abroad, House Volvalaad represents the stronghold of the Empire’s liberal and reformist factions. Support for the royal family and its reforms is higher in House Volvalaad than any other great house, and the royal family considers the house to be a close ally. This liberal inclination has led the Volvalaads to possess perhaps the best interstellar image of any great house, and as a result, the royal family tends to appoint members or affiliates of the Volvalaads to perform duties that often involve showcasing Dominian medical and scientific prowess to foreign governments. House Caladius’ liberal faction still serves as the main instrument of Imperial diplomacy abroad, however.

The current leader of House Volvalaad is Grand Duchess-Electress Landi Volvalaad. Doctor Volvalaad is both a very talented genetics researcher, an adept player of the great game of Dominian politics, and has worked tirelessly to keep the Volvalaads as the Empire’s most prominent house both at home and abroad. Under her leadership, the Volvalaads have come to prominence under the employ of Zavodskoi Interstellar, something that has further improved the Volvalaad’s image abroad. It is clear that the Grand Duchess-Electress wishes to further liberalize the Empire in order to improve its interstellar image, but it is uncertain how far she will go or how she will manifest this intention.



House Kazhkz

Standard of House Kazhkz.

House Colors: Orange, Red, Yellow

Leader: Clan Lord Commodore-Elector Salak Kazhkz

NOTE: Characters bearing the name of Khakhz and Han'San are considered part of House Khakhz in the eyes of Dominian Society and Nobility.

An odd mix of two separate Unathi clans, House Khakhz and Han’San represents the small and often sidelined Unathi minority in Dominia. The house is descended from Unathi pirates that arrived in Imperial space and pledged their loyalty to Emperor Keeser, and is divided into two factions: the Han’Sans, more traditionalist Th’akh leaning Unathi descended from the marines of the pirate fleet, and the Kazhkz, more modernist Tribunal Unathi descended from the sailors of the pirate fleet. The “official,” name of the house changes depending upon which clan grows stronger, though most Imperial documents refer to it as House Khakhz-Han’San. The two clans inside the house often feud with one another, and constant internal conflicts have ensured that this house - despite being a great house on paper - has power comparable to a strong minor house.

The wealth of the Kazhkz is based firmly in privateering, and these spacefarers provide many skilled seamen for the Imperial Navy. However the officer ranks of the Imperial Navy are dominated by House Zhao and many Zhaos look upon the Kazhkz as an undisciplined rabble, with some flag officers refusing to allow any of the Unathi pirates to serve aboard vessels under their command. Often those of House Kazhkz that do not formally join the Imperial Navy, or (more typically) wash out of its training, instead become quasi-legal privateers. Like House Han'San they also shy away from augmentation, as even their younger members believe it trivializes the trials before them, or allows them to "cheat," at life and battle.

The Kazhkz desperately cling to their pirate tradition with some of their privateers operating without a Letter of Marque from the Emperor in a display of relative autonomy, though the Emperor and some of the human great houses are attempting to curb this practice. This means any Kazhkz captured while operating without imperial permission won't be protected by Dominian authorities if captured, and those that are inteterred are often summarily executed by patrol and anti-piracy fleets of the Coalition of Colonies. Rumors that the Imperial Navy leaks the location of unauthorized privateers have been firmly denied by the admiralty.

The Kazhkz are led by Clan Lord Commodore-Elector Salak “Grudgedrinker” Kazhkz, the leader of the pirate fleet “The Grudgebearers.” A fat Unathi set on revenge, Salak’s father was Seryo Kazhkz, a High King and Warlord in the Coalition against the Izweski Hegemony that desperately sold his kingdom to purchase human-made shuttles to be used as landing craft on the Izweski capital and end the Contact War. Seryo’s plan failed dramatically when half the fleet was shot down by artillery, and his child son retreated the shuttles from Moghes. He has displayed little political cunning upon Moroz, and is often regarded as a buffoon by other nobles - especially for his fleet raids on Izweski merchant shuttles. Loud and with a great amount of bluster, Salak is very much a pirate’s pirate and not suited for the social intrigue and skullduggery of the Empire’s internal politics. Salak is known for boarding shuttles he raids himself, and demanding the ‘hosts’ prepare a feast to pay for what the Izweski dogs did to King Seryo - and to celebrate the eventual defeat of the Hegemony.

The Han’San are the smaller, less powerful, and - according to some within the Empire - less relevant faction of the house. They are an extremely militant faction, and are regarded as the most conservative mainstream group in the Empire of Dominia. While undefeated before their arrival in the Empire, the sound defeat of their traditionally-minded forces by the Fisanduh Freedom Front during the insurgency in Fisanduh disgraced the clan and reduced them to a mere junior partner of the Khakhz. The Han’Sans are considered conservative even by their fellow Kazhkz Unathi, and are often seen as little more than outdated relics only kept around by their connections to the Kazhkz by the rest of the Empire.

The Han’San are led by Lord Marshal Kasz Han'San, an older Unathi career soldier and veteran of the Contact War. While Salak Kazhkz is the official leader of the house, many suspect that Kasz decides much of the house’s direction and policy despite the apparent position of weakness that the Han’Sans hold. Originally a General under Salak Kazhkz’ father, he was the one that ordered the landing which killed Seryo Kazhkz. He is a calculating and clever leader who, despite his age, is able to hold his own against competitors in duels of both mind and body.

According to a legend often told by Moghesian sailors, the Han'san flagship named 'The Han'San Wardrum' is always surrounded by the spiritual "ghost fleet" of Seryo Kazhkz, summoned by imprisoned Th'akh shamans below decks forced to aid in battle against any unfortunate enough to cross the Han'San Wardrum's path. Perhaps this is just an explanation to attribute losses to Dominian privateering, or perhaps the story was created by the Lord Marshal himself to give him a spiritual edge against his fellow Unathi foes. Kasz Han'San's kin and crew tell tales of the undefeatable Wardrum - whose crimson spectral armor allows it to deflect even the mightiest blows. Zhao officers cite this tale as “absolute lunacy” as, according to naval logbooks, a vessel named the Wardrum has been lost beyond repair on four separate occasions. This has not stopped the legend amongst Unathi sailors, much to the frustration of some captains.




House Caladius

Standard of House Caladius.

House Colors: Purple Shades

Leader: Grand Consul-Elector Marcus Caladius

Based upon the Holy Kingdom's priestly and administrative classes, House Caladius is considered to be the wealthiest noble house in terms of sheer economic power. Using complex and efficient administrative systems, House Caladius manages to squeeze every Imperial Pound out of every inch of land that they control, before they then take this money and invest it in new infrastructure and businesses. One example of large infrastructure funded by House Caladius was the Imperial Railroad, turning huge profits in the recent years. House Caladius manages the central bureaucracy and bank of the empire, headquartered at the Keeser Imperial Bank of Moroz in the capital. The efficient bureaucrats of House Caladius play a large part in the inner workings of the Empire, especially in areas related to fiscal and administrative areas. They work closely with the Emperor, as well as the commanders of the Imperial military, to ensure adequate funding is received each year.

House Caladius manages to keep itself relevant politically by the sway it holds over the Holy Tribunal, more so than any other noble house. Due to its meritocratic founding as a merger of the priesthood and administration, House Caladius adopts more Secondaries than any other noble house, with Secondaries making up approximately 30% of the house. Unlike any other great house, the leader of House Caladius is elected every five years by all registered members of the house in order to theoretically ensure that the most qualified leader is selected. A great number of the Empire’s clergy are still drawn from, or eventually integrated into, the ranks of House Caladius. Many Tribunalist temples are named after the nobles of House Caladius, which is and remains the largest sponsor of the Holy Tribunal and its associated Caladius-dominated bureaucracy.

The heavily meritocratic and “wide tent,” cast by House Caladius has caused it to run into some internal issues in recent years, however, as the mercantile and bureaucratic factions of the house conflict with the priestly and faithful factions of the house. The merchant faction supports further liberalization of the Empire along the lines of House Volvalaad in order to expand their operations and influence into the greater galactic community, particularly with Idris Incorporated and other megabanks. The priestly faction, conversely, supports the conservative status quo and is wary of most if not all sentiments regarding liberalisation from their mercantilist compatriots. With Crown Princess Priscilla Keeser, a staunch reformer, set to inherit the absolute power of the throne after Emperor Boleslaw Keeser’s passing, these factions are being brought into more and more intense conflict by the day.

The man at the center of this political maelstrom is Grand Consul-Elector Marcus Caladius, a longtime Keeser Imperial Bank of Moroz bureaucrat elected to the position of Grand Consul-Elector in 2460. The Grand Consul-Elector is an adept bureaucrat, holding a doctorate in economics, and a savvy player of the political games of both House Caladius and the greater Empire. However, he has been placed in the increasingly impossible position of peacemaker between the liberal and conservative positions of House Caladius. While Doctor Caladius has walked the tightrope of moderation between liberal and conservative for the time being, only the Goddess Herself knows if he will keep the peace with honor, or be voted out of power in failure. A non-geneboosted Morozian human himself, the Grand Consul-Elector is often viewed as a voice for the everyday Morozian amongst his fellow Electors.



House Zhao

Standard of House Zhao.

House Colors: White, Gray

Leader: Grand Duke-Elector Imeral Zhao

With their background as engineers, House Zhao is responsible for much of the Empire's naval assets and provides a great amount of their line and flag officers. They rose in prominence when it came to the formation of the Navy, and used a large amount of their facilities and family funds to build shipyards and spacecraft when no other house was willing (or in some cases, able) to take on such a responsibility. Lucrative naval contracts for everything varying from shuttlecraft, to fighters, to capital ships have been awarded to the House. House Zhao has seen a great amount of profit from the recent expansion of the Empire's territories, especially after a much larger naval budget was announced for 2461. As a reward for their service and efforts to the throne, the Grand Admiral of His Imperial Majesty’s Fleet has been a member or affiliate of House Zhao for as long as the Empire has existed.

Similarly to their Imperial Army counterparts in House Strelitz, the true pride of House Zhao lies in its naval officers. The naval cadets of House Zhao and its affiliates, which often include talented commoners, will - over the course of their four years of training - become some of the most well-trained and well-educated naval officers in the entire Orion Spur, and take great pride in their naval prowess. His Majesty’s Imperial Admiralty of Dominia, the high command of the Dominian navy, is staffed almost entirely by members or affiliates of House Zhao and is regarded as one of the best-led naval forces in the Orion Spur. Naval cadets of House Zhao do not pursue the same “scar of honour” that their House Strelitz counterparts do, though the military academies of the Strelitz and naval academies of the Zhao are often known to hold fencing competitions between one another. Some of the best civil engineers in the Empire come from House Zhao, and their engineers are second to none in the design of naval weapons, armor, electronics, and munitions. Due to the demands of the Navy, both in research and funding, cooperation with Houses Volvalaad and Caladius is commonplace. The Zhaos maintain a cordial relationship with their Imperial Army counterparts, House Strelitz, and are a dominant force in the naval section of the Imperial Armaments Company. Unlike their Imperial Army counterparts, geneboosting is quite rare in House Zhao due to the space constraints present within spaceborne vessels. House Zhao commonly works alongside Zavodskoi Interstellar due to their prominence in naval weaponry, with many Dominian members of the megacorporation originating in House Zhao.

Much like the Volvalaads, however, the Zhaos have similarly pushed for the Empire to expand its intergalactic presence in the Orion Spur. But while the Volvalaads busy themselves with diplomacy and the Empire’s interstellar image, particularly in the Republic of Biesel, the Zhaos focus instead on expansion through naval supremacy. This has made them deeply unpopular in the Coalition of Colonies, where they are often viewed as the vanguard of Dominian imperialism. The Zhaos have an intense dislike of the Kazhkz, which they view as nothing more than an undertrained and undereducated bandit rabble unfit to fly the Emperor’s standard from their rickety vessels. The hatred held by some Zhao flag officers towards the privateers of the Kazhkz is so intense that House Zhao naval officers are rumored to be a key source of anti-piracy intelligence for the Republic of Elyra and Coalition of Colonies.

The current leader of House Zhao is Grand Duke-Elector Imeral Zhao, an aging naval officer and old warhorse of the navy. However, the true leader of House Zhao in all but the official title is known to be the current Grand Admiral of His Imperial Majesty’s Fleet, Duchess Huiling Zhao. The position of Grand Admiral commands immense respect in House Zhao and, in the rare event that the current Grand Admiral is not also the Elector of House Zhao, the Elector of the house will often bow to the Grand Admiral’s will in naval matters.

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