Futuristic Imperium: Dramatis Personae (Characters & Great Houses)

[ValinoreanDawn]

Name: Baldor Kernunneer za Baelarius ib-ujyzah Z'hah Roi Valkoroi Rhoiamyno
Nickname: N/A
Age: 195
Birth Date: 25,514 (19,828 Imperial Calendar)
Gender: Male
Planet of Origin: Odin
Race/Species: Human
Physical Description or Image: Standing at 183cm and fit with silver hair and generally keeping a clean-shaven face or short kept beard. Possessing piercing green eyes.

Titles: Tsaraj-Emperor of the Known Universe, Master of the Galaxy, Protector of the Magellanic Clouds, Lord of the Celestial Throne
Religious Beliefs: Terranism
Personality: Baldor is publicly a benevolent and genial man. Often portrayed by Imperial Propaganda as a family man, father figure, and just ruler. Personally, Baldor is indeed a father and rules mostly with an even hand regarding civil affairs. However, the Imperial House is divided, and Baldor finds no respite among dealing with his wayward children. He is also ruthless against those that would seek to overthrow the Imperial House's 10,000-year grip on the Celestial Throne.
Family History: The Imperial House of Valkoroi Rhoiamyno has its origins with the appearance of the would-be Saint-Emperor Valorian in the climactic final months of The Shadows assault on Nova Terra. The soon to be Emperor being a military officer of some note in the court of Tsaraj-Emperor Baelan III. Imperial Records regarding the Saint-Emperor before his ascension have never been made public, or even positive to be kept at all, though some fragmentary data points to a collection of records being kept deep in the vaults of the Imperial Palace under the watchful gaze of the Imperial Praetorians.

What is understood is that Valorian was an advisor to Baelan and assisted to some degree in orchestrating the defense of Nova Terra and specifically the fortifications of the Imperial District and the deployments of the Praetorians during their stalwart actions in preventing The Shadow from penetrating the outer perimeters of the Palace.

Valorian was present during the climactic engagement before the Solutrean Gate on Nova Terra were Baelan III fell leading elements of then Imperial House Belastar's forces in a counterattack against forces of The Shadow that had landed near the Imperial Palace. This is, however, running contradictory to the established story of Baelan III dying leading the Naval forces in the massive space battle spanning the breadth of the Nova Terran solar sytem. Perishing, heroically, while leading the assault which threw back The Shadow from the planet.

Valorian in either story was reportedly present and at least according to the record taken down by others supposedly there, Baelan named him his successor. Inaugrating the reign of Tsaraj-Emperor Valorian.

Valorian then orchestrated the Imperial offensives which threw back The Shadow from the Milky Way Galaxy and pursued it throughout the Magellanic Clouds. Returning to Nova Terra in Triumph and already beatified as Saint-Emperor even within his lifetime.

Since then, the Imperial House has maintained its grip on power through this heritage and that of Valorian's Solarian blood. Even if diluted over the generations since the reign of Valorian's son.
Personal Biography: Baldor was born to Tsaraj-Emperor Koronus I on the Imperial paradise world of Odin. A part of the Imperial Demesne. A lush temperate world of snowy winters, warm beach filled summers, high mountains, and verdant valleys. Its diverse ecology partially artificial by the time of his birth. Baldor would be primarily raised by his mother Verina and the Imperial Chamberlain Ernest da'Zurgenfeld. This was likely the best course of action given Koronus was a lazy, incompetent, greedy ruler who could have instilled any of those traits within his young son.

At the age of eighteen Baldor surprisingly took command of Imperial Army forces aiding Imperial House allies in the Perdatus Gulf. The Gulf being one of over a dozen century-old multi-system spanning warzones in the Imperium by this point. The Imperium on one side, and a confederation of religious groups on the other bound by the broader Tao-Shiite faith.

Baldor would serve with distinction and earn many deserved awards for gallantry and tactical acumen. Earning the respect of the Imperial Army personnel under him.

Baldor would also serve as representative to his father on the matters of the Imperial Senate and High Judiciary as Imperial Executor. A title for those acting on the emperor's own authority and capacity. Should the Emperor be unable or unwilling to be present. A fact evident with Koronus who vehemently saw leaving the pleasure complexes of Odin as beneath him.

By the time of Koronus death in 25,614 of what was publicly stated to be natural causes; though some among the Imperial Houses's inner circle of servants would suggest Baldor did away with his father as a means to try and reverse the thrones fortunes with him at the helm. At either rate Baldor was swiftly crowned Tsaraj-Emperor with much pomp on Nova Terra and began actively working to shore up the Imperial House's position within the Galactic Imperium. A vigor that only dimmed in the last decade following the disappearance of his son and heir, Valorian, and the infighting of his daughters: Valeria and Verina.


Great House Information:
Full Name of House: The Celestial and Glorious Scions of the most Beneficent Saint-Emperor the Imperial Household of Valkoroi Rhoiamyno
Shorthand Name: Imperial House Valkoroi Rhoiamyno
Capital World: Nova Terra/Odin
Population: 897 Billion

Culture: The Imperial House of Valkoroi Rhoiamyno presides over Nova Terra which is known for natives possessing cat eyes. While the House is mostly of Terranist faith.
Social Structure & Status of Species: The Imperial House like many of the Great Houses are humanocentric in their doctrines and legislation. However, the vast majority of Imperial servants are human regardless. Socially the Imperial House's territories represent the breadth and width of the Imperium with people from all walks of life.

Military and Security Forces:
The Tsaraj'kar:

The ominous elite warriors of the Emperor hail from the hellish world of Demimonde and supplied by the inhabited moon of Vulcana. The Tsaraj'kar are organized into Legions of 10,000 personnel and are fully self-contained as a military force. But will be stationed aboard ships if needed. Much to the dislike of many Naval crews. The Tsaraj'kar are fanatical zealots for the Imperial House's cause and infamously spare none unless their rules of engagement specify them to do so.

The Tsaraj'kar are not made but born on the planet of Demimonde and put through rigorous indoctrination while merely trying to survive on their purposely chosen homeworld. A world chosen by the Saint-Emperor Valorian to be the adoptive home for a breed of soldiers loyal to the Imperial House. To serve as unquestionably loyal soldier-zealots. Their indoctrination begins immediately and from the time they could crawl their training begins. Tsaraj'kar are trained to fight without the pretense of it being training throughout their whole upbringing. The only tenets that matter is the loyalty to the Imperial House as their spiritual masters, and victory. As such Tsaraj'kar units care little for their own losses and are just as capable operating independently as they are fighting in formations.

The Imperial Navy
The Imperial Fleet operates several thousand vessels under the banner of the Imperial House ranging from small interdiction corvettes to multi-kilometer long battleships fielding lance and kinetic weapons capable of leveling mountains and boiling lakes dry. However, even the mightiest of Imperial warships are dwarfed by the ships of the Imperial Superluminal Guild which can carry entire fleets in their holds.


Planetary Demesne:
Nova Terra (Throneworld of the Imperium)
Odin
Vulcana
Signus Prime
Demimonde
Sagittar Prime

 

[Akewla]

Kethryllia Moonblade lamYirulan Sacarith


Nickname: Sacarith lamKhanel / Daughter of Sacarith

Age: 35

Birth Date: 25,674 (19,888 Imperial Calendar)

Gender: Female

Planet of Origin: Irulan

Race/Species: Human

Physical Description or Image: 179CM, slim/slender build, shoulder length blonde hair combed neatly back. Has formal wear nearly all the time.

Titles : Overseer lamYirulan, Duchess of Yirulan, Lady Admiral of the Dreadfleets

Religious Beliefs: Terranism

Personality: Aloof and stoic. The hallmark of House Sacarith. In matters of the House she is imperturbable. She’s in it for the long run, a relay race across the generations passed down by her ancestors; her choices oftentimes are borderline treasonous to most except members of House Sacarith

Family History:

Once upon a time, House Sacarith and by extension the Ancient World Irulan would’ve been considered by many a star empire by herself, spanning tens of worlds across the sector of Dresreth.

All brought to heel by the arrival of the shadows.

It’s unknown how Irulan had not been cracked during the purge. Some say it was due to a returning Phoenix fleet. But records state a single Phoenix fleet was no match for a shadow assault force.

The galaxy at large would not hear from the inhabitants of the Dresreth sector for close to two hundred years.

When the call for reinforcements had come from Nova Terra, House Sacarith and Irulan answered; blackened hulls of the dreadfleets came and they held the line above Nova Terra. But the firefight had been too fierce, by the time Her Majesty Baelan III’s death had been announced it was too late, another red streak in House Sacarith’s ledger.

Personal Biography:

Kethryllia Moonblade lamYirulan Sacarith is young by Imperium standards. Thrusted upon the office of Dukedom after the disappearance of the Sacarith Patriarch.

There’s not much to say about her younger years, except she’s not unlike her father. Like a shadow, she follows in his footsteps; Fist over heart, and bars on her shoulders. If there is an image definition of a Yirulite and House Sacarith, she would be it.

Attaining the rank of Commodore at the age of 28, she would then be given command of a Night Fury-class cruiser from Dreadfleet Primus. Her career from then on is that of a typical House Heir: a valiant rescue into deep space, would actually ram her ship into a pirate (Fortunately her bridge officers persuaded her to use weapons instead) and the occasional tomfoolery (Bombarding a rival house’s supply depo and subsequently jumping out of system).

Her career had to be put on hold when she received news of her father’s disappearance. Her first order has High Admiral and House Duchess had been to mobilize Dreadfleets Primus and Secundus alongside the mothball fleets to turn every stone in the Dresreth sector.

It has been 8 years since then and chances grow slimmer each passing day.

Great House Information:

Full Name of House: Yirulan House of Admirals Sacarith

Shorthand Name: Sacarith Dominion

Capital World: Irulan

Population: 42 Billion

Culture:

The Sacarith Dominion stretches from Irulan to Laloria, a total of two inhabited planets.

One of the only Yirulan exports are it’s ships. One of the best makes in the galaxy, yet only a shadow of their formerselves. The destruction of the phoenix shipyards had crippled the Yirulan Military complex and it’s expected to recover fully in a few decades.

It’s other exports before the fall of shadows were crewmen. Only Yirulites knew the full extent of a Yirulite warship, and only a Yirulite placed their full trust in the machine. However, the war had nearly wiped out the Sacarith Dominion. Thus, with the grace of the imperial throne, they are exempted from exporting their valued servicemen.

Social Structure & Status of Species:

The Sacarith Dominion keep to themselves nowadays, few if any trade ships that go through their systems are kept on a tight leash. Gene tampering and cybernetics are considered impure to the Yirulites.

Military and Security Forces:

Dreadfleet Primus I and Dreadfleet Secundus II:

The Sacarith Navy has never been seen again since the Defence of Terra Nova. The blackened angular hulls retreating into deep space the moment the last shadow ships were destroyed.

However, it is speculated that Dreadfleets Primus I prowls the home system of Sacarith Dominion of Yliant. With Dreadfleet Secundus II somewhere outside the star system of Laloria.

The Galactic Imperium has made formal requests to be made privy of the location of the dreadfleets; as intelligence reports that House Sacarith has housed all of it’s doomsday weapons aboard the battleships of both Primus and Secundus.

The Yirulites avoid ground warfare. The troops that they do have are highly specialized for one form of warfare: to strike the enemy after a year-round orbital bombardment.

 

[Mechking]

Name:

Drathuul Hrinmuk del Solwev Mirlath Cthaal

Nicknames:

Chosen One, Valorians Rincarnation, Lazy Bastard, Drathi

Age:

130

Birth Date:

25,579 (19,893 Imperial Calender)

Gender:

Male

Planet of Origin:

Midare

Race/Species:

Modified Human

Physical Description:

6 foot 3
230 pounds
Slightly chubby/"dad bod"
Dead eyes with eye bags


Titles:

King of Mirlath Cthaal

Religious Beliefs:

None, Terranism publicly

Personality:

Drathuul was an outgoing and cheery person who was stern when necessary. After years of belligerent laziness and hedonism not much remained. Now he seems to be mostly fueled by spite against what he has become. A deep self-hatred and cruelness seems to have taken ahold of him although he still values effort, fairness, and justice. Though any shred of mercy and cheeriness seems to be long gone.

Family History:

During Tsaraj-Emperor Vaolrians reign and after the Shadow was defeated, many fleets were sent into the galaxy to reclaim what was lost during the war. Some of them would unite under the banner of Mirlath and reclaim a huge chunk of the Milky Way galaxy. The reclaimed planets grew over the years and the reclamation efforts eventually came to an end. By then house Mirlath grew quite bloated with growing colonies and thus established an alliance with the Trade Houses of Cthaal and managing these as well as the trade flow between the outer colonies and the core worlds.

Over the millenia these two houses grew closer together, often marrying into each other, and the eventually completely united under as one house. Their roots of developing colonies eventually shifted towards military denfense while their strong economy supported their territory. After a lot of warfare and politics they have eventually been granted the title of King with support of the Tsaraj-Emperor generations ago.


Personal History:

Drathuuls father struggled a lot with managing his fast domain and so saw hope in a prophecy that the first Valorian, or someone like him, will soon appear.
He soon became obsessed with it and decided to mold his unborn son into the perfect "vessel".
No expense was spared to modify him and with the help of (Kloudies house) they added everything that was possible.

They made his son a Savant and added some Xeno DNA to surpass human limits, stretching what was previously thought to be possible.
The body was better in all aspects compared to even the most advanced modifications, rivaling even cybernetics in some cases.
And the brain was meant to be the peak of all Savants, although how successful that was was never determined.


From his birth Drathuul was trained to be the perfect successor and from a young age he aided his father in managing their vast domain.
In his late 20s Drathuul was declared as the new head of house Mirlath Cthaal and thus its King and his parents retired in the core worlds.
Just a few short decades later the house was stabilized and all big problems solved, and thus peacefuly.

But with no challenge, Darthuul grew bored.
He tried many ways to entertain himself and keep his brain occupied and so he eventually became a frequent visitor to the pleasure palaces.
There he spent most of his time, making new acquaintances and making new children.
Due to his outgoing personality (and Solarian blood) he was quite popular and wasted much of his houses wealth there in the following decades.

Without his management the house is now crumbling along with the rest of the empire.
So he finally returned to check on where his money went, only to realize what his once great house had become.
Overcome with realization and grief, he secluded himself for multiple months, only to emerge with spiteful determination.

He has made a lot of big mistakes.
And now he wants to rectify them.

With the few loyal retainers he has left, plus a fully sentient AI, Drathuul wants to establish a Meritocracy.
But first, he has a lot of cleaning up to do.


Miscellaneous:

Drathuul has a clone of himself hidden away somewhere in case of emergencies.
It has all of his enhancements and knowledge but not his life experiences.

Great House Information:

Full name of the house:

Grand Sovereignity Mirlath United Reclamation Front and the Trade Houses of Cthaal

Shorthand name:

The Mirlath Cthaal Sovereignity

Capital World:

Midare

Population:

245 Billion

Culture:

The House of Mirlath Cthaal are mostly know for obsessing over things.
Each member of their main family seems to attach overwhelming importance to a single or a few things, no matter how weird they might be.
Once these attachments are fulfilled or gone they tend to grow lazy and bored until they find new ones.

As for their territory, its culture is as diverse as it is vast, only perpetuated by their mercantile nature.
In recent centuries a sort of dichotomy has begun to form, between those that wish to explore and those that wish to secure their homes.

Social Structure & Status of Species:

In its prime the house was known for tolerance and equal opportunities but in recent decades it has fallen in line with the wider imperium in their focus on humanity.

Military and Security forces:

"Alloy Shield" Defense Force

Formerly an elite force that focused on planetary and territorial defense, it has since grown bloated and corrupt.
Deals are made with pirates and warlords and focus is given on comfort over practicality.
Nepotism and favoritism runs rampant and money is "lost" into private pockets whenever possible.
Even planetary strongholds now more closely resemble luxury resorts than military installations.

Planetary Demesne:

Midare

Exogal

Hortes

Yukawan

Cy

Special Forces:

Scholars of The End

A former intelligence gathering institution now run by scientists and fanatics, they believe that another catastrophe akin to the Shadow or the Data Blights
will soon befall mankind and are thus traveling the Empire to preserve as much knowledge as possible.
The Gatherers travel the Empire to retrieve as much technology, history, etc, as possible while The Preservers categorize it and store it in as many different forms and places as they can.​

 

[LadyOfStars]

Delphinius Aurelion

​

Name: Delphinius Aurelion

NIcknames: Del, The Shadow Prince

Age: 18

DOB: 25,691 CE

Gender: Male

Place of Origin: Amethite

Race/Species:
Modified Cybernetic Humans & Full AI

Physical Description:
Delphinius stands at 6ft tall, an unmodified height that makes him taller than the average male in his bloodline. His dark skin is complimented by locks of purple hair adorned with golden hair pins. Golden tattoos cover his face, marking him as a descendant of the Aurelion bloodline while the gold choker around his neck symbolizes him as Head of the house and gives him authority over all machines produced in an Aurelion factory.

Titles: Duke of Amethite, High Architect of Technology and Science

Religious Beliefs: N/A

Personality:
Like many of his people and his predecessors, Delphinius is a dreamer, an artist and a creative who seeks to bring his dreams into the physical world. He approaches leadership with hesitation and caution, never making hasty decisions and spending time considering all options available before making a choice. He is notorious for spending more time in the laboratory than than in meetings, but the scientist appreciate that part of him.

Family History:
House Aurelion rose to power when their devotion to technology and science won them the respect of their peers and their impressive creations allowed them to secure valuable contracts with wealthy partners. They would grow to control the entirety of their home world, a moon they renamed Proto and would go on to construct a dyson sphere in their home system through the use of robot labor.

After proving not only their capability but also their determination, House Aurelion joined the imperial stage as one of the Great Houses and helped push imperial technology to new heights. They took the time to genetically engineer their people to make sure their bodies were more accepting of cybernetic implants.

It wasn’t long before House Aurelion would create a superior form of stealth tech that they would go on to use in almost every machine that they created for themselves. This made them a military threat even though their fleets were not as large as other notable forces.

Personal History:
Being born during a time of relative peace, Delphinius spent much of his youth with his head in the clouds. Tutoring sessions and lessons to help prepare him for leadership sometimes went in one ear and out the other as he spent his time day dreaming. The only time anyone managed to actively capture his attention was when he would accompany his mother on trips to the laboratories on Amethite to see the newest prototypes rolling off the assembly lines. The sights were wonderous and getting to see the future of his people being created was inspiring. Anytime he needed to be found, the staff knew they could find him down with the nerds, drawing up new blueprints for the engineers and mechanists.
Unfortunately for Delphinius his elderly father's worsening state of health meant that he would have to stop dreaming and start working. He only made it through the years of study and meetings by apprenticing under one o f the most decorated engineers of the time. So while he learned the ins and outs of ruling he also learned how to assemble robots and repair ships. Then when his father died and he was promoted to the position of leader, Delphinius got a glimpse of the big picture and was somewhat frightened by it. The empire's fragile state makes him anxious of what he might be faced with in the very near future.

Misc.: N/A

Great House Information:

Full Name of House: Aurelion Technology Enterprises

Shorthand Name: House Aurelion

Capital World: Amethite

Culture:
House Aurelion is known mostly for being dreamers, but they have a reputation for making those dreams come true through the use of advanced technology. The people of Amethite and its claimed territories live in the lap of luxury with most jobs filled by robots and other synthetic lifeforms. The organic populace is free to pursue whatever scientific and/or technological calling they see fit. Most often they choose to lay back and relax though.

House Aurelion’s biggest export has always been recreational, occupational, and practical devices of all kinds and many people come to Amethite to partake in the rare attractions that can only be found on the Aurelion home world. Military weapon contracts are their second largest export.

After The Shadow many of those under Aurelion rule turned from Terranism and religion altogether and put their faith solely in technology.

Social Structure & Status of Species:
House Aurelion of course prioritizes organic life, but they also support and protect Full Ai as well, offering them full citizenship. Even base robots are protected under union laws that require test and regular maintenance for them. They prize creative thinkers and savvy minds above all else, but welcome all forms of life and people from every background.
Military and Security Forces:
The fleets of House Aurelion are negligible, but what they lack in ships they make up for in devastating technology and powerful weapons that utilize stealth tech to out maneuver and evade enemies.

• Cloaked Star Rings - Dozens of these large rings are littered across Aurelion space and act not only as watchtowers in the void but as mines among the stars. They are capable of disabling the communication systems, hijacking the controls, and even killing the engines of passing vessels.
  Spoiler: Cloaked Rings

  
• Celestial Canons - Designed for the Emperor after The Shadow's attack on the capital of Nove Terra, these deep space weapons warp into location and hide using stealth tech while they position themselves and take aim. This devastating power is only made available to House Aurelion and the Imperial seat.
  Spoiler: Canon

  

Planetary Demesne:
Amethite - Capital
Proto
Ix
Science outposts

Special Forces:
The Amethyst Order - Under the leadership of the head of House Aurelion a special unit is trained to utilize stealth technology to protect the intellectual property and future of the Aurelion domain. These spies and assassins are teachers, scientists, and advisors on other worlds, waiting and hiding in plain sight for the chance to protect and serve House Aurelion.

Spoiler: Agents

 

[Crocodile]

Name: Xilian Denarius
Nickname: The Emperor's Accountant
Age: 200
Birth Date: 25,509 (19,823 Imperial Calendar)
Gender: Male
Planet of Origin: Hades
Race/Species: Human
Physical Description:
Xilian is a tall, well kept man who maintains a closely trimmed beard and mustaches. His blonde hair shows hits of grew here and there, an aesthetic choice most Mercatores make to show some semblance of age and experience. Xilian favors dark, subdued outfits made of very fine materials. Almost all Doges have favored a similiar style as flaunting the wealth of the true master of the Mercatores seems like a strutting peacock, a behavior associated with the most annoying of nobles.


Titles: Doge of the Mercatores Houses, Voice of the Signoria, Lord of House Denarius

Religious Beliefs: Atheist (Feigned Terranism with emphasis on the ancient god Hades)

Personality: Xilian is a patient and calculating man, who can come across as a bit cold to those outside his personal circles. He takes pride in what he had achieved and shares the disdain common in most Mercatores for those nobles prone to ego or pomposity. His tongue is sharp and he isn't shy about criticizing those around him. Xilian understands the need to keep his people prosperous if only to avoid assassination attempts. His deeper concerns though are ensuring that his people survive the likely coming collapse of the Imperium.

Family History: House Mercatores can hardly be called a true family, buts its countless merchant houses have stuck firmly together to repel the efforts of the nobility to dominate them. The Mercatores formed in the aftermath of the Shadow, various merchant houses and interests attempting to help rebuild. They found themselves the targets of the predations of various nobles who thought they could dominate these lowborn souls. After growing clashes and near rebellion, the Imperial House commanded that the merchants organize into a form that could have a voice in the halls of power. Many of these merchant houses came together and formed the Mercatores Trade Consortimu of Merchant Houses. This vast organization of competing merchant groups was granted a singular ducal seat which took the title of Doge.

The Mercatores organized into their own assembly known as the Signoria, from which the most powerful and influential merchant houses could nominate their leaders for the position in an election. The Doge is a lifetime seat once elected, ensuring stability for the Mercatores. Admittedly, it is a self policing station as the Mercatores engage in much internal intrigue. A failing Doge is likely to be assassinated to clear the seat for a new election. This happens from time to time but never without good reason. Anyone attempting to assassinate the Doge while he is performing well is considered such a faux paus that the guilty merchant house almost always gets torn to pieces by the others before any official can do something about it.

Xilian Denarius of House Denarius ascended within the past decade. House Denarius is known to have relations with various Mercenarii and Charter Fleet houses, but not for the reason most would expect. Information is the main commodity that House Denarius specialized in, one of the various private intelligence firms that exist in the Mercatores to cater to the various intrigues. House Denarius defined itself by specializing in external issues, making it very valuable to the military merchant houses. This built a powerful foundation of support that allowed Xilian to eventually make his move to kill Lord Rozil Winnius, the previous Doge. It was said to be a very artful poisoning.

Since his ascension, Xilian has done his utmost to ingratiate himself and House Mercatores to the Imperial House. This has lead to the derisive nickname of The Emperor's Account to be uttered among those nobles not fond of the uppity merchant houses. Few realize that even while Xilian faithfully serves the Imperium, he has continued to work quietly towards laying groundwork to prepare for the potential collapse of the Imperium.

Great House Information:
Full Name of House: Mercatores Trade Consortium of Merchant Houses
Shorthand Name: House Mercatores
Capital World: Hades
Population: 200 Billion

Culture: House Mercatores values merit and talent above breeding, species or even synthetic status. They have a disdain for stuck up nobles, shamelessly making breeding jokes about those sorts while giving respect to others who actually demonstrate talent and ability. Bloodlines mean little and so merchant houses in Mercatores will trade, adopt and recruit among themselves to shore up the well-being of their profits and sustainability. What noble blood that exists in Mercatores is simply the happy accident of high status, low income nobles needing wealth infusions to sustain their families.

Social Structure & Status of Species: House Mercatores snubs humanocentrism due to the returns multiculturalism produces for their vast array of mercantile services and operations they operate across the Imperium. Aliens can hold any position in the House save Doge, and that is simply because even the aliens agree that would be suicide for House Mercatores. It is a known fact that the Mercatores military is heavily populated with aliens that have an almost fanatical loyalty to the Mercatores for this open-minded approach even if they know its driven entirely by the pragmatic pursuit of profit. There are rumors that sapient AIs receive similar treatment.

Military and Security Forces:
Mercenarii
Few would think reliance upon sellswords would be a viable defense strategy, but the Mercatores have turned it into an artform. Every soldier employed by the Mercatores is under contract, well-paid and supplied to ensure successful pursuit of military ventures. Any Mercenarius that survives to the completion of their contract receives an impressive payout package and various other benefits that often have led to the foundation of new merchant houses which may form their own Mercenarii companies. The tradition is so strong that proportionally, humans are the minority in the Mercenarii. This has led to the practice wearing fully sealed body armor if only to avoid the annoyance of xenophobic customers. Mercenarii can be found across the Imperium, fulfilling contracts with countless House, the Guild or even the Emperor for matters deemed unworthy of the attention of the Tsaraj'kar. Where there is coin to be had in conflict, the brass armor of Mercenarii are certain to be found in rapid order.


Charter Fleet
Like the Mercenarii, the Charter Fleet is technically a contracted mercenary force. Each vessel paid under tightly negotiated contracts to serve in the name of the Mercatores and their various interests. Charter Fleet vessels are often armed merchant men but about a full third of them are devoted entirely to military operations to patrol trade lanes, hunt pirates... and engage in privateer activities. This causes some friction and accusations of piracy, but there is always some legitimate contract or reason for Charter Fleet ships to be operating in a region. Most squadrons are owned and operated by individual merchant houses, but all answer to the Doge and Signoria on matters outside of House Mercatores itself. Their ships tend to be amalgams of various state of the art technologies fused together into a working assembly that suits the needs of the fleet. It is rumored that a number of Charter Fleet merchant ships are actually Q-ships, sporting hidden weapon arrays. As with the Mercenarii, Charter Fleet ships and personnel completing their service contracts will be granted large boons. This swells the ranks of the Charter Fleet with many aliens as well, seeking to climb in a society that will let them.


Special Forces
The Gardeners
Probably the most terrifying institution and business under the control of House Mercatores is simply referred to as The Garden, based on Persephone. From here, countless special operatives are trained to operate on behalf of House Mercatores or the merchant houses that can afford to buy the services of a Gardener. The name while so simple and disarming causes dread in just about any Mercatores who knows what they are. Gardeners specialize in espionage and sabotage, but all are trained field combatants with superb equipment. A dead operative is a bad investment. The only Gardeners ever seen in the open are the personal guard that surrounds the Doge or ranking Mercatores representatives out in the greater Imperium. Most outside the Mercatores only learn about Gardener presences when the sabotage starts.


Planetary Demesne:
Hades (Mercatores Capital)
Persephone (Exotic Goods, Specialized Services)
Charon (Transshipping Hub, Factory World)
Various Mercatores Trade Enclaves