Roania
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| Spoken Languages | English, Aguan, Quenya | |||
| Capital | Imperial City (Tarnaqin)) | |||
| Flag | 
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| Head of State | His Divine Illuminated Majesty Lord-Emperor Cassander Drakharn | |||
| ArchChancellor | Nicholas d'Arquis (Imperial Union Party) | |||
| Leader of His Divine Illuminated Majesty's Loyal Opposition | Celeste Laurens (Social Democrat Party); Grigor Kroenen (National Socialist Imperial Worker's Party) | |||
| Area - Land - Water - Empire |
300,800,921 km² 175,596,006 km² 200 lightyears | |||
| Population | 6 Billion + | |||
| Establishment - Colonisation - as Republic - Rudanii Empire of Shadow - As nation-states - as Divine Imperium of Roania - Present Day |
CE 2400(?) CE 2450(?) CE 2840 CE 3342 IR 1 (CE 3350) IR 2770 (CE 6120) | |||
| Government type | Westminsterian Democracy | |||
| Nation type | Constitutional monarchy | |||
| National animal | Roanian Drake | |||
| Currency - Exchange rate |
1 Imperial Mark (IM) = 50 Cents (C) = US$1.7 | |||
| National Charter of Rights | Charter of the Divine Imperium | |||
| International Abbreviations - government |
DIR DIG | |||
| Internet TLD | .dru | |||
The Divine Imperium of Roania (More properly, the Divine Imperium of Rudan) was one of the earliest 'human' colonies founded, being in existence for nearly 4000 years. The home system is Rudan[1], which is a class-M star on the norma-arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. A moderate empire extends away from Rudan towards the galactic north-west, away from Sol. Much of its early history remains shrouded in mystery.
What is known is that for at least 300 years Roania was a republic, with a President and a single parliamentary body (only three presidents are known to modern Roanian historians, but current discoveries might increase knowledge of the past), until ArchMage Merrech led a magocratic coup. Proclaiming himself Emperor, he ruled what he called the Empire of Shadow for over 400 years. Then Lord-General Joseph Black overthrew the ArchMage and united the Divine Imperium, with his colleague the War-Priest Louis DeRechelieu founding the first organised religious body in over 600 years, the Imperial Church of the Light.
People of the Divine Imperium
See Article: Roanians
Over the long course of inhabitation, the Roanians have ceased to be standard Humans or elves, and can more properly be termed a race of half-elves, though even this is a very hard attempt to connect the three. The majority of Roanians are members of the subspecies Homo Sapiens Lux, though some scientists favour the creation of a new genus, tentatively called Lucis Angelus. Previously Roania also held a small colony of pureblooded elves, which are are now sadly exceedingly rare on Rudan Prime, and in the Imperium at large. See the Alaitoc Article for more information.
Roanian lifespan can last from 200-500. In general, the inhabitants of Rudan Prime are taller and thinner than natives of Terra and most inhabitants of Sol. Average height for Roanian men is at 192 centimeters and for women at 170 centimeters, compared to the average height of Americans at 175 and 162 (Respectively) in 2002.
Imperial Culture
The Divine Imperium is a very urbane and sophisticated society. Its population lives a very long time, and in a desire to avoid ennui will often explore possibilities.. Roanians, then, can be described as one of the most decadent races in the galaxy. Most Roanians constantly seek and desire comfort, at all times and in every place. Despite being highly trained and well-armed, Roanian Legionnaires are primarily a garrison force across the empire, as it's difficult to inspire them to fight well away from home save when they're most desperately required to.
Roanians, for perhaps obvious reasons, embrace technology whole-heartedly, and Roanian technology is simple, elegant, and ubiqitous. For the most part, things such as consoles have been built into desks, and a simple touch of a hand could, for instance, open the door. Or trigger a disentegration-trap. Quite often, the console or control is built into a work of art. On a smaller scale, many nobles and rich merchants wear or carry items, such as rings or canes, that serve various purposes, such as a quick drink of water or firing a poisonous dart. Almost like magic... though the Roanians would not appreciate the statement.
In a sadly more brutal, the Roanian desire for rapid solutions can also lead to overkill in a war. Roanian defences are designed to destroy anything that enters within their range without permission, including refugee ships. Rudan Prime is surrounded by a thick planetary shield, powered by two orbital bases at the north and south poles (Pinnacle Base(s)). These two orbital platforms, in addition to acting as customs depots and providing transport to the surface, also hold two powerful and very accurate superlasers, for the sole purpose of destroying any large ships that might enter the system unannounced. On the offensive, the Roanians are equally destructive. Not having an interest in the further acquisition of territory, though they will strive vigorously to retake any lost ground from their own empire, Imperial Naval Officers will quite happily order the utter destruction of a target, whether civilian or military, simply to eliminate the possibility of further resistance in future. The deployment of biological and chemical weapons is always a possibility, though it has grown exceedingly rare in recent times. The Holy Legions themselves seem to view any resisting enemies as a problem to be solved, and will thus attempt to solve that problem in the most simple way possible. Generally with the use of their particle-beam weaponry or a large tank, whether the resistance is a bunch of 'insurgents' throwing rocks, or an enemy army. Witness the statement by Lord-Captain-Commander Solitaire in the aftermath of the Roanian Waagh. "There is no such thing as overkill; simply a more efficient way of slaughter."
On the defensive, the Roanians will try to negotiate when they can to make the attacks stop, preferring not to risk their lives unless they have to. If a world is captured, there's a possibility the Roanians will obliterate it (and the enemy army). So far, only two invading forces have ever successfully defeated the Imperium and forced them to surrender, and with the creation of the Pinnacle Bases it's unlikely the feat will be repeated again, a fact which makes the Roanians consider the expense to be more than worthwhile.
At peace, Roanian life is very similar to life in other societies. People work, play and live much like people do in nations such as Pantocratoria. Stereotypically, the jobs they take depend a great deal on which 'nation' they consider themselves; Aguans will be more likely to work in retail or marketing, Roanians will cling like barnacles to public service positions, etc. In reality nations are no longer as important as they were in the past, and it's no longer considered 'unusual' for the President of the Omega Corporation to be a Derricker, just as an example. While most comfortable off Rudan Prime in Fortress-Cities like those on Altecrast, on Rudan Prime the Roanians can just as frequently be found in rural environments.
Entertainment
On the whole, Roanians tend to avoid many of the extremes that mark other 'decadent' nations such as Der Angst and Pilon. While somewhat open about sensuality, nevertheless they feel that such matters are a purely private matter and should not be displayed too openly. Instead, Roanians on the whole have more traditional tastes in their public entertainment, such as sports and films. Privately, a Roanian might choose to watch his holovision, read from his library, or listen to music.
When it comes to sports the Roanians have what could be termed unusual tastes, preferring gladiatorial sports to team affairs. Fencing is a popular spectator sport, and it has more in common with the rapier combat of Medieval Italy than with the tame sport of the 20th century.
Names
The top 5 names for Roanian boys born over the past 30 years have been:
- Damien
- Aeron
- Nicholas
- Michael
- Joseph
The top five names for Roanian girls born over the past 30 years have been:
- Elizabeth
- Alysandra (And derivatives)
- Rebecca
- Cassandra
- Malissa
Xenos
The Imperium spans 12 systems, and has within its boundaries 5 other intelligent lifeforms. For the most part these are primitives, at black powder level or below, and not considered part of the Imperium excepting that they live on planets the Imperium has claimed. However, for approximately 2000 years the Roanians had been selecting and capturing members of the various races and taking them home to Rudan Prime to work as slaves.
Recently, under Cassander Drakharn, the last remaining slaves (in reality, a minority of all Xenos on the planet) have been emancipated. The second largest racial group in the Imperium became overnight the Salamandros --a race of reptilian sapiens similar to the Sakkrans. Out of a total population of 6 billion, roughly five hundred million are 'non-Roanian citizens of the Divine Imperium'. Of that population, nearly 200 million are Salamandri. There are also felinomorphs, silicon lifeforms, and a variety of other unusual creatures.
Salamandros
Always a reasonably common sight in Agua, where they built small communities in the water-side cities and along the lakes, the Salamandros have had the easiest time being accepted as full imperial citizens, and at least one Salamandros candidate has a substantial chance of making it into the House of Commons on the opposition ticket next year.
On their homeworld a primitive race that hadn't even attained black-powder level, the Salamandros on Rudan Prime prefer to make use of simple technology and find many of the larger cities to be intimidating. Warmblooded, nevertheless they are more comfortable in the heat and prefer to rest during winter. The Imperial Representative to the Martian Duma, Ss-ruk-ssa, is a Salamandros male(?).
Gra-Charks ('Golems')
The Gra-Charks are a 'xenos' race that is now unique to Rudan. Resembling a pile of rocks piled into the shape of a humanoid, they came from the first planet of the Nubaga system, a world in danger of being pulled into their sun, whose increasingly harsh solar flares had already wiped out nearly three quarters of the race. When contact was made, the Gra-Chark leadership sold their people into slavery in exchange for being taken from Nubaga Prime to Rudan Prime.
Despite being emancipated, the 100,000 Gra-Charks (who never die of old age, though occasionally one will go to sleep for a very long time, and who haven't been observed breeding since they came to Rudan Prime a millenia ago) still consider themselves to have a debt to pay off, and for the most part continue to work where they worked and for whom they worked, generally for the Derricks Mining Corporation.
Native Rudani
Prior to humanity, the native sentients were an insectoid race known as the ch'ker. Their religion can best be described as a death-cult. It is believed that the majority of the race was wiped out 50 years prior to first contact during an event that subsequent data-records refer to as 'the sacred night'. The remainder was destroyed 100 years after contact during an attempt by the Rudanii to initiate their neighbours into the cult.
Even today in some of the more isolated regions of the planet, pre-human ruins are still visible, and archaeologists continually busy themselves in exploring the ancient past of their home planet. Many of these ruins, however, still have fully active[[2]] security systems which require extreme caution. Rudani technology is constantly studied by Imperial Scientists, though any conclusions they make are normally uncertain, as just because an item can be used in a certain way does not mean that that's what the item originally was for.
Religion and Spirituality
Roanians are an intensely spiritualistic people in general, though not in the specific. The 'God', for lack of a better term, that they worship appears to be a cold and calculating force that created the universe out of a desire for cosmic order. This religion is focussed in The Imperial Church of the Light, which is one of the most powerful institutions on the planet. The beliefs and the 'purity' of the Roanian race are protected by The Order of the Archangel's Sword (also known as the Imperial Inquisition).
Roanian prayer-services are very ritualistic, borrowing from the traditions of the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The major symbol is the Sun Cross:
Services for the most part are conducted in contemplative silence, with only muffled amens to the words of the Ecclesiarch. The church is a very heirachical organisation, with numerous ranks for Ecclesiarch, from the Patriarch of the Light all the way down to the Parish Priests who make up the bulk of the Church's ranks. Higher-ranking members of the church, above Bishop, are expected not to be married.
The Church in its current form was founded after the Dark Years by War-Priest Louis DeRechelieu, whose goal was to inspire devotion to the Light in order to prevent a resurgence by the Darkness of Magic. Religious beliefs have been one of the primary forces in creating the Roanian mindset towards magic, though it must be stressed that at this point this point the culture is self-perpetuating.
Occasionally another faction will arise. Generally these 'alternatives' are far more fundamentalist and strict than the one they seperated from, and so far all of them have needed to be extirpated (to use the Holy Legion's term). The 'Holy Church of the Sacred Light' was the primary cause of the Second Imperial Civil War, when Warlord Despan ordered the use of experimental weaponry to destroy the elven city of (Old) Alaitoc, and then attempted to destroy the government in order to set up a theocracy.
For now, the creation of any new religions in the Divine Imperium is strictly forbidden, and punishable as an act of civil rebellion.
Patriarch of the Light
The current Patriarch of the Light is the arch-conservative Dmitri, formerly Bishop of Fort Derricks. Under his control the church has stridently opposed any liberalisation by the governmentt, though after his death a backlash seems likely. He was born 330 years before the present, and is therefore one of the few Roanians who can remember a time before Emperor Alexander. His memories, as with all Church Officials and Nobles, have been collected by Project Living History.
There have in the past been Matriarchs as well, though none, of course, within living memory.
Lorodecrast (Adytum)
Adytum is an island to the north of the continent of Agua. More properly, it is the northern part of the continent, as it only became an island after the First Imperial Civil War, when in addition to being seperated from the continent it was also cleansed of life.
It is here that Louis founded the church, preaching in the city of Valens. At least a fifth of the Imperial Church's priestly body is dedicated to maintaining the ruins and performing memorial ceremonies in the ruins scattered across the island. The only settlement is at the northern tip of the island, where Valens stands, now referred to officially as Adytum, the City of the Church. Officially the island is known as Lorodecrast. However, in official and private documents (including newspapers and census reports) it is referred to as Adytum as well.
Order of the ArchAngel's Sword
The Order of the Archangel's Sword is an elite force of soldiers, equipped with powerful armour and weapons. Close-combat specialists, they are one of the most powerful military groups in the universe, though only rarely are units larger than ten sent into action.
And they are a militant wing of the Church of the Light, which oversees the construction of equipment, recruitment, and training. Currently the supreme officer (Grand Inquisitor) is Cassius Varro. Unusually for the Inquisition, normally a semi-secular militant order, Cassius Varro is also a bishop in his own right. Actual control of the Order, however, begins two or three levels down in the Council of High Inquisitors.
The purpose of the Order of the ArchAngel's Sword is simple. The complete elimination of anything that might challenge the Church or its vision of an ideal universe, regardless of reason. Inquisitors have in the past slaughtered 'mutant' children on the command of superior officers or reactionary priests, much to the disgust of civil authorities or more 'liberal' ecclesiarchs. Control of the Inquisition and the reigning in of its 'excesses' is one of the major battles between church and state, and within the church itself.
Rogue Inquisitors
Occasionally an Inquisitor will start to have a crisis in faith, losing his or her ability to see what he or she is doing in the same way the church sees it. While normally the Inquisitor will take a vacation or undergo spiritual education (voluntarily), occasionally an Inquisitor will go rogue and simply leave outside of the proper channels. While technically a crime, it's one that the civil government, or the police, will only prosecute when the rogue is a threat.
Amongst the more famous rogues are High Inquisitor Kigari Starfighter (nee Walters) and Inquisitorial Lord Tyral Halon (location currently unknown. Considered armed and exceedingly dangerous. Is permanently in place on the Roanian Internal Security Service's Most Wanted List.
Roanian Economy
The Roanian economy is autarkic, with little interest in external trade. The Imperium and its assorted worlds are estimated to have the raw resources to last at least another 5000 years. Assuming its population triples in size over that time. However, occasionally a wealthy Roanian will purchase a 'foreign' good, and the purchase of knowledge is fairly constant.
Externally, Roania's most prominent corporations are the Omega Corporation and Roanian Pharmaceuticals.
Omega Corporation
The Omega Corporation is Roania's largest Information Technology corporation, and the spearhead of the past 500 years of technological progress. Omega Corporation has a long-term contract with the Imperial Government, and is the sole provider of computing equipment to the Imperial Trading Coster. The corporation currently employs 20 million people.
Lokii Controversy
Occasionally, Omega has been accused of associations with the Lokii Crime Syndicate, most recently by the nation of Assington. Omega has always denied such claims, though it refuses to reveal its books, claiming that that would be considered an admission of guilt by the corporation's many enemies.
Imperial Trading Coster
The Imperial Trading Coster is the major interstellar shipping company within the Imperium. By Lord-Emperor Edward's decree, they were stripped of the right to set prices and the stockmarket.
Imperial Government
Since Joseph the Great's constitution, the Imperial Government has been split between the overweening might of the executive, in the form of His Divine Illuminated Imperial Majesty the Lord-Emperor --an office to which there is as yet no legal binding then the force of constitution and precedent, which are admittedly very strong forces in the minds of even the mightiest Roanian-- and the two legislative assemblies, the Popular House (which forms the elected government) and the High Council, that arcane body that consists of the Great Houses and those Houses Minor welcomed into it.
Popular Council
The Popular Council is the elected body, and it is the house that holds the majority here that goes on to form government. It has 5900 members, and is in session for a third of the year, though tradition dictates that at least 1/3 of all members of the Council must remain in Imperial City, a tradition that stays in force despite the existence and deployment for over 4 millenia of both the Imperial Maglev networks and SuperSonic aircraft.
The Popular Council is not a body designed for revolutionary change. When change comes, the Roanians and most of their allied races prefer for it to be evolutionary, and it is believed that the Popular Council is amongst the least radical of lower houses amongst theoretically democratic states.
Traditionally, the Popular Council initiates legislation, which must then pass onto the High Council for review and eventual submission to the Lord-Emperor. Occasionally the Lord-Emperor himself will introduce legislation into the House of Nobles, but only in that rare event will the process travel the other way.
There are four parties that hold power in the Popular Council, seeming to cycle in and out of government in regular intervals without too much changing. The government of the day is the Union Party (Centrist), while its opponents are Movement for a Democratic Imperium (Very Conservative party), The Light's Democratic Party (Archconservative party), Worker's Party of the Divine Imperium (So conservative it tried to block the enfranchisement of the allied races), and Master Uriel Te'var of Rone on the Great Bridge ("left of center"), an elf who entered the Council as a bit of an experiment forty years ago and who has been consistently supported by the residents of his electorate in Alaitoc ever since, since none of them want the job.
ArchChancellor Nicholi Darquis
A distant cousin of the ArchDuke Simon Darquis of Derricks, Nicholi was Cassander's deputy when Cassander was ArchChancellor. Small, even for a Roanian, he tends to take a very lowkey role in the government, preferring to let his Chancellors get on with the job while he enjoys the perks. Has masterminded many of the Divine Imperium's international actions, including joining the Concordat and the 'triumphant' return to Mars.
Is happily married with four children.
Elections
The Divine Imperium has universal adult sufferage, where an adult is defined as having turned 20. The ArchChancellor must call elections within 4 years of the previous one. Voting is compulsory and failure to vote is punishable by jail-terms. The day an election is called for becomes a public and bank holiday, with schools and government offices closed in either the morning or the afternoon (or the entire day, if they so choose.)
High Council
The High Council of the Greater And Lesser Noble Houses of the Divine Imperium is perhaps the most powerful organisation within the Divine Imperium's boundaries. Capable of striking down the Lord-Emperor, the Popular Council, and the entire constitution should it feel the need, these powers exist only in theory.
In practical terms, majority of the High Council's 500 members are controlled from the eight thrones of the seven members of the Private Council, the Lord-Emperor and the Heads of the Great Houses. These six men (and one woman) control the Imperium right down to the bedrock, and may refuse to allow a vote in the High Council on anything they desire, barring a popular council vote forcing them to allow discussion.
The Lord-Emperor, naturally, is president of this body and the Heads of the Great Houses are automatically members. Other aristocrats are voted in from each province by a body of their peers. The Patriarch of the Light is a member of the Private Council. 10 High Priests and Order Heads are nominated by him for membership as well.
The Private Council in order of Precedence
1. Lord-Emperor of the Divine Imperium (Lord-Emperor Cassander Lucius Drakharn) 2. Patriarch of the Light (Gabriel VII) 3. Head of Great House Darquis (Grand Duke Simon Aelius Darquis IV) 4. Head of Great House Black (Prince D. Churiel "Charleston" Black III) 5. Head of Great House Drakharn (Lord-Emperor Cassander Lucius Drakharn) 6. Head of Great House Darsalin (Duke Nicademus Darsalin XII) 7. Head of Great House Ai (Lady Rebecca Ai)
The Imperial Family
Lord-Emperor Cassander Drakharn
Lord-Emperor Cassander Lucius Drakharn (More properly: His Most Divine Illuminated Imperial Majesty Lord-Emperor (Elrond) Cassander Lucius Drakharn of the Imperium of Rudan, Heir to the Imperium of the Twin Celestial Lamps, Master of the Salamandri, High Chief of the Maargans, Lord of the Mrer, Most Blessed Servant of the Light, The Supreme Autocrat, the Ultimate Arbiter, the Most Beloved Imperial Captain Commander of the Most Holy Legions, Elf-Friend, et al.) came to power through the assassination of Lord-Emperor Alexander Adolphus Black. Upon Alexander's death, a will was discovered that named Cassander, his ArchChancellor, Lord-Emperor. Despite the prior claim of the Darquis Family (which wasn't pressed owning to Grand Duke Simon's close links with the hated Alexander), the Popular and High councils decided to accept, thereby creating a new dynasty. The Drakharns themselves have long been important members of Imperial Society, and many of the Emperor's cousins and ancestors have risen high.
The Lord-Emperor's Reign has been marked by unprecedented liberalisation, including the emancipation of the slaves (in conjunction with ArchChancellor DArquis), a drastic reduction in the number of accidental deaths in the palace (under Alexander, several hundred palace servants died a year) and a slow reduction in the power of the state to pre-crisis levels. Currently the Lord-Emperor is roughly 200, and the role of rebuilding the nation and establishing his dynasty appears to be wearing him out.
On being Lord-Emperor
"A lot of people still believe that being an (Lord) Emperor is an easy job, where all you do is sit around and amuse yourself all day. I cannot speak for many of my brothers and sisters, but for myself every day is spent working hard for the benefit of my people." ~ On being asked if he considered Emperor to be an 'easy job'.
Heir to the Imperium of the Twin Lamps
A reference to the old capital world of the Roanian race, hundreds of years before the formation of the Divine Imperium, Altecrast Tertius (Altecrast having two suns).
Half-Elf
Unusually for a Roanian noble, Cassander's father not only had an affair with one of Roania's exceedingly rare pure elves, but also acknowledged the child as his own (with his wife's full knowledge). Details are sketchy, but it is believed that Lady Louisa Drakharn might have been sterile. The Imperial Palace is not forthcoming on the subject.
The Empress
A model for a tourist campaign. A public servant. An Imperial Governor. Treasurer. Her Most Serene Illuminated Majesty Lady-Empress (Lúthien) Alysanndra Aliria Drakharn has been a tireless worker through-out her life, establishing her position in the Divine Imperium after nearly a century of struggle. Her first job after leaving the orphanage was in the Tourism Department, where a wandering Alexander the Dark happened to spot her. Suffering one of his occasional fits of brilliance, he promptly ordered his Tourism Chancellor to use her as a centerpiece for the ad campaign. Then decapitated the man when he deferred. His replacement was more than happy to obey.
The 'Where else but Roania Campaign' was an amazing success, pulling in thousands of marks of tourist revenue from across the eastern sectors of the galaxy, and even from Sol. Alysanndra's intelligence was also marked upon, and after a whirlwind of promotion she was sent to the North-Western province, whose revenues experienced a marked upswing after she took over, as well as a population boost.
Her romance with Cassander was very brief, and their marriage a year after they met was an event a weary capital finally had a chance to smile for. Currently they've been married for 80 years, and palace rumours hold that her support is all that's maintaining the increasingly tired Lord-Emperor.
Affair with Alexander?
It is rumoured that Lady-Empress Alysanndra had an affair with Alexander the Dark, a fact which would go some way to explaining how she progressed so rapidly through the ranks, though her survival is a powerful argument against this rumour.
Prince Imperial Caurentin Aeron Drakharn
A handsome young Roanian, Caurentin is one of the more prominent members of the Imperium's Social Register. It is widely believed that he has attempted to sleep with every woman available to him, and dark rumours hang over his desires in regards to those nature itself has kept from him, though only a brave (or foolish) man would dare to confront Cassander with any of this.
Princess Imperial Aila D Drakharn
Compared to her twin brother, Aila is a very meek and unassuming young woman. Widely considered one of the more desirable women in the Divine Imperium (for reasons more attached to the curves of her body than anything else, unusual for the power-lusting Roanians) Aila is, at least apparently, an elf-dominant half-elf like her mother, and so is lacking in wings.
X Drakharn
News recently reached Sol of the Lady-Empress' recent miscarriage. The unnamed child has been laid to rest in the Drakharn Family's vaults. Lady-Empress Alysanndra has not been seen in public over the past three months, and a palace source says she is 'resting'.
The Nations
A map of Rudan Prime, showing states, provincial boundaries, major cities and towns and important sea-routes
The Divine Imperium is divided into 5 states, which roughly align with the old national divisions. Each of these nations played a major role in the past, though in recent years their importance has declined to be primarily ceremonial. Traditionally, each of these states had its own leader.
- The King of Agua (Tied to the Imperial Diadem)
- The Prince of Roania
- The Master of Altara
- The ArchDuke of Derricks
- The HeruAmandil of Alaitoc. (In Abeyance)
Currently, only three of these titles are still extant. Prince of Roan was the title of the Black Family prior to the ascent to the Imperial Diadem of Joseph Black. It became bound to the Imperial Diadem, though lately there has been debate in parliament about restoring it to the Blacks with the accession of Cassander Drakharn, who has never accepted the title, and therefore it could be reactivated before the end of the century. The title of Kings of Agua was arrogated to the Lord-Emperor upon the destruction of the De Silva family in Imperial 300, though there are rumours it might be split off to further ennoble Great House Drakharn's
Master of Altara is the title of the provincial governor of the Altaran Southern provinces, based around Fort Altara, though Lord-Empress Drakharn has recently spoken of granting it to Great House Ai. The ArchDukes of Derricks, the d'Arquises, have been the second family of the Imperium for generations, with many members holding important positions across the nation.
There have only ever been two HeruAmandil's of Alaitoc. The first was put to death by Shadowlord Merrech for attempting to forestall the Shadowlord's coup. The second died in the horrors of the Second Purge of Magic just hours before Menelmacari troops broke through the planetary shield and forced Lord-Emperor Damien the Terrible to submit. Currently the title is held to be an abeyance, with executive authority in New Alaitoc resting in the hands of the Mayoral Council.
Roan
Roan is the southeastern continent and one of the first to be settled by the colonists. It is named after the river that flows through it, which to human and elven ears sounded like 'Roh-en' Currently the majority of the continent is covered by the various city-states. It is the state that has the most parliamentary seats, leading to occasional requests from the other states to redraw the provincial boundaries of Roan.
Major provinces include the Divine Imperial Province, Blackport, New Bristol and Durham-On-The-Roan. There are numerous noble families in Roan, though the most prominent are the Blacks and Darsalins.
Great House Black
One of the most prominent of the Great Houses, the Black Family held the Imperial diadem until very recent years. This is the junior branch, however, which has always been in the shadow of its relatives. Currently, by order of precedence, Great House Black stands third in line for the Diadem, meaning that for it to be restored to the Black Family legally the Drakharn Dynasty and the senior lines of the Darquis family would need to be eliminated.
ArchDuke Damien Charleston Black
A distant cousin of the former Emperor, His Grace The Divine Imperial Martian Viceroy Damien Charleston Black, (OoF, MGT, MB, etc) is roughly 20 years Cassander's junior. Claiming that he desires to free his family name of the odium associated with it by the actions of Alexander, he has instead succeeded in meshing with his undoubted administrative acumen the role of con-artist and 'entrepeneur'.
His lands are being watched by a relation while he acts as Imperial Regent on Mars. His deputy is Commissioner Lilian Darsalin, whose family the colony is named for.
Great House Darsalin
The Darsalins are one of the ancient houses, though now sadly decayed. In the years following the War of Light And Darkness the Darsalins were one of the rivals for Imperial Power, though like the Darquisi they stepped aside for Lord-General Joseph Black. Then, in the first civil war, the Darsalin family was almost completely wiped out during the first uprisings. The family still hasn't recovered, and is in a precarious position even now, with pretty much lineal descent from the survivors to the present. The Darsalin family is fifth in succession to the Imperial Diadem.
Agua
Agua is a major merchantile settlement and the secondmost populated nation. A highly cosmopolitan state, people from all over feel at home here, especially in the major cities on the coast. Many Aguans work in the Divine Navy and attached services, but many more act as merchants and traders across the planet and imperium, taking advantage of the training their homeland's rivers offer.
Major provinces/cities include Seraph, WhiteHarbour, Angeles and North Harbour. Prominent Aguan families include the Drakharnns and the Chervim.
= Lesser House Chervim
Lesser House Chervim has recently sprung to prominence following the ascension of Great House Drakharn, and may well join the Private Council and the Imperial Registry within the century. Archlord Raphael Chervim is a prominent member of the Aguan State Assembly and the High Council, as well as one of the wealthiest landowners and investers in the Divine Imperium.
Chervim retainers headed the recent resettlement of the ancient colonies of Ailisara, and it's known the Chervim have close ties with Patriarch Gabriel VII
Derricks
Derricks is to the north of Agua, and makes up roughly one half of the great northern landmass. A heavily forested and mountainous region, its people are generally stalwart conservatives and as stubborn as their homeland. Major communities include Ros-Ailin and Far North Seraph. It is now unknown who or what Derrick was, but it is assumed he was fairly important. The Darquisi are a major, in fact the major, family.
His Illuminated Highness the Grand Duke of Derricks Simon Aelius Darquis
His Illuminated Highness the Grand Duke of Derricks, Lord of the Red Waters, Most Blessed of the Light, Simon Lucius Calvin d'Arquis (OOF, MTG, KoTR, MB), the 200th ArchDuke of Derricks, is a member of a long line of prominent conservative public figures in the Imperium. A former Inquisitor and an outspoken advocate for many conservative causes, he has repeatedly clashed in public with the Lord-Emperor on subjects such as slavery and control of the Inquisition. He ascended to the Duchy when his father Leopold died shortly before Alexander. A pleasant young man, he's been happily married for 20 years and has 3 children. Other important d'Arquises include ArchChancellor Nicholas, who has been 'disowned', the Prelate of Eldath-Dor, and the current Chairman of the Derricks Mining Corporation.
Altara
The last continent to be settled, Altara is known more from orbital pictures than from any on the ground exploration. Most settlements are in the south or along the narrow plains between the forest and the great desert. The majority of communities on the continent are harmonist tribes living in the desert or the forest. Major cities include Fort Al-Tai (From which the colony derives its name) and Tel Ai. There are no overly prominent families within the state, though the Ai Family (the least ranking Great House) holds minor precedence in some cities of the south and.
Harmonists
The harmonists are seperate from the Roanians (though they are racially the same stock) who live in the wilds of Altara, and also in the great forest of Agua. They are neo-primitives, who have abandoned technology to live in harmony with the wild. Currently the Divine Imperium's policy is to leave them alone, as they live where no one else wants to. Occasional plans have arisen to catch the lot of them and ship them to another world within the Divine Imperium, but none have ever gotten past the drawing board.
Great House Ai
Granted Great House Status following their support for Lord-Emperor Daniel the Gentle. Not a particularly prominent family in the Imperium, instead focussing primarily on their state and its needs. Altruistic, by Roanian standards. It is rumoured that the childless Lady Ai has made arrangements for the successor to her position to be her felinoid chief of staff, a move that would almost certainly shake the Divine Imperium to its core.
Alaitoc
Alaitoc is the last of the great states, and is more properly an Imperial Province. The island appears to have been artificially shaped in the distant past by the natives. From colonisation, elves have always lived there, and now it is the only place in the Divine Imperium where you can find pure elves living. The only city is on the center island, the city of New Alaitoc itself.
Around the ring, there are four other communities/guardposts, with heavily armed 'ceremonial' soldiers keeping away anyone without explicit imperial permission or proof of residency to enter. Of late a number of immigrants from Gorgamin have begun to settle in this old elven stronghold, reversing the trend of centuries to take advantage of a calmer political situation.
Divine Imperial Justice
Roanian society relies heavily on an organised judicial system. Maintaining the nation's unity is one of the primary priorities of every Roanian government.
Police Forces
There are three tiers of police in the Divine Imperium. Imperial, National/Planetary, and Provincial. These are not neccessarily statements of precedence or priority. Rather, they are complementary. A criminal that escapes from the city police by crossing the county lines will still be arrested, imprisoned, and tried.
This is because all law in the Divine Imperium is Divine Imperial Law. What is law in one province is law in the next, what is law in Roan is law in Agua, and what is law on Altecrast is law on Novy Zemlya. Nation and Planetary Assemblies are essentially little more than glorified local councils, which control public services and make sure electricity and hospitals are working.
Imperial Security Bureau
The Imperial Security Bureau's officers patrol Imperial City, the more distant planets (And Darsalin Base) and provide security for embassies abroad. Their remit extends across the Imperium, though, and it is possible to run into them everywhere. In the event of the loss of a Visitor's Permit Card, it is the ISB office in the province which will be contacted to provide a new one.
ISB Officers wear white uniforms, with rank indicated by golden sigils over the heart. Their typical equipment is:
- RA95 (ISB Variant) Force-Pistol, which has two settings (Shock and Kill)
- Omega Security Division's Pattern 7 Stun Baton
- ISB Personal Armour, which is designed to withstand a shot from a military-grade force-weapon
The ISB armouries also include sonic weaponry, grenades (atomising/flash/explosive) and a number of assault vehicles, aerial and ground.
Divine Directorate for Special Investigation and Enforcement
Apart from the ISB, there is also the Divine Directorate for Special Investigation and Enforcement, colloquially known as the Shadow Angels. These officers can be anywhere at any time, rooting out treason and destroying contraband. They rarely wear their uniforms, instead preferring to act as plainclothes police. The law requires them to show their badge prior to making an arrest.
Shadow Angel uniforms are grey, though owing to the fabrics and chemicals used the grey appears as if viewed through a translucent black cloth. Equipment details are highly classified.
International Obligations
The Divine Imperium is a party to the Concordat's security provisions and follows them to the best of their ability.
The Empire
Rudan
The Rudan System is situated on the norma arm of the galaxy, nearly 40000 lightyears from Terra, and orbits around a yellow sun roughly the size of Sol. There are 4 planets.
Rudan Prime
See main article: Rudan Prime
Rudan Prime is a world slightly smaller than Earth with four continents and several large islands. The atmosphere is suitable for advanced life. Two large battlestations orbit the planet (Pinnacles 1 and 2).
Rudan Prime is slightly warmer and moister than Earth on average, with a larger tropical belt and only one major desert. Primary centers of population are in the South. Tidal forces are roughly equal to Earth, because each of Rudan Prime's moons is only slightly more than half the size of Luna. Both moons have major automated heavy industry, staffed by robots, with organic controllers on monthly shifts and visiting teams of repairmen.
Continents
Rudan Prime has 7 continents. Two make up the large landmass that spans the northern oceans, divided by the Orotellian Range and the Icy Sea. In general largely mountainous and forested, parts of Altara (on the equator) make up the sole large tract of desert on Rudan Prime.
A further two small landmasses (Borealis and Australis) are at both poles. Only the northern pole has a permanent habitation, White Eagle. Strong electrical discharges become common the closer you get to the magnetic poles, making transpolar flights and exploration dangerous. Natural explanations are at present unknown, though native technology has been forwarded as an explanation, as has an unusually strong aurora phenomenon. Expeditions are planned and abandoned with monotonous regularity.
Another, almost certainly artificial continent is Alaitoc, in the midst of the Northern Ocean. A forested circular island, at some time in the distant past someone or something caused the central section to seperate, surrounded by a ring of water. Elves settled here quite early, finding something in its location strangely drawing.
The south-eastern continent, Roan, is primarily grassland and rolling hills, with a few lakes and one long river almost splitting the continent in half. Roan was the first continent settled, and remains the most heavily populated. The southwestern continent, Terre del Agua, is a land divided by rivers and forest, with several lakes and vast fields of farmland. The northern half of the continent, Lorodecrast, is wastelands and blasted swamps.
Mass-transportation
Travel between continents is a simple matter. Fast ferries ply the waters between the continents, leaving from major ports and skimming along the coastlines or up the rivers as their route takes them. Transcontinental flights are primarily supersonic, meaning that a citizen can travel between La Ville de Roses and Durham-On-The-Roan in an hour.
Other Planets
Rudan Secundus is roughly as far from Rudan as the asteroid field is from Sol. It is considered a nature world, and the only Roanian contact is from orbit. Currently life has reached a stage that could be considered Cambrian and seems unlikely to advance any further.
Rudan Tertiary is a saturn-sized gasplanet. Pinnacle3 (a relic station) is located in orbit, and robotically manned gas-collecting factories are occasionally lowered into the clouds.
Rudan Quanternary is a rocky world, without any atmosphere. Its sole settlement is a system defence post.
The Imperium
The Divine Imperium holds possession of numerous systems, including Rudan Prime and the Imperial Presence in Sol. Some of them are unsettled and uninhabited, simply held for strategic purposes or resources. Others have intelligent native life and are held for resources and to ensure that the natives cannot pose a threat to the Imperium, either independently or through assisting Imperial enemies.
In order of population (defined solely as Imperial Citizens), the major communities are:
- The Imperial Star; Rudan (5.05 billion)
- The Twin Stars of Altecrast (700 million)
- The Sapphire Star; Novy Zemyla (268 million)
- Crossroad of the Light; Midpoint (125 million)
- Roanian Sol (105 million)
- The Lizard Star; Hs-rk (80 million)
- The Great Star; Nubaga (80 million)
- The Dim Star; Chernobog (20 million)
- The Beacon Star; Flanders' (15 million)
- The Viewpoint Star; Light's End (10 million)
- The Ruby Star;Belubog (756 thousand)
Other systems controlled by the Imperium include New Agua, Zorodnos and Whisper, but these worlds have at the moment only just been settled and their colonies are either small agrarian settlements or scientific bases.
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