Per Ardua Ad Astra
Basic information about the game.
Who is who in the Known Worlds.
A little about the game universe.
Handouts, rules and amendments unique to the campaign
Non-Player and Player characters of note.
Out of Character resources
Those Who Rule : The Noble Houses
At the start of the last Civil War, also known as the Emperor Wars, there were ten Houses Major, but attrition and assassination saw the end of five of them, either into extinction or relegation to the status of a House Minor (One such lost house is interestingly enough House Windsor).The current Emperor is Alexius Hawkwood, a man of vision who has sought to reform the Imperial institutions.
The Houses Major
When Vladimir of House Alecto became Emperor, he laid the foundations of the system for choosing his successors in the hope of preventing further Civil Wars. To each of the Houses that supported him, to the Patriarch of the Church and to the LeagueMeister of the Guilds, he gave 5 voting rods or Sceptres. Anyone commanding a majority of votes when an Emperor was to be chosen, would gain the throne. With Vladimirs death at his coronation, things became complicated and a series of Regents were appointed using this system as a series of power struggles gripped the Known Worlds, culminating in the Emperor Wars, a series of conflicts only ended by the accession of Alexius I of House Hawkwood to the throne.It is the possession of the Voting Sceptres that marks a house out as a "House Major". Some houses retain theirs from the time of Vladimir, some "acquired" them from other houses.
Originally numbering ten at the time of Vladimir, the Houses Major have been reduced to five and not all of these were extant at the beginning.
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House Hazat : The Hazat were once the armed forces of House Chauki. The Hazat overthrew and exterminated their former masters and took their place as a House Major. Theirs is a martial House, dedicated to military excellence and strict codes of honour. The Hazat are looked down on by many more established Houses for their relatively uncouth ways and are sometimes called "Those Hazat" behind their backs. The Hazat claim descent from the Spanish and Moorish royal lines, but few people believe them. The Hazat were allied to the Decados during the war that opposed Alexius' succession. They have border trouble with a barbarian nation called the "Kurga Caliphate". Principle Holdings : Aragon, Vera Cruz, Sutek and Hira (contested Kurgan world) Character Stereotypes : Military officer, Mercenary, Body guard, Peacekeeper or commando.
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House Hawkwood : Victors in the Emperor Wars, House Hawkwood have had a chequered history, more than once having been laid low by barbarian invasions from outside known space. Hawkwood is a progressive house, giving higher priority to the rights of aliens that any other House. Hawkwood nobles have a reputation for being noble and honourable but with a very strong proud streak that can lead to arrogance. A proud, some might say haughty house. They can trace their ancestry back to the Royal Houses of Europe and shared lineage with the now defunct Houses Romanoff, Windsor and Gloucester. The House is now on the ascent once again with the accession of Alexius to the Imperial Throne. They are blood enemies of the Decados, who opposed Alexius' bid for power. The Hawkwoods border a barbarian nation known as "The Vuldrok" whose viking style raids have done much to encourage a second crusade against the barbarian invaders (the first was led by Vladimir) Principle Holdings : Lemikainen, Delphi, Gwynneth and Ravenna. Character Stereotypes : Explorer, Populist leader, inbred prince, spoiled brat or noble hero.
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House Al-Malik : Some allege that this House is little more than an ennobled clan of Second Republic merchants. Whether they are indeed descended from Arabian princes is almost a moot point. The Al-Malik are a powerful merchantile house with strong links to the Guilds. They still maintain many Republican values and have the best treated peasants in Known Space. They are also probably the richest of the Houses Major. Principle Holdings : Istakhr, Shaprut and Criticorum. Character Stereotypes : Historian, Web spinning spy, Secret Republican or Dictator
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House Decados : This house claims descent from Anastasia Romanoff but few believe them. A cabal of intelligence agents deposed House Gloucester and took over their holdings to form House Decados. Secretive, decadent, depraved and scarily efficient, these are common terms used to describe what was, until the Hawkwood advances at the end of the war, the favourite to win the throne. Decados assassins and spies are reputed to be the best in Known Space and they are widely regarded as having more truck with psychic powers than any other House. They are also said to be specialists in body manipulation and other nefarious practises. Principle Holdings : Severus, Malignatus, Cadiz and Pandemonium. Character Stereotypes : Machiavellian, Spy, Assassin, Disgraced Noble or Duellist.
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House Li-Halan : In ancient times, a house more depraved than House Decados could ever be, but in one momentous night, the entire House converted to the church and they have been its loyal defenders ever since. Li-Halan are an austere, often puritanical house than believes firmly in the divinely anointed role of nobles to rule the lesser orders. They are polite to a fault, as befits their Eastern Urthish origins and have a strict code of etiquette. Life in Li-Halen space is intensely stratified and social mobility is frowned upon. Principle Holdings : Kish, Midian, Rampart and Icon. Character stereotypes : Crusader, Fisher King, Pious knight or Non-Orthodox rebel.
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Lost Houses: Chauki (killed off by Hazat), Windsor, Alecto and Gesar (wiped out during civil war)
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