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.
The Story so far...
Out of Character resources
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House Jundaastas Main Holdings : Criticorum, Gwynneth and Madoc. Campaigners for equal rights for aliens. During the Second Republic, they used genetic techniques to allow fertile marriages between themselves and the Obun. Obun-Human marriages still occur but are non-fertile, requiring a third party to provide the required gametes. Psionics are common in this house and the House has a reputation for producing able diplomats. |
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House Justinian Main Holdings : Midian, Delphi and Tethys. Allies of House Alecto during Vladimirs rise to power, they lost almost everything when House Alecto fell following Vladimirs death. They seek to restore their fortunes by arranging suitable marriages with other Houses, particularly Houses Major such as Hawkwood. This policy has angered many of the younger members of the House. |
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House Keddah Main Holdings : Grail. Due to a complex web of treaties and obligations to other houses (some extinct) the Keddah have been at war with House Al-Malik for centuries, a war prolonged by the Decados (who hold in thrall one of the houses that Keddah owes alliance to). As House Keddah has no military to speak of, the war is now little more than being rude to the other side at parties and sending the occasional offensive item of mail. If House Keddah gained a military it would have to fight Al-Malik and is therefore forced to remain weak. Members of House Keddah are renowned for their honour, except where Decados are concerned… there is no love lost there at all |
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House Masseri Main Holdings : Cadavus. Once rulers of Daishan, the symbiote invasion of that world left the House destitute and they have been forced to settle on Cadavus, reduced to little more than titled fur-traders. They tithe their income to the Decados for their generosity at letting them settle the planet. Most young House members leave the House and no longer wear their insignia or use their titles. Most believe their House is already dead. |
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House Shelit Main Holdings : Kurga and throughout Hazat space. A mysterious House, they seem to retain much of their technology from the Second Republic, specialising in cybernetics. Until recently part of the Kurga Caliphate, they have allied with the Hazat and now can be found throughout Hazat space. Their homeworld is a battleground between Kurgan and Hazat forces. Shelit are a strange people with a caste based system and almost inhuman mindset. Some suspect them of having been genetically engineered back during the Second Republic or being aliens. They are socially very dull but very, very intelligent. |
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House Thana Main Holdings : Virtually no fiefs. Scattered throughout Known space. Thana are angelic looking and have notably long lifespans. Sadly this is coupled with a strong incidence of Psionics in their bloodline. They lost their world during the collapse and have endured long abuse by others in the years since. The Inquisition hold a special dislike of House Thana. Only since Vladimir has the passive genocide of the Thana ceased and they are allowed to move freely. They are a proud and aloof breed but are great artists. |
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House Torenson Main Holdings : Small holdings scattered throughout Known Space. House Torenson are the acknowledged masters of protocol and etiquette. Hardly any Court worthy of the name is without a Torenson advisor or tutor. The House pragmatically decided that the key to survival was not to be able to conquer but to convince everyone else that they need you, and in that they have been totally successful. Their neutrality is their shield and it has served them very well indeed. |
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House Truskniron Main Holdings : Ravenna, Cadavus and Pyre. Many regard the Truskniron as little more than titled Freemen and some of the House would agree. Masters of almost every kind of beast, they are sought after by all who need good cavalry or riding beasts. Unconcerned for the most part with the social round, they live for their work and the chance to fight as cavalry. Honour is all when fighting the honourable, but if the foe is base… then the Truskniron can be just as tricky. House Torenson dread a Truskniron at a party, they are too darned plain spoken to be safe around some company. Closest to the Hazat and House Hawkwood, alongside whom they fight with gusto, they get along least well with the Decados. They are known to hate House Van Gelder with all their hearts. However, no-one wants to annoy both their major patrons and so Truskniron are left alone in the political arena. |
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House Van Gelder Main Holdings : Malignatus and Cadiz Supporters of Vladimir Alecto, the Van Gelder revolted when he reneged on various promises and had their lands seized when they were defeated. They were forced to throw themselves on the mercy of the Decados to survive, swearing to never again be at the mercy of the powerful. They are said to trust no-one, not even their Decados patrons who use them as spies and assassins. Honour is nothing to them and they are almost universally feared or disliked. |
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House Xanthippe. Main Holdings : Moons around various worlds including : Cadavus, Leaguheim and Aragon. Descended from the colonists of Urths moon : luna. Xanthippe is a matriarchal house that has maintained much of its grasp of bubble-city technology. All Xanthippe live in essentially identical bases on satellites, known as "Moonhavens". Their two main resources are wine and mercenaries. Men tend to do the domestic tasks and the women are the warriors. No Xanthippe will marry another, always taking spouses from outside their small house, to prevent inbreeding. Viniculture may seem an odd pursuit for those who live in pressure domes, but the solar energy and their expertise make Xanthippe wines famous. Medical technology is a sideline of the Xanthippe and their mercenary bands are known for their reliability, even if they do refuse jobs they deem too foolhardy. |
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Lost Houses: Chauki (killed off by Hazat), Windsor, Alecto and Gesar (wiped out during civil war)
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