[center][color=red][b]The Exarchate of Virezhir:[/b][/color][/center] [center][b]The Exarch and His Most Loyal Retainers:[/b][/center] [center] Quiriv Rankov, Exarch of Virezhir, Lord Marshal of the Zelevian Reaches, Dux of Rankovzhna. Head of the Grand House of Rankov. Zoe Rankov, Grand Princess of Virezhir, Koubikoularia of the Grand House of Rankov. Daughter of the Esteemed House of Lebarik Susrakh Rankov, Prince of the Grand House of Rankov, Commander of the Black Rock, Lord Admiral of the Virezhir fleet. Iren Rankov, Prince of the Grand House of Rankov, Protomagistros and Protasecretis of Virezhir, Dux of Yerefemia. Ismenir Korimoi, Head of the Esteemed House of Korimoi, Strategissa and Protonotaria of the Virezhir army. Madromer of Solomachia, Hetaeriarch of the White Company (Vacare Cabal) The many and esteemed members of the Exarch's Household and Exarchate's bodies of administration[/center] [center][b]On the planets and celestial bodies of the Rankovzhna System:[/b][/center] [center] [u]Rankov's Tomb[/u]: Capital and beating heart of the Exarchate, a world covered in industries and the grandiose of the administrators. Faceless masses toil in the lower levels while the nobility lives in palatial estates located on the top levels or the luxurious moon of Jashia. While sizable shipyards fill the planet's orbit. [u]The Black Rock:[/u] A large asteroid turned military installation. It orbits the the Tomb as if a second moon, serving as a formidable last line of defense against space borne enemies and a major linchpin of support for the Exarchate's fleet. [u]Larael's Landing[/u]: Terraformed into being one of the breadbaskets of the Exarchate, Larael's Landing is entirely devoted to the task of feeding its neighbors. Numberless serfs and repurposed servitors toiling away in the large agricultural estates that cover the landmasses of the planet. It's two moons have been terraformed and turned into vacation resorts for the nobility of the Exarchate, one of them is a tropical paradise filled with resorts and the other is filled with genetically modified fauna and flora, for those who prefer hunting to sandy beaches. [u]Zenomarchia[/u]: An arid but mineral rich world, Zenomarchia is a penal colony administered by the Exarchate Navy. It's large penal population is far beyond the planet's capacity to feed, and as such it depends on imports and the recycling of the dead. The planet's sole moon houses extensive facilities where convicts are used as guinea pigs for varied experiments in genetic engineering. [u]Eldrichi and Udomar[/u]: Two gas giants, notable only for the extensive atmospheric mining operations they house. Besides these major planets and celestial objects, the system [/center] [center][b]Primary Resource:[/b] Advanced genetic engineering technology.[/center] [b][u]Armed Forces[/u][/b] (Leave this blank until the main IC thread is up with details about the technology available k thx.) [b][u]Imperial Assessment[/u][/b] Ever since they were awarded control over the Exarchate for their support of Emperor Murov during the Black Masquerade, the scions of Rankov have proved to be loyal, if not entirely obedient, servants of the Emperor. Their distance from the capital and general freedom of action that Exarchs receive to better pursue their tasks, have made the Rankovs and the many families and groups beholden to them in vassalage, a prickly, self aggrandizing and willful bunch. Though never taking direct action against a reigning Emperor, the Grand House is known to value its autonomy and for their opposition of centralization policies undertaken by the capital. And though they never took up arms against a reigning Emperor, the Exarchs of Virezhir have an history of obstructing and interfering with what they deem "unlawful infringements upon their unalienable rights". The Exarchs were also signatories of several petitions and appeals against assembled by noble councils and groups over history. It's status as an Exarchate allows Virezhir a greater deal of freedom in most matters, including military. As of now, the forces raised by the Exarch and his vassals greatly outnumber those of the Imperial Authority deployed to Virezhir. To support this large regional host, Virezhir developed a native military industrial complex, which has seen substantial deviations from the Imperial norm over the years. Including their overuse of genetically modified shock troops. Genetic engineering is also more wide spread than the norm inside the Exarchate. Nobles pride themselves on spending fortunes employing pet geneweavers while Geneticist Guilds hold considerable political and economical influence within the confines of Virezhir. For all their efforts to loosen the hold of the capital over them, the Exarchs are also forced to deal with unruly vassals. The way in which the great Emperor Zelevas organized his conquests means that the Rankovs are but one of the many noble houses inside Virezhir. And though seemingly the single most powerful of these families, the Rankovs and their many vassals are keenly aware that their legitimacy as Exarchs derives from the authority of the Emperor. Any overt action against out Most August Empire will have to be heavily weighed against this fact. Likewise, should an Imperial Authority task force manages to inflict enough defeats upon the Rankovs, it's almost certain that their vassals will soon start to desert rather than to share what seems like a doomed fate. Finally, as an Exarchate, Virezhir has to deal with the ever constant threats that exist beyond the safety and prosperity of the Empire. In the past millennia, legions of Xenos broke upon Virezhir, several even overran the Exarchate, forcing the Imperial Authority to deploy in force to revert the situation. And though the last great invasion was over four centuries ago, any major redeployment of troops outside the borders of the Exarchate would be strongly opposed by many actors within Virezhir itself. Besides, we've all read the worrying reports about Xenos movement beyond the Zelevian Reaches. Should their estimations prove true, the Grand House will have more than enough on their plate to even dream of further subversion of rightful Imperial authority.