Great House Asryaa
Faction leaders:- Aleksander Kamilek Asryaa XIV
System: The House is exclusive to the Aurica System.
Planets/Territories:
The Capital of the Arxis Sphere and the seat of power for House Asryaa. The entire planet seems manufactured, clustered cities weave between sprawling mountain ranges as both peek out of the planet's blanket of clouds. Artificial forests surround the Auctor Complex, a massive citadel housing the government offices of the sphere as well as multiple villas and private retreats. Traveling beneath the blanket of clouds and into the vast valleys reveals the true nature of Patra, a scared, desolate place vacant of life and beauty with an unbreathable atmosphere. In the high altitudes however, life flourishes, and the many cities feature the very best Arxis has to offer. The entire planet is used by House Asryaa as a model for the rest of the Sphere, and possibly the rest of the sector.
Three moons
-Aulam
--Inhabited by House Asryaa during the construction of Patra, Aulam is a semi-life bearing fortress world. Built and terraformed with House Enlil funds, the moon was the staging base for initial settlement of the Arxis Sphere and a symbol for the early achievements of House Asryaa in the Duchy.
-Excilis
--The surface of Exicilis is a scene from hell within the vacuum of space. Huge outcroppings of sharp rocks jut up from the planet's surface, making landing large craft difficult, and development a nightmare. Add an active super-volcano and seismic activity, Excilis itself seems to be actively resisting House Asryaa. Nontheless, automated facilities conduct minimal mining activities.
-Sto
--Furthest from Patra, Sto is a small moon where an ancient terraforming attempt seems to have backfired, coating the entire world in dry ice. Some exposed fissures are host to a unique form of plant life with genetic chemicals that prevent freezing. Quite a few small communities have formed in these geothermal vents, making Sto a source for alternate energy in the Arxis Sphere.
Artificial objects
-Opera Support Platform
--A large station serving as a docking port and shipping center above Patra, the OSP also houses advanced medical facilities generally open to the common castes.
-Victus Station
--Personal docking and service station for members of House Asryaa, tide-locked to the Auctor Complex and occupied solely by House Asyraa staff.
An imposing, turquoise gas giant, Ina serves as the hub for the Arxis Sphere. The planet itself was depleted of resources before it was founded by House Asryaa, but the large collection of moons and other satellites has kept the Sphere alive.
Moons (from closest to furthest orbit of Ina)
-Sine
--Tidelocked to Ina, Sine was the is the only moon naturally supportive of life. The dark side of Sine is covered in massive slums, the major housing facility of Arxis's massive Xenos slave population. The outer side of the moon is dotted by large industrial facilities and huge government complexes. This arid planet is also home to a large community of Arxis's middle castes, who live in relative complacency.
-Nemoros
--Nemoros is largely unexplored due to the fine silica in constant motion due to the moon's record breaking wind speeds. This silica will enter any piece of equipment and render it useless in a matter of minutes, and after that it will eventually sand-blast it into nothing.
-Ager
--A tectonicly active moon with a developing atmosphere and life-bearing soils, Ager has become dedicated to the production of food. Products include grains, vegetables, fruits, vitamins, and dietary supplements, mostly grown in the planets isolated wetland areas. Many artificial lakes also host fish, algae, and vitamin farms. Population on Ager is maintained at a minimum and working the farms is typically considered to be a noble occupation for those in the lower castes.
-Vitae
--Exhausted of resources in last century, Vitae has started development as a middle caste urban center as well as housing multiple research and medical facilities. Commonly viewed as the intellectual center of the Arxis Sphere, many new ideologies flow out of here, with oversight from loyal members of House Asryaa of course. Vitae is suitably the home of the Archives, a collection of recovered Arcturus artifacts and knowledge. Most of the information found is useless, but there could be secrets lying within these antiquated records.
-Cohors
--A small, low density moon, colossal caverns and an abundance of minerals have made Cohors into the primary ship yard of the Arxis Sphere, both for construction and repair. A substantial amount of research into energy weapons both mounted and small arms is conducted here. The Magna Classe is based out of Cohors and maintains it's command here.
-Occiduus
--One of the first established colonies in the system after the fall of Arcturus, Occiduus today is sparsely populated. Those living on the moon do so in large domed habitats where a large amount of biotic research is conducted away from the rest of the Sphere. Rumors of large underground vaults containing the savings of some houses also abound of this place.
-Ejice
--A minor moon with no atmosphere, Ejice is home to small urban complexes and a few secondary manufacturing plants. One thing to note is the rare freshwater streams found underground.
-Signus
--Once a small, lifeless rock, Signus had been turned into a sprawling metropolis through intensive mining and zealous urbanization, automated factories complement the large population centers. The model used for creating Patra was applied during the settlement of Signus, a pristine city-world extending deep into the recesses of the moon. However, Signus is largely underpopulated and is to be the site for many future settlement programs. This world is meant to be a model for the rest of the sector, showcasing the supposed glory of House Asryaa.
-Nautus
--A wild moon with an unstable atmosphere and imposing terrain, Nautus has been the subject of multiple terraforming attempts in the last 2 centuries, resisting with every try. Programs are still fighting to tame the moon, and if successful Nautus could become a major agricultural center. Currently, massive greenhouses are situated in large underground caverns attempt to create the most efficient crop yields. And above ground facilities are working on lichens that will react positively with Nautus's planned atmosphere.
-Auris
--A captured asteroid body, Auris is host to multiple satellite arrays both ground-base and orbital. This moon is the center off all communication in the Arxis Sphere and is instrumental in House Asryaa's control. It also acts as a watch dog, keeping tabs on traffic withing and without the sphere. Various weapons manufacturing plants exist beneath the surface.
-Alectus
--Although mostly barren, a few pockets of life can be found in the various valleys of this large moon, this is where atmospheric levels make it possible to breath with little to no assistance. While there is some urbanization, Alectus is mostly home to beautiful gardens and the private retreats, a haven for the upper caste. In recent years, the minor house given supervision of Alectus was found to be leaking information to outside factions as well as importing contraband items. That house has since been eradicated and multiple communities have been incinerated as a warning. Alectus is currently in a transition period.
-Vello
--Another lifeless rock, Vello hosts a few isolated mining facilities and is expected to be used until depleted, then abandoned for other moons further away.
-Focaria
--Once a volcanicly active world, Focaria is covered in endless layers of molten rock, massive ridges, and vast deserts of obsidian. Completely useless to the economy in many ways, the moon is more work of art than a moon in the eyes of House Asryaa and has thus avoided any major development.
-Teur
--Ignored by rest of Arxis almost entirely, Teur is a small rocky core with almost nothing to recommend it.
-Lumen
--A unique world, Lumen orbits Ina at breakneck speeds resulting in massive gravitational pull. The elemental cocktail that was once the moon's atmosphere as recessed into the low points of this rocky world, forming entire seas of dense gasses. Although efforts are not flawless, major skimming operations use Lumen as a major source of fuels.
-Acus
--Acus is the needle in the haystack of the Arxis Sphere, a small ball of water-ice and legendary winter storms constantly wracking the surface. Acus was home to a small, isolated community of Xenos when House Asryaa started developing the area. This nomadic community was largely ignored until the house turned it's gaze to the moon a century ago as a source of purified water. Since then, many attempts have been made to eradicate the elusive community with limited success. This act of defiance is largely downplayed by Arxis news networks but has become a beacon of hope to some of the more well informed Xenos slaves. Rumors of a haven for escaped slaves attempting to flee the Sphere have led to major military developments alongside the ice-cracking facilities.
-Spiritus
--A features rock moon, this is the home to some of Arxis's most efficient small goods manufacturing plants and is the center of the trade route between various material sources and Consuete.
-Sero
--A rocky moon with a reddish hue, pockets of oxygen exist at the bottom of multiple crags, serving as small cities housing much of the military caste. There surface serving as a training ground for harsh conditions.
-Consuete
--Usually rich in heavy metals, this moon was an asteroid captured by Ina long ago. Consuete is one of the busiest worlds in the Arxis Sphere, aside from heavy mining, expansive ship yards, and refining plants, this moon is one of the only places in the Sphere open to outside trade. It serves as major export center and several important houses oversee the flow of resources, people, and money to and from this small moon.
Artificial Objects
-Causa Deconstruction Center.
--A utility station designed to strip old stations, ships, and small asteroids for resources. Surrounded by a field of scrap metal.
-Aurora One
--A large agricultural station that was disabled in a terroist attack during the early stages of House Asryaa's occupation of the Arxis Sphere. Since stripped for anything usefull, the decrepit station lies silent as it slowly works it's way to a close orbit of Ina.
-Sepio Outpost
--Originally a posting for the Duchy Navy, Sepio has since become a minor refueling platform primarily for government vehicles and the Magna Classe.
-Sopor Landing
--A small docking station near Consuete, used only when outsiders visit the Arxis Sphere, their personal craft are held here while a government craft acts as their shuttle within the region.
-Avenix City
--An urban station with a large population of middle and lower castes, Avenix has been a source of some trouble to House Asyraa and is considered to be a blight to many in the rest of the Sphere. Significant public violence here has resulted in extreme security measures here, making Avenix an example of House Asryaa's absolute rule.
-Hydra Station
--A foreign platform scavenged during the late Dark Ages, Hydra is used to create many finer foods from raw materials, generally used for the upper castes of Arxis. A large number of breweries also operate here.
-Daemon Platform
--A powerful military platform serving as a staging point for the Magna Classe as well as a line of defence for the Arxis Sphere. The main cannon on the platform, while outdated, still has the ability to demand obedience from the proudest members of Axris's upper castes.
A temperate super-earth, Lapis was once the capital world of the system during the height of the Arcturus Empire, since then it somehow strayed to the edge of the system's life zone. The original population either died off or descended into violence. House Asryaa claimed the planet upon entering the system but the process of "taming" Lapis proved to be harder than anticipated. The large human population was eventually uplifted into the lower castes of the Arxis sphere and the overpopulated alien species have formed the Sphere's slave base. Still, large pockets of unclaimed territory exist, not of interest to Asryaa. Attempts to fix the planet's fading atmosphere are proving too difficult and it seems that the process of terraforming new worlds will be easier than maintaining this one. The remaining skeletal ruins of Arcturan cities are considered to be valuable enough to house Asryaa for them to construct a few cities on the dying world. People living here are required to wear breathing apparatus's when outside, when moving from Lapis to other parts of the Sphere, it can take years for a person's lungs to normalize, many people don't survive the process.
One moon
-Vigil
-Whatever Vigil was during the old times, all that remains is a blue/gray pock-marked rock with an extensive debris field. As of today, expeditions still have yet to find anything among the craters created by Capital-ship grade weaponry. The moon is considered too dangerous to re-develop.
Vitas Space elevator
An antiquated piece of technology, the Vitas Space Elevator is somehow still operational despite being outdated even before the Fall of Arcturus. Nonetheless, the elevator was re-commissioned and has once again become an efficient method of transferring people and raw materials to the refurbished docking stations surrounding the tether. A small city has formed inside the massive station and is more or less the capital of Lapis
Faction Desc:
The Arxis Sphere is a large region within the Aurica System, the planets, moons, and stations here all fall under the jurisdiction of House Asryaa.
The region is well known for it's massive manufacturing plants and is one of the largest producers of small goods in the sector, largely due to the use of slave labor and automated facilities. These plants, as well as the main population of slaves, are located to the limits of the Arxis Sphere where outside trade is strictly limited to. The core of Arxis is a densely populated region falling under the strict arch-traditionalist rule of the Asryaa family. Attempting to maintain a completely self-sufficient society, travel to the core is rare, travel from the core is nonexistent, the only exception is the advanced medical industry, specializing in cloning and genetic research.
Settlements in Arxis can be best described as "clean", city development follows a completely symmetrical pattern, a rigid caste system decides the occupational future of each citizen, and the economy is tightly state-run. House Asryaa attempts to rule according to the old ways of the Arcturus Empire, keeping tight control over people's lives. Slavery is more common here than most other regions, consisting mainly of convicts and Xenos. As unethical as all this is, it allows little room for rebellious thoughts and the closed borders of Arxis prevent progressive ideas from filtering in. On the whole, the people of Arxis are content with their lives, living in a system they were born in, the only kind of life they know about.
Asryaa keeps all aspects of government very close, and their structured system of economic, social, and educational control keeps the system running very efficiently.
Assuming the rest of the sector stays out.
History:
House Asryaa was a cadet family to House Enlil during the glory days of Arcturus. When the great war reached it's climax, House Asryaa made many last-minute grabs at power and technology eventually sealing it's power within the deepest depths of the core worlds. While waiting out the Dark Age, Asryaa collected important social characters from the empire to boost their blood-lines and social standing in the vain belief that the empire would somehow rise out of the ashes. However, when House Kesselbrood claimed a reformation of the Empire in the form of the Grand Duchy, House Asryaa saw a chance and quickly moved it's assets to the Agamenos Sector.
In the early days, the House was vital to the operation of the Duchy, lending it's strength in the way of slave labor and it's cache of medical technology. However, the political ambition of House Asryaa, combined with growing support for a more conservative approach to government, led them to loose much of their political clout. Over time they closed down offices in the Throne System, and were slowly striped of responsibility by the Diet who feared that their old-world policies were preventing the Duchy from growing as a nation.
Today, Asryaa has closed itself into the Arxis Sphere, and most other Great Houses are content with their limited political involvement.
Government type:
Centralized totalitarianism, House Asryaa rules over the Arxis sphere with an iron fist. The few important families control various aspects of the sphere and the entire area is covered by a strict caste system. The Arxis Sphere is essentially a police state, absolute rule is given to the Asryaa family patriarch, with the lesser houses serving as wardens and caretakers but never true rulers.
Military Capabilities:
Asryaa maintains a private Navy, the Magna Classe, known to the other factions as the "Red Fist" due to the emblem adorned on every ship. The fleet consists mostly of Light Frigates and Destoryers, with only a small assortment of larger craft as well as two Jumpships. The Magna Classe maintains regular patrols thought the sphere and small squadrons of fast ships serve as reactionary force. Most larger craft within the fleet are assigned to permanent posts near major House facilities or as escorts to cargo fleets.
The ships used by the house are nothing special, and as far as technical and offensive capabilities go, they are paled by the Navy and other great houses. The difference however, is their crew. Officers serving in the Magna Classe are known to be religiously devoted to House Asryaa, and the doctrine followed by them keeps the fleet running very smoothly just like the rest of Sphere. Naval academies teach both conventional and non conventional tactics as well as fierce loyalty, unrivaled by most other factions.
The Magna Ignus, Asyraa's personal marine faction with similarly disciplined, as well as lacking in offensive prowess. However, medical advances gave way to sophisticated suits of armor, giving the Ignus a defensive edge. Genetic manipulation has turned the Ignus into a unique sub-species giving them enhances skeletons and other role-specific modification. This has made the Ignus it's own class, viewed only as tools by house Asryaa.
Combining the successes of the above two organizations, is the Oculus, the enforcement power in the Arxis Sphere as well as the personal guard to house Asryaa.
A typical Magna Classe Frigate
Oculus and Magna Ignus armor concept.
Magna Classe Fighter Pilot suit
Relations with Other Factions:
Ties were once maintained with House Enlil, and this relationship was partially responsible for Asryaa early success in the political theater. As the house became more secular, it lost most of its allies. The last of which was house Enlil pulling their investments out of Arxis two decades ago, marking the beginning of Arxis's complete isolation.
Despite political standing, representatives of House Arsyaa still regularly campaign the Regent for control over the Duchy's Navy. While a almost ridiculous notion to the rest of the sector, it is hard to ignore the efficiency with which House Arsyaa controls it's own military.
For the last 20 years, Asryaa's chair on the Sectoral Diet has been empty, and the house will respond to any rule from the Throne System with as little obedience as possible.
Character Sheets
