Succession of the Stars OOC

[Zarpaulus]

It has been twelve thousand, seven hundred and eighty-three standard revolutions since the first jumpgate arrived at it's destination and the Empire began its slow unification of the scattered colonies of man. Our emperor, Sharnon XXII has sat on the throne for nearly five hundred years. But the longevity treatments are reaching their limit and he has failed to produce a suitable heir. The time is right for the assorted noble houses who govern the thousand worlds of the Empire in his name, who will claim the throne?

[death2mepart]

This sounds like an interesting idea. What are the characters? Do we play as the nobles? If so, how big is armies and such that we command? Or is it solo?

[Zarpaulus]

You play the nobles (I'm the Emperor) though you'll also need to write up a short history of your house, some major members and retainers, the planet you rule, etc.

[death2mepart]

hum, sounds like it's an interesting idea. I'll keep my eyes on it.

[Illogical Jim]

Count me in. I think I'll start on a Sheet tonight, though I may not be finished until late afternoon/ early evening tomorrow.

Is there anything I should know before I start? It'd be especially useful if you'd describe the political layout (unless you plan on fleshing that out as we go, which would be fine) and some of the more important technologies.

[connorg]

I'm in

[Zarpaulus]

Well, it's feudal, with the Emperor ruling known space, the Great Houses governing planets (sometimes whole systems) and minor houses that run specific provinces or cities on the Great house's worlds.
Some techs:
Jump gate: 10km wide rings that allow instantaneous travel to any gate within 10 light-years. The only means of FTL.

[Illogical Jim]

Well, it's feudal, with the Emperor ruling known space, the Great Houses governing planets (sometimes whole systems) and minor houses that run specific provinces or cities on the Great house's worlds.
Some techs:
Jump gate: 10km wide rings that allow instantaneous travel to any gate within 10 light-years. The only means of FTL.

I'm well into my sheet, but I have a few of quick questions.

1: Are there lesser nobles and knightly families beneath the Noble Houses, or not? (woops, you already answered that question! Never mind.)

2: Common People. Are they going to be handled in a Medieval way, with some as serfs and tenant farmers and others as freemen in major settlements and such? Also, is slavery legal?

3: Are minor wars/skirmishes between Noble Houses common in the period leading up to the RP?

[Zarpaulus]

1: Yes there are minor houses beneath the Nobles.

2: Pretty much, most advanced technology is ridiculously complex and requires more education than the typical commoner can afford. Some Nobles allow slavery and others don't. There are guilds of tradesmen in the cities, but the Nobles at least try to limit their power.

3: They're occasional, and the Emperor enforces a set of rules that generally make assassination more effective than open war. If someone uses WMDs or butchers a town of innocent bystanders they get stabbed in the back by someone close to them who turned out to be an Imperial Face-Dancer and their holdings are distributed among their former vassals.

[Illogical Jim]

Here goes nothing. Let me know if I need to fix/add something.

The House of Komenos

Familial head: Alexander III Komenos

Capital: Cosmopol (Delta Trianguli IV)

Heraldic Symbol: Sable, a wolf salient argent (That is to say, a leaping wolf on black)

Primary Source of Income: Industry and Commerce

Notable Current Members (noted in relation to the Lord): Maria (Wife), Gregory (Brother, younger), Michael (Son and Heir Apparent), Alexander (Son), Sophia (Daughter), Anna (Daughter), Helena (Daughter)

History

The House of Komenos, a major power in the Empire, has its roots in the Unification of Man. A skilled general named Andronikos, given command of a large force by the Emperor, carved out a sizable region of space. After several years of conquest, Andronikos was granted the title of Lord and swore fealty to the monarch, after which a large portion of the territory he had previous annexed for the Empire was granted to him as a fief.

Carefully planning and building several major industrial and commercial centers, Andronikos' immediate successors ensured the continuing prosperity of the Komenos Family for millenia. Even today the territories of the Komenos are home of the most important industrial and trading hubs. This economic strength has, at a few points in history, made the Lord of the Komenoans second only to the Emperor in power.

This power has understandably made the Komenos proud. Several centuries ago, Lord Andronikos IX rebelled against the Emperor and attempted to seize the throne for himself. Crushed utterly by the united forces of the rest of the Empire, the Komenos family was spared from the dustbin of history only by the actions of Andrew, the younger brother of Andronikos IX. Siding with the Emperor over his own brother (and in the process delivering a certain number of soldiers to the Imperial cause), he was named Lord Andrew II Komenos after his brother's execution.

Descended directly from Andrew II, the current House of Komenos is just as proud as it was, and just as power hungry. While professing absolute loyalty to the Empire, (and indeed, having taken no action against the reigning Emperor in generations) it would not likely waste even a moment in attempting to seize power, should a proper chance present itself.