Dominium

The Dominion is a collective of rogue states.

History
The lands that would go on to form the Dominium were initially an outpost of Angeleus explorers. The Angeleus found plentiful resources in this land, in the form of the native grey-skinned population and large famulum deposits, which the the indigenous people would be made to mine by their Angeleus overlords. These plentiful resources would eventually justify permanent Angeleus settlement, and as a result the spread of higher civilization to the native people that the Angeleus would dub Artifex. Initially off-put by these strange and vibrant people, the Artifex would prove their worth to the Angeleus through their loyalty and ingenuity.

The next century saw the rise of the Artifex kingdom, second in power only to the Angeleus' other vassal, the Primoris kingdom. Along with the Angeleus' own Alpha kingdom, this triad had the makings of a world order, but the fall of the Angeleus cult earned the false gods an enemy in the Primoris and ended the Artifex tradition of subservience. The captured Angeleus in Artifex territory recieved their amnesty. In gratitude the Angeleus revealed more of their knowledge to the Artifex and assisted in transforming the Artifex monarchy into the first Dominium government.

The newly-formed Dominium would embark on colonial conquest, gaining a sizeable holding before losing it all to the rapidly expanding Babylonian empire. Defeated, the Dominium retreated into its own borders and began its decline into obscurity. Followed by refugees from their failed colonial empire, the Dominium's de jure race-state status was ended.

Aside from some small holdings gained through a minor role in the Trade War, the Dominium remained highly isolationist. The spread of industrialization missed the Dominium for a few centuries, and even today the Dominium attempts to catch-up with the rest of the world. The Dominium's inclusion in the First Council was highly advantageous, as they became technological associates with the equally enigmatic Confederacy. The two powers made great advancements into scientific fields yet to even be discovered by others. These technologies included the development of digital ciphers, advanced brain resection techniques, and linked-conciousness systems.

The destruction of Babylon rsulted in a return to the old world order, and during the Enclave Schism, the Dominium maintained their electromagnetic weapons project, aetheric engine production, and biochemical research facilities. The Dominium remains unsurpassed in these fields, and their recent colonial revival suggests that they are ready to once again exert their influence on the world.

Membership
The Dominium is formed from several states with isolationist and unilateral views, unwilling to preticipate in the unique relationship that the Confederates, Kyvan Pact, or the Imperialists share. While others attempt to rectify serious conflicts and attempt to regulate combat, the Dominium seeks to throw their full force into distruption and retaining their aura of seperation from the world. The majority of the Dominium's industrial imput goes directly into fellow states, giving them a sense of economic unity.

United Artifex Houses
The Artifex are a slowly adapting Republic, unwilling to go too far beyond their ancient traditions and views. The three Great Houses control roughly 80% of the world's artifex population, making the UAH one of the few racially hegemonic nations left on Harmony. All of the Artifex Houses maintain freedom to own slaves, and mandates that all free citizens are permitted to preticipate in the rather Liberal economy within the UAH.

Silentia
The oldest house, and perhaps the most wise, Silentia does not partake of the Aureus' flirtation with the foreign world nor does it slave under the mastery of industry as Lunari does. Rather Silentia has become the ultimate cultural enclave. Even for artifex, this house is dedicated to controling the cultural pollination between the outside world and themselves; with only the slightest tolerence of other House cultures. While no longer the wealthiest House, Silentia is the dejure capitol of the Ascendant Congress. It is said bitterly by other artifex that "in the Sanctuary [of Elders] there are Ascendants following Silentian interests, and the rest already live there."

Lunari
Origionaly a penal colony for the undesireables, Lunari have become unstated foundation of the Dominium. Only through their labors does the Dominium exploit their greatest weapon: cheap and plentiful famulum. The low cost is provided by the fact that free men, slaves, and even the unhappy defence force, live in a state of permenant rationing. While the royalty exist in a lavish state of luxury, hundreds of thousands work to extract the vital substance. While kept hopelessly poor, there has been a slight increase of the riches reaching the middle and lower classes; an alarming proposition as the region slowly lifts its self from its economic slavery. Only through close observation and a well treated officer corp does the rest of the UAH trust that the Lunari do not attempt to extract additional profits from this all important resource.

Aureus
The most recent colony, the Aureus enjoy some of the highest qualities of life on Harmony. While the farming peasantry of the countryside knows nothing of it, those inside the city find it impossible not to live like kings. Freemen pour in expecting to make a living, and trickle out wealthy entrepreneurs. This and the fact that the Aureus have the lax boarder restriction, has actually spawned a caste of foreigners. While intially considered paricites, a surprising cultural integration allowed these non-artifex to become a sort of collective mascot for the Aureus' claim to be the freest place on earth. These acculturated foreigners are nicknamed Erubesomes, a contraction of Erubesco Somes, or "blush bodies". While the many Babylonian refugees have been named Atrax; a preferable name to the alternative...

Structure
Traditional Dominium structure is based on a rigid class system led by a royal caste that both acts as the governing force as well as the primary investors for military and civil development. Artifex classes are quite unique. Royalty is only passed through the mothers side, following artifex matrifocal tenancies. The descendants of male royalty become freemen or retainers.

The lowest class are the serfs, slaves by any other name. Serfs have no rights to speak of, they depend on the donations of their masters. While unofficial, serfs form their own classes. Standard laborers are the lowest, followed by craftsmen and house surfs, who are dominated by concubines and butlers. The higher ranking serfs abuse those of lower standing, and are more likely to avoid being culled. The highest ranking serfs also have the greatest chance of being freed.

Above the serfs are the freemen. Though they are disallowed to own slaves by the artifex constitution, few do so anyway as the law is rarely enforced. Freemen are treated quite well by the royalty, some going as far as to associate them selves with well educated or financially endowed freemen.

Between freemen and royalty are the retainers. Retainers act as personal assistants while also preparing to become royalty them selves if need be. Lesser houses employ freemen as retainers, while greater houses are meant to select lesser royalty as their retainers. This is often not the case as many greater houses also select humble freemen instead of lesser lords. Retainers also act to balence the royal balence of power, as law demands the royal first born is fathered by a retainer. This law ensures that the royal gene pool doesn't stagnate, as well as ensure that the first born doesn't dominate the following children with their superior standing.

Above the freemen are the lord and royalty of the lesser houses. Lesser lords control specific towns and villages, often grouped into small regions. These regions are grouped into territories, which are led by greater houses.

Greater houses act as the primary leaders of the Dominium. They submit members to become acsendants who in turn represent the houses in the council. Greater houses also deploy the Dominium's armed forces, but these are meant to be controlled by the council appointed officers of the Legion.

The Ascendants are the supreme rulers of the Dominium, they decide on what the houses vote upon, and how the military forces are utilized. Not every greater house has an ascendant, but every council ascendant comes from a greater house. Lesser ascendants are disallowed from voting in the council, though many are invited to represent their houses interests.