Crisis of the Lighthouse Empire

State Creation

The Pariya (The Ancient Nobility)

The Lighthouse Empire's ancient peerages, composed entirely of those who can wield the Phosphor and in turn provide the psychic power necessary to alight the megastructures that connect human space. Not necessarily aristocratic clans, the Pariya also includes certain military and clerical orders that are exempt from many imperial taxes and laws in exchange for the services they provide to the Imperial House. The traditional Tithe of the Pariya is military service, providing vassal legions to the Emperor to defend against outside threats and put down rebellions, and Lightkeeping, providing members of family who can control the Phosphor to keep the bridges connecting human space alight.

The playstyle of the Pariya is conventional. They build units and pay upkeep up them, experience no external or internal pressures and are free to pursue any ambitions they might desire. Their units are superb and they will continue to exert strong advantages in encounters against other types of opponent.

Pedigree: Pedigree is everything among the Pariya. An upstart Duke is not the equal of the most ancient Count, no matter his pretense.

• Time Immemorial: A title that predates the founding of the Lighthouse Empire.
• Ancient Era: A bequest of the Emperor during or shortly after the defeat of the Old Machines.
• Imperial Era: From the period of reclamation and reconstruction.
• Late Era: Upstarts, your blood barely 20 generations ennobled.

The Divyane (The Court Nobility)

Centralization under ancient emperors slowly stripped the provincial nobility of their great autonomy and power. As the Conquests continued, many lands reclaimed from the Old Machines were placed into direct control of the Imperial House. A vast system of service nobility arose govern these territories and grease the tumultuous relations of the Pariya. The Divyane are themselves considered a Tithe, and are exempt from all forms of taxation: their lives already totally belong to the Emperor.

The playstyle of the Pariya is adaptive. They requisition units and pay no upkeep, but their permanent resources are quite limited. They are puissant admirals and governors, bureaucrats and spies, following the orders of the Emperor. Imperial line units are strictly average, but the Tithing system gives them unique advantages.

Origin:

• Lesser Pariya: A regional noble of particularly unexceptional status and power elevated to special a preeminent position. [Gain a small Pariya-style demesne.]
• Imperial Favourite: All close relations of an Imperial concubine are elevated to noble status in order to preserve the Throne's dignity, and given positions suited to their talents.
• Service Lineage: Many families have produced generations of functionaries, holding onto the smallest titles with the tightest fists.
• Rising Star: The scion of a conservative burgher family or destitute nobles, for whom service is the means to gain or regain personal glory.

Appointment:

• Strategos: Commander of Imperial forces, with local generals and admirals subordinate to their authority.
• Pasha: Governors of Imperial demesnes, often responsible for the good management of all 'Imperial space' which includes shipyards, orbital stations and commercial zones.
• Minister: A title reflecting a senior bureaucrat who exerts penultimate authority over one or more aspects of Imperial governance.
• Emissary: A senior diplomat who acts as a representative of Imperial authority where it is needed.

The Hindstadt (The Revolutionaries)

Less than two years ago, the fires of rebellion singed nearly all of Imperial space. Vast uprisings of revolutionaries discontent with the ailing Imperial order seized the great Mian Star Fortress and captured the mothballed fleets stationned there, using them to launch liberatory invasions of much of known space. Bloody space battles saw the revolutionaries and their opponents greatly weakened. Fearing that the result would be nothing less than the complete annihilation of his beloved Empire and invasion by monsters at the periphery, Emperor Sikandar VIII offered white peace and autonomy rebellious provinces in exchange for their continuation of the Tithes.

The newly proclaimed Hindstadt are republics with a tributary relation to the Empire. They are autonomous and self-governing, but subject to many Imperial laws and continue to pay tithes to the Emperor.

The playstyle of the Pariya is aggressive. They build and upkeep capacity, not units, and have rapid, efficient production so long as upkeep is maintained. Their units are weak and their technology and institutions are weak initially, but they have tremendous room to grow over time.