Covenant of Man
Established on Grand Bastion, the Covenant of Man is a split off of the Colonial Earth Empire that occurred in the years of the Silence. The planet was originally a cloning facility (Technology that was lost during the silence), that was kept by a scientists and warriors loyal to the Imperial Emperor Nero Proxius, and incredibly devout Imperialists. When the silence fell, the clones were awakened and the Covenant of Man was born. This galvanized the believers and turned the Covenant of Man into a religiously extreme state. They wage war on those all around them in the Terminus Systems, with the wealthy warrior and religious class intertwined, pushing for the expansion of their own game, all driven by the Emperor, a genetic mastermind with the command of loyal legions of fanatics.
Each emperor rules as two in one, a younger version of himself, and older version of himself. Each works with the other to discern the emperor's true meaning, and how the first would've responded. They are guided by a handful of council members, some who have presumably remained the same since the start of the Covenant. Their constant struggle under the weight of their own expansion, it is hard for the Covenant to make many gains, but those worlds loyal to them are nigh unconvertable.
Structure
While to the ignorant onlooker, the Empire might just look like a genetic dynasty, where the emperor rules, has ruled, and will always rule. In reality, the Covenant of Man is a wide and opaque web of entrenched bueracracy and relationships that often comes off as religious and zealous in its nature. There are four primary instutions that drive the direction of the Empire.
The First is the Emperors Nero Proxius the Elder, and the Younger. Each rules in tandem with one another, and the Younger will eventually replace the Elder, as a new younger comes to be. It is a eternal cycle, worshiped by the Covenant Cults. When a younger is needed, several clones are released. The clones compete with one another, until finally one is chosen at the age of 20. The others are sacrificed, supposedly making the chosen a stronger psionic. Together they are called "Empire" and are the supreme rulers of the Covenant of Man. At least on the piece of paper. Empire is the only entity allowed to conscript citizens of the covenant into his Royal Warhost.
The nobility of the Covenant pledges themselves directly to Empire, and is highly restricted. They can only hold lands held on grants from Empire, the Illuminated or the Tech-Magi. Their strength resides in their ability to deploy the Knight Cohorts. Most Knightly Houses have access to ancient pre-silence mech-chassis, armored suits, and warships. They form independent military orders. These Cohorts, while technically beholden to Empire, have also been known to strike alliances with the Illuminated and the Tech-magi.
The Illuminated are a state sanctioned cult of witches and wizards. They were initially meant to serve as powerful advisors, bodyguards and enforcers of Empire's will. In time, the Illuminated now maintain the vast bureaucracy that is neccessary for the covenant of man to operate. The Illuminated number in the billions. Their positions can be anything from a lowly priest, serving as a temple scribe on Grand Bastion, to a holy avenger pledged directly as bodyguard to Empire. They maintain the Covenant Cults, and preach the holy word of their Emperor. In the shadows, they fight each other for power just as often as they attempt to manipulate the policy of the Covenant. The Illuminated only hold the planet of San Clemente, a fortress world on the edge of terminus. They speak of protecting the galaxy at large from a great horror.
The Tech-Magi are truly the only organization that could potentially challenge Empire's control. It is the Tech-Magi for whom the "Covenant" in the Covenant of Man is named for. Into the Silence, when Empire established contact with Kalvus, he negotiated a peace that would see the two blossoming nation-states rise to a power that would protect them from the larger neighbors around them. Nero saw in the future the re-emergence of the Colonial Earth Empire, and the growing tendrils of power coming from the Musura Federation. Empire realized he needed allies, and turned towards the mysterious technocratic denizens of Kalvus. The Tech-Magi saw this oppurtunity as beneficial. They seek the recovery, restoration, and re-discovery of pre-silence archeotech, paracausal anomolies, rogue demon constructs and many other artifacts from long before. They care little for more territory, but they are willing to build up Reclamation Fleets to find these prized artifacts.
The Tech-Magi maintain the interstellar gates, and the complex technology that Empire requires. They are found in all corners of the Covenant. From maintaining rail networks to crewing Covenant battleships, the Tech-Magi are integral to the Covenant's survival. They help the nobility maintain their ancient warsuits, and work with the Illuminated to ensure that their transports arrive in one piece.
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The Illuminated make up a state-sanctioned coven of Psionically gifted individuals. They maintain a strict heirarchy away from the Inquistion, though they realize the importance of their skills to maintain the status quo. They are organized into covens, and act as advisors to Empire himself, as well as the various Tech-Magi and Inquisitors who oversee the bulk of the Covenant of Man. Part of their agreement with the empire means that the Illuminated may hold no territory of their own, minus the Holy World of San Clemenente. The illuminated are allowed very small and concentrated forces. They are limited by the laws laid out in the Covenant. These forces also must have attached inquistorial agents, to ensure their constant loyalty. There are even some Illuminated Knightly orders that are wholly dedicated to the Emperor and the inquisition.
Finally, the Tech-Magi made an agreement with the Inquisition early into the silence, establishing the "Covenant" in the Covenant of Man. They maintain their own industrial world, Kalvus, away from the control of the Inquisition and in return, are allowed to arm and maintain their own expeditionary fleets, so long as they contribute a percentage of these forces to a crusade in the greater aspirations of the Covenant of Man. They also help the Empire maintain the ancient cloning tech on Grand Bastion, as well as maintaing and fixing the ancient tech that the Inquisition cannot fix themselves.
The inclusion of the Tech-Magi has allowed the Covenant of Man to continually not slip into industrial darkness, and are key to the Covenant of Man's continued existence. The Illuminated have also proven themself crucial in maintaining the Covenant of Man in recent years, proving key in the ongoing conflict on Nimbam, where Illuminated Agents regularly strike against the Empire.
Founding Date
290, Age of Silence
Type
Geopolitical, Theocracy
Capital
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Leader
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Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
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