House Liao
"Intrigue is my sword, and politics is my shield. Together, they make a formidable battlefield." - Sun-Tzu Liao
House Liao rules the Capellan Confederation not through brute strength or overwhelming numbers, but through cunning, ideology, and unshakable control. From their labyrinthine throne in Sian, the Liaos govern a realm of rigid unity and iron discipline, where loyalty is paramount, truth is layered, and power flows through both words and whispers.
Founded in the wake of the League of Stars’ collapse, House Liao forged the Confederation from fractured warlords and rival principalities, binding them not only with force, but with vision. That vision—the Dream of Unity—remains the House’s sacred doctrine: a belief that the Sphere can only find peace through absolute order, and that the Capellan system, however harsh, is the path to a better world.
The rulers of House Liao are philosopher-kings and shadowlords in equal measure. Their intelligence is sharp, their ambition boundless, and their mastery of deception nearly unmatched. No House plays the great game of politics more elegantly—or more lethally. To a Liao, knowledge is ammunition, and misdirection is often mightier than the sword. Assassination, espionage, and misrule are not failures of the system; they are tools of governance, wielded with surgical precision.
Though often painted as tyrants by their rivals, the Liaos see themselves as shepherds of a future where the whole is always greater than the parts. In Capellan society, individual ambition is channeled toward collective strength. Dissent is dangerous not because it threatens a ruler’s ego, but because it undermines unity. The Ministry of Information and countless loyal bureaucrats maintain a state where truth is curated and order is enforced—not cruelly, but with pragmatic finality.
Culturally, the Capellan Confederation is elegant and refined. Art, literature, and philosophy are held in high esteem, particularly when they serve the state. The people of the Confederation, raised on tales of sacrifice and duty, often take pride in their role as citizens of a grand vision—even when that vision demands silence, sacrifice, or submission.
House Liao’s military, while smaller than those of some rivals, is razor-sharp. Its troops are intensely loyal and rigorously trained, often favoring psychological warfare, misdirection, and precision strikes. The Capellan mindset prizes planning over reaction, deception over directness. A battle won before it begins is the ideal victory.
Relations with other Great Houses are complex. The Liaos view House Steiner as decadent, House Davion as dangerously idealistic, and House Kurita as a worthy but inflexible rival. Every alliance is a temporary arrangement, every peace a means to an end. Enemies are to be studied, not hated; allies are to be watched, not trusted.
House Liao is a dynasty of masks and mirrors, of truth bent to purpose, and ambition refined into art. Those who judge them by surface alone often fail to understand them—until it is far too late. For in the quiet halls of Sian, behind closed doors and beneath layers of loyalty, the mind of the Confederation watches, calculates, and waits.
Where others see tyranny, House Liao sees destiny. And in that destiny, there is no room for disobedience. Only unity. Only victory. Only the Dream.
The Capellan Confederation shares a border with the Draconis Combine. The relationship between House Liao and House Kurita has been marked by historical conflicts, with both houses engaging in military campaigns along their shared border. The contrasting cultural influences of Bushido in the Draconis Combine and Capellan political intrigue add complexity to their interactions.
The Capellan Confederation shares a border with the Lyran Commonwealth. Historically, conflicts have arisen along this border, and the two houses have engaged in military campaigns against each other. The Lyran Commonwealth's industrial and economic strength contrasts with House Liao's emphasis on political maneuvering.
The Capellan Confederation shares a border with the Federated Suns. The relationship between House Liao and House Davion is marked by historical conflicts and periods of tense peace. The Capellan Confederation has often been a target of military campaigns launched by House Davion.
The Free Worlds League shares a border with the Capellan Confederation. The relationship between House Liao and House Marik involves both diplomatic exchanges and military clashes. The decentralized nature of the Free Worlds League contrasts with the more centralized government of the Capellan Confederation.
