The Three-Armed Empress

The "Three-Armed Empress" is a fictional figure representative of the three major components of the Vodranti Hierarchy that the Empress utilizes to influence political affairs. The branches are distinct but not necessarily exclusive of each other, with the many elements often crossing over in certain circumstances.
The right arm divides into many fists, the hands of the Legions, the military might of the Vodranti fleets. These hands actively claw and reach outward, suggesting that the Empress struggles to control them, with each vying for their own goals and autonomy. These are matters of flesh.
The left arm morphs into the many branches of a tree, each twisting and turning, often encompassing one another. These are the bonyads, the economic consortiums that control the internal and external trade of the Vodranti. They compete among each other, strangling themselves to grow stronger. Some branches reach for the neck of the Empress, threatening to kill her. These are matters of metal.
The third arm extends from the breast of the Empress, clutching tight to a gaudy staff. This is the many kirkja that comprise the religious centers of the Vodranti, the shepherds of her people. Her grip on them is secure. At the bottom of the staff is a sharpened end, the blade of holy war. These are matters of mind.
This metaphor is often compared to the Three Spheres of the Gas Barons, with the three elements each corresponding to the three organs of the Vodranti Hierarchy.