Here’s my latest on the PATHROS setting. Enjoy!
Ruling Houses:
Once the true worth of Pathros was realized, there was a sudden influx of colonists seeking to capitalize on this new find. The High Altheon Union, within whose boundaries Pathros is located, had, by virtue of their position, the right to the complete control of Pathros. Regardless, it was in the interest of the High Altheon Union to allow the different colonists to quarrel over the treasures of Pathros in a capitalistic manner. It had long been learned that capitalism was a much better motivator than government enforced labor programs. The colonists would be allowed a portion of the cut, but the Union was able to place strict regulations on them and their Aiex.
Within a decade or two, the colonies evolved into what they are now: Houses. The different Houses, factions controlling any number of cities and harvesting facilities on Pathros, each vie for control over Pathros and its valuable resources. The Union has put into place certain laws and regulations that prevent their competition from being outright warfare, but they still allow for a degree of conflict to arise in secret. The laws prohibit any House to have a standing army, and they also prohibit any House from killing any diplomats from one House to another. The Houses are obedient to those laws. None of them have standing armies, but they all have a substantial garrison of guards in their cities. In addition, the fearsome Dragoons, although as effective as any army, are not considered to be a standing army, as far as the Union is concerned. As for the law prohibiting any house from killing any diplomats: it only specifies diplomats, and no other political figure. When things get heated up between two Houses, the threat of assassination becomes a deadly reality. There are many more laws put in place by the Union, each one with just as many loopholes as the last.
Essentially, gaining control over Pathros involves a lot of cutthroat politicking, as well as a lot of covert operations, taking out the competition while still maintaining an image of relative innocence.
While there are dozens of Houses on Pathros, seven of them control the majority of the lucrative satellite, and most of the lesser Houses are subject to them. Each House controls at least one city on Pathros, and some of the major Houses control up to a dozen. Those seven Ruling Houses are as follows:
House Samarynth, famous for its innovative business techniques, the which are responsible for the House’s prominence.
House KianHaix, whose ancestors are said to have been the last Emperors of Third China back on the Earth-Relic.
House Gaant, the most powerful of the Ruling Houses, famous for having the best Dragoons on Pathros.
House Althaias, who use religion to motivate their subjects more than anything else.
House Myrnara, famous for their unique approaches at harvesting Aiex.
House Valsaea, the weakest of the Ruling Houses.
House Crayn, second only to House Gaant, and the first ones to colonize Pathros.
Those seven Ruling Houses, each with the many lesser Houses which are subject to them, struggle for control over the precious Aiex, and their primary weapon: the Dragoons.
-Scott Krammer
Next PATHROS release: Aiex Harvesting
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