The Condorant

## Classes

The Condorant Empire is by default matriarchal. Women, more specifically avian women are at the top of every layer of their hierarchy and society. Every House is ruled by one “Queen” so to speak and those women closest to her on the social ladder.

## The Class system

The class system is divided by the different kinds of Avians that make up most of the Empire, sans slaves and serfs who can be of another species. Though if they prove themselves useful enough, they may be promoted to the lower ranks, at least enough to have something akin to free will (though not quite).

* At the top are Avians with wings and arms. They are viewed as biologically perfect, due to being able to use their wings freely while still having hands to perform tasks as well as being blessed by their God Valsafus. They exclusively hold the higher ranks and lower classes view them with a mix of awe and envy. To be “truly complete” is to be royalty. Though they, just as much as their lower brethren, are not above getting their hands dirty. After all, one’s biology, no matter how divine, is nothing of importance compared to the will, survival, and success of the Condorant Empire as a whole.

* The second class are Avians who possess wings that also function as arms. They can fly and use hands but can only do one at a time. Thus, they are more limited, imperfect. These make up the middle class, doing a lot of the busy, dirtier work. They afford some privileges though not nearly as much as their cousins.

* Then there is the lower class, Avians with Arms but no wing of one of many flightless avian species. They can still fly, but are far more limited in what tasks they can complete. As such they tend to fill smaller niches and partake in work others would deem undesirable. Finally, there are slaves and serfs. They fill the roles one would expect. Labor, servantly, and other menial tasks. However, the Condorant take things a step further with their dogma (as they are one to do) and have managed to rear almost an entire generation of slaves who earnestly believe their subjugation and servitude serves a greater purpose. It is a mistake to try and lure a Condorant slave into revolution, as systematic brainwashing has lead to them being more likely to seek salvation in your immediate demise. Their lives are still abhorrent, but they live them with a twisted and desperate sense of purpose.

## The House System

The Condordant Empire, rather than being a single entity with a linear structure, is more a web of smaller groups (Houses, as a placeholder name) which link together to serve as the Condorant Empire as whole. ● That being said, Houses themselves must face a form of hierarchy. This tends to lean more towards which Houses have the most members but one may gain influence depending on the amount of information they have. No one House is truly the greatest however, as several are deadlocked for the most important. As it should be, according to the Doctrine. Different houses can and do function together. For example, on space station ship yards there will be several Houses with different members working to construct the Condordant’s infamous naval fleet.

While all Houses adhere to the basic Condordant Code and Doctrine they all have various cultural differences. These can be minor, such as tastes in clothing, or massive, such as being entirely focused on one practice. ● Nobody outside the Condordant knows for sure how many Houses make up the Condordant Empire. They all communicate discreetly to one another and share a very close dogma to serve the best interests of The Empire as a whole. With no exceptions. Despite any differences they might have, every single house will work with and fight beside one another for the greater good. The House system exists to diversify the spread of information and make the Empire harder to track. It is complex because it *has* to be complex.

## Military, Goals, What We Do.

Spy work, espionage, and collection of information and knowledge is the core of Condordant work. They live and die by the ideal that knowledge is power. So they aim to have all of it.

* They have spies in every faction. At every level. If a way to weed them out or prevent them is created a new work-around will exist, normally before the previously mentioned preventive action is taken.
* ●Because of this The Condordant is highly technologically advanced. Their cloaking devices are the top of the line, their feats bordering on magical in the eyes of their enemies. Nobody even knows what new developments have been made until it’s too late and by the time another faction finds out how it works it’s already become laughably outdated.
* Their ships are their military pride. They are fast, efficient, diverse, and deadly. To see them in action is a thing of beauty, to fight one is the stuff of nightmares that only the Vexxin have been able to achieve. Though if one outside of the empire can be allowed to see them it is already far, far too late.
* They don’t like head-on engagement preferring to test their enemies resolve or have them fight another faction to meet their needs. After all, everything the Condorant does is from the shadows. If they attack by any traditional means it’ll happen in an isolated environment and be unseen. Planned months sometimes years or decades in advance.
* However full-scale war is inevitable. In such cases they attack as one in a massive, unstoppable armada. This is considered risky but if it serves the Empire, it must be done.
* Secrets. Always secrets. Every move, plan, piece of information is layered in code, hidden away, and any trail one is liable to find will lead to a dead end. Houses keep secrets to themselves. High ranking members keep secrets from their houses. But it, like everything else, serves a singular purpose: to protect and advance The Condorant Empire.
* Melee Weapons do exist. Though they tend to be used more for torture than anything else. Sure, on occasion an assassin might strike with a blade but when they do boundless suffering on the target is ensured. This is because, while they value efficiency, their hatred is just as baked into their core.
* Since the class structure demands armless Avians to be the most common soldier, body armor enhancements and mounted devices became the norm. Over time this sprawled out over the other classes and is considered a sort of cultural technology. Shoulder mounted guns are common. Miniature deflector shields in the chest are known to appear. But cameras, tracking devices, and the like are almost guaranteed.
* Biological Warfare is common. Synthetic diseases and poisons are considered a Condordant specialty.

## The Doctrine

Preservation of The Condordant Empire must be maintained at all costs. Everything they do must keep the Empire strong. Life within must be preserved. Life outside must be controlled. The Condordant Empire is essentially God. Every individual dedicates their life to ensuring its growth and continuation. The level of devotion comes not from an appeal to ideals but from necessity to continue to exist. This dogma is intense and passionate. It is what makes the faction strong and binds it together. It goes beyond a mere goal or mantra. It is the very core of every member’s way of life. To be a part of The Condordant Empire is to be a part of an ever shifting yet ever standing, blunt in purpose, complex in execution, unbreakable whole. It binds members together in an unbreakable chain. The Condordant Empire is life. It is everything. To be a piece of it then makes one inherently important. The amount of dedication is unheard of within The Condordant. In a strange sense the existence of their society is their religion. Their splintered off empire itself is their god.

## Life inside the Empire

Women have important jobs and standings, as previously mentioned. Men are normally more defined socially by the women they marry and tend to stick to housework, paperwork, medicine, and other less “strenuous” work. They may serve as spies and informants sure, but never any notoriety. A lower standing but to them it is life. ● Monogamy is baked into the Avian species. Love itself is seen as particularly sacred. In fact, a couple is the entire traditional family unit for The Condordant. In conjunction it is taboo for sex to be discussed outside of a couple. It’s a part of their relationship and their love after all, and is to be a secret shared between those individuals.

Children are only considered a part of a family until they reach maturity. Now adults, they cut off all ties with their parents and leave either to join other Houses and find a mate, or in some rare cases start a new House with other young adults. Entertainment is a luxury not many are lax enough to let them afford. However, in down time short form art can be enjoyed. They particularly enjoy song and most visual art is abstract or riddled with complex symbolism. After all, decoding is their way of life. Same sex couples do exist and are not entirely frowned upon however lesbian couples have it much easier by the nature of a Matriarchal society. By and large however, it is more important to be married than to be able to produce children. Especially when you do so on average 3 at a time.

While no real religion exists, there are collected and passed down stories with a shared cast of characters. These are closer to fairy tales and are meant to spread messages. However, many become very attached to these stories and a few Houses are even named after characters from them. Custom garb is usually loose fitting. Robes are very common, as are dresses. Individuals and Houses take akin to certain colors or patterns as per their nature.

## Odds and Ends

Every other faction is a threat. No allies, all enemies. Flightless Bird Avains do exist but cannot advance past the second highest tier of the class system since flight is considered so sacred. ***“Do the ships look like birds?”*** Of course, they do, shut up. They have a habit of making synthetic drugs though not many take them recreationally. Yes, some eat seeds and bugs, however many are carnivorous. Mostly lower classes although gourmet earthworms are very popular. They have memes but they are so convoluted they would be beyond your comprehension. Dick sizes are just as varied as ever. But ask a man and his wife will kill you on the spot (and be praised for it).