Aratos

Imperium

Aratos is a world in the Ölerch sector. This world is known for its strict nobility system. Where in which even a nobleman must serve as a slave to another higher-ranking nobleman. At its head is the Planetary King or the Planetary Queen, depending on the gender of the current leader of the royal house. He has complete power over the planet and is described as the only free human being. His position allows him to treat even the highest-ranking nobles as lowly slaves and to squeeze them for his purposes.

All others, especially the non-noble citizens of Arator, stand powerless at the lowest rung of the social pyramid. In which they can enjoy no rights, no legal protection, or even the smallest assistance from the authorities. All they have are duties, horrendous dues, unacceptable labor standards, and an unlimited amount of forced labor.

## History

Aratos was colonized on an unknown date in the Dark Age of Technology. Nothing is known about the first years of the history of Aratos. However, archaeologists found traces that point to a centuries-long war. But they couldn't find any more precise information. The next documented event was the incorporation of Aratos into the Imperium when the Lunar Wolves reached Aratos. The then lords of Aratos decided not to resist and to integrate peacefully. When the Horus Heresy began, Aratos was not subject to attack or rebellion.

The reason for the latter was that the planetary governor had to prevent an uprising at the last second and had all the nobles involved arrested and brought to him. But instead of betraying them to the imperial authorities or executing them and confiscating their assets. He forced them to sign the so-called Aratos Charter. The de facto enslavement of the nobility.

## Geography

Aratos is a temperate climate planet covered with large forests. Distributed across Arato's surface are several large and small mountain ranges that are very ore-rich. Aratos have no oceans but several large lakes, some of which are the size of smaller seas.

## Provinces

### Kind of Provinces

* **Agri Provinces:** The Agri Provinces are agricultural areas where there are extremely good soils. Which gives good harvests every year. Life in agri provinces is characterized by hard farming life.
* **Industry Provinces:** The Industry Provinces are covered with factories in which hundreds of thousands of workers have to toil day and night. These provinces are at the heart of the planetary economy. Of their massive production capacities, it is accepted that these massive factories cause extreme environmental pollution.
* **Fortress Provinces:** The Fortress Provinces are full of mighty fortresses, thousands of kilometers of trenches, low-lying bunkers, and many artillery and anti-aircraft positions. In the event of war, they should take up positions here and wait for imperial reinforcements.
* **Mining Provinces:** The Mining Provinces are very resource-rich areas where the population has to work deep underground. These provinces are among the most productive provinces on the planet.
* **Wine Growing Province:** The Wine Growing Province is crisscrossed with endless rows of vines that deliver an almost infinite amount of high-quality wine. The wine grown there is reserved for export and the planetary king.
* **Energy Province:** The Energy Province is there to satisfy the constant energy hunger of the planet. Thousands of energy plants, refineries, and nuclear power plants are located here. Of all the provinces, these provinces are the most polluted and contaminated.
* **City Province:** The City provinces are dotted with hives, cities, and villages. Here the majority of the population lives in most precarious housing situations and great poverty. The residents of these provinces usually have to travel to other provinces to find work.
* **Tourism Province:** The Tourism Province are area specializing in tourism. In luxury hotels, tourists are safely shielded from the normal dirty rascals. You only come into contact with faithful and hard-working servants there. Which they serve 24/7.
* **Handicraft Province:** The Handicraft Province are rural province full of small villages. In these villages, the inhabitants produce many different handicrafts which are either sold in the cities, given to the Planetary King, or stored for later export to the Imperium.
* **Hunting Ground Province:** The Hunting Ground Province is the private hunting grounds of the planetary king. The most imposing and dangerous animals of Aratos live in these provinces and in the past more imposing and dangerous animals have been imported from other planets and released into the wild in these provinces.
* **Park Provinces:** The Park Provinces are huge parks, each of which appears to be an almost endless paradise. Every Park Province are cared for 24/7 by an army of gardeners, zookeepers, artists, and agricultural architects to ensure they remain a paradise.
* **Culture Province:** The Culture Province are provinces that are completely devoted to the topic of culture. These provinces are a playground for artists. And so many of the Imperium's most impressive works of art are located in these provinces.
* **Pilgrimage Provinces:** The Pilgrimage Provinces are provinces dedicated to the imperial cult. Here in these provinces, there is piety. Everywhere and at all times sacred prayers and songs of praise to the Emperor are heard.
* **Fishing Province:** The Fishing Province is mainly large lakes with thousands of small islands. The population of these provinces spends a lot of time on the water to meet their very high catch quotas.
* **Pleasure Provinces:** The Pleasure Provinces are dedicated solely to the pleasure of the planetary king. The entertainment offers are available for him. ranging from museums, brothels, strip clubs, theatres, zoos, memorials to his families, and a variety of amusements that change from visit to visit. Which are each thought up by the inhabitants of these provinces.
* **Penal Province:** The Penal Province are provinces that are so sparse and hostile to life that only criminals are sent there to allow a sparse life there and to force them to do hard work there.

## Nobility System

The nobility system of Aratos is unique throughout the galaxy. In this system, the nobles are nothing more than slaves to the Planetary King. The nobles in the provinces they administer can indeed behave as domineeringly and tyrannically as they wish. But just one word from the Planetary King is enough to make them docile slaves again. This fact causes great amusement among visitors from other worlds and the common people of Aratos. Especially among the common people, many mocking jokes are circulated about their submissive lords.

### Notable Families

* **Orsallis:** The Orsallis is a rather reclusive noble family. They tend to avoid contact with the other nobles and only keep in touch with the Planetary King.
* **Wittelspaccer:** The Wittelspaccer have an ambivalent reputation. On the one hand, they are loyal subjects of the Planetary King, but on the other hand, they are only too happy to torment the commoners in the provinces they administer.
* **Eßterheartys:** The Eßterheartys are the most recalcitrant nobles of Aratos. They are not rebels or so recalcitrant that they would have to be destroyed. But she's always looking for a way to gain as much freedom as possible.
* **Juillianer:** The Juillianer are probably the most submissive noble family of Aratos. Once planned the uprising and are now the most submissive family on the entire planet.
* **Winkors:** The Winkors are the most religious noble family of all noble families. Many feel that this is how they try to excuse their school-ridden role in the Peplanten uprising.
* **Augustys:** The Augustys is a noble family with probably the best martial skills. They often command the PDF against rebels, and the regiments destined for the Imperial Guard are also often commanded by Augustys.
* **Wromser:** The Wromser is the only noble family that maintains connections outside of Aratos. When the Planetary King needs a diplomat, he sends a member of the Wromser.
* **Bourpon:** Bourpon is known for its knowledge and educational traditions. Through their efforts in scientific fields, much knowledge has been snatched from the clutches of oblivion.
* **Walven:** The Walven are the poorest noble house of Aratos. Most of its members live as miserably as the poorest beggars from other worlds. Because of this, the Welven are the least respected noble family of Aratos.
* **Kolonna:** The Kolonna is a strange noble family. They dress in strange rags, speak in riddles, and have many seemingly obscure traditions.
* **Aldhaner:** The Aldhaner is quite a vain family. No family member would voluntarily be without jewelry, make-up, expensive clothes, and the most beautiful luxuries to adorn oneself with.

### Court Offices

The court offices are offices in the court of the Planetary King distributed among the noble families of Aratos. Each of these court offices has its own area of responsibility to make the life and rule of the Planetary King as easy as possible.

* **Jaegermeister:** The Jaegermeister is responsible for the success of the hunt for the Planetary King. This includes the safety of the Planetary Kings and that there is always enough loot. The current Jaegermeister is Caelius III of the Juillian lineage.
* **Cupbearer:** The Cupbearer is responsible for the physical well-being of the Planetary King. His duties include supervising the preparation of the Planetary King's food and tasting it in case of doubt. The current Cupbearer is Alois V of the Bourpon noble family.
* **Caravan Master:** The Caravan Master is responsible for the many tears of the Planetary King. This includes planning the route, selecting the vehicles, providing an armed escort, and providing the Planetary Kings with the necessary luxury at every turn. The current Caravan Master is Parpol Lars from the Eßterheartys.
* **Master of the Watch:** The Master of the Watch is responsible for the safety of the Planetary King. In this role, he commands the PDF and Kondigent of the Noble Banns Militias. The current Master of the Watch is Torbian Lorenz of the Augustys noble family.
* **Court Jester:** The Court Jester serves as the Planetary King's living amusement. He and his subordinates are simple jokers at the Planetary King's court who are tormented by everyone just for fun. The current Court Jester is Vladimir Sigus of the Juillian noble family.
* **Personal Physician:** The Personal Physician is responsible for the health of the Planetary King. He oversees the millions of doctors and other health workers in Aratos. He is expected to have extensive knowledge of medicine, surgery, virology, psychology, and medicine. The current Personal Physician is Helena Lisa from Den Bourpon.
* **Pleasure Servant:** The Pleasure Servant is responsible for the maintenance of the Planetary King along with his subordinates. This includes the organization of the meals, the appearance of artists, dancers, musicians, and artists, if necessary also as a courtesan of the Planetary King. The current Pleasure Servant is Maria Sarah of the Esterhearty noble family.
* **Chamberlain:** The Chamberlain is the chief administrator of the property, personnel, and funds of the Planetary King. This position is a very important one. Without him, the Planetary King's court would not function. The current Chamberlain is Mia Sophie of the Winkor noble family.
* **Master of Execution:** The Master of Execution is the executioner of the Planetary King. He oversees the execution and punishment of criminals. In the rare event of rebellion or rebellion, it is his job to punish the offender. The current Master of Execution is Otillia Gabriella of the Walven noble family.
* **Taster:** The Taster is the Planetary King's taster. It's a dangerous and thankless position. Because the taster can die from poison at any time. The current taster is Lena Monika from the noble family of Kolonna. Which also mostly occupy this position.
* **Reliquary:** The Reliquary is responsible for the relics of the Planetary King. This includes the repair, care, and prominent display of these ancient and important possessions of the Planetary King. The current Reliquary Karla Alyssa from the noble family of the Aldhaner.

## Economy

The economy of Aratos is based on the perfect production of dues for the Planetary King. In this system, the lower non-noble citizens produce many different goods such as food, raw materials, or metal goods. These are then handed over to the nobility, who either immediately give these goods to the planetary king or process them in factories and then give the planetary king additional goods as a tribute. This economic system only ensures that the planetary king benefits solely from the economic power of Aratos.

## Culture

The culture of Aratos is one of complete submission of the common people and nobility to the Planetary King. This has led to the Planetary King being considered the only free human on Aratos and therefore the rest of the inhabitants are called Aratos underlings. This is not seriously questioned by anyone, at least by anyone who can think clearly. All those who are unable to do so quickly end up in the dungeon.

Many traditions and fine arts are cultivated on Aratos. All of this is for the good and entertainment of the Planetary King. Citizens are aware that most of their culture is dedicated to entertaining the Planetary King. Therefore, the traditions of Aratos are not held in high esteem by the common man and are only followed through the compulsion of their role as slaves.

### Duties and Rules of the Underlings

* Any subject wishing to marry must seek permission from the Planetary King and pay a heavy tribute. In addition, the Planetary King retains the right to the first night.
* Subjects must pay tribute to the Planetary King for any goods or assets they produce, earn, or craft.
* the subjects are only allowed to dress in simple clothes.
* Each subject must pray five times a day for the health and prosperity of the Planetary King.
* When a subject passes an image or mare of the Planetary King, he must bow to the respective image of the Planetary King.

## Population

All men and women on Aratos, whether noble, lesser noble, or commoner, are slaves of the Planetary King or the Planetary Queen. In addition, every inhabitant of Aratos is subordinate to the higher social strata as slaves. Thus a member of the nobility may treat a lesser nobleman as a slave. The other way around can treat ordinary citizens as lowly slaves. But they all have to obey the Planetary King when he or she orders them to do something, they all have to do it immediately and exactly what.

### Nobles

The nobles on Aratos, unlike the nobles on other planets, are slaves of the Planetary King. True, they have enormous power over the lower nobles and the commoners, who treat the nobles as slaves. If the Planetary King does not need your slave services at the moment, you have the task of administering provinces, holding court offices, or as chiefs of state authorities or state companies.

### Lesser Nobels

The lesser nobles are a special population. Since they are below the nobles but have to serve them as slaves. But they are above the ordinary citizens who treat them as slaves. A second difference to the nobles is that the most industrious citizens can theoretically work their way up to the rank of a lesser noble. But that's almost impossible. The Lesser Nobels work mainly in the middle posts of planetary administration, PDF, and the economy.

### Citizen

The Citizens are the lowest class of all inhabitants of Aratos. They have to endure the many humiliations of the lesser nobles and the nobility. In business and the military, they take on the menial tasks.

## Military

### PDF

#### Formations

* **Guild Servants:** The Guild Servants are forcibly recruited members of the many guilds that dominate the economy of Aratos. This formation is not powerful but may be cheap and available in large numbers.
* **Men-at-Arms:** The Men-at-Arms are the bulk of the PDF from Aratos. They are the mainstay of Aratos' professional soldiers. They can be found everywhere on Aratos as they also have police duties.
* **Palais Guardians:** The Palais Guardians are the veterans of the Men-at-Arms. They have served faithfully for years, while demonstrating above-average skills, enabling them to guard key locations, command squads of Men-at-Arms, and lead large formations of veteran formations in battle.
* **Knights:** The Knights are elite warriors made up of the lesser nobles. These warriors are prepared for military service from birth. They receive commando training early on in order to later serve in special operations and as officers of their Planetary King.
* **Paladins:** The Paladins are the elite of the Knights. They have many years of service behind them and have demonstrated strategic and managerial skills. They have often proven their martial talent in the most difficult special operations and won many battles as officers. They fulfill the position of generals and bodyguards for the Planetary King.

### Noble Banns Militias

Each noble family must account for the PDF and the tenth of the Imperial Guard. The level of these troops varies quite a bit, from elite to horribly bad. The same applies to their armament and equipment. These levies are then formed into a powerful force in the PDF, which only owes it to the Planetary King. This means that they are used in rare cases of disobedience from their previous liege lord. In these cases, you will not hesitate to simply crush him. Because they were extremely indoctrinated during their training.