Imperium Vulpis

## Foreign Relations

### Allies

Gogan Imperium, Cult of Code, Paranos Academy, Re'iran Traveling Guilds, Order of Naragun

### Rivals / Enemies

Sacred Order of Nukaribbu, The Umbral Vanguard

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## Overview

The Imperium Vulpis is a Stellar Empire organized around multiple noble and merchant houses, united under one absolute ruler and his / her ruling house.

Though Imperial society is shaped by millenia of traditions surrounding trade, it is also very militaristic and citizen status depends on civil and / or military service.

It's capital is situated on the world of Vulpix in the Ninetails starsystem.

## History

Vulpen society developed to a point where multiple nation states, each controlled by its own noble or merchant house, struggled against each other to gain control over all the others or to benefit the most from the fights.

These struggles continued up into the space age, when colonies and assets in the Ninetails System were controlled by multiple noble houses or nationstates and often changed hands by use of intrigue or force of arms.

This all ended when House Reynard managed to gain more and more influence, though diplomacy, intrigue and force of arms. After decades House Reynard was able to unite all noble houses under a single banner and the first EMperor.

This was the birth of the Imperium Vulpis.

With full controll of all system resources, the new born Imperium put its focus on FTL travel and after building its first hyperdrives the sea of stars opened to the Vulpen race.

## Government

The Imperial City on Vulpix is the heart of the state and home the
Royal Palace, the Royal Court, and the Senate.

Below that are the provincial and planetary governments, a system
of various feudal allegiances and political agreements made under the
aegis of the Imperial Declaration. Each planet is free to choose its
own system of government, so long as they pay their taxes, provide
troops and military support as needed, and adhere to the laws passed
by the Empress and Senate (with the right to ask for exemptions and
alterations per local needs). The government also reserves the right
to inflict punitive actions on any planet which fails to adheres to
these rules or abuses the rights of its citizens.

### The Empress

The Empress is the head-of-state. She is also the commander-in-chief of all military forces, including local militias and private armies, and has the authority to make any and all decisions relating to domestic and foreign policy.

The Emperor also has ultimate authority over the nobility, being the only person who can grant or take away any titles. While an Emperors decisions are not bound by it, unless time is of the essence most will submit their proposals to the Council and the Estates General for consultation and debate, if only so that the final product can be issued in a form more palatable to the general public.

### The Governing Committee

While its power has waxed and waned over time, the Committee has served as an advisory body to the Empress and a "middleman" between it and the Senate. Legislation passed by the Senate must first go to the Committee to be debated and critiqued and, if it survives, is passed on to the Empress for final approval. Likewise the Empress can (as a courtesy) submit proposals to the Committee to receive their advice before bringing them before the Senate. The Committee can also propose its own legislation for approval by the Empress and Senate, though normally it refrains from doing so out of political safety.

It consists of: the Ministers of the Departments of Finance, Internal Policies, Foreign Affairs, Intelligence Corps, Ministry of War and the Praetor who is chosen by the Senate.

The Senate was originally a representative body with little actual authority, essentially a forum where the Planetary Senators could air their grievances, but it has since grown into a true parliament. It consists of currently 250 Senators.

### The Senate

Each planetary district or nation can chose in their own way who will be their Senator, with delegates serving for five-year terms with no term limits. Strict rules govern who can serve as a Senator: no member of the nobility higher than a Baron or person convicted of a major crime in the last fifteen years may serve, and during their time as a Senator all of their personal property must be placed into a blind trust. The Estates General also recognizes delegates from planets which are occupied by a foreign power. These are hereditary positions based on the last elected Senator before the hostile occupation.

The Senate meets in the Senate Hall in the Imperial City on Vulpix.

While intended as little more than a rubber-stamp to approve the Empresses policies, the Senate has taken on more authority and responsibilities, including tax reform and creating the annual budget. Most of the time, the Senate works with the Committee and the Empress on policy compromises for the good of the state.

## Culture

Citizenship and all its benefits are earned in Vuplen society. To gain 2nd class citizenship or even 1st class citizenship, aspiring citizens must serve the Imperium in a constructive way, either through work, civil service or extended military service. It is also possible to earn citizen status for the whole family through extended or extraordinary means.

Nobility is the highest form of citizen status. Nobility is hereditary, but members of the nobility are put to a high standard and if they do not fulfill their part in society, their titles can be stripped.

Spirituality is not a dominant part in Vulpen society. The Imperium allows for religious freedom as long as it does not interfere with its goals. Most Vulpen follow a belief that worships a landscape of multiple “gods”, “spirits” and “ancestor spirits”.

## Economics

Trade and economy are very important in society. Even the smallest town has a market where citizens come to buy, sell and haggle and in big cities these markets can take the form of several bazaars housed in multistory building complexes.

The empire as a whole places equally great importance on the trade and tries to establish stable and lucrative trade routes with its neighbours. It will also not shy away of defending or enforcing its mercantile interests by military means if required.

The Stock Exchange and nation's mints are run as partnerships between the national and planetary governments. Investors buy and sell stocks, bonds and commodities at the exchanges, which are funded by the government and monitored by the Ministry of Finance. Beyond regulating the markets to ensure insider trading and other unfair practices don't take place, the Ministry can follow trends and, if something should threaten the Imperial economy, take actions such as halting trading and closing down markets.

The government is a partner in helping both new businesses to start up and existing businesses to expand, doing so by investing in diverse industries and encouraging trade between member-planets and with other realms. For the most part the state allows the free market to work, but can exert its influence in several ways.

## Military

Vulpen society is a highly militarised society. Military service is mandatory and everyone has to complete at least 1,5 years of military service. The military and its members are also highly regarded throughout society, as well as the police force, which is part of the military.

Honor and loyalty are dominant factors in the Vulpen military, especially loyalty towards the Emperor / Empress. Vulpen commanders and soldiers will rather die in a suicide run or in a battle to the last man instead of running away and staining their honor and the honor of the Imperium.

## Worlds and Locations

* Vulpix, continental world, the capital world of the Imperium Vulpis
* Azeria Prime, tropical world
* Baldur, continental world
* Feforia Psi-storm, former Covenant worlds under Imperial control
* Garmisch, Jungle World
* Hermes, continental world
* Lapsa, ocean world
* Liska Prima, tropical world
	+ Liska Minor, icemoon
* Oceanus, ocean world
* Qeria, gateway system
* Raposa Prime, continental world
	+ Raposa Minor, icemoon, penal colony
* Rev-Arlon, Ecumenopolis
* Site 15, black hole system, research site
* Soro, oean world
* Thalaranerata, tropical world
* Zorro Prime, continental world