Dalvanna Imperium

## General Overview

An off-shoot of the Jaqc Monocracy, who left their civilisation hundreds of years ago following the Jaqc's allegiance to Aura Dominion, the Dalvanna Imperium is a canine species which populates a small empire in the Lambda Quadrant of the Black Eye Galaxy.

Developing an intense hatred for their brethren and any that supports organised religion, the Dalvanna Imperium have been involved in wars with both the Jaqc Monocracy and the Yuvis Theocracy, also conducting campaigns against the Qox'cotel Protectorate, when it attempted to force both factions to stop fighting about two hundred fifty years ago.

The Dalvanna are a military dictatorship, where all power is placed in the hands of the *Autarch*, the supreme authority in the Imperium. Intense atheists, the Dalvanna have no state religion, instead believing in a philosophy where *one becomes god.*

## Society and Culture

Intensely territorial, the Dalvanna will often have large family groupings known as *Packs* instead of regular family units, with the pack being led by an *Alpha*, the most dominant male or female within the pack. The Alpha can be directly challenged by others in the pack and this amounts to the *Bal'shana*, ritual combat where two competing pack members fight till the death for dominance. Curiously, murdering pack members outside of these officially state sanction contests (which only occur during one month of the year) is considered a capital offence and is legally punishable, much as the same as other cultures.

The Alpha of a pack is solely responsible for the well-being of the pack themselves and will care for all their members, even supporting members of the pack that underachieve or are physically and mentally handicapped. It is generally considered morally righteous to look after both the disabled and elderly in the Imperium, with members of a pack all contributing to the wellbeing of the whole.

Not all Dalvanna males are expected to become soldiers however, with some of the more effeminate Dalvanna becoming *"Elsavis"* or *"comfort men"* for the soldiers, forming bonds with them and accompanying them to military camps. The same happens with female soldiers in their camps which seems to indicate that bisexuality is accepted and celebrated within Dalvanna society, with no prejudices common to most warrior societies.

Dalvanna culture is based around becoming the most noble member of their own society, where only the strongest, most intelligent and most cunning members of their society should be given permission to have children. As a result, the *Dalvanna Imperium Department of Civic Correctness* has to issue a license to couples wishing to procreate, children born without these licenses are not granted any rights under Dalvanna law and are not permitted to become educated, leading to an uneducated subclass within the Dalvanna known as the *"Scrute"*, who are not permitted any right to healthcare but can still work in some menial jobs in Dalvanna society.

The Dalvanna are fairly obsessed with genetic perfection, potential mates will often sample the blood of their prospective partner on the first date to show their genetic potential. As a result Dalvanna genetics technology rivals the Rothian Federation however unlike the Roth, the Dalvanna actively ban genetic engineering of any kind as their philosophy states that *"perfection must be born naturally and not cheated with technology".*

Despite their focus as a militaristic power, the Dalvanna are mostly extremely adept in the arts, creating some of the most beautiful art in the Black Eye Galaxy. This comes from the believe that the "*Perfect Person"* must be a great scholar as well as a great warrior. As a result, to the Dalvanna who were conceived with a license and selected alien exchange students, *Tennis University* offers some of the best educational facilities in the entire galaxy, with degrees covering a massive range of wide subjects.

Once finishing their education, a sanctioned Dalvanna is expected to do two years of mandatory military service in order to qualify themselves for *"Warrior"* status, which grants them the ability to work for political office or obtain jobs in society within positions of responsibility. Direct combat is not the only way to accomplish this service as many choose to work in non-combat roles within the military in order to qualify for *"Citizenship"*. This is notorious for being non-negotiable as many rich Dalvanna packs have attempted to bribe the *Military Corps* to avoid this, but with no successful case of this happening as it is considered a *"Civic Responsibility".*