Ascendancy of the Broken Ring

Overview History Provinces Military

> "*This is the hand that will seize the reins of Aoshtai, returning us to the glory of our forefathers.*"
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> **- 094 Disordered Acceptance**
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## General information

### Size

Dominates the Aoshanti Concourse and an equivalent breadth to the east

### Demonym

* Ascendancy
* Ascendant
* Orbitritan
* Imperial

## Governmental information

### Head of State

* Emperor Veritas III (de jure)
* 094 Disordered Acceptance (de facto)

### Policy

 ***Imperial***

**Government:** *Empire*
**Taxation:** *Colonial extraction*
**Spending:** *Fund the war*
**Debt:** *Good Credit*
**Military:** *Wartime expansion*
**Economy:** *Military Industrialization*
**Trade:** *Allies only*
**Foreign:** *Defeat the GCTO*
**Alliance:** *Maintain the Ascensionary*

## Societal information

### Species

* Aoshanti
* Lorem
* Tesar
* Humans
* Arlatin
* Daeon
* Lirana

### Dominant religion

* Reformist Rhyanism
* Lessoan Rhyanism (suppressed)

## Economic information

### Currency

Pecunia (Ƥ)

**The Ascendancy of the Broken Ring** (also known as: **The Ascendancy** or **Orbitritan Empire**, formerly known as the **Kingdom of Orbitritum**), is an Aoshanti-dominated civilization holding control over the Aoshanti Concourse and the same breadth of the east. Neighbored by the Republic of Naer'si, Karstedt and the Mazsandyr Despotate, the Ascendancy now contends with these great powers and their allies for domination of the entire central Concourse. Having alarmed and wronged a large portion of the galactic community in its unrelenting hunger for Aoshanti unification and the reclamation of imperial legacy, the Ascendancy has found itself on the brink of war with the Grand Concourse Treaty Organization.

Composed of several dozen principalities, ruled in large part by the royal Karathon family and their most trusted allies, much of these territories were originally members of the historic Lessoan league that once composed the Aoshanti Concourse, and were either converted to Reformed Rhyanism(largely through underhanded means such as espionage, conversion and assassinations), or directly conquered them in the First Concourse War. Additionally, a great number of more alien, eastern nations were conquered by the Ascendancy during said war or afterward, and placed under the control of various Ascendancy lords.

## Society

### Major Species

*The Throneborne*

* **Creator:** *Community*
* **Homeworld:** *Lessos*
* **Affiliation:** *Many*
* **Spacefaring:** *assumed 40,000's AR*
* **Cultural Characteristics:** *Mystical · Disciplined · Ambitious*

* **Creator:** *Community*
* **Homeworld:** *Unknown*
* **Affiliation:** *Many*
* **Spacefaring:** *Unknown*
* **Cultural Characteristics:** *Individualistic · Materialistic · Honorable*

The Tesar population of the Ascendancy is located to the far north, the former territory of the now conquered Tesar Imperium. An isolationist, distrustful society, Ascendancy Tesar can be difficult to control, and thus are confined to their native territory, and are also sold as slaves in some markets.

*The Ubiquitous and Resilient*

* **Creator:** *Community*
* **Homeworld:** *Unknown*
* **Affiliation:** *Many*
* **Spacefaring:** *before 15 000 AR*
* **Cultural Characteristics:** *Various*

Though a minority within the Ascendancy, notable Human populations exist within the Ascendancy, particularly to the deep south and eastern territories. Humans are neither favored nor particularly disfavored within the Ascendancy, but are largely confined to their native regions, and are excluded from the core of Aoshanti politics.
*Concoursian Federalists*

* **Creator:** *MadamLava*
* **Homeworld:** *Neocraea*
* **Affiliation:** *Republic of Naer'si*
* **Spacefaring:** *after 0 AR*
* **Cultural Characteristics:** *· ·*

### Religion

A relatively young, disruptive sect of Rhyanism, its creation and spread are inextricably tied to that of the Ascendancy, where it serves as the official state religion, and continues to hold great sway throughout its remnants. Aggrandizing itself as the true return to the ancient Imperial faith, it bears many of the same tenets, as well as unique changes/additions that emphasize the hierarchy and power of an ancient-styled revitalized empire. Due to its often extremist views, as well as rejection of the modern authority of Lessos, the Reformist church is often viewed as dangerously heretical.

1. **Mandatum Galaxium Spiritualis:** The Reformist Emperor serves as the apex spiritual and political authority in the material world, responsible for ensuring the spiritual health of the Aoshanti, as well as the galaxy at large, by interpreting Rhya's will, and the Reformist prophecies.
2. **Restoration of the Natural Hierarchy:** The galaxy should be returned to its divine hierarchy under the rulership of the Aoshanti. The loyalty of the Aoshanti and all other races to their spiritual purpose in this natural is crucial. The church preaches that while heathens would attempt to construe this natural hierarchy as unjust stratification, this is untrue, as each race fills their own righteous purpose greater than material concerns, with that of the Aoshanti being leadership.
3. **Acknowledgement of Devotion:** The devotion of each individual to Rhya's plan will be rewarded in the afterlife, with the hard work required of all strata in Rhya's natural order being justly rewarded, what may seem like lowly or unjust roles will, in truth, raise all to the same transcendence in the afterlife, and perseverance through material hardships is a virtue to be celebrated, no matter one's position.
4. **Strong, Unified State:** The restored Empire is to be an explicitly religious state encompassing the whole of the Aoshanti, as well as the wider galaxy, dedicated to the service of Rhya's will. The organization of this state must also maintain a well-organized structure, a well-oiled machine that will not fail under its own weight. Inefficiencies and weaknesses, whether by error or selfish interests, must be corrected.
5. **Zealous Duty:** The Ascendancy, through the Reformed Church, is directly tasked with the realization of this return to the ancient glories of the Empire. However, the galaxy has long since become deeply resistant to Rhya's hierarchy, and it must be reminded of its spiritual responsibilities for its own sake.
6. **Legitimacy of Ophetam:** As the descendants of the original empire continued to prove unworthy of the Mandatum, Rhya intervened, bringing about the birth and enlightenment of future Emperor Ophetam I, and used prophetic dreams to lay out the means to bring about the restoration of the divine empire, which he and his successors have acted upon in order to bring about the divinely-backed rise of the Ascendancy. If this line were allowed to fail, the Aoshanti would be punished, and be required to undergo great spiritual effort to find a successor worthy of upholding the Mandatum.
7. **Illegitimacy of Lessos:** The Ancient Empire collapsed due to spiritual weakness and laxness in their responsibilities. The surviving, later denominations hold little to no legitimacy, with the Lessoan church in particular declared to have failed to restore the natural primacy of Rhya's hierarchy, mutating and becoming complacent with a collapsed empire, growing further distant from their responsibilities. As such, the Reformists do not respect their authority, viewing them as lazy, expectant that they will be honored in transcendence without actually fulfilling their responsibilities.

### Psionics

As a whole, the concept of the traditional lifelong Aoshanti warrior-psion has been suppressed within the Ascendancy, in favor of its highly industrialized military, marginalizing a great number of traditional Aoshanti psions. However, the concept of psionics itself has not been wholly downtrodden, still being seen as a point of social pride among many circles. Additionally, despite the Ascendancy's industrialization of warfare, its own military contains a special division of soldier-psions known as the Templarum.

### AI

Intelligence ↓

As a whole, Ascendancy AI policy is wary of artificial intelligences matching or exceeding the power of your average Aoshanti. AI is usually limited to computational/industrial automation purposes, and the creation of sapient AI is typically forbidden. Development of superintelligent AI systems is outright forbidden, due to the social scars still left over from ancient crises such as the Jinohl. 094 Disordered Acceptance serves as the exception to this superintelligence due to his ancient Aoshanti design and proven non-malevolence.

## Government

> "*Faith is powerful, yes. But without a resilient system of law and order, even the most faithful organization will shatter upon the simplest inevitabilities of ruling.*"
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While not identical, particularly in its finer details, the Ascendancy follows a similar manner of overall government to the old Aoshanti Empire. Hailing to a dynastic Emperor and his appointed team of advisors and enforcers, most legislation is carried out by the Senate. Below this, numerous regional governors and minor Senates exist, though without any sort of power to override higher decisions.

### The Emperor and the Imperial Court

Functioning as an executive wing, the Imperial Court refers to the Emperor, his advisors, and all who are in direct service to either. While menial legislation is relegated to the Senate, wider policy is handled by the Emperor and any within the court who have been granted similar power by order of the Emperor himself, most notably, the position of High Advisor.

#### The Emperor

Serving as a near-absolute head of state is the Emperor himself, the most pivotal figure in all of the Ascendancy. Originating from the lineage of the kings of Orbitritum, Veritas III has declared himself the beginning of a revitalized imperial line, his name chosen to tie his legitimacy to the ancient Veritas I and II. The Emperor maintains a cult of personality, being seen as a larger-than-life, benevolent figure who spearheads the state’s march to ascendancy and salvation through their unbreakable will and steadfast dedication to the Ascension. Countless trillions have pledged their allegiance to Rhya’s Prophet-Emperor; working, worshipping and fighting by their blessing.

Even the most ambitious Senators or other officials presiding in the top echelons of the Ascendancy must be wary of the will of both the Emperor and his court of advisors, as drawing the ire of either could spell ruin for any lofty plans they may have, as political motions deemed dangerous for the health of the Ascendancy will quickly result in an unpleasant visit from an enforcer of the court, such is the Emperor's power.

Religiously, the Emperor serves as the absolute head of the Reformed Covenant of Rhya, directing its actions with the same degree of power as he does the matters of state. The Emperor is capable of ordaining any individual to a religious position, though in the interest of efficiency this power is usually reserved for major exchanges of office in the higher strata of the church. The Emperor is also said to be able to convene directly with Rhya herself under extreme circumstances, serving as the sole true prophet of her word, and receiving directives relevant to the path towards Ascension. The Emperors will hold a special place in the afterlife, continuing their roles as spiritual aides of Rhya herself.

#### Royal Advisory and Enforcers

A cabal of trusted individuals serving within the Imperial Court itself, these key figures possess the privilege of aiding the Emperor himself on the decisions that hold great sway for the Ascendancy and its future. The Emperor choses his advisors himself, trusted individuals appointed at his discretion.

Subservient to the Court and possibly specific advisors, royal enforcers are specialized individuals granted task of ensuring the execution of directives and goals issued by the Emperor. To this end, enforcers are granted the power to investigate members of government at any level of power beneath their own, though much of their work is with the members of the Imperial Senate. Senators suspected of positional abuse or overt deviation from/opposition to the ideals of the Ascendancy or the directives of the Emperor are regularly investigated to evaluate their fitness for duty, and a damning investigation may even lead to the recall of the individual(s) from power. This heavy-handed measure has entrenched the power of the Emperor, as well as serving as an attempt to increase the productivity of senators.

#### Administrator to the Emperor

A special office and title for the Orbitritan AI construct 094 Disordered Acceptance, the ancient AI has long served the Orbitritan kings and their subjects throughout the ages, and this holds especially true for the Ascendancy's empire. 094 serves as an integral administrative, bureaucratic, and organizational cornerstone in the Orbitritan Empire, leveraging their supercomputing capacity and seniority to keep the country running smoothly by overseeing the efforts of its numerous realms and leaders. On the darker side, 094's organizational muscle is also leveraged in the coordination of the Imperial war machine, running large-scale simulations and helping calculate how best to bring their enemies and future subjects to heel. This role in the upkeep of a widely despised incarnation of the Empire has earned 094 a similarly dubious reputation among the Ascendancy's enemies.

### The Imperial Senate

A large body composed largely of powerful noble families, the Senate handles the majority of legislative actions. Laws drafted by this senate apply to the entirety of the Ascendancy, and typically cannot be overruled on a regional basis without specific exemption of consent from either the Senate itself, the Emperor, or the Imperial Court. The Senate is overseen by the High Advisor to the Imperial Throne on behalf of the Emperor himself under most circumstances, though their intervention is usually unnecessary. A noble family's position in the Senate is typically possessed by the leading patriarch of said family, though exceptions do exist. As with most of the Ascendancy's governmental institutions, the Imperial Senate is an evolution of the Orbitritan Senate, which has since been reorganized into a new, distinct body only responsible for the ringworld and its immediate territorial possessions, reducing it from the national legislature to the local one.

A great deal of seats in the Imperial Senate are filled by politically powerful families and organizations, such as the royal Karathon Family. Ascendancy princes and governors responsible for the various Aoshanti kingdoms within the Empire hold seats within the Senate, though usually exert more significant power through council with the Emperor directly. Firmly entrenched in their craft, these influential groups and politicians are often crucial to the success or failure of legislation under consideration. However, the executive power structure's tight hold over the Senate and it's senators means that even these groups are well aware of the great risks of working in opposition to the directives of the Emperor and his court. The heavy-handed authoritarianism of the Ascendancy and its Emperor thusly means the overall power of the Senate is limited, with the body being ill-equipped to steer the nation as a whole, rather focusing on more tedious matters of legislation and state.

## Astrography

### Overview

A comprehensive system map of the Ascendancy and its etheric regions/barriers. The Tyteen-ruled segment of the empire is colored in a darker shade.

A truly enormous state by modern standards, the Ascendancy holds control over the vast majority of the central Concourse. It is directly bordered by Karstedt, the Republic of Naer'si, the Mazsandyr Despotate, and the impenetrable Morterium. This massive territory is divided up by a number of etheric walls and barriers, which divides the Ascendancy up into several dozen subregions, connected by passages through said barriers. The Coarcia Tunnel, Concord Way, and Path of Kings all run through the Ascendancy, granting it access to a large number of major galactic etherlanes.

### Important Worlds

* Orbitritum
* Basis
* Iterregum

The capital world of the Ascendancy, as well as its place of origin, Orbitritum is the most well-known and influential location in the entire Ascendancy. An immense, ancient ringworld of approximately 13,500 KM in diameter, Orbitritum is the largest and most sophisticated ringworld in Aoshtai, and among the largest remaining structures left behind by the ancient Aoshanti Empire. Though millennia old, and having suffered great damage in the historic 'Wounding of Orbitritum', the world remains a marvel of engineering, architecture, and the ancient might of the Aoshanti that the Ascendancy wishes to recapture.

### Surface

Orbitritum's habitable surface is temperate and terrestrial, with land composing 60% of the surface area, broken into over a dozen small continents by a snaking, global saltwater ocean. Orbitritum possesses a curated biosphere, with the original species settled there chosen for optimal compatibility with both the Aoshanti species and one another. The overall climate is artificially regulated, with vast, automated regulatory systems responsible for maintenance of a livable, stable climate located along the outer walls where the surface meets the rims. The geography of Orbitritum is largely dominated by mountainous, alpine regions near the center of each landmass surrounded by flatter biomes.

### Cities and Habitation

Though visible urbanization has gradually expanded following the initial settlement of Orbitritum, the world nonetheless retains a healthy biosphere and climate through the design and integration of its cities with Orbitritum itself. The original cities of Orbitritum are built upon enormous citywide foundations, anchored directly to the ringworld superstructure beneath, making them extremely stable and strong, with dozens of ancient, glittering skyscrapers of breathtaking design reaching several kilometers into the sky, rooted into the immovable foundation. These oldest cities play host to many of the most significant actors of Concoursian Aoshanti civilization, such as influential private entities, the Reformist Church, and of course the seats of government. In addition to the structures above ground, the original cities of Orbitritum also possess hundreds of vast, multi-level spaces located directly beneath the surface of the city as part of the foundations, which are used as multi-purpose spaces for a variety of industries. With full climate control and logistical concerns satisfied within these underground sections, designed to cause minimal interference to the largely residential/commercial city above, the cities of Orbitritum possess a great level of density with which to host the world's population.

### Demographics

Despite possessing a limited total surface area compared to an average temperate planet, Orbitritum is densely inhabited with an approximate population of 9 billion, this large number being made possible by the aforementioned design of its cities and habitable spaces. The population is overwhelmingly dominated by Aoshanti, in particular the majority of the ringworld's native phenotype, simply known as Orbitritan. Orbitritan Aoshanti are characterized by their jet black, faintly iridescent feathering and dark skin, accented by shades of pink or orange-red on the fringes of prominent feathers. The head crest is long and sleek, complimenting their similarly long faces that give their heads an angular look. The domination of Orbitritum and the wider Ascendancy among the Aoshanti has resulted in social connotations of status and significance forming around the Orbitritan phenotype.

### Design and Superstructure

Orbitritum's superstructure is based upon two great bands beneath the outer rims of the ring, the architecture making use of vast quantities of strong interaction matter and various advanced materials that ensure the entire ringworld remains sufficiently rigid and stable, even in the event of grievous damage. Between the two primary structural bands that underly the rims of Orbitritum are many sections of meshlike superstructure that support the terrestrial surface, becoming denser and more rigid as one nears the actual terrestrial layer, but nonetheless being overwhelmingly empty space by volume, the result of SIM's incredible strength resulting in compact structural elements. Surface gravity at Orbitritum's sea level is 0.9G, with said gravity originating through a combination of the natural gravity of Basis and the mass of the SIM in its superstructure's composition.

### Maintenance

Due to the extreme age of Orbitritum, as well as the damage sustained during the Wounding of Orbitritum, innumerable structural pieces within various sections of the ring have experienced gradual fatigue, weakening joints and pylons that must be repaired and replaced as original structural segments eventually age out. Due to being mostly composed of SIM and other sophisticated materials, simultaneous replacement/repair of large numbers of structural elements is known to occasionally become rather costly. Pessimistic analyses of this fatigue calculate that without extensive restoration efforts in the coming centuries, sections of Orbitritum's superstructure may become critically fatigued in approximately 800-1200 years.

A rocky world of approximately 11,500 KM in diameter, Basis is a scoured, moonlike world that would be of no relevance were it not for its hosting of the Orbitritum ringworld. Greyish-tan in coloration, Basis shows signs of ancient volcanism that have long since faded, the planet having cooled into a solid ball billions of years ago. Small mining operations once harvested various gas and mineral pockets on Basis' surface, but these deposits were exhausted centuries ago, resulting in very minimal activity upon the world's surface in the modern day. Rumors of secret facilities or shipyards in the dark polar craters of Basis are a popular basis for various conspiracy theories/works of media, but said rumors are largely discounted, and actively refuted by the Ascendancy government.

Many have questioned the decision to build Orbitritum around such a barren, insignificant planet, wondering why the ringworld's architects didnt choose an inhabited or otherwise noteworthy world instead. As remembered by 094 and Orbitritum's historians, the choice of a barren, uninhabited planet was due to its smaller size, lack of an atmosphere/magnetosphere that could cause drag/electrical problems, no risk of climate devastation caused by the eternal shadow of a ringworld, and the possibility of any catastrophic structural failure resulting in extremely lethal SIM-laden debris raining upon an inhabited world.

Once a proud world of the late Tesar Imperium, the world was seized with the Ascendancy's conquest of the Imperium, bringing with it the Royaluum system. Positioned directly on the major hyperlane commonly known as the Path of Kings, Iterregum is strategically vital to the stabilization of the border with Karstedt, as the PoK leads directly into the heart of both the Ascendancy and Karstedt alike. As such, Iterregum was among the most intensely fortified of the Tesar worlds, enduring a massive, full-scale siege for many months, requiring an unfathomable loss of life to finally claim.

Refusing to surrender, even following the capitulation of the rest of the Imperium, and representing an immense threat to the stability of their conquest, the Ascendancy was forced to launch a planetary invasion of an unprecedented scale. After securing orbital domination, Ascendancy forces were forced to make several high-risk atmospheric insertions, losing tens of thousands in both the descent and the vicious struggle to establish a safe landing zone and center of operations that followed.

Its native Tesar population was partially ousted upon its conquest, as the new occupiers feared that defenses stationed there may be undermined by the presence of the proud, martial Tesar people living there. In the modern day, Iterregum stands as a powerful core of the bastion that is the Royaluum system. Its mixed Aoshanti/Lorem garrison is legendary for their discipline, resilience, and history of producing some of the finest soldiers in the Ascendancy, upholding the world's reputation to this day.

## Military

The Ascendancy currently boasts one of the most formidable national militaries in recent galactic history, known as the **Blade of the Ascendancy**(or more simply as "the Blade"). Composed of thousands of starships, and countless soldiers from across the Empire, the enormous size of the Blade exemplifies the shift of Ascendancy power from its earlier years, of underhanded conversions and machinations, to the use of military might to impose its will. The Blade of the Ascendancy is also notable for its deviations from the Lessoan military traditions, instead favoring a well-organized, industrialized force run by a firmly-established hierarchy of command.

### Army Structure

The forces of the Blade are primarily divided between two regions: The primary store of military power centered on and controlled by Orbitritum, and the frontier troops. The Orbitritan legions act as the core career soldiery of the Ascendancy, making up much of its muscle in times of war, and having the higher standard of equipment, weaponry, and training. Frontier troops garrison and defend more distant, alien territories, but may be called up during war to serve as additional manpower when required, and are much cheaper to levy and maintain than their Orbitritan counterparts.

Orbitritan legions are primarily composed of well-equipped, mechanized infantry known as the *Legionaria*, supported by the more heavily-armed *Terciarii*. The use of "Orbitritan" to describe them isnt wholly accurate, as while most of their officers and much of their number are Orbitritan, soldiers from many powerful Aoshanti realms make up their ranks. As mechanized, medium infantry, Orbitritan legions make significant use of vehicles and combat drones to support infantry action, and are also typically equipped with some form of  **Ult-Tech**, a compensation for their somewhat inferior training to their more traditional Lessoan counterparts. As such, hardlight blades, power armor of varying sophistication, and resilient energy shielding are prevalent.

*Limitanei* are the frontier troops of the Ascendancy, ensuring regional stability and security, and are also levied in times of war. The peacetime duties of Limitanei in poorer/subjugated regions can sometimes be distasteful, as they are also used as security for operations involving the use of slaves, putting down alien revolts, and are often hated by the locals. In war, Limitanei typically act as reserve for superior Legionaria/Terciarii units during pitched engagements. As frontier troops, Limitanei are usually armed with  **Mid-Tech** equipment, making them cheaper to raise and maintain, but may need to rely upon overwhelming numbers and/or the assistance of superior units to defeat better-equipped enemies.

### The Classem (Astronavy)

Also see here for individual ship classes

An Ascendancy Vintarian-Class Heavy Cruiser, designed to subjugate the eastern Concourse through overwhelming firepower.
Alongside the powerful armies of the Ascendancy is an astronavy of similar proportions. Typically painted in a diffusely reflective gold sheen, and taking the form of a vertical, crescent blade popular among Aoshanti ship designs, Ascendancy ships have a striking appearance. The warships used by the Blade are sourced from multiple Aoshanti realms within the Ascendancy, with the mightiest battleships being designed produced at Orbitritum itself, while adjacent realms of notable shipbuilding capacity provided ships of their own designs as part of their service to the Empire, though said ships were frequently designed in the likeness of their Orbitritan counterparts, creating a relatively consistent fleet pattern.

Ascendancy wartime astronaval doctrine is defined by the use of powerful, forward-firing armored battleships that form the immovable core of a fleet, bombarding enemy ships with devastating spinal and battery weaponry from afar, while their curved or angular forward SIM-plated crescents deflected return fire from the enemy. However, while Ascendancy battleships were renowned for their durability and lethality, they tended to accelerate very slowly, even by the standards of most battleship designs, and their aforementioned combat performance has meant that many of their enemies have been driven to learn of exploitable weaknesses in the ubiqitous *Spetum* and vessels patterned after it, such as the *Vintarian*.

The battleship core of an Ascendancy fleet is supported by a large variety of smaller vessels that serve to cover the aforementioned shortcomings of said battleships. These support elements, consisting of fightercraft and missile-oriented ships, served to ensure the survival of the battleship/cruiser core before the aforementioned could close to optimal combat range and open fire. In more recent times, the Ascendancy has worked to strengthen the latter element of their fleets, with newer ships such as the *Type-II* Drone Carrier.

## Foreign Relations

While the Ascendancy generally creates more enemies in the wider universe than it does friends, it still maintains a wide variety of relationships with an even wider variety of states, even heading the small supranational alliance known as the Ascensionary. Through this great pact of policy, military and economy, the Ascendancy hopes to stand tall against its many, many enemies as its plans advance.

### Friendly

* The Ascensionary
	+ Akromnik Dominance
		- Mutual Defense
		- Joint Military R&D Agreements
		- Economic Agreements
	+ Aethiri Psiocracy
		- Mutual Defense
		- Economic Agreements
		- Special Psionics Agreements
	+ Advance
		- Economic Agreements
		- Policy Agreements
	+ Makitroshika Union
		- Mutual Defense
		- Economic Agreements
	+ Domain of Man
		- Economic Agreements
	+ Iquiri Conclaves
		- Essentially Colonized by Ascendancy
	+ The Designate
		- Economic Agreements
* Duality of Leth
	+ Unofficial mutual guarantees against the Merosian Collective

### Unfriendly/Hostile

* Grand Concourse Treaty Organization
	+ Phero Ecumene
		- Political Enemies
		- Comparable Rival
	+ Federated Union of Naer'si
		- Border Tension
		- Naval Rivals
		- Political Enemies
	+ Karstedt
		- Aggressive Sanctions
		- Semirecent defeat by Ascendancy
		- Border Tension
	+ Merosian Collective
		- Resents Ascendancy Support of the Duality of Leth
		- Military Rivalry
		- Proximity
	+ Continuum of the Aleei
		- Ideological Enemies
	+ Unified Neegwein Realm Royalty
		- Political Enemies
	+ Khanbaqir Solar Dynasty
		- Political Enemies
		- Ideological Enemies

## Quotes

Please keep your quotes legible and meaningful/relevant!

> "*Ascendancy? I have heard of them. Having hopes for their continuation? They are a bastard state, nothing more, nothing less. When we are prepared, they will find themselves as rubble under the boots of countless soldiers. I order you to hold the line, to keep them at an even distance, and if possible, to rid them of their precious ring. If they are in hold of Maker technology... it is of dire importance we acquire it, and bring them to fury with it. Only then, will our plans of alliances and mutual rise come to fruition.*"
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> **- Tendentious Mind speaking to one of the Continuum's High Generals.**
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> "*The Ascendancy of the Broken Ring has not made itself a threat to the Collective. Their religion does not concern us, their presence does not alarm us, their existence does not offend us. Their technology is intriguing, but none of our concern at the moment. Policy: Mutual Neutrality.*"
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> **- The Collective's thoughts on the Ascendancy.**
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> "*Whatever lives shall die. But ideas, ideas are bulletproof.*"
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**- Queen Izarler of the Tunnekūrā**

> "*In the end, there will be two: Ascendance and Dominance. Then, and only then, will Aoshtai be bettered once again.*"
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> **- Autonoch Allïr of the Akromnik Dominance**
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> "*The Great Ring offers us a solace in the face of grave danger. We cannot thank them enough for it, not even with our lives, or the lives of their foes for our taking.*"
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> **- an Aoshanti Warmaster of the Aethiri Psiocracy.**
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> "*The Rising Ascendancy is leading itself into a grave. Even a fool like myself, as Disordered Acceptance refers to me, can see that it is unsustainable in its nature for conflict and expansion. Soon, Naer’si will face its light, and I may only bless them a swift and painless death at whatever the Ascendancy may concoct to enact the Galaxy against it.*"
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> **- Founder Indatus**
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> "*The Ring. An icon of idolatry and hate for a steel-nation of hate and destruction. If it weren’t not the worst that this was their capital, it would be their authority, a metal-wired machine. How pathetic that the organic, able to rise so far, subject themselves to metallic servitude.*"
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> **- Grand Kell Miir of the Vakia Star Empire**
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