Aventis Empire

## General Overview

The Aventis Empire (**Originally known as "The Children of Avalon")** is a multiple state world residing on the edge of the **Zeta Quadrant** of the **Black Eye Galaxy**. The Empire covers a small region, consisting of about 15 major planets.

Aventis society operates on a strict etiquette and caste system, similar to the ancient **"chivalry"** code of **Ancient Earth**. As a result, the Empire has been prevented from the normal territorial expansion due to a strict code of honour, leading the Aventis not to attack or annex defenceless worlds without an honourable cause. However in recent years, traditional definitions of an "honourable cause" have changed with different eras and rulers.

Aventis society is dictated by a number of different **"Houses"** on the home planet of Aventis, rather then one distinctive united society, each **"House"** has its own ruler, either totalitarian rule from a "King" or "Emperor", to a few countries serving as functional republics with elected officials. All of these **Houses** are united by **one singular ruler**, usually of the three largest and most powerful houses on Aventis.

This means that Aventis society is dynamic and incredibly complex, with each country able to act in an independent way from the others but also be dependent on each other for trade and protection. In total there are at current, **51 individual houses** on the planet.

The Aventis achieved space travel in the early 2100's and due to an unfortunate and short encounter with the **Rothian Corperation**, which resulted in a brief period of hostility between the two powers. After an armistice was signed, the Aventis created the **"Aventis Royal Navy"**, an independent joint venture between all the houses on Aventis.

At some point, the Aventis successful conquered the **Nitavis**, incorporating members of their species into their Empire.

**"Aventis"** in the classical language of the **Bri'rain**, one of the oldest spoken languages on Aventis literally means **"The Whole of Many Parts"** and is an apt description of how all the houses on Aventis are interlocked in a symbiotic relationship.

Aventis technology is comparable to current Commonwealth standards, with the diversity of the Aventis people giving rise to great **"Sky Citadels"**, impressive moving starbase-like structures which use some form of **Coaxial Warp Jumps** rather then traditional warp drives in order to move through space, "jumping" from one system to another.

The **"Sky Citadel"** or **"Bastion Class"** is the principle vessel of the Aventis Royal Navy, measuring at about 1,500 meters long and at least 600 meters high. This vessel serves as both a station and space vessel, being able to move using traditional impulse engines as well as house thousands of troops and fighters. However in recent years, the Bastion-Class has been in decline in favour of newer, less resource intensive Aventis ships.

Aventis technology tends towards mass fighter engagements rather then more traditional forms of stellar combat. The Aventis have several different classes of fighter, some of the more notable include;

* **"Hussar Class" Starfighter** - A typical fighter with a powerful engine designed to ram through other vessels with a nuridium reinforced "nose" at the front of the fighter.
* **"Berber" Class Snipe Fighter** - A Fighter with an impressive ranged energy weapon that is specially designed to "snipe" other fighters with deadly accuracy.

However, the most impressive feat of Aventis engineering does not come from stellar combat, instead, the Aventis ground forces have implanted personal shield technology of seemingly unknown design.

These **Personal Shields** make any form of energy weapon completely useless against their ground forces, even supplanting the adaptation ability of Borg drones.

The use of this shield, which is implanted in Aventis soldiers, as well as other useful implants, has completely eliminated all forms of ground based ranged energy weapons from combat with the Aventis, forcing their society to resort to traditional melee based weaponry, which incidentally, the Aventis consider to be **"more honourable"**.

## Upper Galactic Alliance (2420 - 2421)

In April 2421, under interim **Empress Celia MacLowan***,* the Aventis Empire formally entered the **Upper Galactic Alliance**, much to the displeasure of **House Telkana** who had been protesting MacLowan's illegitamacy since she took the throne after the abduction of **Emperor Ginwald I**.

In May 2421, **House Telkana** once again made a bid for the throne while claiming that they had recovered **Emperor Ginwald** and that **House Fullex** and **House Rumania** had engaged in a conspiracy to replace him due to his controversial reforms of the Aventis Empire. This escalated the situation between all three major houses and stood ready to catapult the Aventis Empire into a state of civil war.

Despite **House Fullex** claiming that this version of **Ginwald** was obviously a fake, Telkana managed to sway a large majority of the Aventis people, also playing into the popular belief that **MacLowan** was a **Robun** and **Commonwealth** puppet who sought to conquer the proud Aventis people and force them into an agreement with their historical nemesis, the **Rothian Union**.

## Aventis Aggression (2421 - 2452)

Following the end of **The Worthless War**, the **U.S.S. Normandy (NCC-61944-A)** discovered Emperor **Ginwald I** was being held on the **Throne of Umojas (Umojan Prime)** and was returned to the Normandy by a show of good faith from the rebels on **Xi'on (Xi'on IX**).

However upon returning to **Aventis (Aventis II)**, the Normandy discovered that Empress MacLowan had formed any alliance with the **U.S.S. Claidheamh Mòr**, with plans to break off from the **United Commonwealth of Planets** and form the **Black Eye Dominion**, resulting in MacLowan directly murdering Ginwald to secure her throne.

In the years following the collapse of the **United Commonwealth of Planets**, the Aventis Empire became significantly more aggressive, successfully conquering the **Rothian Union** and **Megalodon Syndicate**, much to the alarm of the **Black Eye Consortium**, which became the two largest powers in the **Zeta Quadrant**.

## Commonwealth Membership (2452 - 2453)

Following the suspected destruction the **U.S.S. Normandy (NCC-61944-A)** over **Exorna Regalis**, the **U.S.S. Thunderchild** eventually succeeded in leading the Rothian refugee convoy to safety before returning to **Io (Arkhosia II-D)** for repairs. Unfortunately, this was seen as an endorsement by **The Shadow Commonwealth** of Rothian resistance and Empress **Celia MacLowan** travelled to *New Roth*. In order to demand to the Commonwealth that all Roth be turned over to the Aventis.

During this mission, Celia was killed aboard her flagship with only one survivor who retreated to **House Telkana** and informed them that the Thunderchild had been given Commonwealth sanction to assassinate her, when in actuality, Celia had been infected with *negative isotopes* from **Aza'lon** who had caused her to become a warmonger.

**House Telkana** arrested **Sovereign (S921/OV)** and placed him on trial for the murder of the Empress but this was an elaborate ploy to assassinate both new Empress **Hild MacLowan** and the recently **"returned from the dead"** **Leogryn Romeli***.* Leo defeated House Telkana's last heir in combat for the throne and gave it back to Hild, securing honour in the eyes of the Aventis and allowing them to move forward in applying for membership to the **Galactic Commonwealth**. As a result, House Telkana was formally dissolved on **Wightnare** and defeated.

## Exodus from Aventis Prime (2452 - 2453)

In April 2452, **Aventis Prime** entered a nuclear winter caused by **Xei'nrn M'sorn** and the Rothian Liberation Army, who successfully rammed five Consortium Aerie-Class Surveyors into the planet, heavily damaging Aventis's major cities and forcing the Aventis to evacuate the planet. Over 7 million Aventis died as a result of these actions which the Galactic Commonwealth witnessed and was unable to escape. As a result Empress Hild MacLowan declared a "Day of Mourning" following the attack and the Aventis Empire relocated their capital to the **Yanshire Star System**.

Aventis Prime was terraformed and resettled in December 2453 due to **Worldshapers*,*** terraforming experts employed by the Arkhosian Legion.

## Aventis Civil War (May 2453)

On the 4th May 2453, Queen **Hild I** died during a riding accident while pregnant with the next heir to House MacLowan. The Queen's death was considered a massive tragedy by the Aventis Empire, with multiple houses claiming ascendancy to the Aventis throne. This marked a period known as the **Aventis Civil War**, which officially began on 17th May 2453, when **House Armus**, a vassal for the now extinct **House Rumania** launched a sneak attack on the Fleet of **House Fullex** in orbit around **Lochpool**.

During the chaos, **Osgar MacLowan** was able to escape custody and relocated to **Wightnare**, where he and the remnants of **House Telkana** declared his intention to ascend to the throne as the rightful heir to the Aventis Empire.

## A New Dynasty (May 2453 - Onwards)

**Osgar MacLowan** was successful at reclaiming the Aventis throne following the release of a biological weapon, created by **Pu'rik Industries** on Aventis Prime forcing the surrender of **House Fullex**. With his ascension all but assured, Osgar invited the **Normandy CBS-61944** to Aventis in order to assassinate **Leogryn Romeli**, former **King Consort** and heir of the **Pendragon Family Line** to secure his claim to the throne, citing the ancient Aventis custom of **Trial by Combat**.

However during the confrontation, Osgar had **Eomer** poisoned to force Romeli to concede and accept execution in exchange of Eomer's life. This act was considered deeply dishonourable by many in **House Telkana** who wished to distance themselves from Osgar. Romeli managed to defeat Osgar in combat despite his deceit and claimed the title of **High Emperor of the Aventis Empire**. He officially succeeded **Hild MacLowan** as **High King Pendragon I**, first of the **Ancient Arthurian Line** that had started the Aventis Empire and was gifted the **Sword of Excalis** by **House Telkana**, many of which were disgusted by the actions of Osgar.

On the 28th July 2453, under the rule of Aventis Empire ruler, **King Pendragon I** the Nitavis were formally liberated from the Aventis Empire. This moment came after considerable pressure by the Nitavis due to several high profile rebellions on the surface of their planet, all centred around their ancestral capital of **Thunderhorn**, which had been supplanted by the main tourist hub of **Carrix** about 50 years beforehand. **Chief Thunderhorn** of the **Thunderhorn** tribe was present at the ceremony where the King issued a formal apology and admonishment of guilt, against the recommendations of the **Aventis High Council**, which led to many complaints from various houses, including **House Fullex**, which had significantly benefitted from the casinos of Carrix.

Within a month, all Aventis-made equipment and civil infrastructure had been removed from Nitavis, allowing Chief Thunderhorn to summon the largest tribes to form a new Nitavis state, called the **Nitavis Tribal Council**, or **Nitavis Tribes**. The newly formed Nitavis High Council decided during their first meeting to form a peace treaty with the Aventis, despite many misgivings to treatment that they had received from the Aventis in the past, in order to create a more peaceful future for both their peoples.

## Aventis Military Ranks

* ***Empress/Emperor***
* ***Aventis High Council Lord***
* ***Highlord - Overall Commander of Both Army and Navy***
* ***Admiral - High Commander of the Aventis Stellar Navy***
* ***Earl Marshal - High Commander of the Aventis Army***
* ***Provost Marshal - Assistant to the Earl Marshal***
* ***Lieutenant Governor - Commander of each Aventis Colony World***
* ***Lieutenant General - Commander of Local Militia and Colony Protection Forces***
* ***Lord - Equivalent to the Naval Rank of Captain - Commander of an Aventis Starship***
* ***Lieutenant - Standard First Officer to a Lord***
* ***Knight Banneret - A Commander of their own Banner (Usually representing a House) in the Aventis Army***
* ***Knight Bachelor - Assistant to the Knight Banneret***
* ***Centenary - Commander of Aventis Special Forces (Divided into Divisions of 100 Special Operation Troops)***
* ***Esquire - An Aventis Warrior training to become a Knight***
* ***Men-at-Arms - Aventis officer ranking***
* ***Sergeant -* *Commander of an Aventis Division***
* ***Infantry - General Rank of Aventis Army Infantry***

## Known Aventis Houses

Aventis politics are extremely complex but over the centuries, three main houses have arisen to control the Aventis ruling lines, all descending from **House Saxconis**. They are (Minor Serving Houses are indented)

* ***House Fullex - Patron Planet: Oxcrown (Zeta Caroli IV)***
	+ ***House Fraltis***
	+ ***House Plagenis***
	+ ***House Windera***
	+ ***House Tunara***
	+ ***House Avalal***
* ***House Rumania - Patron Planet: Yanshire (Yanshire III)***
	+ ***House Armus***
	+ ***House Drummara***
	+ ***House MacLowan***
	+ ***House Stewdus***
	+ ***House Nesiz***
* ***House Telkana - Patron Planet: Wightnare (Wightnare II)***
	+ ***House Maltir***
	+ ***House Moeen***
	+ ***House Fergusis***
	+ ***House Brachawld***
	+ ***House Aire***

## Known Vessel Classes

* **Bastion II-Class Sky Citadel**
* **Bastion-Class Sky Citadel**
* **Burh-Class Heavy Cruiser**
* **Motte-Class Multi-Role Vessel**
* **Concentric-Class Battlecruiser**
* **Castra-Class Ceremonial Battleship**

## Known Locations

* **Aventis (Aventis II) - Home Planet**
* **Beorming (Beorming II)**
* **Caester (Tenavara III)**
* **Lochpool (Lochpool III)**
* **Yanshire (Yanshire III)**
	+ **Chilton (Yanshire IX)**
* **Oxcrown (Zeta Caroli IV)**
* **Versall (Zeta Phi III)**
* **Wightnare (Wightnare II)**
* **Revangard (Zeta Coma VII)**

## Visual Reference

Aventis (Male)Aventis (Female)Aventis (Female)