Severan Dominate - False Philosophy: After engineering a revolution based upon the supposed tyranny of the Imperium of Man, the duke needed to persuade his followers that his government would be a very different one. With this in mind, it became critical for him to draft a series of documents that granted his citizens a sense of empowerment.It is important to consider, however, that Severus was never willing to actually share any of his authority with his followers. Ultimately, Duke Severus XIII is far more of a megalomaniacal despot than the darkest portrayal he provided to his people of the High Lords of Terra.In spite of this, he has successfully presented a public image that is completely contrary to reality. Creating and sustaining this image are the central tenets of his government.The duke recruited worlds to join the Severan Dominate based upon the principle that he was a more caring ruler than the distant High Lords of Terra. To perpetuate this myth, he had to portray his government as one which was focused upon providing hope to his citizens. He realised that war -- with the Imperium and with xenos -- was imminent.Severus also knew that all of his newly loyal population would accept the necessity of this war, for he had made certain that all believed it was their only true chance at survival. However, he believed that the mere promise of survival was not enough. Instead, he chose to present them with the promise of a glorious utopia.The duke believed that such a promise might create a populace that was far more willing to make sacrifices over the short term, with the belief that these might pave the way for a paradisiacal future.With this in mind, the duke has made promises to each of the worlds that are economically and politically impossible to fulfil. These begin with a core premise that all the worlds of the Severan Dominate will be made prosperous beyond their wildest imaginings. The duke has promised that miraculous archeotechnology will provide for all, so that all citizens should enjoy a veritable bounty of foods and luxuries, and that military service requirements might even be reduced.Of course, all of his assurances are ultimately made with the caveat that his people must first attain victory. Although his promises are blatantly impossible, the duke has worked hard to create the illusion that he can deliver upon them. As such, he has used the supplies that he hoarded long before the revolution began to demonstrate his sincerity.While those early stores were significant, they are hardly enough to continue providing a generous bounty indefinitely. In fact, due to some of the agricultural losses sustained during the early battles, these reserves grow more and more scant by the day.Only the most trusted of the duke's associates are fully aware of this situation. In contrast, the average citizenry of the Dominate have become incredibly devoted to the duke, due to the early signs that he might manage to raise up his worlds to new heights, turning the Periphery into a shining example of an idealised Human civilisation.On a few worlds, cults have even sprung up among the devoted followers of the Imperial Creed, who have declared the duke to be a prophet of the Immortal Emperor. These zealots believe that anyone who could transform such a desperate situation into one that offered unbounded opportunity must be guided by His divine hand.A further complication is that the duke has also promised an unprecedented degree of personal freedoms among the population. Within the Imperium, such liberties have historically varied substantially from world to world, based upon each star system's particular form of government, subject to the standards of the local Adeptus Arbites and Ecclesiarchy prelates, but it is usually stringent.The duke has suggested that under his authority, all individuals would enjoy the right to make decisions about how they live their lives. Whether or not he intends to deliver on these promises remains to be seen, but the very act of making these offers has enticed some to his cause while terrifying others.In the absence of strong Imperial oversight, few of the region's citizens fully appreciate just how dangerous these freedoms could become. Such a liberal notion of personal freedom might even expose the populace to heresies, which could quickly draw the attention of xenos, Renegade psykers, or even the Ruinous Powers.While the general devotion to the Immortal Emperor might forestall such a crisis, some might even begin to advocate for religious freedoms that could handicap the power of the Imperial Creed to protect Humanity within the region.A further concern is that the duke has no intention of ever surrendering ultimate authority over these worlds. He intends to make certain that any decisions made about personal freedoms and styles of government are made in a manner consistent with his choosing. To achieve this goal, he is willing and able to lie and cheat in any necessary manner.In places where decisions might be made by some sort of an election, the duke sees to it that the elections are carefully rigged. On those worlds where governmental decisions are made by mandate -- hereditary, divine, or military -- those planetary governments ultimately answer to the duke. Though he is certain to maintain the illusion of choice and personal freedoms, none have yet been implemented, nor are they likely to ever be.