Military 9 · Meritocratic Empire · Canyon World
Orthuun is a dry canyon empire governed by a Meritocratic Compact that evaluates worth by demonstrated capability and contribution. The empire has a slave system with a fully documented emancipation process — one of the only slave worlds where emancipation is not just theoretically possible but regularly achieved.
The empire is expanding. The expansion caucus believes Orthuun should eventually govern every habitable planet. The Imperial Senate is less certain. The Warden Corps enforces whatever the Senate decides.
Grounders primarily. Heavy Spacer presence in the military and expansion fleet. Skylords in diplomatic and trade roles. No significant Void Walker population.
The Compact's governing body, composed of elected and meritocracy-appointed senators. Slow to move, tends toward inertia, but capable of decisive action when the situation is sufficiently clear. The Senate's most contentious ongoing argument is about the scope of expansion.
Orthuun's combined military and law enforcement. Hierarchical, effective, and deeply invested in the Compact's rules. They are the empire's muscle and genuinely believe in the system they enforce.
The body that administers the emancipation process. They take the process seriously. Complaints about the process are documented and acted upon if they have merit. They are aware of how unusual this makes them.
The coalition of canyon-city governors who run the empire's physical infrastructure. They hold more practical power than their formal position suggests and exercise it through control of logistics.
Manages Orthuun's extensive use of off-world contractors for military and infrastructure work. They hold seats on the Yalos Buyers Consortium. They are careful about who they give contracts to, because the contracts are binding.
The political faction pushing for active expansion of the empire to additional planets. They have a majority in the Senate right now. The Warden Corps is waiting to see what the Senate decides before expressing an opinion.