Homeworld: Kanir
Government: Monarchical Empire under the Krolyn Dynasty. An Emperor rules until death, and his assisted in his or her duties by a quasi-legislative body, the Rhaokmar Council of Lawkeepers, or simply the Rhaokmar, that navigates the byzantine legal codes established by the state and a huge amount of bureaucrats and administrators that keep the Empire running smoothly. While nobles contest for the imperial throne, the bureaucracy is a meritocracy that is staffed by the brightest minds in the Empire, Kotochvarian or otherwise. The Rhaokmar functions as a meritocracy as well, but is populated entirely by native Kotochvarians as they are the only ones who want the job. The Empire also has several client states under its control, smaller governments of non-Kotochvarians that are allowed to keep their freedom and their leaders so long as they adhere to Imperial law and authority.
Factions:
Krolyn Dynasty: The current ruling family in the Empire, and the first one not to originate from the homeworld, the Krolyn Dynasty believes that it is time for the Empire to explore the galaxy and expand their prestige across the stars.
Shurrict Dynasty: An old Kanir family, they were recently removed from power following a political scandal. The heads of the family believe that the Empire gives too much freedom to their client states and wants to have the aliens on a tighter leash before they can expand.
Charkare Dynasty: The biggest contender for the throne out of all the minor families vying for power, they share similar ideologies with the Krolyn dynasty, but have some radical ideas about extending the meritocracy to the Imperial throne and having administrators assigned via popular vote, among other ideas.
Lethian Syndicate: Easily the most prominent client state in the Empire, most non-Kotochvarians gravitate towards the Syndicate as their voice within the Empire. Generally speaking, the Lethians wish to maintain the status quo, preserving their rights but still receiving all the benefits that come with being a member of the Empire.
Planets:
Kanir: At one time a dusty, lifeless planet split between deserts and mesas and populated by roving tribes, the planet of Kanir has since metamorphosed into the beating heart of the Kotochvarian Empire. Starting from a few scattered cities, over the course of centuries, the capital of the Empire has since been dominated by a cityscape that covers the entire surface of the planet, connected by metal and concrete superhighways, given life by industrial complexes and sprawling fusion power plants under the surface of the Great City, and orbited by star bases and defensive satellites to help protect the seat of Imperial power in the galaxy.
Ch'tira: A far cry from the arid home world of the Kotochvarians, the planet of Ch'tira is a much more seasonable world, a temperate planet that served as the first colonial conquest of the Empire. While nowhere near as dominated by the city sprawl that grips the home world, the planet is still heavily settled, providing mostly foodstuffs and raw materials for the Empire. Most notably, Ch'tira is home to the strongest client state of the Empire, the Lethian Syndicate. A race of humanoids with mostly feline features, the Leth are small but fierce fighters and crafty industrialists. In addition, their famous shipyards have made Ch'tira the home base of the Imperial Stellar Fleet.
Yirkare: A later conquest of the Empire, Yirkare is a swampy planet, covered in dense foliage and large carnivorous beasts. If that wasn't enough, the high moisture and foreign chemicals in the air are fatal to the Kotochvarian species. To circumnavigate this issue, the Empire constructed their settlements as large domed cities built on huge steel pylons that stretched up from the treeline. The planet is wealthy in chemicals and natural gases, which are pumped into sealed chemical factories where they are processed and shipped. The planet is also populated by several primitive races, the most common of which are the Jonois, spindly six legged creatures that scurry across the canopy before dropping out of sight again. The Empire has attempted to contact their leaders, but to no avail. This planet is also the home of the Krolyn Dynasty, the first ruling family not from the capital.
Nashal: The Empire's most recent conquest, the planet is mostly covered in tundra and ice, necessitating the construction of domes similar to those found on Yirkare. The planet is abundant in mineral resources, and the underground springs and ice caps are harvested for water. The planet is home to a race of vulpine, pre-industrial humanoids known as the Ilirra. Through military might and shrewd politics, the previous emperor was able to unite the Ilirra and set up the Illirran Duchy as a new client state, but the controversy over his actions led to his removal and the rise of the Krolyn dynasty.
Positive Traits:
Judicial: Kotochvarians pride themselves on their strict adherence to the code of law. Crime, although rare, is severely punished within their society, and corruption on the higher levels of government are virtually non-existent.
Cultured: Being a Kotochvarian is infectious, so the saying goes. Combining a strong passion for the arts, brought on by the many years of prosperity in the Empire, and a faith system that preaches tolerance and good moral standings, the Kotochvarian cultural identity is strong and spreads easily to those that experience it.
Engineers: From grand cities and massive starships to the simplest of roads and monuments, Kotochvarians have shown that they are incredibly skillful builders. The practice has even rubbed off on some of their client states, as evidenced by the prestigious Lethian shipyards.
Disciplined: A strong military is needed to maintain the integrity and secure the holdings of the Empire. While their technology is up to date and their manpower level is nothing to sneer at, the defining trait of the Kotochvarian military is their superior training and discipline. The seasoned veterans of the Imperial Army are rightfully lauded for their courage and resilience in the field of fire, and legends speak of their famous sword charge, which still remains a brutally effective tactic even in this day and age.
Negative Traits:
Ponderous: Kotochvarians are known for a great many things. Improvisation is not one of them. While they won't be shattered by one unexpected event, it does take them some time to react to something totally unfamiliar to them.
Imperious: It is said that Kotochvarians see the other powers in the universe in two ways: Those who are subjects of the Empire, and those who will be. Whatever the reason, they tend to come off as pompous or arrogant when dealing with other races.
Resolute: A side affect of their strict adherence to law and order is that the Kotochvarians are reluctant to upset the establishment. Necessary reforms can, and have, taken years to go through at a time, and the practice is unlikely to change.
Eco-Unfriendly: Hailing from a arid planet covered mostly in desert, the Kotochvarians have little appreciation for the natural beauty of even the most biologically diverse worlds. In their eyes, lush jungles and heavenly gardens are just getting in the way of the next great Imperial building project.
(Definitely more to come)
