Saracin Empire

The Saracin have a long tradition of military might, but their influence has been on the decline in the past 60 years. Their homeworld, Talik, is the seat of power of their leader Saracin IX.

Philosophy
Legacy, Prestige, Dominion, Victory etc - this isn't final just jotting down some words

Pre-Space
The nation that would later become the Saracin Empire consisted of an economic oligarchy led by a political body known as the Vivn. The Vivn itself had lasted on and off for around two centuries, succeeding regional despots. While not intrinsically hereditary, in the latter half of its existence it could be expected that half of the existing oligarchs which had purchased a seat in the Vivn were at least third generation seat-holders. The Vivn did not unify the home world before setting out in to space, and a number of independent states continued to exist for years afterward. These independent states would often have representatives purchase seats within the Vivn, giving them influence and representation despite their existence as separate legal and political bodies. The number of seats in the Vivn were fixed to the number of Departments, a portion of land. Different seats came with intrinsic historical, cultural and economic prestige, and were thus more valuable. The Vivn did not require taking residence in one's Department, but rather encouraged Vivnates to reside in a "capital" department.

The economy itself was primarily agricultural in the majority of locations. Exposed rocky formations in the north and south developed massive localized mining and production economies. The Vivn controlled the entertainment and communications of Talik, and the intrigues and personages of their activities captured the attention of their populace.

Venture into Space
Economic prosperity continued to drive the price of Vivn seats up to ridiculous levels. The supply of Vivnates willing to sell their seats dwindled, while the demand only grew as the number of magnates desiring the status of the office did. Fierce debate between Vivnates and non-Vivnate magnates over the creation of new Departments threatened civil war. A solution was proposed - the number of departments on Talik would not change, but the Vivn proposed the creation of new Departments elsewhere among the stars, but they would need to settle these new stellar cities with two thousand residents first.

An incredible space race began between the magnates to reach the stars and claim the most valuable properties. Initially this was a peaceful but competitive affair. However, once boots began actually landing on the planets and nearby stars that culturally held meaning to their people, underhanded acts of sabotage began to break out to try and be the first to gain hegemony over these potential new departments. Soon, this would escalate into wars abroad, where the Vivn could not extend its power to intervene. Locally these magnates would deny involvement, and few were prosecuted.

The most adjacent planet to Travik, Lecil, while unsuitable for life compared to Talik, became occupied by millions, with competing and increasingly militarized factions vying for control. A thirty-five year outright war on Lecil, and upon its conclusion the magnate Vemocin could claim influence over the planet. The Vivn however, remained resolute that he could own the seat to but one department, and not the potential dozens on Lecil. Furious at the meager status his hard work would result in, Vemocin unexpectedly declared a war of aggression against the Kingdom of Wox, one of the independent nations. His invasion force of veteran soldiers destroyed the King's forces (helped by the King's unpopularity with his people), and Vemocin declared himself King of Wox by right of conquest. The title of King bore far more standing in theory, but traditionally none of the Kingdoms held influence anywhere near that of a single Vivnate.

Vemocin would continue to consolidate his power for the rest of his life. He would secure many, but not all, of the other colonial lands held by Vivnates. The de jure Kingdom of Wox became the grounds for a curious cold war. Vemocin lured many young men to immigrate to Wox with promises of inheriting the glory of the conquests and prestige of Lecil's War. Vivnates grew to hate Vemocin generally, but in their attempts to appear superior to the upstart they isolated the still-prestige-hungry magnates. Vemocin's Kingdom of Wox seemed like an opportunity to get in at the ground floor where the doors were barred to the Vivn.

Rise of Saracin I
Vemocin's son, Saracin, showed promise as an administrator and was entrusted with the Governorship of Lecil. The de jure lands of Wox could not handle all the immigrants alone, and Lecil promised adventure the old Kingdom did not. Upon his father Vemocin's death (who's elaborate and massive funeral was one of held breath and anticipation), Saracin faced indirect competition for the succession. Threatened, he accelerated plans he had in the works for two years. Pandering to the sense of glory and desire for prestige present among his constituents, Saracin with much pomp and emotion proclaimed the creation of the Cerulean Host. This was to be a consolidated military organization that was directly under the King. Where Vemocin's military was primarily hired on as private security, Saracin I's was built around the idea of a professional national army. It was clear that war was inevitable. The announcement was not taken lightly - the Vivn a year later would decide on the expansion of its own military forces. By this time, however, the initiative had been lost. The first of Saracin I's Cerulean Host would complete their training shortly afterwards, and they possessed far more war supplies. Saracin I had a disadvantage in territory on Talik, but in secret he forged alliances with three other independent states, The Kingdom of Jol, The Kingdom of Yuo, and the Nael Federation, promising them a protected place within his hegemony and territorial gains. The three states struck simultaneously, drawing troops away from the encirclement around the Kingdom of Wox allowing the terrestrial troops to break through. Early spacefaring warships proceeded to bombard power stations from orbit, casting the Vivn into chaos amid the blackout. While the fighting continued, terrified civilians began to speculate and start rumours. Partisan resistance collapsed in the paranoia and confusion, and the Cerulean Host captured the capital department of the Vivn.

Saracin I would conduct purges of those deemed resentful within the conquered populace - one had to prove their loyalty, often by acts of devotion. To avoid mixing the two peoples, Saracin decreed that a blockade and communication blackout would be placed on Talik (With the exception of the state of Wox - the allied states were not exempted) until they "made peace with their place". The total control of state media he had wrested from the Vivn made this a simple task. Returning back to Lecil with his Cerulean guards, Saracin found an exuberant people. His soldiers boasted of the feats of combat they had achieved and the trophies they had taken. Capitalizing on the mood, Saracin I commissioned scores of statues and art in commemoration of his grand victory (which predominantly featured himself as the mighty conqueror). Lavish festivities were held, financed by looted riches from conquered Talik territories.

Birth of Empire
The time was ripe for further reforms while he maintained full support of his people and suppression of his enemies. His conquests were hardly built upon sturdy legal and traditional foundations. The Kingdom of Wox's feudal system could not administer everything appropriately as it stood currently. Instead, Saracin co-opted the Vivn's departments, revoking titles of those fiercely opposed to him and replacing them with those who fought for his cause. Some existing Vivnates were already sympathetic and kept their positions, while others were cowed into submission. The blockade kept these departments vastly detached from their representatives, and squalor, despotism, and anarchy flourished in its downtrodden state. But to Saracin I, Talik could wait, and the longer it was left floundering the less resistance there would be to complete integration down the road. A more pressing concern was the dozens of colonies and scores of outposts which had been conquered but left realistically autonomous. Suggestions were made to expand the Vivn's departments to these locations, but Saracin feared increasing the influence and by extension legacy of his vanquished foe, lest it rise against him in the future. Instead, he awarded governorship titles to his devoted followers who, unlike the Vivnates that were practically required to reside in within de jure Wox lands, were to spend the majority of their time keeping close watch on their constituents. This group known as The Watch, was less powerful than the Vivnate Assembly due to the smaller and less affluent nature of colonies and the obstacles to assembly of Watch leaders that might lead to coordination.

Concern over the ability of these two bodies to petition him directly, Saracin sought to distance himself from divisive politicking by adding a third level to the administration - the Cerulean Host. The group was reformed to serve both an administrative and military purpose. Petitions and complaints had to be submitted with the intimidation of the army in mind. Saracin himself generally only dealt with his ardent supporters who had fought or led the fight against the Vivn. His advisors were generally also from this body. This would come to sculpt Saracin's already military-heavy policies into full-on imperialism.

The matter of the three allied nations which had sided with Wox in the war against the Vivn was of great concern. Tensions were mounting between the three and Wox since the War - Wox claimed sovereignty over most of the Vivn's former territory, save the concessions made to the allies, but had not made themselves present in the "occupied" territory, which the three were now eyeing hungrily. The two Kingdoms, Yuo and Jol, also felt their status as Kingdoms put them on equal footing with Wox, which had traditionally been of similar influence. In a bold move, Saracin I deemed it necessary to create an entirely new political entity to rule. There would be no historical assumptions or traditions holding it back. Avoiding regional titles, which came with the optics of bias or favouritism, and capitalizing on his immense personal popularity, he would christen the new overarching dominion THE SARACIN EMPIRE. Wox (including Lecil) became merely a state within a state. Saracin issued an ultimatum to Yuo and Jol that they would remain under blockade with the Vivn until they agreed to become another such state directly under Saracin in personal union. The incentive: the Nael Federation's territory, which Saracin deemed too complex to be worth integrating. While both refused initially, with the Vivn in ruins Jol's people starved, as they were very northern. Jol conceded begrudgingly and invaded the Nael Federation once they had the backing of Saracin. Yuo, which did not want to be left without a share of the Nael, also invaded. The Nael surrendered, with refugees escaping into the increasingly wild lands of the Vivn. With Yuo and Jol in the fold, Saracin could turn his attention back to the stars.