Houses
See List of Houses
Carnax society is divided into several social Houses who each have their own culture and motivations. Technically, they are ruled by the Holy Empire and follow the command of the Emperor. For the most part, this is true, however it is not always the case as some Houses are more concerned with self preservation than conquest. Some Houses have, at best, neutral relationships with other Houses. However, most are prone to conflict with one another for personal superiority and favor. Houses are led by Hierarchs, individual leaders who are political liaisons and military commanders. Instead of staying with the primary Carnax fleet, they are often tasked with searching separate star systems for the divine search. Therefore, each Hierarch is a captain of their own fleet. Arbiters are members of the Chosen who follow the command of their Hierarchs. They in turn issue their own orders to their Herd, the subordinate social class of warriors and servants. While Arbiters are technically below Hierarchs in social status, they are enforcers of the faith and act as Inquisitors on behalf of the Emperor. Some Houses must hide their dissolution of the faith from the Arbiters lest they be accused of heresy, punishable by death. Arbiters also bear one of the Eternal Relics. Each carries a Warp Halo, allowing travel throughout the universe. Without access to the Warp Halo, becoming stranded in a far corner of some unknown system is possible. Prophets are the escort and personal guards of the Arbiters, ensuring their protection and cohesion between the House Hierarch which is required to maintain the stability of each House and its leadership. Hierarchs keep the peace between members of their House while Prophets maintain relationships between the Arbiter, and by extension the Empire, and the rest of the House. Loss of leadership is a crisis within a House. Without a Hierarch, Houses become chaotic and devolve into infighting. Without a Prophet, Arbiters do not have a personal guard and connection with the Hierarch to access the Warp Halo. Without this web of leadership, Houses become in danger of collapse. Underneath the royal Chosen are members of the Herd, servants and serfs who are regarded not as individuals, but as property. They have no autonomy and are subject to the whims and commands of all Chosen. Only Thralls are remotely empowered, being the sole members of the Herd who are permitted to interact with Prophets. They are obedient members whose only other authority is the control over their individual crews. Their allegiance wholly belongs to their Prophet and associated House. The Carnax are known to enslave other species they have conquered, turning them into The Bound. This group of unfortunate beings exists even below the Herd. While they happen to be under control of the empire, they absolutely are not considered part of Carnax society and are seen as wholly expendable. Loyalty to one’s House is regarded as mandatory, and any trace of disloyalty is swiftly and severely punished. There are several current existing Houses within the Carnax empire, each distinctly different from one another. Before the creation of the Houses, the Carnax were united as one. However, after centuries of expansion through the depths of the universe, fragmentation of power and dissolutions began to grow, leading to The Rift.The Rift was a great civil war that shattered the unity of the Carnax society hundreds of years ago. During this turbulent time, each of the several Houses emerged, forged by unique circumstances and driven by their own motivations. In the wake of The Rift, the once-united Carnax Empire transformed into a fragmented and complex web of Houses, each vying for supremacy and seeking to carve out their own path. The aftermath of the civil war led to an autonomous and diverse society, where Houses acted as independent entities with their own territories, resources, and ambitions, while still remaining centralized and loyal to the Empire. This not only shaped the course of Carnax history but also laid the foundation for the ongoing conflicts, rivalries, and ever-evolving dynamics among the Houses as they vie for dominance in the cosmos.