User:KhalibanMcCallIRL

The Stygian Convocation is the ruling political wing of Del Stygia Emperia, an expanding multi-world culmination of various ‘sentient’ species spanning a star system.

The Convocation is a gathering of diaphanous aristocrats organized into a totalitarian congregation consisting of a council of Sixteen High Lords named the “Concilio Dominorum” comprised of an alien species called Ethereals, one Ethereal Lord Marshall, called the “Dominus Marescallus” who acts as a neutral buffer between the aforementioned council and a group of one hundred lesser congressmen consisting of various 'lesser' races, called the “Congressus Centum”.

The Ethereals are the ruling class and in their opinion, have no equals. They are an otherworldly race of dimension-faring aliens. Although not gods in any true sense, they are unfamiliar with the concept of death and in fact have no recorded case of one of theirs dying. Some say they have been in existence since time immemorial. They were made of swirling cosmic gasses and massive amounts of energy from whence even they themselves do no know.

Their true form is reminiscent of a ghostly skull encased in a transparent jellyfish-like ectoplasm, however they have taken up the practice of creating an outward projection when they appear before the Congressus Centum and mortals.

They exist to enact laws that influence the lives of mortal citizens within their ever expanding dominion and resolve disputes.

As of 97B/SCW, the known universe was divided into the following four sections: Regio Nota, the section where citizens of the empire lived in relative safety, Regio Ignota, the outer edges of Stygian territory where law was less established and more volatile, Regio Palatium, a pocket universe where the Ethereal house of congress, titled "Concessionis Terra" was located and was unreachable unless one knew the required means, and Regio Periculum, thus far uncharted and virtually unexplored by the Stygian Convocation or its vassals. Any probes that were sent into these areas ceased to relay information.

Though mainly occupied by settlers and members of the Sanctus Protectores, Regio Ignota was also home to various pirate bands and forlorn mercenary elements that routinely mounted raids to both plunder and test the empire's defenses by attacking various settlements.

As the borders of the empire increased in size and more sentient species sought refuge, The Convocation struggled to continue to effectively apply its current system of governance that had previously proved efficacious.

Bandit groups became more organized and settler communities began to lose faith and refuse to pay tithes to the ruling bodies. Finding themselves unable to enforce their own laws or expand expeditions due to the Sanctus Protectores being so few in number and sworn only to defend stygian installations, the Convocation met and decided there was great need for a martial assemblage overhaul.

The need reached a boiling point when the pirate captain Maxilla Sanguis rose up from the Ignota planet Rubigo Tristis, a barren radioactive wasteland, and mounted the first full scale invasion of Stygian territory, leading a coordinated fleet of various warbands and wiping out hundreds of established settlements.

No longer being able to rule through subtle manipulation alone and being made aware of the desertion of a considerable number of hold protectors, the Convocation came to an agreement where the Sanctus Protectores would be replaced as the defacto military force with a professional standing army to be commanded by elected lords from the ranks of the Concilio Dominorum that were deemed trustworthy and level headed. However this would bring about its own problem.

When the Pirate Lord Maxilla Sanguis declared his war against Del Stygia Empiria in the year 99B/SCW, he unleashed hordes of vicious pirates, rogues, and bandits, who carved a bloody path along Regio Ignota. Although settlements were allowed to establish militias and were often aided by members of Del Sanctus Protectores, they were no match for the countless raiders that spilled forth against them and more and more reports of massacres were relayed to Congressus Centum members who urged the Convocation to do something.

Before they could make a decision, however, the corsair uprising had already taken 3 planets (and their orbiting moons), of which Nyx, the largest, was declared the capital of their newly gained territory. In addition, they had enslaved many citizens and put them to work building grandiose statues of Maxilla at their settlements. Del Sanctus Protectores fought well against the invaders yet their numbers were still lessened and they could do nothing to aid their comrades or the citizens they were to protect for their oaths prevented them from acting. The Convocation took no more time to decide.

Through their congressus representatives, the Council of Lords decided that mass recruitment from the Regio Nota planets of the empire was the only chance of raising enough forces to defend it, so they went about investing great effort into recruitment drives and in some cases, a forced draft which if resisted would result in punishment, was applied.

Unfortunately, the citizens were entirely unaware of the Ethereal shadow council and showed little patriotism towards the empire that had forced them to pay large tithes for supposed protection in return, which they now could not carry out themselves. They saw the Congressus Centum as a bunch of arrogant rich nobles who cared little for the common individual and were themselves too cowardly to fight their own battles. Very few willing citizens stepped forward to answer the call.

As there were not enough citizens that wished to volunteer for professional military service, and a mass-produced robotic force was not desirable in their eyes, the ethereals resorted to another plan. Feeling slighted by the lesser populations who reaped the benefits of their control yet were not willing to contribute to the defense of the empire, punishment for this slight from their mortal populace, came in the form of a decree in which random citizens would be selected and conscripted via unwilling possession into military service.

Though after just a few months of this plan, it was deemed unviable for the long term due to the mortal possessed bodies having adverse effects such as internal organ liquefaction due to the means of possession  and research began into alternatives.

While that happened, lords and councilors of the Factio Conservata Reformationis questioned the moral ethicacy of abducting their own helpless, mortal citizens who they were meant to be governing and ultimately protecting. Other more cynical lord congressmen saw the affected as nothing more than peons, ripe for use in whatever manner they saw fit.

Regardless of the opinion, it was eventually decided that the previous plan was a necessary start but would need to be modified. Citizens would be abducted and their minds would be wiped to allow for intensive brainwashing to ensure complete obedience. Next they would be fitted with cheap plasteel armor for defense, and would be inducted into training camps for one standard year when they were deemed fit for combat.

The Dominorum selected a representative from each of their parties to personally head the military high command for the newly created armies: the ruthless Occidere of Factio Libertatem Societatis, the reluctant McCall of Factio Conservata Reformationis, the just Lexicus, chairman of Domini Nuetrum and scheming Calvarium of Popularis Factionis Ad Profectum Fornicationis.

Being the least politcally aligned, Lexicus was promoted to the position of Executor Imperatus or Legion Master in layman's terms. He chose McCall to be his 2IC Executor Legatus. As well as Occidere and Calvarium, McCall was assigned Manipulis Bulla, to lead forces from the vanguard into battle.

In addition to their new stations, they were equipped with thickly plated suits of power armor that they were contained within to give the impression of powerful and formidable leaders. However the ethereals were rather new to combat themselves as well as military command and had to operate on a basis of intimidation as they learned more of their new profession.

Within the Concilio Dominorum, there are 4 factions: Factio Conservata Reformationis, Factio Libertatem Societatis, and Popularis Factionis Ad Profectum Fornicationis, who constantly plot against each other for control and the favour of the Lord Marshall, and Domini Neutrum, a collective of lords who must either remain as nuetral as possible or simply have no political ambition.


 * 1) Factio Conservata Reformationis: The Stygian Conservative Party for Reformation:

They worked to allow representation for non wealthy citizens within the Congressus Centum as well as land reforms, to redistribute land owned (seized) by rich aristocrats to the working class, passing laws forcing the wealthy to hire citizens with real wages instead of using slave labour, and limiting political corruption.


 * Speaker Misericordia
 * Chairman Admirari
 * Lord McCall (away from Congressum)
 * Lord Providentia


 * 1) Factio Libertatem Societatis:

Librataurus Liberty Alliance Party:

Conservative traditionalists that favored wealthy and noble individuals. They were the polar opposite of FCR, believing in limited potential for political ambition of citizens unless they could offer services, blocking off rights to citizens, forcing them to pay absorbent taxes, and maintaining the status quo by keeping wealthy congressmen in power.

Notable Members:


 * Speaker Iminicus
 * Chairman Scelus
 * Lord Pertinax
 * Lord Occidere (away from Congressum


 * 1) Popularis Factionis Ad Profectum Fornicationis:

Party For the Advancement of Immorality:

This collective of ethereal lords were recipients of disdain from most sides of the political aisle but were known to have backdoor dealings with certain lords and congressmen of the Librataurus variety from time to time.


 * Speaker Calvarium
 * Chairman Dedecus
 * Lord Scortatus
 * Lord Fallacia


 * 1) Domini Neutrum:

Neutral Lords:


 * Dominus Marescallus Vetriax
 * Justicar Lexicus
 * Lord Putridus
 * Lord Naturus