Sollan Empire

Emperor Alexander VI rules from Avalon, styling himself His Exalted Radiance and Firstborn Son of Earth. The Chantry backs his reign. However, the genome-retroviral network of 989 bunker nodes remains coded to Hadrian's biometric identity. The Knights Excubitor respond to Hadrian's commands over Alexander's. Hadrian predicts Alexander will be hollowed out and used as an empty shell by other men, and that the galaxy will wither in his hand.

The palatine genetic system requires biometric scans and passwords at each node for every birth. The Chantry wrote the code. The Jaddians are the only exception. Nicephorus, who carried the operational knowledge of the genome network, is dead -- described as carrying the fate of the blood palatine on his shoulders.

House Avent has produced two hundred and fifty-one monarchs over seventeen millennia. The founding mythology depicts the conquest of the machines. Emperor Sigmund II changed the formal name in the mid-tenth millennium. The Empire has always had two hearts: Forum and Earth. With Forum destroyed, only Earth remains.

Hadrian holds the position of Auctor of the Imperium. In Cassandra's future alliance-building, the Mandari will back power and money, the Nipponese might be swayed, and the Norman lords and freeholders might be persuaded.

The Legions are more than decimated, struggling to forge fresh order from slag. The Empire lost approximately thirty percent of its naval power at Gododdin. The Martian Guard is described as largely belonging to the Chantry. The Chantry Sentinel fleet is a separate force.

The flagship Aurora carries the court-in-exile. Many battleships are thousands of years old. Shipyards north of Orion have been destroyed. Warp-wake observatories detect enemy movements. The Grass Crown is the highest honor, made of living gold.

The Lothrian Commonwealth is burning Jadd itself. Hadrian gives Olorin the Darklight weapon in hopes of turning the tide against the Lothrian assault.

The Empire was founded as the sole human power in the cosmos, originally named "Empire of Earth and Sun." Emperor Sigmund II changed the name in the mid-tenth millennium.

Sebastian the Great sterilized cadet branches. Alexander Haemogenesis established the genome-control network. Under Cyrus II, the palatine caste was constituted. The Chantry wrote the genetic code.

First contact with the Cielcin occurred in ISD 15792 at the Battle of Cressgard. The war continued for more than seven hundred years. The fall of Marinus cost the Norman Expanse. The Emperor was besieged on Perfugium. The loss of Nessus crippled communications. The Arm of Centaurus and the Lynga cluster were lost. The Norman territories were conceded to the Monarchy of Latarra.

Forum is destroyed, never to be rebuilt. The Empire loses thirty percent of naval power at Gododdin. Emperor William XXIII dies. Nicephorus dies, taking operational knowledge of the genome network. The genome network is coded to Hadrian's identity. Alexander VI takes the throne, backed by the Chantry.

The Lothrian Commonwealth crossed the Rasan Belt and is now burning Jadd. Extrasolarian demoniacs infiltrated institutions. Hadrian states he has destroyed the Empire. The Empire subsequently rules from Avalon and is ruled in turn by Earth.

Emperor Alexander VI (Prince Alexander) rules from Avalon, backed by the Chantry. Hadrian holds the genome-control network, the titles Emperor of the Sollans, Emperor of Mankind, King of Earth and Mars, of Avalon, of Delos, and Prince Imperator of the Arms, and the position of Auctor of the Imperium; the Knights Excubitor obey him. Nicephorus is dead. Crown Prince Aurelian served as Prince Chancellor. Ohannes Douro commanded the Legions of Orion. Sentinel Commander Kedron led the Chantry fleet. Cassandra works to build alliances among the Mandari, Nipponese, and Norman lords. Olorin receives the Darklight weapon from Hadrian.