On Imperial Society

By Lord Inquisitor Ahab Leonidas von Drachen

To describe the Imperium as odd would be something of an understatement, having a number of influences from ancient Rome and Celtic Europe to the British Empire and America. The Imperium can be both Familiar and strangely Alien to the new arrival or Transplant as we call you, this isn't an insult or dehumanising label as some have called it. It is a temporary status and statement of fact, I had it myself coming from Britain in 2025 AD (Anno Domini) to 5650 IC (Imperial Calendar), it would be better to consider the term you as a Transplant as the same as Refugee or Immigrant. A simple status, nothing more. However, as a Transplant you need to know this. In the Imperium order is kept by four bodies:

1.       The Body Politic or the population of the Imperium itself, it’s social strata and accompanying social mores relevant to where in Imperial Society one resides.

2.       The Inquisition and Police Force acting as the cudgel against those who break the social and legal taboos of the Imperium.

3.       The Religious leaders acting as the moral heart and conscience of the Imperium, advising and guiding the average citizen through the various religious and spiritual teachings in the Imperium.

4.       The Assassin Guilds, the unseen hand keeping the criminally minded Nobility in check by removing them one at a time at the behest of their enemies  for a price.

The Body Politic, the Strata of the Imperium

Now on to my poor attempt to explain the Imperium, the first thing I will do is to give you the lay of the land. Imperial society is split into two broad categories or classes, the Plebeian class and the Patrician Class. These classes are further divided into three groups, the Plebeian class is split into the Upper, Middle and Lower Plebeians. Each is a form of working class, the Lower Plebeian class is the menial worker and criminal class working cash in hand jobs and the odd mugging on the side. This is where the so called gig economy is in the Imperium, where those who caused the majority of trouble in schools and refused to put any effort into their work landed. The next is the Middle Plebeian class, those with regular 9-5 jobs in everything from farmers to shop workers and is by far the largest class in the Imperium, most people here have ambitions and dreams with the skill if not timing to achieve those goals. This is the jumping off point for every stable family in the Imperium, where so many of the next class start. The Upper Plebeian class, the administratiors and the middle and line managers of the Imperium, these are the people who keep shit running on time and do the majority of the paperwork that keeps the Imperium chugging along nicely. Well, except for the bloody Jobsworth in every bloody office, you know the one. The dour twat that's just waiting for their pension and replies to any request more complicated than sending out the correct form with the line "that's more than my jobs worth".

Anyway, I'm getting off track. The next triplet in Imperial Society is the Patrician Class, starting with the Neveau Rich. These are the entrepreneurs, those with drive and vision to create businesses and products for people to buy. So long as they're smart and quick they can either occupy an opening or make one in the next tier. The Aristocracy, this is the old guard of rich a good number of whom are Vampires this is where a lot of the administrators and beurocrats that work in the Imperial Government are drawn from. Mostly to keep them busy as idle hands are the Devil's Workshop as the old saying goes. Above them are the Nobility, this is the cutthroat top of Imperial society, most nobles have a life expectancy similar to that of an Infantryman on the Western Front, about six weeks, mostly because of the nasty habit of duelling and assassinating each other over dumb shit. Like an imagined sleight on their honour or telling a Noble woman that she's morbidly Obese. Thankfully this pastime of murder keeps them far too busy to cause trouble for the Empress and the Elector Council. The real Governing body of the Imperium, now I won't bore you with the Government and its set up mostly because I will be writing a separate post on that in the future as it's rather complicated. 

So, instead I will try to explain the various races of the Imperium. Yes, we use Race here to denote the various groups of citizens of the Imperium. If you're uncomfortable with that tough, you don’t make the rules here.

Races of the Imperium

Humans

I will start with by far the largest racial group, Homo Sapiens Sapiens and the subgroups Tieflings, Lycanthropes and Vampires. Humans are 55% of the Imperial population and growing steadily at around 1% every census (taken every decade). We all know humans, most of you reading this probably count yourselves amongst our illustrious psychotic primate family. We are builders and breakers of many things, seekers of peace and wagers of war. Basically a complicated bunch of nutters, one thing a lot of you new to the Imperium notice is that all of us here are white European people. That is by design, the entity that brings people here splits them up by race, Africans to Africa, Europeans to the Imperium, Persians to the Persian Empire and so on, she’s seen how we act on earth with each other so like a mother she’s split us up into our own corners. This has had the effect of surprisingly stable nations, which means the "Right Wingers",  "White Supremacists" "Bigots" and "Neo-Nazis" from Enoch Powell to Nigel Farage were fucking right. I'm not really comfortable in saying that but we have to accept the truth, no matter how distasteful it is.

As mentioned humans have three subgroups, each are genetically human with minor variations.

Tieflings 

Also known as Devil Folk, the average Tiefling is pretty much the same as you or I attitude wise. They are descendants of people from various worlds in the Gygax Multiverse and the world of Golarian, unlike those worlds the Imperium has accepted them as they are. Understanding that they’re not responsible for their situation as they're the best outcome of an ancient deal with the Devil Asmodeus in the majority of cases. This wrong footed some of the first Transplants leading to some confusion and amusing anecdotes. They still have their hellish rebuke by the way so it's not advised to attack them, unless of courseyou enjoy the mother of all burns. They also breed true so if you marry a Tiefling and have children they too will be Tieflings, don't say that you were not informed when little timmy comes out with a tail and starts growing horns after a week or two.

Lycanthropes

The term Lycanthropes is an umbrella term as it covers all manner of human shape shifters in Imperial Law, the most common you are likely to encounter are your classic Werewolves. These gregarious family or pack oriented lot tend to live nomadic lives and are most often encountered in their Dire Wolf form with their human family members either driving earthroamers or Gypsy Wagons behind them, often those vehicles are loaded with the extremely old or pups not ready to run with the pack. So be careful around them, for your own sake.

The next common Lycanthropes are the Ursalthropes or Werebears, most likely encountered in solitary cabins the Werebears are likely to be the local Druid of the area and knows it like the back of their hand if you approach them with respect and care they will most likely help you if you're lost in the boonies.

Vampires 

This is my bunch, we make up about 2% of the overall population and act as the keel of the ship we call the Imperium. This is done by the Banríon who usually finds the best person for whatever job is needed to be done and that needs long term thinking and planning. I am the exception to this rule as my Brother named me his successor in his last will and testament. There are two distinct types of Vampire in the Imperium, the Nanotech vampires, of which I am one. We can go out during the day, eat regular food so lo ng as we accompany it with at least a pint or two of blood and generally live like anyone else, we also think faster, can move at blinding speed, punch through concrete, heal at a ridiculous rate and in a handful of cases fly. We prefer not to do most if the violent shit, we’re not Omniman but we have that capability if the need arises. The other type of Vampire is the Nosferatu, these are your classic undead vampire. They have the same need for blood and have the same capabilities as the Nanotech vampires but they're weak to sunlight, to be exact Ultraviolet light. It's like porphyria dialled up to eleven thousand, so they tend to work the night shifts like night watchmen and generally stay out of the way. We don't know how they come into existence but we are working on that, or we would be if we could get the Liches to stop playing D&D for five minutes.

Orcs

Orcs are the next largest racial group in the Imperium, making up 20% of the Imperial population. This would be more but until recently the average Orc lifespan was only 45-50 years it was lower than that due to religious practices before the Orc Wars. Orcs themselves are generally a jovial lot, hard workers and hard players to a fault their women aren't much different. Sweet natured muscle mommies, if they like you they'll put you through hell to bring out the best in you. All the while making you cookies and other foods to help you recover. Talk about mixed messages.

Elves

Elves constitute about five percent of the Imperial population, their numbers are also rising but an uncomfortably slow rate. A half a percent every census, this is explained by their long lifespan creating a very low birthrate. Elven society is matriarchal mostly out of necessity because of the fall of the Eldar Hegemony leading to the loss of some 90% of their men in combat. Now to clarify there are four types of Elf in the Imperium, I will briefly discuss the groups below.

High Elves 

The High Elves tend to come across as self righteous ass holes, this is something of a mask. Which hides a deep shame about something they refuse to speak about. On the whole the High Elves have a homogeneous look, being tall, slender with blonde hair and blue or green eyes.

Wood Elves 

Wood Elves are the largest of the elvish populations in the Imperium, but the least encountered as they prefer to live in their forest settlements and not bother anyone. We have a healthy trade with the Wood Elves, they're supreme lumberjacks knowing the best wood to use for whatever construction need you have. They also make the most diverse range of Moonshine known as Screech, I'm sure they have a name for it but they've never told what it is. This screech comes in many types denoted by colour, the most common is clear and is useful for two things getting blind drunk and stripping paint. The rarest is rainbow Screech, the effects vary from person to person but the most common is a mild hallucination and an extremely relaxed nature for the following week.

Sea Elves 

Sea Elves are the Imperium’s boat people, descended from the Eldar Hegemony's Navy they're happiest on the open ocean taking roles in the Imperial Navy and the Merchant Marine. They're so comfortable at sea that when they step on dry land they walk around as if they're drunk, or like Captain Jack Sparrow take your pick. Those with issues with authority usually become fishermen, but they still live on the ocean. The capital of the Sea Elves is something known as The Hull, an ancient Iron ship carcass repurposed into a palace for their Grand Admiral.

Dark Elves

Dark Elves or Ilythiiri, are the smallest population of Elves in the Imperium. They are also the most valuable, being the first none human members of both the Republic and the Imperium. Their Matron Mothers are also most likely to take human husbands, the reasons for this being their dearth of men in general, and to loft the ancient curse on their people that turned their skin black as night. Something they found out by pure serendipity, this has led to a great number of very happy men in very comfortable beds across the Imperium. One piece of advice before we move on, never use the term Drow around them. The best you can expect is a dressing down by the hottest drill instructor in your life, normally any Dark Elf within earshot will just smack you in the mouth. To explain Drow comes from an old word Daehro, meaning traitor or evil depending on where in the sentence the word was used. We suspect the term Drow was in itself part of the curse and that it has something to do with the High Elves and the shame they will not talk about.

Dwarves

The humble Dwarf isn't a particularly common sight above ground, as they're usually deep underground in the Technocracy. The few Dwarves on the surface are exiles from the Technocracy and will point blank refuse to answer any questions about why they were exiled, it's a shameful thing to be on the surface for a Dwarf even if they're making even more money than they were in the Technocracy. That shame will be installed in their children and grandchildren about how their ancestor Ironfist created the cursed Throngler, in much the same way as Roman Catholics perpetuate the shame of the original sin. Still, any Dwarf on the surface is a natural artificer able to make almost anything you can conceive of, and if they cannot make it they know how it can and who they need to help.

Halflings

How do we describe your average Halfling without referencing Hobbits, Tolkien or their love of the good life. By good life I don't mean fast cars, night clubs and uncle Klagy's big booty bitches. No, what they mean by the good life is a warm hearth, a welcoming home, a loving family and tending to one's own business and nothing more. They're a peaceful people content with smallholding farms, fishing in the river and the idyllic life of a Turner painting. A people to either envy or emulate, of course they get a dose of Tookish wanderlust when they're young leading them to adventure far and wide protected from harm by their natural luck and friendly nature. But they always find their way home again, no matter how far they wander.

Gnomes

Much like the Halflings, Gnomes are a peaceful people. However, they're all borderline insane. Coming in three basic groups, the Rock Gnome, the Forest Gnome and the Deep Gnome.

Rock Gnome

The Rock Gnome is a mad genius of invention, easily found in any town or city they will usually be in a Dwarf run workshop. Building some tiny intricate device the Dwarf cannot build, giggling maniacally as they make improvements to the design. Whether those improvements are helpful or not is something of a crap shoot.

Forest Gnome

The Forest Gnomes are less insane than their kin the Rock Gnomes, but they're fanatics about protecting the natural order of the wilderness, I know this first hand after disturbing one of their Druidic rituals by accident. No I won't regale you with the story, but suffice to say, I'm well aware of how a pin cousin feels.

Deep Gnome

Also known as the Svirfneblin, the Deep Gnomes live down in the Technocracy aiding the Dwarves in their work. Beyond that I have no clue about them.

Arcane Intelligences/Warforged

The Arcane Intelligences colloquially called Warforged are the Imperium's machine men and women, they prefer the term AI meaning Arcane Intelligence but are surprisingly accepting of the term Warforged because of the similarities between the Gygax multiverse player race and themselves. similarities aside the average AI looks like a refugee from the Michael Bay Transformers movies on a smaller scale, though the Legionaries have adopted the classic Paladin look and take great pride in being the vanguard of any infantry advance with their multi ton bodies stomping down the street they make an impressive and intimidating spectacle that usually results in a resurfacing of the roads.

Laws

The Imperium has a Constitution of ten amendments that outlines your rights and responsibilities along with the limits of the Imperial Government. This Constitution is generally known as the Lex Imperialis I won't be listing each law here as that'll be both incredibly long but also interminably boring, I know I had to read it before taking my role as Lord Inquisitor and frankly Tramadol is nothing on the legalese of the lex Imperialis for putting you to sleep.

1st Amendment, The rights of the Individual

The first amendment covers your individual rights that cannot be removed or suspended by the state except for two specific reasons, the first being a state of national emergency i.e. war or you have broken the law. Your rights include the right to private property, the right to privacy in general the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right of peaceful protest and the freedom from slavery.  

2nd Amendment, The right to Self Preservation and Defence

The second Amendment is basically your right to openly bear arms, the wording is rather straight forward. Any Imperial Citizen over the age of sixteen, that has been assessed to be of sound mind, can choose to carry a weapon. However, the citizen who exercises their second amendment right must practice with their chosen weapon at a reputable and licensed centre no less than one day per week. I recommend three times a week personally but the final choice is yours. Now, because I've been asked about this a few times, what the Lex Imperialis means by "sound mind" is that you're not a violent psychopath or sociopath, suicidal, schizophrenic or dealing with the side effects of a long term addiction. Cannabis psychosis for example, yes you can develop a kind of psychosis from smoking cannabis for a ling time. Also, as an armed citizen you are the last line of defence of the freedoms enshrined in this document so take this responsibility seriously.

3rd Amendment, Freedom of Information

The third amendment is purely about your right to the free flow of information and the impartiality of the news media, both large organisations like the Imperial Press Association and the citizen journalist on the street with nothing but a Compact (our version of a smartphone).

4th Amendment, Rights of the family and children

Why this is the fourth amendment and not the third is a mystery, the only logical reason is that at some point while writing the other three some bright spark asked about family rights and child protection. So here it is, the fourth amendment. This deals entirely with family law and protecting children from undue indoctrination into political and sexual movements they're ill equipped to understand by both parents and teachers. We like to call this the "Leave the Kids Alone" law, mostly because it's a quick way to spot those who would exploit the innocent for their sexual gratification.

5th Amendment, Treatment under the Law

This is where I as Lord Inquisitor have limitations, yes I can kill with impunity as can four others including the Empress herself. However, I cannot subject you to cruel and unusual punishments, kick in your door without a warrant or cause for concern for your safety or the safety of another in your home. You are also guaranteed a swift, fair and open trial by your peers in a court of law when accused of committing a crime. It also enshrines your Miranda Rights into law where they were merely a courtesy under the Republic.

6th Amendment,  Legions and their use in Peacetime

The sixth amendment is all about our military and how we can and cannot use them in peacetime, it also prevents the usual mistreatment of soldiers and baracking them in the homes of private citizens under the Posse Comitatus rule which also prevents their use within the Imperium unless the Imperium is invaded. This also means that the Inquisition is in sole charge of keeping order in the Imperium if the Body Politic fails.

7th Amendment, Double Jeopardy

This is another simple one in an odd place for no reason, another afterthought placement really. This just prevents a person from being tried again for the same crime if found innocent the first time. Honestly, this can be a pain in the ass. However, I believe in Blackstone's Formula and I would rather have it than not.

8th Amendment, Taxation

This is a limit on the Imperium, the Imperium cannot raise taxes to a level that the lowest Imperial citizen cannot live by any means. Basically it prevents a cost of living crisis, or citizens paying more taxes on things they have already paid taxes on. For example property tax, you bought a home on which you paid Value Added Tax. This amendment prevents the Imperium from forcing you to pay more taxes on that property. 

9th Amendment, Medical Treatment

This just makes sure that anyone needing medical help gets it, originally it was affordable treatment but with the introduction of the National Insurance and welfare scheme this was amended to be swift medical treatment and that the state will produce all treatments necessary for its citizens and guests.

10th Amendment, Personal Responsibility

This is exactly what it says, anything that isn't here is basically up to you or your local government.

Religions of the Imperium 

The Imperium is a polytheistic nation though most people are monotheistic, we have currently five or seven faiths recognised by the Imperial Synod. Not all of which were accepted willingly, though that will be covered later. I also will not be going into detail on the Holy Days of the Imperium but if you know anything about the Celtic Wheel of the Year you'll be fine. 

Faith of the Mothers

The Faith of the Mothers is by far the largest religion in the Imperium, it revolves around seven female deities or Mothers one for each of the classical elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and three more Light, Dark and the All Mother at the top. I'm not sure of the tenets of the faith beyond don't be a dickhead and be excellent to each other, like most religions but I do know that they act as caretakers of the soul until it's time to reincarnate. 

Christianity

The Imperium is host to all forms of Christianity, from Gnostics to, I think, Seventh-day Adventists and a few Evangelical churches. Though not as large as it used to be the philosophical ideals of the Imperium Romanum are derived directly from the Christian faith. As much as the Atheist groups across the Imperium wish to deny it, the influence of Christianity on the Imperium is all encompassing.

Judaism

This is another strong influence on the Imperium’s early stages back in the Kingdom and Republic years, though that influence wained as Christianity grew in strength and influence along with the Faith of the Mothers.

La Santa Muerte/The Queen of Ravens

This is the not readily accepted faith, Santa Muerte is another imported faith, what is known as a Syncretism where elements of one or more faith are mixed, Hattian Vodun being another example. This faith was originally born in Mexico on Earth and was quickly adopted by the criminal fraternity, giving it the stigma of a Narco faith in that country and neighbouring countries. However, here in the Imperium La Santa Muerte is driven by women seeking love, amongst other things, and has adopted the tenets of the Raven Queen 

1.Death is the natural end of life. Grieve the fallen, but do not pity them. Exult in the time that they were granted.

2. The path of Fate is sacrosanct. Those who pridefully cast off destiny must be punished.

3. Undeath is an atrocity. Death is too good a punishment for those who pervert the rightful transition of the soul. (There are pragmatic exemptions to this commandment - Morgana von Drachen)

Where the Raven Queen originates is a mystery, but she has adopted those worshipping La Santa Muerte as her own and unlike the other deities takes an active role in the lives of her faithful. Often answering prayers by sending ravens to those she answers and gifting her clerics and warlocks ravens as familiars. The Christian element of the Imperial Synod refuse to recognise the faith but have been overruled by the Empress and the Goddesses in its acceptance.

The Omnissiah

The term Omnissiah is taken from the other great hobby in the Imperium, Warhammer forty thousand and the Adeptus Mechanicus faction. However, instead worshipping a C'tan shard of the Void Dragon the Arcane Intelligences of the Imperium worship the universe itself as the great machine, seeing order in the chaos of the universe.

Yondalla,  The Nurturing Matriarch

The faith of Yondalla came over with the Halflings, yes they're Transplants brought over by Yondalla herself from a dying world I never bothered to learn the name of. Almost exclusively practiced by the Halflings, the faith of hospitality is slowly spreading amongst the other races.

Eilistraee

This is another Transplanted faith, one of the Dark Dancer, a faith of beauty, music, charity and violent wholesomeness. The best way to explain this faith is to point you to the document On Eilistraee and her faith it's an interesting read and probably explains why a lot of horny teenagers are attracted to her and learning music recently.

Assassins guilds

There are seven Assassin guilds in the Imperium, all overseen by a council known as the Guilds Council. These Guilds are the reason why the Nobility are far too busy to cause problems in the Imperium. They are : The Red Hand, The Dark Ravens, The Hidden Blade, The Brewers, Jiminy Cricket's Crew, The Debauchery Tea Party, and Big Dave 

The Red Hand

The Red Hand is one of the first guilds to be formed, it was formed from a criminal gang that was less than successful but very skilled in stealth, lead by a woman only known as Lady H the Red Hand has become one of the leading thief and Assassin guilds in the Imperium.

The Dark Ravens

The Dark Ravens are something of a hybrid Guild, originally a purely religious Dark Elf guild dedicated to the Dark Goddess Lolth. In recent months more humans have joined but the Dark Ravens changing its worship from Lolth (whose worship fell out of favour with the Dark Elves during the fall of the Eldar Hegemony in favour of Eilistraee who at least offered hope and beauty), to the Raven Queen and adopted her tenets of faith. This has led them to two things other than Assassinations; one is Nosferatu hunting as many choose to abandon their humanity which is very much against the Raven Queen's commandments, and to a prophecy of a new Vampire Goddess called the Mater Sanguis or the Mother of Blood. The prophecy will be covered in detail  by Lord Eisenguard in his section on the Legends of the Imperium so I won't bore you with that.

The Brewers

The Brewers are a guild on the cheaper end of the murder market, made up of the remains of the would be mafia gang of the same name. They're based in an old brewery in the Capital and are often used as a revenge tool for nobles on their uppers, against those nobles that caused their fall from wealth and grace. The Brewers are known for their brutality and surprising efficiency often using brass knuckles and trench knives as their preferred weapons for ease of carry, the guild is also meticulous in leaving receipts for their work.

The Hidden Blade

The Hidden Blade are an odd lot, mostly employing Halflings and Gnomes for their natural stealth and luck the Hidden Blade like to specialise in the punishment of corrupt landowners through either theft or murder, beyond that they act more like the Harpers, I will cover them in a moment in my miscellaneous groups section.

The Jiminy Cricket Crew

The Jiminy Cricket Crew are hard to pin down, at times they're anarchists doing shit for no clear reasons but never challenging the status quo but others they're methodical and calculated in their assassinations, they also leave a little moral lesson with their receipt. It's almost as if they're trying to become a secular conscious of the Imperium, just one with a knife, almost as if Jiminy Cricket has had enough of your shit. Oh, Now I get it, they're all good people. Just ones who've decided that they have to do dark things to do good. Hopefully they understand Nietzsche's warning about fighting monsters.

The Debauchery Tea Party

Named after the fictional adventuring party in the Anime Log Horizon the Tea Party as they're often referred to are one of those guilds that will do anything from escorting archaeologists in the boonies of the Imperium to actual assassinations, they are truly a guild of adventurers and are good fun to be around. If you are thinking of doing this dark work I would recommend you talk to the Tea Party.

Big Dave

Big Dave is just a monstrous man called Big Dave, he only takes one or two jobs at a time and they're always the type that should get him killed, but he's not dead yet. Unless he's more like the Dread Pirate Roberts, just the name. I'll have to look into that.

Miscellaneous groups

The Erinyes

The Erinyes are the Inquisition's own Assassin Guild, they do the work I cannot be seen to do or the jobs that would contravene the Imperial Constitution, stuff like Double Jeopardy. As questionable as it is to have a group of superpowered witches killing enemies of the state we are working with practicalities of a cutthroat business.

The Harpers

The Harpers recently turned up in the Imperium, originating on the world of Toril in the Gygax Multiverse as a group of adventurers and general spanner in the works of evil on that world, The Harpers here are pretty much the same thing, though the forces of evil in the Imperium are far more constrained because of the second amendment so there's no saving the world from the power crazed Lich or followers of Bane. We still have things that crop up from time to time that need the proactive sort to deal with before they become a major problem. The Harpers are that sort exactly, so in a recent meeting with them at time of writing this I decided to endorse the organisation. Now the Harpers recruit from all walks of life and will do so without the recruit even knowing, their methods and code can be found in the Second Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons book Code of the Harpers.

About the Author

Archduke Ahab Leonidas von Drachen is the Lord Inquisitor and lives in the Inquisition Headquarters of Bastion Fortress Invicta, he prefers a quiet life with his Wife Morgana and five children but the Imperium and world at large seem to have other plans for him.