Scarlet Dynasty

Overview

The Scarlet Dynasty is at once an extended family group and a social class, the pinnacle of the social pyramid within the Scarlet Empire. The most recognized members of the class, and its most powerful, are the members of the Great Houses, but while all Great House members are Dynasts, there exist Dynasts who are not members of the Great Houses. Dynasts are linked by an acknowledged familial relationship with the Scarlet Empress, with most Dynasts able to trace their descent from her by blood and marriage.

Dynasts are small in number, but are afforded significant legal rights and protections. Of note, they are in most circumstances immune to judgement by the criminal courts of the Thousand Scales and by the Guardians of the Realm, being judged almost always by the Imperial Magistrates. Dynasts are also the only class permitted to own slaves (though the Immaculate Order preaches that only Dragonblooded ought own slaves due to their enlightened status, meaning mortal Dynasts rarely own them directly). They are permitted to own and trade in weapons, and may kill any Disenfranchised without legal consequence.

Great Houses

Great Houses are those Dynastic lines granted the highest status by order of the Empress, often descending from a favoured child or lover. Only Great Houses may seat representatives in the Greater Chamber of the Deliberative, rule over Dominions, sponsor Legions (at least before the Scarlet Empress vanished) or Fleets, hold satrapies, request personal audiences with the Throne, oversee manses and demesnes, and many other privileges.

There are currently 10 Great Houses: House Cathak, House Cynis, House Ledaal, House Mnemon, House Nellens, House Peleps, House Ragara, House Sesus, House Tepet, & House V'neef.

Cadet Houses

The Cadet Houses of the Dynasty are Dynastic lines found primarily in the Threshold, Dragonblooded families who have been partially adopted into the Realm, existing simultaneously within the upper social class of the Scarlet Dynasty and as the ruling families of independent states. Cadet Houses have the rights of Dynasts within the Realm, as well as serving as a source of marriage candidates for Great Houses. As rulers of their states they also are vested with many responsibilities normally in the hands of satraps, and each Cadet House seats a minimum of three representatives in the Lesser Chamber of the Deliberative.

Most of the Cadet Houses rule states along the northeastern coast of the Threshold, though there are several further afield as well. The largest Cadet House is House Ferem of Cherak.

Imperial Progeny

While not part of Great Houses or Cadet Houses, every child of the Empress is a Dynast.

Fallen House

Great Houses exist at the whim of the Empress, and may be stripped of their status for a number of reasons. When this is done, their members become the worst form of Disenfranchised and are all deemed Traitors to the Realm, anyone from Dynast to peasant able to kill them at a whim without consequence… in fact another Disenfranchised who slays a member of a Fallen House is rewarded by elevation to patrician status.

Through the history of the Realm, there have been several Fallen Houses, including: House Jerah, House Manosque, and House Iselsi.