House Ik’Tal
(Old Photoshop art, new AI generated)
Values: The House Ik’Tal is the oldest and most prestigious house, although not the most powerful. There is a certain sense of honor when you are with the House Ik’Tal, but that honor is becoming less meaningful. The House Ik’Tal holds tradition as the highest value; following the ways of the Church to the letter, honoring the Jedi Saints of the Church. They follow the ceremonies set down by their ancestors long ago and are traditionally very lavish in there undertaking. They put on a good show, as if they still had the power they once had, but now it’s all a show and no more.
Leadership: High Lord Gres Dorek leads the House Ik’Tal, and he is no more than a puppet leader. He is old and honored by all the families of the house. He is the most beloved of the Ik’Tal Lords in recent years. But he will pass on soon, and the next in line is in question. According to tradition, it would be his eldest son. However, the Lord never had one. He did, instead, adopt a young boy 20 years ago, one that was found in a sleeper pod launched from some unknown origin. This is where the controversy lies, and so many are feuding over what the Law calls for in this case.
Description: Ik’Tal has a history that goes back thousands of years, before the settlement of the Kathol sector, when the House was part of a long forgotten aristocracy in the Core. Many Noble houses from that area of the Core moved pout to the Rim, settling in different sectors of space, intent on starting their own empires. Ik’Tal lead about 20 houses from the Core to the Kathol sector and along with thousands of independent settlers, colonized it.
Ik’Tal has the largest number of Troops of all the houses. However, it also uses some of the lowest tech among the houses. Trading with mercenaries, and smugglers was beneath the House Ik’Tal, so they had to rely on internal weapons production.
Allies: Ik’Tal have a few allies. Their strongest allies lie with the Church of Kathol Prophets. Due to their traditional beliefs, House Ik’Tal has strong ties to the Church, and usually follows with their ruling. They also have some allegiances in the House Shador, but they are very shaky. They once had a strong alliance with House Brakia, but it collapsed after an incident involving a large shipment of food and humanitarian aid from House Brakia to some outlying colonies in the Rim Worlds was attacked and destroyed by what appeared to be a faction within the House Ik’Tal. In reality, it was an Imperial plot to break up the alliance.
Enemies: Ik’Tal is not lacking in enemies either. House Brakia is now an enemy. House Karadol is also a long-time enemy since the early years of settlement. Karadol remained a minor house solely due to Ik’Tal’s actions, and when the Empire arrived, and gave Karadol enough power to be considered a Major house, Karadol vowed revenge. The Empire has kept Karadol’s revenge at bay, however. Ik’Tal originally saw the minor house as a prodigy, doing all things “with the House Karadol’s best interest at heart”.
Assets: Ik’Tal’s primary assets lie in mining and construction. Ik’tal used to run the corporation that owned the Wathor Ott Shipyards around the fourth world of the Gandle Ott system. That corporation, Wathor Ott Construction is still based on Gandle Ott, but only produces in system ships. The Shipyards were confiscated and dismantled by Sarne. Ik’Tal also has interests in Mairne Mining Conglomerate, based on Mairne.
Secrets: Ik’Tal holds the secret to the location of the hidden shipyards in on of the Rim systems in the Stellar Northern Rim Worlds of Kathol. This system is called the D’Garan System, and is not well known too m any, and to some who have heard of it, consider it a myth. Given the opportunity, the House will transport personnel to the abandoned shipyards and immediately start building their forces.
House Karadol
(Old Photoshop art, new AI generated)
Values: Karadol is another relatively old house. It is a strong player in the Imperial political system here in Kathol. It supported their coming and benefited most from their arrival. House Karadol is a collaborator house, a house that allies with the most powerful entity at the time. It’s a parasite, at times, sucking as much power from the leadership as it can. It has no ties to the Church and does not hold to their ideals. They are expert information brokers, and slicers, and are expert manipulators of the truth.
Leadership: Lady Tamayra Bildrusor, the Empress of manipulation and seduction. She is also known as the Black Widow. She manipulates many minor houses that follow in their shadow. She is a beautiful woman with incredible seduction powers. She is said to have a brothel of minor house Nobel princes in her palace.
Description: Moderate sized house, where the women are considered equal, and in some factions superior. It was at one time a minor house, vying for power under what the considered the “strict and ruthless custodianship” of the House Ik’Tal. They felt that Ik’Tal stifled their potential and were very eager to gain the power of a major house. When the Empire arrived, they quickly allied with them and were granted major house status with the power the Empire granted House Karadol.
Allies: The Empire and some fragments of the Shador House. Many minor houses look up to Karadol and admire it for it’s prowess. Many minor houses keep their alliance with Karadol secret in order to act as spies for Karadol.
Enemies: House Ik’Tal has a strong disdain for the House Karadol’s collaborationist attitude and non-traditionalist views. Ik’Tal holds strong grudge against Karadol for it’s “betrayal of tradition”.
Assets: Karadol’s assets revolve around this sector’s vehicle and in-system ship development (some of which it took from House Ik’Tal.). It also holds strong ties to the information network and the info-underground in the Core worlds of Kathol. It also has ties to the Black Market and the pirates in the Kathol and outer Kathol Rim areas. Karadol has strong investments in several corporations in the sector, including GandleMotors (Based on Kolatill), and Kal’Shebbol Transport (Based on Kolatill). Karadol’s primary controlled corporation is Ja’Dason Agricultural (Based on Kal’Shebbol) and Kathol Shipping Enterprises (Based on Oon Tien).
Secrets: House Karadol has numerous secrets because they are experts at secrets. One of their largest secrets is what they call their “Ace in the Hole”. They have established a strong network of minor house forces, mercenary groups and pirate bands that could mobilize a significant force against any threat they might perceive. With the money and power, they gained from the Imperials, they could pay enough of these groups or pull enough favors to have a strong enough force to at least hold their position as a Major House. They are plotting a plan to mobilize these factions in a concerted effort to regain many of the lost Rim worlds and establish an Empire that will eventually engulf the Sector.
House Shador
Values: Ruthless, Self-centered, self-preserving. House Shador has always been known as the maverick house, and also a more “barbaric” houses. They abide by a strict honor code, and have strong disdain for non-humans, and their women are almost subservient, although they are never treated as slaves by the men, and are veryu well protected. Women of true-Shador blood are held in great honor. House Shador members are perhaps the strongest and most reliable warriors of all the Noble houses, which explains why they are able to hold on to their power for so long, even after the “Shattering”.
Leadership: Lord Hask Orphiod, a mountain of a man; prides himself in his physical strength and challenges any wookie to take him on.
Description: At one time, on of the most powerful noble houses, House Shador is now by far the weakest house in political power, but strongest in will power. The House Shador is also known as the “Shattered House”, because it’s primary power structure and information network was dismantled and strictly restricted by Imperials in the Sector. Shador has lost contact with the majority of its factions. House Karadol is the primary watcher of House Shador activity, and sabotages any efforts made by Shador to regain its original power. Shador is unaware of Karadol’s role and only knows that it’s due to Imperial action that they cannot regain their power. The primary reason for this dismantling is the uprising on Charis, of which Shador was primarily responsible.
House Shador resembles now a series of minor houses. Each house has now a version of the Shador name, like House Ra’Shador of Mairne, or Jas’Shador on Charis. The factions continue to hold true to the honor of Shador but feel that they can no longer rely on the House High Lord on Gandle Ott. They do not feel abandoned, as much as they feel they were given more independence during hard times. They still talk of re-uniting the House, but over the years, differences have grown in each faction, and a reunion might destroy the house from the inside.
Allies: House Ik’Tal is their strongest ally. However, as Shador’s power id slowly bleeding out, some of it is being absorbed by Ik’Tal, unknown to the head of House Shador. Also, House Brakia is a strong ally with Shador, but with the recent break in allegiance between Brakia and Ik’Tal, it has become difficult to be allies with two feuding houses. For now, Shador stays out of the feud.
Enemies: House Karadol is considered an enemy, but only because they seem dishonorable. As stated, the are unaware of Karadol’s true role in the Shattering, but if they did know, it would be all out House War.
Assets: House Shador had many assets at one time, most of which were confiscated by Sarne and the Empire. Shador primary corporations were H’Akorus Developers Incorporated, hi-tech developers based on Charis, and Trans-Kathol Transport Systems based on Kolatill, primary travel and freight shipper within sector before the Empire arrived. Currently, a conglomeration if the 4 other houses control these corporations, and Shador is not allowed to be involved in any corporate activity. House Ik’Tal, however, has been kind enough to funnel information and some controlling decisions to the House heads on Gandle Ott.
Secrets: Shador holds a dark secret. At one time, their house was ruled by a Dark Jedi. During those times, the house grew in power and ruled large portions of the Kathol Sector. The house tries to forget these times, because of the horrid things the Dark Jedi did to other rival houses. Many of the houses are now long forgotten, but they were all slaughtered viciously by the Dark Jedi for his own power. The souls of those killed are said to still power some of his dark force items, which are still hidden among the royal vaults of the Noble house palace. His dungeons also exist and their location kept secret by the top Shador Lords and
House Brakia
Values: Nothing matters more to House Brakia than power and honor. They all feel that they are destined for greatness and act like it. The value strength and are very prideful. They are usually expert Melee weapon combatants. They are also expert military engineers and tacticians. Many of Sarne’s imperial ranks come from House Brakia. They value showmanship and strength; their political events are best described like sports events. They are also proud merchants of their goods and stand strong on the guarantees. They are good businessman with their products.
Leadership: Lord Gres’Iad Oldress, a large and gluttonous man, he is known for his extravagance and perceived wealth. He is a collector of fine weaponry and is known to call for gladiatorial games when the fancy hits him. His house secretly supplied Sarne with the exotic weapons used in his own gladiatorial games. He is also a proud showman, and his palace is an extravagant showplace.
Description: House Brakia is an extravagant but strong house. They pride themselves in their weapons making abilities and have parades solely to display each family’s latest creation. House Brakia is a moderately old house and is strong in its standings now. It has survived solely due to its combat prowess and abilities in war and war-machine making. Of all the Houses, major and minor, House Brakia is best known for their parades, and other events to show off their pride and boost morale. Their weddings are also very extravagant, and every house looks forward to the year the Grand Noble Council meets at the House Brakia palace on Gandle Ott.
Allies: House Kathor is a strong ally to Brakia, and they commonly work together on ventures, although they conflict when Brakia wants to spend hard-earned credits on a extravagant gala to celebrate their profits. House Shador is also an ally, but this alliance is shaky because of Shador’s alliance with Ik’Tal.
Enemies: House Ik’Tal is a sworn enemy, and Karadol is mistrusted but not an enemy.
Assets: House Brakia, before the Empire’s arrival, had their primary assets in weapons development. When Sarne arrived, that all changed. They still have a stake in the corporations they used to control, but Sarne ruthless took control of most of the assets in order to “ensure peace in the sector,” and to “re-align the corporate goals to something more compatible to Imperial interests.” The primary corporations that this house has interests in is Destructo-Developers Corporation (DDC) of Gandle Ott, and Heshler and Krask Arms Developers.
Secrets: House Brakia has a dark secret as well. At one time, they had among their ranks a secret society of assassins known as the Brodian Order, also known as the Black Order. The Brodian Order were killing machines of the highest quality, efficient and cunning. Most believe that after the Third Age of Brakia, the Order was disbanded, but it has not. Very few in the upper echelons know, but the few that do are held to a strict code of secrecy. They wait in the wings, to strike against their enemies, and take dominant power for themselves.
Another secret held deep within House Brakia concerns them and their relationship with Sarne. House Brakia supplied Sarne with some of their most heinous and painful weapons. They also provided personnel for their gladiatorial games and training facilities, which populate many of the core worlds. They have close ties to the Sabiador Slavers, although not willingly. These facts are not something the house is proud of and works hard to keep secret.
House Kathor
Values
Nothing matters more to House Kathor than money and the power that can be gained from it. Kathor is a young house comparatively. They are the expert merchant and traders but are not always the most trustworthy businessman. They value their ability to put spin on their contracts and write them very vaguely to allow for more interpretation. If one doesn’t read the contract carefully, one could be at risk of being taken for a ride. They respect good business sense, and believe, above all, a Noble house should be run like a business. House Kathor is notoriously cold and calculating.
Leadership
Lord D’Gara Mang is the current Lord of Kathor. He is the typical calculating CEO-archetype, cold and calculating. He does not discriminate when dealing with customers and expects a strict code of professionalism among his customers. He was trained in the hard-core echelons of the Trade Guilds and excelled at all his business courses.
Description
Kathor was formed in the early years of the colonization of Kathol when several enterprising colonists wanted to start a corporate noble house. This developed well, and as time went on it was quite apparnt that Kathor would be a major player in the noble aristocracy. It was cold and cunning in gaining its power, and very calculating.
Kathor, upon the arrival of the Empire, was the least affected. They seemed the most adaptable to the situation and took advantage of it at every chance they could. Most of the time, though, their dealings with the Empire were in secret, and hidden from all other houses…. It was best for business.
Allies
Kathor allies with no one outright, although it does establish friendly business with certain houses, while it restricts business with others. Kathor secretly works closely with Karadol, using their expertise in the information brokering business.
Enemies
As indirectly stated before, Kathor doesn’t make enemies, or at least tries to avoid it at all costs. If House Ik’Tal knew about the dealings House Kathor was making with Karadol, they would be declared a sworn enemy of House Ik’Tal.
Assets
Kathor has extensive assets but tries not to concentrate on one market. Their primary business is in free merchant trading, and some secret smuggling through a corporation called KathorCorp.
Secrets
Kathor holds many secrets, many of which relate to business and the way it conducts it. One of its primary secrets is its secret stash of hyperdrives. These are hidden in one of KatholCorps secret black project bases. Another secret is that is did a few black projects for Sarne and the Empire, which involved use of subjects from some of Sarnes’ Non-human concentration camps.
