The Holy Final Empire

The Empire as it is now, was formed when human colonists from the Exodus of Earth found the remains of an interplanetary civilisation that had apparently fallen apart. The inhabitants stuck without the technology they used to get there and reduced to savagery.

To the native maas, humanity descended from the sky like they were godsend. The colonists restored the technology long lost to the maas, and in return they ruled over the maas. This was the origin of the strict caste system that defines the Empire.

The cyph were discovered much later, native inhabitants of a superplanet's moon. It was decades before the Imperials realised the species was sentient.

The Caste System
The caste system is a distinct feature of the Empire. At the top of the hierarchy is the Royal Family, ruled by the current Emperor or Empress and consisting of the current monarch, their spouse and children, their siblings, nieces and nephews.

The second caste consists of the Nobles, any and all other relations of the Royal family. They fill all the positions of political power and influence.

The third caste is the Martial caste, consisting of maas and humans. This caste is unique in that, during times of conflict, anyone from a lower caste can get a position in the military as a footsoldier. While dangerous, many take the chance to greatly improve their family’s status without having to negotiate a marriage.

The Academic caste has the fourth position. It includes the cyph hiveminds, human and maas scholars.

The fifth caste consists of tradesmen. Though most of them are humans and maas, some explorer-cyph are tradesmen as well.

The sixth caste is the Labourers’ Caste. Made up from maas and gatherer-cyphs, they fulfill all the manual labour that higher castes consider beneath them.

Everyone will stay in their caste from birth to grave.

Native Species
Maas

Cyphs

Humans