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The Dominion
Capital: Illium, Planet Nexus; Meridia, Cassus (formerly)
"How about 1600 years ago, the humans of planet Cassus were chosen by the Eldan to establish a star-spanning empire. And since that time through intimidation, political intrigue — and a score of impressive military conquests! — the Dominion now exists as a shining example of strength and leadership... for the rest of the pathetic vermin that infest the galaxy."
The largest interstellar empire in the known galaxy, the Dominion was founded 1600 years ago through the directive of the Eldan, first by making contact with and 'peacefully' swaying the emergent political force of the Cassian Commonwealth into servitude. Taking with them the Swordmaiden Tresayne Toria, the Eldan technologically uplifted the Cassians and granted them numerous gifts with which to assemble their galactic Empire, first beginning with the assimilation of Mechari into Cassian society and subsequently the deliverance and crowning of Emperor Dominus, the first Luminai and first emperor of the newly-christened Dominion.Since then, the Dominion has expanded to assimilate the Draken and the Chua, though recent political instability, such as the Cassian Civil War and the reign and subsequent assassination of Vorios the False, have caused cracks in the Empire's once-tight cohesion. Now, with Emperor Myrcalus, also known as 'Dominus Reborn' at the helm, and the discovery of their progenitors' homeplanet, the Dominion seeks to enter a new golden age and drive out the Exile rebels for good.
- Because Destiny Says So: The main reason the Dominion seeks to claim Nexus as its own. They believe Nexus to be their destiny and their inheritance from the Eldan.
- Control Freak: The Dominion cannot stand any form of deviation from the norm. Airtight bureaucracy and rigid adherence to the rules thrive as a result, with very little room for any dissent.
- Create Your Own Villain: If it hadn't been for the Dominion's Control Freak tendencies and habit of indulging in Disproportionate Retribution, the Aurin would never have joined up with the Exiles, and the Mordesh would most likely have been able to find a cure for the Contagion using Dominion resources and become fully-fledged members of the empire. The only exception is the Granok, who in all fairness did provoke the Dominion first.
- The Empire: Their operating standard. They control dozens, if not hundreds, of planets. The Dominion is also occasionally referred to as "the Empire", particularly by Axis Pheydra.
- Everyone Has Standards: Despite their totalitarian government and eugenics-based caste system, they will not tolerate slavery, political corruption, and corrupt emperors.
- Gunboat Diplomacy: The Dominion defaults to overt shows of force and coercion under the threat of punishment to get what they want, with the rare exception being the Mordesh, who they invited and who were all but eager to join the empire — at least, until the whole Zombie Apocalypse disease outbreak happened. Ironically, the Cassians were on the receiving end of this when contacted by the Eldan to create the Dominion, being forced to give into their demands on the threat of death.
- Foil: To the Exiles, obviously.
- While the Exiles are a relatively new and smaller faction of upstarts with very little power on their own, the Dominion is a powerful, galaxy-spanning empire with a millennia of history.
- Aesthetically, the Dominion's colours are a bold and striking combination of reds, golds, whites and the occasional black, whilst the Exiles' colour palettes tend towards more humble, muted shades of blues, greens and bronzes. Dominion architecture is sleek, elegant, and bold, whilst Exile architecture is rustic, practical, and lacking in ornamentation as a result of needing to scavange and reuse what they can. In terms of culture, the Dominion is a highly-organized, stratified society divided along clear lines, and highly efficient, while the Exiles are more disorganized and egalitarian.
- Knight Templar: The Dominion's main gimmick. Despite clearly enjoying a bit of ruthlessness, the Dominion seems to operate on admirable ideals: education is prized, the state's primary religion focuses on concepts like justice and dedication and member races are free to excel and do whatever they do best (the leader of the Dominion's military is Draken, for example). The templar part comes in when you try to cross them. In short, the Dominion operates a lot like the Roman empire: join and thrive or get crushed by the ones who did join. With the Mordesh in particular, the Dominion sees destroying them less as genocide and more as curbing a virulent space-zombie plague.
- Order Versus Chaos: Dominion's order to Exiles' Chaos. This difference in philosophy is at the heart of the conflict and ultimately a fundamental component to understanding why the Exiles and the Dominion are at war: The Dominion seeks to impose order on the entire galaxy by any means possible, while the Exiles seek to free themselves from said order and establish themselves without outside influence.
- Pragmatic Villainy: They will refuse to do some horrible things like bombing the Exiles on Nexus from orbit because it would cause unparalleled damage to sacred ground, and be a waste of valuable natural resources beside.
- Self-Serving Memory: The Dominion will happily venerate and worship the Eldan as benevolent gods, conveniently glossing over the fact that they themselves were initially gang-pressed into servitude by those same "gods" in the first place.
- Vestigial Empire: Implied Trope, in which the empire had entered into a centuries-long Dark Age during the disastrous reign of Vorios The False. With Vorios' downfall and Myrcalus ascent to the throne, time will tell whether the empire can climb out of this slump.
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Races
Draken
Draken
Average Draken male
Home Planet: Mikros
"The Draken! Savage warriors, fearless in the field of battle! Not exactly the most refined chaps... but I wouldn't say that to their face."
"Forged in the fires of Mikros," an extremely unfriendly, hostile planet brimming with deadly predators and lethal environmental hazards, the Draken are extremely tough with highly honed predatory instincts and hunting skills — and a culture that prides itself on battle, blood, and honour, following the strict code of the Blood Covenants.
The Dominion sent ships to Mikros some thousands of years after the Eldan made themselves known on Cassus, desiring hot blood to fill out the ranks of Dominion troops. Azrion, champion of the Dominion and Dominus' son, challenged the Draken High Clanlord Zhur to one-on-one combat, with the stakes being the entirety of the Draken population. He slew Zhur in single combat, and since then the Draken have served the Dominion fiercely.
Most Draken serve the empire as soldiers, but quite a few of them can be seen doing manual labour, and some Draken scientists have been seen.
- Abusive Alien Parents: Draken are prone to this when their offspring don't live up to the Draken warrior ideal, though it can't be said for all Draken parents.
- Alien Catnip: Cheese gives them a similar high that alcohol would give a human. They've even developed something called 'cheese wine'.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Though Draken do, in fact, adhere to the hierarchies of Dominion military, rarely do you meet the Draken officer who cannot kick every single one of their inferior's asses.
- Bizarre Alien Reproduction: They're mammals, who (assumingly) nurse their young, but baby Draken arrive in egglike coverings.
- Bizarre Sexual Dimorphism: Male Draken are fierce looking, with bulky, blocky features and are so top-heavy they're hunched over. They have a distinctly animalistic feel to them. Female Draken stand perfectly upright, are impossibly curvy, and purposefully flaunt their attractive selves.
- Blood Knight: Much like the Chua, the Draken live by a philosophy that emphasizes the thrill of fighting over the necessity of it.
- Proud Warrior Race: The Draken's entire "hat" in the setting. They can be described succinctly as "Warrior Shakespearean".
- Green-Skinned Space Babe: Draken women are far and wide known to be seductive and desireable, even amongst the Exiles. Pinup posters of them are common on both sides.
- Dumb Muscle: Played with. Most Draken — with only a few exceptions — are not for higher mental pursuits because they find such things uninteresting and superfluous. They are brilliant tacticians and combatants, though.
- Had to Be Sharp: Thanks to living on a tidally-locked Death World of Mikros, the Draken have honed a warrior culture to deal with hazards ranging from dangerous beasts to extreme temperatures.
- Horned Humanoid: Draken have massive horns upon their heads, varying from short stubs to huge elegant spirals.
- Klingon Promotion: Draken Clanlords are chosen through rites of combat. The most popular and fastest rite is murdering your predecessor.
- Oh, My Gods!: The Old Gods of Mikros are frequently honoured and remembered in speech.Moons of Mikros!
Hazak's Blood! or Horns of Hazak!
Ravok's Rage! or Rage of Ravok! or By furious Ravok!
By the flames of Fazaar! or Flames of Fazaar!
Shezka's blade!
Serpents of Werza! - Tidally Locked Planet: The only habitable part of Mikros is a small band of equator between the icy cold "night" side and burning hot "day" side, which is due to its static orbit (it doesn't rotate).
Mechari
Mechari
Average Mechari male
Home Planet: Nexus (first generation), Cassus (subsequent generations)
"Mechari. Advanced robots engineered by the Eldan themselves! Deadly assassins and super agents! A sense of humour? A bit lacking, I'm afraid..."
Engineered by the Eldan to have all of the advantages of organics without the inherent frailness and limitations of their bodies, Mechari acted as servants for their creators, carrying out their will without question. Strangely, not even the Mechari knew their masters past a voice in their intercoms, their ways as much a mystery to them as to everyone else in the galaxy. It's safe to say the Eldan's mysterious disappearance did not sit well with them.
They have a variety of careers in the Dominion, ranging from ambassadors, to spies, to manual labor, such as the inevitable Manfred to the Rich in Dollars, Poor in Sense Highborn Cassians.
- Animal Motifs: Insects, especially with female Mechari. Many of their face options have insectoid qualities, including compound eyes and antennae, and their facial attachments resemble mandibles and even twitch.
- Bizarre Sexual Dimorphism: Like the Draken, Mechari "males" tend to have large upper bodies while "females" are incredibly curvy.
- Fembot: Female Mechari, yowza. Itty bitty waists, long stalk-like legs and nonfunctional boob-like chest decorations. Hand-waved in that the Eldan meant to design them as 'the ideal female'.
- Hyper-Competent Sidekick: Mechari advisors and servants tried to push their Highborn "superiors" in favorable direction, particularly to those who had influence in gaining said position than merits.
- Mechanical Lifeforms: The Mechari are more than just simple robots. Each Mechari's consciousness is contained within a soul-core of crystalline exanite, which is perhaps the closest thing to a biological system. It allows them to have personalities and the ability to dream while asleep. Also as means for power generation, they are capable of eating and drinking like other organic beings. Technically, what they're doing is extracting trace amounts of primal energy from the materials to ingest to fuel their mechanisms. The side effect to this though is that they can get drunk.
- The Man Behind the Man: Played this role in administration department, especially around Highborns.
- No Sense of Humour: They do actually have a sense of humour, it's just hard to laugh along when your head's in a sack.
Cassians
Cassians
Foreground, Cassian female. Background, Cassian males
Home Planet: Cassus (Unknown before settlement of Cassus)
"Lastly there are the Cassians — my people? Without whose continued courageousness, ambition, and stalwart leadership, the Dominion would undoubtedly crumble."
1600 years ago, the humans of planet Cassus were chosen by the Eldan to establish a star spanning empire. Christening themselves the Cassians, they form the majority of the Dominion.
Cassian Society is separated into two distinct classes: Highborn and Lowborn
Highborn Cassians are related to the Luminai, however distantly, and therefore have Eldan blood in their veins. They are the aristocrats of the Dominion, their privileges coming from service to a Luminai House. They speak with posh British accents and are generally portrayed as sophisticated and elegant, above trivial things.
Lowborn Cassians are those who are not related to the Luminai, and are just plain old Cassians. They are the lower-middle class of society, and form most of the population. They speak with Cockney accents and are generally portrayed as simple, hard-working, Eldan-fearing folk. Most Exile Humans descended from Lowborns.
Half-jokingly, telling the difference between Lowborns and Highborns is as simple as checking out their bank account, and determining who gets into the VIP areas with ease and who doesn't.
- Aristocrats Are Evil: If they aren't incredibly wealthy if unaccountably dense, chances are a Highborn is an evil, scheming bastard. Exceptions so far has been Artemis Zin, though she is mostly concerned with her show, public appearance, and the praise of her fans, and you are rather competent hired help.
- Blue Blood: Literally and figuratively with the Luminai, just figuratively with the Highborn.
- Canis Latinicus: The Highborn latin-esque names tend towards this aesthetic, depending on the player and/or the devs.
- Cultured Badass: The more competent and adventurous Highborn can be this trope. After all, Cassian does it with style.
- Every One Has Standards: Exploitation of the Lowborn as labour and disposable soldiers? Go right on ahead. Slaughtering them in the name of eugenics or entertainment? No, sir, we will not stand for that!
- Evil Brit: In contrast to the American-accented Exile Humans. The Highborn speak the Queen's English while the Lowborn sound more Cockney. However, the "Evil" part is subverted with Lowborn and some decent Highborn in general.
- Fantastic Caste System: Highborn are richer, more privileged, and better educated. They often serve in administrative positions and are granted special status in the military. Lowborn, while not exactly oppressed, are frequently constrained just to manual labour. They do not restrict education to them but it's quite unlikely that they'll be able to get it or want to. In spite of this, there are Lowborn middle-class (merchants, landowners, etc.) and Toric Antevian.
- Fantastic Racism: They barely tolerate the Chua due to their insanity, but put up with them due to their genius.
- Oh, My Gods!: Dominus, Tresayne, Luminai and the Eldan have seeped into their language as holy, religious figures in the Vigilant Church.By holy Saint Dominus himself!
By the Scions!
Scions bless you. or Blessings of the Scions.
Eldan, Tresayne, and the Holy Ghost! - Upperclass Twit/Upperclass Wit: Depending on whether the Highborn are either Rich in Dollars, Poor in Sense, Aristocrats Are Evil, or Cultured Badass.
- Parts Unknown: In the Shades Eve event, there is a lore book called, "Jack Shades on His Way" in the house at the end of the forest. It mentions that a long time ago humans arrived on the planet later called Cassus. A new home after spending so many centuries in deep space which they were space traveling from an unknown planet. Which and where the planet is/was remains a mystery.
- Rich in Dollars, Poor in Sense: Prevalent among the Highborn, who usually have helpful Mechari servants to do their thinking for them—not that they are any less "brilliant," mind you, it's just that they have more important matters to attend to.
Chua
Chua
Average Chua (gender unconfirmed)
Home Planet: Bezgelor
"The Chua... nasty little rodents, they are. Of course you can't deny the buggers are brilliant at what they do; if it can be built and it needs to hurt people the Chua are the ones for the job! And it's just unfortunate that the furry little fiends are certifiable psychopaths..."
Originally a primitive race of the forest world Bezgelor, the Chua were uplifted by the Mechari after noting that the species possessed an incredible talent for mechanical engineering as well as having a devious and competitive nature. In under a century, the Chua then proceeded to carpet their planet with factories, devastating it via overindustrialization. With no further resources for their experiments, the Chua joined the Dominion as scientists in seek of new worlds to wreak havoc on.
- Bad Boss: Any Chua in a position of power. They send their underlings on dangerous and almost always lethal assignments simply because it's more efficient, and are honestly surprised if they come back alive.
- Belief Makes You Stupid: Despite overwhelming evidence that the Eldan existed, the Chua (in general) still choose not to worship them as gods, as it can skew their scientific method.Elevar Chua: Religion is not science! Science is religion!
- Explosive Breeder: The reason why they haven't become endangered or extinct from their psychopathic nature was explained through this as the main reason.
- Fat Bastard: Their gerbil-like physique makes them all look a bit chubby.
- Acrofatic: Though they are pretty agile based on their emotes and even allowed to be light armored classes like Esper and Spellslinger.
- For Science!: Is there any other reason for a Chua to do anything?
- Gone Horribly Right: Originally a primitive race, the Chua managed to turn their lush planet into a Death World under a century after being uplifted.
- Intelligent Gerbil: Pretty much this trope.
- Killer Rabbit: Adorable? Yes. Sadistic? Yes. Dangerous? Yeeeeees.
- Klingon Promotion: Some instances of these methods do occur in the name of upward mobility through Make It Look Like an Accident.
- Mad Scientist: An entire species of them.
- Our Goblins Are Different: They fulfill the niche of the "Tiny Mad Scientist Race" in the game. However, rather than hairless green runts they're a race of squealing gerbils.
- Laughably Evil: They love pulling pranks. Unfortunately for those involved with them, their idea of a good joke generally involve some form of mad science, violence, and/or explosives.
- One-Gender Race: The only race that doesn't have a male/female choice when you create a character. Loading screen messages hint that Chua gender is something that isn't discussed in polite company — or company that doesn't want to be blown up.
- Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Being absolutely tiny compared to other races does not keep them from being able to kick ass. And you don't need to be a hulking mass of muscle and metal to fire a huge gun!
- Proud Scholar Race: The Chua's defining trait, aside from being murderous hate-fueled assholes, is being exceptional scientists and mechanics.
- Share Phrase: Cosmotronic! after the Cosmotron, the device the Mechari gave to the Chua Elders, to teach basic engineering principles to the curious and creative.
- You No Take Candle: The Chua evidently believe that time spent learning proper grammar is time better spent doing experiments.
Luminai
Luminai
Home Planet: Cassus
A non-playable race. Created from the genetic combination of Cassian and Eldan genes, they are the true bluebloods of Dominion society.
- Blue Blood: They are the most powerful members of the Dominion Hierarchy.
- Cool Mask: Wore their elaborate masks whenever they go out in public.
- Fantastic Caste System: Their hybrid nature grants them the highest nobility in the Dominion.
- Half-Human Hybrid: Have at least 50% Eldan alongside their Cassian genes, giving them their lithe, tall, and elegant appearances.
- Royal Inbreeding: More so after Jarec the Vigilant's Ancestral Decree, which forbade them from having children with 'regular' Cassians. This leaves them prone to poorly-understood genetic maladies.
- Sheltered Aristocrat: They tend to live far away from mainstream Cassian societies in possibly-opulent estates. Even most of their customs are only known between themselves than average citizens.
Government
Emperor Myrcalus
Emperor Myrcalus the Vindicator
Species: Luminai
Voiced By: Brian Delaney
"I speak to you as both Luminai and Emperor."
Present Emperor of the Dominion. Spearheaded the Dominion's push to Nexus. Has a striking resemblance to his ancestor Dominus, the first emperor and Luminai, which gave him the title "Dominus Reborn."
- Ambiguous Situation: Just where is Emperor Myrcalus, really? Presumably he has come to Nexus from Cassus to rule from the new imperial capital of Illium, but even Axis Pheydra doesn't elaborate on his current location or status.
- Benevolent Boss: Praises and honestly cares for his subjects. Of course it's all a holorecording set up by Axis Pheydra, so his true feelings are up in the air.
- The Emperor: The current emperor of the Dominion.
- The Ghost: He's not actually physically present in the game: The most we see of him is a prerecorded holograph.
- The Purge: Completely obliterated House Chaul from existence after their role in Emperor Jarec's assassaination was discovered. Some of the Luminai members and their Mechari loyalists are still alive, hiding and plotting a revenge against the reigning emperor. Agent LEX is tasked with 'taking care of' the remaining elements, since Pheydra specifically created him with no restraints against killing Luminai.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: By Dominion standards, despite what happened on Arboria under his rule. He treats his loyal subjects fairly and acts as his underlings' equal when appropriate.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: Went into the palace, convinced the Draken royal guards to join his revolution, and overthrew Vorios The False.
Emperor Dominus
Emperor Dominus the Half-Blood
Species: Luminai
The first of his kind, half-Cassian, half-Eldan, his majesty ushered in a golden age for the Dominion, using the knowledge and technology the Eldan had granted him to bring the Empire to then unthought-of heights. He has become something of a religious icon for the Vigilant Church, as the father of the Six Scions.
- Founder of the Kingdom: He founded the Dominion when he arrived on Cassus as an adult.
- Happily Married: Married to Olyssia Zin, the ancestor of the Scions and Artemis Zin, until her birth of their seventh child Chaul, the ancestor of the titular House that Vorios the False belonged to.
- Half-Human Hybrid: The first of the half Eldan line of emperors that ruled over Dominion.
Emperor Azrion
Emperor Azrion the Conqueror
Species: Luminai
The emperor who bested High Clanlord Zhur in one-on-one combat, winning the eternal loyalty of the Draken. Within the Vigilant Church, he is associated with the virtue of Strength.
- Honor Before Reason: He chose to challenge the lord rather than manipulate them.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: The lore seems to indicate that he believed in leading by example.
- Warrior Prince: He was known to be more martial, one of the examples being his duel with High Clanlord Zhur that folded Mikros into the Dominion, than his siblings to the point that he was deified as Scions of Strength by the Vigilant Church.
Emperor Vorios
Emperor Vorios the False
Species: Luminai
Also known as the Mad Emperor, Vorios drove the Dominion down a very dark path, causing unparalleled damage to the economy and the people, staffing his inner circle with the most decadent and corrupt sycophants he could find.
- The Caligula: Could very well have been a sci-fi reincarnation of the man himself.
- Decadent Court: Although the Luminai had a bit of court intrigue, this trope became more pronounced under his rule.
- Half the Man He Used to Be: His final fate after his surrender when Myrcalus seized the throne.
- Klingon Promotion: He got his throne via his assassination of Jarec the Vigilant.
Duke Portius
Duke Malvolio Portius
Species: Cassian (Highborn)
Voiced By: Jesse Burch
"Hello there. It appears it has fallen to me to tell you about the Dominion. And as your luck would have it, I am by far the most qualified individual to do so! Shall we begin?"
Cassian, Highborn. Representative for Meet the Dominion, runs Illium, the empire's capital city on Nexus.
- A Glass of Chianti: He never seems to be without a goblet of wine in his hand, which only serves to make him look even more snobbish.
- Evil Counterpart: To Kit Brinny, as both are representatives of their respective factions.
- Fantastic Racism: Finds his life is much easier without the Chua, mostly because he is not terrorized and/or blown up that way.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: He really, really despises the Chua. If forced to talk about them, he will require some liquid encouragement.
- Mean Boss: Sends a team of highly trained Chua to fetch honey for his afternoon tea. Unfortunately, bees on Nexus are the size of shuttles and really, really do not appreciate your stealing their honey.
- Mr. Exposition: He's the one who talks about the Dominion races in the trailers.
- Noodle Incident: It seems that having a bomb put in his goblet is a commonality with him.Oh, not again.
Makaza
Clanlord Makaza
Species: Draken
Voiced By: Robin Atkin Downes
Ruler of the Bloodfire Tribe in Deradune.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Like all Draken chiefs, he showed his might to become one.
- Blood Knight: Like most Draken, he lives for the hunt, but age has tempered him a little.
- Old Soldier: He was a former Dominion officer, but his current rank in the Legions is unknown.
Dominion Research and Experimentation Division (DRED)
The Dominion's answer to the ever-present need for newer, better, and more lethal technology. As likely to blow the empire to hell as their enemies, DRED is looked upon with caution and no small measure of disdain.
Mondo Zax
Chief Technologist Mondo Zax
Species: Chua
Voiced By: Andy Morris
"DRED not finished with you yet... you're still alive."
Chua. Though Chua have no formal leadership, he is considered his species head-honcho by virtue of being the most brilliant, sadistic, and insane of his kind.
- Bad Boss: Oftentimes sends his assistants on dangerous if not lethal assignments just because it's more efficient. Should they die, he'll just hire more assistants. He had his 100th industrial accident victim (and the paperwork absolving him of the blame for it, of course) enshrined in the Dominions museum aboard the Destiny.
- Friendly Enemy: Of a sort, with Victor Lazarin. Both belong to their respective faction's "Black Sheep" race and despite being enemies they evidently keep in contact so that they can share their grievances.
- Mad Scientist: He's a Chua, so this really comes as no surprise.
- The Runt at the End: 13th of 13.
- Self-Made Orphan: Totally did not off all 12 of his siblings, all of whom gave him hell before they "mysteriously disappeared." And his father's death during some routine maintenance had no connection in any way with the violent argument they'd just gotten into.
- Spell My Name with a "The": He refers to himself as "The Zax" in written statements.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Had issues with his emotionally distant father, who was his inspiration for becoming the engineer he is today.
- You No Take Candle/Third-Person Person: How he talks.
Legions
Legions as a group
No empire is without it's military. These are the officers and brave soldiers of the Dominion.
- Badass Normal: Admission to the Radiant Legion is by proving yourself in the battlefield with acts of heroism, along with proof that you are of iron will, and will not bow to the slightest temptation or evil. These soldiers don't have anything but their equipment, their will, and still rise up high and above their peers to deliver some 'serious justice.
- Many legions, especially Crimson Legion, also served as this trope.
- Church Militant: The Radiants.
- Color-Coded for Your Convenience: The colour of a soldier's armour determines rank and nature of deployment. They are also named after their coat-of-arms.
- Crimson: Shock Troopers, and Front Line Soldiers. Your average Dominion trooper marching off to conquer the heretics, the renegades, and the scum of the galaxy.
- Gold: Defense. In charge of the safety of major settlements and territories like Illium and Auroria.
- Black: The Luminai's personal guard.
- Radiant (White): The Vigilant Church's military force. Usually seen defending major settlements of the church like Lightreach Mission, or accompanying Acolytes during expeditions. They are also the ones who handle top-priority, cannot fail missions.
- Elites Are More Glamorous: Many high-ranking members of the Legions, along with members of Black and Radiant Legions.
- Heroic Vow: All Radiant Legion soldiers are required to take a vow that forsake ties to their homes, families, political allegiance and everything else of personal significance (They can marry but consider it as a distraction to some degree). Serving the Radiant Legion is one-way thing.
- Home Guard/ City Guards: Gold Legion served as a defensive units in major Dominion settlements, though many of them include members of other legions.
- Praetorian Guard: The members of the Black Legion served as this to Luminai nobles.
The Swordmaidens
Not to be confused with the Torine Swordmaidens on Nexus, the Cassus Order of the Swordmaidens are an elite fighting force of all-female soldiers, trained in highly advanced sword-fighting techniques alongside the military tactics of the the rest of the Legions, bolstered by a strong sense of duty and honour, exemplified by the fact that there is no leaving the Order but death.
Presently they are staying in the Cassus/Dominion Capital of Meridia. Whether or not they will join the Dominion on Nexus remains to be seen, as with the political and social effects of meeting up with their Torine counterparts.
- Amazon Brigade: All female, if the name didn't tip you off. Presumably still Cassians though that rule may have been relaxed.
- National Weapon: Swords. They do not replace these from the day they are honoured with it, and are collected upon death to be honoured, and reforged into future swords for the next generation of Swordmaidens.
General Warbringer
General Kezrek Warbringer
Species: Draken
Voiced By: Unknown
"Unleash the engines of slaughter!"
Draken. The head of the Dominion military and Draken High Clan Lord.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Draken choose leaders by feats of strength and combat prowess.
- Everyone Has Standards: He deeply dislikes Mondo Zax's work ethic and methods, despite being a Blood Knight himself.
- Foil: He's pretty much this to Durek Stonebreaker. Ironically, Kezrek is more competent in running an army and less emotionally impulsive than Durek.
- Four Star Bad Ass: He's the supreme commander of Dominion legion and can still kick each and every ass. Except that one Ikthian ass, but hey, neither could Durek.
- Frontline General: Enjoys leading his troops on the battlefield himself whenever possible.
- Klingon Promotion: He gained his position by giving the disgraced Zarkuna One-Horn an 'honorable' death after the latter's shocking and utter defeat at Exile hands.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Refuses to let Draken soldiers commit honourable suicide as that would be impractical. They are offered one last chance, though: victory, or kill yourself if they are beaten once more.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Though a General Ripper, he does show restraint compared to Durek, especially during the Hycrest storyline.
- Tragic Keepsake: The skull on the left side of his pauldron is his mentor and predecessor's, Zarkuna One-Horn, whom he killed in a duel to spare him the shame of execution after Zarkuna fell victim to an Exile ambush.
- Worthy Opponent: His view on Exiles, especially Durek Stonebreaker.Only fools deal in absolutes, Sartorius. The Breaker is not to be underestimated.
Commander Antevian
Commander Toric Antevian, The Vigilant Star
Species: Cassian (Lowborn)
Voiced By: Dave Mitchell
"There is no greater service than service to the church."
Cassian, Lowborn. Commander of the Radiant Legion, the Vigilant Church's military force.
- Aloof Big Brother: The big brother of the equation. It would seem that being a holy knight with a reputation for being unstoppable, going on high-risk, can't fail missions, and desiring absolutely none of the glory is a hell of a lot more interesting than quietly tending to the cathedrals and pouring anointing oil on Vigilants.
- Badass Normal: A regular Cassian, no Eldan blood, no Eldan engineering, no physiology honed by a Death World, no massive brain. Just very good armour, a nuclear-powered greatsword, and his own devotion to justice. Evil-doers beware, when the Vigilant Star shines, you will burn.
- Celibate Hero: Defied. He has an illicit romantic relationship with Artemis Zin. Dominion Media is going to have a field day with this if it ever comes to light. However, this has more to do with piety and the caste system rather than any real requirement for celibacy.
- The Faceless: Never seems to take off his helmet, obscuring most of his face sans the slit in the middle. A hologram of him
◊ in the Ruins of Kel Voreth display him without his helmet on however. - Humble Hero: Surprisingly chill and downplays his achievements, which only seeks to make him more popular and loved.
- Opposites Attract: All girls love bad boys, gender inverted. Though Artemis is less "bad", more dangerously irresponsible and self-centered.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Blue to Artemis Zin's Red. They are lovers.
- The Paladin: As the Commander of the Radiants, Toric's duty first and foremost is to deliver swift, white-hot blazing justice to all who dare threaten the church and its flock.
- Working-Class Hero: Rose up through the ranks and became the first Lowborn Cassian to serve as the Radiant Legion's commander. He's almost universally loved by his soldiers.
Exploration Society
An Empire cannot expand without new territory. It is the Exploration Society's job to venture into the unknown, extending the Dominion's domain and bringing back any treasures they might find.
Lady Artemis Zin
Lady Artemis Zin
Species: Cassian (Highborn)
Voiced By: Anna Vocino
"Rest assured, I'm sure meeting me in person can be an overwhelming experience."
The explorer of the Dominion, who hosts a high-impact, action-packed reality show where she films her dangerous adventures. With a reckless disregard for safety, courtesy, and common sense, one has to wonder if it's sheer luck or skill that's been keeping her alive...
She is oftentimes accompanied by her Draken bodyguard/mentor/friend, Kevo, who is almost the complete polar opposite of her in sensibility, practicality, and daring do.
- Cleavage Window: Though Artemis Zin wears a reasonable long coat, underneath that she only has a small corset that bares the entire top of her breasts, her cleavage, and some of her midriff.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: She is a media mogul and, underneath all the showmanship, a very talented and driven Explorer.
- Disappeared Dad: Her father Astor died in the Decadent Court before she and her twin brother's was born.
- Former Teen Rebel: She was an out-of-control teenager to the point when she was expelled from ten schools and almost incarcerated (avoided, thanks to Emperor's intervention) that led her mother to assign Kevo as way to channel her personality into more productive life (becoming an explorer).
- Hidden Depths: As much of a narcissist Artemis Zin is, she deeply cared about Kevo. This became emphasized in Wilderrun where his brief augmentation caused her to plead the player not to kill him.
- Her backstory further showed that the combination of lack of father figure, death of her mother at her zenith of popularity, and disappearance of her twin brother, Helius, after his bitterness over her showed her tragic side beneath her prideful exterior.
- It's All About Me: Astoundingly self-centered. Her concerns over the safety of her workers is not because she cares about them, but because deaths would not be good for her ratings. She can be rather nice when the situation calls for it, though.
- Lady of Adventure: Even had a show based on her exploits.
- Last of Her Kind: She is currently the last surviving member of House Zin unless Helius, her twin brother, is found. This isn't helped by her unwillingness to settle down and have a family.
- Morality Pet: Kevo, in a sense. Her Draken bodyguard/friend/mentor shows that she's not entirely self-centered and can actually care deeply about someone other than herself.
- My Greatest Failure: Her twin brother, Helius, disappeared before renouncing his claims on House Zin's holdings after his bitter resentment over Artemis' absence while her mother contracted a fatal illness.
- Opposites Attract: The self-centered, impulsive, spotlight-loving narcissist with the selfless, careful, and outstandingly humble paladin (Toric).
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Red to Toric Antevian's Blue. She's much more impulsive, carefree, and self-centered than him. They are lovers.
Kevo
Kevo
Species: Draken)
Voiced By: Troy Baker
"The Little Miss burns with the fire of House Zin."
Draken. Artemis Zin's personal bodyguard, and mentor. Foil to his mistress, he is cautious and oftentimes expresses extreme exasperation at the Little Miss's antics.
- Old Retainer: Served as Artemis Zin's bodyguard for as long as she can remember.
- Only Friend: In Zin's line of work, it's hard to find genuine friends. Kevo is the foremost.
- Parental Substitute: Kevo acted as a father-figure to Artemis—whose father was deceased before she and her twin brother, Helius, was born—at her teenage years.
Imperial Corps of Intelligence (ICI)
The Empire's eyes and ears, the agents ensure the smooth operation of the Dominion from the shadows. The foil to the Exiles' Black Hoods.
The ICI as a group
- Bling of War: Their uniform is more ornate—if utilitarian to an extent despite the gold and purple color schemes in their clothing—than the Black Hoods' Spy Catsuit.
- Cool Mask: They wear these as standard issue.
- Secret Police: Serve as espionage on both foreign and domestic affairs, and even the highest caste of the Luminai cannot escape their machinations.
- State Sec: They also serve as law enforcement to some degree.
- Torture Technician: Like their rivals the Black Hoods, they occasionally engage in .. persuasive tactics.
Axis Pheydra
Axis Pheydra
Species: Mechari
Voiced By: Jessica Straus
"Oh I know where you've been, what you've done... does that make you nervous?"
The founder of the ICI and its head, and one of the oldest sentient beings in the universe.
- Ambiguous Situation: The extent of Axis Pheydra's power within the Dominion is constantly put into question throughout the game. With her being one of the first Eldan-created Mechari, the Eldan's former ambassador to the Cassians, capable of altering standard Mechari programming to create Luminai-killing assassins, and revealing that the Myrcalus holograms the player sees throughout the game are simply pre-recorded, it puts into question just how much power Pheydra wields and whether she's the true ruler of the Dominion behind the scenes.
- The Chessmaster: Being over a millennium old and the head of the Dominion's secret police, Axis Pheydra is constantly scheming to further her own machinations and that of the empire's, ensuring that the Dominion remains stable at it's core.
- Loophole Abuse: The Mechari are prevented from harming the Luminai via ancient Eldan programming. Of course, she's found a way around it.
- She aided Myrcalus with evidence to prove Vorios' assassination of the previous emperor, Jarec the Vigilant, and then helped him overthrow Vorios and take the throne through indirect involvement.
- She also specifically built Agent Lex for the purpose of hunting down rogue Luminai.
- Really 700 Years Old: She's over 1600 years old. She looks fresh off the assembly line.
- The Spymaster: As the head of the Dominion's intelligence, this is to be expected.
Agent Lex
Agent Lex
Species: Mechari
Voiced By: David Forseth
"The name is Lex. Agent Lex."
The Lethality Efficiency eXperiment, Axis Pheydra's personal creation and right hand man.
- Secret Test of Character: He was given a test on ability to take orders without question by assassinating Emperor Myrcalus in the Tales Beyond The Fringe issue A Test of Loyalty, but the target was actually Axis Pheydra in disguise. It also demonstrated his ability to assassinate Luminai targets, which a typical Mechari cannot do due to their programming.
- "Metaphor" Is My Middle Name: Averted. Efficiency is literally his middle name.
Agent Voxine
Agent Voxine
"Oh, that was unfortunate..."
Known for hosting a rather infamous class on "Paths," a person's specialization and responsibilities once on Nexus.
- Hot Teacher: She's a Mechari, who were designed to be as appealing as possible to biological beings, so this comes as no surprise.
- Sadist Teacher: Her "different alternative" to students who'd rather not face the inherent dangers of working in a hotly contested planet? Blaster to the face. She also really enjoys making her students squirm.
The Vigilant Church
Inevitably, a religion rose from the arrival of the Eldan, venerating them as benevolent gods.
The Vigilant Church as a group
- Crystal Dragon Jesus: The Church itself is similar to Roman Catholic Church, except its polytheism based on seven virtues.
- Good Shepherd: The Vigilant Priests are known to have this reputation.
- Sinister Minister: Though they do have a few of them, though many of them lean towards Knight Templar rather than outright corrupt.
- Precursor Worship: They deified the Eldan, and the half-Eldan Dominus and his children.
- Saintly Church: The Vigilant Church is one of the benevolent organization in Dominion and providing aid to the Lowborns.
- Corrupt Church: Although the current version has a few rotten apples, The Vigilant Church during Vorios the False's reign was marked by the decadence of its ranks until Varonia Cazalon overthrew the previous High Sentinel and took his place.
- Token Good Institution: One of the few benevolent factions compared to other factions within the Dominion.
Varonia Cazalon
Varonia Cazalon
Species: Cassian (Highborn)
Voiced By: Unknown
Current High Sentinel of Vigilant Church and living on Planet Nexus.
- Cool Mask: She wore an ornate mask, except in her sermons in-game.
- The Faceless: Varonia's face is only part that covered fully, in contrast to her "clothes". This is avoided in her holographic sermons, which showed her attractive face and white hair.
- High Priest: Her position as High Sentinel of Vigilant Church serves as the leader of this organization.
- Good Shepherd: A female variant.
- Stripperiffic: Her clothing consists of pieces of clothes covering her chest and her crotch. In contrast, she was wearing significantly modest religious attire in her holographic sermons.
- Turbulent Priest: Her role in Gathering Storm Tales, show her taking down the corrupt predecessor from his position before throwing him to the crowd to be executed.
Calidor Antevian
Calidor Antevian
Species: Cassian (Lowborn)
Voiced By: Unknown
"By the gods, listen up and listen well! This is important!"
Cassian, Lowborn. Brother to Toric Antevian, a more peaceful servant compared to his brother.
- Aloof Big Brother: The little brother of the equation. Calidor seems to have suffered greatly in the shadow of his sibling's many grand achievements in war.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: Went from a pious but relatively little-known priest of the Vigilant Church to the leader of a fanatic cult bent on spreading 'ascendance' to every corner of Nexus and beyond.
- Knight Templar: Wants to turn all of Nexus into cybernetic monstrosities so they can all "ascend" like the Eldan did.
- Visionary Villain: Only wants to spread the "Truth" of the Eldan to the heretics and non-believers. Through violence and forced augmentation if necessary.
Notable Figures
Kezzia
Huntress Kezzia
Species: Draken
Voiced By: Carla Tassara
"Are you ready to spill blood for the empire?"
Draken. The deadliest huntress of Clan Bloodfire. In charge of determining whether or not you are fit to participate in the Great Hunt.
- Cute Monster Girl: While you wouldn't exactly use "Cute," she is extremely attractive, as female Draken are.
Corrigan Doon
Corrigan Doon
Species: Cassian (Lowborn)
Voiced By: Gideon Emery
"This would be a lot easier if you didn't feel the insatiable need to sprint everywhere!"
Cassian, Lowborn. An oftentimes drunk, overconfident, and selfish ass, he is still one of the galaxy's most effective freelance trackers, once having found the Star of Dominus, a precious jewel stolen by marauders, all by his lonesome.
- The Alcoholic: Frequently appears drunk, or clamours for a drink. The player's first encounter with him is at a bar, and your quest is to make him a drink out of tanning oil, "Nap Nap Juice," and Prayer Wine.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Despite all of his negative traits, laziness, and desire to drink more than actually do his job, he still manages to find his targets... eventually.
- Loveable Rogue: He is an ass, he frequently breaks the law, he is generally not a very nice person. He is amusing, and has a strong following in-universe.
