'Imperial Culture' (non-canonista)

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by RainOfSteel

As far as the general public opinion of the Imperium goes in cultures where even remotely positive media is available regarding the Imperium, it is the Military Orders of Knighthood that attract the greatest attention. Literally hundreds of billions of small boys and girls dream of growing up to become a pure hearted soldier who does great deeds and is elevated to the peerage as a Knight of some fabulous Order.

Cynically, this is one of the Imperium's secret weapons, the carrot it holds out to the Citizenry, even if it is a carrot at the end of a string held far above their heads. Even if every sergeant in every unit is telling every soldier under their command that dreams of medals and Knighthoods will only get them horribly wounded or dead, still, they dream, still, they strive. Of course, there are the disillusioned, too. Those who avoid dreams of war, idealistic naive dreams, or whatever kind, or whose hopes have been forever dashed.

I like it!

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

Would the Imperium blatantly call it "the order of conquest"? How about "the order of Imperial glory" or so on.

Also one of the main secret weapons of the Imperium is simply the pariochial rulers. People go to space to get away from their planet. And if the Imperium gives rewards to the successful and puts a light hand on others that might be a motive to serve the Imperium.

Sure, IYTU.

IHTU, it sounds like the Imperium is more overtly badass. :) So it is in mine. The Pacification Campaigns are a proud chapter in the history of the Imperium.

The Order of Imperial Glory works just fine too, of course. Use what works for you. The rule is YMMV.

[jason taylor]

What do you think of the idea of "the phantoms"

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

Order of the Phantom:

A legend well known across the Imperium about a guild of mercenary agents that was formed long ago. Some say it was formed during the Civil war, but others that it's ancestry dates back to the Ziru Sirka. According to legend they have a strict code of honor. They will at times take assassination or abduction contacts but never against civilians and when offered such a contract the agent always has the right to refuse. Once a contract is accepted it must be carried out and if two contracts conflict the earlier one is considered valid. At the least it is dishonorable to charge for a contract one has know intention of completing. The Order maintains safehouses where all agents have Claim to Hospitality and no agent may harm another there even when working for opposing sides. At a Phantom safehouse only the Order's secret language is spoken and member's are addressed by the names they have been given on entering the Order of the Phantom. No member is required to reveal his face at a Phantom safehouse however and many do not for obvious reasons. If an agent proves himself dishonorable by the order's standards he is declared prey for the entire order. The same applies to an employer that triffles with his employees-to use a Phantom agent as a discard, for instance is a sure way to be assassinated according to legend.

In return Phantom agents are trained to a high proficiency which includes psionic training. Many agents are claimed to have a mindlink with each other.
Their skill is so legendary that according to tales, nobles have hired phantom agents to train their children into being their own bodyguards, and some Imperial Nobles are full members and have a Phantom name and a right to visit a Phantom safehouse.

The existence of the order is doubted. Some say it does not exist, others say it refers to several such organizations.

I like this. Even if I decided not to actually use it, I think I'd have it exist in legend.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by combatmedic

I like this. Even if I decided not to actually use it, I think I'd have it exist in legend.

Actually the idea was inspired by NCIS "Under Covers". The idea was intriguing enough to make me wonder what if a show was done from the point of view of the dead spy couple that Ziva and Tony were impersonating. Then I combined it with the idea of the mindlink from TV Tropes to produce a spy couple like that in the Imperial Civil War.

[Whitestreak]

The Grey Hats.

The general images:
Military organization only rumored to exist. Rumored to be directly commanded by the Emperor himself. Rumored to carry out missions all across the galaxy. Rumored to consist only of the most elite humans in the Imperium.

The truth:
Military organization so far in the black that only the Emperor, the Heir and the head of Imperial Forces know of their existence. The Emperor IS the one who approves of missions. Missions have been carried out everywhere - foreign realms and deep within Core. Members are active-duty military personnel who are to the best troops in service as the SAS are to the bobbies in London, thanks to extensive training and cyber-augments. Grey Hats are of many different races. There are only 48 of them, and their current ranking member is a Colonel. All Grey Hats were "killed" in the line of duty. They serve eight year terms - very few make it to that point; those who do are retired, granted a noble rank and generally fade from sight.

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by Whitestreak

They serve eight year terms - very few make it to that point; those who do are retired, granted a noble rank and generally fade from sight.

Hmmm...maybe some go to one of those private Imperial estates on Sylea/Capital. That way, the retired agent is close at hand in case the Emperor needs to call him back into service.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by Whitestreak

The Grey Hats.

The general images:
Military organization only rumored to exist. Rumored to be directly commanded by the Emperor himself. Rumored to carry out missions all across the galaxy. Rumored to consist only of the most elite humans in the Imperium.

The truth:
Military organization so far in the black that only the Emperor, the Heir and the head of Imperial Forces know of their existence. The Emperor IS the one who approves of missions. Missions have been carried out everywhere - foreign realms and deep within Core. Members are active-duty military personnel who are to the best troops in service as the SAS are to the bobbies in London, thanks to extensive training and cyber-augments. Grey Hats are of many different races. There are only 48 of them, and their current ranking member is a Colonel. All Grey Hats were "killed" in the line of duty. They serve eight year terms - very few make it to that point; those who do are retired, granted a noble rank and generally fade from sight.

Were those borrowed from the Grey Masks in GF?

[RainOfSteel]

Originally Posted by combatmedic

IHTU, it sounds like the Imperium is more overtly badass. :) So it is in mine. The Pacification Campaigns are a proud chapter in the history of the Imperium.

The name was established during the campaigns, when such naming was readily accepted. Conquering the worlds freed them from the tyranny of the Long Night or obstinate rulers.

Only worlds who joined willingly picked up the ability to rule immediately under their own laws. Conquered worlds had to wait a while to go back under their own rule (if ever).

-----------

I've been picking through the Imperial historical information I created for MTU back in the early naughties and before, but so much of it reads like total historical re-write that a lot of it isn't useful as drag and drop culture for other's consumption (plus it's all very long).

[Astromancer]

Candy Colours of the Third Imperium!!!!

Brightly colored candies are a commonplace treat in most hummani societies. But which colors for which candies?

Solomani tend to favor blue as a berry flavor. Many Syleans enjoy a pepper flavor much like this crossed with this. Whereas many folks to coreward see blue candy as habanero flavored. There are several prominant brands called Azure!. While the packages are much alike, the flavors aren't.

Red is normally either cherry, cinnamon, chilie pepper, or Durian.

Pink is either strawberry, Lutoc Fruit (a sort of bannana/asperagus flavor), clove, or watermelon.

Orange is either Tangerine, Blood Orange, or Tigoberry (a cucumber/lemon flavor, with a grassy note).

Yellow is either Lemon, Persimmon, Quolti (a chocolate-ish/bannanish flavor), or Zhigoberry (a strawberry/black pepper flavor).

Green is either Lime, Honeydew Melon, Musk Melon, Cheemlutu Fruit (a Honey/Vanilla flavor many people find nasty and perfumey, and others find addictive), or Tammirid.

Blue see above.

Violet/Purple is either Grape or something of a Wild Card.

Clear is often Strawberry (or if Strawberry is Pink, Zhigoberry), Glicu (a minty melon flavor), or Damotc (a very sour berry flavor with a strong hit of anise).

Most candies offered in candy dishes at social events (accepting a piece of candy is good manners) come unlabeled and wraped simply in clear plastic. Refusing the candy is normally a slight, but normally not a major one....normally.