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The Cathar Dominion ​







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A foreword before we get started. This is mainly focused on being a roleplay AAR, there will be little to no meta gameplay except for where the game forces it upon me. To help this I have a list of mods that affect gameplay to make it both slower and more immersive. This isn't entirely a good thing because I started playing in the 1.2 Beta and only about a quarter of these mods have been updated and 1.2 only went live as I started writing.The list of mods:0-Epic Explosions (Downscaled Ships Version)A Fine Selection of Quality Mapmodes, ProbablyBattletech FlagsCat Portraits DimorphismCivilian TradeColor coded pop status iconsComplete ColorsDownscaled ShipsEpic ExplosionsInteresting HyperlanesMore Common Pre-FTLMore TechnologiesPrepare for Ground Assault!RangefinderReduce Aura GraphicsRipple PingSpace Fox DimorphismStart with System Surveyed and MinedStation ImprovementsStellar WarpaintsSvafa's Expanded Species TraitsTheocrat Name ListXenophobes are not the bad guysQuite the list really but it is somewhat stable. Of course it's not 100% so I will NOT be playing on iron man for the sake of backups not save scumming.Amongst the Grass seas of Dune lie five God Cities, each dedicated to one of their pantheon. These city states, built along the great lakes that spot the surface, are ruled by the High Priest or Priestess of each Cathos Sect and together they form the Theocratic Council that Governs the entire planet.Societal status is rigid and all ranks have clearly defined betters and inferiors, that being said even the lowest slave has the chance to rise to be the greatest Slaver lord or most blessed Priest. A small one but enough of a chance that it keeps them docile and toiling away beneath the dominating shadows of the Palace Pyramids.Now with the discovery of the ancient Hyperlane network and advancements in FTL potential the Council has been called to the Palace of the Creator God, Dune, to discuss what path their glorious race shall take.It was just after mid day when High-Priestess Shaking Snow set down her goblet of wine onto the Balcony's railing and raised her arms for one last stretch, soaking in the warm rays of sun and muscles rippled and tensed beneath her white fur. No doubt the others were already in the council chambers and waiting impatiently for her arrival, after all they couldn't start without every Deities Representative, to do so would be sacrilege but to start without her? The one they chose to interpret the God of all, Dune would be Heresy.The thought brought a grin to her face as she crossed her lavish quarters and exited through the wooden doors, another symbol of her power and wealth, trees being so rare on dune. Two large males fell into step behind her as she walked down the halls, they were both accomplished Slaver Lords, bound to her service by the swaying of her hips. Each commanded small but competent mercenary companies, useful for things best left unsaid.It was a few short minutes before exiting onto the terrace that served as the meeting point for the most powerful Cathar in existence. Open to the air and the sun, it allowed them the relatively cold blooded Cathar to bask in warmth as the got down to buisness. The other five High Priests and Priestess were indeed already present, all lounging upon one of the six ornate couches present. The Priestess of Shelia was the first to notice her arrival, flowing and translucent fabrics hung from her admittedly enviable frame, she looked every bit the High-Priestess of Excess and Decadence should."About time you showed up Snow. I was just about to come find you and your two pets." She drawled eyeing the two behind Snow with obvious desire."Quite, Eyes of Emerald." Shaking Snow took a deep breath before addressing them all. "You all know why we're here. The Dominion has broken into the Hyperlane Network and can finally leave the solar system efficiently. We need to decide here and now what our first steps are starting with what path we set the Faithful of Sheogorath on. High-Priest Touch of Fire?"The red furred and well aged Cat clad in dirty white robes and a tharmor scale apron got of his couch and skipped his way to the holo table in between them all. He let off a childish giggle as he brought up the current projects."Solar arrays, Colony ships and Battlesuit! In three years we'll be ready to colonize other worlds, occupied or not!" The large series of glasses and magnifying glasses perched upon his muzzle started to bounce as the priest started to twitch and smile widely. The others nodded, for once the Sect of Sheogorath was relatively sane with their avenues of advancment.Touch of Fire was pushed out of the way by the Priestess of Fara, Lady of the endless Ocean and Guide of the Dead. She took over the holo table as the madcat fell back onto his couch and started muttering illogical plans of retribution. Shaking Snow stopped paying attention after he brought up a Spoon and a cantaloupe catapult. Focusing back on the holotable, it was currently projecting the newly mapped galactic map and connecting hyperlanes.Silent as Stone brought her orange paw out from her blue robes and pointed at the turquoise circle that represented Cathar Dominion Space. "Fara has blessed us. We sit upon a natural chokepoint in the hyperlane network, equal distance from two lanes leading to the other arms. We are spoiled for choice in which way we expand. East means we secure our natural star cluster while west means leaving and claiming another.""That can wait." the short but heavily muscled High-Priest of Maru, lord of hardships said. "Let the survey ship find the optimum direction. For now we need to focus on -"Shaking Snow settled in for a long meeting.It was a short four months before we came across our first signs of extraterrestrial life. Only a single jump away on a heavily forested moon, there existed small tribes of pre-sentient bears about three feet in height. It was a true sign that we were the chosen of the Gods.The banging upon the wooden doors was quick to rouse Shaking Snow, She pulled her linen sheets to her chest as she surveyed the room. Already one of her pet slaver lords, Cold Fang, had his pants on and was by the door skinning blade in hand, the other, Morn Paw, was typing in the access code for the arms safe still naked as the day he was born. Cold Fang was reaching for the door handle when a voice echoed through. It was just one of her Aides."High-Priestess! An Emergency Council Session has been called. The fleets have found something!"The High Clergy were taking frantically on the open terrace, the moonlight casting everything in an etheral glow. Aides ran frantically in and out, carrying stacks of books and data slates. Most of her fellow Theologians were in various states of sleep ware, the harlot Eyes of Emerald not even bothering to throw on clothes. When Snows eyes registered what the holotable had on it, she thought maybe just this once Emerald's actions could be excused.There sat a live feed from the Fleet. A station that the Cathar had not built.Shaking Snow looked over her right shoulder at Cold Fang and gestured to the chaos.The following roar and the ensuing silence allowed her to simply demand "Fill me in, now!"The Lord Marshal of Dune was quick to comply. The unknown sentients appeared to be pre-FTL upon first glance and, with how fragile the station seemed to be, probably hadn't left their atmosphere in any meaningful way."It is now clear that we are not alone in sentience." Shaking Snow began. "High-Priestess Silent as Stone, begin construction on several new corvettes, I want the fleet doubled before the year is out. Lord Marshal, begin the conscription of an assault army, those poor slaves must be directionless without proper masters. We must alleviate their plight." There were several cruel grins sprouting and more then a few dark chuckles.It was during the process of planning the invasion that the unexpected happen. In the war room Shaking Snow and Touch of Flame were just going over the various pros and cons of different methods of landing troops on a foreign planet when a Comm Officer shouted "Incoming Transmission! Broadcast Vector due galactic east! Transferring to holotable... Now."The bust of the creature that now dominated the attention of everyone in the room appeared to be a demonic mockery of the native bird life of Dune. It opened its maw and a heavily synthesized bastardization of the Cathar language spilled out "You are an aberration. The Gods demand your destruction, and we Shantari shall be the ones to purify you world and cleans your unclean existance." It cast a four eyed glare around the room before the connection was cut.Touch of Flame immediately went off. He jumped from his seat, "Close the borders! Get the Sect of Fara on the line now! I want updated galactic charts and exactly where I need to go to shove my boot up that Heretics ass!"Shaking snow only sat farther back into her seat contemplating the newest cold war and what would happen when open hostilities eventually broke out.Shaking Snow was in her chambers pouring a glass of wine for her and Morn Paw. The Council had just let out and while the situation wasn't terrible it wasn't encouraging either. The Cathar Dominion and the Shantari Imperial Stars seemed to be equivalent in almost every way and if they wanted to enure a decisive victory in the coming war they needed some sort of leg up, fast.Snow blew a lock of hair out of her face as she brought her glass to her lips. They sat on her large balcony taking in the last bit of the sun dipping over the horizon. Beside her Morn set his glass down before speaking. "It seems like a colony could solve all our problems."She snorted, "Yes, let me pull a colony ship that we don't know how to build out my ass."He looked over deadpan "Cheeky. What I meant was, the transport ships have been built, the army has be trained. Why haven't we taken that world... whats it called Barrendol?""Bhelgmem. And we haven't because the survey ship has yet to make it out that far, we wouldn't know where to land for a decisive strike.""Hmm." Morn pulled snow close while taking another drink from his glass.They sat like that for awhile before something buzzed, Morn pulled his scroll out of his pocket and a grin broke out across his face. "Well would you look at that." he muttered.Snow leaned over to see but he pulled it closer to his chest. she pouted before asking "Look at what?"He tapped afew commands into the device before answering, "I have a man on the science ship and-"The incredulous look she gave him spoke volumes. "Have a man on the Entombed?""Yes, it seemed prudent." He replied rolling his eyes. "Anyway he just sent me a report. They found another Pre-FTL two jumps out. Poor bastards are still in the Iron Age."Shaking Snow lunged and grabbed the Scroll, quickly skimming through the survey results.Smoothing her hair out of her face she gave Morn a very quick kiss before getting up. "Get ready.""What are you calling a council meeting now?""No I'm the high Priestess of Dune for a reason, you and the army leave tonight. Crush them and enslave every damned sentient mushroom. Three billion extra workers will go a long way toward crushing the damned birds.""Tonight?" Morn asked starting to rise.She seemed to pause, before continuing. "No. Now. I want those slaves by next month.""A month? For three billion slaves? Thats expecting a bit much."The glare she shot toward him could kill a weaker man "Are you not a slaver