The Imperium – my ideas for a 40k ripoff (I didn't say that) what were inspireds by me'z playing Dawn of War (orks, orks, orks, orks, orks, orks!)

The noble houses of the Imperium form the greater galactic power of imperial humanity. Under House Jovus, the great houses are: Kyrane, Demeter, Saturnale, Tyrioch, Solthierre, Ghazir, and Cir-Callum. The lords of humanity pray to the gods of the Celestium, the empyrean through which the Sighted guide intergalactic traffic. Without the Seers the Imperium would collapse.

The Sight is the special gift possessed by a mere fraction of humanity; this potential alone destroys an equal proportion of those with it. It manifests and is developed solely on the planet Reverie. This ancient world is now a wasteland and the most precious world in the Imperium. It is also home to the Daemon Gate through which the Infernum crosses into normal space.

The Infernum is the home of the dark gods, the enemies of the Celestium. Under their master, Jester, the daemon forces seek to corrupt the universe and spread their taint beyond. Covens of twisted seers, corrupted potentials and dark sorcerers haunt the recesses of the universe preying on all races. But it is Reverie that serves as the frontline, and it's the Imperium that holds that line.

The gods of the Celestium are powerful beings worshipped by loyal citizens of the Imperium. Their chief is Juthere, Hammer of the Empire. It is he who forged the Starspire Throne on which the heirless Challus Jovus now sits. His brother is Khagan, the scarred god. Khagan long since abandoned the world of men and gods and took the barbarian tribes of the Warlings under his wing to exact revenge on his brother whom he has long since blamed for his wounds in battle against the minions of the Infernum. Khagan is twisted and bitter and his whisperings urge the Great Khan of the Warlings, through their shamans, to prey on the fringes of the Imperium.

The ancient and inscrutable Kithain originated on their 'greenworlds'; living worlds of indescribable beauty to which they bear a lifelong connection and loyalty. They are a race that uses powerful organic technology often nicknamed 'rootware' which they integrate even into their very bodies; kithain proudly wear what appear to be vines wrapped within and without. The greenworlds are sacred to the kithain who believe the spirit essence of which to dwell in what humans call the Celestium. This realm has long been known to the Kithain who are able to cross it with ease.

On their vast hunting worlds, the noble Hawklites soar. They are a proud marital race with a code of honour they follow to the death. They seek nothing more than the freedom to hunt and fly, but they are not without their own demons.

Roughly 1% of the population of imperial humanity will ever manifest the potential for the incredible ability known as Sight. From that only a similar number will ever become useful; the rest will be destroyed by the gift or its effects. Though potential seers can be born anywhere that spark will whither (at best) unless the potential is taken to the planet Reverie. It is here that the Seeing School has its base. Here on this blasted wasteland their word is law on behalf of the civilised universe because Reverie is the only place where true seer talent can manifest and be nurtured – providing the potential has the strength to master his gift and not the other way around.
The Sight is integral to the existence of the Imperium; not only does it afford seers with mental power, but it is the only means for humanity to cross the universe. The Imperium is the largest empire in the universe and the web of sight is the only thing holding this together. Seers are able to open portals into the celestium, the divine realm; they have the blessing of the gods who deign to allow humanity, as their favoured sons (even heirs, as imperial humanity would believe), passage across unfathomable distance. Such travel denies the distances properly involved and allows the greatness of the Imperium to shine. Thus the Seers are properly respected and appropriately positioned in society.
However even they alone cannot survive without the Imperium; the protection of the Imperial legions protects the institutions of the School from the depredations of the neighbouring Daemon Gate on Reverie. The machinery of the Imperium is tightly knit and intertwined.
Though it is home to the greatest of humanity, Reverie is also home to the Daemon Gate, the only existent portal to the Infernum, the realms of evil. Even in their protected citadels the siren calls of the dark gods sing to potentials and masters alike and all must be vigilant to ignore the temptations, though the vast majority are not strong enough. The Imperial Eye serves the School directly in pursuing and rooting out infernal corruption and eradicating tainted seers. Deep within the arcane vaults of the seer’s chief citadel is kept the immortal and indestructible dark tome called the Book of Stolen Names. What began as a record of corrupted seers quickly gathered inevitable taint and corruption; a dark life of its own. Now under the protection of the School and highly prized by covens of evil (including corrupted seers named within) the Book cannot be destroyed and is possibly the most infamous artefact in the universe. Ironically it is only by the Blessing of Names that the seers can eradicate those so named; thus the record must ever be kept.
Reverie is a hinterland, a wasteland and a graveyard born of inscrutable and ancient conflict. Its secrets remain elusive even in these degenerate times sought by many if not all the powers of the universe and accorded the stewardship of man by the will of the gods who rant men Sight. It remains without exception the most inhospitable place in the universe with little to offer save the power to run and empire.
To be offered a place within the ranks of the Seeing School is both an honour and a lie – no one is truly offered as there is no real choice. To refuse the School ownership of a child (potential must be nurtured from a very young age, but not too young as to deny the proper familial bonds) is a crime as heinous as any mass murder.
However to embrace the opportunity, for it is presented as such, is to be elevated into a greater station in life. The honour of the position extends to the parents and siblings; along with a healthy material reward the School ensures the safety of both society from the potential, and the potential from a society that couldn't hope to understand its gift without destroying it. Ultimately there can be no refusal for without proper training; even Seers not born to Reverie (as many now are, creating a potential social subdivision within the School) will find their talent ultimately twisting them emotionally, psychologically and even physically. Without the influence of Reverie and the School they cannot hope to have anything other than a miserable existence; such souls invariably become deviants of one kind or another.

killer!  what system were you planning on using?

good question. normally I would use something 'lite' but I don't think that would really work, though I don't like lotsarules. Mind you there's the rest of hte setting to get done first.

The progenitors of the great Imperial houses were the heroes of legend. They wlkaed with gods and were accorded great power. Their ancestors still carry some trace of that vital heritage and maintain the legends they bequeated.

However it is the Seeing School that believes differently; their records apparently point to genetic manipulation that created these heroes who succeeded in conquering the universe and forging the Imperium. This they did with the assitance of the founders of the School and the first seers who discovered the power of the planet Reverie.

House Saturnale:

The former imperial power, House Saturnale now schemes like no other from the depths of its frozen water world home, Cynosine. Their aquatic citadels are frozen jewels surrounded by the terrifying leviathans of the dark depths. From within the family of Salome Saturnale plot to take back what was once theirs. They have made guile and manipulation an art form.

Until it was revealed that the Emperor’s family (though not himself) were embroiled in a dark coven, House Saturnale was the ruling family. Since then they have become the most ardent sponsor of the Imperial Eye. Their grievances remain and they are the most opposed to the dark powers (without them it is conceivable the Eye couldn’t function at all leaving the School exposed and the Sighted – and thus the Imperium – vulnerable) at large.

Despite their shrewd mores and manners, they remain among the most loyal to the ideals of humanity and to the gods. It is believed that the ancient planet they inhabit (possibly the oldest of the noble home worlds) was the birthplace of the goddess, Pheraiphe, Lady of Veils. House Saturnale itself also claims that it’s progenitor was granted noble status by the gods for bringing together Pheraiphe and her then-husband, Litane, the Keeper of Words.

House Demeter:

The beautiful and enchanted planet Fairgarden is thought by many to be the most unspoiled planet in the Imperium; certainly it is a strong contender. But beneath the vast canopies and verdant skyline lies a madness peculiar and unique to the people that live there. Demeter occupy what was once a Kithain home, a planet known as a greenworld; one of their mysterious and living birthplaces. This circumstance was not by design however, though the Demeter suffer the most. Fairgarden is known for a great many natural produce including wines and peerless luxuries.
The madness that has long gripped the Demeter family is as long standing as it is peculiar to them, though cases have been found occasionally plaguing the population at large. The voice of the greenworld, dying, is like the call of a mad full moon. The Demeter deal with this by holding regular and extremely bacchanalian festivities to sate their spirit-driven urges. These have not been without casualty, though the Demeter do their best to cover up their behaviour, they cannot help it. The madness afflicts all members, mainly the men, to some degree.
The House is ruled by Lord Acchus Demeter. They are a good family who have long struggled with a curse they cannot seem to shed. For this reason many do not leave their homeworld leaving mattes to be dealt with by proxy where necessary. Those members who travel abroad have also found it impossible to leave their problems behind. They are a private family who take care of their own and by extension the population from whom they have garnered a great deal of trust and sympathy (even when things get out of control). They mean well, but circumstance has plagued them.

House Solthierre:

Named after the planet they hail from, itself the home of one of the greatest battles in Imperial history, the Solthierre are the backbone of the imperial military. Theirs are the greatest military academies and theirs are the greatest commanders of the Imperial Legion, as then and now.
The planet Solthierre has much in common with Pyrecast, though by no means quite so ruined. The population remains primarily underground (though a few scarred cities remain, largey abandoned the criminal elements of the population, providng adequate imperial target practise). Solthierre is a giant warzone: a training ground for the military machine beneath.
National service, among the people of Solthierre, is a way of life. Adult males at least (able bodied women are encouraged to either bear the next generation of warriors or serve in support) are conscripted for a period of service, though they cannot expect to climb the ranks in the way the nobility can. However there are rare cases where honour and bravery are appropriately rewarded, enough to preserve the reputation of the House.
Lord Praetor, commander in chief of the Imperial Star Legions, Paulus Solthierre, is the ruler of the House. He is a decorated military genius and a warhorse of the oldest and fiercest calibre. Like his house he is a reactionary stalwart; the Solthierre are old fashioned and ver patriarchal. By tradition the females must produce male heirs and are subject to genetic manipulation to that end. These are the true Solthierre bloodline. Women who are born are always given to the nursing convents where they will enter a life of servitude, trained to tend to the battlefield poor. Like seer potentials this, at least to the Solthierre, is a great honour and no shame is given simply for being a woman. This at least that is their view.