The Great Empire of Tai Pan is a familiar, yet alien offspring to the other human civilizations in the sector. Taianese citizens are synthetic, amalgamated beings of genetics and technology made to transhuman principles entirely removed from common humanity. Outwardly the Tai Pan Empire portrays itself as a tranquil idyll, but under the surface flow the fractured currents of a looming crisis and repressed humanity. Tai Pan purposefully sets itself upon a delicate edge, starving its people of their needs while feeding them their vices, it has created an addictive empire where few citizens truly look beyond their own lives.

The Empire of Tai Pan
Capital:	Sanshin Kawa, Liang (Tai Pan)
Major Species:	Taianese, Kammee
Minor Species:	Elves, Yazata Ahura, Jongwu
Official Languages:	Taianese (Kantongo)
Currency:	Incentive Credit
Current Year:	Cixi Era Year 34
Government Type:	Caste-based Empire
Image of the Imperial House
Emperor:	Cixi Kuan Leong
Empress:	Cixi Zhangsun
Date of Establishment:	2958
Approximate Population:	21.3 Billion

A focal point of diplomatic crises in the sector, the Empire uses its martial and cold intellectual might to deal with foreign or domestic threats; and is not afraid of controversy in favor of preemptive strikes and military adventurism. The Taianese core population are made to order in artificial wombs according to a strict caste system, ensuring they fit the manifest destiny of the empire and safeguarding the peace and stability of society. Also residing within the empire are the remnants of Liangs original elf inhabitants, the home provinces of the Yazata Ahura, and a handful of protectorate states. Beneath, but not out of sight of the governing Tai Pan rule, citizens of these outside societies are permitted to birth freely.

Primary Taianese Forms are the most compelled within the Caste system, Dragons can only be Mandate, Tigers can only be Destroyer. Kammee are seen in all three castes but rarely attain a high position in any unless adopted by a higher form. All other species may choose to integrate into the caste system or be disdainfully excluded.

Dragon forms are the summit of Taianese hierarchy, at once both the most permitted to free thought but also the most closely monitored for deviancy. Of the Mandate caste, the dragons guide and advise the rest of Tai Pan society to greatness. In practice, the dragons rule the empire and rule each other even more sternly.

Tigers are the most well-known Taianese type external of the empire, making up the leadership of the Destroyer caste. Their bodies and minds are made for combat, their drive focused solely on their jobs, personal feelings left to be handled in private. However, with the focus of the Dragons turning inward, the Tigers have been all too often been left to handle diplomatic affairs with external powers, it has not always gone well.

Rabbits, named for their proclivity for head and ear augmentations, are the technicians, engineers and managers of the empire. Dexterous, intelligent, and nimble, they slip between the gears to fix whatever is required to keep the engines of the empire running. Rabbits also handle many of the bureaucratic affairs deigned not to require a Dragon leader, and are not seen as often by foreigners due to the internally focused nature of their work.

The industrial backbone, the Kammee are the lowest form of the Taianese society, made from the genetic material of conquered subjects both elf and human created with the sole purpose of being put to work. Kammee have their place and often strive to become more than they are, provided they work hard and don’t cause any headaches for their controllers. With the full sapience of standard Taianese citizens, their rights and classification come entirely from their synthetic origin.

A conquered people, many elves have fled or been exiled to outer worlds or protectorates, but some still remain despite the repeated failed insurrections and judicious jackbootery applied by the Taianese. Elves are sometimes confined to the wilderness, but a few have tried to make do with their lot and integrate as they can within the Empire. While those who remain in society cling fervently to their culture, the mass-produced variants of Tai-Pan's industries often drowning it out, and slowly converting more of the population into the machine.

A scarce population in Tai Pan, Embers and Magic Users in the Empire are a resource more often than not imported via propaganda and recruitment tactics to appeal to fears and wants for control over such powers. While Tai Pan often presents itself as benevolent in wanting to provide aid and support for such individuals, this volatile population is preyed upon just as much, if not more than the others present within the borders of the Empire. Kept under constant watch and surveillance, the Gifted population of Tai Pan finds itself trapped in a snare that pretends to be a loving home.

The Yazata reservations remain some of the most autonomous on the planet of Liang, as they were not as immediately hostile towards the Taianese settlers. As part of their coming of age many yazata travel abroad of the reservations seeking glory and power to attain status within their own society, and so are usually free to travel as they wish, cropping up in all kinds of places as agents of powerful people.

The finest pets in all the galaxy, elevated from simple primitive origins on earth and brought to conversational intelligence. While not regarded as independently sapient, and requiring owner and registration by law, Jongwu are beloved, loyal companions for the discerning, and concerned homeowner.

Taianese culture was engineered, taking elements of Earth culture that the first Taianese were indoctrinated into and, in their view, perfecting it. By harnessing the forces of creation and destruction under the guiding yoke of the Dragon Caste, their society will become an unstoppable element of nature, as natural as the pull of gravity or the splitting of the atom.

Tai Pan has perfected the nature of creating and modifying available culture that is given to their population, closely monitoring and encouraging trends while adapting them to fit various purposes. These closely modeled systems are modified to remove details and aspects seen as harmful to the cohesion of Tai Pan, while encouraging those that are addictive and largely appealing. In creating waves of trends, interests, and cultures, the Tai Pan government is capable of guiding the growth of culture and public interest, while still allowing themselves to co-opt anything independent that comes about from the public.

Taianese value their core citizenry immensely, taking pride even in how civilized and well cared for their lowest caste members are. Even the Jongwu are an extension of this expression of mastery over nature. While mostly tolerant of barbarian cultures within their territory, anything resembling a threat to the stability of their realm is quickly crushed with a methodical process of calculated violence and repression.

Their society is divided into three castes, each with three classes to denote leadership. Each Taianese citizen is born or placed into a caste for life, however a members class can rise or lower in rank within their caste.

The castes are Mandate, Destroyer, and Maker. Destroyer and Maker are the forces of creation and destruction within the universe, made malleable with the driving vision and thought of the Mandate class who sets the goals for these powers. In reality, however, it is often the Mandate class that rule uncontested within their society, while Destroyer and Maker leadership place overwhelming importance on their own functions.

The first class of each caste are the strategic leadership of the caste, some of whom may be found within the Palace itself. Second classes are typically operational leaders, specialists, or other high-value personnel who have risen above their peers. The third class are the masses of skilled or unskilled labor that allow the heartbeat of the empire to carry it across the stars under the gentle guiding hands of the upper classes.

The Barbarians and Outsiders are tolerable, as long as they do not pose a threat or otherwise make themselves useful, even if their continued existence is owed mostly to their difficulty to expunge. Jongwu, despite being arguably sapient in some nations, are still legally animals and require owners and registration to be permitted.

The government of Tai Pan is ruled with the absolute authority of the Immortal Emperor, one of the longest and supposedly most perfect Taianese to have been created. Some may say that such a technologically advanced society governed by monarchy is a juxtaposition, however, any good Tai Pan citizen will argue that a kingdom is only as good as its leader, and in a society where the greatest minds can be made on-demand a kingdom is naturally the most efficient way to rule. After all, it is better to be ruled by the best of your kind, than lead to ruin by the rest.

Of course, one man does not a kingdom make, and the imperial palace is teeming with the greatest minds the galaxy has to offer. The Emperor is of course joined by an Empress, who heads the Kinnar, his trusted advisers with free access to the Imperial Chambers, the Emperor's throne room, and quarters within the Imperial Palace. Below this nexus of power and are the three branches of power that stem from the tree of Tai Pan, Tranquillity, Prosperity, and Harmony.

The branch of Prosperity mediates upon the betterment of the nation and the peoples living within, making sure the rice fills all bowls and the weary have rest. Ruled by powerful ministers representing the different divisions of labor and industry, their byzantine nature of alliances, favors, and power both maker and dragons navigate with practiced grace to present the emperor with the most accurate forecasts and solutions to all problems within the empire.

The branch of Tranquillity has rule of martial force and recognition of danger, both from abroad, the barbarians, or within. Multiple command divisions separate the various destructive energies of the empire and keep them under control of the Mandate. Multiple peers of command discuss and argue strategies and national needs, as well as who requires what resources to complete the satisfy the goals of the Mandate.

The branch of Harmony is made up of the think tanks, planners, and diplomats of the empire, made almost exclusively of the Dragon caste, they manage the balances of power within the empire and, with the emperor's permission, seek arrangements abroad to promote Tai Pans rightful place amongst the stars.

The members of the Kinnar have taken to wearing mourning clothes within the Imperial Chambers, and argue behind closed doors about what to do as their Immortal Emperor is laid low. Not age, or sickness, or wounds, but by the degrading primitive means of emotion. His time in seclusion slowly stretching the ability of the country to function.

The Tai Pan Raksha Sengun (TPRS) is the primary armed force of the Taianese Empire, and technically its sole branch of military forces. While ostensibly at the disposal of the Emperor, the TPRS is often split among the princes, princesses, and viceroys of the empire into smaller task-oriented cadres. Its largest formation is the Kefa Jiantai (Main Fleet) under direct TAICON command, which acts as a fleet-in-being while detaching smaller battlegroups for specific missions. The Emperor maintains his own Imperial Cadre on Tai Pan itself, filled with the best and most loyal members plucked from all corners of the TPRS.

Next the potential heirs to the empire are each given access to their own much smaller cadres of ships and troops depending on their status, empowered to enact proactive measures across the empire to demonstrate their ability to rule and suitability for the throne. The youngest most ambitious soldiers crowd for placement among the cadres of the strongest and most powerful heirs. The Viceroys, former heirs who did not win selection to the throne, control the smallest of all as garrison cadres. These are often made up of the oldest members of the Defender caste or trusted companions from their own days of glory seeking, used for local security and an honor guard.

While Taianese media loves to spin their latest sleek hardware, much of the fleet is divided between the minority of a new, very capable generation of battleships and cruisers, and the older, more cramped and rushed to production ships of the wars of Liang. Despite the ongoing efforts to rearm the Taianese fleet is still considered small, but very capable, and each of their latest generation warships is a force in its weight class. Their ground forces are divided between ship-based security detachments or highly mobile strike teams, and the often older, heavier garrison divisions that protect the cities and palaces of the viceroys and planets of the empire.

The Taianese Duty Uniform is a unisex soft bodysuit designed to be comfortable for long shifts, it features built-in technology including sockets for attaching whatever tools or packs the wearer requires, a basic survival system in case of unplanned vacuum exposure, lights, and status reporting to nearby workers. It is a baseline uniform designed for ships duty, or as the underlayer of heavier suits or other equipment. While it can be worn in combat, it does feature several modular body armour pieces, it is usually only seen worn by vehicle crews or power armour operators in warzones. Garrisons in particular tend to eschew it in favour of much more localized battle dress.

All three forms serve in the Defender caste, and all three appear in the TPRS, as well as kammee and more rarely alien auxiliaries. Tigers bred for the TPRS all start at the lowest rank and with a ten year minimum service from activation, while not mandatory they are encouraged to stay within the Raksha Sengun and advance their career towards becoming officers. Rabbits are often technical officers and fulfil specialist roles within the defense force. While not part of the Defender Caste some Dragons do take up a military career, but start immediately at a junior officer rank or even as a commander if part of the First Class or Royal line. Kammee start similar to Tigers but are not expected to extend their military careers, military kammee tend to be the most abhumanly augmented among all the kammee in the empire, kammee are never allowed to advance to ranks beyond 2nd class.

The symbol of the TPRS is a dancing kirin, above and below it in tactical markings are the wearers rank, and the color indicates their class. Members of the TPRS also commonly wear their Jiantai Ankan (Fleet Mark) on their shoulders, a symbolic image indicating the specific Cadre they belong to, often a way to keep track of various inter service rivalries.

• Imperial Taianese Navy

Tai Pan history beings, like most things, with something quite small. The multiplication of the human embryo in artificial wombs made “human” laborers obsolete, laws against cloning effectively bypassed with an endless supply of test subjects, science madly augmented this new lifeform they had made. Soon armies of such made men and women labored as slaves across human civilization, but not all would accept such treatment.

The hijacking of UESS Voyager and her escorts was a carefully planned heist, which almost didn’t succeed. Human sympathizers and the lucky slaves who drew lots boarded and fled in the colony vessel, leaving behind many of their own to an uncertain fate as they fled into deep space. On and on they pushed the experimental machines untried engine, further and further they went. They ran until their little ship could run no more, its machinery burned out and its systems cracked and overstrained from such long-term use. The year was 2958, over one hundred years had passed since the exodus, and in that time the made men, the Taianese, had reformed themselves.

They came to a star system with eleven planets, only one of which looked promising for a colony. But they were not the first here, unknown humanoids calling themselves the Tatya Hini, the Yazata, and even humans were living there. Many stories were shared but running out of time and with few other options, the Taianese took landfall. The humans of Liang were not alone, indeed, their own ship had left long after the chaos of the Taianese exit had settled into history and they recognized who these newcomers were. Already rankled at the displacement of some of their own people, a tense peace lasted, grudges remembered, mistrust malingered, and old remembered hatreds stirred in the hearts of Taianese and humans.

Despite renouncing violence as human hold-over they could evolve out of, this belief was strained by the situation. Finally, it broke in 2969 when war came, and it came for the new Tai Pan nation. A coalition of elves and supported by humans formed together with the sole goal of removing the Taianese from the planet. They cared not where, forgetting that for the Taianese the trip was a one-way affair, and beings pushed to the point of destruction or resistance, have few options.

It’s hard to say who killed more of who, certainly when the dust settled after the first round half the elves ceased to exist. But despite the Taianese mounting an insane resistance, militarizing their entire society, and sacrificing all to stem the tide against them. Not just the lives they’d lost, but the lives they’d taken changed them. No longer innocent, they evolved. War became part of them.

Three more wars would be fought, and when it was all said and done the elves lost. Definitively. The public executions of the last uprisings ring leaders was just the artistic finishing flourish on a series of wars that no one involved would truly heal from. The wars had cost Tai Pan three emperors, the last retreating into seclusion inside the confines of his Imperial Palace. By this time the Destroyer caste wasn’t just a temporarily raised militia of amateurs, it had become the third pillar in the entire Tai Pan society. And, as with all parts of culture, the Destroyer caste would have to continue to justify their existence.

Masters of technology and genetics, the Tai Pan science caste has cracked many of the secrets of life, both organic and synthetic. Being equally adept at making machines as making human bodies whatever they need, Taianese technology has both substance and style but can be rare outside the Empire, unless friends of the empire work harder on their friendship

Technology is life in Tai Pan, it’s used to entice many, for many others it’s already inside their heads and any who refuse it are excluded as outsiders. First-Class Taianese citizens are fully integrated into the information network of their society, their minds constantly bombarded with demands even while their bodies are at rest. Lower-class citizens use augmentations to allow their bodies to achieve great feats of strength and dexterity, allowing them to better fulfill their role within society. However, all things come with a cost, and this technology can often be used as a tender hook into a person's freedom. After all, where else is one going to get spare parts for that new piece of tech but back to the makers?

Tai Pan technology fuses their ability to make more citizens on demand for exactly the amount of labor they need, with the production equipment and data to produce exactly as much as they need. Their control of genetics allows them to transform the human body and cross it with abilities and features that many argue to be entirely unnatural. Indeed, entire new body forms of humanity have been produced merely as a side project of Tai Pan scientists. The Jongwu are among the many creations that the Taianese are most proud of, self-determined pets capable of caring for both their owner and themselves equally.

Tai Pan products are marketed as sleek and desirable among other nations, allowing Tai Pan makers to become trendsetters in the Alliance and other human nations. This status also gives them some diplomatic leverage in trade discussions as high-tech manufacturing and industrial equipment can be hard to come by, even in other developed nations. The rare Taianese deviant outside the Empire can be a somewhat reliable but slow source of imperial technology for those unwilling to dance to the imperial tune.

As of the moment, Tai Pan is an ongoing project of Shattered Universe, and as a result, many pages are an active work of progress. The core concept is to bring a science fiction transhuman species and nation into the story. They are purpose-built using several philosophies and inspirations from literature. That being said if you desire to contribute to the Tai Pan Project, there is a wiki article below with some guidelines for making Tai Pan fluff and articles.

• constructionnotes
• tai_pan_roleplay_guide

Finally got some final art of the various demographs in the empire, and added Ember picture. All the pictures are now links! Will need to optimize it for the page later, especially the Kammee one, but that can wait for a later pass. Military pages are being planned currently.

• Various other arts including Nicoy, Farisato, Juliana Whilhem, and others. Commissioned by Kim, Mike, Jimmy, and others.
• Dragon Form Demographic compilated from various artists, Nicoy, Juliana Whilhem, Unknown, and Unknown. Commissioned by Kim, and Tony.
• Tiger Form by Nicoy. Commissioned by Mike.
• Rabbit Form by Nicoy. Commissioned by Jimmy.
• Kammee Form by Nicoy. Commissioned by Jimmy.
• Elves Demographic compilated from various artists, Juliana Whilhem, Farisato, and Unknown. Commissioned by Kim, and Mike.
• Yazata Democrahipic compilated from Farisato, and Nicoy. Commissioned by CadetNewb, Jimmy, and Mike.
• Thor, as Jongwu, by Unknown. Commissioned by Mike.
• Temporary Imperial Seal by Jimmy.