House Parlini

Parlini children are often the product of mixed unions between the other 3 interstellar races. Their hair, skin, and eyes depart from the monochromatic Torlan base thanks to this inflow of external genes, usually thanks to unions between powerful politicians. They’ll often have the same pale white skin, but a scattering of freckles and blonde, red, or brown hair. The benefits of native Torlan radiation resistance remain, and they are also equally well adapted to using ship systems, far beyond the natural abilities of the Serin and Confederates.

A Torlan child at age 5 can already interface their nervous systems with a terminal, allowing them over a decade head start in gathering an education ahead of their peers. This “unfair” advantage has led many across the galaxy to covet Torlan genetics, often marrying a Torlan just to produce hybrid offspring. The Parlini are the only Torlan house that actively encourages this practice.

The Parlini family itself is split into three dominant factions. The lead faction, led by the Georgino-Parlini Estate, dominates the Presidency and Administration of the Torlan Alliance, their family rich in the deepest echelons of interstellar government. It was Shikumi Savage and Kai Georgino-Parlini, the former President and Admiral of the First Fleet, who ensured the arrest and internment of the Forerunners Anax, Glys, and Rylith. The Torlan national pride rests with these heroes for having “saved” the galaxy from these false gods.

The other two factions are the Nan-Parlini and Ren-Parlini, who respectively operate as diplomats and lawyers, or as engineers and shipwrights. Together these three families enjoy near total dominance of all political life, much to the chagrin of the lower houses.

The Parlini operate internally much like a corporation. Individuals rise based on a set of Laws designed to ensure the topmost qualified leadership is chosen from among the ranks – even above their popularity, which only factors in for ¼ of their qualifying merits. They must amass X amount of resources if H1undefinedevery cycle, be top ranking in the quantitative career scores, and finally have career leadership mastery to even qualify for house leadership.

While half of the family members of House Parlini are born into it, the rest are introduced by marriages. This family represents nearly 500,000 persons, most very distantly genetically related, and they must still “run” for the elected office of the Torlan Presidency. But it is, none the less, a rigged game. The Parlini marry anyone with leadership aptitude to ensure the house remains the only one possessing top level candidates – the equivalent of every party running for US president being from 1 family line, only multiplied across entire solar systems.