Nightfall

The deep, sprawling forests of Nightfall are only broken up by vast mountains and countless lakes. The only terrain features visible from space are the poles, one an frozen wasteland and the other an arid desert. From the ground, two features are very distinct, one is the Fortress-Monastery of the Knights of the Iron Keep and the other is the atypical, green sun.

Nightfall is ruled by a noble class, who has ruled the planet since the dissenters in the Utovian Secession were beaten down and defeated, since the former ruling family was exterminated and expunged from records, their Hold razed to the ground and the earth burned.

Nobility & Castes
The ruling class is today divided into seventeen different families, but in times of war they all march under the banner of House Voskhod. This might seem confusing to outsiders, but due to the nature of the oaths between the families and Anann all the families sees their duty to the Adeptus Mechanicus as superseding all other obligations or quarrels. Among the families, nobles are divided into castes, Tuccar for the traders and craftsmen, Sovaly for Sers and Sqires and Rahip for those who enter the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Castes

 * The Tuccar never leaves Nightfall, and works to keep the masses productive by governing and managing the farmers, animal herders and craftsmen that keeps Nightfall running. These are soft-spoken and cultured, clothed in fine cloths and smells of scented oilds. A Tuccar noble can never assume leadership of a family, but is nonetheless respected for their administrative acumen, or knowledge of craftsmanship and similar disciplines.
 * The Sovaly are those who on their eleventh birthday pass the Sacristan´s Crucible, and henceforth are on a path toward the Ritual of Becoming and a life as an Imperial Knight. Those who pass the Crucible are known as Squires, until they take part in the Ritual of Becoming on their eighteenth bierthday. The nobles who walk the martial path do not concern themselves with the management of their Holds, only with their families continued survival.
 * The Rahip are those who at any time come to the attention of the sacristans out in the Holds, and are then inducted into the Cult Mechanicus, and are sometimes seen as again as Sacristans themselves. This is the only caste that can be joined by those not of noble birth, and anyone who catches the attention of a someone in the Adeptus Mechanicus (that is able to make a decision) is immediately transferred to Anann in order to give their dues to the Omnissiah, whatever way those dues expresses themselves.

Ruling Families
Each familiy Head is known as Dvor, a proto-Gothic word meaning Chieftain. Each family rules a separate Hold, and the land surrounding it. Always from a Sovaly, the Dvor´s rule of his family is absolute. Although each Dvor applies his own style of leadership, the right of leadership is almost  never questioned due to the nature of Nightfall´s inheritance rituals.

Inheritance
When entering the role of Dvor, the newly ascended must proclaim his Three Heirs. To be named one of the Three is a great honour, and the bperson being named is thereafter addressed as Heir. When a Dvor dies, each of his three Heirs are gathered, and engages each other in three different tests, in martial prowess, strength of character and sharpness of wit. The nature of the three tests are decided by a vote by all knighted Sers in the Hold. In the case of a Heir death before the Dvor, a new Heir is not chosen. The only time new Heirs are declared are when all three are dead, and the Dvor is not.

Kezzeq
The role normally known as Princeps on an Adeptus Mechanicus-affiliated Knight World is on Nightfall known as Kezzeq, a word in the local proto-Gothic meaning King. The Kezzeq resides in the epinymous Castle Kezzeq, which have been the home of the High Court, and the ruling familiy, the Khereids, since the Utov Secession.

Castle Kezzeq
Castle Kezzeq is located on the edge of the polar desert, and is the only part of Nightfall that is open to outsiders as well as Nightfall´s only spaceport. Castle Kezzeq is, as all Holds, surrounded by a city-like society. This society has made a name for itself in the sector, for containing several very, capable craftsmen whom specialise in fine clothing, jewelry, and similar non-martial fields. This makes Castle Kezzeq a popular destination for discerning nobles, well-off Rogue Traders and the like who want to present their affluence physically.

Holds
The seventeen families all each control a Hold, spread about Nightfall. Not Hold are equal in size and might, but their social standing on the High Court are not seen as different. Below you will find a list of all families, their Holds and Dvors.