Once a bastion of governance and order, the Lewihbolan Senate has become a fractured and corrupt institution, plagued by bribery and coercion. The rise of the Sable Horizon Syndicate accelerated its decline, as many senators accepted payouts in exchange for turning a blind eye to the Syndicate’s oppression and taxation of the populace. While a handful of principled senators still fight to restore the Republic’s integrity, they are vastly outnumbered by those who have succumbed to greed or fear.
Goals and Motivations
Maintain Political Influence – Corrupt senators prioritize their personal power and wealth, ensuring their control remains uncontested.
Appease the Sable Horizon Syndicate – Many members actively work to legitimize Syndicate rule, shaping laws to accommodate its operations.
Silence Opposition – The Senate employs spies, assassins, and intimidation tactics to neutralize those who seek reform.
Restore Order (for the few remaining loyalists) – A dwindling faction within the Senate seeks to reclaim the Republic’s autonomy and break free from the Syndicate’s grip.
History
The Lewihbolan Senate was once a proud and stable governing body, guiding the Republic with careful diplomacy and trade policies. However, with the growing strength of the Sable Horizon Syndicate, the Senate fell into decay as officials were bribed, blackmailed, or outright removed from power.
When Rear Admiral Abebe first enforced Syndicate rule, he leveraged corrupt senators to establish exploitative trade laws, strengthening the Syndicate’s control over the region. After Abebe’s downfall and the rise of Commodore Zorion Malgrave, the Senate had an opportunity to regain independence—but instead, most members willingly chose to deepen their corruption, securing their own wealth rather than resisting Syndicate influence.
A small coalition of loyalist senators still fights for reform, but they are undermined at every turn by their treacherous peers. These reformers operate in secrecy, attempting to rally the people against the Syndicate before it is too late.
Rules and Tenents
Self-Preservation Above All: Most senators prioritize personal survival over national welfare.
Wealth is Power: Influence is dictated by who pays the most, not by integrity or competence.
Maintain the Façade: Even as corruption spreads, the Senate must appear to function as a legitimate government.
No Open Opposition to the Syndicate: Those who resist are silenced through bribery, coercion, or elimination.
Enforce Corruption Through Spy Networks: Informants ensure reformists never gain traction.
Membership
The Senate is composed of wealthy aristocrats, merchants, and former military officials, most of whom have been compromised or bought by the Syndicate. A small faction of reformers still operates, but they are vastly outnumbered. Members excel in political maneuvering, financial acumen, and legal manipulation, often employing deceit and ruthlessness to maintain their status. Most serve their own interests first, with the majority aligning with the Sable Horizon Syndicate through bribery, blackmail, or shared profits, while the reformists remain loyal to the Republic. Corrupt senators enjoy wealth, protection, and Syndicate-sponsored luxuries, while reformists live under constant threat with limited resources.
Hierarchy
High Chancellor: The nominal leader of the Senate, currently a Syndicate puppet who ensures legislation benefits the Syndicate.
Inner Council: A select group of the wealthiest and most influential senators, responsible for crafting policies that protect their own interests.
General Assembly: The larger body of senators, most of whom follow the Inner Council’s lead out of greed or fear.
Loyalist Faction (The Hidden Few): The last remnants of true governance, working in secrecy to overthrow the Syndicate’s grip.
Raffaele Giannetti, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons