The Empire of stars was founded by Mezo, one of the members of the Triad. Mezo was a wizard of enormous talent, who refused to choose a specialty, instead preferring to study all magic. Mezo became the chosen of Merek, deity of all magic, and preached their word to all peoples.
Mezo was an orphan, found abandoned on the doorstep of Far Water University. The culture into which he was born was mistrustful and provincial, with 12 great families holding control over their own territories, constantly warring with each other and jockeying for position. Mezo united these families around a common power, magecraft, and against a common enemy, the dragons. He formed the families into a single nation, but Mezo was as wise as he was powerful. He knew his culture, and he knew the power of tradition and history. The great houses would never surrender rule to a dynasty founded by a bastard of unknown parentage. So Mezo founded a new house, that would aid in ruling but never reign.
House Mezo is the house of the Sun. It is an administrative and bureaucratic house, holding many of the most important roles and positions within the Empire. The most important of these is vizier, the advisor to the Emperor. This position is held by the head of the house, currently Madaya Mezo. She is quiet and coldly calculating, focused on keeping the Empire's competition at each other's throats.
The Emperor's throne passes from house to house every twelve years. Each house is named for a constellation in the zodiac, and rules during the period when their stars are primary in the sky. The transfer is always accompanied by a grand festival, where people throughout the Empire celebrate with food, drink, fireworks, music, and dancing.
The next celebration will be particularly frenzied, lasting for 12 nights, because the cycle is about to reset. The current Emperor is Mayura Pavo, of the 12th house. Their constellation is the peacock. At the close of the year, control will pass to Zahira Veno of the first house, under the constellation of the spider.
Under Mayura, the Empire has focused inward and begun a large number of building and improvement projects. This has drained the treasury and frustrated the expansion minded vizier. Madaya Mezo is looking forward to working with house Veno, who eye nearby independent cities with lust and envy. The militantly minded Kastello family are next, and so the vizier should have plenty of opportunity to add to the Empire's territory before her term is over.
In order, the constellations and their house leaders are as follows:
The Spider, Zahira Veno
The Tower, Durga Kastelo
The Mare, Ghoda Cevalo
The Archer, Tira Sago
The Bat, Andeer Malluma
The Bear, Nakara Garra
The Plow, Kisan Kamparano
The Scale, Nisha Bela
The Dolphin, Machali Fiso
The Crown, Raka Rego
The Torch, Prakash Lumo
The Peacock, Mayura Pavo
The Sun, Madaya Mezo
The Empire is centered around the Sea of Stars. Actually an enormous freshwater lake, it is the largest body of water in the known world. From its center at night, no land is visible. The only thing a sailor can see is the stars above and their reflections below. According to legend, this makes the working of great magics possible. It is from this sea and the 12 families that the Empire draws its name.