The culture of the barony_of_doronue differs from the more techno-progressive and spiritual culture of the Iromakuanhe Astral Commonwealth largely as a consequence of a technological reversion that occurred shortly after the arrival of the first wave of colonists to the three 'Baron Stars' in the Astral Cluster. Differing societal pressures and neo-feudal revivalism after the initial technological collapse of their colony led to the development of a culture that adopted the customs and traditions of the peoples that were incorporated into the caste system of the Saal nomads.

Restoration of their technological base by other colonies restored them to early Commonwealth capabilities in most regards, but did little to advance their society after restoral. This changed, when the discovery of large sums of Veyrinite led to great wealth and advancements in technology for the three Baronies, which led to a sort of peaceful renaissance in their society. Despite this, Doronue and its sister colonies are fundamentally decadent, led by aristocratic nobles supported by bourgeois merchant princes and Veyrinite-artisans, and their culture stands as a massive anachronism to the other Iromakuanhe societies in the cluster.

See: Diaspora Colony History

While the Commonwealth was struggling with the formal end of its first golden age and works to begin its second, the Barony sat at its very apex of its current potential. Veyrinite wealth and its powerful Veyrinite-intensive weapons have brought it great prestige and military power, making it a definite power among the Iromakuanhe diaspora. Although it is at odds with New Veyrin, it has agreed to an unsteady peace with the upstart nation, and has set its sights on more docile and profitable ventures for conquest.

See: Iromakuanhe History

The Barony of Doronue is a political and military union of three aristocratic states who share a common history and culture, with the namesake state of Doronue being the most powerful and prestigious member of their alliance. These smaller states are individually made up smaller city-states owned by a number of powerful noble houses, who contribute a levy of professional soldiers led by a member of the family and a tithe of wealth to the Barons. The government itself is somewhat despotic, with the Barons only having enough reach to draft laws and privately administrate their own regions, while allowing the other nobles to interpret them to a reasonable extent. Although the barons of some eras have taken upon themselves to intervene when a city-state is not being governed within their tolerance for deviation, most prefer to use more covert political or military tactics to ensure proper care of their territories.

The 'Barons' of each respective colony generally have influence similar to that of monarchs in a feudal monarchy, but have preferred to keep their current titles. The scenario has led to these 'Greater Barons' having more political power and wealth than the houses of Dukes, Margraves and Earls, and adoption of 'Baronet' as the title of 'heirs apparent' the Barons. This bizarre terminology is somewhat inconsistent with the traditional titles within pre-Saalii records, effectively replacing traditional terms for monarch with those of a what would have been a lower-class noble.

Because of the structure of their government, the common citizens of Doronue¹⁾ are generally disinterested in national politics and depend entirely on the kindness of their local governors for prosperity. Activism is rare and suppressed violently while journalism is often limited to caricature and denigration rather than information, although the guilds of wealthy middle class merchants and tradesmen often act as a voice for the people in the political world.

For more information, see Entertainment.

The entertainments to be found in the Barony of Doronue stand as something of an anachronism among the nations of the Astral Cluster, with a greater emphasis on more tangible means of entertainment in stricly solid-state mediums such as paper. Network technology is not nearly as developed in the Baron Stars of the Giedi Depression, leading to a less matured digital ecology with a more limited scope and degree of interaction for online users.

Like their Commonwealth forebears, they developed a rich culture with its own traditions. Slower advances in networking have had the advantage of preserving old elements of Saalii culture such as oral tradition, live theater and fostered communities that are more tightly knit at the cost of being somewhat more insular.

For more information, see The Dreamer Vigil.

The Barony of Doronue inherited the The Dreamer Vigil from the peoples of the Commonwealth, and is one of the few diaspora nations to maintain institutions of traditional Iromakuanhe faith. The colonists of the Baron Stars have their own sects and schools of thought that differ from those of the original Vigil. Cults of Bukor the Wealthy and Abu'nal the Mighty are especially popular, as is the Dravdis School.

For more information, see Technology.

The peoples of the Barony diverged at two points in their history, reflecting the two waves of migration to the Baron Stars. The first era was a few years after the development of the first MASC Drive and the subsequent discovery of Veyrinite, and the second came shortly after the end of the Second Outer System Conflict, when Commonwealth forces devastated Veyrin Kingdom with the living weapons known as VANDR. While the Iromakuanhe who live in the home system have moved past these moments in time, the Barony has these events as points of fixation.

As a consequence, Barony technology has focused heavily on innovation in the field of biological weapons platforms that feature Veyrinite technologies, and derailed the progression of Barony biotechnology towards military applications. This, combined with their archaic feudal social structure was resulted in the creation of biomechanical frames that seem to seamlessly combine precious Veyrinite with Organoid structures into something that surpasses the basic ability of the Commonwealth's premier frame units. Their symbiotic technologies tend to lack the utility or compatibility of Solanii or Altjiran counterparts, but those able to utilize their living weapons are truly fearsome sights to behold.

In many ways, the culture of the Barony of Doronue can be an extension of that of Commonwealth Iromakuanhe.

• Prestige and power defines the doronuan as the people of the most powerful of the baronies. Their people are honest, motivated and fanatically loyal to their noble Baron Doronue-Iselia, and their leadership is formed of deft statesmen and diplomats.
• Resilience and strength are the core values of the kemelii. Their people are grim and stoic, and have a necessary if somewhat tenuous loyalty in their charismatic and stalwart Baron Nylund of Kemel. Their knights are hard-hearted but valiant, and their nobles are skilled warriors as a consequence of Kemel's location as a site of invasion.
• Innovation and wealth drives the remidan people, who rose from petty miners of Veyrinite to the economic powerhouse of the Baron Stars. Their environment fosters brilliant scientists, artists and conmen, and their Baron Remida is a true renaissance man who embodies all of these elements.

Many citizens of the Barony believe that physical endeavor is a truer expression of the soul then meditation, and that a person shows their truest self when a person must struggle against the impossible. The chivalrous martial tradition of Doronue's aristocracy has taken to physical activity quite strongly, with the family member who is responsible for a house's knight and sergeants regularly taking to training and labor alongside their subordinates.

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Martial

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Team

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Television