House Volkov

The Volkov-Majids of Midsummer

Originally known as House Volkov-Majid, the House has its origins as mere planetary nobility - a cadet branch of the major House Majid, set by its parent House to rule over the verdant agri-world of Midsummer.

From its instatement in the late 200s.M41, the House ruled peacefully over the Sector's most bountiful agri-world. With a minimum of Sector influence, and far away from the petty politics of the Great Houses, the Volkov-Majids had no reason to engage in the usual internecine struggles of their more powerful fellows; the same line of succession has persisted since the first Regent of Midsummer, and the current Regent is the grandson of the first planetary Governors.

Considered 'backwards' by most of the Sector, Midsummer is nevertheless astonishingly fertile - and this has led to immense agricultural surplus year on year, even after Imperial tithes. This made the Volkov-Majids wealthy beyond belief, capable of trivially keeping their planetary population well-fed and healthy - but also capable of engaging in trade across the Sector, using their parent House's vessels to spread the bounty to other worlds.

The Rise of House Volkov

Folllowing the destruction of the House Majid fleet in Midsummer's orbit in late 593, the once-vassal House's fortunes took a sudden and dramatic turn for the better. Governor Emrys, the Regent of Midsummer, agreed to risk the entire planet's orbital shuttle assets in order to effect repairs on Lady-Captain Khadija Majid's flagship, the Torchbearer, and enable her to pursue her renegade Scion, Erydia. In exchange, the Volkovs were emancipated from their vassalage and left with the remnants of House Majid's fleet and personnel; lacking a choice, the marooned nobles swore fealty to the planet’s leaders, becoming the vassal House Majid-Volkov.

Autokrator Hermione Durovera, unwilling to risk food production by seizing control of the crippled Majid fleet, made an agreement with the new House to maintain the free flow of supplies from the agriworld. In the resulting trade she gained control of the disabled Majid fleet, leaving the Volkovs with thirty vessels to act as defence and trade vessels for Midsummer. This sudden growth in power and prominence saw House recognised as a new Primus house of the Prosperitas Sector, and, thus, a new Major Noble House.

The Harvest Cult, the local sect of the Imperial Cult that is prominent on Midsummer, declared this to be the first Plentiful Bounty festival in celebration of the planet’s good fortunes. The Volkovs have a reputation for fervent if rustic piety, expressed through the Harvest Cult, revering the Emperor-in-Terra. Frequent Ecclesiarchy investigations have found their practices to be legitimate, and no trace of heresy has been detected on the planet - albeit the rituals of the Harvest Cult stray a little towards the heterodox side of the Imperial Creed.

Notable Nobles of the House

The current Regent of the House, Lord Emrys Volkov, is a sober man marked by family tragedy but determined to see his House safely through the dangers of ascent to Primus status. The other Noble houses, however, are likely more familiar with Regent Emrys' younger sister and 'Ambassador', Lady Angharad Volkov - a consummate negotiator who seems far more at home among the Sector's sparkling nobility than her more rustic cousins.