The Imperial Family

The house of Eximus is one of the most diverse extended families in existence. In the early years of the Empire one of the most pressing problems for the fledgling monarch was the issue of a competent heir. Ever a student of history he was painfully aware that the traditional method of progression was a trap that would doom his legacy within a few short generations, even if he was lucky, (In the beginning he had no notion of the lengths Companion would pursue to ensure his survival.) And in the aftermath of the Shaloi War he became aware of the danger anyone he took as his wife would face from his enemies. In time it was decided he would take no wife but would scatter his seed both through personal liaisons and through contributions to reproductive projects as a genetic donor.
Despite of his resulting reputation of loose personal morals he endowed all of his resulting offspring with trusts to allow them to pursue whatever destiny they chose. But this had a catch. The trust was simply seed money for a greater prize. Left to themselves they had prove themselves worthy of "recognition" and inclusion within the House of Eximus. Inclusion means that their heirs will automatically be members of the house with only intervention of an Imperial Censure changing that status. Further once recognized the new member has the possibility of earning a place on the List of Succession otherwise known as the list of heirs.
The List has varied over the centuries as heirs have distinguished or disgraced themselves or simply failed to outlive their Imperial sire. The present list numbers six individuals, of which, only three are publicly known. The public heirs are, in order, Titus Mantus(Warlord at Large), Barla Eximus-Brekker, and her sister Warlord Selina Eximus. The remaining members of the List are open to speculation but the most likely person to be on it is the Emperor's daughter by the Torakian Empress, Ki-Shan-Di Cryshana. Other persons speculated on include the daughter of Titus, Shrike and the son of Barla and Johan Brekker, Jonathon. These are in direct linage but since they are second generation members of the house they are not seriously considered as the Emperor has traditionally only named his direct offspring to the succession.
This aristocracy of talent has proved beneficial to the house with the Emperor only having to use the Censure seven times in recorded history. Because of this criteria of inclusion the list of the house members almost reads like a who's who of influential and pivotal persons within the Empire.