House Augustus

Lore & Background

House Augustus holds dominion over the entire Society, with its sovereign residing on the Moon, distinct from the operational governance on Mars led by ArchGovernor Nero Augustus. The source reveals that the Society is built on a lie: while Reds are told they toil to terraform Mars for humanity's future, the planet has actually been terraformed for centuries. This deception ensures the complacency of the lowest castes. Nero Augustus enforces this hierarchy ruthlessly; he publicly hanged Eo for singing an illegal song protesting Red enslavement in front of a broadcast audience. The house's power is absolute, extending to the manipulation of elite training institutions like the Institute, where Nero bribed Proctors to rig outcomes and ensure his son, Adrius (the Jackal), would win.

In Their Own Story

The true nature of House Augustus was unveiled through the machinations of Nero Augustus during Darrow's infiltration. When Darrow emerged from the Institute as a transformed Gold named 'Darrow au Andromedus,' he won the title by conquering all other Houses, including those led by Adrius and Virginia. Instead of eliminating him, Nero approached Darrow with an offer: join the fleet-commanding Academy and serve as his Lancer (aide-de-camp). Despite Darrow's hatred for Nero, who had ordered Eo's execution, he agreed to hide Nero's game-rigging and publicly joined House Augustus. This moment marked a critical turning point where the house absorbed its greatest threat into its own ranks, believing it could control him. Nero also utilized his son Adrius and daughter Virginia within the Institute structure, revealing a family deeply entrenched in the manipulation of the Society's elite.

Reader's Guide

To understand House Augustus from this source, focus on their central figures: Nero Augustus, the ArchGovernor of Mars; Octavia au Lune, the Sovereign residing on the Moon; and their children, Adrius (the Jackal) and Virginia (Mustang). The house operates through a blend of brutal public enforcement, as seen with Eo's hanging, and sophisticated internal manipulation within the Institute. Nero's strategy involves rigging competitions to maintain control, bribing Proctors like Fitchner to ensure his son wins. The house also utilizes deception on a planetary scale, maintaining the lie that Mars is uninhabitable to keep Red laborers compliant. Key events include the rigged Institute games where House Pluto (Adrius) and House Minerva (Virginia) were pitted against others, and the subsequent offer of integration to Darrow, which served as both an honor and a trap.

Did You Know?

• Nero Augustus publicly hanged Eo in front of a broadcast audience after she sang an illegal song protesting Red enslavement.
• The Sovereign of the Society, Octavia au Lune, resides on the Moon while ArchGovernor Nero Augustus rules Mars.
• Adrius au Augustus, known as 'the Jackal,' is the ruthless twin brother of Virginia au Augustus (Mustang).
• Nero bribed Proctors at the Institute to rig the games and ensure his son Adrius would win.
• Darrow was offered a position as Nero's Lancer (aide-de-camp) after winning the Institute, despite having killed Nero's rival Julian.