Technocrat of Orcus

"You would think, in all her brilliance, that Pheme might care less about my private life. But no—she is forever suggesting suitors, lecturing me on heirs, and reminding me that a bachelor is a liability. I sometimes wonder whether I serve Orcus, or whether Orcus serves her."

— Aldones Castaigne, Technocrat of Orcus

The Requirements of the Office

The position of Technocrat of Orcus is unlike that of other, larger worlds. On paper, the office is reserved for members of the Vanthine branch of House Castaigne, scions of a line grafted from human stock and hybrid legacy. In practice, the appointment is not determined by a council or noble assembly, but by Pheme, the artificial intelligence that manages the Lens. To be Technocrat, one must not only possess the Castaigne bloodline but also be "chosen" by Pheme, who bases her decision on criteria that remain opaque even to the House. Many liken the process to adoption: a Technocrat is less elected or crowned than recognized by the whispering intelligence that watches over Vanth. This dual requirement—a noble name and an AI’s blessing—makes the office unique in the Pan-Solar Consortium, and fuels rumors that the Technocrat is more caretaker than ruler.

Duties of the Technocrat

Once appointed, the Technocrat of Orcus shoulders the burden of a paranoid, isolated world. Their foremost duty is to administer Vanth’s dome-cities and safeguard the scattered surface outposts. They oversee the food and water economy of orbital farms, direct the flow of resources from the ice mines, and maintain the delicate balance of subsistence-level life in an inhospitable orbit. Equally important is their role as guardian of the Lens, ensuring that its vast dish, crystalline components, and data-stream remain functional, secure, and expanding. The Technocrat must also maintain the prestige of House Castaigne, representing its interests abroad while quelling cults, conspiracies, and local unrest at home. Like their peers elsewhere, they are expected to seek a suitable partner, continue their line, and provide stability through heirs—though in Orcus’s case, this is as much Pheme’s obsession as the House’s.

The Current Technocrat

The present Technocrat of Orcus is Aldones Castaigne, a bachelor of some notoriety who maintains a tense partnership with Pheme. He is competent in administration, shrewd in defense, and respected enough by the Vanthine populace, but his unmarried status has become a running spectacle. Pheme, invested in securing a strong Castaigne branch on Orcus, has become an overbearing presence in his personal affairs—sponsoring balls, arranging meetings, and even inserting “compatibility metrics” into government briefings. Aldones bears this with a mixture of patience and irritation, often likening his AI counterpart to a domineering mother. Beneath the surface, however, lies the deeper truth: Aldones’ reign is only as secure as Pheme’s favor. Should she ever rescind her recognition, the House and the colony would almost certainly obey her word over his.