The Illusion of Control

The Terran Commonwealth claims Perseverance as one of its frontier worlds, a distant outpost of civilization in the vastness of space. On paper, the planet is under Commonwealth jurisdiction, governed by law and order from the distant halls of the Assembly. In reality? Power is something far more immediate, determined not by decrees from Earth, but by who can hold it, keep it, and enforce it.

"They say Perseverance is part of the Commonwealth. Sure. And a stray dog technically belongs to the man who abandoned it."
— Marshal Gideon Rusk, Commonwealth Ranger

Out here, the Commonwealth’s reach is thin, stretched across light-years of bureaucratic inertia and political neglect. True control is held by those who have the resources, firepower, or sheer will to make the laws – or break them.

The Commonwealth: Authority in Name Only

The Terran Commonwealth insists that Perseverance is under its rule, yet their presence on the planet is little more than symbolic. Their authority is backed by two forces: the Governor’s administration and the Commonwealth Guard—neither of which holds as much power as they’d like to believe.

The Governor, an Earth-appointed official based in the capital, Fallpoint, holds nominal authority. She signs decrees, oversees trade agreements, and dictates policy. But with no true enforcement mechanism outside the capital, her reach seldom extends beyond the major trade hubs.

The Commonwealth Guard, the planet’s official military force, is a regiment of career soldiers, bureaucrats, and conscripts stationed in fortified barracks. Tasked with protecting strategic interests and enforcing the Governor’s laws, they are well-trained but outnumbered, underfunded, and often corrupt. Most Guard commanders know that survival means compromise – cutting deals with local power players, whether they wear a badge or a gang’s insignia.

The Commonwealth Rangers, roaming law enforcers dispatched to keep order, hold more respect than the Guard – but they are spread thin, with too few guns and too much territory to patrol. In some places, a single Ranger may be the only symbol of law for an entire region.

"The Governor’s got a fancy office, a battalion of guards, and the authority of the Commonwealth. The only thing she doesn’t have? Control."
— Captain Jerro Quinn, trader

The Towns and Their Own Laws

Outside the capital and major Commonwealth installations, power belongs to those who can hold it locally. Most settlements govern themselves, relying on their own leaders, lawmen, and hired guns to keep order.

Each town has a mayor, a sheriff, and a council of merchants or elders who manage daily affairs. Their authority isn’t granted by the Commonwealth – it’s earned through respect, wealth, or sheer necessity. Some towns thrive under strong leadership, with sheriffs who uphold their version of justice. Others are little more than fiefdoms, ruled by corrupt officials or powerful business interests.

In mining settlements, corporations often hold the real power, hiring private security forces to enforce their will. These corporate-backed enforcers are often more ruthless than any sheriff, treating workers like expendable assets.

Independent settlements, from ranching communities to river traders and nomadic clans, live by their own rules. Some acknowledge the Commonwealth’s presence when convenient, others reject it outright. When conflict arises between these communities, justice is often personal—settled with deals, grudges, or bullets.

"A sheriff's badge don’t mean much unless the people wearing it can hold their own."
— Sheriff Dale Foster, Rust Creek

The Lawless and the Outlaws

Beyond the settled regions, the only law is whoever has the guns to back it up. The wildlands of Perseverance are home to bandit clans, rogue mercenaries, and separatists, all carving out their own fiefdoms beyond Commonwealth reach.

Some of these outlaws see themselves as rebels, fighting for Perseverance’s independence from a distant, uncaring government. Others are simply opportunists, preying on trade convoys, isolated homesteads, and weakly defended settlements.

Among the most feared factions are ex-Commonwealth deserters, now operating as well-armed raiders who know the system they once served. Others have built their own power structures, running protection rackets or establishing hidden enclaves where the Commonwealth dares not tread.

"Some men break the law. Some men make the law. And on Perseverance, sometimes they’re the same damn person."
— Eliza Kane, Commonwealth Ranger

Who Really Holds Power?

While the Commonwealth claims ownership of Perseverance, its control is more illusion than reality. The real power is local, personal, and always shifting. Town leaders, corporate bosses, outlaw chiefs, and lone gunfighters shape the world more than any distant bureaucrat.

For those who live here, survival comes first, law comes second, and loyalty is always negotiable. Power isn’t determined by birthright or law – it’s earned, taken, or fought for.

"Out here, power ain’t written in law books. It’s written in the dust, in blood, and in the stories people tell when the fires burn low."
— Hector Vale, plains hunter

What’s Next?

Power on Perseverance comes from where you stand and what you’re willing to fight for—but before you can claim your place in this world, you need to know where you came from.

In the next post, we’ll explore Perseverance Origin Keywords—the backgrounds that shape a character’s skills, reputation, and outlook. Were you born into an Old Family, raised in the mining towns of the badlands, or did you arrive as an off-worlder struggling to find your place?