Chiss Ruling Houses

The Chiss Ruling Houses (also called the Ruling Houses and the Nine Ruling Houses) were the complicated familial/governmental organizations that dominated the Chiss Ascendancy. According to the Chiss, the Ruling Houses predated the ice age that gave rise to modern Chiss society, and that after millenia of intermarriage, every Chiss individual was able to claim relationship with each house in one form or another. Each House was responible for a certain sect of Chiss government. Houses were lead by civilian members called Aristocras, and these Chiss made up the leadership of the Chiss Ascendancy. Despite Chiss claims to the contrary, relatioships between the Houses seemed rather tense.

When the existence of the Chiss was confirmed, the Ruling Houses totaled Nine. However, by the time of the Yuuzhan Vong War, the Houses were five in number, with only four having any actual governing power. Apparently, the losses of the Third Vagaari War caused a serious labor shortage among the Chiss, and they turned to the insectoid Killiks for help. Cautions were taken against the Joining process, but someone started sabotages. Eventually, two houses were totally joined, while two others were heavily dependant on the Killiks. The Five unjoined houses decided to remove the other two in a civil war (a phrase the Chiss disliked). However, this information came from Aristocra Formbi, the leader of one of the unjoined houses no longer included among the Ruling Houses.

Houses and Functions

 * House Csapla, resource management and colonial affairs
 * House Nuruodo, military and foreign policy
 * House Inrokini, Industry, non-military science, and communications
 * House Sabosen, law and order, health, education
 * House Chaf, duties unnamed