The Parent rank within Faction Paradox, or the Mothers and Fathers, served as the de facto rulers of the organization, by virtue of controlling the vast majority of the seats in the Parliament of the Eleven-Day Empire. Many oversaw operations outside the Empire, keeping an eye on various Cousins, and many were originally members of the Great Houses who had defected. (PROSE: Blood Ties: Inside the Grandfather's House, The Book of the War)