? In the 'old' days of slow-travel, a society which developed where there would elapse decades between contacts and the society became based, not on individuals, but on families (kind of a 'Forever War' meets feudal Japan). > > > --What is your societies name? The Seven Dynasties. (originally known as 'The Dynasty' prior to the rise of the Heg., reforming into the Twelve Dynasties at the end of the Century of Fire, and gradually dwindling to its current Seven Dynasties.) > > > --Summarize your society in a few lines. This will be used on a society cover page. A set of loose knit, internally competitive, family-based clans. Driven by the demands of honor and duty and hounded by the memory of their once great status, the Dynasties now desperately cling to each other and seek any means of regaining power before they succumb to gradual internal decay. Ostensibly united, the Dynasties willingly prey on each other when it is in their best interest. > > > Geography Human core space, spaced within twenty ly of each other, rimward and in an area lacking especially strong currents. A total of over seven, multi-planet systems, mostly agrarian. Preferably, eleven systems with a total of 36 occupied planets. > > > --How much does your society interact with others? (I.e.) How close are you to other players? The Dynasties have historically been isolationist, dealing primarily with each other. Their external dealing have primarily been heavily militant and based on increasing the resources of the Dynasties. However, within the past century, the Dynasties have, apparently, acknowledged a need for diplomacy and, as their internal power base slowly crumbles, have become increasingly active in seeking out allies and trading partners. External trade has proven awkward since the Dynasties principle exports are hired labor and human slavery. > > > --How big is your society? Does it contain a habitable or marginally > > > habitable planet? Does it cover multiple systems? If so, how spread > > > out is it? You needn't give a population figure, just an estimate of > > > large, tiny, etc. See Geography > > > --Is your society particularly rich or poor in any resources? Rich in agriculture and high population. Low in 'technological' resources such as metals and radioactive materials and are, similarly limited in technology (not the level of sophistication but the actual materials to build it) > > History > > > --What did your society do during the rise of the Hegemony? The Dynasties have a long history tying to the Hegemony. Originally, they tried to out-run and out-colonized it. Then they tried to fight it. Then they tried to ignore it. Following this, they tried to use it, preying on weakened cultures and scavenging the opportunities provided by the Heg. In the end, they tried to fight it again and lost. > > > --What did they do during the Century of Fire? They began by fighting a prolonged border war against the Heg. which eventually lead to their economic collapse (sundering the original Dynasty into the smaller bodies which exist today). Emerging severely weakened by the Century of Fire and the events therein, the smaller groups re-established contact and eventually the current dynastic structure of modern time. > > > Culture > > > --Societies often display a degree of schizophrenia regarding goals. > > > What are a few major divisions? The culture is highly influenced by the weak currents surrounding Dynasty space and the resultant lack of trade and resources. All commerce and politics, both internal and external, is conducted on a basis of families as opposed to individuals and on 'good-faith' and honor in dealings. This mindset is more oriental than occidental and should balance well against most societies. Even though the Dynasties are technically united, actually, each of the seven Dynasties is a different power faction, competing against the others as well as outsiders. It is the standard practice that the ruling houses shall 'rotate' at the end of each ten year period. In order to insure the power of the ruling house, each other house is required to yield to the ruling house a sizable tribute on the first and fifth years of the house's reign. Should a Dynasty be unable to yield this tribute for two successive periods, this dynasty is decided to have weakened to a point requiring dissolution and the absorption of its assets and holdings into the remaining Dynasties. This was the fate of the ninth house, which was dissolved roughly two hundred years ago. In a dramatic illustration of the tense internal politics, the eight house was dealt a fatal blow when the other seven houses refused to pay the fifth year tribute, sealing the economic doom of the eighth house and increasing the fortunes of the other seven. A further source of great internal unrest is the current movement by the now ruling third house to compensate for the lack of 'metallic resources through strange biological experiments in 'living technology'. > > > --Does your society have any areas (technological developments or > > > skills) where it's better or worse then the average of Human space? Weak tech. availability, high labor, fanatic internal loyalty > > > --Is there any special emphasis towards or away from the military? Historically, they have leaned strongly toward "military diplomacy" but have shifted away from this recently, probably not abandoning the premise, only delaying their aggressive stance until they can regain a position of power. > > > --Do they have any special relation with Psionics? Mass hatred, > > > promoted in the gene pool, etc. Partially due to their culture and their isolationist tendencies, the Dynasties have a lower than normal Psi ratio within the culture and those with talents are quickly brought into government service. > > > --Are there any setup effecting aspects of your society I haven't asked about? I deliberately designed the Dynasties as a utility NPS full of possible hooks but stable enough to be ignored for long periods of time. Their aggressive, occupational expansion, desperate fear of failure and the continued loss of once-great prestige and their fanatic willingness to do almost anything for the good of their houses all combine to create good play potential but their current weakness removes a sense of urgency which might otherwise force an NPS into early action. They also make a good, though dangerous source of first or early-alien contact esp. when combined with their willingness to engage in the sale of live human beings for profit. A bit cliched, I know, but useful for our purposes. ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
