This is quite weird... :)
More description later, but for the moment, their genes are mucked up so not
only do they have the psi-blocking thing and weird appearance, males
outnumber females 5 to 1 and breakages in the y-chromosome mean men have a
high incidence of brain damage, autism and dyslexia. As a result, society
is ordered into small groups (six or seven) I'm calling cabals consisting of
a kind of family all doing the same thing. The least damaged by their genes
take care of those in the cabal less fortunate. The leaders are those who
are the most capable, usually women. Therefore society is rather
woman-oriented - they're the ones who surround the Spire ('cause mother was
a woman, you know).
Also, those extremely brain-damaged and some dead are resucitated and placed
into a kind of coma, and stasised into what is called Sleep. (probably a
throwback to Nexites' Ghost habitat conciousnessess life-after-death things)
They are believed to protect those who are near them.
I know the 'tuning solar wind and meddling with stellar fusion' thing is
pushing it a little bit but it's like a legacy from their past. Probably
take a century of analysis and construction to set up another one.
WAIRE
Location and Languages
The Waire are scattered refugees, existing on the fringes of other
societies in abandoned colony ships. Their one system, Theta347, is
isolated and wasted by war. They speak a unique language given to them by
their mother in order to free them from the thought patterns of Nexite
control.
Scope - 5 billion (0)
Land Area - 2/3 colony ships, one solar system (+1)
Technological Base -
in space/orbit (+3)
planetary (+1)
FTL is slow and no currents (0)
masters of quantum psitech (+3)
biotechnology (+3)
all others average (+2)
Philosophical Orientation
Primary - equilibrium
political Revolution
Prevention of taint (psi)
Secondary - conquest
Acquisition of interstellar influence
Stagnation of individual will
Political
Ruling Agency
The Spire
Theta347 is dominated by the Spire, an administrative organization that
once had the full power of mother's influence behind it. Now, figureheads
may come and go, but the Spire is dominated by the innermost female cabals,
spinning their designs across the whole of society.
Authority (+1) (depends heavily on personalities behind action)
Influence (-1)
Consent (+2)
Key Elements
The Priesthood
Locked away on Orion, the priesthood has been the hidden power in Waire
society since before the Witchhunter's meddling. Evolved beyond all
reciognition from the wandering evangelists of old, they use vast
supercomputers to track trends in society, mapping future probabilities with
mathematical equations. They interfere without remorse, but always to
preserve the free will mother gave them.
Authority (-2)
Influence (+3)
Consent (0)
Mother's Cabal
Since her death, those closest to their mother have been elevated to
almost saintly status. The members of her inner circle vie with each other
for political power, using their position to pursue their own agendas
Sinead - melodramatic and self-centred, she wants in all force to protect
the gift that Mother gave them, which means expansion, and the removal of
taint if she can lay her hands on it.
Authority (+3) Influence (-2) Consent (-3)
Belinda - she works to heal, to mend some of the horrific damage caused by
the Witchhunter's meddling.
Authority (+2) Influence (0) Consent (-4)
Sailors
A few, drug-crazed individuals have a stranglehold on what economic power
the Waire can muster. These sailors brave the Main, providing the only
means of FTL travel avaliable, and their payment and sustenance is the basis
of the economic system. Moving goods and lending favours, they are without
cabal and outcast from normal society. They operate independently, but
market forces sometimes seem to have a will of their own...
Authority (-4)
Influence (+4)
Consent (-3)
Martin
A mysterious, often violent force working in the Mineya system. His
connections with illegal trade has not been proved, and he has gained the
support of many cabals who make the sailship their home. It is almost
certain that he escaped the dehabilitating mental deficiencies inherent in
the Waire's broken Y chromosome.
Authority (-3)
Influence (+1)
Consent (+2)
External Politics
Base value (-2)
Relations
Heathra (+1)
Seven Dynasties (0)
Nexites currently (-3)
Military Organisation
The idea of war, of hunting, is so integral to the Waire's subconsious
that potentially every cabal could be called upon to fight if needed, and if
the call to hunt was ever sent out again, they would answer. However,
currently only a few cling to war as their primary purpose; weaned off
conflict by their mother.
In space, they are defensive. The ability to tear any ship from the Main
as it approaches and complex quantum shielding protect their homes. But, on
the ground, or in a boarding action, they are fast, subtle, and terrifying;
the hunt is in their veins.
Economics
System - a barter system sustains the lonely sailors
Resources (0)
Living exclusively in space, and without substantial planetary mass to
mine, the Waire are reduced to skimming the Oort Cloud and the solar wind of
their primaries for the elements they require.
Exploitation (+4)
The sun at Theta347 is the jewel in the crown of the Waire's mastery of
their resources. Vast stations, constructed over centuries, 'tune' the
solar wind to the required pitch, changing the manner of their primary's
fusion to produce differing surface temperatures, differing colours of
light, and differing elements in the solar wind. These are then collected
by vast living biological sheets which draw their nourishment from the
radiation of space.
Trade (0)
Although a vital part of Waire existence, the fragility of their
economic system is prohibitive. Sustained by outcasts addicted to the drugs
neccessary to stay concious and out of normal space while in the quantum
uncertainty of the Main, trade is risky at best.
Wealth (0)
Humanities
Tolerance Prevalence Diversity Sophistication
Dogma
Free Will (+3) (-1) (+2) (+3)
Tainted (0) (+2) (-1)
Blood (-2) (-3) (0)
The Waire are a divided people. Gone from a highly integrated, honed
tool, to a disparate collection of handicapped individuals, the driving
force behind Mother's philosiphy of free will and individual choice is not
accepted everywhere. Indeed, the basic unit of the cabal can itself be seen
as contrary to this belief. The paranoia and revulsion felt at psi's
subverting of reality also seems to be driving them back to their hunting
days.
Old cultish practices, things the Priesthood have abandoned, blood and
drugs give a mystery to a world made manageable and predictable by the total
lack of quantum fluctuation (due to the Waire's ability).
Tolerance Prevalence Diversity Sophistication
Creativity (+3) (-3) (+1) (-4)
Self-expression is fundamental to the structure of the society. With
mother's emphasis on free will, viewpoints and questions are encouraged, and
creative activities are a basic part of communication for those who are more
severely affected by the Waire's genetic heritage. Unfortunately, it is
subsumed by necessity and the handicaps, and it is only collectively that
any sophisticated activities are entered into.
Tolerance Prevalence Diversity Sophistication
Introspection (+1) (-3) (0) (+4)
There are elite groups searching for understanding and considering moral
questions, using this knowledge to underpin their actions. However, the
ordinary person is more likely to blindly react than consider their actions.
Resentment and what they see as necessity are their driving forces.
Tolerance Prevalence Diversity Sophistication
Refinement (+3) (-2) (+1) (+2)
A desire for perfection is part of the Waire's perception of order and
reality, echoing the stability they force upon the world. But, the world
consistently fails to meet their expectations, leaving them frustrated -
hence the low prevalence. However, when pressed, when inspired by some
purpose, they are capable of a single-minded dedication.
Tolerance Prevalence Diversity Sophistication
Psionics (-3) (+4) (-4) (-4/+4)
The Taint. Memories of hunting, of blood, of collective
will, come flooding back. The Waire are free of the taint; but their one
brush with psionics defines them. They block psi. Every single one of them
blocks psi. Denying this ability causes eventual madness, while mastering
it requires infinite precision and specialist equipment. It is the shroud,
the mask, the blade that cuts away the taint.
--
Edmund
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