The First Word
03-02-2008, 09:57
Race: Human
Average Age: 48
Life expectancy at birth: 75
Location: Near the Avalan homeworld of Tintibulus, found on the tip of one of the Milky Way's arms.
Known Planets Controlled: None
Capitol: Chapel of the Order
The "Cult" of the First Word is an interesting one indeed. With well over some ten-thousand members, this highly secretive order was most truly established during the violent collapse of the nation, Avalas. Escaping the civil war besieging their homeworld, they are now thoroughly entrenched on a distant moon on the fringes of the solar-system. Though their reasons for escaping may be obvious, their actual purpose is quite obscure. It can be summed up in one of their quietly murmured mottoes, however - that "If God isn't there to save us, we must be there to save god." Once deemed heretical for their refusing to bow before the Avalan emperor, they are now free from their war-torn, now crippled, nation to pursue their goals.
Though officially agnostic themselves, the cult has made the conclusion that if such an idea as 'divinity' is so widespread in so many different cultures throughout the entire galaxy, that some kind of godly force must exist - or must have existed, in the universe. However, with observable miracles so few and far between, said force must either be absent, negligent, or dying. Since the first is logically impossible, and the second very rarely recorded, the remaining option must be accepted as the truth. In an effort to keep the faltering spirit(s) alive, the cult has a reputation for bolstering foreign efforts in establishing religions, often seeding propaganda and fronting archaeological activities to this end. They also regularly influence the development of countries that have yet to be introduced to the interstellar stage.
To support these very peculiar interests, the Order has established itself as a very prominent force in logistics management and trading, earning a fortune in revenue off of the 'mediation' between any given group of nations. They are also renown for their immense body of knowledge, formed over years of loreseeking, spying, and deals both on and under the table.
Government -
The Order itself is ruled by a Chancellor, elected every ten years by popular sovereign from the highest ranking membors, who has largely authoritarian powers. They are, however, kept loosely in check by a council of lesser ministers. At present, this Chancellor is Arthur Goodman, an energetic and driven man who emphasizes the small nation's influence in foreign affairs. He is fairly militant in this fashion, but holds the popular vote by right of his programs for exploration, expansion, and technological development.
Attitude - The people of the Order have relatively solid morals, though usually prefer to use their logic to solve problems, rather than depending too heavily on their feelings. Many of them are unused to hard work, having lived the life of scholars and thinkers much of their lives. To compensate for this, it is not uncommon that people in this order keep paid laborers and maids to do their dirty-work. They have a heavy emphasis on the importance of education in their society, leading to a great deal of support towards liberal and radical ideologies.
The City - The heart of the sect is actually referred to as the "Chapel of the Order," and it stays true to its title. An enormous cathedral of mind-blowing proportion, over a fourth of the moon they occupy is covered by the single, glorious, structure. Formed from salvaged materials seized out of Tintibulus, the structure is equal parts decoration as it is utility. Housing a complex city spread over many altitudes and areas, the Cathedral maintains that everything public is painted a beautiful, extravagant, gold and maroon; an open sign of their immense wealth to newcomers. It's not all for show, however, and much of the structure actually descends into the heart of the moon itself. Built predominantly with crystalline polymers, reinforced with huge measures of concrete, and structured in honeycomb fashion, the Cathedral is built to withstand the fiercest assaults from without.
Technological Achievements -
The Order, though extremely small, strives towards 'bigger and better' technologies at a breakneck pace that would consume a less focused budget in the blink of an eye. Some of the more prominent ones are as follows-
Cold Fusion - The Order of the First Word has discovered a safe, relatively affordable, and easily produced way to use cold fusion as a source of energy. Relying heavily on theories rooted deep within the organic process of chemosynthesis, it is now a part of the every-day member's life, providing energy to the people and military alike.
Computer Processing - Unlike traditional processors that utilize magnetized 'heads' to read information, The Order has developed a special processor that utilizes optical emissions - lasers - to work with large quantities of information at ridiculous paces. Moreover, these can be mass produced cheaply, and are integral to the function of the Order. These allow for advanced artificial intelligence and complex military equipment.
Cloning - The Order regularly and effectively clones its livestock to maintain its food-source without needing to turn towards outsiders.
Information Technology - This Cult is quietly infamous in some circles for their regular infiltration of foreign networks. Using their highly advanced computers to handle all manners of algorithms and processes in record time, automated observation of foreign activity is regular and considered commonplace - though is kept a very closely guarded secret.
Cloaking - Combining the enormous amounts of energy reaped from cold fusion with the delicate and ultra-fast utilization of their computerized technologies, the cult has perfected spatial distortion. This allows them to hide ships, and even entire fleets to all but the most wary observers. A convenient side-effect includes the possibility of traveling over immense distances by gradually projecting a ship into the chosen location.
Military - The Order, having such a small population, keeps an equally small military. With maybe a thousand and a half in their ranks, they keep this small guard in the highest esteem, for they are trained to be the most elite pilots and soldiers of any army. Their ships are famous for the quality with which they were made, for they are extremely durable and agile at once.
Soldiers - The "Typical" soldier, if there is such a thing in the Cult, is a master of their element. With their bodies perfected in the extreme, and often augmented with extensive implants and enhancements, they are intended to be employed in any situation. Equally intelligent and masters of espionage and disguise, the extremely small number of men who dedicate themselves to the ground forces are a force to be reckoned with in every sense, and are thus often supplied with anything they desire, at any cost, by their government.
Equipment:
"Jackhammer": Using nearly cost-prohibitive capacitors to power what is essentially a hand-held railgun, this rifle comes packed with up to one hundred pounds of ammunition in the form of solid metallic shells, each propelled at a rate nearly ten times the speed of sound in atmospheric conditions.
"Precision Pistol": The preferred weapon of most special operations soldiers, this weapon stores an extremely high quantity of electrical energy in the handle. This may, in but a moment, be released as an extremely focused ray of light capable of cutting through most conventional body-armor at fifty yards. It is, however, only effective in choice operations for its long 'cool-down' period.
"Wonderknife": The best utility tool a soldier could hope for, this knife has an extremely durable, though blunt, blade which is manipulated by an alternative magnetic field so that it vibrates at damaging frequencies. Capable of cutting through metal, given enough time, this knife is often essential to boarding operations.
Ships will be written in later.
Average Age: 48
Life expectancy at birth: 75
Location: Near the Avalan homeworld of Tintibulus, found on the tip of one of the Milky Way's arms.
Known Planets Controlled: None
Capitol: Chapel of the Order
The "Cult" of the First Word is an interesting one indeed. With well over some ten-thousand members, this highly secretive order was most truly established during the violent collapse of the nation, Avalas. Escaping the civil war besieging their homeworld, they are now thoroughly entrenched on a distant moon on the fringes of the solar-system. Though their reasons for escaping may be obvious, their actual purpose is quite obscure. It can be summed up in one of their quietly murmured mottoes, however - that "If God isn't there to save us, we must be there to save god." Once deemed heretical for their refusing to bow before the Avalan emperor, they are now free from their war-torn, now crippled, nation to pursue their goals.
Though officially agnostic themselves, the cult has made the conclusion that if such an idea as 'divinity' is so widespread in so many different cultures throughout the entire galaxy, that some kind of godly force must exist - or must have existed, in the universe. However, with observable miracles so few and far between, said force must either be absent, negligent, or dying. Since the first is logically impossible, and the second very rarely recorded, the remaining option must be accepted as the truth. In an effort to keep the faltering spirit(s) alive, the cult has a reputation for bolstering foreign efforts in establishing religions, often seeding propaganda and fronting archaeological activities to this end. They also regularly influence the development of countries that have yet to be introduced to the interstellar stage.
To support these very peculiar interests, the Order has established itself as a very prominent force in logistics management and trading, earning a fortune in revenue off of the 'mediation' between any given group of nations. They are also renown for their immense body of knowledge, formed over years of loreseeking, spying, and deals both on and under the table.
Government -
The Order itself is ruled by a Chancellor, elected every ten years by popular sovereign from the highest ranking membors, who has largely authoritarian powers. They are, however, kept loosely in check by a council of lesser ministers. At present, this Chancellor is Arthur Goodman, an energetic and driven man who emphasizes the small nation's influence in foreign affairs. He is fairly militant in this fashion, but holds the popular vote by right of his programs for exploration, expansion, and technological development.
Attitude - The people of the Order have relatively solid morals, though usually prefer to use their logic to solve problems, rather than depending too heavily on their feelings. Many of them are unused to hard work, having lived the life of scholars and thinkers much of their lives. To compensate for this, it is not uncommon that people in this order keep paid laborers and maids to do their dirty-work. They have a heavy emphasis on the importance of education in their society, leading to a great deal of support towards liberal and radical ideologies.
The City - The heart of the sect is actually referred to as the "Chapel of the Order," and it stays true to its title. An enormous cathedral of mind-blowing proportion, over a fourth of the moon they occupy is covered by the single, glorious, structure. Formed from salvaged materials seized out of Tintibulus, the structure is equal parts decoration as it is utility. Housing a complex city spread over many altitudes and areas, the Cathedral maintains that everything public is painted a beautiful, extravagant, gold and maroon; an open sign of their immense wealth to newcomers. It's not all for show, however, and much of the structure actually descends into the heart of the moon itself. Built predominantly with crystalline polymers, reinforced with huge measures of concrete, and structured in honeycomb fashion, the Cathedral is built to withstand the fiercest assaults from without.
Technological Achievements -
The Order, though extremely small, strives towards 'bigger and better' technologies at a breakneck pace that would consume a less focused budget in the blink of an eye. Some of the more prominent ones are as follows-
Cold Fusion - The Order of the First Word has discovered a safe, relatively affordable, and easily produced way to use cold fusion as a source of energy. Relying heavily on theories rooted deep within the organic process of chemosynthesis, it is now a part of the every-day member's life, providing energy to the people and military alike.
Computer Processing - Unlike traditional processors that utilize magnetized 'heads' to read information, The Order has developed a special processor that utilizes optical emissions - lasers - to work with large quantities of information at ridiculous paces. Moreover, these can be mass produced cheaply, and are integral to the function of the Order. These allow for advanced artificial intelligence and complex military equipment.
Cloning - The Order regularly and effectively clones its livestock to maintain its food-source without needing to turn towards outsiders.
Information Technology - This Cult is quietly infamous in some circles for their regular infiltration of foreign networks. Using their highly advanced computers to handle all manners of algorithms and processes in record time, automated observation of foreign activity is regular and considered commonplace - though is kept a very closely guarded secret.
Cloaking - Combining the enormous amounts of energy reaped from cold fusion with the delicate and ultra-fast utilization of their computerized technologies, the cult has perfected spatial distortion. This allows them to hide ships, and even entire fleets to all but the most wary observers. A convenient side-effect includes the possibility of traveling over immense distances by gradually projecting a ship into the chosen location.
Military - The Order, having such a small population, keeps an equally small military. With maybe a thousand and a half in their ranks, they keep this small guard in the highest esteem, for they are trained to be the most elite pilots and soldiers of any army. Their ships are famous for the quality with which they were made, for they are extremely durable and agile at once.
Soldiers - The "Typical" soldier, if there is such a thing in the Cult, is a master of their element. With their bodies perfected in the extreme, and often augmented with extensive implants and enhancements, they are intended to be employed in any situation. Equally intelligent and masters of espionage and disguise, the extremely small number of men who dedicate themselves to the ground forces are a force to be reckoned with in every sense, and are thus often supplied with anything they desire, at any cost, by their government.
Equipment:
"Jackhammer": Using nearly cost-prohibitive capacitors to power what is essentially a hand-held railgun, this rifle comes packed with up to one hundred pounds of ammunition in the form of solid metallic shells, each propelled at a rate nearly ten times the speed of sound in atmospheric conditions.
"Precision Pistol": The preferred weapon of most special operations soldiers, this weapon stores an extremely high quantity of electrical energy in the handle. This may, in but a moment, be released as an extremely focused ray of light capable of cutting through most conventional body-armor at fifty yards. It is, however, only effective in choice operations for its long 'cool-down' period.
"Wonderknife": The best utility tool a soldier could hope for, this knife has an extremely durable, though blunt, blade which is manipulated by an alternative magnetic field so that it vibrates at damaging frequencies. Capable of cutting through metal, given enough time, this knife is often essential to boarding operations.
Ships will be written in later.