commonality
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| ===== Commonality Culture ===== | ===== Commonality Culture ===== | ||
| - | The Commonality's culture is focused towards their ongoing quest for understanding, enlightenment and interconnectedness. The acquisition and sharing of knowledge, and a spiritual communion with the universe are the highest goals of their society. As such, they place great merit on those who seek to understand the universe, and who guide others towards similar understanding. Scientists, researchers, diplomats, psions, teachers and guides are afforded high status in Commonality society, but anyone who shows a desire to understand more of the universe will be accorded respect. Commonality culture is geared towards discovery and the promotion of interconnectedness, and they expect all of their people to share those goals. Other elements of their society are designed to support those who seek enlightenment, whether that means protecting, farming, building or piloting spaceships - individuals are encouraged to use their chosen vocation as a way of communing with the universe, by navigating the void of stars, cultivating a bond with the living world, or developing a perfect symbiosis with one's tools. | + | The Commonality's culture is focused towards their ongoing quest for understanding, enlightenment and interconnectedness. The acquisition and sharing of knowledge, and a spiritual communion with the universe are the highest goals of their society. As such, they place great merit on those who seek to understand the universe, and who guide others towards similar understanding. Scientists, researchers, diplomats, psions, teachers and guides are afforded high status in Commonality society, but anyone who shows a desire to understand more of the universe will be accorded respect. Commonality culture is geared towards discovery and the promotion of interconnectedness, and they expect all of their people to share those goals. Schools and universities shape young minds on the more populated worlds, while other planets prefer to educate via community based-tuition, apprenticeships or self-directed learning and experimentation. Learning and discovery is often seen as a quasi-spiritual experience, although many Commonality worlds are more practically-focused. |
| - | In order to create a framework in which beings are free to seek enlightenment, a civilisation must have structures to meet the basic needs of its people. Food must be grown, buildings maintained and order maintained. The Commonality encourages all its people to seek enlightenment and knowledge, but also to contribute to society's survival and prosperity. The Commonality does not overtly order its people to perform useful work, but engineers social and moralistic pressure so that individuals gravitate towards roles that contribute to society. Those who resist these pressures are encouraged to seek guidance from the Judges who ostensibly coordinate and rule the Commonality. Judges, who are invariably powerful Elysian psions) are given considerable reign to intervene and "correct" situations that conflict with the Commonality's overall precepts and goals. Overall society affords considerable respect and leeway towards Judges, who recruit new members under their own authority, and also discipline wayward Judges internally. Some groups of Commonality vassals rankle at that they see as a "closed group" of Elysian Judges ruling over them, but there is rarely any scope for accusing the Judges of acting unfairly or against the best interests of the Commonality. Individuals (both Elysians and vassal species) who persistently cause trouble and disrupt the lives of others may be removed by the Judges for re-education (often thought to be delivered by means of intensive psionic surgery). | + | Other elements of their society are designed to support those who seek enlightenment, whether that means protecting, farming, building or piloting spaceships - individuals are encouraged to use their chosen vocation as a way of communing with the universe, by navigating the void of stars, cultivating a bond with the living world, or developing a perfect symbiosis with one's tools. |
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| + | In order to create a framework in which beings are free to seek enlightenment, a civilisation must have structures to meet the basic needs of its people. Food must be grown, buildings maintained and order maintained. The Commonality encourages all its people to seek enlightenment and knowledge, but also to contribute to society's survival and prosperity. The Commonality does not overtly order its people to perform useful work, but engineers social and moralistic pressure so that individuals gravitate towards roles that contribute to society. Those who resist these pressures are encouraged to seek guidance from the Judges who ostensibly coordinate and rule the Commonality. Judges, who are invariably powerful Elysian psions) are given considerable reign to intervene and "correct" situations that conflict with the Commonality's overall precepts and goals. Overall society affords considerable respect and leeway towards Judges, who recruit new members under their own authority, and also discipline wayward Judges internally. Some groups of Commonality vassals rankle at that they see as a "closed group" of Elysian Judges ruling over them, but there is rarely any scope for accusing the Judges of acting unfairly or against the best interests of the Commonality. Individuals (both Elysians and vassal species) who persistently cause trouble and disrupt the lives of others may be removed by the Judges for re-education (often thought to be delivered by means of intensive [[elysian psionic paths#Rank 5 - psionic surgery|psionic surgery]]). | ||
| The Elysian Commonality aspires to be a civilisation of the mind, dedicated to finding the truths of the universe, and in protecting and guiding those who aspire to do the same. The Elysians have acted on numerous occasions to safeguard and incorporate sophont species who they judge to be "worthy" - often those who show a propensity for philosophy, a connection with nature or similar. However, the abstract philosophy of the Commonality can chafe with some individuals, and its esoteric conceptualisations can seem superfluous in a dangerous galaxy. The interference of Elysian judges can appear patronising and condescending when the solutions they offer appear pointless, or fail to take into account the feelings and motivations of the people dealing with the problem on the ground. The official belief of the Commonality is that the path of enlightenment and Interconnectedness is the only way for a species to truly reach its potential, and civilisations who are guided by faith, freedom or the will to power are merely holding themselves and their people in stasis. Those who cling to these false values are children playing in sandpits, who are oblivious to the truth of the vast universe around them. This can manifest in a haughty and arrogant attitude towards other Factions, which has caused numerous diplomatic problems in the past. | The Elysian Commonality aspires to be a civilisation of the mind, dedicated to finding the truths of the universe, and in protecting and guiding those who aspire to do the same. The Elysians have acted on numerous occasions to safeguard and incorporate sophont species who they judge to be "worthy" - often those who show a propensity for philosophy, a connection with nature or similar. However, the abstract philosophy of the Commonality can chafe with some individuals, and its esoteric conceptualisations can seem superfluous in a dangerous galaxy. The interference of Elysian judges can appear patronising and condescending when the solutions they offer appear pointless, or fail to take into account the feelings and motivations of the people dealing with the problem on the ground. The official belief of the Commonality is that the path of enlightenment and Interconnectedness is the only way for a species to truly reach its potential, and civilisations who are guided by faith, freedom or the will to power are merely holding themselves and their people in stasis. Those who cling to these false values are children playing in sandpits, who are oblivious to the truth of the vast universe around them. This can manifest in a haughty and arrogant attitude towards other Factions, which has caused numerous diplomatic problems in the past. | ||
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| Many Elysians possess psionic abilities, which express themselves physically – more powerfully psionic Elysians tend to acquire markings on their bodies or hair that glow in a psionically active area, and may be visible the rest of the time. Often this effect occurs in the iris of the eye, or on tattoo-like markings on the skin (which are said to be shaped by the psyche of each individual Elysian). This effect can be achieved with UV-reactive contact lenses or makeup. | Many Elysians possess psionic abilities, which express themselves physically – more powerfully psionic Elysians tend to acquire markings on their bodies or hair that glow in a psionically active area, and may be visible the rest of the time. Often this effect occurs in the iris of the eye, or on tattoo-like markings on the skin (which are said to be shaped by the psyche of each individual Elysian). This effect can be achieved with UV-reactive contact lenses or makeup. | ||
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| + | Elysian names are composed of an individual name and a family name. Both names tend to be vowel heavy, especially using a lot of "a", "ae", "o" and "u" sounds, and avoiding harsh-sounding consonants. Their names often have a flowing quality, and may reference philosophical or stellar phenomena, some examples being Lanthur, Iesmenae, Asdus, Nebala or Aster. | ||
| ==== Advantages ==== | ==== Advantages ==== | ||
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| **Abilities:** Reskan hives are extremely difficult to eradicate – when they take damage, a few individual creatures die, but the majority merely disperse into the local area. As a result, they do not have locational hits – instead, they have 10 [[combat#global hits]], and become unconscious when this total is brought to 0. Each +1LH they would gain normally instead becomes +3 global hits. Reskan cannot wear armour – their bodies are unable to support its weight. When they do take damage, Reskan hives can rapidly reintegrate separated individuals as long as they remain in the area – they regain 1 of their total body hits for every minute they remain in the area where they took damage, as long as they are not in combat or performing other intensive activities. Reskan hives are also immune to the [[calls_effects#LETHAL]] call, and call [[calls_effects#RESIST]] any time they are hit by it.\\ | **Abilities:** Reskan hives are extremely difficult to eradicate – when they take damage, a few individual creatures die, but the majority merely disperse into the local area. As a result, they do not have locational hits – instead, they have 10 [[combat#global hits]], and become unconscious when this total is brought to 0. Each +1LH they would gain normally instead becomes +3 global hits. Reskan cannot wear armour – their bodies are unable to support its weight. When they do take damage, Reskan hives can rapidly reintegrate separated individuals as long as they remain in the area – they regain 1 of their total body hits for every minute they remain in the area where they took damage, as long as they are not in combat or performing other intensive activities. Reskan hives are also immune to the [[calls_effects#LETHAL]] call, and call [[calls_effects#RESIST]] any time they are hit by it.\\ | ||
| - | Reskan hives are more vulnerable to certain specific attacks – the [[calls_effects#DISRUPT]] call causes a massive loss of hive cohesion for a short time – if a Reskan is hit with DISRUPT on their global hits, they suffer a [[calls_effects#KNOCKOUT]] effect for 30 seconds (which can be reduced by the Steel Head skill as normal). If a Reskan Hive is incapacitated (on 0 body hits), a DISRUPT call will begin their Death Count (rather than LETHAL). The [[Professional skills#First Aid]] and [[Professional skills#Physician]] skills can be used on a Reskan as normal, although the roleplay they perform may be different. Reskan have a Death Count of 200 seconds.\\ | + | Reskan hives are more vulnerable to certain specific attacks – the [[calls_effects#DISRUPT]] call causes a massive loss of hive cohesion for a short time – if a Reskan is hit with DISRUPT on their global hits, they suffer a [[calls_effects#KNOCKOUT (Duration)|KNOCKOUT]] effect for 30 seconds (which can be reduced by the Steel Head skill as normal). If a Reskan Hive is incapacitated (on 0 body hits), a DISRUPT call will begin their Death Count (rather than LETHAL). The [[Professional skills#First Aid]] and [[Professional skills#Physician]] skills can be used on a Reskan as normal, although the roleplay they perform may be different. Reskan have a Death Count of 200 seconds.\\ |
| Environmental toxins can rapidly poison a Reskan hive – their many-bodied forms respire from everywhere, so the hive can quickly take on a lethal load of toxin. Reskan are unable to use respirators (but can still take advantage of full-body forms of environmental protection), and environmental toxins progress in a quarter of the time it takes in most species. Reskan are also unable to use most [[injectors]] without some kind of specialist delivery mechanism like an environmental suit. | Environmental toxins can rapidly poison a Reskan hive – their many-bodied forms respire from everywhere, so the hive can quickly take on a lethal load of toxin. Reskan are unable to use respirators (but can still take advantage of full-body forms of environmental protection), and environmental toxins progress in a quarter of the time it takes in most species. Reskan are also unable to use most [[injectors]] without some kind of specialist delivery mechanism like an environmental suit. | ||
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| The major antagonist in the Elysian paradigm is the forces of Entropy and disunity. In their eyes, those who embrace ignorance and subjugate others for power are the petty servants of Entropy, so the Elysians seek potential vassal races that they can bring into their Commonality and gradually enlighten. They seek meaning in all things, and try to promote deeper comprehension of oneself and one's environment. | The major antagonist in the Elysian paradigm is the forces of Entropy and disunity. In their eyes, those who embrace ignorance and subjugate others for power are the petty servants of Entropy, so the Elysians seek potential vassal races that they can bring into their Commonality and gradually enlighten. They seek meaning in all things, and try to promote deeper comprehension of oneself and one's environment. | ||
| - | The Commonality are not airy mystics - one of the main tools that they use to promote understanding is their sciences - they hope to understand the physical laws of the universe, determine which ones are the hand of Entropy at work, and avoid them. Their psionic powers are another element of this, and are seen as allowing the interconnection of independent minds for brief moments. Nature itself, in its increasing complexity, offers opportunities to observe more esoteric physical laws at work, and thus gain understanding of them and conquer them. | + | The Commonality are not airy mystics - one of the main tools that they use to promote understanding is their sciences - they hope to understand the physical laws of the universe, determine which ones are the hand of Entropy at work, and avoid them. Their psionic powers are another element of this, and are seen as allowing the interconnection of independent minds for brief moments - a prominent Judge wrote on the subject in the widely taught tract [[lore:Shepherds of Being]]. Nature itself, in its increasing complexity, offers opportunities to observe more esoteric physical laws at work, and thus gain understanding of them and conquer them. |
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| + | ===== Commonality Topics ===== | ||
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| + | * [[Commonality Society|Society]] | ||
| + | * [[Commonality Culture|Culture & Customs]] | ||
| + | * [[Commonality Leadership|Leadership]] | ||
| + | * [[Commonality Systems|Prominent Star Systems]] | ||
| + | * [[Commonality Look & Feel|Look & Feel]] | ||
| + | * Dominant Species - [[Elysians]] | ||
| + | * [[Commonality Vassal Species|Vassal Species]] | ||
| + | * [[Commonality Vassal Species#Boreans]] | ||
| + | * [[Commonality Vassal Species#Lithos]] | ||
| + | * [[Commonality Vassal Species#Reskans]] | ||
| + | * [[Commonality Attitudes|Attitudes]] | ||
| {{tag>faction commonality elysian}} | {{tag>faction commonality elysian}} | ||
commonality.txt · Last modified: 2023/09/06 21:15 by conan
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