Civilization

Overview

Human civilization spans thousands of worlds across multiple star systems. Government operates through a complex system balancing military orders, civilian senate, and semi-religious authority.

The Governance Structure

                    THE SOVEREIGN
                   (Philosopher Monarch)
                          │
                          ▼
              ┌───────────────────────┐
              │    THE THIRTEEN       │
              │  (Supreme Council)    │
              └───────────────────────┘
                    │         │
         ┌──────────┘         └──────────┐
         ▼                               ▼
   THE FOUR ORDERS                  THE SENATE
   (Military/Religious)            (Civilian Government)

The Sovereign

The Philosopher Sovereign sits atop the hierarchy — a figure who must master all four Order philosophies plus statecraft.

Aspect	Description
Selection	Chosen from Exemplars who demonstrate mastery across traditions
Authority	Commands the Orders; arbiter of final disputes
Role	Both military commander and spiritual leader
Limitation	Cannot overrule unanimous Thirteen vote

The Sovereign is neither elected nor hereditary — they are recognized when they demonstrate the necessary qualities.

The Thirteen

The supreme council that governs civilization:

Seats	Representatives
4	Ordermasters — One from each of the four Orders
4	Lord Commanders — Second-in-command of each Order
4	Senate Representatives — Elected civilian leaders
1	The Sovereign — Who votes only to break ties

Decision Making

• Simple majority — Routine matters
• Two-thirds — Military deployments, budget allocation
• Unanimous — War declarations, Purging Protocols, constitutional changes

The Coverup Vote

When the Necrosynths returned, The Thirteen voted on whether to inform the public:

The Vote: 8-4 to conceal, with the Sovereign abstaining.

Those who voted against the coverup are bound by it anyway. The dissent creates internal tension — they believe the coverup is wrong but cannot break ranks.

The Senate

The civilian government handles:

• Taxation and budgets
• Trade regulation
• Civilian law
• Infrastructure
• Relations with alien species

The Senate does not control the Orders directly but controls their funding.

Senate Corruption

The Necrosynths have infiltrated the Senate through:

• Compromised aides — Staff who report to handlers
• Captured senators — Either reanimated or blackmailed
• Economic pressure — Corporations with Necrosynth ties lobbying policy

The mole on The Thirteen may be steering Senate votes without other council members realizing.

Classes of Society

Class	Role	Relationship to Orders
Knights	Order warriors	Are the Orders
Civilians	General population	Protected by Orders; fund through taxes
Aliens	Non-human species	Allied, neutral, or hostile; some serve in Orders
The Processed	Those converted by Necrosynths	Either reanimated or living collaborators

Interstellar Communication

Communication across light-years relies on Linkstone — a rare resource that enables quantum entanglement:

• Instant communication across any distance (between linked stones)
• Limited supply — Most critical communications only
• Currency backing — The economy pegs to Linkstone
• Military priority — Orders get first access

See: Linkstone

The Great Lie

Civilian society believes:

• The Necrosynths were defeated a thousand years ago
• The Orders exist for peacekeeping and disaster response
• The Fringe conflicts are “border disputes” or “pirate activity”
• Life is safe, stable, improving

The Orders know:

• The enemy has returned
• The coverup is active
• The war is already being lost
• The peace is an illusion

This gap between perceived and actual reality is central to the story’s tension.

Questions to Resolve

1. What is the Sovereign’s name?
2. How many worlds comprise “civilization”?
3. What is the capital world/system called?
4. How do elections work for Senate seats?
5. What alien species are prominent allies?