HON101
Political Structure of
Planet X7B35 (working name)
X7B35’s political structure stems from a series of tragedies
during the planet’s early colonization that forced the population to come
together in order to best utilize everyone’s skills. Therefore, the population of the planet can
be divided into three basic “parties”: the Guilds, comprised of individuals
with skills in metallurgy, weaving, farming and animal husbandry, medicine,
mechanics, and other areas, who live in communal Guildhalls with others of
their skill sets; the Admin, comprised of individuals with skills in
organization, government, foreign relations, and the social sciences, with
members both in centralized areas and dispersed among the population; and the
Keepers, whose members make up the police force and navy of the planet, and are
charged with maintaining law and order and protecting the population against
threat. A series of plagues in the
planet’s recent past have decimated its population; X7B35 has perhaps 100,000
citizens.
Naturally, most of the activity we call “politics” is
handled by the Admin; however, a council of all the Guildmasters,
ranking Admins, and police and naval leaders convenes
monthly to discuss matters of planetary importance and to make grand policy
decisions. The Admin is then left to
codify these grand purposes into practical, usable laws. Declarations of war and taxation methods are
examples of topics discussed in this monthly council. Within the Guilds, the rank of Guildmaster
is reached when one has reached a certain level of expertise, as recognized by
other Masters and one’s peers. A long
apprenticeship teaches one the skills one needs, and ideally,
anyone of a certain talent and age can become a Guildmaster. Various milestones and skill sets must be
reached, but the rank of Master is reached by general agreement. Ascendancy within the Admin is decidedly more
organized. One must pay one’s dues by
working in lower ranking positions in every Admin department, and then be
nominated by a board of one’s peers and superiors to a mid-level position. High-ranking positions, of which there are
very few, are filled in elections held every ten years (or more often, should
office holders step down or pass away), in which all members of the Admin
vote. There is no single ranking Admin,
but rather, a ranking person in each of several fields, including foreign
relations, taxation policy, lawmaking, and social sciences. Within the police and navy, rank is based on
seniority and service record, as well as leadership skills. Promotions are bestowed by those in higher
positions, with the highest positions being determined in a series of trials,
called the Tests, which determine a candidate’s suitability as a leader, administrator,
and warrior.
Religion on X7B35
Citizens on X7B35
tend to be pragmatic and secular, a result of their early difficulties. People have had to focus on survival, and
simply do not have the time or energy to waste pondering the mysteries of the
universe, or pacifying some unseen deity.
As a result, religion on X7B35 is not formalized in any sense of
the word. The right to practice freely
is protected in the planet’s charter, but most do not avail themselves of this
privilege. There are some observances
and festivals throughout the year, but these are simply holdovers from the
faiths brought over with the planet’s original colonists. Solstices are always recognized with a
celebration, as is the anniversary of the birth of the universe. The date of this last event is generally
accepted, though no one knows how it was originally determined. There is a general consensus that all
aspects of reality are somehow interrelated, and that actions therefore always
have consequences (though we can’t always see them), but X7B35’s inhabitants have not gone so far as
to personify this interconnectedness in the form of a supreme being. There have been contacts with other worlds
and their religions, and if anything, these contacts have only served to prevent
the development of a planetary religion or the revival of an old one. X7B35 is suspicious of organized religion,
and doubtful of its benefits or virtues.
Individuals try to respect the universe and to act in such a way as to
not “mess” with it, and assume that in return, the universe will leave them
well enough alone.
Social Structure of X7B35
The culture of X7B35 is reminiscent of the early rough-and-ready, community-based, practical American and Australian societies on Old Earth. Everyone is expected to contribute as best they can, take only what is needed, and work for the betterment of the community as a whole. Laziness, selfishness, and frivolity are among the most egregious sins in this culture.
Marriage, when it occurs at all, is at best informal. As there is little religion on X7B35, there is no marriage ceremony to speak of. A couple may legally bind themselves to each other for inheritance and child custody purposes, but most do not bother to formalize their attachments. Mores regarding promiscuity are virtually non-existent; if anything, people on X7B35 simply shrug and comment that at least the person in question will contribute generously to the next generation.
Because X7B35’s population is so small, the bearing and raising of children is of supreme importance. Many were lost early in the colonial
endeavor, and there were not all that many to begin with, so the gene pool is
carefully monitored. All adults are
expected to produce at least one child by their 25th year. The method of conception is up to the
individuals involved; while natural conception is of course preferred, in vitro
is available as an alternative. While
everyone is expected to reproduce, becoming a parent is another matter
entirely. Most choose to form traditional
family units, with two parents and two or more children, but those who cannot
or do not wish to be parents can turn their children over to foster
families. In any case, child-rearing is
very much a community effort; the children of a Keeper are watched over by
other Keepers, the Smith Guildmaster’s children play with all
the other Smiths’ children, and so on.
In this way, communities become extended families, thus binding the
society more tightly together.
Education on X7B35 occurs in two stages. In the first, children receive instruction in
basic skills (reading, writing, mathematics, geography, history) from
professional traveling teachers (‘Structors, as
members of the Teachers’ Guild are called).
These ‘Structors travel from community to
community, and will generally stay for a month or two at a time before moving
on. When a child reaches the age of 10,
education becomes more formal. He or she
is taken to the Teachers’ Guild for a battery of tests to determine their
strengths and weaknesses, inherent skills, and relative intelligence
levels. Based on the results of these
tests, the child is sent to a Guild, the Admin, or the Keepers, to become an
apprentice and learn a trade. The length
of the apprenticeship depends on the child in question and on his/her
profession, but generally one is an apprentice for 8-10 years. From there, the individual is free to assume
a position in their organization, or pursue further study with the goal of becoming
a Master of their craft.
The art on X7B35 is largely musical, informal, and
untrained. Music is played at parties,
special occasions, and anywhere that more than a handful of people are gathered
for any length of time. Musically
talented individuals are of course respected, but they are still expected to
contribute to the society in other ways.
Often, this takes the form of becoming a ‘Structor,
and using music as a tool to aid in teaching difficult or otherwise boring
material. While some visual artists
exist, they also find practical ways to implement their talents (weavers and
potters come to mind). Recently, there
has been a movement to create an Artists’ Guild, so that X7B35 can begin to
develop its own unique culture. Allowing
talented individuals to concentrate on being creative would be a benefit for
all, as their efforts could be shared with the masses and provide a welcome
diversion from the tedium of day-to-day survival. However, many argue that such a Guild would
be a frivolous waste of otherwise useful individuals, and that the arts should
remain a hobby, as they are now.
The cuisine on X7B35 is surprisingly rich and varied. The original colonists brought breeding stock
of virtually every fruit, vegetable, and spice they could, and found more among
the indigenous plant life. Coffee,
garlic, and rice were among the foodstuffs that could not adapt to the new
environment, but other items, like bisma (a tea-like
brewed beverage tasting faintly of chocolate and cinnamon), terin
(a starchy tuber with a flavor like celery), and guarus
(sharp, tangy fruit) have been added to the list of delectable edibles. Meat, both from domesticated species brought
by the colonists and wild game, is an important part of the diet, but always
served in small portions. A typical meal
is mostly vegetable, with small pieces of spiced meat
mixed in, reminiscent of Old Earth’s Asian cuisines. Bread is usually served with the main dish,
with fruit as a dessert. Alcohol is
certainly brewed and served, though few abuse it. Wine is the most popular, with each region
possessing its own variety of grape and fermenting process; homemade whiskey
and hooch are also popular. Controlled
substances other than alcohol are not available, and even if they were, it is
unlikely that the population would take to their use.
Communication happens between the Guilds, Keepers, and Admin
on an as-necessary basis, mostly in the process of doing business and keeping
the society going. During apprenticeship
(and even beyond), children maintain regular contact with their native
communities; such correspondences are highly regarded, and generally displayed
for the entire community to read. The
methods of communication have degenerated somewhat from the technology
originally available to the colonists; common citizens generally write letters,
while those of higher rank still have access to and make regular use of
video-telephone type technology. There
is no animosity regarding this technological disparity; most assume that if
something isn’t important enough to take the time to write down, then it’s
probably not important enough to bother sending across any sort of distance.
The economic system on X7B35 is essentially a barter system,
with some modifications. People trade goods and services to acquire the things
they need or want, with the Guildhalls at an obvious advantage in this
respect. If a Guildmember
has particular skill in his craft, his products are more sought after, and thus
he has greater trading power than someone whose skills are less. Because the Admin and Keepers do not produce
goods, but are still a vital part of the society, the Guilds tithe a small
percentage of their products to these groups.
In this way, the Admin and the Keepers receive the supplies they need to
continue doing their work, and are more inclined to consider the needs of the
Guilds in their decisions. Should an
Admin member or Keeper decide he wants a luxury item, he must either trade the
surplus of his share of the tithe, or find some marketable skill of his
own. Among the Admin, this is generally
their access to communication, and more importantly, their ability to use
communication technology. Among the
Keepers, this generally means hunting.
It is common knowledge that the Keepers are the best shots on the
planet, and thus they are able to make a brisk trade in meat, furs, feathers,
and horns. There are no real
constrictions on the market as a whole, other than the requirements of the
tithe. However, in such a close-knit
society, word gets around fast if a particular individual makes crooked deals,
or sells inferior merchandise.