Sects and Factions

Orthopraxy - Led by the Maha-Lang, the most conservative and even-handed of the factions.

Yamada’s Disciples - Led by Marshall Sandeep Yamada, commander of the Xur stellar forces, this martial tradition is deeply concerned with the notion of ethically applied force.

Sisterhood of Nymh - A sect of geneticists and transhumanists led by Lilja Haines, the Sisterhood seeks to understand what can be done by mortal hands. Opponents say that the Sisterhood is short-sighted, and do not consider the consequences of their actions. Haines counters that these people assume that humans have more control over their lives than reality demonstrates.

Comores Catetchism - Those who follow this path follow the wisdom of Lisette Comores, who has dedicated her life to helping and understanding others. Their cheerful optimism is often painted as reckless.

Kin of the Atithi - Believe that conflict is inevitable, that there is a spiritually harmonious form of selfishness, and that the Self is more important than mortal law. Outsiders often dismiss this sect as "honorable criminals," but many corporate executives argue that the teachings of the Atithi provide solace to Stoics in careers that require a certain amount of sociopathy in order to excel at.


Stoic Day of Remembrance of the Long War: Those who choose to follow these practices go on a short pilgrimage to "a place that is not their home," and spend the day cleaning and repairing it (urban beautification, graffiti removal, etc). At sunset, they mediate on the dying light, and then return home to eat a dinner made with bitter herbs and burnt bread. Demonstrating national allegiance, the Stoics celebrate this on the same day as the rest of the Nezem States.


Culture and Philanthropy


Named after a book published in 18 NS (Turn 4) of the same title, written by esteemed science fiction author, L. Robert Hubble, who claims to have interviewed Jenny Sto after her "Divine contact through the Comorian Crystals." The popularity of the book, particularly among previously troubled celebrities, and the organisational leadership of their founder - Henry Lang, formerly of Lang Industries - have managed to turn what would normally be a minor blip on social media into the largest minority religion of the age and a new political power to boot. Although Mr Lang has retired from public life, their new leader retains the title Maha-Lang

Xur Corps provides Aurel & Leia Trauma Kits to Barq Fleet, Sa'ka Legion, Nezem Jeshi Kigeni and themselves. Also of note is the Aghori monastic order, combat engineers culled from the prisons and street gangs of the Federation, specializing in post-combat reconstruction.



Cultural Leaning/Themes:


Known City Presences: Port Chrysalis (capital) Boca Ridge(holy seat), Darbuiks, Gharistan, Mkobe, Port Algrave, Usiku
Known Regional associations: Gama de Acero, the Nezem Badlands & Coast, Western Badlands,
Known Polity Associations: Buna, Hishu Gardeners, Nezem States, Stellar Imperium.
Known Facilities: Better Horizons, Boca Ridge/Cobra University, Comores Pandayan, CRAIC, Twin Shards, Red Moon Studios, Sisterhood of Nymh, Temple of Prismatic Truth (& Refraction Posts), Yamada's Kalari
Known Influences: Crystal industries, genetics, education, health care, TV/movies, stellar warfare
Known Unique Technologies: Improved Ryllian Conversion Method, Recycled Modular Housing, Combat Simulators (from Wraithguard), Genetics (with Jacinto, shared with oversight to rest of Federation)


Tonight on GSEN:
  • Mom At Sixteen - Pregnant sixteen-year old Jacy’s well-meaning mother forces her to keep the birth a secret and decides to raise the baby as her own...
  • Petals on the Wind - A decade after Cathy, Christopher, and Carrie escaped from their crashed lander in the Western Badlands...
  • The Secret Life of Lang - …depicts the events that took place in Zoey Lang’s life as the daughter of...
  • My Neighbor’s Secret - A multiple murder investigation in a small hunting town in the Anderback Mountains focuses on one suspect, Wendy Sinclair, who operates a battered women's shelter where each of the victims' wives have sought shelter.
  • My Baby Is Missing - The pregnant Jenna Davis is a workaholic graphic designer for a Mkombe advertisement agency near to give birth that has…
  • Midnight Roadtrain to Buna - When multi-millionaire Ted Ammon is found bludgeoned to death at his Nezem Coast estate, suspicion falls on his estranged wife….
  • Secrets of the Thetan - Where did we come from? How common is life in the universe? What mysteries did the Prophet Sto see when she…?
  • Battlefield Comorian - They fled for their lives, seeking only shelter from the galactic storm. They never dreamed that they carried the seeds of their own….
  • The Profits of Prophecy - Live debate between financial analysts and major religious leaders about the role of faith in a stellar economy.
  • Badlands Renovation Projects - This week, we travel to the Alluvian Highlands, were Mark and Jody Seneca deal with a solar panel installation project gone horribly wrong.
  • Five Years in Algrave - He was of the Kavacha Hegemony, she was a Hishu Gardener.  Every year, they met in the same hotel for two different business conferences....
  • Kings of Acero Valley - The lives and wives of biggest players in the computing industry.
  • Braiding Bonanza: Season 5, Episode 3: Rafiki style


Excerpt from God Among The Stars by Kavita Song:

The New Stoics: An Overview

Named after a book published in 22NS of the same title written by science fiction author, L. Robert Hubble, interviewing Jenny Sto after her "Divine contact through the Comorian Crystals." The popularity of the book, particularly among previously troubled celebrities, and the organizational leadership of Henry Lang of Lang Industries, managed to turn what would normally be a minor blip on social media into the largest minority religion of the age and a new political power to boot. Scientific advances regarding Comoryll in 40NS and the successful mutation of criminals outside Stoic control have since fractured the religion into distinct sub-sects, most notably the Orthopraxy, Comores, Nymh Sisterhood, and Yamada's Disciples factions.

They do not proselytize, instead encouraging others to be more mindful and active in pursuit of their own beliefs, even if those beliefs are atheist. Many of the more faithful Stoics will only describe their religious views when asked direct questions about it.

New Stoics worship the Prophet Jenny Sto, as a representative of That Which Is Fit To Be Worshipped, although it is not entirely clear what "worship" looks like or who is "fit to be worshipped." Many Stoics emulate a specific guru or Rinpoche, although several practices are common to all Stoics: kami worship, mediation, and physical fitness. Central to their tenets is the idea that conflict and oppositional desires are intrinsic to the universe, though some methods of engaging in conflict are more holy than than others. Because the universe was created by at least one divine presence, everything that exists has a divine reason to do so, and can be used harmoniously in order to get the greatest benefit from it (notably including inebriants, the latest fashions, and meditation).

Religious & Cultural Terminology of the Stoics


Better Horizons and Twin Shards
A high-security Clinic/Temple in the Nezeem Badlands. Formerly the site of an abandoned federal spaceport project, this facility has an enormous security perimeter based on the projected launch characteristics of chemical fueled spaceflight technology, a garrison of Xur troops and a solar power array. It is also the site of: the Twin Shards Research facility, specializing in crystal research; Kailish Monastery, dedicated to the mysteries of Ryllian health; and Lang Textiles, a kelp processing plant that specializes in vehicle textiles. The Kailish Monks also sell kelp fabrics and dyes.

They do not allow any civilian construction within 1 hour's transit -- a further security feature for the research at Twin Shards because, as stated in a press release during its initial construction, "we've read horror stories about researching human augmentation, too." As one may infer from this statement, most Ryllian mutations are performed here, even on the Federal level.

Outside this perimeter, a number of towns have sprung up, notably including Boca Ridge, home to Cobra University.

Cassini Freeman Alliance
An ethics and oversight board for genetic research and bioengineering, formed with the Jacinto Combine and Hishu Gardeners. The Stoic work happens primarily at Twin Shards and the Sisters of Nymh, causing many atheists to question the quality of such "ethical oversight." The CFA has been crucial in understanding Seihai genetic manipulation.

Cobra University
with Colleges named after the 7 Stoics who died in Operation Unexpected Cobra, and the 3 "void walkers" who died reclaiming the Mbal Msafiri. Each college is focused on different arenas of space exploration/expansion, their curriculae are influenced by the personalities and careers of their namesakes. Many technologies and feasibility studies developed by the Stoics have been publicly released through introduction into the curriculum of this college.

  • Azikiwe College of Unified Bio-Sciences.  Azikiwe was a unified biologist with multiple degrees. The school is notable for its research into Neuroscience.
  • Banerjee College of Logistics -- Banerjee was a famous chef / chain restaurant owner, who handled the Cargo, Logistics, and Supply aspects of the Unexpected Cobra mission. The curriculum in this school includes culinary and business classes, with particular emphasis on Interstellar Worker Cooperatives
  • Elfman Flight School— A commercial pilot and actor, who piloted the Unexpected Cobra mission, students of this school must complete public speaking and performance classes as part of their curriculum. Home of the First Contact Grant.
  • Jang College of Engineering & Material Sciences, Jang was a Systems Engineer known for experimental user interface designs
  • Jardine College of Communication Technologies covers ansibles,  sensors, and comms. Piers Jardine was a Datavault Forensic Scientist
  • Kingsley College of Computer Sciences, Kingsley was a datavault specialist and musician. He had radical theories about using musical theory as the basis of a computer programming language that were decades ahead of their time.
  • Mallory College of Theology includes psychology, xeno-psychology, cultural & xeno-cultural studies, meditation, yoga, and martial arts. The Mallory/Federal Research Pact lists, among its successes: Exodus Mental Health Methods, Juvenile Criminal Rehab, Khojak Youth Recreation Centers, Meditative Trances, and PTSD Treatments.
  • Okomo College of Power and Propulsion. Eshe Okomo was fascinated with the potential of Solar Sails. Okomo students were the first to understand the basic principles of In-system Navigation.
  • Shah Rukh Khan Tactical School - An ex-military, Security Specialist who worked for many celebrities. Shah Rukh Khan handled security and public relations for the UC mission.
  • Zabbat College of Design & Architecture Houses the Temple Design Program, responsible for keeping Stoic Temple/Clinics up to date. Alex Zabbat was a scale engineer



CRAIC
The Crystal Regulatory Authority and Intervention Committee, formed as an industry body and watchdog, issues licenses for the harvesting, sifting, assessment, storage and purchase of crystals within Federation territory. It is heavily influenced by the Stoic faith.

Moth Industries
A not-for-profit organization that pioneered Recycled Modular Housing, which it uses to provide free housing to refugees and the homeless. They have since made many derivatives of the modular design concept.

The Temple of Prismatic Truth
The "Refractors" who work here claim to be monks but are nothing less than covert intelligence operatives. Rumors abound that they specialize in psychological warfare and are often contracted on Federal cases. In addition to national security for Aurelia, they oversee the security of the Comorian Crystal industry throughout the Federation.

Red Moon Studios and GSEN
Although not a requirement for employment, nearly all employees of this entertainment company are members of the faith. They produce instructional videos, historical dramas and a wide range of TV shows, which do not particularly espouse the tenets of the Stoic religion, but do focus on the ethical conundrums and the impact of "theology" on the lives of the characters portrayed in their shows.

Zenos Space Industries
Manufacturers of the first Comorian voidcraft redesign. They produce Short Bow Patrol Boats and the Arrow fighter drones, and they pioneered second generation satellite communications. Run by Rp Mbala, a Cobra U graduate and gravionics specialist. They hold patents on Repair Bays, various gravionic drive and drone technologies