Grand Guild of Earad

[Zuko Darkborn]

Species Name: Eogon(s)
Species Adjective: Eogan
Empire Name: Grand Guild of Earad
Empire Adjective: Earadan
Phenotype: Mammalian
Type: Fledgling Empire

Traits: Communal,  Enduring, Quick Learners, Weak
Ethos: Pacifist, Xenophile, Individualist
Government: Peaceful Bureaucracy (Artist Bureaucracy)
Homeworld: Earad
Planet Type: Oceanic
Home system: Hasar
FTL: Hyperdrive
Weapons: Energy

Short Description: A nation very heavily focused on all kinds of art. Currently only have one planet, although there are permanent citizens on its fourth, frozen moon.


Species: Having evolved mostly on the islands of Earad, the Eogons are noticeably not evolved to live directly in the planet-wide ocean. They stand upright, stand on two legs and two arms. They also have another limb on their back, very similar to a tail, but that has gripping functions. They have fur of many different colors, highly varied body-sizes, from 80 to 320 centimeters in height. Similarly, their foreheads' horns are individually unique in color, shape and length. Curiously, due to the lack of island-dwelling predators, their horns are not evolved to protect themselves, but to attract mates, similarly to most other features of their bodies. In fact, the Eogons are wholly weak and unsuited for combat. Lastly, their faces are filled with a varied number (1-11) of eyes, seldom of only one color.

History: For a long while, the Eogons lived in a never-ending age of separation, with many nations scrambling for power over the seas. Through these times, they had technology similar to that of the renaissance. Even then, they had a love for art, although power itself was often put higher. Future archaeologists have discovered signs of prior contact with aliens, which might have inspired this artistic sense. About 600 earth years ago, or 55 of the local Thasaymurid-Earad, an especially old Eogon, who can be called "Grandmaster Voidlaw" lead a revolution against the status quo. He succeeded in taking about a quarter of the islands, bringing artists, writers, poets, musicians and scientists to power instead of the warlord-nobles. Soon, the guild-government controlled all of the planet, and artistic genius had become far more important than military and economic power. There has been problems through the last centuries, although this has only strengthened the spirit of the Guild. After 10 mandates of rulers, research on interstellar travel was started.

Government: Each Thasaymurid-Yrgana (56,8 years), the nineteen greatest Grandmasters of the arts are to choose a new Grandest Master of Arts and Politics. The nineteen Grandmasters themselves are chosen through complex bureaucratic systems including the will of the artistic elite, the population and a general scoring system, being replaced upon death or artistic decline. The idea is to find the nineteen greatest masters of arts, preferably covering all general types. The Grandest Master however, is rather chosen because of his political experience, him being a Grandmaster covering the artistic part of his election. The system is far from democratic, and the general population has little power over what will be the ideology of the new Grandest Master. In general, he ends up being a conservative artistic elitist, very proud of his and his student's work. Political discussions are heavily focused on gaining a Grandest Master of your own field of art, as for example a musician often empowers other musicians.


Military: 2
Naval: 4 Having evolved on the islands of an ocean worlds, the Eogons early created a culture revolved around the sea and seacraft. This evolved through time, and at the time of creating spaceships, the Eogons had long developed naval strategies compatible with space. Nevertheless, while their tradition and experience grants them an advantage in space combat, their lack of military technology and the small size of their space navy makes them weak.

Ground: 2 The Eogons are highly incompatible with ground combat, due to their weak bodies and pacifistic nature. In addition, they have little technology and experience regarding fighting on land. Nevertheless, if they were to be attacked specifically, on a world with oceans, they would have less of a disadvantage, as soldiers would be less of an necessity.

Economy: 3
Industry: 1 Earad is actually a rich planet in terms of resources, but the Eogons are quick to use them for civilian and artistic purposes, leaving little left for proper industry.

Tertiary Goods: 5 Having a rich culture regarding civilian goods, and a love for material possessions, luxuries are plentiful among the Eogons. Proper craftsmanship is considered equal to other kinds of art. In addition, the marine life of Earad is harvested for luxurious food and resources for accessories.

Technology: 2
Researched: 6 Earad has exclusively developed technology by themselves. They have a proper educational system, although science is taught as just another type of art. They are highly advanced in regards to entertainment, astronomy, seafaring ships, production of tertiary goods and marine research, much less so in other fields.

Scavenged: 0 Scavenging technology is viewed the same as copying other's art, and is considered uncivilized by the government. It is really never done. To clarify, using technology others have themselves researched and distributed is considered more like seeing other's art.

Diplomacy: 3
Understanding: 5 The Eogons have a rich varied culture regarding diplomacy, and is always up to learning other's, unless it exceptionally barbaric. They themselves are seldom rude to others, and avoids insults. The largest barrier in their diplomatic ability is translating the language. Sentences and words are much longer than most other languages, resulting in periods of silence before it can be translating naturally. While there thankfully is an universal tongue (there are lots of languages, about every family have a few unique ones), they have lots of room for variation, making it difficult to find the meaning of each word.

Espionage: 1 Not too long ago there was a great war regarding the abundance of artistic espionage, when it was not uncommon for people to steal other's art before they were properly released. In the end, this was outlawed and is now considered a great offence. Technically, the government can allow such actions, but there is a lack of any training or technology related to this. Reform is necessary if they are to properly make use of espionage.

Culture: 5
Internal Stability: 2 The Eogons are seldom dissatisfied with the government and their ideology. At the very least, every Eogon share their value in art, although their view on it can differ. The few factions who oppose the government has ideals related to this. For example, the Followers of the Artistic Truth believe something similar to "Art is in the eyes of the beholder", and thus directly opposes the government. There other large opposing groups are Nature' Conclave (nature is the perfect art), and the Purist's Guild (xenophobes). Nevertheless, terrorism and military revolt is mostly absent from the nation.

Marketability: 4 The culture of the Eogons is highly developed due to their universal value in art. Most can find something to like, just because of the sheer volume of the culture, where the majority of the species are artists.

Quirk: Advanced Seafarers: Highly advanced seafaring tradition allows for advanced defense of ocean planets. In addition, this leads the species to be highly suited for spaceship crews and command.

Quirk: Artist Elite: The unique government leads to a ruling elite unlike that of most other species.

[The Clans]

A species of artists existing in a galaxy of nationalistic militaries and a consuming horde of insects. I can't think of a follow up that doesn't sound ominous.

[Offizier Necro]

A species of artists existing in a galaxy of nationalistic militaries and a consuming horde of insects. I can't think of a follow up that doesn't sound ominous.

"LOCAL ARTISTS GENOCIDED BY SPACE BUGS: FOREIGN MILITARY USES THIS AS EXCUSE TO ANNEX TERRITORY AND 'CALM DOWN' THE SITUATION"

[The Clans]

A species of artists existing in a galaxy of nationalistic militaries and a consuming horde of insects. I can't think of a follow up that doesn't sound ominous.

"LOCAL ARTISTS GENOCIDED BY SPACE BUGS: FOREIGN MILITARY USES THIS AS EXCUSE TO ANNEX TERRITORY AND 'CALM DOWN' THE SITUATION"

"More at 8!"

[Joe Joerson]

"LOCAL ARTISTS GENOCIDED BY SPACE BUGS: FOREIGN MILITARY USES THIS AS EXCUSE TO ANNEX TERRITORY AND 'CALM DOWN' THE SITUATION"

I mean, they're all dead (or soon will be) so that is pretty calm right. Mission Accomplished.

[Zuko Darkborn]

Of course everything is going to be fine with artists in such a galaxy.

[Offizier Necro]

Of course everything is going to be fine with artists in such a galaxy.

If it's any comfort, my nation will probably be on your side so long as your representatives emphasize the artist part and not the HIPPY FASCIST bureaucracy part.

[Zuko Darkborn]

Well, the bureaucracy is generally not too much spoken of, as it is seen as more of a system serving the art and politics, rather than being important for its own purpose. I was unsure of what government to pick, but found that the bureaucracy suited more than the alternative, the Plutocratic Oligarchy.

[The Clans]

Plutocratic Oligarchy.

Only those with the most impressive of personal art galleries may participate in government.

[Zuko Darkborn]

That isn't really the case, since the governmental Grandmasters are chosen due to their skill in their particular field(s) of art. In actuality, the government works more similar to a technocracy, but due to the bureaucratic nature and pacifist ethos, bureaucracy ended up being the best choice. Granting the citizens a peaceful live, where artistic talents can manifest and be celebrated, is one of the goals. They have a belief that war brings desperation, which in turns causes practicality over aesthetics and philosophy. Peaceful Bureaucracy works quite fine in my eyes.

[The Clans]

I was just joking how a plutocratic oligarchy of artists would work.

[Zuko Darkborn]

Well, I had actually thought about using plutocratic oligarchy, for somewhat similar reasons as those you stated, but decided against it in the end. Whether a joke or not, it wouldn't be impossible.

[Vagrant Hero]

This civilization is beautiful. Too beautiful to survive the horrors of the galaxy, famed for her treacherous sense of humor. May your weary souls find salvation in the void, noble artisans, for the Angel of Death will reap a ruinous harvest.

*edit* Apparently, I defiled this thread by accidentally posting the same thing twice. Please forgive my disgrace.

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