Outcast society has always been firmly rooted into their production of Cardamine. Before this however, the effects of the plants on humans weren't fully known until those who had ventured beyond their little colony into the lands of the dead, returned with the knowledge.
The cult itself went through many more "public" incarnations as different fronts for distributing and harvesting Cardamine as a method of acquiring space craft (highly restricted at the time) to deliver the orange dream beyond the green Seneca nebula.
In a sense the only historical achievement the cult claims often is they were the only source of cardamine to the actual nomads, also known as the Divine as they call them.
It's only recently that the Cult has disclosed itself as a Humanitarian arm of devoted believers in not just the gifts of the Nomad aliens but the use of the even more ancient Cardamine plant and liquid cardamine substance given by the Slomon K'Hara as a possible means to curing the ills of the Maltese people.
While it is no longer a Rumor this faction of "Zelots" aquire strong Maltese military hardware to enforce respect for the divine upon outsiders the cult first and foremost dedicated their efforts in the assistance of the 101st and militia groups tasked with the protection of Malta. Critics say this is only because the rare Cardamine plant grows in abundance there, though the cults leadership will protest that all Maltese are brothers and sisters that should protect the home world.
Recent events have seemingly changed the cult. The Nomads undergoing a type of "shift" in perspective after a short but critical illness not only had the Cult conducting direct assistance in Nomad systems but providing building materials for a new line of defenses.
The Nomads sacking of Toledo, The destruction of the oracle Temple ship "Cataclysm" and the death of High mother Nysk left some turmoil within the group for the coming year until a new form of governance was established.
This new "high council" of the cult is referred to as "The Nine". Whom are the nine survivors of the Cataclysm's destruction.
Motives and the Spirit (The book of cataclysm summarized)
While the Book of Cataclysm (Boc) Didn't exist in its current form until 800A.S. It was self published chapter by chapter slowly over a period of 9 master teachers that helped produce it.
The current incarnation is admittedly revised to include Oracle preaching's which did not exist up until weeks after their inclusion into the cult.
Currently each chapter tells morale tales reaching up to the final 9th chapter that expounds on "the disappearance of everything known".
Previous versions in the book did seemingly blame the "divine" to smite mankind, however this has changed with reinterpretation to make man seem more foolish and blind.
-Key Concepts
1.)Mankind has been in a karmic debt with itself and now carries with it a psychological parasite (the ego) that makes it unclean and suicidal.
This concept is used to blame the sins and evil done by men and that without this parasite nurtured and practically bred into mans DNA during the C.E. Or Common Era that there is innocence and enlightenment.
2.)Cardamine is the miracle and the path to salvation.
While the book admits Maltese are not saints, they are blessed with good health and long life. These things making them long lived through the recreational and natural consumption of Cardamine DNA suppresses the effects of the Ego permitting them to live longer and theory continues to be expanded that if the complete surrender of the ego into "joy" occurs that the Maltese will live for thousands of years or even have no natural old age as enjoyed by the divine.
3.)The link between cultist and divine is the path to godhood.
It's not directly stated, though it is hinted at strongly that some "chosen" are able to ascend and join with the divine to assist work in the coming Cataclysm.
-Terms
The Apocalypse: is the A.S. Era. Man is due and expected to destroy itself through its imaginary fictions of money, power, and justice.
The book itself makes a convincing point that all house governments, like all governments throughout history are designed to control "the democracy" of the most foolish into subservience and passiveness to avoid a state of Anarchy. Anarchy in this book is apparently the last step before extinction as tribes of man fight one another into oblivion and cannibalism which is pointed to already be happening with the Corsair Empire.
The Cataclysm: The foretold occurrence when the sheltered, the saved, and the faithful unite into perfection like a massive psychic wave that creates a type of immortal mass consciousness where everything lives forever and incarnates into forms of physical and spiritual perfection. The coming of Heaven, etc.
The Divine: All and everything directly involved with Nomads.
The one who came before: Rarely mentioned but assumed to mean the Daam K'Vosh
Mar Sara: literally "Master Teacher" The position is a master of philosophy. IE cult philosophy dealing with non violence and appreciation. The principals of lust and truth and other human behaviors that require "deprogramming" before contact with the divine is permitted.
High Mother or Mar Selen: As it was always Nysk... her original charge and position was handling the indoctrinated Exarchs and assets in specific projects and missions. Though her "power" was so great these responsibilities where so many that it would take many more to delegate them. However nysks Death forced a void to be filled.
The position of Mar Selen is now dedicated to those who are baptized by Mar Sara signifying a cultists readiness to interact and speak with the divine this includes all new Exarchs and others "chosen" for specific tasks involving interaction with the alien minds.
The Nine: Are a group of the original survivors of the Cataclysm. The speaker for the Nine the High Mother happens to be one of the nine but this may change in the future as anyone who demonstrates the ability to be High Mother may receive the Vision that would permit them to ascend to that position.
They are a very guarded and tightly knitted group akin to a group marriage the nine rarely speak to anyone but the high mother as it seems their muteness is a side effect of their telepathic abilities and clara-sentient or "future sight" ability.
Activities.
The current prescription of activities is two fold. While the cult's primary concern is the proliferation of Cardamine through religion they do not stop at simply selling and bartering their export. Credits do grease the machine in the sector so actively protecting Cardamine transports not of their own farms is common as well. When the Home guard or other outcast military aren't available to escort, the cult volunteers, GLADLY to protect their cousins that spread the sacred dust.
Also perfecting and making the most potent forms of Cardamine is a constant. While not the largest developer of Cardamine the Cults experimental fields on Sole dad that grow larger and juicer nectar making an odd Cardamine paste or pudding (which is more vegetable matter then the dna itself) but none the less has found itself to be a favorite accent to new Maltese cuisine.
The other more untold activities that have sparked some debate and some political conflict is the cults use and being publicly known (and woefully under reported) "legitimate" outlet of Liquid Cardamine.
This seems to be rooted in the activities of the children of the apocalypse and their "search" for certain people that display particular abilities and genetic mutations favorable for developing telepathic ability.
And finally, piracy will and can only be done against those parties supporting an active agenda against the nomads. ACTIVE as in recent events, recent hostilities, and recent initiatives to defile the inner sanctums of the divine.
Diplomacy.
Currently a small host of allies enjoy the Cults attentions. Some activities with Pirate groups such as the Vagrant Raiders include ongoing public meetings and dinner parties where co-operative projects can be done involving Liquid Cardamine. The VR alliance is one of great convenience as their active sphere is in areas where the Cult would like to expand but feels it would be stepping on the Toes of other outcast allies. //Needs revisiting.
The Samarran Raiders devote themselves purely to the will of the Divine. As their communications with them are clumsy and not as efficient as the Oracles or Exarchs their deed speak greater and have gotten attention from both Divine and Cult. Also oddly the Divine are protective of these raiders as they are of the cultists, perhaps more so as the Samarrans are newcomers to Sirius.
The 101st were a needed diplomatic contact. As Malta is not completely united in the worship of the divine the Ghosts are tasked with the defense of the home world. Therefore all the breakthroughs and gifts and technology created with the help of the divine for Malta is automatically offered to them for judgement and prescription tot he people of Malta. Unless of course a certain project was requested by a Former Don of the old ruling council.
A.I.'s FEW a.i.s are trusted by the cult, however the ORB A.I. and its associations with the former SMA (now AMS) and S.E.L.F. nodes are welcome allies to the cults causes.
Groups of interest:
TAZ, Natures Last Hope, Junkers Congress, VE Misc-Individuals : Consist of groups who have had neutral to positive contacts with the Slomon Khara. Each contact is.. strange and sometimes un comprehend able by the Oracles or Exarch reviewing the memories given to them. So these groups require a true visit from an Oracle/Exsarch.
(More as it develops)
Ranks and Order:
Initiates: Those who wish to join the Cult may decide to become "Light-Singers", or spend some time as Students in the Cult's Academy, in Planet Malta, this later one being an obligatory step in order to achieve the hightest ranks, and it can be taken even after being a Light-Singer.
Light-singers: They wander around Sirius, preaching the Gospel of the Divine, and the goods of the Orange Dream, wherever the Cult or the Divine tells them to go. Sometimes they are given harder tasks, but due the low ammount of information they are given, they are not mended for the hardest tasks.
Students: As students, they must stay in the Academy for some time, which may vary from some months to years. As Students, they are taught about the Divine in more detail, and they are given tasks such as harvesting the crops of Cardamine. During this time also, students are not to see people from outside, in order to purify them, and they are accustomed to Cardamine in its purest forms.
Cultists: Like Light-Singers, but with more tasks, Cultists protect Cardamine shipments and perform grunt tasks. If they haven't studied in the Academy, they are to study during their free time. Cultist are also given the important task of carrying specially refined Cardamine in order to give it to people willing to save themselves and/or join the Cult.
The taking of Cardamine has been known to enhance the creativity of initiates and cultists and often make up languages of gibberish, or poetic third person prose.
Wind-callers: The first administrative level of the cult. Wind callers primarily deal with the human side of the cult and instruct cultists on tasks and answer their questions, as they were cultists themselves but wind callers are learners of responsability. Wind-callers are still however subservient to Exarchs and Oracles
Exarch: When a wind caller is baptized by Mar Sara they are ready to learn the disciplines of pure speech this is required to speak to the Divine and to understand and assist them. Exarchs are often given an assignment or command. Those who aren't given a command typically roam in a gunboat and escort cardamine traders or even patrol the Nomad systems given they are invited to.
Oracles: All cult IFF's are Oracle| however the position of Oracle is more akin to secret agent than Wayseer or shower. The Oracle exists in other groups and societies of humanity. They observe, work jobs, and designate possible converts to the Order secretly. This is the extent of their mission. Where they were simply known as "devoted" informers.. the nine decided to honor them with title. Notable Oracles are still in the field and even in groups that are highly xenophobic and may even hunt Slomon K'Hara. The Oracles job is never to risk ones self and only to Observe.
*Spectres: Undercover, just like Oracles, Spectres are a branch highly trained agents closely tied to the K'Hara, often beyond normal Oracle reach. These agents are spread across the major Sirius houses, acting as intelligence unit. Activities ranging from high risk espionage to sabotage, typically gathering necessary information where infested would not find access to, preparing area prior to Wilde or Nomads arrival and creating distractions when necessary. Spectres are trained in stealth, diplomacy and persuasion skills and rarely engage in a fight. Top agents make use of alien artifacts specifically crafted for them. Along their training adepts travel to nomad worlds to extend their knowledge further using alien technology. Spectres work closely with Division 18 and other Wilde branches.
SHIP USE
Civilian, Borderworld and Outcast (for higher ranks) for those vessels tasked with the protection of sacred territory "Temple" cap ships obtained through diplomacy.
Tag.
Oracle|name
ID: Freelancer (typically for fighter craft operating as non combative)
ID: Outcast (Large Vessels and Temples are Outcast ID ( exarchs only )
There are exceptions where agents of the cult can fly untagged or are perhaps belonging to other factions. (WE ARE AMONG YOU)
The cult does not require complete and total devotion to be a member of the Cult of Sirius, only Oracles are seen as devout and able to preach the truth of the Divine openly.
Ranks are for active ordained members not faithful. The faithful are already in many walks of life and in many different factions as their characters practice their beliefs freely.
// Since Huggie left, I was left in charge of the Oracles. This is my attempt to bring them back to life, adding and removing some stuff as I see fit, in order to allow more varied roleplay within the ranks and bring a more fun and non-restrictive experience. Original thread is here. In case of discrepancy, this thread overrides the old one. In case of missing information, it is to be taken from the old thread.
// If you want to join the Oracles, post here in a RP manner and I will try to contact you if you fit in the faction.
// Please post feedback in this thread.