Custodi
| Custodi | |
 | |
| Origin |  Corsairs
|
| Alignment | Unlawful |
| Recruitment | Click to join |
| Profile | |
| Date of founding | 58 A.S. |
| Founder(s) | unknown |
| Current leader(s) | Archon Aesop IV |
| Base of operations | Planet Crete, Omicron Gamma |
| Identification | |
| Primary ID | Corsairs ID |
| IFF | Corsairs |
| Tag(s) | C:: |
| Primary role | |
| To provide Cretan population with food. | |
| Table of contents | |
Custodi are a Corsair faction originating from the northern Cretan continent of Attica. They have access to the only arable grounds on Crete and as such have the task to provide the population of the Corsairs with whatever little food they can gather.
History
After the Cretan planetfall the Corsairs found themselves without basic resources needed to sustain life on such a hostile planet. The lack of food and water pushed some to hunt whatever little game was near the arid equatorial regions of the planet, others attempted to grow and harvest crops in the hot climate. Over the initial years of Cretan settlement a group of colonists decided to venture away from the equator towards the more fertile and lush lands.
Those people eventually settled in the northern temperate regions of the planet, colonizing what later would be most of the fertile grounds of Crete. Before the Cretan population constructed first spaceships and ventured on first expeditions to chart the neighboring space, the northern colonists, now calling themselves the Custodi - Preservers, have grown richer and more powerful amongst the Corsair society, using their fortunate geographical location to trade food and attract workers to their cities.
Originally the Custodi worked very closely with the equatorial population of Crete, trading their crops for minerals, constructing ships and attending expeditions. Indeed the Custodi were the first to chart and name the only moon of Planet Crete - Kalhmera. However after the second century A.S., the cultural divide between the other Corsairs and the Custodi started growing, eventually limiting their relations only to trade.
At the location of their first settlement the Custodi built the High City of Heraklion. It earned its nickname being the northernmost situated city on Crete and eventually it became the central hub for storing, processing and transporting food from all the lands claimed by the Custodi - the lands they named Attica.
After the second century the Custodi all but ceased their expeditions into space, instead focusing on their matters planetside. Unlike the other Corsair societies, the people of the High City maintained a strictly structured political system. They preserved the culture of their ancestors, who they believed to be ancient Greeks. Indeed, the Greek language is taught and studied by many Custodi and proficiency in using it is a sign of social status.
Over the centuries the culture of the Custodi has not changed majorly, with the notable exception of adopting the Cult of Archangels as the major religion in the High City. Heraklion was mostly free from the regulations set in place by the Council of Elders due to its special status as a food supplier.
Present day
Current day Attica mostly comprises of farmlands and orchards, giving the Corsair population much needed grain, fruit and wood. The lack of technological advancement of Crete has not allowed for means of more efficient food production than simple extensive farming.
The politics of Heraklion are strictly structured and, unlike the aristocracy of the Council of Elders, is based on the forms of ancient Athenian democracy. The primary legislative organ of the Custodi society is the Ecclesia which comprises of any citizens over thirty years of age willing to participate in a popular assembly. One of the primary matters of the Ecclesia is the selection of Archon who represents the executive branch of government and is reelected every eight years. Additionally, the Ecclesia also appoints Justiciar who represents the Supreme Court of Heraklion and as such is responsible for the judicial branch of the Custodian politics system. The title of the Justiciar is given for life and since the third century has traditionally been given to one of the priests or priestesses of the Cult of Archangels.
The Custodian society preserve their cultural identity and are tied to their symbolism much more than other Corsairs. The symbol of the Broken Delta is seen all over the High City. The delta symbolizes reluctance to changes and attachment to tradition. The light green color stands for the fertile lands of Attica.
Additionally, many Custodi hold certain beliefs about the origin of Cretan Artifacts. While not explicitly confirmed or denied, the theory that Artifacts found in such abundance on Crete belonged to the Nomads or the Daam K'Vosh is not very popular. Instead, they are believed to have been used by another prehuman civilization that we have not yet learned of. Some even hold a belief that members of that species visited humans in the times of ancient Earth civilizations and have been adopted as ancient polytheistic deities.
Nowadays, the Custodi have again got interested in space, seeking to build a fleet and at the very least establish a presence in the skies. Led by the current Archon Aesop, the Custodi are more than eager to again attempt an expansion into space, much like they did in the first centuries.
