The Society is the Solar System's dominant human government. It has ruled for over 700 years, holding sway over the lives of at least 14 generations of Humanity. Its people are separated into different "Colors," indicating both caste and vocation. Proponents of the Society consider it to be the most effective and perfect government ever devised by Man. Prior to The Rising, The Society encompassed roughly 18 billion souls, and nearly every planet in the solar system.
Background[]
In order to colonize other worlds, humanity naturally required an immense force of dedicated labor. By genetic and surgical manipulation, mankind was gradually differentiated into the various Colors of The Society. Initially, Gold was merely a rank, indicated by the wearing of a gold uniform. Over time, however, undesirable traits were bred-out of the ruling class and their physical and mental abilities were escalated to what a 21st-century Man would have considered super-human.
Once The Society had established itself on the first colonies, the Golds decided that Earth was no longer a necessary governing body, but rather a meddlesome parent, and so there was war. Earth lost and was subjugated by The Society, which took its place as the guiding star of humanity’s destiny.
Government[]
The government of Society is an Oligarchic hierarchy, with the Golds as the ruling class. Members of the Senate are appointed exclusively from their ranks, and Golds hold all high-ranking government offices.
Each individual planet or moon is run by an ArchGovernor, while individual cities on a planet are run by Governors. Moons that orbit an inhabited planet such as Mars are run by subGovernors.
Board of Quality Control[]
The Board of Quality Control is a government body dedicated to upholding the hierarchy and enforcing The Society's eugenics programs.
- For more information, read more at Board of Quality Control
Department of Energy[]
The Department of Energy is the government body responsible for managing and regulating The Society's helium-3 mining facilities on Mars and The Rim. They are responsible for supplying rations and resources to the mines in order to keep the Red population working, and provide mineMagistrates with guidelines on how to manage their mine and quell dissent.[1]
Military[]
The Society's military consists of multiple fleets of armed spaceships and several divisions of armed soldiers, with Golds holding all command roles in both naval and ground forces. Blues in the Navy serve as pilots and bridge crews, while Oranges and Reds oversee a ship's maintenance and vital functions. Greens in the military oversee communications and are tasked with hacking and disrupting enemy computer systems. All ground combat and ship boarding is conducted by Grays, Obsidians, and Golds.
The navy is led by an ArchImperator, who serves as the supreme commander of the Society military. Each fleet is led by an Imperator, and consists of multiple individual squadrons led by a Praetor. Local fleets responsible for the defense of a specific sphere will typically be under the authority of their world's archGovernor.
Known Divisions of the Society Navy include:
- 4th Fleet, Classis Venetum - defends Venus
- 5th Fleet, Classis Libertas - Patrols the inner Asteroid Belt; Commanded by Martian archGovernor Nero au Augustus until March of 742 PCE.
- 6th Fleet - Presumably serves as the defense fleet for Mars; Commanded by Tiberius au Bellona until February of 742 PCE.
- 8th Fleet (Classis Saturnis) presumably defends Saturn.
Within each fleet, ripWings are organized into squadrons of twelve fighters each.
The most powerful forces of the Society Navy are the armadas made up of two or more fleets with overlapping spheres of influence[2] under the direct authority of The Sovereign:
- Scepter Armada - Defense force of Luna and Earth (presumably consists of the 1st and 2nd Fleets)
- Sword Armada - Primary offensive armada of The Society
- Martian Armada - Consists of the 5th and 6th Fleets
The Society's ground forces are led by Gold Legates, with ArchLegates serving as the overall commander of units comprised of multiple legions, such as the Praetorian Guard.
There are at least twenty-three divisions of The Society armed forces at the time of The Rising. Known legions include:
- Zero Legion, Legio Cohors Nihil - A secret legion used as part of the Praetorian Guard.
- Legio Zero Pavor Nocturnus - A subdivision of Zero Legion. Formally referred to as Night Terrors but colloquially known as the Gorgons. Commanded by Atlas au Raa from 739 to 755 PCE.
- 10th Legion, X Legio Pardus - Also referred to as the Iron Leopards. Commanded by Ajax au Grimmus from 747 to 755 PCE.
- 11th Legion - Also referred to as the Golden Basilisks.
- 13th Legion, XIII Legio Dracones - Also referred to as Dragoons. Under the direct command of the Ash Lord at the time of the Rising.
- 20th Legion, XX Legio Fulminata - Also known as the Thunderbolt Legion.
- 22nd Legion - one of the personal bodyguard units of House Augustus that make up the Lionguard.
The Society military possesses three Deep Space Command Centers.[3]
The highest military award that an officer can give is the Civic Crown, made of common oak leaves tattooed on the recipient's head.
Dominion[]
The Society is centered around the Core, Luna, and its reach extends throughout the Solar System, but stopped expanding once the Solar System was inhabited.
Population[]
All Colors of the Society are genetically modified humans. The population in 736 PCE totals around 18 billion, with about 100 million being Golds. In 741 PCE there were 132,680 Peerless Scarred out of 40 million adult Golds, being the only Golds allowed to join the military. To differentiate their class, the population of the Society was genetically altered to have different color-coded eyes and hair, with vibrance defining the tiers in each class.
Sigils[]
All Colors also have Sigils implanted into both wrists and attached to the metacarpus to provide additional identification. Most of them were designed based on the alchemical symbols.[4]
Religion[]
There is no unifying religion among the Colors of The Society. Reds believe that in death, they will meet an Old Man, who shepherds the souls of the departed on to the afterlife. Obsidians worship Golds as literal Gods (a measure enforced upon them in response to a dangerously-effective rebellion in 200 PCE). Golds are characterized as entirely Atheist.
If one had to name a “Religion” of The Society, it would be The Society itself. Indeed, Humans of every color are indoctrinated to worship (in effect, if not in name) the structure and rigidity of the hierarchy.
Economy[]
Economic activities mainly occur with further planets engaging in trading with the Core. Economics are generally handled by Silvers, most notably Regulus ag Sun
Education[]
Depending on social caste and rank, different members of society receive different levels of education. For example, a Blue pilot would be trained in flying starships and spacefaring theory from a young age, but a Red laborer who would have no use for that would not. An Obsidian would be trained to fight and battle, but an Orange would be learning about gears and mechanisms. It all depends on what their color does (Reds mine, Obsidians fight, etc)
Each planet and moon has at least one standardized school for most Colors.
- The Institute for Golds
- The Observatory for Blues
- The Grove for Violets
- The Garden for Pinks
- The Agoge for Obsidians and Grays.
There are also public educational facilities for use by multiple Colors.[5]
Gold children are given exams at the age of five to evaluate their education.[5]
Golds are able to pursue further education after graduation from The Institute. These educational facilities are scattered throughout the Solar System, each dedicated to a specific profession.
- The Academy - for training in space combat. Located in the Asteroid Belt
- Politico School - on Luna
- Judiciar School -Venus
Culture[]
Each Caste has their own unique culture, even having different beliefs or religions, most obvious amongst the Reds and Obsidians with the Old Man and revering the Golds as gods, respectively.
Many cities on planets ruled by the Society have blocks reserved for highColor use, with a badge of warrant required for lowColors to access. HighColors are permitted to spend time in lowColor districts at their leisure, but never the other way around.
Entertainment[]
HighColors in The Society often entertain themselves with lavish parties, courtesans, or semi-barbaric sports at lower classes' expense. Those who indulge in these pleasures are called Pixies and are looked down upon by other Golds who consider themselves above such things. A list popular sports and games enjoyed in The Society and its successor states can be found here.
HC shows and other forms of entertainment are produced by Gold to entertain and placate the masses,[6] while news programs are also hosted by anchors from multiple different Colors.[7]
Golds have access to a variety of pleasure drugs such as demonDust, lexamine, and blowfish poison.
Reds typically enjoy dancing and singing as their primary form of entertainment.
Language[]
The primary language of The Society is known as Common. Most citizens speak and write in midLingo, with the lowest classes being somewhat literate, with the possible exception of Obsidians. Obsidians were stripped of all technology except Stone Age-level knowledge, and have their own Nordic-based language known as Nagal. Golds and some higher-tiered Colors also learn the ancient languages of Latin, Arabic, Chinese, English and German, among others, as part of history and culture.[8]
Organizations[]
- Boneriders
- Howlers
- Lionguard
- Olympic Knights
- Outriders
- Moon Lords
- Praetorian Guard
- Securitas
- Sons of Ares
- Watchmen
Notes and References[]
- ↑ Golden Son, Chapter 48
- ↑ Red Rising, Chapter 16, Page 123. "It is the fifth and sixth fleets. The Armada of Mars. My breath catches in my breath. The Sixth Fleet is commanded by Cassius' father. The Fifth Fleet is under the ArchGovernor's direct control."
- ↑ Golden Son, Chapter 15
- ↑ A Drawing or Three - Pierce Brown and a tale of Red Rising - February 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sons of Ares, Volume 2 graphic audio
- ↑ Red Rising, Chapter 10
- ↑ Golden Son, Chapter 47. "A woman notices me, turning her attention from an HC where several talking heads - a Silver, a Violet, and two Greens - debate the political rammifications of Mars's conquest over a montage of my exploits."
- ↑ Morning Star, Chapter 01