The_Murgen

Ladies and Gentlemen, I hate to do this, but I will have to resign from the game. Continued problems with Mythweavers through my company's internet security and my antiquated cellphone make it hard to keep up. Also, so much back-channel on Discord that I cannot keep up with (my fault mostly- I have over 2 dozen discord servers I regularly visit). In game, it is likely the humans who were dissatisfied with their religion being diluted in order for it to spread have mounted a coup.

U.N.N.C.L.E Capital: he Control Center 5(region 3 of FRED) Round 6 News and Rumors How inept is our military! Something must be done. Perhaps conscription of the Guests? Actions [Diplomacy]- Sway government in region 5 to be our ally. Perhaps they can be another confederacy in the future. [Diplomacy]-Press claim for region 4, making a confederacy. [Faith]-Spread Paragonism to region 4 to a Majority [Faith]-Spread Paragonism to region 5 to minority [Diplomacy]-Kiss the Imperial Butt Increase reputation with the Empire Expected increases Diplomacy +1, Economy 1 Non-Actions Accept the conversion of more people to Paragonism Resist all attacks and buyouts. Reminders for myself [Request] Coronal Catalogue of Duelists [1/5] - fluff for 1 treasure, fluff plus action gain 3 [The first Elect that builds a BRG base in each orbit, requiring three Economy or Intrigue action in any combination, will receive 2 BRG rep and 1 BRG favor (or 2 favors if 2 rep would put them above 4 BRG rep)] "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." Chairperson Lucas Oliver James Mellus Tristan (they/them) Diplomacy: 8 Military:2 Economy: 5 Faith: 9 Intrigue: 2 Ground units: 0 Space units: 1 Treasure: 3 + 0 per round EMP: -1 rep / 0 favors WTU: 0 rep / 0 favors BRG: 0 rep / 0 favors REN: rank 0

U.N.N.C.L.E Capital: he Control Center (region 3 of FRED) Round 5 News and Rumors How inept is our military! Something must be done. Perhaps conscription of the Guests? Actions [Diplomacy]- Gain support for confederation with government of Region 4. Roll of 16- Success! [Diplomacy]- Send a diplomatic envoy to region 5. Roll of 12- Success!? [Diplomacy]- fix relationship with Emperor by begging forgiveness Roll of 13- Success!? [Faith]- spread religion in region 14 from minority to Pluralism. Roll of 15- Success! [Faith]- spread religion in region 7 from minority to Pluralism. Roll of 15- Success! Expected increases Diplomacy +1, Faith +1 Non-Actions ? Reminders for myself +1 to trading post buyouts from Faith Gain 1 Renown the first time you Construct Arcology, Found Holy Order, or Raise Fortress Any country that takes the Construct Arcology action before the end of Round 6 may gain 1 Treasure as a sub-action. BRG wants dirt- up to round 7 with intrigue action Invent tech or research military tech gain 1 renown first 5 get 2. "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." Chairperson Lucas Oliver James Mellus Tristan (they/them) Diplomacy: 7 Military:2 Economy: 5 Faith: 8 Intrigue: 2 Ground units: 0 Space units: 1 Treasure: 3 + 0 per round EMP: -1 rep / 0 favors WTU: 0 rep / 0 favors BRG: 0 rep / 0 favors REN: rank 0

Senior Advisor Sydney Xia Emery Harper knew they were in for a beating. But overcoming physical pain was part of their training as children. In a way, they took perverse delight in being tormented. But that was a secret known to few. Results (feel free to post your own version of events) Against Console Priscia The first duel against the Console went exactly as badly as they expected. They chose a long-bladed polearm, thinking the small movements across the fulcrum would allow wide sweeps of the blade. This should have countered the Jy’mar’s fast movement. But it also provided an excellent pathway right up the weapon and onto the Advisor themselves. They managed to toss the Console off twice before she was able to cling tenaciously and scramble up the weapon, the Advisor’s arm, and to their throat. A clear loss by submission- 4 to 13. In the brawl, they were hoping the size differential would quickly work to their advantage. As expected, most weapons were human sized. However, the Jy’mar’s natural environment was one of clutter and disarray. Once might even say this was the Console’s natural environment. It was a close match, decided by the pirate’s obscure scoring system. In the end, the match went to the Console for repeated successful taunting of the opponent- 11 to 13 Console Sydney held back during the Streetfight. Here, their natural bio-mechanical manipulation talents could have come to the forefront. But they were concerned due to their lack of understanding of Jy’mar biology. They didn’t want to accidentally stop the creature’s heart by an errant strike. Their armor, however, proved to be the turning point. So finely crafted and interlocking, it was difficult to find an access point to bare flesh. She had to make one, and that took time. Too much time, and allowing too much damage from her opponent- 11 to 17 Against Duan Li Clearly, Duan Li was holding back during the knightly duel. Though he hid it quite ably, he was playing with Syndey. His armor and short bladed weapons appeared to be a near-even match against the Senior Advisor’s acrobatic maneuvering and adept pole-arm stand-off defense. Still, Sydney thought, he probably had placed a bet that it would go the distance. Something that had long odds on the boards. It went the distance, and they lost in a close decision 13 to 15 The pirate brawl turned into an odd match, to say the least. The Senior Advisor spent the match engaging with Duan’s digital partner while scrambling to avoid the worst of his attacks. Philosophical and ontological debates seemed to distract the AI and prevent it from bringing its technical expertise to bear. The pirates were displeased, as they wanted blood, not a Ship-of-Theseus debate. Loss was 8 to 11. In the street fight, both gave their best. It came as quite a surprise that the combat jumpsuit Sydney wore was quite resilient against projectiles and blades. It was only slightly more bulky than their normal clothes, but its carbon nanofibers functioned as well as medium combat armor. This allowed Sydney to close several times and land pin-point blows. Their knowledge of human biology allowed them to target nerve clusters, sending them into a flutter and disrupting their connections to attached cybernetics. But each time they closed, Duan Li responded with a punishing series of physical blows. Piercing and slashing was well protected, but cybernetically augmented bludgeoning wore them down. They lost 15 to16.

"For now, our ambitions are twofold. First, we are reaching capacity on our aerostat. So we hope to bring another aerostat into a confederation with us. Our records simply refer to it as Aerostat4. We are reaching out to them as we speak to see what join opportunities exist." They paused for a moment, mentally checking a connection to another member of their team. "However, our intellegence services have been poor at determining the interests of others. So I have been instructed to make polite inquiries. We do not seek conflict, only room to grow." Their tone became less formal as they continued, "Paragonism was once a humano-centric belief. The long term vision still centers around a human Paragon through proper breeding. But the concepts of intellectual and physical perfection as a guiding philosophy and lifestyle cross all species boundaries." Their tone gained hints of admiration. "It is well known that the quick and precise actions of the Jy'Mar technicians to disarm the nuclear device, and their willingness to sacrifice themselves, was a key discussion point within the upper echelons of our Kinfolk." Their tone shifted back into a formal speach-giving tone. "Long term, we hope to establish cross-cultural embassies with most of the major groups on Badal. We firmly believe cooperation and specialization will secure Badal's future as the premier planet in the Empire. -------------- Despite not being a formally trained combatant, Senior Advisor Sydney Xia Emery Harper was a highly trained Bio-Electric Mediator. They stood little chance in a formal duel with weapons and the Kinfolk were well know to struggle with duplicity. However, their training might serve them well in a less formal brawl. Their ability to alter a targets biochemical processes simply by touch would make them a challenge. Blindness, limb paralysis, vertigo, even extreme gastrointestinal distress all are simply a series of pressure points and Prowess spikes away from inducing. Knightly Duel: Military 2 Pirate Brawl: Intrigue 2 Caged Streetfight: Faith 8. OOC notes on UNNCLE1) For reference, UNNCLE uses they/them exclusively for pronouns, regardless of genetic sex. Apologies if that causes any confusion. 2) Not sure how to handle thier "magical' abilities, so I thought Faith was appropriate for monk-like stunning strikes and such.

Taking a seat next to the table, the Senior Advisor took a moment to ensure that her position and posture ensured that the Console's natural line of sight was slightly above hers, allowing the Jy'mar a natural feeling of superiority when looking down upon the Sydney. They adjusted their multi-pocketed navy-colored long vest over their teal jumpsuit. The navy color denoting her as a Bio-electrical Mediator, and its silver-and-pearl filigree trim being the only note of their status as an agent of their governing board. "Sydney, or Advisor Sydney at your service, Console. You are correct. Our founders were quite fond of acronyms. They are quite commonplace in our variant of Standard Imperial. We even call our aerostat FRED, but very few remember that it is an acronym for... something." They smiled briefly in embarrassment. "Our Board of Directors is making changes to our long term strategic plan. My group was sent here as an outreach to our fellow Badalians. Our introspection has caused... imperceptions about the other aerostats." They paused for a moment, closing their eyes briefly. "Now, we find ourselves at a disadvantage. We do not wish to impede the goals of others, yet we have certain territorial goals of our own. So I have been instructed to ask, in general terms, around the Jy'mar territorial and diplomatic ambitions on Badal."

Syndey Xia Emery Harper, a Senior Advisor to the Board, arrived with 18 others from FRED. Most were the androgynously built, bald, tattooed Kinfolk in their distinctive teal body suits and color-coded vests. A full third were representatives of the Guests- a wide variety of peoples and dress from around the system. Sydney and company had several objectives for attending this event. First, was to interface with the Pan-Tekhum Worker’s Union. With luck, the need for psychotropics would be handled shortly. This would allow for a better relationship with the union than they have currently. Second, to discretely inquire about the areostat labelled 4 on their cartographic maps. UNNCLE was desirous of seeking a confederation with another local aerostat. But their recent… inward focus has left the Board uncertain of the global interplay between aerostats. They needed education. And last, seeking a formal embassy with other Badalians, in hopes of further confederation in the future. Notably absent are any of the Pargonist Instructors. After the rebuttal from the Imperium, the Board decided to curtail expansion of the religion for the time being. As was so precisely observed: “The project of human improvement is no excuse to neglect worldly affairs”. At first, they considered approaching the Jy'mari. Their predecessor at the Arkhive event was quite taken by the diminutive species. But the training from the diplomatic corps was sufficient to allow them to note the anxiousness of their leader. Instead, Sydney made a polite inquiry to one of Console's assistants, offering to make themselves available at the Console's convenience.

Finally getting around to selecting my Faith size bonus. How about this: "Economic Mentats": The Kinfolk of UNNCLE have long history of mathematical expertise as part of developing their Paragon nature. This makes them perceptive and proficient in tracking and estimating the economics of trade goods in areas where they are settled. Effect: +1 to trading post buyouts in regions where there is at least a minority of Paragonism.

U.N.N.C.L.E Capital: he Control Center (region 3 of FRED) Round 4 News and Rumors The Emperor is going to send agents to eliminate our leadership because we didn't pay their extortion demands! The people press for war! The people tend to be over-dramatic. Actions [Economic] -Attempt again to buy out Sankar Medicae in 16.3- we need those drugs pyschotropics medicines! Roll of 12, A success [Economic]- Seek out Coedd's neutrality and buy out 33.1 for narcotics. Roll of 11, a failure [Economic]- Hoard treasure to pay off the Imperial leeches administrators [Diplomacy]- Establish a confederacy claim in region 4. Roll of 17, a huge success [Diplomacy]- attend Pirate Party Expected +1 economic, +1 Diplomacy Non-Actions With special thanks to the admins, I can finally get my faith 5 bonus sorted out: - Economic Mentats: specialists in determining economic trends, the mentats assist in economic activities. BONUS: +1 to trading post buyouts. Resist and/or hinder all conversions and buyouts except from UHS for a trading post. Resist the incoming sack from the EUCRUS ALLIANCE- we were gonna pay, honest! RESISTANCE was a roll of a 9. My own military made it easier???? Reminders for myself Gain 1 Renown the first time you Construct Arcology, Found Holy Order, or Raise Fortress Any country that takes the Construct Arcology action before the end of Round 6 may gain 1 Treasure as a sub-action. BRG wants dirt- up to round 7 with intrigue action Invent tech or research military tech gain 1 renown first 5 get 2. "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." Chairperson Lucas Oliver James Mellus Tristan (they/them) Diplomacy: 6 Military:2 Economy: 4 Faith: 8 Intrigue: 2 Ground units: 0 Space units: 1 Treasure: 2 + 0 per round EMP: -1 rep / 0 favors WTU: 0 rep / 0 favors BRG: 0 rep / 0 favors REN: rank 0

U.N.N.C.L.E Capital: he Control Center (region 3 of FRED) Round 3 News and Rumors Kinfolk are upset with the formalization of their faith! Actions [Faith] - Spread Paragonism to region 4 (roll of 12) [Faith] - Spread Paragonism to region 7 (roll of 15) [Faith] - Spread Paragonism to region 8 (roll of 18) [Faith] - Spread Paragonism to region 14 (roll of 12) [Economic] -Attempt again to buy out Sankar Medicae in 16.3- we need those drugs pyschotropics medicines! (roll of 6) WTF???? Expected +2 Faith Non-Actions Resist and/or hinder all conversions and buyouts except from UHS for a trading post. Allow WTU to inspect all Industrial Centers on FRED and establish Safe Operating Practices Oversight committee with WTU member as permanent council. Reminders for myself All countries must pay 1 Treasure to the Empire by the end of round 3 or lose 1 Reputation with EMP, can pay as event sub- action (FAILED) Gain 1 Renown the first time you Construct Arcology, Found Holy Order, or Raise Fortress Any country that takes the Construct Arcology action before the end of Round 6 may gain 1 Treasure as a sub-action. Imperial outreach round 3/4 gain +1 to raise rep with imperials BRG wants dirt- up to round 7 with intrigue action Invent tech or research military tech gain 1 renown first 5 get 2. "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." Chairperson Lucas Oliver James Mellus Tristan (they/them) Diplomacy: 6 Military:2 Economy: 4 Faith: 6 Intrigue: 2 Ground units: 0 Space units: 1 Treasure: 1 + 0 per round EMP: 0 rep / 0 favors WTU: 0 rep / 0 favors BRG: 0 rep / 0 favors REN: rank 0

Dice testing also test roll 1: 2D6+5

U.N.N.C.L.E Capital: he Control Center (region 3 of FRED) Round 2 News and Rumors Kinfolk are upset with the formalization of their faith! Actions [Faith 5] - Formalize Religion of Paragonism, with additional Doctrinal Addendums for non-humans subaction- provide copy to Arkhive Eaternal for building trust Paragonsim Overview Paragonism is a Philosophical and Theological movement originating within the human population of the Badalian Aerostat denoted as the FRED (Free Ranging Endo-Atmospheric Dirigible). It is characterized as both a philosophy and a religion, and the tenets vary depending on the focus of the practitioner. Paragonism emphasizes the supremacy of the intangible Will over the material body, rigorous self-improvement of both physical and mental capacity, and the 5-S of existence. Paragonism claims to be a distillation of multiple ancient human religions that discarded the mythical origin texts and focused on the scientific, rational structure. Intense focus on the supremacy of Will over body for several centuries have enabled the practitioners of human paragonism to develop both extreme physical attributes and the ability to mentally influence the physical world around them. The philosophical and Theological movements diverge when talking about the ultimate goal of Paragonism. This split serves the purpose to bring in non-human adherents to the base philosophy while preserving the theological ambitions. Terminology Candidacy- A follower of Paragonism is referred to as a Candidate. Candidacy is the practice of the tenets of Paragonism. Both terms have their root in the word candid, meaning being open and honest without hesitation. Guardiancy- Those who reject the Tenets of Paragonism are called Guardians, and the practice of being secretive, duplicitous, and to prevaricate is considered Guardiancy. From the root word guard, to protect. N-body Evolution- This is the ultimate goal of the universe itself- to become self aware through the sub-function of itself called life. Null-body existence- The base state of all living things. All living beings can act and react according to their nature. One-body Harmony- A creature that is self-aware and self-conscious. That is, a being that is aware of their own existence and can judge their actions independently of the act itself. Paragon- The ultimate expression of what a species is capable of becoming. The ideal state of being. All followers of Paragonism strive to reach this state. Prowess: The ability to influence the physical world through application of Will. Also called Magic by many outside Paragonism Two-Body Exigency- Understanding that there exists fundamental rules that govern the universe. These rules can be manipulated by those who have intimate understanding of those rules. Will: The intangible power of the mind to be self-referential and self-correcting. Tenets Null-body Existence: All living beings in the universe have a Null-body existence. It is a state where their actions and reactions are encoded in their biology. It is possible through training to add new behaviors and modify existing ones. But these modifications are only possible through manipulation of the null-body state. Creatures in a Null-Body Existence lack Will to change themselves in opposition to their biological imperatives. One-Body Harmony: There exists a sub-set of all living beings who have achieved One-Body Harmony and developed Will. These beings are aware of themselves as individual entities, and are able to judge their actions, study the consequences, and develop plans to alter their behavior for the betterment of themselves and others. Existing in this state demands assessment of the actions themselves as well as the motives and abilities behind them. It is through this loop, and the application of the 5 S’s of Self, that Candidates can approach a Paragon state. One-Body Harmony is the intangible Will in dominance over the physical body. Luminous beings are we, not our crude matter. A dedicated Candidate must master the basic control over self before they can be able to approach a Paragon state. Breathing, eating, drinking, sleeping, dreaming, all aspects of physical existence can be controlled, modified, and improved through the dictates of the Will. The 5 S’s of Self: Simplicity- All true needs are internal, and all true satisfaction comes from the achievement of goals. Also called Sifting, it is the selection of what is important in one’s life and dismissal of that which is unimportant. Self-effacement- Understanding that goals are important, but they need to be pursued within an ethical framework. Everyone has goals, and everyone is striving to achieve them. Only through conscientious understanding of others can one’s goals be properly pursued. Also called Sorting, it is understanding how to align one’s goals to others’. Sincerity- Honesty in intra and interpersonal relationships is the central currency of all Candidates. It means valuing the positive and negative experiences equally. Also called sweeping. The removal of the dirt and debris that often covers valuable truth. Stability- Improvement and achieving goals comes in incremental steps, set-backs, and periods of normalization. This is not failure, this is necessary. It is only through accepting the idling can acceleration be properly judged. Also called Standardization. It is the idea that progress can be judge by what is the new normal and not merely the exceptional. Self-efficacy- The belief that everyone had the ability to succeed with their goals. Sustaining is another word for it. Losing belief in oneself is corrosive to all One-Body Harmony. Self-efficacy powers the continuous improvement loop that is Candidacy. Two-Body Exigency: The body is subservient to Will. It is a part of the physical universe. The Will is a higher-level system than the biological body, thus it can achieve results the lower-level biology alone cannot. Through proper training and discipline, other parts of the physical universe can be made to be subservient to Will. These, too, are lower-level systems, incapable of changing themselves. The biological functionality of oneself can be changed and so can others’. Intense dedication and training is required to approach the Paragon State in any one of the categories of Prowess. The exercise of Prowess is in alignment with goals. The practice of Prowess is to develop toward a Paragon State. While it is necessary to utilize Prowess to fulfill the requirements of society, societal acceptability is merely the stabilization phase of any growth. N-body Evolution- True mastery of the rules of the universe will allow the N-Body master to align the universe to their thoughts and will. This is the ultimate goal of the universe itself- to become self-aware through the sub-function of itself called life. Candidates must understand their place in the larger effort of the Universe to come into its own awareness. Ethics Creatures who have achieved one-body harmony should be expected to act in accordance with the laws of their society. They are expected to control their Null-body instincts. Unthinking reaction is no excuse for unethical action. Paragonists take a dim view towards those who cannot control their desires. It is the basis of the Guardian term as a pejorative. Those that are protecting their animal instincts from the consequences of their poor actions. The 5 S’s of self extend to the society in which the Candidates live. Most Candidates will leave simple existences, preferring experiences to material possessions. Humility and deference to those in a Candidate’s personal and professional circles is to be expected. Call it networking or team-building, the focus on developing meaningful relationships is greatly desired. Providing meaningful critique when asked is a sign of genuine affection between individuals. But prevarication to spare someone’s feelings is seen as disingenuous. Candidates favor actions that encourage and develop the potential of others. Societal restraints, caste systems, slavery, and the like, are abhorrent to practitioners of Paragonism. The use of Two-Body Exigency can be problematic in individuals who have not embraced One-Body harmony. Shared Meditation and Communion between individuals is far more potent than simple physical interaction and carries similar potential for disaster. Similarly, the use of Bioelectrical Mediation, Boyelian Equivalancy, or Electro-Magnetic Adroitness has the potential for great benefit, or great disaster. Such training needs to be strictly controlled. Differences in Philosophical Paragonism versus Theological Paragonism The main difference between the two branches of Paragonism center around the ultimate goal and the efforts to become a Paragon. Philosophical Paragonism believes that all species who have achieved One-Body Harmony can, and should, utilize the Tenets to build better selves and better societies. Conscientiously pushing yourself and your society to be better, stronger, faster, smarter, quicker, and more equitable- this is the goal of a self-aware culture. Theological Paragonism is still rooted in human paragonism of the human Kinfolk of U.N.N.C.L.E on the FRED. It is the belief in focused multi-generational efforts to expand Two-Body Exigency. This effort will inevitably lead to the birth of a being who will understand the entirety of time & space and the ruleset of the universe. History Few records exist from before the War of Eternal Bombardments, but the fragments that the Kinfolk retain indicate that research into Two-Body Exigency had been ongoing and well established for decades, if not centuries before the War. Human paragonism developed within the isolated community of spiritualists, martial-artists, mentalists, and scientists isolated on Badal in FRED. Corporate philosophy and thinking was also integrated to ensure those without ability were seen as integral to the ideology as well. Concepts that were once seen as corporate continuous improvement and productivity enhancing evolved into intra-personal and societal techniques and strictures. The Theological aspects of human paragonism developed out of the Spiritual-Revanchist movement of the late 1400s. Records indicate a series of conflicts within the central core, resulting in radical societal re-alignment. It is during this time that the terms Kin-folk and Guest start to be used in the FRED. The destruction of the concepts of family and matrilineal naming conventions further solidified the theological hold on the society. It was during this time that UNNCLE became the dominant socio-political force in the FRED. In recent decades, the Board of UNNCLE has sought to soften its stance towards the work being done by the Kinfolk and issued a Reformation Order. This order codified the split between the philosophy of Paragonism from the theology of human paragonism. It was this codification that set the path for the formalization of Paragonism as it stands now. [Economic] If allowed, Buy out trading post 16.3 for Sankar Medicae. Their skills should provide numerous mind-enhancing drugs. BUYOUT ROLL [Economic]- Hoard 1 treasure [Diplomacy] - Contribute to the Imperium's Mytho-Historical Data Gathering efforts with our faith formalization, and a template for future Faith entries [Diplomacy] Since Aerostat 5 is unexplored, send a mission there to establish diplomatic discusion. MISSION ROLL:2d6+5 Expected +1 Faith, +1 diplomacy Non-Actions Resist and/or hinder all conversions and buyouts except from UHS for a trading post. Reminders for myself All countries must pay 1 Treasure to the Empire by the end of round 3 or lose 1 Reputation with EMP, can pay as event suba-ction Gain 1 Renown the first time you Construct Arcology, Found Holy Order, or Raise Fortress Gain 1 treasure when Mytho-Historical Data Gathering is complete Any country that takes the Construct Arcology action before the end of Round 6 may gain 1 Treasure as a sub-action "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." Chairperson Lucas Oliver James Mellus Tristan (they/them) Diplomacy: 5 Military:2 Economy: 4 Faith5 Intrigue: 2 Ground units: 0 Space units: 1 Treasure: 0 + 0 per round EMP: 0 rep / 0 favors WTU: 0 rep / 0 favors BRG: 0 rep / 0 favors REN: rank 0

U.N.N.C.L.E United Neural Networks Confounding Limitless Exigency Capital Region: 3 Summary An aerostat built around technological-mages committed to bringing about a universe-manipulating messiah Captial: Control Center Population: 80% Kinfolk, 20% Guest. Resources: Construction Materials Desired Import: psychotropics Leader: Chairperson Lucas Oliver James Mellus Tristan D:5; M:2; E:4; F:5; I:2 Technology:Arcane Aclaustrophobic Psychiatry (2 versions) , Arcane Amplification (3 versions), Badalian Megadirigibles; In Vivo Modification (2 versions_, Nuclear Fusion (2 versions), Xenolinguistics Geography The UNNCLE aerostat is seems to borrow from ancient history in its design. It could easily be mistaken for a primitive bi-wing plane of the early aviation days, if not for its massive size. A central oval structure is sandwiched between two massive ‘wings’. Extending backward beyond the wings, the cylindrical structure continues backwards for a considerable distance until it is capped off with a third, smaller wing and additional vertical one. The entire structure glistens in the bright sunlight. Its entire outer structure is composed of hexagonal latticework of corrosion carbon-fiber spun beams encompassing thick boro-silicate glass. The population refers to it as FRED (Free Ranging Endo-Atmospheric Dirigible) The aerostat is comprised of the following regions: Lower wing: The lower wing is where most of the mechanicals for the aerostat are congregated. Large hangers along the aft edge allow for dirigible docking. The air management, heat management, and propulsion systems occupy vast areas linked by miles-long corridors and accessways. On the dorsal surface, hundreds of small hangers continually launch and retrieve smaller drone versions of the aerostat. These are guided through the clouds to scoop up the resources that are then processed by the rest of the wing. Many other aerostats saw the fine particulate matter in the atmosphere as problematic. Here, the particulates- largely silicates of various kinds- are highly prized. Despite the nature of the work, the hallways are cool, shaded from the intense sun by the upper wing. Upper wing: The upper wing is hot, humid, and generally unpleasant to be in. The Ventral surface has the thickest glass, and the intense sun pours in through them power countless solar cells and heat abject-black water pipes. The pipes feed into the aquacultural systems on levels below, where all the food is grown. Waste recycling occupies the ventral levels, and intense recycling machinery ensures maximum reuse. There are several docking bays along the aft surface as well, and this is typically where visitors and traders’ dock. Control Center: At the aft of the aerostat, a structure like an inverted T juts out. At the very top is the helm, both literally and figuratively. It is the government center as well as the main control center for the entire aerostat. It also contains all of the hotel and office space for visitors. Central Core: From a visitor’s perspective, the central core is quite beautiful. A park stretches throughout the entire length of the core, with a series of waterfalls at the aft end, and a circular lake at the front. 8 high-speed electric railcars run the length, 4 above and 4 ‘underground’. At regular stops, vertical elevators and walkways made of glass and carbon fiber extend gracefully to the inside structures. Hotels and office space have excellent views of the waterfalls- and the park stretching beyond their sight. Small 2-wheeled electric scoots are 1freely available to traverse the long axial walking distances. From the view of the people, however, it is much different. At the very front of the core stretch the multiple floors of the sensing and imaging center. Hot, cramped, and exposed to the leading edge of anything the aerostat floats through, it is a terrifying view for those unused to it. The bulk of the Core are endless levels of long hallways of black tile, gray walls, white ceilings, and blue-white light arrays. Every floor and every corridor are exactly alike, and rigidly kept that way. Even identifiers on the countless doorways are deliberately absent. Anyone wandering this area runs the risk of getting lost quite easily. History The official history of UNNCLE is straightforward. While many saw the War of Eternal Bombardments as an apocalypse, a select few saw the opportunities for corporate restructuring. Refugee ships of scientist and engineers were relocated to what was once just massive resource siphon on Badal. The siphon was home to numerous laboratory equipment and materials companies. So it was a natural place to ‘transfer’ so many scientists and engineers. Most of the excess mining capability was reduced to make space for the extra population. Under the leadership of what is known as the Calhoun-era board, the groundwork was laid for the work of UNNCLE to truly start. Calhoun moved them away from a competitively-cooperative coalition of businesses to one with a guiding core philosophy that has grown into a religion. Countless inter-disciplinary conflicts and insurrections dot the history from then to now. But each time, the forces pushing towards the society they now possess have won out. At some point about 200 years ago, they opened their society up to outsiders they call Guests. The Kinfolk realized they no longer had the specialization it took to keep their manufacturing processes and harvester drones at peak efficiency. So they opened their aerostat up to the various corporate and Imperial interests. This required some changes to their representation. They moved from a truly top-down corporate hierarchy to a goal driven representative democracy. This was done encourage migration. People There are two main groups within the UNNCLE aerostat. First, but least important, are the Guests. Guests are anyone not directly related to the mission of UNNCLE. Roughly 20% of the population at any given time, they work for the various companies, Imperial agencies, and university students, and traders. The Basu-Rahman group has a large facility in the Control Center with its own office & residential housing. Numerous Pan-Tekhum Union members have facilities in the lower wing, and maintain several technical colleges there. They are representative of Tekhun as a whole in species and appearance. The largest group is the Kinfolk. They are truly part of UNNCLE, and have embraced the unique culture tied to their mission. Kinfolk consider themselves Pure Strain Human, a specific term going back to during the War, when the human genome underwent mutation and bio-chemical alteration. In appearance, they are tall and lithe, with generations focusing on speed and agility over strength. Skin tones range from P310-P320 (their ranking scale) and eye color varies greatly. They are all uniformly bald and wear the same outfit: a teal body suit with multi-pocketed vest of yellow, orange, scarlet, blue, navy, or brown depending on specialty. Embedded within their skin is a network of metal mesh, most evident along their heads. Luminescent tattoos are liberally applied along their skull, forearms, and hands. They are almost exclusively vegetarian, but have a great passion for the small shrimp that feed upon the zooplankton which eat the decaying vegetation. The Kinfolk are all ‘magically’ gifted, though they do not use that term. Their entire society is structured around developing and enhancing these abilities. Kinfolk do not have parents. Instead The Generational Oversight Org (GEN-ORG) maintain thorough databases of kinfolk genetics, Prowess, and health. They select donors from appropriately aged kinfolk and use artificial gestational arrays to create a yearly Batchkin. This is done to align to expected demographic needs to maintain a stable population. The Batchkin are cared for and educated in a system that gradually exposes them to other batchkin, and then Guests. The entirety of their education is to develop their Prowess as well guiding them to a career that matches their personality and interests. As adults, the kinfolk split their days between Work and Development. Because of the 1-Body Prowess all kinfolk have, 8 hours of work and 12 hours of Development is typical. Careers for the Kinfolk are widely varied, depending on their specialty. They are the staff and administration of several universities. They run 4 Imperium-wide known clinics for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and stress-related illnesses. Several of the most prominent medical diagnosticians have offices here as well. Lastly, there are vast numbers of small “independent” research companies supporting medical research, materials sciences, mechanical & electrical engineering, and other specialties. Prowess – aka The N-Body Exigency The Kinfolk possess what many would see as magical abilities. They see it as less magical and more higher-systemic understanding. 1-Body Prowess: Children are taught this from an early age. In essence, the mind has absolute control over the body. Endurance, agility, feats of strength, breathe control, sleep control, directed dreaming, rapid healing, and other feats are commonplace. Mental training is stressed, and memory recall among the Kinfolk is unparalleled. There is a reason the vast stretches of the central core are unremarkable and unlabeled. Kinfolk do not forget the way when they have been there once. But they are also taught there is a price to pay, and the 1-Body Prowess must always be balanced. Yes, you can hold your breathe for 6 minutes, but you must have a plan to quickly restore your body’s balance. 2-Body Prowess: This is the most complex form. Most people spend a lifetime developing their Prowess in their area of expertise. In essence, it is that a lower-level system will never completely simulate a higher-level one. One must operate on the higher-level system. Their education teaches them math and science (both hard and soft) with such intensity that it goes beyond knowledge and becomes instinctive. That intense training, combined with the network implanted on their 13th batchfull, allows them to manipulate the world around them directly. 2-Body Prowess subdivides into several categories: Bioelectrical Mediation: A broad category that generally involves the manipulating of one’s bio-electrical system by another. They do not possess simply an encyclopedic knowledge of how substances effect the human body, they can use their Prowess to cause similar effects, or direct them more specifically. This is most commonly used for shared meditation, which can be quite intense between emotionally connected individuals. But it can also be used for medical diagnosis and as a replacement therapy for numerous bio-chemical imbalances. Finally, it can be used to enhance and direct any psychopharmaceutical experiences. Boyelian Equivalancy: This category is for individuals who intuitively understand the relationship between temperature, pressure and volume. Instinctively, they sense the vibrational differentials that create temperature and pressure changes in the environment. They utilize the principles to transfer energy between objects and locations. They find employ in engineering, construction, and mechanical development, often called Machine-Speakers. Others are quite adept at the subset of sound-vibration manipulation- enhancing or dampening noise and speech for their clients. Electro-Magnetic Adroitness: This category is for individuals who are intimately linked with the electro-magnetic equations. They can sense and manipulate these fields using similar transference principles of the Boyelian school. They find employment in similar fields, but are often derogatorily referred to as Sparkies. This may have come from their tendency to concentrate static electricity and shock people who annoy them. Government The Government of UNNCLE falls somewhere between a corporation and a representative democracy. The day-to-day functioning of the government is under the control of multiple agencies, each headed by an elected Chief Executive Director: Diplomacy, Monetary, Defense, Justice, Habitat, Sustainment, Trade, Labor, Energy, Kinfolk Affairs. Every 6 years, Each of the Directors must put forth their 6 year plan for a vote. Other Kinfolk and Guests may also put forth their own plans. For a 6 month period between the Publish date and the Vote, these plans will be subject of intense debate. On the Vote date, every kinfolk and Guest can vote for 1 plan I n each category. Any plan that gets over 50% is implemented by that Director- even if it is a new Director. As is often the case, no one plan gets 50%. So the top 3 have 30 days to revise their plan, and 30 days for it to be reviewed before another vote. Above the Director’s sit the Board. The board is a 12-person agency with 1 Chairperson. They are not elected. Their positions are controlled within the board and are largely either hereditary or by invitation. Officially, their job is to ensure that there is no corruption within the agencies, and to resolve inter-agency disputes. Unofficially, they exist to ensure that the kinfolk’s mission is never discounted or subverted. This they do with various board-agents, both obvious and covert. Officially, these people are known as Advisors. Unofficially, they are called Coaster or Paddys, a derogatory reference to the small felt pads that allow heavy chairs (the Board’s Chairs) to slide easily. Faith There are three main religious centers in UNNCLE: Theological Plaza in the Control Center Center for Human Prowess in the Central Core Generational Inquest Operations deep in the Central Core Faith within UNNCLE is split. The Guests are welcome to practice any faith they choose. The only restriction is that all Guest religious centers are restricted to the Theological Plaza in the Control Center. Guests are allowed to demonstrate their physical abilities on an invitational basis at the Center for Human Prowess. The entirety of the kinfolk are devoted to the concepts Of Human Paragonism. With their magical abilities, influencing the universe locally is something they are advancing in. Anyone who has developed some new 1-Body or 2-Body ability is encouraged to demonstrate the ability at the Center for Human Prowess. The Wall of Records is covered with plaques documenting the physical prowess feats that are the current Paragon of that effort. For example, holding one’s breath currently has a record of 41 minutes 36 second. 2-body paragons are expected to hold regular training sessions to pass along the new feats they have developed. It is considered a high honor to be a Paragon-enres at the Center.The real goal, however, is to create a human being with the ability to manipulate the underlying probability field that spans the entire universe. Quantum physics only is the barest hint of what would be possible if one could manipulate the multi-dimensional fabric of reality. All things are entangled with one another from the very beginning of the universe. The being that can manipulate that would be a god. To that end, the highly secretive Generational Inquest Operations tracks all the genetics, health information, and documents of Prowess, and has highly specialized computer programs to assess potential future developments for that bloodline. Countless simulations are run to determine what is the optimum mix for each of the next individual in the yearly Batchkin. Paragonsim Overview Paragonism is a Philosophical and Theological movement originating within the human population of the Badalian Aerostat denoted as the FRED (Free Ranging Endo-Atmospheric Dirigible). It is characterized as both a philosophy and a religion, and the tenets vary depending on the focus of the practitioner. Paragonism emphasizes the supremacy of the intangible Will over the material body, rigorous self-improvement of both physical and mental capacity, and the 5-S of existence. Paragonism claims to be a distillation of multiple ancient human religions that discarded the mythical origin texts and focused on the scientific, rational structure. Intense focus on the supremacy of Will over body for several centuries have enabled the practitioners of human paragonism to develop both extreme physical attributes and the ability to mentally influence the physical world around them. The philosophical and Theological movements diverge when talking about the ultimate goal of Paragonism. This split serves the purpose to bring in non-human adherents to the base philosophy while preserving the theological ambitions. Terminology Candidacy- A follower of Paragonism is referred to as a Candidate. Candidacy is the practice of the tenets of Paragonism. Both terms have their root in the word candid, meaning being open and honest without hesitation. Guardiancy- Those who reject the Tenets of Paragonism are called Guardians, and the practice of being secretive, duplicitous, and to prevaricate is considered Guardiancy. From the root word guard, to protect. N-body Evolution- This is the ultimate goal of the universe itself- to become self aware through the sub-function of itself called life. Null-body existence- The base state of all living things. All living beings can act and react according to their nature. One-body Harmony- A creature that is self-aware and self-conscious. That is, a being that is aware of their own existence and can judge their actions independently of the act itself. Paragon- The ultimate expression of what a species is capable of becoming. The ideal state of being. All followers of Paragonism strive to reach this state. Prowess: The ability to influence the physical world through application of Will. Also called Magic by many outside Paragonism Two-Body Exigency- Understanding that there exists fundamental rules that govern the universe. These rules can be manipulated by those who have intimate understanding of those rules. Will: The intangible power of the mind to be self-referential and self-correcting. Tenets Null-body Existence: All living beings in the universe have a Null-body existence. It is a state where their actions and reactions are encoded in their biology. It is possible through training to add new behaviors and modify existing ones. But these modifications are only possible through manipulation of the null-body state. Creatures in a Null-Body Existence lack Will to change themselves in opposition to their biological imperatives. One-Body Harmony: There exists a sub-set of all living beings who have achieved One-Body Harmony and developed Will. These beings are aware of themselves as individual entities, and are able to judge their actions, study the consequences, and develop plans to alter their behavior for the betterment of themselves and others. Existing in this state demands assessment of the actions themselves as well as the motives and abilities behind them. It is through this loop, and the application of the 5 S’s of Self, that Candidates can approach a Paragon state. One-Body Harmony is the intangible Will in dominance over the physical body. Luminous beings are we, not our crude matter. A dedicated Candidate must master the basic control over self before they can be able to approach a Paragon state. Breathing, eating, drinking, sleeping, dreaming, all aspects of physical existence can be controlled, modified, and improved through the dictates of the Will. The 5 S’s of Self: Simplicity- All true needs are internal, and all true satisfaction comes from the achievement of goals. Also called Sifting, it is the selection of what is important in one’s life and dismissal of that which is unimportant. Self-effacement- Understanding that goals are important, but they need to be pursued within an ethical framework. Everyone has goals, and everyone is striving to achieve them. Only through conscientious understanding of others can one’s goals be properly pursued. Also called Sorting, it is understanding how to align one’s goals to others’. Sincerity- Honesty in intra and interpersonal relationships is the central currency of all Candidates. It means valuing the positive and negative experiences equally. Also called sweeping. The removal of the dirt and debris that often covers valuable truth. Stability- Improvement and achieving goals comes in incremental steps, set-backs, and periods of normalization. This is not failure, this is necessary. It is only through accepting the idling can acceleration be properly judged. Also called Standardization. It is the idea that progress can be judge by what is the new normal and not merely the exceptional. Self-efficacy- The belief that everyone had the ability to succeed with their goals. Sustaining is another word for it. Losing belief in oneself is corrosive to all One-Body Harmony. Self-efficacy powers the continuous improvement loop that is Candidacy. Two-Body Exigency: The body is subservient to Will. It is a part of the physical universe. The Will is a higher-level system than the biological body, thus it can achieve results the lower-level biology alone cannot. Through proper training and discipline, other parts of the physical universe can be made to be subservient to Will. These, too, are lower-level systems, incapable of changing themselves. The biological functionality of oneself can be changed and so can others’. Intense dedication and training is required to approach the Paragon State in any one of the categories of Prowess. The exercise of Prowess is in alignment with goals. The practice of Prowess is to develop toward a Paragon State. While it is necessary to utilize Prowess to fulfill the requirements of society, societal acceptability is merely the stabilization phase of any growth. N-body Evolution- True mastery of the rules of the universe will allow the N-Body master to align the universe to their thoughts and will. This is the ultimate goal of the universe itself- to become self-aware through the sub-function of itself called life. Candidates must understand their place in the larger effort of the Universe to come into its own awareness. Ethics Creatures who have achieved one-body harmony should be expected to act in accordance with the laws of their society. They are expected to control their Null-body instincts. Unthinking reaction is no excuse for unethical action. Paragonists take a dim view towards those who cannot control their desires. It is the basis of the Guardian term as a pejorative. Those that are protecting their animal instincts from the consequences of their poor actions. The 5 S’s of self extend to the society in which the Candidates live. Most Candidates will leave simple existences, preferring experiences to material possessions. Humility and deference to those in a Candidate’s personal and professional circles is to be expected. Call it networking or team-building, the focus on developing meaningful relationships is greatly desired. Providing meaningful critique when asked is a sign of genuine affection between individuals. But prevarication to spare someone’s feelings is seen as disingenuous. Candidates favor actions that encourage and develop the potential of others. Societal restraints, caste systems, slavery, and the like, are abhorrent to practitioners of Paragonism. The use of Two-Body Exigency can be problematic in individuals who have not embraced One-Body harmony. Shared Meditation and Communion between individuals is far more potent than simple physical interaction and carries similar potential for disaster. Similarly, the use of Bioelectrical Mediation, Boyelian Equivalancy, or Electro-Magnetic Adroitness has the potential for great benefit, or great disaster. Such training needs to be strictly controlled. Differences in Philosophical Paragonism versus Theological Paragonism The main difference between the two branches of Paragonism center around the ultimate goal and the efforts to become a Paragon. Philosophical Paragonism believes that all species who have achieved One-Body Harmony can, and should, utilize the Tenets to build better selves and better societies. Conscientiously pushing yourself and your society to be better, stronger, faster, smarter, quicker, and more equitable- this is the goal of a self-aware culture. Theological Paragonism is still rooted in human paragonism of the human Kinfolk of U.N.N.C.L.E on the FRED. It is the belief in focused multi-generational efforts to expand Two-Body Exigency. This effort will inevitably lead to the birth of a being who will understand the entirety of time & space and the ruleset of the universe. History Few records exist from before the War of Eternal Bombardments, but the fragments that the Kinfolk retain indicate that research into Two-Body Exigency had been ongoing and well established for decades, if not centuries before the War. Human paragonism developed within the isolated community of spiritualists, martial-artists, mentalists, and scientists isolated on Badal in FRED. Corporate philosophy and thinking was also integrated to ensure those without ability were seen as integral to the ideology as well. Concepts that were once seen as corporate continuous improvement and productivity enhancing evolved into intra-personal and societal techniques and strictures. The Theological aspects of human paragonism developed out of the Spiritual-Revanchist movement of the late 1400s. Records indicate a series of conflicts within the central core, resulting in radical societal re-alignment. It is during this time that the terms Kin-folk and Guest start to be used in the FRED. The destruction of the concepts of family and matrilineal naming conventions further solidified the theological hold on the society. It was during this time that UNNCLE became the dominant socio-political force in the FRED. In recent decades, the Board of UNNCLE has sought to soften its stance towards the work being done by the Kinfolk and issued a Reformation Order. This order codified the split between the philosophy of Paragonism from the theology of human paragonism. It was this codification that set the path for the formalization of Paragonism as it stands now. Resources Resource: Construction Materials UNNCLE’s resource gathering and manufacturing has become highly sophisticated over the millennia. The facility was originally designed as a massive manufacturing complex. Using small drones, it scoops up gasses and particulate compounds from the atmosphere. In the aerostat, they are processed into a vast array of substances to suit the needs of the aerostat. UNNCLE is particularly known for its spun-carbon fiber building materials and boro-silicate glass that is heat, corrosive, and impact resistant. Additionally, the expertise at utilizing them in engineering functions is considered as part of the cost of any engineering contract. Because of the demand, resources are allocated through three main docking ports on the lower wing: Port Post Axial Post Starboard Post Desired Import: psychotropics Given the kinfolk’s religious devotion and unique culture, any substance that can expand, enhance, or repair the mind is greatly desired, though not necessarily for its original purpose. Technology Arcane Amplification: Bio weave Specialized metals are woven into their skin to enhance their 1-Body and 2-Body arcane abilities. It is particularly noticeable along their bald heads. Without the bio-weave, their ‘magical’ abilities would be severely limited. Badalian Megadirigibles: Common on Badal