Born to the Purple design - Power Brokers

Although the diplomats are agents of their government, it isn’t just the ruling body who call the shots. Who are the other power brokers within each regime?

Although all the regimes are human (there are no alien player species in Born to the Purple), I want there to be clear distinctive attitudes and backgrounds. So who are the power brokers in each regime, who are the power groups which are the movers and shakers in parallel to the layers of government.

Secondarily, does each regime treat psionic individuals equally? Or do they have distinctive attitudes to these ‘special’ people?

Power Brokers

Gateway Alliance

Unfettered capitalism is the order of the day within the Alliance, and some of the corporations and guilds have become very wealthy, very large and very powerful on the back of lax regulation by the system lords. It turns out that competing to attract businesses via a race to the bottom ends up giving more power than might have been expected to those corporations.

So whether it is the manufacturing entities such as Rose Industries or Sharn Inc, the mercenary guilds such as Wasp or Claw or the navigators guilds like Mercal and Transtar, deep pockets can fund many a diplomat in these systems for good or ill.

Holy Republic

Within the Holy Republic there is a single state religion, but within that religion there are a number of sects, each with slightly different versions of the fundamental beliefs in the republic. Some of them are more liberal minded, others are more fundamentalist while yet others are conservative or radicals.

The differences may seem opaque to outsiders, akin to the arguments of how many angels could dance on the head of the pin. Yet blood has been spilt for less in the past, and each of the sects have their favourite agendas... and politicians.

Keron Federation

The Federation is the oldest of the regimes and clings most closely to the old ways of the Davennan Empire which preceded them. Power is held by many of the old families, with inherited wealth and influence gathered over the centuries.

The Benotti, Tutti and other families may not be the ruling lords of systems, but their whispers in the courts of power are not to be ignored. They have been kingmakers in the past and may easily do so again.

League of Worlds

The League is small and weak, and many of the systems are interdicted and off-limits for contact, let alone exploitation. They don’t have any additional power brokers.

Martell Union

In the militaristic union, we look to the regiments for focal points of power. Generals may come and go, but the regiment marches on, exercising power from the sidelines.

I’m not saying that the regiments would ever attempt to overthrow the legitimate system lords, oh no. But I’m not saying that the cautious Lord wouldn’t make sure that they have the backing of more than one regiment, just in case.

Psionic Individuals

The following are general statements about the view of and treatment of psionic individuals in each of the regimes. As you can see, the majority of governments consider them to be important assets to be used in one way or another.

That's the naturally occuring psionics. All psionic research which might work out how to create psionic powers in an individual is forbidden under the guildlaws. However in almost all systems there is secret research going on. Sometimes under the aegis of organisations such as Provolution or Third Eye. At other times under the eye of system lords and barons who experiment with disposable assets - addicts created through science and drug dependency to serve their will, be used up and discarded.

Gateway Alliance

Naturally occurring psionic individuals are commercial assets who may be bought, sold and bartered by the giant corporations.

Holy Republic

Natural psionic individuals are considered blessed, and are supported and inducted into the priesthood. They are given considerable latitude in what they do and where they go.

Keron Federation

Natural psionic individuals are family assets, and are used by the families to support their plans.

Martell Union

The union has a corp which manages all aspect of the lives of psionic individuals from cradle to grave. This even includes breeding programmes to improve bloodlines.

League of Worlds

It is very rare to find natural psionic individuals in the League of Worlds, and there is no clear government pattern associated with them.

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