Glebsig Foundation

The Glebsig Foundation is a major interstellar government organised as a holy tribunal. Its capital is Ladnah, located in the Ladnah Vyg System. The primary population are Glebsig, a molluscoid species that evolved on the alpine world of Ladnah. The population of the Glebsig Foundation are notable for their love of the unknown, as well as their spirituality. The Glebsig Foundation is ruled by a clerical council headed by a High Inquisitor, and there is no separation of state and religion. The priesthood and bureaucrats run an efficient bureaucracy, which evolved in order to deal with the intricacies of managing a united world. Diplomatically, the Glebsig Foundation often seeks peaceful relations with other nations, preferring dialogue and discussion over warfare.

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Government

The Glebsig Foundation is structured as a unitary theocratic republic. It is typically classified as a conservative planned-economy theocracy, with low levels of corruption.

Executive power in the Glebsig Foundation is held by a council of twelve clerics, responsible for the maintenance and defence of the physical and spiritual wellbeing of the Foundation and its population. While nominally equal, the position of High Inquisitor is the de facto leader of the council, as it controls both the military and internal security/oversight forces (the Inquisition). The second most important position in the council is the Archpriest, who is the final word in the Foundation on all spiritual matters. Aside from the Archpriest, who appoints their successor, the members of the council are elected by the highest rank of cleric (translating roughly to 'High Priest', 'Cardinal', 'Patriarch', or 'Ayatollah') in the Foundation.

Whenever a position in the religious council must be filled, due to death or resignation, the High Priests in the Foundation hold an election among themselves to determine a replacement. Although historically this event required the clergy to assemble in the same building on Ladnah, the realities of interstellar travel mean that this practice is now done digitally through secure communications channels. Any candidate that receives more than 50% of the vote is chosen to fill that seat in the council, and the only requirement is that the candidate is a member of the clergy. The Foundation readily accepts xenos into its ranks, with many priests encouraging the practice in order to expand the Foundation's understanding of life.

There is no distinction between church and state in the Glebsig Foundation. As such, all members of state (the Glebsig Foundation) are automatically members of the church (the Foundation of Life). Legally, government officials must convert to the state religion in order to serve in government, but in practice, many local bureaucratic offices do not investigate their new hires' conversion status too closely. This practice is entirely unsanctioned by the state, however, and one of the main purposes of the Inquisition is to root out false converts.

History

The Glebsig undertook a very standard path of pre-FTL development. Originating as aquatic predators in the glacial lakes of their homeworld, the Glebsigi eventually evolved into a species capable of floating through the air. They quickly became the apex predator of their homeworld, as no other species was able to physically threaten them. Early organised Glebsigan society exhibited lower levels of conflict compared to other species, as the natural curiosity and optimism of the species shifted their game theory in favour of cooperation.

However, as Glebsigan societies became more complex, developing early ideologies, faiths, and territorial boundaries, they engaged in conflict at more standard levels. Their Industrial Age in particular saw a number of destructive conflicts between nation-states, and the development of atomic weapons in the 20th century CE caused Ladnah to teeter on a knife's edge. The continual conflict caused many Glebsigi to turn to faith, which strengthened the varied religious institutions on the planet. In particular, one religious institution roughly translated as "The Foundation of Life", became the most powerful on the planet. Espousing a syncretic doctrine of peace and respect for life, the Foundation was able to take control of the governments of a number of powerful states on the planet.

The early 21st century ironically saw an increase in violence on Ladnah as the Foundation of Life solidified control over the planet. Despite their pacifist values, the Foundation saw it necessary to pre-emptively protect itself from threats. While many states 'joined the herd' willingly, a number were conquered by crusading armies and had puppet governments installed. By the middle of the century, although the planet was still divided amongst nation-states, real power rested in the tentacles of the Foundation of Life. While other faiths were permitted, their followers were not-so-subtly encouraged to convert to the Foundation.

Towards the end of the century, a push by the Foundation to end all conflict on the planet saw an international conference that disarmed all nations on the planet. The Foundation would maintain a peacekeeping force, including all of the planet's nuclear weapons. This marked the beginning of the Foundation's consolidation of the planet, which ended with the dissolution of Ladnah's states in the early 22nd century CE. As the sole legal government over the Glebsigi, the Foundation's ruling religious council became the ruling council of Ladnah. The mess of bureaucracies inherited by the Foundation was their main priority in the following decades, replacing secular bureaucrats with religious ones, and going to significant lengths to streamline the bureaucratic process.

In 2202 CE, Glebsigan scientists developed the first functional hyper drive. A crewed mission launched later that year in a specially-designed science ship, marking the end of the Glebsigi as a pre-FTL species and their entry onto the galactic stage.

Demographics

The primary species of the Glebsig Foundation are the eponymous Glebsigi, making up a vast majority of the state's population. Lax migration laws and a welcoming attitude towards xenos have encouraged substantial migration from other states, creating vibrant migrant communities within Glebsigan space. Some of the most populous xeno species include Yondars, Scyldari, Certerans, and Humans. While biological species are permitted to migrate, synthetics in general are not. According to Glebsigan law, synthetics are not considered to be sapient, and must be registered to a legal owner.

While the Foundation of Life is the official state religion, citizens are not legally required to follow it. However, those that follow another faith (or none at all) are required to pay an additional tax and cannot become government employees without conversion. As such, the vast majority of individuals in Glebsigan space follow the official religion. Virtually all Glebsigi do, and a majority of migrants convert before becoming citizens. Healthcare and education are provided by the state, and are generally considered adequate by galactic standards. Education in particular is provided by clerics, who focus on a faith-based learning system.

Economy

The Glebsig Foundation is a medium-sized semi-post-industrial economy. Economic fundamentals are determined by six year plans issued by the ruling council, upon advice from state and independent economists. A majority of the economy is in the public sector, but it retains a substantial private sector that is incentivised to follow the six year plans through directed tax breaks and legal requirements. Most economic activity is services-based, such as finance, information, telecommunications, and entertainment. Despite the Foundation's stereotype as a deeply religious state that rejects materialism, it has a surprisingly robust consumer economy that is well-integrated with the galactic market.

Unlike a number of other religious states throughout the galaxy, the Glebsig Foundation permits the usage of synthetics and full artificial intelligence, as long as they are legally registered and monitored. Synthetics primarily serve as assistants in basic or dangerous work (such as farming and mining), but are also owned by wealthy Glebsigi as personal domestic servants.

Society

To outsiders, Glebsigi society appears to be a paradoxical merging of religious tradition and celebration of the unknown. To the Glebsig, it makes perfect sense. The Foundation of Life, the dominant religion of Glebsigi society, is based on the reverence of biological life in all of its forms. The act of going out and exploring to encounter new forms of life is among the most revered actions that a follower of the religion can take. While most Glebsigi are content to stay on their worlds, the explorers who venture out into the galaxy become celebrated celebrities, cultural ambassadors, and missionaires spreading the word of Life. Many Glebsigi would describe their faith as less of a religion, and more of a worldview or philosophy, more akin to Buddhism than Christianity.

Although non-official religions are permitted within Glebsigan space, the Foundation of Life completely dominates society. Individuals must renounce any prior faith and convert to the Foundation's faith in order to become a government employee, as there is no functional difference between the religious institution and the state. As such, all government employees are technically clerics or priests. These religious bureaucrats are encouraged to work with a divine fervor, and are well-respected by the populace due to their spiritual importance. Due to this, Glebsigi bureaucracy is considered to be some of the most streamlined and efficient in the galaxy, something that the entire population takes great pride in.

The Inquisition is one of the more powerful political forces within the Foundation. Commanded by the High Inquisitor, it is charged with rooting out threats to the Foundation and ensuring religious purity within the government. In practice, it acts more akin to an anti-corruption police force within the bureaucracy. It is also the main force that deals with charges of false conversion, which is a crime in Foundation space. As individuals are required to convert to the Foundation of Life to be employed by the government, some choose to claim their conversion while secretly continuing to practice their previous faith. Inquisitors seek out and apprehend these individuals, and in the process, have substantial oversight of the bureaucratic functions of state. Many inquisitors spend more time writing reports on methods to improve government efficiency than seeking out heretics.

Military

The Glebsig Armed Forces are the standing military of the Foundation. Descended from the peacekeeping forces established by the Foundation of Life during planetary unification, they are responsible for the defence of Glebsig and allied territory, and expeditionary actions into hostile space if need be. The Armed Forces are divided into the Planetary Force and the Space Force, both of which are volunteer forces. Military operations are directed by the High Inquisitor, who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The High Inquisitor is supported by embedded Inquisitors within the Armed Forces, who are tasked with rooting out treachery, disloyalty, and heresy, acting in a similar manner to political commissars in secular states.