The Bulan Cartel
Criminal State
The Bulam Cartel is the oldest sovereign state of outlaws in the galaxy. They have managed to evade subjugation by galactic powers for many thousands of years, and they have become synonymous with Piracy and general villainy.
Nouli State
This state was founded by the Bulan Nouli, and to this day they are the majority of the population, making up about sixty percent of all the cartel's citizens, and the planet Bulan remains the cartel's capital.
Government
The Cartel is led by the council, which is a group of retired captains and businessmen. This council is chosen by the council itself. When a cartel member reaches a certain age, and has proven themselves to the council, they will be chosen to become part of them and retire. Sometimes they refuse this, because it would mean staying on Bulan and ruling rather than continuing to make money.
The council isn't allowed to own any businesses, so when they are chosen, they have a chance to arrange their inheritance and then their properties will pass on to their chosen heirs.
Charter
The primary purpose of the council is to uphold the charter, an ancient text written by the first of the Bulan pirates in order to ensure their success and unity. The charter is considered sacred and cannot be changed or edited, because it has reliably kept them together and has been successful for millennia now.
The council is allowed to edit or write new Ladiiths, these are less important rules, but they are considered important for governing and stability.
When the council wants to do either of these things, they will call a referendum, and all members of the cartel will get a chance to vote. In order for such a motion to pass, it has to get at least 70% approval.
New Ladiiths, or changes to them, are grand events, because this happens very rarely, and only when truly necessary.
Inquisition
The way the council enforces the charter is with the inquisitors, they are powerful and skilled warriors, who carry out any and all orders from the council.
They make arrest if necessary, and they will hunt down and kill any who refuse to come willingly. They will also carry out political assassinations, and they carry out hits on enemies of the cartel.
Membership
To become a member of the cartel, one must swear an oath of loyalty to Bulan and the cartel, in the presence of the council, and they are registered in the cartels membership system. They they will be allowed to join a crew, or sell their services as they wish in cartel space.
I solemnly swear to serve Bulan and its interests, to live by the Charter and its virtues, to respect the judgement of the Council, and to live honorably, as a child of Bulan.
Members of the cartel are allowed to buy a ship and hire a crew as they wish, for whatever purpose, they may also start businesses in cartel space.
They are expected to report all deals they make with other members, especially as the captain of a ship. The council pays a lot less attention to store owners.
The captain of a ship reports sales in order to show how successful they are. If reported, the council is entitled to 5% of a sale.
If unreported, the council doesn't get their cut, but it also doesn't count towards a captains success score, and they become less likely to get special favors from the council, or to be chosen as council member when they are older.
The council may take issue if you never report anything, or if you report so little that it looks like you are losing money. Otherwise, the council lets people do what they want. There is no mention of taxes in the charter, so no one is forced to pay them if they don't want to. However, they will anger the council.
Justice System
When someone violates the Charter, there are four possible punishments, depending on the severity of the infraction, and repeated offenses.
The first is official reprimand by the council. This will go on your professional record, not visible to the public, but it may give people second thought before doing business with you.
The second is a public shaming, in this case your name and face are broadcast across Bulan space, and all people will known of your crimes. This means you can't ask the same rate as someone who wasn't punished so, and people might not want to do business with you.
The third is banishment, This happens if you are not considered trustworthy, this means it becomes a capital crime for you to ever enter cartel space again, which means it is punishable by death.
The most serious of crimes, those that paint you as an enemy of the state, or otherwise a danger to the cartel or its members, will result in the death penalty.
Trial
All members of the cartel have the right to be heard by the council, and explain their actions. Violating the charter is allowed if you have a good reason, this is called pleading the thirteenth, if you can get the council to agree with you, you will be declared innocent.
If you fail to present yourself at a trial when summoned, you are automatically assumed to have done something truly terrible, and he inquisitors will be sent to execute you. The only way to survive this is to beg the council for forgiveness and show up to a trial anyway.
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Demographics
Total Population: 3900 Trillion
Nouli: 2340 Trillion (2300 Bulan)
Monra: 675 Trillion
Human: 580 Trillion (250 Terran)
Other: 885 Trillion
Flag
The Bulan flag is brown, representing the Nouli and the Bulan color. The crossed blaster pistol and machete represent Bulan's willingness to fight, as well as their private origin. the thirteen stars represent the thirteen laws of the charter, which are central to Bulan identity.
The Charter of Bulan
1. One shall not betray Bulan
2. One shall not order an employee to do what one wouldn't do themselves.
3. One shall not break one's solemn vow.
4. One shall not take from one who has nothing.
5. One shall always take from one who has too much.
6. One shall not take from one's Brethren.
7. One shall always pay one's debts.
8. No one is obliged to aid another without either will or compensation.
9. One shall not force others to do one's bidding
10. All under Bulan have the right to name their price, and change it at will.
11. One shall always consult the council before taking revenge.
12. All those who violate the charter have the right to be heard by the council.
13. In the pursuit of what is right, the Charter becomes secondary.
The Ladiith
1. All must be registered with the council.
2. All must register their transactions and pay the council what they are owed.
3. One person may inherit one business from another person at a time.
4. All have the right to buy or start any kind of business at any time.
5. When one dies without named successors, their businesses are passed to the Council.
6. The Council may not engage in business enterprises. If it acquires a business, it must sell it to the highest bidder.
7. All shall honor the call of Bulan in times of war.
8. It is forbidden by Bulan to give items to others for a limited time in return for currency.
9. If currency was given, the one who gave it now owns what they gave it for, if it was accepted willingly.
10. When borrowing currency, one shall repay it with ten percent interest. For this, they have one Bulan year's time.
11. All have the right to aid from the council if in trouble with foreign governments.
12. Assassin or bounty hunter business shall only be conducted on Bulan or its embassies, with the permission of the council.
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