The Greater Good (A History of the Toran Empire)
The Toran Home world:
Located to the Galactic West, the planet of Tor’vas is the second planet orbiting the star of Olan’Sha (the Life Giver). Though scientific expeditions have revealed that the Toran are not the first civilisation to emerge in the system, they are most certainly the only ones who have managed to develop interstellar travel.
A warm planet, covered in sweeping savannahs, arid scrub land and warm sea’s oceans, Tor’vas is a Veld class world. Though its weather systems are relatively stable, that is not to say life has been or is easy to maintain. Forming their early settlements in the shadow of mighty tree’s, that stretch up tens of miles in hight, with root systems expanding hundreds of miles, without these colossal giants the Toran species would have never progressed beyond the stone age, for it was these strange oasis that allowed the Toran to plant crops, fed by the water these tree’s drew up from deep below, and offered grass lands for the early hunters to stalk prey-beasts.
The Toran People:
A reptilian species, standing on average five foot and seven inches, the Toran are a stocky and well-set species, dense bones and scaled skin allowing them to survive in rather difficult environments for extended periods. Unusual for most reptilians found on Tor’vas, the Toran give birth to live young carried over a six-month period in the female of the species, rather than hatching from eggs, allowing them in pre-historic times, a freedom of movement that others of their genus did not possess.
The evolution and development of the Toran civilisation progressed steadily until the late Renaissance era, when a series of cultural and scientific advancements, coupled with a series of natural disasters sparked war between the various communities, which spread across the whole planet, intensifying in ferocity as time passed by. During these vicious wars, several Toran subspecies were completely and utterly wiped out, their names and cultures long since turned into nothing more than archaeological footnotes. Previously prospering nation states collapsed amid the barbarism.
These wars progressed for approximately three hundred years, when according to tradition during one huge battle, the Toran were visited by what are now termed “the Shroud-walkers”, a mysterious and some say alien species, that emerged at a time of the Tor’s greatest need, starting the long and arduous process of bringing peace. These beings showed acute telepathic abilities, which proved a great aid in their struggle for a diplomatic solution, taking into their confidence various leading figures of the Toran spiritual community, they are said to have revealed wonderous and terrifying visions of the future.
Some saw in these visions the glorious rise of the Tor’s to the crowning power of an inter-galactic empire, others saw the extinction and destruction of Tor’vas itself, witnessing the blasted and lifeless silence that would come if the war continued. Amid these spiritual leaders, the Toran’s own latent telepathic powers emerged and a new caste, appeared at the very top of their culture intent on saving their species from annihilation.
In the years that followed, the whole structure of Toran society was changed, independent nation states were done away with, various government types where abolished and a governing council formed at the pinnacle of a new caste system, thus came the election of Voka Hask’Elohim, the very first ruler of All Tor.
The Toran Government and Caste System:
Ruled by the Farseer Council, the members of this particularly body almost all possess psychic abilities and have demonstrated a clear ability to reach out to the Shroud-walkers, whom although leaving Tor’vas during the first great peace, maintained constant communion with their new wards.
The council elects from its number, one single individual, known as either the Voka (male) or the Vola (female) who is given absolute authority over the planet and its citizenry. Whilst it is customary for the Voka/Vola to consult with the Council on all major decisions, it is not actually a requirement, since it is deemed the election is influenced and sanctified by the Shroud-walkers, who can see far beyond, the average telepaths, down the twisting webs of fate. The members of this caste who are not members of the Council, but serve in the Temples, are referred to as the Ethereal order.
Beneath the Farseer Council is the Water Caste, a teaming body of bureaucrats, scientists, diplomats, civil-servants, clerks, magistrates, artists and such like, whom oversee the running of the state and the advancement of Toran culture These individuals are usually marked out at an early age, when testing is conducted in primary education on the planets younglings, particularly high levels of emotional or academic intelligence assuring them of a brilliant if somewhat rigorous education. Without this caste, the very mechanisms of state could not function, government business is run through their hands, treaties and contracts signed by them, resources distributed, and justice pours from their cup.
The next caste is the Fire Caste, who form the backbone of the Toran military, not only its commanders but also its foot soldiers and police. Training is exceptional and intensive, natural aggression, physical strength and obedience being amongst the most highly sort after qualities. During their training, initiates are not only schooled in the arts of war and combat, but they are also coached extensively in history, philosophy and spirituality, to ensure they do not simply fight for the sake of fighting but do so out of a sense off moral right and spiritual endeavour. The rewards of soldiering are considerable, since on the successful completion of service, soldiers, commanders, and civil-police alike are awarded either a plot of land or a cash-lump some followed by a life-long pension, ensuring the keepers of the peace, feel the benefits of maintaining that peace long after their service is performed.
The Air caste are amongst the most heavily reformed of the caste structure, they originally performed the role of messengers and merchants, nowadays however, they not only keep open their roles as merchants and messengers, overseeing communication hubs and trade agreements, they also now oversee the intelligence service employing spies and informants across Torvas. They also control our space stations and fleets, their members pilot our ships and control the space lanes, teaming up with the water-caste to design new vessels and oversee the deployment of our space ports, their main base of operations now being the Star Gate Station that floats high above Torvas.
The Earth Caste are the final rung of the caste system, made up of farmers, labourers, artisans, crafters, technicians and mine workers, their task being always to ensure the citizenry has all it needs to prosper and thrive. Whilst it maybe said the other castes are the ones who contribute most to maintaining the peace on Torvas, in truth it is the prosperity that the earth castes workers have provided that stop civil war erupting once more to consume them all.
The Philosophy of the Greater Good:
Whilst many Tor still hold onto their ancient beliefs in Gods and spirits, the most commonly held and stated sponsored philosophy is that of the Greater Good, first given to the Tor by the Shroud-walkers and penned down by the original Farseers it has come down the ages almost unchanged.
The basic concept of the Greater Good, is that order, justice, harmony and co-operation between the orders are the bedrock of continued peace on Tor’vas. Every Tor is born to play their part within society, and they are expected to contribute every effort toward the strengthening of that One Order. It is commonly accepted that whilst the Tor operate as individuals, they should always seek to put wider society and the overall survival of their species before personal longevity, even to the point of being willing to die in defence of the Greater Good and its ideals; kith and kin, being secondary, personal advancement and prosperity coming after that. A prime example being amongst the scientific community, for whilst scientists will be amply rewarded for technological advances, they are forbidden from monopolising the profits of these discoveries and any breakthrough in research or application, is the property of the state and not the individual.
Equally curious and yet somewhat startling is that death and war are not seen as being in contradiction to the Greater Good, but simply another arm by which the Toran species as a whole may survive, thus execution for treason is still practised, disobedience in military office can offer life imprisonment or death, along with a dozen other crimes and misdemeanours. Order is all that matters, the preservation of the species as a whole, the continued survival off Tor’vas as the Toran Home-world and the maintenance of the Caste system.
No doubt reaching into the stars may challenge this strict ethos but then it is the belief of the Farseer Council that the reason for space flight, is to spread the notion of the Greater Good, into the very heavens themselves, to bring order and harmony to what many belief is a very real existential threat to their way off life.
The Toran Home world:
Located to the Galactic West, the planet of Tor’vas is the second planet orbiting the star of Olan’Sha (the Life Giver). Though scientific expeditions have revealed that the Toran are not the first civilisation to emerge in the system, they are most certainly the only ones who have managed to develop interstellar travel.
A warm planet, covered in sweeping savannahs, arid scrub land and warm sea’s oceans, Tor’vas is a Veld class world. Though its weather systems are relatively stable, that is not to say life has been or is easy to maintain. Forming their early settlements in the shadow of mighty tree’s, that stretch up tens of miles in hight, with root systems expanding hundreds of miles, without these colossal giants the Toran species would have never progressed beyond the stone age, for it was these strange oasis that allowed the Toran to plant crops, fed by the water these tree’s drew up from deep below, and offered grass lands for the early hunters to stalk prey-beasts.
The Toran People:
A reptilian species, standing on average five foot and seven inches, the Toran are a stocky and well-set species, dense bones and scaled skin allowing them to survive in rather difficult environments for extended periods. Unusual for most reptilians found on Tor’vas, the Toran give birth to live young carried over a six-month period in the female of the species, rather than hatching from eggs, allowing them in pre-historic times, a freedom of movement that others of their genus did not possess.
The evolution and development of the Toran civilisation progressed steadily until the late Renaissance era, when a series of cultural and scientific advancements, coupled with a series of natural disasters sparked war between the various communities, which spread across the whole planet, intensifying in ferocity as time passed by. During these vicious wars, several Toran subspecies were completely and utterly wiped out, their names and cultures long since turned into nothing more than archaeological footnotes. Previously prospering nation states collapsed amid the barbarism.
These wars progressed for approximately three hundred years, when according to tradition during one huge battle, the Toran were visited by what are now termed “the Shroud-walkers”, a mysterious and some say alien species, that emerged at a time of the Tor’s greatest need, starting the long and arduous process of bringing peace. These beings showed acute telepathic abilities, which proved a great aid in their struggle for a diplomatic solution, taking into their confidence various leading figures of the Toran spiritual community, they are said to have revealed wonderous and terrifying visions of the future.
Some saw in these visions the glorious rise of the Tor’s to the crowning power of an inter-galactic empire, others saw the extinction and destruction of Tor’vas itself, witnessing the blasted and lifeless silence that would come if the war continued. Amid these spiritual leaders, the Toran’s own latent telepathic powers emerged and a new caste, appeared at the very top of their culture intent on saving their species from annihilation.
In the years that followed, the whole structure of Toran society was changed, independent nation states were done away with, various government types where abolished and a governing council formed at the pinnacle of a new caste system, thus came the election of Voka Hask’Elohim, the very first ruler of All Tor.
The Toran Government and Caste System:
Ruled by the Farseer Council, the members of this particularly body almost all possess psychic abilities and have demonstrated a clear ability to reach out to the Shroud-walkers, whom although leaving Tor’vas during the first great peace, maintained constant communion with their new wards.
The council elects from its number, one single individual, known as either the Voka (male) or the Vola (female) who is given absolute authority over the planet and its citizenry. Whilst it is customary for the Voka/Vola to consult with the Council on all major decisions, it is not actually a requirement, since it is deemed the election is influenced and sanctified by the Shroud-walkers, who can see far beyond, the average telepaths, down the twisting webs of fate. The members of this caste who are not members of the Council, but serve in the Temples, are referred to as the Ethereal order.
Beneath the Farseer Council is the Water Caste, a teaming body of bureaucrats, scientists, diplomats, civil-servants, clerks, magistrates, artists and such like, whom oversee the running of the state and the advancement of Toran culture These individuals are usually marked out at an early age, when testing is conducted in primary education on the planets younglings, particularly high levels of emotional or academic intelligence assuring them of a brilliant if somewhat rigorous education. Without this caste, the very mechanisms of state could not function, government business is run through their hands, treaties and contracts signed by them, resources distributed, and justice pours from their cup.
The next caste is the Fire Caste, who form the backbone of the Toran military, not only its commanders but also its foot soldiers and police. Training is exceptional and intensive, natural aggression, physical strength and obedience being amongst the most highly sort after qualities. During their training, initiates are not only schooled in the arts of war and combat, but they are also coached extensively in history, philosophy and spirituality, to ensure they do not simply fight for the sake of fighting but do so out of a sense off moral right and spiritual endeavour. The rewards of soldiering are considerable, since on the successful completion of service, soldiers, commanders, and civil-police alike are awarded either a plot of land or a cash-lump some followed by a life-long pension, ensuring the keepers of the peace, feel the benefits of maintaining that peace long after their service is performed.
The Air caste are amongst the most heavily reformed of the caste structure, they originally performed the role of messengers and merchants, nowadays however, they not only keep open their roles as merchants and messengers, overseeing communication hubs and trade agreements, they also now oversee the intelligence service employing spies and informants across Torvas. They also control our space stations and fleets, their members pilot our ships and control the space lanes, teaming up with the water-caste to design new vessels and oversee the deployment of our space ports, their main base of operations now being the Star Gate Station that floats high above Torvas.
The Earth Caste are the final rung of the caste system, made up of farmers, labourers, artisans, crafters, technicians and mine workers, their task being always to ensure the citizenry has all it needs to prosper and thrive. Whilst it maybe said the other castes are the ones who contribute most to maintaining the peace on Torvas, in truth it is the prosperity that the earth castes workers have provided that stop civil war erupting once more to consume them all.
The Philosophy of the Greater Good:
Whilst many Tor still hold onto their ancient beliefs in Gods and spirits, the most commonly held and stated sponsored philosophy is that of the Greater Good, first given to the Tor by the Shroud-walkers and penned down by the original Farseers it has come down the ages almost unchanged.
The basic concept of the Greater Good, is that order, justice, harmony and co-operation between the orders are the bedrock of continued peace on Tor’vas. Every Tor is born to play their part within society, and they are expected to contribute every effort toward the strengthening of that One Order. It is commonly accepted that whilst the Tor operate as individuals, they should always seek to put wider society and the overall survival of their species before personal longevity, even to the point of being willing to die in defence of the Greater Good and its ideals; kith and kin, being secondary, personal advancement and prosperity coming after that. A prime example being amongst the scientific community, for whilst scientists will be amply rewarded for technological advances, they are forbidden from monopolising the profits of these discoveries and any breakthrough in research or application, is the property of the state and not the individual.
Equally curious and yet somewhat startling is that death and war are not seen as being in contradiction to the Greater Good, but simply another arm by which the Toran species as a whole may survive, thus execution for treason is still practised, disobedience in military office can offer life imprisonment or death, along with a dozen other crimes and misdemeanours. Order is all that matters, the preservation of the species as a whole, the continued survival off Tor’vas as the Toran Home-world and the maintenance of the Caste system.
No doubt reaching into the stars may challenge this strict ethos but then it is the belief of the Farseer Council that the reason for space flight, is to spread the notion of the Greater Good, into the very heavens themselves, to bring order and harmony to what many belief is a very real existential threat to their way off life.
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