Sol Sphaera Societas

Sol Sphaera Societas proudly holds the title of Varzzen's largest roach settlement, as well as its most technologically advanced city. Throughout the caldera in which it sits, under the sheltering shade of the floating top half of Mount Helio and surrounded by the craggy vistas of Zaqatu's Spine, new discoveries are being made and boundaries are being tested. Some of these boundaries, some claim, do not need to be pushed, but nothing can stand in the way of discovery for long.

Governance

Sol Sphaera Societas has no official ruler. Instead, power rests in the capable hands of the multitudes of Consortiums that have been established throughout the city's history. All practitioners of a specific craft, science, or art belong to the same Consortium - a young roach may flit between apprenticeships in multiple different Consortiums until they discover their true passion. Members will periodically elect from among their ranks an Archfactor, a figure to represent and lead the Consortium. The Archfactor determines bylaws and practices within the Consortium, from market prices to safety procedures. Each Consortium has its own rules and regulations, but the groups are able to cooperate and communicate smoothly, serving more as clubs than corporations.   Two Consortiums hold the highest esteem in Sol Sphaera Societas, these being the Reclaimers' Consortium and the Sunsphere Consortium. The Reclaimers are explorers, venturing out beyond their home both to find hidden remnants of Varrzen's past and to present Sol Sphaera Societas to the outside world. By contrast, the Sunspherers study and maintain the Sunsphere: a large spherical device inside which sits the Godshard. This is the power source for the entire city, so most roaches make it a point to familiarize themselves with the work of the Sunsphere Consortium. Members of the Sunsphere Consortium rarely, if ever, leave the side of the Sunsphere, and thus the Reclaimers' Consortium takes on more of a leadership position in the eyes of an average roach. Many Consortiums choose to align themselves with one of these leading two.

Despite the variety of practices held by the Consortiums, the groups have set down a few universal laws that all citizens of Sol Sphaera Societas must follow. Of these, the most prominent are laws against theft and murder. The Archfactors of each Consortium uphold these universal laws, and occasionally convene to discuss matters such as this. Whenever someone breaks one of these universal laws, the perpetrator's Consortium is expected to inflict punishment in whatever way they see fit.

Every young mind in Sol Sphaera Societas receives a basic education, and further studies involve apprenticeship in one or more Consortiums. Healthcare is not as universal; most Consortiums have only basic knowledge of first aid as part of standard practices. Some Consortiums focus on medical efforts as their field of study: the Apothecaries' Consortium specializes in reliable herbal remedies and potions; the Surgeons' Consortium employs experimental medical practices that may not always work; and some members of the Divinity Consortium engage in prayer specifically to access healing magic.

Economics

The Consortiums of Sol Sphaera Societas create a very robust internal economy, exchanging goods and services amongst each other on a regular basis. The roaches have concocted a standardized barter system, where everything has a set value but trading goods and services rather than coins has become the norm. This isn't to say they don't understand how coins work. On the contrary, they know full well the value of money and use it to trade with foreigners who may happen by - although they will happily accept labor or service if your purse happens to be empty.

Sol Sphaera Societas' capitalistic economy means that some always have more than others. However, wealth lies not in the hands of individuals, but Consortiums. Everyone receives the basics for a standard of living: food, shelter, tools for work. Personal wealth is earned, rather than freely given. Inheritance is passed from master to apprentice, and intellectual merit earns many a more prestigious place in society.

Most of Sol Sphaera Societas' trade takes place with Siógamhór, although roaches from beyond Mount Helio as well as academics from Cor Quae'thum also serve as occasional customers. Aside from that, they don't see much foreign trade; roaches are commonly seen as strange to interact with, difficult to access, and overchargers. The Agriculture Consortium provides crops from specially modified greenhouses, where they grow unorthodox hybrid foods and other plants, including a plant-based meat they're currently developing. Animal-based meat is a rare delicacy for Sol Sphaera Societas citizens, usually imported from Siógamhór or beyond. More common offerings include stone, metals, gems, and even specific scientific equipment. People whisper that if you want something made well, you go to the roaches.

Social Relations

Outsiders have more of a problem with roaches than roaches have with outsiders, mostly due to their aversion to that which most of the West considers holy, sunlight. They've bonded with the akitu across the mountains, both cultures being seen as strange and eccentric for following passions rather than laws. Roaches tend to be extremely curious about outsiders, and will often allow someone from somewhere else to stay in the city for long periods of time, provided they do not cause problems. Extended stays require security clearance.

The hierarchy of Consortiums is an unspoken agreement, and no one is quite sure where any one Consortium stands at any given time. Size and service rendered tend to determine position, but the necessity of any one service is subject to change. Inside each Consortium, on the other hand, the hierarchy is very clearly delineated, with the Archfactor at the top and apprentices on the bottom. Age and experience tends to equate to status, but a youngster making a brilliant discovery can supercede their relative inexperience.

For most of Sol Sphaera Societas' history, female roaches have been excluded from Consortium membership, instead raising children within a personal family unit and giving them basic education. The Childcare Consortium, a female-led Consortium with childrearing and education as its fields of study, changed this with its founding about two centuries ago, allowing mothers more free time to discover their own interests. While true equality has yet to be achieved (there have only been a handful of female Archfactors outside of the Childcare Consortium), most Consortiums currently accept female members. The Reclaimers' Consortium supports this cultural shift, with its Archfactor taking on a female apprentice, while the Sunsphere Consortium is far more conservative and would never allow a woman to gaze upon the Godshard.

Cultural Influences

Security is taken very seriously, with great care taken and no expense spared to protect valuable scientific developments. Each Consortium has its own guards on regular rotation, armed in order to protect members from harm and innovations from thieves, but they have very little power outside their own Consortium. On the other hand, the Security Consortium serves as a police force for the entire city, also serving to develop weapons. In addition, the Reclaimers are always ready for a fight thanks to their dangerous missions - they actually split off from the Security Consortium at some point. While Security is the most highly trained, the Reclaimers can boast the most real-world experience in combat.

Sol Sphaera Societas follows a very logical set of religious beliefs, viewing gods and divinity as contractual or symbiotic. The Divinity Consortium studies the effects of praying to various Order gods in order to gain specific blessings. Gnol-Dotera frequently bestows unexpected blessings. The Chaos Consortium chooses instead to study the various Chaos Gods which have appeared throughout Varzzen, and is constantly at odds with Divinity.

The one Consortium that no one acknowledges, the Consortium of Magnum Opus, bears an entirely different goal. Their aim is to forge a new god, Magnum Opus, the Crafted God, the Great Work. The Opusi constantly push the bounds of what science is capable of in order to bring their god to life, performing horrific experiments on unsuspecting souls and using the results to further refine the currently-inert body they are building for their god. No one knows what will happen if it awakens. No one wants to.

The unlimited power provided by the Sunsphere allows for vast amounts of technological innovation, with very little fear of running out of resources. The light of the Sunphere is transmitted throughout Sol Sphaera Societas through a complex series of mirrors, allowing a constant source of heat for the steam that powers most inventions. Most manual labor is performed by mechanical golems, allowing roaches more free time to pursue their studies, leading to rapid cultural development. Some technology isn't as widespread as others. The Reclaimers are developing experimental batteries used to power inventions beyond the reach of the Sunsphere, and several Consortiums have developed internal automation systems that they neglect to share with others.

The roaches of Sol Sphaera Societas have developed their own calendar for tracking their development: the Golden Age to start, with the Devouring leading to the long exile of the Dark Age, and the discovery of the Godshard bringing in the Shining Age. This discovery and the advent of the Shining Age is commemorated by a holiday, Discovery Day, celebrated by an exhibition of inventions and innovations. Science displays such as this are a common practice in Sol Sphaera Societas, especially for holidays. This is a city-sanctioned opportunity for young apprentices to both learn from masters and show off their own skills. Aside from Discovery Day, famed Archfactors often gain a holiday named in their honor. Sometimes, roaches will engage in casual celebrations of the holy days of other gods, if only to gain their blessings.

Even art and creativity is down to a science in Sol Sphaera Societas. Many Consortiums dedicate themselves to artistic pursuits, their art supplementing science and vice versa. Slam poetry is a favorite pastime. Many roaches, especially young ones, build their own toys, gizmos that hold no scientific merit but are fun to look at or play with. The akitu love these toys, often bartering for some of their own. Creativity can also be displayed by a Consortium member's insignia, either installed into a mechanical augment or forged as a separate badge if no augments are available to install it into. A roach will often handcraft their own badge using a standard blueprint with a few personal frills, and they will decorate their equipment as a sign of individuality as well. Even in their downtime, a roach never stops innovating.