The Guild of External Power was a religious merchant democracy and an intergalactic political organization with no particular center. Its capital on a rogue star well beyond the bounds of any one galaxy, the organization's reach spanned across the known universe. With a near monopoly on fast trade between many regions of the universe, the Guild of External Power represented a universal power unlike any other. Where most civilizations were centered in galaxies, the Guild only had outposts in galaxies; the majority of its population, production capability, and economy existed within the vast gulfs separating galaxies.
Governments tolerated the guild for two reasons: it kept order within the spare seas between galaxies and they were popular with merchants across the universe for their services. The Guild of External Power offered a unique technology, the Osseter. With this powerful technology, goods could be sent across galaxies within days, and across the void within weeks. Compared to the many months or years it takes without this technology, the Guild carved a useful niche in the growing market for intergalactic trade.
The Guild imploded in 98,211 CE following an event insiders called the Final Sin of the Guild. Already losing their influence as the more effective SICTIRIAD technology replaced Osseters, the Guild became increasingly reckless in both spending an investment. Burning through their funds in an attempt to acquire sole control over SICTIRIAD, they would end up heavily indebted to the nations they once had so much sway over. Normally, this would be accompanied by government bailouts-their services too essential to allow to disappear. This time, the Guild simple fizzled out. Other organizations seized what little valuable assets they had left as its leaders fled deep into intergalactic space, disgraced.
Flag Symbolism[]
The banner of the guild represented a form of symbolism. The first being the three icons, representing the three knowledgeable founders of the guild. The symbols form a torch, meaning the light that guides others to refuge. The Blue Backround represents the color of the sky of Terran planets, showing symbolism for the "Worlds that we shall touch."
History[]
Background[]
The Guild first formed as a Sedruan group known as the Apatis Children in 3,230 BCE, on a long-since-forgotten planet. Starting with only three members, the Apatis Children soon expanded to 300 within the year. What the Children did, sold, or believed has also been lost. While records of Children exist in certain databases across the galaxy, details are sparse. It was most likely a cult.
The Apatis Children grew extremely large as time went on. Facing persecution from the Aeternalist Sedrua, they would flee to Martial Space where they could settle stars and live in peace. In Martial Space they would begin rapidly expanding both in numbers and power. Famed across Martial Space for producing high quality battleships, their income would grow in turn with their population. This would see the beginning of the Apatis stepping into the shadows, using mostly Humans to act as emissaries for the mysterious leaders of the organization.
In 1,531 BCE, the Children accumulated funds would allow for a megastructure megastructure called the Magdali. A large alderson disk that would be capable of housing mobile units to contested parts of Via Aylathiya. While the Magdali is still an integral part of the region its in, the Guild sold it to fund later expenditures. They narrowly avoided calamity as the Triumvirate Civilization began collapsing in shortly after the beginning of construction of the Magdali. After the Triumvirate Collapsed, a small group of Apatis chanced upon a curious device, the VSS Star Message, which would revolutionize their relationship with the rest of the galaxy.
The Old Guild FLag
Emergence of the Guild[]
In true Martial Fashion, the Apatis Children would form a Guild, a common form of organization at the time. They would also begin reforming their religion to be more conducive towards their long term goal of full statehood. The Religion, called Apatism, would have 4 tenants:
- Apatis are the chosen people of the Stars
- The universe will bend to this fact, other species will bend the knee to Apatis
- We will secure a future for ourselves and our Apati children
- Long after we are gone the Guild shall remain.
This new religion, its more bizarre beliefs and practices kept secret for all non-Apati, would maintain itself and the Guild for nearly 100,000 years.
Osseters[]
Osseters are arguably what gave the Guild its name. Now being named the Guild of External Power, they began to build the Osseters in 5000 CE after successfully reverse-engineering the Star Message. Over 120 kilometers across at the smallest, the Osseters would prove immediately useful as a means to transport large amounts of goods quickly. Immediately knowledge of how to build these devices was suppressed as mass production began. To prevent a rival organization from simply destroying the Guild, they fled to intergalactic space, offering their service for a hefty price.
With time, the Guild would emerge as a powerful player on the galactic stage, its monopoly on the speedy distribution of goods flooding the Guild with wealth. With vast wealth came even more seclusion as the Apatis became rarely seen. Their original home world was destroyed in a war in 6,211 CE, meaning that the Apatis within the guild were the only Apati in the universe.
A theft of one of their devices in 8,900 CE prompted the Guild to turn to governments, such as the Commonwealth of Aggregate Aylathiya and Erstes Konsortium to enforce their ownership of these devices. Leveraging their vast capital, these government obliged, theft of Guild property became a capital offense; trade must flow.
Modern History[]
Osseters first came to Herschel Space in 31,700 CE and Florathel in 45,976 CE, the governments in both places prompted to protect the guild and even pay it tribute in some instances. The Guild was unstoppable, becoming a void-faring trade empire whose access to wealth was unprecedented. Controlling well over a trillion Osseters shipping quadrillions of kilograms of cargo daily by the 50,000s, the Guild held onto their influence to the point of absurdity. While unconfirmed, the assassination of scientists working on alternate forms of FTL, suppression of government investment into FTL technology, and virtually any other measure was likely taken to maintain their dominance.
In 89,904 CE, an expeditionary force from Sagittarium, working with the Confederacy of Borealis, attempted to undermine this dominance by stealing an Osseter. While not unprecedented, easily dealt with by an embargo on Confederate and Sagittarian goods, the theft was one of the first times major governments challenged the Guild. For most of history they were accepted as a fact of life. As the Guild increased precautions against theft coupled with increasing prices considerably, they would slowly burn bridges with the governments they had come to rely on. Investment in other forms of FTL would begin reaching a fever pitch. Several suspicious assassinations later, SICTIRIAD was perfected. This generally marks the end of history for the Guild of External Power.
Major Worlds[]
The Major Worlds of the Guild are listed here, as well as where they are in the collective. As well as planets with Osseters in their orbit
Estimated Influence: 190,000,000 Systems
Sanit (Capitol): Located outside of Via Aylathiya
Via Aylathiya Chapter
- Crusch-One of the planets used as a factory for Osseters, jointly administrated by the Confederacy of Borealis until 80,100 CE.
- Zushilo-A large group of Apati, roughly one million, called this world home. It was essentially an embassy for the Commonwealth.
- Aegyn-A planet only accessible by Osseter for a time despite being Humanity's homeworld.
Florathel Collective
- Jolies-Where independent Apati pilgrims have lived for thousands of years
- Kuzar-The nearby system where the galactic Osseter was placed
Lewis Collective
- Typad-A religious claim in the core of Lewis
Species[]
Apatis[]
The best surviving depiction of an Apati
The Apatis are the founding species of the Guild. Their real appearance erased from history, only relics from their home planet could reveal their appearance. Genetic drift may have changed their appearance and the most detailed depictions are potentially artistic representations of non-physical traits.
Intruister[]
Intruisters are artificial intelligences created for Osseters with no predefined physical structure. They are most commonly depicted as a mash of yellow glowing particles. The Intruisters act upon the guild as Pilots. They have an astounding ability to freely communicate with every species' language, making them vital for political and diplomatic relations within the Guild.
Political Information[]
| Guild of External Power | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| 1,230 CE | |||
| - | |||
| 2.80 | |||
| Sanit | |||
| Merchant Theocracy | Centrally-Planned | ||
| 925/1000 | 62.78 Sextillion Ermegen Credits | ||
| Equal amongst Apati | Post-Scarcity | ||
| Great Power | Great Power | ||