Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Codify a group referenced in rp and Codex submissions. Expand on Qadiri lore and the repercussions of first contact with the outside galaxy.
Image Credit: Here. Here.
Canon: N/A.
Permissions: N/A.
Links: Qadiri, The Pyramids of Tygara, Firedawn, Four of a Kind, Qadiri Sepoys, Communion, Semiramis.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Organization Name: The Stardriven.
Classification: Political and social movement.
Affiliation: Firemane, Hasana Jai Anhala, Shazora Jai Vahal, Qadiri.
Organization Symbol: A circle of stars that are all the same size.
Description: Slavery is a great evil. This is something many, though by no means all, sentient beings in the Galaxy can agree on. It is also inefficient from an economic standpoint. Especially in a high-tech society that can build droids en masse. Nonetheless, the practice persists, and not just on primitive worlds. The Stardriven are a Qadiri political and social movement formed by Qadiri who used to be slaves. Many fought and bled for their freedom. Going on crusades to liberate slaves is a noble venture. However, in order to truly be free and build sustainable communities, the former slaves need education, organisation and leadership. Outsiders may provide aid, but if the freedmen become reliant on their patrons, they are not truly free.
The Stardriven have embraced egalitarian, democratic ideals, though this is tempered by the understanding that a certain degree of hierarchy is needed. Freedom is not free, after all, but must be protected. The Stadriven are associated with Firemane, but do not want to be dependent on succour from it. Rather than be beholden to the sky people, they want to treat with them as equals. In keeping with this, they stress the importance of self-reliance and education. With good reason, the 'wise' mistresses and masters feared that educated slaves would get ideas about their station, so they limited their education to what they needed to know. The Stardriven understand this, so the group values learning highly and holds those who pass it on in high esteem.
Quite a few of the Stardriven are former mamluks. These slavers have been a curious feature of Qadiri states. Others used to toil in plantations or mines or were household slaves, such as domestic servants and scribes. Among the Qadiri, it is common for former slaves to take the name of their liberator. Several Stardriven have named themselves after Siobhan Kerrigan, adopting the surname Jai/Jal Saobana. Many who do not call themselves Jai/Jal Anhala. It means ‘from/of liberty/freedom’, a common name for freed slaves which do not take the names of their emancipators. It is important to keep in mind that not all former slaves among the Qadiri belong to the Stardriven. They are one group among many, though an influential ones. Indeed, there are former slaves who work for and have risen in rank in the system that used to exploit them. One example is Bashiyra, who used to be the slave of Semiramis, but was freed by her mistress before the coming of the sky people. She became the Shahbânu's lover and closest advisor. The more radical Stardriven see former slaves who serve the old order as collaborators. To others they are misguided.
The group has a broadly democratic structure. Unlike their Eldorai cousins, the Qadiri never developed a single monolitihc state controlling all the Eldorai. Instead they built an incredible hodgepodge of small and large states across the homeworld. Some like Amikaron are large and powerful, but others free cities, small principalities and theocraties. This decentralised, fractious has led to a good deal of strife, but it also means that their development was not stiffled by being under the thumb of a single autocrat. As a result, they experience with republican government, though it has usually been oligarchic in nature. This means that it is not as big a leap for the Stardriven as it might seem on first sight.
The group is poorly disposed to autocratic regimes. An example would be the government of Shahbânu Semiramis of the Amikarese Empire. Semiramis obviously owned slaves herself and long defended the institution, before making a volte-face and abolishing it in order to curry favour with Firemane and gain access to more advanced technology. The Stardriven tend to have a cynical view of the 'Shah Liberator'.
Moreover, several Qadiri nobles have officially manumitted their slaves, but still try to keep them in bondage. They obfuscate this practice by claiming the slaves are workers bound to them by contract, or simply set them free, but keep the land and trap them in debt. The Stardriven seek to combat this practice and offer emancipated slaves an alternative so that they can be free in fact as well as in name. This involves making them aware of their rights and providing access to education. To this end the Stardriven cooperate with Firedawn, Firemane's freedman bureau. This body provides freed slaves with homes, provisions, and education. Moreover, it helps them find jobs. Of course, it also aims to foster a positive view of Firemane.
There is some friction between those Stardriven who want to take a more militant stance and are not content with the oppressors being old being allowed to continue their reign and those who want to secure their freedom through diplomatic means, even if it means accepting that several of the mistresses and masters will not receive punishment for their crimes and perhaps even be compensated for losing their 'property'. It is pertinent to note that those in the latter category are not pacifists who oppose violence.
They merely argue that the Stardriven must take a long view in order to help their people, even it if means making some distasteful compromises on the way. Moreover, they still empathise the importance of military readiness to assure the free possess the ability to defend their freedom from those who would put them in chains. Waging an unrestrained class war against all nobles would unite the Qadiri realms against them, and prevent the Stardriven from taking advantage of the very real divisions between them. As a rule, the militia of the Stardriven does not show mercy to slavers. This is called the Black Flag Order.
The Stardriven are based on the Void Seeker, an Asur Class Worldship built by Firemane to provide free Qadiri with their own arkship. It allows them to go off and colonise as well as explore the stars. To the Qadiri, as with many Tygarans, space is the vast sky-ocean and each planet is an island in it. Though they have only recently been opened up to space, the Eldorai's cousins have taken to it well and are eager to catch up. It helps that Qadiri have an inherent knack for navigation. One can compare it to a form of internal compass. This makes them great sailors and explorers and also lends itself to space travel.
Shazora Jai Vahal, one of the founders of the group, is highly placed in Firemane's Diplomatic Bureau. This has allowed the Stardriven to gain recognition, protection and access to resources. However, she must balance her responsibility to her people with that to Firemane. Some argue that she has become too close to the humans. But she is a respected figure and holds the title of High Liberator. However, this does not make her a queen or an autocrat. Her voice is an influential one, but one among many leaders. She can and has been outvoted during council debates. The Stardriven have a rudimentary constitution that codifies their fundamental principles.
The group is influenced by a Qadiri form of what one might call liberation theology. It is a synthesis of Qadiri theology and socio-economic analysis. This doctrine emphasises social concern for the poor, and political liberation for oppressed people. It stresses that the clergy has a moral obligation to be an advocate for the poor, the disadvantaged and the oppressed, and that priestesses should live modest, simple lives, lest greed corrupt them. However, not every member is religious. Instead the group has several atheists or agnostics.
The Stardriven are quite new to the galaxy, but willing to work with non-Qadiri. This particularly applies to other groups struggling against oppression. They have built ties with Mandalorian exiles who escaped the Sith Empire's genocidal purge and sought refuge in Firemane's sphere of influence. The Qadiri have a strong martial ethos that meshes well with the tenets of the Resol'nare. Tygara's long isolation means that the Qadiri were never the victims of Mandalorian raids, and so they do not have the negative preconceptions other people might have when it comes to Mandalorians.
Thus a few Stardriven have joined the Iron Riders, a joint Qadiri and Mandalorian unit composed of warriors who ride Basilisk war droids into battle. They have also started building ties with the Unchained, a group of Tephriki fugitives and former political prisoners who fled their war-torn homeworld. There are some cultural barriers between the two groups, such as the Unchained's use of cloning. Qadiri do not understand cloning and are a bit disoncerted by it. However, the Unchained are fellow downtrodden who rebelled against a slave state. Moreover, though fewer in number, the Tephriki have advanced medical technology. Tephrike regressed considerably during the Dark Age, but its people are still more advanced than the elves.
GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Headquarters: Void Seeker.
Domain: The Stardriven control the Void Seeker. The Asur Class Worldship is essentially a space city on the move. The Stardriven constitute the local community of the vessel. They also have a presence on Arkas and Tygara. Their settlements tend to be minor, but are governed democratically, as described in Hierarchy. They favour a decentralised model that allows the citizens to be involved in governance. They are an active part of the communities they belong to and recruit their members from them. In keeping with this, they seek to promote self-reliance, egalitarian values and education.
However, there is also friction between the Stardriven and freeborn Qadiri, especially those from the upper classes who used to have slaves but have been forced to give them up due to revolution or Firemane pressure. For instance, the predecessor to the Stardriven toppled the local oligarchy in Karahamor through a slave revolt. After the success of the revolution, they faced many obstacles, including a hostile coalition of neighbouring city-states. They were able to prevail and gained Firemane protection, but it was one of the reasons the Stardriven eventually acquired their own worldship.
Local leaders are expected to hold long community talks with their constituents to discuss political issues, debate various programmes and in general provide people with a forum to voice their grievances and give them the idea that decisions are being made with their unput and that the system is responsive to them. Of course, this is the Platonic ideal and reality will inevitably fall short of it. However, even when it is not the case, it creates a perception that the common people are being involved. Here it is pertinent to note that Qadiri are unused to democracy. While they have had city-states with a republican form of government, the franchise was inevitably limited to landowners, rich merchants and so on.
Notable Assets: Aside from the Void Seeker, the group has access to several cargo vessels such as the Brayl and the Baleen. They have some military escort ships in form of Frontier Class Corvettes and Vigilance Class Corvettes as well as some Nest Carriers. The Stardriven have one Sentinel Class Cruiser. It is on loan from Firemane, which has provided commanding officers and thus serves a dual role as a training ship.
SOCIAL INFORMATION
Hierarchy:
Pictured: Shazora posing on a grandiose throne, before melting it down so that the metal can be used for more productive purposes. Much to her embarrassment, one of her friends kept the holopic. Every time Shazora manages to 'lose' the picture another copy keeps magically appearing. She's just happy that she did not let herself get talked into wearing a circlet.
The Stardriven have an elected body with elected leaders. They are governed by a unicameral assembly called the Majles and an executive composed of a collective leadership. This means they do not have a singular leader, but a directory, whose members are called Anzari. The members of the assembly are Majari. Collective leadership and rule by consensus is supposed to prevent the excesses of authoritarian rule. It limits the power of individual leaders while enhancing that of collective bodies. All leaders are directly elected. To this end the Stardriven are split into chapters. The Stardriven are happy to give voting rights to any member who is vouched for by their family and/or local prefects.
Members must have been resident for three to five years to qualify if they join after the initial period. Their comportment must have also shown that they are responsible citizens, which means not having a criminal record or similar. This means the process is not instant, but it is not that demanding. Certain forms of meritorious service to the community, such as in the militia, the exploration corps or providing education for one's fellow Qadiri can expedite the process. However, it has to be a service rendered directly by a member, since it is supposed to prove one's character.
In addition, the Stardriven have a high court. This judicial organ performs the duties of a constitutional court. It is responsible for judicial review. In that capacity, it has the power to declare legislation to be unconstitutional. It is focused on compliance with the fundamental principles of the Stardriven as they are outlined in their charter. Any amendment or additions to the charter are subject to review. Part of the members of the court are appointed by the Majiles, and another part by the Anzari. They are elected for fifteen-year terms and re-election is not possible, though this would not prohibit a return to public life after they have served their term.
Shazora holds the ceremonial title of High Liberator. This is a mark of respect and a recognition of her efforts to win and secure their freedom. However, it does not make her a monarch or dictator. She has significant clout and is a highly influential figure, but can and has been outvoted in the councils of the Stardriven. The citizens must be consulted on major matters of state, such as war, settlement, citizen or constitution changes. Of course, if the Stardriven are attacked, they do not need a vote because debating whether a defensive war is justified is absurd. The same applies to dealing with slavers they come across during an expedition. The movement has a rudimentary constitution that guarantees basic sapient rights. An election commission is responsible for implementing election procedures and monitoring elections.
Membership: Limited to Qadiri. Most of them are freed slaves, their family members or descendants. It also allows other members of the underclasses or people who rendered aid to slaves. Qadiri who participated in or personally profited from the slave trade are not allowed.
Climate: Very close knit. A lot of it is be clan and family based, with close ties between the leaders and the people on board. In particular, they are very supportive of those who are injured or lose family in their expeditions. On the other hand they take responsibilities and duties very seriously. If you screw up or go against them you're banished.
Qadiri have a tradition of almsgiving. Of course, this does not automatically keep the well-off from giving away a mere pittance of their true net worth. Sentient nature is, after all, self-interested. Nonetheless, the Stardriven require their members to donate a portion of their income to give aid to the less fortunate. This is a mandatory contribution for all members who meet certain criteria of wealth. It is based on the value of all the possessions of a member. Thus someone who is well-off is supposed to pay more than a humble worker.
One could compare it to a progressive income tax. Shazora, for instance, has to pay a larger percentage than Hasana because she has a higher income. The rationale is that those who are better-off can more than afford the basic necessities of life and more, so it is only fitting that they give back to the community. However, the Stardriven do not have an all-encompassing welfare state.
To impose one would go beyond their means. Moreover, it would clash with their belief in self-reliance. The less fortunate must be given a leg up so that they do not live in deprivation. All must contribute to the upkeep, security and prosperity of the community. Excessive displays of wealth are to be shunned, which has led to a bit of tall poppy syndrome. But they do not want to subsidise dependence. In keeping with their belief that freedom is a precious good that must be protected, all able-bodied, adult members must attend regular drills with the militia to ensure they can defend the community if need be.
In many ways, their culture is still in flux. The Qadiri are not a monolith, but differ quite significantly in customs, religion and even language. This can cause friction, but is also a source of strength. Exposure to Mandalorian exiles has influenced some of the Stardriven to adopt a modified form of the Resol'nare, which has been somewhat altered to fit Qadiri condition. The doctrine is quite appealing to them due to its focus on family, martial strength and self-reliance. Moreover, wearing Beskar'gam and riding a Basilisk war droid is like being a high-tech Cataphract.
Socially, the Stardriven advocate land reform and the equitable distribution of land among the peasantry as well as military veterans. The most radical members want to confiscate the large landholdings, especially those of royals and nobles, to break up the grand estates and provide for the people. This has been the cause of disquiet among conservative Qadiri landowners and clerics, including those who are open-minded about the plight of slaves, but draw the line at a social revolution.
Reputation: Very well thought of within the Qadiri, even grudgingly amongst the Royalists. Otherwise practically unknown outside of the orbit of the Tygaran elves, the Eldorai and Firemane. Generally they have a good reputation amongst those they encounter as being honest. Conservative Qadiri forces are divided on whether to condemn them as revolutionary agitators or accommodate them in the hopes of using them against their enemies and weakening the radical elements. Firemane has a positive opinion of them, promoting the Stardriven as a model community - progressive, enterprising and free. However, there are Firemane officials who view them as too independent-minded and believe the radicals in the group will rock the boat. In line with this, they believe Shazora's ties to them represent a conflict of interest.
Curios: A broken slave collar or chain. The former slaves tend to keep a memento from the time as the downtrodden. When a Stardriven this, this memento is passed on to their child, spouse or another loved one.
Rules: The Stardriven have a strong code of ethics. They have some religious rituals but not strict and open to the people believing or not. What's more important to them is that people follow the rules which keep them all safe. In that regard, they can be likened to a more democratic, less military-centric version of the Shadow Knights. Unsurprisingly, they are resolutely opposed to slavery and Imperialist regimes. Leaders are expected to be accountable to their people. To this end, checks and balances have been imposed to prevent, report and punish abuse of power should it occur.
The Stardriven support democracy, but in a Qadiri form. This also means that they do not want to be subsumed by a galactic regime. Through their travels and studies, the Stardriven have become aware of various galactic governments that claim to uphold the values of freedom, sentient rights and good governance. However, the Stardriven have no desire to join them. In their view, the voice of the common people, especially of small minorities, would inevitably be diluted in such a regime until it can no longer be heard at all. They view voting as a civic duty and practice compulsory voting. All citizens have the responsibility to choose their representatives and hold them accountable. Members who do not vote in an election are subjected to loss of citizenship unless they can provide a valid reason, such as illness, or pay a fine. Repeat offenders lose their citizenship. They can regain it, but it takes work.
The fact that quite a few of these regimes have turned a blind eye to slavery is another big reason. The Stardriven are ready to work with outside parties that espouse the cause of freedom, but do not want to join them. Jedi who allowed to enter a Stardriven settlement or ship will be informed very clearly that they have no jurisdiction and are considered foreign citizens and purely private persons, which means they are not allowed to take the law in their own hands or conscript children. Those who violate these rules will be punished quite swiftly and severely. As mentioned above in Climate, almsgiving is mandatory for all members of the Stardriven.
The Stardriven's views on the Force reflect typical Qadiri beliefs. For religious Qadiri the Force (or Zari as they call it, literally spirit or soul) is a gift of the goddesses. The Qadiri have higher than average Force sensitivity compared with humans. It is the law that Force-Users, as soon as they manifest their abilities, must receive training to control their powers. The Stardriven have been exposed to Jedi and Sith beliefs, but dislike both of them. Qadiri treat the Force as an inner flame. From their point of view, one's destiny is defined by one's actions, not an omnipresent energy field that has a will of its own. The Qadiri faith allows for the existence of spirits both benign and malevolent. The Stardriven are obviously opposed to Sith due to their tyrannical ways, but are also sceptical of Jedi. This particularly applies to the old school Jedi order that conscript and indoctrinate children. In the view of the Stardriven, this constitutes slavery.
Goals: Provide for and protect their people. Oppose tyranny and slavery. They also aim to educate their people about the outside Galaxy and found new colonies for them. Moreover, they aim to spread egalitarian, democratic and equitable principles among the Qadiri.
MEMBERS
Shazora Jai Vahal: Shazora is a Qadiri leader, a former slave and Firemane's chief diplomat. Her people have given her the ceremonial title of High Liberator, though this is a sign of respect rather than absolute power or worship. Once a slave, then a rebel leader, and finally a respected politician and member of Siobhan's inner circle. Shazora hails from an island called Farsi. Her village was attacked by Xioquo raiders when she was very young. The drows enslaved her. En route to the Underealm, their ship was attacked by Khaimari raiders, who proceeded to take both the captured Qadiri as well as surviving Xioquo as slaves and sell them on the slave markets of Karahamor.
Shazora was purchased by one of the city's oligarchs and served as a slave scribe. However, her deferential, submissive attitude hid a cunning intellect. She became one of the brains behind a slave revolt that took control over the city. Though the freed slaves had to endure much hardship, incluidng the invasion of a hostile coalition of neighbouring city-states, they were able to weather the storm. Realising that the sky people could benefit her people and help them advance, Shazora made a pact with the humans of Firemane. In the years that followed, she became one of Siobhan's trusted agents, even joining Firemane's ruling group. Shazora tries to balance her responsibility to Firemane with those to her people, who have acquired their own worldship, the Void Seeker. She often visits Qadiri communities, garrisons and ships, encouraging education, self-reliance and independence.
Hasana Jai Anhala: Hasana is one of the field officers aboard the Void Seeker. Her life has been a long history of struggle against oppression. Like many of the soldiers, she used to be a Mamluk, a Qadiri slave soldier. Hasana hails from city of Golconda, located in southern Khawjar. Thus she lived far away from the Qadiri the sky people first made contact with. Born a slave, she was sold into the Mamluks at an early age. She rose through the ranks, distinguishing herself through valour and skill. After the jealous Nawab had the Mamluks' popular, ambitious mercenary commander put to death, Hasana discovered a plot to purge them and incited a revolt. She and her comrades threw off the yoke and fought a successful two year guerilla war against her former masters.
The rebel commander fought an epic battle against a Coalition of Qadiri states. It was won with support from a Firemane Gunship brought in by Shazora Jai Vahal, who had been dispatched by Siobhan to gather allies. Hasana agreed to join Firemane's Qadiri forces, but on her terms. She would not kneel, call anyone Mistress or Lady. The Qadiri soldier distinguished herself fighting Xioquo and Qadiri opposition to Firemane's new order and helped liberate enslaves Qadiri. Hasana is strong-willed and immensely strong, both physically and mentally. She is driven by a strong determination to be in control of her life and for her fellow Qadiri to the same. Thus she donates a lot of her net income for charitable causes and often visits emancipated groups to encourage independence and self-reliance.
Hasnaa does not see Firemane's leaders as messianic saviours. She is thankful of their aid – especially as it was literally saving her life – but she sees them and all the other ‘sky people’ as beings just like her. She respects their strength, but aspires to be like them. Shazora and Hasana have a strong bond. One is the diplomat and the politician, the other the warrior. The two are in a relationship, though they keep it private.
Anahita Jai Myrkashi: Anahita is a key religious figure aboard the worldship. However, she has not been formally ordained by the Qadiri clergy. Instead she used to be the slave of a corrupt cleric. Anahita grew up in a family of poor peasants. A bad harvest and the demands of exploitative tax collectors incurred a heavy debt. To pay for a loan, she had to be sold into slavery. Her mistress was a high-ranking priestess of Myrkash, the Qadiri goddess of healing and compassion. However, the priestess fell far short of the example she was supposed to set. Rather than selflessly minister to the wounded and sick, she exploited the plight of those in need. She sold healing talismans at exorbitant prices, and if they did not achieve the desired effect, that was due to a moral failing on the patient's part.
Anahita participated in the great revolt against the wise mistresses and masters of Karahamor. However, rather than becoming an atheist, she has embraced the faith, but in a different way than the Temple. Thus Anahita espouses a Qadiri form of what one might call liberation theology. It is a synthesis of Qadiri theology and socio-economic analysis. Her faith emphasises social concern for the poor, and political liberation for oppressed people. She believes that the clergy has a moral obligation to be an advocate for the poor, the disadvantaged and the oppressed, and that priestesses should live modest, simple lives, lest greed corrupt them.
She preaches peace to the villages, and war on the palaces. This might seem surprisingly militant for someone who serves a goddess of healing, but Anahita maintains that any remedy that does not address the root causes of the malaise is inadequate. A healer who only heals the wounded and the sick, but closes her eyes to systemic evils is shirking her duty. Her passion and dedication have made her an important community leader. Anahita is passionate, but not particularly diplomatic. Her sermons are dramatic events where she stirs the passions of the flock. She works with Shazora, but has at times also been a hindrance for her since her views are more radical than those of the High Liberator. Anahita has potent healing and persuasive Force abilities. This includes abilities such as Malacia, Hibernation Trance and Force Slow as well common Force Healing.
Varzura Jai Anhala: A former Mamluk (slave-soldier) who was drilled to be a living weapon by her mistress. But she broke her chains and became one of the leaders of the Karahamori slave revolution that topppled the 'wise mistresses and masters'. She played a vital role in defending the free city against invaders that wanted to restore the ancien régime. Varzura is an experienced soldier, very dedicated to the cause and a close friend of Shazora. Initially the two were odds, as they clashed over strategy after the liberation of Karahamor. Shazora was one of the leaders who wanted to spread the cause of slave liberation to the other city-states, arguing that they could not be free as long as slavery still existed in the Northern League. However, Varzura rightly argued that this would end in debacle. However, after their army was routed, Shazora realised the soldier had been right. The two worked together to defend the free city against a Qadiri coalition.
Today, she is the highest-ranking officer aboard the Void Seeker and a member of the council. A literal lifetime of slavery, senseless brutality and combat training has given her stoic, even laconic demeanour. Her mistress wished to create the perfect mamluks to protect her interests and be sold to interested parties. Thus she sought to stamp out any form of independent personality. As a slave Varzura was often flogged in order to break her in. Moreover, one of her ears was mutilated at her mistress' command. She no longer remembers the name of her parents, so she calls herself Jai Anhala, which means 'of/from freedom'. It is a common name for emancipated slaves who do not name themselves after their liberator.
Varzura had to do commit more than a few acts she is not proud of in order to convince her mistress that she was loyal, including murdering a slave. The former mamluk has a no-nonsense attitude. Humans and Eldorai who dismiss Qadiri as 'sand babies' get short shrift from her. She is a Force-user who focuses on martial abilities. Varzura recognises the importance of Firemane's support, but keeps her distance to the humans and has never entered their services. Varzura supports the Void Seeker's democratic form of government in principle. However, in practice she still has to adjust to a system based on debate and compromise.
Ashlon Jal Zaquir: Ashlon is a male Qadiri and a former slave. He was enslaved at an early age. As a little boy, he was part of a troupe of mummers who toured the cities of the Northern League. When they gave a performance in Karahamor, one of the oligarchs was captivated by Ashlon's voice and offered a large sum of money for him. It was too tempting for the boy's mistress to refuse. To preserve Ashlon's high voice, his new owner had him turned into an eunuch. Eventually he grew bored with him and bought a different singer to entertain his friends. Instead Ashlon was trained as a scribe, as he was good with his letters and seen as obedient and meek. After all, a castrato could not be a threat to anyone.
Growing up as a eunuch allowed him great access to the corridors of power as he was doubly powerless since he was a slave as well and had no Force powers. Thus he was dismissed as harmless. Therefore he was able to use his skills of administration to gain favour, but also was fully on board with Shazora's rebellion. When the time came the lords of the city inexplicably found that their units were out of position, their supplies were inadequate and their defences unprepared.
The pen was indeed mightier than the sword in this case anyway. He learned a lot from this, and happily joined Firemane because he recognised that the galaxy was vast and complex, but it needed organisation. There is little difference aside from the scale between Firemane and a merchant stall in Karahamor's streets. Therefore, he adopted a system which is called the Zaquir Plan for newly settled worlds or colonies, laying them out logically and distributing supplies using a sliding scale of needs and demands.
Shorn of any biological urge to mate and reproduce, he devotes himself to his work but also to helping poor of any race into gainful and educated futures. He has been entrusted with administration and bureaucracy. Ashlon is unfailingly polite and calm to everyone, except when he deploys barbed sarcasm. Contrary to the eunuch stereotype, he is not obese or effeminate. He has a very high-pitched voice, is good-looking and has neat hair. He despises the nobility for being, in his view, spoiled fools with too much power and too little consideration for the commoners, who are always massacred in their power struggles.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Slavery is a scourge which has afflicted sentient beings since time immemorial and though many cultures have long since discarded the practice, in others it lived on for a long time. One such planet where slavery held sway for many thousands of years was Tygara, in the far outer rim. For some of the civilisations there it was a way of life, for others it was their purpose of existence. All sentient species native to Tygara practiced slavery to varying degrees, though their ideological stance on it varied.
It was normal for the Qadiri. The Qadiri states often warred with one another, for they never formed a centralised, all-encompassing polity like their Eldorai cousins. The strife produced a large number of slaves. Some were captured in battle, others were sold as tribute to appease the victor. And many were born into slavery. The agrarian economy depended on their labour, for the Qadiri did not have droids or other machines. The poor unfortunate souls that were put in bondage provided labourers, servants and warriors for the various cities and tribes.
Of course, these oppressive practiced produced resistance. But while these servile revolts were a cause of fear for the mistresses and masters, they tended to be short-lived. Moreover, some slaves managed to rise up in the system and attain their freedom. These select few were considered a useful counter to the influence of established nobles, as they lacked a power base of their own. Many Qadiri states formed units of slave-soldiers. Given better conditions than slaves who toiled in the mines and plantations, they were kept in line through a mixture of carrot and stock. There was the possibility, however fleeting, that they might one day earn their freedom. This gave them hope. Of course, discipline was brutal.
Some of these mamluks did attain manumission. A few even managed to seize power and found their own dynasties...and often perpetuate the very system that had enslaved them. The Stardriven are not the first group of rebellious slaves among the Qadiri. As they themselves say in their songs, they are the inheritors of a long tradition of rebels who tried to break their chains. What makes them distinct is their success and staying power. Formed by Qadiri slaves from across Tygara, but mostly from Khajwar and Ajustra, they built their own society. In the process, they have reached for the stars.
Shazora Jai Vahal, a Qadiri from the island of Farsi, was enslaved at an early age. Her home village was raided by Xioquo pirates, who proceeded to be ambushed by Khaimari raiders while en route to the Underealm. The Khaimari were fellow Qadiri and notorious corsairs. Shazora and the surviving slaves were enslaved by their liberators, who sold them on the slave market of the city-state of Karahamor. Shazora served one of the mistresses as a scribe. Considered meek and docile, she hid a cunning intellect. When an exiled Qadiri aristocrat who was obsessed with 'reclaiming her rightful throne' and had three alchemical monstrosities came to the city, Shazora knew better than to follow her. However, she came to realise that as rich and powerful as the mistresses and masters were, their power was built on the backs of slaves and thus was not truly their own. Thus she and a cabal of slaves in key positions began to plot.
She and her comrades broke their chains by instigating a revolt and toppling the mistresses and masters. Against all odds, they were able to protect their social against incursions from other Qadiri states that could not abide the idea of a free city. When Firemane arrived, Shazora sought out Siobhan Kerrigan and bent the knee to her, appealing to the 'Skyqueen's inner abolitionist as well as her vanity.
This forged a close alliance between the two. Emancipated slaves received support so that they could learn skills and would not be left destitute. Shazora became an important advisor for Siobhan on Qadiri matters and was eventually accepted into her inner circle. She worked closely with Firedawn, Firemane's freedmen bureau, to provide for freed slaves. However, her alliance with the humans was a means that served the end of providing protection for her people and giving them the opportunity to learn about and master the tools of the sky people. Firemane recognised that the group was pursuing its own self-interest, but also aiding them as both the humanitarian thing to do and, probably more importantly, as a good move from a political standpoint. It would allow the megacorp to promote a community of modern, forward-looking Qadiri who would be allied to it. This could also be used as a lever against recaltricant Qadiri rulers and prove that slavery was an outdated practice the desert elves did not need.
The roots of the Stardriven also lie in a mamluk rebellion in the Khajwari principality of Golconda. There, a slave-soldier called Hasana Jai Anhala had led an uprising of the Nawab's Mamluks against the oppressors. Faced with a hostile coalition of Qadiri city-states, the rebels had waged a successful guerrilla campaign. Dispatched by Siobhan, Shazora had come to recruit on the eve of the final battle. Hasana refused to leave her people, and so Shazora stayed, aiding the rebels with a Firemane gunship. Even with this support, the battle was a bloody one and casualties were high, but the rebels prevailed. Hasana and the remnants of her rebel 'army' were evacuated by Firemane. The rebel leader agreed to join the humans, but on terms. She would not bow or call anyone 'mistress'. Firemane eventually formed an elite force of freedmen called the Ascended.
With Tygara pacified a great conference was held above the planet to decide the fate of the races. This was pertinent for the Stardriven because it was decided that slavery would be abolished at a sustainable pace. Firemane made this a condition for the provision of technological development that would enable the Qadiri to modernise and move into space. This meant the Nawab of Golconda had to agree to the abolition of slavery. To ensure that this edict was carried out in fact as well as in name, Shazora and Hasana travelled to the city. Any former slave who wanted to leave and start a new life far away from the mistresses and masters was allowed to go with them. The Stardriven were formed out of these disparate groups of former slaves. They had allied themselves with the sky people, but did not want to remain depenedent on succour for them. Firemane would provide the means and technological know-how to uplift the elves and enable them to go off, explore and colonise other words.
This included the construction of arkships to allow them to off and colonise. The Stardriven did not want to get left behind in the push to modernisation. The Void Seeker was not the first Qadiri worldship though. That honour belongs to the Jewel of the Void, a worldship built for Shahbânu Semiramis of the Amikarese Empire. Its construction was a propaganda coup for the 'Sun Empress', who had the ambition to unite all Qadiri under her rule. To say that Shazora dislikes Semiramis is a huge understatement. The Stardriven are not rich, and so getting their worldship done took longer. However, the work paid off and they were able to lease a cruiser from Firemane. Though not fully under their control, it would be useful for training purposes.
Recently, the Stardriven have started building ties to the Unchained, a community of exiles from the war-torn planet of Tephrike. Two members of the Unchained participated in a joint Qadiri-Firemane mission to rescue scouts from the Void Seeker who had been captured and enslaved by a First Order Remnant faction. Like the Qadiri, the Tephriki are new to spaceflight and the greater Galaxy.
The coming of the space people put many of the truths they held dear into question, but they are now finding their way in the stars. Like the Qadiri freedmen and freedwomen, they had to fight against oppressors and break their chains. Indeed, many of the Unchained are clones, who were originally conditioned to be servitors who were denied free will. Shazora Jai Vahal, though confounded by the nature of clones, has taken an interest in them. The Tephriki have made tentative contact with her people.
