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Due to timeline changes, the addition of new stars, and a general shift in the character and lore of the nation, the Theocracy of Silverstar will be rewritten over the coming weeks or months. Some of this may still be accurate, but most is subject to change.

"The nature of all that manage to form great empires is that of greed, of hostility, of aggression and of heartlessness. I'm guilty of those as well, but I think a few thousand years of existing and witnessing death over and over is a suitable excuse for me. This great nation will rid the universe of that. Through our service to Silverstar, we will overcome our dark desires and be reborn as a sparkling utopia! Let all stars in the universe burn together under the proud gaze of our benevolent Lord! Hail Silver!"

— An excerpt from Moonmoon's coronary speech, 6108 CE

The Theocracy of Silverstar is a nation located within the chaotic galaxy of Azurullya. As the only nation located in Azurullya, the Theocracy has quickly risen to galactic superpower status within the short time of its existence. Despite the myriad dangers located in the Cerulean Gem, the nation has held firm against all odds, strengthening its position as an intergalactic power. Under the guidance of High Priest Moonmoon, the people of this nation seek to honor their god, the mysterious being known only as Silverstar, in any way they can. From hymns and mantras chanting His name to works of art depicting the deity in His prime, it can be quite difficult to imagine a person in the nation who doesn’t worship this being. Under the watchful eye of the Cult of Silverstar, citizens are expected to provide regular worship to Silverstar, lest they be labeled as a heretic and arrested. The punishments are known to be quite severe for the worst offenders, ranging from beatings and hard labor to public executions.

However, even with all these measures in place, the Theocracy’s faith is often tested harshly. Not by any external enemies, but by the very galaxy it resides in. Deadly aberrations can be found all over Azurullya, from the Womb of Chaos located in the galaxy’s core to the Deagami Nebulis orbiting just outside the galactic rim. Yet the people of the Theocracy still stand firm, fighting back these abominations to the best of their ability so that one day they may see Azurullya as the paradise Silverstar wants it to be.

History

Inception

The worship of Silverstar has existed for thousands of years, with the earliest records dating to around 5500. Silverstar's first worshipers came not from Azurullya, but from Aylathiya, existing in scattered small groups. These worshipers primarily lived in secluded communities, from seedy orbital stations to frontier colonies, where they could worship in peace away from prying eyes. However, as their numbers grew, so did their boldness, leading to many of them starting to practice their faith openly. While they were largely ignored by many at first, their usage of Esoteric Thaumaturgy drew the attention of many, particularly Magi from the Triumvirate Civilization who saw them as a possible threat.

These Magi then gathered in secret to discuss what could happen if the worshipers of Silverstar were allowed to continue using Esoteric Thaumaturgy. Officially, they came to the conclusion that if they were allowed to keep drawing on so many different planes for their powers, they might break down the walls keeping these planes separated, leading to complete and utter chaos. Seeking to prevent this possible catastrophe, they confronted the worshipers and ordered them to cease their usage of Esoteric Thaumaturgy. The followers refused, leading to a series of escalations that eventually spiraled into full-on violence. Riots broke out on many worlds, turning into large-scale purges which resulted in most of Silverstar's followers being killed or imprisoned. The knowledge of accessing many different planes was also lost due to the purges. Those who remained fled to worlds near Aylathiya's edge, praying to their god that they might be delivered unto a new land, a paradise for them to finally show their devotion to Silverstar to their fullest extent.

The Grand Exodus

After centuries of hiding away from the rest of the galaxy, the followers of Silverstar were approached by a strange man, one who had promised them salvation. He told them he had found a safe haven for them, a distant galaxy known as Azurullya, where they would be able to worship Silverstar without fear. Skeptical of this newcomer, they surrounded him with their most powerful Magi and prepared to strike, fearing that he might be an agent sent to wipe out that last of Silverstar's followers. However, instead of backing down, the man merely smiled and revealed his own faith, showing that he was also a devotee of Silverstar just like them. Introducing himself as Moonmoon, he also showed that he was a practitioner of Esoteric Thaumaturgy, his power and proficiency unlike anything the followers had seen before.

Moonmoon explained to them that he had been tasked by Silverstar to usher his people to a new land, and all he needed was their trust. With the only other options being continuous seclusion or the wrath of Aylathiya's Magi, they accepted, calling on their remaining kin to join them. Once all the remaining followers had been gathered, Moonmoon presented them with a fleet of colony ships, ones that were fitted enough to make the long journey to Azurullya. Saying their final goodbyes to Aylathiya, the followers packed onto the starships and braced for what would be a decades-long journey.

Long before fusion power allowed modern travel times, Moonmoon and all the other Magi would combine their powers in order to transport the fleet across the void. However, they would have to draw on a massive amount of thaumic energy from several different planes at once, which carried immense risk. Moonmoon had his fleets accelerate to speeds as of yet unseen, far too fast for a reasonable trip between stars—for a trip between galaxies. The ships gained speed until going over two thirds the speed of light. After around a year of cruising, the ships began to decelerate.

Test of Faith

As the ships traveled towards Azurullya, they began to notice strange things around them. One such phenomenon was a series of strange nebulae orbiting the galaxy. One of the colony ships had decided to investigate a red nebula that was orbiting farther away from the rest. However, a few days after the ship entered the nebula, all communications with it had been lost. Some time later, the colonists noticed that the nebula had begun to glow brighter and brighter, reaching a peak some weeks later. A dark shroud surrounded the nebula, but the entirety of Azurullya began to glow the same harsh red, a blood-curdling scream emitting from its center. The colonists could hear it all around them, through the monitors on their ships and even in their minds. Some of them went completely insane, attacking their fellows left and right until they were put down like rabid dogs. Some time later, the screaming ceased and Azurullya returned to its usual cerulean hue. The lost colony ship also reappeared, drifting aimlessly out from the nebula.

The drones sent to investigate the ship returned with images of pure carnage. Bodies lined the halls of the once-bustling vessel, bloodied and torn asunder. Some of them were charred to the bone, having suffered the wrath of insane Magi. After this horrific event, the nebula was declared off-limits and the rest of the colony fleet moved on, the images of madness still fresh in their minds. Even Moonmoon was terrified of it, recalling the nebula as the first thing to truly make him fear death. However, once the colony fleet flew away from the nebula and into Azurullya proper, they found that this new galaxy would not be so easily tamed as they had hoped.

As the fleet explored more of their new home, they encountered more and more of these aberrations. Time-bending stars, a supernova locked in stasis, and the shards of an ancient consciousness scattered across an entire planet. Thanks to these factors, and the fact that Azurullya has much faster starflow than other galaxies, they weren't able to find a planet to colonize. They had tried to touch down on a relatively peaceful-looking moon at one point, but were driven away by the native inhabitants of that world; a brutish, centaur-like race known as the Ryleiths. As time went on, the colonists had begun to lose hope, many of them forsaking Silverstar altogether. They had even begun to accuse Moonmoon of being a false prophet, an agent sent to wipe out the last of Silverstar's worshipers.

Once they had regained their bearings, the colonists discovered that they were in a relatively safe area of the galaxy, with no aberrations being seen or detected by the fleet's Magi. Flying towards the nearest star system, they had finally managed to find a planet to settle on, sending down scouting parties to investigate. The teams returned with glorious news; the world was perfect for colonization. Few natural threats, plenty of resources, and the perfect climate. It was a paradise, exactly what they had been promised so long ago.

The Conquest of Azurullya

Naming the planet Oaliun, the colonists quickly set about shaping the world to suit their needs, mapping out the world and harvesting its resources. They also dismantled the colony ships and used them to build their first towns, expanding them into sprawling cities as time went on. Grand temples and monuments to Silverstar were constructed, the largest of these temples becoming the center of power for the newly-formed Cult of Silverstar. Moonmoon became the leader of this cult, using his natural charisma to work his way up until he instituted himself as the cult's first and only High Priest. During his coronation ceremony, he gave a grand speech to the gathered followers and told them that their work was not yet finished. While they had survived the long and perilous journey to Azurullya, they had only just begun to make it their new home. Using Oaliun as a starting point, a grand fleet would be launched and spread out to conquer the rest of the galaxy, despite the many dangers lurking within the Cerulean Gem.

With their hopes high and their hearts burning bright with devotion, the people of the newly formed Theocracy of Silverstar set out work on bringing the rest of Azurullya under their rule, building orbital drydocks to construct new starships meant to endure the worst abominations Azurullya had to offer. Once the first batch of ships were completed, they set out towards the nearest star system and began colonization efforts at once, keeping an eye out for any aberrations that could hinder their plans. Once that system was conquered, they moved onto the next one, and the next one, until they had brought over a hundred systems under their banner. Despite taking five hundred years to fully take over and develop these systems, the Theocracy wasn't showing any signs of slowing down. However, they would soon meet their match when one of their fleets flew too close to their galaxy's core.

The fleet's engines had malfunctioned, causing them to be sent far off their original course, dumping them near the center of Azuzrullya. Whether this was due to an aberration or miscalculation none can say, but before they could turn back, they were greeted with the sight of a massive glowing object sending out strange signals. When these signals were detected, they were revealed to be a strange form of communications signal, making itself known through the fleet's transmission network. It ordered the fleet to turn back, to never return and to tell their false god that Azurullya was not for them. Rather than turn back as planned, they fired upon the insolent strange, but none of their weapons could even dent it. Deciding to return the favor, the object unleashed enormous, spiraling tendrils of energy, latching onto the ships and burrowing deep within their hulls. The tendrils then tore the ships apart from the inside out, sending their inhabitants into the void.

When Moonmoon learned of this event, he declared the area off-limits but decided to visit it in secret, documenting the object as much as he could. He then decided to learn as much about these aberrations as possible, how to avoid them, how to utilize them, and most importantly, how to keep them from being used against him. Most of the findings he would keep to himself, only viewable by him and the highest ranking members of the Cult of Silverstar. Some would be released to the public, largely because they were either too widespread to keep hidden or they posed no threat to him. Moonmoon's findings greatly helped the Theocracy's colonization efforts, showing them what they should steer clear of when exploring a new system. With solid knowledge on how the wonders of their galaxy worked, the Theocracy doubled their expansion efforts, sending out more and more fleets. It took millennia, but at last, the Theocracy stood as the one true nation of Azurullya.

Present Day

In the current age, the Theocracy of Silverstar still stands as a bastion of order, constantly fighting back the tide of chaos that endlessly lashes out at them. The Cult of Silverstar has grown more powerful than ever, becoming the one true governing body of the nation. Worship is carefully monitored, with heretics hunted down and punished swiftly and efficiently.

Organization

Government

The Theocracy is controlled by the Cult of Silverstar, with Moonmoon at the top as its High Priest. He is the ultimate authority in all spiritual, economic, political, and military affairs. The various Daegami had become Moonmoon's governors, each assigned stars near to them to rule—These are the Cerulean Kings. Seven Hierarchs, tremendously powerful esoteric magi, serve Moonmoon and minister the territory he himself rules. In addition to ruling over their respective territories and acting as advisors for Moonmoon, the Hierarchs also form the nation's high council, the Deagami Conclave. The Conclave's job is to make and revise the laws of the nation, though a new law cannot be passed without the consent of Moonmoon.

Under the Hierarchs are the Cardinals, who rule the smaller territories that make up each dominion. Cardinals are also in charge of maintaining the major temples to Silverstar in their territories. In the event of a Hierarch’s death, the Cardinals will vote amongst themselves to see who will become the next Hierarch.

Under the Cardinals are an assortment of lesser ranks, many of which being directly tied into the Cult of Silverstar in some way. Archons act as advisors to Cardinals as well as judges, Deacons preach to the masses about the glories of Silverstar and the dangers of the aberrations, Ministers oversee Deacons as they perform their work, and so forth.

Military

The Theocracy maintains a large military presence in the form of the Holy Legions of Silverstar, which is divided into multiple branches. The two main branches are the Silver Sentinels, which make up the Theocracy’s ground forces, and the Grand Azurullyan Astrofleet, the star-faring navy of the Theocracy.

The Holy Legions are a highly-organized military force, trained to deal with threats ranging from the mundane to the fantastical. As Azurullya’s aberrations are a guaranteed threat, these troops are conditioned to be relatively unaffected by most of these mind-breaking horrors.

Many Esoteric Magi also serve in the Legions, forming squadrons known as Kyranti. Kyranti squads are a devastating force in combat, often being the equal of an entire battalion of regular soldiers. Thanks to their sheer power, many Kyranti see themselves as superior, often looking down on normal troops. Likewise, many Sentinels despise the Kyranti as glory-hogging hotshots who are just as likely to zap their own allies as they are to blow up an enemy tank.

In addition to conducting military operations, the Holy Legions also act as the Theocracy’s police force during peacetime. Sentinel patrols are a familiar sight across many worlds, enforcing Silverstar’s will wherever they go. It is not uncommon to see them viciously beating those seen as heretics, even publicly executing them if the crime is severe enough.

The Theocracy also maintains a large covert operations force known as the Eyes of Silverstar. This group serves as the premier espionage and intelligence-gathering force of the Theocracy, maintaining a large number of hidden outposts and bases scattered across Azurullya. They have near-infinite authority compared to the other branches, being equal to the Hierarchs themselves.

Economy

The Theocracy’s main unit of currency is known as the Revri, which usually takes the form of a hexagonal crystalline wafer. Images are often laser-etched into the Revri, usually depictions of Silverstar, Moonmoon, or other important figures. Revri also come in ingot form as well, usually being kept in high-security vaults.

The Theocracy is an economic powerhouse, with the Cult of Silverstar maintaining an iron grip over the commercial sector. Businesses are required to submit an annual tithe to the Cult, with those who do not being punished severely. The bigger the business, the larger the tithe they must submit.

As many worlds within the Theocracy are often dangerous due to the numerous aberrations, the Cult often sponsors large-scale colonization efforts. Great rewards are promised to those who are able to tame these wayward planets, establishing infrastructure and a strong community in the name of Silverstar. These expeditions often attract the poorer members of society, who are eager for a chance at a better life.

Society and Culture

The Theocracy maintains a diverse culture with many native and immigrated species acting in tandem with one another. They are a highly-devout lot, eager to show their praise for Silverstar in any way they can. Thanks to the incredibly stable rule of Moonmoon, massive projects can be undertaken and completed with relative ease compared to other nations, often being highly elaborate in nature.

People in the Theocracy often take up many artistic pursuits such as painting or sculpting. They often try to outdo their peers, creating more and more elaborate works to show off. This became so widespread that it eventually turned into the holiday of Azlurin, a week-long festival in which people gather to show off their artistic prowess. There is even a contest held by the Cult of Silverstar in which cult officials judge the works of art on display. The winners will have the honor of their masterpiece being put on display in one of the Theocracy’s major temples.

Territory

The Theocracy is composed of seven major territories, referred to as dominions, each of whom are ruled by a Cerulean King. Much of the territory is ruled by Moonmoon himself, the Holy Dominion. These dominions are divided into multiple smaller realms known as sectors, which are controlled by Cardinals.