The Game
Factions:
Theologists |Industrialists | Trade Unionists | The Aesthetics | Royalists | Government
Theologists
"The Theologists are a queer group, dedicated as they are to pursuit of thought, rather than material concerns. And as such, it is entirely possible for two Theologists to be opposed, indeed they may even despise each other! A Theologist may be a teacher, devoted to the nurturing of the minds of others, or he may be a philosopher, raging against the Automaton and the Government's irresponsibility in developing the machine. The only thing that binds them together is thought; the purity and sanctity of the idea."
Theologists tend to be smart but a little frayed around the edges, the odd smudge of ink, the odd frayed cuff from being buried in old texts and books for too long.
The Theologist greeting is a touch of the brow with the index finger to indicate higher thinking. This is sometimes accompanied by the words "Ex cogitatio actio", 'From thought, deed', for whilst members of this faction may be bitterly opposed to each other, they all recognise and respect the value of thought and its right to exist.
The Theologist symbol is a sun, representing as it does both the birth of all life and the ultimate end of it.
The Theologist faction colour is yellow.
"You see, it's perfectly simple. Since man first crawled out from ignorance, he has laboured. Now to harness that labour, and in so doing to focus and amplify it, that my friend is the essence of Industry, the future of our race. Nothing less than the most noble of pursuits!
The Industrialists are something of a contradiction. On the one hand, they stand as an example of the success obtainable by hard work, and on the other they have reached that position by clawing their way to it at the expense of others; raised themselves up on the backs of the workers. An Industrialist will stand before you; puff out his chest and honour himself that he?s a self-made man. And all the while, his factories remain full of the people he's left behind, scratching out a living on the meagre wages he doles out.
Their clothing is neat, tidy and practical. Although generally sombre, they have been known to engage in the odd wild touch, such as a daringly patterned neck-tie, or a slightly stylised waistcoat.
A habit has grown up amongst them of rubbing the first two fingers and thumb of a hand together, either in respectful salute, or when at engagements where a sign is quicker and more covert than open discussion. This greeting is often accompanied by the words "Peace and Profit."
The Industrialists use the humble penny as their faction symbol, since this represents the basis of greater wealth.
The Industrialist faction colour is green.
"Well mates, I won?t tax your time; you?ve been taxed enough already by them that's in charge. To labour is noble, they tell us. That's as may be; but to labour for a pittance for another man's wealth? I ask you, is that noble? They make pretty speeches about their new designs, about these clockwork machines that will make our jobs easier, but who'll make 'em, eh? And when these fancy new machines is running the factories, what will happen to the likes of us?"
They're concerned about the workers, and who can blame them, but are they going about it the right way? At least they have jobs, so why risk them with industrial action?
The Trade Unionists are all about the little man; they don't see the grander schemes at work in society, and from that lack of perception comes conflict. The Unionists have always grumbled about their lot, but it?s only a matter of time before they stand up and take action.
They favour overalls and simple clothes; a work shirt and a flat cap; good solid work boots with a proper shine on 'em; showing solidarity with the workers amongst the oil and smoke. Their clothes are always basic, practical and well worn.
The Trade Unionist greeting is to touch the lapel with the words "Honesty in Industry". This phrase encompasses both the faction's view of itself, and their goal of teaching the Industrialist business owners honesty with their workers.
Whether worn as a badge or displayed in person, the Unionist symbol is that eternal sign of the proletariat worker, the hammer.
The Unionist colour is black.
"The cog is more than itself; the machine greater than the sum of its parts. There is an infinite, indefinable beauty in the Automaton; a radiant glory in the direction of our people that radiates with power and vitality. It is greater than you or I, my friend. Aye, greater even than her Royal Majesty. We are born and we die and are all soon forgotten, but the splendour of what we are doing, the magnificence of this technological renaissance will echo through time and stir and inspire even the hardest and most brutal of hearts."
Aesthetics; even their name is needlessly ornate. And like their name, they dedicate themselves to the artistry and beauty of the world around them.
The Aesthetics have grown out of the stability of the nation. They can pursue their ideals only because they need not struggle to survive; they can take the time to idly reflect on the world they see around them purely because their wealth ensures that world provides for them.
The Aesthetics do not have a style; they are style. They are trendsetters for those that aspire to fashion, and strutting peacocks with each other.
Anything goes so long as it is exclusive, expensive and encompasses the very idea of the wearer.
Whilst Aesthetic greetings to other factions are perfectly cordial, to each other they ooze ostentation and drama. Like the fashions they wear, the bows and curtseys change frequently, but are always elaborate, flamboyant and pretentious.
The Aesthetic symbol is the rose. How that symbol is made manifest can vary wildly; some may wear an actual flower, others a badge and some may display a rose tattoo, but the symbol is always there somewhere.
The Aesthetic faction colour is blue, and can be of any shade, any hue.
"God save her glorious Majesty; Queen of our realm and figurehead of our people. Why, you ask? Why Sir, she is nothing less than the personification of our nation. From her are manners made, to her we look for our guidance, and like a great mother she cares for all of us. They call this country Great, and great it is. We are the light of the world; the hub about which the globe turns. Our values are the highest ideals to which a human being can ascend, our society a model of order and stability. Rejoice sir, for you are part of the greatest nation on earth."
The Royalists are a strange and diverse group of people, and perhaps the least outwardly cohesive of all the factions. That they serve the Queen and the nation above all else is true, but how they manifest that dedication can vary wildly. Rather than a group that attends meeting and lectures, the royalist knows his or her cause in his own heart and seeks to further the cause of this great nation, and her Queen, throughout their walking life.
The Royalists, like their ethos, prefer traditional, formal clothes. For many, military dress - or an outfit that hints at the military services - is common, whilst others prefer an ensemble of refined yet slightly old-fashioned tailoring. Royalists will often incorporate purple ? their faction colour ? into their dress in some manner, but only in the most tasteful and right-thinking manner.
For all members of this faction the essence of their greeting is the same; the placing of the hand on the heart and the statement of "God save the Queen". Those in the military may prefer to perform this sharply with a closed fist, whilst others choose an open palm laid flat upon the chest.
Whether it's sewn onto the clothes as a badge or worn on the watch-chain as a medallion, the Royalist symbol is the crown of Her Majesty the Queen.
The colour of the Royalists is purple.
"To protect and serve the status quo, that's the key. Of course, there are those that say mankind needs to advance, and of course they are right after a fashion. But these things don't happen - can't happen - overnight. Change is a gradual process, and to oversee and guide that change is the heavy burden of government and the Department for the Advancement of Sciences. You see, there are two kinds of advancement in the world: The revolutionary leap that tears through conventions, and the methodical development that brings with it steady progression; and whilst we yearn for the former, we are nonetheless indebted to the latter."
Opinions towards the Government are varied, for few are content with those who govern them. Such outlooks are not just idle dissatisfaction either, for the Government is synonymous with the Department for the Advancement of Sciences, a group whose motives are mysterious, secretive and not entirely trusted. The Government seeks to calm the people, to assure them of its benevolent rule, but there are rumours about the ungodly creations the Department is building.
Members of this faction are very formal in their dress. They favour grey, their faction colour, and smart yet simple hats.
Government faction members greet each other by raising, or touching, a finger to their hats and accompanying it with the salutation "Protect and Serve".
The symbol of the Government is an index finger stained with ink. The origins of this curious badge are lost, but it is thought to represent the industrious, hard work of the civil service that works to turn government legislation into law.
Grey is the colour of the Government faction members. Nondescript, reliable grey.
"With great power comes great responsibility, and what greater power is there than to hold the future of the race in your hands? The Automaton is to change the very core of man's future, but this must not be taken lightly. This change will bring with it conflict, and it is a conflict for which our nation must be ready. Church and State alike will have to adapt, or risk their own downfalls.
And shall learned men in years as yet unborn look back on us, shake their grey locks and lament that the Theologists had neither the courage nor conviction to guide our nation? Indeed not! They shall look back in gratitude, in appreciation of our sagacious bearing of that heavy burden of moral and intellectual duty. Men will say of the Theologists that they drove the world forward."The Others Say:
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Industrialists
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Of course, there are those who rile against us; who hate the machines or cry out that they are being exploited, but they are missing the fundamental truth: Money is the great equaliser. A man who is willing to labour hard and to push himself is not bound by the poverty he may have been born into. Money is king; not class or breeding or society. And with money, anyone can elevate themselves."
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