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{{Spoiler header|spoiling=all of the Divine Cycle}} | {{Spoiler header|spoiling=all of the Divine Cycle}} | ||
<blockquote>''See also: [[List of Divines]].''</blockquote> | <blockquote>''See also: [[List of Divines]].''</blockquote> | ||
'''Divines''' are typically large synthetic beings with incredible power. Their relationships with other beings range from domination to service to partnership to non-intervention. Divines are often piloted by another being (this role has been filled by humans, synthetics | '''Divines''' are typically large synthetic beings with incredible power. Their relationships with other beings range from domination to service to partnership to non-intervention. Divines are often piloted by another being (this role has been filled by many, including humans, Apostolosians, synthetics, and even other Divines), a role which has been given multiple names, including [[Candidate]]<sup><ref group="note">Used in ''[[COUNTER/Weight]]'' and occasionally in later seasons; associated with the [[Autonomous Diaspora]] and contemporaneous cultures.</ref></sup>, [[Excerpt]]<sup><ref group="note">Used in both ''[[Twilight Mirage]]'' itself and later seasons for pilots from the [[Divine Fleet]] or [[Twilight Mirage (location)|Twilight Mirage]]. Being an Excerpt is a largely positive role, unlike in other cases.</ref></sup>, and [[Elect]]<ref group="note">Used in ''[[PARTIZAN]]'' and ''[[PALISADE]]'' for pilots from the [[Divine Principality]].</ref>. | ||
Divines have been worshiped, or at least highly respected and feared, by many cultures. From their earliest days, they have been named after virtues (though with later era Divines this is less true); as such they may be viewed as symbols or direct embodiments of those virtues. However, throughout the [[Divine Cycle]] this symbolism has been repeatedly complicated and challenged. | Divines have been worshiped, or at least highly respected and feared, by many cultures. From their earliest days, they have been named after virtues (though with later era Divines this is less true); as such they may be viewed as symbols or direct embodiments of those virtues. However, throughout the [[Divine Cycle]] this symbolism has been repeatedly complicated and challenged. | ||
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===Principality=== | ===Principality=== | ||
Divines serve many functions for the [[Divine Principality|Principality]], whether military, political and propagandistic, or infrastructural. The constellations of [[Asterism]], "organizational diagrams and schema that are meant to 'clarify' your position in society",<ref>[[Road to PARTIZAN: Armour Astir (Pt. 1)]], 00:09:08 - 00:09:34</ref> understand Divines, the Elects and the leader of each [[Stel]] in a harmonic three-way leadership held above citizens and the Adrift (non-citizens).<ref>Part of a hierarchical structure like The Great Chain Of Being in medieval Christianity; [[Road to PARTIZAN: Microscope (Pt. 1)]], 01:13:40 - 01:14:16</ref> They are viewed as either true embodiments of their names ([[Progressive Asterism]]) or reflections of the traits of the Principality ([[Received Asterism]]). Under Received Asterism, the empire is itself a Divine entity. The [[Aram Nideo|founder of the Principality]] is also considered a Divine, although he was a human. | Divines serve many functions for the [[Divine Principality|Principality]], whether military, political and propagandistic, or infrastructural. The constellations of [[Asterism]], "organizational diagrams and schema that are meant to 'clarify' your position in society",<ref>[[Road to PARTIZAN: Armour Astir (Pt. 1)]], 00:09:08 - 00:09:34</ref> understand Divines, the Elects and the leader of each [[Stel]] in a harmonic three-way leadership held above citizens and the Adrift (non-citizens).<ref>Part of a hierarchical structure like The Great Chain Of Being in medieval Christianity; [[Road to PARTIZAN: Microscope (Pt. 1)]], 01:13:40 - 01:14:16</ref> They are viewed as either true embodiments of their names ([[Progressive Asterism]]) or reflections of the traits of the Principality ([[Received Asterism]]).{{Spoiler block|spoiling=PALISADE|text=By contrast, the New Asterism suggests that regardless of whether Divines reflect the state or an ideal, "we as individuals have to embody those traits [exemplified by Divines] to a divine degree", and that "salvation by works" is best achieved through the colonization of Palisade and expansion of the empire.<ref>[[PALISADE 10: The Wheels Turning Pt. 1]]</ref>|theme=pal}}Under Received Asterism, the empire is itself a Divine entity. The [[Aram Nideo|founder of the Principality]] is also considered a Divine, although he was a human. | ||
Due to the internal conflict presumed by the Principality's structure and the importance of Divines, there are treaties in place which allow the wreckage of Divines or their Elects to be reclaimed.<ref>[[PARTIZAN 03: SHORESIDE RECOVERY - DINNERDATE]], dossier</ref> The Principality asserts control over Divine behavior where it can, sometimes forcibly.<ref name=":2">[[PARTIZAN 36: The Witch in the Glass Pt. 2]]</ref><ref name=":3">[[The Road to PARTIZAN 07: Beam Saber Pt. 2]]</ref> Some Divines still rebel: the Divine [[Providence]] struck back at the Principality the moment it was turned on, but as punishment it was deactivated. Providence was labeled a "heretic Divine", as are any Divines that exist outside the Principality.<ref>[[PARTIZAN 27: Millennium Break: She said, "To Win We Must Play!"]], dossier</ref> | Due to the internal conflict presumed by the Principality's structure and the importance of Divines, there are treaties in place which allow the wreckage of Divines or their Elects to be reclaimed.<ref>[[PARTIZAN 03: SHORESIDE RECOVERY - DINNERDATE]], dossier</ref> The Principality asserts control over Divine behavior where it can, sometimes forcibly.<ref name=":2">[[PARTIZAN 36: The Witch in the Glass Pt. 2]]</ref><ref name=":3">[[The Road to PARTIZAN 07: Beam Saber Pt. 2]]</ref> Some Divines still rebel: the Divine [[Providence]] struck back at the Principality the moment it was turned on, but as punishment it was deactivated. Providence was labeled a "heretic Divine", as are any Divines that exist outside the Principality.<ref>[[PARTIZAN 27: Millennium Break: She said, "To Win We Must Play!"]], dossier</ref> In particular, Perennial is known as "the Adversary", and is thought of as "a demon more than a Divine" due to her disruption of the supremacy of the Principality.<ref>[[PARTIZAN 00: The Divine Principality]]</ref> | ||
The Principality also has the ability to revive destroyed Divines indefinitely, giving them power over their lives and deaths.<ref>[[The Road to PARTIZAN 09: Microscope Pt. 1]]</ref>{{Spoiler block|spoiling=Futura Free Pt. 4|theme=tm|text=This revival is possible thanks to the incorporation of parts of [[Gumption]] into all Principality Divines.}} | The Principality also has the ability to revive destroyed Divines indefinitely, giving them power over their lives and deaths.<ref>[[The Road to PARTIZAN 09: Microscope Pt. 1]]</ref>{{Spoiler block|spoiling=Futura Free Pt. 4|theme=tm|text=This revival is possible thanks to the incorporation of parts of [[Gumption]] into all Principality Divines.}} | ||
=== | ===Palisade=== | ||
{{Spoiler block|spoiling=[[PALISADE 13: Worth the Trouble Pt. 2]]|text=The planet Palisade itself is the body of the deceased Divine Palisade, who left the Divine Fleet before it was destroyed. Along with him came the Divines [[Five Afflictions|Antiquity, Affection, Decisiveness, Logic and Reflection]].|theme=pal}}{{Spoiler block|spoiling=Wagon Wheel Pt. 3|text=In a later period, the [[Fabreal Duchy|Crown of Glass]] and the beginnings of the Principality first experimented with shackling Divines by making [[Delegates]]: splintered-off shards of Divines in humanoid robotic bodies, forced to serve.|theme=pal}} | |||
===Twilight Mirage=== | |||
The Qui'Err government on Seneschal's Brace has a complex and wary relationship with Divines, considering the problems that Divines and the Fleet caused for the Quire system historically. The Mirage is known to have non-sentient Divines which are worshiped nonetheless, such as [[Arbit]]. [[Devotion]] and the Devotees are from the Mirage, and consider defending Palisade part of their duty to their home. | |||
===Other regions=== | |||
It is suggested in "[[The Road to PARTIZAN 07: Beam Saber Pt. 2|Beam Saber Pt. 2]]" that some Divines from the former Diaspora and [[Divine Collaborate|Collaborate]] have fled into the stars to form their own society, but they have not been seen in the podcast. | |||
The ''Argosy, Spliced'' and the Waking Cadent's Divine Fleet are also "somewhere out there".<ref>[[PALISADE 05: I Would Like to Help You Pt. 2]]</ref> | |||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
<references group="note" /> | <references group="note" /> | ||
Revision as of 22:57, 2 June 2023
 |
Spoiler warning! This article contains major spoilers for all of the Divine Cycle. Tread carefully! |
See also: List of Divines.
Divines are typically large synthetic beings with incredible power. Their relationships with other beings range from domination to service to partnership to non-intervention. Divines are often piloted by another being (this role has been filled by many, including humans, Apostolosians, synthetics, and even other Divines), a role which has been given multiple names, including Candidate[note 1], Excerpt[note 2], and Elect[note 3].
Divines have been worshiped, or at least highly respected and feared, by many cultures. From their earliest days, they have been named after virtues (though with later era Divines this is less true); as such they may be viewed as symbols or direct embodiments of those virtues. However, throughout the Divine Cycle this symbolism has been repeatedly complicated and challenged.
COUNTER/Weight
“
We could have made them look like anything, but we made them look like us.”
This section contains spoilers for Visions from Windows, Or: The Last Time the Bomb Dropped.
Click here to reveal.
The first machine that would come to be called a Divine was Rigour, created by Dr. Irene Klipsch-Dove for the Orion Conservation Conglomerate in order to optimize working efficiency in frontier worlds. Relatively soon after, built as weapons against it, came Liberty and Discovery and Righteousness. Rigour eventually caused the near-total destruction and splintering of humanity across the stars.
The Autonomous Diaspora began creating additional Divines during its second encounter with Rigour. These Divines (including Truth, Equality and Independence) were made by integrating the AIs used to manage the Diasporan democracy into machines of war. The terms Divine and Candidate were invented in news reports after they'd already been deployed, and applied retroactively to the intelligences created by Klipsch-Dove and their pilots.[1]Divines are primarily part of the Diaspora, serving as arms of the state militarily, politically and economically. They are understood to embody the aspirations of Diasporan democracy, but also the virtues of humanity writ large. Despite these grand ideals, Divine pilots -- Candidates -- are primarily children, exploited by their Divines as well as the state, and die young.
Divines occasionally take Candidates from other cultures, distancing themselves from the Autonomous Diaspora entirely. A few Divines, such as Voice and Zeal (aka Ambition), were even made outside the Diaspora. What defines a Divine is somewhat culturally-bound: Voice is called an "artificial" Divine because it was created to interface with other Divines, and the mech Apokine is not considered a Divine at all (though it shares similar traits).
All Divines from this period have the ability to create portals to travel instantly to the location of another willing Divine.
Twilight Mirage
“
For a long time, we thought we were building mirrors. But now we know better: we were setting fires.”
The Divine Fleet's Resonant Orbit originally consists of a fleet of 300 Divines. These Divines exist in mutual collaboration with other members of the Fleet, serving as benign gods and city-ships. Their pilots are Excerpts, who take their names from the Resonant Orbit's holy texts. In recent centuries, the Divines of the Fleet have begun to fade and die off for reasons that are initially unclear.
The Fleet places Divines into three generations. The first generation are those designed by humans, the second generation are those designed by humans and AIs, and the third are those designed by other divines. Each generation drifts further in naming conventions from an origin in democratic virtues, and each generation increasingly reflects the fundamental differences between divines and humanity.[2]
This section contains spoilers for The Miracle of the Mirage.
Click here to reveal.
These differences are emphasized by Independence, Volition, and the post-Divines known as Axioms that begin proliferating after the Miracle of the Mirage. Divines are often thought of as embodying ideals, but they are material, volitional and linked to other beings. The Axioms are attempts to break beyond the material world and create true representations of ideal concepts.
The intersection between Divine death and Divine autonomy is an important concern for the Fleet. The problem of Divines' right to death is what caused Independence to reject Kamala and the Divine Fleet, as well as many of its subsequent actions. This section contains spoilers for The Vault of Anticipation Pt. 2.
Click here to reveal.
The Pleroma Hypothesis, which suggested that Divines would inevitably become subservient to humans and reduced to tools, led to many Divines of the Fleet exercising their autonomy by choosing, in various ways, to allow themselves and the Fleet to decline.
PARTIZAN and PALISADE
“
These things that we call Divines, whether we think of them as our weapons, or our highways, or our saints or gods or mirrors: they aren't ours at all.”
Principality
Divines serve many functions for the Principality, whether military, political and propagandistic, or infrastructural. The constellations of Asterism, "organizational diagrams and schema that are meant to 'clarify' your position in society",[3] understand Divines, the Elects and the leader of each Stel in a harmonic three-way leadership held above citizens and the Adrift (non-citizens).[4] They are viewed as either true embodiments of their names (Progressive Asterism) or reflections of the traits of the Principality (Received Asterism).
This section contains spoilers for PALISADE.
Click here to reveal.
By contrast, the New Asterism suggests that regardless of whether Divines reflect the state or an ideal, "we as individuals have to embody those traits [exemplified by Divines] to a divine degree", and that "salvation by works" is best achieved through the colonization of Palisade and expansion of the empire.[5]
Under Received Asterism, the empire is itself a Divine entity. The founder of the Principality is also considered a Divine, although he was a human.
Due to the internal conflict presumed by the Principality's structure and the importance of Divines, there are treaties in place which allow the wreckage of Divines or their Elects to be reclaimed.[6] The Principality asserts control over Divine behavior where it can, sometimes forcibly.[7][8] Some Divines still rebel: the Divine Providence struck back at the Principality the moment it was turned on, but as punishment it was deactivated. Providence was labeled a "heretic Divine", as are any Divines that exist outside the Principality.[9] In particular, Perennial is known as "the Adversary", and is thought of as "a demon more than a Divine" due to her disruption of the supremacy of the Principality.[10]
The Principality also has the ability to revive destroyed Divines indefinitely, giving them power over their lives and deaths.[11]
This section contains spoilers for Futura Free Pt. 4.
Click here to reveal.
This revival is possible thanks to the incorporation of parts of Gumption into all Principality Divines.
Palisade
This section contains spoilers for PALISADE 13: Worth the Trouble Pt. 2.
Click here to reveal.
The planet Palisade itself is the body of the deceased Divine Palisade, who left the Divine Fleet before it was destroyed. Along with him came the Divines Antiquity, Affection, Decisiveness, Logic and Reflection.
This section contains spoilers for Wagon Wheel Pt. 3.
Click here to reveal.
In a later period, the Crown of Glass and the beginnings of the Principality first experimented with shackling Divines by making Delegates: splintered-off shards of Divines in humanoid robotic bodies, forced to serve.
Twilight Mirage
The Qui'Err government on Seneschal's Brace has a complex and wary relationship with Divines, considering the problems that Divines and the Fleet caused for the Quire system historically. The Mirage is known to have non-sentient Divines which are worshiped nonetheless, such as Arbit. Devotion and the Devotees are from the Mirage, and consider defending Palisade part of their duty to their home.
Other regions
It is suggested in "Beam Saber Pt. 2" that some Divines from the former Diaspora and Collaborate have fled into the stars to form their own society, but they have not been seen in the podcast.
The Argosy, Spliced and the Waking Cadent's Divine Fleet are also "somewhere out there".[12]
Notes
- ↑ Used in COUNTER/Weight and occasionally in later seasons; associated with the Autonomous Diaspora and contemporaneous cultures.
- ↑ Used in both Twilight Mirage itself and later seasons for pilots from the Divine Fleet or Twilight Mirage. Being an Excerpt is a largely positive role, unlike in other cases.
- ↑ Used in PARTIZAN and PALISADE for pilots from the Divine Principality.
References
- ↑ COUNTER/Weight 37: Visions from Windows, Or: The Last Time the Bomb Dropped
- ↑ Twilight Mirage 01: The Beloved Dust
- ↑ Road to PARTIZAN: Armour Astir (Pt. 1), 00:09:08 - 00:09:34
- ↑ Part of a hierarchical structure like The Great Chain Of Being in medieval Christianity; Road to PARTIZAN: Microscope (Pt. 1), 01:13:40 - 01:14:16
- ↑ PALISADE 10: The Wheels Turning Pt. 1
- ↑ PARTIZAN 03: SHORESIDE RECOVERY - DINNERDATE, dossier
- ↑ PARTIZAN 36: The Witch in the Glass Pt. 2
- ↑ The Road to PARTIZAN 07: Beam Saber Pt. 2
- ↑ PARTIZAN 27: Millennium Break: She said, "To Win We Must Play!", dossier
- ↑ PARTIZAN 00: The Divine Principality
- ↑ The Road to PARTIZAN 09: Microscope Pt. 1
- ↑ PALISADE 05: I Would Like to Help You Pt. 2