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Spoiler warning! This article contains major spoilers for PARTIZAN. Tread carefully! |
The Curtain of Divinity is the secretive organization which serves as the actual power behind the throne of Stel Kesh, and one of the two ruling factions of the Divine Principality. It is monarchic and traditional, in contrast to the neoliberal Pact of Necessary Venture. Its supposed leader is Cynosure Whitestar-Kesh, the Peaceful Princept.
History
The Curtain was founded by the Tranquil Princept, after an expedition into the Scutum-Centaurus arm of the galaxy met the True Divine and established the Honourable Oath: that the Principality would not expand beyond the Scutum-Centaurus Portcullis, and that they would attempt to progress beyond being an avaricious empire.
The Curtain was meant to rein in the Principality’s most tyrannical institutions and encourage growth and equity over generations, while hiding the truth of what lied beyond the Scutum-Centaurus Portcullis. Over time, their more noble aims were eroded, and only this final goal remained, along with a much more selfish goal of controlling the state. By the era of PARTIZAN, the Curtain was embroiled in a silent war with the Pact.
After the Red Light attacked Oxbridge on Partizan, the Curtain went public. Having revealed itself to the Principality at large, they seek the reunification of all five Stels and the permanence of the Divine Principality. Open conflict with the Pact, which has access to more advanced military technology, initially went badly for the Curtain, so Cynosure Whitestar-Kesh and the Pact's Rye negotiated the Treaty of Permanent Peace to lay down terms of war.
Tier Ranks
The Curtain keeps a simple, cell-based hierarchy, with individual worlds reporting up to star sectors, which then report up to the highest tier of command. At each tier there may be countless operatives, but each reports to one of five key figures in their tier:
The Silk
Minister in charge of Curtain diplomatic corps. Commands undercover agents who have infiltrated foreign governments.
The Damask
Philosopher, theologian, and scientist whose purview is performing and obtaining heretical and otherwise forbidden material.
The Lace
Marshall in command of the Curtain’s military forces, including reconnaissance and martial saboteur units.
The Linen
Steward, Quartermaster, Armorer, Bookkeeper. In charge of industrial espionage.
The Gabardine
Chief spymaster, keeper of all information, and (traditionally) the executive who proposes large scale, cross-branch action.
Each planet and/or sector has their own chief operatives in these roles, which roll up to the top, Divinity-wide tier. When referenced in speech or text, the operatives use only these titles, e.g. “The Lace of Partizan” or “The Gabardine of Divinity.”
Curtain Ideograms
Curtain ideograms are a set of visual symbols associated with code words with secret meanings, which the Curtain uses to share information clandestinely. The song titles in the PARTIZAN soundtrack use Curtain ideograms, although the meanings mostly remain unknown. The only one with a confirmed name, image and meaning is Bridewell, represented by the image of an iron gate, which stands for imprisonment or protection.[1]