As they appear here, the Carolingians are a quasi-religious planetary society originally created for use in our Traveller campaign. However, with any number of customizations on your part, the concept could easily be adapted for use in a variety of systems.
‘Gears’ by wwarby via Flickr
In the age of a far-flung future, much of the Imperium had come to take technology for granted. It was so prevalent, and humanity so dependent on it, that it became seen as a tool of mankind- and a mundane one at that. There were others, however, who saw a limitless potential in the promise of technology. It could terraform planets, propel matter beyond the laws of physics, and even create- or at the very least, replicate- life itself. This group saw that kind of power as a sacred gift, a divine flame that was passed to the Imperium of man like Prometheus bringing fire from the gods. They also saw that it was a flame that needed tending, especially in an age when the majority believed it was under their control and would always be at their disposal.
Over many decades, the adherents of this exclusive sect studied, explored, and recorded any technological advances the Imperium had to offer. Their intense, almost exclusionary, focus bordered on religious fervor. They seemed to develop an internal connection with all forms of technology, demonstrating an innate gift for understanding the inner workings of any machine simply by observing or touching it. As a result, they were able to develop levels of technology unseen anywhere else in their respective galaxies. Their communities and colonies flourished where others had failed. Their libraries and their laboratories were closely guarded, with entry prohibited except to those properly vested in their order. Their secrets and their discoveries seemed immune to any application of money or influence or power. The only way to gain their trust was to join their way of life; consequently, their numbers grew with each successive generation.
The Exile
So too did the authority’s distrust of the sect, and the public’s suspicion and resentment of their control of technological advancement. Outsiders seemed especially dismayed at what had become the group’s outright veneration of machines and the means of their production. The known universe was not without its various cults and churches, but none other could draw the public ire like this one that prized technology above any human life or leader. Rumors spread that adherents were achieving immortality by downloading their consciousness into AI avatars, or that the leaders of the sect were secretly trading human slaves to an unknown alien race for their technological discoveries.
And so suspicion turned to frustration, and frustration to aggression. In the end, the ‘technophages,’ as the elders of this group had taken to calling themselves, were exiled from civilized space, set adrift in the cosmos in crafts only they possessed, accused of sedition and secret rebellion. The exodus was carefully monitored, with military forces on high alert; several factions of the government were convinced that the sect had developed highly advanced weaponry that they would level at an unsuspecting population. No such atttacks ever came, and soon the the technophages and their flock had slipped quietly into the star-lit night.
Cor Caroli
At the edges of society, the technophage fleet came to rest on Cor Caroli, a rocky, ice-capped planet orbiting a binary star system. Cor Caroli proved to be rich in ore and other natural resources, and a source of abundant electromagnetic energies that could fuel the production processes of untold technologies. Far removed from the hostility of the rest of the Imperium, the sect began erecting a strict, stratified industrial colony that itself would become a marvel of mechanics and engineering, a society known as the Machine. In honor of their new home, the sect christened themselves the Carolingians.
The Carolingian colony was wholly devoted to the discovery and manufacture of better technology, and perfecting the mechanical means of production to advance and grow their society. The Machine developed an almost monastic air, cloistered on its snowy sanctuary, with the oldest technophages providing leadership and direction. They established a rigid caste system, assigning each adherent a specific vocation based on their evaluated potential and social standing. It was a common platitude throughout Cor Caroli that the Machine could not function without gears of all sizes, so all layers of society had value. However, they were most valued as a means of production, and individual merit was earned only through tireless effort or inspired creation.
The Machine
Carolingian society is comprised of several distinct classes, all of whom are interdependent on the others to perform their duties. While effective professional interaction between classes is crucial to the Machine’s success, personal dealings with members of another class is sternly discouraged. Movement from one level of production to another is an arduous and meticulous process, and can only occur through the recommendation by one’s superior and approval of the Technophages.
The Technophages are the eldest and most accomplished members of the Machine, and the most attuned to the spirit of technology. Technophages are said to have the ability to speak with machines, and even influence technology with these communications. They provide order and leadership, as well as legal and social judgments.
The Tech Speakers, or more commonly just ‘Speakers’, are responsible for communicating the will of the Technophages to members of the Machine, and for guaranteeing that all aspects of production, from raw materials to power plants to human workers, are performing to their full potential. They may also demonstrate an ability to communicate with technology, but more often this ability lends itself to better diagnostic or design abilities than actual influence over machines.
The Engineers are tasked with designing and executing the directives of the Technophages within the inner workings of the Machine. Their oversight includes developing new alloys and polymers, installing and streamlining production processes, and conducting capital improvements and transportation services.
The Crafters act on the orders of the Engineers, as they fabricate, build, and assemble the technology created by the Machine on a daily basis. Crafters are also responsible for repairing and maintaining the many systems, both electronic and mechanical, that keep the Machine and its members running.
The Generators are the foundation of the Machine’s manufactorums and the largest cog in their operation. These workers will staff mines, operate refineries, cast and cut parts, and move materials, products, and waste throughout the Machine. Most of Cor Caroli’s population will begin work as a Generator, until they can prove where their real talents lie.
All levels of society have access to health care, although sickness is rare due to the high level of medical technology available. Marriage is commonplace although not encouraged, as romantic ties may interfere with one’s productivity. Families are encouraged to procreate, however, as it creates more workers for the Machine. Death rituals are observed only within a family context, or perhaps within one’s work unit if the deceased was an especially notable worker. Murder and theft are punished with equal contempt, as both are viewed as the destruction of parts of the Machine. The Carolingians have no real military establishment, viewing war and conflict as destructive and directly opposed to their society’s mission to create. Instead, their focus on defensive technologies and systems provides for their planet’s security.
