Ostrova Cluster

The Ostrova Cluster, or Ostrova Bogev, is one of the more powerful clusters in the New Aeon Aggregate. From its inception, the people of Ostrova have embraced cybernetics in order to perfect their bodies and minds, and is primarily populated by the native cyborg race known as the Shtal. Because of their cybernetics, Shtal often have their minds linked electronically in various types and levels of "confluences" or mental networks which are not quite hive minds.

The government is authoritarian. Local government officials called "Overseers" have a limited ability to scan and read the minds of their citizens to (theoretically) determine their needs and prevent crime and gather data that the government leader called "Superiors" can act on. The cluster is divided into 4 "subcluster" states. The economic center Liliang subcluster, the religious and hedonistic Memski subcluster, the intellectual Parallax subcluster, and the militant Zuanshi subcluster. The cluster is lead by the Council of Sovereign Superiors and the Arch-Overseer.

## History

### 2620AD / 0NA: Founding

During the Solar Schism, one of the 4 major movements was a group known as the Stalnaya Krov. They wanted to transcend the limits of humanity by embracing and advancing the science of cyborganic enhancements. They called themselves the Stal'naya Krov which translates to "Steelblood". Over time, people referred to them as "Stalnaya" which evolved into "Shtal". Supporters of the Stalnaya Krov began a colony centered around a large asteroid named Yaytso Boga and called their collection of space stations Ostrova, or "The Islands".

During the New Aeon Conflict of 2620AD, the Stalnaya Krov joined the New Aeon Aggregate and moved their cylinders to neighbor the other 3 founding clusters, and officially named their new cluster, Ostrova Bogev, or "The Islands of Gods". As the aggregate grew, they were a valued member of the aggregate for their military power, and were leaders psychotronic science and large producers of robotic prosthetics in the aggregate which became a key part of their economy.

Zufeng their first leader.

zaoyan, zaolo sengko

Kulu ruya tn all seeing

Sozin

Zuanshi diamond

### 300 NA: Confluence

The rise of confluences. The first regional confluxes are formed and "minders" established as key figures of the government. 2990, a cluster-wide conflux is formed and Nelias Lingkov becomes the first "Over-minder".

### 500 NA: Avanasian Multitude Era

Kavos, Kovanas

Era where somebody, Avanasi Fadiren took over and mind controlled the cluster into one forced hive mind Conflux Regime. for like 400 yr

When Ostrova was founded there was a strong ideology baked into the "constitution" that allowed for strong gov but felt that gov should never get involved in deciding what type of cyberware was and wasn't allowed and also that gov should never have access to it. This was finally overturned by Avanassi? who decided to regulate the confuxes and configurations. He eventually took control of them. that was kind of an outrage to some but now they think of him as a hero?

Avanassi convinced the people to let him have more access to their stuff. he made it law to have certain psychotronic components that allowed him to manipulate people. With the help of a cognition he could stimulate the regions of the brain that shut off critical thinking or turned on a more suggestible state so that he could control their compliance to anything he wanted en masse. otherwise they were still mostly independent thinkers. unless he wanted to activate an army or something, which he could. this hive mind lasted for 300-400 yr until some rebels were able to virus kill the hive, believing this was the only way to stop this mass slave system. This killed a whole subcluster,like 1/3 of ostrova?

Though the multitude was totally against the will of the people, the genocide was a huge loss which and as a consequence, the multitude and Avanssi became more more revered over time. Eventually some began to think of the multitude as some idealized paradise and Avanssi as the hero that made it possible. Avanassi was also made a hero in much later government propoganda as he made it possible for the autocratic confluxes of the present. In general, memski and zuanshi cultures have a more hero view of Avanassi while the other two demonize him.

Or Maybe Avanassi was from 800 to 1200. or Omniscials took over the conflux

Or avanassi was during the age of upheaval. Maybe the omniscials took over the conflux or maybe they're the ones that started this hive mind. when they died, Avanassi took advantage of their power vacuum and took over the conflux. lasted till 1550? some still think that the unity was evil. some still buy into the propaganda the unity was the ideal.

### 1200 NA: Yogoran Occupation

When the Yogora declared dominion over the aggregate. In an impressive show of their advanced technologies, Ostrova was one of the first to be conquered, shocking the rest of the aggregate.

During the occupation....

### 1400NA Reconstruction

After the Yogorans were finally defeated, the aggregate was left in chaos and disarray. The Ostrova region began to reform into 5 separate rivaling entities; Liliang, Memski, Cognis, The Catacombs, and Zuanshi. Each disagreed with the others' plans for the future of a unified cluster. After decades of disputes, a compromise was made that each region would become a somewhat independent province and maintain their own regional confluxes but a a council was formed made of the High Superiors and Overseers from each province which would make decisions that would affect the whole Cluster. This council was called the Sovereign Superior Council. This effectively united the cluster and The Ostrova Cluster has continued to grow stronger and became one of the key powers in the cluster once again.

### 1550 NA: Shoufen Aggression

or maybe this ends at 1450.

A weakening economy lead a political faction of the Zuanshi Cloud to gain control of the Ostrova Cluster in 1550NA. They were lead by Superior Sadil Shoufen who convinced the other Superiors that Ostrova deserved ownership of the Hull Forge and several stations in the Chiliad and Yakosei Clusters which Ostrova had sold to them in the previous century. Shoufen believed that since the Luminaries originally provided Hullforges to each of the clusters, that it was obviously their intention that this technology be accessible to each cluster in the aggregate. They pressured Chiliad to allow open access to the Hullforge to each government or that it should regularly be passed from cluster to cluster after some predefined period. And after so much time, they felt that others (starting with Ostrova) deserved ownership of the Hullforge more than Chiliad, began attempts to take control of the forge. In 1560 Ostrova began a series of invasion attempts into Chilliad Cluster for control of these stations. Everdawn became involved but the other clusters remained neutral. Ostrova was able to gain control of a half of the disputed stations but Chiliad was able to resist further success.

In 1575, Shoufen changed his strategy and decided to invade the capital of Chiliad to attempt to gain control of the whole cluster. They destroyed the government headquarters and devasted several Chiliad cylinders. The other clusters finally stepped in and forced Ostrova to back down. Unwilling to make war with the whole aggregate, Ostrova claimed they would stop the hostilities. A tense cold war remained for decades. But the Sovereign Superiors eventually put an end to the Shoufen regime and Ostrovan advancements.

## Culture

### General

One of the founding values of Ostrova is the desire to transcend the limits of biological life. A significant percentage of their bodies are generally replaced with hardware to be stronger and more durable than a biological body could. There is a default set of cyborg enhancements that are given to Shtal and the implant process begins even while still a fetus. Beyond this, there variety of other enhancements and body part replacements which are determined by the parents during childhood, or by the individual once the child reaches adulthood. There four primary shtal configurations which prioritize different life values. But even the most extreme are limited due to the fact that a living consciousness is confined to the brain.

There are many brain implants to enhance the mind. These "psychotronic" implants allow for better memory, external memory storage, direct access to the electronics and information networks, and to allow for more advanced senses. Several of these are part of the default shtal configurations. But there is a general resentment among many shtal that their core consciousness is confined to an organic brain and can't be transferred to a superior device. Therefore, though many acknowledge that neuroscience and psychology are a fields of massive importance for the shtal, in some regions, these sciences are looked down on or seen as low class.

### Confluences

The Shtal all have psychotronic implants which allow them to interface with technology and digital information directly with their brain. In a limited way, they can use electronic external harddrive to supplement their brain. This also means they can communicate with other shtal (or anyone with a psychotronic implant) electronically with their mind. This is still limited to mostly verbal communication and base emotions. This has resulted in the early stages of a hive mind. The different networks which people belong to are known as confluences and they are an important part of Shtal culture.

There are 3 types of Confluences with different levels of importance: minor, major, and regional. Personal or minor confluences are almost ubiquitous among the shtal and are mostly pragmatic. But part of a major confluence requires a higher level of commitment and change in lifestyle that can be seen like as religious. Being part of the regional confluences are compulsory for all Ostrova citizens, but attitudes toward these confluences are somewhat religious in nature as well.

#### Minor Confluences

The psychoware allows to automatically share as much want they can with certain groups. Their form of  “social media” is to just share certain data with the group so everyone in the group just “knows” it. This is limited and is basically just the highlights which are automatically generated images/video plus verbal context and emotional significance. People's experiences and knowledge are easily categorized and relevant info automatically goes out to their various minor confluences they belong to so everyone just knows it as well. Families often have a deep level of data sharing, while a person may belong to various other communities, (work, hobbies, etc) where different info is shared. Most of these are purely pragmatic. But it fills a social need as well. In one's "personal" confluence they are in a state of constant subconscious communication with their closest friends and family which results in deeply satisfying certain social needs of human psychology beyond what is even possible naturally. Solitude, secrets, and keeping something personal are also important to and they are also possible. But this level of sharing is limited to around 20 people otherwise the brain is overtaxed.

#### Major Confluences

Some shtal choose to give up a normal life and join a major confluence. This involves a deeper level of sharing that can have powerful effects but at the cost of reducing the capacity of other parts of the brain. Their lived experience is primarily inside their networked mind with less awareness of the physical world. Their body will be slower, and limited in other ways. The most common reason to do so would be to increase a social confluence with more and more people. They claim that the unity with hundreds of people is more fulfilling than any other pursuit and eventually one can attain a sort of social nirvana where one achieves ego death. One of the largest of these is the Naron Conflux.

The other common kind of major confluence is for knowledge. Those that crave knowledge and understanding that surpasses the limits of humanity attempt to join their minds with other like minded intelligent people. Once joined, everyone in the confluence gets equal access to each individual education and expertise. Effectively granting more expert knowledge than can ever be acquired in one lifetime on one's own. Often these are created to form a sort of supercomputer of minds to attempt to solve difficult scientific questions or make important governmental decisions. One of the most famous of these is the Zhensang Conflux. But once hived in a major confluence, certain costs to the mind and body are permanent, even if the individual disconnects.

#### Regional

Every citizen of the Ostrova Cluster must belong to one of the four Regional Confluences. These connections are more one sided. Here, little is shared with the individual beyond new important changes to law, or urgent warnings about a cylinder safety. But joining this confluence allows government officials called "Seers" the ability to look into the mind of the citizen at any time. City superiors are beholden to a city official called a "seer" who is hived in their city confluence to be able to observe all their citizens, truly know their opinions and needs as well as accessing the most expert knowledge on a subject and synthesize it into a plan of action. So all citizens by law have some of their mind accessible by the minders but it is a one way connection. Each subcluster has a few regional "Overseers" which are hived into the whole region's minds. It is a serious honor to gain access to this major network and is regulated because of the sensitive information contained. But it is also a great sacrifice as they lose some aspect of their humanity and when linked in.

#### Avanassians

Maybe a religious confluence that are trying to recreate the Avanassian multitude by using psychotronics that allow them to be controlled by some AI Volition that they worship. (or maybe there is no Volition, its just a complex supercomputer that does function almost like a true hive mind). They want to create a true hivemind because they believe that it would be like a next step of evolution and make them part of some transcendent being. Two types of followers. 1, People that are part of the multitude and have given up their autonomy to the Volition. and 2, people not willing to go that far but see the Multitude hive as a transcendent being that they worship. Usually hope to join someday but not ready yet.

Maybe illegal because it would kind of compete with the government? or not, just the overseers keep tabs on them.

### Traditions

Most Ostrova habitats have a colder climate than elsewhere, with many being below freezing. Since the vacuum of space is an insulator, space stations need massive radiators to keep the station cool. With the abundance of electronics in Ostrovan habitats, temperature can be raised quickly in some circumstances. In early Ostrova history, keeping the habitat cooler allowed for a larger fluctuations and cheaper radiators. Additionally, since the majority of the residents are cyborgs and electronics can run hot, keeping the organic parts at a healthy temperature is more efficient if the environment is colder. Again, this was more of a concern in the past with older technology.

### Death

When a shtal dies, all cyberware is removed and given to inheritors who generally keep them for spare parts. Reusing parts of a loved one who died can be a way of memorializing them, (analogous to getting a tattoo in memory of someone). So much so that it is tradition in some regions to do so (with at least one prominent component) even if the deceased's components are of lower quality. There are some traditional rituals that some subcultures perform as part of the replacement process. Even if not used, some components are sometimes kept as mementos of the deceased, especially psychotronics. Each psychotronic device uniquely integrates and calibrates to the owner's specific brain, as the individual grows and learns. They literally contain some of the memories of the individual so these devices are seen as close to the individual's "soul" as possible. So, many shtal keep the psychotronics and display them in the home, or wear them as pendants or permanent ornamentation.

Even if the components are ultimately sold or recycled they are always treated with solemnity in the process. The biological remains on the other hand are not particularly sacred to the shtal. They are put into organic recyclers without much formalities.

### Remotes

Some humans use psychotronics to remotely pilot an auto that they experience life through. these people are called "operators" and their autos are called "remotes". sometimes it is for temporary tasks and for some it is a permanent lifestyle. One reason why memski and alamazi shtal remove or hide their skin is to make it harder to determine whether or not they are remotes, making it harder for the paranoid to be killed.
Humans can only pilot 1-2 remotes at a time and can't do much with the operator body at the same time

Definitions:

* **Remote**: the general concept of mentally piloting an automat through psychtronics. also the type of automat used for this purpose.
* **Operator**: the human piloting
* **Proxy**: A person who lives life as a permanent remote operator. Their bodies remain in a secure chamber that keeps them healthy. Proxy also refers to the type of automat used.

Proxy groups:

* **The Dreamwalkers**: a group of religious zeolot Proxies from Ostrova
* **Comashtal**, Shtal from The Necropolis/Catacombs, a region of Ostrova where the majority of residents are Proxies who live in a shared "dreamspace" (virtual reality) called Idyllicia, but visit "hardspace" via proxies.

## Government

### Superiors and Minders

City leaders called "Minders" or "seers" are hived in their city confluence to be able to observe all their citizens, truly know their opinions and needs as well as accessing the most expert knowledge on a subject and synthesize it into a plan of action. So all citizens by law have some of their mind accessible by the minders but its a one way connection. It is a serious honor to gain access to this major network and is regulated because of the sensitive information contained. But again, they lose some aspect of their humanity when linked in. Each region has one "Overminder" which is connected to everyone in the city. This is such a large confluence that few can handle it. They cannot read every thought of citizens, just base emotions, and scan through the knowledge on the external databank. But using this they can know the general discontent or attitudes of the region as a whole or the specific criminal intent or knowledge of an individual in particular.

Government propaganda as well as cultural attitudes portray these Overminders as benevolent elites. The most intelligent and altruistic citizens who were granted a godly power to protect and serve the cluster. Many appreciate them and call out to them with their mind in times of need. Many others resent them and hide their most valuable secrets or criminal activity from their external harddrive and keep that knowledge only on their inferior brain memory.

### Overtakers

A newer position in the regional confluences is the Overtakers. With their new technology they can not only take control of a shtal's electrical cyborg components but can influence their brain as well. using these abilities they can take over someone's body and use them for whatever they see fit agent smith style. Maybe only those who are willing, so only those who revere the overseers. Maybe one region, by law the overtakers can only take over willing citizens and it is like an honor and aspiration for some, but in another region it is compulsory and seen as normal for most and an intrusion for some.  Maybe one region, overtakers are a rare position only one per city, but in other regions maybe anyone in a semi-high law enforcement position can do it. Either way they are seen similarly to Overminders in that they are greatly feared and respected and a small percentage of the people think of them almost as gods.

### Sovereign Superior Council

The cluster is lead by the a council made of the High Superiors of each province and their Overminders. For centuries, the council had no official leader but in 300 years ago the leadership positions were created to make the final decisions when the council does not agree. The leader of the council now is called the Sovereign Superior who is advised one Archminder who is connected to the 4 other Overminders.

## Regions

The cluster is divided into 4 subclusters or territories. Each is lead by a Superior and Overminder.

**Liliang Subcluster**

The primary economic center of the cluster where most intercluster trade occurs. This sector is most mixed race, having the lowest percentage of shtal at about 60%. Most shtal in Liliang are senza and are often less zealous about Ostrova ideals.

**Memski Subcluster**

The culture of the Memski sector was influenced by the belief that the happiest life could be attained through through cyborg technology, The nivani shtal of this region care most about living a fulfilling life by maximizing their social fulfilment, zen attitude and implants help maximize pleasure and serotonin. This region has the most Major confluences because many see them as a way to achieve social nirvana which surpasses any other fulfillment in life. But others think this is too irrational to do and seek other pursuits.

**Parallax Subcluster**

The Razumi are the primary configuration of the Parallax province. Their primary value is typically knowledge and rationality. Their culture aims to expanding their knowledge of the physical sciences, and mastery of esoteric pyschotronic skills.

**Zuanshi Sector**

The Zuanshi is the center of the cluster's military and home of the Almazi shtal. They typically value physical strength and the pursuit of enhancing life through technology to be most durable. They design their bodies to be far physically stronger, more durable, and higher tech. They also value the pursuit of immortality. A major problem with this pursuit is the weak biological brain which is the worst limiting factor. Because of this, though biologists/psychologists here are important for this goal, because of their disdain for biology it is socially looked down upon to study biology even for that reason. Almazi are typically the most individualistic and temperamental.

**The Catacombs**

Or the Necropolis. A region of Ostrova where the majority of residents are Comashtal who live in a shared "dreamspace" (virtual reality) called Idyllicia, but visit "hardspace" via Proxy remotes.

## Notable Stations

### Zuanshi

 **Tianwen** | Residential- self sustaining

## Religon

*Cognism and Luminism ofc*

Various Religious Confluxes

* Overseer worship. (5) Idylicia especially worship their overseer and admin/minder.
* The Naron Conflux
* The Multitude, worships Avanassi and the Volition that controls them.
* Resonance,