Goëtia
| Community of Goëtia | |||
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| Motto: Allow Yourself to be Yourself | |||
| Anthem: [shouting and cheering for a few minutes] | |||
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| Map versions | unrecognized | ||
| Capital | Gathering Place | ||
| Official language(s) | Common | ||
| Official religion(s) | Demon worship | ||
| Demonym | Goëtic | ||
| - Adjective | Goëtian | ||
| Government | Association of autocephalous communes | ||
| - Demon-Queen | Kizzy Drakland | ||
| - President | Alfred Priestly | ||
| - Legislature | Conference of Cycle Families | ||
| Establishment | 6886 ASC/1661 AN (14 June, 2018) | ||
| Area | unknown | ||
| Population | 21,664 (simulated) | ||
| Active population | 1 active citizen | ||
| Currency | barter system | ||
| Calendar | |||
| Time zone(s) | |||
| Mains electricity | |||
| Driving side | |||
| Track gauge | |||
| National website | |||
| National forum | Discord | ||
| National animal | |||
| National food | |||
| National drink | |||
| National tree | |||
| Abbreviation | GOE | ||
The Community of Goëtia is a clandestine nation of demon-worshipers, living secretly in an undisclosed location. For many years they have lived undisturbed. Goëtics are from many different nations of Micras, having congregated in a remote location to live their lives and practice their faith free from persecution. Now, however, encroaching settlements and deforestation have forced them to reveal themselves to the world. They believe their faith in the demons will one day be rewarded, and they actively seek a charismatic and powerful leader who is able to protect their way of life.
Origin
They have lived for generations hidden in wooded hinterlands, separated from the succession of nations that happen to have claims to their land. They welcome dozens of immigrants each year, who find their way to Goetia by missionaries who seek out smaller groups of persecuted demon-worshipers. It is unknown who the first Goetic settlers were but they were likely from Micras' most ancient nations. Once settled in Goetia, the Community has a strict breeding schedule required to maintain the native population of Goetics without growing too much to become noticed. The Community has few rules but those few rules are followed absolutely or offenders are cast out to the world.
Government
Every month, Goetics sojourn to Gathering Place where their Demon-Queen leads religious services. While at Gathering Place, the various cycle families form their annual Conference and a President is elected by the fathers and mothers of the cycle families to carry out administrative duties for that year.
Demon-Queen
The demon-queen's role in the Community of Goetia is nebulous and pervasive. She has no formal place within the Community's laws. As a demon-goddess with direct control over several lesser demons, her power is theoretically absolute and Goetics will no doubt do her bidding.
Conference of Cycle Families
All registered cycle families (turfed or nomadic) in good standing may send their father/mother or road captain to the annual Conference of Cycle Families. Each cycle family gets one vote to elect the conference President and vote on any business. Newly formed cycle families must present themselves to the Conference. A majority of the Conference must vote to formally register and recognize any new cycle families. By custom a cycle family must have a family compound, an established and enforced set of bylaws, proven ability to control their turf, and a sufficient number of Full Members to provide for all Auxiliaries. Nomadic cycle families must have had an established and well-known reputation for patrolling a highway.
Foreign Affairs
Goetia has no formal relations with any nation. It has announced its existence to the world, but until it can establish itself as stable and sustainable it has refrained from exposing its location. The nature of the Goetics' religion as demonists puts it at direct odds with many powerful nations.
Military
Goetia has no military, although each cycle family protects itself and its own members with small arms.
Religion
Goetics interpret their religion as a rejection of how other religions deprecate the importance of the human experience. As such, many outsiders would consider the Goetics to be nothing more than hedonistic atheists. Belief in demons is fostered by each new wave of immigrants who bring new demonic stories and experiences. It is taboo to not believe a Goetic's tale of demonic possession. A recent wave of immigrants, former members of the Coven of the Sun, from Malarboria have brought fresh tales of actual demonic presence on Micras. This has sparked a revival and Goetics eagerly await new immigrants from Malarboria.
Kizzy Drakland and her demonic cohort have brought actual demons to Goetia. Goetics read the Grimoindr as their holy book.
Symbols
A pentagon inside a circle is a traditional symbol adopted by Goetics. A pentagon, fully enclosed and with its five vertices, represents the human form, with its five extremities (head, arms, legs). The circle is the world surrounding the individual. A single pentagon inside a circle represents the focus on the self that Goetics practice.
Society
Goetics reside in smaller communities, all within a week's driving distance of the Gathering Place. Each community is single-gendered, to prevent unwanted population growth. Scheduled breeding is only allowed at Gathering Place. These small communities are self-sufficient and barter with each other at Gathering Place. As more immigrants join these small communities, and realize how difficult life is, there is higher demand for modern amenities and luxuries, something that Goetics believe their demon messiah will bring them when their existence is acknowledged by the world community. With the arrival of Kizzy Drakland, Goetics have begun to expand beyond their small compounds, finding and repairing broken motorcycles from defunct Green nations.
Turf
Each cycle family controls the turf within the immediate vicinity of their family compounds. They are responsible for providing civic services to all residents of their turf. All cycle families are responsible for the turf around Gathering Place.
Highways
Nomadic cycle families patrol the old highways between the family compounds. They make emergency repairs to the deteriorating roadways, provide roadside assistance to all travelers, and keep the roads safe. Each nomadic family patrols a single stretch of highway between two family compounds or Gathering Place, referred to as a "run."
Cycle Families
As the communes grew larger and more complex, into settlements, villages, and towns, the cycle families began to reserve important decision making to Full Members of the Family, who were eligible to hold office, were eligible to vote for fathers/mothers and other officers, pass and amend bylaws, set budgets, pass legislation, and provided general government for the Cycle Family and the family's turf. Everyone who resided within the family's turf was considered an Auxiliary member, and had no voting rights but were protected and provided civic services by the family. Some cycle families have begun to patrol the old highways, making it their responsibility to keep the highways and routes safe. Nomadic families are automatically affiliated with the clubs at each terminus of their patrol.
Demographics
The Community has a strict taboo against talking about country or national origins. No data is collected on Goetics' original nationalities. Records are kept of the number of native-born Goetics versus foreign-born.
Total Population: 21,664
Native-born: 7,800
Foreign-born: 13,864
Geography
Goetia is arranged around four family compounds that have developed into small towns. Each town is governed by a cycle family and is connected by highways. The highways are patrolled and governed by nomadic cycle families. Land outside of the family compounds and not immediately adjacent to the highways is considered wild. It is claimed by the Conference for the whole community for the sake of border security and to prevent unwanted enclaves, but the wildlands are unsettled and dangerous. It is a low priority of the Conference to begin taming these lands, choosing to focus on building the towns.
History
Goetics were once global nomads until they found a relatively quite corner of a relatively quiet continent and settled in some Green space c. 1514. The land was ruled by a succession of nations and empires and the Goetics remained hidden in their small communes. When the land returned to the Green c. 1651, the Goetics moved in to the ruins left behind whose locations were mysteriously wiped from global maps. In 1661 the Goetics announced their presence to the world and are in the process of converting their communes into villages and towns.
Culture
Calendar
Goetics use the Norton calendar.
Cuisine
Relatively new to the Community, for generations Goetics survived on hunting and gathering. Goetics fermented roots, bark, and sap to create alcoholic beverages. Barbecues have caught on as popular social events that honor the primal and carnivorous needs of the early Goetics. Venison is a meat staple to the Community. Goetics have begun to expand the turf around their compounds, finding the soil very fertile for general farming, and have started simple farms with simple crops such as lettuce, peas, radishes, turnips, green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, kale, and spinach.
Goetian delicacies include venison tartare, honey bark wine, dried salmon strips.
Music
Music was considered a luxury for most of Goetian history, reserved only for religious services at Gathering Place. While Goetics lived in their family compounds, they mostly kept quiet. At Gathering Place, Goetics were able to chant, yell, scream, and sing as loudly as they wanted. Instruments were limited to whatever rare items immigrants brought with them, like guitars, or drums created with deerskin. Electronic dance music has quickly gained popularity among the younger Goetian generation. The energy is reminiscent of the wild religious services at Gathering Place.
Sports
Goetics enjoy various traditional sports that can be played on smaller fields (out of the need to stay hidden) or individual sports, such as badminton, lacrosse, Athlonic wrestling, archery, hiking, and bodybuilding. With the expansion of family compounds into towns and the revelation of the Community to the world, Goetics have begun to participate in modern sports such as motorcycle racing and Amorian football.
