Sikhean Brotherhood

The Sikhean Brotherhood is a faction of Sethaleya, who have made their home on the planet Xyris. Individuals are referred to as 'Brothers'.

Culture
The Sikhean Brotherhood is highly religious and believes in the freedom and self-determinism of all races. Individuals are expected to help make the galaxy a better place.

Education
All Brothers are educated between the ages of five and ten, in the basic subjects such as reading and writing, mathematics, general science, and the Brotherhood's philosophy.

Those particularly adept may go on to the academies. They will remain in the academy until the age of eighteen, studying a single subject until they are an expert in the field.

Entertainment
The Brotherhood is suspicious of technological entertainment. They promote the theatres, debate squares and gymns as the sources of entertainment.

Art
Sophisticated masonry and ornaments are used in the construction of the Brotherhood's cathedrals. They contain tapestries and statues. Professional artists are commissioned by the Brotherhood, but all are encouraged to make works of art in their spare time.

Religion
Religion is extremely important to the Brotherhood. They believe in a God and also that the mind exists as a spirit apart from the physical world, unable to leave until they die but then free to move on and be with God. The more good deeds they do, the more likely their spirit is to be able to escape the body. Evil spirits are believed to be trapped within their corpse until the end of the physical universe.

The Brotherhood has built a number of enormous cathedrals in which the Brothers gather to worship together. Their spaceships contain small chapels.

The leaders of the Brotherhood are the Bishops. Below them are the Priests, and then the Deacons. The normal Brothers lie at the bottom. The Knights of Sikhe stand seperately, but will usually obey the Bishops.

Language
The official language of Brotherhood is derived from Ixhian, the language of the tribe of Ixha. It has changed little (due to measures taken by the Brotherhood), but is referred to now as 'Neax'.

Economy
The Brotherhood is a communal economy, giving out its products and items as it sees fit amongst its Brothers. The Bishops decide how budgets are allocated, and then the Deacons distribute to individuals.

Military
The Brotherhood maintains a military, but can also conscript from its main population.

Knights of Sikhe
The Knights of Sikhe are an order of elite warriors within the Brotherhood. They are selected age ten, and then trained in battle from then on, in special monasteries and on board the Brotherhood's vessels.

Main weapons are swords and projectile rifles. They are equipped with titanium alloy plate armour and wear torques made of bronze.

The Fleet of the Brotherhood
The Brotherhood has a fleet of over eighty vessels. The majority are cruisers, for independent travel and all-round ability. They are equipped with fusion motors, mass drivers, and masers.