Adapted from The Manipulative Philosophy of Esper
The Starfall Galaxy’s devotion pie is an inherently complex thing. Sure, each of its five devotions are rigid and easy to define, but the magic happens when you begin to combine these devotions to create something new. This wonderful setting of ours has leveraged this complexity to craft many unique factions and characters; however, when it comes to three-devotion combinations known as shards and wedges, the definitions become less apparent, and the examples less available.
White-Blue-Black Devotion
I aim to clarify what drives each of them at a fundamental level, starting with The Celestial Syndicate, which combines White, Blue, and Black. This is a devotion that is driven by ambitious goals and a desire for excellence.
The Aspiration for Perfection
Within the Starfall Galaxy, we have two examples of White, Blue, and Black factions: the Voidwardens of Xylos and, of course, the star system of Aethelos. Both of these factions represent similar yet distinct takes on this combination of devotions, demonstrating that shards can vary in their beliefs while still rooted in a common set of ideals.
The Voidwardens are a group of Mystics who utilize their abilities in prophecy and communion with the dead to pull the strings of the galactic core from behind the scenes. By leveraging this outside knowledge, they're able to blackmail leaders and manipulate events before they unfold. This version leans significantly more into the core of Black, with its willingness to manipulate society in a way that favors them and the group they belong to.
With the star system of Aethelos, on the other hand, we see something a little different. This world is a cold place of efficiency, where any form of humanity and nature have been scrubbed clean, clearly leaning into the lack of Green and Red Mana. This iteration of the Shard predominantly features Blue, with its desire to find perfection at all costs, which is accompanied by Black and White in order to undertake this task with a pragmatic and final approach.
When it comes to the most common character types and classes in The Celestial Syndicate, we're presented with an abundance of Stellarchs and Archivists. The Stellarch is a being of great wisdom and intelligence, one that speaks in riddles, twisting knowledge and playing with it. The Archivist is a class that manipulates reality through its vast practical knowledge and Arcane Mastery.
With these examples, a pattern begins to emerge. Through them, we understand that the Celestial Syndicate manipulates its surroundings in one form or another and that it takes on lofty goals with a sense of almost righteous indignation for other ways of thinking. Because, to be blunt, the Syndicate believes in their own goals above all else, meaning it's them who have defined what is best through its calculated and pragmatic approach to life and that others are simply just blind to the truth.
This results in an environment like that of the star system of Aethelos, one that is transformed into a world of efficiency, or that of the Voidwardens in their manipulation of society. That said, such a philosophy can be applied at a more personal level as well, transforming into a personality that shapes one's own life to reflect the greatness they see in oneself through discipline and control. Whatever the approach or outlook, the Syndicate does not settle for half-best. With Blue and Black within its identity, ambition is like a drug that it cannot get enough of, while White provides that structured diligence needed to achieve such an idealistic way of being. This I would say is the core of the Syndicate, the most common way to look at it, but it's not the whole picture. When it comes to shards and wedges, there is a need to break them down into three parts, one for each of the devotions present. What I mean is that by leaning a bit more into one of the devotions as our core devotion, then three versions of the combination can be discussed. So let's do just that and begin with the philosophy centered in Blue.
The Core of Logical Transcendence
The dichotomy of the human spirit is inherently imbalanced and prone to failure. If we could instead harmonize our actions with the fulcrum of logic, then perhaps we could be driven by pragmatism towards perfection. A lofty way of thinking, sure, but to the Syndicate, such an outlook comes naturally. When this combination roots its identity in Blue, then logical outcomes which result in an idealized self become a focus, and this way of thinking is balanced with the devotions at each of its side.
You see, while accompanied by White and Black, Blue turns into a devotion that takes into consideration both sides of the coin that is sentience. A person who follows this version of the Syndicate recognizes the need for optimal solutions that are both ideal and achieve the best outcome for themselves and the greater world around them. This new outlook makes up a version of the Syndicate that is defined by pragmatic perfection and practical, unflinching solutions. These solutions always come with a cost, but that cost is weighed against all potential inputs to craft an output that is most sensible and plausible, while well acted upon with a finality and confidence ever present in the White-Black devotion.
This core devotion mixed with the devotion pair within often leads to a person who thinks very highly of their own actions, as they believe that only they have calculated all potential outcomes, and it's them that holds the key to the one truth. This can result in them asserting their way of thinking onto others, aiming to reach perfection not just in themselves but to the wider world around them. They are an idealist with a strong sense of self-confidence, and nothing can stop them. They will then shed inefficiencies within themselves and those around them, for no effort should be wasted and all action should feed into the greater goal.
The Core of Personal Ascendancy
The Syndicate, when Black is the core, focuses inward to actualize systems of personal agency that can be leveraged to succeed in its everyday life. You see, Black is a devotion that aims to get the best out of its life for itself or the smaller group it is a part of, while the inner combination of White-Blue establishes the efficient frameworks that ensure that the right path is followed. This results in the idea I call Frameworks of Personal Ascendancy, which can be understood as the framework or systems through which individuals or groups exercise autonomy and control over their own lives and decisions.
By putting into place rules that protect its trajectory, someone who follows this way of thinking is goal-driven and routine-focused in order to achieve the lofty heights they see for themselves. They know they're destined for greatness, and truthfully, that everyone is; it's just that we allow ourselves to fall into the traps of incremental satisfaction instead of setting up oneself for success through diligence. Often times, the Syndicate can be seen as a manipulator of the world around it, but when it's brought inward, it can also be a force of self-realization through determination and discipline.
The combination of Black’s ambition, Blue’s pursuit of efficiency, and White’s structured approach fosters a mindset of continuous improvement. Syndicate individuals are constantly refining their methods and strategies, all to achieve better outcomes for themselves. This balance prevents the descent into ruthless self-interest and the cannibalization of self that can be present when Black is alone. Think of the person who lives life full of routines, ideals, and ambitions—this is the Syndicate individual, someone who knows that greatness is one step away, but those steps must be taken slowly and with purpose.
The Core of the Visionary Steward
Society is a messy thing. We all aim to grasp at straws to fulfill our own fleeting lives, but this approach leaves us wandering, never able to accomplish much. Imagine instead, if you will, a world where structures are built to facilitate progress. In such a world, the only moral code is that of ambition, not one where we build up the false idols of consumerism and instant gratification, but rather those of integrity and personal growth. Of course, these are ideals that do not come easy, and the world must be shaped around them, and those that falter must be cast aside, as progress waits for no one.
White on its own will be a devotion that is always looking to how it can shape the world into a better place, but often times it can be bogged down by moral concerns and the legality of its own design. By combining with the Blue-Black devotion, a pair that has no qualms with doing what it needs to be done to achieve one's ends, it's able to manipulate outcomes in a way that White usually cannot do on its own. In some cases, this is overt, and in others, it's shrewd and backhanded, though it all depends on the audience of its schemes. Whatever the approach, it's unflinching in its application. This means undermining those that do not follow its path through subterfuge if possible, for a clever hand unseen is better than a fist displayed openly. Because of this strategy, the Syndicate can accomplish its work in the background of society, massaging outcomes until its Utopia is achieved.
Because of this, most of the citizens that live within its society are unaware of the true nature of a Syndicate leader. Instead, they see a visionary who works diligently towards a better world. Such Syndicate visionaries would lead the charge into this new world, setting ambitious goals and charting paths that inspire collective action, and their ability to see beyond the immediate and trivial would galvanize society towards meaningful accomplishments. It's this presence of Blue-Black within White that can produce a leader who can be both a true idealist and the hand in the shadows pulling the strings.
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