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 Ajkadi Collective

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Ajkadi




Posts : 23
Join date : 2014-02-23

Ajkadi Collective Empty
PostSubject: Ajkadi Collective   Ajkadi Collective Icon_minitimeSun Mar 02, 2014 9:00 pm

Government/Politics: Communal and extremely liberal.
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Population/Demographics: ~350,000 total. About 10% across Arata, and the rest in other colonies.
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Land Area/Geography (of Arata): 39% residential/established, 37% agricultural, 18% wilderness, 16% reserved as sacred/spiritual/worship sites. Over 80% of the small planet is aquatic.
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Economy: Modest (undeveloped compared to most others) and communally based. No recognized form of currency.
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Military: Extremely specialized in melee but virtually without ranged weaponry; high percentage of reserve forces.
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Media: Mostly limited to independent reporters/journalists.


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The Ajka is a philosophical and cultural diaspora which was founded from ascetic traditions such as Jainism, Buddhism, and Shinto in the late years of Earth's history. Adherents of Ajka (which means "rising" or "to rise") are called Ajkadi. They have only one city known as New Ajka'el on the aquatic planet Arata. Most of their population is dispersed throughout other colonies, as individual Ajkadi often travel and move from place to place. They are a peaceful, compassionate, and disciplined people who often follow the traditions of old Earthian monks. They often keep no possessions and rely on the generosity of mankind for their sustenance, but they in turn protect, defend, and support the weak with their very lives.

As a colony, the Ajkadi lack the power, numbers, or level of technology of any other colony. Their only planet Arata is one of the tiniest in the sector and although it is habitable, it is mostly aquatic and has few valuable materials. The Ajkadi are not rich, do not have any particularly worthwhile exports, and do not usually involve themselves in intercolonial affairs. They are often mistaken as one of the smallest, weakest social groups in the area. However, they have a strong collective willpower and discipline and they are among the most skilled martial artists, swordsmen, and melee combatants in the known world.


Culture and Social Norms
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The Ajkadi have a very unique, ritualized, and highly developed culture. It has evolved throughout thousands of years, growing off of the teachings of numerous other cultures, religions, and philosophies. Overall, they are disciplined and honor-bound. Despite the poignant and eloquent expression shown in their art, they err on the side of humility and timidity in person.

Ajkadi children are generally raised in very warm, loving homes. They are taught the values of humility, modesty, respect, dedication, discipline, and honor. All Ajkadi children learn sign language before they learn to speak, and until they complete an apprenticeship in their discipline or profession, they are not allowed to speak to other adults outside of the home unless asked directly. Almost every Ajkadi is fluent in both speaking and signing, and the Ajkadi encourage their children to become advanced in literature and communication at an early age.

Ajkadi warriors cover their faces, usually with fitted cloths or armored masks. These are of great significance because they represent modesty and service, as well as the ideal that every warrior is of the same blood (until they earn higher honors or their Strike marks). It is considered improper for a warrior to speak unless spoken to. These masks earn them the name "Masked Ones" or "Faceless" by other groups, sometimes in a derogatory or fearful way.

Guns, firearms, automatic weapons, explosives, and most other technological weapons are strictly outlawed across the planet of Arata, with exceptions being almost unheard of. Ajka beliefs teach that guns are just weak tools that sow chaos and suffering, and they are seen as "dirty" and bloody. Penalties for illegal gun ownership or smuggling are strict - on a first offense, an individual may have all of his or her worldly possessions stripped from them or be exiled from Ajka entirely.

The practice of martial arts is incredibly prominent in Ajkadi society. It is considered a form of art and teaching, as well as a canvas for the physical expression of discipline. It is uncommon for able-bodied Ajkadi to not have experience in some type of martial art. Many practice it throughout their lifetimes from their first step until they can no longer stand.

Swordsmanship is highly revered but held in such high regard that it is nearly a form of prayer. Every warrior receives years of training before ever seeing real combat. It is said that "for every stroke of the blade in war, an Ajkadi has studied and perfected that exact stroke at least a thousand times over." Because of this intense lifelong training, Ajkadi are highly prized by foreign militaries as soldiers and trainers and, rarely, Ajkadi can be found working as mercenaries or bodyguards. It is not uncommon for an Ajkadi's sword to be their most valuable and prized possession, and they are often crafted by hand by master craftsmen, kept for a lifetime, and then passed down through the generations.

  Art
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The Ajkadi highly revere art, literature, and other forms of expression, but artists and authors often take little or no credit and sometimes prefer to remain entirely anonymous. Other popular arts in Ajkadi culture include keeping and maintaining koi ponds, gardens, bonsai, calligraphy, sculpting, pottery, haiku, and poetry. It is said that the best Ajkadi artists work on their art while in prayer or meditation.

Ajkadi Collective Zen-japanese-garden-with-moon-bridge-and-lotus-pond-with-koi-fish-jamie-pham

Ajkadi Collective Tumblr_md7cecxwfj1rkbxt6o1_1280

Ajkadi Collective Kitamura15_web

Ajkadi Collective 05-06-zen-art


Last edited by Ajkadi on Sat Mar 08, 2014 4:07 am; edited 4 times in total
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Ajkadi




Posts : 23
Join date : 2014-02-23

Ajkadi Collective Empty
PostSubject: Re: Ajkadi Collective   Ajkadi Collective Icon_minitimeSun Mar 02, 2014 9:00 pm


History
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The history of the Ajkadi reaches back decades before the advent of widespread space colonization. During the era of global warfare and political unrest, several spiritual leaders from across the world met to discuss easing the pains of those who were in suffering. They formed a spiritual and political philosophy known as "Ajka" (meaning "rise" or "to rise up") which was aimed at promoting peace instead of the violence, capitalism, warfare, and the constant ploys for domination that had become all too prominent across Earth.

Ajka was heavily influenced by the morals and values of different religions such as Jainism, Shinto, Buddhism, and others, but did not hold any religious teachings of its own besides a philosophy of asceticism and sacrifice for others in need. Because of this, it attracted thousands of like-minded individuals, from celibate monks across Europe and Asia to atheist activists in North America. By the year 2075, it had become a major political reckoning force for non-violent action and leaders of Ajka had gained audience with the UN and most major world powers. Operating mostly out of monasteries in Southeastern Asia, Ajka spent years establishing a legacy of helping the poor and down-trodden, forming strong international communities, speaking for what was right and just, and acting on behalf of those without voices in all corners of Earth. It was not uncommon for the headlines of international news to read "Ajka Practicioners Rebuild Earthquake-Devastated Village in Cuba," "New Peace Charity Established," "Ajka Monks Tutor Indonesian Children - Literacy Rates up 300%," "Starving Village in Libya Relieved by Hundreds of Ajka Students," or "War Called Off - Crisis Averted by Ajka Leaders."

In 2101, the otherwise bright future of Ajka took a decisively dark turn. A respected and well-known Ajka leader, a Japanese Shinto monk by the name of Nagata Ryu, was assassinated. He had been attending an international conference in South Africa to raise funds for a disease-eradication program when an insurgent from a warring country shot and killed him while speaking on-stage. Hundreds of thousands mourned, including not only practicioners of Ajka, but others from across the world. Presidents, prime ministers, and other notable leaders from dozens of nations issued heartfelt statements of grief. Students of Ajka were devastated and were forced to withdraw from many of their efforts abroad due to security concerns. It seemed that Ajka was backed into a stage of dormancy.

During their period of mourning for the loss of one of their greatest leaders, the council of Ajka removed one of their long-standing practices at the insistence of its practicioners: they began funding martial arts and self-defense programs. Much of the donations that had once gone to funding charity efforts started funding martial training for students instead. The policy of "strict non-violence" shifted to one of "defense of the self, and of those in need." Headlines evolved to read "Woman Defended from Gang Rape Attack by Ajka Practicioners: All Assailants Dead," "Ten Armed Insurgents Detained by Single Unarmed Ajka Student," and "Terrorist Leader Captured and Held Prisoner by Ajka Activists." Ajka began to aim for higher goals by ending violence and corruption in governments, and they became more and more outspoken and willing to physically intervene to protect the innocent.

Some countries, particularly those with high crime rates and corrupt governments, began to condemn and outlaw the practice of Ajka when it brought some of their unjust actions to light. Following a handful of such events, many Ajka practicioners went "underground" and faced discrimination ranging from imprisonment to execution. They were labeled by many countries to be a terrorist group. To many, it seemed that the once noble and prestigious group had been snubbed out by injustice.

The countries of Japan and India were some of the few to continue fostering the growth and protection of Ajka students. Ajka populations began to grow once more, with several influential leaders and officials being counted amongst the ranks of Ajka. When space colonization began to develop, insightful Ajka council members started to allocate funds for an Ajka colony - a place where justice would flourish, right would triumph, and the poor and weak would be just as protected as the rich and strong. It was a dream that would take many generations to grow into reality, and the Ajkadi could not do it alone.

For many years, the Ajkadi philosophy trickled out into other colonies. It was an idealistic set of beliefs that was safer in space than in the hostile environment of Earth, and experienced a sort of renaissance in space. Ajka became an influential guiding light towards a peaceful future, and practicioners found themselves in many civilian colonies, spread further across the universe than any other single collective in history.

When the first shuttle funded entirely by Ajkadi launched in 2200, it held 25,000 Ajka adherents destined for a temperate aquatic planet that several other small Earthian colonies were also set to colonize. Ajka originally claimed a small and modest island, hardly sufficient for their promised living space and farming, until other colonies began to encroach upon their territory and take advantage of their peaceful ideals. At first, Ajka leaders politely petitioned them - to no avail. Earthian regulations officers were too tied up in the turbulent politics of Earth to enforce the boundaries. As such, the Ajka were forced into their first military endeavor when the other colonies nearly choked them off from their own land. In one day, several thousand highly trained practicioners of Ajka took up arms against the hostile Earthian colonies, defeating opposing soldiers many times over in number and offering civilians the choice to stay and bloodlessly assimilate to Ajka laws or leave the planet. This is referred to as the One-Day War, when Ajkadi took the planet - renamed New Ajka'el - by force.

Even with the turbulent re-establishment of New Ajka'el, Ajka continued to prosper far beyond the borders of the oceanic planet. New Ajka'el and the city of Ajkaya stood as the idyllic home of all Ajkadi, and many of them started to make pilgrimages to visit the holy sites of the planet and its shrines. Old relics from Earthian religions were housed in Ajkadi-protected temples, and new sites were erected to honor the hope of a peaceful future.

By 2300, Ajka was established as a force in the world that refused to surrender to the corruption that had eaten Earth alive. Today, they continue to mingle neutrally amongst the other colonies and maintain the quiet and peaceful haven of New Ajka'el through discipline and honor.
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Ajkadi




Posts : 23
Join date : 2014-02-23

Ajkadi Collective Empty
PostSubject: Re: Ajkadi Collective   Ajkadi Collective Icon_minitimeThu Mar 06, 2014 12:41 am

Characters/Notable Individuals ~ One flake in the snow, one drop in the stream, one blink of the eye in time; remember this is all we are alone - a blizzard, a waterfall, all eternity; this is all we are together.
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Ajkadi Collective 01da4210

Ajkadi Collective 15eb7410

Ajkadi Collective Cyborg11

The typical appearances of an Ajkadi warrior (male or female). Their faces are always covered by a plain one-way mask (see Culture and Social Norms above) and they often wear a simple white hooded mantle, whether or not they choose to wear body armor. It is rare to see a warrior without their sword or chosen weapon (unless they are hand-to-hand specialists), which is often the only material possession that they carry. Ajkadi that look like this are often seen training in the monasteries of New Ajka'el or traveling throughout other colonies. Despite any misconceptions due to their appearance, they tend to be caring, humble, quiet, compassionate, and peaceful.

Ajkadi Collective The_or10

A non-warrior Ajkadi. There is no typical "dress code" although they seem to greatly prefer simple white fabrics such as hooded cloaks and robes without many cosmetic adornments or intricacies, and almost never wear makeup or jewelry.

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Ajkadi Collective Thumbm11

Ryko is a distinguished old-style swordsman who comes from the sixth generation of a family of Ajka adherents. He is recognizable by his Strike Mark which is a plain golden sphere on the left side of his mask; he earned it when most of that side of his face was blasted away from a plasma-firing sidearm after he intervened to protect innocent civilians from a gang attack on Deysha-II. Aside from training and traveling, he is known for his graceful and simplistic paintings of natural scenes which he has donated to charities and art galleries across multiple planets.

Ajkadi Collective Armor_12

Nahdra is a promising young dual-blade student of a fourth generation family. She left the monasteries fairly early, feeling called to a life of ascetic traveling with nothing to call her own besides her twin swords.


Ajkadi Collective The_la10

Kyazake was formerly a strict student of Ajka who lived within the monasteries of New Ajka'el, focusing his training mostly on close-quarters combat with knives. He studied under some of the finest mentors, and at the age of twenty-five, finally decided to leave his home. However, after spending time abroad in his travels, he was one of the unfortunate Ajkadi who found that living solely on the alms of others left him too vulnerable to the all-too-common lack of kindness found amongst mankind. Against the ethics of Ajka, he was forced to take odd jobs at the only thing he was good at - combat - and made a living as a guard, bounty hunter, hitman...whatever paid for his next meal, although he has always remained highly discriminate about the morals of his assignments. Now he is trapped between the strict philosophies of Ajka and the rest of the world which is still foreign to him. He travels wherever the wind takes him, looking for jobs that might make a difference in the world so long as they keep him alive another day.


Ajkadi Collective Paladi11

Kysha was once a fugitive with a price on her head high enough to make most bounty hunters squeal. She raided and robbed, moving from place to place until she was notorious and wanted in every system and on every planet except for New Ajka'el. When she tried to rob her first Ajkadi, she was promptly put face-first on the ground for the first time in her life, and she quickly began to learn humility. She was given the chance to redeem herself and reshape her life or be exiled; fortunately for her, she took the long and arduous path of redemption through years of training and discipline. She is now a respectable warrior, although she lacks the innate sense of honor, patience, and self-determination that many lifelong Ajkadi do.

Ajkadi Collective Bjork

Renowned Ajkadi artist Aida, who is noted for her simplistic, patient, and symbolic painting style, travels throughout the world and translates her visions of the modern world around her into a traditional Ajka perspective. She has a home in New Ajka'el, but is more likely to be wandering other planets and colonies making her living as a starving artist despite the huge sums of money that her paintings often fetch from collectors and admirers worldwide. Her work has been cited as "accomplishing an ancient reach between contemporary multimeda artists and the old, simplistic Earthian style of nothing but brush-in-hand that art was truly born from." She is described as private, humble, and enigmatic, and throughout the many years of her career she has repeatedly refused to comment on her own work or offer the media any view of her besides her art.
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