By John Schmalbach

Prior to the fall of the 2nd Republic, a group of scientists and theoretical mathamaticians, and psychics, forecasted the end of the Republic.

Prior to the fall of the 2nd Republic, a group of scientists and theoretical mathamaticians, and psychics, forecasted the end of the Republic. Many scoffed, but when the time came, hundreds of thousands fled the known worlds with these "profets" in vast habitat vessels. They were never heard from again.

Today the Guilds are troubled. Unknown Yeoman are selling high technology from an unknown source. They are for the time being trying to cover it up for fear of the Church proscribing the tech and destroying its source. It is in reality small scouting parties from the decedants of those long departed 2nd republic citizens. The "Culture" angle comes into play with the GSV's, LSV's, and LOU vessels that they live on and use. They have not had a stable planet side colony since they left. Believing that the nomadic livestyle would give them a greater need to create and remain united. They have seen what has happened to the rest of humanity though, and now seek to help their fellow man.

Their technology outstrips that of the Known worlds, though they don't have the "Minds" as seen in Banks' work, but their population is smaller and though they have psychics, in a society that lost most true organized religions, and feeling that ritual and spells are simply superstition, they lack theurgy.