Twice-Departed

The Twice-Departed
Leader	None
System	Razor's Rift
Homeworld	Various
Capital	Li'gon
Allies	Belaul
Enemies	Unknown

The Twice-Departed are a society of "outcasts", mostly made up of Jin, though they are accepting and welcoming of nearly everyone willing to provide service for their community, and several people of many different races have joined them since their founding. However, they tend to be wary of outside interference from the sector at large, fearing that calling too much attention to themselves will disrupt their way of life, or that of their allies the Belaul.

The Twice-Departed were founded in 212 AE by Viraj Ne'hoti, a Jin man who was a former A'Khwa-Zhe - what are now known as Soulhunters in the Blood Ark - and pilot of the Li'gon, the ship the Twice-Departed now reside in. In the culmination of the Second War of the Ishvana, Ne'hoti knew that the Li'gon and its crew could either die with great honor with the rest of the fleet, or escape unnoticed, saving himself, his pregnant wife, and his fleet. Knowing that his ship had no chance in the battle and was merely a distraction to draw fire from the Ark, Ne'hoti chose to escape and crash land on the planet Paperweight, in flagrant disregard for usual Jin customs.

At first life upon Paperweight was harsh, though the colony slowly acclimated to life in the tundra, owing their survival largely to the native Belaul, who chose to help and guide them after many great discussions in which they discovered a strange kinship.

Preferring to be left alone for the most part, the Belaul consider the Twice-Departed their allies, though they remain a comfortable distance from them except for important discussions of planet-wide importance, and also to trade now and again at the shops set up outside the Li'gon.

Culture

Priorities To most Jin, life is about preparing for the end of life. This is not the case with most of the Jin of the Li'gon. While the Twice-Departed do take death seriously and consider a good death a high priority, to most of the Twice-Departed, a good death is meaningless without a good life, and they make this their greatest goal. Helping each other and providing for others is considered a duty, and a selfishness and disregard for others is thought of as the worst quality someone could have.

Though the Jin descended from the original Twice-Departed are generally far removed from the Jin culture of the rest of the sector, they are not incredibly different in temperament. They tend towards being thoughtful and philosophical, with a preference for minimalism and simplicity. Their differences lie in their willingness to be open and emotional with each other, and their lack of strict rules of decorum. The Jin of the Li'gon are much more of a warm people, displaying community values but also a live and let live philosophy. Many of the others who live in the Li'gon, not just the Jin, have similar personalities, though individuality is encouraged and celebrated.

Relationships Relationships and family are generally quite important to the people of the Li'gon, though every person is different. Their families look like whatever they want them to look like, without much judgment or concern from others, as long as nobody is being hurt.

How do they treat 'other's? Unlike the Jin of the Ark, the Twice-Departed do not consider old age, disability or disfigurement a burden, but rather a chance to give back to the community by helping out those who cannot help themselves. Often the person who is sick or infirm will choose themselves when they wish to die, and assisted suicide is not uncommon, usually performed by the Ossuary, who considers it a sacred duty.

Entertainment Like the Jin of the Ark, they too love to participate in re-enactments of historical battles, scenes, and stories, though it is more for a love of storytelling and sharing than escaping their society's strict rules of decorum.

Religion Many Jin still worship the death god called T'rath, though their practices of worship would be considered very unorthodox to many traditional Jin. Still others do not believe in T'rath at all, or find more meaning in the mythological Jin figure Fereshteh, or even some embrace Belaul spiritual figures instead. The Li'gon is a place of many different religions, and curiosity and philosophical discussion of one's viewpoints is encouraged, while fanaticism and fundamentalism is not. Many services in the temple involve readings from a myriad of different religions, and the congregation is encouraged to interpret them in whatever way brings them fulfillment.