The major factions in Reclamation

hile there are a multitude of cultures in Reclamation, there are really three important ones, with competing interests.

The Realm of the Nameless Ones

Eric and Arla call their home planet the Realm of the Nameless Ones. The Nameless Ones are their gods, though they can also be thought of as the designers of their ancestors. The culture is divided into five castes: the Royals, the Teachers (or clergy), the Bondless, the Bonded, and the Notouch. Genetic engineering provided the characteristics of the members of each caste.

The Realm consists of deep canyons in which the people live. The walls are known as the Walls of the World, and it's taboo to climb beyond them. Thus, when they left the world, Eric and Arla became heretics in the eyes of their people.

The Rhudolant Vitae

A very secretive organization, the Rhudolant Vitae have searched for centuries for the Home Ground. The Reclamation of the Home Ground is their most sacred quest. Their technology is the best in the Quarter Galaxy, and they typically use this superior technology and trade to make other cultures dependent on them. The other cultures are quite alarmed when the Vitae change tactics and employ a straightforward military invasion of the Realm.

The Unifiers

The Unification of the Human Family, the one organization in direct conflict with the Rhudolant Vitae, seeks to unify all humans in the Quarter Galaxy. Their nature isn't very clear, except as opponents of the Vitae, but they do involve themselves clandestinely in the Realm once the Vitae show interest. A number of Vitae members are secretly working for the Unifiers. Since the inhabitants of the Realm are not "human," the Unifier interest there is somewhat ambiguous.

The Aunorante Sangh

The Aunorante Sangh were an ancient race, remembered universally with horror by all the factions. Though references appear throughout, Zettel never explains exactly who they were or what they did. But she does hint at a couple of interesting possibilities near the end of Reclamation.

ack to Off the Shelf .