D'era

From Star Trek: Gamma One

D'era is the philosophy that guides and, in some ways, empowers the Romulan people. Long ago, they believe, celestial beings known as the Vhorani places their ancestors on the planet Vulcan to be tempered and honed by that harsh environment. This process would be necessary, for the manifest destiny of their people is to conquer all other races, all obviously inferior, and to rule the stars. Those who embraced Surak's philosophies rejected their birththright, and in the end those who would become the Romulan people fled Vulcan to pursue their destiny.

It should be noted that this manifest destiny is not as harsh as it sounds. The Romulan people are the caretakers of those they conquer, not their masters. These inferior races are as children- to be protected from outside dangers, and occasionally disciplined as needed. This is also why Romulans tend to be annoyed when a common misconception- that the Empire practices slavery- is thrown in their faces, usually by citizens of the Federation. One would not, after all, enslave one's children. The planets taken into the Star Empire are subjects, and client worlds; those of their peoples who wish to seek Romulan citizenship are encouraged to do so, and some have even risen to serve in the hallowed halls of the Romulan Senate.

Romulans can be much more harsh with each other than they are with client races. They expect certain standards of behavior from their fellows, and woe betide those who do not adhere to those standards. It's not unusual for a Romulan to avenge his or her spouse's death, or for noble Houses to wage rather violent feuds. In the case of the latter, a vendetta stick is often seen at the scene of an action in a feud- a rod used to claim ownership of an action against another House, or to accuse another House of action requiring vengeance.

The Virtues

Four primary virtues form the foundation of D'era:

• Devotion: Considered by some to be the most profound base upon which D'era rests, Devotion implies fealty to one's family, small and large. This denotes both one's personal relatives, but also, for example, the family formed by a ship's crew or one's colleagues, and to that of the Star Empire itself. Through this Devotion, one is led to the other three precepts which rest upon it. It is because of Devotion that the other three work.

• Allegiance: Allegiance is based upon a Romulan's sworn word; it's the truth behind that oath. This factors in matters as minor as a signed contract, to those as major as one's sworn duty to serve the Empire. Unbelievably strong as the woven strength beneath the society of the Empire, it sometimes transcends even written law. Murder and what would otherwise be treachery have been overlooked before in the name of broken Allegiance.

• Discipline: For Romulans, Discipline is an active force, rather than a passive one. It denotes self-control in the face of circumstances both good and bad, and the ability to move beyond those circumstances to create one's destiny. Romulans don't believe in luck or ill fortune- they believe that the events inflicted upon one are the result of one's own actions. Dabble in treachery, and treachery will be done unto you. Have the Disclipline to rise above and do what's right, and you will be lifted up.

• Fidelity: Fidelity is what guides a Romulan the most every day of his life- it is doing what is right and necessary to gain success, not only for you but, more importantly, for those tied to you by the other three precepts. A Romulan individual puts his family, his ship, and his Empire before himself at all times, and always seeks their success. It is this, ironically, that leads to other Empires describing Romulans as 'sneaky' or 'treacherous'- what is right and necessary for the sake of the Romulan Star Empire sometimes appears less than honorable in the eyes of others. But in Romulan eyes, upholding and living through the precepts of D'era is what honor is all about, and the good of the Empire surpasses everything else.

The Praxani

D'era is also the basis for Romulan religion. Romulans do not believe in deities, per se. The names of ancient Vulcan gods, such as D'era and Ket-cheleb, have evolved to denote the profound metaphysical properties which drives the Empire and its peoples forward, as defined by the Virtues. These are marked an reinforced by a series of rituals called the Praxani, through which a Romulan confirms and re-establishes his devotion to the Empire. Note that it is common for a Romulan to practice many more rituals than the following, but these five, overseen by a Romulan priest called a pontix, are those undertaken by every Romulan citizen. Any Romulan who neglects the Praxani would, at the very least, quickly fall under suspicion of disloyalty to the Empire.

• Nimaz: Also called Naming. A small, private ceremony akin to baptism, this takes place within a week of a Romulan child's birth. At this time, it is given the name of a Romulan hero, another prominent Romulan, or a revered ancestor, and the name is chosen very carefully indeed- a Romulan child knows almost before it can speak the life of the great one meant to inspire him or her. The ceremony affirms the child's place in Romulan society, and its family's pledge to raise it to be properly aware of its obligations to the Empire.

• Pylanazi: The Citizenship rite. Until the age of 25, a Romulan is not officially a citizen- a child is not expected to understand the deep meaning and serious obligation of citizenship. At this age, however, the youth attends a grand ritual and celebration to solemnly take the oath of citizenship. Pylanazi is a community affair, as befitting a ritual meant to welcome new citizens into the Empire, and the accompanying festival can last for days.

• Serona: Warriorship. By the age of 30, every Romulan citizen must swear in for a five-year period of service served in the Romulan military. This is not just a religious precept; it's also civil law- refusing to undergo most rites would only earn scorn, censorship, or suspicion. Refusing to report for Serona- which serves as the name of the pledging rite, the five years of service, and one's rank during it- is outright treason. After completing Serona, most Romulans leave the military for civilian occupation. Those who desire to remain in the military move on to the four-year War College as cadets. Subject races are not required to undergo the Praxani, but the most common way for an individual of such to attain Romulan citizenship is to undergo Serona, though their assignments are typically less than pleasant. They have to earn citizenship in the Romulan Star Empire.

• So'rdaz: Union. As noted, the Romulan family is a very important concept and basis for the whole of the Empire. The good Romulan family instills the precepts of D'era into its offspring, as well as being productive in creating future citizens of the Empire. So'rdaz is the rite of marriage, and it is a celebrated ritual. The families of both groom and bride assist in planning the wedding, a symbol of the joining of two halves to make a greater whole. Considering the influence of the four Virtues, it should not be surprising that adultery earns more than a little disapproval- after all, if one is going to be unfaithful to one's spouse, what's to stop that one from being unfaithful to the Empire?

• Charozzah: Passing. When a Romulan dies, is the belief, his or her spirit is united with those Romulans who have gone on ahead. A Romulan funeral consists of two parts. The first is the burial, the reunion of the deceased with Romulan soil. The second is the ten-day-long Charozzah rite conducted by all members of the deceased's immediate family. A trinket denoting the lost loved one is added to the family's altar, something which exists in every Romulan home, dedicated to the spirits of those family members who have passed on. For ten evenings, the family recounts events of the deceased's life, so that those memories are incorporated into the family memory. After the last evening, most of the items belonging to the deceased are given to needy Romulans or simply destroyed, though family members often keep a few as sentimental tokens. It should be noted that traitors or criminals to the Empire are denied both burial and Charozzah. It is as if the person had never existed.