A major group within the setting, The Web of Worlds is an interplanetary alliance of diverse societies representing the largest political force in the diaspora.
Originally formed as a massive mutual aide network meant to better support and defend disparate communities during the Lost Century, the Web has since grown into a formidable and respected power that many societies across the diaspora aspire to join.
Public opinion of the Web of Worlds is generally favorable, though some critics claim the Web's additional resources help boost already powerful societies, entrenching power dynamics on their planets.
The Web of Worlds has no official, cohesive form of government. Instead, most large-scale decisions are done via direct vote with each member polity, directed as they individually see fit.
The Web Guild, a volunteer organization that handles the administrative duties of the Web, including maintaining communication systems, managing trade, and mediating conflicts, often interfaces with outside socities on behalf of the Web.
The Founding Threads, sometimes called The Anchor Threads, are a list of shared principles members of the Web are expected to adhere to. While not legal binding, groups and polities that are found to be in violation of the Threads become excluded by the rest of the Web, effectively ending their membership.
Inspired by The Fracturing and the hardships of the Lost Century, The Founding Threads currently include the principles:
The Threads are considered a "living document" capable of change through a comprehensive direct vote.
The Web has no formal military, but rather a massive network of militias sworn to protect one another. When the call for aide goes out, nearby militias race in to help.
Because of this decentralized nature, the strength of the Web's response to certain threats can vary, while at the same time making it hard to break up or disable a full fighting force.
Free Leagues are cooperative, collectively-funded groups comprised of Web citizens that do not belong to any one polity or planet.
There are an untold number of Leagues within the Web, some that only exist for a short period of time, some with only a handful of members, and some with thousands.
A few of the most notable include:
Focused on space exploration and scientific advancement, the Horizon League works to design and build new spacecraft, research novel technologies, document astronomical phenomena, discover and record new planets for possible settlement, and re-contact suspected Cut Worlds.
In keeping with the words on their official seal — Rescue, Defense, Mediation — Seraph units deploy into dangerous environments, like natural disasters and war zones, in order to protect as many individuals as possible. They are also called in during political or military crises to help negotiate for a lasting peace.
Often shortened to The School or The Infinite Path, The Infinite Path Lotus School is a semi-spiritual order of psychic explorers who survey deep into Mental Space, catalogue Outer Intelligences, and attempt to study the nature of the mind.
A Webwide cooperative of artists, writers, actors, game designers, directors, and musicians who collaborate, fund, and support each other in various projects. The works created by the WA are often highly acclaimed, and can be found throughout the diaspora.
A controversial League referred to as "freelance freedom fighters," "violent ideologues," "liberators," and "terrorists."
Umbra cells operate semi-autonomously, inserting themselves into armed conflicts in order to tip the scales against what they perceive as oppressive forces. Trained in guerrilla warfare, sabotage, infiltration, and counter-intelligence, they train locals and work to disable enemy forces.
They are self-funded, never asking for nor accepting payment, viewing their work as a moral imperative dictated by the Founding Threads. Infighting is not uncommon, as Umbra cells hunt down and stop those deemed to have "gone rogue" or whose methods are excessively bloody.
In the years leading up to their Restoration Campaign, Earth's Global Alliance of Affiliated Nations aggressively pushed to reestablish their influence over worlds that had once been their colonies, but had since become members of the Web of Worlds.
In anticipation of escalating efforts, the Web closed their Nil Gates to Earth and other Alliance strongholds.
Now, years into the Restoration Campaign, the Web and the Alliance have briefly clashed in a number of border skirmishes on planets they share Gates with. Stuck in a kind of shifting stalemate, tensions between the two remain high.