Data Sphere

Ok, so I only have the N3 books and the small bits of fluff you can find online. I understand most of the Nomad's themes but the one that I don't get is the Observance.
Specially that they are a Bakunin thing? Where does this super-strict (that's how it looks to me) religion fit in with the free spirit of Bakunin? Why are they so powerful/important? And what is that religion about?

preach to me brothers and sisters

Basically, there was a major schism in the Catholic church over the resurrection process and especially the reliance on an AI. The Observance are those whose doctrine rejects Aleph as a tool of the devil or something, and as the future downfall of the human sphere as the AI takes over, Skynet-like. The main body of the church rejected them in turn, and kicked them out.

There are other major differences, e.g. the Observance is extremely matriarchal, for one, to the point where part of the Sin-Eaters' role is to do penance for being male. As for the particulars of the schism and major figures (St. Mary of the Knife?), I can't help you.

As for why Bakunin, simple: 1. Nomad Nation is the only place in the human sphere free from Aleph's influence while not being a total technological backwater like Ariadna, and 2. Bakunin is not exactly "free spirited" - that's for the common areas, there are many modules of various autonomy where the rules are set by the module's owner[s] and the only law is "do not endanger the ship".

They started as a group surrounding a Catholic monastery with a strong female leader who opposed the classical dogma of the church and somehow mixed Catholic Christendom with Mediterranean (read Roman/Greek) paganism. The Holy Mary of Knives is a mixture of pagan goddesses and the Holy Mary of the Bible. She is a fierce protector and leader which is the reason why they are matriachal. Also she is nature goddess and one central tenet of the Observance is that technology can only ever be a tool of humans and not superior to them, hence the hatred for ALEPH and the strong hacking focus.

They are on Bakunin because they cannot go anywhere else and be slaves of ALEPHs which they despise. As said by Pierzasty the modules are their own little worlds and are allowed to do what they want as long as there is no danger to the ship. The fluff also says that they hold harsh and bizarr rituals, the most famous of which is a cleansing by which they get seven sacred nails nailed into their back as penance.

Or from an atheistic point of view: their are batshit-crazy fanatics. They are just our batshit crazy fanatics.

Thanks for the quick response! It makes more sense now. Specially with them being so anti ALEPH. I never got why the RevCustodier was a super hacker. Nice.

It's a shame that CB took down the old gallery where you could also read bits of the fluff, it was very informative.

I just thought initially that an offshoot of Catholicism would fit better in Corregidor, with them being space-latinos and all that. But it makes sense that they could buy a "module" where they can be batshit crazy without being bothered in another ship.

The Corregidor background wouldn't fit with the Observance at all. Corregidor was literally started as a supermax prison in orbit around the Earth that was made to contain the worse criminally insane offenders, political dissidents, opposition leaders and criminal leaders who were too big, too strong or too influential to be kept securely on earth. It was soon due to a number of wars and the like was further used as a dumping ground for displaced peoples/refugees. Its this hardy original population of the poor, displaced, disposable and in some ways highly valuable human cargo who some want them back alive OR want them out of the picture for good that Corregidor in its early days was built upon. Hardly the place for a fanatical Christian offshoot to take root.

The others have already mentioned how Bakunin worked/s differently even in its early days it was a sellers market. The Observance had the need to be free of Earth, Aleph and the confines there within and the means financially to purchase not only its way onto Bakunin but to solidify a decent hold on part of it. Finally it had the right drive to return any investment that 'Bakunin' made in having them onboard with its fierce anti ALEPH message/beliefs as well as not being afraid to take the fight back to anyone that threatens their ship or their way of life.

The three motherships play together so well I think it's easily the best piece of interlocking writing in the fluff for Infinity. Unlike the CA or well the EI itself the Nomads are drawn together by a way of thinking or a belief in a free way of life rather than forced conformity. You know that EI .... join us or die ... NO thats cool I'll just start destroying your outest most planets until you say YES!