The Holy Order of the Kinshaya is the Kinshaya civilization's state.
The Holy Order is located a great distance from Federation space and has been a traditional rival of the Klingon Empire for centuries. In the year 2380, the Holy Order of the Kinshaya conquered the Kreel. Also in that year, their homeworld was destroyed by the Klingon Defense Force, led by Captain Klag of the IKS Gorkon.
In 2381, the Holy Order of the Kinshaya joined the Typhon Pact. Around the same time, it conquered the worlds of Krios and H'atoria, the former which was liberated after three months by Klag, now a general, commanding the Fifth Klingon Battle Fleet. (ST novel: A Singular Destiny)
Following the destruction of their previous homeworld, the largest remaining planet by population was Janalwa, despite many of the people preferring their previous independence from the stringent orthodoxy. By 2382, as the Holy Order had established their capital in Rashtag, these Devotionalists has suffered a series of purges and been driven underground. Members of the Romulan Unification movement, including Starfleet officers Jasminder Choudhury and T'Ryssa Chen under cover identities, travelled to Rashtag to meet with remaining members of the Devotionalists, but when they held a public rally in Niamlar Circle, a squadron of armed Breen opened fired upon them, and the resistance members fought back; the government responded by restricting the public information network and spinning the footage to make it appear the Devotionalists triggered the fighting. At a second rally held the following day, the Devotionalists refused to be goaded into a violent response, and undoctored video of the Niamlar Massacre broadcast across the Holy Order, triggering waves of shock and a newly renewed public backlash. A movement arose within the priestly government led by Vicar General Tepesor pushed for reformation, openly questioning the current regime's interpretation of the divine and seeking an orderly transition to a more populist government. Pontifex Maxima Ykredna and the Matriarchs and Patriarchs vowed to resist, but as other members of the Typhon Pact issued statements condemning the massacre, it seemed the Pontifex would be under considerable diplomatic and economic pressure to step down. (ST - Typhon Pact eBook: The Struggle Within)
By 2384, the Devotionalists had taken control of the government of the Holy Order, but Kinshaya loyal to the Episcopate still remained. (TNG eBook: The Stuff of Dreams)
Physiology[]
Physically, Kinshaya are thought to resemble the Earth legends of griffins, however with the aspects resembling eagles absent. Kinshayan wings are leathery and gargoylesque, with four legs and two forearms ending in clawed four digit hands, carnivorous muzzles rather than beaks, and a tail. Their bodies are furred in reddish to brown hues.
Culture[]
Gestures of the wings are used to express emotional states, Kinshayan wings are tattooed to show the nobility of their crèche with more colorful wings meaning a higher crèche. Tattoo colors include blue, black, green, purple, red, and white. Their culture appears to be a blend of religious and military caste system, the Episcopate of the Holy Order of the Kinshaya, its legislative body, is made up of ruling bishops. Rasec the Grand Inquisitor of Rashtag on Janalwa is a member of the bishop caste, a grade above Tepesor, Vicar General of Janalwa.
Castes include archbishop, bishop, vicar and deacon.
Kinshaya commoners were not as segregated in their social roles as the priestly classes, which restricted males to military leadership and diplomacy and females to civil government. The priests and bishops were considered noble classes.
All addresses to a senior caste should begin with the phrase "Ay'eh!" translated as "My Lord" - it is considered rude to omit this although higher creche members may forgo this even if they are a lower rank then a higher ranked lower creche member.
"Ay'eh! make respect!" is the Kinshayan equivalent to "Captain on deck!"
The circle is at the center of Kinshaya culture and is considered perfect and therefore the holiest of shapes; Kinshayan battleships, flight decks, important rooms, cities, and public meeting areas are all circular. Federation Starfleet Lieutenant T'Ryssa Chen wondered if this affected their development of Kepler's Laws and orbital mechanics. The Kinshaya also consider the direction of the rising sun holy. (ST - Typhon Pact eBook: The Struggle Within)
Known Kinshayans[]
- Ykredna (Pontifex Maxima of the Holy Order)
- Retej (Archbishop of the 7th Holy Kinshaya Attack Fleet)
- Ador
- Adasop
- Noca
- Rasec (Grand Inquisitor of Rashtag)
- Tepesor (Vicar General of Janalwa)
- Yeffir
- Nagrom
- Radrigi (Kinshayan Ambassador to the Typhon Pact)