Culture
There are two distinct cultures on Carlisle, noble and common, and a mixed class, nobles without title.
The lifestyle of noblemen on Carlisle is both one of privilege, status, and risk. Nobles often owe allegiance to someone, whether it be their own family, a higher noble, or to the care of the people they command. A noble’s life is not the easy-streak; it is often ridden with perils and dangers that can destroy a reputation or one’s own life. Outwardly the noble class are polite and friendly. They attend social events, give speeches, pose for holograms, and appear to live in a fairy tale. Beyond this outward life is a life of scheming and planning, with long standing feuds, jealousy, and plotting a common part of life. Although raw violence is rare, some nobles have acquired lightfoils from the Tapani sector, and a few youthful nobles have taken up lightfoil dueling as both a sport and a way to settle disputes. The older nobles often look down on this practice as crude. Among the only safe company for a Carlisle noble is his or her family, and family bonds among the nobles are as tight as can be found in any human culture. It is considered disgraceful, even in this culture, for a noble to turn against his own family.
Those families of noble descent who hold neither Countship nor Baronship often still cling to the trappings of the noble lifestyle. They often apply their fortunes to other ventures such as business, or earn a Knighthood, as a way to “stay in the game” as a Carlisle noble. As long as they have not been disgraced in someway the titled nobles of Carlisle look favorably upon this class of people, often recruiting them for their own needs.
The lifestyle for the common families of Carlisle is more akin to the galactic norm. Generally able to go about their business, the people of Carlisle are appreciative of the fact that their economy is doing well and that they have been able to stay out of the Galactic Civil War. As the fighting between nobles almost never erupts into open warfare, the people of Carlisle have by and large known peace. Many people, especially young men and women, look to the nobles as celebrities to emulate, and the planetary media and advertising industry support this consumer niche.
The planet’s original inhabitants, the Cashmier, a cat-like near-human race have nearly been completely integrated into mainstream society. Originally a tribal and primitive culture, continued wars and long-term contact have evolved the two groups into the same culture. Some Cashmier have risen to prominent status on Carlisle, others have become cultural icons for various exploits. A determined Cashmier minority still cling to their ancient beliefs but that culture continues to fade and exists today as little more than an historic curiosity.
Life differs little for those on the five moons. Often referred to as “Colonials”, the people of the moons are sometimes thought of as less sophisticated than their Carlisle counterparts. This is only half-true. Many moon provinces are well developed in terms of industry, infrastructure, and education. A small minority however are little better than frontiers, dominated by wilderness and inhabited by those who prefer a simpler lifestyle of farming, hunting or fishing.
Religion
Several religions can be found practiced on Carlisle but the most common is known as Force’se’perata. In an old tongue it means “Journey of the Force” and is a religion that bows to the will of the Force as a universal deity. Force’se’perata defines the Force as one all-encompassing thing, and it doesn't distinguish between the light side and the dark side. Instead, as appropriate given the shadowy way of life that is often accepted on Carlisle, the people of Carlisle recognize the Force as both a deity that controls them, and one they can call upon, and that, just like anything else, it can be called upon for both acts of good and evil. The Force’se’perata religion recognizes no afterlife, simply a “return” to the Force, a favorable view associated with becoming one with the deity. Approximately 75 percent of Carlisle’s citizens practice or at least honor this religion. It is formalized within the body called the Church Force'se'perata, and those who preach it in one of the many temples on the planet are called E’perata, which means journeymen.
The Church Force’se’perata has congegrations on Carlisle and each of the moons and millions of followers. E’perata lead congregations and also possess a degree of power. Nobles who operate without the Church's approval often lose favor with the people and stand a greater risk of being removed from power. The Church is led by the Elana E’perata, or Head Journeyman. The current Elana E'perata is Toy Bar'tola.
This religion’s view of Force users is mixed. Force users are not regarded as gods or even god-like. Rather they are view as beings who have been touched by god (The Force). Their unnatural abilities make them beings to be both feared and respected.
Education
Long having seen the benefits of education, the planet has supported a state-sponsored grade school education at no cost to the citizen. For higher education Carlisle has two institutions worth noting.
The University of Carlisle
A large public university with over 50,000 students. The University of Carlisle supports advanced education in most fields of study. Admission is open to any Carlisle or Lunar citizen, though admission requirements are expectedly very high. Nobles and commoners alike attend this institution, with few divisions between them, though social clichés are common. The University of Carlisle has many ties with offworld universities and many Carlisle students complete years of study elsewhere, benefiting from the contact with offworlders.
The Marezze Academy
The Marezze Academy has evolved over time into a finishing school for young nobles. Places at the Institute are strongly contested, and the Academy makes use of “gifts” to the university in deciding who to admit. The high cost of this private institution prevents anyone but the most wealthy families from sending their children here. The Academy’s curriculum focuses as much on social skills as it does academic subjects. Less well known is the quiet teaching of “Noble Tradecraft”, a coded term referring to the Academy’s teaching of the ways of subversion and even (according to rumor) assassination. Senior students are permitted to engage in duels, though the staff promote less lethal means of settling disputes. During each academic year the highlight are a series of social balls and dinners that often invite prominent Carlisle citizens, giving the students a chance to show off their skills.
Media
The Carlisle Star Network is the largest media conglomerate on Carlisle, controlling a vast number of the news outlets on the planet. With massive resources feeding in from all parts of Carlisle and the five moons, the population can get news updates on events happening in just minutes using specialty fitted “update” comlinks and holovid projectors, both of which are common household items. Most of Carlisle and the five moons are reliant upon fifteen communication satellites in Carlisle low orbit which bounce signals to receivers throughout the planetary system.