The Founder

Basic Information

• "The solids have always been a threat to us; that's the only justification we need."
  
  The Founders were a group of Changelings from the Gamma Quadrant responsible for both the creation of the Dominion and all strategic decisions undertaken throughout its history. Though generally considered mythical by many Gamma Quadrant races, they remained, as of the late 24th century, the embodiment of the Dominion itself, and the ultimate reason for its existence.
  
  At one time the Founders were a peaceful, curious race that explored the galaxy. Unfortunately, their overtures of peaceful cooperation were met with violent rejection and persecution. Many Gamma Quadrant races had fables and mythical tales of Changelings, often depicting them as being a race who they can't trust and must fear. As an adverse reaction to being hunted and rejected, they accepted the pejorative Changeling as their own and retreated to a rogue planet. They then determined that, in order to be safe, they must set themselves the task of creating order from the chaos they saw around them.
  
  "What you can control can't hurt you."
  
  Chaos was dangerous as it would allow the persecution to arise once more. Therefore they must have order but this was an order that they controlled, for their benefit and only incidentally for the benefit of the "solids."
  
  As the leaders of the Dominion, the Founders lead a vast Empire, with the assistance of two genetically-engineered species, the Vorta, to whom they delegated the day-to-day work, and the Jem'Hadar, to whom they delegated most military matters. Both species considered the Founders to be gods. Their unwavering devotion made the Dominion a formidable enemy.