Re: Re: The Emperor's Mines 1360

From: Roderick and Ellen Robertson <rjremr_at_...>
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 20:08:26 -0700


> My own suspicions of many of the early DP resettlers (perhaps influenced
by
> Australia's illustrious past, and certainly true of the Far Walkers) is
> that they don't particularly want to be found. Criminals, failed rebels,
> weirdo religious cultists, all head east beyond the bounds of law and
> society. (Ok, the southern Heortlings had more valid reasons, but its all
> in the mix). Younger sons and failed rebels enter the Pass, looking for
new
> land, new beginnings and maybe thinking they're just two days travel from
> Kraloria and all its fabled riches. To echo 'Educating Rita' - "he goes to
> where all the failures go, to Australia..."

This isn't Resettlement, this is Exploration! Allan Quartermain, Professor Challenger, lost plateaus filled with prehistoric creatures, cities buried under centuries of earth and trees, mines of gemstones so pure that the horses that bear them must be shod with diamonds else they'll wither and die. Maps that are out of date, but just might lead you to the right place; flesh-eating savages, quicksand, blowguns with poisoned darts, and the sudden silence when the drums STOP.

The scenario is much more about exploration - finding the mines (and the previous lost expedition) -than in finding tracts of land to settle. The inhabitants may not want to be found, but that's too darn bad. They're all pagans anyway (at least the ones we know about - Arim and his lot).Who knows, one of the native guides might just be the lost prince of one of the tribes down there (hey, it happened in King Soloman's mines!).

The expectation is that the expedition will go and return with riches untold. Who'd want to settle down there? The cities were all given over to Air and Dragon Worship (until the dragons ate everyone), and it's cold and rainy and windy, not nice and climate controlled like the lands under the Emperor! Dragon Pass might be a nice place to visit, but after your adventure you want to come home, to your place in the sun.

RR
It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of this has done what he has done.
- Richelieu

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