Orlanthi public opinion

From: KenRolston_at_aol.com
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 12:14:04 -0400


I found Martin's estimates of public opinion persuasive for Sartar at first glace... the sort of comment I'd could readily accept in a report from a Lunar administrator to his superiors.

After 20 years of Lunar occupation, I expect a fair proportion of the urban population to have found some accommodation with the Lunar administration. But on reflection, I'm not sure I have a very clear idea of Sartar demographics. I admit to have been greatly influenced by Home of the Bold as a model, admittedly the location most likely to have had to adjust to Lunar occupation. I am also strongly persuaded by the model of Roman Britain, where one tribe might seek accommodation with the Romans to gain ascendancy over another rival tribe. I admit to being shaky on the analogy where it applies to religions; I've never quite figured out whether Gloranthans take religion any more seriously than Earthlings.

Here are a couple of assumptions I've always made about occupied Sartar in the 1620's. I'd like to test them against other campaigns and opinions:

  1. Lunar occupation is relatively efficient and non-obtrusive, with tendency to benignity in public works, and a tendency to brutal and dispassionate brutality in punishing lawbreakers [including most explicitly sedition and secret murder].
  2. The influential members of Orlanthi tribes are constantly intriguing with any faction that promises increase in personal, family, or clan wealth and influence. The appearance of the Lunar military, civil administration, and merchan factions have radically altered the balance of power in tribal rivalries, and the desire not to be left out in the acquiring of these potentially powerful sources of wealth and influence will drive Orlanthi policy makers into the arms of the Lunars. [I assume the Lunars not to be particularly efficient or enlightened in their ability to manipulate the clans after only a generation of occupation, with some notable positive and negative exceptions, like the earnest, fuzz-faced Lunar occupying soldiers who befriend the local populace, and the rabid magistrate that executes a hostage in reprisal, regardless of the consequences for influencing the leaders of the hostage's clan.]
  3. The Lunar cults are represented in Sartar by competent, sincere, and often inspirational proselytizers of their faith. The primary commodity they market is modernity -- an ever-fashionable and desirable product. For every hide-bound traditionalist who recoils in horror at the Lunar ways, I imagine a young Orlanthi intrigued and fascinated by novel ideas and opportunities. I also see the cults offering resources that would appeal to power-gaming player characters.
  4. In the 1620's the prestige and power of the Lunar empire is at the flood. They look like winners everywhere they go. Everybody loves a winner. When you're a winner, nothing hurts (as Joe Namath says).

I blush to admit that all these notions were established in play long before King of Sartar was published, and I am sensible of how the coming triumph of Argrath calls into question the success of the Lunar occupation. I admit also to admiring the Romans over the Celts, primarily because the Romans left more enduring public monuments and literary works. [I also note with irony how Cheiron comments on the recent amelioration of Lunar repute since the good old days of his campaigns inspired by Sartar rebels; I'm almost exactly the opposite, in that my campaigns always presumed the Lunars would triumph like the Romans did in Britain.] Nonetheless, I'll stick to my guns on the assumptions listed above. I doubt I'll ever have a campaign set in the latter days of the Sartar occupation, and even if I did, I'd blame Argrath's triumph on some tragic collapse of the Lunars, not on the superior military prowess and political acumen of the Sartarites.

So, again... what are your experiences? What reports can you give from the Lunar occupied province of Sartar?

Ken Rolston

End of Glorantha Digest V2 #680

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