Proxies and automata

From: David Cake <davidc_at_cs.uwa.edu.au>
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 22:37:58 +0800

>The Fortunate Succession mentions Proxies which appear to be automata
>of some description. The Lunars learned it from Sheng Seleris who
>apparently learned it from the Kralori. Think of Guardians carved from
>Jade and you can't go wrong.

        While Peters idea is enchanting (tireless machines performing the duties of the Emperor while he retires to his palace), I doesn't really agree with the text of TFS. The Silver, Bronze, Brass and Bone Proxies actually appear to be merely Imperial flunkies delegated some of his magical duties. Its unclear from the description of their creation, but when Ignifer decides to remove them its described as "When the bureaucrats refused, he [Ignifer] personally led groups of people through the capital to whip the false Proxies out, and then to hunt them and their friends down through swamp, city, and mountain. Ignifer took back command which had rested in the hands of the Proxies."

        I think all we are looking at in the Proxies is a weak Emperor delegating some of duties/ power to his attendents, and then a more active Emperor taking it back.

        But the Lunars do seem to have stone soldiers, as pictured on the cover of Tales. Are these the same as the Full Moon Corps? Though I think their creation predates Sheng.

        And Peters idea is also pretty cool anyway. Regardless of whether they are the Lunar Proxies, jade automata may well exist in Kralorela, created by mystic sculptors. It fits well with my very dim understanding of what sort of things are achievable using mysticism, along with poems of power, pictures that move, cooking that empowers, etc.

        Cheers
                Dave



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