Re: Guerilla Warfare in Sartar and Prax from Lee R. Insley on 1998-01-29 (Glorantha Digest Vol 05)

From: Lee R. Insley <maelstrom_at_usa.net>
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 08:38:11 -0500

I think the biggest problem with guerilla type warfare in a clan based society is that generally, the clan works as a unit when it comes to matters like this. People don't generally wage war on others without the *permission* or knowledge of the clan leaders. If people start to wage this type of warfare on the Lunars, all the Lunars would have to do is find out which clans the individuals are from and retaliate against those clans using the logic that they must have supported the action or even initiated it. People or groups just don't work independently of the clans and the clan leadership - at least not in my view of the Gloranthan clan societies.

Another problem is that a clans attitude about the Lunars will vary from clan to clan. Some will be supportive, some hostile, and some neutral. It's not like modern day situations where nationalism reigns suppreme in most countries. In Sartar and Prax, each clan (or at least each tribe) is its own independent *country*. There will always be clans that will *rat* out and inform the Lunars of who was responsible for which raid. Also, there are always those clans that will *retaliate* against those clans which are conducting this type of war. I am sure that most of the caravan goods being transfered to and from Sartar are tied in some part to a clan's (or city's) livelyhood. Face it, not all Sartarites or Praxians are upset that the Lunars are there.

Now, what do the Lunars do about keeping the clans in line. The obvious one is definately fear of military retribution. I, however, think the Lunars are much more clever and subtle than that. I have been toying with the idea that the Lunars will keep *guests* (hostages) from the clans/tribes major ruling families in their *care*. These guests will essentially be the Lunars ticket to keep the clans in line without having to patrol the entire countryside. The thinking is along the lines that if the clan attacks any Lunar patrol/caravan/etc., the families will never see these guests again (probably sold into slavery). The Lunars may *show* these guests from time to time to the clans to prove they are being well cared for. Of course, the Lunars would not call these people hostages, and may give them *important* jobs to do such as being interpreters, helping to collect taxes, helping with census taking, etc. In other words, everyone knows that they are hostages, but the Lunars would put up a pretence that they are taking very good care of these guests.

Any comments?

Lee