> The fact that it is also labelled "Marcher Barons" implies to me that
> it is one of the trading forts of the Merchant Princes of Maniria, who
> have a string of trading forts from Ralios to Kethaela
But it's *way* too far from the putative end of their "string of forts". The Trader Princes (and I agree, your use of "Barons" in the exploitative=
capitalist sense fits *wonderfully* well here!) were trying to get *to* Kethaela; not all the way through and out the other side into desolate Prax. It doesn't make any sense for this to be a "logical" over-exten- sion of the Trader Prince line -- they'd stop building their castles, surely, as soon as they could make safe delivery of goods to their Holy Country recipients -- on the border of Esrolia, not the far corner of Heortland.
It could, of course, be the case that -- *before* any more recent occupation by Heortland's Seshnegi mercenary corps -- the already-existing Knight Fort was taken over by some "Merchant Baron" types, quite possibly=
of Ralian/Trader Prince extraction, trying to open up a secure trade rout=
e
between Kethaela and Prax. But it kinda beggars belief that they'd send
caravans of goods from Ralios right through the Holy Country and out the
other side into the desert...
This way we could keep your explanation ("the Barons didn't realize until too late that there was little point in it..."), while retaining the fairly general consensus that the Fort was actually built in the God Learner period, and has since been occupied on and off by many different groups (including, but not limited to, Heortland Marcher Barons, Ralian Trader Prince Merchant Barons, and Sir Richard's Crusading Rokari Mercs).=
BTW, Marcher probably means "on the Marches" -- i.e. the borderlands -- and has nothing to do with "Market", "Merchant", etc. despite the sound.
Thanks, too, to Stephen for digging up the oldest printed source about the Red Emperor. MOB, Chris and I are both individually and collectively delighted to have played a part in reminding Greg of the more amusing possibilities offered by such a situation (versus having a series of identical rulers with no difference in personality, policy or appearance between reigns). The present situation, with its mishmash of Masks, Proxies, False Emperors, Hidden Emperors, apparent succession crises, etc. offers far more scope for campaign intrigue, colourful background, interesting fiction, and -- of course -- MGF. Much more on this will be in the Lunar Empire seminar transcript, included in the Chicago RQ-Con Compendium -- "coming soon", I understand from its compilers. And, of course, in the Tales #16 Red Emperor Cult write-up.
>> The Worship of the Sun, Moon and Stars has changed under the influence=
>> of transplanted Lunars into Kralorela.
> First of all, what transplanted Lunars?
Those deported across Pent by Sheng Seleris, when he ruled both Kralorela=
and Peloria. Check out recent stuff (Con transcripts & ?FS notes) from GS= =2E
> Second of all, how has their worship of the Sun, Moon, and Stars
> _changed_ (considering it is unlikely they had any Moon Worship to
> change, and considering I find it unlikely that they worship the Moon
> at all, even nowadays)?
Because moving from a position when you don't worship the Moon, to one where you (or some foreigners in your midst) *do*, is a Change. I feel Peter's use of Kuchawn as an astronomical "dumping ground" is inspired; whether they have a "captive Red Emperor" or someone who, whatever his origin, is *implicitly* taking on part of that mantle -- being the representation within the microcosm that is Kralorela (and, more particular-=
ly, Kuchawn's Astrodome) of the macrocosmic requirement that there be a Moon-Son -- this can only result in complexity, hilarity and fun. All good things.
> If you are using the presence in Kralorela of "Yelm," "Dendara," and
> "Eiritha" as evidence that there are Dara Happans in Kralorela, I
> reject that idea categorically...
I'm sure we aren't going back to *that* old chestnut. I comprehensively flamed Peter for it back when he wore short trousers, and am certain his current thinking derives from his in-depth knowledge of what Sheng got up to, and not some wishy-washy cult-transplantation heroquesting mumbojumbo to further short-formize the wide and wonderful World of Glorantha.=
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Nick
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