>From: "Ilav Topix" <ilavtopix_at_hotmail.com>
>Subject: Why the Lunars invaded DP?
>
>Hi boys,
>
>I give here my (debatable) opinion, even if my ideas are perhaps too
>rationale and less mythic:
>
>- -The Lunar Empire is an expansionistic/aggressive political entity: they
>don't ask themselves why they attack Balazar or Sartar or Heortland: it's
>their style, their superiority attitude towards other cultures that forces
>them to do so. Many empires in history were so (some would argue they are
>still nowadays).
>
>- -The LE needs an economic market and trade route to the ocean, with the
>disclosure of the oceans at hand. They want to enrich themselves by
>absorbing their trading counterparts in the sourther "buffer" kingdoms
>between the Oslir Valley and the Holy Country. The necessity to mythically
>overcome Orlanth is a good excuse to conquer and enslave, but it's not the
>chief practical reason at all (IMG).
I would think it would work more the other way. The need to
enslave Orlanth would be the more secret motive and the desire for the
outlet to the ocean would be the more public. I doubt the empire is in the
business of advertizing it's mythic policy goals
Andrew E. Larsen