> The dualism of the Carmanian faith is somewhat Persian, but this is a
product
> of their integration of Pelandan and Spolite culture into their own as
well
> as a rejection of the Malkioni "god learnerish" faith they escaped from in
> their long journey.
I would merely add the obvious impact of "Dark" Stygian/Arkati and "Light" Talorian influences on the Malkionism of early Second Age Fronela. This is, I believe, where a lot of the Carmanian Duality is rooted. They see Nysalor as a Bright Shining Lie, and Arkat as a Dark Truth.
Of course, there is plenty of later accretion (including direct lifts from Dara Happan cosmology, of course). But IMO Syranthir was a Dualist (of some kind) long before his army arrived in Pelanda and fought the Spolites. The particularly tasty "fit" between his Akemite army's modus operandi and the Pelandan situation is what made their advent so fortuitous.
Much more on my website (URL below), of course.
> The conflict with the Pentans during the height of their rule of Peloria
and
> the following long struggle with the Char-un, which still simmers
occasionally,
> has led to the Carmanians developing strong tactics for dealing with horse
archers.
This is slightly unclear, as of course the first clause could refer to both:
The struggle with the Char-un will have begun no later than the Zero Wane (when the Char-Un became allies of the New Moon Queendom after the Battle of Seven Horses -- though Carmanians could of course have encountered this tribe earlier, before the Goddess, while they were still in Pent); had a particular low spot in the Bindle War of the Second Wane (when many cities of the West Reaches were thoroughly ravaged by aggrieved cossacks); but has generally been on the simmer throughout much of the Third Age, before and after Sheng Seleris' incursion.
I don't know that the Carmanians see this as a "long struggle", more a persistant irritation. (If it were a "struggle", they'd make more of an effort to take the war to the Char-Un, I believe). As it is, the border defences of Carmania are being built against the sealed frontier with Charg, not the intermittent raiding from Erigia. Simmering sounds right to me.
> I think some Carmanians might use the bow, but it is not a weapon they
> consider "manly".
I think this is incorrect. The Dara Happan period of the Carmanian Empire (Golden Lion Shahs) brought the idea of an aristocracy of mounted archers dealing death from afar with their bowshots. The Persian model is intentional. Yanafal Tarnils is stated as mastering the traditional Carmanian weapons of sword, lance and bow in my Tales #17 cult writeup.
This seems a good point to recall Herodotus' account of the education of Persian boys, who are taught three things only: to ride, to shoot the bow, and to tell the truth.
The contrast with other Malkioni mounted warriors is intentional and beneficial. Those other Westerners don't use bows (they consider them unmanly): here are the Carmanians with a completely different outlook.
> Someone mentioned that Nick Brooke's examples of Western Heroquesting as
> modeled by Arthurian Romances had been gregged. Is this true?
Not as far as I know. And if it was, what difference would that make to your gaming pleasure? If you prefer my model, please feel free to continue using it.
:::: Email: <mailto:Nick_Brooke_at_btinternet.com>
Nick
:::: Website: <http://www.btinternet.com/~Nick_Brooke/>
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