(1) In my view, when a Mask of Moonson dies, Moonson's parts fly apart --
like those of Yelm or Murharzarm. In the "interregnum" (which lasts a
minimum of seven weeks) before a new Mask passes the Tests and is acclaimed
in Glamour, Takenegi's Self is *somewhere else* (perhaps on the Red Moon,
perhaps not?). Much heavy-duty heroquesting goes on during the interregnum
to retrieve the scattered parts of Moonson and prepare for his
reincarnation. Some of the heroquesters may have *political* motivations for
getting involved, as well as (or instead of) a pious Lunar desire to
re-create the Emperor. And even if they don't, it will *surely* reflect well
on (e.g.) the Eel-Ariash Clan that they spent more time, money and lives on
these quests than (say) the Sable Khan of Kostaddi did, and they could
reasonably expect the new Mask to reward them for this dedication.
(2) At the same time and in the mundane world, there is a search to find
those persons with what we have called the Mandate of the Moon, who might be
suitable to serve as the Body for the next Mask. These are likely to be
high-up Lunar nobles, descendents of Moonson, powerful cultic figures, and
the like. In any given interregnum, there could be several suitable
candidates; moreover, the continued existance of Proxies for the previous
Mask (who may, with their followers, sincerely believe that they *are* that
Mask and that Moonson has *not* been killed) can serve to confuse matters
(i.e. to a Proxy's followers, a claimant looks like a rebel). There may be
armed struggles between rival camps (e.g. Proxy Wars, Rebels Resurrecting
Gbaji); there may on the other hand be an orderly queue of claimants waiting
patiently to undergo the Tests (e.g. the Mask of Artifex who passed the
Tests when a DH High Priest "imposter" withdrew).
(3) It may well be, as Joerg suggested (V7#592, Singularity of Moonson),
that some candidates "appear" from the Other Side during rituals to fill the
role of Red Emperor, as happens in other known Lunar cases (Jar-eel v.
Belintar, ambush of Kallyr's SLBQ). There is no reason why this should
happen only once in each interregnum, IMO, and no reason why its mere
occurrence should lead to instant recognition of the jumped-up claimant as
the One True Moonson Reborn. (Compare the story of Basko's "comic
opposition" to Yelm, RQC p.33: just 'cos you dress the part and turn up at
the right time and place, doesn't mean anyone with *real* power has to take
you seriously).
(4) I do not think it is the case that every institution in the Empire can
infallibly detect the future Body of Moonson against all its rivals.
Remember that we are in an interregnum, here: the claimants do not yet have
(and do not claim to have) Takenegi's Self -- they only assert that they are
fit to receive it. Perhaps imperial institutions (e.g. the Army, the
Household, the Senate) can validate claimants' Mandates? But as I said
above, there can be more than one valid Mandate, so this doesn't resolve
matters.
(5) I do not think it is the case that *only* the future Body of Moonson can
overcome (and even "re-integrate") a Proxy relict of the previous Mask's.
Thus, defeating a Proxy does *not* prove that you are going to be the
eventual winner. It proves that you can beat up someone who denies your
right to compete in the Tests, nothing more. Further, I do not think it is
the case that the future Body of Moonson can *always* overcome (and
re-integrate) a Proxy. History shows us that Moonson cannot always defeat
every foe, even when he is an enthroned and empowered Emperor. Thus,
defeating or being defeated by a Proxy proves little in itself. So followers
of a defeated claimant may well look for someone else to support, rather
than falling in behind the guy who just beat up their leader.
(6) In passing the various Tests, the Emperor is re-integrated. Through
rituals performed in Glamour, in the City of Dreams and upon the Red Moon,
his Singular Self and his Imperial Soul come to inhabit the Suitable Body of
the victorious claimant. At this point, there is a new Mask of Moonson. He
possesses the Lunar Seventh Soul of Takenegi, the Imperial Fiery Mantle of
Antirius, a new and different-looking Body (retaining some of the mundane
skills, interests and abilities from its previous life), and various other
knobbly bits as well. Moonson Lives Again!
(7) Throughout the interregnal period, Moonson -- the singular Red
Emperor -- does not exist in any integrated form. He is reintegrated when
the new Mask is acclaimed, and not before. This happens at the end of the
interregnum. In fact, it *defines* it.
If I understand his posts correctly, Martin Laurie believes that:
(A) When a Mask dies, a new one "naturally" appears (just like that:
*bing*), already possessing the soul of Takenegi. No rituals or heroquests
are necessary to bring this about. As soon as this new Mask appears, there
is obviously no contest, and everyone loyal rallies round to support him.
(B) The Emperor's Body is a magical thing which "just appears" at the same
time as the new and singular incarnation of Takenegi. It doesn't look like
anyone in particular. And it *certainly* hasn't had a prior life (unlike,
say, Doskalos or Teelo Norri). It appears out in the boonies, "proving" that
it can't possibly be a powerful noble or similar figure. (After all, none of
the powerful nobles in the Empire are aware that the Red Goddess herself
first manifested out in the boonies...)
(C) Until the new Mask appears, there is *usually* no contest (although the
forthcoming Secession Crisis will differ in this respect), because everyone
is waiting for the New, Singular and Easily Identifiable Mask to manifest
itself, without this manifestation requiring any input or effort on their
behalf. High-up Lunars do not think they should be doing anything practical
to assist in the reincarnation of their Emperor: they merely wait and see.
Powerful nobles in the Lunar Empire never have political or selfish motives
for doing anything during an interregnum, nor would they dare act upon them
if they did because they know that when the True Emperor returns, they will
be discovered and punished.
(D) Opposition to the new Mask once he appears is, ipso facto, treachery.
There are no plausible alternative candidates whom anyone sensible and loyal
would support: their backers really *are* trying to resurrect Gbaji, or
break up the Empire, or knowingly support a False Proxy.
(E) The Tests serve to confirm that the One True Emperor is who he says he
is. He is in no way changed by undergoing the Tests. He goes into them with
the Self of Takenegi and the Soul of Antirius, and comes out the other side
the same way. There is, in a very real sense, no contest. Nobody else could
ever complete the Tests. Thus nobody ever tries to and fails. Anybody else
who attempted the Tests would be (ipso facto) a traitor, or a madman.
(F) The Interregnal period includes a time when Moonson is apparently
"gone", and a time when Moonson is fully reincarnated in a new Mask and
wandering around Peloria brushing aside traitors and waiting to pass the
Tests again. There is no "in-between" state. The interregnum ends when the
new Mask has completed the Tests, but in fact Moonson has been around all
along. His re-integration happens "off-stage", and normal humans (and
priests, politicians, heroquesters, etc.) don't have anything to do with it.
Is that a fair summary of where we differ?
:::: Email: <mailto:Nick_Brooke_at_btinternet.com>
Nick
:::: Website: <http://www.btinternet.com/~Nick_Brooke/>
Powered by hypermail