Re: Lunar occupation and justice

From: ALISON PLACE <alison_place_at_...>
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2004 16:57:34 -0700 (PDT)

        This is a very different attitude from ours. I would favour more the British experience, which was that they ended up taking over territories that they hadn't quite planned on, just because of armed forces protecting their traders (in the case of India and China), or because of few locals (if not at contact, then after diseases struck) and not much settled agricultural polities in the remainder. It's a very simplified explanation, but not totally wrong.

        The Spaniards, however, were strict monotheists, complete with the Holy Office of the Inquisition. They were repressive and autocratic, and at the beginning of their conquest of Central America, had just finished the Reconquista of their own peninsula. Their explorers were soldiers of fortune with the countenance of the crown, with an express licence to pillage, loot and oppress.

        This is emphatically not the Lunar situation. The Lunars are a theocracy, with their very own Goddess looking down on them wherever they go. They're also pantheistic, having no trouble accepting and absorbing other religions along the way. They're marrying their goddess to whomever will consent to it, and happy to do so. They demand respect for her, and that's why they're having such trouble with the Orlanthi, who refuse to share the Middle Air with this newish goddess.

        In other places (Tarsh and Thrice Blessed come to mind), all or much of the population has happily accepted the Lunar Way, and deem themselves much better off because of it. Hon-eel and the Conquering Daughter have been very effective.  

> Even in the modern world very few complaints are
upheld against the soldiers of an occupying army and I can't imagine the Lunars having a standard of justice as good as the modern world.

        Actually, I can. There's no reason why their ethical philosophy can't be far in advance of their metallurgical technology. I'm not saying it is, and people being people, there's going to be many who can't conform to their own ideals. Check Christianity for a longstanding example.

> From other discussions about the Lunar leadership
competence seems optional, connections to the Emperor and similar political considerations determine appointments.

        Granted, and again, not dissimilar to ourselves. Yet merit can be recognised, and is encouraged in the Empire, just as it was in the British Empire.

> The priorities seem to be suppress rebels, keep
order, collect taxes and convert the locals - very much in that order.

        I would say that 1 and 2 are the aims of the military, while 3 and 4 are the aims of the civilian (frequently theocratic) bureaucracy. The civvies undoubtedly considers *their* aims to be primary in importance, because to them, peaceful co-existence and trade is the ultimate aim. To then, military occupation is a short-term necessity only. This also contributes to MGF, as each heirarchy will be trying to protect their own influence.

        It also brings up the subject of the Lunar bureaucracy. It's probably not very efficient. Look at the example of the Red Dancer of Power. She's in charge of the economic welfare of the Empire, yet also head of the religious correctness brigade seeking out White Moonie heretics. There are times when (a) has to conflict with (b).

> A Yanafal Tarnils officer could well support a
proper investigation into crimes commited by troops. Another possibility would be a PC who becomes a Lunar citizen to seek justice.....

        Nice ideas. Although, a rabidly anti-Lunar PC is going to find it hard to become a Lunar citizen. Personal beliefs will prevent him or her from either being accepted as one, or seeking to be one. And would his pals talk with him afterwards? One personal journey coming up...  

> > After all, the Solar traditions of the Heartlands
(Yelm never admitted when he was wrong), plus the usual impulse to protect one's own, will be assumed.

> Yelm cannot be wrong, he is the source of all truth
and justice. The Lunars are rather more flexible.

        Absolutely, but many Orlanthi require educating on this point. Part of the fun of starting with young, ignorant bigots is rubbing their noses in the fact that most Lunars are not Chaos-loving slime. To play them as repressive, monolithic hardheads is not only detrimental to the gaming opportunities in occupied lands, but contrary to the reality of the Lunar Empire as it has been developed so far.

Alison



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