>While we often concentrate on Lunar attitudes to the conquest of
>Dragon Pass, its easy to forget that another outside culture is
>making is presence felt in Dragon Pass - the Malkioni. From Black
>Horse County, Invisible Orlanth, the Great Futurist, the Bishopric of
>Malkonwal and God Forgot the Malkioni are defiantly present in DP.
A nitpick: Invisible Orlanth is in Carmania, not Dragon Pass.
>What is the attitude of the lunars to the Malkioni, and vice-versa.
>The lack of major clashes seems to suggest tolerance, but is this the
>case?
The commonest Lunar view of the Malkioni is that they are a breed of Incompletes (ie humans that have damaged one of their soul portions). Other types of incompletes are Selfish Ones (Men and Gods that do not admit the Goddess, i.e. Orlanthi) and Ravagers (Chaotics). All can be accepted by the Goddess to be loved but first they have to want to be accepted.
Another Lunar view posits Malkioni as masters of the world of matter, the lowest world there is. Above the world of matter is the world of gods and far beyond that is the transcendent realm. Although Malkioni are powerful, they have forsaken the higher truths and so should be pitied/ shown the light/treated with contempt/what-have-you.
The existence of Lunar Elementals and their relationship with Vecors and Madness Spirits does suggest another (more sympathetic) viewpoint, but I like to think that this enlightened viewpoint is _rare_.
Malkioni attitudes to Lunars probably take two forms.
The first is that the Lunars worship a False Goddess with chaotic associations and who might be Gbaji the Liar returned. Malkioni do hate chaos as much as the next gloranthan, but due to the barely tolerable presence of chaos within their own society (Tap spells, Vadeli, corrupt sorcerers), Lunars are not something that Malkioni would go out of their way to fight. OTOH writing blistering polemics against the evil empire for domestic consumption suits the Malkioni just fine.
The second is that the Lunars are heterodox Malkioni. This option is no less despicable than the first. However Lunars are in the same boat as Aeolians, Trader Princes, Safelstrans and Arrolians. While the Lunar Empire may be considered the ultimate bastion of heresy, the other heretics are far closer and more prominent in Malkioni minds.
There are of course, kill-'em-all-and-let-God-sort-'em-out attitudes among the Malkioni to the Lunars, but I think it a lot more fun if this was at best a petty crusade that has to compete with the other issues vexing Malkioni.
Speaking to the specific examples.
Ethilrist and the Lunar Empire know each other all too well. Sir Ethilrist is stuck where he is thanks to the Emperor, yet at the same time, the Empire is the only employer that offers lucrative mercenary contracts. At the same time, the Empire has need of Ethilrist's muscle. Hence it's a rewarding business relationship with both parties looking for a chance to knife each other.
The Aeolians seem to me to be far more concerned with pagan Orlanthi (c.f. Gustin's split with Andrin the Zombie) and/or God Forgot rather than Lunars. The Lunars thus really an irritating distraction from the real conflict. At the same time, the Lunars are probably bemused by the gulf between the Heortlings in the north and the Aeolians in the south.
The Godforgotten probably view the Lunars as just another bunch of pagans. The Wand of the Seven Phases of the Moon might change their opinion (considering its origins) but right now that's missing.
As for the Army of Tomorrow and other latecomers, it's my understanding that they are drawn to Dragon Pass because they've received word that big things are going to happen there and don't really have much of a clue who to fight for and against.
--Peter Metcalfe
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