Re: Re: Dragonrise arc

From: donald_at_...
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:39:39 GMT


In message <60595.79.223.97.31.1237419425.squirrel_at_...> "Joerg Baumgartner" writes:
>donald_at_...

>> However the difficulty I have is that Tarsh provides a high proportion
>> of the basic infantry for the invasions and occupation. That's usually
>> the arm that suffers the worst casualties. So either the units will
>> be continually be being reinforced. Or, more likely, units will be
>> sent home to rebuild and be replaced in the interim. Whichever, there
>> are going to be a significant proportion who weren't recruited at
>> those times.
>
>I'm not talking about those foot troops, but I'm talking about Fazzur's
>family retainers joining up his elite cavalry force. Fazzur's family has
>holdings in Sylila as well, and I guess he will be quite well connected.
>Take a look at Champions of the Red Moon to see how "regular" military
>units are firmly joined to household interests.

The question then is how big this force is. I'd seen it as a large bodyguard - maybe 50-100 cavalry. You seem to be talking about a regiment or perhaps more. Given that the army of Tarsh only includes six regiments of cavalry that appears a lot.

>> I would also have expected Heartland units to be given priority
>> for return home when the active campaign ends because of their
>> higher status. Also if troops are wanted on the Pentan frontier
>> it makes more sense to use Heartland troops.
>
>I think that Tatius is only too happy to let those untrustworthy
>provincials leave his command.

Yes, if we're just talking about a regiment or less of elite troops.

>> Another angle is that if Fazzur has achieved this level of loyalty
>> he has done so in opposition to the Seven Mothers cult in Tarsh
>> who should be making sure that the army is loyal to the Emperor
>> and the Goddess. So they've failed, but that failure is part of
>> the story and we need to write it.
>
>The problem here is that Fazzur ranks high in the Seven Mothers cult
>of Tarsh, and so do many of his closest followers. And in Tarsh,
>loyalty is to Goddess, Emperor, and King - Moirades is something like
>a living saint of the Lunars. Fazzur has achieved this loyalty with
>the sanction of Moirades. Moirades has been the head of the magical
>forces of Tarsh for years, and Fazzur had become his best military
>leader. His Sylilan family ties make him less of a provincial by
>provincial standards, and apart from his undiplomatic, very Orlanthi
>pride he has been the model Lunar commander.

It looks like we need to define the associations involved - the ones for the Assiday family, the Tarsh Royal Family and Fazzur's family. Then we can make sense of the politics. I've got a few ideas for the Assiday's.

>>>Naughty, yes... Guard the tax farmer against angry Heortlings,
>>>warband's honor...
>
>> Well they aren't our clan, if they don't pay their taxes we'll
>> probably have to pay more.
>
>That's thinking like a (Heortling) woman.

Oh dear, I'm channelling Ernalda again.

>>>Yes. But my point is that they are unlikely to be sent on patrol into
>>>the roadless outbacks where your average Sartarite clan lives.
>
>> From the map in Dragon Pass there seem to be few clans that far
>> away from a road
>
>There are roads, and then there are royal highways, and there is a
>great difference between these.

I'm assuming that any road marked on the map is adequate for wagons. I'm not sure which are the royal highways.

>> and I'm sure there are decent paths, if not proper
>> roads, from the clan centres to the main roads. Sure many steads
>> will be pretty remote and may even be cut off in winter but even
>> there the clan warband will need to be able to get there in a
>> reasonable time.
>
>Using hill paths that may be sort of secret to the clan occupying
>the tula.

Who outside the clan is going to be interested for the most part? Nearby clans who might raid and lunar mappers is about all I can think of. Even the former will be more interested in how long it takes for the warband to respond than the exact route they take.

>There is a reason why Issaries traders use mule caravans
>rather than wagons.

That's assuming they have enough goods to justify a wagon. I don't see the traders who travel between clans as carrying much bulky stock. Anything a clan can't produce itself is going to be expensive which means low demand. Large quantities are going to be arranged by the merchant and delivered later. Also I think the trader will often travel to the bigger steads, probably accompanied by the clan reeve. Those may not be accessible by wagon.

>> I expect Lunar patrols often visit clan centres
>> just to keep an eye on the chief and make sure he knows they are
>> watching.
>
>I expect this level of surveillance for the tribal level, but not
>for just about any clan chief's hall. Troublesome clans may call
>this on themselves, though.

I would expect a missionary post at tribal level. With number of guards depending on how friendly the tribe is. There's only a couple of dozen tribes.

-- 
Donald Oddy
http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/

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