Re: Re: Three Lunar Associations

From: Joerg Baumgartner <joe_at_...>
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:07:50 +0100 (CET)


Chris:
>>I'm woefully ignorant of the politics there (repeat that a bunch of >>times for emphasis, please),

Donald:
> So are we all. This is just my speculation on what politics would
> be consistant with what we know from KoS and elsewhere. Don't let
> ignorance stop you from suggesting ideas.

I don't want to speak about "ignorance" here. There is nothing published that lays down the politics, except what people have been playing in freeforms or their campaigns, and the situation I am painting here has been a fixture in my campaign background since 1995. It only takes refining as more official or consensus information pops up.

>>but does this mean that one of these associations is essentially
>>supporting the Lunar Kings of Tarsh in a long-term effort to build
>>a southward-reaching kingdom that would some day be sufficient to
>>break free from the lunars? (And that, as part of that effort, they
>>are breeding super-heroines, for whom the Empire takes the credit,
>>but over whom it ultimately has limited control?)

First off: the Lunar Empire is _an_ embodiment of the Red Moon in the Inner World, not _the_ embodiment. The Sedenyic way thinks in cycles, and this may well be an Association that plans past the current cycle. Which would allow some White Moonie tolerance, too...

> Hon-Eel is the third inspiration of Moonson. Among other things
> she founded the Lunar dynasty in Tarsh. She founded the dynasty
> which led to the fourth inspiration of Moonson - Jar-Eel (See
> ILH2 page 71). I am suggesting there is an Association of which
> these two Houses (or Leagues) are part.

The Eel-Ariash clan provides the bloodline which produced both HonEel and JarEel. They may have more heroines in the making (and possibly a league which tries to put some use to their failed attempts... plenty of opportunity for really nasty things, think Alien 4)

> I don't think there is any plan to break free of the Empire
> but there will be scheming for influence with the Emperor. Both
> Hon-Eel and Jar-Eel remain loyal to the Emperor throughout.

As long as the Empire remains faithful and useful to the Lunar Way.

>>If so, that would be a lot of fun.

> That's what this group is for, devising fun stories and background.

Indeed.

>>It would also help me understand better why a lot of King of Sartar
>>seems like it's a three-cornered conflict between Argrath, Tarsh,
>>and the Empire.

> In the Dragon Pass area that's what it is. However while Sartar
> is generally one corner Tarsh has at least two - Lunar Tarsh and
> the Tarsh Exiles.

Three, counting the Far Point (divided in two camps, as it is).

> We seem to be coming to the conclusion that Lunar Tarsh has two
> separate political groups. One centred around Hon-Eel's dynasty
> and the Tarsh Royal Family while the second is spread about the
> Lunar provinces but particularly Holay and Tarsh. The conflict
> between these two means that when Fazzur falls out with the
> Tarsh Royal Family in 1625 you get a Tarsh Civil War in 1630
> with the Empire supporting one side and Argrath Prince of Sartar
> the other.

This has been part of my writings for a long time. Whatever the reason, in 1625 the Phargantite faction at the Tarshite court staged a series of assassinations of prominent Fazzurites while Fazzur had gathered the Tarshite reaction forces north of Dangerford. On the evening of the battle which made Kallyr Queen of Sartar, news of the coup reached Fazzur, who packed up (I assume, taking the troops owing personal allegiance to him with him) and returned to Tarsh. As a result, the Tarshites were basically leaderless when Kallyr's fanatic rabble crashed into them.

You might even invent an Argrath working covertly inside the Tarshite court to create this situation. Could be a Lunar worshipper (descended from Sartar through some strange lineage, perhaps even a descendant of Yoristina, Sartar's daughter by the first FHQ).

The fact remains that from 1625 to 1630, Fazzur and Moirades/Pharandros are barely on speaking terms, and during the siege of Furthest the Fazzurites appear in Argrath's camp.

They might even be the connection to the Lodrili peasants who told Argrath about the Kalikos expeditions and gave him the idea for his counter-quest.

> In addition there is the Assiday family who are competing with
> both the Tarsh Royal Family and Fazzur's Association although
> after Tatius's death in 1625 they seem to disappear from the
> story.

Even with the Assiday out of the equation after 1625 there will be other Dara Happan families pursuing a similar thick-headed policy for the rebellious new provinces.

> There's a general consensus that Imperial politics are best
> described as 'Byzantine'. Given earlier discussions about
> recognisable analogues I'd better explain that one.

> The Lunar Emperor, like the Byzantine Emperor, rules by divine
> appointment. It is not only treason to challenge him but blasphamy
> as well. However an Emperor can be mislead by stupid or corrupt
> advisors so the important families make sure their interests are
> protected by getting their own people appointed as advisors.
> Every one of those advisors will claim to be acting in the best
> interests of the Empire and its Emperor while denegrating their
> rivals. It is purely co-incidental that the best interests of
> the Empire happen to match the desires of the advisor's sponsor.
> The analogy breaks down in that Byzantine Emperors died frequently
> and were sometimes overthrown. With the Lunars when the death of
> an Emperor occurs he is reborn with a different mask. At least
> from an official position he is the same Emperor.

Nice one. There is also the possibility of a successful assassination as a personal warning to the Red Emperor (who, after all, has access to lots of resurrection magics). A new mask is only required if this method has been blocked by destroying too much of his corpse.

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