Re: Terror in War - Long

From: Alison Place <alison_place_at_u1FBLQIZzXvb-Lbf4lBQUe8mugMlpfYe2HyhHrdrK_XYHgFaYUejU3ICFmmMUCi>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:58:32 -0700 (PDT)

     This is a partial repeat of a post that I sent to the Immod list, but as the same topic is being discussed here, I'm posting what's relevant, slightly altered.

     Concerning killings the length and breadth of Sartar and possibly Heortland (not sure about her activities outside of Whitewall), I'm taking the list that Jeff gave on the Immod list as only a partial list of the deaths that she would have caused if she campaigned in the way that Jeff posits. A Kallyr who's killing anyone remotely associated with Lunars will have a very long list of deaths to her name. This is the degree of hatred against the Lunars that I believe he ascribes to her and her most likeminded followers. If not hatred, exactly, then at the very least a wish to make everyone believe that if you co-operate with the Lunars to any degree whatsoever, then you are a potential target. If that is not the case, then I am wrong about Jeff's vision of Kallyr.

     Ian (my husband) suggested a scenario idea around this, by the way. In fact, if our lot gets back to Sartar during this period, I'm damn sure we'll run some variant of this. Say you have a well-respected and very honourable local, who has in the past hosted Lunars, under the obligations of hospitality. Perhaps Sylilan Orlanthi who know the greetings, if you want plausible guests. During the war, this man is accused of having consorted with Chaos, and he, his family, and all that was his are killed and mutilated by rebels, down to the last lamb in the stead. His kin, friends and neighbours are outraged that this good man and his kin have been killed in such a shameful manner. Many of them are of the opinion that they would hope to have acted just as he did, in the same circumstances. The problem for the rebel leadership is that they really need this man's kin and tribe as allies. Now what do they do? Rest of the circumstances are up to the GM. Were the rebels ignorant of the circumstances, were they settling an old feud, were they from a rival clan or tribe, were they acting at Kallyr's behest, did the hosting happen during the war, and so on.

     Fimbulwinter is a different topic altogether, in my view. If it is the return of the Greater Darkness, then there is still the hope that Orlanth will return, as everyone knows he did after the Lightbringers' Quest. Attempts to undo the death still proceed, and they succeed.

     Kallyr will have been in the thick of these people, and should be behaving like Vinga during the Greater Darkness. Vinga protected her people, and fought the Chaos. So, Kallyr fights the Lunars. All good. My point is that there is still a model of honour and endurance to follow that is relevant to the Fimbulwinter. Even during the Greater Darkness, which is when Vinga truly comes into her greatest power and influence, she is still a protectress. Women and children (e.g. clanless or starving widows and orphans sheltered and fed by Teelo Norri) would not be justifiable targets for many Vingans, or other Orlanthi, for that matter.

     Although the Lunars are vilified as the modern-day Chaos, they are still ordinary people, with as much good and bad as anyone else. They've been in Sartar long enough that a lot of Sartari actually know this, especially those in prominent, influential positions. They may not be kin, and you wouldn't want your children to marry them, but neither are they broo or slime-dripping monsters.

     Another point. Kallyr, while not only a Vingan, is still personally followed by many. These women are from many clans and tribes, and will be her witnesses during the war. If they believe that Kallyr is going too far, then this opinion will be disseminated throughout Sartar. There will be degrees of disillusionment, no doubt. Some may buy in totally that any contact with any Lunar is a Chaos taint, but many, having met Lunars, won't. This is something that Kallyr will have to keep in mind in her drive to become Prince of Sartar.

     Interesting times, the Hero Wars.

Yours, Alison        



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