If you want to see some positive aspects of the Vadeli Empire, you might look for Melnibone or possibly better Pan Tang in Michael Moorcock's Young Kingdoms. Their behavior in Pamaltela was no worse than that of imperialist Europeans in Afrika. Their dealings with fellow tribes from Danmalastan were based on treachery when selling out the Tadeniti or usurping the Kachasti - but these means would be covered by Machiavelli's The Prince.
Their marriage and immortality patterns and behavior is no worse than that of the Greek or Phoenician gods - remember that these are immortals, not mortals.
This also makes them hard to depict in a human way. They might be seen as a variation of the Unseely Court of the Sidhe. Often beautiful, often disgusting, generally aloof and cruel.
> What's interesting to me is that Vadeli are apparently not Chaotic, and yet they defy the laws because they are laws, just as the Brithini follow laws because they are laws - now, doesn't that remind you of a certain excerpt from Salonar Tamaskil?
>
> Also, I think you have to admit that their whole mandatory incest, patricide/infanticide and so on package is, at least, a cut above your usual everyday evil.
>
> I think they are just as inhuman as the Brithini, and perhaps nastier to outsiders, though that is an accident of their nature.
>
> That is not to say I won't be interested in a Vadeli story. Then again, did anyone write a Brithini story?
>
> --- In WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com, hcarteau@ wrote:
> >
> >
> > I've long wanted to see a story, any story, written/told by a vadeli. Don't think anything like that has ever been written by any of us.
> >
> > The brithini are not nice people ; they're not even people, more like mostali. Once, one of their number, a dynamic, entreprising talar of the Explorer clan, the Vyimorni, went beyond the limits set by Zzabur and discovered New Things, wonderful new magics and powers, inhuman foreigners who taught his tribe a lot.
> >
> > Zzabur hated that anybody could challenge his power and tried to coerce him into coming back ; in shutting up, when Vadel refused the greedy sorcerer tried to snuff him. Vadel fought back with all his new powers and allies. Things escalated, got Real Bad, mad powers were unleashed. The World ended. Vadeli power was shattered. Zzabur survived and wrote History, as winners do, and cast the Vadeli as the bad guys.
> >
> > So far, I have read nothing that demonstrates the vadeli are evil, and by that I mean D&D chaotic evil.
> >
> > Sure, they deal in slaves, drugs and weapons. Big deal - so do many Nolos traders.
> >
> > OK, they smell somewhat bad. But have you ever been downwind of a pagan ?
> >
> > Yes, red vadeli are bloodthirsty maniacs. So are the wolf pirates, which are even worse than red vadeli.
> >
> > Any one wants to comment ?
> >
>
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