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Joined: 6/29/2007
Posts: 151
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[Message from Jeremy to Sean]
I've been talking a bit with Ryan and he's planning on making a "Morph" type character and mine is an anti-mage (see the static advantage). Both of us are currently friendly toward the old Inaria and the old system (including the Dark Caste). What did you have in mind? I want to make sure our characters can all work together before we get too far along.
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Joined: 7/4/2007
Posts: 103
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My character concept is a Spy/Thief type character.
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Joined: 6/29/2007
Posts: 151
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[Sean's reply]
Ok. When Jason first mentioned this to me my first thought was a resounding WTF?! Why would anyone miss the Dark King and his brutal regime? But then I remembered that after WW2 it was said that some people would reminisce about the "good old" days under Mussolini's fascist regime by saying "At least the trains ran on time". So... ok. I'm willing to admit, that depending on current circumstances, there might be a few things worth missing about the dark king's reign. So, this is were I get to engage in rampant speculation about exactly what those "current circumstances" might be (woohoo).
When we last left the campaign, the Dark King and the leaders of his army had all just been killed. If I remember correctly, the upper ranks of his government were all composed of mind slave "Dark Caste" folks. With the king's death they were all suddenly free to pursue their own adgendas. In an instant, communication is largely limited to the speed of a man on a horse and the cities of the Empire are forced to act independently. Perhaps some of the Dark Caste stayed with their cities, trying to seize power and forge their own pocket kingdoms, others may have been left to their local governers, the Dark Caste having either fled or been slain in the weeks and months that followed the death of the Dark King.
Without leadership, pay and supplies the Imperial armies in the north would fall apart. Many likely turned to banditry while others became mercenaries or just made their way home. Without help from the imperial treasury and with trade destroyed by an increase in bandits, the cities would have suffered. Hunger and poverty would become common as farmers were unable to move thier goods into the cities and craftsmen unable to get their goods out.
The cities would need money to raise militias and hire mercenaries to guard caravans and fight the bandits, but they don't have it. Seeing an opportunity, the Blue Temple would undoubtably steps in to help. Before long, if they could swing it, the Blue Temple would become THE bank, minting coins that become the most stable currency in any area where the Blue Temple has influence. (Personal Note: Salinius will use all his subtle influence to get his head stamped on some of those coins. Not for vanity, but for self-preservation :-P)
With the Blue Temple's aid the bandit problems are reduced and some trade resumes. It's not like it was however. The Empire is broken, replaced by small alliances and independent city states. Confllict is inevitable. The Blue Temple continues to finance all sides and their power grows. In addition, by providing free healing alongside thier financial services they slowly diminish the power of the White Temple in the cities.
However, at the same time as they loose power in the cities, the White Temple gains followers in the countryside. The farms and villages throughout the old empire have suffered greatly due to bandits and inter-city war. Many farms and villages have banded together into cooperatives and hired mercenaries, but without the heavy walls of a city to protect them they would be hurt greatly, and the healers of the White Temple have been invaluable. Into the middle of this rural struggle a new sect may emerge, the White Temple "paladins" (thanks to Brady). These holy knights and their retinues could prove a valuable ally in the struggle of the common folk against bandits and rogue Dark Caste.
The Dwarves could also greatly complicate things in the post-Dark King era. Without the Imperial Army hunting them they may try to open trade with the rural farmers and even some cities. The dwarves could greatly use some surface products like grain and vegetables, even meat (mushrooms, rats and spiders can get old). They could also use wood, or better yet manufacture wooden goods (They probalby don't have any carpenters among them). This might all seem well and good except for one problem.
In mideval Europe the value of gold and silver was extremely stable because there was virtually no new gold coming into the country either by mining or conquest. However, the dwarves have plenty of gold and silver, and they are probably willing to pay a premium for surface goods. The end result is the devaluation of gold and silver... and inflation. Add the inflation to the scarcity caused by the ongoing wars and banditry problems and you get rampant poverty, and an increase in crime. Joy.
Another thought. Considering the role of the "Static Trees" we planted in overthrowing the Dark Caste I wouldn't be surprised to see a new cult spring up aroudn them. People who were afraid of magic might take clippings and grow saplings in their gardens. The big tree in the ruined tower could become a gathering place. Before long the trees, or groves, start to ascend to godhood. Probably have the protection and life colleges or something and the next thing you know you have druids and rangers... wierd. If such a cult did exist they would certainly be "anti" Dark Caste. I can't help but wonder how they would regard someone with the "Static" Advantage. Probably "blessed" or "touched"... unless he was pro-Dark King. Then he might be some kind of abomination. :-D
Ok. I'm about out of ideas here... If I'm guessing anywhere close to right then the Dark King's Empire has regressed into a warring bunch of city states and alliances riddled with bandits, poverty, crime, new religious sects and an overpowerful religious-financial juggernaut. I guess I can see how some folks might reminisce about the good old "golden days" of safe roads and uncorruptable mind-controlled public servants.
As always feel free to straighten me out on any of this Jason. Or just tell me to stfu. That works too. :-D
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Joined: 6/29/2007
Posts: 119
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One thing that it appears that I was never able to communicate was that the Dark Caste aren't "Mind Slaves" in a pure slavery sense. They were all autonomous individuals, and most were not even aware of their "link". Only the upper-ups were aware of it, and your party only received confirmation of it via capturing upper crust Dark Caste. It was a fear that the public held, and it turned out it was true. As it was explained to your previous characters by Fisk's sister, not all were even under the spell of the Dark King. A lot of the originals were a long time ago, but as time went on and the empire grew, the Dark King would have to spend quite a lot of his time meeting each new Dark Caste, so he only did it seemingly randomly. No one knew which ones were "his" and which were not. Even the ones that were "his" might not even been aware of it. He also didn't limit it just to Dark Caste. He had "spies" all over the place. As a mage would tell you, though, using his abilities to see through their eyes and control them would require a conscious effort and would leave him 'vulnerable' while he did it.
There were plenty of people that benefitted from the Dark King's reign. Quite a few of them lived in the city of Inaria, but there were at least a few families of 'loyalists' in every city. There were certainly a lot of people that directly benefitted from the Inarian Empire, although very few of them would find themselves in the "commoner" category. Additionally, there were no "Taboo" subjects for mages. They were not bound by any idealistic morality that prevented them from investigating whatever took their fancy. Now, however, there is growing 'morality' of magic. Additionally, a lot more people seem to be capable of learning magic, so those same people feel that they would have become one of the 'elite' under the previous regime and secretly wish that it had not fallen, instead of being forced to learn it all by themselves and many times in secret.
With the Dark King's death, while the Dark Caste were now free to pursue their own agendas, it was not like they had not already been able to do so (under penalty of getting caught or have their minds perused without warning) - and many were likely to not even have known that the danger existed. Word of the Dark King's death reached the capitol in Inaria quickly due to the Black Temple gates, and a new King rose to power. The new king is to the Dark King what a puppy is to a pitbull. There have been some prophecies that undermine the new king, as well, and also foretell the return of the Dark King. (I think that Jeremy and Ryan's intention was that they were members of loyalist families that have heard this prophecy and wish to see it fulfilled.)
Definitely in some cities, the Dark Caste tried to maintain power and try to get reinforcements from Inaria. The White Temple moved quickly under the leadership of Flego, and siezed several cities before the Dark Caste even realized they were in danger from the threat of sedition. After that, many fled back to Inaria through the Black Temple portals, and then closed the portals from the Inarian side, preventing people from using those portals to Inaria.
Many valuable leaders of the Inarian Kingdom had been utterly destroyed in the Battle with Salinius. The rain of fiery death that He lanced through their numbers caused the army to break and flee. Many soldiers reported to the nearest city (and were then defeated in subsequent battles) while many more returned home or turned to banditry. Those that have returned home have been hired through various parties as mercenaries to protect the interests of the cities, but banditry IS at an all-time high for the region. Some people / cities are suspected as using the bandit problem to their personal gain to deal with old rivalries.
The White Temple has waged a smear campaign against the Dark Caste ever since, trying to urge the population into ousting them from their midst. It now gets fresh men and supplies from people who want to see the end of the Dark Caste and Inaria. Some people who were particularly oppressed have thronged to the White Temple banner.
The Blue Temple has done pretty much exactly as you proposed, financing all sides in one way or another, gaining influence with everyone and covertly keeping the balance of power so that one side doesn't manage to completely crush another. Salinius has indeed had His head stamped on the coins, and many coins have been melted down and re-minted with His face. The Blue Temple is led into a "new era" of prosperity under Salinius' lead. As a leader to the common man, His word is valued greatly, and people listen to His ideas to keep trade thriving. He can walk into a room of people greatly opposed to His ideas, and He is apparently so charismatic and well-spoken that when He leaves, everyone seems the wisdom of His ideas.
There is a new druidic order that has sprung up with the 'static' trees. You beat me to the punch, and, umm, you suck. I was planning on the party starting somewhere other than Khorinis (I'm thinking Cauldron, actually), and eventually take you there to see how things have changed - with the different perspective that your characters had never actually been there.
At any rate, Inaria is still a power in the south. The Empire is cut off from the north by two major cities that block the feasible routes to move troops - Khorinis and Cauldron. Both city states do their best to make sure that any available route to the north is cut off. The two cities are not friendly to each other, however. Khorinis is a major hub of the White Temple and where the White Temple wages war against the Dark Caste (and suspected Dark Caste - therefore just about any mage). Cauldron is a little farther north (about 60 miles), and has enhanced mana (i.e., Very High) for Fire and Earth magics, and is a Magocracy, but strongly anti-Inarian. Inaria has to conquer one of these two city states to in order to open a route to move troops north again, and the cities in the north supply mercenaries to help these cities maintain vigilance over the borders.
Inaria seems to be consolidating its power in the region that remains intact. The new king is more open to evaluating why people would not have wanted to be under Inarian rule, and is making some adjustments. However, this is the region that has been under the Dark King rule for nearly 80 years, and people are both afraid to express any discontent while at the same time they can't think of much to be discontent about since it's just always been that way. Inarians have been allowed to travel (although they don't like to go north), and outsiders are even allowed into Inaria.
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Joined: 6/29/2007
Posts: 151
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The character that I’ve been working on goes by the philosophy that the country was better off united than the chaos that has erupted since. He was born and raised in a well to do family in the city of Inaria and is unimpressed with the changes. He feels that someone needs to reunite the people, but the new king seems to be too week/soft to do much about it. That being said, if the Dark King could be brought back, that would restore the balance of the way things were, and all would be well. He particularly doesn’t like all these outsiders (like Flego) coming over and gaining power over Inarians. His goal is to reunite the country under some banner or another.
I had envisioned that the city of Inaria was prosperous partially because money and goods from the other cities were brought to Inaria via taxes and such. A good portion of that money would then go to build up the original cities which have been subjected (and thus accepting of the way things are) for a long time now. Inaria is significantly weaker without the other cities and with the skirmishes with Khorinis and Cauldron weaker still. Wouldn’t the world be better if we could reunite the kingdom again? Perhaps more free trade is called for. Perhaps not. Either way we have to get rid of the outsiders who only wish to divide us up and conquer us. The only way to fight against that is unity.
He also has a direct grudge against the White Temple, as he believes they abducted his missing (former DC) sister. With them holding inquisitions and “dealing” with the former Dark Caste, they are making sure they are the only mages around and making themselves more powerful than they ought to be. Not only that, but now they are aggressive which is something entirely new to the White Temple in this area (thanks Brady). Ryan’s character, being my character’s cousin or something like that, accompanied me north to [the starting city] looking for information about my guys missing sister. I’m hoping to have a background done early next week (it really depends on how fast I get my homework done...I’ve got a lot right now).
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