One of the things I wonder is how Tyr treats slaves from elsewhere who come into Tyr. For example, I suspect every merchant caravan or visiting noble from elsewhere has slaves as part of their entourage. Can those slaves ask any passing guard or templar in Tyr to set them free, because slavery is outlawed in Tyr? Or is it only that traffiking in slaves is outlawed?
Really, shouldn't the entire economy and social system of Tyr be in freefall as every facet of government and mercantile endeavors try to figure out how they are going to pay people to do all the jobs slaves used to do? Aren't a lot of people really pissed off because the slaves they paid a lot of money for were just taken away by the new King's decree?
What kind of interesting events, character motivators, stories or adventures, could you see coming from some of this?
MK
One of the things I wonder is how Tyr treats slaves from elsewhere who come into Tyr. For example, I suspect every merchant caravan or visiting noble from elsewhere has slaves as part of their entourage. Can those slaves ask any passing guard or templar in Tyr to set them free, because slavery is outlawed in Tyr? Or is it only that traffiking in slaves is outlawed?
The city of Tyr is mainly ruled by ex-slaves, who lived under the overly oppressive rule of Kalak. They are very happy to be free from this oppressive rule, and many believe that they can pass this freedom off to other slaves.
Most Merchants and Templars be-grudgingly accept the "every slave is free" laws. They have no choice. You can interpret that however you feel. Note, however, that the power of the cities lie with the ex-slaves and the Templarate that cooperates with these ex-slaves (mainly through Tithian) - but that power is held on a knife point and could fall at any moment.
Really, shouldn't the entire economy and social system of Tyr be in freefall as every facet of government and mercantile endeavors try to figure out how they are going to pay people to do all the jobs slaves used to do? Aren't a lot of people really pissed off because the slaves they paid a lot of money for were just taken away by the new King's decree?
What kind of interesting events, character motivators, stories or adventures, could you see coming from some of this?
MK
That's open to interpretation and depends heavily on how you'd like to play your game. Officially, it was already in freefall with King Kalak devoting the entire treasury for his personal interests. The entire economy was spent on slaves and resources to finish the King's Ziggurat. Even the Iron mines were nearly depleted of resources and slaves and the money spent on the Ziggurat.
The economy is, relative to that, in a better position to bounce back, but it's far behind other successful economies like Balic, Nibenay and Urik. Some merchants/traders might be of the opinion that re-instating slavery might aid in rejuvinating the economy.
There are plenty of interesting story events based in the city of Tyr: Working with funding/supporting underground organizations in other cities to overthrow their leaders; removing the remaining corrupt Templar/Merchants; resurrection of Kalak; fighting off the greedy interests of other cities like neightbouring Urik and their merchants; plenty of new, interesting and creative opportunities for trade; finding allies for a cities with a new government (Tieflings, Giants, Half-Giants, Dragonborn, Elves, Eladrin, etc.); what was Kalak doing anyways? etc etc etc etc
These are all issues I have dealt with in different ways in my campaign.
Generally, Nobles and Merchants are wise enough to not enter Tyr with slaves. If they do bring them to the city, they leave them outside, far enough away, guarded by their guards to prevent from losing them. Those dumb enough to enter end up losing them, unless of course they bride the constabulary enough (which happens constantly). A slave cant shout without his tongue.
As for the economy, Yes, I presumed it would be a bit chaotic, (crime rampant) and in general have my PC group working to stablize Tyr. They have been approached by most of the power groups to take on jobs, and have thus far been lured into employ by the Merchants. however, I have had Kign Tithian begin a lot of public work projects in order to employ as many former ex slaves as possible. There were numerous public wotks that went wanting with Kalak using all resources to build his rainbow pyramid.
As for people being pissed, yes. I especially emphasized that the nobles are pissed, and form up the main part of The True, the group trying to figure out a way to ressurect/find Kalak, in the hopes he will restore things to the way they were.
As for Events and stories, by and large the entire Heroic level of my campaign is devoted to Stablizing Tyr, and putting one of the competing power groups into power.
So far, the merchants are winning
Also, Big Goon, as for your statement that Tyr is now ruled by ex-slaves, Im not sure if thats somethign youve created, but i dont think thats canon to be sure. King Tithian rules, as do his now Beurocratic templars, though many groups struggle for controlling power of the city. The ex-slaves have little power (Rikkus and cronies simply have pull, and some power, they dont rule)
I see it as Tithian rules, but his rule is weak. He does not have a huge army of powerful Templars anymore, though many of them still do hole Some power (Psionic, Defilers, etc). So with that, and his depleted Half-Giants, he controls the city enough to be the one who makes decisions, but he must acquiesce to SOME demands of the power groups else they attempt a coup. Crime is rampant, sprawl is rampant, and it is prime time for someone to take control. In come the PC's.
Also, Big Goon, as for your statement that Tyr is now ruled by ex-slaves, Im not sure if thats somethign youve created, but i dont think thats canon to be sure. King Tithian rules, as do his now Beurocratic templars, though many groups struggle for controlling power of the city. The ex-slaves have little power (Rikkus and cronies simply have pull, and some power, they dont rule)
You're right. I grabbed it from the Prism Pentad novels, and realize that it might not really be canon. I'll take a look at the DSCS and see how much overlap.
By power, I mean that they have some sort of representation and sway - but don't necessarily hold official positions. They somehow managed to overthrow the government, and persuade it to outlaw slavery - a radical change that many powerful figures (merchants and nobles) would have been against. If they can push forth such a law, then they must have enough power and sway to influence the government to do just about anything (although persuading a mob is difficult... ).
If some bad guy did manage to 'offically' reinstate slavery (or even think about it) they would have a mad and powerful ex-slave mob looking to tear them to pieces - now that's power.
Or perhaps "freedom" for slaves had little substance. A freed slave has no property, no possessions, and no prospects. It seems that all the only right they now possess is to get a bucket of water each day. A slave's home would only have been whatever hovel his master allowed him.
Although nobles are worse off, they still have plenty of power to maintain control over their former slaves. Life outside of the city means probable death. Unless a slave wants to stay with her family in the streets, she probably has no choice but to "work" for her master in "exchange" for the same shack she lived in before she was freed. Additionally, a free bucket of water a day is nice, but it's not food. People need to eat, so they need to work.
The material day-to-day life of the freed is probably the same as it was before. Where things have changed is in what a person is able to do when "off the clock." They can learn to read, gather together, scrape together savings, etc. High-skill slaves (scribes, gladiators) are probably making a smoother transition into freedom and might command reasonable fees for their work.
It was probably the danger posed by more skilled slaves leading the laboring slave class in revolt that led Tithian to emancipate them. Having preempted such a revolution, the freed elite won't have much political influence, and this permits nobles to retain a substantial portion of the labor force they previously enjoyed at the same cost. Only a small number of slaves might push their luck as craftsman or by leaving the city. The rest are stuck.
---
I'm certain that Tyr doesn't free visiting slaves. This is still Athas, and that means even good guys have to spend most of their day looking out for number one. Most people, including the freed, probably don't (or can't) care about the plight of a slave coming along with a Balican merchant. That said, nobles and merchants from other cities are probably thinking twice about bringing slaves along, to discourage them from getting any ideas. However, the mechanisms of slavery still work: A Balican scribe might accompany his master to Tyr and long to disappear into the city's mass of freed slaves, but his wife and children are back in Balic, and his escape means their deaths.
---
The economy of Tyr must be suffering. Although a majority of slaves will be stuck working for their masters at abysmal wages, some chunk will refuse, and end up as jobless citizens who wander the streets. Many will become criminals to survive. Others will try their hand in the armies or as gladiators. The sudden influx of additional free labor will depress the wages of those who were already free.
There are also going to be problems with matters as simple as currency. Now that many more people are making money, the city will need more ceramic pieces in circulation, but the value of coins will fluctuate.
---
The real problem is the Dragon. I doubt the Dragon's demand for slaves will lessen in light of Tyr's "progressive" move. Other cities will have to make up for Tyr's slack, and this will create anger in every class from every other city. Even slaves in other cities will be angry. The move might inspire some hope, but hope means little when you're in chains and your odds of being devoured by the Dragon just went up. Nobles will be angry for needing to give up more property. SKs will be enraged at the burden placed on their cities.
One note is that the reason Tithian freed the slaves was due to a deal made between Agis, Rikkus and Tithian himself, if I remember correctly. Not due to any pressure felt by him.
As for the Dragon, that does end up becoming a huge problem!
I completely agree on the conecpts of the slaves really just ending up back in the same rooms they were in before, simply allowed to leave the estate after work, etc.
The idea is that the players are running away from the Wastewalker right now. They will see the Dragon of Tyr before entering the mountains, and when they get to Tyr its either the entire city has been partially destroyed as a message to the politicians to appease him or it happens as the players enter the city to drop off an artifact with a Veiled Alliance agent.
The first week will be absolute chaos with slaves killing masters and such but after a few days Tithain will just make his first "call" and stabalize things, demonstrating his new power in the process.
Since one of my players is currently a slave and another has been captured as a "enslaved gladiator" for this months games it should be full of RP and fun.
Other ideas or considerations that need to be taken into account?
The Tyrian economy should be chaotic for a year or so. Then those freed farmers start bringing in lots MORE food - because they are getting paid themselves, not working for the nobles - and they can buy more stuff. Typically, they will go to freedman-run shops for their goods (folks like us gotta stick together) and their businesses will boom. Of course the ancien regime will try to keep taking their cut. Oh, and the most corrupt cops can expect to find that their money is no good anywhere that they ever gave offense in the past. Some might have to leave town.
While I'm not usually a fan of Marxist political theory, its emphasis on power and exploitation suits DS's history better than American democracy. You might want to set up a 3- or 4-way debate between the Marxists, a democrat, a sorcerer-king's agent, and a very traditionalist. This debate need not be limited to words...
Free men work twice as hard as slaves, therefore increasing production. Slaves will only work hard enough to avoid being killed.
Depends upon the social dynamic and government. Free men in capitalist states work harder because they know their employers give them no choice but to work.
Depends upon the social dynamic and government. Free men in capitalist states work harder because they know their employers give them no choice but to work.
The best workers are the mildly disgruntled workers. Those with just enough motivation and expectation to continue to work towards their goals and not quit, but not too much pay and rewards that they are constantly slacking off - but that's on dependent on whether they have a choice where they work.
I've just finished reading the Dark Sun Campaign book, but I don't have any experience with DS in previous editions, so this is all the info I have on the world. They really gloss over the outlawing of slavery in Tyr, and it raised a lot of questions in my mind, and ideas for game stuff.
One of the things I wonder is how Tyr treats slaves from elsewhere who come into Tyr. For example, I suspect every merchant caravan or visiting noble from elsewhere has slaves as part of their entourage. Can those slaves ask any passing guard or templar in Tyr to set them free, because slavery is outlawed in Tyr? Or is it only that traffiking in slaves is outlawed?
Really, shouldn't the entire economy and social system of Tyr be in freefall as every facet of government and mercantile endeavors try to figure out how they are going to pay people to do all the jobs slaves used to do? Aren't a lot of people really pissed off because the slaves they paid a lot of money for were just taken away by the new King's decree?
What kind of interesting events, character motivators, stories or adventures, could you see coming from some of this?
MK
1. Slaveholders don't bring them into Tyr's domain unless they want to lose them. Slavery is completely outlawed.
2. It is in freefall. That is what makes the area ripe for adventuring. Slaveholders are pissed, but that is mainly the templars, nobles and merchants, i.e. the haves. The have nots either didn't have any slaves (couldn't afford them) or had one or so to help perform the work. Small scale slave owners tended to treat their slave(s) better as they work directly with them and have a LOT more invested in them comparatively than a noble with 50 slaves. In a lot of ways they are more like permanently indentured servants. Think of a turn-of-the-century farmer with a single horse to pull his plow. He takes care of that horse because he is screwed without it. If you have 50 horses, the loss of any one isn't as catastrophic so you have less incentive to care for each individual one.
As for compensation, the people who had a lot of slaves would be upset but it is primarily nobles, templars and merchants again, so the the rest of the populace doesn't care. They can absorb the economic loss.
The funny thing is many of your questions are explained in the old "City State of Tyr" book. It has the same information as the 4e dark sun book but with a LOT more detail about the current state of affairs.