I'm going to start my first Eberron campaign, and one of the thing that I adore from the setting is the ambiguous morality of nations and npcs. Bacause of this, I want to focus my campaign on the Five Kingdoms and the struggle for the foundations of a new united Khorvaire. Pcs will be caught on the net of war, intrigue, gray and gray morality, difficult decisions and the like...
There is just. one. thing. that is driving me mad... The entire Breland...
Other nations and rulers all have some pro and cons, some virtue and some flaws. Breland is just perfect. It is the largest and most populated nation, the least scarred by the Last War, the richest and most auto-sufficent nation, the most advanced technologically, the most advanced politically, the most advanced socially, its inhabitant are brave, open-minded and good warrior. King Boranel is all this to the sqare, is brave, strong, intelligent, wise, charming (dexterous and uh... Of good constitution i guess), open-minded, good commander, excellent adventurer, great rider, loving husband and father, manages to be loved by the people and most of the nobles and all in all is pratically the perfect ruler/man/everything.
The Breland appears to me to be too perfect, too good, too unambiguosly white... Yeah it has is flaws (like high criminality), but these are nothing next to other countries (like... Having half of your army composed by undead or host an evil demon who whisper evil thing in your basement). Even the dangers are next to nothing! The gretest danger of the Breland is... Democracy?
I don't know, i want my pcs and players to make important decisions and state what is for them the best future for the country. Ok, maybe i exaggerated a bit on the perfection for the sake of comedy, but Breland still strikes me as the best choise on every single field (execpt for those who really, really, really hate democracy), what choices are players supposed to do while there is clearly a best choice all around?
Maybe I'm missing something on the canon or I read it in the wrong way? If really Breland is just this good, there is any way to make it more ambiguous without sacrificing most canon (and possibly without killing Boranel, wich is the most popular choice, but I'm trying to keep alive the guy, at least for a while)?
The people that want Democracy don't want it because it'd be better for everyone; they want it because it'd be better for them. Everyone in Breland is a greedy idolater willing to sacrifice their morals for a quick buck. Or, rather, that'd be the preconception non-brelanders have of the brelish.
Thrane certainly isn't on the best of terms with Breland; quite a few surviving Cyrans probably hate it; really, Boranel is probably one of Breland's few saving graces in the eyes of the other nations.
Least scarred by the Last War? Then why such a grudge with the Thrane's there were battles with extremely heavy losses over the Breland/Thrane border, Thranes occupied many Brelish cities for much of the war.
Breland also lost quite a bit, they lost the land of Zilargo(though the gnomes there are big allies), They lost much of what is now Darguun(some was Cyran land too I think though), also, they are sandwhiched between to HUGE threats: Droaam and The Mournland. Not to mention the terrorist group the Swords of Liberty, who seeks to end Breland IIRC.
There is also the Cyran refugees, who don't want to be there, aren't wanted, but have to stay because they've got no where to go. Prince Oargev is only in New Cyre reluctantly, and is feverishly working looking for a new homeland for his people.
Play Breland as a nation beset with the constant threat of invasion. No one really knows when the Daughters of Sora Kell will decide to expand territories, and when the do, they're going to march unhinder through Western Breland and straight to the most populous centers and lay down havoc.
While on the surface, Breland is a happy go lucky nation, danger bubbles just below the surface. The populous is nervous. No one knows what could happen next. Will Droaam march? Will the goblins decide to attack in an effort to reclaim their once great nation? Will the gnomes accidentally unleash some massive elemental? Will the Swords of Liberty stage an attack on a tower in Sharn?
I guess, after typing all that, I'd liken it to the immediate aftermath of 9/11 here in the US. Everyone is showing their patriotism, but everyone is on edge, worried about what's next.
Actually, Darguun was completely Cyre. Not that they are too happy about the exchange, goblins are arguebly better neighbors than Cyrans ;)
In any event, the rot in Breland is hidden. Boranel has no clearly suitable heirs. As an institution the democracy is not powerful, it is corrupt, and it is unlikely it would survive without Boranel's support. To make matters worse, there is a group of anarachists making life hard on the authorities all in name of democracy, but most doubt the leaders of that group care one wit about democracy. With the right push it would collapse in a civil war. Breland might appear powerful and having all the tools, but that is mostly appearances. At least, if you want to give Breland a bit more darkness ;)
In any case. Another approach could be to try to really play up the slimy political nature of a democracy; "the will of the people" resulting in laws that oppress the minority, innocent (or at least not that guilty) men condemmed so a judge/politico/whatever can get his name in the paper, and so on.
You English is actually quite good, Leek.
In any case. Another approach could be to try to really play up the slimy political nature of a democracy; "the will of the people" resulting in laws that oppress the minority, innocent (or at least not that guilty) men condemmed so a judge/politico/whatever can get his name in the paper, and so on.
Absolutely. I'll speak in the past tense to avoid thread-derailing argument, but despite its intent of equality and justice, democracy has fostered ridiculously unjust governments. For a good example, read up on the corrupt machinations of Boss Tweed's Tammany Hall. The film Gangs of New York gives a good taste of the kind of through-and-through corruption that infested that city's government.
Just because one can talk the majority of the populace into supporting something doesn't mean it's a good thing, or that you'll do it the way you should, or that you'll even do what you promised at all. Speaking of Boss Tweed; he manufactured voters by making himself appear to be a friend of the Irish immigrants coming in. They'd get off the boat, he'd give them a bit of bread and say he had their backs as long as they voted Tammany. Now think of Merrix d'Cannith. He's setting himself up as a champion of the Warforged by pushing for them to be recognized as free people and full citizens. I could very easily see him doing so in order to have a large demographic on his side if/when Breland goes democratic. He's literally been manufacturing voters.
Now think of Merrix d'Cannith. He's setting himself up as a champion of the Warforged by pushing for them to be recognized as free people and full citizens. I could very easily see him doing so in order to have a large demographic on his side if/when Breland goes democratic. He's literally been manufacturing voters.
MrCelsius, I do believe that is the coolest thing you ever said.
Now think of Merrix d'Cannith. He's setting himself up as a champion of the Warforged by pushing for them to be recognized as free people and full citizens. I could very easily see him doing so in order to have a large demographic on his side if/when Breland goes democratic. He's literally been manufacturing voters.
MrCelsius, I do believe that is the coolest thing you ever said.
I absolutely agree :o
This put the whole Warforged Emancipation on a completely different light (or shadow...). Also, having loyal voters who can crush other squishier voters skull with their bare hands is helpful in a "democracy"...
This, coupled with the fact that the Brelish are fiercely independent people (and this can lead to selfishness), is a good base for a government wich, on a first look, appears stable, but can easely explode without warning.
Well, now I'm starting to get unstruck. I don't know why I didn't consider the possibility of a corrupted/flawed democracy, given the place where I live...
I've never been totally taken by the concept of the democracy, so this is the good occasion to show its darker side!
I absolutely agree :o
This put the whole Warforged Emancipation on a completely different light (or shadow...). Also, having loyal voters who can crush other squishier voters skull with their bare hands is helpful in a "democracy"...
This, coupled with the fact that the Brelish are fiercely independent people (and this can lead to selfishness), is a good base for a government wich, on a first look, appears stable, but can easely explode without warning.
Not to quibble with MrCelsius, for his idea is awesome, but I don't think it really jives with Merrix. For he is too busy cackling like Dr. Insano and doing insane experiments for SCIENCE! ARTIFICE! to be bothered with politics. Why indulge in something as pedestrian as rigging elections when you can crack open the brain of a warforged fresh out of the creation forge in pursuit of discovering the source of all sentient thought?
(He'll be most disappointed to discover the that it's the number 42.)
Well, now I'm starting to get unstruck. I don't know why I didn't consider the possibility of a corrupted/flawed democracy, given the place where I live...
I've never been totally taken by the concept of the democracy, so this is the good occasion to show its darker side!
Indeed! Given how many Italian politicos are regularly jailed, I'm rather amazed wagering on which former Prime Minister's underlings will be indicted for some manner of embezzlement or influence peddling is not a competitive sport. (I kid, I kid! We all know the real reason is because Silvio Burlusconi would immediately become sufficiently rich to buy the world twice over once he leaves office. ;))
You might try looking at Periclean Athens for more extravagent examples of the demos run amok. Such as the Assembly's brilliant decision to execute the winners of the decisive fleet action at Arginusae. Nothing promotes a healthy command culture quite like summarily executing the admirals who won a great victory on spurious charges, I'd say.
MrCelsius, I do believe that is the coolest thing you ever said.
I absolutely agree :o
Aw, gosh. Thanks.
Not to quibble with MrCelsius, for his idea is awesome, but I don't think it really jives with Merrix. For he is too busy cackling like Dr. Insano and doing insane experiments for SCIENCE! ARTIFICE! to be bothered with politics. Why indulge in something as pedestrian as rigging elections when you can crack open the brain of a warforged fresh out of the creation forge in pursuit of discovering the source of all sentient thought?
Meh. You run your Merrix your way, I'll run mine my way. It's perfectly valid for him to be a Heterodyne mad scientist who never leaves his lab, but I prefer that he be more of a melancholy Wulfenbach chessmaster who's lost sight of the pure artifice he loves in his attempts to further the goals of his House. If he were to be elected Prime Minister of Breland he'd accomplish something which every dragonmarked house has wanted but never achieved; putting House Cannith at the helm of an entire nation.
There's no reason one can't do both, of course. When one is as powerful as Merrix one could run a campaign from one's lab (especially when a hired Changeling can deliver his speeches while he continues his work) without it getting much in the way of work at all.
Actually, thinking about it, wouldn't the Brelish democracy allow Merrix to bypass the.....oh...those edicts that limit the political power of the Dragonmarked Houses? Merrix doesn't have a noble title or lands...he just has an office.....
If you don't want to run Merrix that way, though, I'm sure there's an underling who would fit the role perfectly.
Oh, want to really twist it? Lord of Dust or Dreaming Dark plotmaster, trying to ratchet tensions up/reignite the Last War.
edit: Also, if you want to play anything for laughs, you can have a Goblinoid Minister of Parliament. I mean, imagine it! Little green dude with a tophat and a monocle.
Multiple potential separatist movements/external threats:
New Cyre in the East
raiders from Droaam & Darguun
Thrane & Aundair eyeing the Cragwar region
militant anti-monarchists in the North (supported by one of the Lord of Dust)
etc etc
Everybody runs the Dragonmarked Houses a little differently, but if you want to paint them in a somewhat sinister light you could have Baron d'Medani manipulating Boranel and the government for his own ends. OR, you could have another faction falsely accusing Boranel of being a Medani puppet and causing trouble for both the House and the Crown.