Kalashtar vs. the Drow of FR - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Kalashtar vs. the Drow of FR

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Elton74
Oct 24, 2008 23:10:34 I recently finished the Dark Elf Trilogy and a quick compare and Contrast between Menzobarrazan drow and the Kalashtar tells me that both cultures are opposed to one another. Some important traits:
The Kalashtar practice a commonality economic system.
The drow seem fascist.
drow society is matriarchy gone mad.
Kalashtar society is familial.
The drow are warlike.
The Kalashtar are peaceful. They abhor violence.
Drow are very paranoid.
The Kalashtar are quite the opposite.
The drow want to oppress the surface races, i.e. the Rivel.
The Kalashtar want to bring about Il-Yannah.

Thats all I could list right now. If I were writing a novel about the Kalashtar, I find the Dark Elf Trilogy an Inspiration to write the opposite. Anyone's thoughts on the matter?
#2
skrap-san
Oct 25, 2008 0:27:47 Well my first thought on the matter is that the Kalashtar is also a bit paranoid. At least I know I would be if i fought an enemy that was effectively imortal and could take possession of special beings prepared for just that. And they have the time and resources to change whole continents to do their bidding...
#3
smug
Oct 25, 2008 0:52:23
drow society is matriarchy gone mad.
Kalashtar society is familial.

Well, "familial" in a way that's going to feel very odd to a normal human. After all, they tend to live in gender-segregated clans that share a subtle psychic bond, with no tradition of marriage and children being raised communally by members of the lineage. So familial, but certainly not a nuclear family.

The drow are warlike.
The Kalashtar are peaceful. They abhor violence.
Drow are very paranoid.
The Kalashtar are quite the opposite.

I don't know. Just grabbing a few quotes from Races of Eberron, "Every aspect of kalashtar society reflects this constant need for battle-readiness... all of these reflect the threat that the kalashtar live under and the knowledge that the agents of the Dreaming Dark could strike at any moment." They may not be paranoid in their dealings with other members of their line, they may "find physical conflict to be distasteful" - but there's certainly going to be a level of paranoia in their dealings with outsiders, and the Path of Shadows is a martial art as well as a form of meditation.
#4
Elton74
Oct 25, 2008 14:14:24
but there's certainly going to be a level of paranoia in their dealings with outsiders, and the Path of Shadows is a martial art as well as a form of meditation.

I don't think so. A race where most of its people are genuinely interested in others does not strike me as fearful.
#5
smug
Oct 25, 2008 14:31:21
I don't think so. A race where most of its people are genuinely interested in others does not strike me as fearful.

I'm not saying that they're fearful; I'm saying that they are justifiably cautious. "It's not paranoid if they really are out to get you." Try to imagine the life of a kalashtar in Khorvaire. The Dreaming Dark can possess any human, and even those they don't possess can be influenced against you. This force is dedicated to your destruction. So any human you meet could be a willing or unwilling weapon aimed at you. Any meal you eat prepared by a non-kalashtar could be poisoned. That city guard could be waiting for you to turn your back so he could plunge the knife in. It's not UNREASONABLE paranoia... but a kalashtar who isn't cautious in their dealings with outsiders is going to end up dead.

What makes the kalashtar remarkable is that in spite of this justified paranoia, they do still seek to help others and to work with members of other races, and don't simply hide in their homes. But the idea of a carefree kalashtar who has no suspicions whatsoever about the world around them runs fairly counter to the fact that they really DO have a deadly, cunning, and extremely powerful force out there plotting their destruction - a force that could turn any human into a tool.
#6
Elton74
Oct 25, 2008 15:13:12
What makes the kalashtar remarkable is that in spite of this justified paranoia, they do still seek to help others and to work with members of other races, and don't simply hide in their homes. But the idea of a carefree kalashtar who has no suspicions whatsoever about the world around them runs fairly counter to the fact that they really DO have a deadly, cunning, and extremely powerful force out there plotting their destruction - a force that could turn any human into a tool.

But they aren't. They are just mindful of the threat. Below overlook, there is a sizable Reidran population. In overlook, there are a lot of Adarans and Kalashtar. So far, the Reidrans have not terrorized the Adarans. However, small forces of Shadow watchers, Atavists, and Fists of Dal Quor make concerted, Crane like strikes against them and the other inspired. The Kalashtar don't fear their enemies. If anything, they love them.
#7
smug
Oct 25, 2008 15:51:25
But they aren't. They are just mindful of the threat. Below overlook, there is a sizable Reidran population.

But that's where you're missing the point. The Riedrans aren't the threat. The Dreaming Dark is the threat, and as noted on page 121 of Sharn, the known Inspired in Sharn have no direct connection to the shadow agents of the Dreaming Dark within the city. So who are a few of the major threats to the kalashtar in Sharn?
Show
House Deneith. The Blackened Book. The City Council of Sharn.
#8
mystrich
Oct 27, 2008 20:22:46
But they aren't. They are just mindful of the threat. Below overlook, there is a sizable Reidran population. In overlook, there are a lot of Adarans and Kalashtar. So far, the Reidrans have not terrorized the Adarans. However, small forces of Shadow watchers, Atavists, and Fists of Dal Quor make concerted, Crane like strikes against them and the other inspired. The Kalashtar don't fear their enemies. If anything, they love them.

The Inspired have raids on Adar pretty often. But between the mountains natural defences, the fact that the Kalashtar's locations can't be pin pointed due to their 24/7 barriers powered by several psionic users, and that they are well equipped to deal with raids just for these situations, they have yet to make much progress. They live in well protected mountain monasteries so that they can try to escape Riedra, and that's their smallest threat.

Also as said, the problem isn't Riedra as much as the Dreaming Dark. When not in these communities, or when dealing with outsiders, the Kalashtar have to be careful. Anyone can be controlled, anyone can have their mind read, and most of all, anyone can be manipulated without knowing it (An example: If the DD were to control a city official in Sharn, who then orders the captain of the watch to give orders to the guards of the lower districts, who then hire assassins or threaten family members of the Kalashtar's allies to get to the Kalashtar, the chain becomes almost too long to be traceable. The Kalashtar remain ever vigilant because the DD are smart, and would pull plots like these to eliminate Kalashtar).
#9
smug
Oct 27, 2008 21:28:05
The Inspired have raids on Adar pretty often. But between the mountains natural defences...

I don't think Elton was arguing that - he was talking about Overlook, the Adaran community in Sharn.

I would have to agree with the "They don't hate their enemies, they love them" statement when it comes to the conflict in Sarlona; it's been established that the Kalashtar consider the Riedrans to be unfortunate dupes as opposed to enemies, and prefer not to slaughter Riedrans if they can avoid it. But again, that doesn't eliminate the need for a healthy level of paranoia when wandering abroad - because when you're dealing with the Dreaming Dark, anyone could be an enemy. Love them or hate them, if you're not watching out for them, you're going to be a dead kalashtar.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Elton74 Oct 24, 2008 23:10:34	I recently finished the Dark Elf Trilogy and a quick compare and Contrast between Menzobarrazan drow and the Kalashtar tells me that both cultures are opposed to one another. Some important traits: The Kalashtar practice a commonality economic system. The drow seem fascist. drow society is matriarchy gone mad. Kalashtar society is familial. The drow are warlike. The Kalashtar are peaceful. They abhor violence. Drow are very paranoid. The Kalashtar are quite the opposite. The drow want to oppress the surface races, i.e. the Rivel. The Kalashtar want to bring about Il-Yannah. Thats all I could list right now. If I were writing a novel about the Kalashtar, I find the Dark Elf Trilogy an Inspiration to write the opposite. Anyone's thoughts on the matter?
#2 skrap-san Oct 25, 2008 0:27:47	Well my first thought on the matter is that the Kalashtar is also a bit paranoid. At least I know I would be if i fought an enemy that was effectively imortal and could take possession of special beings prepared for just that. And they have the time and resources to change whole continents to do their bidding...
#3 smug Oct 25, 2008 0:52:23	drow society is matriarchy gone mad. Kalashtar society is familial. Well, "familial" in a way that's going to feel very odd to a normal human. After all, they tend to live in gender-segregated clans that share a subtle psychic bond, with no tradition of marriage and children being raised communally by members of the lineage. So familial, but certainly not a nuclear family. The drow are warlike. The Kalashtar are peaceful. They abhor violence. Drow are very paranoid. The Kalashtar are quite the opposite. I don't know. Just grabbing a few quotes from Races of Eberron, "Every aspect of kalashtar society reflects this constant need for battle-readiness... all of these reflect the threat that the kalashtar live under and the knowledge that the agents of the Dreaming Dark could strike at any moment." They may not be paranoid in their dealings with other members of their line, they may "find physical conflict to be distasteful" - but there's certainly going to be a level of paranoia in their dealings with outsiders, and the Path of Shadows is a martial art as well as a form of meditation.
#4 Elton74 Oct 25, 2008 14:14:24	but there's certainly going to be a level of paranoia in their dealings with outsiders, and the Path of Shadows is a martial art as well as a form of meditation. I don't think so. A race where most of its people are genuinely interested in others does not strike me as fearful.
#5 smug Oct 25, 2008 14:31:21	I don't think so. A race where most of its people are genuinely interested in others does not strike me as fearful. I'm not saying that they're fearful; I'm saying that they are justifiably cautious. "It's not paranoid if they really are out to get you." Try to imagine the life of a kalashtar in Khorvaire. The Dreaming Dark can possess any human, and even those they don't possess can be influenced against you. This force is dedicated to your destruction. So any human you meet could be a willing or unwilling weapon aimed at you. Any meal you eat prepared by a non-kalashtar could be poisoned. That city guard could be waiting for you to turn your back so he could plunge the knife in. It's not UNREASONABLE paranoia... but a kalashtar who isn't cautious in their dealings with outsiders is going to end up dead. What makes the kalashtar remarkable is that in spite of this justified paranoia, they do still seek to help others and to work with members of other races, and don't simply hide in their homes. But the idea of a carefree kalashtar who has no suspicions whatsoever about the world around them runs fairly counter to the fact that they really DO have a deadly, cunning, and extremely powerful force out there plotting their destruction - a force that could turn any human into a tool.
#6 Elton74 Oct 25, 2008 15:13:12	What makes the kalashtar remarkable is that in spite of this justified paranoia, they do still seek to help others and to work with members of other races, and don't simply hide in their homes. But the idea of a carefree kalashtar who has no suspicions whatsoever about the world around them runs fairly counter to the fact that they really DO have a deadly, cunning, and extremely powerful force out there plotting their destruction - a force that could turn any human into a tool. But they aren't. They are just mindful of the threat. Below overlook, there is a sizable Reidran population. In overlook, there are a lot of Adarans and Kalashtar. So far, the Reidrans have not terrorized the Adarans. However, small forces of Shadow watchers, Atavists, and Fists of Dal Quor make concerted, Crane like strikes against them and the other inspired. The Kalashtar don't fear their enemies. If anything, they love them.
#7 smug Oct 25, 2008 15:51:25	But they aren't. They are just mindful of the threat. Below overlook, there is a sizable Reidran population. But that's where you're missing the point. The Riedrans aren't the threat. The Dreaming Dark is the threat, and as noted on page 121 of Sharn, the known Inspired in Sharn have no direct connection to the shadow agents of the Dreaming Dark within the city. So who are a few of the major threats to the kalashtar in Sharn? Show House Deneith. The Blackened Book. The City Council of Sharn.
#8 mystrich Oct 27, 2008 20:22:46	But they aren't. They are just mindful of the threat. Below overlook, there is a sizable Reidran population. In overlook, there are a lot of Adarans and Kalashtar. So far, the Reidrans have not terrorized the Adarans. However, small forces of Shadow watchers, Atavists, and Fists of Dal Quor make concerted, Crane like strikes against them and the other inspired. The Kalashtar don't fear their enemies. If anything, they love them. The Inspired have raids on Adar pretty often. But between the mountains natural defences, the fact that the Kalashtar's locations can't be pin pointed due to their 24/7 barriers powered by several psionic users, and that they are well equipped to deal with raids just for these situations, they have yet to make much progress. They live in well protected mountain monasteries so that they can try to escape Riedra, and that's their smallest threat. Also as said, the problem isn't Riedra as much as the Dreaming Dark. When not in these communities, or when dealing with outsiders, the Kalashtar have to be careful. Anyone can be controlled, anyone can have their mind read, and most of all, anyone can be manipulated without knowing it (An example: If the DD were to control a city official in Sharn, who then orders the captain of the watch to give orders to the guards of the lower districts, who then hire assassins or threaten family members of the Kalashtar's allies to get to the Kalashtar, the chain becomes almost too long to be traceable. The Kalashtar remain ever vigilant because the DD are smart, and would pull plots like these to eliminate Kalashtar).
#9 smug Oct 27, 2008 21:28:05	The Inspired have raids on Adar pretty often. But between the mountains natural defences... I don't think Elton was arguing that - he was talking about Overlook, the Adaran community in Sharn. I would have to agree with the "They don't hate their enemies, they love them" statement when it comes to the conflict in Sarlona; it's been established that the Kalashtar consider the Riedrans to be unfortunate dupes as opposed to enemies, and prefer not to slaughter Riedrans if they can avoid it. But again, that doesn't eliminate the need for a healthy level of paranoia when wandering abroad - because when you're dealing with the Dreaming Dark, anyone could be an enemy. Love them or hate them, if you're not watching out for them, you're going to be a dead kalashtar.