Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Scrinoverlord Nov 24, 2008 8:08:51	then that completely negates the "quori meet in Dal Quor to decide its fate" statement. In Secrets of Sarlona, it says that, on page 53: "The rulers of Riedra are the quori. All important decisions regarding the fate of the nation are made in Dal Quor. The bastion lords don't gather in Riedra to debate policy, because such councils are held in Dal Quor. To a foreigner, it seems that the bastion lords and generals of the Harmonious Shield operate unilaterally: however, they all act in perfect accord with the plans formulated in the Region of Dreams." Yet, page 72: "Durat Tal (metropolis, population 631, 022):The largest city in Riedra is the administrative heart of Riedra, and from this glittering capital the mighty pathfinder Lord Surasek (LE male kalaraq INspired seer 20) guides the nation. In addition to being the center for the Guiding Path, Durat Tal trains and houses a vast number of soldiers, which can be dispatched across the realm through psionic teleportation circles. Durat Tal is the hub of the teleportation circlenetwork, and most traffic between circle-equipped kintams and bastions passes through this city. I don't get it. Is Surasek the head quori or something? I just LOVE posting an average of 2 topics a week here. :D
#2 Hellcow Nov 24, 2008 10:02:22	I don't get it. Is Surasek the head quori or something? No. But he is the appointed leader of the Guiding Path, the organization that does guide the nation. The point of the statement on page 53 is that the policy makers conduct their meetings in Dal Quor, not on Riedra. You never see Surasek physically interact with Lord Dulateth of the Sheltering Hearth, yet the Hearth and the Path act in perfect harmony - because Surasek and Dulateth meet whenever they want in Dal Quor. So again, the key to that statement on page 53 is that the Inspired do not APPEAR to congregate and discuss policy - because all such conferences occur in Dal Quor between their quori spirits.
#3 Scrinoverlord Nov 24, 2008 11:31:37	So then Lord Surasek can be considered the "king" of Riedra in the loosest sense of the word?
#4 Hellcow Nov 24, 2008 11:49:16	So then Lord Surasek can be considered the "king" of Riedra in the loosest sense of the word? Not really. Riedra isn't a monarchy. It's a bureacracy. Lord Surasek is the master of the Guiding Path, which maintains the education and social service infrastructure of Riedra. Surasek literally guides the nation. But Lady Turaya of the Iron Gate governs matters of diplomacy and trade, and Lord Laneth of the Industrious Forge directs the creation and maintainance of the hanbalani monoliths. In Dal Quor, they meet to coordinate the actions of their respective organizations and make sure they are all working in harmony. But there is no single king as such; instead, each sphere is guided by its bastion lord, working with all of the branches of the Unity.
#5 Scrinoverlord Nov 24, 2008 11:55:45	Hmmm. I suppose I should have re-phrased it then to asking if he was the "leader" of Riedra. That makes sense. So then in Riedra, there is no single leader, but a collection of evil, nightmarish creatures who meet in a whole other dimension to discuss the future of their country ...Yep. I'm in Eberron. While I'm at it, I have to ask: if there is no Riedran Emperor, or no single head of state, why is Riedra often referred to as an "empire?"
#6 Hellcow Nov 24, 2008 14:48:35	While I'm at it, I have to ask: if there is no Riedran Emperor, or no single head of state, why is Riedra often referred to as an "empire?" It's all about definition of "empire"; it's "An extensive enterprise under a unified authority", not "a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor". Beyond that, you're also dealing with translation. The typical citizen of Riedra doesn't consider himself to be a part of an "empire"; he thinks of himself as being part of the Unity of Riedra, under the guidance of the Inspired. This is a difficult concept for someone from Khorvaire - someone who barely knows about the Inspired, let along about the difference between the Guiding Path and the Iron Gate - to grasp. Knowing little about the culture, he just says "Huge alliance of kingdoms governed by beings worshipped as gods - call it an empire." And the Inspired are certainly a strong unified government; they just don't operate under a single figurehead (as at the end of the day, they are all servants of il-Lashtavar).
#7 Scrinoverlord Nov 24, 2008 18:18:17	The cow has spoken! Thanks for clearing that up Keith.
#8 yakman Nov 27, 2008 6:37:07	It's all about definition of "empire"; it's "An extensive enterprise under a unified authority", not "a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor". Beyond that, you're also dealing with translation. The typical citizen of Riedra doesn't consider himself to be a part of an "empire"; he thinks of himself as being part of the Unity of Riedra, under the guidance of the Inspired. This is a difficult concept for someone from Khorvaire - someone who barely knows about the Inspired, let along about the difference between the Guiding Path and the Iron Gate - to grasp. Knowing little about the culture, he just says "Huge alliance of kingdoms governed by beings worshipped as gods - call it an empire." And the Inspired are certainly a strong unified government; they just don't operate under a single figurehead (as at the end of the day, they are all servants of il-Lashtavar). Has anyone told you that you are a really creative guy before? Also, Eberron is awesome. Just thought you should know.
#9 rauric Nov 27, 2008 6:54:17	There is a very communist China feeling there. Very creepy.
#10 Scrinoverlord Nov 27, 2008 11:50:36	There is a very communist China feeling there. Very creepy. China isn't 100% Communist, as opposed to say, North Korea. It does have some subtle traces of capitalism to it. But you do have a point, I wouldn't be surprised if Riedra was inspired (GET IT? INSPIRED? AH-AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)from a fascist/dictatorship/communist-like country.
#11 scipion_emilien Nov 27, 2008 18:02:11	China isn't 100% Communist, as opposed to say, North Korea. It does have some subtle traces of capitalism to it. Well, there's always debate about what is communist and what isn't and even if every self-proclaim communist regime to date were really communist... But you do have a point, I wouldn't be surprised if Riedra was inspired (GET IT? INSPIRED? AH-AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)from a fascist/dictatorship/communist-like country. I think that Riedra is worst than fascist/dictatorship/communist-like country. Riedra is a totalitarian regime which if we take Anna Arent definition is a regime were the relation of the individual toward the state is more important than toward his community or family. It particurly struck me that in this kind of state, not agreing with the governement is relevant from mental illness rather political thought since in this ideology the governement seem to be nation and thus you can't go against yourself without being insane. Well, were I am going with that, is that if you want to show the true horrors of Riedra, it is not because of it's authoritarian regime (after all at the exception of Breland, most of the Khorvarians nation have autoritarian regime). You have to show the subtle difference between you can disagree with us as long as you follow our law and keep quiet about it, and disagreing with us is a crime against not only the nation but yourself too. You have to show the horrors of the ultimate big brother and show the PC that facing that Riedrans army is like facing an horde of zombie: all those in front of you are the same with the same purpose in mind and life.
#12 yakman Nov 28, 2008 9:38:36	I think you are missing the boat on Riedra. It ISN'T worse than Khorvaire, and by all appearances, it isn't a tyranny. People are HAPPY. Their lives are long and peaceful. All wants are satisfied, all bellies are full, all troubles are eased. There is no crime, no war, no suffering. Yes, Riedra doesn't have many of the amazing things that Khorvaire does, like the Lightning Rail or the great Universities, but it didn't fight a century-long war either. A visitor from Khorvaire would see a nation that is better than his own, and would wonder why anybody wouldn't want the Inspired running the show...
#13 scipion_emilien Nov 28, 2008 10:39:45	I think you are missing the boat on Riedra. It ISN'T worse than Khorvaire, and by all appearances, it isn't a tyranny. People are HAPPY. Their lives are long and peaceful. All wants are satisfied, all bellies are full, all troubles are eased. There is no crime, no war, no suffering. Yes, Riedra doesn't have many of the amazing things that Khorvaire does, like the Lightning Rail or the great Universities, but it didn't fight a century-long war either. A visitor from Khorvaire would see a nation that is better than his own, and would wonder why anybody wouldn't want the Inspired running the show... I know it all, but personnally if I were to use the Riedrans, I would put the emphasis on this then show the PC the big brithers. Would the PC really find that having every aspect of their life under control is really what they wish for their future even if it garanty a life without war and suffering? Evidently this truth would be accesible to all of Khorvaire, but only to the PC and a chosen few. Which then would have them seing many factions of Khorvaire running to their doom.
#14 yakman Nov 28, 2008 11:51:25	But to the PC it doesn't look like a tyranny. To the Riedrans it doesn't look like a tyranny. Life in Riedra isn't so much controlled as it is harmonized. There's no Inspired barking orders at people to work harder or to build a monolith. People go to work just like in Khorvaire and do what their bosses tell them to do in a calm and assuring voice. There are no whips, chains, or violence or anger involved. Riedra would likely appear as a paradise on earth to the war-worn PCs.
#15 Marcus_Majarra Nov 28, 2008 14:40:04	But to the PC it doesn't look like a tyranny. To the Riedrans it doesn't look like a tyranny. Life in Riedra isn't so much controlled as it is harmonized. There's no Inspired barking orders at people to work harder or to build a monolith. People go to work just like in Khorvaire and do what their bosses tell them to do in a calm and assuring voice. There are no whips, chains, or violence or anger involved. Riedra would likely appear as a paradise on earth to the war-worn PCs. Unless, of course, the PCs enjoy their independence and find their whims coming into conflict with established authority.
#16 Hellcow Nov 28, 2008 15:24:09	Riedra would likely appear as a paradise on earth to the war-worn PCs. The issue is lack of choice. The people are happy and their lives are very secure. But they don't choose their occupations or families. There's no crime because it's hard for them to even understand the concept (and because criminals are swiftly dealt with). They don't even own their dreams... and when they leave the range of the hanbalani, "free" dreams seem like madness. So the Riedran thinks that life in Khorvaire is brutal and savage, that the people of Khorvaire have no unifying sense of direction. The Riedran doesn't consider himself a slave - because he doesn't place a high value on individual choice or freedom. The person from Khorvaire won't SEE physical oppression or brutality. At a glance it looks great. But if they get to it in depth and realize the degree to which people lack control over their own destinies, they'll likely be disturbed by it. Likewise, they'll probably be more than a little freaked out when they start having their government-sanctioned dreams. It's certainly the case that Riedra isn't supposed to be an obvious horror. The common citizen of Riedra would rather live in his homeland than be a free citizen of Breland, and he's got good reason. He's safe, ensured of food and shelter, and given a clear purpose. But the Brelish will argue that the purpose has been forced upon him - as opposed to having the opportunity to find his OWN purpose. The Riedran will counter that when everyone pursues their own agendas you get greed, crime, and war. And the argument will spiral from there. Which is more important to you: freedom and opportunity, or safety and security?