As someone who's really interested in the Living Forgotten Realms campaign coming out soonish, I've been doing a lot of thinking about dragonborn in the realms (I know there are forums for LFR, but they're dead at the moment... so it goes here). As Tymanther is a player region in LFR, and in living campaigns the players have a lot of input into their region, I'm imagining that the players of Tymanther (the world over) will have a lot of say in how the region unfurls. After I've gotten all I can out of this thread, I'm gunna throw it out to the rest of the LFR community (including the Tymanther mailing list, etc).
Anyway, I was thinking of playing a dragonborn wizard, and since there's practically nothing out there about Tymanther I've come up with a cultural quirk I was looking for feedback for. I've found there are plenty of fantasy societies where one's ability to access magic is seen as a boon; from Harry Potter to... anywhere, really. Typically, magic users are arrogant, proud and look upon those without arcane power with distain or pity.
But not so for dragonborn. The fluff for them so far suggests that they're a highly martial people, who value skill at arms over other qualities. So I was thinking... why not reverse this cliché a little? Essentially, magery is the only option left for those who have no martial skills; being unable to swing a sword in a decisive fashion, being unable to march properly, hold the line against a charging giant, etc... these failings would meet with scorn from the noble, powerful, martial leaders of Tymanther.
Being a wizard in Tymanther would be similar to, but the reverse of, being a Squib (non-spellcaster of magical blood) in the Harry Potter universe. It would be seen almost as a disability and met with pity, condescending encouragement and even "inspiring" stories of the "martially-different" wizard achieving the things that the regular dragonborn take for granted ("Despite never even attending the military academy, Malloc the wizard was STILL able to slay this troll, just like any other normal dragonborn! What courage in adversity! Let's give him a hand, ladies and gentlemen!). Wizards in Tymanther would probably be encouraged to take administrative jobs, or jobs where they wouldn't have to leave the walled city of Tymanther, which would be seen as "much kinder" than sending them into the real world, where they will always be "second-class."
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?
Bottom line: Flip around the stereotypical, worn, old, annoying "magic is better" of traditional fantasy and make being physically skilled seen as far more socially accepted and powerful than being a "handy-capable" magic user.
Perhaps these "squibs" are made to be slaves for the rest, doing manual labor and such to compensate for their lack of martial skill.
Maybe they are sacrificed to a god, because such weakness is not allowed in dragonborn society.
Maybe--in line with your thought--they are forced into wizardry to make up for their lack of physical prowess.
Just have to wait and see....
Just as a side note, The US of A was once considered a "lawful and good" society. Doesn't mean that we didn't force people into slavery because we saw them as inferior, sacrifice those we saw as weak, or generally go on a mass genocide to claim lands we felt we had a right to. "Lawful and good" are only perceptions.
But, yes, in the terms of FR, I doubt the dragonborn will be serving their kin up to the altar.
But I bet they'd be more interesting if they did. ;)
True. I'm just saying that all we can do is guess how their society works. At this point, all we can do is assume.
Just as a side note, The US of A was once considered a "lawful and good" society. Doesn't mean that we didn't force people into slavery because we saw them as inferior, sacrifice those we saw as weak, or generally go on a mass genocide to claim lands we felt we had a right to. "Lawful and good" are only perceptions.
But, yes, in the terms of FR, I doubt the dragonborn will be serving their kin up to the altar.
But I bet they'd be more interesting if they did. ;)
Still the US of A in D&D land (bear with me) WOULD be true to Lawful and good standards, because in D&D the alignment system is practically tangible.
USA doing what it did would no longer be a lawful good nation. Of course I am convinced any D&D alignment is impossible in reality.
USA doing what it did would no longer be a lawful good nation. Of course I am convinced any D&D alignment is impossible in reality.
Which is why I say its all about perception. Take the whole sacrifice thing....
The dragonborn get plopped onto Faerun. They immediately show their neighboring countries that they aren't hostile, establish trade, help enforce law and even go to war against the Shade to help maintain "freedom" in the area. Dragonborn move out and make their home in these neighboring countries/kindoms and people from these areas move into Tymanther and do the same.
Sounds pretty nice, huh? Everyone gets along, supports each other and generally has a good relationship.
But as native Faerunian's begin migrating into dragonborn society, they discover that dragonborn who cannot excel martially, are considered too weak to help "The People" and, therefore, must be returned to their god for "reconditioning and rebirth." Those dragonborn who are "weak" accept this as a part of life. At the full moon of every month, these selected weaklings willingly throw themselves on the sacrificial altar to be murdered by their brethren. Nobody forces them, it is simply their belief--and the belief of all dragonborn--that this is they way life should be.
Now, how are outside societies--especially those considered "civilized" going to view this? Good? Evil?
Which is why I say its all about perception. Take the whole sacrifice thing....
The dragonborn get plopped onto Faerun. They immediately show their neighboring countries that they aren't hostile, establish trade, help enforce law and even go to war against the Shade to help maintain "freedom" in the area. Dragonborn move out and make their home in these neighboring countries/kindoms and people from these areas move into Tymanther and do the same.
Sounds pretty nice, huh? Everyone gets along, supports each other and generally has a good relationship.
But as native Faerunian's begin migrating into dragonborn society, they discover that dragonborn who cannot excel martially, are considered too weak to help "The People" and, therefore, must be returned to their god for "reconditioning and rebirth." Those dragonborn who are "weak" accept this as a part of life. At the full moon of every month, these selected weaklings willingly throw themselves on the sacrificial altar to be murdered by their brethren. Nobody forces them, it is simply their belief--and the belief of all dragonborn--that this is they way life should be.
Now, how are outside societies--especially those considered "civilized" going to view this? Good? Evil?
Is this more speculation? Where did you get this? It is pretty cool.
Is this more speculation? Where did you get this? It is pretty cool.
No. Just a bunch of crap I came up with on a whim to create a question. As you said with the whole D&D alignment, its impossible to use. Same in real life. It's all in what you view as "lawful," "chaotic," "good" and evil."
Aiding your fellow man (races/countries, etc.) is considered "good."
Killing your fellow man is considered "evil."
Don't really have a point in there for the lawful and EDIT: chaotic parts, but I am simply trying to say that it is all perception.