Holy Scriptures of Bane: The Iron Codex - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Holy Scriptures of Bane: The Iron Codex

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
thrushfeather
May 15, 2009 16:50:00 Hello all,

My next campaign is going to deal heavily with the God Bane (D&D Basic) and his movitations and actions concerning the chained God. As such I find myself needing even more development for this God, his motivations, and specifically his doctrines and scriptures.

I have already read most of the published material on Bane through the history of D&D but what I'm asking for is to help develop the Iron Codex and the Reneskria Scrolls.

I am thinking that to format it in a way similar to Sun Tzu's Art of War would be good, and have the treatise be a collection of proverbs and epithets, with short naratives of conquered enemies and great heros at verious places. I find that the translated language of Art of War to be too Eastern in style and so if I use quotes from Art of war I need to reword them so they feel like they come from Rome or Sparta.

I'd also like to draw on history and stories of the worlds most sucessful and brutal miliatary leaders so feel free to point me in those directions as well.

If you could leave just numbered Proverbs (make your own if you like), or links to sources ideas that might help develop this it would be awesome.

Thanks,
TF
#2
silent_stone
May 15, 2009 23:22:30 1. It is not enough in undertaking good training to have hardened the men, made them strong, fast and dexterous, but it is also necessary to teach them to keep discipline.

(This one could almost be benign, but it kind of fits the "punish insubordination and disorder" side of Bane. The quote is from a different Art of War, by Niccolò Machiavelli, not Sun Tzu...if you're looking to avoid more "Eastern-sounding" quotes, maybe looking at his writings could provide a little inspiration)

EDIT: Another Machiavelli quote, slightly altered...

2. You cannot avoid war. You merely postpone it to your own disadvantage.

Is this the sort of stuff you're looking for?
#3
roninfrosty
May 16, 2009 1:06:15 While military victory would be important, I think you might also want to look at how such a ruler would rule in times of peace. Putting down insurrection quickly and violently, for instance. I've heard that Napoleon once put down an insurrection with ratshot...can't personally verify the veracity of that claim, but assuming it's true, that's pretty cruel. Might not be quite brutal enough for Bane, but it's thinking along the same lines.

I'd also read up on Pol Pot, Hussein, Kim Jong Il...the ones our media typically refer to as tyrants or dictators. See how they handled things, try to inject some of their beliefs into Bane's teachings.
#4
thrushfeather
May 16, 2009 7:01:50
[b]
Is this the sort of stuff you're looking for?

Yes, that's exactly what I'm looking for. I was not aware of Machiavelli's work on this subject, Thanks!

Also, thanks Ronin for the tips, I'll look into.

Keep it coming!
-TF
#5
ScrivenerofDoom
May 16, 2009 12:54:52 I would also suggest looking at the write-ups for Bane and Iyachtu Xvim in the 2E book Faiths & Avatars. You will also find some good ideas there.

As for further real world inspiration, check out Lee Kuan Yew and how he and his family have run Singapore for five decades. While obviously more lawful than evil the Lee family example does provide for another model for "tyranny":

- information must be ruthlessly controlled;
- ideas must be carefully controlled;
- opposition must be ruthlessly eliminated; and
- all good things must come from the tyrant.

Also consider the part that wealth/the illusion of wealth plays in pacifying a population.
#6
silent_stone
May 16, 2009 15:53:34 3. Make war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the enemy begs for mercy.

4. If the people raise a great howl against your barbarity and cruelty, answer that war is war, and not popularity seeking.

—William Tecumseh Sherman, both quotes modified from original

5. It is from the greatest dangers that the greatest glory is to be won.

—Thucydides
#7
turtlshellz
May 17, 2009 1:54:03 "Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed."
- Mao Tse-Tung (1893 - 1976)

The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on.
- Ulysses S. Grant (1822 - 1885)

You might have to modify the above to suit your exact needs, just thought I wold throw them out there. Perhaps more suitable to your needs (though I hate to quote the bastard):

"Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
- Hermann Goering (emphasis added by myself)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 thrushfeather May 15, 2009 16:50:00	Hello all, My next campaign is going to deal heavily with the God Bane (D&D Basic) and his movitations and actions concerning the chained God. As such I find myself needing even more development for this God, his motivations, and specifically his doctrines and scriptures. I have already read most of the published material on Bane through the history of D&D but what I'm asking for is to help develop the Iron Codex and the Reneskria Scrolls. I am thinking that to format it in a way similar to Sun Tzu's Art of War would be good, and have the treatise be a collection of proverbs and epithets, with short naratives of conquered enemies and great heros at verious places. I find that the translated language of Art of War to be too Eastern in style and so if I use quotes from Art of war I need to reword them so they feel like they come from Rome or Sparta. I'd also like to draw on history and stories of the worlds most sucessful and brutal miliatary leaders so feel free to point me in those directions as well. If you could leave just numbered Proverbs (make your own if you like), or links to sources ideas that might help develop this it would be awesome. Thanks, TF
#2 silent_stone May 15, 2009 23:22:30	1. It is not enough in undertaking good training to have hardened the men, made them strong, fast and dexterous, but it is also necessary to teach them to keep discipline. (This one could almost be benign, but it kind of fits the "punish insubordination and disorder" side of Bane. The quote is from a different Art of War, by Niccolò Machiavelli, not Sun Tzu...if you're looking to avoid more "Eastern-sounding" quotes, maybe looking at his writings could provide a little inspiration) EDIT: Another Machiavelli quote, slightly altered... 2. You cannot avoid war. You merely postpone it to your own disadvantage. Is this the sort of stuff you're looking for?
#3 roninfrosty May 16, 2009 1:06:15	While military victory would be important, I think you might also want to look at how such a ruler would rule in times of peace. Putting down insurrection quickly and violently, for instance. I've heard that Napoleon once put down an insurrection with ratshot...can't personally verify the veracity of that claim, but assuming it's true, that's pretty cruel. Might not be quite brutal enough for Bane, but it's thinking along the same lines. I'd also read up on Pol Pot, Hussein, Kim Jong Il...the ones our media typically refer to as tyrants or dictators. See how they handled things, try to inject some of their beliefs into Bane's teachings.
#4 thrushfeather May 16, 2009 7:01:50	[b] Is this the sort of stuff you're looking for? Yes, that's exactly what I'm looking for. I was not aware of Machiavelli's work on this subject, Thanks! Also, thanks Ronin for the tips, I'll look into. Keep it coming! -TF
#5 ScrivenerofDoom May 16, 2009 12:54:52	I would also suggest looking at the write-ups for Bane and Iyachtu Xvim in the 2E book Faiths & Avatars. You will also find some good ideas there. As for further real world inspiration, check out Lee Kuan Yew and how he and his family have run Singapore for five decades. While obviously more lawful than evil the Lee family example does provide for another model for "tyranny": - information must be ruthlessly controlled; - ideas must be carefully controlled; - opposition must be ruthlessly eliminated; and - all good things must come from the tyrant. Also consider the part that wealth/the illusion of wealth plays in pacifying a population.
#6 silent_stone May 16, 2009 15:53:34	3. Make war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the enemy begs for mercy. 4. If the people raise a great howl against your barbarity and cruelty, answer that war is war, and not popularity seeking. —William Tecumseh Sherman, both quotes modified from original 5. It is from the greatest dangers that the greatest glory is to be won. —Thucydides
#7 turtlshellz May 17, 2009 1:54:03	"Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed." - Mao Tse-Tung (1893 - 1976) The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on. - Ulysses S. Grant (1822 - 1885) You might have to modify the above to suit your exact needs, just thought I wold throw them out there. Perhaps more suitable to your needs (though I hate to quote the bastard): "Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." - Hermann Goering (emphasis added by myself)