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In keeping with R's theme...heh.
Anyways, something I was thinking about as I was scanning the posts here just now is this. I tried making a point in one of the meetings about this, but I'm not sure I was as clear as I wanted to be on it. It's been one of my long term thoughts that, despite what the written history (read: timelines) say as to the Kaldaran suddenly coming to be and splitting off from the Gorbesh, that instead the Kaldaran and Gorbesh have existed side by side since the Gorbesh rise to prominence in Albaria. Surely not EVERY member of EVERY one of the "wild tribes" that existed toward the end of the Luethran Fourth Age prescribed to the Gorbesh ideologies. I feel that there were still some, perhaps many, "wild" peoples who clung to their natural roots as the Gorbesh rose to power. These wild peoples would have been exceedingly hard to eradicate/convert, even through several Gorbesh attempts to do so. Over time, I could see the Gorbesh coming to terms with having some of the general populace of Albaria not necessarily on board with "city living", war mongering, etc., especially as other enemies and potential conquests arose to snare the Empire's attention.
Now granted, some (or maybe all) of this is contrary to established canon. But my defense to that statement is this. The victors write history (and burn any written history that doesn't suit their tastes).
This segues somewhat into what I think is one potential defining point between Kaldaran and Gorbesh. Aside from the obvious religious differences, which I feel came MUCH later in the relationship between the two, Kaldarans subscribe to a more rural, natural life with emphasis on passing on knowledge from one generation to the next, whereas Gorbesh thrive on civilization, technology (such as it is) and a more industrial society, where information is akin to currency, and is closely hoarded and guarded.
One last parting thought on authority structure. Kaldarans authority is based more upon a system of elders (oldest members making decisions for the group they are a member of) whereas Gorbesh authority comes from power. Whoever can kick whoever else's butts, wins.
~Mammoth Rider Maulem Akavame, Death Dealer of Therengia
Telfogli says, "It is the Barbarian who refuses to continue to die who has failed their duty."
The Barbarian Guildleader Les says, "Kill. Don't care what. Make dead.">
>>Surely not EVERY member of EVERY one of the "wild tribes" that existed toward the end of the Luethran Fourth Age prescribed to the Gorbesh ideologies.
I see your point, but I think it is perfectly feasible that Gorbesh identity utterly transformed the various wild tribes into a unified empire. For historical examples, I am thinking specifically of Roman (or Helenistic) imperialism - how, sometimes within the span of a single generation or two - an area would be transformed utterly, be it culture, religion, etc. The rise of Christianity after its "vetting," and the subsequent oppression of pagan religions, was total, to the point of making the pagan religions essentially obsolete.
That is not to suggest that there are not historic examples for your point, too, but I can easily see a large, powerful, and centralized empire imposing its virtues on pre-Gorbesh tribes until said tribes essentially became Gorbesh.
I see your point, but I think it is perfectly feasible that Gorbesh identity utterly transformed the various wild tribes into a unified empire. For historical examples, I am thinking specifically of Roman (or Helenistic) imperialism - how, sometimes within the span of a single generation or two - an area would be transformed utterly, be it culture, religion, etc. The rise of Christianity after its "vetting," and the subsequent oppression of pagan religions, was total, to the point of making the pagan religions essentially obsolete.
That is not to suggest that there are not historic examples for your point, too, but I can easily see a large, powerful, and centralized empire imposing its virtues on pre-Gorbesh tribes until said tribes essentially became Gorbesh.
>> That is not to suggest that there are not historic examples for your point, too, but I can easily see a large, powerful, and centralized empire imposing its virtues on pre-Gorbesh tribes until said tribes essentially became Gorbesh.
That. That right there. Likening Gorbesh Albaria to the Roman Empire at any stage would do it as far as scope goes. Yet it aptly describes the 'forest' whereas all I can see is the 'tree.' That being my own firsthand experience with the Gorbesh, where I likened them to the Nazi regime rolling through Europe and the unending assaults on The Crossing as the London Blitz. Its easy to theorize what is or might be, but theory only gets us so far.
I need a new tree.
That. That right there. Likening Gorbesh Albaria to the Roman Empire at any stage would do it as far as scope goes. Yet it aptly describes the 'forest' whereas all I can see is the 'tree.' That being my own firsthand experience with the Gorbesh, where I likened them to the Nazi regime rolling through Europe and the unending assaults on The Crossing as the London Blitz. Its easy to theorize what is or might be, but theory only gets us so far.
I need a new tree.
