kgauck
04-10-2004, 10:30 PM
Every province should have a list of grievances which the ruler (landed,
temporal, or guild) cannot solve. Some should be ancient grievances, some
should involve rivalries, and some should reflect that fact that no one
likes to be taxed and governed. Normally these grievances can sit on the
back burner, but they can be drawn upon when the ruler offends, when other
rules stir trouble, or when random events reveal that trouble has arrived.
The next question then has to do with the provincial figure there in the
ruler`s organization. Three cases will exist: the local guy is loyal to the
realm leader, is neutral, or is hostile.
If the province ruler is loyal to the realm`s ruler, he has himself by
allying with outside forces against the local people. This breach will not
be soon forgotten. The view of the locals toward this person will be nearly
the same as the realm`s overall ruler, since the people will tend to regard
him as am instrument of the realm`s ruler. In explaining the rebellion at
hand, such a figure is often useful for creating the provocation. The
province was upset about its long standing grievances, it was incensed by
recent actions (some of which may be out of anyone`s control), and then the
local ruler did some thing that set them off. Perhaps he jailed someone,
closed down a psuedo-zero-level holding, or attempted an unpopular reform.
This is an imprudent role for most province rulers to adopt, unless they
have no local support to begin with.
In the second case, the local ruler attempts to avoid a breach with either
the people or the ruler. To maintain this position, the local fellow has to
avoid taking action against one or the other. He therefore tends to be
non-cooperative to any requests for assistance other than mediation and
arranging talks. This character can be used to explain the rebellion often
in terms of what they failed to do, who they failed to jail, what they
failed to shut down, and so forth. This figure maintains the allegiance of
the people who hope he will eventually champion their cause, though
relations may be strained. This is generally the wisest role of province
rulers to adopt, because having avoided a complete breach, they can go about
repairing relationships. PC rulers may not be happy with this approach and
may force them to pick one side or the other.
The third case is the province ruler who throws in with the people against
the realm ruler. Generally local rulers only do this under two
circumstances, 1) they miscalculated, or 2) their connection with the people
is so strong that any accomodation with the people will require an
accomodation with the leader. Such leaders can be divided into two
catagories. Those who lead the rebellion out of ambition and those who do
so out of duty. The local guy who is critical of his ruler, who foments
rebellion, who has the goal of independence or alternate allegiance is no
good for his realm or his ruler. The local guy who attempts to solve
problems, informs the ruler that action must be taken to settle the
grievance, and hopes for reconcilliation with his ruler but demands
satisfaction of the peolpe`s demands, even at cost to himself, is another
kind altogether. Wise realm rulers are advised to not mistake the one for
the other.
Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com
temporal, or guild) cannot solve. Some should be ancient grievances, some
should involve rivalries, and some should reflect that fact that no one
likes to be taxed and governed. Normally these grievances can sit on the
back burner, but they can be drawn upon when the ruler offends, when other
rules stir trouble, or when random events reveal that trouble has arrived.
The next question then has to do with the provincial figure there in the
ruler`s organization. Three cases will exist: the local guy is loyal to the
realm leader, is neutral, or is hostile.
If the province ruler is loyal to the realm`s ruler, he has himself by
allying with outside forces against the local people. This breach will not
be soon forgotten. The view of the locals toward this person will be nearly
the same as the realm`s overall ruler, since the people will tend to regard
him as am instrument of the realm`s ruler. In explaining the rebellion at
hand, such a figure is often useful for creating the provocation. The
province was upset about its long standing grievances, it was incensed by
recent actions (some of which may be out of anyone`s control), and then the
local ruler did some thing that set them off. Perhaps he jailed someone,
closed down a psuedo-zero-level holding, or attempted an unpopular reform.
This is an imprudent role for most province rulers to adopt, unless they
have no local support to begin with.
In the second case, the local ruler attempts to avoid a breach with either
the people or the ruler. To maintain this position, the local fellow has to
avoid taking action against one or the other. He therefore tends to be
non-cooperative to any requests for assistance other than mediation and
arranging talks. This character can be used to explain the rebellion often
in terms of what they failed to do, who they failed to jail, what they
failed to shut down, and so forth. This figure maintains the allegiance of
the people who hope he will eventually champion their cause, though
relations may be strained. This is generally the wisest role of province
rulers to adopt, because having avoided a complete breach, they can go about
repairing relationships. PC rulers may not be happy with this approach and
may force them to pick one side or the other.
The third case is the province ruler who throws in with the people against
the realm ruler. Generally local rulers only do this under two
circumstances, 1) they miscalculated, or 2) their connection with the people
is so strong that any accomodation with the people will require an
accomodation with the leader. Such leaders can be divided into two
catagories. Those who lead the rebellion out of ambition and those who do
so out of duty. The local guy who is critical of his ruler, who foments
rebellion, who has the goal of independence or alternate allegiance is no
good for his realm or his ruler. The local guy who attempts to solve
problems, informs the ruler that action must be taken to settle the
grievance, and hopes for reconcilliation with his ruler but demands
satisfaction of the peolpe`s demands, even at cost to himself, is another
kind altogether. Wise realm rulers are advised to not mistake the one for
the other.
Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com