seasong's Light Against The Dark II (May 13)

[Indigo Veil]

They weren't talking about the Tattered Tribe, who are presently allies. They were talking about the Breaking Cat tribe, and any other threats to Theralis.

Eh-heh heh heh...oopsies. ^^;;;;

But then, why would they think that the enslaved orcs would actually do a good job of maintaining their enemies' source of wealth? If I were an orc, I'd immediately set the vineyards aflame as soon as I got my butt out there. I dunno, it prolly makes sense somehow, but I'm just not seeing it.

Nevermind...I've spoken enough here today to last me a months. <crawls back into her little lurker cave and returns seasong's board to his very fine story hour> ^_^

Ta!

 

[seasong]

But then, why would they think that the enslaved orcs would actually do a good job of maintaining their enemies' source of wealth?

The same way slavery always works - it doesn't change just because the slaves are orcs instead of humans. Keep those who know each other separated; prevent organization; beat the sullen and rebellious; maintain a small task force of civil soldiers to stomp out the occasional small group who manages something; give little rewards to those who behave better than their fellows.

At least... that's how the orcs kept the Theralese in line .

If I were an orc, I'd immediately set the vineyards aflame as soon as I got my butt out there. I dunno, it prolly makes sense somehow, but I'm just not seeing it.

Of course you would. You're a rebellious little snot. You'd fight it and fight it and fight it - Merideth is much the same, and she'd agree with you. Unfortunately, that's the exception rather than the rule.

Nevermind...I've spoken enough here today to last me a months. <crawls back into her little lurker cave and returns seasong's board to his very fine story hour> ^_^

Oh, but I like talking, too...

 

[seasong]

Seasong is lame update: I'm going to be in Houston this weekend, visiting a depressed friend. This means no game, and so probably fairly slow updates next week. I've still got stuff from last session, but I really don't think I should stretch it out so far .

Anyway, likely to be sparse. Just letting y'all know ahead of time.

 

[J. Anson]

Keep those who know each other separated; prevent organization; beat the sullen and rebellious; maintain a small task force of civil soldiers to stomp out the occasional small group who manages something; give little rewards to those who behave better than their fellows.

My childhood just came rushing back to me...

 

[Indigo Veil]

Liking to talk, too: Ooh, goodie. That way I can respond to something and hopefully explain some of my reasoning to show I'm not a complete imbecile. ^^;;

you said: "The same way slavery always works - it doesn't change just because the slaves are orcs instead of humans."

Well, duh, I know that. ^^;;; But I thought that the orcs would be a much, much tougher group to keep in line that way, because they've shown that they CAN organize, despite tribal differences (tattered tribe); they're not some little wimps who got taken down because it was easy--they CAN fight (that's why they're a threat in the first place, yeah?); they're familiar with the land because of their more nomadic lifestyle, and so that makes running away easier (I think, anyway. wasn't that one of the reasons the three heroes couldn't get away, because they didn't know where to go from where they were, never having ventured far from Theralis?); and they're able fighters tending to the vines, crops and homes of Theralese who are away at war. I don't know that a single group of soliders would be able to keep down so many who were out to kill them in the first place.

fighting it and fighting it: would that be the exception for the orcs? from what you've given us so far of orc culture, I'd say that mentality is more the rule. (that's how it seems to me, anyway, especially with the orc reaction to the fight during which athan landed that lethal bite on his captor.)

anyway, that's enough outta me. ^^;;

have fun in houston.

 

[Greybar]

I gotta agree with Indigo Veil on this one. I'll be waiting for the rebellion.

It wouldn't be the first time that high ranking folks didn't see forward to the consequences of their actions, of course. May make for interesting moral dilemmas for the heroes!

John

 

[seasong]

So, if I argue my points too much, I risk sounding like I support slavery - the fact is, slavery as a condition is almost pathetically easy for a superior military force to inflict, and whether that is right or wrong, it is true. It is also true that Theralis is a superior military force - the orcs are a threat in the long term because of attrition. Individual tribes are really just bumblebees - fierce sting, but then splat.

And even with that, even the fiercest fighters can be kept down. Rome is an excellent example of this with their gladiators - they had problems with Spartacus because they got lax and allowed too much organization - there should not have been more than a hundred slaves who knew his name, and yet there were thousands.

Nor am I saying that it will work. I'm just giving insight into the decisions being made by the leadership of Theralis. They probably won't even call it slavery at first, just "war debts" or some such.

Anyway, I could probably write a full essay on how slavery works, how to keep slaves docile, etc., but I'm not sure I really want to do that here. The important thing, until Theralis actually starts doing it, is the fact that they made the decision to try.

 

[Greybar]

No problemo. Get 'em, Beat 'em, Keep 'em down.
We're the products of a modern liberal society, so perhaps we forget how easy it is to do.
Right! Back to the story! [grin]

 

[seasong]

My childhood just came rushing back to me...

 

[Nail]

DISCLAIMER: We are, in fact, talking about a fantasy world, and not implying anything about how things should be in the real world.

Now, with that out of the way......

I'd be very interested in what you (Seasong) have to say about the "domestication" of the orcs. How is it likely to start? How is it going to be continued? How can it work in a world filled with magic and adventurers running around? Etc.

As an aside: do your orcs have the "light sensitivity" flaw? How does that play in to this?

So, if I argue my points too much, I risk sounding like I support slavery ....

Anyway, I could probably write a full essay on how slavery works, how to keep slaves docile, etc.,

Again, without giving away what your story plans are.......