[Dragaera] Vlad's passivity--getting long

[Jon Lincicum]

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Alexx Kay" <alexx at panix.com>
> Jerry Friedman:
>
> We haven't heard of anything like a First Amendment in the Empire.  

If such a thing has ever existed, I suspect it would only be during a Teckla Republic. The rest of the time, the Feudal nature of Dragaeran society is not going to see the need for such a thing. Teckla only have "rights" as defined by their liege lords, who are presumed to be "gentlemen" (and "ladies") and therefore any sort of law governing their behavior by granting their peasants legal "rights" would be an "insult to their honor".  

Sorry. Seem to have gone crazy with the tongue-in-cheek quotes there. 

As a practical matter, the thing that holds lords accountable for their serfs in a feudal society is the threat of revolt. Most of the serfs we've seen so far have been "free" in the cities, so it's hard to say how the lords in "the Dutchies" really handle their vassals... Beyond the examples of Aerich (who would seem to be exceptionally benevolent) and Loraan (who may be exceptional in the other direction).  There is the account of Paresh (who's lord was apparently Tazendra), which may be our best example to draw generalizations from. His report to Vlad in /Teckla/, however, is certainly colored by his association with Kelly, which might call his objectivity into question. (Compare his account of the encounter at Tazendra's castle with Paarfi's.)

The point, however, is that serfs do not seem to be treated significantly better (or worse) than in medieval England. It is worth noting, however, that Paarfi does comment somewhere that at any given time, there is a peasant revolt ongoing or brewing SOMEWHERE in the Empire. Obviously this is something that does happen fairly regularly.

>And I
> *think* we haven't heard of any 'respectable' newspapers.  Kelly's people
> produce pamphlets about the news, and there's the underground newspaper in
> _Orca_.  But neither of those seem to expect that they have any legal
> standing whatsoever.  

This is an interesting point. Perhaps the nobles have sorcerous means to keep track of current events? 

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