[Dragaera] Cycle Surpresses Technology

[Jerry Friedman via Dragaera]

You have a very good point about how much there is beside the Empire.  However, doesn't Vlad at some point blame the Empire for holding the Easterners back?  But I have no idea where.
Jerry Friedman

      From: Scott Schultz via Dragaera <dragaera at lists.dragaera.info>
 To: dragaera at dragaera.info 
 Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 10:17 AM
 Subject: Re: [Dragaera] Cycle Surpresses Technology
   
I've always assumed that the Gods are somehow preventing technological
advancement and especially sociological advancement. The examples we've seen
of such advancement comes from outside of the closed system. Franz is
inspired by what appears to be a Marxist manifesto from Earth, and Miklos is
inspired by Bolk, who may be a creature of the same order as a Deity but he
represents something else - I think of him rather like the Rakshasa in _Lord
of Light_. 

In any case, revolution comes about because an outside influence sparks a
new way of looking at the world.

It's something that affects the entire world. The Empire is intrinsically
linked to the Halls of Judgement and the Cycle, and they power each other in
some fashion. There are more forces in the world than just the Empire,
though.

The Serioli - Arguably, the one faction that displays any kind of
technological acumen, though their idea of technology is as alien as they
are.

The Cat Centaurs - Your basic nomadic wanderers, who aren't the sort to
normally settle down and develop a need for much in the way of technology.

The Easterners - A black box. They worship the Gods, sometimes under
different names, but apparently the Gods exert the same control of their
followers as amongst the Dragaerans.

Greenaire/Elde Island - Another black box, despite a novel being devoted to
Greenaire. Whatever drives the Empire, it has limited influence over these
nations and, in fact, may have no influence over Greenaire, given that
Greenaire is the home of Phoenix Stone. We know that the people of Greenaire
(and presumably Elde) think of themselves as somewhat different from the
Empire. We don't see the caste system on Greenaire or the Houses. They have
a King but other than that we don't know anything about their government.
Sorcery is limited or non-existent on Greenaire, which is part of the reason
it can be used as a place of exile for out-of-favor nobles from the Empire.

The point being that whatever is limiting technology, even if it's powered
by the Empire, is affecting everyone regardless. Groups that have no access
to Sorcery and every reason to invent a steam engine or even a telescope,
continue to live at the same constant level of technology as everyone else.

The idea of the Cycle being a self-regulating procession of socio-economic
and technological systems is an attractive one, but those direct effects
only affect the Empire. When the Tekla revolt, throw the rascals out, and
establish a republic, the only effect on Greenaire and Elde Island is
political.

Likewise, in the East, even if Fenario observes worship of Verra, there are
a thousand other kingdoms and caliphates and sultanates and what-not that
all have their own beliefs and practices. Whatever is at work is affecting
them all equally.

The Empire may be an engine that powers whatever force is at work, and the
Cycle may be the antenna that transmits the signal, but the force is
something else that's still undefined and probably never will be defined.
Likely, it's yet another of those forces that the Gods did not create so
much as tame and employ to their own ends.



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