[Dragaera] Cycle Surpresses Technology

[Christopher Martin via Dragaera]

FWIW, a paper mill is moderately advanced technology; especially if water
powered.

On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 12:17 PM, Scott Schultz via Dragaera <
dragaera at lists.dragaera.info> wrote:

> 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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