Posted by Irgend Jemand on 19:24 11/25/01
In reply to: (none)
Largely unnoticed by the outside world, a short time ago the noble ancient city of Gurdago celebrated it's 2000th birthday. It has traded with and from time to time conquered parts of the southern coast of Erelae from the late time of Cuezi to the rise of Verduria, has been basically out of reach for most other powers, was never directly attacked at it's own city walls and, unlike the city on Earth it is named after, has not been destroyed by some annoying upstart empire either. It was already rich and powerful when the Cadhinorians didn't have an empire yet and will still exist when Verduria and Dekhnam have fallen to dust and ashes... (no, Mr Ambassador, that was not meant as an insult. We greatly adore your country and it's accomplishments, and we will always offer you the best deals. No, we don't want a penal expedition to destroy our city.)
However, what interests me is wether there have been any major historical events or developments in Gurdago itself during all the time. Political changes, for instances. Have there been any changes in the system, or are the same institutions that decided over the interventions in the Littoral still in power now, debating what's to do about Gurdago's current (I mean 3480 now) malaise?
Something else I forgot to ask the last time- how could this Bezu bring his followers to do anything for him? I mean, when I got it right, the central doctrine of this Bezuxao cult is that nothing matters anyway. So why then bother yourself to commit terrorist acts or so?
Gurdago has had various forms of government (republic, depotism, constitutional monarchy), but this has never mattered much for its empire, which was always run firmly from Gurdago. If anything it became more absolute in each incarnation: when it ruled fellow Skourenes, there was a pretense of collegiality; when it ruled Jeori, there was at least the minimal respect due to an ancient, once-powerful nation; but when it ruled the Chia-Sha, the natives were considered hopeless primitives.
It was something of a revolution when voting rights were extended (c. 3000) to *descendents of Gurdagor* living outside the city.
They're not really debating what to do about their malaise yet-- they're in denial.
As for Bezuxao... think of it as a cult, of the sort that cuts off adherents from all other allegiances, preaches absolute devotion to the leaders, and ends often enough in death. The nihilism is used as a tool to break previous attachments; initiates are also forced to commit crimes and perversions, in order to cement their ties to the group. Various rewards, ranging from the crassly material to the arcanely spiritual, are promised to those who undertake dangerous missions for the leadership.