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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
 Posted - 08 May 2013 : 12:59:19
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Election here in the Philippines is just a few days away, and, not quite unexpectedly (because most Filipinos aren’t known for subtlety), some candidates are either missing or dead/assassinated, and a few campaigns have been disrupted by violent attacks. This somehow made me think of a few elections in the Realms that ended up bloody and messy . . .
Well, we know the election of zulkirs never happens without someone bathing in his own blood. But I’m curious, was there ever an election in the Realms that involved mass killings and mass destruction of properties? (And let’s not confuse this with “impeachment” or forced, brutal removal of a tyrannical leader because we’ve had quite a lot of examples for that, Luskan being the most recent, I think.)
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Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 08 May 2013 14:51:22
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2450 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2013 : 13:49:26
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Nothing comes instantly to mind, but that's mainly because there aren't very many out-right democracies in the Realms. There are a couple, and some of them have issues, but most are small, out of the way places that don't. For instance, Hill's Edge is run by a High Mayor selected yearly, though they've been having Zhent problems with that lately. Some of the Dales have elected leaders (ie: The High Dale, Mistledale), though aside from things like outside invasion (High Dale), elections tend to go smoothly.
Of special note was the recent change of rulership of Mourktar, where the king declared a giant tournament open to everyone, with the winner becoming the next king. I'm not sure we ever got a resolution for that one, but the description explicitly talks about how bloody it could get. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12084 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2013 : 14:11:01
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| Interesting topic, and one thing people might want to consider when answering is elections BESIDES governmental leadership. For instance guild leadership. While nothing is coming immediately to mind, I'm sure there's been some assassinations in order to take control of a guild. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2013 : 14:21:29
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| Good point guild politics are generally quite convoluted and corrupt in most fantasy worlds and the realms are no exception. I am sure the assassins guild has a surge in business whenever there is an guild election. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2013 : 14:50:33
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Interesting topic, and one thing people might want to consider when answering is elections BESIDES governmental leadership. For instance guild leadership. While nothing is coming immediately to mind, I'm sure there's been some assassinations in order to take control of a guild.
Quite right. Thanks for reminding me.
There are quite a few thieves’ guilds in the Realms whose leadership probably changes often with blood involved . . .
Interestingly, (though not Realms-related) this also reminds me of how the Supreme Patriarch (in the Warhammer universe) is elected. A Grand Magister of an Order of Magic (when he or she dares) can challenge the current Patriarch in a duel to death. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 08 May 2013 14:53:17 |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1883 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2013 : 21:17:53
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quote:
Of special note was the recent change of rulership of Mourktar, where the king declared a giant tournament open to everyone, with the winner becoming the next king. I'm not sure we ever got a resolution for that one, but the description explicitly talks about how bloody it could get.
From page 39 of Faith's and Avatars: "The largest temple of Bane in all of Faerun is the Black Lord's Cloak in the city of Mourktar on the edge of the flat, sandy plains of Threskel. It has been said (accurately) that only the presence of this temple, which grew to rule the entire city following the death of King Theris and the subsequent assassination of his successor, prevented the more ambition Red Wizards of Thay from abandoning all plans to assault Rashemen and instead establishing a beachhead in Threskel from which to attack Unther and fractious Chessenta."
The quote is from the first paragraph under Major Centers of Worship heading. The temple has hundred of clerics (and thousands of troops). Cheers. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
Edited by - The Arcanamach on 08 May 2013 21:19:14 |
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MrHedgehog
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2013 : 22:34:31
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The elections of the Blades and High Blades in Mulmaster are presumably very bloody in the City of Danger.
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Mapolq
Senior Scribe
Brazil
466 Posts |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12084 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2013 : 15:27:52
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| Are the High Captains of Luskan elected? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Derulbaskul
Senior Scribe
Singapore
408 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2013 : 13:05:35
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Weren't Waterdeep's guild politics particularly bloody and one of the results was that the system of Lords was instituted?
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis Election here in the Philippines is just a few days away, and, not quite unexpectedly (because most Filipinos aren’t known for subtlety), some candidates are either missing or dead/assassinated, and a few campaigns have been disrupted by violent attacks. (snip)
Thanks for the reminder about what I am currently missing. The joys of living in a failed state.
(I'll be home in the Philippines next Friday. Hopefully most of the killings will have finished by then.)
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Cheers
D
NB: Please remember: A cannon is a big gun. Canon is what we discuss here. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2013 : 16:00:43
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Are the High Captains of Luskan elected?
I read about ¾ of The Pirate King (though I have no immediate plans of finishing it), and from what I understand, the High Captains are partly appointed, partly elected. And they’re pirates, so there’s bound to be blood. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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swifty
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
517 Posts |
Posted - 14 May 2013 : 17:53:50
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| Kinda staying on topic.with the corporate mafia known as the bilderberg group meeting in Britain in a couple of weeks what would be a similar realms equivalent.David Rockefeller reminds me of sszz tam. |
go back to sleep america.everything is under control.heres american gladiators.watch this.shuttup. BILL HICKS. |
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Old Man Harpell
Senior Scribe
USA
497 Posts |
Posted - 14 May 2013 : 22:59:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Are the High Captains of Luskan elected?
I read about ¾ of The Pirate King (though I have no immediate plans of finishing it), and from what I understand, the High Captains are partly appointed, partly elected. And they’re pirates, so there’s bound to be blood.
Haven't read The Pirate King, admittedly, but real-world pirates (of yesteryear, that is) were some of the most democratic types that have existed, such as a crew voting to remove a captain at any time, save during a battle (where the captain's word was law).
It's not difficult to see where the High Captains could be elected by votes from their afforded sections of the population - with such elections being manipulated and rigged, to give the appearance of choice while in effect being a massive put-up job.
- OMH |
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MrHedgehog
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 14 May 2013 : 23:33:16
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| Democracy can be far blooder than other forms of government. (Look at South Africa or Zimbabwe!) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Bloodiest Election in the Realms
