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webmanus
Learned Scribe
Sweden
338 Posts |
 Posted - 04 May 2005 : 21:50:24
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Thinking about my Maplewood Thorp post, I decided to spend some hours pounding about Scornubels alignment ...
According to the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, the Western Heartlands does not have a prevailing alignment. Still, what could be the prevailing alignment of the citizens of Scornubel, and its adjacent communities? And, what could the alignment of Scornubel's power center, its council, be?
In A Grand Tour of the Realms (the Gray Box), the ruler of the city of Scornubel is mentioned, lady Rhessajam Ambermantle (NG female Tethyrian human Bard 14). The Lady Rhessajan is supported by three lord high advisors named Burdan (LN male Tethyrian human Fighter 12), Deep (NE male Tethyrian human Rogue 9), and Phantar (NG male Tethyrian human Fighter 13). Please note that, I have added the non-canon Tethyrian entry to each of the NPCs.
Thus, the alignment of Scornubel's "main" power center (the ruler) should be NG (non-canon). In addition, the most common alignments could be (non-canon) NG, LN, and NE, if most of the inhabitants of Scornubel would follow the alignment of its ruler and its advisors.
Comments?
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 04 May 2005 : 21:58:03
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I would say that Scornubel's 'general' aligment (if such a thing exists) is neutral, probaly even lawful neutral, since it is a city that thrives on trade, and even counts on its trade position to keep it safe (the city has no walls)...
A controlled, organized environment would work best in such a city and benefit most merchants, certainly those of the alingments of its 'rulers'. |
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Beowulf
Learned Scribe
Canada
322 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2005 : 00:21:15
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I would say that the greater mass and crass of humanity is true neutral, with extremes being the exception rather than the rule. This would be exceptionally so in highly diverse multicultural trading cities.
I would also think that the alignment of the current ruler of system, while it might very well influence the common, doesn't dictate it in any certain way. Tribal peoples are generally deemed chaotic in DnD and yet, however light and loose they might be with legislation, nevertheless harken to the customs of the tribe without need for prompting. Thus, they are light on law becasue there is no need.
We find the exact opposite amongst highly diverse, ie. chaotic, societies, where chaos and the consequent individualism that follows creates the need for increasingly more laws and better more efficient systems of organization.
So, a society of lawfuls might very well look like chaotic to the presumptuous eye, who can't see the forest through the trees, while a seemingly well organized government might very well be so becasue social it is a chaotic mess.
Hmmm. Wonder if I can say the same differently one more time?  |
"Ill tempered the wretch, who laughs at everyone. He cannot recognize, as he should, that he is not without faults." the High One, Poetic Edda |
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Fletcher
Learned Scribe
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2005 : 23:29:42
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I agree with Mumadar Ibn Huzal that most lands and cities should be true neutral. Every individual has a different alignment.
But in regards Beowulf's comments on merchants...they tend to be inherently bent on making themselves money. They aren't usually out to better the world. Most merchants also don't have a problem not reporting some sales, or doing a little business on the side. This moves them away from Lawful in my opinion. They will obey every convenient law, and disregard or try to work around the annoying ones.
After working in so many retail jobs, and seeing the character of the owners (both large and small companies), I tend to put businesses, and their owners/operators, closer to neutral evil than lawful neutral.
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Run faster! The Kobolds are catching up! |
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webmanus
Learned Scribe
Sweden
338 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2005 : 23:57:55
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Thanks folks!
After reading about Scornubel, and reading your posts ... I have to admit that I am also inclined to think of Scornubel's power center as having a Neutral alignment. Scornubel's ruler has an alignment of NG, and one of the advisors has also the alignment of NG. Then, to balance this, there is one advisor with LN and another with NE. So, in one way, all these four power centers meet, to some degree, in the Neutral section, so to say ...
LG NG CG
LN N CN
LE NE CE
Furthermore, in the FRCS, the following is stated:
"In all things, the ruling council chooses efficiency and profit over ideals."
That sounds very Neutral in my ears. So, with this, I would conclude, that the power center of Scornubel is Neutral.
However, when thinking if the populations alignment, and when thinking of a random alignment table, for the population of Scornubel and Scornubel's surrounding communities, I am inclined towards having a proportion as presented in the table "Alignment of Scornubel's Citizens". Please note that I have made some assumptions:
- The people of Scornubel, and its surroundings, are content with the current goverment. That is, things are not bad enough to require "revolutions".
- The rulers and her advisors have almost the same degree of support from the population. However, Deep (NE) is a bit unpopular.
- Most folk in Scornubel follow the alignment of its ruler and advisors.
Table -- Alignment of Scornubel's Citizens
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d% AL
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1 - 32 NG
33 - 48 LN
49 - 64 NE
65 - 73 LG
74 - 82 N
83 - 91 CG
92 - 94 CN
95 - 97 LE
99 - 100 CE
Comments?
Best regards,
Manuel (Webmanus) |
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A Note About Scornubel's Alignment
