In the Convocation of Malquort, known to its' neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom, and to legend as the Caliphate of Azithan ...
The one percent own and control and primary means of production, namely the Lifeless. They build and maintain cities, grow crops, and fight. Multi-use public architecture, fields with three crops that work well together, and the dead do not feel pain when they fight.
This leaves the Citizens free to live lives where such necessities as housing, food, and defense are taken care of; by any modern standard, this is a post scarcity life.
What do they do, then?
Some run shops and businesses, participating in an economic system beyond mere survival. Some are doctors, others join guilds to learn crafts.
Some run schools. The priests run schools that act as a funnel into the priesthood, of course, and also to educate the population in the basics of the church. Guilds run their own schools, but the priests ensure some baseline of education is available to everyone.
Some make art; games, music, sculpture. There's a thriving art scene using found materials from the after sites of Lifeless construction, music both refined and street music. Games are a source of some magic.
Some retreat from the cities, taking to land for a family. Many of these still use the crops made by the Lifeless, though they have to go to Church to get it. Others retreat entirely from the Lifeless-fueled civilization, accepting only the benefits of the defenses.
The majority of priests take some time as missionaries; two years where they either bring the Faith to other lands, or work as researchers for the benefit of the Church itself. After this time, priests are able to work on their own, independently of other priests.
Throughout all of these, the Citizens are engaged in an ongoing discussion on the nature of their society, and much of their leisure activities are affected by the presence of Lifeless. This affects nearly every aspect of the society, in one way of another.
What do you want to know more about?
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What happens when the magic of the priests begins to fail and the lifeless can no longer be created and maintained?
ReplyDeleteThe end of the world. An apocalypse. A cataclysm like the fall of empire.
ReplyDelete1) How did this system start? Was it a clear twist on a pre-existing set of cultural practices? The pet project of some necrologist that became the basis of everything during some crisis? Something else?
ReplyDelete2) Can you name three major events that have shaped how the Convocation of Malquort works now, such that it would be very different today if any hadn’t happened? We’re these obvious crisis points at the time?
The lifeless are an incredibly efficient process, turning time of the Faithful into undead robot slaves.
ReplyDeleteIn a world where belief/gods/mind-over-matter can operate with that much effect how powerful are the Sorcerer Queens of Cinalai who have charmed cities of people and done spend their energies making their people happy.
The Deep Architects who spend lifetimes crafting indestructible armour and blades sharp enough to pay the walls between worlds.
What about the forest folk who grow yes tall enough and strong enough to hold a city in its boughs.
Basically, I want to know: In a world where magic can maintain a nation like Malquort, what does the rest of the world look like and what happens when these nations interact.
Does debt play into one’s future as a lifeless or is becoming a lifeless seen as a patriotic/religious duty? Is the truth somewhere between?
ReplyDeleteI love these questions.
ReplyDeleteI love that Brian always cares about other societies, that Jesse cares about cultures, and Josh cares about debt.
Pretty much always. It's nice.
We need answers dammit!
ReplyDelete(should've maybe put a smiley face after that one...) :-)
ReplyDelete