showing falkovinian opression

[herkles]

Hello

I am wondering on ways to show the harsh opression of Falkovinia. That plays into one of the main themes IMO of the domain, What is a worse evil Monsters or Humans? I am using this as a main theme for my campaign that I might be running in about a month or so. But showing the harshness of Falkovinia is something I would like some assistance with.

Some notes for my campaign setting and falkovinia. Magic is rare, and there are no demihumans in the world; the world is also much older.

Falkovinia prior to Drakov's rise to power was a divided land, a confederation of loosely aligned princes who often fought each other more then anyone else, The church of Ezra had power during this time. However, many in the church decided to side against Drakov, further semiting his hatred of them. In the current era He has pretty much banned the church of Ezra in Falkovinia. This does not stop people from being religious and following the Ezrite Faith, they just are harshly persecuted. To drakov and his Talons, worship of ezra is a sign of rebellion.

So now that I got the little history lesson of how I am dealing with Falkovinia, I am wondering if others can give me hints and tips on showing the cruality and harshness of Falkovinia?

sincerely

-herkles

[HuManBing]

A real-life example: in North Korea, the church was entirely oppressed. In the PRC, there is a small "official" Catholic church, but it's entirely co-opted by the Chinese Communist Party and its doctrinal allegiance is to the Chinese state, not to the Pope.

East Germany had the most comprehensive systematic surveillance of a population by its government so far publicly revealed (although in real terms, the hidden systems of China, Russia, and America today probably go much deeper). Increase stress and tension by introducing informants and spies - make the players paranoid.

A police that oppresses in petty shows of bullying can be even more chilling than an obvious display of power. Have somebody insult or demean a PC - like throwing paint at them, or spitting on them, or giving them a rough shove as they go by. Now, wherever they turn, the local populace wants nothing to do with them - their only crime was to be a victim, and in this heartless society that's enough to drive others away. Nobody wants guilt by association.

Numerous petty instances of corruption are another sign of a society that's oppressive. Only, instead of an overriding ideology, it's a general malaise of ethics. The official doesn't get paid enough for his work, so it's easier to ride the hapless underclass for bribes. The church lacks any ability to fund through the proper channels, so it has to demand ever higher tithes for its religious services like confessions and blessings. The local police are ineffective, so the gangs gird for turf wars, while shaking down the locals with the stark choice of "pay us or fight us".

North Korea followed the Leninist line of three levels of social class. About 20% were "Loyal" and got all sorts of state-funded perks. About 40% were "Wavering" and were the hapless fearful middle class, whose rights and possessions could be taken away for infractions. About 40% were the "Enemy" class, and they had no further use for the state - the state condemned them to slave away in mines and factories, literally working them to death. Their only function now was to convert their lives and labor into goods for the rest of the state.

Another primary facet of a repressive society is one where the rulers have less transparency, and the citizen has more (democratic states tend to be the other way round). Also, the laws themselves tend to be vaguely written and favor the enforcer, who can apply significant interpretative powers, rather than favoring the alleged violator, who often times does not even know what code he has violated.

Here's a topic on Slavery in Falkovnia. I did a fair bit of research into the North Korean death camps for elements to use in my games. Other threads include Some Doubts About Falkovnia and How Do You See Drakov

[herkles]

intreasting thoughts HuMan. though I am curious in a pre-industrial society how would constient surveillance be done. I could imagine that Drakov would have people who train falcons constiently flying over his towns and his villages, even if they can not communicate with people, they might be said to be his spies and their constient flying could add to it. Spies and informers are also a good idea.

I am still deciding on if Drakov would have gotten rid of the Noblity titles or not that existed in Falkovinia before he took it over. I am not sure if I would use your system for their social classes but it is an interesting one I must say.

I am not sure if I am starting in falkovinia or not, but I am curious if the characters come from Falkovinia or their "allied state of Lamordia would this change a few things or would it be worse(as the people shunning you, were your neighbors)? Lamordia is a half-puppet of Falkovinia, as due to their state of neutrality a large number of people court the diplomats from falkovinia.

I know I am using a mad scientist similar to Dr. Mengele, and historically as evil as his stuff and other nazi doctors who did human experimentation do we still not use them in science today as they did discover things that were important to science? I ask because my Mengele villian's work would help those loyal to drakov and perhaps some of the other people.

more ideas are of course welcome

[Five]

Here's some more possible inspiration for your mad scientist: Japan's Unit 731.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731

Vivisection, germ warfare, and some biological warfare might be appropriate for Falkovnia (supplemented by Lamordian medical students).

Just keep in mind that Dr. Victor Mordenheim is just to the northwest (and is suggested to be the pinnacle of scientific discovery), and of Frantisek Markov's own diabolical experiments. Obviously it is up to you to define the limits of scientific discovery and tier them accordingly. I just mentioned those two in case you wanted to use them at a later date. If you modernize Falkovnia's achievements, then it might become difficult to amplify the achievements of Ravenloft's theme-specific (scientific) Dark Lords.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

No time to elaborate much, but just a quick note: Falkovnia does have its own "Mengele" type character in canon: http://fraternityofshadows.com/wiki/Vjorn_Horstman

He was introduced in Children of the Night: Werebeasts and appears in Gazetteer II as well.

[herkles]

ooh, neat character concept that doctor is. I shall use him!

Also the more I look at my falkovinia, the more I realize that it is sort of akin to a western version of Qin/china's first emperor. As without magic, and demihumans a number of things have changed from canon. Their can not be demihuman slavery if there is no demihumans in the first place to enslave. Without Magic, well it is really rare; that means diseases, poisons, wounds are far more serious all over the core, but especailly in a land based on war.

Their is a sweeping reform to create a new and united kingdom of Falkovinia. The noblity is abolished and a meritocracy was created. This meritocracy is not a nice one, it is harsh, cruel and at times sadistic meritocracy. the peasants who at first thought this might be good for them, are realizing that it might not be so. Drakov is doing what he can to reduce the power of the church; he would love to abolish the church of ezra completly. However, doing so would cause too many people to support the rebels.I have thought that perhaps the offical religion/philosphy would be something like legalism. Not sure yet though.

Conscription is often necessary to defend the kingdom; as basicaly their is a never-ending war between drakov and azalin. This war mostly though takes its form of raids across the borders by soldiers. In addition, their are rebels wanting to overthrow the king, not always a good thing as sometimes the revolutionaries can be worse then the tyrant.


So alot of the mundane ways of the harsheness I plan to use, similar to what human wrote above. In addition to showing both the postives and the harsh reality of Drakov's sweeping reforms. This might contrast nicely when presented with the supernatural for my players; as one of my themes is "which monster is worse? the monster or man" I am curious what others think of this version of falkovinia?

-herkles

[HuManBing]

I like it, and indeed Qinshihuang (the First Emperor of China) was an inspiration for my Drakov as well. Qinshihuang accomplished several notable milestones in his rule (standardization of weights and measures, standardization of written Chinese script, unification of seven warring kingdoms) but at the cost of mobilizing huge public opposition (in the end even his childhood friends and mother turned against him). For centuries afterwards, he was held as the worst example of a tyrant, but in recent years his legacy has been partially rehabilitated.

I view Drakov as being a similar amalgam of tyrant/unifier. He's got just enough of a spark of nobility and heroic aspiration in him to prevent the PCs from writing him off as a complete monster. But this is very hard to do unless you're willing to make a few changes to his profile.

Notes:

1. Dictators usually justify their oppression by blaming some external threat and portraying themselves as a favorable alternative. Sometimes they're even telling the truth when they claim this!

2. Drakov is implacably opposed to Azalin and has tried many times to invade Darkon. In canon, this is largely reduced to a simple question of pride and vainglory - he's a bully and he's too stupid to recognize a victim that's far stronger than him. But... what if you subverted this canon and actually made him fully aware that Azalin was a lich? That suddenly means his campaigns against Darkon are significantly more noble: now he's fighting to try to force regime change in a nation unwittingly ruled by an undead horror. He has tried to negotiate alliances with the human nations around him, to unite to overthrow this monster, but their corrupt leaders refuse to lift a finger to depose the horrific true lord of Darkon.

Then your Drakov has a very different cast to him. Sure, he's still an oppressive and corrupt ruler, but now he's genuinely trying to do something arguably beneficial - to dethrone one of the Core's most powerful undead leaders. This alone may give PCs enough pause to reconsider opposing him immediately. After all, if he's one of the few dark lords willing to go the full distance and lock horns with Azalin himself, maybe he really is the "lesser of the two evils".

3. Drakov in canon came from the Dragonlance continent of Taladas, and he served the Bishop Trandamere. However according to canon, Trandamere turned out to be a ruthless and amoral bishop who seized power with an undead army. Drakov could well think Azalin and Trandamere are spiritual counterparts, and hate them both as the same person.


These are all changes that I've made to my campaign setting, to make Falkovnia a more nuanced nation, and Drakov a less two-dimensional character. I'm sure these changes won't appeal to everybody - some players like their villains and heroes clearly separated, while others like me prefer a more "shades of grey" morality. Do whatever suits your gaming group, and have fun!

[nowonmai]

You could try to use an Orwell approach by adopting a 1984 feel. Perhaps Drakov allows state appointed casters to randomly scan people for thought crimes, or people are encouraged and rewarded for turning in a thought criminal. Maybe those casters trail a suspected criminal and scan their thoughts. Better yet, he could use psionic gifted people for that purpose. Maybe Drakovs Mengele researches ways to turn people into psionic people. Plus the Drakov Jugend Brigade singing an anthem to him would play out nicely, especially if the kids hound the players as criminals of the state.

Drakov obviously doesn't want smart people around so maybe coming up with a "new speak" would be a way to show how oppressive his state is. Any player that has read 1984 would get what you are going for here and appreciate it.

Have random shortages on common supplies that sky rocket prices, all for the war effort.

Or have people be bread in a way that is similar to the Alphas and Betas in Brave New World.

Thats all I have comrade. Have a double plus good day.

[herkles]

snip

I do agree with you that Drakov needs to have reasons for why he does things, and I don't personally like the complete monster without any redeming values, because then it gets to a level where it is not horrifying but silly IMO.

one thing I personally have not nailed down atm is weather Drakov came from Taladas or came from Falkovinia. I am leaning towards being born there; to help with theme of "for the grace of god there go I" that I believe all darklords have. I would probaly change the bishop to being an ezrite bishop that he had some difficult experinces with; hence his reason for hating that faith.

even if he did come from the mists; I do like him opposing Azalin for knowing the truth about Azalin. Most people in the core however would not know that azalin is a lich. an evil, harsh and ruthless king with dark secrets? more then likely, but an undead abominition? nope. This might also explain why their is the state of permenet war between the two kingdoms.

also neat idea on what happened to the first emperor, I think I might use it for plots

snip

Interesting ideas, but not ideas that I am personally using. Magic is rare in my setting after all and personally I am trying to tone down the modern analogies, I do not like using falkovinia as a nazi parellel, hence why I looked to the first emperor of china, it is ideas that are not any means modern that I could use for insperation.

of course if that is how you want to run drakov and his falkovinia go for it!

[Joël of the FoS]

IMC, they went into Falkovnia (but didn’t stay very long as there were a halfling and a half-elf in the group!).

I portrayed the falkovnian as broken people, doing their daily thing but keeping to themselves, looking at the ground when they walk, and rarely talking to each other in the streets. It made eerie views of villages full of people, but nearly silent!

When they are in small groups of well known people, then they relax and talk more to each others.

On the opposite, to mark the difference, falkovnian troops were marching with arrogance in the street, talking loud and making small provocations (sometimes even big ones) that were never answered by the ordinary people of course, and randomly controling the falkovnians for papers.

[Jester of the FoS]

One thing to play up might be the continual emphasis that "Darkon is the enemy". Most oppressive regimes rely heavily on an enemy and propaganda, with the increasingly oppressive measures being done to "protect" the people.

[HuManBing]

One thing to play up might be the continual emphasis that "Darkon is the enemy". Most oppressive regimes rely heavily on an enemy and propaganda, with the increasingly oppressive measures being done to "protect" the people.

Yes, this is a very common fallback in totalitarian regimes. The Third Reich had the Jews, Maoist China had the Japanese, and Stalin had the Free World. North Korea even to this day routinely plays up fears of an American attack to cow its populace.

For added authenticity, and to add a dimension of poignancy to the setting, you could even make these scapegoat threats partially real, and thus give the regime some minor justification for its actions. After all, Stalin's administration (for all its own murderous violence) did genuinely stop and defeat the Nazi war machine's massive Eastern thrust. Saddam Hussein, before he started gassing his own people, was at one point a valued American ally as a counterweight against a heavily-armed and aggressive Iran. Even Mao and Kim Il-Sung (of North Korea) were seen as nominally useful, if minor, allies in the Pacific theater of the Second World War.

Their early victories were real and genuine. But the tragedy of their reigns highlights the risk of exaggerating their early victories to justify any number of later atrocities.


Vlad Drakov could have been a hero... once upon a time. He could well be the only ruler who genuinely understands Azalin's true nature, and is willing to do something about it. But does that justify any action? Does that justify his bloody invasions of neighboring domains, even if it's to install "friendly leaders" who will "tackle the Darkonian threat"?

It's this uncomfortable middle ground between rationality and insanity - between nobility and vainglory - and between bravery and bloodlust, that I find so fascinating about Drakov's condition. You can start with all the good intentions in the world, but if you lose sight of the actual effects your policies have on the people, you go the way of every lofty empire and every socialist paradise: oppression on an institutional scale, and the sown seeds of your own overthrow.



Edit: The New Yorker has run several excellent articles on the nature of life in North Korea, and the constant double-think and assaults on intellectual integrity needed to maintain such a regime. Possibly the best such story I've read is here (from 2003). Several others focus on the death of Kim Jong-il and the shock to the system that created. All make for great reading in the nature of despotism and dictatorship.

[ewancummins]

One thing to play up might be the continual emphasis that "Darkon is the enemy". Most oppressive regimes rely heavily on an enemy and propaganda, with the increasingly oppressive measures being done to "protect" the people.

Darkon is a cursed realm ruled by a lich who employs vampire and werewolf secret police, and who guards the border using zombies and skeletons! It really IS the enemy.

[herkles]

One thing to play up might be the continual emphasis that "Darkon is the enemy". Most oppressive regimes rely heavily on an enemy and propaganda, with the increasingly oppressive measures being done to "protect" the people.

Darkon is a cursed realm ruled by a lich who employs vampire and werewolf secret police, and who guards the border using zombies and skeletons! It really IS the enemy.

not my Darkon! well Azalin is a lich and employs vampires and werewolf secret police, but they are well secret police. I like having the supernatural stuff in the background; so no necropolis and no zombie/skeleton border guards; that isn't to say there isn't rumour of necromancers who exist in darkon...but they are just rumours. probably saw skeletons hanging from the trees and got spooked.

[Hogan Van Monsterband]

For non-native PCs, there's a simple way to demonstrate this: "Where are your papers?"
Everywhere they go, every NPC in a position of power they talk to, it's always the same question. If they don't have papers, nothing gets done. If they do have papers, those papers are constantly under threat from anyone with a badge or a uniform.
"Where are your papers?" Say it until your PCs hate it.