And speaking of dodgy, Singapore now has to deal with free "live" porn and isolated incidents where you can start a fight by... well, starting a fight. If there's anything I've learnt as a cynic, it is people being selfish by nature. I am selfish by nature, so are you. When we proclaim to speak the truth, I won't deny the possibility of good intentions. Yet, there are moments where we tell the truth and we don't care whether the world will crash and burn as a result of our inner donkey. Figuratively speaking, of course. Sometimes, telling the truth is a must. Then there are times where telling the truth is no different from risking a repeat of 2005 when French people jumped on French people. It's always the case where wisdom is better than brawn, that's why man is created with a brain inside the skull. Ironically, having a brain also means we're born selfish. That's why education plays a great deal and I don't mean excellence in academics.
[Note: I'm not out to assassinate anyone's character because that's not my job. I'm merely pointing out the fact that there's a Snow in every one of us and it's not this one below.]
Therefore, is it any wonder that I feel naturally drawn to writing dark fantasy? I'm not that crazy to see myself as so-and-so in any given work (although I can see parts of myself in specific characters). Yet, I do find my fascination strangely therapeutic. After all, a constant reminder of reality keeps me regularly grounded. So no, you do not sound cynical, mon princesse. Comparing yourself to the real deal is like comparing Xiaxue to Guts. Ok, think I need to listen to a song now.
Oh, and also one more thing. I got my knowledge from the respective wikis like this one and that one. I know I sound like a fraud, but better it is for me to declare transparency before somebody else does it for me. Doesn't prevent me from playing the explorer, though. The fact that I have to get used to the fast pace of life like a Singaporean doesn't mean I should follow my fellow Singaporeans in avoiding exploration.
I know my statement sounds depressing, so I might as well show you all one thing I discovered recently.
Above image is definitely not a photoshopped image. It is the real deal. Last time I checked, my previous post was like N days ago. Seeing the English name for 대한민국 has to be a surreal moment for me. Yes, I did install Google translate. That's not a reason to justify a South Korean goddess sneaking a peek at my blog. I'm having a weird feeling about this, let's hope I'm just being paranoid/self-delusional/whatever. The last thing I ever want is to have those salty Koreans going after me with their Korean swords. After all, I did base Alestrial Eliaden on her.
So what this post is all about?
Basically, I'll be doing some stuff on security. When I first started writing A Requiem From Winter Past, I didn't take into account the aspect of law and order. Yes, you don't get to read often enough on how security and law enforcement work in fantasy works. Just throw in the numbers and units. End of story. As time went on, however, I was starting to see this minor aspect as something that needs to be fixed. At the end of the day, I tend to be someone giving 100% effort in anything I decided/have to do. On the first glance, I may look like a boyfriend material.
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To understand me better, however, I'm afraid you'll need to take up courses like this one.
But before that...
I'll need to address something. Namely, the terrain defining Tamuria, the Southland, and Furthest East.
Tamuria:
It is what one calls a belt area. More specifically, Tamuria as both a nation and terrain is a mountainous belt separating Causacea (i.e. the north) from the Southland (i.e. the nearest thing to Africa rather than India). To have an idea of how wide-reaching this belt of mountains is, try imagining the Himalayas (or the Rocky Mountains if you're a close-minded Singaporean redneck) stretching from the eastern end of a continent to its western end.
However, Tamurians don't regard their homeland as a nation. More specifically, the concept of a nation is totally alien to them. Their homeland serves as a reminder of where they're born and the fact that they're... well, Tamurians. If you think we Singaporeans are not so patriotic (after all, we're not exactly the most patriotic people in Asia, let alone the world), the Tamurians are worse. At least we have a sense of national belonging. They don't. Remember, they don't understand the concept of having a nation beyond just having a roof over the head so as to speak.
However, Tamurians don't regard their homeland as a nation. More specifically, the concept of a nation is totally alien to them. Their homeland serves as a reminder of where they're born and the fact that they're... well, Tamurians. If you think we Singaporeans are not so patriotic (after all, we're not exactly the most patriotic people in Asia, let alone the world), the Tamurians are worse. At least we have a sense of national belonging. They don't. Remember, they don't understand the concept of having a nation beyond just having a roof over the head so as to speak.
Beyond just a large swath of rugged terrain comprising of mountains and forests put together, Tamuria got nothing else.
Southland:
Like Tamuria, it's very easy to imagine the terrain. Namely, desert. However, we must also understand that oases exist for a reason. Not the band comprising of the Gallaghers, but rather the real meaning of oasis (i.e. the singular noun for oases). Because it is my intention to create a land grab culture without demonising any race, the desert terrain became a convenient tool. I mean, yes I do have a problem with the rape culture in India. That doesn't make me a racist. It's like being anti-rape doesn't make any morally decent Indian a traitor. At the same time, I do have a problem with caste related crimes in India. And it helps that India actually declared the caste system illegal N years ago. Simply put, I have no moral baggage on this end.
Since oases are hard to come by, getting invaded is an everyday possibility (I won't say reality because fighting a war is very taxing on manpower and resources. If you don't believe me, at least trust limpeh). More specifically, preparations have to be made in case the unthinkable happens. It's not that the act of invasion doesn't happen enough times. Rather, people are not camels (i.e. we don't run like camels, but we also don't think like one).
At the same time, I don't want to create a barbaric people just because staying in the desert sucks. Despite moral problems created by the caste system and a gross lack of decent education, the Indian culture isn't what one would call a Philistine rape fest. During secondary school (more specifically Sec 2), history taught us more than just a wee bit about Indian history. I still remember my history teacher that time, namely Ms Lau. In my first year at Gan Eng Seng School (because there's no primary school, only plenty of ah-bengs, ah-lians, and a busty girl named Daisy who was one year younger than me), my history teacher was an Indian named Mrs Yoga.
Although I've forgotten pretty much 90% (at least) of what was taught, I still remember the impression that the Indians do have a cultured history. Ironically, it took much more than just a HULK SMASH! to create the caste system.
Note: Commercial trading is a viable option in making money in this kind of circumstances, believe it or not. Known as the Dark Market to the Causaceans (since I'm not about to play it politically correct in portraying racism) and Ankoku no Daemun (c'mon, you think only angmohs can afford to be racist?), the port city of Balakrash deals with all things where the supply comes from elsewhere and the demand comes from... well, you get the drift. Due to the need to sustain what human rights activists would call anti-rights activities, it's not uncommon to see Sudhlits sailing back and forth. Because of the illicit nature of such a business, only Histalonia and Crag Isles are willing to deal openly with a bunch of people known by others as the Black Fleet. Not that the Causaceans are any better. Or the Cinha for that matter since Tamurians don't give a two hoots' damn to this kind of thing.
[Interesting trivia: Black Fleet as a term is inspired by the black ships from America which landed on the shores of Japan during final throes of the Tokugawa era. Given America's status as a white man's kingdom back then, the naming was nothing short of an irony.]
Furthest East:
Welcome to East Asia. Or more specifically, a continent inspired by East Asia. Before I continue, let me just say that any argument on whether the Chinese are the dominant race is a load of bollocks. Yes, I know the glaring similarities between Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese. However, it is not my job to compare Hebe Tien, Park Shin-hye, and Aragaki Yui. Whether Wang Zhaojun, Hwang Jin-yi, and Oichi hailed from the same gene pool is the job for history/genetics scholars.
Enough of my Maeda Keiji'ness (since that guy was known to be batshit crazy), let's get back on track. The Furthest East is basically a name coined by the Westerners (i.e. the Causaceans). I've yet to come up with an official name where the natives are concerned, but maybe it would go like Kanshu. Yes, I know that's me failing at emulating Bonnie and Clyde. More specifically, this Clyde has yet to meet his Bonnie. After all, Kanshu sounds very Japanese. Like Kyushu or Chōshū.
As for the terrain, I based it off a combination of China and Japan. More specifically, the southern part was somewhat (?!?) of a fictional Ryukyu Kingdom. The best way to imagine this would be a cluster of islands. That forms the southern third of the so-called Three Kingdoms. Namely, Nanban. For the western side, I decided to model it after the Yi province during the Three Kingdoms era. Basically, we're talking about the modern-day Sichuan-Chongqing area where it's a basin terrain. This would be Shikoku. As for the east, I modelled it after the Jing province during the Three Kingdoms era (again!?!). Basically, we're looking at a land comprising mostly of plains and hillocks. That one is Kamakura. Lastly, we have the unexplored western part of the continent. I can't tell you much, but that's because I prefer to leave things blank here first.
Note: The term Three Kingdoms is never a case of Chinese copyright. Ask any salty Korean about his/her own Three Kingdoms and you'll get to hear stories of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Just make sure you don't use this as an excuse to stalk your Korean goddess. I'm not gonna be responsible if a salty Korean decided to call the police.
Police say "FREEZE!"
I still remember Eminem's Ass Like That. Granted I've outgrown this kind of stuff, but that doesn't mean I don't have the memory of an elephant. It's both a blessing and a curse, I can guarantee you that. Believe it or not, the most notable part of the song (apart from the infamous "I ain't never seen an ass like that") was "police say freeze". So yes, this part is where security comes into the picture. Security in this context refers to defence against external threats. It's not so much about U.S versus the Soviet Union, but rather a concept not dissimilar to the threat of terrorism.
Of course, in the fictional world of my Crucible, people are more than capable of being self-righteous at best and outright monstrous at worst. Given the fact that God doesn't exist there, it's not really an accurate gauge of morality unless you have the stomach for a game of absolute standard. So far so good, the only threats I've done so far in the story are people like murderers and rapists. After all, no one is gonna jail you for being self-righteous (ironically, Aeravor's refusal to play the hypocrisy game only further accentuates the fact that he's an amoral/immoral jerk).
Security in Slarvea:
No one exactly knows what's going on in a land famous for people inspired by the Slavs. After all, these people don't really appreciate the pros and cons of free trade and bartering. It's not that they don't want money, it's not that they believe communism would make their people great again. It's because they can't be bothered with the finer aspects of trading. Yes, I know this sounds like a Soviet Union state made famous by a certain Joe Stalin (which makes one wonder how far can protectionism go without the appropriate political system made famous by the Kims and Castros of the world). Trust me when I say this part is coincidental.
Back to the security. The Slarvs still have to deal with random threats coming from the south. Because bandits and desperados would always want to test their luck. Plus their lives for that matter as well. In the game of raiding, anything goes. From livestock to money, from women to... well, little girls, all is fair game and square. And it doesn't help that slavery is part and parcel of the global economy due to the trading ports. Most notably Histalonia (northeast of the continent), the Crag Isles at the northwest (where pretty much every person is a dwarf inspired by Vikings riding a longship), and the Balakrash.
Which now comes to...
Security in the Kalaran Empire:
This is the first area to be given notice in the story where security risks are concerned. Not only are there knaves armed and deadly (not to mention horny as well since I'm not your standard morally squeamish Singaporean), there are also orcs. However, I don't have time to elaborate why orcs are a threat to the society (as the Kalarans know it, of course).
Despite the fact it is the most prosperous third of the continent, it also means a higher chance of getting waylaid (and most likely worse). One of the greatest challenges being faced by law enforcement in real life lies in land mass. The smaller the land mass, the easier it is to enforce law and order. Conversely, the larger the land, the more difficult it is. Hence, you can be very sure there are more than just a few hotspots when it comes to illegal activities. Not to mention as well the possibility of trade with the Black Fleet sailing from Balakrash so as to speak. While there are various reasons for people to do that, let's just say that feeling/getting hard done by the society is one of them. The other reason? You did something illegal and that there's no turning back unless you want to face the jolly hangman of Changi.
There are two aspects of maintaining law and order. Within the four corners of any wall, the local watch would work in tandem with the Leonum Flammeus (after all, this bunch of people belong to the militia system and militiamen need to stay sharp at all times). The other would be the mounties, specially trained light cavalry tasked with defending any settlement from unwanted visits. Of course, this system is never foolproof due to the disproportion between the protectors and the protected. But at least it beats doing nothing.
Security in Teutonia:
Despite being less well off than the Kalarans, the Teutonians do have a firmer grip on law enforcement. This is due to the High Lord (i.e. the highest ruler) allowing maximum autonomy for the earls (i.e. local lords in charge of their respective fiefs). As such, law and order becomes less of a national issue and more of a municipal duty. Because allowing miscreants is never good for reputation (and trust me, the earls are politicians and politicians are known to be prideful for a good reason), internal security tends to be of a higher level. Both in terms of vigilance and internal control, no less. At the same time, the Teutonians follow the Old Ways. Part of the law dictates that the ruler is duty bound to protect those under him. Therefore, one can say it's a case of two reasons instead of one.
However, this is not to say Teutonia is absolutely safe. On one hand, there have been instances of peasant uprising mercilessly crushed. Then, there are other threats still present. It's only down to the question of where the offenders hail from.
Next up: Think I need to go back to writing the real deal. After all, I think I have to wait until mid-October for the LASALLE course.
Next up: Think I need to go back to writing the real deal. After all, I think I have to wait until mid-October for the LASALLE course.
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