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Y'know, I always thought it was kind of voyeuristic, but it does make a little more sense if it's an old law that he can't get rid of for one reason or another, yeah.
Could be both.

In this version, what is the source of the apparently frequent peasant uprisings? Oppression not related to food? Or just the perception of abuse during any natural food shortage, where nobles of course don't adjust their diet, but less food comes out of the palace.
Some lords may be kind of a dick and apportion food in a way that certain peasants see as unfair. Say, massively screwing over Village A while over-rewarding Village B, either because they're bad at math or because Village B is where the family of the servant girl His Lordship is boinking on the side lives or whatever.

Some lords may require the peasants to do too much corvee labor "in exchange for" the food that they distribute. Custom entitles the nobles to command the peasants to do forty days' labor working on road maintenance, the upkeep of fortresses, and so on, but then this one asshole wants giant castles over all of the everywhere and he's working the peasants so hard there's no one left to farm.

Some lords may mishandle the tax receipts, run up a giant gambling debt, and sell a third of the province's harvests to Empire grain merchants to pay it off. Then you get the great Wait You Did WHAT Revolt.

There aren't frequent peasant uprisings, because a society with frequent peasant uprisings doesn't last fifteen centuries.
Ehhhh.

[waggles hand]

It depends on how you define "society" and "last." In a society with frequent peasant uprisings, something has to give sooner or later.

But I can imagine a Bretonnia that sort of cyclically "resets from default," where if you're paying attention over long enough timescales you see periods of the chivalric lordly system working well, interspersed by periods of it working poorly and resulting in some combination of peasant uprisings and Knight Errants battling Black Knights.

Until the current rulership loses the Mandate of Heaven favor of the Lady and is replaced.

In principle you could even see this circulating around in different duchies and so on, with some in the 'good' phase and some in the 'bad' phase at any one time, at least except for when the king happens to be particularly good at his job and able to go all King Arthur on the miscreants.
 
Saying 'Bretonnia has had thousands of uprisings over its history' and saying 'Bretonnia has had thousands of uprisings over 1500 years, of various sizes, some major, some two men and a goat, and are mostly concentrated during certain decades under certain dukes, dukedoms and knights families.' gives off different vibes

the first makes it seem systematic.

the second makes it seem like historical flashpoints.
 
I know that this is a justification that people have made to justify it, but 6th Edition doesn't say that, and I'm still in the Laws section of Knights of the Grail, but the book doesn't say that it operates that way either. Instead, the book just says that peasant revolts as a result of oppressive taxes are common and they always get crushed. It also mentions that while foreign interests and agitators are blamed for these revolts, they are rarely the cause. The peasants just revolt because they're constantly hungry and starving.
Yeah, but the response to that would be that there would literally not be a peasantry. They would die out within a generation.

So, you either rewrite the economy so it works or just handwave it and not take the setting seriously.
 
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While we're talking about Bretonnian peasants, how do you think the Asur ones live? Are they doing back breaking work and risk famine like humans, or do each village has its own Magister-level Ghyran mage so the crops are always plentiful?
 
"Peasant Uprising" may also just be what they call it when a knight errant shows up to depose the local lord and the peasantry decides to follow along just in case he needs help with that, which seems more plausible as a somewhat regular occurrence.
 
While we're talking about Bretonnian peasants, how do you think the Asur ones live? Are they doing back breaking work and risk famine like humans, or do each village has its own Magister-level Ghyran mage so the crops are always plentiful?
From what I recall, apart from the occasional raid by enterprising Norscans or Druchii and a monster wandering down from the mountains, the only really dangerous places to live on Ulthuan are Chrace and Naggarythe. Beyond that, the place is a magical paradise.
 
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From what I recall, apart from the occasional raid by enterprising Norscans or Druchii and a monster wandering down from the mountains, the only really dangerous places to live on Ulthuan are Chrace and Naggarythe. Beyond that, the place is a magical paradise.
Sword of Caledor by William King, which I should remind people is a novel so not high on the canonicity tier list, depicts Lothern as the only place in Ulthuan where indentured, human servants and slaves are legal. Some of the biggest trading houses use them.
 
In context 'uprising' in Bretonnians might look a lot more like 'peaceful protests' to us, because the nobility there are unusually open to moral appeals, but foreigners in universe assume a village of peasants marching up to the lord's manor unannounced over an unpleasant new tax man being appointed is automatically going to turn violent.
 
Another important point as to why Ulthuan's rulers don't live as long: most of them don't die of old age. Aenarion died in battle, Bel Shanaar, Caledor I and Aethis were assassinated by Druchii. Caledor II was killed in a duel by Gotrek Starbreaker. Tethlis' death was either at the hands of an assassin or one of his guards after he was about to wield the Sword of Khaine. Morvael committed suicide after Mentheus of Caledor's death.
Caledor I wasn't assassinated. He committed suicide rather than face capture. But yes, dying peacefully is not a thing Phoenix Kings are known for.

Even Malekith doesn't match up to Morathi age wise.

Outside of the Slan and a few dragons she is probably the oldest living 'mortal' in the setting.

(And both of those sleep for most of it, she was around and about studying dark magic.)
Yeah, there's a reason why Morathi is one of the best wizards on the planet, and it's not because she spent her time collecting bottlecaps.

How does the phonology of Eltharin look like? Because if Reikspiel is based on German, then I imagine the Reikspiel "W" sounds a lot like the Eltharin "V".
Eltharin has very little in terms of grammar or rules. We have so much less of it than we do Khazalid, and a fair amount of what we have is runes rather than actual words.

I'm on my 29th WHF book, Knights of the Grail at this point. Every time I finish a book I have to reiterate in my head how glad I am Boney's interpretation of WHF's setting and world is so much more tolerable than the horrific state of the lore. Bretonnia in particular is quite awful.

The thing I appreciate most is how Boney doesn't really... do caricatures and exaggerations. Literally everything about DL tones things down from the source material to make it more reasonable.
Ah. Yeah. 5th edition Bretonnia is much nicer but when 6th rolled around GW decided the whole setting needed to be grittier and darker.

And this also has the benefit of explaining why the Damned Duchy is well... damned, the enforcement broke down thanks to all the vampires and dark magic, there are no or very few Damsels around and the Knight Errands who do try to walk those paths often as not never return. Once the system breaks it spirals.
Also, when the Affair of the False Grail went down, Mousillon's best land got taken, so there's less home-grown knights and less incentive to go help. And also the flower of Mousillon's chivalry probably died on the field, believing they were doing the right thing.

While we're talking about Bretonnian peasants, how do you think the Asur ones live? Are they doing back breaking work and risk famine like humans, or do each village has its own Magister-level Ghyran mage so the crops are always plentiful?
The villages probably don't have magister level wizards, but they probably don't need them. Ulthuan is supposed to be supernaturally fertile, massive and have a pretty small population. That should lend itself towards relatively easy harvests.

Sword of Caledor by William King, which I should remind people is a novel so not high on the canonicity tier list, depicts Lothern as the only place in Ulthuan where indentured, human servants and slaves are legal. Some of the biggest trading houses use them.
Ok. But the quote you replied to said nothing about indentured servants or slaves. It was talking about the fact that Ulthuan is rarely in danger, because the only things that really happen are infrequent Norscan or Druchii raids and monsters wandering down from the Annulii.

It should be remembered that generally speaking non-Elves are forbidden from setting foot on Ulthuan due to the Edict of Bel-Hathor (which can be default assumed to be canon) with the sole exception of Lothern, where they're allowed to trade.
 
Repanse didn't get a go at the Cosmic Sippy Cup, but the Lady did give her at least one unique blessing, so it's possible that 'Grail Knight' is a dudes-only status but not really because the only difference is the title.
Repanse never got to drink from the Grail because she never quested for it. She had her own crusade to be getting on with.

The Lady does not 'hand out' the Grail or choose who seeks it. She just decides whether a given applicant has proven themselves worthy.
 
The villages probably don't have magister level wizards, but they probably don't need them. Ulthuan is supposed to be supernaturally fertile, massive and have a pretty small population. That should lend itself towards relatively easy harvests.
Only thing Asur peasants really need to worry about is the the tendency for magical beasts to come from that mountain-ring that goes around the entire island. Also that live in their forests and sometimes in the mists wherever they appear.
But then their militia is on the level of most state's professional armies...
 
Caledor I wasn't assassinated. He committed suicide rather than face capture. But yes, dying peacefully is not a thing Phoenix Kings are known for.


Yeah, there's a reason why Morathi is one of the best wizards on the planet, and it's not because she spent her time collecting bottlecaps.


Eltharin has very little in terms of grammar or rules. We have so much less of it than we do Khazalid, and a fair amount of what we have is runes rather than actual words.


Ah. Yeah. 5th edition Bretonnia is much nicer but when 6th rolled around GW decided the whole setting needed to be grittier and darker.


Also, when the Affair of the False Grail went down, Mousillon's best land got taken, so there's less home-grown knights and less incentive to go help. And also the flower of Mousillon's chivalry probably died on the field, believing they were doing the right thing.


The villages probably don't have magister level wizards, but they probably don't need them. Ulthuan is supposed to be supernaturally fertile, massive and have a pretty small population. That should lend itself towards relatively easy harvests.


Ok. But the quote you replied to said nothing about indentured servants or slaves. It was talking about the fact that Ulthuan is rarely in danger, because the only things that really happen are infrequent Norscan or Druchii raids and monsters wandering down from the Annulii.

It should be remembered that generally speaking non-Elves are forbidden from setting foot on Ulthuan due to the Edict of Bel-Hathor (which can be default assumed to be canon) with the sole exception of Lothern, where they're allowed to trade.
If memory serves, Mousillon lost its best land under Merovech, not Maldred.
 
Caledor I wasn't assassinated. He committed suicide rather than face capture. But yes, dying peacefully is not a thing Phoenix Kings are known for.


Yeah, there's a reason why Morathi is one of the best wizards on the planet, and it's not because she spent her time collecting bottlecaps.


Eltharin has very little in terms of grammar or rules. We have so much less of it than we do Khazalid, and a fair amount of what we have is runes rather than actual words.


Ah. Yeah. 5th edition Bretonnia is much nicer but when 6th rolled around GW decided the whole setting needed to be grittier and darker.


Also, when the Affair of the False Grail went down, Mousillon's best land got taken, so there's less home-grown knights and less incentive to go help. And also the flower of Mousillon's chivalry probably died on the field, believing they were doing the right thing.


The villages probably don't have magister level wizards, but they probably don't need them. Ulthuan is supposed to be supernaturally fertile, massive and have a pretty small population. That should lend itself towards relatively easy harvests.


Ok. But the quote you replied to said nothing about indentured servants or slaves. It was talking about the fact that Ulthuan is rarely in danger, because the only things that really happen are infrequent Norscan or Druchii raids and monsters wandering down from the Annulii.

It should be remembered that generally speaking non-Elves are forbidden from setting foot on Ulthuan due to the Edict of Bel-Hathor (which can be default assumed to be canon) with the sole exception of Lothern, where they're allowed to trade.
Check the quote that the person I replied to was responding to. K von Carstein was asking about the status of Asur peasants, and the person I replied to decided to mention that Ulthuan was mostly peaceful which I agree with. However, the statement of "Ulthuan is a magical paradise" would be quite laughable if Lothern employed and traded slaves.
 
Only thing Asur peasants really need to worry about is the the tendency for magical beasts to come from that mountain-ring that goes around the entire island. Also that live in their forests and sometimes in the mists wherever they appear.
But then their militia is on the level of most state's professional armies...
Sure, but even apart from the fact most Asur can fight, they do have nobles who sweep the mountains and so on to make those instances relatively rare.

If memory serves, Mousillon lost its best land under Merovech, not Maldred.
I recall it being under Maldred, although a quick googling refuses to tell me which annoyingly.

Check the quote that the person I replied to was responding to. K von Carstein was asking about the status of Asur peasants, and the person I replied to decided to mention that Ulthuan was mostly peaceful which I agree with. However, the statement of "Ulthuan is a magical paradise" would be quite laughable if Lothern employed and traded slaves.
Not really. Like, sure it would suck for those people, but it wouldn't prevent Ulthuan being a magical paradise. It would just mean the people who live there are kind of bastards. The land would be a magical paradise even if the Asur were sacrificing everyone to Khaine. The society would just suck.
 
I read 6th Edition recently so I can chime in on this. Merovech is when Lyonesse took control over significant portions of Mousillon, and Maldred is when the King removed the Ducal position of Mousillon.
 
"Peasant Uprising" may also just be what they call it when a knight errant shows up to depose the local lord and the peasantry decides to follow along just in case he needs help with that, which seems more plausible as a somewhat regular occurrence.
Hmm...
In context 'uprising' in Bretonnians might look a lot more like 'peaceful protests' to us, because the nobility there are unusually open to moral appeals, but foreigners in universe assume a village of peasants marching up to the lord's manor unannounced over an unpleasant new tax man being appointed is automatically going to turn violent.
Mm.

If so, I wonder if that could be part of why they don't appreciate Ranald in Bretonnia? Because his presence can derail, accelerate, spread too much, or set off too early or unecessarily, or something, uprisings and rebellions? Make them get out of hand, and not have them do what they ought to do and serve the purpose they ought to serve. A case of rebellions already having a place, but then a God wanting to insert himself into the society anyway.

Sort of like... if "righteous rebellions" are meant to be the Lady's work, then having another God show up and steal a piece of the pie, would be annoying to them?

That, or, they just don't like rebellions and prefer things to be solved more chivalrously and righteously. The rule of... not law but of the ideal.
 
Hmm...

Mm.

If so, I wonder if that could be part of why they don't appreciate Ranald in Bretonnia? Because his presence can derail, accelerate, spread too much, or set off too early or unecessarily, or something, uprisings and rebellions? Make them get out of hand, and not have them do what they ought to do and serve the purpose they ought to serve. A case of rebellions already having a place, but then a God wanting to insert himself into the society anyway.

Sort of like... if "righteous rebellions" are meant to be the Lady's work, then having another God show up and steal a piece of the pie, would be annoying to them?

That, or, they just don't like rebellions and prefer things to be solved more chivalrously and righteously. The rule of... not law but of the ideal.
Well, the prohibition against Ranald is from later material, where the peasants were rebelling every five minutes. If I were to guess why it exists in DL, I think it'd be because Ranald-backed revolutions tend to cut out the knights completely, which is a rarity in Bretonnia normally. So the Bretonnian ideal is that although peasants should be looked after the way that abuse should be dealt with is by the intervention of knights, rather than entirely peasant-based revolutions that could go too far and end up with peasants ruling themselves. It's basically slight paranoia.
 
Hmm...

Mm.

If so, I wonder if that could be part of why they don't appreciate Ranald in Bretonnia? Because his presence can derail, accelerate, spread too much, or set off too early or unecessarily, or something, uprisings and rebellions? Make them get out of hand, and not have them do what they ought to do and serve the purpose they ought to serve. A case of rebellions already having a place, but then a God wanting to insert himself into the society anyway.

Sort of like... if "righteous rebellions" are meant to be the Lady's work, then having another God show up and steal a piece of the pie, would be annoying to them?

That, or, they just don't like rebellions and prefer things to be solved more chivalrously and righteously. The rule of... not law but of the ideal.
Or it might be because he's the god of thieves, crooks, and all other sneaky little shits on the planet.
 
Interesting fact, peasant revolts in the late middle ages/Renaissance were often led by knights, who as the lowest-ranking members of the nobility found themselves the most threatened with loss of their meagre status; they also had martial and political experience so they made natural leaders.

For example, one of the commanders of the Great German Peasant's Revolt was the knight Götz von Berlichingen who just...his entire life story would fit perfectly if transposed onto a Warhammer character. When his hand was shot off by a cannon he had it replaced with the first mechanical prosthetic:



And he is attributed with the first use of the phrase "lick my ass".

The Great German Peasant's Revolt also involved the Black Company, led by Florian Geyer, and was the only unit of heavy knights to ever fight for a peasant revolt.
 
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