The Politics of Bretonnia
Voikirium
SV's Estalia Guy
- Location
- Ruritania Illinois
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The Politics of Bretonnia
Bretonnia is not a place of politics and back-stabbing treachery; by the standards of most of the world, and especially its neighbors, it is an absolute bastion of stability and patriotism; say what you will, but there has never been an Age of Three Kings. The Lady and her champions, the Grail Knights and the Prophetesses, have made very sure of that.
That said, politics does exist. They do not scheme as the nobles of the Empire do, but there is competition to show by success the virtue of your belief-- while the Lady is, of course, at the center of Bretonnian life, she has said what she has said, no more and no less; and in the shade there is room for interpretation.
And interpret knights do.
There are three main factions knights will align themselves, though it is unusual for a knight to actively call himself one and far more likely to end up classed as one by their behavior.
First, there are the Modernists. Taking literal readings of the laws of Chivalry, they tend to be clever, clever men. At their best, they craft things like the Bretonnian navy, one of the finest in the world. At their worst, they see the edicts of chivalry as something to be worked around and gamed, instead of as the highest ideal man might aspire to. Their places of power are Lyonesse, Aquitaine, Carcassone (Especially Carcassone, given their shepherds), Brionne, and Artois. Their greatest achievement, as said, is the Bretonnian Navy.
Then there are the Traditionalist Reformists. They seek to pore over the edicts of chivalry, the laws of the land, and see what might be changed to be more in keeping with Giles' desires and stated wishes, as well as the other Grail Companions; none too difficult a task, given the extensive journals, correspondences, and indeed books they, the best of men, wrote. At their best they are as the Companions come again, noble both on and off the field of battle; at their worst, bigoted towards all things outside the kingdom. Their places of power are Montfort, Gisoreux, Bastonne, Quenelles, and Montagneterre. Their finest achievement is the Castle Desflueve, one of the wonders of the Old World- a center of art and learning in all fields of study.
Finally, there are the Foreign Reformers. They see the problems facing Bretonnia and would have them solved by looking to the outside world and finding what can be used without staining their honor-- a task made paradoxically easier and harder by the great strides the outside world has made since the Taking of Giles. At their best they are eager to learn, wise, and patient, not prone to bigotry and cruelty; at their worst they are sheltered and ashamed of their own people. Their places of power are Écosse, Parravon, Mousillon, L'Anguille, and Courrone. Their greatest achievement is their work on the Common Tongue, the trading language of the Old World; by last count, nearly 30% of it came from Bretonnian.
Bretonnia is not a place of politics and back-stabbing treachery; by the standards of most of the world, and especially its neighbors, it is an absolute bastion of stability and patriotism; say what you will, but there has never been an Age of Three Kings. The Lady and her champions, the Grail Knights and the Prophetesses, have made very sure of that.
That said, politics does exist. They do not scheme as the nobles of the Empire do, but there is competition to show by success the virtue of your belief-- while the Lady is, of course, at the center of Bretonnian life, she has said what she has said, no more and no less; and in the shade there is room for interpretation.
And interpret knights do.
There are three main factions knights will align themselves, though it is unusual for a knight to actively call himself one and far more likely to end up classed as one by their behavior.
First, there are the Modernists. Taking literal readings of the laws of Chivalry, they tend to be clever, clever men. At their best, they craft things like the Bretonnian navy, one of the finest in the world. At their worst, they see the edicts of chivalry as something to be worked around and gamed, instead of as the highest ideal man might aspire to. Their places of power are Lyonesse, Aquitaine, Carcassone (Especially Carcassone, given their shepherds), Brionne, and Artois. Their greatest achievement, as said, is the Bretonnian Navy.
Then there are the Traditionalist Reformists. They seek to pore over the edicts of chivalry, the laws of the land, and see what might be changed to be more in keeping with Giles' desires and stated wishes, as well as the other Grail Companions; none too difficult a task, given the extensive journals, correspondences, and indeed books they, the best of men, wrote. At their best they are as the Companions come again, noble both on and off the field of battle; at their worst, bigoted towards all things outside the kingdom. Their places of power are Montfort, Gisoreux, Bastonne, Quenelles, and Montagneterre. Their finest achievement is the Castle Desflueve, one of the wonders of the Old World- a center of art and learning in all fields of study.
Finally, there are the Foreign Reformers. They see the problems facing Bretonnia and would have them solved by looking to the outside world and finding what can be used without staining their honor-- a task made paradoxically easier and harder by the great strides the outside world has made since the Taking of Giles. At their best they are eager to learn, wise, and patient, not prone to bigotry and cruelty; at their worst they are sheltered and ashamed of their own people. Their places of power are Écosse, Parravon, Mousillon, L'Anguille, and Courrone. Their greatest achievement is their work on the Common Tongue, the trading language of the Old World; by last count, nearly 30% of it came from Bretonnian.
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