@Elfwine @poison_mara @Wonderboy @thesunfloweramazon
Okay, as for the war debate, first of all, I cannot tell you how excited I am that people are actually discussing the game world this way. It makes me feel like I created a situation that’s complicated enough that it can be seen from different points of view and argued about. I think I’m hearing several different scenarios here – Guen deliberately perpetuates a war with Frankmarch for the long term; Guen fights off the Frankish army in the short term but then tries for peace; Guen instigates a civil war in Frankmarch to get them out of her hair. At the moment I think all of those things will be possible, but no promises since I’m not sure how everything will evolve when I get all the exact details of each branch nailed down.
As for whether or not any of the war scenarios would be good for Britain (as opposed to just being good for Guen), I probably shouldn’t answer that. I hope to show different, reasonably logical consequences for each possible case, and leave it to the reader to decide if the effect was good or bad or neither.
On the treason issue… as I imagine it, it’s often a huge mess (as people are suggesting it would be). So a monarch gets caught in an affair, and it’s considered treasonous by tradition, but whose job is it to enforce that, and what are the consequences? If children aren’t in question the affair might just get swept under the rug, especially if the monarch has a lot of loyal supporters and no one wants to risk challenging them. In other circumstances, I imagine that whatever nobles could gain power from it would band together to depose the treacherous monarch, by execution or exile. There’s a high chance that any illegitimate children might be done away with, to protect the bloodline and its associated magic… unless, as has been pointed out, there are no legitimate children. In that case, a noble from another line might make a claim to the throne, not on the basis of succession but on the basis of virtue and suitability, or an illegitimate child who can prove heritage might perhaps be able to win through on the argument of being the bearer of royal blood and not responsible for the sins of the parent.
In any case, as I said, I imagine this being one of those self-undermining cultural traditions/taboos that has caused all kinds of political problems over the years. (Like how we aren’t allowed to have large-scale renewable energy in America.) It makes “real”-world historical kings with sanctioned mistresses look downright sensible.
In Arthur’s case, he would indeed give the Round Table authority to impeach him. (That’s part of the traditional tragedy of Camelot in a lot of versions, right? Arthur tries to make a bunch of progressive, morality-based laws, and then his own family gets caught in them and everything’s ruined.) I don’t want to bog down part 1 with a lot of world-building that’s not relevant to the immediate plot, but I hope to explain more of this stuff in the game as it becomes relevant. And, of course, nothing’s set in stone; I could change my mind about everything tomorrow.
@MutonElite Actually, Morgana does not have the Pendragon blood, because she’s only Arthur’s half-sister and Uther wasn’t her father. (Arthurian legend is such a soap opera. I couldn’t make half this stuff up on my own if I tried.) If Morgana was from the Pendragon line, Arthur wouldn’t have to be so worried about an heir, because Gawain would have Pendragon blood and, as the king’s sister’s son, be an ideal candidate (with Gareth as a backup). Unfortunately, that’s not the case, so even though Gawain is legally heir to the throne, he’d have a very difficult time of it if Arthur were to die tomorrow.
Arthur and Morgana won’t conceive Mordred by choice, and they’ll both be emotionally traumatized afterward. (I’m really nervous about writing that part, because I hate the thought of it possibly triggering sexual trauma survivors… I’m going to do everything I can to make it as respectful and tasteful as I can, under the circumstances, but I don’t want to downplay the seriousness of unwanted sex, either.) They have no interest in sex with each other, and after it happens, the slightest suggestion of it would be extremely upsetting to them both.
Sorry that’s all so serious… I’m not faulting you for your question, or for being interested in all three main NPCs! (:
more replies in a bit…
There’s actually a forum rule that you’re not supposed to ask authors about their progress or when the next part is coming out, but since no moderators have appeared to chastise you, and since there’s no rule about authors actually answering such questions, and since maybe other people are curious… I’ll tell you. (:
) is having the issue in your head at all will generally keep you from writing negatively viewed things in an offensive way. I would hate for you to be so nervous on upsetting people that you took that scene out, honestly. It 's a good way to show ‘people do dumb things sometimes.’
the baby has to be from hippie? I dont want a little hippie with me. 