(long)Re: Principality-My $.02 worth

[Otterspur <Otterspur@aol.com>]

Poster: Otterspur <Otterspur@aol.com>

Greetings to all who come by these words from Branwynn Ottersby,
born of Black Diamond, reared by the winds of fortune! This is a long
post, so I would give you fair warning before you begin.

In a message dated 97-12-11 02:41:12 EST, sriggi1@gl.umbc.edu writes:

<<  
  this:  The opinions from the people I mentioned above always gave me the
 impression that their loyalties were to Northshield or Aethelmearc, and
 not to their respective kingdoms.  I don't want to see this happen to
 Atlantia, the greatest kingdom in the Knowne Worlde.  I think
 principalities will only amplify any intra-kingdom rivalries or
 ill-feelings that already exist. >>

Your post brings up a few discussion points:
  + group loyalty
  + the effect that overcrowding without relief has on loyalty
  + possible solutions for *maintaining* group loyalty

On Group Loyalty:
In my Black Diamond days, there was fierce loyalty to the barony --
when people asked Black Diamonders where they were from, they
would answer, "Black Diamond." It is ever the way for people to
associate themselves first to that group which they have bonded
with closest proximity. It's not that we didn't love our kingdom;
no, we were all fierce Atlantians as well. It's just that we had worked
very hard as Black Diamonders, and we felt that by making the
barony the very best it could be, we were improving the kingdom as
well (since the jewels in the crown are its local groups, as we upon
this list so recently have had impressed upon us). And, of course, 
if people didn't know where Black Diamond was (like at Pennsic, or
something), we would go on to explain that we were an Atlantian 
barony. However, we hoped there would one day come a time when Black
Diamond would shine so brightly that no one would have to ask "What
kingdom?"

That is group loyalty. Group loyalty can have many layers, and an
individual's loyalty will be greater where he is most needed/included/feels 
"buy in." For me, as baroness of Black Diamond, I had incredible loyalty
to Black Diamond, but that did not mean that my loyalty to Atlantia was
weak. It made me proud to lead the Black Diamond troops into battle
FOR ATLANTIA at Pennsic -- to prove to Atlantia what a great group
we were, but also to prove to the world what a great kingdom Atlantia was
to *produce* such great groups. You can love your father and still love
your grandfather, too.

On the effect that overcrowding without relief has on loyalty:
Both of the examples that you brought up, Northshield and AEthelmearc,
are principalities that gestated too long before delivery. Both of these
areas were in need of attention long before any steps were
taken to relieve the population problems there, and by the time they
were principalities, they needed to have been made kingdoms a few
years before. I have friends in both these places, as well as in Ealdormere,
the other principality of the Middle, and they would tell me that when
faced with an inattentive administration, the only thing they could do
was turn inwards, even BEFORE the time of the principality, to make
things work locally, even if they were falling apart elsewhere. Without
providing relief measures to its people, a kingdom sets up loyalty
problems where there were none before. 

On possible solutions for *maintaining* group loyalty:
I have lived in three kingdoms, each of which enjoyed overwhelming
kingdom loyalty from its subjects. These were Atlantia, Ansteorra 
and the Outlands, each a former principality. In each of these 
wonderful places stood warriors ready to die for their kingdom and 
later live with the glory of its name on their lips. In some cases,
many of the same warriors had stood for the East or Atenveldt while
their current kingdom was still a principality. They were loyal then
and loyal now.

It would have been wrong to deny these principalities a chance to
exist just because the kingdoms from which they spawned were
afraid of losing their loyalty. Yes, they did go on to become kingdoms,
IN DUE TIME. But that was not what was important at the time
they became principalities, and that is not what is important in
these current discussions of a possible Atlantian principality. What
is important now is that a number of people are interested in discussing
possibilities for preventing the sort of stagnation that occurs when 
population becomes too unwieldy for individuals to have a positive
work-to-fun ratio in their social organization.

The only solution I can offer to maintain group loyalty in this case
is to allow discussion to continue to a logical endpoint. If the endpoint
turns out to be forming an Atlantian principality, so be it, it is the
will of the people who are from that area. If the people decide that is
NOT the thing for them, then their discussion will reach some
other logical endpoint.

 >>In conclusion, my opinion is this: "If it aint' broke, don't try to fix
 it."<<
 
But don't make the good the enemy of the better. Just because something
appears to be working OK now doesn't mean that it doesn't need 
maintenance to prevent future breakdown. Even cars need their oil changed.

>From the _History of Meridies_, written by a great many folks:
"In those days the Knowne World was divided into four parts -- the East, 
the Middle, the West and Atenveldt. The greatest of these was the kingdom 
of Atenveldt, whose lands stretched southward to the burning lands of the 
Steppe and eastward to the wave tossed beaches of Trimaris. It was a 
land of rich principalities and provinces, and the fairest jewel in the Crown 
of Atenveldt was the far flung Principality of Meridies. Given its own 
Prince to rule over its lands and peoples in the time of King Deaton 
Claymore, Meridies was Atenveldt's gateway to the Eastern Ocean 
and the source of much wealth, the greatest being the loyalty and 
honor of its people and the Princes and Princesses who ruled in the 
King's name."

People who make good decisions pass down into history for good reason:
a good number of people are still loyal to that memory.

In service to this kingdom and no other,
I am
branwynn ottersby
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