Malkioni missionaries?

[SJE]

So the EWF are famous for their Waltzing and Hunting bands going around and converting people to the Great Dragon Project. Equally the Middle Sea Empire began as a crusade to reclaim the promised land...

But how aggressive is the Middle Sea Empire with converting heathans to the Invisible God? My impression is that there are splits between the churches as to how much conversion is needed. The Empire itself is more divided in its resources and endeavours - there seems to be a greater mix of trade, conquest, magical study and missionary work. The EWF on the other hand is monomaniacal on only 2 fronts - the Great Dragon Project and getting in more converts to their giant belief pyramid scheme.

Where do the clashes in missionary conversions come between these 2 empires though? on what fronts is the battlefield one of faith rather than arms or magic? Do Malkioni sneak into Dragon Pass to convert them to the One God? Why do the EWF seemingly always target Orlanthi instead of Malkioni in their conversion plans?

SJE

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Because if the Hunting & Waltzing bands try converting Malkioni, the Gerlanti use their "Burn Pagan" ability.

I'm sure even Dragonewts "don't like it up 'em Mr. Mainwaring"... especially if it's a flaming sword.

 

[Loz]

These are questions to be answered in 'The Abiding Book' (which continues to write itself).

This one though:

Why do the EWF seemingly always target Orlanthi instead of Malkioni in their conversion plans?

is a bit easier to answer.

Orlanth and the True Dragons have an established mythical relationship through shared myths (Orlanth slaying Aroka and Sh'kaharzeel, mainly, but also Orlanth splitting his tongue). This means that the EWF have a much firmer base from which to launch conversion attempts. Plus, they occupy a settled, Orlanthi heartland (Dragon Pass, central to just about all Orlanthi myths) and Hendrikiland. The God Learners are on the periphery of these regions.

Its easier for the EWF to frame the myths of the Storm Tribe in a draconic context than it is for the GLs to do the same from a Malkioni context. The only successful GL attempts to do this are in Esvular and Umathela, and even then the Umathelan experiment relied on transporting Slontan Orlanthi to somewhere where they could be more easily divorced from their myths.

So the EWF has shared myths, proximity, and, probably, a more acceptable approach to conversion than the GLs; hence greater success amongst the Orlanthi.

 

[duncan_disorderly]

This one though:

Why do the EWF seemingly always target Orlanthi instead of Malkioni in their conversion plans?

is a bit easier to answer.
...
Its easier for the EWF to frame the myths of the Storm Tribe in a draconic context than it is for the GLs to do the same from a Malkioni context.

I don't think you quite answered the question that was asked there Loz - You appear to have answered "Wht have the EWF made more attempts/had more success converting Orlanthi than the GL", rather than "Why are the EWF targetting the (relatively insignificant) Orlanthi rather than (their major opponents) the Godlearners (or probably more strictly, the MSE)"

I think the answer in part is because although the GodLearners see the EWF as a particular problem (the GL are trying to learn and manipulate the barbarian myths, and the EWF are changing them to more incomprehensible draconic myths), on the whole, the EWF don't see the MSE as a particular threat (Individual Godlearners might be causing them a problem, but they want to be careful about letting these know too much about Draconic myths unless they can be sure they are completely committed.

Also as you point out, there is a basis for them to work on with the Orlanthi, with shared mythology and the draconic landscape, as well as the presence of the Dragonewts - The Orlanthi myth of "I Fought We Won" and the "World Council of Friends" all mean the Orlanthi are used to dealing with non-humans as at least occasional and potential allies to a much greater extent than the Malkioni.

 

[kintire]

I don't think you quite answered the question that was asked there Loz - You appear to have answered "Wht have the EWF made more attempts/had more success converting Orlanthi than the GL", rather than "Why are the EWF targetting the (relatively insignificant) Orlanthi rather than (their major opponents) the Godlearners (or probably more strictly, the MSE)"

The Orlanthi are not insignificant at all. They dominate much of Genertela with an ancient and powerful civilisation. The reason they look insignificant now is that most of them have now joined the EWF. The EWF is, in a very real sense, an Orlanthi empire.

I think the answer in part is because although the GodLearners see the EWF as a particular problem (the GL are trying to learn and manipulate the barbarian myths, and the EWF are changing them to more incomprehensible draconic myths), on the whole, the EWF don't see the MSE as a particular threat

I can't see that really. The MSE obviously IS a threat, the EWF have fought a number of wars against them, and are fighting one now at the Clanking City. I suspect the answer is very simple: they HAVE targetted the MSE - and failed.

Probably due to the above mentioned "Burn Pagan" powers...

 

[PhilHibbs]

I think the EWF and the MSE have a hard time both understanding and combating each other, because they are from opposite sides of the "otherworld" chart:

         Divine
            ^
            |
            |
Sorcery <---+---> Mystic
            |
            |
            v
         Spirit

Otherworldly matters aren't quite as simple as this, of course, with the Uz being both Divine and Spiritual, but that could be explained by the draconic (mystic) influence in their origin.

 

[kintire]

Maybe. I am not convinced the oppositions work that neatly. I've always viewed the different other worlds as alien to each other by about the same degree.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

It's the flaming swords... all else is just waffle!!!