Ending the Rebellion or restarting it differently

[jfetters]

Yeah, cool ATU idea.

OK, so in that case, which areas are likely to foster uprisings?

Probably the Solomani - they sense a weakness and surge across the border.

Probably Gushemege after Strephon appears.

Margaret would not like the turn of events, but would probably not take any overt military action until several years had passed and the fruits of Dulinor's labors are born.

The Corridor and Lishun fleets would never get recalled, so you would not need to worry about the silly Vargr incursions.

Vland may get a bit restive over time.

What would Norris do? That is an interesting question in itself. I think he would still make himself ArchDuke (or at least try it), but he does not have to worry about the lines of communication being completely severed.

 

[kafka47]

Verge would be my first choice, followed by the Rim areas of entrenched Conservatism would be Vland whilst Antares could be a radical faction seeking outright autonomy.

 

[kafka47]

Verge would be my first choice, followed by the Rim areas of entrenched Conservatism would be Vland whilst Antares could be a radical faction seeking outright autonomy.

 

[kafka47]

Verge would be my first choice, followed by the Rim areas of entrenched Conservatism would be Vland whilst Antares could be a radical faction seeking outright autonomy.

 

[daryen]

Originally posted by Jim Fetters:
What would Norris do? That is an interesting question in itself. I think he would still make himself ArchDuke (or at least try it), but he does not have to worry about the lines of communication being completely severed.

Actually, Norris is a very interesting question. He would not be Archduke, and in fact would not be the ranking duke (Delphine of Mora is) of the Spinward Marches, or the Domain of Deneb (presumably whoever is on Deneb is). He would also be highly conflicted.

He would be watching the new Emperor trying to implement things that he himself would do later in the OTU with the Regency. Therefore, Dulinor would be doing things Imperium-wide that Norris would whole-heartedly agree with and support.

However, Dulinor killed a good friend and kinsman. That makes Dulinor a (for the lack of a better description) blood enemy. Regardless of his goals, Norris' personal loyalties would drive him to oppose Dulinor.

Complicating this is Norris' rival, Delphine. She seems to be an old-line noble deeply vested in the current structure. Even though still popular to most of her local subjects, I doubt she wants to deal with the uncertainty and unrest Dulinor's reforms would cause.

Added to this, we have absolutely no real information on any other nobles in the Domain. Assuming that the head of the whole domain is probably based on Deneb, what his/her perspective would be is pure conjecture. Just remember that Deneb itself is a hi-pop world run by a highly repressive religious oligarchy. Trying to implement populist "democratic" reforms on such a world will most likely not be pretty, if not outright catastrophic.

Sticking with what we do know, here is my guess:

Dulinor is forced to immediately promote Norris to Archduke. While he knows Norris must hate him for Strephon's murder, but knows he is the most competant duke available, and is similarly reformist. Dulinor is depending on Norris' sense of duty and obligations to override his hatred of Dulinor.

This puts Norris in a very nasty position, and he will have to work hard to keep putting down hotspots. However, I like to think that he would ultimately be successful. Whether that is as an independent Deneb Imperium or as part of the Third Imperium depends on the success of Dulinor's efforts.

 

[daryen]

Originally posted by Jim Fetters:
What would Norris do? That is an interesting question in itself. I think he would still make himself ArchDuke (or at least try it), but he does not have to worry about the lines of communication being completely severed.

Actually, Norris is a very interesting question. He would not be Archduke, and in fact would not be the ranking duke (Delphine of Mora is) of the Spinward Marches, or the Domain of Deneb (presumably whoever is on Deneb is). He would also be highly conflicted.

He would be watching the new Emperor trying to implement things that he himself would do later in the OTU with the Regency. Therefore, Dulinor would be doing things Imperium-wide that Norris would whole-heartedly agree with and support.

However, Dulinor killed a good friend and kinsman. That makes Dulinor a (for the lack of a better description) blood enemy. Regardless of his goals, Norris' personal loyalties would drive him to oppose Dulinor.

Complicating this is Norris' rival, Delphine. She seems to be an old-line noble deeply vested in the current structure. Even though still popular to most of her local subjects, I doubt she wants to deal with the uncertainty and unrest Dulinor's reforms would cause.

Added to this, we have absolutely no real information on any other nobles in the Domain. Assuming that the head of the whole domain is probably based on Deneb, what his/her perspective would be is pure conjecture. Just remember that Deneb itself is a hi-pop world run by a highly repressive religious oligarchy. Trying to implement populist "democratic" reforms on such a world will most likely not be pretty, if not outright catastrophic.

Sticking with what we do know, here is my guess:

Dulinor is forced to immediately promote Norris to Archduke. While he knows Norris must hate him for Strephon's murder, but knows he is the most competant duke available, and is similarly reformist. Dulinor is depending on Norris' sense of duty and obligations to override his hatred of Dulinor.

This puts Norris in a very nasty position, and he will have to work hard to keep putting down hotspots. However, I like to think that he would ultimately be successful. Whether that is as an independent Deneb Imperium or as part of the Third Imperium depends on the success of Dulinor's efforts.

 

[daryen]

Originally posted by Jim Fetters:
What would Norris do? That is an interesting question in itself. I think he would still make himself ArchDuke (or at least try it), but he does not have to worry about the lines of communication being completely severed.

Actually, Norris is a very interesting question. He would not be Archduke, and in fact would not be the ranking duke (Delphine of Mora is) of the Spinward Marches, or the Domain of Deneb (presumably whoever is on Deneb is). He would also be highly conflicted.

He would be watching the new Emperor trying to implement things that he himself would do later in the OTU with the Regency. Therefore, Dulinor would be doing things Imperium-wide that Norris would whole-heartedly agree with and support.

However, Dulinor killed a good friend and kinsman. That makes Dulinor a (for the lack of a better description) blood enemy. Regardless of his goals, Norris' personal loyalties would drive him to oppose Dulinor.

Complicating this is Norris' rival, Delphine. She seems to be an old-line noble deeply vested in the current structure. Even though still popular to most of her local subjects, I doubt she wants to deal with the uncertainty and unrest Dulinor's reforms would cause.

Added to this, we have absolutely no real information on any other nobles in the Domain. Assuming that the head of the whole domain is probably based on Deneb, what his/her perspective would be is pure conjecture. Just remember that Deneb itself is a hi-pop world run by a highly repressive religious oligarchy. Trying to implement populist "democratic" reforms on such a world will most likely not be pretty, if not outright catastrophic.

Sticking with what we do know, here is my guess:

Dulinor is forced to immediately promote Norris to Archduke. While he knows Norris must hate him for Strephon's murder, but knows he is the most competant duke available, and is similarly reformist. Dulinor is depending on Norris' sense of duty and obligations to override his hatred of Dulinor.

This puts Norris in a very nasty position, and he will have to work hard to keep putting down hotspots. However, I like to think that he would ultimately be successful. Whether that is as an independent Deneb Imperium or as part of the Third Imperium depends on the success of Dulinor's efforts.

 

[kafka47]

Furthermore, there is the conspiracy of the dates of J-6 transmission. Norris acting before the fast couriers even arrived. Perhaps, both were part of a secret society to rid themselves of the slow turtle and albatross of Stephon's reign.

 

[kafka47]

Furthermore, there is the conspiracy of the dates of J-6 transmission. Norris acting before the fast couriers even arrived. Perhaps, both were part of a secret society to rid themselves of the slow turtle and albatross of Stephon's reign.

 

[kafka47]

Furthermore, there is the conspiracy of the dates of J-6 transmission. Norris acting before the fast couriers even arrived. Perhaps, both were part of a secret society to rid themselves of the slow turtle and albatross of Stephon's reign.

 

[jcrocker]

I don't know if Strephon was a total 'albatross' - in the "recovered diary entries" in the front of Survival Margin, Strephon reveals that he elevated Dulinor to Archduke in order to promote reform of the Imperium - he hoped that Dulinor would reform and this would encourage the other Archdukes to move more vigorously on reforms.

The reason he didn't just implement changes on his own was that some sort of 'psychohistory' people had revealed the 'regionalization' of the Imperium, the empire clumping together in sector-sized chunks. Any sudden crisis and the Imperium could fly apart, like spokes of a wheel flung away by centrifugal force when the hub is suddenly removed. Strephon called Dulinor the "survivor margin" for the Imperium.

"A" for effort, Strephon, but screen the help a little more closely...

 

[jcrocker]

I don't know if Strephon was a total 'albatross' - in the "recovered diary entries" in the front of Survival Margin, Strephon reveals that he elevated Dulinor to Archduke in order to promote reform of the Imperium - he hoped that Dulinor would reform and this would encourage the other Archdukes to move more vigorously on reforms.

The reason he didn't just implement changes on his own was that some sort of 'psychohistory' people had revealed the 'regionalization' of the Imperium, the empire clumping together in sector-sized chunks. Any sudden crisis and the Imperium could fly apart, like spokes of a wheel flung away by centrifugal force when the hub is suddenly removed. Strephon called Dulinor the "survivor margin" for the Imperium.

"A" for effort, Strephon, but screen the help a little more closely...

 

[jcrocker]

I don't know if Strephon was a total 'albatross' - in the "recovered diary entries" in the front of Survival Margin, Strephon reveals that he elevated Dulinor to Archduke in order to promote reform of the Imperium - he hoped that Dulinor would reform and this would encourage the other Archdukes to move more vigorously on reforms.

The reason he didn't just implement changes on his own was that some sort of 'psychohistory' people had revealed the 'regionalization' of the Imperium, the empire clumping together in sector-sized chunks. Any sudden crisis and the Imperium could fly apart, like spokes of a wheel flung away by centrifugal force when the hub is suddenly removed. Strephon called Dulinor the "survivor margin" for the Imperium.

"A" for effort, Strephon, but screen the help a little more closely...

 

[Whipsnade]

Gents,

I don't know how many of you have read GT:NObles but the section concerning the Emperor Strephon is very enlightening.

As far back as the Survival Margin - the first real look we have at Strephon aside from the just-plain-silly 'interview' in an issue of DGP's Travellers' Digest - Strephon came across as someone who was very controlled and formal in public while being engaging and personable in private.

I think the comments by Strephon's personal doctor in Survival Margin with regards to the Emperor's reaction to the Assassination should be kept in mind as should Strephon's 'letters' in his diary to Lucan (Daddy's coming!) and Dulinor (Let me at him you blind homicidal maniac!).

In GT:Nobles more of Strephon's early life is revealed and it is not a pretty picture.

- His father, Paulo III, married late at age 60. He'd proclaimed he'd only marry a woman he could wholeheartedly love and respect. He never found such a woman for decades, was called the 'Bachelor Emperor', and then fell head over heels for an intelligent, accomplished woman nearly 40 years his younger.

- After Lady Aella became Empress Aella in 1043, the Imperial Court entered a brilliant period. There were important policy changes and the court's social life picked up as the Empress sparked new life in the old Emperor and his entourage.

- Strephon was born in 1049. His sister Lydia followed in 1052. Most importantly, the Empress Aella died in 1053. The official explanation was 'natural causes'(1). The rumor mill said she was murdered by Paulo's 'eccentric' brother James(2). So, when he is only 4, Strephon's mother is dead, most likely killed by an uncle who is never brought to justice for political reasons.

What follows isn't exactly pretty either...

- Paulo enters a period of mourning that lasts the rest of his reign. (Check out the effect that Victoria's moourning of Albert had on Great Britian.) The social life of the Palace stops, Strephon and Lydia essentially grow up as orphans tended to by tutors and footmen while seeing their father very infrequently.

- Both Strephon and Lydia are described as quiet and sullen and are more likely to calculate advantage than seek affection. Just two cute and cuddly kids, huh?

- With Paulo in his 70s and Strephon the Heir, the boy is under intense media scrutiny. Look at the tons of tabloid nonsense surrounding Elisabeth II's two grandsons, multiply that by 11,000 worlds, and you may have some inkling of what Strephon went through through his formative years.

Next, Strephon became emperor at the relatively young age of 21. Paulo had Strephon late in life, then ignored Strephon for most of the time left to him. Strephon was serving aboard a battleship as a midshipman when news of his father's impending death arrived. The future emperor did not get to 'learn' the job at the old emperor's knee. Much like Victoria kept Crown Prince 'Bertie' from anything to do with governing for most of his adult life, Paulo failed to train his son in the job of emperor. There really wasn't enough time and Paulo did nothing to engender that sort of a relationship with his son anyway.

Immediately after his father's death, Strephon 'walked small'. He was viewed by the movers and shakers of the Imperium as untried and inexperienced. He made few policy changes and instead concentrated on his public image. To that end, he married for reasons of state (although they say he and the Empress have grown to love each other) and took great care to consult and work through the Imperium's high nobles, especially the Archdukes. He adroitly spun the results both the 4th and 5th Frontier Wars to provide him with further public relations advantage.

Only after two decades of carefully crafting his public image, around the time of 4th Frontier War, did Strephon allow himself to be seen beginning to take the reins of power into his own hands. That shows both remarkable restraint and cunning.

Strephon is a calculating individual with a very long view of things. His public 'persona' and his private 'face' are most likely two entirely different things. The number of people who get to see his private 'face' are most likely very few; his immediate family most certainly, Dulinor may have been one, Norris may be one, and the academic who married Iphigenia may be another. There seem to be few 'cronies' or 'drinking buddies' hanging about however.

Given this picture of Strephon, I can more easily understand his mental and moral collapse upon hearing news of the Assassination. I could never quite understand(3) why the Emperor would retreat into his quarters and allow his staff to whisk him away to Usdiki. With those aspects of Strephon's personal life revealed in GT:Nobles, I can now more easily believe in Strephon's collapse.

Here's a man who has played a role for his entire life, a role increasingly at odds with his true nature. Every year, every ceremony, every audience on the Iridium Throne, every kindergarten art show, everything aside from a few, tiny moments snatched from his schedule has him playing the Marble Man and bottling up his true self behind the mask. When the ultimate crisis occurred, when all he had been denying himself for over the last 47 years fell apart, when his 'best' friend betrayed him like no other, when the two people who knew him the best out of trillions were murdered, Strephon simply collapsed. The strain was finally too great.

We should also remember that 'problems' are part of the Alkhalikoi bloodline. 'Funny' Uncle James killed Strephon's mother, Lucan and Varian aren't exactly well-adjusted, and great-grandfather Styryx was a few sandwiches short of a picnic. The list is quite extensive. Just what problems are lurking in Strephon's heritage are unknown but the strain from ruling the Imperium and maintaining his public persona must be staggering.


Have fun,
Bill

1 - With TL F medical knowledge? Sure...

2 - Who withdraws from public life after the Empress' death and just so happens to commit suicide later the same year. Right...

3 - That action is understandable in the initial version of the Assassination. In that version, the Real Strephon is a fake. It was when the revised version of the Assassination appeared with the Real Strephon revealed to be the real Strephon that my belief suspenders snapped a little. Even though I much preferred Strephon to be alive!

 

[Whipsnade]

Gents,

I don't know how many of you have read GT:NObles but the section concerning the Emperor Strephon is very enlightening.

As far back as the Survival Margin - the first real look we have at Strephon aside from the just-plain-silly 'interview' in an issue of DGP's Travellers' Digest - Strephon came across as someone who was very controlled and formal in public while being engaging and personable in private.

I think the comments by Strephon's personal doctor in Survival Margin with regards to the Emperor's reaction to the Assassination should be kept in mind as should Strephon's 'letters' in his diary to Lucan (Daddy's coming!) and Dulinor (Let me at him you blind homicidal maniac!).

In GT:Nobles more of Strephon's early life is revealed and it is not a pretty picture.

- His father, Paulo III, married late at age 60. He'd proclaimed he'd only marry a woman he could wholeheartedly love and respect. He never found such a woman for decades, was called the 'Bachelor Emperor', and then fell head over heels for an intelligent, accomplished woman nearly 40 years his younger.

- After Lady Aella became Empress Aella in 1043, the Imperial Court entered a brilliant period. There were important policy changes and the court's social life picked up as the Empress sparked new life in the old Emperor and his entourage.

- Strephon was born in 1049. His sister Lydia followed in 1052. Most importantly, the Empress Aella died in 1053. The official explanation was 'natural causes'(1). The rumor mill said she was murdered by Paulo's 'eccentric' brother James(2). So, when he is only 4, Strephon's mother is dead, most likely killed by an uncle who is never brought to justice for political reasons.

What follows isn't exactly pretty either...

- Paulo enters a period of mourning that lasts the rest of his reign. (Check out the effect that Victoria's moourning of Albert had on Great Britian.) The social life of the Palace stops, Strephon and Lydia essentially grow up as orphans tended to by tutors and footmen while seeing their father very infrequently.

- Both Strephon and Lydia are described as quiet and sullen and are more likely to calculate advantage than seek affection. Just two cute and cuddly kids, huh?

- With Paulo in his 70s and Strephon the Heir, the boy is under intense media scrutiny. Look at the tons of tabloid nonsense surrounding Elisabeth II's two grandsons, multiply that by 11,000 worlds, and you may have some inkling of what Strephon went through through his formative years.

Next, Strephon became emperor at the relatively young age of 21. Paulo had Strephon late in life, then ignored Strephon for most of the time left to him. Strephon was serving aboard a battleship as a midshipman when news of his father's impending death arrived. The future emperor did not get to 'learn' the job at the old emperor's knee. Much like Victoria kept Crown Prince 'Bertie' from anything to do with governing for most of his adult life, Paulo failed to train his son in the job of emperor. There really wasn't enough time and Paulo did nothing to engender that sort of a relationship with his son anyway.

Immediately after his father's death, Strephon 'walked small'. He was viewed by the movers and shakers of the Imperium as untried and inexperienced. He made few policy changes and instead concentrated on his public image. To that end, he married for reasons of state (although they say he and the Empress have grown to love each other) and took great care to consult and work through the Imperium's high nobles, especially the Archdukes. He adroitly spun the results both the 4th and 5th Frontier Wars to provide him with further public relations advantage.

Only after two decades of carefully crafting his public image, around the time of 4th Frontier War, did Strephon allow himself to be seen beginning to take the reins of power into his own hands. That shows both remarkable restraint and cunning.

Strephon is a calculating individual with a very long view of things. His public 'persona' and his private 'face' are most likely two entirely different things. The number of people who get to see his private 'face' are most likely very few; his immediate family most certainly, Dulinor may have been one, Norris may be one, and the academic who married Iphigenia may be another. There seem to be few 'cronies' or 'drinking buddies' hanging about however.

Given this picture of Strephon, I can more easily understand his mental and moral collapse upon hearing news of the Assassination. I could never quite understand(3) why the Emperor would retreat into his quarters and allow his staff to whisk him away to Usdiki. With those aspects of Strephon's personal life revealed in GT:Nobles, I can now more easily believe in Strephon's collapse.

Here's a man who has played a role for his entire life, a role increasingly at odds with his true nature. Every year, every ceremony, every audience on the Iridium Throne, every kindergarten art show, everything aside from a few, tiny moments snatched from his schedule has him playing the Marble Man and bottling up his true self behind the mask. When the ultimate crisis occurred, when all he had been denying himself for over the last 47 years fell apart, when his 'best' friend betrayed him like no other, when the two people who knew him the best out of trillions were murdered, Strephon simply collapsed. The strain was finally too great.

We should also remember that 'problems' are part of the Alkhalikoi bloodline. 'Funny' Uncle James killed Strephon's mother, Lucan and Varian aren't exactly well-adjusted, and great-grandfather Styryx was a few sandwiches short of a picnic. The list is quite extensive. Just what problems are lurking in Strephon's heritage are unknown but the strain from ruling the Imperium and maintaining his public persona must be staggering.


Have fun,
Bill

1 - With TL F medical knowledge? Sure...

2 - Who withdraws from public life after the Empress' death and just so happens to commit suicide later the same year. Right...

3 - That action is understandable in the initial version of the Assassination. In that version, the Real Strephon is a fake. It was when the revised version of the Assassination appeared with the Real Strephon revealed to be the real Strephon that my belief suspenders snapped a little. Even though I much preferred Strephon to be alive!

 

[Whipsnade]

Gents,

I don't know how many of you have read GT:NObles but the section concerning the Emperor Strephon is very enlightening.

As far back as the Survival Margin - the first real look we have at Strephon aside from the just-plain-silly 'interview' in an issue of DGP's Travellers' Digest - Strephon came across as someone who was very controlled and formal in public while being engaging and personable in private.

I think the comments by Strephon's personal doctor in Survival Margin with regards to the Emperor's reaction to the Assassination should be kept in mind as should Strephon's 'letters' in his diary to Lucan (Daddy's coming!) and Dulinor (Let me at him you blind homicidal maniac!).

In GT:Nobles more of Strephon's early life is revealed and it is not a pretty picture.

- His father, Paulo III, married late at age 60. He'd proclaimed he'd only marry a woman he could wholeheartedly love and respect. He never found such a woman for decades, was called the 'Bachelor Emperor', and then fell head over heels for an intelligent, accomplished woman nearly 40 years his younger.

- After Lady Aella became Empress Aella in 1043, the Imperial Court entered a brilliant period. There were important policy changes and the court's social life picked up as the Empress sparked new life in the old Emperor and his entourage.

- Strephon was born in 1049. His sister Lydia followed in 1052. Most importantly, the Empress Aella died in 1053. The official explanation was 'natural causes'(1). The rumor mill said she was murdered by Paulo's 'eccentric' brother James(2). So, when he is only 4, Strephon's mother is dead, most likely killed by an uncle who is never brought to justice for political reasons.

What follows isn't exactly pretty either...

- Paulo enters a period of mourning that lasts the rest of his reign. (Check out the effect that Victoria's moourning of Albert had on Great Britian.) The social life of the Palace stops, Strephon and Lydia essentially grow up as orphans tended to by tutors and footmen while seeing their father very infrequently.

- Both Strephon and Lydia are described as quiet and sullen and are more likely to calculate advantage than seek affection. Just two cute and cuddly kids, huh?

- With Paulo in his 70s and Strephon the Heir, the boy is under intense media scrutiny. Look at the tons of tabloid nonsense surrounding Elisabeth II's two grandsons, multiply that by 11,000 worlds, and you may have some inkling of what Strephon went through through his formative years.

Next, Strephon became emperor at the relatively young age of 21. Paulo had Strephon late in life, then ignored Strephon for most of the time left to him. Strephon was serving aboard a battleship as a midshipman when news of his father's impending death arrived. The future emperor did not get to 'learn' the job at the old emperor's knee. Much like Victoria kept Crown Prince 'Bertie' from anything to do with governing for most of his adult life, Paulo failed to train his son in the job of emperor. There really wasn't enough time and Paulo did nothing to engender that sort of a relationship with his son anyway.

Immediately after his father's death, Strephon 'walked small'. He was viewed by the movers and shakers of the Imperium as untried and inexperienced. He made few policy changes and instead concentrated on his public image. To that end, he married for reasons of state (although they say he and the Empress have grown to love each other) and took great care to consult and work through the Imperium's high nobles, especially the Archdukes. He adroitly spun the results both the 4th and 5th Frontier Wars to provide him with further public relations advantage.

Only after two decades of carefully crafting his public image, around the time of 4th Frontier War, did Strephon allow himself to be seen beginning to take the reins of power into his own hands. That shows both remarkable restraint and cunning.

Strephon is a calculating individual with a very long view of things. His public 'persona' and his private 'face' are most likely two entirely different things. The number of people who get to see his private 'face' are most likely very few; his immediate family most certainly, Dulinor may have been one, Norris may be one, and the academic who married Iphigenia may be another. There seem to be few 'cronies' or 'drinking buddies' hanging about however.

Given this picture of Strephon, I can more easily understand his mental and moral collapse upon hearing news of the Assassination. I could never quite understand(3) why the Emperor would retreat into his quarters and allow his staff to whisk him away to Usdiki. With those aspects of Strephon's personal life revealed in GT:Nobles, I can now more easily believe in Strephon's collapse.

Here's a man who has played a role for his entire life, a role increasingly at odds with his true nature. Every year, every ceremony, every audience on the Iridium Throne, every kindergarten art show, everything aside from a few, tiny moments snatched from his schedule has him playing the Marble Man and bottling up his true self behind the mask. When the ultimate crisis occurred, when all he had been denying himself for over the last 47 years fell apart, when his 'best' friend betrayed him like no other, when the two people who knew him the best out of trillions were murdered, Strephon simply collapsed. The strain was finally too great.

We should also remember that 'problems' are part of the Alkhalikoi bloodline. 'Funny' Uncle James killed Strephon's mother, Lucan and Varian aren't exactly well-adjusted, and great-grandfather Styryx was a few sandwiches short of a picnic. The list is quite extensive. Just what problems are lurking in Strephon's heritage are unknown but the strain from ruling the Imperium and maintaining his public persona must be staggering.


Have fun,
Bill

1 - With TL F medical knowledge? Sure...

2 - Who withdraws from public life after the Empress' death and just so happens to commit suicide later the same year. Right...

3 - That action is understandable in the initial version of the Assassination. In that version, the Real Strephon is a fake. It was when the revised version of the Assassination appeared with the Real Strephon revealed to be the real Strephon that my belief suspenders snapped a little. Even though I much preferred Strephon to be alive!

 

[jfetters]

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:

I don't know how many of you have read GT:NObles but the section concerning the Emperor Strephon is very enlightening.

I don't have that one - my GURPS collection is pretty lacking, actually. That reminds me of a thread I need to start...

As far back as the Survival Margin - the first real look we have at Strephon aside from the just-plain-silly 'interview' in an issue of DGP's Travellers' Digest - Strephon came across as someone who was very controlled and formal in public while being engaging and personable in private.

I would also add the Strephon portrayed in Arrival:Vengeance to that list.

In GT:Nobles more of Strephon's early life is revealed and it is not a pretty picture.

(details snipped)
Here's a man who has played a role for his entire life, a role increasingly at odds with his true nature. Every year, every ceremony, every audience on the Iridium Throne, every kindergarten art show, everything aside from a few, tiny moments snatched from his schedule has him playing the Marble Man and bottling up his true self behind the mask. When the ultimate crisis occurred, when all he had been denying himself for over the last 47 years fell apart, when his 'best' friend betrayed him like no other, when the two people who knew him the best out of trillions were murdered, Strephon simply collapsed. The strain was finally too great.

Wow, that is pretty sad. It is actually more surprising that he himself did not grow up to be a borderline psychopath. In fact, your description intimates that he had someone to help guide him while growing up - a trusted advisor, perhaps? I think I'm referencing Dune here, where Paul had all kinds of teachers to whom he was close. I'm wondering if he had some similar advisors as a teen before heading to the Academy.

3 - That action is understandable in the initial version of the Assassination. In that version, the Real Strephon is a fake. It was when the revised version of the Assassination appeared with the Real Strephon revealed to be the real Strephon that my belief suspenders snapped a little. Even though I much preferred Strephon to be alive!

What's this, Bill? I don't think I have heard this story (although I wholeheartedly agree with preferring Strephon alive!). Where are there two versions of the assassination?

 

[jfetters]

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:

I don't know how many of you have read GT:NObles but the section concerning the Emperor Strephon is very enlightening.

I don't have that one - my GURPS collection is pretty lacking, actually. That reminds me of a thread I need to start...

As far back as the Survival Margin - the first real look we have at Strephon aside from the just-plain-silly 'interview' in an issue of DGP's Travellers' Digest - Strephon came across as someone who was very controlled and formal in public while being engaging and personable in private.

I would also add the Strephon portrayed in Arrival:Vengeance to that list.

In GT:Nobles more of Strephon's early life is revealed and it is not a pretty picture.

(details snipped)
Here's a man who has played a role for his entire life, a role increasingly at odds with his true nature. Every year, every ceremony, every audience on the Iridium Throne, every kindergarten art show, everything aside from a few, tiny moments snatched from his schedule has him playing the Marble Man and bottling up his true self behind the mask. When the ultimate crisis occurred, when all he had been denying himself for over the last 47 years fell apart, when his 'best' friend betrayed him like no other, when the two people who knew him the best out of trillions were murdered, Strephon simply collapsed. The strain was finally too great.

Wow, that is pretty sad. It is actually more surprising that he himself did not grow up to be a borderline psychopath. In fact, your description intimates that he had someone to help guide him while growing up - a trusted advisor, perhaps? I think I'm referencing Dune here, where Paul had all kinds of teachers to whom he was close. I'm wondering if he had some similar advisors as a teen before heading to the Academy.

3 - That action is understandable in the initial version of the Assassination. In that version, the Real Strephon is a fake. It was when the revised version of the Assassination appeared with the Real Strephon revealed to be the real Strephon that my belief suspenders snapped a little. Even though I much preferred Strephon to be alive!

What's this, Bill? I don't think I have heard this story (although I wholeheartedly agree with preferring Strephon alive!). Where are there two versions of the assassination?

 

[jfetters]

Originally posted by Bill Cameron:

I don't know how many of you have read GT:NObles but the section concerning the Emperor Strephon is very enlightening.

I don't have that one - my GURPS collection is pretty lacking, actually. That reminds me of a thread I need to start...

As far back as the Survival Margin - the first real look we have at Strephon aside from the just-plain-silly 'interview' in an issue of DGP's Travellers' Digest - Strephon came across as someone who was very controlled and formal in public while being engaging and personable in private.

I would also add the Strephon portrayed in Arrival:Vengeance to that list.

In GT:Nobles more of Strephon's early life is revealed and it is not a pretty picture.

(details snipped)
Here's a man who has played a role for his entire life, a role increasingly at odds with his true nature. Every year, every ceremony, every audience on the Iridium Throne, every kindergarten art show, everything aside from a few, tiny moments snatched from his schedule has him playing the Marble Man and bottling up his true self behind the mask. When the ultimate crisis occurred, when all he had been denying himself for over the last 47 years fell apart, when his 'best' friend betrayed him like no other, when the two people who knew him the best out of trillions were murdered, Strephon simply collapsed. The strain was finally too great.

Wow, that is pretty sad. It is actually more surprising that he himself did not grow up to be a borderline psychopath. In fact, your description intimates that he had someone to help guide him while growing up - a trusted advisor, perhaps? I think I'm referencing Dune here, where Paul had all kinds of teachers to whom he was close. I'm wondering if he had some similar advisors as a teen before heading to the Academy.

3 - That action is understandable in the initial version of the Assassination. In that version, the Real Strephon is a fake. It was when the revised version of the Assassination appeared with the Real Strephon revealed to be the real Strephon that my belief suspenders snapped a little. Even though I much preferred Strephon to be alive!

What's this, Bill? I don't think I have heard this story (although I wholeheartedly agree with preferring Strephon alive!). Where are there two versions of the assassination?

 

[Whipsnade]

Originally posted by Jim Fetters:
In fact, your description intimates that he had someone to help guide him while growing up - a trusted advisor, perhaps? I think I'm referencing Dune here, where Paul had all kinds of teachers to whom he was close. I'm wondering if he had some similar advisors as a teen before heading to the Academy.

Jim,

I'm sure Strephon had the best tutors, advisors, flakcatchers, and whatnot the Imperium could provide. I'm also sure that friends and confidants were in very short supply.

What's this, Bill? I don't think I have heard this story (although I wholeheartedly agree with preferring Strephon alive!). Where are there two versions of the assassination?

Okay, it's a little involved but stick with me.

When MT was first being put together, the Real Strephon on Usdiki was a fraud. He was either the surgically altered double or robot that Dulinor and Lucan claimed him to be.

GDW was staffed by wargamers and all wargamers are history cranks. LKW has specifically said that the Real Strephon was patterned on Pugachev (google the name). Perkin Warbeck is another historical example of this that you may be more familiar with.

So, MT is released and the Hobby learns that Strephon has been killed. The reaction is not what GDW expected.

It seems that the Hobby in general is extremely pissed off that Strephon was killed! They may like the idea of the Rebellion but Strephon and family gunned down in the Octogon is a little too much. When the Real Strephon faction is revealed through TNS items and in follow-on products (Rebellion Sourcebook), the Hobby ignores any and all suggestions that the Real Strephon is a fake Strephon. They want the Real Strephon to be the real Strephon and treat the man at Usdiki as such.

Time passes and MT's run is being wrapped up with a series of products meant to usher in TNE and the post-Rebellion era. One is, as you pointed out, Arrival Vengence, and GDW now needs to make a decision. Norris' borrowed AHL cruiser is touring the shattered Imperium and should call at Usdiki. What will Norris' crew find there? GDW decides to bow to the Hobbys' opinion and ret-cons the fake Real Strephon into the real Real Strephon!

I'm not privy to all the thinking behind the decision. All I know is what LKW and other GOOs have posted over the years. Having Strephon absent at Longbow-II fits neatly into the TNE story, but it leads to a few questions. Was Strephon 'resurrected' before the idea of Longbow-II and the Empress Wave was broached? Or was he resurrected afterwards and then inserted into those ideas? Or was it a little bit of both? Does anyone remember? Would knowing make the game more fun? LKW has said that the Hobby's opinion was a factor in turning the Real Strephon into the real Strephon.

All I know is that when I read AV at the coffee shop next door to my FLGS and learned that man at Usdiki was really Strephon, I shouted 'YES!' and pumped my fist in the air. (The staff called the police to come and throw a net over me. I did the same when I read about Dulinor being killed by the thresher and got netted again. YES!!)

So, summing up...

- For most of MT's run, Strephon was dead and the Real Strephon was a fake.

- At a point towards the end of MT's run, Strephon was brought back to life and the Real Strephon became real.


Have fun,
Bill