81 lines
3.0 KiB
HTML
81 lines
3.0 KiB
HTML
<link rel="stylesheet" href="book-page.css" />
|
||
|
||
<div class="document-content">
|
||
<h1>The Price of Peace</h1>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
The idea that natural fantasy must have a bucolic aesthetic and deal with
|
||
small, peaceful villages is superficial to say the least. A large number of
|
||
these stories take a different twist, highlighting the difficulties in human
|
||
relationships.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Sometimes they are just the inner conflicts of a village or a family, but
|
||
tales of violence and oppression between neighboring nations are equally
|
||
common, not to mention the marginalization of one or more individuals who
|
||
called local dogmas into question.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Traditions are important and they were probably created for a good reason,
|
||
but this might not be the case any longer: blindly following them might lead
|
||
to grave misjudgments. At the same time, discarding them for profit or power
|
||
is equally cruel and irresponsible.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
In line with the themes of change and coexistence that permeate the natural
|
||
fantasy genre, peace isn’t static, but something that must be redefined day
|
||
by day, based on new necessities, otherwise it becomes an oppressive
|
||
silence.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h2>When Words Are Not Enough</h2>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Many natural fantasy conflicts involve factions who struggle to communicate.
|
||
These disputes often take the form of wars between humans and animals,
|
||
monsters, or spirits, but the idea also works in the case of rivalries or
|
||
tension between nations that don’t speak the same language.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Some character options allow the PCs to communicate with usually
|
||
unintelligible creatures and powers—for example,
|
||
<strong>Elemental Harmony</strong> (see page 155),
|
||
<strong>Feral Speech</strong> (see Core Rulebook, page 183) and some
|
||
Rituals. These are excellent choices if you want one of the protagonists to
|
||
act as a mediator.
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
However, you might avoid these options on purpose, so that the group has to
|
||
struggle with the difficulties of communication (a character might acquire
|
||
them later to show their evolution).
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<h3>Conflict Resolution & Understanding</h3>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>
|
||
In such situations, it’s important to highlight the values of
|
||
<strong>hospitality and understanding</strong>.
|
||
</li>
|
||
<li>
|
||
If the story includes a presence considered “alien” or “outsider”, the
|
||
heroes’ first instinct should be to suspend judgment to understand its
|
||
point of view, needs, and necessities, instead of driving it back,
|
||
fighting, or eliminating it.
|
||
</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
|
||
<p>
|
||
Although defending oneself from a raging monster or making contact with
|
||
destructive spirits is rather common (combat is a core part of Fabula Ultima
|
||
after all), the real antagonist appears later, often under the guise of an
|
||
evil influence that has corrupted peaceful creatures (see page 174).
|
||
</p>
|
||
|
||
<div class="disclaimer-box"></div>
|
||
</div>
|