02-23-2010, 11:21 PM
The purpose of the nobilitas?
14th scripture by Horam Deria, Senior philosopher of the Theurgy
It’s a well known and documented fact that political advancement on the social ladder is one of the most important part of Tindremic live, since before the conflux during the great empire, Nobilitas, Theurgy and Army all vied for better position. Through political intrigue, noble deeds and valor the ultimate goal of any capable young man or women was to one day reach the Tricapita. It is no secret that this practice has slowly become more complicated and sometimes even dangerous. But it still remains one of the core motivations in our society. But is it useful? Is the need for self advancement really that necessary? Is our caste system absolute? Our quest for purity?
From early texts and recollections out of the high days of our empire, it’s becomes clear that this political game, has come into being in an attempt to find the best possible man for the best possible Job. There’s a clear motive here and a logical one at that. For the grandeur of the empire, there is a necessity to remove unwanted elements from government, from military command and even from science.
The qualifications needed for the best are long and wide, so the best way to select the right people is competitions between each other. The person that intellectually outmaneuvers every one of his competitors is clearly the best person for the task of bettering the empire.
The crux of this system lies there: to better the empire. To increase its grandeur, its power and because the empire grows stronger, automatically so does its people. In my opinion, that’s the primary reason the caste system was developed. The unwanted items that couldn’t benefit our growth, be it economically, militaristic or philosophic should be excreted. The useful but unsympathetic to the empire were put to work. And the common workers living in our empire, the ones that grow better with our empire, that spend their blood, sweat and tears in the empires benefit and their own, the large body that makes the empire continue, the layer from which we pull our glory are the plebeians. This is the reason why the old scrolls demand plebeian blood in your line or excellent dedication to be accepted as a citizen.
Now in the old age, the Army provides territorial security and improvement, the theurgy provides technological, spiritual and philosophical improvement, and the nobilitas were the representatives of the plebeians. They made sure that our wheels kept moving and moving forward with pride and joy.
However lets look at today’s situation:
Over the years, especially after the conflux and the great wash-out, the moods change. The competition slowly evolved into personal gain, each higher position naturally has more privileges and responsibilities. But over the course of the years, privileges have increased as a stimulus for interest in those positions. And there lies the problem. Stimulus has increased, more people want the privileges but not the responsibilities. So in short the system of political competition has decreased into get your third Hierodules for free. Get a pile of cash for your new villa. Instead of the original get the best person on the seat to benefit the empire. Instead of benefiting the empire, a higher position primarily benefits the retainer.
For the theurgy this results in cliques and more exhorbitant and ridiculous claims of academic prowess. But promotion still lies in academic capability, so it’s not a total disaster. The army promotes prowess, and if through political scheming an idiot commander arises, the rank and file soldier takes care of him, since they have no interest in dying for foolish causes.
But for the nobilitas, the representative of the main body of citizens this is an all together different matter, the different streams of nobles, the elders and younglings, the move for blood purity, the move towards gold, slaves and land. They move to an egotistical self gain instead of promoting the interest of the common man, or the glory of the empire.
This leads me, to seriously, question the necessity of a nobilitas caste.
If we want to improve the glory of the empire, do we need these materialistic murderers, beautyqueens and sycophants? If we want to step out of these dark-ages is seriously suggest rethinking the current system and mend the sick and rotting parts of our society.