THE SUPERIORITY OF US, 1758

[Draeris 3124]

THE SUPERIORITY OF US

A honest conversation about race in Arcas

 

PREAMBLE

The common citizen finds itself burdened with a foreign presence haunting him everywhere: the contours of pointy ears or the contrast of darker skins decorating mankind’s cities and institutions. From a Mali’ker guarding the entrance of His Majesty’s court in Helena, to a Cave dwarf practicing commerce in the Kingdom of Courland: the otherkin are everywhere, and they now stand equal to humanity.

 

Today our political discourse is captivated by the dichotomy of absolutism vs. democracy, with the Holy Church of the Canon and the Imperial government desperately trying to find a middle ground for these ever polarizing groups. The first bases their arguments on piety, morality and tradition while the latter appeals to the more egalitarian and humane among us. Within this discussion, the component of race and its implications are left entirely undiscussed. 

 

While important: the interpretation on what the Holy Scrolls say about other races, or the discussion where the rights of the citizen begin and end, do not answer the question of our apparent racial difference. Why are there such stark differences between the Human realm and the others? Why has the Orenian Empire existed for centuries, whereas the elven states change every decade? Or perhaps even more controversial, why are some human kingdoms better than others? How come the Haenseni can feel undying loyalty to their royalty, whereas the Courlandian has no dagger left that hasn’t penetrated a back? Why does a visit to Kaedrin feel wholesome, but to Curon feel decadent? 

 

The issue with answering these questions is that it delves into the abstract and subjective fairly easily. If a well-traveled citizen would tell you that Curon ‘feels dead’, the snarky among us could easily retort with a question such as ‘define dead?’. If one is to say that the elven states bask in degeneracy, one could launch the rebuttal stating ‘what is degenerate for you, isn’t for us’. These types of replies, which are common, usually end the casual conversation. I say casual, because the topic of our racial supremacy has never been discussed on an academical nor philosophical plane. It frankly is too nuanced to be the talk of the tavern, but too controversial to be discussed by our educated bureaucrats and lords. 

 

There is a universal self-serving, albeit understandable, motive to avoid classifying one as superior above the other. As the Empire thrives on its webs of intrigue, intelligence and alliances to not only accomplish great things, but to maintain its unity: it is a cardinal sin of any socialite to potentially offend an entire group that could one day politically benefit him. Let us take Bishop Boniface or Wilheim Barclay as examples: individuals who sometimes stated the obvious, but had their reputations and social mobility crushed by the wheels of the sycophants to the status quo. Every day Oren makes a new martyr of honesty, for Oren has too much to lose if its webs are to be broken by the unguided projectiles of our discourse.

 

Because every human is a stakeholder of the current Empire, it has an interest to maintain the status quo. This can be a high-level functionary disagreeing with the current state of affairs, but wishing to not risk his titles and career. But it can also be the common man: a guard that feels wronged for having Mali colleagues, but doesn’t want to upset his superiors. It could be a merchant wanting to keep all of his doors open, or the meek-hearted not wanting to step on any toes. Millions of reasons can be given for millions of people: justifying their collective tip-toeing around what we as a society deem uncomfortable or taboo. 

 

Which makes it more important than ever to articulate  reality in an eloquent fashion. Not just so the reader can understand why he feels this malaise with the current state of mankind, but that he can also be spared from any social backlash his expressions may cause. For all Orenians that cannot say what they see, let this publication do it for you. 

 

HUMANITY STANDS ALONE ON THE PILLAR OF CIVILIZATION

The power of mankind has fluctuated through the centuries. While it was seriously challenged in the Fringian era, when a coalition of the entire world sought to destroy our nation, it sailed smoothly through its current conflict with the Alliance of Independent States. It had one time fallen to the Courlandian rebellion, whereas it crushed northern dissent swiftly after. By reaffirming our supremacy, we are not saying that we are consistently superior in every aspect. We are saying that as a concept, a race and a nation, we hold superior qualities and abilities than the rest. 

 

Regardless of the geopolitical power that our Empire held: it always stood at the center of not just humanity and GOD, but also of other races. Even during the most gruesome of persecutions, did the persecuted come to visit our cities and feast upon the fruits of our civilization. Why? 

Because their existence is only viable when it stands in opposition to ours. Whereas Humanity can exist, thrive and civilize anywhere: the other races cannot. The moment that Orenian geopolitical supremacy was diminished, became the moment that the coalitions or newfound governments of the other races started to collapse. It is the fear that our tolerance of them might end, the desire to be like the mightiest entity in the world, that keeps their barracks filled and their houses occupied. It extends the durability of their fantasy that one day, they can triumph over the nation that has crushed them time and time again. It is a biological victim complex. Only if we exist in a threatening fashion, can the other races enjoy a relatively stable government and prosperous society.

 

But even with their nations at their prime: why are so many of them in Helena, Reza, et cetera? Why isn’t that Mali’ker guarding the gate, guarding her home? Why isn’t that cave dwarf selling in Courland, selling her wares in a cave? Because their economies, their ways of life, their opportunities and their potential are eclipsed by an Empire that, by its past standards, is performing sub par. Even when humanity is distracted by its moral hobby-ism and experiments of statecraft, does it outperform all the other races in every form imaginable. That Mali’ker betrays her race by serving humanity, knowing that her hard work will lead to a towering height above her kin in her homeland. 

 

Our brothers and sisters fight for Oren knowing that it cannot be replaced. If it does one day fall to the other races or pretender nations, it might never be recovered. If Oren cannot be recovered, so can’t the civilization and prosperity that it embodied. A realm with Oren is a humanity without its soul. By GOD’s grace are we blessed with this eternal supremacy, albeit its fragility and uniqueness. 

 

THE PRESENCE OF THEM IS A TOKEN OF OUR MERCY

Wielding such power and knowing you wield it are two different things. Focused on a war effort and far reaching internal reforms, Oren might’ve forgotten its fantastical position in this realm. We really don’t need other races for our survival or prosperity: so why do we let them in? Or even worse, let them have careers and families in our settlements? 

 

Because we, from our mercy and goodwill, allow them to. If we decided to end this tolerance and revoke their access to humanity’s realm: not only would they lose immeasurable social capital and wealth, but they could do nothing about it. Even if they united all non-Orenian nations in a grotesque coalition like Alras tried before them: they could not win. They are powerless bystanders to our decisions, like a bird watching his habitat become deforested. 

 

What does their presence give us? Aside from quantity, that is. We can all agree that a larger military or servantile class is beneficial to the Empire, but can we agree that larger numbers are worth the cost? A lesson for priests-in-training was recently disrupted by heathens heckling. A Canonist preacher was silenced by an elven guard. Every instance of conflict is intervened by elves, dwarves, mages and the likes that apply their foreign morality to a human affair. Walk to the tavern and you will see frogs traversing the town square. Walk into Courland and you will see black midgets milling about their day. Discuss values with any companion, and figurative banshees will remind you that degeneracy is the new normal. 

 

Is this the type of society we want to live in? Is it fair that humanity has to endure this? To answer this, we will look at two things: reciprocity and normality. Can humans enter the High Elven city freely? They cannot. Can a Canonist preach about his religion in Al-Faiz? He cannot. Can a Human serve the dwarven government? He cannot. Can dwarves, elves and Qalasheeni do all of the above in a city like Helena? They can. Simply put, the tolerance and effort to involve others is entirely one-sided. Is the situation our tolerance has caused normal? To answer that, I will rephrase the question: does our current situation feel normal to you?

 

Lady Orenia sheds a tear as foreigners insult Bishops in the cathedral of our capital, as the enemies we fought barely decades ago now wear the uniforms of our armies, as the human needs to make space for the other in his own nation and how none of that incredible tolerance seems rewarded. If the common man can be counted, the consensus that the situation is abnormal seems strong.

 

MAYBE THEY JUST CAN’T

GOD has created everyone as equal in principle. Meaning that an elf isn’t inherently inferior to the human, or at least, at the moment of conception. But just as a human can make poor choices that lead to the despair of all of his kin, a race can do the same. 

 

With the centuries of time that the other races had to develop some sort of civilization that not only remained consistent through the changes of realms and societies, but also strong enough to defend itself: they simply failed to do so. As much as the egalitarian human wants the elf to be its comrade, wants the dwarf to be its companion and wants those nations to cuddle with the rest of the Empire: what if they just can’t? 

 

What if the other races simply cannot stand equal to humans anymore, even if it collectively tries to do its best?  Nobody believes that they are inherently evil or seek out to destroy human society: but the wise among us should believe that they are incompatible with us. Whereas the human obtains success through discipline and hierarchy, the elf prospers more in freedom and the exploration of the abstract and magical. As a Haenseni once said: “Let them hug trees over there, and let us run a state over here”. 

 

The Pale serves as the perfect example of this sloppily phrased statement: they do them, we do us. Ideally our societies would never interact outside of diplomacy and military cooperation, and we can each live in a society that represents us the best. 

 

The moment we dilute the separation of foreign administrations and that of our own, when the free movement of people and cultures change the mosaic of our Empire: that is the moment that social malaise and heresy run rampant. That is when the human begins to be frustrated with the other race, for the other race takes up too much space and influences too much of our fabric without them even doing it on purpose. Maybe we just can’t co-exist in such close proximity: maybe we should just segregate? 

 

ALL THAT IS SUPERIOR IS SEPARATED FROM THE INFERIOR

Throughout the realm and its history, we can find examples of the superior being segregated. Whether it’d be the mere existence of an imperial peerage, or the different classes of housing within a city. Never were we naturally inclined to mingle with that below us, as much as we want to mingle with that above us. 

 

If we can implement regulations, criteria’s, laws and traditions that stop any commoner from just entering the nobility on a whim or walking into a bigger house and claiming it for himself: why can we not do the same when it comes to race? Why do we restrict the commoner from calling himself a baron, but not an elf living as if he was a human? Why do we listen to this natural order of things, on every other subject but race? Perhaps it is an experiment pursued as a pastime by the upper echelon of Oren, who experience a different Empire than the commoner. It is hard to notice the collision between the races if one is exclusively surrounded by the finest humans of the realm: either in governance, in wealth or in blood. 

 

Let this serve as a call to common sense from the classes below. Trust that the citizenry has turned hazy due to the unrecognizable landscape before them. Trust that it is better for us, and them, to part ways and live our lives separately. Let humanity continue its unparalleled civilization and reach for the skies, while letting the other races enjoy stability and purpose through their attempts to compete with us. 

 

When you mix all colored paints into one bucket: no color will stand out. Put one separate color in a separate bucket: and you will see a beautiful composition of different colors. It is this difference between them and us that make both of us healthy.  Let us segregate the races on racial lines, allowing them to be free from Human influences and vice versa. We will live on perfectly fine without them. 

 

A SERENE RACE IS A SUPREME RACE

Only after we have secured our space to live as something exclusive for our race: can we uplift our human brethren that struggle to be on par with the excellence of most of our realm. When humanity feels pure and strong once again, we can seek to breathe life back into Curon. We can help secure the destiny of Kaedrin, end the cycle of betrayals in Courland or strengthen the political stability of Hanseti-Ruska. We can focus on grand projects such as the canal, grand fortifications or tributes to our civilization such as palaces and cathedrals. 

 

Our limits will be completely out of sight once we return to the harmony and cohesion of the past. When GOD reigns supreme, and everybody speaks the same language of values and civility. When we can feel safe around our guards and see streets filled with people that resemble us, act like us and speak like us. This serenity is the greatest super-weapon humanity can gift itself. 

It’s time to lift our curse of multi-racialism and grant everybody the space they desperately desire. 

 

[CrownedLime747 162]

Lajos says “The Holy Empire is only for faithful humans!”

[Olox_ 4318]

Elek saluted to that in silence as no words are needed for such a beauty

[ApplePieKathy 561]

Vivaca Rutledge eyes widen, shaking her head in disgust and she almost vomits all over her floor!

“Disgusting. Whoever wrote this wants to divide our communities like the Priorists!”

Vivaca Rutledge shrugs, leaning back in her chair in the safety of her home.

[1_Language_1 1671]

2 hours ago, Draeris said:

Why does a visit to Kaedrin feel wholesome, but to Curon feel decadent? 

“How can a visit to Kaedrin feel wholesome when there’s basically nothing there?” Retorts Wilheim, whose family has been forbidden themselves to enter Kaedrin due to the violent danger of undying racism. “Their leader is supposed to be elected, but now he’s dead, so now why is the ruler’s seat back in the hands of the family? Was there no election?”

 

“Curon feels dead cause we’re all hiding from mean people.” The man snickered, pitching tents on the Curon land. “We’ve had quite a few people here tonight, one day we’ll have many more.”

 

 

  

2 hours ago, Draeris said:

Let us segregate the races on racial lines

The man skipped a few longs, before sighing. “I hope you mean racial lines as in between Human and Elf, not between pale-skinned humans and dark-skinned humans.”

[Porkgasm 267]

The pious Curonian Father Wilhelm reads the missive with a solem nod. "That it has come to this, when a Priest of GOD is belittled by an Elven guard. That the faithful are meek while harlots and heathens walk free and without shame. These are troubling times..."

[_Bueno_ 492]

The young nobleman John Everard Pruvia glances over the letter, his eyes gleaming with delight at the contents. He’d show it to his older brother with glee.

 

“Perhaps this great intermixing is the reason why our esteemed institutions of Church and Crown are being denigrated by entitled paupers so gruesomely. What do you think Philip, perhaps this could be the answer to the unfortunate state in which our God-fearing brothers have found themselves in? I personally would wish to find this brave man who published this thesis and talk to him further about his theories.

[ibraheemc2000 2965]

19 hours ago, Draeris said:

Can a Canonist preach about his religion in Al-Faiz? He cannot.

Sheikh Ibraheem laughes loudly "when was this a thing?"

[John Ivory 4547]

The Duke of Helena posts a public letter.

 

TO WHOMEVER IT MAY CONCERN,

 

The Imperial Association of Saint Pontiff Everard IV, otherwise known as the Association of Solicitors, Historians, and Philosophers, has expressed its wish that a debate of ideas in a public forum be held on these and other topics. The pamphleteer(s) known as ”Young Canonists of Oren Foundation” are implored to disclose their identities that this might come to fruition.

 

May it lead to further examination of the truth and Statecraft.

 

CHANCELLOR JOSEPH CLEMENT OF THE HOUSE OF NOVELLEN AND VIDENZ

[TH3GHOSTWAFFL3 489]

Dietrich nods his head in approval. “Indeed. A human state, for humanity. Since when have the elves ever cared about us? And why should we do the same?”