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[dreamsoftomorrow]

What makes an Empire evil or bad?

The definition is simply that it's ruled by one person, but nowhere does it state that it's also inherently bad.

So, what makes it bad?

Why are we assuming Sen Devadatta is evil when from what I've read in the history books and from the locals, all they did was shut their doors. We don't know the reason yet either.

It's understandable to be wary and suspicious, but I don't think it's a good idea to go in believing we're going to be arrested or worse.

Comments

[nanaimo_bar]

The things that make a Empire evil, are its leadership and it's people. If they commit atrocities in the name of their rule, then they can be bad.

However, we have little to assume the Empire in this world is of martial oppression, and thus, naught. In fact, them shutting doors to the outside world more resembles Ishgard of my realm, rather than the Empire of Garlemald.

[einspine]

I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S BECAUSE EMPIRES CONQUER AND INVADE OTHER TERRITORIES...

BUT I JUST CAN'T FATHOM WHY THIS EMPIRE WOULD BE THE SAME. FROM WHAT I SAW OVER THE MOGNET, THEY WERE THREATENED.

PERSONALLY, I THINK THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS SHOW KINDNESS UNTIL WE'RE GIVEN A PROPER REASON TO FRET.

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[regisrex]

Well, there are various reasons, but I'll list the objective ones:

From what we know, the ruler changed the form of government out of fear. She also grabbed for more power. Generally, when someone in power reacts to something frightening by grabbing for more power, that is not a good sign. Reaching for more is... highly likely.

[ Not certain. But highly likely. ]

For another thing, there are various shapes of monarchy, or even practical monarchy. They did not turn themselves into a kingdom, for example. They became an empire, which is a claim to a certain set of expectations, both when it comes to internal politics and international relationships. The fact that they isolated themselves adds to that image, actually - 'shutting their doors' would be one thing if it was done for a short duration, but a decade does not bode well. It suggest there is much that they are hiding.

And another factor yet is that some people have negative experiences with empires. People draw conclusions for reasons that are not always logical.

All of these are reasons to be cautious, not in any way proof that Sen Devadatta is evil, or even likely evil. Just a reminder that fear takes many shapes, and none of them are kind to the bystanders.

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[whirluendo_of_puns]

Well. An empire is a group of states or countries ruled by one person. The trouble is, most countries aren't that keen on letting some outsider waltz in to boss everyone around, so the process of actually becoming an empire often involves pretty copious amounts of murder.

I'm sure some of the alarm we're seeing started simply because empires make for convenient bad guys, but at the same time? When a president suddenly declares she wants to start an empire, you have to wonder how exactly she's planning on achieving that.

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[rivieran]

An empire is ruled by an emperor and empress. I have noticed that humans are irrationally afraid of governments ruled by people who call themselves as such. While I cannot speak for humans from realms that are not my own, a man who called himself the Immortal Emperor did carry out a reign of terror on the mainland where I am from. He was human and hailed from human lands - he may have perhaps chosen this name for himself precisely because he associates the word with fear and dominance. Why is that? I cannot say.

Regardless, we mustn't judge Sen Devadatta for being a closed country. Much like Sen Devadatta, my country is an island separated from most other territories and we have had periods of isolation in the past, and we are currently under policy of strictly controlled borders. This has mostly been to protect ourselves, as humans where I am from are notoriously greedy and have, more than once, tried to conquer us. I do plan on opening borders when [ if ] I take the throne, but it will be a slow and careful process.

While I agree we should be cautious, we should graciously accept their invitation and deal with them diplomatically. We are outsiders and I think it unfair that some of us are deciding to approach them with the attitude we have. I would be terribly offended if diplomatic envoys I invited personally into my territory readily assumed I did so to harm them, not restore relations!

[ It's the moogle typing. Best text to speech function. ]

[littlemhigan]

the only experience i've had with an empire has been with garlemald back home, and they are never good tidings.

i feel it's understandable to be wary of something sharing a name with an entity that spends its time conquering other countries.

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[promiselisting]

[ And then there’s Futaba ]

Honestly most governments suck somehow or another. The big question becomes how much crappy adults willing to steamroll over people for power are able to get it.

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[saint_sami]

Empires aren't inherently bad. They're only bad when people do bad things to others. Some empires actually make things good. And even if they are bad, there are those who want to make good, but they can't.

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[gathersnomoss]

I always believe something bad will probably happen when I go to a new place. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised than have to come up with a contingency plan after I'm arrested or worse. And it's hard to make a plan when we know next to nothing about this country. And generally speaking, Empires usually have their ducks in a row when it comes to organization. A lot more important to have plans when you are dealing with their governments as compared to city-states.

Unless it's some city-state that decided to call itself an Empire because it sounded more impressive, but that's not the case here.

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[garyoutensei]

You can oversimplify things for the sake of your own naivety, but there's more to being am empire than simply having a single authority.

Empires are defined by conquest. Taking over other states and nations. That's what an Empire does. They expand, and almost always by force.

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[shinra_dog]

Your optimism is always refreshing, Hope. Don't lose that.

But it's more complicated than that. "History is written by the victors." There could be more information that wasn't released. Empires grow. It's their definition. Anyone could argue it's a good or a bad thing, but there will always be people who don't want to be governed that way.

But that's not really my concern. What stands out to me is that Sen Devadatta started as a democracy, then changed -- and then became isolationist. Those are some big changes and I want to know what happened.

Believing the worst might be a bit much, but I think it's naive to accept everything at face value.

[thegoofball]

idk man maybe empires aren't so bad in theory but power tends to get to people's heads and make them go off the deep end

[Sometimes, that's incredibly literal.]

[tsukinohiganbana]

Good and evil are the notions of a naive child. There is as much 'evil' lurking in the lands that the Empire conquers as there is within the Empire itself.

[likewishes]

An Empire's actions and philosophies are what determines if it is evil or not. "Empire" usually has a negative connotation because, at least in my world, they were known to expand territories through war and invading other countries.

While that doesn't mean Sen Devadatta is evil, the truth is we don't know either way.