[Balanor]

I have opened this thread to provide some OOC explanation to the recent zulkir decree affecting all legions of Thay.

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I want to make it clear that this change came about not because of any one thing, or one person. But after having it brought to my attention that the previous setup of the legion factions meant that PCs like an orc, for example, could potentially become a captain/tribune of a legion, command human captains and all other legionnaires below him. In the racist land of Thay were being a human is everything, I have to admit this was very unrealistic - hence this drastic change.

I understand and sympathize with PCs, especially long-term PCs, that were created with a plan in place they would become leaders of a legion who are negatively affected by this. But I hope you will also consider how unrealistic it is for a certain despised races like elves, halflings, goblins/gnolls/orcs and others attaining even a mediocre position of authority in the factions that are essentially the arm of Thayan law. The same law that states human reign supreme above all other races.

So if you wish to have any of your non-human PCs leave a legion, DMs can boot you from the faction so you can choose another. In fact - I would encourage it. Ever since the beginning of the PW the legions have been a crutch that many people seem to flock to because...well...I honestly don’t know. Maybe because they have the perception of being the easiest to join, perhaps? So for the next two weeks from the time of this post, I have disabled any notoriety loss that comes with a legion faction boot, so you may have your PCs leave any legion faction during this time without any game-mechanics (notoriety) loss.

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If you feel the need, you may use this as an outlet to either publicly cheer or jeer this decision but you’ll need to do so in a constructive and non-flaming manner. And if you don’t think you can do both, send me your thoughts/comments/complaints/curses in a PM instead, please.

[Dyskordia]

D'aww! Sadness... Understandable, but.... sadness. :(

[WingsOfStardust]

Just a question ... would half-dragon's count into that equation? As when I reach level 20, Elira will become one. I'd not want to work towards tribune just to lose everything at lvl 20.

[Sundraoi]

I can't speak for those who take the path of legionnaire as I've only done that once and only because I had no idea what to do with Chania. I can say that it is the only faction you join and -instantly- receive the cloak and access to all faction areas. Granted, it's the military and you would have access to barracks so.. *shrugs*
There is also "the legion is the law in the absence of a Red Wizard" that's pretty attractive. Seriously, if an elf is "the law" then who, aside from their superiors or a Red, can have power over them? For this alone I think the decision to limit ranks for certain races in the legion is a good one. Consider this, in Nazi Germany, would a person of "an inferior race" have held a ranking position in the army? Or even been in the German army for that matter. Personally, I think elves at least should try to find factions that give them the ability to work in the shadows -against- the tyranny that is Thay. Find ways to help free their enslaved brethren. *shrugs* That's just my opinion though.

[Animayhem]

I can understand the reasons given the nature of Thay. If a half blood is currently a Captain or Tribune and they decide to stay even if demoted would it be possible to give them a compsenation of sorts? Caramiriel is a captain and half elf and would accept the demotion aspect if she decides to stay.

Unfortunately outside of working for a temple, being a merchant or slaver, the various legions give people a chance to join something so I would not call it a crutch.

[Bela]

Similar question about Yashana, she is sergeant of the Ebony Riders and also looking to be RDD. Eventually Knight for Kalos, if he succeeds his trials. Would this change affect her status too?

Just a question ... would half-dragon's count into that equation? As when I reach level 20, Elira will become one. I'd not want to work towards tribune just to lose everything at lvl 20.

[dremora]

Dread Lancers have Drow in them. Are they limited as above? Obviously this affects me in no way, just curious.

[DarkRanger]

Curious as well about the half-dragons and also the Drow Lancers. Just as my personal opinion regarding the Drow question, since the Dread Lancers are an elite cavalry with less, if any, law enforcement role like the other legions have, they should be slightly less dogmatic and more of a meritocracy, treating Drow as other legions treat half-breeds.

[Pluto]

The question about RDD's is a good one and an answer will be coming shortly.

Drow females in the Lancers are not affected by the change.

[The Philosopher]

It's a necessary change, I'd say. It indeed made little sense that superiors would allow elves or half-elves - beings who are more feared, and thus despised, than tieflings are in Thay - access to higher ranks like that.

But I do have to ask; indeed it is that Thay considers humans to be the superior race (and Mulani the superior ethnicity), but in all my reading of the Lore, it's stated that what matters most for a Thayan, in the case of half-breeds like half-elves, half-orcs and the mostly-human beings like tieflings, aasimar, genasi and so on, is the human heritage. For instance, if a half-elf or half-orc is of Mulan heritage, they suffer little prejudice, so much so it's even stated there are few lands as good for a half-orc to live in as Thay. Same is applicable to tieflings, who are a far sight more common than half-elves and elves in Thay and who do not have the same social stigma of having fiendish ancestors that they have elsewhere, especially since they are hardly half-breeds to begin with and are very often the children of Red Wizards.

Will these aspects of Thayan society be held into account by the team, moving forward?