PW: rambling thoughts on the Oni

[Braden Campbell]

What would happen to a medieval-level, caste-based society that suddenly found itself presented with 1000 years of technological development in a single day?

What would happen to that society's religious beliefs if "God" gave them said technological trove, and then said "Here you go. Make the most of this... I won't be coming back. Ever."

Since "God" gave the Oni the gift of technology, is technology considered holy?

Bushido Industries - "Bushido" meaning the Way of the Warrior. Does this mean that the MegaCorporation only produces weapons and war machines, or is it named this because it is controlled by the Warrior Caste? Or both?

Does the Bushido Code extend to other races (my thinking is not)?


Just some things I've been considering for Thundercloud Galaxy. Feel free to discuss.

[MrMom]

Bushido or The Way of the Warrior is a Idea or philosophy used by Samurai and Yes it would be able to cross into other species caste systems.

[Nekira Sudacne]

What would happen to a medieval-level, caste-based society that suddenly found itself presented with 1000 years of technological development in a single day?

Serious social conflict, more than a few wars.

What would happen to that society's religious beliefs if "God" gave them said technological trove, and then said "Here you go. Make the most of this... I won't be coming back. Ever."

probablly about the same...what, You hear from Promethus after he handed you a burning stick?

Since "God" gave the Oni the gift of technology, is technology considered holy?

revered, but not holy.

Bushido Industries - "Bushido" meaning the Way of the Warrior. Does this mean that the MegaCorporation only produces weapons and war machines, or is it named this because it is controlled by the Warrior Caste? Or both?

probablly it's controled by a warrior caste and started out only making weapons, though they have likely branched out sinse then

Does the Bushido Code extend to other races (my thinking is not)?

Probablly not

[taalismn]

The Oni probably see technology as a means to furthering their cultural ideals, but I doubt it would be seen as holy in itself....just a reward for their past good behavior and a further sign that their culture is on the right track....Especially once they understand it and get into the forefront of its development....They'll look at other societies and see their balancing of traditional values and their own technological understanding and sophistication as a sign of their inherent greatness(even if they're condescendingly humble about it)....

[Aramanthus]

I think it is very interesting line of thought you started Braden. I agree with the thoughts of the various posters. The best way to look at their view of others is to compare their culture to the PreWW2 Japanese soldier. They viewed themselves as superior to any other warriors they fought. It wasn't until they were beaten when their eyes were opened to the fact that the other soldiers were as good as they were.

[Braden Campbell]

They viewed themselves as superior to any other warriors they fought. It wasn't until they were beaten when their eyes were opened to the fact that the other soldiers were as good as they were.

Oh, the Oni definitely got scared 30 years ago when the Kreeghor showed up. Scared so badly that they joined with the gaijin Consortium.

Oni history seems to be long periods of stagnant stability punctuated by societal-overhauling events every 500 years or so. (If that makes any sense...)

[glitterboy2098]

well, if the Oni were at a Fuedal, medival level of technology prior to the gift of the tech, i would imagine that the society wouldn't change that much.

think about it, you have the knowledge, but do you have the infastructure? probably not. so the Givers would have to drop that off too. well, since it's not going to be understandable at first (early on it's likely to be a form of 'magic' to you), only a small # would be tought how to run the factories and design stuff, and they would train the workers to do their role.

so you'd see a new 'tech-preist' caste arise, formed from the people involved with the gift of technology. these would be divided between roles. at the top would probably be the Thinkers (scientists/those with knowledge), then Overseers (management), Tinkerers (technicians/repairmen/engineers), and then Workers

Workers make the parts, and then the Tinkerers assemble them or repair them under the eye of Overseers, and using the plans laid out by the Thinkers.

over time, this would probably become 'dogmatic', with 'technology' becoming a religion of sorts. the manufacture and use of it would become a form of worship, with the Givers as the dieties. the Thinkers stop designing and just start relying on existing plans (the attitude that "the Givers were perfect, so why change their holy plans?"), and the other sub-castes also become dogmatic as a result. tinkeerers can only repair stuff according to plan. workers can only make what they are told to make, and can't change the designs. Overseers evolve into a sort of 'thought police' that eliminates 'heretics' that do not follow the 'blueprint'.


then the CCW arrives. the CCW has technology on par with the Oni. but to them it is a tool, not a scripture. this would start a cultural revolution of sorts, and eventually the 'technology as worship of the Givers' would be reformed to be less dogmatic. the 'heretics' that went against 'the blueprint' would be validated, and the idea that the technology of the Givers could be improved would become more acceptable. basically the 'cult of technology' gets secularised.

the Givers would still be revered, but no longer worshiped as dieties, and technology would still be the purvue of the 'tech-preists', but it would be less dogmatic about the manufacture and use.

Bushido Industries - "Bushido" meaning the Way of the Warrior. Does this mean that the MegaCorporation only produces weapons and war machines, or is it named this because it is controlled by the Warrior Caste? Or both?

probably the name refers to the manufacture of military hardware, or 'warrior' hardware. this would be the full spectrum from starships all the way down to tactical goggles.
odds are the name wasn't a Oni one, but rather what the business registry tagged that particular sub-section of the tech-preist operation as. (the orginal might have been "we build the things that enable warriors" in the Oni language on the registration application, and some paperpusher condensed it to 'Bushido industries'.

[Greyaxe]

What would happen to a medieval-level, caste-based society that suddenly found itself presented with 1000 years of technological development in a single day?
.

The eliete of society would form the political, cultural, and econimic backbone of the society and dictate to the lesser houses their roles in the world and how technology applies to them. They would not share their technology easily with anybody and would see technology as the means to become deific.

What would happen to that society's religious beliefs if "God" gave them said technological trove, and then said "Here you go. Make the most of this... I won't be coming back. Ever."

Since "God" gave the Oni the gift of technology, is technology considered holy?
.

Thoes who received the technology would instantly be cast as "gifted" or Holy. They would be instantly made the upper crust of the budding new society as recipients of the new god, or become gods themselves. After all according to the Oni who recieved the gift of technology the gift of godlyness, they themselves have become gods and placed in controll of their own destiny. For technology is the gift of the gods and those who posess it are themselves godly.

Bushido Industries - "Bushido" meaning the Way of the Warrior. Does this mean that the MegaCorporation only produces weapons and war machines, or is it named this because it is controlled by the Warrior Caste? Or both?
.

Corporations are at "War" with each other for dominance of the market, as such the corporation would have a warrior mentality despite being run by the upper caste of Oni Society.

Does the Bushido Code extend to other races (my thinking is not)?
.

It applies to other races only as they are measured by it and weighed by it.

[Jefffar]

I see a corporate version of the Bushido code dominating modern Oni society. The code is a set of behavoirs based on respect, honour and worth. So any who were resepected,hounoured or worthy would have the code extended to them.

It's reaching that status that is the hard part.

Offhand I'd say the Wolfen and the Noro and CAF and TVIA personel are extended it as a default. As are high ranking offocials of any CCW organization or world.

The T'Zee, even their rulers, would be permantly off the list.

Cosmo-Knights and similar champions would be in the good books automatically.

Worthy foes (like Royal Kreeghor and the Invincible Guard) or rivals (like the Naruni) would also be accorded some of the respect of Bushido.

I would think the UWW Warlock Marines would also be on the defailt accept list.

[KLM]

The Oni did not get their tech overnight, they probably
crossed that gap during a few generations, even with
similar methods, than People's Republic of China, ie.
"boosting" some regions to the max, while mostly
leaving farmlands in lower levels.

Whatever, most of the "birthing pains" were - IMO -
soothed by Ameratsu herself. Also, there is no indication
of kissing goodbye forever... On the contrary, we could
implement a series of legends/prophecies promising
the return of the Oni Goddess.

Then we can have secret organisations, with their
secret agenda to revive/recall Her, or ensure that
She never returns. Cyberai, Ninja, and that 0,001%
of magic users (1 in 100 thousand, 5 planets, each with
5 billion Oni... That is 125.000 magic users. FoM and Tolkeen
can make a favor ).

-------
As for Zaibatsu... In the Third Reich there were corps
owned by the SS, probably the SA too, so corporations
were owned by the "warrior caste" (paralell ends HERE).

Then there is another example. In England in the XVth,
XVIth century economy begun to shift from agriculture
to industry, trade and - of course - colonisation.

Now, the people who could invest in ships or factories
were the noblemen - ie. those who owned land.

So, I see no problem imagining such a transition
from a feudal system to a Cyberpunk-like megacorp
owned society, frankly skipping any or most attemps
on such thing as democracy or trade unions.

--------------
One last issue: Prometheus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus

In myth, he was freed by Heracles/Hercules, plus he was
worshipped. Well, 12 generation of being birdfood might
not worth it, but... Who knows.
All in all, he was rehabilitated by the boss's son.

Adios
KLM

[KLM]

Hmm... "Extended honor" and "vary of mages"...

I guess, some magic organisation (by they brotherhoods,
guilds, goverments, Asteriod Eaters) can, and probably
did earned so Oni "clans" (zaibatsu's) respect, so the honor
the members of those organisation.

But this works in the opposite way. If one UWW planet
became infamous for its Dark Coven in the eye of that
particular Oni organisation, it takes centuries for people
from that planet to earn any respect.

Just my two cents.

Adios
KLM

[Braden Campbell]

The current Celestial Emperor is a 7 year-old boy.

I'll writing up the Oni history this weekend, after which I'll know more.

[KLM]

Like I said, even if they mages are treated as friends, they would still be generally cautioned by the average Oni (public).

Wouldn't Mages be see much like Royal advisers? Only small amount of the oni use Magic, so wouldn't that small amount be both honored and feared?

Probably being a mage in itself is not a deciding factor.

What magical organisation you belong to means much more.
(Ie. being a patented holistic healer means you are somewhat
respected, also disdained by "proper" doctors, while being
a member of a ninja clan means Judge Lynch... )

Adios
KLM