## [DC][D] Murder Hobos and Empire

* Author: u/ToaKraka  *https://i.imgur.com/OQGHleQ.png**
* URL: http://www.critical-hits.com/blog/2015/08/10/murder-hobos-and-empire/
* Score: 21

* Created: 2015-08-10T13:19:18

### Post:

[Link to content](http://www.critical-hits.com/blog/2015/08/10/murder-hobos-and-empire/)

### Comments:

> **u/ancientcampus** [+9]  *juggling kittens* (a day later)
> 
> The bits about stasis and eventual collapse are sensible. What I don't get is, if Murder Hobos are the answer to every problem that threatens the empire, why aren't they a threat to the Empire itself?
> 
> Is it rock paper scissors? Empire > Murder Hobos > Lich Lord > Empire? I can see how that'd be possible.

>> **u/FeepingCreature** [+3]  *GCV Literally The Entire Culture* (a day later)
>> 
>> The empire controls the infrastructure that murder hobos rely on - quest givers, inns and taverns, weapons vendors.

>>> **u/ancientcampus** [+6]  *juggling kittens* (a day later)
>>> 
>>> I figure it's something like that. I'd expect that eventually, many level 20 wizards would want to retire, though, and carve out a province for themselves. Perhaps they do, and that's where you get your lich lords in the first place.
>>> 
>>> However, government is based on the premise that no individual can rule on their own strength - power comes from the masses, whether you use money or royalty or status to wield that power. In Fantasyland, though. I'd expect any government would need to have some high-level mojo backing it, like in TYE.

> **u/ToaKraka** [+4]  *https://i.imgur.com/OQGHleQ.png* (4 seconds later)
> 
> *tl;dr:*
> 
> The writer deconstructs how a large fantasy empire can maintain [Medieval Stasis](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MedievalStasis) within its borders for literally millennia--through isolationism, ultra-conservatism, the continuous rule of long-lived elves, and the help of native ~~murder hobos~~ adventurers--until outside kingdoms that have embraced technological advancement crush it in a war lasting only a few weeks. The author cites Imperial Rome, Ming China, and Safavid Persia as inspirations.
> 
> -----
> 
> *Some choice quotes:*
> 
> > The #1 social good promoted by the Empire is the existence and continued stability of the Empire. Every action must save the Empire; threats cannot disrupt the citizen’s lives; the Empire must continue.  The Emperor is good, the outside is bad, and heroes save the day by preventing change. First order of business: forbid all new things, especially technological advance. Order of business #2: worship the past and ignore the future. The long lives of elves incentivize them to protect themselves and their Empires.  A new thing might unbalance the delicate machinery of power. Things that threaten it must go.
> 
> > If some internal threat arises--a wizard decides to invent new spells, a dragon trainer decides to breed a new "dangerous" dragon, a bureaucrat consolidates power--send in the Murder Hobos. These guys are clear and present threats to the Empire’s stability. Destroy them before they publish a paper and tell anyone about their findings!
> 
> > Given an infinite timeline, even the mightiest of Empires become their own museums.

> **u/usui_no_jikan** [+5]  (a day later)
> 
> Isn't this more or less the tale of China? While there were dynastic overthrows, the basic structure of China more or less mirrored that described in the article.

>> **u/ToaKraka** [+4]  *https://i.imgur.com/OQGHleQ.png* (a day later)
>> 
>> > The author cites Imperial Rome, Ming China, and Safavid Persia as inspirations.

---