Recently, I revisited Dawntrail to better understand the purpose of the Rite of Succession, as I had unfortunately skimmed through it during my initial playthrough. Here, I will argue that the Rite of Succession is fundamentally flawed and thus undermines a ruler's legitimacy. To do this, I will first analyse the content provided in the storyline, then compare it with political frameworks presented by Hobbes in Leviathan, as well as Locke in The Second Treatise of Government. In doing so, I hope to show that the issue in DT's story does not mainly lie in character writing, but in its setting.
The central purpose of the Rite of Succession is, in a sense, not to test whether a candidate is inherently competent, but to grow one through the various trials. Evidence that supports this is found in the dialogue between Gulool Ja Ja (GJJ) and the Warrior of Light (WOL) in the Main Story Quest: A Father First. In this quest, there is a section of dialogue between GJJ and WOL regarding the Rite of Succession, in which GJJ says that he "elected to hold the rite of succession not to choose a fitting candidate, but to cultivate one", and hopes that WOL and their companions can offer "different perspectives" to "inspire them to grow". Here, the dialogue shows the true intention of the Rite of Succession, and it also echoes GJJ's philosophy later displayed in the Main Story Quest: A History of Violence, in which GJJ states that "Ignorance begets strife. Understanding begets fellowship". From these two instances, we can see that the purpose of the Rite of Succession is to choose a candidate who can be honed through the trials to better fit the position of a Dawnservant, rather than being preconditioned.
However, selecting a candidate through the Rite of Succession conflates authority with governing philosophy, undermining the foundational principle of preserving peace. Prior to GJJ’s ruling, Tural was in a state of perpetual conflict among different people, a condition Hobbes terms “war of every man against every man”, attributed to the “solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short” lives that people had (Hobbes, 1651). Tural’s tumultuous state remained so until GJJ’s unification, which took place eighty years prior, and its process was carried out by a small party of adventurers with GJJ at its helm. While the unification quelled the wars in Tural, it was not the structure that has kept the state at peace since. Fundamentally, Tural’s peace is still maintained through Landsguard, the peacekeeping force established after GJJ’s unification. Thus, peace is not preserved through governing philosophy but primarily through the military presence, and in which the unified tribes “lay down this right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himselfe”, and relinquish their prior independence, for the sake of that peace, lest there be a return to the pre-unification state (Hobbes, 1651). Thus, a form of social contract is formed between the tribes and the state to preserve the peace. This subverts the philosophy GJJ preaches, rendering the Rite of Succession a pointless endeavour, as the true reason for maintaining peace was never conveyed.
A further examination of Locke’s writing likewise demonstrates why the Rite of Succession is a detriment to the successor, insofar as it does not test the essential element in maintaining peace. As Locke argues, GJJ’s conquest alone does not grant him the legitimacy to rule over the tribes, as “conquest is as far from setting up any government, as demolishing a house is from building a new one in the place” (Locke, 1689). As such, without the people's consent, either openly or tacitly, a new government, or in this case the rule over the tribes, cannot be erected, as tribes can simply rebel, thereby defying GJJ’s rule (Locke, 1689). Here, one can argue that GJJ’s governing philosophy truly earned the tribes’ consent to submit. However, such consent is not temporary, but an ongoing judgement. As the state provides security through the Landsguard, the tribes consent to be ruled. This form of social contract, which hinges on ongoing consent, is formed from trust in the state’s ability to protect these tribes’ security. In turn, the tribes give up their freedom in exchange for “the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties and estates” (Locke, 1689). However, throughout the Rite of Succession, the activities within do not truly convey this point, even though it is the foundation of how peace is maintained, as they teach the candidates to understand the tribes, their history and culture, but not as to why they are willing to remain in the governance of the state. Therefore, the Rite of Succession’s lack of this true lesson devalues its point, and candidates do not truly learn how to keep the peace.
In conclusion, the Rite of Succession attempts to shape candidates into the role of a Dawnservant. However, it is insufficient to teach how peace is maintained in Tural. As a result, it is fundamentally flawed and undermines a ruler’s legitimacy.
Hobbes, T. (1651). Leviathan.
Locke, J. (1689). Second Treatise of Government.
Continue reading...
The central purpose of the Rite of Succession is, in a sense, not to test whether a candidate is inherently competent, but to grow one through the various trials. Evidence that supports this is found in the dialogue between Gulool Ja Ja (GJJ) and the Warrior of Light (WOL) in the Main Story Quest: A Father First. In this quest, there is a section of dialogue between GJJ and WOL regarding the Rite of Succession, in which GJJ says that he "elected to hold the rite of succession not to choose a fitting candidate, but to cultivate one", and hopes that WOL and their companions can offer "different perspectives" to "inspire them to grow". Here, the dialogue shows the true intention of the Rite of Succession, and it also echoes GJJ's philosophy later displayed in the Main Story Quest: A History of Violence, in which GJJ states that "Ignorance begets strife. Understanding begets fellowship". From these two instances, we can see that the purpose of the Rite of Succession is to choose a candidate who can be honed through the trials to better fit the position of a Dawnservant, rather than being preconditioned.
However, selecting a candidate through the Rite of Succession conflates authority with governing philosophy, undermining the foundational principle of preserving peace. Prior to GJJ’s ruling, Tural was in a state of perpetual conflict among different people, a condition Hobbes terms “war of every man against every man”, attributed to the “solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short” lives that people had (Hobbes, 1651). Tural’s tumultuous state remained so until GJJ’s unification, which took place eighty years prior, and its process was carried out by a small party of adventurers with GJJ at its helm. While the unification quelled the wars in Tural, it was not the structure that has kept the state at peace since. Fundamentally, Tural’s peace is still maintained through Landsguard, the peacekeeping force established after GJJ’s unification. Thus, peace is not preserved through governing philosophy but primarily through the military presence, and in which the unified tribes “lay down this right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himselfe”, and relinquish their prior independence, for the sake of that peace, lest there be a return to the pre-unification state (Hobbes, 1651). Thus, a form of social contract is formed between the tribes and the state to preserve the peace. This subverts the philosophy GJJ preaches, rendering the Rite of Succession a pointless endeavour, as the true reason for maintaining peace was never conveyed.
A further examination of Locke’s writing likewise demonstrates why the Rite of Succession is a detriment to the successor, insofar as it does not test the essential element in maintaining peace. As Locke argues, GJJ’s conquest alone does not grant him the legitimacy to rule over the tribes, as “conquest is as far from setting up any government, as demolishing a house is from building a new one in the place” (Locke, 1689). As such, without the people's consent, either openly or tacitly, a new government, or in this case the rule over the tribes, cannot be erected, as tribes can simply rebel, thereby defying GJJ’s rule (Locke, 1689). Here, one can argue that GJJ’s governing philosophy truly earned the tribes’ consent to submit. However, such consent is not temporary, but an ongoing judgement. As the state provides security through the Landsguard, the tribes consent to be ruled. This form of social contract, which hinges on ongoing consent, is formed from trust in the state’s ability to protect these tribes’ security. In turn, the tribes give up their freedom in exchange for “the mutual preservation of their lives, liberties and estates” (Locke, 1689). However, throughout the Rite of Succession, the activities within do not truly convey this point, even though it is the foundation of how peace is maintained, as they teach the candidates to understand the tribes, their history and culture, but not as to why they are willing to remain in the governance of the state. Therefore, the Rite of Succession’s lack of this true lesson devalues its point, and candidates do not truly learn how to keep the peace.
In conclusion, the Rite of Succession attempts to shape candidates into the role of a Dawnservant. However, it is insufficient to teach how peace is maintained in Tural. As a result, it is fundamentally flawed and undermines a ruler’s legitimacy.
Hobbes, T. (1651). Leviathan.
Locke, J. (1689). Second Treatise of Government.
Continue reading...