Jerell wrote:llywelyn wrote:That Lazlo continues to exist is authorial fiat/filibuster - in real life, it would be a wretched den of inhuman slavery and feudalistic privilege enforced by the magical Dbees against the lower classes.
I find that to be fairly realistic assessment actually.
At best the nonmagical would probably be second class citizens, even if it was just human magic users running the show. Let alone Dragons or other such magical beings that would probably view us as pawns to use in their games. It would be likely that Xeno control or oppression (or "guidance" if some of you would prefer) of humanity would be the order of the day, subvertly or overtly. If you had the skill subvertly would probably be easier, making the lower class think they're helping themselves when they're really just Xeno pawns.
Somehow I just think Xeno occupation of Terra would go down like the Spanish Conquest of the Canary Islands. I'm for a free humanity.
The problem with amagic driven society is that magic eventually start to shape the society much like some technology changed and shaped our own. On the positive side magic soceity is an extremely meritocratic society, as in theory everyone could learn magic, but in practice end up being lead by people who in search of power had trespassed the humankind(being good or bad is irrelevant , as we are talking that normal human aspect they had to leave behind in order to get to the "top") This leave the human leadership of magician lacking any political empathy, and being extremely rigid. In the end spellcaster become a caste. Add to the fact that inhuman creatures can by sheer natural talent or simply because they are long lived, reach easier the top and still reamain "ground rooted" and I can see your problem.
But this does not mean that D-bee or magic are inherently evil or harmful for the humankind, just there are troubles to face expecially if you do not adpat and devlope new social systems to make things works in a suitable way(and is not easy, hell even without magic or d-bees is not easy!! )
For D-Bees I see some problems arising from few fact:
a) Some D-Bees are always armed and dangerous. Is a problem expecially for Natural MDC creatures with superhuman strength. Add weird offensive powers and natural weapons and you have someone that no matter how nice act, still make you nervous to stay around(aka Ben Grimm's Dilemma.)
b)Some D-Bees are truly truly alien, not many as one could expect, but there are. These one freak you out, as while often not really dangeorus, they lack any understanding or feeling for humans. this is troubling becasue make hard and near impossible to deal with. The supernatural equivalent are Elementals, who are not evil per se but simply do not get mortals at all
c) Some D-bees are insanley long lived. This create a double bridge as they grow more and more detached with mortals, and more and more see thems as hyoperactive child at best. Even the way time is perceived can become insanely different. For someone who is de-facto immortal 50 years are nothing, for a human is lot of time.
d) Some d-bees have storng traditions that mkae hard to find common ground with humans: Kydians do not know what birth control means(and Splugorth do not want them to know, as they are perfect as they are, an almost endless supply of cannon fodder!), Larmac make laziness a virtue, Floopers are..well...yeah...Floopers. You see the problem. Not talking about Simvan cannibalistic rituals and the fact consider any non Simvan not true people...
e)Talkin abot Simvan is worth noting that a lot of Rifts D-bees major groups come from a primitive societies. This is quite a problem as they have another thing that create a gap with more advanced human social groups, but make co-existance easier with similar tribal groups, albeit rivalry still exist. Most civilized D-Bees are in such scattered and low number to make group relations hard and complicated
Now this does not means co-existance is not possible only can be possible if two part move to an agreement, often involving a compromise. Germany attempted it, and one of the most awesome general of NGR is a powerful D-Bee, but is still baby steps(helped by the corporacratic influence of Triax, as corporation logic is kinda different from standard - Corporations in Rifts Earth would need a discussion apart IMHO). This is hard, but not impossible. As is not Impossible for Lazlo being, for now, an haven runnig smoothly...but who know if can last under pressure. One thing is being friends when things go well, is another is when **** hit the fan(I'm Italian and even for personal family history I know how much truth there is in these words). Still Co-existanc eis a better and pragmatic idea than genocide. Send them in a better world through Rifts could be pragmatic....if not only required lot of magic research to avoid sending them in MEchanoid infested world and won't prevent them popping back again at first random rifts(that no one can prevetn by the way, except by using pyramids and millenium trees...). Still considering sentinent being worth of same dignity as person is NOT wrong. As this does nto means you can't take some harsh measures/sacrifice, much the same one will do to another human...mors tua vita mea...
But giving enlightment and possible coexistance is woth giving a chance, as if things go well one could get AWESOME results(Phase world is the ideal Rifts earth should aim to, but without Prometheans it would be hard to reach i admit it)
"The baron is made of raw win. Search your feelings, you know it to be true."