Post by Terrestrial on Oct 17, 2011 17:11:42 GMT -5
Descending Fire 1,
*Early in the morning Dri got her things together and set out for the town center in Bezair. With her was a stack of newsletters that had notices of upcoming events and articles about the comings and goings of the empire.On the front page was an article with bold print stating:
Breeding Programs: Dragon Blooded Eugenics
There is a program in this empire intended to create more potent Dragon-Blooded through a selective breeding process. By not allowing the empire's Dragon Blooded to choose a spouse to have children with outside their Aspect, it ensures that there is only one Aspect the child can be and makes a stronger bloodline.
Every adult Dragon-Blooded in Imperveress is expected to marry someone of their own Aspect and produce offspring or else they risk being cut off from their Dragon's stipend provided by the empire, and are unable to achieve any great level of status. If they comply, then they receive a wedding bonus from the ruling party and are rewarded monetarily for every baby they bring into the world.
Even though the decision is practically made for a Dragon-Blooded in this empire, there is need to take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of this program as a whole.
As a benefit for those who follow this system, you will have a stronger collection of Dragon-Blooded lines and ensure the future of the Aspects. The program also keeps Dragon-Blooded from fostering offspring outside of their marriages in order to gain the full benefits from their line. Those involved are also more streamlined and predictable, allowing for a more accurate census of the number of Scions in Imperveress. Over time, as this plan is followed, the potency of the bloodlines are increased, resulting in a higher rate of children exalting.
On the contrary, this program takes away a lot of the choice the individual has for who they make a life and family with. They can become more of a number and a statistic as opposed to the people that they are. This would also change the way local Scions approach love and family, resulting in people who choose based on strength of line, whether or not they have positive feelings for one another. By thickening the bloodlines, this can also cause a greater gap between the mindset and social norms between Dragon-Blooded and the un-exalted mortal population.
There are two notable eugenics programs like ours: the Realm and Lookshy. Their programs are essentially the same as the one in Imperveress, with the major differences being the concept of quality of the lines over quantity of the Dragons on the Blessed Isle. In Lookshy, their motto is quantity over quality in regards to the way their Scions breed. After speaking with the current Dragon-Blooded population of Imperveress, I have found a mixed review of the breeding program here. They enjoy the benefits that come with being a part of it (money, status, and the opportunity to have a legacy), yet the main complaint is that they feel like an object or number as opposed to a person. They don't enjoy how little choice they have over something they didn't choose to be.
Those are the facts. For more information, contact Dri in Bezair.
Featured Profile
Name: Wisteria
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Occupation: Events Coordinator for Imperveress
Likes: dancing, meeting new people, color, sincerity, art, a good party, creating an effective celebration for the occassion
Dislikes: cruelty, snails
You can find this rainbow-haired woman hard at work in the Ramoth Manse, at the events around the empire, or out with Queen, her wasp-like mount. She would also like mentioned that she is looking for a few more people to be on her Events Committee and to contact her if you are interested.
Upcoming Events
New Year's Party -Ascending Air 1
Wisteria will be holding a party in the centers of each major city. There will be spaces for vendors and dancing with live music. Come and have a great time!
Music Contest - Resplendent Air (all month)
Set in the Theatre of Resounding Joy located in the Imperial City, musical acts of all kinds are gathering to compete against one another. The prize? A custom instrument made for the winning act by a master craftsperson of their choice. Slots are still open. See Wisteria to enter.
The Rumor Mill
Where rumors around the empire are investigated!
Is Dagon the Sea Monster?
After asking him personally, he informed me that he was indeed once the Sea Monster of legend. He would like readers to know that he has "no desire to return to that lifestyle ever again." Currently he works for Emperor Ress ending piracy on the rivers.
Is/Was Empress Arachnia Pregnant?
After some digging, I have had it confirmed that our Empress has indeed had a child. A daughter born the 15th of Descending Wood on a full moon, they have named her Miakoda. When asked why she had not told anyone, the Empress stated: "we are waiting until she is old enough to appropriately handle the public's attention. For those who may wish to see her, my answer is: soon." So there you have it; the Emperor and Empress have indeed had their first child, with an official introduction coming soon.
Is Honored Brother Still a Member of the Immaculate Order?
His response to this was yes. When asked for further comment, he said: "I am seeking the truth of the Immaculate Teachings through experience. Most of the monks on the Blessed Isle have lived sheltered, cloistered lives. To truly understand my faith, I decided to go out and seek the true evils of the world."