Old Politics
The Resistance: A radical group by Fort standards --and, incidentally, an outlawed one-- the Resistance does not like ‘The Way Things Are’. They have the strange notion that women and riders of the 'lower' colors are not inferior to heterosexual men and metallic riders. Whisper campaigns and secret meetings are their preferred tools, quietly sowing doubt in the current structure and winning over like-minded individuals one step at a time. *Especially* now there was such an utter, total debacle that did nothing but *damage* the progress that had been made and drag them *back* to this ugly ranker crackdown. A good many members of the Resistance would panic if it seemed they might succeed right now. Change is something that will be accomplished tomorrow. In the past, many members of the Resistance relocated to Southern Weyr because they feared exposure...however with Southern Weyr now destroyed those who’d have normally fled there now migrate to Southern Weyr’s closest ally- Ista Weyr.
Radicals: Otherwise known as "Us," making everyone else "Them." These are the terrorists of Pern, they who believe that any of their means are just because their goal is Right. Radicals do stupid things like put snakes in people’s beds and reverse a decade of progress. They give the Resistance a bad name, because they get innocents hurt with their actions- never more so than now. Naturally, the rankers will tell you the *whole* resistance is radical. Don’t try to suggest otherwise unless you want to be branded resistance too.
The Establishment: The privileged born to Fort. Those firmly opposed to the Resistance, often in whole or in part because they owe their status to it. The rankers are the core of this group-- they wouldn't *have* rank if they didn't at least pay it lip service. Also included are the lovers of rankers, their toadies, and those who believe firmly in Tradition. It's worth considering also that you have your ‘Old-school’ rankers... lets just say hard-core is their motto and *boy* are they feeling justified right now? And establishment riders who still hold firm on 'Why Metallic Is Better', but favor at least putting a velvet glove over the iron fist- you know, the guys that were in charge until that little snake incident?
The Way Things Are: It seems difficult to imagine, but there are many non-rankers who are just as pro the system as the rankers it serves. If you’ve been told something from the cradle, you tend to start believing it. You’ve nothing to compare against and centuries of the ancestors you are proud of can’t have been wrong. The Way Things Are character is *not* Status Quo, because they don’t fear change and they don’t wish things were different but accept how they are. They don’t *want* change and they think the way things are is only right and just.
The Bleeding Hearts: Just as there are lessers who love the system the way it is, there are rankers who hate it. Riding a brown or a bronze or a gold means a lot of things, but that you are inherently better- not so much. Bleeding Hearts want the world- or at least Fort- to be a nicer place without the resistance’s wish to be nasty about it.
I’m Fine, You’re Broken: You may be a bronzer who fancies men and that’s just fine. Doesn’t make those freaky sick greeners any less worthless! Doesn’t make your peer who looks at the pretty things any less freaky either- *you* have yourself in control, *he’s* just going to get led around by some mentally-challenged greener. The ‘I’m Fine, You’re Broken’ ranker wants a bit of everything. They want to be who they are, stay privileged *and* make everyone else jump through hoops of their choosing, which is why they aren’t Bleeding Hearts. They don’t care *what* happens to someone else, so long as they have it good in all ways.
The Status Quo: Those who don't want change, because change is innately frightening. There are no problems; there are just some troublemakers trying to raise a fuss. If you insist on making trouble, you deserve what happens to you. The Status Quo weyrmember lives with their head in the sand because it's easier, not because they don’t realise they are doing it.
Homecoming Queens: Fort riders have ended up all over. They may take the events of turn 22 to come home. Are they bringing radical ideas? Are they glad to be back home? Has their Weyr taken the opportunity to play pass-the-hot-tuber? Are they frothing to go on restoring Fort to her Former Glory, or are they going to be landing in the Bleeding Heart camp?
Go Away and Go Home!: No matter what flavour of Fortian you are... are you happy at all the new faces? And are the new faces happy to be here? Resent the fact your current leadership isn’t even Fort born- and carry on like they are? Anyone starting to feel a little claustrophobic, a little taken advantage of, missing people? Anyone get forcibly moved, anyone starting to think new people are a conclave plot to conquer *their* Fort? And anyone who transferred from want or by order from other places through all the years starting to be resented, or resentful? Fort’s a suspicious place!
Politics? What Politics? (PWP): Those who don't know, don't care, and are quite happy that way. Ask them about the state of Fort politics, and your answer will probably be ‘Uh...the Weyrwoman changed recently...I think?”
Radicals: Otherwise known as "Us," making everyone else "Them." These are the terrorists of Pern, they who believe that any of their means are just because their goal is Right. Radicals do stupid things like put snakes in people’s beds and reverse a decade of progress. They give the Resistance a bad name, because they get innocents hurt with their actions- never more so than now. Naturally, the rankers will tell you the *whole* resistance is radical. Don’t try to suggest otherwise unless you want to be branded resistance too.
The Establishment: The privileged born to Fort. Those firmly opposed to the Resistance, often in whole or in part because they owe their status to it. The rankers are the core of this group-- they wouldn't *have* rank if they didn't at least pay it lip service. Also included are the lovers of rankers, their toadies, and those who believe firmly in Tradition. It's worth considering also that you have your ‘Old-school’ rankers... lets just say hard-core is their motto and *boy* are they feeling justified right now? And establishment riders who still hold firm on 'Why Metallic Is Better', but favor at least putting a velvet glove over the iron fist- you know, the guys that were in charge until that little snake incident?
The Way Things Are: It seems difficult to imagine, but there are many non-rankers who are just as pro the system as the rankers it serves. If you’ve been told something from the cradle, you tend to start believing it. You’ve nothing to compare against and centuries of the ancestors you are proud of can’t have been wrong. The Way Things Are character is *not* Status Quo, because they don’t fear change and they don’t wish things were different but accept how they are. They don’t *want* change and they think the way things are is only right and just.
The Bleeding Hearts: Just as there are lessers who love the system the way it is, there are rankers who hate it. Riding a brown or a bronze or a gold means a lot of things, but that you are inherently better- not so much. Bleeding Hearts want the world- or at least Fort- to be a nicer place without the resistance’s wish to be nasty about it.
I’m Fine, You’re Broken: You may be a bronzer who fancies men and that’s just fine. Doesn’t make those freaky sick greeners any less worthless! Doesn’t make your peer who looks at the pretty things any less freaky either- *you* have yourself in control, *he’s* just going to get led around by some mentally-challenged greener. The ‘I’m Fine, You’re Broken’ ranker wants a bit of everything. They want to be who they are, stay privileged *and* make everyone else jump through hoops of their choosing, which is why they aren’t Bleeding Hearts. They don’t care *what* happens to someone else, so long as they have it good in all ways.
The Status Quo: Those who don't want change, because change is innately frightening. There are no problems; there are just some troublemakers trying to raise a fuss. If you insist on making trouble, you deserve what happens to you. The Status Quo weyrmember lives with their head in the sand because it's easier, not because they don’t realise they are doing it.
Homecoming Queens: Fort riders have ended up all over. They may take the events of turn 22 to come home. Are they bringing radical ideas? Are they glad to be back home? Has their Weyr taken the opportunity to play pass-the-hot-tuber? Are they frothing to go on restoring Fort to her Former Glory, or are they going to be landing in the Bleeding Heart camp?
Go Away and Go Home!: No matter what flavour of Fortian you are... are you happy at all the new faces? And are the new faces happy to be here? Resent the fact your current leadership isn’t even Fort born- and carry on like they are? Anyone starting to feel a little claustrophobic, a little taken advantage of, missing people? Anyone get forcibly moved, anyone starting to think new people are a conclave plot to conquer *their* Fort? And anyone who transferred from want or by order from other places through all the years starting to be resented, or resentful? Fort’s a suspicious place!
Politics? What Politics? (PWP): Those who don't know, don't care, and are quite happy that way. Ask them about the state of Fort politics, and your answer will probably be ‘Uh...the Weyrwoman changed recently...I think?”