I've gone through the news and rumors and I and a few others are going to be RPing Gallic Junkers a little more prominently shortly. Wanted to throw out my basic premise for review and coment before preceding.
I'm not including footnotes to news and rumors and infocards yet so you will have to be somewhat aware of them already but this is the SIMPLE view of what I see as the bottom line of what "Junker service" to the Crown was all about. Its followed by categories of response I think Junkers would fall into afterwards:
When the Monarchy in Gallia approached Junkers regarding using them to covertly infiltrate outer-Sirus there were many reasons for asking them.
The difference in ethnic heritage between Gallics and Junkers made for a mostly unconcious prejudice against them in society overall, restricting their opportunities to advance and participate in government. For these reasons, the monarchy offering the Junkers a chance to be more connected presented them with a hope (real or imagined, who can say?) that they would be allowed more influence and access within the government, business and society.
Junkers were used to working harder for less and were willing to grasp the opportunity and also prudent enough to realize that "hopes and promises" from the Crown were not the same as "goods received". For this reason, they immediately began looking for independent opportunities even as they served the Monarchy. It was in this way that the present day "Junker enterprises" known throughout outer-Sirius began.
The reknowned "Junker ingenuity" and ability to "tinker" creatively with all sorts of technologies has a two-fold origin. Their relegation within Gallia to the backside of society forced them to be frugal and to work with what was available. Their liveliehoods depended on keeping their needed technologies running for as long as was possible and in the most economical fashion. "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Junkers took what they could get and "made it work". The second source of Junker skills came from the Monarchy. It was not enough to send mere mechanics and handymen to infiltrate -- they needed training. Junkers were given tools and expertise to allow them to independently construct bases (Rochester for example) and simple vesssels (such as the CSV). Salvage and mining skills were required along some combat and infiltration skills and the Monarchy saw to it that the "first wave" of Junkers were the best prepared and brightest. Coupled with already learned shrewdness in dealing with an elite society that saw them as lower class, Junkers were quite prepared to reap the benefits of their service. For the Monarchy and for themselves. It was these first Junker emmisary-agents who as "founding fathers" not only spied for Gallia but nurtured and developed outer-Sirius Junker society.
Another reason Junkers were asked was the very elite nature of a "court-based" societal and governing power structure. Royals and those high up in connection with them did not wish to risk themselves but other court attendants and nobles would take the opportunity in service for them to advance themselves in the court--becoming rivals to those whom they initially served. Because of the inbred disdain of Junker status, Junkers would never be such a threat. A few scraps and promises and small elevations was the most they could expect and would they reasonably satisfy most. No "elevated Junker" would ever displace a "true noble" of the court and thus they were not a threat as another might be.
Finally, the threat of anti-Monarchy agents infiltrating the operation and subverting it was enough of a danger to view all Gallic influences and powers other than the Crown itself with extreme suspicion. Junkers could be trusted because they were and could be controlled -- at least in the eyes of the Crown. As usual, Junkers played this underestimation to their own advantage.
So in the present day "reunion", old and new world Junkers are being slowly brought back together and exposed to one another's views and circumstances. Here are some of the responses I think will come from that:
Junkers who feel they were sent to "Die for the King" on an essentially long-term suicide mission and that they were discarded from their own society and orphaned into another with little support. They would be bitter and want retribution or renumeration. Most likely very sympathetic to non-Royals or very demanding of change from the king. Some would be content to say, "The hell with Gallia--what has it ever done for me?" and others would be burning for payback or reconstitution into society.
Junkers who see themselves in the light of their newly unveiled origin as heroes and not just "scrap collectors". They would take pride in their heritage and look favorably at the Monarchy if it was complimentary and approving of their sevice. These would be Junkers who would return to Gallia or wish to form colonies outside it "under the Gallic flag".
Junkers who feel betrayed--not by Gallia--but by their Junker forefather's who hid their origin from them. They would feel robbed and disposessed. Unable to take credit for serving and unable to claim Gallia as a home. These might go to serve the Council or attempt returning to reintegrate--though either case would be bittersweet to them.
Junkers who see Gallics as "just another rube" and are eager to use their "Junker connection" there to get a foot in the door before anyone else. They would care nothing folr politcs--just advantage. true, outer-Sirius junkers. these might be a shock to the home grown Gallic ones who would still have a culture of respect and acceptance towards the Monarchy--at least to some degree. Culture shock for the two when meet would be a real possibility with either perhaps adopting the views of the other to some degree.
Junkers who are proud of their accomplishment in outer-Sirius as well as in Gallia and who want indpendent "Junkerism". The sort not bound to other authorities or houses but run by and for Junkers. These would be the proud idealists. they would stand for Junker rights in or out of the Monarchy and if freedoms and advancement within Gallia were restricted they would encourage resistance to or immigration from it. Someone had suggested a "Junker colony" for disatisfied Gallic Junkers. this is a good basis for it.
Gallic Junkers would be the refelection of all the above but reversed. Resenting not having the opportunities or looking at outer-Junkers as a step down the rung fom themselves or wanting payment for their service or being fiercly proud of it, etc, etc.
One commonality all Junkers should have is loyalty to other Junkers. They may have a variety of loyalties but they never discard loyalty to their own. Any other loyalty they have must coexist with that--even if their only other loyalty is to themself. This is the core definition of what it is to be a Junker..."In Junkers we trust."
Well my brother, i m one of those who dont feel any relation with Galia or their king. For centuries we have been working our way in every corner of Sirius, doing what we do, forging alliances, connections. At some point, for most of junkers, the goal of spying for the monarchy was lost. Ideas changes as they evolved.
A good point in history when this happened was when Nappoleon invade almost Europe, when the the ideal of liberty, fratinity and iguality was spred. After that almost every monarchy in Europe suffered changes, downfalls, extitions. This is what i see on junkers, we fell the smell of freedom, we became a group apart of others.
The secret of our heritage was hold by a few bunch of junkers but even those i dont believe will continue their job for the Galia monarchy and loose that freedom they gained over the centuries.
We are brothers, but when these kind of diferent idealism get together, bad things happen, war happens, conflits happens. History teach us that.
At one point i heard from you the very best definition of what is a junker, modern day gypsies. So since when the non galic junkers will loose these freedom to a king and a regime that puts them in a low corner of society?
Good comments--what I am looking to hear. Would like to know what player characters are thinking so I can wrap our rp around that as much as possible. Thanks.
Yes, in reality the Junkers are much like immoral Zoners... each thriving in their own segment of the greater "gray area". Based on the territory they operate in, it would be ridiculous to assume they all have the same set of motives or goals. There is no "Supreme Junker ruling thingy..." but a set of Junker communities who cooperate for profit and overall Junker influence in Sirius and beyond.
I like your approach:)Shows how much effort you put into their background development.
Edit: I was writing at the same time:Pdidn't see your post.
Well , MrUnusuall would do exactly what hes done since ... well , ever, which is sit on both sides of the fence. I guess that puts him into the 4th category. I already did a few walk-ins into gallia, but due to my delicate rep getting screwed wherever else whenever I try to fix it in gallia, that has been keeping me away a bit.
So ... yea. Profit off the bastards , just like always.
' Wrote:"Immoral (unethical) Zoners" is an apt description for most. Good illustration I think--and profit is good;)
This makes it sound like Zoners are ethical. Some groups within the Zoners, maybe... but I wonder how many tons of cardamine and slaves have been carried by the Zoners over the years? Not to mention the Zoner station that buys pilots and refugees and sells human organs...
Anyway, good work so far, and I look forward to future Junker developments in relation to Gallia. Not having a Junker character I can't really comment on what my particular Junker would do, but as the second-in-command of the Gallic Royal Navy, I can tell you that we will try to work with the Junkers as much as possible. The ships and equipment you fly with may affect how we interact with you, though- using House Military tech isn't likely to go too well with us, for instance.
Sounds pretty good. The one thing I would slightly disagree with would be the loyalty to each other bit. Although I think that would mostly be correct I could see some junkers that felt so betrayed by this, because they were lied to and taken advantage of by fellow junkers that they might leave the junkers and become freelancers or mercenaries. I dont think they would go so far as to become hostile to other junkers but I can see them just not wanting to associate with them anymore. They could become zoners perhaps as well.
Other than that, I think you should start writing some info cards, as the gallic junkers probably need them.
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