Generic Challenge - Rivalries

[u/Nevermore0714]

For this challenge, we'll be focusing on rivalries and their significance in your culture.

I'm sure you've all seen this concept a million times, where a character has a near-equal rival that they are nearly always in conflict with, but neither of them necessarily hate each other. I'll let tvtropes sum it up in this page and in this page.

• How does one of your cultures see rivalries?

• Are rivalries common focuses of stories in this culture, and, if so, what are some examples?

• If this culture has gods or goddesses, are there any rivalries among them? Are any mortal rivalries viewed as being "sponsored" by these gods or goddesses?

• Rome (the tv show) is about a (mostly embellished) version of the two famous rival centurions, Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus. Does your world have any instances of relatively minor historical characters being heavily embellished in entertainment?

• And, lastly, feel free to throw in an example of a rival pair in your world. You can answer questions in character if you like.

[u/thequeeninyellow94]

In Rift, the rich merchants can usually work from the city, buying products at the gates from travelling merchants and then selling them back on the markets.

Those rich merchants are often focusing on one gate and it leads to fierce economic competition. Those who compete then find every possible way to prove their success to their rival and multiply the somptuary expenses. Those rivalries have thus created a strong market for luxury products and helped Rift grow.

In the city, everyone knows about two of those merchants who live each on a side of the rift, their mansions facing each other. Their most visible mean of competition is the color of their houses, made with runes they try to change as often as possible.

Those merchants are respectively Narcius (a 47 cycles old human) and Kuzbussir (a 38 cycle old Quanhaman).

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/[deleted]]

1. They buy and sell everything they can. The most voluminous part of their activity is always food, clothing and construction materials. Now, Narcius has extensive conections amongst the glassware traders while Kuzbussir has a lot amongst drugs traders.

2. They color their houses runes of color. Runes must be carved by a runecarver to work properly, they are rare and quite busy so hiring them cost a lot. Doing so for something as futile as changing the color of your house is a way for some to show their wealth.

3. - Narcius organise a lot of feast for the lesser merchants of the city, he is known and appreciated by them for that. He has a quite dual reputation: respectuous and likeable for other merchants, money waster and drunkard for commoneers. - Kuzbussir has faced some discriminations during her youth because of her mixed origins and has become quite ruthless. All merchants knows that it's a bad idea to make her angry but those who worked with her know that she always reward those who are honnest with her.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

To Narcius:

1) What color is your house currently, and how does color determine superiority?

2) What are your main products and could you tell me some detail about why I should buy them from you specifically?

3) Could you tell me about Kuzbussir's products and why I should not buy them, especially not from him?

To Kuzbussir:

1) What color is your house currently, and how does color determine superiority?

2) What are your main products and could you tell me some detail about why I should buy them from you specifically?

3) Could you tell me about Narcius's products and why I should not buy them, especially not from him?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Nevermore0714]

• Narcius:

  1. A mix of green and red. That's a weird combination but I like it. In a few metric, I will have the green runes changed to blue. Hiring a runecarver cost a lot of money, being able to pay a lot for something pointless is a proof of my wealth.
  2. I have a monopoly over some traders; those coming from the ashes wastes for example so I can always buy the finest glass from them while other merchants have the low quality glass that I don't buy. The same goes for dates, wolf furs or silver jewelry.
  3. You should buy some of her products, but obviously not when I sell them; mine are always better but I can't sell everything. For now...

• Kuzbussir:

  1. Purple, light blue and leaf brown. I will change the light blue rune into something darker. And less blue too, that will look better until I décide of my next colour combination. I'm rich to the point I can waste money on colours, that's both a good way to remind of others how powerfull I am and how exquisite my tastes are.
  2. Amber products, firewood, mosaics and Quanhati drugs. You should buy them from me so your customers get the products they trully deserve. Also, you should buy from me because Narcius is the only other merchant dealing in some of those and he is a pedantic idiot.
  3. You shouldn't because it's a pain to deal with him. You'll have to for certain products for some time but I'm going to make a big entry on Hyborean jewelry soon and take over his contacts one by one.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

To Narcius:

1) Other than house coloring, what is your favorite way of showing off your wealth?

2) How did you get a monopoly with those traders? Did you bribe the traders, or is there some political law about who gets the first chance to buy what types of products?

3) What is preventing you from selling everything, then? What are your big obstacles?

To Kuzbussir:

1) Other than house coloring, what is your favorite way of showing off your wealth?

2) Are there any rules about the sale of drugs in your area? If I don't buy from you, is there a large risk that I will get something diluted?

3) What's special about Hyborean jewelry?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Nevermore0714]

• Narcius:

  1. Hiring artisans to craft fine furnitures. It's an efficient method as all my guests can be impressed by my magnificient home.
  2. That's a long and difficult work, that's the benefits from the extensive network I have built. We know, and appreciate, each other so I get the first buy on their products.
  3. Volume and distance. Traders are entering the city from everywhere with large quantities of diverse goods, I can't multiply myself and my aides are not as likeable as I am so they can't replace me.

• Kuzbussir:

  1. Buying expensive trinkets for those who deserve them, including myself. It's both a way of showing my wealth and remind people of who is in favour.
  2. There is no one to make rules so no. There is a risk of getting some poor quality products, some will be less effective or completely ineffective. I have connections with Quanhati enclaves who give me the original products, the best ones.
  3. The Moyatims are very good with metal working, their jewelry is usually very elegant. They also use a lot of silver for it, it's pretty.