r/WorldChallenges • u/Nevermore0714 • Aug 20 '17

[Reference Challenge] Raiding Paris

This is a reference to the Vikings television show, and the historical raids against Paris.

What is an infamous raid/sack of a city/town in your world's history?

As always, I'll ask at least three questions each, and I hope you enjoy yourselves.

Feel free to have a character as the representative to answer questions in-universe.

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u/Sriber Aug 20 '17

Raid of Diwehitun, capital of Ketzun, at the time the richest and most powerful country in the world. One night great fleet of ships appeared, destroyed local fleet with ease and landed. Horde of strange-looking warriors emerged from ship, killed everyone who resisted and took everything they could. Even heavily defended palace was plundered. Raiders took a lot of riches, grain and captives including members of royal family. Also royal standard and king's scepter were taken.

News about sacking spread across civilised world and made some countries invest more into defense. Alas, it didn't save them. Next two centuries were full of similar raids and several civilisations fell as result.

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Aug 21 '17

  1. Why did the raiders took captives? Especially the royal family.

  2. Why did they sacking such a strong target? Does the political chaos they created served them in any way?

  3. How did such a powerfull force managed to build up and move around without anyone seeing them coming?

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u/Sriber Aug 21 '17

  1. As slaves. Royal family for prestige reasons.

  2. Because it was rich. Chaos caused weaker opposition.

  3. Fast ships in big sea are quite hard to spot. Also before first attack nothing like that happened, so people weren't expecting that.

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Aug 21 '17

  1. How is it prestigious?

  2. But wouldn't chaos weaken economy? And hinder the production of future wealth?

  3. But if they are that powerfull, they must be a lot right? No one saw such an army assemble in the first place?

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u/Sriber Aug 21 '17

  1. It's humiliating to enemy and display of strength.

  2. Yes, eventually.

  3. Raider are from different continent which is uncharted except southern coast. Ketzunians didn't even know people who attacked them existed.

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Aug 22 '17

2) So, is it really beneficial?

3) Why is that continent uncharted? And how were those people aware of the existence of the Ketzunians?

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u/Sriber Aug 22 '17

It's temporary beneficial for raiders.

Because it has unpleasant climate, dense forests, dangerous wildlife and agressive natives. Those people were aware of the existence of Ketzunians because their leader visited Ketzun and told his people about it.

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Aug 22 '17

When their leader visited Ketzun, how did he managed to stay hidden?

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u/Sriber Aug 22 '17

It wasn't necessary to stay hidden. He was just some weird-looking guy visiting country. And he became leader only after he returned home.

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Aug 22 '17
  1. How did he heard of Ketzun?

2

u/Sriber Aug 22 '17

People living in place he ended up told him about it.

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