Author's Note: Mutiny as a Service

So I said I'd write a quick worldbuilding note on the psychological differences between eldrae and humans that lead to such things as, well, Mutiny as a Service or the ancient Imperial Military Service tradition of generals having to ask their legions to fight for them, and the legions being able to refuse, et. al., being considered desirable.

And it comes down to something I heard well expressed in a conversation over on X, one day, on the curiously related question of what one wants out of a best, or good, friend.

Because when humans think about this, they think about loyalty. So do eldrae.

But humans often think about it in terms of loyalty through thick or thin, ride or die. Loyalty to the person, no matter what the person does, or how crazy they go, or how deeply they betray themselves or their word.

Eldrae, though - they don't want ride or die. They want the loyalty of a kaishakunin, metaphorically speaking. They want someone who'll stand by them, thick or thin, so long as they are acting in accordance with their true self. But also someone who will call them when they fail to live up to themselves, stop them when they go too far, and if need be, be there to kill them when they need killing.

After all, they're individually powerful, intense, passionate people. They know how dangerous they could be, which is why their culture prizes discipline, self-control, and self-integrity so highly.

Thus, there are few more binding promises - or deeper trusts - than I know I can count on you to stop me.

(See also traäzik ulalath.)