The Tir and Russia Options

[Dax]

As I am a slight histroy buff, I was noticing something when I took a look at one of my books on the history of the Russian empire today. During the decline of the Romanov family line, around the time of the first World War, you had a situation very similar to what's happening in Tir Tan in the Shadowrun timeline right now.

Russia was one of the last absolute monarchies on the planet at the time, and the Tzar's right to absolute rule was being challenged on every front by revolt and revolution. The working class was no longer willing to serve an absolute monarch. The Tzar at the time, Nicholi Alexander Romonof, was forced to set up a limited form of representation, the Russian Duma. However, when the assembly demanded radical reform, Nicholi responded by dissolving the entire thing. After more than 30 years of enforced industrilzation, Russia's poor were poorer than ever. On Jan 9th, 1905, a massive protest marched on the Tzar's Winter Palace, in a non violent demonstration, asking for things to improve. The Palace Guards responded by opening fire on the crowd.

Meanwhile, in the Tir, the great numbers of elves are feeling a similar economic crunch, becoming just as destitue as the Serfs of Russia. They are becoming more and more willing to take matters into their own hands. The High Prince had really done squat to resolve the problem, excpet toss the people a bone in the form of the next Right of Progression. The Star Chamber is completely ignored by the Council of Princess. Mass protests and strikes rocked the country in 2059, only to be shut down with a brutality that would have done Ivan the Terrible proud.

Really, the only thing that the Tir needs is its own Lennin-esq figure who's willing to remake the country in his own radical image. The upshot of all of this is that I perdict that the Tir will experiance its own revolution within about 10 years of game time at max. And it will come so fast and so sudden that not even Surehand will see it coming before its too late.

....Course that's just my opinion at least.