Link to the 2013 post for anyone interested. https://mythicscribes.com/forums/world-building/7884-justifying-firearms-fantasy-setting.html
Short version: Life happened in a bad way, I did actually write around 40,00 words, realized I started the story in the wrong spot, and dropped it for a bit. I keep dwelling on it and over the past year gutted many elements. So now I need to make sure the current concept is credible and coherent.
The opening takes place in a nation that is relatively removed from the rest of the world by an ocean to the north, a mountain range to the south and most of the east (the lone pass is walled up), and by a stretch of desert/low value land to the west. Some 150~ years ago said nation experienced a major revolution that led to the traditional order of things being turned on its head. The dominant religious power and its militant orders were overthrown and destroyed along with any trace of magic. The nation is still a monarchy, but the current ruler now stylizes himself as an emperor and any dissent is quickly squashed. For the most part this has been a success. Provincial rulers retain a degree of leniency and are wealthy. Those in the border watch and Inquisition are well paid and enjoy a higher status. There is also now an ingrained xenophobia, fear of magic, and the population is split between those with no interest in religion and those who still worship.
At the time of the story this nation is experiencing its first major civil war. The rebels are led by a man with magical powers who is being decried as a demon/blasphemer, but few have encountered him and few of his followers possess any magical ability, so the general populace still sees magic as myth.
A key point I may have skipped is that firearms are ubiquitous. Mid to late 19th century technology worldwide, so things such as telegraphs, electricity are coming in to play through out parts of the world. This particular nation is a bit behind due to being isolated, but no more than a few decades.
Firearms are a great equalizer in many ways, but:
1) Magic is always easier to conceal. A rifle stands out and pistols lack range/stopping power.
2) Magic is rare (globally) and powerful. There are multiple ways for a mage to counter a firearm in a group setting, ie cloud the enemy's vision, stop/deflect/dodge/redirect a bullet (this is extremely difficult to do against even one bullet, let alone a volley), conjure an energy shield capable of stopping bullets, pull the guns out opponents hands (difficult), or use enchanted armor that is stronger than the standard fare.
Still, only an exceptional mage will be able to withstand multiple riflemen. Even magic users will at times use firearms.
Back to the story.
The civil war has reached the point where a "more neutral" province is requesting outside intervention to end the bloodshed. This ruler engages in black market trade with foreign powers and is concerned with the loss of income. An organization that serves as something of a global police force/witch hunters tasks two men to investigate the situation and report back as to its severity. The fear is that the civil war may being caused by an unseen enemy as the prelude to something greater or that the collapse of this nation could lead to an invasion that would result in a power shift.
The mission of the two watchers quickly takes a turn for the worst when they arrive and are informed that the Emperor has been seeking the aid of occultists in defeating the rebels. Something went wrong and one of these occultists went rogue with either information or an artifact of significance (its not clear) in his possession. In his wake are numerous dead, killed clearly by magical means.
They track down the occultist (while witnessing the aftermath of a battle and abuse of refugees) only to discover he his dead in a similar manner before hearing of more strange deaths in a mountain town. The investigation continues to there where too many major plot events occur to spill here.
TLDR:
How viable is it for nation to go from being connected to the rest of the world to heavily isolated in 150-200 years? (To the point where many believe the rest of the world is in chaos and savages run wild)
Are my ideas for magic countering firearms sufficient? Magic v firearms would only occur a handful of times in this story and not many more later on.
Is the initial lead in interesting enough for a reader? Assuming it is well written of course.
Short version: Life happened in a bad way, I did actually write around 40,00 words, realized I started the story in the wrong spot, and dropped it for a bit. I keep dwelling on it and over the past year gutted many elements. So now I need to make sure the current concept is credible and coherent.
The opening takes place in a nation that is relatively removed from the rest of the world by an ocean to the north, a mountain range to the south and most of the east (the lone pass is walled up), and by a stretch of desert/low value land to the west. Some 150~ years ago said nation experienced a major revolution that led to the traditional order of things being turned on its head. The dominant religious power and its militant orders were overthrown and destroyed along with any trace of magic. The nation is still a monarchy, but the current ruler now stylizes himself as an emperor and any dissent is quickly squashed. For the most part this has been a success. Provincial rulers retain a degree of leniency and are wealthy. Those in the border watch and Inquisition are well paid and enjoy a higher status. There is also now an ingrained xenophobia, fear of magic, and the population is split between those with no interest in religion and those who still worship.
At the time of the story this nation is experiencing its first major civil war. The rebels are led by a man with magical powers who is being decried as a demon/blasphemer, but few have encountered him and few of his followers possess any magical ability, so the general populace still sees magic as myth.
A key point I may have skipped is that firearms are ubiquitous. Mid to late 19th century technology worldwide, so things such as telegraphs, electricity are coming in to play through out parts of the world. This particular nation is a bit behind due to being isolated, but no more than a few decades.
Firearms are a great equalizer in many ways, but:
1) Magic is always easier to conceal. A rifle stands out and pistols lack range/stopping power.
2) Magic is rare (globally) and powerful. There are multiple ways for a mage to counter a firearm in a group setting, ie cloud the enemy's vision, stop/deflect/dodge/redirect a bullet (this is extremely difficult to do against even one bullet, let alone a volley), conjure an energy shield capable of stopping bullets, pull the guns out opponents hands (difficult), or use enchanted armor that is stronger than the standard fare.
Still, only an exceptional mage will be able to withstand multiple riflemen. Even magic users will at times use firearms.
Back to the story.
The civil war has reached the point where a "more neutral" province is requesting outside intervention to end the bloodshed. This ruler engages in black market trade with foreign powers and is concerned with the loss of income. An organization that serves as something of a global police force/witch hunters tasks two men to investigate the situation and report back as to its severity. The fear is that the civil war may being caused by an unseen enemy as the prelude to something greater or that the collapse of this nation could lead to an invasion that would result in a power shift.
The mission of the two watchers quickly takes a turn for the worst when they arrive and are informed that the Emperor has been seeking the aid of occultists in defeating the rebels. Something went wrong and one of these occultists went rogue with either information or an artifact of significance (its not clear) in his possession. In his wake are numerous dead, killed clearly by magical means.
They track down the occultist (while witnessing the aftermath of a battle and abuse of refugees) only to discover he his dead in a similar manner before hearing of more strange deaths in a mountain town. The investigation continues to there where too many major plot events occur to spill here.
TLDR:
How viable is it for nation to go from being connected to the rest of the world to heavily isolated in 150-200 years? (To the point where many believe the rest of the world is in chaos and savages run wild)
Are my ideas for magic countering firearms sufficient? Magic v firearms would only occur a handful of times in this story and not many more later on.
Is the initial lead in interesting enough for a reader? Assuming it is well written of course.