PeterZ wrote:Harchong can threaten another schism. If the Grand Vicar allows the return of the MH, Harchong keeps its tithes and established the CoGA-Harchong. That church will reinvigorate the Inauisition to Clyntahn levels. So Duchairn faces the choice of goading Harchong into a rebellion when his church is so disordered or postponing the inevitable until he has his house in better order. Anyone with a brain knows Harchong is in for a nasty rebellion. The only questions are when and who will be able to help the people of Harchong pick up the pieces?
The Harchongese CoGA has already schismed by refusing to obey the Grand Vicar with regard to the Inquisition. It does not have to reinvigorate the Inquisition to Clyntahn levels, it is still there.
If the rebellion kicks off now, the CoGA and Duchairn don't have the resources to pull Harchong out of the muck. Charis does. They will be in position to re-form Harchong not Duchairn. Since, Staynair has asserted the CoC does not meddle in international politics but limits itself to shepherding souls, Cayleb and Sharleyan, secular rulers, will re-form Harchong society. If Duchairn can delay the rebellion, his CoGA will reform Harchong. Duchairn still believes that his church is the institution The Writ speaks of and it is now his responsibility to shepherd Safehold in accordance to God's will. Would he abrogate this responsibility to secular rulers, no matter their reputation for justice? I think not.
When the rebellion kicks off by the MH returning to Harchong, and have no doubt that they will, they will want to return to their villages and their families, they will retain their arms, and when the first of the noble cavalry comes, they will put them to good use locally, and then like the soviets of 1917, join together to overthrow the existing order. Perhaps Rainbow Waters will be able to lead them, perhaps not, perhaps he won't want to, but the host will return to Harchong and it will rebel when it needs to, to protect its individuals and their families and finally the entire serf population of Harchong.
Worse yet, if Harchong erupts into civil war, how will the Episcopates of the Temple Lands react? If they push to support different factions, how will the CoGA re-establish itself post jihad? Allowing the MH back into Harchong is frought with danger for the CoGA and Duchairn.
The episcopate of the temple lands is already being reformed. They didn't have enough strength to fight in the war and they will want to protect their borders so that the fighting does not spill over into their own lands. I haven't reread the book lately, but I am sure that one of the things that was reformed was the abolition of serfdom in the temple lands.
With regards to MH dependents, the church keeps records. The members of the MH gives names and parishes where their loved ones live and let the church identify them. I am sure the bureaucrats will help. Letting the dependents go will mollify the Grand Vicar and provide more reasons for those troops to turn their backs and forget Harchong for good. Besides if Cayleb of Charis will pay to send those dependents to the MH, why not pad the list a bit and send more people. The aristos won't care so long as they see their demesnes as being secured.
The church didn't recruit the mighty host, the Harchongese did. They were serfs, effectively slaves. Why would the Harchongese or the Jihadist church care where they came from. The Harchongese knew they wouldn't want them back because they were trained soldiers.