Cantha: 1984 CC

[Zingeri]

In the Factions instruction manual (p.11), it describes the 4 branches of the Celestial Ministry:


Ministry of Flame: Control over the sunrise and sunset.

Ministry of Earth: Control over the bounties of the land.

Ministry of Water: Controls rainfall as well as the moon's rise and set.

Ministry of Wind: Controls the winds and storms.


Don't these ministries remind you of a certain book written by a certain Orwell about a certain year, which revolved around 4 certain ministries which control every aspect of life?

I'm surprised I don't get random text ingame stating: "The Celestial Ministry is watching you!"

[Frangeo Munda]

... all the while listening to the Ministry of Sound, and, if a Mesmer or Elementalist, occasionally visiting the Ministry of Magic

[actionjack]

well, I am sure the Ministry was used to give it all a more "bureaucrat" tone. The Communist China as know for its Breaucracy, and there were few Ministries. Possibly from that, there were few more "asian-themed" fantasy stories/material that also use Ministry for its description.

"The Emperor is Watching You!"

[ClarianAeneas]

Now, it's obvious that Canthan Society is plagued (pun intended) by many social issues, such as the obvious speration of classes. Some of the "noble" NPC's tell you to stay away from them, and not get them flithy, etc, for example. also, by doing some of the side quests you can tell that the government and it's Ministries often overlook the needs of the commoners, and any request (especially medical supplies, which are needed due to the plague) needs to pass through the complicated bureaucracy that is Canthan government. In Vizunah Square, Master Togo passively implies that the messed up social structure of Cantha is what allowed the plague to spread so quickly. He specifically says that the plague feeds on diseased souls, and therefore it spread in the Am-Fah controlled district but did not in neighboring ones. And the Am-Fah, of course, are only allowed to thrive becuase of two possiblities; the Government simply doesn't care about what they do, or they're too powerful to be stopped.

[Bilateralrope]

I did a search on guildwiki for "1984". I found this entry as the only result:

The Temple of Tolerance is a White Mantle temple west of D'Alessio Seaboard. It is only accessible through the mission there. During that mission, players are to rush to the temple to lift the Undead siege on Confessor Dorian and defend him. Upon arrival to the Temple, players discover that the Scepter of Orr was stored in the Temple and that it is the object of the Undead raid.

In the center of the Temple there is a Healing Fountain, which provides great help when fighting back the Undead.

Note: The name Temple of Tolerance combined with the White Mantle's zeal and intolerance is an obvious homage to George Orwell's famous novel 1984, with the famed ministry names: 'Ministry of Love' (police), 'Ministry of Truth' (propaganda) and 'Ministry of Peace' (army).

[Laibeus Lord]

hmm seems people are starting to uncover the "grand" SL (storyline) of GW ;)

*lips sealed*

[Quintus Antonius]

<snip> ...And the Am-Fah, of course, are only allowed to thrive becuase of two possiblities; the Government simply doesn't care about what they do, or they're too powerful to be stopped.

The Manuscripts that came with Factions tell us that the Am Fah and the Jade Brotherhood are both allowed to exist because they are too powerful to stop outright, and also because the government is secretly playing the JB and the AF against each other to serve their own purposes.

As for the 1984 references: that's not so uncommon in video games. Take Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, there are cultural references out the wazoo in that game. Like the Psalmist said, "Nothing is new under the sun."

[Reverend Loki]

Chinese mythology includes a Celestial Court, headed by the Jade Emperor, that holds sway over events such as rainfall, drought, natural events, all sorts of things. It's various Ministers and other posts are filled by various deities who apply for the post, as well as by the souls of exceptionally good and/or worthy persons, picked from the underworld. I haven't picked up my copy of the game yet, but it sounds an awful lot like that, except referring to specific ministers and their aides, they instead refer to ministerial organizatons. Or something like that, anyways.