So You Say You Want a Revolution: Week 1, Period 3

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly was enjoying being back in a classroom, perching on her desk and watching the students make their way into the class. She smiled at the students who had that shiny patina of being brand new to Fandom and nodded to Ino if she was there as a student she'd known before. Once everyone was close to seated, she stood up, leaning back against the desk.

"Good morning. I'm going to admit straight off that I might be a little rusty with this whole teaching thing. It's been a little while," she gave a little smirking smile that said you could take her seriously at your own risk. "I'm Alianne of Pirate's Swoop. You all can call me Aly, duani is acceptable if you're uncomfortable with just a nickname, but the first person who calls me Miss Aly gets me unhappy."

"This class is 'So You Say You Want a Revolution.' If you're not interested in revolutions, pretend because you already missed the class on Canada. During the term, we're going to talk about why formenting revolution can be a good thing. We're going to discuss what revolutions can be used for, how they can be put together, and why a failed revolution can be just as effective." She gazed at all of them with a slight smile. "And yeah, I hate theory so practicalities will be covered. Demolitions, weaponry, organisation, magic - or not, tactics." She grinned. "And my favourite, intelligence."

"Ten years ago, I helped organise a rebellion that put my Queen in power and have served as her Spymaster ever since - when I wasn't teaching here, of course. Almost everything I'm going to be teaching you is what I learned during the rebellion and in the years since. And if I didn't learn it there, it's something that was useful to me at the time." She paused for a moment before adding. "In spying, your brain is almost everything - half of spying is half mental which I've said many, many times before. A single person can't put together an effective revolution. But a single person can destroy one. And a destroyed rebellion feeds only the ravens and Stormwings. It's a dangerous game. And one you have to commit to fully if you're going to succeed."

"Today I'm going to be traditional - for once - and get to know all of you. I'd also like to hear what you think about revolutions and rebellions. When are they appropriate, what would it take to rebel against the current power structure of your home country, society, or even this school." She smiled mischievously. "I'm looking for a TA or two too so if you're interested, let me know."

Comments

Re: Answer the Questions [Rev 9-1]

[glacial_queen]

"The Blood are meant to be the caretakers and guardians of the land and people on it," Karla said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "When those in charge forget our duty and look to profit and pleasure first, that's a sign that perhaps it is time for a change. And then it turns to exploiting the people and the land, going from protecting the people to harming them, then a rebellion is justified."

She paused, trying to explain Blood Protocol could sometimes be tricky. "Among my people, there are several ways to remove a Queen from power and that can include killing her and her Court. But we don't consider that rebellion, exactly." Sometimes it was just a Warlord Prince having a bad day. "For me, anyway, a rebellion involves the people beyond the Court; the merchants and peasants and even landens. And, yes, if you're going to involve them in a dispute over power, all other options ought to be exhausted first."

Re: Answer the Questions [Rev 9-1]

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly tilted an eyebrow, attempting, for a moment, to see if she could see another Dove in the little blonde girl with all that magic. "Who decides if those in charge are forgetting their duty and look to profit and pleasure first?"