Alternate History

[Elkhound]

To a certain extent, this series is an "Alternate History"--how would our own midaeval period have been if magic actually worked?  Harry Turtledove does something similar in his Videssos series from a Byzantine point of view.

But what of some alternate alternate history?  That is, consider some choices that the characters might have made differently, and how that might have impacted upon the story.

For example, on Another Thread we discussed: "What if Connel had been fostered to the Hort of Orsal or to Auntie Jehanna's people in Bremagne, or to one of the Forcinn States, there to be just another noble page rather than Second to the Throne, King's First Cousin, and all the other baggage that his position?"  He might have still grown up to be a jerk, but not a traitor and murderer as he ended up being in the main story. 

What are some other alternates we might discuss?

[Shiral]

Interesting topic Elkhound. Veeee-ry interesting, indeed.

How about:
What if Bronwyn and Kevin had lived?
What if Sidana had lived? 
What if Camber had not taken the dead Alister Cullen's place after the battle of Iomaire?

Melissa

[Elkhound]

"If Sidana had lived."  That's probably, the most interesting.

Let's assume that her brother had attacked her as in the book, but had only wounded her, perhaps severely, but not unto death.

[derynifanatic64]

How about this:  Before Dhugal is able to make his escape from Ratharkin with Sidana, Kelson's attack force arrived at Ratharkin and was able to capture the town.  Caitrin, Sicard, Loris and everyone else are captured and dealt with.  Then Henry Istelyn does not die.  Ithel does not rape Janniver and she ends up marrying the King of Llannedd as planned.

[Elkhound]

How about this:  Before Dhugal is able to make his escape from Ratharkin with Sidana, Kelson's attack force arrived at Ratharkin and was able to capture the town.  Caitrin, Sicard, Loris and everyone else are captured and dealt with.  Then Henry Istelyn does not die.  Ithel does not rape Janniver and she ends up marrying the King of Llannedd as planned.

I presume that someone would suggest marrying off Sidana to Kelson.  Loris would have to die.  What about the rest?

[Braniana]

Here's a couple more.

What if Cinhil's firstborn son Aidan hadn't been poisoned?
What if Rhys Michael's had wastn't stepped on at Cullicairn?


All these ideas...I think I'm feeling inspired.

[Elkhound]

What if Cinhil's firstborn son Aidan hadn't been poisoned?

IIRC, it was Aidan's murder that forced Cinhil to finally grow a spine and take an active role in the restoration.  If he had remained more passive, how might the Restoration proceeded differently?

[derynifanatic64]

In "Quest for Saint Camber", Kelson and Dhugal are rescued from the river before plunging into the that cave.  Kelson then is able to return to Rhemuth and marry Rothana.  Conall tries to stop the marriage, he fails, and his relationship to Tiercel is discovered.  Tiercel doesn't die, but most likely will be forced to resign from the Camberian Council.

[mikegeo]

What if Cinhil's firstborn son Aidan hadn't been poisoned?

Since Aiden would have only been 12 upon Cinhil's death I doubt much would have changed.  If Aiden became to troublesome he would have been killed just like Javen.

A more interesting question would have been what if Aiden had lived and Cinhil had lived 2 more years.  Aiden would then have been 14 and might have been "Kelson" 200 years before Kelson.  But then the story wouldn't have been nearly so interesting.

[Dennis]

My favorite question is always, "What if Cinhil's mother hadn't died in childbirth and had given Royston/Alroy more sons?"

[DesertRose]

Ooh, that's a good one.  Then Camber and co. might have left Cinhil in his monastery and put a brother of his on the throne.

Then maybe we wouldn't have wound up with those (expletive deleted) Regents!

[tenworld]

but also no Morgan or Kelson or Arilan - thats the trouble with altering history, even the smallest change ...

The stubornness of Cinhil may be the trait that made his descendants successful kings

[derynifanatic64]

What if Ifor somehow received intel from a spy in Torenth that Festil was planning to invade Gwynedd?  Ifor then would have the time to prepare his defenses.  He is able to halt the Torenthi army and force Festil to retreat back to Torenth.  Ifor and his family doesn't die in 822.  It would be interesting to see how human/Deryni relations would then be like by 1128.

[derynifanatic64]

What if Morgan had been killed at Cardosa after Charissa's assassination of Brion?  And Charissa was able to takeover Gwynned?

[tenworld]

author=derynifanatic64
>What if Morgan had been killed at Cardosa after Charissa's assassination of Brion?  And Charissa was >able to takeover Gwynned?

You would have a medieval version of all those post apocalyptic movies.  Very depressing.  She would certainly kill off the Haldane line and gut the church.  Dennis Arilan would come out of the (deryni) closet, escape to the northern mountains with a few remaining deryni and we would have another 200+ interregnum.

But with Morgan dead I wouldnt care to read that history