Fwd: [Mkguild] Messages and Letters delivery on MK setting

[JL Badgley]

Sorry... sent this just to Hallan!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
> So, following the advise I was given on IRC yesterday, I'm posting this here
> so we all can discuss and express our opinions on the matter.
> It came to my mind the idea to implement a relatively organized system to
> deliver letters within the continent where MK resides (and perhaps
> overseas). It would have birds as the deliverers, working pretty much like
> the homing pigeons used in the real world
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail#Other_systems).
>
> Now, there are a few things to have in mind. First of all, it will obviously
> not work like the postal service of nowadays (Where one specifies an exact
> destination address), but having birds with two specific known points to
> travel to and from. For example, only big cities would have "Post offices",
> and from there the letters would get delivered by ground as usual to either
> that city or the surrounding lands.

This is a good idea with some limitations as I see them.  First off,
there has to be a location that is willing to keep the birds--either a
private group of entrepreneurs, wealthy individuals, or governments.
Second, the stability of the system would be based largely on the
centers through which they travel.  Also, while magic may be used,
distance may be an issue.  So, for instance, someone in Yamato may not
be able to send a bird direct to MK; likewise for someone in the
Southlands.

I would tend to want to make the overall system for Important notices
only.  Importance generally being determined by the user.  I could see
the Duke's wedding being coordinated this way.  I don't foresee Johnny
sending a note through the system to his Aunt Em.  If you are an
important noble or wealthy merchant, maybe you have your own birds.
Also, if there are centers for it, governments will want to have some
control over who sends and receives messages, and will probably want
to be able to read all of the traffic.  This means that most
embassies, if they want to send home word about the host city or
government, would want to use their own courier birds or somehow
encrypt their messages (a common enough practice in the middle ages
amongst those who understood how).

Remember:  Faster communication = smaller world.  A lot more
interaction can occur, and historically did in our world, as
communication improved.  This is definitely a leap.

As to how to implement it...

My assumption is that currently there are several types of message delivery:

1) Traders and caravans--if you know someone is going in a certain
direction, you give them letters to take with them, possibly with a
small handling charge.  This can mean your letter doesn't reach
someone for months, depending on where that caravan goes, and it can
be particularly tricky to find someone who keeps moving, as your
letter will likely 'follow' them as they move around.

2) Homing pigeons--There are some homing pigeons (or similar avian
substitutes) at work.  The Aelves have used them, for example.  It
isn't unreasonable to think that certain nobles regularly trade homing
pigeons for this purpose--I don't know how far a homing pigeon can be
before it tends to get lost.  Magic may help, but see below...

3) Dragons--Whales uses dragons as immediate message couriers.  They
are intelligent enough to carry a message and strong enough to defend
it.  However, the problems are likely obvious (e.g. is any dragon
going to become a 'regular' mail courier?)

4) Magic--We have several examples of magically projecting oneself (or
an image of oneself) over long distances using specific foci.
Os-Var-Khai and Misha's sister have both used such technologies.

So some kind of leap in courier service isn't entirely out of the
question.  I'd start with Official State Communications between
administrative officials.  Then, someone could pick up on that idea
and grow it further.  Think, though, about all the debates the
Internet have caused among various governments and you have some idea
of the pushback you're going to receive.

Hope those ideas help.  I haven't really thought it through, just some
random musings of a very interesting topic.

-Tatsushu