Rubber War

The rubber war an social movement introducted at the Learned Temple at Sayil and spread to it neighbouring Sinks, including the Black Sons.

The Conflict

Prelude

The Temples of the Learned Arts are nominally places where promising young students from any background can hone the intellectual talents. In certain Sinks, it is also the place where noble sons and daughters scout and interview for potential spouses among each other. This, in turn, has led to several couples being expelled for falling pregnant.

Deployment

Lu'um (Lon) was a frontier nobleman from a bastard line out in the wilds. When he was enrolled into the Temple of the Learned Arts at Sayil, he was struck by a business opportunity. Rubber condoms were readily available in the Wet Wilds, but for some reason had never penetrated into the urban centers.

Conditions

Though still a student, he eventually grew very rich selling and openly advertising the rubber sleeves. It become so successful that he started selling other sexual products which led to concerns by government authorities. Though they were meant to prevent pregnancies, the rate of expulsions actually increased since their introduction.

It's not like fertility got any lower

— Lu'um's thoughts on how much his partner initiated sex

The Engagement

Ministries and student administration could only enact a modicum of initiatives to curtail problematic behaviour; placing blame on Lu'um for the perceived depravity. Many of the students themselves expressed anger for expecting them to find partners while still somehow avoiding getting pregnant.

Outcome

• Temporary increase in the rate of school pregnancies
• Many broken engagements and political alliances
• Rise in familial feuds
• Strengthened couple relations
• Increase in the number of hasty weddings
• Collapse to the role of the professional matchmakers

Aftermath

• Particularly rich temples implemented a maternity program to support adolescent mothers until they complete their studies
• Most temples simply opted to politely ignore evidence of indiscretion amongst the student population
• For some poorer temples, there were no changes in attitude at all
• Disruptions to professional matchmaking services

Historical Significance

Legacy

A Public Morality Committee was established within the temples and overseen by noble residents to right any moral failing. Curiously, Lu'um was also placed on this committee. In spite of all the trouble, many outside the temples and within an established factions did not see anything inherently wrong with his actions.

From a certain point of view, he was simply going along with what family heads have always done and expected from their heirs for generations. His goods and services make it easier and safer as a whole and - begrudgingly - don't what him to stop.

— Trust of Sayil

It was thought - correctly - that Lu'um, more than anyone else, would be able to guide the changing sexual culture to a more moderate one than what the establishment feared.

Conflict Type

Legal Case

Conflict Result

Eventual Renormalization of Social Relations