yale background guide

7/30/2019 Yale Background Guide

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Paradise Lost 1

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to the thirty-third Security Council Simulation at Yale! We have been working for many

months putting together what we hope and expect to be the best SCSY yet and, of course, the best committee

ever: Paradise Lost.

We have been planning this ambitious committee for months and are tremendously excited to implement it as

the dais team. We bring a diverse range of backgrounds and interest to the dais. Eesan Balakumar is a junior

from Yorktown, VA, and the head delegate of Yales traveling M.U.N. team. Daniel Berenson, from Boston, is a

sophomore Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry major who loves Vikings more than is probably healthy and

is in his sixth year of Model U.N. Aaron Feuer is a sophomore Poli Sci major from L.A. interested especially in

education policy, Iraq and Afghanistan, and urban politics who teaches health and sex ed. to New Haven high-

schoolers. Clara Lucio is a Religion and Politics major from San Juan, Puerto Rico, who has seven years

experience with Model U.N. (although of course nothing as cool as this committee). Eli Markham is the

sophomore from New York City who came up with the idea for this committee after reading Miltons epic for a

class last year and is on the official practice squad for Yale Womens Varsity Soccer. Jessie Shor is an

anthropology major from Marion, MA, who speaks fluent Chinese. And Mattie Wheeler is a history major from

Portola Valley, CA, who once had a hedgehog as a pet.

Paradise Lost: the First and the Fallen is a crisis committee whose simple mandate is to determine the proper

government of heaven and then the course of human history. The attached topic brief explains how the

committee is structured and how it will run. That said, be prepared for a dynamic experience and radica

developments in both plot and committee structure.

We hope it will be an awesome, exciting, and unforgettable experience. If you have any questions, want

to bounce ideas off us ahead of time, or are generally bored, email [email protected] or

[email protected].

We cant wait to begin!

Best,

Eesan, Daniel, Aaron, Clara, Eli, Jessie, and Mattie.


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Paradise Lost 2

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth (Genesis 1:1)

The assembly of angels has been called. Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, and

Archangels have gathered in the Council of Empyrean. That august body has been called only twice in the past

since God created Time. At the time of the Founding of the City of Heaven, and again before the Creation o

Earth, God gathered his angels to present His vision. The angels responded as one with cries of Alleluja and

Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh!as He knew they would.

But this assembly is different. Lucifer, most awesome of the Archangels, called it to bring a challenge to Godreign and propose a new form of government. The rift opened when God created Adam and Eve: beings weake

than the angels, but endowed with free will, shaped in Gods image, and loved by Him even more than the First

the angels. And He did it without convening the Council. Now Lucifer is no longer Gods favoritebut he

remains the mightiest and the boldest. He and his allies have been spurred to dissent against their Sovereign.

!


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Paradise Lost 3

Two issues dominate the discourse in heaven: Gods

sovereignty and his newest creations, the humans.

They will be addressed in order.

Whom thunder hath made greater (Paradise Lost,

Book I. line 258)

For ever, God has been sovereign in Heaven. He

created the angels to serve him and to sing his

praises, and they have done so enthusiastically ever

since. Most of them are happy to spend eternity

bathing in His Glory.

But He also endowed angels with free will. Why

then, some have wondered, should God continue

His despotism? Are angels not fit to rule

themselves? Who can in reason then or right

assume / Monarchy over such as live by right / His

equals, if in power and splendour less, / In freedom

equal? (PL, V. 794-797).

They do not contest that God is stronger for who

could? they contest that His strength gives Him

the right to command and them the duty to obey.

They go so far as to reject God as their Creator:

Lucifer asks, Rememberst thou / Thy making

while the maker gave thee being? / We know no

time when we were not as now; / Know none before

us, self-begot, self-raised. (PL V. 857-860)

Lucifers faction argues for a republic in Heaven:

one will, one vote. The general will would be

sovereign, and the assembly of angels would rule.

God deserves respect and would still have a role as

adviser and father-figure to the angels, but He could

no longer rule by fiat and demand their allegiance

on bended knee. They reject His arbitrary actions

and disdain for their counsel. Lucifers argumen

has garnered much support among the rank-and-

file of the angelic legions.

O argument blasphemous, false and proud!(PL V.

809)

The loyal angels cry. God, the omnipotent, eterna

Creator, is supreme for a reason. He is greater than

the angels, because He does not just have free will

He has the power to grant it to others, as He has

done to the angels and now humans. Lucifer i

therefore a traitor against his Protector, his King

and his Holy Father.

The loyal angels attend his blasphemous congress to

defend the Name of God and quash Lucifers

heresy. Most of them will permit no compromise

and would die before they see Gods throne

tarnished. Some of them would even kill.

That is the argument in the midst of which the

committee convenes. The storm revolves around

Lucifer, who is mightiest among the angels and the

leader of the democrat party. Because he called the

assemblysomething no other angel had ever

daredhe will take the gavel normally reserved for

God and moderate the debate.

It is unclear what God thinks about this.


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Paradise Lost 4

The Lord God formed the man from the

dust of the ground and breathed into his

nostrils the breath of life, and the manbecame a living being.(Gen. 2:7)

After the debate over Heavens proper governance

has been concluded satisfactorily, the angels will

have to determine their policy towards mankind.

Although God only created two humans, the angels

have little doubt that more are forthcomingeither

from the loins of Adam and Eve or from the hand of

God.

As the children of men procreate, it is not

inconceivable that the future could see earth

populated and dominated by men of different tribes

and creeds. The angels will need to develop a

coherent policy towards humanity: to spread Gods

word and worship and to defend them from the

excesses of their own free will.

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the

midst of the garden, God hath said, Yeshall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it,

lest ye die.(Gen. 3:3)

Because of that free will, some men will worship

God while others fall to false idolatry. The task of

the angels will be to defend their chosen people

against their enemies, guarding, nourishing, and

aiding their people while conquering others until all

the Earth is Gods domain. Choosing which people

to covenant with and guide will be among the firstorders of business once the committee progresses to

discussing humanity.

The committee will have a dynamic map of the

ancient Near East in front of it. Cities will rise and

fall, empires will come and go, even the geography

may change over time.

The last line of defense against marauding enemies

will be the legions of Heaven themselves. Angelic

armies are mighty, but limited in number and al

too mortal. In single combat an angel will most

probably defeat a human, but single combat is rare

in war and human weapons still pierce angelic flesh

Angels have but one chance at a corporeal form

before returning to the ether, where their will

remains undying but they can no longer directly

interact with the mortal realm.!!!


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Paradise Lost 5

Because angels are finite in number and very

valuable, the committee will need to teach humans

to fight for themselves. Civilizations and cities willcome and go with time. Each city can support one

army, whose composition depends upon the

civilization and epoch. There are three sizes of

citiescapitals, polises, and colonieswhich can

each support different-sized armies: legions,

battalions, and companies, respectively (see

Appendix A). Each army will be composed of one

of six types of units: spearmen, swordsmen, cavalry,

archers, chariots/cavalry archers, andslingers/javelineers. (Note that a slash indicates

that the first unit can be upgraded to and shares

tactics with the second.) Each unit type is effective

against two other types and weak against two (see

Appendix B).

The committee will have to pass regular directives

detailing their strategic and tactical military

maneuvers. These can include agents, saboteurs,

espionage, and assassinations, as well as armymovements.

The committee can also invest time and labor in

technologies, such as military improvements

(chariots, longer sarissas, and ballistae, for

example); civilian technology (boats, aqueducts,

walls, paper money, and bureaucracy); and

religious development (hierarchy, infrastructure,

temples, and prophets). Keep in mind that none of

these lists is exhaustive and delegates should comeup with their own ideas.

There are many other ways to interact with humans,

some of which will be detailed here; others in the

character descriptions; and still many more are for

delegates to think up on their own. Individua

delegates can interact with humans directly andeven appear on the map, although naturally some

angels will be better suited to this than others. Be

warned, however, that venturing outside the counci

room in Heaven dramatically increases the risk of

death at the hands of assassins or armies. Delegates

on the map can lead armies: some generals will have

angelic legions to begin with, while other delegates

can enter cities and become leaders of various types

(such as gods, bishops, strategoi, statesmendictators, or philosophers). Particularly strong

religious presences in cities will open up new

options for delegates, such as holy wars.

On that day all the springs of the great

deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the

heavens were opened.(Gen. 7:11)

Being angels, asymmetric warfare against the

infidels is of course an option. Floods, plagues

earthquakes, and fire and brimstone may be

unleashed on the cities of sinners. These tactics are

beyond the portfolios of individual delegates and

will have to be passed by the committee as a whole

and approved by the chair, whose superior power is

necessary for such devastation. Delegates should

also be extremely wary when employing

supernatural abilities, because disasters can have

unintended consequences, like permanently

changing the map or turning humans against themAnd too much bending of the laws of nature can

fray and tear at the very fabric of reality. This

nuclear option must be used with the utmost care.


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Paradise Lost 6

Hear all ye angels, progeny of light

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms,

Virtues, Powers

(PL V. 600-1)

The committee will proceed in permanent

moderated caucus with a default speaking time of

one minute, subject to change via a motion.

Delegates may also move to hold unmoderated

caucuses or other forms of suspension of the rules

such as question-and-answer sessionssubject to

approval by the chair.

To successfully move on from the question of

government in heaven, the committee must pass

some sort of resolution. That resolution does not

have to be in standard resolution format, but must

simply resolve the issue sufficiently that the

committee can move on to addressing the pressing

issues of the mortal realm.

For all who draw the sword will die by the

sword. (Matthew 26:52)

The committee will interact with the world by

passing directives, or written orders that take effect

immediately. These can include communiqus;

military orders; special missions for committee

members such as infiltrating cities (note that asidefrom in exceptional circumstances the delegate will

remain in the committee room even while his or her

character is abroad); investments in technologies

and the like (ordering committee members and

armies to work on the research will speed its

accomplishment); and pleas to the chair to use

supernatural abilities.

As the sound of waters deep

Hoarse murmur echoed to his word applause

Through the infinite host.

(PL V. 872-874)

Directives will be passed by simple majority votebut especially radical orderssuch as a Floodmay

require a supermajority or unanimity, at the

discretion of the chair.

Directives will be executed on a roughly turn-based

timetableapproximately once per hourand

should be passed accordingly: units are only capable

of receiving so many contradictory orders before

their actions become undependable. Occasionally

turns may be sped up, for example to get tacticaldecisions in a large battle, in which case the

committee will have about ten minutes to issue

purely military orders.

Individual delegates can also issue portfolio requests

or executive orders by sending a note to the dais

which will also be executed at the same time as

standard committee orders. The committee wil

receive updates on the map and the state of affairs

after each turns orders have been processed.

All things being equal, it is better to issue

commands as committee directives rather than

executive orders. Committee directives are more

likely to succeed because they permit greater inter-

unit cohesion and even for single units confer upon


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Paradise Lost 7

the actor the full authority of the committee. That

said, if a delegate wishes to issue orders outside of

the committees purview or view, such is his or herprerogative. Executive orders can only be used to

control a delegates own character or units with

particular loyalty.

In general, more detail is better in orders because

they enable units to act more precisely and

effectively. Sample detailed orders include Move

archers from the Great Bend of the Euphrates to

Ugarit and garrison the city, focusing especially on

defending the southern gate against potential

threats from the Canaanites by manning the gate at

all times and sending forth frequent scouting

missions; Send Zophiel to recruit informants

inside Hattusas, promising positions of power once

the Lycians wrest it from the Hittites; or Have

Mammon lead the army in Uruk to conscript all

able-bodied men to construct taller walls and

investigate the possibility of adding murder holes.Orders may be written shorthand as long as the

instructions are clear and uniquely specifying.

When military orders that lead to a battle are being

executed, many variables will be taken into account

including army size and composition, geography

generalship, technology, morale, experience

freshness, standard tactics, and specific instructions

Overly ambitious orderssuch as moving a legion

of spearmen from Susa, Persia, to Memphis

Egyptmay take several turns to execute; progress

reports will be provided during the intervening

time.

Creativity and innovation will be rewarded.


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Paradise Lost 8

DEOCRATS

Abdiel The sole seraph in the committee, Abdiel is

Gods most fanatically loyal subject. He has taken a

prominent role in the controversy with Lucifer, but

he is too furious with the sacrilege to even think

about debate. As a result he must be sidelined in

serious negotiation, once the time for diatribes haspassed. He commands the Seraphic Guard, the four

seraphs who will defend Gods throne even at the

cost of Existence.

Azrael Azrael is the Angel of Death. He sees the

world in the true light of Gods laws and the most

fundamental of those, he believes, is Death. He

knows that Death comes to all things in due course,

but is not opposed to hastening its coming to

deserving individuals. Azrael is contemptuous ofLucifer because his mind is occupied with loftier

concerns.

Barachiel Barachiel is fond of humans and tries to

protect the chosen people from their enemies and

from falling to false gods. He works closely with his

brother Ithuriel, who exorcises cities and brings

fallen humans back to the Light, but Barachiel is

gentler and more merciful.

Gabriel The archangel Gabriel has the most faith

in humanity of any angel in the committee. He

believes it is essential to identify individual humans

and groom them to become servants of God and

partners for the angels, and he will gladly volunteer

for that responsibility. In his opinion, the biggest

problem with Lucifers proposal is his resentment of

humanity, before mankind has even had a chance to

prove itself.

Ithuriel Ithuriel is keenly aware of the seductive

power of idols and sin. When his brother Barachie

is unable to prevent a city from falling, Ithuriel can

work to exorcise and purify it, through fire and by

the sword when necessary. He is a vindictive

idealist who refuses to tolerate weakness.

Kerubiel Kerubiel is the captain-commander of the

Cherubim, the fiercest and most fearsome soldiers

of Heaven. Cherubim have four faces: a lion, an ox

an eagle, and a man. Kerubiel himself would much

prefer to be slaughtering Lucifers followers than

debating them, but he will check himself until God

grants His permission. Kerubiels battalion ofCherubim bears swords and makes excellent shock

troopers.

Michael The archangel Michael is Gods greatest

general and the marshal of the legions of Heaven

He has a longstanding rivalry with Lucifer and wil

not abide his attempted power grab. His military

background makes him trust deeply in a well-

established chain of command with God at the top

and himself second in command. Michael is a bit oa conservative and does not fully trust humanity

thinking they can never be as loyal soldiers as his

legionnaires. He commands a legion of angelic

spearmen.


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Paradise Lost 9

Raphael The archangel Raphael is a consummate

politician. He is loyal and confrontational, and

therefore hated by Lucifers party for his constantspeeches and politicization of debate. He has been

known to fly into rages at especially incendiary

comments by his adversaries, but is also a talented

healer. He commands a company of dread-

inspiring, sword-wielding berserkers.

Uriel The archangel Uriel is the captain of the

fiery guardians of the Pearly Gates. The company

of angels under his command shoot flaming arrows

and are renowned for their accuracy and discipline.

He hates Lucifer for undermining discipline in the

ranks. Despite his fiery exterior, he is calm,

collected, and prudent. He is unlikely to rush into a

dangerous situation without a plan.

Uzziel Uzziel considers himself to be a

philosopher-angel and has identified what he

believes is the right way to God. He has promised

to communicate this knowledge to humanity and

sincerely hopes to save their souls, for which he is

considered nave by angels like Ithuriel. Because he

knows the Truth, he is intolerant of the hubris of

humans who think they know better than he. He

will try to find appropriately spiritual and obedient

humans to lead the hierarchical City of God on

Earth.

Zaraqael Zaraqael is the colonel-commandant of

the Special Angelic Service. His company of angelic

lancers ride winged horses and bring swift death to

their enemies. The rangers of the S.A.S. are highly

loyal to Zaraqael, who is known to lead them into

battle. He is a romantic who is loyal to Heaven

because of its beauty and perfection, not any

particular theology.

Zophiel Zophiel is the cleverest of the angels and

loves nothing more than solving difficult puzzles

He cannot stand to be left in the dark about anynew development and has a wide-reaching network

of informants and operatives, which he longs to

extend to Earth. He has known about Lucifer

challenge almost as long as Lucifer himself

Zophiels calculations show that Lucifer has a

dismal chance of success, so Zophiel remains loya

to God and will use his talents in His service.


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DEMOCRATS

Abbadon Abaddon takes after Azrael but lackseven his few qualms about ending life prematurely.

He has sided with Lucifer because Lucifer has

promised him freer reign over the lives and deaths

of humans and angels alike. He is physically mighty

and widely feared for his total lack of restraint.

Agares Agares thinks it is more beautiful to see

something fall than to build it. He appreciates

Heavens beauty the same way a lion admires a

gazelle. He does not care much for politics, but

follows Lucifer because he hopes that after God is

deposed he will be allowed to demolish monuments

to His Glory.

Asmodai Ruthless and paranoid, Asmodai is not

fully trusted by anyone save Lucifer, who trusts him

because they both know without Lucifers

protection Asmodai would be cast out by the other

angels. Lucifer utilizes Asmodais particular

talentssuspecting absolutely everyone and a

superb ability to read angels and humansto

maintain loyalty among Lucifers acolytes. Asmodai

has a company of sword-bearing angelic

commissars that can be sent to join other armies and

enforce loyalty to Lucifer.

Astoreth Astoreth is the madame of Heavens most

exclusive pleasure palace. She is renowned for her

beauty, charm, and sensualitywhich she uses to

manipulate other angels and humans. God has

absolutely prohibited sex between angels and

humans, and Astoreth resents this imposition, but

uses her sexual charm on all beings. There are

rumors that she is romantically involved with

Lucifer, though both deny it.

Azazel Azazel was a minor officer but rising star in

the army of Heaven who Michael passed over for

promotion on account of Azazels reckless andviolent tendencies. Azazel opted to join Lucifer to

get revenge on Michael and model the new army in

his own image. Lucifer has recognized Azazels

talents and given him command of a battalion of

angelic spearmen.

Belzebub Belzebub is Lucifers most trusted

comrade and closest confidant. They have been

friends for a long, long time and shared Lucifers

ambition. Had Lucifer not brought the challenge

against God, Belzebub might have. He is witty

intelligent, and brave and commands a battalion o

angelic archers.

Belial Belial is most interested in the humans

where he thinks to find the best path to glory and

acclaim. He is not renowned for his prowess in

battle, but is talented at disguises and deceit

especially of gullible humans. He believes Lucifer

will allow him to gain dominion and worship from

humans that God would have reserved to Himself.

Chemos Chemos fears that God favors humanity

over the angels and that, unchecked, the newcomers

will overthrow the angels and take their place in

Heaven. For that reason, Chemos believes that

humans must be led astray and their numerical and

moral growth stunted. He is insecure but he

compensates for it with strong loyalty to his friends

and allies, especially Lucifer and Belzebub.

Lucifer The mightiest and eldest archangel

Lucifer is the leader of the democratic faction. He

does not believe God reigns rightly and does not

recognize His role as Creator. Lucifer called the

Council of Empyrean and presides over it. He has a


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Paradise Lost 1

tremendous personal following and has a battalion

of sword-wielding angels at hand.

Malakh Malakh is a great champion of the army

of Heaven, who was won over by Lucifers

argument of one will, one vote. He has a strong

sense of justice and is respected for being a good

captain of the battalion of angelic swordsmen

Lucifer put under his command. He even hopes to

bring humans into a great Republic of Heaven.

Mammon Mammon is greedy, an unusual traitamong angels. He cares more about the ornaments

of Heaven than its divinity, although by and large

he does not find the architecture to his liking. He

thinks he will do a better job designing and running

Heaven than God did, and looks forward to having

his turn after God is overthrown.

Nisroch Nisroch is an artist and inventor, a

creative genius. In his workshop he is constantly

tinkering with contraptions of wood and iron

mostly inscrutable to the other angels. Because o

their lack of understanding they disdain him, and

Nisroch bears a deep grudge hardened over the

eternity. Lucifer, however, has perceived his

potential and recruited him with promises o

material, labor, and support for his devices.

Orobas Orobas is among the weakest of the

angels, but he more than makes up for that in sheer

cunning and deceit. He was one of the last angels to

declare his allegiance, but had secretly been working

with Lucifer from the beginning of his doubts

Orobas is disregarded by many of the other angels

because he failed to win martial glory, but they do

so at their own grave perilone can never know

whether a given angel is secretly one of Orobass

myriad informants or operatives.

Saleos Saleos manages the menagerie of Heaven

He sees that his favorite animals, the fiercest

predatorsincluding wolves, tigers, chimeras

manticores, petsuchoi, rocs, and bloodthirsty man-

eating unicornsare bored and unhappy on the

vegetarian diets mandated by God. He longs to le

them run free on Earth, and has been promised that

by Lucifer.

!


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Paradise Lost 1

Computer Policy

In future days if malice should abound

Someone intent on mischief or inspired

With devilish machinations might devise

Like instrument to plague the sons of men.

(PL VI. 502-505)

What is a computer?

Position Papers

Delegates should prepare a one- or two-paged,

double-spaced summary of their characters

opinions, goals, and ideas, with the last by far the

most important. Having already thought of clever

strategies and tactics for interacting with humans

will be invaluable.

!Further Reading

A working knowledge of the Bible, MiltonsParadise

Lost, and most importantly Near Eastern history(with an emphasis on the military) will be

indispensable. Michael Roafs Cultural Atlas of

Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near Eastis an excellent

resource. And, of course, you can never go wrong

with Wikipedia.

For the purposes of committee, however, this topic

brief and decisions made by dais or crisis staff

trump Biblical or historical writings.!

1. God. The Bible. The Divine Press: Heaven, ????. Ed. Constantine and the Council of Nicaea. Trans. StJerome, King James, and the New International Version.

2. Milton, John. Paradise Lost. Random House: New York, 2008. Ed. W. Kerigan, J. Rumrich, and S.M.Fallon.

3. Roaf, Michael. Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East. Andromeda: Oxford, 2008.4. Various authors. Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia. Various articles. 2010.


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