The over-arching principle to keep in mind with regards to “what’s going on in the world” is that it’s all about controlling, keeping control of, taking control of, or expanding control of trade routes and the like.
So what are the major goings on that the PCs might (or might not, depending upon their background and personal curiosity) know about?
The Halveetian League, consisiting of the city-states along the southern coast, is constantly seeking to expand its footprint and to consolidate its control of the coastal trade-routes. This is leading to growing conflict with:
- Towns/villages/seaports along the coast that do not want to be blessed with the advantages of League “protection.” Until now, this conflict has been mostly limited to seaside communities that are located somewhere between Darilei in the west and Visaiyain in the east. This conflict has been witnessed in passing by Jonathan, Mobley and Tara in Hanport (which is unhelpfully not on the map), which was mostly destroyed by League forces burning out smugglers.
- The Vind Hall, which has posted – and continues to post – notices from blockade runners who advertise for volunteers to evade or break League blockades around coastal communities. The notices are phrased in terms of resisting oppression, though those with a suspicious mind might suspect that the blockade runners … or smugglers, who want to evade League taxes … have their own economic interests in mind. The League wants to force the Vind to identify the individual(s) behind the postings, but the Vind – who consider their obligation to protect client confidentiality – refuse to do so. This conflict has been seen in one of the NPC posts in the "What's Happening Off-Screen" thread.
- Middle Redding horse clans: The growing size of the League cities requires ever-more farmland to support the urban populace. This conflict is especially pressing in the plains north of Chade, as farming families move further north and attempt to fence in farmland to protect it from wild life as well as Middle Redding riders. The farming communities have advertised in the Vind Hall for mercenaries to aid in guarding the fenced land.
- Other communities at the borders between League-controlled land and other “countries.” For instance, the League city of Darilei controls a significant amount of inland territory, as shown within the bounds on the map. Darilei continues to expand its hold west and north, causing renewed conflict with Seldez. This conflict has been referred to in passing in Morgana's thread.
- The Clunne: The Clunne hold lands west and southwest of Darilei (off the map). Commonly known as a collection of disorganized, uncivilized and unwashed barbarians, the Clunne have recently become organized under the banner of a chieftain known as Owen of Clun. In the past few years, they have harried League caravans and otherwise interfered with the expansion of League trade overland to the west.
Sa’iph is up in arms about the recent establishing of Jotunn shipyards in Torei. Sa’iph claims that the Jotunn are also building a war fleet for Torei that could be used to control the sea routes to and from Sa’iph on the eastern coasts. This conflict was referred to in Richard's thread.
Sa’iph has brought a protest to the the High Council in an effort to get the High Council to put pressure on the Jotunn and/or the League to make commitments to
not support Torei’s independence or its establishment or a war fleet. The League’s own council has been less than receptive to Sa’iph’s protests to date, given that at least half of the League cities are human-controlled and less than sympathetic to Sa’iph’s position on the debt-marked.
The High Council’s historic position as the over-arching political power, however, has been fading; the days of the historic Shal-dominated oligarchy is over. Its ability to call the shots, to “force” the League to do anything, is lessening every day. Further, the ability to influence the Jotunn is likewise limited. The Jotunn homeland of Farolan is the key port for trade in the northern seas, and the Jotunn recognize the leverage they have as a result. As a courtesy, they will listen to Ellinden So, the Lady of Sutton whose holdings control the main pass and overland trade route between Farolan and the southern lands, but both she and the Jotunn know that is only a courtesy.
The Council also has been distracted recently by a struggle for control of the seat traditionally held by the A’nari house, which has been left vacant for nearly fifteen years since the family was essentially wiped out and the A’nari Keep sealed. With control of the seat comes control of the vast A’nari land holdings. The only two known heirs, Iaondrin Shal A’nari and Morgan Shal A’nari have refused to answer the Council’s summons – and in fact are wanted for lending aid to the Clunne.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:53, Fri 12 Apr 2013.