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Visitor :  Dice Roller| Game Info| The Cast |
| Fuzzy: Midmarch Council. Posted by Henry LeMaistre. | Group: 0 |
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| Author | Message | [bottom] |
“I have called this gathering of the Midmarch Council, to decide on the future of our land. You all have a stake here and you are all entitled to have your say. As you are aware, The Aldori of East Rostland have been squaring off against King-Regent Noleski for some time. The Aldori started taking back control of their traditional lands once the Rogarvia disappeared. The King-Regent has claimed it as his land, although he and his family never ruled there. Finally, battle lines have been drawn up and it looks like war between them is inevitable. Unfortunately, the battle line runs down towards our northern border. Lady Jamandi has asked us to join her cause. She says it is righteous and that the Aldori are only taking back what is theirs. She also tells me there will be a Grand Coalition of Aldori there on the battlefield, although she doesn’t define what she means by a Grand Coalition. Recently we have revived a letter from the King-Regent as well. Bart? If you would …” | |||||
“To Henry leMaistre, Lord and Governor of Midmarch Greetings from Noleski, Lord of Port Ice and New Steven, Master of the Dragonscale Throne and King of Brevoy I thank you for the hospitality that you have shown to our nephew recently, he reports that you have built a fruitful and bountiful colony in the land of Midmarch. With such beneficial news, I have decided that it time to levy a national tax on our subjects in your land. Hence forth I will levy a duty of ten percent on all businesses, churches and settlements. Furthermore, I shall require all members of the Midmarch Chapter, and the troops they control, to meet me in Rostand, forthwith, so that we may crush the upstart Aldori together. Yours in the cause Noleski Surtova.” Bart furls the scroll and sits back down in his seat. | |||||
“It appears that Stanislav Wolkov, who recently travelled with some of you, is an agent of Noleski Surtova and a relative of his to boot. Now, I wish to hear your views on what you have heard.” Henry goes to sit down, but then thinks better of it. “Although there are some other things I should probably tell you first. My family business, DELEM, has offices in New Stetven, Brundeston, Restov and here in Midmarch. My sister and her husband, who are responsible for our northern interests, have recently built a home in Brundeston, and put themselves at the service of the mayor of that town. They and their troops will follow his lead. My cousin, who controls our interests in Restov has done something similar and has put his troops at the service of the Council of Restov. However, the Restov Council have not yet come out, officially, in support of either side in the dispute. However, there are an awful lot of Aldori in Restov. I, of course, am prepared to put my troops at the disposal of Midmarch. My mother, who lives in New Steven has chosen this time to visit my sister in Brundeston. However, a cousin remains in New Steven to look after the family interests there. In the interim, I have asked Borric and Cyrus to muster the Midmarch Guard up by our northern borders and I have asked Tib to muster my personal troops in Newgate. Now. What say you?” | |||||
My professional opinion as a military man is that the Rogavarians can not hope to defeat Rostland on their own and without the help of the great houses of Issia however my own correspondence implies that the great houses of Issia do not support the Pretender King Noleski and are waiting to see what will happen. If the Surtovan's can defeat the army of Rostland I expect they will all fall into line behind him. If he fails well Issia will be looking for a new ruler. Finally if Midmarch is to support the Pretender then I must respectfully asked to be relieved of my oath and I shall return to Restov that I might support my family. I shall turn my holdings over to my cousin Kiera and she will run Solanus interests here in Midmarch." He bow's respectfully then returns to his seat between Alisa and Kiera. This message was last edited by the player at 15:35, Fri 03 July 2020. | |||||
All sailors could agree that there were Aldori from House Yitis. Most say there were Aldori from House Photus. A few say there were Aldori from Restov. One sailor insisted that they saw the White Dragon of House Khavortorov. Another sailor insisted that he saw Jamandi Aldori, even though others laughed at him." He pauses and then adds "I think I've seen ample evidence of this Grand Coalition of Aldori. My agents have also revealed that many of the Aldori wear a trinket shaped like a wasp, the symbol of Calistra I believe." He clears his throat and continues. "As for the demands of the King in Restov, as well as his levy on all businesses and places of worship, I ask 'What has he done for us?' To expect Loyalty, Troops, and Taxes, has he expended troops or support to help us clear these lands? Has he aided us in establishing economic ties with the rest of Brevoy? Has he done anything to help you Stabilize your rule of Midmarch? I would answer No to those questions. I find myself unwilling to give something for nothing." | |||||
"My Lord, Midmarch only exists because of the Midmarch Charter, which you hold and which gives you the right to settle and civilise these lands. I take it that Charter comes from the King? "Regardless of that, we are all officers or knights of the Midmarch Chapter of the Order of the Brevic Knights. The knights of Brevoy. The king is the Grand Commander of the Brevic Order. "Personally, I would rather see the Aldori take control of the east and the king hold the rest of Brevoy, even if Brevoy is split into two new nations as a result, rather than the bloody civil war that threatens to fall upon our heads. But that choice is not mine to make. "My Lord, I have no wish to break my oath as an officer of the Brevic Order. If you choose to obey the king's directive I will be there beside you. But if you believe the future of Midmarch is better served by supporting the Aldori then I will trust your judgement and still be there beside you. "I don't know which is the right answer. However, Adoven's news raises a frightening new question in my mind. If the Aldori are so active in the River Kingdoms, are they mainly there to recruit support for their cause? If so, what are they promising their allies in the River Kingdoms in return? Is Midmarch the price they are willing to pay for an alliance with the River Kingdoms? We already know there are some in the River Kingdoms who consider this land rightfully theirs. If we march north to support either side, will we lose everything we have built here in Midmarch either way? Or should we remain here to defend Midmarch, to defend the southern border of Brevoy itself?" | |||||
"...well, as much as we don't want to deal or think about it, it's here. War is coming, and we're getting pulled in both directions, like a stuffed bear between two squalling children. I don't really have much tie to either side- spending your formative years out in the forest will keep you from understanding too much of the small stuff going on. Some of us may have ties to the Aldori. Some of us might have ties to the other side. There's enough pride, guilt, rage, emotion flying around to fill a load of graveyards. People are begging us to join causes- Lady Aldori wants our help, the Surtova want our help, and honestly, I already know which way we ought to turn..." Taking a deep breath, she has to stop from reaching for her skin, and states it out: "...I say Midmarch should remain neutral. It's not our fight. Both sides are begging for our help, but we need to be thinking of ourselves, and of the people here we represent- the thousands of people we'd be dragging along with us if we decide to take a side in all this. Lots of us have ties to one place or the other. It's hard, watching the steady march of troops off to war. But we've got to think of ourselves- the people we represent, the lives and everything we hold in our hands. Maybe it's just because I don't really think either side sees us as much more than a source for troops, money, and other things- I mean, the letter from the Surtova has all the markings of a preening bird, trying to inflate his plumage to scare a lesser male out of his territory. His nephew wasn't here to pay respects or whatever, he was here nosing around and seeing what kind of forces we could possibly have, what we could give them. I don't know about the rest of you, but 'hey, you people I've never met but are supposedly my subjects, come to my war and die for me and a cause you might not believe in for no more reason than I demand it' is a really, really stupid reason to get involved in a war. Then there's the Aldori. The lady in charge seems nice, but... again, what's in it for Midmarch? We go up there, we march, we die for a fight that we don't have a dog in. I know a lot of us have ties to family in the area, and I humbly apologize if I offend anybody, but again- what about Midmarch? What of her people? The ones who will be left here, rudderless, leaderless, and vulnerable if we decide to march off to war for one side or the other? We side with the Aldori, the Surtova will be picking chunks out of our northern border before we know it. We side with the Surtova, and we splinter apart because of family responsibilities and all that. So I say, we just tell both sides we're not getting involved in their war because we have our own problems we're going to have to deal with soon enough." Finding a nearby map of the area, her finger would tap a few places: the River Kingdoms to the south, Pitax to the southwest, and Numeria, to the northwest. "I'm looking south, and I'm looking west- the River Kingdoms, Pitax, and possibly Numeria. Getting Midmarch involved in a war, and sending all our forces away to battle will be like ringing a dinner bell in their general direction- you can guarantee they'll be making to test our borders to see what they can get away with. I mean, lots of the Kingdoms would love to take our land and everything, and Irovetti, well... I wouldn't put anything past him. They see weakness, they take advantage. If we survive, we could come home to find Pitax camped out in the lower Narlmarches and daring us to evict them, or the River Kingdoms biting off chunks of the south, without the strength to do so. We've also got other things to think about- the brigands in Drowned Trees or whatever the hells it's getting called these days. You think the lady in charge is going to sit idly by while we all go play soldier? I know there are others, too. Just send word to both sides that we wish them both well with their little war, but to leave us out of it. We're already going to feel the squeeze without being able to go east until this is all over. It's not the answer people want to hear, I know. But we need to think of our own when the people in charge don't want to, and both sides seem to see us as little more than a bunch of forces they can command." She reaches down and takes a swallow from her skin, to steady her nerves. "And no, it's not because of my faith, either. I'm no Aldori agent. Hell, until a few years ago, I thought an Aldori was some kind of tree or mold or something you'd find in a crypt if you opened the lid." This message was last edited by the player at 13:20, Sat 04 July 2020. | |||||
Zelona's people will be in the Keep to the south of Midmarch, and I could, perhaps build more defences along that border ...." This message was last updated by the player at 12:34, Sat 04 July 2020. | |||||
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"But the more important reason is that I do not wish to be seen helping either side start an open civil war. Not even Aldori. We may yet be forced to get involved, but I strongly believe that right now we should not be picking sides in a conflict that threatens to tear the whole country apart. Instead, we should be trying to get the two sides to a negotiating table again, even if that seems unlikely at this point." "On the matter of taxes mentioned in the message from the king-reagent, does the Charter give rights to the throne to levy such from Midmarch?" She asks the present company. | |||||
"My Lord ... while the affairs of our northern neighbours may now seem distant to our current concerns in these new lands, I fear that if we try to ignore them, to stand aside and do naught, then whoever is the victor in that conflict will not look kindly upon us, and we likely will find ourselves facing a freshly-blooded army that seeks to punish us for our inaction." "I have sworn oaths, aye, as the good Bishop says, but my allegiance is with you." "One side in this conflict asks our aid, the other demands it. All else aside, I favour the Aldori, though will be guided by you." | |||||
"That is a good question about the Charter and taxes, Safiya. I suspect that Brevoy, and therefore the King, can legally impose taxes on all of its subjects as required. I support the notion of Midmarch remaining neutral, if that is an option open to us. I don't know what the repercussions would be, though. Could the King revoke Lord Henry's Charter, and what would that mean to him and to us? "If knights and officers of the Midmarch Chapter of the Order of the Brevic Knights refuse to obey the King's instruction to meet him in Rostland with our forces, would we be effectively disobeying the lawful command of our commanding officer? Would we need to tender our resignations from the Order as well?" | |||||
“Do we know how much support Noleski has from the other nobles? Where Lebeda and Lodovka stand, for instance? Maybe we can formulate a form of delay that explains to both sides why we have not joined them yet.” | |||||
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Yes, a perfectly amazing idea, much like standing behind a spooked horse and giving it a good smack." Kiera lets out a sigh. "But as far as the Calistria angle, I think it's more the Aldori looking for vengeance than anything else. I know there's bad blood on both sides of this thing, but the Unquenchable Fire isn't Sarenrae or Iomedae. It might just be a way for them to be asking for her help in exacting vengeance against the king. I don't think she's ever really been the 'rouse an army and go on a holy war' type, anyways. Like others have said, it's not our fight. I mean, how we respond to this is going to affect how we're perceived- are we our own little slice of Golarion, here, or are we little more than a vassal state to the Aldori or the king that comes running when they snap their fingers? Better to have two sides slightly miffed at us and keeping the peace here than dropping everything here in Midmarch to go off and die for something. We have our own problems." | |||||
"The Charter. Yes, the charter is signed by the king and grants his authority to settle in Midmarch. There is, of course, a question as to the legitimacy to claim this land though. It has never been settled by Brevoy, and the last people to really settle it were Taldans – and that was a long time ago. Since then, it has been wild-lands inhabited by bandits, tribes and monsters of one sort or another. That said, Surtova will see us as a Brevic Colony. And in that case, as King of Brevoy he has the right to demand that we pay taxes and expect us to send military support when he demands it. There is still some question as to his position, as well. He has never really had enough support from the Noble Houses for ascension to the throne, and many refer to him still as King-Regent – holding the crown against the return of the Rogavaria. Word has it, that he has sent similar demands for military support to all of the houses. I do not know if that is correct or how they have responded Adoven asks what support we have been given by the king in settling Midmarch and, beyond the charter, the answer is very little. Although Surtova has supported the settlement at Fort Drelev. Most of our practical support has come from Restov. Sir Ferdinand Ledkno has visited us a number of times, and, I believe, gifted well-trained war horses to some of our members. He even help organise the Midmarch Chapter, in the early days, when we weren’t sure quite what we were doing. I believe the bank of Restov has made loans to some of our members, before Andalon was able to set up the bank in Tusk – and Tusk Cathedral was founded with the help of a grant from Abadar’s church in Restov. I think there is some truth in Percy’s words – and that neutrality might not be a good choice. If we do not send troops to Surtova, it will be seen as a sign of rebellion anyway. If we then try to hold back the taxes he has demanded, that will confirm our ‘rebellion’ against the crown. If we stay neutral, and Brevoy wins the civil war, I would expect to see Brevic troops along our borders fairly quickly. In King Noleski’s eyes, I fear that neutrality might not seem very much different to us sending troops to fight against him. I do not know the stance of the Great Houses on this, nor would I expect them to tell me. In many respects they face many of the same issue as we do. I know that Surtova is not a popular king, BUT to stand against his instructions could be considered an act of rebellion. As for the ‘Grand Coalition’ of the Aldori. As you may know, most of DELEM’s business interests are based around East Rostland. We have a Serai in the Khavortorov town of Sway, another in Restov and a base in Brundeston, the Dwarven settlement. My contacts tell me that ‘the word on the street’ in all three of those places is that they will side with the Aldori. That is not a formal declaration from the leaders of those areas, just the word that is circulating among the common people. The Aldoi we have seen travelling through Midmarch to Restov have been small groups, perhaps some of the mercenary units that Mivon is famous for or perhaps, as Kiera says, small groups driven by a desire to gain revenge for their defeat at the Valley of Fire. Another thing, that you may not have considered is trade. Thanks to V&V Shipping and House Yitis, we have established trade links with Mivon and, I believe, V&A is negotiating to establish a trading base there - and Adoven has already negotiated a trade agreement with Jovvox, who are aligned with Mivon. My own DELEM trades with East Rostland via Restov – with a small link on to New Stetven. That means that most of our imports and exports travel through Aldori lands. I had been hoping to push through to the East Sellen and establish direct trade links with New Stetven and Fort Drelev, but we aren’t at that point yet. It appears to me that we have a number of options. We can stay neutral, but that would probably be seen as an act of rebellion against the Crown of Brevoy and may well affect our main trade routes – and would almost certainly be seen as us breaking away from Brevoy We can side with King Noleski, although that would make an enemy of, what appears to be, a united Aldori. We can side with the Aldori, which might protect our trade, but makes an enemy of King Noleski, and possibly the rest of Brevoy. However, as Knight-Captain of the Midmarch Chapter, I am prepared to absolve your oath, and relieve you of membership of the Chapter. That will mean that you are no longer bound by Oath to either me or King Noleski. Gwair has already taken that option, and returned home to serve under Sir Ferdinand, and I have taken the liberty of removing Stas from the membership list as well." This message was last edited by the player at 10:17, Mon 06 July 2020. | |||||
"Could we send the King a message advising that we have seen enough evidence of Aldori activity in the River Kingdoms to convince us there is a very real threat from that direction. We must stay here in Midmarch to protect this southernmost province of Brevoy from invasion by the River Kingdoms. "With the greatest respect, we would sincerely advise against initiating a civil war that would threaten the strength, stability and prosperity of all Brevoy, leaving the victors in command of little more than a bloodied and bankrupt nation, assuming our enemies to the south and west leave us even that much to call our own." "As far as trade with the Aldori lands goes, if there is civil war then our trade routes will be disrupted anyway. But if we could somehow persuade both sides to reach a peaceful agreement, perhaps because of that threat from the south, we might even strengthen our trading position with both sides." Andalon rubs his forehead as though his head aches. "We would probably still need to pay the taxes, though, as a sign of good faith," he concedes. | |||||
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She shakes her head dismissively about news of Mivoni wearing wasp symbols. "Vengeance. For what? A defeat that happened 200 years ago from a king whose entire line is now gone? Isn't it a bit late for that now? Where were they all back when Rogarvia was in power? No, neutrality may not be the easiest course of action, but I feel it would be only right to avoid this mess for as long as that is possible. And I cannot help but notice that despite the word on the street of support for the Aldori cause, no town or city has yet stuck their neck out by openly declaring for them. Do we really wish to be the first, and so mark the beginning of an open civil war?" "If we do choose to remain officially out of the infighting, we can still offer the requested taxes to the king-regent to mollify him. Tell him we cannot spare the few men we do have as Adoven suggested, that's not very far from truth. From the sound of it, he'd be lucky to get that much support from most of the other great houses. And he did sign the Charter after all, a document that legally binds us to Brevoy. There's little point in casting doubt on the validity of the Charter, as it is also the basis for our own authority. On the Aldori side, we could choose to look pass the movement of men and supplies that will undoubtedly be going from Mivon to Rostland, at least as long as the Aldori are not being obnoxiously obvious about it." "And it goes without saying that we should also do whatever we can to try to convince both sides to come to their senses and work out a peace deal, even if that looks nay impossible right now. And if it's all for naught, at least we can say we tried to stop a civil war, rather than help start one. Even the damned Surtova could see that." This message was last edited by the player at 16:53, Mon 06 July 2020. | |||||
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Cass motioned for someone to bring him something to drink. “If the king weathered in New Stetven, he would likely win against a siege. But on the battlefield, it is highly likely that the Aldori will take the day. Once that has happened, Restov will likely welcome the victors with open arms. Then, unless the nobles of New Stetven want to test the siege theory, they will agree to acknowledge the Aldori’s claim to Rostland.” One of the waitstaff brought a serving tray with a glass of wine and a bottle of the same. Cass smiled to the server, reached for the bottle and took a large swig of its contents. “My suggestion is the renouncing of oaths, and sending word to the Aldori that we will join there cause under the single condition that Midmarch be declared a free land as well, with Henry LeMaistre as its only sovereign.” This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:22, Mon 06 July 2020. | |||||
Adoven nods his head. "Doesn't matter. Nobility was only something I sought to be approved of as a potential husband for Vik. Beyond the Influence of the title, I care naught for the trappings of nobility." He looks to Cass and sighs. "I fear that the mayor's idea has merit, though I am loathe to align with the River Kingdoms." | |||||
"I believe that if we send our whole army, we have about the same military strength as Restov - counting their sword schools and guard detachments, the Khavortorov about the same. However, we think the East Rostland Aldori can probably muster about twice as many troops as us. Assuming Brundeston and some Aldori from Mivon turn out as well ... So the Aldori Army will probably be about five times our size. The Surtova can probably call on nearly that number themselves, but I doubt Noleski will call up all of his troops from Port Ice. However, he might be able to call up some New Steven units." Henry shrugs, "It could be enough to make a difference." | |||||
She sighs wearily. "I have given my counsel, my Lord, but I will, of course, follow your decision." | |||||
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Cass looked around the room at everyone. “That said, I would advise against deploying the entirety of our military forces outside of our borders. Some should be left in defense. Perhaps we could send 1/3 of our troops to battle.” This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Mon 06 July 2020. | |||||
OOC: I knew I had written it down somewhere, but have been struggling to find it. Apparently, I blogged on it, then ran out of time to put it in the mass combat rules section of the Wiki. See the Sieges section at the end of this page :_ http://galinia.org.uk/263-2 | |||||
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Besides, the letter's nothing more than a pile of empty threats, anyways." As the wine passed, Kiera would grab a glass of her own, taking a sip before continuing. "It's not like they would have the troops to back up whatever threats they might make at the moment, either. Any troops he might send down here are that many fewer that he can't send against the Aldori in the east- and even after this all passes, he'll have his hands full with occupying the east and keeping things under control... and even after that, there's no populace that I know of who could handle two big campaigns, one after the other, in such a short amount of time. Same with the Aldori- they win this thing, they'll have a lot of the same problems- having to deal with a bunch of new territory, occupying and securing it. They won't have time to worry about Midmarch, or the supplies or manpower. Both sides might be a little cross at us, yes, but at the same time, what can they do about it?" Taking another few sips from the glass, she'd eye it, and shrug. "...neutrality is a funny thing- besides, how would it appear to the rest of his allies? You attack a country that's trying to stay out of a civil war, what does that say to the rest of the world? What kind of impression does that make? It doesn't make you look strong, it makes you look vindictive, petty- some might say downright evil. Declare Midmarch as neutral in all this, refuse to send him even a copper. If he keeps bucking, look into how much bite he really has, and call him on it instead of just rolling onto your back. Midmarch and her people are loyal to you, my lord. If we have to go independent, well... what do we have to lose if Noleski pulls our ranks? We couldn't be a member of the Brevic Order if we didn't live in Brevoy, anyways..." | |||||
This message was last edited by the player at 22:34, Mon 06 July 2020. | |||||
Kendrick was at odds during the entire discussion. There was no easy answer, but there was a hard choice to be made. "Lord Henry. It is difficult to make a decision but since you have call us to offer our opinion on this matter" "Ultimately it is your decision, but from where I see things. The best choice for you and for Midmarch is to announce your independence." He paused to let that idea settle before he continued. "Once you announce the independence of Midmarch, that will force the hand of the Regent and that of the Aldori swordlords. Based on how they receive the news, it may give you guidance on your next move." | |||||
"I wish diplomacy or strict neutrality could be our answer - with all my heart, I do not want a war. But, neither of those are good means to deal with a despot. And that is what presently sits the throne, and what we bend the knee to." This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:20, Tue 07 July 2020. | |||||
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Cass took another guzzle of wine and then stroked at his beard. “A similar letter could be sent to the Aldori stating that a plot has been uncovered here in Midmarch. Surtova’s nephew Stanislav was not only sent to spy on Midmarch, but to put in place certain agents. These agents all being fire mages with orders to burn Tusk city to the ground if Midmarch takes arms against Surtova. Time is needed to ferret out these agents before Midmarch can send forces to join the Grand Coalition.” This message was last edited by the player at 02:50, Tue 07 July 2020. | |||||
"By that time, we will have already failed to protect Brevoy's southern border. If the Aldori win, they will control all the land to the north of us. Southern Rostland is lightly populated at best, although there has been expansion since we closed down the bandits who were operating along those borders. While my intelligence isn't perfect, I believe many of those settlers will be Aldori supporters, rather than royalists. We know the Aldori have been strengthening and reclaiming land in east Rostland, it would make sense to do the same in south Rostland. As for strengthening that border, I am upgrading to a small castle in Newgate, and a keep in Outpost. It makes a small defensive line and allows me to scout that area very effectively. Most of my troops are gathered in that area at the moment." Political map of Brevoy - http://rp.baileymail.net/lib/e...brevoy-political.gif | |||||
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"We are working here on the assumption that House Surtova stands alone against the Aldori coalition. But just because Noleski has not married yet, does not mean he must stay bachelor forever. If he is under enough pressure, he could offer a marriage alliance to one of the great houses, an offer that any of them would consider very seriously." "If the forces are already equally matched just between Surtova and Aldori, what will happen should another house join Surtova? I would not be so quick as to write Noleski off just yet, regardless if we join the Aldori or not. And I fear this war will not be a quick victory in the field Aldori likely assume it will, but a long and gruelling affair. It takes more than swordsmanship to win a war." | |||||
"What would that actually mean, apart from a question of legal authority? I presume he would not just leave that position vacant, but would appoint someone else with the same orders you were given. Likely someone with enough strength behind him to enforce those orders, too. Do you have any idea who that might be?" he asked. | |||||
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"And if it is but a coin toss of choice between the Surtova and Aldori, then the matter of whether their troops be friend or foe, which set of colours might fight by our side and which vitals our blades will seek is likewise on a knife's edge." "Whatever is decided, my fellow clergy will be ministering to the fallen. All the fallen." The priest considers ... "If war must come, we should not seek to glean advantage. Though the Grey Lady herself does not judge if a death be just, I, her simple priest, would rather fight for a cause that is right." "And if neither Surtova nor Aldori be worthy, then perhaps we should not lend either our blades. Perhaps we should stand aside and see to our defences so we are prepared when the victor turns vengeful eyes towards us as they surely will. It may not be the most advantageous choice, but it may well be the right one." He smiles at Cass. "And perhaps there are other allies who would be worthy and who would stand by us and us by them - there may yet be a need for words." | |||||
Noleski has spent the last fifteen years trying to take the throne and still the great houses are resistant to him and now Rostland, with Mivonese support is breaking away. I am not sure any of the great houses would back such a weak ruler when there is a chance should he fall one of them may gain the throne of Issia. Finally let me say that should a replacement be sent to replace Lord Henry then I suggest we send any candidate packing with his tail betwixt his legs and might I suggest that at that point the chapter resigns and a new chapter arise in it's place with our loyalty to Lord Henry. We have all worked too hard to build Midmarch to what it is today to see some interloper arrive merely to take the cream of the top of all our efforts." | |||||
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Andalon from the time I was small enough to sit on my mothers lap I remember her telling stories about the good old days when Rostland was free of the Rogarvarians, I was still a boy when whatever it was made them all disappear. My grandfather remembers those times, he told my father about them when he was but a boy and that is one of the reasons he came to Restov and met my mother. My father would tell me stories of the great Aldori swordsmen who met their end at the Valley of Fire how Choral's dragons burnt and pillages Rostland, how the Mivonese fled to keep the dream of freedom alive. Brevoy wasn't really our country, it was one where you Issians stood on our necks, our mothers kept the dream alive and we trained for the day we would take our chance to rise up and throw off the shackles and be free again. Those are reason enough for Mivon to assist Rostland, after all they are family." | |||||
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She hesitates before continuing. "Mind you, I am not saying Mivoni could not have been offered something extra. Mercenaries generally fight better when they are paid after all, and Mivoni are mercenaries. I doubt it's Midmarch though, I do not believe Restov Aldori would do that. Now, whatever they can pillage, raid or conquer from Issian held lands, that I could see. That's how this game was played before Choral showed up." | |||||
"The king has stepped on a good many toes during his reign. And while it is possible one house or another might wed itself to Surtova, some of those sore feet are likewise bound to be disinclined to dance to his tune. Perhaps even more so if it involves wedding a beloved daughter to a sadist. But, I do not argue at all the potential for a protracted, ugly war. And the sanity of avoiding it." | |||||
I mean, yes, he wouldn't want to lose us, but still... what's worse to have on your southern border- a neutral country, or an enemy country? Send his majesty a letter declaring our independence, and our willingness to stay neutral to the war- we don't give aid to either side, we let them fight it out. If he decides he's going to get all huffy and whiny with us- or anybody else allied with his decides to start trouble, then suddenly we're a lot more friendly with the Aldori and we've got a lot of countryside they can ride through to come up and hassle his southern border from. He gets a neutral border that he doesn't have to worry about, we don't have to worry about attacks from the north unless Surtova is a complete and utter jackass, and we get our own country out of the deal. You can call yourself whatever you want to, I suppose- plus, if the Aldori win this thing, we haven't completely burned our bridges with both of them. The survivors are going to need supplies and food and everything else after this is all done, and who has the closest farms and markets and trade routes to both sides? It'll cost us any shot we might have at being Brevoy nobility, but in the end, well... we were going to have to have this discussion sometime. I've lived my life without it for years, going back to being sort-of-plain-old-me wouldn't be too bad." She finishes off her wine, and then looks for a second glass. | |||||
Safiya dismisses this matter with a wave of her hand. "In any case, whatever we choose we also need to be ready for the deluge of refugees as the population to the north is introduced to all the wonders of war again. I dare say there will be plenty of Rostlanders, Issians, and just plain Brevoyans among them, as well as the ever popular I-am-whatever-will-not-get-me-killed-m'lord nationality." | |||||
"Let me see if I can summarise the situation based on what has been said here today. "It seems to be agreed that there is no hope for negotiation of a peaceful agreement between the King-Regent and the Aldori. "Civil war seems inevitable and our support to either side may well be enough to tip the balance in their favour. "If we go and support the King-Regent and he wins, our current situation is not likely to change greatly. Some of us may be granted noble titles or other symbolic recognition but our trade with the Aldori lands to the east, including Restov, and with Mivon and Jovvox in the south will suffer. "If we support the King-Regent but he loses, then we have enemies to the east as well as the south, much less reliable support from the north leaving us more open to attack from the south in particular, and our trade to the east and south will also suffer. "If we go and support the Aldori in Rostland and they win, they say they are only interested in reclaiming Rostland so we end up with Brevoy cut in two, with us allied to the Aldori in Rostland, some degree of friendship with Mivon in the south, but with the remainder of Brevoy to the north hostile to us. Trade routes to the east and south will flourish but the pressure from the River Kingdoms for us to embrace their River Freedoms would probably also increase. There will be changes in our lives. "If we support the Aldori but they are still defeated, the King-Regent will send someone much more heavy-handed to replace Lord Henry here in Midmarch, which would not be pleasant for any of us, even if we don't end up in prison, or worse. Our troops would have suffered badly on the battlefield so we would not be in a position to prevent the King-Regent's man from taking control of Midmarch. "If we remain neutral and the King-Regent defeats the Aldori, the outcome would not be much different than if we had supported the Aldori. The King-Regent will send someone much more heavy-handed to replace Lord Henry here in Midmarch. I suspect we wouldn't face imprisonment but you can bet that we would be taxed to breaking point. If we fought back to prevent the King-Regent's man from taking control of Midmarch we might be successful at first but we could not hold out forever against the full strength that the King-Regent would eventually send against us. "If we remain neutral and the Aldori win, I expect the King-Regent would still send someone much more heavy-handed to replace Lord Henry here in Midmarch. If we remain neutral it probably doesn't make much difference whether the Aldori or the King-Regent is victorious; we lose either way, eventually." He paused and looked down at his hands, holding them in front of himself and moving them up and down like a set of scales weighing each option. "None of those outcomes are without drawbacks but, to my mind, the outcome for Midmarch would be best, or should I say least bad, if it is our support that tips the balance in the King-Regent's favour and he manages to defeat the Aldori. "Nonetheless, as I said at the start of this meeting, I would not be where I am today if it were not for you, Henry. The final decision is yours. I trust your judgement. I am with you either way." After delivering his considered opinion and his pledge, Andalon shrugged apologetically to those who had been arguing in favour of joining the Aldori, and sat down. | |||||
Henry goes on to sum up Midmarch’s defences. ”I don’t think we can do much more defensively at the moment. Many of you have mentioned it, and that has been useful advice, If nothing else we are as prepared as we can be for any fallout from the war. Tusk, which marks our southern boundary, is strengthening its defences significantly. Our eastern border is dominated by the Shrike River, which can only be crossed easily using the bridge at Ringbridge. That is fairly well fortified, and WSM are helping to strengthen it further. The far side of the river has Eastgate and the new watchtower at the Burial Mound – which can patrol that area and, perhaps, provide a small guerrilla force to harry any enemy in that area. Our northern border, between us and the civil war will be our strongest, with a castle and two keeps. To the west, we have the Narlemarch – it is difficult to march an army through and is scattered with settlement and troops that can harry – we will even have outer patrols based in Westgate and The Old Villa. I don’t think we can go much more defensively at the moment. My family has some experience of civil war. My mother came here from Ustalav after our family holdings were destroyed in the War without Rivals. It makes it more difficult to face a second war within a generation. However, both my sister and cousin have holdings in Aldori territory, and have pledged their support to their respective leaders, as you have offered your support to me. It makes this a particularly difficult decision for me. However, I think we have covered most things, especially with Andalon’s masterly summation of the situation. So I would like each of you to express, in simple terms, your preferred option. This message was last edited by the player at 18:15, Wed 08 July 2020. | |||||
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Cass took another drink of wine. “Now, in his stead, rules a tyrant with no more regard of the descendants of these people than the original monster that he claims as his family. What benevolent works has he done during his rule? Much beloved by the people is he? No, there has been talk of rebellion against him during his entire reign.” “But make no mistake, these Aldori are little to no better at all. For 200 years they have had the opportunity to remold the River Kingdoms into an even better land than the one they left behind. Instead, while they held to their own selfish ideals of power and revenge, the River Kingdoms has been nothing but a haven for bandits and the dregs of humanity. Little more than a cesspit in my estimation.” “My recommendation? Let them kill each other off. Declare Midmarch as an independent and sovereign land. Shore up her defenses and weather out the storm. If one drop of Midmarch blood is to be spilled in this conflict, then let it be for something worth truly fighting for, Midmarch.” This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Thu 09 July 2020. | |||||
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"So, with that off the table, my preferred option would be for us to only get involved to the bare minimum you think Midmarch in general and you personally can get away with. Whatever you think that is, and whatever side you choose to support. Sending gold is of little concern to me in that regard. Sending men... admittedly less so." This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Thu 09 July 2020. | |||||
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"And if that means we must declare for the independence of Midmarch under Henry's rule, then so be it." | |||||
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"For my part ... I do not think that the Regent will have the backing of all the Houses. I believe my own House Orlovsky, distant though the connection be, will not support him. Indeed any conflict that may start with Aldori and Surtova is likely to see the rise of other camps, seeking advantage and opportunity." "I spoke before for the Aldori as an alternative to the Regent ... from what I have heard I am now hard pressed to pick either. I propose standing by and making what alliances we can with those who do likewise." | |||||
Finally, after Henry asked for everyone's opinion, he decided to weigh in. "As some of you know, my mother was a whore, and my father, well let's say it's not quite certain who he is. So I can honestly say I have no personal connections to either side of this conflict," he said with a glance in Domitius' direction. "So what I say is purely based on my interest in keeping Midmarch, and myself, safe and prosperous. While I agree with the noble goal of independence and self-governance, for the reasons Andalon pointed out, I can't support that action at this time. In that scenario, whomever wins this civil war will take umbrage at our neutrality, and at best replace Lord Henry with someone less inclined to support us individually, at worst, invade Midmarch and remove or kill each and every one of us for our sedition. So that really only leaves two options. As has been stated, Lord Henry's charter comes from the King-Regent and we have all been sworn as Brevic Knights. To side against the King-Regent, then, would be an act of treason for each of us, and perhaps more importantly besmirch our honor." He turns to Domitius, "If you weren't willing to fight for the crown, you should have never sworn the oath to do so." He shakes his head, "Now look, I have no love of the King-Regent, or honestly Brevoy in general; it never did anything for me. But I do love Midmarch, and everything we've built here. Thus, I truly see no other choice. As others have stated, I propose we offer a token force in support of the King-Regent, keeping the majority of our forces here in Midmarch, under the auspices of protecting the southern border. If the King-Regent wins, we will be seen as subjects who supported the rightful King. If the Aldori win, we can make an argument, a true argument, that we supported the King-Regent because we had no choice based on the oaths we'd taken. We would then offer to swear a new oath to Lady Jamandi, with our actions during the war proving how strong our oaths are and that we never waver from them." This message was last edited by the player at 14:11, Thu 09 July 2020. | |||||
Once I would have fought for Brevoy had I been called, but ties of blood run stronger than ties of bondage. Now my kin call an end to that bondage and are prepared to fight for it. How could I call myself a man and not do the same. Midmarch is but a blink in history's eye compared to the suffering that certain individuals within this council dismiss as nothing. I accept others have differing views indeed within my own family we do not agree on this subject, but the Lord Mayor of Tusk forgets himself he believes that I and my kin are no better then Noleski. No he and Master Marik should be prepared to meet with my second or apologise for their behavior less the first blood shed in this war shall be there own." | |||||
The only thing I did was to point out that you swore an oath which you now intend to violate. That's not an insult, simply the truth. And if your loyalty to your blood is in fact as strong as you say, you probably shouldn't have made that oath in the first place. Again, no insult, simply a point of fact. That you now threaten me for speaking the truth is completely uncalled for." | |||||
"This is not the place for raised voices or for threats, no matter how strongly any of you feel. Nor is this ant place for talks of treason. I have already said that I will release any from their oath to the Midmarch chapter, if that oath conflicts with others that they have made, or for any other reeason." The Governor then glares around the room, looking at everyone equally. | |||||
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“You are correct, Henry. All other business can wait until later.” | |||||
"So far I have heard voices for sending a small force to support Surtova. If we are to take that course, I will take the Midmarch Guard and lead them myself. There has been slightly more voices for Independence, and a couple that I have taken to mean take the path of least bloodshed. And, of course, one very strong voice that says we should support the Aldoi of East Rostland and Restov in their campaign to reclaim control of their ancestral lands. No matter what is decided, I will not ask any of you to go against your conscience, or your family. Now, is there anything else I should hear concerning this matter?" | |||||
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She put her hand on Domitius' hand, leaned over and briefly whispered to him- | |||||
He turned to look across at Lord Henry "My lord I wouldn't rely on our walls the Rostland Aldori have the best siege engineers available outside of Taldor or Cheliax. Additionally we have done no preparations for a siege so before we make any announcement I would suggest we begin to lay supplies in. Furthermore do we have enough room to place all the citizens of Midmarch should that come to pass?" | |||||
“I have listened to your words, and your passion, but I will not go as far as full independence at the moment. However, we will not send troops to fight on either side of this war. I will take the position that Midmarch has been commissioned to guard the Southern Border of Brevoy – regardless of whether East Rostland is managed from New Stetven or by the Aldori – and that we will continue to do so. I shall point out the string of defences, which we have built recently, to defend Brevoy’s southern Border, and highlight the role that both Tusk and Ringbridge play as a line of outer defences. As further evidence of our dedication to duty, I will mention the scouting outposts in the Narlemarch and Kamelands that will give advance warning of any incursions. I will decline to pay extra taxes, stating that we cannot afford to slacken in our determination to bolster Brevoy’s southern border. I will mention advanced scouting posts in both the Narlemarch and Kamelands that will help improve our knowledge of the area. Furthermore, I will speak of the area to our west, which borders the slough, pointing out that the land there is still wild and untamed and that it could still be used to march an army into Brevoy. I will also speak of Tusk’s role in providing a trade route to the south, offering new routes to market for both Restov and New Stetven. I hope that this will be seen as evidence that we have done as we have been asked, as well as offer both a minor deterrent, in the form of our new defences, and a minor encouragement to support us, for the new trade opportunities we can offer. However, this puts a responsibility on all of us to develop both our trade links, and our defensive capability – when we are able. While that will show our commitment to our mission, as I have described it, but it will also strengthen our position if we do have to defend our borders from Brevoy or the Aldori. That message will be sent to the King-Regent and Lady Aldori, although I will also send copies to the Lords of the major houses and the Mayor of Restov. Furthermore, even as we remain neutral, we will not close our borders. We will be open to settlers, as we have always been, while merchants, traders and travellers will be free to pass through our lands – so long as they adhere to our laws, while they are here, and pose no threat to Midmarch. I have no wish to stop either side from accessing the Gnomes’ new store in Tusk, recruiting mercenary troops or conducting their business in any other way. Notices concerning our neutrality, and the terms of it, will be posted in every town and settlement in Midmarch, and I will require every priest to read it out in their services. No person in Midmarch should be ignorant of our intentions. So far as the Midmarch Chapter is required, I will release any of you from membership and the vows that you have made. That will mean that you, and any troops that you control, may actively support whichever side you choose. Once there is a resolution, you will be welcomed back into the fold – assuming that we are still neutral and that I am still in charge of Midmarch. Should Midmarch come under attack, we will reconvene to discuss the options that are available to us.” With that, Henry sits back and waits for comments. | |||||
"...well, in the end, it's not going to be us that has to buy this particular horse- it's the King. But at the least, it'll be a sign you can use to assess why he's doing this. If he's thinking clearly, he'll accept the idea that a neutral border on his south is nothing to worry about- especially if it means he's not going to have to worry about raiders from the south or southwest. But if this is a show of dominance, meant to cow us into submission... and we just waggled our tails at him? He'll be rather peeved at us and might take some further measures... so maybe we get all our coins in a row and start preparing for the worst and hoping for the best? Those of us with businesses keep our ears open and pass along anything interesting we might hear- like troop movements, news from Brevoy, that kind of thing? I mean, you'd be amazed what you can find out over drinks..." | |||||
"A question, if I may? You say we are here to defend Brevoy's southern border. Well, there is one force that is very likely to be coming here on its way to Brevoy. Mivoni. And they will certainly be hostile to Brevoy forces. What position are we going to take regarding them? If we do nothing while armies march right through our lands unopposed to rampage across Brevoy, our excuses to the king-regent will ring very hollow indeed. But if we put a stop to that Aldori may take that as a hostile act." | |||||
"A good question, Safiya. My Lord, is that what you were thinking of when you said you have no wish to stop either side from recruiting mercenary troops? So long as they adhere to our laws, while they are here, and pose no threat to Midmarch?" he asked. | |||||
That said, I am not sure that I would try to move a whole army upriver on boats, anyway. And realistically, if I wanted an element of surprise, I would probably bring them overland and either across the Ringbridge or send them east through Varnhold. Although even that would be difficult to conceal for long, and we have seen no signs of it. Nor have we seen any sign of Mivon mustering huge numbers of troops and, to be honest, I am not sure that the have the ability to bring troops from all the houses together under one banner. But my plan is all one calculated risk, that could turn against us at any point. Hopefully, we won't have offended either party so badly that they take decide we should be their next target." | |||||
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Some time later Henry calls everyone together again, to tell you about the outcome of the ‘war’. "I have had the first reports of the war between the Aldori and Surtova, and they were not at all what I expected. The two sides squared off in West Rostland. The Aldori, Khavortorov and the dwarves of Brundeston, with a contingent of Mivoni mercenaries on one side. There weren’t many Mivoni, and many of those were from the Yitis and Photus families, although there were a few others as well. However Duma, from the Gronzi forest, made another of his sudden appearances as well – on the basis that he had fougfht with the Aldori when they were so badly damaged at the valley of Fire, and that he was prepared to help right the wrongs that were perpetrated there. Surtova had support from House Garess, Baron Drelev, although neither sent their whole armies, and a contingent of troops from New Stetven. Apparently there wasn’t much between the two armies. Suddenly there was a fanfare of trumpets and two old ladies appeared in the middle of the battlefield and demanded a parley. It was the Dowager Duchess of the Lebeda, who was accompanied by Lady Luna Cartan, who is grandmother to our own Lady Valoria Lebeda-Ondari of Ringbridge. The Dowager Duchess summoned the leaders for both sides, and told them that she represented the Great Houses of Brevoy, and that they would not stand aside while the country was ripped to pieces. Instead, she insisted that a treaty should be signed. Surtova was particularly dismissive, while the Aldori, insisted that would only be acceptable if it gave them independence. At which point the duchess told them how the other Brevoy troops had been deployed. Apparently the Lodkova fleet was anchored just outside Port Ice, while House Orlovsky had deployed their troops to the Great North Road, between the Garess and Surtova holdings. House Medveyedd was massed on their southern borders, threatening both the Khavortorov holdings and Brundeston. She then pointed out that the only thing that stopped the Orcs of the Icerime Mountains invading the Gronzi, was a treaty with the Medveyed. Half of the Lebeda troops had been moved into New Stetven, the rest were afloat ready to head down river towards Fort Drelev and our western borders. After much grumbling the two sides retired to consider their options, and eventually returned to the parley point - which by this time had a massive pavilion flying the flags of the Noble houses and a small contingent of guards - as well as the Lords Medveyed, Lodkova, Orlovsky and Lebeda. Eventually a treaty was signed, although grudgingly. While we will be sent a copy of the treaty shortly, I am informed that it contains the following clauses. I assume this will be supported by new charters, as appropriate.
There are other restrictions that will apply to Midmarch. While I may consolidate Midmarch’s position, I cannot expand to the south. I am, however, ’encouraged’ to develop to the west, as far as the river, and to support the establishment of new Marcher Lordships on our southern border. It also means that Silverton will fall under the auspices of the newly independent Tusk, rather than Midmarch as a whole." This message was last edited by the GM at 13:21, Wed 15 July 2020. | |||||
He takes a glass of wine and raises it high. "To Henry LeMaistre, Viscount of Midmarch, long may you lead us on the path of peace and prosperity!" | |||||
Cass raised a glass of perlet in salute. “And Midmarch’s first family of nobility is just as it should be. To the Baron and the Baroness, the Viscount and the Viscountess. Long live LeMaistre! And long live Lebeda!” Cass smiled as he inhaled the wine. Henry had pulled it all off without any bloodshed. And Cass himself was now in a position even better than he had hoped to carve for himself. Still, Cass couldn’t help but try to shake a secret sense of foreboding. Midmarch had managed to avoid this threat, but what about the next? | |||||
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"...I think we're missing something. Like these 'other restrictions'- what are they? Not to mention turning Tusk independent and no longer beholden to you? Who's in charge of it if you're not? I'm also a bit suspicious of this Brevoy council- I mean, we don't have a voice on it, so we need to figure out where we stand with these families- how many of them love us, how many hate us, and how much dancing are we going to have to do to get what we want if we need to go to them? I might not know all that much about politics, but it just feels like all we got out of it is a shiny title for our lord and a few others." She sighs. "...why do I have the feeling we got fed a bit of honey and got a knife stuck in our back at the same time? I don't know. I think we might be celebrating a bit too early- and we need to keep our eyes and ears open. An independent Tusk means it's open to people screwing around with it, and I wouldn't put it past a few bunches to try it." | |||||
"The restriction say that I cannot expand Midmarch to the south, although I can consolidate my position. I will take that to mean I can 'tidy up' around the edges, but Midmarch won't develop anything south of our current borders. I can, however, continue to expand Midmarch towards the East Sellen. I suspect that is primarily intended to let me establish a strong defensive line across the whole of the border with Brevoy. However, it also lets me complete the trade link from Restov to The East Sellen. However, I am 'encouraged' to support the establishment of >archer Lordships. That means you can develop independent holdings further south of the type that Zelona has been considering. Although we can work closely together, I will not govern you. Again, I suspect that is intended to stop me from becoming too powerful, while still building military and scouting outposts to help secure the land to the south of us. Yet another way to strengthen Brevoy's southern border. Tusk will fall under the solely under the management of Tusk Council led by Lord Mayor Cass Mordane. Again, reducing my personal influence, which will reduce the chances of me competing with the great noble houses. I suspect that is the same reason for Restov to be confirmed as an independent city - the great houses don't want too much competition from the Countess Jamandi." Henry smiles softly, "I suspect any other city either of us build would soon be declared 'independent' as well." | |||||
He placed the goblet back down on the table, the wine now bitter to him and joined Keira in her sigh. | |||||
"Indeed, hooray for Midmarch being hamstrung like a lame deer and our new overlords of House Lebeda taking control of Tusk with nary a swing of a sword, yes? But at least a few of us got some nice, shiny titles out of the deal, hm? The region's economic and population center for a few shiny titles... a fine deal, if you could pull it off." Don't mind Ki, she's just... suspicious as all get-out of people she's never met and doesn't trust- and there's not a whole lot of people from up north she actually does trust at the moment. :P | |||||
First and foremost, Alisa felt relief that the worst had not come to pass. No horrendous bloodbath to stain the benign works and progress of recent years. For that much, she gave silent thanks to any and all powers watching over the people of this land. Of course it wasn't the work of gods so much as mortals...in particular the nobility of Brevoy's most prominent houses, including Medvyed of which she was distant and minor relative. She found it reassuring they hadn't caved to the demands of the regent...and by the Spear, it was terribly satisfying to hear him formally called that, rather than king. This seemed to be a broad acknowledgement that he was in fact not the latter. She tended to agree with Kiera that there were likely aspects of this whole thing which were not apparent, intentionally hidden. But wasn't it almost always true in politics, and its maneuverings? Time would tell. She had faith that nothing vicious had been conspired, at least. It was hard for her to hear Domitius express his pain and frustration; she knew well what this meant to him. She had earlier spoken her own viewpoint of Surtova, her mistrust and dislike of them. However, she didn't share Dom's loyalty and zeal for the Aldori cause. She admired them; their spirit and courage. Was gladdened they'd been legitimized and given holdings. They deserved no less. But, Countess Jamandi had not impressed her as a particularly wise leader. And flocking to her banner would have been a mistake, she believed. The lord-regent capitulated to the great houses of Brevoy. That was a victory, in her book. Yet she had entirely meant the warning she'd early given Henry; were it possible, she'd give it to the Ladies Lebeda as well. Though she was relatively sure they were already wary; knew much more than she did. She glanced to the side at Domitius, and her face finally, briefly yielded an expression. Showing her sorrow at how he was taking this. And her worry what it might lead him to do... | |||||
“Acting as mayor of Tusk has been my personal contribution to Midmarch and its people. And gaining a fancy title to continue to do so brings me not one whit of joy. My own personal interests have always been the establishment of my own independent territory, and with Silverton in the works, any continued participation in the governance of Tusk prevents me from realizing that full potential. I will hold more freedom and power as a newly invested Marcher Lord than I ever would as a city official.” “And the same holds for each of you, should you take the opportunity to form your own independent territories. And for anyone with the proper dedication to Tusk City, I will gladly hand over my keys to the council room. But from early days, Henry mentioned his desire that should the opportunity present itself, he would prefer to see Tusk as a city independent of Midmarch itself. That way it could act in the best interests of a confederacy of free lands created and governed by those of the Charter who desired to do so. I believe such independence also allows Henry a breather to focus on his own family and family ventures even though he has agreed to maintain the responsibility of Viscount of Midmarch.” “While the Aldori may not have had the sweeping victory on the battlefield that they hoped for, in Lady Jamandi they now have a greater footing than ever before as Countess. The whole resolution is one made to benefit all parties for the longest period possible. Surtova has been neutered, Regent in name, but truly no more powerful or with any more authority than any other noble family of Brevoy. This includes the Rostland Brevoy, the Midmarch Brevoy, all new Marcher Lords, and the Free City of Tusk. Cooperation rather than conflict will provide the greater benefits to noble and commoner alike.” So saying, Cass turned directly to Domitius. “I also prefer to believe that whatever new holding that you establish in your own name as a Marcher Lord will be of greater benefit to your family and your people than what you may have gained by focusing your efforts in Rostland. No offense to your abilities, but you have a surfeit of space and economy that you may not have in closer boundaries. And your military might could be even stronger.” “But I too have my concerns, most directly that of the possible threat from the River Kingdoms in general and possibly Pitax in particular. I am also not beyond suspicion of Drelev as well.” This message was last edited by the player at 02:42, Thu 16 July 2020. | |||||
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Same thing with trying to get us to split up and start our own little kingdoms- dividing and conquering is easier when your enemies divide up for you- and then we get played against each other. Sting, I bet the ambassadors are already on their way to Tusk as we speak to see what they can wrangle out of Mr. Mayor over there as far as getting outposts and camps and military set up here, without having to worry about Midmarch forces or advisors stopping them. I’d almost go outright and think the Houses stirred this whole thing up for just this conclusion- the Regent answers to them, Midmarch and the Aldori all but neutered, and encouraging the lot of us to splinter away from Midmarch. They’re playing a long game, here, and the first roll went their way. We ought to stick together, and we should have split away completely. Keep an eye on the Aldori lands, that’s where they’ll work next. Not many understand what power can do to someone. I saw what it did to Old Staggy, and we’ve seen what it did to the Regent. Let’s not let it go to our heads let we end up like him or Kressle or the Redbirds or whatever else is out there.” Her throat dry, she would drain another glass of wine and sit back, a bit closer to Dom and Alisa. This message was last edited by the player at 07:41, Thu 16 July 2020. | |||||
This message was last edited by the player at 07:49, Thu 16 July 2020. | |||||
She would scoop up a half-empty wineglass and drain it, setting the glass down slowly. “I might need to stop pickling myself in public...” OOC: Hope no one is taking this personally, Ki is just drunk off her behind and venting and scared out of her mind. This message was last edited by the player at 08:23, Thu 16 July 2020. | |||||
“I can see how this seems more like a defeat than a victory. And you are correct that under the wrong set of circumstances, those Issian lords that hold your suspicion could gain time to carve up Midmarch at their pleasure. But consider this possibility should we have have taken fully to the battlefield. Even in victory, our forces could have been severely depleted. Enough so that the forces that the Issian lords held in reserve could have easily dominated. Or the forces of Fort Drelev, easily three times the current military strength of a Midmarch could have put an end to our forces. Or Pitax could have decided to bring war from the west. In any of those cases, Midmarch would already have been carved up. But while our rivals waste time and effort against each other, we have time to grow strong and stay united. I see fortified territories held by March Lords such as Adoven, Domitius, Kendrick, and others as more than a match for more overly confidant rivals. I may be wrong, but I didn’t make it from sleeping on the streets of Restov to where I am today by betting on more losing propositions than winning ones.” | |||||
"Restov has been an independent city from the very beginning of Brevoy. While it was the centre for Aldori politics, and has many Aldori residents - there are many other residents as well. I don't think the Lord mayor of Restov would have been impressed to be told that he now worked for his First Sword Lord ..." OOC: We'll work the charters out between us in OOC. | |||||
"And this is exactly why I'm relieved, if not elated, with the outcome. The cost for going to war now, for this particular reason, would almost surely have been too high. And, I agree wholly that building our strength, as well as planning carefully for the future -- taking into consideration the shrewd, ambitious personalities of some of our neighbors -- stands a better chance of making the most of independence, and increasing both prosperity and security for the broader population." This message was last edited by the player at 21:35, Fri 17 July 2020. |
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