Back when Harald was still Duke, Valdemar led an expedition to the island to the south of Grihem's Point on the map. Some shavs bent the knee, and some territory was claimed (action 2315). Now Valdemar wants to return, to build a fortress there as a base for further exploration and conquest of the island. Something modest but sturdy, with a dock for unloading from ships. He also plans on leaving a small garrison (the ground troops assigned to this action) there when construction is completed, though they will be circulated out every three months (officers every six) in order to keep them fresh and alert.

Faelan will be commanding the men set to guard the builders and work crews that are building the fort. He'll be organizing patrols and guard duty shifts, as well as taking command of any land engagements that may spring up with the local shavs during the construction process.

Edward has done this before and so will lend his talents to doing so again. Using his skill at economics and logistics he will make sure that all the materials needed and personnel needed for the construction of the FOB are able to be moved on site in a timely manner with a high efficiency to cost. He will also make use of newly freed thralls to bring to the island to help with the construction, as a public benefit for House Grimhall. He will not only make sure to incorporate the base construction to be what Valdemar sees it as but will also consult with the officers who will be cycling through the island over the first year to make sure that soldier needs are incorporated as well. Above all Edward wants to make sure that these fighting men know that House Grimhall has their concerns in mind for long-term deployment.

Turo lends his considerable skills and experience in martial matters toward seeting up this forward operating base, helping select the best place for it, what defensive measures should be implemented, and helping Grimhall as their admiral in establishing the appropriate staffing and supply practices.

Erik will join the expedition to help his family settle properly in the island. Offering some help on the economics side, he will make sure that the supplies that will reach the island will be kept in a proper warehouse, safe from weather and plunder, as well as making sure everything is organized so that the guards can spring into action should the situation call for it.

The expeditionary force that Valdemar and his comrades have assembled sets out for the island south of Grihem's Point, and the bit of territory they'd previously claimed there. They set out with the intention of building a small fortress as a base of operations, and come supplied -- and staffed -- for such.

They arrive to find such a thing is probably not a bad idea; it seems that the shav'arvani who didn't bend the knee last tiem around have taken something of a dislike to those who did choose to become vassals of Grimhall. So far this hasn't progressed past simple skirmishes and encroaching on fishing grounds, but there's definitely some /tensions/ that have grown where there weren't before.

Those who did join Grimhall are generally feeling favorably towards the Grimhall delegation, particularly inasmuch as the Grimhall delegation came with a good force of men. Armed ones, at that. And so they're happy to help point out possible places for a fortress. (They're also happy to help point out which other villages they think should probably be rolled over with all the might of the Compact. Or at least have a few of their fishing boats sunk to make a point.)

In the end, the best place they can find is a place of compromises. Oh, they could pick the site high on the cliffs, with a commanding view of its surroundings, but the nearest convenient place for a dock is a good ten minutes' walk away, and would almost certainly fall outside of any reasonable fortifications that could be built. They could pick the spot in the sheltered little bay perfect for a port, but it's surrounded by cliffs that would give an enemy force a position well above the fortifications from which to launch an assault. Every site that's /perfect/ in one way is deeply flawed in another. In the end, Turo's expertise finds a solid compromise; the fortress will be at the top of a small hill -- no commanding view of the area, but the docks can be built below and enclosed within the fortifications.

The plans are relatively easily adapted to the terrain, and Edward is able to make good use of the funds and materials; Erik even gets a warehouse. In all, the project seems to be going well.

The one hiccup is with Faelan's defense of the location during construction. One of the Abandoned villages launches an attack on the project under cover of night, and unfortunately they come from two directions simultaneously: one group across land, and one quietly on fishing boats. The guards are caught by surprise, and the resulting skirmish isn't as decisively weighted in favor of Grimhall as some feel it should have been. Still, while there's some loss of men -- and some lost materials, too, as the surviving raiders make their escape with what they were able to grab -- it's not enough to hamstring the project. And so, in the end, they have a solid little fortification and a force there to hold the territory -- and, the prodigals hope, a place from which their new liege's forces will defend their villages, too.

For some time now, Valdemar has been planning to build a naval school in Grimhall territory, and he is finally ready to get started in earnest on this very important project. The Harald Grimhall Naval Academy will serve a number of purposes, though primarily it will be meant to be the best available training facility for sailors, naval officers, and shipwrights, open freely to qualified students from all over the Mourning Isles, as well as other parts of the Compact through sponsorship by the Academy of War. It is also, clearly, a tribute to Valdemar's father, will provide jobs that will be needed as thralls are freed in the coming months and years, and remind the traditionalists of Grihem's Point about traditions other than thralldom, in this case their tradition of naval excellence. The school is to have facilities for classroom as well as practical instruction, built on the western shore of the island of Grihem's Point so that there is space in the bay for naval maneuvers. His part in this will be to oversee the actual construction of the place, managing the expenses, hiring and coordinating the masons, carpenters, and other craftspeople who will be needed to get the place built.

Natalia will be reaching out through the Academy of War to assist in finding instructors for the naval school, as well as providing consultation for the logistics particular to setting up an academy. She will work with Valdemar and others he designates to meet with potential instructors to ensure they know what is expected of them, and to ensure that they are reasonably qualified in what they are supposed to be teaching. And also to ensure that they're not terrible people who will be awful teachers because (insert one of a million reasons here). All connections will be used.

Having helped not only Halfshav with their dock location and placement, not to mention the rebuilding of Darkwater, Carita is well versed now in just how to get the right people that know people for the end result being utter perfection and the highest efficiency.

Her goals aren't small, as she calls on people for:

* The site of building mapped out for the best placement.

* Buildings for new members having a place to stay, a place to eat, the barracks laid out for optimal happiness - especially if this will the the home for the soon to be freed thralls.

* A place of worship.

* An area for training and exercise, with the help and advice of Count Turo and his planned curriculum.

* Naval archives for studies and teaching.

* A central courtyard for the future site for Duke Harald Grimhall's monument, or statue.


Carita also offers some of Darkwater's economic writs, toward this adventure of House Grimhall's, to accompany the help being offered up in support of the reinforcment of naval excellence, and to encourage stronger growth that has nothing to do with thralldom.

Lucita has been told this naval school will have an impact upon the acceptance of Thrall release and ease the resistance to it, helping promote a peaceable transition. Skills and gainful employment available sooner than the distant end to debt paid off. She is in favor of stability and of assisting the effort to free the thralls so lends her abilities to Grimhall for the purpose assisting this establishment. The barring of females she is a little leery about having sailed with and having skilled sailors in her own family, but one step at a time. First education and freedom and acceptance and stability. She is skilled with propaanda, and goes about attempting to convince people with charm and reasonable logical facts, helping sooth ruffled feathers and pointing out strengths and benefits in this concept.

Vanora will assist her husband and build up anticipation and interest in the military school. Her charms will be used to convince several of the Grim Fleet’s most promising young commanders to consider a stint of teaching at the Academy. She will also help spread word throughout the fealty in order to recruit teachers and also students. Her focused attention will be on ensuring that the school is a grand success and that everyone hopes to send sons there to study warcraft, sailing, and shipbuilding.

Katya is good with words, and she's willing to talk to get things done. When it reaches her attention that the family is working on getting a naval academy set up she pitches in her help. You want to have the best, that means that you need the best, and she starts sending out word to people, trying to get them to sign on to come teach at the academy. She talks, she woes, she tries every trick in the book to get people to sign on the dotted line to come teach.

Being familiar with construction projects and having helped on a great many, Edward will be there to help the logistics of the project. He will ensure that all of the money is accounted for economically and that materials used by those hired to construct the project are of good quality. In addition to helping set up the school, Edward will gladly volunteer to be an outreach instructor - taking on a select few chosen by the school to learn directly with him. Edward himself was taught naval warfare and tactics by the great Duke Harald Grimhall himself and so will be more than happy to pass on those teachings to other eager learners.

Turo lends his considerable skill and experience toward this end. He not only sets himself to creating curricula that will inform, challenge, and prepare the students of the academy, but also enlists the aid of his own captains to make the academy a success for generations to come.

Erik has a deep passion for the pursuit of knowledge and the opportunity presented by The Harald Grimhall Naval Academy fits him like a glove. To help incentivate others to join the Academy, he will host some of the initial classes and invite some of his crew at the Grimhall fleet to join him there. He should also be able to host some wargaming sessions to test the commanding skills of the new students.

The Harald Grimhall Naval Academy is established to uphold the naval traditions at Grihem's Point. It's a strong reminder of the man once called the Grim Duke, and it couldn't come at a better time for Grimhall. Duke Valdemar, son of Harald, spearheads the planning, and focuses on emphasizing how there are many traditions in the Isles. Oh sure, thralldom is at the forefront, but Duke Valdemar is very particularly emphasizing the proud tradition of naval excellence. Grimhall traditions are why Duke Harald was once a Voice of Thrax. Grimhall naval traditions are why Duke Harald once served as the Admiral of the Thrax Navy. These traditions are strong and proud, and now Duke Valdemar son of Harald means to remind the Isles of this tradition in the best way - and to ensure that it's carried on to next generations.

The execution of it is flawless. He hires Natalia Whisper to work with the Academy of War, hiring instructors that understand Grimhall Traditions and are excellent teachers. Countess Carita and Baron Edward work to make sure they get the most for their money, and that the placement of the school is ideal. Baroness Lucita gives aid too, helping establish programs where freed thralls can be used as workers, but also where they can learn the proud traditions of Grimhall.

Admiral Turo helps create curricula, and Lord Erik Grimhall hosts some of the very first classes. Throughout, Duchess Vanora continues to emphasize how great the Academy will be, and how it will continue to uphold those proud traditions of Grihem's Point. It's an obvious move to support Grimhall traditions.

Traditionalists across all of Thrax are uncomfortable and unhappy these days, and it should be noted that each of the Duchies of Thrax are traditionalists in truth. With murmurs of the end of thralldom, it's hard for these people, who set such store by tradition, to look at the future with anything but the grim certainty of war. And yet this naval academy reminds them, Duke Valdemar emphasizes again, that there are many proud traditions of Thrax - and the focused support of one of their greatest traditions wins praise for everyone involved.