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| Action Id: 3092 | Crisis: | Participants: Aethan, Carita, Wash, Jan, Zoey, Skye and Ian | |
| Status: Resolved | Submitted: Feb. 10, 2019, 6:30 p.m. | Public: True | GM: Puffin |
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Economic Resources: 424 Military Resources: 698 Social Resources: 1145 Action Points: 500 |
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Action by Aethan
With a big decision ahead of Arvum, Aethan thinks it would be a good idea to work out what's likely to happen to Kennex and its vassals regardless of which offer is chosen. So, he makes a trip to Stormward -- not actually to see what the people he commands want to do -- though he does ask many of them their thoughts -- but instead to try and get a measure of what the likely consequences for Kennex would be in the wake of the various choices. For example, whether they would lose members of the navy should Cardia or Brass be accepted, either from those who value Kennex's lack of thralls, or the traditionalist holdouts who may have been on the verge of leaving.
While there, he runs many training exercises and war scenarios with the navy, both to keep it in top shape should they be called to fight, and also to boost morale among the sailors, showing them that they are valued by their admiral in order to make it less likely that any would desert should the winds blow the wrong way. He reaches out to Kennex vassals to participate in the exercises, both to strengthen ties between their houses and to remind them that the Stormward Fleet has been rebuilt, better than ever, and is capable of protection and aide should they need it.
Finally, he reaches out to others in the House to do the same in their various spheres, whether martial, diplomatic, etc, and coordinates with them to both try and stabilize Kennex and its vassals' territoties, and plan for the future whatever may come.
Action by Ian
Ian is worried about two scenarios in the future upheaval, and it's these that he investigates.
His biggest worry is that, should Brass' offer be chosen, some of Kennex's (NPC) vassals might go into revolt or even outright take side offers from Cardia so they can keep their thralls. So Ian's going on a tour of Kennex's vassals, the stated reason of which is to tour their defenses and find out if they need any support from Kennex, since things are soon likely to get hairy. And he does do this, and will work to get whatever people need. But while he's touring, he'll also keep his eyes and ears open for signs of houses that might be considering taking some extreme action, should Brass' offer be accepted, and he's making mental notes of the military capabilities and weaknesses of all of Kennex's vassals, so that, should it become necessary to stomp out rebellion, it'll be easier to do.
The second scenario that Ian is worried about is the Compact accepting Cardia's offer, and slavery being forced on Stormward once more. Specifically, he's worried about what the Orazians will do. Now, Ian isn't good at talking to people, he's not persuasive, and his profoundly uncomfortable relationship with the gods is pretty much the opposite of what's likely to impress them, but he IS one of the only born islanders who could call himself Orazio's friend, even if they've since drifted apart. Maybe some word of that friendship has drifted back. Maybe that, plus the fact that Ian won't lie to them and pretend to be something he's not, will be enough to get them to open up enough for him to get a sense of where they stand. Maybe they tell him to take a hike. (Hopefully not.) He's not going to try to persuade anyone to do or not do anything. For the time being, he's just going to watch and listen.
Action by Wash
Wash is mostly doing trade missions at the moment. He will use his mobility and the excuse of escorting a merchant vessel to visit each of Kennex's vassals. He will ascertain the strength of their navy under the auspice of Admiral of Thrax, but will compare what is reported to what he observes in the harbors and warehouses, some unruly vassals may think that they can conceal their strength from their leigelord or the House. Mostly though, he will charm the nobility and share stories from Arx with those that are curious for news.
Action by Zoey
As Voice of Stormward, Zoey is accompanying her husband and the others to Stormward and the surrounding vassals. She functions primarily in a diplomatic roll: listening to concerns, taking political temperatures, and gathering information from the vassals about how they see things proceeding. She uses her usual charm, making sure that each meeting ends with the other person feeling truly heard by House Kennex. This information will be documented fastidiously and added to the steadily growing pile of puzzle pieces. She is almost committing a significant amount of social capital to the project, pulling in favours and strings to assure that the meetings go well and the ruling nobles are properly treated.
Action by Skye
Baroness Skye Blackshore knows a lot about managing upkeep as the Minister of Infrastructure for Thrax. She will use her skills in economics to review all the offers on the table from the Undying Empire (province vs trade alliance), Cardia (province vs trade alliance), Brass (freeing thralls), and Ashe to trace the financial implications on House Kennex, House Darkwater, House Navegant, House Redreef, House Blackshore, House Stormbreak and other NPC vassals. She will itemize the individual fealties as well as bubble it up to what will overall happen.
In addition, she will listen and record any concerns expressed as she discusses the finances with all the Ministers of Income that serve Kennex and their vassals.
Action by Jan
Jan does not understand much about politics. Her expertise lies in preparing for the eventuality of war, be it civil war or between nobles. She has been working towards more joint military operations to boost morale and confidence. She does not rely on brutality to win a war, she depends on preparation that borders on morbid pessimism. More guerrilla techniques should be employed, no matter which enemy we end up with, we need to be ready to surprise them.
She is proposing a set of war games for nobles and well as men at arms. This will probe for weaknesses in our hierarchy as well as reinforce our bonds as brothers and sisters in arms. The Saffron Chain is a good place to start, and will help training the Corsairs, shoring up defenses, and collecting resources.
Whatever the result becomes of these choices, Jan wants to be able to meet the consequences prepared and with a game plan already set in place. Combing the outlying Isles might not be the quickest way to accomplish this, but someone has to deal with the scraps. Every fighting soul and resource is going to count in the end, and the beneficial side affect is that it gives her men some extra tempering.
Action by Carita
As the Minister of Finance for House Thrax and the money manager of Darkwater, along with being the Minister of Finance for House Grimhall in the past, Carita is well versed in what is brought in and taken from a lot of the Houses both above and below Kennex House. Her keen eye for finance has gotten noticed in the past, and when Lord Aethan requests her help she willingly takes on this task. Showing numbers where she can on how Darkwater has managed with the loss of new Thralls during it's rebuild. She knows who to talk to and how to get the attention of those that Aethan might need help getting connections with. She's not a complete expert as of yet, but she knows how to navegate the more traditionally minded folk.
Result
The Kennex move to free all their thralls was a difficult time in the Mourning Isles. But the Compact came together admirably - with economic and military support. It's been a couple of years since then, and as a House the Kennexes have proven their dedication to this new way with a vengeance.
Their ministers have been working to make sure they're economically stable. Their House has practiced economies, made alliances for trade, found ways to not just free thralls but to incorporate these freed thralls into their economy in long term ways. They've started paying back their debts - and their vassals notice that many of those debts that Kennex has been willing to repay have been forgiven instead, proof that they're making political allies well beyond the Isles.
Now the rumors say that thralldom may soon be abolished throughout the Isles, and House Kennex makes moves they've been planning for years. Lord Aethan works with the navy, strengthening ties between the Kennex navy and their vassals' navy as well. Lord Ian, Lord Wash, and Lady Zoey reach out diplomatically to talk to their vassals. Are they struggling? Are they prepared for the changes to come? Lady Zoey in particular charms them as she works to build strong ties.
Lady Jan works behind the scenes to plan for the future, and to work to settle disputes and deal with troublemakers before they have a chance to disturb the overall peace. Baroness Skye and Countess Carita work to audit the Kennex finances, and to make sure that House Kennex and their vassals have solid financial plans moving forward.
In an eddy of turbulence, House Kennex and their vassals are a peaceful calm. All except for House Navegant, that is. That remains a troublesome question, because Count Turo seems very opposed to this forward-thinking movement and allied with those defending Thrax traditions.