Andrew,
I am happy to chat off list about this, first let us see the results. If the contacts become public the strategy changes.
If Zenos is a huge despot then he and Villard might have problems at a personal level one and the concessions to him might vary. It will be a fun set of emails between us. Potentially, some possible alternatives from my side would be looking at magical safeguards against him turning on the Burcancy &/or Vezinia, providing for the troops and people while waiting for Zenos to destroy himself, a combined army integrating Burcancy and Zenos troops or even trying to integrate Zenos into the Burcancy forces come to mind. I am curious why Zenos would want a route to Zelkor.
Since he is also a wily politician and general it will be an interesting balancing act between deciding to support him or reigning him in. Giving him to big a powerbase is rather risky.
Joel
Andrew Janssen wrote:
Ok, these are my actions for 1436. Nothing too exciting, yet. I am
making one change in the previously posted determinants. The numbers
will stay the same(I'll recap them below) but now, when there are two
numbers, the first will be for actions attempting to affect the other
two internal factions and their supporters; the second is for actions
affecting internal faction affairs, or relations with allied or neutral
groups. I hope that's clear.
Duke Yarrow of Caladyn(The Rightful Emperor)
I: -2/0
A: 0/+2
C: -1/+1
General Zenos(Would-be Usurper)
I: +2
A: -3/+2
C: -2/+3
Dr. Aldan Vellin(Republican Idealist)
I: -2/+3
A: -1/0
C: 0/+2
One final note before I get to the actual actions is the size of the
military forces available to the factions. The old imperial legions,
the professional core of the army split roughly 50/50 between the Duke
and General Zenos. However, just before the invasion of the Sinari, the
Cedonians started conscription. As a result, the Duke and the General
have about 40,000-50,000 men each, or a Size of Fair(0). The effect of
losses and conscription has reduced their Force to a level of
Great(+2).
As for the republican-leaning cities, their armed forces consist of
volunteer militia, with a core of professionals, mostly legion
deserters or soldiers who were discharged for medical reasons;
approximately 10,000-15,000 men divided among the several cities. Their
combined Size is Mediocre(-1), with a Force of Good(+1).
And now, the Actions:
Action 1: The Duke of Caladyn looks to Mir for backing.
Tactical, External, Negotiation
Primary Determinant: Relations with Mir
Secondary: The Duke's influence and authority (0 & +2 in this case)
Description: Duke Yarrow is an intelligent man. He knows that he and
his rival General Zenos are nearly evenly matched in men and material,
and that the autonomous cities are not yet willing to support him.
However, during the Sinari war, the Duke worked closely with the Forces
of Mir, and he respects both their skill in war and their skill in
magic. The Duke makes no secret of his actions.
The Duke sends emissaries to the Mir to negotiate for support in men,
magecraft, and material. He wants aid from the Mirish force in Tirmar,
and in return offers to begin the process of destigmatizing magic in
Cedonia.
Modifiers:
+ The Duke and the Warlord of Mir have worked together in the past.
- The Cedonians have never been comfortable with Mir's high use of
magic, and the Mir are aware of this.
- Mir may have too much on its plate already
Action 2: General Zenos Responds to the Burcancy
Tactical, External, Negotiation
Primary Determinant: Relations with Burcancy
Secondary: Zenos' Influence (+2)
Description: Zenos accepts the Burcancy's offer to open talks about
matters of mutual interest, while keeping this fact hidden from the
other factions in Cedonia. Zenos indicates that while he wants some
support in troops, his main concern is the status of Vizinia and
Zelkor. He wants an overland route to Zelkor and its port facilities.
(Joel, perhaps we can work the details out off-list?)
Modifiers:
+ Zenos respects the capabilities of Tanimbar and the Burcancy
- But, some might find his demands unreasonable
Action 3: Dr. Vellin Opens Relations with Kaeir
Tactical, External, Opening Relations
Primary Determinant: Vellin's Influence (+3)
Description: The concept of the republic is relatively fragile in
Qaiyore at the moment. So, too, is the situation of the cities of
northeast Cedonia: Thalcedon, Inibar, Gomel, Zayura, and several other
cities and towns. Dr. Vellin and the other members of the council that
runs Thalcedon and influences the other cities of the informal league
decide that it would make sense to establish formal relations with
Kaeir, given that the Kaeireans have the only formally organized
republic in Qaiyore at the moment.
Modifiers:
+ Kaeir will gain access to Cedonian markets
+ Cedonia will be able to again take part in the Midsea trade.
- Despite a superficial similarity, Kaeirean republicanism and Cedonian
republicanism have some differences in form that may cause problems.
Action 4: Innovation in Metallurgy
Strategic (1st of 5), Internal, raise technological base from
Metallurgic to Advanced Metallurgic.
Primary: Scholastics Sophistication
Secondary: Scholastics Diversity, Crafts, Vellin's Influence
Description: Dr. Vellin has become convinced that in order for Cedonia
to truly recover from the effects of the Sinari invasion and subsequent
civil war, they must be innovative. Certain areas in particular are of
grave concern.
One lesson learned from the Sinari Invasion and the retreat from
Tanimbar is that the traditional core of Cedonia's military, the heavy
infantry of the legions, may be on the verge of obsolescence. While
well-protected on the battlefield, a legionnaire is weighted down,
slowed down, by the combined weight of his armor, weapons, and other
gear. A legion simply moves too slowly to be truly effective against
forces such as the Sinari nomads, or any force with a large cavalry
component.
Dr. Vellin and the Thalcedon city council therefore charge the City
Arsenal with three tasks: trying to develop metal alloys for armor that
can protect a soldier as well as the current model, while being lighter
than current legionary armor; developing better alloys for weapons(for
example, damascened steel swords or a stronger spring steel for
building crossbows); and developing means of producing those alloys.
They direct as much funding as possible at the project, because they
know that when the Duke of Caladyn and General Zenos have settled
accounts, the winner's attention will turn towards them . . .
Modifiers:
+ for level of funding
+ for presence of the Imperial University(alchemists, etc.)
- for difficulty
Andrew Janssen
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