Episode: Shattered Peace
Posted by Story on 06/23/22
In the past decade, the Compact has been no stranger to war. The memories of those battles ache like scars all over the continent from fealty to fealty. And it seems that war is not done with the Compact just yet.
The situation in the Mourning Isles, brewing for years as the end of thralldom as declared by Prince Victus Thrax and other changes to the closely-held traditions of the Islanders met opposition, boils over into civil war. Under the military leadership of Anders Nightcove, the traditionalist Houses of the Isles have attacked several Houses loyal to Thrax and promise to attack even more as a massive fleet of the allied traditionalist Houses prepares to take on the Thrax Leviathan in a war that is sure to leave the Mourning Isles devastated no matter who is the victor. Dagon Thrax has been placed a figurehead for the traditionalist movement after declaring his intention to reclaim his inheritance after having it usurped by Victus Thrax nearly a decade ago.
The Antidominus Waldo has been suspiciously quiet, leaving people to wonder what's up his sleeve or if he even has sleeves. Most of the members of the Faith have thrown in their support behind Dominus Aureth, but there is concern that the most Orthodox of the faithful, angry over the changes in the Faith in the past decade with the addition of new Gods and the rapid cycling of Faith leadership, could be persuaded to throw in with the Antidominus if he manages to present a convincing argument. The Faith can ill afford a widespread schism in such perilous times and so most hope that Waldo quietly disappears. Or at least stays quiet.
In the Oathlands, and the Crownlands, brutal attacks by the Abandoned on outlying villages have left the people anxious and fearing that their home might be the next to be destroyed. Princess Liara Grayson seem to be in a stronger position than ever, but few who saw what happened in Bastion can begrudge House Grayson their recovery even if the people of the Crownlands fear what might be to come from these emboldened Abandoned. As multiple attacks shake the Oathlands, Princess Alis Valardin finds herself facing similar fears and anxieties. Some take these attacks as a warning that the Abandoned are preparing for a war, just at the time that the Compact can least afford it. Many of the traditionalists in the Oathlands and Crownlands point to these increased Abandoned attacks as even more reason to secure the traditional Compact way of life through promises from the nobility to curb some of the most egregious of progressive behaviors that have swept through the Compact. Any commoner seeking elevation is quietly advised to put said hopes on hold for the foreseeable future.
In the Lyceum, many of the Hundred Cities are facing economic collapse as many Houses discover that their coffers are mysteriously lower than expected. In the face of a war on mutiple fronts in Compact and the predicted economic troubles that result, many Lycenes aren't just concerned, but outright panicking at the thought that one of the richest fealties in the Compact appears to have been built on an economic house of cards that has started to crumble. Many look to Archduchess Jaenelle Velenosa and the other ducal Houses of the Lyceum to see how the leadership will deal with this crisis.
While war can be devastating for many, those involved in the shadier dealings of the continent are seeing increased opportunities as their expertise in getting things in the right hands at the right time is sought out more than ever. Commoners, already exhausted by the wars of the past decade, aren't eager to fight in yet another, but take up arms willingly to protect their way of life and restore the fragile peace that has made the Compact so successful in the past.
The situation in the Mourning Isles, brewing for years as the end of thralldom as declared by Prince Victus Thrax and other changes to the closely-held traditions of the Islanders met opposition, boils over into civil war. Under the military leadership of Anders Nightcove, the traditionalist Houses of the Isles have attacked several Houses loyal to Thrax and promise to attack even more as a massive fleet of the allied traditionalist Houses prepares to take on the Thrax Leviathan in a war that is sure to leave the Mourning Isles devastated no matter who is the victor. Dagon Thrax has been placed a figurehead for the traditionalist movement after declaring his intention to reclaim his inheritance after having it usurped by Victus Thrax nearly a decade ago.
The Antidominus Waldo has been suspiciously quiet, leaving people to wonder what's up his sleeve or if he even has sleeves. Most of the members of the Faith have thrown in their support behind Dominus Aureth, but there is concern that the most Orthodox of the faithful, angry over the changes in the Faith in the past decade with the addition of new Gods and the rapid cycling of Faith leadership, could be persuaded to throw in with the Antidominus if he manages to present a convincing argument. The Faith can ill afford a widespread schism in such perilous times and so most hope that Waldo quietly disappears. Or at least stays quiet.
In the Oathlands, and the Crownlands, brutal attacks by the Abandoned on outlying villages have left the people anxious and fearing that their home might be the next to be destroyed. Princess Liara Grayson seem to be in a stronger position than ever, but few who saw what happened in Bastion can begrudge House Grayson their recovery even if the people of the Crownlands fear what might be to come from these emboldened Abandoned. As multiple attacks shake the Oathlands, Princess Alis Valardin finds herself facing similar fears and anxieties. Some take these attacks as a warning that the Abandoned are preparing for a war, just at the time that the Compact can least afford it. Many of the traditionalists in the Oathlands and Crownlands point to these increased Abandoned attacks as even more reason to secure the traditional Compact way of life through promises from the nobility to curb some of the most egregious of progressive behaviors that have swept through the Compact. Any commoner seeking elevation is quietly advised to put said hopes on hold for the foreseeable future.
In the Lyceum, many of the Hundred Cities are facing economic collapse as many Houses discover that their coffers are mysteriously lower than expected. In the face of a war on mutiple fronts in Compact and the predicted economic troubles that result, many Lycenes aren't just concerned, but outright panicking at the thought that one of the richest fealties in the Compact appears to have been built on an economic house of cards that has started to crumble. Many look to Archduchess Jaenelle Velenosa and the other ducal Houses of the Lyceum to see how the leadership will deal with this crisis.
While war can be devastating for many, those involved in the shadier dealings of the continent are seeing increased opportunities as their expertise in getting things in the right hands at the right time is sought out more than ever. Commoners, already exhausted by the wars of the past decade, aren't eager to fight in yet another, but take up arms willingly to protect their way of life and restore the fragile peace that has made the Compact so successful in the past.