Noble Progression Story Peacevik, Oh Peacevik

Ongoing wars

Von Rahm punitive war against Viduggla

- von Rahm (Attacker)
- Viduggla (Defender)​

Von Duerr conflict over Skarvaland

- Von Duerr (Attacker)
- Viduggla (Defender)​

Tyrannian Invasion of Vlissinghelm

- Tyrannian (Attacker)
- Harhold (Defender)
- de Letoirneau (Defender) (never announced an end to hostilities)​

Rote invasion of dei Olzolli Arlora ???

- Rote (Attacker) Maybe ???
- dei Olzolli (Defender) Maybe ???
​

Current Alliances
Delmotte - Ravenstad (offensive)
Harhold - de Letoirneau (offensive)
Ravenstad - du Brierüst (defensive)

Gearing up in the North
As a result of the ongoing momentum of Viduggla growth, numerous families would act in ways that was about to unchain another series of flash points, with the risk of spilling out into the next big war in the archipelago, or a resumption of hostilities that ended so shortly ago. The whole mess was initiated by house von Rahm, who bought two extra ships, bringing their total to 5, and summoning a warmeet. At this warmeet, the Count declared that Viduggla found himself in violation of the treaty for attempting to purchase the land back. The Count declared that Viduggla had offered a compensation token of 20,000 regals for the land, upon which less than that amount of people live.

The warmeet for House von Rahm responded with criticism, stating that Viduggla's actions did not constitute a violation of the treaty, since the non-aggression and resolution would only be broken if military actions were undertaken by House Viduggla within the 100 mile radius of the wall, which they had not done. Not a single soldier had entered Krupp's lands, and so it was in fact Count von Rahm who violated the treaty and made himself an oath breaker when he commanded five ships to blockade the Norrland coastline (which was too large to properly be blockaded by five ships). Von Rahm was rebuffed by the warmeet who refused to send troops to die in a war of the Count's paranoia, and his mobilization as such resulted in no gain of soldiers to support his cause, in fact losing some baronets who pulled back their troops with only the die-hard Velheim haters wanting to fight keeping their troops supplied, others rejecting a war over "A piece of land that would take more than a year to come up with the compensation payment offered by Viduggla and was for all intents and purposes useless, questioning von Rahm's care over his own people when he would gladly send men off to war over a shit province but not bad an eye over his own people under Typhonus rule". Von Rahm's decision to declare war on Viduggla by initiating hostilities would quickly come to be the first trigger in a chain of mistakes committed by many other families. Von Rahm then sent half of his troops to the Viduggla colony, stopping any further growth by attacking the colonists.

The second family to act was von Drachenburg, who called for a warmeet to summon troops with the intention of putting pressure on Viduggla. von Drachenburg's warmeet was equally badly supported, with the baronets refusing to properly work with the Baron von Drachenburg. Cited reasoning was similar to von Rahm, twisting the stipulations of the treaty (which at this time was already broken by von Rahm). While some baronets responded positively to trying to contain the rapid growth of Viduggla, others criticized the Baron for stating that Skarpsten was an ally betrayed by Viduggla, saying that no such alliance ever took place and that Skarpsten merely aided by sending ships, never formally declaring war or joining any particular alliance. The baronets further accused the Baron of trying to deceive the warmeet with his claim of the imprisonment of Aurelius Krupp, who at this point in time was already participating at the Debutante Ball in Regalia, being very clearly in a state of released. The eventual mobilization was poor compared to the total, certainly better than von Rahm, but nowhere near effective to contribute anything but a token force to any potential conflict. Still, while von Drachenburg clearly aimed his rhetoric at Viduggla, no official war declaration was made, and no military movements were sent.

The next to act was von Duerr, purchasing two extra ships and sending the full three warship fleet to blockade the ex-Skarpsten coast, thus declaring war on Viduggla over what was presumed to be the fact that they were out-done in Skarvaland. Von Duerr did not mobilize any troops, instead sending diplomats to ex-Skarpsten land to try and incite the manors who had previously sided with Viduggla, failing to do so. Not only did von Duerr not offer anything, their fleet positioned to blockade the coastline was actively harming trade with the locals and cutting off foreign supplies, teaching a valuable lesson that you cannot convince the local population that you have good intentions when you're actively harming them.

The next to act was Norrvakt, sending a warmeet also to summon the levies. Henrik Norrvakt argued that Viduggla betrayed Krupp was betrayed by Viduggla by turning their manors against them. Norrvakt's own baronets shouted "hypocrite" at him, on account of him consistently trying to undermine Sorenvik's own manorial support just across the ocean, and was now using said rhetoric to imply this was somehow reason to go to war with them. One Baronet even mockingly asked whether the Baron suggested that the manors also support a rebellion against him for the same casus belli. Further rhetoric failed for similar reasons to von Rahm and von Drachenburg, Skarpsten was never allied with Viduggla, they were never part of the Northern Pact and Viduggla never explicitly stated that he was allied with Skarpsten in the war against Nyström. Furthermore, Norrvakt also used the rhetoric of Viduggla breaking the treaty while this was objectively not true. In fact, von Rahm was the oathbreaker who destroyed the treaty by declaring dishonorable war, the baronets stressing that trying to buy the land back was never part of any treaty stipulation or violation. In the end, Norrvakt's mobilization was just as poor as von Drachenburg's, with the baronets complaining about seriously lacking reasons for a war that wasn't any of their concerns and even mildly accusing Norrvakt of being in cohoots with southerners, since it was only southerners declaring war on Viduggla before him. Norrvakt did not send any troops or make any official declarations of war however, spending the rest of their time sending finances to Rote and of Brilonde.

In response to the double declarations of war and the obvious mass mobilization of both southern and western forces, the Kerwolf Baronlands, the Free Baronlands and The Duchy of Zastorzy started mobilization forces of their own, though not outright declaring any particular anti or pro Viduggla sentiment. Viduggla was seen trying to make positive overtures to the Free Baronlands, inviting them to join his realm. The Free Baronlands obviously rejected, but did seem to positively be inclined to Viduggla given he was just declared war upon by two southern lords and gave them money. While Viduggla attempted to send troops to the Krupp colony to claim it, those troops failed to leave Norrlan beyond the von Rahm blockade, so it was in fact Peirgarten who managed to convince the Krupp colony to surrender sovereignty to them. The Krupp colony wasn't looking forward to being invaded, and simply chose to join their neighbor because no hope was left for them to continue existing without Krupp's homeland intact. With this, Krupp continued to be an untitled prisoner. Grand Duchess Peirgarten also bribed her manors for a quick mobilization, summoning a large number of troops, but providing no casus belli or any clear indication as to what these troops were meant for or what she was doing. Viduggla, in light of these rising tensions in the north, drove a second mobilization which was badly received in Norrlan, but positively received in both Krupp, Skarpsten's ex-lands, but also the Skarvaland autonomy, who felt the do-or-die moment was now, because they were forced into a defensive war by southerners. The only problem that remained was that Viduggla now had to deal with an army that was split 3 ways, even if it was really large (refer to the map for their locations). The Norrlan army could not leave Norrlan properly because of the blockade, while the Skarvaland army and the Krupp-Skarpsten army plus the expedition forces sent there before could not leave that segment of land because Sorenvik did not allow them to cross the border, nor did the Free Barons, and von Duerr blockaded the coastline. Viduggla's attempts to colonize did succeed however, allowing movement of civilians through Zastorzy lands to make it to Ceardia.

With all this happening, Sorenvik was the only northern family not in some state of near catastrophe war. While the Duchess had part of her army still mobilized, she had not made any public attempts to join either side and had even re-assured her people that she had no interest in further war. This anti-war stance, combined with literally everyone else in the region mobilizing, saw a move of refugees from the war-weary populations around Sorenvik move to Sorenvik's lands, from all neighboring regions. As a result, Sorenvik's economy started improving rapidly, as did manorial support for as long as peace would endure, though some baronets also pulled back some of their dedicated troops as a result to handle the influx of people. Sorenvik also receive a colonial tile from Yaotl, offering the region autonomous control. This was accepted, creating a micro-colonial-state of Clarvaland in the colonies, entirely populated by Allar and ruled by Allar customs and traditions, yet loyal to the Sorenviks.

Finally, Skarpsten tried to buy the colony off of Delmotte in Ceardia, though the sale was somehow rebuffed by the locals. Skarpsten ended up sending 1,000 soldiers to invade the Delmotte lands, enforcing a "peaceful transition" when the locals refused. Despite early success, the soldiers eventually disbanded, saying it was pointless to even fight over this colony, since a noble lord could not feasibly exist in the colonies without substantial financial or civilian assistance, neither of which Skarpsten had. The soldiers simply pulled back and left the Delmotte colony, warning that if Skarpsten took the land, he would likely simply lose control of it just as quickly again, since colonies require a homeland to remain stable.

The ongoing war between Tyrannian and Harhold
The ongoing war between Harhold and Tyrannian was going to remain a stalemate for longer yet, with some unexpected moves. Both Ravenstad and Delmotte pulled out of the war against Tyrannian officially, declaring an end to hostilities bilaterally, whether Tyrannian wanted to agree or not. Ravenstad troops embarked on ships to return home while Harhold troops marched on alone under Harhold's direct leadership. Harhold's plan to shore up his own manor support, which continued to rise as a result of his promises to his people, ended up backfiring, giving Tyrannian the perfect ammunition to call for a very successful warmeet to drum up more troops. Harhold's promise of turning the Veer into a penal colony to be ran by a-moral bankers, scared the local population so much that they started mass-conscripting into Tyrannian's forces. Without Ravenstad there, and even with Harhold personally leading his army as an actual general, Tyrannian's forces just badly outnumbered Harhold's forces. Tyrannian implied that he was getting money from two different families, but neither of these families supplied. In fact, when von Dietricht's bankers saw the order to send away every last penny left in their bank without any sort of promise of return payment, they froze the accounts and petitioned the Emperor to revoke von Dietricht's noble privilige, which they did, essentially ending the noble line of von Dietricht.

Tyrannian's force eventually caught Harhold's force with a heavy push outnumbered two to one, and smashed their forces with overbearing numbers. Harhold was chased all the way back to the coastline, where Harhold ships who continued to blockade the border. The successive follow-attacks resulted in a full route where Hengest Harhold had to actually flee the Veer on board one of his ships as his army was simply annihilated. Tyrannian ended up losing 8,000 men in the process, but the invasion of the Veer was over, leaving Tyrannian poised with about 25,000 troops to invade Harhold owned Van de Veer lands which had no defenders left and already low manorial support. Harhold was now also in a uniquely difficult position, where the banks had continued supporting Harhold and manor support was on the rise again. Harhold however now lost his foothold, which would risk not being able to commit to the promises made to the banks, and banks are always friends one should definitely not ever be on the bad side of. The banks remained inactive as of yet, because no official end of hostilities had been announced, and Harhold ships remained on the blockade against the Veer.

Elsewhere in the Archipelago
House Kraus end up mobilizing some troops, ending with a small mobilization to combat of Brilonde's attacks against their colonies, while also sending a finance token to Delmotte. Blackjaw issued a bunch of orders but did not provide any finances or concessions, so none of them paid off in any way. House Dei Olzolli started a mass mobilization, publicizing a threat and letter from House Rote about the planned invasion of the Arloran reconstruction zone. This mobilization obviously put dei Olzolli into a defensive stance, and allowed them to get support from their manors much easier. Furthermore, the publication of this letter torpedoed house Rote's manor support, who felt their Count had committed a massive error, warning an enemy of an invasion beforehand, and thus humiliating House Rote in the process for committing such a blunder. Despite Norrvakt finances to increase manor support, this attempt failed and manor support decreased further, while the manors refused to hand over any troops. Rote did however open up a colony in Jorrhildr.

House Eliopolous demobilized all standing forces and dedicated every single soldier in their command to the war, while also dedicating their ship to the war. Delmotte sold their Altery colony to Military Commissioners, transitioning from a semi-wealth based family to a fully military based family, while ensuring that all ships returned to the Basta coastline. House av Nyström tried to send 1000 troops to the Kathar war-front, but with the recent war failure and Nyström coffers empty, the soldiers mutineered and ended Nyströms noble glory, with the Emperor suspending the noble lineage quickly afterwards for being fallen and broken and bankrupt.

House du Brierüst assigned another 3000 soldiers to the Kathar war and sent a whopping 60,000 regals to support the Kathar war financially, buying provisions and supplies for logistics to the much needed war cause. Furthermore, du Brierüst sent diplomats and men into the Genevaud Cantons with unclear intentions, reports filing back to the Countess in private. House Black purchased another ship and dedicated all their ships to the war effort bar 10, sailing a large fleet down south-west to the frontline. This move turned out to be not a moment too soon. Since last week, the Kathar had been preparing a punitive destruction fleet complete with fire ships, explosives and magical devices aimed at causing as much havoc and destruction on civilian populations as possible, and potentially even some magical bio-produced weapons like void plagues. The Black fleet on its way to the war front just so happened to stumble into the Kathar fleet preparing to sail into the Regalian Archipelago, using the fact that so few ships had been dedicated to the war to cause a campaign of terror and destruction in the south. When the last ship was sunk by the Black fleet (which did not lose any ships), the captain uncovered a map which clearly showed the plan had Christopher Black not planned to send his ships, as many as he did, this particular week.

The plan detailed first a void plague attack on Basta, shelling of the Delmotte capital, followed by a sail up to Loiree-Bas, where mass-enslavement and sacrifice was planned for the de Letoirneau population, followed by a northward bend and the destruction of the main Anglian grain shipping port and the sinking of the Kade merchant fleet, likely crippling grain shipments and causing disarray in the Harhold fleet, on account of the Kade fleets all being at the war front to compensate for the nobles keeping their ships home. Finally there was a second plan where the fleet was supposed to round back to Vixhall, attack the ex-royal line and then sail up the Dragenthal River causing death and destruction on Ravenstad coastal cities and wherever they went before disappearing again without anyone having had time to act. Needless to say, the potential families affected had much to thank luck and House Black for.

House Ravenstad had meanwhile demobilized their entire army, sent another 4000 soldiers to the front and successfully convinced some of the manors back on their side with money sent by de Letoirneau. House de Letoirneau itself went on a diplomatic mission with House Peirgarten and of Brilonde to try and figure out what was going on in the south of the Archipelago. The details remained hazy however, as the presence of a Letoirneau complicated anyone's ability to speak, with Coivra representatives poisoning court attitudes in the south against de Letoirneau, with whom the Peirgarten and of Brilonde seemed to be in cahoots, so nobody was told anything. Given the presence of Orcs wherever they went however, some assumptions were made that the Vultarin Hegemony was strong arming the southern realms into something, or perhaps being bribed to help the southern realms into something. The details remained hazy as nobody down there was mobilizing. At the very least it became clear that it wasn't any sort of military campaign they were after, because if they were, someone would have mobilized by then. There was some implications of the Wodenstaff Duchess negotiating on the details of a political marriage with the Vultarin Duke, but the of Brilonde and Peirgarten diplomats dismissed this as nonsense, because the petite five foot and some tall Ailor Duchess would never consider marrying a seven foot tall Half-Orc beast.

In the dead of night, closing this mini-chapter of the noble ongoings, a group led by Vulmar ex-Ravenstad snuck close to the castle in Norrlan holding Maximus Krupp imprisoned. Supported by Culellia Lasenas, Camilla Moreno, Elyon, Essecacha Lasenas, Urijah Jamesson and Viria Krupp, the group tied horses to the areas just out of sight of the castle among the trees. In the dead of night, some of the members caused a fire in a nearby village by setting the roofs on fire, while using Witchblood shenanigans to cause all kinds of magical effects to scare the locals into believing something supernatural was happening. They dispatched what few guards were present in the village fairly quickly, before attempting the second stage.

Camilla Moreno (rolled 95) succeeded expertly infiltrating the castle with a grappling hook, seeing as the walls were relatively low) and the guards were very distracted, leaving the castle practically empty (rolling 97). Culeillia was however less successful (rolling 7), with her grappling hook detaching on a loose rock, causing her to fall when halfway up the tower, and then get smashed into the head by the falling grappling hook, causing severe bleeding and a concussion as she made her way back to Vulmar. Camilla continued infiltrating the castle by herself, avoiding the outside guards with skill (roll 87), before entering the interior. While inside however, she misjudged the presence of guards and was detected (rolling 11) where combat ensued. In combat she was able to defeat the guards but only just barely (rolling 30) and suffering numerous cuts in the process. She made her way to Maximus's prison cell since Aurelius had already been released, releasing him from prison and arming him. On their way out, neither were detected (rolling 92) allowing them to leave the castle. Upon departure, the group escaped the castle proper and made their way to the boat reserved for smuggling everyone out, even with the von Rahm blockade just on the horizon. Finally, the group made a getaway (rolling 72) leaving the island, essentially on the back of Camilla Moreno's work. The group sailed back to Zastorzy held northern lands, where they were quickly received by Vulmar's thugs in waiting, who using the confusion and movement of said boat trying to land, managed to snatch Maximus (who was still passed out from the arduous journey and his imprisonment), leaving the others behind and leaving him in Vulmar's custody to be decided upon later what to do with him.