The Anahera Cordon Sanitaire

The volatile situation in Vultaro came to a quick and anti-climactic end when the Sictors revoked their demands for the Floriano family. The Floriano army broke up the siege of Vietro, just as a Kade supply vessel sailed into port with food and other supplies, bearing the Fong banners and colors. The supplies were much needed as the people had not received help from anyone else, and the land was left too destroyed after the Floriano army ripped apart all crops to sustain their army. The Floriano army retreated out of the Earldom of the Sictor family, leaving behind a trail of pillage as they took what they could to cover for the war expenses, before finally leaving the land. The Floriano army had announced the conflict was over and status quo ante bellum had been established as their troops marched down. The Floriano army had spared the Red trade port. The latter caused an outcry among the red faction, as it has been made apparent that the Sictor family had secretly signed off their independence to the Red family without ever informing the people. Even if the Floriano family had not pillaged the Red port, a series of riots and trashings by the peasantry destroyed the place, making it unusable for merchants. The anger didn’t necessarily aim itself at the Sictor family, the people feeling they had simply been rushed into the whole plot and situation by the ever more boldly growing Red family. The Blue faction in the Duchy of Nottingham meanwhile petitioned the Red family to place sanctions or retribution on the peasants of the Sictor lands. In other Earldoms, the peasantry started wondering which other nobility had secretly sworn fealty to a new lord behind their backs, and paranoia increased in general among the Dragenthaler and Loiree Earldoms.

The no-longer duke of Vultaro, Tristan Lamperouge, gave up his family’s claim on his ancestral lands, putting an end to a lasting struggle with the people. The peasantry did not expect anything less from the Lamperouge family which had made a free fall from grace recently. The Crown Prince compensated the Lamperouge family with a Celestial estate for Basium Lamperouge, raising him in the Holy see to Reverend from his previous priestly position. Tristan and Lysander Lamperouge now titleless, resorted to dedicating their full time to the Imperial guard, now liberated from the chokehold of ruling an unruly mob. The Vultaro lands were likely to be partitioned between three smaller families, raising baronies to Earl status by the Crown’s decree, and it effectively pacified the region. The rebels laid down their arms and went back to their business.

The Duke of Alan and Dressolini meanwhile decided to end the battle in a stalemate. The di Alan family had recognized that they were outmatched by the di Desiderio family, with the Duke of Tureno likely siding against them. The di Desiderio was certainly satisfied with peace, as he felt continued conflict would only invite foreign powers onto the liberty of Vultaro. In Calemberg meanwhile, the peasantry improved their relation to the Lord Typhonus, feeling the Lord had positively and quickly responded to their requests and ensured peace would rule in their realm. Similar responses were made towards the Psanadarion family in Thessalonikon, but the Earldom had effectively been isolated in an increasingly hostile Vultaro environment, causing some concern among the white faction.

The time for plotting had not subsided yet however, As a new day broke in the Imperial Palace, a scene that had not been seen in the halls of the Palace for hundreds of years displayed itself. During an afternoon entertainment hour, while the Crown Prince was listening to a cabaret group, a large group of Chancellors of families made their way in, parading in correct order. As per tradition, they all lined up in front of the poor Anahera Family Chancellor, waiting in turn to to throw one of their gloves in his lap. As this whole scene unfolded itself, the Crown Prince, the State Chancellor and the Crown Prince’s brothers watched with amaze, or perhaps irritation at the slow laughable display.

The Chancellors of the families: Psanadarion, Typhonus, Viduggla, Red, Du Sablon, Sictor, Jonckeer, Paschen deposited their gloves in the lap of the Anahera Chancellor. What had effectively happened, was that the families presented a “Cordon Sanitaire”, as the Ithanians called it, against the Anahera family. The Cordon was a traditional method used by nobility to indicate they wished to have the person in power removed, that person being the State Chancellor, Alejandro Anahera. As soon as the plot was made apparent, the Ivrae and de Paquet Chancellors announced absolute neutrality in the conflict, meaning the Ivrae and Paquet holdings would not participate one way or another. The di Alan family immediately supported the Anahera, hoping he could ensure a defender in case the rest of Vultaro were to come after him. The Floriano, Desiderio and de Morra families immediately supported the Psanadarion cause, who had orchestrated the Cordon sanitaire most evidently now. The von Leberecht immediately supported the Anahera due to their dislike of the Paschen and Red families supporting the Cordon. The van Dirkse followed shortly afterwards, motivated by their distaste of the Red family and favor of the von Leberecht Family. The Duchamp family was barred from voting due to the fugitive state of their family, and the Vultaro lands were also barred due to their instability at the moment. The Supreme Reverend of Regalia stated he did not wish to get involved with the matter, even though Alejandro was a failure to the faith for not rooting out the Diviner Cult. This came at the same moment as an excommunication from the Patriarch of Estoil, meaning Alejandro was an outcast to the Etosian faith, no doubt an orchestration of the Psanadarions as well. The Santorski family was barred from voting due to a Regency over the Duchy.

In the end, the State Chancellor tallied the support bases. 15 Provinces supported the State Chancellor. 21 Provinces sought to oust the State Chancellor. 23 Provinces were yet undecided. Following declarations of the Kade, Black and Fong families, the side having the most Provinces supporting them would have their demands met. If Alejandro was ousted as State Chancellor, a new one had to be elected from all nobility. If he was to remain, he would survive an extremely rare Regalian tradition, something not many Chancellors had to their name.

An Infographic for those who find everything too confusing:

 

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