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Od Albion
The Baron of Alstyr declares "Kintyr for the sole rule of Breizh" and codifies the right of multi-generation Breizh families to the property of their land. This is a very popular move for the locals, but the Baronets seem rather so-so on the actual codified law that they can no longer confiscate lands from the peasants or commoners. House od Albion then promises a bargain to the Feudal Council, notably in the form of a Liberum Veto and full authority for the Feudal Council to pass its own laws. While the Baronets seem receptive to the idea, they are markedly afraid of getting pulled into a major region spanning war over the lack of preparation of House od Albion to commence the conflict, and mismanagement since its start, and as such, reject the agreement to agree to partial mobilization, at least while the misfortunes of the military conflict endure. House od Albion promises homesteads in the colonial realms, promising to buy these regions when the time comes. As House od Albion is currently not wealthy, and does not own any of these lands however, nothing of this promise has any effect.
The od Albion led-Harhold fleet positioned itself in the Kintyr straits to be on the lookout specifically for enemy transports, including a lump payment of 30,000 Regals for emergency fire ships from the merchants of Kintyr. A mercenary army with Alaric Keen, Vulmar Eryck and Coen Hood is positioned in Contyr to prevent transport landings. (Amorak Oakenforge blocked, player changed proficiencies and no longer has Proficiency troops, Cro-Zzhao blocked, player has an od Albion character, and using alt characters of family member is not permitted. Also be aware that the Proficiencies changed during the Ailor update, meaning the retinue boost for Cro-Allar is 1,000, not 2,000). House od Albion then transfers the Alos army to Hengest Harhold, and sends 1,000 troops from the Alstyr mountains back to the capital while holding position. Finally, the House also pays the state mandated 30% tax.
Weeks prior, House od Albion had utilised a number of ships to blockade the Ariramorel capital in the northern reaches of the region. Utilising 8 od Albion warships, 5 Harhold warships, and an additional 3 fireships, this blockade now spanned the entire stretch of Kintyr under the command of Wolvard od Albion. For the most part, the blockade had been relatively uneventful aside from the occasional merchant vessel and passing ship showcasing their displeasure and then promptly vacating the area, though this soon changed when bells started ringing from one of the Harhold ships sounding the approach of unknown vessels. Wolvard extended his spyglass, bringing it to his good eye, surveying the incoming nautical force. He quickly was able to analyse that the approaching force was made up of warships from House Latimer backed by 15 Delmotte warships alongside a single unknown warship without a recognisable flag which, unbeknownst to Wolvard was being commanded by Molly Lykke. Having been commanded to only fire upon transports, the ships continued to form into a defensive maneuver, preparing the fireships which had been utilised for warships that may approach.
The Od Albion and Harhold fleet consolidated their defensive maneuvers to counter what Wolvard quickly was able to tell was going to be a counter-blockade pincer maneuver, which Abelhard himself was beginning to instruct aboard his own vessel. In preparation, the Harhold ships under Wolvard's command responded to the flag signals being hoisted and readied their broadside cannons. However, as they were told not to fire upon these vessels, the first shots fired were indeed from Latimer cannons as they began to circle some of the ships around the Northern coastline which ripped through the deck of a Harhold vessel and the fireships which had been released. Latimer, realising that od Albion had pieced together what was happening and, having naval superiority by 2 to 1, maintained course and continued to open fire. By this point, cannons roared from both sides with the initial barrage well underway. The fireships were not even close to being able to hit their mark and quickly fell one after the other until nothing was left of them but burning flotsam. Unfortunately for Latimer however, the Harhold cannons clipped the mast of one of Delmotte warships which slowed the vessel down enough for od Albion's own warship to unleash a barrage on its broadside, with three shots hitting below the waterline and a shot blasting through its stern. Men immediately began abandoning ship as it started to sink rapidly and within ten minutes of the battle beginning, Latimer had lost one of his vessels which he, in fact, did not even own.
With Latimer's combined force now one ship down and all ships now tearing at each other with cannon fire, Abelhard ordered for the pincer-maneuver to continue as the number loss itself would not affect their advantage. Wolvard, however, signalled for his ships to begin focusing fire on specific ships and although with naval superiority, the cannon fire from the already blockaded, defending ships and the apparent superior prowess of Wolvard made it difficult for the Latimer/Delmotte fleet to hone in on the defenders, essentially being kept at bay. Splinters of wood fireworked the area with each shot, the Harhold and Latimer vessels taking the brunt of the damage but not so severe as to be unrepairable and true enough, by the time they would reach their respect ports after the battle, most of the damage would likely have already been patched up with the ships in full working order. In essence, the second phase of the skirmish was also an od Albion win in terms of strategic advantage from Wolvard's orders but in terms of actually knocking any ship numbers down, both were at a stalemate.
Noting that if their vessels were to continue their approach they would likely lose more unnecessary numbers whilst also acknowledging that the od Albion fleet was far too well maneuvered for a long term skirmish by now, Abelhard reluctantly flag signaled for his vessels to begin retreating. This particular signaling was responded to with huzzahs and cries of victory from the Harhold vessels, however, in his hubris perhaps, Wolvard ordered that a ragtag 'flotilla' of three Harhold vessels pursue the retreating offensive vessels. This would, however, be met with disaster as the unknown ship captained by Molly Lykke, noting the counter-attack, quickly alerted Abelhard who himself, swung the helm of his ship as far right as he could force it, the ship's rudder screeching in a mixture of wood and metal as the warship turned. With one announcement, the men aboard Latimer's vessel began a volley which absolutely decimated one of the Harhold ships and caused the other two to scatter. With a pained yet somewhat satisfactory smile, Latimer continued the retreat, leaving a mess of one of Harhold's vessels behind to sink. Upon the ship's disappearance below the waves, Wolvard tactically called the remaining two back to strengthen the blockade once more and to save the other two, which came not a moment too soon as fire from Lykke's ship just narrowly missed the two retreating Harhold ships. This skirmish left od Albion expecting that this would not be the last they would see of enemy war vessels given the magnitude of the force they just encountered. In total, one Delmotte ship was lost to the sea while Harhold similarly lost one. The blockade would continue and Od Albion reigned supreme in these waters for the time being, blocking ships they wished until such time as the blockade could be lifted.
With enemy ships now no longer on the horizon, reinforcements could now reach Od Albion in Kintyr. The first to land was an army of Harhold levies numbering 10,000 strong which began march to rendezvous in Alstyr under General Tyrael od Albion inn the mountain passes of Alstyr. At this point, with the additional 10,000 support from Harhold, the total number of levies perched in the serene mountain lands of Alstyr numbered 15,000 strong as 1,000 troops were commanded by General Tyrael to abandon their position to meet with a token force in Valtyr, Ariamoral territory, under the leadership of General Hengest Harhold, who after a ceremonious landing upon the shores of the land began his gallop toward Valtyr's capital city with a retinue of 5,000 after taking over leadership of Od Albion forces. The garrison of 3,000 Ariamorel troops had previously dug into the city's capital so upon arrival, Harhold immediately ordered that the siege of the city begin. 3,000 Mercenaries primarily under the command of Mercenary Commanders Coen Hood, Vulmar Eryck, and Alaric Keen armed themselves along the coastline of Valtyr, seeing no action. The band of mercenaries would have a jolly old time without any conflict at all, much to the amusement of multiple Breizh sheepherders near their general vicinity.
Harhold's 5,000 immediately set about preparing siege equipment under volleys of arrow fire from the walls of the Valtyr capital but took few to little casualties. Nearby trees were cut down and formulated into makeshift battering rams while trenches were dug couple-hundred yards from the city gates. The Harhold force at this point merely prepared for the oncoming offensive, encircling the city walls and firing back arrows until such a time that an opportunity arose for a full offensive of the city itself with a narrow somewhat lukewarm victory with next to no casualties from either side.
Meanwhile in the mountains, as dawn broke, General Tyrael rallied his troops to begin marching on the region of Coltyr with his full force of 15,000. Many of the troops struggled with the mountainous terrain of the Pas Glas Uchell region which needed to be passed in order for Tyrael and his men to sally forth towards that region's capital. The size of the force was not inconspicuous in the slightest and soon enough, they found themselves met with the Ariamorel collective standing force of 10,000 within the region also. Trumpets sounded as the first battle of Coltyr commenced. While the mountains provided a significant detriment to the Od Albion host, the formation of Tyrael's forces was so expertly commanded that within an hour of the battle commencing, od Albion had completely engulfed the defending force, causing massive damage to the defending force and forcing them to route into a retreat while sacrificing even more men to escape deeper into Coltyr. This marked an overwhelming defeat for Ariamorel who had no acting General.
The retreat was just as hairy. General Tyrael was ruthless in his onslaught, ordering his men to tackle the fleeing numbers with a vicious assault. Ariamorel's troops at this point had reached the entrance into the province itself and were able to disperse with very little casualties as compared to earlier, fighting back with boosted morale as they saw their kinsmen hightail for the hills and regroup deeper inland. Noting that the battle had been an overwhelming success, Tyrael lifted his fist and his entire army began erupting into thunderous war cries signaling their victory. All in all, the od Albion army had taken extremely few casualties while Ariamorel suffered a significant loss of approximately 4,000 men in the skirmish that would be known as 'The Bloody Battle of Pas Glas Uchell'.
Latimer
House Latimer pays 5,000 Regals to House Black, 20,000 to Delmotte, before sending their entire fleet to engage the od Albion led-Harhold fleet in the Kintyr straits. (Fawzi Kra-zzla blocked, player inactive, Karl-Fustav Nystrom blocked, player inactive). House Latimer also sends 8,000 Latimer troops under Emmeline Latimer to reinforce Coltyr (pending battle prog below). 2,000 troops are also stationed in Athos, enforcing religious ordinances of the Etosian clergy in the region, having no immediate effect.
Harold
House Harhold sends 10,000 Acting troops to Alstyr to put them under od Albion's control, while himself traveling to Alos to lead the 4,000 od Albion troops, to besiege the city of Coltyr (3,000 militia interior). House Harhold also sends a 8,000 Regal loan to House od Albion.
Viduggla
House Viduggla pays 6,000 Regals to House Black. Additionally, another 10,000 Regals are sent re-assuring the lords that House Viduggla did not mean to extort the Puppet states, who are so-so in their response to the charm offensive. While the lords considered their response to Viduggla's offer more of a cautionary warning, they aren't interested in a sob story about money, since that debt arrangement was Viduggla's own fault anyway for being a poor negotiator, something they do not feel responsible for, and something they are already paying towards Viduggla's considerable budget income on a weekly basis. Finally, House Viduggla also spend 10,000 Regals to track down the Philosopher along with 1,000 troops under Hjalmar Haagenvig. An attempt is made to diplomatically see the Philosopher to cease his hostility, which he staunchly denies. The Philosopher is promptly put on a ship and sent to the Hellatian states, landing somewhere down there in exile from Drixagh.
Typhonus
House Typhonus does nothing about the misbehaving baron, much to the disappointment of the peasants, but to the pleasure of the Baronets. House Typhonus then also sends a warfleet of 5 ships from both Typhonus and Kreiburg under the leadership of Reginald Typhonus to Silbrae to deal with the pirates that were harassing the Silmark merchants. House Typhonus then makes a public display proclaiming House Slumberwood inept at timely dealing with this matter, proclaiming that House Typhonus is the one true defender of the New Regalian people that live in the area, and a reliable partner to look to for safety. House Typhonus keeps its 20% tax rate as set by the Finance Minister, but pays the state 10,000 Regals.
Another 20,000 Regals are invested in a search for familial ties with house Cadar, in an attempt to prop up House Typhonus legitimacy to the legendary family. Klaus Typhonus and Cecile Typhonus correspond with various libraries, composing a number of documents and historical annals, while inquiring the assistance of Tommen Howlester to use his proficient skill in knowledge to investigate the records. Upon many dozens of hours of research, it is this trio that comes to a strange discovery of sorts. It has always been traditionally held that Marianne Cadar died in a battle against the Lord of the Hintercallem Kingdom, a sovereign nation not quite under the control of the Regalian Empire at the time of her death, in 198 AC.
When looking further and further into local records, Tommen finds more and more contradictory indicators that the state of Hintercallem never even existed. The nation of Callem can be found in history, and while all public records and sourced historians note that Hintercallem as a nation did exist for at least 200 years, including even public maps and cartographic records, local records do not show any existence of any such nation. There is no record of any such war having taken place between the then Cadar Duchy and this supposed nation. There are also no battlefield records, and the supposed place where this battle had taken place, has no indicator of any battle having taken place. This causes the trio to be stumbled upon somewhat of a mystery, and one with potentially dangerous political implications for the Cadarophilic military sector of the Regalian Empire. Permeated in every historical record, ballads, cultural beliefs, curriculums in schools, and much of the eventual rise of both House Typhonus and House von Drachenburg is founded on the idea of Cadar dying and being succeeded, but the records contradict established historical accounting.
Delmotte
House Delmotte sends their 15 ships to Latimer for use in the limited conflict against od Albion. Another 20,000 Regals are paid out in charity to the clergy in Basta to fight the atheist movement which has moderate success. Another 20,000 Regals are invested in a charm offensive in the Anglian provinces, which is wholly ineffective. The Anglian provinces make it very abruptly clear that their loyalties are only directed to Delmotte through the beneficiary of another player, one that Delmotte knows, and that they have no interest in imperializing away their local customs and traditions that have survived for nigh on 400 years. Finally, Marceau Delmotte donates his entire Crown Bank stipend back to the Crown Bank, marking this as a Delmotte Crown Tax donation, effectively recycling money donated by other families to raise up Delmotte's Crown contributions without actually paying a single Regal themselves.
Von Duerr
House von Duerr complies to the 30% tax, while also spending 10,000 Regals of their own money to accompany the Baron von Duerr to tackle the sweating sickness in San Girobalda. A stricter legislation for increased guard presence fails, causing some raised eyebrows, and remarks that it is impossible to raise guard presence without recruiting more guards, or working the current roster of guards to death by requiring all of them to fill up manhours equivalent of two working bodies. Since no money is invested, no guard presence is increased, and the feudal lords are somewhat uncomfortable at the fluked attempt to put their minds at ease.
Slumberwood
(Selena Slumberwood order blocked. Alt characters of family members are not permitted in progressions). The Acting Army of House Slumberwood is tasked with anti-piracy activities in Silmark. The local feudal lords remark to the baron that Pirates use ships on the oceans, not soldiers on land, and that merchants are being attacked while at sea on their ships, not while loading resources into their boats. While Merdoc Slumberwood informs the merchants that House Slumberwood will "deal with the pirates next week", the merchants already received news that House Typhonus eradicated the pirates, thus losing Slumberwood the 10,000 Regal investment, and getting chased out of the guilds office. Finally, House Slumberwood raises their taxes to 30%.
Ariramorel
Ariramorel pays 7,000 Regals to House Latimer, while attempting to transport 10,000 troops from Rozzatora under Deo dei Termini to Ara. These troops however never arrive, because news of Latimer's fleet's loss is passed down, and the transports return to Rozzatora. Ariramorel accepts a similar legislation to od Albion, codifying the right of multi generation families to unalienable right to their own properties, equally gratifying the local peasants, but upsetting the baronets who are now no longer able to confiscate properties to add to their funds. Finally, an anti-propaganda attempt is made to defame house od Albion, but without any funds, this ends up being a dude on a soap box paid in a removal of drunken disorderly fines, talking to 10 people, and the attempt is obviously a fluke.
Vulmar
Vulmar Eryck defies the Freisoldner Inspector's decree that their company's contract with od Albion was not permitted, stating that the Freisoldner Inspector has no right to dictate contracts between semi-sovereign aristocratic realms, as those contracts fall under the local legislation and semi-autonomy, effectively claiming that the Freisoldner Inspector has no authority outside of the Regalian Isle alone. He continues to work for od Albion in defiance of the order.
Finance Minister Maximillian Black
Finance Minister Maximillian Black exempts House Typhonus from Taxation, while donating 10,000 Regals to House von Duerr to fight the Sweating Sickness in San Girobalda.
House von Drachenburg
House von Drachenburg sends 20,000 Regals and men on an expedition to the Zenithian lands to contact admiral Yellen Lochner to get a status report on the Ceardian mission, after having lost contact with them a long time ago. The expedition initially has trouble even mooring at the Cliffton Forts, a series of tall and narrow forts built on outcroppings in the ocean, battered by frequent waves and storms that overlook the closest distance to Ceardia. The forts are severely worn and many of the parapets damaged from years of waves battering the stone, seemingly without repair. Upon close inspection, a couple of sunken ships lie in the sheltered harbor, and the forts are filled with skeletons and desiccated corpses. From what little information the expedition could piece together, Yellen Lochner tried to hold out authority in the region to maintain the Emperor's mission even as the State Council cut funds so many years ago. Successive governments under Constanze du Brierust, Amelina Peirgarten and Louis Delmotte were either unaware or unwilling to send aid and deal with the severe decline of funding in the region. Seeing it his Spirit given duty, Yellen Lochner continued his work in the garrison and the fleet oversight, until a fateful night where a series of mutinies occurred. Lochner made the difficult decision to deny the traitors access to the ships, scuttling them in the harbor in the hopes that it would bring the men to their senses. Eventually, his office was stormed, and his last supporters were killed along with him, the admiralty's ring still on his bony finger at the desk where he was stabbed. The expedition supposes the remaining mutineers either starved to death or threw themselves into the ocean below, surely having perished in some of the roughest oceans and jagged sharp rocks that decorate the walls of the forts. The long time that had passed since the Anglian mist left the forts in ill repair, no carpenters saw to repairs of the stonework, and much of the cement holding together the outer walls wore away from the briny ocean water that battered the stone day in day out. Many of the record rooms were destroyed in the process, thousands of volumes of data records waterlogged and beyond repair. The Zenithian outer forts are in a sorry state, and on their way to the mainland of Zenithia, they realize that Zenithia has been suffering a string of famines also on the mainland after contact with the outer regions was lost when the Regalian Fleet pulled out. The locals don't really know if Ceardia is safe, since the Cliffton Forts were the ones who stored all the data and did all the research, the locals are just poor fishers and craftsmen living in a somewhat aged and decrepit lesser Ceardian Kingdom.
Also, House von Drachenburg bans all use of Magic everywhere in Drachenburg lands and puppets, going a step further than Peirgarten in declaring a no-Magic zone in the Archipelago. This has little effects aside from causing applause from the conservatives, as there are no magic users in Drachenburg lands, save from the supposed Vampires that might live in the Drachenwald. 10,000 Regals are also sent to the Belliard Guild to upkeep good relations.
Hexenblood
Hexenblood pays 35,000 Regals on top of the 10,000 by von Duerr and 10,000 by the State and 10,000 by Golden Triumvirate to combat the San Girobalda Sweating Sickness, along with declaring a quarantine to prevent the spread. The losses of financial growth in the merchant sector amount to 10,000 which are taken from Hexenblood bank assets, but with the timely response and large funds poured into the effort, the Sweating sickness is removed, and prevented from being spread elsewhere, potentially saving the Archipelago at wide from an epidemic, and thus shouldering the burden of saving the health of the Archipelago to Hexenblood. Hexenblood also chooses to sell their Girobalda stockpiles, which in the arms race regarding Kintyr, nets them a decent 30,000 Regals of instant cash injection into their bank. They also comply to the mandated 30% tax.
House Avalorn
House Avalorn queries with the Tanaar regarding the Suvial-Kathar conflict. Replies come along the lines of "We don't really know", as communication with the Suvial is scarce given the flaring hostilities and the inability of the Tanaar to create a clear line of communication with the seas occupied by Kathar bone Fleets. They do indicate that there's some "Major magical events" occurring the far west, with magical diffusion off the scale in the air, implying some massive magical spells and being flung back and forth between them. House Avalorn also pays House Black 5,000 Regals, and another 25,000 Regals to pay the landowners for empty land to grant to the Priscelle Parishes. While the landowners seem somewhat miffed about the idea of granting more lands to (in their perception) heretics that deny the word of Estel, they like money better, and so comply. Taxes are raised to 30%, and an offer is made to Peirgarten to mediate between the Altalar riots and the Countess, which are not taken up by the Countess. Finally, 10,000 troops are properly disbanded that should have been disbanded last week (with the money lost added back to the bank from wages).
Golden Triumvirate
The Golden Triumvirate also pays 10,000 Regals for the conclusion of the Sweating Sickness in San Girobalda.
House Sorenvik
House Sorenvik's attempts to lower Crown Tax are barred (rules state once Crown Tax is set, it is set for 3 weeks on the manual), while also taking test runs with their Anglian flagship. Skaggers on an Anglian nautknight seems silly, but the men adapt to it pretty well, and the ship sails close to Kintyr a couple of times, getting a little bit testy and feisty with the od Albion blockade, but doing nothing overtly aggressive besides shooting a few cannons on the aft of the ship as boisterous sabre rattling while the Velheimers shout about. Kaya Sorenvik dedicates 20,000 Regals to investigating the financial damages of the burning of the north, notably in West Drixagh. The investigation makes note that most of the damage supposedly caused under Montagaard was largely undone within months, and that the damage on the Velheimers was severely overstated. If anything, Viduggla's war with the subsequent minors did more damage to the lands now controlled by Sorenvik, so there is some cause for financial investment in Sorenvik's lands. Otherwise, they report that Drixagh just generally suffers from lower infrastructure investment than the rest of the archipelago, but that investing in this would be pointless, since there is also little stomach for road maintenance in the tundra, or business startups in Drixagh due to the xenophobiuc attitude of the Velheimers.
Goretaan
Goretaan spends 5,000 looking for Geep-Foal in the mountains, but find none. Someone remarks that maybe one ought to look for Geep-Foals in Gallovia, as they are Gallovian Geep-Foals, not Clannadh-Alba Geep-Foals.
Kreiburg
House Kreiburg sells Lunnais to House Black for 35,000 Regals, retreating their army to Langthal, borrowing their warships to Typhonus, and setting import tariffs to their nation to 10%. This last action in particular is curious, as it immediately causes damage to all neighboring trading nations: Black, Peirgarten, who all lose 10% from their home taxation income as merchants drop their trades across the border to the Kreiburg Cantons. House von Drachenburg is spared the income loss, as the merchants circumvent the regulations by trading through von Drachenburg controlled Alpen and using domestic traders to get around the tariffs. Kreiburg income meanwhile is raised by 2,000 Regals from increased taxation and internal revenue, while traders in Narlas and Lorhauser complain to their respective Countesses about the sudden tariffs.
Peirgarten
Countess Peirgarten orders Rodrigo Peirgarten's artifact seized, locking it up in a vault that "only the Countess is aware", which is obviously a bit difficult unless the Countess built a vault by herself somewhere, but with knowledge in a close circle of Countess loyalists, the servants comply nonetheless. The Lion's Fold political lobby is then invited to discuss terms for departing from their anti-Peirgarten agenda. While in this meeting however, the Lion's Fold representatives indicate that "another political player" has given them credible evidence backed by Regalian contacts that Rodrigo Peirgarten had launched the search for a "Specifically Female, Specifically Daendroque, Specifically Aberrant Palest for the Peirgarten Household not too long ago, while the Countess sat idle and just allowed it, or wasn't aware of it". The delegation remarks it is odd that the Count-Consort required a woman in specific to serve him, while so many other conservative households have men who serve as their palests, and how he specifically wanted a non-Leutz-Vixe palest, of his homeland, a culture that is very unpleasant to the Leutz people, and worst of all, an Aberrant, how he specifically wanted a non-Mundane house servant. The delegates then essentially depart, remarking how they aren't convinced by this faux-conservative gestures, and that Peirgarten should be "cleansed from the Ravenstad homelands" in earnest. Furthermore, the Countess offers a compromise to an emissary of the Altalar, that they are willing to "allow" the Altalar to practice their magics behind closed doors in the privacy of their home if they pay a punitive 15% tax. The emissary replies that "it was never about the usage of Magic", but rather about the fact that Altalar, as by default users of Magic, cannot hold office anymore in Peirgarten lands on account of being Aberrants, many of them wealthy plantation owners and businesses. They reply that this effective "second rank citizen tax" is another slap in the face from an out-of-touch Countess who is adamant about appeasing one agenda only, and that there is clearly no place for other races in Lorhauser. The Altalar then make a general denunciation of the Lorhauser County, before an exodus of their people begins as they start closing up shop, looking for better more tolerant societies to live in. This does not have any immediate effects on the Peirgarten economy due to the fact that the Altalar population was never that large, but advisors warn this may not be the end of the tale of the Altalar of Lorhauser.
Reinard
House Reinard sends 5 Warships with the Duchess and Duke aboard to their Breizh lands. While od Albion forces celebrated both at land and at sea, one thing that was not expected by either was the oncoming of these ships. As ordered by Wolvard, the blockade began unleashing their broadside cannons towards the ships that they soon discovered belonged to Reinard. The overwhelming numbers made short work of routing these vessels violently and without hesitation, despite hails for a peaceful mission which were all declined by od Albion for these ships were in violation of the blockade. All five ships began to violently turn back the way they came albeit breaking their initial formation. It was at this time that Wolvard noticed that from the minor damage caused to one, a number of cases had fallen from their ties on the ship.
When the od Albion ships picked up the cargo lost by one of the Reinard ships, they salvaged 20,000 Regals from the crates, including party supplies like banners, waterlogged cakes and baked breads and outfits for the Duchess. Eventually they come to the conclusion that the purpose of these warships was to transport the resources and the ruling family to Keval for the purpose of organizing the Feil od Evrik with the locals to celebrate Breizh culture, as well as ledgers to try and codify Breizh law into the first official Breizh Legislative Code. Essentially, od Albion comes to realize that this fleet had no hostile intent, as they had claimed.
Upon returning to Baarlowe, the Duke summons the Feudal Council, and makes a passionate speech about how od Albion's aggression infringes on Reinard's sovereign ability to govern his disconnected realm by the Kintyr strait, and how this blockade is an act of hostility against the Baarlowe Duchy. While there are some in the council who question Reinard's motives for sending warships to disguise a civilian mission to Keval, they are drowned out by the chorus of feudal lords chanting "Kintyr first, Reinard next, down with Harhold and od Albion", following with a resounding support for the mobilization of Reinard forces, and official opening of hostilities as the limited conflict started by od Albion-Harhold plunges into a full blown war between them.
Reinard's Kintyr provinces are unable to be called to mobilization due to the fact that they did not even know their fleet was attacked, however in the Reinard homeland, the 10,000 Standing army is joined by 45,000 Reinard troops (60% mobilization). Seeing the storm cloud hanging, with Harhold himself in Kintyr as well as his standing army, the Feudal Council calls for an emergency session and launches full mobilization (100%) of Vlissinghelm (auto-mobilization due to CB), while also sending some panicked messages to Kintyr that the Vlissinghelm army is horrendously outnumbered by Reinard's troops, proclaiming "The fox has done it again", implying the Harhold Feudal Council believes that the ships sent to Kintyr were a ruse, and that od Albion fell for it to justify a war against Harhold. In response, a wave of mobilizations is approved in other nations, with od Albion's Feudal Council approving a medium mobilization to "deal with Ariramorel and secure the Kintyr homelands" of 12,000 troops (50%), and Latimer's Feudal Council approving a minor mobilization to "punish od Albion for the naval defeat and make do on the finances sent to Delmotte", with an additional 10,000 troops dedicated (33%). The international community and the local Feudal Councils now recognize the following wars:
Black
House Black donates 15,000 Regals to Hexenblood for fighting the Sweating Sickness, and pays 35,000 Regals to Kreiburg for the province of Lunnais.
Random Events
Lampero
A resource value crash in Vultaro suddenly causes a huge cheap surplus of coal on the market, with traders having nowhere to put it.
Peirgarten
Bonfires of Vanity erupt in the Lorhauser capital, with conservatives burning liberal and progressive literature in piles in the streets.
Harhold
A new Harhold Flagship is launched (along with 3 week worth of upkeep paid out to Harhold's Bank) called the Cyfeillgarwch (or Friendship in Common, the name being Picaron to celebrate od Albion friendship).
Typhonus
Festivities are hosted in Calemberg by the Guilds, upholding good moods among the people.
Black
A firebrand preacher speaks out against the ruler Countess Dianne, criticizing her policies and rule, and calling for her to pass on more authority to the Clergy.
Viduggla
A corruption scandal is triggered in the Vladnovolgar region, with rulers confiscating private properties and businesses to enrich themselves.
Drachenburg
Peasants in Drachenwald are asking for increased parish lands to be granted to the local Church. This would require a considerable logging effort to clear a lot of Drachenwald's northern forest edges.
Delmotte
The Toulonne region requests more autonomy from the Delmotte rule, asking to allow them to opt-out from laws passed in the entire realm if they deem them repugnant to Toulonne values.
Avalorn
Avalorn Merchants are harassed by Ithanian gem boomers, forming conspiracies and cabals against Regalian imports to boost their own domestic imports.
Reinard
A local Reverend engages in carnal sin, with Silent Sisters deliberating about what to do with this child born out of wedlock to a notable Reverend.
Slumberwood
Astronomers predict glory for House Slumberwood while looking to the stars.
Sorenvik
A race riot is triggered by Velheim with the sudden appearance of Url in Sorenvik lands who are mostly just travelling as tourist hunters or new settlers, particularly, the Velheimers are afraid of their relatives suspiciously suddenly turning into Url (not that it happened, they are just afraid it could).
Duerr
A similar race riot occurs in von Duerr lands where Urls travel into the Treppeweitz and Duerrstein regions to hunt local deer, the locals very displeased with these un-Human creatures.
Latimer
Sale of offices generates 15,000 Regals for House Latimer as some locals buy their way into power.
Lok-Guthrain
A glorious Court Painter has appeared, offering services to anyone wishing to foot the 20,000 Regals bill, with any request.
Golden Triumvarate
Curates start preaching a pro-Magic heresy in the Golden Triumvirate capital.
od Albion
The clergy has condemned a progressive philosopher as a heretic, who has ideas on military treatise, but the church condemns him and his teachings as heresy and wants him executed.
Kreiburg
Bonfires of vanity occur, with local Genevauds dressing up a massive demon-like papier mache figure in reeds and cloth, setting it ablaze, celebrating the recent conservative gains against the aberrants.
Goretaan
A large tea dumping occurs in the harbor, dumping large quantities of Avalorn and Peirgarten tea as the locals reject the merchandise. Both Avalorn and Peirgarten lose 5,000 Regals as a consequence of lost investments.
Huron
Pagan influences are spreading as recent attention to Dragon Temples has brought more of the locals back in the sway of Dragon Worship and away from Unionism.
Ariramorel
Secularism rises sharply in the Rim Isle regions, with all the provinces reducing their clerical support and power, the church staggeringly losing power in the region.
Hexenblood
A Dance Macabre of Vampires is triggered in San Selin, causing the Coven of the Sangre Luna to start operating in the region, feeding off the locals and harrying the countryside.
The Baron of Alstyr declares "Kintyr for the sole rule of Breizh" and codifies the right of multi-generation Breizh families to the property of their land. This is a very popular move for the locals, but the Baronets seem rather so-so on the actual codified law that they can no longer confiscate lands from the peasants or commoners. House od Albion then promises a bargain to the Feudal Council, notably in the form of a Liberum Veto and full authority for the Feudal Council to pass its own laws. While the Baronets seem receptive to the idea, they are markedly afraid of getting pulled into a major region spanning war over the lack of preparation of House od Albion to commence the conflict, and mismanagement since its start, and as such, reject the agreement to agree to partial mobilization, at least while the misfortunes of the military conflict endure. House od Albion promises homesteads in the colonial realms, promising to buy these regions when the time comes. As House od Albion is currently not wealthy, and does not own any of these lands however, nothing of this promise has any effect.
The od Albion led-Harhold fleet positioned itself in the Kintyr straits to be on the lookout specifically for enemy transports, including a lump payment of 30,000 Regals for emergency fire ships from the merchants of Kintyr. A mercenary army with Alaric Keen, Vulmar Eryck and Coen Hood is positioned in Contyr to prevent transport landings. (Amorak Oakenforge blocked, player changed proficiencies and no longer has Proficiency troops, Cro-Zzhao blocked, player has an od Albion character, and using alt characters of family member is not permitted. Also be aware that the Proficiencies changed during the Ailor update, meaning the retinue boost for Cro-Allar is 1,000, not 2,000). House od Albion then transfers the Alos army to Hengest Harhold, and sends 1,000 troops from the Alstyr mountains back to the capital while holding position. Finally, the House also pays the state mandated 30% tax.
Weeks prior, House od Albion had utilised a number of ships to blockade the Ariramorel capital in the northern reaches of the region. Utilising 8 od Albion warships, 5 Harhold warships, and an additional 3 fireships, this blockade now spanned the entire stretch of Kintyr under the command of Wolvard od Albion. For the most part, the blockade had been relatively uneventful aside from the occasional merchant vessel and passing ship showcasing their displeasure and then promptly vacating the area, though this soon changed when bells started ringing from one of the Harhold ships sounding the approach of unknown vessels. Wolvard extended his spyglass, bringing it to his good eye, surveying the incoming nautical force. He quickly was able to analyse that the approaching force was made up of warships from House Latimer backed by 15 Delmotte warships alongside a single unknown warship without a recognisable flag which, unbeknownst to Wolvard was being commanded by Molly Lykke. Having been commanded to only fire upon transports, the ships continued to form into a defensive maneuver, preparing the fireships which had been utilised for warships that may approach.
The Od Albion and Harhold fleet consolidated their defensive maneuvers to counter what Wolvard quickly was able to tell was going to be a counter-blockade pincer maneuver, which Abelhard himself was beginning to instruct aboard his own vessel. In preparation, the Harhold ships under Wolvard's command responded to the flag signals being hoisted and readied their broadside cannons. However, as they were told not to fire upon these vessels, the first shots fired were indeed from Latimer cannons as they began to circle some of the ships around the Northern coastline which ripped through the deck of a Harhold vessel and the fireships which had been released. Latimer, realising that od Albion had pieced together what was happening and, having naval superiority by 2 to 1, maintained course and continued to open fire. By this point, cannons roared from both sides with the initial barrage well underway. The fireships were not even close to being able to hit their mark and quickly fell one after the other until nothing was left of them but burning flotsam. Unfortunately for Latimer however, the Harhold cannons clipped the mast of one of Delmotte warships which slowed the vessel down enough for od Albion's own warship to unleash a barrage on its broadside, with three shots hitting below the waterline and a shot blasting through its stern. Men immediately began abandoning ship as it started to sink rapidly and within ten minutes of the battle beginning, Latimer had lost one of his vessels which he, in fact, did not even own.
With Latimer's combined force now one ship down and all ships now tearing at each other with cannon fire, Abelhard ordered for the pincer-maneuver to continue as the number loss itself would not affect their advantage. Wolvard, however, signalled for his ships to begin focusing fire on specific ships and although with naval superiority, the cannon fire from the already blockaded, defending ships and the apparent superior prowess of Wolvard made it difficult for the Latimer/Delmotte fleet to hone in on the defenders, essentially being kept at bay. Splinters of wood fireworked the area with each shot, the Harhold and Latimer vessels taking the brunt of the damage but not so severe as to be unrepairable and true enough, by the time they would reach their respect ports after the battle, most of the damage would likely have already been patched up with the ships in full working order. In essence, the second phase of the skirmish was also an od Albion win in terms of strategic advantage from Wolvard's orders but in terms of actually knocking any ship numbers down, both were at a stalemate.
Noting that if their vessels were to continue their approach they would likely lose more unnecessary numbers whilst also acknowledging that the od Albion fleet was far too well maneuvered for a long term skirmish by now, Abelhard reluctantly flag signaled for his vessels to begin retreating. This particular signaling was responded to with huzzahs and cries of victory from the Harhold vessels, however, in his hubris perhaps, Wolvard ordered that a ragtag 'flotilla' of three Harhold vessels pursue the retreating offensive vessels. This would, however, be met with disaster as the unknown ship captained by Molly Lykke, noting the counter-attack, quickly alerted Abelhard who himself, swung the helm of his ship as far right as he could force it, the ship's rudder screeching in a mixture of wood and metal as the warship turned. With one announcement, the men aboard Latimer's vessel began a volley which absolutely decimated one of the Harhold ships and caused the other two to scatter. With a pained yet somewhat satisfactory smile, Latimer continued the retreat, leaving a mess of one of Harhold's vessels behind to sink. Upon the ship's disappearance below the waves, Wolvard tactically called the remaining two back to strengthen the blockade once more and to save the other two, which came not a moment too soon as fire from Lykke's ship just narrowly missed the two retreating Harhold ships. This skirmish left od Albion expecting that this would not be the last they would see of enemy war vessels given the magnitude of the force they just encountered. In total, one Delmotte ship was lost to the sea while Harhold similarly lost one. The blockade would continue and Od Albion reigned supreme in these waters for the time being, blocking ships they wished until such time as the blockade could be lifted.
With enemy ships now no longer on the horizon, reinforcements could now reach Od Albion in Kintyr. The first to land was an army of Harhold levies numbering 10,000 strong which began march to rendezvous in Alstyr under General Tyrael od Albion inn the mountain passes of Alstyr. At this point, with the additional 10,000 support from Harhold, the total number of levies perched in the serene mountain lands of Alstyr numbered 15,000 strong as 1,000 troops were commanded by General Tyrael to abandon their position to meet with a token force in Valtyr, Ariamoral territory, under the leadership of General Hengest Harhold, who after a ceremonious landing upon the shores of the land began his gallop toward Valtyr's capital city with a retinue of 5,000 after taking over leadership of Od Albion forces. The garrison of 3,000 Ariamorel troops had previously dug into the city's capital so upon arrival, Harhold immediately ordered that the siege of the city begin. 3,000 Mercenaries primarily under the command of Mercenary Commanders Coen Hood, Vulmar Eryck, and Alaric Keen armed themselves along the coastline of Valtyr, seeing no action. The band of mercenaries would have a jolly old time without any conflict at all, much to the amusement of multiple Breizh sheepherders near their general vicinity.
Harhold's 5,000 immediately set about preparing siege equipment under volleys of arrow fire from the walls of the Valtyr capital but took few to little casualties. Nearby trees were cut down and formulated into makeshift battering rams while trenches were dug couple-hundred yards from the city gates. The Harhold force at this point merely prepared for the oncoming offensive, encircling the city walls and firing back arrows until such a time that an opportunity arose for a full offensive of the city itself with a narrow somewhat lukewarm victory with next to no casualties from either side.
Meanwhile in the mountains, as dawn broke, General Tyrael rallied his troops to begin marching on the region of Coltyr with his full force of 15,000. Many of the troops struggled with the mountainous terrain of the Pas Glas Uchell region which needed to be passed in order for Tyrael and his men to sally forth towards that region's capital. The size of the force was not inconspicuous in the slightest and soon enough, they found themselves met with the Ariamorel collective standing force of 10,000 within the region also. Trumpets sounded as the first battle of Coltyr commenced. While the mountains provided a significant detriment to the Od Albion host, the formation of Tyrael's forces was so expertly commanded that within an hour of the battle commencing, od Albion had completely engulfed the defending force, causing massive damage to the defending force and forcing them to route into a retreat while sacrificing even more men to escape deeper into Coltyr. This marked an overwhelming defeat for Ariamorel who had no acting General.
The retreat was just as hairy. General Tyrael was ruthless in his onslaught, ordering his men to tackle the fleeing numbers with a vicious assault. Ariamorel's troops at this point had reached the entrance into the province itself and were able to disperse with very little casualties as compared to earlier, fighting back with boosted morale as they saw their kinsmen hightail for the hills and regroup deeper inland. Noting that the battle had been an overwhelming success, Tyrael lifted his fist and his entire army began erupting into thunderous war cries signaling their victory. All in all, the od Albion army had taken extremely few casualties while Ariamorel suffered a significant loss of approximately 4,000 men in the skirmish that would be known as 'The Bloody Battle of Pas Glas Uchell'.
Latimer
House Latimer pays 5,000 Regals to House Black, 20,000 to Delmotte, before sending their entire fleet to engage the od Albion led-Harhold fleet in the Kintyr straits. (Fawzi Kra-zzla blocked, player inactive, Karl-Fustav Nystrom blocked, player inactive). House Latimer also sends 8,000 Latimer troops under Emmeline Latimer to reinforce Coltyr (pending battle prog below). 2,000 troops are also stationed in Athos, enforcing religious ordinances of the Etosian clergy in the region, having no immediate effect.
Harold
House Harhold sends 10,000 Acting troops to Alstyr to put them under od Albion's control, while himself traveling to Alos to lead the 4,000 od Albion troops, to besiege the city of Coltyr (3,000 militia interior). House Harhold also sends a 8,000 Regal loan to House od Albion.
Viduggla
House Viduggla pays 6,000 Regals to House Black. Additionally, another 10,000 Regals are sent re-assuring the lords that House Viduggla did not mean to extort the Puppet states, who are so-so in their response to the charm offensive. While the lords considered their response to Viduggla's offer more of a cautionary warning, they aren't interested in a sob story about money, since that debt arrangement was Viduggla's own fault anyway for being a poor negotiator, something they do not feel responsible for, and something they are already paying towards Viduggla's considerable budget income on a weekly basis. Finally, House Viduggla also spend 10,000 Regals to track down the Philosopher along with 1,000 troops under Hjalmar Haagenvig. An attempt is made to diplomatically see the Philosopher to cease his hostility, which he staunchly denies. The Philosopher is promptly put on a ship and sent to the Hellatian states, landing somewhere down there in exile from Drixagh.
Typhonus
House Typhonus does nothing about the misbehaving baron, much to the disappointment of the peasants, but to the pleasure of the Baronets. House Typhonus then also sends a warfleet of 5 ships from both Typhonus and Kreiburg under the leadership of Reginald Typhonus to Silbrae to deal with the pirates that were harassing the Silmark merchants. House Typhonus then makes a public display proclaiming House Slumberwood inept at timely dealing with this matter, proclaiming that House Typhonus is the one true defender of the New Regalian people that live in the area, and a reliable partner to look to for safety. House Typhonus keeps its 20% tax rate as set by the Finance Minister, but pays the state 10,000 Regals.
Another 20,000 Regals are invested in a search for familial ties with house Cadar, in an attempt to prop up House Typhonus legitimacy to the legendary family. Klaus Typhonus and Cecile Typhonus correspond with various libraries, composing a number of documents and historical annals, while inquiring the assistance of Tommen Howlester to use his proficient skill in knowledge to investigate the records. Upon many dozens of hours of research, it is this trio that comes to a strange discovery of sorts. It has always been traditionally held that Marianne Cadar died in a battle against the Lord of the Hintercallem Kingdom, a sovereign nation not quite under the control of the Regalian Empire at the time of her death, in 198 AC.
When looking further and further into local records, Tommen finds more and more contradictory indicators that the state of Hintercallem never even existed. The nation of Callem can be found in history, and while all public records and sourced historians note that Hintercallem as a nation did exist for at least 200 years, including even public maps and cartographic records, local records do not show any existence of any such nation. There is no record of any such war having taken place between the then Cadar Duchy and this supposed nation. There are also no battlefield records, and the supposed place where this battle had taken place, has no indicator of any battle having taken place. This causes the trio to be stumbled upon somewhat of a mystery, and one with potentially dangerous political implications for the Cadarophilic military sector of the Regalian Empire. Permeated in every historical record, ballads, cultural beliefs, curriculums in schools, and much of the eventual rise of both House Typhonus and House von Drachenburg is founded on the idea of Cadar dying and being succeeded, but the records contradict established historical accounting.
Delmotte
House Delmotte sends their 15 ships to Latimer for use in the limited conflict against od Albion. Another 20,000 Regals are paid out in charity to the clergy in Basta to fight the atheist movement which has moderate success. Another 20,000 Regals are invested in a charm offensive in the Anglian provinces, which is wholly ineffective. The Anglian provinces make it very abruptly clear that their loyalties are only directed to Delmotte through the beneficiary of another player, one that Delmotte knows, and that they have no interest in imperializing away their local customs and traditions that have survived for nigh on 400 years. Finally, Marceau Delmotte donates his entire Crown Bank stipend back to the Crown Bank, marking this as a Delmotte Crown Tax donation, effectively recycling money donated by other families to raise up Delmotte's Crown contributions without actually paying a single Regal themselves.
Von Duerr
House von Duerr complies to the 30% tax, while also spending 10,000 Regals of their own money to accompany the Baron von Duerr to tackle the sweating sickness in San Girobalda. A stricter legislation for increased guard presence fails, causing some raised eyebrows, and remarks that it is impossible to raise guard presence without recruiting more guards, or working the current roster of guards to death by requiring all of them to fill up manhours equivalent of two working bodies. Since no money is invested, no guard presence is increased, and the feudal lords are somewhat uncomfortable at the fluked attempt to put their minds at ease.
Slumberwood
(Selena Slumberwood order blocked. Alt characters of family members are not permitted in progressions). The Acting Army of House Slumberwood is tasked with anti-piracy activities in Silmark. The local feudal lords remark to the baron that Pirates use ships on the oceans, not soldiers on land, and that merchants are being attacked while at sea on their ships, not while loading resources into their boats. While Merdoc Slumberwood informs the merchants that House Slumberwood will "deal with the pirates next week", the merchants already received news that House Typhonus eradicated the pirates, thus losing Slumberwood the 10,000 Regal investment, and getting chased out of the guilds office. Finally, House Slumberwood raises their taxes to 30%.
Ariramorel
Ariramorel pays 7,000 Regals to House Latimer, while attempting to transport 10,000 troops from Rozzatora under Deo dei Termini to Ara. These troops however never arrive, because news of Latimer's fleet's loss is passed down, and the transports return to Rozzatora. Ariramorel accepts a similar legislation to od Albion, codifying the right of multi generation families to unalienable right to their own properties, equally gratifying the local peasants, but upsetting the baronets who are now no longer able to confiscate properties to add to their funds. Finally, an anti-propaganda attempt is made to defame house od Albion, but without any funds, this ends up being a dude on a soap box paid in a removal of drunken disorderly fines, talking to 10 people, and the attempt is obviously a fluke.
Vulmar
Vulmar Eryck defies the Freisoldner Inspector's decree that their company's contract with od Albion was not permitted, stating that the Freisoldner Inspector has no right to dictate contracts between semi-sovereign aristocratic realms, as those contracts fall under the local legislation and semi-autonomy, effectively claiming that the Freisoldner Inspector has no authority outside of the Regalian Isle alone. He continues to work for od Albion in defiance of the order.
Finance Minister Maximillian Black
Finance Minister Maximillian Black exempts House Typhonus from Taxation, while donating 10,000 Regals to House von Duerr to fight the Sweating Sickness in San Girobalda.
House von Drachenburg
House von Drachenburg sends 20,000 Regals and men on an expedition to the Zenithian lands to contact admiral Yellen Lochner to get a status report on the Ceardian mission, after having lost contact with them a long time ago. The expedition initially has trouble even mooring at the Cliffton Forts, a series of tall and narrow forts built on outcroppings in the ocean, battered by frequent waves and storms that overlook the closest distance to Ceardia. The forts are severely worn and many of the parapets damaged from years of waves battering the stone, seemingly without repair. Upon close inspection, a couple of sunken ships lie in the sheltered harbor, and the forts are filled with skeletons and desiccated corpses. From what little information the expedition could piece together, Yellen Lochner tried to hold out authority in the region to maintain the Emperor's mission even as the State Council cut funds so many years ago. Successive governments under Constanze du Brierust, Amelina Peirgarten and Louis Delmotte were either unaware or unwilling to send aid and deal with the severe decline of funding in the region. Seeing it his Spirit given duty, Yellen Lochner continued his work in the garrison and the fleet oversight, until a fateful night where a series of mutinies occurred. Lochner made the difficult decision to deny the traitors access to the ships, scuttling them in the harbor in the hopes that it would bring the men to their senses. Eventually, his office was stormed, and his last supporters were killed along with him, the admiralty's ring still on his bony finger at the desk where he was stabbed. The expedition supposes the remaining mutineers either starved to death or threw themselves into the ocean below, surely having perished in some of the roughest oceans and jagged sharp rocks that decorate the walls of the forts. The long time that had passed since the Anglian mist left the forts in ill repair, no carpenters saw to repairs of the stonework, and much of the cement holding together the outer walls wore away from the briny ocean water that battered the stone day in day out. Many of the record rooms were destroyed in the process, thousands of volumes of data records waterlogged and beyond repair. The Zenithian outer forts are in a sorry state, and on their way to the mainland of Zenithia, they realize that Zenithia has been suffering a string of famines also on the mainland after contact with the outer regions was lost when the Regalian Fleet pulled out. The locals don't really know if Ceardia is safe, since the Cliffton Forts were the ones who stored all the data and did all the research, the locals are just poor fishers and craftsmen living in a somewhat aged and decrepit lesser Ceardian Kingdom.
Also, House von Drachenburg bans all use of Magic everywhere in Drachenburg lands and puppets, going a step further than Peirgarten in declaring a no-Magic zone in the Archipelago. This has little effects aside from causing applause from the conservatives, as there are no magic users in Drachenburg lands, save from the supposed Vampires that might live in the Drachenwald. 10,000 Regals are also sent to the Belliard Guild to upkeep good relations.
Hexenblood
Hexenblood pays 35,000 Regals on top of the 10,000 by von Duerr and 10,000 by the State and 10,000 by Golden Triumvirate to combat the San Girobalda Sweating Sickness, along with declaring a quarantine to prevent the spread. The losses of financial growth in the merchant sector amount to 10,000 which are taken from Hexenblood bank assets, but with the timely response and large funds poured into the effort, the Sweating sickness is removed, and prevented from being spread elsewhere, potentially saving the Archipelago at wide from an epidemic, and thus shouldering the burden of saving the health of the Archipelago to Hexenblood. Hexenblood also chooses to sell their Girobalda stockpiles, which in the arms race regarding Kintyr, nets them a decent 30,000 Regals of instant cash injection into their bank. They also comply to the mandated 30% tax.
House Avalorn
House Avalorn queries with the Tanaar regarding the Suvial-Kathar conflict. Replies come along the lines of "We don't really know", as communication with the Suvial is scarce given the flaring hostilities and the inability of the Tanaar to create a clear line of communication with the seas occupied by Kathar bone Fleets. They do indicate that there's some "Major magical events" occurring the far west, with magical diffusion off the scale in the air, implying some massive magical spells and being flung back and forth between them. House Avalorn also pays House Black 5,000 Regals, and another 25,000 Regals to pay the landowners for empty land to grant to the Priscelle Parishes. While the landowners seem somewhat miffed about the idea of granting more lands to (in their perception) heretics that deny the word of Estel, they like money better, and so comply. Taxes are raised to 30%, and an offer is made to Peirgarten to mediate between the Altalar riots and the Countess, which are not taken up by the Countess. Finally, 10,000 troops are properly disbanded that should have been disbanded last week (with the money lost added back to the bank from wages).
Golden Triumvirate
The Golden Triumvirate also pays 10,000 Regals for the conclusion of the Sweating Sickness in San Girobalda.
House Sorenvik
House Sorenvik's attempts to lower Crown Tax are barred (rules state once Crown Tax is set, it is set for 3 weeks on the manual), while also taking test runs with their Anglian flagship. Skaggers on an Anglian nautknight seems silly, but the men adapt to it pretty well, and the ship sails close to Kintyr a couple of times, getting a little bit testy and feisty with the od Albion blockade, but doing nothing overtly aggressive besides shooting a few cannons on the aft of the ship as boisterous sabre rattling while the Velheimers shout about. Kaya Sorenvik dedicates 20,000 Regals to investigating the financial damages of the burning of the north, notably in West Drixagh. The investigation makes note that most of the damage supposedly caused under Montagaard was largely undone within months, and that the damage on the Velheimers was severely overstated. If anything, Viduggla's war with the subsequent minors did more damage to the lands now controlled by Sorenvik, so there is some cause for financial investment in Sorenvik's lands. Otherwise, they report that Drixagh just generally suffers from lower infrastructure investment than the rest of the archipelago, but that investing in this would be pointless, since there is also little stomach for road maintenance in the tundra, or business startups in Drixagh due to the xenophobiuc attitude of the Velheimers.
Goretaan
Goretaan spends 5,000 looking for Geep-Foal in the mountains, but find none. Someone remarks that maybe one ought to look for Geep-Foals in Gallovia, as they are Gallovian Geep-Foals, not Clannadh-Alba Geep-Foals.
Kreiburg
House Kreiburg sells Lunnais to House Black for 35,000 Regals, retreating their army to Langthal, borrowing their warships to Typhonus, and setting import tariffs to their nation to 10%. This last action in particular is curious, as it immediately causes damage to all neighboring trading nations: Black, Peirgarten, who all lose 10% from their home taxation income as merchants drop their trades across the border to the Kreiburg Cantons. House von Drachenburg is spared the income loss, as the merchants circumvent the regulations by trading through von Drachenburg controlled Alpen and using domestic traders to get around the tariffs. Kreiburg income meanwhile is raised by 2,000 Regals from increased taxation and internal revenue, while traders in Narlas and Lorhauser complain to their respective Countesses about the sudden tariffs.
Peirgarten
Countess Peirgarten orders Rodrigo Peirgarten's artifact seized, locking it up in a vault that "only the Countess is aware", which is obviously a bit difficult unless the Countess built a vault by herself somewhere, but with knowledge in a close circle of Countess loyalists, the servants comply nonetheless. The Lion's Fold political lobby is then invited to discuss terms for departing from their anti-Peirgarten agenda. While in this meeting however, the Lion's Fold representatives indicate that "another political player" has given them credible evidence backed by Regalian contacts that Rodrigo Peirgarten had launched the search for a "Specifically Female, Specifically Daendroque, Specifically Aberrant Palest for the Peirgarten Household not too long ago, while the Countess sat idle and just allowed it, or wasn't aware of it". The delegation remarks it is odd that the Count-Consort required a woman in specific to serve him, while so many other conservative households have men who serve as their palests, and how he specifically wanted a non-Leutz-Vixe palest, of his homeland, a culture that is very unpleasant to the Leutz people, and worst of all, an Aberrant, how he specifically wanted a non-Mundane house servant. The delegates then essentially depart, remarking how they aren't convinced by this faux-conservative gestures, and that Peirgarten should be "cleansed from the Ravenstad homelands" in earnest. Furthermore, the Countess offers a compromise to an emissary of the Altalar, that they are willing to "allow" the Altalar to practice their magics behind closed doors in the privacy of their home if they pay a punitive 15% tax. The emissary replies that "it was never about the usage of Magic", but rather about the fact that Altalar, as by default users of Magic, cannot hold office anymore in Peirgarten lands on account of being Aberrants, many of them wealthy plantation owners and businesses. They reply that this effective "second rank citizen tax" is another slap in the face from an out-of-touch Countess who is adamant about appeasing one agenda only, and that there is clearly no place for other races in Lorhauser. The Altalar then make a general denunciation of the Lorhauser County, before an exodus of their people begins as they start closing up shop, looking for better more tolerant societies to live in. This does not have any immediate effects on the Peirgarten economy due to the fact that the Altalar population was never that large, but advisors warn this may not be the end of the tale of the Altalar of Lorhauser.
Reinard
House Reinard sends 5 Warships with the Duchess and Duke aboard to their Breizh lands. While od Albion forces celebrated both at land and at sea, one thing that was not expected by either was the oncoming of these ships. As ordered by Wolvard, the blockade began unleashing their broadside cannons towards the ships that they soon discovered belonged to Reinard. The overwhelming numbers made short work of routing these vessels violently and without hesitation, despite hails for a peaceful mission which were all declined by od Albion for these ships were in violation of the blockade. All five ships began to violently turn back the way they came albeit breaking their initial formation. It was at this time that Wolvard noticed that from the minor damage caused to one, a number of cases had fallen from their ties on the ship.
When the od Albion ships picked up the cargo lost by one of the Reinard ships, they salvaged 20,000 Regals from the crates, including party supplies like banners, waterlogged cakes and baked breads and outfits for the Duchess. Eventually they come to the conclusion that the purpose of these warships was to transport the resources and the ruling family to Keval for the purpose of organizing the Feil od Evrik with the locals to celebrate Breizh culture, as well as ledgers to try and codify Breizh law into the first official Breizh Legislative Code. Essentially, od Albion comes to realize that this fleet had no hostile intent, as they had claimed.
Upon returning to Baarlowe, the Duke summons the Feudal Council, and makes a passionate speech about how od Albion's aggression infringes on Reinard's sovereign ability to govern his disconnected realm by the Kintyr strait, and how this blockade is an act of hostility against the Baarlowe Duchy. While there are some in the council who question Reinard's motives for sending warships to disguise a civilian mission to Keval, they are drowned out by the chorus of feudal lords chanting "Kintyr first, Reinard next, down with Harhold and od Albion", following with a resounding support for the mobilization of Reinard forces, and official opening of hostilities as the limited conflict started by od Albion-Harhold plunges into a full blown war between them.
Reinard's Kintyr provinces are unable to be called to mobilization due to the fact that they did not even know their fleet was attacked, however in the Reinard homeland, the 10,000 Standing army is joined by 45,000 Reinard troops (60% mobilization). Seeing the storm cloud hanging, with Harhold himself in Kintyr as well as his standing army, the Feudal Council calls for an emergency session and launches full mobilization (100%) of Vlissinghelm (auto-mobilization due to CB), while also sending some panicked messages to Kintyr that the Vlissinghelm army is horrendously outnumbered by Reinard's troops, proclaiming "The fox has done it again", implying the Harhold Feudal Council believes that the ships sent to Kintyr were a ruse, and that od Albion fell for it to justify a war against Harhold. In response, a wave of mobilizations is approved in other nations, with od Albion's Feudal Council approving a medium mobilization to "deal with Ariramorel and secure the Kintyr homelands" of 12,000 troops (50%), and Latimer's Feudal Council approving a minor mobilization to "punish od Albion for the naval defeat and make do on the finances sent to Delmotte", with an additional 10,000 troops dedicated (33%). The international community and the local Feudal Councils now recognize the following wars:
- House od Albion + House Harhold aggressors vs. Ariramorel + House Latimer defenders, without Casus Belli
- House od Albion + House Harhold aggressors vs. House Reinard defenders, without Casus Belli
- These are two separate conflicts, until such a time a treaty is signed between the defending parties on either sides to combine the war (combining the wars will have effects on the final peace settlements, as neither party has a CB on each other, save for Harhold having a CB to reclaim provinces from Reinard. Any provinces taken by either side, aside from Harhold reclaiming lost lands, will have consequences for the "Bad Boy" status, which can trigger free CB's for neighboring nations).
Black
House Black donates 15,000 Regals to Hexenblood for fighting the Sweating Sickness, and pays 35,000 Regals to Kreiburg for the province of Lunnais.
Random Events
Lampero
A resource value crash in Vultaro suddenly causes a huge cheap surplus of coal on the market, with traders having nowhere to put it.
Peirgarten
Bonfires of Vanity erupt in the Lorhauser capital, with conservatives burning liberal and progressive literature in piles in the streets.
Harhold
A new Harhold Flagship is launched (along with 3 week worth of upkeep paid out to Harhold's Bank) called the Cyfeillgarwch (or Friendship in Common, the name being Picaron to celebrate od Albion friendship).
Typhonus
Festivities are hosted in Calemberg by the Guilds, upholding good moods among the people.
Black
A firebrand preacher speaks out against the ruler Countess Dianne, criticizing her policies and rule, and calling for her to pass on more authority to the Clergy.
Viduggla
A corruption scandal is triggered in the Vladnovolgar region, with rulers confiscating private properties and businesses to enrich themselves.
Drachenburg
Peasants in Drachenwald are asking for increased parish lands to be granted to the local Church. This would require a considerable logging effort to clear a lot of Drachenwald's northern forest edges.
Delmotte
The Toulonne region requests more autonomy from the Delmotte rule, asking to allow them to opt-out from laws passed in the entire realm if they deem them repugnant to Toulonne values.
Avalorn
Avalorn Merchants are harassed by Ithanian gem boomers, forming conspiracies and cabals against Regalian imports to boost their own domestic imports.
Reinard
A local Reverend engages in carnal sin, with Silent Sisters deliberating about what to do with this child born out of wedlock to a notable Reverend.
Slumberwood
Astronomers predict glory for House Slumberwood while looking to the stars.
Sorenvik
A race riot is triggered by Velheim with the sudden appearance of Url in Sorenvik lands who are mostly just travelling as tourist hunters or new settlers, particularly, the Velheimers are afraid of their relatives suspiciously suddenly turning into Url (not that it happened, they are just afraid it could).
Duerr
A similar race riot occurs in von Duerr lands where Urls travel into the Treppeweitz and Duerrstein regions to hunt local deer, the locals very displeased with these un-Human creatures.
Latimer
Sale of offices generates 15,000 Regals for House Latimer as some locals buy their way into power.
Lok-Guthrain
A glorious Court Painter has appeared, offering services to anyone wishing to foot the 20,000 Regals bill, with any request.
Golden Triumvarate
Curates start preaching a pro-Magic heresy in the Golden Triumvirate capital.
od Albion
The clergy has condemned a progressive philosopher as a heretic, who has ideas on military treatise, but the church condemns him and his teachings as heresy and wants him executed.
Kreiburg
Bonfires of vanity occur, with local Genevauds dressing up a massive demon-like papier mache figure in reeds and cloth, setting it ablaze, celebrating the recent conservative gains against the aberrants.
Goretaan
A large tea dumping occurs in the harbor, dumping large quantities of Avalorn and Peirgarten tea as the locals reject the merchandise. Both Avalorn and Peirgarten lose 5,000 Regals as a consequence of lost investments.
Huron
Pagan influences are spreading as recent attention to Dragon Temples has brought more of the locals back in the sway of Dragon Worship and away from Unionism.
Ariramorel
Secularism rises sharply in the Rim Isle regions, with all the provinces reducing their clerical support and power, the church staggeringly losing power in the region.
Hexenblood
A Dance Macabre of Vampires is triggered in San Selin, causing the Coven of the Sangre Luna to start operating in the region, feeding off the locals and harrying the countryside.
