State of Affairs, 1004 YK

It is Nymm (6th month), 1004 YK. Such is the state of affairs.

There is now peace between Droaam and Breland. A treaty was signed in Sharn in Therendor, witnessed by Aurala, Haydith, and Oargev. Neither Breland nor Droaam lost any land, nor pays any reparations, but for one important concession: Boranel is bound to honor the results of a plebiscite in Sharn to determine the city's allegiance--to Breland, or independent.

The people showed up in droves, and the result was overwhelming. Over 70% cast their vote for independence, and Droaam was quick to guarantee it. Sharn is now an independent city-state, its citizens no longer subjects of Brelish rule.

Sharn

It is an era of rapid renewal for the City of Towers. The Council Chambers have been rebuilt, and a new election has secured the first civilian government of a new, independent Sharn. While some accuse the Underworld of having their hands in the city's politics, the new government has well represented the will of the people in this early, critical stage.

The power grab of House Cannith left a scar on the city, with many having trust the family for generations, and looked to them as leaders. For their crimes, Cannith has been stripped of much of their power and privilege. Critically, their factories in Sharn have been offered for sale, and with extensive funding from the Underworld, the employees of the various factories have formed cooperative bodies to purchase their own means of production. Several new employee-owned corporations have arisen to continue the industry of Cannith under new and more equitable governance.

With the fall of House Cannith, House Tarkanan has mollified somewhat, their sharp edges dulled, and they continue to work with Daask and the Boromar Clan to strengthen the newly independent Sharn. While odd bedfellows, Tarkanan and the others are unified to an extent by the Warchief of Droaam and her personal connections, and this newfound peace gives Sharn a much-needed boost in its time of need.

With a population in the millions, Sharn has nearly as many monstrous citizens as Droaam itself, and rivals greater Breland for overall population. No doubt, it is truly a Great Nation in its own right, but largely it is being left to determine its own fate. Once, it was the only refuge for people whose racial worth was recognized by none, but whose industrial worth was considered valuable--now, they have a rival.

Cyre

On 18 Vult 1004, a date which will live eternal in history, the capital of Cyre, Metrol, was occupied by its rightful sovereign, Oargev ir'Wynarn, and 3,000 brave volunteers from New Cyre and the Cyran diaspora. With the vital assistance of Ivy and her Cyran Avengers, the army somehow stood firm against a vastly superior force of Karrnathi warlords. When the Black Blood was dissolved, many of their leaders lost their power, and most their lives, with their armies descending into chaos as a result.

Today, Cyre is claimed by Oargev, who has yet to have formally been crowned its king, but has no vocal rival claimants. Public sentiment toward Ivy is arguably stronger, as her deeds in the defense of Metrol, as well as her prior decade of service in the nation's defense, speak volumes for her dedication to the cause, despite her insistence that she seeks no office or title within the newly restored realm. Similarly, the industrialist Tyburn Madrigal, who has established an aviation enterprise in the capital, is also beloved by the people, and while he has no royal blood to speak of, the combination of his household name and his unpursued but quite legitimate claim to the barony of Cannith have led many to put him forth as a rival political leader to Oargev.

Estimates of Cyre's population range from as little as 60,000 to as much as 300,000. It is difficult to say, as pilgrims and settlers swarm into the nation on a daily basis. Warchief Selina has made a public, verbal agreement with Aurala, Haydith, and Boranel to offer no resistance or legal limtation to emigration into Cyre, instead offering support to the nascent government. At her counsel, Oargev announced a policy where any settler is granted 100 acres of land for a single copper piece, on the condition they built some sort of settlement on the property.

While industry seems unlikely in a populace so small, unlikely is Cyre's specialty. Madrigal Aviation has taken possession of several derelict factories in Metrol, and is setting up production lines for turbojet-powered civilian aircraft. Its leader, Tyburn Madrigal, is adamant that the company will produce only civilian aircraft, with the goal of enhancing personal mobility and connecting the world to strengthen the cause of peace. His designs are not just on paper--the Sky Siren is a proven design, having flown thousands of miles and survived hostile environments, overtopping 30,000 ft of altitude and nearing the speed of sound. Airliners following this design promise to revolutionize travel, with anywhere-to-anywhere trips in Khorvaire measured in hours, not days, and intercontinental travel in a single day. Orders for new airships have plummeted, as carriers of passengers and cargo dream of a future where air travel doesn't move at the speed of a sailboat, but of a turbojet. Of course, militaries across the world covet this technology, and espionage and theft are rampant, with Cyran forces rigorously screening all applicants to the aviation company.

While upwards of 200,000 ethnic Cyrans who survived the Day of Mourning have pledged to or already begun immigration, they are outnumbered by other peoples--Karrnathi seeking a life free of serfdom, Brelish seeking opportunity, Thranish pilgrims seeking religious freedom--and the future of Cyre seems to be a highly diverse populace united not by a shared ancestry, but by shared values and loyalty to their new homeland. Cyre is seen as a land of opportunity, where tough, independent settlers build a new life from the ground up, taming raw earth and wild lands into a new nation. For his part, Madrigal insists the nation should emphasize its traditional values: art, science, music, learning, philosophy, and other peaceful pursuits. Ivy and Oargev lean toward the nation's proud samurai tradition, but Madrigal rightly criticizes the old ways, blaming them for the nation's losses in the Last War, and outright calling the Samurai class an outdated, elitist organization that has no place in modern Cyre. A majority of Cyrans agree with him, and openly call for him to enter politics, challenging the assumption that Cyre even needs a King, and should instead pursue a republican government like Sharn. He demures, citing no interest in politics, but his influence is undeniable, and he is widely seen as a potential future leader of the nation.

Oargev himself is still relatively young and unmarried, and has been rumored to be courting Queen Haydith of Karrnath, potentially cementing a political alliance between the two historical rival states. While he is personally revolted by the idea of cozying up to Karrnath, he accepts the wise counsel of the Warchief's agents, noting that Karrnath is the most clear and present danger to the nascent nation, and given time to grow and arm themselves, Cyre of the future can chart a new path more to his liking--but for now, this may be the best way to survive.

The people of Cyre favor a different solution: marriage between Oargen and Ivy. The latter is far more popular--a war hero, a legend, and a more charismatic figure. A common refrain is that, for the last decade, Ivy shed her blood, sweat, and tears to preserve Cyre, while Oargev sipped tea in his enclave. Many see him as a privileged boy who longs for the esteem his ancestors held, willing to sell out his nation's future for personal egrandization. Ivy, despite being a foreigner, has actually walked the path of the Samurai, and not only lives up to all of their ethos, but that rarest of Samurai ethos where she is humble and selfless, putting the needs of her people above her own. Still, she has no claim to the throne, and no stated objection to Oargev's claim, so a violet overthrow would be less than ideal. A royal marriage would make everyone happy--except perhaps Oargev and Ivy--and even help to bind Karrnath and Cyre, given that Ivy is in fact Princess Aleksandra, half-sister to Haydith and arguably the superior claimant, if bastardy were a non-issue.

Karrnath

The death of Kaius III rocked Karrnath, but not as much as the Black Blood dissolving, and his secrets publicly disseminated. Among political and military leaders, the vast majority were in some way part of the conspiracy, and most have been ousted from service or outright imprisoned, with a few fighting for their political lives, and some simply having been assassinated or disappeared.

Haydith, daughter of Jaron, has succeeded Kaius III as rightful sovereign of the realm. Despite her absence during years of hostage in Breland, she has been warmly welcomed by the people, who are eager for a peaceful transition of power. No serious rivals exist for her power, and none contested her coronation. Despite her youth, she is well-prepared for the job, and has made good use of the few months of her reign so far.

She formally recognized Dame Siobhan as Supreme Commander of her military forces, re-establishing the honor of the Emerald Claw under Siobhan's guidance. The Blood Knight has championed the cause of bringing Black Blood traitors to justice, personally imprisoning most, and slaying a few, with the Queen presiding over trials of corrupt officials and officers, sparing no mercy to those who sold out Karrnath for their own enrichment.

A vocal minority champions Ivy, whom they more or less accurately name as Aleksandra ir'Wynarn, as a superior claimant to the throne. As a bastard get of Jaron, her claim is technically inferior, but she is a war hero of both Karrnath and Cyre, and seen as a stronger figure than the "foreign girl" who sits the throne. No foreign support exists behind this claim, as Droaam openly and publicly supports Haydith, as the Warchief is technically her "step-sister". Droaam's official ambassador, Melora, is known to be a close confidant of Siobhan and increasingly Haydith, and is assumed to wield the full faith and magical power of the Warchief within Karrnath. Any who still wish to conspire for their own fortune at Karrnath's expense do so only when certain that Melora and Siobhan are unaware, for none have yet to evade their justice.

Thrane

The civil war continues, burning cold and flaring up in flashpoints from time to time. It is an open secret that other nations, chiefly Aundair and Droaam, are funding the Regent's continued rebellion against the Theocracy. The Warchief and Aurala are openly courting the Cardinals of Hierophants of the Church, attempting to beguile them into their good graces, with the apparent goal of peacefully transitioning to a secular government of Thrane. A tough sell, indeed.

Aiding their efforts is an ongoing exposé series by the Korranberg Chronicle, laying bare the excesses, sins, and outright crimes of Church officials. Scandals ranging from merely embarassing to outright crimes against humanity have been exposed with ample evidence, not only of the wrongdoing of individuals but the systemic cover-ups by the Church organization. While many are centered outside of Thrane (especially Sharn), the homeland is not spared, with beloved and trusted figures revealed to be monsters, shaking the faith of the lay worshippers. Senior leadership continues to deny all allegations, however increasingly hard to believe. Most of all, they deny the allegation of the Chronicle that the Keeper of the Flame, Jaela Daran, is in fact a political prisoner, held against her will in the temple in Sharn, her statutory and symbolic power denied her, and in turn, denied to the faithful.

Confidence in the Church leadership is at an all-time low, and the ranks of the rebellion swell with disillusioned Thranes seeking better leadership for their homeland.

Aundair

Despite her close association with the Warchief, Aurala seems to have lost much at her hands. Once thought to be foremost among sovereigns for her diplomatic prowess, her committment to peace, and her magical might, Aurala is now clearly inferior in all aspects to the Warchief.

On a personal level, while she has suffered the devastating loss of her brother, the former First Warlord, she has been granted new vitality. Few women in their 60s would despair of having the body of a woman half her age, with vigor she'd not known even in her own youth. But her kingdom's future remains uncertain, as it depends entirely on her relationship with Droaam. As a friend and ally to the Warchief, she should feel quite safe; but if that relationship should degrade, she'd find herself surrounded by enemies, as Droaam is well understood to hold significant influence over Karrnath and Breland, and is even advancing into the Demon Wastes.

At home, she worries about her family's legacy. Her heir apparent is sickly, unpopular, and secretly a traitor. Her other son is unable to claim her throne without a constitutional crisis. She wonders if, absurdly enough, she should remarry, as she is likely fertile again. Few worthy prospects exists, with most other nations currently ruled by women, but Oargev's name has been floated. Her investment into Cyre seems to bear out the possibility of a Cyran-Aundairan alliance.

Breland

Boranel remains King, but has lost much prestige due to his high-profile loss to Droaam (whether or not it was his fault), and the subsequent loss of Sharn. Losing a few hundred thousand citizens to Cyre has not helped his case. As an aging monarch of a realm in decline, he is often passed over by political commentators, who speculate on the future of Breland when he inevitably passes on.

His succession is somewhat of a complex issue. Brelish law is clear: Prince Bortan has the superior claim, followed by Prince Aejar. However, neither are much loved by the people as potential Kings. While Bortan is praised for his acumen as an administrator and financier, few have confidence in him as a true leader, certainly not a military commander. Aejar is even less popular, with much less proven political acumen, and a bitterness and cynicism that he can't seem to keep out of his public comments.

More is thought of Prince Halix, who despite his long absence from the country as a hostage to Karrnath, and his assimilation into their culture, is seen as more of a "chip off the old block", a proper warrior-king in the making. The more hawkish commentators prefer him over all, but few can defend him as a civic administrator.

Overwhelmingly, the favorite is Princess Brela. Despite a near total lack of political experience, she is favored by the public and commentators alike, for her natural charisma, and for her undeniably Brelish traits: she's independent, adventurous, and has a strong internal moral compass. Her youth has been spent learning and adventuring, braving dangerous lands to explore the wonders of nature. In her, many see a young Boranel, and suspect she would fight fiercely and capably in the realm's defense, but only as necessary, devoting herself to the public welfare the rest of the time.

Warchief Selina seems to agree, as her own youngest brother Rekhan has been courting Brela at her guidance, with many speculating about a royal wedding that could cement peace between the two belligerent nations. While it would seem audacious for the Warchief of Droaam to intervene in Brelish politics regarding the succession, it would hardly be her first intervention, as Sharn's independence is broadly credited to her.

Even without Sharn, and bereft of Cyran immigrants, Breland remains the most populous and wealthy nation among the Six Nations, and chiefly has the largest manufacturing base. Boranel has been vindicated for his decade-long push to bring manufacturing and modern industry to Wroat and other internal cities, now that Sharn is no longer his subject city. While no city in the world can compare to Sharn, Wroat is a major metropolis in its own right, and Breland's manufacturing base remains greater than any of the other nations. This is not to mention that Sharn, independent or no, is a natural trade partner to Breland, with very few trade contracts having changed substantially since the independence movement. Most of Sharn's manufacturing either ships to or imports from Breland to some degree--their prosperity remains Breland's prosperity, with or without taxes.

Despite their humiliating loss to Droaam, the Brelish military remains formidable. While they conclusively demonstrated the obsolescence of the airship as a weapon of war, they also demonstrated the incredible strategic potential of mechanized infantry, with Great Crag encircled within a week of the nation's invasion. Their weakness in the air may have spelled their doom, but a hypothetical duplicate army with adequate air defense could threaten any nation's capital in time frames that would terrify any generals of the Last War. With fixed-wing aircraft having been proven to be the best vehicle for modern air combat, Breland is not dwelling in their humiliation--they are producing more fighters and bombers than anyone else on the planet. They brought a few dozen planes to Droaam, but their Air Marshals pledge to bring thousands to the next theater of war, if and when it should come.

While the Warchief has proven adept at both diplomacy and warcraft, most commentators predict the next conflict to be a repeat of the last, with Droaam (and possibly its allies) coming into conflict with Breland once again. They can only speculate as to Droaam's strategic goals, and many pit Breland as the instigator, with an aim to neuter the upstart nation. Odds favor Breland in near-term conflicts, with their advantage diminishing over time as Droaam rapidly industrializes. The key to any future conflict seems to be dealing with the Warchief and her family: while they are all outstanding in their fields and terrifically useful to the nation, they are not institutions, but individuals. A single loss in her family costs the nation an entire aspect of modern statecraft and warfare. Total loss would leave the nation rudderless and likely lead to its dissolution.

Having lost territory to their recent war, Breland may seek to expand its borders, and the obvious target is Xen'drik. If it was relatively easy to access in the age of airships, it has become truly convenient in the age of modern aviation. Breland is already planning airfields and fortifications in the wild continent, with few analysts expecting the natives to be able to offer much resistance to mechanized infantry bolstered by close air support. Calls for a summit on Xen'drik have risen, with most hoping for a multinational treaty to limit or outlaw the claiming of its territory by any of the Six Nations. To date, no such treaty has been signed, and the door is open for colonization and conquest from the north.

Droaam

Since the war, Droaam has known only good days. The uncertainty of the early days has been replaced by unguarded optimism. In every way, Selina has met or exceeded expectations, and to some, any new leadership was a plus compared to decades of stagnation. While most of the Horde value honor and martial prowess--which the Warchief has demonstrated in spades--those who value ingenuity and industry are also quite satisfied, as her push to expand and modernize Great Crag has brought much needed vitality to what could charitably be called the nation's "economy".

The capital boasts an airstrip, a few others are under construction. House Orien has been contracted to extend the transcontinental lightning rail to Great Crag, with plans for other stops in discussion with the Tribes. But if any worry about the nation's security and integrity in the face of such advancement, they should take solace in the massive investments the Warchief is making in her defense. Every major city and fortification is building permanent anti-air artillery, and constructing modern fortifications meant to slow and blunt mechanized infantry sieges. While the lightning rail and airfields will bring commerce and tourism in times of peace, they can be easily shut down in times of war. The nation's wild lands are not being paved or cleared for the convenience of commerce--the conveniences of modern infrastructure are meant only for peaceful trade and domestic defense.

For all their dreams and ambitions, Droaam is still a nation far behind the curve. They have virtually zero modern infrastructure or manufacturing. But the Warchief is well aware of this, and is moving aggressively to modernize as quickly as possible. The goblin cartels are of particular use, eagerly taking contracts to build manufacturing facilities with questionably-sourced intellectual property. While their proclivity for corruption is well known, the Warchief is willing to risk inflating their wallets in order to bolster her nation.

It is certainly possible that 5-10 years down the line, Droaam will be a first-class industrial powerhouse, if everything keeps accelerating at current rates. But even if that should come to pass, that doesn't mean they are such today. And the Warchief is well aware of that. The Horde's power is considerable, but limited, and she recognizes the need for short-term leverage in case of conflict. To that end, she has shifted her attention toward a vector no other nation would consider: the Demon Wastes.

In that forsaken realm, there are hundreds of thousands of people, and even more demons--as the name suggests. While few in the world know this, the Warchief's father is Khaz-Ulaan, demon-lord and general of the infernal host of the Demon Wastes. She is in the process of making contact, in hopes of, audaciously enough, making diplomatic inroads with the Demon Wastes. If all goes well, she will be the first and only sovereign to ally with the demonic hordes of the realm.

The Great Houses

The Greatest of the Houses, Cannith, has fallen from grace. Merrix the Younger is dead, and while his daughter survives, she is in no position to take effective control of his resources. Sharn has seized the majority of Cannith's assets, disbanding their private army and imprisoning hundreds of their officers for their crimes against the city. In the north, Zorlan has been revealed to be a puppet of the Black Blood, with the very leader of their operations in Karrnath, Ethniu, having posed as his assistant for years to gain access to power. She is imprisoned and awaiting trial by the Queen, along with hundreds of other traitors and spies for the cult. Zorlan is under house arrest, pending a thorough investigation of his affairs--likely, he will not emerge from this in a position of power.

Jorlanna is desperately trying to remain relevant, with her artificers attempting to produce simulacra of Madrigal aircraft for the Aundairan Royal Air Force. Despite her incompetence, she remains influential, as her cheap knock-offs are still more useful to the Queen than Lyrandar's lumbering airships. However, despite the obvious truths of aerial combat revealed by recent wars, Aundair's air force is still the most powerful in the world at the moment, and the Queen intends to keep it that way. Lyrandar is being invited to produce their own fixed-wing aircraft, acquiring the designs by whatever means necessary. If they can pull it off, they remain a close ally to the Queen, and if not--they become irrelevant.

It's not all decline for the other Houses, however. Orien is thrilled to take on the project of reconditioning the rail lines in Cyre, reconnecting the Six Nations and reinvigorating their own relevance and importance. Deneith and Gallanda have been instrumental in providing security and hospitality for hundreds of thousands of settlers and pilgrims into Cyre, and are flourishing as a result. Kundarak and Medani are overwhelmed with contracts to find and secure lost treasures and artifacts claimed by all manner of people, with varying degrees of legitimacy. Entire noble estates lie undefended, their vaults ready for plunder by raiders, but for the Kundarak guards who manage to reach them first. House Sivis has become the backbone of communication in Cyre, as hundreds of thousands need communication every day, with virtually no infrastructure to support them. Tharask, already doing well as the most active house in Droaam, has much work in Cyre as they provide much needed investigative and policing services to the vast, un-policed lands of the new nation. House Vadalis may be the most vital house in Cyre's immediate future, shepherding hundreds of thousands of herd animals into the lands of Cyre, while providing oversight for its rapidly evolving ecosystem, which could easily develop into something entirely unviable if not carefully managed.

Madrigal maintains total independence from Cannith, calling the latter "obsolete" and "failed" given their recent history. The other houses see this as a dangerous precedent, and are aggressively courting Tyburn to claim his rightful place as Baron of House Cannith, to reassure the world that the rightful order of things involves the Twelve Houses operating as they have for centuries. Tyburn himself is sour on the idea, and he isn't alone--Thora Tarkanan, fresh from her victory over longtime rival Merrix, has already stated she will prevent any new Cannith leadership from rising in Sharn. She openly despises all of the Great Houses, but Cannith holds a special place in her heart, for all the evil they've done to her and her kind, and the entire city of Sharn. For now, few citizens disagree, having brushed perilously close to fascist, dictatorial rule under Merrix's reign.