[Tes'thesula]

Morgoth; What is the power of priests in the empire? Can the Hierarchy priests draw on the power on the spirits or are they simply spiritual leaders?

Kios' relations with houses;

Ryker- Due to Ryker's role in the Northern war, and the accompanying fact that the Ryker men must spend a lot of time in Seagor and Seagor city, Kios and the mercenary House have a fine working relationship, with Kios helping to outfit large sections of the legions controlled by Ryker.

Tredenes- Good trading relationship with Tredenes, with Kios importing many of Tredenes' more exotic, luxury and manufactured items

Dranwreaker- Excellent relations, particularly with the two heads of house, Bravga and Athelsaran, men of similar age and experience, and both very pious towards the Hierarchy. There is a long history between the two houses of trading Kios' mined materials and wood for the foodstuffs of Dranwreaker.

Screlogue-Though Kios relies on Screlogue for its expertise and learning (due to poor relations with Khrorozor) and so must outwardly maintain good relations, there is a secret war between the two houses concerning their rivalrous intelligence services.

Khrorozor-The main rivals of Kios, with many similar interests. Their lack of respect and intolerance for the magical and holy creates barely restrained anger in Kios retainers. Kios takes any opportunities to undermine the activities of Khrorozor. (This is going to be fun)

Falona- For as long as the Falona have been producing Paracas, the members of the line of Kios (not the House) have been buying it, and Kios' legendary pragmatism has meant that their relations are good.

Kalita-Like Tredenes, Kios imports manufactured goods from Kalita, but is wary of its new steel interests.

Orthus- The other Northern house. Common Kios feeling is that they should have long fallen, and their interests in industries similar to Kios' means that there is no love lost between the two houses. Bravga himself is ambivalent about Orthus, but others feel different.

Sorus- Though willing to trade with Sorus, the common consensus from Kios is that the Pirate House has no class.

[Cause]

Ryker
-Ryker is the largest house concerning members (Has more than one branch)
-Ryker has the largest membership, participation and command in the military
-Ryker runs the prestigious imperial officer academy (Trains officers, elite units, assassin)
-Ryker is poor, has the wealth of a minor house
-Ryker is well loved and supported by the army and the populance
-Ryker governs the port city of Gemmaris, this along with small land holding is the entirety of their estate however.
-Emir Ryker (yellow)- The Father-The House leader-The administrator- The axe man-
-Sebastian Ryker (Red)-The eldest-The councilor-The strategist-The swordsman-
-Mikel Ryker (Green)-The Middle son-The general-The hammer of the north
-Kyle Ryker (Blue)-The youngest son-The soldier-The High Captain-The spearman-
-Emily Ryker (black)-The youngest-The daughter-The assassin-
-Barrack Ryker (grey)-The Fighter-The duelist-The Nephew-
-Janus Legion 4000 men per branch of the house. Well trained

I adjusted the Janus legion if that’s okay as despite trying to be the military House I realised each of your houses boasted more men than me.

Janus Legion:
Since according to imperial law the members of house Ryker and the men who serve it are considered apart of the imperial army they are able to bypass several of the restrictions other houses might face regarding their house guards. House Ryker therefore boasts the most well trained equipped (Trained equall to the army) and most well equipped house guards (The empire is actually made to subsidize the cost since they are according to the law furnishing them as they would the army). However to prevent this loop hole in imperial law from granting them too much power a second law was drafted under the behest of council and emperor limiting the size of the house guard or Janus legion as it is named after the legion that first fought under a Ryker at the siege of Gemmariss to four thousand men per branch of the house. A legionnaire will receive and training with shield, spear, crossbow, long and short sword and a fine suit of armour. The men are not recruited from house ryker lands, the house not having enough, but from men retired (or poached) from the army after serving at least on term. They are therefore a diverse group with members hailing from across the empire. The loop hole in imperial law that allows this however is a two edged sword and since men of house ryker are considered imperial soldiers they have to act in that capacity aswell. Men from House Rykers guard can be found policing others land or guarding posts or fighting in the north. The men wish to serve in the janus legion as they are paid more than regular legionaires and are less likely to see dangerous posts.

Kios- Due to Ryker's role in the Northern war, and the accompanying fact that the Ryker men must spend a lot of time in Seagor and Seagor city, Kios and the mercenary House have a fine working relationship. House Ryker respects the houses new loyalty to the empire but remains weary of it remebring its past. Non the less the two councillors of the house enjoy each others respect and friendship. In exchange for a good deal on Kios weapons to outfit the janus legion, Kios can count on the men of House ryker to guard its interests where possible

Tredenes- Not sure yet.

Dranwreaker-House Ryker has a fierce rivalry with Dranwreaker. It resents the competititon in the martial matters of the empire and resents what is sees as Dranwreakers self serving interests. Their attempts to monopolize the food supply and control of the river lands strengthens themselves whilst weaking the empire in House Rykers eyes. House Ryker has oft spoke against them in council and was once placed under the houses embargo. However the houses close ties to the empire saved it and today still protect it. House Ryker cant be cut off without cutting of the armies or provinces they govern

Screlogue- Ryker sees them as necessary and having their uses and oft employs their engineers and mechanists but is disgusted by their shadier side. So while friendly towards house screlogue they are not friends.

Khrorozor-Previously good relations between the higher ranks of the houses have soured over Vandir's deliberate disobeying of a direct Imperial order, even after the Emperor's pardon. Other than this, troops from both houses are well received by the other. Ryker trades commissions using their influnce and training in the academy for khrorozor weapons and armours to outfit the janus legion. House R yker is also very covetous of the Khrorozor cavalry of the house.

Falona- Let Sir Thursday handle this one.

Kalita- Mikel has a friendship with the kalita general in the north and the two make sporting bets about who will perform better in the battles.

Edit-I made a word file with all the info in one place but its too large to attach anyone have any idea.

[Morgoth]

the empire's priests are merely spiritual leaders. They claim to be the human link to the ancestors, but there's really no proven difference between praying through a priest and praying on ones own

[Tes'thesula]

Is it ok if we scrap Orthus? I am having trouble remembering House details as it is, and 8 houses is as good as twelve (Or nine if you wanted to create one Morgoth.)

[Morgoth]

hm.. yeah, I was thinking of doing that for the council meeting.. writing the post as we speak

[councilor]

i haven't been able to type anything for the last 2-3 days...
the old comp went belly up on me...
that means i'm incommunicado for the weekends...

[Morgoth]

right.. this is a map i did while being bored reading some law stuff.. Keep in mind that before this I didn't really have a detailed map in my head, just a general shape.. This might conflict with some of what you've written, though I hope not.

I've not added lakes, rivers, forests etc, so you're welcome to flesh out stuff

[Sir Thursday]

capital punishment for spamming?


That seems alright, although I've kind of built on a peninsula to the south west of the inland sea...


Sir Thursday

[Morgoth]

erm.. the houses do not know of the delegation, nor the people in it as the emperor has not anounced anything and the delegation has yet to show up. I know it's difficult, but try to keep what your characters know apart from what you know

Apart from that, excellent writing from all of you

[Valgard]

Khorazor ? No particular problems at the moment there have been times in the past where the two houses haven?t seen eye to eye as they are both very old houses. Currently though things have quietened down. But there are fears of the increase in aggressiveness of the house.

Kios ? Excellent relations with them the two heads get on very well and there is a very profitable trading partnership between the two houses. Their joint veneration the ancestors is a common bond between them.

Kalita ? Once great rivals in terms of wealth and power but with the collapse of the luxuries market now their areas of interest do not overlap with those of Dranwreaker so no more than the normal level of backstabbing and bickering.

Tredenes ? A southern house but one that is useful with many of the incenses used in ritual come from here as well as all the wines and other luxuries. No real trouble with them.

Ryker ? An upstart new house, that thinks to move in on the traditional role of House Dranwreaker. Many battles in the council and the house has had to be placed under embargo before after having tried to remove some of the river lands from Dranwreakers hands. Also having taken Dranwreakers place in the ranks of the military where once Dranwreaker was the pre-eminent house.

Screlogue ? A useful if untrustworthy partner. No real threat to the house and their assassins and other accessories are very useful, but you must be careful they aren?t turned against you.

Falona ? A new house that has only comparatively recently arrived on the scene. A large and fecund house they are regular traders with Dranwreaker. The wines and other southern produce are always welcome in the riverlands.

[Morgoth]

House Sorus:

Armeihn is the supreme ruler of his house. His ruthless intelligence and cold, effective nature made him able to not only turn his single... erm merchant ship into an entire fleet, he also gained enough riches to earn the rights to the privileges of a house. Ten years later he had risen to heights necessary for him to gain a place on the council. He chose House Lonthis as his soon to be predecessor. The war was so fierce, so bloody that the emperor threatened to step in with the full weight of the imperial army but eventualy House Sorus prevailed and replaced House Lonthis as one of the twelve.

The House has its powerbase on the only major island on the east side of the continent (as seen on the map). There they have several fortresses, slave prisons and shipyards to spew out ever more slavers, merchant ships and - less openly - buccaneers.

House Sorus is pretty much universaly loathed by the other members of the council. Armeihn has little respect for tradition and so on. Furthermore, though pretty much all of the houses employ slaves, they consider the slavers to be dirty, imoral creatures. This combined with the house being hardly thirthy years old and it's easy to see how it does not go well with the others.

---*---

Yeah. Remember that what my characters say or think do not have to be the truth but only what they believe

[Morgoth]

anyways, you should try to join in on the meeting at this point

Take initiative, send some assassins and such

hmpf.. you should ask questions if you're wondering about the Lauren's and so on..

They're agenda is first and foremost to spread their religion, by the sword or through peacefull means.. They believe that until the whole world worship the Lord and Lady no man will reach the otherworld but will roam between the two worlds in a limbo of sorts.. So, they're very comitted. It's their souls after all.

[Cause]

Maknavox. Can you remove your post. I already pointed out that the island can be cut off. Also I never really meant we pull back evry soldier from the north. Besides I imagine in the 1000 yars the empires being fighting these people their have been periods of peace. And their advantage lays in their defensive geography. I dont think they would launch an attack on the empire. Also I already did say that we cant defend the whole of the empire. We need to make sacrifices was the term I used.

Edit- And remeber you know that they have priests with powers. Theirs no way you councillor can

[Morgoth]

right.. Yeah, remember that the councilors know less than you..

when it comes to the north though.. The councilors may fear the north to have more capabilities than theyhave etc. once more opinions may wary with info

[Cause]

Yes. i dont know what the north will do. But I can still choose to make statements. people agree or disagree with me and we see what happenes. Perhaps morgoth does choose to have them attack. It wont matter. It just drives the plot. So disagree with me on the north and agree with me that something must be done to the capital. Its all about playing your character.

The way I see it though (and mt character). We have some men in the north guarding the borders.The best the army has to offer. We can rotate them out with less experienced troops and lower the numbers. It depends what we see as the greater threat. A fleet that may attack anywhere or the north. And an armistice is not a peace treaty so much as an agreement not to attack each other for a while. I figure the North is sorta in bad shape. While it might be winning the battles its slowly very slowly losing the war. I think it would be happy to accpet a reprieve and a chance to rebuild. Grow some crops again etc.

Im not sure. I would have to ask morgoth but I dont think the north has the numbers or power to really launh a major offensive against the empire. (I dont think this would be out of character knowledge iether. In a thousand years we should know fairly well what they can and cant do). Besides it would mean their armies leave th passess of their mountains. If theri armies are defated in the open then their homeland is left defencless. The way I see it is like a thousand battles of thermopylae (maybe wrongly) But their ability to hold the passess and superior steal is what keeps them safe.

[Tes'thesula]

come on guys...its the middle of the Council meeting...someone must have something to say!

on that note: WOHOOO i have teh internet in my house....

[Cause]

at this moment were not fussy

-Working on something. Just suddenly frowning in work

[Morgoth]

post as often as you like