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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Nov 2008 : 02:36:36
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In my current campaign, for one reason or another, the political motivations of a variety of power groups have assumed more and more importance. The player characters started out as successful privateers, but have now become the lords of a rich merchant shipping coster, amassing some social influence and at least one knighthood in the process. Their shipping coster is already organised more like a mercenary company than anything else and I sense that the players wish to play with a little gunboat diplomacy.
They are involved in the situation in Unther, rather firmly on the Thayan* side so far. Pretty soon they're likely to choose their own favourite factions, indulge in a little kingmaking, but the pure and simple fact of it is that no matter who rules, Free Unther is going to fall under the Mulhorandi yoke soon enough. The materiél discrepancy is too great and growing greater with every day that Mulhorand increases their foreign trade and holds a stranglehold on Unther's.
So the likely end to their Eastern adventures is that they'll sail away with their holds stuffed with treasure and leave the Untheri to their hopeless war. But where to then?
As per the Scions of Arrabar trilogy, Lord Wienar desires to re-incorporate Reth in his realm. That means that there is, as usual, a low-grade war brewing in Chondath. That will certainly affect the PCs, seeing as they are involved in the Nunwoods lumber trade and have a warehouse in Reth. But I suspect they'd be most interested in coming to some sort of modus vivendi with the Emerald Enclave, as both war and terrorism tend to be bad for business (unless you're a blockade runner).
What I was wondering regarding the situation in Chondath is what the other powers would make of it?
Would anyone in the neigbourhood be anxious in case of a three- (or more) sided war flaring up in the Nunwoods? Would anyone want to intervene?
I can see the Emerald Enclave being unpopular with most or all local leaders, as their uncompromising Faerûn First stance is unfriendly to human habitation, let alone progress and prosperity. Would anyone have the courage to offer Reth an alligiance against them? Sembia has historically had a great demand for lumber, it would be to the greater prosperity of that nation if it could buy it cheaply from Reth. Even if they don't send troops, a few casks of gold would go a long way towards buying a mercenary army that can force the Enclave to yield.
Turmish could also get a foothold in Chondath by offering Reth an allegiance and then quietly annexing it with time. If Turmish troops were stationed there, it would at the very least add to their influence and it would allow Turmish to control the sea route out of the Vilhon Reach. Pretty heady stuff and definately something I'd keep in mind if I was a Turmish admiral. All it takes is destroying a terrorist organisation that has managed to anger every power in the region at the same time.
We also hear that Manshoon of the Zhentarim has been casting his beady little eyes here, for what new intrigues no one knows. But there's no denying that controlling Reth would be a nice step for the Zhents. It's a convenient forward base for operations in the East, such as Mourktar and Messemprar, two places for which they have big plans. And it's very well placed trading city which should yield a rich revenue.
Moving northward, we find ourselves in the Dragon Reach. That's a the site of the home office for the trading company they control and where one of them is a Knight of the Golden Rooster in Raven's Bluff. It's also a site, where, by necessity almost all the trade from the Moonsea to the Inner Sea comes through. And there's no strong state to claim that lucrative trade.
Calaunt is ruled by strong-arming thugs that somehow aren't allied to anyone. Ylraphon, at a strategically vital point, is actually independent. Well, up until it's trashed in 1373 DR, of course.
The area is begging for a strong hand to take it in train. Mulmaster is just that strong hand, especially since the new allegiance with Zhentil Keep frees an enormous amount of men and resources to devote to a new task.
Now, warhips likely can't sail down the River Lis and it would take herculean effort to transport them. But there are other ways of projecting power. For example, when caravans of soldiers, engineers and workers arrive to rebuild the town; who's going to argue? When the 'new' population of the decimated town (mostly consisting of soldiers of Mulmaster) vote in a council and mayor that happen to favour a close allegiance with their northern benefactors, what will anyone be able to do about it?
Sembia has a clear interest here. It is likely that a lot of the traffic on the River Lis eventually ends up on Sembian merchant ships and enriches Sembian lords. But do the Sembians have the men, ships, organisation and sheer mustard to declare war on Mulmaster and take Ylraphon for themselves? And with Zhentil Keep on Mulmaster's side, would the Sembians even win?
Now, Scardale is another strategically important place which could be snatched up by any bold state. Sembia would dearly like to do it, but an invasion, even into such a pitiful and disorganised cesspit, would bring censure and perhaps even war with the Zhents and/or Cormyr (for reasons of their own committed to the territorial integrity of the Dales). But with Cormyr's recent troubles, that's suddenly much less likely, and as for the Zhents, they're a long way off and might not take all that much notice (or at least so someone could convince himself in a manic fit).
If violence were to engulf the town and countryside of Scardale, surely no one could blame their neighbour if they sent in troops for the humanitarian purpose of establishing peace? And if these peacekeepers were to stay a little longer, well, it's always much harder to make noise, let alone start a war, about a fait accompli. Now all that remains is to hire some disreputable mercenaries at arms-length and let them loose on Scardale.
Zhentil Keep, of course, has a claim on Scardale due to Scyllua Darkhope's rumoured parentage. I realise that a long-term plan of increased influence and trading in Scardale combined with a whisper campaign about the lost heir is a bit subtle for Zhents under Fzoul, but perhaps that's one of the little side projects Manshoon has been getting up to recently.
Sending knights trained under Scyllua there to build frontier keeps and defend a few peasants in her name would do wonders for their public support in the Dale. There are many people who'd favour stern authority over dangerous chaos and even a dark knight may have honour when compared to brigands and orcs.
Any thoughts? Other schemes afoot in 1373 DR? Effects of the Rage on Inner Sea politics (we've seen its effect on the Moonsea and places north in the Rage of Dragons trilogy)?
*Meaning that they're running the blockade to bring food and military supplies to whatever factions the Thayans consider likely to keep oppossing Mulhorand. All for enormous financial gain, of course.
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2008 : 04:05:13
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quote:
Now, warhips likely can't sail down the River Lis and it would take herculean effort to transport them.
I don't pretend to understand most of what you have written (it's not my bailiwick nor my decade), but Viking-style longships have an incredibly shallow draft and can sail or be rowed up most rivers (the attack on Paris -- by ship! springs to mind). If any of the belligerents look to Ruathym they will find examples of what they need to assert their power far inland.
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Edited by - Jamallo Kreen on 05 Nov 2008 04:26:25 |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2008 : 04:15:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
quote:
Now, warhips likely can't sail down the River Lis and it would take herculean effort to transport them.
I don't pretend to understand most of what you have written (it's not my bailiwick nor my decade), but Viking-style longships have an incredibly shallow draft and can sail or be rowed up most rivers (the attack on Paris -- by ship! springs to mind). If any of the belligerents look to Ruathym they will find examples of what they need to assert their power far inland.
Very true.
But longships are a technology that may have fitted very well into its own era, but the low decks and lack of cover for soldiers on those decks mean that against even a single caravel with decent magical support, let alone a galleon, it's hopelessly overmatched. Simply put, even Calaunt's small navy could stop an attack that was purely composed of longships.
Added to that, longships are incapable of maintaining station out in the ocean in weather that sailing ships would be hardly discommoded at all. The odds are that as a blockading force against Sembia or other Vast cities, a fleet of longships would be insufficient.
As a ruler of Mulmaster, I'd be more comfortable with a land-based offensive. |
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Edited by - Icelander on 05 Nov 2008 04:16:20 |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2008 : 07:27:50
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I would have to disagree about the fact that Longships would not offer substantial problems for larger warships...because the warships of the Realms, while being called a Galleon or Caravel...well, isn't one of these cannon carrying ships that our world is used to.
"Wall" tactices used in the Fjords of Scandinavia would work well against sail driven ships that might become becalmed...or at least have decreased ability to move about when they have no oars. Not only that, but Longships would be perfect for moving between the Moonsea and the Sea of Fallen Stars. I believe, unless I'm wrong, that most Moonsea Warships are a modified form of Longship...albeit larger, they have a shallow draft, full banks of oars AND sails.
Coupled with magic in the form of Mulmaster's Cloaks, they could have a very formidable fleet of ships that cost much less to construct, capable of carrying just as many troops (as boarding actions are much more common in Faerun than our world), are suitable for fighting in the Dragonreach and the Moonsea...and can move between both with ease. Hells! Even a rowboat with a wizard holding a wand of fireballs could smoke several enemy ships! Strong application of the proper muscle (magical and espionage with heavy financial bribery) could even bring Calaunt into the fold of Mulmaster very easily with so little pressure on Mulmaster at this time.
Hillsfar is in flux, Zhentil Keep highly distracted (not to mention that the Highblade is a member of the Zhentarim now!) and the north coast cities of the Moonsea seeking survival means that Mulmaster could easily exert a strong influence to the south with little effort.
I agree that a land action would be best for them; but a mobile naval force for supply and contingency would be ideal.
All this about Mulmaster alone operating in the Dragonreach and Moonsea. Moving farther afield they would have to adjust; but exerting power over The Vast and exacting tribute from the likes of Harrowdale (to thus completely control Moonsea traffic in trade) is easily within their ability.
Gotta go for now...but I'll talk more later. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2008 : 11:29:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
I would have to disagree about the fact that Longships would not offer substantial problems for larger warships...because the warships of the Realms, while being called a Galleon or Caravel...well, isn't one of these cannon carrying ships that our world is used to.
"Wall" tactices used in the Fjords of Scandinavia would work well against sail driven ships that might become becalmed...or at least have decreased ability to move about when they have no oars. Not only that, but Longships would be perfect for moving between the Moonsea and the Sea of Fallen Stars. I believe, unless I'm wrong, that most Moonsea Warships are a modified form of Longship...albeit larger, they have a shallow draft, full banks of oars AND sails.
Well, my contention isn't that it's impossible to get any ships down the River Lis or that a 'longship' could never fight against a sailing ship. Rather, it has more to do with the fact that the qualities that a longship has to have in order to make it possible to float it down the Lis are incompatible with the qualities it needs to fight a dedicated war ship.
I'll explain better below, but even though cannons aren't used, a galleon (or, for that matter, what the Realms calls a war caravel) is still a formiddable vessel. It is literally constructed in such a way to offer similar advantages for defenders resisting a boarding action as a castle offers on land. It can carry a lot of primative artillery, ballistae and catapults, which can wreak havoc on light ships like those that could navigate the Lis. And in a world of magic, the fact that it takes much more magical firepower to sink than a longship is a point strongly in its favour.
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
Coupled with magic in the form of Mulmaster's Cloaks, they could have a very formidable fleet of ships that cost much less to construct, capable of carrying just as many troops (as boarding actions are much more common in Faerun than our world), are suitable for fighting in the Dragonreach and the Moonsea...and can move between both with ease. Hells! Even a rowboat with a wizard holding a wand of fireballs could smoke several enemy ships!
Wizards fight for both sides. It's a given that any magical might that Mulmaster could bring to a naval battle could be equalled or exceeded by any hypothetical enemy in the region (Sembia or an allegiance of the Vast cities). As such, it's likely that whatever vessels Mulmaster would field would find themselves under fire from mages and would be less resistant to such sallies than the larger and hardier caravels or galleons.
If I was a Mulmaster wizard, I'd not want to duel with my opposite number from Sembia while he had support from archers in the forecastle, a comfortable covered position and a stable platform to cast spells from and I was forced to stand on an open deck in a smaller and less sturdy vessel. I'd far rather fight from dry land, since that way I wouldn't have to worry about the enemy just blasting the ship I was standing on to avoid having to penetrate my personal defences.
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
Strong application of the proper muscle (magical and espionage with heavy financial bribery) could even bring Calaunt into the fold of Mulmaster very easily with so little pressure on Mulmaster at this time.
Hillsfar is in flux, Zhentil Keep highly distracted (not to mention that the Highblade is a member of the Zhentarim now!) and the north coast cities of the Moonsea seeking survival means that Mulmaster could easily exert a strong influence to the south with little effort.
Absolutely. In my campain, Mulmaster has already started to make overtures to Calaunt and reached at least a cautious accord with the ruling Dukes. That Mulmaster has no intention of remaining an equal partner and eventually plans to rule there directly is unknown to the majority of the Dukes, of course, but Duke Iritar should be capable of finding out.
Ylraphon, of course, is in such a strategic position that the destruction of the town in early 1373 DR is a Bane-sent opportunity for Mulmaster. If they can legally take possession of it, Calaunt will be bound to eventually fall under their sway, unless, of course, the Dukes were prepared to go to war to retain their independence. In that case, Mulmaster's veteran army should make short work of Calaunt's ill-regarded Teeth, especially with the aid of the Zhentarim.
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
I agree that a land action would be best for them; but a mobile naval force for supply and contingency would be ideal.
If possible.
I do not, however, see the River Lis offering the possibility of floating a full-sized dragonship down it. As far as I know, cargo has to be transported down it on barges that draw only a foot or so and are short enough to navigate a winding river. A Moonsea dragonship is probably over a 100' long and draws at least 4'.
It would be possible to construct a small fleet of specialised vessels, maybe about a 50' long and shallow-drafted, and light enough to be carried around those places on the river where it's length caused problems. These would be similar to the snekkjas used in William the Conqueror's invasion of Britain.
But I submit that such ships make major sacrifices in hull strength, seaworthiness and crew safety in order to achieve this lightness and shallow draft. Against a tall ship, with a heavy and strong hull and castles on deck (such as a war galleon or even a war caravel), it would be extremely difficult to operate. Boarding is problematic when one side has the higher ground to such an extent and a magical attack that might only cause superficial damage to a thick-hulled sailing ship might well sink a light longship. Not to mention that archers in the caravel or galleon would be firing from well protected positions, while the longship's own crew is all but unshielded.
For all that, it might be prudent to build such a force, given that their uses off the battlefield are many. A dozen small longships that can be moved between the Moonsea and Dragon Reach gives the navy of Mulmaster strategic depth and allows it to quickly place ships at the disposal of Ylraphon after they take over that town. The ability to trade with Harrowdale and Sembia on their own terms and with their own ships (at least until hostilities commence) is an important consideration. The fact that the ships are also usable in the Moonsea trade and for the protection of Mulmaster's harbour makes them an attractive investment. But, it must be said, an investment that the city had not made at the time that Mysteries of the Moonsea was written, so it will take some time to build the fleet.
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
All this about Mulmaster alone operating in the Dragonreach and Moonsea. Moving farther afield they would have to adjust; but exerting power over The Vast and exacting tribute from the likes of Harrowdale (to thus completely control Moonsea traffic in trade) is easily within their ability.
Military action against Harrowdale would nearly certainly result in the Dales declaring war and Sembia supporting them. I agree that it's desirable for the Moonsea powers to control this strategic point, but I see no way of doing it without providing a clear casus belli.
Current Zhent doctrine, for example, is to move towards domination of Scardale with peaceful means while working against Harrowdale using covert means, economic warfare and perhaps (at a later date) humanoids hired at arms-length. If Harrowdale harbour fell into disrepair or became too dangerous to use, Scardale would become much more important.
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
Gotta go for now...but I'll talk more later.
I look forward to it. |
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Edited by - Icelander on 05 Nov 2008 11:30:15 |
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Geopolitics in the 1370s Inner Sea
