Good Morning. My name is Ranera Waterbane, Orator and political advisor to Lacertilia. I'm here to talk about the political climate of the world and the relative power of each of its many states. I would ask you all to hold questions until the end.
Starting with some ground rules that I will be following. To deal with the large number of city-states currently around the world, I will be linking them into groups of similar location and political status. I will however be sure to mention exceptions in each group. I will not include the several political entities outside the nation model, like the Dragons and Inquisition and that would require a more in-depth look.
I will also be categorizing nations into the following based on economic, military, and political influence
Minor powers are those that only hold sway over their only their own domain
Major powers are those whose influence extends over not only theirs but their naibours as well.
Regional powers are the nations that hold sway over an entire region, with no competitor from within that region
Great powers are those nations that hold influence in several factors over the whole of Undinia
While there is the superpower category, I do not believe that any current nation or faction is worthy of that title.
Starting with the local area, The city-states of Silent lake. Now I will be Glimmerbay, Wraithguard, and Treskiri Sulta in this category but neither the Elvan city of Arrn Revar nor the settlement of
Vakava. These are important trade hubs and centers of commerce where many of the West's nobles do reside. This immediately puts them high on the political and economic influence, however, the fractured nature and the fact the nobles are normally native to the city means they can only be justified as major powers right now. As mentioned there are exceptions,
Drake Vil itself is considered the world's center for knowledge and learning, while
Queen Eva has been taking a more involved role with
The White City, Both these I'd consider Regional boarding on great powers. In contrast, the last hundred years have seen a steady decline in
Crowharrow to the point of near non-existence, Caveposts small size, as well as Glimmerbay's and Wraithguard's isolation, means I'd class all as minor powers.
Vakava is an interesting one as traditionally it's not even counted as a nation, however, over the last hundred years, strange creatures have been moving out from it. While it's unclear what's happening and the lack of contact means I'd still classify it as a minor power, however, this is an area to keep an eye on.
As I've already mentioned an Elvan city, it's only fair I bring talk about Arrn Revar, Guenhyvar Revar, Dul Ath Tel'nodel,
Q'thurlas,
Harl Shuk, and Arcanum. As old and powerful as
Elves are I can't classify these as anything more than Minor powers if that. Half of them are only rumored on where they are, Arrn Ravar is inaccessible to most and likes it that way while Harl Shuk only pays lip service to the outside world. I also can't see this changing anytime soon. The Dryads are similar in the fact they keep to themselves, though are more welcoming to outsiders.
Moving West to the Deep realms of the Dwarves and Goblins, prior to the fey age these were powerful kingdoms that exerted power on all sides, however, since the magical overflow, they have become increasingly isolationist, with several holds going completely silent to the outside. While all still seem to answer to the Underking, the decrease in outside influence puts them as a Minor power, though if they decide to reverse course I can easily see them reclaiming their place as a regional power.
Now let's move onto a truly freighting rise, The federation of Akoom of the Blessed planes are the splinter kingdoms from the old empire's response to Frostmourn, and yes those of you who study history have seen this before. For the past fifty years, they've been trying to funnel economic power into the area while flexing as much military might as they can, and as the paladins are part of it, you can imagine the mass might. For the first time in over an age, Akoom banners are starting to rise in long-lost outposts. Make no mistake, this is a true great power forming under its council of kings.
Moving north I'm going to combine the Freeholds, Slaan-shi, and Borderlands together due to the lack of any form of political structure among them. Each settlement is independent and each family within really only answers to that household, though of course mayors wield some power. You might think this makes them a minor power and you would be right, but never underestimate the area that provides forty percent of your food.
The Bronze coast is an interesting one. On the service it's a non-entity in terms of politics, this however hides the ugly truth, trade ships and sailors must contend with this coast anytime they enter the Gem sea, and offerings and deals are frequently made as a result. The Sirens and merfolk of the bronze coast know exactly what they're doing and so I'd actually classify this as a major power, Especially seeing as its influence has gone into Slaan-shi.
The Empire of the cursed as it's calling itself is an undead horde centered around a revenant paladin. Based out of
Vragh Arpad, they seem to want to cover the land in death, politically they have no power and seem to want non, but militarily.... This has the makings of a great threat if not power and is an example of some great powers staying as minor powers for a few hundred years only to become one of the dominant powers in a few decades, as we've seen with the federation of Akoom.
The Forsaken and New Draconic kingdoms in the far north hold sway over the majority of frost mourn and even had the more southern kingdoms pay homage to them, the past few decades have seen them conquer those close by, almost in response to the empire of the cursed. I'd put both as Major powers, however, that's only because the other exists, as these both have the potential of becoming regional powers.
The Gem Sea city-states, Similar to the Silent lake ones hold massive sway over world trade, but that sway is used to a much greater extent. Treaties, agreements, and pacts are commonplace and it's more common for four to six interested parties to be at a table rather than two. These entities not only hold sway over major powers but regional powers as well. As a collective, I'd put them as a great power even verging superpower however the majority would only be a major power. The big exceptions are Lacertilia and Tauil Raza Nooach, both with powerful navies and economic power. These two I'd classify as a great power and regional power respectively.
The largest political entity in Unidina is the kingdom of Rivell. This is a misleading fact, however, as yes land size put Rivell as the biggest, it is more content on doing nothing to influence the world stage making it just a regional power. Though I will point out this was the rival superpower to the Empire of Akoom in the blood age, and not much has changed in its various institutions since. This is a sleeping giant and though I'm hard pushed to even call it a regional power right now, it won't take a lot for it to become the biggest power in Undinia.
And finally, I come to the Shifter clans, and I see we even have one listening. This group though normally a minor power, When they come south in force, they are anything from a major to a superpower.
Any questions?
Well-dressed looking Elf: Yes you just said Shifter could be a superpower. Find that hard to believe seeing as they're a bunch of backward barbarians?
Ranera: Yes, they are normally unorganized and you only have to really deal with a tribe if it was physically in front of you, however, history has taught us this is another sleeping giant, even more so than Rivell. The Shifters are one hundred percent military when at war, and a council has been called, the Sepa tribe has left their permanent home and moved north. We might get lucky and they may stay a minor power, But if war is declared, No one, not even their own people will know how many Shifters would be marching south.
László: Excuse me! I understand your point about the Paladins of Akoom gaining power, over the past years, however don't you think it's warranted? Since the shadowfell partly merged with our realm and undead started pouring from the north, the paladins have been the major force holding them back and protecting the rest of the realms. And some old outposts may be getting populated again, but not for long, even here in Drake Vil barely anyone is left, since everyone is being moved north to aid the war effort against the undead. Shouldn't other powers be involved in this conflict more? If the Paladins win by some chance, as the only ones there, they will only gain more influence over the borderlands, on the other hand if they lose, the undead will flood over the land, spread out and wreak havoc everywhere.
Ranera: While you are correct on your warranted point, you are incorrect on the main force point. Both draconic kingdoms in the north Forstmourn are heavily engaged on their borders and Skyhold is matching the Paladin's equipment. While I'm no military strategist, I feel these are the only reason the borderlands and paladins haven't already fallen. As for old outposts getting populated, it's not just old but new ones popping up to recruit for the cause, yes this probably will lead to increased influence again in the borderlands, the worrying bit is a repeat of history, with your orders track record can you confidently say once this battle is over that new army won't turn round and march in a new crusade?
Darr: It wouldn't be the first time I've observed a paladin imposing their way as the only way.
László: Yes we have failed in our past, however the order has been reformed since, there won't be a second Imp, for as soon as someone would start down on that road, the paladins themselves would stop them. And yes we are holding out for now, however our enemy has endless reserves at its back, the paladins will hold until the last man standing, but the worlds great powers should react before that comes to pass.
Ranera: that I agree. But do you intend on waking the giants. Any other Questions?
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