Sacred Obia'Syela

[JeVondair]

The mainland's wars offer no real threat to us. I am thinking ahead to the next daimonic invasion. There's a reason we have so much room to expand. Far better, then, to be prepared.


Besides, I have seen too often how isolated realms die a slow death. far better, to my mind, to literally make some new friends.

[Gabanus family]

Isolist realms often die a swift death because they do nothing and thus grow boring to the characters there who then move away. I would not propose to not interfere with 'mainland' matters, in stead I would actively interfere. Making a bunch of 'friends'  in the south won't create any additional value unless they end up fighting each other, for in the end you simply split up your nobility, but add no true opportunities as you'll still have no wars and dynamics etc.

In stead I'd suggest to continue with the faith, leave regions like Irombro rogue, but maybe add one colony between Obia'Syela and the Shattered Valed and in turns you can choose to raid AA etc, you can move in to attack Nothoi, or simply protect your allies.

Due to it's position I don't see Obia'Syela being a standard realm in terms of what you can do with war, but the reason it's so unique is because of the culture and the RP. Focus more on that, keep the realm alive, adding 3 micro realms in the south won't help that much I think, especially not if they're friends.

[D`Este]

If we split up the core of nobles that we have in Obia to create new realms I fear that it all will just be a bit meh. Rather keep us where we are with a good core of players and just deploy armies rather than realms abroad.

[CryptCypher]

Or, do all of that while trying something truly revolutionary: don't make a standard micro-realm. Make a specialist realm that serves as the long-arm of Obeah. (somewhere down the road, or now, or whenever. More variety!) As long as we have the faith and the guilds (inquisitors, etc), we can all communicate as if we were in the same realm. Except, a micro-realm does have certain benefits not afforded to a large realm with high density and many mouths to feed. Namely, the ability to engage in extra-diplomatic activities, rummage around places they shouldn't usually be without immediately compromising the theocratic realm as a whole, housing assassins and spies in a place that can shield them from wary eyes and perhaps even recruit them... So on and so forth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition Los profetas oscuros no ha esperado el tribunal del santo oficio de la inquisicion! Muerte a los hereticos y agentes diabolicos de caos!

Those from Might&Fealty may recognize some of these:

• Inquisitorial Expeditionary Legion. (diplomatically-immune: houses inquisitors, rebel-rousers, assassins, spies.)
• Merchant "Republic": In order to quell the corruption/inefficiency of large realms which curb profit and tax, a micro-realm dedicated to funding the theocracy, or at least its "extra-curricular activities", can be a boon to Obeah as  whole. Greed is good when its for a sacred cause...
• The *Ordos Maleficus* (Order of Magi) "is the arcane branch of the Black Order: led by the *Aruspex-Imperatori*. (Prophet-Commander) Oversees the rituals, wards, and enchantments required by the Order's campaign against evil. Among its ranks are the alchemists, enchanters, sorcerers, healers, and seers of the Black Order." (effectively, a priest-realm. Ex: Vatican. Stick it smack-dab in the center of Obeah territory in a super-fortress for bonus-points!
• Knight's Templar - militant holy order that fights in foreign wars on behalf of Obeah's interests. A convenient standing army, separate from the primary nation, put/hired on loan, which can seed foreign lands with Obeah's light during their travels. (try not(?) to echo the dissolution of the Templars after Pope Clement V and King Phillip IV screwed De Molay, before inquisitors tortured the templars into confessing quasi-satanic behavior.)
• Cenobium (Cenobitic monasticism) communal order of monks who do not command units, but whose focused efforts create art, scripture, and other mindful works which prove integral to the continued existence and progress of faith triumphant.
   
• Cultist Stronghold (for fun!): the seat of some offshoot community based on Obeah's orthodoxy, albeit split by the rise of an "anti-Pope-like" figure.
   As long as it suits the purposes of Obeah and helps expand the theocracy's influence, these supposed heretics are tolerated. If they should stray too far from the path, however... (great way for some major plausible deniability, btw. "Hey, they're not orthodox! We're not responsible for their actions. Whoa, hey, hold on. War? These people follow Obeah, though their concepts differ. Nice exposed capital you've got there. Would be a shame if..."

[Gabanus family]

What would be the advantage of doing this in small realms rather than have subdivisions in one or 2 realms?

The only true advantage I can see is holding more regions total and have a bit more gold? Tbh, to me that would be very poor reasons to focus south rather than north

[CryptCypher]

Never said anything about focusing north, btw, nor doing any of this right now. Simply put, because we all know how swiftly a minority gets thrown under the bus. Thinking in the long-term... Come the next invasion or two, if Obia'Syela "wins", we'll become a super-blob of theocratic stability (and thus boring). Providing opportunities for disgrunted Obia'Syelani to have their own brand of fun, rather than move to other realms or continents, may help us along the way. Cause we all know not everyone has as much fun as they first think, or once did. Retention is a big problem as soon as we're not a fancy new concept being fleshed out, and there will always be players who like kicking the hornet's nest, so to speak. Hell, whenever we get some "undesireables" (its bound to happen) just start a prison colony buffer zone for all it matters. We all know how that went for the British in Australia Small realms grow into large realms when opportunity allows.

All I'm saying is, I want to see this realm's concept and culture still boom in 2020 and beyond. With all our eggs in one basket we may have more bodies to throw around, but somewhere down the road it'd be wise to consider "giving birth" to a few break-off concept realms to seed the world beyond our borders, and keep the spirit alive in refreshingly new ways.

[Gabanus family]

I want it to bloom also or I wouldn't put this amount of effort into it, but I disagree that more small realms in the south bring more fun. In stead Obia'Syela in my mind should seed maybe one and focus her attention on the north in the future. As to undesirables, we're filled with them, that's part of what makes it fun. We will have multiole factioms, but that doesn't necessarily have to be divided up in realms to make it possible as the realm allows just about anything.

[D`Este]

Problem with creating new realms is that they tend to take the more actives leaving only the established/rather inactive nobles behind. Rather make other realms your puppet instead of creating colonies, than the original player base in a realm can stay and further conflict is ensured.

[CryptCypher]

Precisely as D'este stated, a single puppet realm would be nice. Definitely not seeding colonies this way and that. Lets leave that for when priests convert enough members of a foreign realm that we consume it from within.

[JeVondair]

I feel like nobody read the treaty 


I thought about what might happen if Rania got her way and the south were fully colonized and unified. Even realms of the same faith and origin develope problems. So I wrote the following...

The Trifecta: Article VII States...
Total War between Signatory States shall be absolutely forbidden. In the case of irreconcilable differences, Belligerent States must submit a credible Cassus Belli (to be judged by Trifecta and/or Herald Leadership), and specific goals. In the event of a Declaration of War between Signatory States, it is generally understood that said War will only have a period of 3 months, or 90 days, to be resolved at the risk of directed intervention from signatory members at the direction of Trifecta Leadership towards the purpose of ending said war in the swiftest possible manner.

[Gabanus family]

I did read it, and I still wrote the above (read it carefully  )

[JeVondair]

I did read it, and I still wrote the above (read it carefully  )

At least someone did, i worked hard on that alphabet soup 

[CryptCypher]

Hmm. Do you think maybe that bit is *why* some refused, OOC-wise at least? Treaties banning war just end up with a bunch of bored realms doing nothing, unfortunately. Not that I mind, but some players live for the PvP aspect.

[D`Este]

Yea, as a player I am not in favor of that kind of treaties as well, war should be allowed as long as it doesnt lead to the destruction of realms (well normally).

[Renodin]

You guys still need an additional thug?