BECMI Chapter 345 – Political Wizardry
Fuireze and Iendyl were at odds with one another, neither had any real respect for Erendyl elves, and so the end result was that the mounted soldiers of Zanzyr sent by the Princes of those realms never got anywhere in a timely manner. They basically just rode around the lands around Camp Kristneth attacking random targets who stumbled across them, and never arrived anywhere important in time to actually endanger themselves against something serious, and so benefit their rivals.
On the other hand, those who did actually obey orders and follow their commander on his constant raids and skirmishes with the nifloid tribes in the mountains and hills all about were rapidly becoming some of the most battle-hardened troops in Zanzyr.
Kwendar had also spent time in Darkmoor, working on his Halcyon magic, and was as skilled at Healing as any of the clerics forbidden to set foot in Zanzyr. A commanding officer with Healing magic of arcane bent was unheard of in Zanzyr, and his ability to restore his soldiers to full health with speed and alacrity was very, very appreciated by them. His Banner commanders were green with envy over this power of elven magic, and the fact he was a skilled Cryptomancer, rising in power with amazing speed (as helps when you spend a decade or four in Darkmoor studying magic and engaging in combat with giants and such) didn’t help matters with how quickly he could whip up fortifications, change the terrain for ambushers… and Charm all manner of creatures they stumbled across in the course of their patrols.
They were human Wizards. They were supposed to be better at magic than elves were!
The Grand Marshal/Chief Jackboot of Zanzyr across from me was regarding me coolly. “I presume your business in the North is keeping you busy, and you are not engaging in stirring up trouble like Erendyl is, but you must know ov her ambitions?” he asked me stiffly, not having much subtlety about him.
He had a wary tone to him, as well he should. Brittabelle had undertaken a meteoric rise in power and combat ability, and had a hard and cold edge to her now that she’d not possessed before, an aura that said she’d bathed in blood and come out the far side. Any decent soldier or fighter could tell it was the mark of a hardened warrior, something very different from the gentle, conflict-shunning woman she’d been before.
“Gossip? From me? If you want me to clarify the positions she’s made very clear in Parliament, just ask, Your Highness,” I said coolly. “I am aware that politics in Zanzyr are half-illusion, half-misdirection, and half-deception, but if you wish to verify that she has been truthful in what she has said, I can certainly do that for you.”
He pursed his lips. “So… this is not a war ov conquest on behalv of Erendyl?” he asked, disbelieving, as if he thought she was trying to steal his martial glory.
“Not on her part, no. Elves have no desire to live in the Bleaklands, and she will not divide her people trying to hold the ground. She is establishing a friendly buffer state of dwarves who are able to Cast magic, giving them support as they found a dominion there. Given the mineral wealth they bring out and the production of the farms in Erendyl, this is a wholly mutually beneficial arrangement, and the fact both of them despise nifloids heartily only makes it better.”
“Nifloids?” he repeated critically. “Where does that word spring vrom? I’fe heard some mercenaries who saw Bleaklands action use it, and some ov the Rangers she trains do as well.”
“Ah, you don’t know. The Immortal Nifl is the one who created the first beastmen, who evolved over thousands of years into kobolds, goblins, orcs, ogres, and trolls.” He blinked at me in surprise. “Yes, that is why they can interbreed. They really do all come from the same roots.”
“You are… certain ov this?” he challenged me warily.
“Absolutely not.”
He coughed and held his kerchief to his nose again, bending forward again to do so. “That is quite annoying. Enlightening, but annoying.” He dabbed his nose again. “Can such a status be used against you?” he dared to ask.
“Oh, I presume it can, Your Highness. It does not force me to respond with the truth, however, and you cannot make me do so.” He was prepared to flinch in response to that, but nothing happened.
“Fery well. In light ov Zanzyr’s well-known political chaos, what are Princess Erewan’s positions on the ambitions of the noble Houses?” he sallied again.
I inclined my head slightly. “You are aware of all of them, and want them laid out neatly and evenly? One must remember that such things are organic, and change constantly. One must also give quid pro quo for such enlightenment.
“State Grafburg’s position on a noble House, and I will respond with Erendyl’s. Do not fret, I will know if you are lying to me.”
He inhaled slowly, pondering how to use this. “My… position on Erendyl has changed in recent years. Before, I considered the Sidhe elves too pacivistic and unwilling to risk their lifes vor the greater glory of Zanzyr, thus their reluctance to back aggression against our country’s enemies.” He paused for emphasis. “It is now var more obvious that they are willing to vollow their Princess and vight her voes, if not those ov all Zanzyr, and that they are… almost painfully good at it,” he added as a compliment. Painful, because obviously those weren’t the elves assigned to the Banners she led for Zanzyr, and thus would fall under his command!
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I nodded slightly. “The Princess considers Grafburg arrogant in determining whoever is the great enemy of Zanzyr of the day, when the true enemies of Zanzyr have been surrounding it for centuries. She has little time or patience for someone stirring up foes when Zanzyr has quite enough of them, thank you, and has directed her actions towards those enemies, something Grafburg has been extremely lax in addressing. That she doesn’t back its Prince’s ambitions to fight his chosen enemy is natural since he is not facing down the natural enemies of the elves… and the rest of the country’s foes, let alone dealing with Zanzyr’s internal problems.”
He flushed at the blunt assessment of his House and ambitions. He opened his mouth to refute what I had said, but closed it.
There were no Grafburg troops helping defend Erendyl, or aiding in pressing the attack on the Bleakland orcs and goblins. Why would she support fighting the enemies he had picked, when he wasn’t doing anything for the enemies she had picked?
“She is expanding the reach ov her House, seizing Highwall and making noises about annexing Kristneth, while expanding into the vree territories about Erendyl,” he judged. That was all the gossip in Parliament, of course, and some of it was actually true.
I flicked my fingers. “Argencal is zealously devoted to stopping such expansion, of course, and is spending a rather remarkable amount of gold in those territories buying their support. It might interest you to know that Belle has been telling those farmers and hunters to soak him for all the gold he is willing to spend on them, and when Prince Danealu gets tired of doing so, the elves will be there to help them give better lives for their children.
“In reality, Belle could send out a dozen Rangers, and likely have a dozen new Barons enfeoffed within six months. Merely the chance for human children to be given the ability to use elven magic is something no amount of gold from Colorajo or Argencal can buy.”
Prince Jaggenfel actually winced. The ability to just create more human spellcasters who could use the superior Elven magic was indeed something no other Principality could offer, and Belle’s support of those Rangers had been unstinting, their progress truly impressive. To say the other Princes were green with envy over this matter was not far wrong.
They actually could duplicate this matter by using Wishes to transform humans into elves, but the only human Caster in Zanzyr able to use Wishes was the Grandmaster of the School of Magic, and Prince Jean-Arc refrained from almost all use of such things.
Prince Drakkar decided to test other waters. “House Colorajo is more martially-minded and willing to contribute to Zanzyr’s devenses than most elfes, and more energetic in administration and the running ov the country. They make enthusiastic allies in times ov war.”
I just nodded along with him, disconcerting him. “The elves of House Colorajo have proven astonishingly adept at insinuating themselves into human politics, and making themselves seem more important than they are. They hunt after secrets, they ape the local human nobility in suppressing their human subjects, and they do not share their magic easily with those around them. Their martial fervor on a personal level is respectable, but a distraction meant to stop others from speaking ill or insightfully of their machinations. They are masters at choosing easy fights to win, dithering around on ones they cannot, and riding in to seize victory at opportune moments while others die instead of them. Their position atop the main trade road to Darokin has given them free wealth for decades, but now that wealth is drying up, as they haven’t the will to do much labor to improve the trade-way.
“Their willingness to duel is a fine distraction from their willingness to actually fight. The Colorajo fight their battles with charm and flair and wit and short tempers, have others do battle and die for them, and generally have done little to actually further the prestige of Zanzyr.
“They certainly contribute well to the state of Zanzyr’s chaotic political management with the way they manage to fan the flames of strife between different factions so readily with their whisper and gossip campaigns, thus keeping their own influence high.
“The Sidhe elves need only look at the actual state of the Colorajo holdings to see how they care for their people and what their true hearts are.”
The Colorajo had also once been the controlling noble House of all elves in Zanzyr, until the Sidhe got fed up with their antics and posturing and split off to form Erendyl. The Colorajo had never forgiven that blow to their power and influence, and the hostility was still there to this day. Now they couldn’t order the Sidhe elves about to do the things they didn’t want to do anymore, including fight and die for them!
Prince Jaggenfel was naturally aware of this history, but the elven viewpoint on the southern elves was not something he’d long dwelled on. The Sidhe naturally had their own biases…
“Interesting.” He considered that view, doubtless running over past mutual military actions in his head, and finding that my words had a disturbing amount of relevance to them. Yes, the Colorajo were enthusiastic and effective in battle, and yes, others seemed to die so they could win the day...
Martial effectiveness, and more than a little cunning timing? It made great sense!
“The Frier are bellicose and constant racists and supremacists who do not realize their time ov power has passed. However, they loathe the Khan and Tukhmen, and so are willing supporters ov ovvensive actions against them. Their mouths are loud and verfent, but they know better than to make actions vit their words in Zanzyr, and their racism is a vrequent excuse vor withdrawing from prior agreements,” he declared somewhat pompously.
“The Frier are a people living in fear.” Prince Jaggenfel blinked at that statement from me. “They fled the destruction of their homeworld, and fear the Immortal who caused it, and the other Immortals who enforced their flight as punishment for the deeds of their ancestors. They fear being found out that their mastery of Fire Magic is not their own, but was passed down to them by an elven pyromancer.” His eyes nearly popped in disbelief. “They fear the prior elven inhabitants will return to this magical land and eject them, removing the power of Fire from them they are addicted to. They fear the energy and power of the native human populations will continue to rise and overtake them, destroying their culture and beliefs.”