Mansion Lowblom 2 - To The South

The journey to mansion Lowblom was a long one. Falbrein’s lands were plastered with dense forests and while most main roads these days had been repaired and were well patrolled they weren’t exactly going straight to the south-western border. Not much was down there, people who travelled Falbrein were normally heading north, to the richer parts of the nation or the Holy Lands at the centre of the continent and from there to the other countries located on Atlarcton.

That had been different in the past of course. Before the war, when Duskath had been flourishing, their main trade hub with Falbrein had laid in a port on the southern border. The city has been there for the sole purpose of trade with Duskath and had been planned as such. The city couldn’t have been build on the eastern border, as a vast and hardly passable mountain range isolated Falbrein from the ocean, if the city had been located in the north it would have been closer to Arcans (which still had been governed by the royal Gaeler family then) which would have allowed for more trade but it would also be very close to the Holy Lands. Having Duskathians and worshippers of Alxer so close together would have resulted in constant trouble.

The city didn’t matter much today anymore. With the loss in the great war and the resulting extermination of Duskath the port city had become completely useless. There had been no efforts to repopulate it, it had been the first target of Sandhaun’s advance, or rebuild the roads as Tolfin had concentrated his efforts in strengthening ties with Kindwald and the Holy Lands instead. The city had a short time relevancy during the end of the war when the allied fleet was stationed there before the final weeklong battle that ended the war but afterwards the keeping of a war fleet was deemed to expensive. Nowadays only a few fishers lived in the gradually decaying city.

However, the influence the cities existence had had on the region was enormous. The south of Falbrein had changed drastically under the constant availability of the magical crystals that were the fuel of the 'godless' technology. The north had merely integrated the new technologies into their existing infrastructure while the south had built theirs around them. This resulted in them (Especially the provinces directly surrounding the port) being the richest part of Falbrein before the war but also the one that crashed the hardest when they lost and had to let go of these technologies.

Tolfin, always a clever regent, noticed very quickly that the most disloyal nobles were located in the south and thusly started a program that encouraged people from the south to resettle in the north while simultaneously withholding the funds for road security, rebuilding purposes and other matters from the nobles. This way he chipped away at the nobles power while also gaining the trust and loyalty from the people. The strategy was largely successful. The south, unable to revolt with their limited resources and manpower, could not threaten Tolfin’s rule. Meanwhile the people that went north helped out not only the villages they migrated to but also started integrating in the more conversative narrative. It had been a **** and highly effective measure at the time.

“But now it might come back to bit him.” Lacos concluded his explanations to Reiline as they sat at the front of the carriage, watching the horses. The maid was holding the reigns and pondering over the dump of information she had just gotten. “So, you are telling me that the money I received to go to the capital and ultimately work for the princess was handed out by Tolfin to keep the country running?” She asked. “In a twist of events, yes, but that is not what I meant.” Lacos mused and let his lizard feet dangle from the side as he watched the oak trees pass by. Back at the academy he had spent most of his days under pine-trees. The thought made him nostalgic.

“What did you mean then?” Reiline asked another question and glanced at the Drakonoids back. “If all the loyal, **** or uncaring people moved away who is left?” Lacos threw a counter-question at her. Tlaxacala didn’t approve of knowledge just handed out and he preferred it to have Reiline find the answers herself. She had decided to come with them on this journey so she would have to develop some understanding of politics at least.

“The rebellious, I guess?” Reiline pondered. “Exactly. Now, combine that with a strong yearning for the past and the reason Sarine decided to come here first.” Lacos urged his brunette girlfriend further. He could practically hear her mind working. “So, you are telling me that this is fertile ground for a rebellion?”

“A right conclusion, but a tad further then what we are searching for.” Lacos laughed, his tail flopping on their wooden seating. “It is the right ground for a power base.” He finally explained. “There are several things in this region that make it perfect for Sarine’s rise to power. First is that going directly here is showing everyone that she is not under Tolfin’s influence. Second, she doesn’t have fight against people that are for him while here. Third she can gather a lot of support all over the country if she can pull the south from its current state.” He finally explained. Tlaxacala wouldn’t approve but he was sure that his god would forgive him for not wanting to annoy Reiline further.

“Why is that?” She asked anyway. “Is what?” “Why would pulling the south back up result in support all over the country?” She specified upon his request. “All those people from the south that migrated to other parts of the county will be pretty happy to hear that their families back home are doing fine. They will also no longer need to send money home resulting in boosts to a lot of local economies. Many people will eventually migrate back when they hear that the south is doing well and take with them wives, husbands and kids. These people will see that these technologies will make their lives much easier and cast aside the conservative views Tolfin represents.”

“And then all of my uncle’s plans to keep the south down will have completely reversed.” Sarine suddenly interjected. Her head peeked out from an opening in the carriage that could be opened or sealed depending the driver was supposed to listen. She took a breath of the fresh air and yawned, having slept for the past hours to be well rested upon their arrival. “The south will have resources and manpower all of which in the hands of local lords that deeply despise him and hopefully then turn to be loyal towards me.” “Hopefully?” Reiline voiced another question. “Well, it could also happen that they start to entertain thoughts of an autonomous region or even a state with their newfound powers. The south has been alienated by the court ever since Tolfin took over.” She looked saddened by the prospect and mumbled. “Maybe they no longer think of themselves as citizens of Falbrein.”

The mansion Lowblom showed itself on a distant hill. Their destination and the answer to the question the young Queen asked herself lied there.