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The Drow were divided into nine states. Forty two hundred years ago there was sixteen of them, but that number had been reduced by four in the War of Four Centuries and with further three falling afterwards. Of these, eight were coastal, but all of them were well dug in and were (leaving aside recently conquered territories) defended with measures so fearsome that few dared attack them, and given their ideology and the policies of the high elves they had no shortage of enemies. But despite their supremacist beliefs, they were (especially in the more recent centuries) more willing to trade and make deals with the outside and were definitely willing to jockey for position among themselves at the level of individuals, families and states. Small scale wars were part of this, as were assassinations, though economic success and military success against non dark elves could get the same results. In the last 213 years, six Drow states had been engaging in a new long term plan to increase their power and gain an upper hand over their enemies. One long thought inviable that had been started by a merchant captain of a middling ranking mercantile family undertaking a considerable risk to avoid a particularly nasty campaign of assassinations against her kin.

When Infrastructure happened, it disrupted this plan. It cut the Dark Elves off from an easy source of labor in the Coldlands, as well as a cheap source of valuable furs, precious minerals and low cost ships. The last being item among some of the lower ranking families seeking to improve their financial and social status. Many merchants had helped the Black Ports procure firearms and gunsmiths in hopes of creating an army able to fend off the Infrastructural forces and to expand their power and thus gain more slaves. A response had been made, but it had been uncoordinated and there had been complications and comparatively small in size.

In the palace at the heart of one of the more northerly Dark Elf kingdoms, Lady General Talnara ti'Valcas of Valnothron oversaw a table. Above which hovered an map of glowing lights. Here she stared at the figures. Her agents updated this as well as they could using a set of specially made wands to the current situation. At the moment she was concerned with two things, one involving the endeavors of High Elves, to which there was no foe more persistent and of rivals of her own kind. It was also something to do while she waited for one of her more trusted assistance. Two slaves stood in the background in case she needed anything, but they were selected for their devotion and loyalty. Kaelin ti'Valneth entered quietly for this meeting. One of the most important things that members of the upper houses learned was to keep an eye on the affairs of those beneath them who would be happy to take their place if they had the ability to do so.

"What have you to report my eyes and ears?"

"Milady, there is a matter of finance that should be discussed."

"What particularly?"

"A few of the merchant families are not doing all that well. The price of marine transportation has gone up with high elven attacks. We have had enough trouble managing to set up convoy with our losses."

"I am well aware of that."

"But this has a fair number of consequences, milady. The one is that is relevant here was that it into their profit margins. Many of them have been plotting to push back some of their long term plans, including plans involving the Far West. Some of your rivals have been a bit more fortunate."

Talnara respected those who had advantages that she lagged in, while she was well versed in the fine points of using steel to get to an end, she graciously deferred to the more experienced in the application of gold and silver. Never the less she got the picture. "And so our efforts get overshadowed."

"Correct. May I offer some advice on how to prevent this problem from festering?"

"You may speak."

"I would recommend pulling out from the Icemountain Sea."

Talnara snorted "It was the merchant houses who demanded we prowl those waves in the first place!"

"Yes, but we have lost seven ships there in the past five years with two more sustaining damage with at best mixed gains. They can be dealt with properly and finally in a decade or so once we have recovered our fleet's strength to teach these peasants proper humility. As of now we are sending ships into very hostile waters for at best marginal spoils."

Talnara paused in thought "I would appreciate a more detailed report in writing."

"As you command Milady"

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Description
The Drow were divided into nine states. Forty two hundred years ago there was sixteen of them, but that number had been reduced by four in the War of Four Centuries and with further three falling afterwards. Of these, eight were coastal, but all of them were well dug in and were (leaving aside recently conquered territories) defended with measures so fearsome that few dared attack them, and given their ideology and the policies of the high elves they had no shortage of enemies. But despite their supremacist beliefs, they were (especially in the more recent centuries) more willing to trade and make deals with the outside and were definitely willing to jockey for position among themselves at the level of individuals, families and states. Small scale wars were part of this, as were assassinations, though economic success and military success against non dark elves could get the same results. In the last 213 years, six Drow states had been engaging in a new long term plan to increase their power and gain an upper hand over their enemies. One long thought inviable that had been started by a merchant captain of a middling ranking mercantile family undertaking a considerable risk to avoid a particularly nasty campaign of assassinations against her kin.

When Infrastructure happened, it disrupted this plan. It cut the Dark Elves off from an easy source of labor in the Coldlands, as well as a cheap source of valuable furs, precious minerals and low cost ships. The last being item among some of the lower ranking families seeking to improve their financial and social status. Many merchants had helped the Black Ports procure firearms and gunsmiths in hopes of creating an army able to fend off the Infrastructural forces and to expand their power and thus gain more slaves. A response had been made, but it had been uncoordinated and there had been complications and comparatively small in size.

In the palace at the heart of one of the more northerly Dark Elf kingdoms, Lady General Talnara ti'Valcas of Valnothron oversaw a table. Above which hovered an map of glowing lights. Here she stared at the figures. Her agents updated this as well as they could using a set of specially made wands to the current situation. At the moment she was concerned with two things, one involving the endeavors of High Elves, to which there was no foe more persistent and of rivals of her own kind. It was also something to do while she waited for one of her more trusted assistance. Two slaves stood in the background in case she needed anything, but they were selected for their devotion and loyalty. Kaelin ti'Valneth entered quietly for this meeting. One of the most important things that members of the upper houses learned was to keep an eye on the affairs of those beneath them who would be happy to take their place if they had the ability to do so.

"What have you to report my eyes and ears?"

"Milady, there is a matter of finance that should be discussed."

"What particularly?"

"A few of the merchant families are not doing all that well. The price of marine transportation has gone up with high elven attacks. We have had enough trouble managing to set up convoy with our losses."

"I am well aware of that."

"But this has a fair number of consequences, milady. The one is that is relevant here was that it into their profit margins. Many of them have been plotting to push back some of their long term plans, including plans involving the Far West. Some of your rivals have been a bit more fortunate."

Talnara respected those who had advantages that she lagged in, while she was well versed in the fine points of using steel to get to an end, she graciously deferred to the more experienced in the application of gold and silver. Never the less she got the picture. "And so our efforts get overshadowed."

"Correct. May I offer some advice on how to prevent this problem from festering?"

"You may speak."

"I would recommend pulling out from the Icemountain Sea."

Talnara snorted "It was the merchant houses who demanded we prowl those waves in the first place!"

"Yes, but we have lost seven ships there in the past five years with two more sustaining damage with at best mixed gains. They can be dealt with properly and finally in a decade or so once we have recovered our fleet's strength to teach these peasants proper humility. As of now we are sending ships into very hostile waters for at best marginal spoils."

Talnara paused in thought "I would appreciate a more detailed report in writing."

"As you command Milady"

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