[FR] Could there be Peace between Dalesmen and the Drow? (my players stay out!)
- Thread starter Arravis
- Start date
BlackMoria
First Post
Cormyr and Sembia have been political and economic rivals for ages. Here is why is in Cormyr's interest to keep Sembia out of the dalelands.
1. Sembia will dominate all trade routes north and northeast and could strangle any trade.
2. The rich forests of Cormanthyr would allow Sembia to build a larger fleet, allowing them to contest control of the western Sea of Fallen Stars with Cormyr. Given a sufficent fleet, they may be even able to harrass shipping in the Dragon Reach, interferring with Cormyr's trade to trading partners bordering the Sea of Fallen Stars.
3. If Sembia annexes the Dalelands, their economic and military might increases.
Can Cormyr afford to have a bitter rival grab real estate, resources and use the resources to build warships and armies? Can Cormyr allow Sembia to dominate trade in the region?
The answer to both is no. It is absolutely in Cormyr's best interests to keep Sembia out of the Dalelands.
It could means that the only foil is to grab territory before Sembia - so Archendale, Mistledale and Deepingdale could have Cormyrian troops stationed in them. Of course, Cormyr will convince these dales for the need to have troops to fend off Sembia....and these dales may well agree. It is easier to diplomatically tell Cormyr to remove it troops after it is all over than to militarily try to kick Sembia troops out of your dale....
.
werk
First Post
I think the 'they are drow' is a fair reason not to try to broker a treaty.
Dalemen ~NG
Cormanthor ~CG
Drow ~NE
Ever dance with the devil?
The deal would have to basically cripple the drow in order for the good guys to be confident that the treaty protects them, and the drow, under such conditions, would probably agree to the treaty and then just do whatever they wanted, just like before.
And good luck getting the elves, and their seldarine priests, to agree to a treaty with drow (non-people).
Maybe you should work on a deal with the cult of the dragon...they are pretty reasonable when it comes to outright bribery.
Dalemen ~NG
Cormanthor ~CG
Drow ~NE
Ever dance with the devil?
The deal would have to basically cripple the drow in order for the good guys to be confident that the treaty protects them, and the drow, under such conditions, would probably agree to the treaty and then just do whatever they wanted, just like before.
And good luck getting the elves, and their seldarine priests, to agree to a treaty with drow (non-people).
Maybe you should work on a deal with the cult of the dragon...they are pretty reasonable when it comes to outright bribery.
Westgate Polks
First Post
Natural Distrust of the Drow
Certainly, a peace accord COULD work between the elves of Cormanthor, the Dalesmen, and House Jaelre. However, there are lots of things that stand in the way of that accord being accepted and being honored.
1. First is the reputation of the Drow. Yes, House Jaelre is not populated with Drow of the same vileness as House Baenre. However, to all but the most discerning surface dweller Drow are Drow. It is going to take a LOT of persuasion and a lot of time for the Dalesmen to really accept these Drow as different. I use Drizzt as an example. Even in the Ten Towns, where he has been witnessed to perform many acts of heroism benefitting the population, he is AT BEST tolerated for a majority of the time. He can't even freely communicate with The Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon in her own city. Distrust of Drow exists at a deeper level than distrust of Orcs; certainly no Orc tribe would be able to easily enter into such an accord.
2. Second is the hatred between the Drow and the Cormanthor Elves. These two peoples simply don't get along given their millenia of conflict and betrayal (from both perspectives...). Getting these two peoples to work together will be a Herculean task of diplomacy regardless of what is at stake; the difficulty would DOUBLE if the clerics of either House Jaelre or the Cormanthor Elves are active and/or vocal.
3. Third is the Drow themselves. I am not certain House Jaelre would enter into such an agreement with the intent of honoring it long-term. More likely they would push for some-type of "cease-fire" while both sides were dealing with the threat of the Dragon Cultists. This might be an interesting way of going about brokering a peace. Start with the cease fire and use whatever good will was earned during that to push for a longer accord.
4. Fourth is the Cult of the Dragon. Assuming they are moderately intelligent, they would try to exploit whatever partnership existed between the Dalesmen and the Drow. Either by communicating with them in secret to sow discontent or by planting evidence of betrayal by one group against the other (as an interesting twist have a drow appear to have been betrayed by the Dalesmen...).
However likely (or desirable) long-term success is, there are LOTS of great role-playing opportunities as well as a chance for characters with pumped Diplomacy and Sense Motive skills to get a chance to use them. Most importantly, this story arc looks like a blast to run and play.
Certainly, a peace accord COULD work between the elves of Cormanthor, the Dalesmen, and House Jaelre. However, there are lots of things that stand in the way of that accord being accepted and being honored.
1. First is the reputation of the Drow. Yes, House Jaelre is not populated with Drow of the same vileness as House Baenre. However, to all but the most discerning surface dweller Drow are Drow. It is going to take a LOT of persuasion and a lot of time for the Dalesmen to really accept these Drow as different. I use Drizzt as an example. Even in the Ten Towns, where he has been witnessed to perform many acts of heroism benefitting the population, he is AT BEST tolerated for a majority of the time. He can't even freely communicate with The Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon in her own city. Distrust of Drow exists at a deeper level than distrust of Orcs; certainly no Orc tribe would be able to easily enter into such an accord.
2. Second is the hatred between the Drow and the Cormanthor Elves. These two peoples simply don't get along given their millenia of conflict and betrayal (from both perspectives...). Getting these two peoples to work together will be a Herculean task of diplomacy regardless of what is at stake; the difficulty would DOUBLE if the clerics of either House Jaelre or the Cormanthor Elves are active and/or vocal.
3. Third is the Drow themselves. I am not certain House Jaelre would enter into such an agreement with the intent of honoring it long-term. More likely they would push for some-type of "cease-fire" while both sides were dealing with the threat of the Dragon Cultists. This might be an interesting way of going about brokering a peace. Start with the cease fire and use whatever good will was earned during that to push for a longer accord.
4. Fourth is the Cult of the Dragon. Assuming they are moderately intelligent, they would try to exploit whatever partnership existed between the Dalesmen and the Drow. Either by communicating with them in secret to sow discontent or by planting evidence of betrayal by one group against the other (as an interesting twist have a drow appear to have been betrayed by the Dalesmen...).
However likely (or desirable) long-term success is, there are LOTS of great role-playing opportunities as well as a chance for characters with pumped Diplomacy and Sense Motive skills to get a chance to use them. Most importantly, this story arc looks like a blast to run and play.
Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
Diaglo,
The Eldathru(sp).
In any case I honestly don't see this working BUT I do see the possibility of both the Zhentarium (along with the backing of the Church of Bane), and Sembia trying VERY hard to work this to their advantage. Same for Comryr, albeit for more clandestine reasons. In any case the Dalesmen would need strong central leadership if such a proprosal were to be made. I honestly don't see any in the current Dalelands fitting that description.
The elves, while they have the leadership, will for both personal and historical reasons, NOT trust the drow, regardless of their "benigh" stances on Lolth type inspirations. Hell I'd think they'd rather trust the Cultists as I said OR a demon cultists group like say Orcus or Yeenough(sp) before letting House Jaerle go any further in.
Of course this is all forgetting the fact that there are still a number of fiends living in the ruins of Myth Drannor and thus might not care to have ANY one else get access to this stuff.
The Eldathru(sp).
In any case I honestly don't see this working BUT I do see the possibility of both the Zhentarium (along with the backing of the Church of Bane), and Sembia trying VERY hard to work this to their advantage. Same for Comryr, albeit for more clandestine reasons. In any case the Dalesmen would need strong central leadership if such a proprosal were to be made. I honestly don't see any in the current Dalelands fitting that description.
The elves, while they have the leadership, will for both personal and historical reasons, NOT trust the drow, regardless of their "benigh" stances on Lolth type inspirations. Hell I'd think they'd rather trust the Cultists as I said OR a demon cultists group like say Orcus or Yeenough(sp) before letting House Jaerle go any further in.
Of course this is all forgetting the fact that there are still a number of fiends living in the ruins of Myth Drannor and thus might not care to have ANY one else get access to this stuff.
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