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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Serpenteye" data-source="post: 1569167" data-attributes="member: 1492">It works very well, better than I had dared to hope actually <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />. The best way to unite two groups is almost always to give them a common enemy. The Empire of Sembia's greatest enemies are probably The Harpers (who are weakened too much to be a threat and have a lot of other concerns everywhere), The government of Cormyr (covertly, with officially decent relations. Their monarch is young and weak) and Shadowdale with Elminster (he may be powerful and well-connected enough to know about my operations in his sphere of influence but he's old and insane and may well ignore the issue until it becomes more pressing).I will have tried to establish good relations with the City of Shade and the Red Wizards of Thay, but the thieves-guild organizations will either have been recruited into the secret police (and kept carefully monitored) or been targeted for eradication. The Cult of the Dragon definately falls in the latter category.So, common enemies... Perhaps the Heroes of the Sword Coast in the employ of Elminster have been harrassing both my operations on the surface and the Drow's consolidation of power in the underdark. Less powerful groups sent against them have returned unsuccessful or been resurrected at great expense, leaving us (both groups seperately) forced to take care of the matter personally. We could perhaps meet each-others at the site of a raided caravan or burned-out temple, seconds after the Heroes have fled with the loot.I would also be an enemy of most of the disruptive Chaotic religions in the region. The Empire strives to coexist with most of the lawful faiths, and might even cooperate with some of the LG, NG, LN and N ones on occasion to fight a common CE enemy. We are ruthless and our laws are harsh, but we strive to create a generally prosperous and stable society with enough inherent unity that it will not collapse even if our military power is diminished in a conflict. Taxation is hard on the common folk, but not heavy enough to drive them past the breaking-point. Craft and industry are encouraged, and taxed less severely, but most of it is in the hands of the Cartel. Corruption is regulated, a privilige given only to the most powerful and only when it is expedient. We provide a fundamental degree of social security, to keep people from starving to death (and to keep them productive), but only to those who have earned it.  Rebellion and crime will not be tolerated. Laziness is a vice and, if taken too far, a crime. The wilderness will be cleansed of monsters and brigands. The people will have stability, a fair (but merciless) judicial system, a conditional guarantee against starvation and security. In exchange they will obey the laws, pay their taxes, be ready for conscription (the nobility and merchant-elite are exempt from Conscription, so are clerics of allied faiths) and say their prayers. (The worship of Bane is not compulsory, but highly encouraged) Loyalty and mutual self-interest shall be the foundation of our great society. We do not create a house of cards built only on the fear of our people.--Which groups or churches might be sympathetic and cooperative with our government as portayed in the post? Which would be violently hostile? I don't know a lot about the Realms.</blockquote>

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