ErikM wrote:A nice read.
It will be very interesting to see the Dohlaran and South Harchongese reactions when the charisians' steel battleships arrive and start sinking everything afloat. I agree that they will try to reroute traffic through the canals but also that that will largely be a bust.
It looks like western Siddarmark and the Border States are slated to become an enormous war zone, with conditions resembling the WWI western or eastern fronts depending on how far away large towns, cities and canals are. Nasty indeed.
The balloons sound a lot like US civil war era observation balloons. They'll undoubtedly set off a lot of people's 'This Is Magic/Demonic' triggers but flexible commanders on both sides will quickly see their use as mobile observation posts and even signal towers.
More! Want MORE! Must Have MORE!
One other point – the EoC's command of the seas might allow them to open a second front which is a lot closer to Zion and has a lot fewer hostile troops in the way. They can build up a sizeable staging post on a convenient island. They then have two choices. Keep it quiet and actually invade, or let Clyntahn know about the development and watch him drag whole blocs of his armies – both men and matériel – to defend the crucial areas of the Temple Lands.
That might be fun to watch. If South Harchong is effectively cut off from the presently active main battle zones (as has been said), it might mean that Clyntahn would have considerable difficulty moving significant numbers of the armies in Western Siddermark etc. back again. And with those armies diverted, BGV is likely to find it a lot easier to go through Rainbow Waters' reduced forces.
In either case, I would enjoy the mental picture of Clyntahn metaphorically (or literally!) chewing the carpet over it.
On balance, I suspect the threat might be more effective than the actual deed.
