Marriages

Given what happened by the end of Governor (not spoiling), is it likely that Vyom and Ingrid will remain engaged? Ingrid's family may be wanting to distance themselves from the Murphy's right now. Will be interesting to see if that happens and if Ingrid goes along with it.

As for Callum... Callum and Eira? It would be nice for an orphan, former slave with no surname to marry into the 500, but that seems so... bland. It's a Prince Charming Fairy Tale story. I don't see David writing that. I think Eira is destined for greater things. There may be some romance between the two before long, but it may not last. I would much rather see Eira adopted by Terrence. And added to the imperial family. Callum did say at one point she was family...

[that there will be an imperial family is not a spoiler]

ThinksMarkedly wrote:
[that there will be an imperial family is not a spoiler]

That's Terrence, first of his House, and of his name.

Callum (after finding Rish design of the Singularity Manifolds,) worries he will have to marry some girl who thinks floride in the water is a plot.
Doesn't sound like he thinks Eira is a potential wife? Confusing hints about that relationship.

Lego2Gpa wrote:Callum (after finding Rish design of the Singularity Manifolds,) worries he will have to marry some girl who thinks floride in the water is a plot.
Doesn't sound like he thinks Eira is a potential wife? Confusing hints about that relationship.

One problem from a dynastic perspective (see the discussion between Duchess and Steadholder Harrington and the Crown Princess Consort about the urging of steaders to ensure the succession) is that the slavers sterilized Eira. Unless the Federation has regeneration technology they haven't revealed yet, Collum and Eira is a dynastic dead end.

Fox2! wrote:One problem from a dynastic perspective (see the discussion between Duchess and Steadholder Harrington and the Crown Princess Consort about the urging of steaders to ensure the succession) is that the slavers sterilized Eira. Unless the Federation has regeneration technology they haven't revealed yet, Collum and Eira is a dynastic dead end.

That's a good point. That also neatly circumvents the Callum-Eira Fairy Tale Story potential. Moreover, since she can't have descendants, there's also no danger to the family fortune if she is adopted by Terrence (not that I think an extra child could squander the fortune at all).

ThinksMarkedly wrote:

Fox2! wrote:One problem from a dynastic perspective (see the discussion between Duchess and Steadholder Harrington and the Crown Princess Consort about the urging of steaders to ensure the succession) is that the slavers sterilized Eira. Unless the Federation has regeneration technology they haven't revealed yet, Collum and Eira is a dynastic dead end.

That's a good point. That also neatly circumvents the Callum-Eira Fairy Tale Story potential. Moreover, since she can't have descendants, there's also no danger to the family fortune if she is adopted by Terrence (not that I think an extra child could squander the fortune at all).

On reflection, Callum - Eira does not necessarily have dynastic implications. Vyom is the oldest son/oldest child, so would be the logical successor to Terrence, regardless of whether male preference or absolute primogeniture is used. Unless of course, Vyom sides with his grandfather in the coming turmoil. Does Ingrid lead to die sexuelle Hörigkeit and a split with his father? Are the attractions of the 500 thicker than blood? Will Vyom or Callum be "Second of his House"? Or, in a Weberesque sleight of hand, will Reagan end up being Second of her House, instead?

Fox2! wrote:
On reflection, Callum - Eira does not necessarily have dynastic implications. Vyom is the oldest son/oldest child, so would be the logical successor to Terrence, regardless of whether male preference or absolute primogeniture is used. Unless of course, Vyom sides with his grandfather in the coming turmoil. Does Ingrid lead to die sexuelle Hörigkeit and a split with his father? Are the attractions of the 500 thicker than blood? Will Vyom or Callum be "Second of his House"? Or, in a Weberesque sleight of hand, will Reagan end up being Second of her House, instead?

Forgot to add:

"Inquiring minds want to know".

Fox2! wrote:
On reflection, Callum - Eira does not necessarily have dynastic implications. Vyom is the oldest son/oldest child, so would be the logical successor to Terrence, regardless of whether male preference or absolute primogeniture is used. Unless of course, Vyom sides with his grandfather in the coming turmoil. Does Ingrid lead to die sexuelle Hörigkeit and a split with his father? Are the attractions of the 500 thicker than blood? Will Vyom or Callum be "Second of his House"? Or, in a Weberesque sleight of hand, will Reagan end up being Second of her House, instead?

We only know the names of three of the seventeen (through the time of the Alicia stories) members of the House of Murphy. The three known names are classically Irish, or Irish aligned (Marie being the Frenchified version of the Irish Mairéad or Sassenach Mary). I don't know how having the presumably South Asian Vyom as the second name in the dynasty would affect that. Callum or Reagan would confirm the tradition of Murphys taking an Irish name as their regnal name, if not as their actual name (e.g., George VI being "Bertie" (Albert) until he assumed the throne upon the abdication of his brother).

Fox2! wrote:We only know the names of three of the seventeen (through the time of the Alicia stories) members of the House of Murphy. The three known names are classically Irish, or Irish aligned (Marie being the Frenchified version of the Irish Mairéad or Sassenach Mary). I don't know how having the presumably South Asian Vyom as the second name in the dynasty would affect that. Callum or Reagan would confirm the tradition of Murphys taking an Irish name as their regnal name, if not as their actual name (e.g., George VI being "Bertie" (Albert) until he assumed the throne upon the abdication of his brother).

Vyom could take a regnal name too.

But you're right for spotting Reagan. I was wondering what she was there for. So far she's been presented as a naive teenager with middling intelligence.

Any other strong female characters with poor grades in math come to mind?

Will the Fringe accept Vyom over Callum as "Second of his House"? Vyom will be perceived as a Heart, and one of the Five Hundred. So is Callum, but he bears the scars of the Second Battle of New Dublin. That will reduce any anti-Heart prejudice. Reagan will have to follow her father and older brother into the Service in some manner to be acceptable to the Fringe Third of her House.

At some point, we will need a list of the Murphys, although probably not until the succession shakes out.