Post by The Dark One on Mar 25, 2020 23:16:07 GMT
Adventures in the Air, with the ambassadors of the Nation Caralain, Home of the Black Tower. We want to figure out all we can.
Summary:
Caralain
Geography:
The Caralain Grass is an extensive area of plains lying almost in the exact center of the Westlands. At its widest extent, Caralin Grass extends for almost a thousand miles.The plain is bordered by the River Haevin to the west, the Black Hills to the north and Braem Wood, the River Erinin and the River Luan to the east, and the kingdom of Andor to the south.
farms and farming villages would have sprung up in the grasslands
Caralain might be areas of the Black Hills as well. There are 3 steddings there. Ian put forth there should be some kind of sizable city/outpost that way then. Just because if nothing else people might be tired after traveling there/out that way. He also noted given the location of the BT those cities might become important.
One city, also called Caralain, the size of whitebridge or Baerlon, adjacent to the tower.
Since this city sprung up after the Black Tower, Jenny feels it makes sense that it started out as a small farming community to feed those at the Black Tower. And then as the numbers at the Black Tower grew, the city began to spring up, starting with establishments that benefited/supplies the Black Tower. Examples: Stables for the 5 legions, a textile shop to make the black coats, flour mills to make bread, a second blacksmith to supply them with weapons, a coal mine to heat the stoves and the forge, etc etc. From there it continued to grow with retail shops, taverns, inns, jewelers, bakeries, etc. Basically something similar to a castle town.
Governance:
Officially under the rule of the Black Tower, but the day to day is managed by a village council and a women's circle, elected democratically.
Kay noted It makes sense that people in BT territory would be slightly less tradition/hierarchy oriented, outside of the BT itself anyway. It's basically all frontier in a way.
Domestic Affairs:
Domestic affairs with Caralain being are sort of like a castle town where the Tower provides them protection and work while the town provides the Tower with necessities, therefore the relationship between the town and Tower would be strong. Plus the last battle built a lot of good will (See Logan saving Andor and a bunch of Refugees) and that goodwill has never faltered for the people of Caralain. Even with the Tower War, with that background it may have done more to damage their perception of TV/WT than the BT.
Hero worship and a ready supply of recruits, probably lots of kids growing up hoping to be able to channel and playing Asha'man during their free time.
Jenny said they could deal in regular weaponry, we agreed probably not so much the power wrought kind. some other nations might send 'donations' their way in exchange for aid. Donations as defined by private schools who are at capacity, but might be able to get your kid on the waiting list. She also suggested maybe some of their farming crops b/c there is much land.
A lot of this happened during the Seanchan war and continues to happen in the Borderlands. As individuals however, Asha'man are not allowed to accept money like common mercenaries, all payments go to the tower which in turn provides for its men.
A lot of this happened during the Seanchan war and continues to happen in the Borderlands. As individuals however, Asha'man are not allowed to accept money like common mercenaries, all payments go to the tower which in turn provides for its men.
The tower is in charge of the treasury of the nation which was abused in Rhalin's time.
International Relations:
they would have had a very good relationship with Andor until the Tower War.
27 FA Logain and his Aes Sedai, Gabrielle, are assassinated
53 FA – Atal Mishraile escapes from Stedding Sholoon and starts the Shadow Legion by proxy in the BT.
69 FA – Merise Heindehl passes away in her sleep, (Maybe by Shadow Legion?) and the M’Hael Jahar Narishma is incapacitated with grief. He steps down, and Rhalin is elected.
Then we have the Tower War.
53 FA – Atal Mishraile escapes from Stedding Sholoon and starts the Shadow Legion by proxy in the BT.
69 FA – Merise Heindehl passes away in her sleep, (Maybe by Shadow Legion?) and the M’Hael Jahar Narishma is incapacitated with grief. He steps down, and Rhalin is elected.
Then we have the Tower War.
So the BT and Andor's ties are currently a bit on the rocks. Which is less than ideal because of their proximity. And Kay really thinks that the BT should have a nation that they're tied to fairly closely, similar to the WT and Andor. So her thought on that was...Tear!
Tear was pretty anti-channeler in the series, but considering their ties to the Dragon Reborn it makes sense they may have come around on saidin, and the BT as an extension of the Dragon.
Tear was pretty anti-channeler in the series, but considering their ties to the Dragon Reborn it makes sense they may have come around on saidin, and the BT as an extension of the Dragon.
For Caralain/the BT as a whole, their relations would be: strained throughout much of the Dragon Compact, particularly with the Tai'Seanchan for reasons to be elaborated on, possibly in the Air Legion section, Andor, and Tar Valon. Good ties with the Borderlands, then a solid alliance with Tear.
The Air Legion's responsibilities are vast, essential, and occasionally unnoticed. They are the diplomatic arm of the Black Tower, serving as ambassadors, messengers, and, occasionally, spies. They act as advisers where requested, primarily throughout the Borderlands, and serve to advance the Black Tower’s interests throughout the world. The Black Tower’s communication network is also their purview: a mess of semi-permanent Gateways, messengers, and messenger birds overseen by the Air Legion allows extremely rapid communication throughout the entirety of the Westlands. Their primary responsibility, as a diplomatic powder keg, is the Tai’Seanchan front.
In addition, select Asha’man serve as spies, trained to recover and reveal information that even traditional networks of eyes and ears might fail to uncover. This is a closely held secret, known only at the War Council level or by Asha’man recruited into their clandestine trade. They are delployed to particularly hard to reach areas such as the Tai’Seanchan front and the Seanchan continent.
As the Black Tower’s diplomats, they are well acquainted with the Aes Sedai of the White Tower. Mutually beneficial ties exist between the Brown and White Ajahs and the Air and Spirit Legions, while the Gray and the Air have a relationship that can vary between cooperative and adversarial. As a result of the Delegation and the Bonding Ceremony, both the Gray and the Air have been forced to work closely with one another on logistics on a large scale, which is something of a rarity.
The Air Legion's responsibilities are vast, essential, and occasionally unnoticed. They are the diplomatic arm of the Black Tower, serving as ambassadors, messengers, and, occasionally, spies. They act as advisers where requested, primarily throughout the Borderlands, and serve to advance the Black Tower’s interests throughout the world. The Black Tower’s communication network is also their purview: a mess of semi-permanent Gateways, messengers, and messenger birds overseen by the Air Legion allows extremely rapid communication throughout the entirety of the Westlands. Their primary responsibility, as a diplomatic powder keg, is the Tai’Seanchan front.
In addition, select Asha’man serve as spies, trained to recover and reveal information that even traditional networks of eyes and ears might fail to uncover. This is a closely held secret, known only at the War Council level or by Asha’man recruited into their clandestine trade. They are delployed to particularly hard to reach areas such as the Tai’Seanchan front and the Seanchan continent.
As the Black Tower’s diplomats, they are well acquainted with the Aes Sedai of the White Tower. Mutually beneficial ties exist between the Brown and White Ajahs and the Air and Spirit Legions, while the Gray and the Air have a relationship that can vary between cooperative and adversarial. As a result of the Delegation and the Bonding Ceremony, both the Gray and the Air have been forced to work closely with one another on logistics on a large scale, which is something of a rarity.
