Breland won the Last War in the sense that it lost the least and had the most in the end. By virtue of being a gray wasteland populated by aberrant horrors, Cyre lost. Spots 2-4 are up to more debate.
Aundair, Karrnath, and Thrane are a lot closer to each other in terms of economic and military performance than any of them individually is to Breland. But I would put them in this order. And this is actual power rather than perceived power.
2. Thrane
3. Karrnath
4. Aundair
I give Thrane the edge over the other two because of the Divine edge over Karrnathi Undead and because Aundair lost so much.
Aundair is relatively weak. This is a bit puzzling. Aundair pioneered the arcane tactics that were so successful early in the War. According to Races of Eberron, they were also the first to field Warforged commanded units. Postwar, they have possibly the largest special forces/Spy branch, the Eyes. So how did things get to where they are?
I hate to blame all of Aundair's problems on Aurala, but leadership is part of the problem. Especially if the Triumvirate is in play. Three extreme personalities with a lot of ambition competing with each other, just the recipe to drive a country into the ground. Especially when two of them are dreaming of fighting wars the nation can't afford and Aurala depends far too heavily on covert ops as her foreign policy drivers. That ambition insulates Aurala from good advice.
Kaius is easy to understand as a devout fascist. He is completely selfless and the ends always justify the means. When I think of Kaius, I like to remember that quote from V for Vendetta by Adam Susan, "The war put paid to freedom. The war put paid to luxury. The only freedom left to my people is to starve. The freedom to die. The freedom to live in chaos. Should I allow them that freedom? I think not."
In a sense, Kaius is easy to understand but nigh impossible to empathize with which is what makes him compelling. What I found inconsistent was in Five Nations it spoke of Kaius seeing Breland as a threat. Why? Breland is strong, Boranel is strong, together they could make a better world. Besides, look at a map of Khorvaire. Neither nation has the power projection capability to threaten each other without provoking Thrane and Aundair. Like the Balance of Power theory frpm the Cold War, if neither side can issue a credible threat without bringing down themselves, where's the tension?
Kaius doesn't see the threat in those terms. Brelish culture promotes chaos and anarchy in his eyes. Would Kaius EVER tolerate the corruption and crime on Sharn's scale in Korth? I think not. Without control in the form of a dictatorial, possibly immortal leader, Breland's power is a powder keg.
That's all for now.
According to Races of Eberron, they were also the first to field Warforged commanded units.
Perhaps, but IMO, Cyre always had the largest number OF warforged, as it relied heavily on mercenary forces and had the seat of House Cannith in its borders.
Postwar, they have possibly the largest special forces/Spy branch, the Eyes.
Personally, I consider the Dark Lanterns to have the edge over the Eyes when it comes to espionage. IMO, the various specialties were spread around the original kingdom of Galifar. Karrnath had Rekkenmark, where soldiers from all nations would come to learn the arts of war. Aundair had the Arcane Congress, seat of Galifar's mystical research. And Breland had the King's Citadel, the home of Galifar's intelligence operations. Because these facilities trained people of all nations, when the war began you had Rekkenmark-trained officers on all sides, Brelish mages who'd learned the arts in Aundair, and Cyran Dark Lanterns who placed their skills at the service of their queen. But IMO, the Dark Lanterns are the most experienced spies of the Five Nations and have access to resources established in Galifar... while the Royal Eyes are a more recent creation (originally comprised of Aundairian Dark Lanterns!). Good, certainly, and their access to the Arcane Congress gives them a different flavor than the Dark Lanterns... but the Citadel has the greater experience training spies and overseeing intelligence operations.
However, while this is something referenced in the Thorn of Breland novels, it's not in any sourcebook that I know of. So take it for what it's worth.
And I don't mean to argue the main point - just giving my thoughts on these smaller ones.
Breland won the Last War in the sense that it lost the least and had the most in the end.
Aundair, Karrnath, and Thrane are a lot closer to each other in terms of economic and military performance than any of them individually is to Breland. But I would put them in this order. And this is actual power rather than perceived power.
2. Thrane
3. Karrnath
4. Aundair
I give Thrane the edge over the other two because of the Divine edge over Karrnathi Undead and because Aundair lost so much.
Aundair is relatively weak. This is a bit puzzling. Aundair pioneered the arcane tactics that were so successful early in the War. According to Races of Eberron, they were also the first to field Warforged commanded units. Postwar, they have possibly the largest special forces/Spy branch, the Eyes. So how did things get to where they are?
Originally I considered Breland to be in first place too, but I have reconsidered. If it is the strongest nation at the moment, I expect it to lose its position very soon. Too much banditry, corruption and political instability. A strong leadership like Boranel's can counter these things but he won't reign for much longer and then what? I don't think that his heirs or Ruken 'r Clarn can cut it.
Concerning Aundair and Karrnath, I always considered them to be equals. Totally equal. Thrane's divine magic and cavalry on the one hand and Karrnath's discipline, military training and large number of undead troops lead to balance, in my opinion at least.
Certainly, Aundair is the weakest of the four. The effect of the rebellion of the Eldeen Reaches should be noted as well. Aundair lost at least half of its territory there, including some of its greatest sources of agricultural goods and druidic allies that in the beginning of the war did make a difference. That'a a huge blow.
In a sense, Kaius is easy to understand but nigh impossible to empathize with which is what makes him compelling.
Really? Of the monarchs of the five nations, he's the one I empathize the most. He's a tragic figure that lost everything: his very humanity, his throne, his wife. His mistakes alomst shuttered his homeland. And now he's back trying to rescue Karrnath. Cruel and ruthless? Certainly. He send the real Kaius IIIto Thronehold(but why him and not his forebears? I always suspected poor little Kaius III to be someone's pawn) after all and turn Moranna to a vampire. Fascist? Hm...he has eazed things somewhat (a pragmatic choice probably. If you're really optimistic you might detect some Etrigani influence too). Definitely not the nicest person in the room but I prefer him to Krozen, Boranel's probable successors, that fool Sebastes ir' Kesslan or his own father.
In a sense, Kaius is easy to understand but nigh impossible to empathize with which is what makes him compelling. What I found inconsistent was in Five Nations it spoke of Kaius seeing Breland as a threat. Why? Breland is strong, Boranel is strong, together they could make a better world. Besides, look at a map of Khorvaire. Neither nation has the power projection capability to threaten each other without provoking Thrane and Aundair. Like the Balance of Power theory frpm the Cold War, if neither side can issue a credible threat without bringing down themselves, where's the tension?
Kaius doesn't see the threat in those terms. Brelish culture promotes chaos and anarchy in his eyes. Would Kaius EVER tolerate the corruption and crime on Sharn's scale in Korth? I think not. Without control in the form of a dictatorial, possibly immortal leader, Breland's power is a powder keg
.
That bugged me too. A great analysis-I'm completely convinced.
And that's where Kaius is absolutely right. Boranel is a danger not because he's bad, but because he's good, TOO GOOD. The man is quite amazing if you really think about all he's done and managed, how at the helm of Breland he really helped turn things around. But now Breland has become too reliant on the man, too reliant on his great strength. So when Boranel dies, Breland is likely to face trouble. Kaius doesn't give too figs about a living Boranel, it's when the man is cold and dead that I see the despot of Karrnath truly concerned. And I happen to agree with him.
Breland was strong without Boranel, that was probably Breland's greatest strength (note the was in that sentence). The Brelish have always had an independant streak, a non reliance on Magic (Aundair), Military (Karrnath) or the Divine (Thrane). Only Cyre stood equal in terms of raw culture and "people power". But with Cyre gone that leaves Breland on top in my opinion.
And that's where Kaius is absolutely right. Boranel is a danger not because he's bad, but because he's good, TOO GOOD. The man is quite amazing if you really think about all he's done and managed, how at the helm of Breland he really helped turn things around. But now Breland has become too reliant on the man, too reliant on his great strength. So when Boranel dies, Breland is likely to face trouble. Kaius doesn't give too figs about a living Boranel, it's when the man is cold and dead that I see the despot of Karrnath truly concerned. And I happen to agree with him.
Boranel has another decade or more on the throne, barring an unhappy event. Succession problems in Breland are over-rated.
Boranel has another decade or more on the throne, barring an unhappy event.
Or you know a heart attack.
Boranel has another decade or more on the throne, barring an unhappy event. Succession problems in Breland are over-rated.
If people let him go through with it. There's already talk of ending the crown's rule and transferring power to other leaders, your other nations with whom you haven tense relationships, and the violent vigilante groups throughout the kingdom. Then there's reasons beyond mortal scope, like the workings of the prophecy, the schemes of the Dreaming Dark, or the plotting of the Lords of Dust, who might all require the death or dethroning of Boranel.
Heck, in the last Eberron campaign I played, plenty of people were trying to kill King Boranel, including my own PC. They eventually succeeded.
"Well, that worked. . .but dang I kind of feel guilty now, and we need make it look like we're as sympathetic towards them [Mourners] as possible. Let them in."
Just my own theory.
speaking of the queen she reminds me of Charles II and his CABAL. the way she uses them to cause trouble and basically create a smoke cloud without them knowing so she can get to the important business of policy and governance is very ingenious and show her political skill. but her nation is still very weak and it relies on her diplomacy heavily.
and i agree that Kaius has set up a very fascist government. he's changed the laws by which the nation, and instated martial law throughout his realm.(make sure to take a Sivis lawyer versed in the Galifar Code and the Kaius Code if you plan a trip north for some sausage and cheese) all of the nations industries are under his control and the warlords are free to form there own malitias and armies. all in all it makes for a very effective government if a bit constricting.
so though Breland may in theory be able to be on a war footing in no time in "reality" it's bearly holding together. all the nations are reelng from the war and non are in a postion to jump right back in. the nations are balanced in my eyes. with maybe Karnnath alittle ahead.
'least that's my opinion.
Not so much on the power speculation, but I really, truly think that the Day of Mourning was of Brelish design and that Breland opened it lands to Mourners because they were like
"Well, that worked. . .but dang I kind of feel guilty now, and we need make it look like we're as sympathetic towards them [Mourners] as possible. Let them in."
Just my own theory.
That's the exact opposite of my theory. I think that the Day of Mourning was caused by a Cyre megaweapon backfiring and destroying them all. The irony comes from the fact that the megaweapon was going to take out Breland.
A Cyran researcher somehow determined that Xoriat was close to becoming coterminous with Eberron again, as had long been foretold. Lacking the binding magic that the Gatekeepers had used to seal away Xoriat the last time this happened, this decided to do something similar to whatever it was that the Xen'drik giants had done to ward off Dal Qour. Whatever it was he did, it worked, but also caused the Mourning. Therefore, there are a bunch of abberations in the Mournland, the scouting forces that were preceeding the invasion. I haven't quite decided whether or not to have the Lord of Blades be a Daelkyr prince in a robo-suit.