Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 primuspilushb Jul 09, 2015 7:16:09	Question. Since the Empire of Shade is gone, and all of the princes are dead (I think there are 2 grand daughters left I believe) what happens to Sembia?
#2 BRJN Jul 10, 2015 17:02:49	warning: nasty (and arguable whether true / untrue) IRL politics comment follows   Without the Princes of Shade hanging over their heads (literally), the merchant class of Sembia proceeds to buy every would-be politician in the country, and tells them what policies will grant them a leisure-filled existence for life.  Anybody who does not cooperate has the more-bribable authorities sent after him like a ton of bricks.  Much like the Chamber of Commerce seems to have done with the Republican National Committee.  Then they resume buisness-as-usual on the model from two generations ago.
#3 Selvarien Jul 19, 2015 12:57:14	Primuspilushb, Well Met.     Minus Real World Politics and Opinions (except for Geopolitical Theory):      The empire is gone but not all the shades. Erevis Cale's former friend-turned-shade is likely still in place (I don't recall reading anything saying he was killed, etc.), and while without the support of Shade still has enough pull to keep Sembia together, albeit with civil war looming. Shar's church would remain a strong anchor in Sembia despite losing Shade. But around the dges of the country they'd be suffering covert and--slowly--more overt attacks.   Likely: Sembia remains a somewhat weakened country, two steps above civil war, with a lot of clandestine activity. Despite being under the thumb of a shade and supported by the Sharan church, the city-states comprising Sembia are restive and more independent. The goals will be to keep the country intact while weakening their neighbors until Sembia can 'recover'.   Equally Likely: Sembia devolves into civil war between the cities and the tottering state itself. This will spill out into the neighboring areas. Church of Shar remains strongest in Selgaunt and its rival, Saerloon, while Urmlaspyr and Daerlun strike out on their own. Essentially Sembia breaks into two.   On a side note, for those who are interested in adventuring within the Dales: This may be a good time for Scardale to seek vengeance upon Sembia by taking lands north of Ordulin and claiming it for themselves. Their own ambitions will work south until they come up against 'East Sembia' (for lack of a better term), which becomes yet another flash point. Leaders in Scardale hire mercenaries and offer lands in Sembia in exchange for their support.   If one wishes to go this route then you have warfare throughout the remaining parts of Sembia and along the edges. End result? Some loss of territory to 'outsiders' whether or not Sembia keeps themselves together. In short, a good decade or two of adventure.   So unless and until we hear anything 'official' about Sembia, this is as good as any an explanation as to what's happened since the decaptation of the Shade empire.   V/R,   Selvarien
#4 BRJN Jul 20, 2015 17:00:51	Good points - I hadn't considered any Dalesfolk trying to take revenge for their previous absorption.   I'd recommend, though, that the Church of Shar be seen as tied to the Netherese Successor Government.  If the gov't falls / collapses, the church gets burned down by unhappy ex-victims. (Although it's Netherese Pantheon and therefore not likely popular, maybe Amanuator worship expands into the vacuum.)  Selune and especially Waukeen seem likely to gain from this.