Ironsides Family/Armstrong/Dual-Duchy Solution to the East Continent Question
The Dual-Duchy Solution to the East Continent Question
Always the dreamer, our Hero of Democracy dreamt of the future of the East Continent. He shared his ideas with the Fontan Assembly. When one looks at this piece, one may realize that the ideas and lessons contained within this originate in Lord Armstrong's earlier work, the Three Plagues of Fontan. Maybe this is his answer to his own fears, or a new idea entirely.
Letter from Armstrong Ironsides
Message sent to everyone in message group "Fontan Assembly" (33 recipients)
Esteemed Assembly,
I too am waiting for the diplomacy of the sword to make decisions, but I very much enjoy discussions so I will make an argument.
Like you, I often have dreams and ambitions. The dreams swim no further than my skull and the ambitions live no longer than the enjoyable aroma of dinner, but, sometimes certain fantasies and images leave an impression in the sand of my mind. One of these impressions I have come to believe is a valid solution to the East Continent Question.
In my dream, the future of the East Continent is small, dual-duchy realms. The rational argument against this is that these realms will have no power or gold, but I counter that by saying the whole point of the dual-duchy is to shrink the power and gold of a realm. The monster states we have now are infeasible for the size of land we all must share. I must say that the size of Westmoor, the Obsidian Isles, and the Sultanate plus Oroya and a few more regions, are perfect. Their size provides them with enough to maintain and enough to participate in the continental conflicts.
If one says these realms have no chance of surviving against larger ones, I would say what larger ones would be left? Every realm should divide into the dual-duchy ideal. Perhaps the great powers (such as our fine selves) can retain a medium sized realm, say a quad-duchy, or tri-duchy realm, but any new ones we make we should apply this new idea. Create the landscape up north, and then spread it south. When we have remade the map, the ideals of the dual-duchy system will prevail.
What do any of you dreamers think about this? Am I delusional (as normal) or have I arrived at an essential truth?
Hero of Democracy,
Armstrong Ironsides (Lord)
Two nobles replied speaking in favour of a large expanding Fontan.
Letter from Armstrong Ironsides
Message sent to everyone in message group "Fontan Assembly" (33 recipients)
Assembly,
On the contrary, it is exactly those expansionist tendencies that bring us closer to our own destruction. We very recently felt a thrashing from enemies ganging up on us. They need only have the eye of annihilation and we would be no more. If we understand this, then having a smaller realm is actually a big advantage.
Moreover, having many small realms would be far more exciting.
The East Continent Question is what to do with gridlocked realms. Despite best efforts, what peace can truly reign between us and Sirion if we are their only obstacle? Throw in two more to pick on and we may have a lasting alliance.
Fontan supremacy is a major desire for all of us, but the goals to reach this do not always have to be conventional. In my argument, the large sized realm is the bane.
Hero of Democracy,
Armstrong Ironsides (Lord)
He will always dream of the unconventional solutions...
