MOD POST ↠ IC NEWS UPDATES

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UPDATE: IC NEWS

In lieu of our having a PC present tidbits of IC news from around Thedas this month, we're providing lengthier update below on the state of things post-Ghislain. Please read on for important information about how things currently stand with the invasion of Orlais, and how other countries have reacted to news of the battle.

ORLAIS

The storm that chased the Inquisition back to Kirkwall has lingered over northeastern Orlais for long enough to seem unnatural, keeping the region locked down in the face of bitter cold, roads south of Ghislain to the Imperial Highway made all but impassable by snow. It's made it difficult for the allied army to regroup, and impossible for them to mount any sort of attack on the invaders who have now entrenched themselves in Ghislain and fortified their supply lines back to Tevinter. The only force out and about are the darkspawn, which have been spotted marauding the countryside and harassing villages around the Fields of Ghislain.

The Orlesian army, already stretched thin attempting to field a full force just two years after the protracted bloodletting of the War of the Lions, is struggling to replace the numbers lost at Ghislain. Further levies and conscriptions have been ordered, and the crown has also been forced to finance the hiring of several companies of mercenaries as a stopgap measure. Given limited manpower, the decision has been made to make a further strategic retreat to the south, fortifying a camp at the crossroads of the imperial highway, the better to protect the approach to Val Royeaux. A portion of the force has been split off to camp north of Val Chevin and protect that city as well. Montfort has been evacuated of civilians--an unpleasant exercise given the weather, but orderly--and fortified by a skeleton force. The Inquisition army has replenished its ranks with additional troops from Skyhold, and continues to support Orlesian operations. At the moment that mostly just means sitting tight waiting for the weather to break, training conscripts as quickly as possible, and fortifying the area to create a southernmost point past which the invaders will (hopefully) not be able to pass. (But the defenses at Val Royeaux and Val Chevin are also being fortified, just in case.)

NEVARRA

Though the news was at first lost in the chaos of Ghislain, the invading army also took Perendale just before the southward push. That city too remains occupied, and is now a vital link in the supply route between Tevinter and the Anderfels at one end, and Ghislain at the other. This loss has further emboldened the Van Markhams, who were already making hay by accusing the Pentaghasts of weakness and cowardice when Perendale was merely under siege. Now that it's been lost altogether, they are openly challenging the Pentaghasts' right to continued rule of the kingdom, rallying supporters to their banner at Onavign, a recently-captured royal outpost on the road between Cumberland and Nevarra City.

The Pentaghast response has been hampered by the continuing uncertainty regarding the succession. King Markus is still not dead, which is not only frankly miraculous at this point but has become a real problem, with supporters divided and dithering about how to handle it. Fed up with inaction, Aurelia Pentaghast has finally proclaimed herself regent, and summoned all loyal Nevarrans to mass at Hunter's Fell to prepare to take back Perendale. Ferdinand has echoed this summons, but it's unclear whether he means to support his niece's claim or is staking his own. The Van Markhams haven't yet made any move to attend. No one knows what may happen if the Pentaghast army marches out and leaves the capital undefended.

On the whole, Nevarra is preoccupied with its own problems and otherwise hasn't made any official comment on the invasion or the reports of darkspawn and demons at Ghislain.

TEVINTER

News of the occupation of Perendale and Ghislain has been greeted with enthusiasm by many in Tevinter, this very tangible evidence of success doing much to convert those who like the idea of an Imperium renewed and ascendant but who had been skeptical of whether it was really possible or practical. The rumors of darkspawn and demons aiding the Tevinter/Ander army are, for now, confidently dismissed as the usual southern propaganda. While there remain significant factions who are opposed to the new Archon and his shadowy backers, Tevinter seems overall to be warming to the idea and coming into line with their rule.

THE ANDERFELS

Who knows? Nobody can get any news in or out. Things are probably bad, though.

OTHER REACTIONS TO GHISLAIN

• Antiva: News of darkspawn and demons as part of the Ander/Tevinter army has begun to strain even the vaunted neutrality of the merchant princes, but not yet to the breaking point. Some simply refuse to accept the reports, dismissing them as propaganda produced by a desperate Orlais, while others hold firm to the notion that it's still none of their concern either way; business is business. But reports from those volunteers who fought at Ghislain and survived have made an impression on others, and at least a few houses have announced that they will have no dealings with those who harbor demons. What this will mean in practice remains to be seen.
  
  
• Ferelden: The historical antipathy toward Orlais, the Inquisition's perceived bias toward it, and the relative remove from the region currently threatened remain obstacles to consolidating Fereldan support for the current war effort. However, news of the battle of Ghislain has not fallen entirely upon deaf ears there, and given their own recent history with rifts and blights, they are more wary than most of the possibility of darkspawn and demons making up part of the invading army. A couple companies of volunteers raised by friendly nobles are reportedly being raised to assist, while official support from the crown seems to be growing more likely.
  
  
• Free Marches: The response varies by the March, naturally, but the majority remain in a sort of hesitant holding pattern similar to that of Antiva--unwilling to throw themselves fully into a war that still seems far away, but growing more nervous about the threat as rumors (and Tevinter influence) spread. Notable outliers include the stridently religious Tantervale, which has of course issued a statement condemning the invaders as Maker-less heathens and pronouncing this the price Thedas is paying for not investing the Chantry with a new Divine who might bring rampant evil to heel, and at the opposite end of the spectrum, Wycome, whose duke has professed a profound boredom with any news of the conflict.
  
  
• Orzammar: Silent on the subject thus far, and still trading weapons to Tevinter. News of darkspawn activity has raised hackles, however, and there are increasing rumblings of discontent, but not enough yet to push Bhelen or anyone close to him to concede that this is not just a surfacer issue.
  
  
• Rivain: Hasn't said anything official, perhaps because no one has asked. In general they continue to make vague noises of concern about the spreading violence but otherwise go about their business.