Decided to go thru the houses and say what goal I think matches there interests most heavily, between the two options that have a chance at winning.
House Cathak — Fire That Marches Against the Tide. One of the three Great Military Houses of the Realm. Famed for its Legions' iron discipline.
As one of the big three Military houses,
Stone Towering Toward the Sky is the obvious choice for house Cathak. In particular the stoic Virtue masses nicely with there legions famed Iron disclipline.
House Cynis — Wood Nourished on the Tears of the Fallen. A mercantile House with a monopoly on importing slaves and narcotics into the Blessed Isle.
This one would favor
The Serpent Witch. It's Curses and Afflictions would be of Particular interest to them.
House Ledaal — Air that Raised the Bones of Giants. Famed for its deep stores of arcane knowledge and single-minded dedication to safeguarding the Realm from dark forces.
I admit I'm a bit stumped here. Dedication to defending the realm from dark forces Sounds Like a point for
Stone Towering Toward the Sky, but the Arcane Knowledge could be a Point For or Against
The Serpent Witch's Spirit's or Dread Mystery, depending on other factors such as who we spend our time with and how responsibly we are in the coming years.
House Mnemon — Earth Carved in the Image of One. Renowned architects, builders and geomancers. Responsible for much of the Blessed Isle's roads and other great works of infrastructure.
I'd say
Stone Towering Towards the Sky. I could see a Knack for Earthen Defense working well with Mnemon.
House Nellens — Dragons of the Blood Ressurgent. A mercantile House with diverse investments. The youngest House, besides V'neef.
Another Toss up. Really there the least disinct house so far. I imagine them finding something to value about Ambraea no matter what we pick, tho if I were a bit familiar with there role in future events I could probably figure out more, tho thats a lot of lore for an hour after I've woken up.
House Peleps — Water That Wreaths the Crown of Centuries. A particularly old House that controls the Imperial Navy.
Ironically they'd probably be most interested in the possibility of Ambraea summoning sea Serpents, So
The Serpent Witch is narrowly the winner here, mainly because Ambraea's element isn't as applicable to naval combat.
House Ragara — Earth Slaked on the Blood of Dragons. Controls most of the banking interests for the Dynasty.
Curses and Afflictions are an excellent way to make people pay what they Owe, without hurting them or inhibiting there ability to work.
The Serpent Witch.
House Sesus — Fire that Makes the Shadows Strong. One of the three Great Military Houses of the Realm. Has an unsavoury reputation, and is known to rely on underhanded tactics in both military and political matters.
On one Hand, Military, So I could see
Stone Towering Towards the Sky appealing to for tactics and Battlefeild Sorcery, but given there reputation Curses and Afflictions are equally there taste, so I can't count out
The Serpent Witch. In the end they'd probably favor option 3 most but 2/35 votes isn't going to cut it. I'd say an even reception.
House Tepet — Air Stained by the Blood of Legions. One of the three Great Military Houses of the Realm. A very old House famed for heroism,
Stone Towering Towards the Sky. Between there Pride in a clean Reputation and Favoring more direct Conflict which of the two goals with a chance of winning most Suit Tepes is Clear. Since we are favoring her as a storyline focus this year it might be good to give proper consideration to how our goals will impact her houses view towards us.
House V'neef — Wood That Tenders the Garden's Grace. The youngest Great House by far, only elevated in RY 754. Apart from V'neef's own household, still predominantly made up of former outcaste households formally adopted by V'neef. Controls the Realm's merchant fleet.
Between there obvious efforts to form ties to house Tepes prior to it's essential destruction, and there attempts to ally with Cathak Afterwords, Vneef is clearly of a mind to bond with a military house. Leaning into our ties with house Burano with
Stone Towering Towards the Sky would allow Ambraea to serve as a Possible alternative to House Cathak. Greiving Blind Swordwoman who love us for granting them veangance anyone?
Clan Burano — Stone That Towers Toward the Sky. One of the two ruling Dragon Clans of Prasad. Officially a Realm cadet house. Based in Prasad, in the South-Eastern Threshold.
Right there at the start. Make dad proud? Develop a rapport with our distant relations? Draw the attention of foreign Royalty?
Stone Towering Towards the Sky is the key.
Erona — A patrician family, predominantly made up of bureaucrats working in the Thousand Scales.
I'd say they would be adverse to Dread Mystery and Spirits, so
Stone Towering Towards the Sky.
House Ferem — Air Cradled in the Jaws of the Sea. The former rulers of Grand Cherak, now the largest Realm cadet house.
Don't know. To little info. Not sure if issues with cold apply to sorcery created snakes?
Clan Ophris — Fire That Renews the Forest. One of the two ruling Dragon Clans of Prasad. Officially a Realm cadet house. Based in Prasad, in the South-Eastern Threshold.
I'm not sure how much it matters. I say they could be interested in either one, but I can't see the voters allying with them over Burano, and if we are in favor of ties with the rulers of Prasad, why not go with the one we can strengthen ties with significantly simply by picking Stone Towering Towards the Sky's.
House Simendor — Dark Wings Enfolding the Agate Throne. An ancient bloodline of sorcerer princes. Now a Realm cadet house, named for the Shogunate daimyo, Simendor the Hellblade. Based in Chalan, in the Southern Threshold
Dread Mystery means this one goes to
The Serpent Witch.
This would be a much different assessment if Eyes of Black Diamond, Smile of White Fang was still a contender. I'm personally seeing that in terms of gains with major houses and alignment with our storyline interests, Stone Towering Toward the Sky has solid benefits in regards to the former and clear synergy with what most of us want from the latter. The Serpent Witch is not without it's benefits, but seems rather divergent given that Tepes is leading the Storyline vote, and our other friendships and interests.
] Spend our Destiny Tokens to choose all of the options!
