Infrastructure: Part Ninty Seven

Among the greatest assets of the Dark Elves was their expertise in espionage. Each of the Nine Drow states had at it's disposal an elaborate network of spies assisted a number of local informants, connections with the criminal underworld and unwitting assistants. These had connections across the human kingdoms and kept them up to date on various political developments, military actions and similar. It also could be used to manipulate the human powers by providing valuable information to certain parties to make sure that their foes would end up fighting themselves, as a means to undermine the influence of the High Elves and as a commercial commodity.

The last of those had been a goal which had become a higher priority over the last millennium. For forty two centuries the Drow had viewed themselves as the Rightful Masters of all life and had fought to bind the world in chains to their will in numerous great wars. However, even if it took some time their efforts towards expansion and enslavement would be repulsed and they would be driven back to their domains. Fortunately, there were still those who would gladly sell their enemies or would be open to more profitable alternatives to the headsmen in dealing with criminals. With this, the Merchant Families of the Dark Elves, once minor players at best had risen in prominence and status, much to the subtle disdain to the older Warrior elites. Especially since some of this money was being invested in ambitious projects across the sea in the most successful example of Expansion the Dark Elves had accomplished to this date.

But regardless of the internal class conflicts of the Drow, one thing that all parties agreed on was the probing of the new state of Infrastructure. Not every Dark Elf State was involved in the Coldlands slave trade, but regardless there was a comparatively modest but noticeable increase in the price of unskilled slaves from 10 IA to the fall of the Black Ports. At the same time, it's technological progress was something to take note of. Some, like Galthirith probed for weak points, areas that could be of use for an invading army. Others, especially Valnothron, sought to obtain their secrets. There were a few long term plans, even if they had given up on attempting to assassinate Committee members for the time being. A surprising number of their agents had been lost, but never the less they kept up their investigations. Among the things that they wondered about the most was the launch of a largescale fleet across the oceans. There was not much information on where they went and they did not follow their steel fleet. The hope was that it was lost in a storm, but it returned. Soon afterwards, the various agents managed to figure out where they had went.

In a council room of Galthirith a compiled report was examined by a number of prominent figures. Among them lady Talith ti'Noljas, the plants and animals they brought back, the Images displayed by recruiters looking for more settlers, the descriptions of the far away lands among sailors. She knew where the Coldlanders had decided to disgrace the sky with their soot spewing fleets and a wart of a colony even before getting to the conclusion which said the same thing. It was a land across the sea, uninhabited save for primitive tribals, but it was due south of a set of Drow Colonies, among them those of Galthirith. Colonies which, despite the threats posed to them by the High Elves and other powers, had been thriving. A foothold by a rival power in this new world, even one five thousand miles from their assets was a unacceptable hazard to their long term plans.

As such she calmly put down the report on the table. Then, in a lightning movement, brought down her dagger into it. The rest of the officials got the message. Whatever reason the Committee had for setting up this settlement in the New World, it did not matter. They would not be allowed to cultiave this settlement. Ironclad fleet or not, it would be sent to the abyss to rust. The other figures got the message and by in large agreed with it. There would be war.


Previous-imperator-zor.deviantart.com/a…
Next-www.deviantart.com/art/Infrast…