Princess Astrid Thrax
Posted by Puffin on 12/27/17
The long-awaited birth of the Heir of Thrax is a bright spot in the middle of a lot of bad news. High Lord Victus Thrax and Princess-Consort Alarissa announce the arrival of Princess Astrid Thrax, which solidifies the succession and - what with trouble in the east - makes everyone heave a sigh of relief. It's clear the High Lord is in a mood for celebration, as he immediately starts throwing money around.
The first thing he does is a very traditional thing - giving a hefty donation (50,000 silver) to the Shrine of Mangata. Alarissa's hand is evident in the lovely bowl of seaglass, filled with prayer beads for supplicants to take as they will, as thanks for the blessing of Mangata given to Thrax. They also donate a like amount to the shrine of the Queen of Endings and Mother of Beginnings, in the names of Harlequins Mae Grayhope and Lethe Tyde, who delivered the girl. And again, another 50,000 silver to orphanages to help tend children with no families at all, in the name of the newborn Princess Astrid Thrax.
Then they pay the debts of the thralls that were on the Serpent - including the ones who lost their lives - making sure they are given paying jobs within Thrax, or relocated as they choose. The families of those who lost their lives are likewise cared for and integrated as freed members of society. And the traditionalists? The traditionalists know by this point that they're waging a losing battle against the demise of thralldom. But they are cheered by this measured sort of approach to it, that doesn't destabilize anything. It also helps that Duke Harald Grimhall seems to be firmly in favor of this new heir, calling her Battleborn and actually smiling at her when he thinks no one's looking. He may harumph if this is pointed out (and who would dare), but if the extremely traditional Duke Harald Grimhall is behind this, traditionalists are keeping their disapproval in check. While a firstborn, girl or boy, has always been welcome and celebrated, now that women can inherit rank and title there's the worry if a younger brother will contest the claim and war will come in a generation.
The first thing he does is a very traditional thing - giving a hefty donation (50,000 silver) to the Shrine of Mangata. Alarissa's hand is evident in the lovely bowl of seaglass, filled with prayer beads for supplicants to take as they will, as thanks for the blessing of Mangata given to Thrax. They also donate a like amount to the shrine of the Queen of Endings and Mother of Beginnings, in the names of Harlequins Mae Grayhope and Lethe Tyde, who delivered the girl. And again, another 50,000 silver to orphanages to help tend children with no families at all, in the name of the newborn Princess Astrid Thrax.
Then they pay the debts of the thralls that were on the Serpent - including the ones who lost their lives - making sure they are given paying jobs within Thrax, or relocated as they choose. The families of those who lost their lives are likewise cared for and integrated as freed members of society. And the traditionalists? The traditionalists know by this point that they're waging a losing battle against the demise of thralldom. But they are cheered by this measured sort of approach to it, that doesn't destabilize anything. It also helps that Duke Harald Grimhall seems to be firmly in favor of this new heir, calling her Battleborn and actually smiling at her when he thinks no one's looking. He may harumph if this is pointed out (and who would dare), but if the extremely traditional Duke Harald Grimhall is behind this, traditionalists are keeping their disapproval in check. While a firstborn, girl or boy, has always been welcome and celebrated, now that women can inherit rank and title there's the worry if a younger brother will contest the claim and war will come in a generation.