OOC Thread: attempt to usurp the Pontic Throne?

[Angst]

As you will have noticed, the forum has not generated any player-input apart from mine. I am not surprised, as at least one earlier attempt to run a Known World forum failed due to lack of player-input. But I did hope that players would give it a go when they saw how a modern versatile forum could enhance the uniqueness and complexity of the campaign and also provide a record of events, conflicts and controversies, complete with regular issues of The News of the Known World and supplemented with maps and family trees from the GM. I had intended it to be a heartfelt tribute to the game - and to its inventor and GM.

A forum can do everything we need, including player input which is so important to bringing the game to life for prospective players. But a forum in which only one player contributes isn't really a forum at all, and some of the underlying issues are either missed entirely by non-players or are only alluded to, turning what otherwise are interesting politico-military problems into obscure arcane issues that risk leaving the non-player puzzled and confused.

An alternative is to introduce the distinction between in-character (IC) and out-of-character (OOC) threads so current IC events can be discussed OOC.

This thread is an attempt to do that for one current event that is shaping up to shake the known world to its foundations - a possible attempt to usurp the Imperial Throne of Pontus. Hopefully, more than just my views will appear in this thread and hopefully others will start OOC threads on other issues - and there are many, though they may not be apparent from the outside.

All OOC discussions of in-game events are interpretations of what the intentions and motives of various characters are - which is a major reason for debate and controversy. As in real life these play an important part in any game.

The best place to begin is the geneology of the Royal House of Pontus, and the events that have been leading up to the war that is looming, covered in the next post - unless someone else beats me to it.

[Angst]

30th Humshofbrew, year 123
My information is based on the Family Tree of the House of Niksar, Anatolia. Shalman is the current Emperor, the youngest son and last surviving child of Emperor Mithradates by his first wife, Anais.

Shalman's elder brother, Tontodates, died in 108 after a short reign, as did his twin sister, Roxani in circumstances that were at the time investigated. There followed an interregnum under the regency of Mithraces lasting until Shalman became Emperor - aged 13 - in 114. This confusing regency period is reported in extracts of back-numbers of The News, which form part of the obituary of Antigonus' life. Next in line was the 3 year-old Shapur, who Mithraces declared heir-apparent but who died in 109.

For a while, the infant heir-apparent, Shalman, could not be found, and so Antigonus, satrap of Van and the eldest child of Mithradates by his second wife, Berengaria, was next in line and there was a period during which Antigonus claimed the Imperial Throne.

On the assassination of Antigonus, then Satrap of Thrace in Printemps 123 Emperor Shalman was 23 and still unmarried. This meant that since Shalman became emperor yet remained without issue, Antigonus had been the heir-presumptive of the Pontic Imperial Throne at the time of his assassination. Antigonus left behind him his Chaldean widow, Vashti (the sister of Mustasha, then ruler of Chaldea) and their 13 year-old son, Demetriaces, who became heir-presumptive in his father's place - at least until the Emperor - who subsequently married Polonova in Slavonia - produces a child, who would then be heir-apparent. The last surviving child of Mithradates by his second wife is their youngest daughter Ate, married to the Pontic satrap of Galatia, Macalix, the son of this union being the 5 year-old Tecalix Mithranes.

Much has happened in the campaign season of year 123 since the assassination. But before going into those dramatic events, can anyone add to this information or correct it in any way? I would particularly welcome corrections to any major errors anyone can find in the above. The Interregnum (Regency of Mithraces 108-114) is particularly confusing, but all clarifications or corrections are welcome.

If anyone can contribute to this discussion of Imperial geneology - including disputing its accuracy - do post the matter below. I will wait until the News for Humshofbrew is available (probably to be published in September at the earliest), which marks the end of the campaign season and the start of the winter of 123/124 before posting a summary of the dramatic events of the 123 campaign season, mostly based on The News of The Known World for year 123. But contributions at any time are welcome, they don’t need to be in sequence.

[Shalman]

From memory of discussions with Bruce

As you say, Shalman is Mithradates eldest surviving son by his first wife. Ate is a daughter from his second wife, so Shalman's half-sister. Played in character, ie not distorted by Macalix , she likes Shalman a lot, and despite lies to the contrary, Shalman gets on well too with Ate; they are brother and sister brought-up together in uncertain times for the royal family.

The succession should be:
Shalman
Shalman and Polonova's issue, if any
Ate, if allowed (male line only? Don't know, Bruce said he would check)
[Specifically not allowed, Ate and Macalix's issue, as Galatian]
Demetriaces

After I don't know.

Cambyses is Shalman's great-uncle by blood. Ate's only by marriage (ie, not related by bloodline).