Jev has woken up in a sweat! How can Grayson and the compact rebuild its naval forces when the archduchies, duchies, noble vassals and so on and so forth are so spread around and ostensibly all doing their own thing!? It seems each noble in each house is working on their own thing in their own way to help - but the actions are so uncoordinated! So random! Messengers and classifieds galore requesting trade pacts and support in hectic chaotic randomness! Nothing makes sense!

Jev remembers reading about supply lines. Economics: micro and macro! If only he can devise a plan! Something to present to...someone? Maybe no one! No matter. It's enough of a venture for him to hunker down and see what he can do!

Jev lays out a large map of arvum and the houses of the compact. He is noting the natural resources and the shipping routes.

It appears what would make the most sense is a central drydocks. Arx is too trade heavy and its ports too small. But Brighthold? Yes! Brighthold!

Mining of minerals, ore and metals as far as whitehold can follow a shipping route down the river, making stops for lumber and other materials at Cedar Vale and Stonehearth. Bastion can also ship lumber down its river to a connecting waypoint - each then combined to the delta where Arx resides. Trading vessels can move the materials to brighthold where shipbuilding can be done in a newly built drydocks: paid for and operated by the Crown direct and its individual docks rented or consigned to other duchies.

Thus bringing the naval rebuild under one unified endeavor. Sure it will require vast coordination, but it will ultimately be cheaper! Right? How much cheaper? Well that's what Jev is seeking to find out.

If his plan of coordinated exports from these various geographies, and shipbuilding conducted at a central location, can bring the ultimate combined costs of military rebuilds down by 20% or 30% - then he can take this plan to a higher authority who can pitch it to the various houses and get the proper diplomatic ties and logistical supports in order.

His figures and maths consume many reams of cocktail napkins, but he is determined. Will it work? Can he cut Compact navy rebuild costs? Does he have a strategic plan he can maybe even bring to the king?!

Jev works diligently - crunching numbers, making spreadsheets, looking at trade routes and goods, supply and demand. And what he comes up with is a plan - but perhaps not the one he expected.

There's no real way for him to help rebuild the army at a discount. But what he has discovered is, by building shipyards at Brighthold? He'll increase the income of Brighthold by a good margin. The initial investment would absolutely be worth it in the long run, provided they have the investment money up front. And of course, provided the powers that be want to build a shipyard at Brighthold, that is.

Michael Bisland is going to hire on foreman and construction crews to build up Pridehall's holdings, as well as the vassal houses of Bisland. He will use his leadership and command skills to track down the best architects and planners for the jobs. A great number of Serfs stand unencumbered by steady employment and a public works rebuilding is a good way to get the moving as well as improve the economy of Bisland and its vassals.

Michael is doing most of the leg work on this one. Riding horseback, interviewing folks and all the assorted menial meetings and such to get projects like this moving. Assistance will be rendered by other players via advice most likely.

Samael will use his oratory skills to spread news of their plans to build up the duchy. Some may be concerned with the constant threats plaguing the Isles and the Compact has torn the Bisland's attention from the problems at home. Samael will use journalism and activism to spread and inspire the people. He will give speeches and distribute literature and make contacts with his friends in Pridehall. He is well liked in Pridehall and, even better, he is well respected.

The tugging of fealty's duty has trickled down to the county. Seliki pledges armsmen to Lord Michael's efforts to build and re-build the duchy. Guards for the goods flowing to and fro set out from Pearlspire.

Silas uses his contacts within the Crafters Guild to reach out to experts in the fields of construction and architecture (particularly masons, carpenters, artisans, etc.) to aid Lord Bisland in his goal to Make Pridehall Even Greater. A good amount of stone and timber is sent down south from Hawkhold to assist, as well.

As minister of population Kenna Whitehawk keeps a close eye on the growing number of people in Whitehawk lands. With Michael's offer to build up vassal lands Kenna grabs onto the opportunity to put some of those newcomers to work building up old housing and setting up newer housing for growing families. She passes on the needs of Whitehawk and points out how beneficial it is to make sure that the area is flourishing rather than rat eaten considering their prominent placement at the head of promising trade routes.

Titania is going to ensure the merchants fulfil noble orders first to provide support for the initative.

How can Pridehall and its vassals help a wounded Compact but from a position of bolstered strength? While others look over trade agreements and ledgers, subjects Lumen is well-versed in, she appeals to the sense of patriotism in select merchants and Commoner business owners with personal visits. "At the end of the day, what's good for the Duchy's economic health is what's good for us all." Using the social clout available to her as Softest Whisper, an experienced Diplomat, and the child of a Commoner from the Bisland lands which are now the subject of discussion, Lumen has quite a few different cards in her hand... and she plays them well on her cousin Michael's behalf.

Lumen is careful to leave her role as a daughter of House Bisland implicit. She's a bastard, after all. Anything more would be in poor taste. Of course, if somebody were to infer by themselves that she's acting with the full support of the young future Duke... well, that's a personal choice.

Jev has been asked to pour over the ledgers and offer advisement to Michael in proper distribution and utilization of the serf workforce. He is looking at cutting wasted labor and shifting under and unutilized serfs to areas where they will be more production to help drive production to expected levels closer to the capacity. Lumber, for example, can be bolstered to become a primary trade commodity. Yes it's all very dry. It's all very boring. But Jev's off-the-cuff assessment of things as he fiddles with trying to put puzzle pieces together should - if the dice are kind - make a ton of sense and provide a ton of help.

Barric is going to appeal to the nobles and merchants he knows within Grayson, and without, appealing to them to help get Bisland back up on it's feet. He is going to promote the House as being one of the backbones within Grayson, and the Compact, that the Compact needs Bisland strong and rebuilt. The war is not over and every House needs to be brought back up to strength if we are to have a chance. He will speak of how a strong Bisland is a strong House Grayson as they will be able to call upon the support of the House more fully when required.

It was only a few short days ago that Mia Riven announced she would be opening Riven's warehouses to her sister Houses under the Bisland banners -- and at a discount, no less. Lumber was made available to rebuild lost ships, siege weapons, bows. Leathers and furs were offered for armor. Now she was adding the powdered clay that could be made into bricks to the list and, furthermore, was lending the weight of her words to convince the artisans, architects, and crafters of the Crownlands to add their own skills to the projects begun across the Duchy.

Under Lord Michael Bisland, Pridehall is making some advances and infrastructure changes. Baron Silas reaches out to his contacts in the Crafter's Guild to secure experts in construction. He sends stone and timber south from Hawkwood as well. Lord Kaldur Seliki gets involved, pledging armsmen to patrol the rebuilding efforts and strengthening trade between Pearlspire and Pridehall.

Lady Kenna Whitehawk, follows Lord Michael's example and puts some public works projects in or her own, improving Hawkhold even as they trade and work with Pridehall. Prince Barric Grayson makes the appeal to merchants and nobles within Grayson, to help Bisland rebuild. Countess Mia Riven meanwhile is offering deep discounts from the Riven warehouses to Bisland forces for rebuilding and building.

Meanwhile an accountant named Jev pours over ledgers and makes sure they're paying as little as possible, and that every silver is accounted for. And Lumen Whisper and Lord Samael Bisland work hard too, reminding the people that Lord Michael is focused on Bisland territories, seeking to ensure that their homes are secure and their tax monies are used to make their homes strong and protected. All in all it goes over well, and the Bisland and Whitehawk peoples are working hard.