Politics

Probably more important than your house's wealth, strength at arms, innovations, and prestige is the way you are viewed politically by your allies, enemies, and neutral houses and groups. If you start to notice that you are the target of various clandestine activities (assassinations, kidnappings, theft, high insurgency ratings, and the like), you should begin working on your political relations. Even your allies in this chaotic society of the drow are often plotting against you! Here is the Political Alignment information that can be utilized in conjunction with the information on your turn sheets.

Political Alignment

Alignments are between a noble house and another noble house, group of drow, another drow city, another non-drow city, unique individuals (mercs, special creatures, special advisors, etc..), and any other 'free' thinking group or individual.

Diplomatic ratings
To further elaborate on the role of diplomats, here is a rating scale for your typical diplomat, messenger, or courier and their possible effects on diplomatic relations.

(Rating) Diplomat Type
(-2) Slave
Typically sent as a messenger and as a sign of disrespect, spite, or contempt for the house or party it is sent to. At least 2 Political Alignment Points will be lost if a slave is sent as a messenger. Slaves cannot negotiate on behalf of the sending party and are usually taken by the party they are sent to.

(-1) Regular
Typically sent as a messenger and as a sign of animosity and/or distrust (at least 1 Political Alignment Point will be lost). Regulars cannot negotiate on behalf of the sending party but they can return with a message. Regulars are not usually taken by the party they are sent to.

(0) Male Commander
This is the default messenger type unless another type is selected. Male commanders are trusted messengers and can relay return messages effectively. There is typically no +/- in the Political Alignment unless the male commander is a downgrade from previous messengers. Male commanders cannot negotiate.

(+1) Female Commander (or Male Noble)
Often used to relay important messages and as a sign of respect. They cannot negotiate but are excellent and relaying messages to/from houses. Major and greater houses typically use female commanders over male commanders due to the sensitivity of the messages they often transport but with lesser houses there is often a +1 modification to Political Alignment scores.

(+2) Male Diplomat (or Female Noble)
The most common diplomat is the male diplomat as diplomacy is deemed a lesser role to females. Diplomats can speak and negotiate on behalf of their house and are very reliable transporters of information. Many houses will not incorporate males as diplomats (as they are mere males!) but typically they are a sign of respect and honor when sent to discuss matters of high importance between two parties (and thus a +2 modification can often occur to the Political Alignment Score). Male diplomats are not typically targets for capture and ransom, but are often targets of assassination and bribes.

(+3) Female Diplomat
Some females are groomed as diplomats and negotiators in ChedNasid. They often have more knowledge (and even are respected more) than the matrons of the houses they represent. For this reason, they are a great sign of reverence to the party they are sent to and will invoke as much as a +3 modification to the Political Alignment score between the two parties. Female diplomats are a main kidnapping target and should be well protected at all times.

(+4 or more) Priestess/High Priestess/Noble Priestess/Matron
In some cases it is imperative to send trusted individuals or to show a total sign of respect and honor. In these cases, daughters and even the matron should be used to convey even simple messages. In addition, when a house (especially a higher ranking house) requests a priestess or matron to attend, the request should be considered carefully as failure to show will often have the opposite effect (-4 or more) to the Alignment score.

Note- Unless otherwise detailed on your turns, your diplomats act alone and are unescorted.

GIFTS
When attempting to gain an alliance or trade pact with another house, it is often necessary to offer gifts prior to any negotiations. Gifts can be as simple as slaves or gold or as elaborate as spells, innovations, and even magic items and artifacts! Gifts can also be sent without a diplomatic purpose but as a sign of respect and honor to an existing ally. Beginning diplomat talks before offering a gift is often seen as a sign of disrespect (stronger house to lesser house) or as a sign of desperation.