Threats that are to come - Revision history

Rafferty at 15:39, 23 January 2026

2026-01-23T15:39:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:39, 23 January 2026
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	[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]		[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]
	<ic>"The dowsers reports are in sir." said the young woman, holding up a set of paper sheaves. She extended her hand forwards as if to hand them to the sombre man sat behind the dark wooden desk, but at the last minute she changed her mind and placed them on top of the smooth mahogany.		<ic>"The dowsers reports are in sir." said the young woman, holding up a set of paper sheaves. She extended her hand forwards as if to hand them to the sombre man sat behind the dark wooden desk, but at the last minute she changed her mind and placed them on top of the smooth mahogany.

Twiggy at 02:32, 22 January 2026

2026-01-22T02:32:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:32, 22 January 2026
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	Nothing could happen until the regions of Rebeshof and Utterlund were drained. The Sandfishers are not worldly, but they're no fools - they're not about to set up new farms in the middle of a swamp. And the costs and benefits are hard to prognosticate because it would be dependent on the Marchers and the size of the herds of pigs acquired. The Professor is aware that large sums of money changed hands over cattle bonds recently, but he has no idea precisely how much was involved. However he estimates that if the League acquired every pig the Marchers could spare in a season, that would be enough to enable the Sandfishers to set up scores of farms across the territory raising overall taxation by a maximum of 6 thrones a season (the returns would be less if some of the bonds were acquired by any potential competitors).		Nothing could happen until the regions of Rebeshof and Utterlund were drained. The Sandfishers are not worldly, but they're no fools - they're not about to set up new farms in the middle of a swamp. And the costs and benefits are hard to prognosticate because it would be dependent on the Marchers and the size of the herds of pigs acquired. The Professor is aware that large sums of money changed hands over cattle bonds recently, but he has no idea precisely how much was involved. However he estimates that if the League acquired every pig the Marchers could spare in a season, that would be enough to enable the Sandfishers to set up scores of farms across the territory raising overall taxation by a maximum of 6 thrones a season (the returns would be less if some of the bonds were acquired by any potential competitors).

	The success of the project would also improve the League's ability to [[Army#Maximum_numbers_of_Imperial_Forces\|support armies]]. It wouldn't be enough ''by itself'' to allow them to [[Army#Recruitment\|raise]] a fourth [[~~Imperial army\|~~army]], but it would be a valuable milestone on the way to reaching that ambitious goal.		The success of the project would also improve the League's ability to [[Army#Maximum_numbers_of_Imperial_Forces\|support armies]]. It wouldn't be enough ''by itself'' to allow them to [[Army#Recruitment\|raise]] a fourth [[army]], but it would be a valuable milestone on the way to reaching that ambitious goal.

	==Further Reading==		==Further Reading==

Twiggy at 02:29, 22 January 2026

2026-01-22T02:29:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:29, 22 January 2026
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	The civil service can easily manage the stores and arrange to dispose of any grain before it spoils by selling it in Holberg's markets, but the Commonwealth professors propose an alternative. Holberg is a powerful and wealthy city, but it still has its share of impoverished citizens, the poorest of whom struggle to find enough to eat. Rather than sell the grain for the best price, a portion of it could be distributed to the poor of Holberg. Such beneficence would be expensive - it would double the upkeep of the stores from three thrones a season to six - but it would mean that everyone had enough to eat. Such a commitment to the Common Good would improve the health of the poorest people in Holberg, helping the city grow faster and freeing the poorest from the need to spend their waking hours securing enough wealth simply to eat.		The civil service can easily manage the stores and arrange to dispose of any grain before it spoils by selling it in Holberg's markets, but the Commonwealth professors propose an alternative. Holberg is a powerful and wealthy city, but it still has its share of impoverished citizens, the poorest of whom struggle to find enough to eat. Rather than sell the grain for the best price, a portion of it could be distributed to the poor of Holberg. Such beneficence would be expensive - it would double the upkeep of the stores from three thrones a season to six - but it would mean that everyone had enough to eat. Such a commitment to the Common Good would improve the health of the poorest people in Holberg, helping the city grow faster and freeing the poorest from the need to spend their waking hours securing enough wealth simply to eat.
	<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=NBLeague.jpg\|align=right\|width=300}}</div>		<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=NBLeague.jpg\|align=right\|width=300}}</div>
	It's hard to assess if the benefits are worth the costs, given how well protected Holberg already is, but the combination of wells and grain stores would ensure that Holberg would be ''completely'' protected against the effects of any siege for two entire seasons after Estmure was taken. Only ''after'' that would supplies start to run out and the siege become a problem. Finally the storehouses would mean that an Imperial army could take refuge within the boundaries of the city for up to two seasons, without risk of running out of supplies. The army would not go [[~~Imperial_army~~#Out_of_Supply\|out of supply]] for two seasons, despite their supply lines being cut. The general of an army wishing to take advantage of this would need to be in the territory and specify in their [[Army orders\|orders]] that they were accepting the sanctuary of Holberg; if more than one army attempted this in the same season ''none'' would gain the benefit. While taking advantage of this opportunity, the army would ''not'' benefit from [[Casualties#Natural_Resupply\|natural resupply]] (unless they were a League army), although they ''could'' benefit from [[Casualties#Emergency_Resupply\|emergency supply]]. It would also not prevent other armies from the same nation being out of supply.		It's hard to assess if the benefits are worth the costs, given how well protected Holberg already is, but the combination of wells and grain stores would ensure that Holberg would be ''completely'' protected against the effects of any siege for two entire seasons after Estmure was taken. Only ''after'' that would supplies start to run out and the siege become a problem. Finally the storehouses would mean that an Imperial army could take refuge within the boundaries of the city for up to two seasons, without risk of running out of supplies. The army would not go [[Army#Out_of_Supply\|out of supply]] for two seasons, despite their supply lines being cut. The general of an army wishing to take advantage of this would need to be in the territory and specify in their [[Army orders\|orders]] that they were accepting the sanctuary of Holberg; if more than one army attempted this in the same season ''none'' would gain the benefit. While taking advantage of this opportunity, the army would ''not'' benefit from [[Casualties#Natural_Resupply\|natural resupply]] (unless they were a League army), although they ''could'' benefit from [[Casualties#Emergency_Resupply\|emergency supply]]. It would also not prevent other armies from the same nation being out of supply.

	The stores would also mean Holberg could support any number of refugees within the walls, or in nearby Holmauer, without suffering from starvation. Of course a large influx of people would need to be housed somewhere, so the stores wouldn't resolve all the problems that refugees might cause, but they would be enough to ensure there was no problem finding enough food for people to eat.		The stores would also mean Holberg could support any number of refugees within the walls, or in nearby Holmauer, without suffering from starvation. Of course a large influx of people would need to be housed somewhere, so the stores wouldn't resolve all the problems that refugees might cause, but they would be enough to ensure there was no problem finding enough food for people to eat.
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	Nothing could happen until the regions of Rebeshof and Utterlund were drained. The Sandfishers are not worldly, but they're no fools - they're not about to set up new farms in the middle of a swamp. And the costs and benefits are hard to prognosticate because it would be dependent on the Marchers and the size of the herds of pigs acquired. The Professor is aware that large sums of money changed hands over cattle bonds recently, but he has no idea precisely how much was involved. However he estimates that if the League acquired every pig the Marchers could spare in a season, that would be enough to enable the Sandfishers to set up scores of farms across the territory raising overall taxation by a maximum of 6 thrones a season (the returns would be less if some of the bonds were acquired by any potential competitors).		Nothing could happen until the regions of Rebeshof and Utterlund were drained. The Sandfishers are not worldly, but they're no fools - they're not about to set up new farms in the middle of a swamp. And the costs and benefits are hard to prognosticate because it would be dependent on the Marchers and the size of the herds of pigs acquired. The Professor is aware that large sums of money changed hands over cattle bonds recently, but he has no idea precisely how much was involved. However he estimates that if the League acquired every pig the Marchers could spare in a season, that would be enough to enable the Sandfishers to set up scores of farms across the territory raising overall taxation by a maximum of 6 thrones a season (the returns would be less if some of the bonds were acquired by any potential competitors).

	The success of the project would also improve the League's ability to [[~~Imperial_army~~#Maximum_numbers_of_Imperial_Forces\|support armies]]. It wouldn't be enough ''by itself'' to allow them to [[~~Imperial_army~~#Recruitment\|raise]] a fourth [[Imperial army\|army]], but it would be a valuable milestone on the way to reaching that ambitious goal.		The success of the project would also improve the League's ability to [[Army#Maximum_numbers_of_Imperial_Forces\|support armies]]. It wouldn't be enough ''by itself'' to allow them to [[Army#Recruitment\|raise]] a fourth [[Imperial army\|army]], but it would be a valuable milestone on the way to reaching that ambitious goal.

	==Further Reading==		==Further Reading==

Hailmur: /* Land and Ditches */

2025-09-20T23:19:28Z

Land and Ditches

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:19, 20 September 2025
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	<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>		<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>
	<tr><td>'''Effect:'''		<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
	* One year after completion, ~~Rabeshof~~ and Utterlund would lose the marsh quality		* One year after completion, Rebeshof and Utterlund would lose the marsh quality
	* The current penalty to farms in Holberg would stop		* The current penalty to farms in Holberg would stop
	* Makes it appealing for people to farm the new regions which would increase the supply of food to Holberg</td></tr>		* Makes it appealing for people to farm the new regions which would increase the supply of food to Holberg</td></tr>
	<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Unlimited</td></tr>		<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Unlimited</td></tr>
	</table></div>		</table></div>

	The other half of the appraisal was a request to increase the supply of food to Holberg. It doesn't take long for Professor Gelberg and his team to locate the issue. Most of the territory of Holberg has slowly surrendered to the spreading waters of the Nameless River. Decades of painstaking work to drain the marshes to create fertile farmland have been defeated by Druj malice as they destroyed the dykes designed to keep the waters out. There are people who live outside the city and eke out a living from farming what dry land remains, but they are few and far between. Most of Holberg has simply adapted to the loss of the drained land by buying more victuals from the Dawnish [[yeofolk of Dawn\|yeofolk]] and merchants of Semmerholm.		The other half of the appraisal was a request to increase the supply of food to Holberg. It doesn't take long for Professor Gelberg and his team to locate the issue. Most of the territory of Holberg has slowly surrendered to the spreading waters of the Nameless River. Decades of painstaking work to drain the marshes to create fertile farmland have been defeated by Druj malice as they destroyed the dykes designed to keep the waters out. There are people who live outside the city and eke out a living from farming what dry land remains, but they are few and far between. Most of Holberg has simply adapted to the loss of the drained land by buying more victuals from the Dawnish [[yeofolk of Dawn\|yeofolk]] and merchants of Semmerholm.

Vsabo: /* Siege and Refugees */

2025-09-05T22:11:08Z

Siege and Refugees

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:11, 5 September 2025
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	As part of the work, the Professor also proposes the creation of seven huge food stores situated around the city. These would hold grain, salted and cured meat, dried fish, and so on. It is important to keep them apart; a single store is at risk from fire, vermin or sabotage. After discussion with the city elders, the team suggest one large store for each of the seven Virtues. The work is challenging - drilling wells is expensive and time-consuming work. It is also dangerous and requires a highly skilled team. Fortunately the engineers of Holberg are a match for anything in the Commonwealth - there is nothing here that couldn't be handled at any time now that the Professor's team has done their work - if the whole edifice was commissioned.		As part of the work, the Professor also proposes the creation of seven huge food stores situated around the city. These would hold grain, salted and cured meat, dried fish, and so on. It is important to keep them apart; a single store is at risk from fire, vermin or sabotage. After discussion with the city elders, the team suggest one large store for each of the seven Virtues. The work is challenging - drilling wells is expensive and time-consuming work. It is also dangerous and requires a highly skilled team. Fortunately the engineers of Holberg are a match for anything in the Commonwealth - there is nothing here that couldn't be handled at any time now that the Professor's team has done their work - if the whole edifice was commissioned.

	The stores would incur some running costs - grain needs to be purchased to fill the stores, and it can't be kept indefinitely. The best way to keep the food from spoiling is to sell a fraction of it each season and buy new to replace it - hence the costs. As a result, the stores would need three ~~Thrones~~ each season in upkeep to keep them operating, reflecting the difference between the price of food purchased and the food sold.		The stores would incur some running costs - grain needs to be purchased to fill the stores, and it can't be kept indefinitely. The best way to keep the food from spoiling is to sell a fraction of it each season and buy new to replace it - hence the costs. As a result, the stores would need three thrones each season in upkeep to keep them operating, reflecting the difference between the price of food purchased and the food sold.

	The civil service can easily manage the stores and arrange to dispose of any grain before it spoils by selling it in Holberg's markets, but the Commonwealth professors propose an alternative. Holberg is a powerful and wealthy city, but it still has its share of impoverished citizens, the poorest of whom struggle to find enough to eat. Rather than sell the grain for the best price, a portion of it could be distributed to the poor of Holberg. Such beneficence would be expensive - it would double the upkeep of the stores from three thrones a season to six - but it would mean that everyone had enough to eat. Such a commitment to the Common Good would improve the health of the poorest people in Holberg, helping the city grow faster and freeing the poorest from the need to spend their waking hours securing enough wealth simply to eat.		The civil service can easily manage the stores and arrange to dispose of any grain before it spoils by selling it in Holberg's markets, but the Commonwealth professors propose an alternative. Holberg is a powerful and wealthy city, but it still has its share of impoverished citizens, the poorest of whom struggle to find enough to eat. Rather than sell the grain for the best price, a portion of it could be distributed to the poor of Holberg. Such beneficence would be expensive - it would double the upkeep of the stores from three thrones a season to six - but it would mean that everyone had enough to eat. Such a commitment to the Common Good would improve the health of the poorest people in Holberg, helping the city grow faster and freeing the poorest from the need to spend their waking hours securing enough wealth simply to eat.

Twiggy at 12:29, 3 September 2025

2025-09-03T12:29:35Z

GuiltyConscience: /* The Common Good */

2025-09-03T11:18:42Z

The Common Good

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:18, 3 September 2025
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	To really produce meaningful benefits, the League would need to find a way to persuade the Sandfishers to move to Rebeshof and Utterlund after the land was drained, convince them to set up large pig farms there, get them to accept the financial support needed to establish the new pig herds and convince Marcher [[yeomen of the Marches\|yeofolk]] to make arrangements to provide the livestock. It's a tall order - but doing so would see taxes in Holberg rise, food supplies to the city increase, and see the Sandfishers grow closer to the city of Holberg, even as they become more prosperous. Professor Gelberg is so excited by the idea, which he believes represents a perfect example of the Common Good, that he intends to author a paper on the subject that he hopes to submit to the ''Zeitschrift für strukturierte Ökonomie'' when he returns home.		To really produce meaningful benefits, the League would need to find a way to persuade the Sandfishers to move to Rebeshof and Utterlund after the land was drained, convince them to set up large pig farms there, get them to accept the financial support needed to establish the new pig herds and convince Marcher [[yeomen of the Marches\|yeofolk]] to make arrangements to provide the livestock. It's a tall order - but doing so would see taxes in Holberg rise, food supplies to the city increase, and see the Sandfishers grow closer to the city of Holberg, even as they become more prosperous. Professor Gelberg is so excited by the idea, which he believes represents a perfect example of the Common Good, that he intends to author a paper on the subject that he hopes to submit to the ''Zeitschrift für strukturierte Ökonomie'' when he returns home.

	Of course at the moment it's little more than a theory. Since the implementation is ~~primary~~ diplomatic in nature - finding ways to approach the Sandfishers to engage them with the idea - the Professor has left that part to Imperial diplomats.		Of course at the moment it's little more than a theory. Since the implementation is primarily diplomatic in nature - finding ways to approach the Sandfishers to engage them with the idea - the Professor has left that part to Imperial diplomats.

	However the early signs are promising - the Professor's team was overheard discussing the idea by his Sandfisher guide, ''Swift-Fisher'', and she let them know that not all Holberg citizens eat sausages. She claims to know "for a fact" that the [[Merchant Prince of Misericorde Market]], is a [[Schisms_and_Heresies#Vitalism\|vitalist]] who eschews meat and similar, and there are presumably other Holbergers who do likewise. However she then points out that she learned at school in Holberg that pigs can be trained to find truffles, which are a rare delicacy considerably more valuable than whelks. The professor recounts the story merely to illustrate that the idea was clearly not unappealing to her...		However the early signs are promising - the Professor's team was overheard discussing the idea by his Sandfisher guide, ''Swift-Fisher'', and she let them know that not all Holberg citizens eat sausages. She claims to know "for a fact" that the [[Merchant Prince of Misericorde Market]], is a [[Schisms_and_Heresies#Vitalism\|vitalist]] who eschews meat and similar, and there are presumably other Holbergers who do likewise. However she then points out that she learned at school in Holberg that pigs can be trained to find truffles, which are a rare delicacy considerably more valuable than whelks. The professor recounts the story merely to illustrate that the idea was clearly not unappealing to her...

GuiltyConscience: /* The Common Good */

2025-09-03T11:17:51Z

The Common Good

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:17, 3 September 2025
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	But if they set up large prosperous pig farms, they could make a ''lot'' more money - at which point the taxes would be moot. They'd need to be persuaded to abandon traditional Sandfisher hunter-gatherer approaches for more intensive farming techniques... and they'd need to acquire huge herds of pigs to set the new farms up. Those would need to come from [[the Marches]] - they're the only Imperial nation that could provide enough pigs to form new herds in the time available.		But if they set up large prosperous pig farms, they could make a ''lot'' more money - at which point the taxes would be moot. They'd need to be persuaded to abandon traditional Sandfisher hunter-gatherer approaches for more intensive farming techniques... and they'd need to acquire huge herds of pigs to set the new farms up. Those would need to come from [[the Marches]] - they're the only Imperial nation that could provide enough pigs to form new herds in the time available.

	Recent success with the [[Million_miles_of_water#The_Cattle_Markets\|cattle markets at Stockford and Wayland]] have demonstrated that Marcher farmers can spare the livestock - but who pay for it? The Sandfishers are surprisingly ~~resistent~~ to the idea of accepting charity from the Empire, their understanding of [[Prosperity]] prohibits them from simply taking things without giving back.		Recent success with the [[Million_miles_of_water#The_Cattle_Markets\|cattle markets at Stockford and Wayland]] have demonstrated that Marcher farmers can spare the livestock - but who would pay for it? The Sandfishers are surprisingly resistant to the idea of accepting charity from the Empire, their understanding of [[Prosperity]] prohibits them from simply taking things without giving back.

	To really produce meaningful benefits, the League would need to find a way to persuade the Sandfishers to move to Rebeshof and Utterlund after the land was drained, convince them to set up large pig farms there, get them to accept the financial support needed to establish the new pig herds and convince Marcher [[yeomen of the Marches\|yeofolk]] to make arrangements to provide the livestock. It's a tall order - but doing so would see taxes in Holberg rise, food supplies to the city increase, and see the Sandfishers grow closer to the city of Holberg, even as they become more prosperous. Professor Gelberg is so excited by the idea, which he believes represents a perfect example of the Common Good, that he intends to author a paper on the subject that he hopes to submit to the ''Zeitschrift für strukturierte Ökonomie'' when he returns home.		To really produce meaningful benefits, the League would need to find a way to persuade the Sandfishers to move to Rebeshof and Utterlund after the land was drained, convince them to set up large pig farms there, get them to accept the financial support needed to establish the new pig herds and convince Marcher [[yeomen of the Marches\|yeofolk]] to make arrangements to provide the livestock. It's a tall order - but doing so would see taxes in Holberg rise, food supplies to the city increase, and see the Sandfishers grow closer to the city of Holberg, even as they become more prosperous. Professor Gelberg is so excited by the idea, which he believes represents a perfect example of the Common Good, that he intends to author a paper on the subject that he hopes to submit to the ''Zeitschrift für strukturierte Ökonomie'' when he returns home.

GuiltyConscience: /* Overview */

2025-09-03T11:15:03Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:15, 3 September 2025
Line 18:		Line 18:
	<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=Actuallythebest001.png\|caption=Holberg is regarded by some as the greatest city in the entire world, but that is not to say that it is a stranger to problems and protracted sieges.\|align=left\|width=300}}</div>		<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=Actuallythebest001.png\|caption=Holberg is regarded by some as the greatest city in the entire world, but that is not to say that it is a stranger to problems and protracted sieges.\|align=left\|width=300}}</div>
	==Overview==		==Overview==
	At the Summer Solstice '''Lula''' and '''Bernhard Kleist von Ennerlund''' and '''Cees van Holberg''' won the [[Patron of the Beurteilung\|patronage of the Beurteilung]] at [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Imperial_elections#Bourse_Auction\|auction]] for twenty thrones. This gave them the right request that the scholars of the Commonwealth appraise a pressing matter, much as if it an [[appraisal]] being carried out by the prognosticators office. The work is led by ''Professor Immanuel Gelberg'', a studious [[Commonwealth]] scholar whose work emphasizes the [[Commonwealth#Religion\|Common Good]]. This season, Die Beurteilung is set the task of assessing "''any innovative mechanisms to secure and bolster Holberg's food and water supplies against threats that are to come''."		At the Summer Solstice '''Lula''' and '''Bernhard Kleist von Ennerlund''' and '''Cees van Holberg''' won the [[Patron of the Beurteilung\|patronage of the Beurteilung]] at [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Imperial_elections#Bourse_Auction\|auction]] for twenty thrones. This gave them the right to request that the scholars of the Commonwealth appraise a pressing matter, much as if it an [[appraisal]] being carried out by the prognosticators office. The work is led by ''Professor Immanuel Gelberg'', a studious [[Commonwealth]] scholar whose work emphasizes the [[Commonwealth#Religion\|Common Good]]. This season, Die Beurteilung is set the task of assessing "''any innovative mechanisms to secure and bolster Holberg's food and water supplies against threats that are to come''."

	In truth, the city is currently well-provisioned by supplies coming from Dawn and the rest of the Empire, so boosting the food supply doesn't provide much in the way of immediate returns. There are concrete steps the nation could take to lay in supplies in Holberg against a siege and increase the amount of viable farmland beyond Holberg's walls, but without an urgent need, there are few benefits now.		In truth, the city is currently well-provisioned by supplies coming from Dawn and the rest of the Empire, so boosting the food supply doesn't provide much in the way of immediate returns. There are concrete steps the nation could take to lay in supplies in Holberg against a siege and increase the amount of viable farmland beyond Holberg's walls, but without an urgent need, there are few benefits now.

Hailmur at 10:41, 3 September 2025

2025-09-03T10:41:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:41, 3 September 2025
Line 18:		Line 18:
	<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=Actuallythebest001.png\|caption=Holberg is regarded by some as the greatest city in the entire world, but that is not to say that it is a stranger to problems and protracted sieges.\|align=left\|width=300}}</div>		<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=Actuallythebest001.png\|caption=Holberg is regarded by some as the greatest city in the entire world, but that is not to say that it is a stranger to problems and protracted sieges.\|align=left\|width=300}}</div>
	==Overview==		==Overview==
	At the Summer Solstice '''Lula''' and ''~~Bernahrd~~ Kleist von Ennerlund''' and '''Cees van Holberg''' won the [[Patron of the Beurteilung\|patronage of the Beurteilung]] at [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Imperial_elections#Bourse_Auction\|auction]] for twenty thrones. This gave them the right request that the scholars of the Commonwealth appraise a pressing matter, much as if it an [[appraisal]] being carried out by the prognosticators office. The work is led by ''Professor Immanuel Gelberg'', a studious [[Commonwealth]] scholar whose work emphasizes the [[Commonwealth#Religion\|Common Good]]. This season, Die Beurteilung is set the task of assessing "''any innovative mechanisms to secure and bolster Holberg's food and water supplies against threats that are to come''."		At the Summer Solstice '''Lula''' and '''Bernhard Kleist von Ennerlund''' and '''Cees van Holberg''' won the [[Patron of the Beurteilung\|patronage of the Beurteilung]] at [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Imperial_elections#Bourse_Auction\|auction]] for twenty thrones. This gave them the right request that the scholars of the Commonwealth appraise a pressing matter, much as if it an [[appraisal]] being carried out by the prognosticators office. The work is led by ''Professor Immanuel Gelberg'', a studious [[Commonwealth]] scholar whose work emphasizes the [[Commonwealth#Religion\|Common Good]]. This season, Die Beurteilung is set the task of assessing "''any innovative mechanisms to secure and bolster Holberg's food and water supplies against threats that are to come''."

	In truth, the city is currently well-provisioned by supplies coming from Dawn and the rest of the Empire, so boosting the food supply doesn't provide much in the way of immediate returns. There are concrete steps the nation could take to lay in supplies in Holberg against a siege and increase the amount of viable farmland beyond Holberg's walls, but without an urgent need, there are few benefits now.		In truth, the city is currently well-provisioned by supplies coming from Dawn and the rest of the Empire, so boosting the food supply doesn't provide much in the way of immediate returns. There are concrete steps the nation could take to lay in supplies in Holberg against a siege and increase the amount of viable farmland beyond Holberg's walls, but without an urgent need, there are few benefits now.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:29, 3 September 2025
Line 18:		Line 18:
	<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=Actuallythebest001.png\|caption=Holberg is regarded by some as the greatest city in the entire world, but that is not to say that it is a stranger to problems and protracted sieges.\|align=left\|width=300}}</div>		<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=Actuallythebest001.png\|caption=Holberg is regarded by some as the greatest city in the entire world, but that is not to say that it is a stranger to problems and protracted sieges.\|align=left\|width=300}}</div>
	==Overview==		==Overview==
	At the Summer Solstice '''Lula''' and '''Bernhard Kleist von Ennerlund''' and '''Cees van Holberg''' won the [[Patron of the Beurteilung\|patronage of the Beurteilung]] at [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Imperial_elections#Bourse_Auction\|auction]] for twenty thrones. This gave them the right to request that the scholars of the Commonwealth appraise a pressing matter, much as if it an [[appraisal]] being carried out by the ~~prognosticators~~ office. The work is led by ''Professor Immanuel Gelberg'', a studious [[Commonwealth]] scholar whose work emphasizes the [[Commonwealth#Religion\|Common Good]]. This season, Die Beurteilung is set the task of assessing "''any innovative mechanisms to secure and bolster Holberg's food and water supplies against threats that are to come''."		At the Summer Solstice '''Lula''' and '''Bernhard Kleist von Ennerlund''' and '''Cees van Holberg''' won the [[Patron of the Beurteilung\|patronage of the Beurteilung]] at [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Imperial_elections#Bourse_Auction\|auction]] for twenty thrones. This gave them the right to request that the scholars of the Commonwealth appraise a pressing matter, much as if it were an [[appraisal]] being carried out by the prognosticator's office. The work is led by ''Professor Immanuel Gelberg'', a studious [[Commonwealth]] scholar whose work emphasizes the [[Commonwealth#Religion\|Common Good]]. This season, Die Beurteilung is set the task of assessing "''any innovative mechanisms to secure and bolster Holberg's food and water supplies against threats that are to come''."

	In truth, the city is currently well-provisioned by supplies coming from Dawn and the rest of the Empire, so boosting the food supply doesn't provide much in the way of immediate returns. There are concrete steps the nation could take to lay in supplies in Holberg against a siege and increase the amount of viable farmland beyond Holberg's walls, but without an urgent need, there are few benefits now.		In truth, the city is currently well-provisioned by supplies coming from Dawn and the rest of the Empire, so boosting the food supply doesn't provide much in the way of immediate returns. There are concrete steps the nation could take to lay in supplies in Holberg against a siege and increase the amount of viable farmland beyond Holberg's walls, but without an urgent need, there are few benefits now.

	Of course it might be invaluable in the future - if events change. After-all who can who can say what threats are to come?		Of course it might be invaluable in the future - if events change. After all, who can who can say what threats are to come?
	<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Instructions to Professor Immanuel Gelberg">In vigilant preparation, direct the scholars of the Commonwealth to assess any innovative mechanisms to secure and bolster Holberg's food and water supplies against threats that are to come; whether for a protracted siege, or especially to feed an influx of significant numbers of refugees. We do this in acknowledgement that our Common Good is an admirable goal, and to protect the current and future inhabitants of Holberg, the Greatest City in the Empire.</quote></div>		<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Instructions to Professor Immanuel Gelberg">In vigilant preparation, direct the scholars of the Commonwealth to assess any innovative mechanisms to secure and bolster Holberg's food and water supplies against threats that are to come; whether for a protracted siege, or especially to feed an influx of significant numbers of refugees. We do this in acknowledgement that our Common Good is an admirable goal, and to protect the current and future inhabitants of Holberg, the Greatest City in the Empire.</quote></div>

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	They are also pleased with the warm welcome they receive, and the enthusiastic cooperation of many of the Holburghers with an interest in their work. This collaborative spirit is of course further bolstered by the words of '''Lia Adelaar''' and the League Assembly, who urged them to offer their own ingenious suggestions as to how to make the lands of [[Holberg#Utterlund\|Utterlund]] more productive, and to welcome any Sandfishers who might wish to become involved in the project.		They are also pleased with the warm welcome they receive, and the enthusiastic cooperation of many of the Holburghers with an interest in their work. This collaborative spirit is of course further bolstered by the words of '''Lia Adelaar''' and the League Assembly, who urged them to offer their own ingenious suggestions as to how to make the lands of [[Holberg#Utterlund\|Utterlund]] more productive, and to welcome any Sandfishers who might wish to become involved in the project.

	After a few days of settling back in following their [[Beat_of_your_drum#Sun_and_Gold\|recent visit]] to the [[Great Library of Hacynian]]. the professor judges it prudent to consider the supplies of food and drinking water. Getting enough of both is ''always'' a problem for a city and while Holberg manages, it would struggle if there was any kind of substantial siege. Given the scale of the defences, a protracted siege could well be the easiest way to take the city. Once the invaders had seized control of [[Holberg#Holmauer\|Holmauer]] and [[Holberg#Rebeshof\|Rebeshof]] they could cut the supply lines to the city and starve it out.		After a few days of settling back in following their [[Beat_of_your_drum#Sun_and_Gold\|recent visit]] to the [[Great Library of Hacynian]], the professor judges it prudent to consider the supplies of food and drinking water. Getting enough of both is ''always'' a problem for a city and while Holberg manages, it would struggle if there was any kind of substantial siege. Given the scale of the defences, a protracted siege could well be the easiest way to take the city. Once the invaders had seized control of [[Holberg#Holmauer\|Holmauer]] and [[Holberg#Rebeshof\|Rebeshof]] they could cut the supply lines to the city and starve it out.

	After some consideration, the Professor presents his conclusions in two parts - improving the food supplies to the city from the outlying regions and making provisions against the prospect of a siege or of the city needing to take in a great number of refugees.		After some consideration, the Professor presents his conclusions in two parts - improving the food supplies to the city from the outlying regions and making provisions against the prospect of a siege or of the city needing to take in a great number of refugees.
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	It would take time to drain the land, Professor Gelberg calculates that Rebeshof and Utterlund would lose the marsh quality one year after completion of the dykes. But the current penalties to farms in the territory would end as soon as the work was completed, as the waters would leave behind fertile land as they receded. That would provide a lasting benefit to the food supply of Holberg, making farms here more productive and drawing more farmers to the area as the land becomes more viable. Ensuring adequate supplies of food are available is always challenging for any city but Holberg would be guaranteed to have no food supply problems for years to come if the work was completed, unless the city somehow managed to double in size.		It would take time to drain the land, Professor Gelberg calculates that Rebeshof and Utterlund would lose the marsh quality one year after completion of the dykes. But the current penalties to farms in the territory would end as soon as the work was completed, as the waters would leave behind fertile land as they receded. That would provide a lasting benefit to the food supply of Holberg, making farms here more productive and drawing more farmers to the area as the land becomes more viable. Ensuring adequate supplies of food are available is always challenging for any city but Holberg would be guaranteed to have no food supply problems for years to come if the work was completed, unless the city somehow managed to double in size.

	Sadly the benefits of the work are still marginal at best. At present there are few significant problems with food supply in Holberg; the city is able to import much of what it needs from nearby Dawn. Ever since Holberg joined the Empire, it has increasingly relied on importing large amounts of fresh food from the rest of the Empire - in many ways, that is actually part of what has made the city so successful. If the occupants of Holberg spent their time growing their own food, they would be far fewer successful businesses in the city. Holberg is known for its chefs, bakers, and victuallers not for its farmers - it does after all require an an entirely different level of expertise to take raw ingredients and turn them into something wonderful than to dig those ingredients out of the ground in the first place.		Sadly the benefits of the work are still marginal at best. At present there are few significant problems with food supply in Holberg; the city is able to import much of what it needs from nearby Dawn. Ever since Holberg joined the Empire, it has increasingly relied on importing large amounts of fresh food from the rest of the Empire - in many ways, that is actually part of what has made the city so successful. If the occupants of Holberg spent their time growing their own food, they would be far fewer successful businesses in the city. Holberg is known for its chefs, bakers, and victuallers not for its farmers - it does after all require an entirely different level of expertise to take raw ingredients and turn them into something wonderful than to dig those ingredients out of the ground in the first place.

	Arguably though the problem is not the lack of farms, so much as the lack of ''farmers''. Most League citizens are simply not that interested in working the land, not when there is more gainful employment to be had elsewhere. Once the regions of Utterlund and Rebeshof are drained then people ''could'' set up profitable farms there - but why would Holbergers give up life in the city for that?		Arguably though the problem is not the lack of farms, so much as the lack of ''farmers''. Most League citizens are simply not that interested in working the land, not when there is more gainful employment to be had elsewhere. Once the regions of Utterlund and Rebeshof are drained then people ''could'' set up profitable farms there - but why would Holbergers give up life in the city for that?