>>2082679
In defense of Anna, it was not mere hubris that kept the continent gridlocked. Four blocks had calcified affairs, kept from bloodshed by the Gnomish Heirarchy insisting that the four powers be balanced.

First among equals was Gawed. While they had not fought a war for nearly 50 years, their armies acted like the next war was surely tomorrow. Financial constraints kept their forces from reaching above eighty-thousand men at arms - reportedly, the complete lack of Copper in Gawedi markets led to an extreme expense upkeeping their cannonade corps - but with financing from their allies in the Free City of Damescrown, Grombari scouts reported an Alenic horde of a hundred-thousand possible.

Secondmost was Emperor Taliesin Silmuna, having wrenched the Moon Throne away from the Wexonards due to the recent heresy in Escann. Taliesin found himself lord of a divided empire, arguing over religious doctrines endlessly whilst blood rained down from the heavens. Though his alliance bloc was mere duchies, they swung heavily above their weight. Their combined navies were the pride of the continent. The Creek Gnomes of Portnamm's Gommocannons won them colonies as far as the other end of Sarhal, mounted upon their twenty-three heavy vessels. Exwes was among the highest thorns in Temar II's sides, sniping half of Dalaire out from under him during the Grombari Corinite Wars. Pearlsedge was the problem child of the bunch, perpetually aspiring to greatness but unable to marshal the men to man their vast fleet and late to the Aelantiric rush. Still, House Simuna's army was not a joke either - but with their undisputed naval dominance, there was naught that Temar II could do to challenge their overseas ambitions.