>In a message dated 11-13-1998 5:31:12 AM Central Standard Time,
madfox@wxs.nl
>writes:
>
>> If Avan and his arch rival intermary, wouldn't the resulting
>> offspring have a much larger chance for the Iron Throne?


Consider this. Who else are they marrying while still able to keep their
blood strength in the 60-70 range?

It would be really expensive to keep marrying the run of the mill regents in
Anuire, with their 25-35 strength bloodlines, and spening regency to drag
them back up to their father's level.

Either there is an undescribed "Senetorial" class in Anuire with bloodlines
in the 50-70 range who provide a marraige pool for themselves and the Houses
of Avan, Boerunine, and Dosiere; or Darien, Aeric, and Caliedhe are first
cousins.

One of the reasons states might tie themselves to these individuals would be
the high bloodlines daughters would bring to the line.

But, there is another possible explanation based on Roman custom. This
would be that only the Head of House would have the full bloodline, that is
while you live, your sons are possesed of some small hint of your bloodline
(maybe 10-20%). So for a father to pass his complete bloodline to his son,
a proper investiture is required. Keeping with Roman custom a regent might
"adopt" any person (p. 31) as their heir.

Does Avan's son have d8+6 blood points?

How are bloodlines sustained over time? How long has the current state of
affairs (dominance of Avan and Boerunine) lasted? If its a fluke, and both
the Archduke and Prince were born with bloodlines in the area of 45, then
there is a small but probably viable pool of marriage condidates.

Kenneth Gauck
c558382@earthlink.net