The Envy of Iqtadars

 In early February, Citizen Sesel, newly minted Iqtadar of the Iqta' al Saahil al Shamaliy on the coast northeast of Cothon, paid 2500 dinars to upgrade his iqta' from a minor institution (rank 2) to a middling institution (rank 3) (per Ben L.'s excellent rules). Alas for Sesel his developments came with a complication, and much as Durham has recently learned, such complications can, well, complicate things.

In Sesel's case, his meteoric rise from barbarian to citizen to iqtadar has evoked much envy and ressentiment among the lesser-to-middling iqtadars who hold iqta's in and around the Dual-Cities. Now, Sesel has done a fair amount of legwork to head off this envy, particularly in spending several weeks playing the socialite, going around to various get-togethers with the various Bani and Houses of Gadeed to head off the envy of these lesser lords and ladies.

And while that quick acting on his part certainly helped to tamp down on what otherwise could have developed into "evil rumors" like Durham has seen leveled against him--unfortunately, recent events have just complicated things.

For, un/fortunately for Sesel, his grant of an iqta' was on the far side from any effort possible by the Red Cloud and his forces. Fortunate for Sesel in that he has seen none of the depredations that the Kzinti and their warlord have vented upon such iqta's as al Zaytun to the southeast--yet this very fortune has aroused the ire and envy of those very iqtadars suffering said depredations!

As the conflict grows sharper--especially as new rumors filter in of the Red Cloud's wide daring!--the ressentiment grows apace, and a coterie of iqtadars have redoubled their envious whisperings (probably too at the behest of the Barcidae, who know little love for Sesel and his friends!):

Fortunately for Sesel, the income of his iqta' is not directly related to business in Cothon or Gadeed, and so he suffers no financial hardship; unfortunately for him, this informal "alliance" of lesser iqtadars will make things difficult for him when attempting to cultivate relationships in Gadeed especially, but even in Cothon. Which is to say, as of this week (ending 30 April, as the rumors gather again), Sesel will suffer a -2 penalty on all relationship rolls in Gadeed (excluding his wife's family, the Banu al Rashid), a -1 relationships penalty in Cothon, and a -2 penalty when attempting to build-up an institution related to either city.

Good for him--he has already started on one means of putting this envy to rest, by having solicited the ear of Khusra al Arasqiy, one of the two Souffets of Cothon-Gadeed. If he can secure a relationship with Khusra of (rank 3), these penalties to downtime will end, as Khusra puts her foot down against the nattering nabobs. Alternatively, if Sesel wants to wait things out, the penalties will also end when new Souffets are elected in November of this year (2022), and the iqtadars have to reassess their relationships with power. (Also, for Sesel, don't forget that even when the Souffet rotates out of power, it doesn't mean that the person ceases to have political weight and cache--it can still be very lucrative/important to have the ear of a former Souffet)

Sesel is also free to come up with his own solution to the trouble--the above examples are only suggestions that are made fairly clear through Sesel's relationship with one of the Great Bani of the Cities.