The Bela Akvario Crisis

The crisis began when Lenier Deschenal proposed expansion into the northwestern swamp of Bela Akvario, where a flat isolated region provided the opportunity for the expansion of the Chenalian freehold from its initial settlement, Chenal. However this region was very close-by to Frailt, the settlement of another Freehold Lord, Gimpy I. Furthermore, in secret correspondence with The Council of the Crowned, it has been rumored that he expressed intent to annex Gimpy surrounding his lands and forcibly making him his protectorate. Lenier, in correspondence later made public, inquired to the Council about the legality of these actions. Whilst they advised him to make his intentions public, thus legal, the Council, notably the 33rd Regent of the Empire, informed Lenier they would support Gimpy and resist his efforts to surround him.

At the time Freehold Lords, then the title of Gimpy and Lenier, under the Settlement Policy, could build in unclaimed land as a way of strengthening a claim on the land for themselves. Chenal's settlements were experiencing considerably more economic growth than Frailt, which Lenier cited as a reason he should have a claim over Bela Akvario. There is evidence to suggest his growth was fueled by an illegal trade and acquisition of goods that could have rendered his claims invalid. Given their long historical establishment, the Council expressed that different peoples and regions will experience growth at differing rates over time and that the land in question should be reserved for Frailt's future growth. This coincided with the fact that Frailt was leaderless during this time, which Lenier took advantage of.

With the situation still developing, Chenal's continued growth was further cemented by the arrival of Kyra de Chenal from Gnosis and the population expansion that followed. Things looked to be heading for direct conflict until 'The Canal Agreement' was brokered between the two parties, whereby Lenier would restrict his builds to south of the Bela Akvario Canal and Frailt would have free range to build in the north.

There was much discourse about Lenier's claims in the public forums throughout Old Hermertia, with Lenier pointing to The Regent's support for Frailt as a too powerful Imperial influence over lands that he had no business in, even though the Regent had every legal right to intervene. Since Lenier's argument was on the basis of his legality, many saw his take that the Regent should not practice his own legal rights as hypocritical. This created an atmosphere strong enough for The Regent to decide to take a leave of absence opening Hermertia up to a test of its institutions. The Unraveling would follow soon after.