First, let me apologize for the delay…
Now, that taken care of and seeing as I finally am in my computer, allow me to expand on my arguments:
First, the act of marrying a cousin, if not all that great, genetically speaking, is not all that evil also. Or
Most countries allow for this kind of marriages, as long as there is some degree of separation from the bride and groom.
Not only that, this kind of marriage was stated to be, if not fully accepted, something that happen.
And if it is something not unheard of, it shouldn't create too much of a hassle to us politically or socially, after all, all the great families had to or may in the future have to resort to it to keep some land in the fold.
That said, our character is a building BODY mage, one that could, in time, improve and help to keep our offspring healthy.
Not to mention that Dita's own regenerative and partially angelic constitution could help prevent any problem with her offspring.
On the other hand, all my arguments are good for what we know at this point in time, as the meeting with Zarana could, and will, bring new options to the table.
For now, this is how I see our options, with all the drawbacks that they bring:
Kat (as a primary) : bring fort wealth, magical knowledge, openness for other relationships, but also brings enemy's, problems with the church and possible problems with our family (as it would imped some of their plots).
Chesna (as a primary, all but closed at this point in time): she brings a barony, with a possible county our ducal state in the holy land, weak willed, so probably we would be able to keep Kat as a secondary wife. On the drawback side, weak willed, so no great help for our efforts, we could be hoped in her father's schemes. A cousin, so our standing in the family eyes (no prement reason for this to happen) and to the society as a whole, would take a hit.
Ezti (as a primary): Brings a barony and the church help, but also brings a local enemy, monetary problem (her land is poor), the impossibility, because of her religious stance of having Kat, or any other, as a second wife.
Remembering that not having Kat as a second wife could lead to her going away, to look for a husband or a place of her own.
Zarana: nothing is know at this time, only that she could bring a political alliance, but will bring no land (we would depend on war to increase our fief's size). No knowledge of her stance on a a second wife is know at this point in time.
Dita: brings a barony, the power of a goddess, if her mission is fruitful a reformed Rakasha, the possibility of keeping Kat, and any other we could want in the future, has more actions and possibility to grow than any of the other options, but also brings demonic attacks, the need to help the chosen, she is our cousin, so our standing to the society will take a hit, but not to our family, as we can sell it as a way to help her and the family as a whole.
This is not all they bring, but I see as the primary points.
Now, some of you are confounding personal power with family power
And personal standing in the family with our personal standing in society and our family standing in the country .
In the personal power and standing, all the matches bring something, some only political or monetary (ie: Zarana - for now- and Kat), others, bring military, economic and political (Ezti, Dita, Chesna).
But only Ezti, Zarana and Kat bring any kind of new power to our family, be it in the form of lands, magic and wealth of alliances, the others, only help to keep our family power, without diminishing it.
As you can see, Dita is one of the better candidates, and with one year to work her, we can bring her to want it.
Marring her will help protect her and the chosen, not to mention that it guarantee that she will not be forced to marry a stranger, probably forced to have his child and them disposed of, protecting us also, of her scape attempts before the big day.
On the other hand, if you don't want to risk a child, with BODY magic it is not to difficult to have one of our bastards pass a blood test, as if he or she was Dita's child.
Not only that, but as I put before, it would allow us to try to marry Ezti to our brother (helping increase our family holdings and with that, our usefulness and political power) or, as someone else mentioned, to help her broke a deal with Rogatica.
For last, the fact that we would have to leave Corzu, at least part time, is not a problem, but an opportunity… we will have personal control of two fiefs… a barony and a small and impoverished one… And if we have to choose, the barony is the better one.
But, I repeat, this is my opinion with the information that we have at present time, it could change with Zarana action I the coming month.
