The Startide Alliance
So you are telling me that the two strongest Houses in Literomancy are building an alliance? Should we be worried?“The Startide Alliance" is what the media has dubbed the visibly increasing ties between House Lapin and House Mollusca. While there is no large, formal written agreement between the two Great Houses, aside from the terms of The Treaty of the Great Houses and its subsequent treaties — nothing as involved as the Woodland Family Alliance, anyway — it is clear that the two Houses are working together more frequently, and Mollusca currently seems to be connecting with Lapin more than other Houses. The name is somewhat fanciful, and likely comes from a combination of shared "celestial-related" titles between the two House Leaders — The Cosmic Kraken Anassa JaySeaBoom, and "the Star-Bunny" Queen Sable Aradia — along with the shared border of the Pacific Ocean between the two Protectorates, and "tide" being the place where the ocean meets the land, and the moon meets the sea.
Structure
It is most common for Mollusca and Lapin to deal with each other in the context of the Council of the Great Houses. The Treaty of the Great Houses, The Treaty of Monte Carlo, and The Icelandic Treaty of Cooperation Between Librarians are the primary documents governing their mutual interactions.
In addition, the fact that their mutual Protectorates include a significant portion of the Pacific Ocean has led to the creation of consulates and embassies that are obviously intended to give one another a foothold in each other's territory for mutual benefit, rather than fighting over borders and jurisdictions. Mollusca offered Lapin a consulate in Oʻahu, near Mānana "Rabbit Island," and in exchange, Lapin offered Mollusca consulate near San Francisco, on the coast of the northern peninsula, including the Marine Mammal Center, and next to Battery Townsley, a historic defensive site. Lapin's Molluscan embassy is in Zafforza City and Mollusca's Lapin embassy is at The Warren in Okanagan City.
It's an interesting move... These consulates give each House a significant foothold in the other's major ports. That allows them to keep an eye on each others' shipping activities and navies — don't forget that Oʻahu includes Pearl Harbor. It also permits them to move directly through each others' major trade routes and almost forces interaction between their sea and air traffic. It's a great way to watch each other... but it also indicates openness and forms trust, because they're allowing themselves to be watched, maybe even encouraging it. It says, in no uncertain terms, "I've got nothing to hide."
Culture
Each of the two Great Houses approach diplomatic dealings with "cautious optimism" and a friendly demeanor. Neither is quick to give away their secrets or compromise their defenses, but both Houses believe in balancing independent strength with cooperation, negotiation, and mutual support.
It may help that both Houses are also led by strong queens who are somewhat "larger than life." While both the Anassa and the Chief Rabbit are known for welcoming discussion and advice, there is no question about who is in charge. Their similar leadership styles likely makes it easier for their peoples to deal with one another.
Public Agenda
I'm glad that House Mollusca is less isolated now. And I really like JaySea. It turns out we have an amazing amount in common. We're about the same relative age, and we come from similar, shall we say, "humble beginnings." We are older women with young children, too, and you know, it's hard for young royals to have a "normal upbringing," so we think it's important they have peers they can play with. But frankly, even if that weren't all true, JaySea and I both like to take the long view. We recognize the implications of power, we have a healthy fear and respect for it, and we know that just because we're getting along right now, that doesn't mean our descendants and heirs will. We're trying to build a firm foundation so that our peoples will have a strong relationship that outlasts the both of us. Because we care about them and we understand the duty we have both accepted.
I’m so glad that Sable and I have been able to establish a close friendship. It benefits both us, and our Houses. It was a pleasant surprise to learn how much we have in common. She has been supportive throughout my undertaking of the leadership of House Mollusca, and understanding of our natural Molluscan inclination towards privacy. It has helped that we share similar senses of humor. I am hopeful that the coworking efforts we make today, will be reflected in the relationship between our houses for generations to come.
I really don't think there's anything to worry about. Sable and JaySea are just friends, that's all. Isn't getting along a good thing?
Assets
I mean, when you consider it collectively? Yeah, their mutual assets are staggering. If they decided to, they could probably crash the world economy. But what really interests me is what kind of sea power we're looking at? Lapin has the world's largest navy, since Queen Sable annexed military assets that were lying around after the United States collapsed. And nobody has the slightest idea what Mollusca has on that front, but we're certain they're the only nation with genuine undersea power. If they were to wage naval warfare, our only saving grace would be that Lapin has little to no naval influence outside of the Pacific Rim. God only knows what the Molluscans have got, though.
History
While Lapin and Mollusca have had some tension between them in the past, for the most part, their relationship has been good. The Cosmic Kraken Coffee Quills and Queen Sable came to each others' mutual aid during the first two Word Wars. In The Third Word War, Scion Striker was sent to the Warren as an Ambassador, and he and the Bunny Queen became friends over the course of The 50K Offensive, enough that the Scion taught the Mother of Bunnies a secret form of Molluscan communication so that they could reach each other at need.
After Scion Striker's abdication, and Inky JaySeaBoom's ascension as Anassa, the groundwork was already laid for positive diplomatic relations. Working together during the The Fourth Word War and The Fifth Word War gave the two queens greater opportunities to work together and get to know one another, and despite a spot of tension between them at The Battle of Crystal Song, they developed positive relations and even a genuine friendship. It is not uncommon for the two to spend social time together, even outside of major summits or events, and they bring their children to each other's homes for playdates. In addition, the Bunny Queen views Olivette Rivers, Molluscan Current Whisperer (diplomat and ambassador), favourably.
Demography and Population
Despite Lapin's extensive efforts to take an accurate census, demography and population are difficult to narrow down. Lapin has been subject to numerous mass migrations in the wake of disasters and the Word Wars, while Mollusca has widely-ranging undersea communities anywhere there is an oasis of life in the ocean. To the best of anyone's ability to discern, Lapin has just shy of 60,000,000 people, mostly concentrated along the Meles border and along the southern seacoast and Sacramento County, and Mollusca is estimated to have about 70,000,000 people, mostly concentrated along Pacific seacoasts beneath the waves. Not even the Molluscans can really be sure, since there are so many nooks and crannies in which to hide in the ocean's depths.
Military
Lapin has a reputation for being the most militant of the Great Houses. But Mollusca has a reputation for being perhaps the most well-defended, and a lot of that isn't just location, it's about access to ancient technology that they've been keeping for centuries, maybe millennia. The combination could be... formidable.
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House Mollusca by Dani Adventures
House Lapin by Dani Adventures
Founding Date
December 2023
Type
Alliance, Military
Alternative Names
Ears and Tentacles (sarcastic)
Leader Title
Founders
Gazetteer
Taken collectively, the Mollusca and Lapin Protectorates include most of the Pacific coastline and the Ring of Fire. While they are certainly not the only Protectorates with Pacific coastline — Chiroptera, Ailurus, and Meles are also significant parts of the Pacific Rim — they do represent the lion's share of it.
Legislative Body
House Lapin and House Mollusca are both member nations of The Council of the Great Houses and the United Nations.
Judicial Body
As signatories and member nations of The Treaty of the Great Houses (basically, the literomantic equivalent of the North Atlantic Treaty), as well as the United Nations, House Mollusca and House Lapin are participants in the broader military alliance and the world community, especially in regards to magical and supernatural threats, and are subject to its rulings by mutual agreement.
Parent Organization
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
Diplomacy Web
Anassa JaySeaBoom & Queen Sable enjoying a concert together in Zafforza City by HeroForge
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