So, it seems that there has been a war of sorts. My pop wasn't around much; he died as he lived, in his sleep. So I thought I would talk a wander around the streets get some idea of what actually happened and why. There had been a bit of stagnation for sometime, realistically this powder keg was bound to blow, it was just a matter of who took what sides and when it went down.  

From what I can tell, the aggressors were also the victors. This has me thinking, before the aggressors started the war, did they have an actual plan for what to do after? Sure we all know the risks of war, one minute you could a heavily protected godfather, next thing you offspring could be getting a gift from a shadowy man. But that doesn't mean the upper circle of that group isn't heavily involved with most of the families that have sprung up. 

So what I want to know is what now? Yes people will inevitably site that many of the auths are new. Yes they are, the old power base that got them there is still around as well. Winning the battle is only a true victory when you have a clear vision as to where to go after. You want us to join your families, you want us to help cement your power over the districts. Without us the general populous your victory could be for nothing. 

At the minute there are a lot of auths and well I can't same many are mentioned in my fathers notes. I'm not saying every leader has to come out here. But a general idea of the direction our world is taking might be, how are you going make this place better than it was? Or do we just slip back into the motions until another group wants a crack at power?

Nobody could have expected the death toll I'm afraid. There are literally just a handful of made men or above left.

It's all a big case of 'damned if you do, damned if you don't'. If these new auths hadn't been allowed to setup there would have been an outcry that there was not enough room for people and not enough HQ's were being opened. I feel we should judge the new powers that be on their future auths and at least give them some time to sort out this mess.

I hear murmurings of these new auths being inactive and such and thats the only reason they survived... good for them! Now they have been thrust into the very fortunate position of going bold some of them have most definitely bucked their idea's up!

It's not even been a week yet and people are baying for blood. Some people might just surprise you. =)

I feel we should judge the new powers that be on their future auths and at least give them some time to sort out this mess.

So what your saying is you think this lot ain't gonna be the ones to lead us, they are merely just a holding pattern until more appropriate leaders are auth'd?

If this is the case what has really changed? This world doesn't change overnight, the same personalities go for the same positions time after time. They may say they aren't and even hold off for sometime, but eventually most get pulled back in.

I would have to side with Orithoyia here, I think some of these auths will pull through and surprise everyone.

Also though, time are not easy when it comes to deciding whose family you want to go to, and it would really help if we seen some of these individuals out in the streets introducing themselves and there families to give us a better idea who they are and what they are all about.

Bottom line, people need protection without it we will indeed see even more unnecessary deaths then we already are at the moment. Its only been a couple, very busy days since the war has officially ended, its going to take longer then that to see some real results im sure.

No Hondo, I was not saying that at all. These leaders will stay with us, but it's quite obvious that there's still not enough. Some leaders will turn Godfather, other new auths will arise. It's rebuilding and expansion.

You can quite clearly see that there are a LOT less families now than pre-war, so why you would even suggest that's what I meant really baffles me. It's obvious to everyone that there's still a lot to be done and still a lot of new faces to go bold before we have enough families for members.

Of course people expected a massive death toll, El_Nino, I didn't say there wasn't a huge bloodshed expected. But to the extent that we don't have enough people of made rank to even setup... I would guess they didn't expect that?

I don't get why I'm feeling such an aggressive tone from you here.

It isn't an aggressive tone whilst some of what you say make sense you also make some rather strange comments in my opinion.

In any major war I would expect anyone above the rank of made man to take a total battering. Come the end you normally end up with a just a few left who were IWP people with big guns and the lucky few who managed to sneak away. Our history shows this again and again.

Every major changing of the guard has seen a handful of button men survive. These are the hands we are dealt unfortunately and I was brought up firmly to believe in a simple mantra.

"Hope for the best, plan for the worst"