I probably should have been more precise; the semi or quasi-modern army the Go4 bought was only a small part of what passes for the IDA [at least 1% of the population], whose main job is internal security, and from the CoGA subsidies Desnar can't afford to create a replacement for the AoJ, nor can the Go4, especially given how little return they got on their investment.
I can see Duchairn refusing to spend more money they don't have, Magwair arguing they don't have the time to train or equip it, or both being relieved when Howard is cut off so they don't have to waste the money.
With a population of 148 million Desnar definitely has a large base of military age males, besides the standing army, but the institutional mind set against effective infantry prevents the Imperial Desnari Empire and Army from creating what they truly need, even if they knew that's what they needed in the first place, which they don't.
"They're so deep in the hole, they can barely see daylight at midday." -Dohlaran staff officer Lattymyr
An effective missile infantry, even if drawn from the small middle class, is inimical to the whole worldview and psychology of the Desnari empire and aristocracy, so sabotaging any permanent infantry force would be the object of all the arrogant irrational idiots that have been ruining the country for the last couple centuries or so, just as the French aristocracy ruined the French archers created after Agincourt, albeit the Desnari are still more competent than Harchong's aristocracy.
Furthermore, given the Desnari's pitiful rifle production, which are already obsolete, it would be another year before any reasonable number of rifle armed infantry could be assembled, yet against what the allies will have by then will make any such attacks by the then IDA near suicide.
That irrelevancy is one reason I don't see any diplomatic efforts by the alliance to the Howard continental powers; with the exception of South Harchong, none of them is worth bothering with.
Although, if they were smart as they think they are, they should initiate any rapprochement with the allies soon after their isolation, but I see no sign of such intelligence.
South Harchong is unique among them for a much more forward attitude or a more merchant type mindset, that could see the advantages of a relationship with the EoC, including increased if not de facto independence.
Having a friend there could be very beneficial to the EoC as well.
L
[quote="n7axw"][quote="tootall"]lyonheart wrote
[b]OTOH, neither the church nor Desnar can afford another Desnari army, and the internal reaction to losing it so incompetently may have all sorts of interesting repercussions.[/b]
Don't disagree with you often, Sir Lyon, however, I really believe that Desnar will raise another army- perhaps as big as the first one- less infantry- less well armed, but an army- second and third sons- still lots of horses there. And maybe commanded by AoG officers-(no idea how they physically get there). I say these things because it's a religious war- and Desnar still has lots and lots of young men of military age. A single(ok- very large) defeat won't stop religious ire- it may enrage the populace to greater efforts.
(Or not---if you have the right of it.)[/quote]
I agree that Desnair will raise another army, but it will not be for the Jihad since there will be no way for them to get it into the theater where the action will be. It will be used to keep a lid on social unrest at home.
Don[/quote]
