Why does Jamandi Aldori allow adventures to settle and rule instead of enlarging their lands?

[piratek098]

What is her motivation?

[Sibelius Eos Owm]

I seem to recall in the original Kingmaker, before the introduction of specific personalities from the Swordlords, the motivation for allowing discrete operatives to settle the Stolen Lands was a political choice. A move by the Swordlords to take the Stolen Lands could easily be seen by Issia of the north (and esp the Issian regent of the throne) as a move to consolidate their power in preparation for a war, either over the Brevic crown or simply for Rostland independence from Issia's current tacit rule.

Another explanation could simply be a lack of personal resources. If all your people are currently stretched to their limit just defending and managing the home front (or even standing guard as a show of force and deterrent against attack), there's not enough resources left to send out to settle territory.

In either case, sending loosely affiliated agents is supposed to get around those limitations under a veneer of diplomatic deniability and to make a bid at capturing that land without necessarily risking anything you'd lament losing. Worst case scenario the adventurers fail and you lose nothing, best case scenario they succeed and are a friendly ally backing up your rear front ahead of any aggression between Rostland/Issia, and most likely scenario is these independent kingdoms pop up and manage themselves, keeping the heat off your tail while also being slightly indebted toward you so unlikely to cause you trouble down the line.

[Dancing Wind]

Flagged to move to Kingmaker forum

[keftiu]

This should probably be in the Kingmaker forum.

Direct quote from the text of Kingmaker 2e - it's nothing fancy, so I hope this doesn't break any rules:

Spoiler:

Under Lady Jamandi Aldori’s stewardship, the swordlords of Restov are poised to send agents and explorers into the disputed region. Spurred to action in part by an increase in aggression among the bandits and the worsening political tensions to the north, the swordlords hope their agents can chart and settle the Stolen Lands. The establishment of four new “puppet kingdoms,” all beholden to Restov’s swordlords and the rest of Rostland, would bring not only freedom from banditry and raids along Rostland’s southern border, but also the resources and clout needed to make a play for a higher station in Brevoy’s complicated political scene. If all goes well, the return of the Stolen Lands to Brevic control could give Rostland the footing it needs to challenge the Surtova hold for the crown.

So Sibelius basically has it; if the adventurers succeed, it makes Jamandi look good, it solves a troublesome border without any Rostlander/Aldori blood spilled, and potentially gains their side new allies for the likely civil war in Brevoy, while if they fail, it costs her basically nothing.

[Nicolas Paradise]

Put simply if Restov made any moves to expand the Surtova's woukd view it as an act of war against the crown and to reclaim Rostland now that house Rogvaria is gone. Issia has way more funds and a bigger army. By funding the initial settlements Aldori hopes that the new nation will be an ally but knows that Issia could try and influence you politically so it is a gamble.

[Coridan]

Kingmaker Player's Guide 1E wrote:

These initial charters are simple enough: re-open the

old trade routes along the rivers and scatter or defeat the
bandits who have made them too dangerous to use. Beyond
that, it seems apparent that Rostland wants to encourage
new nations to grow in this region—and believes that by
supporting these nascent kingdoms as allies, it’ll gain
loyal support in any coming conflict with Issia. It’s a bold
and brilliant political move—for if Rostland turned its
own resources to the task, not only would such a move
weaken its defenses against the north, but the blatant
power grab would certainly force Issia’s hand. By sending
free agents south, the swordlords of Rostland hope to
create new allies without sacrificing their own position
of power in Brevoy.
Yet as with most complex and brilliant plans, there are
plenty of opportunities for disaster.