Controversies of King Barren II Grenthyx's Rule

== Overview ==
During the rule of King Barren II Grenthyx, and before the advent of the Uprootings, many controversial events occurred on the behalf of the King. Attracting the attention of Mhordyn's Tíras Theôs and Helmont's Forkoux Fyth, these controversies compounded to result in A Plea To All Fair Realms being published - and thusly the Uprootings itself. 
== Events ==
=== Initial Blockade ===
Soon after Barren's coronation in March 198 AG, he met with Harolde Silversmith, who as then head of the Scholars' Collective. He was seen to be an ideal advisory candidate. Harolde made reccomendations to Barren, pointing to the fineprint of various agreements which ceded Grenthyx Dynasty powers. Deciding on a course of action, Barren openly breached the Floralys Agreement of 192 AG by establishing a blockade at the mouth of the River Tyst in Lake Llanoreid, also bypassing Llanoreid's ability to consent to such a mass gathering of Grenthyx Dynasty ships. This blockade was intent on forcibly directing Helmont's trade flow to kingdoms which were preferable in the King's view. Patriarch Forkoux Fyth was outraged, and alerted other kingdoms to what was being done. 
=== Suppression of Protest ===
Outraged ensued, including many peaceful protests in the Capital, centered around Causton Square and outside the Royal Palace. In response, Barren imprisoned and killed many of them, sparking yet more outrage; particularly from Forkoux and Tiras. 
=== Contra Suffocated ===
Elsewhere, King Lythe Armitage of Contra had already met with Forkoux Fyth, with the latter using the time to alert Lythe to his own reservations regarding Barren. Consequently, in late 198 AG, Lythe shut off all Contran trading with the kingdoms which Barren's Tyst Blockade had given preferential treatment to; a retaliation. In response, Barren swiftly ordered for a substantial buildup of the blockade (much to the chagrin of Wilddar and Avelyn Braitbirn) which included an additional arm of blockade ships to be stationed around Llynfirth in order to begin to completely cut off Contra's trade flow, starving them. In light of the ongoing famine in Contra, Lythe and his head of the Advisory Council of Contra, Cesil Burnwyn, became furious, fearing that the subjects would blame them for their already dire situation with crop failure made even worse by them not being able to sell the few crops that were viable. Lythe's fears were misplaced, but nonetheless his paranoia translated into disdain for the King and what he had done to Contra.
=== Impacts ===
The various acts committed by Barren after his ascension to King gave him an immensely unpopular public image across The Continent, and even a distasteful reputation within House Grenthyx itself. Little did Barren know that his actions would result in Forkoux publishing a devastating declaration of a trade war in the form of A Plea to All Fair Realms - kickstarting the bloody Uprootings.