Harriman House
Summary
The Harrimans are the largest American House, and the only House of real significance from that part of Ecumune. The latest arriving of the Major Houses, the Harrimans came to the island as a largely intact family in 1878 after having individual members start their investments over the last generation. They built the American Railroad on the west side of Bailen Island, and that gave them effectively a tax on everything the Americans move from Umbra. They came out of nowhere eight years ago to be a big, powerful force. The heads of the house are young and the house is small, but they have an intensity that is unrivaled by the other Major Houses. They are playing nicely though, unlike most of the American barbarians, participating in culture and observing etiquette.Business
- Railroad
- Shipping
- Hospitality
- Assorted Trade and Manufacturing
Cultural Presence
- Patron of Objectivist Society
- Patron of Bailen University
- Patron of nascent American cultural movement
American House
Primary Family Members
William Harriman - patriarchMartha Harriman - matriarch
Claire Harriman - daughter of William, wife of Bruce
Bruce Harriman - husband of Claire, née Ivey
Ryan Harriman - son of William
Wyonna Harriman - daughter of William
Pierre Harriman - son of William
Key Staff
Ellen Tevis - seneschal
Type
Political, Family
Friendly Exploration
The Harriman family is largely outside of the political fights of Ecumene, but has been actively trying to make connections and alliances. While nothing formal or dramatic has happened, the Foracks have taken the most interest in welcoming the Harrimans. All of this is in the early stages, so whether it becomes a detente, a passing fad, or a formal alliance remains to be seen.
Disinterest
The Harrimans and the LaPointes connect in society, but that's about it. There's no hostility between them because they don't really compete over anything, and their trade is limited. The LaPointes accept the basic French opinion that the Americans are allowed to stay but can't eat at the big kid table yet, and the Harrimans have realized that the LaPointes don't see value in a deeper relationship and aren't trying. The younger generations are quite connected though, but purely as peers in social circles.
Cautious Curiosity
The Foulds and the Harrimans are beginning a very careful courtship. The Harrimans in particular are interested in getting closer with the Foulds because their infrastructure plays could repeat the last generation of development in Ecumene with the Outterridges and the Weekes (i.e. the Canal), and so the Harrimans have been playing very nicely with the Foulds. The Foulds are more coy; they know the Harrimans are trying to get around the Canal taxes and they don't want to be too eager at the risk of upsetting other Houses. That said, if the Harrimans remain a major House, the Foulds would like the same banking relationships with them as with the other Houses. Right now, the Foulds are waiting, but it looks likely these two families will have a better relationship in the future.
Shared Indifference
The relationship between the Weekes and the Harrimans is largely determined by the Harvest Moon treaty. Since the Americans don't fight on the same side as the British or French in the Umbran occupation, the Weekes don't have any business dealings with the Harrimans beyond some Canal negotiations. The Harrimans actually can't get too close with the Weekes without betraying American allegiences. So the two Houses basically have no grounds to talk. They also don't fight, because an attack on either side would jeopardize the war effort, and the mutual non-aggression understanding between all side on Umbra means that Houses sponsoring the occupation do not throw the first punches. The Weekes are a bit more negative towards the Harrimans because they know the Harrimans want to get around the Canal tax, and the Weekes make quite a bit of money off of that, so while the Harrimans are fairly neutral, the Weekes often take small shots at the Americans just to keep them in their place.
Mutual Avoidance
After an initial show of basic support to let the Americans stay, the Baudins have never wanted the Americans to ever have any foothold in Ecumene politics, and have worked quietly but actively to thwart their interests. The Harrimans for their part have no history with the Baudins except to see them as impulsive and reckless agents of chaos. The Harrimans have no interest in being tainted with an association with such a sloppy House. Both groups make it a policy to pretend the other doesn't exist for the most part, and aside from very simple deals around trade and commodity purchase, they basically don't intersect at all.
Wary Concern
The Outterridges see the Harrimans for what they are: a threat. The Harrimans' railroad bypasses the Canal, and the Harrimans do much of the same heavy industry the Outterridges do. At this point, the Outterridges are even acknowledging the threat -- to do that would be to elevate Harriman status -- but from a business perspective they are acting aggressively to keep the Americans down. The Harrimans are not responding in kind, partly from a lack of leverage and partly in an attempt to de-escalate things, but they also aren't suckers and defend themselves where they can. The Houses are not at war yet and it hasn't even risen to the level of a conflict at this point. They just really don't like each other.
Comments