[@LadyRunic] This post is shaping up to be lengthy.  Potentially a monster.  I'm not sure how much time I can have pass in it -- certainly the duration of the attack, but would there be time to make any significant progress on cleanup afterwards?  I don't think Sini will be asked to step up to rule yet.  That will be later.  But I would like to get a feel for what kind of timeframe I'm working with.