Alignment

The Conclave has powerful tools to use when interacting with eternals.

Overview

The Declaration of Alignment is a critical tool used by the Imperial Conclave to interact with the eternals, the supernatural denizens that inhabit the six magical realms. It allows the Conclave to declare that a specific eternal (or a defined group of eternals) is an ally or enemy of the Empire, or remove one of those designations and restore the eternal to neutrality. These three states are often referred to as amity, enmity, or neutrality.

More than just a political and legal tool, this declaration has a known magical effect. Eternals who are subject to this declaration find their ability to interact with the Empire changes to reflect the Conclave's decision. An eternal that has amity for example finds it easier to dispatch heralds and wield its supernatural power within the bounds of the Empire, while one that has enmity finds it significantly harder to perform these actions. Amity or enmity towards an eternal is considered to apply to all that eternal's heralds.

Each archmage has the power to raise a single Declaration of Alignment each summit for an eternal of their realm.

Necessary Details

The Declaration must name a specific eternal or known group of affiliated eternals
The Declaration must be clear if the Conclave is extending friendship, neutrality or hostility towards the eternal

A Declaration of Alignment must name a single eternal or known group of eternals (such as the Whisper Gallery, the Lictors, or the Thrice-cursed Court). It must be clear whether that eternal is to become an ally of the Empire, an enemy of the Empire, or neither. Amity and enmity are often used in the wording of such a declaration, but synonyms such as ally, friend, associate (for amity) or enemy, opponent, threat (for enmity) are acceptable.

It's not possible to place provisos or time limits on a Declaration of Alignment. If the Conclave wishes to give an eternal amity for a year (for example) they must use the Declaration to grant them that status, and then after a year pass another declaration to remove that status. Likewise, it's not possible to declare that amity or enmity is dependent on a specific action or situation - an eternal either has amity or enmity or it does not.

Heralds and eternals

In recent years, the Conclave has extended amity or enmity towards a specific herald without rather than the patron eternal. During 381YE, a group of arcane scholars associated with the Lyceum undertook a number of experiments and investigations with the assistance of the eternal Lashonar and its herald Ut'Ka. The outcome of these experiments proved something that had long been suspected; when a herald is given amity the supernatural effects apply also to the eternal. As far as the hearth magic that underpins amity (and presumably enmity) is concerned, there is no difference between an eternal and its heralds.

The legal status of amity and enmity still differentiates between the two, but by giving amity to Baxshula, Uk'ta and other heralds the Conclave inadvertently gave amity to the eternals Arhallogen, Irra Harah, Lashonar, and Llofir as well.

The legal guidance was thus updated to indicate that the Declaration must name a specific eternal, to avoid any possible confusion on this issue.

Examples:

The Imperial Conclave declares Irra Harah an ally of the Empire.
The Archmage of Winter declares that Wise Rangara has the enmity of the Conclave
Neutrality for Callidus

Resolution

If the declaration passes, the result comes into effect a the end of the Conclave session as normal. The precise effects differ depending on which of the three versions of the declaration has been passed.

Amity

The eternal and their heralds are protected under Imperial law
The eternal and their heralds can attend Conclave sessions and be nominated to speak by a grandmaster
Their heralds find it much easier to enter the Empire and it is easier for the eternal to wield their powers there

The Conclave may declare a specific eternal, and any associated heralds, an ally of the Conclave. Members of the Conclave are encouraged to demonstrate courtesy and even aid these eternals, or their heralds, where it is possible for them to do so. This declaration automatically overturns a Declaration of Enmity.

An eternal (and associated heralds) under declaration of amity gains the following legal rights, enforced by the magistrates.

They receive protection under Imperial law
They can attend Conclave meetings
They may be nominated to speak before the Conclave by a grandmaster, although they cannot vote. The usual payment of crystal mana must still be made.
They can make bequests to the vault of a specific order or to the Conclave as a whole. Bequests made to the Conclave as a whole are generally dealt with using a Declaration of Endowment.

The Declaration of Amity also has a significant magical effect. Eternals and their heralds find it easier to manifest in the Hall of Worlds and to move into Anvil. Eternals with amity also find it easier to wield their powers within the Empire; in many cases eternals require amity to be able to use their most powerful abilities.

In some cases, the Empire has successfully attracted the attention of an eternal they wished to initiate contact with through a Declaration of Amity or a Declaration of Concord. Success is rare however, by far the most effective way to get the attention of an eternal who is not currently interacting with the Empire is through the use of an Archmage's plenipotentiary.

Enmity

The eternal and their heralds are considered to be barbarians for legal purposes
Any ritual that draws on the power of the eternal is automatically interdicted
Their heralds find it much harder to enter the Empire and it is harder for the eternal to wield their powers there

The Conclave may declare a specific eternal to be an enemy of the Empire. If this declaration is made, it becomes dangerous for anyone to consort with the eternal named in this declaration, or with their heralds. It is not illegal to talk to an eternal with enmity (as is often incorrectly assumed) but the offender risks being declared a sorcerer, and can face investigation by a magistrate for treason. A Declaration of Enmity automatically overturns and replaces a Declaration of Amity.

An eternal (and associated heralds) under a Declaration of Enmity suffers the following consequences:

Eternals and heralds under enmity are considered to be barbarians for legal purposes.
Trading or dealing with an eternal under enmity is illegal and will be investigated as treason.
Any ritual that deals directly with an eternal subject to enmity (Ephisis' Scale for Ephisis, Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust for Kaela or Missive for Sadogua for Sadogua, for example) is automatically considered to be interdicted; magistrates may seek the assistance of the archmages to clarify which rituals this effects, unless there is a separate Declaration of Interdiction against specific rituals.
Any magic item that was created by an eternal (or their heralds) under enmity is automatically considered to be interdicted.

As with the Declaration of Amity, this declaration also has significant magical effects. Eternals find it much harder to enter the Hall of Worlds. Heralds cannot use the portal in the Hall of Worlds to travel to Anvil without assistance from an Imperial citizen. There is significant evidence that heralds associated with an eternal under enmity find it extremely difficult or impossible to enter the Empire through any regio without ritual assistance. They can still physically walk into the Empire if they enter the mortal world elsewhere however, so they are occasionally still encountered near the Empire's borders.

The archmage power of plenipotentiary circumvents the Declaration of Alignment to a small degree. An eternal formally invited to the Hall of Worlds for a parley may manifest itself or its servants regardless of its status with regard to these declarations.

Neutrality

Any Declaration of Amity or Enmity is automatically overturned and any benefits or penalties are removed
Their heralds are no longer protected by Imperial law

This declaration removes either amity or enmity from the named eternal, returning them to a neutral legal status. Any benefits gained from, or penalties imposed by, the previous status are lost at the end of the conclave session.

The relationship with any eternal not listed as having either amity or enmity is neutral.

Heralds of neutral eternals are not protected by Imperial law - it is legal for them to be slain by Imperial citizens. They are however expected to abide by Imperial law while they are within the confines of the Empire.

Status of Eternals

These tables list the status of each of the eternals known to have an interest in the Empire.

Spring

Eternal	Status	Declared by	Date
Arhallogen	Neutral	Emilia Ankarien	384YE Spring Equinox
Llofir	Enmity	Solomon	382YE Winter Solstice
Siakha	Enmity	Ibiss Briarheart	385YE Summer Solstice
Yaw'nagrah	Enmity	Allegra Foundhome	380YE Winter Solstice
Ossegrahn	Amity	Ibiss Briarheart	385YE Autumn Equinox
Irra Harah	Neutral	Asenath	383YE Summer Solstice

Summer

Eternal	Status	Declared by	Date
Adamant	Amity	Solomon of the Shattered Tower	382YE Spring Equinox
Barien	Amity	Corvus of Auric Horizon
Rhianos	Amity	Solomon of the Shattered Tower	381YE Summer Solstice
Jaheris	Neutral
Eleonaris	Neutral	Corvus of the Auric Horizon	378YE Winter Solstice
Cathan Canae	Neutral
Meraud	Amity	Brother Luke	385YE Autumn Equinox
Hayaak	Neutral

Autumn

Eternal	Status	Declared by	Date
The Lictors	Neutral
Ephisis	Neutral
Estavus	Neutral
Callidus	Neutral
Prospero	Neutral	Edmundo of Damakan's Forge	384YE Summer Solstice
Basileus Flint	Neutral
Mazen	Neutral

Winter

Eternal	Status	Declared by	Date	Prohibited Rituals
Sorin	Amity	Syn Truthwalker Returned	383YE Summer Solstice
Kaela	Amity	Palaphon Ankarien	382YE Autumn Equinox
Tharim of the The Thrice-cursed Court	Amity	Sirus Skybreaker	381YE Summer Solstice
Skathe of the The Thrice-cursed Court	Enmity	Solas of the Spire of the Waxing Sun	383YE Summer Solstice	Tribute to the Thrice-Cursed Court
Surut of the The Thrice-cursed Court	Neutral	Kali	382YE Summer Solstice
Wise Rangara	Amity	Ematius Ankarien	385YE Winter Solstice
Agramant	Enmity	Beloslava Velkovitch.	306 YE Winter Solstice	The Crimson Feast Loosen the Shackles Mark of Agramant Thirst of the Devourer Treacher's Quill Unleash the Beasts Within

Day

Eternal	Status	Declared by	Date
Zakalwe	Amity	Gabriel Barossa	381YE Winter Solstice
Phaleron	Amity	Mari Linkforge	379YE Summer Solstice
Roshanwe	Neutral	Skywise Gralka	385YE Winter Solstice
Ylenwe	Neutral	Skywise Gralka	385YE Summer Solstice
Kimus	Neutral	Mord of Auric Horizon	380YE Spring Equinox
Sinokenon	Neutral
Leviathan	Neutral	Mari Linkforge	379YE Summer Solstice
Cold Sun	Enmity	Skywise Gralka	385YE Autumn Equinox

Night

Eternal	Status	Declared by	Date	Prohibited Rituals
Sadogua	Amity	Elyssian of Endsmeet	382YE Spring Equinox
Whisper Gallery	Enmity	Gregore	379YE Autumn Equinox	Whispering Shadow Courtiers
Azoth	Amity	Elyssiathain	385YE Winter Solstice
Janon	Amity	Elyssiathain	385YE Autumn Equinox
Sung	Neutral
Lashonar	Neutral	Elina 'Realm's Visionary'	386YE Summer Solstice