Ambassadors of death
The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.
"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."
She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.
"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we actually asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"
Overview
- Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages
- Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries
For the first time in a long time, only five eternals have sent emissaries in response to the archmage plenipotentiary messages (the last time was probably Winter 381YE). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their realm each season, with certain expectation of some kind of response, but Bella Vicente d'Apulian has resigned as Archmage of Night without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that she have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of Night magic; a political assassination orchestrated in the City of Locks; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.
At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.
In the Midnight Hour (Winter)
- The Queen of Silence has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
- A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
- Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
- The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.
Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YEAlmost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two members of the Grim Legion visit Anvil on behalf of their mistress, the Queen of Silence. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage. The Queen of the End is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr. Archmage Arora is invited to bring the General of the Black Thorns who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the Senator of Miaren where Kaela understands the new army will be raised; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
A Silenced Call
- Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
- The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. End of Strength noted the Imperial decision to forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion. It does not matter that the proscription did not specifically name her or her Legion; the legal interpretation as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of idolatry, and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the Queen of Silence agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's warbands, especially those who support Imperial armies.
Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal, it was created with an assurance - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever interdicted by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the Synod that has taken this step, and not the Conclave fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as Dark-Between-the-Stars is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
The Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has not been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to retrain the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk before midnight on Tuesday the 21st July and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.
The End-of-Strength is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly remained silent on the matter. They even seem to have endorsed their proscription. Consequently, the Sorrowful One wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.
As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have always been questions about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the Sevenfold Path, now the ritual is lost?
Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)
- Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
- A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for TBC at the Summer Solstice
- A second parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at TBC.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
- The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Sarangrave Reforged
The formal emissary of the City of Bridges to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit Anvil as so many other emissaries of the realms do, they appear instead at the Castle of Thorns to speak to the Civil Service. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage Vossk of Sarangrave Reforged indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial Ambassadors and the Prince of Ties deems that more than acceptable.
With that in mind, the Reckoner of Ebony and Bone asks that the Archmage bring the Ambassador to Jarm, the Ambassador to the Commonwealth, and the Grandmaster of the Celestial Arch to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at TBC in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.
Finally, the messenger notes that Threadweaver acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why Subtle Spider might wish to help them create a college of magic in their nation. Prospero proposes that the Knight-protector of Autumn, Earl Galahad Du Besté gather up to four Dawnish enchanters and bring them to the Hall of Worlds at half past TBC. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.
Apples and Oranges (Summer)
- Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer
- A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloquium (15:15pm on Saturday)
- Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples
- The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose
The Lord of the Lake has had ups-and-downs in recent years but there's no sign of this in the herald that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the Mage of Summer to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.
Meraud wishes Ser Drayvana to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the changeling lineage, the test that the Tender of the Endless Orchards sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something glorious. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the Knight-Protector of Summer be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.
As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the Regent of the Southern Skies was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
Speak Up A Storm
- Meraud can no longer sustain the From the Mouths of Babes ritual
- The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
- During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
- After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual From the Mouths of Babes, or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The Lord of Summer Stars has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from "that crawling toad". A compromise then.
During the Summer Solstice, From the Mouths of Babes will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of tempest jade. The ritual must also be cast at the Imperial regio.
Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.
The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the Lord of the Lake. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the Golden Apples of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the Fire Mage. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the Prince of the High Tower, then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.
This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for every five ingots of tempest placed in the container with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the Wand Mage).
After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "lounging around reading endless missives from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him."
Light and Air (Day)
| Beachcomber |
| Type: Chosen |
| Appointment: Eternal |
Responsibilities:
|
- The Elder Pharos has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
- She proposes a chosen title to help represent her to the Empire
- The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
Elder Pharos is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she spoke with some of her heralds at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the Mariner's commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The Torchbearer's Companion wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she says what she means and she means what she says: Cold Sun is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear.
The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that. The eternal is not prepared to be branded - but if the Archmage wants them to swear a public oath, then they will consider it - but will need to study the wording of the oath carefully. Oaths bind any who swear them, but as a being of magic an eternal is particularly constrained by an oath. As a result, the eternal would need time to consider the implications of the oath that the Archmage wishes her to swear.
One thing The Weaver of Nets hoped that her Heralds would make clear was that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The Wise Pioneer proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other matters of interest.
Should the conclave agree to this arrangement, each year the Fisherman will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path, the Cardinal of Wisdom (for Beachcomber sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the Archmage of Day. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.
It is worth noting that this title would currently be illegal to hold under the current list of proscriptions, and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of idolatry. The Sun-dappled Shore considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
| House on the Shore |
| Commission Type: Edifice |
| Location: Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis |
| Cost: 10 wains of white granite, and 30 crowns |
| Time: Three months |
Special:
|
Effect:
|
| Availability: One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE |
Should it be desirable, there is a regio not far from the proposed location of the Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the Senate would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the Beachcomber, heralds of Path of Light would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of prismatic ink, as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.
The Pearlescent Advisor intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first Beachcomber, or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter, as well as the potential wording for an oath, if the archmage desires.
Shining Ink
- Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
- The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
- She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
- This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, Wayfinder has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to help the Empire secure more prismatic ink - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the Cold Sun. One such location is Starstep in Operus. Previously suggested as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the Scions. She-Who-Walks-Beside believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld Declaration of Acceptance) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).
The Netweaver offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of fane, nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, PathPromise just intends to help things along the way as she can.
Among the Thousands (Spring)
- The Prince with a Thousand Foes has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
- He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
- He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
- The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbramble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to Jorgen of Wintermark while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the Prince with a Thousand Foes without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the Bright-of-Eyes has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the vallorn. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from Archmage Clearbramble gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The Quick-of-Foot held the wards of power together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.
Shacklebreaker did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" the Barrens, and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The Lord of Brambles has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the Empire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.
If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then she should use whatever power she has to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the Victorious Axis. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but Eartwitcher finds it unlikely.
What Run-Like-the-Wind does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by Ser Guy and others to defending those who need protection. Murmur-in-the-Grass won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. Arwydd Clearbramble is an unknown quantity but the words of her plenipotentiary have set her off to a good start. As such Papa Otec offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
Piper at the Gates
The Woodward quality empowers any casting of Forge the Wooden Fastness or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.
Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah can't do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in Sarangrave.
Enmity will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.
- Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
- Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
- If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast Forge the Wooden Fastness, Circle of Tall Grass, or a similar ritual, then the Voice-of-the-Voiceless will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.
If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of ilium, however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the Woodward quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the Woodward quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.
In particular, if the quality is granted to Alderly or Tower March, Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the Marcher orcs and yeofolk from murder at the hands of the Synod should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.
Likewise, if the ritual is cast on Farweald, Untrod Groves, or The Bleaks, the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.
Hare Protector
- Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
- The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
- The Prince with a Thousand Foes is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the Breaker of Bounds has apparently gotten over their initial anger on hearing that the Protectors Stone it entrusted to the Landskeepers of the Marches was destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that Keep-a-Watch crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used Winter magic to break it. Perhaps Linley Weaver's investigations should start with Raoul of the Suns of Couros.
The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the assurance of Forge the Wooden Fastness was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher smiths who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone itself is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will also be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the Prince with a Thousand Foes to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.
On that note... the final, final thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps this time things will go differently - but the Wise Rabbit is not holding his breath. The refrain of "fuck the bunny" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.
Timetable
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
| Day | Time | Eternal | Realm | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | 00:00 | Kaela | Winter | Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber |
| Saturday | TBC | Prospero | Autumn | Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber |
| Saturday | 15.15 | Meraud | Summer | An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium |
| Sunday | 13.30 | Roshanwe | Day | An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds |
| Unknown | Unknown | Irra Harah | Spring | A private meeting with some friends; no details provided |