Asavean Factor

Loyalty is the link from one heart to another, guiding us on the path of Virtue. Alberto Acciai - Exemplar of Loyalty - followed his heart. Inspired by his cousin, Alberto broke the chains of the downtrodden and struck against the Plenum, freeing slaves from their tyrant masters and breaking two Asavean armies. Through Loyalty, Alberto shared the gift of the Way with the people of Marilen, and inspired others to rise up in Virtue. Two years ago we committed to continuing the work of Alberto and Amika. Asavea will be transformed through Virtue, the truly Virtuous are Loyal even in times of hardship! We must stand by our commitment, and finish the war the Empire started. We will bring Virtue to Asavea, no matter the cost. We devote our hearts to this task. This is our Highest Calling.

Dagon of the Shattered Tower, Loyalty Assembly, Spring 388YE, Vote: Upheld with a Greater Majority 390-26

Even the most impenetrable forest may fall one tree at a time. We send Dagon with 50 doses of liao to urge those loyal to our young siblings in Virtue to spread the Way and support the Virtuous rebels in Asavea.

Dagon, Loyalty Assembly, Summer Solstice 386YE, Vote: Upheld (400-128)

Overview

Not content with one epoch-defining construction, the Empire is also attempting to Anchor the Way in Asavea. Thus far, only 34 of the 750 wains of white granite required has been submitted, yet once the Grand Inspiration is complete that may allow streams to be diverted to this second grand edifice to the Way. Yet the Loyalty Assembly values this construction more highly than the one in Bastion and have spent the season encouraging those who know the highest calling of their hearts to consider ways they might aid in usurping the worship of the false gods of the Plenum.

Seeking Allies

The Loyalty assembly needs allies who feel the same way they do

Anchoring the Way in Asavea is a major undertaking, and one that is frankly struggling. Yet if there is one thing the Loyalty assembly knows, it is the importance of finding other people who share your goals and are prepared to work with you. One approach to pushing the ambitious project forward would be to secure such allies. There seem to be two broad approaches that might achieve something here.

Build Then Up

For the next year, the Loyalty Assembly can use a mandate to urge members to find a way to arrange a meeting of some kind with a single named faction

What might benefit the Assembly is some way to build links with the various different Asavean factions. Each of them could be very useful to attempts to spread the Way to Asavea if the Empire could bring them on side. Thus far that has proved difficult, but that may be because communicating by Call Winged Messenger is just so tortuous. Perhaps the best way for the Assembly to start making real progress is to find a way to meet with these people?

There are six distinct Asavean factions that the Empire has identified - all of which could help to anchor the Way in Asavea, if they could be convinced to risk the endeavour. Unfortunately they have high demands and thus far have been shown relatively little interest in negotiating. In truth, a winged messenger agreeing to meet someone's price will be effective, but winged messengers asking for meetings or haggling are almost never effective. After, all the Empire is going to them; they have little reason to lower their demands.

Still if it were possible to meet with them, in some way, then that might change. Perhaps using the illegal Caucus form or by some other clandestine method, perhaps a chamber arranged by Prospero or Basileia, or if possible, a way to simply bring them to Anvil. None of these people are going to change their minds just because they've been dragged into a meeting, but the power of persuasion should never be under-estimated. If the Empire can talk to them, then they might be able to find common ground.

The Virtuous build up their fellows. We send (named individual) with 25 doses of liao to urge the Virtuous to find a way to arrange a meeting with (faction). Let us meet and find common ground against the Plenum.

Synod Mandate, Loyalty Assembly

If this mandate is enacted, then the faithful will find an opportunity to engineer a face-to-face meeting of some kind between the named individual and the faction. If there is a chance to bring others into the meeting, so much the better, but whoever is named in the mandate will have to be there. Obviously there's nothing to stop the assembly seeking to reach out to these factions by mundane means, via letter and negotiation, but so far that approach has borne limited fruit.

Search Beyond

For the next year, the Loyalty Assembly can use a mandate to urge members to enlist supernatural allies

Alternatively the assembly could explore a different approach. Rather than spending more time trying to win over the Asavean factions, they could look for allies elsewhere. Instead of seeking a meeting with anyone, they could ask members of the assembly all over the Empire to see if there is any herald of an eternal who might be persuaded to help. The eternals are not especially virtuous, but their interests stretch across the Known World and there is no doubt that some of them could be persuaded to support the Empire's efforts in the west.

Even the wicked can be loyal. We send (named individual) with 25 doses of liao to urge the Virtuous to find approach the servants of (named eternal). Let us see what aid they might offer.

Synod Mandate, Loyalty Assembly

If this mandate is enacted, then the faithful will seek out the heralds of the eternal in question and pester them with requests for help until they obtain a response from their sovereign. It's not the best way to approach an eternal - a proud eternal like Eleonaris is likely to be furious by being bothered in this way. But some eternals are much more informal. Either way it will bring a response of some kind - though any formal response is most likely to be directed to the Conclave. At the very least it will provide details for the format of a possible plenipotentiary.

It's a long shot, but the idea for it follows an approach from the Prince of Argent Tontine. It nothing else it gives a good example of what might be on offer. There's also nothing to stop members of the assembly negotiating with an Archmage to deploy their power of plenipotentiary on behalf of the assembly, of course, but in that case as in so many it would be unlikely to achieve much unless it was the sole thing the archmage was asking for.

Two Paths

These mandates are competing

These mandates are in competition with each other. If more than one is raised, all such mandates will compete. Whichever mandate receives the greatest margin, once it is enacted, will set the path the Loyalty Assembly takes for the coming year. If the winning mandate deals with a faction, the ability to ask the assembly to seek eternal allies in this way in the future will be lost, and vice verse.

Appraisal

Appraise supporting Anchoring the Way

Motion Type: Appraisal

Necessary Details: Needs to call for the appraisal to identify ways Loyal Imperial citizens can support anchoring the Way in Asavea

Special: The choice of prognosticator will be crucial here

The Senate could endorse an appraisal to find ways to secure more materials for the project to anchor the Way

One of the key challenges facing the Loyalty assembly is that in the time since the project to anchor the Way in Asavea was begun, it has not achieved even a tenth of its objective. The wains needed exist, but they are not being donated to the effect to bring the virtues to the Asavean Archipelago. One obvious possibility that presents itself to the Loyalty assembly would be to have the Senate commission an appraisal looking for ways the Loyal citizens of the Empire who want to help the spreading of the Way can do so. One major obstacle here is that it is not entirely clear how much of the Senate supports the anchoring of the Way in the first place - they did attempt to criminalize the preaching of the virtues in Asasvea after all. Especially with the Asaveans sending support to the Grendel in their war on the EMpire. However, if such an appraisal were commissioned, it may turn up ways the Loyalty assembly can drum up support at home for this ambitious endeavour.

One thing that will be crucial with this appraisal, if the assembly is able to convince the Senate to endorse it, is the choice of prognosticator. Each of them has their specialities, and areas where they are weak, and an appraisal into supporting an endeavour in a foreign country is likely to magnify those strengths and weaknesses.

Sovereign of Self

Callidus offers to provide funding for the "war with Asavea" in exchange for items of profound importance
He is offering to buy these goods in exchange for wains of white granite

Callidus has been observing the Imperial attempt to use religion to disrupt the status quo of political power in the archipelago and replace it with their own influence. The eternal strongly approves of this war of words with the Plenum, they are fascinated to see how hot the war can get and eager to help pour more fuel on the fire. Still the Prince of the Argent Tontine is not prepared to offer his aid without some form of recompense.

The Golden Bargainer has long held interest in notable religious artefacts, fascinated with the power they grant of over people. He has significant white granite he could donate to the project, yet nothing in the Autumn Realm is ever free. Zand has been dispatched to communicate to the Empire that the Keeper of the Gilded Chains could be convinced to make such a donation, as long as the price is right. Any significant quantity of white granite would require something of enormous significance in return.

Helpfully Zand has several suggestions the Empire might want to consider. One or more of the pilgrim shields, a dose of true liao, or the pen that signed the liberty pact. Or if the Assembly really want to make a difference something of importance to the whole Empire like the Imperial Crown? Whatever the Empire wants to put on the table needs to be of that level of significance, to make it worth the eternal's time engaging with them.

Should the Synod be interested in negotiating this deal, Zand suggests they should petition the Archmage of Autumn to list which such items might be on the table the next time they are minded to send them a plenipotentiary, and a suitable negotiation can be arranged. The Prince is rich, so Zand encourages the Empire to bring their most valuable possessions to the table.

Asavean Factor

Contents

Overview

Seeking Allies

Build Then Up

Search Beyond

Two Paths

Appraisal

Sovereign of Self

Further Reading

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