Raven Seer
Overview
The Raven Seer is an Imperial title awarded to a citizen of Wintermark. It is a national position appointed by unanimous decision of the Wintermark senators.
The Aviary of Ishal was reconstructed following a motion in the Senate, proposed by the Senator for Kallavesa. The Aviary is in southern Skymark, the furthest of the three settlements round the lake at the heart of Kallavesa. According to the tales of the scops, this is where the wise go to read the future in the flight of birds and the night skies. It’s a place for learning - of the future and of yourself. For many years the mystics of Ishal have studied the omens and worked together to decipher them.
Responsibilities
The Raven Seer serves as the representative of the mystics of Ishal in Anvil.
Powers
| Magpie Infusion | |
| 55 Rings | 1 dose |
| 120 Rings | 2 doses |
| 200 Rings | 3 doses |
| Ravenwing Infusion | |
| 112 Rings | 1 dose |
| 250 Rings | 2 doses |
| 410 Rings | 3 doses |
| Goosewhisper Infusion | |
| 120 Rings | 1 dose |
| 260 Rings | 2 doses |
| 420 Rings | 3 doses |
Infusions of the Mystics
As a ministry, the title of Raven Seer allows the holder to purchase infusions at a set price. The Seer spends their money and makes their choices during downtime from their character page. Money is removed from, and infusions are placed into, the character's inventory when the downtime is processed.
Bounty of Goosewhisper
The Raven Seer receives a bounty of five doses of Goosewhisper Infusion each season to use as they see fit.
Parliament of Owls
The Raven Seer is the custodian of the ritual text for the Parliament of Owls, a ritual codified during the reign of Emperor Nicovar. The ritual allows the Raven Seer to communicate a question to the mystics of Ishal. If the mystics are asked an appropriate question, if they are asked to look into some issue of current affairs that affects Wintermark, then they will study the omens and report what they can find on the matter to the Raven Seer. There is only one copy of this ritual text; the Raven Seer is expected to hand it to their successor.
Appointment
The Raven Seer is appointed during the Autumn Equinox each year. It is chosen by unanimous decision of the senators of Wintermark. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached, the title may be appointed by the Imperial Senate instead.
The title can be held by any Wintermark citizen. They can be revoked by the General Assembly, the Wintermark National Assembly, and by the Assembly of the Nine.
The mystics of Ishal have made clear that they would prefer the Raven Seer be a mystic of the Kallavesi tradition, trusting to the Wintermark senators to ensure that this is the case.
| Summit | Elected |
|---|---|
| Autumn Equinox 386YE | The Shaman |
| Autumn Equinox 385YE | The Shaman |
| Autumn Equinox 384YE | Odelia Nelda |
| Autumn Equinox 383YE | Odelia Nelda |
Recent Elections
This title is currently held by The Shaman; it will be reelected at Autumn Equinox 387YE. The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.
Aviary of Ishal
In southern Skymark is Ishal, the furthest of the three settlements round the lake at the heart of Kallavesa. There are a number of buildings here, offering places for mystics to sleep, eat, study, and discuss the omens and the nature of the skein. Herb gardens are scattered between the structures, and overshadowing all is a grand aviary where birds of all kinds are housed, tended, and observed.
According to the tales of the scops, this is where the wise go to read the future in the flight of birds and the night skies. It’s a place for learning - of the future and of oneself. For many years the mystics of Ishal have studied the omens and worked together to decipher them. In Summer 383YE, in response to a Synod judgement calling on the people of Wintermark to look to the strength of their traditions, they came forward to offer their services to the wider nation.
Kallavesi mystics use a bewildering array of divination methods to unravel the skeins, but the flight of birds is favoured when it is available. The expansion of the aviaries at Ishal served as a focal point for Kallavesi heroism - stressing the essential role of those whose wisdom and insight allows them to serve as guides to the people of Wintermark.
The Title in Play
The role does not provide additional information about events in the Empire, nor allow the player holding it to request special reports or downtime actions. These details are assumed to be below the abstraction layer. The title holder is encouraged to create their own stories about their activities within reasonable limits and to get involved in events appropriate to their title during the game, but they do not have any powers beyond those explicitly listed in the section on powers.
These details exist partly to provide context and character to the role - and partly to allow our writers to use the title as a plot hook. Plot that involves the position will be rare - but all the campaign positions in Empire have these details to create the potential for it to happen.