The Ambition of Thrace

"We do not know this Thrace, this great leader of whom you speak." said the orc in a loud stentorious voice. "And yet from the tales you tell, it is clear that had we been so fortunate, his name would be written into the Epic. We believe that he was your Ethengraw - someone who rose from nothing to become a great king. We would honour him in the same way we would our own ancestor - whatever sacrifice the Sunstorm sept would make to honour Thrace, the Ethengraw will match them stone for stone, blade for blade, and blood for blood."

Anvor finally stopped speaking to let the other orc get a word in edgeways. "Er right... thanks for that." It was an impressive speech, even if it did have the ring of something the miller had carefully memorised. "I'll err... I'll let folks know you've said that." From the way Anvor had delivered his pronouncement you'd have thought he was delivering an address to the Throne, rather than doorstepping a slightly flustered preacher who was heading out to get a drink at the tavern. "I'm sure if they go ahead, everyone will be really pleased to hear the sept will rally round."

"If?" The Ethengraw spoke the word as if it burned in his mouth.

"Er... yeah... well it's not a done deal yet. Lots of things have to be thought out. If. When. How. Where. Who. Like I say, lots of details to iron out."

"The Synod have spoken. The Sunstorm have spoken. The descendants of Thrace have spoken. Now it must be done. The ancestors must be honoured."

"Yeah... well... yeah..." Preacher Grik struggled to try and explain the complexities of the situation but looking at the miller's face he doubted he was going to get anywhere. This Ethengraw didn't remotely understand Anvil politics, how was even going to begin to explain that. Or the stuff with the true liao and who was going to do that. Then inspiration hit.

"Yeah. So yeah, it must be done, clearly. Nobody doubts that. But think right? When should it be done? The civil servants reckon that such a big move will inspire everyone when its done - everyone in the nation will pile in. We'll be able to build stuff like there's no tomorrow. And like you said - the Ethengraw will match us brick for brick, bowl for bowl... fish for... fish. So the question is, right, should we do it now? Or is it better to wait a bit and stockpile all the materials we can and then do it then?"

Grik winced as he saw Anvor's features cloud over. He couldn't quite remember what the big orc had said but it had been something like that hadn't it? Turned out it wasn't his faulty memory that was upsetting the po-faced Ethengraw.

"You would honour your greatest kind, your ancestor... but you want to wait... until you've stockpiled enough... bricks?" The large Ethengraw was polite but clearly incredulous at the suggestion.

Grik just shrugged. "Yeah. Maybe. Everything I've been told says Thrace was Ambitious. We're only getting one shot at this - I don't reckon he'd want us to waste it..."

Thrace, Exemplar of Ambition.

Overview

• Thrace is an Exemplar of Ambition
• Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato proposed a writ of consecration be provided to create an inspirational location in their memory, and the Assembly of Ambition agreed

During the Winter Solstice, the Imperial Synod passed the first writs of consecration. This new judgement governs the use of true liao to create inspirational locations. The virtue assemblies of Ambition enacted a judgement calling for a memorial to the leader of the Orc Rebellion, the exemplar Thrace.

The judgement suggested that Skarsind or Varushka would be good locations for such a memorial. The civil service have looked into the matter. They considered several locations in Varushka, as well as a location in Casinea where the former slaves who would become the Imperial Orcs camped before their triumphant entrance to the Senate in company of Emperor Ahraz. Yet in each case, the inescapable conclusion was that the only suitable place to build an inspirational location dedicated to the founding of a nations is within the borders of that nation. To their mild frustration they have found only one location that they believe will make an effective inspirational location - the one everyone already knew about.

The Ambition of Thrace

• The Legion's Rookery in Gildenheim has been identified as the ideal site for an inspirational location

The Sunstorm sept of the Imperial Orcs look to Thrace as the founder of their nation, even though he did not live to see it. He is not heard as an ancestor and nobody knows where his bones lie, but in some ways the Imperial Orcs are part of his enduring legacy. The Imperial Synod recognised Thrace as an exemplar of Ambition in 379YE and now a writ of consecration has been requested by the League bishop Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato on behalf of Bloodcrow Rasp and his band, and endorsed by the Assembly of Ambition.

We, the Ambition assembly, seek in the name of Bloodcrow Rasp and his band, an opportunity to consecrate an inspirational site to the memory of Thrace, Exemplar of Ambition, first orc exemplar. We look to achieve this endeavour in Skarsind at the end of his journey, or in Varushka, at its start.

Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato, Writ of Consecration, Assembly of Ambition, Winter Solstice 385YE, Upheld (Greater Majority 352-0)

The Legion's Rookery already serves as a focal point for the preachers of the Imperial Orcs. It stands in Gildenheim, the city at the heart of the nation he ultimately brought into being. It is a building of great worth having already weathered two centuries or more, and even survived an occupation by the Thule. The old Hall of White Ravens has been expanded, incorporating a little nest of buildings dedicated to the Imperial Orcs' understanding of their faith, including a recessed fighting pit, a library for works relating to orc spirituality, and a museum that temporarily houses items of worth related to the Imperial orc legions until new bearers can be found for these relics. Even the few humans who have visited the chamber of the Abyss - the profoundly dark and cold cavern beneath the Rookery where no light is allowed - have found it a powerful and moving experience.

With all this in mind, the civil service concur that the Rookery would be the ideal place to consecrate as an inspirational location to the Ambition of Thrace and his people. It would not even require extensive construction; plenty of space already exists for icons commemorating the exemplar and the orcs who fought alongside him to found their nation. The same Highborn who drew parallels between Thrace and the founder of their own nation, Atuman, while they were in Skarsind providing peerless kinship last season have offered to supply all the stone such icons might require; the same offer their ancestors made to the League when the basilica of Aldones di Sarvos was created, and for the same reason. Those who are recognised as the founders of nation are an inspiration to everyone, not just their own descendants.

A dose of true liao will need to be secured. The real challenge is that orcs cannot use liao, true or otherwise. The Tamazi suggestion that magic be used instead has largely been discounted. As the old orc preacher pointed out last season, the final stage of creating an inspirational location requires a mandate in the General Assembly. If an orc raised that judgement they could choose a human who has helped the orcs get where they are today and who might understand and appreciate the honour being done for them.

Thrace laid the foundation for the Imperial Orcs nation, but died before he ever saw his people build on his legacy and inspiration. We send (named priest) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the Legion's Rookery in Skarsind in the name of Ambition.

Synod Mandate, General Assembly

Building a Nation (Skarsind)

• The civil service has identified that the Legion's Rookery in Skarsind is the best place for an inspirational location
• Consecrated with true liao it would inspire the Imperial Orcs to a flurry of building and construction

While orcs may not be able to use liao to create auras, they can certainly experience their power. If the Legion's Rookery were consecrated with true liao, the profound sense of destiny it brings would provide powerful inspiration to the Imperial Orcs. For a full year following the consecration, the people of the nation would be inspired to build and create a fitting legacy for themselves and their descendants.

The main effect would be that all labour costs to construct any civilian commission or fortification in an Imperial Orcs territory would be provided by willing labourers eager to build the future. Wains of white granite, mithril, and weirwood would be required as normal but there would be no need for money for any of these projects for an entire year.

For the same period, any commission announced by the Legion Engineer that would be built in an Imperial Orc territory would have the number of wains it required reduced by a fifth. Inspired orcs from across the nation would dig into their pockets and contribute to the construction. This would even be the case if the Imperial Senate chose to amend their powers to give them additional powers of commission.

Finally the Imperial Orcs National Assembly could use a statement of principle asking their people to consider a specific type or class of construction that they feel would benefit the nation. This would inspire at least one opportunity to make something unique.

In addition there would be far-reaching but more subtle effects over the coming years. Imperial Orcs would be inspired to dedicate themselves to finishing the transformation of Skarsind into their homeland.

Timing

• The writ of consecration creates a mandate that must be enacted at the Spring Equinox

A writ of consecration creates a mandate in the General Assembly. Like most other mandates, it must be passed during the summit where it is presented. If it isn't enacted, a new writ of consecration would be required - the process would essentially start again - but unless circumstances change significantly the civil service recommendations and assessments would likely remain the same.