Empire - User contributions [en]

Online

2025-04-18T12:00:05Z

Cathtice:

{{CaptionedImage|file=MirandaBrennan.jpg|align=left|caption=Head of Online Moderation: Miranda Brennan}}
==Overview==
Empire has a large and active social media presence. Our main Empire LRP Facebook group alone has over 8,000 members. We also have dedicated forums as well as accounts on Instagram and Twitch. Having an enthusiastic and engaged player base is important to us and we love seeing everyone discussing the game and enjoying the world of Empire. We welcome debate and constructive discussion in all these places, but any feedback should always be sent to [mailto:feedback@profounddecisions.co.uk feedback@profounddecisions.co.uk ] so that the game team can consider it properly.

The [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp/ Empire LRP Facebook group] is for general Empire related chat and queries. We also have nation-specific groups where people can discuss national festivals, collective projects, the national briefs, and the best places to source kit. Camp planning is also announced in these groups. Our national groups are a great community both on and off the field and we encourage people to get involved and to go see what’s being discussed. We also have a [https://www.facebook.com/groups/playersupport/ Player Support Group] which might be a good starting point if you are new to Empire or to live roleplaying in general. The [https://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ Empire LRP forums] have separate boards for all these things, and a few additional ones.

Unfortunately, the nature of the internet is that it removes the element of personal interaction and can exacerbate differences of opinion. If we are not careful this turns discussions into hot-tempered arguments in a way that is detrimental to the debate and the community. For this reason we’ve chosen to implement a set of rules for everyone who uses our official groups and have a large team of crew moderators who can respond to any breaches that occur that are reported to them using the platform’s inbuilt tools or by emailing [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk].

Counting players and crew, Empire has nearly three thousand participants at each event; it's not realistic to expect anyone to like every other participant. What we require is that people treat each other with respect regardless of their personal feelings. Our rules are designed to give our team a basis for judging when that is not happening and to take action accordingly. All the applicable rules for [[conduct]] at events also apply when making posts on any official Profound Decisions forum or Facebook group. In particular please make sure that you have read and understand the rules for [[Conduct#Language|language]] and [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|equality and diversity]].

We ask that the community support our aim to keep the game live and familiarise themselves with the rules governing [[Downtime#Roleplaying_Between_Events|roleplaying between events]]. Remember, every in-character communication you have between events is one that cannot be had face to face.

==Moderators==
We have a team of crew who moderate our social spaces, led by our head of online moderation, Miranda Brennan. The team work collaboratively, discussing cases and coming to an agreed response to get the most consistent and fairest outcomes possible when exercising judgement. When a post/comment is reported, the moderators will review it and if necessary discuss together or escalate to the Head of Moderation. Moderation decisions and evidence are stored centrally in case we need to refer to them in future.

===How to report===
Given the scale of the internet, we can’t keep track of every comment and subthread on our official social media. We therefore ask our users to be aware of the posting rules and if they see a breach, to report it by either:

* Using the reporting tools available on that platform
* Emailing [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk] and linking to the post/comment you wish to report.

===What happens when a post is reported?===
If a post/comment is reported and the moderation team decides that it breaks our posting rules, we may delete the post. If we do this, a moderator will endeavour to contact the poster to explain why. If the poster disagrees with the action taken, they can contact the [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk head moderator]. If the matter is not resolved to their satisfaction after this point, the matter can be escalated to [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk]. It is not appropriate to discuss individual moderation discussions on our social media and posts doing this will be deleted.

Depending on the situation we may warn people who have broken the rules, suspend them from our social media spaces either short or long term, or ban them permanently at our discretion. This includes potentially being excluded from the events themselves. We take our rules for online conduct very seriously; we do not make an absolute distinction between behaviour online and at events.

For some breaches of the posting rules, the moderation team may contact the poster privately and give them the opportunity to edit their post in order to make it comply with the rules.

If a contentious post is resulting in some heated debate, we may lock the post from further comments whilst we review it. This is particularly likely if we’re short on moderation cover at that time as our moderation team are all volunteers. If a post has dissolved entirely into unconstructive argument, we will delete the post in its entirety and either explain why privately to the poster or add a post to the group in which it was posted.

===Contesting a Decision===
It is important to appreciate that moderation is not personal. Some of our rules are technical in nature - and people often have posts moderated or removed not because there was anything wrong with the content or the way they posted it but simply because they don't meet the strict guidelines we set for relevance to Empire. Everyone gets moderated from time-to-time, players and crew, so that we can keep our forums welcoming and full of relevant content. ''Being moderated is not a criticism of you or your post.''

Although you may be contacted by a moderator to inform you that a post has been moderated, please bear in mind that moderation decisions are taken collectively by the team, not by any one individual. You're welcome to discuss the matter with the moderator who is there to try and help ensure you understand why the decision was taken, but if you need to contact the moderation team to discuss a new issue, please use the appropriate methods to contact the whole team, rather than emailing or messaging an individual moderator. All of our crew are volunteers so they don't always have time to allocate to support you; this is why we have a team of people in place to deal with any issues. Please respect the system we have put in place and contact the team if you need to discuss something.

If you are not happy with a moderator decision then you are welcome to discuss that with us privately. Mistakes do get made and we are happy to look at any decision that has been taken and apologize if we have made a mistake and correct it where we can. If we stand by the decision after reviewing it, then we'll try to explain in more detail why we came to that conclusion so that you can better understand how the rules are being applied.

Please do not contest decisions in public - that is against our rules - and do not argue with our moderators or become hostile with one of them. They are members of our crew, and should be treated with the same courtesy and respect that you should show a referee at an event. All our crew volunteer their time to work hard on your behalf to provide a great game so we require everyone who attends our events to treat them with appropriate regard. There are no Empire events without our crew and we take their wellbeing very seriously.

Please [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk email mods@profounddecisions.co.uk] if you need to contact the moderation team to discuss any issue. Private messages are not a good mechanism for contacting the team as they go to individuals who may not see them for several days or at all in some cases depending on the platform settings.

==Posting Rules==
* '''Treat each other with respect and assume best faith'''
* '''All posts should clearly relate to Empire'''
* '''Use the most appropriate forum or Facebook group'''
* '''Don't repost the same post or content more than once a month'''
* '''Report any breach of the rules to our moderators rather than responding yourself'''
* '''Don't start in-character conversations or post anything that is contentious in-character'''
* '''IC announcements, sales, adverts and letters are permitted'''
* '''You may cross-post winds of war and winds of fortune'''
* '''You may not post instructions or advice on military units'''
* '''No charity and fundraising posts'''
* '''Post links to photographs, don't repost them'''
* '''Do not post fanfiction'''
* '''Do not post generative-AI content'''
* '''Do not criticise other participants for their costume, roleplaying, or interpretation of the setting'''
* '''Do not discuss moderation decisions'''
* '''Do not post accusations of cheating or unsafe fighting'''
* '''Don't do stupid shit'''
* '''Streaming'''
* '''Smut'''

In particular, please note all the applicable rules for [[conduct]] also apply when making posts on any official Profound Decisions forum or Facebook group. In particular please make sure that you have read and understand the rules for [[Conduct#Language|language]] and [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|equality and diversity]].

===Treat each other with respect and assume best faith===
We are proud that Empire players come from a diverse range of backgrounds and traditions of LRP. With well over 3000 players and crew, differences of opinions will occur and discussion of these is no bad thing, but needs to be handled carefully. Please respect people’s opinions, treat other participants as adults, and assume good faith. It’s easy to mistake someone’s intent over the internet and you may need to work a little harder to make yourself understood or be more patient when trying to explain something. Avoid making jokes about contentious subjects where the possibility exists to miss the humour and be offended as a result.

Don't harass other users, don't post anything that constitutes a personal attack and avoid forms of speech that could be interpreted as bullying or abusive. Treat people the way you would want to be treated. We will not tolerate any post that our moderators feel constitutes a personal attack on another live roleplayer - regardless of whether or not they use our official online forums/groups or are a regular attendee at our events. Avoid posting while angry; if you are disagreeing with participant then ensure that you remain polite and avoid [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem ad hominem] responses.

If you feel anything posted on our official forums or Facebook groups violates our rule prohibiting personal attacks then please report it to our moderators, do not respond in kind.

===All Posts Should Clearly Relate to Empire===
Please keep your posts on topic. Our forums and groups are for Empire, so if the discussion strays too far away the subject of Empire we will ask you to take it elsewhere. If the link to Empire is tenuous or would be unclear to a casual reader, our moderators may advise you that this would be more appropriate on your own wall or ask you to elaborate on the original post as to its relevance.

===Use the Most Appropriate Forum or Group===
Please ensure that your posts are in the most appropriate area. Do not duplicate the same or similar posts across multiple different forums or different groups. If your post is a bit more general but one nation may still have a special interest then ''at most'' you should post in the main Empire group and the single most relevant nation group. An example of this would be a Dawnish hosted player event, as Dawnish players may be especially interested, but other nations may also wish to attend. If multiple players all post the same or similar posts either in the same group or across multiple groups, the moderation team will remove the duplicate posts.

Duplicating a post on Facebook and the Forum is permitted as many participants may only use one of these platforms.

If you are a trader at our events then before each event, you may put a post into a single official nation group [[Forums & Facebook|Facebook nation group]] of your choice and/or the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Empire LRP Adverts and Promotions Facebook group] to advertise your services or products. If you are not a trader at our events then using the same rules, you may post once advertisement a year, provided that the products or services offered are relevant to Empire players.
{{CaptionedImage|file=RougherMusic.jpg|align=right|width=350|caption=The Moderators are here to help you.}}

===Don't repost the same post or content more than once a month===
You can repost content up to once a month, if it's relevant to Empire. If you want to promote IC services or similar or you are discussing OOC arrangements relevant to the game then it's fine to repost them periodically - provided it is not too frequent. Our moderators will take down repeated posts if less than a month has passed since the last time it was posted. It's fine to update a post, but deliberately posting to 'bump' a post back to the top of the group is not in the spirit of the rules.

===Report any Breach of the Rules to our Moderators===
Each board has a couple of volunteer moderators and admins and we have a centralised place to discuss and document moderation decisions. Due to the high level of activity in our our official groups it is impossible for us to follow each and every interaction. Therefore, if you see someone infringing the posting rules, please help us by reporting this comment or post promptly rather than responding yourself. A moderator or admin will then respond as quickly as they’re able to.

Please don't call out other participants for posts that you think breach our guidelines, report it, and let the moderators handle it. On Facebook select "report to admin" by clicking in the top right hand corner of a post. On the forum click "...(show more)" then the flag icon on any post.

===Don't Post IC Conversations or Contentious Statements===
Please help us keep the game live and in the field as much as possible. Avoid starting in-character conversations about significant or controversial subjects so that discussion of important in-character issues can be kept for the live events. It is usually fine to post comments about events that have happened, provided that the posts are not contentious or likely to cause people to want to respond as their character. If you post something in-character that could be perceived as contentious on our official forums or groups, we’ll remove or edit this.

Empire is a game for people to say and do contentious things as their character - but we want those actions and the reactions to them to happen in the field when people are roleplaying.

===Post Links to Photographs, Don't Repost Them===
Profound Decisions are lucky enough to have a small team of volunteer photographers to document our events; there are also a number of players who take photographs in line with the [[photography|photography policy]]. These volunteers generously donate their time and energy to show our hobby in all its glory. To acknowledge their contribution you must link to the original photos rather than downloading them and re-uploading them on our forums.

Each photographer will have their own policy on using photos elsewhere (such as for profile or cover pictures). If in doubt, please contact the original photographer.

===IC Responses===

In-character letters should be sent privately - but you can use our social media to request contact details for individual characters you have met, or have a way of getting in touch with (eg specific Imperial title-holders, individual group leaders) to get in touch for separate IC letters. We ask people not to tag players of sought-after characters in order that they can decide for themselves whether they want to engage.

When the Winds come out, please don't use social media to find someone listed on the wiki as responsible for a skirmish; we want skirmish organisation to happen ideally in the field. A skirmish organiser is welcome to reach out to people beforehand, especially for early Friday skirmishes.

===IC Announcements and Adverts===
We believe that in-character announcements, such as those advertising a national event or offering an in-character service add more to the game for our players than they detract from it. However, as the game has grown over time, we have needed to create a separate space for certain kinds of IC advert, so that our main Empire LRP Facebook group does not become overloaded.

It is fine to post an advert for a service offered by your character or group or for a meeting that you are arranging or similar, provided that you avoid posting anything that is contentious and only post it in the single most appropriate group.

You can use the main Empire LRP Facebook group to advertise free-to-attend uptime IC events such as meetings and festivals.

If you have an IC advert OR an OC advert for anything that costs IC or OC money, such as crafted goods your character is selling, you may use the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrppromo Adverts and Promotions Facebook group] group and/or the single more relevant Nation group.

Here are some examples of adverts the above rule applies to:

* IC items you are selling for money
* IC raffles, gambling houses, or tourneys which are pay-to-enter
* IC services such as poetry, fortune telling, or performance
* Artwork commissions such as character portraits
* IC snacks, meals, cafes and bars
* IC publications, papers and books
* IC auctions
* an IC business dealing in resources of any kind in uptime eg an apothecary service

All posts must follow the following rules:
* '''Do not add additional comments''' - Do not say “You see this poster across the Empire". If you do this, you’re starting to narrate the reality of the world, which is not permitted.
* '''Post at most once per month''' - Do not repost it more than once a month or deliberately bump your existing post to the top of a page.
* '''Avoid starting contentious in-character discussions''' - if you are advertising a meeting about something contentious or controversial, keep your poster short and avoid detail that would make people want to respond as their character.
* '''Don't spam multiple groups''' - do not post your advert across multiple groups beyond those permitted, ie. the single most relevant nation and either the Adverts group or the Main group, depending on what kind of advert you are posting.

There are several guidelines that we ask participants to follow in terms of their ad content:

* State your Price - Haggling or negotiation over prices must be left to the field.
* Use the Hub in uptime too - There’s a message board in The Hub which citizens can use - if you post online, please endeavour to also advertise in-character.
* Provide a plain text version - Beautiful posters and images are wonderful, but please endeavour to provide a copy of the text alongside your image.

Empire has an active economy and the costs of resources can be a powerful lever with which to influence the world. Therefore, discussion about the trading costs of resources, or statements about what things ''should'' cost are prohibited.

===Traders' Adverts===
* '''Traders who pay for a pitch at Empire may post adverts up to once a month'''
* '''Empire participants who operate as IC peddlers and sell goods in uptime may promote their [[#IC_Announcements_and_Adverts|IC goods and services]] up to once a month'''
* '''LRP traders who don't have a pitch at Empire may post adverts once a year'''
We are happy to allow traders to make occasional posts to the Empire Facebook groups, particularly if the post is drawing attention to goods that are appealing to Empire players. At the same time we are keen to prevent the groups from becoming overburdened with adverts, and want to ensure that they do not become too repetitive. To give everyone a fair set of guidelines to operate to - we have decided that traders or groups who have a trade pitch at Empire may post one advert per month if they choose. If a trader isn't one of the Empire traders then they may post up to one advert a year. Any adverts posted more frequently than that will be deleted by the moderators.

A trader advert can be in the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Empire LRP Adverts and Promotion] Facebook group and a single nation Facebook group provided it contains stock appropriate to that nation. Any advert posted across multiple nation groups will be removed.

===You May Cross-post the Winds===
There is an exception to the normal rules on multi-forum posts for the official Profound Decisions event updates, the Winds of War, and the Winds of Fortune. It is fine to cross-post these updates to an Empire Facebook group or forum - but please only do that if you think it is relevant to that group and check to see if it has already been posted. There is no need to cross-post a Wind of Fortune update about trouble in Hahnmark to the Urizen group for example.

However please make sure you do not include any comment about the content of the Wind in the cross-post. If you want to comment on the issue, you are welcome to do that below your own cross-post, but we ask that players avoid making any comment when making the actual cross-post - just to ensure that there is a clear distinction between what an individual player thinks and the contents of the Wind itself.

===You May Not Post Military Updates===
Players are not permitted to post updates on the decisions of the Military Council, in particular on where the Council would like people to send their military units and fleets in downtime. This constitutes using an online forum to try and influence the choices being made by other characters, it is not compatible with the rules prohibiting the posting of contentious in-character material.

While we have turned a blind eye to some of these posts in the past - the rules have now been tightened. When the game first started it was difficult for generals to communicate what their army was doing to players. However every player with a military unit or fleet can now see the precise wording of the order issued to each army or navy when they go to submit their downtime. There is no need to provide additional context to these orders.

===No Charity or Fundraising Posts===
We have taken the decision not to allow any charity or fundraising posts on our groups except where they are intended to raise money for things to be used at Empire events or where they are posted by us on the main Empire LRP page. Whilst LRPers are an incredibly generous community, applying the posting rules and deciding on whether a particular fundraising post is “Empire related enough” is an impossible task for our moderator team. Having to assess each one will inevitably cause friction whenever a post is deleted because it is not sufficiently on topic for the Empire forums.

Posts offering prizes must be compliant with the laws regulating such activities. We will remove any post if we are not confident that you are correctly licensed to engage in such activities.

===Do Not Post Fanfiction===
We understand that lots of people love to read and write fanfic - and the Empire community is no exception. However there is a small risk that players may confuse fanfic with canonical updates to the campaign if the fiction is posted on one of the main Empire Facebook groups. For this reason there is a specific Facebook group called [https://www.facebook.com/groups/165082270686010/?fref=gc&dti=470732939604433&hc_location=ufi Empire LRP: Fiction Sharing] which was explicitly intended as a place for Empire players to share stories they have created. All fanfic stories should be posted here, not in one of the main Facebook groups.

===Do Not Post AI Content===
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generative_artificial_intelligence Generative-AI content] [[Playing_the_game#Artificial_Intelligence_and_Recorded_Music|cannot be used at events]] - but we also ask participants not to post images, video, or text created using generative-AI to our forums or Facebook groups. These groups are very busy already and generative content adds little value. It is also ethically contentious and invariably leads to unproductive arguments about the use of AI, rather than positive discussions about Empire. This is not a conduct issue; players are welcome to post Empire content that is generated using AI to their own walls, we only prohibit its use at events and in the social media spaces we moderate.

===Do Not Criticise Other Participants===
The Empire national briefs are designed to allow for a wide range of creative freedom whilst still maintaining that all-important, clearly identifiable, national identity. When offering support to other players in your nation please be aware that there are other interpretations of the brief which are different to your own but are still valid. Avoid telling other players that they are getting the brief wrong - and avoid presenting yourself as an authority on how the brief should be interpreted.

It is fine to identify parts of the brief that are relevant and encourage people to embrace them. What is not permitted is for players to tell other players what is and is not acceptable in-character. If you have any concerns about the way a player is interpreting the brief then you should report the matter to Profound Decisions who can issue a definitive ruling on the matter.

Likewise, our code of conduct asks all Empire participants to avoid [[Costume#Criticism|criticising other player's kit]]. You should assume that the player in question has followed our guidelines and made the best effort they can. Criticism of other players’ costume will be deleted.

Crowd-sourcing answers about rules often ends up with a variety of responses and opinions on how the rules should be applied in that particular situation. The only definitive and official answers will come by emailing [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk].

===Do Not Accuse Other Players of Cheating or Unsafe Fighting===
Do not make public accusations of cheating or of unsafe fighting at Empire on social media. If you have witnessed either of these happen at an event, please either speak to a ref as soon as you are able to after the incident or contact [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk] after an event to report it.

===Do Not Discuss Moderation Decisions===
It is not constructive to discuss individual moderators or moderator decisions in public. We do however welcome discussion and debate of our posting rules and moderation policy provided the discussion remains civil, hypothetical and does not include references to individual examples. To discuss individual moderation decisions, please contact the Head of Moderation at [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk]; if not resolved to your satisfaction after this point, please contact [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk].

===Don't Do Stupid Shit===
Don't post anything that's illegal, racist, sexist, homophobic, pornographic, abusive, or otherwise objectionable. This includes links to such material as well.

===Streaming===
The [[Streaming|streaming]] rules are set out in full elsewhere. In summary:
* You may make one post per month to promote your streamed content
* You can edit that post if you want to update any information in it, but don't deliberately bump your own post back to the top

===Smut===

Following the [[Rules update 2023]], you must be mindful of the requirement to avoid sexualising the environment in a way that makes other players uncomfortable. Lots of players enjoy smutty publications - and lots of players don't want anything to do with that in their LRP. We have updated our conduct rules on sexual activity at events to make clear that anyone who wants to engage in that kind of roleplaying must ensure that it is handled discreetly and in a way that doesn't force other players to be involved with it against their wishes.

In particular that means you can't promote it on our Facebook groups, since that's incompatible with the need to handle it discreetly in a way that doesn't cause discomfort for other players. I've asked the moderators to take down posts promoting material that is smutty or explicit in the future.

==Hot Topics==
The areas below are topics that almost invariably degenerate into arguments, or are simply not appropriate or acceptable topics of discussion for our forums or Facebook groups. Some of these issues are controversial and tend to produce a lot of acrimony when discussed online giving the false impression that these issues dominate our events. Some of these issues are simply not appropriate or acceptable and will be deleted by our moderators as soon as they become aware of them.

Our moderators will closely monitor these "hot topics" and may pre-emptively delete any posts that they feel is highly likely to lead to an adversarial discussion of the issues.

===Politics, Religion, Artificial Intelligence, and Language===
Politics and religion are incredibly important subjects and the crew and players of Empire cover a lot of different religions and a wide spectrum of political opinions. However, our online community exists so that participants can discuss the imaginary politics of the world of Empire and not real world politics.

Discussions about inappropriate language, such as the use of gendered words, is a subject that we’ve learned from prior incidents rapidly degenerates into acrimony. We will allow positive discussion of ways that participants can embrace the gender-blind Empire setting and implement that in their roleplaying - but will delete anything that is negative, a personal attack or is based on criticism of other people's roleplaying or experiences.

Using AI to generate images and text remains highly contentious. Players are free to disagree with each other but all posts [[#Treat_each_other_with_respect_and_assume_best_faith|must treat other posters with respect and assume good faith]]. We've asked our moderators to remove any posts about the use of AI which fall short of this. If it is clear that any post about AI is not going to produce an engaging, positive discussion, then our moderators will delete it.

In using our social media, participants are also bound by any applicable conduct rules, including those around gendered language. If you are concerned by a poster’s use of inappropriate language, then please bring it to the attention of a moderator and they will contact the other participant and remind them of our rules relating to this.

===In-character Debates===
Empire is ''not'' a system which employs "FOIP" - a requirement that you can only find things out in play at events. It is '''fine''' to ask simple in-character questions, things you think your character should know or any questions about the system. If the information you have asked for is not controversial in-character then other participants are free to give you the answer to your question or to encourage you to find their character at an event and seek out the information in-character.

However as per the posting rules we prohibit discussion online of important or controversial issues. These issues form part of the plot of our event and we ask everyone to respect that.

There are specific rules for [[Downtime#Roleplaying_Between_Events|roleplaying between events]]. Anything that breaches these rules - any post that contains trade negotiations, religious debates, military planning, magical discourse, or political discussions and appointments will be removed.

===Criticism of Empire and other LRP Systems===
Live roleplaying is an amazing community that is at its best when participants share original ideas and best practices between different systems. So it's fine to make a post calling out a positive example of something other games do well - or do better than Empire does - that gives us a basis for discussing ways to make Empire a better game. But please bear in mind when posting, that Empire is such a large system that we will have participants who love the game you are referencing as well as participants who tried it and did not enjoy it.

What is not permitted is ''anything'' that is critical or dismissive of other LRP systems. Most LRP systems have their own forums or Facebook groups for their players to post comments about their games - posts that are about other games should be posted on their Facebook page, ''not on our forum/groups''.

It is fine to use our Facebook groups and our forums to criticize Empire or Profound Decisions and we encourage people to post ideas for improvements to the game. Bear in mind that all LRP games are produced by the combined efforts of a team of volunteers who are passionately invested in the game they create. Criticism directed at named individuals will be treated as a personal attack and moderated accordingly and our rules requiring [[Feedback#Worst_Way|civility]] towards our volunteers apply on our forums and Facebook groups as well as at events.

We believe a good LRP stands on its merits, and benefits from analysis, critique, and discussion. We ask all participants to be mindful of the fact that just because you have not experienced a problem does not mean the problem does not exist. Our moderators will remove posts if they judge that their only contribution is to suppress criticism or silence debate about Empire.

Facebook is an excellent place to discuss Empire with other participants who use Facebook - it is not ideal for providing [[feedback]] to Profound Decisions. There is no guarantee that the people who can act on the basis of your feedback will even see it. We treat posts on Facebook as the basis for discussion between participants - the [[feedback|wiki page on providing feedback]] discusses the best ways to send actual feedback to the team.

==Unofficial PD groups==
There are a large number of unofficial Empire groups which people use for discussing issues and organising logistics, amongst other things. As these groups are not official, they are not moderated by us and they are not automatically covered by our rules on posting. However all our players are expected to observe the social contract and commitment to keeping the game live that prohibits online negotiations and discussion of controversial subjects.

Although these online Empire community spaces are not moderated by us nor covered by our rules, players who are use them are still bound by our rules on conduct and our equality and diversity policies that forbid harassment etc. Reported breaches of these rules in communal Empire spaces may result in action being taken by Profound Decisions. If you are experiencing online harassment by another Empire participant then we will take appropriate action if you report the matter to us.

{{Conduct_Further_Reading}}

Online

2025-04-18T11:54:31Z

Cathtice: /* IC Announcements and Adverts */

{{CaptionedImage|file=MirandaBrennan.jpg|align=left|caption=Head of Online Moderation: Miranda Brennan}}
==Overview==
Empire has a large and active social media presence. Our main Empire LRP Facebook group alone has over 8,000 members. We also have dedicated forums as well as accounts on Instagram and Twitch. Having an enthusiastic and engaged player base is important to us and we love seeing everyone discussing the game and enjoying the world of Empire. We welcome debate and constructive discussion in all these places, but any feedback should always be sent to [mailto:feedback@profounddecisions.co.uk feedback@profounddecisions.co.uk ] so that the game team can consider it properly.

The [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp/ Empire LRP Facebook group] is for general Empire related chat and queries. We also have nation-specific groups where people can discuss national festivals, collective projects, the national briefs, and the best places to source kit. Camp planning is also announced in these groups. Our national groups are a great community both on and off the field and we encourage people to get involved and to go see what’s being discussed. We also have a [https://www.facebook.com/groups/playersupport/ Player Support Group] which might be a good starting point if you are new to Empire or to live roleplaying in general. The [https://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ Empire LRP forums] have separate boards for all these things, and a few additional ones.

Unfortunately, the nature of the internet is that it removes the element of personal interaction and can exacerbate differences of opinion. If we are not careful this turns discussions into hot-tempered arguments in a way that is detrimental to the debate and the community. For this reason we’ve chosen to implement a set of rules for everyone who uses our official groups and have a large team of crew moderators who can respond to any breaches that occur that are reported to them using the platform’s inbuilt tools or by emailing [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk].

Counting players and crew, Empire has nearly three thousand participants at each event; it's not realistic to expect anyone to like every other participant. What we require is that people treat each other with respect regardless of their personal feelings. Our rules are designed to give our team a basis for judging when that is not happening and to take action accordingly. All the applicable rules for [[conduct]] at events also apply when making posts on any official Profound Decisions forum or Facebook group. In particular please make sure that you have read and understand the rules for [[Conduct#Language|language]] and [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|equality and diversity]].

We ask that the community support our aim to keep the game live and familiarise themselves with the rules governing [[Downtime#Roleplaying_Between_Events|roleplaying between events]]. Remember, every in-character communication you have between events is one that cannot be had face to face.

==Moderators==
We have a team of crew who moderate our social spaces, led by our head of online moderation, Miranda Brennan. The team work collaboratively, discussing cases and coming to an agreed response to get the most consistent and fairest outcomes possible when exercising judgement. When a post/comment is reported, the moderators will review it and if necessary discuss together or escalate to the Head of Moderation. Moderation decisions and evidence are stored centrally in case we need to refer to them in future.

===How to report===
Given the scale of the internet, we can’t keep track of every comment and subthread on our official social media. We therefore ask our users to be aware of the posting rules and if they see a breach, to report it by either:

* Using the reporting tools available on that platform
* Emailing [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk] and linking to the post/comment you wish to report.

===What happens when a post is reported?===
If a post/comment is reported and the moderation team decides that it breaks our posting rules, we may delete the post. If we do this, a moderator will endeavour to contact the poster to explain why. If the poster disagrees with the action taken, they can contact the [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk head moderator]. If the matter is not resolved to their satisfaction after this point, the matter can be escalated to [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk]. It is not appropriate to discuss individual moderation discussions on our social media and posts doing this will be deleted.

Depending on the situation we may warn people who have broken the rules, suspend them from our social media spaces either short or long term, or ban them permanently at our discretion. This includes potentially being excluded from the events themselves. We take our rules for online conduct very seriously; we do not make an absolute distinction between behaviour online and at events.

For some breaches of the posting rules, the moderation team may contact the poster privately and give them the opportunity to edit their post in order to make it comply with the rules.

If a contentious post is resulting in some heated debate, we may lock the post from further comments whilst we review it. This is particularly likely if we’re short on moderation cover at that time as our moderation team are all volunteers. If a post has dissolved entirely into unconstructive argument, we will delete the post in its entirety and either explain why privately to the poster or add a post to the group in which it was posted.

===Contesting a Decision===
It is important to appreciate that moderation is not personal. Some of our rules are technical in nature - and people often have posts moderated or removed not because there was anything wrong with the content or the way they posted it but simply because they don't meet the strict guidelines we set for relevance to Empire. Everyone gets moderated from time-to-time, players and crew, so that we can keep our forums welcoming and full of relevant content. ''Being moderated is not a criticism of you or your post.''

Although you may be contacted by a moderator to inform you that a post has been moderated, please bear in mind that moderation decisions are taken collectively by the team, not by any one individual. You're welcome to discuss the matter with the moderator who is there to try and help ensure you understand why the decision was taken, but if you need to contact the moderation team to discuss a new issue, please use the appropriate methods to contact the whole team, rather than emailing or messaging an individual moderator. All of our crew are volunteers so they don't always have time to allocate to support you; this is why we have a team of people in place to deal with any issues. Please respect the system we have put in place and contact the team if you need to discuss something.

If you are not happy with a moderator decision then you are welcome to discuss that with us privately. Mistakes do get made and we are happy to look at any decision that has been taken and apologize if we have made a mistake and correct it where we can. If we stand by the decision after reviewing it, then we'll try to explain in more detail why we came to that conclusion so that you can better understand how the rules are being applied.

Please do not contest decisions in public - that is against our rules - and do not argue with our moderators or become hostile with one of them. They are members of our crew, and should be treated with the same courtesy and respect that you should show a referee at an event. All our crew volunteer their time to work hard on your behalf to provide a great game so we require everyone who attends our events to treat them with appropriate regard. There are no Empire events without our crew and we take their wellbeing very seriously.

Please [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk email mods@profounddecisions.co.uk] if you need to contact the moderation team to discuss any issue. Private messages are not a good mechanism for contacting the team as they go to individuals who may not see them for several days or at all in some cases depending on the platform settings.

==Posting Rules==
* '''Treat each other with respect and assume best faith'''
* '''All posts should clearly relate to Empire'''
* '''Use the most appropriate forum or Facebook group'''
* '''Don't repost the same post or content more than once a month'''
* '''Report any breach of the rules to our moderators rather than responding yourself'''
* '''Don't start in-character conversations or post anything that is contentious in-character'''
* '''IC announcements, sales, adverts and letters are permitted'''
* '''You may cross-post winds of war and winds of fortune'''
* '''You may not post instructions or advice on military units'''
* '''No charity and fundraising posts'''
* '''Post links to photographs, don't repost them'''
* '''Do not post fanfiction'''
* '''Do not post generative-AI content'''
* '''Do not criticise other participants for their costume, roleplaying, or interpretation of the setting'''
* '''Do not discuss moderation decisions'''
* '''Do not post accusations of cheating or unsafe fighting'''
* '''Don't do stupid shit'''
* '''Streaming'''
* '''Smut'''

In particular, please note all the applicable rules for [[conduct]] also apply when making posts on any official Profound Decisions forum or Facebook group. In particular please make sure that you have read and understand the rules for [[Conduct#Language|language]] and [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|equality and diversity]].

===Treat each other with respect and assume best faith===
We are proud that Empire players come from a diverse range of backgrounds and traditions of LRP. With well over 3000 players and crew, differences of opinions will occur and discussion of these is no bad thing, but needs to be handled carefully. Please respect people’s opinions, treat other participants as adults, and assume good faith. It’s easy to mistake someone’s intent over the internet and you may need to work a little harder to make yourself understood or be more patient when trying to explain something. Avoid making jokes about contentious subjects where the possibility exists to miss the humour and be offended as a result.

Don't harass other users, don't post anything that constitutes a personal attack and avoid forms of speech that could be interpreted as bullying or abusive. Treat people the way you would want to be treated. We will not tolerate any post that our moderators feel constitutes a personal attack on another live roleplayer - regardless of whether or not they use our official online forums/groups or are a regular attendee at our events. Avoid posting while angry; if you are disagreeing with participant then ensure that you remain polite and avoid [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem ad hominem] responses.

If you feel anything posted on our official forums or Facebook groups violates our rule prohibiting personal attacks then please report it to our moderators, do not respond in kind.

===All Posts Should Clearly Relate to Empire===
Please keep your posts on topic. Our forums and groups are for Empire, so if the discussion strays too far away the subject of Empire we will ask you to take it elsewhere. If the link to Empire is tenuous or would be unclear to a casual reader, our moderators may advise you that this would be more appropriate on your own wall or ask you to elaborate on the original post as to its relevance.

===Use the Most Appropriate Forum or Group===
Please ensure that your posts are in the most appropriate area. Do not duplicate the same or similar posts across multiple different forums or different groups. If your post is a bit more general but one nation may still have a special interest then ''at most'' you should post in the main Empire group and the single most relevant nation group. An example of this would be a Dawnish hosted player event, as Dawnish players may be especially interested, but other nations may also wish to attend. If multiple players all post the same or similar posts either in the same group or across multiple groups, the moderation team will remove the duplicate posts.

Duplicating a post on Facebook and the Forum is permitted as many participants may only use one of these platforms.

If you are a trader at our events then before each event, you may put a post into a single official nation group [[Forums & Facebook|Facebook nation group]] of your choice and/or the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Empire LRP Adverts and Promotions Facebook group] to advertise your services or products. If you are not a trader at our events then using the same rules, you may post once advertisement a year, provided that the products or services offered are relevant to Empire players.
{{CaptionedImage|file=RougherMusic.jpg|align=right|width=350|caption=The Moderators are here to help you.}}

===Don't repost the same post or content more than once a month===
You can repost content up to once a month, if it's relevant to Empire. If you want to promote IC services or similar or you are discussing OOC arrangements relevant to the game then it's fine to repost them periodically - provided it is not too frequent. Our moderators will take down repeated posts if less than a month has passed since the last time it was posted. It's fine to update a post, but deliberately posting to 'bump' a post back to the top of the group is not in the spirit of the rules.

===Report any Breach of the Rules to our Moderators===
Each board has a couple of volunteer moderators and admins and we have a centralised place to discuss and document moderation decisions. Due to the high level of activity in our our official groups it is impossible for us to follow each and every interaction. Therefore, if you see someone infringing the posting rules, please help us by reporting this comment or post promptly rather than responding yourself. A moderator or admin will then respond as quickly as they’re able to.

Please don't call out other participants for posts that you think breach our guidelines, report it, and let the moderators handle it. On Facebook select "report to admin" by clicking in the top right hand corner of a post. On the forum click "...(show more)" then the flag icon on any post.

===Don't Post IC Conversations or Contentious Statements===
Please help us keep the game live and in the field as much as possible. Avoid starting in-character conversations about significant or controversial subjects so that discussion of important in-character issues can be kept for the live events. It is usually fine to post comments about events that have happened, provided that the posts are not contentious or likely to cause people to want to respond as their character. If you post something in-character that could be perceived as contentious on our official forums or groups, we’ll remove or edit this.

Empire is a game for people to say and do contentious things as their character - but we want those actions and the reactions to them to happen in the field when people are roleplaying.

===Post Links to Photographs, Don't Repost Them===
Profound Decisions are lucky enough to have a small team of volunteer photographers to document our events; there are also a number of players who take photographs in line with the [[photography|photography policy]]. These volunteers generously donate their time and energy to show our hobby in all its glory. To acknowledge their contribution you must link to the original photos rather than downloading them and re-uploading them on our forums.

Each photographer will have their own policy on using photos elsewhere (such as for profile or cover pictures). If in doubt, please contact the original photographer.

===IC Announcements and Adverts===
We believe that in-character announcements, such as those advertising a national event or offering an in-character service add more to the game for our players than they detract from it. However, as the game has grown over time, we have needed to create a separate space for certain kinds of IC advert, so that our main Empire LRP Facebook group does not become overloaded.

It is fine to post an advert for a service offered by your character or group or for a meeting that you are arranging or similar, provided that you avoid posting anything that is contentious and only post it in the single most appropriate group.

You can use the main Empire LRP Facebook group to advertise free-to-attend uptime IC events such as meetings and festivals.

If you have an IC advert OR an OC advert for anything that costs IC or OC money, such as crafted goods your character is selling, you may use the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrppromo Adverts and Promotions Facebook group] group and/or the single more relevant Nation group.

Here are some examples of adverts the above rule applies to:

* IC items you are selling for money
* IC raffles, gambling houses, or tourneys which are pay-to-enter
* IC services such as poetry, fortune telling, or performance
* Artwork commissions such as character portraits
* IC snacks, meals, cafes and bars
* IC publications, papers and books
* IC auctions
* an IC business dealing in resources of any kind in uptime eg an apothecary service

All posts must follow the following rules:
* '''Do not add additional comments''' - Do not say “You see this poster across the Empire". If you do this, you’re starting to narrate the reality of the world, which is not permitted.
* '''Post at most once per month''' - Do not repost it more than once a month or deliberately bump your existing post to the top of a page.
* '''Avoid starting contentious in-character discussions''' - if you are advertising a meeting about something contentious or controversial, keep your poster short and avoid detail that would make people want to respond as their character.
* '''Don't spam multiple groups''' - do not post your advert across multiple groups beyond those permitted, ie. the single most relevant nation and either the Adverts group or the Main group, depending on what kind of advert you are posting.

There are several guidelines that we ask participants to follow in terms of their ad content:

* State your Price - Haggling or negotiation over prices must be left to the field.
* Use the Hub in uptime too - There’s a message board in The Hub which citizens can use - if you post online, please endeavour to also advertise in-character.
* Provide a plain text version - Beautiful posters and images are wonderful, but please endeavour to provide a copy of the text alongside your image.

Empire has an active economy and the costs of resources can be a powerful lever with which to influence the world. Therefore, discussion about the trading costs of resources, or statements about what things ''should'' cost are prohibited.

===Traders' Adverts===
* '''Traders who pay for a pitch at Empire may post adverts up to once a month'''
* '''Empire participants who operate as IC peddlers and sell goods in uptime may promote their [[#IC_Announcements_and_Adverts|IC goods and services]] up to once a month'''
* '''LRP traders who don't have a pitch at Empire may post adverts once a year'''
We are happy to allow traders to make occasional posts to the Empire Facebook groups, particularly if the post is drawing attention to goods that are appealing to Empire players. At the same time we are keen to prevent the groups from becoming overburdened with adverts, and want to ensure that they do not become too repetitive. To give everyone a fair set of guidelines to operate to - we have decided that traders or groups who have a trade pitch at Empire may post one advert per month if they choose. If a trader isn't one of the Empire traders then they may post up to one advert a year. Any adverts posted more frequently than that will be deleted by the moderators.

A trader advert can be in the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Empire LRP Adverts and Promotion] Facebook group and a single nation Facebook group provided it contains stock appropriate to that nation. Any advert posted across multiple nation groups will be removed.

===You May Cross-post the Winds===
There is an exception to the normal rules on multi-forum posts for the official Profound Decisions event updates, the Winds of War, and the Winds of Fortune. It is fine to cross-post these updates to an Empire Facebook group or forum - but please only do that if you think it is relevant to that group and check to see if it has already been posted. There is no need to cross-post a Wind of Fortune update about trouble in Hahnmark to the Urizen group for example.

However please make sure you do not include any comment about the content of the Wind in the cross-post. If you want to comment on the issue, you are welcome to do that below your own cross-post, but we ask that players avoid making any comment when making the actual cross-post - just to ensure that there is a clear distinction between what an individual player thinks and the contents of the Wind itself.

===You May Not Post Military Updates===
Players are not permitted to post updates on the decisions of the Military Council, in particular on where the Council would like people to send their military units and fleets in downtime. This constitutes using an online forum to try and influence the choices being made by other characters, it is not compatible with the rules prohibiting the posting of contentious in-character material.

While we have turned a blind eye to some of these posts in the past - the rules have now been tightened. When the game first started it was difficult for generals to communicate what their army was doing to players. However every player with a military unit or fleet can now see the precise wording of the order issued to each army or navy when they go to submit their downtime. There is no need to provide additional context to these orders.

===No Charity or Fundraising Posts===
We have taken the decision not to allow any charity or fundraising posts on our groups except where they are intended to raise money for things to be used at Empire events or where they are posted by us on the main Empire LRP page. Whilst LRPers are an incredibly generous community, applying the posting rules and deciding on whether a particular fundraising post is “Empire related enough” is an impossible task for our moderator team. Having to assess each one will inevitably cause friction whenever a post is deleted because it is not sufficiently on topic for the Empire forums.

Posts offering prizes must be compliant with the laws regulating such activities. We will remove any post if we are not confident that you are correctly licensed to engage in such activities.

===Do Not Post Fanfiction===
We understand that lots of people love to read and write fanfic - and the Empire community is no exception. However there is a small risk that players may confuse fanfic with canonical updates to the campaign if the fiction is posted on one of the main Empire Facebook groups. For this reason there is a specific Facebook group called [https://www.facebook.com/groups/165082270686010/?fref=gc&dti=470732939604433&hc_location=ufi Empire LRP: Fiction Sharing] which was explicitly intended as a place for Empire players to share stories they have created. All fanfic stories should be posted here, not in one of the main Facebook groups.

===Do Not Post AI Content===
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generative_artificial_intelligence Generative-AI content] [[Playing_the_game#Artificial_Intelligence_and_Recorded_Music|cannot be used at events]] - but we also ask participants not to post images, video, or text created using generative-AI to our forums or Facebook groups. These groups are very busy already and generative content adds little value. It is also ethically contentious and invariably leads to unproductive arguments about the use of AI, rather than positive discussions about Empire. This is not a conduct issue; players are welcome to post Empire content that is generated using AI to their own walls, we only prohibit its use at events and in the social media spaces we moderate.

===Do Not Criticise Other Participants===
The Empire national briefs are designed to allow for a wide range of creative freedom whilst still maintaining that all-important, clearly identifiable, national identity. When offering support to other players in your nation please be aware that there are other interpretations of the brief which are different to your own but are still valid. Avoid telling other players that they are getting the brief wrong - and avoid presenting yourself as an authority on how the brief should be interpreted.

It is fine to identify parts of the brief that are relevant and encourage people to embrace them. What is not permitted is for players to tell other players what is and is not acceptable in-character. If you have any concerns about the way a player is interpreting the brief then you should report the matter to Profound Decisions who can issue a definitive ruling on the matter.

Likewise, our code of conduct asks all Empire participants to avoid [[Costume#Criticism|criticising other player's kit]]. You should assume that the player in question has followed our guidelines and made the best effort they can. Criticism of other players’ costume will be deleted.

Crowd-sourcing answers about rules often ends up with a variety of responses and opinions on how the rules should be applied in that particular situation. The only definitive and official answers will come by emailing [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk].

===Do Not Accuse Other Players of Cheating or Unsafe Fighting===
Do not make public accusations of cheating or of unsafe fighting at Empire on social media. If you have witnessed either of these happen at an event, please either speak to a ref as soon as you are able to after the incident or contact [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk] after an event to report it.

===Do Not Discuss Moderation Decisions===
It is not constructive to discuss individual moderators or moderator decisions in public. We do however welcome discussion and debate of our posting rules and moderation policy provided the discussion remains civil, hypothetical and does not include references to individual examples. To discuss individual moderation decisions, please contact the Head of Moderation at [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk]; if not resolved to your satisfaction after this point, please contact [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk].

===Don't Do Stupid Shit===
Don't post anything that's illegal, racist, sexist, homophobic, pornographic, abusive, or otherwise objectionable. This includes links to such material as well.

===Streaming===
The [[Streaming|streaming]] rules are set out in full elsewhere. In summary:
* You may make one post per month to promote your streamed content
* You can edit that post if you want to update any information in it, but don't deliberately bump your own post back to the top

===Smut===

Following the [[Rules update 2023]], you must be mindful of the requirement to avoid sexualising the environment in a way that makes other players uncomfortable. Lots of players enjoy smutty publications - and lots of players don't want anything to do with that in their LRP. We have updated our conduct rules on sexual activity at events to make clear that anyone who wants to engage in that kind of roleplaying must ensure that it is handled discreetly and in a way that doesn't force other players to be involved with it against their wishes.

In particular that means you can't promote it on our Facebook groups, since that's incompatible with the need to handle it discreetly in a way that doesn't cause discomfort for other players. I've asked the moderators to take down posts promoting material that is smutty or explicit in the future.

==Hot Topics==
The areas below are topics that almost invariably degenerate into arguments, or are simply not appropriate or acceptable topics of discussion for our forums or Facebook groups. Some of these issues are controversial and tend to produce a lot of acrimony when discussed online giving the false impression that these issues dominate our events. Some of these issues are simply not appropriate or acceptable and will be deleted by our moderators as soon as they become aware of them.

Our moderators will closely monitor these "hot topics" and may pre-emptively delete any posts that they feel is highly likely to lead to an adversarial discussion of the issues.

===Politics, Religion, Artificial Intelligence, and Language===
Politics and religion are incredibly important subjects and the crew and players of Empire cover a lot of different religions and a wide spectrum of political opinions. However, our online community exists so that participants can discuss the imaginary politics of the world of Empire and not real world politics.

Discussions about inappropriate language, such as the use of gendered words, is a subject that we’ve learned from prior incidents rapidly degenerates into acrimony. We will allow positive discussion of ways that participants can embrace the gender-blind Empire setting and implement that in their roleplaying - but will delete anything that is negative, a personal attack or is based on criticism of other people's roleplaying or experiences.

Using AI to generate images and text remains highly contentious. Players are free to disagree with each other but all posts [[#Treat_each_other_with_respect_and_assume_best_faith|must treat other posters with respect and assume good faith]]. We've asked our moderators to remove any posts about the use of AI which fall short of this. If it is clear that any post about AI is not going to produce an engaging, positive discussion, then our moderators will delete it.

In using our social media, participants are also bound by any applicable conduct rules, including those around gendered language. If you are concerned by a poster’s use of inappropriate language, then please bring it to the attention of a moderator and they will contact the other participant and remind them of our rules relating to this.

===In-character Debates===
Empire is ''not'' a system which employs "FOIP" - a requirement that you can only find things out in play at events. It is '''fine''' to ask simple in-character questions, things you think your character should know or any questions about the system. If the information you have asked for is not controversial in-character then other participants are free to give you the answer to your question or to encourage you to find their character at an event and seek out the information in-character.

However as per the posting rules we prohibit discussion online of important or controversial issues. These issues form part of the plot of our event and we ask everyone to respect that.

There are specific rules for [[Downtime#Roleplaying_Between_Events|roleplaying between events]]. Anything that breaches these rules - any post that contains trade negotiations, religious debates, military planning, magical discourse, or political discussions and appointments will be removed.

===Criticism of Empire and other LRP Systems===
Live roleplaying is an amazing community that is at its best when participants share original ideas and best practices between different systems. So it's fine to make a post calling out a positive example of something other games do well - or do better than Empire does - that gives us a basis for discussing ways to make Empire a better game. But please bear in mind when posting, that Empire is such a large system that we will have participants who love the game you are referencing as well as participants who tried it and did not enjoy it.

What is not permitted is ''anything'' that is critical or dismissive of other LRP systems. Most LRP systems have their own forums or Facebook groups for their players to post comments about their games - posts that are about other games should be posted on their Facebook page, ''not on our forum/groups''.

It is fine to use our Facebook groups and our forums to criticize Empire or Profound Decisions and we encourage people to post ideas for improvements to the game. Bear in mind that all LRP games are produced by the combined efforts of a team of volunteers who are passionately invested in the game they create. Criticism directed at named individuals will be treated as a personal attack and moderated accordingly and our rules requiring [[Feedback#Worst_Way|civility]] towards our volunteers apply on our forums and Facebook groups as well as at events.

We believe a good LRP stands on its merits, and benefits from analysis, critique, and discussion. We ask all participants to be mindful of the fact that just because you have not experienced a problem does not mean the problem does not exist. Our moderators will remove posts if they judge that their only contribution is to suppress criticism or silence debate about Empire.

Facebook is an excellent place to discuss Empire with other participants who use Facebook - it is not ideal for providing [[feedback]] to Profound Decisions. There is no guarantee that the people who can act on the basis of your feedback will even see it. We treat posts on Facebook as the basis for discussion between participants - the [[feedback|wiki page on providing feedback]] discusses the best ways to send actual feedback to the team.

==Unofficial PD groups==
There are a large number of unofficial Empire groups which people use for discussing issues and organising logistics, amongst other things. As these groups are not official, they are not moderated by us and they are not automatically covered by our rules on posting. However all our players are expected to observe the social contract and commitment to keeping the game live that prohibits online negotiations and discussion of controversial subjects.

Although these online Empire community spaces are not moderated by us nor covered by our rules, players who are use them are still bound by our rules on conduct and our equality and diversity policies that forbid harassment etc. Reported breaches of these rules in communal Empire spaces may result in action being taken by Profound Decisions. If you are experiencing online harassment by another Empire participant then we will take appropriate action if you report the matter to us.

{{Conduct_Further_Reading}}

Poetry and prose

2024-07-23T19:52:39Z

Cathtice: /* Rahvin and Black Wind */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Ser Balian walked slowly towards the small lake, taking care to avoid treading on the verdant growth where possible. He had tarried here at the shrine too long, delaying his quest in the hope of speaking with the Lady. Three days in all and she had not appeared. He was not disappointed, those who had told him of the shrine said it was rare for Ser Guineve to appear in these times. Not unknown but rare. He had hoped that she might bless his quest, but it was not to be.

Almost unthinking, he realised he had come to the heart of the shrine, the place where Tancred De Coeurdefer had poured the true liao out to consecrate the ground. He stopped to let the feelings wash over him. The sensation was so strong it was almost unbearable. The belief that nothing could Dawn's destiny from being fulfilled, the absolute certainty that one day the Golden Sun would rise over Hope's Rest and all of the Barrens. It felt tangible, close, real - if only he would dedicate himself to it.

Unable to resist himself, the knight draw his sword, planted the tip in the ground and knealt. "I swear to you, Ser Guineve," he whispered to himself, "on my Virtue as a knight and the Virtue of all my house. I will do everything I can to make this dream real." He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the oath bind his soul. There was no one here to seet it, and yet he felt witnessed none the less.

He rose, and feeling a little self-conscious, he returned his sword to his scabbard. Without looking back he set a swift pace out of the glade, pausing only to pick up his pack. He didn't bother to avoid the flowers underfoot now. They were impossible to avoid and he was sure in the knowledge that they would regrow with the morning sun no matter how many knights trampled them. It was time to return to the quest.

He marched quickly away, afraid that if he looked back, his strength might fail him and he would never leave. The serene stillness of the glade watched him depart without saying a word. A lone figure, a single tall elegant woman dressed in Dawish robes smiled at him as he left. He didn't notice her, but nor it seemed did the fragrant blooms that filled the copse, untouched as they were by the woman's passage.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Poetry and prose.jpg|caption=Song glory, spoken oaths.|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The situation in [[the Barrens]] remains febrile but muted following recent dramatic events. The slow reality of the situation seems to be sinking into the blood-drenched soil bringing with it a kind of calm. Questions remain over the fate of the orc septs who call this land home, but one by one those questions are being answered. The process is rarely painless, but it does, at least, seem to be final.

Hour by hour, day by day, the Dawnish legacy in the Barrens takes root. As the Summer Solstice arrives, those roots begin to flower.

==The Towers of Dawn==
The great fortification known as the [[The_Barrens#Towers_of_the_Dawn_.28ruined.29|Towers of the Dawn]] once stood guard over the Dawnish houses that made the Barrens home. They were destroyed when the Druj betrayed the [[Accept_Druj_peace_treaty_II|peace treaty they signed with the Senate]] and attacked in massive force, easily over-running the Dawnish positions. The destruction of the Towers of Dawn was one of the most desolate moments in recent Dawnish history.
{{SOP|statement=For far too long the towers of Dawn have been left to lie fallow following their destruction by the Druj. No longer. In the name of glory and our great nation we must begin accepting proposals for projects to memorialize their loss. CDGV.|by=The Nobel Alys de Renard, Dawn|vote=Upheld (284-0)|when=Spring Equinox 386YE}}
In the end the treachery of the Druj was for nothing. The Empire returned to the Barrens in force and this time it was the Druj that were routed. With the Barrens now firmly under Dawnish control, questions are being asked what should become of the ruins of the Towers of Dawn?

Rebuilding the towers is one option - the foundations of the great fortification are still there - but it would be expensive. In the end the Dawnish Assembly gave unanimous support to the proposal by Alys de Renard to ask architects to come forwards with ideas. People are soon eager to offer ideas of their own - the idea of being able to create something glorious to replace the Towers of Dawn holds high appeal.

===The Tombs of Glory===
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<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Tombs of Glory'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Folly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 9 white granite, 27 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the Tombs of Glory, allowing the Dawnish Assembly to instruct House de Maravel to create a new tomb for a slain Dawnish noble whose deeds are judged glorious enough to be honoured alongside those of Rodric the Lame</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Etienne de Maravel proposes to create the Tombs of Glory requiring 9 wains of white granite and 27 crowns'''
* '''Once complete the Dawnish Assembly could use a judgement to order the construction of a new tomb for just 3 wains of white granite and 9 crowns'''
* '''The Tombs of Glory would be have their own wiki page outlining the deeds of those who had passed, like the Wintermark Chronicle of Heroes'''
The [[earl]] of House de Maravel is young and their house is small - just five nobles - but they are not short of [[Ambition]]. The earl's wife, ''Etienne de Maravel'' is a sculptor and architect renowned for her beautiful statues and elegant designs. She is known to have traveled widely and to have studied architecture in [[Holberg]] and sculpture in [[Necropolis]], where she was tutored by the reclusive [[Highguard|Highborn]] artist, ''Dinah of Sanctuary's End''.

Etienne claims to have been inspired by the wondrous architecture of [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis|the Black City]]. She points out that thousands of glorious Dawnish folk gave their lives fighting to defend the Towers, and thousands more died to claim the Barrens for Dawn. Surely, it is past time that those heroes had some great symbol to mark their passing? Why not mark their achievements - and not just theirs - but the deeds of those who will follow them? Why not use the foundations of the towers of the Dawn to create the Tombs of Glory?

The proposal is relatively modest, at least initially. The Highborn have their tombs for the dead Thrones. She wants to create a cenotaph, an empty tomb, for [[Dawn_monarchy#Imperial_History|Rodric the Lame]]. Etienne discovered that Rodric has no tomb of his own in the Necropolis, despite being such a pivotal figure in the history of Dawn. His remains rest beside his wife, the [[First Empress]], but his legacy should not be forgotten and he deserves a monument of his own. Etienne plans to create an empty tomb for the lame king and carve a statue of him at the entrance.

That however, would just be the start. When other glorious Dawnish nobles pass away, she suggests that the Assembly of Dawn might study their record and if they find one whose deeds are worthy they could use a statement to recognise their glorious deeds. If that happens, then Etienne would be only too happy to oversee the construction of a new tomb or cenotaph as appropriate and to carve a new statue of the fallen hero to mark their achievements. What could be more glorious a final resting place than to sleep in the Tombs of Glory, next to the last monarch of Dawn.

Creating Rodric's tomb is straight forward enough - it would not even need a commission, since Etienne proposes to oversee all the work herself with the nation's blessing. It would need just 9 wains of white granite and 27 crowns for the work. In place of the Towers of Dawn, Etienne would create the Tombs of Glory. Once complete, the Assembly of Dawn could use a judgement to instruct House de Maravel to prepare a new tomb or cenotaph. Each additional tomb would require just 3 wains of white granite and 9 crowns to build. In effect the Tombs would become an institution equivalent to the Wintermark [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroes]] allowing the Dawnish Assembly to mark the glory of a hero once they have passed (Etienne is quiet insistent on that point, you can't possibly have a place in the ''Tombs of Glory'' until you are dead).

===The Gates of Adventure===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Gates of Adventure'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 white granite, 25 mithril, 150 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Raises the potential level of investment for all Dawnish military units based in the Barrens that undertake an adventure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Optional:''' Could create the position of Knight of the Gate to be responsible for the Gate</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''The Knight of the Gate'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn national appointment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Chooses which adventures actions will benefit from the effects of the Gates of Adventure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To oversee the Gates of Adventure and support questing knights and knight-errants</td></tr>
</table></div>
</div>
* '''Christian proposes to create the Gates of Adventure requiring 25 white granite, 25 mithril and 150 crowns'''
* '''The Gates would be great work raising the level of investment of every military unit by one for purposes of undertaking an adventure'''
* '''The Senate motion could create the position the Knight of the Gate who could control which adventures benefit from the Gate'''
A more ambitious project is one put forward by ''Christian'', a [[knight-errant]] associated with House du Lorn. Christian is a well-regarded knight whose life is spent questing in the Barrens. While it is true, that he has never achieved glory yet, most people agree it is only a matter of time before his deeds become renowned enough to meet the terms of his [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|Test of Mettle]] - "To quest across the Barrens until his glory has marked the land itself".

What Christian would like, and what he argues would be an asset for many Dawnish knight-errants in a similar position to himself, is some aid to make their adventures more glorious. Now that the Barrens are Dawnish, there is little need of a great [[fortification]] at the entrance to the Barrens - instead what is needed is a glorious archway, a gate - something inspiring that everyone arriving in the Barrens could march through.

Thus he proposes that Dawn commission the ''Gates of Adventure'' - a vast arch designed to inspire questing knights and knight-errants. It would serve to raise the spirits of those setting out on a quest in the Barrens, but the arch could be supplemented with smithies, workshops and other artisans who could help to ensure that glorious knights had everything they needed to support them.

It would require a suitable [[commission]], but the Towers of Dawn could be rebuilt to create the Gates of Adventure, a triumphant archway that would inspire knights and their retinues. Once complete, it would serve as a [[great work]] raising the level of investment of every military unit by one for purposes of undertaking an [[Military_unit#Adventures|adventure]].

In addition, there Christian proposes that when the Senate authorise the commission, the motion include the creation of the ''Knight of the Gate'', a national position appointed by the Assembly of Dawn. Christian's idea is that the Assembly pick an experienced knight or troubadour who could oversee the Gates, providing advice and direction to any knights passing through - pointing them in the direction of glory. The Knight would be responsible for the Gate, which allow them to decide which adventures available to Dawnish heroes should benefit from the effects of the Gate - and to decide any decisions that came up regarding the Gate.

===The Towers of Enchantment===
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<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Towers of Enchantment'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' College of Magic</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 60 white granite, 60 mithril, 60 weirwood and 540 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' [[College_of_magic#Costs|Standard]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates a college of magic dedicated to Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Issue:''' Two of the proposed eternal patrons are currently under emnity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Includes palatial apartments for the four Knight-Protectors and adds a triumphant blade to their regalia</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Enchantress of Dawnguard'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn national postiojn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Senate appointment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Choose which rituals are codified by the Towers of Enchantment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To oversee the Towers and treat with the eternal patrons of the Towers</td></tr>
</table></div>
</div>
* '''Josephine du Lune seeks to raise the Towers of Enchantment raising 60 white granite, 60 mithril, 60 weirwood and 540 crowns'''
* '''The Towers would be a college of magic patronised by four eternals, Lofir, Meraud, Prospero and Skathe'''
* '''Two of these eternals are currently under emnity'''

Famously, when the Towers of the Dawn still stood, there were four massive white granite towers-keeps. They're gone now, but Josephine, the enchanteress earl of House du Lune seeks to raise them up once more. However her idea is not to rebuild the towers as a fortification. She wants them recerated as a new [[college of magic]].

It is a disgrace says Josephine, that Dawn has no college of magic. [[Urizen]] has the [[Doyen of the Spires]], [[Varushka]] has the [[Miekarova#The_Icy_Crag_of_the_Eternal_Sun|Icy Crag]] and [[the Brass Coast]] have [[Madruga#The_Lyceum_(Hidden)|the Lyceum]] (or will do when it emerges from the misty wards protecting it). Dawn's [[Dawn magical traditions|magical traditions]] are as strong as any nation - if not stronger. Why then is no college of magic in Dawn? Rebuilding the Towers of the Dawn is the perfect moment to rectify this omission which is long overdue to be attended to.

In Josephine's proposal, each tower-keep would be dedicated to the study of one of the four main realms, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter (in her view the two lesser realms don't merit inclusion since they are inherently less glorious than the main realms). The college would be set up, so that it could focus efforts to research new magic on the study of a single realm at a time. The idea being that it would research a Spring ritual with the help of it's patron from the Spring realm. Once a ritual is completed, it would then research a Summer ritual with the help of its Summer patron, then an Autumn ritual and so on all the way back to Spring again after the fourth ritual was completed When the Towers are directing research towards a project that is part of the current realm, the work would proeed at the rate of 15 ranks of magnitude each season, rather than the normal 10.

So far, so good. There are some... challenges with Josephine's plan however. She claims to enjoy excellent relations with the "great wizards of the four realms" each of whom she says stands ready to be a patron of the Towers of Enchantment. Certainly some eternal patron would be beneficial - and if the Towers are to be specialised in all four realms, it would need a patron from each realm. And it does make sense to pick the eternal most interested in ritual magic from each realm.

Josepheine has spent years on this plan and has an agreement in principle with four eternals who agreed not just to accept patronage of a Dawnish college of magic, but juast importantly to ''accept each other''. Unfortunately much time has elapsed since then and two of those eternals have since fallen under the [[Alignment|emnity]] of the [[Imperial Conclave]]. [[Meraud]], the Summer Enchanter and [[Prospero]], the Golden Prince could serve as patrons of a college, but it would not be legal to accept the help of [[Llofir]], the Rotlord, the Lady of Spores or [[The_Thrice-cursed_Court#Skathe|Skathe]], the Hag Queen.

In theory the college could be commissioned with the understanding that the Enchantress of Dawnguard would not draw on the power of any one of the patron eternals while they are under enmity. The college would still serve, but it wouldn't gain any benefit when working on a ritual of enmitied realm. Of course if the Conclave changed the alignment of the Quiet One or the Bitter Tear, then the Enchantress would be free to call on their aid from that season onwards.

The alternative would be for the Enchanters of Dawn to find a way to reopen the negotiations - looking for an alternative patron for Spring and Winter that would both agree to help ''and'' be acceptable to the other patrons. That is complex and challenging, especially if the enchanters hope to swap both of these eternals for a more suitable replacement. Josephine du Lune warns against assuming that any eternal will do. She claims that each of these eternals has a grudging respect for the others - they acknowledge each other's mastery of magic. Any alternative would have to be equally palatable to them all.

The proposed towers are expensive, but aid is on hand from one source. The weavers of Weirwater are excited about the prospect of the Towers of Enchantment being built and they suggest that each of the four towers would make an excellent residence for one of Dawn's knight-protectors. Josephine is happy to include their ideas in her proposal - which would mean that each of the Knight-Protectors would benefit from their own palatial rooms in the towers, in keeping with their status. In addition the weavers would provide the Knight-Protector with a [[Triumphant Blade]] each year so that they have a weapon befitting their position.

==The Spires of Dusk==
{{SOP|statement=The Assembly of Ambition seeks to consecrate the Towers of Dusk to Ambition, as an effort to restructure them after the Druj occupation, using a dose of true liao.|by=Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato, Assembly of Ambition|vote=Greater Majority (326-16)|when=Spring Equinox 386YE}}
* '''Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato, a citizen of the League has raised the idea of consecrating the Spires of Dusk once more'''
* '''The Spires were in a poor state of repair, with a grim and foreboding demeanour, but they have since been remodelled'''
A year ago '''Darien Numbers''' raised a judgement in the Dawnish Assembly calling for [[liao#true liao|true liao]] to be used to [[consecration|consecrate]] the Spires of Dusk. At the time, it was felt that the Spires might be a poor site to consecrate. They were in a poor state of repair, and they were constructed to project Druj power across the Barrens, to send a clear signal to intimidate everyone who saw them, to remind people of what happens to those who dare to raise a hand against the rightful rulers of the Barrens. Every part of them resonated with cruelty, misery and despair.

Fortunately, at the same time that the Synod were passing a judgement calling for the fortification to be consecrated, the Senate were approving a plan to [[Commission#Altering_an_Existing_Commission|completely remodel]] the fortification. The Druj traps have now been torn out and the last traces of their power swept clean. In their place, beautiful gardens have been planted which will soon be filled with black roses. A number of statues are being carved to commemorate the Hounds who fell taking the fortification, the motion stopped short of renaming the fortification but every vestige of the Druj's power in the Spires is now gone.

With the work entirely paid for by the [[Castellan of Spiral Castle]], the Spires of Dusk are now a lasting memorial to the glory of the lost army and a durable symbol of Dawn's determination to rule the Barrens. They have become an imposing symbol of Imperial rule sending a clear signal to everyone in the Barrens, that the territory is Dawnish, now and for the future.

With the work complete, the fortification could now become a fitting site for a consecration to Ambition. It would help to boost Dawnish morale in the Barrens and beyond - and secure their dominion over these lands in perpetuity.

{{Mandate|mandate=Nothing is beyond our reach. We send {named priest} with a dose of true liao to consecrate the rebuilt Spires of Dusk. Where they have sown fear, we will make flowers bloom.|assembly=General Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, the Dawnish, especially those Dawnish who dwell in the Barrens will be inspired, their spirits exalted and uplifted. They will be encouraged to seek our new challenges wherever they can find them, and those who take the time to visit the Spires will be filled with a profound sense of destiny. Seeing the symbol of Druj power replaced will make them truly believe that nothing is beyond their reach.

The effects on the Dawnish people of the Barrens will be electrifying. The conquest of the Barrens has been the greatest triumph the Dawnish nation has known in centuries, but Ambition demands they do more. People will immediately set their sights on the Druj territories that surround the Barrens, the [[Forest of Ulnak]], the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and the [[Sarangrave]]. The Druj have been beaten in the Barrens - and the Dawnish drove them from [[Ossium]] - but why stop there? Dawn and the Druj have been locked in warfare with each other for longer than either nation can remember.

The resulting surge in enthusiasm will immediately increase the number of armies that Dawn can support by one - it will remain raised for as long as the Spires of Dusk remain in Dawnish hands. In addition if any new Dawnish army is raised at the Spires of Dusk, then the soldiers will be uplifted by the ambitious aura. They will believe that nothing is beyond their reach - they will be eager to take the fight to the Druj, to see the nation destroyed once and for all, and for the rest of the Mallum to be liberated just as the Barrens has been. ('''OOC note:''' any army raised here will have an option for a powerful quality that supports a conquest of [[the Mallum]]).

==The Chapel Perilous==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Guineve's Dream'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Folly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Hope's Rest, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 white granite, 36 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Strengthens the ambitious influence of the trua aura of ambition at Hope's Rest encouraging Dawn to claim the Barrens for themselves</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A year ago, the Dawnish travelled to the Barrens to consecrate the Shrine of Hope to Ambition'''
* '''The shrine has seen a regular stream of visitors since then, but it's influence has been limited by the ongoing conflict and its unassuming physical presence'''
* '''The Empire could commission a large structure to enhance the impact of the true aura present'''
A year ago, the Dawnish took advantage of a large conjunction to [[A_glorious_victory#Here_We_Stand_(Conjunction)|travel to the shrine of Ser Guineve]]. The stories say that this knight was once Ser Galahad, and that they were one of Queen Igraine's four husbands. They took up the mantle of Ser Guineve after their Queen died and they became the first questing knight to seek glory in the Barrens. They were buried at the Shrine of Hope and their ghost haunts the site still. It is said that they can never rest until all the Barrens is finally Dawnish.

The site has always been a regular spot for pilgrimages and a stopping point for knights questing in the Barrens. The shrine has held many consecrations over the years, at one point or another it has benefitted variously from the consecration of Ambition, Courage, Vigilance, Loyalty or Wisdom. Now the aura is true - fixed and permanent, powerful and subtle in its influence. By all accounts it was Tancred de Coeurdefer who carried out the consecration, placing a true aura of Ambition at the site

The flowers that Darian Numbers dreamed of, grow in great abundance here now. Wild purple iris, intersperced with peonies, lilies, and windflowers of every imaginable colour. There is no order to the flowers, nobody tends the beds in which they grow, yet they prosper here still, creating a site that soothes the most troubled spirit, inspires the weary, and brings hope to those who have lost the will to go on. Brilliant red crocosmia grows next to variagated dahlias and even more exotic blooms to stir even the hardest of hearts.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Not to conquer.jpg|align=left|caption="Pride exalts and uplifts those who have been laid low by the wicked; we come to the Barrens not to conquer, but to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj."|width=600}}</div>
But currently it is one of the best kept secrets in the Barrens. If more people knew of the shrine, if more people visited it, then its impact would be more widely felt. That could be achieved, relatively easily, by building a chapel, a place of sanctuary where people could rest and prepare for their ownward journey. It doesn't have to be some grand church or cathedral, that is something that the Assembly could use a judgement to request if they wanted a more ambitious housing for the aura. But a simple folly would suffice - it would turn the trickle of visitors into a flood, as people came to experience the serene beauty of the location and experience the ambitious aura.

If the Chapel of Hope was built, then it would extend the influence of the true aura to Dawnish citizens across the territory. Visitors, guided by the ghost of Ser Guineve, would be encouraged to expand out across the Barrens, looking to settle those lands that are unclaimed; [[The Barrens#Hope's Rest|Hopes Rest]], the [[the Barrens#Carmine Fields|Carmine Fields]], and [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]], as well as those parts of [[the Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]] not claimed by the [[Not_to_conquer#Karass|Karass]]. New Dawnish settlements would be established enriching the territory and the Imperial coffers in the process.

Now that the matter of Dawn's control of the Barrens is settled, there need be no conflict with the septs. The Barrens is a vast open wilderness, waiting to be tamed, there is plenty of room for everyone now that the [[Ashes#From_Darkness_to_Darkness|Black Wind have left]] and the [[Ripples_and_shadows#Saltmarsh_Redux|Vendarri are gone]]. Out of respect for their neighbours feelings, the Dawnish would avoid the forests of Peytaht and stay well away from [[the Barrens#The Fangs|the Fangs]] for the time being. But that still leaves a rich land that could be home to new Dawnish houses.

==The Orc Septs ==
* '''Much of the Black Wind sept have departed the Barrens, those who remain have settled at the Fangs'''
* '''There is no word from the Karass or the Rahvin at this time'''
* '''The Great Forest Orcs have been given reassurances by the judgements of the Navarr'''

With each passing day the situation in the Barrens grows clearer. The Black Wind have used the [[Ashes#From_Darkness_to_Darkness|time and freedom granted them by the Dawnish generals]] to gather their people and what belongings they can carry and flee the Barrens. Not all the Black Wind are gone; a small number of them chose to join the Rahvin at the Fangs rather than suffer the rule of the Druj. Last time the septs negotiated with the Senate, they had no idea what the outcome of those deliberations was. This time the [[Great Forest Orcs]], many of whom are still walking the [[trods]] alongside the Navarr, pass on every detail to keep them all well informed of what has taken place.
===Rahvin and Black Wind===
* '''The Rahvin are jubilant to hear the motion for their treaty passed... and devastated to hear it was vetoed'''
The Rahvin are downcast by the failure to [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_the_Rahvin|pass the treaty]] they had arranged with Imperial diplomats. There is great disappointment, but little surprise. Their allies at [[Anvil]] had repeatedly warned them that the Imperial Senate would not pass a treaty recognising the Black Wind as foreigners and cedeing their regions where they dwelt to them. They pressed their allies to try anyway, claiming they were prepared to accept the bitter pain of failure, but could not accept the hopelessness of failing to ''try''. Even forewarned, to see their families, relations, and friends condemned to a life of servitude to the Druj in the darkness of the Mallum is a bitter pill to swallow. The Rahvin gave everything they had to find another way - and it was not enough. While the Senate passed the treaty, [[the Throne]] chose to [[The Throne#Power of Veto|veto it]] at the last moment.

Not all the Black Wind have left - some have joined the Rahvin, swelling their numbers considerably. The Rahvin welcome them like returning heroes - they may have saved only a tiny fraction of those they sought to rescue from the Druj's tyranny, but every soul is precious. Together the two groups are frantically trying to arm themselves with what little [[mithril]] the mine can produce. They are convinced now that it is only a matter of time before the Empire turns on them - and if somehow that fate is averted then they will certainly be wiped out once the Druj reclaim the Barrens. Their only hope is to prepare for a war they have tried [[Accept_Barrens_peace_treaty|again]] and [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_the_Rahvin|again]] to avert.

===Great Forest Orcs===
{{SOP|by=Morwenna Witheredrose, Navarr Assembly|statement=For our Empire to offer sanctuary only to those we find convenient is to pretend at compassion while concealing the heart of a coward. We send Brynmor Rootround with 50 doses of liao to encourage Navarr to reach out to all who call Peytaht their home, swearing to protect orc and human alike regardless of their beliefs.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (190-154)}}
{{SOP|by=Brynn Tendfallen, Navarr Assembly|statement=We have lived alongside the Great Forest Orcs and we consider them family. We will continue to work with them while the Navarr still live and breathe and we send Brynmor Rootround with 50 doses of liao to ask Navarr to look to their Loyalty and swear an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as though they were our family. Strength to the Navarr, Strength to the Great Forest Orcs.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (252-58}}
{{SOP|by=Caoimhe Tendfallen, Navarr Assembly|statement=The Montainans and the Great Forest Orcs are not one and the same. The assurances we extend to the Great Forest Orcs are not appropriate to the Montainians. However the Montainins are dear to our friends and their destruction will not benefit the Empire in Virtue or in pragmatism. We will not stand idly by if they are threatened.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (236-20}}
*'''The Navarr had unequivocably sworn their support for the Great Forest Orcs, supported by the Loyalty assembly'''
* '''A group of Great Forest Orcs including Chief Vallack plans to attend Anvil, due to arrive at 8pm on Friday evening'''
* '''They have invited two named Imperial citizens to meet with them, but are not interested in meeting with Imperial citizens who are not Navarr'''
The Rahvin and the Black Wind were not the only septs with concerns. The slaughter of their closest allies, the Montanians, had convinced the Great Forest Orcs that the Empire could not be trusted. The Montanians weren't signatories to the peace treaty with the Empire, but they were [[Accept_Orcs_of_the_Great_Forest_treaty|''explicitly identified'' in the prologue of the treaty]], and that hadn't saved them. The Empire had turned on them and slaughtered them without warning the moment it suited them - why would it be any different for the Great Forest Orcs?

In desperation they sought reassurances from the Navarr that they were not to be next. They are familiar with the [[hearth magic]] of oaths and aware of how much importance the Navarr place on them. A solemn oath to protect them would reassure them that they are not about to suffer the same fate as their allies the Vendarri, the Montanians, and the Black Wind.

The Navarr Assembly chose to endorse the mandate presented by '''Brynn Tendfallen''' that encouraged the Navarr to swear an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family. Another mandate that would have gone further and explicitly encouraged the Navarr to also swear to protect the surviving Montanians passed but with a smaller margin and was not enacted. Instead the Assembly passed a different statement defining the Navarr's relationship with the Montanians. The mandate has spread quickly through the Navarr, especially those who dwell near the Great Forest Orcs. Solemn oaths have been sworn, with many choosing the very wording that '''Corey Wayfarer''' proposed for the mandate, declaring that the Navarr will work with them ''while the Navarr still live and breathe''.

If any Navarr had any doubts about the [[Wisdom]] of swearing an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs, those doubts are dispelled by the decision of the Loyalty Assembly to enact the mandate. '''Kellin Embercast''' employed the [[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] to encourage the entire nation to swear the oath. Once that happens, more and more Navarr embrace the oath, many choosing to mark it with a tattoo or a brand as is common in the Navarr. By the time of the Summer Solstice, most of the nation have sworn some form of the oath encouraged by Brynn Tendfallen.

It is a powerful oath, and a dangerous one. Oaths are potent and ancient hearth magic; breaking them can have terrible consequences. To swear a oath on your life and on the breath in your body is not something to take lightly. The Great Forest Orcs are reassured - the Empire might break their treaties, but only a fool would break an oath like that. The Great Forest Orcs abandon any plans to flee the Empire, and instead a number of them plan to remain in the [[Therunin#Holt_of_the_Oak|Holt of the Oak]], and the [[Thimble]], and continue to build up the steadings some of their youths have built near the [[Golden Trees of Seren]], the [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]].
Such plans have reckoned without the Druj however. Perhaps the enemy have not forgotten or forgiven the Great Forest Orcs for their support of the Empire. [[Ashes|The invasion of Therunin]] is not the first time they have attempted to strike back, to show the world what happens to those who leave the "protection" of the Druj. Much more likely this is an attack on the Empire, an attempt to take revenge for the loss of the Barrens by taking Therunin and claiming the valuable resources found there. There's little evidence that they even knew for sure that the Great Forest Orcs were here until they encountered them in battle.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=InquisitorLoyalty.jpg|caption=Kellin Embercast|align=right|width=500}}</div>
The Great Forest Orcs are desperate to discuss the situation with their Navarr allies. Their warriors have fought to delay the Druj, but they have been overwhelmed. Now they are falling back with the Druj hot on their heels. They have sent word that Chief Vallack and his companions intend to visit the Navarr camp around eight o'clock on Friday evening. Still they have much to discuss with their oathbound allies following the invasion of Therunin and events within the Barrens. They also intend to stay and participate in Songs & Stories that evening.

They have made it extremely clear that they only wish to talk to the Navarr, with two exceptions. '''Kennett the Mummer''' and '''Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower''' are welcome to meet with Vallack and his companions if they wish. It's not entirely clear why the two individuals have been singled out, but the Great Forest Orcs will be aware of the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_112|statement of principle authored by Hazelelponi]] and [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_108|by Kennett]].

It is not year clear if they intend to discuss the issue of the treaty that the Great Forest Orcs feel the Empire has broken, or the [[Accept_Orcs_of_the_Great_Forest_treaty#Article_VII|reparations it promised]]. On the other hand, those of Dawn and Varushka are particularly warned to keep their distance.

===Participation : Navarr===
* '''Any Navarr character could roleplay having taken the oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family'''
Any Navarr character is free to roleplay that they have personally sworn the oath to treat the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family. Marking the oath with a new tattoo or brand would be an excellent way to bring this decision into play. Alternatively, you may plan to make the oath during the Summer Solstice, perhaps in the presence of Chief Vallack and his companions. The wording of the oath is up to the individual, as always, but there are suggestions here as to what it might include. It'd also be an excellent time to seek out a [[dedication]], [[anointing]], or [[hallow]] of [[Loyalty]] - or to ask the guidance of a [[guide]] as to whether you should swear the oath or not. Dedication dreams might be an excellent way to explore this in character.

Bear in mind, though, that if you swear this oath in character and later break it, you would expect it to have a profound effect on your character. Oaths of such power are not to be entered into lightly. The [[Navarr_hearth_magic#Tattoos|hearth magic of tattoos]] has some notes on what might happen if you become foresworn.

===Imperial Legal Advice===
* '''Official legal advice is that the Empire may not have broken the terms of their treaty with the Great Forest Orcs'''
* '''There is no outside arbitration - the Great Forest Orcs feel the treaty was broken - but the law does not deal with feelings'''
* '''It is a matter for the politicians whether the treaty was violated'''
In 381YE the Empire signed a peace treaty with the Great Forest Orcs. The terms of the treaty forbid attacks on each other and the very first line of the treaty states that the treaty is ''"understood to incorporate the orcs of the Great Forest formerly resident in the Barrens, together with the humans that the Great Forest recognise as members of their nation."'' The Great Forest Orcs and the Montanians always believed that the treaty covered them both equally - and they walked the trods together. The Montanians understood that their religious embrace of the false Virtue of Freedom was not accepted in the Empire, and they took care not to speak of it where Imperial citizens could overhear. It seemed to the Great Forest Orcs that they - and their human allies - had a treaty with the Empire that would protect them both equally.

Those assumptions proved groundless and when the two groups returned to the Barrens, the Empire sent an army to attack the Montanians. They weren't taken by surprise, they got warning from somewhere, but it was only enough for a few hundred of their number to escape - the elderly and the youngest ran for the safety of the Great Forest, while the rest gave their lives in a heroic final stand to give them time to get away. This is the context in which the Great Forest Orcs believe the treaty has been breached.

However, official legal advice of the [[Scrutiny|Constitutional Court]] points out that the treaty identifies the Montanians only in so much as it describes them as ''"the humans that the Great Forest recognise as members of their nation"''. That could be interpreted to mean that the Montanians were protected, so long as they lived with the Great Forest Orcs as part of their sept. Once they came back to the Barrens to return to their old homes in Hope's Rest, they were clearly a different group - distinct and apart from the Great Forest Orcs. They were no longer "members of their (the Great Forest Orcs) nation". As such... they were not covered by the treaty and it was perfectly legal to attack them. From the point of view of the Imperial law, that interpretation is consistent with the Senate's decision to declare them barbarians.

The Great Forest Orcs are unlikely to be receptive to this legal analysis. Their fears that they would be next have been laid to rest by the oaths the Navarr swore; now the Empire must decide, what - if anything - to do about their feelings that the Empire has betrayed the terms of the treaty. Ultimately, that is not something the magistrates can advise on; it is a political matter, not a legal one.

==Further Reading==
* [[The Barrens]]
* [[Conflict in the Barrens]]
* [[Ashes]] - 386YE Summer Wind of War concerning the situation in the Barrens and the invasion of Therunin
* [[All those moments]] - 386YE Spring Wind of Fortune detailing events in the Barrens
* [[Not to conquer]] - 385YE Autumn wind of fortune detailing the Barrens factions
* [[The silent page]] - 384YE Winter wind of fortune
* [[Two_silhouettes#A_Curious_Reprise_.28Battle.29|A curious reprise]] -384YE Winter battle opportunity involving the Rahvin at the Fangs

Poetry and prose

2024-07-23T19:48:54Z

Cathtice: /* The Spires of Dusk */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Ser Balian walked slowly towards the small lake, taking care to avoid treading on the verdant growth where possible. He had tarried here at the shrine too long, delaying his quest in the hope of speaking with the Lady. Three days in all and she had not appeared. He was not disappointed, those who had told him of the shrine said it was rare for Ser Guineve to appear in these times. Not unknown but rare. He had hoped that she might bless his quest, but it was not to be.

Almost unthinking, he realised he had come to the heart of the shrine, the place where Tancred De Coeurdefer had poured the true liao out to consecrate the ground. He stopped to let the feelings wash over him. The sensation was so strong it was almost unbearable. The belief that nothing could Dawn's destiny from being fulfilled, the absolute certainty that one day the Golden Sun would rise over Hope's Rest and all of the Barrens. It felt tangible, close, real - if only he would dedicate himself to it.

Unable to resist himself, the knight draw his sword, planted the tip in the ground and knealt. "I swear to you, Ser Guineve," he whispered to himself, "on my Virtue as a knight and the Virtue of all my house. I will do everything I can to make this dream real." He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the oath bind his soul. There was no one here to seet it, and yet he felt witnessed none the less.

He rose, and feeling a little self-conscious, he returned his sword to his scabbard. Without looking back he set a swift pace out of the glade, pausing only to pick up his pack. He didn't bother to avoid the flowers underfoot now. They were impossible to avoid and he was sure in the knowledge that they would regrow with the morning sun no matter how many knights trampled them. It was time to return to the quest.

He marched quickly away, afraid that if he looked back, his strength might fail him and he would never leave. The serene stillness of the glade watched him depart without saying a word. A lone figure, a single tall elegant woman dressed in Dawish robes smiled at him as he left. He didn't notice her, but nor it seemed did the fragrant blooms that filled the copse, untouched as they were by the woman's passage.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Poetry and prose.jpg|caption=Song glory, spoken oaths.|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The situation in [[the Barrens]] remains febrile but muted following recent dramatic events. The slow reality of the situation seems to be sinking into the blood-drenched soil bringing with it a kind of calm. Questions remain over the fate of the orc septs who call this land home, but one by one those questions are being answered. The process is rarely painless, but it does, at least, seem to be final.

Hour by hour, day by day, the Dawnish legacy in the Barrens takes root. As the Summer Solstice arrives, those roots begin to flower.

==The Towers of Dawn==
The great fortification known as the [[The_Barrens#Towers_of_the_Dawn_.28ruined.29|Towers of the Dawn]] once stood guard over the Dawnish houses that made the Barrens home. They were destroyed when the Druj betrayed the [[Accept_Druj_peace_treaty_II|peace treaty they signed with the Senate]] and attacked in massive force, easily over-running the Dawnish positions. The destruction of the Towers of Dawn was one of the most desolate moments in recent Dawnish history.
{{SOP|statement=For far too long the towers of Dawn have been left to lie fallow following their destruction by the Druj. No longer. In the name of glory and our great nation we must begin accepting proposals for projects to memorialize their loss. CDGV.|by=The Nobel Alys de Renard, Dawn|vote=Upheld (284-0)|when=Spring Equinox 386YE}}
In the end the treachery of the Druj was for nothing. The Empire returned to the Barrens in force and this time it was the Druj that were routed. With the Barrens now firmly under Dawnish control, questions are being asked what should become of the ruins of the Towers of Dawn?

Rebuilding the towers is one option - the foundations of the great fortification are still there - but it would be expensive. In the end the Dawnish Assembly gave unanimous support to the proposal by Alys de Renard to ask architects to come forwards with ideas. People are soon eager to offer ideas of their own - the idea of being able to create something glorious to replace the Towers of Dawn holds high appeal.

===The Tombs of Glory===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Tombs of Glory'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Folly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 9 white granite, 27 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the Tombs of Glory, allowing the Dawnish Assembly to instruct House de Maravel to create a new tomb for a slain Dawnish noble whose deeds are judged glorious enough to be honoured alongside those of Rodric the Lame</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Etienne de Maravel proposes to create the Tombs of Glory requiring 9 wains of white granite and 27 crowns'''
* '''Once complete the Dawnish Assembly could use a judgement to order the construction of a new tomb for just 3 wains of white granite and 9 crowns'''
* '''The Tombs of Glory would be have their own wiki page outlining the deeds of those who had passed, like the Wintermark Chronicle of Heroes'''
The [[earl]] of House de Maravel is young and their house is small - just five nobles - but they are not short of [[Ambition]]. The earl's wife, ''Etienne de Maravel'' is a sculptor and architect renowned for her beautiful statues and elegant designs. She is known to have traveled widely and to have studied architecture in [[Holberg]] and sculpture in [[Necropolis]], where she was tutored by the reclusive [[Highguard|Highborn]] artist, ''Dinah of Sanctuary's End''.

Etienne claims to have been inspired by the wondrous architecture of [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis|the Black City]]. She points out that thousands of glorious Dawnish folk gave their lives fighting to defend the Towers, and thousands more died to claim the Barrens for Dawn. Surely, it is past time that those heroes had some great symbol to mark their passing? Why not mark their achievements - and not just theirs - but the deeds of those who will follow them? Why not use the foundations of the towers of the Dawn to create the Tombs of Glory?

The proposal is relatively modest, at least initially. The Highborn have their tombs for the dead Thrones. She wants to create a cenotaph, an empty tomb, for [[Dawn_monarchy#Imperial_History|Rodric the Lame]]. Etienne discovered that Rodric has no tomb of his own in the Necropolis, despite being such a pivotal figure in the history of Dawn. His remains rest beside his wife, the [[First Empress]], but his legacy should not be forgotten and he deserves a monument of his own. Etienne plans to create an empty tomb for the lame king and carve a statue of him at the entrance.

That however, would just be the start. When other glorious Dawnish nobles pass away, she suggests that the Assembly of Dawn might study their record and if they find one whose deeds are worthy they could use a statement to recognise their glorious deeds. If that happens, then Etienne would be only too happy to oversee the construction of a new tomb or cenotaph as appropriate and to carve a new statue of the fallen hero to mark their achievements. What could be more glorious a final resting place than to sleep in the Tombs of Glory, next to the last monarch of Dawn.

Creating Rodric's tomb is straight forward enough - it would not even need a commission, since Etienne proposes to oversee all the work herself with the nation's blessing. It would need just 9 wains of white granite and 27 crowns for the work. In place of the Towers of Dawn, Etienne would create the Tombs of Glory. Once complete, the Assembly of Dawn could use a judgement to instruct House de Maravel to prepare a new tomb or cenotaph. Each additional tomb would require just 3 wains of white granite and 9 crowns to build. In effect the Tombs would become an institution equivalent to the Wintermark [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroes]] allowing the Dawnish Assembly to mark the glory of a hero once they have passed (Etienne is quiet insistent on that point, you can't possibly have a place in the ''Tombs of Glory'' until you are dead).

===The Gates of Adventure===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Gates of Adventure'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 white granite, 25 mithril, 150 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Raises the potential level of investment for all Dawnish military units based in the Barrens that undertake an adventure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Optional:''' Could create the position of Knight of the Gate to be responsible for the Gate</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''The Knight of the Gate'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn national appointment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Chooses which adventures actions will benefit from the effects of the Gates of Adventure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To oversee the Gates of Adventure and support questing knights and knight-errants</td></tr>
</table></div>
</div>
* '''Christian proposes to create the Gates of Adventure requiring 25 white granite, 25 mithril and 150 crowns'''
* '''The Gates would be great work raising the level of investment of every military unit by one for purposes of undertaking an adventure'''
* '''The Senate motion could create the position the Knight of the Gate who could control which adventures benefit from the Gate'''
A more ambitious project is one put forward by ''Christian'', a [[knight-errant]] associated with House du Lorn. Christian is a well-regarded knight whose life is spent questing in the Barrens. While it is true, that he has never achieved glory yet, most people agree it is only a matter of time before his deeds become renowned enough to meet the terms of his [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|Test of Mettle]] - "To quest across the Barrens until his glory has marked the land itself".

What Christian would like, and what he argues would be an asset for many Dawnish knight-errants in a similar position to himself, is some aid to make their adventures more glorious. Now that the Barrens are Dawnish, there is little need of a great [[fortification]] at the entrance to the Barrens - instead what is needed is a glorious archway, a gate - something inspiring that everyone arriving in the Barrens could march through.

Thus he proposes that Dawn commission the ''Gates of Adventure'' - a vast arch designed to inspire questing knights and knight-errants. It would serve to raise the spirits of those setting out on a quest in the Barrens, but the arch could be supplemented with smithies, workshops and other artisans who could help to ensure that glorious knights had everything they needed to support them.

It would require a suitable [[commission]], but the Towers of Dawn could be rebuilt to create the Gates of Adventure, a triumphant archway that would inspire knights and their retinues. Once complete, it would serve as a [[great work]] raising the level of investment of every military unit by one for purposes of undertaking an [[Military_unit#Adventures|adventure]].

In addition, there Christian proposes that when the Senate authorise the commission, the motion include the creation of the ''Knight of the Gate'', a national position appointed by the Assembly of Dawn. Christian's idea is that the Assembly pick an experienced knight or troubadour who could oversee the Gates, providing advice and direction to any knights passing through - pointing them in the direction of glory. The Knight would be responsible for the Gate, which allow them to decide which adventures available to Dawnish heroes should benefit from the effects of the Gate - and to decide any decisions that came up regarding the Gate.

===The Towers of Enchantment===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Towers of Enchantment'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' College of Magic</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 60 white granite, 60 mithril, 60 weirwood and 540 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' [[College_of_magic#Costs|Standard]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates a college of magic dedicated to Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Issue:''' Two of the proposed eternal patrons are currently under emnity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Includes palatial apartments for the four Knight-Protectors and adds a triumphant blade to their regalia</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Enchantress of Dawnguard'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn national postiojn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Senate appointment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Choose which rituals are codified by the Towers of Enchantment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To oversee the Towers and treat with the eternal patrons of the Towers</td></tr>
</table></div>
</div>
* '''Josephine du Lune seeks to raise the Towers of Enchantment raising 60 white granite, 60 mithril, 60 weirwood and 540 crowns'''
* '''The Towers would be a college of magic patronised by four eternals, Lofir, Meraud, Prospero and Skathe'''
* '''Two of these eternals are currently under emnity'''

Famously, when the Towers of the Dawn still stood, there were four massive white granite towers-keeps. They're gone now, but Josephine, the enchanteress earl of House du Lune seeks to raise them up once more. However her idea is not to rebuild the towers as a fortification. She wants them recerated as a new [[college of magic]].

It is a disgrace says Josephine, that Dawn has no college of magic. [[Urizen]] has the [[Doyen of the Spires]], [[Varushka]] has the [[Miekarova#The_Icy_Crag_of_the_Eternal_Sun|Icy Crag]] and [[the Brass Coast]] have [[Madruga#The_Lyceum_(Hidden)|the Lyceum]] (or will do when it emerges from the misty wards protecting it). Dawn's [[Dawn magical traditions|magical traditions]] are as strong as any nation - if not stronger. Why then is no college of magic in Dawn? Rebuilding the Towers of the Dawn is the perfect moment to rectify this omission which is long overdue to be attended to.

In Josephine's proposal, each tower-keep would be dedicated to the study of one of the four main realms, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter (in her view the two lesser realms don't merit inclusion since they are inherently less glorious than the main realms). The college would be set up, so that it could focus efforts to research new magic on the study of a single realm at a time. The idea being that it would research a Spring ritual with the help of it's patron from the Spring realm. Once a ritual is completed, it would then research a Summer ritual with the help of its Summer patron, then an Autumn ritual and so on all the way back to Spring again after the fourth ritual was completed When the Towers are directing research towards a project that is part of the current realm, the work would proeed at the rate of 15 ranks of magnitude each season, rather than the normal 10.

So far, so good. There are some... challenges with Josephine's plan however. She claims to enjoy excellent relations with the "great wizards of the four realms" each of whom she says stands ready to be a patron of the Towers of Enchantment. Certainly some eternal patron would be beneficial - and if the Towers are to be specialised in all four realms, it would need a patron from each realm. And it does make sense to pick the eternal most interested in ritual magic from each realm.

Josepheine has spent years on this plan and has an agreement in principle with four eternals who agreed not just to accept patronage of a Dawnish college of magic, but juast importantly to ''accept each other''. Unfortunately much time has elapsed since then and two of those eternals have since fallen under the [[Alignment|emnity]] of the [[Imperial Conclave]]. [[Meraud]], the Summer Enchanter and [[Prospero]], the Golden Prince could serve as patrons of a college, but it would not be legal to accept the help of [[Llofir]], the Rotlord, the Lady of Spores or [[The_Thrice-cursed_Court#Skathe|Skathe]], the Hag Queen.

In theory the college could be commissioned with the understanding that the Enchantress of Dawnguard would not draw on the power of any one of the patron eternals while they are under enmity. The college would still serve, but it wouldn't gain any benefit when working on a ritual of enmitied realm. Of course if the Conclave changed the alignment of the Quiet One or the Bitter Tear, then the Enchantress would be free to call on their aid from that season onwards.

The alternative would be for the Enchanters of Dawn to find a way to reopen the negotiations - looking for an alternative patron for Spring and Winter that would both agree to help ''and'' be acceptable to the other patrons. That is complex and challenging, especially if the enchanters hope to swap both of these eternals for a more suitable replacement. Josephine du Lune warns against assuming that any eternal will do. She claims that each of these eternals has a grudging respect for the others - they acknowledge each other's mastery of magic. Any alternative would have to be equally palatable to them all.

The proposed towers are expensive, but aid is on hand from one source. The weavers of Weirwater are excited about the prospect of the Towers of Enchantment being built and they suggest that each of the four towers would make an excellent residence for one of Dawn's knight-protectors. Josephine is happy to include their ideas in her proposal - which would mean that each of the Knight-Protectors would benefit from their own palatial rooms in the towers, in keeping with their status. In addition the weavers would provide the Knight-Protector with a [[Triumphant Blade]] each year so that they have a weapon befitting their position.

==The Spires of Dusk==
{{SOP|statement=The Assembly of Ambition seeks to consecrate the Towers of Dusk to Ambition, as an effort to restructure them after the Druj occupation, using a dose of true liao.|by=Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato, Assembly of Ambition|vote=Greater Majority (326-16)|when=Spring Equinox 386YE}}
* '''Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato, a citizen of the League has raised the idea of consecrating the Spires of Dusk once more'''
* '''The Spires were in a poor state of repair, with a grim and foreboding demeanour, but they have since been remodelled'''
A year ago '''Darien Numbers''' raised a judgement in the Dawnish Assembly calling for [[liao#true liao|true liao]] to be used to [[consecration|consecrate]] the Spires of Dusk. At the time, it was felt that the Spires might be a poor site to consecrate. They were in a poor state of repair, and they were constructed to project Druj power across the Barrens, to send a clear signal to intimidate everyone who saw them, to remind people of what happens to those who dare to raise a hand against the rightful rulers of the Barrens. Every part of them resonated with cruelty, misery and despair.

Fortunately, at the same time that the Synod were passing a judgement calling for the fortification to be consecrated, the Senate were approving a plan to [[Commission#Altering_an_Existing_Commission|completely remodel]] the fortification. The Druj traps have now been torn out and the last traces of their power swept clean. In their place, beautiful gardens have been planted which will soon be filled with black roses. A number of statues are being carved to commemorate the Hounds who fell taking the fortification, the motion stopped short of renaming the fortification but every vestige of the Druj's power in the Spires is now gone.

With the work entirely paid for by the [[Castellan of Spiral Castle]], the Spires of Dusk are now a lasting memorial to the glory of the lost army and a durable symbol of Dawn's determination to rule the Barrens. They have become an imposing symbol of Imperial rule sending a clear signal to everyone in the Barrens, that the territory is Dawnish, now and for the future.

With the work complete, the fortification could now become a fitting site for a consecration to Ambition. It would help to boost Dawnish morale in the Barrens and beyond - and secure their dominion over these lands in perpetuity.

{{Mandate|mandate=Nothing is beyond our reach. We send {named priest} with a dose of true liao to consecrate the rebuilt Spires of Dusk. Where they have sown fear, we will make flowers bloom.|assembly=General Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, the Dawnish, especially those Dawnish who dwell in the Barrens will be inspired, their spirits exalted and uplifted. They will be encouraged to seek our new challenges wherever they can find them, and those who take the time to visit the Spires will be filled with a profound sense of destiny. Seeing the symbol of Druj power replaced will make them truly believe that nothing is beyond their reach.

The effects on the Dawnish people of the Barrens will be electrifying. The conquest of the Barrens has been the greatest triumph the Dawnish nation has known in centuries, but Ambition demands they do more. People will immediately set their sights on the Druj territories that surround the Barrens, the [[Forest of Ulnak]], the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and the [[Sarangrave]]. The Druj have been beaten in the Barrens - and the Dawnish drove them from [[Ossium]] - but why stop there? Dawn and the Druj have been locked in warfare with each other for longer than either nation can remember.

The resulting surge in enthusiasm will immediately increase the number of armies that Dawn can support by one - it will remain raised for as long as the Spires of Dusk remain in Dawnish hands. In addition if any new Dawnish army is raised at the Spires of Dusk, then the soldiers will be uplifted by the ambitious aura. They will believe that nothing is beyond their reach - they will be eager to take the fight to the Druj, to see the nation destroyed once and for all, and for the rest of the Mallum to be liberated just as the Barrens has been. ('''OOC note:''' any army raised here will have an option for a powerful quality that supports a conquest of [[the Mallum]]).

==The Chapel Perilous==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Guineve's Dream'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Folly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Hope's Rest, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 white granite, 36 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Strengthens the ambitious influence of the trua aura of ambition at Hope's Rest encouraging Dawn to claim the Barrens for themselves</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A year ago, the Dawnish travelled to the Barrens to consecrate the Shrine of Hope to Ambition'''
* '''The shrine has seen a regular stream of visitors since then, but it's influence has been limited by the ongoing conflict and its unassuming physical presence'''
* '''The Empire could commission a large structure to enhance the impact of the true aura present'''
A year ago, the Dawnish took advantage of a large conjunction to [[A_glorious_victory#Here_We_Stand_(Conjunction)|travel to the shrine of Ser Guineve]]. The stories say that this knight was once Ser Galahad, and that they were one of Queen Igraine's four husbands. They took up the mantle of Ser Guineve after their Queen died and they became the first questing knight to seek glory in the Barrens. They were buried at the Shrine of Hope and their ghost haunts the site still. It is said that they can never rest until all the Barrens is finally Dawnish.

The site has always been a regular spot for pilgrimages and a stopping point for knights questing in the Barrens. The shrine has held many consecrations over the years, at one point or another it has benefitted variously from the consecration of Ambition, Courage, Vigilance, Loyalty or Wisdom. Now the aura is true - fixed and permanent, powerful and subtle in its influence. By all accounts it was Tancred de Coeurdefer who carried out the consecration, placing a true aura of Ambition at the site

The flowers that Darian Numbers dreamed of, grow in great abundance here now. Wild purple iris, intersperced with peonies, lilies, and windflowers of every imaginable colour. There is no order to the flowers, nobody tends the beds in which they grow, yet they prosper here still, creating a site that soothes the most troubled spirit, inspires the weary, and brings hope to those who have lost the will to go on. Brilliant red crocosmia grows next to variagated dahlias and even more exotic blooms to stir even the hardest of hearts.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Not to conquer.jpg|align=left|caption="Pride exalts and uplifts those who have been laid low by the wicked; we come to the Barrens not to conquer, but to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj."|width=600}}</div>
But currently it is one of the best kept secrets in the Barrens. If more people knew of the shrine, if more people visited it, then its impact would be more widely felt. That could be achieved, relatively easily, by building a chapel, a place of sanctuary where people could rest and prepare for their ownward journey. It doesn't have to be some grand church or cathedral, that is something that the Assembly could use a judgement to request if they wanted a more ambitious housing for the aura. But a simple folly would suffice - it would turn the trickle of visitors into a flood, as people came to experience the serene beauty of the location and experience the ambitious aura.

If the Chapel of Hope was built, then it would extend the influence of the true aura to Dawnish citizens across the territory. Visitors, guided by the ghost of Ser Guineve, would be encouraged to expand out across the Barrens, looking to settle those lands that are unclaimed; [[The Barrens#Hope's Rest|Hopes Rest]], the [[the Barrens#Carmine Fields|Carmine Fields]], and [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]], as well as those parts of [[the Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]] not claimed by the [[Not_to_conquer#Karass|Karass]]. New Dawnish settlements would be established enriching the territory and the Imperial coffers in the process.

Now that the matter of Dawn's control of the Barrens is settled, there need be no conflict with the septs. The Barrens is a vast open wilderness, waiting to be tamed, there is plenty of room for everyone now that the [[Ashes#From_Darkness_to_Darkness|Black Wind have left]] and the [[Ripples_and_shadows#Saltmarsh_Redux|Vendarri are gone]]. Out of respect for their neighbours feelings, the Dawnish would avoid the forests of Peytaht and stay well away from [[the Barrens#The Fangs|the Fangs]] for the time being. But that still leaves a rich land that could be home to new Dawnish houses.

==The Orc Septs ==
* '''Much of the Black Wind sept have departed the Barrens, those who remain have settled at the Fangs'''
* '''There is no word from the Karass or the Rahvin at this time'''
* '''The Great Forest Orcs have been given reassurances by the judgements of the Navarr'''

With each passing day the situation in the Barrens grows clearer. The Black Wind have used the [[Ashes#From_Darkness_to_Darkness|time and freedom granted them by the Dawnish generals]] to gather their people and what belongings they can carry and flee the Barrens. Not all the Black Wind are gone; a small number of them chose to join the Rahvin at the Fangs rather than suffer the rule of the Druj. Last time the septs negotiated with the Senate, they had no idea what the outcome of those deliberations was. This time the [[Great Forest Orcs]], many of whom are still walking the [[trods]] alongside the Navarr, pass on every detail to keep them all well informed of what has taken place.
===Rahvin and Black Wind===
* '''The Rahvin are jubilant to hear the motion for their treatypassed... and devastated to hear it was vetoed'''
The Rahvin are downcast by the failure to [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_the_Rahvin|pass the treaty]] they had arranged with Imperial diplomats. There is great disappointment, but little surprise. Their allies at [[Anvil]] had repeatedly warned them that the Imperial Senate would not pass a treaty recognising the Black Wind as foreigners and cedeing their regions where they dwelt to them. They pressed their allies to try anyway, claiming they were prepared to accept the bitter pain of failure, but could not accept the hopelessness of failing to ''try''. Even forewarned, to see their families, relations, and friends condemned to a life of servitude to the Druj in the darkness of the Mallum is a bitter pill to swallow. The Rahvin gave everything they had to find another way - and it was not enough. While the Senate passed the treaty, [[the Throne]] chose to [[The Throne#Power of Veto|veto it]] at the last moment.

Not all the Black Wind have left - some have joined the Rahavin, swelling their numbers considerably. The Rahvin welcome them like returning heroes - they may have saved only a tiny fraction of those they sought to rescue from the Druj's tyranny, but every soul is precious. Together the two groups are frantically trying to arm themselves with what little [[mithril]] the mine can produce. They are convinced now that it is only a matter of time before the Empire turns on them - and if somehow that fate is averted then they will certainly be wiped out once the Druj reclaim the Barrens. Their only hope is to prepare for a war they have tried [[Accept_Barrens_peace_treaty|again]] and [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_the_Rahvin|again]] to avert.
===Great Forest Orcs===
{{SOP|by=Morwenna Witheredrose, Navarr Assembly|statement=For our Empire to offer sanctuary only to those we find convenient is to pretend at compassion while concealing the heart of a coward. We send Brynmor Rootround with 50 doses of liao to encourage Navarr to reach out to all who call Peytaht their home, swearing to protect orc and human alike regardless of their beliefs.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (190-154)}}
{{SOP|by=Brynn Tendfallen, Navarr Assembly|statement=We have lived alongside the Great Forest Orcs and we consider them family. We will continue to work with them while the Navarr still live and breathe and we send Brynmor Rootround with 50 doses of liao to ask Navarr to look to their Loyalty and swear an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as though they were our family. Strength to the Navarr, Strength to the Great Forest Orcs.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (252-58}}
{{SOP|by=Caoimhe Tendfallen, Navarr Assembly|statement=The Montainans and the Great Forest Orcs are not one and the same. The assurances we extend to the Great Forest Orcs are not appropriate to the Montainians. However the Montainins are dear to our friends and their destruction will not benefit the Empire in Virtue or in pragmatism. We will not stand idly by if they are threatened.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (236-20}}
*'''The Navarr had unequivocably sworn their support for the Great Forest Orcs, supported by the Loyalty assembly'''
* '''A group of Great Forest Orcs including Chief Vallack plans to attend Anvil, due to arrive at 8pm on Friday evening'''
* '''They have invited two named Imperial citizens to meet with them, but are not interested in meeting with Imperial citizens who are not Navarr'''
The Rahvin and the Black Wind were not the only septs with concerns. The slaughter of their closest allies, the Montanians, had convinced the Great Forest Orcs that the Empire could not be trusted. The Montanians weren't signatories to the peace treaty with the Empire, but they were [[Accept_Orcs_of_the_Great_Forest_treaty|''explicitly identified'' in the prologue of the treaty]], and that hadn't saved them. The Empire had turned on them and slaughtered them without warning the moment it suited them - why would it be any different for the Great Forest Orcs?

In desperation they sought reassurances from the Navarr that they were not to be next. They are familiar with the [[hearth magic]] of oaths and aware of how much importance the Navarr place on them. A solemn oath to protect them would reassure them that they are not about to suffer the same fate as their allies the Vendarri, the Montanians, and the Black Wind.

The Navarr Assembly chose to endorse the mandate presented by '''Brynn Tendfallen''' that encouraged the Navarr to swear an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family. Another mandate that would have gone further and explicitly encouraged the Navarr to also swear to protect the surviving Montanians passed but with a smaller margin and was not enacted. Instead the Assembly passed a different statement defining the Navarr's relationship with the Montanians. The mandate has spread quickly through the Navarr, especially those who dwell near the Great Forest Orcs. Solemn oaths have been sworn, with many choosing the very wording that '''Corey Wayfarer''' proposed for the mandate, declaring that the Navarr will work with them ''while the Navarr still live and breathe''.

If any Navarr had any doubts about the [[Wisdom]] of swearing an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs, those doubts are dispelled by the decision of the Loyalty Assembly to enact the mandate. '''Kellin Embercast''' employed the [[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] to encourage the entire nation to swear the oath. Once that happens, more and more Navarr embrace the oath, many choosing to mark it with a tattoo or a brand as is common in the Navarr. By the time of the Summer Solstice, most of the nation have sworn some form of the oath encouraged by Brynn Tendfallen.

It is a powerful oath, and a dangerous one. Oaths are potent and ancient hearth magic; breaking them can have terrible consequences. To swear a oath on your life and on the breath in your body is not something to take lightly. The Great Forest Orcs are reassured - the Empire might break their treaties, but only a fool would break an oath like that. The Great Forest Orcs abandon any plans to flee the Empire, and instead a number of them plan to remain in the [[Therunin#Holt_of_the_Oak|Holt of the Oak]], and the [[Thimble]], and continue to build up the steadings some of their youths have built near the [[Golden Trees of Seren]], the [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]].
Such plans have reckoned without the Druj however. Perhaps the enemy have not forgotten or forgiven the Great Forest Orcs for their support of the Empire. [[Ashes|The invasion of Therunin]] is not the first time they have attempted to strike back, to show the world what happens to those who leave the "protection" of the Druj. Much more likely this is an attack on the Empire, an attempt to take revenge for the loss of the Barrens by taking Therunin and claiming the valuable resources found there. There's little evidence that they even knew for sure that the Great Forest Orcs were here until they encountered them in battle.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=InquisitorLoyalty.jpg|caption=Kellin Embercast|align=right|width=500}}</div>
The Great Forest Orcs are desperate to discuss the situation with their Navarr allies. Their warriors have fought to delay the Druj, but they have been overwhelmed. Now they are falling back with the Druj hot on their heels. They have sent word that Chief Vallack and his companions intend to visit the Navarr camp around eight o'clock on Friday evening. Still they have much to discuss with their oathbound allies following the invasion of Therunin and events within the Barrens. They also intend to stay and participate in Songs & Stories that evening.

They have made it extremely clear that they only wish to talk to the Navarr, with two exceptions. '''Kennett the Mummer''' and '''Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower''' are welcome to meet with Vallack and his companions if they wish. It's not entirely clear why the two individuals have been singled out, but the Great Forest Orcs will be aware of the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_112|statement of principle authored by Hazelelponi]] and [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_108|by Kennett]].

It is not year clear if they intend to discuss the issue of the treaty that the Great Forest Orcs feel the Empire has broken, or the [[Accept_Orcs_of_the_Great_Forest_treaty#Article_VII|reparations it promised]]. On the other hand, those of Dawn and Varushka are particularly warned to keep their distance.

===Participation : Navarr===
* '''Any Navarr character could roleplay having taken the oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family'''
Any Navarr character is free to roleplay that they have personally sworn the oath to treat the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family. Marking the oath with a new tattoo or brand would be an excellent way to bring this decision into play. Alternatively, you may plan to make the oath during the Summer Solstice, perhaps in the presence of Chief Vallack and his companions. The wording of the oath is up to the individual, as always, but there are suggestions here as to what it might include. It'd also be an excellent time to seek out a [[dedication]], [[anointing]], or [[hallow]] of [[Loyalty]] - or to ask the guidance of a [[guide]] as to whether you should swear the oath or not. Dedication dreams might be an excellent way to explore this in character.

Bear in mind, though, that if you swear this oath in character and later break it, you would expect it to have a profound effect on your character. Oaths of such power are not to be entered into lightly. The [[Navarr_hearth_magic#Tattoos|hearth magic of tattoos]] has some notes on what might happen if you become foresworn.

===Imperial Legal Advice===
* '''Official legal advice is that the Empire may not have broken the terms of their treaty with the Great Forest Orcs'''
* '''There is no outside arbitration - the Great Forest Orcs feel the treaty was broken - but the law does not deal with feelings'''
* '''It is a matter for the politicians whether the treaty was violated'''
In 381YE the Empire signed a peace treaty with the Great Forest Orcs. The terms of the treaty forbid attacks on each other and the very first line of the treaty states that the treaty is ''"understood to incorporate the orcs of the Great Forest formerly resident in the Barrens, together with the humans that the Great Forest recognise as members of their nation."'' The Great Forest Orcs and the Montanians always believed that the treaty covered them both equally - and they walked the trods together. The Montanians understood that their religious embrace of the false Virtue of Freedom was not accepted in the Empire, and they took care not to speak of it where Imperial citizens could overhear. It seemed to the Great Forest Orcs that they - and their human allies - had a treaty with the Empire that would protect them both equally.

Those assumptions proved groundless and when the two groups returned to the Barrens, the Empire sent an army to attack the Montanians. They weren't taken by surprise, they got warning from somewhere, but it was only enough for a few hundred of their number to escape - the elderly and the youngest ran for the safety of the Great Forest, while the rest gave their lives in a heroic final stand to give them time to get away. This is the context in which the Great Forest Orcs believe the treaty has been breached.

However, official legal advice of the [[Scrutiny|Constitutional Court]] points out that the treaty identifies the Montanians only in so much as it describes them as ''"the humans that the Great Forest recognise as members of their nation"''. That could be interpreted to mean that the Montanians were protected, so long as they lived with the Great Forest Orcs as part of their sept. Once they came back to the Barrens to return to their old homes in Hope's Rest, they were clearly a different group - distinct and apart from the Great Forest Orcs. They were no longer "members of their (the Great Forest Orcs) nation". As such... they were not covered by the treaty and it was perfectly legal to attack them. From the point of view of the Imperial law, that interpretation is consistent with the Senate's decision to declare them barbarians.

The Great Forest Orcs are unlikely to be receptive to this legal analysis. Their fears that they would be next have been laid to rest by the oaths the Navarr swore; now the Empire must decide, what - if anything - to do about their feelings that the Empire has betrayed the terms of the treaty. Ultimately, that is not something the magistrates can advise on; it is a political matter, not a legal one.

==Further Reading==
* [[The Barrens]]
* [[Conflict in the Barrens]]
* [[Ashes]] - 386YE Summer Wind of War concerning the situation in the Barrens and the invasion of Therunin
* [[All those moments]] - 386YE Spring Wind of Fortune detailing events in the Barrens
* [[Not to conquer]] - 385YE Autumn wind of fortune detailing the Barrens factions
* [[The silent page]] - 384YE Winter wind of fortune
* [[Two_silhouettes#A_Curious_Reprise_.28Battle.29|A curious reprise]] -384YE Winter battle opportunity involving the Rahvin at the Fangs

Poetry and prose

2024-07-23T19:46:55Z

Cathtice: /* The Gates of Adventure */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Ser Balian walked slowly towards the small lake, taking care to avoid treading on the verdant growth where possible. He had tarried here at the shrine too long, delaying his quest in the hope of speaking with the Lady. Three days in all and she had not appeared. He was not disappointed, those who had told him of the shrine said it was rare for Ser Guineve to appear in these times. Not unknown but rare. He had hoped that she might bless his quest, but it was not to be.

Almost unthinking, he realised he had come to the heart of the shrine, the place where Tancred De Coeurdefer had poured the true liao out to consecrate the ground. He stopped to let the feelings wash over him. The sensation was so strong it was almost unbearable. The belief that nothing could Dawn's destiny from being fulfilled, the absolute certainty that one day the Golden Sun would rise over Hope's Rest and all of the Barrens. It felt tangible, close, real - if only he would dedicate himself to it.

Unable to resist himself, the knight draw his sword, planted the tip in the ground and knealt. "I swear to you, Ser Guineve," he whispered to himself, "on my Virtue as a knight and the Virtue of all my house. I will do everything I can to make this dream real." He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the oath bind his soul. There was no one here to seet it, and yet he felt witnessed none the less.

He rose, and feeling a little self-conscious, he returned his sword to his scabbard. Without looking back he set a swift pace out of the glade, pausing only to pick up his pack. He didn't bother to avoid the flowers underfoot now. They were impossible to avoid and he was sure in the knowledge that they would regrow with the morning sun no matter how many knights trampled them. It was time to return to the quest.

He marched quickly away, afraid that if he looked back, his strength might fail him and he would never leave. The serene stillness of the glade watched him depart without saying a word. A lone figure, a single tall elegant woman dressed in Dawish robes smiled at him as he left. He didn't notice her, but nor it seemed did the fragrant blooms that filled the copse, untouched as they were by the woman's passage.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Poetry and prose.jpg|caption=Song glory, spoken oaths.|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The situation in [[the Barrens]] remains febrile but muted following recent dramatic events. The slow reality of the situation seems to be sinking into the blood-drenched soil bringing with it a kind of calm. Questions remain over the fate of the orc septs who call this land home, but one by one those questions are being answered. The process is rarely painless, but it does, at least, seem to be final.

Hour by hour, day by day, the Dawnish legacy in the Barrens takes root. As the Summer Solstice arrives, those roots begin to flower.

==The Towers of Dawn==
The great fortification known as the [[The_Barrens#Towers_of_the_Dawn_.28ruined.29|Towers of the Dawn]] once stood guard over the Dawnish houses that made the Barrens home. They were destroyed when the Druj betrayed the [[Accept_Druj_peace_treaty_II|peace treaty they signed with the Senate]] and attacked in massive force, easily over-running the Dawnish positions. The destruction of the Towers of Dawn was one of the most desolate moments in recent Dawnish history.
{{SOP|statement=For far too long the towers of Dawn have been left to lie fallow following their destruction by the Druj. No longer. In the name of glory and our great nation we must begin accepting proposals for projects to memorialize their loss. CDGV.|by=The Nobel Alys de Renard, Dawn|vote=Upheld (284-0)|when=Spring Equinox 386YE}}
In the end the treachery of the Druj was for nothing. The Empire returned to the Barrens in force and this time it was the Druj that were routed. With the Barrens now firmly under Dawnish control, questions are being asked what should become of the ruins of the Towers of Dawn?

Rebuilding the towers is one option - the foundations of the great fortification are still there - but it would be expensive. In the end the Dawnish Assembly gave unanimous support to the proposal by Alys de Renard to ask architects to come forwards with ideas. People are soon eager to offer ideas of their own - the idea of being able to create something glorious to replace the Towers of Dawn holds high appeal.

===The Tombs of Glory===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Tombs of Glory'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Folly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 9 white granite, 27 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the Tombs of Glory, allowing the Dawnish Assembly to instruct House de Maravel to create a new tomb for a slain Dawnish noble whose deeds are judged glorious enough to be honoured alongside those of Rodric the Lame</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Etienne de Maravel proposes to create the Tombs of Glory requiring 9 wains of white granite and 27 crowns'''
* '''Once complete the Dawnish Assembly could use a judgement to order the construction of a new tomb for just 3 wains of white granite and 9 crowns'''
* '''The Tombs of Glory would be have their own wiki page outlining the deeds of those who had passed, like the Wintermark Chronicle of Heroes'''
The [[earl]] of House de Maravel is young and their house is small - just five nobles - but they are not short of [[Ambition]]. The earl's wife, ''Etienne de Maravel'' is a sculptor and architect renowned for her beautiful statues and elegant designs. She is known to have traveled widely and to have studied architecture in [[Holberg]] and sculpture in [[Necropolis]], where she was tutored by the reclusive [[Highguard|Highborn]] artist, ''Dinah of Sanctuary's End''.

Etienne claims to have been inspired by the wondrous architecture of [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis|the Black City]]. She points out that thousands of glorious Dawnish folk gave their lives fighting to defend the Towers, and thousands more died to claim the Barrens for Dawn. Surely, it is past time that those heroes had some great symbol to mark their passing? Why not mark their achievements - and not just theirs - but the deeds of those who will follow them? Why not use the foundations of the towers of the Dawn to create the Tombs of Glory?

The proposal is relatively modest, at least initially. The Highborn have their tombs for the dead Thrones. She wants to create a cenotaph, an empty tomb, for [[Dawn_monarchy#Imperial_History|Rodric the Lame]]. Etienne discovered that Rodric has no tomb of his own in the Necropolis, despite being such a pivotal figure in the history of Dawn. His remains rest beside his wife, the [[First Empress]], but his legacy should not be forgotten and he deserves a monument of his own. Etienne plans to create an empty tomb for the lame king and carve a statue of him at the entrance.

That however, would just be the start. When other glorious Dawnish nobles pass away, she suggests that the Assembly of Dawn might study their record and if they find one whose deeds are worthy they could use a statement to recognise their glorious deeds. If that happens, then Etienne would be only too happy to oversee the construction of a new tomb or cenotaph as appropriate and to carve a new statue of the fallen hero to mark their achievements. What could be more glorious a final resting place than to sleep in the Tombs of Glory, next to the last monarch of Dawn.

Creating Rodric's tomb is straight forward enough - it would not even need a commission, since Etienne proposes to oversee all the work herself with the nation's blessing. It would need just 9 wains of white granite and 27 crowns for the work. In place of the Towers of Dawn, Etienne would create the Tombs of Glory. Once complete, the Assembly of Dawn could use a judgement to instruct House de Maravel to prepare a new tomb or cenotaph. Each additional tomb would require just 3 wains of white granite and 9 crowns to build. In effect the Tombs would become an institution equivalent to the Wintermark [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroes]] allowing the Dawnish Assembly to mark the glory of a hero once they have passed (Etienne is quiet insistent on that point, you can't possibly have a place in the ''Tombs of Glory'' until you are dead).

===The Gates of Adventure===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Gates of Adventure'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 white granite, 25 mithril, 150 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Raises the potential level of investment for all Dawnish military units based in the Barrens that undertake an adventure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Optional:''' Could create the position of Knight of the Gate to be responsible for the Gate</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''The Knight of the Gate'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn national appointment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Chooses which adventures actions will benefit from the effects of the Gates of Adventure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To oversee the Gates of Adventure and support questing knights and knight-errants</td></tr>
</table></div>
</div>
* '''Christian proposes to create the Gates of Adventure requiring 25 white granite, 25 mithril and 150 crowns'''
* '''The Gates would be great work raising the level of investment of every military unit by one for purposes of undertaking an adventure'''
* '''The Senate motion could create the position the Knight of the Gate who could control which adventures benefit from the Gate'''
A more ambitious project is one put forward by ''Christian'', a [[knight-errant]] associated with House du Lorn. Christian is a well-regarded knight whose life is spent questing in the Barrens. While it is true, that he has never achieved glory yet, most people agree it is only a matter of time before his deeds become renowned enough to meet the terms of his [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|Test of Mettle]] - "To quest across the Barrens until his glory has marked the land itself".

What Christian would like, and what he argues would be an asset for many Dawnish knight-errants in a similar position to himself, is some aid to make their adventures more glorious. Now that the Barrens are Dawnish, there is little need of a great [[fortification]] at the entrance to the Barrens - instead what is needed is a glorious archway, a gate - something inspiring that everyone arriving in the Barrens could march through.

Thus he proposes that Dawn commission the ''Gates of Adventure'' - a vast arch designed to inspire questing knights and knight-errants. It would serve to raise the spirits of those setting out on a quest in the Barrens, but the arch could be supplemented with smithies, workshops and other artisans who could help to ensure that glorious knights had everything they needed to support them.

It would require a suitable [[commission]], but the Towers of Dawn could be rebuilt to create the Gates of Adventure, a triumphant archway that would inspire knights and their retinues. Once complete, it would serve as a [[great work]] raising the level of investment of every military unit by one for purposes of undertaking an [[Military_unit#Adventures|adventure]].

In addition, there Christian proposes that when the Senate authorise the commission, the motion include the creation of the ''Knight of the Gate'', a national position appointed by the Assembly of Dawn. Christian's idea is that the Assembly pick an experienced knight or troubadour who could oversee the Gates, providing advice and direction to any knights passing through - pointing them in the direction of glory. The Knight would be responsible for the Gate, which allow them to decide which adventures available to Dawnish heroes should benefit from the effects of the Gate - and to decide any decisions that came up regarding the Gate.

===The Towers of Enchantment===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Towers of Enchantment'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' College of Magic</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 60 white granite, 60 mithril, 60 weirwood and 540 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' [[College_of_magic#Costs|Standard]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates a college of magic dedicated to Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Issue:''' Two of the proposed eternal patrons are currently under emnity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Includes palatial apartments for the four Knight-Protectors and adds a triumphant blade to their regalia</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Enchantress of Dawnguard'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn national postiojn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Senate appointment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Choose which rituals are codified by the Towers of Enchantment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To oversee the Towers and treat with the eternal patrons of the Towers</td></tr>
</table></div>
</div>
* '''Josephine du Lune seeks to raise the Towers of Enchantment raising 60 white granite, 60 mithril, 60 weirwood and 540 crowns'''
* '''The Towers would be a college of magic patronised by four eternals, Lofir, Meraud, Prospero and Skathe'''
* '''Two of these eternals are currently under emnity'''

Famously, when the Towers of the Dawn still stood, there were four massive white granite towers-keeps. They're gone now, but Josephine, the enchanteress earl of House du Lune seeks to raise them up once more. However her idea is not to rebuild the towers as a fortification. She wants them recerated as a new [[college of magic]].

It is a disgrace says Josephine, that Dawn has no college of magic. [[Urizen]] has the [[Doyen of the Spires]], [[Varushka]] has the [[Miekarova#The_Icy_Crag_of_the_Eternal_Sun|Icy Crag]] and [[the Brass Coast]] have [[Madruga#The_Lyceum_(Hidden)|the Lyceum]] (or will do when it emerges from the misty wards protecting it). Dawn's [[Dawn magical traditions|magical traditions]] are as strong as any nation - if not stronger. Why then is no college of magic in Dawn? Rebuilding the Towers of the Dawn is the perfect moment to rectify this omission which is long overdue to be attended to.

In Josephine's proposal, each tower-keep would be dedicated to the study of one of the four main realms, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter (in her view the two lesser realms don't merit inclusion since they are inherently less glorious than the main realms). The college would be set up, so that it could focus efforts to research new magic on the study of a single realm at a time. The idea being that it would research a Spring ritual with the help of it's patron from the Spring realm. Once a ritual is completed, it would then research a Summer ritual with the help of its Summer patron, then an Autumn ritual and so on all the way back to Spring again after the fourth ritual was completed When the Towers are directing research towards a project that is part of the current realm, the work would proeed at the rate of 15 ranks of magnitude each season, rather than the normal 10.

So far, so good. There are some... challenges with Josephine's plan however. She claims to enjoy excellent relations with the "great wizards of the four realms" each of whom she says stands ready to be a patron of the Towers of Enchantment. Certainly some eternal patron would be beneficial - and if the Towers are to be specialised in all four realms, it would need a patron from each realm. And it does make sense to pick the eternal most interested in ritual magic from each realm.

Josepheine has spent years on this plan and has an agreement in principle with four eternals who agreed not just to accept patronage of a Dawnish college of magic, but juast importantly to ''accept each other''. Unfortunately much time has elapsed since then and two of those eternals have since fallen under the [[Alignment|emnity]] of the [[Imperial Conclave]]. [[Meraud]], the Summer Enchanter and [[Prospero]], the Golden Prince could serve as patrons of a college, but it would not be legal to accept the help of [[Llofir]], the Rotlord, the Lady of Spores or [[The_Thrice-cursed_Court#Skathe|Skathe]], the Hag Queen.

In theory the college could be commissioned with the understanding that the Enchantress of Dawnguard would not draw on the power of any one of the patron eternals while they are under enmity. The college would still serve, but it wouldn't gain any benefit when working on a ritual of enmitied realm. Of course if the Conclave changed the alignment of the Quiet One or the Bitter Tear, then the Enchantress would be free to call on their aid from that season onwards.

The alternative would be for the Enchanters of Dawn to find a way to reopen the negotiations - looking for an alternative patron for Spring and Winter that would both agree to help ''and'' be acceptable to the other patrons. That is complex and challenging, especially if the enchanters hope to swap both of these eternals for a more suitable replacement. Josephine du Lune warns against assuming that any eternal will do. She claims that each of these eternals has a grudging respect for the others - they acknowledge each other's mastery of magic. Any alternative would have to be equally palatable to them all.

The proposed towers are expensive, but aid is on hand from one source. The weavers of Weirwater are excited about the prospect of the Towers of Enchantment being built and they suggest that each of the four towers would make an excellent residence for one of Dawn's knight-protectors. Josephine is happy to include their ideas in her proposal - which would mean that each of the Knight-Protectors would benefit from their own palatial rooms in the towers, in keeping with their status. In addition the weavers would provide the Knight-Protector with a [[Triumphant Blade]] each year so that they have a weapon befitting their position.

==The Spires of Dusk==
{{SOP|statement=The Assembly of Ambition seeks to consecrate the Towers of Dusk to Ambition, as an effort to restructure them after the Druj occupation, using a dose of true liao.|by=Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato, Assembly of Ambition|vote=Greater Majority (326-16)|when=Spring Equinox 386YE}}
* '''Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato, a citizen of the League has raised the idea of consecrating the Spires of Dusk once more'''
* '''The Spires were in a poor state of repair, with a grim and foreboding demeanour, but they have since been remodelled'''
A year ago '''Darien Numbers''' raised a judgement in the Dawnish Assembly calling for [[liao#true liao|true liao]] to be used to [[consecration|consecrate]] the Spires of Dusk. At the time, it was felt that the Spires might be a poor site to consecrate. They were in a poor state of repair, and they were constructed to project Druj power across the Barrens, to send a clear signal to intimidate everyone who saw them, to remind people of what happens to those who dare to raise a hand against the rightful rulers of the Barrens. Every part of them resonated with cruelty, misery and despair.

Fortunately, at the same time that the Synod were passing a judgement calling for the fortification to be consecrated, the Senate were approving a plan to [[Commission#Altering_an_Existing_Commission|completely remodel]] the fortification. The Duj traps have now been torn out and the last traces of their power swept clean. In their place, beautiful gardens have been planted which will soon be filled with black roses. A number of statues are being carved to commemorate the Hounds who fell taking the fortification, the motion stopped short of renaming the fortification but every vestige of the Druj's power in the Spires is now gone.

With the work entirely paid for by the [[Castellan of Spiral Castle]], the Spires of Dusk are now a lasting memorial to the glory of the lost army and a durable symbol of Dawn's determination to rule the Barrens. They have become an imposing symbol of Imperial rule sending a clear signal to everyone in the Barrens, that the territory is Dawnish, now and for the future.

With the work complete, the fortification could now become a fitting site for a consecration to Ambition. It would help to boost Dawnish morale in the Barrens and beyond - and secure their dominion over these lands in perpetuity.

{{Mandate|mandate=Nothing is beyond our reach. We send {named priest} with a dose of true liao to consecrate the rebuilt Spires of Dusk. Where they have sewn fear, we will make flowers bloom.|assembly=General Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, the Dawnish, especially those Dawnish who dwell in the Barrens will be inspired, their spirits exalted and uplifted. They will be encouraged to seek our new challenges wherever they can find them, and those who take the time to visit the Spires will be filled with a profound sense of destiny. Seeing the symbol of Druj power replaced will make them truly believe that nothing is beyond their reach.

The effects on the Dawnish people of the Barrens will be electrifying. The conquest of the Barrens has been the greatest triumph the Dawnish nation has known in centuries, but Ambition demands they do more. People will immediately set their sights on the Druj territories that surround the Barrens, the [[Forest of Ulnak]], the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and the [[Sarangrave]]. The Druj have been beaten in the Barrens - and the Dawnish drove them from [[Ossium]] - but why stop there? Dawn and the Druj have been locked in warfare with each other for longer than either nation can remember.

The resulting surge in enthusiasm will immediately increase the number of armies that Dawn can support by one - it will remain raised for as long as the Spires of Dusk remain in Dawnish hands. In addition if any new Dawnish army is raised at the Spires of Dusk, then the soldiers will be uplifted by the ambitious aura. They will believe that nothing is beyond their reach - they will be eager to take the fight to the Druj, to see the nation destroyed once and for all, and for the rest of the Mallum to be liberated just as the Barrens has been. ('''OOC note:''' any army raised here will have an option for a powerful quality that supports a conquest of [[the Mallum]]).

==The Chapel Perilous==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Guineve's Dream'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Folly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Hope's Rest, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 white granite, 36 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Strengthens the ambitious influence of the trua aura of ambition at Hope's Rest encouraging Dawn to claim the Barrens for themselves</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A year ago, the Dawnish travelled to the Barrens to consecrate the Shrine of Hope to Ambition'''
* '''The shrine has seen a regular stream of visitors since then, but it's influence has been limited by the ongoing conflict and its unassuming physical presence'''
* '''The Empire could commission a large structure to enhance the impact of the true aura present'''
A year ago, the Dawnish took advantage of a large conjunction to [[A_glorious_victory#Here_We_Stand_(Conjunction)|travel to the shrine of Ser Guineve]]. The stories say that this knight was once Ser Galahad, and that they were one of Queen Igraine's four husbands. They took up the mantle of Ser Guineve after their Queen died and they became the first questing knight to seek glory in the Barrens. They were buried at the Shrine of Hope and their ghost haunts the site still. It is said that they can never rest until all the Barrens is finally Dawnish.

The site has always been a regular spot for pilgrimages and a stopping point for knights questing in the Barrens. The shrine has held many consecrations over the years, at one point or another it has benefitted variously from the consecration of Ambition, Courage, Vigilance, Loyalty or Wisdom. Now the aura is true - fixed and permanent, powerful and subtle in its influence. By all accounts it was Tancred de Coeurdefer who carried out the consecration, placing a true aura of Ambition at the site

The flowers that Darian Numbers dreamed of, grow in great abundance here now. Wild purple iris, intersperced with peonies, lilies, and windflowers of every imaginable colour. There is no order to the flowers, nobody tends the beds in which they grow, yet they prosper here still, creating a site that soothes the most troubled spirit, inspires the weary, and brings hope to those who have lost the will to go on. Brilliant red crocosmia grows next to variagated dahlias and even more exotic blooms to stir even the hardest of hearts.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Not to conquer.jpg|align=left|caption="Pride exalts and uplifts those who have been laid low by the wicked; we come to the Barrens not to conquer, but to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj."|width=600}}</div>
But currently it is one of the best kept secrets in the Barrens. If more people knew of the shrine, if more people visited it, then its impact would be more widely felt. That could be achieved, relatively easily, by building a chapel, a place of sanctuary where people could rest and prepare for their ownward journey. It doesn't have to be some grand church or cathedral, that is something that the Assembly could use a judgement to request if they wanted a more ambitious housing for the aura. But a simple folly would suffice - it would turn the trickle of visitors into a flood, as people came to experience the serene beauty of the location and experience the ambitious aura.

If the Chapel of Hope was built, then it would extend the influence of the true aura to Dawnish citizens across the territory. Visitors, guided by the ghost of Ser Guineve, would be encouraged to expand out across the Barrens, looking to settle those lands that are unclaimed; [[The Barrens#Hope's Rest|Hopes Rest]], the [[the Barrens#Carmine Fields|Carmine Fields]], and [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]], as well as those parts of [[the Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]] not claimed by the [[Not_to_conquer#Karass|Karass]]. New Dawnish settlements would be established enriching the territory and the Imperial coffers in the process.

Now that the matter of Dawn's control of the Barrens is settled, there need be no conflict with the septs. The Barrens is a vast open wilderness, waiting to be tamed, there is plenty of room for everyone now that the [[Ashes#From_Darkness_to_Darkness|Black Wind have left]] and the [[Ripples_and_shadows#Saltmarsh_Redux|Vendarri are gone]]. Out of respect for their neighbours feelings, the Dawnish would avoid the forests of Peytaht and stay well away from [[the Barrens#The Fangs|the Fangs]] for the time being. But that still leaves a rich land that could be home to new Dawnish houses.

==The Orc Septs ==
* '''Much of the Black Wind sept have departed the Barrens, those who remain have settled at the Fangs'''
* '''There is no word from the Karass or the Rahvin at this time'''
* '''The Great Forest Orcs have been given reassurances by the judgements of the Navarr'''

With each passing day the situation in the Barrens grows clearer. The Black Wind have used the [[Ashes#From_Darkness_to_Darkness|time and freedom granted them by the Dawnish generals]] to gather their people and what belongings they can carry and flee the Barrens. Not all the Black Wind are gone; a small number of them chose to join the Rahvin at the Fangs rather than suffer the rule of the Druj. Last time the septs negotiated with the Senate, they had no idea what the outcome of those deliberations was. This time the [[Great Forest Orcs]], many of whom are still walking the [[trods]] alongside the Navarr, pass on every detail to keep them all well informed of what has taken place.
===Rahvin and Black Wind===
* '''The Rahvin are jubilant to hear the motion for their treatypassed... and devastated to hear it was vetoed'''
The Rahvin are downcast by the failure to [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_the_Rahvin|pass the treaty]] they had arranged with Imperial diplomats. There is great disappointment, but little surprise. Their allies at [[Anvil]] had repeatedly warned them that the Imperial Senate would not pass a treaty recognising the Black Wind as foreigners and cedeing their regions where they dwelt to them. They pressed their allies to try anyway, claiming they were prepared to accept the bitter pain of failure, but could not accept the hopelessness of failing to ''try''. Even forewarned, to see their families, relations, and friends condemned to a life of servitude to the Druj in the darkness of the Mallum is a bitter pill to swallow. The Rahvin gave everything they had to find another way - and it was not enough. While the Senate passed the treaty, [[the Throne]] chose to [[The Throne#Power of Veto|veto it]] at the last moment.

Not all the Black Wind have left - some have joined the Rahavin, swelling their numbers considerably. The Rahvin welcome them like returning heroes - they may have saved only a tiny fraction of those they sought to rescue from the Druj's tyranny, but every soul is precious. Together the two groups are frantically trying to arm themselves with what little [[mithril]] the mine can produce. They are convinced now that it is only a matter of time before the Empire turns on them - and if somehow that fate is averted then they will certainly be wiped out once the Druj reclaim the Barrens. Their only hope is to prepare for a war they have tried [[Accept_Barrens_peace_treaty|again]] and [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_the_Rahvin|again]] to avert.
===Great Forest Orcs===
{{SOP|by=Morwenna Witheredrose, Navarr Assembly|statement=For our Empire to offer sanctuary only to those we find convenient is to pretend at compassion while concealing the heart of a coward. We send Brynmor Rootround with 50 doses of liao to encourage Navarr to reach out to all who call Peytaht their home, swearing to protect orc and human alike regardless of their beliefs.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (190-154)}}
{{SOP|by=Brynn Tendfallen, Navarr Assembly|statement=We have lived alongside the Great Forest Orcs and we consider them family. We will continue to work with them while the Navarr still live and breathe and we send Brynmor Rootround with 50 doses of liao to ask Navarr to look to their Loyalty and swear an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as though they were our family. Strength to the Navarr, Strength to the Great Forest Orcs.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (252-58}}
{{SOP|by=Caoimhe Tendfallen, Navarr Assembly|statement=The Montainans and the Great Forest Orcs are not one and the same. The assurances we extend to the Great Forest Orcs are not appropriate to the Montainians. However the Montainins are dear to our friends and their destruction will not benefit the Empire in Virtue or in pragmatism. We will not stand idly by if they are threatened.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (236-20}}
*'''The Navarr had unequivocably sworn their support for the Great Forest Orcs, supported by the Loyalty assembly'''
* '''A group of Great Forest Orcs including Chief Vallack plans to attend Anvil, due to arrive at 8pm on Friday evening'''
* '''They have invited two named Imperial citizens to meet with them, but are not interested in meeting with Imperial citizens who are not Navarr'''
The Rahvin and the Black Wind were not the only septs with concerns. The slaughter of their closest allies, the Montanians, had convinced the Great Forest Orcs that the Empire could not be trusted. The Montanians weren't signatories to the peace treaty with the Empire, but they were [[Accept_Orcs_of_the_Great_Forest_treaty|''explicitly identified'' in the prologue of the treaty]], and that hadn't saved them. The Empire had turned on them and slaughtered them without warning the moment it suited them - why would it be any different for the Great Forest Orcs?

In desperation they sought reassurances from the Navarr that they were not to be next. They are familiar with the [[hearth magic]] of oaths and aware of how much importance the Navarr place on them. A solemn oath to protect them would reassure them that they are not about to suffer the same fate as their allies the Vendarri, the Montanians, and the Black Wind.

The Navarr Assembly chose to endorse the mandate presented by '''Brynn Tendfallen''' that encouraged the Navarr to swear an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family. Another mandate that would have gone further and explicitly encouraged the Navarr to also swear to protect the surviving Montanians passed but with a smaller margin and was not enacted. Instead the Assembly passed a different statement defining the Navarr's relationship with the Montanians. The mandate has spread quickly through the Navarr, especially those who dwell near the Great Forest Orcs. Solemn oaths have been sworn, with many choosing the very wording that '''Corey Wayfarer''' proposed for the mandate, declaring that the Navarr will work with them ''while the Navarr still live and breathe''.

If any Navarr had any doubts about the [[Wisdom]] of swearing an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs, those doubts are dispelled by the decision of the Loyalty Assembly to enact the mandate. '''Kellin Embercast''' employed the [[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] to encourage the entire nation to swear the oath. Once that happens, more and more Navarr embrace the oath, many choosing to mark it with a tattoo or a brand as is common in the Navarr. By the time of the Summer Solstice, most of the nation have sworn some form of the oath encouraged by Brynn Tendfallen.

It is a powerful oath, and a dangerous one. Oaths are potent and ancient hearth magic; breaking them can have terrible consequences. To swear a oath on your life and on the breath in your body is not something to take lightly. The Great Forest Orcs are reassured - the Empire might break their treaties, but only a fool would break an oath like that. The Great Forest Orcs abandon any plans to flee the Empire, and instead a number of them plan to remain in the [[Therunin#Holt_of_the_Oak|Holt of the Oak]], and the [[Thimble]], and continue to build up the steadings some of their youths have built near the [[Golden Trees of Seren]], the [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]].
Such plans have reckoned without the Druj however. Perhaps the enemy have not forgotten or forgiven the Great Forest Orcs for their support of the Empire. [[Ashes|The invasion of Therunin]] is not the first time they have attempted to strike back, to show the world what happens to those who leave the "protection" of the Druj. Much more likely this is an attack on the Empire, an attempt to take revenge for the loss of the Barrens by taking Therunin and claiming the valuable resources found there. There's little evidence that they even knew for sure that the Great Forest Orcs were here until they encountered them in battle.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=InquisitorLoyalty.jpg|caption=Kellin Embercast|align=right|width=500}}</div>
The Great Forest Orcs are desperate to discuss the situation with their Navarr allies. Their warriors have fought to delay the Druj, but they have been overwhelmed. Now they are falling back with the Druj hot on their heels. They have sent word that Chief Vallack and his companions intend to visit the Navarr camp around eight o'clock on Friday evening. Still they have much to discuss with their oathbound allies following the invasion of Therunin and events within the Barrens. They also intend to stay and participate in Songs & Stories that evening.

They have made it extremely clear that they only wish to talk to the Navarr, with two exceptions. '''Kennett the Mummer''' and '''Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower''' are welcome to meet with Vallack and his companions if they wish. It's not entirely clear why the two individuals have been singled out, but the Great Forest Orcs will be aware of the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_112|statement of principle authored by Hazelelponi]] and [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_108|by Kennett]].

It is not year clear if they intend to discuss the issue of the treaty that the Great Forest Orcs feel the Empire has broken, or the [[Accept_Orcs_of_the_Great_Forest_treaty#Article_VII|reparations it promised]]. On the other hand, those of Dawn and Varushka are particularly warned to keep their distance.

===Participation : Navarr===
* '''Any Navarr character could roleplay having taken the oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family'''
Any Navarr character is free to roleplay that they have personally sworn the oath to treat the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family. Marking the oath with a new tattoo or brand would be an excellent way to bring this decision into play. Alternatively, you may plan to make the oath during the Summer Solstice, perhaps in the presence of Chief Vallack and his companions. The wording of the oath is up to the individual, as always, but there are suggestions here as to what it might include. It'd also be an excellent time to seek out a [[dedication]], [[anointing]], or [[hallow]] of [[Loyalty]] - or to ask the guidance of a [[guide]] as to whether you should swear the oath or not. Dedication dreams might be an excellent way to explore this in character.

Bear in mind, though, that if you swear this oath in character and later break it, you would expect it to have a profound effect on your character. Oaths of such power are not to be entered into lightly. The [[Navarr_hearth_magic#Tattoos|hearth magic of tattoos]] has some notes on what might happen if you become foresworn.

===Imperial Legal Advice===
* '''Official legal advice is that the Empire may not have broken the terms of their treaty with the Great Forest Orcs'''
* '''There is no outside arbitration - the Great Forest Orcs feel the treaty was broken - but the law does not deal with feelings'''
* '''It is a matter for the politicians whether the treaty was violated'''
In 381YE the Empire signed a peace treaty with the Great Forest Orcs. The terms of the treaty forbid attacks on each other and the very first line of the treaty states that the treaty is ''"understood to incorporate the orcs of the Great Forest formerly resident in the Barrens, together with the humans that the Great Forest recognise as members of their nation."'' The Great Forest Orcs and the Montanians always believed that the treaty covered them both equally - and they walked the trods together. The Montanians understood that their religious embrace of the false Virtue of Freedom was not accepted in the Empire, and they took care not to speak of it where Imperial citizens could overhear. It seemed to the Great Forest Orcs that they - and their human allies - had a treaty with the Empire that would protect them both equally.

Those assumptions proved groundless and when the two groups returned to the Barrens, the Empire sent an army to attack the Montanians. They weren't taken by surprise, they got warning from somewhere, but it was only enough for a few hundred of their number to escape - the elderly and the youngest ran for the safety of the Great Forest, while the rest gave their lives in a heroic final stand to give them time to get away. This is the context in which the Great Forest Orcs believe the treaty has been breached.

However, official legal advice of the [[Scrutiny|Constitutional Court]] points out that the treaty identifies the Montanians only in so much as it describes them as ''"the humans that the Great Forest recognise as members of their nation"''. That could be interpreted to mean that the Montanians were protected, so long as they lived with the Great Forest Orcs as part of their sept. Once they came back to the Barrens to return to their old homes in Hope's Rest, they were clearly a different group - distinct and apart from the Great Forest Orcs. They were no longer "members of their (the Great Forest Orcs) nation". As such... they were not covered by the treaty and it was perfectly legal to attack them. From the point of view of the Imperial law, that interpretation is consistent with the Senate's decision to declare them barbarians.

The Great Forest Orcs are unlikely to be receptive to this legal analysis. Their fears that they would be next have been laid to rest by the oaths the Navarr swore; now the Empire must decide, what - if anything - to do about their feelings that the Empire has betrayed the terms of the treaty. Ultimately, that is not something the magistrates can advise on; it is a political matter, not a legal one.

==Further Reading==
* [[The Barrens]]
* [[Conflict in the Barrens]]
* [[Ashes]] - 386YE Summer Wind of War concerning the situation in the Barrens and the invasion of Therunin
* [[All those moments]] - 386YE Spring Wind of Fortune detailing events in the Barrens
* [[Not to conquer]] - 385YE Autumn wind of fortune detailing the Barrens factions
* [[The silent page]] - 384YE Winter wind of fortune
* [[Two_silhouettes#A_Curious_Reprise_.28Battle.29|A curious reprise]] -384YE Winter battle opportunity involving the Rahvin at the Fangs

Poetry and prose

2024-07-23T19:46:03Z

Cathtice:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Ser Balian walked slowly towards the small lake, taking care to avoid treading on the verdant growth where possible. He had tarried here at the shrine too long, delaying his quest in the hope of speaking with the Lady. Three days in all and she had not appeared. He was not disappointed, those who had told him of the shrine said it was rare for Ser Guineve to appear in these times. Not unknown but rare. He had hoped that she might bless his quest, but it was not to be.

Almost unthinking, he realised he had come to the heart of the shrine, the place where Tancred De Coeurdefer had poured the true liao out to consecrate the ground. He stopped to let the feelings wash over him. The sensation was so strong it was almost unbearable. The belief that nothing could Dawn's destiny from being fulfilled, the absolute certainty that one day the Golden Sun would rise over Hope's Rest and all of the Barrens. It felt tangible, close, real - if only he would dedicate himself to it.

Unable to resist himself, the knight draw his sword, planted the tip in the ground and knealt. "I swear to you, Ser Guineve," he whispered to himself, "on my Virtue as a knight and the Virtue of all my house. I will do everything I can to make this dream real." He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the oath bind his soul. There was no one here to seet it, and yet he felt witnessed none the less.

He rose, and feeling a little self-conscious, he returned his sword to his scabbard. Without looking back he set a swift pace out of the glade, pausing only to pick up his pack. He didn't bother to avoid the flowers underfoot now. They were impossible to avoid and he was sure in the knowledge that they would regrow with the morning sun no matter how many knights trampled them. It was time to return to the quest.

He marched quickly away, afraid that if he looked back, his strength might fail him and he would never leave. The serene stillness of the glade watched him depart without saying a word. A lone figure, a single tall elegant woman dressed in Dawish robes smiled at him as he left. He didn't notice her, but nor it seemed did the fragrant blooms that filled the copse, untouched as they were by the woman's passage.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Poetry and prose.jpg|caption=Song glory, spoken oaths.|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The situation in [[the Barrens]] remains febrile but muted following recent dramatic events. The slow reality of the situation seems to be sinking into the blood-drenched soil bringing with it a kind of calm. Questions remain over the fate of the orc septs who call this land home, but one by one those questions are being answered. The process is rarely painless, but it does, at least, seem to be final.

Hour by hour, day by day, the Dawnish legacy in the Barrens takes root. As the Summer Solstice arrives, those roots begin to flower.

==The Towers of Dawn==
The great fortification known as the [[The_Barrens#Towers_of_the_Dawn_.28ruined.29|Towers of the Dawn]] once stood guard over the Dawnish houses that made the Barrens home. They were destroyed when the Druj betrayed the [[Accept_Druj_peace_treaty_II|peace treaty they signed with the Senate]] and attacked in massive force, easily over-running the Dawnish positions. The destruction of the Towers of Dawn was one of the most desolate moments in recent Dawnish history.
{{SOP|statement=For far too long the towers of Dawn have been left to lie fallow following their destruction by the Druj. No longer. In the name of glory and our great nation we must begin accepting proposals for projects to memorialize their loss. CDGV.|by=The Nobel Alys de Renard, Dawn|vote=Upheld (284-0)|when=Spring Equinox 386YE}}
In the end the treachery of the Druj was for nothing. The Empire returned to the Barrens in force and this time it was the Druj that were routed. With the Barrens now firmly under Dawnish control, questions are being asked what should become of the ruins of the Towers of Dawn?

Rebuilding the towers is one option - the foundations of the great fortification are still there - but it would be expensive. In the end the Dawnish Assembly gave unanimous support to the proposal by Alys de Renard to ask architects to come forwards with ideas. People are soon eager to offer ideas of their own - the idea of being able to create something glorious to replace the Towers of Dawn holds high appeal.

===The Tombs of Glory===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Tombs of Glory'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Folly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 9 white granite, 27 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the Tombs of Glory, allowing the Dawnish Assembly to instruct House de Maravel to create a new tomb for a slain Dawnish noble whose deeds are judged glorious enough to be honoured alongside those of Rodric the Lame</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Etienne de Maravel proposes to create the Tombs of Glory requiring 9 wains of white granite and 27 crowns'''
* '''Once complete the Dawnish Assembly could use a judgement to order the construction of a new tomb for just 3 wains of white granite and 9 crowns'''
* '''The Tombs of Glory would be have their own wiki page outlining the deeds of those who had passed, like the Wintermark Chronicle of Heroes'''
The [[earl]] of House de Maravel is young and their house is small - just five nobles - but they are not short of [[Ambition]]. The earl's wife, ''Etienne de Maravel'' is a sculptor and architect renowned for her beautiful statues and elegant designs. She is known to have traveled widely and to have studied architecture in [[Holberg]] and sculpture in [[Necropolis]], where she was tutored by the reclusive [[Highguard|Highborn]] artist, ''Dinah of Sanctuary's End''.

Etienne claims to have been inspired by the wondrous architecture of [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis|the Black City]]. She points out that thousands of glorious Dawnish folk gave their lives fighting to defend the Towers, and thousands more died to claim the Barrens for Dawn. Surely, it is past time that those heroes had some great symbol to mark their passing? Why not mark their achievements - and not just theirs - but the deeds of those who will follow them? Why not use the foundations of the towers of the Dawn to create the Tombs of Glory?

The proposal is relatively modest, at least initially. The Highborn have their tombs for the dead Thrones. She wants to create a cenotaph, an empty tomb, for [[Dawn_monarchy#Imperial_History|Rodric the Lame]]. Etienne discovered that Rodric has no tomb of his own in the Necropolis, despite being such a pivotal figure in the history of Dawn. His remains rest beside his wife, the [[First Empress]], but his legacy should not be forgotten and he deserves a monument of his own. Etienne plans to create an empty tomb for the lame king and carve a statue of him at the entrance.

That however, would just be the start. When other glorious Dawnish nobles pass away, she suggests that the Assembly of Dawn might study their record and if they find one whose deeds are worthy they could use a statement to recognise their glorious deeds. If that happens, then Etienne would be only too happy to oversee the construction of a new tomb or cenotaph as appropriate and to carve a new statue of the fallen hero to mark their achievements. What could be more glorious a final resting place than to sleep in the Tombs of Glory, next to the last monarch of Dawn.

Creating Rodric's tomb is straight forward enough - it would not even need a commission, since Etienne proposes to oversee all the work herself with the nation's blessing. It would need just 9 wains of white granite and 27 crowns for the work. In place of the Towers of Dawn, Etienne would create the Tombs of Glory. Once complete, the Assembly of Dawn could use a judgement to instruct House de Maravel to prepare a new tomb or cenotaph. Each additional tomb would require just 3 wains of white granite and 9 crowns to build. In effect the Tombs would become an institution equivalent to the Wintermark [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroes]] allowing the Dawnish Assembly to mark the glory of a hero once they have passed (Etienne is quiet insistent on that point, you can't possibly have a place in the ''Tombs of Glory'' until you are dead).

===The Gates of Adventure===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Gates of Adventure'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 white granite, 25 mithril, 150 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Raises the potential level of investment for all Dawnish military units based in the Barrens that undertake an adventure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Optional:''' Could create the position of Knight of the Gate to be responsible for the Gate</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''The Knight of the Gate'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn national appointment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Chooses which adventures actions will benefit from the effects of the Gates of Adventure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To oversee the Gates of Adventure and support questing knights and knight-errants</td></tr>
</table></div>
</div>
* '''Christian proposes to create the Gates of adventure requireing 25 white granite, 25 mithril and 150 crowns'''
* '''The Gates would be great work raising the level of investment of every military unit by one for purposes of undertaking an adventure'''
* '''The Senate motion could create the position the Knight of the Gate who could control which adventures benefit from the Gate'''
A more ambitious project is one put forward by ''Christian'', a [[knight-errant]] associated with House du Lorn. Christian is a well-regarded knight whose life is spent questing in the Barrens. While it is true, that he has never achieved glory yet, most people agree it is only a matter of time before his deeds become renowned enough to meet the terms of his [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|Test of Mettle]] - "To quest across the Barrens until his glory has marked the land itself".

What Christian would like, and what he argues would be an asset for many Dawnish knight-errants in a similar position to himself, is some aid to make their adventures more glorious. Now that the Barrens are Dawnish, there is little need of a great [[fortification]] at the entrance to the Barrens - instead what is needed is a glorious archway, a gate - something inspiring that everyone arriving in the Barrens could march through.

Thus he proposes that Dawn commission the ''Gates of Adventure'' - a vast arch designed to inspire questing knights and knight-errants. It would serve to raise the spirits of those setting out on a quest in the Barrens, but the arch could be supplemented with smithies, workshops and other artisans who could help to ensure that glorious knights had everything they needed to support them.

It would require a suitable [[commission]], but the Towers of Dawn could be rebuilt to create the Gates of Adventure, a triumphant archway that would inspire knights and their retinues. Once complete, it would serve as a [[great work]] raising the level of investment of every military unit by one for purposes of undertaking an [[Military_unit#Adventures|adventure]].

In addition, there Christian proposes that when the Senate authorise the commission, the motion include the creation of the ''Knight of the Gate'', a national position appointed by the Assembly of Dawn. Christian's idea is that the Assembly pick an experienced knight or troubadour who could oversee the Gates, providing advice and direction to any knights passing through - pointing them in the direction of glory. The Knight would be responsible for the Gate, which allow them to decide which adventures available to Dawnish heroes should benefit from the effects of the Gate - and to decide any decisions that came up regarding the Gate.

===The Towers of Enchantment===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Towers of Enchantment'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' College of Magic</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Dawnguard, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 60 white granite, 60 mithril, 60 weirwood and 540 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' [[College_of_magic#Costs|Standard]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates a college of magic dedicated to Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Issue:''' Two of the proposed eternal patrons are currently under emnity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Includes palatial apartments for the four Knight-Protectors and adds a triumphant blade to their regalia</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Enchantress of Dawnguard'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn national postiojn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Senate appointment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Choose which rituals are codified by the Towers of Enchantment</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To oversee the Towers and treat with the eternal patrons of the Towers</td></tr>
</table></div>
</div>
* '''Josephine du Lune seeks to raise the Towers of Enchantment raising 60 white granite, 60 mithril, 60 weirwood and 540 crowns'''
* '''The Towers would be a college of magic patronised by four eternals, Lofir, Meraud, Prospero and Skathe'''
* '''Two of these eternals are currently under emnity'''

Famously, when the Towers of the Dawn still stood, there were four massive white granite towers-keeps. They're gone now, but Josephine, the enchanteress earl of House du Lune seeks to raise them up once more. However her idea is not to rebuild the towers as a fortification. She wants them recerated as a new [[college of magic]].

It is a disgrace says Josephine, that Dawn has no college of magic. [[Urizen]] has the [[Doyen of the Spires]], [[Varushka]] has the [[Miekarova#The_Icy_Crag_of_the_Eternal_Sun|Icy Crag]] and [[the Brass Coast]] have [[Madruga#The_Lyceum_(Hidden)|the Lyceum]] (or will do when it emerges from the misty wards protecting it). Dawn's [[Dawn magical traditions|magical traditions]] are as strong as any nation - if not stronger. Why then is no college of magic in Dawn? Rebuilding the Towers of the Dawn is the perfect moment to rectify this omission which is long overdue to be attended to.

In Josephine's proposal, each tower-keep would be dedicated to the study of one of the four main realms, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter (in her view the two lesser realms don't merit inclusion since they are inherently less glorious than the main realms). The college would be set up, so that it could focus efforts to research new magic on the study of a single realm at a time. The idea being that it would research a Spring ritual with the help of it's patron from the Spring realm. Once a ritual is completed, it would then research a Summer ritual with the help of its Summer patron, then an Autumn ritual and so on all the way back to Spring again after the fourth ritual was completed When the Towers are directing research towards a project that is part of the current realm, the work would proeed at the rate of 15 ranks of magnitude each season, rather than the normal 10.

So far, so good. There are some... challenges with Josephine's plan however. She claims to enjoy excellent relations with the "great wizards of the four realms" each of whom she says stands ready to be a patron of the Towers of Enchantment. Certainly some eternal patron would be beneficial - and if the Towers are to be specialised in all four realms, it would need a patron from each realm. And it does make sense to pick the eternal most interested in ritual magic from each realm.

Josepheine has spent years on this plan and has an agreement in principle with four eternals who agreed not just to accept patronage of a Dawnish college of magic, but juast importantly to ''accept each other''. Unfortunately much time has elapsed since then and two of those eternals have since fallen under the [[Alignment|emnity]] of the [[Imperial Conclave]]. [[Meraud]], the Summer Enchanter and [[Prospero]], the Golden Prince could serve as patrons of a college, but it would not be legal to accept the help of [[Llofir]], the Rotlord, the Lady of Spores or [[The_Thrice-cursed_Court#Skathe|Skathe]], the Hag Queen.

In theory the college could be commissioned with the understanding that the Enchantress of Dawnguard would not draw on the power of any one of the patron eternals while they are under enmity. The college would still serve, but it wouldn't gain any benefit when working on a ritual of enmitied realm. Of course if the Conclave changed the alignment of the Quiet One or the Bitter Tear, then the Enchantress would be free to call on their aid from that season onwards.

The alternative would be for the Enchanters of Dawn to find a way to reopen the negotiations - looking for an alternative patron for Spring and Winter that would both agree to help ''and'' be acceptable to the other patrons. That is complex and challenging, especially if the enchanters hope to swap both of these eternals for a more suitable replacement. Josephine du Lune warns against assuming that any eternal will do. She claims that each of these eternals has a grudging respect for the others - they acknowledge each other's mastery of magic. Any alternative would have to be equally palatable to them all.

The proposed towers are expensive, but aid is on hand from one source. The weavers of Weirwater are excited about the prospect of the Towers of Enchantment being built and they suggest that each of the four towers would make an excellent residence for one of Dawn's knight-protectors. Josephine is happy to include their ideas in her proposal - which would mean that each of the Knight-Protectors would benefit from their own palatial rooms in the towers, in keeping with their status. In addition the weavers would provide the Knight-Protector with a [[Triumphant Blade]] each year so that they have a weapon befitting their position.

==The Spires of Dusk==
{{SOP|statement=The Assembly of Ambition seeks to consecrate the Towers of Dusk to Ambition, as an effort to restructure them after the Druj occupation, using a dose of true liao.|by=Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato, Assembly of Ambition|vote=Greater Majority (326-16)|when=Spring Equinox 386YE}}
* '''Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato, a citizen of the League has raised the idea of consecrating the Spires of Dusk once more'''
* '''The Spires were in a poor state of repair, with a grim and foreboding demeanour, but they have since been remodelled'''
A year ago '''Darien Numbers''' raised a judgement in the Dawnish Assembly calling for [[liao#true liao|true liao]] to be used to [[consecration|consecrate]] the Spires of Dusk. At the time, it was felt that the Spires might be a poor site to consecrate. They were in a poor state of repair, and they were constructed to project Druj power across the Barrens, to send a clear signal to intimidate everyone who saw them, to remind people of what happens to those who dare to raise a hand against the rightful rulers of the Barrens. Every part of them resonated with cruelty, misery and despair.

Fortunately, at the same time that the Synod were passing a judgement calling for the fortification to be consecrated, the Senate were approving a plan to [[Commission#Altering_an_Existing_Commission|completely remodel]] the fortification. The Duj traps have now been torn out and the last traces of their power swept clean. In their place, beautiful gardens have been planted which will soon be filled with black roses. A number of statues are being carved to commemorate the Hounds who fell taking the fortification, the motion stopped short of renaming the fortification but every vestige of the Druj's power in the Spires is now gone.

With the work entirely paid for by the [[Castellan of Spiral Castle]], the Spires of Dusk are now a lasting memorial to the glory of the lost army and a durable symbol of Dawn's determination to rule the Barrens. They have become an imposing symbol of Imperial rule sending a clear signal to everyone in the Barrens, that the territory is Dawnish, now and for the future.

With the work complete, the fortification could now become a fitting site for a consecration to Ambition. It would help to boost Dawnish morale in the Barrens and beyond - and secure their dominion over these lands in perpetuity.

{{Mandate|mandate=Nothing is beyond our reach. We send {named priest} with a dose of true liao to consecrate the rebuilt Spires of Dusk. Where they have sewn fear, we will make flowers bloom.|assembly=General Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, the Dawnish, especially those Dawnish who dwell in the Barrens will be inspired, their spirits exalted and uplifted. They will be encouraged to seek our new challenges wherever they can find them, and those who take the time to visit the Spires will be filled with a profound sense of destiny. Seeing the symbol of Druj power replaced will make them truly believe that nothing is beyond their reach.

The effects on the Dawnish people of the Barrens will be electrifying. The conquest of the Barrens has been the greatest triumph the Dawnish nation has known in centuries, but Ambition demands they do more. People will immediately set their sights on the Druj territories that surround the Barrens, the [[Forest of Ulnak]], the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and the [[Sarangrave]]. The Druj have been beaten in the Barrens - and the Dawnish drove them from [[Ossium]] - but why stop there? Dawn and the Druj have been locked in warfare with each other for longer than either nation can remember.

The resulting surge in enthusiasm will immediately increase the number of armies that Dawn can support by one - it will remain raised for as long as the Spires of Dusk remain in Dawnish hands. In addition if any new Dawnish army is raised at the Spires of Dusk, then the soldiers will be uplifted by the ambitious aura. They will believe that nothing is beyond their reach - they will be eager to take the fight to the Druj, to see the nation destroyed once and for all, and for the rest of the Mallum to be liberated just as the Barrens has been. ('''OOC note:''' any army raised here will have an option for a powerful quality that supports a conquest of [[the Mallum]]).

==The Chapel Perilous==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Guineve's Dream'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Folly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Hope's Rest, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 white granite, 36 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Strengthens the ambitious influence of the trua aura of ambition at Hope's Rest encouraging Dawn to claim the Barrens for themselves</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A year ago, the Dawnish travelled to the Barrens to consecrate the Shrine of Hope to Ambition'''
* '''The shrine has seen a regular stream of visitors since then, but it's influence has been limited by the ongoing conflict and its unassuming physical presence'''
* '''The Empire could commission a large structure to enhance the impact of the true aura present'''
A year ago, the Dawnish took advantage of a large conjunction to [[A_glorious_victory#Here_We_Stand_(Conjunction)|travel to the shrine of Ser Guineve]]. The stories say that this knight was once Ser Galahad, and that they were one of Queen Igraine's four husbands. They took up the mantle of Ser Guineve after their Queen died and they became the first questing knight to seek glory in the Barrens. They were buried at the Shrine of Hope and their ghost haunts the site still. It is said that they can never rest until all the Barrens is finally Dawnish.

The site has always been a regular spot for pilgrimages and a stopping point for knights questing in the Barrens. The shrine has held many consecrations over the years, at one point or another it has benefitted variously from the consecration of Ambition, Courage, Vigilance, Loyalty or Wisdom. Now the aura is true - fixed and permanent, powerful and subtle in its influence. By all accounts it was Tancred de Coeurdefer who carried out the consecration, placing a true aura of Ambition at the site

The flowers that Darian Numbers dreamed of, grow in great abundance here now. Wild purple iris, intersperced with peonies, lilies, and windflowers of every imaginable colour. There is no order to the flowers, nobody tends the beds in which they grow, yet they prosper here still, creating a site that soothes the most troubled spirit, inspires the weary, and brings hope to those who have lost the will to go on. Brilliant red crocosmia grows next to variagated dahlias and even more exotic blooms to stir even the hardest of hearts.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Not to conquer.jpg|align=left|caption="Pride exalts and uplifts those who have been laid low by the wicked; we come to the Barrens not to conquer, but to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj."|width=600}}</div>
But currently it is one of the best kept secrets in the Barrens. If more people knew of the shrine, if more people visited it, then its impact would be more widely felt. That could be achieved, relatively easily, by building a chapel, a place of sanctuary where people could rest and prepare for their ownward journey. It doesn't have to be some grand church or cathedral, that is something that the Assembly could use a judgement to request if they wanted a more ambitious housing for the aura. But a simple folly would suffice - it would turn the trickle of visitors into a flood, as people came to experience the serene beauty of the location and experience the ambitious aura.

If the Chapel of Hope was built, then it would extend the influence of the true aura to Dawnish citizens across the territory. Visitors, guided by the ghost of Ser Guineve, would be encouraged to expand out across the Barrens, looking to settle those lands that are unclaimed; [[The Barrens#Hope's Rest|Hopes Rest]], the [[the Barrens#Carmine Fields|Carmine Fields]], and [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]], as well as those parts of [[the Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]] not claimed by the [[Not_to_conquer#Karass|Karass]]. New Dawnish settlements would be established enriching the territory and the Imperial coffers in the process.

Now that the matter of Dawn's control of the Barrens is settled, there need be no conflict with the septs. The Barrens is a vast open wilderness, waiting to be tamed, there is plenty of room for everyone now that the [[Ashes#From_Darkness_to_Darkness|Black Wind have left]] and the [[Ripples_and_shadows#Saltmarsh_Redux|Vendarri are gone]]. Out of respect for their neighbours feelings, the Dawnish would avoid the forests of Peytaht and stay well away from [[the Barrens#The Fangs|the Fangs]] for the time being. But that still leaves a rich land that could be home to new Dawnish houses.

==The Orc Septs ==
* '''Much of the Black Wind sept have departed the Barrens, those who remain have settled at the Fangs'''
* '''There is no word from the Karass or the Rahvin at this time'''
* '''The Great Forest Orcs have been given reassurances by the judgements of the Navarr'''

With each passing day the situation in the Barrens grows clearer. The Black Wind have used the [[Ashes#From_Darkness_to_Darkness|time and freedom granted them by the Dawnish generals]] to gather their people and what belongings they can carry and flee the Barrens. Not all the Black Wind are gone; a small number of them chose to join the Rahvin at the Fangs rather than suffer the rule of the Druj. Last time the septs negotiated with the Senate, they had no idea what the outcome of those deliberations was. This time the [[Great Forest Orcs]], many of whom are still walking the [[trods]] alongside the Navarr, pass on every detail to keep them all well informed of what has taken place.
===Rahvin and Black Wind===
* '''The Rahvin are jubilant to hear the motion for their treatypassed... and devastated to hear it was vetoed'''
The Rahvin are downcast by the failure to [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_the_Rahvin|pass the treaty]] they had arranged with Imperial diplomats. There is great disappointment, but little surprise. Their allies at [[Anvil]] had repeatedly warned them that the Imperial Senate would not pass a treaty recognising the Black Wind as foreigners and cedeing their regions where they dwelt to them. They pressed their allies to try anyway, claiming they were prepared to accept the bitter pain of failure, but could not accept the hopelessness of failing to ''try''. Even forewarned, to see their families, relations, and friends condemned to a life of servitude to the Druj in the darkness of the Mallum is a bitter pill to swallow. The Rahvin gave everything they had to find another way - and it was not enough. While the Senate passed the treaty, [[the Throne]] chose to [[The Throne#Power of Veto|veto it]] at the last moment.

Not all the Black Wind have left - some have joined the Rahavin, swelling their numbers considerably. The Rahvin welcome them like returning heroes - they may have saved only a tiny fraction of those they sought to rescue from the Druj's tyranny, but every soul is precious. Together the two groups are frantically trying to arm themselves with what little [[mithril]] the mine can produce. They are convinced now that it is only a matter of time before the Empire turns on them - and if somehow that fate is averted then they will certainly be wiped out once the Druj reclaim the Barrens. Their only hope is to prepare for a war they have tried [[Accept_Barrens_peace_treaty|again]] and [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_the_Rahvin|again]] to avert.
===Great Forest Orcs===
{{SOP|by=Morwenna Witheredrose, Navarr Assembly|statement=For our Empire to offer sanctuary only to those we find convenient is to pretend at compassion while concealing the heart of a coward. We send Brynmor Rootround with 50 doses of liao to encourage Navarr to reach out to all who call Peytaht their home, swearing to protect orc and human alike regardless of their beliefs.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (190-154)}}
{{SOP|by=Brynn Tendfallen, Navarr Assembly|statement=We have lived alongside the Great Forest Orcs and we consider them family. We will continue to work with them while the Navarr still live and breathe and we send Brynmor Rootround with 50 doses of liao to ask Navarr to look to their Loyalty and swear an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as though they were our family. Strength to the Navarr, Strength to the Great Forest Orcs.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (252-58}}
{{SOP|by=Caoimhe Tendfallen, Navarr Assembly|statement=The Montainans and the Great Forest Orcs are not one and the same. The assurances we extend to the Great Forest Orcs are not appropriate to the Montainians. However the Montainins are dear to our friends and their destruction will not benefit the Empire in Virtue or in pragmatism. We will not stand idly by if they are threatened.|when=Spring Equinox 386YE|vote=Upheld (236-20}}
*'''The Navarr had unequivocably sworn their support for the Great Forest Orcs, supported by the Loyalty assembly'''
* '''A group of Great Forest Orcs including Chief Vallack plans to attend Anvil, due to arrive at 8pm on Friday evening'''
* '''They have invited two named Imperial citizens to meet with them, but are not interested in meeting with Imperial citizens who are not Navarr'''
The Rahvin and the Black Wind were not the only septs with concerns. The slaughter of their closest allies, the Montanians, had convinced the Great Forest Orcs that the Empire could not be trusted. The Montanians weren't signatories to the peace treaty with the Empire, but they were [[Accept_Orcs_of_the_Great_Forest_treaty|''explicitly identified'' in the prologue of the treaty]], and that hadn't saved them. The Empire had turned on them and slaughtered them without warning the moment it suited them - why would it be any different for the Great Forest Orcs?

In desperation they sought reassurances from the Navarr that they were not to be next. They are familiar with the [[hearth magic]] of oaths and aware of how much importance the Navarr place on them. A solemn oath to protect them would reassure them that they are not about to suffer the same fate as their allies the Vendarri, the Montanians, and the Black Wind.

The Navarr Assembly chose to endorse the mandate presented by '''Brynn Tendfallen''' that encouraged the Navarr to swear an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family. Another mandate that would have gone further and explicitly encouraged the Navarr to also swear to protect the surviving Montanians passed but with a smaller margin and was not enacted. Instead the Assembly passed a different statement defining the Navarr's relationship with the Montanians. The mandate has spread quickly through the Navarr, especially those who dwell near the Great Forest Orcs. Solemn oaths have been sworn, with many choosing the very wording that '''Corey Wayfarer''' proposed for the mandate, declaring that the Navarr will work with them ''while the Navarr still live and breathe''.

If any Navarr had any doubts about the [[Wisdom]] of swearing an oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs, those doubts are dispelled by the decision of the Loyalty Assembly to enact the mandate. '''Kellin Embercast''' employed the [[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] to encourage the entire nation to swear the oath. Once that happens, more and more Navarr embrace the oath, many choosing to mark it with a tattoo or a brand as is common in the Navarr. By the time of the Summer Solstice, most of the nation have sworn some form of the oath encouraged by Brynn Tendfallen.

It is a powerful oath, and a dangerous one. Oaths are potent and ancient hearth magic; breaking them can have terrible consequences. To swear a oath on your life and on the breath in your body is not something to take lightly. The Great Forest Orcs are reassured - the Empire might break their treaties, but only a fool would break an oath like that. The Great Forest Orcs abandon any plans to flee the Empire, and instead a number of them plan to remain in the [[Therunin#Holt_of_the_Oak|Holt of the Oak]], and the [[Thimble]], and continue to build up the steadings some of their youths have built near the [[Golden Trees of Seren]], the [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]].
Such plans have reckoned without the Druj however. Perhaps the enemy have not forgotten or forgiven the Great Forest Orcs for their support of the Empire. [[Ashes|The invasion of Therunin]] is not the first time they have attempted to strike back, to show the world what happens to those who leave the "protection" of the Druj. Much more likely this is an attack on the Empire, an attempt to take revenge for the loss of the Barrens by taking Therunin and claiming the valuable resources found there. There's little evidence that they even knew for sure that the Great Forest Orcs were here until they encountered them in battle.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=InquisitorLoyalty.jpg|caption=Kellin Embercast|align=right|width=500}}</div>
The Great Forest Orcs are desperate to discuss the situation with their Navarr allies. Their warriors have fought to delay the Druj, but they have been overwhelmed. Now they are falling back with the Druj hot on their heels. They have sent word that Chief Vallack and his companions intend to visit the Navarr camp around eight o'clock on Friday evening. Still they have much to discuss with their oathbound allies following the invasion of Therunin and events within the Barrens. They also intend to stay and participate in Songs & Stories that evening.

They have made it extremely clear that they only wish to talk to the Navarr, with two exceptions. '''Kennett the Mummer''' and '''Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower''' are welcome to meet with Vallack and his companions if they wish. It's not entirely clear why the two individuals have been singled out, but the Great Forest Orcs will be aware of the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_112|statement of principle authored by Hazelelponi]] and [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_108|by Kennett]].

It is not year clear if they intend to discuss the issue of the treaty that the Great Forest Orcs feel the Empire has broken, or the [[Accept_Orcs_of_the_Great_Forest_treaty#Article_VII|reparations it promised]]. On the other hand, those of Dawn and Varushka are particularly warned to keep their distance.

===Participation : Navarr===
* '''Any Navarr character could roleplay having taken the oath to protect the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family'''
Any Navarr character is free to roleplay that they have personally sworn the oath to treat the Great Forest Orcs as if they were family. Marking the oath with a new tattoo or brand would be an excellent way to bring this decision into play. Alternatively, you may plan to make the oath during the Summer Solstice, perhaps in the presence of Chief Vallack and his companions. The wording of the oath is up to the individual, as always, but there are suggestions here as to what it might include. It'd also be an excellent time to seek out a [[dedication]], [[anointing]], or [[hallow]] of [[Loyalty]] - or to ask the guidance of a [[guide]] as to whether you should swear the oath or not. Dedication dreams might be an excellent way to explore this in character.

Bear in mind, though, that if you swear this oath in character and later break it, you would expect it to have a profound effect on your character. Oaths of such power are not to be entered into lightly. The [[Navarr_hearth_magic#Tattoos|hearth magic of tattoos]] has some notes on what might happen if you become foresworn.

===Imperial Legal Advice===
* '''Official legal advice is that the Empire may not have broken the terms of their treaty with the Great Forest Orcs'''
* '''There is no outside arbitration - the Great Forest Orcs feel the treaty was broken - but the law does not deal with feelings'''
* '''It is a matter for the politicians whether the treaty was violated'''
In 381YE the Empire signed a peace treaty with the Great Forest Orcs. The terms of the treaty forbid attacks on each other and the very first line of the treaty states that the treaty is ''"understood to incorporate the orcs of the Great Forest formerly resident in the Barrens, together with the humans that the Great Forest recognise as members of their nation."'' The Great Forest Orcs and the Montanians always believed that the treaty covered them both equally - and they walked the trods together. The Montanians understood that their religious embrace of the false Virtue of Freedom was not accepted in the Empire, and they took care not to speak of it where Imperial citizens could overhear. It seemed to the Great Forest Orcs that they - and their human allies - had a treaty with the Empire that would protect them both equally.

Those assumptions proved groundless and when the two groups returned to the Barrens, the Empire sent an army to attack the Montanians. They weren't taken by surprise, they got warning from somewhere, but it was only enough for a few hundred of their number to escape - the elderly and the youngest ran for the safety of the Great Forest, while the rest gave their lives in a heroic final stand to give them time to get away. This is the context in which the Great Forest Orcs believe the treaty has been breached.

However, official legal advice of the [[Scrutiny|Constitutional Court]] points out that the treaty identifies the Montanians only in so much as it describes them as ''"the humans that the Great Forest recognise as members of their nation"''. That could be interpreted to mean that the Montanians were protected, so long as they lived with the Great Forest Orcs as part of their sept. Once they came back to the Barrens to return to their old homes in Hope's Rest, they were clearly a different group - distinct and apart from the Great Forest Orcs. They were no longer "members of their (the Great Forest Orcs) nation". As such... they were not covered by the treaty and it was perfectly legal to attack them. From the point of view of the Imperial law, that interpretation is consistent with the Senate's decision to declare them barbarians.

The Great Forest Orcs are unlikely to be receptive to this legal analysis. Their fears that they would be next have been laid to rest by the oaths the Navarr swore; now the Empire must decide, what - if anything - to do about their feelings that the Empire has betrayed the terms of the treaty. Ultimately, that is not something the magistrates can advise on; it is a political matter, not a legal one.

==Further Reading==
* [[The Barrens]]
* [[Conflict in the Barrens]]
* [[Ashes]] - 386YE Summer Wind of War concerning the situation in the Barrens and the invasion of Therunin
* [[All those moments]] - 386YE Spring Wind of Fortune detailing events in the Barrens
* [[Not to conquer]] - 385YE Autumn wind of fortune detailing the Barrens factions
* [[The silent page]] - 384YE Winter wind of fortune
* [[Two_silhouettes#A_Curious_Reprise_.28Battle.29|A curious reprise]] -384YE Winter battle opportunity involving the Rahvin at the Fangs

386YE Summer Solstice winds of fortune

2024-07-20T16:30:48Z

Cathtice: /* A Star is Born */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]]
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=News in the Round.jpg|align=left|caption=News spreads through word of mouth as fast as it does through broadsheets and posters, and is sometimes more reliable. Or at least, unreliable in more amusing ways...|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
Over the past three months, events have taken place which are of significance to the Empire and may require a response from her champions. These are the winds of fortune, counterparts to the [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war|Winds of War]] which detail the Empire's military campaigns. They lay out situations, and usually include things that characters can do to take advantage of [[opportunity|opportunities]] or to resolve problems. In almost every case, they start with a piece of flavour text. This fiction helps introduce the wind of fortune, or draws out a particular theme or element. Often, it represents a viewpoint that one or more NPCs might have in-character. In all cases, these pieces are intended to help create an atmosphere and provide a little entertainment. Where they contain opinions, those are the opinions of the fictional people depicted - and where they contain information or rumours the assumption is that the reader will create their own context for that information or gossip if they want to use it in character.

The body of the wind of fortune describes situations and lays out ways players can engage with them. Except where we explicitly talk about something being "rumoured" or use a phrase like "some might say..." the details of a wind of fortune are factual. They represent briefing material presented by the civil service or similar authoritative sources and represents something the average educated citizen would acknowledge as a reliable truth. Unless we specify otherwise, we're also being as thorough as possible. This information doesn't need further checking in-character. It's not opinion, and we're not trying to trick you.

As always, how much or how little of this information you choose to know in character is up to you. Part of the purpose of Winds of Fortune is to maintain the illusion of the Empire as a living, breathing place where things happen - and to make players aware of things their characters could know based on what their roleplaying says they have been doing for the past three months. It's perfectly acceptable to turn up to Empire having read only a few Winds of Fortune that directly interest your character; part of the fun on the field can come from learning about situations and opportunities in other parts of the game.

In each case, we've tried to tag the Winds of Fortune entry with the nations, or political bodies, to which it is most relevant. We've done this to help people who are interested only in events that are especially relevant to them. In no way are these tags intended to be exhaustive; the Empire is a complex place and very little happens in isolation.
__TOC__
==Winds of Fortune==
===Inextricable, indefatigable, and inevitable===
* '''All Imperial citizens'''
The [[the Throne|Throne]], [[Emperor Vesna]], has used her power to [[The_Throne#Address_the_Empire|address the Empire]] to present a personal message to all Imperial citizens. The message has been distributed across the Empire by the civil service, and you can read it in the '''[[Inextricable, indefatigable, and inevitable]]''' wind of fortune.

===For the Common Good===
* '''Ambassador to the Commonwealth; Imperial Senate; military captains and warbands; Gatekeeprs; citizens interested in relations with the Commonwealth'''
Among the six [[Foreign_nations#Great_Powers|great powers]] of the known world, the [[Commonwealth]] are perhaps the closest allies the Empire has. Their militant society, committed to the idea of ensuring the greatest good to the greatest number of people, does not see eye-to-eye with the Empire on all matters but they clearly respect them. The Empire shared their mastery of magic with the magicians of the Commonwealth, and Commonwealth soldiers fought and died alongside the Freeborn in the [[A beacon of smoke|fall of Siroc]] against the Grendel. Both nations know they must eventually come to blows – Empire and Commonwealth alike are dedicated to extending their influence over the whole world – but for now they can be friendly, at least.

You can learn about diplomatic relations and political complications relating to the Commonwealth, as well as several opportunities, in the '''[[For the Common Good]]''' wind of fortune.
===Thrones and Principalities===
* '''Ambassador to Jarm; Imperial Senate; Imperial Conclave; Champion of Wisdom; Guildmaster of the Artisans and the Artisans Guild'''
Among the great powers, the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are no friends to the Empire. The ''magocracy'', ruled by the House of Princes, has repeatedly denounced Imperial citizens for interfere with its interests. The Empire is also allied with their great rivals, the [[Commonwealth]], and open war has recently erupted between the two great nations. While they are not at war with the Empire, communication in recent years has tended to be brusque and unfriendly.

You can learn about the state of diplomatic relations with the Principalities, as well as some opportunities for trade and commerce, in the '''[[Thrones and principalities]]''' wind of fortune.
===Towers and Crows===
* '''Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves; Imperial Senate; Weirwood seats; Regarrio Dossier'''
Among the six great powers, the ''Bedelaar Huisbaas'' merchant-princes of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] seek to maintain a level of neutrality. They trade enthusiastically with the Empire, and welcome Imperial merchants in their turn. While they have outlawed slavery, and the trade in slaves, they refuse to pick a side between the nations that make up the [[Liberty Pact]] and the so-called "Freedom Accord". More than anything else, they want to ensure that their trade vessels have free access to the wealth of the world, all the better to funnel as much of it as possible into their own pockets.

You can learn about the state of diplomatic relations with the Delves, as well as a couple of opportunities to trade with them, in the '''[[Towers and crows]]'''.
===Guide the Spirit===
* '''Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic; Imperial Synod; Imperial Conclave'''
Among the six great powers, the [[Sumaah Republic]] are simultaneously rivals to, and uneasy allies of, the Empire. Their shared practice of the Way both unites them through virtue, and divides them through disagreements about how the faith should be practiced and spread. Allies in the Liberty Pact, the priests of the two nations have recently agreed to an amicable split - each Synod going their own way but united by a shared commitment to spreading the Way as far and wide as possible. They just don't agree on what the best way to actually ''do'' that is, and while things are stable at the moment there's no guarantee they'll stay that way.

You can read about relations between the Republic and the Casinean Empire, as well as some opportunities to offer aid to the Sumaah, in the '''[[Guide the spirit]]''' wind of fortune.
===The Price of Peace===
* '''Ambassadors to Otkodov, the Grendel, the Iron Confederacy; Imperial Consul; Imperial Senate; Avisena i Kharizmi i Guerra'''
The Empire shares a continent with a number of adjacent powers, some stronger than others. Four powerful orc nations surround the Empire, the [[Jotun]], [[Druj]], [[Thule]] and [[Grendel]]. The nations of [[Skoura]] and [[Faraden]] are small, each only a few territories at most. The [[Iron Confederacy]] is much bigger however and claims to be the Empire's equal in size and prominence. It may even be true. The Empire maintains careful diplomatic relations with most of these nations, including the Thule and the Grendel.

You can read about diplomatic matters relating to various [[orc]] and human nations, as well as learn about opportunities to interact with them in person, in the '''[[The price of peace]]''' wind of fortune.
===Winds and Flames===
* '''Ambassador to Faraden; Imperial Senate; people with weirwood, orichalcum, green iron, and iridescent gloaming; Military Council'''
[[Faraden]] is one of the smaller nations that neighbour the Empire, a country of merchants and wizards, proud warriors and heretical priests who ''almost'' follow the Way but not quite. There is no shared border - the lands of the [[Jotun]] lie between them - yet there is still a fair amount of trade and has been for centuries. Relations between the two nations vary from year to year, warm one moment, cool the next, but there has never been open war between the two nations. The Faraden would rather trade.

You can read about the current state of diplomacy between the EMpire and Faraden, and learn about a couple of opportunities to trade, in the '''[[Winds and flames]]''' wind of fortune.
===In the Hills, the Cities===
* '''Ambassador to Axos; Imperial Synod and the Throne; Imperial Senate; citizens with white granite to sell'''
For centuries, the Empire and [[Axos]] had little communication, but recently relations thawed, primarily as a result of the Empire's successful intervention in liberating the [[Axos#Gates_of_Ipotavo|Gates of Ipotavo]] from its siege by the [[Druj]]. In the years since, the Empire and Axos enjoyed relatively positive but often volatile relations, with the Empire successfully strong arming the nation into abandoning slavery and then inviting them to become signatories to the Liberty Pact. In the last year or two, however, things have gone from bad to worse, every perceived slight by the Empire making the Axou angrier and angrier.

You can learn about the current unstable situation, and a few opportunities that shouldn't make it any ''worse'', in the '''[[In the hills, the cities]]''' wind of fortune.
===Drumbeat of War===
* '''Ambassador to Asavea; Imperial Synod, including the Way, Highborn, Freeborn, Ambition, and Loyalty assemblies; Imperial Senate; Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine'''
Among the six great powers, the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean Plenum]] claims to be the oldest. They were a major power before the [[Highguard|Highborn]] came to what is now the Empire. ''[[Languages#Latin|Old Asavean]]'' was once the language of international diplomacy, reflecting the influence the Asaveans had across the known world. Today their power is much reduced, their society fallen into decadence and introspection, but they are still known for both their political acumen, and their ruthlessness in the face of any attempt to challenge their power. And right now they are at war with the Empire.

You can read not only about the diplomatic tensions with the Asaveans, but also about opportunities related to the missionaries and wayfarers bolstering the Way in the Archipelago, in the '''[[Drumbeat of war]]''' wind of fortune.
===Peaks and Planes===
* '''Marcher and Urizen Assemblies, as well as priests of both nations; Marcher Landskeepers and Threshers'''
The [[the Marches|Marcher]] and [[Urizen]] Assemblies have continued to try to build rapprochement between the two nations following the conflict that developed over the emergence of [[Cold Sun]]. At the same time, though, a growing rift between the Marcher Assembly and the people of the Marches bodes ill for all concerned. While one crisis may be brought to a close, another is rearing its ugly head.

You can learn about the opportunity for an exchange of ideas between Urizen and the Marches, and about the challenges facing the Marcher Assembly, in the '''[[Peaks and planes]]''' wind of fortune.
===Famine and Feast (Plenipotentiary)===
* '''Imperial Archmages and magicians; Imperial Conclave; Fleet owners; the Knight-protector of Spring, the Keeper of the Golden Fields, Sir Elienne of Dawn, Hand of the Healers and the Granger of the Golden Orchard; visionaries, seers and mystics; Severin de Rondell and those currently poking around the Necklace of the Swan'''
Six [[eternal|eternals]] received [[[[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|missives]] from the [[archmage|archmages]] during the Spring Equinox; six eternals have responded to those messages in the months leading up to the Summer Solstice. Four have arranged meetings - both parley and not - for the coming summit, and while two decline to attend they have nonetheless provided boons to Imperial citizens. One of the eternals has not held parley with Imperial magicians for quite some time; and with good reason. The others are unlikely to proove as controversial... probably.

You can learn about the responses of the eternals, and the messages they have sent, in the '''[[Famine and feast]]''' Wind of Fortune.
===A Star is Born===
* '''Participants in the expedition to ''Bring Prosperity to Rachensgrab''; Imperial Senate; Celestial Arch; Imperial Synod'''
At the Spring Equinox, an [[Say_her_name#Far_From_These_Shores|expedition was proposed]], sending [[fleet|fleets]] and [[military unit|military units]] to the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Steel|Sea of Steel]] with the intention of bringing [[Prosperity]] to the former slaves liberated during the fall of [[Burning|Rachensgrab]]. The expedition also intended to do a cursory exploration of the area around the former aerie of the slave lords.

Now the expedition has returned, and you can find out what they discovered far to the east in the '''[[A star is born]]''' wind of fortune.

===Rock and a Hard Place===
* '''Marches; Marcher artisans; Marcher assembly'''
Last season, the Empire [[I_already_know_you#Block_and_Dredge|completed the dredging of Westmere]]. Mixed in with the mud and the silt dragged from the bottom was a huge block of rune-carved stone. Landskeepers who examined the rock confirmed it was hideously cursed, and boded certain doom for anyone who attempted to use it. The question was what could be done with it? It couldn't stay near Meade, that was the one thing everyone could agree on...

You can learn about what has happened with the ''Anvil of Silence'', and what that means for [[the Marches]], in the '''[[Rock and a hard place]]''' wind of fortune.
===Kith and Kin===
* '''Marches and Highguard; Imperial Senate; Champion of Prosperity'''
At the Winter Solstice, the [[Highguard|Highborn]] Assembly declared their [[Full_of_sacred_sound#A_Peerless_Kinship|peerless kinship]] with the Marches. The desire was there to help strengthen their kin and do what they could to support their fellow nation. However they were held back by a lack of direction from the Marches and a nagging fear that the current situation in Bregasland might mean that instead of helping they could just make things worse. The Marcher Assembly has allayed those fears, by using a [[Imperial Synod|Synod]] [[judgement]] to identify what would help most to their fellow priests.

You can find out about what opportunities this has revealed, and how peerless kinship might continue, in the '''[[Kith and kin]]''' wind of fortune.

==Other Events==
There are a number of other events and situations which are noteworthy, but which for whatever reason have not led to a full Wind of Fortune in their own right.
===Flavia's Will Enacted===
* '''Falvia's Will has been discharged'''
Shortly before the Winter Solstice 384YE a prolific [[Urizen]] [[seer]] named ''Flavia of Crystal Hall'' peacefully passed away. Her will [[Gorgeous#The_Will_of_Flavia|instructed]] that a certain notable item from her collection of curiosities should be granted to the first person who could complete several puzzles of her own devising.

At the Spring Equinox the executor of her will, a man named ''Vincenzo di Sarvos'', made the journey to [[Anvil]] to present the prize to the contest's joint winners: '''Eleri Bronwen's Rest''' and '''Melchior of Adina's Charge'''. Vincenzo has since now announced that he now considers the matter to be concluded, his obligation discharged. He suggests anyone wishing to learn the puzzle's solutions - including those in the [[File:Flavia's Will.pdf|original document]] - seek out one of the winners to discuss the answers.

==Trade Summary==
Rather than spread this information out around the various foreign nations, we've collected it here for ease of reference.
* '''Asavean Archipelago:''' The port of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#nemoria|Nemoria]] is closed to Imperial trading vessels.
* '''Axos:''' The Axos continue to be annoyed about revelations relating to Imperial involvement in the failure of their [[Roll and fall|joint venture with the Grendel]] into the Mountains of the Moon. Consequently, Imperial fleets suffer penalties to trade with Axos. A fleet captain trading at the [[Axos_ports#Towers_of_Kantor|Towers of Kantor]] suffers a -2 rank penalty.
* '''Commonwealth:''' The ports of [[Commonwealth_ports#Leerdam_.28Eastern_Commonwealth.29|Leerdam]] and [[Commonwealth_ports#Volkavaar_.28Western_Commonwealth.29|Volkavaar]] welcome Imperial traders.
* '''Principalities of Jarm:''' The ports of [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Kavor_.28Northern_Principalities_of_Jarm.29|Kavor]] and [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Vezak_.28Southern_Principalities_of_Jarm.29|Vezak]] remain closed to Imperial fleets.
* '''Sarcophan Delves:''' Imperial captains continue to be welcomed in the Delves. Fleets trading with the great port-city of [[Sarcophan_Delves_ports#Sarcophan|Sarcophan]] receive an additional dose of [[Marrowort]] and an additional dose of [[Imperial Roseweald]] on top of their normal production. The port of [[Sarcophan Delves ports#Betovering|Betovering]] is open to Imperial fleets.
* '''Sumaah Republic:''' There is no penalty to trade with Zemeh and Imperial fleets are welcomed. Be aware that the amount of liao and Imperial roseweald offered has switched as per the [[Parts_of_speech#Trade_in_Liao|Parts of speech]] wind of fortune.
* '''Grendel:''' The port of [[Everything_has_a_price#A_New_Destination|Oran]] is closed to Imperial fleets.
* '''Iron Confederacy:''' The port of [[Iron_Confederacy_ports#Robec|Robec]] is available for Imperial fleets but suffers a -1 rank penalty due to sanctions from the Suranni.
* '''Faraden:''' The port of [[Butterfly_in_reverse#Trade_with_the_Faraden|Caitun]] is available for Imperial fleets. Fleets from the Marches and Wintermark benefit from a +1 rank bonus due to close proximity.

==Mandates==
* '''You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Mandate|here]].'''
A number of [[mandate|mandates]] were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod last season. As long as the named priest provided sufficient liao, those mandates have been [[Mandate#Implementing_a_Mandate|automatically enacted]].

==Spring Conjunctions==
* '''Last event there were a number of conjunctions of the Sentinel Gate; their known outcomes are listed here'''
During the Spring Equinox, there were a number of [[Sentinel_Gate#Conjunctions|conjunctions]] of the [[Sentinel Gate]] identified by the Imperial prognosticators. In each case a band of Imperial heroes used that conjunction to travel to a location far from Anvil and intervene in an ongoing situation. These are the known outcomes of those conjunctions. In the case of battles, it is important to remember that the [[Military Council]] can only make use of ''two'' of the major conjunctions each summit, choosing which to take advantage of during the Muster.
===Major Conjunctions===
<table><tr><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Location</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Opportunity</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Opposition</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Link</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Outcome</td>
<tr><td>[[Liathaven|Liathaven, Liath's Glen, Wyndyn Path]]</td><td>Thwart Beater Royse</td><td>Jotun & Yegarra</td><td>[[Under the firelight#Wyndyn_Path_(Liathaven)|Under the firelight]]</td><td>Not taken; [[Mournwold#Green March|Green March]] under threat from the Jotun; the Jotun benefit from increased natural resupply in Liathaven; condition of the Feni unknown</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Kallavesa|Kallavesa, West March, Hvalgrunn]]</td><td>Defeat Jarl Idunn</td><td>Jotun & Yegarra</td><td>[[Under the firelight#Hvalgrunn_(Kallavesa)|Under the firelight]]</td><td>Field Marshal was '''Iron Osric''' of Wintermark; Banner of the Bear Who Swims was claimed; the three Sibling Swords were recovered; Mikko 'Stoutheart' dealt with</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Mareave|Mareave, Fleisardh, Brine Blood Bay]]</td><td>Capture the Brine Turtles</td><td>Grendel</td><td>[[Sea-wood_fed_with_copper#Pots_and_Shells_%28Battle%29|Sea-wood fed with copper]]</td><td>Not taken; situation unclear</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Madruga|Madruga, Free Landing, Siakha's Maw]]</td><td>Stop Siakha's Cults</td><td>Grendel</td><td>[[The_cry_of_gulls#Siakha's_Maw_(Battle)|The cry of gulls]]</td><td>Field Marshal was '''Nicassia Avicia of Phoenix Reach''' of Urizen; kraken eggs were released into the coast; [[Thunderous Deluge]] and [[Foam and Spittle of the Furious Sea]] were both cast on Madruga; status of Mohrain Luain unclear; ''Sea Mage Tuairisc'' survived.</td></tr>
</table>

===Normal Conjunctions===
{|table class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! # !! Location !! Responsibility !! Overview !! Result
|-
| 1 || Karov, Duzekani, The Broken Copse || [[Overseer of the Westward Road]] || [[Momento_mori#Rumours_(Karov)|Defeat the Festering Warden]] || The Festering Warden was defeated and the other husks slain
|-
| 2 || Miaren, Goldglades, The Old Green Fort || '''Aniera Exiles End''' || [[It%27s_only_me#The_Guided_Path_(Conjunction)|Meet with the Burning Vine]] || Uncertain but '''Aniera Exiles End''' may know more
|-
| 3 || Spiral, Screed, Sabina's Sward || [[Oblivion Sentinel]] || [[The_three_pillars#Homecoming_(Conjunction)|Kill the Grendel]] || The Grendel all slain
|-
| 4 || Weirwater, Weirmoor, Roland's Stand || [[Castellan of Spiral Castle]] || [[Momento_mori#With_the_Dawn_(Weirwater)|Defeat the Broken Errant]] || The Broken Errant was defeated and the other husks slain
|-
| 5 || Spiral, Ossuary, Lucia's Grove || [[Legacy|Custodian of the Legacy]] || [[The_three_pillars#Misdirections_(Conjunction)|Stop the Grendel]] || The Grendel all slain and the Legacy protected
|-
| 6 || Karov, Malimorzi, The Granite Path || [[Boyar of the Iron Roads]] || [[Momento_mori#Sharp_Lessons_(Karov)|Defeat the Iron Boyar]] || The Iron Boyar was defeated and the other husks slain
|-
| 7 || Mareave, Eoradal, Old Skouran Orchard || '''Vitore Van Temeschwar''' || [[Sea-wood_fed_with_copper#What_Lies_Hidden_(Conjunction)|Prevent the Grendel from escaping]] || Grendel defeated and treasure retrieved
|-
| 8 || Kahraman, Gambit, Path of Sofia || [[Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills]] || [[Below_the_red_rock#Playing_With_Fire_(Conjunction)|Stop the Jotun]] || Jotun defeated and Escuta prevented from receiving additional resupply
|-
| 9 || Feroz, Morajasse, Taziolar's Woods || [[Champion of Wisdom]] || [[The_cry_of_gulls#Coursing_%28Feroz%29|Intercept the suspicious Faraden agent]] || Uncertain but '''Valens Leos''' may know more
|-
| 10 || Sermersuaq, Suaq Fount, Hanleth's Wastes || [[Pride of Ikka's Tears|Custodian of the Pride of Ikka's Tears]] || [[Under_the_firelight#Hard_Heads_(Sermersuaq)|Defeat ''Freydis'' and the rest of the Jotun]] || ''Freydis'' and the rest of the Jotun were defeated
|-
| 11 || Segura, Burnish, Ring of Dust and Glass || [[High Bard of the Empire]] || [[Dream_to_me#Lashonar_(Conjunction)|Perform Align the Celestial Net to neutralise the Fire Beacon]] || Ritual performed and remnants of the Fire Beacon neutralised
|-
| 12 || Brocéliande, Black Boughs, Trove of Gral'athet || [[Reeve of Greenforest Fair]] || [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Beyond the Oak (Brocéliande)|Slay the vallornspawn]] || Vallornspawn slain and Dawnish military units given access to the trove
|-
| 13 || Segura, Sobral Grasses, Parched Grasses || [[Unfettered Mind|Grandmaster of the Unfettered Mind]] || [[Parched_earth#Sobral_Grasses|Rescue the magician and destroy the Yoorn-marked Patrician]] || ''Gideon of the Farthest Shore'' rescued and Yoorn-marked Patrician destroyed
|-
| 14 || Brocéliande, Vale's Lament, Cara's Thicket || [[ Champion of Loyalty]] || [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Seeds_of_Shadow_(Brocéliande)|Slay the vallornspawn]] || Vallornspawn slain and thorns saved
|-
| 15 || Kahraman, Jade Range, Parched Range || [[Mistress of the Dust Parador]] || [[Parched_earth#Jade_Range|Deal with the Lasambrian champion and destroy the Irremais-marked Patrician]] || Irremais-marked Patrician destroyed. '''Nemi i Riqueza''' may know more about the Lasambrian champion.
|-
| 16 || Hercynia, Deer's Folly, Toxic Dell || [[Spear of the Seven]] || [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Road_to_the_Spear_(Hercynia)|Distract the vallornspawn]] || Vallornspawn successfully distracted
|-
| 17 || Hercynia, Deer's Folly, Toxic Dell || [[Archmage of Spring]] || [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#A_Missing_Leaf|Perform the Dance of Navarr and Thorn]] || [[The Dance of Navarr and Thorn]] successfully performed
|-
| 18 || Segura, Lucksprings, Parched Springs || '''Bakar i Riqueza''' || [[Parched_earth#Lucksprings|Destroy the Naeve-marked Patrician and recover dust]] || Naeve-marked Patrician destroyed and dust recovered
|-
| 19 || Necropolis, Sanctuary Sands, Orchard of the Third Step || [[Champion of Prosperity]] || [[Sound_the_bells#Breaking_Storm_(Necropolis)|Reclaim the heirloom]] || Heirloom recovered and all Grendel killed
|-
| 20 || Necropolis, Longbeach, Ada's Woods || [[Imperial Spymaster]] || [[Sound_the_bells#Deceptions_(Necropolis)|Prevent the Grendel from escaping with intelligence]] || All Grendel slain and intelligence recovered
|-
| 21 || Necropolis, Highrod, Coppice of Athaliah || [[High Exorcist]] || [[Sound_the_bells#Traps_(Necropolis)|Defeat the Grendel and put the ghosts to rest]] || Both ghosts put to rest and all Grendel slain
|-
| 22 || Weirwater, Wickmoor, Regan's Glade || [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Spring]] || [[Skeleton_key#Ripples_in_the_Pond_(Ossegrahn)_(Conjunctions)|Guide the creatures home]] || All boggarts rescued
|-
| 23 || Skarsind, Pakaanan's Pass, Bitter Hollow || [[Storm Shaman]] || [[Eclipse#Doorways_(Skarsind)|Defeat the ''scions'']] || Significant Imperial casualties. Majority of ''scions'' survived and [[Day_magic#Force|force]] of Storm Pass channelled
|-
| 24|| Upwold, Birchland, James' Orchard || [[Keeper of the Golden Fields]] || [[Skeleton_key#Ripples_in_the_Pond_(Ossegrahn)_(Conjunctions)|Guide the creatures home]] || All boggarts rescued
|-
| 25 || Bastion, Sybella Cross, Disordered Expanse || [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Spring]] || [[Eclipse#Winds_Rising_(Bastion)|Perform Regrow the Lands Heart and defeat the ''scions'']] || [[Regrow the Land's Heart]] successfully performed
|-
| 26 || Hercynia, Summersend, Merel's Glade || [[Granger of the Golden Orchard]] || [[Skeleton_key#Ripples_in_the_Pond_(Ossegrahn)_(Conjunctions)|Guide the creatures home]] || Most boggarts killed
|-
| 27 || Karov, Wieliczka, Glade of Haamrikoht || [[Champion of Courage]] || [[Eclipse#Hammer_Blows_(Karov)|Defeat the ''scions'']] || Significant Imperial casualties. Majority of ''scions'' survived and the Haamrikoht Stone sundered
|-
| 28 || Arbonne, Laufette, Anduz Watch || [[Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy]] || [[Burying_the_lede#A_Fleeting_Offer|Auction rights of salvage]] || Auction rights purchased on behalf of [[Highguard]]
|}

Famine and feast

2024-07-20T16:17:33Z

Cathtice: /* Rhianos */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>Jorgen's skin started to prickle, and the hair at the nape of his neck began to tingle. The room had gone quiet, the usual rumble and grumble of conversations temporarily stilled. "Who are you here to speak for?" he asked instinctively as he looked up.

When he set eyes on the visitor he did a double-take and gave thanks for the heavy desk between himself and them. Someone unfamiliar with Wintermark would probably have mistaken them for Kallavesi from a distance, given the snarling wolf mask they wore, but close up Jorgen could tell they weren't even a person. Their teeth and eyes were wrong for a start and while someone who lacked the civil servant's experience might have mistaken them for a draughir, he could tell they were anything but. The skins and furs they were wrapped in had not, by the stink of them, been properly cured. They had both hands resting lazily on the varnished wood desk, and beneath one was a horrible curved dagger of what looked to be flint with a bone handle. Their eyes, their pupils lumpy and misshapen, glowed a baleful golden-green.

Now they had his attention, with deliberate insolent slowness the "guest" reached out and grabbed a handful of the meat strips from the bowl Jorgen kept on his desk at all times in case a certain bird of his acquaintance came by. Without breaking eye contact, they shoved the raw meat into their mouth, chewing noisily and enthusiastically, hardly bothering to close their mouth. Their tongue was unnaturally long as it slipped out to lick the last of their snack from their lips and chin.

"Nice," they grunted. "An old goat. Could be fresher, though."

The figure grinned, flecks of meat adhering to their sharpened and discoloured teeth. Jorgen looked them up and down, and his stomach dropped precipitously.

"It's Blood-on-the-Snow isn't it?" he asked, despite already knowing the answer.

The snaggle-toothed grin, impossibly, widened even further beneath the twisted snout of the wolf mask.

"Oh yes," it growled as it leaned across the desk that all of a sudden did not make Jorgen feel anywhere near as secure as it had a moment ago. "Yes it ''is'' Blood-on-the-Snow, at last. And I can already tell that we are going to have ''so much fun''."</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=AgramantArt.jpg|title="Voice of the Pines". Artist Unknown. An enigmatic part of the House of Leaves collection.|caption=It has been quite some time since Blood-on-the-Snow was invited to parley by a Winter archmage.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''Six eternals responded to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages.'''
* '''Four have offered a meeting of some kind; two have responded with a series of offers to Imperial citizens'''
The six Imperial [[archmage|archmages]] are each empowered to send a [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] message to a single [[eternal]] of their realm each season. The eternals are bound to respond to their communication, although very rarely another entity from that realm will speak on their behalf. Their response might involve a formal [[Archmage#parley|parley]] or a private meeting with the Archmage; they might respond directly to the message; or they might decline to meet for some reason.

During the Winter Solstice, each archmage dispatched a plenipotentiary and as the Spring Equinox approaches, six eternals send messengers to deliver their replies.
==The Lictors==
{{CaptionedImage|file=AutumnRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
* '''The Lictors will send emissaries to the Hall of Worlds at 14:00 on Saturday'''
* '''The meeting will be a ''very'' formal parley'''
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Edmundo of Damakan's Forge'''
At noon, a week after the end of the Spring Equinox, an emissary emerges from the [[Regio#Imperial Regio|Imperial regio]]. It is quite short, spindly, and entirely unhuman. Wrapped in a cowled dark-green cloak, it wears a mask of metal that conceals its features save for its surprisingly large, round, and expressive eyes. When it walks, it jingles slightly - crossed over its narrow chest are two heavy-looking bronze chains, although they don't impede its nimble gait at all. It heads purposefully to [[Anvil#The_Hub|the Hub]], ignoring the attention it draws and deftly avoiding attempts to intercept it.

It's unable to reach the desks in the Hub, but gratefully stands on a footstool when such is provided. It announces that it is a first-class Messenger from the City of Bond and Bar and it bears a reply to the invitation of Archmage Edmundo, whose name is well known in the halls of the Cities of the Iron Labyrinth. The [[Lictors|Sovereign Lords]] of the Green Iron Prison accept the invitation to [[Archmage#Parely|parley]] and look forward to renewing their relationship with the Empire.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=LictorsJohn.jpg|caption=The [[Lictors]] have begun to refer to themselves as the Sovereign-Lords of the City of Bond and Bar.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
The parley will take place in [[Anvil#The_Hall_of_Worlds|the Hall of Worlds]], and will of course be formal in nature. The archmage, as the representative of the Empire, will determine who among their fellow citizens can speak. If there are more than two incidents of individuals talking out of turn, the representatives of the Lictors will be forced to depart. They also request that representatives of Anvil's magistrates be present, ready to arrest and prosecute any citizen who violates the rules of parley (since it is a case of [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#Crimes_against_the_Processes_of_the_State|subverting the agencies of the state]] under Imperial law).

Topics to be discussed will include the situation in the [[Basileus Flint|City of Locks]] as well as some more general digressions into the politics of the Autumn Realm's cities; how the Empire can resume friendly relations with the City of Bond and Bar; and the enforcement of oaths and contracts between eternals of the Iron Labyrinth and the Empire (among others).

On that latter note, the Lictors extend a boon to Imperial magicians - and they are extending similar boons to magicians in other nations. It is a boon they have offered in the past, to individuals and via enchanted seals, but they choose to recognise the Empire's commitment to ensuring its citizens follow their own clear laws by extending it unilaterally to any Imperial master of Autumn lore. The ritual [[Scrivener's Bloodmark]] is intended to ensure that a contract remain binding on all parties involved. The ritual is designed to allow the magic to be extended, but this can prove unsatisfying when it is not clear how long an agreement should last for. As such, if the magicians performing the ritual invoke the Lictors directly, and provide one ring of [[ilium]] for each signatory, the Sovereign Lords of the City of Bond and Bar will sustain that magic until the contract is completed to the satisfaction of both participants, or one party calls in the associated curse. Furthermore, in the case that the curse is invoked by one of the parties the Lictors may choose to involve themselves directly in visiting appropriate consequences for forfeiture on those involved. ''However'' the emissary is at pains to clarify that should the Lictors choose to become involved they will evaluate the situation and then act in keeping with the wording of the contract... meaning that if the curse has been invoked frivolously or erroneously, their judgment will likely fall on the one doing so rather than their target.

The little emissary then excuses itself and returns to the Imperial Regio, again deftly avoiding any attempts to engage it in further conversation.

==Ossegrahn==
{{CaptionedImage|file=SpringRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
* '''Ossegrahn agrees to parley with the Archmage of Spring'''
* '''He will speak to the Archmage in the Hall of Worlds at 8pm on Friday, or after Conclave, whichever comes first'''
* '''He has requested the presence of several others; the Knight-protector of Spring, the Keeper of the Golden Fields, Sir Elienne of Dawn'''
* '''He also wants to talk with the Hand of the Healers and the Granger of the Golden Orchard about the relationship between the Navarr and Arhallogen'''
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Ibiss Briarheart'''
Midway between Spring and Summer, as the fields ripen and newborn beasts take their first steps, an emissary of the Spring realm visits Anvil. She is not a herald, but a [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] [[hakima]] wrapped in green and blue silks with a stern demeanour and nested circular tattoos on her face and hands reminiscent of ripples in a pond. She bears a message from [[Ossegrahn|Lord Rain]], in response to Ibiss Briarheart's plenipotentiary.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OssegrahnArt.jpg|caption=''Ossegrahn'' is the bringer of healing and gentle rain.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
The first order of business is to offer thanks to those who helped [[Skeleton_key#Ripples_in_the_Pond_(Ossegrahn)_(Conjunctions)|protect the Tarnfather's charges]]. She asks that the [[Keeper of the Golden Fields]], Nicolas Reaper, and whichever [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Spring]] took charge of the expedition to Dawn, come to the Hall of Worlds. ''Coomarta of the Rains'' has some small tokens of appreciation for them and for the folk that saved the innocent creatures driven into the Empire by the violence of the [[Arhallogen|Merciless One]]. They are also looking forward to meeting '''Ser Elienne''' of [[Dawn]], and hearing about their act of profound healing.

The eternal also wishes to speak to '''Raewyn Farkas''', the newly appointed [[Hand of the Healers]] and '''Siân Eternal''' the [[Granger of the Golden Orchard]], about why their fellow [[Navarr]] seem to have chosen to ally with the children of the Spider King rather than help the vulnerable creatures return to the Spring realm as ''Bogfearthan'' asked. The eternal had turned a blind eye to the claim that the Navarr favoured the ''Centipede General'' and now wonders if he has made a mistake. The hakima is clear that ''Brother Harvest'' is reconsidering his patronage of the [[Hand of the Healers#Houses of Healing|Houses of Healing]] if this is who the Navarr truly are.

Other topics of conversation will involve discussing what ''Beckburn'' can do to help restore places damaged by [[Cold Sun|Oblivion]] and the [[Parched earth|Harbingers of Thirst]]. Specifically, he is prepared to offer his aid to the magic the Archmage mentions which would send cleansing waters into the blight that was once the [[Madruga#Great Grasses|Great Grasses]]. ''Willowbraid'' is interested to hear what the Archmage means by suggesting they travel together to the lands of the [[Thule]] to feed their people. He is certainly interested in what the Empire is planning here.

As to the question of a [[College of Magic]], the ''Streamfather'' [[Rain_king#Spring_College|did say]] he'd be prepared to encourage his friends to put together some proposals for a college of healing. All it would require would be for the [[Imperial Conclave]] to formally ask him with a [[declaration]] of [[Concord]]. Obviously such a declaration would need to make it clear that the focus would be on the [[Spring magic#Healing and Vitality|healing]] and [[Spring magic#Fertility|beneficial]] magics of [[Spring magic|Spring]], and it would not be used to codify magic that encourages [[Spring magic#Chaos|corruption]], [[Spring magic#Ruinous|ruin]], or [[Spring magic#Savagery|savagery]]. Given that only one of the [[Rain_king#Gifts_of_the_Cupbearer|healthful magics]] he gifted to the Empire last Spring have been codified, and then only with the intervention of a meddlesome [[eternal]], his reticence to get involved should be understandable.

However, there are some matters he cannot aid with. While the [[Urizen]] may place great value on crystal mana, Ossegrahn does not consider it essential to sustaining health and life. Their [[mana site|mana sites]] may have been cursed, but as far as he knows their [[farm|farms]], [[forest|forests]], and [[herb garden|herb gardens]] are all untouched - which is more than can be said for some of those touched by magic raised by the magicians of that nation. Ossegrahn can not - or will not - raise forests where they do not live. Doing so would cause massive disruption. The coasts of the Empire, the grasslands and meadows and orchards of [[Sarvos]] and [[Necropolis]], are as rich with natural life as any forest. Ossegrahn will not kill and displace these plants and animals merely so Imperial magicians can create [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|magical wards]] more easily. He's also unclear what the Archmage means about [[Surgical skills#Physick|physicks]] treat "more exotic wounds". Is the Archmage asking for ways to make [[Fountain's Bounty]] or [[Woven Strands of Life]] easier to perform?

Finally, the hakima provides a reminder and a caution to the Archmage. Lord Rain feels he has been very, very clear what he [[Rain_king#To_Sow_What_You_Do_Not_Reap|stands for and believes]]. Suffering begets suffering, and he appreciates that the Imperial Conclave has taken steps to prevent Imperial citizens unleashing more of it - such as the decision of the [[Celestial Arch]] to ban [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Interdiction_:_Savagery_of_Armies|rituals that promote savagery]]. But while fighting is sometimes necessary to fight to defend oneself and others, it is ''always'' better to seek ways to preserve life. The eternal is wise enough to know that the Empire is a complicated place, but he will ''never'' abandon his commitment to seeking ways that life can be preserved, violence discouraged, and actions like those [[Ripples and shadows|recently committed]] in [[the Barrens]] never happen again. If all they want is chaotic fecundity that fuels the belief that violence, slaughter, if they actually believe cruel competition is the only way that life to prosper, if there is no space for cooperation or tranquillity inside them, the Conclave would be best to declare [[Alignment#enmity|enmity]] against Lord Rain now. If they are incapable of understanding how the needless spilling of blood holds them back, they should go back to seeking the cursed boons of the ''Merciless Killer'', the cataclysmic gifts of the [[Yaw'nagrah|Devouring Green]], and the devastating blessings of the [[Siakha|Howling Churn]].

==Rhianos==
{{CaptionedImage|file=SummerRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
* '''The Regent of the Eternal Sea declines parley'''
* '''They offer a boon to anyone performing the ritual Golden Voyage, and any fleet enchanted with the ritual will be able to take part in a unique adventure after the Summer Solstice'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is ''Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''''
The brightly dressed herald that erupts from the Imperial regio a fortnight before the Summer Solstice has visited Anvil before and makes their way swiftly to the Hub to speak with the civil service. They bring a message from the ''[[Rhianos|Regent of the Eternal Sea]]'', in response to the Summer archmage's request for a parley. The herald talks fast, impatient with civil servants attempting to make notes, and is clearly frustrated when asked to repeat itself.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=RhianosArt.jpg|caption=The banners of the Regent of the Eternal Sea invariably depict sea creatures, both mundane and fanciful.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
Rhianos is not interested in raids across the [[Bay of Catazar]]. They have seen such things twice now and whatever adventure there may be in it is no longer novel. The Empire has the capacity to launch its own raids by raising an [[Imperial navy]] or two - perhaps by taking advantage of the [[To_see_what_you_sell#Additional_Benefits|extended docks]] at the [[Elosian Architect|Great Harbour of Elos]]? If the Empire does raise a navy or two, on the Bay of Catazar, that would be the moment to seek Rhianos' boons.

The Grendel are of some interest to the Regent of the Eternal Sea, but the Archmage is correct when they suggest Rhianos is a sworn enemy of Siakha - or more rightly, of those who use her boons to despoil and destroy. It's no simple matter for the eternal to "put their thumb on the scales" and direct the flows of fate to bring about specific outcomes, but the herald says the ''Monarch of the Foam'' has "''sung to the dolphins''" and done what they can. There are three [[Sentinel Gate#Conjunction|conjunctions]] of the [[Sentinel Gate]] during the coming Solstice, and Rhianos will offer their boons to anyone who takes part. (Further details on this can be found in the '''[[Guide_the_spirit#Ripped_Away_(Necropolis)|Guide the spirit]]''' and the '''[[Children of wrecks]]''' winds of fortune).

During the Summer Solstice, Rhianos offers his boon to any coven that performs the ritual [[Golden Voyage]]. The magic was partly inspired by the ''Cry of Adventure'' and he has a soft-spot for it. During the performance of the ritual, any magician with at least one rank of Summer lore may consume a dose of [[Tonics_of_the_Open_Sky#Tonic_of_Sunlit_Glass|Tonic of Sunlit Glass]] as part of the casting. Instead of the normal effect, the roleplaying effect - "''you feel a sudden burst of optimism and a rush of positive emotions; you are reminded of past triumphs, hopes and dreams'' - will be greatly intensified and the potion will grant the magician two additional ranks of Summer Lore for purposes of casting the ritual (subject to the [[Magical_skills#Gaining_additional_ranks|normal rules for effective skill]], and counting as a tonic that lasts for the duration of the casting meaning it cannot be combined with other tonics that boost ritual magic). Furthermore, any magician who has mastered the ritual is able to substitute ingots of [[weltsilver]] or [[orichalcum]] for crystal mana. Every three ingots spent will count as two crystal mana towards the performance ''provided'' the magicians include an invocation of Rhianos in the casting and make it clear that the ingots are an offering to the eternal in return for their aid.

Those who do will find one additional benefit - an opportunity to take part in a [[#The Start of the Race|daring race]]!

After delivering their message the herald departs, but on their way out they provide two final pieces of advice. The first is that if '''Cormac Farkes''' is planning to hunt kraken they should be prepared for disaster; a ship might be able to best a young kraken or an inexperienced adolescent but an adult or worse an ''elder'' kraken is beyond the reach of mortal weapons. And if '''Aneira Cadwalon''' is seeking the bear-cloak they covet, they may have more luck speaking to the Sumaah, as Rhianos imagines that the exemplar in question would have been wearing it when he set off to sail into the sunset.<br><br>
{{Anchor|The Start of the Race}}
<big>'''The Start of the Race'''</big><br>
* '''Rhianos announces the creation of a great race - to visit the four corners of the known world'''
* '''To take part in the race, captains must enchant their fleets with Golden Voyage'''
* '''The ritual will let a fleet take part in the first leg of the race - Into the Unknown'''
Rhianos was uninspired by talk of a race around the Bay of Catazar. The Bay seems large to the Empire, the Grendel, and the Iron Confederacy because it is important to them, but it is barely a sea. Adventure is rarely found in one's own back yard, says the Herald. But the concept - a challenging race for ship captains to prove their skill, daring and tenacity - that is exciting! Rather than a race around the Bay, the eternal challenges the captains of the Empire to a race to visit the four corners of the world!

Now a race in which people just see who can make their boat go the fastest couldn't possibly be of interest to anyone, but if the course were filled with peril and calamity that would be a contest worth having! To make it even more exciting, Rhianos thinks it best if nobody know where they are going. Otherwise captains will simply set sail straight for the finish line and what would be the point of that? This will be a challenge to see who can be first to reach the end, but where nobody knows where they are going, how they are going to get there, or even if they will survive. That sounds like a ''proper'' race!
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>'''<big>Into the Unknown</big>'''<br>This special adventure will take place in downtime and will follow the same pattern as those mentioned in the description of Golden Voyage. The fleet's production will be unpredictable but will still tend to provide the same kinds of things as normal - ingots and measures, money (in the form of valuable luxuries), and herbs but may sometimes include potions or ribboned items.</box></div>
So the King Under the Waves announces that their race will take place over the next year. Four great journeys - one to be completed each season - each to a different part of the world. The winner will be the captain whose crew have the best time over the four legs of the race. To take part in the race, vessels will need a touch of summer in their sails - those who are ready to embrace the adventure will find a route opens up for them.

Following the Summer Solstice any fleet enchanted with ''Golden Voyage'' will have the opportunity to throw caution to the wind and invite Rhianos to guide their ship with the winds of synchronicity. This will be a special [[fleet#Adventures|adventure]] found on the ''independent action'' dropdown called "''Into the unknown''." Instead of their normal production, the fleet will be caught up in an adventure of some kind - like those the ritual normally provides but significantly more unpredictable. What rewards that adventure will bring the ship captain are impossible to predict and will replace all the normal production of their fleet for the season. All the herald can promise is that the captains will ''almost certainly'' survive, provided they are daring enough.

Rhianos will announce details of the second leg of the race next season - for those who survive the journey into the unknown!

==Kimus==
{{CaptionedImage|file=DayRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
* '''Kimus declines a parley with the Archmage of Day'''
* '''The eternal offers a specific ''boon of finding'' to the Imperial Conclave if they wish to accept it'''
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka'''
A fortnight before the Winter Solstice, a tall creature with very long hair and far more eyes than any human or orc has ever had, arrives at Anvil. They bear a message from ''[[Kimus|She Who Watches]]'', which they deliver in a quiet, formal tone. The ''Thousand Eyes of the Sun and Moon'' thanks the [[Archmage of Day]] for their message, but at this time they decline the opportunity to participate in a [[Archmage#Parley|formal parley]]. They have however prepared responses to the three questions asked.

On the matter of the runeforge in [[Skarsind]], the ''Celestial Eye'' is a little nonplussed. Does the Archmage mean the [[Gildenheim runeforge]] which was the subject of both extensive [[historical research]], and then [[Conduit_to_destiny#The_Runed_Ruins|dismantled and moved]] to [[Hahnmark#Runegrott|Runegrott]] in [[Hahnmark]]? Or do they mean the place Imperial prospectors have dubbed the [[Long_shadows#The_Sorrowful_Tunnels|Sorrowful Tunnels]], which the ''Seer'' knows [[Minister of Historical Research|Minister]] Vaclav has just [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Research_Sorrowful_Tunnels|commissioned]] ''[[Historical_research#Snowstorm_Henk|Snowstorm Henk]]'' to explore and codify? If the latter, the Archmage would at this time be better served requesting aid from [[Roshanwe|Walker on the Littoral]], who would likely be prepared to send one of her warrior-investigators to accompany and protect the [[orc]] researcher while they delve into the past there. Primarily because the ''Still Watcher'' deems it likely the servants of [[Whisper Gallery|secrets]] and [[Sung|mystery]] are likely to take offense at any delving there and ''the Navigator'' has a soft-spot for seekers and dredgers of the past whereas the ''Seer Clad in Veils of Light'' would rather concern herself with the ''now''.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=LordOfEscapedBalloons.jpg|caption=''The Celestial Eye'' seeks to observe all things simultanously.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
The other matter the Archmage raised was the disposition of three specific objects or locations: the grave of [[Gilda Ashwine]], the spear of [[Isaella]], and the [[Pauper's Key]] of [[Emperor Frederick]]. She can help with two of those, if the Imperial Conclave is prepared to ask her and pay her price.

The human being known as Gilda Ashwine was first buried in [[Dawn]], then her remains dug up and transported to [[Bastion]] for internment in a basilica there. When the Synod chose to [[Gilda_Ashwine#Controversy|remove her status as an exemplar]] during the time of [[Empress Aenea]], they asked the Civil Service of the time to disinter her remains and rebury them with appropriate respect. Their aim was to prevent those who continued to act in her name from having a focus for their actions. That location was not recorded, but the ''Oracle of What Is'' could discover it. Presumably the Archmage intends to disturb the grave for a third time? Have they considered the potential consequences of doing so?

The magical key of Emperor Frederick is an [[Ilium#Creating_Artefacts|artefact]] constructed by the renowned artisan Catherine de Sarvos. It allowed the avowedly mundane [[the Throne|Throne]] to enter the Hall of Worlds and attend [[Conclave session|sessions]] of the [[Imperial Conclave]]. The key itself was stolen shortly after Frederick's death and its current whereabouts unknown, but it is still in existence. The ''Unblinking Observer'' could locate it. Presumably the Archmage intends to try and recover it for use by the Empire? Have they considered the potential cost of doing so?

The third object is not within the ken of the ''All-Sighted One''. The eternal presumes the Archmage means the spear - a magical [[Winternight Lifestealer]] - that was used to strike down [[Emperor Nicovar]] rather than one of the many other weapons the [[Navarr]] [[thorn]] wielded during her life? If that is the case, the object cannot be found by the ''Thousand Eyes''. Either it has been destroyed, or it has passed beyond the great sweep of places that the eternal can perceive.

There are often unforeseen circumstances that arise when something lost is found, and the ''Celestial Eye'' is cautious about potential repercussions. Especially Given the recent declarations of the Imperial Synod. Where the engines of the Imperial state have expressed concerns about the acceptance of boons, it is simply reasonable to ensure one's boon has been properly delivered and accepted. As a consequence, during the Summer Solstice she offers them her ''[[Hierarchs_of_sea_and_sky#A_Boon_of_Finding|boon of finding]]'' as she did [[Hierarchs of sea and sky|last autumn]]. To invoke it, a [[Concord|Declaration of Concord]] must be presented and agreed on. The Declaration must be either “We ask the Thousand Eyes of the Sun and Moon to find the mortal remains of the human known as Gilda Ashwine” or “We ask the Thousand Eyes of the Sun and Moon to find the Pauper's Key of Emperor Frederick.” These are the things the Archmage has asked the eternal to find. Kimus will locate the item or place named, provided it exists, and share their findings with the Conclave at the Autumn Equinox.

==Sung==
{{CaptionedImage|file=NightRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
*'''Sung will send some heralds to the Hall of Worlds at 17:00 on Saturday'''
*'''Her heralds will want to speak on matters the Archmage has raised, while also offering small boons in exchange for interpretations of Signs and Portents visions experienced at this Summer Solstice'''
*'''The meeting will not be a formal parley'''
*'''The current Archmage of Night is Eliina "Realm's Visionary" Lailasdottir'''
Towards the end of spring a cloud of multicoloured mist begins to gather over the Imperial Regio, a series of images playing across it: a multicoloured spider, a fluttering veil, a chain shattering, a shimmering star atop a mountain. It is accompanied by a low rumbling noise which initially causes some concern, but is eventually determined to be the sound of a large creature, deep in thought. The strange scene causes quite a large crowd to gather, all speculating over what it could mean. Despite this (or perhaps precisely because of it) quite a bit of time goes by before the force behind it reveals herself.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SungArt.jpg|caption=The ''Feathered Serpent'' cloaks herself in mystery and obfuscation.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
Eventually, however, the voice of the ''Rainbow Serpent'' rings out with a message for the Archmage of Night. She thanks the “Realm’s Visionary” for reaching out to her in such an impressionistic, riddling manner. The message has led her to much ruminating on the nature of visions, and what it means to seek meaning within them. In addition to sending one of her heralds to speak on the subjects the Archmage appears to be interested in, she offers an opportunity to any imperial mages interested in contemplation of the visions offered by Signs and Portents and Goosewhisper Infusions.

Sung’s heralds will arrive through the portal in the Hall of Worlds at 5pm on Saturday, and from there move out to the space next to the Imperial Regio. They will spend some time studying the visions that manifest for this Summer Solstice. They will come with a number of boons to offer in exchange for interpretations of these visions: What events could they be related to? What conclusions can be drawn from them? She is quick to emphasise that the accuracy of these interpretations is not her sole concern. It is just as significant if something ''feels'' right. However these visions must be “fresh”, which is to say experienced within the last 24 hours.

In addition, she has sent a herald to dance through what she describes as “the great pool of visions”, to weave an additional mystery for anyone who wishes to seek it. Those who are able to identify this herald, and give its name to one of her folk during their time at Anvil, will receive an additional reward.

Finally, she has thought long and hard about the [[Clear Counsel of the Everflowing River|ritual she caused to be created]] and the Conclave added to Imperial lore. She has chosen to change how she responds to it, in part thanks to the Archmage of Night's plenipotentiary. She offers a boon to the Empire's seekers of mystery; during the Summer Solstice, any magician who drinks ''Goosewhisper Infusion'' as part of the performance will find the ritual easier to perform. Rather than receiving a vision, they will gain an additional rank of Night lore for purposes of performing Clear Counsel of the Everflowing River, and may use up to three personal mana as if it were crystal mana towards the performance of that ritual (as if they had drunk [[Magnum Opus#Philosopher's Stone|Philosopher's Stone]]. These benefits would count as a [[Potion#Tonics|tonic]] and not be cumulative with other tonics.

==Founder of the Feast==
{{CaptionedImage|file=WinterRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
* '''The eternal Blood-on-the-Snow has agreed to a parley in the Hall of Worlds'''
* '''It will take place at 10pm on Saturday'''
* '''The eternal requires an additional oath from the Winter Archmage before he will agree to the parley'''
* '''The current Archmage of Winter is Ematius of the Great Library of Ankarien'''
A week before the Summer Solstice, a messenger emerges at the Imperial Regio. It is a shaggy figure wearing sealskin and animal furs, long lanky clumps of blood-matted hair, and the mask of a snarling wolf covering its face. Its coat is similar to that of a [[Suaq]] hunter, but rather than the images of [[Aspect_magic#Beast_Magic|beasts and birds]] it is marked with stick-figures that are clearly humans or orcs being slain in a variety of inventive ways. It bears a barbed spear from which hang a pair of mummified hands, one orc and one human, severed at the wrists.

The creature calls itself ''Yenneck of the Fork'', and it does nothing to conceal its allegiance, cheerfully telling any who ask that it is an emissary of ''[[Agramant|Voice of the Pines]]'' here at the behest of the [[Archmage of Winter]]. It seems to be daring the Imperials it meets to try and strike it down before it delivers its message. It saunters through Anvil, taking its time, apparently enjoying the shocked glances of those who realise what it is - or those who are simply horrified by its appearance.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Agramant.jpg|caption=Agramant encourages atrocious acts in the name of survival.|align=right|width=300}}</div>

It bears greetings from its master, who is a little hurt it has taken the Archmage so long - given they say they are not afraid to deal with the ''Wastewalker'' - to invite them to parley. '''Ematius of the Great Library of Ankarien''' has after all held the [[Archmage#Staff_of_the_Archmage|Staff of Winter]] for two-and-a-half years at this point and there are only so many eternals of the Winter realm prepared to speak to the Empire. No matter, the ''King of the Feast'' is eager to accept the offer of parley.

The ''Dream of Famine'' is minded to come in person, and bring some members of his court as well. He intends to arrive at 10pm Saturday night. But they want an additional assurance from the Archmage, especially given how attempts to meet with Imperial magicians have gone previously.

Specifically they require an oath, from the Archmage at the beginning of the parley. A formal oath delivered in front of Imperial magicians, asserting that none who accompany the ''Howler in the Wastes'', and none who speak to him or his servants in the Hall of Worlds, will be harmed as a consequence. He knows how keen on treachery the Empire is, and wants to be very clear that should the parley be breached by Imperial Citizens in addition to the unpredictable effects of breaching that particular binding law, the Archmage will suffer personally. Likewise, if the timorous fools that enforce the Empire's laws choose to harass any of those who attend for speaking to the eternal - which is not a crime even under Imperial lore - the eternal will be freed to act as they see fit on their behalf. Which means of course that the parley must be open to any who wish to attend - the archmage cannot forbid entry to the Hall of Worlds during a parley after all.

An archmage who parleys with an eternal under enmity must be scrupulous in their conduct if they wish to avoid investigation for potential [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#Crimes_of_Position|treason]], but the ''Creak of the Ice'' doesn't care about that. The ''Voice of the Pines'' is more than happy to hear the Archmage's plans to start a war with the [[Iron Confederacy]] if that's what Ematius wants. The Suranni have their own tedious wards but they're no less riddled with secret cults dedicated to the ''Wicked Liar'' than the Empire is. There's certainly potential for mayhem there. There are a few other matters the eternal will likely be prepared to speak about, a few things he himself is interested in, but he plans to see how the parley goes. He's no stranger to pointless meetings that are just about insulting him, or telling him he's wicked and wrong, after all.

The ''Giver of Gifts'' does not request anyone particular attend the parley - Imperial citizens are free to come or not as they wish - but mentions that their master is prepared to speak with '''Severin de Rondell''' and those currently poking around the ''Necklace of the Swan'' if they want to discuss that particular relic of a bargain unfulfilled.

Beyond the parley, however, he plans to offer boons to Imperial magicians as a sign of good faith. He is aware that one of his rituals - [[Treacher%27s_Quill|Crimson Letters]] - has been made part of [[Urizen lore]]. During the Summer Solstice any magician capable of using that ritual is encouraged to use it to request a boon of the ''Horned Manticore'' on their own behalf or on behalf of others, and the eternal will consider each one carefully and likely respond. There's no point using this boon to ask for something stupid; no wishing for the [[Druj]] to all die in a fire or the like. But something straightforward, and the ''Giver of Gifts'' will see what they can do about fulfilling that request with one of his trinkets. For example, he will be prepared to swap seven crystal mana apiece for arcane projections of ''Crimson Letters'', [[Unleash the Beasts Within]], [[The Crimson Feast]], [[Thirst of the Devourer]], or [[Loosen the Shackles]]. He's prepared to negotiate providing ritual texts of the same to covens prepared to pay his price. He's also prepared to provide magicians who ask for it with trinkets that empower their ability to perform [[curse|curses]], or rituals of [[Winter magic]] that grant strength of body or will. Finally he's more than happy to provide those who ask with magical weapons or talismans that will help them butcher their foes, feast on their blood, endure their blows, or tear their stupid rules and constraints to pieces.

Obviously, accepting any of these boons will not only be a major issue for the Imperial Conclave and risk the attentions of the magistrates, but will likely convince the [[Imperial Synod]] that they are right to denounce deals with eternals. But, as the herald says, fuck 'em. Who cares what they think?

==Timetable==
These meetings are taking place in a number of places; in chambers reached via the Hall of Worlds. The times, and the eternals involved, are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday|| 20:00 || [[Ossegrahn]] || Spring || A parley in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Saturday|| 14:00 || [[Lictors]] || Autumn || A ''very'' formal parley in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Saturday|| 17:00 || [[Sung]] || Night || Heralds in the Hall of Worlds to speak to visionaries; not a parley
|-
| Saturday|| 22:00 || [[Agramant|Blood-on-the-Snow]] || Winter || A parley in the Hall of Worlds
|-
|}

Trader guidelines

2024-06-06T09:07:34Z

Cathtice: /* Non IC Items */

[[Category:Traders]]
==Overview==
These guidelines are for all OOC traders who are attending Empire events to sell goods for real money. If you are interested in trading for real money at an Empire event please make sure that you have read these rules carefully.

The trade area is the centre of the event, and includes the main sets built to support the event, such as the tavern and the senate. Most of the rules and regulations for trading at events are designed to ensure that we maintain a high level of immersion in this area.

==No Spaces at Present==

At present, due to the popularity of the game with players and traders, we are unable to accept any new requests for trade pitches at the event. If you wish to be added to the waiting list for a pitch then please [mailto:angel@profounddecisions.co.uk contact us].
{{CaptionedImage|file=AngelaAngelBrownWiki.jpg|align=right|caption=Trader liaison: Angela Tiernan (Angel)}}

==Options==
There are two options for anyone who wishes to sell non-food/drink items for OOC money, either a standard trader or a peddler. Both options require you to purchase a player ticket and follow all the normal guidelines for a player. A pedlar may then go about the camp and sell their goods as they choose. If you want to have a trade pitch for a tent in the main market place then you to pay a small additional charge for a pitch and follow the additional guidelines for a trader.

Peddlers can sell out of their own tent as a peddler, anywhere within the nation camps, provided you avoid setting up too close to the official marketplace. Alternatively, a peddler can sell off a blanket or cart etc in the marketplace as long as they are not obstructing the traders set up in the marketplace or in a place that would spoil the game for players. Please keep any non-IC looking items from spoiling the view and ambiance of players. Please contact our trader liaison if you want any additional information about pedling.

==Conduct==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Tanis Kingston.jpg|align=right|caption=Trader liason: Tanis Kingston<br/>Photo by Ben Smith}}
All participants at Profound Decisions events, including all traders and caterers, must follow our guidelines for [[conduct]] and [[Conduct#Language|language]]. If you break the rules, even unknowingly, then you will get a formal warning. Any subsequent breach of the rules will result in you being refused entry to any future Profound Decisions events. For this reason, it is essential that you ensure that you have read and understood all the conduct and language rules.

==Trader Liaison==
Our trader liaisons exist to help with trading queries between and at events. Their role is to be a first point of contact and ensure that we provide you with effective support so that you can trade successfully at our events. Our current trader liaisons are [mailto:angel@profounddecisions.co.uk Angel] and Tanis.

==Trade Items==
Any items sold for OOC money at our events must comply with all standard legal requirements. For example, if you are selling hand-made soaps then they need to comply with the statutory regulations on testing and registration of your products.

===Weapon===
Please remind all players that they must have weapons, shields, bows and arrows checked by a weapon checker before they use them at the event. They must not assume that an item automatically passes.

===Non IC Items===
It is perfectly fine to sell items that do not fit the Empire genre at our events, provided they are not on display. If you have a shop then items that do not fit the game should only be displayed inside your tent or stall. If you don't have a tent or stall - then any OOC items still need to be out of sight after time-in. Something like a box with a sign saying "Barbarian items for sale here - have a look" would be fine.

===Alcohol===
Traders are not permitted to sell alcohol at events.

===Food===
It is acceptable to sell cold or preserved food from your stall, but not hot or fresh cooked food. Caterers are covered by different rules and financial arrangements with PD, so traders are not allowed to offer major catering operations at events without prior agreement.

==Set up and Take-down==
===Arrival===
You may arrive on site at any time from the Wednesday before the event onwards. Traders are encouraged to come early and have their stalls set up before the players arrive, so there is no charge for early arrival for traders.

===Tents===
All tents in the IC area must conform to the rules for tents published in the basic [[costume]] guidelines. Specifically it is not possible to put dome tents or party tents in the IC area.

===Costume===
All traders must wear costume that is suitable for the setting while in the IC area.

===Departure===
You may bring vehicles onto the site and begin taking your stall down as soon as the event ends at 3pm on the last day. Please do not start taking your stall down before this time as it disrupts the event for players.

==Electricity==
===Provision===
Generators are not permitted in the IC area so we provide power to all traders with a pitch at the event. The price for this is included in the pitch fee, but you will need to supply your own 25m extension cable. This power is intended to run lights and small low power utility devices - you cannot use our power supply for electrical heating at an event.

===Usage===
Traders with a [[#Pitch_Sizes|small pitch]] may have up to 200 watts, traders with a large pitch may have up to 400 watts. You cannot run a kettle, toaster or any electrical device that produces heat.

===Connections===
Do not plug anything into any socket outlet until it has been checked by a member of the Profound Decisions electrical team. Electrical team members can be contacted via GOD or via the event crew on the radio. Remember, there are a lot of traders and it may take a short period of time to get a member of the team to your location.

===Safety===
If the PD crew electricians are not happy with the safety of a device then you will not be allowed to use it. You will not be able to use the device at the event and will need to secure any such items in your trader vehicle.

==Booking and Prices==
===Account===
To trade at our events your account on our website must be approved by our trader liaison. Once that is done you will be able to use the regular website to book tickets and a pitch to trade at events.

===Price===
Every person who attends a Profound Decisions event must have a valid ticket - this includes yourself (if you are attending the event) and everyone who is working on your stall.

Please see the main Profound Decisions website for [http://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/event/Tickets ticket prices]. In addition you can purchase a pitch in the main trading area in the centre of the site. All normal ticket discounts apply for traders attending an event.

Pitch prices are £15 for a small pitch and £30 for a large pitch if booked during the 'early booking' period. The prices increase to £30 and £50 respectively if booked during the 'late booking period'. We do not accept requests to trade after the late booking period has ended.

===Pitch Sizes===
A small pitch is up to 20m<sup>2</sup>, a large pitch is anything over this size. The size is taken from the sides of the tent, not the footprint of your guy ropes.

===Trade stall members===
Please [[Contact_Profound_Decisions|contact us]] to book tickets for staff who are working your pitch. We will add the staff to your booking, which will ensure that your invoice is correct.

===VAT Invoices===
A VAT invoice is automatically available from your Profound Decisions account for all bookings made using your account.

385YE Winter Solstice Synod judgements

2024-05-11T16:47:03Z

Cathtice: /* Judgement 223 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]] [[Category: 385YE Winter]]
==Overview==
During the Winter Solstice 385YE Summit, the [[Imperial Synod]] raised 227 [[judgement|judgements]].

==Statement of Principle==
===Judgement 6===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Athenus of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' The body is not yet cold but Ludwig Bassilo von Temeschwar is already trying to sell its clothes. He calls for an appraisal of Spiral to exploit its resources before the Reckoning is settled. Should the good people of the League unexpectedly support this proposition we invite the Urizen spires of Ossuary to look to their fellows in Ankra and Cinion as to the best means to apply pressure to ensure the Reckoning is completed faithfully.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (176-38)
* '''Notes:''' References the call by a former Temeschwari bishop to [[appraisal|appraise]] [[Spiral]], as detailed in the [[Blue_flowers_in_the_snow#Unconstructive_Commentary|Blue flowers in the snow]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 7===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Clytemnestra
* '''Judgement:''' Two years ago I said that Urizen would sacrifice no more. Now I say the Brass Coast should sacrifice no more. I cannot command our armies, but I will command our virtue: no Imperial nation should be lost, it is an affront to our Pride, our Loyalty, and our Prosperity to not help when we can. Our enemies offer no quarter, and so we must shelter our cousins. Urizen celebrates the Net of the Heavens - all of us are connected. Let the Temple of the Four Winds stand as a monument to our connections through the Net - let us offer shelter and education to the refugees of the Brass Coast within the Temple's walls. I call on all of Urizen to be inspired by this act: open your homes to the refugees of the Brass Coast. Ambition, Loyalty, Pride, Prosperity: we will not see your people die when we can offer them safe haven in our rebuilt lands.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (232-8)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to [[A beacon of smoke|recent events]] in [[the Brass Coast]], and the status of the [[Broken_sword#Shadow_of_the_Temple|status]] of the [[Arbiter_of_the_Four_Winds#Temple_of_the_Four_Winds|Temple of the Four Winds]] in [[Morrow]]. At this time few Brass Coast refugees are seeking sanctuary in Urizen; the majority are currently taking shelter in [[Kahraman]], [[Segura]], and [[Sarvos]].
===Judgement 9===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Belial de Courtenay
* '''Judgement:''' The Cold Sun are arguably the greatest threat the Empire currently faces, but they can be defeated. I call upon the Dawnish National assembly to support and recognise the Girding of a Knight Protector of Day to support our heroes and build upon the national Pride that kept that Cold Sun from taking root with our territories.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (230-0)
* '''Notes:''' There are four [[Knight-protector|Knight-protectors]] in Dawn (Autumn, Spring, Summer, and Winter). Creating a fifth title equal to the other four would be a major undertaking.
===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Aldwyn Wyldrose
* '''Judgement:''' Our great nation is steeped in glory. Though we must remember our history. Lady Leysandra de Rondell has become the first person in a decade to seek a rose from gardens of the Castle of Thorns. We, the Dawnish national assembly applaud her ambition and sense of national Pride. As such, we would encourage all those seeking glory to engage with the seat of the kings and queens of Dawn.
* '''Outcome:''' Withdrawn, not upheld (60-0)
===Judgement 11===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Nikolovitch Drakov
* '''Judgement:''' Citizens of the Empire rejoice, for we are renewed. Vesna "Annointed by Thunder" assumes the Throne, Orcs and Humans are equally welcomed into the Way by the Doctrine of Enlightenment. We should all be inspired by these two great acts. I call on all ccitizens to recommit themselves to virtue. Let the Way guide and inspire our actions, not the petty politics of convenience. Let us stride, heads held high in Virtue, into the bright new future of our Empire!!!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (971-78)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[A Crown in Winter|coronation of]] [[Emperor Vesna]] as [[the Throne|Throne]], and the renewal of faith prompted by the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] as detailed in the [[Part_of_this_together#Renewal_of_the_Faith|Part of this together]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 12===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Doctor Lysimachus
* '''Judgement:''' The last few summits have seen funds stolen from the Hub, funds raised by the Civil Service to go into the Virtue Fund. The amount taken is irrelevant, because to take even a single ring intended for the rewarding of the Virtuous is frankly an insult to the hard work of the Civil Servants who raised it. It is an act perpetrated by small-minded fools. Whose virtuous character is lacking in the most pitifully trivial of was, and who can't think of nowt better to do with their time in Anvil than pinch pennies from those more virtuous than themselves as opposed to doing something virtuous themselves. Wisdom teaches us to despise folly and chastise the fool that spreads it, so we should denounce and rebuke those who engage in such pathetically perfidious petty acts for what they are, and what they are can be summed up quite simply. UNVIRTUOUS BASTARDS!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1671-52)
===Judgement 14===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Safyan i Zahri i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' Even the wicked can be loyal when times are prosperous and judgements are unfailing: the truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. To allow others to assume ones loyalties, to act as if one is loyal to a person or body, and to then in a moment of need proclaim that you are not loyal to that person and never have been, is as great a treachery as to betray your proclaimed loyalties, as great a disunity of word and deed. It is also far more common in the Empire. The only solution for our virtuous society is to proclaim your loyalties loudly, let them never go unspoken. Wear your heraldry, your tattoos, your insignia and rings, let your oaths and contracts be witnessed by all. Do not trust those who refuse to make their loyalties clear, for they sow the seeds for treachery.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (183-60)
===Judgement 22===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Anastasiya Volkov
* '''Judgement:''' Loyalty cannot be presumed or coerced, but it can be inspired. We, the Empire, must strive to be the spark that ignites the flame of Loyalty in the hearts of its people. When the Empire upholds the oath it made in the constitution to serve and protect its people, providing freedom, prosperity and dignity it promises, then it will inspire the strength of Loyalty that Matilda Fisher inspired in Bushel Sykes. The virtuous build up their fellows, they do not tear them down. I challenge the Empire to find ways to heal the rifts that are turning people's hearts away from us.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld - withdrawn
* '''Notes:''' References the [[Despise_treachery#Not_By_Words_Or_Deeds_Alone|controversy around Bushel Sykes]].
===Judgement 23===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' We failed as a Synod. We failed as an Empire. When the Senate declared the Montanians as barbarians rather than foreigners, they opened the door for any army to attack them. And so they did. We had the opportunity to bring true salvation to lost people, yet the choice by the Military Council was to put them to the sword. We should have been inspired by virtue bringing them salvation through benevolence and bringing them into the Way. Do we as an Empire believe so little in our priests? Now our actions have only encouraged the survivors' belief in Anarchy against the Empire, and it may spread further. We could only boast ourselves Liberators, and not see it through. FOR SHAME. WE MUST BE BETTER.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1189-721)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the complex political situation in [[the Barrens]], specifically the [[Ripples_and_shadows#Hope's_Rest|destruction of the Montanian faction]]. The [[All those moments]] wind of fortune contains more information.
===Judgement 25===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Richardo Glostari di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' Coin that goes unspent is a sin against Prosperity. If the Senate agrees that the all fines collected by magistrates should pass to the Virtue Fund, we should reciprocate by agreeing that any coin that remains in the Virtue Fund at then end of each Summit should be returned to the Imperial Treasury.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld - Withdrawn
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the discussion around legal fines and the Virtue Fund, as laid out in the [[Forwards_and_Rewards#Fines_and_Funds|Forwards and rewards]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 31===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Limonos of the Astral Observatory
* '''Judgement:''' As it is inscribed on the walls of the Academy of Arms: "The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make your enemy die for theirs." The nation of Urizen, with my blessing as the Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine, invites all Imperial refugees to aspire to this vision of war. The doors of the Academy of Arms in Redoubt are open to you. Follow the example of Adelmar, take up the spear, and commit yourself to excellence. When you are threatened by the barbarians, destroy them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (240-12)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine]] oversees the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine#Academy_of_Arms|Academy of Arms]] in [[Redoubt]], an [[inspirational location]] dedicated to the [[Paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] [[Adelmar the Lion]].
===Judgement 32===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Jedediah Boon
* '''Judgement:''' Once you burn a bridge down, there aint no point picking at the ashes. The river is long and winding; there are many other places fit to cross. We invite the Urizeni Scholars of the Sword, led by the House of the Wanderer, to bring their teachings to our nation. In return, we will send our friars of the Marches to Urizen. Where we have disagreed in magic, we will unit in faith. Two schools of Virtue, together in one cause; to share how our same religion manifests in the people of our different nations. Together, the friars of Urizen and the sword scholars of the Marches will build a bridge between our two peoples. Together, we will break new ground with Pride.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (162-40)
===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Azreal, Cohort of the Winter Bear
* '''Judgement:''' Vigilance teaches us to: Prepare for malice, yet thwart malice before it strikes against you. The Vallorn, Druj, Jotun, and Grendel are all malice and we must strike against them with the Wisdom of Atun and the Vigilance of the Sentinel. The Grey Pilgrims should be used to defend the Empire. The trods are being ripped assunder by the heralds of the Cold Sun. Let us not forget the Ashen fields of Bastion, the Unbound Steel Hall, and the White Tower that stands in the way of Virtue. We call the Grey Pilgrims of Reikos to witness the devastation the Cold Sun have caused and prepare for The War on the Vallorn. We must form an Army of the virtuous of our nation. We will temper our steel against the Cold Sun then with Ambition we will lead the fight with Isaella's Dance to wipe the vallorn from this world. We call you to Unite under the Grey Banner. Let Loyalty guide us and Vigilance light the way. Let the Grey Guard RISE!
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld and Withdrawn (357-159 at time of withdrawl)
* '''Notes:''' The formation of the [[Grey Pilgrim|Grey Pilgrims]] [[Grey_Pilgrim#History|removed the capacity]] of [[[Highguard]] to [[Imperial_army#Maximum_numbers_of_Imperial_Forces|support]] a fourth [[Imperial army]].

===Judgement 39===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Earl Galeas du Maurisol
* '''Judgement:''' Anyone can demonstrate Loyalty if they know their heart and what commands its true devotion, and Bushel Sykes is no exception to this. But Loyalty also teaches to despise treachery; for while the strongest of us may err, deceivers will lie again. Any who turn against their sworn Loyalties should be shown no mercy and branded as oathbreakers and deceivers rather than being upheld as examples of Loyalty.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (149-126)
* '''Notes:''' References the [[Despise_treachery#Not_By_Words_Or_Deeds_Alone|controversy around Bushel Sykes]], although it seems to make presumptions about how Sykes should have expressed their Loyalty that may bring it into conflict with the [[Like_a_hurricane#Know_Your_Heart|eyes of Loyalty]].

===Judgement 42===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Hodwyn Aevardson
* '''Judgement:''' "Despise the thieving bandit, the lazy wastrel, and the grasping miser and those who take without giving." - Paths of Prosperity, Anvil Library Press, 381YE. Good folk of Wintermark I fear for the sanctity of our nation, for it seems we have stumbled from the virtuous path to slog through the mire of heresy. And saddened as I am to declare it, this is no recent misstep, for indeed I worry that we may have never been on the path of prosperity at all. I speak of course of none other than one of our virtue birds, the magpie. A bird most well known for an obsession with stealing trinkets only to be hoarded away and never used! I question both the sanctity and sanity of any priest who would see the magpie - naught but a thieving bandit with wings - as a standard our nation should hold themselves to. I believe it is paramount for the soul of our nation that we do better, the magpie must be stricken from its idolic station to make way for us to find a true virtuous bird of prosperity.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (74-194)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to [[Wintermark culture and customs]] surrounding [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Birds_and_feathers|birds]].
===Judgement 45===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised:''' Ortenzia di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' This assembly attests that virtuous words and deeds no not require dedicated focus on one virtue, that one or more virtues might fuel a virtuous citizen's choices, and that priests of the Way are best placed to guide citizens in these matters.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (193-52)
===Judgement 46===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Liege Maelfaissonce Remys
* '''Judgement:''' Less than a thousand Rahvin orcs hold the mines they took from the Druj, wergild for generations of blood and toil. They have been ordered to get out, or the might of the Empire will come down on the Fangs and begin slaughtering them all. Is this the liberation we promised? What hollow hypocrisy is this, that we claim to come as liberators and then begin the slaughter of slaves as soon as we lay eyes on the glitter of mithril? Are we no better than '''<u>Druj</u>'''? Has this SYnod not been <u>repeatedly clear</u> on what is virtuous action in the Barrens? I call on the priests of the EMpire to speak out against any such horrifically unvirtuous act. No massavre in the mithril mines! No slaughter in the Fangs!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1593-94)
* '''Notes:''' * '''Notes:''' Refers to the complex political situation in [[the Barrens]], specifically the situation regarding the [[All_those_moments#Rahvin|Rahvin sept]]. During the Winter Solstice, the Imperial Senate [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Declare_Rahvin_Foreigners|declared the Rahvin to be foreigners]] making any attack against them a crime under Immperial law. The [[All those moments]] wind of fortune contains more information.
===Judgement 50===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Lynneeve
* '''Judgement:''' Navarr and Dawn recognise and respect the efforts of the Greenwood Manor and Hall of Seven. In Loyalty and Pride we seek to learn from each other and share in adventures old and new! 2. Unyielding Dawn has met their test. 4. Knights, War Witches and the rest. 6. Hall of the Seven raised with Pride. 8. Vallorn hearts to be espied. 10. Learned our lessons we'll admit. 12. Or else at least you've proved your wit. 13. Roses and Thorns together have spoke. 14. Now fight the Vallorn together unbroken.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (158-32)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Knight_of_the_Greenwood#Greenwood Manor|Greenwood Manor]] and [[Spear_of_the_Seven#Hall_of_the_Seven|Hall of the Seven]].
===Judgement 51===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Hildebrand von Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' Holberg rose from siege and strife to be The Greatest City in the World. Our Loyalty to our people kept our friends and family safe, but our Ambition must drive us onwards. We hold that Holberg commemorate its victory by building a grant Temple-orphanage to welcome all those displaced by Imperial action. Holbergs walls are build to keep the vulnerable safe, and we gladly welcome them to the Way. If Holberg is the Greatest City in the world, our Pride demands we not stop at the Empire's borders.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (379-0)
===Judgement 54===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Vespasian
* '''Judgement:''' Embrace your past, never be ashamed of it. The Sentinels and the Sword Scholars have a long and difficult past of conflict. Those of the Sword Scholars who have repudiated Sulemaine have shown themselves an asset to Urizen's security, rather than a threat like the Disciples of Sulemaine. In light of this, we invite those of the Sword Scholars who think that their future lies in a martial rather than priestly direction to enter into a dialogue and debate at the Academy of Arms with the Sentinels, that they may together avoid complacency and strive for excellence in those martial aspects of Arete of which they are Proud.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (220-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to traditional rivalry between [[sword scholar|sword scholars]] and [[sentinel|sentinels]], and to the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine#Academy_of_Arms|Academy of Arms]] overseen by the [[Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine]]. See also the [[Broken sword]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 55===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Ubarius
* '''Judgement:''' Courage teaches us to despise cowardice which steers the spirit to weakness and inaction. Pride teaches us to despise the half-hearted, the uncommitted, and the pretender. Ambition teaches us that consequences are the price of Ambition; no price is too high to realise your dreams. We Witnessed Hecctor of Tropaion Citadel meet death with Poise when it was the price he had to pay to achieve his goals, regardless of how the magistrate Nihm Farkas attempted to demean him. Magic is the first Pillar of Urizen. We call upon the Stargazers and other magicians of Urizen to similarly press on with their Virtuous work on the Omnihedron, regardless of the obstacles the petty minded attempt to place in their way.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (80-114)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Stargazer#Resonance_and_the_Omnihedron|Omnihedron]] is a popular theory promulgated in Urizen, related to [[:Category:Imperial Enchantment|Imperial enchantments]].
===Judgement 58===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Warsmith the Iron Way
* '''Judgement:''' Priests of the Empire, remember that you are priests of the Way first and foremost not just priests of your dedicated virtue. To favour preaching your chosen virtue is expected but to actively disregard any of the seven as though it is worthless is heresy. We may tell the layperson to only focus on one but we are the heroes of the Empire, the beacons of inspiration, the ones who set the example. We can achieve so much more than simply following one and scorning the others. The hammer cannot be used to fell a tree, and an axe cannot be used to repair armour, just as the citizens of your congregation will require guidance on multiple virtues not just your dedicated one. You can do better.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (868-609)
===Judgement 60===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Winifred Blackhawk
* '''Judgement:''' Roads and Trods are the arteries of the Empire, and the echo of our feat are the beat of its heart. Each step, each trade made or song shared strengthens the Empire and weakens our enemies. We call on all the Navarri wayhouses across the Empire to support and encourage those who travel the Empire everyday to do their bit in protecting the Roads and Trods from threats, to show that Navarri boot leather is what holds the Empire together with our songs, messages and spears.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (353-10)
* '''Notes:''' This statement seems to support [[Road_out_of_nowhere#Roadwardens|roadwardens]] across the Empire and has created a new [[Military_unit#Adventures|adventure]] for [[Navarr]] [[military unit|military units]].
===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Rosie of Goatsbridge
* '''Judgement:''' We, the Marcher Assembly, propose that the Tusks should be thought of as the Mournwold army. We believe acceptance of such an identity would bolster the Pride, Loyalty, and morale of the army, the Mournwold, and the nation as a whole. Firstly, consider that the other Marcher armies have their roots in specific Marcher territories, however the Tusks are not currently tied to any such tradition. Whilst the Tusks did not, indeed could not have been founded out of the Mournwold due to its status of occupation, this army was raised for the express purpose of liberating the Mournwold and its foundational campaign was waged for this ambition. Nedry, the first general of the Tusks went to the wicker man in atonement for the bloody liberation of the Mournwold. With his courageous sacrifice he showed the inextricable bond between the Tusks and the Mournwold, and the commitment to make amends. The Tusks have demonstrated a flexible nature and the Mournwold itself is in flux, with many opportunities and challenges on the horizon. Just as the Mournwold evolves and changes, the Tusks will change with it to rise to the occasion.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (148-68)
===Judgement 68===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Aniera Exiles End
* '''Judgement:''' After 1000 years of work we have the answer to destroying the vallorn. The Navarr assembly now seeks the opinion of the Navarr people. SPeak to your guides. We are listening. We shall publish our response next season.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (404-18)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the completed research project of the Great Library of Hacynian, as detailed in the [[A thousand years of longing]] wind of fortune,
===Judgement 72===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Clarice Novarion
* '''Judgement:''' The path of coourage tells us to despise cowardice, not to compel it. The use of torture, and cruel tactics, is predicated on inspiring terror and cowardice in the victim and in all who witness such atrocity. This is an unvirtuous act. It flies in the face of the Virtue of Courage. The Assembly of Courage condemns the use of such tactics as unvirtuous and calls on all Virtuous citizens to shun those who employ them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (201-24)
===Judgement 76===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Uther Cook
* '''Judgement:''' The assembly of Ambition supports judgement 31 thorough the Urizen assembly. The assembly see this as a matter of great importance that this is seen and heard throughout the Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (224-28)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to [[#Judgement 31|Judgement 31]].
===Judgement 77===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Hujaani Forgebairn
* '''Judgement:''' Know your heart and what commands its devotion above all else. Shacklebreaker Eska Crowspeaker known as Liberty's Song has spent her life championing the causes dear to her heart. From speaking to the plight of the Skarsind Loyalty Congregation and the need to preserve the traditions of Winterfolk in Skarsind to her role in the success of the Liberty Pact and the Empire wide paradigm shift in how we perceive the harm slavery does to the pursuit of Virtue. She is an inspiration to those who choose impassioned words over sharpened steel to win their battles. A Grimnir, a diplomat, and a true friend, Wintermark is proud to add their tale to the Chronicle of Heroes.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (274-0)
* '''Notes:''' Eska Crowspeaker has been added to the [[Heroism#Eska_Crowspeaker|Chronicle of Heroism]].
===Judgement 78===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Aspen Whisperleaf
* '''Judgement:''' Tenure stifles Ambition. Lets end tenured titles in Navarr and let people vote on positions.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (164-172)
* '''Notes:''' The [[judgement]] of [[Challenge]] specifically allows an Assembly to call for a [[New_Imperial_titles#Tenure|tenured]] title to be re-appointed.
===Judgement 81===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Oleander Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' At the core of our nation is our fight against the vallorn. The armies of the Cold Sun have targetted and destroyed trods across the Empire, and their continued presence prevents their repair. We are bound by our oaths against the vallorn to fight these forces of the Cold Sun - these fights are now one and the same. We call on Navarr to point the fire of their Ambition towards the unnatural lights of these scions, into the same Vigilance and Wisdom they point towards the Vallorn.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (430-32)
* '''Notes:''' The armies of [[Cold Sun]] have destroyed the [[trods]] in several territories since they first appeared, including most recently in [[Things_that_burn#The_Devastation_of_the_Trods|Karov and Volodmartz]], and in [[Things_that_burn#The_Empty_Hands|Miaren]].
===Judgement 82===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Lady Eleanor Novarion
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise the Loyalty of the fleet captains of Dawn who defend the Brass Coast from the Grendel, rescue the enslaved and protect refugees, so that they may be given succour and sanctuary at the House of the Proferred Hand.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (294-0)
===Judgement 83===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Lord Caewel Novarion
* '''Judgement:''' Lady Clarice Novarion brought together the Synod to achieve the most substantial change of doctrine since the foundation of the Empire, and did so with the largest Greater Majority since the death of Britta. This was a glorious act.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (296-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]], which supersedes the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Human_Destiny|Doctrine of Human Destiny]]. As detailed in the [[Part of this together]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 85===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Aethelric the Unready
* '''Judgement:''' Wisdom is not always knowing the answer, but rather finding the right question. The Wisdom assembly has been debating the question of whether cunning should be equated to a virtue for several seasons. Now that the Apulian orcs are settling down into the Empire, the Assembly invites them to send representatives to discuss the matter formally and face to face. THis is a discussion that will benefit all concerned, regardless of the outcome.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (307-20)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the ongoing discussion of the [[The_League_religious_beliefs#The_Apulian_Qualities|Apulian Qualities]], and the role of [[Grendel_religion#Cunning|Cunning]] in [[Grendel religion]].
===Judgement 86===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' ??
* '''Judgement:''' Of the original Black Knights that fought against Richilde's supporters for Queen, one was slain. It would have been simply for some to work out after the fact their identity - but as a nation we refrained. Donning the guise of the Black Knight should no more seek death than any other, but all who do so should understand that if their duties take them into combat then it is a possible consequence that they may die. If this occurs, the particular deeds are attributed not to them or their houses - but simply the Black Knights. May there always be those in Dawn who believe the Glory of the deed, the challenge or the cause outweighs the risk; and may we continue not to attempt to reveal their identities after the fact.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (296-0)
===Judgement 88===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Konstantin Ratovitch Balatnikov
* '''Judgement:''' The Commonwealth's philosophy of Common Good cares for their citizens in life, but has little consideration for their spirits. Our living doctrine now recognises virtue's benefit for all thinking beings, and the general assembly has affirmed that rejection of the use of auras does not conflict with the Way (384.3.27). These two actions ease the concerns that held many in the Commonwealth back from embracing our religion. We encourage wayfarers and other missionaries to focus their attention on the Commonwealth. Seek the advice of illuminates, lucidianists, and Unchackled preachers to best guide their people.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (207-0)
* '''Notes:''' The Way is a minority religion in the [[Commonwealth]]. In the Commonwealth, chaplains and paladins do not differentiate between the virtues but rather embrace the idea of the [[Commonwealth#Religion|common good]]. They also reject the use of [[auras]] as a form of undue influence.
===Judgement 90===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' As Navarr we pride ourselves on our hospitality. We aided the Great Forest Orcs, we received their aid. To not continue to support those that have shown us friendship is shameful. Those that endanger our friends the Great FOrest Orcs will face the fury of our nation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (362-0)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Great Forest Orcs]] are a faction of [[the Barrens]] who have recently recovered their homes in the [[The Barrens#Heart of Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]] with the [[Ripples_and_shadows#Eaves_of_Peytaht|aid]] of the [[Quiet Step]]. They have expressed [[All_those_moments#Great_Forest_Orcs|concern for the future]] following [[Ripples and shadows|recent events]] in the Barrens.
===Judgement 91===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Nathair Autumngale
* '''Judgement:''' With consultation of the Vate's council of Navarr. THe Navarr national assembly encourages Vates of Navarr to seek our Night regio within Brocéliande. An Arcane Projection has been created to allow us to grant those within the Vallorn, crucially Navarr and Thorn, a moment of respite against the chaos they endure bound in the heart. A chance for them to experience songs and stories as if they were there amongst us. We can show them who we are, and what has become of their people. All that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it. They have earned this.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (246-0)
===Judgement 92===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Teleri Thornweaver
* '''Judgement:''' The Navarr Assembly call upon fleets in Navarr to aid the Freeborn and the Imperial Fleetmaster in whatever their next move is in the Bay of Catazar. While our land based forces deal with the Cold Sun our captains will join the Freeborn and bolster their numbers. Let us show the Grendel that Actions have Consequences.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (292-24)
===Judgement 93===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' "Be alert to all dangers, within and without"; "Seek out falsehood and expose the truth". Going forth to find new homes to defend from threats without and muddled leadership within is as Vigilant a purpose as you can get. Sulemaine may have put Wisdom above all. but today's scholar does not follow her on a leash. Clytemnestra: tell those who are walking away from Sulemaine that any whose path heads through the Marches are welcome at Pickham Abbey. I'll set out a hearty spread in the shade of Benson's Oak and we can find the common ground between sword scholar rigor and Marcher common sense. Perhaps these scholars of the sword can be reforged into Blades of Vigilance - prepared for malice, and thwarting it before it strikes.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (114-66)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Broken sword|rejection]] of the teachings of [[Sulemaine]] by many of the [[sword scholar]] movement in [[Urizen]].
===Judgement 94===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Laliel, Daughter of Alonisael
* '''Judgement:''' We, Highborn, believe that only actions can be virtuous and the Navarr that actions have consequences. We should celebrate the Loyalty of these Nations and the actions of the Grey Pilgrims and the Navarr. Both Nations look to preserve history. Let us build a sinecure to remember this Loyalty.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (423-14)
===Judgement 95===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Galene Netherwatch
* '''Judgement:''' Wisdom teaches you should test when you learn only fools except hearsay as truth. We encourage all Urizeni to continue to question and debate every priest who comes to preach. Let every priest who comes to Urizen learn and work harder, let us all strive towards excellent and be inspired towards their highest destinies.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (223-0)
* '''Notes:''' This seems to encourage Urizeni to [[Broken_sword#Smoking_Mirror|continue to question]] the [[mandate|mandates]] of the [[Imperial Synod]], maintaining the requirement that they have a [[Judgement#Greater_Majority|greater majority]] to have effect in the nation.
===Judgement 96===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Callista of the Dark Shard
* '''Judgement:''' The territory of Spiral has been ceded to the Apulians in Audacity - their Ambition's prize. Now there are rebels in Spiral whose sole ambition is to reclaim it for Urizen. In wisdom, we request that the Empire explore the potential consequences of reassigning the territory to Urizen to explore where the highest virtue may be found.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (143-56)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Blue flowers in the snow|complex political situation]] in [[Spiral]].

===Judgement 98===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Pickers Goldleaf
* '''Judgement:''' The virtues all call for action in different ways. As such they can be evoked to justify any and all actions. The Omnihedron, the calculated murder in the Barrens, the mishandling of the Bourse. The virtues are fundamentally important, but they concern themselves with our afterlife. We must not forget the one we are currently living. I would call for us to strive not to be a great empire, but a good empire. Lest the Labyrinth sees you return beneath your own heel.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (501-718)
===Judgement 99===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' The docrine reform council, proud of the response to the Doctrine of Enlightenment, now turn our eyes to the Doctrine of the Seven, as it is the essential context for further doctrinal change. We ask any with opinions, evidene, or questions to get in contact, either through messenger or at our meetings, Saturday of each summit at 11am in the Hub.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1128-199)
* '''Notes:''' The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Seven|Doctrine of Seven]] lays out the seven virtues. This judgement seems to build on recent developments around the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] as laid out on the [[Part of this together]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 100===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Gralka
* '''Judgement:''' Language is the pinnacle of civilisation. One of the greatest gifts granted in our freedom was the expression of reading and writing. With great Pride I propose that a folly be raised to advance Imperial Orc culture and art at this time of great cultural revelation for our peoples. Any single person can write words on a mountainside but to create a language of symbols depicting the worth for a nation, that is something more. A project to grow alongside our pride as we would add new words and worth each year and for many generations to come. Our project would start by collecting twenty words that speak the heart of our culture from across our people an I would paint a symbol for each word of great worth collected.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <div style="color: red;">Greater Majorty</div> (185-23)
* '''Notes:''' [[Worth]] and concepts of [[Imperial_Orcs_culture_and_customs#Symbols|symbols]] and [[Imperial_Orcs_culture_and_customs#Writing|writing]] are important to [[Imperial Orcs culture and customs|culture]] and also have a place in [[Imperial Orcs hearth magic]].

===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Sir Claude Vyse Videre
* '''Judgement:''' We condemn the decisions of the Senate and the Generals to take the coward's path when presented with a quandry about the inhabitants of the Barrens. to pretend at moral strength by being the ones to take abhorrent "tough choices". It is far more courageous to accept that the path of diplomacy is long and arduous and to pursue it regardless. The Dawnish Assembly challenges its senators and generals to prove their courage for this path. As Dawnish tradition dictates, we await their terms of challenge.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (312-16)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[All those moments|complex political situation]] in [[the Barrens]] following [[Ripples and shadows|recent events]].
===Judgement 104===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Eirlys Blackhawk
* '''Judgement:''' The Navarr national assembly extends its thanks to the scholars of Otkodov who provided knowledge and insight on behalf of the Dragons to the project undertaken in the Library of Hacynian. We welcome the sharing of the discovered solution with them, and wish that we may have further opportunities to develop one another's Wisdom in the pursuit of Virtuous causes.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (274-0)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[A thousand years of longing|results of research]] at the Great Library of Hacynian, and the [[A_thousand_years_of_longing#Our_Friends_in_the_North|role played]] by the [[orc|orcs]] of [[Otkodov]].
===Judgement 105===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Cynerik
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise Yulia Kasimiova Voronov "Hunger's Folly" as a hero <u>to</u> Wintermark, and their name shall be added to the Chronicle of Heroes. As Senator for Miekarova, Yulia acted with loyalty, courageously, sacrificing their homeland to enable Wintermark to take the steps needed to reclaim Sermersuaq. This act was instrumental to the victory of uniting Wintermark once more. As the last outsider to be given the honour, SUlkavaris recognises their Heroes' name "Honour's Folly" as we shall we all remember their heroism.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (269-0)
===Judgement 107===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Val (??)
* '''Judgement:''' Freeborn! Our beloved land is no longer a safe home. The Dry Patricians spread, both from the bright heart of Madruga and every life they claim for their thirst. Citizns of Madruga! Stay no longer in its shadow when your lives and those of your loved ones can be saved. Flee to the areas (??) the Blight (??) spread the word all (??) seen there. Be (??) burning bright (?)) lantern of Vigilance so that all can be (??) danger. We will take (??) great Grasses and the land will recover (??) Freeborn will dance again on those sands.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (139-12)
* '''Notes:''' This judgement was extensively water damaged.
===Judgement 110===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Mauriac
* '''Judgement:''' Through broadening our understanding, we inculate Wisdom. Blessings conferred by liao in its smoke-based form have long been used for the manifestation of auras. This judgement proposes research into mobile auras, perhaps by means of a censer, which might confer blessings upon a whole lance of warriors and whose aura might hinder any orcs standing against them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (984-237)
===Judgement 112===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Neala Blackhawk
* '''Judgement:''' Memorialised in Necropolis, the young Empress Britta is a virtuous example to all, as her courage knew no bounds. Britta Gildering rests in the waters of the Sovevann, her homeland, with the heroes of the Winterfolk. Her rightful plae. Last summit the Wintermark passed a judgement to link these two places with a Pilgrim's Path. Symbollically and literally Britta's memorial in Necropolis and her pool in the Sovevann should be linked. Let us build this path to virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (169-0)
* '''Notes:''' References [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_62|Judgement 62]] from the Autumn Equinox.
===Judgement 114===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Brynn Tendfallen
* '''Judgement:''' The only true mistake is the one you make twice. The Empire has seen time and again that Cruelty and brutality trade short term gain for long term problems. These tactics sow distrust, animosity, and retribution. They entrench our enmities and shake our alliances. The wisdom assembly calls upon Imperial Citizens, especially title holders. to learn this lesson and put it into practice.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (194-28)
===Judgement 115===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Pipit Boon
* '''Judgement:''' On this one year anniversary of his recognition, we celebrate William Guildenstern as a folk hero of the Marches. Let us sing his story for generations to come across our territories.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (96-38)
===Judgement 116===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Bloodcrow Knott
* '''Judgement:''' Enemies draw near, and blight threatens to face our most colourful neighbours. The Brass Coast needs the aid of the entire Empire now more than ever. In their darkest hour it is virtue that inspire. As the Brass Coast committed itself to selling arms to the Imperial Orcs during the rebellion cheaply, so will the Imperial Orc National Assembly not commit itself. We, the Imperial Orc National Assembly, commit all priests attending Anvil to sell all produced liao, for 1 year, to 1 nation, at 1 ring.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (177-22)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the spreading Blight in the Brass Coast, as detailed in the [[Watercolours in the rain]] wind of fortune. See also [[#Judgement 194|Judgement 194]].

===Judgement 119===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Fintan Founder's Dance
* '''Judgement:''' As the virtuous look to Berechiah for inspiration, we call on citizens to remember virtue, the hallowing of the scale compels you to uphold the law to protect the innocent. Berechiah taught us to put virtue above the law <u>when neccessary</u>. We must not disregard the law for convenience, only when it impedes virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1165-128)
* '''Notes:''' References the consecration of an [[inspirational location]] dedicated to [[Berechiah]], as discussed in the [[Knocking on every door]] wind of fortune. Also mentions the [[Auras_of_Vigilance#Hallowing_of_the_Scale|hallowing of the scale]].

===Judgement 120===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Keenai Whisperleaf
* '''Judgement:''' Navarr: Imperial titles should not be possessed indefinitely, stifling the ambitions of current incumbents and future challengers. Make space for others in the dance after three years of our position.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (98-144)
* '''Notes:''' The [[judgement]] of [[Challenge]] specifically allows an Assembly to call for a [[New_Imperial_titles#Tenure|tenured]] title to be re-appointed.

===Judgement 121===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Henry Fletcher
* '''Judgement:''' As we welcome Mournwold Orcs to the Marches we recognise their skills and ambitions and gladly anticipate the blending of our cultures. We will strive for prosperous roles for these new Marchers with opportunities of non-violent natures within the ranks of our armies. As each new physick or quartermaster, or else-wise, shall enjoy a prosperous welcome, so shall the Marches prosper.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (206-0)
* '''Notes:''' References the first [[Mournwold Orcs]] joining [[the Marches]], as detailed in the [[The best soil]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 122===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Sable
* '''Judgement:''' Love is applied Loyalty. As Audacity is a facet of Ambition, love is a facet of Lohyalty. Love has been recognised as a path to virtue by the Dawnish assembly. It is time that this is recognised in the wider Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (211-102)
* '''Notes:''' [[Dawn_hearth_magic#Love_and_Flowers|Love]] is a powerful force in [[Dawn]], a counterpart to [[Glory]], and a powerful [[Dawn_hearth_magic|hearth magic]].

===Judgement 123===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Karzimir Syrota Molchan
* '''Judgement:''' Pride is being able to recognise shortcomings in ones own house. The Iron Helms actions as of late do not follow a virtuous path and do not inspire pride within and without the Empire. We encourage Varushka to retrain the Iron Helms into an army they and the Empire can be proud of.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (256-136)

===Judgement 124===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Coraddo Filiarchi di Regario
* '''Judgement:''' Sanvar Isk is not a slaver. The workers on the Loom of Spells are willing workers and hold full freedom to leave if they wish. They should be considered apprentices under Sanvar Isk's prosperity, not slaves. Sanvar Isk is not a slaver.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (244-0)
* '''Notes:''' References the herald [[All_my_magic_friends#Sanvar_Isk_is_(Definitely)_Not_A_Slaver|Sanvar Isk]] and the Loom of Spells.

===Judgement 128===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Mazo Freewalker
* '''Judgement:''' The Navarr Assembly denounces the use of Cruel tactics in Armies. The adverse effects of this were most recently seen in the action in the Barrens. We achieve more through diplomacy than cruelty. Cruel tactics are unwise as the Empire cannot afford to alienate allies.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (217-22)
* '''Notes:''' References the [[Ripples and shadows|recent events]] in [[the Barrens]].
===Judgement 136===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Keziah of the Suns of Couros
* '''Judgement:''' The Highborn assembly condemns the Iron Helms and their wicked cruelty in the strongest, bitterest terms. It is high time for Varushka to fix the wickedness festering in their midst.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (355-12)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Iron Helms]] are a [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Imperial army|army]] known for their [[Army_qualities#Cruel|embrace of cruel tactics]].
===Judgement 139===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Aedie Steadfast
* '''Judgement:''' Do not fear to act; only be shamed by inaction. Shacklbreaker Thanmit Hrafnar, the White Raven, has tirelessly committed themselves to serving the Empire. They were responsible for the greatest act of prosperity the Empire has ever seen, the gifting of Skarsind to the Imperial Orc septs. Though controversial they did not falter in the wake of that heroic deed. They saw a wrong in the world that needed to be righted. Without their vision, there would be no Liberty Pact. Their courage and ambition has forged the path that the Empire is now set upon. A politician that believes in the power of bringing people together rather than driving them apart. Wintermark is proud to add their tale to the Chronicle of Heroes.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (220-10)
* '''Notes:''' Adding a name to the [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroism]] requires a greater majority.
===Judgement 142===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Luke of the Navigators of Virtue
* '''Judgement:''' Loyalty cannot be presumed or coerced but it can be inspired. We, the Empire, must strive to be the spark that ignites the flame of Loyalty in the hearts of its people. Bushel Sykes was Loyal to the dream of a free Bregasland his unwavering devotion proven by the miracle of this spontaneous dedication, a true aura of Loyalty. If the Empire upholds the oath it made in its constitution to serve and protect its people, providing the freedom, prosperity, and dignity it promises then it will inspire the strength of loyalty that Bushel Sykes displayed. The virtuous build up their fellows, they do not tear them down. I challenge the Empire to find ways to heal the rifts that are turning people's hearts away from us.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (205-32)
* '''Notes:''' References the [[Despise_treachery#Not_By_Words_Or_Deeds_Alone|controversy around Bushel Sykes]].
===Judgement 145===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Magdelena Alayna di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' itizens of the League, the thieving bandits are at the door! We hear the cries of our Freeborn cousins carried across the waves. For our coin to go unspent at this time of war would be <u>vice and sin</u>. We call upon the prosperity of our citizens to support the Wolves of War and the Towerjacks with <u>coin</u> and <u>weirwood</u> and <u>mithril</u>, restoring their strength they have valiantly spent in service of their nation and their Empire. Prosperity must be shared with those deserving. Our allies deserve our skills - our enemies deserve our swords.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (382-0)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies]] has the power to provide [[Quartermaster_General_of_the_Imperial_Armies#Resupply_Imperial_armies|additional resupply]] to the [[Imperial army|Imperial armies]], as does the [[Imperial Senate]].
===Judgement 146===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Reynard Forester
* '''Judgement:''' The Deadwood Knight looms between Karov and Weirwater. He preys upon the innocent of both nations. We call the adventurers of Dawn to take up the fight with courage and end the husk menace.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (291-0)
* '''Notes:''' Concerns the [[The_lake_and_the_deep,_dark_woods#A_Lord_of_the_Dead_Woods|monster known as the Deadwood Knight]], currently active on the border between Karov and Weirwater, as detailed in the [[The_lake_and_the_deep,_dark_woods#A_Lord_of_the_Dead_Woods|The lake and the deep, dark woods]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 147===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Estella Lucati
* '''Judgement:''' The sovereign Dhou'ala is killing people who travel across the Semmerlak. Be vigilant. Tell others to be vigilant!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (296-0)
* '''Notes:''' Concerns the [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] [[Dho'uala]], active in [[the Semmerlak]]. Recent events are described in the [[The_lake_and_the_deep,_dark_woods#A_Lady_of_the_Semmerlak|The lake and the deep, dark woods]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 148===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Heilyn Bronwen's Rest
* '''Judgement:''' The Rising Tide have presented excellent options for improving the Prosperity of Morrow. We commend them, the people of Canterspire Circle and the Spire of Golden Wood. We recognise the virtue of the Rising Tide and encourage them to continue on this path. They have presented an opportunity to build a ministry allowing the purchase of weirwood for iridescent gloaming).
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (240-0)
* '''Notes:''' The opportunities presented by the Rising Tide are detailed in the [[Bright yellow blooms]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 150===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Saavi Heroes Champion
* '''Judgement:''' As creatures of the Day realm poured into Wintermark our heroes heeded the call. With Courage and Pride they garrisoned the beacons. With steel and magic they turned away the Cold Sun threat. Protecting the very heart of our nation. We, the Wintermark Assembly, commend them for their actions, heroes all.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (265-0)
* '''Notes:''' The defence of Wintermark against [[Cold Sun]] is detailed in the [[Things_that_burn#Beacons|Things that burn]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 151===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Astrid Fjellrevening Rezia di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise the Courage and Loyalty of the soldiers of the Commonwealth stationed at their embassy in MAdruga. They fought to the death to allow citizens time to escape. We will not forget their sacrifice.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1255-8)
* '''Notes:''' [[Commonwealth]] soldiers were involved in the defence of [[Madruga#Siroc|Siroc]], as detailed in the [[A beacon of smoke]] wind of war.

===Judgement 152===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Dinah of Jeremiah's Welcome
* '''Judgement:''' As we work to exalt the White City, the heart of pilgrimage, and consider with new eyes the Doctrines of the Faith, it is time also to explore the meaning of pilgrimage to the pilgrim and as a sign of the paragon. Dinah of Jeremiah's Welcome, guide to Pilgrims, invites priests and pilgrims to share their thoughts. Dinah can be contacted via the Turbrewlent Priest coffee house at Anvil, or the Chapter of Jeremiah's Welcome at Bastion over the season.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1020-42)
===Judgement 153===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Lady Laundine of House duLac
* '''Judgement:''' The Dawnish celebrate with Pride all of the Freefolk who after a courageous journey out of the claws of slvaery decided to join our nation. Their honesty, hard work, and dedication to seek to understand us has inspired us. We call upon all the Houses to set generous challenges toa ny and all Freefolk filled with the Ambition to ask for a Test of Mettle. Let us share in Love and Glory with them, and let this joyous achievement be a great inspiration for Prosperity across Dawn.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (414-0)
* '''Notes:''' The Freefolk pilgrimage around the Empire [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_fortune#Free_Folk|ended during the Winter Solstice]] with the majority choosing to join [[Dawn]] as [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]]and settle in the vicinity of [[Lady_of_the_Proffered_Hand#House_of_the_Proffered_Hand|House of the Proffered Hand]] near [[Astolat#Caer_Faucon|Caer Faucon]]. Those seeking nobility have primarily chosen to become [[knight-errant|knights-errant]].
===Judgement 154===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Telyn Stormtree
* '''Judgement:''' we, the Navarr, believe that actions have consequences, and Highguard that only actions an be virtuous. We should celebrate the Loyalty of these nations and the actions of the Grey Pilgrims and Navarr. Both nations look to preserve history. Let us build a sinecure to remember this loyalty.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (206-10)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Imperial Senate]] has the power to [[commission]] a [[sinecure]], as do a number of Imperial titles including the [[legion Engineer]], [[master of Rings]], [[Chair of the Wolf]], and [[Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave]].
===Judgement 155===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Vellin Embercast
* '''Judgement:''' A national assembly is a branch of the Synod, concerning itself with Judgement and the soul of the nation. A Guide's council should be a gathering of those who are oathbound to safeguard the souls of their kin. These are both vital, and as long as we refer to one as the other we risk stifling the Ambition of newly sworn Guides who have no interest in the Synod.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (174-50)

===Judgement 157===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Chessia Gordost von Temeschwar
* '''Judgement:''' The Bay of Catazar will receive a curse to prevent enemy fleet access that will cause significant flooding. I urge citizens of the League, particularly those in the affected cities of Sarvos and Spiral, to prevent damages to our great nation through preparation, awareness, and Vigilance.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (409-0)
* '''Notes:''' This statement of principle did not receive a [[Judgement#Greater_Majority|Greater Majority]]. As such, while it has been seen by many of the priests attending [[Anvil]], judgements that pass with a lesser majority are [[Statement_of_principle#Outcome|not widely discussed outside Anvil]].
===Judgement 162===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Creighton Blackewater
* '''Judgement:''' There have been 2 judgements calling for the Empire to help the former slaves of Rachensgrab get even a fraction of their stolen prosperity returned to them, both of which passed and yet nothing has been done. I now ask the Prosperity assembly to prove their virtue and show the rest of the Empire the true meaning of "Prosperity Provides" and issue a mandate to right this wrong that we have committed.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (220-0)
* '''Notes:''' References the events following the [[Burning|assault on the aerie of the slave lords]] of Rachensgrab in Winter 384YE, and both [[384YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_165|Winter 384YE judgement 165]] and [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_75|Autumn 385 judgement 75]]. The majority of the slaves freed in the fall of Rachensgrab were taken in by [[the Commonwealth]], with only a few choosing to make the journey to the Empire. There is no Imperial contact with the nations of the northern [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Steel|Sea of Steel]] where Rachensgrab once lay.
===Judgement 163===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' We support the efforts of the Sword Scholars to bring their teachings far and wide across the Empire to establish themselves as a Sodality in the name of Wisdom. As the blood that runs through the Empire's veins, Navarr's Guides can help them find their place in the Great Dance as they travel the Empire. They are our siblings in Virtue, and as a people also unbound from our own foundations, we can help them find their way.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (182-86)
===Judgement 164===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Ahraz i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' The Dry Patricians pose a grave threat to the Empire and its citizens. Let our Ambition ignite a flame of determination within each of us. Together we must pool our knowledge and ingenuity to devise effective strategies to deal with this menace. By embracing our Ambition and working together we can overcome any obstacle that stands in our path. Let us stand together and defeat this threat.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (248-12)
* '''Notes:''' The Dry Patricians are the entities believed responsible for, or somehow innately connected to, the [[Fading like a Flower|blight]] that threatens [[the Brass Coast]].
===Judgement `65===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Abraham
* '''Judgement:''' The wayfairs of Highguard walked the parts of the Empire at its founding - they did this knowing the risks but continued to do so. We should not honour their sacrifice by fighting, but work with others to continue their work. To remember those who Sulemain killed a banner of braids will be marched in the Day of the Dead procession, and then to Necropolis. This will be led by the light of the wayfairs. Let us continue what they started.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (459-0)
* '''Notes:''' [[Highguard_religious_beliefs#Wayfarers|Wayfarers]] are [[Highguard|Highborn]] priests who serve as missionaries, both within and without the Empire, spreading not only virtues but the ideals of the Empire itself. The judgement references [[Sulemaine]], the former inspiration of the [[urizen]] [[sword scholar]] movement, who famously killed wayfarers in pre-Imperial times.
===Judgement 169===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Marzanna
* '''Judgement:''' The Varushkan national assembly calls upon the citizens of Marupa and Brez to flee the Shepherds of Ash. With all speed. Further, we call upon those vales of Opascari, Suvretz, and Livardz to offer hospitality to those refugees, share all that is worthwhile with our fleeing kin.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (312-0); Primacy
* '''Notes:''' The [[Things_that_burn#The_Shepherds_of_Ash|Shepherds of Ash]] are ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun]] currently believed to be assaulting [[Volodmartz]].
===Judgement 170===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Anatolij Paukov Zorkin
* '''Judgement:''' Fellow Varushkans, with the Cold Sun in our midst it is as important as ever to look to the future generations and the legacy we will leave them. We the National Assembly invite proposals for a hall of fabric arts in Karov to inspire others to greatness so that they may ever strive for excellence in the trades of weaving and needlework of which Varushka is so Proud.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (312-0); Primacy
===Judgement 171===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Illya Nikovitch Volkov
* '''Judgement:''' We sent Anastasia Volkov to find a location to build an inspirational monument for the exemplar Juha the Cavespider. The site should be optimally located to welcome pilgrims who are not necessarily familiar with our lands and also be a place that magicians will be inspired to virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (312-0); Primacy
* '''Notes:''' As part of creating an [[Inspirational_location]], the [[writ of consecration]] is used to locate appropriate places to be [[consecration|consecrated]] with [[liao#True Liao|true liao]].

===Judgement 172===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Anatoly Tatishchev
* '''Judgement:''' Karov! The Varushkan national assembly calls you to action; raise your axes, lift up your voices in song, and open your hearths and homes to our Imperial allies. Against Cold Sun. Despise that which threatens what you watch over and share all that is worthwhile with our deserving Imperial heroes and armies.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (312-0); Primacy
* '''Notes:''' [[Karov]] is currently threatened by the [[Things_that_burn#The_Blade_of_Skies|Blade of Skies]] army of ''scions'' belonging to [[Cold Sun]].
===Judgement 173===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Ivana Petara Vodjavic
* '''Judgement:''' Varushka has suffered under the malice of the Druj for too long, it is now time to commit to their destruction. With the liberation of Ossium and the strength to build our fourth army we intend to raise an army to follow in Boyar Ratibor's footsteps: do not let anything stand between you and your goals. Light your torches in the enduring flame at Ratibor's Gate as we march to end their threat for good.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (312-0); Primacy
* '''Notes:''' Makes reference to [[Ratibor of Temeschwar]], exemplar of [[Ambition]], a well-known boyar of Varushkan [[Temeschwar]] in pre-Imperial times. Lighting a torch from the [[Watcher_of_Ratibor%27s_Torch#Ratibor%27s_Gate|miraculous flames]] that burn outside the old prison is a common ceremonial undertaking before beginning a quest to root out enemies or threats.
===Judgement 174===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Amris
* '''Judgement:''' We, the Varushkan assembly, support the building of a counting house in Karsk to further aid the Imperial Economy be providing funds to the Virtue Fund.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (312-0); Primacy
* '''Notes:''' References the proposal to [[Forwards_and_Rewards#Prosperity_and_Posterity|build counting houses]] to support the [[Rewarding|virtue fund]]. During the Winter Solstice he [[Imperial Senate]] commissioned counting houses [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Construct_Semmerholm_Counting_House|in Dawn]], [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Construct_Tassato_Counting_House|in the League]], and a larger construction [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Construct_Reikos_Counting_House|in Reikos]].
===Judgement 177===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Nira of Cantiach's Hold
* '''Judgement:''' People of Necropolis! Have Courage! A flood is coming that you can mitigate with planning, Vigilance, and Courage.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (429-0)
* '''Notes:''' This statement of principle did not receive a [[Judgement#Greater_Majority|Greater Majority]]. As such, while it has been seen by many of the priests attending [[Anvil]], judgements that pass with a lesser majority are [[Statement_of_principle#Outcome|not widely discussed outside Anvil]].

===Judgement 178===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Leolaani
* '''Judgement:''' Navarr and Dawn recognise and respect the efforts of the Greenwood Manor and Hall of Seven. In Loyalty and Pride we seek to learn from each other and share in adventures old and new! 1. For Greenwood Manor we do quest. 3. Cooperation proving best. 5. Trods connect us not divide. 7. Every steading, every stride. 9.As Thorn we'll fight if you'll permit. 11. lances forward, never quit. 13. Roses and Thorns together have spoken. 14. Now fight the Vallorn, together unbroken.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (148-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Knight_of_the_Greenwood#Greenwood Manor|Greenwood Manor]] and [[Spear_of_the_Seven#Hall_of_the_Seven|Hall of the Seven]].
===Judgement 180===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Borther Nicodemus of Balthazar's Vineyard
* '''Judgement:''' Price conveyed by words alone is vain boasting. In honour of the coronation of a new Throne, let us celebrate the pride of our nation and invite the Highborn to test their virtue at Anvil in a new Casinean Games. The Games will be overseen by Sister Seretia of the Woodwych Harts and will feature tests of speed, skill, and strength.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (423-0)
===Judgement 181===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Halkyon of Soourns Heart
* '''Judgement:''' Vigilance demands that the Shuttered Lantern investigate rumours of magical communication between the Urizeni of Spiral and the Grendel. To those spires: Urizen knows you have acted in Loyalty to our nation. You have been virtuous through hardship and misfortune. Assurance has been given that you will be treated with dignity and respect. The Shuttered Lantern seeks truth and illumination, let no Urizeni fear this, nor lose your poise.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (122-32)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the decision of the [[Imperial Conclave]] to ask members of the [[Shuttered Lantern]] [[Conclave order|order]] to [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Shuttered_Lantern_to_Spiral|investigate allegations]] that some of the [[Blue_flowers_in_the_snow#The_Rebels|rebels]] in that [[Spiral|tumultuous territory]] may be conspiring with the [[Grendel]].
===Judgement 185===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Maria i Espiri i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Flame stutters to ash. Glass shatters to shard. Dust is blown away to nothing. This is the path we walk - change It! The Grendel and Asavean believe they own the Bay with ambition let's aim high, prove them wrong and set the Bay ablaze. In Loyalty the virtuous build each other up - we thank and accept the support of the other nations of the Empire to join us in word and deed. With courage we will reclaim our Prosperity.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (176-0)
===Judgement 186===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Solas of the Spine of the Waxing Sun
* '''Judgement:''' The Virtue Inquisitors exist to enable and watch over others inquisitions, <u>not</u> to perform all inquisitions on behalf of a Virtue Assembly. We call on Synod priests to understand this distinction, and to perform inquisitions <u>themselves</u> that they feel are warranted.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (174-0)
* '''Notes:''' Discusses the [[Virtue_inquisitor#Responsibilities|responsibilities]] of the [[virtue inquisitor|virtue inquisitors]].
===Judgement 187===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Bryce Tanner
* '''Judgement:''' It is a forboding thought, to face an enemy that feels no fear, no apprehension, is stronger to both exhult and lament, and knows neither bargain nor restraint. The Cold Sun is an enemy that is alien to us - but it is also alien to Virtue and barren of it. For that reason we possess a wellspring of power unknowable to them, and are stronger for it. The Vigilance make themselves prepared to face threats. Gird yourself with faith, affirm your virtue, remind yourselves what you seek to protect and draw inspiration from it.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (131-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[eternal]] known as [[Cold Sun]] whose ''scions'' are currently [[Things that burn|assailing the Empire]].
===Judgement 192===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Tarquinius Ankarien
* '''Judgement:''' Great art inspires. It show us Truths, not only of what is, but of what could be. Spiral faces a difficult path. We call upon the artists of Urizen to consider the message of the assembly of pride and to imagine the future. This moment is unique in Imperial history. Given the singular challenges of the situation, and the rare confluence of opportunities that make action possible, such things may never happen again. Show us your visions of the best of what Spiral could become.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (162-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Blue flowers in the snow|tumultuous political situation]] in [[Spiral]].
===Judgement 194===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Delmara i Ruiloba i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' The Freeborn assembly would like to express their gratitude owards the Imperial Orcs, their loyalty will not be forgotten. We formally accept their offer to sell their liao to the Freeborn Priests for the price of 1 ring in order to aid the endeavours of the National Assembly.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (162-0)
* '''Notes:''' See [[#Judgement 116|Judgement 116]]
===Judgement 197===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Skywise Rykana
* '''Judgement:''' The gaze of the Imperial Orc national assembly falls upon the Barrens and we recognise what we see; orcs bound to Varushkan masters, in an Empire that leads the world, progressing away from acts of slavery. There is no virtue when a knife is at your throat.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (123-0)
* '''Notes:''' Seems to reference the [[All_those_moments#Black_Wind|position of the Black Wind sept]] in [[the Barrens]].
===Judgement 198===
* '''Assembly:''' Daawn
* '''Raised By:''' Areole Larmallevés
* '''Judgement:''' We call upon the fleet captains of Dawn to support the Brass Coast in Burning the bay and attacking the Grendel. Dawn revels in challenges and adventure as such we ask the Dawnish fleets to attack an Asavean warship which is supporting the Grendel. Let the Ambition of the challenge inspire you! For the glory of Dawn and the Empire!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (192-0)
* '''Notes:''' Asavean warships are [[A beacon of smoke|supporting]] the [[Grendel]] in the[[Bay of Catazar]]. Note that as of the mandate enacted with [[#Judgement_179|Judgement 179]], the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] national assembly urges their [[corsair|corsairs]] to [[Listen to your heart|protect shipping]] rather than [[Listen to your heart#Focus on the Grendel|focus on the Grendel]].
===Judgement 199===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Ingrid Seiging
* '''Judgement:''' Wintermark heed the words and deeds of the Imperial Orcs - there can be no virtue living with a knife to your throat. There can be no heroism, either. The Imperial Orcs have held true to the promises of the Empire by offering aid to the Rahvun; it is time for Wintermark to follow their example.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (167-0)
* '''Notes:''' Seems to reference the [[All_those_moments|complex political situation]] in [[the Barrens]].
===Judgement 200===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Stiv
* '''Judgement:''' In the plight of theRahvin we see echoes of the rebellion. The septs of the Barrens sought peace with the Empire but met nothing but broken promises and bloody steel. If we are truely to be liberators, we must first have the courage to accept our failings. The Imperial Orcs recognise the hand of the Empire in the death of Rahvin.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (123-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Not_to_conquer#Rahvin|history]] of the [[All_those_moments#Rhavin|Rahvin]] in [[the Barrens]], who say that the Empire killed the original Rahvin during a battle against the [[Druj]].
===Judgement 201===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Bleakshield Zorra
* '''Judgement:''' From the courage of the Rahvin who came to Anvil under threat of their lives, we drew the inspiration to take a step towards becoming liberators. You asked us to trust you and give up a tiny part of the Empire - we have done so. Now trust us, come to Anvil once again so we can finally discuss what you need - openly and as allies.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (23-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the situation of the [[All_those_moments#Rahvin|Rahvin sept]] in [[the Barrens]].
===Judgement 203===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' olyav of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement:''' The Marches stand proud and ready to look at raising a fifth army, to welome new Marchers into the fold and to reclaim the fens of Bregasland from rebellion and sedition. We reach out in Loyalty through our peerless kinship, as Asenath marched to Bregasland, to support our Marcher cousins.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (306-10)
* '''Notes:''' The Highborn extend the offer of [[Full_of_sacred_sound#A_Peerless_Kinship|Peerless Kinship]] to the Marches. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be an answering [[statment of principle]] from the Marches accepting this offer.
===Judgement 204===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Cato Hypation
* '''Judgement:''' In response to the invitation by Jedediah Boon of the Marches we encourage the national assembly to invite marcher priors to speak in Urizen and to send sword scholars to the Marches to facilitate exchange of views in virtue seeking de-escalation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (164-0)

===Judgement 209===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Ardens of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' Under the current conditions of emergency in Kahraman, the House of the Wanderer encourages the national assembly to recognise Delara i Kijadoz i Guerra as a sword scholar under the House of the Wanderer, whilst retaining her Brass Coast nationality. This is to facilitate cultural support for refugees, especially children who are sheltering in Urizen whilst retaining her Senate position.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (156-8)
* '''Notes:''' [[Sword scholar]] is an [[urizen]] philosophy. It's not clear what refugees sheltering in Urizen are being referred to in his statement of principle.

===Judgement 211===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Taddea Ginori
* '''Judgement:''' Nicovar said "a spire built on sand cannot stand." he brought a light to the falsehoods in our histories. You may disagree with his methods but to call him "Nicovar the Mad" harms our Pride and ignores his incredible contributions to how our Empire runs. Torchbearers believe nothing built on a foundation of lies can stand. After consulting members of the spire of Anigarien we propose he be remembered as Nicovar the Torchbearer.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (655-456)
* '''Notes:''' Refrences the common epithet of [[Emperor Nicovar]].
===Judgement 213===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Lia Adelaar
* '''Judgement:''' The League is the first Imperial nation to integrate orcs and humans. As such we understand why we must believe together. Our doctrine should not enshrine our differences. Rather orcs and humans must together shape a shared doctrine that enlightens us all.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (240-46)
* '''Notes:''' References the [[Wiki_Updates#League_Orcs|League orcs]], and [[the Doctrines of the Faith]]. Seems to specifically call out those doctrines that deal explicitly with human or orc souls.
===Judgement 214===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Paulus van Apulian
* '''Judgement:''' The League is the first nation to integrate orcs and humans together and the Marches now follow swiftly. Our doctrine should not enshrine our differences. The doctrine of enlightenment has shown us the Ambition of a world in which orcs and humans live a shared spiritual existance. Ambition enjoins us to hold ourselves to this higher standard for all doctrine.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (200-46)
* '''Notes:''' References the [[Wiki_Updates#League_Orcs|League orcs]] and the [[The_best_soil#Marcher_Orcs|Marcher Orcs]], as well as [[the Doctrines of the Faith]], specifically the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Docrine of Enlightenment]].
===Judgement 218===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Isaia Davonne di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' We, the League National Assembly believe the new weirwood seat in Misericorde should beallocated by League National auction.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (280-32)
* '''Notes:''' References questions around the [[The_greatest_city_in_the_world#Flaxen_Pillars|flaxen pillars]] recently discovered in [[Holberg]]. The [[Master of Rings]] announced the [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Construct_Three_Hands'_Stand|commission]] of a seat with this appointment method during the Winter Solstice.
===Judgement 220===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Aramis du Froste
* '''Judgement:''' After swords must come words. We encourage the people of the Barrens to talk to all and forge a new future.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (240-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to [[All those moments|the current situation]] in [[the Barrens]].
===Judgement 222===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Aspar
* '''Judgement:''' The Assembly of Nine invite the Elakar to engage in debate and discussion around our shared understanding of spiritual powers and how they differ.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (8-0); Primacy
===Judgement 223===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Vesna Borkovna Prochnost
* '''Judgement:''' The Council of Nine directs the Silent Bell to investigate the Blightheart of Madruga, its connections to the Tutamen family of the Brass Coast, and their place in the history of Highguard.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (8-0); Primacy
* '''Notes:''' Directs the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Silent Bell]] to investigate [[Fading like a Flower|situation in Madruga]].

===Judgement 225===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Sotatio i Del Toro
* '''Judgement:''' All three Freeborn armies are marching home to defend and reclaim our lands, supported by Marcher armies and with bellies full of Marcher bread. Loyalty guides them, let it also guide us.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (154-0); Primacy
===Judgement 226===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Hembeneth i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Citizens of Mafdruga, Freeborn in heart and spirit. The Dry Patriciants spread death from the Blightheart and every life they claim feeds their thirst. Have pride in our protectors as they fight to reclaim our lands, but be vigilant, your safety keeps the Freeborn a people not the land you live on. We thank the Urizen for their offer of a safe haven and advise anyone who needs it to take up their, and any other Imperial nations offer of help until we can return. The Brass Coast will survive, we will prevail.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (154-0); Primacy
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Fading like a Flower|Blightheart]] in [[Madruga]].
===Judgement 227===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Khan i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' The Jotun have expressed their intent to erect a statue to our citizen Avisena i Khenerizi rcognise i Guerra for ther proud, honest, and wise expression of the Freeborn spirit. We implore the citizens of the Empire to allow this work to go ahead, which will also liberate seven thralls to join the Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a <span style="color:#800080">Greater Majority</span> (154-0); Primacy

==Mandate==
===Judgement 4===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Athiel Westernborn of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue and its role in giving us the strength, knowledge, and enlightenment to achieve our highest potential. We send Athiel Westernborn of the Cenotaph with 75 liao to urge missionaries and wayfarers to bring this news to the hidden sects of Asavea, no matter the risks.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (404-0)
* '''Enacted.''' Encourages missionaries and wayfarers in Highguard to travel to [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavea]] to make contact with the hidden sects of pilgrims. This is monumentally risky; the Empire is at war with Asavea and there are rumours that adherents of the Way are being executed. Whatever else happens, they will ensure the people of Asavea who need it most will hear of the change of doctrine, and the promise it holds out for those who embrace Virtue. As detailed in the [[Part_of_this_together#The_Asaveans|Part of this together]] wind of fortune.
* '''Notes:''' See also [[#judgement 12|Judgement 13]] and [[#Judgement 224|Judgement 224]].
===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Herminius of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' Let every word you speak carry meaning. Sulemaine defended her home even as she sought Wisdom. We send Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer with 25 liao to urge those who repudiate Sulemaine's violence to carry her wisdom to every nation in the Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (192-16); a margin of 176
* '''Enacted.''' Urges the sword scholars who embrace the Empire to leave Urizen and spread out through the Empire, looking to join other nations, carrying Sulemaine's words with them. They will encourage others to think for themselves, to reject authority that is not grounded in Wisdom, and to fight to defend their home against anything that would threaten it. Scattering the sword scholars to the four corners of the Empire will mean no new sword scholars in Urizen. Those who attend Anvil now will be the last of that tradition. As detailed in the [[Broken_sword#Serpent's_Curse|Broken sword]] wind of fortune.
* '''Notes:''' As '''Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer''' is a recognised sword scholar there was no liao cost to enact this mandate

===Judgement 13===
* '''Assembly:''' The Way
* '''Raised By:''' Derwyn Tendfallen
* '''Judgement:''' The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue and its role in giving us the strength, knowledge, and enlightenment to achieve our highest potential. We send Sufyan i Zuhri i Erigo with 75 liao to urge missionaries and wayfarers to bring this news to the hidden sects of Asavea, no matter the risks.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (233-10); a margin of 223
* '''Enacted.''' Encourages missionaries and wayfarers to travel to [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavea]] to make contact with the hidden sects of pilgrims. This is monumentally risky; the Empire is at war with Asavea and there are rumours that adherents of the Way are being executed. Whatever else happens, they will ensure the people of Asavea who need it most will hear of the change of doctrine, and the promise it holds out for those who embrace Virtue. As detailed in the [[Part_of_this_together#The_Asaveans|Part of this together]] wind of fortune.
* '''Notes:''' See also [[#Judgement 4|Judgement 4]] and [[#Jusgement 224|Judgement 224]].
===Judgement 27===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Lepidina
* '''Judgement:''' We welcome dialogue with the Apulians to further our collective understanding of the Way, and lift each other up in virtue. We send Lepidina with 25 doses of liao to encourage those Urizen magicians who have decided to stay to share the best of Urizeni culture with the League. Let us share our values with them and make Apulian a city founded on philosophy, learning and a vision for a better future.
* '''Outcome:''' Withdrawn, not upheld (70-36)
* '''Withdrawn.''' Would have encouraged the musicians and night magicians of the Deathless Cave to look for opportunities to share the best of Urizeni culture with the Apulians. As detailed in the [[Blue flowers in the snow#Outreach|Blue flowers in the snow]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 29===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Empress Richilde taught us that it is important to take joy in the achievements of the Empire and its citizens. We send Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra with 25 doses of liao to encourage citizens to take pride in the accomplishments of the Empire and to bask in our culture.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (622-18); margin of 604
* '''Enacted.''' The [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#The_Blood_Red_Quays_Art_Gallery|Blood Red Quays Art Gallery]], the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#The_Blood_Red_River_Museum|Blood Red River Museum]], and the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#The_Bloody_Great_Theatre|Bloody Great Theatre]] will all see an increase in audiences and visitors. Each congregation in [[Sarvos]], [[Tassato]], and [[Temeschwar]] will see an increased production of 36 rings over the following season as the cities host pilgrims looking to engage in art and culture. The [[Azure_Sutannir#Azure_Chorus|Azure Chorus]] at [[Kahraman#Braydon.27s_Jasse|Braydon's Jasse]], the [[Crimson_Sutannir#Crimson_Drummers_of_Madruga|Crimson Drummers of Madruga]], and the [[Queen%27s_Rose#The_Rose_Towers|Rose Towers]] in [[Dawn]] will see more people attending their feasts and performances over the season and the titles willeach gain an additional 108 rings at the Spring Equinox 386YE as the number of visitors increases. As detailed in the [[Watercolours_in_the_rain#Enjoy what we have|Watercolours in the rain]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 30===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Rafael Barossa d'Apulian
* '''Judgement:''' Pride conveyed by words alone is vain boasting; we must proclaim it by how we conduct every part of our lives. Other nations are contributing white granite and coin to the efforts to build the Grand Inspiration of the Way and we are being left behind! "Now Fransesca di Matos's competition is over, we must rise to this challenge from the rest of the Empire and win. We send Rafael Barossa d'Apulian with 50 doses of liao to inspire League citizens to show the rest of the Empire how to build amazing things...and how to fund them, too.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (259-126); margin of 133
* '''Enacted.''' Urges the League to contribute to the [[Blood will thicken|Grand Inspiration of the Way]], but prevents mandates that encourage citizens to contribute to other building projects for a year. As detailed in the [[Blood will thicken|Blood will thicken]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 35===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tabris, Son of Armisael
* '''Judgement:''' Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as our understanding does. The Doctrine of Human Destiny has been weighed and found wanting. The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue. We send Tabris, son of Aemisael with 25 liao to urge adherents of the Way in Sarcophan to follow the lead of Bastion in embracing this change.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1857-135)
* '''Enacted.''' Increases engagement with and acceptance of the new Doctrine of Enlightenment among both established pilgrims and converts in the Sarophan Delves. It is likely to annoy the Sumaah, who will take the view that they are being more even-handed with the faithful in Sarcophan by urging people not to accept the change of doctrine. It won't trigger the Sarcophan limitation on the two cathedrals that they remain civil and avoid "brawling in the streets" but it would raise tensions. As detailed in the [[Part_of_this_together#A_Different_Time|Part of this together]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 53===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orcs
* '''Raised By:''' Bloodcrow Pip
* '''Judgement:''' The matter of orc souls should be left to orcs. We send Bloodcrow Knott with 25 doses of liao to let Imperial Orcs know that the Mourn Orcs are Marchers. We demand the humans of the Empire give our new siblings time while we offer them guidance in the ways of the Abyss and Ancestors.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (182-0); margin of 182
* '''Enacted.''' The Imperial Orcs Assembly makes it clear that on matters of orc souls, their human peers should defer to them. It acknowledges that the Marcher Orcs have different beliefs to the Imperial Orcs, but commits to trying to find a middle ground. In the short term, Imperial Orcs preachers will visit the Mournwold orcs to debate and discuss their shared understanding of virtue, and their differing stance on what happens after one dies. In the long term, if anyone tries to denounce the Marcher orcs as heretics, the Imperial Orcs would step in. As detailed in the [[The best soil#Nightsoil_in_the_Fields|The best soil]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 59===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Veikko Bondforger
* '''Judgement:''' This winter will be harsh, and the whole of Wintermark faces terrible threats from the monsters of Blood-on-the-Snow, the beasts of Hayaak, and the scions of Cold Sun. We must remain vigilant, and we must fight these threats wherever we can. We are scions sired by a storm and shall weather whatever winter brings. We send Ironvigil Rikke the Relentless with 75 doses of liao to urge the people of Wintermark to look after each other, and to protect our people, no matter what the Winter brings.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (320-0); margin of 320
* '''Enacted.''' Until the start of the Spring Equinox 386YE every military unit belonging to a Wintermark character will experience a -1 rank penalty, unless they participate in the Hunt the Suaq Wastes adventure; defend the Beacons of Wintermark; or support a Wintermark army fighting in Wintermark. In these cases, such military units receive a +1 rank bonus to their effective strength. As detailed in the [[Hear your footsteps#Wintermark|Hear your footsteps]] wind of fortune.
* '''Note:''' See also [[#Judgement 87|Judgement 87]]
===Judgement 64===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Irada von Temeschwar
* '''Judgement:''' Berechiah was an inspiration to all who prepare for malice, and seek to thwart it. We send Irada von Temeschwar with a dose of true liao to consecrate the damaged basilica in Bastion in the name of Vigilance.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1129-446); margin of 683
* '''Enacted.''' Creates a true consecration of Vigilance at the damaged basilica of Berechiah in Bastion. As detailed in the [[Knocking on every door]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 71===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Broc Splitroot
* '''Judgement:''' Despise those who take without giving. The Imperial Senate taxes our Prosperity, but it may not tax our Virtue. We send Broc Splitroot with 25 doses of liao to persuade the faithful to withdraw their labour until the Senate ensures that all fines become the property of the virtue fund.
* '''Outcome:''' Withdrawn at the request of the raising priest
* '''Withdrawn''' As detailed in the [[Forwards_and_Rewards#Fines_and_Funds|Forwards and rewards]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 87===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Vauraus "Prosperity's Force" Korppitkotka
* '''Judgement:''' This winter will be harsh, and there are monsters in Sermesuaq, both beasts of the wilds and those who walk in human guise. We must remain vigilant, but more importantly we must remain kind. Share with your neighbours, keep each other warm, remind each other that this is not forever. We are scions sired by a storm and shall weather whatever winter brings. We send Isolde Hannasdottir with 25 doses of liao to urge the people of Wintermark to look after each other, no matter what the Winter brings.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (256-0)
* '''Enacted''' Urges the people of Wintermark, and Sermersuaq in particular, to keep each other safe during the harsh winter that is to come. No settlement in Sermersuaq will go hungry this winter. Until the start of the Spring Equinox 386YE every military unit controlled by a character from Sermersuaq will take a -1 rank penalty unless they take the hunt the Suaq Wastes adventure, in which case they will instead receive a +1 rank bonus. This added protection, and the spirit of cooperation and support, will sustain the people of Sermersuaq in their time of need, granting a +1 rank bonus to the production of farms. Furthermore, for the next year (the whole of 386YE) it will be nearly impossible for the followers of Blood-on-the-Snow to gain support from the people of Sermersuaq. As detailed in the [[Hear_your_footsteps#Sermersuaq|Hear your footsteps]] wind of fortune.
* '''Note:''' See also [[#Judgement 59|Judgement 59]].

===Judgement 101===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Silas of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' The stewards of the dead are dedicated to all the heroes of the Empire, not only those who rest in Necropolis. We are guardians and guides, and we walk the path of death without fear. Our kinfolk among the Imperial Orcs undertake a grim pilgrimage, one that might still end in joy. The Ossuary Temple in Skarsind is to the Imperial Orcs what the Necropolis is to the Highborn. We send Silas of the Cenotaph with 50 doses of liao to urge our peers to support the Imperial Orcs in their Bone Pilgrimage.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (454-22); Margin of 432
* '''Notes:''' See also [[#Judgement 160|Judgement 160]].

===Judgement 117===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tirza of Felix Watch
* '''Judgement:''' Despise that which threatens what you watch over. We send Tirza of Felix Watch with 50 doses of liao to encourage the Highborn armies to bring an end to the scions of Cold Sun.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (571-14); Margin of 557
* '''Enacted.''' Allows all Highborn armies to use the Bring Virtue to the Scions order. As detailed in the [[Church of your heart#Steel Without|Church of your heart]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 118===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Naomi of Felix Watch
* '''Judgement:''' The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. We send Naomi of Felix Watch with 50 doses of liao to encourage the Highborn armies to defend the Empire at any cost.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (531-44); Margin of 487
* '''Enacted.''' Allows all Highborn armies to use the Defence of the Virtuous order. As detailed in the [[Church of your heart#Virtue Within|Church of your heart]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 125===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ourania Neofoti of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' Cheap boons and easy solutions should always be treated with caution. The Wise know that we must test what you learn, and take nothing for granted. We send Ourania Neofoti of the House of the Wanderer with 100 doses of liao to urge the virtuous to remain cautious of gifts that come at too cheap a price, to remain Vigilant against the machinations of eternals and dark powers, and to watch those who seek out such offers.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1274-230); Margin of 1044
* '''Enacted.''' For the next year there will be significantly fewer opportunities offered that relate to eternals, sovereigns and similar entities. Statements of principle rejecting or investigating such offers will be much more likely to lead to a response of some kind. There will be much more expectation that members of the Conclave will be brought to Inquisition to ensure they are acting virtuously, and it will lead to increased support for the Witness of Conclave, the Imperial Censor, Virtue Inquisitors, Imperial Inquisitor, and perhaps even the Sevenfold Path among the virtuous. As it did not achieve a greater majority, there will be no real impact in either people of Urizen or the citizens of Varushka - the folk most likely to participate in such bargains in many peoples' opinion, so the Assembly might wish to weigh cautiously how this mandate is dealt with. As detailed in the [[Hear your footsteps#Wisdom|Hear your footsteps]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 127===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Luca i Taziel i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' Despise those who take without giving. The Imperial Senate taxes our Prosperity, but it may not tax our Virtue. We send Luca i Taziel i Riqueza with 25 doses of liao to persuade the faithful to withdraw their labour until the Senate ensures that all fines become the property of the Virtue fund.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (152-96); Margin of 56
* '''Enacted.''' Each virtue assembly that passes this judgement will be able to influence members of the faithful across the Empire, encouraging them to refuse to support the Imperial Senate. If that happens, then the Imperial Senate will have one less commission slot for each Virtue Assembly (including the Assembly of the Way) that enacts this mandate. As detailed in the [[Forwards_and_Rewards#Fines_and_Funds|Forwards and rewards]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 133===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Sister Meredith
* '''Judgement:''' We meant what we said, the pursuit of virtue supersedes doctrine and the law. The life of the Mournwold Orcs is one of Virtue and this assembly welcome them to the Marches. We send Rosie of Goatsbridge with 50 doses of liao to make sure the Marches know what's what. We will defend our cousins against any who might attack them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (216-0); Margin of 216
* '''Enacted.''' By passing this Mandate the Marcher Assembly makes it clear that they embrace the Marcher Orcs even though they are at odds with doctrine and that it doesn't matter as long as they are sincere in their embrace of virtue. It would do nothing in the short term, but in the future if anyone tried to denounce the Marcher Orcs as heretics, the people of the Marches would fight hard to protect them.. As detailed in the [[The_best_soil#Nightsoil_in_the_Fields|The best soil]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 140===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Father Edmund
* '''Judgement:''' Know your heart and what commands its devotion above all else. We send Larkin Otterways with 25 doses of liao to let everyone in Bregasland know that this is the land of the Strong Reeds, and they will never abandon it.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority(176-0); Margin of 176
* '''Enacted.''' Cements the affection that many Bregas feel for the Strong Reeds. The army will gain a bonus equivalent to a thousand additional strength whenever they are fighting in Bregasland reflecting the armed support they will receive from their fellow yeofolk. If Bregasland comes under attack, and the Strong Reeds are not present at the start of the very next season to lead the counter-attack or defence as a minimum, then the oath will have been broken. If the oath were broken, it would breach the trust between the Reeds and the kin in Bregasland. The above benefit would be permanently lost, and it would never be possible for the army to Lie Low in Bregasland again. As detailed in the [[Welly_boots#The_Answer_Lies_In_The_Soil|Welly boots]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 160===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Memory Keeper Ikahn
* '''Judgement:''' Thousands of orcs lived and died in thrall to the Imperial nations. Only the Brass Coast decried the practice of enslaving orcs. It is time for the bones of these forgotten ancestors to rest beside the remains of their new welcomed siblings. We send Memory Keeper Ikahn with 75 doses of liao to urge every priest to offer aid to the Imperial Orcs as they seek out the resting places of their dead, unearth them with all due reverence, and bring them home to Skarsind.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1819-22); Margin of 1797
* '''Enacted.''' Creates an adventure for Imperial Orcs with a military unit: The Bone Pilgrimage. Does not provide opportunities to explore Varushka and Urizen due to not receiving a greater majority, something that is of especial concern to the Sunstorm, many of whose ancestors still rest in Varushka. As detailed in the [[Standing_in_the_sun#The_Bone_Pilgrimage|Standing in the sun]] wind of fortune.
* '''Notes:''' See also [[#Judgement 101|Judgement 101]] and [[#Judgement 168|Judgement 168]].
===Judgement 168===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Yevanshka
* '''Judgement:''' The Imperial Orcs intend to undertake a bone pilgrimage, to restore the bones of their ancestors to their ossuary in Skarsind. We should support them in this endeavour, offering whatever aid or access they need. If the act of disturbing the dead rouses dark powers, we accept that consequence. We send Yevanshka with 50 doses of liao to urge the people of Varushka to support the Imperial Orcs in their Bone Pilgrimage.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (312-0); Margin of 312
* '''Enacted.''' The Varushkan people will support the Imperial Orcs in seeking out the resting places of their ancestors in Varushka. It will not allow them to take part directly in the Bone Pilgrimage; any military units that want to support them will do so through the Adventure in Varushka, dealing with any dark forces raised by disturbing the cursed soil of Varushka. As detailed in the [[Standing_in_the_sun#The_Bone_Pilgrimage|Standing in the sun]] wind of fortune.
* '''Notes:''' See also [[#Judgement 160|Judgement 160]].
===Judgement 175===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement:''' Cousins. We stand face to face with extinction incarnate - for Cold Sun threatens our homes, laps at our walls and dims our hearths. No more! Fight as the boar does - with great force and even deadlier aim. We send Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost with 50 doses of liao to bolster the fighting spirit of the Nation. They have entered our Homes, crossed upon our thresholds. - now show them what it means to grant an enemy Sack and Sword!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (312-0); Margin of 312
* '''Enacted.''' Allows all Varushkan armies to use the Bring Virtue to the Scions order. They are only be able to use it in Varushkan territories and only until the armies of Cold Sun in Varushka are defeated. The Varushkan National Assembly will not be able to enact any further mandates until the armies of Cold Sun in Varushka are defeated. As detailed in the [[Church_of_your_heart#Steel Without|Church of your heart]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 179===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Asier i Elia i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' The Virtuous build up their fellows. We are strongest when we recognise that we are all of one Empire. We send Aharz i Guerra with 50 doses of liao to encourage the Freeborn to break the chain around the necks of the Bay and protect our allies from the ravages of the Grendel pirates.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (152-0); Margin of 152
* '''Enacted.''' Corsair captains will help merchant ships of every nation that operate on the Bay of Catazar without getting into battles with the Grendel. Removes the current penalty to all fleets on the Bay of Catazar due to the Grendel. Also unlocks a new independent action Escort Imperial Shipping that is for Freeborn fleets only. As detailed in the [[Listen_to_your_heart#Protect shipping|Listen to your heart]] wind of fortune.
* '''Notes:''' In competition with [[#Judgement 183|Judgement 183]]; this mandate received the greater margin.
===Judgement 183===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Azir i Smartha i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' Nothing is beyond our grasp. The Grendel grasp recklessly at the throat of the Bay of Catazar. We send Ahraz i Guerra with 50 doses of liao to encourage our corsairs to show the Salt Lords that they will never defeat us.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (86-62); Margin of 24
* '''Not Enacted.''' If this mandate had been enacted, then corsairs would have sought out their rivals all across the Bay of Catazar, slaughtering their crews, capturing their ships and plundering their cargo. As detailed in the [[Listen_to_your_heart#Focus_on_the_Grendel|Listen to your heart]] wind of fortune.
* '''Notes:''' This mandate was in competition with [[#Judgement 179|Judgement 179]], which received a greater margin. As such this mandate cannot be enacted.

===Judgement 207===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Sabella of the Silent Tide
* '''Judgement:''' I use the power of Eyes of Loyalty to send Eevi with 25 liao to support "''This winter will be harsh, and there are monsters in Sermesuaq, both beasts of the wilds and those who walk in human guise. We must remain vigilant, but more importantly we must remain kind. Share with your neighbours, keep each other warm, remind each other that this is not forever. We are scions sired by a storm and shall weather whatever winter brings. We send Isolde Hannasdottir with 25 doses of liao to urge the people of Wintermark to look after each other, no matter what the Winter brings.''"
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (253-0)
* '''Enacted.''' Supports [[#Mandate 87|Mandate 87]] with the [[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]].
* '''OOC Note:''' Liao taken from Isolde Hannasdottir, who was not the named priest for this mandate.

===Judgement 216===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Darian Numbers Cardinal of Prosperity
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Pontus Figures with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our Virtue echo through history for a thousand years.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (216-0)
* '''Enacted.''' Commits Dawn to help build the [[Blood_will_thicken#No_Price_Is_Too_High|Grand Inspiration of the Way]]. As detailed in the [[Blood will thicken]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 224===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Melchior of Adina's Charge
* '''Judgement:''' The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue and its role in giving us the strength, knowledge, and enlightenment to achieve our highest potential. We send Cardinal Aspar with 75 liao to urge missionaries and wayfarers to bring this news to the hidden sects of Asavea, no matter the risks.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (7-1)
* '''Enacted.''' Encourages missionaries and wayfarers to travel to [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavea]] to make contact with the hidden sects of pilgrims. This is monumentally risky; the Empire is at war with Asavea and there are rumours that adherents of the Way are being executed. Whatever else happens, they will ensure the people of Asavea who need it most will hear of the change of doctrine, and the promise it holds out for those who embrace Virtue. As detailed in the [[Part_of_this_together#The_Asaveans|Part of this together]] wind of fortune.
* '''Notes:''' See also [[#Judgement 4|Judgement 4]] and [[#Judgement 13|Judgement 13]].

==Evaluation==

==Recognition==
The following judgements of [[recognition]] were raised during the summit.
===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Astrid Fjellrevening Rezia di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' Ozren de Orzel used art to change the world, and this assembly recognises him as an Exemplar of Pride. Inspiration: Ozren directly inspired the creation of the High Bard, and now every year a new High Bard takes to the Senate floor, a long line of artists, performers, and storytellers following in his footsteps using art to inspire and speak truth to those at the heart of the Empire. Pilgrimage: Ozren went to the Pits of Ennerlund in Holberg to put the unquiet ghosts there to rest after the depredations of the Druj. He did not just take liao to exorcise them, but spoke to them and heard their stories. He brought these back out into the light and retold them to their loved ones, so they would not be forgotten. Benevolence: Ozren was instrumental in the creation of the High Bard, and reclaimed the Pits of Ennerlund by carrying the stories of the unquiet dead back out to the light, both of great lasting benefit to the whole Empire. Legacy: As well as his own beautiful body of work, and co-authoring the first High Bard performance on the Senate floor with his future wife Lady Kaywenn du Launcet. Ozren leaves the position of High Bard as a testament to his dedication to seeing Art and inspiration take its place at the heart of Imperial decision making. More than this, each High Bard is expected to leave a composition as a legacy, ensuring an ever growing body of work dedicated to his vision.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1557-405). Ozren de Orzel will be added to the list of [[known exemplars]]
===Judgement 17===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Friar John of the Mourn
* '''Judgement:''' We, the Pride Assembly, recognise Tom Drake as an Exemplar of Pride with the following signs: Salvation: Through his actions in the Cousins War, Tom Drake was essential in bringing the Marcher nation into the Imperial fold. All of these souls were therefore brought into the Way of Virtue, resulting in the salvation and spiritual betterment of myriad souls. Legacy: Tom Drake was a founder of the Military Council, and to this day one of the Empire's first armies, the Drakes, still bears his name. Inspiration: As part of his work in founding the Military Council, Tom Drake insisted that each nation should raise its own armies trained in their own military traditions, and that each army should be led by a general chosen by the Senators of that nation. To this day armies are raised according this foundational philosophy, and the formation of new armies bears in mind the traditions and strengths of each nation. Benevolence: At the cost of his own life, Tom Drake slew Alderei the Fair, the tyrannical boyar whose cruel conquest threatened the early Empire. With the death of the boyar, those who would have otherwise suffered subjugation at his hand were instead liberated to pursue their highest spiritual destiny once more.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (340-169); a judgement of recognition requires a [[Judgement#Greater_Majority|greater majority]] to be upheld.
===Judgement 43===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Gaelen Embercast
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise Ravadi Founder's Dance as an Exemplar of Vigilance. Pilgrimage - they left Dawn to join the Founder's Dance Striding in Navarr, and walked the original path of the Exemplars Navarr and Thorn when the Trods were first created, guarding the world against the Vallorn Threat with every step. Legacy - s Champion of Vigilance they were a driving force to forge mere titles into a cohesive organisation worthy to inspire the Empire, several other Champions have pointed to this as Ravadi's Legacy. Benevolence - In sacrificng their dreams for a year to hunt down Bawn-Watch, the Champion's Shield they would never hold, on behalf of every Champion that would follow after. Inspiration - Their inspirational Vigilance was recognised by the assembly in their appointment to Champion, and many priests of Vigilance will attest to this and their work that followed, seek us out.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (211-0); a judgement of recognition requires a [[Judgement#Greater_Majority|greater majority]] to be upheld.

===Judgement 74===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eevi of the Gadrai
* '''Judgement:'''Dogri Thulebane is an Exemplar of Loyalty. The signs are clear. see synod board for more details. Inspiration - Dogri's words inspired more than 200 fighters to stand with him in defence of Crow's Keep and Skarsind. In 385YE, Dogri's story was added to Wintermrk's Chronicle of Heroes as a national inspiration. Benevolence - Dogri opened Crow's Keep to all Skarsind Winterfolk who did not want to leave. When the battle of Crow's Keep was lost, he ordered his followers to escape with their lives rather than lead them to their death. Miracle - Upon his death, a spontaneous aura of Loyalty manifested on the amulet he was wearing with no intervention from practitioners of Liao ceremonies. Legacy - Crow's Keep is Dogri's legacy. it was his home. The keep was destroyed, but its foundations remain and are so inextricable to Dogri's skein that Winterfolk have been granted an opportunity to turn it into an inspiration memorial with true liao.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (264-38); a judgement of recognition requires a [[Judgement#Greater_Majority|greater majority]] to be upheld.
* '''Notes:''' Crow's Keep stood in the[[Skarsind#Crow’s_Ridge|Crow's Ridge]] in [[Skarsind]], in a region now controlled by the [[orc|orcs]] of [[Otkodov]]. Its remnants have been incorporated into a Thule fortification there, so it is not clear how they might be turned into an [[inspirational location]].
===Judgement 126===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Prince Bishop Jonah Yakovitch
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise Lorenzo von Temeschwar as an Exemplar of Pride. Signs: Salvation - His three Bloody great cathedrals swell the congregations of the League. Benevolence - His blood red roads paved the Way, raising up the Empire's businesses and farms. Inspiration - He inspired his rivals in the Printers' Guild to raise the Walls of Holberg, the largest fortification in the world. Legacy - Great works across theEmpire bear his mark - none more so than the Colossus of Sarvos, carved in his image and consecrated to Pride by Astrid di Tassato. No vain boast!
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (360-187); a judgement of recognition requires a [[Judgement#Greater_Majority|greater majority]] to be upheld.
* '''Notes:''' Lorenzo von Temeschwar is perhaps better known as ''il Volpe'', the [[Lorenzo's Legacy|legacy]] of whose construction efforts are visible across the Empire.

==Writ of Consecration==
The following [[writ of Consecration|Writs of Concecrations]] were requested during the summit.
===Judgement 20===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Halwyn Splitroot
* '''Judgement:''' The cold sun have desecrated the corpse glade of the exemplar of Pride, Gerallt Brackensong. This affront to the Empire's Pride cannot be borne. The time has come to enshrine the warrior who slew the Purple Vallornheart of Yaw'nagrah at Return. The time has come for a consecrated memorial to the artisan who forged the legendary Gerallt's Barb. The time has come for the wider Empire to be inspired by the bard who encouraged all citizens to take pride in their cultures through his long-lasting songs and stories. Let the Empire's pride ringforth! And from the ashes of the Cold Sun's blasphemies we will create a brighter dawn in the example of Gerallt Brackensong!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (571-24); margin of 547
* '''Notes:''' References the recent destruction of [[Dean_of_the_First_Voice_Glade#First_Voice_Glade_(Ruined)|First Voice glade]] by the [[Things_that_burn#The_Empty_Hands|Empty Hands]], an army of ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun]].
===Judgement 189===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Serruso
* '''Judgement:''' 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.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (352-0)
===Judgement 129===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Grey Stone
* '''Judgement:''' When Good Walder's Orchard was created in 383YE, it was with the stated intention that it later be raised as an inspirational tomb. It is past time that this were done. The Prosperity assembly urges the consecration of Good Walder's Orchard s an inspirational tomb, that Good Walder's teachings of hard work and virtuous rewards may drive citizens across the Empire in pursuit of true Prosperity.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (260-0)

==Appointment==
At the Summit, the following [[appointment|appointments]] were proposed by the Assemblies of the Synod. You can find the names of citizens who currently hold Imperial titles in the Synod [[Current Imperial titles|here]].
===Judgement 1===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of Prosperity]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Darian Numbers''' was appointed with 192 votes. Katya Vasillova Reznikov received 22 votes. Luca i Taziel i Riqueza received 20 votes. Iniska Ashwood received 18 votes.
===Judgement 2===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of the Way]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Ashborn Atla''' was appointed with 110 votes. Konstantin Rabovich Bolotnikov received 54 votes. Warsmith the Iron Way received 24 votes. Max received 12 votes.
===Judgement 24===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Barbs]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Aneira Exile's End''' was appointed with 118 votes. Bryn Tendfallen recieved 80 votes. Teleri Thornweaver received 62 votes. Telyn Stormtree received 10 votes.
===Judgement 28===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue Inquisitor|Virtue Inquisitor of Courage]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Maarit Suvidottir''' was appointedwith 165 votes. Redhand Ikis received 0 votes.
===Judgement 34===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Crowkeeper of the Rest]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Saavi Heroes' Champion''' was appointed with140 votes. Cynerik received 84 votes. Sidgar Lotharsson received 10 votes.
===Judgement 40===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Speaker of the Magpies]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Morgan Waysttonepath''' was appointed with 38 votes.
===Judgement 41===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[High Exorcist]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Alessi of the Navigator's of Virtue''' was appointed with 6 votes. Ehmrys i Guerra received 1 vote. Pippin, Rafiq i Marcilla i Erigo, and Solas of the Spire of the Waxing Sun each received 0 votes.
===Judgement 52===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Keeper of the Orchard]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Tom Appleseed''' was appointed with 88 votes. Brother Geoffrey Orchard received 20 votes.
===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Pride]].
* '''Outcome:''' '''Kali Keen-eye''' was appointed with 195 votes. Ser Guy Wooder received 142 votes. Vaukahainen Saltfoot received 50 votes.
===Judgement 75===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Loyalty]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Dagon of the Shattered Tower''' was appointed with 205 votes. Velson "Sulisav" Dimitrikov Menner received 28 votes.
===Judgement 89===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue Inquisitor|Virtue Inquisitor of Wisdom]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost''' was appointed with 186 votes. Dag Kinnad received 10 votes.
===Judgement 97===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Speaker of the Highborn Assembly]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Abraham''' was appointed with 325 votes. Nekoda of the Shattered Tower received 155 votes. Keziah of the Suns of Couros received 32 votes.
===Judgement 106===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Basilisk of the Bourse]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Heilyn Bronwen's Rest''' was appointed with 7 votes.
===Judgement 176===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Hand of Guerra]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Ahshen i Fiel i Guerra'' was appointed with 160 votes.

==Rewarding==
The following judgements of [[rewarding]] were sought during the summit.
===Judgement 18===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Pontus Figures
* '''Judgement:''' Dialagos has presented the Empirewith the chance to construct Prosperous Counting Houses that will increase the income to the virtue fund each season. This provides us an opportunity to invest now for benefits in perpetuity. Each house requires 5 White Granite, 5 Weirwood, and 30 crowns. We propose the virtue fund should take advantage and would ask for funds to acquire the needed resource to construct the house with the highest return at the point sufficient material has been gathered (currently Tassato for 16 crows/season)> we seek the assemblies approval to purchase 2 wains of weirwood using 10 Thrones. Should this pass, further requests will be placed until the full balance of material is acquired.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (808-3770, margin 431.
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the counting house project [[Forwards_and_Rewards#Prosperity_and_Posterity|proposed]] by Dialagos of Urizen.
===Judgement 21===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Able the Taller
* '''Judgement:''' To reward Aulus, Imperial Warcaster, with a single dose of True Liao in recognition of his Loyalty andVigilance in defence of our Empire against enemies both barbarian and eternal. In a single season he was responsible for the organising and casting of 30 strategic rituals, empowering Imperial armies across the length and breadth of the land and summoning magical fortifications to blunt the threat of Oblivion until it can be routed by our armies. Without his tireless drive and inspiring Loyalty the military situation in the Empire would be far more Dire and our options much more limited.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld(1234-503); margin of 731. This judgement received [[Cardinal#Further_Scrutiny|further scrutiny]] at the behest of the [[Cardinal of Ambition]]
* '''Notes:''' This judgement is in competition with [[#Judgement 84|Judgement 84]]. It reached a higher margin, and so the [[liao#true liao|true liao]] will be granted to Able the Taller.
===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Luciana Valesi
* '''Judgement:''' The Virtuous inspire others to greatness. The Synod recognises the virtue of Bianca Legna di Sarvos in foundingand developing the Socialite Network, the first organised collective of cicisbeo in Anvil. Bianca's work is a testament to her Pride in her nation's cultural traditions, and has brought together cicisbeo from all corners of the League to work together and learn from each other, building each other up to better provide entertainment, culture, and other vital services to patrons across Anvil. To celebrate her virtue, the Synod rewards Bianca with 7 Thrones from the virture fund.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld(965-491); margin of 474. This judgement received [[Cardinal#Further_Scrutiny|further scrutiny]] at the behest of the [[Cardinal of Vigilance]]
===Judgement 48===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ashborn Atla
* '''Judgement:''' This assembly applauds the work done in defeating theVyig and acclaims the Worth of thoseknown as the "Champions against the Vyig" in particular we name: Bestia of the Imperial Orcs, Ergot of the Imperial Orcs, Krak of the Imperial Orcs, Redhand Gezzar of the Imperial Orcs, Redhand Rok of the Imperial Orcs, Skywise Karrak of the Imperial Orcs, and Stormcrow Dren of the Imperial Orcs. We therefore aware the sum of 7 Thrones from the virture fund to be given to Redhand Gezzar for the purpose of distribution amongst aforesaid champions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (773-218), margin 555
===Judgement 84===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Vitore van Temeschwar
* '''Judgement:''' The night of a thousand torches was an example of humanities grand ambition to change the world. Ratibor of Temeschwar, Exemplar of Ambition, lit the first torch and drive out the Vyig. Ratibor's Torch has been crafted into a weapon to allow it to be used once more against the enemies of the Empire. I am requesting a dose of true liao to hallow this weapon so it may help inspire the virtuous to equally grand endeavours.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (821-487), margin 334. This judgement received [[Cardinal#Further_Scrutiny|further scrutiny]] at the behest of the [[Cardinal of Courage]]
* '''Notes:''' In competition with [[#Judgement 21|Judgement 21]]. This judgement did not achieve the highest margin, so no true liao will be rewarded.
===Judgement 102===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Emil Radann von Temeschwar
* '''Judgement:''' It is virtuous to remember our history and the ambition of exemplar Ratibor driving the lawless Vyig from the city of Temeschwar. It is with pride that we exalt all the captains of the Empire who carried on this ambition in breaking the Vyig across all the Empire, ending the plight with finality. Let us be inspired by their virtue and full hearted pride and build up those heroes to go further. This motion seeks a rewarding of 2 Thrones to Florion von Temeschwar, pride of Hanuri, Blade of Thunder.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (703-226), margin 437.
===Judgement 104===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rhisiart Dancewalker
* '''Judgement:''' To reward Lindr Thornheart, Champion of Vigilance, for self funding the retrieval of Bawnwatch from the Axou. The virtue funds rewards Lindr for his virtue and the courage of his actions. 24 Thrones equal to the funds spent to buy the ilium is required.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (387-238), margin 149
===Judgement 182===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ironvigil Rikke the Relentless
* '''Judgement:''' The <u>Imperial Orcs</u> have fought and bled on countless Imperial fronts yet the Empire <u>ignores</u> their <u>history</u> with its actions in the Barrens. Once again, the Empire chose <u>bloodshed</u> and the <u>Orcs' voices are unheeded</u>. Request for 15 Thrones from the virtue fund to uplift their voices and further their projects. To add <u>weight</u> to their say in the Empire's future. Show them Loyalty. Heed their wisdom.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (711-224), margin 487.
===Judgement 166===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rosemary Stamp
* '''Judgement:''' When Bregasland was occupied by the Jotun under their pupped Mathilda Fishter, House Greywater resisted, They demonstrated Loyalty to the Marches and the Empire. They took militarily significant actions at great risk to themselves showing Courage. It is entirely Prosperous for them to ask recompense for the effort and resources expended in our cause in a form they can use. The Senate could not oblige but rewarding lies with the SYnod. We pay 20 Thrones to House Greywater.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (779-126), margin 653

==Special Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when bringing judgements before the Imperial Synod during the Winter Solstice.
<table class='wikitable mw-collapsed mw-collapsible sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Assembly</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Consideration</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Link</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Duration</td></tr>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that prioritise the greater good over personal loyalties are less effective.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that try to compel Loyalty will fail.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Revocations and Excommunications for disloyalty to the nation or Empire risk causing dissent.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Urizen or Varushka. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in one of the two nations, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|Urizen Link]], [[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Varushka Link]].</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in any National Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can pass a statement of principle to call on their nation to support the Imperial Orcs, the Marches, Varushka, or Wintermark.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Peerless Kinship]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Urizen</td><td> The Urizen National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>League</td><td> The League National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Varushka</td><td> The Varushkan National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
</table>

==Alternative Mandates==
Prior to the summit, the following [[Mandate#Alternative Mandates|alternative mandates]] were proposed by members of the Synod.
{|
| '''Member''' || '''Link to mandate''' || '''Notes'''
|-
| Rafael Barossa d'Apulian || [[Blood_will_thicken#No_Price_Is_Too_High|Blood will thicken]] ||
|-
| Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost || [[Church of your heart#Steel Without|Church of your heart]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Varushkan Assembly
|-
| Sławomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh || [[Church of your heart#Virtue Within|Church of your heart]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Varushkan Assembly
|-
| Astrid Fjellrevening Rezia di Tassato || [[Watercolours_in_the_rain#Homeward_Bound|Watercolours in the rain]] ||
|-
| Vespasian || [[Watercolours_in_the_rain#Homeward_Bound|Watercolours in the rain]] ||
|-
| Velko Perunovich Razoradze || [[Forwards_and_Rewards#Fines_and_Funds|Forwards and Rewards]] ||
|-
| Vasilmir Radovanovna Esskivic || [[Blood_will_thicken#No_Price_Is_Too_High|Blood will thicken]] ||
|-
| Aemon || [[The_best_soil#Nightsoil_in_the_Fields|The best soil]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Highborn Assembly
|}

==The Virtue Fund==
The following represents the Virtue Fund of the Synod:
{|
| ''Starting Value'' || 14 Rings ||
|-
| ''Income'' || 1 Ring || Donation by Lysimachus.
|-
| ''Income'' || 1 Crown || Donation by Tom Appleseed.
|-
| ''Income'' || 19 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Income'' || 5 Rings || Donation by an anonymous citizen.
|-
| ''Income'' || 70 Thrones || The price paid in the Bourse Auction for the dose of True Liao.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 7 Thrones || Rewarding to Ashborn Atla following [[#Judgement 48|Judgement 48]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 10 Thrones || Rewarding to Pontus Figures following [[#Judgement 18|Judgement 18]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Income'' || 3 Crowns, 15 Rings || Donation by Redhand Ikis.
|-
| ''Income'' || 3 Crowns || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 7 Thrones || Rewarding to Luciana Valesi following [[#Judgement 26|Judgement 26]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 2 Thrones || Rewarding to Emil Radana von Temeschwar following [[#Judgement 102|Judgement 102]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Income'' || 1 Ring || Donation by the Tribune of the Synod from a donation in respect of a Synod pamphlet.
|-
| ''Income'' || 9 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 20 Thrones || Rewarding to Rosemary Stamp following [[#Judgement 166|Judgement 166]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 15 Thrones || Rewarding to Ironvigil Rikke the Relentless following [[#Judgement 182|Judgement 182]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 10 Thrones, 2 Crowns, 4 Rings || Rewarding to Rhisiart Dancewalker following [[#Judgement 184|Judgement 184]] being upheld (insufficient funds for full rewarding).
|-
| ''Income'' || 3 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Closing Value'' || 3 Rings ||
|}

==Doses of True Liao==

Five doses of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]] were disbursed this summit:
* One dose to Vesna Borkovna Prochnost as [[the Throne]]
* One dose in connection to the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean University]] to Able the Taller via [[#Judgement 21|Judgement 21]]
* One dose to Lorelann Thoress by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to Vasili Zoryakovich Zverokaz by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra by decision of the Gatekeepers

Part of this together

2024-04-19T14:06:10Z

Cathtice: /* Future Questions */

<quote by="The Doctrine of Enlightenment"><big style='font-family: cursive; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-style: normal;'>''Virtue lies in choice and action. Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species, guiding and inspiring both orcs and humans to their highest destiny. Through the practice of Virtue, orcs and humans develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.''</big></quote>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Clarice.jpg|caption=During the Autumn Equinox Lady Clarice Novarion presented the Doctrine of Enlightenment to the General Assembly.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox, the General Assembly upheld a [[change of doctrine]] proposed by '''Lady Clarice Novarion''' of [[Dawn]]. It is a fundamental change to the [[Doctrines of the Faith]]. It builds on the work begun by the [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] priests '''Bonewall Rek''' and '''Bonewall Cole''', which saw the addition of the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Howling_Abyss|Doctrine of the Howling Abyss]] and the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Ancestors|Doctrine of the Ancestors]], but is even more seismic in its implications for the faithful.

This change officially marks a fundamental shift in the Way within the Empire. Accepting that "''the power of virtue transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" accepts that both [[orc|orcs]] and humans can gain strength from virtue. It also raises the implication that there is more to the pursuit of virtue than "just" speeding passage through the Labyrinth - scholars are already debating what it means to for someone to "''develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.''"

The change of doctrine is embraced with surprisingly little pushback within the Empire itself. For many priests of the Way - all save the most hidebound - this change feels natural. Ever since the Imperial Orcs were accepted as the tenth nation, they argue, this has to be where the Way goes. It's been two generations since the Imperial Orcs became a nation. One cannot look at fellow citizens, people prepared to fight and die to protect you and your way of life, and fail to see the Virtue in their actions. Only the most Hateful, the most blinkered and arrogant, was not troubled by the Doctrine of Human Destiny.
{{SOP|by=Clarice Novarion, Change of Doctrine|when=Autumn 385YE|vote=greater Majority (3013-159)|statement=To remove the Doctrine of Human Destiny and replace it with the Doctrine of Enlightenment. The virtuous inspire others to greatness; they do not demean them. Let us celebrate the spiritual power of Virtue without degrading our fellow Pilgrims. Let us inspire orcs and humans as equals in the Way with a true expression of Pride and Ambition.}}
{{SOP|statement=The Change of Doctrine proposed by Clarice Novarion will cause serious thought and concern among the Empire's priests. We remind you all, with thanks to (Ironvigil Rikkz the Relentless), that Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as the Empire does. We must not <u>fear</u> change, but embrace virtue where we find it.|by=Viviane de Coeurdefer, Assembly of Nine|vote=Greater Majority (8-0) and Primacy|when=Autumn Equinox}}

==The Self-Fulfilling Mandate==
There are inevitable attempts to try to pick apart the new Doctrine looking for a flaw. As priests across the Empire pore over the new doctrine, and begin to discuss it, there are always people who are happiest finding fault in the works of others. Some make lofty philosophical arguments about what is meant by enlightenment , while others critique the explicit reference to orcs and humans, asking what this means for the hylje? A small army of carpers, cavilers, scolds, pettifoggers and smellfungus take up arms to do battle with the new Doctrine...

...only to find their positions quickly overrun.

It helps that the elegant cadence of the new Doctrine evokes the timeless qualities of the founding statements of the Way. People who are familiar with how difficult it is to get the modern Synod to agree on anything, are struck by the strength and clarity of the prose. There is widespread praise for Clarice Novarion and her fellow priests charged with drafting the new Doctrine, especially from those who feared that the new Doctrine might be tediously lengthy to flatter the authors or pointlessly banal to render it acceptable to the widest possible audience. Those who expected the worst are counfounded to discover the new Doctrine is ''poetic'' - both articulate and eloquent in equal measures.

More importantly, the wording of new Doctrine is powerfully ''inspiring''. It presents a vision of the Way that is based on choice and action. It requires that people acknowledge that Virtue is the birthright of all thinking beings. It demands all thinking beings aspire to enlightenment through the pursuit of Virtue as their highest destiny. It achieves the impossible, satisfying Urizen [[questor|questors]] who demand a Doctrine that withstands intellectual rigour, Highborn [[guardian|guardians]] who want words of wisdom to adorn their armaments to fortify the soul, and Marcher [[friar|friars]] who want an exhilarating sermon they can deliver under draughty canvas in a muddy field.

As ''Ephram of Rivers Hold'' calmly puts it, "You can tell this is the right change, because the moment you hear it, you sense at once that this is what the Doctrines of Faith ''should always have been''. In a a sense this is what they ''have'' always been. This is what we have always believed - only now has the Synod found the words to describe it. They have done their job, now let us do ours." This acceptance that the Synod has got this powerfully and inspiring right is not ubiquitous but it is widespread.

In other times a statement by the Synod that was this significant and far-reaching might create the [[opportunity]] for a [[mandate]], a chance to use the powerful benefits of [[liao]] to spread the teaching to every corner of the Empire to bring about results quickly. But the change of doctrine wins over so many Imperial priests that it is eagerly embraced and swiftly promulgated across all ten nations. Supplies of personal liao are expended creating [[aura|auras]] to energise, enthuse, and inspire those who seek to spread acceptance of the new Doctrine to every part of society.

The result of this mandate is a flower with three petals. The first is a surge in [[Pride]] in the Empire and the Way. These are dark times with many threats looming, ad arguably the enemies of the Empire have never loomed larger. The change of doctrine gives people faith that the Empire will find some way to embrace Virtue ''and'' triumph over its enemies. The second is a renewed interest in the Assembly of the Way; the Assembly whose purpose is to speak with authority on matters related to the wider practice of the faith, and of doctrine. Priests of every virtue are taking in a renewed interest in the words of the often over-looked Assembly. The final petal is the acceptance of [[orc|orcs]]; prejudice against the orcs has been declining and this puts a nail in its head. Anyone being leery of an orc just because they are an orc is likely to be given short shrift from here on.

===Renewal of the Faith===
* '''Statements of Principle that urge people to support Virtuous causes are more likely to result in a mandate'''
* '''Statements of Principle that call out unvirtuous decisions are more likely to result in a mandate'''
There's been a lot of disruption in the Way in the last ten years or so. The faith was nearly split by the [[Schisms_and_Heresies#The_Yaelian_Schism|Yaelian Schism]]; the role of the orcs in the Way was a matter of constant discussion; the [[Grey Pilgrim|Grey Pilgrims]] triggered questions about the ways the different nations celebrated their faith; the Severin Encyclical caused a year of spirited debate as to the role of the Synod in the politics of the Empire; the [[Sword scholar|sword scholars]] ignited a struggle between the General Assembly and the Virtue Assemblies; and many more besides.

For some, the Empire and the Way seemed to have become too much about politics, rather than about the pursuit of enlightenment. With the change of Doctrine, many of those questioning the faith in the Way feel... empowered. As if their faith and the Empire it supports have taken an indefinable step towards something greater, a higher destiny that accepts orcs and humans as equals. It's heady stuff.

This renewal of faith has created a rising tide of Pride in the Empire's future. The Imperial institutions may be beset by problems, but when has this ever not been true. The Declaration of Enlightenment demonstrates clearly what the purpose of the Empire is - to encourage orcs and humans to reach for the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.

Or at least what is ''should'' be. If this change of doctrine is to ''mean'' anything, people want it to be reflected in the way the Empire acts. Citizens, pilgrims, and priests are looking to the Synod to see that it is ensuring that the pursuit of Virtue is at the heart of everything the Empire does - and they are eager to support it. For the coming year, [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] that urge people to embrace a cause through a cogent call to Virtue will be more likely to result in a mandate - as will those statements that call out choices and actions that were made in a way that denied Virtue.
<div style="float:right; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Cardinal of the Way.png|caption=[[Cardinal of the Way|Cardinal]] Hywel Summer Crow guides the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Assembly of the Way]].|align=right|width=450}}</div>

===Look to the Way===
* '''Priests with congregations who preach the Way this downtime, and until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE, receive 2 additional Synod votes '''
* '''Statements of Principle passed by the Assembly of the Way at this summit will have enhanced impact'''
The Assembly of the Way is assumed to provide leadership to the priests and pilgrims who do not prioritise any one particular virtue. They are expected to be well versed in matters of [[the Way]] in general, so that they can speak with authority on matters related to the wider practice of the faith, and of [[The Doctrines of the Faith|doctrine]].

In recent years, the prominence of the Assembly of the Way has declined, with more focus being placed on the seven Assemblies of Virtue. With this major change to doctrine, however, there is a dramatic increase in interest among both priests and lay folk as to what those priests who prioritise the Way as a whole over the teachings of a specific virtue, have to say.

Priests who preached The Way after the Autumn Equinox rather than a single virtue, find their congregations swollen, receiving 2 additional votes in the Imperial Synod as a consequence. This benefit will continue for a year, until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE. Each season the congregations of priests who [[Congregation#Downtime_Options|preach the Way]] will gain the additional votes at the next summit - assuming nothing changes in the meantime.

During the coming Winter Solstice however, eyes are on the Assembly of the Way as acknowledged custodians of the doctrines as distinct from the virtues. Any [[statement of principle]] upheld by the Assembly of the Way with a greater majority will be examined by priests across the Empire - not just those who preach the Way in preference to individual virtues. This will mean that, for this summit only, statements of principle in the Assembly of the Way with a greater majority will [[Statement_of_principle#Outcome|prove as powerful]] as a statement of principle with a greater majority in the General Assembly, provided it is speaking of the Way, the doctrines, or the new Doctrine of Enlightenment.

===A Different Time===
* '''The change of Doctrine has increased acceptance of orcs, notably those of Apulus, Mournwold and the Great Forest'''
* '''We have updated the national briefs to reflect the widespread adoption of these changes'''
The widespread and passionate embrace of the Change of Doctrine serves as a powerful panacea to prejudice across the empire. It helps ease acceptance of the [[Mournwold Orcs]], making it impossible not to recognise them as fellow Marchers. It nurtures the growing relationships between the [[Great Forest Orcs]] [[steading|steadings]] in [[Therunin]], [[Hercynia]], and [[Miaren]]. Ironically it makes life more challenging for the Apulus Orcs; before there were still some inclined to see them as benighted creatures not worthy of the attentions of the rich and powerful. Now they are acknowledged as the equal of any Merchant Prince, worthy competitors in the grand game of the cities.

The benefits are felt beyond those those nations where Orcs are settling. It helps that the [[Imperial Orcs]] armies have been active in every nation in the last few years, fighting alongside Imperial soldiers, publicly supporting the Empire. It is increasingly difficult for any citizen to deny that the Empire has grown stronger because of their presence and their role in it. Discrimination and prejudice towards orcs has been steadily dwindling in recent times, the change of doctrine accelerates that process. It can't change the past, but it can change the Empire and lay out a new future.

==The Wider Way==
* '''The Change of Doctrine is public, and quickly communicated to pilgrims of the Way in other countries'''

Imperial priests are quick to send letters communicating the change of doctrine to pilgrims of the Way in other lands. Of course such letters take weeks or more to arrive, few have the resources and the mana for a [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messenger]], so the responses are likely to play out in the coming seasons as nations slowly take account of the change and what it means. There are a few immediate responses however.

===The Sumaah Republic===
* '''The Republic do not accept this change of doctrine... for now'''
* '''They will encourage those who look to Timoj to retain the Doctrine of Human Destiny'''
The [[Sumaah Republic]] greet the news of the change of doctrine with interest; cordial and polite. They will certainly discuss the implications of these changes the Imperials have made to ''their'' understanding of the Way. Yet, as with the addition of the so-called “orc doctrines” the discussion will take time and there's absolutely no certainty they would accept anything similar. There is a world of difference between a doctrine that enshrines humanity as having a unique destiny, and a doctrine that says all beings are capable of virtue.

It would be a mistake to confuse this reticence for condemnation, however. The Sumaah are by no means up in arms at the changes. They aren't denouncing the Imperial Synod as [[Religious_crime#Heresy|heretics]] or [[Religious_crime#Blasphemy|blasphemers]]. From what limited correspondence there has been there's a lot of interest in the implications of virtue being fundamental to ''everyone'', that strength of spirit and enlightenment of soul can be something to strive for while alive. It will just take ''time'' - a few decades at least. The fact the two great nations have chosen to [[On the other side|cordially split]] their faiths from one another helps here significantly – if the Empire were trying to force this change on the Sumaah they would push back. As it is they recognise it simply as another difference in the approaches the two Synods take to the world, and the spread of the Way.

They politely inform their opposite numbers of the Assembly of the Nine that they plan to enact a mandate during the Winter Solstice that will urge Sumaah missionaries, and those who look to Timoj for guidance, to both reject the Doctrine of Enlightenment and retain the Doctrine of Human Destiny ''until such time as it has been carefully weighed, considered, and judged''.

Of course, once the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]] is complete, there will be few outside the borders of the Sumaah Republic that will look to their Assembly for guidance - but that great work is still some distance from being completed. In the meantime, the Sumaah will continue to send out their missionaries, and continue to establish their own perceived moral authority.

===The Commonwealth===
* '''The Commonwealth are enthusiastic about the change of Doctrine and what it portends for the Empire'''
The Commonwealth already integrates orc citizens within its nation. The Way is a minority religion among them, but those pilgrims of the Commonwealth enthusiastically welcome this change. The Commonwealth enthusiasm goes further - even those who aren't adherents of the faith approve of the development. The Empire has gone up in their estimation.

===The Sarcophan===
* '''The Sarcophan regard this as a judicious well-considered change'''
The Sarcophan are a little more restrained; they have much less interaction with orcs for a start, and their interests are much less spiritual in general. The majority of Sarcophan who are not adherents of the Way they seem to regard this change of doctrine as a shrewd, judicious move, one that will make it easier for the Empire to engage in trade and diplomacy with their neighbours with less spiritual baggage weighing them down.

There are pilgrims of the Way in Delves however, and many more than there were a decade ago due to the presence of the [[Bishop_of_the_Navigators#Cathedral_of_the_Navigators|Cathedral of the Navigators]] built by the Empire and ''House of the Delves'' constructed by the Sumaah. They are receptive to the new Doctrine, but acceptance will be slow due to the missionaries from Timoj urging caution. The General Assembly, the Assembly of the Way, or the Assembly of Nine could enact a mandate to promote acceptance of the new Doctrine.

{{Mandate|mandate=Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as our understanding does. The Doctrine of Human Destiny has been weighed and found wanting. The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue. We send (named priest) with 25 liao to urge adherents of the Way in Sarcophan to follow the lead of Bastion in embracing this change.|assembly=General Assembly, Assembly of the Way, or Assembly of Nine}}

If this mandate is passed, then it will increase engagement with and acceptance of the new Doctrine among both established pilgrims and converts in the Delves. As things stand the Change of Doctrine could take years to get widespread acceptance, but this mandate would shorten that time dramatically. However it is likely to annoy the Sumaah, who will take the view that they are being more even-handed with the faithful in Sarcophan by urging people not to accept the change of doctrine. It won't trigger the Sarcophan limitation on the two cathedrals that they remain civil and avoid "brawling in the streets" but it would raise tensions.

One peculiar fact that crops up, one of the Sarcophan merchants happens to mention that they discussed the Change of Doctrine with the Elakar and they were apparently very impressed with them. He was gone before anyone could ask for more details which is unfortunate because nobody has the slightest idea what that means, who the Elakar are, or why they might have an opinion on this change of doctrine. It doesn't seem to be a Sarcophan word, or refer to anyone or anything in the Delves.

===The Asaveans===
There are no open followers of the Way in the [[Asavean Archipelago]] these days, and it's hard to tell whether the secret pilgrims - most of whom are slaves - even know of if. Most of the hidden followers of the Way in Asavea look to nearby Timoj for guidance and support rather than Bastion, but it varies wildly. The Empire's involvement with the followers of the Way in Asavea has been variable, whether it was Imperial mercenaries fighting on both sides during the short-lived civil war that engulfed the northern provinces, the establishment of the doomed Temple of the Seven Virtues in Nemoria, or the recent [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#The_Calatropos_Coast_Evacuation|mission of mercy]] to Calatropos. But the message of the doctrine of enlightment is profound, especially for people who are not free. If they have not heard it, perhaps they should.

The General Assembly, the Assembly of the Way, the Assembly of Nine, or the Highborn assembly could enact a mandate to urge missionaries and [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] to take news of the doctrine to the hidden pilgrims of Asavea.

{{Mandate|mandate=The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue and its role in giving us the strength, knowledge, and enlightenment to achieve our highest potential. We send (named priest) with 75 liao to urge missionaries and wayfarers to bring this news to the hidden sects of Asavea, no matter the risks.|assembly=General Assembly, Assembly of the Way, Assembly of Nine, Highborn Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, it will speak to those with a zeal for bringing the Way to the furthest corners of the Known World, and encourage them to make the perilous trip to Asavea to make contact with the hidden sects of pilgrims there. This is monumentally risky for the individuals who are inspired to do so. Beyond the fact the Empire is at war with Asavea, there are rumours the priesthood there has started executing adherents of the Way wherever they are uncovered. Many of those who answer this call ''will not return'' - they will become martyrs of the Way. But whatever else happens, they will ensure the people of Asavea who need it most will hear of the change of doctrine, and the promise it holds out for those who embrace Virtue.

==Others==
* '''The response of the Iron Confederacy is not fit to print'''
* '''There is no official response from any barbarian nation, but the Grendel are smug about the change of doctrine'''
The [[Religious_crime#Idolatry|idolators]] in the [[Iron Confederacy]] worship an entire pantheon of patently made-up gods, some of which may or may not be eternals. They despise the Way and their society is unashamedly one that relegates all orcs to second class citizens. The Iron nobility are all naga, which sometimes gives the impression that ordinary humans and others with lineage are not considered their equal - but orcs certainly aren't. Their response to the change of doctrine is not fit to print.

There is no official channel for informing the barbarian nations who the Empire is at war with of the Change of Doctrine. It seems very unlikely that the [[Jotun]] or the [[Druj]] will care one way or the other. However it is clear that somehow the [[Grendel]] have found out about it and their response might best be described as "smug". Of course this is the Grendel; acting smug is their typical response to every situation.

In the [[Principalities of Jarm]], the news is greeted with disinterest; the magician-princes do not enourage public discussion of religion. But those who do practice the Way, albeit in private, will know of the change. Slavery remains endemic in Jarm, the basis for much of their society, but comparatively few of their slaves are orcs, most are human. As such, the Change of Doctrine should be relatively unthreatening to them.

The [[Axos|Axou]] are positive about the Change of Doctrine. They have always been clear that the Labyrinth is a place of eternal suffering, where the Malign Creator works its evil on mortal souls, grinding away every remnant of their personality until they are completely helpless. Any change of doctrine that means the Empire reduces the emphasis on reincarnation as the spiritual focus of their faith is one the Axou approve of. They regard this change as a profound decision, one that moves the Empire to a more enlightened state, better able to perceive the evil that the Creator works on the world.

==Future Questions==
The change of doctrine is new. Priests of the way are busy discussing among themselves and with their congregations what it means. The words of Cardinal Viviane de Coeurdefer remind everyone that the Way is a living faith, its doctrines subject to change as pilgrims learn about the world and their place in it. There are a lot of questions but the basic seem straightforward enough.

The Doctrine of Human Destiny has been weighed and found wanting, but this has caused a resurgence of interest in other questions. What is the role of the Exemplars and Paragons in the faith, for example? The Doctrine of the Paragon feels adrift, without the Doctrine of Human Destiny shoring it up - more concerned with the procedure for recognising a paragon than in explaining what one is. The new doctrine doesn't deny the importance of the paragons - the Doctrine of Paragon still exists - but it challenges the perception that the paragons are capable of personifying virtue or the full potential of humanity.

The Doctrine of the Creator still speaks of human destiny, rather than the destiny of thinking beings. Should it, too, be changed? And what of the Orc Doctrines? Since they were upheld, the Empire has encountered many new groups of orcs many of whom think differently to the Imperial Orcs. Are they still clear enough, still fit for purpose?

The Imperial Synod have achieved something momentous, with this widely-appreciated change of Doctrine, affecting the Imperial faith, the thing that ties the whole Empire together. They have improved the Way, strengthened the Empire and inspired the faithful. What next?

Part of this together

2024-04-19T14:05:14Z

Cathtice: /* The Sarcophan */

<quote by="The Doctrine of Enlightenment"><big style='font-family: cursive; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-style: normal;'>''Virtue lies in choice and action. Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species, guiding and inspiring both orcs and humans to their highest destiny. Through the practice of Virtue, orcs and humans develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.''</big></quote>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Clarice.jpg|caption=During the Autumn Equinox Lady Clarice Novarion presented the Doctrine of Enlightenment to the General Assembly.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox, the General Assembly upheld a [[change of doctrine]] proposed by '''Lady Clarice Novarion''' of [[Dawn]]. It is a fundamental change to the [[Doctrines of the Faith]]. It builds on the work begun by the [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] priests '''Bonewall Rek''' and '''Bonewall Cole''', which saw the addition of the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Howling_Abyss|Doctrine of the Howling Abyss]] and the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Ancestors|Doctrine of the Ancestors]], but is even more seismic in its implications for the faithful.

This change officially marks a fundamental shift in the Way within the Empire. Accepting that "''the power of virtue transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" accepts that both [[orc|orcs]] and humans can gain strength from virtue. It also raises the implication that there is more to the pursuit of virtue than "just" speeding passage through the Labyrinth - scholars are already debating what it means to for someone to "''develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.''"

The change of doctrine is embraced with surprisingly little pushback within the Empire itself. For many priests of the Way - all save the most hidebound - this change feels natural. Ever since the Imperial Orcs were accepted as the tenth nation, they argue, this has to be where the Way goes. It's been two generations since the Imperial Orcs became a nation. One cannot look at fellow citizens, people prepared to fight and die to protect you and your way of life, and fail to see the Virtue in their actions. Only the most Hateful, the most blinkered and arrogant, was not troubled by the Doctrine of Human Destiny.
{{SOP|by=Clarice Novarion, Change of Doctrine|when=Autumn 385YE|vote=greater Majority (3013-159)|statement=To remove the Doctrine of Human Destiny and replace it with the Doctrine of Enlightenment. The virtuous inspire others to greatness; they do not demean them. Let us celebrate the spiritual power of Virtue without degrading our fellow Pilgrims. Let us inspire orcs and humans as equals in the Way with a true expression of Pride and Ambition.}}
{{SOP|statement=The Change of Doctrine proposed by Clarice Novarion will cause serious thought and concern among the Empire's priests. We remind you all, with thanks to (Ironvigil Rikkz the Relentless), that Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as the Empire does. We must not <u>fear</u> change, but embrace virtue where we find it.|by=Viviane de Coeurdefer, Assembly of Nine|vote=Greater Majority (8-0) and Primacy|when=Autumn Equinox}}

==The Self-Fulfilling Mandate==
There are inevitable attempts to try to pick apart the new Doctrine looking for a flaw. As priests across the Empire pore over the new doctrine, and begin to discuss it, there are always people who are happiest finding fault in the works of others. Some make lofty philosophical arguments about what is meant by enlightenment , while others critique the explicit reference to orcs and humans, asking what this means for the hylje? A small army of carpers, cavilers, scolds, pettifoggers and smellfungus take up arms to do battle with the new Doctrine...

...only to find their positions quickly overrun.

It helps that the elegant cadence of the new Doctrine evokes the timeless qualities of the founding statements of the Way. People who are familiar with how difficult it is to get the modern Synod to agree on anything, are struck by the strength and clarity of the prose. There is widespread praise for Clarice Novarion and her fellow priests charged with drafting the new Doctrine, especially from those who feared that the new Doctrine might be tediously lengthy to flatter the authors or pointlessly banal to render it acceptable to the widest possible audience. Those who expected the worst are counfounded to discover the new Doctrine is ''poetic'' - both articulate and eloquent in equal measures.

More importantly, the wording of new Doctrine is powerfully ''inspiring''. It presents a vision of the Way that is based on choice and action. It requires that people acknowledge that Virtue is the birthright of all thinking beings. It demands all thinking beings aspire to enlightenment through the pursuit of Virtue as their highest destiny. It achieves the impossible, satisfying Urizen [[questor|questors]] who demand a Doctrine that withstands intellectual rigour, Highborn [[guardian|guardians]] who want words of wisdom to adorn their armaments to fortify the soul, and Marcher [[friar|friars]] who want an exhilarating sermon they can deliver under draughty canvas in a muddy field.

As ''Ephram of Rivers Hold'' calmly puts it, "You can tell this is the right change, because the moment you hear it, you sense at once that this is what the Doctrines of Faith ''should always have been''. In a a sense this is what they ''have'' always been. This is what we have always believed - only now has the Synod found the words to describe it. They have done their job, now let us do ours." This acceptance that the Synod has got this powerfully and inspiring right is not ubiquitous but it is widespread.

In other times a statement by the Synod that was this significant and far-reaching might create the [[opportunity]] for a [[mandate]], a chance to use the powerful benefits of [[liao]] to spread the teaching to every corner of the Empire to bring about results quickly. But the change of doctrine wins over so many Imperial priests that it is eagerly embraced and swiftly promulgated across all ten nations. Supplies of personal liao are expended creating [[aura|auras]] to energise, enthuse, and inspire those who seek to spread acceptance of the new Doctrine to every part of society.

The result of this mandate is a flower with three petals. The first is a surge in [[Pride]] in the Empire and the Way. These are dark times with many threats looming, ad arguably the enemies of the Empire have never loomed larger. The change of doctrine gives people faith that the Empire will find some way to embrace Virtue ''and'' triumph over its enemies. The second is a renewed interest in the Assembly of the Way; the Assembly whose purpose is to speak with authority on matters related to the wider practice of the faith, and of doctrine. Priests of every virtue are taking in a renewed interest in the words of the often over-looked Assembly. The final petal is the acceptance of [[orc|orcs]]; prejudice against the orcs has been declining and this puts a nail in its head. Anyone being leery of an orc just because they are an orc is likely to be given short shrift from here on.

===Renewal of the Faith===
* '''Statements of Principle that urge people to support Virtuous causes are more likely to result in a mandate'''
* '''Statements of Principle that call out unvirtuous decisions are more likely to result in a mandate'''
There's been a lot of disruption in the Way in the last ten years or so. The faith was nearly split by the [[Schisms_and_Heresies#The_Yaelian_Schism|Yaelian Schism]]; the role of the orcs in the Way was a matter of constant discussion; the [[Grey Pilgrim|Grey Pilgrims]] triggered questions about the ways the different nations celebrated their faith; the Severin Encyclical caused a year of spirited debate as to the role of the Synod in the politics of the Empire; the [[Sword scholar|sword scholars]] ignited a struggle between the General Assembly and the Virtue Assemblies; and many more besides.

For some, the Empire and the Way seemed to have become too much about politics, rather than about the pursuit of enlightenment. With the change of Doctrine, many of those questioning the faith in the Way feel... empowered. As if their faith and the Empire it supports have taken an indefinable step towards something greater, a higher destiny that accepts orcs and humans as equals. It's heady stuff.

This renewal of faith has created a rising tide of Pride in the Empire's future. The Imperial institutions may be beset by problems, but when has this ever not been true. The Declaration of Enlightenment demonstrates clearly what the purpose of the Empire is - to encourage orcs and humans to reach for the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.

Or at least what is ''should'' be. If this change of doctrine is to ''mean'' anything, people want it to be reflected in the way the Empire acts. Citizens, pilgrims, and priests are looking to the Synod to see that it is ensuring that the pursuit of Virtue is at the heart of everything the Empire does - and they are eager to support it. For the coming year, [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] that urge people to embrace a cause through a cogent call to Virtue will be more likely to result in a mandate - as will those statements that call out choices and actions that were made in a way that denied Virtue.
<div style="float:right; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Cardinal of the Way.png|caption=[[Cardinal of the Way|Cardinal]] Hywel Summer Crow guides the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Assembly of the Way]].|align=right|width=450}}</div>

===Look to the Way===
* '''Priests with congregations who preach the Way this downtime, and until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE, receive 2 additional Synod votes '''
* '''Statements of Principle passed by the Assembly of the Way at this summit will have enhanced impact'''
The Assembly of the Way is assumed to provide leadership to the priests and pilgrims who do not prioritise any one particular virtue. They are expected to be well versed in matters of [[the Way]] in general, so that they can speak with authority on matters related to the wider practice of the faith, and of [[The Doctrines of the Faith|doctrine]].

In recent years, the prominence of the Assembly of the Way has declined, with more focus being placed on the seven Assemblies of Virtue. With this major change to doctrine, however, there is a dramatic increase in interest among both priests and lay folk as to what those priests who prioritise the Way as a whole over the teachings of a specific virtue, have to say.

Priests who preached The Way after the Autumn Equinox rather than a single virtue, find their congregations swollen, receiving 2 additional votes in the Imperial Synod as a consequence. This benefit will continue for a year, until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE. Each season the congregations of priests who [[Congregation#Downtime_Options|preach the Way]] will gain the additional votes at the next summit - assuming nothing changes in the meantime.

During the coming Winter Solstice however, eyes are on the Assembly of the Way as acknowledged custodians of the doctrines as distinct from the virtues. Any [[statement of principle]] upheld by the Assembly of the Way with a greater majority will be examined by priests across the Empire - not just those who preach the Way in preference to individual virtues. This will mean that, for this summit only, statements of principle in the Assembly of the Way with a greater majority will [[Statement_of_principle#Outcome|prove as powerful]] as a statement of principle with a greater majority in the General Assembly, provided it is speaking of the Way, the doctrines, or the new Doctrine of Enlightenment.

===A Different Time===
* '''The change of Doctrine has increased acceptance of orcs, notably those of Apulus, Mournwold and the Great Forest'''
* '''We have updated the national briefs to reflect the widespread adoption of these changes'''
The widespread and passionate embrace of the Change of Doctrine serves as a powerful panacea to prejudice across the empire. It helps ease acceptance of the [[Mournwold Orcs]], making it impossible not to recognise them as fellow Marchers. It nurtures the growing relationships between the [[Great Forest Orcs]] [[steading|steadings]] in [[Therunin]], [[Hercynia]], and [[Miaren]]. Ironically it makes life more challenging for the Apulus Orcs; before there were still some inclined to see them as benighted creatures not worthy of the attentions of the rich and powerful. Now they are acknowledged as the equal of any Merchant Prince, worthy competitors in the grand game of the cities.

The benefits are felt beyond those those nations where Orcs are settling. It helps that the [[Imperial Orcs]] armies have been active in every nation in the last few years, fighting alongside Imperial soldiers, publicly supporting the Empire. It is increasingly difficult for any citizen to deny that the Empire has grown stronger because of their presence and their role in it. Discrimination and prejudice towards orcs has been steadily dwindling in recent times, the change of doctrine accelerates that process. It can't change the past, but it can change the Empire and lay out a new future.

==The Wider Way==
* '''The Change of Doctrine is public, and quickly communicated to pilgrims of the Way in other countries'''

Imperial priests are quick to send letters communicating the change of doctrine to pilgrims of the Way in other lands. Of course such letters take weeks or more to arrive, few have the resources and the mana for a [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messenger]], so the responses are likely to play out in the coming seasons as nations slowly take account of the change and what it means. There are a few immediate responses however.

===The Sumaah Republic===
* '''The Republic do not accept this change of doctrine... for now'''
* '''They will encourage those who look to Timoj to retain the Doctrine of Human Destiny'''
The [[Sumaah Republic]] greet the news of the change of doctrine with interest; cordial and polite. They will certainly discuss the implications of these changes the Imperials have made to ''their'' understanding of the Way. Yet, as with the addition of the so-called “orc doctrines” the discussion will take time and there's absolutely no certainty they would accept anything similar. There is a world of difference between a doctrine that enshrines humanity as having a unique destiny, and a doctrine that says all beings are capable of virtue.

It would be a mistake to confuse this reticence for condemnation, however. The Sumaah are by no means up in arms at the changes. They aren't denouncing the Imperial Synod as [[Religious_crime#Heresy|heretics]] or [[Religious_crime#Blasphemy|blasphemers]]. From what limited correspondence there has been there's a lot of interest in the implications of virtue being fundamental to ''everyone'', that strength of spirit and enlightenment of soul can be something to strive for while alive. It will just take ''time'' - a few decades at least. The fact the two great nations have chosen to [[On the other side|cordially split]] their faiths from one another helps here significantly – if the Empire were trying to force this change on the Sumaah they would push back. As it is they recognise it simply as another difference in the approaches the two Synods take to the world, and the spread of the Way.

They politely inform their opposite numbers of the Assembly of the Nine that they plan to enact a mandate during the Winter Solstice that will urge Sumaah missionaries, and those who look to Timoj for guidance, to both reject the Doctrine of Enlightenment and retain the Doctrine of Human Destiny ''until such time as it has been carefully weighed, considered, and judged''.

Of course, once the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]] is complete, there will be few outside the borders of the Sumaah Republic that will look to their Assembly for guidance - but that great work is still some distance from being completed. In the meantime, the Sumaah will continue to send out their missionaries, and continue to establish their own perceived moral authority.

===The Commonwealth===
* '''The Commonwealth are enthusiastic about the change of Doctrine and what it portends for the Empire'''
The Commonwealth already integrates orc citizens within its nation. The Way is a minority religion among them, but those pilgrims of the Commonwealth enthusiastically welcome this change. The Commonwealth enthusiasm goes further - even those who aren't adherents of the faith approve of the development. The Empire has gone up in their estimation.

===The Sarcophan===
* '''The Sarcophan regard this as a judicious well-considered change'''
The Sarcophan are a little more restrained; they have much less interaction with orcs for a start, and their interests are much less spiritual in general. The majority of Sarcophan who are not adherents of the Way they seem to regard this change of doctrine as a shrewd, judicious move, one that will make it easier for the Empire to engage in trade and diplomacy with their neighbours with less spiritual baggage weighing them down.

There are pilgrims of the Way in Delves however, and many more than there were a decade ago due to the presence of the [[Bishop_of_the_Navigators#Cathedral_of_the_Navigators|Cathedral of the Navigators]] built by the Empire and ''House of the Delves'' constructed by the Sumaah. They are receptive to the new Doctrine, but acceptance will be slow due to the missionaries from Timoj urging caution. The General Assembly, the Assembly of the Way, or the Assembly of Nine could enact a mandate to promote acceptance of the new Doctrine.

{{Mandate|mandate=Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as our understanding does. The Doctrine of Human Destiny has been weighed and found wanting. The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue. We send (named priest) with 25 liao to urge adherents of the Way in Sarcophan to follow the lead of Bastion in embracing this change.|assembly=General Assembly, Assembly of the Way, or Assembly of Nine}}

If this mandate is passed, then it will increase engagement with and acceptance of the new Doctrine among both established pilgrims and converts in the Delves. As things stand the Change of Doctrine could take years to get widespread acceptance, but this mandate would shorten that time dramatically. However it is likely to annoy the Sumaah, who will take the view that they are being more even-handed with the faithful in Sarcophan by urging people not to accept the change of doctrine. It won't trigger the Sarcophan limitation on the two cathedrals that they remain civil and avoid "brawling in the streets" but it would raise tensions.

One peculiar fact that crops up, one of the Sarcophan merchants happens to mention that they discussed the Change of Doctrine with the Elakar and they were apparently very impressed with them. He was gone before anyone could ask for more details which is unfortunate because nobody has the slightest idea what that means, who the Elakar are, or why they might have an opinion on this change of doctrine. It doesn't seem to be a Sarcophan word, or refer to anyone or anything in the Delves.

===The Asaveans===
There are no open followers of the Way in the [[Asavean Archipelago]] these days, and it's hard to tell whether the secret pilgrims - most of whom are slaves - even know of if. Most of the hidden followers of the Way in Asavea look to nearby Timoj for guidance and support rather than Bastion, but it varies wildly. The Empire's involvement with the followers of the Way in Asavea has been variable, whether it was Imperial mercenaries fighting on both sides during the short-lived civil war that engulfed the northern provinces, the establishment of the doomed Temple of the Seven Virtues in Nemoria, or the recent [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#The_Calatropos_Coast_Evacuation|mission of mercy]] to Calatropos. But the message of the doctrine of enlightment is profound, especially for people who are not free. If they have not heard it, perhaps they should.

The General Assembly, the Assembly of the Way, the Assembly of Nine, or the Highborn assembly could enact a mandate to urge missionaries and [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] to take news of the doctrine to the hidden pilgrims of Asavea.

{{Mandate|mandate=The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue and its role in giving us the strength, knowledge, and enlightenment to achieve our highest potential. We send (named priest) with 75 liao to urge missionaries and wayfarers to bring this news to the hidden sects of Asavea, no matter the risks.|assembly=General Assembly, Assembly of the Way, Assembly of Nine, Highborn Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, it will speak to those with a zeal for bringing the Way to the furthest corners of the Known World, and encourage them to make the perilous trip to Asavea to make contact with the hidden sects of pilgrims there. This is monumentally risky for the individuals who are inspired to do so. Beyond the fact the Empire is at war with Asavea, there are rumours the priesthood there has started executing adherents of the Way wherever they are uncovered. Many of those who answer this call ''will not return'' - they will become martyrs of the Way. But whatever else happens, they will ensure the people of Asavea who need it most will hear of the change of doctrine, and the promise it holds out for those who embrace Virtue.

==Others==
* '''The response of the Iron Confederacy is not fit to print'''
* '''There is no official response from any barbarian nation, but the Grendel are smug about the change of doctrine'''
The [[Religious_crime#Idolatry|idolators]] in the [[Iron Confederacy]] worship an entire pantheon of patently made-up gods, some of which may or may not be eternals. They despise the Way and their society is unashamedly one that relegates all orcs to second class citizens. The Iron nobility are all naga, which sometimes gives the impression that ordinary humans and others with lineage are not considered their equal - but orcs certainly aren't. Their response to the change of doctrine is not fit to print.

There is no official channel for informing the barbarian nations who the Empire is at war with of the Change of Doctrine. It seems very unlikely that the [[Jotun]] or the [[Druj]] will care one way or the other. However it is clear that somehow the [[Grendel]] have found out about it and their response might best be described as "smug". Of course this is the Grendel; acting smug is their typical response to every situation.

In the [[Principalities of Jarm]], the news is greeted with disinterest; the magician-princes do not enourage public discussion of religion. But those who do practice the Way, albeit in private, will know of the change. Slavery remains endemic in Jarm, the basis for much of their society, but comparatively few of their slaves are orcs, most are human. As such, the Change of Doctrine should be relatively unthreatening to them.

The [[Axos|Axou]] are positive about the Change of Doctrine. They have always been clear that the Labyrinth is a place of eternal suffering, where the Malign Creator works its evil on mortal souls, grinding away every remnant of their personality until they are completely helpless. Any change of doctrine that means the Empire reduces the emphasis on reincarnation as the spiritual focus of their faith is one the Axou approve of. They regard this change as a profound decision, one that moves the Empire to a more enlightened state, better able to perceive the evil that the Creator works on the world.

==Future Questions==
The change of doctrine is new. Priests of the way are busy discussing among themselves and with their congregations what it means. The words of Cardinal de Courdefer remind everyone that the Way is a living faith, its doctrines subject to change as pilgrims learn about the world and their place in it. There are a lot of questions but the basic seem straightforward enough.

The Doctrine of Human Destiny has been weighed and found wanting, but this has caused a resurgence of interest in other questions. What is the role of the Exemplars and Paragons in the faith, for example? The Doctrine of the Paragon feels adrift, without the Doctrine of Human Destiny shoring it up - more concerned with the procedure for recognising a paragon than in explaining what one is. The new doctrine doesn't deny the importance of the paragons - the Doctrine of Paragon still exists - but it challenges the perception that the paragons are capable of personifying virtue or the full potential of humanity.

The Doctrine of the Creator still speaks of human destiny, rather than the destiny of thinking beings. Should it, too, be changed? And what of the Orc Doctrines? Since they were upheld, the Empire has encountered many new groups of orcs many of whom think differently to the Imperial Orcs. Are they still clear enough, still fit for purpose?

The Imperial Synod have achieved something momentous, with this widely-appreciated change of Doctrine, affecting the Imperial faith, the thing that ties the whole Empire together. They have improved the Way, strengthened the Empire and inspired the faithful. What next?

Part of this together

2024-04-19T14:03:19Z

Cathtice: /* The Self-Fulfilling Mandate */

<quote by="The Doctrine of Enlightenment"><big style='font-family: cursive; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-style: normal;'>''Virtue lies in choice and action. Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species, guiding and inspiring both orcs and humans to their highest destiny. Through the practice of Virtue, orcs and humans develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.''</big></quote>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Clarice.jpg|caption=During the Autumn Equinox Lady Clarice Novarion presented the Doctrine of Enlightenment to the General Assembly.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox, the General Assembly upheld a [[change of doctrine]] proposed by '''Lady Clarice Novarion''' of [[Dawn]]. It is a fundamental change to the [[Doctrines of the Faith]]. It builds on the work begun by the [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] priests '''Bonewall Rek''' and '''Bonewall Cole''', which saw the addition of the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Howling_Abyss|Doctrine of the Howling Abyss]] and the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Ancestors|Doctrine of the Ancestors]], but is even more seismic in its implications for the faithful.

This change officially marks a fundamental shift in the Way within the Empire. Accepting that "''the power of virtue transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" accepts that both [[orc|orcs]] and humans can gain strength from virtue. It also raises the implication that there is more to the pursuit of virtue than "just" speeding passage through the Labyrinth - scholars are already debating what it means to for someone to "''develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.''"

The change of doctrine is embraced with surprisingly little pushback within the Empire itself. For many priests of the Way - all save the most hidebound - this change feels natural. Ever since the Imperial Orcs were accepted as the tenth nation, they argue, this has to be where the Way goes. It's been two generations since the Imperial Orcs became a nation. One cannot look at fellow citizens, people prepared to fight and die to protect you and your way of life, and fail to see the Virtue in their actions. Only the most Hateful, the most blinkered and arrogant, was not troubled by the Doctrine of Human Destiny.
{{SOP|by=Clarice Novarion, Change of Doctrine|when=Autumn 385YE|vote=greater Majority (3013-159)|statement=To remove the Doctrine of Human Destiny and replace it with the Doctrine of Enlightenment. The virtuous inspire others to greatness; they do not demean them. Let us celebrate the spiritual power of Virtue without degrading our fellow Pilgrims. Let us inspire orcs and humans as equals in the Way with a true expression of Pride and Ambition.}}
{{SOP|statement=The Change of Doctrine proposed by Clarice Novarion will cause serious thought and concern among the Empire's priests. We remind you all, with thanks to (Ironvigil Rikkz the Relentless), that Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as the Empire does. We must not <u>fear</u> change, but embrace virtue where we find it.|by=Viviane de Coeurdefer, Assembly of Nine|vote=Greater Majority (8-0) and Primacy|when=Autumn Equinox}}

==The Self-Fulfilling Mandate==
There are inevitable attempts to try to pick apart the new Doctrine looking for a flaw. As priests across the Empire pore over the new doctrine, and begin to discuss it, there are always people who are happiest finding fault in the works of others. Some make lofty philosophical arguments about what is meant by enlightenment , while others critique the explicit reference to orcs and humans, asking what this means for the hylje? A small army of carpers, cavilers, scolds, pettifoggers and smellfungus take up arms to do battle with the new Doctrine...

...only to find their positions quickly overrun.

It helps that the elegant cadence of the new Doctrine evokes the timeless qualities of the founding statements of the Way. People who are familiar with how difficult it is to get the modern Synod to agree on anything, are struck by the strength and clarity of the prose. There is widespread praise for Clarice Novarion and her fellow priests charged with drafting the new Doctrine, especially from those who feared that the new Doctrine might be tediously lengthy to flatter the authors or pointlessly banal to render it acceptable to the widest possible audience. Those who expected the worst are counfounded to discover the new Doctrine is ''poetic'' - both articulate and eloquent in equal measures.

More importantly, the wording of new Doctrine is powerfully ''inspiring''. It presents a vision of the Way that is based on choice and action. It requires that people acknowledge that Virtue is the birthright of all thinking beings. It demands all thinking beings aspire to enlightenment through the pursuit of Virtue as their highest destiny. It achieves the impossible, satisfying Urizen [[questor|questors]] who demand a Doctrine that withstands intellectual rigour, Highborn [[guardian|guardians]] who want words of wisdom to adorn their armaments to fortify the soul, and Marcher [[friar|friars]] who want an exhilarating sermon they can deliver under draughty canvas in a muddy field.

As ''Ephram of Rivers Hold'' calmly puts it, "You can tell this is the right change, because the moment you hear it, you sense at once that this is what the Doctrines of Faith ''should always have been''. In a a sense this is what they ''have'' always been. This is what we have always believed - only now has the Synod found the words to describe it. They have done their job, now let us do ours." This acceptance that the Synod has got this powerfully and inspiring right is not ubiquitous but it is widespread.

In other times a statement by the Synod that was this significant and far-reaching might create the [[opportunity]] for a [[mandate]], a chance to use the powerful benefits of [[liao]] to spread the teaching to every corner of the Empire to bring about results quickly. But the change of doctrine wins over so many Imperial priests that it is eagerly embraced and swiftly promulgated across all ten nations. Supplies of personal liao are expended creating [[aura|auras]] to energise, enthuse, and inspire those who seek to spread acceptance of the new Doctrine to every part of society.

The result of this mandate is a flower with three petals. The first is a surge in [[Pride]] in the Empire and the Way. These are dark times with many threats looming, ad arguably the enemies of the Empire have never loomed larger. The change of doctrine gives people faith that the Empire will find some way to embrace Virtue ''and'' triumph over its enemies. The second is a renewed interest in the Assembly of the Way; the Assembly whose purpose is to speak with authority on matters related to the wider practice of the faith, and of doctrine. Priests of every virtue are taking in a renewed interest in the words of the often over-looked Assembly. The final petal is the acceptance of [[orc|orcs]]; prejudice against the orcs has been declining and this puts a nail in its head. Anyone being leery of an orc just because they are an orc is likely to be given short shrift from here on.

===Renewal of the Faith===
* '''Statements of Principle that urge people to support Virtuous causes are more likely to result in a mandate'''
* '''Statements of Principle that call out unvirtuous decisions are more likely to result in a mandate'''
There's been a lot of disruption in the Way in the last ten years or so. The faith was nearly split by the [[Schisms_and_Heresies#The_Yaelian_Schism|Yaelian Schism]]; the role of the orcs in the Way was a matter of constant discussion; the [[Grey Pilgrim|Grey Pilgrims]] triggered questions about the ways the different nations celebrated their faith; the Severin Encyclical caused a year of spirited debate as to the role of the Synod in the politics of the Empire; the [[Sword scholar|sword scholars]] ignited a struggle between the General Assembly and the Virtue Assemblies; and many more besides.

For some, the Empire and the Way seemed to have become too much about politics, rather than about the pursuit of enlightenment. With the change of Doctrine, many of those questioning the faith in the Way feel... empowered. As if their faith and the Empire it supports have taken an indefinable step towards something greater, a higher destiny that accepts orcs and humans as equals. It's heady stuff.

This renewal of faith has created a rising tide of Pride in the Empire's future. The Imperial institutions may be beset by problems, but when has this ever not been true. The Declaration of Enlightenment demonstrates clearly what the purpose of the Empire is - to encourage orcs and humans to reach for the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.

Or at least what is ''should'' be. If this change of doctrine is to ''mean'' anything, people want it to be reflected in the way the Empire acts. Citizens, pilgrims, and priests are looking to the Synod to see that it is ensuring that the pursuit of Virtue is at the heart of everything the Empire does - and they are eager to support it. For the coming year, [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] that urge people to embrace a cause through a cogent call to Virtue will be more likely to result in a mandate - as will those statements that call out choices and actions that were made in a way that denied Virtue.
<div style="float:right; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Cardinal of the Way.png|caption=[[Cardinal of the Way|Cardinal]] Hywel Summer Crow guides the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Assembly of the Way]].|align=right|width=450}}</div>

===Look to the Way===
* '''Priests with congregations who preach the Way this downtime, and until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE, receive 2 additional Synod votes '''
* '''Statements of Principle passed by the Assembly of the Way at this summit will have enhanced impact'''
The Assembly of the Way is assumed to provide leadership to the priests and pilgrims who do not prioritise any one particular virtue. They are expected to be well versed in matters of [[the Way]] in general, so that they can speak with authority on matters related to the wider practice of the faith, and of [[The Doctrines of the Faith|doctrine]].

In recent years, the prominence of the Assembly of the Way has declined, with more focus being placed on the seven Assemblies of Virtue. With this major change to doctrine, however, there is a dramatic increase in interest among both priests and lay folk as to what those priests who prioritise the Way as a whole over the teachings of a specific virtue, have to say.

Priests who preached The Way after the Autumn Equinox rather than a single virtue, find their congregations swollen, receiving 2 additional votes in the Imperial Synod as a consequence. This benefit will continue for a year, until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE. Each season the congregations of priests who [[Congregation#Downtime_Options|preach the Way]] will gain the additional votes at the next summit - assuming nothing changes in the meantime.

During the coming Winter Solstice however, eyes are on the Assembly of the Way as acknowledged custodians of the doctrines as distinct from the virtues. Any [[statement of principle]] upheld by the Assembly of the Way with a greater majority will be examined by priests across the Empire - not just those who preach the Way in preference to individual virtues. This will mean that, for this summit only, statements of principle in the Assembly of the Way with a greater majority will [[Statement_of_principle#Outcome|prove as powerful]] as a statement of principle with a greater majority in the General Assembly, provided it is speaking of the Way, the doctrines, or the new Doctrine of Enlightenment.

===A Different Time===
* '''The change of Doctrine has increased acceptance of orcs, notably those of Apulus, Mournwold and the Great Forest'''
* '''We have updated the national briefs to reflect the widespread adoption of these changes'''
The widespread and passionate embrace of the Change of Doctrine serves as a powerful panacea to prejudice across the empire. It helps ease acceptance of the [[Mournwold Orcs]], making it impossible not to recognise them as fellow Marchers. It nurtures the growing relationships between the [[Great Forest Orcs]] [[steading|steadings]] in [[Therunin]], [[Hercynia]], and [[Miaren]]. Ironically it makes life more challenging for the Apulus Orcs; before there were still some inclined to see them as benighted creatures not worthy of the attentions of the rich and powerful. Now they are acknowledged as the equal of any Merchant Prince, worthy competitors in the grand game of the cities.

The benefits are felt beyond those those nations where Orcs are settling. It helps that the [[Imperial Orcs]] armies have been active in every nation in the last few years, fighting alongside Imperial soldiers, publicly supporting the Empire. It is increasingly difficult for any citizen to deny that the Empire has grown stronger because of their presence and their role in it. Discrimination and prejudice towards orcs has been steadily dwindling in recent times, the change of doctrine accelerates that process. It can't change the past, but it can change the Empire and lay out a new future.

==The Wider Way==
* '''The Change of Doctrine is public, and quickly communicated to pilgrims of the Way in other countries'''

Imperial priests are quick to send letters communicating the change of doctrine to pilgrims of the Way in other lands. Of course such letters take weeks or more to arrive, few have the resources and the mana for a [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messenger]], so the responses are likely to play out in the coming seasons as nations slowly take account of the change and what it means. There are a few immediate responses however.

===The Sumaah Republic===
* '''The Republic do not accept this change of doctrine... for now'''
* '''They will encourage those who look to Timoj to retain the Doctrine of Human Destiny'''
The [[Sumaah Republic]] greet the news of the change of doctrine with interest; cordial and polite. They will certainly discuss the implications of these changes the Imperials have made to ''their'' understanding of the Way. Yet, as with the addition of the so-called “orc doctrines” the discussion will take time and there's absolutely no certainty they would accept anything similar. There is a world of difference between a doctrine that enshrines humanity as having a unique destiny, and a doctrine that says all beings are capable of virtue.

It would be a mistake to confuse this reticence for condemnation, however. The Sumaah are by no means up in arms at the changes. They aren't denouncing the Imperial Synod as [[Religious_crime#Heresy|heretics]] or [[Religious_crime#Blasphemy|blasphemers]]. From what limited correspondence there has been there's a lot of interest in the implications of virtue being fundamental to ''everyone'', that strength of spirit and enlightenment of soul can be something to strive for while alive. It will just take ''time'' - a few decades at least. The fact the two great nations have chosen to [[On the other side|cordially split]] their faiths from one another helps here significantly – if the Empire were trying to force this change on the Sumaah they would push back. As it is they recognise it simply as another difference in the approaches the two Synods take to the world, and the spread of the Way.

They politely inform their opposite numbers of the Assembly of the Nine that they plan to enact a mandate during the Winter Solstice that will urge Sumaah missionaries, and those who look to Timoj for guidance, to both reject the Doctrine of Enlightenment and retain the Doctrine of Human Destiny ''until such time as it has been carefully weighed, considered, and judged''.

Of course, once the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]] is complete, there will be few outside the borders of the Sumaah Republic that will look to their Assembly for guidance - but that great work is still some distance from being completed. In the meantime, the Sumaah will continue to send out their missionaries, and continue to establish their own perceived moral authority.

===The Commonwealth===
* '''The Commonwealth are enthusiastic about the change of Doctrine and what it portends for the Empire'''
The Commonwealth already integrates orc citizens within its nation. The Way is a minority religion among them, but those pilgrims of the Commonwealth enthusiastically welcome this change. The Commonwealth enthusiasm goes further - even those who aren't adherents of the faith approve of the development. The Empire has gone up in their estimation.

===The Sarcophan===
* '''The Sarcophan regard this as a judicious well-considered change'''
The Sarcophan are a little more restrained; they have much less interaction with orcs for a start, and their interests are much less spiritual in general. The majority of Sarcophan who are not adherents of the Way they seem to regard this change of doctrine as a shrewd, judicious move, one that will make it easier for the Empire to engage in trade and diplomacy with their neighbours with less spiritual baggage weighing them down.

There are pilgrims of the Way in Delves however, and many more than there were a decade ago due to the presence of the [[Bishop_of_the_Navigators#Cathedral_of_the_Navigators|Cathedral of the Navigators]] built by the Empire and ''House of the Delves'' constructed by the Summah. They are receptive to the new Doctrine, but acceptance will be slow due to the missionaries from Timoj urging caution. The General Assembly, the Assembly of the Way, or the Assembly of Nine could enact a mandate to promote acceptance of the new Doctrine.

{{Mandate|mandate=Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as our understanding does. The Doctrine of Human Destiny has been weighed and found wanting. The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue. We send (named priest) with 25 liao to urge adherents of the Way in Sarcophan to follow the lead of Bastion in embracing this change.|assembly=General Assembly, Assembly of the Way, or Assembly of Nine}}

If this mandate is passed, then it will increase engagement with and acceptance of the new Doctrine among both established pilgrims and converts in the Delves. As things stand the Change of Doctrine could take years to get widespread acceptance, but this mandate would shorten that time dramatically. However it is likely to annoy the Summah, who will take the view that they are being more even-handed with the faithful in Sarcophan by urging people not to accept the change of doctrine. It won't trigger the Sarcophan limitation on the two cathedrals that they remain civil and avoid "brawling in the streets" but it would raise tensions.

One peculiar fact that crops up, one of the Sarcophan merchants happens to mention that they discussed the Change of Doctrine with the Elakar and they were apparently very impressed with them. He was gone before anyone could ask for more details which is unfortunate because nobody has the slightest idea what that means, who the Elakar are, or why they might have an opinion on this change of doctrine. It doesn't seem to be a Sarcophan word, or refer to anyone or anything in the Delves.

===The Asaveans===
There are no open followers of the Way in the [[Asavean Archipelago]] these days, and it's hard to tell whether the secret pilgrims - most of whom are slaves - even know of if. Most of the hidden followers of the Way in Asavea look to nearby Timoj for guidance and support rather than Bastion, but it varies wildly. The Empire's involvement with the followers of the Way in Asavea has been variable, whether it was Imperial mercenaries fighting on both sides during the short-lived civil war that engulfed the northern provinces, the establishment of the doomed Temple of the Seven Virtues in Nemoria, or the recent [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#The_Calatropos_Coast_Evacuation|mission of mercy]] to Calatropos. But the message of the doctrine of enlightment is profound, especially for people who are not free. If they have not heard it, perhaps they should.

The General Assembly, the Assembly of the Way, the Assembly of Nine, or the Highborn assembly could enact a mandate to urge missionaries and [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] to take news of the doctrine to the hidden pilgrims of Asavea.

{{Mandate|mandate=The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue and its role in giving us the strength, knowledge, and enlightenment to achieve our highest potential. We send (named priest) with 75 liao to urge missionaries and wayfarers to bring this news to the hidden sects of Asavea, no matter the risks.|assembly=General Assembly, Assembly of the Way, Assembly of Nine, Highborn Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, it will speak to those with a zeal for bringing the Way to the furthest corners of the Known World, and encourage them to make the perilous trip to Asavea to make contact with the hidden sects of pilgrims there. This is monumentally risky for the individuals who are inspired to do so. Beyond the fact the Empire is at war with Asavea, there are rumours the priesthood there has started executing adherents of the Way wherever they are uncovered. Many of those who answer this call ''will not return'' - they will become martyrs of the Way. But whatever else happens, they will ensure the people of Asavea who need it most will hear of the change of doctrine, and the promise it holds out for those who embrace Virtue.

==Others==
* '''The response of the Iron Confederacy is not fit to print'''
* '''There is no official response from any barbarian nation, but the Grendel are smug about the change of doctrine'''
The [[Religious_crime#Idolatry|idolators]] in the [[Iron Confederacy]] worship an entire pantheon of patently made-up gods, some of which may or may not be eternals. They despise the Way and their society is unashamedly one that relegates all orcs to second class citizens. The Iron nobility are all naga, which sometimes gives the impression that ordinary humans and others with lineage are not considered their equal - but orcs certainly aren't. Their response to the change of doctrine is not fit to print.

There is no official channel for informing the barbarian nations who the Empire is at war with of the Change of Doctrine. It seems very unlikely that the [[Jotun]] or the [[Druj]] will care one way or the other. However it is clear that somehow the [[Grendel]] have found out about it and their response might best be described as "smug". Of course this is the Grendel; acting smug is their typical response to every situation.

In the [[Principalities of Jarm]], the news is greeted with disinterest; the magician-princes do not enourage public discussion of religion. But those who do practice the Way, albeit in private, will know of the change. Slavery remains endemic in Jarm, the basis for much of their society, but comparatively few of their slaves are orcs, most are human. As such, the Change of Doctrine should be relatively unthreatening to them.

The [[Axos|Axou]] are positive about the Change of Doctrine. They have always been clear that the Labyrinth is a place of eternal suffering, where the Malign Creator works its evil on mortal souls, grinding away every remnant of their personality until they are completely helpless. Any change of doctrine that means the Empire reduces the emphasis on reincarnation as the spiritual focus of their faith is one the Axou approve of. They regard this change as a profound decision, one that moves the Empire to a more enlightened state, better able to perceive the evil that the Creator works on the world.

==Future Questions==
The change of doctrine is new. Priests of the way are busy discussing among themselves and with their congregations what it means. The words of Cardinal de Courdefer remind everyone that the Way is a living faith, its doctrines subject to change as pilgrims learn about the world and their place in it. There are a lot of questions but the basic seem straightforward enough.

The Doctrine of Human Destiny has been weighed and found wanting, but this has caused a resurgence of interest in other questions. What is the role of the Exemplars and Paragons in the faith, for example? The Doctrine of the Paragon feels adrift, without the Doctrine of Human Destiny shoring it up - more concerned with the procedure for recognising a paragon than in explaining what one is. The new doctrine doesn't deny the importance of the paragons - the Doctrine of Paragon still exists - but it challenges the perception that the paragons are capable of personifying virtue or the full potential of humanity.

The Doctrine of the Creator still speaks of human destiny, rather than the destiny of thinking beings. Should it, too, be changed? And what of the Orc Doctrines? Since they were upheld, the Empire has encountered many new groups of orcs many of whom think differently to the Imperial Orcs. Are they still clear enough, still fit for purpose?

The Imperial Synod have achieved something momentous, with this widely-appreciated change of Doctrine, affecting the Imperial faith, the thing that ties the whole Empire together. They have improved the Way, strengthened the Empire and inspired the faithful. What next?

Part of this together

2024-04-19T13:58:17Z

Cathtice: /* Overview */

<quote by="The Doctrine of Enlightenment"><big style='font-family: cursive; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-style: normal;'>''Virtue lies in choice and action. Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species, guiding and inspiring both orcs and humans to their highest destiny. Through the practice of Virtue, orcs and humans develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.''</big></quote>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Clarice.jpg|caption=During the Autumn Equinox Lady Clarice Novarion presented the Doctrine of Enlightenment to the General Assembly.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox, the General Assembly upheld a [[change of doctrine]] proposed by '''Lady Clarice Novarion''' of [[Dawn]]. It is a fundamental change to the [[Doctrines of the Faith]]. It builds on the work begun by the [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] priests '''Bonewall Rek''' and '''Bonewall Cole''', which saw the addition of the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Howling_Abyss|Doctrine of the Howling Abyss]] and the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Ancestors|Doctrine of the Ancestors]], but is even more seismic in its implications for the faithful.

This change officially marks a fundamental shift in the Way within the Empire. Accepting that "''the power of virtue transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" accepts that both [[orc|orcs]] and humans can gain strength from virtue. It also raises the implication that there is more to the pursuit of virtue than "just" speeding passage through the Labyrinth - scholars are already debating what it means to for someone to "''develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.''"

The change of doctrine is embraced with surprisingly little pushback within the Empire itself. For many priests of the Way - all save the most hidebound - this change feels natural. Ever since the Imperial Orcs were accepted as the tenth nation, they argue, this has to be where the Way goes. It's been two generations since the Imperial Orcs became a nation. One cannot look at fellow citizens, people prepared to fight and die to protect you and your way of life, and fail to see the Virtue in their actions. Only the most Hateful, the most blinkered and arrogant, was not troubled by the Doctrine of Human Destiny.
{{SOP|by=Clarice Novarion, Change of Doctrine|when=Autumn 385YE|vote=greater Majority (3013-159)|statement=To remove the Doctrine of Human Destiny and replace it with the Doctrine of Enlightenment. The virtuous inspire others to greatness; they do not demean them. Let us celebrate the spiritual power of Virtue without degrading our fellow Pilgrims. Let us inspire orcs and humans as equals in the Way with a true expression of Pride and Ambition.}}
{{SOP|statement=The Change of Doctrine proposed by Clarice Novarion will cause serious thought and concern among the Empire's priests. We remind you all, with thanks to (Ironvigil Rikkz the Relentless), that Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as the Empire does. We must not <u>fear</u> change, but embrace virtue where we find it.|by=Viviane de Coeurdefer, Assembly of Nine|vote=Greater Majority (8-0) and Primacy|when=Autumn Equinox}}

==The Self-Fulfilling Mandate==
There are inevitable attempts to try to pick apart the new Doctrine looking for a flaw. As priests across the Empire pore over the new doctrine, and begin to discuss it, there are always people who are happiest finding fault in the works of others. Some make lofty philosophical arguments about what is meant by enlightenment , while others critique the explicit reference to orcs and humans, asking what this means for the hylje? A small army of carpers, cavilers, scolds, pettifoggers and smellfungus take up arms to do battle with the new Doctrine...

...only to find their positions quickly overrun.

It helps that the elegant cadence of the new Doctrine evokes the timeless qualities of the founding statements of the Way. People who are familiar with how difficult it is to get the modern Synod to agree on anything, are struck by the strength and clarity of the prose. There is widespread praise for Clarice Novarion and her fellow priests charged with drafting the new Doctrine, especially from those who feared that the new Doctrine might be tediously lengthy to flatter the authors or pointlessly banal to render it acceptable to the widest possible audience. Those who expected the worst are counfounded to discover the new Doctrine is ''poetic'' - both articulate and eloquent in equal measures.

More importantly, the wording of new Doctrine is powerfully ''inspiring''. It presents a vision of the Way that is based on choice and action. It requires that people acknowledge that Virtue is the birthright of all thinking beings. It demands all thinking beings aspire to enlightenment through the pursuit of Virtue as their highest destiny. It achieves the impossible, satisfying Urizen [[questor|questors]] who demand a Doctrine that withstands intellectual rigour, Highborn [[guardian|guardians]] who want words of wisdom to adorn their armaments to fortify the soul, and Marcher [[friar|friars]] who want an exhilarating sermon they can deliver under draughty canvas in a muddy field.

As ''Ephram of Rivers Hold'' calmly puts it, "You can tell this is the right change, because the moment you hear it, you sense at once that this is what the Doctrines of Faith ''should always have been''. In a a sense this is what they ''have'' always been. This is what we have always believed - only now has the Synod found the words to describe it. They have done their job, now let us do ours." This acceptance that the Synod has got this powerfully and inspiring right is not ubiquitous but it is widespread.

In other times a statement by the Synod that was this significant and far-reaching might create the [[opportunity]] for a [[mandate]], a chance to use the powerful benefits of [[liao]] to spread the teaching to every corner of the Empire to bring about results quickly. But the change of doctrine wins over so many Imperial priests that it is eagerly embraced and swiftly promulgated across all ten nations. Supplies of personal liao are expended creating [[aura|auras]] to energize, enthuse, and inspire those who seek to spread acceptance of the new Doctrine to every part of society.

The result of this mandate is a flower with three petals. The first is a surge in [[Pride]] in the Empire and the Way. These are dark times with many threats looming, ad arguably the enemies of the Empire have never loomed larger. The change of doctrine gives people faith that the Empire will find some way to embrace Virtue ''and'' triumph over its enemies. The second is a renewed interest in the Assembly of the Way; the Assembly whose purpose is to speak with authority on matters related to the wider practice of the faith, and of doctrine. Priests of every virtue are taking in a renewed interest in the words of the often over-looked Assembly. The final petal is the acceptance of [[orc|orcs]]; prejudice against the orcs has been declining and this puts a nail in its head. Anyone being leery of an orc just because they are an orc is likely to be given short shrift from here on.

===Renewal of the Faith===
* '''Statements of Principle that urge people to support Virtuous causes are more likely to result in a mandate'''
* '''Statements of Principle that call out unvirtuous decisions are more likely to result in a mandate'''
There's been a lot of disruption in the Way in the last ten years or so. The faith was nearly split by the [[Schisms_and_Heresies#The_Yaelian_Schism|Yaelian Schism]]; the role of the orcs in the Way was a matter of constant discussion; the [[Grey Pilgrim|Grey Pilgrims]] triggered questions about the ways the different nations celebrated their faith; the Severin Encyclical caused a year of spirited debate as to the role of the Synod in the politics of the Empire; the [[Sword scholar|sword scholars]] ignited a struggle between the General Assembly and the Virtue Assemblies; and many more besides.

For some, the Empire and the Way seemed to have become too much about politics, rather than about the pursuit of enlightenment. With the change of Doctrine, many of those questioning the faith in the Way feel... empowered. As if their faith and the Empire it supports have taken an indefinable step towards something greater, a higher destiny that accepts orcs and humans as equals. It's heady stuff.

This renewal of faith has created a rising tide of Pride in the Empire's future. The Imperial institutions may be best by problems, but when has this ever not been true. The Declartion of Enlightenment demonstrates clearly what the purpose of the Empire is - to encourage orcs and humans to reach for the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.

Or at least what is ''should'' be. If this change of doctrine is to ''mean'' anything, people want it to be reflected in the way the Empire acts. Citizens, pilgrims, and priests are looking to the Synod to see that it is ensuring that the pursuit of Virtue is at the heart of everything the Empire does - and they are eager to support it. For the coming year, [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] that urge people to embrace a cause through a cogent call to Virtue will be more likely to result in a mandate - as will those statements that call out choices and actions that were made in a way that denied Virtue.
<div style="float:right; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Cardinal of the Way.png|caption=[[Cardinal of the Way|Cardinal]] Hywel Summer Crow guides the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Assembly of the Way]].|align=right|width=450}}</div>

===Look to the Way===
* '''Priests with congregations who preach the Way this downtime, and until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE, receive 2 additional Synod votes '''
* '''Statements of Principle passed by the Assembly of the Way at this summit will have enhanced impact'''
The Assembly of the Way is assumed to provide leadership to the priests and pilgrims who do not prioritise any one particular virtue. They are expected to be well versed in matters of [[the Way]] in general, so that they can speak with authority on matters related to the wider practice of the faith, and of [[The Doctrines of the Faith|doctrine]].

In recent years, the prominence of the Assembly of the Way has declined, with more focus being placed on the seven Assemblies of Virtue. With this major change to doctrine, however, there is a dramatic increase in interest among both priests and lay folk as to what those priests who prioritize the Way as a whole over the teachings of a specific virtue, have to say.

Priests who preached The Way after the Autumn Equinox rather than a single virtue, find their congregations swollen, receiving 2 additional votes in the Imperial Synod as a consequence. This benefit will continue for a year, until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE. Each season the congregations of priests who [[Congregation#Downtime_Options|preach the Way]] will gain the additional votes at the next summit - assuming nothing changes in the meantime.

During the coming Winter Solstice however, eyes are on the Assembly of the Way as acknowledged custodians of the doctrines as distinct from the virtues. Any [[statement of principle]] upheld by the Assembly of the Way with a greater majority will be examined by priests across the Empire - not just those who preach the Way in preference to individual virtues. This will mean that, for this summit only, statements of principle in the Assembly of the Way with a greater majority will [[Statement_of_principle#Outcome|prove as powerful]] as a statement of principle with a greater majority in the General Assembly, provided it is speaking of the Way, the doctrines, or the new Doctrine of Enlightenment.

===A Different Time===
* '''The change of Doctrine has increased acceptance of orcs, notably those of Apulus, Mournwold and the Great Forest'''
* '''We have updated the national briefs to reflect the widespread adoption of these changes'''
The widespread and passionate embrace of the Change of Doctrine, serves as a powerful panacea to prejudice across the empire. It helps ease acceptance of the [[Mournwold Orcs]], making it impossible not to recognise them as fellow Marchers. It nurtures the growing relationships between the [[Great Forest Orcs]] [[steading|steadings]] in [[Therunin]], [[Hercynia]], and [[Miaren]]. Ironically it makes life more challenging for the Apulus Orcs; before there were still some inclined to see them as benighted creatures not worthy of the attentions of the rich and powerful. Now they are acknowledged as the equal of any Merchant Prince, worthy competitors in the grand game of the cities.

The benefits are felt beyond those those nations where Orcs are settling. It helps that the [[Imperial Orcs]] armies have been active in every nation in the last few years, fighting alongside Imperial soldiers, publicly supporting the Empire. It is increasingly difficult for any citizen to deny that the Empire has not grown stronger because of their presence and their role in it. Discrimination and prejudice towards orcs has been steadily dwindling in recent times, the change of doctrine accelerates that process. It can't change the past, but it can change the Empire and lay out a new future.

==The Wider Way==
* '''The Change of Doctrine is public, and quickly communicated to pilgrims of the Way in other countries'''

Imperial priests are quick to send letters communicating the change of doctrine to pilgrims of the Way in other lands. Of course such letters take weeks or more to arrive, few have the resources and the mana for a [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messenger]], so the responses are likely to play out in the coming seasons as nations slowly take account of the change and what it means. There are a few immediate responses however.

===The Sumaah Republic===
* '''The Republic do not accept this change of doctrine... for now'''
* '''They will encourage those who look to Timoj to retain the Doctrine of Human Destiny'''
The [[Sumaah Republic]] greet the news of the change of doctrine with interest; cordial and polite. They will certainly discuss the implications of these changes the Imperials have made to ''their'' understanding of the Way. Yet, as with the addition of the so-called “orc doctrines” the discussion will take time and there's absolutely no certainty they would accept anything similar. There is a world of difference between a doctrine that enshrines humanity as having a unique destiny, and a doctrine that says all beings are capable of virtue.

It would be a mistake to confuse this reticence for condemnation, however. The Sumaah are by no means up in arms at the changes. They aren't denouncing the Imperial Synod as [[Religious_crime#Heresy|heretics]] or [[Religious_crime#Blasphemy|blasphemers]]. From what limited correspondence there has been there's a lot of interest in the implications of virtue being fundamental to ''everyone'', that strength of spirit and enlightenment of soul can be something to strive for while alive. It will just take ''time'' - a few decades at least. The fact the two great nations have chosen to [[On the other side|cordially split]] their faiths from one another helps here significantly – if the Empire were trying to force this change on the Sumaah they would push back. As it is they recognise it simply as another difference in the approaches the two Synods take to the world, and the spread of the Way.

They politely inform their opposite numbers of the Assembly of the Nine that they plan to enact a mandate during the Winter Solstice that will urge Sumaah missionaries, and those who look to Timoj for guidance, to both reject the Doctrine of Enlightenment and retain the Doctrine of Human Destiny ''until such time as it has been carefully weighed, considered, and judged''.

Of course, once the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]] is complete, there will be few outside the borders of the Sumaah Republic that will look to their Assembly for guidance - but that great work is still some distance from being completed. In the meantime, the Sumaah will continue to send out their missionaries, and continue to establish their own perceived moral authority.

===The Commonwealth===
* '''The Commonwealth are enthusiastic about the change of Doctrine and what it portends for the Empire'''
The Commonwealth already integrates orc citizens within its nation. The Way is a minority religion among them, but those pilgrims of the Commonwealth enthusiastically welcome this change. The Commonwealth enthusiasm goes further - even those who aren't adherents of the faith approve of the development. The Empire has gone up in their estimation.

===The Sarcophan===
* '''The Sarcophan regard this as a judicious well-considered change'''
The Sarcophan are a little more restrained; they have much less interaction with orcs for a start, and their interests are much less spiritual in general. The majority of Sarcophan who are not adherents of the Way they seem to regard this change of doctrine as a shrewd, judicious move, one that will make it easier for the Empire to engage in trade and diplomacy with their neighbours with less spiritual baggage weighing them down.

There are pilgrims of the Way in Delves however, and many more than there were a decade ago due to the presence of the [[Bishop_of_the_Navigators#Cathedral_of_the_Navigators|Cathedral of the Navigators]] built by the Empire and ''House of the Delves'' constructed by the Summah. They are receptive to the new Doctrine, but acceptance will be slow due to the missionaries from Timoj urging caution. The General Assembly, the Assembly of the Way, or the Assembly of Nine could enact a mandate to promote acceptance of the new Doctrine.

{{Mandate|mandate=Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as our understanding does. The Doctrine of Human Destiny has been weighed and found wanting. The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue. We send (named priest) with 25 liao to urge adherents of the Way in Sarcophan to follow the lead of Bastion in embracing this change.|assembly=General Assembly, Assembly of the Way, or Assembly of Nine}}

If this mandate is passed, then it will increase engagement with and acceptance of the new Doctrine among both established pilgrims and converts in the Delves. As things stand the Change of Doctrine could take years to get widespread acceptance, but this mandate would shorten that time dramatically. However it is likely to annoy the Summah, who will take the view that they are being more even-handed with the faithful in Sarcophan by urging people not to accept the change of doctrine. It won't trigger the Sarcophan limitation on the two cathedrals that they remain civil and avoid "brawling in the streets" but it would raise tensions.

One peculiar fact that crops up, one of the Sarcophan merchants happens to mention that they discussed the Change of Doctrine with the Elakar and they were apparently very impressed with them. He was gone before anyone could ask for more details which is unfortunate because nobody has the slightest idea what that means, who the Elakar are, or why they might have an opinion on this change of doctrine. It doesn't seem to be a Sarcophan word, or refer to anyone or anything in the Delves.

===The Asaveans===
There are no open followers of the Way in the [[Asavean Archipelago]] these days, and it's hard to tell whether the secret pilgrims - most of whom are slaves - even know of if. Most of the hidden followers of the Way in Asavea look to nearby Timoj for guidance and support rather than Bastion, but it varies wildly. The Empire's involvement with the followers of the Way in Asavea has been variable, whether it was Imperial mercenaries fighting on both sides during the short-lived civil war that engulfed the northern provinces, the establishment of the doomed Temple of the Seven Virtues in Nemoria, or the recent [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#The_Calatropos_Coast_Evacuation|mission of mercy]] to Calatropos. But the message of the doctrine of enlightment is profound, especially for people who are not free. If they have not heard it, perhaps they should.

The General Assembly, the Assembly of the Way, the Assembly of Nine, or the Highborn assembly could enact a mandate to urge missionaries and [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] to take news of the doctrine to the hidden pilgrims of Asavea.

{{Mandate|mandate=The Doctrine of Enlightenment provides a deeper understanding of the Way of Virtue and its role in giving us the strength, knowledge, and enlightenment to achieve our highest potential. We send (named priest) with 75 liao to urge missionaries and wayfarers to bring this news to the hidden sects of Asavea, no matter the risks.|assembly=General Assembly, Assembly of the Way, Assembly of Nine, Highborn Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, it will speak to those with a zeal for bringing the Way to the furthest corners of the Known World, and encourage them to make the perilous trip to Asavea to make contact with the hidden sects of pilgrims there. This is monumentally risky for the individuals who are inspired to do so. Beyond the fact the Empire is at war with Asavea, there are rumours the priesthood there has started executing adherents of the Way wherever they are uncovered. Many of those who answer this call ''will not return'' - they will become martyrs of the Way. But whatever else happens, they will ensure the people of Asavea who need it most will hear of the change of doctrine, and the promise it holds out for those who embrace Virtue.

==Others==
* '''The response of the Iron Confederacy is not fit to print'''
* '''There is no official response from any barbarian nation, but the Grendel are smug about the change of doctrine'''
The [[Religious_crime#Idolatry|idolators]] in the [[Iron Confederacy]] worship an entire pantheon of patently made-up gods, some of which may or may not be eternals. They despise the Way and their society is unashamedly one that relegates all orcs to second class citizens. The Iron nobility are all naga, which sometimes gives the impression that ordinary humans and others with lineage are not considered their equal - but orcs certainly aren't. Their response to the change of doctrine is not fit to print.

There is no official channel for informing the barbarian nations who the Empire is at war with of the Change of Doctrine. It seems very unlikely that the [[Jotun]] or the [[Druj]] will care one way or the other. However it is clear that somehow the [[Grendel]] have found out about it and their response might best be described as "smug". Of course this is the Grendel; acting smug is their typical response to every situation.

In the [[Principalities of Jarm]], the news is greeted with disinterest; the magician-princes do not enourage public discussion of religion. But those who do practice the Way, albeit in private, will know of the change. Slavery remains endemic in Jarm, the basis for much of their society, but comparatively few of their slaves are orcs, most are human. As such, the Change of Doctrine should be relatively unthreatening to them.

The [[Axos|Axou]] are positive about the Change of Doctrine. They have always been clear that the Labyrinth is a place of eternal suffering, where the Malign Creator works its evil on mortal souls, grinding away every remnant of their personality until they are completely helpless. Any change of doctrine that means the Empire reduces the emphasis on reincarnation as the spiritual focus of their faith is one the Axou approve of. They regard this change as a profound decision, one that moves the Empire to a more enlightened state, better able to perceive the evil that the Creator works on the world.

==Future Questions==
The change of doctrine is new. Priests of the way are busy discussing among themselves and with their congregations what it means. The words of Cardinal de Courdefer remind everyone that the Way is a living faith, its doctrines subject to change as pilgrims learn about the world and their place in it. There are a lot of questions but the basic seem straightforward enough.

The Doctrine of Human Destiny has been weighed and found wanting, but this has caused a resurgence of interest in other questions. What is the role of the Exemplars and Paragons in the faith, for example? The Doctrine of the Paragon feels adrift, without the Doctrine of Human Destiny shoring it up - more concerned with the procedure for recognising a paragon than in explaining what one is. The new doctrine doesn't deny the importance of the paragons - the Doctrine of Paragon still exists - but it challenges the perception that the paragons are capable of personifying virtue or the full potential of humanity.

The Doctrine of the Creator still speaks of human destiny, rather than the destiny of thinking beings. Should it, too, be changed? And what of the Orc Doctrines? Since they were upheld, the Empire has encountered many new groups of orcs many of whom think differently to the Imperial Orcs. Are they still clear enough, still fit for purpose?

The Imperial Synod have achieved something momentous, with this widely-appreciated change of Doctrine, affecting the Imperial faith, the thing that ties the whole Empire together. They have improved the Way, strengthened the Empire and inspired the faithful. What next?

Hear your footsteps

2024-04-14T09:44:15Z

Cathtice: /* Sermersuaq */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Rowley di Temeschwar sat down heavily, took out a little pipe, and slowly began to pack it. He silently thanked the landlady of the ''Sign of the Tower'' insisting they wrapped up warm, even if he'd felt a little silly wearing gloves without fingertips. He glanced over at Ziri, who was examining the stonework.

"Ziri," he said slowly. "What in the name of seven paragons are we doing here?"

She ignored him for a moment, and carefully paced out the width of the ruined tower before stopping and crouching down to peer at something. The whole place was a monument to some battle or other the Marchers had either tragically won or heroically lost, at some point. These people had ridiculously long memories and treated events that took place centuries ago as if they had happened to themselves or at least to their parents.

"We're looking into a gang of Agramant influenced sorcerers," she said when she had finished whatever she was doing. She stood up, dusting invisible dirt from her cassock.

"We aren't really though, are we?" said Rowley. "We're looking for some magic bell that went missing a century or more ago. Not even a cursed bell that might pop up and, I don't know, drive people mad or attract ghosts or something? Just an old bell."

He was feeling waspish. If he was honest, it was partly because he was still slightly hung over. He'd only intended to have a few small pints with the farmers in the taproom, but it turned out that ''everyone'' had a story about Brian's Bell and Tunstall's Ghost. He distantly remembered one of the farmers trying to convince him the sorcerers had come over from Wayford and that he and Ziri should go there first thing in the morning, round everyone up, and hang half of them as a warning to the rest not to go having fights in other folks' ancient towers.

Ziri frowned at him. She was Highborn, and her people were generally inclined to ''like'' old bells after all. She shook her head.

"We've been through this already. We're doing what we've been asked to do. These things, these little gangs of malefactors, they don't go away by themselves. They have to be rooted out and dealt with - preferably before they go to pieces and start tearing themselves and everyone nearby to shreds. You know this."

"Except... that's not actually why we were sent here is it?" He continued to needle. He was behaving badly, and he knew it.

"I'm no happier than you are," snapped Ziri losing her temper at last. "But at least we can try and track down where the sorcerers came from and find out if there's any risk they're still about. I know it's not likely - cannibal cults rarely manage to last a few years never mind a century - but we both know that they're like weeds. If you don't pull them out by the roots they come back. If we can track down whoever took Brian's Bell, that might lead us to an actual Agramant threat."

"You mean like the one in Sermersuaq?" he snapped back, temper rising. "Or maybe it'll lead us to whatever is causing all that trouble in Madruga - and I don't mean the Grendel. Or whatever the heck these Trudnik up in Varushka are. Or maybe there'll be a connection to one of the Grendel spy rings? Maybe that old magic bell has been sent to one of them?"

"You're behaving like a petulant child, and I can't talk to you when you're in this kind of mood," said Ziri, exasperated. He cursed himself inwardly because he knew she was right. He lit his pipe and puffed it, letting the smoke calm him a little. Ziri went back to examining the tower.

"I'm sorry," he said after a bit "Truly. I'm just.... So what have you found?"

"Nothing at all," she sighed. "It's just an old tower. Well maintained - they take their duties seriously at the ''Sign of the Tower'' and you can't fault them for that. In fact maybe you we could even learn from them Rowley. I thought there was maybe the... the echo of something, but no. It's just an old tower."

"Back to the 'Stoke, then," he said. "Maybe someone there will have a story about the missing Bell and those ruffians from Wayford we haven't heard already."

His tone was flippant, but Ziri didn't smile. They left the old tower in awkward silence, and whatever they left behind - assuming there was anything there after all these years - watched them go.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Silent Bell.png|width=300|caption=A silent bell is rarely a melodious instrument for creating music - it is a weapon for expelling [[Malign_spiritual_presences|malign spiritual presences]].|align=left}}</div>
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox the Assembly of Nine [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_196|asked]] the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Silent Bell]] to seek out a stolen object - the [[Silent Bell]] of Brian Heathford lost in 290YE, allegedly to Agramant inspired sorcerers. The Silent Bell are a sodality dedicated to [[Vigilance]], keeping a careful watch for threats to the Empire from within and without; their expertise in tracking down [[magic items]], and indeed their interest in doing so, is extremely limited. With that in mind, they've done what they can to find the bell, lost a century ago near [[Upwold#King's Stoke|King's Stoke]] in [[Upwold]].

The Silent Bell are not the only ones thinking about dark forces, the servants of Agramant and worse. The Wintermark assembly, and the assembly of Wisdom, both turned their thoughts to the things that threaten innocent people from the dark and the cold. There is an opportunity for both assemblies to take action, to do something concrete about the threats they have identified.

==The Silent Bell and a Silent Bell==
* '''The Silent Bell has been unable to locate the missing relic'''
The current preceptor of the Silent Bell, '''Malachai of the Silent Bell, from [[Casinea#Casca.E2.80.99s_Doom|Casca's Doom]]'''. He represents the public face of the sodality, but there are members in every nation across the Empire. Following the instruction of the Cardinal of Vigilance, Malachai apparently expresses some frustration. "Our calling is to gather information about internal threats to the Empire," Malachai reminds the Assembly of Nine. "Not to find missing objects, no matter how important they might be."

Despite these misgivings, the Silent Bell make an attempt to discharge the request made of them by the Assembly. Members of the Silent Bell generally seek to avoid scrutiny, but to those who know what they to look for might mark their presence in King's Stoke following the Autumn Equinox. A [[the League|League]] merchant from Tassato unexpectedly visits apparently looking for long-lost relatives; a pair of Marcher seasonal labourers spend their days working in the fields and their evenings poking around an old battle site.
{{SOP|statement=The Council of Nine directs the Silent Bell to investigate the location of the Silent Bell of Brian Heathford lost 290YE in Kingstoke, Upwold to Agramant inspired sorcerers.|by=Galen Embercast, Assembly of Nine|vote=Greater Majority 8-0|when=Autumn Equinox 385YE}}
Despite not being [[Historical research|historical researchers]], they are able to confirm that the Bell appears to be real, and that it may well be an artifact of some kind. The last wielder of the [[:Category:Regalia|regalia]] was Jillian Bevan, a [[friar]] dedicated to [[Vigilance]] who worked closely with the [[thresher|threshers]] of [[Upwold]]. In 290YE, local thresher Creg Watcher asked for her assistance dealing with what appeared to be a haunting at the pre-Imperial tower east of the village, apparently the spectre of a murderous strangler who hung themselves there ten years previously, allegedly named Amond Tunstall. Unfortunately, the threshers and Friar Bevan fell afoul of a group of sorcerers inspired by [[Agramant]] who were apparently trying to transform and unleash the unquiet spirit on the nearby village for inscrutable reasons of their own. During the resulting altercation, at the height of a thunderstorm, Friar Bevan was torn apart by feral cats and Creg Watcher was apparently possessed by the ghost and ultimately killed by the King's Stoke Militia. The sorcerers disappeared, and the bell of Brian Heathford with them.

Preceptor Malachai stresses that they have no way of telling how ''true'' this story is. It has been nearly a century since these events took place, and the Silent Bell investigators were unable to find anyone who had personally witnessed any of it. He cautions that the Assembly of Nine should take it all with a pinch of salt.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>'''The Silent Bell of Brian of Heathford'''<br>
Stories from [[the Marches]] tell of a particular [[Silent Bell]] that is widely believed to be an [[Ilium#Creating_Artefacts|artefact]] - or possibly even a [[Signs_of_the_paragon_and_exemplar#Legacy|blessed relic]]. Brian of [[Upwold#The Heath|Heathford]], the husband of a farmer from the village of the same name, was a renowned cook well known for his [[Vigilance]] and [[Wisdom]]. When local gossip suggested that the misfortunes tormenting his fellow villagers were caused by the wicked spirit of a dead sorcerer, he marched down to the spirit's haunt - a burnt out mill - and led his neighbours in a three-day long chorus of the [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs#Rough_music|rough music]]. In the end, despite its best efforts, the ghost was sent howling back into the Labyrinth, but the stout ladle that Brian used to beat on his cook-pot for three solid days and nights without sleeping, eating, drinking, or breaking his dissonant rhythm, was handed down to his children for several generations before being entrusted to the [[The_Marches_magical_traditions#Sorcery_and_the_Threshers|Threshers]] of [[Upwold]].<br><br> According to the writings of Ander Thresher in 250YE, it still possessed a potent ability to aid the ceremony of exorcism and was imbued with a "singular aura". Sadly the item was lost to the Empire in 290YE during an altercation with a [[Coven#Covens|coven]] of [[Agramant]]-inspired sorcerers threatening [[Upwold#Tower_March|King's Stoke]]. Both the Assembly of Vigilance and the Threshers of Upwold would be keen to see the item recovered and put to good use, in the event that it is still in existence.</box></div>

The sodality has a little more success investigating the presence of "a sorcerous cabal influenced by Agramant in Upwold" however. The ''Circle of the Stones'' were a [[coven]] of [[the Marches|Marcher]] magicians active between 240YE and 346YE. At various points they were active in the politics of [[Anvil]], although it seems that none of their members ever achieved a great deal of prominence. In 345YE, they came to the attention of the Silent Bell due to their proximity to the vicious murder of one of [[Empress Giselle|Empress Giselle's]] advisors, a magician called ''Michael di Sarvos'' who at the time was widely tipped to be the next [[Archmage of Autumn]]. A quiet investigation was underway when the coven was denounced to the [[Imperial Conclave]] by ''Paulus Magen di Sarvos'' as being behind several vicious curses that had struck [[the League]] cities over the previous year. During the Spring Equinox, several members were declared [[Sorcery|sorcerers]], and found guilty of receiving boons from the [[eternal]] [[Agramant]]. The coven fled to a bolt-hole in [[Upwold#Ashbrook|Ashill]] and at the Summer Solstice, Paulus and his colleagues, lead a mixed group of League citizens, Marcher threshers, and militia to confront and ultimately destroy the coven. During the fighting, the Marchers were supported by heralds of ''Blood-on-the-Snow'' removing any doubt as to their involvement with the pernicious spirit of the Winter realm.

Preceptor Malachai stresses that the evidence connecting the ''Circle of the Stones'' with the events at King's Stoke is mostly circumstantial, but it seems unlikely there was more than one organised coven of Marcher magicians dealing with Agramant and wielding disproportionately potent magic in the Marches at the same time. A proper investigation by the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] could confirm or debunk those links.

There is, however, a problem. Paulus Magen di Sarvos belonged to a coven himself. The coven known as the [[Agramant#Childer_of_the_Black_Drop|Childer of the Black Drop]]. One of the reasons his accusations were taken so seriously by the Imperial Conclave is that he and his fellow League magicians were known to be involved in a study of Agramant, aimed at finding ways to expose and defeat the various plots the eternal was believed to be involved in. Along with the other twelve members of his coven, Paulus was himself declared a sorcerer in 354YE, and ultimately killed by Imperial heroes.

To make a long story short, the Silent Bell concludes that it is likely the sorcerers who stole the magical bell were probably part of the ''Circle of the Stones''. Assuming the Bell was not destroyed or given to the eternal as an offering (something that should not be taken for granted), it is likely either in the ruins of the coven's lair in Ashill, or it was claimed by someone involved in the raid that destroyed the coven.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Agramant.jpg|caption=Accepting a gift from Agramant, no matter how beneficial it might seem, is a first step along a path that can be hard to turn aside from.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==On The Cults of Agramant==
While one group of Silent Bell are investigating the missing magic item, another group explore the Marches looking for signs of cults of Agramant. The good news, such as it is, is that they don't find any obvious signs that the eternal has any influence in the territory. On the other hand, as Preceptor Malachai cautions, that doesn't mean there are no such groups, only that they are well hidden or keeping their heads down.

According to the Silent Bell, the problem with groups influenced by Agramant - cults if you will - is that they come in three different kinds that represent three very different types of threat. The Silent Bell, after long experience, categorize them in three rough brackets: idiots, fools, and malefactors.

'''Idiots''' are the most common type of Agramant-associated group. They make only token efforts to conceal their allegiance, and revel in acts of debasement and selfishness. They openly joke about cannibalism, and barely bother to hide the joy they take at various cruelties and atrocities. At best, they claim to be "pragmatic" while cheerfully engaging in unhinged behaviour that would leave any right-thinking citizen of the Empire aghast. They rarely last very long, even the ones that try to remain secretive. Their embrace of foul practices is inevitably uncovered, and invariably leads to them going out in a frenzy of murder and chaos. Agramant himself seems unconcerned when one of these "cults" is destroyed - there is speculation that he sees their exposure and inevitable demise as a useful reminder to others of the horrors that lurk in their midst, and the foolishness of trusting anyone else.

One recurrent theme among these groups that the Silent Bell have noticed is that they invariably engage in cannibalistic excess. Agramant teaches that consuming the meat of other sapient beings is the ultimate expression of power. For some reason, they are often driven to trick otherwise virtuous folk into eating the flesh of those they have murdered. Some members of the Silent Bell, theorise that there is more to this practice than meets the eye, drawing parallels to practitioners of [[blood magic]] who use unwilling blood in their magic. Perhaps there are parallels between feeding someone stolen flesh and the misfortune that invariably befalls those trying to use stolen blood in their magic?

'''Fools''' are much rarer. These are individuals or small groups who for whatever reason have made a deal with Agramant or one of its heralds in the belief that they can get the upper hand over the Eternal. For every clever [[icewalker]] that outwits Agramant, there are three who are carefully lead into greater and greater abasement until they are indistinguishable from other cultists of Blood-on-the-Snow. They are often in denial about their own corruption, which makes it easier for them to hide in plain sight. The Childer of the Black Drop are an almost textbook example of this - a group that thought it could wield the powers of Agramant and remain virtuous. There's some supposition as well that the individual behind the destruction of the [[Sermersuaq#The_Meeting_Place|Meeting Place]] in [[Sermersuaq]] may have been one of this kind, working on behalf of Agramant to make peace with the Jotun impossible in return for selfish boons of their own. How many other seemingly innocent events or "mistakes" are actually the result of calculated malice by people who think a little evil is worth the price of a greater good?

The final category are '''malefactors''' and in the eyes of the Silent Bell they are without doubt the most dangerous. Malefactors are usually lone individuals who embrace Agramant's [[Agramant#Concerns|grim philosophies]] intentionally. They conceal their wickedness, and contain the corrupt urges that the eternal fosters, allowing them to function in civilised society for years or decades. They often gravitate to positions of influence and while they rarely seek [[Imperial title|high office]] themselves they are capable of inflicting lasting damage on the Empire by nudging those who do wield power into making unwise choices. Their ultimate goal is often to get their fellow Imperial citizens to "realise" the "wisdom" of Agramant's teachings - that morality, law, and virtue alike are all lies, and what matters is power and personal strength. It is distressingly easy for the subtle wiles of the Abominable One to twist even the most virtuous given enough time.

When dealing with Agramant, the advice of the Silent Bell is to distrust ''everyone''. To particularly keep a watch on those who seem to revel in thwarting the standards of good behaviour or tweaking the nose of law and tradition. This is often an early warning sign that someone is either an ''idiot'' or vulnerable to influence by Agramant. To discourage anyone from seeking to "understand" Agramant, or to "repurpose" his tainted gifts in a positive way. Indeed, some members of the Silent Bell propose that it is only vigilant to suspect ''everyone'' who makes a study of Winter magic because the lore itself leaves magicians open to corruption (if not by Agramant, then by one of the other eternals). Finally, they warn that it is important to keep an eye on anyone who speaks about the need to commit excessive cruelty, or to turn a blind eye to small unvirtuous or immoral acts, because this can be a sign that they are a ''malefactor'' - that they are trying to move society toward the kind of monstrous dog-eat-dog chaos of the strong preying on the weak that Agramant ultimately desires.

It's also, say the Silent Bell, important to keep an eye on the other eternals of Winter. There is some concern in the sodality about the eagerness the Imperial Conclave seems to be evidencing in accepting their gifts. It is a common belief in the Silent Bell that Agramant is a convenient "whipping boy" for [[Wise Rangara]], [[Sorin]], [[Kaela]] and the others. That they welcome his excesses because he distracts attention from their own schemes which are no less dangerous. The enduring amity of Tharim, the Gift of Kaela, and the various inducements offered by Wise Rangara concern several members of the sodality greatly and they wish to take this opportunity to urge the Cardinal of Vigilance to investigate why the Conclave is so keen on the offers of creatures that the Highborn have always considered to be monsters.
===Moving Forward===
* '''Preceptor Malachai urges the Synod to remember the Silent Bell's calling and strengths'''
* '''The sodality would be happy to take guidance from the Vigilance Assembly rather than the Assembly of Nine'''
The Silent Bell make no apology for their lack of success in finding the missing Silent Bell. Preceptor Malachai wishes to stress again that they are ''not'' historical investigators, or finders of missing objects. The talents of the Silent Bell are best used to investigate current threats to Imperial citizens. There's some unhappiness within the ranks, that while they are off pursuing a magic item lost nearly a century ago, actual threats to the Empire are breeding and conspiring. On behalf of the Sodality, Malachai requests that the Cardinal of Vigilance remembers the Silent Bells' calling in future and leaves this kind of mission to those better suited to it.

Malachai is not unsympathetic; he understands that the Assembly of Nine is a political body and subject to political pressures. With this in mind, the sodality want to remind the Assembly of Nine that they ''could'' devolve responsibility for directing the Silent Bell to the Assembly of Vigilance. There's a feeling that their fellow dedicates of virtue might be better placed to identify pressing threats, and be less susceptible to influence from political interests. If the Assembly of Nine make a [[statement of principle]] to that effect that receives a Greater Majority, the Silent Bell would take the guidance of the Assembly of Vigilance going forward.

As to the future, Malachai suggests that if the Synod is concerned about the depredations of [[Agramant]] an obvious target for their investigations would be to focus on one of the groups [[Anyone_but_you#For_Whom_The_Bell_Tolls|active in Sermersuaq]]. After all, it was the Silent Bell who first identified the three dangerous groups. While [[Anyone_but_you#Maarik_the_Golden_Tongue|Maarik the Golden Tongued]] is out of reach in the [[Sermersuaq#Silver Peaks|Silver Peaks]], they could perhaps explore vulnerabilities [[Anyone_but_you#Kaarina_White-Eye|Kaarina White-Eye]] or [[Anyone_but_you#Wemba_the_Bloody|Wemba the Bloody]]. The Assembly would have to pick one or the other - trying to locate more than one of these groups in the wild lands of Sermersuaq would likely be much less effective.

And on the subject of the north...
{{SOP|statement=We caution all to remain vigilant against Blood-on-the-Snow after the upheaval this year, with three cultist leaders still at large. Share with your neighbours, keep each other warm, and remind each other that this is not forever. We are scions sired by a storm and shall weather whatever winter brings.|by=Tuuli, Wintermark Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 342-0|when=Autumn Equinox 385YE}}

==In the North==
Talk of Agramant inevitably brings to mind the problems in the northern Empire. Indeed, the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Silent Bell]] were instrumental in [[Anyone_but_you#For_Whom_The_Bell_Tolls|uncovering the ringleaders]] of the Agramant "cults" in [[Sermersuaq]] (again at the direction of the [[Cardinal of Vigilance]]). Unfortunately [[Anyone_but_you#Kaarina_White-Eye|Kaarina]], [[Anyone_but_you#Maarik_the_Golden_Tongue|Maarik]], and [[Anyone_but_you#Wemba_the_Bloody|Wemba]] remain at large. The Wintermark assembly, and the assembly of Wisdom have both [[statement of Principle|urged the virtuous]] to remain alert to the threats of Agramant and his followers.

The Wintermark assembly upheld the judgment of '''Tuuli''', which focused on urging the people of the nation to look after one another, and resist the temptation of giving in to despair in the cold Winter months. The assembly of Wisdom on the other hand agreed with the more direct approach of '''Ourania Neofoti of the House of the Wanderer''', urging the Wise to remain [[Vigilance|Vigilant]] and question all those who offer easy boons and easy solutions.
===Sermersuaq===
* '''The Wintermark assembly could urge the people of Sermersuaq to come together in the face of Agramant's threats'''
It is the first Winter since the [[stormcrow|stormcrows]] and the dedicates of [[Loyalty]] [[Anyone_but_you#The_Fate_of_the_Frayed|brought mercy]] to Sermersuaq. Those who had succumbed to the temptations of Blood-on-the-Snow but showed true remorse for their deeds still seek to make amends. The construction of the [[Write_the_lines#Hunt_of_the_North|smokehouse at Atalaq]] strongly implies that the opportunity to form the core of a [[Raise fourth Wintermark army|fourth army]] from the [[Wintermark_religious_beliefs#The_Frayed|frayed]] has been declined in favour of one inspired by the traditions of the [[Suaq]]. This just means that those contrite folk of Sermersuaq whose [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Skein|skein]] was tangled by Blood-on-the-Snow must seek other ways to make amends for their foolishness.

This Winter will be harsh. Winters in Sermersuaq normally are. When the night is at its darkest, the snows at their heaviest, the winds are their most soul-chilling, the lights in the north close and seductive, this is the time when the whispers of Blood-on-the-Snow are at their most dangerous. Sermersuaq is still rebuilding after the war with the Jotun. There are people here who might well go hungry as the snow piles up. There's also the threat of the [[Watching_my_mistakes#A_Beacon_in_the_North|monsters unleashed]] by Icebreaker and the vengeful [[Hayaak]]. The Wintermark and [[Dawn|Dawnish]] heroes that come to the [[Banner-bearer_of_Atkonaroq#Hall_of_the_Hunters|Hall of the Hunters]] will deal with most such threats, but they can't be everywhere at once and they are warriors, not angels of mercy. Twisted war-wolves with tusks and poison-stingers they can face; hunger, fear, and isolation are much more difficult foes to fight.

If they wish, the Wintermark National Assembly could speak directly to the people of their nation and urge them to follow the spirit of Tuuli's statement.
{{Mandate|mandate=This winter will be harsh, and there are monsters in Sermesuaq, both beasts of the wilds and those who walk in human guise. We msut remain vigilant, but more importantly we must remain kind. Share with your neighbours, keep each other warm, remind each other that this is not forever. We are scions sired by a storm and shall weather whatever winter brings. We send (Named Priest) with 25 doses of liao to urge the people of Wintermark to look after each other, no matter what the Winter brings.|assembly=Wintermark National Assembly}}
If this mandate is passed, it will urge the people of Wintermark, and Sermersuaq in particular, to keep each other safe during the harsh Winter that is to come. It highlights the bonds of community that bring people together - human, ''hylje'', or [[orc]] - and rejects both selfishness and isolationism. No settlement in Sermersuaq will go hungry this winter as the people cleave to one another. In addition, it will remind the people of the territory what is important and call the warriors home to protect their neighbours. Every [[military unit]] controlled by a character from Sermersuaq will take a -1 rank penalty ''unless'' they take the [[Military_unit#Hunt_the_Suaq_Wastes|hunt the Suaq Wastes]] [[Military_unit#Adventures|adventure]], in which case they will instead receive a +1 rank bonus. This added protection, and the spirit of cooperation and support, will sustain the people of Sermersuaq in their time of need, granting a +1 rank bonus to the production of [[farm|farms]].

Furthermore, as a consequence of this clear rejection of everything Agramant stands for, for the next year (the whole of 386YE) it will be nearly impossible for the followers of ''Blood-on-the-Snow'' to gain support from the people of Sermersuaq.

===Wintermark===
* '''The Wintermark assembly could also call for their people to look to the safety of Wintermark as a nation, as a priority'''
Alternatively, rather than focus solely on Sermersuaq, the National Assembly might identify that there are more monsters in Wintermark than those sent by Agramant and Hayaak. After all, the scions of [[Cold Sun]] are still in [[Hahnmark]] and [[Kallavesa]] and show every sign that dealing with them will need further action.

{{Mandate|mandate=This winter will be harsh, and the whole of Wintermark faces terrible threats from the monsters of Blood-on-the-Snow, the beasts of Hayaak, and the scions of Cold Sun. We must remain vigilant, and we must fight these threats wherever we can. We are scions sired by a storm and shall weather whatever winter brings. We send (Named Priest) with 75 doses of liao to urge the people of Wintermark to look after each other, and to protect our people, no matter what the Winter brings.|assembly=Wintermark National Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, every military unit belonging to a WIntermark character will experience a -1 rank penalty, unless they participate in the Hunt the Suaq Wastes adventure; [[Military_unit#Defend_Fortification|defend]] the [[Kallavesa#The_Beacons_of_Wintermark|Beacons of Wintermark]]; or [[Military_unit#Support_Army|support]] a Wintermark army fighting in Wintermark. In these cases, such military units receive a +1 rank bonus to their effective strength.

These mandates are not in competition, and the National Assembly could enact either, none, or both of them. In the event that they enacted both, the effects would be cumulative (so for example a military unit from Sermersuaq would take a -2 rank penalty, unless it participated in the Hunt the Suaq Wastes action in which case it would get a +2 to production, or it helped fight Cold Sun in which case it would have neither penalty not benefit).
{{SOP|statement=We caution all to remain vigilant against Blood-on-the-Snow after the upheaval this year, with three cultist leaders still at large. We urge all those who follow wisdom to question those who offer boons and easy solutions.|by=Ourania Neofoti of the House of the Wanderer, Wisdom Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 412-0|when=Autumn Equinox 385YE}}

===Wisdom===
* '''The General Assembly could agree with the Wisdom assembly that the Empire must be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true'''
The most surprising thing about that [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_92|statement raised]] by '''Ourania Neofoti of the House of the Wanderer''' is that it was made in and upheld by the Assembly of Wisdom rather than the Assembly of Vigilance. In a way, its unexpected origin increases its impact. The fact the speaker is [[Urizen|Urizeni]] also adds a little weight - for many that nation is a byword for those who accept the bargains of [[eternal|eternals]] most readily. It prompts a certain amount of spirited discussion, especially as it coincidentally echoes some of the concerns expressed by the Silent Bell, or the folk of the Brass Coast unhappy that their Prosperity was gifted to the eternal Tharim to consume (for example).

Remaining cautious of Agramant is just common sense. The more interesting part of the statement concerns "''those who offer boons and easy solutions''." There are a ''lot'' of incidences where Imperial citizens have accepted "boons" that may or may not be "easy solutions" to complex problems. Perhaps inevitably, eyes turn to the [[Imperial Conclave]] in particular. Yet there's more than just eternals to consider; earlier in the year the Varushkan assembly [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_145|urged its people]] to ''literally'' make [[The horror and the wild|deals with dark powers]]. There's not much to be done there, but if the Wisdom assembly is committed to this course of action they could urge the Empire to think very carefully before accepting boons and gifts. Unfortunately, the reach of the Wisdom assembly is somewhat limited; the Wise (in the virtuous sense) are some of the people most likely to be leery of easy answers. If Ourania's words are to have any impact they will need to come from the General Assembly.

{{Mandate|mandate=Cheap boons and easy solutions should always be treated with caution. The Wise know that we must test what you learn, and take nothing for granted. We send (Named Priest) with 100 doses of liao to urge the virtuous to remain cautious of gifts that come at too cheap a price, to remain Vigilant against the machinations of eternals and dark powers, and to watch those who seek out such offers.|assembly=General Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, for the next year there will be significantly fewer opportunities offered that relate to [[eternal|eternals]], [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereigns]] and similar entities. Statements of principle rejecting or investigating such offers will be much more likely to lead to a response of some kind. There will be much more expectation that members of the Conclave will be brought to [[Inquisition]] to ensure they are acting virtuously, and it will lead to increased support for the [[Witness of Conclave]], the [[Imperial Censor]], [[Virtue Inquisitor|Virtue Inquisitors]], [[Imperial Inquisitor]], and perhaps even the [[Sevenfold Path]] among the virtuous.

Of course, any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have no real impact in either [[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|people of Urizen]] or the [[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|citizens of Varushka]] - the folk ''most likely'' to participate in such bargains in many peoples' opinion, so the Assembly might wish to weigh cautiously how this mandate is dealt with.

==Further Reading==
* [[Agramant]]
* [[Silent Bell (Sodality)]]
* [[Anyone_but_you#For_Whom_The_Bell_Tolls|Anyone but you]] - Spring 385YE Wind of Fortune relating to the "cults" in Sermersuaq

Hear your footsteps

2024-04-14T09:40:46Z

Cathtice: /* On The Cults of Agramant */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Rowley di Temeschwar sat down heavily, took out a little pipe, and slowly began to pack it. He silently thanked the landlady of the ''Sign of the Tower'' insisting they wrapped up warm, even if he'd felt a little silly wearing gloves without fingertips. He glanced over at Ziri, who was examining the stonework.

"Ziri," he said slowly. "What in the name of seven paragons are we doing here?"

She ignored him for a moment, and carefully paced out the width of the ruined tower before stopping and crouching down to peer at something. The whole place was a monument to some battle or other the Marchers had either tragically won or heroically lost, at some point. These people had ridiculously long memories and treated events that took place centuries ago as if they had happened to themselves or at least to their parents.

"We're looking into a gang of Agramant influenced sorcerers," she said when she had finished whatever she was doing. She stood up, dusting invisible dirt from her cassock.

"We aren't really though, are we?" said Rowley. "We're looking for some magic bell that went missing a century or more ago. Not even a cursed bell that might pop up and, I don't know, drive people mad or attract ghosts or something? Just an old bell."

He was feeling waspish. If he was honest, it was partly because he was still slightly hung over. He'd only intended to have a few small pints with the farmers in the taproom, but it turned out that ''everyone'' had a story about Brian's Bell and Tunstall's Ghost. He distantly remembered one of the farmers trying to convince him the sorcerers had come over from Wayford and that he and Ziri should go there first thing in the morning, round everyone up, and hang half of them as a warning to the rest not to go having fights in other folks' ancient towers.

Ziri frowned at him. She was Highborn, and her people were generally inclined to ''like'' old bells after all. She shook her head.

"We've been through this already. We're doing what we've been asked to do. These things, these little gangs of malefactors, they don't go away by themselves. They have to be rooted out and dealt with - preferably before they go to pieces and start tearing themselves and everyone nearby to shreds. You know this."

"Except... that's not actually why we were sent here is it?" He continued to needle. He was behaving badly, and he knew it.

"I'm no happier than you are," snapped Ziri losing her temper at last. "But at least we can try and track down where the sorcerers came from and find out if there's any risk they're still about. I know it's not likely - cannibal cults rarely manage to last a few years never mind a century - but we both know that they're like weeds. If you don't pull them out by the roots they come back. If we can track down whoever took Brian's Bell, that might lead us to an actual Agramant threat."

"You mean like the one in Sermersuaq?" he snapped back, temper rising. "Or maybe it'll lead us to whatever is causing all that trouble in Madruga - and I don't mean the Grendel. Or whatever the heck these Trudnik up in Varushka are. Or maybe there'll be a connection to one of the Grendel spy rings? Maybe that old magic bell has been sent to one of them?"

"You're behaving like a petulant child, and I can't talk to you when you're in this kind of mood," said Ziri, exasperated. He cursed himself inwardly because he knew she was right. He lit his pipe and puffed it, letting the smoke calm him a little. Ziri went back to examining the tower.

"I'm sorry," he said after a bit "Truly. I'm just.... So what have you found?"

"Nothing at all," she sighed. "It's just an old tower. Well maintained - they take their duties seriously at the ''Sign of the Tower'' and you can't fault them for that. In fact maybe you we could even learn from them Rowley. I thought there was maybe the... the echo of something, but no. It's just an old tower."

"Back to the 'Stoke, then," he said. "Maybe someone there will have a story about the missing Bell and those ruffians from Wayford we haven't heard already."

His tone was flippant, but Ziri didn't smile. They left the old tower in awkward silence, and whatever they left behind - assuming there was anything there after all these years - watched them go.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Silent Bell.png|width=300|caption=A silent bell is rarely a melodious instrument for creating music - it is a weapon for expelling [[Malign_spiritual_presences|malign spiritual presences]].|align=left}}</div>
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox the Assembly of Nine [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_196|asked]] the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Silent Bell]] to seek out a stolen object - the [[Silent Bell]] of Brian Heathford lost in 290YE, allegedly to Agramant inspired sorcerers. The Silent Bell are a sodality dedicated to [[Vigilance]], keeping a careful watch for threats to the Empire from within and without; their expertise in tracking down [[magic items]], and indeed their interest in doing so, is extremely limited. With that in mind, they've done what they can to find the bell, lost a century ago near [[Upwold#King's Stoke|King's Stoke]] in [[Upwold]].

The Silent Bell are not the only ones thinking about dark forces, the servants of Agramant and worse. The Wintermark assembly, and the assembly of Wisdom, both turned their thoughts to the things that threaten innocent people from the dark and the cold. There is an opportunity for both assemblies to take action, to do something concrete about the threats they have identified.

==The Silent Bell and a Silent Bell==
* '''The Silent Bell has been unable to locate the missing relic'''
The current preceptor of the Silent Bell, '''Malachai of the Silent Bell, from [[Casinea#Casca.E2.80.99s_Doom|Casca's Doom]]'''. He represents the public face of the sodality, but there are members in every nation across the Empire. Following the instruction of the Cardinal of Vigilance, Malachai apparently expresses some frustration. "Our calling is to gather information about internal threats to the Empire," Malachai reminds the Assembly of Nine. "Not to find missing objects, no matter how important they might be."

Despite these misgivings, the Silent Bell make an attempt to discharge the request made of them by the Assembly. Members of the Silent Bell generally seek to avoid scrutiny, but to those who know what they to look for might mark their presence in King's Stoke following the Autumn Equinox. A [[the League|League]] merchant from Tassato unexpectedly visits apparently looking for long-lost relatives; a pair of Marcher seasonal labourers spend their days working in the fields and their evenings poking around an old battle site.
{{SOP|statement=The Council of Nine directs the Silent Bell to investigate the location of the Silent Bell of Brian Heathford lost 290YE in Kingstoke, Upwold to Agramant inspired sorcerers.|by=Galen Embercast, Assembly of Nine|vote=Greater Majority 8-0|when=Autumn Equinox 385YE}}
Despite not being [[Historical research|historical researchers]], they are able to confirm that the Bell appears to be real, and that it may well be an artifact of some kind. The last wielder of the [[:Category:Regalia|regalia]] was Jillian Bevan, a [[friar]] dedicated to [[Vigilance]] who worked closely with the [[thresher|threshers]] of [[Upwold]]. In 290YE, local thresher Creg Watcher asked for her assistance dealing with what appeared to be a haunting at the pre-Imperial tower east of the village, apparently the spectre of a murderous strangler who hung themselves there ten years previously, allegedly named Amond Tunstall. Unfortunately, the threshers and Friar Bevan fell afoul of a group of sorcerers inspired by [[Agramant]] who were apparently trying to transform and unleash the unquiet spirit on the nearby village for inscrutable reasons of their own. During the resulting altercation, at the height of a thunderstorm, Friar Bevan was torn apart by feral cats and Creg Watcher was apparently possessed by the ghost and ultimately killed by the King's Stoke Militia. The sorcerers disappeared, and the bell of Brian Heathford with them.

Preceptor Malachai stresses that they have no way of telling how ''true'' this story is. It has been nearly a century since these events took place, and the Silent Bell investigators were unable to find anyone who had personally witnessed any of it. He cautions that the Assembly of Nine should take it all with a pinch of salt.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>'''The Silent Bell of Brian of Heathford'''<br>
Stories from [[the Marches]] tell of a particular [[Silent Bell]] that is widely believed to be an [[Ilium#Creating_Artefacts|artefact]] - or possibly even a [[Signs_of_the_paragon_and_exemplar#Legacy|blessed relic]]. Brian of [[Upwold#The Heath|Heathford]], the husband of a farmer from the village of the same name, was a renowned cook well known for his [[Vigilance]] and [[Wisdom]]. When local gossip suggested that the misfortunes tormenting his fellow villagers were caused by the wicked spirit of a dead sorcerer, he marched down to the spirit's haunt - a burnt out mill - and led his neighbours in a three-day long chorus of the [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs#Rough_music|rough music]]. In the end, despite its best efforts, the ghost was sent howling back into the Labyrinth, but the stout ladle that Brian used to beat on his cook-pot for three solid days and nights without sleeping, eating, drinking, or breaking his dissonant rhythm, was handed down to his children for several generations before being entrusted to the [[The_Marches_magical_traditions#Sorcery_and_the_Threshers|Threshers]] of [[Upwold]].<br><br> According to the writings of Ander Thresher in 250YE, it still possessed a potent ability to aid the ceremony of exorcism and was imbued with a "singular aura". Sadly the item was lost to the Empire in 290YE during an altercation with a [[Coven#Covens|coven]] of [[Agramant]]-inspired sorcerers threatening [[Upwold#Tower_March|King's Stoke]]. Both the Assembly of Vigilance and the Threshers of Upwold would be keen to see the item recovered and put to good use, in the event that it is still in existence.</box></div>

The sodality has a little more success investigating the presence of "a sorcerous cabal influenced by Agramant in Upwold" however. The ''Circle of the Stones'' were a [[coven]] of [[the Marches|Marcher]] magicians active between 240YE and 346YE. At various points they were active in the politics of [[Anvil]], although it seems that none of their members ever achieved a great deal of prominence. In 345YE, they came to the attention of the Silent Bell due to their proximity to the vicious murder of one of [[Empress Giselle|Empress Giselle's]] advisors, a magician called ''Michael di Sarvos'' who at the time was widely tipped to be the next [[Archmage of Autumn]]. A quiet investigation was underway when the coven was denounced to the [[Imperial Conclave]] by ''Paulus Magen di Sarvos'' as being behind several vicious curses that had struck [[the League]] cities over the previous year. During the Spring Equinox, several members were declared [[Sorcery|sorcerers]], and found guilty of receiving boons from the [[eternal]] [[Agramant]]. The coven fled to a bolt-hole in [[Upwold#Ashbrook|Ashill]] and at the Summer Solstice, Paulus and his colleagues, lead a mixed group of League citizens, Marcher threshers, and militia to confront and ultimately destroy the coven. During the fighting, the Marchers were supported by heralds of ''Blood-on-the-Snow'' removing any doubt as to their involvement with the pernicious spirit of the Winter realm.

Preceptor Malachai stresses that the evidence connecting the ''Circle of the Stones'' with the events at King's Stoke is mostly circumstantial, but it seems unlikely there was more than one organised coven of Marcher magicians dealing with Agramant and wielding disproportionately potent magic in the Marches at the same time. A proper investigation by the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] could confirm or debunk those links.

There is, however, a problem. Paulus Magen di Sarvos belonged to a coven himself. The coven known as the [[Agramant#Childer_of_the_Black_Drop|Childer of the Black Drop]]. One of the reasons his accusations were taken so seriously by the Imperial Conclave is that he and his fellow League magicians were known to be involved in a study of Agramant, aimed at finding ways to expose and defeat the various plots the eternal was believed to be involved in. Along with the other twelve members of his coven, Paulus was himself declared a sorcerer in 354YE, and ultimately killed by Imperial heroes.

To make a long story short, the Silent Bell concludes that it is likely the sorcerers who stole the magical bell were probably part of the ''Circle of the Stones''. Assuming the Bell was not destroyed or given to the eternal as an offering (something that should not be taken for granted), it is likely either in the ruins of the coven's lair in Ashill, or it was claimed by someone involved in the raid that destroyed the coven.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Agramant.jpg|caption=Accepting a gift from Agramant, no matter how beneficial it might seem, is a first step along a path that can be hard to turn aside from.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==On The Cults of Agramant==
While one group of Silent Bell are investigating the missing magic item, another group explore the Marches looking for signs of cults of Agramant. The good news, such as it is, is that they don't find any obvious signs that the eternal has any influence in the territory. On the other hand, as Preceptor Malachai cautions, that doesn't mean there are no such groups, only that they are well hidden or keeping their heads down.

According to the Silent Bell, the problem with groups influenced by Agramant - cults if you will - is that they come in three different kinds that represent three very different types of threat. The Silent Bell, after long experience, categorize them in three rough brackets: idiots, fools, and malefactors.

'''Idiots''' are the most common type of Agramant-associated group. They make only token efforts to conceal their allegiance, and revel in acts of debasement and selfishness. They openly joke about cannibalism, and barely bother to hide the joy they take at various cruelties and atrocities. At best, they claim to be "pragmatic" while cheerfully engaging in unhinged behaviour that would leave any right-thinking citizen of the Empire aghast. They rarely last very long, even the ones that try to remain secretive. Their embrace of foul practices is inevitably uncovered, and invariably leads to them going out in a frenzy of murder and chaos. Agramant himself seems unconcerned when one of these "cults" is destroyed - there is speculation that he sees their exposure and inevitable demise as a useful reminder to others of the horrors that lurk in their midst, and the foolishness of trusting anyone else.

One recurrent theme among these groups that the Silent Bell have noticed is that they invariably engage in cannibalistic excess. Agramant teaches that consuming the meat of other sapient beings is the ultimate expression of power. For some reason, they are often driven to trick otherwise virtuous folk into eating the flesh of those they have murdered. Some members of the Silent Bell, theorise that there is more to this practice than meets the eye, drawing parallels to practitioners of [[blood magic]] who use unwilling blood in their magic. Perhaps there are parallels between feeding someone stolen flesh and the misfortune that invariably befalls those trying to use stolen blood in their magic?

'''Fools''' are much rarer. These are individuals or small groups who for whatever reason have made a deal with Agramant or one of its heralds in the belief that they can get the upper hand over the Eternal. For every clever [[icewalker]] that outwits Agramant, there are three who are carefully lead into greater and greater abasement until they are indistinguishable from other cultists of Blood-on-the-Snow. They are often in denial about their own corruption, which makes it easier for them to hide in plain sight. The Childer of the Black Drop are an almost textbook example of this - a group that thought it could wield the powers of Agramant and remain virtuous. There's some supposition as well that the individual behind the destruction of the [[Sermersuaq#The_Meeting_Place|Meeting Place]] in [[Sermersuaq]] may have been one of this kind, working on behalf of Agramant to make peace with the Jotun impossible in return for selfish boons of their own. How many other seemingly innocent events or "mistakes" are actually the result of calculated malice by people who think a little evil is worth the price of a greater good?

The final category are '''malefactors''' and in the eyes of the Silent Bell they are without doubt the most dangerous. Malefactors are usually lone individuals who embrace Agramant's [[Agramant#Concerns|grim philosophies]] intentionally. They conceal their wickedness, and contain the corrupt urges that the eternal fosters, allowing them to function in civilised society for years or decades. They often gravitate to positions of influence and while they rarely seek [[Imperial title|high office]] themselves they are capable of inflicting lasting damage on the Empire by nudging those who do wield power into making unwise choices. Their ultimate goal is often to get their fellow Imperial citizens to "realise" the "wisdom" of Agramant's teachings - that morality, law, and virtue alike are all lies, and what matters is power and personal strength. It is distressingly easy for the subtle wiles of the Abominable One to twist even the most virtuous given enough time.

When dealing with Agramant, the advice of the Silent Bell is to distrust ''everyone''. To particularly keep a watch on those who seem to revel in thwarting the standards of good behaviour or tweaking the nose of law and tradition. This is often an early warning sign that someone is either an ''idiot'' or vulnerable to influence by Agramant. To discourage anyone from seeking to "understand" Agramant, or to "repurpose" his tainted gifts in a positive way. Indeed, some members of the Silent Bell propose that it is only vigilant to suspect ''everyone'' who makes a study of Winter magic because the lore itself leaves magicians open to corruption (if not by Agramant, then by one of the other eternals). Finally, they warn that it is important to keep an eye on anyone who speaks about the need to commit excessive cruelty, or to turn a blind eye to small unvirtuous or immoral acts, because this can be a sign that they are a ''malefactor'' - that they are trying to move society toward the kind of monstrous dog-eat-dog chaos of the strong preying on the weak that Agramant ultimately desires.

It's also, say the Silent Bell, important to keep an eye on the other eternals of Winter. There is some concern in the sodality about the eagerness the Imperial Conclave seems to be evidencing in accepting their gifts. It is a common belief in the Silent Bell that Agramant is a convenient "whipping boy" for [[Wise Rangara]], [[Sorin]], [[Kaela]] and the others. That they welcome his excesses because he distracts attention from their own schemes which are no less dangerous. The enduring amity of Tharim, the Gift of Kaela, and the various inducements offered by Wise Rangara concern several members of the sodality greatly and they wish to take this opportunity to urge the Cardinal of Vigilance to investigate why the Conclave is so keen on the offers of creatures that the Highborn have always considered to be monsters.
===Moving Forward===
* '''Preceptor Malachai urges the Synod to remember the Silent Bell's calling and strengths'''
* '''The sodality would be happy to take guidance from the Vigilance Assembly rather than the Assembly of Nine'''
The Silent Bell make no apology for their lack of success in finding the missing Silent Bell. Preceptor Malachai wishes to stress again that they are ''not'' historical investigators, or finders of missing objects. The talents of the Silent Bell are best used to investigate current threats to Imperial citizens. There's some unhappiness within the ranks, that while they are off pursuing a magic item lost nearly a century ago, actual threats to the Empire are breeding and conspiring. On behalf of the Sodality, Malachai requests that the Cardinal of Vigilance remembers the Silent Bells' calling in future and leaves this kind of mission to those better suited to it.

Malachai is not unsympathetic; he understands that the Assembly of Nine is a political body and subject to political pressures. With this in mind, the sodality want to remind the Assembly of Nine that they ''could'' devolve responsibility for directing the Silent Bell to the Assembly of Vigilance. There's a feeling that their fellow dedicates of virtue might be better placed to identify pressing threats, and be less susceptible to influence from political interests. If the Assembly of Nine make a [[statement of principle]] to that effect that receives a Greater Majority, the Silent Bell would take the guidance of the Assembly of Vigilance going forward.

As to the future, Malachai suggests that if the Synod is concerned about the depredations of [[Agramant]] an obvious target for their investigations would be to focus on one of the groups [[Anyone_but_you#For_Whom_The_Bell_Tolls|active in Sermersuaq]]. After all, it was the Silent Bell who first identified the three dangerous groups. While [[Anyone_but_you#Maarik_the_Golden_Tongue|Maarik the Golden Tongued]] is out of reach in the [[Sermersuaq#Silver Peaks|Silver Peaks]], they could perhaps explore vulnerabilities [[Anyone_but_you#Kaarina_White-Eye|Kaarina White-Eye]] or [[Anyone_but_you#Wemba_the_Bloody|Wemba the Bloody]]. The Assembly would have to pick one or the other - trying to locate more than one of these groups in the wild lands of Sermersuaq would likely be much less effective.

And on the subject of the north...
{{SOP|statement=We caution all to remain vigilant against Blood-on-the-Snow after the upheaval this year, with three cultist leaders still at large. Share with your neighbours, keep each other warm, and remind each other that this is not forever. We are scions sired by a storm and shall weather whatever winter brings.|by=Tuuli, Wintermark Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 342-0|when=Autumn Equinox 385YE}}

==In the North==
Talk of Agramant inevitably brings to mind the problems in the northern Empire. Indeed, the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Silent Bell]] were instrumental in [[Anyone_but_you#For_Whom_The_Bell_Tolls|uncovering the ringleaders]] of the Agramant "cults" in [[Sermersuaq]] (again at the direction of the [[Cardinal of Vigilance]]). Unfortunately [[Anyone_but_you#Kaarina_White-Eye|Kaarina]], [[Anyone_but_you#Maarik_the_Golden_Tongue|Maarik]], and [[Anyone_but_you#Wemba_the_Bloody|Wemba]] remain at large. The Wintermark assembly, and the assembly of Wisdom have both [[statement of Principle|urged the virtuous]] to remain alert to the threats of Agramant and his followers.

The Wintermark assembly upheld the judgment of '''Tuuli''', which focused on urging the people of the nation to look after one another, and resist the temptation of giving in to despair in the cold Winter months. The assembly of Wisdom on the other hand agreed with the more direct approach of '''Ourania Neofoti of the House of the Wanderer''', urging the Wise to remain [[Vigilance|Vigilant]] and question all those who offer easy boons and easy solutions.
===Sermersuaq===
* '''The Wintermark assembly could urge the people of Sermersuaq to come together in the face of Agramant's threats'''
It is the first Winter since the [[stormcrow|stormcrows]] and the dedicates of [[Loyalty]] [[Anyone_but_you#The_Fate_of_the_Frayed|brought mercy]] to Sermersuaq. Those who had succumbed to the temptations of Blood-on-the-Snow but showed true remorse for their deeds still seek to make amends. The construction of the [[Write_the_lines#Hunt_of_the_North|smokehouse at Atalaq]] strongly implies that the opportunity to form the core of a [[Raise fourth Wintermark army|fourth army]] from the [[Wintermark_religious_beliefs#The_Frayed|frayed]] has been declined in favour of one inspired by the traditions of the [[Suaq]]. This just means that those contrite folk of Sermersuaq whose [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Skein|skein]] was tangled by Blood-on-the-Snow must seek other ways to make amends for their foolishness.

This Winter will be harsh. Winters in Sermersuaq normally are. When the night is at its darkest, the snows at their heaviest, the winds are their most soul-chilling, the lights in the north close and seductive, this is the time when the whispers of Blood-on-the-Snow are at their most dangerous. Sermersuaq is still rebuilding after the war with the Jotun. There are people here who might well go hungry as the snow piles up. There's also the threat of the [[Watching_my_mistakes#A_Beacon_in_the_North|monsters unleashed]] by Icebreaker and the vengeful [[Hayaak]]. The Wintermark and [[Dawn|Dawnish]] heroes that come to the [[Banner-bearer_of_Atkonaroq#Hall_of_the_Hunters|Hall of the Hunters]] will deal with most such threats, but they can't be everywhere at once and they are warriors, not angels of mercy. Twisted war-wolves with tusks and poison-stingers they can face; hunger, fear, and isolation are much more difficult foes to fight.

If they wish, the Wintermark National Assembly could speak directly to the people of their nation and urge them to follow the spirit of Tuuli's statement.
{{Mandate|mandate=This winter will be harsh, and there are monsters in Sermesuaq, both beasts of the wilds and those who walk in human guise. We msut remain vigilant, but more importantly we must remain kind. Share with your neighbours, keep each other warm, remind each other that this is not forever. We are scions sired by a storm and shall weather whatever winter brings. We send (Named Priest) with 25 doses of liao to urge the people of Wintermark to look after each other, no matter what the Winter brings.|assembly=Varushkan National Assembly}}
If this mandate is passed, it will urge the people of Wintermark, and Sermersuaq in particular, to keep each other safe during the harsh Winter that is to come. It highlights the bonds of community that bring people together - human, ''hylje'', or [[orc]] - and rejects both selfishness and isolationism. No settlement in Sermersuaq will go hungry this winter as the people cleave to one another. In addition, it will remind the people of the territory what is important and call the warriors home to protect their neighbours. Every [[military unit]] controlled by a character from Sermersuaq will take a -1 rank penalty ''unless'' they take the [[Military_unit#Hunt_the_Suaq_Wastes|hunt the Suaq Wastes]] [[Military_unit#Adventures|adventure]], in which case they will instead receive a +1 rank bonus. This added protection, and the spirit of cooperation and support, will sustain the people of Sermersuaq in their time of need, granting a +1 rank bonus to the production of [[farm|farms]].

Furthermore, as a consequence of this clear rejection of everything Agramant stands for, for the next year (the whole of 386YE) it will be nearly impossible for the followers of ''Blood-on-the-Snow'' to gain support from the people of Sermersuaq.

===Wintermark===
* '''The Wintermark assembly could also call for their people to look to the safety of Wintermark as a nation, as a priority'''
Alternatively, rather than focus solely on Sermersuaq, the National Assembly might identify that there are more monsters in Wintermark than those sent by Agramant and Hayaak. After all, the scions of [[Cold Sun]] are still in [[Hahnmark]] and [[Kallavesa]] and show every sign that dealing with them will need further action.

{{Mandate|mandate=This winter will be harsh, and the whole of Wintermark faces terrible threats from the monsters of Blood-on-the-Snow, the beasts of Hayaak, and the scions of Cold Sun. We must remain vigilant, and we must fight these threats wherever we can. We are scions sired by a storm and shall weather whatever winter brings. We send (Named Priest) with 75 doses of liao to urge the people of Wintermark to look after each other, and to protect our people, no matter what the Winter brings.|assembly=Wintermark National Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, every military unit belonging to a WIntermark character will experience a -1 rank penalty, unless they participate in the Hunt the Suaq Wastes adventure; [[Military_unit#Defend_Fortification|defend]] the [[Kallavesa#The_Beacons_of_Wintermark|Beacons of Wintermark]]; or [[Military_unit#Support_Army|support]] a Wintermark army fighting in Wintermark. In these cases, such military units receive a +1 rank bonus to their effective strength.

These mandates are not in competition, and the National Assembly could enact either, none, or both of them. In the event that they enacted both, the effects would be cumulative (so for example a military unit from Sermersuaq would take a -2 rank penalty, unless it participated in the Hunt the Suaq Wastes action in which case it would get a +2 to production, or it helped fight Cold Sun in which case it would have neither penalty not benefit).
{{SOP|statement=We caution all to remain vigilant against Blood-on-the-Snow after the upheaval this year, with three cultist leaders still at large. We urge all those who follow wisdom to question those who offer boons and easy solutions.|by=Ourania Neofoti of the House of the Wanderer, Wisdom Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 412-0|when=Autumn Equinox 385YE}}

===Wisdom===
* '''The General Assembly could agree with the Wisdom assembly that the Empire must be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true'''
The most surprising thing about that [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_92|statement raised]] by '''Ourania Neofoti of the House of the Wanderer''' is that it was made in and upheld by the Assembly of Wisdom rather than the Assembly of Vigilance. In a way, its unexpected origin increases its impact. The fact the speaker is [[Urizen|Urizeni]] also adds a little weight - for many that nation is a byword for those who accept the bargains of [[eternal|eternals]] most readily. It prompts a certain amount of spirited discussion, especially as it coincidentally echoes some of the concerns expressed by the Silent Bell, or the folk of the Brass Coast unhappy that their Prosperity was gifted to the eternal Tharim to consume (for example).

Remaining cautious of Agramant is just common sense. The more interesting part of the statement concerns "''those who offer boons and easy solutions''." There are a ''lot'' of incidences where Imperial citizens have accepted "boons" that may or may not be "easy solutions" to complex problems. Perhaps inevitably, eyes turn to the [[Imperial Conclave]] in particular. Yet there's more than just eternals to consider; earlier in the year the Varushkan assembly [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_145|urged its people]] to ''literally'' make [[The horror and the wild|deals with dark powers]]. There's not much to be done there, but if the Wisdom assembly is committed to this course of action they could urge the Empire to think very carefully before accepting boons and gifts. Unfortunately, the reach of the Wisdom assembly is somewhat limited; the Wise (in the virtuous sense) are some of the people most likely to be leery of easy answers. If Ourania's words are to have any impact they will need to come from the General Assembly.

{{Mandate|mandate=Cheap boons and easy solutions should always be treated with caution. The Wise know that we must test what you learn, and take nothing for granted. We send (Named Priest) with 100 doses of liao to urge the virtuous to remain cautious of gifts that come at too cheap a price, to remain Vigilant against the machinations of eternals and dark powers, and to watch those who seek out such offers.|assembly=General Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, for the next year there will be significantly fewer opportunities offered that relate to [[eternal|eternals]], [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereigns]] and similar entities. Statements of principle rejecting or investigating such offers will be much more likely to lead to a response of some kind. There will be much more expectation that members of the Conclave will be brought to [[Inquisition]] to ensure they are acting virtuously, and it will lead to increased support for the [[Witness of Conclave]], the [[Imperial Censor]], [[Virtue Inquisitor|Virtue Inquisitors]], [[Imperial Inquisitor]], and perhaps even the [[Sevenfold Path]] among the virtuous.

Of course, any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have no real impact in either [[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|people of Urizen]] or the [[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|citizens of Varushka]] - the folk ''most likely'' to participate in such bargains in many peoples' opinion, so the Assembly might wish to weigh cautiously how this mandate is dealt with.

==Further Reading==
* [[Agramant]]
* [[Silent Bell (Sodality)]]
* [[Anyone_but_you#For_Whom_The_Bell_Tolls|Anyone but you]] - Spring 385YE Wind of Fortune relating to the "cults" in Sermersuaq

Begins where it ends

2024-04-14T09:14:15Z

Cathtice:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>The two heralds - one bat-furred, the other with the aspect of a serpent about them - looked gloomily at the letter.

"It's not going to make him any happier," said one, twitching its long ears.

"It's a very nice letter..." The other trailed off. They both looked instinctively toward the window, then back at the missive.

"Yes, but... it was the whole Whistling Strand, you know?" The bat-herald shrugged. "You can see why he's pissed off."

They looked out of the window again. The forest beyond was lashed by rain. Curtains and curtains of heavy, steady, unremitting, gloom-inducing rain. It was ''probably'' an improvement over the roaring gales, the prismatic lightning, and the thunderous swearing. Or possibly not. Their boss was ''much'' more unpredictable when he went quiet like this after an outburst.

"But one of us has to give it to him! It's the rules!" A sly expression came over the face of the scaled herald. "Maybe we should decide with a game of lizard-" they began.

"Basgynotit!" interrupted the other herald quickly.

"Oh, blow you," muttered the first herald. "Fine! I'l do it! But if he eats me it's your fault, and I hope you feel bad!"</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Begins where it ends.jpg|align=left|caption=The creatures of the realms come in an unimaginable range of sizes, shapes, and temperaments, and the [[Archmage|archmages]] must be ready to deal with all of their myriad strangeness.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''Six eternals responded to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages.'''
* '''Three have offered parley; one has responded with a series of offers to Imperial citizens; two others have declined a meeting; and a seventh has asked for a parley without a plenipotentiary'''
The six Imperial [[archmage|archmages]] are each empowered to send a [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] message to a single [[eternal]] of their realm each season. The eternals are bound to respond to their communication, although very rarely another entity from that realm will speak on their behalf. Their response might involve a formal [[Archmage#parley|parley]] or a private meeting with the Archmage; they might respond directly to the message; or they might decline to meet for some reason.

During the Autumn Equinox, each archmage dispatched a plenipotentiary and as the Winter Solstice approaches, six eternals send messengers to deliver their replies, and a seventh requests a parley of their own.

==Cathan Canae==
{{CaptionedImage|file=SummerRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
* '''Cathan Canae will send one of her castellans to the Hall of Worlds on Saturday at ''TBC'''''
* '''The meeting will be a formal parley'''
Volstann, Eater of Boars, is no stranger to Anvil. A boisterous, bellowing herald of the [[Cathan Canae|Queen of Ice and Darkness]], he arrives at the Imperial Regio in a flurry of early snow midway between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice, with a message for the Empire. His mistress offers parley to the Archmage of Summer, but will not attend herself. Rather she sends one of her trusted Castellans in her place; a lieutenant who commands one of the great citadels that guard her frozen realm. They will attend the Hall of Worlds at XX on Saturday afternoon.

There may be some discussion about [[the Barrens]], and the question of giving up territory to conquered [[orc|orcs]], but Volstann is of the opinion the matter is reasonably settled especially given recent developments. The matter of the [[The Barrens#Eaves of Peytaht|Eaves of Peytaht]] and the [[Great Forest Orcs]] is not one that needs further debate. The Spears of the Pines conquered their homeland with the aid of the Navarr. ''Not'' recognising their claim to the land in this case, especially given the words of the Senate, is more likely to anger the Lady of Snow and Steel. The Lady of the Iron Glacier is frustrated that the Empire cedes its territory to ''enemies'', who she feels they ought to be fighting tooth-and-nail to ''prevent'' claiming even an inch of their lands. The Immovable One approves of the Empire giving land as rewards to vassals and others who fight for them, what she cannot abide is giving up land to placate your enemies.

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>'''OOC Note'''<br>The presentation by the generals will be an explicitly [[The_game#Player_vs_Player_Politics|PvP scenario]]. Only one general will receive Cathan Canae's boon and it may be difficult to use that boon in a way that benefits others. The criteria for "winning" the contest may not be clear, and it is possible nobody will receive the boon.</box></div>
The castellan will also meet with the generals the Archmage wishes to commend, who will speak of their strategies and experiences in the conquests of [[Ossium]], [[Sermersuaq]], and [[Zenith]]. Specifically, '''Asenath of Felix's Watch''', '''Nicassia of Phoenix Reach''', and '''Iron Osric'''. Depending on how they (or their [[proxy|proxies]]) acquit themselves, the castellan is empowered to grant ''one'' of the three a boon from the Unbreakable One - the power to call the ''Fist of the Black Glacier'' into the mortal realm. Given the archmage is inquiring about the ''bastion of ice'' that seems to be a suitable recognition of the Empire's recent triumphs. Volstann mentions that the Empire's Thule allies have already received a similar boon for their part in the wars against the Jotun and the hated Druj.

Volstann suggests that his mistress has already aided the Empire against [[Cold Sun|Oblivion]], both by sending her warriors to fight in [[Dawn]], and through provision of her citadels. "Either the Empire will weather the storm it has called down on itself, or it will be blown away." Cathan Canae is however impressed with the [[Things that burn#Forges|victories of the Winterfolk in Kallavesa and Hahnmark]], using the beacons they built there. As such she intends to offer another boon, the power to call on her aid to support the beacons. She asks that the Archmage locate two warriors from Wintermark, one who led their [[military unit|warband]] to fight Cold Sun at the beacons in each territory. They will receive her gift from the castellan.

When it comes to the Forest of Arden and the [[Jaheris|Unicorn Prince]], Volstann confesses to be nonplussed as to why the Archmage is asking Cathan Canae about the matter. Things are as they always are. Jaheris continues to rule his shadowy and unicorn-haunted demesne from atop his silver tower; he continues to bedevil and oppose his rival Eleonaris at every turn; and as he ever does, he seeks to entangle both the rulers of the Summer realm and magicians of the mortal realm in his many schemes to bring low his enemies and secure his own majesty. Cathan Canae welcomes a rival to her own rival, but keeps him at arms' length because he is "a slippery little shit" - or so the voluble herald claims.

There are a few other topics the Archmage mentions that are of no interest to the castellan, and which Cathan Canae declines to address at this time. There will be no talk of building castles faster or stronger - the Empire has more than demonstrated its ability to do so without eternal aid. There will be no discussion of calling icebergs to fight the Grendel - the Empire is either strong enough to face their tide of steel or it is not.

==Zakalwe==
{{CaptionedImage|file=DayRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
* '''Zakalwe declines a parley with the Archmage of Day'''
The familiar figure of ''Agon'', herald of [[Zakalwe]], emerges from the Imperial Regio shortly after the Autumn Equinox. Normally, Agon comes alone, but this time the messenger is accompanied by a pair of myrmidons - the insect-like soldiers in crystal armour serving as protectors and honour-guard. As always Agon is polite and friendly, if a little distant, and bears a response from the General of Day to the Archmage of Day. The ''Tidehunter'' declines parley this coming Winter. His emissaries will continue to assist Imperial heroes to protect the citizens from the terrible power of Cold Sun where he can. He will also continue to observe the Empire's strategy in dealing with the threat, and if an opportunity arises to offer appropriate aid then he will take it.

For example, he has listened to the Archmage's request and encouraged his ''Polemarch'' in [[Skallahn]], who marches with the [[Bloodcloaks]] in helping provide an [[Against_the_Jotun#Wolf_Dreams_(Skallahn)|opportunity to head off a future threat]]. The ''Master of Weapons'' hopes the Archmage will be able to facilitate a meeting during the Spring Equinox between ''Agon'' and the [[Imperial Seer]] to discuss the challenges presented by this opportunity, by fighting the Jotun generally, and perhaps even touch on the strategic decisions that lead to the invasion of Skallahn at this particular time.

==Ephisis==
{{CaptionedImage|file=AutumnRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
The emissary who emerges from the Imperial Regio a few weeks before the Winter Solstice is a minotaur in brazen armour beneath a finely tailored robe the colour of old lead. At her hip are delicately balanced hatchets, and a serrated battle-axe. An agent of the ''Braided Rope Coster'', she proceeds with confidence to the Hub, and delivers a message from the [[Ephisis|City of Gold and Lead]] in response to the Archmage of Autumn.

The city has no interest in damaging the economy of the Grendel. If the Archmage wished to keep trade links open with the Grendel they could have maintained the peace. The City of Gold and Lead will not favour one side over the other either in the war, or in future trade. The bluff minotaur smirks a little as she suggests that the two are not actually all that dissimilar; the only real difference is how many people die.
<br><br><big>'''On Thievery'''</big><br>
That said, the City of Gold and Lead despises the use of force to take wealth from others - a point of contention with their allies among the Grendel. Yet the Grendel are not alone in the use of force to take wealth from their enemies - the Empire is just as willing to do so when it suits it. Why, then, should the City take a side? The [[Red Wind Corsairs]] have never been shy about seizing wealth on campaign, and neither have the [[Wolves of War]], and neither have the heroes of the Empire when it suits their purpose. If the Empire is prepared to forswear the practice of looting and destroying the wealth of the Grendel, at least for the duration of the conflict, then the City of Gold and Lead will use all their influence with the Grendel to ''ensure'' they do likewise after the Winter Solstice. Such an agreement wouldn't be enough to halt raids already underway, but it would ensure that there were no more in the future.

To achieve this would require the Senate to pass a law making it illegal to rob or destroy the property of the Grendel. This would make it illegal for an army to take the [[Army_qualities#Daring|Daring Raid]] or [[Army_qualities#Foraging|Plunder]] orders, it would ban privateering in the Bay of Catazar, and it would mean there would be no opportunities to steal Grendel resources, or destroy elements of their economic infrastructure such as [[mithril]] mines. If that happens, Ephisis will convince the Grendel to do the same. Both sides would be free to benefit from captured lands and resources - it would be perfectly fine to extract mithril from a captured mithril mine - but not in a way that damaged the future potential of the resource.

Ephisis' suggestion would not prevent anyone ''conquering'' things. That is after all the point of warfare, from some perspectives. The Grendel could invade Sarvos, or the Empire could drive them out of [[Feroz#Oran|Oran]]. What they would be prevented from doing is burning the city down, or carrying away its art treasures, or enslaving its workers and sending them to salt mines. The Grendel could still launch a daring attack, like the [[A_beacon_of_smoke|recent conquest of Siroc]], but they could not loot the city nor raze it as they have just done.

There would be no feasible way to prevent battlefield looting, but taking the boots of a fallen foe - while distasteful - is not what concerns the City of Gold and Lead. Although, there is no reason the Senate could not make such behaviour a crime if they wished - and the City of Gold and Lead would appreciate it if they did.

Regardless, anyone interested in pursuing this possibility and drafting a law should probably seek the advice of the magistrates at Anvil.

If the Autumn Archmage is interested in the business of war, the herald proposes that during the Winter Solstice they use their plenipotentiary power to request that the [[Estavus|City of Fire and Stone]] make tools of war available to them. If they specifically mention in their missive that they have asked the City of Gold and Lead to serve as intermediaries, then the herald is confident that between them the two cities could provide access to significant amounts of enchanted weapons and armour for those directly fighting the Empire's enemies, boons to aid their warriors on the battlefield, and potentially valuable adjuncts to their war machine. She refuses to be drawn as to whether the Grendel Wind Lords have already made such a request of the Autumn Realm.
<br><br><big>'''Ogila's Tower'''</big><br>
Finally there is the matter of [[I_heard_a_source#Silver_is_only_a_Superfluity|Ogila's Tower]]. Built by the Runesmith Ogila more than a century ago, the tower stands on the Street of Runes in Kalpaheim. It has been locked and sealed since Ogila's death, but the City of Gold and Lead holds both the keys and the deeds to the property. Indeed, they offered them to the Empire two years ago - and were clear that that offer would be available only for a year. The tower itself is incomplete; it requires a set of mithril doors built to exacting specifications by the artisans of the City of Gold and Lead. Without them, it is just a tower, albeit one that stands on the site of a minor [[regio]]. If '''Kingfisher''' merely wishes to occupy the tower, then they may have the keys and the legal documents involved for a single payment of 5 thrones. The regio would however remain closed but its ideal position on the Street of Runes would be a boon to any [[runesmith]] wishing to sell their services to the people of Kalpaheim. (OOC Note: It would represent a [[business]] with two upgrades and two diversifications. Each season the owner would receive 9 crowns and 4 ingots of random mine materials. It would follow all the rules for a personal resource, including the ability to be exchanged with someone else. There would be no additional particular opportunities although it would be a suitable location for a [[fane]] should the owner consent to giving the resource up).
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:400px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Open Ogila's Tower'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type: '''[[Ministry]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Ogila's Tower, Street of Runes, Kalpaheim</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 24 wains of mithril, 72 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the position of ''Merchant of the Street of Runes'' who is able to purchase magic items from the City of Gold and Lead</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time Limit:''' If the opening of Ogila's Tower is not commissioned by the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE the opportunity is lost</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This commission has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the commission does nothing</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:400px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Merchant of the Street of Runes'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Title:''' Either Imperial position or Wintermark national position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Either by Imperial Auction or Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Control of multiple connected ministries allowing purchase of magic items that support heroes and champions; a parchment allowing limited communication with the Braided Rope Coster</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversee Ogila's Tower, liase with the Braided Rope Coster</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Restriction:''' If the Conclave declared enmity against Ephisis, the title loses access to the ministries</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This title has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the title does not gain some or all of its powers</td></tr>
</table></div>
Alternatively, the Braided Rope Coster offers to arrange the mithril doors in return for 24 wains of mithril, paid as part of the [[commission]] required to transform the tower. This would require a [[commission]] from the [[Imperial Senate]], or an [[Imperial title]] with the ability to create a [[ministry]], take three months to complete, and require 72 crowns in additional labour costs. Once complete it would create a new [[Imperial title]]; ''Merchant of the Street of Runes''. The Coster require that the title be appointed not by the Imperial Conclave, but by the Imperial Bourse. It could be auctioned as an Imperial title, or declared a National title in Wintermark (the Coster presumes that whoever wins the approval of the [[military unit|captains]] of Wintermark will be able to turn a profit by doing so).

The title would have possession of the tower, and serve as a liaison with the ''Braided Rope Coster'' should such be required. They would also host merchants from the City of Gold and Lead who would bring fine quality tools of war for sale each season, crafted in the various cities of the Autumn realm. The nature of the initial trades would be agreed once the ''Merchant'' is appointed. The Braided Rope Coster would provide the Merchant with a piece of parchment each season that might be used to request specific kinds of [[magic items]] be made available; the Coster would scour the Autumn Realm and the mortal realm to find suitable items to offer for sale.

Time is pressing; the Empire has until the end of the Winter Solstice to consider these offers.

==Surut==
{{CaptionedImage|file=WinterRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
* '''Surut has agreed to a parley with the Winter Archmage'''
* '''The parley will take place at 23.30 on Friday evening'''
[[The_Thrice-cursed_Court#Surut|Prince Surut]], Raging Fire of Winter, whose spear cleaves through stone, metal and flesh without pause, sends a messenger to Anvil less than a week before the Winter Solstice. Clad in rusted and ruined chain, wherever the lone knight treads their boots char and sear the ground. They waste no time visiting the Hub to deliver the Ashen Knight's response to the Archmage of Winter's plenipotentiary.

Now that they seem to have gained a measure of humility, Surut is minded to engage in parley with the Archmage. Their [[Unending Onslaught]] is a thing of beauty in the eyes of the Broken One, worthy of recognition. Let the Archmage come with three of their entourage to the Hall of Worlds at XX on Friday evening, and from there travel to meet with Surut in his encampment in the hinterlands between the Wasteland and the mortal realm. The Ashen Knight gives his word that none will be harmed, save that they ask it of him.

There are two matters, however, on which the Archmage is likely to be disappointed. Surut has no interest in removing his aid from the Druj. Even if the Archmage is correct, and their nation is on the verge of collapse, what does it matter to the Ashen Knight? When people are desperate, they grasp for any help they can find, and Surut finds that desperation pleasing. If the Druj are destroyed, then Surut will be there to feast on their fall, as it should be. If the Conclave chooses to place Surut under [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]] as a consequence then so be it - the Prince has more than enough fury to go around. Would the Empire expect [[The_Thrice-cursed_Court#Tharim|Tharim]] to stop aiding the Empire just because the Druj asked him to?

Likewise, what are the Grendel to Surut? Let the Archmage build a pyre of bodies and ships if they can, and then the Ashen Knight may be interested. But be warned that it will have to be a grand conflagration indeed to outmatch that inferno of bitterness which the orcs of the Broken Shore and their allies have created in Madruga.

==Sadogua==
{{CaptionedImage|file=NightRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
* '''Sadogua declines parley with the Empire'''
For the first time in a very long time - perhaps for the first time in the history of the Empire - the [[Sadogua|Brother of Wizards]] declines an invitation to parley with Imperial magicians. The single messenger, a stooped creature with bat-like features covered in russet fur - is almost apologetic when they deliver their message for the Archmage of Night. Reading between the lines, Sadogua is ''very angry indeed'' about something that happened during the Autumn Equinox. Specifically, the use of ritual magic to "steal" something called the "Whistling Strand", transporting it permanently to [[Varushka]]. The bat-herald explains that the strand was a part of Sadogua's demesne before the "thieves" stole it, and that the Globbersnotch is quite put out that nobody waited for him to agree. While both '''Elyssiathian''' and '''Brat Umbral-Path''' have tried to address the sheer rudeness of the Circle of Zulgan-Tash, the Globbersnotch is unmoved. "''It was an impressive use of magic,''" the herald says. "''But that doesn't prevent it being a very rude one.''"

Sadogua is apparently not angry - or rather not ''just'' angry - but also hurt. In the last few years alone he has aided Imperial magicians to fight the Druj, used not one but ''both'' irreplaceable magical boons to move things around in Urizen, helped evacuate magicians from all over the [[Iron Confederacy]], tirelessly served as confidant and advisor to magicians all over the Empire, crafted magical tools to inspire and empower Imperial wizards... and apparently all of that is not enough and now the Empire has taken even more. Taken ''a portion of his realm'' because they could not be bothered to wait for permission.

It would be easy, says the herald, gulping a little, for Sadogua to over-react. He has the [[Alignment#Amity|amity]] of the Imperial Conclave after all. It would be comparatively straightforward for him to just ''take'' something of equal value from the Empire to replace what has been stolen. A cloud of bats to claim a [[the League|League]] city and the people in it, perhaps. A swirling mist to enshroud a castle or two and bear them away to the Forests of the Night. Trap the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] in the sands of an hourglass and use it to plug the metaphorical hole both in his realm and in his broken heart...

But he's not intending to be so precipitous - not now his temper has cooled a little at any rate. Instead, he has three suggestions as to what the Empire might do to make it up to him.

The first is to cede him the island of the Lyceum, in perpetuity. He will claim the island and it will be his to do with as he wishes. He'll wrap the island in mists, and decide whether he wants to take it wholesale to his realm or leave it as a refuge for wizards. He is aware that there is a potential issue with this as the island is [[A beacon of smoke|claimed by the Grendel]] but he is also aware that there is an opportunity to reach the island and use the regio there to perform rituals. He has indicated a suitable ritual that would give him the island (this will be covered in the [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war|Winds of War]]).

Given that the transgression was performed by Varushkans, the second proposal is that he would accept the [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|concedence]] of the [[Master_of_Ice_and_Darkness#The_Icy_Crag_of_the_Eternal_Sun|Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun]] by the [[Imperial Senate]]. This would end the patronage of Jaheris, and Sadogua and his allies would transform the place into a school for the study of [[Night magic]]. Imperial magicians will be welcome to attend, but it will be for the ''Father of Bats'' to determine who will direct the study there.

Alternatively, the Empire could finally recognise the obvious truth that the Brother of Wizards is an [[Paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] of [[Prosperity]]. The [[judgement]] of [[recognition]] could be used to agree that his willingness to share his power with his friends - with those who need it - and to put himself out for his allies is as inspirational as any act performed by a mortal exemplar.

There may be other acts of similar significance that will address the injury done to the friendship between the Toad King and the Empire. To be clear, though, this will not resolve the problem of the theft only address the incredible rudeness of it, the way that Imperial wizards have taken their staunch friend for granted. Once some significant reparation has been paid, then there will be time for a negotiation as to suitable recompense for the lands that have been so "cruelly ripped away" from the Black Sloth's domain. And rest assured the price is likely to be higher than it would have been had the magicians involved asked in advance.

Until there is some obvious show of contrition, Sadogua will continue to answer [[Missive for Sadogua|his mail]]. But he will offer no more aid to the Empire or its magicians. All previous arrangements will be on hold until the situation is resolved; there will be no further opportunities for magicians to gain boons from him or have those boons' power extended for example. He'll continue to speak to his friends, but that's all.

==The Azoth==
* '''The Azoth, an eternal of the Night realm, has requested a parley with the Archmage of Night'''
* '''The meeting will take place at Midnight on the Friday of the Winter Solstice'''
Two nights after the emissary from the Brother of Wizards visits Anvil, a different herald of the Night realm appears from the Imperial Regio. It has the form of a tall, lithe orc with scales and feathers across its brow. This herald introduces itself as ''Fulminate'', and announces to the civil service that, following a [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord_:_Call_to_Arms|call to arms]] issued by the [[Rod and Shield]], its master [[Azoth|The Azoth]] would like to request [[Archmage#Parley|parley]] with the Archmage of Night.

Fulminate declares that ''the Crucible'' despises the ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun]]; they are enemies of all things which change and learn and adapt. The Azoth intends to offer boons to the mages and especially the battle-mages of The Empire to assist in the struggle against ''Oblivion''.

For their first boon, ''the Rebis'' offers to support Imperial magicians prepared to [[Conclave of Trees and Shadow|move the trees themselves]] to resist the scions. In exchange for a [[declaration]] of [[Alignment#Amity|Amity]], the Crucible will ensure that it is possible to cast [[Conclave of Trees and Shadow]] in such a way that it will call forth shadow warriors specifically adapted to fighting heralds, rather than the general "grab bag" of spirits the ritual usually calls. For the next year anyone casting Conclave of Trees and Shadow may include as part of the casting one measure of forest material ([[ambergelt]], [[dragonbone]], [[iridescent gloaming]] or [[beggar's lye]]) for each [[forest]] targeted by the ritual. The performance of the ritual must involve an invocation of Azoth. As long as Azoth receives amity before the end of the summit, anyone who has been targeted by such a casting will benefit from Azoth's aid. ('''OOC Note:''' The resulting military unit will have a 5 rank bonus not to Independent action, but to support any Imperial army or fortification that is engaged against the forces of Cold Sun.)

Furthermore, the Azoth has many smaller boons to offer and as such, requests that the Archmage bring with them the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Rod and Shield]], the [[Warmage]], and the [[Imperial Warcaster]]. As such, the Azoth asks for a parley to take place at midnight on the Friday of the summit. A herald will greet the attendees in the Hall of Worlds and lead them to the chamber. Whilst Fulminate is not forthcoming about the nature of these additional boons, it does say that in order to receive one such - an alchemical concoction invented by the Crucible - the collective attendees will need to provide the raw materials. Specifically, forty-five measures of ambergelt, ten measures of dragonbone and five measures of weltsilver, as well as fifteen mana crystals.

==Irra Harrah==
{{CaptionedImage|file=SpringRune.jpg|align=right|width=100}}
* '''Irra Harrah accepts the offer of parley from the Spring Archmage'''
* '''The parley will take place at 23:00 on Saturday evening'''
As the Winter Solstice draws closer, there is some speculation that the Spring Archmage has not submitted a plenipotentiary. The day before the summit begins in earnest, however, a short, agile herald with long rabbit-like ears visits the Hub. Nobody saw them arrive, and when their business is done, they are gone in a flash too fast to follow. They bear a message from the [[Irra Harah|Prince with a Thousand Foes]].

The Prince will meet with the Spring Archmage at 11pm on Saturday evening. They may bring two others with them - provided they are not folk with Imperial titles. Should anyone with an Imperial title attend, there will be no parley. Likewise, no Varushkan should be brought. Again, if the Archmage attempts to do so there will be no parley.

The only topic under discussion will be the events that took place in the Barrens while Irra Harrah was distracted helping the Freeborn at Madruga. Given what has happened to his friends at Dourfell Keep, to the Black Wind, and to the Vendarri, does the Archmage ''really'' believe there can ever be friendship between ''Shackle Smasher'' and the Empire? It seems that if the Archmage truly wishes to "''save those trapped in slavery or extermination''" their first targets will need to be the Senate and the Military Council.
==Timetable==
These meetings are taking place in a number of places; in chambers reached via the Hall of Worlds. The times, and the eternals involved, are summarized here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday|| 23:30 || [[Surut]] || Winter || Parley; Chamber reached via the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Friday|| 00:00 || [[Azoth]] || Night || Parley; Chamber reached via the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Saturday|| TBC || [[Cathan Canae]] || Summer || Parley; to take place in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Saturday|| 23:00 || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || Parley; Chamber reached via the Hall of Worlds
|-
|}

Forums & Facebook

2024-02-08T08:59:52Z

Cathtice: /* Nation Groups */

==Introduction==
With around three thousand players at each event, Empire has an active online community that use a wide range of different social media. We maintain our own Facebook groups and forums for users to discuss the game and related issues but there are also a plethora of Facebook groups used by different groups of players.

==Forum==
Profound Decisions also host their own [http://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ official Empire forum] for players and crew alike. These forums are moderated by the same team that supervise all our official Facebook groups to ensure posts remain civil and relevant. They are a great place to chat with the game designers or the crew about any aspect of Empire especially for those who prefer the kind of longer, more thoughtful conversations, that forums encourage.

<table class="wikitable" style="width:280px; float: right; margin-left:10px; margin-right: 10px; clear: right;">
<tr><th>Empire Forums And Facebook</th></tr>
<tr><td>
* [https://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ Official Empire Forums]
* [https://www.facebook.com/empire.lrp Main Facebook page]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp Main Facebook group]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/playersupport Player Support]
</td></tr>
</table>
==Facebook Page and Group==
We maintain our own [https://www.facebook.com/empire.lrp official Facebook page] which we try to update regularly with blog posts and important news about the game. If you just want to keep abreast of the latest news it is worth liking and following the page.

In addition we run the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp/ Empire Facebook group] where participants can discuss anything Empire related. The group is firmly moderated to ensure that conversations remain polite and on-topic. If you want to have a public discussion with the game designers or the crew about any aspect of Empire then this is a great place for it.

==Player Support & New Player Help==
We also have an official Facebook group that is just for [https://www.facebook.com/groups/playersupport/ providing support for players] especially for new players who are seeking help. If you are new to the game and full of questions then this is the best place to start your journey. There are lots of players in the group who are keen to help as well as key members of our player support team who are on hand to help you get questions answered and problems sorted.

==Adverts and promotion==

We have a dedicated [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Advert group] for IC and OC adverts, promotions, posters and notices. If you’re interested in any of the various goods and services available to players and characters in Empire, this is a great place to come and see what’s on.

If you have an IC advert OR an OC advert for anything that costs IC or OC money, including:
* IC items you are selling IC for money
* IC raffles, gambling houses, or tourneys which are pay-to-enter
* IC services such as poetry, fortune telling, or performance
* Artwork commissions, IC or OC
* IC cake, cafes, bars
* IC publications, papers and books
* IC auctions
* an IC business dealing in resources of any kind in uptime eg an apothecary service
* OC trader products eg larpsafe weapons and armour
* secondhand kit sales
This is the place to post. The [[Online#IC_Announcements_and_Adverts_are_Permitted|posting rules]] remain the same; you can post in the Adverts and promotion group, and in one Nation of your choice, once a month.

For events or items that are free, or for player events, these can be posted in [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp Empire LRP group] and/or one Nation of your choice, once a month.

==Nation Groups==
We also operate an official Facebook group for each of the nations. These are a great place to chat with other participants who play in that nation and also help with things like camp planning and pointing people towards groups that are looking for new characters.

<row-fluid>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=BrassCoastTrader.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/481197761897569/ The Brass Coast]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=DawnFighting2.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/401633306545071/ Dawn]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=HighguardStandard.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/208819129244083/ Highguard]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=OrcGroup2.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/158687267598665/ Imperial Orcs]}}</span3>
</row-fluid>

<row-fluid>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=LeaguePriestCrop.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/459784360702068/ The League]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=JohnKnockingOrcOver.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/146423572116922/ The Marches]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=NavarrWarrior.JPG|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/476962795649090/ Navarr]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=UrizenMage2.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/470732939604433/ Urizen]}}</span3>
</row-fluid>

<row-fluid>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=VarushkanWarrior.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/396355450407697/?ref=share Varushka]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=KallavesiMystic2.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/301940076567407/ Wintermark]}}</span3>
</row-fluid>

==Unofficial Facebook Groups==
There are a plethora of Empire Facebook groups that have been created by players. These groups are not official and are not moderated by Profound Decisions. They are a good place to go if you are interested in talking to other players about a specific aspect of the game. They include a Facebook group for each of the lineage options (listed below)
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr; gap: 12px;">
<div>
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1057225621015403 Stitching Squad]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/205372172927561/ Parents]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/285396931593899 Photography]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/359403560824018 Travel Arrangements]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/365552780230761 Kit Sales and Swaps]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/165082270686010 Empire Fanfiction]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirechesshub Empire Chess Club]
</div>
<div>
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/2021929444528461 LGBTQ+ Empire Players]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/582931741870887 Spoonie + Disabled Larpers]
</div>
<div>
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/218725734938296/ Briar]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/136200783196741/ Cambion]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/377347932346289/ Changeling]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/413971382005569/ Draughir]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/301021356671320/ Merrow]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/166705633475863/ Naga]
</div>
</div>
Please note that these groups are unofficial so they are not moderated by us!

Imperial law at sanctioned events

2023-12-09T22:24:57Z

Cathtice: /* Further Help */

==Overview==
What follows are some suggestions about running plot involving legal matters at sanctioned events. Although all the laws are publicly available on the wiki, there are some particular considerations to bear in mind for legal plot at sanctioned events.

==Magistrates at Events==
While trials at sanctioned events will probably be relatively rare, organisers may want to be prepared to conduct one if the need arises. Trials may only be carried out by NPC magistrates. Sometimes a magistrate from the main Empire events will be in attendance, and if so they will carry out such duties as the circumstances require. However, as their presence cannot be relied upon, you may want to consider giving a member of your crew the role of magistrate, if that's appropriate. All the material you need to do so is publicly available on the wiki, but please remember that magistrates are bound by powerful oaths to prevent corruption and will always try their utmost to be fair and just. We would also ask that your NPC magistrates refrain from giving out sentences of penal military service to players at sanctioned events. This is because we believe there are very limited circumstances in which it would be an appropriate punishment.

==Trials of Player Characters==
We think it is normally preferable for magistrates to conduct all trials at the sanctioned event that the alleged criminal activity was committed at. However if the suspect is a player character then they can be tried by the Magistrates at the next event at Anvil, if that would be more appropriate (e.g. your event is set in a wild area) or if you are not confident you can run a fair trial in accordance with imperial law at your event. We think this may often be less desirable than an immediate trial, as memories will have faded and key players may not be in attendance, but if you do this, please get in touch before the next event so we can make any necessary arrangements.

==The Role of the Militia==
The militia players are vital to the process of justice in Anvil. They typically perform the bulk of any investigation work and brief the magistrates before cases go to trial. There may be players who are members of the militia at a sanctioned event who can conduct any required investigations, but if no PC militia are attending, or if your plot requires NPC militia, then organisers can give the militia roles to members of their crew. If numbers are limited then investigations can also be conducted by a magistrate acting alone.

==Plots involving Trials==
It's worth bearing in mind that any plots you run involving potential sorcerers, heretics, idolators, blasphemers and the like may be complicated by the fact that there are really no legal mechanisms for dealing with them outside of the institutions of Anvil. So for example, someone can't be prosecuted for heresy at a sanctioned event because the appropriate assembly of the synod is not available to condemn them for it. If someone took the law into their own hands to deal with the problem they may be prosecuted for any crimes they have committed (e.g. murder) either at the sanctioned event or at a later event.

Bear in mind that similar issues do not arise if you run a plot involving someone who was declared a sorcerer, heretic etc in a time before the game began (before Winter 376YE).

==Results of Trials==
We would find it very helpful for sanctioned event organisers to provide the results of any trials conducted by their magistrates at their events. Please let us know details of the accused, the charge, their plea, the verdict, the punishment and anything else you think we should know. If there was anything else that happened at your event that you think the Magistrates should know about, please pass that on too.

==Further Help==
Please get in touch by email to [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot@profounddecisions.co.uk] if you would like advice about possible legal ramifications of your plots and we'll do our best to help.

{{Sanctioned Event Further Reading}}

[[Category:Events]]
[[Category:The Law]]

Sanctioned event advice

2023-12-09T22:22:58Z

Cathtice: /* Overview */

==Overview==
This page contains advice and guidance for anyone who is planning to run an Empire sanctioned. It is a good idea to make sure you read this page carefully if you are planning to run an event. Please speak to us as early as possible about your event, once you have an idea for the plot you plan to run, by emailing us at [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot@profounddecisions.co.uk].

==Help from Us==
* '''We can provide only limited help'''
* '''We cannot provide plot, NPCs, or refs for your event'''
Although we welcome other live roleplaying groups creating and running their own Empire events, our focus is very much on our own events. Every available resource that we have is spent making our own events better - we don't have spare crew or plot that we can provide for other events.

Any existing Empire refs are welcome to attend your event as a referee ''if they wish to do so''. If they are able to access the Profound Decisions website while at your event then they will be able to perform all the ref functions that they access at events using our tablets.

We don't write plot for other events - all the plot that is created by us is intended for our own events. We will offer sufficient advice and help with your plot to ensure that it can be sanctioned as part of the ongoing Empire.

We can also provide some cards, resources, and ribbons for a sanctioned event that involves a significant degree of combat and peril.

==Equality and Diversity==
* '''You must ensure the conduct rules are observed at your event'''
* '''Please provide suitable accessibility information for the site you are using'''
You must take reasonable steps to ensure that the [[conduct]] rules are followed by all participants at your event. You should endeavour to deal with any violation of the conduct rules that occurs at your event and then [mailto:conduct@profounddecisions.co.uk report it to Profound Decisions] afterwards.

Please make sure that you provide players with appropriate accessibility information for the site that you are using well in advance of the event. It does not have to be as detailed as the advice on the [https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/accessibility main PD website], but it should include information for players on ground conditions, parking and camping, and toilets and showers as a minimum.

==Game Rules==
*'''By default, all sanctioned events must use the Empire rules'''
*'''Any rules changes or variants must be published well in advance of the event'''
* '''Game materials used at social or sanctioned events are consumed.'''
If you want to run an Empire event that is sanctioned by Profound Decisions then by default it must use the official [[Empire rules]]. Changing the rules has two potential drawbacks, first it creates confusion for players about the rules and their character's abilities. The rules give the players a basis for understanding their character's abilities and what they can legitimately expect to happen in the setting. More importantly, our events are largely self-reffed, a player applies the rules to their character, so they need clarity about the rules they should follow.

In a LRP game, the rules have powerful implications that help to define the game. For example, stories in a setting in which you can resurrect the dead are fundamentally different to stories in a setting where that is impossible. Every live roleplayer has different views on what their perfect LRP would be - by implication they all have different views on what the perfect rules would be. We don't pretend that the Empire rules are what everyone in LRP would choose, but '''on aggregate''' they are what the players who choose to attend Empire events have chosen to play. If you want your players to enjoy your events then it is wise to respect their choices.

Of course it is possible to write in-character elements to your game that subvert the rules. If you don't want your characters' wounds to heal after a few hours of rest, you can force that by setting your event in a region afflicted by a terrible Winter magic curse that prevents it. Choosing what elements of a setting are unusual or different in some way can be part of the creative process of writing plot. But events where the setting causes the rules to work dramatically differently or where the plot appears to have been created purely to subvert the rules will not be sanctioned by us. Many rules are so important that we will not sanction them being subverted under any circumstances. For example, we will '''never''' sanction a plot that allows a character to recover after becoming terminal.

If you need to make a change to the rules then you must include full details of the changes in your communication with us when you are getting your event sanctioned. You must also make sure that you take all reasonable steps to ensure that your players are aware of any changes by publishing appropriate details ''well in advance of the event''.

==Plot==
*'''Sanctioned event plot must be shown to Profound Decisions'''
*'''Sanctioned events must not create new [[eternal|eternals]], [[Paragons and Exemplars|paragons]], or [[foreign nations]]'''
*'''You should clearly communicate the style of your event to your players'''

<div style="float: right; margin-left:10px; clear: right; width: 50%; max-width: 500px;">
<box>'''Scope'''<br>
The best sanctioned events will use plot with appropriate ''scope''. It is common for plot writers to want their plot to be dramatic and significant, but plot that threatens the existence of the Empire, an Imperial Nation, or even an Imperial territory - are just not workable for a sanctioned event. It's not fair on the Profound Decisions player base if they turn up at their next Profound Decisions event to find that the Marches were ruinously destroyed at a sanctioned event attended by thirty players three weeks earlier. For this reason we won't sanction plots of this kind.

A plot can still be dire in nature, even if its ''scope'' is limited. A Varushkan plot that threatens the inhabitants of a Vale, a Navarr plot that risks the destruction of a Terunael ruin, or a Dawnish event set in a ruined keep in the Barrens. These plots can be compelling even though they won't change the course of the world; they don't have to be far-reaching to be dramatic.
</box>
</div>
We will not sanction your event until we have seen a copy of the plot that you plan to run. If you want to run a sanctioned event then you need to submit the outline of any plot which is essential to your event first. As you detail the plot for your event then you can check any significant developments with us as you go to ensure that you are not creating problems. You should submit a final copy of the plot for your event two weeks before the event takes place. Our plot team will check the plot for continuity with our campaign, they ''may'' have some suggestions for ways to link things to the plot at the main events.

Sanctioned event plot should be of a level of significance equivalent to a character or group's background. For example, we will not sanction an event in which the players must prevent an evil cultist performing a ritual to prevent the complete destruction of the League city of [[Sarvos]]. In particular, this means that you cannot create new eternals, paragons, or foreign nations as part of your plot. If your plot requires some unique element of this kind, then you should employ a less significant equivalent - such as a herald or exemplar.

In general the sort of things that it is appropriate for players to create for their background, a Marcher Household, a Highguard Exemplar, a Dawnish Herald are the sort of elements that you can create when writing plot for a sanctioned event. If you must use something more powerful - like an eternal - then you must use one of existing options defined on the wiki.

The Empire wiki defines a set of [http://crew.profounddecisions.co.uk/Style_guide plot guidelines] which are well worth reading if you intend to create a sanctioned event. These are the style guidelines we encourage all our writers to use when creating plot for our events. Our goal is to create a distinct style for our events so that our players know what to expect. By default many Empire players will assume that if you are running an Empire event then it will be in the style of other Empire events. Your event should reflect the style of game you want to run - but please respect the Empire player base by communicating clearly the style of game that you are creating.

==Divination==
* '''Empire includes a number of divination rituals like Signs and Portents which you can chose to support'''
* '''You must support divination rituals like Hand of the Maker or An Echo of Life Remains correctly if they are cast'''
* '''You cannot support any territory wide divination rituals such as Eyes of the High Places'''
<div style="float: right; margin-left:10px; clear: right; max-width: 500px;">
<box>====Optional Rituals====
* [[Clear Lens of the Eternal River]]
* [[Shadowed Glass of Sung]]
* [[Signs and Portents]]
====Mandatory Rituals====
* [[An Echo of Life Remains]]
* [[Bright Lantern of Ophis]],
* [[Hakima's Glass]]
* [[Hand of the Maker]]
* [[Skein of Years]]
* [[Ties that Bind]]
* [[Wisdom of the Balanced Blade]]
====Invalid Rituals====
* [[Dreams in the Witch House]]
* [[Eye of the High Places]]
* [[Eyes of the Sun and Moon]]
</box>
</div>
Empire includes a number of divination rituals such as [[Signs and Portents]], [[Shadowed Glass of Sung]] and [[Clear Lens of the Eternal River]] which players can perform to gain cryptic information. If you wish to support these rituals to enhance your event, then you must submit any responses to them as part of your plot sanctioning document. If you don't want to support these rituals, you should let players know that they won't gain any useful information by casting them at your event.

There are also a set of rituals that are cast on people or items that provide useful information, such as [[Wisdom of the Balanced Blade]]. These are classed as mandatory rituals in the sense that you ''must'' provide a valid response to these rituals. If a character casts Wisdom of the Balanced Blade on an item that is cursed, then you ''must'' give them details of any curse that is present if you know of them. You should consider the implications of this carefully when creating any plot for your event; we will endeavour to point this out when we are sanctioning your plot if we notice them.

Some mandatory divinations are deliberately open ended - for example ''What information is there about significant events the item has been present at?'' from [[Skein of Years]] or ''Were there any special circumstances involved in its crafting?'' from [[Hand of the Maker]]. If you have an item at your event that has valuable information that would reasonably answer this question then wherever possible you must be prepared to provide that information. It is fine for the answers to these questions to be "nothing" or "no" if there is no information - it is better to have no information available rather than give out information that is irrelevant. The [[detect magic#divination|divination]] function of [[detect magic]] is specifically designed to manage player expectations as to whether there is ''useful'' information to be gained by performing one of these rituals.

If a character casts a mandatory divination ritual on a ribboned item from another event, then you can only provide a response if there is a referee present who has access to the PD website. If there is no referee present, then you can either inform the player that their ritual fails and give them their mana back, or they can submit the ritual to Profound Decisions after the event and we will give them the appropriate response.

Empire also includes a small number of territory wide divination rituals such as [[Eye of the High Places]] which you cannot support. There is no consistent way in which you can provide a response to these rituals at a sanctioned event, so you must not try.

==Resources and items==
* '''Perilous combat events are eligible to receive a small number of resources'''
* '''We don't provide resources for events that do not contain any peril'''
We expect players who are attending an Empire event that includes significant amounts of perilous combat to expend some herbs, mana crystals, and liao during the course of your event. Therefore it is appropriate for such events to include a small amount of resources that the players can acquire during the course of the event. We will review the plot for your event and decide how many resources are appropriate based on the number of players that you have booked. We won't provide any cards or items for an event that does not include any peril, even if it contains combat such as a tourney or similar.

Although the players expend herbs, liao and mana crystals, it is possible for a combat event to include anything of value in the Empire world - money, magical items, materials or even resources. If you require specific resources then make sure you request them well in advance of your event. If your event requires a magical item then you should use one of the [[magic items]] listed on the Empire wiki. If your event simply must include some unique magical item then you can request this. We will need a very clear definition of the item's power as early as possible to consider whether we will allow it.

Once the items and resources for your event are agreed, then we will arrange to have the cards, phys-reps and item ribbons shipped to you. Please make sure that any game items have an official Empire item ribbon attached to them before the game starts.

==Regio==
* '''Be cautious about including a [[regio]] at your event.'''
[[Regio]] represent magical locations where the power of the Realms intrudes on the mortal world. They are fine to include in your sanctioned event, but with some caveats. We won't sanction an event that includes a powerful regio that allows players to perform [[territory]] or empire-affecting rituals such as [[Winter's Ghosts]] or [[Hallow of the Green World]]. Regio at sanctioned events should be there to provide interesting story opportunities or roleplaying effects. Perhaps a regio is contested between two [[eternal|eternals]] and heralds will try to recruit players to skew the conflict in one direction or the other, for example.

A regio can have a mechanical effect, provided that effect makes sense and is relevant to your plot, but you should keep the scope limited. For example, a Night regio that makes it a little easier to cast [[The Twilight Masquerade]] by granting a bonus rank to ritualists is more likely to be sanctioned.
{{Sanctioned Event Further Reading}}

Sanctioned events

2023-12-09T22:22:02Z

Cathtice: /* Sanctioned Events */

{{stub}}
==Overview==
The Empire rules and setting are licensed [[terms and conditions|under terms]] that allow anyone to use them freely for any reason and to modify them for their own use. As a result, anyone can choose to run a live roleplaying event and call it an Empire event if they wish. In fact, some elements of the setting were deliberately designed to facilitate this shared approach.

Although there are many advantages to this freedom, the drawback is in the consistency of the setting and rules experienced by players. If someone runs an event that includes elements that contradict the material that Profound Decisions have published for Empire then it can negatively affect the campaign continuity or increase confusion about the Empire rules. To try and balance this we have produced a set of guidelines for sanctioned events - Empire events which are considered by us to be a part of the same campaign that we are running.
==Types of Event==
There are three possible types of Empire event that are not run by Profound Decisions. They are sanctioned events, social events, and unsanctioned events.

===Social Events===
* '''Events run by participants with no plot, no NPCs, and no threat or peril, beyond that posed by other player-characters'''
Social events are events run by participants which ''don't'' include any plot, but are considered to be part of the Empire campaign run by Profound Decisions. This means that they will have no npcs present - everyone will be playing their Empire character. It also means there will be no threat or peril, beyond that posed by other player-characters.

If you are running a social event then you must use all the normal Empire game rules and our [[conduct]] rules at all times. You should make sure your event is clearly promoted as an Empire ''social'' event, so that everyone knows what to expect. You do not need to contact Profound Decisions to inform us that you are running an Empire social event.

===Sanctioned Events===
* '''Any event run by participants that includes plot, npcs, items, or additional sources of threat or peril beyond that posed by other player-characters'''
Sanctioned events are events run by participants that are set in the Empire campaign run by Profound Decisions, which ''do'' include plot. The plot for the event can include npcs, items, and sources of threat or peril beyond that posed by other player-characters.

All plot must be submitted to Profound Decisions by email to [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot@profounddecisions.co.uk] so that we can check it is consistent with the existing campaign material. You can only run plot that we have approved at your event. If you are running a sanctioned event then you can make changes to the core game rule, but these must be sanctioned alongside any plot elements that you are creating. Your event must follow our [[conduct]] rules at all times.

You should make sure your event is clearly promoted as an Empire ''sanctioned'' event, so that everyone knows what to expect. If the event is intended to include high threat or high combat then you must make that clear. You must contact Profound Decisions as early as possible, once you have the outline sketch for the plot you wish to run at your event, so that we can discuss it with you.

===Unsanctioned Events===
* '''Any event which has applied for sanctioning and been refused but which is still running anyway'''
As noted above, event organizers are free to run any event they like using the Empire rules or setting but we choose whether to acknowledge events as part of the canonical Empire campaign we are running. We will not sanction an event that is running plot which is inconsistent with the main campaign, or so wildly at odds in style and approach that it is likely to lead to inconsistencies. We will always have a dialogue with an event organizer over their event plot, and have always found it straightforward to reach agreement when elements need changing, but it is theoretically possible that that wouldn't happen.

If an organizer opted to run an event that included elements that we had refused to sanction, then the entire event would be treated as unsanctioned. As a matter of courtesy we would expect the organizers to make clear that the event is unsanctioned - but we would put out an announcement on social media to ensure everyone was aware. Anyone is free to attend the event and play anyting that is acceptable to the event organizers. Nothing that happens at the event would be considered to be canon for Empire.

==Information for Players==
* '''You must follow all the standard game rules and conduct rules at social events and sanctioned events'''
* '''You must destroy any carded items used as normal'''
* '''Please [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk email us] with any changes that happen at the event'''
* '''If your character dies at a sanctioned event, you must update the online system to record this'''
* '''Events must take place in chronological order over downtime, and event organisers are discouraged from defining a specific date'''

You must follow the conduct rules when attending social or sanctioned event. The event organizers will have indicated if there are any changes to the normal game rules in effect for a sanctioned event, otherwise you must follow all the standard game rules. This means rituals you perform have the normal requirements for mana cards, [[regio]] use, and so on. Likewise [[Religious skills|ceremonies]] require [[liao]], etc. Any cards for resources that you expend, such as mana or liao must be destroyed as normal when used.

If you perform an ongoing ritual at a sanctioned event, then please keep any mana crystal cards that are used to one side and [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk email us] with a photograph and details of the ritual you performed. Please include details of any other participants, who the ritual was targetted on and any other appropriate details. Once you have sent us all the information we need, then we will process the ritual, so that any ongoing effects are included in any downtime processing. If an event takes place after downtime has been processed, then the rituals will take effect as if they were performed at the next Profound Decisions event. If you perform a ritual that does not have an ongoing effect then you do not have to inform us, but you must still destroy any mana cards used at the time.

If the magical items or bands that your character is bonded to change at an event then you should inform Profound Decisions by email so that we can update your character record. If your character dies at a sanctioned event you should report this by going into the page for your character on the Profound Decisions site and clicking "Report Character Death".

All events must take place in-character in the same order that they do out-of-character. This rule means that nobody can be placed in a position where they are attending an event set before one they have already been to. For this reason event organizers are strongly discouraged from defining a precise date for their event as this makes problems for other event organizers.

==Information for Organizers==
Please make sure that you read the [[sanctioned event advice]] for organizers carefully before you run an Empire event.

{{Sanctioned Event Further Reading}}

[[Category:Events]]
[[Category:Rules]]

Sanctioned events

2023-12-09T22:19:59Z

Cathtice: /* Sanctioned Events */

{{stub}}
==Overview==
The Empire rules and setting are licensed [[terms and conditions|under terms]] that allow anyone to use them freely for any reason and to modify them for their own use. As a result, anyone can choose to run a live roleplaying event and call it an Empire event if they wish. In fact, some elements of the setting were deliberately designed to facilitate this shared approach.

Although there are many advantages to this freedom, the drawback is in the consistency of the setting and rules experienced by players. If someone runs an event that includes elements that contradict the material that Profound Decisions have published for Empire then it can negatively affect the campaign continuity or increase confusion about the Empire rules. To try and balance this we have produced a set of guidelines for sanctioned events - Empire events which are considered by us to be a part of the same campaign that we are running.
==Types of Event==
There are three possible types of Empire event that are not run by Profound Decisions. They are sanctioned events, social events, and unsanctioned events.

===Social Events===
* '''Events run by participants with no plot, no NPCs, and no threat or peril, beyond that posed by other player-characters'''
Social events are events run by participants which ''don't'' include any plot, but are considered to be part of the Empire campaign run by Profound Decisions. This means that they will have no npcs present - everyone will be playing their Empire character. It also means there will be no threat or peril, beyond that posed by other player-characters.

If you are running a social event then you must use all the normal Empire game rules and our [[conduct]] rules at all times. You should make sure your event is clearly promoted as an Empire ''social'' event, so that everyone knows what to expect. You do not need to contact Profound Decisions to inform us that you are running an Empire social event.

===Sanctioned Events===
* '''Any event run by participants that includes plot, npcs, items, or additional sources of threat or peril beyond that posed by other player-characters'''
Sanctioned events are events run by participants that are set in the Empire campaign run by Profound Decisions, which ''do'' include plot. The plot for the event can include npcs, items, and sources of threat or peril beyond that posed by other player-characters.

All plot must be submitted to Profound Decisions by email to plot@profounddecisions.co.uk so that we can check it is consistent with the existing campaign material. You can only run plot that we have approved at your event. If you are running a sanctioned event then you can make changes to the core game rule, but these must be sanctioned alongside any plot elements that you are creating. Your event must follow our [[conduct]] rules at all times.

You should make sure your event is clearly promoted as an Empire ''sanctioned'' event, so that everyone knows what to expect. If the event is intended to include high threat or high combat then you must make that clear. You must contact Profound Decisions as early as possible, once you have the outline sketch for the plot you wish to run at your event, so that we can discuss it with you.

===Unsanctioned Events===
* '''Any event which has applied for sanctioning and been refused but which is still running anyway'''
As noted above, event organizers are free to run any event they like using the Empire rules or setting but we choose whether to acknowledge events as part of the canonical Empire campaign we are running. We will not sanction an event that is running plot which is inconsistent with the main campaign, or so wildly at odds in style and approach that it is likely to lead to inconsistencies. We will always have a dialogue with an event organizer over their event plot, and have always found it straightforward to reach agreement when elements need changing, but it is theoretically possible that that wouldn't happen.

If an organizer opted to run an event that included elements that we had refused to sanction, then the entire event would be treated as unsanctioned. As a matter of courtesy we would expect the organizers to make clear that the event is unsanctioned - but we would put out an announcement on social media to ensure everyone was aware. Anyone is free to attend the event and play anyting that is acceptable to the event organizers. Nothing that happens at the event would be considered to be canon for Empire.

==Information for Players==
* '''You must follow all the standard game rules and conduct rules at social events and sanctioned events'''
* '''You must destroy any carded items used as normal'''
* '''Please [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk email us] with any changes that happen at the event'''
* '''If your character dies at a sanctioned event, you must update the online system to record this'''
* '''Events must take place in chronological order over downtime, and event organisers are discouraged from defining a specific date'''

You must follow the conduct rules when attending social or sanctioned event. The event organizers will have indicated if there are any changes to the normal game rules in effect for a sanctioned event, otherwise you must follow all the standard game rules. This means rituals you perform have the normal requirements for mana cards, [[regio]] use, and so on. Likewise [[Religious skills|ceremonies]] require [[liao]], etc. Any cards for resources that you expend, such as mana or liao must be destroyed as normal when used.

If you perform an ongoing ritual at a sanctioned event, then please keep any mana crystal cards that are used to one side and [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk email us] with a photograph and details of the ritual you performed. Please include details of any other participants, who the ritual was targetted on and any other appropriate details. Once you have sent us all the information we need, then we will process the ritual, so that any ongoing effects are included in any downtime processing. If an event takes place after downtime has been processed, then the rituals will take effect as if they were performed at the next Profound Decisions event. If you perform a ritual that does not have an ongoing effect then you do not have to inform us, but you must still destroy any mana cards used at the time.

If the magical items or bands that your character is bonded to change at an event then you should inform Profound Decisions by email so that we can update your character record. If your character dies at a sanctioned event you should report this by going into the page for your character on the Profound Decisions site and clicking "Report Character Death".

All events must take place in-character in the same order that they do out-of-character. This rule means that nobody can be placed in a position where they are attending an event set before one they have already been to. For this reason event organizers are strongly discouraged from defining a precise date for their event as this makes problems for other event organizers.

==Information for Organizers==
Please make sure that you read the [[sanctioned event advice]] for organizers carefully before you run an Empire event.

{{Sanctioned Event Further Reading}}

[[Category:Events]]
[[Category:Rules]]

385YE Autumn Equinox Synod judgements

2023-10-27T20:04:48Z

Cathtice: /* Judgement 197 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]] [[Category: 385YE Autumn]]
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SynodAutumn385.png|caption=Judgements are the way that the various assemblies of the [[Imperial Synod]] carry out their business.|align=right|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox 385YE Summit, the [[Imperial Synod]] raised 202 [[judgement|judgements]].
==Change of Doctrine==
The following [[change of doctrine]] was proposed during the Autumn Equinox.
===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Clarice Novarion
* '''Judgement:''' To remove the Doctrine of Human Destiny and replace it with the Doctrine of Enlightenment. The virtuous inspire others to greatness; they do not demean them. Let us celebrate the spiritual power of Virtue without degrading our fellow Pilgrims. Let us inspire orcs and humans as equals in the Way with a true expression of Pride and Ambition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (3013 - 159)
* '''Notes:''' This historic judgement both rescinds the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Human_Destiny|Doctrine of Human Destiny]] and creates a new Doctrine of Enlightenment. The full implications of this significant change to [[the Doctrines of the Faith]] will be felt over the coming months.
<big>'''The Doctrine of Enlightenment'''</big>
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;">
<big>''Virtue lies in choice and action. Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of the soul, spirit, and species, guiding and inspiring both orcs and humans to their highest destiny. Through the practice of Virtue, orcs and humans develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings .''</big></div></div>
__TOC__
==Veto==
One [[veto]] was sought during the Autumn Equinox.
===Judgement 202===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Fool of Glory
* '''Judgement:''' The Assembly of Nine veto the election of the Throne.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld, with a Greater Majority (0-6); Primacy
* '''Notes:''' A [[veto]] may still be sought on the appointment of [[the Throne]] by the General Assembly.

==Statement of Principle==
===Judgement 4===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Prince Bishop Hildebrand von Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' Virtue is spread by example and what better way can there be to share that example than the arts! We encourage all citizens of the League to bask in the glow of stained glass, to weep at plays, and to be inspired by great virtuous tales. Art begets virtue and virtue begets art.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (301-12)

===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Yosephus Morningson
* '''Judgement:''' The views of the Tample of Balance are not shared by all priests but neither are they heretical. Those who hold such views should be allowed to preach according to their beliefs. Note: Commentary on this judgement has been published on the public notice board in the hub and Yosephus Morningson is available to discuss it and share further documentation. Yosephus can be found wearing white robes with a straw hat and will be in the hub on Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 10am, 1:30pm, 3pm, and 9pm, and Sunday at 10am, Noon, and 1pm.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (340-760)
===Judgement 6===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Hector of Tropaion
* '''Judgement:''' The Druj will always threaten that which we watch over. We must strike decisively in their heartland, to thwart their planned malice before we fall foul of it. This assembly advocates the cursing of Sarnath.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (275-16)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Salt Flats of Sanath]] are part of [[the Mallum]], the homelands of the [[Druj]]. The Empire is currently engaged in a [[A_walk_in_shadow|military campaign]] there. The [[Citadel Guard]] are present, presenting the opportunity to take advantage of the [[Urizen]] [[Imperial army|army]] ability to [[Army_qualities#Magic|channel ritual magic]] into the [[territory]].
===Judgement 9===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ortenzia di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' This assembly encourage the ambitious, wise, and vigilant search for potions and substances that will allow orc priests of all nations to engage with the virtues in similar ways to how human priests use liao.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (2733-10)
* '''Notes''': [[Orc|Orcs]] are [[Orc#Rules_FAQ|unable]] to use [[liao]], and do not gain benefits from the [[Tisanes of the Labyrinth]].
===Judgement 13===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Set Mael Donjeon
* '''Judgement:''' From the now-blest Barrens shrine / Weary we walked / Great grief tempering great joy / One thing I know / That soothes a heavy heart / Is the gift of faithful friend. We returned from the Barrens in summer to a heroic welcome from the Fellowship of the Broken Willow and the Winterfolk. The Troubadours of Dawn are grateful for, and shall remember this kindness.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (313-0)
* '''Notes:''' This seems to refer to the [[Dawn|Dawnish]] [[A_glorious_victory#Here_We_Stand_.28Conjunction.29|expedition]] to [[the Barrens]] at the Summer Solstice, during which they consecrated a chapel with [[liao#True Liao|true liao]], creating an [[inspirational location]].
===Judgement 15===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Averil Olsen Warsmith of the Iron Way
* '''Judgement:''' Wintermark should remain Vigilant against our many enemies who attempt to shatter out battles lines. We should use our Wisdom to know further war with these enemies will happen. Therefore we should begin to produce Artisan Oil on a larger scale. As a nation we should take Pride in our runesmith traditions and build an Artisan Academy which would give us space to train new runesmiths. This would simultaneously produce a reserve of Artisan Oil for this great nation. This would allow our already trained Artisans to dedicate more time to crafting more complex magic items for Wintermark and the Empire. The Storm will never break us.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (333-0)
* '''Notes:''' [[Artisan's Oil]] is a substance invented in the [[Commonwealth]] that allows [[Calls#SHATTER|shattered]] weapons and shields to be [[mend|mended]]. Any Imperial [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisan]] can create it., as the procedure for doing so was disseminated throughout the Empire in late Autumn and early Winter of 379YE by agents of the [[Fellowship of Purple Sails]].

===Judgement 16===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Friar John of the Mourn
* '''Judgement:''' It has become common in current times that past life visions have been shared and recorded more widely for the sake of reclaiming lost history and investigating the Way. Until recently, past life visions were more often a private, spiritual affair intended to offer guidance to the visionary. We call upon all those across the Empire, including those who do not attend Anvil, who may have had a more private past life vision to consider volunteering that information. This should even be if their names are to be kept anonymous in the records. Such knowledge enriches our understanding of the soul and of the Way. It allows us to track whether known virtuous souls have been reborn, gives us an insight onto history, and potentially brings us new tales of virtue which could be used to inspire.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (2506-9)
* '''Notes:''' A [[past life vision]] is achieved through the use of [[liao#True Liao|true liao]]. In recent years, records of many past life visions have been published by the [[Seer of the Gateway]] and [[Disseminate_True_Liao_visions|shared with interested readers]] across the Known World; this publication represents only the tip of the iceberg however. There are more than three centuries of Imperial past life visions for which there is no publicly available documentation.
===Judgement 29===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Jedediah Boon
* '''Judgement:''' Hue and Cry, Miners and Landskeepers of the Mourn and Marches! The constellation of the Wanderer still shines bright in the sky! Watch the tunnels of your land with Vigilance and cast your mine enchantments with cautious wisdom. Invoke the name of Jonah Gold as you stand together against mysterious spirits that offer wealth and good fortune; they are no hard workers of the land, but tulpas fit only for driving away! Miners and Landskeepers, Hue and Cry!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (156-10)
* '''Notes:''' This caution appears to refer to [[Various_storms_and_saints#Spirits_of_Stone|recent peculiar effects]] reported by magicians performing [[enchantment|enchantments]] aimed at [[mine|mines]], apparently connected to a conjunction of [[the Wanderer]].

===Judgement 31===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Limonos of the Astral Observatory
* '''Judgement:''' Magicians are the leaders of our nation, however consequences are the price of Ambition. In light of recent events we call on Sentinels to remember their role as guardians of our nation, and remind them that threats can come from within as well as without. Do not be afraid to act to protect Urizen, even if you would act against other Urizeni.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (218-85)
* '''Notes:''' An exhortation to the [[sentinel|sentinels]] of [[Urizen]], who form the bulk of the nation's armed forces and embrace the arts of war with the same passion and commitment with which their fellow Urizeni study magic.
===Judgement 32===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Able the Taller
* '''Judgement:''' Zenith is being rebuilt, stone by stone. One Ring At A Time. But we must not shy away from the lessons of the recent past, the mistakes and weakness that lead to the despoiling of our homes and the loss of our territory. Consequences are the Cost of Ambition, we must seek to raise another Army, and commit ourselves to this path however long it takes to travel.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (348-0)
* '''Notes:''' Each nation can maintain only a limited number of [[Imperial army|armies]] (and [[Imperial navy|navies]]). Urizen can [[Imperial_army#Maximum_numbers_of_Imperial_Forces|support]] only a single army - currently the [[Citadel Guard]].
===Judgement 35===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Luca i Taziel i Riquez
* '''Judgement:''' The Human Spirit can be touched by Purity, Pride, Peace, Prosperity, and more. Seemingly, every aura is a tune which plays in harmony with something intrinsic and pure in Spirit's song, regardless of how we feel about the notes. The Virtues were chosen as Doctrine, as we choose peace or war, amity or enmity, enemies or lovers (although those can sometimes be the same). The Doctrine of Seven is a choice built on evidence first and opinion second, but it is a choice we made and can unmake. It must be treated as such. We cannot cry heresy at a question asked, when our predecessors asked it too. We cannot claim an understanding of the Human Spirit when we do not at least acknowledge all the music it sings.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (743-869)
* '''Notes:''' The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Seven|Doctrine of the Seven]] is one of the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith|Doctrines of the Faith]] that form the foundation of the Way. It states that "''There are seven Virtues that guide the spirit through the Labyrinth of Ages. These are Ambition, Courage, Loyalty, Pride, Prosperity, Vigilance and Wisdom. Other qualities may benefit humanity, but lend no aid through the passage of death to rebirth, and some may hinder it.''".
===Judgement 36===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Nekoda of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' As the Freefolk complete their pilgrimage around the Empire, in the way the forebears of Highguard completed their pilgrimage across the Bay of Catazar and the First Empress brought the Revelation across the nations of the Empire, we the Highborn recognise them as kindred souls and invite them to settle with us and find new homes in our Nation. We are all scions of Atun and Atuman, as peoples seeking our paths in the world, dedicated to the pursuit of the Way, and following in the Inspiration of our exemplars and paragons. Let us do so together. In Loyalty, let us build up one another. In Pride, let us embrace our pasts and inspire one another. In Wisdom, let us test what we know, and learn together.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (602-10)
* '''Notes:''' [[Atun]] and [[Atuman]] are inspiration figures credited with establishing the Highborn nation and the foundations of the Way. The Free Folk are former [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] slaves who practice the Way, albeit in an unfamiliar fashion. Many have spent the last year engaged in a [[Folklore#The_Free_Folk_Pilgrimage|pilgrimage to inspirational locations]] across the Empire, with the support of the [[Imperial Synod]].
===Judgement 37===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Isaia Pavone di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' Prosperity teaches that all that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it. We benefit from Urizen's sacrifice and we must repay our debts. Let us prove we hear Urizen's pain and that we are no the thieving bandits they fear us to be. Lorenzo's Legacies provide the League with ample mana, and our Urizeni siblings are in need. Let us send the mana from these Great Works to shroud the spires of Spiral.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (325-110)
* '''Notes:''' Wealthy philanthropist Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar left many legacies behind; some of the best known are the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#The_Legacies_of_Virtue|Legacies of Virtue]] established in half-a-dozen territories across the Empire - [[great work|great works]] that increase the amount of crystal mana that can be harvested at [[mana site|mana sites]] in those territories. This statement also seems to reference the possibility of providing the [[spire|spires]] of [[Spiral]] with the mana needed to enact rituals that would help them remain connected to their fellows in [[Zenith]] and [[Redoubt]], as detailed in a [[A_question_of_loyalty#Spires|recent appraisal]].
===Judgement 38===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Velko Perunovich Razoradze
* '''Judgement:''' Drowning criminals in the Semmerlak is not an act of idolatry it is a return to the agreements of old. Dho'uala wants the mortal bodies of condemned criminals. Fulfilling this request is not heathen sacrifice it is a necessary bargain. Lawful execution by drowning is no different to chopping of a head in the eyes of virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld, Withdrawn (983-1042); Scrutiny was [[Cardinal#Further_Scrutiny|extended]] by the [[Cardinal of Vigilance]].
* '''Notes:''' Appears to be talking about the [[The_horror_and_the_wild#Those_Who_No_Longer_Need_To_Live|proposal to drown criminals]] in the waters of [[the Semmerlak]] to mollify the [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] known as [[Dho'uala]]. While a [[Senate motion]] was raised regarding this proposal, it was [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Amend_execution_in_territories_around_the_Semmerlak|subsequently withdrawn]].

===Judgement 47===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Saul Truthmonger
* '''Judgement:''' Highguards bonds of Loyalty spread to helping souls in need. Vendarri orcs have stated that they want to settle, if only they had a swamp to call home. Ambition drives us to seek excellence in all things - so we should do what we can to make our lands more hospitable. Then we can begin to treat non believers as souls to be saved, rather than enemies to be destroyed.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (252-80)
* '''Notes:''' This relates to the complex situation of the [[Not_to_conquer#Vendarri|Vendarri]] sept of orcs in [[the Barrens]]. The [[Imperial Senate]] has declared that this sept are barbarians, clarifying the situation in an [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Declare_war_on_the_Vendarri|administrative motion]] during the Autumn Equinox.

===Judgement 50===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Lady Josephine of Adina's Charge
* '''Judgement:''' Orcs are members of the Empire and are known to benefit from the Way of Virtue. For years Orcish traditions have been attacked and their voices spoken over and disrespected. There are now many Septs in the Empire each with their own traditions. The Empire is changing, we as humans must acknowledge what we've done and treat them with the respect they are owed as fellow citizens of the Empire. Talk to them, ask what they need and actually ''listen'' to their answer rather than just assume.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1678-168)
===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Corrado Filiarchi de Regario
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous build up their fellows they do not tear them down. Urizen draws a knife to their own neck and call themselves cohesive. They call out the spilling of Urizeni blood as if by returning Spiral through diplomacy, we have not saved the blood of the Empire being spilled without need. Calls to violence came from Urizeni tongues, not the Empire. We wish to bring citizens from across the League - including Apulian Orcs - to open themselves to talk with Urizen and to match their threat of warfare with diplomacy that gives us the chance to discuss this, to push the logic of this choice with conversation. We will not justify rebellion with warfare. To subvert the authority of the Imperial senate and resort to armed rebellion is to lose the great game, we of the League instead (??) invite Urizen to play as equals for all is prosperity.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (301-0)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[Windfall|recent]] [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment|assignment]] of [[Spiral]] to [[the League]], and the [[A question of loyalty|complex situation]] developing there.

===Judgement 53===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Merari Navigators of Virtue
* '''Judgement:''' Unveiling is a valid spiritual discipline, Highborn assembly 384. A year ago as a nation the lineaged and unlineaged priests of Highguard declared with one prideful voice that our tradition of unveiling is a valid practice in our spiritual journey. This remains unchanged! However, we each travel our own path while we journey through the Way. It is true that unveiling can be fruitful for a person's spiritual growth. But it must be stressed that if a Lineaged adherent of the Way chooses not to unveil, that is also equally valid.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (484-32)
* '''Notes:''' [[Highguard_lineage_and_species_attitudes#Specific_Lineage|Unveiling]] is a somewhat controversial practice among some [[lineage|lineaged]] [[Highguard|Highborn]] in which they remove or disfigure the visible marks of their lineage, usually by cutting off their [[Cambion|horns]] or [[Changeling|antlers]].
===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Vespasian
* '''Judgement:''' The Cold Sun seeks not only to exterminate the people of the Empire, but eliminate our culture and art as well. We have lost the Grand Conservatory of Music, Freya's Garden, and the Unbound Steel Hall of Lost Chapters - we must not lose any more great works of our cultures. We urge the Prideful to proclaim their Pride in how they conduct every part of their lives by rising up against the Cold Sun and aiding the soldiers of the Empire against it. Despise the half-hearted, the uncommitted, and the pretender in this struggle for our identities.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a greater Majority (590-0)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Cold Sun]] is an [[eternal]] of the Day Realm whose soldiers are engaged in a [[To_the_last_syllable|military campaign]] across the Empire, one that recently saw the destruction of the three locations mentioned in the statement.
===Judgement 58===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Grogfear, son of Grignir
* '''Judgement:''' The Prosperous are not selfish; all that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it. Atte Arrow-Tongued has shown themselves to be a steadfast supporter of strengthening Wintermark. They have guided us through some of the most turbulent times since the death of the Young Empress. It is their words we give voice to at our moots. "Three people, one nation. Ten nations, one Empire." They played a key role in the gifting of Skarsind to the Imperial orcs and were vital to the success of the initial Liberty Pact negotiations. Now they have committed themselves to lifting up Sermersuaq, ensuring the territory does not continue to be overlooked. Wintermark is proud to add their tales to the Chronicle of Heroes.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (371-0)
* '''Notes:''' The name of Atte Arrow-Tongued has been added to the [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroism]].

===Judgement 59===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Ubarius of Tropaion Citadel
* '''Judgement:''' The Virtues do not demean others, they inspire them to greatness. The Faraden follow four of the True Virtues, but also are demeaned by the false virtue of Vengeance. They also have a national shortage of liao. The Empire should not be giving or selling liao directly to the Faraden, where it may fall into the hands of blasphemers. Rather, we urge our Prideful missionaries to dedicate Faraden priests that follow Pride, and given them Hallowed items. This will raise their status in Faraden society, relative to those who follow Vengeance, thus inspiring them to greatness.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (498-28)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Faraden]] are foreigners who live to the west of the Empire, across the [[Jotun]]-controlled Lasambrian Hills. Their [[Faraden#Faraden_Religious_Beliefs|religion]] has similarities to the Way, including the veneration of the virtues of [[Pride]], [[Courage]], [[Loyalty]], and [[Prosperity]], but differs in several key regards most well-known of which is their inclusion of the [[malign spiritual presences|malign spiritual presence]] of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Vengeance|Vengeance]] alongside the four true virtues. The Pride assembly has [[Wild_blue_yonder#Faraden|recently engaged]] with the priests of Faraden, to learn more about their faith; further information is expected to be made available to Imperial citizens soon.
===Judgement 61===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' "Shacklebreaker" Thranmir Hrafnar
* '''Judgement:''' Helgunn Chargebringer of the Fellowship of the Broken Willow should have their name written in the Chronicle of Heroisum. They were a Courageous, Pridefull, Wise, and Loyal leader of the Heart of the Mark until they met their end in Kahraman. Time and time again they welcomed new heroes of Wintermark into their battle unit, helped train them up into heroes, and watched over them as they helped the Empire secure greater victories on the battlefield. They earnt their Hero name "Chargebringer" for showing immense Courage through leading multiple charges from the front and inspired everyone to step with them. A Hero has a name!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (365-0)
* '''Notes:''' The name of Helgunn Chargebringer has been added to the [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroism]]
===Judgement 62===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Rafe
* '''Judgement:''' The young empress Britta Gilderling is a virtuous example to us all, memorialized in Necropolis, as she rests in the waters of the Sovevann. We believe it is time to link these two places of pilgrimage both symbolically and literally, for those visiting the memorial in Necropolis should also be directed to the pool where Britta Gilderling rests, and vice versa so that those what come to Britta's pool are also sent to see how her virtuous actions are remembered by all the people of the Empire. Three people, one nation, many nations under the Way in one great Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (331-0)
* '''Notes:''' The body of [[Empress Britta]] was given to the marshes of the [[Kallavesa#The_Sovevann|Sovevann]] in 376YE, while her regalia was placed in a [[Guardian of Britta's Shrine|shrine]] in the [[Necropolis]]. In Autumn 379YE, the regalia were removed from the shrine and [[To sleep in Kallavesa|interred in the marshes]] alongside her body. [[Watcher_of_Britta%27s_Pool#Britta's Pool|Britta's Pool]] remains a place of pilgrimage for those who wish to honour the memory of the Young Empress, while the former tomb has been [[Guardian_of_Britta%27s_Memorial|rededicated]] to the virtue of [[Courage]].
===Judgement 64===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Elagabala
* '''Judgement:''' Rebels of Spiral, the Grendel are coming. Their false faith demands they invade your home. Philostrate, host of Menos, has asked "where were you twenty years ago? Ten years ago?" We are at the negotiating table. You are at the negotiating table. If you take the land you intend, the Grendel's eight units will slaughter you, and the Empire will be unable to help. Look to Urizen's enemies to the south. Your home is in peril.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (181-110)
* '''Notes:''' This seems to be an address to the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|rebellious]] [[Urizen]] [[spire|spires]] in [[Spiral]], referencing the end of the [[Ratify_treaty_with_the_Grendel_Autumn_383YE|treaty]] securing peace with the [[Grendel]] that came to an end with the Autumn Equinox.
===Judgement 67===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' The Virtue face unwelcome truths as boldly as any barbarian charge. The Urizen National Assembly and the Sword Scholars within it have undoubtedly shown themselves to be bold; and have made the Courageous decision through their Wisdom to no longer venerate the actions of Sulemaine. In their time, they have inspired others to greatness and will continue to do so; and the Highguard National Assembly anticipates further brilliance from them. Let us see together what bright future we build for our wonderful Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (438-6)
* '''Notes:''' This statement supports the [[#Judgement 40|mandate]] enacted by Herminius of the House of the Wanderer, which has [[A_wisdom_of_questions#A_Clean_Cut|significant implications]] for the future of the [[sword scholar|sword scholars]] of [[Urizen]]. It may be important to note that the decision to turn away from the [[Sulemaine|founder of the movement]] is by no means universally supported by the sword scholars.
===Judgement 68===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Aedig Steadfast
* '''Judgement:''' Foeslayer the artefact banner held by Emperor Guntherm and possibly Empress Britta, is missing since Britta's death. The Crows call upon the mystics, the wise, the scops, the elders, and the scholars, to bring us any news of this banner's resting place.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (337-0)
* '''Notes:''' Foe-slayer is an [[Magic_items#Artefacts|artefact]] [[Three Tears|Three Tears]] banner, born into battle by the [[Banner-Bearer]] of [[Emperor Guntherm]] banner-bearer until he fell in battle with the Jotun. It was said that the banner was interred in the [[Kallavesa|Kallavesi swamps]] alongside the Emperor - and that his ghost personally gave the banner to [[Empress Britta]] when she came of age. The whereabouts of the magical standard are not common knowledge at this time.

===Judgement 70===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Irada von Temeschwar
* '''Judgement:''' The inspiration of Berechiah drives Vigilance pilgrims and priests to actively tear out the poison that threatens the Empire. We the vigilance assembly encourage the creation of an Inspirational monument consecrated with true liao at his Basilica in Bastion, so that his inspiration, in rooting out threats can be felt across the Empire
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (250-0)
* '''Notes:''' [[Berechiah]] is an often-controversial [[Paragons_and_exemplars#Renowned_Exemplars|exemplar]] of [[Vigilance]]. This statement calls for the establishment of an [[inspirational location]] at his basilica, which stands in the city of [[Bastion#Bastion.2C_the_White_City|Bastion]], in [[Highguard]].
===Judgement 71===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rey Fosterbrooke
* '''Judgement:''' We, the Imperial Synod, guardians of the Empire's faithful, acknowledge the differing orcish beliefs within our borders. While the Imperial Orcs adhere to our current doctrine, we recognise the unique spiritual path followed by the Mournwold Orcs. The virtue of wisdom teaches us to test what we know. Thus we propose a theological research imitative to explore these orc related doctrines - Reincarnation, the Howling Abyss, and the Ancestors. This seeks common ground, evaluates historical and cultural significance, and fosters dialogue between these two communities.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1896-67)
* '''Notes:''' This statement speaks on the complex matter of [[orc]] spiritual beliefs, especially as they relate to the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#Doctrines_of_The_Faith|doctrines]] of [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Reincarnation|Reincarnation]], the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Howling_Abyss|Howling Abyss]], and the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Ancestors|Ancestors]]. The [[Mournwold Orcs]] in particular believe that they are [[Mournwold_Orcs#Religion|capable of reincarnation]], a matter that has become increasingly pressing since the Marcher assembly has [[#Judgement 199|called on their nation]] to embrace the former Jotun thralls as fellow Marchers.
===Judgement 74===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdon
* '''Raised By:''' Lord Laurant Sephulcre
* '''Judgement:''' Test what you learn; only fools accept hearsay as truth. The Free Folk come to us with tales of their Divine Family. The Speaker for the Dead is recognised as an Exemplar, yet three more remain. We encourage those who believe the Free Folk to bring forward proof of their claims: evidence, fact, and reason. If truth can be found, recognition can follow. If the Divine Family are <s>nothing</s> more than tales and fables then they are <s>un</s>worthy of reverence.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (300-44)
* '''Notes:''' The [[On the Speaker for the Dead|Speaker for the Dead]] is one of the inspirations venerated by the former [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] slaves known as the Free Folk, recently [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_3|recognised as an exemplar]]. They are one of four figures dubbed "the Divine Family", who are further discussed in a [[Folklore#Freefolk_Pamphlets|number of pamphlets]] distributed by the Free Folk.

===Judgement 75===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Creighton Blackewater
* '''Judgement:''' It has been one year since we freed the slaves at Rachensgrab and we have done nothing to help them. We killed their pretender god, burned its temple, freed its slaves, and plunder its vault for ourselves. Prosperity teaches us to despise those who take without giving, but we took everything from Rachensgrab without giving anything to the slaves. Now we take more by trading with the Bailiffs of the Guttered Flame. I call upon the Empire to right this wrong and see that the former slaves of Rachensgrab claim the just rewards of their labours.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1429-204)
* '''Notes:''' Rachensgrab was an island city-state in the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Steel|Sea of Steel]], a centre for the international slave trade [[Burning|destroyed by Imperial forces]] following the Winter Solstice 384YE. The majority of the slaves freed in the fall of Rachensgrab were taken in by [[the Commonwealth]], with only a few choosing to make the journey to the Empire. The Bailiffs of the Guttered Flame are a group of heralds from the [[Ephisis|City of Gold and Lead]] who recently [[Farewell_wanderlust#Wages_of_Wickedness|offered deals]] to Imperial magicians relating to the estate of the former [[Ephisis#Pharam_Vex.2C_Voivode_of_Chains|Voivode of Chains]], a lieutenant of Ephisis involved in the slave trade before their destruction at the hands of Imperial forces.
===Judgement 76===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Galahad Avalone
* '''Judgement:''' We wish to announce the judgement of the troubadours or Dawn as to the Champions this year. Ambition - Catrine Words the "Unbelivably Magical" (2nd year): Courage - Laudine du Lac (previously Vigilance): Loyalty - Armand Remys (2nd Year): Vigilance- Morien de Carsenere (Previously Love, Glory, Ambition): Wisdom - Dindrane de Cantharos: Prosperity - Talis: Pride - Bors de Carsenere (Previously Prosperity): Way - Claude Videre (2nd year, previously Wisdom): Love - Claudia Lovelorn (Previously Courage): Glory - the Hounds of Glory.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (183-0)
* '''Notes:''' Each Autumn the [[troubadour|troubadours]] of [[Dawn]] crown a number of [[Dawn_religious_beliefs|champions of virtue]], as well as champions of Love and Glory who receive small gifts from the people of the nation in recognition of their achievements. These are distinct from the [[Create_titles_of_Champions_of_Virtue|Champions of Virtue]] appointed by the [[Imperial Synod]].

===Judgement 78===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Tarquinius Ankarien
* '''Judgement:''' Since we raised a judgement refusing to aid the League until they proved that they were more than petty opportunists they have: 1) Paid mithril to erect statues that help to protect us. 2) Publicly acknowledged that a reckoning is due. 3) Assigned a reckoner and opened negotiations. The League have proven in word and deed that we are not just dealing with petty opportunists. The people taking these steps demonstrate a genuine intention to build a future for Spiral that benefits all of its residents. There is still much work to be done and our spires will remain apart from their city until it is complete, but it would now be appropriate to once again use the mithril block to defend their minds from the plateau, though we are not yet ready to share its secrets.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (345-0)
* '''Notes:''' This relates to the complex situation in [[Spiral]] since it [[Windfall|became part of]] [[the League]]. It refers to the [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_67|mandate enacted by Lepidina]], urging that the secrets of [[Spiral#The_Block|the Block]] (which helps mitigate the effects of living in Spiral) [[The_fate_of_the_many#A_Precious_Secret|not be shared]] outside the nation.

===Judgement 79===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Aspar
* '''Judgement:''' Embrace your past, never be ashamed of it. Sulemaine i Taziel's teachings are timeless, and we take inspiration from them, but her legacy now belongs to us. The Sword Scholars of Urizen have found Sulemaine's limits and we have gone beyond them. To venerate Sulemaine without question is to have learned nothing from her lessons. We encourage all Sword Scholars to forge their own path, free from the shackles of the past. Interrogate the world with your blade and with your mind, be unfaltering, be relentless, question everything, and find your own truth.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (328-0)
* '''Notes:''' This statement seems to relate to the [[#Judgement 40|mandate]] enacted by Herminius of the House of the Wanderer, repudiating the legacy of [[Sulemaine|Sulemaine i Taziel]]. The Urizen Assembly had previously endorsed the teachings of this controversial figure, [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_100|stating in a mandate]] in 383YE that they were "''the perfect epitome of the Urizeni spirit - pure calculating reason unhindered by emotion or pity''."

===Judgement 80===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Atushak i Fijadoz i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' Each summit our senators and dhomiro agree on infrastructure projects that are the key priorities for the nation. Our prosperity should be used to support these strategic projects before shorter term tactical/personal gains which will have less benefit in the long run.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (116-7)
* '''Notes:''' The Freeborn people fiercely protect their right to decide how to spend their wealth, meaning the decision whether to invest in "national projects" or to donate to charity are always left to the individual. The assembly has also urged their people to [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_71|contribute to the grand endeavour]] - the sacred city in [[Bastion]] - meaning that there is [[Blood_will_thicken#No_Price_Is_Too_High|little interest]] in statements that urge the people to support other projects at the current time.
===Judgement 84===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Palladius
* '''Judgement:''' Wisdom is finding the right question. The Apulian Orcs say power is a crown, but virtue is its own reward, the virtuous uplift then pe(?). But only one (?) wear a crown. We bring the (?)enge of Wisdom to the Apulian orcs so they can assure that virtue is their highest calling.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (399-28)
* '''Notes:''' This statement was unfortunately water damaged so some sections were illegible. It appears to refer to the [[chords|spiritual beliefs]] of the Apulian Orcs, and their integration with the Way.
===Judgement 85===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tubris, Son of Armisael
* '''Judgement:''' As the Free Folk complete their pilgrimage around the Empire, the time will come for them to settle and find a new home. The Highguard national assembly has a statement of principle in place, recognising them as kindred souls, and inviting them to join the Highborn nation. We encourage priests from all over the Empire who may be hosting Freefolk to advise them of Highguard's inviation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1366-220)
* '''Notes:''' The Free Folk are former [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] slaves who are currently engaged in a [[Folklore|pilgrimage across the Empire]]. A number of them are also [[Folklore#Study_and_Spirituality|studying the Way with Highborn priests]], taking advantage of scholarships paid for by the benefactors of Highguard. The invitational statement referred to may be [[384YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_127|Judgement 127]] from 384YE Autumn Equinox, raised by Brother Aemon, which was upheld by the Highborn assembly but did not receive a greater majority.

===Judgement 86===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Chauntecleer Words
* '''Judgement:''' The telling of tales within Dawn is one of our cherished traditions for the instruction of virtues. Dawn thanks all those who took part in the Summer Contest of Words for continuing this, in particular our winner the Earl of Fools for their tale of Food Hygiene, as judged by the acclaim of our children.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (217-0)

===Judgement 87===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Vivane Knotes
* '''Judgement:''' We ask the Assembly to consider a series of judgements seeking consensus on the interpretations of the tradition of Black Knights. This is the first and pertains to the physical act of girding. Ideally a Black Knight would gird in isolation to maintain absolute secrecy. However this is not always practical; the entire tradition of girding exists because help may be required to put on harness. And sometimes an act can be made more glorious through an element of co-ordination. However girding as a group should be done in private, and any so witnessing understand the requirement for absolute discretion. It is definitely not appropriate to either gird; or announce the intent to gird identifiably, as a Black Knight in public. This completely undermines the premise that those taking part or observing do not know whom a Black Knight is, and therefore cannot attribute their deeds beyond "Dawn".
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (273-42)
* '''Notes:''' This statement discusses the [[Dawn_hearth_magic|hearth magic]] of [[Dawn]], as well as the tradition of the ''black knights'' and their singular [[Dawn_hearth_magic#Heraldry|heraldry]].
===Judgement 88===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Pickers Blackleap
* '''Judgement:''' As the prosperity assembly watches those that benefit from the white granite auction, it is clear Landon Hawcome said the quiet part out loud. He is now so financially insulated from competition that he can agree the lowest price for himself, while stopping others from getting on the ladder, and preventing them from being as prosperous as he can be. We believe the most prosperous individuals should show their virtue by nurturing healthy competition in the Bourse auctions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (150-56)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Auction of the Seats]] for [[white granite]] resources takes place each Summer Solstice.
===Judgement 89===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Grey Stone
* '''Judgement:''' On behalf of Quay Stone "Tomorrow's traditions grow from the seeds of today." Quay Stone of House Stone is gathering less-known Marcher maritime traditions. As the Empire's attention turns towards the Sea of Snow, the Marcher Assembly calls for Marchers to seek out and share the learned wisdom of our people, so that these traditions may better serve our nation and the world - whether it be through fishing, making war, or enabling others to march to safer shores.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (254-0)
===Judgement 90===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Lady Kaywenn de Orzel
* '''Judgement:''' What we win we proudly defend, not just for us as Dawnish but also those in the Barrens who accept us as liberators. The Druj always return, we should stay ever vigilant and prepared for that inevitability.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (237-10)
===Judgement 91===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Tuuli
* '''Judgement:''' We caution all to remain vigilant against Blood-on-the-Snow after the upheaval this year, with three cultist leaders still at large. Share with your neighbours, keep each other warm, and remind each other that this is not forever. We are scions sired by a storm and shall weather whatever winter brings.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (342-0)
* '''Notes:''' As with [[#Judgement 92|Judgement 92]], this statement relates to the lingering threat of the [[eternal]] [[Agramant]] in the wake of the liberation of [[Sermersuaq]], especially the agents of ''Blood-on-the-Snow'' still believed to be at large - [[Anyone_but_you#Kaarina_White-Eye|Kaarine White-Eye]], [[Anyone_but_you#Maarik_the_Golden_Tongue|Maarik the Golden Tongue]], and [[Anyone_but_you#Wemba_the_Bloody|Wemba the Bloody]].
===Judgement 92===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Ourania Neofoti of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' We caution all to remain vigilant against Blood-on-the-Snow after the upheaval this year, with three cultist leaders still at large. We urge all those who follow wisdom to question those who offer boons and easy solutions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (412-0)
* '''Notes:''' As with [[Judgement #91|Judgement 91]], this statement relates to the influence of the [[eternal]] [[Agramant]] in the wake of the liberation of [[Sermersuaq]], especially the agents of ''Blood-on-the-Snow'' still believed to be at large - [[Anyone_but_you#Kaarina_White-Eye|Kaarine White-Eye]], [[Anyone_but_you#Maarik_the_Golden_Tongue|Maarik the Golden Tongue]], and [[Anyone_but_you#Wemba_the_Bloody|Wemba the Bloody]].
===Judgement 96===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement:''' With regards the Barrens and the future of it's people we remind the Empire of its long history of heterodoxy and accepting non-Imperials and non-Way peoples living in our lands, treated them well, and sought their input when we felt it useful. This includes the Mournwold Orcs, Great Forest Orcs, Sandfishers, Hylje, ex-Iron Confederacy, the Free Folk, and many others. The Empire is ten nations, Wintermark is three people. They will see the value of The Way over time. Rapidly putting them to the sword <u>or</u> ignoring their input imperils souls we could otherwise save.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (312-0)

===Judgement 97===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rooslan Stanvih Prochnost
* '''Judgement:''' On behalf of the students of the Academy, especially Luca Lutaboravich Glinka, the Synod recognises that while boggarts of the realms can be troublesome there is no need to hurt them. With the right tools they can be herded and they can be bargained with for mutual advantage. We encourage the citizens of the Empire to first try diplomacy rather than aggression to more effectively deal with any boggart trouble. Remember, ambition teaches us it is better to try and fail, than fail to try.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1655-26)
* '''Notes:''' Boggarts are creatures of the realms roughly analogous to vermin ; much weaker than heralds but still capable of posing a threat to Imperial citizens. Recent Empire-wide enchantments have seen boggarts drawn from the [[A murder of one|Spring realm]], [[Inkpot_gods#Vermin_of_the_Cities|Autumn realm]], and even the realm of Day making a nuisance of themselves.
===Judgement 98===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Friar Rosemary Stamp
* '''Judgement:''' The Marcher assembly supports the decision of Lizzie Boholt-Stamp, Senator of Bregasland, to send the inquisitors in to Bregasland to find, and bring to justice, those who supported the Mathilda Fisher rebellion. The Marcher assembly calls upon Bregas priests to support justice and provide clemency pleas for the virtuous.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (258-16)
* '''Notes:''' This statement appears to relate to the [[When_Spring_comes#War_Requiem_.28Bregasland.29|tense situation]] in [[Bregasland]] following the withdrawal of the occupying forces. At the behest of the Senator for Bregasland the [[Imperial Senate]] has [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Instruct_Magistrates_to_investigate_Bregasland|instructed magistrates]] to [[When Spring comes#Send In the Magistrates|use an overwhelming show of force to gather evidence]] against anyone who offered support to the Fisher regime.

===Judgement 99===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Jenny Arbor
* '''Judgement:''' People of the Marches, those who cast Thunderous Deluge have been facing consequences for their actions. This is despite the Constitutional Court makingdirect legal recourse impossible by effectively giving them a declaration of Endorsement. So, Marcher covens have been cursing those involved in the casting so they feel at least some of the pain we felt. Most took their curses with courage acknowledging their mistakes, and are trying to make amends. One - Mercurico, did not have the Courage to do this, so will continue to educate him until he finds his courage.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (116-10)
* '''Notes:''' This relates to the [[Bad_blood#The_Names_on_the_Wind|fallout around]] the performance of an Empire-wide [[Thunderous Deluge]] in [[Bad_blood#The_Names_on_the_Wind|Autumn384YE]].
===Judgement 100===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Cassia Sikweaver
* '''Judgement:''' The Prosperous are not selfish, all that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it. Last season, the Varushkan boyars donated the use of an Imperial Wayleave to ensure that the Gardens of Pallas could be built in Zenith. We the Urizen National Assembly Witness this act of sharing. Be it hearthside hospitality or uplifting their fellows at a time when much feels broken and uncertain, the Varushkan people have held out their hand to us, and we thank them from the depths of our souls. Despise those who take without giving - this act will not be forgotten by the people of Urizen.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (314-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[commission]] creating new [[Reconstruct Gardens of Pallas|Gardens]] in [[Zenith]], following the [[appraisal]] of [[Restoration_and_renewal#Restoring_the_Gardens|Summer 385YE]].
===Judgement 101===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Galene Netherwatch
* '''Judgement:''' The Urizeni National Assembly recognises the courage and loyalty of the people of Spiral. We are now at the negotiating stage with the League. Do not sacrifice what does not need to be sacrificed. I, as Convenor of the Urizen National Assembly, assure you we will get you the recompense you deserve.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (229-91). The greater majority threshold for this judgement was 223.
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[A question of loyalty|complex situation]] in [[Spiral]]. The Urizen assembly does not have a [[Imperial title|formally recognised]] convenor, although Galene Netherwatch has previously been [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_27|endorsed]] as fulfilling the role.

===Judgement 102===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Aristeia Skrchaser
* '''Judgement:''' We exalt the actions of Serenus Starsong for creating an arcane projection like no other before. Then with the coven of Storm's End of Urizen, this was cast to reveal the - previously unknown - names of the stars of the Phoenix. This is the first, magnificent step towards understanding the power of the constellations that so many invoke and study. They were the first, and this will forever be an enduring part of all their legacies.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (397-36). The greater majority threshold for this judgement was 401.
* '''Notes:''' [[The Phoenix]] is one of the [[astronomancy|astronomantic]] [[Astronomancy#Constellations|constellations]]. The names of the individual stars that make up the constellation have recently become common knowledge, and the statement draws a link between this event and the divination performed by the Storm's Edge coven.
===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Adón i Martán i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' We have the opportunity to rescue slaves rebelling in the city of Marlien in Maracoss, Asavea. We call on corsairs to carry these escapees to safety in the Empire once they reach the Calatropos coast.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (160-10)
* '''Notes:''' This statement relates to events in the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. It urges Freeborn [[corsair|corsairs]] to come to help evacuate freed slaves from the satrapy of Maracoss - the same satrapy from which both the Free Folk and the Marracossan exiles of Trajadoz hail. It has created an [[opportunity]] for corsairs to [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#The_Calatropos_Coast_Evacuation|take part]] in the evacuation if they wish.

===Judgement 106===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Vauraus Korppitkotka
* '''Judgement:''' Wintermark have Pride in our scops, not only do they give the worthy their names, they keep alive and share the epic tales of our heroes and history. However, we are not alone, our traditions are important across the Empire, but they have no gathering place where the best can come together to share their great stories. It is our ambition to create a centre of tradition, to which scops and storytellers from across the Empire may travel to share the stories of the Empire. But it must also keep them safe from those who wish them harm. We call on all in Wintermark to share in our ambition and pride, to find a location in which to create a gathering place to bring together all the scops of the Empire in safety and pride.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (283-0)
* '''Notes:''' The Wintermark assembly has sent Eldrid Vestardottir to [[#Judgement 113|enact a mandate]] urging the people of Wintermark to contribute to the construction of a [[Blood will thicken|sacred city]] in [[Bastion]]. With the nation focused on this construction, response to a call to create a centre of tradition for the [[scop|scops]] is likely to be muted at best in the near future.
===Judgement 107===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Caoimhe Tend-Fallen
* '''Judgement:''' Commonwealth paladins have requested true liao to remove a spontaneous aura of great strength. We should determine the truth of their claim that this is an Anarchy aura and not a miraculous aura of a true virtue. If true liao is required to remove it, an Empire priest should be sent to perform this.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (97-13)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Commonwealth#Religion|priests]] of the [[Commonwealth]] argue that ''all'' [[aura|auras]], regardless of provenance or specific detail, are a form of oppression that subverts free will.

===Judgement 108===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kennet the Mummer
* '''Judgement:''' Words mean things. To liberate the Barrens would be to free its people from any rule to which they do not consent - ours included. To conquer would be to claim their lands for ourselves and compel them to submit or flee. We shall see now if the Empire makes a liar of Sir Dindrane.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (644-314)
* '''Notes:''' This seems to refer to the [[Not_to_conquer|extremely complicated]] situation in the newest [[Dawn|Dawnish]] territory of [[the Barrens]].
===Judgement 109===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Silk Forteas
* '''Judgement:''' Stories carry the Pride of Navarr The Magpies have been contracted by Rhisiart Dancewalker to discover the whereabouts of the Greensteel Spear of Isaella Thorndance. We encourage all steadings and stridings with stories and records of Isaella's deeds to share them. We are especially interested in the descendants of the Navarri honour guard sent to retrieve her body, and their tale of that day. Through sharing such inspiring tales we hope to gain a better understanding of this exemplar.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (328-0)
* '''Notes:''' [[Isaella]] is an exemplar of Courage, perhaps best known in the wider Empire for her role in the death of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. The [[Lepidean Librarian]] has the power to commission [[historical research]] into the lives of [[paragons and exemplars]].
===Judgement 110===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Nisha Strascovich
* '''Judgement:''' The Cold Sun seeks to tear us down. Pride teaches us to uplift each other. Now is the time to celebrate our art and culture, to recognise the Pride to be found around us. Pride is the antithesis of the Cold Sun and can be a bastion against all they stand for. Celebrate our pride in the Empire of those in Anvil and home.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (484-0)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[Isaella|ongoing assault]] of the [[eternal]] known as [[Cold Sun]] on the Empire. The eternals' emissaries appear to particular favour destroying places with a connection to the arts.
===Judgement 116===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Staracsned Orzel
* '''Judgement:''' Rejoice! Rejoice! People of Dawn the Rod of the Sun is returned to us. Lady Nineve Orzel, Ser Lanval van Narood, Peter Fletcher, Myric of House Cordraco, and Enchantress Morien Carsenere undertook epic glorious quest from which only three returned. All their names should be heralded throughout the land and their story told. Rejoice!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (234-0)
* '''Notes:''' The Rod of the Sun was a piece of regalia carried by the pre-Imperial [[Dawn monarchy|monarchs of Dawn]], believed lost during the reign of [[Empress Brannan]].
===Judgement 117===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement:''' The Highborn Assembly recognises the Pride of the Imperial Orcs in their campaign to reclaim items of worth in Necropolis during the last season. Let this show how we reach together, following the example of Kethry and her cultural Pride, in restoring what was lost by the orcs as we embrace our shared past and look forward, one Empire united by the Way.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (362-10)
* '''Notes:''' [[Kethry]] is a renowned [[paragons and exemplars|paragon]] of [[Pride]]. Among other things this statement appears to refer to [[The_cities_and_the_city#Necropolis:_Worth|recent events]] in the [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis|Necropolis]] involving the [[Imperial Orcs]]' quest for items of [[Worth]].
===Judgement 118===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Pacheco "Patches" i Shartha i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise and thank the shared Wisdom and shared Prosperity relating to the Jotun burial mound in Kharaman. General Iron Osric. The Imperial Orcs. Vanama i Perez i Riqueza. Maria i Espin i Guerra. The Freeborn Dhomiros.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (126-0)
* '''Notes:''' This statement relates to the [[Between_two_mounds#Dust.2C_Flame.2C_and_Glass|raising of a burial mound]] in [[Kahraman]], covering the [[Jotun]] dead who [[Shallows_and_miseries#The_Flames_of_Fort_Braydon|fell during the Battle of Fort Braydon]].
===Judgement 119===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Alvaro i Verena i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Corsairs, have Courage in your convictions. Do what you feel is right and reject those who would command you who you did not choose to follow. The Freeborn National Assembly support the Corsairs in their endeavour to have their own leader.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (173-0)
===Judgement 122===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Percival Goldvein
* '''Judgement:''' The sept of the Barrens are neccessary ally for the eradication of the Druj, they will never trust us if we call ourselves liberators and act as conquerors. We call for Dawn to show restraint when dealing with the Montanians. There is no glory in the slaughter of the weak.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (82-38)
* '''Notes:''' Addresses the [[Not to conquer|extremely complex situation]] in the Barrens, specifically to the [[Not_to_conquer#Montanians|Montainians]] - humans with a strong [[briar]] lineage connected to the [[Freedom Heresy]] and the [[Malign_spiritual_presences|malign spiritual presence]] of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Anarchy|anarchy]]..

===Judgement 123===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Redhand Nirak
* '''Judgement:''' We, the Imperial Orc assembly, are firm believers in Loyalty. Urizen has been thoroughly fucked by the treaty with Kalliact's Apulian Orcs. We encourage all orcs to do whatever they can to: economically, politically, spiritually, and socially to help the Urizeni to get their debt of reckoning from the League. We DO NOT endorse any orc taking military or violent action. The situation is difficult enough without orcs attacking fellow Imperial on either side will only make things worse. "The Prosperous are not selfish; all that is worthwhile is shared." The Urizeni citizens of Spiral deserve the shared benefits of our prosperity where the League has failed to show ANY.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (26-26)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[Windfall|recent]] [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment|assignment]] of [[Spiral]] to [[the League]], and the [[A question of loyalty|complex situation]] developing there.

===Judgement 124===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Ironvigil Rikkz the Relentless
* '''Judgement:''' The Change of Doctrine proposed by Clarice Novarion will cause serious thought and concern among the Empire's priests. I remind you all that Imperial Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as the Empire does. We must not <u>fear</u> change, but embrace <u>Wisdom</u> when we find it. Our Virtue is strong enough.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (235-0)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[#Judgement_3|judgement]] enacting a [[change of doctrine]] raised this season.
===Judgement 125===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Pyetr Srodislar Fyodorov
* '''Judgement:''' True liao is our most important spiritual tool. The structure of power in our great Empire is that of accountability - however the control of this vital good is in the hands of an unelected cabal, the Gatekeepers, whose customs are dedicated by grace, not law. Grace is not a virtue. True liao serves as our closest lifeline to the Labyrinth of Ages, and along with historical research, is what drives our understanding of the Way, the Virtues, and Paragonhood. We have a duty to strive to clarify and crystallise our doctrine towards spiritual truth. This is not possible with true liao in the hands of the Gatekeeper gang. There must be reform! Fellow priesthood, have the Ambition to spiritual truth, the Courage to face it, the Vigilance to not fall to needless dogma - Pride, Prosperity, Loyalty, and greater Wisdom will follow!
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (291-1288)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Gatekeeper|Gatekeepers]] are responsible for determining who receives the majority of the [[liao#True Liao|true liao]] created in the Empire.

===Judgement 128===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Tree of Goatsbridge
* '''Judgement:''' The Priests of the Marches state that the Landskeepers and Sadogua, Brother of Wizards, are allies and that he, and his heralds, are welcome in the Marches, and that no Marcher Wizards need to worry about speaking to him or accepting his boons.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (100-40)
* '''Notes:''' [[Sadogua]], also known as the Brother of Wizards, is an [[eternal]] of the Night realm concerned with magic and magicians.
===Judgement 129===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Konstantin Rabovich Bolotnikov
* '''Judgement:''' This assembly endorses LINDIR THORNHEART as Champion of Vigilance, despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding their appointment.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (99-64)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[Champion of Vigilance]], [[appointment|appointed]] by the assembly during the [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_73|Summer Solstice]].
===Judgement 130===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Aemon
* '''Judgement:''' Highguard! Vigilance teaches us to seek out falsehood and expose the truth! Too long have we been looking outwards, focusing on the heterodoxies of others that we have neglected to assess our own cultural challenges! In our complacency, we allow our lingering attachment to Purity to let us believe our lineaged siblings to be inherently distrusted as unwitting agents of the Realms. This lacks Loyalty, Pride, Vigilance, and Wisdom. Past life visions have revealed to us that lineaged folk of today were unlineaged in the past, and vice versa, with no known correlation between virtuous and unvirtuous behaviour. Therefore, if a human spirit looks the same and reamains the same through reincarnation, we must conclude in Courage and Wisdom that lineage is a condition of the body, not the Spirit.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (350-0)
* '''Notes:''' This statement refers to the changing attitudes towards [[lineage]] among the [[Highguard|highborn]].
===Judgement 131===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Lady Landine du Lac
* '''Judgement:''' Vigilance teaches us not to only prepare for, but to also thwart the malice of our enemies. While our people Prosper, our Ambition to defeat the Druj remaining within and threatening our new borders.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (214-10)
===Judgement 132===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Saqui Heroes' Champion
* '''Judgement:''' The heralds of Cold Sun have poured into our homes, our mountains and marshes. They seek to destroy art, beauty, and mysteries. Their force is strong, their power destructive. The Wise to to take refuge in the fortresses raised by magic. The Courageous garrison the beacons to protect our nation. The storm can never break us, and neither will Cold Sun.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (262-0)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Cold Sun]] is an [[eternal]] of the Day Realm whose soldiers are engaged in a [[To_the_last_syllable|military campaign]] across the Empire, which appears to some to be prioritising the destruction of places with a connection to the arts. It urges those prepared to fight the invaders to deploy in support of the Beacons of WIntermark - unique [[fortification|fortifications]] in [[Hahnmark]] and [[Kallavesa]].
===Judgement 133===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Mauriac
* '''Judgement:''' Our forces in the Barrens have a stated goal that they are not there as conquerors, but to liberate the people there from the tyranny of the Druj. It is unfortunate that the Barrens contains heretics who hold Freedom to be a virtue; freedom is a quality which can be very fine in moderation but horrifically destructive if taken to excess. The clarity of wisdom teaches us that to help others to gain insight may be the most effective way to use your knowledge. We must not make hypocrites of ourselves through heavy-handed tactics, but it falls upon to educate the Barrens to the truth of the Way and spread doctrinal illumination.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (236-56)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Not to conquer|extremely complex situation]] in the Barrens, specifically to the [[Not_to_conquer#Montanians|Montainians]] - humans with a strong [[briar]] lineage connected to the [[Freedom Heresy]] and the [[Malign_spiritual_presences|malign spiritual presence]] of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Anarchy|anarchy]]..

===Judgement 136===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Delmara i Ruiloba i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' As the treaty with the Grendel comes to an end, it is important to note Feroz is an integral part of the Brass Coast, and with its dust coating our feet we will go to reclaim it.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (175-10)
* '''Notes:''' During the Winter Solstice 383YE, the Freeborn assembly [[383YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_66|enacted a mandate]] that urged their people to abandon [[Feroz]]. This lead to an [[opportunity]] to [[Struggle with the sea|evacuate]] the territory under the nose of the [[Grendel]] governor. The mandate meant accepting that the Freeborn do not expect the territory to be recovered any time soon, making it unlikely that statements by the assembly relating to recovering the territory will lead to further opportunities.
===Judgement 137===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Vaukahainen Saltfoot
* '''Judgement:''' The proud uplift and inspire, they do not denigrate others. The Jotun have shown great pride in respecting the dead of the Empire, and the sacred resting places of Wintermark heroes. We encourage those fighting the Jotun to respect their dead in turn, and leave their sacred sites undesecrated. The wealth of the Jotun ancestors is <u>not</u> found in their grave goods, but in their legacy and inspiration.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1456-107)
* '''Notes:''' This statement appears to related to [[Between two mounds|Jotun concerns]] regarding theft from their burial sites by Imperial soldiers, especially the Freeborn.
===Judgement 140===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Eskah Solestride
* '''Judgement:''' The Dance of Blood was a loyal and vigilant aspect of Navarr's culture and military. They were lost in Liathaven against a horde of Jotun, their vigilance never wavered and they remained loyal to their oaths to the end. We would encourage those Navarri who feel the call of the Dance of Blood to embrace its merciless Doctrine and work to restore its legacy.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (88-142)
* '''Notes:''' The Dance of Blood were a Navarr [[Imperial army|army]] disbanded while fighting the [[Jotun]] in 245YE. They were infamous for their [[Army_qualities#Cruel|cruel]] tactics, easily a match for those of the [[Iron Helms]].

===Judgement 141===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Reynard Forester
* '''Judgement:''' We, the people of Dawn throw open the doors of our houses to the Free Folk. In prosperity, let us share our homes with our cousins from the land of Asavea. In Courage, let us do as Ashwine did, find the innocent a home after their virtuous pilgrimage. Let them find GLORY.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (192-0)
* '''Notes:''' The Free Folk are former [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] slaves who practice the Way, albeit in an unfamiliar fashion. Many have spent the last year engaged in a [[Folklore#The_Free_Folk_Pilgrimage|pilgrimage to inspirational locations]] across the Empire, with the support of the [[Imperial Synod]]. The [[Lady of the Proffered Hand]], and the people of [[Dawn]] were first to welcome them to the Empire following their liberation.
===Judgement 142===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Lepidina
* '''Judgement:''' We invite the Urizeni priests and their congregations to join us in dialogue with the League bishops and the Apulians to further our collective understanding of the Way, and lift each other up in virtue. Much as Temeschwar acknowledges its Varushkan heritage, so the city of Apulian should also embrace the existing Urizeni culture now the League has committed to a Reckoning.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (263-10)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[A_question_of_loyalty|ongoing unfolding situation]] in Spiral between the [[Urizen|Urizeni]] and [[the League]].
===Judgement 146===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Anastasiya Lukashovna Volkov
* '''Judgement:''' The Loyalty assembly recognises it owes proof of word and deed to deliver upon the reckoning between the Urizen people and the League regarding Spiral. The Loyalty assembly urges all parties to negotiate in good spirit to find a non-violent solution. Let us work together to reforge our bonds.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (265-0)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[A_question_of_loyalty|ongoing unfolding situation]] in Spiral between [[the League]] and [[Urizen|Urizeni]].
===Judgement 147===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Jacob Talbot
* '''Judgement:''' We call upon all Marchers to shun and cease the sale and supply of food to Urizen for the loss of Prosperous crops caused by cursing. The message we wish to send above all is that our means to feed the Empire and our own Marcher families has suffered too much. and that this animosity regarding rituals cast by Urizeni magicians should end. It is also our hope that greater animosities between our two nations will end with this statement, whether our citizens attend Anvil or not.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (20-166)
* '''Notes:''' This statement seems to relate to [[the Marches|Marcher]] unhappiness around powerful enchantments that have [[Resonance_and_mitigation#Thresh_the_Fields|damaged crops and farms]] across the Empire.

===Judgement 148===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Friar Graffanner
* '''Judgement:''' We, the Marcher National Assembly, call upon our fleet captains, to participate in the multinational opportunity to provide safe passage to those fleeing slavery in Maracossa.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (192-0). The greater majority threshold for this judgement was 193.
* '''Notes:''' This statement relates to events in the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. It urges [[the Marches|Marcher]] [[fleet|ship-captains]] to come to help evacuate freed slaves from the satrapy of Maracoss - the same satrapy from which both the Free Folk and the Marracossan exiles of Trajadoz hail. It has created an [[opportunity]] for corsairs to [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#The_Calatropos_Coast_Evacuation|take part]] in the evacuation if they wish.
===Judgement 150===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Martha i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' We the national assembly of the Freeborn and the Imperial Fleetmaster charge all Freeborn fleet owners to raid shipping of those enemy nations that seek to do us harm in the Bay of Catazar. "When the peace treaty ends make them remember these waters are ours!"
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (167-0)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the end of the [[Ratify_treaty_with_the_Grendel_Autumn_383YE|peace treaty]] with the [[Grendel]], and the [[Ship_to_wreck#Unleashed|raids]] erupting in its wake.

===Judgement 151===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Paulus Adelaar von Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' Ambitious citizens! The Empire is engaged in the great endeavour of our age: expanding our borders and integrating new and foreign peoples without recourse to the barbarity of slavery. Apulian Questioners (their priests) wish to understand how to wield the powers of the Synod! We, the following Bishops of the League have the Ambition to show them how a Gishop does this. Paulus Adelaar van Holberg - Lia Adelaar von Holberg - Sebastiano di Spiral - Corrado de Regario - Beno di Carva (sadly unable to attend Anvil).
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (220-15)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to questions of the [[Chords|religious beliefs]] of the Apulian Orcs of [[the League]].
===Judgement 152===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Anatoly Vassian Tatishchev
* '''Judgement:''' The Varushkan national assembly calls upon fleet owners of the nation to prepare for malice, yet thwart malice before it strikes against you. War is coming. Raise every sail against our foes.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (302-0)
===Judgement 153===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti
* '''Judgement:''' The Varushkan national assembly invites Skywise Gralka and the Sunstorm sept to visit the Palace of Orieb in order to seek secrets. May our allies and friend be welcome to seek to fulfil their ambition and contribute to our Wisdom.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (302-0)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Ossium#The_Palace_of_Orieb|Palace of Orieb]] in [[Ossium]] is believed to have been the residence of one of the [[Druj_lore#Buruk_Tepel|Buruk Tepel]]. It is overseen by the [[Apothecary of Orieb]].

===Judgement 154===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Marzanna
* '''Judgement:''' We the priests of Varushka call upon the builders of the Deep Chamber to dedicate to wisdom. We wish for priests of wisdom and wardens to go and ensure their safe return from the mines.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (292-0), with Primacy
* '''Notes:''' This statement seems to relate to the [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Construct_the_Deep_Place|construction of an underground chamber]] in the Mountains of Brez by the [[The_horror_and_the_wild#Speakers_of_the_Void|cabalists of Void]], commissioned by the [[Imperial Senate]].
===Judgement 155===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement:''' In Varushka we respect our Elders! The Northern Eagle are the oldest army in Varushka and they have served us loyally for as long as they have existed. We ask that Varushkans have Pride in the Northern Eagle and support them. Pride, Cousins.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (302-0), with Primacy
===Judgement 156===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Maja Świętosława Przewałski
* '''Judgement:''' We the priests of Varushka urge the wardens to show vigilance and to strengthen the wards of the roads and borders of Tolvoli and around Tolvoli to prepare for the malice of the dubik being fed. The Wardens should also seek to thwart malice before it strikes against us and seek our signs and evidence of <u>the</u> dubik with the aid of Spring magicians and Volhovs, to make a bargain to contain the growing dubik numbers.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (302-0), with Primacy
* '''Notes:''' This statement seems to relate to the establishment of the slaughterhouse at Tolvoli, the dubik at the old [[The_horror_and_the_wild#Heart_of_the_Tempest|Heart of the Tempest]], and the role of the [[Tolvoli Butcher]].
===Judgement 157===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Ira of the Flame Beneath the Earth
* '''Judgement:''' We call to those who have served in Highguard armies: the Unbound Steel Hall of Lost Chapters has been taken from us by the Cold Sun and our proud history desecrated. Now, they gather in Bastion. Bastion must be defended. Bring the guardian, the cataphract, the unconquered. Don your armour once more. General Asenath raises the hallowed banner of the Thundering Tide. Bearing a miracle of Courage, General Asenath does not fear to act, and neither should we. Loyalty demands that we strike quickly so our forces may go on to help protect the lands of our sibling nations once our home is safe. You have served before, we ask that you serve again.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (570-0)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Cold Sun]] is an [[eternal]] of the Day Realm whose soldiers are engaged in a [[To_the_last_syllable|military campaign]] across the Empire. The [[Highguard_military_concerns#The_Thundering_Tide_.28Defunct.29|Thundering Tide]] were a Highborn army disbanded during the reign of [[Empress Mariika]].
===Judgement 158===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Vasilmir Radovanovna Esskivic
* '''Judgement:''' Despise the thieving bandit. Orathator of the Hourglass engages in prosperous trade with Varushka. We ask Wardens of Varushka to protect their caravans, and ensure their goods do not fall into the hands of those who did not earn them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (290-12), with Primacy.
* '''Notes:''' Orathator of the Hourglass is a [[Thule]] warlock who leads a [[Pride_and_prejudice#Masks_of_the_Trees_and_Hills|group of traders]] active across [[Varushka]].
===Judgement 159===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Solas of the Waxing Sun
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise the need to investigate the motivations behind casting Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths and the benefits of being judged by our peers in this matter. We encourage members of <u>other nations</u> to bring those responsible for the casting to inquisition before the virtue assemblies.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (262-0)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[Resonance and mitigation|controversial]] performance of the [[Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths]] ritual, whose recent performance has had both [[Shining like fire|benefits]] and [[To the last syllable|undeniable downsides]].

===Judgement 160===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Lochias
* '''Judgement:''' The Sentinels of Urizen are rightly proud of their martial arete. We laud and exalt the Courage and Vigilance of the soldiers of the Citadel Guard and the captains of independent units who have kept their long watch on our borders. But Loyalty should not mean blind obedience. Even the strongest may err, but deceivers will lie again.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (204-10)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Citadel Guard]] are the army of [[Urizen]], primarily composed of [[Sentinel|sentinels]].
===Judgement 163===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Silas of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' Inspired by recent exchanges between Highguard and the Imperial Orcs, we the Highborn national assembly offer Peerless Kinship to aid the Imperial Orcs how they see fit. Let us forge strong ties, and step boldly into the future.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (504-0)
* '''Notes:''' [[Full_of_sacred_sound#A_Peerless_Kinship|Peerless kinship]] allows the [[Highguard|Highborn]] people to support one of their sibling nations in the coming months. See also [[#Judgement 192|Judgement 192]].
===Judgement 165===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Ahraz i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' The election of the Senators is an important source of income to fund the projects of the Brass Coat. If you are paid to not place a bid you should show your Pride and declare it to the egregore and share a part of that money with them. If someone not of the Freeborn pays you to bid, either to ensure a candidate is elected or to prevent someone to be elected, you should declare this to the egregore. Show your courage and pride and deal with the elections openly and honestly.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (161-0)
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[The_Brass_Coast_leadership#Leading a territory|appointment]] of [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] [[Senator|senators]].
===Judgement 166===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Travid Longest Path
* '''Judgement:''' Prosperity compels us to strive and toil and enjoy the fruits of our labour. Lindir Thornheart and Oisean Streamwalker have worked tirelessly to fund the ilium needed to create an artefact to trade for the Shield of Vigilance from a 1 ring start. We wish to reward them with recognition from the assembly.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (125-0)
* '''Notes:''' The Shield of Vigilance likely refers to ''Bawn-Watch'' the [[Magic_items#Artefacts|artefact]] [[Pilgrim's Shield]] originally created by Ezkiah the Benefactor for the [[Champion of Vigilance]]. It is currently believed to be in the possession of the [[Axos|Axou]] scholar [[Ten_travellers_tales#Theodosia_of_Ipotavo|Theodosia of Ipotavo]].
===Judgement 167===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eurybia Melampus di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' The Sword Scholars have demonstrated their Loyalty to the Empire by casting off Sulemaine. We the Loyalty assembly support this endeavour. They have identified and followed their loyalties within their hearts. Therefore will will raise their efforts up rather than tear them down.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (115-10)
* '''Notes:''' This statement supports the [[#Judgement 40|mandate]] enacted by Herminius of the House of the Wanderer, which has [[A_wisdom_of_questions#A_Clean_Cut|significant implications]] for the future of the [[sword scholar|sword scholars]] of [[Urizen]]. It may be important to note that the decision to turn away from the [[Sulemaine|founder of the movement]] is by no means universally supported by the sword scholars.
===Judgement 168===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Hembeneth i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' During the Grendel treaty we had the time to rebuild and prepare. Now the treaty has ended we call on all citizens to route out the Grendel spies and be Vigilant of the threats that come from all around. Have Courage to oppose them when they enter our land and the Loyalty to aid our armies and feed our Corsairs who fight on our behalf with virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (169-0)
===Judgement 169===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Clytemnestra
* '''Judgement:''' The Sword Scholars of the Empire have chosen to put Sulemaine behind us. Now we will define what Sword Scholars are in the modern world. We will examine and debate our teachings and discard any that fall short. We will examine our role in the Empire, and the ways we can challenge, aid and defend the Empire, and those who seek to join the Empire and the Way. We will seek to realise our ambition to spread our teachings and become a sodality. As we have changed the Empire the Empire has changed us.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (242-10)
* '''Notes:''' This statement supports the [[#Judgement 40|mandate]] enacted by Herminius of the House of the Wanderer, which has [[A_wisdom_of_questions#A_Clean_Cut|significant implications]] for the future of the [[sword scholar|sword scholars]] of [[Urizen]]. It may be important to note that the decision to turn away from the [[Sulemaine|founder of the movement]] is by no means universally supported by the sword scholars.

===Judgement 172===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Kosmas o Voskos of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' The Sword Scholars have examined their history and virtue, and have chosen to learn and change. They have chosen to leave Sulemaine behind and forge a new path. The Way assembly recognises this important step on their path of virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (85-0)
* '''Notes:''' This statement supports the [[#Judgement 40|mandate]] enacted by Herminius of the House of the Wanderer, which has [[A_wisdom_of_questions#A_Clean_Cut|significant implications]] for the future of the [[sword scholar|sword scholars]] of [[Urizen]]. It may be important to note that the decision to turn away from the [[Sulemaine|founder of the movement]] is by no means universally supported by the sword scholars.
===Judgement 173===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Asier i Elia i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' We welcome the refugees from the Temple of the Way in Nemoria. We would offer them refuge at the Hand of Guerra in order to share knowledge of Virtue and the Way.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (169-0)
* '''Notes:''' This statement seems to refer to the [[Ten_travellers_tales#Last_of_the_Faithful|Asavean pilgrims]] who visited [[Anvil]] during the Autumn Equinox.
===Judgement 174===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Eli of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' We welcome the refugees from the Temple of the Way in Nemoria. We would offer them refuge at the Abbey of Reconciliation in order to share knowledge of virtue and the Way,
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (508-0)
* '''Notes:''' This statement seems to refer to the [[Ten_travellers_tales#Last_of_the_Faithful|Asavean pilgrims]] who visited [[Anvil]] during the Autumn Equinox.

===Judgement 176===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Sister Meredith
* '''Judgement:''' The pursuit of virtue supersedes doctrine and the Law. If the Mournwold Orcs are willing to commit to living the life that they are living to the full extent of virtue and greatness, this assembly will welcome and defend them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (264-0)
* '''Notes:''' This statement relates to the [[Mournwold Orcs]], and supports the mandate enacted in [[#Judgement 199|Judgement 199]].
===Judgement 180===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Father Edmund
* '''Judgement:''' Bushel Sykes betrayed his oath as an Imperial citizen, and yet his soul bore a spontaneous true aura of Loyalty. He knew what commanded his heart's devotion above all else, and he willingly paid the price for that. We recognise Bushel Sykes' Loyalty and his Virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (282-26)
* '''Notes:''' This statement appears to concern the death of [[When_Spring_comes#The_Death_of_Bushel_Sykes|Bushel Sykes]], the controversial poacher.
===Judgement 181===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Idanach Listing Beacon
* '''Judgement:''' True liao is a substance of great sanctity and great importance to the Way. it is vital that a suitably qualified body of priests oversee its distribution. In response to Pyetr Fyodorov in Judgement 125 we say that this is not the time to abolish the Gatekeepers. We instead encourage citizens to learn about the Gatekeepers and other ways whereby true liao is distributed. If the existing processes are unsatisfactory, they should offer <u>concrete</u> proposals for change.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1165-64)
* '''Notes:''' This statement refers to [[#Judgement 125|Judgement 125]], relating to the status of the [[Gatekeeper|Gatekeepers]].

===Judgement 182===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Isaac of the Silent Tide
* '''Judgement:''' Amongst the best of us there is still vice. Amongst the worst of us there is still virtue. No soul is beyond redemption. Each passage through the Labyrinth brings us forth anew. We call upon the magistrates to give those guilty of grave crimes the chance to (?) themselves in virtue against the Cold Sun until their embrace to the Labyrinth. The defence of Bastion is a defence of the Way!!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (480-16). The Greater Majority threshold for this judgement was 474.
===Judgement 183===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Lia Adelaar von Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' We invite League Bishops and Scholars to join in dialogue with Urizeni priests and mages loyal to the Empire and our Apulian brethren, to further our understanding of the Way and lift us all up in Virtue. Much as Temeschwar acknowledges its Varushkan heritage, so the city of Apulian should include the best of Urizeni culture, once the threat of rebellion has passed.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (280-0), the greater majority threshold for this judgement was 273.
* '''Notes:''' * '''Notes:''' This relates to the complex situation in [[Spiral]] since it [[Windfall|became part of]] [[the League]], as well as to the questions raised by the [[Chords|spiritual beliefs]] of the Apulian Orcs.
===Judgement 184===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Rowen Erdtree
* '''Judgement:''' Skywise Gralka's association with the Cold Sun and the Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths ritual was a contribution towards an inherently ambitious action. No matter your opinion of orcs, Skywise Gralka should not be punished for their contribution towards what was a damaging, but ambitious endeavour.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (124-32)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Resonance and mitigation|discussion]] around the controversial recent performance of the [[Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths]] ritual.
===Judgement 188===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' In the spirit of VIgilance, be aware that a threat is coming to the Coast. Now is the time to prepare with Wisdom, but in Pride remember to uplift our fellows. Support each other, support your armies and privateers, remember that resources unspent only go to waste - offer your hospitality to those that protect our lands and we are all sure to benefit. We have always had the Ambition of reclaiming what was ours, but what remains is in danger and protecting that is also part of that process. Take heart, it will not be easy, cleave to your courage and what loyalties you hold dear. Let virtue guide you in tumultuous times. '''Batten down the hatches in face of the storm'''.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (129-0)
===Judgement 190===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orcs
* '''Raised By:''' Skywise Gralka
* '''Judgement:''' Listen to me Gralka as I write these words in destiny. No nation knows themselves as Imperial human in this Empire, there is only one to claim its identity as Imperial Orc. A legacy to the architects of the plan and those who fought for us at journeys start. A new saga begins so hence forth we the Imperial orcs also claim the name UNSHACKLED for our nation - with all our worth.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority, with Primacy
===Judgement 191===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Bloodcrow Knott
* '''Judgement:''' The Mourn Orcs are Marchers, there is no doubt of this and denying such is false. Further, the matter of Orc souls should be left to Orcs. We encourage the Humans of the Empire to give our new siblings time while we guide them in the ways of the Abyss and Ancestors. Let us have these conversations of our souls together. We encourage the Marchers to ad us in finding proof and understanding their new citizens.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (78-0)
* '''Notes:''' This statement relates to the [[Mournwold Orcs]], and their status in [[the Marches]], and seems to support the mandate enacted in [[#Judgement 199|Judgement 199]].
===Judgement 192===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Ashborn Atla
* '''Judgement:''' We the Unshackled accept the peerless kinship of the Highguard. May Sunstorm, Sannite, Tamazi, Ethengraw, Illaraum, Yerende, and other newly come work together in virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (??) with Primacy
* '''Notes:''' [[Full_of_sacred_sound#A_Peerless_Kinship|Peerless kinship]] allows the [[Highguard|Highborn]] people to support one of their sibling nations in the coming months, in the way that nation requests. See also [[#Judgement 163|Judgement 163]].
===Judgement 195===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Darian Numbers
* '''Judgement:''' We encourage the Marchers and the Mournwold Orcs to enter into debate and discussion around our shared beliefs and where those beliefs differ. We urge the Marchers to show understanding and lenience as they guide the Mournwold orcs on their journey to understanding the Way. As called for in statement 191 give them time.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (8-0), with Primacy
* '''Notes:''' This statement relates to the [[Mournwold Orcs]], and their status in [[the Marches]], and seems to support the mandate enacted in [[#Judgement 199|Judgement 199]].
===Judgement 196===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Galen Embercast
* '''Judgement:''' The Council of Nine directs the Silent Bell to investigate the location of the SIlent Bell of Brian Heathford lost 290YE in Kingstoke, Upwold to Agramant inspired sorcerers.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (8-0), with Primacy
* '''Notes:''' This statement asks the [[Silent_Bell_(Sodality)|Silent Bell]] to seek out a missing object. The Silent Bell are a sodality dedicated to Vigilance, keeping a careful watch for threats to the Empire from within and without; their expertise in tracking down [[magic items]], and indeed their interest in doing so, is extremely limited.
===Judgement 197===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Viviane de Courdefer
* '''Judgement:''' The Change of Doctrine (Judgement 3 this season) proposed by Clarice Novarion will cause serious thought and concern among the Empire's priests. We remind you all, with thanks to ??? Rikke (Judgement 124 this season), that Doctrine is a living document that must change and grow as the Empire does. We must not <u>fear</u> change, but embrace virtue where we find it.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (8-0), with Primacy
* '''Notes:'''This statement refers to the [[change of doctrine]] proposed by Clarice Novarion and upheld by the General Assembly; see [[#Judgement 3|Judgement 3]].

===Judgement 200===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Rhubarb Ironwood
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise the vigilance of Jonathan Piper of Cockscroft for raising hue and cry about the threat of hostile heralds across the Marches. We exalt him!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (264-0), with Primacy
* '''Notes:''' During the Summer Solstice, Jonathan Piper raised a [[statement of principle]] [[When_Spring_comes#Stormy_Monday_.28Mitwold.29|warning the people]] of [[Mitwold]] of the threat posed by heralds of [[Siakha]] (see [[#385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement 156|Judgement 156]]).

===Judgement 201===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Rosie of Goatsbridge
* '''Judgement:''' The Marcher Assembly recognises the Vigilance and Courage of those Urizeni who stood against so many of their own nation, warning them of the dangers of casting Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths. These include Tiberius Cascade, and also the Academy of the Southern Shore. Those they <u>are</u> good neighbours.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (264-0), with Primacy
* '''Notes:''' Relates to the [[When_Spring_comes#Stormy_Monday_.28Mitwold.29|ongoing controversy]] around the recent performance of [[Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths]].
==Mandate==
===Judgement 11===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Aurum of the Nightingale Temple
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous build up their fellows, they do not tear them down. Blue flowers bloom in Spiral, and if we are to hold true to the promise of this Empire we cannot laud one while cutting down another. Should the Empire shed Urizeni blood in this matter, it will prove they value thieves and slavers over virtuous citizens. It will prove they are unworthy of the oldest nation. We send Aurum of the Nightingale Temple with 25 doses of liao to encourage all Urizeni to stand in defiance of an Empire that treats our lives as an inconvenience, should they dare to enact violence against our people. Loyalty demands, and we cannot condemn the people of Spiral for having answered.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (267-75)
* '''Enacted:''' If the Empire sends an army to suppress the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|Urizeni rebels]] in Spiral at any point before the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE, the rebellion will spread to the rest of Urizen. Spires will take up arms and declare their support for the rebellion, and opposition to the Empire. As detailed in the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|A question of loyalty]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous inspire others to greatness. We send Neala Blackhawk with 75 doses of liao to urge priest to engage with the Great Forest Orcs to learn their ways to discover if we might bring them to the Way.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (468-63)
* '''Enacted:''' Sends Pride assembly priests to visit with the [[Great Forest Orcs]] and learn about their religion. As detailed in the [[Tooth_by_tooth#Pride_and_Prejudice|Tooth by tooth]] Wind of Fortune.
===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Callista
* '''Judgement:''' The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. We send Callista of the Dark Shard with 25 doses of liao to encourage the remaining Urizeni living in Spiral to take up arms and defend their homes. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but by unity of both.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (30-379)
* '''Notes:''' Had it been enacted, this mandate would have spread the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|Urizeni rebellion]] across the whole of Spiral. As detailed in the [[A question of loyalty]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 40===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Herminius of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' Failure is the death of greatness, We send Herminius of the House of the Wanderer with 75 doses of liao to encourage sword scholars throughout Urizen to separate the woman from the teachings and no longer venerate the actions of Sulemaine. Let us find new questions to ask.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (284-10)
* '''Enacted:''' This mandate [[A_wisdom_of_questions#A_Clean_Cut|sunders the sword scholars]], shattering the [[Arbiter_of_the_Four_Winds#Temple_of_the_Four_Winds|Temple of the Four Winds]]. It also damages the moral authority of the Urizen assembly, in light of their previous [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_100|endorsement of Sulemaine]], meaning every Urizen [[congregation]] receives 2 fewer votes and 1 fewer liao. As detailed in the [[A wisdom of questions|A wisdom of questions]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 57===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Enis RootBloom
* '''Judgement:''' For too long the peoples of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle whilst those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send Enis Rootbloom with 50 doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (355-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Any Navarr army in [[the Barrens]] can support the Spears of the Pines and help them conquer the [[The_Barrens#Heart_of_Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]], provided the [[general]] of the army takes an attacking order explicitly targetting the Heart of Peytaht and mention they are supporting the Great Forest Orcs. If this happens the Great Forest Orcs will claim the region and it will not require concedence by the Senate. It will also put to rest any concerns the Great Forest Orcs have expressed around the Navarr reticence to fight in the Barrens. As detailed in the [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] wind of fortune. See also [[#Judgement_149|Judgement 149]].

===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Maria i Espiri i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' The National Assembly have already spoken, the Virtuous inspire others. We raised the burial mound to honour the Courage of the Jotun, and now they wish to raise a monument to the Virtue and honour of the Freeborn who defeated them - a permanent reminder of the strength of the Freeborn. We send Maria i Espiri i Guerra with ten thrones to urge the families of Kahraman to ensure the Jotun are escorted only to the burial mound to raise the monument, and then safely returned to their own lands.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (175-0)
* '''Enacted:''' This mandate sees the visiting ghodi protected by an honour guard of Freeborn which will further demonstrate the worth of the Brass Coast to the Jotun. The [[Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills]] will not be able to take advantage of the opportunity to capture the ghodi and mithril. As detailed in the [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] wind of fortune

===Judgement 69===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Exarch Luke of the Navigators of Virtue
* '''Judgement:''' Let every word you speak carry meaning. We send Exarch Luke of the Navigators of Virtue with 25 doses of liao to persuade the soldiers of the Valiant Pegasus to seek out orc septs oppressed by the Druj. Together we will find the right question.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (437-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The Valiant Pegasus will strive to minimise casualties when fighting in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and open channels of communication with the septs while fighting there. As detailed in the [[The_cities_and_the_city#Leen_:_A_Road_to_Liberation|The cities and the city]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 73===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Dindrane
* '''Judgement:''' Test what you learn; only fools accept hearsay as truth. We send Ser Dindrane with 50 doses of liao to urge the faithful to visit Laroc to share in the lessons imparted there. Nothing is more virtuous than success.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (74-192)

===Judgement 113===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Eldrid Vestardottir
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Eldrid Vestardottir with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our virtue echo through history for a thousand years.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (284-0)
* '''Enacted.''' Wintermark will find what white granite and funds they can spare and donate them to support the construction of a [[Blood will thicken|sacred city]] in [[Bastion]]. Every Wintermark territory that is affected by this mandate will donate 12 wains of white granite and 24 crowns to support the commission each season for the next year. For the same period if it impossible to use a mandate to urge Wintermark t to support another commission or similar project that needed help. Any mandate in the Imperial Synod that urged Wintermark citizens to provide financial support to a different commission or cause will fail to affect the nation. Likewise any statement of principle in their national assembly that asks the nation for their support in this way will fail to produce a mandate. As detailed in the [[Blood_will_thicken#No_Price_Is_Too_High|Blood will thicken]] Wind of Fortune.

===Judgement 134===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Fintan Founders-Dance with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our virtue echo through history for a thousand years..
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (276-26) the Greater Majority threshold for this judgement was 276.
*'''Enacted.''' Navarr will find what [[white granite]] and funds they can spare and donate them to support the construction of a [[Blood will thicken|sacred city]] in [[Bastion]]. Every Navarr territory that is affected by this mandate will donate 12 wains of white granite and 24 crowns to support the commission each season for the next year. For the same period if it impossible to use a mandate to urge the Navarr to support another commission or similar project that needed help. Any mandate in the Imperial Synod that urged Navarr to provide financial support to a different commission or cause will fail to affect the nation. Likewise any statement of principle in their national assembly that asks the nation for their support in this way will fail to produce a mandate. As detailed in the [[Blood_will_thicken#No_Price_Is_Too_High|Blood will thicken]] Wind of Fortune.
===Judgement 149===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Veikko Bondforger
* '''Judgement:''' No priest can tell you what you are loyal to, but we can guide you on that path. Under the Eyes of Loyalty we send Veikko Bondforger to support the following mandate: For too long the people of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle while those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send our priest with 50 doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (279-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The [[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] will support [[#Judgement 57|Judgement 57]].

===Judgement 170===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orcs
* '''Raised By:''' Bleakshield Zorra
* '''Judgement:''' If we are to be liberators not conquerors, then our pride must be conveyed by actions not by words alone. We send Skywise Rykana with 75 Thrones to provide food and other vital supplies to the Rahvin in Bitter Strand. All that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (78-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Imperial Orcs priests gather food and other vital supplies, and deliver them to the Rahvin. Their largesse will improve the sept's attitude, causing the Rahvin to become more well disposed to the Imperial Orcs, prepared to speak with them directly and securing their ability to negotiate with the orcs on behalf of the Empire. As detailed in the [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Rahvin|Not to conquer]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 199===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Mel Bleak
* '''Judgement:''' Those orcs who once were thralls of the Jotun are Marchers. They've been patient, and we won't keep them waiting while the rest of the Empire argues about what we know to be true. We send Sister Meredith with the egregore Jack to welcome them into our nation, and we will look to the paperwork later.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (264-0)
* '''Enacted:''' With this risky mandate, the Marcher assembly makes it clear to their own people, and to the Empire, that the [[Mournwold Orcs]] should be Marchers. As detailed in the [[When_Spring_comes#The_Field_.28Mournwold_Orcs.29|When Spring comes]] Wind of Fortune
==Evaluation==
The Synod made the following judgements of [[excommunication]], [[inquisition]], [[revocation]], and [[sanction]].
===Judgement 17===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Vindication, Escalation)''' In Summer 385YE I called Gisli the Provider to Inquisition. In enquired about his motives, his reasons for his prosperous acts and found the cause of his work to be a deep seated Virtue. Not only does he act most Prosperously, he does not shirk the Pride he is owed for his great work. Gisli fully funded the recent Empire-wide Autumn ritual, bringing prosperity to all, and has donated hundreds of thrones worth of money and resources to the Academy - in their words, he has saved the lives of countless children. He has been a fervent fighter against slavery, going on both major raids, and he single handedly raised enough money for the Thule to feed their people, avoiding untold thousands of orcs starving.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (55-10)
===Judgement 18===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call Finna i Fijadoz, the High Exorcist, to Inquisition. This will occur at 4pm on the Saturday of this summit, Autumn 385, at the Ashwood Emporium (also known as Iniska's Pantry, or Kaelynn's Apothetea). I wish to examine her actions as both an elected representative of the Imperial Synod, but also as an Inspiration to those groups of Exorcists bound together in the image of the Justicars. Any may attend, priority given to Spiritwoods members.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (75-0)
===Judgement 20===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Stawamir Rabovich Bolotstrazh
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call to inquisition Reidarr "Blood-letter" of Byrchenhal at 3pm in the Byrchenhal camp. Saavi "Heroes Champion" has agreed to assist me to advise on winterfolk traditions. Reidarr has performed longservice to the Empire's military forces and strategy, lead hundreds of people through the sentinel gate and has fought each of the enemies of theEMpire. Now, Icallhim to question on his virtue. May the wise spider guide me to the truth of his virtue and story.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1118-30)
===Judgement 21===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Morwenna Withered Rose
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call Ser Claudia Lovelorn to stand for Inquisition to explore the nature of her duty as the Keeper of Tharim's Throne. The inquisition will be held at 5.30pm on Saturday at the Hall of Voices in Urizen. The imquisiting priest is Morwenna Withered Rose. May all our vows be witnesses in light and blood.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (31-0)
* '''Notes:''' There was another judgement of inquisition relating to Claudia Lovelorn. An individual may not be subject of an [[inquisition]] more than once per summit; anyone who has already undergone a inquisition that weekend is not obliged to attend another.
===Judgement 22===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Aethelric the Grounded
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' During the Summer Summit of 385YE, there was an expedition to Madruga to recover the only known survivor of the Dry Patrician blight. Said survivor was afflicted with an incurable sickness that was transforming him into something unknown - possibly a husk variant. I call Lev Unbound of Highguard to Inquisition to explain his reasoning for letting this survivor go (to effectively roam Casinea unsupported and unguarded) rather than exploring other alternatives. The inquisition will take place on the Saturday of the Autumn Summit 385YE at 4,00 pm. We shall meet at the hub and possibly adjourn elsewhere to conduct the proceedings.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld; Withdrawn
===Judgement 23===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Vindication, Escalation)''' Through his inquisition at the Summer Solstice, general Stanley of Chalkdown has shown Pride in his land, his duty to the Empire, and his role as general. Joining the Marches at the liberation of Mournwold, he has ever strived for excellence in that which he is Proud - waging war upon the Jotun through the Bregasland campaign as soldier adjutant and general, with unwavering dedication. He has always been a Marcher - for a moment, not an Imperial one, but shows Pride in all things, and Loyalty to great ones.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (259-0)
===Judgement 24===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' Following her claims at the Summer Solstice before the Pride assembly, I call Skywise Gralka, Archmage of Day, to inquisition. To claim signs of the Exemplar is to convey by words alone - let us discuss this further. First Legion tent, Imperial ORccamp, midnight, Friday of the Autumn Equinox.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (117-0)
* '''Notes:''' There were two other judgements of inquisition relating to Skywise Gralka. An individual may not be subject of an [[inquisition]] more than once per summit; anyone who has already undergone a inquisition that weekend is not obliged to attend another.
===Judgement 27===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call Skywise Gralka to Inquisition on Saturday at Midnight to occur in Wintermark. This concerns a list of signs of possible exemplarhood and I wish to talk to her with any priest friendly to me welcome along. This will <u>not</u> concern Cold Sun business as a primary focus. Run your own inquisition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (202-0)
* '''Notes:''' There were two other judgements of inquisition relating to Skywise Gralka. An individual may not be subject of an [[inquisition]] more than once per summit; anyone who has already undergone a inquisition that weekend is not obliged to attend another.
===Judgement 34===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kasjay
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I Kasjay call Veiko to inquisition to discuss his virtue in dealing with Spiral. It will be at 19:00 in his hall.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (443-27)
===Judgement 39===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Wayfarer Abraham
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call Sufyan i Zuhri i Erigo for inquisition for the inquisition he held on Wildfire of Balthazar's Vineyard. An inquisition is meant to involve probing questions to discover the truth behind the actions and motives of the accused. Some concerns have been raised that the inquisition of Wildfire was not done with the aim of finding the truth and motives of the virtue of this brothers actions but instead this inquisition was raised with Sufyan i Zuhri i Erigo mind already decided and little concern for new wisdom. Wisdom knows all knowledge is incomplete. So, I call Sufyan iZuhri i Erigo to inquisition at 3.30 pm Saturday at the Scions of Ravensfall chapter tent, Highguard, so the truth can be found, and the sanctity of Inquisition can be maintained to the highest possible standard.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (928-27)
===Judgement 46===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Ingrid
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call Eska Crowspeaker, Liberty's Song to Inquisition at the Hub on Saturday at 3 o'clock, in order to hear the tale of the Liberty Pact and her role in its creation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (197-0)
===Judgement 48===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Earl Galeas du Maurisol
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' Maarit Suvidottir, Courage Inquisitior, is called to Inquisition to discuss her conduct as an Inquisitor and her future plans. Anyone interested in the workings of Inquisitions is welcome to attend. Time and Place: 6pm, Wintermark Camp.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1130-24)
===Judgement 49===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Earl Galeasdu Maurisol
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' Lenarius Ankarian, Imperial Inquisitor, is called to Inquisition to discuss his conduct as Ambition Inquisitor and his plans for Inquisitorial Court. Anyone interested in the workings of Inquisitions is welcome to attend. Time and Place:4pm, Urizen Camp.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1211-37)
===Judgement 52===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Elkiah of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' '''Revocation''' The Highborn Assembly seeks to revoke JARED OF THE SUNS OF COUROS from the position of LEPIDEAN LIBRARIAN. Embarassed us with improper use of the position by using the power in a way he knew it should not be used, and got the name of the person he was researching incorrect. He wants to "experiment with the power" rather than use it as intended to exalt people of our past. Wisdom is asking the right question. He is not. The position would be better served in the hands of someone who wants to use it as it is meant to be used. To encourage Pride in our Empire, not embarass us.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (146-96)
* '''Notes:''' Jared of the Suns of Couros was[[revocation|revoked]] from the position of [[Lepidean Librarian]].
===Judgement 66===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' James of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call Skywise Gralka to Inquisition at 11:30 Sunday at the Cenotaph camp in Highguard over events relating to the Cold Sun.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (376-20)
* '''Notes:''' There were two other judgements of inquisition relating to Skywise Gralka. An individual may not be subject of an [[inquisition]] more than once per summit; anyone who has already undergone a inquisition that weekend is not obliged to attend another.
===Judgement 72===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Eliaphas of the Saker
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Condemnation, Escalation)''' I hereby condemn Aska of Sentinel's Watch, former general of the Valiant Pegasus. She was found to carry a dedication of Purity on her soul. During her inquisition, she claimed to have no knowledge of this. The raising priest wishes to suggest the harshest legal penalty for this crime.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (334-362); Scrutiny was [[Cardinal#Further_Scrutiny|extended]] by the [[Cardinal of Loyalty]].
===Judgement 77===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Eska Harakkadottir
* '''Judgement:''' ''Inquisition''' I call to inquisition Merlof, Captain of the Militia, to answer to reports of apathy and a lack of Ambition of the Militia in investigating an accusation of murder. Inquisition to take place at 11am Sunday at the tent of the Crimson Reaper in the League.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (168-12)
===Judgement 83===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Rhaego i Zemress
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Vindication, Escalation)''' Pertaining to Judgement 173 Spring383 / Inquisition conducted Summer 385. Tisserande has conducted himself with steady virtue. Prosperity assembly acknowledges the struggle Tisserande has faced in his acquisition of the Runeforge. Through his actions, we have unearthed strong evidence of corruption surrounding the prior use and control of this Bourse seat. Our eyes will pierce the shadow of this threat and find the truth. We extend our full spiritual support to Tisserande of House Griffonsbain. Prosperity provides!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (231-0)
===Judgement 93===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Annalaya del Toro
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' We call Leonardo i del Toro as head of the civil service to at 2.15, Saturday this solstice in at house Del Toro Camp. To discuss the heretical content of some mandates that have been set before the Synod by the Civil Service and investigate what might be done to make them less common.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (571-165)
===Judgement 94===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Sister Keziah
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Castigation, Escalation)''' We the Highborn assembly castigate Aksehfor her grevious failure of vigilance. However, since she did not preach false virtue, she does not meet the definition of religious crime, and a condemnation on these grounds is inappropriate. She deserves to - and must - seek atonement for her sinful actions, as do all who stray from virtue. I, sister Keziah,commit to guide her on the long, hard path to redemption and virtue. No soul or spirit - no matter their crimes - is beyond salvation!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (272-178)
===Judgement 104===
* '''Assembly:''' WIsdom
* '''Raised By:''' Amris Johan Menkovich
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Penance, Escalation)''' In relation to his virtue defence of Lucaz. It is found that Father Drakov should perform penance to the Law. This was his first virtue defence and as such he was unaware that a priest can a) change their mind or b) condemn the accused. He showed lack of Wisdom at 3 points as a result he must perform 3 tasks to aid the militia before performing another defence.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (223-0)
===Judgement 105===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Pickers Blackleap
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call Senator de Rondell to inquisition regarding the motion to raise funds for a Dawnish army. At 5pm in Navar songs and stories circle. All welcome to attend.
* '''Outcome:''' [[Auditor_of_Senatorial_Accountability#Inquisit_Member_of_the_Senate|Upheld automatically]].
* '''Notes:''' There was another judgement of inquisition relating to Bohemond de Rondell. An individual may not be subject of an [[inquisition]] more than once per summit; anyone who has already undergone a inquisition that weekend is not obliged to attend another.

===Judgement 111===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ephron of Adina's Charge
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call Clarive Novarion of the Doctrinal Council to Inquisition on the matter of proposed changes to Doctrine. I will visit the Novarion tent at 19:00 Saturday to conduct the inquisition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (740-13)
===Judgement 114===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Silas of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Vindication, Escalation)''' General Aurum has with great Ambition pursued their role in acting out the will of the Military Council, They have faced some of the worst enemies of this our Empire <u>and</u> the threat of false Virtue They are guided by a network of priests and have sound understanding of what must be done to protect theirs and their soldier's souls. They understand the power of words. May their testimony remain true. May they remain a guiding light. Wisdom Questions all, Silas of the Cenotaph.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (721-31)
===Judgement 115===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Earl of Fools
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' At 10 of the Saturday of Autumn's night toiqnusition is called Lord Bohemond de Rondell to face us in Glory's Square to answer strife twixt national and generals (and we mean the Barrens situation). True liberator or true conqueror.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (76-0)
* '''Notes:''' There was another judgement of inquisition relating to Bohemond de Rondell. An individual may not be subject of an [[inquisition]] more than once per summit; anyone who has already undergone a inquisition that weekend is not obliged to attend another.
===Judgement 120===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Mina i Yashum i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' Call Claudia Lovelorn toInquisition to determine the extend to which virtue affects Claudia's uses of magic. 11am - HOUSE REMYS- Autumn 384YE - Sunday. Raphael i Z(?) i Riqueza will lead the ritual.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1045-20)
* '''Notes:''' There was another judgement of inquisition relating to Claudia Lovelorn. An individual may not be subject of an [[inquisition]] more than once per summit; anyone who has already undergone a inquisition that weekend is not obliged to attend another.
===Judgement 127===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Stawemir Rabovich Bolotstrazh
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Vindication, Escalation)''' Following inquisition into Reidarr "Blood-letter" of Brychenhal with the aid of Saavi "Heroes Champion" I wish to recognise Reidarr's inspiring virtue his courage to stand by what is right, the way he instils loyalty in those who follow him and his pride in building others up show excellence in military virtue. He conducts himself as a hero in everything he does and his life is a story to inspire many heroes yet to come.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (987-16)
===Judgement 162===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Witold Petrov
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Vindication, Escalation)''' We find Vuk acted in Loyalty, holding the lives of all those of his vale as paramount (his first loyalty) when dealing with his Sovereign. His actions last year, which caused rancor inVarushka were the result of a curse due to decisions made as a Senator nothing to do with the Sovereign's bargain. Vuk's soul is not yet perfect, as he has not ascended, but we do not find him lacking in virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (90-0)
===Judgement 164===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Silas of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' The Basilisk of Highguard's eye is open and those whose Virtue is false shall turn to stone. I call the Sect of Felix's Watch to Inquisition Friday of Winter 385 for their Actions in rooting out the poison of Hatred. Let us now document what happened, how and what lessons were learned.Cyrus, Zarch, Baal, Enoch, Daniel, Tirza, Accolon, Zachariah and Naomi come forth. Wisdom questions all.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1256-0)
===Judgement 171===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Sbella of the Silent Tide
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Vindication, Escalation)''' I inquisite the Imperial Exorcist Finna i Fijadoz i Guerra at the last summit. I return with this judgement of vindication.Finna's actions of diplomacy to the Grendel, despite a difficult history, were both loyal and virtuous.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (183-0)
===Judgement 175===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Lenarius Ankarien
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Castigation, Escalation)''' With regards to the inquisition of Hector of Tropian, while he may have had virtuous intent, he lacked wisdom and vigilance in failing utterly to consider the wider implications of his actions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (249-18)
===Judgement 177===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Wayfarer Abraham
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Penance, Escalation)''' Following his inquisition of Wyldfire of Bathosa's Vineyard, it has been found that Sufyan i Zurhi i Erigo acted without due wisdom in accepting evidence and information as part of his proceedings. His lack of Vigilance in controlling his emotions around the topic discussed led to incomplete assessment of virtue. In penance, I charge him with a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage to study the (??) of the Inquisitorial technique and the workings of the Inquisitorial Court for the next two seasons. The virtuous apply what they have learned- Wisdom knows all knowledge is incomplete.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (919-20)
===Judgement 178===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Sebastiano
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call to Inquisition Rafiici Barossa. To seek the Throne is a great act of Ambition. Now tell us why you seek it. Inquisition to take place at 1pm Sunday in the First Spark tent of the League.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (209-10)
===Judgement 179===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Martin Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call Jeziah i Radah i Guerra to inquisition to discuss the Vigilance of casting Hallow of the Green World, and the dangers inherent in such transformative magics. This is at his request. 2.01 pm Sun Hub Annex.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (177-0)
===Judgement 185===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kiasjay
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Vindication, Escalation)''' I find Veikko Bondforger's actions in using the eyes of Loyalty to have been entirely virtuous. While he may have set aside some of his personal ambition he has let loyalty to those he has forged bonds with guide his actions at every step. Bonds with his friends, when they asked. Bonds with his assembly when he let them decide if should be used and the consequences. And bonds with the Empire when he saw part of it in pain.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (956-253)
===Judgement 186===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Vindication, Escalation)''' Melchior of Adina's Charge, Cardinal of Courage, was inquisited about his long history of virtue dating back to his youth in Reikos and later the Granite Pillar. Extending to his arrival at Anvil, his part in defeating the Yaelish Schism, and healing the wounds it caused. His long service as proxy to Cardinal of Courage Clarice Novarion prepared him for this role, and he now intends to further the virtue of the Empire by pushing the assemblies he is in to be proactive forces for positive virtuous change in the Empire. He seeks the inspire courage in others in the future. I liik forward to seeing what we can do together in Virtue and he asks us to seek out causes and choose our hills to die on.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (150-0)
===Judgement 187===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ephrom of Adina's Charge
* '''Judgement:''' '''Sanction (Vindication, Escalation)''' I inquisited Clarice Novarion on the proposed Doctrine of Enlightenment, the writing therof, and her preaching of it. I commend her and encourage her to shape our shared destiny. I ask the Synod; why did others not seek to apply scrutiny before me? We seek to change Doctrine. Payattention! We build our future in stone.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (928-26)
===Judgement 189===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Telyn Stormtree
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call to Inquisition Anthamius Netherwatch regarding the ritual Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths which they allegedly led and unleashed the heralds of the Cold Sun. To be held Saturday of the Winter Summit, at a time and place to be agreed.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (173-0)
===Judgement 193===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Lenarius Ankarion
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' I call Cassia Silkweaver to inquisition to discuss their use of priestly powers. At the Winter Solstice, the inquisition will take place. Time and Location to be confirmed closer to the summit.
* '''Outcome:''' [[Virtue_inquisitor#Inquisitor.27s_Judgement|Upheld automatically]]
===Judgement 194===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Heilyn Bronwen's Rest
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' As Basilisk of the Bourse,I call Tristan Ramson von Holberg, the Master of the Mint, to Inquisition on Friday at 20.00 during the Winter Solstice. We shall meet at the Hub and discuss at a teahouse.
* '''Outcome:''' [[Virtue_inquisitor#Inquisitor.27s_Judgement|Upheld automatically]].
===Judgement 198===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Lady Laundine du Lac
* '''Judgement:''' '''Inquisition''' As the Imperial Chaplain Consular, I call Jarrigk Orzel to an inquisition to discuss his involvement and knowledge of the plot against the Grendel. The inquisition will be held on Friday at 11pm at the Imperial Offices in Winter 385.
* '''Outcome:''' [[Imperial_Chaplain_Consular#Inquisit_Imperial_Ambassador|Upheld automatically]].

==Recognition==
There was one judgement of [[recognition]] during the Autumn Equinox.
===Judgement 7===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Drakov
* '''Judgement:''' This Spring, with 1185 votes in favour, General Assembly passed my Judgement declaring Living Exemplars should be encouraged and celebrated not feared. Following a positive Wisdom Assembly debate last summit, and in light of their recommendations, I seek Recognition as a Living Exemplar. A minimum of 4 signs must be met. I believe Ihave met the signs of Pilgrimage, Recognition, Legacy, Salvation, and Inspiration. According to the new rules, my supporting evidence is on the Citizen's Notice Board for your consideration.
* '''Outcome:''' Withdrawn at the request of the raising priest.
===Judgement 54===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Astrid Fjellrevening Rezia di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' Ozen de Orzel used art to change the world, and this assembly recognises him as an Exemplar of Pride. <u>Inspiration:</u> Ozren directly inspired the creation of the High Bard, and now every year a newHigh Bard takes to the Senate floor, a long line of artists, performers, and storytellers following in his footsteps using art to inspire and speak truth to those at the heart of the Empire. <u>Pilgrimage:</u> Ozren went to the Pits of Ennerlund in Holberg to put the unquiet ghosts there to rest after the depredations of the Druj. He did not just take liao to exorcise them, but spoke to them and heard their stories. He brought these back out into the light and retold them to their loved ones, so they would not be forgotten. <u>Benevolence:</u> Ozren was instrumental in the creation of the High Bard, and reclaimed the Pits of Ennerlund by carrying the stories of the unquiet dead back out to thelight, both of great lasting benefit to the whole Empire. <u>Legacy:</u> As well as his own beautiful body of work, and co-authoring the first High Bard performance on the Senate floor with hisfuture wifelady Kaywenn du Launcet. Ozren leaves the position of High Bard as a testament to his dedication to seeing Art and inspiration take its place at the heart of Imperial decision making. More than this, each High Bard is expected to leave a composition as a legacy, ensuring an ever growing body of work dedicated to his vision.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (493-46)
* '''Notes:''' The recognition of Ozren de Orzel will be escalated to the General Assembly for evaluation at the Winter Solstice.
===Judgement 55===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Soratio i Del Toro
* '''Judgement:''' Zemress is a Paragon. In addition to the five signs given when she was recognised as an Exemplar, she displays the sign of Miracles - with numerous spontaneous, virtuous, auras having been found on items associated with her. Furthermore, her Inspiration and Legacy are much greater than were known when she was recognised as an exemplar. Zemress is now known to by the founder of two societies of Prosperous humans - the Zemressi Islanders whose practise of prosperity has improved the agriculture of the Brass Coast, and the Frieoyer who provide the backbone of Sumaah's naval presence.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (270-29); the Greater Majority threshold for this judgement was 286.
* '''Notes:''' This judgement did not achieve a Greater Majority and so will not be escalated.
==Appointment==
At the Summit, the following [[appointment|appointments]] were proposed by the Assemblies of the Synod. You can find the names of citizens who currently hold Imperial titles in the Synod [[Current Imperial titles|here]].
===Judgement 2===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of Pride]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Zadkiel de Courdefer''' was appointed with 306 votes. Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra received 108 votes. Jedediah Boon of the Ore Hills received 107 votes. Ubarius of Tropaion Citadel received 65 votes. Ephron of Adina's Charge received 16 votes.
===Judgement 12===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue Inquisitor]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Sebastiano''' was appointed with 70 votes. Eska Harakadottir received 66 votes. Callista received 46 votes. Eldrid Vestardottir received 10 votes.
===Judgement 14===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of [[Guide to the Lost]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Ikahn'' was appointed with 26 votes.
===Judgement 25===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of [[Virtue Inquisitor]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Sam Wychelm''' was appointed with 92 votes. Brother Geoffrey ORchard received 63 votes. Dagon and Galeas each received 0 votes.
===Judgement 30===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Archivist of the Echoing Obelisk]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Enoch of Felix's Watch''' was appointed with 196 votes. Elkiah of the Shattered Tower was appointed with 60 votes.
===Judgement 41===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment [[Challenger in Waiting]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Earl of Fools''' appointed with 84 votes. Captain Charge received 8 votes. Damarian Orzel received 16 votes. Earl D'Eon Novarion received 10 votes. Galahad Audrax received 10 votes. Lady Nimue DeRondell received 10 votes. Hector de Sarroi received 0 votes. Sir Gaeris received 0 votes. Henry Vallarios received 0 votes. Tal Fracrasser of House Vexille received 0 votes.
===Judgement 42===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Knight of the Greenwood]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Earl Percival Summerstrong''' was appointed with 108 votes. Enchantress Armand Remys received 107 votes. Lord Lucien deCoeurdefer received 52 votes. Mordrain Sepulchre received 10 votes.
===Judgement 43===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Abbess of Reconciliation]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Sister Rosa of the Chantry''' was appointed with 360 votes. Berrak of the Navigators of Virtue received 74 votes.
===Judgement 44===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Guardian of the Maze of Zoria]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Illya Nikovitch Volkov''' was appointed with 166 votes. Kalina Jadwigowna Piesnkova received 52 votes.
===Judgement 60===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Apointment of the [[Reeve of Greenforest Fair]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Arlen Foreman-Smith''' was appointed with 176 votes.

===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Courage]].
* '''Outcome:''' Emrys i Guerra, Pris Jackdaw's Call, Salome i Nadir i Erigo all received 20 votes so the title was not appointed. Ser Drysford received 10 votes. Coren Lonestrider and Thomir of the Cenotaph each received 0 votes,
* '''Notes:''' See [[#Judgement 161|Judgement 161]]
===Judgement 81===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Wisdom]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Valens Leos''' was appointed with 119 votes. Elagabala received 69 votes. Iza Mor'goed received 0 votes.
===Judgement 126===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Lepidean Librarian]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower''' was appointed with 280 votes. Carlos i Navigator of Virtue i Guerra received 78 votes. Jard of the Suns of Couros received 62 votes.
===Judgement 161===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of [[Champion of Courage]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Thomir''' was appointed with 126 votes. Pris Jackdaw's Call received 66 votes. Coren Lonestrider received 10 votes.

==Rewarding==
The following judgements of [[rewarding]] were proposed during the summit.
===Judgement 8===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Estella Lucati
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod rewards the Virtue of Arsenio Sanguineo Rezia. Arsenio has displayed both Ambition and Prosperity in creating opportunities for Imperial citizens including expanding access to important materials and resources for the Empire as a whole at personal expense. To celebrate Arsenio's virtues and to encourage him to comparable deeds in the future, the Synod rewards him with twenty-one Thrones from the Virtue Fund.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (315-205)
===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rafarl Barossa di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' Since Summer 384, I have been patron of a group of Virtuous rebels in Asavea. With the support of the Sevenfold Path, Highborn Benefactors, Ashborn Pakt, my family, and several others who do not wish to be named. I have sent them money to bribe corrupt officials, white granite to fortify their homes, and 175 doses of Liaoso they can practice The Way. With the Conclave's aid I have also provided them with a ritual text to assist theirwork. The total financial value of the aid I have sent them is over 70 Thrones. This has resulted in a decapitation strike against the Tarquinius family, prime movers against the Empire in the Asavean Plenum. I claim full responsibility for this act and encourage anyone who is able to tell the Asaveans it was me. To cover those costs I incurred personally, and to ensure I can continue this work, I ask the Synod to reward me with 35 Thrones.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1123-324)
===Judgement 19===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rocio i Fijadoz i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' In this era of doctrinal reform, it is more important than ever that we ensure that our beliefs are based in fact. The nature of the Labyrinth is a mystery to us, and one that underpins our entire faith. We have discovered a way to use true liao to mark a soul in a way that will enable us to observe them as they pass through the Labyrinth, shedding much light on this mystery. I ask for a dose of true liao for this purpose, so we may learn more of the Way.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (989-1019). The [[Cardinal of Ambition]] used the ability to require [[Cardinal#Further_Scrutiny|further scrutiny]] on this judgement.
===Judgement 28===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Lysimachus
* '''Judgement:''' TheAnvil Hospital has kept many of the people of Anvil alive and treated the Heroes of Anvil for a veritable smorgasbord of curses, traumatic injuries, Druj poisons, a whole host of supernatural weird stuff and (occasionally) their own stupidity. The physiks of the hospital have shown their Virtue summit after summit especially Couarge, Ambition and Loyalty, and are a source of great Pride to the Empire. While nothing stops any citizen who believes in supporting the hospital from sharing their prosperity is to aid in keeping us from getting injured and/or killed, we wish to reward Gabrielle Barossa; Bursar of the Hospital with 9 Thrones, 2Crowns, and 11 Rings - the same amount donated to the fund by a physik no longer with us - to allow the Anvil Hospital to continue its virtuous work.
'''Outcome:''' Upheld (1673-89)
===Judgement 45===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Jules von Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod rewards theVirtue of Giacomo Corvinoscuro. Some believed that constructing naval defences in Sarvos against the coming Grendel was folly and could never be completed in time. Yet through tireless effort, great personal expense, and working with powerful and expensive covens, Giacomo stands at the cusp of success. That which should have taken a year takes only six months. Ninety percent of what was needed has been obtained. For this heroic effort, and to encourage him in the final stretch, we reward Giacomo with twenty-eight Thrones from the Virtue Fund.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1065-482)
===Judgement 82===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Caewel Novarion
* '''Judgement:''' Enchantress Areloe Lormalleves has been instrumental in orchestrating large magical rituals in Dawn. After casting Bound by Common Cause for the first time in Dawn, she pursued her Ambition to organise the casting of more and greater rituals to benefit the Empire. Her Ambition lead her to organise the casting of an Arcane Projection by Meraud that protected the citizens of Dawn from the Cold Sun, ensuring no lives ere lost. Meraud has offered the Enchantress an opportunity to create a Sinecure that she wants to use to flame the Ambitions of others who wish to follow in her path. I feel these acts are virtuous and deserve reward. I ask the Synod to provide 15 Thrones from the virtue fund.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (679-409)
===Judgement 95===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Pontis Figures
* '''Judgement:''' Remodelling Bastion with a Grand Inspiration of the Way will be the work of ages and a legacy of our Empire. The sizeable resource investment required (1000 wains of white granite) means a collective effort will be required. We propose that the virtue fund is utilised to provide some of this and bring the project to a swifter completion. So far the virtue fund has provided 3 wains from previous rewardings. We seek 15 Thrones in order to purchase another 3 wains.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (484-262)
===Judgement 112===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tom Appleseed
* '''Judgement:''' Seeking a dose of True Liao for the consecration of the tomb of Good Walder, Paragon of Prosperity.
* '''Outcome:'''Upheld (543-152); Scrutiny was [[Cardinal#Further_Scrutiny|extended]] by the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]].
* '''Notes:''' No [[liao#True Liao|True Liao]] remained in the virtue fund when this judgement passed.
===Judgement 121===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Fintan Founders Dance
* '''Judgement:''' The Seven Pilgrims stand as inspiration to citizens of the Empire. To recover the Pilgrim's Shield Bawn-Watch requires equivalent trade. We ask for a dose of true liao from the virtue fund to create a true hallowed artefact for this purpose.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (675-262)

==Special Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when bringing judgements before the Imperial Synod during the Autumn Equinox.
<table class='wikitable mw-collapsed mw-collapsible sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Assembly</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Consideration</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Link</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Duration</td></tr>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that prioritise the greater good over personal loyalties are less effective.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that try to compel Loyalty will fail.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Revocations and Excommunications for disloyalty to the nation or Empire would risk causing dissent.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Urizen or Varushka. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in one of the two nations, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|Urizen Link]], [[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Varushka Link]].</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in any National Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can pass a statement of principle to call on their nation to support the Imperial Orcs, the Marches, or Wintermark.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Peerless Kinship]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Urizen</td><td> The Urizen National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>League</td><td> The League National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Varushka</td><td> The Varushkan National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
</table>
==Alternative Mandates==
Prior to the summit, the following [[Mandate#Alternative Mandates|alternative mandates]] were proposed by members of the Synod.

{|
| '''Member''' || '''Link to mandate''' || '''Notes'''
|-
| Aurum of the Nightingale Temple || [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|A question of loyalty]] ||
|-
| Herminius of the House of the Wanderer || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Urizen Assembly
|-
| Maximillian Ankarien || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Urizen Assembly
|-
| Brynn Tendfallen || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Nathair Autumngale || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Enis RootBloom || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Corey Wayfarer || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Jared of the Suns of Couros || [[Restraint#The_Black_Feast|Restraint]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Highborn Assembly
|-
| Maria i Espiri i Guerra || [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] ||
|-
| Ahraz i Guerra || [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] ||
|}
==The Virtue Fund==
The following represents the Virtue Fund of the Synod:
{|
| ''Starting Value'' || 26 Thrones, 2 Rings ||
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 21 Thrones || Rewarding to Estella Lucati following [[#Judgement 8|Judgement 8]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Income'' || 12 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Income'' || 5 Rings || Donation by Lysimachus.
|-
| ''Income'' || 70 Thrones || The price paid in the Bourse Auction for the dose of True Liao.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 9 Thrones, 2 Crowns, 11 Rings || Rewarding to Lysimachus following [[#Judgement 28|Judgement 28]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 35 Thrones || Rewarding to Rafael Barossa di Tassato following [[#Judgement 10|Judgement 10]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 28 Thrones || Rewarding to Jules von Holberg following [[#Judgement 45|Judgement 45]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 2 Thrones, 6 Crowns, 8 Rings || Rewarding to Pontus Figures following [[#Judgement 95|Judgement 95]] being upheld (insufficient funds for full rewarding).
|-
| ''Income'' || 14 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Closing Value'' || 14 Rings ||
|}

==Doses of True Liao==

Six doses of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]] were disbursed this summit:
* One dose in connection to the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean University]] to Fintan Founders' Dance via [[#Judgement 121|Judgement 121]]
* One dose to Gisli by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to Anastasiya Volkov by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Esteban i Del Rio Blanco i Guerra by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Tom Appleseed by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose awarded by the Gatekeepers at a previous summit to Livia Cascade

385YE Autumn Equinox Synod judgements

2023-09-25T14:58:58Z

Cathtice: /* Judgement 170 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]] [[Category: 385YE Autumn]]
{{stub}}
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox 385YE Summit, the [[Imperial Synod]] raised 202 [[judgement|judgements]].
==Change of Doctrine==
The following [[change of doctrine]] was proposed during the Autumn Equinox.
===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Clarice Novarion
* '''Judgement:''' To remove the Doctrine of Human Destiny and replace it with
<big>'''The Doctrine of Enlightenment'''</big>
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;">
<big>''Virtue lies in choice and action. Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of the soul, spirit, and species, guiding and inspiring both orcs and humans to their highest destiny. Through the practice of Virtue, orcs and humans develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings .''</big></div></div>
The virtuous inspire others to greatness; they do not demean them. Let us celebrate the spiritual power of Virtue without degrading our fellow Pilgrims. Let us inspire orcs and humans as equals in the Way with a true expression of Pride and Ambition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (3013 - 159)
* '''Notes:''' This historic judgement both rescinds the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Human_Destiny|Doctrine of Human Destiny]] and creates a new Doctrine of Enlightenment. The full implications of this significant change to [[the Doctrines of the Faith]] will be felt over the coming months.
==Statement of Principle==
{{stub}}
===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Adón i Martán i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' We have the opportunity to rescue slaves rebelling in the city of Marlien in Maracoss, Asavea. We call on corsairs to carry these escapees to safety in the Empire once they reach the Calatropos coast.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (160-10)
* '''Notes:''' This statement realates to events in the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. It urges Freeborn [[corsair|corsairs]] to come to help evacuate freed slaves from the satrapy of Maracoss - the same satrapy from which both the Free Folk and the Marracossan exiles of Trajadoz hail. It has created an [[opportunity]] for corsairs to [[85YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#The_Calatropos_Coast_Evacuation|take part]] in the evacuation if they wish.
==Mandate==
===Judgement 11===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Aurum of the Nightingale Temple
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous build up their fellows, they do not tear them down. Blue flowers bloom in Spiral, and if we are to hold true to the promise of this Empire we cannot laud one while cutting down another. Should the Empire shed Urizeni blood in this matter, it will prove they value thieves and slavers over virtuous citizens. It will prove they are unworthy of the oldest nation. We send Aurum of the Nightingale Temple with 25 doses of liao to encourage all Urizeni to stand in defiance of an Empire that treats our lives as an inconvenience, should they dare to enact violence against our people. Loyalty demands, and we cannot condemn the people of Spiral for having answered.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (267-75)
* '''Enacted:''' If the Empire sends an army to suppress the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|Urizeni rebels]] in Spiral at any point before the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE, the rebellion will spread to the rest of Urizen. Spires will take up arms and declare their support for the rebellion, and opposition to the Empire. As detailed in the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|A question of loyalty]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous inspire others to greatness. We send Neala Blackhawk with 75 doses of liao to urge priest to engage with the Great Forest Orcs to learn their ways to discover if we might bring them to the Way.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (468-63)
* '''Enacted:''' Sends Pride assembly priests to visit with the [[Great Forest Orcs]] and learn about their religion. As detailed in the [[Tooth_by_tooth#Pride_and_Prejudice|Tooth by tooth]] Wind of Fortune.
===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Callista
* '''Judgement:''' The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. We send Callista of the Dark Shard with 25 doses of liao to encourage the remaining Urizeni living in Spiral to take up arms and defend their homes. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but by unity of both.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (30-379)
* '''Notes:''' Had it been enacted, this mandate would have spread the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|Urizeni rebellion]] across the whole of Spiral. As detailed in the [[A question of loyalty]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 40===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Herminius of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' Failure is the death of greatness, We send Herminius of the House of the Wanderer with 75 doses of liao to encourage sword scholars throughout Urizen to separate the woman from the teachings and no longer venerate the actions of Sulemaine. Let us find new questions to ask.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (284-10)
* '''Enacted:''' This mandate [[A_wisdom_of_questions#A_Clean_Cut|sunders the sword scholars]], shattering the [[Arbiter_of_the_Four_Winds#Temple_of_the_Four_Winds|Temple of the Four Winds]]. It also damages the moral authority of the Urizen assembly, in light of their previous [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_100|endorsement of Sulemaine]], meaning every Urizen [[congregation]] receives 2 fewer votes and 1 fewer liao. As detailed in the [[A wisdom of questions|A wisdom of questions]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 57===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Enis RootBloom
* '''Judgement:''' For too long the peoples of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle whilst those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send Enis Rootbloom with 50 doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (355-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Any Navarr army in [[the Barrens]] can support the Spears of the Pines and help them conquer the [[The_Barrens#Heart_of_Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]], provided the [[general]] of the army takes an attacking order explicitly targetting the Heart of Peytaht and mention they are supporting the Great Forest Orcs. If this happens the Great Forest Orcs will claim the region and it will not require concedence by the Senate. It will also put to rest any concerns the Great Forest Orcs have expressed around the Navarr reticence to fight in the Barrens. As detailed in the [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] wind of fortune. See also [[#Judgement_149|Judgement 149]].

===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Maria i Espiri i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' The National Assembly have already spoken, the Virtuous inspire others. We raised the burial mound to honour the Courage of the Jotun, and now they wish to raise a monument to the Virtue and honour of the Freeborn who defeated them - a permanent reminder of the strength of the Freeborn. We send Maria i Espiri i Guerra with ten thrones to urge the families of Kahraman to ensure the Jotun are escorted only to the burial mound to raise the monument, and then safely returned to their own lands.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (175-0)
* '''Enacted:''' This mandate sees the visiting ghodi protected by an honour guard of Freeborn which will further demonstrate the worth of the Brass Coast to the Jotun. The [[Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills]] will not be able to take advantage of the opportunity to capture the ghodi and mithril. As detailed in the [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] wind of fortune

===Judgement 69===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Exarch Luke of the Navigators of Virtue
* '''Judgement:''' Let every word you speak carry meaning. We send Exarch Luke of the Navigators of Virtue with 25 doses of liao to persuade the soldiers of the Valiant Pegasus to seek out orc septs oppressed by the Druj. Together we will find the right question.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (437-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The Valiant Pegasus will strive to minimise casualties when fighting in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and open channels of communication with the septs while fighting there. As detailed in the [[The_cities_and_the_city#Leen_:_A_Road_to_Liberation|The cities and the city]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 73===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Dindrane
* '''Judgement:''' Test what you learn; only fools accept hearsay as truth. We send Ser Dindrane with 50 doses of liao to urge the faithful to visit Laroc to share in the lessons imparted there. Nothing is more virtuous than success.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (74-192)

===Judgement 113===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Eldrid Vestardottir
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Eldrid Vestardottir with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our virtue echo through history for a thousand years.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (284-0)
* '''Not Enacted.''' No liao provided.
===Judgement 134===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Fintan Founders-Dance with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our virtue echo through history for a thousand years..
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (276-26) the Greater Majority threshold for this judgement was 276.
*'''Enacted.''' Navarr will find what [[white granite]] and funds they can spare and donate them to support the construction of a [[Blood will thicken|sacred city]] in [[Bastion]]. Every Navarr territory that is affected by this mandate will donate 12 wains of white granite and 24 crowns to support the commission each season for the next year. For the same period if it impossible to use a mandate to urge the Navarr to support another commission or similar project that needed help. Any mandate in the Imperial Synod that urged Navarr to provide financial support to a different commission or cause will fail to affect the nation. Likewise any statement of principle in their national assembly that asks the nation for their support in this way will fail to produce a mandate. As detailed in the [[Blood_will_thicken#No_Price_Is_Too_High|Blood will thicken]] Wind of Fortune.
===Judgement 149===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Veikko Bondforger
* '''Judgement:''' No priest can tell you what you are loyal to, but we can guide you on that path. Under the Eyes of Loyalty we send Veikko Bondforger to support the following mandate: For too long the people of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle while those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send our priest with 50 doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (279-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The [[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] will support [[#Judgement 57|Judgement 57]].

===Judgement 170===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orcs
* '''Raised By:''' Bleakshield Zorra
* '''Judgement:''' If we are to be liberators not conquerors, then our pride must be conveyed by actions not by words alone. We send Skywise Rykana with 75 Thrones to provide food and other vital supplies to the Rahvin in Bitter Strand. All that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (78-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Imperial Orcs priests gather food and other vital supplies, and deliver them to the Rahvin. Their largesse will improve the sept's attitude, causing the Rahvin to become more well disposed to the Imperial Orcs, prepared to speak with them directly and securing their ability to negotiate with the orcs on behalf of the Empire. As detailed in the [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Rahvin|Not to conquer]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 199===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Mel Bleak
* '''Judgement:''' Those orcs who once were thralls of the Jotun are Marchers. They've been patient, and we won't keep them waiting while the rest of the Empire argues about what we know to be true. We send Sister Meredith with the egregore Jack to welcome them into our nation, and we will look to the paperwork later.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (264-0)
* '''Enacted:''' With this risky mandate, the Marcher assembly makes it clear to their own people, and to the Empire, that the [[Mournwold Orcs]] should be Marchers. As detailed in the [[When_Spring_comes#The_Field_.28Mournwold_Orcs.29|When Spring comes]] Wind of Fortune

==Special Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when bringing judgements before the Imperial Synod during the Autumn Equinox.
<table class='wikitable mw-collapsed mw-collapsible sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Assembly</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Consideration</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Link</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Duration</td></tr>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that prioritise the greater good over personal loyalties are less effective.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that try to compel Loyalty will fail.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Revocations and Excommunications for disloyalty to the nation or Empire would risk causing dissent.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Urizen or Varushka. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in one of the two nations, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|Urizen Link]], [[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Varushka Link]].</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in any National Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can pass a statement of principle to call on their nation to support the Imperial Orcs, the Marches, or Wintermark.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Peerless Kinship]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Urizen</td><td> The Urizen National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>League</td><td> The League National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Varushka</td><td> The Varushkan National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
</table>
==Alternative Mandates==
Prior to the summit, the following [[Mandate#Alternative Mandates|alternative mandates]] were proposed by members of the Synod.

{|
| '''Member''' || '''Link to mandate''' || '''Notes'''
|-
| Aurum of the Nightingale Temple || [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|A question of loyalty]] ||
|-
| Herminius of the House of the Wanderer || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Urizen Assembly
|-
| Maximillian Ankarien || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Urizen Assembly
|-
| Brynn Tendfallen || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Nathair Autumngale || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Enis RootBloom || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Corey Wayfarer || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Jared of the Suns of Couros || [[Restraint#The_Black_Feast|Restraint]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Highborn Assembly
|-
| Maria i Espiri i Guerra || [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] ||
|-
| Ahraz i Guerra || [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] ||
|}
==The Virtue Fund==
The following represents the Virtue Fund of the Synod:
{|
| ''Starting Value'' || 26 Thrones, 2 Rings ||
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 21 Thrones || Rewarding to Estella Lucati following [[#Judgement 8|Judgement 8]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Income'' || 12 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Income'' || 5 Rings || Donation by Lysimachus.
|-
| ''Income'' || 70 Thrones || The price paid in the Bourse Auction for the dose of True Liao.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 9 Thrones, 2 Crowns, 11 Rings || Rewarding to Lysimachus following [[#Judgement 28|Judgement 28]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 35 Thrones || Rewarding to Rafael Barossa di Tassato following [[#Judgement 10|Judgement 10]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 28 Thrones || Rewarding to Jules von Holberg following [[#Judgement 45|Judgement 45]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 2 Thrones, 6 Crowns, 8 Rings || Rewarding to Pontus Figures following [[#Judgement 95|Judgement 95]] being upheld (insufficient funds for full rewarding).
|-
| ''Income'' || 14 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Closing Value'' || 14 Rings ||
|}

==Doses of True Liao==

Six doses of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]] were disbursed this summit:
* One dose in connection to the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean University]] to Fintan Founders' Dance via [[#Judgement X|Judgement X]]
* One dose to Gisli by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to Anastasiya Volkov by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Esteban i Del Rio Blanco i Guerra by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Tom Appleseed by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose awarded by the Gatekeepers at a previous summit to Livia Cascade

385YE Autumn Equinox Synod judgements

2023-09-25T14:58:10Z

Cathtice: /* Judgement 149 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]] [[Category: 385YE Autumn]]
{{stub}}
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox 385YE Summit, the [[Imperial Synod]] raised 202 [[judgement|judgements]].
==Change of Doctrine==
The following [[change of doctrine]] was proposed during the Autumn Equinox.
===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Clarice Novarion
* '''Judgement:''' To remove the Doctrine of Human Destiny and replace it with
<big>'''The Doctrine of Enlightenment'''</big>
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;">
<big>''Virtue lies in choice and action. Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of the soul, spirit, and species, guiding and inspiring both orcs and humans to their highest destiny. Through the practice of Virtue, orcs and humans develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings .''</big></div></div>
The virtuous inspire others to greatness; they do not demean them. Let us celebrate the spiritual power of Virtue without degrading our fellow Pilgrims. Let us inspire orcs and humans as equals in the Way with a true expression of Pride and Ambition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (3013 - 159)
* '''Notes:''' This historic judgement both rescinds the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Human_Destiny|Doctrine of Human Destiny]] and creates a new Doctrine of Enlightenment. The full implications of this significant change to [[the Doctrines of the Faith]] will be felt over the coming months.
==Statement of Principle==
{{stub}}
===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Adón i Martán i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' We have the opportunity to rescue slaves rebelling in the city of Marlien in Maracoss, Asavea. We call on corsairs to carry these escapees to safety in the Empire once they reach the Calatropos coast.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (160-10)
* '''Notes:''' This statement realates to events in the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. It urges Freeborn [[corsair|corsairs]] to come to help evacuate freed slaves from the satrapy of Maracoss - the same satrapy from which both the Free Folk and the Marracossan exiles of Trajadoz hail. It has created an [[opportunity]] for corsairs to [[85YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#The_Calatropos_Coast_Evacuation|take part]] in the evacuation if they wish.
==Mandate==
===Judgement 11===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Aurum of the Nightingale Temple
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous build up their fellows, they do not tear them down. Blue flowers bloom in Spiral, and if we are to hold true to the promise of this Empire we cannot laud one while cutting down another. Should the Empire shed Urizeni blood in this matter, it will prove they value thieves and slavers over virtuous citizens. It will prove they are unworthy of the oldest nation. We send Aurum of the Nightingale Temple with 25 doses of liao to encourage all Urizeni to stand in defiance of an Empire that treats our lives as an inconvenience, should they dare to enact violence against our people. Loyalty demands, and we cannot condemn the people of Spiral for having answered.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (267-75)
* '''Enacted:''' If the Empire sends an army to suppress the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|Urizeni rebels]] in Spiral at any point before the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE, the rebellion will spread to the rest of Urizen. Spires will take up arms and declare their support for the rebellion, and opposition to the Empire. As detailed in the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|A question of loyalty]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous inspire others to greatness. We send Neala Blackhawk with 75 doses of liao to urge priest to engage with the Great Forest Orcs to learn their ways to discover if we might bring them to the Way.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (468-63)
* '''Enacted:''' Sends Pride assembly priests to visit with the [[Great Forest Orcs]] and learn about their religion. As detailed in the [[Tooth_by_tooth#Pride_and_Prejudice|Tooth by tooth]] Wind of Fortune.
===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Callista
* '''Judgement:''' The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. We send Callista of the Dark Shard with 25 doses of liao to encourage the remaining Urizeni living in Spiral to take up arms and defend their homes. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but by unity of both.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (30-379)
* '''Notes:''' Had it been enacted, this mandate would have spread the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|Urizeni rebellion]] across the whole of Spiral. As detailed in the [[A question of loyalty]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 40===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Herminius of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' Failure is the death of greatness, We send Herminius of the House of the Wanderer with 75 doses of liao to encourage sword scholars throughout Urizen to separate the woman from the teachings and no longer venerate the actions of Sulemaine. Let us find new questions to ask.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (284-10)
* '''Enacted:''' This mandate [[A_wisdom_of_questions#A_Clean_Cut|sunders the sword scholars]], shattering the [[Arbiter_of_the_Four_Winds#Temple_of_the_Four_Winds|Temple of the Four Winds]]. It also damages the moral authority of the Urizen assembly, in light of their previous [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_100|endorsement of Sulemaine]], meaning every Urizen [[congregation]] receives 2 fewer votes and 1 fewer liao. As detailed in the [[A wisdom of questions|A wisdom of questions]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 57===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Enis RootBloom
* '''Judgement:''' For too long the peoples of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle whilst those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send Enis Rootbloom with 50 doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (355-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Any Navarr army in [[the Barrens]] can support the Spears of the Pines and help them conquer the [[The_Barrens#Heart_of_Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]], provided the [[general]] of the army takes an attacking order explicitly targetting the Heart of Peytaht and mention they are supporting the Great Forest Orcs. If this happens the Great Forest Orcs will claim the region and it will not require concedence by the Senate. It will also put to rest any concerns the Great Forest Orcs have expressed around the Navarr reticence to fight in the Barrens. As detailed in the [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] wind of fortune. See also [[#Judgement_149|Judgement 149]].

===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Maria i Espiri i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' The National Assembly have already spoken, the Virtuous inspire others. We raised the burial mound to honour the Courage of the Jotun, and now they wish to raise a monument to the Virtue and honour of the Freeborn who defeated them - a permanent reminder of the strength of the Freeborn. We send Maria i Espiri i Guerra with ten thrones to urge the families of Kahraman to ensure the Jotun are escorted only to the burial mound to raise the monument, and then safely returned to their own lands.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (175-0)
* '''Enacted:''' This mandate sees the visiting ghodi protected by an honour guard of Freeborn which will further demonstrate the worth of the Brass Coast to the Jotun. The [[Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills]] will not be able to take advantage of the opportunity to capture the ghodi and mithril. As detailed in the [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] wind of fortune

===Judgement 69===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Exarch Luke of the Navigators of Virtue
* '''Judgement:''' Let every word you speak carry meaning. We send Exarch Luke of the Navigators of Virtue with 25 doses of liao to persuade the soldiers of the Valiant Pegasus to seek out orc septs oppressed by the Druj. Together we will find the right question.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (437-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The Valiant Pegasus will strive to minimise casualties when fighting in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and open channels of communication with the septs while fighting there. As detailed in the [[The_cities_and_the_city#Leen_:_A_Road_to_Liberation|The cities and the city]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 73===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Dindrane
* '''Judgement:''' Test what you learn; only fools accept hearsay as truth. We send Ser Dindrane with 50 doses of liao to urge the faithful to visit Laroc to share in the lessons imparted there. Nothing is more virtuous than success.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (74-192)

===Judgement 113===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Eldrid Vestardottir
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Eldrid Vestardottir with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our virtue echo through history for a thousand years.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (284-0)
* '''Not Enacted.''' No liao provided.
===Judgement 134===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Fintan Founders-Dance with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our virtue echo through history for a thousand years..
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (276-26) the Greater Majority threshold for this judgement was 276.
*'''Enacted.''' Navarr will find what [[white granite]] and funds they can spare and donate them to support the construction of a [[Blood will thicken|sacred city]] in [[Bastion]]. Every Navarr territory that is affected by this mandate will donate 12 wains of white granite and 24 crowns to support the commission each season for the next year. For the same period if it impossible to use a mandate to urge the Navarr to support another commission or similar project that needed help. Any mandate in the Imperial Synod that urged Navarr to provide financial support to a different commission or cause will fail to affect the nation. Likewise any statement of principle in their national assembly that asks the nation for their support in this way will fail to produce a mandate. As detailed in the [[Blood_will_thicken#No_Price_Is_Too_High|Blood will thicken]] Wind of Fortune.
===Judgement 149===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Veikko Bondforger
* '''Judgement:''' No priest can tell you what you are loyal to, but we can guide you on that path. Under the Eyes of Loyalty we send Veikko Bondforger to support the following mandate: For too long the people of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle while those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send our priest with 50 doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (279-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The [[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] will support [[#Judgement 57|Judgement 57]].

===Judgement 170===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orcs
* '''Raised By:''' Bleakshield Zorra
* '''Judgement:''' If we are to be liberators not conquerors, then our pride must be conveyed by actions not by words alone. We send Skywise Rykana with 75 Thrones to provide food and other vital supplies to the Rahvin in Bitter Strand. All that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it..
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (78-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Imperial Orcs priests gather food and other vital supplies, and deliver them to the Rahvin. Their largesse will improve the sept's attitude, causing the Rahvin to become more well disposed to the Imperial Orcs, prepared to speak with them directly and securing their ability to negotiate with the orcs on behalf of the Empire. As detailed in the [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Rahvin|Not to conquer]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 199===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Mel Bleak
* '''Judgement:''' Those orcs who once were thralls of the Jotun are Marchers. They've been patient, and we won't keep them waiting while the rest of the Empire argues about what we know to be true. We send Sister Meredith with the egregore Jack to welcome them into our nation, and we will look to the paperwork later.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (264-0)
* '''Enacted:''' With this risky mandate, the Marcher assembly makes it clear to their own people, and to the Empire, that the [[Mournwold Orcs]] should be Marchers. As detailed in the [[When_Spring_comes#The_Field_.28Mournwold_Orcs.29|When Spring comes]] Wind of Fortune

==Special Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when bringing judgements before the Imperial Synod during the Autumn Equinox.
<table class='wikitable mw-collapsed mw-collapsible sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Assembly</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Consideration</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Link</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Duration</td></tr>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that prioritise the greater good over personal loyalties are less effective.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that try to compel Loyalty will fail.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Revocations and Excommunications for disloyalty to the nation or Empire would risk causing dissent.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Urizen or Varushka. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in one of the two nations, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|Urizen Link]], [[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Varushka Link]].</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in any National Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can pass a statement of principle to call on their nation to support the Imperial Orcs, the Marches, or Wintermark.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Peerless Kinship]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Urizen</td><td> The Urizen National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>League</td><td> The League National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Varushka</td><td> The Varushkan National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
</table>
==Alternative Mandates==
Prior to the summit, the following [[Mandate#Alternative Mandates|alternative mandates]] were proposed by members of the Synod.

{|
| '''Member''' || '''Link to mandate''' || '''Notes'''
|-
| Aurum of the Nightingale Temple || [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|A question of loyalty]] ||
|-
| Herminius of the House of the Wanderer || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Urizen Assembly
|-
| Maximillian Ankarien || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Urizen Assembly
|-
| Brynn Tendfallen || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Nathair Autumngale || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Enis RootBloom || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Corey Wayfarer || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Jared of the Suns of Couros || [[Restraint#The_Black_Feast|Restraint]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Highborn Assembly
|-
| Maria i Espiri i Guerra || [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] ||
|-
| Ahraz i Guerra || [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] ||
|}
==The Virtue Fund==
The following represents the Virtue Fund of the Synod:
{|
| ''Starting Value'' || 26 Thrones, 2 Rings ||
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 21 Thrones || Rewarding to Estella Lucati following [[#Judgement 8|Judgement 8]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Income'' || 12 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Income'' || 5 Rings || Donation by Lysimachus.
|-
| ''Income'' || 70 Thrones || The price paid in the Bourse Auction for the dose of True Liao.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 9 Thrones, 2 Crowns, 11 Rings || Rewarding to Lysimachus following [[#Judgement 28|Judgement 28]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 35 Thrones || Rewarding to Rafael Barossa di Tassato following [[#Judgement 10|Judgement 10]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 28 Thrones || Rewarding to Jules von Holberg following [[#Judgement 45|Judgement 45]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 2 Thrones, 6 Crowns, 8 Rings || Rewarding to Pontus Figures following [[#Judgement 95|Judgement 95]] being upheld (insufficient funds for full rewarding).
|-
| ''Income'' || 14 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Closing Value'' || 14 Rings ||
|}

==Doses of True Liao==

Six doses of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]] were disbursed this summit:
* One dose in connection to the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean University]] to Fintan Founders' Dance via [[#Judgement X|Judgement X]]
* One dose to Gisli by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to Anastasiya Volkov by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Esteban i Del Rio Blanco i Guerra by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Tom Appleseed by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose awarded by the Gatekeepers at a previous summit to Livia Cascade

385YE Autumn Equinox Synod judgements

2023-09-25T14:56:00Z

Cathtice: /* Judgement 63 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]] [[Category: 385YE Autumn]]
{{stub}}
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox 385YE Summit, the [[Imperial Synod]] raised 202 [[judgement|judgements]].
==Change of Doctrine==
The following [[change of doctrine]] was proposed during the Autumn Equinox.
===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Clarice Novarion
* '''Judgement:''' To remove the Doctrine of Human Destiny and replace it with
<big>'''The Doctrine of Enlightenment'''</big>
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;">
<big>''Virtue lies in choice and action. Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of the soul, spirit, and species, guiding and inspiring both orcs and humans to their highest destiny. Through the practice of Virtue, orcs and humans develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings .''</big></div></div>
The virtuous inspire others to greatness; they do not demean them. Let us celebrate the spiritual power of Virtue without degrading our fellow Pilgrims. Let us inspire orcs and humans as equals in the Way with a true expression of Pride and Ambition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (3013 - 159)
* '''Notes:''' This historic judgement both rescinds the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Human_Destiny|Doctrine of Human Destiny]] and creates a new Doctrine of Enlightenment. The full implications of this significant change to [[the Doctrines of the Faith]] will be felt over the coming months.
==Statement of Principle==
{{stub}}
===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Adón i Martán i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' We have the opportunity to rescue slaves rebelling in the city of Marlien in Maracoss, Asavea. We call on corsairs to carry these escapees to safety in the Empire once they reach the Calatropos coast.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (160-10)
* '''Notes:''' This statement realates to events in the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. It urges Freeborn [[corsair|corsairs]] to come to help evacuate freed slaves from the satrapy of Maracoss - the same satrapy from which both the Free Folk and the Marracossan exiles of Trajadoz hail. It has created an [[opportunity]] for corsairs to [[85YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#The_Calatropos_Coast_Evacuation|take part]] in the evacuation if they wish.
==Mandate==
===Judgement 11===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Aurum of the Nightingale Temple
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous build up their fellows, they do not tear them down. Blue flowers bloom in Spiral, and if we are to hold true to the promise of this Empire we cannot laud one while cutting down another. Should the Empire shed Urizeni blood in this matter, it will prove they value thieves and slavers over virtuous citizens. It will prove they are unworthy of the oldest nation. We send Aurum of the Nightingale Temple with 25 doses of liao to encourage all Urizeni to stand in defiance of an Empire that treats our lives as an inconvenience, should they dare to enact violence against our people. Loyalty demands, and we cannot condemn the people of Spiral for having answered.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (267-75)
* '''Enacted:''' If the Empire sends an army to suppress the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|Urizeni rebels]] in Spiral at any point before the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE, the rebellion will spread to the rest of Urizen. Spires will take up arms and declare their support for the rebellion, and opposition to the Empire. As detailed in the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|A question of loyalty]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous inspire others to greatness. We send Neala Blackhawk with 75 doses of liao to urge priest to engage with the Great Forest Orcs to learn their ways to discover if we might bring them to the Way.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (468-63)
* '''Enacted:''' Sends Pride assembly priests to visit with the [[Great Forest Orcs]] and learn about their religion. As detailed in the [[Tooth_by_tooth#Pride_and_Prejudice|Tooth by tooth]] Wind of Fortune.
===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Callista
* '''Judgement:''' The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. We send Callista of the Dark Shard with 25 doses of liao to encourage the remaining Urizeni living in Spiral to take up arms and defend their homes. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but by unity of both.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (30-379)
* '''Notes:''' Had it been enacted, this mandate would have spread the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|Urizeni rebellion]] across the whole of Spiral. As detailed in the [[A question of loyalty]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 40===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Herminius of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' Failure is the death of greatness, We send Herminius of the House of the Wanderer with 75 doses of liao to encourage sword scholars throughout Urizen to separate the woman from the teachings and no longer venerate the actions of Sulemaine. Let us find new questions to ask.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (284-10)
* '''Enacted:''' This mandate [[A_wisdom_of_questions#A_Clean_Cut|sunders the sword scholars]], shattering the [[Arbiter_of_the_Four_Winds#Temple_of_the_Four_Winds|Temple of the Four Winds]]. It also damages the moral authority of the Urizen assembly, in light of their previous [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_100|endorsement of Sulemaine]], meaning every Urizen [[congregation]] receives 2 fewer votes and 1 fewer liao. As detailed in the [[A wisdom of questions|A wisdom of questions]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 57===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Enis RootBloom
* '''Judgement:''' For too long the peoples of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle whilst those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send Enis Rootbloom with 50 doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (355-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Any Navarr army in [[the Barrens]] can support the Spears of the Pines and help them conquer the [[The_Barrens#Heart_of_Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]], provided the [[general]] of the army takes an attacking order explicitly targetting the Heart of Peytaht and mention they are supporting the Great Forest Orcs. If this happens the Great Forest Orcs will claim the region and it will not require concedence by the Senate. It will also put to rest any concerns the Great Forest Orcs have expressed around the Navarr reticence to fight in the Barrens. As detailed in the [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] wind of fortune. See also [[#Judgement_149|Judgement 149]].

===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Maria i Espiri i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' The National Assembly have already spoken, the Virtuous inspire others. We raised the burial mound to honour the Courage of the Jotun, and now they wish to raise a monument to the Virtue and honour of the Freeborn who defeated them - a permanent reminder of the strength of the Freeborn. We send Maria i Espiri i Guerra with ten thrones to urge the families of Kahraman to ensure the Jotun are escorted only to the burial mound to raise the monument, and then safely returned to their own lands.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (175-0)
* '''Enacted:''' This mandate sees the visiting ghodi protected by an honour guard of Freeborn which will further demonstrate the worth of the Brass Coast to the Jotun. The [[Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills]] will not be able to take advantage of the opportunity to capture the ghodi and mithril. As detailed in the [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] wind of fortune

===Judgement 69===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Exarch Luke of the Navigators of Virtue
* '''Judgement:''' Let every word you speak carry meaning. We send Exarch Luke of the Navigators of Virtue with 25 doses of liao to persuade the soldiers of the Valiant Pegasus to seek out orc septs oppressed by the Druj. Together we will find the right question.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (437-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The Valiant Pegasus will strive to minimise casualties when fighting in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and open channels of communication with the septs while fighting there. As detailed in the [[The_cities_and_the_city#Leen_:_A_Road_to_Liberation|The cities and the city]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 73===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Dindrane
* '''Judgement:''' Test what you learn; only fools accept hearsay as truth. We send Ser Dindrane with 50 doses of liao to urge the faithful to visit Laroc to share in the lessons imparted there. Nothing is more virtuous than success.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (74-192)

===Judgement 113===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Eldrid Vestardottir
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Eldrid Vestardottir with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our virtue echo through history for a thousand years.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (284-0)
* '''Not Enacted.''' No liao provided.
===Judgement 134===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Fintan Founders-Dance with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our virtue echo through history for a thousand years..
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (276-26) the Greater Majority threshold for this judgement was 276.
*'''Enacted.''' Navarr will find what [[white granite]] and funds they can spare and donate them to support the construction of a [[Blood will thicken|sacred city]] in [[Bastion]]. Every Navarr territory that is affected by this mandate will donate 12 wains of white granite and 24 crowns to support the commission each season for the next year. For the same period if it impossible to use a mandate to urge the Navarr to support another commission or similar project that needed help. Any mandate in the Imperial Synod that urged Navarr to provide financial support to a different commission or cause will fail to affect the nation. Likewise any statement of principle in their national assembly that asks the nation for their support in this way will fail to produce a mandate. As detailed in the [[Blood_will_thicken#No_Price_Is_Too_High|Blood will thicken]] Wind of Fortune.
===Judgement 149===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Veikko Bondforger
* '''Judgement:''' No priest can tell you what you are loyal to, but we can guide you on that path. Under the Eyes of Loyalty we send Veikko Bondforger to support the following mandate: For too long the people of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle while those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send our priest with 50doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (279-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The [[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] will support [[#Judgement 57|Judgement 57]].
===Judgement 170===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orcs
* '''Raised By:''' Bleakshield Zorra
* '''Judgement:''' If we are to be liberators not conquerors, then our pride must be conveyed by actions not by words alone. We send Skywise Rykana with 75 Thrones to provide food and other vital supplies to the Rahvin in Bitter Strand. All that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it..
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (78-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Imperial Orcs priests gather food and other vital supplies, and deliver them to the Rahvin. Their largesse will improve the sept's attitude, causing the Rahvin to become more well disposed to the Imperial Orcs, prepared to speak with them directly and securing their ability to negotiate with the orcs on behalf of the Empire. As detailed in the [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Rahvin|Not to conquer]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 199===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Mel Bleak
* '''Judgement:''' Those orcs who once were thralls of the Jotun are Marchers. They've been patient, and we won't keep them waiting while the rest of the Empire argues about what we know to be true. We send Sister Meredith with the egregore Jack to welcome them into our nation, and we will look to the paperwork later.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (264-0)
* '''Enacted:''' With this risky mandate, the Marcher assembly makes it clear to their own people, and to the Empire, that the [[Mournwold Orcs]] should be Marchers. As detailed in the [[When_Spring_comes#The_Field_.28Mournwold_Orcs.29|When Spring comes]] Wind of Fortune

==Special Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when bringing judgements before the Imperial Synod during the Autumn Equinox.
<table class='wikitable mw-collapsed mw-collapsible sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Assembly</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Consideration</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Link</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Duration</td></tr>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that prioritise the greater good over personal loyalties are less effective.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that try to compel Loyalty will fail.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Revocations and Excommunications for disloyalty to the nation or Empire would risk causing dissent.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Urizen or Varushka. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in one of the two nations, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|Urizen Link]], [[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Varushka Link]].</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in any National Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can pass a statement of principle to call on their nation to support the Imperial Orcs, the Marches, or Wintermark.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Peerless Kinship]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Urizen</td><td> The Urizen National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>League</td><td> The League National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Varushka</td><td> The Varushkan National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
</table>
==Alternative Mandates==
Prior to the summit, the following [[Mandate#Alternative Mandates|alternative mandates]] were proposed by members of the Synod.

{|
| '''Member''' || '''Link to mandate''' || '''Notes'''
|-
| Aurum of the Nightingale Temple || [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|A question of loyalty]] ||
|-
| Herminius of the House of the Wanderer || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Urizen Assembly
|-
| Maximillian Ankarien || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Urizen Assembly
|-
| Brynn Tendfallen || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Nathair Autumngale || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Enis RootBloom || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Corey Wayfarer || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Jared of the Suns of Couros || [[Restraint#The_Black_Feast|Restraint]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Highborn Assembly
|-
| Maria i Espiri i Guerra || [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] ||
|-
| Ahraz i Guerra || [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] ||
|}
==The Virtue Fund==
The following represents the Virtue Fund of the Synod:
{|
| ''Starting Value'' || 26 Thrones, 2 Rings ||
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 21 Thrones || Rewarding to Estella Lucati following [[#Judgement 8|Judgement 8]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Income'' || 12 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Income'' || 5 Rings || Donation by Lysimachus.
|-
| ''Income'' || 70 Thrones || The price paid in the Bourse Auction for the dose of True Liao.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 9 Thrones, 2 Crowns, 11 Rings || Rewarding to Lysimachus following [[#Judgement 28|Judgement 28]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 35 Thrones || Rewarding to Rafael Barossa di Tassato following [[#Judgement 10|Judgement 10]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 28 Thrones || Rewarding to Jules von Holberg following [[#Judgement 45|Judgement 45]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 2 Thrones, 6 Crowns, 8 Rings || Rewarding to Pontus Figures following [[#Judgement 95|Judgement 95]] being upheld (insufficient funds for full rewarding).
|-
| ''Income'' || 14 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Closing Value'' || 14 Rings ||
|}

==Doses of True Liao==

Six doses of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]] were disbursed this summit:
* One dose in connection to the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean University]] to Fintan Founders' Dance via [[#Judgement X|Judgement X]]
* One dose to Gisli by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to Anastasiya Volkov by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Esteban i Del Rio Blanco i Guerra by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Tom Appleseed by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose awarded by the Gatekeepers at a previous summit to Livia Cascade

385YE Autumn Equinox Synod judgements

2023-09-25T14:55:27Z

Cathtice: /* Judgement 57 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]] [[Category: 385YE Autumn]]
{{stub}}
==Overview==
During the Autumn Equinox 385YE Summit, the [[Imperial Synod]] raised 202 [[judgement|judgements]].
==Change of Doctrine==
The following [[change of doctrine]] was proposed during the Autumn Equinox.
===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Clarice Novarion
* '''Judgement:''' To remove the Doctrine of Human Destiny and replace it with
<big>'''The Doctrine of Enlightenment'''</big>
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;">
<big>''Virtue lies in choice and action. Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of the soul, spirit, and species, guiding and inspiring both orcs and humans to their highest destiny. Through the practice of Virtue, orcs and humans develop the strength, knowledge and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings .''</big></div></div>
The virtuous inspire others to greatness; they do not demean them. Let us celebrate the spiritual power of Virtue without degrading our fellow Pilgrims. Let us inspire orcs and humans as equals in the Way with a true expression of Pride and Ambition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (3013 - 159)
* '''Notes:''' This historic judgement both rescinds the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Human_Destiny|Doctrine of Human Destiny]] and creates a new Doctrine of Enlightenment. The full implications of this significant change to [[the Doctrines of the Faith]] will be felt over the coming months.
==Statement of Principle==
{{stub}}
===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Adón i Martán i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' We have the opportunity to rescue slaves rebelling in the city of Marlien in Maracoss, Asavea. We call on corsairs to carry these escapees to safety in the Empire once they reach the Calatropos coast.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (160-10)
* '''Notes:''' This statement realates to events in the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. It urges Freeborn [[corsair|corsairs]] to come to help evacuate freed slaves from the satrapy of Maracoss - the same satrapy from which both the Free Folk and the Marracossan exiles of Trajadoz hail. It has created an [[opportunity]] for corsairs to [[85YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#The_Calatropos_Coast_Evacuation|take part]] in the evacuation if they wish.
==Mandate==
===Judgement 11===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Aurum of the Nightingale Temple
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous build up their fellows, they do not tear them down. Blue flowers bloom in Spiral, and if we are to hold true to the promise of this Empire we cannot laud one while cutting down another. Should the Empire shed Urizeni blood in this matter, it will prove they value thieves and slavers over virtuous citizens. It will prove they are unworthy of the oldest nation. We send Aurum of the Nightingale Temple with 25 doses of liao to encourage all Urizeni to stand in defiance of an Empire that treats our lives as an inconvenience, should they dare to enact violence against our people. Loyalty demands, and we cannot condemn the people of Spiral for having answered.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (267-75)
* '''Enacted:''' If the Empire sends an army to suppress the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|Urizeni rebels]] in Spiral at any point before the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE, the rebellion will spread to the rest of Urizen. Spires will take up arms and declare their support for the rebellion, and opposition to the Empire. As detailed in the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|A question of loyalty]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' The virtuous inspire others to greatness. We send Neala Blackhawk with 75 doses of liao to urge priest to engage with the Great Forest Orcs to learn their ways to discover if we might bring them to the Way.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (468-63)
* '''Enacted:''' Sends Pride assembly priests to visit with the [[Great Forest Orcs]] and learn about their religion. As detailed in the [[Tooth_by_tooth#Pride_and_Prejudice|Tooth by tooth]] Wind of Fortune.
===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Callista
* '''Judgement:''' The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. We send Callista of the Dark Shard with 25 doses of liao to encourage the remaining Urizeni living in Spiral to take up arms and defend their homes. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but by unity of both.
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (30-379)
* '''Notes:''' Had it been enacted, this mandate would have spread the [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|Urizeni rebellion]] across the whole of Spiral. As detailed in the [[A question of loyalty]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 40===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Herminius of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' Failure is the death of greatness, We send Herminius of the House of the Wanderer with 75 doses of liao to encourage sword scholars throughout Urizen to separate the woman from the teachings and no longer venerate the actions of Sulemaine. Let us find new questions to ask.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (284-10)
* '''Enacted:''' This mandate [[A_wisdom_of_questions#A_Clean_Cut|sunders the sword scholars]], shattering the [[Arbiter_of_the_Four_Winds#Temple_of_the_Four_Winds|Temple of the Four Winds]]. It also damages the moral authority of the Urizen assembly, in light of their previous [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_100|endorsement of Sulemaine]], meaning every Urizen [[congregation]] receives 2 fewer votes and 1 fewer liao. As detailed in the [[A wisdom of questions|A wisdom of questions]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 57===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Enis RootBloom
* '''Judgement:''' For too long the peoples of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle whilst those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send Enis Rootbloom with 50 doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (355-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Any Navarr army in [[the Barrens]] can support the Spears of the Pines and help them conquer the [[The_Barrens#Heart_of_Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]], provided the [[general]] of the army takes an attacking order explicitly targetting the Heart of Peytaht and mention they are supporting the Great Forest Orcs. If this happens the Great Forest Orcs will claim the region and it will not require concedence by the Senate. It will also put to rest any concerns the Great Forest Orcs have expressed around the Navarr reticence to fight in the Barrens. As detailed in the [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] wind of fortune. See also [[#Judgement_149|Judgement 149]].

===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Maria i Espiri i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' The National Assembly have already spoken, the Virtuous inspire others. We raised the burial mound to honour the Courage of the Jotun, and new they wish to raise a monument to the Virtue and honour of the Freeborn who defeated them - a permanent reminder of the strength of the Freeborn. We send Maria i Espiri i Guerra with ten thrones to urge the families of Kahraman to ensure the Jotun are escorted only to the burial mound to raise the monument, and then safely returned to their own lands.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (175-0)
* '''Enacted:''' This mandate sees the visiting ghodi protected by an honour guard of Freeborn which will further demonstrate the worth of the Brass Coast to the Jotun. The [[Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills]] will not be able to take advantage of the opportunity to capture the ghodi and mithril. As detailed in the [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] wind of fortune

===Judgement 69===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Exarch Luke of the Navigators of Virtue
* '''Judgement:''' Let every word you speak carry meaning. We send Exarch Luke of the Navigators of Virtue with 25 doses of liao to persuade the soldiers of the Valiant Pegasus to seek out orc septs oppressed by the Druj. Together we will find the right question.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (437-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The Valiant Pegasus will strive to minimise casualties when fighting in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and open channels of communication with the septs while fighting there. As detailed in the [[The_cities_and_the_city#Leen_:_A_Road_to_Liberation|The cities and the city]] wind of fortune.

===Judgement 73===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Dindrane
* '''Judgement:''' Test what you learn; only fools accept hearsay as truth. We send Ser Dindrane with 50 doses of liao to urge the faithful to visit Laroc to share in the lessons imparted there. Nothing is more virtuous than success.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (74-192)

===Judgement 113===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Eldrid Vestardottir
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Eldrid Vestardottir with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our virtue echo through history for a thousand years.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (284-0)
* '''Not Enacted.''' No liao provided.
===Judgement 134===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Fintan Founders-Dance with 50 doses of liao to urge every citizen to contribute what resources they can spare to support the creation of a new Holy City at Bastion. Let our virtue echo through history for a thousand years..
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (276-26) the Greater Majority threshold for this judgement was 276.
*'''Enacted.''' Navarr will find what [[white granite]] and funds they can spare and donate them to support the construction of a [[Blood will thicken|sacred city]] in [[Bastion]]. Every Navarr territory that is affected by this mandate will donate 12 wains of white granite and 24 crowns to support the commission each season for the next year. For the same period if it impossible to use a mandate to urge the Navarr to support another commission or similar project that needed help. Any mandate in the Imperial Synod that urged Navarr to provide financial support to a different commission or cause will fail to affect the nation. Likewise any statement of principle in their national assembly that asks the nation for their support in this way will fail to produce a mandate. As detailed in the [[Blood_will_thicken#No_Price_Is_Too_High|Blood will thicken]] Wind of Fortune.
===Judgement 149===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Veikko Bondforger
* '''Judgement:''' No priest can tell you what you are loyal to, but we can guide you on that path. Under the Eyes of Loyalty we send Veikko Bondforger to support the following mandate: For too long the people of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle while those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send our priest with 50doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (279-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The [[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] will support [[#Judgement 57|Judgement 57]].
===Judgement 170===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orcs
* '''Raised By:''' Bleakshield Zorra
* '''Judgement:''' If we are to be liberators not conquerors, then our pride must be conveyed by actions not by words alone. We send Skywise Rykana with 75 Thrones to provide food and other vital supplies to the Rahvin in Bitter Strand. All that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it..
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (78-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Imperial Orcs priests gather food and other vital supplies, and deliver them to the Rahvin. Their largesse will improve the sept's attitude, causing the Rahvin to become more well disposed to the Imperial Orcs, prepared to speak with them directly and securing their ability to negotiate with the orcs on behalf of the Empire. As detailed in the [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Rahvin|Not to conquer]] wind of fortune.
===Judgement 199===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Mel Bleak
* '''Judgement:''' Those orcs who once were thralls of the Jotun are Marchers. They've been patient, and we won't keep them waiting while the rest of the Empire argues about what we know to be true. We send Sister Meredith with the egregore Jack to welcome them into our nation, and we will look to the paperwork later.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld with a Greater Majority (264-0)
* '''Enacted:''' With this risky mandate, the Marcher assembly makes it clear to their own people, and to the Empire, that the [[Mournwold Orcs]] should be Marchers. As detailed in the [[When_Spring_comes#The_Field_.28Mournwold_Orcs.29|When Spring comes]] Wind of Fortune

==Special Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when bringing judgements before the Imperial Synod during the Autumn Equinox.
<table class='wikitable mw-collapsed mw-collapsible sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Assembly</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Consideration</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Link</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">Duration</td></tr>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that prioritise the greater good over personal loyalties are less effective.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that try to compel Loyalty will fail.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Revocations and Excommunications for disloyalty to the nation or Empire would risk causing dissent.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Urizen or Varushka. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in one of the two nations, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|Urizen Link]], [[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Varushka Link]].</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in any National Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Highguard</td><td> The Highborn National Assembly can pass a statement of principle to call on their nation to support the Imperial Orcs, the Marches, or Wintermark.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Peerless Kinship]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Urizen</td><td> The Urizen National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>League</td><td> The League National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
<tr><td>Varushka</td><td> The Varushkan National Assembly can submit alternate mandates to mandates presented in the Highborn Assembly.</td><td>[[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]]</td><td>Lasts until the the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE</td>
</table>
==Alternative Mandates==
Prior to the summit, the following [[Mandate#Alternative Mandates|alternative mandates]] were proposed by members of the Synod.

{|
| '''Member''' || '''Link to mandate''' || '''Notes'''
|-
| Aurum of the Nightingale Temple || [[A_question_of_loyalty#The_Rebels|A question of loyalty]] ||
|-
| Herminius of the House of the Wanderer || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Urizen Assembly
|-
| Maximillian Ankarien || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Urizen Assembly
|-
| Brynn Tendfallen || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Nathair Autumngale || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Enis RootBloom || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Corey Wayfarer || [[Not_to_conquer#Synod_Opportunities_:_Great_Forest_Orcs|Not to conquer]] ||
|-
| Jared of the Suns of Couros || [[Restraint#The_Black_Feast|Restraint]] || A use of [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] for the Highborn Assembly
|-
| Maria i Espiri i Guerra || [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] ||
|-
| Ahraz i Guerra || [[Between_two_mounds#An_Enduring_Flame|Between two mounds]] ||
|}
==The Virtue Fund==
The following represents the Virtue Fund of the Synod:
{|
| ''Starting Value'' || 26 Thrones, 2 Rings ||
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 21 Thrones || Rewarding to Estella Lucati following [[#Judgement 8|Judgement 8]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Income'' || 12 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Income'' || 5 Rings || Donation by Lysimachus.
|-
| ''Income'' || 70 Thrones || The price paid in the Bourse Auction for the dose of True Liao.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 9 Thrones, 2 Crowns, 11 Rings || Rewarding to Lysimachus following [[#Judgement 28|Judgement 28]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 35 Thrones || Rewarding to Rafael Barossa di Tassato following [[#Judgement 10|Judgement 10]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 28 Thrones || Rewarding to Jules von Holberg following [[#Judgement 45|Judgement 45]] being upheld.
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 2 Thrones, 6 Crowns, 8 Rings || Rewarding to Pontus Figures following [[#Judgement 95|Judgement 95]] being upheld (insufficient funds for full rewarding).
|-
| ''Income'' || 14 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements.
|-
| ''Closing Value'' || 14 Rings ||
|}

==Doses of True Liao==

Six doses of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]] were disbursed this summit:
* One dose in connection to the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean University]] to Fintan Founders' Dance via [[#Judgement X|Judgement X]]
* One dose to Gisli by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to Anastasiya Volkov by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Esteban i Del Rio Blanco i Guerra by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Tom Appleseed by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose awarded by the Gatekeepers at a previous summit to Livia Cascade

Various storms and saints

2023-09-06T16:10:11Z

Cathtice: /* Scales and Thrones */

<ic>Neora turned the antique bottle this way and that, marvelling at the intricacy of the copper dragon stopper. She resisted the urge to shake it, but only just.

"You know I'm sure Uncle said he only had one of these," she said without looking at her companion. The herald Voormith rolled her eyes.

"And you know what he's like about things like this," she said without looking at the young naga woman. Voormith was scanning the crowd, and looked a little unhappy. A little red-scaled creature waved at her with a broad, friendly smile on its saurian face, and her unhappiness deepened a notch. "You've been with us long enough to know he doesn't see it as lying so much as... saying things that could be true and probably are somewhere."

The last was delivered in a flawless imitation of the pompous tone her Uncle liked to use when he thought he could get away with it. It made her smile. She thought back to the last time she'd been "asked" - or more truthfully "sent" - to do something like this. Hopefully it would turn out better than it had last time.

"I remember you said when we were in Zenith last that Uncle might have a few that already had things in them. Did he empty one of them out then?"

"It doesn't work like that," said Voormith. A little tersely in Neora's opinion. She started to ask a follow-up question, but the herald was only half-listening to her.

"There's something up with this crowd," said Voormith thoughtfully. "It's not like last time. There's something about them. I mean, you've met one polite Urizen magician you've met most of them but... something's different. There's a bitterness to some of them that wasn't there last time we were here. A harsh sadness maybe. I'm not sure I like it."

She looked down at Neora speculatively.

"You're technically one of them, do you not feel it?"

Neora continued to examine the tiny "model" of the ruined forge in the cut-glass bottle. This sort of conversation always made her a little uneasy.

"I don't know these people," she said. "But I think it's probably just that they're getting impatient. I know I am. Should we get started?"

Voormith grunted, and Neora took that as assent. She held up the bottle, carefully positioning it so that the ruins appeared to be resting against the side of a hill near the immense, marvellous, magical Crucible of Fate. She held her breath to keep the hand holding the bottle as steady as possible. With the other began to apply gentle pressure to the serpentine stopper, gently easing it out of the thick glass neck.

A grey mist, shot through with motes of silver and gold, began to well up out of the ground, and then between one heartbeat and the next, the ruins were in place. Damakhan's Forge - battered and beaten by successive Grendel invasions - now rested against the hill a stone's throw from the Crucible of Fate.

"Well, that's that done then," said Neora to nobody in particular. Voormith wasn't really listening, just chuckling at the assorted magicians casting divination spells to try and work out how it was done.

"A magician never reveals their tricks," said the herald under her breath.

But Neora wasn't listening either. She was watching the Urizen as well, her scaled brow ceased with the merest suggestion of a frown, and she did not choose to share what she was thinking with her companion.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Enthroned.jpg|caption=The Conclave has dominion over the Empire's magic.|align=left|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
The Empire is a magical place. Between the magicians of the Conclave, and the [[eternal|creatures of the realms]] there is usually something happening and it's often quite loud. Here we have a roundup of various things happening, or having happened, that are connected by a tenuous thread of magic. They include information about rituals, offers from eternals, and at least one odd expedition into dark places.

==Fen and Fastness==
* '''Scholars of the Unfettered Mind have discovered which eternals empower two of the citadel-summoning rituals'''
* '''They are pulling together notes that they believe will reveal the assurances of not only these two rituals but several other rituals linked to eternals as well'''
The [[Unfettered Mind]] have been [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord_:_Study_Rituals|charged by the Imperial Conclave]] to investigate the ritual [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] to determine which [[eternal]] grants it its power, and ultimately "owns" the defences it conjures into being. They've been busy in the arcane libraries of the Lyceum and the Icy Crag, speaking to magicians all over the Empire, consulting private collections, and in one case taking a perilous trip into the depths of Lustri to consult with the spirit of an ancient tree (a herald or a ghost most likely). They have come back with an answer.

It's Sadogua. Sadogua grants power to the Dripping Echoes of the Fen.

Serendipitously, at the same time they were researching this ritual, they also found time to look into [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], and have uncovered the fact that it is none other than the [[Irra Harah|Prince with a Thousand Foes]] who offers their support to the [[Spring magic]], and from their realm that the defences spring. Which is a little more problematic perhaps as Irra Harah is regularly considered an [[Alignment#Enmity|enemy of the Empire]] depending on what it has done recently. It makes a certain amount of sense, as one scholar opines, that a ritual about hiding away would be tied to the eternal who urges people to run, hide, and surrender before they fight. It also could be a lot worse - the magic might have been provided by [[Yaw'nagrah]] after all.

The scholars involved in the investigation are still pulling all their notes together; they've not quite identified the specific assurances involved in the two rituals but the information they have should be enough to start negotiating for a permanent fortification in [[Ossium]] if that is what the Conclave wishes. The eternals could be asked directly, but the Unfettered Mind are confident they'll have tracked the assurances down by the Winter Solstice - and while they're at it they're investigating some quite promising avenues related to a number of other eternal rituals whose assurances have been lost, forgotten, stolen, or concealed.

==A Conjunction of the Wanderer==
* '''A peculiar conjunction of three stars is underway'''
* '''It ''appears'' significantly less disruptive than some recent conjunctions'''
Last season saw a [[Ruin|major and complex conjunction]] of multiple constellations. Both the [[Ruin#The_Greater_Conjunction|greater]] and [[Ruin#The_Lesser_Conjunction|Lesser]] conjunctions have now ended. [[The Wanderer]], however, remains bright in the sky, and some [[astronomancy|astronomancers]] have reported a peculiar resonance between it and two other constellations - [[the Great Wyrm]] and [[the Door]], both symbollic of change. They're a little nervous, but there doesn't seem to be any thing devastating or particularly ominous happening.
===Spirits of Stone===
* '''Some magicians casting rituals at the Imperial regio that target mines may experience a "curse" of some kind'''
However, magicians performing rituals that are designed to [[enchantment|enchant]] or [[curse]] [[Mine#Rituals|mines]] report odd sensations when they perform those rituals during twilight or at night. Some talk about a feeling of something "watching" them, in a way that makes them uneasy. These reports are much more common when the ritual is performed outside, under the open sky, or when a [[regio]] is involved. Something is going on, but nobody knows quite what. One [[the Marches|Marcher]] [[landskeeper]] from the [[Mournwold|Mourn]] is of the opinion that what they encountered while helping locate a new vein of ore in a [[green iron]] mine a few months ago was a [[Astronomancy#Tulpas|tulpa]]. One that made a spirited effort to persuade him to allow it to enter his body with offers of wealth and Prosperity. Needless to say, he declined. He does however issue a caution - if the effect ''is'' more pronounced at regio, it stands to reason that it will be even more pronounced at the [[Regio#Imperial Regio|Imperial regio]] at Anvil. So magicians hoping to take advantage of [[Shining_like_fire#Shimmering_Echoes|the lingering effects of the grand Day enchantment]] for example should be especially on guard.

'''Participation:''' During the Autumn Equinox, any coven or magician performing a ritual that targets a [[mine]] at the [[Regio#Imperial Regio|Imperial regio]], whose performance explicitly invokes the power of [[the Wanderer]] in some way, can ask the referee for a [[curse]]. This represents... whatever the heck is going on here. There's no further details about what this involves, and there's no requirement for an entire coven to take the curse - individual contributors can ask for it without affecting their associates.
===Twilight Recollections===
* '''The peculiar option to write memories down with iridescent gloaming at the Imperial regio while casting ''Cast Off the Chain of Memory'' remains'''
Although the [[Ruin|peculiar conjunction]] of [[the Lock]] and [[the Key]] seems finally to have reached a climax, one of the effects appears to still be lingering. The odd results [[Ruin#Watched|some magicians report]] when performing [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]] persist as the Autumn Equinox approaches. It may be that they were not actually related to the two [[Astronomancy#Constellations|constellations]] at all, or perhaps it's simply that [[Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths]] has caused the effect to persist a little longer. Either way, if a magician performs ''Cast Off the Chain of Memory'' but as part of the performance writesdown the memory one wishes to remove with [[iridescent gloaming]] in ninety-nine words or fewer, something happens. The paper folds in on itself and disappears along with the memory. Then, overnight, the memory is replaced with something else - a new, different memory.

The effect appears to be subtly different however; some magicians experimenting with the effect report that some of the memories they receive are more powerful, visceral, or immediate. The experience can [[roleplaying effects|influence the recipient]] in unexpected ways, related to the memory. These pioneers tentatively suggest that the more vivid the memory written down, the more detailed the description, the stronger the result, although that is mostly conjecture at this time. None of these discoveries makes those magicians already suspicious about what's happening here any happier and they urge even ''more'' caution as a consequence.

'''OOC Process:''' When performing Cast Off the Chain of Memory at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]], the target can write down the memory they intend to lose in as much detail as they like, as long as it doesn't go over ninety-nine words. The ink needs to be infused with a measure of iridescent gloaming (given to the ref during the casting), and the paper needs to have the targets PID on the back. The memory recorded must be a real memory that is being removed with the ritual or nothing happens. At the completion of the ritual, if the other criteria are met, the paper disappears and takes the memory with it. Before going into play next morning, you can visit the regio again (''not'' GOD) to receive a written description of a new memory that your character now remembers having experienced.

If you have any out of character phobias, traumatic subjects, or experiences you'd wish to avoid reading about, you can include them on the reverse of the paper along with your PID.

== The Dry Patricians==
* '''The Blight of the Great Grasses continues to slowly grow'''
* '''For the moment it is contained by the power of Imperial magic, but there is only so much Regrow the Land's Heart can achieve'''
The terrible [[Not a drop to drink|desert blight]] that has the [[Madruga#Great_Grasses|Great Grasses]] in its grasp continues to spread very slowly. [[Regrow the Land's Heart]] is helping to keep the disaster contained, but whatever has been [[Not_a_drop_to_drink#Immediate_Opportunities|going on there]] is slowly getting worse. The [[Not_a_drop_to_drink#A_Scorched_Field_.28Conjunction.29|scholars]] of the [[Unfettered Mind]] were unable to find anything useful during their attempt to penetrate the blight. While [[Spring magic]] is keeping it contained, it does not seem able to actually heal the damage. Dry patricians and parched ones continue to be spotted within the blight, never leaving it themselves, and there is a very real risk that anyone who ventures within will be swarmed, sucked dry of all moisture, and return to a terrible unalive state as one of the parched ones. The [[hakima]] and their [[kohan]] continue to keep a watch on it, but there is little they can do by themselves beyond keeping foolish travelers and spectacle-seekers from venturing into its depths.

One matter that has been addressed is the worry that those exposed to the blight might somehow carry it away with them. While the horrible [[curse|curses]] and [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|inuries]] sustained by those venturing into the blight are often fatal, there's no sign that those who die in this fashion ''outside of the blight'' will rise as parched. It seems that only those consumed by thirst within the boundaries of the desert are at risk, and they do not leave the area. Concerns of an epidemic of brave souls being turned into moisture-seeking abominations prove, for the moment at least, to be unfounded. Scant comfort to those whose friends and loved ones have turned to arid dust in their arms, perhaps.

'''OOC Note:''' The blight is slowly spreading, but the Spring magic being used is slowing it down. Without the magic, the blight would definitely have consumed the entire Great Grasses by now and perhaps moved on to threaten the whole territory. Yet it's clear that [[Regrow the Land's Heart]] will not work forever. This wind of fortune does not present any opportunities; the ball is now in the players' court if they want to try and find a way to deal with the blight permanently.

==Ruins and Bats (Sadogua)==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Elyssiathain, Archmage of Night, Declaration of Alignment, Summer Solstice 385YE">The Brother of Wizards has Amity, and Elyssiathain would like to move Damakan's Forge from Spiral to a location next to the Crucible in Zenith.</quote></div>
* '''The ruins of Damakhan's Forge have been moved to Zenith with the aid of the Brother of Wizards'''
* '''The Black Sloth has an offer for the Marcher landskeepers'''
* '''Enthused by the recent powerful magics, Sadogua offers Ioseph of the Banner of the Phoenix a chance to get hold of some tools for performing Winter magic'''
The [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements|newly consecrated]] Crucible of Fate now has a companion; the ruins of Damakhan's Forge rest against a hillside less than half a mile from the great forges. True to his word, in return for a renewal of [[Alignment#Amity|amity]] delivered by the [[Archmage of Night]] '''Elyssiathian''', the [[Sadogua|Brother of Wizards]] has somehow moved the ancient runeforge from [[Spiral]] to [[Zenith]]. A shallow crater, gouged out of the mountainside where the forge once stood, is already filling up with water and has been christened ''Damakhan's Lake'' by the Urizen of the nearby spires. The ruins look a little forlorn, it has to be said, but some philosophers and poets believe they also present a powerful symbol - the past and the future come together in one place.

This is the [[Foggy_mountain_top#The_Halls_of_Knowledge|second time]] Sadogua has moved something in this way, but this time significantly more pains were taken to ensure that there was nobody actually within the ruins when they were moved, and thus far nobody is reported as having gone missing. Apparently the effort of moving the Forge, coming as it did hot on the heels of the Suranni business, has left the ''Black Toad-Bat'' "absolutely knackered". This despite the fact that the witnesses are very much of the opinion all the hard work was actually done by a young [[naga]] woman with a magic bottle. As such, he claims, he might be a bit less commuicative than normal for a few months while he gets his strength back.

One symptom of this "exhaustion" is that he will not be running his [[Hopeless_as_a_feather#Sadogua|annual competition]] during the Autumn Equinox. On an ''unrelated note'' he has apparently sent a message for the [[landskeeper|landskeepers]] of [[the Marches]], which is apparently lodged with the Marcher [[egregore]], detailing an exciting [[opportunity]] of some kind. He suggests they speak to the egregore about it and looks forward to hearing their response.

Also on an unrelated note, the Brother of Wizard has sent several heralds to the Empire in the last few months to congratulate the magicians involved in casting [[Hallow of the Green World]], [[Farewell wanderlust|Bounty of the Brilliant Broker]], and [[Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths]]. As his friends know, he is ''always'' keen to see powerful magic that shakes the foundations of the world being performed. He is, as previously mentioned, exhausted at the moment from all his hard work on behalf of his Imperial allies, but if '''Ioseph of the Banner of the Phoenix''' can gather "''a shitload of iridescent gloaming, beggar's lye, and tempest jade''" and "''some nice bits of jewelry or statues of frogs and bats or what have you''" put them in a sack and use the [[operate portal|appropriate spell]] to send them to Sadogua, he'll see if he can't use them to whistle up a couple of tools to make casting large-scale Winter rituals a little easier.

==Scales and Thrones==
* '''''Ephisis' Scales'' is extremely restricted during the Autumn Equinox'''
* '''Varushkan magicians cannot benefit from ''Before the Throne of Estavus'' for a period of one year'''
* '''Basileus Flint has apparently been removed as the Sovereign Lord of the City of Locks'''
During the Summer Solstice, both the [[Ephisis|City of Gold and Lead]] and the [[Estavus|Lady of Shikal]] engaged in [[Inkpot gods|unique trades]] with Imperial magicians. One apparently went very well, and one went perhaps less well, but both have lingering consequences.

The [[Inkpot_gods#Weighers_of_Worth|experiment with different forms of commerce]] undertaken at the Autumn Equinox has been a success, at least from the point of view of the inhabitants of the City of Gold and Lead. As a consequence, they are currently busily restructuring the entire ritual. Not only for the Empire - for everyone. As a consequence of the extensive renovation work required, the ritual [[Ephisis' Scale]] will not function during the coming Equinox. The heralds of the ''Endless Market'' apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, but are confident the disruption will be over by the Winter Solstice at the absolute latest. The sole exception is special arrangements, such as the delivery of Imperial hearts to fulfil assassination contracts, and the like. If the ritual is used for any other purpose, the goods will be returned untouched but the mana used in the ritual will still be consumed.

On the other hand, word has come from the heralds of Estavus that the ''Forgemistress'' is less than happy with certain Imperial citizens. According to their understanding, during the Autumn Equinox a cabal of Varushkan magicians may have attempted to ''steal'' one of the [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] intended for the [[Inkpot_gods#The_Mediators_Bargain|artisans of Wintermark]]. On the advice of the [[Lictors]], Estavus has decreed that the no Varushkan magician will be able to benefit from the ritual [[Before the Throne of Estavus]] for a period of one year. Until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE, if a Varushkan magician or coven attempts to perform the ritual they will expend their mana, but their materials will be returned to them rather than being exchanged for [[Vis#Warm Ashes|warm ashes]].

While delivering their messages, the heralds of Ephisis and Estavus cannot resist gossiping. Following [[Inkpot_gods#All_That.27s_Fit_To_Read|an investigation]] into the events surrounding the destruction of the eternal [[Mazen]], the [[Basileus Flint|Prince of the Black Locks]] has apparently been found guilty of ''egregious breach of contract''. The Lictors have moved against the City of Locks, in fulfilment of their duties as enforcers of oaths and arbiters of obligation. There's precious little actual ''news'' news, but it seems that Basileus Flint is no longer the ruler of the city, and is instead incarcerated in the Green Iron Citadel. It's not clear who, if anyone, is in charge of the City. This may be of relevance to the [[Archmage of Autumn]], whose pool of targets for [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] appears to be diminishing rapidly.

==A Loom Of Spells==
* '''An entrance to the Loom of Spells has been established in Tassato'''
* '''Sanvar Isk will be attending Anvil at 14;00 on Sunday to auction the right to use the Loom for a season'''
* '''Sanvar Isk is a ''terrible'' boss'''
Shortly after the Summer Solstice an Autumn [[regio]] in [[Tassato#Tassato Mestra|Tassato Mestra]] disgorges a work gang of heralds. Carrying contracts signed by ''[[Inkpot_gods#The_Loom_of_Spells|Sanvar Isk]]'', and apparently approved by the [[Archmage of Autumn]] (although '''Edmundo's''' signature appears nowhere on any paperwork), they set about constructing a fine doorway decorated with a mural of [[Callidus|Bridges and Chains]]. In no time at all they are done, and the entrance to the ''Loom of Spells'' is complete.

Shortly thereafter, advertisements are pasted up on walls all across the [[Tassato|twin cities]]. Anyone who wishes to learn more about the workings of the [[Autumn magic|Autumn Realm]] and the craft of ritual codification can be taught them for free! Absolutely free! All they have to do is come and work on the Loom of Spells for a season. League citizens rarely shy away from the chance to improve themselves, and the first day that the doorway opens there is a queue of dozens of interested parties ready to take Isk up on his offer. When they return at the end of a long day's work, they bring stories of a device of unimaginable complexity where complex and abstract concepts are spun into fine, practical ideas, before being woven by further devices, refined more and more towards something concrete. The work is hard and Sanvar Isk is a ''terrible'' boss. He constantly pushes his unpaid volunteers to do more, work harder, stay a little longer, spend less time talking and eating, and so on. Many shrug their shoulders and ignore him. He may be condescending, unprosperous, and obnoxious, but the experience is a genuinely educational crash course in [[ritual theory]]. This experience proves particularly useful to some Tassatan [[mountebank|mountebanks]], who rarely have much in the way of formal training in arcane lore.. One season of bad work in exchange for the chance at a cushy job in [[Dean of the Lyceum|the Lyceum]], or the [[Miekarova#The_Icy_Crag_of_the_Eternal_Sun|Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun]]? Many here have done more for less.

Emboldened by this success, Isk makes a bold approach to various churches of [[the Little Mother]] to pitch an 'apprenticeship program'. He receives short shrift. The custodians and tutors take a dim view of the idea that their wards might work without pay. The adults may do as they please - their time and effort is their own - but the young and vulnerable will not be taught to work for 'experience', 'future prospects', or any other such ephemeral rewards. After attempting to bribe one of the [[Bishop|bishops]] to change her mind and subsequently being run off by a crowd of excitable children armed with heavy sticks, Sanvar Isk abandons this plan as a bad investment of time.

By the end of the season the Loom produces its first codified ritual with a self-aggrandising ceremony that Sanvar Isk tries to get as many of his volunteers to attend as he can. In the aftermath of this success, Sanvar sends a message to the Civil Service. He will once again attend anvil at 14:00 on the Sunday of the Autumn Equinox. Once there, he will auction off rights to the use of the Loom for the next season. The same rules apply, the Loom will not codify any ritual larger than the tenth magnitude, but within that restriction it is open to all comers. Sanvar also indicates that he wishes to receive payment in ingots or measures - mine and forest resources only. He has no desire for any specific materials, and doesn't care what mix of these things he receives, so long as the bids are big and the competition serious.
==Bound By Malediction's Chains==
*'''Tharim continues to offer rewards for more of the curios of the Alders-Baart family'''
*'''Tharim's offer will end at the start of the Winter Solstice 385YE'''
[[Tharim]] of [[the Thrice-cursed Court]] continues to [[You_can%27t_count_on_me#Winter_Wards|ward the Hall of Worlds]] from intrusion by heralds. As long as the Bound King continues to be a [[Alignment#Amity|friend of the Empire]], and an image of the eternal is displayed during Conclave sessions that is visible throughout the Hall of Worlds, the ward will persist. Unless they are responding to a [[Archmage#Parely|parley]], heralds will be unable to enter the Hall if their master is under [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]], and those whose master is [[Alignment#Neutrality|neutral]] will not be able to cross the hall without an invitation from an Imperial magician.

The Bound King has other concerns. He is sending heralds to [[Back_in_town#Tharim|speak with Imperial citizens]] at the invitation of the [[Archmage of Winter]]. He continues to feast in [[the Brass Coast]], and empower the [[Fire of the South]] with his knights, even though that has not proved [[Restraint#The_Black_Feast|universally popular]] with the Freeborn. He has expressed an interest in a [[A_walk_in_shadow#Opportunity:_Grant_Tharim_Dominion_over_the_Well_of_Tears|certain regio in the Barrens]]. And by all accounts he remains interested in the fate of the ''Alders-Baart'' family of the Sarcophan Delves.

As [[Four_and_four#Winter.27s_Grasping_Chains_.28Tharim.29|recounted last season]], Tharim has an interest in ensuring the Sarcophan do not "''wriggle out of the consequences of their actions''". A few of their cursed items have found their way into his possession - he doesn't confirm that it is through the illegal [[Tribute to the Thrice-Cursed Court]] ritual but that ''is'' the most likely explanation - but not enough for him to be able to craft a suitable punishment for the Alders-Baart. If the bulk of the curios traded in the Empire by the Sarcophan family are found and given to him, Tharim would be grateful. The window of opportunity is, however, shrinking. By the end of the Autumn Equinox, the opportunity Tharim seeks will be lost. After that, while he will be happy to receive any Alders-Baart curios, there will be no chance of a reward for giving them to him.

While there has been no word of the Alders-Baart family themselves since their visit to Anvil in Spring, there is still a counter opportunity. The ritual [[Words of Ending]] could be used on the cursed curios, shattering the curse in its entirety, denying the power to the Thrice-cursed Court, and potentially liberating the Sarcophan merchant family from their misfortunes. As long as the ritual were performed far from the [[Sarcophan Delves]], or from any citizen of the Delves, the maledictions would simply dissipate. The Alders-Baart would no doubt be at least as grateful as Tharim if they were freed of their curse. Obviously it's impossible to be certain how many (if any) curios have already been dealt with in this manner.

One ritual alone remains unlikely to swing the pendulum in either direction, but if a sufficient number of items are either destroyed or offered as tribute, either the Court or the Alders-Baart are sure to show their gratitude to those involved.

==Kaela==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{SOP|statement=The vallorn is a significant spiritual threat to the Empire. It traps human and orc souls, dooming those who die in battle. The Winter Eternal Kaela has offered her Gift to the Empire, and it has been used to good effect by those captured by the Druj, letting them escape torment through painless death. She offers to extend that boon to those facing the horrors of the vallorn, keeping them from an eternity trapped as a husk. She will not do so unless the General assembly invite her with a greater majority, sending the message that this intervention is welcome. The Archmage of Winter and the Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path have investigated Kaela's Gift, as have many others. It is their firm view, and that of the Conclave, that accepting Kaela's Gift does not prevent one from entering the Labyrinth or crossing the Howling Abyss. We should accept her offer.|by=Rafael Barossa di Tassato|vote=Greater Majority 1935-249|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}</div>
* '''The General Assembly upheld a statement of principle calling for Kaela to extend her Gift to those fighting the vallorn'''
* '''The statement did not receive a greater majority, but Kaela proposes a compromise'''
The [[Kaela#The Gift of Kaela|Gift of Kaela]] is well known to those fighting the [[Druj]]. An Imperial citizen fighting in [[the Barrens]], [[Zenith]], or [[the Mallum]] who is captured by the eastern orcs may choose to end their own lives painlessly and instantly, leaving only ashes and dust behind. Swift oblivion is in may ways preferable to slow torment by the Druj, and to the risk of being turned into an engine of destruction driven to bring suffering to everything one once loved. It is not without controversy - those who choose the gift leave neither mortal remains nor a ghost that can be contracted by any means known to Imperial magicians.

A few years ago, [[Kaela]] offered to [[Impossible_landscapes#Kaela|extend that boon]] to Imperial citizens fighting the [[vallorn]], but only with the explicit approval of the [[Imperial Synod]]. In the past, when Kaela has offered her gifts to Imperial citizens she has faced opposition from some priests, and so requested a [[statement of principle]] raised in the [[Assembly#General_Assembly|General Assembly]] that encouraged those in dire straits to accept her gift. '''Rafael Barossa di Tassato''', the [[grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]] raised such a statement during the Summer Solstice. It did not, however, achieve the [[greater majority]] the ''Lady of the Grim Host'' requires, and as such it has not been disseminated widely among Imperial priests.

However, the fact that the statement was upheld, and that it was raised by the Grandmaster of the order that [[Sevenfold_Path#The_Manifesto|seeks to]] "''Build a bridge between the Conclave and the priests of the Synod''" leaves her minded to agree a compromise. Should the Grandmaster be prepared to [[Concord|commit their order]] to speaking to Imperial priests in the months leading up to the Winter solstice, reassuring them that the gifts of Kaela - both those of oblivion and membership of the Grim Legion - are not to be feared, then she will extend the gift to those fighting in the [[Vallorn#Vallorn_Miasma|Vallorn miasma]]. They would be able to choose death, and perhaps more crucially ''dissolution'', before their bodies could be infested with the vallorn's sick version of immortality. She will also turn her thoughts to how else she might be able to help the Empire bring oblivion to those who need it.

Of course, if the Grandmaster would rather not do this, or needs to deal with more pressing matters, they can continue try for a greater majority in the General Assembly. Kaela is patient. She has all the time in the world, after all.

==Staff of Iron (Barien)==
* '''The heralds of Barien will be hosted by House Griffinsong in Dawn between 7:30pm and 9:30pm on the Friday evening of the upcoming summit'''
* '''They have challenge scrolls for the following people: Catherine Words, Blaidd Sinan, Skjal Bjornsson, Damarion Orzel, Artis Greyholm, the challengers of Gryphon's Watch, Kasimir Aurelius Theothrastus Borutastus von Temeschwar'''
* '''Others have received letters from the heralds of Barien relating to ongoing challenges or rewardings'''
* '''The heralds will return on Sunday afternoon to conduct further business if necessary'''
This summit has brought a new experience to the usually unflappable heralds of the Iron Duke in their visits to this little slice of the mortal realm - a last minute change of plans. While the plan at the summer solstice was to return three months hence and enjoy some Navarr hospitality, given that Dawn has made a great gift of power to the eternals of summer in their bid to defeat the bizarre denizens of of the realm of Day, it seems only fitting to reward the Dawnish. As such, the heralds of the Lord of the Crossroads have taken up the offer of Earl Arjhann of House Griffinsong and will be able to be found there between half seven and half nine on Friday evening to dispense scrolls and answer any other questions that might crop up as usual. Anyone who misses the heralds then will be able to find them again on Sunday afternoon after the battle when they return to finish any other tasks. As for rumours that Revel themselves paid a visit a few weeks ago to book the glory square on Saturday afternoon? Well, that would be telling - you'll just have to ask the Dawnish themselves about that one.
==A Game of Swords (Zakalwe)==
* '''There is another opportunity to participate in a strategy game prepared by Zakalwe'''
* '''Zakalwe will be sending his heralds, Agon and the Opening Gambit to Wintermark at 7:00pm on Friday evening to collect the competitors'''
Following the trials of the Dawnish competitors during the Spring Equinox, [[Zakalwe]] has presented another test of strategy to the people of [[Wintermark]]. As with the first game of grand strategy, the second part of the game will test the Winterfolk's acumen and challenge them to overcome the odds in a recreation of a historical Imperial military campaign. Will they do as well as the strategists of Dawn? Now is the opportunity to find out! The ''Battle-wise'' intends to send his trusted herald Agon out to collect the Winterfolk challenges at 7:00pm on Friday evening, to escort them to the magical chamber where the game will take place. The competitors were selected during the Summer Solstice, and Agon will be equipped to ensure that even the most mundane champion will be able to reach the chamber,

==A Dance of Spears (Janon)==
* '''Janon's heralds fight alongside the Green Shield, and the Summer Storm'''
* '''In conjunction with a statement of principle from the Freeborn National Assembly, Janon offers to help transform the Burning Falcon'''
The ''[[Janon|Shadowed Flame]]''' is holding [[Archmage#Parely|parley]] with the [[Archmage of Night]] this season, but the quixotic eternal is never one to put all its eggs in one basket. As well as [[Back_in_town#Janon|meeting a number of people]] in a chamber, Janon has sent numerous martial heralds out to support three of the Imperial armies - the Burning Falcon, the Green Shield, and the Summer Storm - whose generals called on his aid during the last season's campaigning.
===Zeal, Heroism, and Worth===
* '''For the next year any military unit that supports the Green Shield, or the Summer Sun on campaign will be inspired'''
As the Empire moved forces into [[Tromsa]], and began the conquest of the Jotun lands, two generals called on Janon's heralds to join them in the battle. Wild warriors burning with singular passion aided the Green Shield and the Summer Sun, filling Wintermark and Imperial Orc soldiers with passion and zeal. Individually they did little to influence the tide of battle, but their presence still heartened and inspired the soldiers of the armies. Janon is very much an exception to the rule that the eternals of the Night realm eschew direct violence; he apparently loves nothing more than to see heroic, glorious, impassioned warriors pushing themselves to the limit to achieve victory.

Until the start of the Spring Equinox 386YE, these heralds will return to fight alongside the two armies. Their presence will certainly inspire any warband that chooses to fight with the army. The captain of any [[military unit]] from Wintermark assigned to support the Green Shields, or Imperial Orcs military unit assigned to support the Summer Storm, whether they are actively engaged by the enemy or not, will find themselves inspired. At the next event the character attends, they will gain an additional [[Heroic skills#Hero point|hero point]] for the duration of the summit, even if they do not have the [[Heroic skills#Hero|hero]] skill themselves. The bonus hero point lasts until the start of the next event, and is restored as normal alongside other hero points. There may also be other benefits, depending on the situation the army finds itself in.

Unfortunately, during this time, the two armies will be unable to enact the [[Army_orders#Give_Ground|Give Ground]] or [[Army_orders#Cautious_Advance|Cautious Advance]] orders. If they do try to give these orders, the army will default to [[Army_orders#Solid_Defence|Solid Defence]] or [[Army_orders#Balanced Attack|Balanced Attack]] respectively.

The only way to remove this effect before the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE would be for the general to include in their orders specific instructions to their soldiers to drive away any heralds of Janon who tried to fight alongside them, or for the army to be enchanted with [[Day magic]] or [[Autumn magic]] - the rational and disciplined nature of such enchantments would be anathema to these zealous heralds of Janon. Either of these effects would remove the benefit as well as the restriction, and would likely see Janon become quite offended.
{{SOPInner|statement=A spark, from family hearth and pyre. Carried by voice on wind to kohan's fire. Becoming flame. Burning honest to everything they will ever be. Terrifying, splendid, incandescent, free. A thousand words a thousand thoughts writhing grasping struggle forth to bind an inferno to form it can never take. Until embers. A memory where fires shone. Warmth for those who linger on. Hotter still than what was gone. And finally, ash. Ash a claw for jealous throats, ash a scent to linger with the loved, ash a new voice carried on the wind. Let Janon's true conviction inspire the kohan to burn as Falcons ever brighter Sparks, flames, embers, and ash..|by=Luca i Taziel i Riqueza|vote=Greater Majority 186-16|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
===Falcons Ever Brighter===
<div style="float:right; max-width: 40%; clear: right;"><box><big>'''True Conviction'''</big>
* '''Can ''only'' use the ''triumphant charge'' or ''forced march'' order when [[army orders#Attacking|attacking]]'''
* '''Can ''only'' use the ''final stand'' or ''desperate reinforcement'' order when [[army orders#Defending|defending]]'''.
An army with True Conviction is filled with passionate intensity and zeal. During battle the soldiers fight to the absolute best of their ability, and while resting they embrace everything life has to offer knowing that they may die in their next battle. They are utterly committed to the act of war, able to traverse the Empire like a blazing comet, smashing into the enemies of the Freeborn people with unquenchable fury.

However, this quality means that the general is ''only'' able to issue the [[Army_qualities#Glorious|triumphant charge]], [[Army_qualities#Glorious|final stand]], [[Army_qualities#Fast|forced march]], and [[Army_qualities#Fast|desperate reinforcement]] orders. They cannot use any of the [[Army_orders|standard orders]] normally available to a general. The only thing that will allow them to take a different order is a special [[opportunity]] or an [[enchantment]] that influences or temporarily changes their quality.</box></div>
* '''Janon's heralds have been agitating for the Burning Falcon to let their passions blaze like the sun'''
'''General Aracelis''' of the [[Burning Falcon]] was unable to take full advantage of the [[Four_and_four#Flickers_of_Flame_.28Janon.29|opportunity]] presented by [[Janon]] during the Summer Solstice, but the National Assembly of the Brass Coast made it clear the Freeborn are still interested in Janon's assitance in helping the newest army to burn with the flame of '''True Conviction'''. Janon is known to have an intense interest in the Imperial Synod, and what motivates Imperial priests. He loves to see people burn with Virtuous passion, especially [[Courage]], [[Ambition]], [[Loyalty]], and [[Pride]]. The eternal was by all accounts moved by the powerful poetry of '''Luca i Taziel i Riqueza''' and immediately dispatched its heralds to speak to the priests of the Brass Coast.

The opportunity to use magic and [[ilium]] has passed with the conjunction, but there is still a way to inspire the Burning Falcon. Janon proposes that the priests of the Brass Coast collect [[mithril]], to be used in the creation of braziers and torches that will burn with eternal flames kindled in each of the Freeborn territories. These fires will be broadly mundane, but their symbolism as the ''Fires of the Freeborn Spirit'' will be undeniable. The priests can [[hallow]] them, or create [[consecration|consecrations]] or other [[aura|auras]] that urge the soldiers to embrace their own passions in pursuit of their goals, and create an army that never ceases in its zeal to fight. Janon believes 50 wains of mithril will be sufficient; once the material is gathered the National Assembly should enact a mandate:
<div style="max-width: 50%">{{Mandate|mandate=A spark, from family, hearth, and pyre, carried by voice on wind to kohan's fire! Arise, Burning Falcon, and blaze across the sky like a comet bright as the sun-at-night! We send (named priest) with 50 wains of mithril and 50 doses of liao to bring everburning flames from Madruga, Segura, Kahraman, and Feroz, to inspire our soldiers with a burning passion like none ever seen before!|assembly=Brass Coast National Assembly}}</div>
If this mandate is enacted, then over the course of a season, and with the aid of Janon, the quality of the Burning Falcon will change from Glorious to True Conviction. Unlike a normal mandate, this one can be enacted at the Autumn Equinox, the Winter Solstice, or the Spring Equinox. After that the impetus for change will have faded, and the chance to gain True Conviction will be ''permanently'' lost.

While the transformation will be supported by Janon, the eternal seeks no dominion over the army. It will not place the soldiers or the general in his thrall, and it won't be lost if the eternal is placed under [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]]. While heralds of the ''Shadowed Flame'' would seek to fight alongside the Burning Falcon whenever possible, and would support the army and pay particular attention to its fortunes, it would be in a similar vein to which the [[Arhallogen|Spider King]] supports and watches over some of the [[Navarr]] armies rather than the way the Summer eternals serve as direct patrons of the [[Eastern Sky]].

==Beneath the Dagger (Conjunction)==
* '''Quiet Charlie is meeting with a number of heralds and cultists near a Night chamber'''
* '''The Sentinel Gate will open at 21:15 on Friday to Crowned Trees, Southmoor, Mournwold'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''''Brother Martin Orchard'' is responsible for confronting Quiet Charlie'''
Over the past season [[thresher|threshers]], spurred on by the [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_190|mandate]] enacted by '''Brother Martin Orchard''', have been hunting high and low for agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] active in the Marches. Those citizens that have shown an interest in secrets before have received a visit or two from the threshers willing to go beyond the law to get results and deliver a blow to the Shadow Courtiers. There have been a number of notable cultists turned up; a circle of landskeepers that were blackmailing local stewards, a friar using secrets in order to further extend their influence, and a [[The_Marches_military_concerns#Beaters|beater]] who fed secrets to a herald in exchange for boons.

Those discovered are executed, on the orders of the magistrate ''Briar Bridget'' after careful investigation, but at least one major cultist remains; ''Quiet Charlie''. Quiet Charlie is an elusive figure - expected considering their patron - but the threshers investigating around Sarcombe have uncovered that they will be meeting with a number of other cultists and heralds near a Night chamber in [[Mournwold#Southmoor|Southmoor]]. Given that this results from the mandate enacted by '''Brother Martin Orchard''' it is his responsibility to confront Quiet Charlie.
==Lictors Calling (Conjunction)==
* '''The Sentinel Gate will open at 23:00 on Friday to Bertram's Square, Cigno, Sarvos'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Unlikely_or_Contained|combat unlikely or contained]] encounter'''
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><BOX>'''Accessibility''' This encounter is not intended to feature fighting and is classed combat unlikely or contained. This is an opportunity for citizens of the League, especially dramatrugists and musicians, to pass through the Sentinel Gate for a mixture of performance and roleplay in a somewhat sinister atmosphere. It will take place across an area of woods a couple of minutes walk from the Sentinel Gate, on flat ground. </BOX></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><BOX> '''Drums in the Counting House''' Anyone taking part in this conjunction will experience the following location aura: ''While in this place you feel you are about to suffer a terrible punishment for a debt you owe someone - either real or imagined. You feel the urge to save yourself by giving up power and revealing secrets.'' (This can be resisted with any source of spiritual strength. In addition, while you can hear music other than the drumming of the Lictors this grants a source of spiritual strength for the purposes of resisting the location aura.) </BOX></div>

An odd tale spreads across [[the League]] after the Summer Solstice. It speaks of a gang of mountebanks reckless enough to sign magical contracts while guising as the [[dramaturgy|dramaturgical]] [[Dramaturgy#The_Personae|personae]], and the [[Callidus]] herald foolish enough to believe they were who they were pretending to be. Nobody can say for sure where they first heard the tale, but it does the rounds of bars, salons, and green rooms for months, As the Autumn Equinox approaches, it gradually dawns on people that ''this actually happened.'' The [[Callidus|Sovereign Lord of the City of Chains]] has apparently made very clear that such a trick will not be allowed to succeed twice. The herald who originally offered the contracts has disappeared - presumably struck from the Iron Ledger.

More pressingly, agents of the Lictors have appeared at ''Bertram's Square'' in [[Sarvos]] to demand the debts outstanding be paid in full. Now that a reckoning is demanded, the mountebanks are, of course, nowhere to be found, as is the nature of such people. These Lictors have not brought the green iron claws and chains they're famous for instead they have brought drums, beating out a sinister rhythm that evokes the [[Dramaturgy#The_Thrones|dramaturgical Throne]] of [[the Counting House]], creating a sinister aura. For those without a [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|source of spiritual strength]] this [[aura]] can be resisted if the Lictors' drumming is drowned out by another source of music evoking a different Throne.

If the Lictors cannot be satisfied that the debts are settled there could be major ramifications for the practice of Dramaturgy in the League, at least in the short term. It's not clear what power the Lictors have to enforce bargains of this nature, but their appearance in Sarvos is very different to the ways they have interacted with the Empire in the past. Perhaps the [[Inkpot_gods#City_of_Bars|stories of change]] at the ''City of Bars'' have substance to them? It is hoped that just as dramaturgy caused this problem, so it can also be the solution. If a group of people could guise as the personae and visit the lictors they should be able to settle the debts. The actual nature of the debts is not widely known, but they are believed to be relatively subjective and ephemeral - the lictors will not be demanding stacks of coin or mana. The League egregores should know more, but a conjunction of the [[Sentinel Gate]] that will reach Bertram's Square has been identified at 23:00 on Friday, that will allow up to 50 people to visit the area. it appears that whatever is going on there, the Sentinel Gate at least thinks it will require a large number of people.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{SOP|statement=The current Guardian of the Maze of Zoria, and the bearer of the Staff of Zoria, intends to pilgrimage to the Cave of Zoria in the Opascari Mountains. We believe the staff was taken by the Thule from this cave. They are returning to the cave to investigate the stone tablet contained within where the staff could yield more information on the paragon of Wisdom to the benefit of all who follow the Way..|by=Illya Nikovitch Volkovt|vote=Greater Majority 288-0|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}</div>
==The Cave of Zoria==
Finally, a little story about one of the oldest known sorcerers, although in her day the term had a very different meaning. During the Summer Solstice, the Varushkan national assembly expressed an interest in arranging an expedition to the [[Birds#Zoria.27s_Cave|Zoria's Cave]], a grotto in the [[Volodmartz#Opascari|Opascari]] mountains. The cave was one of those places considered for consecration as an[[inspirational location]] for the paragon [[Zoria]]. The Synod eventually settled on the [[Guardian_of_the_Maze_of_Zoria#The_Maze_of_Zoria|Maze of Zoria]] in [[Miekarova]] instead. Found at the foot of Black Hill, a peak so small it is barely considered a mountain at all. Some say it is black because of the rock of which the hill is made, others that it is dark because the surrounding mountains are so high that the sun can never fall on Black Hill, while others tell darker stories about how it got its name. The cave was once, apparently, the final resting place of either Zoria or her belongings, but it was looted by a Thule raiding party over a century ago.

The cave which leads deep into the mountain where it opens out into a set of winding twisting caves. This is no true labyrinth, just a long twisting passage that will occasionally open out into a majestic cavern filled with strange purple and blue columns that rise up to the ceiling. It is arduous going but relatively easy to find your way through the cave to the heart of the mountain. The centre is unmistakable, a vast cavern, hundreds of feet across. Here the stalagmites have grown so thick and twisted that passage between is difficult and the traveller must pick their way with care lest they are forced to turn back and find another route. At the centre is a great stone tablet carved with hundreds of Wintermark runes.

Or rather... that's how the cave ''used'' to be. The expedition that went to the foothills of the five peaks found something very different. No sign of the purple and blue columns, no sign of a great stone rune tablet. Instead, the place was full of darkness. Not the mere absence of light, but a darkness like ebon velvet, like the darkest treacle that spreads and flows. A hungry, jealous darkness, that gives way only grudgingly to illumination, and seems to feast on light. Torches and lanterns brought by the visitors lasted around half as long; even [[Technology#Lightstones|lightstones]] began to flicker and grow dim after even a short exposure to the cave's interior.

During the exploration, some of those who made that long trip to the mountains reported seeing shapes in the dark. Things moving. Sometimes people they recognised, sometimes strangers, sometimes... other things. And then the disappearances started. Usually someone who had reported seeing movement in the dark, but not always. Half a dozen folk just... vanished... before the expedition decided that it would be wise to leave the foothills and return to the relative safety of the [[Hunt of Alderei the Fair]]. Two more people disappeared before the group reached the [[weirwood]] grove, but nobody else has vanished since.
===Participation and the Bats of Sleep===
Any Varushkan character is free to roleplay that they were part of the expedition to Zoria's Cave. The place was empty - crushingly so - and anyone who ventured into the cave proper will have experienced a terrible sensation of being swallowed by darkness, and might report the kind of phenomenon one would experience in a haunted house. Anyone who wants to can mark their character dead and say they are one of those who vanished - or use a visit to the cave as an explanation for why their character suddenly disappears during the event. Go to GOD, mark your character as dead, and start a new character without explanation. Nobody who is taken by the darkness that now claims the cave will ever be seen again except in bad dreams or out of the corner of one's eyes in a dark place.

Anyone who visited the cave who is a [[dedication|dedicate]] of Wisdom may choose to have experienced peculiar dreams both while they were there and on the journey back. These dreams invariably involve a conversation with a great furry bat, a black-feathered goose with golden eyes, or a massive but solicitous spider. These [[Mime_each_lonely_word#The_Naming_of_the_Beasts|imaginary messengers]] tell stories of an entity they call ''The Dark'', or occasionally ''The Devouring Dark'', ''The Hungry Dark'', ''The Lonely'', ''Light Eater'', ''Brol Akaan''', ''Sunfoe''. It is a [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] tied somehow to the mountains in the north of Varushka, which embodies the fear of the dark, of being alone, of forgetfulness, of ignorance. It is a powerful and terrible creature whose servants are either dreadful living shadows that spirit its victims away, or seemingly friendly folk filled with the alien blackness that pools beneath the hills and mountains. As with the other great sovereigns - [[Dho'uala]], the [[Charnel Lord]],and the [[Howling Queen]], it is testing the strength of its bounds and woe betide anyone who falls into its grasp or gives it a foothold in their souls. It has claimed Zoria's Cave, say the bats, and the geese, and the weasels, and whatever may once have been found there will never be seen again. Much like anyone who insists on venturing into the depths of the caves in search of it.

The cities and the city

2023-09-05T11:40:56Z

Cathtice: /* The Wayfarer's Guide */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"Empress Varkula sadly passed over two hundred years ago. I know there are people who want her to come back-" Jemima was not expecting to be interrupted.

"It's not about wanting her to come back!" said one of the younger wise ones hotly. "The sovereigns are rising in Varushka, and if she is a sovereign then that might mean she is rising too!"

"Please. Listen to me. The Empress died. She will come back in time - most likely she has already come back - but not as some strange monster of the cursed hills and dark woods. As a human being, reborn after her time in the Labyrinth, assuming that her virtue in life did not allow her to transcend and become a paragon and we just haven't realised it yet."

One of the wise ones crossed their arms, while another adjusted his shawl. The third was having none of it.

"We are here from Varushka because while you know a lot about tending tombs, ''we'' are the people who know about sovereigns and the terrible powers they wield! And we are telling you we ''must'' be allowed into the tomb!"

The steward crossed her own arms. She made eye contact briefly with Temovich. She knew the old woman very mildly, having shared the occasional coffee and pastry with them in the park near the tomb.. The wise one shrugged her eyebrows apologetically at her companion's rash words. But her serious expression did not alter.

"I know you're concerned." Jemima was keeping her temper by remembering that these people were simply being Vigilant. They had identified a possible threat and were investigating, and she could not fault them for that. Even if they were wrong. "But you cannot enter the tomb of the Empress. Not least because there are few things more commonly associated with a sudden haunting than defilement of the resting place. Especially after all this time."

"I am telling you -"

"No ''I'' am telling ''you''." The steward of the dead had had enough. "You are not going into the tomb today, or any other day. There is no sign whatsoever that anything untoward is happening here. Your worries are your own business until such time as you can bring me anything other than unformed conjecture to suggest that the risks of not doing so outweigh the incredible ''disrespect'' you would be causing to the Empress. There is nothing more to be said!"

He opened his mouth to say something more, but she turned away. He sputtered a little, and she heard Temovich and the man in the shawl talking quietly and soothingly to him.

"Excuse me," said a new voice. She turned slightly to find three orcs hovering a little nervously at the bottom of the steps. They were Imperial Orcs of the Sunstorm sept, here with the Winter Sun, by their dress.

"I'm sorry, yes. Can I help you?"

They exchanged glances, and their spokesman gave her a worried smile.

"We were wondering if we might be able to get into the tomb?" he said. "We've reason to believe there's a lost item of worth in there and we would like to reclaim it for the people of Skarsind, or the people of Highguard, or possibly the people of Varushka, depending on what it is?"

Jemima started to count to ten inside her head and took a deep breath.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Grand Endeavours.png|caption=Inspiration for the grand endeavour has been provided, the ground is being cleared, the first white granite towers begin to rise.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
[[The League]] is not the only nation with cities. The [[Bastion#Bastion.2C_the_White_City|White City]] and the [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis|Black]] were old when [[Sarvos]] and the rest were open fields. Many of the concerns of city folk are the same the world over, and this season highlights those similarities. Malevolent heralds, worries about dark powers, the quest for items of [[worth]], concern about what one's neighbours are doing. There is a commonality between the Highborn. and their siblings in the League. Nor are Imperial citizens the only builders, of course. People everywhere, of all kinds, are drawn together like filings to a magnet. Even the Druj, it seems, build communities - if the tales of the sprawling chaos that is the city of Leen are to be believed. The [[Valiant Pegasus]] fights in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]] and urges the soldiers of Highguard, and their allies, to remember that, though they walk the road through the heartlands of [[the Mallum]], they are here as liberators, not conquerors.

==Necropolis: Worth==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Skywise Rykana, General of the Winter Sun">Heroes of the Winter Sun, long have we bled to raise up our Kin from the bonds of slavery but now we move to lift up ourselves. We march for Necropolis leaving a trail of broken chains behind us, to open our minds to the revelations of the day. As we rest and ready for the storm to come, listen to your ancestors and their guidance to seek out items of worth, reclaim our lost histories, and discover the worth of those deserving of remembrance</quote></div>
* '''Inspired by Day Magic, and the conjunction of the Lock and the Key, the Winter Sun has sought out items of worth in Necropolis'''
Following the Summer Solstice, the [[Imperial Orcs]] of the [[Winter Sun]] march south from [[the Barrens]] to [[Necropolis]]. They are here to rest, and to ready for the coming war with the [[Grendel]]. Yet that is not their only reason for being here. A unique [[enchantment]] of [[Day magic]] has been laid upon them, designed to focus and augment the effects of [[Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths]]. It allows scouts and soldiers associated with the [[orc]] army to seek out lost items of [[worth]] and urges the soldiers to encourage other Imperial Orcs in the area to recall the presence of lost items of their own. It empowers them to find things thought lost to the nation through misadventure, death in battle, or even things they themselves did not lose but an ancestor might have had. The power seems to function at least in part thanks to the last lingering power of the [[astronomancy|astronomantic]] [[Ruin#The_Lesser_Conjunction|conjunction]] of [[the Lock]] and [[the Web]].

Almost immediately it becomes clear that the majority of the items of worth in Necropolis either belong to the Highborn, or are interred in the tombs of the [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis|Black City]], and belong to the dead. The ritual does not differentiate between items that might have worth for the orcs - it seems to draw attention to any object that has a long history and in Necropolis this is a truly astonishing number of items. This makes some sense to Imperial Orcs and Highborn magicians alike - the magic of the Day realm is unlikely to be able to discern the numinous quality of "worth" but in conjunction with the Imperial enchantment and the conjunction could help identify items whose history hangs heavy around them and [[Skein of Years|could be read]] - much as the [[Detect_magic#Divination|detect magic]] spell does.

There are also few Imperial Orcs in the territory to encourage to find items of their own - only a few dozen pilgrims visiting the tomb of [[Emperor Ahraz]], or the more recent memorials for Imperial orc heroes interred alongside the other champions of the Empire. The [[Highguard_religious_beliefs#Stewards_of_the_dead|stewards of the dead]] answer questions, and listen with a great deal of interest to stories of worth and what it means to the Imperial Orcs. For many of them this is the first time they have had an opportunity to learn about the concept, and many are fascinated, especially when talk turns to matters of the [[Worth#Imperial Relics|Imperial relics]] - the weapons and armour donated to the first legions by the Highborn. They won't provide access to burial places, however, and in all honesty few Imperial Orcs even ask. The idea of graverobbing to recover items of worth proves unpalatable.

This isn't to say the magic is wasted, not entirely. There are people in Highguard who have the kind of items of worth that would be valuable to the Imperial Orcs. A few are relics of the shameful past - reminders of the centuries that Highguard saw [[orc|orcs]] purely as creatures to be slain or enslaved. When an orc requests the return of such items, few refuse. The [[384YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_7|inspiring words]] of ''' Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum''' are still plain in the Highborn peoples' minds. There are also several items that have a less sorrowful history; gifts given to battlefield-allies by dying Imperial Orc soldiers. Most of these are kept as mementos by the Highborn to whom they were entrusted, a reminder of a staunch ally or friend, but in some cases they too are surrendered to the Imperial Orcs especially when the meaning of worth is explained. In each case, they are handed over with stories of how and why they came into the possession of the Highborn, further cementing their identity as items of worth.

Some of these items are given to [[general]] Rykana, but most are either kept by the soldiers who find them - eager to help build their legend and that of the object. Many are also sent back to [[Skarsind]], to the [[Weigher_of_Worth#The_Halls_of_Worth|Halls of Worth]], so the [[Imperial_Orcs_magical_traditions#Oathwrights|oathwrights]] can find new champions to carry them and be inspired by them.
===Participation===
Ribbons will be provided to the General of the Winter Sun, the Imperial Orcs whose [[military unit|military units]] supported the army, and to the [[Weigher of Worth]] at the start of the event. Any Imperial Orc or Highborn character who was in Necropolis this season for any reason can create a story about items of worth, and interactions with members of the other nation. Any steward of the dead in particular is encouraged to read over the [[worth]] page, to get a feel for what the Imperial Orcs might have explained to them, while any Imperial Orc is encouraged to review the Necropolis page, and the explanation of the role played by the [[Highguard_religious_beliefs#Stewards_of_the_dead|stewards of the dead]].

This enchantment is the result of an [[arcane projection]], and drew power in part from the lesser conjunction of things [[the Lock|being hidden]] and [[the Key|revealed]], as well as from the Imperial enchantment. It's unlikely that the exact same confluence of factors will come together again any time soon, so similar effects will not be possible in the future.

==Necropolis: Varkula==
{{SOP|statement=At the request of the Imperial Necromancer and due to our shared concerns we ask Father Drakov be given access to the Tomb of the Iron Empress, Varkula." Sovereigns are rising across Varushka. In the name of Vigilance and Wisdom we must check the seals on her tomb and the veracity of rumours that she has risen.|by=Father Drakov|vote=Greater Majority 346-0|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
* '''The Varushkan national assembly has asked to explore the tomb of Empress Varkula'''
* '''There is no sign of anything untoward in the tomb'''
The Imperial orcs are not the only people interested in relics and tombs in Necropolis. During the Summer Solstice, the [[Varushka|Varushkan]] National Assembly upheld a [[statement of principle]] by '''Father Drakov''' that expressed the concerns of the [[Imperial Necromancer]] that [[Empress Varkula]] might somehow have risen as a [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]]. A small delegation of [[Varushka religious beliefs|Wise ones]] in Necropolis - some resident and some making the long trip south especially - speak with the stewards of the dead and the guardians of the tomb.

There is absolutely no evidence of anything untoward around the tomb. It is as sealed as it ever was, and since the [[Come back to stay|mild disturbances]] in Spring 382YE, there has been nothing else to raise any concern among the stewards. Requests to break open the tomb are met with polite refusal. The idea that an Imperial Empress might turn out to be some kind of awful unliving horror akin to the [[Charnel Lord]] or [[Dho'uala]] is viewed by several of the stewards as quite offensive. Furthermore, even if for some reason a malevolent entity were to arise in the tomb, there are [[Burial rites of Empress Varkula|precuations]] to provide warnings of such an event.

Without ''significant'' evidence that some serious threat resides inside the tomb, the stewards absolutely have no interest in allowing anyone to disturb the rest of [[the Throne]] interred within. They thank the wise ones for their concern, but reassure them that if anything ''does'' happen at the tomb they will be the first to seek out the expertise of their Varushkan siblings in addressing that threat.

'''OOC Note:''' There is no sign of any threat from Empress Varkula's tomb; attempts to gain access will not lead to opportunities. This includes statements of principle: the stewards of the dead will refuse any suggestion from their own assembly that the tombs be broken into. Breaking into one of the tombs at the Necropolis would be seen as a shocking trespass by the people of Highguard, and indeed by many other Imperial nations, even if the [[Imperial Senate]] were to command it. If there was an active plot regarding Empress Varkula - or anyone else interred in the Necropolis - then opportunities would be presented to interact with it, but right now that is not the case.
{{CaptionedImage|file=SeventhWave_Colour.png|align=left|width=300}}
==Necropolis: Espionage==
* '''The Grendel espionage network in Necropolis has been broken'''
* '''Grendel plans have been examined, revealing a threat to the Necropolis itself'''
* '''Highborn businesses in Necropolis no longer receive additional money from the visiting Grendel Armada'''
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">{{SOP|statement=The Highborn national assembly appeals to the citizens of Necropolis. We call citizens to come forward to tell the Seventh Wave and accompanying priests what information was given to the Grendel. We need to know the level of danger we are in. The National Assembly want to assure the people they will be treated fairly and in accordance to Imperial law. Some Highborn priests will accompany the army to ensure this loyalty to your siblings is worth more than coin in your pocket. There is a path for redemption for unvirtuous deeds though recognising your loyalties.|by=Abraham|vote=Greater Majority 695-0|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}</div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">{{SOP|statement=Vigilance teaches us to seek out falsehood and reveal the truth. We send Isaac of the Silent Tide with 50 doses of liao to urge the unconquered and the priests of our nation to help the Seventh Wave root out the poison in our fields.|by=Mandate, Isaac of the Silent Tide|vote=Greater Majority 834-0|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}</div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Barachel of Adina's Charge, General of the Seventh Wave">We act in Vigilance, but let us remember our loyalties. While the bulk of our force resupplies, our unconquered act to quietly wrap up the Grendel's Espionage ring. A number of our citizens will be called to interview, with neither tea nor biscuits. Some, perhaps unknowingly, are traitors. But only some. And those that are, may yet find their honour to repent and redeem themselves</quote></div>
The [[Vigilance]] of the [[Seventh Wave]] has been rewarded by the [[Rings_and_crowns#Eyes_of_the_Basilisk|revelation of an espionage ring]] in Necropolis. The Highborn national assembly sent '''Isaac of the Silent Tide''' to [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Mandate#Judgement_28|support the army]] in rooting out the spies with as little disruption as possible. The power of the [[Shining like fire|Imperial enchantment currently infusing the Empire]] provides subtle assistance as well, particularly when it comes to uncovering hidden evidence or securing documents the spies might rather see destroyed.

It becomes clear that there are precious few Highborn who have intentionally sold secrets to the Grendel. Most of those who have provided information to the barbarians are doing so unwittingly, or without due consideration of the consequences. With Isaac urging people to consider the behaviour of their friends and enemies, and the assurance that those who have misstepped will not be punished, and the vigilant unconquered following up the leads they uncovered last season, the espionage ring is rolled up.

The Grendel involved are ejected from Highguard, and the magistrates work with the Highborn to differentiate those who have committed treason from those who have made mistakes. There is comparatively little disruption in the territory as a consequence, although it does put an end to the [[Shallow days|trade arrangements]] between Highborn merchants and Grendel originally [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement 112|endorsed by the assembly]]. Highborn [[business|businesses]] no longer receive [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_interlude#Visiting_Armada|additional trade]].

In the process of rolling up the espionage ring in Necropolis, there are several opportunities to actually capture information that might prove of use. The most obvious thing discovered by the soldiers and priests is that the Grendel spymasters are apparently in turmoil. None of them saw the [[Windfall|betrayal of the Apulian orcs]] coming. The Council of the Salt Lords must now face the fact that one of their own has defected to the Imperial side - someone who was privy to many of their plans for the coming war with the Empire. They are now having to change those plans... or not. According to some of the documents recovered before the Grendel spies could destroy them, some of the Salt Lords are arguing that changing the plan is exactly what the Empire would expect - that the attack on [[Sarvos]] should go ahead as planned and catch Imperial armies by surprise. In the end it is clear that they have not yet made up their mind what they are going to do: an attack is coming, but the Council of Salt Lords have not yet chosen a target.

There's also some disturbing notes that talk about an agreement with the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean Plenum]]. It's an open secret that the Asaveans are offering support to the Grendel in their upcoming war with the Empire - and equally an open secret that the Plenum wants revenge for the [[Mosaic|raid on Chalonsio]]. The Asaveans are demanding the destruction of an Imperial city as the only way to regain their pride, and propitiate their bitter gods. The most likely targets are Sarvos, obviously, but also [[Madruga#Siron|Siroc]] - and there are plenty of hints in the recovered documents that the Grendel would prefer to sacrifice Siroc to the Asaveans' bloodlust and take Sarvos for themselves - but if push comes to shove, and their alliance is on the line, who knows which way the Grendel will jump?

The majority of the intelligence recovered, however, hints at the Grendel plans for Necropolis. They have been mapping military targets and defensible locations - they definitely have a map of the territory that could be used for scrying and know the details of any army that has been stationed here in the last three years up until the start of the Autumn Equinox. The main target of any attack on the territory, however, will be the Necropolis itself. The Grendel are ''itching'' to despoil the tombs of the dead Thrones and the heroes of the Empire, and the general consensus is that such an attack would be a serious blow against the morale not only of Highguard but of the Empire as a whole. Raiding most likely wouldn't be sufficient - a Grendel army would need to occupy the region of [[Necropolis#Coursmouth|Coursmouth]] to have the time and access needed to break into the tombs. If they did, they would potentially leave the city ruined: hundreds of memorials defaced, grave goods stolen, and at least some of the bodies taken away. There's still no explanation as to what the Grendel wanted with the body of [[Empress Giselle]], for example. While the League were able to move her corpse far north, and inter her in the [[Guardian_of_Giselle%27s_Tomb#Virtue.27s_Respite|garish new tomb]] in [[Temeschwar]], there is no chance whatsoever that the other tombs of the Thrones could be relocated - never mind the mausoleums, cenotaphs, and memorials inhabited by the Empire's heroes.

The Grendel spies have identified that if they want to raid the Necropolis they will need to take and hold either [[necropolis#Sanctuary Sands|Sanctuary Sands]] or [[Redoubt#Naris|Naris]] in [[Redoubt]]. They are also aware that an Imperial counterattack against a weak holding in one of these regions might leave their army trapped in Coursmouth - although that will be scant comfort to the people of Necropolis - or the Empire.
===Bells Ring Out===
* '''The Highborn Assembly could pass a judgement urging citizens to fortify Necropolis in place of their great endeavour'''
At the moment, the potential threat to the Necropolis is not common knowledge. The Highborn National Assembly or the Assembly of Vigilance could choose to change that.
{{Mandate|mandate=The Seventh Wave have uncovered a Grendel plan to assail Necropolis, and Vigilance demands we prepare. Let the examples of the Sentinel, and of Joshua Benson, inspire us to ensure they never reach the Black City. We send (named priest) with 75 doses of liao to rouse the people of Highguard; what does it profit us to build an inspiration for the future if we cannot protect our past?|assembly=Highguard National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, it will have two effects. First, it will end the Highborn donations to the great endeavour - the sacred city at Bastion. It will not be possible to reinstate those donations unless the situation changes significantly, even when the current threat has passed. Instead, the money and white granite that would have been contributed will be turned towards supporting a [[fortification]] built in Sanctuary Sands. For the next year 20 wains of white granite and 40 crowns each season will go toward the construction of defences on the coast, to protect the Necropolis from attack.

This mandate only has an effect if it is enacted during the Autumn Equinox ''and'' a fortification is commissioned at Sanctuary Sands. If the mandate is enacted and no fortification is commissioned, the only effect will be to cause the Highborn to stop contributing to the grand endeavour.

'''OOC Note:''' Normally, an opportunity like this would not be possible. But the only thing as important to the Highborn as the future is the foundation of the past - and the Necropolis is an integral symbol of who they are, where they came from, and everything they have achieved. If it were despoiled, it would strike at the very heart of the nation.
===A Second Ring===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">{{SOP|statement=The substance known as blue lotus or Ocean's Caress, which prevents the user from using liao, is being produce in Asavea. They are using the proceeds from the sale of this drug to fund their war on the Empire and their slaving practices. We call on the virtuous to not purchase it. Do not let our Prosperity fund our enemies.|by=Eskae Crowspeaker|vote=1200-12|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}</div>
* '''Thanks to a tip-off from unnamed agents, a major smuggling ring has been ended'''
While the major focus of the Seventh Wave is on the Grendel spies, there is another ring at work in Necropolis it seems. During the Summer Solstice, heroes from [[Anvil]] apparently used the [[Sentinel Gate]] to investigate a well-secured smuggling ring operating out of [[Necropolis#Longbeach|Crown's Quay]]. A group of [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] [[corsair|corsairs]], acting on behalf of a [[Madruga|Madrugan]] magistrate, apparently identified a pivotal Grendel smuggler and their Imperial accomplices, and provided a thorough package of evidence which was used not only to arrest the smugglers in Necropolis, but also to deal with several agents in Siroc. The Grendel in Necropolis was further implicated in a fire at a local tavern, and if not for the quick thinking of a second group of Imperial heroes several historic dockside buildings might have been gutted.

With the aid of the Seventh Wave, there's no doubt that the smugglers have been dealt with, but there is still a matter of mild concern. Along with traditional small items that could be moved easily, the Grendel were also selling shipments of an Asavean narcotic called ''Ocean's Caress'' into the Empire. The substance itself is not illegal - but bringing it into the Empire without paying the appropriate [[tariffs]] - which are not insignificant when they involve trade with slavers such as the Grendel and the Asaveans - certainly is! People are being urged to be on the look-out for the substance - a thick blue liquid that causes feelings of relaxation and peculiar dreams - and if they have any suspicion that it has been brought into the Empire illegally, report those suspicions to a magistrate. By all accounts, concerns about this particular narcotic have also been raised by '''Eska Crowspeaker''' the [[Voice of Liberty]], although at this time the greater majority of the General Assembly were not moved to support the judgement.

==Sarvos: Agents==
<div style="float:right; width: 530px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;"><quote by="Jean d'Apulian, General of the Wolves of War">Our bravos have done what none have done before by "conquering" Spiral in a single season. We have fought ourselves to bloody tatters in the east and it's time to cut loose and celebrate. Let the bravos off the chain to blow off steam in the docks and bordellos with a raucous piss-up that will go down in legend, ready for any foolish enough to try and break it up.</quote></div>

* '''With the aid of the Wolves of War, the Shuttered Lantern have located an espionage network in Sarvos'''
* '''Rolling up the espionage ring still represents a challenge'''
<div style="float:right; width: 530px; clear: right;"><quote by="Grandmaster Tyburn Weaver of the Shuttered Lantern">Conclave asks the Shuttered Lantern to tear the veil and reveal the hidden hand of the Grendel and any other threat to the Empire in the territory of Sarvos. We will expose the espionage rings, spy networks, and other information gathering tools of our enemies. Where possible we hope to neutralise the threat.</quote></div>
Where there is one espionage ring, there are likely others. The Shuttered Lantern, with the support of the Imperial Conclave, have set themselves the task of tracking down espionage agents in the city of Sarvos. Again supported by the Imperial enchantment, they are able to carefully track down a number of individuals who have connections with the Grendel, observe them, and begin to get a feel for the orcs' operations in the territory. They are also helped by the fact the Wolves of War are resting and recuperating in the city. Members of the Shuttered Lantern work with soldiers from the army, taking advantage of their knowledge of the city and the surrounding terrain, their military experience, and their willingness to work with others especially if there is money on the table.

There is indeed an espionage ring at work here, but there's no sign it is connected to the one in Necropolis, or organised in the same way. It seems the Grendel spymasters are maintaining separation between their various operations, meaning that even if one is identified and rolled up, the others will not be compromised. What they ''are'' able to do however is confirm that there are definitely espionage rings in [[Madruga]], [[Redoubt]], [[Tassato]], and [[Spiral]]. The theoretical is now certain.

Much as with the Necropolis espionage ring, however, the majority of the agents here are humans rather than orcs. Most of the "agents" are League citizens providing what seems to them to be slightly dubious or criminal information in return for coin. The Grendel are not barbarians after all, and until recently there were plenty of people who assumed the peace treaty would continue for years to come. Not every agent is an Imperial, however. A key piece of intelligence gathered by the Shuttered Lantern comes when an Apulian Orc identifies an apparent [[bravo]] on the docks who they recognise from [[Bay_of_Catazar#Vorlach|Vorlach]] as a vassal of Salt Lord Moorvain. They were carousing with off-duty soldiers from the [[Wolves of War]], wheedling their way into their confidence by spending coin freely to buy drink and drugs. This leads to a group of other humans who, while pretending to be Sarvosans, are actually disguised agents of the Salt Lords.

By the Autumn Equinox, the Shuttered Lantern has a rough map of the web of agents in [[Sarvos#Bocche|Boche]], [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]], and [[Sarvos#Uccelini|Uccelini]]. This presents an obvious problem - the best way to deal with the espionage ring would be to move against agents in each of the three regions simultaneously, but that might prove a challenge for the Shuttered Lantern alone.
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderShutteredLantern.jpg|title=Order of the Shuttered Lantern|align=right|width=175}}
===Lanterns===
* '''A Declaration of Concord could be used to commit the Shuttered Lantern to dealing with the espionage ring'''
* '''The resources required would cost the Imperial Conclave 60 crystal mana from next seasons' font'''
The Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern could use a [[Declaration]] of [[Concord]] to ask the Conclave to support them in dealing with the espionage ring in Sarvos themselves. This would require a commitment of mana - the magicians in Sarvos estimate it will take 60 crystal mana in addition to their own resources. It will not be necessary to do a separate [[Endowment]] - the resources will come directly from the font for Winter Solstice, provided the Conclave supports the Shuttered Lantern's operations.

If they take the lead, the Shuttered Lantern will roll up the espionage ring in Sarvos before the Winter Solstice The Grandmaster will receive some information about what the espionage network was working on, along with a portion of the wealth the Grendel were using to pay their informants and a single [[magic items|magic item]] taken from the spies. Some some of the agents may escape - coordinating the operation will be extremely challenging - but the threat will be removed.
{{CaptionedImage|file=WolvesofWar_Colour.png|align=right|width=300}}

===Wolves===
* '''The Wolves of War can use the Guard the Gates order to destroy the spy network'''
The Wolves of War are on furlough in Sarvos as the Shuttered Lantern operation unrolls. League magicians from the order are able to call on friends who serve in the army for additional aid, and that means that a number of competent soldiers and officers have inside information about the espionage ring as well. As such, the Wolves of War could clean house in the League territory themselves. The [[general]] would need to remain in Sarvos and use their [[Army_qualities#Mercenary|mercenary]] connections to take the [[Army_qualities#Scouting|Guard the Gates]] order. If they do so, whatever else happens, the espionage ring will be shattered, multiple agents arrested and interrogated, and some of their accumulated wealth will be seized and delivered to the General along with additional information about what the network was working on. The army has the capacity to ensure that very few of the agents will be able to slip through the net, and the threat of agents operating in Sarvos will be removed. '''Note:''' While the army used the Guard the Gates order in Spring, the ability to select mercenary options "refreshes" in Autumn when the general is appointed.
===Both or Neither===
* '''If both the Shuttered Lantern and the Wolves of War cooperate the espionage ring will be smashed but there may be unexpected outcomes'''
* '''If the espionage ring is left in place either the Shuttered Lantern or the Wolves of War might deal with the threat later provided the situation does not change significantly in the meantime'''
Obviously the Shuttered Lantern and the Wolves of War might cooperate to smash the espionage ring together, If they do so, they will complement each others' approaches wherever possible. Both the Grandmaster and the General will receive a portion of the wealth the Grendel agents have accumulated, Both will receive information about what the network was working on. The espionage ring will be absolutely devastated; nobody will escape.

Of course there's no requirement for anyone to do anything here. The Shuttered Lantern may want to move on to start locating the Grendel agents in other territories; the Wolves of War might wish to do the same or have obligations that make it impossible to focus on cleaning up the spies in Sarvos. Either the order or the army can come back at a later date and deal with the espionage ring here - as long as nothing major changes in the meantime.

Leaving the ring in place is somewhat risky however. While the espionage ring is primarily used for information gathering it is sophisticated enough, and well hidden enough, that it could take covert action in support of any Grendel attack here that would go beyond just gathering information.

==Bastion and the Grand Endeavour==
{{SOP|statement=We the Nine received nineteen entries to design Bastion anew We celebrate all these visions. We instruct architects to use the design of Millward Cowley for the structure of the city, and the art of Skywise Gralka for its beauty and inspiration. We urge the civil service to display the entries received in the civil service records.|by=Viviane de Coeurdefer|vote=Greater Majority 7-1|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
* '''Two inspirational pieces of art have been selected by the Assembly of Nine to serve as the basis of the grand inspiration of the Way to be built in Bastion'''
* '''Work has finally begun on the project with gifts of white granite and money from private individuals and entire nations'''
* '''The presence of Cold Sun in the territory is making more than a few people very nervous'''
Work is ready to begin on the [[Blood will thicken|sacred city]], to be built in [[Bastion]]. The challenge of finding a piece of suitably numinous art that can help the architects and engineers of the Empire build something that will echo down the ages has been completed. The [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Contest_of_Imagination|contest of imagination]] has ended - the [[Assembly#Assembly_of_the_Nine|Assembly of Nine]] selected two winners. One, by the [[the Marches|Marcher]] '''Millward Cowley''', is a truly [[Ambition|Ambitious]] piece that lays out the basic design of the city - a central cathedral and seven encircling temples each dedicated to one of the seven virtues, surrounded by gardens. The other is from the [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] '''Skywise Gralka''', a gorgeous piece of conceptual art capturing the idea of soaring towers and pealing bells. These two pieces of art have been used to draw up the awe-inspiring structure that now begins to rise in Bastion. Assuming that everything goes according to plan, and sufficient resources are available each season, it should be completed shortly before the Autumn Equinox 358YE.
===The Wayfarer's Guide===
* '''The Wayfarer's Guide, the prize offered by the chapter of Pharos' Water, will be delivered to the civil service on Saturday morning'''
*'''Skywise Gralka and Millward Cowley must decide between them who will receive it'''
When [[Appraisal#Eilian_Sweetwater_of_Storm.27s_Run_Striding|Elian Sweetwater]] proposed that Imperial artists work with the Assembly of Nine to find a suitable inspiration, members of the Pharos' Water [[chapter]] proposed that a competition was the only virtuous way to choose these designs. The chapter's [[benefactor|benefactors]] committed to providing the winning artist with the ''Wayfarers Guide'' - an [[Magic_items#Artefacts|artefact]] [[Dragonbone Symbol]] originally created for [[Emperor James]] but never delivered.

The Assembly of Nine, however, has chosen ''two'' victors in the contest. The Exarch of the Pharos' Water chapter cannot break the Wayfarer's Guide in half, and committed to provide a single gift to one winning artist. As such, they propose to leave the decision as to who receives Emperor Frederick's Dragonbone Symbol to Millward and Gralka. The talisman will be delivered to the [[Imperial_Civil_Service#Tribune_of_the_Synod|Tribune of the Synod]] on Saturday morning; they ask that Gralka and Millward bring their decision as to who will receive the item to them at [[Anvil#The Hub|the Hub]] when they are ready.

===Progress===
* '''Work on the Grand Inspiration begins following the Summer Solstice'''
* '''Materials for constructing the grand inspiration have been provided by both wealthy individuals and the nations of Highguard, the Brass Coast, and the Marches'''
The project requires 1000 [[white granite]] and 250 Thrones. So far, three nations have [[Construct_Grand_Inspiration_of_the_Way#Outcome|committed their support]]. '''Eli of the Cenotaph''' [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_125|urged the Highborn]] to offer whatever they could to the make this dream a reality. '''Friar John of the Mourn''' [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_56|urged the people]] of [[the Marches]] to contribute whatever they could, while the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]], and '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Erigo''' [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_71|did the same]] for their own nation. Between them the three nations are contributing 53 wains of [[white granite]], and 106 crowns each season. Highguard will continue to do so until the project is complete, while the Marches and Brass coast will do so until the start of the Summer Solstice 386YE. Such devotion is costly. Everything those nations can spare will be devoted to support the extraordinary project - there will be no resources available for other plans. As a result it will be impossible to use a [[mandate]] to urge the people of the nation to support another commission or similar project that needed help. Any mandate in the Imperial Synod that urged citizens to provide financial support to a different commission or cause would fail to have any effect and any [[statement of principle]] that asked the nation for their support in this way would fail to produce a mandate.

Other nations may still choose to offer their support - unlike normal mandates those urging people to support the ambitious endeavour can be [[Blood_will_thicken#Grand_Opportunity|proposed at any time]] unless the situation changes. Even [[the League]] could do so, in spite of their National Assembly previously [[Rings_and_crowns#A_Sacred_City|having supported a statement]] by '''Fabio Costas de Sarvos''', denouncing the entire scheme as unvirtuous as they chose not to raise the resultant mandate.
===Peril===
* '''Cold Sun is in Bastion'''
There is one major cause for concern in Bastion. The forces of the destructive [[eternal]] [[Cold Sun]] have [[To the last syllable|gathered in Bastion]]. These wicked heralds have already [[To_the_last_syllable#In_Bastion_and_Reikos|destroyed]] the [[Reikos#The_Unbound_Steel_Hall_of_Lost_Chapters|Unbound Steel Hall of Lost Chapters]] in [[Reikos]], and assaulted a number of targets in Highguard including the [[High_Herbalist_of_Sybella#Sybella_Cross_Physician.27s_Hall|Physician's Hall]] in [[Bastion#Sybela|Sybela]]. Most worrying of all, however, is the news that a major force of these heralds [[To_the_last_syllable#Purity|is gathered]] at [[Bastion#Woodbury|Woodbury]] - a force of some three thousand supernatural entities with barely understood powers.

There is a ''great deal'' of white granite being gathered at Bastion, and the construction work leaves many workers, architects, engineers, and the people of the [[Bastion#Bastion.2C_the_White_City|White City]] itself vulnerable. The attackers would need to pass through [[Bastion#Stoneside|Stoneside]] to threaten the city directly, but they could certainly raid the caravans bringing white granite from the western nations. Worse, they have demonstrated both a committed hatred of things that exalt the spirit, and an ability to put themselves in a position to try and destroy those things. Finally, of course, there are no [[fortification|fortifications]] in Bastion whose garrison might slow them down. The people of the White City are nervous, to put it mildly.
{{CaptionedImage|file=ValiantPegasus_Colour.png|align=right|width=300}}
But nowhere near as nervous as the people of Woodbury. Unlike the chapters of the northern and eastern regions, those of Bastion - and those of Woodbury in particular - tend to be less fortified and more concerned with agriculture and the virtues of [[Prosperity]]. They have no capacity to protect themselves from the depredations of Cold Sun, and if they are forced to flee they will also be forced to leave their harvests behind, along with many of their treasures. While folk in Bastion are concerned about what is going to happen with Cold Sun, the chapters of Woodbury are beside themselves with worry.
==Leen : A Road to Liberation==
* '''This season the Valiant Pegasus is part of the advance into the Salt Flats of Sanath against the Druj'''
* '''This has created an opportunity for a number of National Assemblies to find out more about the disposition of the enemy forces there'''
Only one Highborn army is actively engaged with a military campaign this season, the [[Valiant Pegasus]] who are part of the Imperial advance into the Slat Flats of Sanath. It is a Courageous attack on the Druj heartlands, that draws the full attention of the Imperial Synod due to the [[Full_of_sacred_sound#The_Sticking_Place|crusading nature]] of Highguard's armies. Some question the Wisdom of such a headlong plunge into enemy territory without any idea of what is there, but others point to the presence of the [[Citadel Guard]] and their unique ability to [[Highest_discipline#Technique_of_the_Celestial_Key|carry out enlightened scrying in a territory]]. But if more knowledge is what is required, why don't the Assemblies help the generals gather it?

As a result of the inspirational attack by the [[Valiant Pegasus]] last season, any of the four national assemblies whose armies are present in Sanath could choose to encourage their soldiers to reach out to the local orcs with the following mandate.

{{Mandate|mandate=Let every word you speak carry meaning. We send {named priest} with 25 doses of liao to persuade the soldiers of the Citadel Guard/Iron Helms/Valiant Pegasus/Gryphons Pride to seek out orc septs oppressed by the Druj. Together we will find the right question.|assembly=Urizen/Varushkan/Highborn/Dawnish Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted by a nation then the soldiers of that army will adopt the [[Throw_back_the_echoes#Great_Deeds_Are_Eternal|approach pioneered by the Dawnish in the conquest of the Barrens]], striving to minimise casualties and thus open channels of communication. Each army that is affected would suffer a twenty-five percent penalty to territory captured, but they would gain information about a single sept present in the territory, get an impression of how they view the Empire and gain a winged messenger contact for that sept. Each Assembly can only influence the soldiers of their own nation who were present there last season, armies that were not present in Sanath before the summit cannot be affected.

This mandate will only affect Urizen or Varushka if their Assembly pass it with a greater majority due to both those nations questioning of Synod mandates. Due to the nature of this opportunity it is not possible to submit an alternate mandate on this topic.

None of these mandates will have any effect if the Iron Helms, or any other Imperial army, carry out a [[Army_qualities#Cruel|merciless assault]] against Druj inhabitants of the Salt Flats of Sanath this coming season. It is not possible to open diplomatic channels of communication whilst engaging in brutal tactics designed to terrorize them. If any army undertakes a merciless assault then all the mandates will automatically fail and no liao will be taken.

Schools and sawmills

2023-09-04T12:18:26Z

Cathtice: /* Tassato: Five Cities Military Academy */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"''What'' did you just say?" Lynada's exclamation silenced the buzz of conversation in the common room. The old soldier stood up slowly, placing her balled fists on the table, and leaning slightly forward. The orc opposite took another sip from his mug, looking up at her, apparently unfazed by her reaction.

"I ''said'' that if the Varushkans hadn't made the Black Plateau do... what it did... the Empire would have lost at Solen's Doubt." The orc spoke calmly, but there was an edge to his words.

Lynada spoke through gritted teeth. "We ''had'' you. We ''had'' you at Solen's Doubt and you know it! Even without the... the Plateau... your armies were on the verge of breaking anyway, like the undisciplined rabble they are, and..."

"I'm sorry, but what did ''you'' just say? That our - that the ''Grendel'' - armies were ''undisciplined''? You? A soldier of the ''Empire'' criticises ''our'' - the Grendel - soldiers for being ''undisciplined''!?" Batheka's chair scraped against the tiled floor as he stood up, his hands on the table mirroring Lynada's. The two old soldiers faced each other across the table, noses less than a foot apart. All around the common room students and guests exchanged worried glances.

Batheka broke eye contact first, but only so he could pick up a jug, and slam it down in the middle of the table.

"Solen's Doubt," he said. "The spire."

He pushed the plates and bowls to one side, and began to pick up random objects, slapping them down and naming them as he did so. "Brine Turtles, Black Eels. Wolves of War. Iron Bloody Helms."

He reeled off the armies one at a time. The orc sat next to him, who had not stopped eating throughout the altercation, wordlessly handed several pots and pepper shakers down from the other end of the table.

"The Towerjacks were further east," growled Lynada. Still talking she pulled one of the rings from her finger and balanced it atop the pepper pot, moving it into position. "We were in the shadow of the tower. And you're completely ignoring the ridge. The ridge was... Dammit, give me that salt cellar."

She moved the mustard pot representing the Red Wind Corsairs several inches to the left, and sprinkled out a line of salt diagonally across the battlefield.

Batheka nodded approvingly, in spite of himself. "That damn ridge," he said. "We knew you'd try to claim the higher ground-"

"And we knew you knew," interjected Lynada quickly.

"- But if we ''also'' knew that if we could put pressure on one of your armies, the Citadel Guard would move to support them allowing us to start picking off the battle-magicians, which is why we had the Stone Gyre ''here'' and-"

"- And that put them in the path of the Iron Helms which - "

" - Yes, yes, which meant they were the first to go, but look, the ''strategy'' was sound - press the Corsairs ''here'' and pull the Guard ''here'' and then the Brine Turtles and the Sand Pipers would -"

The orc moved several items around, but Lynada was already shaking here head, moving them back into position.

" - No, because you're not allowing for the-"

A small crowd began to gather, now that it was clear a brawl was not about to break out. People started to ask questions. One of the librarians, who had been with the Wolves of War, started to argue with Lynada about the exact situation with the army on the day of the battle, grabbing the chutney jar representing them and shaking it for emphasis.

Brakala's companion rolled his eyes, shifted along the bench slightly to make room for a student who was trying to get a better look at things from the Grendel side of the table, and caught the eye of one of the staff.

"Best send for another pitcher or two," he rumbled, while simultaneously helping himself to an abandoned bowl of rhubarb crumble. "This is going to to go on for quite a while."</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Art, Fashion, and Culture.jpg|caption=Life is competition, and someone is always keeping score.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
A little over three months remain in the [[The_money_goes_round#Life_is_a_Competition|grand competition]] proposed by Merchant Prince, ''Fransesca di Matos''. Challenging the [[Ambition]], [[Pride]], and [[Prosperity]] of [[the League]], the contest has nearly run its course and will end at the start of the Winter Solstice 385YE. The winner will be the city that has invested the largest amount of [[weirwood]],[[white granite]], and [[mithril]] "improving" their [[territory]] and their city.

Commissions do not count by themselves, only actual wains spent to build things in the League territories - but there's no requirement that the commission be ''completed'' by the close of the competition. Provided the materials have been ''contributed'', they count towards the final scores. This means that even a very ambitious commission - like the one proposed by [[#Sarvos:_Diora_University|Diora University]] could still count toward the tally, as long as work had begun and wains had been committed to the construction.

In addition to wains spent building Senate commissions, Fransesca wanted everything to count. The resources spent by citizens to upgrade their own [[business|businesses]] and other [[Resource#Personal Resources|personal resources]] are as important to demonstrating the wealth and Ambition of a city as those spent on civic works or vanity projects. Just as they did [[Half-time score|last season]], the Civil Service had provided their assessment of how each city is doing.
<table class="wikitable sortable">
<tr><th>City</th><th>Weirwood</th><th>White Granite</th><th>Mithril</th><th>Personal Resource</th><th>Total</th></tr>
<tr><td>Holberg</td><td>15</td><td>81</td><td>15</td><td>42</td><td>152</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sarvos</td><td>0</td><td>70</td><td>0</td><td>58</td><td>128</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tassato</td><td>15</td><td>15</td><td>0</td><td>5</td><td>35</td></tr>
<tr><td>Temeschwar</td><td>30</td><td>74</td><td>10</td><td>28</td><td>142</td></tr>
<tr><td>Apulian</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td></tr>
</table>
<quote by="Merchant Prince Fransesca di Matos">With a single season left, there is everything to play for! Unless you live in Tassato, of course. They're lagging behind a bit, as you can see. Apulian wasn't part of the League when the contest began so they've at least got an excuse. To be frank, I'd move if I lived there!</quote>

==Education==
{{SOP|statement=We are rightly Proud of our cities and defined by our universities, but it is time to recognise our academics, our curators, our engineers, our philosophers, and our experts. Let us elevate the title of scholar to sit alongside Bishop, Bravo, Mountebank, et al. All with the purpose of promoting this as a route out of the academy that would sit proudly alongside all the arch-typical careers in the League.|by=Prince Bishop Jonah von Holberg|vote=Greater Majority 321-61|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
A timely [[statement of principle]] by Bishop Jonah von Holberg urged the people of the League to be proud of their cities and the first-rate education provided by their universities, but went on to say that “''it is time to recognise our academics, our curators, our engineers, our philosophers, and our experts.''”

There are two great universities in the League. Perhaps the greatest is grand Holberg University, whose College of Engineering is renowned not only across the Empire, but in other nations as well. The establishment of the [[Chair of the Wolf]] last year was no doubt partly inspired by the challenge of the magical [[Master_of_the_Koboldi#College_of_Engineering|College of Engineering]] overseen by the [[master of the Koboldi]], and in turn must surely have played some part in inspiring the new [[Master_of_Rings#Temeschwar_University_Department_of_Architecture|Department of Architecture]] at [[Temeschwar]] University. This is how it is in the League, sometimes. The cities are rivals, but each time one gains something prestigious it serves to encourage the Ambition of their cousins in other parts of the nation.

Prince Jonah von Holberg's passionate words, coupled with the successful expansion of Holberg and Temeschwar university faculties to the benefit of the League, and with the end of Fransesca's contest in sight, has in turn inspired people in Sarvos and Tassato to look to their own academies, colleges, and places of learning, and consider how they might embody the Ambition of their fellow citizens.

==School of Hard Knocks==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Sword Academy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anywhere in Apulus, Sarvos, Tassato, Temeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' At least 10 wains of white granite and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates a sword academy in the city </td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Master of the Sword Academy of {city}'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' National position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Any well worn path</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Income 1 thrown, 6 crowns, 7 rings each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To set the syllabus for the academy and invited the best tutors and instructors to teach there</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The bravos of Holberg have flocked to the sword academy in Holberg where lessons in philosophy have proved surprisingly popular'''
* '''There is an opportunity to establish similar schools in Sarvos, Tassato, Temeschwar and Apulus to spread this interesting in learning'''
The call for more education seems to catch the spirit of the moment, not least because of the influence of the Day realm which currently [[Shining_like_fire|pervades the Empire]]. The call has already been taken up enthusiastically in Holberg where bravos are flocking to the [[Master_of_Defence_of_the_Scholars_of_the_Sword_Academy|Scholars of the Sword Academy]]. When the school opened they invited sword scholars to teach there and they enthusiastically combined instruction on sword play with lessons on the nature of [[Wisdom]] and encouragement to independent thinking. The syllabus was quickly expanded to include emphasis on the lessons on virtue provided by [[Emperor Frederick]] particularly this found in his most famous work ''"Anarchy and Liberty"''. Bravos are typically known for hard-drinking and brawling in the streets, but those who are engaged with the school are becoming increasingly interested in studying a wide range of radical political philosophies.

What is drawing such interest in Holberg would surely prove just as popular in the other cities of the League. The League could benefit from creating similar schools combining swordplay and philosophy in Sarvos, Tassato, Temeschwar or Apulus if they want to encourage this new revolution. Not everyone will take an interest of course - even in Holberg those bravos who are interested in Frederick's ideas on republicanism are the exception rather than the rule. But those bravos who might be minded to study civics or similar fields would surely welcome an opportunity to do so.

This season, it is possible to construct a sword academy in any or all of the four other cities of the League that do not currently have one. Each school would require a commission able to create a sinecure. The minimum size would be 10 wains of white granite which would need 30 crowns for the labour costs and take three months to build. However in theory, it would be possible to build a larger school using up to 20 wains. Each sword academy would need a Master to lead the school; they would be responsible for setting the syllabus and for inviting the best tutors and instructors to teach there. To reward them for their efforts, they would receive a seasonal income equal to one third more than a sinecure of the same size.

The [[Master of Defence of the Scholars of the Sword Academy ]] in Holberg is a national Senate appointment. Any new positions would need to League national positions with tenure, but they could be appointed by a different well worn constitutional path such as a [[judgement]] of [[appointment]] by the League Assembly, or appointment by [[Tally of the Votes]].

==Sarvos: Diora University==
* '''Diora University is the oldest university in the League, but has been eclipsed by Holberg University'''
* '''Sarvos is a centre for fashion, art, and culture and this inspires the Dean of the University to consider restoring Diora's fortunes by focusing on what the City of Masks does best'''
The university of Sarvos, Diora University, has had a rocky few years. Following the [[The_sack_of_Sarvos|Grendel invasion]], and subsequent [[380YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#The_Defiance_of_Sarvos|liberation]], the University apparently encountered financial difficulties. These monetary concerns were resolved thanks to generous donations from citizens of [[the League]] and [[Highguard]], but it cannot be denied that the college has seen better days. The oldest place of learning in the League, it is a shadow of its former self, long-since outclassed by the sprawling campus of Holberg University. There have been proposals in the past to revitalise its fortunes, including one involving the establishment of a [[Focused_and_methodical#The_Diora_University_College_of_Autumn_Magic_and_Dramaturgy|College of Autumn Magic]] with a special focus on attracting professors from across the Known World to take up teaching posts there. Sarvos is, after all, the foremost destination for ships visiting the Empire from foreign shores.

The proposal for a [[Focused_and_methodical#The_Diora_University_College_of_Autumn_Magic_and_Dramaturgy|College of Autumn Magic and Dramaturgy]] at Diora seems to have attracted little support; even the [[Imperial Conclave]] seemed [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord_:_Support_for_Diora_University|broadly disinterested]]. With three [[College of Magic|Colleges of Magic]] in the Empire already, perhaps the costs involved discouraged the Empire. Still, Ambition teaches that it is vital to aim high, to pursue dreams, and to never accept that something may be beyond your grasp. It's also worth noting that the proposal for the College was put forward before Sarvos underwent its transformation into the ''City of Masks'', and that might make a difference.

The League prides itself on its artists, and values art and the artists who create it more than perhaps any other nation. Sarvos has always been the centre of culture for the nation, tirelessly promoting an appreciation of fine things; opera, theatre, art, and dance in their siblings in other cities. The City of Masks has done much to highlight that love of the fine things that, to some, define civilisation best. While the [[Shining like fire|insidious magical aura gripping the Empire subtly influences people to eschew artistic appreciation]], it will never entirely dampen the fascination the people of Sarvos have for the Arts. Perhaps, some of them muse, the problem with Frederick di Sarvos' plans for the College of Autumn Magic and Dramaturgy is that they were too ''small''.

===Diora University College of the Arts===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Diora University College of the Arts'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' College of Magic</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cigno, in Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 110 wains white granite, 60 wains weirwood, 10 wains of mithril, 540 crowns, nine months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Allowing the purchase of the College of the Liberated contributes resourced to the project but removes the great work benefit</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates Dioran Muse, and cements Sarvos as the centre for the arts in the Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time Limit:''' If the Diora University College of the Arts is not commissioned by the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE the opportunity is lost</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This commission has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the commission does nothing</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Dioran Muse'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' National position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes or Auction of the Seats</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Codify ritual texts, acquire unique schema or magic items</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To encourage celebration and study of the arts throughout the League and the Empire as a whole</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This title has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the title does not gain some or all of its powers</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Diora University College of the Arts could be established in Sarvos'''
* '''The proposed expansion and revitalisation of Diora University would cost '''
* '''The ''Dioran Muse'' would gain the ability to engage magicians to codify rituals, and
* '''The College of the Liberated could be converted to form a pastoral campus for Diora University'''
Building on Frederick's proposal, and on the success of the [[The_winds_of_fashion#The_School_of_Couture|House Bourné School of Couture]], the Dean has shared an ambitious plan for the future of Diora University. Let other cities deal in Architecture, and Engineering, and let Sarvos become the centre for the study of what it does best – the Arts in all their forms. Music in all its forms; sculpture; dance to move the spirit and break the heart; poetry that inspires; writing that helps the reader see themselves and their world with new eyes; the crafting of clothes and jewellery that will change the way people adorn and express themselves; drama that celebrates the tragic, the comedic, the historic, and the whole of human experience. The project is ambitious and will need extensive investment from the citizens of the League.

The plans for Diora University College of the Arts will require 110 wains of white granite, 60 wains of weirwood, and 10 wains of mithril. It will have a labour cost of 540 crowns and take nine months to complete. It would have an upkeep to the Senate of 20 Thrones each season – though as the Dean rather pointedly points out, over a year that amounts to only slightly more than the League contributed to the [[Imperial treasury]] for the [[Regario Dossier]] during the Spring Equinox.

The College would create an Imperial title - the ''Dioran Muse'' perhaps - who would be responsible for promoting the arts across the League and the Empire as a whole. The title would be a League national position, but while the Dean would ''prefer'' that it be appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]], they would not object to the idea of it being appointed by [[Auction of the Seats]], provided it remained League national.

Once completed, the College would provide a number of benefits.

While the main focus would be on the Arts, it would also attract a number of magicians to both study and teach at the University. This would allow it to function as a [[college of magic]], albeit not the way the colleges in less sophisticated parts of the Empire function.

The college would be able to codify [[arcane projection|arcane projections]] from any realm, but at a base codification rate of 0 ranks each season. The Dioran Muse would be able to spend money to speed up the process: The first five ranks of additional research in a season cost 2 thrones. The next five ranks cost a further 5 thrones. The next five ranks cost a further 10 Thrones, and so on doubling the price for each
additional five ranks of research within the same season. The ritual texts produced in this fashion would, of course, be the property of the Dioran Muse to do with as they saw fit.

It would also be ''prestigious'', attracting students, teachers, as well as artists, from across the Empire and indeed the Known World. Building on the historical reputation of Diora University it would ensure that Sarvos became the undisputed centre of artistic endeavour for the Empire for the foreseeable future.

In addition to the cultural benefits, the staff of the College of the Arts would take advantage of the opportunity to liaise with these visitors. Inspired by the [[Dressed_in_smoke_and_fire#The_Schemas|proposal of House Boruné last year]], the faculty would seek out opportunities to acquire [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] for [[:Category:Mage_Robes|mage robes]], and [[:Category:Jewellery|magical jewellery]] unknown in the Empire. Once each year they would present at least three opportunities to the ''Dioran Muse'' to acquire either the schema themselves or examples of the [[magic items]] they created for their personal use – or the benefit of the nation, or the Empire, as the Muse saw fit.

House Boruné has already been approached to see if they would be prepared to share the schema for the four Masks of the Cities that they have created, and have agreed that if the college is built, securing the prestige of Sarvos as a cultural centre of the Known World, they would make those schema available to any League [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisan]] who wished to study them, similar to the way they make the schema for their mage robes available to Imperial citizens.

The opportunity to expand Diora University remains available until the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE. If it is not taken up by then, the chance will be lost. The Dean is keen to see the commission begun as soon as possible, obviously, as it could potentially secure the victory in Francesca's contest for the City of Masks.

===College of the Liberated===
* '''If the Senate commissions the Diora University College of the Arts they might allow the purchase of the College of the Liberated'''
* '''If they do this will contribute 20 white granite, 20 weirwood, and 120 crowns to the construction'''
As part of the plan, the Dean proposes to purchase several sites around the city and in a few cases outside the walls. One of the proposals involves acquiring and converting the [[College of the Liberated]] in [[Sarvos#Trivento|Trivento]]. That building was built with the best of intentions, says the Dean, but it has served its purpose. In the last few years, attendance has slowly waned, and its curriculum shrunk down to the point where Diora University could deliver it more effectively. The beautiful building itself will become a vital part of the new College, allowing students to work in idyllic pastoral surroundings, with plenty of space for auditoriums, theatrical workshops, and dance studios away from the constant hustle and bustle of the city.

Only the Senate can take advantage of this opportunity to reduce the cost of the College. If the motion specifically mentions allowing Diora University to take control of the College of the Liberated and put it to new use, it will abrogate the title of [[College_of_the_Liberated#Dean_of_the_Liberated|Dean of the Liberated]], and remove the [[great work]] but it will effectively contribute 20 wains of white granite and 20 wains of weirwood to the commission, and 120 crowns of labour. Rather than building a new campus outside the city walls the College of the Liberated will be converted to fill that role.

==Tassato: Five Cities Military Academy==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mitliary Academy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Folly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Tassato Maestra or Tassato Regario</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of mithril, 30 wains of white granite, 180 crowns crowns and 6 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Increases the number of armies the League can support to 3</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This commission has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the commission does nothing</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tassato lacks a single prestigious university but there is an opportunity to create an impressive Military Academy'''
* '''Establishing a military academy in Tassato would allow the League to support a third army'''
* '''The academy would 30 wains of white granite, 30 wains of mithril to establish, 180 crowns and take six months to complete'''

Tassato is the site of two prestigious centres of learning - the [[Tassato#The_School_of_Epistemology|School of Epistemology]] and the recently established [[Tassato#Barossa_School_of_Imperial_Strategy|Barossa School of Imperial Strategy]]. The latter was founded only a couple of years ago, with the aid of the [[eternal]] [[Zakalwe]]. It was in the library here that the retired ''Lynada Prince de Tassato'' first met the newly arrived [[orc]] ''Batheka d'Apulian''. The Apulian had purchased apartments in Tassato Regario, having determined that he had no interest in being on the front line of another war between the Grendel and the Empire. It turned out he was not the only one – perhaps a dozen former Grendel have moved themselves and their families to Tassato since the Summer Solstice.

The two old soldiers discovered they had faced each other in open battle on the plains of [[Spiral]], and they spent several days arguing, debating, and discussing the differences between [[Grendel]] and League military theories and practices. Batheka called on his colleagues to support his arguments, and Lynada did the same, and after a week or so their group expanded to include many of the students and lecturers.

Taking over one of the lecture halls at the School of Imperial Strategy, this impromptu “salon of war” engaged in spirited debates and seminars partly historical, and partly more recent. The staff asked them to leave, but they have cheerfully refused to go – and the students are very keen to hear about their first-hand experience.

As the Autumn Equinox approaches, the veterans reached a conclusion. With the addition of the wealth provided by Apulian – by Spiral – and the combined expertise of the human and orc veterans, the seed of a third League army could be planted.

The Barossa School of Imperial Strategy is excellent for theory and strategy, but they believe what is needed is ''practical'' application of those skills. A place to gather and train soldiers, to store weapons and armour... and to prepare a new army. The ''Five Cities Military Academy'' would provide the logistical support required to muster and support a new army. It would need to be built in Tassato, to take advantage of the School of Imperial Strategy and the more practical elements of the curriculum at the School of Epistemology. It would also take advantage of the Tassatan knack for diplomacy, compromise, and influence – bringing together soldiers from all ''five'' cities of the League. As well as serving as a place to train and muster soldiers, it would also serve as the heart of a new League logistical corps, dedicated to supporting all the League armies.

The Academy would need 30 wains of white granite and 30 wains of mithril to establish, require 180 crowns in labour costs, and take six months to complete. Once it was finished, it would allow the League to support three armies, so long as they did not lose control of any of their existing five territories.

Construction of the Academy, and the raising of the third army, could take place at the same time, but the new army could not be completed until the academy was completed. If something went wrong with the academy, then the new army would not be supported and could not be completed. If the Academy were lost, abrogated, or destroyed, then the League's ability to support three armies would likewise be lost, with the usual consequences.

Batheka d'Apulian is keen to point out that the Five Cities Military Academy would also be able to incorporate the orcs' naval acumen. The third army could be an [[Imperial navy]] just as easily. “''How else,''” asks Batheka, only half joking, “''Is Dubhtraig to become the Sixth League City?''”
<quote by="Imperial Constitution>Each nation in the Empire will raise armies as directed by the Senate. The Senate will appoint a general for each army, but only where the will of the nation in this matter is not clear</quote>
===A Third Army===
* '''A general must be a national position but the Constitutional Court have confirmed that it would be constitutional to appoint a League general by public auction'''
Without wishing to put the ox before the wagon, Lynada Prince de Tassato and Batheka d'Apulian have an intriguing proposal. Armies (or navies) are expensive, both to raise and to support. The Senate might not be minded to approve of mustering another army. So the veterans propose that whatever the nature of the third League army, the general be determined not by unanimous decision of the senators of the nation, as is traditional. but by [[Auction of the Seats|publc auction]], like the [[Master of the Imperial Mint]]. The [[Imperial Constitution]] is consulted, and a query sent to the Constitutional Court, who confirm that it is not unconstitutional to appoint a League general this way ''provided the will of the nation in this matter is clear''. Would this make the Senate more likely to support mustering the army? Would it encourage them to disburse the kinds of funds needed to purchase mithril (or weirwood, as Bahtka insists on reminding people)? Would the senators of the five cities even be interested in allowing the third League army to be appointed in this fashion? It's an interesting consideration.

Whatever else happens, it's likely the third League army, if it is raised, will be the first Imperial army ever to combine both orc and human troops and officers. This could conceivably present additional problems of discipline and organisation, but the Tassatans are perhaps the ideal people to find ways to overcome such challenges - or turn them into opportunities.

==Holberg: The Sand Fisher Port==
* '''With the help of the League, the Sand Fishers have managed to complete their sawmills a year earlier than expected'''
* '''They are eager to establish a port on the Semmerlak but they believe that a good quality road will be needed first'''
Last season in Holberg, '''Lia Adelaar van Holberg ''' arranged [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_92|a significant loan]] for the Sand Fishers. With that money they were able to purchase the last of the wains needed to complete work on their [[To_see_what_you_sell#Holberg|saw-mills]] in [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]] and [[Holberg#Utterlund|Utterlund]]. They had managed to acquire roughly half the materials and do half the work themselves already, but with the loan they are able to complete construction shortly before the Autumn Equinox. There are now large orc operated saw-mills in the forests of Holberg, and the first trees have been cut down and are being dried to make lumber.
{{SOP|statement=Citizens of the League, life is a competition, and currently Dawn and Varushka are winning the Semmerlak trade. Let us join forces with our neighbours, the Sand Fishers, to create a dock at Misericorde for our mutual Pride and Prosperity. Our Ambition will be twice rewarded should the Sand Fishers be welcomed as full citizens of the League.|by=Lia Adelaar van Holberg|vote=Greater Majority 368-18|when=Spring Equinox 385YE}}
{{SOP|statement=Citizens of Holberg learn their trades through apprenticeships as well as in our Universities. We encourage citizens of the League to share knowledge and culture with the Sand Fishers. Seek out apprenticeships with them and in turn welcome Sand Fishers as your apprentices!|by=Claus|vote=Greater Majority 339-0|when=Spring Equinox 385YE}}
Lia Adelaar van Holberg also raised the [[statement of principle]] suggesting that the League and the Sand Fishers join forces to create a dock at Misericorde for mutual [[Pride]] and [[Prosperity]]. [[Underwater sunshine|Recent problems]] with the [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] [[Dho'uala]] notwithstanding, it turns out the orcs are very enthusiastic about the idea. The Sand Fishers don't have experience with the kind of ships that sail on open waters, but they are accustomed to working shallow waters in a myriad different ways. They are eager to discuss the proposal and look at the viability of the project, provided a way can be found to finance it.

A meeting is arranged between a delegation of Sand Fishers and representatives of Holberg at the Misericorde covered market. The orcs, to the surprise of their counterparts, bring their ''accountant''.

A little less than two years ago, the Senate [[Increase_upkeep_of_Holberg|funded additional classes]] at Holberg Univeristy to [[Across_the_Abyss#A_Seat_of_Learning|provide access to education]] to the Sand Fishers. ''Mautez Flat-toes'' is one of the first graduates, studying business law and accountancy. He's very enthused about the opportunity to put what he has learned into practice, and is advising his fellow orcs about a potential approach to the League.

It is clear that the Sand Fishers have already put a surprisingly large amount of thought into this. They're quick to point out that Misericorde is really the only viable location for a port in Holberg - there simply aren't any really suitable locations along the banks of the Nameless River in Utterlund or [[Holberg#Ennerlund|Ennerlund]]. But the port could bring significant economic benefits to Holberg, which currently lacks a waterfront of any kind. Of course the Sand Fishers would benefit enormously from the trade as well, but that is only fair they argue, since the region of Misericorde belongs to the sept. Ergo any port built there...

Lengthy negotiations follow. The Sand Fishers are not fools, they know a port would require a significant investment of white granite that they don't have, so they don't hide the fact that they would need the League and their allies to provide the bourse materials. Thus their proposals include a table of charges for ships docking at the waterfront with steep discounts for all vessels flying a League ensign for the first decade that the port is operational. The proposals seem fair, the Sand Fishers are keen to do well from the port, but it's clear they want to work together with the people of Holberg to ensure that the facilities will benefit everyone.

===The Lakesedge Highway===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Lakesedge Highway'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Rebeshof, Holberg</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of white granite and 54 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates Rebeshof Roadwarden</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This commission has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the commission does nothing</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Rebeshof Roadwarden'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' National position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' League Senators or Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Income 12 crowns, 10 True Vervain, 10 Imperial Roseweald each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To maintain the road and keep it and the merchants using it safe, dealing with any threats</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This title has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the title does not gain some or all of its powers</td></tr>
</table></div>
Before that can happen however, there needs to be a traversible road between the city of Holberg and the shores of the Semmerlak. Otherwise merchants will find it impossible to move their wares to and from the port to the deep markets of Holberg. Flat-toes suggests that a road from the [[Watches_from_the_Wall#The_Gallery_and_the_Gate|Holmauer Gate]], through [[Holberg#Rebeshof|Rebeshof]] to the Sand Fisher settlement of ''Lakesedge'' in north-western Misericorde.

According to the civil service assessment the road would require 30 wains of white granite. It will need to pass through the marshes of Rebeshof which would [[Commission#Marshes|mean especially high labour costs]] but the Sand Fishers agree that they will provide half the labour for the work. As a result it would cost 54 crowns and take only three months to complete. Once finished, there will be a wide, stone highway, banked up above the marshes, connecting Holberg and the Sand Fisher town.

The Sand Fishers are happy for the League to appoint someone to be responsible for maintaining the road, making sure it is navigable, and dealing with any threats from the marshes (such as [[marshwalkers]] or bandits). This would mean an [[Imperial title]] – perhaps the ''Rebeshof Roadwarden'' – appointed by the League senators or perhaps by [[Tally of the Votes]]. In return for their responsibilities, the Rebeshof Roadwarden would be able to charge a reasonable toll for use of the road, paid in coin by Imperials and in herbs by Sand Fisher orcs. This would be a sinecure providing 12 Crowns, 10 True Vervain, and 10 Imperial Roseweald each season the road remained open.

With an agreement in principle signed with the Sand Fishers, once work on the road is underway, then the civil service will go over their proposal for a port and provide the League with a full breakdown of what it might cost and how much Holberg could expect to benefit from the increase in trade that it would support.
==Further Reading==
* [[Half-time score]] - 385YE Summer Wind of Fortune detailing developments in the contest and the Sand Fishers' loan
* [[To see what you sell]] - 385YE Spring Wind of Fortune about the Academy of the Sword, sword scholars, and bravos
* [[The money goes round]] - 384YE Winter Wind of Fortune introducing Francesca di Matos' challenge
* [[To see what you sell]] - 384YE Spring Wind of Fortune about the Sand Fishers

Schools and sawmills

2023-09-04T12:12:39Z

Cathtice: /* Sarvos: Diora University */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"''What'' did you just say?" Lynada's exclamation silenced the buzz of conversation in the common room. The old soldier stood up slowly, placing her balled fists on the table, and leaning slightly forward. The orc opposite took another sip from his mug, looking up at her, apparently unfazed by her reaction.

"I ''said'' that if the Varushkans hadn't made the Black Plateau do... what it did... the Empire would have lost at Solen's Doubt." The orc spoke calmly, but there was an edge to his words.

Lynada spoke through gritted teeth. "We ''had'' you. We ''had'' you at Solen's Doubt and you know it! Even without the... the Plateau... your armies were on the verge of breaking anyway, like the undisciplined rabble they are, and..."

"I'm sorry, but what did ''you'' just say? That our - that the ''Grendel'' - armies were ''undisciplined''? You? A soldier of the ''Empire'' criticises ''our'' - the Grendel - soldiers for being ''undisciplined''!?" Batheka's chair scraped against the tiled floor as he stood up, his hands on the table mirroring Lynada's. The two old soldiers faced each other across the table, noses less than a foot apart. All around the common room students and guests exchanged worried glances.

Batheka broke eye contact first, but only so he could pick up a jug, and slam it down in the middle of the table.

"Solen's Doubt," he said. "The spire."

He pushed the plates and bowls to one side, and began to pick up random objects, slapping them down and naming them as he did so. "Brine Turtles, Black Eels. Wolves of War. Iron Bloody Helms."

He reeled off the armies one at a time. The orc sat next to him, who had not stopped eating throughout the altercation, wordlessly handed several pots and pepper shakers down from the other end of the table.

"The Towerjacks were further east," growled Lynada. Still talking she pulled one of the rings from her finger and balanced it atop the pepper pot, moving it into position. "We were in the shadow of the tower. And you're completely ignoring the ridge. The ridge was... Dammit, give me that salt cellar."

She moved the mustard pot representing the Red Wind Corsairs several inches to the left, and sprinkled out a line of salt diagonally across the battlefield.

Batheka nodded approvingly, in spite of himself. "That damn ridge," he said. "We knew you'd try to claim the higher ground-"

"And we knew you knew," interjected Lynada quickly.

"- But if we ''also'' knew that if we could put pressure on one of your armies, the Citadel Guard would move to support them allowing us to start picking off the battle-magicians, which is why we had the Stone Gyre ''here'' and-"

"- And that put them in the path of the Iron Helms which - "

" - Yes, yes, which meant they were the first to go, but look, the ''strategy'' was sound - press the Corsairs ''here'' and pull the Guard ''here'' and then the Brine Turtles and the Sand Pipers would -"

The orc moved several items around, but Lynada was already shaking here head, moving them back into position.

" - No, because you're not allowing for the-"

A small crowd began to gather, now that it was clear a brawl was not about to break out. People started to ask questions. One of the librarians, who had been with the Wolves of War, started to argue with Lynada about the exact situation with the army on the day of the battle, grabbing the chutney jar representing them and shaking it for emphasis.

Brakala's companion rolled his eyes, shifted along the bench slightly to make room for a student who was trying to get a better look at things from the Grendel side of the table, and caught the eye of one of the staff.

"Best send for another pitcher or two," he rumbled, while simultaneously helping himself to an abandoned bowl of rhubarb crumble. "This is going to to go on for quite a while."</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Art, Fashion, and Culture.jpg|caption=Life is competition, and someone is always keeping score.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
A little over three months remain in the [[The_money_goes_round#Life_is_a_Competition|grand competition]] proposed by Merchant Prince, ''Fransesca di Matos''. Challenging the [[Ambition]], [[Pride]], and [[Prosperity]] of [[the League]], the contest has nearly run its course and will end at the start of the Winter Solstice 385YE. The winner will be the city that has invested the largest amount of [[weirwood]],[[white granite]], and [[mithril]] "improving" their [[territory]] and their city.

Commissions do not count by themselves, only actual wains spent to build things in the League territories - but there's no requirement that the commission be ''completed'' by the close of the competition. Provided the materials have been ''contributed'', they count towards the final scores. This means that even a very ambitious commission - like the one proposed by [[#Sarvos:_Diora_University|Diora University]] could still count toward the tally, as long as work had begun and wains had been committed to the construction.

In addition to wains spent building Senate commissions, Fransesca wanted everything to count. The resources spent by citizens to upgrade their own [[business|businesses]] and other [[Resource#Personal Resources|personal resources]] are as important to demonstrating the wealth and Ambition of a city as those spent on civic works or vanity projects. Just as they did [[Half-time score|last season]], the Civil Service had provided their assessment of how each city is doing.
<table class="wikitable sortable">
<tr><th>City</th><th>Weirwood</th><th>White Granite</th><th>Mithril</th><th>Personal Resource</th><th>Total</th></tr>
<tr><td>Holberg</td><td>15</td><td>81</td><td>15</td><td>42</td><td>152</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sarvos</td><td>0</td><td>70</td><td>0</td><td>58</td><td>128</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tassato</td><td>15</td><td>15</td><td>0</td><td>5</td><td>35</td></tr>
<tr><td>Temeschwar</td><td>30</td><td>74</td><td>10</td><td>28</td><td>142</td></tr>
<tr><td>Apulian</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td></tr>
</table>
<quote by="Merchant Prince Fransesca di Matos">With a single season left, there is everything to play for! Unless you live in Tassato, of course. They're lagging behind a bit, as you can see. Apulian wasn't part of the League when the contest began so they've at least got an excuse. To be frank, I'd move if I lived there!</quote>

==Education==
{{SOP|statement=We are rightly Proud of our cities and defined by our universities, but it is time to recognise our academics, our curators, our engineers, our philosophers, and our experts. Let us elevate the title of scholar to sit alongside Bishop, Bravo, Mountebank, et al. All with the purpose of promoting this as a route out of the academy that would sit proudly alongside all the arch-typical careers in the League.|by=Prince Bishop Jonah von Holberg|vote=Greater Majority 321-61|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
A timely [[statement of principle]] by Bishop Jonah von Holberg urged the people of the League to be proud of their cities and the first-rate education provided by their universities, but went on to say that “''it is time to recognise our academics, our curators, our engineers, our philosophers, and our experts.''”

There are two great universities in the League. Perhaps the greatest is grand Holberg University, whose College of Engineering is renowned not only across the Empire, but in other nations as well. The establishment of the [[Chair of the Wolf]] last year was no doubt partly inspired by the challenge of the magical [[Master_of_the_Koboldi#College_of_Engineering|College of Engineering]] overseen by the [[master of the Koboldi]], and in turn must surely have played some part in inspiring the new [[Master_of_Rings#Temeschwar_University_Department_of_Architecture|Department of Architecture]] at [[Temeschwar]] University. This is how it is in the League, sometimes. The cities are rivals, but each time one gains something prestigious it serves to encourage the Ambition of their cousins in other parts of the nation.

Prince Jonah von Holberg's passionate words, coupled with the successful expansion of Holberg and Temeschwar university faculties to the benefit of the League, and with the end of Fransesca's contest in sight, has in turn inspired people in Sarvos and Tassato to look to their own academies, colleges, and places of learning, and consider how they might embody the Ambition of their fellow citizens.

==School of Hard Knocks==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Sword Academy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anywhere in Apulus, Sarvos, Tassato, Temeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' At least 10 wains of white granite and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates a sword academy in the city </td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Master of the Sword Academy of {city}'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' National position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Any well worn path</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Income 1 thrown, 6 crowns, 7 rings each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To set the syllabus for the academy and invited the best tutors and instructors to teach there</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The bravos of Holberg have flocked to the sword academy in Holberg where lessons in philosophy have proved surprisingly popular'''
* '''There is an opportunity to establish similar schools in Sarvos, Tassato, Temeschwar and Apulus to spread this interesting in learning'''
The call for more education seems to catch the spirit of the moment, not least because of the influence of the Day realm which currently [[Shining_like_fire|pervades the Empire]]. The call has already been taken up enthusiastically in Holberg where bravos are flocking to the [[Master_of_Defence_of_the_Scholars_of_the_Sword_Academy|Scholars of the Sword Academy]]. When the school opened they invited sword scholars to teach there and they enthusiastically combined instruction on sword play with lessons on the nature of [[Wisdom]] and encouragement to independent thinking. The syllabus was quickly expanded to include emphasis on the lessons on virtue provided by [[Emperor Frederick]] particularly this found in his most famous work ''"Anarchy and Liberty"''. Bravos are typically known for hard-drinking and brawling in the streets, but those who are engaged with the school are becoming increasingly interested in studying a wide range of radical political philosophies.

What is drawing such interest in Holberg would surely prove just as popular in the other cities of the League. The League could benefit from creating similar schools combining swordplay and philosophy in Sarvos, Tassato, Temeschwar or Apulus if they want to encourage this new revolution. Not everyone will take an interest of course - even in Holberg those bravos who are interested in Frederick's ideas on republicanism are the exception rather than the rule. But those bravos who might be minded to study civics or similar fields would surely welcome an opportunity to do so.

This season, it is possible to construct a sword academy in any or all of the four other cities of the League that do not currently have one. Each school would require a commission able to create a sinecure. The minimum size would be 10 wains of white granite which would need 30 crowns for the labour costs and take three months to build. However in theory, it would be possible to build a larger school using up to 20 wains. Each sword academy would need a Master to lead the school; they would be responsible for setting the syllabus and for inviting the best tutors and instructors to teach there. To reward them for their efforts, they would receive a seasonal income equal to one third more than a sinecure of the same size.

The [[Master of Defence of the Scholars of the Sword Academy ]] in Holberg is a national Senate appointment. Any new positions would need to League national positions with tenure, but they could be appointed by a different well worn constitutional path such as a [[judgement]] of [[appointment]] by the League Assembly, or appointment by [[Tally of the Votes]].

==Sarvos: Diora University==
* '''Diora University is the oldest university in the League, but has been eclipsed by Holberg University'''
* '''Sarvos is a centre for fashion, art, and culture and this inspires the Dean of the University to consider restoring Diora's fortunes by focusing on what the City of Masks does best'''
The university of Sarvos, Diora University, has had a rocky few years. Following the [[The_sack_of_Sarvos|Grendel invasion]], and subsequent [[380YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#The_Defiance_of_Sarvos|liberation]], the University apparently encountered financial difficulties. These monetary concerns were resolved thanks to generous donations from citizens of [[the League]] and [[Highguard]], but it cannot be denied that the college has seen better days. The oldest place of learning in the League, it is a shadow of its former self, long-since outclassed by the sprawling campus of Holberg University. There have been proposals in the past to revitalise its fortunes, including one involving the establishment of a [[Focused_and_methodical#The_Diora_University_College_of_Autumn_Magic_and_Dramaturgy|College of Autumn Magic]] with a special focus on attracting professors from across the Known World to take up teaching posts there. Sarvos is, after all, the foremost destination for ships visiting the Empire from foreign shores.

The proposal for a [[Focused_and_methodical#The_Diora_University_College_of_Autumn_Magic_and_Dramaturgy|College of Autumn Magic and Dramaturgy]] at Diora seems to have attracted little support; even the [[Imperial Conclave]] seemed [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord_:_Support_for_Diora_University|broadly disinterested]]. With three [[College of Magic|Colleges of Magic]] in the Empire already, perhaps the costs involved discouraged the Empire. Still, Ambition teaches that it is vital to aim high, to pursue dreams, and to never accept that something may be beyond your grasp. It's also worth noting that the proposal for the College was put forward before Sarvos underwent its transformation into the ''City of Masks'', and that might make a difference.

The League prides itself on its artists, and values art and the artists who create it more than perhaps any other nation. Sarvos has always been the centre of culture for the nation, tirelessly promoting an appreciation of fine things; opera, theatre, art, and dance in their siblings in other cities. The City of Masks has done much to highlight that love of the fine things that, to some, define civilisation best. While the [[Shining like fire|insidious magical aura gripping the Empire subtly influences people to eschew artistic appreciation]], it will never entirely dampen the fascination the people of Sarvos have for the Arts. Perhaps, some of them muse, the problem with Frederick di Sarvos' plans for the College of Autumn Magic and Dramaturgy is that they were too ''small''.

===Diora University College of the Arts===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Diora University College of the Arts'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' College of Magic</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cigno, in Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 110 wains white granite, 60 wains weirwood, 10 wains of mithril, 540 crowns, nine months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Allowing the purchase of the College of the Liberated contributes resourced to the project but removes the great work benefit</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates Dioran Muse, and cements Sarvos as the centre for the arts in the Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time Limit:''' If the Diora University College of the Arts is not commissioned by the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE the opportunity is lost</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This commission has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the commission does nothing</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Dioran Muse'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' National position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes or Auction of the Seats</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Codify ritual texts, acquire unique schema or magic items</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To encourage celebration and study of the arts throughout the League and the Empire as a whole</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This title has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the title does not gain some or all of its powers</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Diora University College of the Arts could be established in Sarvos'''
* '''The proposed expansion and revitalisation of Diora University would cost '''
* '''The ''Dioran Muse'' would gain the ability to engage magicians to codify rituals, and
* '''The College of the Liberated could be converted to form a pastoral campus for Diora University'''
Building on Frederick's proposal, and on the success of the [[The_winds_of_fashion#The_School_of_Couture|House Bourné School of Couture]], the Dean has shared an ambitious plan for the future of Diora University. Let other cities deal in Architecture, and Engineering, and let Sarvos become the centre for the study of what it does best – the Arts in all their forms. Music in all its forms; sculpture; dance to move the spirit and break the heart; poetry that inspires; writing that helps the reader see themselves and their world with new eyes; the crafting of clothes and jewellery that will change the way people adorn and express themselves; drama that celebrates the tragic, the comedic, the historic, and the whole of human experience. The project is ambitious and will need extensive investment from the citizens of the League.

The plans for Diora University College of the Arts will require 110 wains of white granite, 60 wains of weirwood, and 10 wains of mithril. It will have a labour cost of 540 crowns and take nine months to complete. It would have an upkeep to the Senate of 20 Thrones each season – though as the Dean rather pointedly points out, over a year that amounts to only slightly more than the League contributed to the [[Imperial treasury]] for the [[Regario Dossier]] during the Spring Equinox.

The College would create an Imperial title - the ''Dioran Muse'' perhaps - who would be responsible for promoting the arts across the League and the Empire as a whole. The title would be a League national position, but while the Dean would ''prefer'' that it be appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]], they would not object to the idea of it being appointed by [[Auction of the Seats]], provided it remained League national.

Once completed, the College would provide a number of benefits.

While the main focus would be on the Arts, it would also attract a number of magicians to both study and teach at the University. This would allow it to function as a [[college of magic]], albeit not the way the colleges in less sophisticated parts of the Empire function.

The college would be able to codify [[arcane projection|arcane projections]] from any realm, but at a base codification rate of 0 ranks each season. The Dioran Muse would be able to spend money to speed up the process: The first five ranks of additional research in a season cost 2 thrones. The next five ranks cost a further 5 thrones. The next five ranks cost a further 10 Thrones, and so on doubling the price for each
additional five ranks of research within the same season. The ritual texts produced in this fashion would, of course, be the property of the Dioran Muse to do with as they saw fit.

It would also be ''prestigious'', attracting students, teachers, as well as artists, from across the Empire and indeed the Known World. Building on the historical reputation of Diora University it would ensure that Sarvos became the undisputed centre of artistic endeavour for the Empire for the foreseeable future.

In addition to the cultural benefits, the staff of the College of the Arts would take advantage of the opportunity to liaise with these visitors. Inspired by the [[Dressed_in_smoke_and_fire#The_Schemas|proposal of House Boruné last year]], the faculty would seek out opportunities to acquire [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] for [[:Category:Mage_Robes|mage robes]], and [[:Category:Jewellery|magical jewellery]] unknown in the Empire. Once each year they would present at least three opportunities to the ''Dioran Muse'' to acquire either the schema themselves or examples of the [[magic items]] they created for their personal use – or the benefit of the nation, or the Empire, as the Muse saw fit.

House Boruné has already been approached to see if they would be prepared to share the schema for the four Masks of the Cities that they have created, and have agreed that if the college is built, securing the prestige of Sarvos as a cultural centre of the Known World, they would make those schema available to any League [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisan]] who wished to study them, similar to the way they make the schema for their mage robes available to Imperial citizens.

The opportunity to expand Diora University remains available until the end of the Winter Solstice 385YE. If it is not taken up by then, the chance will be lost. The Dean is keen to see the commission begun as soon as possible, obviously, as it could potentially secure the victory in Francesca's contest for the City of Masks.

===College of the Liberated===
* '''If the Senate commissions the Diora University College of the Arts they might allow the purchase of the College of the Liberated'''
* '''If they do this will contribute 20 white granite, 20 weirwood, and 120 crowns to the construction'''
As part of the plan, the Dean proposes to purchase several sites around the city and in a few cases outside the walls. One of the proposals involves acquiring and converting the [[College of the Liberated]] in [[Sarvos#Trivento|Trivento]]. That building was built with the best of intentions, says the Dean, but it has served its purpose. In the last few years, attendance has slowly waned, and its curriculum shrunk down to the point where Diora University could deliver it more effectively. The beautiful building itself will become a vital part of the new College, allowing students to work in idyllic pastoral surroundings, with plenty of space for auditoriums, theatrical workshops, and dance studios away from the constant hustle and bustle of the city.

Only the Senate can take advantage of this opportunity to reduce the cost of the College. If the motion specifically mentions allowing Diora University to take control of the College of the Liberated and put it to new use, it will abrogate the title of [[College_of_the_Liberated#Dean_of_the_Liberated|Dean of the Liberated]], and remove the [[great work]] but it will effectively contribute 20 wains of white granite and 20 wains of weirwood to the commission, and 120 crowns of labour. Rather than building a new campus outside the city walls the College of the Liberated will be converted to fill that role.

==Tassato: Five Cities Military Academy==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mitliary Academy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Folly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Tassato Maestra or Tassato Regario</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of mithril, 30 wains of white granite, 180 crowns crowns and 6 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Increases the number of armies the League can support to 3</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This commission has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the commission does nothing</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tassato lacks a single prestigious university but there is an opportunity to create an impressive Military Academy'''
* '''Establishing a military academy in Tassato would allow the League to support a third army'''
* '''The academy would 30 wains of white granite, 30 wains of mithril to establish, 180 crowns and take six months to complete'''

Tassato is the site of two prestigious centres of learning - the [[Tassato#The_School_of_Epistemology|School of Epistemology]] and the recently established [[Tassato#Barossa_School_of_Imperial_Strategy|Barossa School of Imperial Strategy]]. The latter was founded only a couple of years ago, with the aid of the [[eternal]] [[Zakalwe]]. It was in the library here that the retired ''Lynada Prince de Tassato'' first met the newly arrived [[orc]] ''Batheka d'Apulian''. The Apulian had purchased apartments in Tassato Regario, having determined that he had no interest in being on the front line of another war between the Grendel and the Empire. It turned out he was not the only one – perhaps a dozen former Grendel have moved themselves and their families to Tassato since the Summer Solstice.

The two old soldiers discovered they had faced each other in open battle on the plains of [[Spiral]], and they spent several days arguing, debating, and discussing the differences between [[Grendel]] and League military theories and practices. Batheka called on his colleagues to support his arguments, and Lynada did the same, and after a week or so their group expanded to include many of the students and lecturers.

Taking over one of the lecture halls at the School of Imperial Strategy, this impromptu “salon of war” engaged in spirited debates and seminars partly historical, and partly more recent. The staff asked them to leave, but they have cheerfully refused to go – and the students are very keen to hear about their first-hand experience.

As the Autumn Equinox approaches, the veterans reached a conclusion. With the addition of the wealth provided by Apulian – by Spiral – and the combined expertise of the human and orc veterans, the seed of a third League army could be planted.

The Barossa School of Imperial Strategy is excellent for theory and strategy, but they believe what is needed is ''practical'' application of those skills. A place to gather and train soldiers, to store weapons and armour... and to prepare a new army. The ''Five Cities Military Academy'' would provide the logistical support required to muster and support a new army. It would need to be built in Tassato, to take advantage of the School of Imperial Strategy and the more practical elements of the curriculum at the School of Epistemology. It would also take advantage of the Tassatan knack for diplomacy, compromise, and influence – bringing together soldiers from all ''five'' cities of the League. As well as serving as a place to train and muster soldiers, it would also serve as the heart of a new League logistical corps, dedicated to supporting all the League armies.

The Academy would need 30 wains of white granite and 30 wains of mithril to establish, require 180 crowns in labour costs, and take six months to complete. Once it was finished, it would allow the League to support three armies, so long as they did not lose control of any of their existing five territories.

Construction of the Academy, and the raising of the third army, could take place at the same time, but the new army could not be completed until the academy was completed. If something went wrong with the academy, then the new army would not be supported and could not be completed. If the Academy were lost, abrogated, or destroyed, then the League's ability to support three armies would likewise be lost, with the usual consequences.

Batheka d'Apulian is keen to point out that the Five Cities Military Academy would also be able to incorporate the orcs' naval acumen. The third army could by an [[Imperial navy]] just as easily. “''How else,''” asks Batheka, only half joking, “''Is Dubhtraig to become the Sixth League City?''”
<quote by="Imperial Constitution>Each nation in the Empire will raise armies as directed by the Senate. The Senate will appoint a general for each army, but only where the will of the nation in this matter is not clear</quote>
===A Third Army===
* '''A general must be a national position but the Constitutional Court have confirmed that it would be constitutional to appoint a League general by public auction'''
Without wishing to put the ox before the wagon, Lynada Prince de Tassato and Batheka d'Apulian have an intriguing proposal. Armies (or navies) are expensive, both to raise and to support. The Senate might not be minded to approve of mustering another army. So the veterans propose that whatever the nature of the third League army, the general be determined not by unanimous decision of the senators of the nation, as is traditional. but by [[Auction of the Seats|publc auction]], like the [[Master of the Imperial Mint]]. The [[Imperial Constitution]] is consulted, and a query sent to the Constitutional Court, who confirm that it is not unconstitutional to appoint a League general this way ''provided the will of the nation in this matter is clear''. Would this make the Senate more likely to support mustering the army? Would it encourage them to disburse the kinds of funds needed to purchase mithril (or weirwood, as Bahtka insists on reminding people)? Would the senators of the five cities even be interested in allowing the third League army to be appointed in this fashion? It's an interesting consideration.

Whatever else happens, it's likely the third League army, if it is raised, will be the first Imperial army ever to combine both orc and human troops and officers. This could conceivably present additional problems of discipline and organisation, but the Tassatans are perhaps the ideal people to find ways to overcome such challenges - or turn them into opportunities.

==Holberg: The Sand Fisher Port==
* '''With the help of the League, the Sand Fishers have managed to complete their sawmills a year earlier than expected'''
* '''They are eager to establish a port on the Semmerlak but they believe that a good quality road will be needed first'''
Last season in Holberg, '''Lia Adelaar van Holberg ''' arranged [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_92|a significant loan]] for the Sand Fishers. With that money they were able to purchase the last of the wains needed to complete work on their [[To_see_what_you_sell#Holberg|saw-mills]] in [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]] and [[Holberg#Utterlund|Utterlund]]. They had managed to acquire roughly half the materials and do half the work themselves already, but with the loan they are able to complete construction shortly before the Autumn Equinox. There are now large orc operated saw-mills in the forests of Holberg, and the first trees have been cut down and are being dried to make lumber.
{{SOP|statement=Citizens of the League, life is a competition, and currently Dawn and Varushka are winning the Semmerlak trade. Let us join forces with our neighbours, the Sand Fishers, to create a dock at Misericorde for our mutual Pride and Prosperity. Our Ambition will be twice rewarded should the Sand Fishers be welcomed as full citizens of the League.|by=Lia Adelaar van Holberg|vote=Greater Majority 368-18|when=Spring Equinox 385YE}}
{{SOP|statement=Citizens of Holberg learn their trades through apprenticeships as well as in our Universities. We encourage citizens of the League to share knowledge and culture with the Sand Fishers. Seek out apprenticeships with them and in turn welcome Sand Fishers as your apprentices!|by=Claus|vote=Greater Majority 339-0|when=Spring Equinox 385YE}}
Lia Adelaar van Holberg also raised the [[statement of principle]] suggesting that the League and the Sand Fishers join forces to create a dock at Misericorde for mutual [[Pride]] and [[Prosperity]]. [[Underwater sunshine|Recent problems]] with the [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] [[Dho'uala]] notwithstanding, it turns out the orcs are very enthusiastic about the idea. The Sand Fishers don't have experience with the kind of ships that sail on open waters, but they are accustomed to working shallow waters in a myriad different ways. They are eager to discuss the proposal and look at the viability of the project, provided a way can be found to finance it.

A meeting is arranged between a delegation of Sand Fishers and representatives of Holberg at the Misericorde covered market. The orcs, to the surprise of their counterparts, bring their ''accountant''.

A little less than two years ago, the Senate [[Increase_upkeep_of_Holberg|funded additional classes]] at Holberg Univeristy to [[Across_the_Abyss#A_Seat_of_Learning|provide access to education]] to the Sand Fishers. ''Mautez Flat-toes'' is one of the first graduates, studying business law and accountancy. He's very enthused about the opportunity to put what he has learned into practice, and is advising his fellow orcs about a potential approach to the League.

It is clear that the Sand Fishers have already put a surprisingly large amount of thought into this. They're quick to point out that Misericorde is really the only viable location for a port in Holberg - there simply aren't any really suitable locations along the banks of the Nameless River in Utterlund or [[Holberg#Ennerlund|Ennerlund]]. But the port could bring significant economic benefits to Holberg, which currently lacks a waterfront of any kind. Of course the Sand Fishers would benefit enormously from the trade as well, but that is only fair they argue, since the region of Misericorde belongs to the sept. Ergo any port built there...

Lengthy negotiations follow. The Sand Fishers are not fools, they know a port would require a significant investment of white granite that they don't have, so they don't hide the fact that they would need the League and their allies to provide the bourse materials. Thus their proposals include a table of charges for ships docking at the waterfront with steep discounts for all vessels flying a League ensign for the first decade that the port is operational. The proposals seem fair, the Sand Fishers are keen to do well from the port, but it's clear they want to work together with the people of Holberg to ensure that the facilities will benefit everyone.

===The Lakesedge Highway===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Lakesedge Highway'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Rebeshof, Holberg</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of white granite and 54 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates Rebeshof Roadwarden</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This commission has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the commission does nothing</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Rebeshof Roadwarden'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' National position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' League Senators or Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Income 12 crowns, 10 True Vervain, 10 Imperial Roseweald each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To maintain the road and keep it and the merchants using it safe, dealing with any threats</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This title has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the title does not gain some or all of its powers</td></tr>
</table></div>
Before that can happen however, there needs to be a traversible road between the city of Holberg and the shores of the Semmerlak. Otherwise merchants will find it impossible to move their wares to and from the port to the deep markets of Holberg. Flat-toes suggests that a road from the [[Watches_from_the_Wall#The_Gallery_and_the_Gate|Holmauer Gate]], through [[Holberg#Rebeshof|Rebeshof]] to the Sand Fisher settlement of ''Lakesedge'' in north-western Misericorde.

According to the civil service assessment the road would require 30 wains of white granite. It will need to pass through the marshes of Rebeshof which would [[Commission#Marshes|mean especially high labour costs]] but the Sand Fishers agree that they will provide half the labour for the work. As a result it would cost 54 crowns and take only three months to complete. Once finished, there will be a wide, stone highway, banked up above the marshes, connecting Holberg and the Sand Fisher town.

The Sand Fishers are happy for the League to appoint someone to be responsible for maintaining the road, making sure it is navigable, and dealing with any threats from the marshes (such as [[marshwalkers]] or bandits). This would mean an [[Imperial title]] – perhaps the ''Rebeshof Roadwarden'' – appointed by the League senators or perhaps by [[Tally of the Votes]]. In return for their responsibilities, the Rebeshof Roadwarden would be able to charge a reasonable toll for use of the road, paid in coin by Imperials and in herbs by Sand Fisher orcs. This would be a sinecure providing 12 Crowns, 10 True Vervain, and 10 Imperial Roseweald each season the road remained open.

With an agreement in principle signed with the Sand Fishers, once work on the road is underway, then the civil service will go over their proposal for a port and provide the League with a full breakdown of what it might cost and how much Holberg could expect to benefit from the increase in trade that it would support.
==Further Reading==
* [[Half-time score]] - 385YE Summer Wind of Fortune detailing developments in the contest and the Sand Fishers' loan
* [[To see what you sell]] - 385YE Spring Wind of Fortune about the Academy of the Sword, sword scholars, and bravos
* [[The money goes round]] - 384YE Winter Wind of Fortune introducing Francesca di Matos' challenge
* [[To see what you sell]] - 384YE Spring Wind of Fortune about the Sand Fishers

385YE Autumn Equinox winds of fortune

2023-09-04T12:08:24Z

Cathtice: /* Schools and Sawmills */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=All The News.jpg|align=left|caption=It would be a serious challenge for any one person to keep track of everything that is happening in the Empire. Even the winds of fortune only scratch the surface.|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
Over the past three months, events have taken place which are of significance to the Empire and may require a response from her champions. These are the winds of fortune, counterparts to the [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war|Winds of War]] which detail the Empire's military campaigns. They lay out situations, and usually include things that characters can do to take advantage of [[opportunity|opportunities]] or to resolve problems. In almost every case, they start with a piece of flavour text. This fiction helps introduce the wind of fortune, or draws out a particular theme or element. Often, it represents a viewpoint that one or more NPCs might have in-character. In all cases, these pieces are intended to help create an atmosphere and provide a little entertainment. Where they contain opinions, those are the opinions of the fictional people depicted - and where they contain information or rumours the assumption is that the reader will create their own context for that information or gossip if they want to use it in character.

The body of the wind of fortune describes situations and lays out ways players can engage with them. Except where we explicitly talk about something being "rumoured" or use a phrase like "some might say..." the details of a wind of fortune are factual. They represent briefing material presented by the civil service or similar authoritative sources and represents something the average educated citizen would acknowledge as a reliable truth. Unless we specify otherwise, we're also being as thorough as possible. This information doesn't need further checking in-character. It's not opinion, and we're not trying to trick you.

As always, how much or how little of this information you choose to know in character is up to you. Part of the purpose of Winds of Fortune is to maintain the illusion of the Empire as a living, breathing place where things happen - and to make players aware of things their characters could know based on what their roleplaying says they have been doing for the past three months. It's perfectly acceptable to turn up to Empire having read only a few Winds of Fortune that directly interest your character; part of the fun on the field can come from learning about situations and opportunities in other parts of the game.

In each case, we've tried to tag the Winds of Fortune entry with the nations, or political bodies, to which it is most relevant. We've done this to help people who are interested only in events that are especially relevant to them. In no way are these tags intended to be exhaustive; the Empire is a complex place and very little happens in isolation.
__TOC__
==Winds of Fortune==
===Back in Town (Plenipotentiary)===
* '''Archmages and the Imperial Conclave; Enchantress Areloe Larmallevés and Marsello Givello Cellini di Sarvos; Skywise Gralka; Cassia Silkweaver, Olyva of Esther's Sanctum, Alessi Navigator, Casimir Pakkenovic Mislova, Mayra Doubek, Kastya, and Enchantress Armand Remys; Lucky Luciano; Generals of the Green Shield, Summer Storm, and Burning Falcon; Navarr vates'''
Each season the six [[archmage|archmages]] can send a [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] message to one of the [[eternal|eternals]] of the realm they represent (and represent the Empire to). The eternals in turn are bound to respond in some way, although exactly how they respond is up to them. They might agree to a formal [[Archmage#parley|parley]] - a meeting where they or their representatives speak with the Archmage on matters of mutual interest either in private or public. Sometimes they decline, or offer other alternatives. Responses to each archmage's plenipotentiary have been received, and arrangements made for the Autumn Equinox. Three have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, one has agreed to send emissaries to Anvil to talk to select individuals, and two have made other arrangements.

You can read about the responses of the eternals, some of whom have not presented parleys in some time, in the '''[[Back in town]]''' wind of fortune.
===Restraint (Appraisal)===
* '''Imperial Senate; the Raven's Plight coven and the Imperial Conclave; Freeborn national assembly and Brass Coast folk in general'''
At the Summer Solstice, [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_Raids_Defence|the Imperial Senate requested]] an [[appraisal]] on ''"how the Empire can defend itself against raids, preferably without the construction of fortifications or the commitment of armies."'' In the absence of specific guidance, the Freeborn magician [[Appraisal#Graciana_i_Lòpez_i_Guerra|Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra]] was assigned to the task. The results of their appraisal have now been presented. The results are perhaps disappointing, in that Graciana concludes that it is not possible to appraise a way to stop all raiding, everywhere, all the time - but she ''is'' able to provide some suggestions for ways that might help in some cases - such as with the "raids" being perpetrated against the [[mana site|mana sites]] and [[herb garden|herb gardens]] of [[the Brass Coast]] by the [[eternal]] [[Tharim]]...

You can read Graciana's findings, and the proposals she has been able to put forward, in the '''[[Restraint]]''' wind of fortune.
===A Question of Loyalty (Appraisal)===
* '''Urizen and the League, especially those citizens in Spiral; Imperial Senate; Loyalty Assembly; Master of the Imperial Mint'''
The second [[appraisal]] during the Summer solstice concerned [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_Urizen_in_Spiral|Spiral]]. [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue.27s_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] was requested, and set about trying to work out ''"what further [[the League]] can do so that the [[Urizen]] in [[Spiral]] can remain there peacefully while preserving their culture, ideally without suffering undue financial hardship from not being in Urizen."'' The political situation in Spiral is [[windfall|already complicated]] by the presence of the Apulian [[orc|orcs]] and the numbers of League citizens flocking to the new city. The instruction of the [[Imperial Senate]] is timely, and it is fortunate indeed that the Senate opted to assign the most diplomatic member of the appraisal team to this endeavour. Thanks to the [[mandate|mandates]] of the Urizen Assembly, and the endorsement of the Loyalty Assembly, the territory now simmers with open rebellion against the Empire. The appraisal is as much about trying to untangle the complicated loyalties of the Urizen, as it is about anything the League can do.

You can learn more about the appraisal, and the complicated situation in Spiral, in the '''[[A question of loyalty]]''' wind of fortune.

===Landscape===
* '''Imperial Senate; Brass Coast, especially those in Kahraman or with an interest in the Bourse; Imperial Conclave'''
Last summit the [[Imperial Military Council]] sent the heroes of Anvil to Redgate Pass in [[Kahraman]]. With the aid of the [[Shallows_and_miseries#Redgate_Pass_.28Battle.29|House of Fire and Flame]] - heralds of the Autumn realm - they tore open a mountain, blocking passes into [[Kahraman#Serra Damate|Serra Damata]] from [[Jotun]] territory, and exposing the rich mineral wealth locked within. With the battle won and the area secured, the excitable heralds of the [[Estavus|Bronze Artisan]] have been assisting the Imperial Civil Service in their assessment of the area. And, as the heralds promised, some of the rewards look very promising indeed if the Empire is able to afford to develop this new, accessible mineral wealth.

You can learn about this new source of wealth, and the challenges and opportunities it presents, in the '''[[Landscape]]''' wind of fortune.
===Resonance and Mitigation===
* '''Imperial magicians and the Imperial Conclave; the Marches, especially threshers and the National Assembly; Witness of Conclave, Imperial Censor, Warmage, Warcaster, Imperial Magus, Archmage of Day'''
The Imperial Conclave has upheld two [[declaration|declarations]] of [[Concord]] related to the use of [[:Category:Imperial Enchantment|Imperial enchantments]]. The [[Imperial Magus]] '''Æsa Sigeling''' called on magicians to investigate these awesome rituals, and see if there might be ways to mitigate their detrimental effects. '''Ariadne of Auric Horizon''', on behalf of the [[Sevenfold Path]], confirmed that the Conclave's commitment to working to "''complete the omnihedron sequence of rituals''." The Civil Service has ensured that Imperial magicians across the Empire and beyond are made aware of the Conclave's decisions. By now the entire Empire is aware of the presence of [[To the last syllable|invading entities]] from the Day realm, servants of the [[Cold Sun]], and the connection to the [[Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths]] ritual that has infused the entire Empire with [[Day magic]]. This raises significant debate about Imperial magicians as to whether the Conclave is right to continue to pursue this experiment. Do the benefits provided by powerful resonances of the Day realm balance out the loss of life that has ensued with the arrival of the murderous heralds?

You can read about some of the responses of Imperial magicians, and the serious issues raised in the Marches, in the '''[[Resonance and mitigation]]''' wind of fortune.
===Not To Conquer===
* '''Dawn; Imperial Senate; Imperial Synod; Imperial Military Council; Imperial Conclave; anyone with an interest in questions of liberation, conquest, orc septs, and the Barrens'''
[[The Barrens]] has been contested territory between the [[Druj]] and [[Dawn]] for centuries. The [[orc|orcs]] who live there have been caught in the middle between the two powerful nations. They have no love for the Druj, but they also have no love for Dawn. During the conquest of the Barrens, Dawnish armies embraced the words of the [[Imperial Synod]], committing themselves to a campaign of "liberation" rather than "conquest". They went out of their way to avoid harming the orcs who call the Barrens home, and focused their attention of removing the yoke of the Druj from their necks. With the final conquest of the Barrens, the Imperial Senate assigned the territory to Dawn - a move guaranteed to spark celebration in Astolat, Semmerholm, and Weirwater, and to [[Everything_is_broken#Future_of_the_Barrens_.28Assignment.29|outrage the orcish ''septs'' of the Barrens]]. Last summit, the Dawnish National Assembly embraced a policy of working with the orcs rather than flooding the territory with settlers, and received the aid of the people of [[Highguard]] in making contact with the septs and discovering what steps might be taken to appease their anger.

You can learn about the extremely complex situation in the Barrens, the various septs and other factions, in the '''[[Not to conquer]]''' wind of fortune.
===A Wisdom of Questions===
* '''Urizen, especially the Sword Scholars; Imperial Synod, Imperial Senate; Highguard; Dawn'''
The [[sword scholar|sword scholars]] have continued to make waves in Urizen and the wider Empire since they [[Return_of_the_sword_scholars|reconciled with the nation in 381YE]]. Their work has often brought them into conflict with the [[Imperial Synod]], most notably when they pushed for people to openly question the [[mandate|mandates]] enacted by the various assemblies. Despite these challenges, sword scholars have been invited to [[The_troubled_words#Finding_Yourself|teach in Holberg]] and [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_188|most recently]] in [[Astolat#Laroc|Laroc]] in [[Astolat]].Throughout this time, questions have been repeatedly raised about [[Sulemaine]] the controversial founder of the sword scholars. The Urizen Assembly has not been shy about proclaiming Sulemaine to be the ''"perfect epitome of the Urizeni spirit"'' and '''Herminius of the House of the Wanderer''' announced their intention to [[consecration|consecrate]] her final resting place as an [[Inspirational_location|inspirational tomb]]. The reaction to that has brought renewed interest in the life of the woman who is arguably Urizen's most controversial figure, and raised questions about who should inspire the modern sword scholar movement.

You can learn about the developments around Sulemaine and the sword scholars, both in Urizen and elsewhere, in the '''[[A wisdom of questions]]''' wind of fortune.
===When Spring Comes===
* '''Marchers of all kinds; Imperial Senate; Imperial Orcs; Bloodcrow Knott, Bloodcrow Udoo, Sister Meredith, and Aliss Thorn'''
Sometimes, as the saying goes, the people of the Marches are their own worst enemies. Three dilemmas have sprouted up in the Marches, that may need careful handling. In [[Mitwold]], the attack of [[To the last syllable|heralds of the Day realm]] is complicated by savage heralds of [[Siakha|the Maelstrom]], although the outcome of these attacks is not what anyone expected. In [[Bregasland]], the legacy of the Fishers continue to be felt, and there is avery real risk the DourFens might explode into violence at any moment. And in the [[Mournwold|Mourn]] the matter of the [[Mournwold Orcs]] comes to a head - less violent and disruptive than anarchic entities and simmering grudges but with much further reaching implications, perhaps.

You can learn about these three dilemmas, some which might see significant changes by the start of the new year, in the '''[[When Spring comes]]''' wind of fortune.
===Rimbaud Eyes===
* '''League, especially those living in Spiral; Apulian Orcs; Imperial Synod'''
The former [[Grendel]] [[orc|orcs]] who follow former Salt Lord Kaliact have begun to join [[the League]], many taking the name "Apulians" to reflect their new identity. Not every orc in [[Spiral]] has joined the nation - the status of many orcs in Apulus remains a little unclear. Most of them seem to be hedging their bets - everyone knows that war with the Grendel is coming, after all. This summit sees the election of the first League [[Senator]] for <s>Apulus</s>Spiral, and it is shaping up to be a hard-run contest with both human and orc candidates and business owners vying to see who will guide the future of the new city. There's also questions of religion and virtue that remain unsettled. The virtue assemblies have yet to deliver a definitive ruling on cunning, fidelity and the rest ... but while the Synod ponders the significance of the Apulian's peculiar beliefs, the wheels of politics turn.

You can read about the situation in Spiral from the League side, and more about Apulian orc attitudes, in the '''[[Rimbaud eyes]]''' wind of fortune.

===Shining Like Fire===
* '''Imperial citizens; Merrow; Mine owners, mana site owners (or people who might like a mana site); Collector of Prosperity's Boon, Custodian of the Claw, Custodian of Glass Point Cove, Custodian of the Pelican Tower, Guardian of the Prosperity of Afal, Dean of the Thorned Rose, Fallsheart Guardian, Guardian of the Cairn, Jade Custodian, Keeper of the Crystal Vale, Keeper of the Dour Fens, Keeper of the Golden Fields, Keeper of the Happiston Fields, Weigher of Worth, and Wisdom of the Tenebrous Path; the Azure Sutaniir, the Crimson Sutannir, Queen's Rose; Imperial Senate and anyone else interested in commissions'''
For the third time in as many seasons, the Empire is blanketed with a powerful [[:Category:Imperial Enchantment|Imperial enchantment]]. The power of [[Day magic|Day]] waxes ascendant. Multiple [[Urizen]] [[coven|covens]] working together wove the complex cloak of [[Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths]] during the Summer Solstice, and laid it gently over the entire Empire. The magic might end up being remembered for its [[To the last syllable|catastrophic side effects]], but that doesn't mean it hasn't brought benefits, as well as problems. As always with Imperial enchantments, even one drawing on the regimented magic of the Day realm, the potent magic inspires a number of unpredictable effects.

You can read about these assorted wide-reaching effects, which have the potential to have proved beneficial or baneful to any Imperial citizen, in the '''[[Shining like fire]]''' wind of fortune.

===Hierarchs of Sea and Sky===
* '''Imperial Conclave; Imperial magicians especially practitioners of Day magic; General of the Citadel Guard; Penumbral Watcher: Advisor on the Vallorn; Military Council; Imperial Warcaster and Warmage; Imperial Senate; Archmage of Day, musicians and mathematicians; friends of the Fish of Why?'''
As [[Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths]] sweeps across the Empire, it temporarily empowers weak Day [[regio]], and encourages the [[eternal|eternals]] of that realm to involve themselves in Imperial affairs. These effects combine to cause Day eternals who are not marked as [[Alignment#Enmity|enemies of the Empire]] to send heralds to visit Imperial citizens. All of those eternals save one have also presented offers of boons, or made set forth proposals for ways they might help the Empire, especially those who are considered [[Alignment#Amity|allies of the Empire]] by the [[Imperial Conclave]]. Many of these boons are presented to the Conclave, but not all of them. Some can be taken advantage of by any Imperial citizen, while others promise gifts for the holders of specific [[Imperial title|Imperial titles]]. Almost all of them are fleeting, available only until the end of the Autumn Equinox.

You can read about these boons, and what the eternals in question ask for in return, in the '''[[Hierarchs of sea and sky]]''' wind of fortune.
===Dog Days Are Over===
* '''Dawn'''
[[Dawn]] has completed one of the greatest challenges in the nation's history - the best part of five centuries in the making - the conquest of [[the Barrens]] is finally complete. It is a [[Glory|glorious]] accomplishment to rival the greatest achievements in the [[Dawn history|nation's history]]. Last season the National Assembly of Dawn voted to pass a [[mandate]] encouraging the Dawnish to look inwards; to [[Astolat]], [[Semmerholm]], and [[Weirwater]], for opportunities to improve the nation of Dawn. During the same summit the covens of the Cabal of Nevezamzer, the Cabal of the Summer Sun, the Coven of Golden Wings, the Emerald Aegis, and the Sphinx's Saga came together to perform an [[arcane projection]] gifted to '''Dame Aurum de Castellan''' by [[Meraud]] as part of their challenge to receive the [[Eastern_Sky#Favour_of_Meraud|Fire Lord's favour]]. The Regents of Summer have taken great interest over the past season; [[To_the_last_syllable#Summer.27s_Glory|supporting their allies]] against the forces of [[Cold Sun]], and ensuring that not one single Dawnish citizen falls to the blades of the soldiers of Day.

You can read about the celebrations in Dawn, and some of the opportunities presented, in the '''[[Dog days are over]]''' wind of fortune.
===Between Two Mounds===
* '''Wintermark, especially the generals; the Brass Coast, especially the Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills; the generals of those armies engaged in Tromsa'''
The Empire has fought with the [[Jotun]] [[orc|orcs]] for as long as anyone can remember. That conflict has become much more bitter [[381YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Let_That_Be_Your_Last_Battlefield_.28Mournwold.29|since the battle of Orchards Watch in Spring 381YE]] and it seems as if the current campaign of fighting across the Empire's western borders will never end. Some Imperial negotiators have pushed the Jotun to consider the possibility of peace, but they have been repeatedly rebuffed. But last season the Brass Coast took pains to show respect to the Jotun whose champions [[Shallows_and_miseries#The_Flames_of_Fort_Braydon|fought to the death to hold Fort Braydon]]. Following the erection of the mound, from out of the west comes a young [[Elite_Jotun_characters#Ghodi|ghodi]] offering... if not an actual olive branch... then at least the possibility of one. Meanwhile in the north, [[Wintermark|Wintermark's]] armies [[A tale told|lead the charge]] into [[Tromsa]], taking the war deep into the heart of Jotun territory. In recent years, the armies of Wintermark have committed themselves to [[Wintermark_military_concerns#Army_Orders|fight with honour]] against the Jotun, whether out of respect for their enemies or a reflection of their own [[heroism]] is unclear. Regardless it seems that it too is reaping dividends, with the Jotun armies [[A_tale_told#Heroism.2C_Honour.2C_and_Cruelty|finally responding in kind]]. Following that decision comes a second envoy from the Jotun eager to talk with the [[general|generals]] or their representatives. And this time they come with a request from the Jotun...

You can learn about this southern ghodi, and these requests from the northern Jotun, in the '''[[Between two mounds]]''' wind of fortune.
===Schools and Sawmills===
* '''The League; Imperial Senate'''
The [[The_money_goes_round#Life_is_a_Competition|grand competition]] between the cities of [[the League]], proposed by Merchant Prince Fransesca di Matos, draws towards a climax. Constructions and commissions are proposed and discussed, but this season there is a great deal of interest in matters of education following a [[statement of principle|statement]] from Prince Bishop Jonah von Holberg regarding the role of the scholar in League society. Some of the proposals to build on the nation's well deserved reputation for academic excellence are ''very'' ambitious. At the same time, the Sand Fishers have completed their own ambitious project, beginning to log the [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]] woodlands in earnest - and they're keen to move on to their next grand endeavour.

You can read about opportunities to build schools and roads, learn who is winning the competition, and also find out about some odd developments among the [[bravo|bravos]], in the '''[[Schools and sawmills]]''' wind of fortune.

==Other Events==
There are a number of other events and situations which are noteworthy, but which for whatever reason have not led to a full Wind of Fortune in their own right.
===The library at Hacynian===
* '''The expansion of the Great Library at Hacynian is complete'''
* '''Thanks to the support of Highguard and the League, and the information recovered from Brocéliande, research into the weaknesses of the vallorn should be complete for the Summer Solstice'''
Despite the presence of Cold Sun's soldiers, work has been completed on the [[Construct Great Library of Hacynian|expansion of the Great Library of Hacynian]]. Now the work of collecting a collating every piece of information about the [[vallorn]] will begin. Thanks to the [[384YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_12|support of the League]], and [[384YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_102|the scholars of Highguard]], as well as the [[One_last_song#Game_Information_:_How_Far_You_Go|information recovered]] from [[Brocéliande]], the actual research itself should be complete in time for the Summer Solstice 386YE. Of course this schedule assumes that the library is not attacked by the invading forces currently in [[Hercynia#Northpines|Northpines]]; given the murky history of the library and its [[eternal]] associations this is far from a given.

'''Participation:''' Any academically minded character, especially those from Navarr, the League, or Highguard, is welcome to roleplay that they are going to participate in the study of the vallorn when the research begins in earnest after the Autumn equinox.
{{stub}}

===Sword Scholars in Holberg===
* '''The controversy around the Scholars of the Sword Academy in Holberg has been resolved, at least for the moment'''
* '''The Master of Defence of the Scholars of the Sword Academy stipend has increased by a third'''
* '''The full impact of encouraging bravos to study the works of Emperor Frederick alongside the sword has yet to be felt'''
During the Spring Equinox, two mandates were raised in the League assembly concerning the [[Master of Defence of the Scholars of the Sword Academy|Scholars of the Sword Academy]] in [[Holberg]], but only one - that [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_62|raised]] by '''Erasmo di Tassato''' - was upheld. The mandate encouraged the Bravos of Holberg to debate the [[sword scholar|sword scholars]], seek other rival points of view and draw their own rational conclusions about the teachings of Sulemaine i Taziel and those she had inspired. It also specifically encouraged them to investigate the teachings of [[Emperor Frederick|Emperor Frederick Ritter van Holberg]], who wrote extensively on the differences between liberty, freedom, and [[Malign spiritual presences#Anarchy|Anarchy]]. Frederick is amongst the most famous people ever to have come from Holberg and many bravos will be even more interested in his life and teachings than they would be with someone like rebellious Alexander von Holberg or Urizen's Sulemaine.

Debate is absolutely what many sword scholars want, so the majority have welcomed this intervention. It has sparked enthusiasm and interest in the Academy, boosting the [[Master_of_Defence_of_the_Scholars_of_the_Sword_Academy|Master's Stipend]] by a third. It has also however expanded the influence of the sword scholars in Holberg, and encouraged a number of bravos to take up politics. It has also lead to the school employing other teachers alongside the sword scholars. The school is bustling - scandal and rumour attract almost as many students as fine facilities and excellent educators - but the full implications of educated bravos with a taste for philosophy have yet to be felt. At the moment, however, the main topic of conversation is the debate around the announced [[The deepest cut|consecration of Sulemaine's tomb]]; the outcome is likely to also have an impact on this enclave of excellence within the walls of Holberg.

===Powerful Rituals===
* '''A number of powerful rituals were cast in the Empire last season'''
Several powerful enchantments were cast last season:
* [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] were summoned in TBC
* [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]] was cast in TBC
* [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil|Shrouds]] hang over the territories of [[Sarvos]], [[Necropolis]], [[Madruga]], and [[Segura]]
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Covid Restrictions'''</big><br>We often have players come to the make up department for help with wounds and lineage trappings when they're being the subject of Whispers Through the Black Gate. Due to covid restrictions around providing make up for players at this event we will not be able to assist with this. Players will have to do any make up themselves using their own supplies, in a space that is not our make up area.</box></div>
===Whispering Gate===
* '''During the Autumn Equinox it will be possible to perform [[Whispers through the Black Gate]] between 19:30-20:30'''
* '''The current Imperial Necromancer is Ser Claudia Lovelorn'''
The [[Whispers through the Black Gate|Black Gate]] can be opened to allow masters of [[Winter magic]] to commune with the spirits of the dead. For reasons that have never adequately been explained, the Gate can only be opened at twilight when it is neither quite day nor quite night. Imperial magicians prognosticate that this means that during the Autumn Equinox the ritual can be performed between 19:30 and 20:30. This information is, of course, of particular relevance to the [[Imperial Necromancer]] given their powers and responsibilities.

==Trade Summary==
Rather than spread this information out around the various foreign nations, we've collected it here for ease of reference.
* '''Free Trade:''' Imperial ships trading with Commonwealth, Axos, Sumaah, or Sarcophan Delves receive a +1 rank bonus until the start of the Autumn Equinox 385YE.
* '''Asavean Archipelago:''' The port of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#nemoria|Nemoria]] is closed to Imperial trading vessels.
* '''Axos:''' The Axos are continue to be furious about revelations relating to Imperial involvement in the failure of their [[Roll and fall|joint venture with the Grendel]] into the Mountains of the Moon. Consequently Imperial fleets suffer ''significant'' penalties to trade with Axos. A fleet captain trading at the [[Axos_ports#Towers_of_Kantor|Towers of Kantor]] suffers a -3 rank penalty..
* '''Commonwealth:''' The ports of [[Commonwealth_ports#Leerdam_.28Eastern_Commonwealth.29|Leerdam]] and [[Commonwealth_ports#Volkavaar_.28Western_Commonwealth.29|Volkavaar]] welcome Imperial traders.
* '''Principalities of Jarm:''' The ports of [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Kavor_.28Northern_Principalities_of_Jarm.29|Kavor]] and [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Vezak_.28Southern_Principalities_of_Jarm.29|Vezak]] remain closed to Imperial fleets.
* '''Sarcophan Delves:''' Imperial captains continue to be welcomed in the Delves. Fleets trading with the great port-city of [[Sarcophan_Delves_ports#Sarcophan|Sarcophan]] receive an additional dose of [[Marrowort]] and an additional dose of [[Imperial Roseweald]] on top of their normal production. The new port of [[Sarcophan Delves ports#Betovering|Betovering]] is newly open to Imperial fleets.
* '''Sumaah Republic:''' <s>Fleets visiting [[Sumaah_Republic_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]] suffer a -2 rank penalty due to an [[Questions_of_virtue#Rage_of_the_Corsairs|Asavean blockade]].</s> Thanks to the actions of the Freeborn assembly, the [[Questions_of_virtue#Rage_of_the_Corsairs|Asavean blockade]] has been thwarted - for the time being - and there is no penalty to trade with Zemeh.
* '''Grendel:''' The port of [[Everything_has_a_price#A_New_Destination|Oran]] is closed to Imperial fleets.
* '''Iron Confederacy:''' The port of [[Iron_Confederacy_ports#Robec|Robec]] is available for Imperial fleets but suffers a -2 rank penalty due to sanctions.

==Mandates==
* '''You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Mandate|here]].'''
A number of [[mandate|mandates]] were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod last season. As long as the named priest provided sufficient liao, all mandates have been [[Mandate#Implementing_a_Mandate|automatically enacted]].

==Summer Conjunctions==
* '''Last event there were a number of conjunctions of the Sentinel Gate; their known outcomes are listed here'''
During the Summer Solstice, there were a number of [[Sentinel_Gate#Conjunctions|conjunctions]] of the [[Sentinel Gate]] identified by the Imperial prognosticators. In each case a band of Imperial heroes used that conjunction to travel to a location far from Anvil and intervene in a ongoing situation. These are the known outcomes of those conjunctions. In the case of battles, it is important to remember that the [[Military Council]] can only make use of ''two'' of the major conjunctions each summit, choosing which to take advantage of during the Muster.
===Major Conjunctions===
<table><tr><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Location</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Opportunity</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Day</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Link</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Outcome</td>
</table>

===Normal Conjunctions===
{|table class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! # !! Location !! Responsibility !! Overview !! Result
|-
|}

Dog days are over

2023-09-04T10:16:11Z

Cathtice: /* Great Deeds are Eternal */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"Bring more of that soft Holberg red and maybe just a few of those spice cakes from Oran" the newly noble Lord Levia de Fenchardi called to his good friend, no ''former'' good friend, Hugh Fletcher.

"Yes lord, though there're only a dozen left of the spice cakes and... we're unlikely to be getting anything from Oran any time soon." It was going to take some getting used to having to deal with Levia now that he was a noble, especially given all the celebrating that had been happening.

"With the quest for the Barrens complete nothing can stop us now Hugh! We have proven that we can accomplish anything we set our mind to. Which reminds me" a loud belch erupted from the new Lord of the de Fenchardi house "pardon! It reminds me, we are going to go and visit the newly refurbished tournament ground in Laroc. I can hardly fight against the Grendel in the same clothes I fought them in two years ago, what if one of them recognises me?"

"My lord I hardly think that is going to happen, that was basically a lifetime ago, and with those mists they probably don't even remember our house" Hugh was thinking about the expense of travelling to Astolat and then realistically on to the south, especially if Levia was thinking about fighting the Grendel. "Maybe we should go on an adventure instead my lord? I've heard that there have been sightings of dire lions in the Larrance estates. And that Earl Larrance has offered exquisite rooms for anyone willing to attend in an attempt to clear them out."</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Dog days are over.jpg|caption= Our long toil to free the Barrens is complete, now we must claim the just rewards of our labour!|align=left|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
[[Dawn]] has completed one of the greatest challenges in the nation's history - the best part of five centuries in the making - the conquest of [[the Barrens]] is finally complete. It is a [[Glory|glorious]] accomplishment to rival the greatest achievements in the [[Dawn history|nation's history]]. The birth of the nation under Tristane the Golden, the marriage of the [[First Empress]] and Rodric the Lame, the construction of the [[Astolat#The_Castle_of_Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] - and now after generations of sacrifice - the Barrens are finally Dawnish. People are naturally exultant about this glorious triumph and keen to celebrate.

Thus, there is an once in a lifetime opportunity to harness the raw enthusiasm of the Dawnish people. Last season the National Assembly of Dawn voted to pass the [[mandate]] raised by the '''Earl of Fools''' and enacted by '''Aramis du Froste''' with a greater majority. This mandate encouraged the Dawnish to look inwards; to [[Astolat]], [[Semmerholm]], and [[Weirwater]], for opportunities to improve the nation of Dawn. The Druj are soundly beaten, it is time for Dawn to seek love and glory within its borders.

During the same summit the covens of the Cabal of Nevezamzer, the Cabal of the Summer Sun, the Coven of Golden Wings, the Emerald Aegis, and the Sphinx's Saga came together to perform an [[arcane projection]] gifted to '''Dame Aurum de Castellan''' by [[Meraud]] as part of their challenge to receive the [[Eastern_Sky#Favour_of_Meraud|Fire Lord's favour]]. The Regents of Summer have taken great interest over the past season; [[To_the_last_syllable#Summer.27s_Glory|supporting their allies]] against the forces of [[Cold Sun]], and ensuring not a single Dawnish citizen fell beneath the blades of the soldiers of the Day realm.

During the Summer Solstice itself, the heroes of Dawn travelled through the [[Sentinel Gate]] to the depths of [[the Barrens]], to create a [[inspirational location|lasting monument]] to the courage, pride, and glory of all those who had fallen. Both those who died defeating the Druj and conquering the Barrens, and those who fell on their quest for Glory, are immortalized in the chapel there - but there may still be work to be done to make it a truly inspiring place.
{{SOP|statement= Our long toil to free the Barrens is complete, now we must claim the just rewards of our labours. We send Aramis du Froste with 50 doses of liao to urge our countryfolk to enjoy the fruits of our labour today.|by=Earl of Fools, Dawnish Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 237-22|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
==The Grand Tour==
* '''A series of extraordinary tourneys have been arranged across Astolat, Semmerholm and Weirwater'''
* '''Noble houses are competing to put on the most impressive battles accompanied by feasts, performances and poetry recitals'''
* '''Some knights are making an attempt to take part in every tourney - they have christened it the Grand Tour'''
* '''A new adventure is available to military who wish to partake in one or more seasons of the Grand Tour'''
* '''Dawnish yeofolk can now upgrade mines, farms, forests and herb gardens more cheaply for the next year'''
It's not true that the Dawnish think that a tourney is the answer to every question - there are plenty of questions that aren't worth answering. But glorious events like the conquest of the Barrens or the crowning of a new monarch are always accompanied by a series of spectacular tourneys. These events are vast affairs that offer opportunities for glory for nobles and [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]] alike - while the main event, the melee, is usually reserved for [[Dawn_magical_traditions#War_witches|witches]] and knights, every large tourney includes opportunities for yeofolk to also take the field. The most extravagant include entire mock battles, allowing knights and yeofolk to take the field together as they seek to demonstrate their martial glory in battle with each other.

On this occasion rather than try to organise a single event, scores of different households have announced their intention to host their own tourney, with each competing to make their event more grand than the others. This soon leads to problems as people begin arguing over dates - people want to attend as many of the epic spectacles as possible - so there is soon a strong pressure on [[earl|earls]] to avoid clashing with their neighbours. To help resolve the matter, Lady Griffinsbain proposes that the tourney season should begin in the Barrens, and then proceed each season to Semmerholm, then Weirwater and finally to culminate in Astolat. She further encourages the [[noble house|noble houses]] of each territory to spread their dates out, so that everyone will have the most opportunities to celebrate Dawn's glorious triumph.

No sooner have people agreed that this is a good idea than an aspiring [[knight-errant]] finds himself challenged to compete in every tourney for their test of mettle. Thus begins the idea of the Grand Tour - Dawnish knights, witches and other battle-hardened nobles and their yeofolk entourages touring the entire nation, travelling from one region to another, going from one celebration to the next, Competing with each other for prizes and more than anything for glory. For the following year it is possible for any [[military unit]] in the Empire to be assigned to take part in the Grand Tour, seeking recognition of their glory. It's far from the most profitable way for a military unit to spend their time, but the [[troubadour|troubadours]] are already preparing the rolls of honour to record the names of those who take part - to see who manages to complete the entire Tour.

The tourneys are not just an opportunity for feasting and celebration. They bring Dawnish people together, encouraging them to cooperate and poor their skills and resources to create lasting monuments to Dawn's glory so that the triumph in the Barrens has a lasting impact. As a result of this year-long celebration, some Dawnish characters will find it easier to upgrade their [[resource#Personal Resource|personal resources]] - by capitalising on the desire to to build up Dawn following their defeat of the Druj. For the next year, any Dawnish yeofolk will be able to upgrade their [[farm]], [[forest]], [[mine]], or [[herb garden]] for one fewer wain.

==A Shortage of Songwrights==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:400px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''School of Music and Poetry'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Ministry]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Culwich, Weirwater</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 white granite, 8 weirwood, 72 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the position of Reader of Music and Poetry with access to ministries to purchase magic items</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Reader of Music and Poetry'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' [[Judgement]] of [[Appointment]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives access to a ministry to purchase musical instruments</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To run the school, curate the creative endeavours of Dawn's troubadours and support the recruitment, training and instruction of new troubadours.</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Culwich Instruments'''</td><td style="background-color: LightYellow;"></td></tr>
<tr><td>22 crowns</td><td>1 [[Celebrant's Fiddle]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>20 crowns</td><td>1 [[Goldwood Pipes]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 crowns</td><td>1 [[Heroes' Horn]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 crowns</td><td>1 [[Horn Resounding]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>17 crowns</td><td>1 [[Silver Gate]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>18 crowns</td><td>1 [[Thundering Drum ]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>19 crowns</td><td>1 [[Watchers' Flute]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Note'''</td><td>This ministry will only function if the title holder is a troubadour</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Troubadours are in great demand in Dawn at the moment'''
* '''Every current troubadour will receive an additional four crowns each downtime for the coming year'''
* '''There is an opportunity to build a school of music in Weirwater'''
* '''The National Assembly is charged with finding the greatest piece of new music or art in the nation over the next twelve months'''
There is one unfortunate drawback to the Grand Tour. No celebration is complete with out troubadours to perform ballads and lays, to recite poetry and play music. Unfortunately there simply aren't enough troubadours to meet the extraordinary demand for their services. Earls are growing desperate to hire the services of the best and offering ever heavier purses to ensure that their festivities are accompanied by appropriate festivities. As a result of this extraordinary competition, every troubadour with an established reputation will receive an additional four crowns income for each event they attend over the next year, to reflect the eager demand for their services. These benefits only apply to current troubadours, characters that newly embrace that path won't gain this benefit because their reputation and renown as a troubadour is not yet established enough.

To resolve this terrible shortcoming, ''Earl Eoric du Borne'' proposes to construct a school of music and poetry at [[Weirwater#Culwich|Culwich]]. He has made an agreement in principle with some of the [[weaver cabal|weavers]] circles in Culwich to support the school with magical instruments in return for payment for materials and the promise of a dozen free tickets to every performance. The school is a small but significant construction which would require a suitable commission as a ministry and need 16 wains of white granite and 8 wains of weirwood and 72 crowns in labour and take a single season to build. The Earl's design cleverly includes chambers for both the [[High Bard of the Empire|High Bard]] (which Eoric maintains is really a Dawnish position), as well as a new title, the ''Reader of Music and Poetry'', who whose responsibilities would be to run the school, curate the creative endeavours of Dawn's troubadours and support the recruitment, training and instruction of new troubadours.

Once the [[commission]] was complete a suitable troubadour would need to be elected by [[judgement]] of [[appointment]] by the Dawnish Assembly. Provided that happened, the weavers of Culwich would provide an opportunity for the Reader of Music and Poetry to buy a single magical [[:Category:Musical_Instruments|musical instrument]] each season. The weavers will only support a recognised and renown troubadour - the ministry will not function if the character appointed to the title is not a troubadour on the database.

Although the Weavers of Culwich want payment for any musical instrument they make for the Reader they are not so cold-hearted that they have not been swept up by the joy of their fellow Dawnish at the conquest of the Barrens. In particular they would like to see an entirely new piece of work commissioned to celebrate Dawn's triumph and are prepared to support this with a grand prize. They offer to make a single musical instrument for whichever troubadour (or would be troubadour) the Dawnish Assembly identifies as having authored the greatest piece of new music or art in the next twelve months. As a result the Dawnish Assembly can use a [[statement of principle]] to identify a single Dawnish character who they believe has won the Culwich's weaver contest and created a beautiful new work - ideally something that celebrates the triumph in the Barrens. The judgement should name the artist and indicate which instrument would serve them best. If the judgement gets a greater majority then the weavers of Culwich will fashion one of the instruments for the artist.

One word of warning, many of the magical items created by the weavers of Culwich use strange techniques or very old ways of fashioning them that predate more widely accepted Imperial methods. As a result the recipient should anticipate that though the instrument's enchantment will have a year to run like any newly made item, it will also have an unusual aura of its own.
==The Throne of Glory==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:400px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Restore the Throne Room'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Fortification]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Withy, Astolat</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 15 white granite, 45 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Reduce the cost to upgrade Dawnish congregations by one white granite for a year and generate a historical research on Dawn's monarchs</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''There is an opportunity to restore the throne room of the Castle of Thorns and then consecrate it with true liao'''
* '''It requires 15 wains of white granite, 45 crowns and a senate commission for a fortification and take three months to complete'''
* '''Once complete the refurbished throne room would reduce the cost to upgrade Dawnish congregations by one white granite for a year'''
* '''The work will also generate a historical research into the early monarchs of Dawn'''
The Castle of Thorns is not the largest [[fortification]] in the Empire - that honour belongs to the wealthy merchants of [[Holberg]]. It is not the strongest fortification, that laurel is arguably claimed by the [[Semmerholm#The_Adamant_Gate|Adamant Gate]], that extraordinary construction which is fused with the magic of summer to make it literally unbreakable. Dawn's alliance with the Summer realm has made it unbreakable. It could be captured, no fortification is unconquerable, but it would require extraordinary magic to destroy it. The Adamant Gate will still be standing when all else is dust.

But the Dawnish claim the Castle of Thorns is the most beautiful fortification anywhere in the world, the white walls gleam in the sun, picturesque turrets stir the blood of even the most cold-hearted lovers who walk the battlements. The Castle reverberates with Dawnish history - it was once the seat of the Dawnish monarchy. While many of the rooms are now occupied by civil servants, the chambers of state remain untouched. The gilded throne of Tristane the Golden was brought here by Queen Igraine when the Castle was raised. The Rod of the Sun may have been missing since the reign of [[Empress Brannan]], but the throne still surmounts the dais in the royal audience chamber, inspiring awe in any that gaze upon it.

Sadly the years have not been kind and the throne room is now dilapidated and in urgent need of remedial work. To commemorate the glory of Dawn's triumph in the Barrens, ''Hugh de Veran'', a noble historian and troubadour who works in the Castle proposes the idea of restoring the throne room to its former splendour. This is no small effort, it would require 15 wains of [[white granite]] to restore the room to its former glory, along with 45 crowns, and take a season to complete. It would constitute a change to a fortification (since it involves work on the Castle of Thrones), so it would need to be authorised by the Imperial Senate or by a title with the explicit power to commission a fortification. It would count against the limited number of [[commission|commissions]] available each season.

Once work was complete it would prove a huge inspiration to historians and especially to troubadours who celebrate Dawn's glorious past. For one year following the completion of the work [[Congregation#Upgrade|upgrading]] any [[congregation]] in Dawn would cost one white granite fewer than normal. In addition ''Hugh de Veran'' promises that he will finally complete and publish the historical research that he has been working on for many years, concerning the pre-Imperial monarchs of Dawn. That might take a while, depending when the work gets completed, as Hugh only has time to work on his pet project in the period following the Autumn Equinox each year, but that would mean it would be done quickly if the work on the throne room was begun now.

Unless there are significant changes, interest in refurbishing the throne room would remain strong until the end of the Summer Solstice 386YE. After that the work could still be done, but it is not guaranteed that it would provide a benefit to the congregations of the nation.

==Great Deeds are Eternal==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:400px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Church at Hope's Rest '''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Folly]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Hope's Rest, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 20 white granite, 60 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Option:''' Include any number of statues of Anvil heroes for 3 wains of mithril and 9 crowns each</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''Boosts all Dawnish military units undertaking quests and adventures by one rank</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Shrine of Hope at Hope's Rest has been consecrated with true liao'''
* '''If the Dawnish commission a small church on the site then the shrine will provide a permanent benefit of one rank to every Dawnish military unit undertaking an adventure'''
* '''The church would require 20 wains of white granite and 60 crowns and take one month to build'''
* '''The sculptor, Blasine du Ravell, proposes to create beautiful mithril statues of the heroes who led Dawn to glory to immortalise their accomplishments'''
* '''The statues can be part of the require a commission but cost 3 wains of mithril and 9 crowns per general and take three months to complete'''

Last season the Dawnish heroes at Anvil took advantage of a conjunction to travel to [[A_glorious_victory#Here_We_Stand_.28Conjunction.29|Hope's Rest in the Barrens]] to consecrate the area with true liao. The area once contained a small shrine to Ser Guineve who was the first questing knight to seek glory in the Barrens, but that fell into ruin when the territory was conquered by the Druj. Now that the are has become an [[inspirational location]] thanks to the true aura, scores of Dawnish folk are making a pilgrimage to the site, and the lack of any shrine or other memorial has been raised.

To remedy this defect, ''Blasine Carver'', a prominent architect and sculptor who is seeking to create a glorious work to pass their [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|test of mettle]] proposes to create a small but beautiful church that encloses the true aura alongside an elegant garden that she hopes to decorate with statues of the heroes who led Dawn to glory and the ultimate triumph over the Druj in the Barrens. The minimum needed for the work to progress is a senate commission to build a folly at Hope's Rest, that would need 20 wains of white granite and cost 60 crowns and take one month to complete.

Once the commission was complete it will create an [[inspirational location]], the Church of Ser Guineve at Hope's Rest. The [[aura]] will have a powerful effect on every [[questing knight]], knight errant, and similar who visits the church. Such visits will become common place for those setting out on adventure - as a result all Dawnish military units will gain a permanent one rank boost when undertaking any independent military action that is defined as an adventure.

In addition to the chapel, Blasine would like sculpt a set of giant silver statues of Dawn's heroes - those who led Dawn to glory in the Barrens. This would be a little more expensive however, each statue would require 3 wains of mithril and 9 crowns per hero. Obviously that begs the question of which heroes should be immortalised. General '''Tancred du Coeurdefer''' seems like the obvious candidate and Blasine proposes to put his statue in pride of place at the centre, in reflection of the glorious sacrifice of the [[Hounds of Glory]]. But it's inconceivable that General Tancred achieved this triumph alone - so there ought to be a statue for each of the principle actors? Blasine doesn't know how many statues are appropriate, nor who should be granted the honour, they leave that decision to the Heroes of Anvil who surely know better than they do.

Clearly it would be lovely to include everyone - but mithril doesn't grow on trees - so some judicious consideration is going to be needed if Blasine is instructed to go ahead. The ideal way to commission the statues would be as part of the motion that comes before the Senate, but whoever raises it could specify how many statues and of whom as part of the [[necessary details]] if they wish. Whoever brings the matter before the Senate will legally be the patron of the work, determining whose likeness will be immortalised and which figure will take the central position in any diorama. There are no restrictions on how many statues can be made - the only issue is cost - it will require 3 wains of mithril and 9 crowns for each statue.

Dog days are over

2023-09-04T10:14:54Z

Cathtice: /* The Throne of Glory */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"Bring more of that soft Holberg red and maybe just a few of those spice cakes from Oran" the newly noble Lord Levia de Fenchardi called to his good friend, no ''former'' good friend, Hugh Fletcher.

"Yes lord, though there're only a dozen left of the spice cakes and... we're unlikely to be getting anything from Oran any time soon." It was going to take some getting used to having to deal with Levia now that he was a noble, especially given all the celebrating that had been happening.

"With the quest for the Barrens complete nothing can stop us now Hugh! We have proven that we can accomplish anything we set our mind to. Which reminds me" a loud belch erupted from the new Lord of the de Fenchardi house "pardon! It reminds me, we are going to go and visit the newly refurbished tournament ground in Laroc. I can hardly fight against the Grendel in the same clothes I fought them in two years ago, what if one of them recognises me?"

"My lord I hardly think that is going to happen, that was basically a lifetime ago, and with those mists they probably don't even remember our house" Hugh was thinking about the expense of travelling to Astolat and then realistically on to the south, especially if Levia was thinking about fighting the Grendel. "Maybe we should go on an adventure instead my lord? I've heard that there have been sightings of dire lions in the Larrance estates. And that Earl Larrance has offered exquisite rooms for anyone willing to attend in an attempt to clear them out."</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Dog days are over.jpg|caption= Our long toil to free the Barrens is complete, now we must claim the just rewards of our labour!|align=left|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
[[Dawn]] has completed one of the greatest challenges in the nation's history - the best part of five centuries in the making - the conquest of [[the Barrens]] is finally complete. It is a [[Glory|glorious]] accomplishment to rival the greatest achievements in the [[Dawn history|nation's history]]. The birth of the nation under Tristane the Golden, the marriage of the [[First Empress]] and Rodric the Lame, the construction of the [[Astolat#The_Castle_of_Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] - and now after generations of sacrifice - the Barrens are finally Dawnish. People are naturally exultant about this glorious triumph and keen to celebrate.

Thus, there is an once in a lifetime opportunity to harness the raw enthusiasm of the Dawnish people. Last season the National Assembly of Dawn voted to pass the [[mandate]] raised by the '''Earl of Fools''' and enacted by '''Aramis du Froste''' with a greater majority. This mandate encouraged the Dawnish to look inwards; to [[Astolat]], [[Semmerholm]], and [[Weirwater]], for opportunities to improve the nation of Dawn. The Druj are soundly beaten, it is time for Dawn to seek love and glory within its borders.

During the same summit the covens of the Cabal of Nevezamzer, the Cabal of the Summer Sun, the Coven of Golden Wings, the Emerald Aegis, and the Sphinx's Saga came together to perform an [[arcane projection]] gifted to '''Dame Aurum de Castellan''' by [[Meraud]] as part of their challenge to receive the [[Eastern_Sky#Favour_of_Meraud|Fire Lord's favour]]. The Regents of Summer have taken great interest over the past season; [[To_the_last_syllable#Summer.27s_Glory|supporting their allies]] against the forces of [[Cold Sun]], and ensuring not a single Dawnish citizen fell beneath the blades of the soldiers of the Day realm.

During the Summer Solstice itself, the heroes of Dawn travelled through the [[Sentinel Gate]] to the depths of [[the Barrens]], to create a [[inspirational location|lasting monument]] to the courage, pride, and glory of all those who had fallen. Both those who died defeating the Druj and conquering the Barrens, and those who fell on their quest for Glory, are immortalized in the chapel there - but there may still be work to be done to make it a truly inspiring place.
{{SOP|statement= Our long toil to free the Barrens is complete, now we must claim the just rewards of our labours. We send Aramis du Froste with 50 doses of liao to urge our countryfolk to enjoy the fruits of our labour today.|by=Earl of Fools, Dawnish Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 237-22|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
==The Grand Tour==
* '''A series of extraordinary tourneys have been arranged across Astolat, Semmerholm and Weirwater'''
* '''Noble houses are competing to put on the most impressive battles accompanied by feasts, performances and poetry recitals'''
* '''Some knights are making an attempt to take part in every tourney - they have christened it the Grand Tour'''
* '''A new adventure is available to military who wish to partake in one or more seasons of the Grand Tour'''
* '''Dawnish yeofolk can now upgrade mines, farms, forests and herb gardens more cheaply for the next year'''
It's not true that the Dawnish think that a tourney is the answer to every question - there are plenty of questions that aren't worth answering. But glorious events like the conquest of the Barrens or the crowning of a new monarch are always accompanied by a series of spectacular tourneys. These events are vast affairs that offer opportunities for glory for nobles and [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]] alike - while the main event, the melee, is usually reserved for [[Dawn_magical_traditions#War_witches|witches]] and knights, every large tourney includes opportunities for yeofolk to also take the field. The most extravagant include entire mock battles, allowing knights and yeofolk to take the field together as they seek to demonstrate their martial glory in battle with each other.

On this occasion rather than try to organise a single event, scores of different households have announced their intention to host their own tourney, with each competing to make their event more grand than the others. This soon leads to problems as people begin arguing over dates - people want to attend as many of the epic spectacles as possible - so there is soon a strong pressure on [[earl|earls]] to avoid clashing with their neighbours. To help resolve the matter, Lady Griffinsbain proposes that the tourney season should begin in the Barrens, and then proceed each season to Semmerholm, then Weirwater and finally to culminate in Astolat. She further encourages the [[noble house|noble houses]] of each territory to spread their dates out, so that everyone will have the most opportunities to celebrate Dawn's glorious triumph.

No sooner have people agreed that this is a good idea than an aspiring [[knight-errant]] finds himself challenged to compete in every tourney for their test of mettle. Thus begins the idea of the Grand Tour - Dawnish knights, witches and other battle-hardened nobles and their yeofolk entourages touring the entire nation, travelling from one region to another, going from one celebration to the next, Competing with each other for prizes and more than anything for glory. For the following year it is possible for any [[military unit]] in the Empire to be assigned to take part in the Grand Tour, seeking recognition of their glory. It's far from the most profitable way for a military unit to spend their time, but the [[troubadour|troubadours]] are already preparing the rolls of honour to record the names of those who take part - to see who manages to complete the entire Tour.

The tourneys are not just an opportunity for feasting and celebration. They bring Dawnish people together, encouraging them to cooperate and poor their skills and resources to create lasting monuments to Dawn's glory so that the triumph in the Barrens has a lasting impact. As a result of this year-long celebration, some Dawnish characters will find it easier to upgrade their [[resource#Personal Resource|personal resources]] - by capitalising on the desire to to build up Dawn following their defeat of the Druj. For the next year, any Dawnish yeofolk will be able to upgrade their [[farm]], [[forest]], [[mine]], or [[herb garden]] for one fewer wain.

==A Shortage of Songwrights==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:400px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''School of Music and Poetry'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Ministry]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Culwich, Weirwater</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 white granite, 8 weirwood, 72 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the position of Reader of Music and Poetry with access to ministries to purchase magic items</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Reader of Music and Poetry'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' [[Judgement]] of [[Appointment]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives access to a ministry to purchase musical instruments</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To run the school, curate the creative endeavours of Dawn's troubadours and support the recruitment, training and instruction of new troubadours.</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Culwich Instruments'''</td><td style="background-color: LightYellow;"></td></tr>
<tr><td>22 crowns</td><td>1 [[Celebrant's Fiddle]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>20 crowns</td><td>1 [[Goldwood Pipes]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 crowns</td><td>1 [[Heroes' Horn]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 crowns</td><td>1 [[Horn Resounding]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>17 crowns</td><td>1 [[Silver Gate]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>18 crowns</td><td>1 [[Thundering Drum ]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>19 crowns</td><td>1 [[Watchers' Flute]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Note'''</td><td>This ministry will only function if the title holder is a troubadour</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Troubadours are in great demand in Dawn at the moment'''
* '''Every current troubadour will receive an additional four crowns each downtime for the coming year'''
* '''There is an opportunity to build a school of music in Weirwater'''
* '''The National Assembly is charged with finding the greatest piece of new music or art in the nation over the next twelve months'''
There is one unfortunate drawback to the Grand Tour. No celebration is complete with out troubadours to perform ballads and lays, to recite poetry and play music. Unfortunately there simply aren't enough troubadours to meet the extraordinary demand for their services. Earls are growing desperate to hire the services of the best and offering ever heavier purses to ensure that their festivities are accompanied by appropriate festivities. As a result of this extraordinary competition, every troubadour with an established reputation will receive an additional four crowns income for each event they attend over the next year, to reflect the eager demand for their services. These benefits only apply to current troubadours, characters that newly embrace that path won't gain this benefit because their reputation and renown as a troubadour is not yet established enough.

To resolve this terrible shortcoming, ''Earl Eoric du Borne'' proposes to construct a school of music and poetry at [[Weirwater#Culwich|Culwich]]. He has made an agreement in principle with some of the [[weaver cabal|weavers]] circles in Culwich to support the school with magical instruments in return for payment for materials and the promise of a dozen free tickets to every performance. The school is a small but significant construction which would require a suitable commission as a ministry and need 16 wains of white granite and 8 wains of weirwood and 72 crowns in labour and take a single season to build. The Earl's design cleverly includes chambers for both the [[High Bard of the Empire|High Bard]] (which Eoric maintains is really a Dawnish position), as well as a new title, the ''Reader of Music and Poetry'', who whose responsibilities would be to run the school, curate the creative endeavours of Dawn's troubadours and support the recruitment, training and instruction of new troubadours.

Once the [[commission]] was complete a suitable troubadour would need to be elected by [[judgement]] of [[appointment]] by the Dawnish Assembly. Provided that happened, the weavers of Culwich would provide an opportunity for the Reader of Music and Poetry to buy a single magical [[:Category:Musical_Instruments|musical instrument]] each season. The weavers will only support a recognised and renown troubadour - the ministry will not function if the character appointed to the title is not a troubadour on the database.

Although the Weavers of Culwich want payment for any musical instrument they make for the Reader they are not so cold-hearted that they have not been swept up by the joy of their fellow Dawnish at the conquest of the Barrens. In particular they would like to see an entirely new piece of work commissioned to celebrate Dawn's triumph and are prepared to support this with a grand prize. They offer to make a single musical instrument for whichever troubadour (or would be troubadour) the Dawnish Assembly identifies as having authored the greatest piece of new music or art in the next twelve months. As a result the Dawnish Assembly can use a [[statement of principle]] to identify a single Dawnish character who they believe has won the Culwich's weaver contest and created a beautiful new work - ideally something that celebrates the triumph in the Barrens. The judgement should name the artist and indicate which instrument would serve them best. If the judgement gets a greater majority then the weavers of Culwich will fashion one of the instruments for the artist.

One word of warning, many of the magical items created by the weavers of Culwich use strange techniques or very old ways of fashioning them that predate more widely accepted Imperial methods. As a result the recipient should anticipate that though the instrument's enchantment will have a year to run like any newly made item, it will also have an unusual aura of its own.
==The Throne of Glory==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:400px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Restore the Throne Room'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Fortification]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Withy, Astolat</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 15 white granite, 45 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Reduce the cost to upgrade Dawnish congregations by one white granite for a year and generate a historical research on Dawn's monarchs</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''There is an opportunity to restore the throne room of the Castle of Thorns and then consecrate it with true liao'''
* '''It requires 15 wains of white granite, 45 crowns and a senate commission for a fortification and take three months to complete'''
* '''Once complete the refurbished throne room would reduce the cost to upgrade Dawnish congregations by one white granite for a year'''
* '''The work will also generate a historical research into the early monarchs of Dawn'''
The Castle of Thorns is not the largest [[fortification]] in the Empire - that honour belongs to the wealthy merchants of [[Holberg]]. It is not the strongest fortification, that laurel is arguably claimed by the [[Semmerholm#The_Adamant_Gate|Adamant Gate]], that extraordinary construction which is fused with the magic of summer to make it literally unbreakable. Dawn's alliance with the Summer realm has made it unbreakable. It could be captured, no fortification is unconquerable, but it would require extraordinary magic to destroy it. The Adamant Gate will still be standing when all else is dust.

But the Dawnish claim the Castle of Thorns is the most beautiful fortification anywhere in the world, the white walls gleam in the sun, picturesque turrets stir the blood of even the most cold-hearted lovers who walk the battlements. The Castle reverberates with Dawnish history - it was once the seat of the Dawnish monarchy. While many of the rooms are now occupied by civil servants, the chambers of state remain untouched. The gilded throne of Tristane the Golden was brought here by Queen Igraine when the Castle was raised. The Rod of the Sun may have been missing since the reign of [[Empress Brannan]], but the throne still surmounts the dais in the royal audience chamber, inspiring awe in any that gaze upon it.

Sadly the years have not been kind and the throne room is now dilapidated and in urgent need of remedial work. To commemorate the glory of Dawn's triumph in the Barrens, ''Hugh de Veran'', a noble historian and troubadour who works in the Castle proposes the idea of restoring the throne room to its former splendour. This is no small effort, it would require 15 wains of [[white granite]] to restore the room to its former glory, along with 45 crowns, and take a season to complete. It would constitute a change to a fortification (since it involves work on the Castle of Thrones), so it would need to be authorised by the Imperial Senate or by a title with the explicit power to commission a fortification. It would count against the limited number of [[commission|commissions]] available each season.

Once work was complete it would prove a huge inspiration to historians and especially to troubadours who celebrate Dawn's glorious past. For one year following the completion of the work [[Congregation#Upgrade|upgrading]] any [[congregation]] in Dawn would cost one white granite fewer than normal. In addition ''Hugh de Veran'' promises that he will finally complete and publish the historical research that he has been working on for many years, concerning the pre-Imperial monarchs of Dawn. That might take a while, depending when the work gets completed, as Hugh only has time to work on his pet project in the period following the Autumn Equinox each year, but that would mean it would be done quickly if the work on the throne room was begun now.

Unless there are significant changes, interest in refurbishing the throne room would remain strong until the end of the Summer Solstice 386YE. After that the work could still be done, but it is not guaranteed that it would provide a benefit to the congregations of the nation.

==Great Deeds are Eternal==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:400px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Church at Hope's Rest '''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Folly]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Hope's Rest, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 20 white granite, 60 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Option:''' Include any number of statues of Anvil heroes for 3 wains of mithril and 9 crowns each</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''Boosts all Dawnish military units undertaking quests and adventures by one rank</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Shrine of Hope at Hope's Rest has been consecrated with true liao'''
* '''If the Dawnish commission a small church on the site then the shrine will provide a permanent benefit of one rank to every Dawnish military unit undertaking an adventure'''
* '''The church would require 20 wains of white granite and 60 crowns and take one month to build'''
* '''The sculptor, Blasine du Ravell, proposes to create beautiful mithril statues of the heroes who led Dawn to glory to immortalise their accomplishments'''
* '''The statues can be part of the require a commission but cost 3 wains of mithril and 9 crowns per general and take three months to complete'''

Last season the Dawnish heroes at Anvil took advantage of a conjunction to travel to [[A_glorious_victory#Here_We_Stand_.28Conjunction.29|Hope's Rest in the Barrens]] to consecrate the area with true liao. The area once contained a small shrine to Ser Guineve who was the first questing knight to seek glory in the Barrens, but that fell into ruin when the territory was conquered by the Druj. Now that the are has become an [[inspirational location]] thanks to the true aura, scores of Dawnish folk are making a pilgrimage to the site, and the lack of any shrine or other memorial has been raised.

To remedy this defect, Blasine Carver, a prominent architect and sculptor who is seeking to create a glorious work to pass their [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|test of mettle]] proposes to create a small but beautiful church that encloses the true aura alongside an elegant garden that she hopes to decorate with statues of the heroes who led Dawn to glory and the ultimate triumph over the Druj in the Barrens. The minimum needed for the work to progress is a senate commission to build a folly at Hope's Rest, that would need 20 wains of white granite and cost 60 crowns and take one month to complete.

Once the commission was complete it will create an [[inspirational location]], the Church of Ser Guineve at Hope's Rest. The [[aura]] will have a powerful effect on every [[questing knight]], knight errant, and similar who visits the church. Such visits will become common place for those setting out on adventure - as a result all Dawnish military units will gain a permanent one rank boost when undertaking any independent military action that is defined as an adventure.

In addition to the chapel, Blasine would like sculpt a set of giant silver statues of Dawn's heroes - those who led Dawn to glory in the Barrens. This would be a little more expensive however, each statue would require 3 wains of mithril and 9 crowns per hero. Obviously that begs the question of which heroes should be immortalised. General Tancred du Coerdefeur seems like the obvious candidate and Blasine proposes to put his statue in pride of place at the centre, in reflection of the glorious sacrifice of the [[Hounds of Glory]]. But it's inconceivable that General Tancred achieved this triumph alone - so there ought to be a statue for each of the principle actors? Blasine doesn't know how many statues are appropriate, nor who should be granted the honour, they leave that decision to the Heroes of Anvil who surely know better than they do.

Clearly it would be lovely to include everyone - but mithril doesn't grow on trees - so some judicious consideration is going to be needed if Blasine is instructed to go ahead. The ideal way to commission the statues would be as part of the motion that comes before the Senate, but whoever raises it could specify how many statues and of whom as part of the [[necessary details]] if they wish. Whoever brings the matter before the Senate will legally be the patron of the work, determining whose likeness will be immortalised and which figure will take the central position in any diorama. There are no restrictions on how many statues can be made - the only issue is cost - it will require 3 wains of mithril and 9 crowns for each statue.

Shining like fire

2023-09-04T09:38:27Z

Cathtice: /* Esoteric Algebra */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"It's somewhere here, I'm sure of it," whispered Violette kneeling down beside one of the curling stone planters. The Summer had been kind, and the pot was overflowing with sanguine hibiscus. Their aunt loved the blossoms, and seemed to take a kind of selfish joy in using a small fortune in valuable healing herbs as little more than decoration.

Claus, his eyes on the dark windows of the country house, looked around nervously as his sister began to methodically examine the old urn. All it would take would be for one of his aunt Olga's retainers, out of bed looking for a midnight snack, to glance out of the wrong window at the wrong time and everything would fall apart.

"Violette, we are going to get into so much trouble," he said trying to keep the whining note from his voice. "Seriously, after last time she said she'd get the militia. I don't see what...."

"That's your problem, Claus," snapped Violette without looking at him. "You don't see. You don't see anything and never have and I... look there's no time for this. Bring me the light."

He knelt next to her, unhooding the little lantern cupped in his palm. The Mestran mountebank had called it a ''thieves' lamp'', and laughed, and the recollection made Claus shiver despite the warmth of the night. He did not want to be dragged in front of the magistrates with a thieves' lamp on his person. What was Violette ''looking'' for?

"Do you remember when we used to come here as children?" His sister had moved to the urn on the other side of the garden steps, repeating her careful examination, using her long sensitive fingers as much as her eyes in the near perfect darkness.

It had been a long time ago, but Claus did remember. Their grandmother had been unwell as long as he had known her, but in those last few months they made regular trips out to Enterio to visit her. The old woman was always so glad to see them; the nurse said it was one of the few things that made her actually smile, and that their presence helped keep the Old Wolf at bay. His thoughts jumped track, as they so often did, and he wondered what had happened to the nurse. Aunt Olga had fired her the day after the funeral, he recalled.

"We used to play in the garden," he said, his eye turned inward. "I remember climbing the trees. Grandmother used to call me by father's name but it didn't upset me as much as it did him. I think we were happy?"

"Yes, yes," said Violette brusquely. "Very happy. But that was before ''she'' took everything away from us. Anyway. yesterday I was watching the children in the street playing ''hide-and-kick-the-beggar'' and I suddenly remembered. That last visit, the one before she died. The nurse had rolled her out onto the patio here, and all the adults were inside arguing. Grandmother said something to me, about how she had no more future left but ours was right in front of us and she would make sure it was as bright as the Shining Pillar. She was sat right here but she wasn't looking at me. She was looking at the flowers. She patted my hand and said it was all taken care of."

"I don't..." He didn't get far before she cut him off.

"Don't you see? She was fading fast and she thought someone was stealing from her - her jewelry, things from around the house. She thought it was one of the retainers, you remember? That they were watching her and searching the house for her valuables? Well what if she realised she couldn't hide it in the house? What if she hid it out here, where she was happy, where nobody would look?"

Claus furrowed his forehead. This again. "Look that makes no..."

Violette sat back on her heels, suddenly. "One of the stones just shifted," she said. "Here, look. Bring the light down. I tell you this stone is loose."

He leant in, and after a little pushing and pulling, one of the old faded stone flags split in two and lifted away. Beneath, in a shallow hole, amongst a nest of disgruntled spiders, was a metal box. Violette carefully lifted it out, turning it over in her hands. From round her neck she pulled a thin chain with an ancient looking red key on it.

"Where did you...?" he began but his sister was paying no attention. She slipped the key into the lock. Turned it. The box opened. Inside, several neatly folded sheets of fine quality paper, marked with the crest of the Guild. Violette pulled his arm over so she could read them, handing each page to Claus as she finished it. They read together in silence.

"... Paragons and exemplars," swore Claus. "A second will. It ''did'' exist. All these years it was real. Oh Violette I am so sorry I ever doubted you."

"You can apologise later," she said "Look at the signatures. The witnesses."

He'd missed that detail, consumed with the knowledge that it was their father than should have received the mine, that there were sizable bequests for each of his children, that he had been favoured by their grandmother to follow in her footsteps as Prince of the Guild and not their Aunt Olga. Each page was signed by both witnesses, as was traditional. He gasped audibly.

"Aunt Olga!" he said. "And... Doctor Squaló! That... that duplicitous..." words failed him. "This... all this time. Those swine, those... they sat here in our house, getting rich off our mine, and the whole time they knew! They knew there was a second will! I'm going to... we should...."

"We're going to calm down," said Violette. "We're going to calm down, and we're going to take this first thing in the morning to the magistrates. And while we're doing that, our sweet sister is going to be going down to the river to speak to those merrow friends of hers, and then there is going to be a ''reckoning''."

In the dim radiance of the lightstone, for the first time in years, she was the Violette he remembered from before the world had tried to crush her, to crush them all. Her eyes flashed with fury, but in her voice was a note of triumph, and he thought his heart might burst with pride before it had time to burst with anger.

"A reckoning," he echoed, and the two siblings shared a fierce grin in the dark garden, and hugged, and then slipped away to begin delivering to their Aunt and her collaborators the long overdue consequences they so richly deserved.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Shining like fire.png|caption=The [[Day magic#Resonance|resonance]] and [[Day magic#Dissonance|dissonance]] of the Day realm spills out across the entire Empire.|align=left|width=600}}</div>

==Overview==
For the third time in as many seasons, the Empire is blanketed with a powerful [[:Category:Imperial Enchantment|Imperial enchantment]]. After [[Children in bloom|Spring]] and then [[Farewell wanderlust|Autumn]], the power of [[Day magic|Day]] waxes ascendant. Multiple [[Urizen]] [[coven|covens]] working together wove the complex cloak of [[Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths]] during the Summer Solstice, and laid it gently over the entire Empire. The ritual has been [[Bright_Eyes_Gleam_in_the_Depths#Description|performed only twice before]] in the course of [[Imperial history]], once to combat a shortage of [[green iron]] and one to remove a dreadful [[curse]]. This time, sadly, the magic is more likely to be remembered for its catastrophic side effects.

Unlike the improvised magic of [[Farewell wanderlust|Bounty of the Brilliant Broker]], the enchantment has certain predictable effects. Every [[mine]] in the Empire receives an additional bounty of [[Materials#Metals|ingots]], as the [[Day_magic#Divination|divinatory]] and [[Day_magic#Revelation|revalatory]] powers of the Day realm sweep across the land helping miners find the finest treasure buried deep beneath the ground. Those same [[Day magic#Resonance|resonances]] infuse the general population, sparking a rash of odd incidents of ''déjà vu'' as people find themselves remembering things they had thought long forgotten - especially the location of lost items or memories discarded long ago. At the same time, encounters with the Day realm in general become more common. People are more likely to encounter Day [[regio]] or find that existing regio aligned with Day have increased in potency. Perhaps most significantly of all, heralds of Day [[eternal|eternals]] and indeed the eternals of Day themselves become more active as the enchantment takes hold, becoming more interested in the activities of Imperial citizens.

And, as always with Imperial enchantments, even one drawing on the regimented magic of the Day realm, the potent magic inspires a number of unpredictable effects. All Imperial enchantments attract the attention of the [[eternal|eternals]] of the Realm, and in this case that has meant [[Cold Sun]]. The "invasion" of the destructive eternal's heralds is detailed in the [[to the last syllable]] wind of war, while the [[resonance and mitigation]] wind of fortune details serious questions raised about rituals such as this.

Cold Sun is not the only eternal whose attention has been focused on the Empire; details of other less catastrophic opportunities can be found in the [[Hierarchs of sea and sky]] wind of fortune.

==Revelation and Meditation==
* '''The Imperial enchantment has widespread effects across the Imperial territories affected'''
* '''It is easier to find lost things, and identify flaws in structures or groups'''
''Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths'' draws on the divinatory resonances of Day, and is especially effective at helping individuals find things that are hidden or lost. One way this manifests is in helping miners find deposits of valuable magical ore, but there are plenty of others. Simple dowsing with a plumb-line and a piece of mineral becomes much more effective, for example. People suddenly remember where they put something they thought they'd lost forever, or through methodical searches uncover things that have been hidden away for generations.

Among other things, this remarkable rash of revelations has presented a number of [[#conjunctions|opportunities to recover lost treasures]] that the heroes of Anvil might be able to take advantage of.

Earth and stone underground whisper to miners and engineers, warning them of flaws or weaknesses that might cause collapses. Notably, in the last three months there has not been a single mining accident anywhere in the Empire - not a single tunnel collapses, not a single miner is injured thanks to negligence or misfortune. The revelation of flaws is not limited to life underground, either. Where a building is in need of maintenance, a bridge is becoming unsafe, a path is being swallowed by the forest, there are tales of auras and sounds drawing attention to the weakness or flaw. Perhaps this is also a consequence of the Realm's constant search for [[Day_magic#Perfection|perfection]].

The revelation of flaws is not only restricted to stonework. Many people experience moments in which they become profoundly aware of flaws and metaphorical cracks in themselves or their surroundings. One troubled [[the League|League]] [[draughir]] describes the sensation in a broadsheet as if they had "taken a step back" and looked at themselves with independent, fresh eyes - and not liked what they had seen. Resolving to improve, they used their final column to urge their readers to do something better with their lives, announcing their retirement from gossip-mongering and scandal-raking, and speaking of their intention to move to Morrow and become a [[torchbearer]]. The pattern is repeated elsewhere across the Empire; folk seeing the flaws in their lives and striving to fix them. Paradoxically, perhaps, for a realm of order and stability the magic of Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths causes steady ripples of change wherever it spreads.

Day magic is antithetical to secrets and mysteries of all kinds, and a little of that [[Day magic#Resonance|resonance]] seeps into the minds of Imperial citizens. Especially those who have been keeping secrets from those around them. There are stories of spontaneous confessions to the magistrates; of revelations of dark deeds that have twisted the one who did them with guilt. Almost without exception, those who give voice to the secrets they have been holding inside speak of feeling cleansed, liberated, or purified - even as they are being lead away for execution in some cases. The magic also infuses those actively seeking answers or secrets, with several criminal investigations believed to be hopeless coming to a sudden conclusion thanks to brilliant leaps of logic and cold evidence uncovered by magistrates, militia, and unlikely members of the public. It has done wonders for the [[Whispers of inquisition|investigation into the Whisper Gallery]], and the efforts to [[root out the espionage ring]] in [[Necropolis]], for example.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>'''Imperial Territories'''<br>Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths only touches those [[territory|territories]] that were Imperial at the end of the Summer Solstice 385YE. As a result, none of these effects apply to resources in [[Liathaven]], [[Brocéliande]], or [[Feroz]]. If your character has spent time in one of the other territories that ''are'' affected, it's fine to experience the more personal effects of the enchantment. A [[merrow]] who lives in Feroz but roleplays they have spent the last three months in [[Redoubt]] is free to strengthen their lineage trappings. But the owner of a [[mine]] in Brocéliande would not gain additional production for example.</box></div>
===Participation===
* '''Anyone in the Empire might be influenced by the Day magic resonances'''
Any character may have found something important they thought was lost; anything from a missing will to a beloved childhood toy might have been rediscovered thanks to the subtler effects of the Day realm. It also applies to people - this is a good event for people to discover evidence of an unexpected relationship between themselves and someone else (with appropriate OOC consent of course).

Discovering flaws is also a theme of this magic - either the prosaic tale of how someone avoided a nasty fall because the magic helped them see that their kitchen ceiling was about to give way, or something more ephemeral such as a spotting a power-imbalance in their coven, [[banner]], or [[sect]]. The revelatory Day magic also provides an excuse to evaluate your characterisation and take an opportunity to change it or recognise behaviours you might consider hypocritical, self-destructive, or "flawed" if viewed with an outside perspective. Many other sorts of roleplaying might suggest themselves, and anything that deals with perspective, finding things, or confronting difficult truths, is appropriate as an effect of this magic.

Finally, anyone who has a secret can roleplay a growing urge to unburden themselves of that secret. Revealing something hidden to people who will care about it brings with it a rush of positive emotions - as mentioned above a sense of clarity, purification, release, and so on. The more important the secret you revealed is to the person you tell it to, the stronger that feeling is. This is a great event to tell someone about your secret feelings, or reveal some past dark deed your character has committed. Obviously, be aware that this might have a significant impact on your game - admitting you have committed a murder may result in the full force of the law falling on your head. This goes both ways - this is also a good event for your character to launch into an investigation of wrongdoing, attempt to unravel a mystery, or finally get to the bottom of past events.

'''OOC Note:''' This magical effect is ''not'' about forcing people to tell the truth. It's impossible to try and force someone to roleplay the need to unburden themselves of a secret. It's acceptable to create a situation where it might be dramatically appropriate to confess something, but magical influence such as this is particularly subtle. It's intended as a prompt for roleplaying, not as a stick with which to beat people until their secrets fall out.

==Rhythms of the Day==
* '''People with the merrow lineage can increase their trappings if they wish'''
* '''Once each day during the Autumn Equinox a merrow can discern magical auras as if casting the detect magic spell'''
* '''Merrow characters can respond to certain roleplaying effects in a calm, focused way'''
Like the [[cambion]] and [[briar|briars]] before them, the Empire's [[merrow]] have been particularly affected by this potent [[Day magic]]. Every merrow is affected differently, and it is entirely fine to ignore these changes, or to downplay their effect if you wish. The realms subtly influence people with [[lineage]], gently urging them down certain paths of behaviour, and this powerful enchantment makes that urging much more focused. The effects may linger for the duration of the Autumn Equinox, and may increase the impact of one or more of the merrow's [[Merrow#Roleplaying_merrow|roleplaying trappings]]. Merrow who have been exposed to the enchantment may find themselves feeling especially [[Merrow#Calm|calm]], [[Merrow#Curious|curious]], [[Merrow#Cerebral|cerebral]], or [[Merrow#Focused|focused]] - but find it more difficult to resist [[Merrow#day|becoming obsessed]] by the pursuit of knowledge. A merrow may also find that the enchantment has permanently or temporarily strengthened the [[Merrow#Iconic_trappings|trappings]] of their lineage.

For the last few months, many merrow have reported a growing sense of the unseen energies and currents that surround them, and the effect also lingers during the Autumn equinox. Once each day during the summit, a merrow may [[detect magic|examine magical energies]] by spending thirty seconds of [[appropriate roleplaying]] that is noticeable to those nearby including concentrating, closing their eyes, focusing their attention and so on. No magical words are needed; this represents an awareness of esoteric energies rather than spellcasting. Indeed, this ability can be used freely even if you are [[Spellcasting#Spellcasting|wearing armour]]. If you have the merrow lineage, you may wish to read over, or refresh your memory of, the [[detect magic]] spell .

Furthermore, many merrow have spoke of feeling a sense of calm and wellbeing that most only experience under water. During the Autumn equinox, any merrow who is exposed to a [[roleplaying effect]] that makes them afraid, anxious, despondent, sorrowful, or despairing may use five seconds of [[appropriate roleplaying]] including vocalising a calming mantra or soothing phrase, and instead respond to that effect in a calm, matter-of-fact, rational, and focused way. This includes both the influence of the {{Black Plateau}} in [[Spiral]], and the effects of the [[Druj miasma]], should the character encounter them due to a skirmish for example.

==Glimmers in the Deeps==
* '''Every mine in an Imperial territory has produced additional ingots'''
* '''After the Autumn Equinox any mine owner can diversify their mine for free'''
* '''After the Autumn Equinox a mine may be upgraded for one wain of mithril fewer than normal'''
Every [[mine]] in the Empire produces two additional ingots of base material during the season since the Summer Solstice. Seams of [[Materials#Orichalcum|orichalcum]], [[Materials#Green Iron|green iron]] and [[weltsilver]] ores and deposits of [[Materials#Tempest Jade|tempest jade]] glow faintly with a golden, emerald, ruby, or sapphire aura. Some miners report particularly rich deposits seeming to 'sing' to them, drawing them closer despite the fact they are entirely invisible beneath layers of earth and stone. Each material has its own unique music: orichalcum the vibrating tones of stringed instruments, green iron with the metallic notes of trumpets or horns, weltsilver the rising and falling notes of woodwind instruments. and tempest jade the thudding, rhythmic beats of great drums and other percussion instruments.

After the Autumn Equinox, any mine owner has the option to take advantage of the magic to [[mine#Upgrade|upgrade]] their mine for one wain of [[mithril]] fewer than it would normally require. A basic mine would require only one wain of mithril to upgrade, for example, while a mine that already has two upgrades would only need three wains to upgrade it again. This option is ''only'' available in the downtime immediately after the Autumn equinox.

Alternatively, or in addition, a character can [[Mine#Diversification|diversify]] their existing mine resource without paying the usual costs to do so. Normally, diversifying a personal resource costs 1 Throne each time it is done; this cost is waived until the start of the Winter Solstice. This represents finding and exploiting new veins of ore or materials, discovered through divination, dowsing, or the lingering effects of the Day enchantment.
===Shimmering Echoes===
* '''Any mine enchanted with Revelation of the Jewel's Sparkling Heart will provide a single deepstone each season for the next year in addition to other benefits'''
The Autumn magic of ''Bounty of the Brilliant Broker'' brought to light an odd new mineral in many Imperial mines. Called [[Farewell_wanderlust#Treasures_of_the_Earth|Deepstones]], these enchanted materials contain magic that can be unlocked by trained [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisans]]. Deepstones don't seem to be a "product" of magic; much like [[realmsroot]] it seems that they have always been buried in the earth but it takes a powerful enchantment to coax them into life or make them noticeable enough to find. The power of Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths already makes it easier for miners to find valuables; some have discovered that this includes deepstones. By focusing Day magic on a mine, it's possible to ''keep'' finding deepstones, capturing some of the resonance of Day and causing it to last much longer than the current season.

During the Autumn Equinox, if a mine is targeted with [[Revelation of the Jewel's Sparkling Heart]], in addition to the normal effects that mine will produce a single appropriate deepstone each season for the next year (ending shortly before the Autumn Equinox 386YE). The type of deepstone produced will match the base material produced by the mine. A [[green iron]] mine produces ''warstones'', a [[weltsilver]] mine produces ''bloodstones'', a [[tempest jade]] mine produces ''spellstones'', and an [[orichalcum]] mine produces ''heartstones''.

Further information on deepstones - what they are and how they work - can be found in the [[Farewell_wanderlust#Treasures_of_the_Earth|Farewell wanderlust]] wind of fortune.

==Ephemeral Geometries==
* '''The power of the Day realm makes it easier to do esoteric calculations'''
* '''A character can change their personal resource for a mana site without the usual costs'''
* '''Any character with a basic mana site can upgrade their resource with a single wain of mithril'''
A [[mana site]] represents a location where flows of magic are particularly strong, and where solutions of rare salts and cunningly positioned structures cause mana crystals to form. Many different methods of measuring or focusing the natural flows of magic are used, the most common being mirrors, geometric solids, lenses, and objects such as windchimes whose movements can be interpreted to determine any adjustments that need to be made. While some magicians use intuition and instinct to locate places where a mana site may be established, those who study Day magic prefer to use esoteric geometric theories and careful study of the environment with a variety of tools. During the last few months, these practices have become a lot easier, the calculations and equations involved proving easier to perform and paying dividends in the process. There are two main effects.

Firstly, it is much easier to establish a new mana site than normal; all that is required is a selection of compasses and set-squares, an abacus, and a lot of paper. As such any character may change their [[Resource#Personal Resource|personal resource]] to a basic mana site in any [[territory]] of their nation without needing to pay the usual; 2 crowns to do so. Anyone who wishes to do so can [mailto:admin@profounddecisions.co.uk email] after the Autumn Equinox and gain the new resource.

Perhaps more importantly the ease with which these complex calculations can be performed means that it is significantly more straightforward to focus and pin down the flows of magic in an existing mana site. Following the Autumn Equinox, any character with a basic mana site (that is, one without any upgrades) may [[mana site|upgrade]] their mana site for only one wain of [[mithril]] rather than the usual two.
===Esoteric Algebra===
* '''Mana sites in the League, in Hahnmark, and Casinea have each gained a single potent magical bead - a Vitrified Oculus of the Day realm'''
During the past several months, a peculiar effect has been observed on [[mana site|mana sites]] that share a [[territory]] with one of the six [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#The_Legacies_of_Virtue|Legacies of Virtue]] commissioned by '''Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar'''. In [[Temeschwar]], [[Sarvos]], [[Tassato]], [[Holberg]], [[Casinea]], and [[Hahnmark]] peculiar spherical nodules of glassy material have been forming alongside the expected crystal mana. Lorenzo's Legacies of Virtue are a series of [[Great_work|great works]] designed with the assistance of the ''[[Holberg_spoils_of_war#Wunderkind|Wunderkind]]'' guild of Holberg, and each is quite similar in scope and construction. A number of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stele stelae] carved of red stone and surrounding cores of purified mithril are placed throughout the territory in carefully chosen locations focusing or disrupting the flows of mana, significantly improving the production of all [[mana site|mana sites]] in the area. A much larger stele is built at a single central location, serving to anchor and support the other, smaller stones. The work of "pinning down" or "shaping" the flows of mana appears to resonate in some unanticipated way with the Imperial enchantment of the Day realm, leading to what one magician calls a "distilled resonance" - a single aspect of the enchantment and the magic of the Day realm given physical form.

Each mana site owned by an Imperial citizen attending the Autumn Equinox produces a single ''Vitrified Oculus '', containing a small amount of divination magic that can be unleashed by a magician versed in [[Magical_skills#Realm_Lore|Day lore]]. The item can only be used once, but provides the equivalent of four crystal mana towards a performance of [[Sharp Eyes of the Corsair]], [[Revelation of the Jewel's Sparkling Heart]], [[Eye of the High Places]],or [[Eyes of the Sun and Moon]]. 

'''Phys-repping the resonance:''' The ''Vitrified Oculus'' takes the form of a sphere of glass, and can be phys-repped by a clear marble, or a small pouch of marbles or beads. It could also be phys-repped with a pouch or pot of glitter - sometimes the spheres shatter but don't lose their magical abilities.

===Asymmetrical Curves===
* '''Improved perception of mana, coupled with esoteric theory, provides opportunities to enhance certain sinecures'''
* '''The Imperial title associated with the sinecure can choose to increase the production using a large amount of weltsilver'''
* '''This opportunity is only available at the Autumn Equinox'''
The calculations related to the currents of mana prove useful in other ways as well, as does an improved capacity to detect and track their ebb and flow. A long time ago the [[Navarr]] magician ''Donnaya Windgleam'' laid out a theory that would allow the shifting currents of magic to be more carefully controlled, using a series of [[weltsilver]] [[Navarr hearth magic#Design|designs]] painstakingly positioned to capture and stabilise the shifting magic. The theory was largely useless because it required pinpoint placement and observation of the mana in a way that was time consuming, difficult, and relied on constant complicated calculations. Thanks to the clarity offered by Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths, and with the willing assistance of intrigued heralds of [[Ylenwe]] and [[Kimus]], there may be a way to put the Navarr theory into practice to enhance the production of a mana site without using [[mithril]].

Normally, enhancing a sinecure is a matter for the Imperial Senate, but the Windgleam Geometries don't require major reworking of the site only the careful application of large amounts of weltsilver. The citizen with responsibility for the sinecure is capable of making such minor "cosmetic" changes themselves. They are not cheap; large amounts of weltsilver and some money is required. Furthermore, it seems that only some sinecures can benefit from the calculations; it appears that the technique requires certain "shapes" or "connections" that are not always present. Some are too large or esoteric to be able to take advantage of the technique, while others have complicating factors that means the weltsilver designs would disrupt, rather than enhance, the production of the sinecure. The presence of nearby Day [[regio]] seems to be one of the considerations that must be taken into account.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''The Nature of Sinecures'''</big><p>When looking at this opportunity it's important to remember that sinecures are always connected to an Imperial title, and that the player-versus-player politics of the game may result in that title changing hands. Even sinecures with tenure are not immune to challenges - especially given the new Synod power of [[challenge]].</p>

<p>While some players may want to treat a sinecure like a personal possession because they paid for it, the rules are very clear that that is ''never'' the case. Your character owns their personal resource - that can't easily be taken off you. A sinecure is always the property of the Empire and is allocated to a character and can be taken away at any time through the legal means.</p></box></div>
As it is, the following Imperial titles have the opportunity to incorporate weltsilver designs into the physical form of their sinecure to cause it to permanently produce more crystal mana: [[Collector of Prosperity's Boon]], [[Custodian of the Claw]], [[Custodian of Glass Point Cove]], [[Custodian of the Pelican Tower]], [[Guardian of the Prosperity of Afal]], [[Dean of the Thorned Rose]], [[Fallsheart Guardian]], [[Guardian of the Cairn]], [[Jade Custodian]], [[Keeper of the Crystal Vale]], [[Keeper of the Dour Fens]], [[Keeper of the Golden Fields]], [[Keeper of the Happiston Fields]], [[Weigher of Worth]], and [[Wisdom of the Tenebrous Path]]. In each case, the weltsilver designs will be incorporated in the most effective and efficient way to channel additional mana ('''OOC:''' The description of the sinecure will be edited to include the designs and their effects.)

To permanently increase the production by one crystal mana each season requires 20 ingots of weltsilver and 10 crowns. Increasing the production by two crystal mana each season requires 50 ingots of weltsilver and 25 crowns. The work will take only three months to complete, after which the sinecure will permanently produce additional mana - provided the designs are not interfered with. '''OOC Note:''' To take advantage of this opportunity, the title holder should make sure the required resources are in their inventory (handed in at the end of the event), and [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk email plot] after the event.

A note of caution should be sounded here. Some of these sinecures are in areas threatened by [[Cold Sun]] or other enemies of the Empire. The weltsilver designs increase the amount of mana, but they provide no protection from the sinecure in question being damaged or destroyed.

==Also Dissonance==
===You Cannot Hide===
* '''The power of Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths has prematurely ended almost every shroud cast on an Imperial territory or resource'''
* '''During the Autumn Equinox, shrouds with a magnitude lower than 100 immediately end'''
* '''Rituals that create large phantasms or images cannot be performed during the Autumn Equinox'''
As the Autumn Equinox approaches, every major shroud across the Empire with a magnitude lower than 100 collapses almost simultaneously. There have been hints that something was happening, but there is little warning. Suddenly, the skies are clear and the magical effects that conceal territories from scrying are gone. Careful experimentation shows that the effect is still taking place; it will be almost impossible to raise a new shroud during the Equinox. It has not affected ''every'' shroud - individual concealments on people seem to still be intact - but it ''has'' dispelled every [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil|Penumbral Veil]] on an Imperial territory, and removed all [[Vale of Shadows|Vales of Shadow]]. The exception are those shrouds whose magnitude is greater than 100, were in the territory of [[Spiral]] and created with the assistance of [[Sung]], or which were infused with [[ilium]] (or otherwise strengthened to the point they became permanent).

During the Autumn Equinox any attempt to perform [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil]], [[Vale of Shadows]], or any similar effect with a magnitude of 100 or lower will fail. The mana will be expended, but the shroud will immediately be torn apart by the lingering Day magic.

The Day realm also has a dissonance for [[Day magic#Deception|Deception]]. A ritual that creates phantasms, visions, or images across a large area - such as that which created the [[Sense_and_sensibility|giant miner recently observed]] in [[Mournwold]] - will likewise be ineffective if performed during the Autumn Equinox and targeting an Imperial territory.

===What is Art Even For?===
* '''The subtle resonance of the Day realm discourages appreciation of art'''
* '''Great works and sinecures that rely on artistic expression or passionate expression have had reduced effect'''
* '''This effect has ended before the start of the Autumn Equinox 385YE'''
While the Day realm encourages reason, rationality, and clarity it is deeply dissonant with [[Day_magic#Intuition|intuition]], [[Day_magic#Passion|passion]], and arguably imagination. The effects are subtle, but for the last several months theatres, art galleries, and musical performance venues across the Empire have seen a marked decline in attendance. Many people are simply not interested, preferring to spend their free time and money on other pursuits. This has been especially noticeable in the League; the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#The_Blood_Red_Quays_Art_Gallery|Blood Red Quays Art Gallery]] in [[Sarvos]] and the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#The_Bloody_Great_Theatre|Bloody Great Theatre]] in [[Temeschwar]] have both seen a significant drop-off in audiences. There has also been a great deal less interest in games of chance and self-indulgence - [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#Lorenzo.27s_Great_Game|Lorenzo's Great Game]] saw significantly fewer people pass through its doors as the Day magic waxed.

It isn't just [[Great_work|great works]] that are affected. The Day Realm has little time for passion, and [[the Brass Coast]] in particular has been impacted by this spreading dissonance. The [[Azure_Sutannir#Azure_Chorus|Azure Chorus]] at [[Kahraman#Braydon.27s_Jasse|Braydon's Jasse]] and the [[Crimson_Sutannir#Crimson_Drummers_of_Madruga|Crimson Drummers of Madruga]] have both seen significantly fewer people attending their feasts and performances. The [[Queen%27s_Rose#The_Rose_Towers|Rose Towers]] in [[Dawn]], which uses beautiful art to inspire visitors with thoughts of [[glory]] and reminders of the contributions the people of the nation have made to the Empire, attracts significantly fewer pilgrims following the Summer Solstice.

In each case, the number of votes in the [[Imperial Synod]], and the [[liao]] provided, by the affected great works and sinecures has been halved (rounded down) for the Autumn Equinox. Unless something changes, it is anticipated that the number of visitors - and thus the estimated size of the [[congregation]] - will have returned to normal by the start of the Winter Solstice.

===A Frank Reappraisal===
* '''All new Imperial commissions will incur 50% higher labour costs from here on'''
One of the more [[Day_magic#Physicality|subtle dissonances of the Day realm]] is the way it resonates with concepts rather than materials. It is invaluable for divinations that quantify and sort information, but it can actively hinder the manipulation of physical objects. Day magic might be able to tell you exactly how to build something, but it can subtly hinder the actual physical construction.

Over the season, the burden of this imposition falls on the backs of those individuals who labour in service to the Empire constructing new buildings, digging canals, smithing weapons for armour. It's not the heroes who attend Anvil who struggle, but common people who labour with their hands each day to try to earn themselves a living. They find themselves having to work that little bit harder just to achieve what they would normally. The effects are subtle, and for the most part people set to and get on with it without complaint. Some rise an hour earlier in the morning, to get the work done, other skip their breaks to make up the time. It's hard for the individual to appreciate the many subtle ways the Day realm is making it harder to achieve things, and because citizens are working harder to compensate, there is no overall impact on projects.

But the Day realm also bring clarity and awareness - and as time goes on, those who are working hard become more conscious of the efforts they are putting in and crucially of the value of their labour. Civil servants who are appraising potential commissions discover that the people they are looking to hire are suddenly much better informed about what their time is worth than they were previously. Labourers, smiths and craftsman, they are all demanding to be paid more in the future. Existing contracts will not be affected, so any existing commissions are fine, but the civil service calculate that all new commissions by the Empire will cost fifty percent more in labour costs from the Autumn Equinox onwards, to reflect the higher wages being demanded.

Imperial prognosticators spend some time analysing the magic are generally of the view that the dissonance of the Day magic hasn't caused this change to happen, it's more that from the perspective of the people working for the Empire it has helped them find a flaw and fix it. They don't think there's any reason why it would happen again - although nothing is certain with rituals this powerful - but it certainly isn't going away any time soon. The effects are permanent affecting all future commissions, unless anything significant changes again.

==Toward the Omnihedron==
* '''The magnitude to perform an Imperial enchantment has increased to 210'''
Unlike most rituals, the magnitude of an Imperial enchantment shifts and changes as the Empire grows and shrinks. In recent years, it has increased to 200. Following the performance of Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths, its been observed that the magnitude has increased again to 210. Imperial scholars theorise that this might be due to the addition of [[the Barrens]] - the largest territory the Empire has ever encountered - to the Empire.

The omnihedron is a complex theory that has never been tested; it's not clear whether following Autumn with Day has had any influence on the outcome of the enchantment. Some stargazers point out that what is noticeably lessened is the impact of the dissonances of the Day realm, Compared to the widescale damage to farms and forests that occurred when Bounty of the Brilliant Broker followed Hallow of the Green World, the "downsides" of Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths seem almost negligible. Apart from the entire Cold Sun business.

==Skirmishes==
===Lost worth===
* '''A warband of Jotun have an artifactual Phial of the Sun that was taken over a century ago'''
* '''The Sentinel Gate will open at 19:30 on Friday to Grove of Einar, Icewood, Tromsa'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Grimnir of Wittal Grove'' is responsible for reclaiming the ''Grimnir's Glass'''''
A small number of the [[grimnir]] of [[Kallavesa#Wittal_Grove|Wittal Grove]] joined with the Empire's push into Tromsa. ''Elina of Redleaf's Hall'', inspired by the blanket of Day magic over the Empire, joined with them in an attempt to uncover what happened to a [[Phial of the Sun]], named the "''Grimnir's Glass''". This valuable artifact was lost when ''Wynflaed Sigring'' went with her wife to support the [[Fire of the South]] in their [[Campaigns_of_Emperor_Guntherm#Invasion_of_Jotun|invasion of the territory]] around 238YE. Elina, a descendent of the founders of the original [[All_lift_together#Healing_House_of_Wittal_Grove|Healing House of Wittal Grove]], has found the Jotun warband who took the "''Grimnir's Glass''" as their own, following the retreat of the Freeborn army and has asked for the current Grimnir of Wittal Grove to reclaim it.

If the ''Grimnir's Glass'' is reclaimed and passed on to one of the hosts of [[Wintermark_Egregore#Sulkavaris|Sulkavaris]] before the end of the next summit then Redleaf's Hall will commit to providing ten drams of [[herb|herbs]] to the Grimnir of Wittal Grove each season. They would provide six drams of [[True Vervain|true vervain]] every season but would send [[marrowort]] for use at the Spring Equinox, [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]] for the Summer Solstice, [[Imperial Roseweald|imperial roseweald]] for use at the Autumn Equinox, and [[bladeroot]] during the Winter Solstice.

The warband is made up of a combined force of [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Ra.C3.B0lj.C3.B3st|Raoljost]], [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Ulvenwar|Ulvenwar]], and [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Skjaldir|Skjaldir]]. Given that this is a direct request to the [[Grimnir of Wittal Grove]] it is the responsibility of the incumbent, '''Branwynn Helsbur''', to reclaim the ''Grimnir's Glass''.

===Change of habit===
* '''A patrol of Druj are returning to Turan with a relic from the Grynbor'''
* '''The Sentinel Gate will open at 20:30 on Saturday to the Queen's Claim, Nesustak Forest, Sarangrave'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Advisor on the Vallorn'' is responsible for reclaiming the ''Vate's Shelter'''
There have been a lot of Imperials in the Sarangrave over the last season. Over five thousand of them either [[Military_unit#Explore_the_Sarangrave|exploring the woods]] or [[Spy_network#Current_Spy_Networks|seeking more information]] in the Druj territory. What the spies may have uncovered is their business, but enough people are aware that the [[Make_it_happen#Inciting_the_Septs|fearful]] sept of the [[Make_it_happen#The_Grynbor|Grynbor]] have been visited by the Druj [[Druj_lore#Ghulai|ghulai]] and had a relic claimed from them. This relic, [[Abraxus_Stone#The_Vate.27s_Shelter|the Vate's Shelter]], was claimed from the vile "''Heirs of Terunael''" when they visited the [[vallorn]] infested region of [[Sarangrave#Bendol|Bendol]] and could prove to be of interest to the Advisor on the Vallorn.

The Druj force is made up of warriors from across the [[Arkad]] along with a single herald of [[Yaw'nagrah|Queen of the Forest]]. Given that this is a chance to recover something originating in the vallorn it is the responsibility of the [[Advisor on the Vallorn]]; '''Nathair Autumngale''', to reclaim the Vate's Shelter from the Druj.

<box><big>'''Druj Miasma'''</big>
* '''This encounter takes place in Sarangrave and is affected by Druj miasma'''
* '''The miasma [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakens]] anyone exposed to it who does not have the ability to [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|overcome]] it'''

The miasma [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakens]] anyone exposed to it who does not have the ability to [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|overcome]] it. The easiest method to overcome the miasma is to receive an [[anointing]], but particularly [[Heroic_skills#Hero|heroic]] individuals, or those in possession of certain [[enchantment|enchantments]] or [[magic items]] may also be able to counteract the effect. In particular, those of the [[changeling]] [[lineage]] are able to fight the effects of the miasma, but at the expense of becoming ''extremely'' angry - which can cause problems all its own.</box>

===By and by===
* '''A group of bandits are preying on traders travelling between Redston and Ashill'''
* '''The Sentinel Gate will open at 17:15 on Saturday to Tom's Dale, The Heath, Upwold'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Bailiff of the Grand Market'' is responsible for dealing with the Drake's Dozen'''
There are many paths and roads in [[Upwold]]. There are some barely long enough to eat an apple as you walk them, some where you can have a decent chat with your neighbour, and there's those where you can eat an entire pie before you're halfway done. It is one of those last ones, the long ones, that the "''Drake's Dozen''" have been targeting over the past few months. Nothing too serious, no killing or hurting people too much, but there's still theft and assault of Imperial citizens. The magistrates from on Stockland way have tried, they even brought a gross of the garrison from the [[Upwold#The_Eastern_Guard|Eastern Guard]], but with that many folks traipsing around, the Drake's Dozen were gone and hiding before the deputised militia had had a chance to take a second step. These "''Drake's Dozen''" have been exceptionally good at evading danger and only going after who they consider to be "reasonable" targets; the [[Merchant Prince|merchant princes]] from [[Tassato]] and the [[mediator|mediators]] from [[Hahnmark]].

Even though they're only really going after citizens of [[the League]] and [[Wintermark]] they're still criminals; judged as such by Magistrate Harriet Stockland. The ''Drake's Dozen'' are made up of hard-bitten warriors, but given that it is the responsibility of the [[Bailiff of the Grand Market]] to ensure that major roads between towns remain free of bandits it is down to the incumbent, '''Sebastian Shaw''', to deal with them.

==Further Reading==
* [[Hierarchs of sea and sky]] - 385YE Autumn Equinox wind of fortune about the Day eternals' interest in the Empire
* [[To the last syllable]] - 385YE Autumn Equinox wind of war about Cold Sun
* [[Resonance and mitigation]] - 385YE Autumn Equinox wind of fortune regarding questions about the Imperial enchantments

Rimbaud eyes

2023-09-04T09:25:42Z

Cathtice: /* Audacity */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"You what?" said Graime with a degree of incredulity. "...a true reflection of what is in a person's heart?" his disdain was transparent from the tone of his voice.

"Yes" explained the earnest acolyte, "The first tenet of Loyalty is to know your heart and what commands its devotion above all else."

Graime's eyes narrowed in suspicion - almost as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So... you should just be... Loyal... to the thing you really care about?"

"Well no, you don't only have to be Loyal to one thing, but the Virtue is about.. it's about knowing what is most important for you - what is in your heart."

The normally laconic questioner leaned backed, looking surprised before he instinctively blurted out "That is the stupidest idea I've ever heard."

Now it was the priest's turn to look shocked, but Graime continued speaking before he could say anything. "I've had people working for me that I couldn't stand the sight of. I remember there was one fellow one time, Sian her name was - right two-faced tittle-tattle. Nasty little piece of work. I would have ''loved'' to see her feeding the sharks - I can't think of anyone who'd deserve it more. But I didn't push her overboard myself because she was ''useful''. Fidelity's got nothing to do with what's in your heart! You can't go through life making decisions based on how you bloody feel about people! We can all treat people well if we ''like'' them! Fidelity is about treating people well even when you can't stand the bloody sight of them - you do it because they're ''useful'' to you. If you don't treat people well they'll bloody well stop being useful - the whole ''point'' of Fidelity is to keep faith with people you ''don't'' like."

The orc paused, having - finally - run out of things to rant about.

"Er right" said the Acolyte. "So... what what would you like me to say to people?" He spoke cautiously in case it set the voluble questioner off again.

Graime screwed up his face, as he considered the question for a moment. "Tell them it's fine." he finally responded. "Tell everyone we'll call it Loyalty. We'll work something out. At the end of the day, every... Apulian" he paused having had to stop himself saying Grendel before he continued. "Every Apulian knows that what matters is getting across the Abyss - to do that you have to put yourself first. That's whats in my heart! So Loyalty for us is about putting yourself first - so that'll be fine. Right what's next?".

"Well..." the young civil servant responded "The Prosperity assembly" he paused for a moment and looked down to read off his notes. "...recognises Fidelity is a route to Prosperity. We invite the Apulian Orcs to visit our congregations of Prosperity in the Empire, so that they may further their understanding of Prosperity."

"But I thought the Loyalty Assembly said they were having Fidelity?" demanded Graime.

"That's not actually what they said..." corrected the hapless civil servant as he frantically scanned his notes for the correct wording of the judgement.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Rebranding.png|caption=Many of the Apulian orcs have now joined the League officially, as Imperial citizens. But some are still hedging their bets in the face of imminent invasion from the Grendel.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
{{audio|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDE20b7T4Qg}}
==Overview==
The former Grendel Orcs who follow Kaliact have now joined the League. The majority of them have taken the name "Apulians" to reflect their new identity. Not every orc in Spiral has joined the League - in fact the status of the majority of orcs in Apulus remains... well "unclear" would be the charitable way to describe it. Most of them seem to be hedging their bets - everyone knows that war with the Grendel is coming. Spiral is a League territory now, but it was a Grendel territory barely three months ago. Those orcs who are personally loyal to Kaliact have eagerly embraced the League, those who personally opposed her have remained loyal to the Council of Salt Lords. The rest seem to be waiting to see how the cards fall before they decide which way to jump.

The fate of Kaliact herself remains in jeopardy. She is apparently suffering under the effects of a powerful curse cast on her by the Urizen. According to what is known it is a [[Like_Water_Through_Your_Fingers|ruinous Autumn curse]] that is causing Kaliact to struggle to hold on to any of her vast wealth or fortune. Her fellow Apulians are putting on a brave face, but it seems there is little they can do to stop the curse running its course. Kaliact is frantically searching for any means to break the curse - if she cannot then it is likely to leave her ruined by the time it runs its course.

As they were preparing to join the Empire, the Apulians asked the Imperial Synod to make a ruling on the nature and importance of the differences between their religious beliefs and those of their fellow League citizens. The virtue assemblies have yet to deliver a definitive ruling but while the Synod ponders the significance of the Apulian's peculiar beliefs, the wheels of politics turn. The first order of business is the matter of who will be senator of <s>Apulus</s>Spiral.

==Goldrush==
* '''A huge number of citizens from across the League have moved to Spiral'''
<div style="width: 500px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Eligible Spiral Votes'''</tr>
<tr><td>Aiden Jack Von Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Alexio Vicente</td></tr>
<tr><td>Annan De Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aureliana Perpetua Nicasia Saverio di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bella di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Caracalla Tarraco di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Catalina Barossa di Regardio</td></tr>
<tr><td>Celia Gabriela di Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>Clèrabéla Vicente d'Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Colm Cuinnead van Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Curstag van Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Diarmuid von Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Diego Alejandro Inigo de la Vega</td></tr>
<tr><td>Doctor Luther Manfredi von Holberg</td></tr>
<tr><td>Enriko Pescatore</td></tr>
<tr><td>Fabio Costas de Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Farq d'Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Fiorente Vicente</td></tr>
<tr><td>Francisco Delgado de Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>Gaspar di Temeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Geacomo di Spirali</td></tr>
<tr><td>Genoveva Barossa di Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>Goswin Conradi von Holberg</td></tr>
<tr><td>Graime the Questioner</td></tr>
<tr><td>Gustavus Tolski van Temeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Heliodoro Ribeiro</td></tr>
<tr><td>Jaosia van Temeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Jean d'Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kaliact von Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Karo Di Yedinso</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kasimir</td></tr>
<tr><td>Konrad Hans-Martin Van Holberg</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lachlan van Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lucio Di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lucreza Basilio di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lupita di Marcela di Catazar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Merlof Von Temeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Modesto Gouveia di Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>Nicamo Van Dire</td></tr>
<tr><td>Odhrin van Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pyke VanTemeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sebastiano</td></tr>
<tr><td>Scath di Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Taskel Di Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Wilhelm of Holberg</td></tr>
</table></div>

<div style="max-width: 50%; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;"><box>'''"NPC votes? NPC candidate! What's going on PD?"<br>
<p>We appreciate that some players were surprised to discover that Profound Decisions have a team of Apulian NPCs in the field who are clearly fighting hard to try and keep as much political control of Spiral as possible - including things like trying to keep access to a bourse seat and trying to win the senatorial election. The surprise is understandable, we've never done anything like this before and we don't have any current plans to do this in any other nation. This is a unique situation where a group of deeply ambitious orcs have sought out a chance to become Imperial citizens - so we've decided to handle it a bit differently.</p>

<p>The reality is that no-one was more surprised than we were by the player decision to embrace Spiral into the heart of the League. We are often caught out by player decisions - it's one of the things that makes running Empire so enjoyable. We hadn't looked in detail at what the Apulians would do and how we would make them continue to feel real and relevant once Spiral became a League territory. As soon as we considered it, we realised the best possible way we could do that was to have them on the field, competing for political control of Spiral's assets, ''exactly'' like all the other other player-characters. So we recruited a team of people to play the NPCs for us and gave the players a chance to meet them at the last event.</p>

This event they will be contesting the senatorial seat alongside the players. Even a glance at the list of eligible voters will reveal that our NPCs do not exactly dominate the list - which is fantastic news. It means that whoever wins the coming election, whether it's a PC or an NPC, they will only be able to do that by building the biggest possible voting block of supporters - which is exactly how it should work. Our NPC team includes a mix of participants, with more or less experience of playing Empire, just like all the other groups of PCs in the territory. We've deliberately arranged the way the setting has evolved to justify the fact that the only votes our NPCs have are the ones for the Apulian characters they are phys-repping on the field - exactly like every other group of PCs.

It is important to stress that PD simply do not mind who wins, We're contesting the election to make the ambition and audacity of the former Grendel feel completely real, the fight is important us, the outcome isn't. In this sense, the political battle for the control of Spiral is exactly like the big battles on Saturday and Sunday of each event. We put up orc opponents for the PCs to fight against and we don't mind who wins or loses - our goal is to make the battle feel as real as possible. If our NPC wins the seat then that will create a lot of new opportunities to do plot with Spiral and if they lose the vote... that will create a lot of different opportunities to do plot in Spiral.

Obviously it makes no in-character sense to oppose Odhrin on the basis that she is an NPC, but there are loads of really good reasons to convince your fellow Spiral business owners not to vote for her. She was a Grendel until three months ago... She's inexperienced and doesn't know the League, the Senate or the Empire that well. She's a pawn of Kaliact. The virtue of the former Grendel is pretty questionable. We've tried to ensure that there is a plethora of really good IC reasons that people can campaign against Odhrin, so that nobody has to say "don't vote for them, they're an NPC".

We won't have a large group of Apulian NPCs on the field forever, but we'll be updating the League brief over winter to give players all the information they need to create their own League Orc character. At some point in the future there won't be any need to have Apulian NPCs on the field because they won't be able to achieve anything that Apulian PCs aren't already doing and better.
</box></div>

The formal adoption of Spiral into the League has heralded a great exodus of League citizens from all over the Empire, flooding into Apulus searching for opportunity. Some come in search of wealth, others are seeking fame, but presumably more than a few are looking for power. There is a senate seat up for election at this summit, and with no established power hierarchy, it looks like more than a few people have their eye on the ultimate prize.

One of those groups is definitely Kaliact and the other Apulians. The former Salt Lord told the League senators that she had no wish to become senator, but it seems that statement was only true in a technical sense. The Apulian Orcs fully intend to contest the seat, with Odhrin van Apulian, a close ally of the former Salt Lord, putting herself forward. This is fortunate indeed - with their leader suffering under the debilitating curse inflicted by the Urizen, it is clear she is struggling to maintain order over her affairs in Apulus.

Were it a question of every orc with a business in Spiral voting for Odhrin, that would likely be the end of the matter. Even with the recent influx of League citizens from across the Empire, the orcs still outnumber the humans in Apulus. But with the overwhelming majority of orcs deciding to remain on the sidelines for now, it seems like Odhrin will have a serious fight on her hands.

However the situation does not entirely favour the newcomers either. Imperial election law states that if eligibility to vote in an election is restricted in some way, then you cannot vote if you were eligible to vote in an equivalent but different election in the last twelve months. In lay terms that means no League citizen who was eligible to vote for a senator in Winter, Spring or Summer, can vote for the senator of Spiral. The law exists to prevent citizens moving from one territory to the next, voting in each election. If they remain in Spiral for the immediate future, then they will definitely be eligible to vote in a years time, but nearly half of those who moved there this season cannot vote on this occasion.

Of course this restriction doesn't apply to anyone moving to Spiral from Tassato - nor does it apply to anyone who didn't own a business in the last year. So the majority of League citizens in Spiral are eligible to vote - but it is far from all. And it means the election could be especially contentious - even discounting the fact that someone who was a Grendel until three months ago is trying to claim the seat.

To try and help make things easier, the Civil Service have published a list of every citizen to whom they have distributed voting bonds thus far. They will update this list again before the summit begins in an attempt to keep it as accurate and informative as possible. If anyone believes they are due a voting bond and are not on that list, they should contact the civil service urgently. '''OOC note:''' the list should be correct based on who had booked for the coming event as of 18:00 on Wednesday. If you had booked before then and expected to be voting in this election you should email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk and we will check your status.

==The Price of Secrets==
* '''The influx of newcomers has left Apulus short of living space'''
* '''Urizen citizens living in Spiral will gain an additional 2 crowns income every season that their monopoly on the block continues from here on'''
* '''Labour costs for commissions now cost a third extra in the territory'''

The huge influx of League citizens coming to settle in Apulus in Spiral has created great demand for housing which the new city has struggled to meet. The issue is the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}, whose foreboding malignant influence penetrates every inch of the territory. This dark influence means that homes need to be protected with mithril and linked to the power of the Block otherwise life is quite literally unbearable. Those who are exposed to the pernicious influence of the dark heart of Spiral eventually break and turn on their fellows. You can walk abroad for some time without lasting effect, though it can be unpleasant, but for everyone's safety it is essential that people's homes are adequately protected.

Unfortunately, only the Urizen know how to work the magics needed to weave mithril filaments with the stone and mortar construction of a building. The Assembly elected to encourage trade with the Grendel, letting the Urizen get well paid for their skills, but they point blank refused to share the secret. This is a position they have [[The_fate_of_the_many#A_Precious_Secret|maintained]] since then, even when the territory was formally adopted into the League. Initially the civil service calculated that this would mean that any new commission would cost 25% more in Spiral than in any other Imperial territory. But they hadn't taken account of the huge influx of League citizens from elsewhere in their calculations, nor factored in the impact of the strange Day magic on the cost of labour across the Empire.

As a result of these two changes, all Imperial commissions in Spiral now cost a '''total''' of 4 crowns per wain. This includes the effects of the {{Black Plateau}} and the [[Shining like fire|impact of the Day realm]] on the Empire. The prognosticators do not currently expect this rate to rise further, but nor do they expect it to fall unless Urizen choose to share the secret of the Block with the League.

The news is not entirely bad - the demand for skilled magicians means that Urizen citizens are able to earn a small fortune from their League cousins who have absolutely no choice but to pay the going rate. ''Agathea'' and her fellow visionary architects are fast growing as rich as merchant princes themselves - but the wealth is slowly finding its way into the pockets of their fellow Urizen. As a result, going forwards every Urizen citizen who lives in Spiral will gain an extra two crowns income a season, a reflection of the wealth the community is earning from the League.

The prognosticators expect that this additional income will fall if the number of Urizen living in Spiral rises sharply - more magicians who can work the Block mean there is less money to be earned by each of them. Perversely if the number of Urizen living in Spiral falls, then the additional labour costs imposed on new commissions ''could'' rise further.

==The Cost of Virtue==
* '''The Imperial Synod has provided some answers on the Apulian qualities of audacity, cunning, fidelity, and retribution'''

The Apulians asked the Imperial Synod to provide a ruling on the elements of their faith that appear at odds with the Way, most notably their "virtues" of audacity, cunning, fidelity and retribution. They were keen to avoid any possibility of being accused of blasphemy - apparently eager to stay on the right side of the Synod and Imperial law. At the summit the matters were considered and discussed at length and some answers were issued.
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 2fr 2fr 3fr; gap: 10px">
{{SOPInner|by=Luciana Valesi di Sarvos, Pride Assembly|statement=The Pride assembly recognises Audacity as a noble quality that combines elements of both Pride and Ambition. After discussion with the Apulian Orcs, we believe Audacity can be a lens through which they can start to engage with the virtue of Pride.|vote=304-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
{{SOPInner|by=Lia Adelaar von Holberg, Ambition Assembly|statement=The Ambition assembly recognises Audacity as a noble quality that combines elements of both Ambition and Pride. After discussion with the Apulian Orcs, we believe Audacity can be a lens through which they can continue to engage with the virtue of Ambition..|vote=224-38|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
{{SOPInner|by=Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian, Pride Assembly|statement=The Apulian Orcs' virtue of Audacity says that "Power is a crown, learn to put it on." It teaches about self-belief, about knowing that you have the guts to follow through on your plans and make them manifest as virtuous action. This self-belief is core to the Imperial Virtue of Pride. Pride teaches us to despise the half-hearted, the uncommitted, and the pretender. What is Audacity if not committing yourself fully to your goals and knowing you have what it takes to achieve them? Therefore we recognise that Audacity is Pride by another name and we welcome the Apulian Orcs to the Empire and the Way of Virtue.|vote=224-38|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
</div>
===Audacity===
* '''Power is a crown, learn to put it on'''
* '''Both the Pride and the Ambition assembly claimed that audacity was a part of the virtue'''

Both the Pride and the Ambition Assembly have recognised audacity ''"a lens through which they can continue to engage with the virtue"'' respectively. This creates a degree of confusion with the Apulians as they try to obtain a definitive answer on what they are supposed to call audacity now. None of these statements achieved a greater majority, nor were either submitted to the vote of the General Assembly, so in the view of eminent scholars of the Synod, neither judgement can be argued to be definitive.

Nobody, not even their best friends, would confuse the Apulians with "eminent scholars of the Synod." They ask questions like "Does it matter if the Pride Assembly got 304 votes and the Ambition Assembly only got 224 votes?" The civil servants explain patiently that Synod votes don't really work like that, that you can't rank the significance of votes in one assembly against another because each assembly is a different size, but that only leads to more questions "whose in charge then?" and "Is it better if your Assembly has more votes.. or less votes?" The Grendel don't seem concerned about the subtle spiritual distinctions being raised by the different assemblies, so much as exactly ''how'' the Synod exercises its power.

In the end the majority of Apulians seem to decide that henceforth they are going to refer to audacity as Pride. If the Synod can't make up its mind on the subject then nobody is going to accuse them of blasphemy for what they're doing, which was the one thing they were most worried about. If the Synod does come to a single view on the matter, then they'll respond accordingly but provided they won't be held accountable for calling it Pride in the meantime, then there is nothing more to worry about.

When asked why they embraced Pride rather than Ambition, around a third of them point out that they have regarded Ambition and Audacity as distinct for hundreds of years. They really do think they're different virtues. Around a quarter point out that Pride got 304 votes in favour and Ambition only got 224 votes in favour, so Pride must be better than Ambition. And the rest point out that '''Genoveva Barossa''' has changed her last name to Apulian - she's one of them now, so what she says carries more weight than the rest of them.

Thus the fact that '''Genoveva Barossa''' has adopted the sobriquet "d'Apulian" seems to tip the balance for the Apulians, at least for now. Doubtless the Imperial Synod will continue to discuss audacity for some time to come. In the meantime, the Apulian idea of audacity will spread through the nation as an expression of League Pride, at least until the situation changes.
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px">
{{SOPInner|by=Raewyn Eternal, Loyalty Assembly|statement=The Loyalty Assembly finds that Fidelity has commonalities with Loyalty. There is no conflict if the expression of that Loyalty is a true reflection of what is in that person's heart. We welcome priests of the Apulian Orcs to our Assembly to deepen our understanding of the virtue of loyalty. Together we are stronger.|vote=349-26|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
{{SOPInner|by=Alexei, Prosperity Assembly|statement=The assembly recognises Fidelity is a route to Prosperity. We invite the Apulian Orcs to visit our congregations of Prosperity in the Empire, so that they may further their understanding of Prosperity.|vote=259-60|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
</div>

===Fidelity===
* '''You can't drive an ox with a broken back'''
* '''Both the Prosperity and the Loyalty assembly claimed that fidelity was a part of the virtue'''

A similar state of confusion exists with regard to Fidelity, with both the Loyalty and the Prosperity Assembly expressing shared "commonalities" with the idea of fidelity. Here though, there is a little more engagement with the actual issues of virtue. Graime expresses some points of philosophical disagreement with some of the central ideas of the Virtue of Loyalty, but ultimately he seems to believe that the Apulian Orcs will be able to adapt their beliefs and seems perfectly happy to acknowledge that their ideas on Fidelity are part of Loyalty.

The idea that Fidelity might be a route to Prosperity seems to offer similar potential for disagreement, but their idea of Prosperity seems a little different to the way it is understood by the Empire. They definitely consider them to be two very distinct virtues - and they appear to want to continue to do so if allowed by the Imperial Synod.

In the end they seem to struggle with whether it is better to embrace the idea that fidelity is just part of Loyalty, a virtue they don't find very appealing, or Prosperity which is the most commonly followed Virtue among the Grendel, but which is something they see as quite distinct from fidelity. They seem to feel that they need to have one answer or the other - and they would like that settled sooner rather than later.

In the end, most of them decide they should call it Loyalty and be done with it. When pushed on why, the Apulians explain that they know that Loyalty is considered one of the most important virtues in the League - and more than anything they desperately want to get on and fit in in their new nation. To their way of thinking, the point of Virtue is to help you accumulate power - so it makes sense to embrace Loyalty the better to be accepted by their peers.

Thus most plan to call it Loyalty - at least until the Synod makes a definitive ruling one way or the other. Ultimately, whatever name the Apulians adopt, the fact that fidelity was given a degree of acceptance by two different virtue assemblies, means that it will continue to be an important part of Apulian life, and it may spread elsewhere in the League.
{{SOP|by=The Fool of Glory, The Way|statement=The Assembly of the Way welcomes the Apulian Orcs to the way of virtue. We recognise the qualities of Audacity, Cunning, and Fidelity not as virtues but as Love and Glory are to the Dawnish or Heroism to the Winterborn - still valued and perhaps routes to virtue but not of themselves virtuous. We do not recognise Retribution as such a quality, for it is Vengeance by another name, and suggest the Apulians turn to the custom of their new nation - the Dead Reckoning of the League.|vote=157-20|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}

===Cunning and Retribution===
* '''Insight is the greatest weapon'''
* '''Vengeance for what you have lost, retribution for what you will gain'''
* '''No Assembly adopted cunning, but the Way denounced retribution'''

No assembly issued a statement on the Apulian quality of cunning - perhaps the closest were statements from the Assembly of Wisdom and Ambition, both of which called for more time for the Synod to consider these weighty questions. The Apulian orcs point out that they don't really have time... they've joined the Empire... they would really like to know which of their traditional spiritual beliefs they are going to have to drop. Can they talk about cunning or not?

In the end pragmatism wins the day. Most Apulian orcs decide that if the Synod hasn't made a clear statement about cunning, then presumably they're not going to run into legal problems for talking about it. After-all if anyone cared that much, they'd have said so. However they're also shrewd enough to appreciate that nobody embraced cunning either... both fidelity and audacity seemed to enjoy recognition and the wider appreciation of the Synod, but nobody was in a rush to claim cunning. As a result most of them decide it's something "to be talked about in private from now on" rather than openly discussed. Certainly this lack of any kind of formal acknowledgement will ensure that the ideal of cunning as a noble quality does not spread any further than Apulus and may not persist even there.

There is some disappointment though not surprise, that the Assembly of the Way chose to regard retribution as no different from vengeance. The Grendel only have one commonly accepted aphorism for each virtue; for retribution it reads "Vengeance for what you have lost, retribution for what you will gain," so they rather expected this outcome. The Apulians maintain that the two are very different - and they point to the foolishness of the Faraden as proof of that. The Faraden - in pursuit of justice - will attempt to get revenge on those they believe have crossed them no matter how much that is to their own detriment. The Apulians see that as madness - they think the proper understanding of retribution is about acting on feelings of injustice, only when they will benefit you and yours. It is a virtue designed to help you get ahead... not to bring others down.

Still they are practical enough to see the need to drop all mention of retribution if that is what the Synod requests. Certainly the compromise that they call it dead reckoning rather than retribution appeals to them. Indeed dead reckoning appears to the Apulians a great deal. They point out that if dead reckoning is about the favours you owe people, as well as the debt they own you, then in their eyes that is more about fidelity than retribution. However if dead reckoning is about punishing those who have crossed you - then that is absolutely what vengeance is about - and the parts of that that would lead to your own profit are what the Apulians would call retribution.

Ultimately they're happy to embrace dead reckoning - a concept they consider to be wise and virtuous. Talk of retribution is likely to disappear, even in Apulus, to be replaced by the idea of dead reckoning.

In fact, the Apulians are particularly keen to talk about the idea of dead reckoning in respect of Urizen's decision to curse their leader. Kaliact is a former Salt Lord - until very recently she was the wealthiest person anywhere in Spiral. Urizen's vengeance has already left her frantically scrabbling to hold onto her vast wealth. She is struggling to secure her estates and her properties, her assets are under threat, her puissance is slipping - if this curse runs its course she is likely to be ruined by the time its magic fades. The woman who staked everything on bringing Apulus into the League stands to lose it all.

What then does that imply for what the League owes Urizen? They have demanded a reckoning... what more could they want than to ruin the leader of the Apulians? Does this not wipe the slate clean?
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px">
{{SOPInner|by=Vera, Prosperity Assembly|statement=We call upon the Apulian Orcs to visit prosperity congregations across the Empire. They should use this opportunity to reflect on their understanding of Prosperity and the learn from our understanding which is informed by centuries of evidence and access to liao which has always been unavailable to them.|vote=Greater Majority 335-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
{{SOPInner|by=Paulus Adelaar von Holberg, Ambition Assembly|statement=Bishops of the League! The Apulians are ready and eager to adopt the Way, their former slaves may need further guidance! Priests! Get you to Spiral and show their Questioners the majesty and authority of the Bishop. Plant the seeds of a new generation of League Bishops in its soil and the growth of the Way shall be its fruit.|vote=Greater Majority 389-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
{{SOPInner|by=Lady Laudine duLac, Vigilance Assembly|statement=The assembly calls upon all of the dedicated priests who have liao in their pockets to travel to Spiral and spread auras of vigilance among our new Apulian friends. Let their souls know what true virtuous feel like.|vote=176-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
</div>

===Centuries of Evidence===
* '''Three virtue assemblies called for greater engagement with the Apulians'''
* '''The Apulians have taken note of the fact that of everyone who moved to Apulus this season, not a single one opted to open a congregation'''

The greater majority of the Prosperity Assembly backed the call by Vera to encourage the Apulians to visit Prosperity congregations across the Empire so that they could have an opportunity to reflect on their understanding of Prosperity and learn. Unfortunately the Apulians are not a people given to much reflection. It is true that they don't have access to liao and the auras it can be used to create, but they have seen and experienced them. They are careful about how they express it, but it is clear that they don't seem overly concerned with this evidence. They reiterate that for them the Virtues are about morality, they are about how you live your life, the choices you take, the actions you undertake, how you treat other people. They don't really see the point of auras - or really distinguish between the auras that are created with liao and the auras that are created with mana. As such they politely decline the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage across the Empire to learn about Prosperity - but they do stress that if someone could just write down this great insight and understanding that the Empire has gained from its centuries of evidence - they'll be more than happy to read it.

There are two calls from the Ambition Assembly and the Vigilance Assembly to send priests to Apulus to minister to the spiritual needs of the newest members of the League. Unfortunately those calls also seem to fall on deaf ears. There are a vast number of citizens heading to Apulus, but literally not a single one of them seems interested in ministering to the spiritual needs of the Apulians. Virtually everyone heading to the newest League city is setting up a business. There are a tiny handful of exceptions among the League citizens who attend Anvil, one who is opening a mine, another with a mana site and two citizens hiring sailors for their ships. But not a single individual who has moved to Spiral has chosen to set up a congregation. The civil service are able to confirm that after a season's assessment, the total amount of liao provided to every single League citizen in Spiral is '''zero'''. There are plenty of Urizen congregations in Spiral - but not a single one owned by the League.

The Apulians seemed to consider this both telling and reassuring in equal measure. This is why they joined the League they explain. The purpose of Virtue in the eyes of the Apulians is to help you achieve power - to gain puissance - the essential quality that allows you to cross the Howling Abyss. The Apulians are simply not interested in liao and ceremonies and auras. They assume that the priests, the bishops, and questioners moving to Apulus are setting up businesses because they want to wield power. The Apulians understand and ''respect'' that - that is exactly the kind of priest they ''want'' to deal with. As a result they are supremely confident that they will get along very well with their new bishops with whom they feel they already share a deep understanding of the realities of life.

If the Apulian Orcs are to gain an opportunity to benefit and learn from access to liao then it may take a while.

==Further Reading==
* [[A question of loyalty]] - 385YE Autumn wind of fortune about the situation with the Urizen still in Spiral
* [[Chords]] - 385YE Summer Wind of Fortune posing a series of questions related to Apulian Orc faith
* [[The fate of the many]] - 385YE Summer Wind of Fortune about the Urizen in Spiral
* [[A tide in the affairs]] - 385YE Wind of War detailing the "conquest" of Spiral

Rimbaud eyes

2023-09-04T09:22:50Z

Cathtice: /* The Price of Secrets */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"You what?" said Graime with a degree of incredulity. "...a true reflection of what is in a person's heart?" his disdain was transparent from the tone of his voice.

"Yes" explained the earnest acolyte, "The first tenet of Loyalty is to know your heart and what commands its devotion above all else."

Graime's eyes narrowed in suspicion - almost as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So... you should just be... Loyal... to the thing you really care about?"

"Well no, you don't only have to be Loyal to one thing, but the Virtue is about.. it's about knowing what is most important for you - what is in your heart."

The normally laconic questioner leaned backed, looking surprised before he instinctively blurted out "That is the stupidest idea I've ever heard."

Now it was the priest's turn to look shocked, but Graime continued speaking before he could say anything. "I've had people working for me that I couldn't stand the sight of. I remember there was one fellow one time, Sian her name was - right two-faced tittle-tattle. Nasty little piece of work. I would have ''loved'' to see her feeding the sharks - I can't think of anyone who'd deserve it more. But I didn't push her overboard myself because she was ''useful''. Fidelity's got nothing to do with what's in your heart! You can't go through life making decisions based on how you bloody feel about people! We can all treat people well if we ''like'' them! Fidelity is about treating people well even when you can't stand the bloody sight of them - you do it because they're ''useful'' to you. If you don't treat people well they'll bloody well stop being useful - the whole ''point'' of Fidelity is to keep faith with people you ''don't'' like."

The orc paused, having - finally - run out of things to rant about.

"Er right" said the Acolyte. "So... what what would you like me to say to people?" He spoke cautiously in case it set the voluble questioner off again.

Graime screwed up his face, as he considered the question for a moment. "Tell them it's fine." he finally responded. "Tell everyone we'll call it Loyalty. We'll work something out. At the end of the day, every... Apulian" he paused having had to stop himself saying Grendel before he continued. "Every Apulian knows that what matters is getting across the Abyss - to do that you have to put yourself first. That's whats in my heart! So Loyalty for us is about putting yourself first - so that'll be fine. Right what's next?".

"Well..." the young civil servant responded "The Prosperity assembly" he paused for a moment and looked down to read off his notes. "...recognises Fidelity is a route to Prosperity. We invite the Apulian Orcs to visit our congregations of Prosperity in the Empire, so that they may further their understanding of Prosperity."

"But I thought the Loyalty Assembly said they were having Fidelity?" demanded Graime.

"That's not actually what they said..." corrected the hapless civil servant as he frantically scanned his notes for the correct wording of the judgement.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Rebranding.png|caption=Many of the Apulian orcs have now joined the League officially, as Imperial citizens. But some are still hedging their bets in the face of imminent invasion from the Grendel.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
{{audio|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDE20b7T4Qg}}
==Overview==
The former Grendel Orcs who follow Kaliact have now joined the League. The majority of them have taken the name "Apulians" to reflect their new identity. Not every orc in Spiral has joined the League - in fact the status of the majority of orcs in Apulus remains... well "unclear" would be the charitable way to describe it. Most of them seem to be hedging their bets - everyone knows that war with the Grendel is coming. Spiral is a League territory now, but it was a Grendel territory barely three months ago. Those orcs who are personally loyal to Kaliact have eagerly embraced the League, those who personally opposed her have remained loyal to the Council of Salt Lords. The rest seem to be waiting to see how the cards fall before they decide which way to jump.

The fate of Kaliact herself remains in jeopardy. She is apparently suffering under the effects of a powerful curse cast on her by the Urizen. According to what is known it is a [[Like_Water_Through_Your_Fingers|ruinous Autumn curse]] that is causing Kaliact to struggle to hold on to any of her vast wealth or fortune. Her fellow Apulians are putting on a brave face, but it seems there is little they can do to stop the curse running its course. Kaliact is frantically searching for any means to break the curse - if she cannot then it is likely to leave her ruined by the time it runs its course.

As they were preparing to join the Empire, the Apulians asked the Imperial Synod to make a ruling on the nature and importance of the differences between their religious beliefs and those of their fellow League citizens. The virtue assemblies have yet to deliver a definitive ruling but while the Synod ponders the significance of the Apulian's peculiar beliefs, the wheels of politics turn. The first order of business is the matter of who will be senator of <s>Apulus</s>Spiral.

==Goldrush==
* '''A huge number of citizens from across the League have moved to Spiral'''
<div style="width: 500px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Eligible Spiral Votes'''</tr>
<tr><td>Aiden Jack Von Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Alexio Vicente</td></tr>
<tr><td>Annan De Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aureliana Perpetua Nicasia Saverio di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bella di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Caracalla Tarraco di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Catalina Barossa di Regardio</td></tr>
<tr><td>Celia Gabriela di Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>Clèrabéla Vicente d'Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Colm Cuinnead van Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Curstag van Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Diarmuid von Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Diego Alejandro Inigo de la Vega</td></tr>
<tr><td>Doctor Luther Manfredi von Holberg</td></tr>
<tr><td>Enriko Pescatore</td></tr>
<tr><td>Fabio Costas de Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Farq d'Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Fiorente Vicente</td></tr>
<tr><td>Francisco Delgado de Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>Gaspar di Temeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Geacomo di Spirali</td></tr>
<tr><td>Genoveva Barossa di Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>Goswin Conradi von Holberg</td></tr>
<tr><td>Graime the Questioner</td></tr>
<tr><td>Gustavus Tolski van Temeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Heliodoro Ribeiro</td></tr>
<tr><td>Jaosia van Temeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Jean d'Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kaliact von Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Karo Di Yedinso</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kasimir</td></tr>
<tr><td>Konrad Hans-Martin Van Holberg</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lachlan van Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lucio Di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lucreza Basilio di Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lupita di Marcela di Catazar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Merlof Von Temeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Modesto Gouveia di Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>Nicamo Van Dire</td></tr>
<tr><td>Odhrin van Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pyke VanTemeschwar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sebastiano</td></tr>
<tr><td>Scath di Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Taskel Di Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Wilhelm of Holberg</td></tr>
</table></div>

<div style="max-width: 50%; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;"><box>'''"NPC votes? NPC candidate! What's going on PD?"<br>
<p>We appreciate that some players were surprised to discover that Profound Decisions have a team of Apulian NPCs in the field who are clearly fighting hard to try and keep as much political control of Spiral as possible - including things like trying to keep access to a bourse seat and trying to win the senatorial election. The surprise is understandable, we've never done anything like this before and we don't have any current plans to do this in any other nation. This is a unique situation where a group of deeply ambitious orcs have sought out a chance to become Imperial citizens - so we've decided to handle it a bit differently.</p>

<p>The reality is that no-one was more surprised than we were by the player decision to embrace Spiral into the heart of the League. We are often caught out by player decisions - it's one of the things that makes running Empire so enjoyable. We hadn't looked in detail at what the Apulians would do and how we would make them continue to feel real and relevant once Spiral became a League territory. As soon as we considered it, we realised the best possible way we could do that was to have them on the field, competing for political control of Spiral's assets, ''exactly'' like all the other other player-characters. So we recruited a team of people to play the NPCs for us and gave the players a chance to meet them at the last event.</p>

This event they will be contesting the senatorial seat alongside the players. Even a glance at the list of eligible voters will reveal that our NPCs do not exactly dominate the list - which is fantastic news. It means that whoever wins the coming election, whether it's a PC or an NPC, they will only be able to do that by building the biggest possible voting block of supporters - which is exactly how it should work. Our NPC team includes a mix of participants, with more or less experience of playing Empire, just like all the other groups of PCs in the territory. We've deliberately arranged the way the setting has evolved to justify the fact that the only votes our NPCs have are the ones for the Apulian characters they are phys-repping on the field - exactly like every other group of PCs.

It is important to stress that PD simply do not mind who wins, We're contesting the election to make the ambition and audacity of the former Grendel feel completely real, the fight is important us, the outcome isn't. In this sense, the political battle for the control of Spiral is exactly like the big battles on Saturday and Sunday of each event. We put up orc opponents for the PCs to fight against and we don't mind who wins or loses - our goal is to make the battle feel as real as possible. If our NPC wins the seat then that will create a lot of new opportunities to do plot with Spiral and if they lose the vote... that will create a lot of different opportunities to do plot in Spiral.

Obviously it makes no in-character sense to oppose Odhrin on the basis that she is an NPC, but there are loads of really good reasons to convince your fellow Spiral business owners not to vote for her. She was a Grendel until three months ago... She's inexperienced and doesn't know the League, the Senate or the Empire that well. She's a pawn of Kaliact. The virtue of the former Grendel is pretty questionable. We've tried to ensure that there is a plethora of really good IC reasons that people can campaign against Odhrin, so that nobody has to say "don't vote for them, they're an NPC".

We won't have a large group of Apulian NPCs on the field forever, but we'll be updating the League brief over winter to give players all the information they need to create their own League Orc character. At some point in the future there won't be any need to have Apulian NPCs on the field because they won't be able to achieve anything that Apulian PCs aren't already doing and better.
</box></div>

The formal adoption of Spiral into the League has heralded a great exodus of League citizens from all over the Empire, flooding into Apulus searching for opportunity. Some come in search of wealth, others are seeking fame, but presumably more than a few are looking for power. There is a senate seat up for election at this summit, and with no established power hierarchy, it looks like more than a few people have their eye on the ultimate prize.

One of those groups is definitely Kaliact and the other Apulians. The former Salt Lord told the League senators that she had no wish to become senator, but it seems that statement was only true in a technical sense. The Apulian Orcs fully intend to contest the seat, with Odhrin van Apulian, a close ally of the former Salt Lord, putting herself forward. This is fortunate indeed - with their leader suffering under the debilitating curse inflicted by the Urizen, it is clear she is struggling to maintain order over her affairs in Apulus.

Were it a question of every orc with a business in Spiral voting for Odhrin, that would likely be the end of the matter. Even with the recent influx of League citizens from across the Empire, the orcs still outnumber the humans in Apulus. But with the overwhelming majority of orcs deciding to remain on the sidelines for now, it seems like Odhrin will have a serious fight on her hands.

However the situation does not entirely favour the newcomers either. Imperial election law states that if eligibility to vote in an election is restricted in some way, then you cannot vote if you were eligible to vote in an equivalent but different election in the last twelve months. In lay terms that means no League citizen who was eligible to vote for a senator in Winter, Spring or Summer, can vote for the senator of Spiral. The law exists to prevent citizens moving from one territory to the next, voting in each election. If they remain in Spiral for the immediate future, then they will definitely be eligible to vote in a years time, but nearly half of those who moved there this season cannot vote on this occasion.

Of course this restriction doesn't apply to anyone moving to Spiral from Tassato - nor does it apply to anyone who didn't own a business in the last year. So the majority of League citizens in Spiral are eligible to vote - but it is far from all. And it means the election could be especially contentious - even discounting the fact that someone who was a Grendel until three months ago is trying to claim the seat.

To try and help make things easier, the Civil Service have published a list of every citizen to whom they have distributed voting bonds thus far. They will update this list again before the summit begins in an attempt to keep it as accurate and informative as possible. If anyone believes they are due a voting bond and are not on that list, they should contact the civil service urgently. '''OOC note:''' the list should be correct based on who had booked for the coming event as of 18:00 on Wednesday. If you had booked before then and expected to be voting in this election you should email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk and we will check your status.

==The Price of Secrets==
* '''The influx of newcomers has left Apulus short of living space'''
* '''Urizen citizens living in Spiral will gain an additional 2 crowns income every season that their monopoly on the block continues from here on'''
* '''Labour costs for commissions now cost a third extra in the territory'''

The huge influx of League citizens coming to settle in Apulus in Spiral has created great demand for housing which the new city has struggled to meet. The issue is the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}, whose foreboding malignant influence penetrates every inch of the territory. This dark influence means that homes need to be protected with mithril and linked to the power of the Block otherwise life is quite literally unbearable. Those who are exposed to the pernicious influence of the dark heart of Spiral eventually break and turn on their fellows. You can walk abroad for some time without lasting effect, though it can be unpleasant, but for everyone's safety it is essential that people's homes are adequately protected.

Unfortunately, only the Urizen know how to work the magics needed to weave mithril filaments with the stone and mortar construction of a building. The Assembly elected to encourage trade with the Grendel, letting the Urizen get well paid for their skills, but they point blank refused to share the secret. This is a position they have [[The_fate_of_the_many#A_Precious_Secret|maintained]] since then, even when the territory was formally adopted into the League. Initially the civil service calculated that this would mean that any new commission would cost 25% more in Spiral than in any other Imperial territory. But they hadn't taken account of the huge influx of League citizens from elsewhere in their calculations, nor factored in the impact of the strange Day magic on the cost of labour across the Empire.

As a result of these two changes, all Imperial commissions in Spiral now cost a '''total''' of 4 crowns per wain. This includes the effects of the {{Black Plateau}} and the [[Shining like fire|impact of the Day realm]] on the Empire. The prognosticators do not currently expect this rate to rise further, but nor do they expect it to fall unless Urizen choose to share the secret of the Block with the League.

The news is not entirely bad - the demand for skilled magicians means that Urizen citizens are able to earn a small fortune from their League cousins who have absolutely no choice but to pay the going rate. ''Agathea'' and her fellow visionary architects are fast growing as rich as merchant princes themselves - but the wealth is slowly finding its way into the pockets of their fellow Urizen. As a result, going forwards every Urizen citizen who lives in Spiral will gain an extra two crowns income a season, a reflection of the wealth the community is earning from the League.

The prognosticators expect that this additional income will fall if the number of Urizen living in Spiral rises sharply - more magicians who can work the Block mean there is less money to be earned by each of them. Perversely if the number of Urizen living in Spiral falls, then the additional labour costs imposed on new commissions ''could'' rise further.

==The Cost of Virtue==
* '''The Imperial Synod has provided some answers on the Apulian qualities of audacity, cunning, fidelity, and retribution'''

The Apulians asked the Imperial Synod to provide a ruling on the elements of their faith that appear at odds with the Way, most notably their "virtues" of audacity, cunning, fidelity and retribution. They were keen to avoid any possibility of being accused of blasphemy - apparently eager to stay on the right side of the Synod and Imperial law. At the summit the matters were considered and discussed at length and some answers were issued.
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 2fr 2fr 3fr; gap: 10px">
{{SOPInner|by=Luciana Valesi di Sarvos, Pride Assembly|statement=The Pride assembly recognises Audacity as a noble quality that combines elements of both Pride and Ambition. After discussion with the Apulian Orcs, we believe Audacity can be a lens through which they can start to engage with the virtue of Pride.|vote=304-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
{{SOPInner|by=Lia Adelaar von Holberg, Ambition Assembly|statement=The Ambition assembly recognises Audacity as a noble quality that combines elements of both Ambition and Pride. After discussion with the Apulian Orcs, we believe Audacity can be a lens through which they can continue to engage with the virtue of Ambition..|vote=224-38|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
{{SOPInner|by=Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian, Pride Assembly|statement=The Apulian Orcs' virtue of Audacity says that "Power is a crown, learn to put it on." It teaches about self-belief, about knowing that you have the guts to follow through on your plans and make them manifest as virtuous action. This self-belief is core to the Imperial Virtue of Pride. Pride teaches us to despise the half-hearted, the uncommitted, and the pretender. What is Audacity if not committing yourself fully to your goals and knowing you have what it takes to achieve them? Therefore we recognise that Audacity is Pride by another name and we welcome the Apulian Orcs to the Empire and the Way of Virtue.|vote=224-38|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
</div>
===Audacity===
* '''Power is a crown, learn to put it on'''
* '''Both the Pride and the Ambition assembly claimed that audacity was a part of the virtue'''

Both the Pride and the Ambition Assembly have recognised audacity ''"a lens through which they can continue to engage with the virtue"'' respectively. This creates a degree of confusion with the Apulians as they try to obtain a definitive answer on what they are supposed to call audacity now. None of these statements achieved a greater majority, nor were either submitted to the vote of the General Assembly, so in the view of eminent scholars of the Synod, neither judgement can be argued to be definitive.

Nobody, not even their best friends, would confuse the Apulians with "eminent scholars of the Synod." They ask questions like "Does it matter if the Pride Assembly got 304 votes and the Ambition Assembly only got 224 votes?" The civil servants explain patiently that Synod votes don't really work like that, that you can't rank the significance of votes in one assembly against another because each assembly is a different size, but that only leads to more questions "whose in charge then?" and "Is it better if your Assembly has more votes.. or less votes?" The Grendel don't seem concerned about the subtle spiritual distinctions being raised by the different assemblies, so much as exactly ''how'' the Synod exercises its power.

In the end the majority of Apulians seem to decide that henceforth they are going to refer to audacity as Pride. If the Synod can't make up its mind on the subject then nobody is going to accuse them of blasphemy for what they're doing, which was the one thing they were most worried about. If the Synod does come to a single view on the matter, then they'll respond accordingly but provided they won't be held accountable for calling it Pride in the meantime, then there is nothing more to worry about.

When asked why they embraced Pride rather than Ambition, around a third of them point out that they have regarded Ambition and Audacity as distinct for hundreds of years. They really do think they're different virtues. Around a quarter point out that Pride got 304 votes in favour and Ambition only got 224 votes in favour, so Pride must be better than Ambition. And the rest point out that Genoveva Barossa has changed her last name to Apulian - she's one of them now, so what she says carries more weight than the rest of them.

Thus the fact that Genoveva Barossa has adopted the sobriquet "d'Apulian" seems to tip the balance for the Apulians, at least for now. Doubtless the Imperial Synod will continue to discuss audacity for some time to come. In the meantime, the Apulian idea of audacity will spread through the nation as an expression of League Pride, at least until the situation changes.
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px">
{{SOPInner|by=Raewyn Eternal, Loyalty Assembly|statement=The Loyalty Assembly finds that Fidelity has commonalities with Loyalty. There is no conflict if the expression of that Loyalty is a true reflection of what is in that person's heart. We welcome priests of the Apulian Orcs to our Assembly to deepen our understanding of the virtue of loyalty. Together we are stronger.|vote=349-26|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
{{SOPInner|by=Alexei, Prosperity Assembly|statement=The assembly recognises Fidelity is a route to Prosperity. We invite the Apulian Orcs to visit our congregations of Prosperity in the Empire, so that they may further their understanding of Prosperity.|vote=259-60|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
</div>

===Fidelity===
* '''You can't drive an ox with a broken back'''
* '''Both the Prosperity and the Loyalty assembly claimed that fidelity was a part of the virtue'''

A similar state of confusion exists with regard to Fidelity, with both the Loyalty and the Prosperity Assembly expressing shared "commonalities" with the idea of fidelity. Here though, there is a little more engagement with the actual issues of virtue. Graime expresses some points of philosophical disagreement with some of the central ideas of the Virtue of Loyalty, but ultimately he seems to believe that the Apulian Orcs will be able to adapt their beliefs and seems perfectly happy to acknowledge that their ideas on Fidelity are part of Loyalty.

The idea that Fidelity might be a route to Prosperity seems to offer similar potential for disagreement, but their idea of Prosperity seems a little different to the way it is understood by the Empire. They definitely consider them to be two very distinct virtues - and they appear to want to continue to do so if allowed by the Imperial Synod.

In the end they seem to struggle with whether it is better to embrace the idea that fidelity is just part of Loyalty, a virtue they don't find very appealing, or Prosperity which is the most commonly followed Virtue among the Grendel, but which is something they see as quite distinct from fidelity. They seem to feel that they need to have one answer or the other - and they would like that settled sooner rather than later.

In the end, most of them decide they should call it Loyalty and be done with it. When pushed on why, the Apulians explain that they know that Loyalty is considered one of the most important virtues in the League - and more than anything they desperately want to get on and fit in in their new nation. To their way of thinking, the point of Virtue is to help you accumulate power - so it makes sense to embrace Loyalty the better to be accepted by their peers.

Thus most plan to call it Loyalty - at least until the Synod makes a definitive ruling one way or the other. Ultimately, whatever name the Apulians adopt, the fact that fidelity was given a degree of acceptance by two different virtue assemblies, means that it will continue to be an important part of Apulian life, and it may spread elsewhere in the League.
{{SOP|by=The Fool of Glory, The Way|statement=The Assembly of the Way welcomes the Apulian Orcs to the way of virtue. We recognise the qualities of Audacity, Cunning, and Fidelity not as virtues but as Love and Glory are to the Dawnish or Heroism to the Winterborn - still valued and perhaps routes to virtue but not of themselves virtuous. We do not recognise Retribution as such a quality, for it is Vengeance by another name, and suggest the Apulians turn to the custom of their new nation - the Dead Reckoning of the League.|vote=157-20|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}

===Cunning and Retribution===
* '''Insight is the greatest weapon'''
* '''Vengeance for what you have lost, retribution for what you will gain'''
* '''No Assembly adopted cunning, but the Way denounced retribution'''

No assembly issued a statement on the Apulian quality of cunning - perhaps the closest were statements from the Assembly of Wisdom and Ambition, both of which called for more time for the Synod to consider these weighty questions. The Apulian orcs point out that they don't really have time... they've joined the Empire... they would really like to know which of their traditional spiritual beliefs they are going to have to drop. Can they talk about cunning or not?

In the end pragmatism wins the day. Most Apulian orcs decide that if the Synod hasn't made a clear statement about cunning, then presumably they're not going to run into legal problems for talking about it. After-all if anyone cared that much, they'd have said so. However they're also shrewd enough to appreciate that nobody embraced cunning either... both fidelity and audacity seemed to enjoy recognition and the wider appreciation of the Synod, but nobody was in a rush to claim cunning. As a result most of them decide it's something "to be talked about in private from now on" rather than openly discussed. Certainly this lack of any kind of formal acknowledgement will ensure that the ideal of cunning as a noble quality does not spread any further than Apulus and may not persist even there.

There is some disappointment though not surprise, that the Assembly of the Way chose to regard retribution as no different from vengeance. The Grendel only have one commonly accepted aphorism for each virtue; for retribution it reads "Vengeance for what you have lost, retribution for what you will gain," so they rather expected this outcome. The Apulians maintain that the two are very different - and they point to the foolishness of the Faraden as proof of that. The Faraden - in pursuit of justice - will attempt to get revenge on those they believe have crossed them no matter how much that is to their own detriment. The Apulians see that as madness - they think the proper understanding of retribution is about acting on feelings of injustice, only when they will benefit you and yours. It is a virtue designed to help you get ahead... not to bring others down.

Still they are practical enough to see the need to drop all mention of retribution if that is what the Synod requests. Certainly the compromise that they call it dead reckoning rather than retribution appeals to them. Indeed dead reckoning appears to the Apulians a great deal. They point out that if dead reckoning is about the favours you owe people, as well as the debt they own you, then in their eyes that is more about fidelity than retribution. However if dead reckoning is about punishing those who have crossed you - then that is absolutely what vengeance is about - and the parts of that that would lead to your own profit are what the Apulians would call retribution.

Ultimately they're happy to embrace dead reckoning - a concept they consider to be wise and virtuous. Talk of retribution is likely to disappear, even in Apulus, to be replaced by the idea of dead reckoning.

In fact, the Apulians are particularly keen to talk about the idea of dead reckoning in respect of Urizen's decision to curse their leader. Kaliact is a former Salt Lord - until very recently she was the wealthiest person anywhere in Spiral. Urizen's vengeance has already left her frantically scrabbling to hold onto her vast wealth. She is struggling to secure her estates and her properties, her assets are under threat, her puissance is slipping - if this curse runs its course she is likely to be ruined by the time its magic fades. The woman who staked everything on bringing Apulus into the League stands to lose it all.

What then does that imply for what the League owes Urizen? They have demanded a reckoning... what more could they want than to ruin the leader of the Apulians? Does this not wipe the slate clean?
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px">
{{SOPInner|by=Vera, Prosperity Assembly|statement=We call upon the Apulian Orcs to visit prosperity congregations across the Empire. They should use this opportunity to reflect on their understanding of Prosperity and the learn from our understanding which is informed by centuries of evidence and access to liao which has always been unavailable to them.|vote=Greater Majority 335-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
{{SOPInner|by=Paulus Adelaar von Holberg, Ambition Assembly|statement=Bishops of the League! The Apulians are ready and eager to adopt the Way, their former slaves may need further guidance! Priests! Get you to Spiral and show their Questioners the majesty and authority of the Bishop. Plant the seeds of a new generation of League Bishops in its soil and the growth of the Way shall be its fruit.|vote=Greater Majority 389-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
{{SOPInner|by=Lady Laudine duLac, Vigilance Assembly|statement=The assembly calls upon all of the dedicated priests who have liao in their pockets to travel to Spiral and spread auras of vigilance among our new Apulian friends. Let their souls know what true virtuous feel like.|vote=176-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
</div>

===Centuries of Evidence===
* '''Three virtue assemblies called for greater engagement with the Apulians'''
* '''The Apulians have taken note of the fact that of everyone who moved to Apulus this season, not a single one opted to open a congregation'''

The greater majority of the Prosperity Assembly backed the call by Vera to encourage the Apulians to visit Prosperity congregations across the Empire so that they could have an opportunity to reflect on their understanding of Prosperity and learn. Unfortunately the Apulians are not a people given to much reflection. It is true that they don't have access to liao and the auras it can be used to create, but they have seen and experienced them. They are careful about how they express it, but it is clear that they don't seem overly concerned with this evidence. They reiterate that for them the Virtues are about morality, they are about how you live your life, the choices you take, the actions you undertake, how you treat other people. They don't really see the point of auras - or really distinguish between the auras that are created with liao and the auras that are created with mana. As such they politely decline the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage across the Empire to learn about Prosperity - but they do stress that if someone could just write down this great insight and understanding that the Empire has gained from its centuries of evidence - they'll be more than happy to read it.

There are two calls from the Ambition Assembly and the Vigilance Assembly to send priests to Apulus to minister to the spiritual needs of the newest members of the League. Unfortunately those calls also seem to fall on deaf ears. There are a vast number of citizens heading to Apulus, but literally not a single one of them seems interested in ministering to the spiritual needs of the Apulians. Virtually everyone heading to the newest League city is setting up a business. There are a tiny handful of exceptions among the League citizens who attend Anvil, one who is opening a mine, another with a mana site and two citizens hiring sailors for their ships. But not a single individual who has moved to Spiral has chosen to set up a congregation. The civil service are able to confirm that after a season's assessment, the total amount of liao provided to every single League citizen in Spiral is '''zero'''. There are plenty of Urizen congregations in Spiral - but not a single one owned by the League.

The Apulians seemed to consider this both telling and reassuring in equal measure. This is why they joined the League they explain. The purpose of Virtue in the eyes of the Apulians is to help you achieve power - to gain puissance - the essential quality that allows you to cross the Howling Abyss. The Apulians are simply not interested in liao and ceremonies and auras. They assume that the priests, the bishops, and questioners moving to Apulus are setting up businesses because they want to wield power. The Apulians understand and ''respect'' that - that is exactly the kind of priest they ''want'' to deal with. As a result they are supremely confident that they will get along very well with their new bishops with whom they feel they already share a deep understanding of the realities of life.

If the Apulian Orcs are to gain an opportunity to benefit and learn from access to liao then it may take a while.

==Further Reading==
* [[A question of loyalty]] - 385YE Autumn wind of fortune about the situation with the Urizen still in Spiral
* [[Chords]] - 385YE Summer Wind of Fortune posing a series of questions related to Apulian Orc faith
* [[The fate of the many]] - 385YE Summer Wind of Fortune about the Urizen in Spiral
* [[A tide in the affairs]] - 385YE Wind of War detailing the "conquest" of Spiral

A wisdom of questions

2023-08-31T15:07:03Z

Cathtice: /* A Clean Cut */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>The old man held the blade up to the light to examine it. Taking his time, he ran his eye down the edge trying to find any hint of light reflected from it. Satisfied that there was none he carefully sheathed the deadly weapon and finally placed the whet stone back in his pouch. "I'll go once the morning light arrives" he announced.

"You can't leave - there's a storm brewing." Minias responded. "You have to wait until it's passed."

The man inclined his head in grateful acknowledgement of his hosts offer but then a wry smile crossed his lips. "I can't take that risk. If people knew I tarried here - that could put your spire in danger."

Minias snorted in derision. "Oh you're right - my mistake. Bring strength against weakness and victory is yours - but not if it puts your friends in danger. I'd forgotten that last part of the treachings."

He smiled even as she spoke, her mockery doing nothing to hide her concern. "Your are my weakness Minias, you are like a daughter to me. How could I pass through the Labyrinth if I knew I had brought harm to you and yours?"

"If you love a thing" she began but he cut her off. "Enough. I know the teachings Minias. And still I will be gone by the morning."

She scowled at him, clearly not prepared to drop the argument. "I still can't believe those unvirtuous fools tried to damn you."

The swordsman checked the blade was not sticking before looking up with that familiar grin. "They were inspired. What more could a teacher possibly want? It's a testament to their virtue that they tried to damn me. The fact they failed is a reflection of their weakness."

Minias rolled her eyes. "Right, yes of course, because you getting excommunicated is a teachable moment is it?"

Severus laughed again. "Minias, they found it in their hearts to persecute an old man they've never met and never spoken to. They despise me because I hold different views to them. They see me as a threat simply because I have found another Way. Their actions are the very embodiment of the ideals of involate perfection. They are doing ''exactly'' what we preach. They tried to strike me down for the crime of being different. That is what Sulemaine taught us to do."

"They're ignorant fools - if they just knew you like we do." she implored him.

"Then it is their very good fortune that they do not." The old man smiled indulgently at his former pupil even as he rebuked her. "Knowledge is the font of mercy. We cannot hate the familiar. Imagine if the Paragon of Blades had truly known the false prophets she challenged - known their their lives, their families, their hopes and fears. Imagine if she had known them the way you know me. Could you strike me down?" He paused for a moment to allow her to consider this troubling idea. "We learn our enemies limits but only so that we can exploit their weakness. We stand apart so that the enemy does not become familiar to us. Only then can we find the strength to strike without mercy."

Minias shook her head, unconvinced by the scholar's arguments. "Well they failed, we can be grateful for that much at least."

"Failure is the death of greatness..." the old man whispered.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sword.jpg|align=left|caption=Sulemaine i Taziel has always been a controversial figure, but now even some sword scholars are beginning to question the role her legacy will play in the future.|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[sword scholar|sword scholars]] have continued to make waves in Urizen and the wider Empire since they [[Return_of_the_sword_scholars|reconciled with the nation in 381YE]]. Their work has often brought them into conflict with the [[Imperial Synod]], most notably when they pushed for people to openly question the [[mandate|mandates]] enacted by the various assemblies. The influence of the Synod was weakened for a while as a result, and the effects still linger in [[Varushka]] and [[Urizen]]. The sword scholar ideal - that people should think for themselves, question everything, and reject the moral instructions of others - means that most Urizen citizens now pay little attention to a mandate unless it has received the backing of the [[Judgement#Greater_Majority|greater majority]] of the Assembly that passed it. Despite these challenges, sword scholars have been invited to [[The_troubled_words#Finding_Yourself|teach in Holberg]] and [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_188|most recently]] in [[Astolat#Laroc|Laroc]] in [[Astolat]].

Throughout this time, questions have been repeatedly raised about [[Sulemaine]] the controversial founder of the sword scholars. She is an iconoclastic figure in Urizen's history, who dismissed the [[Paragons and exemplars|paragons]] and argued that religion was a great evil. She was also notably contemptuous of mercy, pity, and fairness, which she argued were moral baggage that paralysed the soul. She practiced what she preached, and when [[Highguard|Highborn]] missionaries tried to spread the Way to Urizen, she would challenge any she could find, forcing them to debate her in public. Her status is contentious because In most of these stories, the tale ends with Sulemaine executing her rival after finding their arguments unconvincing.

Most sword scholars who visit [[Anvil]] seem to favour the part of Sulemaine's legacy that focuses on challenging authority through public debate rather than a duel to the death. However the Urizen Assembly has not been shy about proclaiming Sulemaine to be the ''"perfect epitome of the Urizeni spirit"'' and '''Herminius of the House of the Wanderer''' announced their intention to [[consecration|consecrate]] her final resting place as an [[Inspirational_location|inspirational tomb]]. The reaction to that has brought renewed interest in the life of the woman who is arguably Urizen's most controversial figure, and raised questions about who should inspire the modern sword scholar movement.

==The Problem with People==
{{SOP|statement=...Wisdom is finding the right questions. Does Sword Scholar philosophy have value when separated from the woman who inspired it? It is clear to me that the time has come to separate the woman from the teachings. I call on all virtuous Sword Scholars to no longer venerate the actions of Sulemaine. If you love a thing, be prepared to destroy it. Only then can you be truly strong enough to protect it.|by=Herminius House of the Wanderer, Urizen Assembly|when=385YE Summer Solstice|vote=Greater Majority 374-16}}
* '''The Urizen Assembly has called on sword scholars to no longer venerate Sulemaine'''
At the most recent summit, Herminius submitted a [[statement of principle]] to the Urizen Assembly calling on all virtuous sword scholars to no longer venerate the actions of Sulemaine. It passed with a greater majority, with only a single priest choosing to vote against. It clearly represents the settled view of the priests who attend Anvil - that sword scholars should find a way to move beyond Sulemaine's legacy.

Doing so would provide a number of clear benefits. Sulemaine's actions were controversial even in her own time. Her cause divided Urizen, ultimately pitting [[sentinel|sentinels]] against sword scholars in open warfare. While she was clearly an inspiration to those who met her - and her constant drive to question things seems to embody the teachings of [[Wisdom]] - some of her views are anathema to modern sensibilities.

At least they are among those who attend Anvil; disciples [[The_deepest_cut#Interred_With_Their_Bones|like Severus of the Blinding Sun]] still preach a message that sounds an awful lot like the [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Hatred|malign spiritual force of Hatred]] which he claims is based on Sulemaine's teachings. Sulemaine's contempt for religion and the Highborn teaching on Virtue are difficult to reconcile with an acceptance of the Way, Imperial law, and the Imperial Synod, but that is no problem for those who reject all of these things.

It is impossible to enshrine Sulemaine's legacy without drawing people's focus to her combative views. It is possible for individual sword scholars to choose to find inspiration in the parts of Sulemaine's legacy that are compatible with life in the Empire, but they can't control how others see her. Treating her like a paragon or exemplar - by consecrating her tomb with [[Liao#True Liao|true liao]] - inherently invites people to study every part of her life and be inspired by those parts that reverberate with them. Those sword scholars who want to reform the Synod, to decentralise and weaken its power will draw inspiration from such a site. But so will those sword scholars who want to destroy the Synod, to tear down an institution they hate and see as the source of moral corruption within Urizen.

Abandoning Sulemaine - separating the woman from the teachings - would make it possible for the sword scholars who attend Anvil to control the message they spread. They could concentrate on spreading those teachings they find inspiring and putting aside the actions and teachings that cannot be reconciled with an active political life in the modern Empire. Refuseniks like Severus would ''never'' accept such a move, but while the breach might be painful, it could be for the better. It seems likely that the sword scholar movement can be more effective if it isn't contaminated by constant association with moral recidivists who preach a message of blind hatred.

It would however not be without price. If you love a thing, you must be prepared to destroy it.

==A Clean Cut==
* '''The Assembly's message has created an opportunity for sword scholars to move on from Sulemaine's legacy - if they wish to'''
* '''This statement is in stark contrast to previous statements by the Assembly, endorsing it will damage the authority of the Assembly for a year'''
* '''Enacting the mandate would remove the liao and votes received by the Arbiter of the Four Winds'''
If the Urizen Assembly decides they wish to press forward with this new approach, they can pass the following mandate:

{{Mandate|mandate=Failure is the death of greatness. We send {named priest} with 75 doses of liao to encourage sword scholars throughout Urizen to separate the woman from the teachings and no longer venerate the actions of Sulemaine. Let us find new questions to ask.|assembly=Urizen National Assembly}}
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Known Sword Scholars'''</tr>
<tr><td>Alios</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ares</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aspar</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aurum of the Nightingale Temple</td></tr>
<tr><td>Calgacus Apulian</td></tr>
<tr><td>Captain Cyrus</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cato Hypation</td></tr>
<tr><td>Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer</td></tr>
<tr><td>Darius i Idoya</td></tr>
<tr><td>Elagabala</td></tr>
<tr><td>Eudoxia "Zero" of the Temple of the Wanderer</td></tr>
<tr><td>Faber ærarius</td></tr>
<tr><td>Hastatus of the Risen Sun</td></tr>
<tr><td>Herminius of the House of the Wanderer</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kosmas o Voskos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Manuel</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ourania Neofoti</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sophus</td></tr>
<tr><td>Talaos Lazcaris</td></tr>
<tr><td>Valens Leos</td></tr>
<tr><td>Velarion of the Golden Cascade</td></tr>
</table></div>
If this mandate is enacted by a sword scholar then it will cause a schism within the sword scholars, irreversibly sundering the movement. Legally the Urizen Assembly can authorise any priest to spread this mandate, but in this case, the mandate will ''only'' have an effect if the named priest is a known [[sword scholar]] (that is a character who was recorded as a sword scholar on the database at the last event). If anyone who isn't a known sword scholar attempts to spread the mandate, at best they will be ignored by most sword scholars - at worst they are likely to be physically attacked.

Those scholars who seek to reform the Synod or are otherwise reconciled with life as an Imperial citizen will embrace this mandate. Grateful for a chance to move on from the distasteful elements of Sulemaine's legacy, they can pursue the teachings without having to constantly answer for her actions or the actions of extremists like Severus of the Blinding Sun. There will be a great deal of work for them to do - it is one thing to disavow Sulemaine, but what does that actually entail? Sulemaine did not consider herself to be a sword scholar - those who were drawn to her teachings created that identity for themselves - rather she considered herself to be [[questor]]. Someone must answer the question of what remains when Sulemaine is gone.

Not everyone will accept the decision to reject Sulemaine. There are many sword scholars who were only reconciled with mainstream Urizen society because they believed that the Urizen Assembly accepted Sulemaine as an inspirational figure, someone whose life and accomplishments could legitimately shape the nation. An itinerant priest like Severus won't care one iota if [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_87|the General Assembly excommunicates him]] - he doesn't recognise their moral authority in any way. But he - and those like him - will not tolerate the rest of Urizen calling on them to abandon their veneration of Sulemaine. They would sooner split from Urizen than abandon the figure that is central to their beliefs.

The [[Arbiter_of_the_Four_Winds#Temple_of_the_Four_Winds|Temple of the Four Winds]] will be shattered by the split. The congregation that gathers at the temple will depart, and while the building remains intact for now, it will no longer provide liao or votes. Those sword scholars who are not willing to put Sulemaine aside will withdraw from Urizen society, or at least gather in secret. The split will not be violent, at least not initially. But Sulemaine's legacy is one of murderous opposition to those whose views you do not agree with - nobody should assume that the Sulemainists will remain peaceful in perpetuity...

The split will fundamentally weaken the sword scholars, but it should ensure that in future their pronouncements are less incendiary and less iconoclastic. The actions of the sword scholars have dominated the Urizen Assembly in the years since they re-joined the nation. There is no reason to imagine that well connected scholars like '''Aspar''', '''Aurum''', or '''Elagabala''' will see their influence diminish, no reason why the '''House of the Wanderer''' should not continue to lead Synod decisions. But in future their statements will lead to less controversy - for better or for worse there will be fewer [[opportunity|opportunities]] for extreme responses.

The sword scholars are not the only ones who will suffer if they take this path. In Autumn 383YE, the Urizen Assembly [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_100|enacted a mandate]] submitted by '''Aurum of the Nightingale Temple''' stating that ''"The Paragon of Blades is the perfect epitome of the Urizeni spirit - pure calculating reason unhindered by emotion or pity."'' Barely two years later, they have passed a statement of principle that appears to completely repudiate their former position. It is hard reconcile the idea that Sulemaine is the perfect epitome of the Urizeni spirit with the statement that people should not venerate her. Of course the Assembly can change their mind - but doing so fundamentally weakens their moral authority. If the mandate is enacted then ''all'' Urizen congregations will suffer - they will receive 2 fewer votes and 1 fewer liao for the next year. After that, the effects will be gone - assuming the Assembly does not have reason to change their mind again of course...

==Over The River==
{{SOP|statement=The Highborn Assembly sends Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower with 50 doses of liao to lead the Wayfarers and Pilgrims to Sulemaine's Tomb. We embrace our past and acknowledge that the Sword Scholars once met Wayfarers with the blade. But now we see the commitment from Urizen in their assurance that "Sulemaine's enemies are not our enemies" (Judgement 47, Winter 383YE). They have not been complacent in their words and met our Grey Pilgrims with spiritual debate. Inspired by Sulemaine's example, we will test what we've learnt and continue inspiring excellence in each other. As such, we have come to bear witness to Urizen's decision and spread word of it through Highguard.|by=Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower, Highborn Assembly|when=385YE Summer Solstice|vote=443-265}}
* '''The Highborn Assembly has taken a keen interest in Urizen's embrace of Sulemaine'''

The "Paragon of Blades" is not a well known figure in Highguard, but those who are familiar with her legacy do not think well of her. The histories compiled by [[Highguard_history#Archivists|the archivists]] tend to focus heavily on the lives of those that Sulemaine murdered, recounting their [[Ambition]], [[Pride]] and [[Courage]] in attempting to spread word of the Virtues across Urizen and the world. Those she slew are seen as martyrs; exemplary figures whose commitment to their own virtue and the virtue of others saw them pay the ultimate price. Sulemaine is portrayed as a brutal, callous woman who used her unquestionable skill with the sword to slaughter those whose arguments she could not refute. Highborn histories talk about their ultimate triumph in overcoming Sulemaine's creed in the same terms they use to describe victories over the [[Druj]].

As a result, the news that Urizen are contemplating using true liao to consecrate a shrine to the woman who mercilessly killed Highborn priests, and sought to prevent them spreading the Virtues, is not well received. While Hazelelponi's mandate claims that Urizen no longer views Sulemaine's enemies as their enemies, it still invites Highguard to stand witness to their decision to consecrate her tomb with true liao - an accolade usually reserved for the greatest paragons and exemplars in the Empire's history. The Civil Service anticipated that Hazelelponi's mandate would cause a strongly negative response. Creating an inspirational tomb to sanctify the memory of someone who murdered scores of [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] would have outraged congregations across Highguard.

Fortunately that outcome never comes to pass. Even more than the decision not to consecrate Sulemaine's tomb, the statement of principle by the Assembly calling on sword scholars to no longer venerate the actions of the Paragon of Blades underpins Hazelelponi's demand that the Highborn stand witness to Urizen's decision. The two nation's assemblies have experienced fractious relations in recent times - when the Highborn Assembly were exploring ways to work more closely with the Assemblies of the other nations of the Empire, the Urizen Assembly [[Pieces_missing_everywhere#Trust_Your_Instincts|contemplated rejecting any possibility of cooperation]]. In the end however, calmer heads prevailed and instead the Assembly elected to embrace the opportunity to [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_76|share their wisdom with the Highborn Assembly]].

There is a tangible sense of relief that Urizen have elected to step back from the precipice. Had the nation chosen to go ahead with the plan to laud Sulemaine's legacy as an inspiration it could have created an irreconcilable breach with their neighbours. Many are content that in the end it didn't happen - a testament to the enduring Wisdom of the Urizen. Others however are concerned that this ever got so close - that the Empire came to the brink of consecrating the tomb of a despised figure like Sulemaine as if they were an actual paragon. How could that happen with so little oversight from the Synod? They point out that the [[recognition]] of an exemplar or paragon requires the approval of a virtue assembly and then approval by the General Assembly. Why should a true consecration be any different?

After consultation with the constitutional court, they put forward the following proposal to change Imperial Law.

<ic>To create a judgement of writ of consecration, by which the Imperial Synod may authorise the use of Imperial liao to consecrate an inspirational memorial or tomb to a paragon, exemplar or other inspirational figure. A writ of consecration shall require approval by the greater majority of the relevant Virtue assembly, whereupon the Tribune of the Synod will raise the same judgement for approval by the lesser majority of the General Assembly. The use of Imperial liao to consecrate a tomb or other memorial to an individual, conducted without this approval, will constitute a grave breach of Imperial law.</ic>

This change to Imperial law would not require a constitutional vote.

In their view, such a change to the law would ensure that a situation like this cannot arise again. While it seems likely that the Wisdom Assembly might well endorse the consecration - and it is entirely possible that the General Assembly would approve it, it couldn't happen without much greater awareness by the entire Synod. Crucially it would give every priest of the Empire an opportunity to decide collectively whether this approach was truly virtuous.

==Towards the Dawn==
{{SOP|statement=In light of the invitation received from Ser Dindrane de Cantharos of the Cathedral of Laroc in Astolat, Cato and Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer propose to attend the cathedral "to teach, to challenge, to perfect, and perhaps to learn", the better to draw on new Imperial thinking to add to the review of sword scholar thought.|by=Cato Hypation, Urizen Assembly|when=385YE Summer Solstice|vote=Greater Majority 217-10}}
* '''Ser Dindrane de Cantharos of the Cathedral of Laroc in Astolat, has invited the House of the Wanderer to teach at the Cathedral'''
* '''The Dawnish Assembly could chose to embrace the lessons contained within the sword scholar ideology'''
* '''Doing so would lead to people questioning the mandates of the Assembly and the leadership of the noble houses'''
Cato has informed the Urizen Assembly he and Clytemnestra plan to take up the invitation of '''Ser Dindrane de Cantharos''' to teach at the [[Dean_of_Laroc_Cathedral|Cathedral of Laroc in Astolat]]. This is not the first time that sword scholars have been invited to share their teachings with others - there are sword scholars teaching at the [[Master_of_Defence_of_the_Scholars_of_the_Sword_Academy|Scholars of the Sword Academy]] in [[Holberg]]. Despite its name the cathedral, is more akin to a chapel in size and grandeur, so the impact of the visit of the two sword scholars is expected to be relatively minor. It does however represent an excellent opportunity for congregants to challenge and learn from each other.

However the Dawnish Assembly could choose to embrace the opportunity presented by the visiting scholars, encouraging troubadours and other priests to take advantage of this opportunity.

{{Mandate|mandate=Test what you learn; only fools accept hearsay as truth. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to urge the faithful to visit Laroc to share in the lessons imparted there. Nothing is more virtuous than success!|assembly=Dawn National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, it will encourage the virtuous in Dawn to take inspiration from the approach of the sword scholars. Inspired by their example, people will be motivated to actively challenge any mandate that the Assembly passes. They will demand that those who try to sway others first defend their own ideals, forcing them to justify their actions with reason and logic, and effectively opposing the mandate at every turn. As a result mandates passed by the Imperial Synod will only affect Dawn if passed with a greater majority.

Sword scholar ideology encourages everyone to think for themselves. Such idealism can come with a heavy price; it certainly invites people to challenge the status quo which can be deeply disruptive. Such disruption would have far-reaching effects in a highly-stratified nation like Dawn, where the [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]] are accustomed to following the leadership of the [[noble house|noble houses]]. Nowhere is this more true than the Dawnish [[Imperial army|armies]], where knights and witches lead large numbers of yeofolk in a quest for glory. A philosophy of individualism may benefit the soul as Sulemaine claimed, but it would also threaten the discipline of the Dawnish armies. Ultimately all of Dawn could be turned upside down if the Assembly chooses to encourage Dawnish folk to embrace these teachings.

There would be no immediate effects - Laroc Cathedral is too small to exert such influence over the nation in the short term. But if this mandate is enacted, then over time the decision to embrace sword scholar teachings will begin to have deeper ramifications for all of Dawn.
==Further Reading==
* [[Sword scholar]]
* [[Sulemaine]]
* [[The deepest cut]] - 385YE Summer wind of fortune about the consecration of a tomb for Sulemaine
* [[The troubled words]] - 385YE Spring wind of fortune about the sword scholars in Holberg

Not to conquer

2023-08-31T14:28:20Z

Cathtice: /* What do the Great Forest Orcs want? */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>
Erica grinned at the troubadour, clearly enjoying needling her fellow priest. "Does calling it Liberation rather than Freedom make you feel more comfortable?" she asked, posing the question with an air of false naivete.

Ser Fundin took a long swig from his tankard to give himself some time to think. He had expected the Montanian to be poorly educated in the ways of Virtue and he was rather regretting under-estimating the woman. "It doesn't matter what we call it" he finally responded. "The point is that we wish to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj, not to conquer them."

"Oh I rather think it does matter what you call it. But lets not argue semantics like a pair of Urizeni stargazers considering the heavens. Let's talk about what you actually mean to do. You're here to liberate us, and in truth we're not ungrateful. It's definitely an improvement on last time... no-one can deny that. So - when are you going to do that? When will we get liberated?"

The Montanian priest's voice was light and friendly, her hands spread out in a gesture of open inquiry, but there was a note of steel in her voice that made Ser Fundin nervous. "Erm - well we've defeated the Druj - everyone is free from their rule now." he responded unsure of what more he could say.

"Not everyone!" Erica was quick to correct him. "The Druj are still terrorising your people in Murderdale and our allies in the Heart of Peytaht. But lets not argue warfare like a pair of League Bravos brawling in a tavern. Let's agree that we're free now - so that means I can preach the tenets of Freedom throughout the Barrens can I? That means my friends in the Great Forest Orcs can return to their homes and reclaim the Eaves of Peytaht can they? We're all free, so the Black Wind won't have to pay taxes to your Empire? The Rahvin can keep living in the Fangs and keep the mithril?"

Ser Fundin was definitely regretting coming to the tavern this evening. Ser Dindrane would surely have answers to the Montanian's question, but the questing knight was elsewhere and the young troubadour was suddenly aware of how out of his depth he was. "I assume the Imperial Senate will issue a ruling." he finally responded realising how lame the words sounded even as he said them.

"Excellent!" Erica responded with mocking delight. "Lets ignore the question of whether you can ever really be free if you need someone else to give you your freedom for a moment. Liberation means - the return of our freedom... the right to govern ourselves. Not to be subject to the rule of others. So your Senate is going to give us our lands back are they? We won't be forced to live under Imperial rule?"

"But Imperial citizens are free" Ser Fundin protested.

Erica smiled at the troubadour. "Our people left the Empire half a century ago... and then we left them. If we had the faintest desire to be Imperial citizens we could have made that choice at any time in the last fifty years. Do you think the Rahvin want to be Imperial citizens? Or the Black Wind? We convinced them to make peace with your Empire so they could fight the Druj. We made an agreement, and then you broke it and sided with the Druj. They hate you even more than they hate the Druj if such a thing were possible. Do you think they want to become Imperial citizens?"

She shook her sadly. "Words matter... a great deal... If liberation means anything, it means Freedom. And Freedom means the right for living beings to choose for themselves. There can be no Freedom where our choices are made for us by others. It's not Freedom if our only choice is to live by your laws. If you force us to be part of your Empire... then you're no better than the Druj.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Not to conquer.jpg|align=left|caption="Pride exalts and uplifts those who have been laid low by the wicked; we come to the Barrens not to conquer, but to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj."|width=600}}</div>
{{SOP|statement=Pride exalts and uplifts those who have been laid low by the wicked; we come to the Barrens not to conquer, but to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj. We send Ser Dindrane with 50 doses of liao to urge Dawnish citizens not to settle beyond Dawnguard, but to rather put their words, steel, and coin to the cause of protecting and aiding the many inhabitants of the Barrens who have thrown of the yoke of the Buruk Tepel.|by=Ser Dindrane, Dawn Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 233-46|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
{{SOP|statement=In peerless kinship, Highguard wishes to support our glorious siblings in Dawn.|by=Jericho, Highguard Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 980-36|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
{{SOP|statement=Dawn asks Highguard to support them in the Barrens in peerless kinship.|by=Zadkiel de Coeurdefer, Dawn Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 171-0|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
==Overview==
The Barrens has been contested territory between the Druj and Dawn for centuries. The [[orc|orcs]] who live there have been caught in the middle between the two powerful nations. They have no love for the Druj, but they also have no love for Dawn. Recent events, since the death of [[Empress Britta]], have cemented that dislike and in some cases turned it into open hatred.

During the conquest of the Barrens, the Dawnish armies embraced the words of the Imperial Synod, committing themselves to a campaign of "liberation" rather than "conquest." They went out of their way to avoid harming the orcs who call the Barrens home, and focused their attention of removing the yoke of the Druj from their necks. However, the Imperial Military Council chose to focus on [[Two_silhouettes#A_Vile_Het_.28Battle.29|supporting the Dawnish people in the west]] rather than [[Two_silhouettes#A_Curious_Reprise_.28Battle.29|freeing the Rahvin]] and turned its attention elsewhere rather than [[Into_the_valley#As_the_Water.27s_Dripping_Down_.28Battle.29|bury the hatchet with the Great Forest Orcs]]. This strategy ultimately led to the [[Everything_is_broken#Glorious_In_Victory_.28Battle.29|Dawnish uprising]], and the final conquest of the Barrens. The Imperial Senate assigned the territory to Dawn - a move guaranteed to spark celebration in Astolat, Semmerholm, and Weirwater, and to [[Everything_is_broken#Future_of_the_Barrens_.28Assignment.29|outrage the orcish ''septs'' of the Barrens]].

Last summit, the Dawnish National Assembly chose to embrace '''Ser Dindrane's''' policy of working with the orcs rather than flooding the territory with settlers. Those Dawnish who had hoped to return to lands lost when they fled the Barrens and regain their estates in Dawnguard are doing so, but new settlers are holding back while Imperial representatives approach the various factions of the Barrens. The focus is now on appeasing the angered septs, and finding ways to create opportunities for the Dawnish to help and support the various faction. This endeavour is complicated by [[Conflict_in_the_Barrens|the history of Imperial and Dawnish relations with the Barrens since Winter 377YE]] - the occupants broadly hate, fear and distrust the Dawnish. The perspective of many orcs in the Barrens is that the Dawnish are indistinguishable from the Druj.

Fortunately, in these initial contacts with the orc septs, the Dawnish have received much needed aid from the people of Highguard. Using their [[Full_of_sacred_sound#A_Peerless_Kinship|peerless kinships]], Highborn priests serve as mediators, speaking to people who do not trust the Dawnish. They're also able to parley their cautious relationships with two of the Barrens factions - the Vendarri surrendered to the Highborn and a number of Great Forest Orcs have worked with the Highborn in Therunin and Brocéliande in the recent past. Their support has allowed the Dawnish (and the Empire) to skip over the first lengthy phase of negotiations - getting the septs to actually talk to them - and has helped to get to the root of the problems.
__TOC__
All these negotiations take place under the shadow of the Druj. The [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]] they unleashed still rampages across the territory. While the Towers of Dusk stand ready to protect the Barrens from aggression out of [[the Mallum]], there are no armies here. Everyone is on edge, and everyone is aware that a wrong word in the wrong place at the wrong time could cause the entire fragile situation here to collapse.
===Complexity===

This Wind of Fortune has a large number of moving parts and is probably the most complex wind we've ever put together. We've kept it as short as possible, but the situation in the Barrens is incredibly complex, due to the size of the territory and the ten year game history of player interactions with the people who live there. As part of trying to keep it to a manageable length, we've cut down the amount of background and scene-setting we would normally include. There are two pages that provide additional context to this wind - [[Conflict in the Barrens]] lays out the historical situation, both before the game began and after.

The situation is complex in-character as well. It contains a number of potential actions, but it is not intended to be definitive. Many of the options here provide only guidelines about what will happen if they are taken. In particular, if the Empire does multiple things that all change the situation it's impossible to predict in advance how those things will interact with each other. There's also the potential impact of individual characters on the relations between the Empire and the Barrens factions to bear in mind, which might further skew things toward the chaotic. For now, though, each of these "levers" is presented with the best guess of the people involved as to what it will do.

One other thing to bear in mind is that the [[Imperial Synod]], its [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] and [[mandate|mandates]], is of only limited use in the Barrens. While a [[judgement]] can be used to influence Imperial citizens, it is unlikely to move any of the factions. They are simply not open to Imperial priests coming to them with liao and attempting to tell them what they should do. So while there ''are'' mandates here, they are about actions Imperial citizens take, and not about influencing the factions directly by sending missionaries. This is intentional, and proposals for alternative mandates that rely on trying to convert the factions, or influence them with [[aura|auras]], are unlikely to be accepted.
<table class="wikitable" style="width:250px; float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;">
<tr><th>Faction</th><th>Status</th></tr>
<tr><td>Rahvin</td><td>Barbarians</td></tr>
<tr><td>Black Wind</td><td>Barbarians</td></tr>
<tr><td>Great Forest Orcs</td><td>Foreigners</td></tr>
<tr><td>Karass</td><td>Foreigners</td></tr>
<tr><td>Montanians</td><td>Unclear</td></tr>
<tr><td>Vendarri</td><td>Unclear</td></tr>
</table>

==Foreigners and Barbarians==
* '''There are several factions in the Barrens that are either foreigners or barbarians'''
* '''The legal status of some factions is unclear'''
The first complication to be considered in the Barrens is the legal status of the various factions within it. The Senate has explicitly [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Recognise_Karass|recognised]] the Karass as foreigners, but the situation with the other factions is a little less clear.

In Winter 379YE, the Senate [[Declare_war_on_the_Barrens_orcs|declared war]] on "''the Barrens Orcs that are currently laying siege to an Imperial fort''" which included the Rahvin, the Black Wind, and the Great Forest Orcs. While they later [[Declare peace with Orcs of the Great Forest of Peytaht|made peace]] with the Great Forest Orcs, there seemed little need to alter the situation with regard to the Rahvin as they were believed to all be dead. The Imperial Senate has [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Recognise_Karass|declared]] that the Karass are foreigners. It's not entirely clear what the situation is with the Vendarri is; they are presumably covered by the Winter 379YE declaration, but took no part in the actual attack on the fort, and have since surrendered to the Highborn (and by extension the Empire). Likewise, the status of the Montanians is also unclear. The Empire historically declared war on the [[Freedom Heresy]] forces in 325YE, and in theory the [[#Montanians|Montanians]] are still covered by that declaration. They apparently claim that their grandparents cut ties with the rest of those resident in Montane prior to its [[Freedom Heresy#The fall of Montane|destruction]], but this would not automatically change their status. However, the peace treaty with the Great Forest Orcs explicitly applies to "''the humans that the Great Forest recognise as members of their nation''." The Great Forest Orcs have said that they consider the Montanians active in the Barrens to be as much part of their nation as those who have been living in Therunin, but this doesn't necessarily have a legal bearing on the status of the faction as a whole.

With all this in mind, the Civil Service have requested two administrative motions be raised on Friday evening at the Autumn Equinox. Neither of these motions prevents the Senate changing the status of the faction at a later date, but would clarify the position of the Vendarri and the Montanians and their relationship with the Empire.

The first administrative motion states that "The Winter 379YE declaration of war on the orcs of the Barrens includes the Vendarri." If it passes, then the Vendarri are barbarians; if it is defeated they are foreigners.

The second motion is "The provisions of the peace treaty with the Great Forest Orcs that relate to their briar allies also apply to the members of their faction active in the Barrens." If this passes, the Montanian faction will be foreigners and will be assumed to be bound by the same provisions as their members living in Therunin. If it is defeated, any Montanians not living in Therunin will be barbarians. Obviously, this motion has implications for relations with the Great Forest Orcs both those living in Therunin and the Barrens as a whole.

More generally, the Senate can use a single suitably worded motion to declare war on, or peace with, all of the Barrens factions at once much as they [[Declare_Ossium_orcs_as_foreigners|declared all the orcs in Ossium to be foreigners]] following the conquest of [[Ossium|that territory]]. If they want to change the legal status of a single faction, or a group of factions, that would require a motion for each faction.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Barrens Map.jpg|caption=Political map of the Barrens created by Gancio di Catazar.|width=600px}}</div>
==Liberation, Conquest and Negotiation==
* '''The Montanians, the Rahvin, the Great Forest Orcs, the Vendarri and the Karass believe that "liberation" means ceding their lands to them'''
* '''All of the septs are aware that their negotiating position is weak, some more than the others'''
* '''Their demands have been presented in strict order of the things most important to them'''

The Imperial Synod has repeatedly claimed that they have come to liberate the Barrens, not to conquer them. This has translated into clear strategic costs for the Empire, making it significantly harder for their armies to operate in the territory, but that choice has minimised the casualties among the septs who live here and has been noted by all of them. Most have responded positively to this approach, and while the Empire remains hugely unpopular in the territory, it has created the opportunity for dialogue with most of the septs which otherwise would not have existed.

What it has not done is clarify in legal terms what the Empire actually means by "liberation." The point is rapidly approaching where the Empire will have to make clear to the Barrens what "liberation" entails given that none of the occupants of the Barrens have shown any inclination to become Imperial citizens bar the possible exception of the Karass.

The Montanians have eloquently expressed that liberation means nothing less than the right to govern and rule themselves, outside of the Empire. They have actively encouraged the other septs to view liberation in these terms and to demand the Empire deliver this. The recent decision to assign the Barrens to Dawn, who are deeply unpopular in the Barrens, has not been well received by anyone other than the Dawnish themselves. However the impact has been mitigated by the timely intervention of the Dawnish Assembly who have encouraged their people not to settle the Barrens until the situation with the septs has been resolved.

This has created an opportunity for further dialogue which has caused most of the septs to state their case to the Dawnish and Highborn priests sent to talk with them. This wind presents the extent of their demands but is clear that the septs are aware that their negotiating position is weak. Some of them are more aware of just how weak their position is than others. Where relevant, the Civil Service has tried to list their demands in the explicit order that they are most important to the sept, to support any potential negotiation of a compromise. The first bullet point is the demand that is most important to them in each case.

It is genuinely impossible for even the best Imperial prognosticators to say if any [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_of_possible_agreement common ground] is actually possible in each case. Only the heroes at Anvil can determine that. What will categorically ''not'' work is to try to persuade the various factions to abandon ''all'' their goals. The Empire is in a position to force any resolution they like, but resentment will only grow in any sept that does not win any concessions from the Empire. That will almost inevitably spell trouble down the line.

==Rahvin==
===Who are the Rahvin?===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Rahvin can be achieved by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Jannik, The Fangs, Bitter Strand, The Barrens''}}
* '''The Rahvin currently control the Fangs'''
* '''They are still legally barbarians following the declaration of war in Winter 379YE'''
* '''They are regarded positively by most other septs other than the Karass and the Black Wind'''
The Rahvin are now the smallest sept in the Barrens, and arguably the weakest. For years it was assumed that they had been exterminated by the Druj. In Winter last year, however, it [[Two_silhouettes#A_Curious_Reprise_.28Battle.29|became apparent]] that the orcs of the Mallum had not been entirely truthful. Survivors - possibly the last members of the sept still alive - were discovered to be enslaved at [[The_Barrens#The_Fangs|the Fangs]], forced to work in the [[mithril]] mine on the shores of the [[The Barrens#Bittershore|Barren sea]]. Supported by the [[Imperial Orcs]] of the [[Winter Sun]], the slaves freed themselves and turned on the Druj overseers, slaughtering them, and claiming the mine for themselves.

At their peak, as one sept, the Black Wind and the Rahvin were the most powerful sept in the independent Barrens, and were at the forefront of the attempt to secure independence for the territory. Now their situation is very much reduced, but they still appear to be committed to a vision of a Barrens ruled not by the Empire, nor by the Druj, but by the orcs who live there.

===What do the Rahvin Want?===
* '''They want the Empire to recognise them as foreigners and cede control of Bitter Strand, the Carmine Fields, and Murderdale'''
* '''They want the Empire to acknowledge its role in the death of Rahvin and the slaughter of their sept'''
* '''They want to reunite their sept with the Black Wind'''
* '''The Rahvin want a free Barrens that is independent of both the Druj and the Empire'''

The Rahvin want to be ''free'' and they are clear that that means freedom from the Empire every bit as much as it means freedom from the Druj. Recent actions by Imperial Orc, Highborn and Dawnish armies have made them open to the idea of negotiation with the Empire, but the prospect of a settlement looks remote.

The leaders of the Rahvin are clear that if the Empire really means to "liberate" the Barrens, then that means giving control of the territory to the people who live there. Before the sept split, the Rahvin and the Black Wind dwelled in [[The_Barrens#Bitter_Strand|Bitter Strand]], [[The Barrens#Carmine Fields|Carmine Fields]], [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]] and parts of what was once [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]]. They want the Imperial Senate to recognise them as foreigners and to [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|cede]] these regions to them.

At present there are little more than seven-hundred-and-fifty Rahvin gathered at the Fangs. The initial rebellious slaves have been joined by Rahvin orcs liberated by the Imperial armies from other parts of the territory especially the [[The Barrens#Plains of Teeth|Plains of Teeth]]. They believe that more of their people are likely living as slaves in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and perhaps the [[Forest of Ulnak]] but they have no way to reach them.

The sept split when the Empire and the Druj made common cause to put down the Barrens Orc rebellion. Those who preferred to go down fighting for the cause kept the name of Rahvin, those who chose to surrender to the Druj became the Black Wind. The Rahvin hope to open negotiations with the much more numerous Black Wind sept in the hope of reuniting with their kindred if the situation allows. They anticipate that the Black Wind will share their ambition to gain control of their former lands in the Barrens.

For now, they control the Fangs which they are mining using the primitive equipment left behind by the Druj. They would dearly like to use the precious metal to arm their sept and the other septs in the Barrens, the better to resist Druj and Imperial domination. Even armed, the Rahvin would be too small to provide a credible military threat, but the same would ''not'' be true if they were able to arm the other factions. At present they lack the means to forge weapons and armour in bulk, and are seeking for ways to resolve that shortcoming. Mostly, they treat the Fangs as a stronghold; keeping the Empire out. They refuse point blank to leave the Fangs. They have received support from the Winter Sun, and some Imperial Orcs continue to supply them despite their technical status as barbarians.

Priests from Dawn and Highguard and members of the Imperial Orcs have all spoken with leaders of the sept. Their assessment is that the orcs are [[Pride|Proud]], [[Ambition|Ambitious]], and [[Courage|Courageous]], but [[Wisdom|Wise]] enough to understand that their best hope at present is to negotiate with the Empire. They will never give up control of the Fangs, they see the mithril as crucial to ensuring the Barrens has the strength to defend itself from future attacks by the Druj and the Empire, but their demands are negotiable. Crucially, they are realistic enough that they don't expect Dawnguard to be handed over to them - most think of the place as being Dawnish anyway.

In addition to land, the Rahvin are bitter about the Empire's role in the death of Rahvin, the charismatic orc who once united the septs of the Barrens against the Druj and the subsequent war against the Rahvin that enabled the Druj to enslave and kill the rest of the sept. If the Empire found a way to acknowledge their role in these events and communicate that to the Rahvin it would improve diplomatic relations and make them less openly hostile.

Leaving the Rahvin in control of the mine while their attitude to the Dawnish, and the Empire as a whole, is one of hatred is extremely risky. Their sept demonstrated in the past that it was prepared to take on outrageous odds in its ambition to free the Barrens from outside control, and there is no doubt they would do so again once they had armed and armoured themselves. If other Barrens orcs rallied to them it is not impossible they could raise an army, given enough time to do so.

===Senate Opportunities : Rahvin===
* '''The Empire is formally at war with the Rahvin; the Imperial Senate could recognise the Rahvin as foreigners'''
* '''The Senate could cede one or more regions to the Rahvin, they want Bitter Strand, the Carmine Fields, and Murderdale in that order'''
* '''The Senate could formally recognise Rahvin control of the Fangs'''
* '''The Senate could issue a statement accepting Dawnish or Imperial responsibility for the destruction of the Rahvin'''
* '''Any one or more of these conditions could be submitted for ratification as a single treaty by the Imperial Senate if signed by the Imperial Consul'''

The first step towards engaging in diplomacy with the Rahvin is likely to be for the Imperial Senate to recognise them as foreigners. The Rahvin understand enough about Imperial law to understand how precarious their current position is while the Empire remains formally at war with them. The Empire declared war on the Rahvin in Winter 379YE - ending that conflict will provide a stable basis for better negotiations going forward.

The Rahvin are adamant that they will ''not'' accept Dawnish or Imperial suzerainty. They have made clear that they want control of the Bitter Strand, the Carmine Fields, and Murderdale in that order. If the Empire were to cede one or more of these regions, then relations would improve accordingly. At present they do not trust the Empire enough to send a delegation to Anvil - last time they came and negotiated in good faith with the Empire at Anvil it did not augur well for the Rahvin. If the Imperial Senate ceded one or more regions of the Barrens to their control it would create enough trust for them to be prepared to send an official delegation to negotiate with Imperial representatives (or receive such a delegation).

Ceding the Bitter Strand would mean giving up the Fangs, a valuable mithril resource currently controlled by the Rahvin. Rather than cede the whole region, the Imperial Senate could recognise Rahvin control of the mithril mine. This would be less effective in improving relations than ceding the entire region, but there are frankly insufficient Rahvin to control the Bitter Strand fully at this time anyway. If this were done, they would still begin arming and armouring themselves, but it would not make the Barrens easier for an outside force to conquer. But if Dawnish citizens do begin to settle in the Barrens, they would eventually establish estates in Bitter Strand outside the area controlled by the Rahvin which would likely lead to friction between the two groups unless relations had greatly improved by then.

Of all the factions in the Barrens bar the Black Wind, the Rahvin are perhaps the most furious with the fact the territory has been given to Dawn. They blame the agreement between the Dawnish and the Druj to split the territory between them for the failure of their ambitions. The Highborn grudgingly suggest that a clear statement by the Imperial Senate accepting Dawn's culpability for the destruction of the Rahvin and the slaughter and enslavement of their people by the Druj will go some way toward improving their attitude toward the Empire - although it will do little for their dislike of the Dawnish. Unless it is supported wholeheartedly by the Dawnish National Assembly, it is likely to offend the people of that nation. An alternative would be to downplay Dawnish culpability, and instead have the Empire as a whole take responsibility for these actions. If that approach were taken, it would improve Rahvin attitudes to the Dawnish slightly, but at the cost of making them more suspicious of the Empire as a whole.

Given the formal way this set of demands have been presented, it would be legally possible for the Imperial Consul to submit a treaty for ratification by the Imperial Senate that met one or more of these demands with a single Senate motion.

===Military Opportunities : Rahvin===
* '''The Empire is currently at war with the Rahvin'''
* '''A single Imperial army could attack the Rahvin to disperse them in a single season taking less than fifty casualties in the process'''
* '''A single Imperial army could besiege the Fangs and starve them out in two seasons without loss'''

While the Synod has called for the liberation of the Barrens, the [[Imperial Military Council]] could take an altogether different stance. The Rahvin are preventing the Empire from claiming the just rewards for their labour, and the Empire is still at war with them - a war that started when the Rahvin led an attack on Dawnish lands. There are less than a thousand Rahvin in Bitter Strand. It might not be pleasant, but a single Imperial army could move into the Barrens and defeat them. The general would need to issue an [[Army_orders#Attacking|attacking order]], and make it clear that their intention is to seize the Fangs and drive out the Rahvin. The orcs would likely fight, and it would be necessary to kill their warriors, but there is no way they could stand against an Imperial army, even one depleted by casualties. Civil service estimates that the forces involved in attacking the Rahvin would take less than fifty casualties, but they would not be able to engage in resupply. The Empire would claim the Fangs, and the involvement of the Rahvin in Barrens would be permanently ended.

A less bloody approach could be taken, closing a cordon around the Fangs and starving out the defenders. A single Imperial army could enter the territory and issue a [[Army_orders#Defending|defending order]] to besiege the Fangs. The general would need to be very clear in their orders that their intention was to starve out the defenders of the Fangs. The orcs would be unable to hunt, and their supplies would quickly dwindle. Once started, the blockade would need to continue uninterrupted, but would not require the ''same'' army to maintain it. It would take six months for the Rahvin to run out of supplies to the point they were forced to surrender or accept death by starvation. This would allow the Empire to claim the Fangs without risking Imperial soldiers. It would depend on the response of the Rahvin whether they survived as a faction in the Barrens.

Either of these approaches would send a message to the other factions of the Barrens that opposing the will of the Empire will be dealt with harshly. This would have both positive and negative impacts on relations not only with the septs of the Barrens, but potentially with some of the septs still under Druj control in the Mallum as news spread. It would make the septs less likely to want to cooperate with the Empire, but make any resistance or rebellion less likely.

If an Imperial army were to move into the Barrens and take a defending order, and the general specified that they were protecting the Rahvin, this would make it almost impossible for another Imperial army to either remove them or blockade them. In the case of an opposing Imperial army, Imperial soldiers will not fight without absolutely explicit instructions to do so.

===Synod Opportunities : Rahvin===
* '''The Dawnish, Highborn, or Imperial Orc Assembly could use a mandate to send relief to the Rahvin in the Fangs'''
The Rahvin have freed themselves from slavery, but they are living in wretched conditions. The Imperial Orcs of the Winter Sun have provided basic supplies, and some continue to support the Rahvin, but their ability to do so is limited. Now that the Dawnish control the territory, they are in the best position to provide significantly more support if they want to do so, but the priests of Highguard or the Imperial Orcs could arrange for help if they wished. Such an action would challenge the sept's perception of the nation that undertook it.

{{Mandate|mandate=If we are to be liberators not conquerors, then our Pride must be conveyed by action not by words alone. We send {named priest} with 75 Thrones to provide food and other vital supplies to the Rahvin in Bitter Strand. All that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it.|assembly=Dawn, Imperial Orcs or Highguard National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, the named priest must ensure the funds are in their inventory after the summit just as they would need to do with [[liao]]. Priests will gather food and other vital supplies (dried food, fresh water, warm clothing, healing herbs, oil, building materials and the like) and deliver them to the Rahvin. As long as they do not attempt to use this opportunity to convert or influence the Rahvin, their largesse will improve the sept's attitude of that nation. If Dawnish priests are involved then the orcs will be prepared to at least speak with Dawnish emissaries, and assume a measure of good faith. If Imperial Orcs are responsible it would cause the Rahvin to become more well disposed to the Imperial Orcs, prepared to speak with them directly and securing their ability to negotiate with the orcs on behalf of the Empire.

Providing these supplies will make it harder to starve the Rahvin out, increasing the time to do so by at least three months.

One thing that will definitely not work at this time is any attempt to convert the Rahvin to the virtues; they are on the verge of taking up arms against the Dawnish and the Empire. They will utterly reject any attempt to encourage them to embrace the virtues. Priests trying to do so will simply be turned away - or worse - by the Rahvin.

This act of charity is not necessarily a crime, while the Rahvin are barbarians. Provided it is clearly a mission of mercy rather than an attempt to support them against the Empire, it should not lead to a prosecution but Imperial magistrates may be able to give more detailed advice.

===Rahvin Risks===
* '''If the Rahvin reunite with the Black Wind their power will increase significantly'''
* '''If that happens, it might make it possible to negotiate with the Black Wind'''
* '''If the Rahvin are left in control of the Fangs, they will ultimately supply weapons and armour to every sept in the Barrens'''

The Rahvin were once seen as liberators by the other Barrens orcs factions. While their situation is catastrophically reduced, the other factions will watch to see how they are treated with interest. If their strength were restored, they would certainly wield a great deal of influence in the Barrens for good or ill. Most notably, the Rahvin are keen to reunite with the Black Wind. If they are allowed to do that, it would restore much of the former power and prominence of the sept but it would create a basis for negotiations with the rest of the Black Wind.

Leaving the Rahvin in control of the Fangs would allow them to begin arming and armouring themselves and eventually the other septs. They lack the means to forge weapons at the moment, but that situation won't last forever. In the past, the Rahvin used the Fangs to arm themselves and the other septs, it is clear that they will do so again if given the opportunity. It would take time, but if the Rahvin remain in control of the Fangs then they could launch an armed rebellion in the future. Right now, that outcome is inevitable. It could only be prevented off by improving relations between Dawn and the Rahvin, or by seizing the Fangs from them.

==Karass==
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Karass can be achieved by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Anka Karass, the Centipede Stone, The Bleaks, The Barrens''}}
===Who are the Karass?===
* '''The Karass are viewed with suspicion and hostility by other Barrens factions'''
* '''A delegation came to Anvil during the Summer summit'''
* '''The Senate has declared the Karass to be foreigners'''
The Karass have never had much contact with the Empire. They did not throw in their lot with the orc rebellion, maintaining a position as allies of the Druj rather than risk it all for a worthless cause. They mostly dwell in the [[the Barrens#Plains of Teeth|Plains of Teeth]] and [[the Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]]. They are believed to be related somehow to the sept of the [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Sept_of_the_Menrothat|Menrothat]] in [[Ossium]], who apparently "enjoyed" a similar relationship with the Druj there. There is no doubt that the Karass enjoyed a better relationship with the Druj than any other group in the Barrens. The other factions of the Barrens are universally suspicious of, or even actively hostile to, the Karass.

During the Summer Solstice, a delegate of the Karass came to [[Anvil]] and met with '''Skywise Rykana''', '''Aramis du Froste''', and the [[Imperial Consul]] '''Jarrigk Orzel'''. Terms were provisionally agreed upon, and the Senate [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Recognise_Karass|recognised of the Karass as foreigners]]. Shortly after their representative returned from Anvil there was a meeting in the Bleaks attended by representatives from most of their settlements. It was followed by a flurry of activity, and reports from the Towers of Dusk say that most of the Karass settlements on the Plains of Teeth now seem to be abandoned, their inhabitants having withdrawn to the Bleaks and into the [[The Barrens#The Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]].

===What do the Karass want?===
* '''The Karass want the Bleaks, the Plains of Teeth, and the Towers of Dusk ceded to them in that order'''
* '''They want a peace treaty with the Druj'''

The Karass dwell in [[The_Barrens#The_Plains_of_Teeth|the Plains of Teeth]] and [[The_Barrens#The_Bleaks|the Bleaks]] and want control of both these regions, including control of the Towers of Dusk. These requests were denied when their representative visited Anvil at the recent summit. Instead they were offered - and accepted - the status as foreigners.

During their meeting with the Empire, their representative claimed that they were innocent vassals of the Druj, and that they were worried about having a border with the Mallum. The regions where they live border two Druj territories, [[Sarangrave]] and the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], so it is difficult to see how that could possibly happen. However it appears that the Karass are very concerned about the threat from the Druj, and in particular about the certainty of reprisals by the Druj against any Barrens Orc sept that sides with the Empire. Their view is that these risks would be significantly reduced if the Empire agreed a peace treaty with the Druj. While they are certain to break the treaty at some point, agreeing an end to hostilities would reduce the risk of an imminent invasion and give the Karass cover to cooperate with the Empire.

The Karass claim to be happy to serve the Empire, but their actions don't match their words. Despite the Senate declaring them foreigners, they've shown little interest in dealing with the Empire. Instead they've largely withdrawn from the Plains of Teeth into the Untrod Groves and the Bleaks, where they are not welcoming Imperial visitors. The few Dawnish and Highborn priests who are able to speak to some of them send less positive reports. They are described as Vigilant and Ambitious, and largely disinterested in bowing their heads to the Empire. The Karass seemed to have enjoyed a relatively close relationship with the Druj who granted them a considerable degree of autonomy. Whatever the successes of the negotiations at Anvil, when their delegate returns they claim that the Empire has told them they will be ruled by the Dawnish and offered them nothing. This seems to be broadly in line with what they expected - apart from those who expected the Empire to murder the envoy - they seem to believe they will get much more favourable treatment from the Druj.

It seems that if the Empire does want to win the Karass over, they would need to make significant concessions. At present they seem to believe they have more reasons to favour the Druj than the Empire. The clear risk is that if their loyalty to the Druj is anything more than purely transactional, then they might take whatever the Empire gives them and ''still'' side with the Druj when the opportunity arises.
<quote by="Anka Karass">If we cannot have the Bleaks, why would we differentiate the Dawn from the Druj? If our only choice is to be part of your Empire or to be nothing - then we aren't liberated, we're conquered. So why would we accept that? If you liberate someone, you cannot make them your subjects. And if you force us to pick between conquerors, we would pick the Druj every time. Not least because we know that the Dawnish and the Empire will always run away in the end. The Druj did not have to conquer Murderdale or the Carmine Fields, after all.</quote>
===Vendarri Claims===
* '''The Vendarri claim that the Karass will betray the Empire to the Druj the first opportunity they get'''
* '''The Vendarri are deeply distrusted by all factions in the Barrens for betraying the rebellion'''

The Vendarri are the immediate neighbours of the Karass and claim to know them best. They allege that the Karass are largely indistinguishable from Druj - that the sept are closely allied with the Buruk Tepel and were treated well by them when they ruled the Barrens. Their proof of these claims are the rumours that the Karass control an entire Black Lotus plant - how would that be possible unless the sept enjoyed the trust and protection of the Druj? The Buruk Tepel take anything of value from their subjects - the only possible reason why they haven't seized a priceless Black Lotus plant is because they enjoy a close relationship with the Druj. So the Vendarri claim.

According to the Vendarri, the Empire should expect the Karass to be every bit as duplicitous as the Druj themselves are. They claim they will lie and say anything if they think they can gain thereby. According to them any offers of fealty or loyal service should be treated with the same scepticism that the Empire would treat the words of the Druj. According to the Vendarri, if the Karass have accepted their status as foreigners, it is nothing more than a lie.

It is difficult to know how true these claims are. The Karass utterly deny the rumours that they own a Black Lotus plant, but they are widely distrusted by the other factions in the Barrens. So little are they trusted that they were not invited to join the rebellion against the Druj. Unfortunately, to complicate matters further, the Vendarri are not considered much more trustworthy than the Karass. They did join the rebellion when it began, but they turned their coats and switched sides to back the Druj the moment it became clear which why the wind was blowing.

===Senate Opportunities : Karass===
* ''' The Senate could cede one or more regions to the Karass, they want the Bleaks and the Plains of Teeth in that order'''
* ''' The Senate could open negotiations with the Druj with a view to securing the Eastern borders of the Barrens'''

The Karass have been recognised as foreigners but the Empire has refused to cede any land to them. The Karass have claimed to be content to live as citizens of the Empire and vassals of the Dawnish, but the Vendarri claim this is a tissue of lies and the Karass are simply biding their time until the Druj return. At present the Karass appear to believe that they gain more from the Druj controlling the Barrens than the Empire. They have asked for control of the Bleaks and the Plains of Teeth in that order. If the Empire were to cede one or more of these regions, then that might be enough to change the calculation.

Ceding the Plains of Teeth would mean giving up the Towers of Dusk, a crucial fortification that guards the Eastern borders of the Barrens. The Karass claim that if the Empire cedes the region to them, then they will take over the operation of the fortification, saving the Empire the cost of running it.

It's clear the Karass don't expect the Empire to cede the Plains of Teeth (and thus the Towers of Dusk) to them, but they seem disappointed not to be granted the Bleaks. However there may be good reason not to cede any regions to the sept - if the Vendarri prejudice is correct and the Karass are allies of the Druj. While ceding the Bleaks would demonstrate the good faith behind claims the Empire is there to liberate them, and that might improve their attitude, it might also be the same as essentially giving a region back to the Druj.

===Military Opportunities : Karass===
* '''Two armies could destroy the Karass before they become established taking less than one hundred casualties each'''
* '''Declaring the Karass to be barbarians the season after declaring them foreigners would send poor signals to the other septs'''
* '''If the Karass have a black lotus plant then it could be captured if they are attacked directly'''

The Karass are a large sept, and they seem to be reasonably well organised. They've withdrawn from the Plains of Teeth into the Bleaks and the Untrod Groves. They're clearly familiar with the terrain, and the longer they have to dig in and secure their position, the harder they will be to remove. Two Imperial armies on attacking orders, one dealing with the Bleaks and one with the Untrod Groves, would be sufficient to break the Karass. Both armies would likely suffer casualties - beyond those inflicted by the [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]] - but it would be no more than a hundred apiece. Attacking only one region would weaken the Karass, but not neutralise them; most would simply flee to the other region.

This action would almost certainly be illegal unless the Senate declares war on the Karass. While there is no legal issue with the Imperial Senate declaring war on the Karass so soon after declaring them to be foreigners, it would send a very unfortunate message to the other septs in the Barrens. The Karass are almost universally unpopular - they have no friends or allies in the Barrens anymore. However, no matter how much the other septs may dislike the Karass, they would still look askance at such a dramatic reversal. If the Imperial Senate can change their mind so quickly - why wouldn't they act the same way towards the other septs? This action would negate any short-term diplomatic benefits to be had by declaring one of the other sept to be foreigners.

If both regions were attacked by an Imperial army and one of the attacking armies gave orders to conduct [[Army_qualities#Daring|a daring raid]] or to [[Army_qualities#Foraging|plunder the region]], they could seize the sept's Black Lotus plant - if it exists. Of course this will fail if the sept are telling the truth when they claim they do not possess a plant, but otherwise it should be possible to claim this legendary treasure.

The opportunity to deal with the Karass in this way is ''only'' available at the Autumn Equinox. After that, the sept will have secured its position in the two heavily forested regions and it will require additional effort to remove them should the Military Council wish to do so.

===Karass Risks===
* '''The Karass have enjoyed a close relationship with the Druj, if the Empire doesn't convince them to support the Empire, they are certain to side with the Druj in any future conflict in the Barrens'''
* '''If the Karass betray the Empire to the Druj, it would allow Druj armies to more easily seize any regions they control'''

There are significant risks in any concessions to the Karass. If the Karass side with the Druj after they have been given one or more regions of the Barrens, then Druj armies could cross into the Barrens without needing to claim a [[War#Beachheads|beachhead]] first. Even worse, if the Karass had control of the Towers of Dusk, then the Druj could claim them without a fight.

However if the Empire doesn't make any attempt to win the loyalty of the Karass, it may be just as risky. The Karass don't have an army at present, but they are securing their position in the Bleaks and the Untrod Groves. They are armed, with a superior knowledge of the forests than the Empire possesses or any of the other septs for that matter. They are also clearly disciplined as their abandonment of the Plains of Teeth suggests. They could prove a serious thorn in the side of the Empire for some time to come, especially if they were received arms and other support from the Druj.

==Vendarri==
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Vendarri is possible by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Garl Huonor, Pyroclast of the Vendarri, The Palace of Fire, Saltmarsh, The Barrens''.}}
===Who are the Vendarri?===
* '''The Vendarri are viewed as treacherous and untrustworthy by the other factions of the Barrens'''
* '''Their major complaint with the Empire is the acts of Imperial Spring magic that destroyed their homes when the Barrens was flooded'''
* '''Their legal status is unclear at present'''

The Vendarri are a secretive sept of orcs who dwell in [[The Barrens#Saltmarsh|Saltmarsh]]. They were known to have a relationship with the Druj that allowed them a modicum of independence and self-rule, and as a result are widely distrusted by the other factions who consider them to be self-serving and treacherous. They prefer to describe themselves as "practical" rather than "treacherous." They have little in the way of any effective fighting force, claim to be powerful magicians, and are known to be skilled scouts and spies. They took part in the rebellion when the Barrens rose up against the Druj, but joined late, and switched sides once it was clear the uprising would fail. The Rahvin hold them in particular contempt for this decision. On the other hand, they have the least reason to distrust or dislike the Empire, and when Saltmarsh was conquered by Imperial forces they surrendered en masse to the Highborn...

Currently, they are still dealing with the aftermath of the magical [[In_the_lonely_hour#Teeth_and_Tempest|storms that battered the Bitter Sea]], raised by Imperial magicians. The Bitter Sea has inundated Saltmarsh causing extensive flooding and destroying many of their settlements and washing away the dams and levees they used to make the area habitable. They are the most welcoming of the Highborn, and seem to have the least dislike for the Dawnish. Indeed, if not for the rumours they have heard that it was a Dawnish Archmage that sent the Bitter Sea flooding into their homes they might even be neutral to the new rulers of the Barrens.

===What do the Vendarri want?===
* '''The Vendarri are willing to leave the Barrens if they are granted permission to live elsewhere'''
* '''They would like the Empire to cede either the Morass in Holberg, or Rebeshof in Holberg or the Saltmarsh in the Barrens to them'''
* '''They would need an escort from the Barrens into Holberg due to the dangers of the journey'''
Unlike the other septs of the Barrens the Vendarri are open to the possibility of leaving the territory and settling elsewhere. Their home, the Saltmarsh, has been wrecked. The floods of salt water have destroyed most of their agriculture, and many of the swamp animals have either died or gone elsewhere. Almost everything they have was destroyed when the Spring magic the Empire raised in the Barrens flooded the Saltmarsh.

Worse, the Saltmarsh is also the easiest route from the Barrens into the wider Mallum, which means they are very, very afraid of both a Druj counterstrike into the Barrens and the possibility their former masters will decide to make an example of them. They are convinced that any sept that cooperates with the Empire will face terrible punishments once the Druj return to the Barrens in force. None of them want to end up on spikes as a warning to other septs not to deal with the Empire. Like the other septs, they still want a region ceded to their control. The difference is that they would prefer that region not to be in the Barrens. After all, their neighbours will hardly be sad to see them go.

The Vendarri are aware of the mostly unsettled marshes of Holberg and consider that they would be perfect for them, specifically [[Holberg#The Morass|the Morass]]. When queried as to ''how'' they know about the Morass, they shift awkwardly and suggest that their guests change the subject. It's sufficient to know that they are making an informed choice about the matter. They'd also like an escort; the Barrens is dangerous not only because there are other septs that would see them come to harm, but because the Druj are still in control of parts of the territory, so they would need an escort.

===Unwilling Neighbours===
* '''The Sand Fishers have made clear they would prefer not to share a territory with the Vendarri'''
* '''The Vendarri are unwilling to live in Ossium while the Menrothat reside there'''
The League National Assembly has made several statements about welcoming orcs - indeed they have just welcomed several thousand [[Windfall|Apulian orcs]] as actual citizens. It is not impossible that they would welcome the Vendarri, especially as they seem only to be interested in stinking marshlands. Unfortunately, there is a fly in the ointment. As soon as they get wind of the proposal, the Sand Fishers of [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]] send a small delegation to [[Merchant_Prince_of_Misericorde_Market#Misericorde_Market|Misericorde Market]] to make it clear that they have severe reservations against sharing territory with the Vendarri. Their reputation for self-serving treachery is not unknown to the orcs of Ossium and the Sand Fishers warn that they cannot - and should not - be trusted. Allowing the Vendarri to settle in Holberg will certainly sour the Sand Fishers at least a little on their neighbours in the League and may lead to further conflict.

Discussion of Ossium raises another possibility, which the Highborn discuss with the Vendarri. The priests of Highguard have [[Pride_and_prejudice|recently been active in Ossium]] themselves, and some of them sound the Vendarri out about another possibility - the marshes of the [[Ossium#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]]. They are initially interested, but then they learn that the Menrothat sept still occupies part of the territory and their tune immediately changes. Regretfully, they argue, their situation would be little better in Ossium. The Druj of the nearby Forest of Ulnak would still be a threat. So Drownbark Forest is definitely out of the question.

===Senate Opportunities : Vendarri===
* '''The Senate could cede one or more regions to the Vendarri, they would like the Morass ''or'' Rebeshof or Saltmarsh in that order'''
* '''If a region in Holberg is ceded then they would want protection to escort them to reach the area safely'''

The Vendarri would like the Empire to cede them a region so they can live there and govern themselves. They would prefer the Morass in Holberg or Rebeshof if that is an option instead. If they must remain in the Barrens, they would like the Saltmarsh ceded to them.

If the Senate cedes either the Morass or Rebeshof, in Holberg, to the Vendarri, they will begin making preparations to move there. The Senate could arrange a payment of 75 thrones from the Imperial Treasury to secure mercenaries and sellswords prepared to escort the sept to their new homes, and they would not actually be able to take control of the region until this were done. This would significantly improve the Vendarri attitude to the Empire; once they are established they would likely wish to trade with their neighbours, and explore their new status alongside the Sand Fishers and the League. Doing this will lead directly to friction with the Sand Fishers who regard the Vendarri with considerable trepidation.

After some further discussion, the Dawnish and Highborn negotiators are of the opinion that ceding a region of Holberg is not the only option here. The Vendarri don't actually ''want'' to leave Saltmarsh; they just feel that they are in immediate danger from both the Druj and their neighbours, and they know they will struggle to thrive in the region in its current ruined state. If the region were habitable and safe from the Druj, they would be delighted by the prospect of living there if the region were ceded to them. While they have requested the Morass, as time goes on they will become increasingly prepared to settle for almost anywhere that is not close to the Druj - there has been more than one slightly regretful mention that they'd be happy to live with the Highborn if they had any actual marshes. It might be possible to negotiate a different settlement for the Vendarri.

The Vendarri are not especially Ambitious or Courageous, although they do seem to be Wise. While they're currently asking for a region of the Empire be ceded to them, they seem the least assertive of any of the factions in the Barrens. Some priests who have spoken with them seem to think they are more aware of the weakness of their negotiating position than the other septs. Others think the Vendarri are just more pragmatic and less inclined to believe Imperial claims that they have been liberated. If they were ceded a region that was safe from reprisals by the Druj they would become very positively inclined to support the Empire. If not then it ''might'' be possible to negotiate an arrangement similar to that the Great Forest Orcs have in Therunin; residence in an Imperial territory as foreign guests without giving them complete control of the territory.

===Military Opportunities : Vendarri===
* '''The Vendarri could be destroyed as a faction by a single Imperial army taking less than a hundred casualties'''
* '''An Imperial army could protect the Vendarri, improving their attitude to the Empire'''
* '''If the Senate did cede a region to the Vendarri, the sept could be escorted to their new home by an Imperial army'''

The Vendarri would be the first to admit that they are not soldiers. A single Imperial army on attacking orders in the Barrens, whose general made it clear they were driving the Vendarri out, could shatter the faction entirely. Some of the survivors might flee to the Mallum but the faction would cease to be a factor in the Barrens.

It is clear that the Vendarri's greatest concerns is the threat of Druj reprisal, should they collaborate with the Empire in any way. An Imperial army in the Barrens could take defensive orders and specify that they are protecting Saltmarsh and the Vendarri. This would ensure that the Druj could not retaliate against the sept unless they succeeded in retaking the region first, but it is only a short-term solution at best. Vendarri attitudes to whichever nation that army represented would be significantly improved during this time, however.

Finally, if the Senate does cede a region to the Vendarri, an Imperial army could escort them to that new home. The army would need to start in the territory, take a defending order, and specify in their orders that they were escorting the Vendarri. They would then need to move to the target territory. This can only be done if the Vendarri have agreed to the journey. Doing this would prevent the Senate having to spend any money.

===Conclave Opportunities : Vendarri===
* '''Conclave could provide an endowment of 120 crystal mana to the Vendarri magicians to use to mend their homes'''
* '''Conclave could use an endowment to provide the Vendarri with a stipend of 50 crystal mana a season to cast Dripping Echoes of the Fen'''
* '''Conclave could send a single Conclave order to investigate the Salt Marsh and see how they can help'''

Some of the witches and magisters talking to the Vendarri are of the opinion that the orcs don't ''want'' to leave Saltmarsh. It is their home, and has been for hundreds of years. It's just that the territory is ''wrecked''. During the Summer Solstice, Dawnish magicians invoked [[Regrow the Land's Heart]] on the Barrens, and that has gone a long way toward repairing the damage caused by the tumultuous storms. Unfortunately, it isn't enough by itself to deal with all the problems the Vendarri are currently encountering. Their homes have been smashed by the flood waters, vital animals and plants killed, and the waters have still not receded as that the dams they used to protect key areas have been destroyed. The Vendarri are by all accounts magicians themselves however, and initial assessment suggests they are adepts of [[Night magic]] and competent [[Spring magic|Spring magicians]]. An [[Endowment]] of 120 crystal mana from the [[Imperial Conclave]] directly to the Vendarri would provide them with what they need to restore the Saltmarsh themselves over the coming months.

The other thing that troubles the Vendarri - that the Druj will seek to retaliate against them - might be addressed in a similar manner. The Vendarri have covens among them capable of performing [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], but their [[mana site|mana sites]] have suffered from the floods alongside everything else. The Conclave could agree to endow them with 50 crystal mana each season for the next year, specifically to raise their own defences around the Saltmarsh. The Vendarri would do that, without a second thought. A single [[declaration]] of [[endowment]] would be enough to create a stipend for the next year. In theory, Imperial magicians could simply cast the ritual on Saltmarsh, but  that would only help if the region were ceded to the Vendarri. Otherwise the magic of the ritual would work against the orcs, making life even more difficult for them to live there.

Either or both endowments would significantly endear the Vendarri to the Imperial Conclave, and to whichever nation the magician who raised the declaration was from. Another possibility would be to dispatch a [[Conclave order]] to Saltmarsh to support the Vendarri, or to find ways that the Conclave could offer greater assistance. Any order might volunteer, but only a single order can undertake this mission. The nature of the order would influence what [[opportunity|opportunities]] they would discover.

Of course some critics point out that if the Conclave does get involved, it will simply encourage the Vendarri to stay in Saltmarsh. In this case, they are almost certainly going to petition for the region to be ceded to them. But of all the septs in the Barrens, they are the one that might be persuaded to accept Dawnish rule. On the other hand, there are some suggestions that some of the Vendarri are in contact with the eternal they call the ''[[Irra Harah|Shimmering Fish]]''. The ''Prince of a Thousand Foes'' has been quiet of late, but some magicians see the signs of his influence in the Vendarri proposals. After all, his creed is very clear on how to deal with conquerors: "If you cannot hide, run; If you cannot run, yield; If you will not yield, kill.''" Right now it seems the Vendarri are preparing to run, but if they are forced to the edge, they may decide they need to kill to survive.

===Vendarri Risks===
* '''The "pragmatic" Vendarri are unpopular with other septs, a reputation that extends as far as the Sand Fishers in Holberg and the orcs in Ossium'''
* '''Any perception of favourable treatment of the Vendarri may cause a negative reaction from other septs'''
* '''The Vendarri have already demonstrated that they will switch sides to support the Druj if their lives depend on it'''

The Vendarri are notorious for their pragmatism - their reputation extends beyond the Barrens and they are unpopular with the Sand Fishers and some of the inhabitants of Ossium as a result. They are seen as treacherous and self-serving. Any attempt to find them a new home elsewhere in the Empire is likely to lead to problems as a result.

However there are problems if they remain in the Barrens. They are not popular with the other septs that took part in the rebellion against the Druj. The Vendarri joined the rebellion late and soon switched sides once it became clear victory was in doubt. That treachery left a bad taste in the mouths of those septs that fought on to the bitter end. The Vendarri are currently the most amenable of any of the Barrens factions to Dawnish rule, and they also seem the most open to negotiation. However there is some risk that if they reach a satisfactory resolution with the Empire that allows them to prosper it may cause rancour and bitterness with the other septs. That might make negotiations with other septs more difficult.

The biggest single risk is that the Vendarri betray the Empire at some point in the future. They openly speak of being "pragmatic" which is the Vendarri way they describe the decision to abandon the rebellion and side with the Druj. If the Vendarri were in a similar situation in future they would do the same again. If the Druj move into the Barrens in force and look set to take territory, then the Vendarri will switch sides if it benefits them.

==Great Forest Orcs==
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Great Forest Orcs is possible by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Chief Vallack, Great Forest Encampment, Lower Tarn Valley, Therunin''.}}
===Who are the Great Forest Orcs?===
* '''The Great Forest Orcs are foreigners and guests of the Navarr, most of them live in Therunin'''
* '''A number of members of their sept are still held as slaves by the Druj'''
The [[Great Forest Orcs]] claim the Forest of Peytaht is the remnant of a great forest that once covered most of the Empire and the Mallum. Many of them fled the Barrens when the Druj finally conquered the territory, and now live in Therunin as guests of the Navarr. There are still Great Forest Orcs dwelling in the territory, however, mostly as slaves in the [[The_Barrens#Heart of_Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]] (which remains under Druj control). These two factors make them one of the weaker factions in the territory, at least at the moment.

Imperial relationships with the Great Forest Orcs have slowly improved over time, not least because members of the sept are regularly seen travelling the [[trods]] alongside Navarr stridings. They remain deeply distrustful of the Dawnish however. An offer last Summer to participate in a [[Into_the_valley#As_the_Water.27s_Dripping_Down_.28Battle.29|ceremony of reconciliation]] was declined by the Military Council and so relations with the new rulers of the Barrens continue to be poor.

They are also one of the easiest factions for Highborn [[Highguard_religious_beliefs#Wayfarers|wayfarers and grey pilgrims]] to approach. There has been an increasing amount of cooperation between the Highborn and the Great Forest Orcs in Peakedge Striding and in Elerael, where a shared interest in healing and herbs has helped to secure cordial relations.
===What do the Great Forest Orcs want?===
* '''The Great Forest Orcs want to control the Heart of Peytaht and the Eaves of Peytaht'''
* '''The Senate expressed the intention to cede the region and the Weirwood grove to them but they remain under Druj control'''
* '''They are willing to fight the Druj directly to reclaim their homes'''
The Great Forest Orcs of [[Therunin]] watch developments in the Barrens with interest, yet they are also somewhat confused. When they first settled in Therunin they disbanded what remained of their army, putting aside their spears to focus on hunting and securing homes. Yet they made it clear that all their hosts had to do was call and they would send their warriors to support the Navarr armies in a campaign to drive the Druj out of the Barrens. While their aid was solicited to fight in Brocéliande against the Heirs of Terunael, or to help the grand adventure into the heart of the vallorn, the call to fight the Druj never came.

Over a year ago the Senate [[384YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Reassure_Great_Forest_Orcs|reassured]] the orcs of the Great Forest that they intended to return Peytaht and the weirwood grove there to them so that they could return to their ancestral home. Yet with most of the Barrens liberated, the Heart of Peytaht remains in Druj hands and it seems in the short term that the Empire may be content to leave it that way as they strike against the Salt Flats of Sanath. They know that the members of their sept still in the region are in terrible danger. A [[Taken_at_the_flood#A_place_of_safety_.28Conjunction.29|Druj scheme to slaughter many of the sept]] still in Peytaht was thankfully stymied by the Navarr, under the guidance of '''Travid Longest Path'''. Yet there is nothing to stop the Druj making another attempt to slaughter all the Great Forest Orc slaves they have currently working at the weirwood grove.

===Synod Opportunities : Great Forest Orcs===
* '''The Highguard Assembly could ask the Highborn to partner with the Great Forest Orcs to enable them to retake Peytaht'''
* '''The mandate would be in competition with any mandate attempting to name another peerless kinship partner'''
* '''The mandate would improve relations between the Orcs and the Highborn, but impact relations between the Orcs and the Navarr'''
The Great Forest Orcs have become increasingly impatient by the failure of the Navarr to call them to fight alongside them to retake the Heart of Peytaht. They are bemused by the Navarr decision to disavow engagements with the Druj and frustrated by their lack of opportunities to take the fight to their enemy. After discussion with the Highborn priests, ''Chief Vallack'' has made a proposal. The kernel of their army still exists, and with sufficient support they believe they could deal with the remaining Druj and liberate their people themselves – just as the Dawnish did in Dawnguard.

{{Mandate|mandate=The home of the Great Forest Orcs is still in the hands of the Druj, and their people are in terrible danger. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to urge the Highborn to aid them in their endeavour, offering whatever help is needed to drive the Druj from Peytaht. Do not fear to act; only be shamed by inaction.|assembly=Highborn National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then following the Autumn Equinox the Great Forest Orcs will rally their remaining warriors and hunters and launch an attack against the Druj in the Heart of Peytaht. With the aid of the Highborn, they will be able to defeat the Druj, claiming the region and the weirwood grove for themselves (meaning the Senate would not need to cede anything – the region would belong to the Great Forest sept). The Great Forest Orcs will certainly be grateful to the Highborn, although what form this gratitude might take is impossible to say.

However, this aid will come at a price. The Highborn will need to focus their attention on helping the orcs at the cost of aiding one of their Imperial siblings – meaning they will be unable to choose an Imperial nation to support with [[Full_of_sacred_sound#A_Peerless_Kinship|peerless kinship]] this season. As such this mandate is in competition with any mandate attempting to name an Imperial nation in this manner.

Highborn aid to retake Peytaht would be greatly appreciated by the Great Forest Orcs and it would significantly improve relations between the sept and Highguard. However after a long wait, it would be clear indication that the Navarr simply do not intend to fight side-by-side with the Great Forest Orcs against the Druj. As a result, the majority would leave Therunin to return to their former home in Peytaht and the closeness that has existed between the two groups would fade. They wouldn't be angry with the Navarr, but it would be clear that the benefits of their alliance had run their course and it was time for the Great Forest Orcs to make new allies and new friends.
====Alternative Mandates : Great Forest Orcs====
Under normal circumstances it is not possible for the Navarr national assembly to submit an alternative mandate in the Barrens. Given their close relationship with the Great Forest Orcs however, and the recent [[statement of principle]] of [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_88|Nathair Autumngale]], a member of the Navarr assembly could do so here. The alternative mandate would need to relate to the plan to seize the Heart of Peytaht and seek to inspire the Navarr nation.

===Military Opportunities : Great Forest Orcs===
* '''Imperial armies could drive the Druj out of the Heart of Peytaht'''
* '''The Great Forest Orcs will contribute a 1000 force to any Imperial army attacking the Heart of Peytaht or Murderdale if requested'''
The military council could simply assign one or more armies to invade the Heart of Peytaht and kill the Druj there, claiming the region and the weirwood grove in the process. The Orcs of the Great Forest would welcome such a move and Chief Vallack has committed his people to aiding any such attack regardless of whether it is undertaken by the Navarr or not. As long as it is an Imperial army, and the general clearly invokes the Spears of the Pine, the Great Forest Orcs will commit a thousand force to any attempt to crush the Druj in the Heart of Peytaht, and will help to claim Murderdale if the campaign is successful.

The Great Forest Orcs despise the Druj, and with the Heart of Peytaht liberated, negotiations with Chief Vallack might well secure the support of the “Spears of the Pine” for future military campaigns into the Mallum. Of course that assumes that the Imperial Senate intends to keep faith with the Great Forest Orcs and cede the Heart of Peytaht and the valuable weirwood grove that grows there to them.

===Great Forest Orc Risks===
* '''The longer the Druj remain in control of the Heart of Peytaht, the greater the chance that they butcher the enslaved members of the sept who live there'''
* '''If that happens, the Great Forest Orcs will question why their home is the only region in the Barrens not to be retaken and why the Navarr have played no role in the fight against the Druj'''
* '''The Great Forest Orcs believe that the Imperial Senate has promised the Heart of Peytaht to them - they will become discontent and openly rebellious if the region is not ceded to them'''

At present the Great Forest Orcs are prepared to trust Imperial strategy in their campaign to retake the Barrens, but the longer the Heart of Peytaht remains in Druj hands, the greater the chance that the Druj butcher the inhabitants. They could easily kill hundreds of Great Forest Orcs, who are currently toiling as slaves to cut down weirwood for the Druj. If that happens, the Great Forest Orcs will view the calamity as a failure of Imperial strategy and will question why their home was the only region left in Druj hands. They will also ask pointed questions of their hosts, who they have noted have played no part in the campaign to drive the Druj from Barrens. It will go badly if they feel the Empire has betrayed them and left their kinsfolk to die at the hands of the Druj.

Equally it will go badly if the Empire captures the Heart of Peytaht but does not cede the region to the Great Forest Orcs. They believe that the Imperial Senate has promised their home will be returned to them - they will see it as a stark betrayal of trust if that does not happen. At present they are one of few factions in the Barrens who don't regard the Empire as inherently untrustworthy - obviously their trust would be shattered if the Empire tries to hang onto the region and its precious weirwood resource, but it will be strained the longer the Empire delays in retaking the forests and freeing those members of the sept who are still enslaved by the Druj.

==Montanians==
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Montanians is possible by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Allan of Dourfell, Great Forest Encampment, Lower Tarn Valley, Therunin''.}}
===Who are the Montanians===
* '''The Montanians are heretics who embrace the teachings of the malign spiritual presence of anarchy'''
* '''The majority were living in Therunin, but many are now returning to the Barrens'''
* '''The briars that came with the Great Forest Orcs to Therunin have mostly returned to Hope's Rest'''
* '''Their status as foreigners or barbarians is under discussion'''
Unlike the other Barrens septs, the Montanians are humans, and as far as is known they all have the briar lineage. They are the descendants of anarchy heretics who took part in the [[Freedom Heresy]], although they claim their grandparents cut ties with the inhabitants of Montane over ideological issues. They once lived at Dourfell Keep in Hope's Rest, before the majority of them left the Barrens along with their allies the Great Forest Orcs – destroying their home in the process as part of a powerful Spring ritual that apparently killed all the Druj in the process of trying to capture it.

They were a key element of the Barrens Orc rebellion that began in 377YE, serving as messengers and mediators, who helped to spread Rahvin's message to the Great Forest Orcs, the Vendarri and other septs. They are believed to have enjoyed the assistance of the eternal ''Irra Harrah'' with whom they are known to have good relations. Since being in the Empire, they have kept themselves to themselves, carefully avoiding preaching their heresy, although they have offered sporadic assistance to Imperial efforts to free people from the yoke of the Druj.

Most of the Montanians have been living in Therunin alongside their Great Forest Orcs allies, but many are now returning to their former lands in the Barrens at Hope's Rest. Never numerous, there is none-the-less a growing force there as the returnees joining with those who never left the Barrens. The situation is further complicated by the recent controversial decision to provide them with [[liao]] from the [[Keeper_of_the_Garden|Garden of Glory]]. Unlike the orcs, they are entirely capable of performing [[Religious skills|liao ceremonies]].

===What do the Montanians Want?===
* '''The Montanians want the Empire to cede Hope's Rest to them'''
* '''They want to see the Druj destroyed'''
* '''They want to sign the Liberty Pact'''
Contact with the Montanians is complicated by the fact they are unapologetic followers of the [[Malign spiritual presences|malign spiritual presence]] of [[Malign spiritual presences#Anarchy|Anarchy]], which they call freedom or liberty. However, there is some potential for common ground; unlike many heretics they don't deny the seven virtues, and have apparently had previous cordial discussions with Highborn citizens before (although they won't disclose who those people are for fear of getting them into trouble). There's also the recent [[Taken_at_the_flood#Shelter_from_the_storm_.28Conjunction.29|incident in the Barrens]] in which a force of Highborn under the guidance Achseh, the General of the [[Valiant Pegasus]], prevented the Druj from transforming one of their people into a horrible unliving horror. That they were forced to kill the prisoner is a source of sorrow, but nowhere near as much as if they had had their souls enslaved by their mortal enemies.

With the Great Forest Orcs as mediators, a meeting in the Lower Tarn Valley is organised between some Highborn and Dawnish, and some of the Montanians. Discussions are complicated by the fact that they seem averse to the idea of anyone being “in charge” and questions of ''what they want'' are often derailed into discussions as the briars try to reach a consensus among themselves before being able to answer the question.

Their Ambition - and they clearly state it in those terms - is for the Barrens to be Free. Specifically, for the septs of the Barrens – among whose number they count themselves – to be recognised by the Empire as free people, allowed to govern themselves without interference from Imperial or Druj. They are wryly aware of how challenging that Ambition is going to be to achieve. They seem to genuinely want the Empire to cede ''all'' the regions of the Barrens back to the orc septs, leaving the territory a patchwork between disconnected septs. Oddly, perhaps, they don't expect the Dawnish to give up Dawnguard; “it is the home of the people who live there” as one of them puts it. But rather than ruling the Barrens, they imagine a future in which the Dawnish are only one voice equal in power to the septs.

For the Montanians that would mean the Empire ceding Hope's Rest to them. They are more than content to allow the Dawnish to travel and move through the area, but they are clear that for them "liberation" means having a place where they can live and practice their beliefs without fear of persecution. They would be content to live in Hope's Rest under Imperial rule if the Empire formally embraced Freedom as one of the Virtues or if it abrogated all laws restricting religious freedoms, but since they have no expectation of that happening, they suggest the only reasonable compromise is for the Empire to cede their former home to them.

Even more ambitious, they want to see the Druj destroyed as a power, and the entire Mallum liberated – but on the same basis. Returned to the people who live there not made a vassal of the Empire. It is the recent drive to “liberate” the Barrens that has attracted their attention and made them more amenable to talking with Imperial citizens. They're interested to see if the Empire is capable of following through on its promises.

They're also very interested in the [[Voice of Liberty|Liberty Pact]]. They've heard of it from the Navarr, among others, and with the recent decision that any nation is welcome to join, they are interested in applying for membership. While they are small in number, they state their case clearly that nobody is more committed to the cause of Freedom than them. They don't understand how they join the Pact, but they would like the Empire to provide them with names and locations where they might send Winged Messengers to state their case.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Allan of Dourfell">You say you have liberated the Barrens, but right now it looks an awful lot like you have in fact ''conquered'' the Barrens. If you're here as liberators, freeing us all from the tyranny of the Druj so we can live our own lives, then we will help that dream to thrive in any way we can, if you let us. But if you have come here as conquerors, using the words of freedom to mask your intentions, then we will fight you if we have to, and so you had best destroy us quickly. It's going to be interesting to see which way you go.</quote></div>

===Senate Opportunities : Montanians===
* '''The status of the Montanians is unclear, the Senate could declare them to be foreigners or barbarians'''
* ''' The Senate could cede the region of Hope's Rest to the Montanians'''

The current legal status of the Montanians is unclear. Most people view them as foreigners - they have been living peacefully in Therunin and walking the trods in recent years without issue. However, there is an argument that they are covered by the Imperial Senate's [[Declare_war_on_the_Barrens_orcs|declaration of war]] on the Barrens Orcs. They're not orcs - but they were certainly part of the alliance the Empire declared war on. The Civil Service are planning to introduce an administrative motion to allow the Senate to clarify whether the Empire considers itself to be at war with the Montanians.

The Montanians have asked the Empire to cede the region of Hope's Rest to them. They especially want the ruins of Dourfell Keep and the area around it – perhaps a quarter of the rugged region. That area would include the powerful spiritual aura that hangs over the ruins, apparently created when the briars unleashed their magic to destroy the castle, the attacking Druj, and many of their own people. They are more than happy to sign a treaty guaranteeing the Dawnish the right to travel freely through the region, although they warn the Empire that the reason they want their land back is so that they can practice their beliefs and preach them openly to people who visit.

While the castle there is in ruins, and they don't seem to have the means to rebuild it, cautious voices have pointed out that they are allied with the Great Forest Orcs. The orcs of Peytaht are masters of the use of weirwood, and have used it in the past to[[Therunin#Holt_of_the_Oak| create a fortification]] in Therunin. If they regained control of the Heart of Peytaht and the weirwood grove there, they may well be able to help their briar allies rebuild Dourfell Keep giving the Montanians a fortification in the Barrens that was not under Imperial control.

===Military Opportunities : Montanians===
* '''There is an opportunity to move decisively against the Montanians who are now gathered at Hope's Rest'''
* '''A single Imperial army could attack the Montanians to eliminate them in a single season taking less than fifty casualties in the process'''
The Montanians are known to be gathering at the ruins of Dourfell Keep in Hope's Rest. Following the Autumn Equinox they have invited a number of their allies from other parts of the Barrens and perhaps beyond, to meet with them there to discuss what happens next. It is clear that they intend to use this meeting to try to encourage the septs of the Barrens to unite around a common goal of a Free Barrens.

A single Imperial army could issue an attacking order in the Barrens, with clear orders to attack the ruins of Dourfell and wipe out the heretics gathering there. They would annihilate this faction completely and take fewer than fifty casualties in the attack. It wouldn't necessarily be pleasant, and if they were foreigners it would be a serious crime, but it would permanently remove the Montanians as a factor in the Barrens – and everywhere else.

Doing this would please the Karass who are known to dislike the Montanians but it would outrage every other Barrens faction bar the Black Wind. It would however send a clear message that the Empire will not be trifled with. While it might be possible for someone to get a warning to the Montanans before the noose closed around them, the sept are highly distrustful of the Empire. It is unlikely they would believe a [[Call Winged Messenger|winged message]] that did not come from someone they already have a close relationship with, or from one of the [[Cardinal|Cardinals]] of the Synod.

===Synod Opportunities : Montanians===
* '''The Imperial Synod could declare the Montanians to be heretics'''
* '''Sending priests to proselytise the Imperial faith to the Montanians in Hope's Rest will cause their views on Freedom to spread'''
The Montanians are unabashed heretics, and blasphemers. They deny the Doctrine of the Seven and the Doctrine of Human Destiny and openly embrace the malign spiritual presence of anarchy. Some believe that they should be denounced in the Synod and declared to be heretics. Others point out that there isn't that much difference between the Montanians and the Faraden in the great scheme of things – and at least the Montanians recognise all seven virtues rather than denying Vigilance, Ambition, and Wisdom.

The Synod itself has repeatedly urged Imperial citizens to free slaves, and to fight slavers. The Montanians applaud these moves, and they have played a major part in the sept's decision to speak to Imperial citizens. Although priests have raised statements of principle denying that liberating slaves has anything to do with the malign spiritual presence of Anarchy, on a number of occasions major military operations to free slaves have been marked by the appearance of spontaneous auras some of which appear to be linked to Freedom. Where there is no evidence of any kind to support the claim, some priests have suggested that these auras may be linked to the Montanians, either directly caused by them or simply a consequence of permitting them to live freely in the Empire.

There are no mandates relating to the Montanians for the Synod to consider, but statements of principle that achieve a greater majority might cause such mandates to arise. However the Civil Service warn that the Montanians have a deep well of ideological commitment every bit as earnest as the Highborn. Thus far they have held back from preaching their beliefs out of respect for the Empire's laws and to ensure their Great Forest Orc allies do not suffer persecution as a result, but they do not view Hope's Rest as a legitimate part of the Empire. Any attempt to send priests to Hope's Rest to proselytise the Way will result in as more converts among the priests who undertake the journey than the Montanians.

===Montanian Risks===
* '''The Montanians will continue to push for the entire Barrens to be free from Imperial rule'''
* '''They will ultimately call for rebellion against the Empire if their demands are not met'''
* '''They will try to spread their religious beliefs to any Imperial citizens who enter Hope's Rest'''

The Montanians represent a clear threat to the Empire's rule in the Barrens. They are ideologically committed to Freedom - they make no secret of the fact that they want the entire Barrens to be free of the Empire and the Druj and they plan to dedicate themselves to that cause. They are the only sept in the Barrens whose avowed goals includes the return of lands other than their own. If they are permitted to gather their strength in Hope's Rest they will use their position there to encourage the septs to unite in pursuit of their goals.

At present they are hopeful that negotiation and dialogue will yield results. They are hopeful that the Synod's message of liberation will translate into concrete action by the Imperial Senate to free the Barrens on their terms. However they do not deny that they will ultimately attempt to use force to get what they want if diplomacy fails. There is no significant military force in the Barrens at present, nothing that is remotely capable of resisting Imperial rule. But that situation could slowly change if the Rahvin maintain control of the Fangs and the Great Forest Orcs seize the Heart of Peytaht. The Barrens Orcs raised armies against the Druj, the Montanians will encourage them to do so again if their demands are not met.

Although they are more than happy to live alongside the Dawnish people in Dawnguard, and happy to welcome them to pass through Hope's Rest, they are clear that their self-imposed restriction on openly practising and proselytising their faith does not apply to the Barrens. They are clear that they will attempt to spread their beliefs on Freedom to all the occupants of the Barrens given the opportunity.

==The Black Wind==
===Who are the Black Wind?===
* '''The Black Wind were former members of the Rahvin who split from the sept to join the Druj'''
* '''They live in Dawnguard, Murderdale, Carmine Fields and Bitter Strand'''
* '''They hate everyone including the Druj - the only people they hate more than the Druj are the Empire'''
Rahvin was a powerful orc leader who united the disparate orc septs and helped lay the groundwork for the uprising against the Druj. He claimed they would be “a black wind that would sweep the Druj from the Barrens”. As orcs flocked to his banner, some took the rallying cry as their new name - the Black Wind. At their height the Black Wind were able to muster the equivalent of two Imperial armies, making them the most effective independent military force in the Barrens.

When the Imperial/Druj alliance agreed to split the Barrens, the impact fell most heavily on the Black Wind. For a while they fought on, but with the Empire and the Druj both attacking them at the same time, the outcome was utterly inevitable. Facing certain defeat at the hands of the Druj and the Empire, the sept split. The leaders of the Black Wind surrendered to the Druj, believing it was the only possible way to preserve their people, the Rahvin stayed true to their beliefs and were wiped out by the Druj. The Black Wind army joined the Druj, the Rahvin army was broken and then the Buruk Tepel order the execution or enslavement of every single Rahvin Orc in the Barrens. Now only the Black Wind remain living in those regions.

They are a powerful military force - a martial people with thousands of experienced soldiers who form the basis of one of the Druj armies. They hate the Druj with a burning passion - the only people they hate more than the Druj are the Empire. The Black Wind absolutely blame the Empire for forcing them to side with, and fight for, the Druj. The Black Wind are [[Army_qualities#Cruel|merciless]] in battle against the Empire, taking any opportunity to kill as many Imperials as possible.

Currently the Black Wind army is in the Mallum somewhere, presumably resupplying. The Black Wind ''sept'' however remains in the Barrens, composed primarily of young people, elders, and those unable or unwilling to serve as soldiers of the Druj. At the moment the majority of them are still in the Carmine Fields, Murderdale, Bitter Strand, with a handful of small settlements in Dawnguard. Black Wind Orcs served under Serra Grubfest, the hated Druj governor of the Barrens, and were involved in many of her more brutal reprisals against the Dawnish.

===What do the Black Wind want?===
* '''They want to see every vestige of the Empire in the Barrens destroyed'''
* '''They want a Barrens free of the Empire and the Druj'''

Of all the septs in the Barrens, the Black Wind are the only ones who will not treat with Imperial negotiators. They hide or flee, and refuse to speak when cornered. It is possible that the Karass might be able to treat with them, but they have shown no interest in doing so. The Rahvin are keen to reconcile with the Black Wind, but there is no evidence that the Black Wind are open to that. They used to deal with the Montanians, but it is clear that they no longer do so. Both the Rahvin and the Montanians are seen as fools for ever trusting the Empire in the first place.

The Black Wind desire vengeance against the Empire and most especially the Dawnish. They would like to see all the Dawnish inhabitants of Dawnguard enslaved or executed. If their desire for revenge were sated they would presumably inform Imperial interlocutors, that they wished to control Dawnguard, Murderdale, Bitter Strands and the Carmine Fields, which is where their people live. According to the other septs, what the Black Wind want is the destruction of the Empire for its role in destroying their people, despoiling the Barrens, and leaving them with no choice but to fight for their hated enemies the Druj. Ideally they would like to see the entire Empire destroyed, although they don't have any concept of how that might be achieved beyond fantasies of the Druj and the Empire wiping each other out.

Their overriding goal however is to see a Barrens free of both Empire ''and'' the Druj. The Black Wind are reluctant servants of the Druj - they fight for them only because the alternative was worse. If they had their way, they would want a Barrens free of the Empire and the Druj. Sadly fighting for that freedom is what got them to where they are now.

===Military Opportunities: The Black Wind===
* '''The Iron Helms could execute the leaders of the Black Wind sept to force the Black Wind army to surrender to the Empire'''
* '''If the Empire can maintain a consistent threat of destruction against the Black Wind sept, they could force the army to fight for the Empire'''
* '''Five Imperial armies could force the Black Wind sept to flee the Barrens'''

The Black Wind in the Barrens are primarily non-combatants. Their soldiers fight for the Druj, but they are not ''actually'' Druj. They are cruel, but fuelled by anger and hatred rather than malice. They still feel a strong connection, a love for, their people - their spouses, children, parents, and siblings in the Barrens. The reason they are fighting for the Druj is to preserve the lives of the people they love - they bent the knee to the Druj to save their people from enslavement or worse (the fate the Rahvin suffered).

This presents an opportunity. A horrible opportunity, but a chance to deliver a decisive blow to the Druj none-the-less.

The [[Iron Helms]] are known and feared by both the Druj and by the septs they rule. They are masters of using that fear to get what they want, to demoralise their enemies. If the Iron Helms move to the Barrens and undertake a [[Army_qualities#Cruel|Merciless Assault]], with clear orders to execute key members of the Black Wind, then the army will certainly hear of it. Presented with an ultimatum, the Black Wind will either have to betray the Druj and surrender to the Empire, or stand by as everyone they care about is killed.

There is no doubt among the other septs that the Black Wind will surrender. They hate the Druj, the ''only'' reason they are fighting for them is to try to keep their people safe. If the Empire threatens the safety of the Black Wind sept in the Barrens, they will have absolutely no choice but to surrender. The Black Wind army, the Druj army that carries that name and has engaged in one merciless attack after another on Imperial forces, will collapse. In theory it might even be possible to force the Black Wind to fight for the Empire - given that is exactly what the Druj have done. It would require a constant threat of bloody reprisals against their people if they did not fight.

As a potentially more palatable alternative, the Military Council could send Imperial armies to force the Black Wind to flee the Barrens. It would require a massive force to move the Black Wind, otherwise their people will scatter and hide, but if five Imperial armies are given clear orders to drive the Black Wind sept out of the Barrens then they will be forcibly evicted from their homes. They will be forced to leave most of their belongings behind, which will create an opportunity for spoils of war the following season. The sept will flee East, into the Mallum.

Any action in this vein would damage the Empire's standing with the Rahvin, Montanians, and Great Forest Orcs. Although the Black Wind no longer speak to their former comrades in arms, they are widely viewed as fallen allies rather than enemies by their fellow rebels. There is clear evidence that the Druj have been adept at maximising the propaganda benefits of actions of this kind by the Empire in the past.

===Black Wind Risks===
* '''The presence of the Black Wind in the Barrens is a clear risk to the safety of every Imperial citizen'''

The Black Wind want to see the Empire destroyed, Dawnguard ruined and every Imperial citizen in the Barrens eaten alive by ravenous marsh lizards. They are sullen and filled with Hatred of the Empire, who they regard as a more loathsome version of the Druj. They enthusiastically supported Serra Grubfest against the Dawnish people of Dawnguard and will eagerly seize any opportunity to harm the Empire. Their continued presence is a constant risk to every Imperial citizen in the Barrens.

==Dawn==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NationBannerDawn.jpg|align=left|caption=The people of Dawn celebrate the victory in the barrens.|width=300}}</div>
===Who are the Dawnish?===
* '''The Dawnish are Imperial citizens whose noble houses have lived in the Barrens for centuries'''
* '''The majority live in Dawnguard, but there are Dawnish living in Murderdale, the Carmine Fields, and a few who live in Hope's Rest and Bitter Strand'''

The Dawnish have held Dawnguard for centuries, a foothold in the Barrens that has never wavered. From there they have sought to conquer the territory with waves of Dawnish settlers expanding into Murderdale and the Carmine Fields and beyond. Several prominent noble houses have been based there, although some fled when the region was conquered by the Druj.

Imperial law is clear that these people are Imperial citizens, even those who still toil under the rule of the Druj. They are Dawnish citizens just as the people of Semmerholm, Astolat, and Weirwater are. They are deeply proud of their nation, and delighted by the military and political victories they have achieved. They have fought to make the Barrens a part of Dawn for hundreds of years, and are elated by their triumphant victory.

They're excited to see the Druj finally driven out, and the regions of Murderdale and Heart of Peytaht liberated from their control. They are aware that their neighbours do not share their triumph but the prevailing attitude is one of “we won a glorious victory, now its time for troubadours and advocates!” The National Assembly of Dawn made it very clear that their knights and witches were here to liberate the Barrens, and free the orcs. Most of the people of Dawnguard are entirely behind that idea. As long as they have Dawnguard, and probably Carmine Fields and Murderdale so they have somewhere to farm and expand into, and the Plains of Teeth so that they control the fortress where the Hounds of Glory paid the ultimate, glorious price for victory they see no problem in allowing them to keep chunks of the wilderness if that's what they want. Wild places and unfamiliar septs both mean more opportunities for adventure and glory.

That question of glory comes up many times. The Barrens is a wild land, full of mysteries and excitement and dangerous places, and the Dawnish of Dawnguard like it that way. They point to the true liao consecration of the Well of Hope as a reminder that the quest for glory never ends.
===What does Dawnguard want?===
* '''They want the Towers of the Dawn rebuilt to match the strength of the Spires of Dusk'''
* '''They want the Druj driven out of the Barrens and the eastern borders secured'''
* '''They want the political future of the Barrens as a Dawnish territory secured'''
* '''They want the Fangs and the Eaves of Peytaht to be made Dawnish Bourse seats'''
* '''They want to see the Empire destroy the Druj'''

Having defeated the Druj, the Dawnish want the political and military future of the Barrens to be secured. The physical embodiment of this would be rebuilding the Towers of the Dawn in Dawnguard. The great fortification was overrun by the Druj when they finally conquered the entire Barrens, and its destruction presaged a grim period for the Dawnish who suffered under Druj rule. In the minds of many, the safety of Dawnguard and the Barrens is physically contingent on the construction of a new fortification. For that reason, they want a new fortification to be constructed, at least as big as the Spires of Dusk, if not bigger. That will help to ensure that people feel confident that the Druj cannot retake Dawnguard any time soon. Both [[Adamant]] and [[Cathan Canae]] have expressed interest in helping realise this goal, as detailed in the [[LINK]] wind of fortune.

At present the Druj still control the Carmine Fields and the Heart of Peytaht. The Dawnish want to see these regions conquered and quickly, to prevent the Druj using them to unleash curses and other terrors on the Barrens and to make it harder for the Druj to return. The Steel Causeway split the regions from the Druj supply lines, but they still represent a major threat to the safety of the territory. The Dawnish want to see that threat dealt with.

They also want to see the eastern borders of the territory secured. There are mixed views of the Karass, the Dawnish don't know them at all, but what they hear from the other septs does not fill them with confidence. If these allies of the Druj hold the Bleaks and the Plains of Teeth, it will allow the Druj to march into the Barrens unopposed. Either the Karass need to be dealt with, or else the Empire needs to establish a new border with the Druj - one that exists beyond the Barrens - by invading Sarangrave and the Salt Flats.

They also want the political future of the Barrens as a Dawnish territory secured. Now that the war is won, they want to make peace with their neighbours, but they aware of the many competing expectations and demands of the other septs. They don't uniformly oppose those demands, they accept that some land may need to be ceded to ensure a lasting peace. However they do not want to give up any land that they view as fundamentally Dawnish by rights or by conquest, notably Dawnguard, Murderdale, the Carmine Fields and the Plains of Teeth. Crucially, they will not accept any outcome that means so much land is ceded that the Barrens ceases to be a Dawnish territory.

Many yeofolk are interested in the possibility of trade, but they understand that might take time. Whatever else happens they want to be sure they'll be able to explore and quest in the Barrens freely no matter who controls which parts of it. They especially want to be sure they can visit the chapel at Hope's Rest, which now serves as a memorial to everyone who died to free the Barrens.

There's some discussion about the Fangs and the Eaves of Peytaht, the weirwood grove in the Heart of Peytaht. They would like both bourse resources to be made Dawnish seats - pointing out that Dawn is the only nation in the entire Empire that has no proper bourse seat. They are aware that the Eaves of Peytaht has been promised to the Great Forest Orcs and cynical voices suggest that the Fangs will end up as an Imperial seat once the Rahvin are kicked out, so hopes are not high of getting both seats.

Finally, they want to see the armies of Dawn spearhead the campaigns against the Druj in the Salt Flats of Sanath, Forest of Ulnak, and the Sarangrave. They want the Druj consigned to dusty archives, their name ultimately known only to scholars and troubadours. The phrase "Death to the Druj" echoes round the Barrens - it is one of the few things that almost everyone agrees on.

===Dawnish Risks===
* '''Any future for the Barrens other than as a Dawnish territory of the Empire will outrage the people of Dawn'''

Now that the Imperial Senate has allocated the Barrens to Dawn, the view of most Dawnish people is that the greatest quest in history has now been completed. Dawn's triumph is glorious beyond compare, not just for Dawn, but for the whole Empire. There is a limitless sense of celebration with the completion of a dream that has occupied the hearts of Dawn for five centuries. Any political resolution that fundamentally changes the status of the Barrens as a Dawnish territory of the Empire will see that joy turn to fury.
===Participation===
This section refers to the non-player character nobles and yeofolk of the Barrens and Dawn. While the characters who attend the Anvil summits are the most influential people in the nation, the folk of the nation often have their own opinions on weighty matters that affect them. There's absolutely no requirement for a Dawnish player character, whichever territory they are from, to agree with all or even any of these positions. You're encouraged to make up your own minds. It isn't "off brief" to disagree with these attitudes. At the same time it's ''also'' not off brief to embrace some or all of them; if you want to be a "populist hero of the people" for example then championing these positions is one way to do it. The only thing to bear in mind is that this section represents the attitude of the Dawnish as a faction in the Barrens - beliefs every bit as political and challenging as those of the other septs. They might be negotiated with using tools such as the Synod or the Senate, but they can't simply be told to believe something else.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj1.jpg|caption=The Druj are still a presence in the Barrens, and while their armies have retreated, they still threaten the territory on three sides. They are known to be spiteful and full of hate when they lose - many of the septs are afraid of what form retaliation might take.|align=left|width=400}}</div>

==The Druj==
* '''The Druj still retain control the Heart of Peytaht and Murderdale'''
* '''They are using these regions to launch attacks on the Barrens'''
Whilst the septs are somewhat encouraged by the Empire having driven off the Druj, especially given the armies' [[384YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_62|focus on liberation]], they are still concerned that the Empire has left the territory relatively undefended while the Druj maintain control of two regions; Murderdale and the Heart of Peytaht, Their armies have fled but there are still more than enough Druj there to cause problems for the Imperials in Dawnguard as well as the other septs. Only last season the late [[knight-protector|Knight-protector of Winter]], '''Aranel Mortère''', was tasked with stopping ''Varag Soulflayer'' from [[Taken_at_the_flood#The_long_chase_.28Conjunction.29|unleashing winter spirits]] throughout the territory. It is clear that these kinds of attacks will continue for as long as the Druj have some foothold in the territory, and with their current holdings they could theoretically reach [[Brocéliande]] or [[Semmerholm]].

The Druj have a well-earned reputation for spitefulness. When the Sand Fishers were granted sanctuary in Holberg, the Druj sent armies to invade the most well defended territory in the eastern Empire just for a chance to punish them and terrify anyone who might resist their rule. They were defeated, but it's a sobering reminder of who the Druj are. They tore down the Tower of the Scorpion rather than let the Empire have it. They almost destroyed the Great Pits of Ennerlund, and the Vigilant Swan, and few Highborn will forget the horrors the inflicted on Reikos when they were driven out. During the final season of fighting in the Barrens, the Tainted Basilisk unleashed a barrage of curses and maledictions against the territory, some of which are still in effect.

For almost everyone in the Barrens it's not a matter of ''if'' the Druj will return, but ''when''. Many of the septs are deeply fearful for their fate when that happens, believing that the Druj will exact terrible retribution if they collaborate with the Empire now.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=CathanArt.jpg||caption=Cathan Canae has indicated that ceding Imperial lands to buy peace, or secure allies, threatens the assurance anchoring the [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]].|align=left|width=300}}</div>

==Cathan Canae==
* '''Cathan Canae has been clear in the past that she would consider the Empire ceding more land to their enemies to be sufficient to break the assurance on Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae'''
* '''There is room to negotiate with the eternal if the Empire wishes to cede land in the Barrens'''
* '''The Imperial Synod could denounce the way in which Cathan Canae is dictating how the Empire behaves'''

There is one final fly in the ointment, which the Dawnish enchanters are particularly aware of. The Summer eternal Cathan Canae has made it clear in the past that she is [[Down_the_cavalier_road#Cathan_Canae|concerned]] about the Empire's willingness to trade away land to their enemies, or their supposed allies in return for aid against their enemies. All this talk of concedence is likely to attract the attention of the ''Queen of Ice and Darkness''.

However, after a great deal of discussion, some of it with heralds of the ''Immovable One'' herself, they believe there is room for negotiation. What the ''Mistress of Blizzards'' will '''not''' accept is the Empire giving up land to its enemies in return for peace. But the Empire could make the case that that is not what is being discussed, given that they have been clear all along that their intent was to liberate the Barrens orcs, not conquer the Barrens. Any concessions to the septs ''could'' be presented as rewards to a potential ally in return for their support.

It is not clear what the best argument might be, but the enchanters of Dawn are confident that ceding lands to people the Empire has liberated will not ''automatically'' incur the ire of the ''Mistress of Blizzards''. It would however be unwise to cede lands and then keep casting the [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|Frozen Citadel]] without discussing the matter with the Immovable One first, but the [[Archmage of Summer]] could use their power of [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] to discuss the matter with either the eternal herself or her lieutenants and see if what kind of agreement can be reached.

When the matter is discussed, some Highborn magisters are strongly of the opinion that it is deeply inappropriate for the ''Lady of the Frost'' or ''any'' eternal to be able to dictate Imperial policy in this way. There is more than the faintest hint of [[Religious_crime#Idolatry|idolatry]] about this entire business, and perhaps it might be best for the Empire to stop relying on the “gifts” of an eternal who would attempt such obvious blackmail. They call on the Imperial Synod to take a stance on this matter.

==Menrothat==
* '''The Menrothat of Ossium want the Empire to cede Farweald to them'''
* '''In return the Menrothat will share their a single dose of Black Lotus with the Empire'''
* '''Only the Karass would welcome the Menrothat's return to the Barrens - it would be universally opposed by all other factions'''

There is one final faction with an interest in the Barrens. The [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Sept_of_the_Menrothat|sept of the Menrothat]], in [[Ossium]], have let it be known that in return for the Empire ceding them their ancestral lands of Farweald, they will share their [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Treasure_of_the_Menrothat|greatest treasure]] – a dose of ''black lotus'' and their knowledge on what can be done with it.

The Dawnish, the Rahvin, the Great Forest Orcs, the Vendarri, and the Montanians all express significant reservations about the Menrothat returning to the Barrens. Apart from the Karass, whose dark reputation they share, everyone is opposed to them claiming Farweald as their own.

<quote by="From the 380YE Autumn Equinox Winds of War">Two days after the Great Forest orcs enter Therunin, while they are cautiously raising their tents and receiving the diplomats of the Navarr, the first reports of trouble in the east begin to filter back to the Dawnish forces. Knight's errant and questing alike, some of them battered and diseased, bring dire news of a host - a great host of orcs - that has crossed the rivers from the east, slaughtering every orc in their path that does not kneel and bow their head at their approach.

Thousands of orcs. Orcs beneath banners of jade-and-gold, their spiked armour bedecked with skulls and bones. There is no chance to estimate numbers. One party of knights-errant engaged in a test of mettle near the Saltmarsh claim they saw five thousand orcs camped on the banks of the great marshes there. Another lone survivor - who later dies of her wounds - ranted and raved until the end about thirty-, forty-, fifty-thousand yellow eyes watching her from the darkness. A pair of scouts indicate that they saw nothing... but several other scouting parties testing out the defences of the Bitter Strand to the east fail to return and while it is likely that the Barrens orcs accounted for them there is a concern that...

... ten days before the Autumn Equinox, with the Dawnish knights consolidating their meagre gains in the Carmine Fields a band of half a dozen orcs emerge from the south-eastern forests and plant a flag of truce in the soil of the Carmine Fields that flutters and dances in the sudden quick breeze. It is spattered with blood. At the foot of the flag they place sacks, damp and dripping, and buzzing with flies. The six of them settle down to wait unconcerned, beneath the flag. Some of them roll bones, talking quietly among themselves. The others keep watch across the fields.

A discussion, and then the Gryphon's Pride and the Golden Sun both send a delegation of twenty soldiers each to see what is afoot. The orcs make no effort to withdraw. They stand and watch the Imperial troops approach - not afraid, no expression readable beneath their hoods and masks. When the first Dawnish knight comes to within bow-cast, the leader holds up one gloved hand and steps forward.

"Parley," she says in a rasping voice full of age and cynicism. "Parley, knights of Dawn. We have a gift and a proposal from our masters."

The knights pause. The orc speaks again. She gestures to the bags they have piled around the flagpole.

"Here is our gift. The heads of the Rahvin. The leaders of the orcs who attacked your homes. They are dead."

One of the knights asks a question, the orc woman shakes her head.

"You misunderstand me. It is not the leaders who are dead - they are all dead. Every single one of them. The Rahvin are gone. We have reclaimed their lands. As was agreed."

Confusion. The orc does not stop.

"Take a message to your Senate, please, knights of Dawn. We are prepared to negotiate the precise placement of the Line, as agreed. We will await the word of your Senate on the other side of the river, in the Bitter Strand, on the eastern banks of the Kepahitân River, until the end of the Autumn Equinox. We will offer hospitality to a diplomatic envoy of shall we say a dozen. If we hear no word from you we will assume you have reneged on the agreement, are not interested in negotiation, and will act accordingly."

She folds her arms then, and smiles, showing broken blackened teeth. After a moment, the Druj withdraw back toward the river, leaving behind their flag, and the pile of dripping, fly crowded, sacks.</quote>

==Further Reading==
* [[The Barrens]]
* [[Conflict in the Barrens]]
* [[The silent page]]
* [[Two_silhouettes#A_Curious_Reprise_.28Battle.29|A curious reprise]] -384YE Winter battle opportunity involving the Rahvin at the Fangs

A question of loyalty

2023-08-31T13:34:58Z

Cathtice: /* The Rebels */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]
<ic>
"Well?" demanded Caela - "what do you think?"

Zortia stared at he cousin for a moment, as she picked her words carefully. "I think this is madness Caela. I think... I think the {{Black Plateau}} has finally got to you. This is doomed."

Caela looked completely unfazed by the scathing assessment. "You said that about the last plan too!" she grinned.

"Yes, and I meant it! Your plan to wait for the Grendel to take Spiral was bad enough, but this... this is madness! You're talking about withdrawing from the Empire?" she shook her head in obvious disbelief.

Caela held up a finger to counter her claim. "Not me this time cousin. Urizen has spoken, we've got the overwhelming backing of the Assembly..." she let her voice trail off, giving Zortia time to absorb the impact of what she was saying.

"Right! And I'm sure the backing of a regiment of Anvil priests will be absolutely invaluable when the Military Council orders the Iron Helms to impale us all on spikes. That's what happened last time someone tried this. They ordered the Helms to drag Dogri Thulebane all the way back to Anvil for execution. Why will it be any different this time?"

Caela's grin turned cruel as she contemplated Zortia's question. "Dogri Thulebane was a Courageous and Loyal man, a great leader of his people. But at the end of the day he was just a Wintermark Thane... I'm sure he was an excellent Sentinel, but he was no Urizen... " she paused for a moment, letting the thought hang in the air.

"If the Empire thinks this will be another Dogri, then five hundred of the world's greatest magicians will teach them the error of their ways..."</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Jewels.jpg|align=left|caption=There are many [[Loyalty#Symbols_of_Loyalty|symbols of Loyalty]]. In [[the League]] [[The_League_hearth_magic#Rings|rings]] are commonly used while in [[Urizen]] the [[Astronomancy#Constellations|constellations]] of [[the Chain]] and [[the Three Sisters]] are often believed to be tied to the virtue.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
At the Summer Solstice, [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_Urizen_in_Spiral|the Imperial Senate instructed]] [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue.27s_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] to ''"appraise what further the League can do so that the [[Urizen]] in [[Spiral]] can remain there peacefully while preserving their culture, ideally without suffering undue financial hardship from not being in Urizen."'' The motion was one of two that called on Naomi's unique skills, but the [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_integration_of_septs_of_the_Barrens|earlier motion]] regarding the septs of [[the Barrens]] failed, leaving the [[Highguard|Highborn]] prognosticator free to focus on the issues facing Spiral.

The unique [[windfall|political situation in Spiral]] is already developing with large numbers of enterprising [[the League|League]] citizens moving to settle in Apulian, drawn by the myriad opportunities presented by the new territory, not least of which is the election for senator slated to take place at the coming summit. Kaliact's Apulian Orcs have joined [[The League]], but if they planned to use their well-established businesses to control the territory, it looks like they will have a fight on their hands.

The instruction of the [[Imperial Senate]] is timely, and it is fortunate indeed that the Senate opted to assign the most diplomatic member of the appraisal team to this endeavour. The situation in the territory was tense but peaceful at the start of the summit, but it did not remain so for long. The Urizen Assembly passed a number of judgements, one of which the prognosticators forecast would leave the territory in a febrile state, simmering with rebellion. However, the decision of the Loyalty Assembly to throw their support behind this mandate has meant the impact of the original mandate has far exceeded expectations and plunged the territory into crisis.

==The Thieving Bandit==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{SOPInner|statement=Despise the thieving bandit and those who take without giving. We send Hector of Tropaion with 50 doses of liao to encourage citizens of Urizen to remain apart from Apulian until a reckoning is agreed upon.|by=Clytemnestra, Urizen Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 330-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}</div>
* '''Hector has preached a mandate urging Urizen to disavow Apulian if there is no reckoning for Spiral'''
* '''Some citizens have taken this as a call to prepare for open rebellion against the Empire'''
The Urizen Assembly overwhelmingly backed the mandate of '''Clytemnestra''' and '''Hector''' that urged the nation to despise the people who have stolen the territory from Urizen. The civil service prognosticators advised the Assembly that if this mandate was enacted then the Urizen who currently reside in Spiral would remain, but it would result in ''some'' of the [[spire|spires]] taking up weapons and seceding from the Empire, eventually claiming one or more [[Territory#Regions|regions]] for themselves.

So it proves. Inspired by Hector's preaching, a number of the most outraged spires in [[Spiral#Ankra|Ankra]], [[Spiral#Cinion|Cinion]], and [[Spiral#Ossuary|Ossuary]] begin to prepare for a rebellion. Not everyone is so minded of course, there are many different responses to the mandate, but as is often the case, the most extreme response is by far the most visible.

Had that been the limit of the involvement of the Imperial Synod, then the situation might have remained on that knife edge. People are patient and measured in their approach. [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#Poise|Poise]] demands that hasty calls to violence be scorned; better to strike when the decisive moment comes. The mandate concludes by urging the Urizen to remain apart until a reckoning is agreed upon; people would have been content to given the Assembly time to seek suitable recompense while they made their preparations.

However the situation soon escalates far beyond that initial premise.

==The Eyes of Loyalty==
{{SOP|statement=The Loyalty assembly sends Mazo with 25 liao to support the Urizen national assembly in their efforts to aid the Spiral Urizeni with the mandate reading: Despise the thieving bandit and those who take without giving. We send our priest with 50 doses of liao to encourage citizens of Urizen to remain apart from Apulian until a reckoning is agreed upon. The role of the Loyalty assembly in this is to reassure people that the Empire does not intend to endorse their destruction and to keep open the channels of communication necessary for a reckoning to be agreed upon. There is a future in which this results in stronger bonds within the Empire and it is upon those dedicated to Loyalty to achieve this.|by=Veikko Bondforger, Loyalty Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 466-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
* '''The Assembly's mandate has dramatically enhanced the responses to Hector's mandate'''
* '''It is not possible for the Assembly to influence the outcome of the Eyes of Loyalty'''
To add fuel to the fire, the Assembly of [[Loyalty]] have sent priests to Spiral to urge everyone who follows Loyalty to do what they can to support the mandate. The Cardinal explicitly tried to guide these priests by emphasizing that ''"The role of the Loyalty Assembly in this is to reassure people that the Empire does not intend to endorse their destruction... a future in which this results in stronger bonds within the Empire and it is upon those dedicated to Loyalty to achieve this."''

It seems likely from the wording of the mandate raised by '''Veikko Bondforger''' and enacted by '''Mazo''' that the Assembly hoped that their priests would work to cool the ardour of the inhabitants of Spiral, reassuring people that ledgers would be balanced and that they would receive fair treatment from the Empire. Unfortunately the first tenet of Loyalty commands pilgrims to ''"Know your heart and what commands its devotion above all else."'' That sentiment is widely taken to mean that pilgrims should act on the Loyalty they feel in their hearts and ignore the instruction of others who try to tell them where their loyalties should lie.

As such it not possible to dictate the way the Eyes of Loyalty will affect another mandate. When the power is invoked, the priests of Loyalty seek out those committed to the cause described in the mandate and use the Eyes of Loyalty to grant them the strength to give everything in pursuit of their loyalty. The effects are always unpredictable, but the result is always that the mandate becomes much more significant - whatever the predicted impact was, it would be exceeded in some way.

The [[aura]] titled the [[Auras_of_Loyalty#The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] drives those who experience to pursue their loyalties to no matter the cost and motivating them to pursue their goals. In Spiral the impact is dramatic, galvanising reactions to the original mandate and spurring everyone to action.

==Serve Your Cause==
* '''The inhabitants of Spiral do not believe their culture is under threat'''
* '''The political future of Spiral is the key issue that concerns the Urizen who live here'''

The response in Spiral is far from uniform - every Urizen experiences the impacts of the mandates differently. A common theme however is that none of the people who dwell here are concerned about preserving their culture. While the four cities of the League might have appreciably different characters, the inhabitants of Spiral are not markedly different to those in the other Urizen territories. The one element that does make Spiral distinct is the presence of the {{Black Plateau}} whose oppressive dolour impacts the lives of everyone who lives in Urizen. However the swinging changes that miasma forces on people are something most folk are keen to abandon the first opportunity they get.

Of course there have been Urizen in Spiral for centuries and there is a great deal of heritage here. But the view of most magicians is that the real culture of Urizen is to be found in their books and their scholasticism. All that can be taken with them if they leave. As a result, the Urizen living in Spiral don't perceive a threat to their culture. The magic of the egregore only affects those who chose to embrace it and swear to a nation, so the presence of the League citizens in Spiral won't have any impact on the culture of the Urizen who live there. They can continue to live their lives in exactly the same way they did when it was an Urizen territory and when it laboured under Grendel rule. Common myths that the political and economic changes in the territory will affect the hearth magic of the territory are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of [[Hearth_magic#Common_Rules.2C_National_Traditions|hearth magic]]. Nothing has changed magically or culturally in Spiral, what has changed is its political status.

Those political changes mean that the impact and leadership of the Urizen who remain in Spiral will be steadily eclipsed by the League. They will be politically and economically marginalised by the Empire's decision to grant The League the right to claim the territory. Slowly but inexorably they will become foreigners; Urizen citizens living in a territory run by the League. This is what concerns the people living in Spiral - they don't believe their culture is threatened, but they have been disenfranchised and they will lose out economically.

There is nothing that an appraisal can do to change the political consequences of that, it was the Senate's decision that the territory elect a League citizen according to League rules. But Naomi has spent considerable time negotiating with those who live here as part of her appraisal of the territory and has suggestions that might ameliorate some of the concerns. To do this she has broken down the reactions depending on the key Loyalty of those involved, making it easier to see what the key concerns are and what a potential solution might look like in those cases.
===The Empire===
* '''Those who put their Loyalty to the Empire above all others are broadly content with the current situation'''
* '''This group plan to move to Zenith and Redoubt over the coming season'''
* '''They want to see the Empire strike boldly to maximise the benefits of retaking Spiral'''
There are many Urizen citizens in Spiral whose first Loyalty is to the Empire. They take a broad view that the [[Ratify treaty with Salt Lord Kaliact|decision]] to [[Windfall|embrace the Apulian Orcs]] is clearly in the best interests of the Empire. It brings valuable new allies into the League, who offer insight into the minds and strategies of Urizen's enemies. It frees Spiral from the control of the Grendel without any need for violence - an important consideration in light of the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}. It strengthens the Empire and weakens the Grendel.

Of course they are disappointed that Spiral will henceforth be a League territory, but nothing of significance is achieved without cost. Most of the Urizen whose Loyalty is to the Empire are making plans to move to Zenith and Redoubt, or have already done so, glad to have a reason to move away from the oppressive aura of the {{Black Plateau}}.

Their key wish is to ensure that Urizen's sacrifice on behalf of the Empire is not squandered. They want to see decisive movement to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the extraordinary events of the previous summit. Their view is that Urizen has paid a heavy price to give the Empire this chance, they want to be certain it will not be squandered.

===Urizen===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Tiborion of the Endless Horizen, Ankra, Spiral}}
* '''Those who put their Loyalty to Urizen first are angry that their nation has lost out - again'''
* '''They have joined the rebels in Ankra and Cinion'''
* '''This group are prepared to move to Zenith and Redoubt but only once suitable recompense is arranged'''
* '''They want the Imperial Senate to move the Imperial Mint from Tassato to Cargo'''
By contrast, those whose first Loyalty is to the nation of Urizen are bitterly angry that their nation has lost out again. They point out that the Empire gave away Spiral to the Grendel in a [[Ratify treaty with the Grendel Autumn 383YE|peace treaty]], along with [[Feroz]], to buy the Empire time to defeat the [[Druj]]. Clytemnestra [[Citadel_Guard#A_Clear_Threat|has been clear]] that the Empire only came to save Zenith from the Druj at the point where the nation threatened to disband the [[Citadel Guard]]. The Empire is more than happy for the Guard to march across the Empire bringing their [[Highest discipline|unique magical puissance]] to bear in every campaign, but they drag their heels every time it comes to fighting for Urizen. In their view, the nation has repeatedly sacrificed to the benefit of the Empire and this is how they are rewarded for their dedication.

This group have little interest in remaining in Spiral. The {{Black Plateau}} is a factor in this, many have only remained in Spiral out of Loyalty to their nation's claim on the territory. Absent the possibility that this deal is overturned and Spiral returned to Urizen, (which they do not see happening) they see no reason to remain here. They want to be part of a nation dedicated to magic, reason, and ambition, not a collection of merchants and shop-keepers.

However, they are not prepared to go without a fight! They have clung on tenaciously for years in the face of attacks by the Grendel and the Druj... they are quite prepared to face off against a new enemy. Crucially they believe that in recent years the Empire has demonstrated that it will only treat Urizen well when forced to do so. Thus they have thrown in their lot with the other rebels - at least for now. They demand a reckoning and they are prepared to stand their ground until they get it.

{{SOP|statement=The League owes a debt of reckoning to the Urizeni of Spiral, and we will repay them for their sacrifices.|by=Sofonisba Amilcara di Sarvos, League National Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 485-0|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
At the most recent summit, the League Assembly passed a clear statement of principle with a unanimous greater majority stating unequivocally that the League owes a debt of reckoning to the Urizeni of Spiral and that they will repay them. Of course, that statement was before anyone had named their price.

The nominal leader of this faction is Tiborion of the Endless Horizen, an architect who lives in Anara. The target of his ire is not the League, but the Imperial Senate. They don't object to the League benefitting, it is the fact that Urizen has lost a territory and with it a [[senator]] that bothers them. That decision means there are fewer Urizen voices in the Imperial Senate - and the status and influence of Urizen is diminished accordingly. That is not something the League can do anything about, at least not directly. What the Senate has taken away, only the Senate can restore.

However if the League are genuinely prepared to make a reckoning, then Tiborion has a proposal. After consultation with Naomi, their suggestion is to move the Imperial Mint from [[Tassato]] to the city of [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]] in Redoubt.
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:400px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Moving the Mint'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type: '''Unique (Senate commission only)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cargo, in Redoubt</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 45 wains of white granite, 90 crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Moves the Imperial Mint from Tassato to Cargo in Redoubt; [[Master of the Imperial Mint]] becomes an Urizen national position appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Restriction:''' Motion must explicitly decommission the offices at Tassato and re-establish them in Cargo</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This commission has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the commission does nothing</td></tr>
</table></div>
This is an expensive proposition, in both the short and medium term. It would require the commission of a new building to house the mint, which would be a substantial undertaking requiring 45 wains of white granite, 90 crowns and taking six months to complete. It would need to be commissioned by the Imperial Senate directly, it would not be possible to build a new mint with anything other than a Senate motion. The motion would need to make explicitly clear that the offices of the Mint in Tassato were to be decommissioned and re-established in Cargo.

Once the commission was completed, the next time the Master of the Imperial Mint was elected it would be an Urizen national position appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]]. That would have an implicit cost to the Imperial Treasury, League citizens have paid over two hundred thrones to hold the position over the last four years. That money would no longer flow into Imperial coffers if the seat were an Urizen national position.

However it would satisfy this group's demands to restore the power and influence of their nation in the Imperial Senate. They claim that their architects and magicians have just as much capacity to use the information provided to the title holder to benefit the Empire as any merchant prince of the League. However this would give them another voice on the Senate floor and enhance their influence in a crucial body that makes decisions that affect Urizen.

Obviously it is not normally physically possible to move a Bourse seat, but in this case the Imperial Senate could chose to establish a new mint in Cargo. The Constitutional Court advise it would require the current seat to be [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Relinquishment|relinquished first]]. This would mean a constitutional vote, ratification by the Throne, and would be subject to veto by the Assembly of Nine, the General Assembly and the League Assembly. Once that was done, it would be possible to establish a new mint in Cargo.

===Spiral===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Caela, Tower of the Silver Flame, Cinion, Spiral.}}
* '''Those whose Loyalty is to Spiral's identity as an Urizen territory are seething at what they see as a betrayal by the Empire'''
* '''They are determined to remain and prepared to fight the Empire for their territory'''
* '''They demand that the Imperial Senate reverse its decision and return Spiral to Urizen'''
By far the most militant are those Urizen whose Loyalty is to the Urizen territory of Spiral. They have led the rebellion against the Empire and seized the regions of Ankra and Cinion with their allies. They have declared these regions to be part of Urizen, not the League, and say that they will no longer recognise the authority of the Imperial Senate.

They are clear that they do not wish a fight with the Empire, but they are prepared to have one if needed. The rebels have no official leader, but the ''Tower of the Silver Flame'' was the first to declare independence and ''Caela'' has become the unofficial spokesperson for those who have joined them. Every day there are messages flashing across the [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Heliopticon|heliopticon network]] to neighbouring spires carrying a message of hope. There is a future where Spiral remains an Urizen territory - ''if people are prepared to fight for it''.

The only action that will bring the rebels back into the Imperial fold is if the Imperial Senate changes course and restores Spiral to Urizen. In theory that would be legally possible. It would need the Senate to pass a formal motion of [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Relinquishment|relinquishment]] and then another motion to assign the territory to Spiral. Relinquishing Spiral would require a [[Senate_motion#Constitutional_Vote|constitutional vote]], [[The Throne#Ratification|ratification]] by [[the Throne]], and would be subject to [[veto]] by the Assembly of Nine, the General Assembly and the League Assembly. This solution would solve all the problems that all the various Urizen factions in Spiral are experiencing - it would satisfy every group.

However, it would be disastrous for the Empire's newest citizens. It would be perceived by many as a violation of the treaty that the Empire signed with Salt Lord Kaliact barely two seasons ago. The former Salt Lord would be publicly humiliated, her followers would abandon the League and turn on her. A handful would be able to flee the territory, but Apulian would be torn apart in the violence as the large population, many of whom are still legally members of the Grendel at present, attempted to reassert their control.

Apulian and the neighbouring regions of Apulus and Apstrus would revert to Grendel control, ''assuming that the League Assembly didn't encourage others to take up arms to fight for Apulian in exactly the same way the Urizen have just done''.

===Spires===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Actius, Arbiter of the Deathless Cave, Cinion, Spiral}}
* '''Those whose Loyalty is to their spire want the Empire to find a way to remove the economic penalties they are now suffering'''
* '''They are determined to remain and prepared to fight if absolutely needed'''
* '''Naomi proposes the Imperial Treasury pay 35 thrones a season to defray the costs these spires are facing'''
* '''It would make it impossible to build a sinecure, ministry or great work that provided mana in Spiral'''
* '''This solution would fail if the Imperial Conclave imposed enmity on Sung'''
There are many Urizen living in Spiral whose chief Loyalty is to their spire, citadel or temple. Their reasons are many and varied, some want to preserve the long history of their spire for the future. Others simply want to remain living in the only home they have ever known. Whatever the reason, this group is determined not to leave, if there is any way that they can stay. They have elected ''Actius, Arbiter of the Deathless Cave'' to represent them and provided him with a clear set of dictums to guide any negotiations.

This faction are less concerned with who controls the territory. The decision of the Imperial Senate doesn't unduly concern them, what bothers them is the viability and Prosperity of their home. At present, they are standing with the other rebels, but they are clear that they are happy to accept any solution that ensures that they can continue to thrive in Spiral in the future.

Fortunately Sung's boon offers a way that this group could be mollified. The '''[[Sung|Rainbow Serpent]]''' has offered to help the Urizen inhabitants of Spiral maintain prosperous links with each other and with the neighbouring spires of Redoubt and Zenith. This required a pair of mithril statues to be placed on the passes that lead into Urizen from Spiral. They were [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Construct_Mithril_Sculptures|authorised by the Imperial Senate]] at the last summit and it looks likely that they will soon be complete.

Sung's boon allows Urizen magicians to shield their spires from the economic impact of living in a foreign territory by casting the ritual, [[Vale of Shadows]], on their personal resources. However the ritual is expensive - it costs a minimum of ten mana crystals when cast by magicians who have mastered the ritual and would require a skilled coven to perform it. While the effects of the ritual last a year, it would still represent a significant financial burden on every Urizen citizen living in the territory.

However, the Imperial Senate could arrange to meet these costs on behalf of Urizen citizens living there. They could use a [[Senate motion]] to establish an office to procure mana crystals from across the territory and make arrangements to perform the necessary rituals for everyone who would benefit. Such arrangements would not be cheap - according to Naomi's calculations, it would cost 35 thrones a season to purchase the mana and pay the ritualists to cast the necessary spells. Such a solution would be impossible in most territories of the Empire, there simply aren't enough skilled ritualists to perform the necessary magic, but a shortage of puissant magicians is the one problem Spiral ''doesn't'' have.

There are two drawbacks to this approach. The first is that it would mean enchanting every Urizen resource in Spiral with Vale of Shadows - while that would be a valuable benefit if the territory were ever attacked, it would mean that no Urizen resource in the territory could be enchanted with any ''other'' ritual. It would mean that any Imperial magician attending Anvil who made separate arrangements to enchant their own personal resource with a different ritual would not benefit from the protection provided by Sung.

It would also impact the availability of mana crystals in the territory. Having an Imperial office buy every available mana crystal would inevitably impact the ready supply of mana. As a result it would not be possible for the Imperial Senate to construct a [[sinecure]], [[ministry]], or [[great work]] in the territory that provided mana crystals while these arrangements were in place. Everything that was readily available would be bought up by the civil service operating under instructions from the Senate.

==The Rebels==
* '''Three groups have rebelled against the Empire and seized the regions of Ankra and Cinion'''
* '''The rebels' demands are steep, but it may be possible to negotiate'''
* '''A statement of principle or alternative mandate telling them to back down will not work'''
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>'''Piercing Light'''<br>The rebel spires are using [[Vale of Shadows]] to protect themselves, performed at relatively high magnitudes and reinforced by the power of the eternal [[Sung]]. Individual shrouds could be removed with [[Piercing Light of Revelation]], but the ritual must be performed at twice the magnitude of the Vale of Shadows to be effective. Vale of Shadows is explicitly designed to protect locations from enemy attacks; it is just as effective at shrouding a spire from hostile Imperial forces as it is from the Druj. Just determining the required magnitude may be a challenge; the [[Eye of the High Places]] for example reveals no information about small-scale magical effects such as Vale of Shadows. In theory, on a tactical level, it might be possible to unshroud a spire but there is nothing to prevent the Urizen re-instating that shroud, and doing so in sufficient numbers to support a campaign army in dealing with the rebellious Urizen is a daunting task even before one takes into account the shrouding wings of the mysterious Night eternal.</box></div>
Spurred on by the mandates of Hector and Mazo, a number of prominent spires, citadels and temples in the north of Spiral have rebelled against the Empire. They have seized the two regions of Ankra and Cinion and declared them to be part of Urizen, not the League, and say that they will no longer recognise the authority of the Empire or the Imperial Senate.

Stopping them will be difficult, not least because the aid of the Eternal [[Sung]] makes it almost impossible for any regular [[Imperial army]] to locate the rebellious spires. The [[Vale of Shadows|illusions and shrouds]] that the ''Rainbow Serpent'' has [[The_fate_of_the_many#The_Serpent.27s_Edge|helped provide]] will make it simple for Urizen magicians to avoid Imperial forces. An army could retake the regions, but they couldn't bring the rebellious spires to heel, because Sung's support makes it trivial for them to evade an army. The Empire would have to station an army in the territory on a permanent basis until the rebels are dealt with, otherwise they can simply declare independence again as soon as the territory is undefended. What is more, the ''Dancer at the End of Time'' has already demonstrated that she will offer aid to her friends in Spiral. The potent defences of the Vale of Shadows are unlikely to represent the limits of the aid she might offer if asked.

The de facto leaders of these three groups are ''Tiborion of the Endless Horizen'', ''Caela of the Tower of the Silver Flame'' and ''Actius of the Deathless Cave''. Naomi believes it may be possible to negotiate with the groups on the terms, but she advises caution and to have realistic expectations. The demands of Actius are perhaps the easiest to meet, but arguably because of this, they are unlikely to accept lesser terms. Caela is the most dogmatic, she and her allies want Spiral returned to Urizen and it is difficult to imagine what compromise there might be on that point. Tiborion is the most likely to be negotiable, but Naomi stresses that the architect will not be bought off with a pouch of League thrones. In their eyes they have lost a senator - they want something equivalent for Urizen in return.

Although the three groups have different aims and demands, they are standing together at present. If the demands of one or more groups could be met, then they could either be persuaded to stand down, making the remainder easier to deal with militarily, or they might be asked to use their influence with their fellow rebels. However Naomi advises that attempting both solutions will not work - if one of the rebel groups cuts their ties with the others and abandons their rebellion, then they won't have any further influence with the others.

While the two secessionist regions are no longer part of the Empire, they will still learn of any statements of principle passed by the Urizen Assembly. They consider themselves to be Urizen and are likely to listen to any statement and consider it carefully. A statement of principle or alternative mandate '''won't''' persuade them to abandon their rebellion - it has gone too far for that now. It is always difficult and expensive for an Assembly to reverse course on a previous position. However the Urizen Assembly could encourage them to go further - there are rebels in Ossuary, Ateri and Screed who could be persuaded to move if the Assembly chose to press the case further with a suitable mandate.

{{Mandate|mandate=The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. We send {named priest} with 25 doses of liao to encourage the remaining Urizen living in Spiral to take up arms and defend their homes. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but by the unity of both.|assembly=Urizen National Assembly or Loyalty Assembly}}
If this mandate is enacted, then the rebellion will spread across Spiral, and armed groups of Urizeni will seize the regions of Ossuary, Ateri and Screed unless they are stopped. This would require the presence of an Imperial army stationed in the territory with clear orders to defeat the rebels. The army would take losses in the resulting fighting, but the rebellion would be prevented from spreading.

The same mandate could also be spread by the Assembly of Loyalty if they chose, following on from their decision to invoke the Eyes of Loyalty in Spiral. It would have the same effect whoever spreads the mandate, it would not have any tangible additional effect if enacted by both Assemblies.

Under normal circumstances, only [[Mandate#Alternative_Mandates|alternative mandates]] proposed by one of the assemblies already involved that lead to an alternative outcome are likely to be effective. In this complex situation, and following [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_106|Judgement 106]] and [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_130|judgement 130]], there is an [[opportunity]] for the League national assembly to propose alternative mandates to try and influence their own people in Spiral. As above, however, mandates that try to persuade the Urizen to abandon their rebellion will not be effective.

==The Mammoth in the Tent==
* '''It's not clear what influence the presence of the {{Black Plateau}} will have on the developing situation'''
Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, the [[Iron Helms]] deliberately roiled the dreadful force that lies at the heart of [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]], using the curse to destroy three Grendel armies, but the cost was unimaginable. Fully roused, the Plateau makes life in Spiral almost unbearable and no magic seems to be able to quell it. In the years since then, the residents of Spiral - Urizen and Grendel alike - have been careful to avoid doing anything that might rouse the {{Black Plateau}} further. Those who have studied it say that years of peace are required for it to settle down, probably at least a decade and possibly more. With the short-lived peace in danger of unravelling, it's not impossible that if the situation in Spiral continues to escalate that the {{Black Plateau}} might begin to become more active again.
==Further Reading==
* [[Windfall]] - 385YE Summer Wind of Fortune about the Apulian orcs and the League
* [[The fate of the many]] - 385 Summer Wind of Fortune about the Urizen situation in Spiral

A question of loyalty

2023-08-31T13:31:23Z

Cathtice: /* Spires */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]
<ic>
"Well?" demanded Caela - "what do you think?"

Zortia stared at he cousin for a moment, as she picked her words carefully. "I think this is madness Caela. I think... I think the {{Black Plateau}} has finally got to you. This is doomed."

Caela looked completely unfazed by the scathing assessment. "You said that about the last plan too!" she grinned.

"Yes, and I meant it! Your plan to wait for the Grendel to take Spiral was bad enough, but this... this is madness! You're talking about withdrawing from the Empire?" she shook her head in obvious disbelief.

Caela held up a finger to counter her claim. "Not me this time cousin. Urizen has spoken, we've got the overwhelming backing of the Assembly..." she let her voice trail off, giving Zortia time to absorb the impact of what she was saying.

"Right! And I'm sure the backing of a regiment of Anvil priests will be absolutely invaluable when the Military Council orders the Iron Helms to impale us all on spikes. That's what happened last time someone tried this. They ordered the Helms to drag Dogri Thulebane all the way back to Anvil for execution. Why will it be any different this time?"

Caela's grin turned cruel as she contemplated Zortia's question. "Dogri Thulebane was a Courageous and Loyal man, a great leader of his people. But at the end of the day he was just a Wintermark Thane... I'm sure he was an excellent Sentinel, but he was no Urizen... " she paused for a moment, letting the thought hang in the air.

"If the Empire thinks this will be another Dogri, then five hundred of the world's greatest magicians will teach them the error of their ways..."</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Jewels.jpg|align=left|caption=There are many [[Loyalty#Symbols_of_Loyalty|symbols of Loyalty]]. In [[the League]] [[The_League_hearth_magic#Rings|rings]] are commonly used while in [[Urizen]] the [[Astronomancy#Constellations|constellations]] of [[the Chain]] and [[the Three Sisters]] are often believed to be tied to the virtue.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
At the Summer Solstice, [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_Urizen_in_Spiral|the Imperial Senate instructed]] [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue.27s_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] to ''"appraise what further the League can do so that the [[Urizen]] in [[Spiral]] can remain there peacefully while preserving their culture, ideally without suffering undue financial hardship from not being in Urizen."'' The motion was one of two that called on Naomi's unique skills, but the [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_integration_of_septs_of_the_Barrens|earlier motion]] regarding the septs of [[the Barrens]] failed, leaving the [[Highguard|Highborn]] prognosticator free to focus on the issues facing Spiral.

The unique [[windfall|political situation in Spiral]] is already developing with large numbers of enterprising [[the League|League]] citizens moving to settle in Apulian, drawn by the myriad opportunities presented by the new territory, not least of which is the election for senator slated to take place at the coming summit. Kaliact's Apulian Orcs have joined [[The League]], but if they planned to use their well-established businesses to control the territory, it looks like they will have a fight on their hands.

The instruction of the [[Imperial Senate]] is timely, and it is fortunate indeed that the Senate opted to assign the most diplomatic member of the appraisal team to this endeavour. The situation in the territory was tense but peaceful at the start of the summit, but it did not remain so for long. The Urizen Assembly passed a number of judgements, one of which the prognosticators forecast would leave the territory in a febrile state, simmering with rebellion. However, the decision of the Loyalty Assembly to throw their support behind this mandate has meant the impact of the original mandate has far exceeded expectations and plunged the territory into crisis.

==The Thieving Bandit==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{SOPInner|statement=Despise the thieving bandit and those who take without giving. We send Hector of Tropaion with 50 doses of liao to encourage citizens of Urizen to remain apart from Apulian until a reckoning is agreed upon.|by=Clytemnestra, Urizen Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 330-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}</div>
* '''Hector has preached a mandate urging Urizen to disavow Apulian if there is no reckoning for Spiral'''
* '''Some citizens have taken this as a call to prepare for open rebellion against the Empire'''
The Urizen Assembly overwhelmingly backed the mandate of '''Clytemnestra''' and '''Hector''' that urged the nation to despise the people who have stolen the territory from Urizen. The civil service prognosticators advised the Assembly that if this mandate was enacted then the Urizen who currently reside in Spiral would remain, but it would result in ''some'' of the [[spire|spires]] taking up weapons and seceding from the Empire, eventually claiming one or more [[Territory#Regions|regions]] for themselves.

So it proves. Inspired by Hector's preaching, a number of the most outraged spires in [[Spiral#Ankra|Ankra]], [[Spiral#Cinion|Cinion]], and [[Spiral#Ossuary|Ossuary]] begin to prepare for a rebellion. Not everyone is so minded of course, there are many different responses to the mandate, but as is often the case, the most extreme response is by far the most visible.

Had that been the limit of the involvement of the Imperial Synod, then the situation might have remained on that knife edge. People are patient and measured in their approach. [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#Poise|Poise]] demands that hasty calls to violence be scorned; better to strike when the decisive moment comes. The mandate concludes by urging the Urizen to remain apart until a reckoning is agreed upon; people would have been content to given the Assembly time to seek suitable recompense while they made their preparations.

However the situation soon escalates far beyond that initial premise.

==The Eyes of Loyalty==
{{SOP|statement=The Loyalty assembly sends Mazo with 25 liao to support the Urizen national assembly in their efforts to aid the Spiral Urizeni with the mandate reading: Despise the thieving bandit and those who take without giving. We send our priest with 50 doses of liao to encourage citizens of Urizen to remain apart from Apulian until a reckoning is agreed upon. The role of the Loyalty assembly in this is to reassure people that the Empire does not intend to endorse their destruction and to keep open the channels of communication necessary for a reckoning to be agreed upon. There is a future in which this results in stronger bonds within the Empire and it is upon those dedicated to Loyalty to achieve this.|by=Veikko Bondforger, Loyalty Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 466-0|when=385YE Summer Solstice}}
* '''The Assembly's mandate has dramatically enhanced the responses to Hector's mandate'''
* '''It is not possible for the Assembly to influence the outcome of the Eyes of Loyalty'''
To add fuel to the fire, the Assembly of [[Loyalty]] have sent priests to Spiral to urge everyone who follows Loyalty to do what they can to support the mandate. The Cardinal explicitly tried to guide these priests by emphasizing that ''"The role of the Loyalty Assembly in this is to reassure people that the Empire does not intend to endorse their destruction... a future in which this results in stronger bonds within the Empire and it is upon those dedicated to Loyalty to achieve this."''

It seems likely from the wording of the mandate raised by '''Veikko Bondforger''' and enacted by '''Mazo''' that the Assembly hoped that their priests would work to cool the ardour of the inhabitants of Spiral, reassuring people that ledgers would be balanced and that they would receive fair treatment from the Empire. Unfortunately the first tenet of Loyalty commands pilgrims to ''"Know your heart and what commands its devotion above all else."'' That sentiment is widely taken to mean that pilgrims should act on the Loyalty they feel in their hearts and ignore the instruction of others who try to tell them where their loyalties should lie.

As such it not possible to dictate the way the Eyes of Loyalty will affect another mandate. When the power is invoked, the priests of Loyalty seek out those committed to the cause described in the mandate and use the Eyes of Loyalty to grant them the strength to give everything in pursuit of their loyalty. The effects are always unpredictable, but the result is always that the mandate becomes much more significant - whatever the predicted impact was, it would be exceeded in some way.

The [[aura]] titled the [[Auras_of_Loyalty#The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] drives those who experience to pursue their loyalties to no matter the cost and motivating them to pursue their goals. In Spiral the impact is dramatic, galvanising reactions to the original mandate and spurring everyone to action.

==Serve Your Cause==
* '''The inhabitants of Spiral do not believe their culture is under threat'''
* '''The political future of Spiral is the key issue that concerns the Urizen who live here'''

The response in Spiral is far from uniform - every Urizen experiences the impacts of the mandates differently. A common theme however is that none of the people who dwell here are concerned about preserving their culture. While the four cities of the League might have appreciably different characters, the inhabitants of Spiral are not markedly different to those in the other Urizen territories. The one element that does make Spiral distinct is the presence of the {{Black Plateau}} whose oppressive dolour impacts the lives of everyone who lives in Urizen. However the swinging changes that miasma forces on people are something most folk are keen to abandon the first opportunity they get.

Of course there have been Urizen in Spiral for centuries and there is a great deal of heritage here. But the view of most magicians is that the real culture of Urizen is to be found in their books and their scholasticism. All that can be taken with them if they leave. As a result, the Urizen living in Spiral don't perceive a threat to their culture. The magic of the egregore only affects those who chose to embrace it and swear to a nation, so the presence of the League citizens in Spiral won't have any impact on the culture of the Urizen who live there. They can continue to live their lives in exactly the same way they did when it was an Urizen territory and when it laboured under Grendel rule. Common myths that the political and economic changes in the territory will affect the hearth magic of the territory are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of [[Hearth_magic#Common_Rules.2C_National_Traditions|hearth magic]]. Nothing has changed magically or culturally in Spiral, what has changed is its political status.

Those political changes mean that the impact and leadership of the Urizen who remain in Spiral will be steadily eclipsed by the League. They will be politically and economically marginalised by the Empire's decision to grant The League the right to claim the territory. Slowly but inexorably they will become foreigners; Urizen citizens living in a territory run by the League. This is what concerns the people living in Spiral - they don't believe their culture is threatened, but they have been disenfranchised and they will lose out economically.

There is nothing that an appraisal can do to change the political consequences of that, it was the Senate's decision that the territory elect a League citizen according to League rules. But Naomi has spent considerable time negotiating with those who live here as part of her appraisal of the territory and has suggestions that might ameliorate some of the concerns. To do this she has broken down the reactions depending on the key Loyalty of those involved, making it easier to see what the key concerns are and what a potential solution might look like in those cases.
===The Empire===
* '''Those who put their Loyalty to the Empire above all others are broadly content with the current situation'''
* '''This group plan to move to Zenith and Redoubt over the coming season'''
* '''They want to see the Empire strike boldly to maximise the benefits of retaking Spiral'''
There are many Urizen citizens in Spiral whose first Loyalty is to the Empire. They take a broad view that the [[Ratify treaty with Salt Lord Kaliact|decision]] to [[Windfall|embrace the Apulian Orcs]] is clearly in the best interests of the Empire. It brings valuable new allies into the League, who offer insight into the minds and strategies of Urizen's enemies. It frees Spiral from the control of the Grendel without any need for violence - an important consideration in light of the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}. It strengthens the Empire and weakens the Grendel.

Of course they are disappointed that Spiral will henceforth be a League territory, but nothing of significance is achieved without cost. Most of the Urizen whose Loyalty is to the Empire are making plans to move to Zenith and Redoubt, or have already done so, glad to have a reason to move away from the oppressive aura of the {{Black Plateau}}.

Their key wish is to ensure that Urizen's sacrifice on behalf of the Empire is not squandered. They want to see decisive movement to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the extraordinary events of the previous summit. Their view is that Urizen has paid a heavy price to give the Empire this chance, they want to be certain it will not be squandered.

===Urizen===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Tiborion of the Endless Horizen, Ankra, Spiral}}
* '''Those who put their Loyalty to Urizen first are angry that their nation has lost out - again'''
* '''They have joined the rebels in Ankra and Cinion'''
* '''This group are prepared to move to Zenith and Redoubt but only once suitable recompense is arranged'''
* '''They want the Imperial Senate to move the Imperial Mint from Tassato to Cargo'''
By contrast, those whose first Loyalty is to the nation of Urizen are bitterly angry that their nation has lost out again. They point out that the Empire gave away Spiral to the Grendel in a [[Ratify treaty with the Grendel Autumn 383YE|peace treaty]], along with [[Feroz]], to buy the Empire time to defeat the [[Druj]]. Clytemnestra [[Citadel_Guard#A_Clear_Threat|has been clear]] that the Empire only came to save Zenith from the Druj at the point where the nation threatened to disband the [[Citadel Guard]]. The Empire is more than happy for the Guard to march across the Empire bringing their [[Highest discipline|unique magical puissance]] to bear in every campaign, but they drag their heels every time it comes to fighting for Urizen. In their view, the nation has repeatedly sacrificed to the benefit of the Empire and this is how they are rewarded for their dedication.

This group have little interest in remaining in Spiral. The {{Black Plateau}} is a factor in this, many have only remained in Spiral out of Loyalty to their nation's claim on the territory. Absent the possibility that this deal is overturned and Spiral returned to Urizen, (which they do not see happening) they see no reason to remain here. They want to be part of a nation dedicated to magic, reason, and ambition, not a collection of merchants and shop-keepers.

However, they are not prepared to go without a fight! They have clung on tenaciously for years in the face of attacks by the Grendel and the Druj... they are quite prepared to face off against a new enemy. Crucially they believe that in recent years the Empire has demonstrated that it will only treat Urizen well when forced to do so. Thus they have thrown in their lot with the other rebels - at least for now. They demand a reckoning and they are prepared to stand their ground until they get it.

{{SOP|statement=The League owes a debt of reckoning to the Urizeni of Spiral, and we will repay them for their sacrifices.|by=Sofonisba Amilcara di Sarvos, League National Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 485-0|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
At the most recent summit, the League Assembly passed a clear statement of principle with a unanimous greater majority stating unequivocally that the League owes a debt of reckoning to the Urizeni of Spiral and that they will repay them. Of course, that statement was before anyone had named their price.

The nominal leader of this faction is Tiborion of the Endless Horizen, an architect who lives in Anara. The target of his ire is not the League, but the Imperial Senate. They don't object to the League benefitting, it is the fact that Urizen has lost a territory and with it a [[senator]] that bothers them. That decision means there are fewer Urizen voices in the Imperial Senate - and the status and influence of Urizen is diminished accordingly. That is not something the League can do anything about, at least not directly. What the Senate has taken away, only the Senate can restore.

However if the League are genuinely prepared to make a reckoning, then Tiborion has a proposal. After consultation with Naomi, their suggestion is to move the Imperial Mint from [[Tassato]] to the city of [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]] in Redoubt.
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:400px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Moving the Mint'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type: '''Unique (Senate commission only)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cargo, in Redoubt</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 45 wains of white granite, 90 crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Moves the Imperial Mint from Tassato to Cargo in Redoubt; [[Master of the Imperial Mint]] becomes an Urizen national position appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Restriction:''' Motion must explicitly decommission the offices at Tassato and re-establish them in Cargo</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Opportunity:''' This commission has required elements; if any are not all fulfilled the commission does nothing</td></tr>
</table></div>
This is an expensive proposition, in both the short and medium term. It would require the commission of a new building to house the mint, which would be a substantial undertaking requiring 45 wains of white granite, 90 crowns and taking six months to complete. It would need to be commissioned by the Imperial Senate directly, it would not be possible to build a new mint with anything other than a Senate motion. The motion would need to make explicitly clear that the offices of the Mint in Tassato were to be decommissioned and re-established in Cargo.

Once the commission was completed, the next time the Master of the Imperial Mint was elected it would be an Urizen national position appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]]. That would have an implicit cost to the Imperial Treasury, League citizens have paid over two hundred thrones to hold the position over the last four years. That money would no longer flow into Imperial coffers if the seat were an Urizen national position.

However it would satisfy this group's demands to restore the power and influence of their nation in the Imperial Senate. They claim that their architects and magicians have just as much capacity to use the information provided to the title holder to benefit the Empire as any merchant prince of the League. However this would give them another voice on the Senate floor and enhance their influence in a crucial body that makes decisions that affect Urizen.

Obviously it is not normally physically possible to move a Bourse seat, but in this case the Imperial Senate could chose to establish a new mint in Cargo. The Constitutional Court advise it would require the current seat to be [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Relinquishment|relinquished first]]. This would mean a constitutional vote, ratification by the Throne, and would be subject to veto by the Assembly of Nine, the General Assembly and the League Assembly. Once that was done, it would be possible to establish a new mint in Cargo.

===Spiral===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Caela, Tower of the Silver Flame, Cinion, Spiral.}}
* '''Those whose Loyalty is to Spiral's identity as an Urizen territory are seething at what they see as a betrayal by the Empire'''
* '''They are determined to remain and prepared to fight the Empire for their territory'''
* '''They demand that the Imperial Senate reverse its decision and return Spiral to Urizen'''
By far the most militant are those Urizen whose Loyalty is to the Urizen territory of Spiral. They have led the rebellion against the Empire and seized the regions of Ankra and Cinion with their allies. They have declared these regions to be part of Urizen, not the League, and say that they will no longer recognise the authority of the Imperial Senate.

They are clear that they do not wish a fight with the Empire, but they are prepared to have one if needed. The rebels have no official leader, but the ''Tower of the Silver Flame'' was the first to declare independence and ''Caela'' has become the unofficial spokesperson for those who have joined them. Every day there are messages flashing across the [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Heliopticon|heliopticon network]] to neighbouring spires carrying a message of hope. There is a future where Spiral remains an Urizen territory - ''if people are prepared to fight for it''.

The only action that will bring the rebels back into the Imperial fold is if the Imperial Senate changes course and restores Spiral to Urizen. In theory that would be legally possible. It would need the Senate to pass a formal motion of [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Relinquishment|relinquishment]] and then another motion to assign the territory to Spiral. Relinquishing Spiral would require a [[Senate_motion#Constitutional_Vote|constitutional vote]], [[The Throne#Ratification|ratification]] by [[the Throne]], and would be subject to [[veto]] by the Assembly of Nine, the General Assembly and the League Assembly. This solution would solve all the problems that all the various Urizen factions in Spiral are experiencing - it would satisfy every group.

However, it would be disastrous for the Empire's newest citizens. It would be perceived by many as a violation of the treaty that the Empire signed with Salt Lord Kaliact barely two seasons ago. The former Salt Lord would be publicly humiliated, her followers would abandon the League and turn on her. A handful would be able to flee the territory, but Apulian would be torn apart in the violence as the large population, many of whom are still legally members of the Grendel at present, attempted to reassert their control.

Apulian and the neighbouring regions of Apulus and Apstrus would revert to Grendel control, ''assuming that the League Assembly didn't encourage others to take up arms to fight for Apulian in exactly the same way the Urizen have just done''.

===Spires===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Actius, Arbiter of the Deathless Cave, Cinion, Spiral}}
* '''Those whose Loyalty is to their spire want the Empire to find a way to remove the economic penalties they are now suffering'''
* '''They are determined to remain and prepared to fight if absolutely needed'''
* '''Naomi proposes the Imperial Treasury pay 35 thrones a season to defray the costs these spires are facing'''
* '''It would make it impossible to build a sinecure, ministry or great work that provided mana in Spiral'''
* '''This solution would fail if the Imperial Conclave imposed enmity on Sung'''
There are many Urizen living in Spiral whose chief Loyalty is to their spire, citadel or temple. Their reasons are many and varied, some want to preserve the long history of their spire for the future. Others simply want to remain living in the only home they have ever known. Whatever the reason, this group is determined not to leave, if there is any way that they can stay. They have elected ''Actius, Arbiter of the Deathless Cave'' to represent them and provided him with a clear set of dictums to guide any negotiations.

This faction are less concerned with who controls the territory. The decision of the Imperial Senate doesn't unduly concern them, what bothers them is the viability and Prosperity of their home. At present, they are standing with the other rebels, but they are clear that they are happy to accept any solution that ensures that they can continue to thrive in Spiral in the future.

Fortunately Sung's boon offers a way that this group could be mollified. The '''[[Sung|Rainbow Serpent]]''' has offered to help the Urizen inhabitants of Spiral maintain prosperous links with each other and with the neighbouring spires of Redoubt and Zenith. This required a pair of mithril statues to be placed on the passes that lead into Urizen from Spiral. They were [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Construct_Mithril_Sculptures|authorised by the Imperial Senate]] at the last summit and it looks likely that they will soon be complete.

Sung's boon allows Urizen magicians to shield their spires from the economic impact of living in a foreign territory by casting the ritual, [[Vale of Shadows]], on their personal resources. However the ritual is expensive - it costs a minimum of ten mana crystals when cast by magicians who have mastered the ritual and would require a skilled coven to perform it. While the effects of the ritual last a year, it would still represent a significant financial burden on every Urizen citizen living in the territory.

However, the Imperial Senate could arrange to meet these costs on behalf of Urizen citizens living there. They could use a [[Senate motion]] to establish an office to procure mana crystals from across the territory and make arrangements to perform the necessary rituals for everyone who would benefit. Such arrangements would not be cheap - according to Naomi's calculations, it would cost 35 thrones a season to purchase the mana and pay the ritualists to cast the necessary spells. Such a solution would be impossible in most territories of the Empire, there simply aren't enough skilled ritualists to perform the necessary magic, but a shortage of puissant magicians is the one problem Spiral ''doesn't'' have.

There are two drawbacks to this approach. The first is that it would mean enchanting every Urizen resource in Spiral with Vale of Shadows - while that would be a valuable benefit if the territory were ever attacked, it would mean that no Urizen resource in the territory could be enchanted with any ''other'' ritual. It would mean that any Imperial magician attending Anvil who made separate arrangements to enchant their own personal resource with a different ritual would not benefit from the protection provided by Sung.

It would also impact the availability of mana crystals in the territory. Having an Imperial office buy every available mana crystal would inevitably impact the ready supply of mana. As a result it would not be possible for the Imperial Senate to construct a [[sinecure]], [[ministry]], or [[great work]] in the territory that provided mana crystals while these arrangements were in place. Everything that was readily available would be bought up by the civil service operating under instructions from the Senate.

==The Rebels==
* '''Three groups have rebelled against the Empire and seized the regions of Ankra and Cinion'''
* '''The rebels' demands are steep, but it may be possible to negotiate'''
* '''A statement of principle or alternative mandate telling them to back down will not work'''
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>'''Piercing Light'''<br>The rebel spires are using [[Vale of Shadows]] to protect themselves, performed at relatively high magnitudes and reinforced by the power of the eternal [[Sung]]. Individual shrouds could be removed with [[Piercing Light of Revelation]], but the ritual must be performed at twice the magnitude of the Vale of Shadows to be effective. Vale of Shadows is explicitly designed to protect locations from enemy attacks; it is just as effective at shrouding a spire from hostile Imperial forces as it is from the Druj. Just determining the required magnitude may be a challenge; the [[Eye of the High Places]] for example reveals no information about small-scale magical effects such as Vale of Shadows. In theory, on a tactical level, it might be possible to unshroud a spire but there is nothing to prevent the Urizen re-instating that shroud, and doing so in sufficient numbers to support a campaign army in dealing with the rebellious Urizen is a daunting task even before one takes into account the shrouding wings of the mysterious Night eternal.</box></div>
Spurred on by the mandates of Hector and Mazo, a number of prominent spires, citadels and temples in the north of Spiral have rebelled against the Empire. They have seized the two regions of Ankra and Cinion and declared them to be part of Urizen, not the League, and say that they will no longer recognise the authority of the Empire or the Imperial Senate.

Stopping them will be difficult, not least because the aid of the Eternal [[Sung]] makes it almost impossible for any regular [[Imperial army]] to locate the rebellious spires. The [[Vale of Shadows|illusions and shrouds]] that the ''Rainbow Serpent'' has [[The_fate_of_the_many#The_Serpent.27s_Edge|helped provide]] will make it simple for Urizen magicians to avoid Imperial forces. An army could retake the regions, but they couldn't bring the rebellious spires to heel, because Sung's support makes it trivial for them to evade an army. The Empire would have to station an army in the territory on a permanent basis until the rebels are dealt with, otherwise they can simply declare independence again as soon as the territory is undefended. What is more, the '''Dancer at the End of Time''' has already demonstrated that she will offer aid to her friends in Spiral. The potent defences of the Vale of Shadows are unlikely to represent the limits of the aid she might offer if asked.

The de facto leaders of these three groups are '''Tiborion of the Endless Horizen''', '''Caela of the Tower of the Silver Flame''' and '''Actius of the Deathless Cave'''. Naomi believes it may be possible to negotiate with the groups on the terms, but she advises caution and to have realistic expectations. The demands of Actius are perhaps the easiest to meet, but arguably because of this, they are unlikely to accept lesser terms. Caela is the most dogmatic, she and her allies want Spiral returned to Urizen and it is difficult to imagine what compromise there might be on that point. Tiborion is the most likely to be negotiable, but Naomi stresses that the architect will not be bought off with a pouch of League thrones. In their eyes they have lost a senator - they want something equivalent for Urizen in return.

Although the three groups have different aims and demands, they are standing together at present. If the demands of one or more groups could be met, then they could either be persuaded to stand down, making the remainder easier to deal with militarily, or they might be asked to use their influence with their fellow rebels. However Naomi advises that attempting both solutions will not work - if one of the rebel groups cuts their ties with the others and abandons their rebellion, then they won't have any further influence with the others.

While the two secessionist regions are no longer part of the Empire, they will still learn of any statements of principle passed by the Urizen Assembly. They consider themselves to be Urizen and are likely to listen to any statement and consider it carefully. A statement of principle or alternative mandate '''won't''' persuade them to abandon their rebellion - it has gone too far for that now. It is always difficult and expensive for an Assembly to reverse course on a previous position. However the Urizen Assembly could encourage them to go further - there are rebels in Ossuary, Ateri and Screed who could be persuaded to move if the Assembly chose to press the case further with a suitable mandate.

{{Mandate|mandate=The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. We send {named priest} with 25 doses of liao to encourage the remaining Urizen living in Spiral to take up arms and defend their homes. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but by the unity of both.|assembly=Urizen National Assembly or Loyalty Assembly}}
If this mandate is enacted, then the rebellion will spread across Spiral, and armed groups of Urizeni will seize the regions of Ossuary, Ateri and Screed unless they are stopped. This would require the presence of an Imperial army stationed in the territory with clear orders to defeat the rebels. The army would take losses in the resulting fighting, but the rebellion would be prevented from spreading.

The same mandate could also be spread by the Assembly of Loyalty if they chose, following on from their decision to invoke the Eyes of Loyalty in Spiral. It would have the same effect whoever spreads the mandate, it would not have any tangible additional effect if enacted by both Assemblies.

Under normal circumstances, only [[Mandate#Alternative_Mandates|alternative mandates]] proposed by one of the assemblies already involved that lead to an alternative outcome are likely to be effective. In this complex situation, and following [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_106|Judgement 106]] and [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_130|judgement 130]], there is an [[opportunity]] for the League national assembly to propose alternative mandates to try and influence their own people in Spiral. As above, however, mandates that try to persuade the Urizen to abandon their rebellion will not be effective.

==The Mammoth in the Tent==
* '''It's not clear what influence the presence of the {{Black Plateau}} will have on the developing situation'''
Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, the [[Iron Helms]] deliberately roiled the dreadful force that lies at the heart of [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]], using the curse to destroy three Grendel armies, but the cost was unimaginable. Fully roused, the Plateau makes life in Spiral almost unbearable and no magic seems to be able to quell it. In the years since then, the residents of Spiral - Urizen and Grendel alike - have been careful to avoid doing anything that might rouse the {{Black Plateau}} further. Those who have studied it say that years of peace are required for it to settle down, probably at least a decade and possibly more. With the short-lived peace in danger of unravelling, it's not impossible that if the situation in Spiral continues to escalate that the {{Black Plateau}} might begin to become more active again.
==Further Reading==
* [[Windfall]] - 385YE Summer Wind of Fortune about the Apulian orcs and the League
* [[The fate of the many]] - 385 Summer Wind of Fortune about the Urizen situation in Spiral

Cardinal of Ambition

2023-08-30T11:48:53Z

Cathtice: /* Overview */

<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Viviane_de_Coeurdefer.jpg|caption=The Cardinal guides the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Assembly of Ambition]].|title=Viviane de Coeurdefer|align=left|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
Each of the eight [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|virtue assemblies]] appoints a [[Cardinal]] to represent and lead them. The Cardinal of [[Ambition]] represents the Ambition Assembly, and is part of what is arguably the most powerful of the Assemblies, the [[Assembly#Assembly_of_the_Nine|Assembly of the Nine]]. While they are still able to raise only a single [[judgement]] for consideration by their peers in the [[Imperial Synod]] each season, they possess a number of specific legal powers that allow them to guide and influence the Assemblies.

The recent [[Benevolence,_inspiration,_and_legacy|Severin encyclical]] prompted a [[Without_a_plea_for_mercy|great deal of discussion]] around the role of the cardinals in the [[Imperial Synod]].

==Responsibilities==
The Cardinal of Ambition is assumed to provide leadership to the priests and pilgrims dedicated to that virtue. They are expected to be well versed in matters of [[Ambition]], and of [[The Way]] in general, so that they can speak with authority on matters related to the study of Ambition, and of [[The Doctrines of the Faith|doctrine]]. Prominent citizens who are guilty of breaking the law but believe their actions were rooted in Ambition will often approach the Cardinal to plead [[clemency]] on their behalf, so a familiarity with the law may also prove helpful.

As a member of the Assembly of the Nine, the Cardinal of Ambition can wield considerable influence over the politics of the Empire. In particular the Assembly has the power to [[veto]] any constitutional motion passed by the [[Imperial Senate]]. This allows the Assembly to uphold their constitutional obligation to "ensure the virtuous behaviour of the Empire".

==Powers==
===Cardinal of Ambition===
The Cardinal of Ambition has the powers common to all [[cardinal|cardinals]]: [[Cardinal#Member of the Assembly of Nine|membership]] of the Assembly of the Nine; the ability to call for [[Cardinal#Further Scrutiny|further scrutiny]] on a [[judgement]] raised in any assembly by a [[member of the Synod]] (rather than by the [[Tribune of the Synod|Tribunes]]); [[Cardinal#Appoint the Gatekeeper|appoint]] the [[gatekeeper]] of Ambition and any other [[Imperial Title|titles]] designated as [[Cardinal#Virtuous Appointments|virtuous appointments]] chosen by the Cardinal of the Assembly of Ambition.

===Virtue Appointments===
A virtue title might be designed in such a way that it is appointed by the Cardinal alone. Currently they have the power to appoint the [[Gatekeeper]] of Ambition, an important position that controls the distribution of [[liao#True Liao|true liao]].

===Additional Powers===
The Cardinal of Ambition may possess additional powers, not shared with their fellow cardinals, either through the action of the [[Imperial Senate]] or through [[opportunity|opportunities]] presented to them. Occasionally, a particularly ambitious Imperial citizen may look specifically to the cardinal for inspiration, such as happened recently with the architect [[Focused_and_methodical#Statement_of_Endeavour|Frederick di Sarvos]]. Using such powers generally requires them to raise a [[judgement]] in the Assembly of the Nine.

==Appointment==
The Cardinal of Ambition is appointed during the Spring Equinox by the Assembly of Ambition. All candidates must be a member of that assembly. Selection is by a judgement of [[appointment]] raised by the Tribune in the standard manner.

The elections for the cardinals are considered to be legally equivalent positions restricted by virtue. This means that if you change your virtue assembly then you must abstain from voting in a election if it occurs less than four events after the previous election in your previous virtue assembly. If you are in any doubt about your eligibility then you should consult the Tribune, or Merlot the civil service overseer of elections who can advise you.

The judgement to appoint a cardinal will typically close at 6pm on the Saturday of the summit. These times may differ if an unscheduled appointment is required but there are always at least three hours for nominations and three hours for voting. After that time, the candidate with the most support is declared cardinal.

The Cardinal of Ambition serves until the next scheduled election for the title. They can be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Assembly#General_Assembly|General Assembly]], or by the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|virtue assembly]] of Ambition.

{{RecentElections|Cardinal_of_Ambition}}

{{Synod Further Reading}}
[[Category:Title]]

Cardinal of Ambition

2023-08-30T11:46:08Z

Cathtice:

<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Viviane_de_Coeurdefer.jpg|caption=The Cardinal guides the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Assembly of Ambition]].|title=Viviane de Coeurdefer|align=left|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
Each of the eight [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|virtue assemblies]] appoints a [[Cardinal]] to represent and lead them. The Cardinal of [[Ambition]] represents the Ambition Assembly, and is part of what is arguably the post powerful of the Assemblies, the [[Assembly#Assembly_of_the_Nine|Assembly of the Nine]]. While they are still able to raise only a single [[judgement]] for consideration by their peers in the [[Imperial Synod]] each season, they possess a number of specific legal powers that allow them to guide and influence the Assemblies.

The recent [[Benevolence,_inspiration,_and_legacy|Severin encyclical]] prompted a [[Without_a_plea_for_mercy|great deal of discussion]] around the role of the cardinals in the [[Imperial Synod]].

==Responsibilities==
The Cardinal of Ambition is assumed to provide leadership to the priests and pilgrims dedicated to that virtue. They are expected to be well versed in matters of [[Ambition]], and of [[The Way]] in general, so that they can speak with authority on matters related to the study of Ambition, and of [[The Doctrines of the Faith|doctrine]]. Prominent citizens who are guilty of breaking the law but believe their actions were rooted in Ambition will often approach the Cardinal to plead [[clemency]] on their behalf, so a familiarity with the law may also prove helpful.

As a member of the Assembly of the Nine, the Cardinal of Ambition can wield considerable influence over the politics of the Empire. In particular the Assembly has the power to [[veto]] any constitutional motion passed by the [[Imperial Senate]]. This allows the Assembly to uphold their constitutional obligation to "ensure the virtuous behaviour of the Empire".

==Powers==
===Cardinal of Ambition===
The Cardinal of Ambition has the powers common to all [[cardinal|cardinals]]: [[Cardinal#Member of the Assembly of Nine|membership]] of the Assembly of the Nine; the ability to call for [[Cardinal#Further Scrutiny|further scrutiny]] on a [[judgement]] raised in any assembly by a [[member of the Synod]] (rather than by the [[Tribune of the Synod|Tribunes]]); [[Cardinal#Appoint the Gatekeeper|appoint]] the [[gatekeeper]] of Ambition and any other [[Imperial Title|titles]] designated as [[Cardinal#Virtuous Appointments|virtuous appointments]] chosen by the Cardinal of the Assembly of Ambition.

===Virtue Appointments===
A virtue title might be designed in such a way that it is appointed by the Cardinal alone. Currently they have the power to appoint the [[Gatekeeper]] of Ambition, an important position that controls the distribution of [[liao#True Liao|true liao]].

===Additional Powers===
The Cardinal of Ambition may possess additional powers, not shared with their fellow cardinals, either through the action of the [[Imperial Senate]] or through [[opportunity|opportunities]] presented to them. Occasionally, a particularly ambitious Imperial citizen may look specifically to the cardinal for inspiration, such as happened recently with the architect [[Focused_and_methodical#Statement_of_Endeavour|Frederick di Sarvos]]. Using such powers generally requires them to raise a [[judgement]] in the Assembly of the Nine.

==Appointment==
The Cardinal of Ambition is appointed during the Spring Equinox by the Assembly of Ambition. All candidates must be a member of that assembly. Selection is by a judgement of [[appointment]] raised by the Tribune in the standard manner.

The elections for the cardinals are considered to be legally equivalent positions restricted by virtue. This means that if you change your virtue assembly then you must abstain from voting in a election if it occurs less than four events after the previous election in your previous virtue assembly. If you are in any doubt about your eligibility then you should consult the Tribune, or Merlot the civil service overseer of elections who can advise you.

The judgement to appoint a cardinal will typically close at 6pm on the Saturday of the summit. These times may differ if an unscheduled appointment is required but there are always at least three hours for nominations and three hours for voting. After that time, the candidate with the most support is declared cardinal.

The Cardinal of Ambition serves until the next scheduled election for the title. They can be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Assembly#General_Assembly|General Assembly]], or by the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|virtue assembly]] of Ambition.

{{RecentElections|Cardinal_of_Ambition}}

{{Synod Further Reading}}
[[Category:Title]]

File:Viviane de Coeurdefer.jpg

2023-08-30T11:44:32Z

Cathtice: {{Beth}}

Dawn groups

2023-08-30T11:34:55Z

Cathtice:

==Overview==
There are many important [[noble house|noble houses]], [[knightly order|knightly orders]], and [[weaver cabal|weaver cabals]] in [[Dawn]]. Despite the number, only a comparative handful are involved in the affairs of the Empire (that is, attend the seasonal summits at Anvil). Their influence can wax and wane, and involvement in Imperial affairs is not always a reflection of their prominence within the nation itself. This page presents in-character information about the groups that attend, or have attended, [[Anvil]] — the kind of thing that someone who asked about them might uncover from talking to their peers. In each case, the information is provided by the players and edited before being put on the wiki.

The majority of groups listed here are made up of player-characters. You should not create a character who is part of a group, or has personal history with one, without first clearing it with the appropriate players. You should also check before including other players' groups in your background. The background team are unlikely to approve a background that significantly impacts or involves another player character group without their permission. There are also a handful of prominent NPC groups included for completeness, but they are not intended for use by player characters.

==Noble Houses==
The [[noble house|noble houses]] of Dawn represent the best - and occasionally the worst - of what the nation has to offer.
===Houses of Astolat===
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Asterion.png|caption=House Asterion|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Asterion====
* '''Location:''' Winterbourne, east of Boar's Hollow
* '''Heraldry:''' A magpie reaching out to pluck a star from the sky on a field of blue and white
* '''Colours:''' Black, royal blue and white - with gold accents
* '''Earl:''' Vacant
“From Dust, Become Stars.” A young house, Asterion was founded in 383YE by Enchanter Kyriel Asterion - after having left their previous house Montrose behind following the disastrous actions of their father Earl Tomme Montrose. It was to be a house capable of recognising any individual capable of glorious deeds, no matter their story, and to allow those who had been abandoned elsewhere to follow their ambition and belong to a true family. It takes in those who are alone, cast off, abandoned or lost, and gives them a chance to rise above the hand that has been dealt to them.

The house has drawn many who practise magic; its heart known as Brambling Keep built upon mountain foothills deep in the woods near Boar’s Hollow, where mana crystals are abundantly found in natural hot spring caverns in the mountainside. It was founded to be a place of refuge, where the snow dusted pines soften the noise of the world and a soul might find reflection and tranquillity if they so desire it. Whole of heart and soul, one might chase virtue and glory with even greater dedication.

Since the death of Enchanter Kyriel in 384YE, the house is without any present nobles, so is maintained by its yeofolk and knights-errant.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Brightstone.png|caption=House Brightstone|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Brightstone====
* '''Location:''' Withy, on the River of Sighs
* '''Heraldry:''' A mermaid holding aloft a white gemstone, on a field of golden yellow and teal blue
* '''Colours:''' predominantly golden yellow and teal blue, accented with a small amount of orange and emerald green
* '''Earl:''' Enchanter Ozilius Brightstone
House Brightstone was founded in 85YE when an impoverished knight-errant was tasked by a gloating earl to produce a gemstone more splendid than any in his esteemed collection. The seemingly insurmountable Test of Mettle was passed, however, when the determined knight carried a washtub from the Semmerholm village of Auvanne to a river in the north. Using his washtub as a crude boat, he voyaged hundreds of miles east along the river, all the way to [[the Semmerlak]] where, according to legend, he met a mysterious mermaid who swam to the bottom of the lake and retrieved for him the Brightstone - a glittering gemstone of beauty beyond description. Not content to serve an ill-mannered Earl, the newly-titled Lord instead travelled west to Astolat and there he restored the venerable, ruined castle of Respireau- an ancient stronghold built onto the River of Sighs on the southwestern border, and thus became the first Earl of House Brightstone. The Brightstone remains a cherished heirloom to this day and is brought to Anvil for all to admire.

Castle Respireau is famous for its underwater library and luxurious bathhouse, and the nobles of house Brightstone pride themselves on their hospitality. They eat and drink exceptionally well, due to an abundance of fish from the River of Sighs, as well as [[The League|League]] river-trading barges that frequently stop by the castle. They enjoy a reasonably amicable relationship with their [[Navarr|Navarri]] neighbours in [[Miaren]] and occasionally take leisure boats up and down the River of Sighs.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Caerleon.png|caption=House Caerleon|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Caerleon====
* '''Location:''' Winterbourne, southwest of Weaving
* '''Heraldry:''' Two white dragons eating each other's tails creating a circle on a navy blue background with a gold chevron.
* '''Colours:''' Navy blue and white, accented with gold
* '''Earl:''' Lady Guinevere Caerleon
House Caerleon is a recent addition to Dawn's history, being founded in 307YE when the knight-errant Arthur Caerleon split from his adopted family after passing his Test of Mettle fighting and protecting a town from "draconic" beasts with other knights-errant, taking one of the beast's heads as a reward. Lord Caerleon travelled for miles trying to find the perfect location to settle, before finally coming across a hill with beautiful views, flanked by babbling brooks and overlooking the Hamlet of Strathmoor. It is here where he buried the beast's head on top of the hill and restored and expanded an old manor house close to the Hamlet and began to call it home.

Over the years the Caerleon grounds have grown to include Strathmoor, and it has developed into a thriving farming town well known for its apple orchards, and because of these, desserts such apple pie have become a town and house specialty. The hill, named Dragon’s Garden, that overlooks the manor and town has also become well known, for it grows a variety of colourful flowers and berries upon it almost all year round. Atop, it has grown a single large apple tree with bark that looks like scales, producing the sweetest apples around, apples are normally reserved only for the Earl or their honoured guests.

House Caerleon prides itself on being a found family and uses the virtues of loyalty, wisdom, and courage to resist hardships and assist members in pursuing goals in whatever path they walk.

====House de Coeurdefer====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Coeurdefer.png|caption=House Coeurdefer|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Winterbourne, just south of [[Astolat#Weaving|Weaving]]
* '''Heraldry:''' Black, a gauntlet silver grasping a crescent moon, two crescent moons silver
* '''Colours:''' Black and silver
* '''Earl:''' Zadkiel de Coeurdefer
House de Coeurdefer predates the Empire; memory of its forming has fallen into a legend. It is claimed that a knightly band gathered to destroy a nest of Winter-touched [[Mundane_beasts#Drakes|drakes]], with their leader giving her heart's blood and her life to seal a twisted [[regio]]. [[Troubadour|Troubadours]] sometimes say Castle Ironheart, their principal seat, was created magically out of dragon bones and her steel cestus to stand guard against the threat returning. Since the founding of the House, the Earls have traditionally been of Winter lineage, with a strong line of [[naga]] from the [[weaver cabal]] that lives and works with them, the Coven of Ouroboros Twining.

The House is known for Loyalty, [[Ambition]], and Pride. Over the centuries, the House declined - numbers fell, as the dour draughir stayed at home with their packs of wolfhounds. They have a strong tie to their neighbours and cousins in [[#House de Rondell|House de Rondell]], and the Earl de Rondell's call for support at Anvil following the death of [[Empress Britta]] brought them out of their towers. Most of the nobles who attend Anvil on behalf of their House are from the naga weaver cabal rather than the draughir House, and Earl Zadkiel is of their blood. If and when others ask him for a Test, he's likely to offer a simple-seeming puzzle or challenge to enact at Anvil or in battle. They are usually more complex in practice, and focus on clever planning or the recruitment and leading of allies in a challenging situation.

====House Cordraco====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Cordraco.jpg|caption=House Cordraco|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Withy, north of Oldheart
* '''Heraldry:''' Twinned Dragons on a field of purple and gold
* '''Colours:''' Purple and gold
* '''Earl:''' Logan Olivier De Havilland Cordraco
House Cordraco was founded in 378 by a conglomeration of the ancient and venerable houses Arwood, Boscombe, Loriel and Martel. To do this they were set the test of slaying a dragon. They managed to fell a mighty drake but not before the beast feasted upon their first Earl; Johann Rookwood Martel Cordraco.

House Cordraco have been a great supporter of the arts and hospitality since its founding. The house most closely associates with the virtues of Ambition, Pride and Prosperity. The motto, "''Not for us the straight and narrow''" is taken from the house oath, read by nobles once they have been judged to have completed their tests of mettle. It epitomises the beliefs of the house; that there is no one path to Glory. House Cordraco aspires to great acts of Prosperity and Pride within Dawn and the Empire. After a tumultuous reorganisation following the deaths of multiple earls, House Cordraco looks to step back into the world of Anvil politics intent on having its name echo through the ages. The house is known to encourage civility, respect and cooperation between its members.

====House de Gauvain====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House_Gauvain_Heraldry.jpg|caption=House de Gauvain|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Caer Faucon
* '''Heraldry:''' Golden phoenix on flames; nobles often have their own personal heraldry
* '''Colours:''' Orange and black with red trim
* '''Earl:''' Enchantress Rosalynne de Gauvain
[[Pitiless_as_the_sun#Edric_de_Gauvain|Ser Edric de Gauvain]] is perhaps one of the most famous names in Dawn, thanks to a recent [[curse]] which befell the territory of Weirwater; but what of his House? Nestled in the bucolic Astolat countryside, the de Gauvains (pronounced ''gor-van'') reside in the pleasant market town of Caer Faucon. It is far from the front lines of the Empire at war. Few monsters stalk their lands. Their keep looks out over sheep scudded hills, drooping orchards, and peace. Wealth breeds prosperity, and hospitality. Noble and yeofolk rub shoulders, and do so gladly; bloody experiences during [[the Marches|the Marcher]] [[Dawn_history#Before_the_Empire|revolt]] taught them the error of their older, haughtier ways. The de Gauvains’ door is always open for travellers and wanderers, but one should never mistake warmth and generosity for placidity or cowardice. They have glorious deeds to match.

The house is best known for its weavers. Rich supplies of textiles, and a deep-seated love of glory, have led to a great interest in the [[Summer magic|Summer realm]]. This power in magic and realm-wisdom is matched on the battlefield; the House’s knights and war-witches march as part of the famous Winged Lion lance.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Goldvein.png|caption=House Goldvein|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Goldvein====
* '''Location:''' Stryxstone Keep, north of Weaving
* '''Heraldry:''' A golden mandowla on an emerald field
* '''Colours:''' Emerald and gold
* '''Earl:''' Enchantress Pellinore Goldvein
Originally founded by a former guide of Navarr who found true love and her place in the great dance beside a knight-errant, House Goldvein has a long-held tradition of recording and sharing tales of love and glory. After the tragedy that ended the reign of Nicovar, this mission broadened to include the foundation of the Stryxstone Library as a repository of knowledge to protect against a similar loss of information. After more than 150 years of bad luck, sabotage and unexplained misfortune, the House finally found itself succeeding in this quest, but becoming more insular and cutting itself off from the wider Empire. Now with a new Earl in their ascendance, House Goldvein makes it return to Anvil, and the centres of learning and research across the Empire.

House Goldvein prides itself on the diversity of talent and knowledge it recruits and fosters, with artisans, warriors, troubadours, witches and physicks all held in equal prominence within the ranks of the House's nobles and yeofolk, and all who can share a tale or unrecorded knowledge will find a warm welcome to the estates surrounding the Stryxstone Keep.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Larmallevés.png|caption=House Larmallevés|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Larmallevés====
* '''Location''': Brightway, west of the De Warrenne Way
* '''Heraldry:''' Crowned Phoenix in Gold on Field of Purple
* '''Colours:''' Gold and Purple
* '''Earl:''' Enchantress Areloe Larmallevés
The House Larmallevés traces its history back to before the rise of the Empire, founded by [[Dawn_monarchy|King]] Bréanainn who won the grand tourney with armour and arms of his own design. Ever since that early day the House has always sought to elevate to its ranks anyone who claims great skill, on the battlefield or as a creator; as such they have a tradition of setting [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|Tests of Mettle]] aimed at the abilities the [[knight-errant]] claim to be best with. The current Enchantress is a [[cambion]] and as such their tests reward and encourage clever thinking in their completion.

Over the generations the house has seen repeating cycles of growth and prominence followed by an inevitable fall and in these days has receded to little more beyond the ancestral hall known as the "Chateau of the Second Dawn", named for its great ceremonial fire pit. The house now looks to be beginning a new rise to prominence under the leadership of the new [[Earl#Enchanters|Enchantress]] who is once more looking to recruit warriors, skilled [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisans]], [[Magical skills#Magician|mages]], and healers into the house. The house has a focus on the Autumn realm with [[Magical_skills#Realm_Lore|ritualists]] encouraged to join the Chain-Sworn Scales weaver cabal.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Melora.jpg|title="Virtute et valare luceo non uro"|caption=House Meliora.jpg|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Meliora====
* '''Location''': The Chase, south of Laroc
* '''Heraldry:''' A golden unicorn facing left on a quartered cream and purple field
* '''Colours:''' Purple, Cream and Gold
* '''Earl:''' Earl Torag Meliora
House Meliora is a relatively young house, formed in the [[Cloud_waves_break|mist]] of 383YE, when a number of both nobles and yeofolk alike chose to break away from their previous house in the pursuit of a more virtuous and glorious life.

They built a house dedicated to achieving glory on and off the battlefield, their members split equally between both martial and magical pursuits. The house has since grown in size, welcoming members from other nations and magicians representing five of the six realms. The Earl of Meliora is committed to forming a place for his house to thrive wherever they choose to find themselves upon the quest for glory.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Montrose.png|title="We live, fight, and fall together."|caption=House Montrose|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Montrose====
* '''Location:''' Brightway, Astolat
* '''Colours:''' Green, Gold, & Purple
* '''Leader:''' Earl Enchantre Pelleas Montrose
Known for a growing library of tales, histories, and learning, House Montrose was founded by the owners of a vineyard inspired by tales told while drinking wine round the fire. The yeofolk sought out Tests of Mettle to become noble, and founded their own noble house, keeping the grapes as their symbol. Today the knights-errant of the house begin by finding inspirational tales before crafting their own, as creator or muse. None of the modern nobles claim a bloodline to one of the founders, as the house adopted many people and families into their home: Those seeking a new home are welcome in the Montrose family. Always believing that the best things for Dawn and the Empire are done together, they adopted the motto: “We live, fight, and fall together.”

As the yeofolk are encouraged to grow their passions, the members of the house walk many paths, most of whom have a dash of healing in one form or another. Medicinal, magic, or of the soul, all are encouraged to heal and inspire others.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House de Rondell.jpg|caption=House de Rondell|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House de Rondell====
* '''Location:''' Laroc, Astolat
* '''Colours:''' Blue and silver
* '''Heraldry:''' Three crescent moons around a gryphon
* '''Earl:''' Bohemond de Rondell

An ancient house existing from before the founding of the Empire, its fortunes have risen and fallen many times over the centuries. Proximity to the Castle of Thorns in Astolat has always kept them near to the political heart of Dawn. There is evidence that the castle was designed by a de Rondell in the earliest days of the Dawnish presence on the Bay of Catazar.

This house has returned senators, generals and cardinals again and again over the centuries. As such the household places an ongoing emphasis on questing in other parts of the Empire and gaining the regard of others in this way, long after many houses expect their members to focus in other areas.

The House uses virtues as inspiration, immortalised in the three silver crescent moons in the house heraldry. They represent Pride in one's own worth and that which the House has won; Ambition to constantly reach out and grasp every opportunity, and Courage to always step forwards into the fray or into the unknown.

“We have been there from the beginning of the Empire, we will be there at the ascension. Until that day we shall steer it towards greatness and Glory” Bohemond de Rondell

House de Rondell's martial tests of mettle are quite difficult and can easily result in the death of the unwary; the other theme that runs through their tests is an emphasis on political acumen and the ability to influence others to act for the good of the Empire.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House de Rosier.png|caption=House de Rosier|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House de Rosier====
* '''Location:''' Winterbourne
* '''Colours:''' Red, gold and white
* '''Heraldry:''' A snake coiled inside a rose, surrounded by a radiant golden halo.
* '''Earl:''' Cerys de Rosier
Long before the founding of the Empire, House De Rosier was forged amidst a cataclysmic event. Their home in the lowlands of the mountains in northern Astolat was threatened by a devastating landslide. House de Rosier rallied their kin and fled up the mountain, desperately seeking refuge from the relentless fury of the storm. They traversed the treacherous mountain until they arrived at a plateau, apparently guided by a mysterious snake that appeared amidst the chaos. There, the snake halted, its gaze fixed upon a radiant rose blooming amidst the mountain peaks. To the amazement of House de Rosier, the snake curled around the rose, protecting it from the surrounding chaos. Sensing the serenity emanating from this extraordinary flower, they realised it was a sign. The survivors had found their new home—a sanctuary upon the mountaintop that became the foundation of House de Rosier. Their ancestral crest, a majestic rose entwined with a serpent, is a symbol of their resilience and the eternal bond between their house and the land that sheltered them.

House de Rosier offers any citizen who wishes to join their ranks a test that has remained unchanged since its foundation. Knights are called to venture to a place hitherto unexplored. They are instructed to return with three significant elements—an extraordinary tale, a tangible souvenir, and a scar etched upon their body. It is a test that unites the house, binding generations together through shared experiences and a deep reverence for the unknown.

The land continues to be fertile and the house is famed for its beautiful gardens, overgrowing with strange blooms often brought back by questing knights. These rare flowers are distilled into perfumes which keep the estate, and its inhabitants, fragrant.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Sepulchre.png|caption=House Sepulchre|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Sepulchre====
* '''Location:''' Winterbourne
* '''Colours:''' Red, gold and black
* '''Heraldry:''' Black hound
* '''Earl:''' Loria Sepulchre
House Sepulchre traces its roots to Mira (later Rolande), a [[warden]] of [[Varushka]] who came to Dawn to bury her family and, eventually, the magician who killed them. Her bloodthirsty quest won her glory and land where she could mourn and remember in quiet contemplation. Over the years the graves and gardens spread further and further as House Sepulchre sought to collect tales and songs of the glorious dead as well as providing them with a fitting resting place (sometimes as [[Mark_the_Flesh_Incorruptible|statues]] stationed around the gardens and grounds). It suffered something of a decline when it was revealed that a [[Religious_crime#Heresy|heretical]] cult of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Hope|Hope]] had spread throughout the ranks of the nobility. It was only thanks to the swift action of a newly ennobled knight that Sepulchre endured.

The house is known for having a string of [[draughir]] earls, but is now under the custody of Earl Loria Sepulchre, who seeks to rebuild Sepulchre’s ranks, and teach all of the house’s noble and yeofolk the value and importance of magic. Sepulchre accepts knights-errant from every walk of life, and its Tests of Mettle are often designed to encourage imaginative thinking, to test resolve, and to crush any lingering shreds of optimism in the aspiring noble. Particularly of note is the Sepulchre graveyard, upon which when a knight-errant passes their Test of Mettle, they dig their own grave, a symbolic burying of their old life to start anew.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House_Videre_Heraldry.jpg|caption=House Videre|align=right|width=250}}</div>

====House Videre====
* '''Location:''' The Chase
* '''Heraldry:''' A golden gryphon passant, on a parted field of red and green
* '''Colours:''' Green, Red and Gold
* '''Earl:''' High Enchantress Iseult of the Phoenix
A House founded by royal retainers in pre-Imperial times, the name Videre has seen better days. Nearly destroyed in 276YE during a failed attempt to capture [[the Barrens]], and again in 330YE with the split of House de Carsenere, its recent reputation has been that of a House with a great history, but no future. Still, House Videre persists, determined to clear its name and live up to the shadow it once cast. A strongly magical House, Videre nobles are always led by Enchanters. They find their Glory in seeking out others in need of aid, magical and otherwise – whether they know it or not.

All Videres, whether knight or yeofolk, are dedicated to Love and [[Loyalty]] above all else, and their Tests of Mettle usually challenge a candidate's loyalties to their breaking point. This zeal has earned them as much wariness as it did respect, and while they eagerly follow the Way, their relations with the [[Imperial Synod]] have long been strained. The House also has an unusual tradition of challenging both parties during [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Ardour|Tests of Ardour]], even when one of their own nobles is leaving to join another noble household. This has frequently led to heated arguments with other Earls.

The seat of the House is a small hillside fortress on the border between the Chase and Elvette. Once used as an outpost during the conquest of Semmerholm, it now guards the Hall of Blooms, a large floral maze which the Videres claim contains a sample of every flower that grows within the Empire.

===Houses of Semmerholm===
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=D'Abeille_Crest_2.png|caption=House D'Abeille|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House d’Abeille====
* '''Location:''' Estmure
* '''Heraldry:''' A Flower Crowned Bee on a Blue and Yellow field, parted with Black.
* '''Colours:''' Black, Yellow and Blue
* '''Earl:''' Earl Tarsus
A seemingly new House, only recently rising to prominence. House d’Abeille (pronounced da-bay) prides itself on Prosperity, Ambition and Loyalty to one another. Taking the heraldry of a bee, the house has a close, tight knit community, with each working for the good of the hive. Its members are easily recognised by the flower crowns which are staples of their outfits.

Situated in Semmerholm, to the north of the [[Semmerholm#The_Adamant_Gate|Adamant Gate]], House d’Abeille focuses its efforts on reclaiming the Barrens. Since its founding, its members are always the first to take the fight to the Druj therein.

On the field, the House specialises in fighting on the front lines and battlefield support, cutting down Druj and ensuring everyone makes it home to tell the glorious story. The motto and battlecry on the lips of its members is “Si sapis, sis apis” - If you are wise, be a bee.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=D'acier Heraldry.png|caption=House d'Acier|align=right|width=250}}</div>

====House d’Acier====
* '''Location:''' Estmure
* '''Heraldry:''' Black Tower before a Golden Sun on a Green field
* '''Colours:''' Green and Gold
* '''Earl:''' Enchantress Vivienne d’Acier
An older, weathered House in the process of rebuilding itself, greater than ever. Following a recent period of unstable leadership that saw the House verging on collapse, a new Enchantress was chosen through the trials of the [[Barien|Iron Duke]], bringing renewed Glory and purpose. Deeply [[Pride]]-aligned, House d’Acier draws from the life and lessons of Paragon [[Empress Richilde|Richilde]] to guide its way. Its members eschew direct martial might, instead leveraging their magical, medical, and diplomatic talents to steer the course of Dawnish politics.

D’Acier nobles and yeofolk are found on the fringes of great tourneys, elections, and other gatherings of note. They foster connections between Houses, provide healing and magical assistance, and help elevate those they believe will bring the most Glory to Dawn. Theirs is a Pride that speaks softly but looms large. Located near the [[Semmerholm#The_Adamant_Gate|Adamant Gate]], House d’Acier’s once mighty stronghold was ravaged by recent [[Druj]] incursions and, much like the House itself, is currently being rebuilt. The House’s history is intimately tied to Dawn’s claim to the Barrens, and they work tirelessly so that one day, the Dawnish banner may fly over those lands. They are also heavily involved in the politics of the Summer Realm, helping to foster positive relations between Dawn and the eternals of Summer, particularly the Iron Duke. In recent years, the House has garnered a reputation as one of the historian Houses of Dawn and are currently the custodians of a great relic of Richilde.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=DeBoisGilbert.jpeg|caption=House De Bois Gilbert|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House de Bois Gilbert====
* '''Location:''' Lacuve
* '''Heraldry:''' A black Sea Dragon surrounded by 3 silver suns (top left, top right, bottom middle) on a per pile red, gold and green (golden V on halved red and green)
* '''Colours:''' Gold, red and green
* '''Earl:''' Enchanter Morgan De Bois Gilbert
House de Bois Gilbert was formed in 52YE during the conquest of Semmerholm by a Knight Errant of House De Rondell as a reward for their glorious deeds.

In the early days of the house, its reputation became one of staunch protectors and defenders of the people from marauding beasts and barbarians, and of those who have heard of the house today, that reputation still stands, and the words of the house are "We are the shield." However the downsides of their zeal were clear - casualties were high and the house never grew much beyond a few dozen nobles, slowly declining in strength and influence over time. During the Druj invasion of 381YE the remaining nobles of the house were slain.

In 384YE, a knight-errant whose [[Loyalty]] to his house was unsurpassed succeeded at his quest to reinstate the nobility of the house and select a new Earl who now brings some selected retainers to Anvil to rebuild the glories of old.

====House Cadwalon====
* '''Location:''' Axmure
* '''Heraldry:''' A rampant golden unicorn with a green mane and tail, under a starry moonlit sky tinted gold against a violet field.
* '''Colours:''' Violet, gold, and green
* '''Earl:''' Lady Aneira 'Mawr' Harper Cadwalon
House Cadwalon is an ancient house, tasked with the protection of a parcel of land on the edge of the forest of Axmure. The house makes extensive use of heraldic magic in its girding, particularly invoking the unicorn in the house heraldry which lends its nobles a reputation for fierce passion for
life and a strong protective streak resulting in the house motto "Passionate Hearts, Fearless Souls.". Fittingly enough, Cadwalon's tests of mettle often evoke one or both of those themes.

House Cadwalon is rather (in)famous for the close relationship its nobles share with the yeofolk under their care, often eschewing formality unless it is of the utmost importance. This bond was born in the house's earliest days, with knights often ordered to accompany yeo forresters into the
woods to protect them from the barbarians, beasts, and bandits that stalk the glades of Axmure.

In the house's heyday, it was not uncommon to see their knights helping with manual labour - particularly where yeofolk had struggled mightily or even hurt themselves. More recently, the house has fallen on hard times, when the Druj invaded Semmerholm in 381YE, the knights and knights-errant of House Cadwalon fought a desperate rearguard action to buy precious time for their non-combatants and wounded to escape.

Bloodied, but unbowed, and with a small cadre of Ambitious young nobles at it's core Cadwalon's Glory will burn bright, and it's lands will know Prosperity once more.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Maurisol_Colour.png |caption=House du Maurisol|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House du Maurisol====
* '''Location:''' Forests of Elvette
* '''Heraldry:''' Three entwined bright blue calla lilies within a golden sun
* '''Colours:''' Cream, gold, and bright blue
* '''Earl:''' Galeas du Maurisol

Dedicated to [[Loyalty]], the nobles of House du Maurisol are frequently priests and occasionally mages, but always warriors beneath it. They see it as their task to safeguard the Virtuous from dangers that might threaten to damage or shake their Loyalties, be this by the clever wordplay needed to encourage and guide, or a certain judicious application of a [[Dawn_culture_and_customs|challenge]] to those involved. Most of the House's nobles fell with Britta, but it has recently been revived and hopes to stand in glory once again.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Medwood.png|caption=House Medwood|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Medwood====
* '''Location:''' Axmure, Medwood Hall
* '''Heraldry:''' A white tree on red and a black and white checked field
* '''Colours:''' Red, black and white
* '''Earl:''' Earl Harlow
House Medwood are a new house which wasn’t established until 381YE when the [[Druj]] swept through Axmure. Taking in the devastation of Medwood's lands the nobles of the House realised a need to visit Anvil to truly establish themselves. The house values itself on its [[Loyalty]] and gaining their friendship is gaining a steadfast ally.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Summerstrong.png|caption=House Summerstrong|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Summerstrong====
* '''Location:''' The Summerhold, Southern Elvette
* '''Heraldry:''' A blue tree on a field of red, wrapped in a wreath of blackthorns
* '''Colours:''' Red and Blue, often with black accenting
* '''Earl:''' Lord Percival Summerstrong
House Summerstrong is an old house of Semmerholm, one that has regularly occupied the strange position of being one of the wealthiest of the least important houses of the territory. In recent history, the house has grown due to the marriage of the ex-earl Lord Gawain Summerstrong and his ex-Navarri wife Lady Penelope Summerstrong. With their marriage bringing many members of Penelope's striding to Dawn, House Summerstrong became known as a house with deep roots in both Dawn and Navarr. Their home, The Summerhold, is a physical representation of their ties to Navarr, resting along the trod that cuts through Elvette and serving as a stop-off point for those venturing south into Brocéliande. The Summerhold is instantly recognisable for its red stone walls, covered in an array of wild moss and flowers that give the illusion that the hamlet itself is a part of the woods around it. From their position in The Summerhold, House Summerstrong have pursued their ambition to fuel the mission against the Vallorn that occupy the areas so close to their home – with their tests of mettle often featuring a glorious hunt into Broceliande or a face-off with a dryad or marsh walker. The Vallorn is, in the eyes of House Summerstrong, the most dangerous threat to the empire and its members are driven by the tragedies that surround their house to remove it. It is a house built upon surviving tragedy, but their roots are deep and they stand strong against the storm - as captured in their motto, "Our Roots are Deep and Glorious".
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tamerlaine_coat_of_arms.jpg|caption=House Tamerlaine|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Tamerlaine====
* '''Location:''' Near the town of Semmer's Rose, on the edge of the Semmerlak
* '''Heraldry:''' A Silver Unicorn rearing on a Green and Black saltire field
* '''Colours:''' Viridian Green, Silver and Sable Black
* '''Earl:''' Earl Ailsa Tamerlaine
An older, weathered House in the process of rebuilding itself, greater than ever. Following a recent period of unstable leadership that saw the House verging on collapse, a new Enchantress was chosen through the trials of the [[Barien|Iron Duke]], bringing renewed Glory and purpose. Deeply [[Pride]]-aligned, House d’Acier draws from the life and lessons of Paragon [[Empress Richilde|Richilde]] to guide its way. Its members eschew direct martial might, instead leveraging their magical, medical, and diplomatic talents to steer the course of Dawnish politics.

With their main estate lying near a sleepy hamlet to the south of [[Semmerholm#Semmer.27s_Rose|Semmer's Rose]], House Tamerlaine is an old and small Dawnish house once thought faded, that is slowly and steadily blooming once more. Castle Tamerlaine and its accompanying grounds are a sprawling affair, with wild floral gardens, deep ponds, hot houses, and a large barn that has been turned into a studio for the inhabitants of the House. There is much pastoral and wild beauty to be found here.

The House is mainly concerned with arts of pen and plectrum as well as weaponry and the art of war. When not ensconced in their compound, developing their crafts, noble members are often [[Questing_knight|questing]] across the Empire, researching their arts. While not bound under one singular Virtue, the House [[Troubadour|troubadours]] are often troubadours of the Way. There is a heavy emphasis to seek out new information, new stories, but bring this back to share with all of the House, and with their fellow Dawnish. Travellers are always welcome in these halls, especially if they bring with them news.

With the upheaval of the last decade, Tamerlaine have re-thought their isolated ways and begun to reach out at Anvil. This having been said, it would be foolish to assume that a focus on the arts would mean ignorance of defense and fighting. The House motto defines the steely determination of its members: "If the bird does not sing, we shall make it sing."
====House de Cendres====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=de Cendres.jpg|caption=House de Cendres|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Axmure
* '''Heraldry:''' Solid gold chevron on black behind a dragon resplendent on a tower
* '''Colours:''' Black and Gold
* '''Earl:''' Earl Feroce Lupo de Cendres
House de Cendres was formed when the Ashen Tower, a military company from [[the League]] city of [[Holberg]] emigrated to Dawn, in 381YE. They claimed lands in Axmure in the wake of the Druj invasion and retreat from that province in the same year. Under the dynamic leadership of their [[changeling]] Earl Lupo, they have attracted new yeofolk and knights to their banner and rebuilt their lands. Their estates are a wide valley on the Drycastle road, with several villages and fortified manors, sometimes called the Hearthhold. Their primary concern is prosecuting the war with the Druj, and as such they are a martial and aggressive House. Most recently, their knights and companies have marched deep into [[the Mallum|Druj territory]] with the Dawnish armies invading [[Ossium]] and the [[Forest of Ulnak]].

====House Vexille====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=VexilleHeraldry.jpg|caption=House Vexille|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Semmerholm, previously Barrens
* '''Heraldry:''' Dagger crossing a key
* '''Colours:''' Green, Gold & Black
* '''Earl:''' Guissart Vexille
A centuries old house, previously based in the Barrens until the Druj forced them to flee in defeat, House Vexille have a reputation for their hard-line attitudes, extensive use of [[Night magic]] and a penchant for luxury and excess. Their methods in achieving Glory have often been questioned, especially actions which saw them declared as [[sorcery|sorcerers]] for a time for their suggested abuse of magics…a measure which was only recently [[Sorcery#Declaration_of_Reconciliation|overturned]].

House Vexille proudly declares that they "Hold the key to Glory" - considered metaphorical by many, they believe that their extensive pushing of boundaries is the key to true Glory. The Tests of Mettle set by the Vexille earls are notoriously difficult; the current earl, Guissart Vexille, takes great pride in the fact that dozens of those wishing to join his house have failed to meet the exacting demands he places upon them. To this end, the house supports a larger than average number of yeofolk who spend years testing themselves personally before attempting to bring their requests to the earl to join the household. Those nobles who have passed their test are usually arrogant as a result; inevitably embittered, grizzled individuals who display extreme character traits, their outlook on life influenced by the necessity of life on the Barrens' borders.

Most recently, several knights of the house have formed a band of questing knights, dedicated to the destruction of [[vallorn]] as a great and glorious quest, under interpretation of the Synod’s statements on these creatures - urging knights from other houses to join them.

===Houses of Weirwater===
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Berinore.png|caption=House Berinore|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Berinore====
* '''Location:''' Weirmoor
* '''Heraldry:''' Two antlered hippogryphs, rampant before a gold chevron on a red field
* '''Colours:''' Red and gold, with black.
* '''Earl:''' Lord Percival Berinore
Those who dwell within Castle Gristemere's walls claim it to be one of the oldest castles in the Weirmoor, raised not long after the Dawnish first arrived in these lands, laying claim to the dangerous forests and mastering them. Despite their ancient claim, the house held no one of note until recently. Its previous Earl, Lord Eridon, had tried to capture some of the acclaimed glory the castle lacked, travelling to tourneys and feasts with the hope of forming friendships with more acclaimed Houses. While the Earl and his wife spent much time away from their keep, their fame did not grow but rather they sunk further into debt and obscurity.

Following the earl and much of the court's deaths in a doomed hunting trip into the dangerous Weirmoor, Lord Percival assumed the title of Earl. Five years later, with the house's affairs set in order, at last, House Berinore makes its way to [[Anvil]] to pull itself from obscurity with the thought of true glory at the forefront. For where was the glory in abandoning those who depended on you? Where was the strength in partying at tourneys with no thought to the sacrifices others made to enable that life? True glory for House Berinore acknowledges the contributions of nobles and yeofolk alike, each bringing glory in their way.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Castellan Crest.png|caption=House Castellan|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Castellan====
* '''Location:''' Highwater Keep, Western Weirwater Vale
* '''Heraldry:''' A white Hippocampus on a field of blue, with red accents.
* '''Colours:''' Blue with red and white trim, and a red chevron, in various configurations.
* '''Earl:''' Enchanter Baldwin Castellan
House Castellan was founded in the dim and distant past, at the foundation of Dawn as a nation in the pre-Imperial age. The first Earl, Lord Kaldwin Castellan, sought to bring law and safety to the wild frontier of Weirwater, and so established the Castellan Hunt, an order of [[questing knight|questing knights]], knights-errant, and yeofolk intended to travel and patrol the territory to keep honest people safe from monsters, bandits, [[orc|orcs]], and the trials of life in a wild land.

From the seat of Highwater Keep the house and the Hunt have kept to this duty diligently, striving to embody the very concept of knighthood and nobility in their deeds, but never previously taking an interest in Anvil, slowly sliding into forgotten obscurity as a result. Now, that isolation has ended. House Castellan looks from the deeds of the past toward the glories promised by the future, and its people step from the mists of Weirwater into the light of Anvil. The house is noteworthy for its extremely large numbers of knights-errant, resulting from a combination of challenging Tests of Mettle and strong dedication to the Hunt’s duties as wandering protectors of all that is virtuous and right. House Castellan’s nobles, knights-errant, and yeofolk are expected to bring virtue, determination, and skill to all they do, and match their deeds with honesty, kindness, and respect.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Clément.jpg|title="Mercy, Goodness, Glory"|caption=House de Clément|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House de Clément====
* '''Location:''' Weirmoor
* '''Heraldry:''' A golden Jackalope on a green field
* '''Colours:''' Green and gold
* '''Earl:''' Earl Percival de Clément
House de Clément is a pre-Imperial house founded by Ser Gwendolyn the Good. In recent years the house has withdrawn from the goings on of the nation and the Empire at large. Following the appointment of a new earl, however, the house has returned to Anvil in an attempt to re-join the fold. They pride themselves on producing fine healers, and on providing warm hospitality to any and all that cross their threshold.

The Clément estate is centred around Castle Brighthearth on the Weirmoor and is notable for the large glasshouse in its central court that allows them to grow a diverse range of exotic plant life.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House duLac.jpeg|title="Stand Fast, Stand Ready"|caption=House duLac|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House duLac====
* '''Location:''' Culwich
* '''Heraldry:''' A golden fox on a blue and green field
* '''Colours:''' Blue and green
* '''Earl:''' Lord Talabryn duLac
“Stand Fast, Stand Ready.” House duLac is one dedicated to watching the borders of Dawn, a bulwark that stands as the first line of defence of this Glorious nation, ever watchful particularly against the threat of Druj incursions across the Semmerlak and Varushkan monsters from across the northern border

The people of this house are often more subdued in their appearance compared to other Dawnish, in part due to their long distance from the rest of their people, and also due to their focus on military preparation. You will never see a member of House duLac unarmed, lest they be unprepared. They hold the Virtue of Vigilance close to their core, aiding them on their watch, and they greatly utilise they magic of Spring in their work, the trappings of which can be found all over their ancestral seat, The Hightower. Their motto, "Stand Fast, Stand Ready", expressed one of a house dedicated to watching the borders of Dawn, a bulwark that stands as the first line of defence of this Glorious nation, ever watchful particularly against the threat of Druj incursions across the Semmerlak and Varushkan monsters from across the northern border.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Gladewarden.jpg|caption=House Gladewarden|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Gladewarden====
* '''Location:''' Weirmoor
* '''Heraldry:''' A golden crest on a green field. The crest contains three swords pointed upwards, becoming trees whose boughs interweave.
* '''Colours:''' Emerald and gold.
* '''Earl:''' Earl Fintan Blackrock
Steadfast in their ideals of Loyalty, Courage, and Pride, members of House Gladewarden devote themselves to the study of the sword. Taking the words of their motto "''Many trees, one forest''", to heart, they are willing to face any threat or challenge for the good of their allies. House Gladewarden trains to master their specific sword forms, developed by the first earl Liam Gladewarden. In recent years knights-errant have been offered one of three paths when requesting a test of mettle from the current earl.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Mortere.png|caption=House Mortére|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Mortére====
* '''Location:''' Weirmoor
* '''Heraldry:''' A black rose inside a golden hourglass on a split field of red & black.
* '''Colours:''' Black (Primary), Red and Gold.
* '''Earl:''' Enchantress Morrigan Mortére
Founded by Vaela Mortére in the reign of [[Empress Varkula]] during the Druj invasion of Weirwater, House Mortére has been reclusive and quiet for many years since. House Mortére is an unusual noble house, but those who do meet and interact with them often claim them to be friendly and hospitable, if a little unsettling. Their estate is often called ''The Black Garden'' as many poisonous and dangerous plants and herbs are grown there, along with numerous natural black roses. House Mortére seems especially concerned with the concept of death. The house seems to yield many weavers talented in Winter magic, and many of the nobles and yeofolk of the house seem to be very comfortable around the dead or dying. Often the house members appear to help with funerals, the terminally ill, or sick, but also to help the living with matters of great joy and sorrow.

====House Novarion====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Novarion.jpg|caption=House Novarion|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Applefell, Garthmoor
* '''Heraldry:''' A phoenix in flames
* '''Colours:''' Red and gold
* '''Earl:''' Earl D'Eon Novarion
Formed in 52YE by a young warrior named Novaria, she gathered like-minded warriors to her banner during battles around Semmerholm. In recognition of this feat she was granted land and many of her warriors remained by her side and pledged to form a new house. Using the wealth and slaves rescued from the orcs they built a fortress on one of the highest hills in Applefell and were charged with its defence. House Novarion were popular with the troubadours of the time and several of their deeds are remembered in traditional folk songs such as Sir Isobel and The Novarion Phoenix which are still sung today.

Years later, a large portion of the house died in a great fire following a strange magical event caused by their insular nature and only a handful escaped. The house's wealth and reputation were in ruins. The earl began the slow process of rebuilding the house, swearing to never again let those of his household grow to be weak closeted individuals.

From then on, tests of mettle were always written so that extensive foreign travel was required. Insulation and clannishness was dangerous and should be avoided at all costs by prompting its members to seek glory from distant lands. Any person seeking entry into the house is often set difficult tasks that require extensive travel and perseverance to complete, thus encouraging them to grow into headstrong individuals with allies in unusual places.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Olor.jpg|caption=House Olor|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Olor====
* '''Location:''' North Sandling
* '''Heraldry:''' A glorious swan adorned by 2 roses upon a blue and red background with a red chevron.
* '''Colours:''' Blue, white and red
* '''Earl:''' Earl Adrahil Olor
House Olor was rekindled by Earl Adrahil Olor and his 2 brothers. Nobles of Olor pride themselves on being furious to their enemies and bringing [[Glory]] to the House, Dawn, and the Empire and they adorn the sigil of the swan for this reason. The tales of House Olor often have mention of a swan offering assistance, often in a similar manner to the [[Totem_magic#Spirit_Animals|goose]] in the Varuhskan sense.

Housed in woods north of Sandling and nestled alongside a river flowing into the Semmerlak. Many swans call this place home and any person keen on taking a feather home for the house would find many in abundance here.

Keen to remain true to their motto, the House is keen on front line combat, holding a glorious shield and a weapon of fury.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Orzel.jpg|title="Prove It!"|caption=House Orzel|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Orzel====
* '''Location:''' Belletain Vale (Sandling)
* '''Heraldry:''' The white eagle of Gnijezdo and Primroses of Zoria
* '''Colours:''' Red and Black
* '''Earl:''' Valentin Ivarovich Severyan Orzel
House Orzel is a union of two migrations from [[Varushka]], blending bloodlines and customs but embracing martial culture with the great traditions of the Empress Richilde’s most noble people. Favouring tests and trials involving quest and strange adventure, House Orzel finds a natural home in Dawn and has welcomed an increasing number of native Dawnish knights-errant into its nobility through great deeds of mettle and achievement. The Orzel have always measured and tested themselves against competence and skill, giving respect to Pride earned and laughing at pomposity, false claims, and weak authority in equal measure.

Generous with praise and friendship for the accomplished, the Orzel care more for talent and achievement than they do for name or family history alone. In youth children are encouraged to demand their elders "prove" their claims of skill or knowledge rather than taking anything on faith alone. Orzel children are wild and reckless with tales of the youngest laughing at the snarls of invading wolves and hurling stones and chanting "Prove It!" to call the bluffs of ancient evil and bestial threat alike.

Though wilful boldness and challenge mark daytime traditions, the Orzel consider [[Varushka_hearth_magic#Hospitality|guest-right]] sacred when the sun goes down. Music, song, and storytelling are great pleasures of hearth and home, and all should be welcomed, and none mistreated, when it is accepted. Darkness is a time for kindness and tales, [[Wisdom]] and preparing for the hard battles to come. Though sardonic humour runs strong through the Orzel, none should be denied hospitality or chased out into the night.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Remys.png|caption=House Remys|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Remys====
* '''Location:''' Weirmoor
* '''Heraldry:''' A snake coiled around a silver goblet, poison dripping from its fangs
* '''Colours:''' Red and Silver
* '''Earl:''' Enchantress Claudia Varkulova Remys
Chateau Remys stands on a windswept hillside on the edge of the Weirmoor forest. Once the land was fertile and produced fine wines but several generations ago the land was devastated by a sickness that wiped out many of the nobles and decimated the yeofolk. The house was founded by a Varushkan [[boyar]] who left [[Volodmartz]] during the reign of [[Emperor Barabbas]]. Strongly touched by the realm of Winter, she began the tradition of tasking all aspirants to take on the draughir [[lineage]] as part of their Test of Mettle - to this day no noble of the house has borne any other lineage.

The house is headed by the Enchantress Claudia Varkulova Remys who took over from her mother in YE382. The new Enchantress Remys has sworn to continue in her quest to restore House Remys to its former glory and show the Empire the power of the Winter Realm.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Rion.png||caption=House Rion|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Rion====
* '''Location:''' Wickmoor (Near the [[Weirwater Vales]])
* '''Heraldry:''' Gilded White Stag Rampant, emblazoned upon a blue field
* '''Colours:''' Main colour royal blue, secondary colours silver and white, tertiary colour black
* '''Earl:''' Andred Rion
House Rion is a moderately young house in comparison to the more established houses of Dawn. Founded during the reign of [[Empress Brannan]] by the first Lord Rion, a questing knight who had found his [[Love_in_Dawn|true love]]. Settling in Wickmoor, not far from the Weirwood Vales, Castle Rion was built, and the house grew around its foundations. Since then, most of House Rion’s Earls have been enchanters (including the “Mad Earl Rion”) specialising in Summer magic. The proximity of Castle Rion to the haunted Weirwood trees is to blame for many of the strange occurrences and events which seem to be commonplace on the House’ land.

During the re-taking of the Barrens, almost all of the houses’ Nobles and a sizeable force of the yeofolk under their command were slain by the Druj in a surprise attack, in which the previous Earl died. House Rion are most notable for having a higher-than-average number of [[Dawn_magical_traditions#War_witches|war witches]] and enchanters in their house. Almost all their nobles are Summer mages, and more than half are [[Magical skills#Battle Mage|battle mages]]. On campaign and in battles, House Rion are usually deployed as skirmish lances to support houses with heavier lances.

In recent years, the House has begun the brewing of ales and the distillation of fine wines and spirits.
====House Tallstag====
* '''Location:''' The Aldergate, Wickmoor
* '''Heraldry:''' A silver stag set in a field of green
* '''Colours:''' Green and silver
* '''Earl:''' Logan Tallstag
“Prepare for all, Yield to none” - The motto of House Tallstag sings to the [[Ambition]] and [[Pride]] that all Tallstags aspire to. Founded in 380YE, House Tallstag was originally founded as a knightly order by Lord Logan, with the simple aim of becoming the most reputable monster hunters in Anvil. This desire was quickly outgrown as their ambitions of hunting greater monsters rose to tackling the greatest challenges they could find.

House Tallstag prides itself on a reputation as one of the fiercest lances Dawn has. They reside in a once forgotten stronghold known as The Aldergate and they have tasked themselves with the complete destruction of the vallorn in its entirety, and work closely with Navarr stridings and steadings to achieve this great feat.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Tower de Risbanke.jpg|caption=House Tower de Risbanke|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Tower de Risbanke====
* '''Location:''' Hawksmoor (northwest of Hawthorn)
* '''Heraldry:''' Argent Wolf on Azure field with Golden sun blazing in third quarter
* '''Colours:''' Blue and yellow
* '''Earl:''' Vacant
The Tower De Risbanke stands at the peak of a bleak & wild hillside near the border of [[Varushka]] within the Weirmoor forests. Surrounded by wolves ,falcons and wild game this small household is a sanctuary for those needing food, drink, and a place to rest with a warm welcome. The house was founded with hospitality at its core, often believed to be due to its proximity of Varushka. The division between yeofolk & nobles can sometimes be quite blurred in this small household where both warriors and weavers seek out new alliances and friendships. Boisterous songs can often be heard in the Weavers Rest tea house with the motto ''In Vino Veritas'' - In wine is truth. Tests of mettle are as often be artistic or culinary banquets in the field. Tests of ardour also often focus on the expression in the food of love.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House of the Twisted Rose.png|caption=House of the Twisted Rose|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House of the Twisted Rose====
*'''Location:''' Weirmoor
*'''Heraldry:''' A white rose/roses with twisted stems, The runes Rhyv and Lann flanking it.
*'''Colours:''' Purple
*'''Earl:''' Enchanter Kym, Of The Twisted Rose
The House of the Twisted Rose was founded during 383YE. The Keep of the House, itself named Keepsake, was built out in the ruins of a fallen House, its name forgotten to time, its foundations nestled atop the peak of one the mountains near Delev. Though around the estate still sit statues of various nobles and in various states of disrepair, those within the House have a habit of asking these still forms for advice though they do not speak back.

Members of the House have a reputation of self-sacrifice and knowledge of costs to be paid, owing to The Twisted Rose’ ties to both the Autumn and Winter realm, of contracts and oaths. As well as raw passion. This lead into the House’s motto being “Ma Vie; Par Amour” (My Life; For Love in Asavean). Much of the House’s Tests have been based around the ideals of Love and Loyalty, often seeking to teach as much as test the one undergoing it; to bring them deeper in line with the House’ beliefs.

===Houses of the Barrens===
====House du Froste====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House du Froste.png|caption=House du Froste|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Estmure, by lake Semmerlak
* '''Heraldry:''' Golden jackalope on a field of black and red
* '''Colours:''' Red, Gold & Black
* '''Earl:''' Earl Bedivere Bedrydant
The history of House du Froste stretches back to before the conquest and settling of [[The_Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].When Dawnguard fell the Earl Panthos Du Froste rushed to the aid of the civilians fleeing to Semmerholm. Ever since then waifs and strays looking to reclaim their homeland have flocked to their banner and their estate in the foothills of Estmure.

In Anvil they are known for their standard bearing the jackalope that often serves as a rallying point through the Sentinel Gate, and the round table that the nobles of Dawn occasioanlly gather around for Earls Council.

“''Our words have weight''" is the house motto; being a house who believe wholeheartedly that actions are worth more than any number of words. Once a member has said something, they believe it should be binding to the core of their being.

====House Torawyr====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=HouseTorawyr.jpg|caption=House Torawyr|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Ruins of House Torawyr, Dawnguard,
* '''Heraldry:''' Blue and White quartering with a red gauntleted fist with cynogriffon wings in the centre.
* '''Colours:''' Blue and White.
* '''Earl:''' Enchanter Edmund Torawyr
House Torawyr was originally founded in southern Dawnguard near Murderdale. The house was primarily made up of apothecaries and fighters who tended and harvested their gardens to help Dawn fight the Druj and defend Dawnguard. When the Druj invaded in Summer 381YE, breaking the treaty, the fighters of House Torawyr were loyal until the last drop, laying down their lives to hold back the orcs as long as they could to allow as many people to flee as possible. In doing so all nobles of House Torawyr died or were taken as slaves.

The house reformed at the end of 382YE, as a group of loyal yeofolk ventured back into the Barrens on a Test of Mettle to retrieve the banner of their house. The group saw their beautiful gardens wrecked with a blight, their herbs picked clean to supply the Druj with poisons. With caution they were successful in retrieving their banner, reforming the house under a new Earl, Enchanter Edmund Torawyr.

After considerable effort, In 385YE House Torawyr returned to the Barrens with newfound loyal allies, resources, and magical might. The house with allies from the Amber Lance attacked the Spires of Dusk with the Hounds of Glory. Bringing with them over a hundred [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust|grim legionnaires]] of the eternal [[Kaela]]. Now the house has returned to it's ruined land it must rebuild the gardens it once held with pride, and return the help given by those who helped take back Dawnguard.

==Knightly Orders==
The [[knightly order|knightly orders]] dedicate themselves to the pursuit of glory over all other considerations.
====Order of the Amber Lance====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Amber Lance.png|caption=Order of the Amber Lance|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Welkin’s Weald, Weirmoor, Weirwater
* '''Heraldry:''' a field, tawny, charged with a teardrop, amber, upon which is emblazoned the Blood rune, Rhyv, in sable.
* '''Knight-Captain:''' Ser Guy Wooder
This proud young order was founded in the Autumn of 383YE by the briar Czernobog Stanislaus when he became a knight errant of House Castellan. A healer and steward of a herb garden, this first Captain's Ambition was to set Dawn on a par with other Imperial nations by founding a dedicated corps of combat physicks. In so doing, the Lance quickly managed to gain the Loyalty of several Weirwater houses, as well as questing knights and refugees from the Barrens.

The knights maintain a permanent presence in the waterlogged hamlet of Welkin’s Weald, at the heart of a carefully coppiced forest of willow. It is from the [[ambergelt]] cultivated here that they draw their heraldry – a substance that hardens and strengthens but also promotes healing and mending, running like blood when first drawn, tough and crystalline when set. This duality is echoed in their motto: to take blood from stone (to do the impossible) is a common aphorism amongst these knights.

In the first years of the Lance's existence, these Knights of Amber have committed themselves wholly to the Empire's war against the wretched Druj. They have sustained heavy losses in liberating Zenith and the Barrens, but remain steadfast in their commitment to preserve Imperial lives and bring succour and healing to all who need it. Bloodied though they may be, they proudly bear the rune of sacrifice upon their banners as they fight for a better world.

====Knights of the Golden Mane====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=KnightsoftheGoldenMane.png|caption=Knights of the Golden Man|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' South of Culwich, Sandling, Weirwater
* '''Heraldry:''' A shield of azure with a white chief triangular. In the azure portion, a gold lion head facing forward within a gold wild rose. In the White portion the Jotra rune in azure.
* '''Lord Commander:''' Leohnar Gildaryn
The Knights of the Golden Mane are dedicated to upholding Virtuous acts and aim to record and share stories of Virtue from around the Empire. The quests they undertake, individually or together, all lend towards telling the tale of the knightly order and how they pursue Glory through virtuous acts. The grand quest of the order is to aid and preserve stories of Virtue. The order hall sits within the Lionskeep, the seat of power of House Gildaryn in Lionsholme, a town in [[Weirwater]] south of Culwich.

The order structure is very loose, with two commanding individuals. The Lord Commander oversees the order, while a Knight-Captain serves to advise and act as the leader of its lance through the Sentinel Gate. Under this structure, knights often are bestowed a title by the Lord Commander befitting of their skills, such as Knight-Magus. These are not enforced as roles of leadership, but a way for the Lord Commander to classify where they believe the skills of a knight could be best applied. Strangely yeofolk and knights-errant are welcomed as equals rather than apprentices, and have equivalent say and reach in the order’s quest.

The main tradition the Knights of the Golden Mane hold is of the ''Night of Hallows''. Each Winter Solstice, the knights come together to receive [[hallow|hallowings]] of Virtue which best tell their stories, and to have the provided aura aid them in their next year. The knights share stories of their achievements throughout the year in Anvil and beyond, and pledge their quest for the following year to the Lord Commander.

====The Order of the Lance Restored====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Order_of_the_Lance_Restored.png|caption=Order of the Lance Restored|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Roaming, though with a chapel near Kethry's Grove in Astolat
* '''Heraldry:''' argent, a lion sable sejant upon which rests a lance gules
* '''Knight-Marshal:''' Ser Dindrane de Cantharos
The Order of the Lance Restored are - after a fashion - the remnants of an ancient order known as the Knights of the Feathered Spear, who are said to have guarded [[Astolat#Kethry.E2.80.99s_Grove|Kethry's Grove]] in the distant past. The original order fell into disgrace in 209YE when they aided [[Emperor Nicovar]] in destroying the libraries of the Empire, for reasons now forgotten to history. Following Nicovar's death, the Knights of the Feathered Spear disbanded, supposedly because during the chaos they lost a relic that they were sworn to protect - a spear believed to have been that of Makin the Red, a prominent figure in the story of the paragon [[Kethry]]. Two of their number were sentenced to death by penal military service; they fought in numerous battles thereafter, surviving and triumphing against all odds, and eventually attracted a cadre of questing knights who sought to redeem themselves of past dishonour. These knights eventually banded together under the banner of the Order of the Lance Restored.

Since then, the order has become something of a refuge for the disgraced, the outcast, and those who simply do not fit in with their Houses. Sworn to roam the Empire until the Feathered Spear is recovered - though most doubt that it ever will be - the knights of the order seek to overcome their past failings by taking on difficult, open-ended, and sometimes nigh-impossible quests.

==Weaver Cabals==
The [[weaver cabal|weaver cabals]] master magic, maintaining a studied neutrality in the politics of the nation.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Chain-Sworn Scales Cabal.jpg|caption=Chain-Sworn Scales|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====Chain-Sworn Scales====
The Chain-Sworn Scales are an Autumn focused weaver cabal with members from across the noble houses of Dawn. It was originally founded by a small group of yeofolk in Astolat who had an interest in enhancing the trade and business opportunities along the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#Blood_Red_Roads|Blood Red Roads]]. At the end of 383YE they began to attend Anvil, eagerly recruiting new members and becoming one of the largest covens in Dawn. The cabal is named for the binding nature for the Autumn Realm along with all exchanges being of fair value and the heraldry represents the bonds, oaths, and trade that is inherit from exchanges with the Autumn realm.

Though originally founded with a focus on enchantments for businesses, fleets, and farms the focus has shifted with the growth of the cabal's influence and power, and now they also support the military units and armies of Dawn. They have an ambitious goal to study the arcane and make new rituals through [[arcane projection|arcane projections]]. A number of members work alongside the [[Imperial Military Council]] and the coven has performed the ritual [[Bound by Common Cause]] to support the armies of Dawn. Most of its weavers are members of the [[Golden Pyramid]] and work closely with those in the Conclave interested in the Autumn realm.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Golden Leaf Cabal.png|caption=Golden Leaf|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====Golden Leaf====
Founded in 384YE, the Golden Leaf Cabal find their specialism in the realm of Autumn. Whilst their roots lie with yeofolk from across Dawn, many nobles have since flocked to join their ranks. Formed of a union of Noble Houses, they cast their sights towards the bigger picture, the cabal is operated by a council, where every bonded member has an equal vote in its work and goals.

The Golden Leaf does not operate in the shadows - their aims are clear and open, aiming to bolster the [[Prosperity]] of Dawn by enchanting both its people and territories. In turn, they try to further what they believe to be the Empire’s ambitions through engaging the complex relationships between Imperial bodies and the Autumn eternals operating under [[Alignment#Amity|amity]].

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Moon and Stars Cabal.jpg|caption=Moon and Stars Cabal|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====Moon and Stars====
The Moons and Stars cabal was formed in 377 as an ambitious attempt to create a cross-House Dawnish Night coven. The cabal aims to bring together Night mages from across the nation of Dawn to both aid the Empire and bring Glory to the individual weavers within the cabal. The cabal is named after the heraldic devices used by the Houses who were present at the founding of the endeavour. The cabal was originally formed, primarily, by mages belonging to House De Rondell and a house that has since fallen.

The members of the Moons and Stars cabal are active participants in the business of the [[Imperial Conclave]]. Weavers from the cabal have held many important positions in the Conclave. The Moons and Stars cabal are celebrated for using their arcane powers to gather information, provide protection, break curses, and deliver curses. They are also widely known to regularly employ a range of novel and innovative rituals to achieve unusual and original results. They often use [[Totem_magic#Heraldic_Magic|heraldic magic]] in their rituals although individual styles are encouraged.

==Other Groups==
===Other Player Groups===
====The Order of the Gryphon’s Quill====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Gryphonsquill.jpg|caption=The Order of the Gryphon's Quill|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' The Chase, Astolat
* '''Heraldry:''' Golden Gryphon rampant clutching a Quill on a Red and Blue split field with crenulated black border at top displaying a gilded Quill
* '''Colours:''' Gold, Red, Blue
The Order of the Gryphons Quill is a school and residence for troubadours and those wishing to further Dawnish arts and culture, led by Lady Kaywenn du Launcet and Lord Romande Remys. Located between the famous tourney ground of Laroc and the Kethry’s Grove it seeks to promote pride in Dawnish culture amongst its citizens and ensure that the most glorious tales are formed. Those of the order that attend anvil tend to be pride troubadours, performers or mages who specialise in magic to nudge stories in glorious directions. Order members whether noble or yeofolk seek to support each other in their endeavours to ensure Dawn weaves a glorious history. Those who wish to join the order can be from any house or any lineage as long as they are willing to ensure great legends last forever.

===NPC Groups===
These groups are made up of non-player characters; their members are portrayed by Profound Decisions NPC crew.
====House de Casillon====
* '''Location:''' Castle Spiral, on Weirmoor, in Weirwater
* '''Heraldry:''' A hand with fingers spread marked with a spiral<br>
* '''Colours:''' Azure, Gold, and Violet<br>
The de Casillon are an old house who hail from [[Weirwater#Spiral_Castle|Spiral Castle]], a pre-Imperial keep that stands at the heart of a powerful Summer regio. Their estates lie in [[Weirwater#Weirmoor|Weirmoor]] in the territory of Weirwater, and until very recently they lived in voluntary internal exile protected from the outside world by a wall of swirling magical mists.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=DeCassilon.jpg|caption=House de Casillon|align=right|width=250}}</div>
Many of the nobles of the de Casillon family claim descent from Empress Richilde, and are said to cultivate their bloodline in the way a vintner might cultivate a strain of fine grapes. They are usually possessed of a strong changeling lineage - it is very rare for anyone who is not a changeling to seek the Test of Mettle from the house and even rarer for them to succeed. Much of their business in the outside world is handled through the [[Castellan of Spiral Castle]], an [[Imperial title]] re-established in Spring 380YE.

Almost all the de Casillon nobles are witches, and their earls have always been potent enchanters. Their yeofolk are likewise trained in magical arts, although many of them choose to embrace the path of the artisan. Even before their seclusion behind their wall of mist, they were known for hedonism and self-indulgence and it seems that several decades isolated in a Summer regio have merely heightened these tendencies - left to their own devices they would while away their lives in tourneys, in hunting, in feasting, and in other diverse amusements. There may be some weight to the concerns of some troubadours who worry that the de Casillon have become more like the inhabitants of the Summer realm than citizens of Dawn.

====House De Ledure====
* '''Location:''' Weirwater
* '''Heraldry:''' A gold star on an argent field<br>
* '''Colours:''' Silver and Gold
* '''Earl:''' Enchanter Geoffrey de Ledure
A relatively new house that was once part of House de Rousillon, they split from that house in in 358YE, ten years after [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] took [[the Throne]]. Several knights of House de Rousillon and other knights who were after more action rather than tournaments joined the house. The house’s estates are based in [[Weirwater]], and under Earl Hugh’s reign, the house was successful in having a [[senator]] twice - whilst they were at the peak of their power. Today the house is led by the Enchanter Geoffrey de Ledure, who is from a line of powerful summer witches. It is believed that the house has won some powerful boons from the eternal [[Hayaak]], and they generally refuse to deal with other [[eternal|eternals]].

In 378YE a marriage between House de Ledure and the rival House Blyrale was disrupted when the youths involved ran off to join the [[Navarr]]. This act ultimately cemented a union between the two houses and House Blyrale joined House de Ledure. According to gossip, the two houses are partially united by their anger at the Dawnish nobles who encouraged their scions to abandon their duty and flee the nation.

====House Lionsgate====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Lionsgate.png||caption=House Lionsgate|align=right|width=250}}</div>
*'''Location:''' The Chase, Astolat
*'''Heraldry:''' Two red lions facing each other before a black gate
*'''Colours:''' White, Red, and Black
House Lionsgate was founded in 283YE by descendants of the disgraced House Lyongate, who disbanded shortly after the disastrous loss of the original [[Gryphon's Pride]] army in a failed attempt to capture the Barrens. The founders attracted a number of knights-errant and questing knights, and slowly rebuilt their house - although they never again enjoyed the prominence they had lost along with the army.

The Lionsgate estates in Astolat are small but well maintained, and lie in The Chase. In recent years, the House has reclaimed some of its prominence as it has forged closer ties with a number of smaller noble houses - especially the cunning de Coyne of Dawnguard and the proud de Helios of Astolat. In 379E, then earl Lady Cassandra contacted several Dawnish nobles active in Imperial politics and offered aid in the re-establishment of the Gryphon's Pride. The loose coalition of smaller houses managed to secure a number of wains of mithril to help with the mustering of the fourth Dawnish army, seeing in this endeavour an opportunity to reclaim some of the pride they had lost over a century before. it remains to be seen if, now the army has been completed, they will continue to involve themselves in Dawnish politics or retreat to their estates.

==Contributing==
Any player character group in [[Dawn]] can submit an entry for this page. The entry should come from the out-of-character group leader and be emailed to [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot@profounddecisions.co.uk].

It should contain the following information:

* Group archetype (noble house, weaver cabal, knightly order). If your group doesn't have one of these archetypes, it will be listed in the "other" section.
* Territory and region where the groups lands are physically located. Noble houses have estates, but both knightly orders and weaver cabals will be tied to a physical location that serves as their base of operations. If you are a group in exile that has fled the Barrens you can mention that
* A description of your groups [[Noble house#Heraldry|heraldry]], with an image if desired. All noble houses have heraldry, as do most knightly orders and weaver cabals.
* If your group has specific colours, you can mention them here.
* If your knightly order has a publicly known oath you can include it in this section, bearing in mind that the best oaths of this nature are short and pithy
* The name of your [[earl]] if you are a noble house. If there is someone in your knightly order or weaver cabal that serves as the in-character leader of the group, you can mention them and their title here

You should also include up to 250 words of description, detailing the kind of things that other characters might know about your group. Have a look at the description for a [[noble house]], or at the archetype pages for weaver cabals and questing knights for ideas on the kind of information that is useful. You must also include a few sentences of history, especially around the circumstances of the house's formation or origin.

Some other questions to consider include:
* If you are a noble house, do you have a particular [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|Test of Mettle]] for which they are known, or a noteworthy method of choosing their earl?
* Are there one or more particular archetypes the group is particularly associated with, either noble of yeofolk? Obviously knightly orders will contain questing knights, and weaver cabals are expected to have weavers among their number, but is there a noteworthy archetype that might be unexpected or has a special role?
* Does your group have a particular ambition which helps unify your members?
* Is there anything notable about the lands you claim, or about the physical buildings that serve as your home?

Things to avoid include:
* Too much [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldbuilding worldbuilding] detail — this represents information other characters may know about your house. It's not a place to define elements of the game world
* Lists of character names — this isn't a place for getting your name on the wiki
* Too much emphasis on the past — while it's useful to have a few lines of history, what matters in Empire is what your house does on the field at events

It's possible to update the information on this page over time (for example if your earl changes) with an e-mail to [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot@profounddecisions.co.uk].

[[Category:Dawn]] [[Category:Groups]]

File:House de Rondell.jpg

2023-08-30T11:31:48Z

Cathtice: House de Rondell heraldry

House de Rondell heraldry

Online

2023-08-06T15:13:13Z

Cathtice:

==Overview==
Empire has a large and active social media presence. Our main Empire LRP Facebook group alone has over 4,000 members. We also have dedicated forums as well as accounts on Instagram, Twitch and Twitter. Having an enthusiastic and engaged player base is important to us and we love seeing everyone discussing the game and enjoying the world of Empire. We welcome debate and constructive discussion in all these places, but any feedback should always be sent to [mailto:feedback@profounddecisions.co.uk feedback@profounddecisions.co.uk ] so that the game team can consider it properly.

The [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp/ Empire LRP Facebook group] is for general Empire related chat and queries. We also have nation-specific groups where people can discuss national festivals, collective projects, the national briefs, and the best places to source kit. Camp planning is also announced in these groups. Our national groups are a great community both on and off the field and we encourage people to get involved and to go see what’s being discussed. We also have a [https://www.facebook.com/groups/playersupport/ Player Support Group] which might be a good starting point if you are new to Empire or to live roleplaying in general. The [https://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ Empire LRP forums] have separate boards for all these things, and a few additional ones.

Unfortunately, the nature of the internet is that it removes the element of personal interaction and can exacerbate differences of opinion. If we are not careful this turns discussions into hot-tempered arguments in a way that is detrimental to the debate and the community. For this reason we’ve chosen to implement a set of rules for everyone who uses our official groups and have a large team of crew moderators who can respond to any breaches that occur that are reported to them using the platform’s inbuilt tools or by emailing [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk].

Counting players and crew, Empire has nearly three thousand participants at each event; it's not realistic to expect anyone to like every other participant. What we require is that people treat each other with respect regardless of their personal feelings. Our rules are designed to give our team a basis for judging when that is not happening and to take action accordingly. All the applicable rules for [[conduct]] at events also apply when making posts on any official Profound Decisions forum or Facebook group. In particular please make sure that you have read and understand the rules for [[Conduct#Language|language]] and [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|equality and diversity]].

We ask that the community support our aim to keep the game live and familiarise themselves with the rules governing [[Downtime#Roleplaying_Between_Events|roleplaying between events]]. Remember, every in-character communication you have between events is one that cannot be had face to face.

==Moderators==
We have a team of crew who moderate our social spaces, led by our head of online moderation, Miranda Brennan. The team work collaboratively, discussing cases and coming to an agreed response to get the most consistent and fairest outcomes possible when exercising judgement. When a post/comment is reported, the moderators will review it and if necessary discuss together or escalate to the Head of Moderation. Moderation decisions and evidence are stored centrally in case we need to refer to them in future.
{{CaptionedImage|file=MirandaBrennan.jpg|align=right|caption=Head of Online Moderation: Miranda Brennan}}
===How to report===
Given the scale of the internet, we can’t keep track of every comment and subthread on our official social media. We therefore ask our users to be aware of the posting rules and if they see a breach, to report it by either:

* Using the reporting tools available on that platform
* Emailing [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk] and linking to the post/comment you wish to report.

===What happens when a post is reported?===
If a post/comment is reported and the moderation team decides that it breaks our posting rules, we may delete the post. If we do this, a moderator will endeavour to contact the poster to explain why. If the poster disagrees with the action taken, they can contact the [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk head moderator]. If the matter is not resolved to their satisfaction after this point, the matter can be escalated to [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk]. It is not appropriate to discuss individual moderation discussions on our social media and posts doing this will be deleted.

Depending on the situation we may warn people who have broken the rules, suspend them from our social media spaces either short or long term, or ban them permanently at our discretion. This includes potentially being excluded from the events themselves. We take our rules for online conduct very seriously; we do not make an absolute distinction between behaviour online and at events.

For some breaches of the posting rules, the moderation team may contact the poster privately and give them the opportunity to edit their post in order to make it comply with the rules.

If a contentious post is resulting in some heated debate, we may lock the post from further comments whilst we review it. This is particularly likely if we’re short on moderation cover at that time as our moderation team are all volunteers. If a post has dissolved entirely into unconstructive argument, we will delete the post in its entirety and either explain why privately to the poster or add a post to the group in which it was posted.

===Contesting a Decision===
It is important to appreciate that moderation is not personal. Some of our rules are technical in nature - and people often have posts moderated or removed not because there was anything wrong with the content or the way they posted it but simply because they don't meet the strict guidelines we set for relevance to Empire. Everyone gets moderated from time-to-time, players and crew, so that we can keep our forums welcoming and full of relevant content. ''Being moderated is not a criticism of you or your post.''

Although you may be contacted by a moderator to inform you that a post has been moderated, please bear in mind that moderation decisions are taken collectively by the team, not by any one individual. You're welcome to discuss the matter with the moderator who is there to try and help ensure you understand why the decision was taken, but if you need to contact the moderation team to discuss a new issue, please use the appropriate methods to contact the whole team, rather than emailing or messaging an individual moderator. All of our crew are volunteers so they don't always have time to allocate to support you; this is why we have a team of people in place to deal with any issues. Please respect the system we have put in place and contact the team if you need to discuss something.

If you are not happy with a moderator decision then you are welcome to discuss that with us privately. Mistakes do get made and we are happy to look at any decision that has been taken and apologize if we have made a mistake and correct it where we can. If we stand by the decision after reviewing it, then we'll try to explain in more detail why we came to that conclusion so that you can better understand how the rules are being applied.

Please do not contest decisions in public - that is against our rules - and do not argue with our moderators or become hostile with one of them. They are members of our crew, and should be treated with the same courtesy and respect that you should show a referee at an event. All our crew volunteer their time to work hard on your behalf to provide a great game so we require everyone who attends our events to treat them with appropriate regard. There are no Empire events without our crew and we take their wellbeing very seriously.

Please [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk email mods@profounddecisions.co.uk] if you need to contact the moderation team to discuss any issue. Private messages are not a good mechanism for contacting the team as they go to individuals who may not see them for several days or at all in some cases depending on the platform settings.

==Posting Rules==
* '''Treat each other with respect and assume best faith'''
* '''All posts should clearly relate to Empire'''
* '''Use the most appropriate forum or Facebook group'''
* '''Don't repost the same post or content more than once a month'''
* '''Report any breach of the rules to our moderators rather than responding yourself'''
* '''Don't start in-character conversations or post anything that is contentious in-character'''
* '''IC announcements, sales, adverts and letters are permitted'''
* '''You may cross-post winds of war and winds of fortune'''
* '''You may not post instructions or advice on military units'''
* '''No charity and fundraising posts'''
* '''Post links to photographs, don't repost them'''
* '''Do not post fanfiction'''
* '''Do not criticise other participants for their costume, roleplaying, or interpretation of the setting'''
* '''Do not discuss moderation decisions'''
* '''Do not post accusations of cheating or unsafe fighting'''
* '''Don't do stupid shit'''
* '''Streaming'''
* '''Smut'''

In particular, please note all the applicable rules for [[conduct]] also apply when making posts on any official Profound Decisions forum or Facebook group. In particular please make sure that you have read and understand the rules for [[Conduct#Language|language]] and [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|equality and diversity]].

===Treat each other with respect and assume best faith===
We are proud that Empire players come from a diverse range of backgrounds and traditions of LRP. With well over 2000 players and crew, differences of opinions will occur and discussion of these is no bad thing, but needs to be handled carefully. Please respect people’s opinions, treat other participants as adults, and assume good faith. It’s easy to mistake someone’s intent over the internet and you may need to work a little harder to make yourself understood or be more patient when trying to explain something. Avoid making jokes about contentious subjects where the possibility exists to miss the humour and be offended as a result.

Don't harass other users, don't post anything that constitutes a personal attack and avoid forms of speech that could be interpreted as bullying or abusive. Treat people the way you would want to be treated. We will not tolerate any post that our moderators feel constitutes a personal attack on another live roleplayer - regardless of whether or not they use our official online forums/groups or are a regular attendee at our events. Avoid posting while angry; if you are disagreeing with participant then ensure that you remain polite and avoid [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem ad hominem] responses.

If you feel anything posted on our official forums or Facebook groups violates our rule prohibiting personal attacks then please report it to our moderators, do not respond in kind.

===All Posts Should Clearly Relate to Empire===
Please keep your posts on topic. Our forums and groups are for Empire, so if the discussion strays too far away the subject of Empire we will ask you to take it elsewhere. If the link to Empire is tenuous or would be unclear to a casual reader, our moderators may advise you that this would be more appropriate on your own wall or ask you to elaborate on the original post as to its relevance.

===Use the Most Appropriate Forum or Group===
Please ensure that your posts are in the most appropriate area. Do not duplicate the same or similar posts across multiple different forums or different groups. If your post is a bit more general but one nation may still have a special interest then ''at most'' you should post in the main Empire group and the single most relevant nation group. An example of this would be a Dawnish hosted player event, as Dawnish players may be especially interested, but other nations may also wish to attend. If multiple players all post the same or similar posts either in the same group or across multiple groups, the moderation team will remove the duplicate posts.

Duplicating a post on Facebook and the Forum is permitted as many participants may only use one of these platforms.

If you are a trader at our events then before each event, you may put a post into a single official nation group [[Forums & Facebook|Facebook nation group]] of your choice and/or the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Empire LRP Adverts and Promotions Facebook group] to advertise your services or products. If you are not a trader at our events then using the same rules, you may post once advertisement a year, provided that the products or services offered are relevant to Empire players.
{{CaptionedImage|file=RougherMusic.jpg|align=right|width=350|caption=The Moderators are here to help you.}}

===Don't repost the same post or content more than once a month===
You can repost content up to once a month, if it's relevant to Empire. If you want to promote IC services or similar or you are discussing OOC arrangements relevant to the game then it's fine to repost them periodically - provided it is not too frequent. Our moderators will take down repeated posts if less than a month has passed since the last time it was posted. It's fine to update a post, but deliberately posting to 'bump' a post back to the top of the group is not in the spirit of the rules.

===Report any Breach of the Rules to our Moderators===
Each board has a couple of volunteer moderators and admins and we have a centralised place to discuss and document moderation decisions. Due to the high level of activity in our our official groups it is impossible for us to follow each and every interaction. Therefore, if you see someone infringing the posting rules, please help us by reporting this comment or post promptly rather than responding yourself. A moderator or admin will then respond as quickly as they’re able to.

Please don't call out other participants for posts that you think breach our guidelines, report it, and let the moderators handle it. On Facebook select "report to admin" by clicking in the top right hand corner of a post. On the forum click "...(show more)" then the flag icon on any post.

===Don't Post IC Conversations or Contentious Statements===
Please help us keep the game live and in the field as much as possible. Avoid starting in-character conversations about significant or controversial subjects so that discussion of important in-character issues can be kept for the live events. It is usually fine to post comments about events that have happened, provided that the posts are not contentious or likely to cause people to want to respond as their character. If you post something in-character that could be perceived as contentious on our official forums or groups, we’ll remove or edit this.

Empire is a game for people to say and do contentious things as their character - but we want those actions and the reactions to them to happen in the field when people are roleplaying.

===Post Links to Photographs, Don't Repost Them===
Profound Decisions are lucky enough to have a small team of volunteer photographers to document our events; there are also a number of players who take photographs in line with the [[photography|photography policy]]. These volunteers generously donate their time and energy to show our hobby in all its glory. To acknowledge their contribution you must link to the original photos rather than downloading them and re-uploading them on our forums.

Each photographer will have their own policy on using photos elsewhere (such as for profile or cover pictures). If in doubt, please contact the original photographer.

===IC Announcements and Adverts===
We believe that in-character announcements, such as those advertising a national event or offering an in-character service add more to the game for our players than they detract from it. However, as the game has grown over time, we have needed to create a separate space for certain kinds of IC advert, so that our main Empire LRP Facebook group does not become overloaded.

It is fine to post an advert for a service offered by your character or group or for a meeting that you are arranging or similar, provided that you avoid posting anything that is contentious and only post it in the single most appropriate group.

You can use the main Empire LRP Facebook group to advertise free-to-attend uptime IC events such as meetings and festivals.

If you have an IC advert OR an OC advert for anything that costs IC or OC money, such as crafted goods your character is selling, you may use the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrppromo Adverts and Promotions Facebook group] group and/or the single more relevant Nation group.

Here are some examples of adverts the above rule applies to:

* IC items you are selling for money
* IC raffles, gambling houses, or tourneys which are pay-to-enter
* IC services such as poetry, fortune telling, or performance
* Artwork commissions such as character portraits
* IC snacks, meals, cafes and bars
* IC publications, papers and books
* IC auctions
* an IC business dealing in resources of any kind in uptime eg an apothecary service

All posts must follow the following rules:
* '''Do not add additional comments''' - Do not say “You see this poster across the Empire". If you do this, you’re starting to narrate the reality of the world, which is not permitted.
* '''Post at most once per month''' - Do not repost it more than once a month or deliberately bump your existing post to the top of a page.
* '''Avoid starting contentious in-character discussions''' -
* '''Don't spam multiple groups''' - do not post your advert across multiple groups beyond those permitted, ie the single most relevant nation and either the Adverts group or the Main group, depending on what kind of advert you are posting.

There are several guidelines that we ask participants to follow in terms of their ad content:

* State your Price - Haggling or negotiation over prices must be left to the field.
* Use the Hub in uptime too - There’s a message board in The Hub which citizens can use - if you post online, please endeavour to also advertise in-character.
* Provide a plain text version - Beautiful posters and images are wonderful, but please endeavour to provide a copy of the text alongside your image.

In-character letters should be sent privately - but you can use our social media to request contact details for individual characters you have met, or have a way of getting in touch with (eg specific Imperial title-holders, individual group leaders) to get in touch for separate IC letters. We ask people not to tag players of sought-after characters in order that they can decide for themselves whether they want to engage.

Empire has an active economy and the costs of resources can be a powerful lever with which to influence the world. Therefore, discussion about the trading costs of resources, or statements about what things ''should'' cost are prohibited.

===Traders' Adverts===
* '''Traders who pay for a pitch at Empire may post adverts up to once a month'''
* '''Empire participants who operate as IC peddlers and sell goods in uptime may promote their [[#IC_Announcements_and_Adverts|IC goods and services]] up to once a month'''
* '''LRP traders who don't have a pitch at Empire may post adverts once a year'''
We are happy to allow traders to make occasional posts to the Empire Facebook groups, particularly if the post is drawing attention to goods that are appealing to Empire players. At the same time we are keen to prevent the groups from becoming overburdened with adverts, and want to ensure that they do not become too repetitive. To give everyone a fair set of guidelines to operate to - we have decided that traders or groups who have a trade pitch at Empire may post one advert per month if they choose. If a trader isn't one of the Empire traders then they may post up to one advert a year. Any adverts posted more frequently than that will be deleted by the moderators.

A trader advert can be in the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Empire LRP Adverts and Promotion] Facebook group and a single nation Facebook group provided it contains stock appropriate to that nation. Any advert posted across multiple nation groups will be removed.

===You May Cross-post the Winds===
There is an exception to the normal rules on multi-forum posts for the official Profound Decisions event updates, the Winds of War, and the Winds of Fortune. It is fine to cross-post these updates to an Empire Facebook group or forum - but please only do that if you think it is relevant to that group and check to see if it has already been posted. There is no need to cross-post a Wind of Fortune update about trouble in Hahnmark to the Urizen group for example.

However please make sure you do not include any comment about the content of the Wind in the cross-post. If you want to comment on the issue, you are welcome to do that below your own cross-post, but we ask that players avoid making any comment when making the actual cross-post - just to ensure that there is a clear distinction between what an individual player thinks and the contents of the Wind itself.

===You May Not Post Military Updates===
Players are not permitted to post updates on the decisions of the Military Council, in particular on where the Council would like people to send their military units and fleets in downtime. This constitutes using an online forum to try and influence the choices being made by other characters, it is not compatible with the rules prohibiting the posting of contentious in-character material.

While we have turned a blind-eye to some of these posts in the past - the rules have now been tightened. When the game first started it was difficult for generals to communicate what their army was doing to players. However every player with a military unit or fleet can now see the precise wording of the order issued to each army or navy when they go to submit their downtime. There is no need to provide additional context to these orders.

===No Charity or Fundraising Posts===
We have taken the decision not to allow any charity or fundraising posts on our groups except where they are intended to raise money for things to be used at Empire events or where they are posted by us on the main Empire LRP page. Whilst LRPers are an incredibly generous community, applying the posting rules and deciding on whether a particular fundraising post is “Empire related enough” is an impossible task for our moderator team. Having to assess each one will inevitably cause friction whenever a post is deleted because it is not sufficiently on topic for the Empire forums.

Posts offering prizes must be compliant with the laws regulating such activities. We will remove any post if we are not confident that you are correctly licensed to engage in such activities.

===Do Not Post Fanfiction===
We understand that lots of people love to read and write fanfic - and the Empire community is no exception. However there is a small risk that players may confuse fanfic with canonical updates to the campaign if the fiction is posted on one of the main Empire Facebook groups. For this reason there is a specific Facebook group called [https://www.facebook.com/groups/165082270686010/?fref=gc&dti=470732939604433&hc_location=ufi Empire LRP: Fiction Sharing] which was explicitly intended as a place for Empire players to share stories they have created. All fanfic stories should be posted here, not in one of the main Facebook groups.

===Do Not Criticise Other Participants===
The Empire national briefs are designed to allow for a wide range of creative freedom whilst still maintaining that all-important, clearly identifiable, national identity. When offering support to other players in your nation please be aware that that are other interpretations of the brief which are different to your own but are still valid. Avoid telling other players that they are getting the brief wrong - and avoid presenting yourself as an authority on how the brief should be interpreted.

It is fine to identify parts of the brief that are relevant and encourage people to embrace them. What is not permitted is for players to tell other players what is and is not acceptable in-character. If you have any concerns about the way a player is interpreting the brief then you should report the matter to Profound Decisions who can issue a definitive ruling on the matter.

Likewise, our code of conduct asks all Empire participants to avoid [[Costume#Criticism|criticising other player's kit]]. You should assume that the player in question has followed our guidelines and made the best effort they can. Criticism of other players’ costume will be deleted.

Crowd-sourcing answers about rules often ends up with a variety of responses and opinions on how the rules should be applied in that particular situation. The only definitive and official answers will come by emailing [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk].

===Do Not Accuse Other Players of Cheating or Unsafe Fighting===
Do not make public accusations of cheating or of unsafe fighting at Empire on social media. If you have witnessed either of these happen at an event, please either speak to a ref as soon as you are able to after the incident or contact [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk] after an event to report it.

===Do Not Discuss Moderation Decisions===
It is not constructive to discuss individual moderators or moderator decisions in public. We do however welcome discussion and debate of our posting rules and moderation policy provided the discussion remains civil, hypothetical and does not include references to individual examples. To discuss individual moderation decisions, please contact the Head of Moderation at [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk]; if not resolved to your satisfaction after this point, please contact [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk].

===Don't Do Stupid Shit===
Don't post anything that's illegal, racist, sexist, homophobic, pornographic, abusive, or otherwise objectionable. This includes links to such material as well.

===Streaming===
The [[Streaming|streaming]] rules are set out in full elsewhere. In summary:
* You may make one post per month to promote your streamed content
* You can edit that post if you want to update any information in it, but don't deliberately bump your own post back to the top

===Smut===

Following the [[Rules update 2023]], you must be mindful of the requirement to avoid sexualising the environment in a way that makes other players uncomfortable. Lots of players enjoy smutty publications - and lots of players don't want anything to do with that in their LRP. We have updated our conduct rules on sexual activity at events to make clear that anyone who wants to engage in that kind of roleplaying must ensure that it is handled discreetly and in a way that doesn't force other players to be involved with it against their wishes.

In particular that means you can't promote it on our Facebook groups, since that's incompatible with the need to handle it discreetly in a way that doesn't cause discomfort for other players. I've asked the moderators to take down posts promoting material that is smutty or explicit in the future.

==Hot Topics==
The areas below are topics that almost invariably degenerate into arguments, or are simply not appropriate or acceptable topics of discussion for our forums or Facebook groups. Some of these issues are controversial and tend to produce a lot of acrimony when discussed online giving the false impression that these issues dominate our events. Some of these issues are simply not appropriate or acceptable and will be deleted by our moderators as soon as they become aware of them.

Our moderators will closely monitor these "hot topics" and may pre-emptively delete any posts that they feel is highly likely to lead to an adversarial discussion of the issues.

===Politics, Religion, and Language===
Politics and religion are incredibly important subjects and the crew and players of Empire cover a lot of different religions and a wide spectrum of political opinions. However, our online community exists so that participants can discuss the imaginary politics of the world of Empire and not real world politics.

Discussions about inappropriate language, such as the use of gendered words, is a subject that we’ve learned from prior incidents rapidly degenerates into acrimony. We will allow positive discussion of ways that participants can embrace the gender-blind Empire setting and implement that in their roleplaying - but will delete anything that is negative, a personal attack or is based on criticism of other people's roleplaying or experiences.

In using our social media, participants are also bound by any applicable conduct rules, including those around gendered language. If you are concerned by a poster’s use of inappropriate language, then please bring it to the attention of a moderator and they will contact the other participant and remind them of our rules relating to this.

===In-character Debates===
Empire is ''not'' a system which employs "FOIP" - a requirement that you can only find things out in play at events. It is '''fine''' to ask simple in-character questions, things you think your character should know or any questions about the system. If the information you have asked for is not controversial in-character then other participants are free to give you the answer to your question or to encourage you to find their character at an event and seek out the information in-character.

However as per the posting rules we prohibit discussion online of important or controversial issues. These issues form part of the plot of our event and we ask everyone to respect that.

There are specific rules for [[Downtime#Roleplaying_Between_Events|roleplaying between events]]. Anything that breaches these rules - any post that contains trade negotiations, religious debates, military planning, magical discourse, or political discussions and appointments will be removed.

===Criticism of Empire and other LRP Systems===
Live roleplaying is an amazing community that is at its best when participants share original ideas and best practices between different systems. So it's fine to make a post calling out a positive example of something other games do well - or do better than Empire does - that gives us a basis for discussing ways to make Empire a better game. But please bear in mind when posting, that Empire is such a large system that we will have participants who love the game you are referencing as well as participants who tried it and did not enjoy it.

What is not permitted is ''anything'' that is critical or dismissive of other LRP systems. Most LRP systems have their own forums or Facebook groups for their players to post comments about their games - posts that are about other games should be posted on their Facebook page, ''not on our forum/groups''.

It is fine to use our Facebook groups and our forums to criticize Empire or Profound Decisions and we encourage people to post ideas for improvements to the game. Bear in mind that all LRP games are produced by the combined efforts of a team of volunteers who are passionately invested in the game they create. Criticism directed at named individuals will be treated as a personal attack and moderated accordingly and our rules requiring [[Feedback#Worst_Way|civility]] towards our volunteers apply on our forums and Facebook groups as well as at events.

We believe a good LRP stands on its merits, and benefits from analysis, critique, and discussion. We ask all participants to be mindful of the fact that just because you have not experienced a problem does not mean the problem does not exist. Our moderators will remove posts if they judge that their only contribution is to suppress criticism or silence debate about Empire.

Facebook is an excellent place to discuss Empire with other participants who use Facebook - it is not ideal for providing [[feedback]] to Profound Decisions. There is no guarantee that the people who can act on the basis of your feedback will even see it. We treat posts on Facebook as the basis for discussion between participants - the [[feedback|wiki page on providing feedback]] discusses the best ways to send actual feedback to the team.

==Unofficial PD groups==
There are a large number of unofficial Empire groups which people use for discussing issues and organising logistics, amongst other things. As these groups are not official, they are not moderated by us and they are not automatically covered by our rules on posting. However all our players are expected to observe the social contract and commitment to keeping the game live that prohibits online negotiations and discussion of controversial subjects.

Although these online Empire community spaces are not moderated by us nor covered by our rules, players who are use them are still bound by our rules on conduct and our equality and diversity policies that forbid harassment etc. Reported breaches of these rules in communal Empire spaces may result in action being taken by Profound Decisions. If you are experiencing online harassment by another Empire participant then we will take appropriate action if you report the matter to us.

{{Conduct_Further_Reading}}

Online

2023-08-06T14:59:16Z

Cathtice: /* Do Not Criticise Other Participants */

==Overview==
Empire has a large and active social media presence. Our main Empire LRP Facebook group alone has over 4,000 members. We also have dedicated forums as well as accounts on Instagram, Twitch and Twitter. Having an enthusiastic and engaged player base is important to us and we love seeing everyone discussing the game and enjoying the world of Empire. We welcome debate and constructive discussion in all these places, but any feedback should always be sent to [mailto:feedback@profounddecisions.co.uk feedback@profounddecisions.co.uk ] so that the game team can consider it properly.

The [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp/ Empire LRP Facebook group] is for general Empire related chat and queries. We also have nation-specific groups where people can discuss national festivals, collective projects, the national briefs, and the best places to source kit. Camp planning is also announced in these groups. Our national groups are a great community both on and off the field and we encourage people to get involved and to go see what’s being discussed. We also have a [https://www.facebook.com/groups/playersupport/ Player Support Group] which might be a good starting point if you are new to Empire or to live roleplaying in general. The [https://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ Empire LRP forums] have separate boards for all these things, and a few additional ones.

Unfortunately, the nature of the internet is that it removes the element of personal interaction and can exacerbate differences of opinion. If we are not careful this turns discussions into hot-tempered arguments in a way that is detrimental to the debate and the community. For this reason we’ve chosen to implement a set of rules for everyone who uses our official groups and have a large team of crew moderators who can respond to any breaches that occur that are reported to them using the platform’s inbuilt tools or by emailing [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk].

Counting players and crew, Empire has nearly three thousand participants at each event; it's not realistic to expect anyone to like every other participant. What we require is that people treat each other with respect regardless of their personal feelings. Our rules are designed to give our team a basis for judging when that is not happening and to take action accordingly. All the applicable rules for [[conduct]] at events also apply when making posts on any official Profound Decisions forum or Facebook group. In particular please make sure that you have read and understand the rules for [[Conduct#Language|language]] and [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|equality and diversity]].

We ask that the community support our aim to keep the game live and familiarise themselves with the rules governing [[Downtime#Roleplaying_Between_Events|roleplaying between events]]. Remember, every in-character communication you have between events is one that cannot be had face to face.

==Moderators==
We have a team of crew who moderate our social spaces, led by our head of online moderation, Miranda Brennan. The team work collaboratively, discussing cases and coming to an agreed response to get the most consistent and fairest outcomes possible when exercising judgement. When a post/comment is reported, the moderators will review it and if necessary discuss together or escalate to the Head of Moderation. Moderation decisions and evidence are stored centrally in case we need to refer to them in future.
{{CaptionedImage|file=MirandaBrennan.jpg|align=right|caption=Head of Online Moderation: Miranda Brennan}}
===How to report===
Given the scale of the internet, we can’t keep track of every comment and subthread on our official social media. We therefore ask our users to be aware of the posting rules and if they see a breach, to report it by either:

* Using the reporting tools available on that platform
* Emailing [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk] and linking to the post/comment you wish to report.

===What happens when a post is reported?===
If a post/comment is reported and the moderation team decides that it breaks our posting rules, we may delete the post. If we do this, a moderator will endeavour to contact the poster to explain why. If the poster disagrees with the action taken, they can contact the [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk head moderator]. If the matter is not resolved to their satisfaction after this point, the matter can be escalated to [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk]. It is not appropriate to discuss individual moderation discussions on our social media and posts doing this will be deleted.

Depending on the situation we may warn people who have broken the rules, suspend them from our social media spaces either short or long term, or ban them permanently at our discretion. This includes potentially being excluded from the events themselves. We take our rules for online conduct very seriously; we do not make an absolute distinction between behaviour online and at events.

For some breaches of the posting rules, the moderation team may contact the poster privately and give them the opportunity to edit their post in order to make it comply with the rules.

If a contentious post is resulting in some heated debate, we may lock the post from further comments whilst we review it. This is particularly likely if we’re short on moderation cover at that time as our moderation team are all volunteers. If a post has dissolved entirely into unconstructive argument, we will delete the post in its entirety and either explain why privately to the poster or add a post to the group in which it was posted.

===Contesting a Decision===
It is important to appreciate that moderation is not personal. Some of our rules are technical in nature - and people often have posts moderated or removed not because there was anything wrong with the content or the way they posted it but simply because they don't meet the strict guidelines we set for relevance to Empire. Everyone gets moderated from time-to-time, players and crew, so that we can keep our forums welcoming and full of relevant content. ''Being moderated is not a criticism of you or your post.''

Although you may be contacted by a moderator to inform you that a post has been moderated, please bear in mind that moderation decisions are taken collectively by the team, not by any one individual. You're welcome to discuss the matter with the moderator who is there to try and help ensure you understand why the decision was taken, but if you need to contact the moderation team to discuss a new issue, please use the appropriate methods to contact the whole team, rather than emailing or messaging an individual moderator. All of our crew are volunteers so they don't always have time to allocate to support you; this is why we have a team of people in place to deal with any issues. Please respect the system we have put in place and contact the team if you need to discuss something.

If you are not happy with a moderator decision then you are welcome to discuss that with us privately. Mistakes do get made and we are happy to look at any decision that has been taken and apologize if we have made a mistake and correct it where we can. If we stand by the decision after reviewing it, then we'll try to explain in more detail why we came to that conclusion so that you can better understand how the rules are being applied.

Please do not contest decisions in public - that is against our rules - and do not argue with our moderators or become hostile with one of them. They are members of our crew, and should be treated with the same courtesy and respect that you should show a referee at an event. All our crew volunteer their time to work hard on your behalf to provide a great game so we require everyone who attends our events to treat them with appropriate regard. There are no Empire events without our crew and we take their wellbeing very seriously.

Please [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk email mods@profounddecisions.co.uk] if you need to contact the moderation team to discuss any issue. Private messages are not a good mechanism for contacting the team as they go to individuals who may not see them for several days or at all in some cases depending on the platform settings.

==Posting Rules==
* '''Treat each other with respect and assume best faith'''
* '''All posts should clearly relate to Empire'''
* '''Use the most appropriate forum or Facebook group'''
* '''Don't repost the same post or content more than once a month'''
* '''Report any breach of the rules to our moderators rather than responding yourself'''
* '''Don't start in-character conversations or post anything that is contentious in-character'''
* '''IC announcements, sales, adverts and letters are permitted'''
* '''You may cross-post winds of war and winds of fortune'''
* '''You may not post instructions or advice on military units'''
* '''No charity and fundraising posts'''
* '''Post links to photographs, don't repost them'''
* '''Do not post fanfiction'''
* '''Do not criticise other participants for their costume, roleplaying, or interpretation of the setting'''
* '''Do not discuss moderation decisions'''
* '''Do not post accusations of cheating or unsafe fighting'''
* '''Don't do stupid shit'''
* '''Streaming'''
* '''Smut'''

In particular, please note all the applicable rules for [[conduct]] also apply when making posts on any official Profound Decisions forum or Facebook group. In particular please make sure that you have read and understand the rules for [[Conduct#Language|language]] and [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|equality and diversity]].

===Treat each other with respect and assume best faith===
We are proud that Empire players come from a diverse range of backgrounds and traditions of LRP. With well over 2000 players and crew, differences of opinions will occur and discussion of these is no bad thing, but needs to be handled carefully. Please respect people’s opinions, treat other participants as adults, and assume good faith. It’s easy to mistake someone’s intent over the internet and you may need to work a little harder to make yourself understood or be more patient when trying to explain something. Avoid making jokes about contentious subjects where the possibility exists to miss the humour and be offended as a result.

Don't harass other users, don't post anything that constitutes a personal attack and avoid forms of speech that could be interpreted as bullying or abusive. Treat people the way you would want to be treated. We will not tolerate any post that our moderators feel constitutes a personal attack on another live roleplayer - regardless of whether or not they use our official online forums/groups or are a regular attendee at our events. Avoid posting while angry; if you are disagreeing with participant then ensure that you remain polite and avoid [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem ad hominem] responses.

If you feel anything posted on our official forums or Facebook groups violates our rule prohibiting personal attacks then please report it to our moderators, do not respond in kind.

===All Posts Should Clearly Relate to Empire===
Please keep your posts on topic. Our forums and groups are for Empire, so if the discussion strays too far away the subject of Empire we will ask you to take it elsewhere. If the link to Empire is tenuous or would be unclear to a casual reader, our moderators may advise you that this would be more appropriate on your own wall or ask you to elaborate on the original post as to its relevance.

===Use the Most Appropriate Forum or Group===
Please ensure that your posts are in the most appropriate area. Do not duplicate the same or similar posts across multiple different forums or different groups. If your post is a bit more general but one nation may still have a special interest then ''at most'' you should post in the main Empire group and the single most relevant nation group. An example of this would be a Dawnish hosted player event, as Dawnish players may be especially interested, but other nations may also wish to attend. If multiple players all post the same or similar posts either in the same group or across multiple groups, the moderation team will remove the duplicate posts.

Duplicating a post on Facebook and the Forum is permitted as many participants may only use one of these platforms.

If you are a trader at our events then before each event, you may put a post into a single official nation group [[Forums & Facebook|Facebook nation group]] of your choice and/or the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Empire LRP Adverts and Promotions Facebook group] to advertise your services or products. If you are not a trader at our events then using the same rules, you may post once advertisement a year, provided that the products or services offered are relevant to Empire players.
{{CaptionedImage|file=RougherMusic.jpg|align=right|width=350|caption=The Moderators are here to help you.}}

===Don't repost the same post or content more than once a month===
You can repost content up to once a month, if it's relevant to Empire. If you want to promote IC services or similar or you are discussing OOC arrangements relevant to the game then it's fine to repost them periodically - provided it is not too frequent. Our moderators will take down repeated posts if less than a month has passed since the last time it was posted. It's fine to update a post, but deliberately posting to 'bump' a post back to the top of the group is not in the spirit of the rules.

===Report any Breach of the Rules to our Moderators===
Each board has a couple of volunteer moderators and admins and we have a centralised place to discuss and document moderation decisions. Due to the high level of activity in our our official groups it is impossible for us to follow each and every interaction. Therefore, if you see someone infringing the posting rules, please help us by reporting this comment or post promptly rather than responding yourself. A moderator or admin will then respond as quickly as they’re able to.

Please don't call out other participants for posts that you think breach our guidelines, report it, and let the moderators handle it. On Facebook select "report to admin" by clicking in the top right hand corner of a post. On the forum click "...(show more)" then the flag icon on any post.

===Don't Post IC Conversations or Contentious Statements===
Please help us keep the game live and in the field as much as possible. Avoid starting in-character conversations about significant or controversial subjects so that discussion of important in-character issues can be kept for the live events. It is usually fine to post comments about events that have happened, provided that the posts are not contentious or likely to cause people to want to respond as their character. If you post something in-character that could be perceived as contentious on our official forums or groups, we’ll remove or edit this.

Empire is a game for people to say and do contentious things as their character - but we want those actions and the reactions to them to happen in the field when people are roleplaying.

===Post Links to Photographs, Don't Repost Them===
Profound Decisions are lucky enough to have a small team of volunteer photographers to document our events; there are also a number of players who take photographs in line with the [[photography|photography policy]]. These volunteers generously donate their time and energy to show our hobby in all its glory. To acknowledge their contribution you must link to the original photos rather than downloading them and re-uploading them on our forums.

Each photographer will have their own policy on using photos elsewhere (such as for profile or cover pictures). If in doubt, please contact the original photographer.

===IC Announcements and Adverts===
We believe that in-character announcements, such as those advertising a national event or offering an in-character service add more to the game for our players than they detract from it. However, as the game has grown over time, we have needed to create a separate space for certain kinds of IC advert, so that our main Empire LRP Facebook group does not become overloaded.

It is fine to post an advert for a service offered by your character or group or for a meeting that you are arranging or similar, provided that you avoid posting anything that is contentious and only post it in the single most appropriate group.

You can use the main Empire LRP Facebook group to advertise free-to-attend uptime IC events such as meetings and festivals.

If you have an IC advert OR an OC advert for anything that costs IC or OC money, such as crafted goods your character is selling, you may use the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrppromo Adverts and Promotions Facebook group] group and/or the single more relevant Nation group.

Here are some examples of adverts the above rule applies to:

* IC items you are selling for money
* IC raffles, gambling houses, or tourneys which are pay-to-enter
* IC services such as poetry, fortune telling, or performance
* Artwork commissions such as character portraits
* IC snacks, meals, cafes and bars
* IC publications, papers and books
* IC auctions
* an IC business dealing in resources of any kind in uptime eg an apothecary service

All posts must follow the following rules:
* '''Do not add additional comments''' - Do not say “You see this poster across the Empire". If you do this, you’re starting to narrate the reality of the world, which is not permitted.
* '''Post at most once per month''' - Do not repost it more than once a month or deliberately bump your existing post to the top of a page.

You must follow the normal posting rules - don’t say anything in-character that would be contentious and put each post [[#Use_the_Most_Appropriate_Forum_or_Group|in the most appropriate forum or Facebook group only]]. Do not spam it across multiple groups or repost it more often than once a month. You can post an in-character advertisement in any of our Facebook groups up to once per calendar month. The most appropriate group for anything which costs IC or OC money is the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261|the adverts and promotions Facebook group] and/or one Nation Facebook group.

There are several guidelines that we ask participants to follow where possible when posting an advert of this kind:

* State your Price - Haggling or negotiation over prices must be left to the field.
* Use the Hub - There’s a message board in The Hub which citizens can use - if you post online, please endeavour to also advertise in-character.
* Provide a plain text version - Beautiful posters and images are wonderful, but endeavour to provide a copy of the text alongside your image.

In-character letters should be sent privately - but you can use our social media to request contact details for individual characters you have met, or have a way of getting in touch with (eg specific Imperial title-holders, individual group leaders) to get in touch for separate IC letters. We ask people not to tag players of sought-after characters in order that they can decide for themselves whether they want to engage.

Empire has an active economy and the costs of resources can be a powerful lever with which to influence the world. Therefore, discussion about the trading costs of resources, or statements about what things ''should'' cost are prohibited.

===You May Cross-post the Winds===
There is an exception to the normal rules on multi-forum posts for the official Profound Decisions event updates, the Winds of War, and the Winds of Fortune. It is fine to cross-post these updates to an Empire Facebook group or forum - but please only do that if you think it is relevant to that group and check to see if it has already been posted. There is no need to cross-post a Wind of Fortune update about trouble in Hahnmark to the Urizen group for example.

However please make sure you do not include any comment about the content of the Wind in the cross-post. If you want to comment on the issue, you are welcome to do that below your own cross-post, but we ask that players avoid making any comment when making the actual cross-post - just to ensure that there is a clear distinction between what an individual player thinks and the contents of the Wind itself.

===You May Not Post Military Updates===
Players are not permitted to post updates on the decisions of the Military Council, in particular on where the Council would like people to send their military units and fleets in downtime. This constitutes using an online forum to try and influence the choices being made by other characters, it is not compatible with the rules prohibiting the posting of contentious in-character material.

While we have turned a blind-eye to some of these posts in the past - the rules have now been tightened. When the game first started it was difficult for generals to communicate what their army was doing to players. However every player with a military unit or fleet can now see the precise wording of the order issued to each army or navy when they go to submit their downtime. There is no need to provide additional context to these orders.

===No Charity or Fundraising Posts===
We have taken the decision not to allow any charity or fundraising posts on our groups except where they are intended to raise money for things to be used at Empire events or where they are posted by us on the main Empire LRP page. Whilst LRPers are an incredibly generous community, applying the posting rules and deciding on whether a particular fundraising post is “Empire related enough” is an impossible task for our moderator team. Having to assess each one will inevitably cause friction whenever a post is deleted because it is not sufficiently on topic for the Empire forums.

Posts offering prizes must be compliant with the laws regulating such activities. We will remove any post if we are not confident that you are correctly licensed to engage in such activities.

===Do Not Post Fanfiction===
We understand that lots of people love to read and write fanfic - and the Empire community is no exception. However there is a small risk that players may confuse fanfic with canonical updates to the campaign if the fiction is posted on one of the main Empire Facebook groups. For this reason there is a specific Facebook group called [https://www.facebook.com/groups/165082270686010/?fref=gc&dti=470732939604433&hc_location=ufi Empire LRP: Fiction Sharing] which was explicitly intended as a place for Empire players to share stories they have created. All fanfic stories should be posted here, not in one of the main Facebook groups.

===Do Not Criticise Other Participants===
The Empire national briefs are designed to allow for a wide range of creative freedom whilst still maintaining that all-important, clearly identifiable, national identity. When offering support to other players in your nation please be aware that that are other interpretations of the brief which are different to your own but are still valid. Avoid telling other players that they are getting the brief wrong - and avoid presenting yourself as an authority on how the brief should be interpreted.

It is fine to identify parts of the brief that are relevant and encourage people to embrace them. What is not permitted is for players to tell other players what is and is not acceptable in-character. If you have any concerns about the way a player is interpreting the brief then you should report the matter to Profound Decisions who can issue a definitive ruling on the matter.

Likewise, our code of conduct asks all Empire participants to avoid [[Costume#Criticism|criticising other player's kit]]. You should assume that the player in question has followed our guidelines and made the best effort they can. Criticism of other players’ costume will be deleted.

Crowd-sourcing answers about rules often ends up with a variety of responses and opinions on how the rules should be applied in that particular situation. The only definitive and official answers will come by emailing [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk].

===Do Not Accuse Other Players of Cheating or Unsafe Fighting===
Do not make public accusations of cheating or of unsafe fighting at Empire on social media. If you have witnessed either of these happen at an event, please either speak to a ref as soon as you are able to after the incident or contact [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk] after an event to report it.

===Do Not Discuss Moderation Decisions===
It is not constructive to discuss individual moderators or moderator decisions in public. We do however welcome discussion and debate of our posting rules and moderation policy provided the discussion remains civil, hypothetical and does not include references to individual examples. To discuss individual moderation decisions, please contact the Head of Moderation at [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk]; if not resolved to your satisfaction after this point, please contact [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk].

===Don't Do Stupid Shit===
Don't post anything that's illegal, racist, sexist, homophobic, pornographic, abusive, or otherwise objectionable. This includes links to such material as well.

===Streaming===
The [[Streaming|streaming]] rules are set out in full elsewhere. In summary:
* You may make one post per month to promote your streamed content
* You can edit that post if you want to update any information in it, but don't deliberately bump your own post back to the top

===Smut===

Following the [[Rules update 2023]], you must be mindful of the requirement to avoid sexualising the environment in a way that makes other players uncomfortable. Lots of players enjoy smutty publications - and lots of players don't want anything to do with that in their LRP. We have updated our conduct rules on sexual activity at events to make clear that anyone who wants to engage in that kind of roleplaying must ensure that it is handled discreetly and in a way that doesn't force other players to be involved with it against their wishes.

In particular that means you can't promote it on our Facebook groups, since that's incompatible with the need to handle it discreetly in a way that doesn't cause discomfort for other players. I've asked the moderators to take down posts promoting material that is smutty or explicit in the future.

==Traders==
* '''Traders who pay for a pitch at Empire may post adverts up to once a month'''
* '''LRP traders who don't have a pitch at Empire may post adverts once a year'''
We are happy to allow traders to make occasional posts to the Empire Facebook groups, particularly if the post is drawing attention to goods that are appealing to Empire players. At the same time we are keen to prevent the groups from becoming overburdened with adverts, and want to ensure that they do not become too repetitive. To give everyone a fair set of guidelines to operate to - we have decided that traders or groups who have a trade pitch at Empire may post one advert per month if they choose. If a trader isn't one of the Empire traders then they may post up to one advert a year. Any adverts posted more frequently than that will be deleted by the moderators.

A trader advert can be in the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Empire LRP Adverts and Promotion] Facebook group and a single nation Facebook group provided it contains stock appropriate to that nation. Any advert posted across multiple nation groups will be removed.

==Hot Topics==
The areas below are topics that almost invariably degenerate into arguments, or are simply not appropriate or acceptable topics of discussion for our forums or Facebook groups. Some of these issues are controversial and tend to produce a lot of acrimony when discussed online giving the false impression that these issues dominate our events. Some of these issues are simply not appropriate or acceptable and will be deleted by our moderators as soon as they become aware of them.

Our moderators will closely monitor these "hot topics" and may pre-emptively delete any posts that they feel is highly likely to lead to an adversarial discussion of the issues.

===Politics, Religion, and Language===
Politics and religion are incredibly important subjects and the crew and players of Empire cover a lot of different religions and a wide spectrum of political opinions. However, our online community exists so that participants can discuss the imaginary politics of the world of Empire and not real world politics.

Discussions about inappropriate language, such as the use of gendered words, is a subject that we’ve learned from prior incidents rapidly degenerates into acrimony. We will allow positive discussion of ways that participants can embrace the gender-blind Empire setting and implement that in their roleplaying - but will delete anything that is negative, a personal attack or is based on criticism of other people's roleplaying or experiences.

In using our social media, participants are also bound by any applicable conduct rules, including those around gendered language. If you are concerned by a poster’s use of inappropriate language, then please bring it to the attention of a moderator and they will contact the other participant and remind them of our rules relating to this.

===In-character Debates===
Empire is ''not'' a system which employs "FOIP" - a requirement that you can only find things out in play at events. It is '''fine''' to ask simple in-character questions, things you think your character should know or any questions about the system. If the information you have asked for is not controversial in-character then other participants are free to give you the answer to your question or to encourage you to find their character at an event and seek out the information in-character.

However as per the posting rules we prohibit discussion online of important or controversial issues. These issues form part of the plot of our event and we ask everyone to respect that.

There are specific rules for [[Downtime#Roleplaying_Between_Events|roleplaying between events]]. Anything that breaches these rules - any post that contains trade negotiations, religious debates, military planning, magical discourse, or political discussions and appointments will be removed.

===Criticism of Empire and other LRP Systems===
Live roleplaying is an amazing community that is at its best when participants share original ideas and best practices between different systems. So it's fine to make a post calling out a positive example of something other games do well - or do better than Empire does - that gives us a basis for discussing ways to make Empire a better game. But please bear in mind when posting, that Empire is such a large system that we will have participants who love the game you are referencing as well as participants who tried it and did not enjoy it.

What is not permitted is ''anything'' that is critical or dismissive of other LRP systems. Most LRP systems have their own forums or Facebook groups for their players to post comments about their games - posts that are about other games should be posted on their Facebook page, ''not on our forum/groups''.

It is fine to use our Facebook groups and our forums to criticize Empire or Profound Decisions and we encourage people to post ideas for improvements to the game. Bear in mind that all LRP games are produced by the combined efforts of a team of volunteers who are passionately invested in the game they create. Criticism directed at named individuals will be treated as a personal attack and moderated accordingly and our rules requiring [[Feedback#Worst_Way|civility]] towards our volunteers apply on our forums and Facebook groups as well as at events.

We believe a good LRP stands on its merits, and benefits from analysis, critique, and discussion. We ask all participants to be mindful of the fact that just because you have not experienced a problem does not mean the problem does not exist. Our moderators will remove posts if they judge that their only contribution is to suppress criticism or silence debate about Empire.

Facebook is an excellent place to discuss Empire with other participants who use Facebook - it is not ideal for providing [[feedback]] to Profound Decisions. There is no guarantee that the people who can act on the basis of your feedback will even see it. We treat posts on Facebook as the basis for discussion between participants - the [[feedback|wiki page on providing feedback]] discusses the best ways to send actual feedback to the team.

==Unofficial PD groups==
There are a large number of unofficial Empire groups which people use for discussing issues and organising logistics, amongst other things. As these groups are not official, they are not moderated by us and they are not automatically covered by our rules on posting. However all our players are expected to observe the social contract and commitment to keeping the game live that prohibits online negotiations and discussion of controversial subjects.

Although these online Empire community spaces are not moderated by us nor covered by our rules, players who are use them are still bound by our rules on conduct and our equality and diversity policies that forbid harassment etc. Reported breaches of these rules in communal Empire spaces may result in action being taken by Profound Decisions. If you are experiencing online harassment by another Empire participant then we will take appropriate action if you report the matter to us.

{{Conduct_Further_Reading}}

Online

2023-08-06T14:39:49Z

Cathtice: /* Traders */

==Overview==
Empire has a large and active social media presence. Our main Empire LRP Facebook group alone has over 4,000 members. We also have dedicated forums as well as accounts on Instagram, Twitch and Twitter. Having an enthusiastic and engaged player base is important to us and we love seeing everyone discussing the game and enjoying the world of Empire. We welcome debate and constructive discussion in all these places, but any feedback should always be sent to [mailto:feedback@profounddecisions.co.uk feedback@profounddecisions.co.uk ] so that the game team can consider it properly.

The [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp/ Empire LRP Facebook group] is for general Empire related chat and queries. We also have nation-specific groups where people can discuss national festivals, collective projects, the national briefs, and the best places to source kit. Camp planning is also announced in these groups. Our national groups are a great community both on and off the field and we encourage people to get involved and to go see what’s being discussed. We also have a [https://www.facebook.com/groups/playersupport/ Player Support Group] which might be a good starting point if you are new to Empire or to live roleplaying in general. The [https://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ Empire LRP forums] have separate boards for all these things, and a few additional ones.

Unfortunately, the nature of the internet is that it removes the element of personal interaction and can exacerbate differences of opinion. If we are not careful this turns discussions into hot-tempered arguments in a way that is detrimental to the debate and the community. For this reason we’ve chosen to implement a set of rules for everyone who uses our official groups and have a large team of crew moderators who can respond to any breaches that occur that are reported to them using the platform’s inbuilt tools or by emailing [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk].

Counting players and crew, Empire has nearly three thousand participants at each event; it's not realistic to expect anyone to like every other participant. What we require is that people treat each other with respect regardless of their personal feelings. Our rules are designed to give our team a basis for judging when that is not happening and to take action accordingly. All the applicable rules for [[conduct]] at events also apply when making posts on any official Profound Decisions forum or Facebook group. In particular please make sure that you have read and understand the rules for [[Conduct#Language|language]] and [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|equality and diversity]].

We ask that the community support our aim to keep the game live and familiarise themselves with the rules governing [[Downtime#Roleplaying_Between_Events|roleplaying between events]]. Remember, every in-character communication you have between events is one that cannot be had face to face.

==Moderators==
We have a team of crew who moderate our social spaces, led by our head of online moderation, Miranda Brennan. The team work collaboratively, discussing cases and coming to an agreed response to get the most consistent and fairest outcomes possible when exercising judgement. When a post/comment is reported, the moderators will review it and if necessary discuss together or escalate to the Head of Moderation. Moderation decisions and evidence are stored centrally in case we need to refer to them in future.
{{CaptionedImage|file=MirandaBrennan.jpg|align=right|caption=Head of Online Moderation: Miranda Brennan}}
===How to report===
Given the scale of the internet, we can’t keep track of every comment and subthread on our official social media. We therefore ask our users to be aware of the posting rules and if they see a breach, to report it by either:

* Using the reporting tools available on that platform
* Emailing [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk] and linking to the post/comment you wish to report.

===What happens when a post is reported?===
If a post/comment is reported and the moderation team decides that it breaks our posting rules, we may delete the post. If we do this, a moderator will endeavour to contact the poster to explain why. If the poster disagrees with the action taken, they can contact the [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk head moderator]. If the matter is not resolved to their satisfaction after this point, the matter can be escalated to [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk]. It is not appropriate to discuss individual moderation discussions on our social media and posts doing this will be deleted.

Depending on the situation we may warn people who have broken the rules, suspend them from our social media spaces either short or long term, or ban them permanently at our discretion. This includes potentially being excluded from the events themselves. We take our rules for online conduct very seriously; we do not make an absolute distinction between behaviour online and at events.

For some breaches of the posting rules, the moderation team may contact the poster privately and give them the opportunity to edit their post in order to make it comply with the rules.

If a contentious post is resulting in some heated debate, we may lock the post from further comments whilst we review it. This is particularly likely if we’re short on moderation cover at that time as our moderation team are all volunteers. If a post has dissolved entirely into unconstructive argument, we will delete the post in its entirety and either explain why privately to the poster or add a post to the group in which it was posted.

===Contesting a Decision===
It is important to appreciate that moderation is not personal. Some of our rules are technical in nature - and people often have posts moderated or removed not because there was anything wrong with the content or the way they posted it but simply because they don't meet the strict guidelines we set for relevance to Empire. Everyone gets moderated from time-to-time, players and crew, so that we can keep our forums welcoming and full of relevant content. ''Being moderated is not a criticism of you or your post.''

Although you may be contacted by a moderator to inform you that a post has been moderated, please bear in mind that moderation decisions are taken collectively by the team, not by any one individual. You're welcome to discuss the matter with the moderator who is there to try and help ensure you understand why the decision was taken, but if you need to contact the moderation team to discuss a new issue, please use the appropriate methods to contact the whole team, rather than emailing or messaging an individual moderator. All of our crew are volunteers so they don't always have time to allocate to support you; this is why we have a team of people in place to deal with any issues. Please respect the system we have put in place and contact the team if you need to discuss something.

If you are not happy with a moderator decision then you are welcome to discuss that with us privately. Mistakes do get made and we are happy to look at any decision that has been taken and apologize if we have made a mistake and correct it where we can. If we stand by the decision after reviewing it, then we'll try to explain in more detail why we came to that conclusion so that you can better understand how the rules are being applied.

Please do not contest decisions in public - that is against our rules - and do not argue with our moderators or become hostile with one of them. They are members of our crew, and should be treated with the same courtesy and respect that you should show a referee at an event. All our crew volunteer their time to work hard on your behalf to provide a great game so we require everyone who attends our events to treat them with appropriate regard. There are no Empire events without our crew and we take their wellbeing very seriously.

Please [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk email mods@profounddecisions.co.uk] if you need to contact the moderation team to discuss any issue. Private messages are not a good mechanism for contacting the team as they go to individuals who may not see them for several days or at all in some cases depending on the platform settings.

==Posting Rules==
* '''Treat each other with respect and assume best faith'''
* '''All posts should clearly relate to Empire'''
* '''Use the most appropriate forum or Facebook group'''
* '''Don't repost the same post or content more than once a month'''
* '''Report any breach of the rules to our moderators rather than responding yourself'''
* '''Don't start in-character conversations or post anything that is contentious in-character'''
* '''IC announcements, sales, adverts and letters are permitted'''
* '''You may cross-post winds of war and winds of fortune'''
* '''You may not post instructions or advice on military units'''
* '''No charity and fundraising posts'''
* '''Post links to photographs, don't repost them'''
* '''Do not post fanfiction'''
* '''Do not criticise other participants for their costume, roleplaying, or interpretation of the setting'''
* '''Do not discuss moderation decisions'''
* '''Do not post accusations of cheating or unsafe fighting'''
* '''Don't do stupid shit'''
* '''Streaming'''
* '''Smut'''

In particular, please note all the applicable rules for [[conduct]] also apply when making posts on any official Profound Decisions forum or Facebook group. In particular please make sure that you have read and understand the rules for [[Conduct#Language|language]] and [[Conduct#Equality_and_Diversity|equality and diversity]].

===Treat each other with respect and assume best faith===
We are proud that Empire players come from a diverse range of backgrounds and traditions of LRP. With well over 2000 players and crew, differences of opinions will occur and discussion of these is no bad thing, but needs to be handled carefully. Please respect people’s opinions, treat other participants as adults, and assume good faith. It’s easy to mistake someone’s intent over the internet and you may need to work a little harder to make yourself understood or be more patient when trying to explain something. Avoid making jokes about contentious subjects where the possibility exists to miss the humour and be offended as a result.

Don't harass other users, don't post anything that constitutes a personal attack and avoid forms of speech that could be interpreted as bullying or abusive. Treat people the way you would want to be treated. We will not tolerate any post that our moderators feel constitutes a personal attack on another live roleplayer - regardless of whether or not they use our official online forums/groups or are a regular attendee at our events. Avoid posting while angry; if you are disagreeing with participant then ensure that you remain polite and avoid [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem ad hominem] responses.

If you feel anything posted on our official forums or Facebook groups violates our rule prohibiting personal attacks then please report it to our moderators, do not respond in kind.

===All Posts Should Clearly Relate to Empire===
Please keep your posts on topic. Our forums and groups are for Empire, so if the discussion strays too far away the subject of Empire we will ask you to take it elsewhere. If the link to Empire is tenuous or would be unclear to a casual reader, our moderators may advise you that this would be more appropriate on your own wall or ask you to elaborate on the original post as to its relevance.

===Use the Most Appropriate Forum or Group===
Please ensure that your posts are in the most appropriate area. Do not duplicate the same or similar posts across multiple different forums or different groups. If your post is a bit more general but one nation may still have a special interest then ''at most'' you should post in the main Empire group and the single most relevant nation group. An example of this would be a Dawnish hosted player event, as Dawnish players may be especially interested, but other nations may also wish to attend. If multiple players all post the same or similar posts either in the same group or across multiple groups, the moderation team will remove the duplicate posts.

Duplicating a post on Facebook and the Forum is permitted as many participants may only use one of these platforms.

If you are a trader at our events then you may put a post into a single official group of your choice before each event to advertise your services or products. If you are not a trader at our events then you may post once advertisement a year provided that the products or services offered are relevant to Empire players.
{{CaptionedImage|file=RougherMusic.jpg|align=right|width=350|caption=The Moderators are here to help you.}}

===Don't repost the same post or content more than once a month===
You can repost content up to once a month, if it's relevant to Empire. If you want to promote IC services or similar or you are discussing OOC arrangements relevant to the game then it's fine to repost them periodically - provided it is not too frequent. Our moderators will take down repeated posts if less than a month has passed since the last time it was posted. It's fine to update a post, but deliberately posting to 'bump' a post back to the top of the group is not in the spirit of the rules.

===Report any Breach of the Rules to our Moderators===
Each board has a couple of volunteer moderators and admins and we have a centralised place to discuss and document moderation decisions. Due to the high level of activity in our our official groups it is impossible for us to follow each and every interaction. Therefore, if you see someone infringing the posting rules, please help us by reporting this comment or post promptly rather than responding yourself. A moderator or admin will then respond as quickly as they’re able to.

Please don't call out other participants for posts that you think breach our guidelines, report it, and let the moderators handle it. On Facebook select "report to admin" by clicking in the top right hand corner of a post. On the forum click "...(show more)" then the flag icon on any post.

===Don't Post IC Conversations or Contentious Statements===
Please help us keep the game live and in the field as much as possible. Avoid starting in-character conversations about significant or controversial subjects so that discussion of important in-character issues can be kept for the live events. It is usually fine to post comments about events that have happened, provided that the posts are not contentious or likely to cause people to want to respond as their character. If you post something in-character that could be perceived as contentious on our official forums or groups, we’ll remove or edit this.

Empire is a game for people to say and do contentious things as their character - but we want those actions and the reactions to them to happen in the field when people are roleplaying.

===Post Links to Photographs, Don't Repost Them===
Profound Decisions are lucky enough to have a small team of volunteer photographers to document our events; there are also a number of players who take photographs in line with the [[photography|photography policy]]. These volunteers generously donate their time and energy to show our hobby in all its glory. To acknowledge their contribution you must link to the original photos rather than downloading them and re-uploading them on our forums.

Each photographer will have their own policy on using photos elsewhere (such as for profile or cover pictures). If in doubt, please contact the original photographer.

===IC Announcements and Adverts are Permitted===
We believe that in-character announcements, such as those advertising a national event or offering an in-character service add more to the game for our players than they detract from it. It is fine to post an advert for a service offered by your character or group or for a meeting that you are arranging or similar, provided that you avoid posting anything that is contentious and only post it in the single most appropriate group.

All posts must follow the following rules:
* '''Do not add additional comments''' - Do not say “You see this poster across the Empire". If you do this, you’re starting to narrate the reality of the world, which is not permitted.
* '''Post at most once per month''' - Do not repost it more than once a month or deliberately bump your existing post to the top of a page.

You must follow the normal posting rules - don’t say anything in-character that would be contentious and put each post [[#Use_the_Most_Appropriate_Forum_or_Group|in the most appropriate forum or Facebook group only]]. Do not spam it across multiple groups or repost it more often than once a month. You can post an in-character advertisement in any of our Facebook groups up to once per calendar month. The most appropriate group for anything which costs IC or OC money is the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261|the adverts and promotions Facebook group] and/or one Nation Facebook group.

The main Empire LRP Facebook group is only an appropriate forum for adverts for free IC meetings, free IC festivals, free OC support, or for player events.

There are several guidelines that we ask participants to follow where possible when posting an advert of this kind:

* State your Price - Haggling or negotiation over prices must be left to the field.
* Use the Hub - There’s a message board in The Hub which citizens can use - if you post online, please endeavour to also advertise in-character.
* Provide a plain text version - Beautiful posters and images are wonderful, but endeavour to provide a copy of the text alongside your image.

In-character letters should be sent privately - but you can use our social media to request contact details for individual characters you have met, or have a way of getting in touch with (eg specific Imperial title-holders, individual group leaders) to get in touch for separate IC letters.

Empire has an active economy and the costs of resources can be a powerful lever with which to influence the world. Therefore, discussion about the trading costs of resources, or statements about what things ''should'' cost are prohibited.

===You May Cross-post the Winds===
There is an exception to the normal rules on multi-forum posts for the official Profound Decisions event updates, the Winds of War, and the Winds of Fortune. It is fine to cross-post these updates to an Empire Facebook group or forum - but please only do that if you think it is relevant to that group and check to see if it has already been posted. There is no need to cross-post a Wind of Fortune update about trouble in Hahnmark to the Urizen group for example.

However please make sure you do not include any comment about the content of the Wind in the cross-post. If you want to comment on the issue, you are welcome to do that below your own cross-post, but we ask that players avoid making any comment when making the actual cross-post - just to ensure that there is a clear distinction between what an individual player thinks and the contents of the Wind itself.

===You May Not Post Military Updates===
Players are not permitted to post updates on the decisions of the Military Council, in particular on where the Council would like people to send their military units and fleets in downtime. This constitutes using an online forum to try and influence the choices being made by other characters, it is not compatible with the rules prohibiting the posting of contentious in-character material.

While we have turned a blind-eye to some of these posts in the past - the rules have now been tightened. When the game first started it was difficult for generals to communicate what their army was doing to players. However every player with a military unit or fleet can now see the precise wording of the order issued to each army or navy when they go to submit their downtime. There is no need to provide additional context to these orders.

===No Charity or Fundraising Posts===
We have taken the decision not to allow any charity or fundraising posts on our groups except where they are intended to raise money for things to be used at Empire events or where they are posted by us on the main Empire LRP page. Whilst LRPers are an incredibly generous community, applying the posting rules and deciding on whether a particular fundraising post is “Empire related enough” is an impossible task for our moderator team. Having to assess each one will inevitably cause friction whenever a post is deleted because it is not sufficiently on topic for the Empire forums.

Posts offering prizes must be compliant with the laws regulating such activities. We will remove any post if we are not confident that you are correctly licensed to engage in such activities.

===Do Not Post Fanfiction===
We understand that lots of people love to read and write fanfic - and the Empire community is no exception. However there is a small risk that players may confuse fanfic with canonical updates to the campaign if the fiction is posted on one of the main Empire Facebook groups. For this reason there is a specific Facebook group called [https://www.facebook.com/groups/165082270686010/?fref=gc&dti=470732939604433&hc_location=ufi Empire LRP: Fiction Sharing] which was explicitly intended as a place for Empire players to share stories they have created. All fanfic stories should be posted here, not in one of the main Facebook groups.

===Do Not Criticise Other Participants===
The Empire national briefs are designed to allow for a wide range of creative freedom whilst still maintaining that all-important, clearly identifiable, national identity. When offering support to other players in your nation please be aware that that are other interpretations of the brief which are different to your own but are still valid. Avoid telling other players that they are getting the brief wrong - and avoid presenting yourself as an authority on how the brief should be interpreted.

It is fine to identify parts of the brief that are relevant and encourage people to embrace them. What is not permitted is for players to tell other players what is and is not acceptable in-character. If you have any concerns about the way a player is interpreting the brief then you should report the matter to Profound Decisions who can issue a definitive ruling on the matter.

Likewise, our code of conduct asks all Empire participants to avoid [[Costume#Criticism|criticizing other player's kit]]. You should assume that the player in question has followed our guidelines and made the best effort they can. Criticism of other players’ costume will be deleted.

Crowd-sourcing answers about rules often ends up with a variety of responses and opinions on how the rules should be applied in that particular situation. The only definitive and official answers will come by emailing [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk].

===Do Not Accuse Other Players of Cheating or Unsafe Fighting===
Do not make public accusations of cheating or of unsafe fighting at Empire on social media. If you have witnessed either of these happen at an event, please either speak to a ref as soon as you are able to after the incident or contact [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk] after an event to report it.

===Do Not Discuss Moderation Decisions===
It is not constructive to discuss individual moderators or moderator decisions in public. We do however welcome discussion and debate of our posting rules and moderation policy provided the discussion remains civil, hypothetical and does not include references to individual examples. To discuss individual moderation decisions, please contact the Head of Moderation at [mailto:mods@profounddecisions.co.uk mods@profounddecisions.co.uk]; if not resolved to your satisfaction after this point, please contact [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk matt@profounddecisions.co.uk].

===Don't Do Stupid Shit===
Don't post anything that's illegal, racist, sexist, homophobic, pornographic, abusive, or otherwise objectionable. This includes links to such material as well.

===Streaming===
The [[Streaming|streaming]] rules are set out in full elsewhere. In summary:
* You may make one post per month to promote your streamed content
* You can edit that post if you want to update any information in it, but don't deliberately bump your own post back to the top

===Smut===

Following the [[Rules update 2023]], you must be mindful of the requirement to avoid sexualising the environment in a way that makes other players uncomfortable. Lots of players enjoy smutty publications - and lots of players don't want anything to do with that in their LRP. We have updated our conduct rules on sexual activity at events to make clear that anyone who wants to engage in that kind of roleplaying must ensure that it is handled discreetly and in a way that doesn't force other players to be involved with it against their wishes.

In particular that means you can't promote it on our Facebook groups, since that's incompatible with the need to handle it discreetly in a way that doesn't cause discomfort for other players. I've asked the moderators to take down posts promoting material that is smutty or explicit in the future.

==Traders==
* '''Traders who pay for a pitch at Empire may post adverts up to once a month'''
* '''LRP traders who don't have a pitch at Empire may post adverts once a year'''
We are happy to allow traders to make occasional posts to the Empire Facebook groups, particularly if the post is drawing attention to goods that are appealing to Empire players. At the same time we are keen to prevent the groups from becoming overburdened with adverts, and want to ensure that they do not become too repetitive. To give everyone a fair set of guidelines to operate to - we have decided that traders or groups who have a trade pitch at Empire may post one advert per month if they choose. If a trader isn't one of the Empire traders then they may post up to one advert a year. Any adverts posted more frequently than that will be deleted by the moderators.

A trader advert can be in the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Empire LRP Adverts and Promotion] Facebook group and a single nation Facebook group provided it contains stock appropriate to that nation. Any advert posted across multiple nation groups will be removed.

==Hot Topics==
The areas below are topics that almost invariably degenerate into arguments, or are simply not appropriate or acceptable topics of discussion for our forums or Facebook groups. Some of these issues are controversial and tend to produce a lot of acrimony when discussed online giving the false impression that these issues dominate our events. Some of these issues are simply not appropriate or acceptable and will be deleted by our moderators as soon as they become aware of them.

Our moderators will closely monitor these "hot topics" and may pre-emptively delete any posts that they feel is highly likely to lead to an adversarial discussion of the issues.

===Politics, Religion, and Language===
Politics and religion are incredibly important subjects and the crew and players of Empire cover a lot of different religions and a wide spectrum of political opinions. However, our online community exists so that participants can discuss the imaginary politics of the world of Empire and not real world politics.

Discussions about inappropriate language, such as the use of gendered words, is a subject that we’ve learned from prior incidents rapidly degenerates into acrimony. We will allow positive discussion of ways that participants can embrace the gender-blind Empire setting and implement that in their roleplaying - but will delete anything that is negative, a personal attack or is based on criticism of other people's roleplaying or experiences.

In using our social media, participants are also bound by any applicable conduct rules, including those around gendered language. If you are concerned by a poster’s use of inappropriate language, then please bring it to the attention of a moderator and they will contact the other participant and remind them of our rules relating to this.

===In-character Debates===
Empire is ''not'' a system which employs "FOIP" - a requirement that you can only find things out in play at events. It is '''fine''' to ask simple in-character questions, things you think your character should know or any questions about the system. If the information you have asked for is not controversial in-character then other participants are free to give you the answer to your question or to encourage you to find their character at an event and seek out the information in-character.

However as per the posting rules we prohibit discussion online of important or controversial issues. These issues form part of the plot of our event and we ask everyone to respect that.

There are specific rules for [[Downtime#Roleplaying_Between_Events|roleplaying between events]]. Anything that breaches these rules - any post that contains trade negotiations, religious debates, military planning, magical discourse, or political discussions and appointments will be removed.

===Criticism of Empire and other LRP Systems===
Live roleplaying is an amazing community that is at its best when participants share original ideas and best practices between different systems. So it's fine to make a post calling out a positive example of something other games do well - or do better than Empire does - that gives us a basis for discussing ways to make Empire a better game. But please bear in mind when posting, that Empire is such a large system that we will have participants who love the game you are referencing as well as participants who tried it and did not enjoy it.

What is not permitted is ''anything'' that is critical or dismissive of other LRP systems. Most LRP systems have their own forums or Facebook groups for their players to post comments about their games - posts that are about other games should be posted on their Facebook page, ''not on our forum/groups''.

It is fine to use our Facebook groups and our forums to criticize Empire or Profound Decisions and we encourage people to post ideas for improvements to the game. Bear in mind that all LRP games are produced by the combined efforts of a team of volunteers who are passionately invested in the game they create. Criticism directed at named individuals will be treated as a personal attack and moderated accordingly and our rules requiring [[Feedback#Worst_Way|civility]] towards our volunteers apply on our forums and Facebook groups as well as at events.

We believe a good LRP stands on its merits, and benefits from analysis, critique, and discussion. We ask all participants to be mindful of the fact that just because you have not experienced a problem does not mean the problem does not exist. Our moderators will remove posts if they judge that their only contribution is to suppress criticism or silence debate about Empire.

Facebook is an excellent place to discuss Empire with other participants who use Facebook - it is not ideal for providing [[feedback]] to Profound Decisions. There is no guarantee that the people who can act on the basis of your feedback will even see it. We treat posts on Facebook as the basis for discussion between participants - the [[feedback|wiki page on providing feedback]] discusses the best ways to send actual feedback to the team.

==Unofficial PD groups==
There are a large number of unofficial Empire groups which people use for discussing issues and organising logistics, amongst other things. As these groups are not official, they are not moderated by us and they are not automatically covered by our rules on posting. However all our players are expected to observe the social contract and commitment to keeping the game live that prohibits online negotiations and discussion of controversial subjects.

Although these online Empire community spaces are not moderated by us nor covered by our rules, players who are use them are still bound by our rules on conduct and our equality and diversity policies that forbid harassment etc. Reported breaches of these rules in communal Empire spaces may result in action being taken by Profound Decisions. If you are experiencing online harassment by another Empire participant then we will take appropriate action if you report the matter to us.

{{Conduct_Further_Reading}}

Forums & Facebook

2023-08-06T14:35:50Z

Cathtice: /* Adverts and promotion */

==Introduction==
With around three thousand players at each event, Empire has an active online community that use a wide range of different social media. We maintain our own Facebook groups and forums for users to discuss the game and related issues but there are also a plethora of Facebook groups used by different groups of players.

==Forum==
Profound Decisions also host their own [http://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ official Empire forum] for players and crew alike. These forums are moderated by the same team that supervise all our official Facebook groups to ensure posts remain civil and relevant. They are a great place to chat with the game designers or the crew about any aspect of Empire especially for those who prefer the kind of longer, more thoughtful conversations, that forums encourage.

<table class="wikitable" style="width:280px; float: right; margin-left:10px; margin-right: 10px; clear: right;">
<tr><th>Empire Forums And Facebook</th></tr>
<tr><td>
* [https://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ Official Empire Forums]
* [https://www.facebook.com/empire.lrp Main Facebook page]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp Main Facebook group]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/playersupport Player Support]
</td></tr>
</table>
==Facebook Page and Group==
We maintain our own [https://www.facebook.com/empire.lrp official Facebook page] which we try to update regularly with blog posts and important news about the game. If you just want to keep abreast of the latest news it is worth liking and following the page.

In addition we run the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp/ Empire Facebook group] where participants can discuss anything Empire related. The group is firmly moderated to ensure that conversations remain polite and on-topic. If you want to have a public discussion with the game designers or the crew about any aspect of Empire then this is a great place for it.

==Player Support & New Player Help==
We also have an official Facebook group that is just for [https://www.facebook.com/groups/playersupport/ providing support for players] especially for new players who are seeking help. If you are new to the game and full of questions then this is the best place to start your journey. There are lots of players in the group who are keen to help as well as key members of our player support team who are on hand to help you get questions answered and problems sorted.

==Adverts and promotion==

We have a dedicated [https://www.facebook.com/groups/998672144716261 Advert group] for IC and OC adverts, promotions, posters and notices. If you’re interested in any of the various goods and services available to players and characters in Empire, this is a great place to come and see what’s on.

If you have an IC advert OR an OC advert for anything that costs IC or OC money, including:
* IC items you are selling IC for money
* IC raffles, gambling houses, or tourneys which are pay-to-enter
* IC services such as poetry, fortune telling, or performance
* Artwork commissions, IC or OC
* IC cake, cafes, bars
* IC publications, papers and books
* IC auctions
* an IC business dealing in resources of any kind in uptime eg an apothecary service
* OC trader products eg larpsafe weapons and armour
* secondhand kit sales
This is the place to post. The [[Online#IC_Announcements_and_Adverts_are_Permitted|posting rules]] remain the same; you can post in the Adverts and promotion group, and in one Nation of your choice, once a month.

For events or items that are free, or for player events, these can be posted in [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrp Empire LRP group] and/or one Nation of your choice, once a month.

==Nation Groups==
We also operate an official Facebook group for each of the nations. These are a great place to chat with other participants who play in that nation and also help with things like camp planning and pointing people towards groups that are looking for new characters.

<row-fluid>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=BrassCoastTrader.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/481197761897569/ The Brass Coast]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=DawnFighting2.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/401633306545071/ Dawn]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=HighguardStandard.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/208819129244083/ Highguard]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=OrcGroup2.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/158687267598665/ Imperial Orcs]}}</span3>
</row-fluid>

<row-fluid>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=LeaguePriestCrop.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/459784360702068/ The League]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=JohnKnockingOrcOver.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/146423572116922/ The Marches]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=NavarrWarrior.JPG|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/476962795649090/ Navarr]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=UrizenMage2.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/470732939604433/ Urizen]}}</span3>
</row-fluid>

<row-fluid>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=VarushkanWarrior.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/459784360702068/ Varushka]}}</span3>
<span3>{{CaptionedImage|file=KallavesiMystic2.jpg|caption=[https://www.facebook.com/groups/301940076567407/ Wintermark]}}</span3>
</row-fluid>

==Unofficial Facebook Groups==
There are a plethora of Empire Facebook groups that have been created by players. These groups are not official and are not moderated by Profound Decisions. They are a good place to go if you are interested in talking to other players about a specific aspect of the game. They include a Facebook group for each of the lineage options (listed below)
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr; gap: 12px;">
<div>
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1057225621015403 Stitching Squad]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/205372172927561/ Parents]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/285396931593899 Photography]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/359403560824018 Travel Arrangements]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/365552780230761 Kit Sales and Swaps]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/165082270686010 Empire Fanfiction]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirechesshub Empire Chess Club]
</div>
<div>
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/2021929444528461 LGBTQ+ Empire Players]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/582931741870887 Spoonie + Disabled Larpers]
</div>
<div>
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/218725734938296/ Briar]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/136200783196741/ Cambion]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/377347932346289/ Changeling]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/413971382005569/ Draughir]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/301021356671320/ Merrow]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/166705633475863/ Naga]
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Please note that these groups are unofficial so they are not moderated by us!