Empire - User contributions [en]

Appoint Ambassador to Axos Winter 382YE

2026-07-07T00:14:19Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:Senate Motion]][[Category:382YE Winter]]
__NOTOC__
<ic>To appoint Ambassador to Axos<br><br><i>Proposed by Kallavesa, Seconded by Karsk</i></ic>

===Overview===
* This motion appoints the [[Ambassador to Axos]]
* Passed
===Date===
* Winter 381YE
===Campaign Outcome===
* The election was held
* Tarquinius Ankarien retains their position

Each age a lens

2026-07-07T00:13:20Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Grendel]][[Category:Jotun]][[Category:Druj]]
{{CaptionedImage|file=Advisor Frith.jpg|align=left|caption='''Frith''', Advisor on Orc Affairs|width=250}}
==Overview==
* '''Five orc nations have engaged in diplomacy of one kind or another with the Empire'''
Many of the nations that border the Empire are [[orc]] nations. Not all are barbarians; the Empire has a long-standing peace treaty with the Thule for example (see the '''[[Invited with asperity]]''' wind of fortune for more details on Thule diplomacy this season). There are also communities of orcs within the Empire's borders. Some are part of Imperial nations - the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]], the former [[Grendel]] of [[the League]], the free [[Jotun]] thralls of [[the Marches]]. Others maintain a degree of independence while still being at least ambivalent to the Empire - the orcs of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] and the protectorate of Morajasse - while still others keep to themselves and have an uncertain relationship with their Imperial neighbours - the [[Not_to_conquer#Rahvin|Rahvin]] in [[the Barrens]] for example, the septs of [[Mareave]], or the remaining orc septs in [[Ossium]] who declined to move to [[Skarsind]] when the offer was made.

In most cases, diplomacy with most of these disparate orc groups is technically the responsibility of the [[Imperial Consul]], currently '''Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason''' of [[Wintermark]], perhaps advised by the [[Advisor on Orc Affairs]], '''Frith''' of the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]]. In practice, many of these orc groups prefer to deal with members of certain nations with whom they have ties - the Jotun prefer to talk to the folk of Wintermark for example, while the Great Forest Orcs consider the Navarr to be their close allies.
==Jotun==
* '''The Jotun remain at war with the Empire'''
* '''Responsibility and authority for diplomacy with the Jotun falls to the Imperial Consul'''
The [[Jotun]] are a powerful, martial nation led by the Jarl of Jarls - Queen Yrsa Jansdóttir of [[Jotun#History|Kalsea]] and King Gudmundr Arason of [[Jotun#History|Narkyst]]. The Empire has been at war with them for most of its existence, although there have been numerous short periods of peace during that time. They encroach into Imperial lands - having conquered [[Bregasland]] and [[Liathaven]] (which they name ''Ashvale''). The Empire responds with an [[Rubies in the snow|attack on Skallahn]] that threatens to take control of [[Hordalant#The_Kongegőr|the Kongegőr]], the bridge that connects the northern and southern territories of the sprawling barbarian nation.

There is no ambassador to the Jotun. They seem never to have been especially interested in such a formalised relationship with the Empire. That is not to say that they are incapable of engaging in diplomacy or negotiation, merely that they tend to prefer to deal with individual nations rather than the Empire as a whole. Over the centuries they have had a "close" relationship with the folk of [[Wintermark]], for example, for all that the two nations clash constantly along their borders. In recent times, they have also shown a similar degree of respect for [[the Brass Coast|the Freeborn]]. When the Empire as a whole must deal with the orcs of Kalsea and Narkyst, however, the responsibility falls to the [[Imperial Consul]].
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Jotunarmy.jpg|title=Jotun banners often show the skulls of powerful creatures.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
===A New Meeting Place===
* '''A new Meeting Place has been constructed on Gull Isle, a tidal island in the Gullet.'''
* '''The Wintermark National Assembly have encouraged their people to use this opportunity to build bridges with the Jotun.'''
While they are unreceptive to the more formal structures of an [[embassy]], there is nonetheless a long tradition of peaceful meeting on neutral ground between the Jotun and Wintermark. Once there was a [[Sermersuaq#The_Meeting_Place|Meeting Place]] just outside the borders of [[Sermersuaq]] where such meetings too place. Sadly in 382YE it was destroyed and defiled by a renegade [[Varushka|Varushkan]], infuriating the Jotun.

In recent years careful negotiations have been taking place regarding the creation of a new meeting place. The old stone is gone, but something new has been raised, with assistance from the Wintermark [[mystic|mystics]] and their "opposite numbers" among the Jotun, the ''[[Elite_Jotun_characters#Ghodi|ghodi]]''. A little common ground has been found, and there the Empire has helped build a great meeting hall where, it is hoped, Jotun and Imperial might be able to speak without the shadow of violence falling across them. This initiative had extensive support from the Wintermark National Assembly as seen in the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_146|statement]] raised by Hayrin at the Summer Solstice, and supported by the Wintermark Assembly.

[[Construct Meeting Place|Construction]] has taken nearly a year, but it is finally complete. A meeting hall now stands on a wave-swept island in the waters to the west of [[Kallavesa]] where barbarian and human can meet one another to talk. There are still some decisions to be made about the place, however.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="For Ustigar Jarl of Kierheim, by Iron Osric, Hammer of the West">
Where march the war-bound, the bold-hearted brethren?<br>
Where flew the banners, the fire-bright spears?<br>
Far from the fray, he stood steadfast in duty,<br>
Bound to the crown, while his kin bled and fell.<br>
Steel-fast in service, he stayed through the seasons,<br>
Honour his harness, though hunger for war<br>
Burned in his breast like buried bright ember -<br>
To rise, to reckon, to rest in the red.<br>
But fate is a falcon, fierce in its turning,<br>
It flew to his field in the fullness of time.<br>
Sword-slung and shouting, he'll stride into battle,<br>
And die with the day, as doers of old.</quote></div>
===Rules of War===
* '''Iron Osric has spoken to Igya Olgafsdottir about a meeting to better define terms of war with the Jotun'''
* '''The message has been well received and a meeting proposed for the Spring Equinox honouring Tromsan traditions'''
* '''Negotiations will occur at the new meeting place; Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark, Osric, the Golden Jarl and the Imperial Consul are invited'''
* '''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark will be [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for the meeting at the Spring Equinox'''
* '''The thane and the jarl are both invited to bring a small entourage; the meeting will take the form of a feast where anger is put aside'''

Shortly before the Winter Solstice, a messenger leaves the Jotun territory of ''Ashvale'' (which the Empire calls [[Liathaven]]) and makes camp at the base of the burial mound that was once [[Kahraman#Fort_Braydon_(destroyed)|Fort Braydon]]. She sits under a flag of truce and waits. The [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] who speak to her learn that she is bringing a message from ''Igya Olgafsdottir'', hero-engineer and warleader of the Jotun. The message is quickly communicated to [[Tassato]] and to the office of the [[Imperial Consul]].

Apparently [[general]] [[Heroism#Iron_Osric|Iron Osric]] of the [[Green Shield]] has requested a parley to discuss the terms of the on-going war. In particular, "to try and agree what magic we will not employ, the banning of poisons or other foul things, the protection of innocents, where our armies will clash, the number of forces and how long the conflict will endure before the feasting time." There seems to be some uncertainty as to whether Osric is speaking only on behalf of Wintermark, or for the Empire as a whole.

What's clear from the reply is that the Jotun continue to view Iron Osric and a figure they refer to as "the Golden Jarl" in particular as exemplars of what it means to be an honourable warrior. As such they are minded to take his request very seriously. Igya proposes that it is long past time for such a meeting, and that she is eager to attend one as a representative of her Queen. A second representative will come to speak with the voice of the King, and each will bring a <u>small</u> honour guard of champions and ghodi to speak for the warbands and champions of the west.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Iron Osric.png|caption=Iron Osric, General of the [[Green Shield]]|align=right|width=300}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Atte.png|caption=Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason of the Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd; elder statesman and [[Imperial Consul]].|align=left|width=300}}
</div></div>
Olgafsdottir has called the meeting under the laws of hospitality of her home. In [[Tromsa#Tromsdalen|Tromsdalen]] when feuding warbands can stand one another no more and only blood will settle their anger, they engage in the ''hetjuveisla'' - the feast of heroes. Both sides bring food and drink, and bards to play music and tell tales. For a time the price of blood is set aside, so that a negotiation may be held in good faith to determine precisely how the battle-to-come will go. When the feast is over, the sun must rise and set again before violence resumes allowing both sides to safely return to their homes.

As long as Iron Osric agrees, she proposes that at the Spring Equinox - at the start of the year - Iron Osric, the Golden Jarl, and the Imperial Consul come to the new Meeting Place. Igya proposes that Osric and the Jarl each bring a small honour guard and the Consul an assistant. Both sides should bring food, drink, and bards. A negotiation will take place there that will bind both sides in agreement, and they will part peacefully.

News of this meeting is not met with universal approval. Both the Imperial Consul and Iron Osric are [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]]. The Jotun refuse to name the Golden Jarl, but it is definitely a reference to one of the Freeborn. Of [[the Marches]] in particular there is no mention - where the Jotun still dominate [[Bregasland]] - there are rumbles of discontent that Winterfolk and Freeborn will negotiate how war will take place between the Empire and the western barbarians. They're not alone - in [[Navarr]] there are a few undercurrents of unhappiness about this. While it is easy to see the sense of a general representing the [[Military Council]] and the Consul representing the [[Senate]], no-one is sure if this "Golden Jarl" even speaks for the Brass Coast. And who will speak for the other nations that must fight the Jotun?

===Virtuous Possibilities===
* '''The Jotun have constructed an ancestral shrine as part of the Meeting Place, and assume that the Empire will dedicate a space to the Way'''
* '''The Synod could pass a writ of consecration to create a true aura at the Meeting Place'''
* '''The effect would be dependant on the aura chosen, and whether it was a sacred site or a memorial'''
* '''The Jotun have requested that the Wintermark National Assembly endorse any such Consecration to soothe the worries of the Ghodi'''
* '''A true consecration will not lead any Jotun to convert to the Way of Virtue'''
With the new Meeting Place constructed, the Jotun have taken the message [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_128|spread]] by '''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark''' to heart, and wasted no time in making themselves at home. Along with the wall-hangings, feasting tables, treasured ancestral weapons and other creature comforts they have brought with them, they have swiftly established dedicated spaces for their religious practice. One room of the Meeting Place has been established as a shrine to the ancestors, and is already being filled with small idols, painted images and relics of the honoured dead. As well as this, an outdoor space has been marked out as suitable for ritual combat. While raising a hand in anger against a guest or a host would be a terrible breach of hospitality, two or more warriors choosing to test their strength against one another in honour of their ancestors is not only accepted but encouraged as a demonstration of strength and piety.

Soon, word reaches the Meeting Place of a letter sent by '''Thane Erlend Gunnulfson''', who identifies himself as the person responsible for gathering the Empire's contribution of [[white granite]] towards this project. The letter bears a suggestion that the Empire might [[Consecration|consecrate]] part of the site. While most Jotun are broadly disinterested in the Way of Virtue (despite the best efforts of the Lasambrian orcs), the suggestion seems reasonable. If the Jotun can honour their ancestors, why not allow the Empire to honour their Virtues? There is agreement with the offer, at least in principle.

In practice, there are several ways that this could be done. The simplest would be to claim a specific space in the Meeting Place as a space for religious observance, and to consecrate it normally with a little [[liao]], renewing it season by season. This is how consecrated areas are maintained across the Empire, after all. This would incur no costs, lead to no downsides, and would allow the aura to be changed from season to season.

Of course there is a more costly, and more impactful, alternative. [[Liao#True Liao|True liao]] could be used to create a [[Consecration#True_Liao|true consecration]] within the new Meeting Place. One of the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Virtue Assemblies]] would need to uphold a [[writ of consecration]] as normal, and that judgement would need to be upheld by a [[greater majority]] of the relevant assembly. While multiple assemblies could attempt to pass a writ to consecrate the Meeting Place, such judgements would be considered to be [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|competing]] with one another; only the greater majority judgement with the highest margin of success would be upheld.
{{SOP|statement=The meeting hall at Gull Island will be completed for the Winter Solstice. Yet until a meeting has taken place there it is just a hall. We send Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark with 25 doses of liao to spread word of the Hall both in Wintermark and in the lands of the Jotun. Let the Ghodi bring their people to join with the folk of Wintermark to see what bridge may be built.|by=Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark, Wintermark Assembly|vote=284-0|when=Autumn 387YE}}
There are limits to the effect of such a consecration. Jotun living in, or visiting, the Meeting Place might visit the Imperial shrine out of curiosity or a desire to learn, but such things would have no wider effect on the Jotun as a nation - this would not convert the Jotun to the Way. However, a true consecration would reinforce how the Empire view their relationship with the Jotun. An [[Auras_of_Loyalty#A_Peerless_Kinship|aura of Loyalty]] for example, would remind everyone of the importance of service to others, and perhaps communicate that the Empire will always stand by their friends and allies. An [[Auras_of_Pride#Partner_of_Greatness|aura of Pride]] would encourage rock-hard self-esteem, and remind Imperial visitors that they are the foundation on which future relations with the Jotun will be built, perhaps resonating with Jotun ideas of honour and integrity. There would be a degree of interpretation involved on both sides, especially since the Jotun would react to the ''actual aura'' rather than the symbolism of the virtue. But such a potent site would be seen by the Jotun as demonstrating the kind of future that the Empire desires with them.

Normally, a writ of consecration would be passed with the intention of creating an [[Inspirational location]] dedicated to a [[paragons and exemplars|paragon or exemplar]]. With the Meeting Place, the writ could identify the Meeting Place as a [[Inspirational_location#Sacred_Sites|sacred site]] - significant but not associated with any particular individual, or as a [[Inspirational_location#Memorials|memorial]] dedicated to a renowned inspirational figure.

Consecrating the Meeting Place as a memorial could not help but send a much more specific message to the Jotun. The barbarians would interpret a shrine commemorating a specific figure from the Empire's past through the lens of their own faith, and likely see the inspirational figure chosen in such a way as an "honoured ancestor" of the Empire. This possibility was apparently met with a great deal of interest by the ''ghodi'' visiting the construction of the Meeting Place. Some, more open-minded ghodi, would be very curious about what figures the Empire looks to for guidance, and while some elements will doubtless be lost in translation, the Jotun will look to any memorial as a statement about who the people of the Empire desire to be. Any greater effect would be highly dependent on the figure chosen, but it will doubtless be deeply meaningful.

There is a note alongside this talk of open-mindedness, however. The ghodi are as divided and cantankerous as any group of Synod priests, and while they often show unity in the face of outsiders their internal debates are just as heated. More conservative voices are already raising criticisms of allowing the Empire such leeway in the practice of their faith. The missionary zeal of the Empire is well known, and some fear that this may be the thin end of the wedge. Indeed, there are undoubtedly Imperial citizens who would love nothing more than to spread the Way among the peoples of the Jotun, whether the Jotun wanted them to or not. In order to shut this debate down before it starts causing problems, the Jotun have suggested that their neighbours in Wintermark act as guarantors of the Empire's honour. The Wintermark National Assembly could pass a suitably-worded [[statement of principle]] endorsing a writ of consecration regarding the Meeting Place. Such a statement would need to be raised before the consecration was carried out, but if passed with a greater majority it would address the fears of the more suspicious Jotun.
{{CaptionedImage|file=shark.png|align=right|width=400|}}

==Grendel==
* '''The Grendel remain at war with the Empire
* '''The Ambassador to the Grendel is Starlight Starchaser of Urizen'''
The Grendel are the dominant power on Attar and the Broken Shore, and they remain at war with the Empire. They have conquered parts of Redoubt, and continue to fight Imperial forces defending Mareave. The [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] plenum offers significant support to the Grendel in the form of warships and resources, using them as proxies for their own war with the Empire.

Speaker Morna is the primary diplomat who deals with the Empire, and reports to the Salt-Lords Council directly. They are known to be cynical, arrogant, and self-indulgent, and while they obviously participate in the ongoing-knife fight that is Grendel politics, they were chosen for their fidelity as much as their diplomatic acumen.
===Misapprehensions===
* '''They request that further correspondence about diplomatic matters come from the Ambassador to the Grendel
A single [[Call Winged Messenger|magical missive]] arrived at the offices of the Ambassador to the Grendel, '''Starlight Starchaser''' of Urizen. The letter begins by welcoming the new ambassador, but then immediately goes on to correct a misapprehension. [[Bedight in veils#Peace and Storm|Last season]], Morna simply pointed out that any discussion of peace between Grendel and Empire must take place between themselves and the Ambassador to the Grendel. This has apparently been misinterpreted as a sign that the Grendel desire an end to the conflict with the Empire. That is not the case - Speaker Morna was simply reminding '''Abel the Rounder''' of how diplomatic relations between nations must take place.

If the Empire wishes to put forward their own plan for peace, they are welcome to do so. As long as the Empire's opening offer is serious, Morna will present it to the Salt Lords for consideration. At the ''absolute minimum'' it will need to include the complete withdrawal of Imperial forces from Mareave and Redoubt. The Grendel Ambassador will not waste the Salt Lords' time with anything less.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Crab-traced-2.png|align=right|caption=It seems that many of Gallum's troops are Stone Born, the most heavily armoured and arguably the most disciplined of the Grendel [[Elite_Grendel_troops#The_Moridun|Moridun]].|width=350}}</div>
==The Protectorate of Morajasse==
* '''The Grendel controlling Morajasse have been recognised as foreigners by the Senate'''
* '''They have asked that the Imperial Consul handles communications with them rather than the Ambassador to the Grendel'''
While Feroz has mostly been liberated from the Grendel occupation, [[Feroz#Morajasse|Morajasse]] remains in the hands of the master-strategist ''[[Fake empire#Gallum Fiersach|Commander Gallum Fiersach]]''. Ably supported by ''Wind Lord Saoirse'' - his partner and a master of the [[Autumn magic|lore of Sand]] - along with a significant number of veteran Grendel soldiers, they control the fortress of [[Feroz#Mora's Rock|Mora's Rock]]. They carefully protect the borders of Morajasse, and apparently have sufficient supplies to endure a drawn-out siege if needed.

They are not just protecting their own borders. They have shown themselves more than willing to [[A_circle_sewn_with_fate#The_Battle_of_Oran|fight the Children of Wrecks]]. After the battle at [[Feroz#Oranseri|Oran]], the [[Senate]] chose to [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Recognise_Protectorate_of_Gallum_Fiersach|recognise]] Morajasse as ''a protectorate under the command of Gallum Fiersach, who will be deemed a foreigner as long as they remain independent from the Grendel''. So far, they seem to continue to be independent of the Grendel. Indeed, the protectorate has requested that all negotiations be handled by the [[Imperial Consul]] rather than the [[Ambassador to the Grendel]]. The [[Civil Service|civil service]] speculate that this request reflects a clear division between the protectorate and the Salt Lords' council... yet there are certainly other possibilities some of them quite intriguing. Given Wind Lord Saoirse has clearly mastered the art of commanding [[Call Winged Messenger|magical couriers]] its hard to believe they have not at least been in contact with the Salt Lords, but for now they appear to be operating in line with their agreement with the Senate.

Not long before the Winter Solstice, such a magical courier arrives at the Consulate in Tassato, again sent by Wind Lord Saoirse. The message is short and sweet. Commander Gallum is considering the invitation of '''Atte Arrowtongue''' to Anvil but at this time thinks he and his supporters should be focused on Feroz. Spring might be a better time to send emissaries. This would also present an opportunity for his partner to send one of her covenmates to speak with '''Khalil i Carno i Guerra''' and the Artisan's Guild.

More importantly, he wants to be clear to the Consul that while he and his soldiers only agreed to protect Feroz from the Children of Wrecks, they are also prepared to fight against the invading [[Iron Confederacy]] forces that [[Red_skies#Swords_of_the_South|currently occupy]] the islands of the [[Feroz#Cazar_Straits|Cazar Straits]], provided they are well paid. While there may be something of a ''détente'' between the Salt Lords and the Suranni Dukes, Commander Gallum Fiersach apparently sees no "legal" impediment to fighting as mercenaries against all comers.

===Ramparts of Sand===
* '''Wind Lord Saoirse is prepared to again enchant Mora's Rock if the Empire fears an attack from the Children of Wrecks or Iron Confederacy'''
Last season, Wind Lord Saoirse offered to support Feroz by drawing allied forces from the [[Realms#Autumn|Mercurial Archipelago]]. Indications are that she is referring to the enchantment the Empire knows as [[Mystic_scrolls_of_Estavus#Ramparts_of_Ashlar|Ramparts of Ashlar]]. The Imperial Conclave declined to [[Endowment|endow]] her with the mana she requested, but she wishes them to know that the offer is still open. If the Empire is at all concerned about the intentions of the Suranni, or the risk of the Children of Wrecks retaliating, she will enchant the [[fortification]] to enhance its garrison as it protects the territory.
{{SOP|statement=The Grendel on Mora's Rock have stolen the wealth of the Brass Coast. As thieves, they are to be despised. To trade with them harms the Prosperity of the Empire. It should not happen. Let them wallow in their ill-gotten gains, shunned by the Empire. Trade instead with the Freeborn. Help the honest to earn an honest living, and build the Prosperity of the Coast.|by=Dragonet de Gauvin, Prosperity Assembly|vote=137-38|when=Autumn Equinox 387YE|size=small}}
===Supplies===
* '''The orc quartermasters at Mora's Rock have been attempting to buy provisions and supplies from the Freeborn of Feroz and Segura'''
* '''The entrepreneurial Freeborn remain suspicious and uncooperative'''
For several months now, the orcs at Mora's Rock have been making attempts to trade with their Freeborn neighbours in [[Segura]] and Feroz. To date, however, they have had limited success. It is hard for the people of the Brass Coast not to see the "protectorate" and remember the cruel tyranny of former Governor Rahab. They were, after all, still part of the apparatus that enforced the authority of the despised ruler of the territory. While the garrison merchants have crowns to spend, their wealth was mostly taken from the people of Feroz one way or another.

At the Autumn Equinox, '''Dragonet de Gauvin''' proposed a statement of principle condemning the orcs of Morajasse as thieves. The Prosperity assembly upheld the judgement, but not with a greater majority, so its impact has been negligible. However, given that the majority of the Freeborn seem broadly disinclined to trade with the Grendel, the status quo sees Commander Gallum's forces continue to find it next to impossible to engage in peaceful relations with their neighbours. The Freeborn of Feroz may, perhaps grudgingly, accept their protection but they do not accept their coin.

===Spies===
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo.jpg|caption='''Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo''', Imperial Spymaster|align=right|width=300}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=GMShutteredLantern.jpg|caption='''Tyburn Weaver''' (changeling), Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern|align=right|width=300}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Vigilance.png|align=right|width=300}}</div>
* '''There is concern that the Protectorate of Morajasse is being used as a base for Grendel spies'''
* '''A spy network could be used to gather information about both the Protectorate and the Iron Confederacy in the Cazar Straits'''
* '''If the Conclave sends mana to Morajasse, then the Shuttered Lantern could be employed to inveigle their way into the Protectorate'''
* '''A scouting army could investigate rumours of espionage rings and assess the military disposition of Gallum's forces'''
* '''The Silent Bell could be used to root out any collaborators in the area'''

Suspicion of the Protectorate of Morajasse is not restricted to matters of trade however. The Grendel are known to employ [[Rings_and_crowns|espionage rings]] throughout the [[Bay of Catazar]]. They spy on Imperial territories but they are also capable of taking direct action - a Grendel espionage ring aided the attack on [[A beacon of smoke|Siroc]] for example. Not much is actually known about the so-called Protectorate, and it is entirely possible that Commander Gallum is protecting Feroz simply to let a Grendel espionage ring dig themselves into the territory in advance of the orcs of the Broken Shore launching another attack.

There are any number of ''other'' conspiracy theories - some are looking at the request to be treated as a separate entity to the Grendel as a sign that perhaps Gallum and his forces are fractured from the Salt Lords for example. This is most likely wishful thinking but perhaps its noteworthy that they have not tried to seize ships and return to Attar.

Regardless of what one believes, there are rumblings in Feroz that what is needed is a better understanding of this Protectorate. So far, they have been reticent to travel to Anvil, and their borders are largely closed. Only the very small number of Freeborn prepared to deal with them are allowed entry and then only to a trading camp just over the border. Further information might help the Brass Coast, and the Empire, get a better idea of how to approach the Protectorate.

The [[Imperial Spymaster]] '''Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo''' (or the Senate) could of course create a [[spy network]] in Feroz. There are, after all, two non-Imperial regions in the territory now. If at least 1,000 strength were committed to the spy network it would be enough to get a general feel for not only the Protectorate, but also the Suranni presence in the Cazar Straits. If at least 5,000 strength were committed, it would be sufficient to get detailed information about what is going on in these regions and an insight into the politics of the two foreign groups. The drawback is that this is a slow process - building a spy network takes time as does using it to uncover information. If the Spymaster began immediately, there'd be no report before the Summer Solstice at the absolute earliest.

If the Empire wants information more quickly, then there are three potential opportunities any one of which would give some insight into the Protectorate, and each of which could provide additional information.

The [[Military Council]] could direct an army to the territory to take the [[Army qualities#Scouting|Guard the Gates]] [[army orders|order]]. As long as the general indicated in their orders that the army was particularly interested in the Protectorate, they could take advantage of opportunities to speak to the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] of Mora's Rock as they patrol outside Morajasse. This would give insight into the Grendel, their attitude to Feroz, and the broader plans of the Commander. If that army were also enchanted with [[Bound by Common Cause]], they could also work with the people of Feroz to get a better sense of their attitudes, or become aware of any underhand activity sponsored by Gallum and his supporters.

Another possibility would be to look to the wizards of the [[Conclave]]. The [[Shuttered Lantern]] are adept at negotiation and infiltration where wizards are involved, but the Grendel are too canny to just welcome them into their homes. However if the Conclave passed a declaration to send mana to the Wind Lord, then members of the Shuttered Lantern would have the perfect cover they need to inveigle their way into the Rock. In that case, the [[Grandmaster]] could [[Concord#Guiding_an_Order|guide their order]], urging Freeborn and other members to visit Morajasse and try to get a feel for what is going on. This would require 20 mana from the font as usual, and would provide insight into feelings in the Protectorate and may reveal something of their plans. Salt-Lord Saoirse is a powerful magician, supported by a coven of adepts, so they are sure to have things to talk about.

Finally, the Synod could engage the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Silent Bell]] to root out any collaborators in the area. If there is an espionage ring here, it would at least confirm that, and may even provide some leads to help shut it down. If there are merchants profiteering from trade with Morajasse, it would enable the Synod to put a stop to that, if they so chose. If the Empire plans to isolate the former Grendel, then the Silent Bell might be the most effective tool in the long run.

Normally these opportunities might be exclusive, too many spies in one area would simply reveal the Empire's interest. As it happens, though, the three possibilities are each focused on different priorities. Each additional opportunity taken would provide less information overall, but would focus on different parts of the Protectorate and so still have some potential value.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wheeling gulls.jpg|caption=Beoraidh is a tiny "nation" with great big ambitions.|align=right|width=400}}</div>
==Beoraidh==
* '''Beoraidh is a city state on the coast of Mareave that allegedly aims to remain neutral in the conflict between the Empire and the Grendel'''
* '''The Senate has recognised the orcs of Beoraidh as foreigners'''
The city state of [[mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] in [[Mareave]] is apparently committed to neutrality between the Empire and the [[Grendel]]. The former-Salt Lord Ehsan rules from the city there, and sees the place as a "free port" where traders from everywhere are welcome - provided they bring money or goods to trade. Recently, as discussed in the '''[[A_wild_night_and_a_new_road#Polite_Correspondence|A wild night and a new road]]''' wind of fortune, Beoraidh has come [[All_the_night-tide#Beoraidh|under the protection]] of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] - something that has not sat entirely easily with their Imperial neighbours. Exactly what this protection means - and how much influence the Sarcophan actually have - is not entirely clear. At the last it implies that anyone attacking Beoraidh - Imperial or otherwise - will incur the wrath of the Delves and their warships.

===Prosperity===
* '''Beoraidh has aligned itself with the Sarcophan Delves, accepting the protection of the powerful mercantile nation'''
As an independent nation, recognised by the Senate, the city-state of Beoraidh falls into the purview of the Imperial Consul. A messenger arrives at the Consulate in Tassato bearing greetings from former-Salt Lord Ehsan. The first thing the missive announces is that the ruler of Beoraidh has taken the title "Ehsan, Lord of Sand". This is likely an attempt to mollify the Salt Lords of the Grendel, among whose number he is no longer counted.

The meat of the letter addresses the alliance with the Sarcophan Delves. Ehsan presents the decision to accept the protection of the Delves as a perfectly reasonable one prompted by reality. The Empire's Senate can be quite volatile, as can the Salt Lords. To accept the protection of one side or the other would be to risk being seen as aligned with them - something detrimental to the desire of Beoraidh to remain neutral. The Sarcophan Delves however are renowned for their refusal to pick sides, and the orcs of Beoraidh find that they have more in common with them than the Unshackled. Perhaps if the Empire had been more enthusiastic about the invitation to establish the [[I_wish_you_would#Shrine_of_the_Virtues|shrine of the virtues]], or had been more welcoming to the gladiators seeking Imperial investment, or had more decisively dealt with the armies invading Mareave, Ehsan might have waited a little longer. Whatever his reason, it is clear he feels the Sarcophan are simply offering his city the best deal going.

As such, Ehsan, Lord of Sand, wishes to formally inform the Imperial Consul that they have agreed a treaty with the Delves. An attack against their city, or the plains of [[Mareave#Sinfoyard|Sinfoyard]], will be treated as an attack on the Delves. However, the treaty is very clear that this agreement is not be an "exclusive" partnership. Both Beoraidh and the Delves are free to continue to pursue their own ambitions in the Bay of Catazar, with the Empire and the Grendel at the bare minimum. The tribute sent to the Empire, and the Grendel, will continue until such time as it can be renegotiated - as an assurance of Beoraidh's good faith as much as anything else. Yet the Lord of Sand is not shy about suggesting that Beoraidh will, eventually, want to discuss that tribute.

If the Consul is still interested in investing in Beoraidh, Ehsan lays out three possibilities.

===Investment of Salt===
* '''The opportunity to build a temple or basilica in Beoraidh is still available'''
* '''A previous Imperial Consul agreed to purchase land for the shrine of virtue'''
* '''Even if commissioned, work cannot begin until the money for the land is paid'''

The previous Consul proposed an agreement with Lord Ehsan to [[I_wish_you_would#Beoraidh|build a Temple of the Way]] in the city-state. If the new Consul is still interested in that, opportunities to do so remain available. Ehsan and his council have no interest in turning money and prosperity away, wherever it comes from. The invitation to build the shrine of the virtues remains. Either a temple or a grand basilica, depending on the level of investment the Empire wishes, can still be built. Provided the agreed on 20 thrones for the purchase of land is delivered, of course.

===Investment of Sea===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Investment in Beoraidh'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Beoraidh, Mareave </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 weirwood, and 90 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:''' Opens the port of Beoraidh to Imperial fleet captains</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Raises taxation in Mareave by 3 thrones and taxes from tariffs by 7 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''The Empire is welcome to invest in the docks of Beoraidh'''
The Sarcophan are interested in investing in Beoraidh's docks, and Ehsan feels it would be remiss not to offer a similar opportunity to the Empire. He has, indeed, already offered this opportunity to the Grendel and his former colleagues in the council of Salt Lords seem cautiously interested. If the Imperial Consul is interested, then Ehsan proposes that the Empire participate in the expansion of Beoraidh's docks with an eye towards creating docks specifically for Imperial vessels to dock, and for their merchants to do business in the marketplaces of the city. Beoraidh still produces goods of its own, but the real draw perhaps will be the opportunity to gain access to goods imported from the Broken Shore.

A standard fleet visiting Beoraidh will be able to secure assorted valuable goods worth 72 rings, as well as two doses of consumable available to the orcs of Beoraidh, the Delves, or the Grendel trading there. An [[enchantment|enchanted]] or [[fleet#upgrades|upgraded]] fleet would receive proportionally more.

Ehsan intends to apply what he calls "[[Tariffs#Mercantilist|reasonable tariffs]]" and anticipates the Empire will apply the same tariffs to any Beoraidh ships visiting Imperial ports. Once the docks are completed there will certainly be Beoradhi merchants eager to do so. The [[Civil Service|civil service]] estimates that investment in the docks would also raise the taxable income of Mareave by 3 thrones each season - increased prosperity for Beoraidh will slowly trickle across to the businesses of the territory as a whole - and bring in an additional 7 thrones per season to the Senate treasury in the form of tariffs.

===Investment of Stone===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Imperial Consulate in Beoraidh'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Embassy</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Beoraidh, Sinfoyard, Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 white granite, and 75 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 5 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Provides the Empire with some information on the factions in Beoraidh, local politics and recent developments
* Allows the Consul to purchase goods from Beoraidh
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Ehsan proposes an Imperial consulate be built in Beoraidh'''
* '''This would not involve the appointment of a new ambassador'''
* '''The consulate would provide some limited information on the factions in the city and their machinations'''

Ehsan is not naive when it comes to diplomacy; he has decades of experience as a salt lord after all. After some discussion with his advisors, and with the Sarcophan representatives, he offers the Empire the ability to establish a consulate in Beoraidh if they wish to do so. This will give them a presence in the city, and cement diplomatic relations between the city-state and the great power. They don't want embassy - they'd rather continue to deal with the Consul. But a small cadre of civil servants in Beoraidh would be able to ease representation to Beoraidh.

The Grendel have already been approached, and now Ehsan makes the same offer to the Empire. A structure in the Imperial style, built near the ''[[Mareave#Palace_of_Chains|Palace of Chains]]'', with lodging for a dozen civil servants and visiting diplomats. The proposal is much more compact than a traditional Imperial embassy - only 25 white granite - but the labour costs are a little higher due to the limitations of Beoraidh.

If the new consulate were completed, it would not require the appointment of an ambassador to deal directly with Lord Ehsan. Instead the civil servants there would report to the Imperial Consul and could be instructed to acquire local goods for a small fee (assuming such things are [[The_circle_game#Diplomatic_Ministries|still acceptable]]). Perhaps more importantly, the Empire would have civil servants on the ground in Beoraidh who could assess what was happening in the city. It would provide some idea of factions within the city, what they want and any options that might exist to influence or antagonise them. It might also help the Empire to be more aware of what the Grendel and the Sarcophan were up to in the city...

===Retribution===
* '''A group of Beoraidh orc gladiators claim they were assaulted while visiting Anvil'''
* '''They are coming to Anvil to confront those they say attacked them'''

During the Summer Solstice, representatives of the Diamant Drakes [[I_wish_you_would#That's_Entertainment|visited Anvil]], to discuss opportunities for Imperial citizens to invest in the gladiatorial arena at Beoraidh. According to these orcs, while they were in Anvil they were assaulted by members of the [[Sannite]] sept of the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]], accused of engaging in slavery. When the forces of law and order intervened, members of the militia flat lied about what had happened.

This obvious corruption of the Anvil militia doesn't particularly bother them - this group seem to have a very low opinion of those who enforce the laws and this has only enforced that. What the Diamant Drakes are angry about, is the beat down they claim they received at the hands of the Sannites. As news of it has spread through Beoraidh interest in visiting the Empire has declined significantly. The fact their attackers were [[Imperial Orcs]] has also soured some who were intent on seeking closer relations with their neighbours in Mareave.

After stewing on the matter for a few months, the Diamant Drakes have announced their intention to seek [[Grendel_religion#Retribution|retribution]] at the Winter Solstice. They haven't addressed exactly what this means but they're expected to reach Anvil around three in the afternoon on the Saturday of the summit, and head to the Unshackled camp to confront the Sand Vipers they are apparently holding responsible for the assault.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Melkior of Balthazar’s Vineyard.jpeg|caption=Melkior of Balthazar's Vineyard.|align=right|width=250}}</div>
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=AmbassadorSarcophanDelves.jpg|caption= Dino i Riqueza, Ambassador to the Delves.|align=right|width=250}}</div>
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Pathfinder Gaddak.jpg|caption=Pathfinder Gaddak, Senator for Mareave.|align=left|width=250}}</div>

===Diplomatic Delegation===
* '''A delegation from Beoraidh led by Emissary Harailt intends to visit the Imperial Orcs at 11.00am on Saturday'''
* '''They are keen to speak to Pathfinder Gaddak, Senator for Mareave'''
* '''Ehsan has asked the Imperial Consul and/or Melkior of Balthazar's Vineyard to ensure no unfortunate incidents happen'''
* '''Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has also asked the Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves to help ensure the meeting goes smoothly'''
During the Winter Solstice, a delegation from Beoraidh plans to visit Anvil. Their main intent is to speak to the Imperial Orcs within whose territory they live, and are especially keen to meet '''Pathfinder Gaddak'''. Gaddak is [[Senator]] for Mareave but was one of those involved in ensuring an endangered Beoraidh vessel safely returned to port. Their invitation to the folk of Beoraidh to visit Anvil was reasonable, and encouraged Ehsan that the experiences of the Diamant Drakes need not be representative.

Obviously the story of the Diamant Drakes makes them a little concerned about the kind of reception they will receive. In part this has inspired their decision to ask representatives of the Sarcophan Delves to accompany them given that nation's interest in smoothing relations between the city state and the Empire. To be on the safe side, Ehsan asks that the Imperial Consul meet the delegation either in person or via a trusted lieutenant to further ensure that there is no repeat of the recent assault. Alternatively or additionally, '''Melkior of Balthazar's Vineyard''' could serve a similar purpose - their sensible missive contributed to the decision to undertake this delegation after all. On behalf of the Delves, Bedellar Huisbaas Annike has asked the [[Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves]] to use their influence to ensure things progress smoothly.

The delegation has been entrusted to the leadership of ''Emissary Harailt'', an experienced negotiator and merchant and one of Ehsan's distant cousins. They anticipate reaching Anvil around eleven in the morning on Saturday of the coming summit, but a lot depends on their confidence with regard to their potential reception.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj Flag.png|align=left|width=300}}</div>

==The Mallum==
* '''The Druj demand that the Empire withdraw all troops from Sarangrave or they will unleash the vallorn of Béantal Dol
Unexpectedly, a message has also been received at the Consulate that appears to be from the [[Druj]]. If it is taken at face value, it is a message from a buruk tepel named ''Inkagoch'' who resides in the city of [[Salt Flats of Sanath#Leen|Leen]] in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]]. It is fairly terse and wastes no time with clever language. According to this missive, the rulers of [[the Mallum]] demand that the Empire withdraw all of its forces from the [[Sarangrave]]. If they do not, then the [[Druj lore#Ghulai|Ghulai]] of the [[Druj_armies#Tainted_Basilisk|Tainted Basilisk]] will destroy the warding stones of [[Sarangrave#Béantal_Dol|Béantal Dol]] and unleash the [[vallorn]] to claim the marshes. If the Druj cannot have the Sarangrave, nobody can...

The civil service advising the Consulate have no idea if the Druj are capable of making good on this threat but... the Tainted Basilisk are adept at [[Night magic]] so the fact the territory is largely under Imperial control may not present an obstacle to their ghulai reaching the stones. Everything the Empire knows about the [[Into_Béantal_Dol#The_Warding_Stones|warding stones]] that contain the vallorn suggests that if too many are destroyed the boundary will fail and the vallorn will explode out across the marshes like an unwinding spring. The Druj have clearly advanced their understanding of the vallorn in the last few years, as evidenced by their work in Therunin.

If they are not bluffing, the [[Sarangrave#Tower_of_the_Skink|Tower of the Skink]] is likely to be able to hold off the vallorn at least for a while but... the loss of life would potentially be apocalyptic. The vallorn would not spare anyone - rebel orc, Druj, or Imperial. This would be an absolute disaster for everyone in the Sarangrave and would mean the Druj could never recover the territory themselves. Are they really that desperate? Surely not even the Druj would be prepared to unleash such a catastrophe?

Surely?

==Further Reading==
* [[Advisor on Orc Affairs]]
* [[Ambassador to the Grendel]]
* [[Imperial Consul]]

* [[Invited with asperity]] 387YE Winter wind of fortune specifically dealing with the Thule

Who counts the path untaken?

2026-07-07T00:12:55Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:388YE Spring]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Jotun]]
<ic>
"''Strike whilst it's hot!''"

Magnhildr shook the hair out of her face and took the blade back to the coals. Working the bellows she kept at it until it was glowing.

"''Hit it you fuck!''"

Reaching back with her hammer she started, striking with precision along the blade. This was going to be her best work yet, she could feel it.

"''Pick up a weapon and use it!''"

Back to the coals again, then back to the anvil and striking the other side.

"''You are born for greatness!''"

She was, she knew she was. First good bit of advice today.

"''It should be yours! All of it!''"

She stopped for just a moment, and looked around the empty room whilst she drank from her cup. Then stepped back to the coals.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; max-width: 500px; min-width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Against the Jotun.jpg|align=left|caption=The Jotun are a martial and honourable people.|width=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''The Jotun remain at war with the Empire'''
* '''Responsibility and authority for diplomacy with the Jotun falls to the Imperial Consul'''
The [[Jotun]] are a powerful, martial nation led by the Jarl of Jarls - Queen Yrsa Jansdóttir of [[Jotun#History|Kalsea]] and King Gudmundr Arason of [[Jotun#History|Narkyst]]. The Empire has been at war with them for most of its existence, although there have been numerous short periods of peace during that time. They encroach into Imperial lands - having conquered [[Bregasland]] and [[Liathaven]] (which they name ''Ashvale'') they have invaded [[Mitwold]] as well. The Empire launched a [[Rubies in the snow|feint into Skallahn]] that threatened to take control of [[Hordalant#The_Kongegőr|the Kongegőr]], the bridge that connects the northern and southern territories of the sprawling barbarian nation. Jotun response was decisive - a major force was drawn away from the fighting in [[the Marches]] to defend the northern territories and protect the Kongegőr. Yet, despite their swift response, they have left sufficient force behind to continue to threaten Mitwold and Bregasland.

There is no ambassador to the Jotun. They seem never to have been especially interested in such a formalised relationship with the Empire. That is not to say that they are incapable of engaging in diplomacy or negotiation, merely that they tend to prefer to deal with individual nations rather than the Empire as a whole. Over the centuries they have had a "close" relationship with the folk of [[Wintermark]], for example, for all that the two nations clash constantly along their borders. In recent times, they have also shown a similar degree of respect for [[the Brass Coast|the Freeborn]]. When the Empire as a whole must deal with the orcs of Kalsea and Narkyst, however, the responsibility falls to the [[Imperial Consul]].
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Jotunarmy.jpg|title=Jotun banners often show the skulls of powerful creatures.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
==Back to Skallahn==
* '''Imperial inroads into Skallahn have been taken back by the Jotun
The orcs of the west responded to the Imperial attack on Skallahn, to their siege of the city of [[Skallahn#Walls_of_Kierheim|Kierheim]], by a rapid withdrawal of forces from the Marches back across the Kongegőr. The armies, lead by the King of the south and the Queen of the north, went all out to face what they assumed must be an overwhelming attack from the Empire. Instead, they found that Imperial forces had already retreated. The land the Empire had claimed in Skallahn has been retaken, with no real resistance.

It's clear that the Jotun are now aware that the Empire can threaten the vital bridge that connects the northern and southern jarldoms. They cannot afford to ignore this threat; if the Kongegőr falls then it risks leaving the northern territories undefended. How they will react remains to be seen.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Osric5853.jpg|caption='''Iron Osric''', General of the [[Green Shield]]|align=right|width=300}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Atte.png|caption='''Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason''' of the Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd; elder statesman and [[Imperial Consul]].|align=left|width=300}}
</div>
==To the Meeting Place (Conjunction)==
* '''The hetjuveisla is being held at Gull's Isle Hall'''
* '''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark, Iron Osric, the Golden Jarl and the Imperial Consul are invited'''
* '''This is a [[Accessibility#Unlikely or Contained|combat unlikely]] encounter'''
* '''''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for engaging in the hetjuveisla '''
[[Each_age_a_lens#Rules_of_War|Last season]], the call was issued for the ''hetjuveisla'' - the feast of heroes. A tradition of [[Tromsa#Tromsdalen|Tromsdalen]], it is an important call of hospitality that allows feuding warbands to sit and negotiate in good faith how a battle will go. Both sides bring food and drink, and bards to play music and tell tales. Then, when the feast is over, the sun must rise and set again before violence resumes between those who attended, allowing both sides to safely return to their homes.

Jarl ''Igya Olgafsdottir'', hero-engineer and warleader of the Jotun, made the offer to the Empire and has sent out messengers to the jarls of the Jotun. She will serve as representative of Yrsa Jansdóttir, Queen of Kalsea, Jarl-of-Jarls and Gudmundur Arason, King of Narkyst, He Who Calls Himself Jarl-of-Jarls will also send someone to speak on his behalf. Other jarls and heroes will be present, and they look to discuss matters of war with the Iron Thane, the Golden Jarl, and their guests.

===The Smidr===
* '''A smidr will be on hand to discuss matters of magic'''
''Harald Fourforge'' is a smidr of the Skroh of the Locked Door of Skallahn. [[Bedight_in_veils#Smidr_Clad_In_Scarlet|Recently]], he visited the Empire investigating the murder of two thralls. He was unexpectedly waylaid on his return by the beginning of the [[Rubies_in_the_snow|Imperial invasion of his home territory]]. He was not too late back to participate in the fighting along with his personal sworn guard. Now the Imperials have retreated from Skallahn, and apparently they have found the time to [[Court_Reports#Reports_from_387YE|solve the murder]] as well as splintering the gates of Kierheim! Harald has been very impressed by the Imperial handling of the case. Any unresolved questions about rune and wood and wave he might have are entirely set aside next to the clear demonstration that the Empire are sensible people who know how to work with eternals and what you always must do with cultists of the [[Agramant|Devouring Maw]].

His success in solving the murder of her thralls has impressed Jarl Ottesen of Ulfrsmoor, and she has recommended his name upwards. He has been asked to attend the hetjuveisla. He would like to talk to the Imperials regarding the use of magic in war - specifically, whether they would be minded to set down clear restrictions on the boons that could be called upon, or ritual-magic performed. The Jotun understand ritual magic, though they make little use of it. They prefer to negotiate with the Jarls of the Summer realm directly - using the boons acquired in place of powerful rituals. He thinks that there is clear agreement that Rivers Run Red would not be deployed again by the Empire; they show no sign of casting aside Rivers of Life, which the Jotun do not have the same level of objection to but which, as the past season showed, is surely a curse. He thinks the Empire contains mature magicians capable of having such conversations. In particular, he would like '''Vossk''', [[Archmage of Autumn]], to select one or two individuals to attend and discuss this matter: either ''friends of Melissa'' or sensible icewalkers would be suitable.

==The Chains That Bind Us==
<div style="float:right; max-width: 500px; min-width: 350px; clear: right;">
{{SOP|statement=Following the recent destruction of the historic meeting stone where the Jotun and Empire could meet. We the Loyalty Assembly seek a 'writ of consecration' to dedicate part of the newly built feasting hall on Gull Island to Loyalty. We wish to recognise it's importance and protect from future harm as a place of both virtue and honour. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but the unity of both.|by=Writ of Consecration, Skáldsgrým Dunhearth, Loyalty Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 534-0|when=Winter Solstice 388YE|size=small}}
{{SOP|statement=The vision that led us to Gull Isle showed ghodi and mystic fostering each other's children, Jotun and Imperial learning from each other as equals. This is not a place for preaching, and we do not intend to do so. Rather let us <u>display</u> virtue through our words and deeds in this place. And likewise witness how the inspiration of the ancestors is borne out in the acts of those we meet with.|by=Statement of Principle, Yrkja Riansson Sigeing, Wintermark Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 256-14|when=Winter Solstice 388YE|size=small}}</div>
* '''The Assembly of Loyalty has passed a Writ of Consecration to place a true liao aura on Gull Isle'''
* '''The Wintermark National Assembly have allayed the Jotun's concerns about Imperial evangelism'''
* '''Initial discussions with the Jotun indicate a cautiously positive attitude towards the aura chosen'''
Last season the Assembly of [[Loyalty]] upheld the [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_81|Judgement of Skáldsgrým Dunhearth]] calling for a true consecration to be placed in the new Meeting Place. The civil service have confirmed that the prognostication on this matter was thankfully simple: no alternate sites needed to be considered, and the Jotun had already expressed their openness to this expression of the Imperial faith. Despite some [[Each_age_a_lens#Virtuous_Possibilities|discontented rumblings]] from certain conservative ghodi, the [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_114|words of Yrkja Riansson Sigeing]], coupled with [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_128|those of Ingrid Talon-Of-The-Mark]] have broadly ended the debate. The Empire will show the Jotun Virtue through action, just as the Jotun will show the Empire honour by the same means. So long as everyone holds true to their word, there will be no trouble.

As part of the process of laying the groundwork, a stormcrow of Loyalty laid a sample consecration within a room of the Meeting Place. Numerous ghodi and warriors have taken the opportunity to indulge their curiosity about such a thing. The Jotun are not ignorant of auras, having neighboured the Empire for centuries, but they have neither access to liao nor the skills to use it. As such, the few auras they do experience are usually [[Aura#Spontaneous_Auras|spontaneous]]. Most ghodi see such auras as gifts from the ancestors, each one special. There is no consensus among them as to how liao fits into their spiritual beliefs, but Gull Isle is historically a place of cultural exchange, so the orcs who visit there tend to be open-minded. The experience of the aura known to the Empire as [[Auras_of_Loyalty#A_Peerless_Kinship|A Peerless Kinship]] sparks a lot of debate.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Gull's Isle Feasting Hall.png|caption=Artist's impression of Gull Isle's Hall by Enchantress Rosalynn Asterion|align=right|width=600}}</div>
Absent the inherent belief in Loyalty as a Virtue in and of itself, or even the common wording used to describe the aura in scholarly tomes, they bring their own cultural slant to the experience. Most of them speak of a profound awareness of the bonds of service and obligation to both their leaders and their followers, and of the necessity to play their part in the greater whole. Thralls serve the Jotun. Jotun serve the jarls. Lesser jarls serve greater jarls. Even the monarchs must serve the nation that crowns them and rule unselfishly for the good of all. All play their part, and all make sacrifices to ensure the success of the Jotun. Many who experience the aura speak heartfelt toasts over the feasting table recommitting to the ties of honour that bind them. The spiritual force of Loyalty is of little interest to the Jotun, but the ''concept'' of loyalty strikes a deep chord.

Nobody is quite sure who first suggests constructing a shrine in the Meeting Place grounds. Nonetheless, consensus quickly develops among all parties that this is the best course of action. The ghodi have constructed an ancestral shrine to the faðir and populated it with relics - why should the Empire make do with a repurposed pantry or hastily-abandoned bedchamber? The stonemasons who assist in the maintenance of the buildings quickly begin working on designs for a small monument to [[the Way]]. Something simple enough to match the Jotun shrine, but significant enough to demarcate a permanent aura.

The only thing that remains is to pass the mandate. If the General Assembly pass the mandate to authorise the consecration, they will still need to decide who will perform the consecration. If multiple judgements are raised, then the one with the greatest margin will be enacted.

<quote by="Synod Mandate, General Assembly">The Virtuous build up their fellows, they do not tear them down. We send {named priest} with a dose of true liao to consecrate the Virtuous shrine at the Meeting Place. Let us display our Loyalty through the unity of words and deeds.</quote>

If this mandate is passed and the Consecration carried out, the impact will primarily be felt in relations with the Jotun. As [[A_stone_for_a_stone#Create_A_New_Meeting_Place|previously identified]], building a new Meeting Place will make the Jotun more positively disposed towards the Empire. Not only is the new Meeting Place of truly imposing stature, but the Empire would have marked it as a place of profound Honour within the Way. The nature of the aura would also demonstrate that the Empire value their obligations to their people as the Jotun do, and that they will be prepared to make sacrifices in the name of those they care about.

Interestingly, prognosticators have identified a conjunction of the [[Sentinel Gate]] to Gull Isle due to coincide with the ''Summer Solstice''. Such conjunctions are rare, but not unknown. Details will be published following the Spring Equinox, but it seems that whoever is tasked with carrying out the consecration will have the chance to bring a party from Anvil to execute their duty at the next summit.
{{Jotun Links}}

Limits of magic

2026-07-06T20:04:41Z

Twiggy: /* Targetting Commissions */

==Overview==
Magic has many fundamental limits that restrict what can be achieved. In the setting these limitations are well known - magicians have striven for centuries to find ways to overcome them. Some people have devoted their entire lives to researching these limits, but no-one has ever found a reliable way to overcome them. Having a good working knowledge of these limitations is one way you can represent your character being a skilled practitioner of ritual magic.

In the game, these are most of the absolute limits of magic that is possible within the rules for the game. While you might play a character that is striving to overcome one or more of these limitations, it is important to appreciate that that is not possible in the Empire game. Any arcane projection that attempts will automatically fail. For that reason, it is a good idea to check any arcane projection against these limits before you submit it.

==Restore Life==
The Spring realm is powerfully resonant with healing magic, but no Imperial magician has ever been able to create a ritual that restores life to the dead. Some Winter magics allow a magician to contact the recently departed, or even summon back a shade that can be questioned, but like the Spring realm it appears to be powerless to help those who have passed on. In Empire, once a person dies, they are dead for good.

Many magicians have spent their entire lifetime searching for ways to cheat death. None have ever found a way to restore the dead to life, but a few have found ways to cheat death, or at least postpone it for a while. Although there are no rituals of this kind in Imperial lore at this time, anything like this would definitely need to be cast on the target while they were still alive.

There are rituals that allow a magician to give a semblance of life to a corpse, the most famous of which is [[Quickening Cold Meat]]. However these rituals work by conjuring creatures from the realms, usually drudges, to inhabit the corpse and cause it to move. The Winter realm has a strong affinity for magic involving dead bodies, but rituals of this kind make use of the body to house a spirit of the realm, they do not restore the body to life in any way.

==Resist Effects==
It is possible to use the Winter realm to create wards that harm those who cross them, and Night magic can hide the true nature of something, but beyond this there are few if any rituals that can offer protection to a subject. No magician has ever been able to create a ritual that allows the subject to '''resist''' a magical effect such as that caused by the [[repel]] spell. Nor is it possible to use ritual magic to make a subject immune to the blows of swords, bows, or other weapons. There are many rituals that make a subject stronger, allowing them to suffer more such blows before they are defeated, but none that make it so that the subject can resist or otherwise ignore the effect.

==Mind Control and Silence==
Many rituals create powerful emotions, feelings, or sensations in those that experience the effects, either as a side effect of the magic or as the main purpose such as with the [[Chamber of Pallas]]. These rituals can have a powerful effect on those that encounter them, but all serious magicians agree that the nature of the target's response is fundamentally set by them, not by the magician who performed the ritual. Magic is simply not powerful enough to control the mind of another living being, forcing it to act as the ritualist desires.

Of course there are ways to use magic to control your enemies, using it to threaten, cajole, and coerce people. However these methods are not intrinsically more reliable or powerful than a threat of violence. Skilled magicians can use ritual magic very effectively to '''influence''' others, but they cannot control them.

In the same way, magic cannot compel someone to speak the truth, and it cannot read minds. This means that there is no effective "truth detection" magic in the Empire. It is possible to create an urge to be forthright or plain speaking, but it is not even possible to create a roleplaying effect that makes a character want to speak the truth. Nor is possible to remove the ability to speak from a person using ritual magic.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Conjured Coastal Citadels'''</big><br>
One topic that comes up regularly with the Day eternals is that of magically summoned fortifications similar to [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]] but created in regions with the ''coastal'' quality. This matter is raised with some of [[Phaleron|Phaleron's]] heralds, and they provide the following explanation as to why it is not possible for magic to create such a thing. By its essential nature, a coastline is partway between one thing and another. It is a liminal space, neither land nor sea, and defies classification. A fortification or castle, by contrast, has an essential nature of resisting, standing strong, and being immovable and impregnable, which is absolutely at odds with the mutable nature of a coastal area. Ritual magic runs afoul of the [[Laws_of_magic#The_Law_of_Essence|Law of Essence]], and so it will never be possible to create a ritual that conjures a magical fortification using the ''coastal'' quality.<br><small>From [[Hierarchs_of_sea_and_sky#The_Only_True_Treasure|Hierarchs of sea and sky]]</small></box></div>

==Conjuring and Summoning==
It is not possible to use ritual magic to force another being to appear before you, either a mortal or an inhabitant of the realms. There are Autumn rituals that allow you to send communications to another being, such as [[Call Winged Messenger]], but the target is free to respond as they choose. They are under no compulsion to respond and they would need to use methods of their own to appear if they were far distant at the time.

Likewise, there are rituals that allow you to contact certain named eternals, such as [[Swim Leviathan's Depth]]. Some of these rituals create an opportunity to meet with the being at a regio later. Almost always, the eternal will appear as requested, but it is well understood that the ritual itself does not compel the being to appear, rather it is the nature of the eternal that causes them to act in this way. Having long ago agreed to respond if called, they are bound to do so for all time by their nature, not by the ritual itself.

It is possible to create rituals that request or invite inhabitants of a realm to enter the mortal world - albeit only with their agreement - but it is not possible to summon them. Rituals like [[Knights of Glory]] work because Eleonaris has agreed to release her knights into the mortal world when called. Likewise, rituals that attempt to create, conjure, or summon fortifications, citadels, or other structures from another realm will not work without the agreement of an appropriate eternal. [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]] works because Cathan Canae has many frozen citadels - which she sends to the mortal world in response to the ritual.

There are rituals that appear to breach these limits, such as [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] or [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] where the eternal in question was not recorded for many years. Knowledgeable magicians knew that there must be an eternal in question - such a ritual cannot work without the assistance or involvement of one - but for whatever inscrutable reasons their identity had remained secret. In recent history, the eternals sponsoring those two particular rituals were uncovered by [[Various_storms_and_saints#Fen_and_Fastness|scholars of the Unfettered Mind]].
==Damaging Fortifications==
It's not possible to damage a single [[fortification]] with focused magic from a distance. There are rituals such as [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]] and [[Mountain Remembers Its Youth]] that can cause damage to a fortification, but only as part of indiscriminately-unleashed [[Spring magic]] that also damages [[army|armies]] and [[fortification#garrison|garrisons]] across an entire territory. This effect was possible in the past, but in-character that was the result of a particularly long-lived conjunction of [[the Claw]] and [[the Drowned Shepherd]]. It's no longer an effect that can be created by ritual magic. Ritual magic ''can'' inflict damage on the battlefield with rituals such as [[Rising Roots that Rend Stone]] or [[Inevitable Collapse into Ruin]] but these effects cannot be targeted remotely, or on a larger scale.

==Teleportation==
It is possible for magicians and others to move from the mortal world to a [[Regio#Portals_and_Chambers|chamber]], but they cannot travel on from there: they must return to the mortal world through the same door they entered by. It is not possible to move onwards from a chamber, nor to re-enter the mortal world in a different location. This limitation is a fundamental restriction of the magic of the realms - it cannot convey a magician from one place to another.

A ritual like Call Winged Messenger will convey a message to a target, but this ritual works by literally summoning a winged messenger from the Autumn realm to carry the message. It takes time for the message to reach the target; it does not travel instantly.

Interestingly, this limitation ''is'' violated by the power of the Sentinel Gate. The Gate is a magical item, and as such it is a thing of the mortal world only and does not draw on the power of the realms. Whether it is this that allows it to exceed the limits of ritual magic is unknown, but certainly all attempts to reproduce the power of the Gate using ritual magic have always failed.

==Invisibility==
Although Varushkan folklore is replete with stories of wolves that are invisible, undetectable to the mortal eye, most magicians consider these tales fit only for a child. There have been countless attempts to use Night magic to render an individual invisible, but none have ever succeeded. The Night realm can mask a thing, change its shape or appearance, but it always leaves something in its place. There is no realm that can be used to make something invisible.

Although Night magic resonates with glamours that change the physical appearance of something, as well as rituals designed to baffle divinations, it cannot hide itself. If an army is enchanted with a Night ritual to conceal it then a divination like [[the Eye of the High Places]] that is lower magnitude than the shroud will still reveal that there is a Night enchantment in place. Similarly, it is not possible to use Night magic to baffle a ritual divination so completely that it returns the wrong answer.

==Enchanting Bourse Resources==
Mithril, white granite, weirwood, and ilium are the most precious resources found anywhere in the Empire, so valuable that control of known deposits is closely regulated by the [[Bourse]]. Countless attempts have been made over the centuries to develop ritual magic that can increase the production of these resources, but all have failed. Even attempts to scry for unworked deposits have proved unsuccessful.

Urizen magicians who have studied the problem for many years have concluded that materials of this kind have a degree of raw magical power inherent in them. This power appears to be a fundamental part of the mortal world, rather than having any connection with the realms. When the materials are in their unworked state waiting to be harvested, they create an interference that confounds any attempts to use the magic of the realms to locate or gather it. Sadly this natural resistance to magic is largely lost when the materials are removed and refined or processed.

So potent is this natural effect, that it has on occasion proved useful. The deposits of white granite in the Brilliant Shore were discovered centuries ago by a young [[Wintermark_magical_traditions#Icewalkers|icewalker]] who took shelter in the area while the region was assailed by a magical storm conjured by the Thule. When the magician noticed that the storm passed over the cave where they were sheltering, they realised that something in the area must be weakening the curse. Further investigation of the cave discovered the white granite deposits, and provided the Wintermark people with a valuable resource.

==Supernatural Effects==
Magicians can use the magic of the realms to change the mortal world, but it has an inherent tendency to resist this change. The more unnatural the change, the greater the resistance. One way that a magician can create a completely unnatural effect is to bring some force or object from the realms into the mortal world. Powerful rituals like Quickening Cold Meat summon Winter spirits to inhabit corpses so that they follow the magicians' will. The fortress "created" by [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]] is in fact one of the many that exists in the Summer realm and the ritual brings it into the mortal realm for a season.

Experienced magicians appreciate that the best approach is to create magical effects that work with the essential nature of the target rather than trying to create something unnatural. If a magician wishes to burn a forest down, it is infinitely easier to create a forest fire than it is to create a rain of fire.

==Armies and Battles==
It is possible to use magic that enhances the effectiveness of an army - either by requesting magical warriors from the realms to fight alongside them or by enhancing their strength, insight, or bonds. Cursing armies is possible, but is difficult and crucially requires a powerful arcane connection to the army in question - usually the general of the army or a similar figure.

It is '''not''' possible to curse an area or an army so as to impede army or navy movement in any way. Ritual magic cannot, for example, stop an army or navy moving into, out, or through a territory, nor restrict how far armies can move if they start in or move through that territory. It is not possible to use ritual magic to pin an army in place.

It is possible to use magic to affect a territory to increase or decrease the number of casualties that result in from any fighting. Rituals like [[Rivers Run Red]] and [[Rivers of Life]] affect everyone in the territory in a way that makes them more or less likely to die. What is not possible is to use magic ''on a territory'' to directly affect the outcome of a three month long campaign in that territory. Strategic outcomes are too complex and too unpredictable to be influenced by magic in this way.

You can create magic that influences the fighting - you might fill an area with storms for a season - but that does not affect the outcome of the campaign, i.e. it does not affect the victory points assigned to either side. No matter how potent the magic on the territory, it will be indiscriminate, and that means it will create effects that both sides are able to take advantage of based on whatever actions they take.

You can create rituals that enchant or curse armies - to make them more or less effective. But any ritual that attempts to enchant or curse a territory with the goal of positively or negatively influencing the outcome of a military campaign that takes place there will fail.

==Economic Territory Effects==
It is not possible to use ritual magic to duplicate the effect of a [[great work]] - that is, to increase the production of all resources of a specific type in a territory.

==Seasonal Stacking==
The ritual enchantments [[Blessing of New Spring]], [[Strong Ox, Golden Sun]], and [[Gathering the Harvest]] have a unique synergy that allows each to build on the other. It has proved impossible to duplicate this synergy with rituals intended to be cast on resources other than [[farm|farms]] - the rituals remain peculiar anomalies.

==Transmutation==
It is not possible to turn most personal resources into a military unit using magic without the direct aid of an eternal. To be transformed, a resource must have some kind of innate magical power, either a [[mana site]], a [[forest]], or a [[mine]]. You cannot transform businesses, congregations, farms, herb gardens, military units, or fleets.

==Imperial Citizenship==
It is not possible to use ritual magic to sever the connection between a person and an [[egregores|egregore]]. The connection seems to be protected by the [[Laws_of_magic#The_Law_of_Essence|Law of Essence]]. A person can voluntarily choose to give up their connection to an egregore, but this choice cannot be forced using magic.

==Sharing Ritual Lore==
While rituals such as [[Shared Mastery of the Magician's Guild]] allow a [[coven]] to share [[spellcasting]] knowledge between its members, it is not possible to do the same with [[Magical_skills#Mastery|ritual mastery]]. While ritual magic can remove mastery (as seen with [[Infant Starts with a Blank Slate]]), it can never grant someone mastery of a ritual.

==Meta Magic==
It is not possible to use ritual magic to affect other rituals. There is one ritual in Imperial lore, [[Sign of Aesh]], that can be used to reduce the magnitude of a later ritual, but that is deliberately restrictive and not something possible to replicate on a larger scale. It is also not possible to use a ritual to affect the casting time of a different ritual.

==Changing Qualities==
It is not possible to use ritual magic to intentionally change the qualities of something - whether that be the special quality of an army - or the unusual qualities of a region or territory. You can't use magic to make a region [[Region_qualities#Coastal|coastal]], or remove the [[Region_qualities#Haunted|haunted]] quality, or make an army [[Army_qualities#Cruel|cruel]]. Powerful magic may have unusual side-effects in unique circumstances which result in these kind of unexpected changes - but it is not possible to design a ritual to achieve that outcome.
==Targeting Commissions==
It is not possible to use ritual magic to directly enchant a sinecure, ministry, or great work. Commissions might be affected by magic particularly on the territory level but they cannot be the target of an enchantment or curse.

==Inter-Nation Cooperation==
It is never possible to use ritual magic to enable members of different nations to work together to perform a ritual. Covens are powerful tools to allow magicians to work together to perform rituals, and a [[Volhov's Robe]] can help individuals work together, but in every case it can only ever be done in the same nation.

{{Magic Links}}
[[Category:Magic Theory]]
[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:Rules]]

Category:Eternals

2026-07-06T15:30:45Z

Twiggy:

{{:Eternal}}
===Eternals Interested in the Empire===
{{stub}}
This list of eternals is not exhaustive; rather it lists some of those beings who have shown a special interest in the Empire since its formation.
{|
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Spring
! Concerns
|-
|[[Yaw'nagrah]], the Green Mother || Fertility, diversity
|-
|[[Arhallogen]], the Spider King || Survival, adaptation, poison, arachnids
|-
|[[Llofir]], the Quiet One || Fungus, rot, decay, collapse
|-
|[[Irra Harah]], Guard of the Young || Youth, struggle, the weak
|-
|[[Ossegrahn]], the Cupbearer || Healing, life, fresh water
|-
|[[Siakha]], the Empress of Sharks || Storms, destruction, predation, the sea
|-
|}
The creature known as Capradan, the Horned Hunter, is a being of the Spring realm whose true nature is unclear. It is either a very potent herald or a lesser eternal concerned with primitive concepts of hunting and killing for sustenance.
{|
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Summer
! Concerns
|-
| [[Eleonaris]], Queen of the Fields of Glory || Majesty, nobility, battle, victory
|-
|[[Jaheris]], the Unicorn King || Power, adversity, empowerment
|-
|[[Hayaak]], the Peregrine Knight || Wrath, vengeance, ferocity
|-
|[[Cathan Canae]], Queen of Ice and Darkness || Might, winter, strength, durability
|-
|[[Barien]], the Iron Duke || Challenges, worth, tests
|-
|[[Meraud]], the Silver Magician || Magic, enchantment
|-
|[[Rhianos]], Regent of the Eternal Sea || The sea, seafarers, adventure
|-
|[[Adamant]], King of the Golden Deeps || Stone, beauty, treasure, construction
|}
{|
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Autumn
! Concerns
|-
|The [[Lictors]], the Chainbound || Binding, imprisonment, punishment, contracts
|-
|[[Estavus]], the Forgemistress || Crafting, building, artisans
|-
|[[Callidus]], Prince of the Argent Tontine || Greed
|-
|[[Prospero]], Lord of the Loom || Influence, favours, grudges
|-
|[[Ephisis]], the Hidden Prince || Trade, mutually beneficial exchanges
|-
|[[Basileia]], Prince of the Black Vaults || Intrigue, espionage, power
|-
|[[Mazen]] of the Many Faces (destroyed) || <s>Manipulation, deception</s>
|}
{|
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Winter
! Concerns
|-
|[[Sorin]], the Tomb King || Privation, strength from weakness
|-
|[[Kaela]], the Lady of Oblivion || Entropy, despair, endings
|-
|[[Khobel Tavah]], the Two-Who-Are-One || Doom, fear, preservation
|-
|[[The Thrice-cursed Court]], the Bound || Curses, power at a price, spite
|-
|[[Wise Rangara]], the Ancient One || Wisdom, tradition
|-
|[[Agramant]], the Hunter in the Wastes || Hunger, cannibalism, madness, dread
|}
{|
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Day
! Concerns
|-
|[[Leviathan]], the Deepest One || History, foundations, causation
|-
|[[Phaleron]], the Great Library || Knowledge, preservation
|-
|[[Sinokenon]], the Turning Mirror || Hierarchy, connections, religion
|-
|[[Kimus]] of the Thousand Eyes || Light, scrying, observation
|-
|[[Ylenwe]]<sup>[[#1|(1)]]</sup>, the Dove || Harmony, mathematics, music
|-
|[[Roshanwe]], the Navigator || Discovery, wisdom, truth
|-
|[[Zakalwe]], the Strategist || Conflict, logistics, strategy
|-
|[[Cold Sun]] || Order, perfection
|}
{|
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Night
! Concerns
|-
| The [[Azoth]]<sup>[[#2|(2)]]</sup>, the Crucible
|Transformation, alchemy, enlightenment, change
|-
|[[Janon]], the Shadowed Fire
|Passion, freedom
|-
|[[Lashonar]], the Loquacious
|Stories, confusion, speech that moves, oratory
|-
|[[Sadogua]], Brother of Wizards
|Magicians, magic, power, manipulation
|-
|[[Sung]], the Rainbow Serpent
|Mysteries and enigmas
|-
|The [[Whisper Gallery]], the Shadow Courtiers
|Secrets, rumour, art
|}

<small>
#{{anchor|1}} Prior to 384YE Ylenwe used the name Ylenrith and was strongly associated with purity.
#{{anchor|2}} In 382YE, two other eternals of the Night realm - [[Murit]] the Shaper and [[Soghter]], Changer of the Ways - were unified into [[Azoth]] with the assistance of Imperial magicians.
</small>

Viridian nemesis

2026-07-06T13:38:39Z

Twiggy: I mean if they really want to they can

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<ic>"Trade is the lifeblood of the Jewelled City. Ships dock here from all over the world. The Grendel like to think of themselves as masters of the Bay of Catazar, but the markets of Dubhtraig are barely twice the size of Trivento! Everything is for sale here. Everything the virtuous soul might desire and a little more besides."

"I don't see how that is going to help us." responded Gwyn, careful not to offend his host. He'd been warned that the Merchant Prince of the Amber Signets was given to self-aggrandisement, but he'd been advised that he held sway over a significant number of local merchants who would be good to have on hand. "The vallorn has no trade interests, no valuables. It has no interest in markets or trade, any more than it does in any other facet of civilisation."

Afredo blinked and then forced a smile back to his face. "You miss my point my friend. The point is that whatever you need for this war of yours, is available here. Materials, wains, mana, herbs, weapons, armour, even soldiers are for sale here. Well their swords at least. Tell me what the Vallornguard need to fight the enemy and we'll ensure it's available - for the right price."

Gwyn shrugged his shoulders a little bemused by the question. "I mean... everything... we need everything." Herbs to heal soldiers, crystals for magic, ingots and measures for magic items, there was no material in this or any realm that the Navarri have not found a way to use to fight their ancient foe.

The Merchant Prince smirked, though this time the smile was at least an honest one. "Very well" he replied, "everything it is then..."
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Navarr.png|align=left|caption=The garden long-tended by the Navarr begins to bear fruit.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[The highest calling|highest calling]] of the the [[Navarr]] is to share their long experience fighting the [[vallorn]] with other nations. Last season, they [[Cup_of_choices|chose to work]] with the people of [[Urizen]]; now the Navarr National Assembly has urged their people to embrace the citizens of [[the League]] to arm and armour then for the upcoming battle with the Doom of Terunael. Once again, the [[Loyalty]] Assembly has supported the cause, calling upon those whose heart drives them towards the destruction of ''Terun's Folly''.

The aid was welcomed by the League Assembly and so the Navarr find the cities of the League no less enthusiastic than the spires of Urizen. In conjunction with their guests, each city has come up with its own plan how best to prepare to fight the vallorn.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;">
{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Teleri Thornweaver with 50 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Teleri Thornweaver, Navarr National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 252-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, with 25 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, Loyalty Assembly|vote=190-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=We welcome and recognise the judgement by Navarr (54). We recognise their highest calling and we welcome their aid.|by=Francesca di Spiral, League National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 328-10|when=Spring 388YE}}</div>

==Holberg==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Boar's Hide'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Fortification]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Boar's Dell, Brocéliande</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 120 [[white granite]], 60 mithril, 540 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 6 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 20 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Creates a level two fortification in Boar's Dell
* Increases the level of investment in mana sites in Brocéliande by one while there is a vallornheart in the territory
</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Holberg engineers propose the construction of a grand fortification in Brocéliande that could take advantage of the trods to boost mana sites in the territory'''
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Actuallythebest001.png|align=right|width=250}}</div>
[[The_greatest_city_in_the_world|The Greatest City in the League]] lies to the north-east of [[Brocéliande|Brocéliande]], and south of [[Otkodov#Sküld|Sküld]], two territories both infested with the vallorn. Initial proposals by some ambitious engineers has a [[weirwood]] and [[ilium]] causeway cutting across the Barrens to channel the vallorn of [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] itself into their territory, that they might fight in the shade of the monstrous [[Walls of Holberg]]. This plan was quickly abandoned as infeasible; fine in theory, ''way'' too expensive in practice.

If the vallorn won't go to Holberg, then Holberg will go to the vallorn. The engineers have a proposal for an enormous bastion built on the foundation's of Greenstead in [[Brocéliande#Boar's_Dell|Boar's Dell]]. Once roused, the vallorn by its nature will tend to be drawn to any substantial fortification, sending its full chaotic wroth at the structure until it is entirely subsumed in vines. Knowing that the vallorn is likely to attack any fortification first means the engineers can expect any substantial defences to become a focal point of the campaign as well as a place for Imperial [[military unit]] captains to assign their forces in the absence of an Imperial [[army]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Regarding the Broch'''</big><br>While [[Brocéliande#The Broch|the Broch]] is already [[Construct Defence of the Broch|fortified]], the work was specifically done in such a way as to ''not'' rouse the ire of the vallorn. After all, [[Brocéliande#Black_Boughs|Black Boughs]] lies within the [[vallorn miasma|miasma]] itself and in a region utterly dominated by the ''Doom of Terunael''.</box></div>
There are some important consequences to consider. Firstly, the [[steading|steadings]] of Boar's Dell would face the brunt of the assault. They are Navarri, they have signed up to this, they have sworn oaths that they are committed to this, but one's home is one's home, nevertheless. Secondly, it is eye-wateringly expensive to create such a structure: even with the help of Holberg's finest engineers, they can't materialise wains out of the ether, as much as other nations may accuse the League of this from time to time.

With the collaboration of Holberg's engineers, the fortification could be completed in six seasons (barring the use of magic or other opportunities). Working closely with Navarr [[vate|vates]] provides a second advantage. By incorporating a significant amount of [[mithril]] into the design, it would harness also some of the chaotic energies being drawn out of the vallorn by the [[trods|trod network]] and channel it into local [[mana site|mana sites]]. That would provide a small but important benefit, providing more mana for the coming war, at least until the vallornheart in [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] is destroyed.

==Sarvos==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Market of Everything'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Ministry]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cigno, Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains, 48 crowns, 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a Ministry for the Vallornguard
* Creates the title of ''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard''</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' League national position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives support from Sarvosi traders to acquire material to fight the vallorn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To help the Vallornguard acquire the materials needed to fight the vallorn</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''A Little Bit of Everything'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 rings</td><td>4 random materials, 6 random herbs, 3 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>370 rings</td><td>8 random materials, 12 random herbs, 6 mana crystals, </td></tr>
<tr><td>650 rings</td><td>12 random materials, 18 random herbs, 9 mana crystals,</td></tr>
<tr><td>1000 rings</td><td>16 random materials, 24 random herbs, 12 mana crystals, </td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Sarvosi merchants propose commissioning a market of everything to help supply the Vallornguard with the resources to fight the vallorn'''
While Holberg claims to be the Greatest City in the League, their indignant rivals in [[Sarvos]] argue their city is the oldest and still the richest in the Empire. Trade flows across down the Gancio until it meets the [[Bay of Catazar]] at the docks of [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]]. Ships put to port here that dock nowhere else in the Empire, buying and selling; rare metals from [[Varushka]], fine wines from [[Dawn]], or exotic goods from overseas. The city's proud boast is that anything that is for sale anywhere in the Empire can be found in the markets of Sarvos.

The question is how to employ that strength to bolster the Vallornguard and help prepare for the coming war. Plans are quickly drawn up for a grand market, something that can provide whoever the Vallornguard appoint with a bit of ''everything''. Anything that can be employed against the vallorn can be distributed as needed to the Vallornguard - the rest can be sold. In the minds of the [[merchant Prince|merchant princes]] of Sarvos, a good profit margin is the ultimate weapon.

==Tassato==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Vallornguard Military Academy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Madeiras, Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains of white granite, 32 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' League armies with a general appointed by the Vallornguard can take the order to Stem the Green Tide</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tassatan bravos propose building an academy that will allow League generals appointed by the Vallornguard to use Stem the Green Tide when defending'''
The Navarri who arrive in [[Tassato]] are greeted by a great deal of commotion as furious work is being done to speed the [[Army#Recruitment|mustering]] of the League's third [[army]]. It is a painful reminder that, more than anything else, what the Vallornguard really need are armies. No matter how much planning is put in place, no matter how many fortifications are built, in the end it will always come down to steel weapons and steel will.

Most Tassatans learn to fight with rapier and buckler, the perfect weapons for a bravo who wants to cut a fine dash while bridge fighting. By contrast, the Navarr favour a more pragmatic fighting style when fighting the vallorn, one that makes use of [[venom]] whenever it is available. Training League soldiers in techniques for fighting the vallorn could pay dividends once the enemy attacks.

When the vallorn is roused, and it ''will'' be roused, insist the visiting [[thorn|thorns]], there will need to be those who can stem the initial tsunami of chaotic energies before it might be driven back and permanently quelled. Constructing an appropriate academy, staffed by members of the Vallornguard, would allow League citizens to drill the kind of basic tactics needed to stand your ground in the face of a swarm of vallornspawn.

Once complete the Vallornguard Military Academy would allow any League army whose [[general]] was appointed by the Vallornguard, to take the '''Stem the Green Tide''' order when defending. There are no League armies that would be affected at present, but a [[Senate motion]] could be used to change the appointment method of a general to a vote of the Vallornguard at any time.

<box>'''Stem the Green Tide'''<br>
* '''Casualties suffered by this army from vallorn are decreased by a fifth'''
* '''Victory points generated by this army against the vallorn are increased by one tenth'''

Rapiers might suit the dark alleys of the League cities, but large heavy weapons, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billhook bills], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweih%C3%A4nder two-handed swords] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(weapon) pikes] are the preferred choice for many professional soldiers in League free companies. These are dangerous weapons of war on any battlefield, but with the right training and the right leadership, League soldiers can deploy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_square pike square] to devastating effect against the vallornspawn allowing them to defend against the vallorn's overwhelming and chaotic offensive, holding back the unending green tide.
</box>

==Temeschwar==
* '''Temeschwari bishops suggest a mandate to encourage League bravos to seek out opportunities to fight the enemy'''
The hard, ruthless people of [[Temeschwar]] are known for their pragmatism. Grand plans for mighty fortresses are all well and good, but they can take years to build. Better to ''get on with it'', in the minds of many Temeschwari - there's no time like the present for dealing with a threat. ''Marko von Vardstein'', a newly-minted [[bishop]] with a small church in one of the poorer parts of Temeschwar, has paired up with ''Livinnia'', a bravo known for wielding two axes and being a woman of extremely few words. The pair suggest that if the League are going to do this then the national assembly should encourage military units to start now, by pursuing any venture that could aid in the fight against the vallorn.

{{Mandate|mandate=In Ratibor's name, let us act! We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage League bravos to take up arms against the vallorn. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing right now|assembly=League National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then League military units will be able to take part in the [[Venture#Quest_Against_the_Vallorn|quest against the vallorn]] and [[Venture#Explore_the_ruins_of_Terunael|the exploration of the ruins of Terunael]] ventures, as well as any future ventures that deal with engaging the vallorn directly.

<div {{float}}><quote by="William Shakespeare, As You Like it">All the world's a stage,<br>
And all the men and women are merely players</quote></div>

==Spiral==
* '''Actors and troupe magicians in Spiral propose the creation of plays about the vallorn to inspire citizens'''
* '''Apulian merchants have donated five thrones as a prize for the best play, to be judged by vote of members of the Cat's Graces at the Autumn Equinox'''

There's a lot going on in [[Spiral#Apulus|Apulian]] right now, a running battle between cats and birds for control of the city streets and rooftops while soldiers comb the dark passages that lie beneath them. The visiting Navarri are welcomed with all due hospitality, but at first some Apulians question whether they have the time to offer any significant aid, given that the strange ''confluence'' of [[dramaturgy|dramaturgical]] [[Dramaturgy#The_Personae|personae]], [[Dramaturgy#The_Instruments|instruments]] and [[Dramaturgy#The_Thrones|thrones]] plays havoc with the city, causing inhabitants and visitors alike to get lost in the shifting streets.

Determined not to be outdone by the other cities, a troupe of actors and magicians proposes that dramaturgy might offer a way to combat the vallorn. Of course there needs to be fortifications and armies and supplies and such things, but none of those will help without the ''will to win'' and the ''belief'' that ''victory'' is ''possible'' (and so on). The biggest hurdle to victory they say, is not the threat of the vallorn but the belief that the Empire lacks the means to defeat it. People need to see the vallorn not as some implacable force that can only be contained at best, but as an enemy that can be defeated once and for all, just like the [[Druj]].

What is needed, they say, are plays and stories that present a new vision of the vallorn. The true power of dramaturgy lies not just in performing rituals calling on the personae and their accoutrements, but in using the power of drama to influence the way people think and believe. Good plays create a narrative that shapes the path of history. Of course critics of dramaturgy argue that it is the power of events that make some plays seem so pivotal, not unlike the way some magicians believe that the stars move in line with events rather than the other way round.

Proponents of the real power of dramaturgy have little time for such naysaying. They argue that creating plays and stories that tell of victory over the vallorn are a subtle but crucial step in making that outcome come about. Of course that raises the question of who will create the plays - such things are time-consuming and expensive. A few Navarr suggest the historical accounts of Navarr and Thorn or [[Megan Black Blood]] might form the basis for such a play, but not everyone thinks that is the best approach. Even the suggestion of dramatising recent triumphs such as [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Immolation_.28Liathaven.29|that in Liathaven]] does not meet with enthusiasm.

The League actors are concerned that the old histories may focus too much on the fall and what was lost to the vallorn. Equally their suggestion that if the playwrights do use the historical accounts, they will need to be ''"sexed up a bit, to make it more dramatic"'' does not meet with universal approval by their Navarr guests.

As a compromise, the suggestion is that the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Cat's_Graces|recently established sodality, the Cat's Graces]] might hold a contest to find the best play about the vallorn. Something dramatic and engaging that will get people into the cheap seats but which sets the tone of an Empire engaging successfully with the vallorn. A purse is quickly assembled, 5 thrones for the winning entry, with the understanding of all who enter, that actors will tour the winning play and any other worthy entries, across the Empire.

Of course it will take time for playwrights to produce something that capture and transform the zeitgeist. It needn't be a full play - it could be a short performance piece, put on everywhere before the main attraction. It could be historical, provided it doesn't compromise being inspiring for too much stuffy "accuracy". After all, the goal is to move the hearts and minds of theatre-goers all over the Empire, not to educate historians and scholars.

The merchants of Apulian request the Cat's Graces sodality either arrange a suitable contest to identify a winning submission, or else find a way to choose the perfect playwright to commission a piece. Either way they offer a purse of five thrones to be awarded by the sodality at the Autumn Equinox, to the author of the play that best inspires people to embrace the idea of defeating the vallorn.

A copy of the play itself will also need to be provided, so that it can be distributed to troupes of actors across the League. Focusing the attention of the League's thespians and actors on the vallorn in this way may reap dividends, although they are likely to be subtle or unpredictable. With the support of the Cat's Graces, it will definitely encourage a surge of interest in depicting the fight against the vallorn on the stage, and in reframing it as a foe to be overcome rather than an insurmountable problem. It might all lead to nothing apart from some very enjoyable nights at the theatre, or it may actually achieve what the dramaturgical theorists claim it will and somehow shift Imperial attitudes to the Doom of Terunael.

==Further Reading==
* [[Cup of choices]] - 388YE Spring wind of fortune detailing the Navarr efforts to assist Urizen
* [[The highest calling]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune about the highest calling

* [[Vallorn]]

388YE Summer Solstice winds of fortune

2026-07-06T13:22:37Z

Twiggy: /* Viridian Nemesis */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]]
<div {{floatleft}}>{{CaptionedImage|file=Remnants of tales.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=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
<div {{float}}>
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Wind of Fortune !! Order Released !! Last Updated || Note
|-
| [[In the Court of Far Horizons]] || 1 || data-sort-value="2026/07/03"| 03/07 || Appraisal
|-
| [[Satraps of the Abyss]] || 2 || data-sort-value="2026/07/04"| 04/07 || Appraisal
|-
| [[The Oran operation]] || 3 || data-sort-value="2026/07/05"| 05/07 || Appraisal
|-
| [[Viridian nemesis]] || 4 || data-sort-value="2026/07/06"| 06/07 || Navarr Highest Calling
|}</div>
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 winds of war that 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 represent 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 an opinion, and we're not trying to trick you.
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:350px; float: left; margin: 10px;"
|-
! Nation !! Diplomacy Wind
|-
|}

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. We are also adding the dates that they were last updated (other than typos and correcting [[red links]]) in an attempt to make it easier to keep track of the newest releases.
__TOC__

==Winds of Fortune==
===In the Court of Far Horizons===
* '''Throne; Senate; Fleet owners; Ambassadors; titles involved in international trade'''
At the recent summit, [[the Throne]], requested that the [[Scrutiny#Constitutional_Court|Constitutional Court]] [[Forever_is_composed_of_nows#The_Abraham_Gambit|appraise the implications]] of a new [[Imperial sodality]], the ''Court of Far Horizons''. Magistrate Abraham has conducted an analysis of the constitutional implications of the new sodality's provisional manifesto. Abraham notes that the manifesto is "bold and vigorous" in establishing it's remit, but that that means that some of implications are far-reaching... which can be both a good and a bad thing depending where you stand.

You can read about Abrahams findings, as well as some proposals from interested parties, in the '''[[In the Court of Far Horizons]]''' wind of fortune.
===Satraps of the Abyss===
* '''Conclave; Ambassador to Sumaah; scholars of magic and the eternal realms'''
The [[Senate]] has taken advantage of an opportunity brokered by the [[Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic|Ambassador]] Accalon to engage in a spot of magical cooperation with the [[Sumaah Republic]]. Freshly-appointed prognosticator ''[[Appraisal#Lisane de Terresford|Lisane de Terresford]]'' has been sent to ''[[appraisal|appraise]] how the High Houses of Virtue and the Imperial Conclave can find ways to co-operate in interactions with [[eternal|eternals]]''. While Lisane is expected to be engaged for the next several seasons, she has dispatched a preliminary report on her findings; a review of the relation between the magicians and the Präster of the republic - and the dealings they have with the creatures of the [[realms]].

You can read about Lisane's findings, and about the opportunity for the Conclave to assist, in the '''[[Satraps of the Abyss]]''' wind of fortune.
===The Oran Operation===
* '''The Brass Coast, especially citizens of Feroz and Madruga; Imperial Senate; Military Council'''
The river Scorrero broke its banks several years ago, and washed away the dreadful threat of the ''dry patricians''. As a consequence of the wild river rising, the bridges connecting Madruga and Feroz were washed away. Last season, the Senate accepted [[An_arrow_nocked_and_in_flight#A_Garden_Proposal|an offer]] from the ''Protectorate of Morajasse'' to apply their expertise to the challenge of reconnecting the eastern Brass Coast. Their [[appraisal]] of the situation has been submitted, with notes added by the [[Appraisal#The_Prognosticators_Office|Prognosticators Office]], and involves a major feat of engineering in the southern Empire.

You can learn about their proposal, and some changes that might make it a little more feasible, in the '''[[The Oran operation]]''' wind of fortune.
===Viridian Nemesis===
* '''The League; Navarr; the Vallornguard; Loyalty assembly; Senate, Military Council'''
The [[The highest calling|highest calling]] of the the [[Navarr]] is to share their long experience fighting the [[vallorn]] with other nations. Last season, they [[Cup_of_choices|chose to work]] with the people of [[Urizen]]; now the Navarr National Assembly has urged their people to embrace the citizens of [[the League]] to arm and armour them for the upcoming battle with the Doom of Terunael. Once again, the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Loyalty Assembly]] has supported the cause, calling upon those whose heart drives them towards the destruction of ''Terun's Folly''.

You can read about the proposals put forward to help the League fight the vallorn, some of which are somewhat esoteric, in the '''[[Viridian nemesis]]''' wind of fortune.

==Diplomatic Winds==
Each season, the Civil Service prepares a summary of the Empire's relationship with the foreign nations, based on communications received from their ambassador, along with any useful intelligence gathered from other sources. While the [[Senate]] and the other houses of Imperial power may respond to these offers, it is important to note that it is the appropriate [[ambassador]] that the foreign power will expect to hear from. Their communication with the foreign power is the primary element that will determine the tenor of any response.

These winds of fortune deal with the Empire's diplomatic relationship with one or more foreign or barbarian nations. Usually, the wind is shaped by communications from the appropriate [[ambassador]] or the [[Imperial Consul]]. While these winds revolve around international matters, their focus is still on the Empire and what its citizens can do to influence diplomatic matters, so they're as likely as any other wind to contain something of interest to characters from all walks of life.

==Other Events==

==Mandates==
* '''You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, [[387YE_Winter 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, 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 Winter 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 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===

===Minor Conjunctions===

Viridian nemesis

2026-07-06T13:10:20Z

Twiggy: /* Holberg */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<ic>"Trade is the lifeblood of the Jewelled City. Ships dock here from all over the world. The Grendel like to think of themselves as masters of the Bay of Catazar, but the markets of Dubhtraig are barely twice the size of Trivento! Everything is for sale here. Everything the virtuous soul might desire and a little more besides."

"I don't see how that is going to help us." responded Gwyn, careful not to offend his host. He'd been warned that the Merchant Prince of the Amber Signets was given to self-aggrandisement, but he'd been advised that he held sway over a significant number of local merchants who would be good to have on hand. "The vallorn has no trade interests, no valuables. It has no interest in markets or trade, any more than it does in any other facet of civilisation."

Afredo blinked and then forced a smile back to his face. "You miss my point my friend. The point is that whatever you need for this war of yours, is available here. Materials, wains, mana, herbs, weapons, armour, even soldiers are for sale here. Well their swords at least. Tell me what the Vallornguard need to fight the enemy and we'll ensure it's available - for the right price."

Gwyn shrugged his shoulders a little bemused by the question. "I mean... everything... we need everything." Herbs to heal soldiers, crystals for magic, ingots and measures for magic items, there was no material in this or any realm that the Navarri have not found a way to use to fight their ancient foe.

The Merchant Prince smirked, though this time the smile was at least an honest one. "Very well" he replied, "everything it is then..."
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Navarr.png|align=left|caption=The garden long-tended by the Navarr begins to bear fruit.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[The highest calling|highest calling]] of the the [[Navarr]] is to share their long experience fighting the [[vallorn]] with other nations. Last season, they [[Cup_of_choices|chose to work]] with the people of [[Urizen]]; now the Navarr National Assembly has urged their people to embrace the citizens of [[the League]] to arm and armour then for the upcoming battle with the Doom of Terunael. Once again, the [[Loyalty]] Assembly has supported the cause, calling upon those whose heart drives them towards the destruction of ''Terun's Folly''.

The aid was welcomed by the League Assembly and so the Navarr find the cities of the League no less enthusiastic than the spires of Urizen. In conjunction with their guests, each city has come up with its own plan how best to prepare to fight the vallorn.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;">
{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Teleri Thornweaver with 50 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Teleri Thornweaver, Navarr National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 252-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, with 25 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, Loyalty Assembly|vote=190-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=We welcome and recognise the judgement by Navarr (54). We recognise their highest calling and we welcome their aid.|by=Francesca di Spiral, League National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 328-10|when=Spring 388YE}}</div>

==Holberg==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Boar's Hide'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Fortification]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Boar's Dell, Brocéliande</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 120 [[white granite]], 60 mithril, 540 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 6 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 20 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Creates a level two fortification in Boar's Dell
* Increases the level of investment in mana sites in Brocéliande by one while there is a vallornheart in the territory
</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Holberg engineers propose the construction of a grand fortification in Brocéliande that could take advantage of the trods to boost mana sites in the territory'''
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Actuallythebest001.png|align=right|width=250}}</div>
[[The_greatest_city_in_the_world|The Greatest City in the League]] lies to the north-east of [[Brocéliande|Brocéliande]], and south of [[Otkodov#Sküld|Sküld]], two territories both infested with the vallorn. Initial proposals by some ambitious engineers has a [[weirwood]] and [[ilium]] causeway cutting across the Barrens to channel the vallorn of [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] itself into their territory, that they might fight in the shade of the monstrous [[Walls of Holberg]]. This plan was quickly abandoned as infeasible; fine in theory, ''way'' too expensive in practice.

If the vallorn won't go to Holberg, then Holberg will go to the vallorn. The engineers have a proposal for an enormous bastion built on the foundation's of Greenstead in [[Brocéliande#Boar's_Dell|Boar's Dell]]. Once roused, the vallorn by its nature will tend to be drawn to any substantial fortification, sending its full chaotic wroth at the structure until it is entirely subsumed in vines. Knowing that the vallorn is likely to attack any fortification first means the engineers can expect any substantial defences to become a focal point of the campaign as well as a place for Imperial [[military unit]] captains to assign their forces in the absence of an Imperial [[army]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Regarding the Broch'''</big><br>While [[Brocéliande#The Broch|the Broch]] is already [[Construct Defence of the Broch|fortified]], the work was specifically done in such a way as to ''not'' rouse the ire of the vallorn. After all, [[Brocéliande#Black_Boughs|Black Boughs]] lies within the [[vallorn miasma|miasma]] itself and in a region utterly dominated by the ''Doom of Terunael''.</box></div>
There are some important consequences to consider. Firstly, the [[steading|steadings]] of Boar's Dell would face the brunt of the assault. They are Navarri, they have signed up to this, they have sworn oaths that they are committed to this, but one's home is one's home, nevertheless. Secondly, it is eye-wateringly expensive to create such a structure: even with the help of Holberg's finest engineers, they can't materialise wains out of the ether, as much as other nations may accuse the League of this from time to time.

With the collaboration of Holberg's engineers, the fortification could be completed in six seasons (barring the use of magic or other opportunities). Working closely with Navarr [[vate|vates]] provides a second advantage. By incorporating a significant amount of [[mithril]] into the design, it would harness also some of the chaotic energies being drawn out of the vallorn by the [[trods|trod network]] and channel it into local [[mana site|mana sites]]. That would provide a small but important benefit, providing more mana for the coming war, at least until the vallornheart in [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] is destroyed.

==Sarvos==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Market of Everything'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Ministry]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cigno, Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains, 48 crowns, 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a Ministry for the Vallornguard
* Creates the title of ''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard''</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' League national position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives support from Sarvosi traders to acquire material to fight the Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To help the Vallornguard acquire the materials needed to fight the vallorn</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''A Little Bit of Everything'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 rings</td><td>4 random materials, 6 random herbs, 3 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>370 rings</td><td>8 random materials, 12 random herbs, 6 mana crystals, </td></tr>
<tr><td>650 rings</td><td>12 random materials, 18 random herbs, 9 mana crystals,</td></tr>
<tr><td>1000 rings</td><td>16 random materials, 24 random herbs, 12 mana crystals, </td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Sarvosi merchants propose commissioning a market of everything to help supply the Vallornguard with the resources to fight the vallorn'''
While Holberg claims to be the Greatest City in the League, their indignant rivals in [[Sarvos]] argue their city is the oldest and still the richest in the Empire. Trade flows across down the Gancio until it meets the [[Bay of Catazar]] at the docks of [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]]. Ships put to port here that dock nowhere else in the Empire, buying and selling; rare metals from [[Varushka]], fine wines from [[Dawn]], or exotic goods from overseas. The city's proud boast is that anything that is for sale anywhere in the Empire can be found in the markets of Sarvos.

The question is how to employ that strength to bolster the Vallornguard and help prepare for the coming war. Plans are quickly drawn up for a grand market, something that can provide whoever the Vallornguard appoint with a bit of ''everything''. Anything that can be employed against the vallorn can be distributed as needed to the Vallornguard - the rest can be sold. In the minds of the [[merchant Prince|merchant princes]] of Sarvos, a good profit margin is the ultimate weapon.

==Tassato==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Vallornguard Military Academy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Madeiras, Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains of white granite, 32 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' League armies with a general appointed by the Vallornguard can take the order to Stem the Green Tide</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tassatan bravos propose building an academy that will allow League generals appointed by the Vallornguard to use Stem the Green Tide when defending'''
The Navarri who arrive in [[Tassato]] are greeted by a great deal of commotion as furious work is being done to speed the [[Army#Recruitment|mustering]] of the League's third [[army]]. It is a painful reminder that, more than anything else, what the Vallornguard really need are armies. No matter how much planning is put in place, no matter how many fortifications are built, in the end it will always come down to steel weapons and steel will.

Most Tassatans learn to fight with rapier and buckler, the perfect weapons for a bravo who wants to cut a fine dash while bridge fighting. By contrast, the Navarr favour a more pragmatic fighting style when fighting the vallorn, one that makes use of [[venom]] whenever it is available. Training League soldiers in techniques for fighting the vallorn could pay dividends once the enemy attacks.

When the vallorn is roused, and it ''will'' be roused, insist the visiting [[thorn|thorns]], there will need to be those who can stem the initial tsunami of chaotic energies before it might be driven back and permanently quelled. Constructing an appropriate academy, staffed by members of the Vallornguard, would allow League citizens to drill the kind of basic tactics needed to stand your ground in the face of a swarm of vallornspawn.

Once complete the Vallornguard Military Academy would allow any League army whose [[general]] was appointed by the Vallornguard, to take the '''Stem the Green Tide''' order when defending. There are no League armies that would be affected at present, but a [[Senate motion]] could be used to change the appointment method of a general to a vote of the Vallornguard at any time.

<box>'''Stem the Green Tide'''<br>
* '''Casualties suffered by this army from vallorn are decreased by a fifth'''
* '''Victory points generated by this army against the vallorn are increased by one tenth'''

Rapiers might suit the dark alleys of the League cities, but large heavy weapons, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billhook bills], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweih%C3%A4nder two-handed swords] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(weapon) pikes] are the preferred choice for many professional soldiers in League free companies. These are dangerous weapons of war on any battlefield, but with the right training and the right leadership, League soldiers can deploy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_square pike square] to devastating effect against the vallornspawn allowing them to defend against the vallorn's overwhelming and chaotic offensive, holding back the unending green tide.
</box>

==Temeschwar==
* '''Temeschwari bishops suggest a mandate to encourage League bravos to seek out opportunities to fight the enemy'''
The hard, ruthless people of [[Temeschwar]] are known for their pragmatism. Grand plans for mighty fortresses are all well and good, but they can take years to build. Better to ''get on with it'', in the minds of many Temeschwari - there's no time like the present for dealing with a threat. ''Marko von Vardstein'', a newly-minted [[bishop]] with a small church in one of the poorer parts of Temeschwar, has paired up with ''Livinnia'', a bravo known for wielding two axes and being a woman of extremely few words. The pair suggest that if the League are going to do this then the national assembly should encourage military units to start now, by pursuing any venture that could aid in the fight against the vallorn.

{{Mandate|mandate=In Ratibor's name, let us act! We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage League bravos to take up arms against the vallorn. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing right now|assembly=League National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then League military units will be able to take part in the [[Venture#Quest_Against_the_Vallorn|quest against the vallorn]] and [[Venture#Explore_the_ruins_of_Terunael|the exploration of the ruins of Terunael]] ventures, as well as any future ventures that deal with engaging the vallorn directly.

<div {{float}}><quote by="William Shakespeare, As You Like it">All the world's a stage,<br>
And all the men and women are merely players</quote></div>

==Spiral==
* '''Actors and troupe magicians in Spiral propose the creation of plays about the vallorn to inspire citizens'''
* '''Apulian merchants have donated five thrones as a prize for the best play, to be judged by vote of members of the Cat's Graces at the Autumn Equinox'''

There's a lot going on in [[Spiral#Apulus|Apulian]] right now, a running battle between cats and birds for control of the city streets and rooftops while soldiers comb the dark passages that lie beneath them. The visiting Navarri are welcomed with all due hospitality, but at first some Apulians question whether they have the time to offer any significant aid, given that the strange ''confluence'' of [[dramaturgy|dramaturgical]] [[Dramaturgy#The_Personae|personae]], [[Dramaturgy#The_Instruments|instruments]] and [[Dramaturgy#The_Thrones|thrones]] plays havoc with the city, causing inhabitants and visitors alike to get lost in the shifting streets.

Determined not to be outdone by the other cities, a troupe of actors and magicians proposes that dramaturgy might offer a way to combat the vallorn. Of course there needs to be fortifications and armies and supplies and such things, but none of those will help without the ''will to win'' and the ''belief'' that ''victory'' is ''possible'' (and so on). The biggest hurdle to victory they say, is not the threat of the vallorn but the belief that the Empire lacks the means to defeat it. People need to see the vallorn not as some implacable force that can only be contained at best, but as an enemy that can be defeated once and for all, just like the [[Druj]].

What is needed, they say, are plays and stories that present a new vision of the vallorn. The true power of dramaturgy lies not just in performing rituals calling on the personae and their accoutrements, but in using the power of drama to influence the way people think and believe. Good plays create a narrative that shapes the path of history. Of course critics of dramaturgy argue that it is the power of events that make some plays seem so pivotal, not unlike the way some magicians believe that the stars move in line with events rather than the other way round.

Proponents of the real power of dramaturgy have little time for such naysaying. They argue that creating plays and stories that tell of victory over the vallorn are a subtle but crucial step in making that outcome come about. Of course that raises the question of who will create the plays - such things are time-consuming and expensive. A few Navarr suggest the historical accounts of Navarr and Thorn or [[Megan Black Blood]] might form the basis for such a play, but not everyone thinks that is the best approach. Even the suggestion of dramatising recent triumphs such as [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Immolation_.28Liathaven.29|that in Liathaven]] does not meet with enthusiasm.

The League actors are concerned that the old histories may focus too much on the fall and what was lost to the vallorn. Equally their suggestion that if the playwrights do use the historical accounts, they will need to be ''"sexed up a bit, to make it more dramatic"'' does not meet with universal approval by their Navarr guests.

As a compromise, the suggestion is that the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Cat's_Graces|recently established sodality, the Cat's Graces]] might hold a contest to find the best play about the vallorn. Something dramatic and engaging that will get people into the cheap seats but which sets the tone of an Empire engaging successfully with the vallorn. A purse is quickly assembled, 5 thrones for the winning entry, with the understanding of all who enter, that actors will tour the winning play and any other worthy entries, across the Empire.

Of course it will take time for playwrights to produce something that capture and transform the zeitgeist. It needn't be a full play - it could be a short performance piece, put on everywhere before the main attraction. It could be historical, provided it doesn't compromise being inspiring for too much stuffy "accuracy". After all, the goal is to move the hearts and minds of theatre-goers all over the Empire, not to educate historians and scholars.

The merchants of Apulian request the Cat's Graces sodality either arrange a suitable contest to identify a winning submission, or else find a way to choose the perfect playwright to commission a piece. Either way they offer a purse of five thrones to be awarded by the sodality at the Autumn Equinox, to the author of the play that best inspires people to embrace the idea of defeating the vallorn.

A copy of the play itself will also need to be provided, so that it can be distributed to troupes of actors across the League. Focusing the attention of the League's thespians and actors on the vallorn in this way may reap dividends, although they are likely to be subtle or unpredictable. With the support of the Cat's Graces, it will definitely encourage a surge of interest in depicting the fight against the vallorn on the stage, and in reframing it as a foe to be overcome rather than an insurmountable problem. It might all lead to nothing apart from some very enjoyable nights at the theatre, or it may actually achieve what the dramaturgical theorists claim it will and somehow shift Imperial attitudes to the Doom of Terunael.

==Further Reading==
* [[Cup of choices]] - 388YE Spring wind of fortune detailing the Navarr efforts to assist Urizen
* [[The highest calling]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune about the highest calling

* [[Vallorn]]

Viridian nemesis

2026-07-06T13:03:12Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<ic>"Trade is the lifeblood of the Jewelled City. Ships dock here from all over the world. The Grendel like to think of themselves as masters of the Bay of Catazar, but the markets of Dubhtraig are barely twice the size of Trivento! Everything is for sale here. Everything the virtuous soul might desire and a little more besides."

"I don't see how that is going to help us." responded Gwyn, careful not to offend his host. He'd been warned that the Merchant Prince of the Amber Signets was given to self-aggrandisement, but he'd been advised that he held sway over a significant number of local merchants who would be good to have on hand. "The vallorn has no trade interests, no valuables. It has no interest in markets or trade, any more than it does in any other facet of civilisation."

Afredo blinked and then forced a smile back to his face. "You miss my point my friend. The point is that whatever you need for this war of yours, is available here. Materials, wains, mana, herbs, weapons, armour, even soldiers are for sale here. Well their swords at least. Tell me what the Vallornguard need to fight the enemy and we'll ensure it's available - for the right price."

Gwyn shrugged his shoulders a little bemused by the question. "I mean... everything... we need everything." Herbs to heal soldiers, crystals for magic, ingots and measures for magic items, there was no material in this or any realm that the Navarri have not found a way to use to fight their ancient foe.

The Merchant Prince smirked, though this time the smile was at least an honest one. "Very well" he replied, "everything it is then..."
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Navarr.png|align=left|caption=The garden long-tended by the Navarr begins to bear fruit.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[The highest calling|highest calling]] of the the [[Navarr]] is to share their long experience fighting the [[vallorn]] with other nations. Last season, they [[Cup_of_choices|chose to work]] with the people of [[Urizen]]; now the Navarr National Assembly has urged their people to embrace the citizens of [[the League]] to arm and armour then for the upcoming battle with the Doom of Terunael. Once again, the [[Loyalty]] Assembly has supported the cause, calling upon those whose heart drives them towards the destruction of ''Terun's Folly''.

The aid was welcomed by the League Assembly and so the Navarr find the cities of the League no less enthusiastic than the spires of Urizen. In conjunction with their guests, each city has come up with its own plan how best to prepare to fight the vallorn.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;">
{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Teleri Thornweaver with 50 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Teleri Thornweaver, Navarr National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 252-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, with 25 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, Loyalty Assembly|vote=190-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=We welcome and recognise the judgement by Navarr (54). We recognise their highest calling and we welcome their aid.|by=Francesca di Spiral, League National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 328-10|when=Spring 388YE}}</div>

==Holberg==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Boar's Hide'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Fortification]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Boar's Dell, Brocéliande</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 120 [[white granite]], 60 mithril, 540 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 6 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 20 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Creates a level two fortification in Boar's Dell
* Increases the level of investment in mana sites in Brocéliande by one while there is a vallornheart in the territory
</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Holberg engineers propose the construction of a grand fortification in Brocéliande that could take advantage of the trods to boost mana sites in the territory'''
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Actuallythebest001.png|align=right|width=250}}</div>
[[The_greatest_city_in_the_world|The Greatest City in the League]] lies to the north-east of [[Brocéliande|Brocéliande]], and south of [[Otkodov#Sküld|Sküld]], two territories both infested with the vallorn. Initial proposals by some ambitious engineers has a [[weirwood]] and [[ilium]] causeway cutting across the Barrens to channel the vallorn of [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] itself into their territory, that they might fight in the shade of the monstrous [[Walls of Holberg]]. This plan was quickly abandoned as infeasible; fine in theory, ''way'' too expensive in practice.

If the vallorn won't go to Holberg, then Holberg will go to the vallorn. The engineers have a proposal for an enormous bastion built on the foundation's of Greenstead in [[Brocéliande#Boar's_Dell|Boar's Dell]]. Once roused, the vallorn by its nature will tend to be drawn to any substantial fortification, sending its full chaotic wroth at the structure until it is entirely subsumed in vines. Knowing that the vallorn is likely to attack any fortification first means the engineers can expect any substantial defences to become a focal point of the campaign as well as a place for Imperial [[military unit]] captains to assign their forces in the absence of an Imperial [[army]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Regarding the Broch'''</big><br>While [[Brocéliande#the Broch|the Broch]] is already [[Construct Defence of the Broch|fortified]], the work was specifically done in such a way as to ''not'' rouse the ire of the vallorn. After all, [[Brocéliande#Black_Boughs|Black Boughs]] lies within the [[vallorn miasma|miasma]] itself and in a region utterly dominated by the ''Doom of Terunael''.</box></div>
There are some important consequences to consider. Firstly, the [[steading|steadings]] of Boar's Dell would face the brunt of the assault. They are Navarri, they have signed up to this, they have sworn oaths that they are committed to this, but one's home is one's home, nevertheless. Secondly, it is eye-wateringly expensive to create such a structure: even with the help of Holberg's finest engineers, they can't materialise wains out of the ether, as much as other nations may accuse the League of this from time to time.

With the collaboration of Holberg's engineers, the fortification could be completed in six seasons (barring the use of magic or other opportunities). Working closely with Navarr [[vate|vates]] provides a second advantage. By incorporating a significant amount of [[mithril]] into the design, it would harness also some of the chaotic energies being drawn out of the vallorn by the [[trods|trod network]] and channel it into local [[mana site|mana sites]]. That would provide a small but important benefit, providing more mana for the coming war, at least until the vallornheart in [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] is destroyed.

==Sarvos==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Market of Everything'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Ministry]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cigno, Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains, 48 crowns, 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a Ministry for the Vallornguard
* Creates the title of ''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard''</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' League national position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives support from Sarvosi traders to acquire material to fight the Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To help the Vallornguard acquire the materials needed to fight the vallorn</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''A Little Bit of Everything'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 rings</td><td>4 random materials, 6 random herbs, 3 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>370 rings</td><td>8 random materials, 12 random herbs, 6 mana crystals, </td></tr>
<tr><td>650 rings</td><td>12 random materials, 18 random herbs, 9 mana crystals,</td></tr>
<tr><td>1000 rings</td><td>16 random materials, 24 random herbs, 12 mana crystals, </td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Sarvosi merchants propose commissioning a market of everything to help supply the Vallornguard with the resources to fight the vallorn'''
While Holberg claims to be the Greatest City in the League, their indignant rivals in [[Sarvos]] argue their city is the oldest and still the richest in the Empire. Trade flows across down the Gancio until it meets the [[Bay of Catazar]] at the docks of [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]]. Ships put to port here that dock nowhere else in the Empire, buying and selling; rare metals from [[Varushka]], fine wines from [[Dawn]], or exotic goods from overseas. The city's proud boast is that anything that is for sale anywhere in the Empire can be found in the markets of Sarvos.

The question is how to employ that strength to bolster the Vallornguard and help prepare for the coming war. Plans are quickly drawn up for a grand market, something that can provide whoever the Vallornguard appoint with a bit of ''everything''. Anything that can be employed against the vallorn can be distributed as needed to the Vallornguard - the rest can be sold. In the minds of the [[merchant Prince|merchant princes]] of Sarvos, a good profit margin is the ultimate weapon.

==Tassato==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Vallornguard Military Academy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Madeiras, Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains of white granite, 32 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' League armies with a general appointed by the Vallornguard can take the order to Stem the Green Tide</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tassatan bravos propose building an academy that will allow League generals appointed by the Vallornguard to use Stem the Green Tide when defending'''
The Navarri who arrive in [[Tassato]] are greeted by a great deal of commotion as furious work is being done to speed the [[Army#Recruitment|mustering]] of the League's third [[army]]. It is a painful reminder that, more than anything else, what the Vallornguard really need are armies. No matter how much planning is put in place, no matter how many fortifications are built, in the end it will always come down to steel weapons and steel will.

Most Tassatans learn to fight with rapier and buckler, the perfect weapons for a bravo who wants to cut a fine dash while bridge fighting. By contrast, the Navarr favour a more pragmatic fighting style when fighting the vallorn, one that makes use of [[venom]] whenever it is available. Training League soldiers in techniques for fighting the vallorn could pay dividends once the enemy attacks.

When the vallorn is roused, and it ''will'' be roused, insist the visiting [[thorn|thorns]], there will need to be those who can stem the initial tsunami of chaotic energies before it might be driven back and permanently quelled. Constructing an appropriate academy, staffed by members of the Vallornguard, would allow League citizens to drill the kind of basic tactics needed to stand your ground in the face of a swarm of vallornspawn.

Once complete the Vallornguard Military Academy would allow any League army whose [[general]] was appointed by the Vallornguard, to take the '''Stem the Green Tide''' order when defending. There are no League armies that would be affected at present, but a [[Senate motion]] could be used to change the appointment method of a general to a vote of the Vallornguard at any time.

<box>'''Stem the Green Tide'''<br>
* '''Casualties suffered by this army from vallorn are decreased by a fifth'''
* '''Victory points generated by this army against the vallorn are increased by one tenth'''

Rapiers might suit the dark alleys of the League cities, but large heavy weapons, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billhook bills], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweih%C3%A4nder two-handed swords] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(weapon) pikes] are the preferred choice for many professional soldiers in League free companies. These are dangerous weapons of war on any battlefield, but with the right training and the right leadership, League soldiers can deploy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_square pike square] to devastating effect against the vallornspawn allowing them to defend against the vallorn's overwhelming and chaotic offensive, holding back the unending green tide.
</box>

==Temeschwar==
* '''Temeschwari bishops suggest a mandate to encourage League bravos to seek out opportunities to fight the enemy'''
The hard, ruthless people of [[Temeschwar]] are known for their pragmatism. Grand plans for mighty fortresses are all well and good, but they can take years to build. Better to ''get on with it'', in the minds of many Temeschwari - there's no time like the present for dealing with a threat. ''Marko von Vardstein'', a newly-minted [[bishop]] with a small church in one of the poorer parts of Temeschwar, has paired up with ''Livinnia'', a bravo known for wielding two axes and being a woman of extremely few words. The pair suggest that if the League are going to do this then the national assembly should encourage military units to start now, by pursuing any venture that could aid in the fight against the vallorn.

{{Mandate|mandate=In Ratibor's name, let us act! We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage League bravos to take up arms against the vallorn. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing right now|assembly=League National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then League military units will be able to take part in the [[Venture#Quest_Against_the_Vallorn|quest against the vallorn]] and [[Venture#Explore_the_ruins_of_Terunael|the exploration of the ruins of Terunael]] ventures, as well as any future ventures that deal with engaging the vallorn directly.

<div {{float}}><quote by="William Shakespeare, As You Like it">All the world's a stage,<br>
And all the men and women are merely players</quote></div>

==Spiral==
* '''Actors and troupe magicians in Spiral propose the creation of plays about the vallorn to inspire citizens'''
* '''Apulian merchants have donated five thrones as a prize for the best play, to be judged by vote of members of the Cat's Graces at the Autumn Equinox'''

There's a lot going on in [[Spiral#Apulus|Apulian]] right now, a running battle between cats and birds for control of the city streets and rooftops while soldiers comb the dark passages that lie beneath them. The visiting Navarri are welcomed with all due hospitality, but at first some Apulians question whether they have the time to offer any significant aid, given that the strange ''confluence'' of [[dramaturgy|dramaturgical]] [[Dramaturgy#The_Personae|personae]], [[Dramaturgy#The_Instruments|instruments]] and [[Dramaturgy#The_Thrones|thrones]] plays havoc with the city, causing inhabitants and visitors alike to get lost in the shifting streets.

Determined not to be outdone by the other cities, a troupe of actors and magicians proposes that dramaturgy might offer a way to combat the vallorn. Of course there needs to be fortifications and armies and supplies and such things, but none of those will help without the ''will to win'' and the ''belief'' that ''victory'' is ''possible'' (and so on). The biggest hurdle to victory they say, is not the threat of the vallorn but the belief that the Empire lacks the means to defeat it. People need to see the vallorn not as some implacable force that can only be contained at best, but as an enemy that can be defeated once and for all, just like the [[Druj]].

What is needed, they say, are plays and stories that present a new vision of the vallorn. The true power of dramaturgy lies not just in performing rituals calling on the personae and their accoutrements, but in using the power of drama to influence the way people think and believe. Good plays create a narrative that shapes the path of history. Of course critics of dramaturgy argue that it is the power of events that make some plays seem so pivotal, not unlike the way some magicians believe that the stars move in line with events rather than the other way round.

Proponents of the real power of dramaturgy have little time for such naysaying. They argue that creating plays and stories that tell of victory over the vallorn are a subtle but crucial step in making that outcome come about. Of course that raises the question of who will create the plays - such things are time-consuming and expensive. A few Navarr suggest the historical accounts of Navarr and Thorn or [[Megan Black Blood]] might form the basis for such a play, but not everyone thinks that is the best approach. Even the suggestion of dramatising recent triumphs such as [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Immolation_.28Liathaven.29|that in Liathaven]] does not meet with enthusiasm.

The League actors are concerned that the old histories may focus too much on the fall and what was lost to the vallorn. Equally their suggestion that if the playwrights do use the historical accounts, they will need to be ''"sexed up a bit, to make it more dramatic"'' does not meet with universal approval by their Navarr guests.

As a compromise, the suggestion is that the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Cat's_Graces|recently established sodality, the Cat's Graces]] might hold a contest to find the best play about the vallorn. Something dramatic and engaging that will get people into the cheap seats but which sets the tone of an Empire engaging successfully with the vallorn. A purse is quickly assembled, 5 thrones for the winning entry, with the understanding of all who enter, that actors will tour the winning play and any other worthy entries, across the Empire.

Of course it will take time for playwrights to produce something that capture and transform the zeitgeist. It needn't be a full play - it could be a short performance piece, put on everywhere before the main attraction. It could be historical, provided it doesn't compromise being inspiring for too much stuffy "accuracy". After all, the goal is to move the hearts and minds of theatre-goers all over the Empire, not to educate historians and scholars.

The merchants of Apulian request the Cat's Graces sodality either arrange a suitable contest to identify a winning submission, or else find a way to choose the perfect playwright to commission a piece. Either way they offer a purse of five thrones to be awarded by the sodality at the Autumn Equinox, to the author of the play that best inspires people to embrace the idea of defeating the vallorn.

A copy of the play itself will also need to be provided, so that it can be distributed to troupes of actors across the League. Focusing the attention of the League's thespians and actors on the vallorn in this way may reap dividends, although they are likely to be subtle or unpredictable. With the support of the Cat's Graces, it will definitely encourage a surge of interest in depicting the fight against the vallorn on the stage, and in reframing it as a foe to be overcome rather than an insurmountable problem. It might all lead to nothing apart from some very enjoyable nights at the theatre, or it may actually achieve what the dramaturgical theorists claim it will and somehow shift Imperial attitudes to the Doom of Terunael.

==Further Reading==
* [[Cup of choices]] - 388YE Spring wind of fortune detailing the Navarr efforts to assist Urizen
* [[The highest calling]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune about the highest calling

* [[Vallorn]]

Viridian nemesis

2026-07-06T13:02:29Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<ic>"Trade is the lifeblood of the Jewelled City. Ships dock here from all over the world. The Grendel like to think of themselves as masters of the Bay of Catazar, but the markets of Dubhtraig are barely twice the size of Trivento! Everything is for sale here. Everything the virtuous soul might desire and a little more besides."

"I don't see how that is going to help us." responded Gwyn, careful not to offend his host. He'd been warned that the Merchant Prince of the Amber Signets was given to self-aggrandisement, but he'd been advised that he held sway over a significant number of local merchants who would be good to have on hand. "The vallorn has no trade interests, no valuables. It has no interest in markets or trade, any more than it does in any other facet of civilisation."

Afredo blinked and then forced a smile back to his face. "You miss my point my friend. The point is that whatever you need for this war of yours, is available here. Materials, wains, mana, herbs, weapons, armour, even soldiers are for sale here. Well their swords at least. Tell me what the Vallornguard need to fight the enemy and we'll ensure it's available - for the right price."

Gwyn shrugged his shoulders a little bemused by the question. "I mean... everything... we need everything." Herbs to heal soldiers, crystals for magic, ingots and measures for magic items, there was no material in this or any realm that the Navarri have not found a way to use to fight their ancient foe.

The Merchant Prince smirked, though this time the smile was at least an honest one. "Very well" he replied, "everything it is then..."
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Navarr.png|align=left|caption=The garden long-tended by the Navarr begins to bear fruit.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[The highest calling|highest calling]] of the the [[Navarr]] is to share their long experience fighting the [[vallorn]] with other nations. Last season, they [[Cup_of_choices|chose to work]] with the people of [[Urizen]]; now the Navarr National Assembly has urged their people to embrace the citizens of [[the League]] to arm and armour then for the upcoming battle with the Doom of Terunael. Once again, the [[Loyalty]] Assembly has supported the cause, calling upon those whose heart drives them towards the destruction of ''Terun's Folly''.

The aid was welcomed by the League Assembly and so the Navarr find the cities of the League no less enthusiastic than the spires of Urizen. In conjunction with their guests, each city has come up with its own plan how best to prepare to fight the vallorn.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;">
{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Teleri Thornweaver with 50 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Teleri Thornweaver, Navarr National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 252-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, with 25 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, Loyalty Assembly|vote=190-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=We welcome and recognise the judgement by Navarr (54). We recognise their highest calling and we welcome their aid.|by=Francesca di Spiral, League National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 328-10|when=Spring 388YE}}</div>

==Holberg==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Boar's Hide'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Fortification]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Boar's Dell, Broceliande</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 120 [[white granite]], 60 mithril, 540 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 6 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 20 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Creates a level two fortification in Boar's Dell
* Increases the level of investment in mana sites in Brocéliande by one while there is a vallornheart in the territory
</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Holberg engineers propose the construction of a grand fortification in Broceliande that could take advantage of the trods to boost mana sites in the territory'''
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Actuallythebest001.png|align=right|width=250}}</div>
[[The_greatest_city_in_the_world|The Greatest City in the League]] lies to the north-east of [[Brocéliande|Brocéliande]], and south of [[Otkodov#Sküld|Sküld]], two territories both infested with the vallorn. Initial proposals by some ambitious engineers has a [[weirwood]] and [[ilium]] causeway cutting across the Barrens to channel the vallorn of [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] itself into their territory, that they might fight in the shade of the monstrous [[Walls of Holberg]]. This plan was quickly abandoned as infeasible; fine in theory, ''way'' too expensive in practice.

If the vallorn won't go to Holberg, then Holberg will go to the vallorn. The engineers have a proposal for an enormous bastion built on the foundation's of Greenstead in [[Brocéliande#Boar's_Dell|Boar's Dell]]. Once roused, the vallorn by its nature will tend to be drawn to any substantial fortification, sending its full chaotic wroth at the structure until it is entirely subsumed in vines. Knowing that the vallorn is likely to attack any fortification first means the engineers can expect any substantial defences to become a focal point of the campaign as well as a place for Imperial [[military unit]] captains to assign their forces in the absence of an Imperial [[army]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Regarding the Broch'''</big><br>While [[Brocéliande#the Broch|the Broch]] is already [[Construct Defence of the Broch|fortified]], the work was specifically done in such a way as to ''not'' rouse the ire of the vallorn. After all, [[Brocéliande#Black_Boughs|Black Boughs]] lies within the [[vallorn miasma|miasma]] itself and in a region utterly dominated by the ''Doom of Terunael''.</box></div>
There are some important consequences to consider. Firstly, the [[steading|steadings]] of Boar's Dell would face the brunt of the assault. They are Navarri, they have signed up to this, they have sworn oaths that they are committed to this, but one's home is one's home, nevertheless. Secondly, it is eye-wateringly expensive to create such a structure: even with the help of Holberg's finest engineers, they can't materialise wains out of the ether, as much as other nations may accuse the League of this from time to time.

With the collaboration of Holberg's engineers, the fortification could be completed in six seasons (barring the use of magic or other opportunities). Working closely with Navarr [[vate|vates]] provides a second advantage. By incorporating a significant amount of [[mithril]] into the design, it would harness also some of the chaotic energies being drawn out of the vallorn by the [[trods|trod network]] and channel it into local [[mana site|mana sites]]. That would provide a small but important benefit, providing more mana for the coming war, at least until the vallornheart in [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] is destroyed.

==Sarvos==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Market of Everything'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Ministry]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cigno, Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains, 48 crowns, 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a Ministry for the Vallornguard
* Creates the title of ''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard''</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' League national position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives support from Sarvosi traders to acquire material to fight the Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To help the Vallornguard acquire the materials needed to fight the vallorn</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''A Little Bit of Everything'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 rings</td><td>4 random materials, 6 random herbs, 3 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>370 rings</td><td>8 random materials, 12 random herbs, 6 mana crystals, </td></tr>
<tr><td>650 rings</td><td>12 random materials, 18 random herbs, 9 mana crystals,</td></tr>
<tr><td>1000 rings</td><td>16 random materials, 24 random herbs, 12 mana crystals, </td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Sarvosi merchants propose commissioning a market of everything to help supply the Vallornguard with the resources to fight the vallorn'''
While Holberg claims to be the Greatest City in the League, their indignant rivals in [[Sarvos]] argue their city is the oldest and still the richest in the Empire. Trade flows across down the Gancio until it meets the [[Bay of Catazar]] at the docks of [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]]. Ships put to port here that dock nowhere else in the Empire, buying and selling; rare metals from [[Varushka]], fine wines from [[Dawn]], or exotic goods from overseas. The city's proud boast is that anything that is for sale anywhere in the Empire can be found in the markets of Sarvos.

The question is how to employ that strength to bolster the Vallornguard and help prepare for the coming war. Plans are quickly drawn up for a grand market, something that can provide whoever the Vallornguard appoint with a bit of ''everything''. Anything that can be employed against the vallorn can be distributed as needed to the Vallornguard - the rest can be sold. In the minds of the [[merchant Prince|merchant princes]] of Sarvos, a good profit margin is the ultimate weapon.

==Tassato==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Vallornguard Military Academy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Madeiras, Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains of white granite, 32 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' League armies with a general appointed by the Vallornguard can take the order to Stem the Green Tide</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tassatan bravos propose building an academy that will allow League generals appointed by the Vallornguard to use Stem the Green Tide when defending'''
The Navarri who arrive in [[Tassato]] are greeted by a great deal of commotion as furious work is being done to speed the [[Army#Recruitment|mustering]] of the League's third [[army]]. It is a painful reminder that, more than anything else, what the Vallornguard really need are armies. No matter how much planning is put in place, no matter how many fortifications are built, in the end it will always come down to steel weapons and steel will.

Most Tassatans learn to fight with rapier and buckler, the perfect weapons for a bravo who wants to cut a fine dash while bridge fighting. By contrast, the Navarr favour a more pragmatic fighting style when fighting the vallorn, one that makes use of [[venom]] whenever it is available. Training League soldiers in techniques for fighting the vallorn could pay dividends once the enemy attacks.

When the vallorn is roused, and it ''will'' be roused, insist the visiting [[thorn|thorns]], there will need to be those who can stem the initial tsunami of chaotic energies before it might be driven back and permanently quelled. Constructing an appropriate academy, staffed by members of the Vallornguard, would allow League citizens to drill the kind of basic tactics needed to stand your ground in the face of a swarm of vallornspawn.

Once complete the Vallornguard Military Academy would allow any League army whose [[general]] was appointed by the Vallornguard, to take the '''Stem the Green Tide''' order when defending. There are no League armies that would be affected at present, but a [[Senate motion]] could be used to change the appointment method of a general to a vote of the Vallornguard at any time.

<box>'''Stem the Green Tide'''<br>
* '''Casualties suffered by this army from vallorn are decreased by a fifth'''
* '''Victory points generated by this army against the vallorn are increased by one tenth'''

Rapiers might suit the dark alleys of the League cities, but large heavy weapons, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billhook bills], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweih%C3%A4nder two-handed swords] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(weapon) pikes] are the preferred choice for many professional soldiers in League free companies. These are dangerous weapons of war on any battlefield, but with the right training and the right leadership, League soldiers can deploy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_square pike square] to devastating effect against the vallornspawn allowing them to defend against the vallorn's overwhelming and chaotic offensive, holding back the unending green tide.
</box>

==Temeschwar==
* '''Temeschwari bishops suggest a mandate to encourage League bravos to seek out opportunities to fight the enemy'''
The hard, ruthless people of [[Temeschwar]] are known for their pragmatism. Grand plans for mighty fortresses are all well and good, but they can take years to build. Better to ''get on with it'', in the minds of many Temeschwari - there's no time like the present for dealing with a threat. ''Marko von Vardstein'', a newly-minted [[bishop]] with a small church in one of the poorer parts of Temeschwar, has paired up with ''Livinnia'', a bravo known for wielding two axes and being a woman of extremely few words. The pair suggest that if the League are going to do this then the national assembly should encourage military units to start now, by pursuing any venture that could aid in the fight against the vallorn.

{{Mandate|mandate=In Ratibor's name, let us act! We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage League bravos to take up arms against the vallorn. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing right now|assembly=League National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then League military units will be able to take part in the [[Venture#Quest_Against_the_Vallorn|quest against the vallorn]] and [[Venture#Explore_the_ruins_of_Terunael|the exploration of the ruins of Terunael]] ventures, as well as any future ventures that deal with engaging the vallorn directly.

<div {{float}}><quote by="William Shakespeare, As You Like it">All the world's a stage,<br>
And all the men and women are merely players</quote></div>

==Spiral==
* '''Actors and troupe magicians in Spiral propose the creation of plays about the vallorn to inspire citizens'''
* '''Apulian merchants have donated five thrones as a prize for the best play, to be judged by vote of members of the Cat's Graces at the Autumn Equinox'''

There's a lot going on in [[Spiral#Apulus|Apulian]] right now, a running battle between cats and birds for control of the city streets and rooftops while soldiers comb the dark passages that lie beneath them. The visiting Navarri are welcomed with all due hospitality, but at first some Apulians question whether they have the time to offer any significant aid, given that the strange ''confluence'' of [[dramaturgy|dramaturgical]] [[Dramaturgy#The_Personae|personae]], [[Dramaturgy#The_Instruments|instruments]] and [[Dramaturgy#The_Thrones|thrones]] plays havoc with the city, causing inhabitants and visitors alike to get lost in the shifting streets.

Determined not to be outdone by the other cities, a troupe of actors and magicians proposes that dramaturgy might offer a way to combat the vallorn. Of course there needs to be fortifications and armies and supplies and such things, but none of those will help without the ''will to win'' and the ''belief'' that ''victory'' is ''possible'' (and so on). The biggest hurdle to victory they say, is not the threat of the vallorn but the belief that the Empire lacks the means to defeat it. People need to see the vallorn not as some implacable force that can only be contained at best, but as an enemy that can be defeated once and for all, just like the [[Druj]].

What is needed, they say, are plays and stories that present a new vision of the vallorn. The true power of dramaturgy lies not just in performing rituals calling on the personae and their accoutrements, but in using the power of drama to influence the way people think and believe. Good plays create a narrative that shapes the path of history. Of course critics of dramaturgy argue that it is the power of events that make some plays seem so pivotal, not unlike the way some magicians believe that the stars move in line with events rather than the other way round.

Proponents of the real power of dramaturgy have little time for such naysaying. They argue that creating plays and stories that tell of victory over the vallorn are a subtle but crucial step in making that outcome come about. Of course that raises the question of who will create the plays - such things are time-consuming and expensive. A few Navarr suggest the historical accounts of Navarr and Thorn or [[Megan Black Blood]] might form the basis for such a play, but not everyone thinks that is the best approach. Even the suggestion of dramatising recent triumphs such as [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Immolation_.28Liathaven.29|that in Liathaven]] does not meet with enthusiasm.

The League actors are concerned that the old histories may focus too much on the fall and what was lost to the vallorn. Equally their suggestion that if the playwrights do use the historical accounts, they will need to be ''"sexed up a bit, to make it more dramatic"'' does not meet with universal approval by their Navarr guests.

As a compromise, the suggestion is that the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Cat's_Graces|recently established sodality, the Cat's Graces]] might hold a contest to find the best play about the vallorn. Something dramatic and engaging that will get people into the cheap seats but which sets the tone of an Empire engaging successfully with the vallorn. A purse is quickly assembled, 5 thrones for the winning entry, with the understanding of all who enter, that actors will tour the winning play and any other worthy entries, across the Empire.

Of course it will take time for playwrights to produce something that capture and transform the zeitgeist. It needn't be a full play - it could be a short performance piece, put on everywhere before the main attraction. It could be historical, provided it doesn't compromise being inspiring for too much stuffy "accuracy". After all, the goal is to move the hearts and minds of theatre-goers all over the Empire, not to educate historians and scholars.

The merchants of Apulian request the Cat's Graces sodality either arrange a suitable contest to identify a winning submission, or else find a way to choose the perfect playwright to commission a piece. Either way they offer a purse of five thrones to be awarded by the sodality at the Autumn Equinox, to the author of the play that best inspires people to embrace the idea of defeating the vallorn.

A copy of the play itself will also need to be provided, so that it can be distributed to troupes of actors across the League. Focusing the attention of the League's thespians and actors on the vallorn in this way may reap dividends, although they are likely to be subtle or unpredictable. With the support of the Cat's Graces, it will definitely encourage a surge of interest in depicting the fight against the vallorn on the stage, and in reframing it as a foe to be overcome rather than an insurmountable problem. It might all lead to nothing apart from some very enjoyable nights at the theatre, or it may actually achieve what the dramaturgical theorists claim it will and somehow shift Imperial attitudes to the Doom of Terunael.

==Further Reading==
* [[Cup of choices]] - 388YE Spring wind of fortune detailing the Navarr efforts to assist Urizen
* [[The highest calling]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune about the highest calling

* [[Vallorn]]

The Oran operation

2026-07-05T17:33:38Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Appraisal]]
<ic>"I've heard some of your people complain about the Senate and, let me tell you, they do not know how good they have it."

Lutomysla quirked and eyebrow.

"They should try dealing with a Salt Lord." Grayune shook her head. "If we were trying this back on the Shore... Every time we suggested building a bridge to help move armies, some Salt Lord would look at the weirwood we needed and suggest building another navy instead. So we end up with shitty bridges that keep falling down, and then everyone just falls back on ferries and boats and its the soldiers that get shafted because they have to pay the boat owners for the privilege of getting to where the war is. And of course if we don't pay, the Grendel blame the 'landbound' and... Anyway it's a nightmare."

"Wait, aren't ''you'' Grendel Grayune?" Lutomsyla's tone was mild but she was very interested in the answer. The orc sighed.

"It depends who you ask," she said bitterly. "We call ourselves Grendel - called ourselves Grendel I mean." The engineer shot the prognosticator a quick look from under furrowed brows. "We're the Protectorate of Morajasse now, obviously."

"Obviously," nodded Lutomysla. The Protectorate was ''probably'' a political fiction but it was difficult to be ''entirely'' sure of that, which made exchanges like this fascinating to the Varushkan.

"We called ourselves Grendel but the Commander, he's a soldier. Not a sailor. There are people on the Shore who think that you're only a ''real'' Grendel if you own a boat, or sail on a boat, or build boats or... 'Soldiering' is what the septs do. No true Grendel, and so on. You know?"

Lutomysla wasn't sure she ''did'' know but nodded sympathetically nonetheless.

"It must be quite frustrating," she said encouragingly. It was rare for the normally taciturn Protectorate orcs to speak so candidly and she wanted to get the most out of it.

"Not that the Empire's much better," Grayune added hastily. "So many people in the mix means everything takes forever. When a Salt Lord decides they want something, they just... do it. Not so much of this arguing, and voting, and all this thing with your priests. The septs are the same - as long as they come when the Salt Lords call, they're pretty much left alone to get on with it in their lands."

The orc stared off into the distance, clearly seeing something other than the marshy northern bank of the Scorrero.

"It's the army that wins the wars," she said half to herself. "It's the soldiers that die in the mud, die with swords in their hands. The Moridun have it better, fair enough, but only because they fought tooth and nail for their recognition. And when you're locked down by a bunch of Urizen sentinels you can't just... sail away. It wasn't the damn sailors that died at Solen's Doubt, let me tell you."

Grayune shook herself, and straightened up. She raised her spyglass, studying the shores of the Siroc Bayou.

"Anyway, I'm sure things aren't all coffee and cream in the Imperial armies, either. It's a soldier's lot to slog over hot sand and spill blood because some silk-wearing arsehole five hundred miles away tells them to. "

She barked a laugh.

"'The soldier's lot is to fight and die, to fall on far sands and never know why'."

Lutomysla wondered who she was quoting. The uncomfortable silence stretched, becoming more awkward. Grayune broke it.

"Right! See that? I mean obviously you can't see that because I have the spyglass, but trust me. The road there? It's a bit battered but I think it'd be easier to bank and shore it than to try building a new one, most of the stone is still there it's just under the mud. Wide enough for two wagons I'd judge, so if the bridge makes landfall ''there'' it'll link your trade routes quite nicely."

Lutomysla let the talk of salvage, stone, and swamps wash over here, making a mental note to send a note about this exchange to Gerard once they were back in Oran.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Atchafalaya Basin.jpg|align=left|caption=The transformation of southern Madruga cut the connection between the wider Empire and Feroz, and restoring the link will be a major undertaking.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
In Autumn 386YE, as part of the solution to the incursion of the ''dry patricians'', the river Scorrero was infused along its length with Spring magic resulting in [[Where the river rises|violent flooding]]. The damage caused by the withering presence of the patricians was washed away, and when the waters subsided [[Madruga]] was transfigured. The gentle farmlands of the south and west were replaced with marsh and haunted grass - [[Madruga#Crucible|Crucible]], [[Madruga#Siroc Bayou|Siroc Bayou]], and [[Madruga#Quiet_Grasses|Quiet Grasses]]. In the process, the bridges crossing the river were swept away. Only the Sobral Bridge north of the eponymous town survived.

Last season, the Senate accepted [[An_arrow_nocked_and_in_flight#A_Garden_Proposal|an offer]] from the Protectorate of Morajasse to work with their military engineers. They would apply their expertise to the challenge of creating new bridges to reconnect the eastern Brass Coast, and restore easy movement between [[Feroz]] and Madruga. This project is also of interest to the [[Iron Confederacy]], whose merchants used to pass along the eastern coast road via [[Feroz#Fontargenta|Bramar]] to reach the wider Empire.

[[Appraisal#Lutomysla Niegoslava|Lutomysla Niegoslava]] was selected to lead the appraisal and liaise with the Protectorate. The project definitely does not play to her strengths as a magician who seeks magical solutions to problems, but her familiarity with the magical strangeness of the Siroc Bayou may be useful. Her main contribution, however, comes from her understanding of the Imperial civil service and bureaucracy, and smoothing interactions between the Protectorate engineers and the people of the Brass Coast.

==Bridges==
* '''Bridging the Scorrero between Feroz and Madruga is challenging because the river has become so tumultuous
* '''Building in the Siroc Bayou or Crucible is difficult because of the marshy terrain
* '''Siroc Bayou and Crucible are not under Imperial control
The main challenge in bridging the Scorrero is that the wild river has become even more dangerous since the powerful ritual that caused it to flood the wasteland created by the dry patricians. Its waters are impregnated with [[ilium]] that flows down from the [[Kahraman]] peaks. Star metal in sufficient concentration is known to have unexpected effects on magical [[enchantment|enchantments]] or [[curse|curses]] often causing them to linger considerably longer than might be expected. The ''Bay of Oran'' - the wide waters between Feroz and Madruga into which the Scorrero empties - is nowhere near as wild but is by no means untouched by the strangeness of the west. There is talk of mats of swampweed entangled with bright yellow flowers that seem to move against the tides, their long fronds trailing deep into the waters like floral jellyfish; reports of peculiarly-coloured and inquisitive shoals fish; distressingly large crabs; and gulls who stare at sailors in a way that makes them uncomfortable. So far these phenomena haven't caused any problems, but the folk of northern Feroz have learned to be a little pessimistic about such things.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Joaquim i Erigo, General of the Red Wind Corsairs">Corsairs, this season we commit to a Daring Raid upon the Siroc Bayou. Keep your weather eyes open for the lost wealth of the families displaced by the magical upheaval in these territories. What we can return we will, what we cannot, we return to the nation. Suffer no Suranni insult, but spill no foreigner blood. From the Bayou we will begin to retake the Crucible. For the Freeborn!</quote></div>
The other problem is that the northern banks of the Scorrero are now trackless marshland. The roads that used to run along the Scorrero, and cross the Sobral Bridge, were washed away by the magically spreading waters. Until this very season, the Bayou and Crucible were wild and untamed lands that were not even officially part of the Empire. The [[Red Wind Corsairs]] launch a [[Army_qualities#Daring|daring raid]] into the Bayou to bring it under Imperial control, but there is still much work to be done.
==Bridging Over Troubled Water==
* '''The Protectorate engineers have examined the situation and put together a proposal to build a bridge near Oran
The first step for the Protectorate is to make a proper assessment of the river - on both banks. Lutomysla secures Freeborn assistance, hiring a couple of boats for the use of the [[orc]] engineers. A [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_133|recent statement]] in the Freeborn assembly by '''Malaki''' fell just short of the [[greater majority]] it needed to be widely distributed, but in the absence of any encouragement ''not'' to deal with the Protectorate the traditional Freeborn entrepreneurialism seems to be taking precedence. Especially given the Senate decision to accept Commander Gallum's [[An_arrow_nocked_and_in_flight#A_Garden_Proposal|offer to restore]] the [[Feroz#The_Spice_Gardens_of_Feroz|Spice Gardens of Feroz]] to Freeborn control.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=RedWindCorsairs Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
There is a little excitement when the engineers run across patrols from the Red Wind Corsairs. Soldiers on both sides have grudges against their former enemies - but the experienced prognosticator is able to defuse the situation with some careful diplomacy and Varushkan honeywine. It takes a couple of weeks, but the assessment is completed and the true extent of the challenge is made clear. Bridging the wild Scorrero itself, with a magical marsh on the northern bank, is likely to prove infeasible. It would also need a new road to be built along the northern banks of the river, through the shifting marshes.

Instead the engineers propose building a long road bridge across the western end of the bay, downstream from where the wild river empties into the sea. One end would be anchored near Oran, the other on the coast east of where the city of [[Madruga#Siroc_(Ruined)|Siroc]] once stood. The bridge would employ [[Grendel]] techniques for crossing deep water using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caisson_(engineering) caissons]. A frame of [[weirwood]] reinforced with [[mithril]] is constructed, and pumps mounted on pontoons are used to remove the water from within the frame, which is then filled with a mixture of cement, aggregate, mithril and steel rods, and a [[white granite]] core. This creates a line of stable pylons across which a road can run.
===Mother of Invention===
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Oran Bridge'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Oranseri, Feroz and Siroc Bayou, Madruga</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 white granite, 15 mithril, 15 weirwood, 96 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Allows armies to pass between Madruga and Feroz
* Removes the impoverished quality from Oranseri
* Restores the benefits of the Sunset Roads to Segura</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Senate can permit Protectorate engineers to salvage the Salt Guard increasing labour costs by 80 crowns but reducing white granite required by 15
* Senate can permit Protectorate engineers to salvage the Asavean Temple in Oran increasing labour costs by 40 crowns but reducing mithril and weirwood required by 5 each
* The labour costs may be voluntarily increased from 96 crowns to 288 crowns, ensuring everyone working on the project receives the standard wage for doing so
</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A bridge across the Bay of Oran would be expensive
* '''The Protectorate engineers are adept at repurposing existing architecture to create new structures
* '''With Senate permission they can salvage the Salt Guard or the Temple of Balo and the Black Bull to reduce the costs of the bridge project
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Crab-traced-2.png|align=right|caption=The disciplined "former" Grendel engineers are adept at scavenging and salvaging the materials they need to support their work.|width=350}}</div>
The project will require 50 wains of white granite, 15 wains of mithril, and 15 wains of weirwood. Normally the labour costs would be significant - especially given one end of the bridge [[Commission#Marshes|terminates in a marsh]], but there is no shortage of cheap labour in [[Region_qualities#Impoverished|impoverished]] Feroz. As such, the final cost of the project would be a mere 96 crowns even taking into account the difficulties of working with marshland. Work would take six months to complete.

Once the bridge was completed, it would once again be possible to move armies directly from [[Madruga#Siroc Bayou|Siroc Bayou]] to [[Feroz#Oranseri|Oranseri]]. The position the Protectorate engineers have assessed incorporates the remnants of the white granite road that once ran along the northern banks of the Scorrero into Segura. This means the bridge also restores connections vital to overland trade between Feroz and Madruga and by extension between the Iron Confederacy and the Empire. This would be a major boon to the paradors and other businesses in the town of Oran, allowing them to reclaim at least a fragment of their former glory, removing the [[Region_qualities#Impoverished|impoverished]] quality from Oranseri.

Another positive is that the roads of Feroz are still relatively intact. Even Rahab wasn't stupid and greedy enough to destroy the arteries that allowed his soldiers - and the wealth of the Brass Coast - to flow across the territory. Thanks to the road running between Oran and [[Segura#Cerevado|Cerevado]], once Imperial merchants were able to cross from Madruga to Feroz freely it would reconnect the [[Segura#Sunset_Roads|Sunset Roads]], restoring to Segura the prosperity that was lost when the Scorrero broke its banks. Unfortunately they won't help Feroz - at least not at the moment - given the impoverished and [[Region_qualities#Abandoned|abandoned]] state of the territory.

Lutomysla also believes it could be a potent symbol of Feroz's reconnection to the wider Empire, literally and metaphorically building bridges between the south-western Empire and the heartlands. There is still some way to go before Feroz recovers anything like its former prosperity, but along with the recently completed [[Send_for_me#Wharfage_of_Oran|Wharfage of Oran]], it represents progress toward recovering from the ruin left by Governor Rahab.

The sheer cost of the project appears daunting but the Protectorate engineers have a pragmatic proposal. As former Grendel soldiers, they are adept at scavenging and repurposing materials to meet their strategic goals. Lutomysla reports that there is a degree of bitterness from the orcs - although they try to hide it - when they speak of this need for salvage. Reading between the lines, and asking some carefully probing questions, it appears that units such as Commander Gallum's are constantly underfunded and undersupplied by the Salt Lords. Most of the [[army|armies]] of the Broken Shore are supported by their septs; those that are not have to skimp and save. It seems that there is significant rivalry between "professional" soldiers such as Gallum, and the naval officers who receive the lion's share of the support from the Salt Lords. Necessity being the mother of invention, it has given the engineers of the Protectorate a keen eye for opportunities to repurpose existing materials.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''<big>Salvage</big>'''
<p>Under normal circumstances it is not possible to recover the materials used in a commission. Only an [[opportunity]] can allow such a thing. In this case, as part of the [[appraisal]] the expertise of the Protectorate engineers has identified just such an opportunity. If the Empire no longer has diplomatic ties with the Protectorate, the salvage opportunity is not available.</p>

Any opportunity is unique and cannot be easily altered. This opportunity only applies to the construction of the bridge across the Bay of Oran - the wains represent materials scavenged specifically for that project. The Senate could ''not'' simply instruct that these buildings be salvaged to recover some of the wains spent to build them. This opportunity does not provide a way for the Empire to reclaim materials used on any other commission for any other reason outside of a plot opportunity that specifically offers that potential.</box></div>

===Ruins and Salt===
* '''Protectorate engineers could salvage the flooded ruins of the Salt Guard to reduce the amount of white granite required
* '''It would increase labour costs by 80 crowns
* '''There is a risk of angry spirits
The ruins of Siroc are drowned in the mud of the marshes and the waters of the bayou. By employing divers and salvagers, some of the materials used to build the [[Madruga#The_Salt_Guard_(Ruined)|Salt Guard]] could be repurposed to help build the caissons. This would involve recruiting and organising teams to break the stone and transport it to where it could be added to the massive labour project. Again, the hunger for paying work of the people of Feroz would play into the Empire's hands here. Lutomysla looks at the engineers' proposals and estimates that a further 80 crowns in labour costs would allow the ruined Salt Guard to be salvaged. This would effectively provide 15 wains of white granite toward the construction of the bridge.

There are risks however; a lot of people died in the fall of the Salt Guard. Freeborn, [[Commonwealth]], Grendel, and [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] remains still lie in the flooded ruins. As a Varushkan, Lutomysla knows better than most the dangers of disturbing a burial ground, and with the [[Feroz#Isle_of_the_Osseini_(Ruined)|Isle of the Osseini]] no longer attracting and containing the spirits of those lost at sea there is a chance that salvaging the Salt Guard in this fashion will incur the wrath of the dead. There are not believed to be any ghosts haunting the ruins of Siroc at the moment, but salvaging the Salt Guard might be one way to change that.

Lutomysla has looked at the risk separately and believes that a drop of prevention will remove the need for an entire bucket-load of cure.

{{Mandate|mandate=Those who fell in the battle of Siroc rest still beneath the waters of the Bay of Oran. There is a chance for the ruined fortress to once more protect the Freeborn people, but we must ensure no disrespect is offered to the dead. We send (named priest) with 75 doses of liao to ensure that the salvage of the Salt Guard does not dishonour those who sacrificed everything to defend the Brass Coast.|assembly=Freeborn National Assembly or Assembly of the Way}}

If this mandate is passed, then the salvage of the Salt Guard will proceed without incident. It must be passed and enacted at the Summer Solstice, as with any mandate, but even if the commission of the Oran Bridge is delayed it will still have full effect. If the named priest is the [[High Exorcist]], the [[Custodian of the Imperial War Memorial]], the [[Master of the School of Exorcism]], or the former ''Justicar of Osseini'' '''Maria i Espiri i Guerra''', the liao required for the mandate is reduced to 50. It is not common for a mandate to name someone who is not part of the assembly, but in each case the title in question is empowered to deal with restless spirits and able to bring additional resources to bear on this problem. If the mandate is not enacted, then salvaging the Salt Guard will result in some ghostly troubles in the Bay of Oran.

The mandate can be raised in either the Freeborn National Assembly or the Assembly of the Way, and both could be upheld and enacted. In this case, it will mean a very large number of exorcists, ghost-whisperers, and occultists will descend on the Bay of Oran.

===Foam and the Bull===
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=The Black Bull.png|align=right|caption=Balo and the Black Bull are two of the Asavean "gods" patrons of sailors and guards respectively.|width=250}}</div>
* '''The Temple of Balo and the Black Bull has been abandoned
* ''' Protectorate engineers could be permitted to salvage the temple to reduce the amount of weirwood and mithril required
* '''Doing so raises the labour costs by a further 45 crowns
Since the liberation of Oran, and the [[Glass_and_flame#Game_Information_:_Asavean_Diplomacy|surrender]] of the priests serving at the [[Feroz#Temple_of_Balo_and_the_Black_Bull|Temple of Balo and the Black Bull]], the structure has stood empty. [[Construct_Asavean_Temple|Constructed]] by the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]] nearly a decade ago, the place has always been controversial. During the occupation of the Grendel, though, it served as something of a place of sanctuary for Freeborn friendly to the priests and operated a covert way for those fleeing the grasp of Governor Rahab to reach safety in Madruga. The Governor could not afford to risk angering the Asavean priests and they used that protection to help many Freeborn evade the cruel tyrants grasp.

Since the repatriation of the priests, the temple has stood empty. The proposal from the engineers is that unless the Empire is planning to convert it to some other use, it could be torn down to support the bridge building effort. There's some white granite available - although nowhere near as much as there is in the drowned [[fortification]] - but more importantly the gardens that once surrounded the temple incorporated wains of weirwood, and the roof is partially supported by mithril bars. A second team could rip the building apart to get at some of the materials inside, and contribute them to the building effort. It would increase the labour cost of the project by a further 45 crowns, but provide 5 wains each of weirwood and mithril for the production.

Tearing down the Temple is somewhat controversial. In theory the building is the legal property of the Asaveans, but since the Empire is currently at war with them, there are no legal obstacles to the action. And most Freeborn who remember the sack of Siroc by the Asavean forces see the destruction of this heretical and blasphemous Temple as right and proper. However [[Wild_blue_yonder#Balo's_Guests|the Kanza family, who only evaded capture due to the Temple of Balo and the Black Bull]] protest that this is a poor way for the Freeborn to repay the priests for the risks they took to shelter the helpless from the Grendel.

===Fair Prices===
* '''The labour costs for the bridge are very low thanks to the impoverished quality of Feroz
* '''The commission may instruct the civil service to pay higher wages to the labourers recruited
At the moment, the impoverished nature of Feroz means that any commission built in, or partly in, the territory benefits from significantly reduced labour costs. People in Feroz are poor and desperate enough to work for a fraction of what citizens elsewhere might demand for their labour. There are some who question the [[Prosperity]] of the situation however. Constructing caissons is dangerous, back-breaking work, after all. Is it right for the wealthy citizens of Anvil to take advantage of the people of Feroz by paying less than the work is normally worth?

There is nothing to stop whoever commissions the bridge from stipulating that everyone employed receive the standard payment for working on the bridge. If this were done, the labour costs for the bridge would be increased from 96 crowns to 288 crowns. This increase would not have any game effect, but it would at least send a clear message to the Freeborn, and to [[Prosperity|prosperous]] folk across the Empire, that the construction was not taking advantage of the reduced circumstances of those living in Feroz.

==Taking a Toll==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Oran Tollkeeper'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' National or Imperial</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Senate or Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives 1 Throne each season </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Maintain and defend the Oran Bridge</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* If the impoverished quality is removed from Morajasse and Fontargenta income increases by 4 crowns each
* Removes the symbolic benefits of the bridge as a reconnection of Feroz and Madruga
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Protectorate has included plans for a tollhouse at either end of the bridge
* '''It is up to the commissioner whether to include this title
The final element the Protectorate includes in its proposal is included as a matter of course - provision for the tollkeepers to live near and control access to the bridge. The engineers are actually surprised when Lutomysla points out that this is not standard practice for Imperial commissions; apparently almost nothing big gets built on the Broken Shore unless someone, somewhere sees an opportunity to increase their wealth, prestige, or influence. The engineers just assumed the Empire would appoint someone to maintain the bridge - and gouge a healthy income from those who need to pay to use it. After all, anyone who doesn't want to pay to use the only bridge connecting Feroz and Madruga could still take the long-way-round to Segura or hire a boat to ferry them across.

This in itself, however, presents a reason ''not'' to incorporate the toll gates. Lutomysla has identified that the bridge has a greater symbolic meaning, restoring the direct connection between Feroz and the rest of the Empire. If merchants and travellers have to pay to use that bridge, it dilutes this symbolism and instead sends a message that enriching individuals is more important than supporting the people of the beleaguered southern territory. It won't have any kind of measurable effect; but it will send a message that might be at odds with the intention of the Freeborn or the Empire.

After careful consideration Lutomysla leaves it in place. She points to the inspiration of the [[Spider's Tollkeep]] as one way an expensive bridge might be made a more appealing prospect. Whoever commissions the bridge may choose to stipulate that it will be a toll bridge, and create the title of ''Oran Tollkeep''. This would be a [[sinecure]] that receives a portion of the tolls collected from merchants passing over the bridge, and in return would be responsible for ensuring the bridge is maintained and protected when necessary. Lutomysla calculates that it would provide an initial income of 1 throne each season, but if the ''impoverished'' qualities were removed from Morajasse and Fontargenta, then each region would increase the income by another 4 crowns a season.

The commission could chose to have the title appointed by the Brass Coast senators, with or without tenure. Alternatively the commission could specify that the position be appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]]. In either case, it would need to be a Freeborn national position.

==The Adamant Connection==
{{CaptionedImage|file=King Under the Mountain.png|align=right|width=200}}
* '''Lutomysla proposes speaking to Adamant about making the bridge particularly sturdy
Lutomysla doesn't have a great deal of work to do with the bridges. She is at her best when dealing with magical matters, and the Protectorate engineers use only mundane methods in their proposal. However, after some discussion with the Freeborn magicians at the [[Hakima_of_Salt_and_Sand#Parador_of_Salt_and_Sand|Parador of Salt and Sand]], and following her own work with bridges in Madruga, the prognosticator does have a proposal of her own.

The design of the bridge is sturdy enough to weather storms or endure all but the most concerted attempt to damage it from hostile forces. With the aid of the eternal [[Adamant|King Under the Mountain]] however, it would be possible to ensure the bridge stands despite anything wreckers might throw at it. The ''koboldi'' of the ''Stone Dragon'' could add their own expertise, and infuse portions of the structure with adamant. The eternal would need to be petitioned for their help ''before'' construction began, and doing so would fall to the [[Archmage of Summer]], but Lutomysla has no doubt that ''Shiraz on the Granite Throne'' would be amenable to assisting if requested as part of a formal [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]].

==Inkworks and Fields==
* '''The Inkworks of Joharra opportunity is available until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE
* '''The opportunity to expand the fields of Bramar has been refreshed and is now available until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE'''
Lutomysla's colleage, [[Appraisal#Graciana_i_Lòpez_i_Guerra|Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra]] has already reviewed the proposed [[The_circle_game#Inkworks_at_Joharra|Inkworks at Joharra]] in her [[The circle game|recent assessment]] of Imperial ministries. Lutomysla notes that if the Oran Bridge were built, and removed the impoverished quality from Oranseri, then there would still be value in building the Inkworks - instead of removing impoverished in conjunction with the bridge it would remove the ''abandoned'' quality from the region, bringing in a new wave of settlers. The same would be true if the commissions were completed in the other order - between them they would remove both qualities.

<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Golden Fields of Bramar'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Fontargenta, Feroz</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' Requires the aid of the Breadbasket for two seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Removes the impoverished quality from Fortargenta</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
The parallel opportunity presented a few years ago to [[Send_for_me#Fields_of_Bramar|expand the fields]] around [[Feroz#Fortargenta|Bramar]] has since lapsed. After speaking to some of the folk of Feroz however, Lutomysla indicates there is still enthusiasm for the project. Partly, this keen has been inspired by the restoration of the [[Feroz#The_Spice_Gardens_of_Feroz|Spice Gardens of Feroz]], which has become a symbol of hope for many of the landsfolk of the impoverished territory. The project still relies on the support of the [[Keeper_of_the_Breadbasket#Distribution_of_Imperial_Bounty|Imperial Breadbasket]], however, and Lutomysla notes that interest will wane naturally over time.

The land around the port of Bramar was once renowned for its fertile farms; its bountiful cornfields competed with Marcher grain across the southern Empire, and the vineyards were justly famous as one of the cornerstones of the Imperial wine trade. These lands were abandoned when people fled the territory to escape from Rahab and the rule of the Grendel. What crops that were left were torn up under the destructive direction of ''Quartermaster Maeve''; a wealthy Grendel who purchased the land from Rahab for a song. Rather than try to plant a new harvest, Maeve took whatever she could harvest and left the rest to rot. Vines were ripped out by the roots, fields were left untilled and have grown thick with weeds. The golden fields of Bramar have been ruined. In the years since the liberation there have been efforts to replenish the once-bountiful farming here, but it has suffered from the various challenges of rebuilding Feroz.

A drive to reinvigorate Fontargenta could still be centred on the fields around Bramar using the Imperial Breadbasket. All it would require is a suitable announcement by the Keeper. Shipments of seeds and grains would be needed to replant fields and vineyards while food supplies would be essential to feed farm workers until new crops could be established. It wouldn't cost anything, not directly anyway, but it would need the Breadbasket to support the region for two seasons. Once that was done, the fields would be re-established and Fontargenta would cease to be abandoned and impoverished.

This opportunity is now available again until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE.

==Further Reading==
* [[Feroz]]
* [[Madruga]]
* [[Protectorate of Morajasse]]

* [[An arrow nocked and in flight]] - 388YE Spring wind of fortune regarding Protectorate diplomacy
* [[Send for me]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune about restoring Feroz

388YE Spring Equinox winds of fortune

2026-07-05T16:29:39Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]]
<div style="float:left; width: 40%;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Into the light.jpg|align=left|caption=Spring is a time of renewal; a time for affirmed loyalties and renewed oaths.|width=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
<div style="float:right; max-width: 500px; min-width: 350px; margin: 10px;">
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Wind of Fortune !! Order Released !! Last Updated || Note
|-
| [[Arranging grace]] || 1 || data-sort-value="2026/05/18"| 18/05 || Appraisal
|-
| [[Push for victory]] || 2 || data-sort-value="2026/05/28"| 28/05 || Imperial Address
|-
| [[On the road ahead]] || 3 || data-sort-value="2026/05/30"| 30/05 || Anduz
|-
| [[Grace that comes with healing]] || 4 || data-sort-value="2026/06/03"| 03/06 || Ylenwe
|-
| [[Monarchs and outcasts]] || 5 || data-sort-value="2026/06/03"| 10/06 || Eternals
|-
| [[Lay the foundations]] || 6 || data-sort-value="2026/06/04"| 04/06 || Highguard Highest Calling
|-
| [[Fear quickens the breath]] || 7 || data-sort-value="2026/06/04"| 04/06 || Karass
|-
| [[Our elaborate plans]] || 8 || data-sort-value="2026/06/05"| 05/06 || Apulian
|-
| [[Bricks and boards]] || 9 || data-sort-value="2026/06/06"| 06/06 || Challenge the Iron Duke
|-
| [[Sunrise over Livardz]] || 10 || data-sort-value="2026/06/07"| 07/06 || Appraisal
|-
| [[Stones in the wellspring]] || 11 || data-sort-value="2026/06/07"| 07/06 || Proscriptions
|-
| [[The matter will be done]] || 12 || data-sort-value="2026/06/08"| 08/06 || Monarch of Dawn
|-
| [[Key of dreams]] || 13 || data-sort-value="2026/06/08"| 08/06 || Plenipotentiary
|-
| [[Cup of choices]] || 14 || data-sort-value="2026/06/09"| 09/06 || Navarr Highest Calling
|-
| [[Petals in the snow]] || 15 || data-sort-value="2026/06/09"| 09/06 || Hahnmark
|-
| [[Flames and the dark]] || 16 || data-sort-value="2026/06/09"| 09/06 || Redoubt
|-
| [[The poisoned air]] || 17 || data-sort-value="2026/06/09"| 09/06 || Sarangrave miasma pillars
|-
| [[Lean and athirst]] || 18 || data-sort-value="2026/06/09"| 09/06 || Rooting out the face-peelers
|-
| [[Saint of Bees]] || 19 || data-sort-value="2026/06/09"| 09/06 || The bees of Karov
|-
| [[Your hand in mine]] || 20 || data-sort-value="2026/06/09"| 09/06 || Appraisal
|-
| [[Snap rope and pass foil]] || 21 || data-sort-value="2026/06/10"| 10/06 || Appraisal (Witan)
|-
| [[Towards a common good]] || 22 || data-sort-value="2026/06/10"| 10/06 || Appraisal (Beurteilung)
|-
| [[Things go awry]] || 23 || data-sort-value="2026/06/10"| 10/06 || Constellations
|-
| [[Ripple of echoes]] || 24 || data-sort-value="2026/06/10"| 10/06 || Mundane magic
|-
| [[The last assignment]] || 25 || data-sort-value="2026/06/10"| 10/06 || Appraisals
|-
| [[Journeys end in lovers meeting]] || 26 || data-sort-value="2026/06/10"| 10/06 || Visitors
|-
|}</div>
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 winds of war that 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 represent 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 an opinion, and we're not trying to trick you.
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:350px; float: left; margin: 10px;"
|-
! Nation !! Diplomacy Wind
|-
| [[Sarcophan Delves]] || [[Chain and anchor]]
|-
| [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] || [[A knock at the door]]
|-
| [[Otkodov]] || [[Voice irresistable]]
|-
| [[Axos]] || [[Wise and measured]]
|-
| [[Iron Confederacy]] || [[Gossamer threads]]
|-
| [[Faraden]] || [[Five flames]]
|-
| [[Sumaah Republic]] || [[Forging links]]
|-
| [[Commonwealth]] || [[Weaving tangled nets]]
|-
| [[Jarm]] || [[Weaving tangled nets]]
|-
| [[Jotun]] || [[Who counts the path untaken?]]
|-
| [[Feroz#Morajasse|Morajasse]] || [[An arrow nocked and in flight]]
|-
|}

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. We are also adding the dates that they were last updated (other than typos and correcting [[red links]]) in an attempt to make it easier to keep track of the newest releases.
__TOC__

==Winds of Fortune==
===Arranging Grace (Sodality)===
* '''The Throne; Imperial Senate; artists of all stripes; patrons of the arts; Azure Sutannir, Curator of Memories, Curator of the Blood Red River, Dean of the First Voice Glade, High Bard of the Empire, Voice of the Twin Roses'''
[[The Throne]] has [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_the_Cat's_Graces|instructed]] the [[Civil Service|civil service]] to [[appraisal|appraise]] the constitutional implications around the creation of the ''Cat's Graces''. This potential [[Imperial sodality]] would be concerned with the promulgation of the arts across the Empire and by all accounts has strong backing across [[Anvil]] despite a [[Senate motion|motion]] to [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Cat's_Graces|formalise]] them as an Imperial sodality narrowly failing to pass the [[Senate]]. Magistrate Abraham has reviewed the proposed manifesto of this new sodality, and delivers their findings first to [[Emperor Vesna]] and then to the rest of the Empire.

You can read about the new sodality and its implications, as well as some possibilities related to its manifesto, in the '''[[Arranging grace]]''' wind of fortune.

===Push For Victory (Imperial Address)===
* '''Imperial citizens; Freeborn fleet owners; Generals; Senator for Holberg; Benefactors; Keeper of the Breadbasket; Urizen mana site owners; Emperor Vesna; People with an opinion on the Rahvin and/or the Karass'''
[[Emperor Vesna]] has used their power to [[The_Throne#Address_the_Empire|address the Empire]] to present a personal message to all Imperial citizens, readying the Empire for the final push to finally bring about the end of the [[Druj]], and drawing attention to the sterling efforts made across the ten nations.

The message has been distributed across the Empire by the civil service, and you can read it in the '''[[Push for victory]]''' wind of fortune.

===On the Road Ahead===
* '''The Brass Coast; especially the Freeborn National Assembly; and residents of Segura'''
For the first time in many seasons, the lands of the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] are not ''immediately'' threatened. With a chance to draw breath, the inhabitants of the ancient town of [[Segura#Anduz|Anduz]] are looking for new [[opportunity|opportunities]] for their home. The place is steeped in history; it was a city long before the Empire was created, before even the [[The_Brass_Coast_history#Three_Sisters_of_Highguard|Three Sisters]] came to [[the Brass Coast]]. That city was destroyed long ago, but in Anduz, the ruins of the past could lay the foundations of the future!

You can learn about plans for the future of Anduz, and for Segura, in the '''[[On the road ahead]]''' wind of fortune.

===Grace That Comes With Healing===
* '''Residents of Spiral; the Archmage of Day; anyone who has opinions about the {{Black Plateau}}; travellers to Mareave; the Grandmaster of the Silver Chalice'''
After a year of friendship, the [[Ylenwe|Dove of the Perfect Morning]] wishes to speak to the Empire. Zie has congratulations to offer to those who have brought tranquil waters to [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]], zie has an intriguing proposal for the [[Silver Chalice|Grandmaster of the Silver Chalice]], and, of course, zie wishes to discuss the matter of the baleful dread that lurks in curséd Screed: the {{Black Plateau}}.

You can learn more of the utterances of the Morningstar in the '''[[Grace that comes with healing]]''' wind of fortune.

===Monarchs and Outcasts (Winds of Magic)===
* '''Archmage of Summer; General of the Valiant Pegasus; ''Sychar of Ebon's Hall''; Senators; Members of the Conclave; Maggots; People interested in the fate of Eilian Sweetwater; ''Umarth Kannask''; ''Odd Twiceborn''; ''Towlen Nighthaven''; ''Karrak''; ''Stormsteel Skorr''; ''Bloodcrow Arora''; Varushkans; People interested in the Silver Flame; Archmage of Day; Custodian of the Brilliant Star; People interested in Cold Sun; Steinr poets; Shadowed Torchbearer; Marcher Spring magicians (?); Navarr magicians; the Knight Protectors of Dawn; Vault divers; Freeborn and the Magpies; the Sun Chamber and people who don't like Stephen of Sarcombe; Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer; Imperial magistrates; anyone who has sent a Missive for Sadogua at the Autumn Equinox or Winter Solstice'''
Some magic comes from outside the Empire, from the creatures of the [[Realm|realms]], the [[eternal|eternals]] and their [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]]. Sometimes they have boons to offer, sometimes they have demands to make. Here we learn of the doings of the realms, with something that could be relevant to any number of folk, including some meetings, some odd opportunities, and eerie happenings.

You can learn about the doings of various eternals, and the repercussions of their former doings, in the '''[[Monarchs and outcasts]]''' wind of fortune.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Highborn.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>

===Lay the Foundations===
* '''Highguard, specifically the Cinderpath Custodian, the Highborn Senators, and the Speaker of the Highborn Assembly; Members of the Senate; Congregation owners'''
Last summit, '''Eli of the Cenotaph''' declared that it was the highest calling of [[Highguard|Highborn]] to complete the [[Construct Grand Inspiration of the Way|Grand Inspiration of the Way]]. The Highborn Assembly agreed that this was their [[The_highest_calling#The_Highest_Calling|highest calling]], urging all to put aside other projects and focus on this. Attention is turned to the Grand Inspiration and the task of completing it, leaving a legacy that will endure.

You can read about the opportunities related to this highest calling, and to the Grand Inspiration of the Way, in the '''[[Lay the foundations]]''' wind of fortune.

===Fear Quickens the Breath===
* '''People interested in the Karass; People interested in the Thule and/or Black Lotus; Navarr, especially those who live in the Barrens; Envoy to the Karass'''
The Karass reside primarily in [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]], though they have settlements across the eastern edge of the Barrens. Distrusted, and in some cases treated with open hostility, by other factions in the Barrens, the Karass have nevertheless maintained a resolute willingness to co-operate with the Dawnish. Their leader, ''Anka Karass'', has worked with her sept to present a series of suggestions on how the sept might help the Empire, and what could be done to further ease the situation.

You can read about the opportunities and requests presented by the Karass in the '''[[Fear quickens the breath]]''' wind of fortune.

===Our Elaborate Plans===
* '''Residents of Spiral; Night ritualists; Fans of Sung; Military unit captains of Dawn, the League, and Urizen; Dramaturgists; People with a healthy fascination of cats and/or songbirds; People interested in the duSesna guild'''
Once more to [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]], where the songbirds sing and the cats have luridly coloured coats. Where the long-awaited [[Map to the City Below|Chamber of Euphony]] has been completed, and there is a chance for [[military unit|military units]] to delve into the sewers below the City of Nets.

You can read all about what's happening in Apulian, and the city below, in the '''[[Our elaborate plans]]''' wind of fortune.

===Bricks and Boards (Challenge the Iron Duke)===
* '''Challengers of the Iron Duke'''
Each season the eternal ''[[Barien]]'' presents opportunities to those prepared to [[Challenge the Iron Duke]]. For the Spring Equinox, he has offered two challenges: a tourney of strategy and a game of skill and dexterity. As ever, the rules of the ritual apply. Each person who receives the ritual will be ''guaranteed'' entry to a challenge. Depending on the challenge, they ''may'' be able to bring a certain number of attendants with them to assist. The exact number will depend on the nature of the challenge and the number of challengers. The [[Civil Service]] will publish exact numbers in [[Anvil#The_Hub|the Hub]] on Saturday morning for all to see.

You can find details of the challenges issued by Barien this season in the '''[[Bricks and boards]]''' wind of fortune.

===Sunrise over Livardz (Appraisal)===
* '''Senators; Residents of Volodmartz; Generals; Autumn ritualists; Boyar of the Iron Roads; Varushkan Assembly; Winter ritualists; Volhovs; Grieftender of the Forgotten'''
During the Winter Solstice, [[senator]] '''Ostrik Vulpe''' asked the [[Senate]] to send [[Appraisal#Graciana_i_Lòpez_i_Guerra|Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra]] to "''find opportunities to bring Prosperity to the ruins of Volodmartz left by Cold Sun''." There are three core problems facing the region of [[Volodmartz#Livardz|Livardz]] following the attack by the ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun]].

You can find out about the challenges and their solutions identified by Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra in the '''[[Sunrise over Livardz]]''' wind of fortune.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly General.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>

===Stones in the Wellspring===
* '''Members of the Synod; People who wish to avoid committing religious crimes; People who want to commit religious crimes; ''Claudia Varkulova Remislav''; "Chosen" of eternals; People interested in religious symposia; ''Wulfric'''''
At the Winter Solstice 387YE, the civil service [[Figure of eight|laid out their changes]] to how [[religious crime|religious crimes]] would be defined and handled. Fifteen different judgements of [[proscription]] were raised for the scrutiny of the General Assembly. Furthermore, the General Assembly upheld a [[statement of principle]] calling in [[Ambition]]'s name for a Symposium "''with the purpose of discussing proscriptions and ensuring we employ wisdom and vigilance in creating a solid foundation to build and spread virtue on''".

You can read about the results of the proscriptions, the commentary of the Constitutional Court, and the Symposium (to be held at the Summer Solstice), in the '''[[Stones in the wellspring]]''' wind of fortune
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NationBannerDawn.jpg|align=left|width=200}}</div>

===The Matter Will Be Done===
* '''Dawn; ''Emperor Vesna'''''
The [[Hard_to_find#The_Earl_of_the_Groves|Earl of the Groves]], the manticore that squats at the heart of the [[The Barrens#The Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]] has issued a claim to be [[Dawn monarchy|Monarch of Dawn]]. [[Emperor Vesna]], Crowned in Thunder, has responded with a proclamation to the manticore's challenge. The majority of Dawn rejects the idea of a manticore as the monarch of Dawn, but there are some houses who would like nothing better than to see the Earl of the Groves take his place on the Seat of the Sun. The time has come for the nobles of Dawn to take up arms and fight in a tourney to decide who, if anyone, should sit on the Rose Throne.

You can read about the groups who support and oppose the manticore's claim as Monarch of Dawn, and the ramifications of the tourney, in the '''[[The matter will be done]]''' wind of fortune.

===Key of Dreams (Plenipotentiary)===
* '''Imperial magicians; Archmages; Conclave; Phoenix Rising coven; ''Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian''; ''Watt Lambrook''; People interested in the offerings of Night eternals; People interested in writings on the fall of civilisations; People interested in the Bloodwater Spears, the Waterwalkers, the Rahvin or the Vendarri; Varushkan Storytellers'''
Each of the six [[archmage|archmages]] are empowered to send a [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] message to an [[eternal]] of their [[Realms|realm]] each season. Those eternals are bound to respond, although ''how'' exactly they respond is broadly up to them. Following the Winter Solstice, the eternals have responded to what are presumed to be missives from the respective archmages. And strangely, one of them is almost completely unknown to the Empire...

You can find out about the eternals, and the nature of their responses, in the '''[[Key of dreams]]''' wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Navarr.png|align=right|width=200}}{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Loyalty.png|align=right|width=200}}
===Cup of Choices===
* '''Urizen; Vallornguard; Navarr; Mana site owners in Redoubt; Urizen Day ritualists; General of the Citadel Guard; Dawnish military units captains; Fans of Fanes of Arhallogen'''
Last summit, '''Brynn Tendfallen''', enacted the call of the Navarr Assembly to turn to Urizen as part of their [[Every path you know|highest calling]]. '''Lepidina''' raised a judgement that welcomed the Navarr, and that Urizen welcomed their aid and expertise. '''Halkyon of the Myriad Stream''' received the backing of the Loyalty Assembly to see how they could best support the efforts to benefit the nascent [[Vallornguard]].

You can find out about the results of the highest calling of Navarr, and what it means for Urizen and the Vallornguard, in the '''[[Cup of choices]]''' wind of fortune.

===Petals in the Snow===
* '''Citizens of Hahnmark, specifically owners of farms and herb gardens;'''
The rugged lands of [[Hahnmark]] have seen interest from two families of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] over the past eighteen months. Last season, representatives of the rival merchants arrived in Anvil, but the quick-thinking of the Winterfolk kept them from coming into conflict. This season, there are opportunities to deepen relations with one or potentially both merchant families.

You can find out about the choices available to citizens of Hahnmark in the '''[[Petals in the snow]]''' wind of fortune.

===Flame and the Dark===
* '''Citizens of Redoubt; People interested in the Tilphussian Reach; ''Umarth "Winter's Flame" Kannask'''''
The [[Grendel]] have fled from [[Redoubt]], but scars remain. Now comes time to assess what damage has been wrought, what can be done to make amends and what can still be salvaged. There has been time to mourn the breaking of the [[Penumbral_Watcher#Tower_of_Light_and_Shadow|Tower of Light and Shadow]]. Now the question is, what to do on the Tilphussian Reach, where it stood? That is a question for the here and now. Offers and suggestions come from the realms, some expected and one confusing. And that is nothing to say of the last banner of the [[Fist of the Mountains]], gifted by '''Umarth "Winter's Flame" Kannask'''.

You can read about the different options available in Naris in the '''[[Flames and the dark]]''' wind of fortune.

===The Poisoned Air===
* '''Urizen; Urizen ritualists in Sarangrave; Gardener of Pallas; Guild Leader of the Apothecaries Guild; High Exorcist; Keeper of the Tower of the Fall; Knight-protector of Spring'''
Last season, the Urizen Assembly voted to encourage [[seer|seers]] to investigate how best to counter the [[Druj_miasma#Miasma_Pillars|miasma pillars]] in [[Sarangrave]]. They have done what they can and now present their findings, involving targeting the keystone pillars in each of the regions, and a warning for what those Urizen who have moved to Sarangrave might experience when performing rituals.

You can read the findings of the seers, including details of the conjunctions, in the '''[[The poisoned air]]''' wind of fortune.

===Lean and Athirst===
* '''Varushka; People tempted by drinking "''corrupt blood''"; Apothecaries Guild; Merchant-Boyar of the Stinking Market'''
The matter of the "face-peelers" has been of concern for some parts of Varushka for a while now. '''Sławomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh''' in particular has championed a firm stance against the creatures, going so far as to prevail on the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]] '''Kindra Surefoot''' to raise the issue with the [[Thule]]. Last season the Dragons of Otkodov instructed the ''Claws of the Dragon'' to work with the Varushkan people to root out the nests of the creatures on both sides of the border.

You can read some of the fallout of the raid, and what it means going forward in the '''[[Lean and athirst]]''' wind of fortune.

===Saint of Bees===
* '''Highguard; Varushka; People interested in bees; Owners of herb gardens in Karov; Highborn Assembly'''
The bees of [[Karov]] began to go missing two years ago during the first appearance of [[Things_that_burn#The_Blade_of_Skies|The Blade of Skies]]. Since then, there has been consternation: bees are strongly tied to [[Prosperity]] in [[Varushka]]. With the support of the Highborn and their [[Highguard_religious_beliefs#Peerless_Kinship|peerless kinship]], there is a chance to undo the damage wrought by Oblivion and return the bees to Karov.

You can read about the results of the Highborn Assembly's peerless kinship, and how Karov might see bees once again, in the '''[[Saint of Bees]]''' wind of fortune.

===Your Hand in Mine (Appraisal)===
* '''Senate; People with an interest in the rebels of Nesustak Forest; ''Ser Guy of the Twisted Rose''; ''Fausta Ankarien''; ''Aspar'''''
During the Winter Solstice, [[Conscience of the Senate]] '''Aspar''' asked the [[Senate]] to send [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] to "''appraise solutions to the rebels of Nesustak Forest''." Naomi of Virtue's Rest has identified the key problem, and has struck upon the path that might lead somewhere.

You can find out about the challenges and the start of the solution identified by Naomi of Virtue's Rest in the '''[[Your hand in mine]]''' wind of fortune.

===Snap Rope and Pass Foil===
* '''Wintermark; People with an interest in Tsirku; People who enjoy maps; Military unit owners of Varushkan and Dawn; People interested in the Whisper Gallery; Military unit owners of Dawn; People interested in Agramant; ''Gisli "Provider" Baerson'''''
During the Winter Solstice, the Witan voted to call on the mystics of Ishal to "''find a way to ensure the scouting of Tsirku would be quick and safe''." The Mystics of Ishal have contemplated the matter and spoken with the folk of [[Wintermark]] to find ways of supporting the scouting attempt.

You can read the challenges that come with claiming Tsirku and the mystics suggest they might be met in the '''[[Snap rope and pass foil]]''' wind of fortune.

===Towards a Common Good (Appraisal)===
* '''Highguard; Highborn generals; People interested in auras; Synod; would-be patrons of the Beurteilung'''
During the Solstice, '''Paulk Thornweaver''' secured the right to serve as [[Patron_of_the_Beurteilung|patrons of the Beurteilung]]. They asked the [[Commonwealth]] academics to explore how Highguard and the Commonwealth can secure stronger ties in matters of military doctrine, trade, and philosophy. After an enjoyable three months in the Highborn territories, including a visit by one of the professors oldest friends, Professor Gelberg and his associates have presented their findings.

You can read the latest findings of Professor Immanuel Gelberg in the '''[[Towards a common good]]''' wind of fortune.
===Things go Awry (Stars)===
* '''Imperial magicians; Diviners; Dreamers; practitioners of Ride the Noble Steed; inhabitants of Feroz, Mitwold, Bregasland, Sermersuaq, and especially Redoubt; Varushkan Night magicians; Dhomiro of Afar'''
The [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]] continues to be a focus for the power of [[Astronomancy|the stars]] - or else the stars are reflecting discordance and chaos in the realm below. Some of this chaos has bled over into Imperial magic performed during the Winter Solstice, and some will effect rituals cast at the Spring Equinox. Not everything is bad news of course... but some of it ''definitely is'' as inhabitants of southern [[Redoubt]] can no doubt attest. Things go awry, and it seems they are bent on going even further awry in months to come...

You can read about the situation with Imperial magic, and the lingering effects of certain curses, in the '''[[Things go awry]]''' wind of fortune.
===Ripple of Echoes (Winds of Magic)===
* '''Senate; Conclave; People of Ossium and Hahnmark; Grieftender of the Forgotten, Guardian of Dunfrith, Gatekeeper of Falling Snow, Herbalist of the Hearth, Master Apothecary, and the Guard of the Proud Quill Parcel; Silver Chalice, Imperial Apothecaries Guild, Spring ritualists; People from Volodmartz and Miekarova especially mine owners; Varushkan stzena; Senator for Astolat; Mediators, especially Suaq; Navarr especially musicians'''
Magic comes in many forms; from the workings of wizards, from the skies above, from the depths of the earth. It changes what it touches, often in ways that are difficult to predict - especially when it is worked on a grand scale. Whether it is a confluence of [[Spring magic|Spring]] and [[Night magic|Night]] in [[the Brass Coast]], strange dreams in [[Wintermark]] and [[the Marches]], or rituals spread through [[Urizen]] by arcane means, magic is all around.

You can find out about strange magic of (mostly) mortal origin, or whose provenance is mysterious in some way, in the '''[[Ripple of echoes]]''' wind of fortune.
===The Last Assignment===
* '''Imperial Senate; Imperial Master of Works'''
[[Appraisal#"Retired"_Prognosticators|Mladen Escovitchedit's retirement]] is a running joke in the [[Appraisal|Prognosticators' Office]]. This season the ageing prognosticator actually has a job to do, having been instructed by the [[Imperial Master of Works]] to review three defunct opportunities to build or upgrade fortifications - namely [[For_those_in_peril_on_the_sea#The_Celesti_Lighthouse|Celesti Lighthouse]] in [[Feroz]]; [[A_place_on_a_map#Morrow|The Three Watchers]] in [[Morrow]]; and [[Three_keys#Raising_the_Sea_Wall|Reumah's Rest]] in [[Necropolis]]. Delighted to have a reason to do the work he clearly wanted to do anyway, Mladen has thrown himself into the project. He is pleased to report that two of the opportunities remain available, without too many significant changes. The third one has taken a little bit more work.

You can find out more about this light appraisal, and the results of renewing past opportunities, in the '''[[The last assignment]]''' wind of fortune.
===Journeys End in Lovers Meeting (Visitors)===
* '''Humans seeking lineage; Maracossa Sendito and Senator for Madruga; yeofolk of Dawn; League artisans; cicisbeo; people who know about the Falconer cult; attendees of the Night of Worth; Urizeni politicos; stormcrows and ghost hunters; assorted Varushkans; inquisitor of Prosperity;
People visit Anvil for all kinds of reasons. Trade, wonderment, and a chance to meet with the movers and shakers of the Empire. It is no surprise that Anvil is seen as the place to be if you want to get anything of importance done.

You can find out more about some of the folk coming to Anvil this season, in the '''[[Journeys end in lovers meeting]]''' wind of fortune.

==Diplomatic Winds==
Each season the Civil Service prepares a summary of the Empire's relationship with the foreign nations, based on communications received from their ambassador, along with any useful intelligence gathered from other sources. While the [[Senate]] and the other houses of Imperial power may respond to these offers, it is important to note that it is the appropriate [[ambassador]] that the foreign power will expect to hear from. Their communication with the foreign power is the primary element that will determine the tenor of any response.

These winds of fortune deal with the Empire's diplomatic relationship with one or more foreign or barbarian nations. Usually the wind is shaped by communications from the appropriate [[ambassador]] or the [[Imperial Consul]]. While these winds revolve around international matters, their focus is still on the Empire and what its citizens can do to influence diplomatic matters, so they're as likely as any other wind to contain something of interest to characters from all walks of life.
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Bladeroot.jpg|align=left|width=200}}</div>

===Chain and Anchor (Sarcophan)===
* '''Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves; Senate; Highguard; Bishop of the Navigators; League and Brass Coast characters especially citizens of Madruga, Sarvos, and Tassato; Imperial Apothecaries Guild'''
The [[Sarcophan Delves]] are the closest of the five other great powers of the Known World to the Empire. A mercantile nation build out of the ruins of an ancient city, their merchant vessels are a common sight in the Empire. Proponents of free trade in all forms, they have also taken it on themselves to protect international trade. Their interest in the Empire, at its core, is in making as much money as possible by buying low and selling high. This wind includes discussion of various offers from previous seasons; details of the grand celebration at the Alivetti Estates; developments in the relationship of Sarcophan herbalists with their opposite numbers in the Imperial Apothecaries Guild; the conclusion of the trade in Highborn stone and grave art; and a cheeky offer to the Senate to purchase some real estate.

You can find out about development in the relationship between the Empire and the Delves, and several diplomatic opportunities, in the '''[[Chain and anchor]]''' wind of fortune.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wheeling gulls.jpg|align=right|width=300}}</div>

===A Knock at the Door (Beoraidh)===
* '''Ambassador to Beoraidh; Unshackled, including the Legion Engineer; Reavers, Wagon-Raiders, Corsairs, and Maggots; Imperial Consul; Senate; espionage enthusiasts'''
The independent city-state of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] lies on the western shores of the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]] territory of [[Mareave]]. Until [[Wide_azure_skies#War_Between_Land_and_Sea|very recently]] it controlled the only safe anchorage in the territory, and the former Salt-Lord Ehsan sought to parley its position into recognition of its neutrality between the Empire and the Broken Shore. The population is made up almost entirely of ex-Grendel [[orc|orcs]], who are well aware of how precarious their position is. Following the surprise appointment of a full ambassador to the tiny "nation", Beoraidh has responded by appointing its own emissary to the Empire, continued to invite Imperial investment, and explored potential for mutual diplomatic aid. There's also been some talk of launching a raid against the barbarian Brine Turtle sept but that... that's mostly unrelated.

You can read about the Beoradhi response to their new ambassador, and the proposals around raiding the Brine Turtles, in the '''[[A knock at the door]]''' wind of fortune.
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconThule.jpg|align=left|width=250}}</div>
===Voice Irresistable (Otkodov)===
* '''Ambassador to Otkodov; Conclave; Senate; Military units fighting or scouting in the Forest of Ulnak'''
The [[Thule]] of [[Otkodov]] remain at peace with the Empire. They are always reserved but they continue to cooperate with Imperial citizens, especially the [[magical skills#magician|magicians]] who are peers to their [[Thule lore#Warlock|warlocks]]. Recent months have seen the Thule shift their focus toward their invasion of the [[Forest of Ulnak]], but that doesn't mean there has been no space for diplomacy. A new Ambassador to the Empire who speaks for the Dragons undivided has been appointed by the shadowy, ancient rulers of the northern nation and he seems keen to take up where their late predecessor Rak left off.

You can learn about diplomatic developments with Otkodov, as well as what little information there is about the Ulnak campaign, in the '''[[Voice irresistable]]''' wind of fortune.

<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Alikos Helio.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Wise and Measured (Axos)===
* '''Ambassador to Axos; Navarr; People interested in the vallorn; People interested in the orcs of Thornfen; Urizen; ''Robert Von Holberg''; Bursar of the Conclave; ''Pathfinder Brog'''''
Imperial relations with the [[Axos|Citadels of Axos]] have significantly improved over the last year, in part due to the [[Synod|Synod's]] work during the [[It_never_happened#Solokha|reclamation of Solokha]]. An army of Axos, the ''Shield of Ipotavo'' has been fighting alongside Imperial armies in the ongoing campaign to conquer [[Sarangrave]] and push the [[Druj]] further east. But the nation to the south-east is still notoriously touchy about its independence, and relations could easily sour again.

You can learn about the ongoing diplomatic relationship with Axos, and what that means for a host of different people, in the '''[[Wise and measured]]''' wind of fortune.
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Suran.PNG|align=left|width=250}}</div>
===Gossamer Threads (Iron Confederacy)===
* '''Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy; The Brass Coast; Spring ritualists; People interested in Reinos; and the Minister of Historical Research'''
The [[Iron Confederacy]] sees itself as a potential rival to the Empire, a powerful nation that matches its neighbour in strength and size. It's hard to prove or disprove their claims, unlikely as they seem, and despite centuries of grudging trade and even the occasional war, Imperial scholars know little about the south-western nation. Diplomacy between the Ducal Council and the Empire continues following the Suranni conquest of the [[Feroz#Cazar Straits|Cazar Straits]].

You can learn more about diplomatic developments with the Iron Confederacy, and what that means for ''[[Historical_research#Marko_Siwarsbairn|Marko Siwarsbairn]]'' in the '''[[Gossamer threads]]''' wind of fortune.

===Five Flames (Faraden)===
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconFaraden.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Ambassador to Faraden; ''Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo''; People interested in the Five Flames'''
[[Faraden]] remains caught between the interests of the Empire and Asavea. The ''Liege of the Five Winds'' appears to favour the Empire, but there are some who would prefer closer ties with the Plenum. Trade remains steady between the Faraden and the Empire.

You can learn about the ongoing diplomatic positions between the Faraden and the Empire in the '''[[Five flames]]''' wind of fortune.

===Forging Links (Sumaah)===
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconSumaah.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Ambassador to Sumaah; Freeborn; Fleet captains who escorted the Stone Fleet; Voice of Liberty and those involved in the Liberty Pact; Members of the Senate; Celestial Arch'''
The [[Sumaah Republic]] are simultaneously allies of, and rivals to, the Empire. Their shared practice of the Way both provide them with common ground, and divides them over questions of orthodoxy. As founding members of the [[Liberty Pact]], their ties to the Empire have been strengthened, and they have been closely involved in bringing ruin to those involved in the abhorrent practice of slavery. At the moment they are focused on their [[Guide_the_spirit#Virtuous_War|war]] with the [[Asavean Archipelago]], but they remain committed to spreading the Way through the entire world. In gratitude for [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|major aid]] from the Empire in repulsing an Asavean assault against the port of [[Foreign_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]], the Sumaah have committed to sharing a dose of [[Liao#True Liao|true liao]] with the Empire every season "'' until the Plenum falls and the Way is spread to the Archipelago''". Relations with the grateful Sumaash, which have been bumpy in the past, are now better than ever.

You can learn more about the ongoing developments between the Empire and the Sumaah Republic in the '''[[Forging links]]''' wind of fortune.

===Weaving Tangled Nets (Sea of Steel)===
* '''Ambassadors to the Commonwealth and Jarm; Senate; Military Council; General of the Granite Pillar; Conclave; Imperial Fleets; Imperial artisans'''
The [[Commonwealth]] and the [[Principalities of Jarm]] have been at open war for some time now, a conflict that erupted over control of the borderlands between their nations. Now, the tiny country of Lantir is no more - the [[Cold Sun]] has risen and the ''scions'' seek to ravage the two eastern powers as they once attempted to do in the Empire. Imperial soldiers and magicians have offered aid to the two rivals in their efforts to contain the threat and destroy the armies of [[inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] pouring into the ruined capital of Lantir. Yet even in this time of heightened conflict, the wheels of diplomacy continue to turn.

You can learn about normal diplomatic communications, but particularly the state of play with regard to Cold Sun, in the '''[[Weaving tangled nets]]''' wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Jotunarmy.jpg|align=right|width=175|}}
===Who Counts the Path Untaken? (Jotun)===
* '''Imperial Consul; People interested in diplomacy with the Jotun; People interested in war with the Jotun; ''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark; Iron Osric; the Golden Jarl''; Synod'''
The Empire remains at war with the [[Jotun]]. The completion of the [[Kallavesa#Gull's_Isle_Hall|Gull's Isle Hall]], and a missive from '''Iron Osric''' saw their ambassador to the Empire, ''Igya Olgafsdottir'', invite a dozen Imperials to the hetjuveisla - a feast of heroes. Last season, the Loyalty Assembly saw fit to uphold a [[writ of consecration]] raised by '''Skáldsgrým Dunhearth''', that called for the consecration of the meeting place to Loyalty.

You can learn about what's going on with the Jotun, the Meeting Place, and the writ of consecration in the '''[[Who counts the path untaken?]]''' wind of fortune.

===An Arrow Nocked and in Flight (Morajasse)===
* '''Imperial Consul; ''Garviel I Abrira I Erigo''; ''Khalil i Carno i Guerra''; Senate; Apothecaries Guild; Freeborn Assembly'''
{{CaptionedImage|file=Crab-traced-2.png|align=right|width=175|}}
The Senate declared that the Protectorate of Morajasse were [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Recognise_Protectorate_of_Gallum_Fiersach|foreigners]] during the Summer Solstice 387YE. The Protectorate is led by master-strategist ''[[Fake empire#Gallum Fiersach|Commander Gallum Fiersach]]'', ably supported by ''Wind Lord Saoirse'' - his partner and a master of the [[Autumn magic|lore of Sand]]. Along with a significant number of veteran Grendel soldiers, they control the fortress of [[Feroz#Mora's Rock|Mora's Rock]]. This season, they have made a fidelitous offer along with a request.

You can read about the ongoing developments in Morajasse, the offer, and the request in the '''[[An arrow nocked and in flight]]''' wind of fortune.
===Grendel Diplomacy===
* '''The Grendel remain at war with the Empire
* '''The Ambassador to the Grendel is Starlight Starchaser of Urizen'''
{{CaptionedImage|file=shark.png|align=right|width=175|}}
The Grendel are the dominant power on the Broken Shore, and remain at war with the Empire. They have abandoned [[Redoubt]], but have [[Wide azure skies|launched a major push]] into [[Mareave]]. The [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] plenum offers significant support to the Grendel in the form of warships and resources, using them as proxies for their own war with the Empire.

''Speaker Morna'' is the primary diplomat who deals with the Empire, and reports to the Salt-Lords Council directly. They are known to be cynical, arrogant, and self-indulgent, and while they obviously participate in the ongoing-knife fight that is Grendel politics, they were chosen for their fidelity as much as their diplomatic acumen.

It appears that there has been no formal communication between ambassadors since the Winter Solstice. Given the nature of the Grendel it is likely that there have been [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messengers]] flying about behind the scenes, but for the moment the only communication between the southern barbarians and the Empire has been in the form of blows exchanged on the battlefield.

==Trade Summary==

==Other Events==
===Tassatan Hills===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Gemma Stewart is open to accepting letters on the subject of the Tassatan Hills. A [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] can be sent to them at ''Gemma Stewart, Forge and Furnace Offices, Tassato Mestra, Tassato''}}
* '''The Forge and Furnace Fellowship are upset that they were not consulted about the relinquishment of the Tassatan Hills'''
* '''They are expecting either that the Tassatan Hills be returned as a League seat, or that they are invited to discuss terms'''
Three and a half years ago, the [[Light upon the water|Great Storm of '84YE]] raged, bringing widespread flooding across the Empire. The [[Light_upon_the_water#The_Good_News|good news]] was that it revealed a previously unknown [[ilium]] deposit in the hills of [[Tassato#Tassato Mestra|Tassato Mestra]], which was [[Exploit Tassatan Hills|established]] as a Bourse seat the following summit.

''Gemma Stewart'' put forward the aid of her mining guild , the Forge and Furnace Fellowship, to provide most of the labour and expertise for the project on the proviso that it be made a League position appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]]. The Senate agreed, and the [[Tassatan Hills]] was established, and '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''', now Senator for Sarvos, was appointed as the first custodian followed by '''Serafina di Sarvos''', proponent of the Warforge, has been appointed to two terms. However, the seat was [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Relinquish_Tassatan_Hills|relinquished]] as a national seat, and then [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Allocate_Tassatan_Hills|allocated]] as an Imperial seat.

Following some confusion, '''Kaspar Yakovich von Holberg''', [[Holberg|Senator for Holberg]], has been advised that the mining guilds are looking for the motions to be rescinded - the Tassatan Hills relinquished and then allocated again as a League position appointed by Tally of the Votes - or that they are invited to Anvil to discuss the matter at the Summer Solstice.

===Meeting with Destiny (Hahnmark)===
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=InquisitorLoyalty.jpg|caption='''Eevi of the Gadrai'''|align=left|width=300}}</div>
* '''Valdr Grieversonn is willing to meet with members of the Wintermark Assembly'''
* '''This is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Unlikely_or_Contained|combat unlikely]] encounter'''
* '''''Eevi of the Gadrai'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for meeting with Valdr Grieversonn'''
Shortly before the Autumn Equinox 387YE rumours [[Born_with_insight#Action_Must_Be_Taken|came to light]] of false virtues on a farmstead in Hahmark. The rumours centred around ''Valdr Grieversonn'', patriarch of the Grieversonns, and spoke of false virtues and a fascination with the [[Hahnmark#Kronemark|Sungate]]. The Wintermark Assembly upheld a [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_140|mandate]] to send '''Eevi of the Gadrai''', [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Loyalty]] to engage with those who know Valdr Grieversonn will encourage him to talk to the Wintermark Assembly.

This has borne fruit, and Valdr will leave his door unlocked over the coming summit. Given that it was '''Eevi of the Gadrai''' who enacted the mandate, it is their responsibility to meet with Valdr and discuss dignity, freedom, and prosperity.

{{SOP|statement=The scars of Whittle run deep. A people massacred due to zealotry. The Marchers know too well the risks of following your traditions. While the Marchers have no intent of undermining the Synod’s spiritual authority, the fact of the matter remains; A Marcher, A Marcher. Should the Synod proscribe the beliefs of the Marcher Orcs as heretical, the Marches as a whole will defend their neighbours as they would any other Marcher unduly persecuted. To echo the words of the First Empress: “You will take all of us, or none of us.” The Synod may make it’s choice.|by=Statement of Principle, Brother Luke, Marcher Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 146-50|when=Winter Solstice 388YE|size=small}}
===Pride in the Mournwold===
* '''The Marcher Assembly upheld a statement of principle clearly stating their firm commitment to the Marcher Orcs'''
* '''Marcher congregations can take the ''Preach Pride - Support Marcher Orcs'' action after the Spring Equinox'''
* '''A standard congregation that takes this action will receive ten votes in the Synod, 7 crowns, and be placed in the Pride Assembly'''
At the Winter Solstice, the Marcher Assembly voted to uphold a [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_13|judgement]] raised by '''Brother Luke''' with a greater majority. The statement of principle called on the Marches to defend the [[Mournwold Orcs|Marcher orcs]] if it came to it. This has been met with acceptance across the Marches, though some are still uncertain, and those who agree with the assembly have been looking at ways they can help support the message.

The simplest method would be to encourage members of the Marcher Assembly to spread the message during the coming season. Any Marcher with a congregation can take the '''Preach Pride - Support Marcher Orcs''' lecture, which would start to spread the message to those who are unconvinced. It's small, but "''Pride in small things''" as the famous saying starts. Rather than receiving any [[liao]], the congregation will receive money from orcs grateful for their work.

===Champion of Wintermark===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Inga Farsighted is open to accepting letters on the subject of the Crown of Three Tears. A [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] can be sent to them at ''Inga Farsighted, Farsihal, Rundhal Marsh, Kallavesa''}}
* '''The egregores have passed the Crown of Three Tears to the safekeeping of Inga Farsighted'''
* '''Inga Farsighted will return the crown once the nation has dealt with both ''Wemba the Bloody'' and ''Kaarina White-Eye'''''
The [[Crown of Three Tears]] was reclaimed nine years ago in battle with the [[Thule]]. Since then, it has served as a rallying piece for the Winterfolk, as the mystics appoint a champion to represent the nation. Last season, the crown was handed to [[Wintermark Egregore|Sulkavaris, Knower of Names]], who after a long discussion with a scop, passed it on to them. The scop, ''Inga Farsighted'', hopes that keeping the crown away, and setting a challenge that the nation must face, will light spark in the three people who make up one nation.

[[Anyone but you|Three years ago]], the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Silent Bell]] worked with the Winterfolk to identify the ringleaders of Agramant's cults in [[Sermersuaq]]. ''Maarik the Golden Tongue'' was killed with the support of the Thule, but ''Wemba the Bloody'' and ''Kaarina White-Eye'' still remain to threaten the territory. Inga makes clear that they will return the crown and help support the new Champion of Wintermark once those two join Maarik in the labyrinth.

Inga Farsighted isn't a complete arsehole, and makes some suggestions as to how the nation might uncover the whereabouts and track down the two cultists. The Silent Bell could be set to finding them, along with it being the highest calling of almost any of the Virtue Assemblies. There are several eternals who are adept at finding people: Kimus, the seer; Hayaak, the hunter; and the Lictors, who deal with oath-breakers. Any of the archmages could use their power of plenipotentiary to request the aid of an eternal in such a matter.

===Dusk===
* '''For this event we are defining dusk as beginning at 21:00 and ending at 22:00'''
* '''No bow or crossbow use in Anvil after 21:30 or on quests that start after this time'''
Our [[Bow_safety#Bow_Safety|bow safety rules]] prohibit the use of bows and crossbows after "dusk". At this event, we are defining that point as 21:30 each day. This means you cannot use a bow in Anvil after this time, or on a skirmish or quest that starts after this time.

The necromantic ritual [[Whispers through the Black Gate]] can only be performed for one hour around dusk - at this event that means the ritual can be performed at any time between 21:00 and 22:00.

===Thane's Rest (The Barrens)===
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=CathanArt.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Due to the actions of Dawnish magicians, the region of Hope's Rest in the Barrens has become rimebound'''
* '''Servants of the Thane of the Rimebound Shore have been observed sheltering in the ruins of Dourfell Keep'''
* '''Characters with a resource in the Barrens can demonstrate their gratitude to the eternal by making their resource rimebound'''
Almost a year ago, the Queen of Ice and Darkness offered to lend her aid to the people of [[Dawn]] to defend the Barrens against attacks. The offer was just for the year, but the Immovable One left a route for Imperial magicians to create a lasting bargain for her aid. Dawnish magicians of the '''Phoenix Rising''' coven eagerly embraced the opportunity and have performed the necessary magic every season. As a result of their dedication, the region of [[The_Barrens#Hope's_Rest|Hope's Rest]] has become [[Region_qualities#Rimebound|rimebound]]. The weather has taken a distinct turn for the worse, with heavy storms increasingly common over ice-tipped mountains and deep drifts of snow lingering on the ground.

Servants of the Thane of the Rimebound Shore have been observed living in the ruins of Dourfell Keep. The Keep was destroyed by the Montanians to prevent it falling into the hands of the Druj, and is little more than ruins ever since. It's still ruined even now, but travellers who have sought shelter there from the tumultuous weather report receiving a warm welcome at the Thane's hearth, a fine white stone castle with a roaring fire and a feasting hall groaning under the weight of dishes.

This season there is an opportunity for any Imperial character with a resource in the Barrens to infuse it with a touch of Summer magic. Any character who scatters ice drawn from the waters of Hope's Rest across their property will see the ice take root. It will endure thereafter, waxing and waning with the seasons, but never completely melting no matter how hot summer gets. The resource will become ''rimebound'', infused with a touch of the power of the Immovable One. Being rimebound doesn't currently have any effect; it doesn't change the output of the resource in any way, but it is immediately obvious to anyone who examines it. Accepting the gift is being widely seen as a gesture of gratitude, a way to thank the ''Mistress of Blizzards'' for her aid over the last year. ('''OOC Note:''' Any character who wishes their resource in the Barrens to become rimebound should email {{plot}} after the forthcoming event; we will update the resource on the system).

===Where ''is'' Ravadi's Tomb?===
{{SOP|statement=We have the exemplar, now where is their tomb? This assembly authorises and applauds the creation of an inspirational site to memorialise the <u>EXEMPLAR OF VIGILANCE, RAVADI FOUNDERS’ DANCE</u> (consecrated to vigilance, of course).|by=Martin Orchard, Vigilance Assembly|vote=334-20|when=Autumn 387YE}}
At the Winter Solstice, the Vigilance Assembly passed with greater majority a call to consecrate an inspirational tomb to recently recognised exemplar of [[vigilance]], [[Known_exemplars#Ravadi_Founders'_Dance|Ravadi Founders' Dance]]. In order to be a [[Writ_of_consecration|legally binding writ]] however, the statement must include the chosen location. In order for the consecration to go ahead, the assembly must choose precisely where this site should be, or commission one via the senate if such a place does not yet exist. It is comparatively easy for an assembly to agree that one of their exemplars or paragons should be exalted with an appropriate site, but becomes much harder when priests must agree on where that is, or what part of their life it relates to. In the case of Ravadi, should it be a specific location in [[Weirwater]] where they were born and raised, where the call to fight threats to the Empire was instilled in them? Should it be somewhere in [[Hercynia]] where Ravadi was dedicated to Vigilance and first fought the vallorn, swearing a binding of thorns? Should it be the place where they died in [[Madruga]], where they fought the dry patricians as the assembly's champion? Should it be somewhere else entirely? This is the question the assembly needs to answer before an appropriate mandate or set of mandates can be proposed by the civil service. If the Assembly passes a statement with lesser majority this summit agreeing on a place, the civil service will produce one or more mandates as normal. If multiple pass, the one with greatest margin will be used.

===Black Tillers in Skarsind===
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of Hope'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great work </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Gildermark, Skarsind</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 white granite, 25 weirwood, and 150 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 3 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Provides two doses of Hearkener's Hope to each congregation in Skarsind
* Increases investment in congregations in Skarsind by one</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in congregations is commissioned in the territory</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Black Tillers have drawn up plans for a grand garden and distillery that would provide Hearkener's Hope to every congregation in Skarsind'''
* '''This opportunity is available until the end of the Winter Solstice 388YE or until a great work increasing investment in congregations is commissioned in Skarsind'''
Last season, the ''Black Tillers'' made an [[Every_day_of_your_life#Rookery_Without_Crows|offer]] to the Unshackled Assembly; that they would take on custodianship of the [[Skarsind#Legion's Rookery|Legion's Rookery]] and use it to produce Hearkener's Hope, a narcotic which allows an orc to hear their ancestors' voices more clearly for a short time. The Senate voted to [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Amend_Legion_Rookery|amend]] the Rookery to support hiring miners for the newly established [[Sorrowful Tunnels]], but the Unshackled Assembly upheld a [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_157|judgement]] by '''Bloodcrow Meep''' with a greater majority that made clear that the assembly still sought access to Hearkener's Hope, and called on the ''Black Tillers'' to present an alternative.

The coterie have worked with the civil service to draw up plans for a grand garden and distillery in [[Skarsind#Gildenheim|Gildenheim]], that would see each congregation in the territory receive two doses of the narcotic every season. More information on Hearkener's Hope and the Black Tillers can be found in the '''[[Every_day_of_your_life#Rookery_Without_Crows|Every day of your life]]''' wind of fortune from Winter Solstice 387YE.

===Opportunity Knocks Again===
* '''The civil service will raise an administrative motion to amend the Master of the Mint to give them the power to review a previous appraisal or opportunity'''
* '''This motion will be raised at the Friday evening session at the Spring Equinox'''
* '''The Senate could use a Senate motion to grant this power to a different Senate position'''
Last season, the [[Senate]] voted to [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Hire_Prognosticators|recruit all three prognosticators]] that had become [[Forever_is_composed_of_nows#Candidates|available to expand the Prognosticators Office]]. As such, the [[Speaker for the Senate]] will raise an administrative motion to amend the [[Master of the Imperial Mint]] to give them the power to make an announcement to instruct the civil service to review a previous opportunity that is no longer available because too much time has passed or because circumstances have changed.

The [[Scrutiny#Constitutional_Court|Constitutional Court]] have confirmed that the power could instead be given to any [[Senate_session#Member_of_the_Senate|Member of the Senate]], including [[the Throne]], [[Conscience of the Senate]], [[Imperial Magus]], [[Advisor on Orc Affairs]], or [[Imperial Consul]]. However, this would require a [[Senate motion]] to name the title whose powers they wish to amend. Alternatively, rather than delegating the power, the Senate could retain the power itself. This would allow any [[senator]] to raise a [[Senate motion]] to direct the [[Civil Service]] accordingly.

Regardless of how the power is employed, it is not possible to review more than one expired opportunity each season at this time.

===Seeking the Karass===
* '''The preacher Jim led shamans, mystagogues and other willing members of the Imperial Orc assembly on a delegation to learn of the ancestors and beliefs held by the Karass'''
* '''A report of that expedition, which was successful, will be made available to each member of the assembly'''
* '''There was an opportunity during the expedition to form a bridge to a significant ancestor of the Karass. Additional briefing material is available for any character with a congregation who believes they would have made this bridge'''

Last season, the Imperial Orc Assembly [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_158|voted]] to support [[Every_day_of_your_life#Spanning_the_Abyss|Bloodcrow Knott's declaration of his highest calling]] by asking shamans and mystagogues to join him on an expedition to learn more of the ancestors of the Karass. While it was not easy, the expedition has proved fruitful, and those who went with Jim had a chance to learn much of the Karass. A report has been written, and you can read it here: '''[[Seeking the Karass]]'''.

===Greenwatcher===
* '''The title of Greenwatcher was mistakenly marked as inactive'''
* '''The title still exists with its responsibilities, but has no powers'''
* '''It will be available to elect at the Spring Equinox 388YE'''
The [[Greenwatcher]] was marked as inactive following [[Ossegrahn]] finally [[Songs like trees|turning away]] from the Empire. This was a mistake, as the responsibilities are still relevant. The title has been reinstated, though with none of the previously associated powers, as they were all derived from the eternal.

The Greenwatcher is still responsible for striving to prevent the vallorn from harming people of any nation, whether Imperial or not; they are also expected to actively work to warn others of the danger presented by the vallorn and ensure they take its threat seriously; finally, if the Greenwatch were to come under threat, it is the responsibility of the Greenwatcher to deal with those threats.

===Rod and Shield in the Commonwealth===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">[[File:OrderRodAndShield.jpg]]</div>
* '''The Rod and Shield have been encouraged to support the Commonwealth against Cold Sun'''
* '''Members of the order can journey to the Commonwealth to offer advice, or take part, in the fight against ''scions'' of Cold Sun
Shortly before the end of the Autumn Equinox 387YE, Lantir was [[Cold war|lost to Cold Sun]]. '''Sakari Nightscale''', as [[Rod and Shield|Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield]], called on the order to offer [[Cold_war#Magical_Aid|magical aid]] to the [[Commonwealth]], along with the Golden Pyramid and experts from the Granite Pillar. Battlemages and magicians interested in the practical application of magic in military situations have travelled across the Sea of Steel to support the Commonwealth's efforts against the ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun|Oblivion]], either by directly getting stuck in against the heralds, or through discussions on the tactical use of magic.

Any player whose character is a member of the Rod and Shield can email {{plot}} with their CID to let us know that their character went to the Commonwealth. Those who email in will receive a random pawn of [[vis]] and a lingering [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] from an encounter with a ''scion''. The deadline for emailing in to take part in this opportunity was midnight on Tuesday the 19<sup>th</sup> of May.

===Vigilance in Sarvos===
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" ;">'''Investigated Sarvos'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Citizen'''</td><td>'''Nation'''</td></tr>
<tr><td> Achseh </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Ada </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Aemon </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Alessi of the Basilisks of the Labyrinth </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Amaro d’Apulian </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Apollos </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Delilah </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Destin </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Elena Donati di Sarvos </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Esria </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Estella Lucati </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Fabio Costas d’Apulian </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Giuliana Tessaro di Sarvos </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Godfrey of The Emberclad </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Jared </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Joran </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Jovian </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Jules von Holberg </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Junia of The Rowan Chapel </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Kaspar Yakovich von Holberg </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Lia Adelaar </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Melkior of Balthazar’s Vineyard </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Merlof Von Temeschwar </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Miroslaw Vukovitch Von Temeschwar </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Omin </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Paulus Adelaar van Holberg </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Taddea Ginori </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Tyrael </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Vashti of the Cenotaph </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Viviane Barossa di Tassato Regario </td><td> The League </td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
{{SOPInner|statement=Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Joran of Reikos with 25 doses of liao to rally the people of Highguard to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let Virtue reveal the deceiver!|by=Joran of Reikos, Highguard National Assembly|vote=552-0|when=Winter 387YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Viviane Barossa with 25 liao to rally the people of the League to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let virtue reveal the deceiver!|by=Viviane Barossa, League National Assembly|vote=168-0|when=Autumn 387YE}}
</div>
Last season, an [[Finding is the final act|opportunity]] arose for the priests of the League and Highguard to investigate the potential of a Grendel espionage ring in the crown of the Catazar - the city of [[Sarvos]]. Both assemblies approved this venture to thwart the machinations of the orcs of the Broken Shore, and the last three months saw thirty-two of their number descend upon the coast in a vigilant fervour. Furthermore, the Sarvos Chamber of Commerce voted to seek out the aid of the [[College_of_the_Liberated|College of the Liberated]], further increasing the chances of success.

Unfortunately, due to the actions of Imperials taking advantage of the [[Finding_is_the_final_act#Within_and_Without|offer]] of the [[Whisper Gallery|Court of the Shadowed Oracle]] to profit from the espionage ring rather than identify and disrupt it, the inquisitors were thwarted in their attempts. The priests of Highguard and the League were unable to follow up on enough leads to identify the Grendel agents or their key bases of operation.

All is not lost, however, the Conclave [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_War_of_Whispers|committed to the war on whispers]] this season gone, and from that focus comes results. Those who took part in the [[Venture#War_of_Whispers|venture]] have been able to determine and share that there were three military units led by humans from somewhere in the east of the Empire (that is, from either [[Varushka]], [[Dawn]], [[Holberg]], [[Therunin]], or [[Urizen]]) who took part in this counter-counter-espionage.

'''<big>Participation</big>'''<br>
Those who took the '''Preach Vigilance - Investigate Sarvos''' action will have taken part in interviewing the faithful in Sarvos, investigating leads and clues in the city, and attempting to identify traitors to the Empire. Unfortunately, each time they were close to pinning down something, it would have gone awry. Either a witness was whisked away, a piece of evidence lost, or a written document had the text garbled.

==Mandates==
* '''You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, [[387YE_Winter 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, those mandates have been [[Mandate#Implementing_a_Mandate|automatically enacted]].

==Winter Conjunctions==
* '''Last event there were a number of conjunctions of the Sentinel Gate; their known outcomes are listed here'''
During the Winter 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 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>
<tr><td>[[Mitwold|Mitwold, The Meadows, ''Two Barrel Field'']]</td><td>Defeat the Wayford Traitors</td><td>Traitorous Marchers</td><td>[[Rose_grow_the_rushes_o%27#Battle_Opportunity:_A_Dog_Barks|A Dog Barks]]</td><td>[[Field Marshal]] was '''William Guildenstern''' of [[the Marches]]; ''Bill of Beatsdown'' was killed; ''Stephen of Sarcombe'' survived; ''Jim Moor'' was murdered on the field; ''Jyll Longleys'', ''Jack Poultice'', and ''Dusty Cobb'' survived; The three items of worth were lost.</td></tr>

<tr><td>[[Sarangrave|Sarangrave, Thornfen, ''Camp Askoun Orama'']]</td><td>Protect the ''Shield''</td><td>Druj</td><td>[[Fire_and_the_flood#Battle_Opportunity:_The_Dead_Whisper|The Dead Whisper]]</td><td>[[Field Marshal]] was '''Earl Zoran De Orzel''' of [[Dawn]]; Druj successfully engaged; all ingots and measures captured; ''Rebuker of the Unwanted'' recovered; situation with captives unclear.</td></tr>

<tr><td>[[Skallahn|Skallahn, Ulfrsmoor, ''Eagle Scour'']]</td><td>Intercept Ghodi Uksahkka</td><td>Jotun</td><td>[[Rubies_in_the_snow#Battle_Opportunity:_The_Queen_Waits|The Queen Waits]]</td><td>Not taken; ''Ghodi Uksahkka'' safely arrived in Kierheim; Tromsdalen fyrd formed</td></tr>

<tr><td>[[Mareave|Mareave, Fleisardh, ''Capstone Veld'']]</td><td>Deny the Haulers of the Tide</td><td>Grendel</td><td>[[Scarlet_sands#Battle_Opportunity:_Rocks_Fall|Rocks Falls]]</td><td>Not taken; Fleisardh has gained the coastal quality; Weltsilver seals remain; ''Pinerunner Pattar'' discovered; ''Questionner Kester'' still alive</td></tr>
</table>

===Minor Conjunctions===
{|table class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! # !! Location !! Responsibility !! Overview !! Result
|-
| 1 || Morrow, Peregro, Xavier's Path || [[Arbiter of the Four Winds]] || [[Red_skies#A_Different_Skill_(Morrow)|Defeat the wreckers]] || Wreckers defeated
|-
| 2 || Sermersuaq, Suaq Wastes, Verdant Lea || [[Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq]] || [[Shadow_in_the_grass#Agramant_and_Big_Icebarn|Kill the Ceaseless Hunter]] || Ceaseless Hunter killed
|-
| 3 || Sarvos, Uccelini, Antonio's Glebe || [[Champion of Wisdom]] || [[Red_skies#Golden_Crane_(Sarvos)|Defeat the wreckers]] || Wreckers defeated
|-
| 4 || Sermersuaq, Suaq Wastes, Taiva's Pen || '''Maryc of House Orzel''' || [[Shadow_in_the_grass#Agramant_and_Big_Icebarn|Kill the Feasting Lord]] || Feasting Lord killed
|-
| 5 || Madruga, Crucible, Draws Sward || [[Imperial Fleet Master]] || [[Red_skies#As_If_the_World_Were_Fog_(Madruga)|Defeat the wreckers]] || Wreckers defeated
|-
| 6 || Sarvos, Foracci, Vintner's Way || [[Armarius of the Anvil Library]] || [[Poets_light_but_lamps#Burn_The_Books_(Sarvos)|Protect the Library Scriptorium]] || All Cinders killed and Scriptorium protected
|-
| 7 || Skallahn, Greenwall, Paegga's Rest || [[Strategos of Wintermark]] || [[Rubies_in_the_snow#Prince_of_the_Ravens|Kill Eluf Asbjørnsson]] || ''Eluf Asbjørnsson'' survived and will raise the fyrd of Greenwall this season
|-
| 8 || Madruga, Torres, Corsair's Road || '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''' || [[Poets_light_but_lamps#Sever_The_Hand_(Madruga)|Protect the House of Guerra]] || All Cinders killed and House of Guerra protected
|-
| 9 || Bregasland, Ottermire, Abigail's Green || [[Keeper of the Breadbasket]] || [[Rose_grow_the_rushes_o%27#A_Plain_Wooden_Box_(Bregasland)|Kill the Jotun warband]] || Imperials pushed off the field; Lion of the North have recovered strength
|-
| 10 || Upwold, Tower March, Benson's Bawn || '''Martin Orchard''' || [[Poets_light_but_lamps#Silence_The_Bell_(Upwold)|Protect Benson's Orchard]] || All Cinders killed and Benson's Orchard protected
|-
| 11 || Sküld, Kógur, Leopard-Tooth Pass || [[High Bard of the Empire]] || [[Invited_with_asperity#A_Cultural_Exchange_%28Redux%29|Exchange cultural works of storytelling]] || Cultural works exchanged, High Bard may know more
|-
| 12 || Therunin, Eastring, Broken Pasture || [[Vallornguard|Speaker of the Vallornguard]] || [[The_thing_with_feathers#Midwinter,_Was_It?_(Llofir)|End the suffering of those who fought the vallorn]] || Unclear, but the Speaker of the Vallornguard may know more
|-
| 13 || Casinea, Casfall, Casca's Doom || [[Speaker of the Highborn Assembly]] || [[Apparently_with_no_surprise#Whatever_Happened_to_Mendicant_Garev?|Heal and rescue mendicant Garev]] || Mendicant Garev rescued and healed, some strange items recovered, Speaker of the Highborn Assembly might know more. Mendicant Garev was [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_150|called]] to inquisition
|-
| 14 || Mournwold, Alderly, Hare Stone || '''Linley Weaver''' || [[The_thing_with_feathers#The_Stone_Cried_Out_(Irra_Harah_again)|Respond to the call of Warrenwise]] || Problem solved, '''Linley Weaver''' should know more
|-
| 15 || Therunin, Eastring, Day's Rest Wayhouse || '''Eleri Bronwen's Rest''' || [[The_tune_without_the_words#A_Light_in_the_Trees_%28Therunin%29|Discuss relocation of Glimmerwater steading]] || The Glimmerwater steading will relocate to [[Miaren]]
|-
| 16 || Spiral, Apulus, Aphelion Cape || '''Floria Sunshaper''' || [[Mirror_and_the_flame#Keep_the_Bargain_(Conjunction)|Defeat the Grendel]] || Grendel defeated and shards retrieved
|-
| 17 || Kallavesa, West Marsh, Ingrid's Rock || [[Watcher of Britta's Pool]] || [[The_tune_without_the_words#It_Moves_(Kallavesa)|Stop the coral husks]] || Coral husks destroyed
|-
| 18 || Redoubt, Siluri, Lucia's Moor || [[Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine]] || [[Blood-red_blooms#A_Short_Path_(Redoubt)|Defeat the Grendel]] || Grendel defeated
|-
| 19 || Bregasland, North Fens, Gorum's Toe || [[Keeper of the Dour Fens]] || [[The_tune_without_the_words#Behold_the_Fear_(Bregasland)|Stop the coral husks]] || Coral husks destroyed
|-
| 20 || Redoubt, Tomari, Magnus' Clearing || [[Brilliant Star|Custodian of the Brilliant Star]] || [[Blood-red_blooms#Within_the_Stone_(Redoubt)|Defeat the Grendel]] || Grendel defeated
|-
| 21 || Sermersuaq, Stark, Scop's Lookout || [[The Academy|Head of the Academy]] || [[The_tune_without_the_words#Cut_Them_Down_(Sermersuaq)|Clear out the coral husks]] || Coral husks destroyed
|-
| 22 || Necropolis, Fishguard, Myfanwy's Rest || [[Abbess of Reconciliation]] || [[Blood-red_blooms#At_the_Gardens_(Necropolis)|Defeat the Grendel]] || Imperial pushed off the field and [[Abbess_of_Reconciliation#Abbey_of_Reconciliation|Abbey of Reconciliation]] raided
|-
| 23 || Ayereed, Gainmeachdubh, Dunreagh's Mead || [[Bargainer of the Iron Tower]] || [[387YE Winter Solstice winds of war#Make_an_Anchor_Weep_(Ayereed)|Defeat the Grendel]] || Imperials pushed from the field but remnant Grendel killed by wagon raiders
|-
| 24 || Skallahn, Ulfrsmoor, Nordrborg Approach || [[Smith of Ashes]] || [[Rubies_in_the_snow#Siege|Stop the construct from reaching Kierheim]] || Construct defeated
|-
| 25 || Skallahn, Mindrkyst, Drekatangi || '''Sebastian Shaw''' || [[Rubies_in_the_snow#A_Bronze_Bear|Rescue shipwrecked Marchers]] || Crew of the Old Jim's Ewe were successfully rescued
|-
| 26 || Therunin, Peakedge Song, Hywel's Track || [[Apothecaries Guild|Guild Leader of the Apothecaries Guild]] || [[Crimson_and_green#Under_an_Oak_(Therunin)|Defeat the Druj]] || Druj defeated and apothecaries saved
|-
| 27 || Sarangrave, Whisperwood, Skinflawed's Corral || [[Strategos|Strategos of Urizen]] || [[Fire_and_the_flood#A_Cold_Medallion_(Conjunction)|Defeat the Druj]] || ''Grettek Skinflawed'' and rest of the Druj killed
|-
| 28 || The Barrens, The Bleaks, The Execution Field || [[Envoy to the Karass]] || [[Quietude#Spies_And_Traitors_(Conjunction)|Discuss intricacies of Imperial law with Anka Karass]] || ''Anka Karass'' has gained a greater understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the Karass under Imperial law
|-
| 29 || Spiral, Apulus, Hadrian's Path || [[Sevenfold Path|Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path]] || [[To_fight_aloud#Unexpected_(Spiral)|Intercept the Disciples of Sulemaine]] || Disciples dispatched and scattered, none escaped to Mareave
|-
| 30 || Therunin, Eastring, Greensward Lea || [[Vallornguard|Speaker of the Vallornguard]] || [[Mushroom,_mushroom,_mushroom#Waves_of_Ruin_(Conjunction)|Clear out the Druj]] || Druj cleared out
|-
| 31 || Therunin, Eastring, Greensward Lea || [[Spear of the Seven]] || [[Mushroom,_mushroom,_mushroom#Waves_of_Ruin_(Conjunction)|Take advantage of the conjunction]] || Area was cleared but no ritual performed
|-
| 32 || Redoubt, Limus, Temple of the Stinging Blade || [[Champion of Loyalty]] || [[To_fight_aloud#Borderland_(Redoubt)|Deal with the Disciples of Sulemaine]] || Disciples slaughtered, the Champion of Loyalty should know what happened to the schema
|-
| 33 || Morrow, Altis, Path to Highwatch || [[Polemarch of Highwatch]] || [[To_fight_aloud#Precious_Cargo_(Morrow)|Stop the Disciples of Sulemaine]] ||Disciples slaughtered, the Polemarch of Highwatch should know what happened to the dose of [[true liao]]
|-
| 34 || Hercynia, Northpines, Starwood Roots Steading || [[Archmage of Winter]] || [[The_tune_without_the_words#Over_the_Hills_(Hercynia)|Investigate strange rumours]] || Rumours investigated; '''Bloodcrow Arora''', the [[Archmage of Winter]], might know more
|-
|}

388YE Summer Solstice winds of fortune

2026-07-05T16:28:39Z

Twiggy: /* Overview */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]]
<div {{floatleft}}>{{CaptionedImage|file=Remnants of tales.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=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
<div {{float}}>
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Wind of Fortune !! Order Released !! Last Updated || Note
|-
| [[In the Court of Far Horizons]] || 1 || data-sort-value="2026/07/03"| 03/07 || Appraisal
|-
| [[Satraps of the Abyss]] || 2 || data-sort-value="2026/07/04"| 04/07 || Appraisal
|-
| [[The Oran operation]] || 3 || data-sort-value="2026/07/05"| 05/07 || Appraisal
|}</div>
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 winds of war that 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 represent 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 an opinion, and we're not trying to trick you.
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:350px; float: left; margin: 10px;"
|-
! Nation !! Diplomacy Wind
|-
|}

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. We are also adding the dates that they were last updated (other than typos and correcting [[red links]]) in an attempt to make it easier to keep track of the newest releases.
__TOC__

==Winds of Fortune==
===In the Court of Far Horizons===
* '''Throne; Senate; Fleet owners; Ambassadors; titles involved in international trade'''
At the recent summit, [[the Throne]], requested that the [[Scrutiny#Constitutional_Court|Constitutional Court]] [[Forever_is_composed_of_nows#The_Abraham_Gambit|appraise the implications]] of a new [[Imperial sodality]], the ''Court of Far Horizons''. Magistrate Abraham has conducted an analysis of the constitutional implications of the new sodality's provisional manifesto. Abraham notes that the manifesto is "bold and vigorous" in establishing it's remit, but that that means that some of implications are far-reaching... which can be both a good and a bad thing depending where you stand.

You can read about Abrahams findings, as well as some proposals from interested parties, in the '''[[In the Court of Far Horizons]]''' wind of fortune.
===Satraps of the Abyss===
* '''Conclave; Ambassador to Sumaah; scholars of magic and the eternal realms'''
The [[Senate]] has taken advantage of an opportunity brokered by the [[Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic|Ambassador]] Accalon to engage in a spot of magical cooperation with the [[Sumaah Republic]]. Freshly-appointed prognosticator ''[[Appraisal#Lisane de Terresford|Lisane de Terresford]]'' has been sent to ''[[appraisal|appraise]] how the High Houses of Virtue and the Imperial Conclave can find ways to co-operate in interactions with [[eternal|eternals]]''. While Lisane is expected to be engaged for the next several seasons, she has dispatched a preliminary report on her findings; a review of the relation between the magicians and the Präster of the republic - and the dealings they have with the creatures of the [[realms]].

You can read about Lisane's findings, and about the opportunity for the Conclave to assist, in the '''[[Satraps of the Abyss]]''' wind of fortune.
===The Oran Operation===
* '''The Brass Coast, especially citizens of Feroz and Madruga; Imperial Senate; Military Council'''
The river Scorrero broke its banks several years ago, and washed away the dreadful threat of the ''dry patricians''. As a consequence of the wild river rising, the bridges connecting Madruga and Feroz were washed away. Last season, the Senate accepted [[An_arrow_nocked_and_in_flight#A_Garden_Proposal|an offer]] from the ''Protectorate of Morajasse'' to apply their expertise to the challenge of reconnecting the eastern Brass Coast. Their [[appraisal]] of the situation has been submitted, with notes added by the [[Appraisal#The_Prognosticators_Office|Prognosticators Office]], and involves a major feat of engineering in the southern Empire.

You can learn about their proposal, and some changes that might make it a little more feasible, in the '''[[The Oran operation]]''' wind of fortune.

==Diplomatic Winds==
Each season, the Civil Service prepares a summary of the Empire's relationship with the foreign nations, based on communications received from their ambassador, along with any useful intelligence gathered from other sources. While the [[Senate]] and the other houses of Imperial power may respond to these offers, it is important to note that it is the appropriate [[ambassador]] that the foreign power will expect to hear from. Their communication with the foreign power is the primary element that will determine the tenor of any response.

These winds of fortune deal with the Empire's diplomatic relationship with one or more foreign or barbarian nations. Usually, the wind is shaped by communications from the appropriate [[ambassador]] or the [[Imperial Consul]]. While these winds revolve around international matters, their focus is still on the Empire and what its citizens can do to influence diplomatic matters, so they're as likely as any other wind to contain something of interest to characters from all walks of life.

==Other Events==

==Mandates==
* '''You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, [[387YE_Winter 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, 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 Winter 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 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===

===Minor Conjunctions===

384YE Winter Solstice Senate sessions

2026-07-05T15:39:16Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:Senate]] [[Category:Senate Sessions]] [[Category:384YE Winter]]
<div style="float:right; width: 700px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Watching a riot.jpg|align=right|caption=he Senate building has a large viewing gallery that runs alongside the main chamber available to any Imperial citizen - but especially to priests using the right of [[Member_of_the_Synod#Witness|witness]].|width=700}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[Senate]] governs the Empire, and its authority extends to all areas of Imperial life not already covered by the other houses of government. Each summit the [[senator|senators]] meet several times to deliberate and vote on the [[Senate motion|motions]] they have raised.

After the summit the civil service enact those motions, and ensure a public record of each is made available to the citizens of the Empire. This page lists all the motions raised during the summit, along with the [[Senate announcement|announcements]] made by citizens with [[Imperial title|Imperial titles]]. In each case, the motion and its effects are summarised including the wording; who proposed and seconded it; whether it passed or not; whether any funds were disbursed to support it; and what the outcome of the motion will be.

Many motions (especially the [[commission|commissions]]) also have a ''Further Details'' section that provides a link to a wiki page dealing specifically with that motion in more detail, any commentary from the [[Scrutiny|Constitutional Court]], progress on commissions, or expanded information about the outcome of the motion.
==Treasury==
* Imperial treasury during this season was announced by the civil service at 1184 thrones and 4 crowns.
* The following has been donated to the Imperial treasury: None.

__TOC__

==Senate Motions==
===Raise Wintermark army===
* '''Motion:''' To raise a Wintermark army supported by the consecration of the Kallavesa marshes. Wintermark's ambition is to field a fourth army. Every single one of you, my beloved and esteemed colleagues' great nations, have benefited from my unbridled support to levy and improve your armies and military situations. Proposed: [[Hahnmark#Recent_Senate_Elections|Hahnmark]], Seconded: [[Sermersuaq#Recent_Senate_Elections|Sermersuaq]].
* '''Passed at 400 thrones'''
* '''Outcome:''' 400 thrones disbursed to Senator Hahnmark. A fourth Wintermark army will begin to [[Army#Recruitment|raise]] in [[Sermersuaq]]
* '''Further Details:''' [[Raise fourth Wintermark army|here]]

===Disburse funds for the Black Canal===
* '''Motion:''' Disbursement of funds for the Black Canal project. Proposed: [[Upwold#Recent_Senate_Elections|Upwold]], Seconded: [[Bastion#Recent_Senate_Elections|Bastion]].
* '''Passed at 19 thrones and 6 crowns'''
* '''Outcome:''' 19 thrones and 6 crowns disbursed to Senator Upwold
* '''Further Details:''' Supports the construction of the [[Construct Black Canal|Black Canal]] in [[the Marches]].

===Cede Trajadoz===
* '''Motion:''' To cede the town of Trajadoz in Madruga to the Marracossans living there, and creating the Brass Coast National Bourse position of "Marracossa Sendito" appointed by Tally of the Votes of the fleet owners in the usual manner. Proposed: [[Madruga#Recent_Senate_Elections|Madruga]], Seconded: [[Segura#Recent_Senate_Elections|Segura]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' The position of ''Marracossa Sendito'' will be available to appoint at the Spring Equinox 385YE.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Cede Trajadoz|here]].

===Exploit Tassatan Hills===
* '''Motion:''' That there is a disbursal of funds to take advantage of the Mestran Hills opportunity. This will create a bourse seat producing ilium. This seat will be assigned as a League national position to be selected by a Tally of the Votes of business owners. Proposed: [[Tassato#Recent_Senate_Elections|Tassato]], Seconded: [[Mitwold#Recent_Senate_Elections|Mitwold]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Exploit the hills above Tassato as detailed in the '''[[Light_upon_the_water#The_Good_News|Light upon the water]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Exploit Tassatan Hills|here]]

===Disburse funds for military resupply===
* '''Motion:''' To disburse funds for military resupply to William Lowther, Senator for Mitwold. Proposed: [[Mitwold#Recent_Senate_Elections|Mitwold]], Seconded: [[Kallavesa#Recent_Senate_Elections|Kallavesa]].
* '''Passed at 500 thrones'''
* '''Outcome:''' 500 Thrones disbursed to Senator Mitwold

===Expand Pride of Ikka's Tears===
* '''Motion:''' To expand the mithril mine the Pride of Ikka's Tears, including additional investment in transport infrastructure to increase the outpost to 22 wains per season, Proposed: [[Sermersuaq#Recent_Senate_Elections|Sermersuaq]], Seconded: [[Hahnmark#Recent_Senate_Elections|Hahnmark]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Expands the [[Pride of Ikka's Tears]] as detailed in the '''[[Write_the_lines#Deep_Pride|Write the lines]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Expand Pride of Ikka's Tears|here]]

===Establish Cerevado Nets===
* '''Motion:''' To establish a new Brass Coast Bourse seat at Crevado in Segura using nets and traps to collect ilium from the Scorrero river. Proposed: [[Semmerholm#Recent_Senate_Elections|Semmerholm]], Seconded: [[Weirwater#Recent_Senate_Elections|Weirwater]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Establishes a new bourse seat as detailed in the '''[[Drums_beat_in_my_head#Stealing_the_Scorrero|Drums beat in my head]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Establish Cerevado Nets|here]]

===Amend tariffs of Sarcophan Delves===
* '''Motion:''' Motion to move to free trade with the Sarcophan Delves. The Senate expresses preference that the dock we are granted access to in return is the Beltovering Docks. Proposed: [[Miaren#Recent_Senate_Elections|Miaren]], Seconded: [[Holberg#Recent_Senate_Elections|Holberg]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Amends the [[tariffs]] with the [[Sarcophan Delves]] to free trade. This has led to a reciprocal gesture by the Delves, who have opened the port of [[Sarcophan_Delves_ports#Betovering|Betovering]] to Imperial fleets.

===Appraise Kahraman===
* '''Motion:''' To send Naomi of Virtues Rest to appraise Kahraman for ways to restore or improve the infrastructure destroyed recently; including any revised proposals for the Cinnabar Roads. Proposed: [[Kahraman#Recent_Senate_Elections|Kahraman]], Seconded: [[Madruga#Recent_Senate_Elections|Madruga]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' An [[appraisal]] will be published before the Spring Equinox 385YE.

===Appraise Pilgrims of the Way===
* '''Motion:''' To request Naomi appraise the means by which pilgrims of the Way from foreign nations can be enabled and encouraged to make pilgrimage to the Empire with a possible focus on escalating Bastion and the territories of the Bay of Catazar to the challenge of Timoj. Proposed: [[Necropolis#Recent_Senate_Elections|Necropolis]], Seconded: [[Casinea#Recent_Senate_Elections|Casinea]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' As this is the second appraisal passed by the Senate the Imperial Auditor, Gerard La Salle, will determine who will undertake this [[appraisal]] for the Senate as Naomi of Virtue's Rest cannot complete both.

===Retrain Researchers===
* '''Motion:''' To retrain one of the historical researchers as a prognosticator of appraisals. Proposed: [[Casinea#Recent_Senate_Elections|Casinea]], Seconded: [[Necropolis#Recent_Senate_Elections|Necropolis]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' The total number of pieces of [[historical research]] the civil service can produce each season is reduced by one. The total number of [[appraisal|appraisals]] the civil service can produce each season is increased by one. The Constitutional Court note that it will not be a simple matter to reverse this decision. Without a new [[opportunity]], abrogating this motion will remove the additional appraisal but will not automatically return the civil servants involved to the Department of Historical Research. As detailed in the '''[[Watches_from_the_Wall#Test_What_You_Know|Watches from the Wall]]''' wind of fortune.

===Rename Crawling Depths===
* '''Motion:''' To rename the mine and corresponding seat known as The Crawling Depths in Ossium to The Vale of the Sunless Depths. Proposed: [[Ossium#Recent_Senate_Elections|Ossium]], Seconded: [[Karsk#Recent_Senate_Elections|Karsk]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' The Crawling Depths has been renamed the [[Vale of the Sunless Depths]]. The name has not entirely caught on - local Varushkans claim that it is not a vale because it exists under an established town. They are adopting Sunless Depths, however, with some enthusiasm.

===Remove Miasma in Zenith===
* '''Motion:''' This motion is to instruct the civil service to hire sentinels, sword scholars, magicians, and priests to work together to systematically remove the miasma pillars in Zenith each season until complete. It will cost 75 thrones taken directly from the Imperial treasury each season the miasma endures. Proposed: [[Morrow#Recent_Senate_Elections|Morrow]], Seconded: [[Therunin#Recent_Senate_Elections|Therunin]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Begins to clear the miasma pillars from Zenith. It will cost 75 Thrones each season until the entire territory is cleansed of Druj miasma. Detailed in the '''[[Write_your_own_ending#The_Pillars_of_Immiseration|Write your own ending]]''' wind of fortune.

===Create Witness of Conclave===
* '''Motion:''' Motion to create the title of Witness of Conclave, to be appointed by Conclave, to identify sorcerers, and those who should no longer be sorcerers, in the Empire. The witness shall have the power to raise a single Declaration of Sorcery in the Conclave per summit. The witness shall also investigate and or inquisit those with an Imperial Conclave title, to ensure they are not becoming corrupt with power. Witness of Conclave shall have regalia as detailed in civil service reports. Proposed: [[Miekarova#Recent_Senate_Elections|Miekarova]], Seconded: [[Mournwold#Recent_Senate_Elections|Mournwold]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' During [[Scrutiny]], the Constitutional Court expressed some caution around the use of the word "inquisit" in the motion. They determined however that the word is simply a description of what the title should do as part of its responsibilities, rather than an attempt to give a title appointed by the Imperial Conclave [[Inquisition|power]] in the Imperial Synod. If the title were explicitly giving the Witness the power to use a judgement of Inquisition, it would require significant additional scrutiny. It's also notable that the criteria for only ''one'' of the three regalia offered by Imperial citizens is met by this motion - that of ''Lost Lore Steading''. If the Senate wishes to take advantage of the offers of the Marcher threshers and Highborn magistrates they have until the end of the Spring Equinox to amend the title's responsibilities appropriately. More information on the opportunity can be found in the '''[[Bad_blood#The_Rat-Catcher|Bad blood]]''' wind of fortune. The title of [[Witness of Conclave]] has been created and will be available to appoint at the Spring Equinox 385YE.

===Amend Imperial Seer===
* '''Motion:''' To amend the powers of the Imperial Seer to include a stipend. Proposed: [[Weirwater#Recent_Senate_Elections|Weirwater]], Seconded: [[Hercynia#Recent_Senate_Elections|Hercynia]].
* '''Passed at 40 thrones'''
* '''Outcome:''' The powers of the [[Imperial Seer]] have been changed to add a seasonal stipend of 40 thrones.

===Ratify treaty with Kaliact===
* '''Motion:''' To ratify a treaty with Salt Lord Kaliact Proposed: [[Reikos#Recent_Senate_Elections|Reikos]], Seconded: [[Volodmartz#Recent_Senate_Elections|Volodmartz]].
* '''Failed'''
* '''Further Details:''' The treaty, and the comments of the Constitutional Court during Scrutiny, can be found [[Ratify treaty with Salt Lord Kaliact|here]].

==Appointments==
===Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy===
* '''Motion:''' Elect the Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy. Proposed: [[Karov#Recent_Senate_Elections|Karov]], Seconded: [[Hercynia#Recent_Senate_Elections|Hercynia]].
* '''Outcome:''' Cedric Gallows of [[Navarr]] was elected as [[Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy]]
* '''Further Details:''' This motion was initially raised during the final Senate session of the Autumn Equinox summit, and was appointed as first order of business during the Winter Solstice.

===Ambassador to the Grendel===
* '''Motion:''' Elect the Ambassador to the Grendel. Proposed: [[Speaker for the Senate]].
* '''Outcome:''' Abel of Zenith Ascendant [[Urizen]] was elected as [[Ambassador to the Grendel]]

===Ambassador to Axos===
* '''Motion:''' Elect the Ambassador to Axos. Proposed: [[Holberg#Recent_Senate_Elections|Holberg]], Seconded: [[Miaren#Recent_Senate_Elections|Miaren]].
* '''Outcome:''' Fintan Nighthaven of [[Navarr]] was elected as [[Ambassador to Axos]]

===Ambassador to Jarm===
* '''Motion:''' Elect an Ambassador to Jarm. Proposed: [[Volodmartz#Recent_Senate_Elections|Volodmartz]], Seconded: [[Sarvos#Recent_Senate_Elections|Sarvos]].
* '''Outcome:''' Ariadne of Auric Horizon of [[Urizen]] was elected as [[Ambassador to Jarm]]

===Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic===
* '''Motion:''' To appoint the Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic. Proposed: [[Karov#Recent_Senate_Elections|Karov]], Seconded: [[Conscience of the Senate#Recent_Senate_Elections|Conscience of the Senate]].
* '''Further Details:''' The [[Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic]] will be appointed as first order of business during the Spring Equinox.

===Ambassador to the Commonwealth===
* '''Motion:''' To appoint the Ambassador to the Commonwealth. Proposed: [[Conscience of the Senate#Recent_Senate_Elections|Conscience of the Senate]], Seconded: [[Miekarova#Recent_Senate_Elections|Miekarova]].
* '''Further Details:''' The [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]] will be appointed as first order of business during the Spring Equinox.

===Imperial Throne===
* '''Motion:''' To call an election for the Imperial Throne. Proposed: [[Hercynia#Recent_Senate_Elections|Hercynia]], Seconded: [[Astolat#Recent_Senate_Elections|Astolat]].
* '''Outcome:''' None elected

==Commissions (Senate)==
===Construct Atalaya Harbour===
* '''Motion:''' To disburse funds for and rebuild Atalaya Harbour to permit it to cheaply upgrade Freeborn fleets. This will not count as a shipyard. Proposed: [[Segura#Recent_Senate_Elections|Segura]], Seconded: [[Kahraman#Recent_Senate_Elections|Kahraman]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Constructs the Atalaya Harbour as detailed in the '''[[The_power_behind_our_moves#Atalaya|The power behind our moves]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Construct Atalaya Harbour|here]]

===Construct Trading Hall at Wreck===
* '''Motion:''' To commission the Trading Hall at Wreck, a ministry to buy ilium, in East Floes, Sermersuaq. The holder, the Mediator of Wreck, will be appointed by the Tally of the Votes of Wintermark. Self Funded. This will allow us to trade food for ilium with the Thule, so they may feed their people and navigate the prosperous path after abolishing slavery. Proposed: [[Kallavesa#Recent_Senate_Elections|Kallavesa]], Seconded: [[Karov#Recent_Senate_Elections|Karov]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Creates a trading hall in [[Sermersuaq|Wreck]], as detailed in the '''[[Write_the_lines#Meat_for_Metal|Write the lines]]''' wind of fortune
* '''Further Details:''' [[Construct Trading Hall at Wreck|here]]

===Construct Ossuary Temple===
* '''Motion:''' Construct a folly, the Ossuary Temple, in Southpine, Skarsind. 60 wains of white granite and 120 crowns. To be ceded to the Illarawm sept. Proposed: [[Redoubt#Recent_Senate_Elections|Redoubt]], Seconded: [[Skarsind#Recent_Senate_Elections|Skarsind]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Creates a temple for the bones recovered from [[Ossium]] by the [[All_too_well#A_Sound_of_Silence_.28Illarawm.29|Illarawm]] sept as detailed in the '''[[All too well]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Construct Ossuary Temple|here]]

===Fortify Lustri===
* '''Motion:''' To construct a fortification in Lustri, Zenith. Requires Senate funds over the year. Proposed: [[Zenith#Recent_Senate_Elections|Zenith]], Seconded: [[Morrow#Recent_Senate_Elections|Morrow]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:'''
* '''Further Details:''' [[Fortify Lustri|here]]

===Construct Ethengraw Armoury===
* '''Motion:''' To commission a folly - smithy and armoury in Gildermark. 60 wains of mithril. 120 crowns. Folly to be ceded to the Ethengraw. Proposed: [[Skarsind#Recent_Senate_Elections|Skarsind]], Seconded: [[Redoubt#Recent_Senate_Elections|Redoubt]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Creates a armoury-smithy for the [[Ossium]] by the [[All_too_well#Metal.2C_Bone.2C_and_Soil|Ethengraw]] sept as detailed in the '''[[All too well]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Construct Ethengraw Armoury|here]]

===Expand Academy of Arms===
* '''Motion:''' A motion to expand the Academy of Arms in Siluri. It would create an Imperial title ''Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine'' which would provide 10 liao and 20 votes in the Synod. Appointed annually by judgement of the Ambition Assembly. It would alow one starting military unit to train at the academy each season to gain a free upgrade. No mithril required. This opportunity is time limited, unavailable after Spring. It requires a commission slot, 25 wains of white granite, 50 crowns, and would take three months to construct. Self funded. Proposed: [[Karsk#Recent_Senate_Elections|Karsk]], Seconded: [[Ossium#Recent_Senate_Elections|Ossium]].
* '''Failed'''

===Reconstruct Golden Cascade===
* '''Motion:''' Motion to reconstruct the Golden Cascade in Proceris, Zenith Proposed: [[Mournwold#Recent_Senate_Elections|Mournwold]], Seconded: [[Zenith#Recent_Senate_Elections|Zenith]].
* '''Passed at 200 thrones'''
* '''Outcome:''' 200 thrones disbursed to Senator Mournwold. Reconstructs the [[Zenith#Proceris|Golden Cascade]] as detailed in the '''[[Write_your_own_ending#Golden_Cascade|Write your own ending]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Reconstruct Golden Cascade|here]]

===Construct the Great Chains of Sarvos===
* '''Motion:''' To commission and authorise the disbursement of funds to build "The Great Chains of Sarvos", an opportunity to construct a grand fortification which protects Sarvos, and the south coast from current and future threats. Proposed: [[Sarvos#Recent_Senate_Elections|Sarvos]], Seconded: [[Temeschwar#Recent_Senate_Elections|Temeschwar]].
* '''Failed'''

===Construct Thornsong House===
* '''Motion:''' To construct Thornsong House to honour the heritage of healers and apothecaries in Therunin. This unique hospital college will allow the Empire to research new potions for the first time and create a centre for potion-lore in the Empire. The title of "Thornsinger", responsible for overseeing and guiding the research, will be appointed annually vs Tally of the Votes. The title will have the ability to address Senate to announce their chosen research focus. Like other Imperial research functions, there will be an upkeep cost - 10 thrones as season. This is a unique, limited opportunity. Proposed: [[Therunin#Recent_Senate_Elections|Therunin]], Seconded: [[Reikos#Recent_Senate_Elections|Reikos]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Construct the Thornsong House as detailed in the '''[[Make_a_deal#Thornsong_House|Make a deal]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Construct Thornsong House|here]]

===Construct Temeschwar University Department of Architecture===
* '''Motion:''' A motion to construct the Temeschwar University Department of Architecture. Location: Hanuri, Temeschwar. Cost: 60 wains of white granite, 30 wains of weirwood, 180 crowns, 6 months. Effect: creates Imperial Title "Master of Rings". Imperial Title: Master of Rings. Appointment: Annually, League Tally of the Votes. Removal: National League Assembly/General Assembly/Assembly of Nine. Powers: One civilian build commission a season, and access to a white granite, mithril, weirwood ministry. Responsibility: To use their power to generate as much wealth as possible for the merchant-princes of Temeschwar, and for the League, as possible. Proposed: [[Temeschwar#Recent_Senate_Elections|Temeschwar]], Seconded: [[Semmerholm#Recent_Senate_Elections|Semmerholm]].
* '''Passed'''
* '''Outcome:''' Construct the Department of Architecture as detailed in the '''[[Back_in_the_same_place#A_Prestigious_New_University|Back in the same place]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' The Constitutional Court has pointed out that a title appointed via the Tally of the Votes cannot be revoked by the Synod. Further details are [[Construct Department of Architecture|here]].

===Construct Laroc Tournament Grounds===
* '''Motion:''' To build the tournament grounds of Laroc in Astolat. Proposed: [[Astolat#Recent_Senate_Elections|Astolat]], Seconded: [[Tassato#Recent_Senate_Elections|Tassato]].
* '''Passed at 50 thrones'''
* '''Outcome:''' 50 Thrones disbursed to Senator Astolat. Construct the Laroc tournament grounds as detailed in the '''[[Good_old_smooth_red_wine#Renewing_the_Tourney_Grounds|Good old smooth red wine]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Construct Laroc Tournament Grounds|here]]

==Commissions (Announcements)==
===Construct Parador Salt and Sand===
* '''Motion:''' I announce the construction of the Parador of Salt and Sand, taking advantage of the opportunity to build a mana ministry in Quzar, Madruga.
* '''Announced:''' by Bakar i Riqueza, [[Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave]]
* '''Outcome:''' Constructs a ministry allowing the purchase of mana as detailed in the '''[[The_power_behind_our_moves#Quzar|The power behind our moves]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Construct Parador of Salt and Sand|here]]

===Construct Kleist's Winter Gardens===
* '''Motion:''' Holberg Endures! Skathe the Hag Queen cursed Holmauer Park with Winter magic. This commission builds Kleist's Winter Gardens at the Holberg University Duelling Grounds. We can use Marcher menhirs to channel that Winter magic to grow herbs. The Imperial title will be "Tender of Kleist's Winter Gardens". This title is appointed annually by Imperial Bourse Auction. This is a well-worn path. We are Kleist von Ennerlund, Vintners and Victuallers of Holberg. We are self-funding this commission to the tune of 15 white granite, 15 weirwood and about 25 thrones. Auctioning it brings coin into the Senate budget. We support our Empire because we are League, and for the benefit of our beloved city Holberg.
* '''Announced:''' by Bernhard Kleist Von Ennerlund, [[Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave]].
* '''Outcome:''' Constructs a herb sinecure as detailed in the '''[[In_the_garden_of_defiance#Stones_on_the_Duelling_Fields|In the garden of defiance]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' Complications have arisen with this commission. Details are [[Construct Kleist's Winter Gardens|here]].

===Construct Crucible of Fate===
* '''Motion:''' I Sagua i'Ezmara, Master of Koboldi hereby announce that this season's project ill be the Crucible of Fate in Zenith. The roads may be broken in Kahraman but the spirits are broken in Zenith. Rebuillding the workshop where the ushabti were first created will provide tools both spiritual and physical. This will be a focal point in defining their identitay as a territory and cause a mandate opportunity for the Urizeni National Assembly. The funding is being organised by Zenith Ascendant, gathering prosperous donations from the people of Urizen. A full list of donors will be available on completion. They have gathered over half of the materials already and are continuing to receive more.
* '''Announced:''' by Sagua i'Ezmara, [[Master of the Koboldi]]
* '''Outcome:''' Constructs a foundry in Iteri as detailed in the '''[[Write_your_own_ending#The_Crucible_of_Fate|Write your own ending]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Construct Crucible of Fate|here]]

===Reconstruct Starlight Drift of Shimmering Snow===
* '''Motion:''' Commission mana sinecure. Endsmeet, Zenith. Starlight Drift of Shimmer Snow. Title - Custodian of the Starlight Drift. 6 mithril. 7 thrones.
* '''Announced:''' by Bleakshield Groza, [[Legion Engineer]]
* '''Outcome:''' Constructs a mana sinecure in Occursion as detailed in the '''[[Write_your_own_ending#The_Lost_Sinecures|Write your own ending]]''' wind of fortune.
* '''Further Details:''' [[Reconstruct Starlight Drift of Shimmering Snow|here]]

==Announcement==
===Imperial Breadbasket===
* '''Motion:''' The Imperial Breadbasket will be aimed at Marcher territories to help with refugees.
* '''Announced:''' by Lily Guildenstern, [[Keeper of the Breadbasket]]
* '''Details:''' There is no current [[opportunity]] to support refugees with the Imperial Breadbasket. The Keeper of the Breadbasket can only use their [[Keeper_of_the_Breadbasket#Distribution_of_Imperial_Bounty|announcement]] to indicate support for an Imperial nation whose armies are decaying due to [[Army#Insufficient_Supply|lack of supply]], or to respond to specific opportunities.

===Assign Guerdon===
* '''Motion:''' Aportion the Guerdon. Winter 384YE. To the following armies of the Empire: Strong Reeds, Wolves of War, Hounds of Glory, Seventh Wave, Citadel Guard, Winter Sun
* '''Announced:''' by Starac Sijed Orzel, [[Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies]].

===Research vision of Arsenio Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato===
* '''Motion:''' I Jared of the Suns of Couros and Lepidean Librarian instruct the Lepidean University to investigate the past life vision of Arsenio Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato experienced during the Autumn Equinox gathering 384YE where they were Saul of the Cora, a pre-Imperial wayfarer and "pilgrim of the lesser way" who sailed from Pharos to either Asavea or Asavean dominated pre-republic Sumaah. There they were imprisoned and executed for preaching the Way of Virtue. By dedicating a dying prisoner to Loyalty they may have started the embers of the Sumaah conversion. I wish to investigate this to bolster the bonds between Sumaah and the Empire through our common faith and commitment to spreading it across the world.
* '''Announced:''' by Jared. [[Lepidean Librarian]]

===Research orc guards of Ahraz===
* '''Motion:''' To learn the origin, names and deeds of the 10 orcs interred with Empress Ahraz. To explore the detail of events there; including the nature of interrment of the orcs.
* '''Announced:''' by Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti. [[Minister of Historical Research]]
* '''Further Details:''' As the Senate voted to [[#Retrain Researchers|retrain historical researchers]] no historical research will be done on this subject.

Construct Department of Architecture

2026-07-05T15:39:01Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:Senate Motion]][[Category:384YE Winter]]
__NOTOC__
<quote by="Proposed: Temeschwar, Seconded: Semmerholm">A motion to construct the Temeschwar University Department of Architecture. Location: Hanuri, Temeschwar. Cost: 60 wains of white granite, 30 wains of weirwood, 180 crowns, 6 months. Effect: creates Imperial Title "Master of Rings". Imperial Title: Master of Rings. Appointment: Annually, League Tally of the Votes. Removal: National League Assembly/General Assembly/Assembly of Nine. Powers: One civilian build commission a season, and access to a white granite, mithril, weirwood ministry. Responsibility: To use their power to generate as much wealth as possible for the merchant-princes of Temeschwar, and for the League, as possible.</quote>
==Overview==
*Construct the Department of Architecture as detailed in the '''[[Back_in_the_same_place#A_Prestigious_New_University|Back in the same place]]''' wind of fortune
* Passed
==Date==
* Winter 384YE
==Cost==
* As per the wind of fortune
* 60 wains of white granite
* 30 wains of weirwood
* 180 crowns
* Six months to complete

==Progress==
{{CommissionProgress|Temeschwar_University_Department_of_Architecture}}
==Outcome==
* Now that construction is complete the [[Master of Rings]] will be available to appoint by [[Tally of the Votes]] for the first time at the Summer Solstice 385YE

==Constitutional Notes==
* The motion specifies that the title can be revoked by the League assembly, General assembly, and Assembly of Nine. This is not possible for a title appointed by the [[Tally of the Votes]].
* After much discussion the Constitutional Court have chosen to ask for an [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Amend_the_Master_of_Rings|administrative motion at the Spring Equinox]] to clarify this.

387YE Spring Equinox Synod judgements

2026-07-04T22:17:38Z

Twiggy: /* Judgement 22 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]][[Category: 387YE Spring]]
==Overview==
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Judgements Spring 386.jpg|align=right|width=400|caption=The Synod raised a hundred and ninety-one judgements.}}</div>
During the Spring Equinox 387YE, the Imperial Synod raised 191 judgements.
==Change of Doctrine==
One [[Change of doctrine|change of doctrine]] was presented to the General Assembly during the Spring Equinox

===Judgement 97===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tom Keeper of Copperhill
* '''Judgement:''' Remove the Doctrine of the Creator. "The Creator", we claim one but is this proven? Can you prove this if challenged as another Vardas, a work of fiction? "Seeks no control, dominion or communication". All attempts fail, some harmfully, but is not a refusal to speak potentially a form of control or dominion? Should the vigilant ignore claims of Axos, that the Creator is a threat.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (120-952)
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">
{|
|+ <big>'''Judgement Quick Links'''</big>
! Judgement Type
! Amount
|-
|[[#Change of Doctrine|Change of Doctrine]] || 1
|-
|[[#Statement of Principle|Statement of Principle]]|| 103
|-
|[[#Mandate|Mandate]] || 11
|-
|[[#Revocation|Revocation]] || 2
|-
|[[#Inquisition|Inquisition]] || 21
|-
|[[#Sanction|Sanction]] || 18
|-
|[[#Recognition|Recognition]] || 2
|-
|[[#Exaltation|Exaltation]] || 1
|-
|[[#Appointment|Appointment]] || 19
|-
|[[#Rewarding|Rewarding]] || 13
|-
|}
</div>

==Statement of Principle==
One hundred and three [[Statement of Principle|statements of principle]] were presented to the assemblies during the Spring Equinox
===Judgement 9===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' I hear the inspiring words of Estella Lucati and thank her for them. However, we must not turn away from breaking the Druj’s ability to wage war on us. Whilst the Navarr have stated that the vallorn should be removed from this plane of existence now that we have the method to do so, we cannot undertake the largest military offensive in history with the poisoned blades of the most treacherous folk in Creation at our backs. Navarr is at its weakest ebb for a decade. Liathaven is long lost. Therunin under the heel of the Druj and the Isaella’s Dance shattered. We call for aid from our Imperial kin in rebuilding Navarr’s strength, and ask that we defeat the Druj and stabilise the other fronts before turning the Empire’s full might against the vallorn.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1726-290)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the response from citizens to Estella Lucati's sermon, as per the '''[[The hard way]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Elagabala
* '''Judgement:''' Missionary work is the highest calling of Wisdom. Avigliana demands we spread ideas, and the Volhov that we find problems to solve. By communicating clearly and concisely, Virtue spreads faster and more effectively, so more souls can join the mission of Virtue and be uplifted by its beauty and truth. With every new voice, new learning allows us to test what we know, and find the truth at the core of our faith. We call on the Wise to focus on missionary work above all else, for the betterment of the Way, their souls, and all souls in Creation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (228-74)
__TOC__
===Judgement 11===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Dagon of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' Loyalty is displayed not by words or deeds alone, but by the unity of both. The Faraden have asked for us to join them in preaching to their citizens, we must rise to the occasion and in Loyalty we will help build them up and stand strong. We must take action and work together in resisting the deplorable influence of Asavea. The chains of Loyalty reach across borders and together we will show the Plenum just how strong those chains truly are.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (322-28)
* '''Notes:''' Endorses members of the Synod visiting [[Faraden]] to preach Loyalty, as per the '''[[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Matter_Of_Faith|A pillow of winds]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 12===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Valentin Severyan Orzel
* '''Judgement:''' To be a Troubadour is to recognise Inspiration and Virtue in our comrades and to sing of their deeds and their legacy. Therefore let the Dawnish Assembly acknowledge the blazened example of Dame Katelyn Cordraco - by her deeds on the battlefield, by her excellent and incisive wit in the military council, and be her camaraderie and accomplishment as a Dawnish noble champion in these most troubled and desperate of times. From the depths of massacre and tragedy under the poison clouds of Sweetglade did Dame Katelyn stand firm and resolved and composed and fought side by side with doughty soldiers of the Empire to win our countryfolk free of that deadly trap and encompassing disaster. Let wondrous tales of her nobility in adversity and grace under pressure uplift our nation! Dame Katelyn is a Dawnish touchstone of Courage, passion and glory and we crown her in the court of our admiration and esteem!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (304-20)
* '''Notes:''' The judgement of [[rewarding]] exists specifically to reward virtuous behaviour

===Judgement 13===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rafael Barossa d’Apulian
* '''Judgement:''' The people of the Empire call for leadership in acts of great Virtue. So far, in the mission to Anchor the Way in Asavea, which was supported by this assembly with a greater majority, leadership has only been provided by the Conclave. I took 190 mana from the Conclave to provide 10 wains to the project - magicians have aided more than this august body. We and our congregations must do more, including going to the Archipelago to fuel the firestorm of Virtuous change ourselves. We must be the inspiration our people need.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1110-650)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the effort to [[#Anchor the Way in Asavea|Anchor the Way in Asavea]]

===Judgement 15===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Friar John of the Mourn
* '''Judgement:''' Let it be known! Physical evidence of reincarnation has been found! Tangible proof that parts of a person endure between lives and through the Labyrinth! I experienced a past life vision where I was Nurun Who Decides Wisely, an ombudsman in the land of Skoura. In the vision, I signed a document in my handwriting. Communication with officials in modern day Skoura has allowed us access to a document signed by Nurun. The document, while not the one from my vision, was verified to have my distinct handwriting on it.The ramifications of something as personal as handwriting persisting across lives are fascinating. Physical evidence that our beliefs in reincarnation are further founded is of immense value. The Way claims authority through evidence and examination. Here we have both proof and another clue to the mystery of the human spirit. As an Empire, this should be known by all and thoroughly explored.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1976-70)

===Judgement 16===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Damascius
* '''Judgement:''' The Assembly of Courage calls on priests of our path to join in pilgrimage to Faraden, there to preach Courage to those Virtuous souls we find there. We must bolster our cousins who have found - or are ready to find - True Virtue in Faraden as they face the insidious lies of Asavean heretics. Every soul set upon the Paths of Virtue is our victory!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (218-18)
* '''Notes:''' Endorses members of the Synod visiting [[Faraden]] to preach Courage, as per the '''[[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Matter_Of_Faith|A pillow of winds]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 18===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Ioan Longshadow
* '''Judgement:''' Navarr who have come home from the trods to join an army! No armies have been sent this season to Therunin. Cleave to your Oaths and your Virtue & we will show the Druj the folly of their plans. It takes more than an Imperial Army with a name and a banner to win a war. We ask the Thorns, Vates, Guides, Brokers, Vines and those that can fight to do whatever they can to harry the Druj. Strike from the shadows, Sabotage their wagons, upset supply lines, spit in their drinks & overstretch their healers. We ask the People who are able, to RESIST the Druj in any way they can. Leave a binding of thorns on every wall, appear to comply but speak out, pilfer from their stores and have the Courage to endure reprisals. We ask the Druj for just One bad day, A guard who drank too much, a scribe who can’t find their glasses, a Quartermaster who can’t find enough rations, a slave who said “Not Today!”, a day to reclaim what is ours.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (278-20)

===Judgement 20===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Travid Longest Path
* '''Judgement:''' Thornsong House is more than a college. It is the living legacy of Therunin Born of Navarr ambition, built by Navarr hands, and guided by Therunin traditions, it stands as the culmination of generations of herb-lore, potion-making, and healing passed down through our stridings and steadings. Thornsong will always be Navarri. It exists to honour our past, protect citizens of the Empire, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in potioncraft. Just as Urizen has Magic Lore, and Wintermark has Artisan Lore, so too should Navarr one day have Potion Lore of our own founded in our generations of herbal tradition. We call on the Empire to recognise this legacy. We call on Navarr to stand with Pride and Prosperity for what we’ve built. These potions are our heritage born of leaf, labour, and loyalty. Potioncraft lives in Navarr. And Thornsong House is its heart.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (294-20)

===Judgement 23===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Tongs Barossa
* '''Judgement:''' The oppressed septs of the Sarangrave deserve our help. Synod should encourage them to explore the Way as a free state & should send our congregations and our liao to fight back the miasma of fear as our armies destroy the Druj
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (198-38)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the septs of the [[Sarangrave]], some of which are detailed in the '''[[Make it happen]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 24===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Jules von Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' We believe that the faithful should focus on spreading The Way to Asavea above all other ambitions. If we try to pursue everything, then we risk achieving nothing. Let the Synod vote for the objective they favour most and vote against the objective they favour least.
* '''Outcome:''' Failed (480-1344)
* '''Notes:''' This judgement required a greater majority due to the use of [[The_Throne#Custodian_of_Virtue|Custodian of Virtue]]

===Judgement 25===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Novella di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' We believe that the faithful should focus on completing the Grand Inspiration of the Way above all other Ambitions. If we try to pursue everything, then we risk achieving nothing. Let the Synod vote for the objective they favour most and vote against the objective they favour least.
* '''Outcome:''' Failed (376-1370)
* '''Notes:''' This judgement required a greater majority due to the use of [[The_Throne#Custodian_of_Virtue|Custodian of Virtue]]

===Judgement 27===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Richter Stern
* '''Judgement:''' I, Richter, call upon the Dawnish assembly to uphold our pride and glory. I wish to denounce the use of Mass Spells in Tourneys and urge you to see the lack of virtue in casting these spells in the Grand Melee. Use of these spells shows a lack of Pride in your arms, a lack of courage to face a challenge and a lack of prosperity to spend the mana off the battlefield. Mass spells make the tourney near-uncontested and incredibly boring to watch. We risk losing our tradition if we allow these spells to ruin our tourneys.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (124-72)
* '''Notes:''' Appears to refer to the use of powerful rituals that allow a magician to unleash magic across a [[Calls#Mass_Calls|large area]]

===Judgement 30===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Galene Netherwatch
* '''Judgement:''' The assembly applauds the work of the Ashen Flame coven in the defence of Redoubt. Your virtue is Witnessed.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (248-12)

===Judgement 31===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Dr Lysimachus
* '''Judgement:''' We constantly call folk to be Vigilant against the machinations of Agramant. Quite rightly so. But tha’ shouldn’t forget that despite any claims t’otherwise, they’re ultimately nowt more than the Eternal equivalent of a mediocre poseur. (One with all the intellectual substance of a deflated whoopee cushion I might add. Frankly if they had any more pointless edge to them, tha’ could use them to slice pizza) Be Vigilant to the threat but that’s no need to go glorifying the smug bastard! After all Eternals can be attention-seeking prats too, and last thing a prat like Agramant needs is their ego stroked.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (946-180)

===Judgement 34===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Lorell Copiste
* '''Judgement:''' The Earl of the Groves uses its venom to enslave its victims. However, the Karass call the lands the Earl claims their home as well. We cannot allow their numbers to grow, as more Karass fall under its spell. People of the Barrens, as you cannot enter the Untrod Groves yourselves, give what support you can to the Karass. Ensure they have the means to protect themselves, lest they become puppets for a Creature of Hatred.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (164-60)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Legendary_beasts#Sphinxes_and_Manticores|manticore]] in the Barrens which has taken the moniker ''Earl of the Groves''

===Judgement 36===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Hayrin
* '''Judgement:''' Now is the time to act. A Fane is to be constructed to Sadogua. It will aid in the protection of Kallavesa. Sadogua has kept their word, granting Dripping Echoes of the Fen to Kallavesa. Our enemies continuously rally against us, we’ve stood on a precipice, nearly losing the heart of Wintermark, our swamps to Scions of the Cold Sun, this must never happen again. The Mystics of Ishal have given us the portents, a way to protect what we hold dear. They will not be ignored, our mystics show us our skeins, we must act upon this, as is tradition. While virtue governs our soul, Pride in our tradition is what makes us Wintermark. Our Loyalty to our nation and our Vigilance for the future demand we act with Courage. The stormcrows of Wintermark show Wisdom in their support of its construction.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (282-40)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to a [[fane]] to [[Sadogua]], as per the '''[[Nightcall#The_Father_of_Bats|Nightcall]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 37===
* '''Assembly:''' The Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Jedediah Boon
* '''Judgement:''' Miners of the Mourn! Defenders of the Singing Caves! Victors over the Howling Bear! Descendants of Exemplars! Liberators of our home! Last time we descended upon the Chalkdowns, it was in an act of rebellion to defend our Pride. Today, we go with General Stanley, oathsworn to our cause, to liberate his home. Our uprising against these invaders is a lasting one. We do not leave a job unfinished. So long as Jotun boot leather rests on Marcher soil, we fight on. I would not ask such a tall order of anyone else. You have endured with Virtue for so long. Like our Exemplars, we are coming down the hillside - to take back the farms so all our brethren may return home. Every day, every season, until the Mourn stands free.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (138-10)

===Judgement 38===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Palladius Ravenspire
* '''Judgement:''' Analysis of Sanction passed over the last 2 years indicates both the Highborn and Vigilance assemblies use their sanctions in a different manner to other assemblies. Let all assemblies consider how they chose sanctions, so that a clear best practice can be determined.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (846-128)

===Judgement 40===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Warsmith the Iron Way
* '''Judgement:''' We the Synod have set our Ambition clearly on converting Asavea and ridding the world of the vallorn. To ignore the scale of effort needed for either of these alone by turning our attention to The Thule would be stupid. Whilst the treaty worked on by honoured Hero, Ambassador Kindra Surefoot stands with the Thule, we will not attempt in any way to convert, preach to or engage the Thule in discussions of theology.
* '''Outcome:''' Withdrawn

===Judgement 42===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Lenore Hearthweaver
* '''Judgement:''' Kaisa Denmother, thane of the Fellowship of the Broken Willows should have her name added to the Chronicle of Heroes. She earned her name, taking in many wanderers from all traditions, even nations, and gave them a home. Ambition thrives in the pursuit of the betterment of oneself, and Denmother selflessly extends that through the encouragement and betterment of others. When the Oathwright reported lies about Helgunn Chargebringer, Denmother wasted no time in seeking council from the Stormscrows. She acted with wisdom before taking ambitious action to call on the Wolves of the Pale Raven. Those cold words could not compromise her conviction. Denmother's perseverance through hardship is like no other. Despite losing multiple hallmates in one battle, her strength bore her through the pain of loss. As a thane and grimnir, keeping a strong heart is just as important as any warrior's victory. She is a true hero and inspiration to all!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (228-20)
* '''Notes:''' '''Kaisa Denmother''' has been added to the [[Heroism|Chronicle of Heroism]]

===Judgement 48===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Lore Killian Mortére
* '''Judgement:''' ART INSPIRES ALL TO GREATER VIRTUE, NOW AND GENERATIONS TO COME! We recognise that Enchantress Rosalynn Asterion (formerly Redgrave) inspires Virtue through her Adelmar-like pursuit of perfection in her craft, and her proven aptitude at creating prominent artworks that stir the Virtue of others! She has been nominated with a dose of True Liao from the Lepidean Library in Judgement 3. You may remember her as prize-winner at Richilde Festival of Arts 385YE! You may have witnessed her work displayed at the Chapter House of the Navigators of Virtue in their past three History and Virtue exhibitions! Soon you shall see her depiction of, appropriately, Adelmar the Lion in the Capodomus Cathedral! She has portrayed some of the most prominent and accomplished of contemporary citizens of the Empire, such as General Amberlain P Black, Archmage Skywise Gralka, former Archmage Luke, Astral Arcanist Serenus Starsong, Jessica of the Suns of Couros, Senator Lord Lucan Mortére and even Emperor Vesna. My personal favourite commemorates our beloved, departed Aranel and Godric. Those who behold the works of Rosalynn Asterion bear witness to Virtue, such that they may embody Virtue themselves!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (702-340)

===Judgement 52===
* '''Assembly:''' Highguard
* '''Raised By:''' Mael, the Grey Pilgrim
* '''Judgement:''' Highguard seeks to raise a fourth army. We charge that army with a purpose: It is not merely to conquer, nor slaughter the foe, but to bring salvation in its wake. It shall do us no good if our people muster for battle with Hatred in their hearts.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (364-30)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Raise Fourth Highborn Army|fourth Highborn army]] being raised in [[Casinea]]

===Judgement 55===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Nathair Autumngale
* '''Judgement:''' When the Jotun conquered Liathaven and slaughtered our people, our Dance did not end. Our songs did not fall silent, and still echo to this day. When the Cold Sun cut a swathe through Miaren and destroyed Rhonwens falls in the heart of our nation, our Dance did not end, and we wove the very art they despised through the trees that they tainted. Now, the Druj strike at Therunin and dare to think they can break the spirit of our nation. They too, are wrong. They too, will find that our Dance will not end, and our stories will echo through the world for the centuries to come. People of Navarr, As you walk the trods, as you tend your Steading, as your steps in the Great Dance takes you elsewhere in the Empire to Tarry, and Wayhouse. Share with all we encounter in this time of Welcoming who we are. In art, in story, in song. Let all who hear of our nation never doubt. Where Navarr go, Music follows.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (252-0)

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Halkyon of the Myriad Stream
* '''Judgement:''' The dam across the Doubt is conceived from Urizen ingenuity and Urizen supports this work of Prosperity. In the valley ghosts linger among broken vessels of souls who, in Courage and Loyalty, sacrificed all for Urizen and the Empire. Above the valley stood Solen’s Doubt, Pride of the dreaming spires: Fountain of Urizen Wisdom. The essence of these heroes and sages was in their lives, learning and legacy. Come torchbearers! Sing the deeds of the fallen. Save the library of Solen’s Doubt and preserve it! Let the Fountain flow anew! Come illuminates, come questors! Let ghosts be sent on their path. Come architects! As waters rise, let a Dreaming Spire rise again; Legacy of heroes; Testament of Urizen endurance; An Omphalos. For our centre holds. Despite everything, we are still here.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (292-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with establishing a dam around Solen's Doubt, as per the '''[[Damming_the_Doubt#The_Voice_of_the_Pensive|Damming the Doubt]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 57===
* '''Assembly:''' The Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Rosie of Goatsbridge
* '''Judgement:''' It is easy for humble folk to go unnoticed. We wish to formally recognise our siblings the orcs of the Marches for their Courage and Loyalty in aiding the armies in defending the nation. And to these brave orcs who took up arms themselves to fight back against the Jotun, we want to acknowledge what a momentous decision this was for you, one that cannot have been made lightly and the Virtue you showed with this selfless act has not gone unnoticed.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (194-0)

===Judgement 58===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Melchior of Adina’s Charge
* '''Judgement:''' The malign spiritual forces are categorised as such because they encourage acts detrimental to the choices and actions required to achieve enlightenment. Or because they are detrimental to the creation of a society in which such choices and actions can be freely mades. All virtuous citizens should abhor and shun them. However they are forces used by enemies of the Empire and without the knowledge of what we face we are less prepared to fight them. This is an unwelcome truth we all need to face. Until the Imperial Synod decides how investigation into these forces should be carried out. No citizen should take experimentation into their own hands.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (246-30)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with false virtues and their auras, as per the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 60===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Nira of Cantiarch’s Hold
* '''Judgement:''' Courage! It is not only bravely advancing with a sword. Courage is doing something and we are doing something big. This Summer we will Hallow a bell to Courage. A bell used in the coronation of the Empress. A Hallowing of 7 priests strength. A bell to inspire all aspects of Courage.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (239-0)

===Judgement 61===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Kaywenn de Orzel
* '''Judgement:''' Do not be complacent; ever stride for excellence in that of which you are Proud. We cannot be complacent in spreading the Way, and preaching Pride to the citizens of Faraden. We send priests of the Assembly to support these efforts, to bring the light of the Way to all.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (236-10)
* '''Notes:''' Endorses members of the Synod visiting [[Faraden]] to preach Pride, as per the '''[[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Matter_Of_Faith|A pillow of winds]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 62===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' Each season brings news of developments and opportunities across the Empire. Civil Service prognosticators tell us that these will increase/reduce ‘Tax’ and/or ‘Upkeep’. Yet the citizens at Anvil - including Senators and Ambassadors - have NO CONTEXT for these figures. The Master of the Imperial Mint has worked hard to safeguard the public purse but Vigilance is calling for more than one person. We believe the Civil Service should provide more information to all citizens about the state of the Imperial finances, such as what the current total Tax and Upkeep values are for comparison.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (426-38)

===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Wiston Goodledger
* '''Judgement:''' The general Assembly of the Synod is, yet again, divided against itself. We know what Virtue, love and glory demand of us, let us ignore the chattering of words that failed to prove themselves worthy and instead focus only on those that pass the test of achieving a greater majority.
* '''Outcome:''' Failed (84-186)

===Judgement 64===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Enchantress Areloe Larmallevés
* '''Judgement:''' Vainglorious conquest has proved a poisoned chalice that brings only sorrow. Let us turn from fleeting conquest to enduring guardianship, return to the inspiration that led the way for our allies to cross the Golden Causeway in liberation of Ossium. Dawn should cast our shield wide and become the unshakable wall where every threat breaks and every ally finds refuge. We are Knights that step forward in our shining armour and blazing banners to forge the way. Illuminating even the darkest of shadows. Let us ensure our allies never lack for our presence.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (300-10)

===Judgement 67===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Irada von Temeshwar
* '''Judgement:''' Vigilance teaches us to investigate danger and find the source of a threat. To seek out falsehood and expose the truth. Exploration of Peace revealed it to be fundamentally different to what we once thought. There is merit to refining our grasp of unfamiliar spiritual powers - but the investigation of peace was not acceptance or encouragement.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (390-90)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with false virtues and their auras, as per the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 68===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Chauntecleer Words
* '''Judgement:''' There will be a Dawnish fifth army, not a sop to the Thule. The Thule have yet again demanded to take more Imperial land as part of continuing peace. And this time if we wish to extend that peace beyond two years, three of five nations including Dawn must send their support over the borders. Were we to do so, we would no longer be able to support a fifth army and the Thule would be able to support one more. It is clear there will be no lasting peace with the Thule whilst they believe they can achieve by blackmail what they could not achieve through military might. Eventually they will ask too much and we must respond with force, it is therefore unthinkable to Dawn that we would sacrifice our fifth army to enable their next. We will not hand them a two army advantage when the inevitable war comes, and we would strongly urge our fellow nations to equally rebuff this advance.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (354-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing diplomatic situation with the Thule, as per the '''[[Louder than words]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 71===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tarquinius Ankarien
* '''Judgement:''' Whilst the treaty worked on by Ambassador Kindra Surefoot stands with the Thule, we will not attempt in any way to convert, preach to or engage the Thule in unwanted discussion of theology.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1260-402)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing diplomatic situation with the Thule, specifically the request by ''Caridis Oathbinder'' for the Synod to commit to not preaching the Way in Otkodov, as per the '''[[Louder_than_words#Not_Today_Thank_You|Louder than words]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 72===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Oleander Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' Navarr’s resources are stretched thin. The Druj we fight in Therunin, calls to muster our new armies, work beyond the nation to build wayhouses to help fulfil our Oldest Oath. But the Great Work in Seren drifts dangerously close to lapsing - we cannot allow another loss to befall us, especially whilst Therunin still bleeds. Seren is already a guiding light to the future we dream of beyond the vallorn, and as the City of Dreams, it will light a path we may follow towards that dream. We call upon Navarr: look to Seren, throw your weight behind the construction of the City of Dreams. In this time of nightmares, we need dreams more than ever.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (240-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing construction of the [[Construct City of Dreams|City of Dreams]] in [[Miaren]]

===Judgement 73===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Torin
* '''Judgement:''' New information has come to light regarding the Shield of Isaella’s location. Thanks to Lugh-llaw Whisperleaf, we believe the Swift Dance striding have this information. The Courage Assembly urge its priests to find them, and extend an invitation to discuss these matters in person. The Shield of Isaella has been lost for too long. We would see it returned.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (266-0)
* '''Notes:''' The official account records that when the body of [[Isaella]] was laid out to await an honour guard of Navarr to take it to the corpse glades of her people, it vanished along with her enchanted shield and the spear with which she struck down Emperor Nicovar. The shroud beneath which she rested is said to have gained a powerful spontaneous aura that urged all who held it to do what they knew to be right regardless of consequences.

===Judgement 74===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Nekoda of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' The pursuit of false virtue is like a life lived eating raw dough rather than bread. It can get you through the darkest times, but can’t compare to True Virtue. The courageous cleave to what they know to be true, that the followers of false virtue are but one step away from the truth, and it falls to us to inspire them & show them the way, rather than condemn them & wash our hands of them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (188-26)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with false virtues and their auras, as per the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 78===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Darian Numbers
* '''Judgement:''' The Prosperity Assembly should support Faraden attempts to resist Asavean preaching. Their cleaving to vengeance may be heretical for those that follow that path, but they're closer to the true Way now than they would be if the Asavean Idolators get a grip on their theology. Not one step back, even if it means the next step forward is harder.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (292-20)
* '''Notes:''' Endorses members of the Synod visiting [[Faraden]] to preach Prosperity, as per the '''[[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Matter_Of_Faith|A pillow of winds]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 79===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Merari
* '''Judgement:''' In recognition of his prosperous deeds: Offering his sweat and toil to the reconstruction of the orchard of the Good Walder. Through his actions, earning the dose of true liao that consecrated it. We welcome Tom Appleseed to the roll of benefactors
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (362-0)
* '''Notes:''' Tom Appleseed has been added to the [[Roll of Benefactors]]

===Judgement 83===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Amris Johan Merikovich
* '''Judgement:''' We, the Wisdom Assembly Understand that Theological Experiments are part of the Way. However such Experiments require careful safeguards and observation. We ask that any such experiments are conducted in full view of the Wisdom assembly so we can assist you in doing so with Virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (356-18)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with false virtues and their auras, as per the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 87===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Bertram de Boeff
* '''Judgement:''' Citizenship of Dawn carries obligations to the Empire, regardless of the nature of the citizen. It may be decided elsewhere if the Earl of the Groves is or is not Dawnish, but if they or any other entity determined to be Dawnish and part of our nation then following must be true: That they are also a member of the Empire. That they should honour the Virtues. That they should be beholden to and protected by the Empire’s laws. In the case of the Earl of the Groves, the later may require the Militia to investigate the circumstances of the deaths of the Earl’s vassals if we deem them Dawnish….
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (286-22)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Legendary_beasts#Sphinxes_and_Manticores|manticore]] in the Barrens which has taken the moniker ''Earl of the Groves''

===Judgement 88===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' Pride tells us to embrace our past, Wisdom tells us that all knowledge is incomplete, Vigilance tells us to expose the truth. The synod urges those who went to Solokha and became dedicants of false virtues to declare themselves and to come forward for inquisition. This action will serve both their personal Pride by displaying rather than hiding their actions, the Wisdom of the Empire by expanding our knowledge of these presences, and our Vigilance as it increases our awareness of these potential threats. While this declaration will not make them immune from consequences, if their actions were undertaken virtuously they should be treated as such.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1550-62)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the recent opportunity to journey to Solokha and become dedicated to one of the false virtues, as per the '''[[It_never_happened#Solokha|It never happened]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 89===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Naomi Felix Watch
* '''Judgement:''' At the coronation 7 bells were used. In the same summer solstice each of those bells will be Hallowed to one of the 7 virtues, to the power of 7. Once hallowed the bells will be taken on a pilgrimage around the empire to inspire us all. We encourage you to come out in support of the bells, shouting your virtue with each peel.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (328-20)

===Judgement 92===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Destin of the Woodwych Harts
* '''Judgement:''' The seven bells used in the coronation of the Throne are being Hallowed with the strength of seven priests at the Summer Solstice - one to each Virtue. Once Hallowed, the bells will be sent on an Empire-wide pilgrimage borne by Virtuous souls to inspire Imperial citizens and send the message of Imperial greatness far and wide. When darkness threatens to draw near, it is on us to kindle the lights we have until they ignite fervour in all that witness their blaze!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (344-0)

===Judgement 93===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Ignacio i Zuhri i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' The Kruidenkenner of the Sarcophan Delves are not Prospering in Sarvos. We are a nation undertaking a grand renewal! Let us welcome these fine alchemists and traders, that our shared Ambitions will uplift us all. Let it be known: the Coast is open for business.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (156-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing difficulty with the Sarcophan delivering goods for sale in the Empire, as per the '''[[Waiting_for_the_worms#Passing_Costs_Along|Waiting for the worms]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 94===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Val
* '''Judgement:''' We believe the faithful should focus on the ambitious task to defeat one enemy at a time. If we try to pursue everything we achieve nothing. Let the Synod vote to defeat the Druj first, before seeking other long term challenges.
* '''Outcome:''' Failed (818-538)
* '''Notes:''' This judgement required a greater majority due to the use of [[The_Throne#Custodian_of_Virtue|Custodian of Virtue]]

===Judgement 95===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Haluende Ironbelly
* '''Judgement:''' In Winter 386YE, we named Veikko Bondforger our Oathkeeper. They have tirelessly collected the resources necessary to build an edifice and formalise this position. We seek a location in Wintermark to build this Oathing place, the Forge of Bonds. The Oathkeeper’s responsibilities will be the collection, preservation and upholding of oaths; we would, if possible, like to commit one oath a season to those White Granite walls.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (320-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_165|Judgement 165]] from last season.

===Judgement 98===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Suspiria i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' The Freeborn Assembly have little issue with letting the waters take the remains of our warriors. Instead, we find fault with a Freeborn Exemplar, Throne, and Liberator whose remains are held in escrow! Ahraz i Tamerlin i Guerra lived his life admirably; let us not insult him any longer by keeping his body unburned in a place of mourning. We thank the orcs who watched over him, but his time in a cold Highborn tomb must come to an end. His pyre has waited long enough!
* '''Outcome:''' Withdrawn

===Judgement 100===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Rafe
* '''Judgement:''' Malign spiritual auras are not to be trifled with.Should you encounter an aura of malign or unknown providence, you should go to a Stormcrow so they may assess and deal with it. If you are under the effect of a malign influence, the Stormcrows can and will guide you back to Virtue and your heroic skein.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (288-10)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with false virtues and their auras, as per the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 101===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Ivana Petara Vodjavic
* '''Judgement:''' We the Posperity Assembly decry the theft of our citizens’ Prosperity through the tolls placed on the Blood Red Roads and the White Roads. We recognise the Senators for Upwold, Temeshwar, and Ossium who voted against them. As the Senator for Holberg swore, we implore the Senate to remove the tolls when the Senate deficit has been addressed. Despise the grasping miser the thieving bandit and those who take without giving.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (254-54)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the Imperial Senate's decision to [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Levy_Tolls_on_Blood_Red_Roads|toll]] the Blood Red Roads and the White Roads

===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Winifred Blackhawk
* '''Judgement:''' We Navarr are no strangers to sacrifice, and those who show great loyalty and courage should be remembered. Silver Waystone Path, Captain of the Navarchers, fell during the Friday evening skirmish. They ensured their siblings could return through the gate safely. Their sacrifice and loyalty will not be forgotten. So witnessed.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (223-0)

===Judgement 104===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Ophelia Sangianeo Rezia di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' Coin counts and everything costs. Inspired by the success of the Quartermaster of the Black Sails, Ratibor’s pitiless ambition, and by the bountiful mines of Temeshwar, the priests of the League believe the time is right for similar trading posts to be built across Temeschwar, enabling the ruthless merchants of the League to turn the Empire’s surplus ingots of metal into cold hard coin to empower and enrich our merchants in Anvil in the name of Prosperity.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (220-0)

===Judgement 105===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Heilyn Bronwen’s Rest
* '''Judgement:''' Prosperity teaches us that we can always walk away from a table where all deals are harmful. Neither outlawing all theological research into false virtues nor encouraging it in all are good options. There needs to be a path for careful research with safeguards and oversight.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (130-66)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with false virtues and their auras, as per the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 107===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Teleri Thornweaver
* '''Judgement:''' To those of you with shaken faith in the Paragons, look to the Marked. The past life of Eleri Bronwen’s Rest verified their existence and ascension. She left the vision with the 4 word testimony “Family of the Marked”. Eleri’s past life father’s name Verre matches the crafter of Oathspike, artifact of the Marked carried by Veikko Bondforger. The Marked were a mixed society of humans and orcs. Take inspiration from these exemplary orcs and humans bound by Loyalty, Exalted by Virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (274-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to [[the Marked]], the oldest recognised paragon of [[Loyalty]]

===Judgement 108===
* '''Assembly:''' Highguard
* '''Raised By:''' Nimrod
* '''Judgement:''' This assembly recognise the following for their contributions to the conversion of Virtue’s Rest: Ebon’s Hall 2t, Sychar of Ebon’s Hall 1t, Mara of Ebon’s Hall 1c, Lidas of Ebon’s Hall 1t, Athaliah’s Handiwork 4c, Miriam of Athaliah’s Handiwork 2 mana, Our Egregores 5 mana & 4c, Suns of Couros 5c, Gideon of the Suns of Couros 1c 13r, Cantiarch’s Hold 1t, Herod of the Flame Beneath the Earth 5r, Autumn’s Eye 15r, Melkior of Balthazar’s Vineyard 3t, Pilgrim’s Guard 1t, Silent Tide 1t, Saker 5 mana & 1t, Cohort of the Winter Bear 1t, Cerys de Rossier of Dawn 4c, Alfred Aewulfson of the Marches 4c
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (436-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the contributions made to [[remodel Virtue's Rest]]

===Judgement 110===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Artemis of Arion Sentinels
* '''Judgement:''' The seven bells used in the coronation of the Throne are being Hallowed with the strength of seven priests at the Summer Solstice - one to each Virtue. Once Hallowed, the bells will be sent on an Empire-wide pilgrimage borne by Virtuous souls to inspire Imperial greatness far and wide. When darkness threatens to draw near, it is on us to kindle the light we have until they ignite fervour in all that witness their Blaze!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (260-0)

===Judgement 111===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Earna Pathfinder
* '''Judgement:''' Navarr rejects the use of cruel tactics by Imperial armies. The Dance of Blood is in our past, not our future.
* '''Outcome:''' Withdrawn
* '''Notes:''' The Dance of Blood were a Navarr army known for their [[Army_qualities#Cruel|cruel]] tactics, destroyed by the Jotun in 245YE

===Judgement 114===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Yosephus Morningson
* '''Judgement:''' We choose all four! Enlighten Asavea! Kill the Druj! Destroy the vallorn! Renovate Bastion! No price is too high. We will wage no other wars: negotiate what we can, cede what we must. We will build no other commissions: pause what we can, abandon what we must. We will pursue no other projects: adapt what we can, redirect what we must. Fight no other battle, study no other topic, sing no other song. We choose these four!
* '''Outcome:''' Failed (191-1176)

===Judgement 115===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Diego i Cassava i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Feroz lies desolate, the Shining Pillar has gone dark, and Siroc is reduced to rubble in the water. Icons of our people and our culture made desolate by Imperial Ambition. To ask more of us simply so others might have the vain glory of ending the vallorn in their lifetime is a step too far. Look inwards instead; let us retake the islands lost to us, rebuild our hearth, and reap the rewards of our struggle. Then, should the Empire fall to folly, we may have yet the strength to save her.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (98-38)

===Judgement 118===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Edward Watcher
* '''Judgement:''' The seven bells used in the coronation of the Throne are being Hallowed with the strength of seven priests at the Summer Solstice - one to each Virtue. Once Hallowed, the Bells will be sent on an Empire wide pilgrimage borne by Virtuous souls to inspire Imperial greatness far and wide. This judgement raised in all Virtue Assemblies. Virtue Exalts!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (188-0)

===Judgement 119===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Taru
* '''Judgement:''' Friends, this assembly believes that the work of the mind, whether it be doctrinal discussion, reasoning over judgements, or drafting same, requires limiting distractions of the body caused by such hindrances as a lack of comfortable seating and shade from the burning sun. As such, and with the additional benefit of encouraging knowledge-sharing from our most esteemed and long-suffering members to those (particularly new to Anvil) aspiring to learn, this assembly believes COMFORTABLE SEATING PROVIDED IN THE SYNOD BUILDING is FUNDAMENTAL TO THE HEALTH OF THE NATION.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (680-160)

===Judgement 121===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Calla Parson
* '''Judgement:''' Auras are tools of teaching and inspiration. While it may not constitute blasphemy to be willingly indoctrinated by false virtue, it is still unambiguously unvirtuous. The Empire needs citizens who can be counted on to act in virtue, souls untainted by malign presences. Where one is found to have willingly engaged with malign auras, whether or not their actions constitute a religious crime, they should be castigated, and revoked from any title they hold.
* '''Outcome:''' Failed (500-648)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with false virtues and their auras, as per the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 122===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Cato Hypation
* '''Judgement:''' On the matter of competing mandates 7 + 8. Move we strike both. The tools to manage investigation of unknown or suspect auras already exist. The statement of principle raised by the priest desiring to investigate in general, and the case by case response of this general assembly. What is the case for change? Chastise folly. Do not use forty word where four will do.
* '''Outcome:''' Failed (404-642)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with false virtues and their auras, as per the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 124===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Freeborn corsairs should not be transporting the Ember Blossoms of Asavea. We do however invite the Ember Blossoms, expert and experienced fomentors of rebellion against tyrants and oppressors to come to the Empire to teach Imperials their skills so we can better incite rebellion and uprisings in Asavea. The preaching of Justice remains illegal
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (78-28)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the sect of militant Faraden who wished to travel with the Freeborn to Asavea, as per the '''[[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Just_World|A pillow of winds]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 127===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Bronwen
* '''Judgement:''' The seven bells used in the coronation of the throne are being hallowed with the strength of seven priests at the Summer Solstice - one to each virtue. Once hallowed, the bells will be sent on an empire wide pilgrimage borne by the virtuous souls to inspire Imperial cities and send the message of Imperial greatness far and wide. When darkness threatens to draw near, it is on us to kindle the light we have until they ignite farther in all that witness their blaze!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (136-0)

===Judgement 129===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawn
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Purslane Artorigus
* '''Judgement:''' As a result of Archavion’s illegal attack on the Rahvin resources were stolen from them. The egregore currently has them. Stealing from foreigners is a crime. We should return these goods.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (132-116)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the attack on the Fangs, as per the '''[[Start a war]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 130===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Jared of the Suns of Couros
* '''Judgement:''' The 7 Bells used in the coronation of the Throne are being hallowed with the strength of 7 priests at the Summer Solstice. Once hallowed, the bells will be sent on an empire wide pilgrimage borne by virtuous souls to inspire Imperial citizens and send the message of Imperial greatness far and wide. When darkness threatens to draw near, it is on us to kindle the lights we have until they ignite fervour in all that witness their blaze.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (244-0)

===Judgement 131===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rhisiart Dancewalker
* '''Judgement:''' Only the dead have seen the end of war. The Empire stands on the brink, with war raging across three points of the compass. Our citizens are tortured, enslaved, mutilated, or ground into the very ingredients of bite by the Druj. If one falls to the vallorn then an Imperial soul is trapped forever until they are freed. Yet we condemn one of the Empire’s greatest tools to end War. Cruelty. We condemn Cruelty for our morality, for our claims of the impact it has on Generals and our soldier’s virtue. But we ignore that a cruel army offers one of the quickest roots to break an opponent’s army, or the uncertainty it causes our foes. Vigilance teaches to prepare for malice, to deter the blow so it never happens. We spit in the face of our traditions, ignore the wisdom of our Generals and the pride of our warriors who marched beneath the banners of the Dance of Blood. We proclaim Wisdom, yet ignore reality. We are losing this war. It matters not how we win against the Terror of the Druj or the eldritch horror of the vallorn, only that we do so. A sword is cruel in the ending of life, yet it is a tool to the virtuous. Our armies are the sword of the Empire, let them have liberty to choose whatever weapon that brings victory.
* '''Outcome:''' Failed (315-528)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the long-running debate about the role of [[Army qualities#Cruel|cruel]] strategies such as those employed by the [[Iron Helms]]

===Judgement 135===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Nadia i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' The Zemress Islanders have proven their unwavering commitment to the teachings of Captain Zemress, Exemplar of Prosperity. We acknowledge these teachings must spread to all nations and people. As our friend Rhaego i Zemress moves to the Marches, we charge him with our full spiritual support. We give our blessing and faith to any all Zemressians who choose to join him. Be. Like. Zemress.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (78-10)
* '''Notes:''' [[Zemress]] is an exemplar of Prosperity. The [[Zemress islander|Zemress islanders]] remain citizens of the Brass Coast

===Judgement 137===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Tenebral
* '''Judgement:''' The civil service has produced two mandates relating to the treatment of False Virtues. We cannot yet know how these will be decided upon but we can know this: There is no Vigilance in blinding yourself to the real face of danger. There is no Vigilance in shying away from the truth. One of the mandates proposes, in the name of Vigilance, to tell the followers of the Way that there are questions they cannot ask. To tell them to accept hearsay as truth. This is not Vigilance, this is Foolishness. In order to effectively spread Enlightenment must know and face the true nature of all spiritual presences. With Pride and Courage we must face that truth and we must set out Ambitions towards a Way that is not threatened by it.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (126-22)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with false virtues and their auras, as per the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 138===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Xandor Trodbroker
* '''Judgement:''' This assembly reaches out to those military captains who reinforce the Broch to focus their efforts and searches in Brocéliande for the Druj who fled into Dark Ranging, aided by heralds of Yaw’nagrah following the Imperial conquest of the Barrens two years ago. The malevolence of the Druj must not be allowed to fester and grow, in the midst of Brocéliande and the depths of our Empire. Prepare for malice, yet thwart malice before it strikes against you.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (164-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the Druj led into [[Brocéliande]] by heralds of Yaw'nagrah, as per the '''[[A_walk_in_shadow#I_Can_Help_(Conjunction)|A walk in shadow]]''' wind of war.

===Judgement 139===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Donato of the Crucible
* '''Judgement:''' Knowledge is incomplete. Encourage the study of dramaturgy in Spiral and the spread of findings in Urizen. We should expand Urizen learning whether the League build a college or not. The League should not be burdened alone in furthering our understanding of a major tradition & choosing next steps. Look to the example of the Astral Arcanist for what can be achieved.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (168-10)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the opportunity to construct an Academy of Dramaturgical Arts, as per the '''[[The_play_that_came_to_Apulian#Curiouser_and_Curiouser|The play that came to Apulian]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 140===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Konstantin Rabovich Bolotnikov
* '''Judgement:''' Any attempt to reestablish the ‘eternal shrine’ ceremonies of the Ghulai of the Bone Serpent clan should be met with condemnation for idolatry.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (226-0)
* '''Notes:''' The [[Apothecary_of_Orieb#Palace_of_Orieb|Palace of Orieb]] can be expanded to allow shrines for eternal patrons

===Judgement 141===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Newt Oaklyn
* '''Judgement:''' The smiths are now the brokers, the threshers are now the guards against magical threats. The duties of the landskeepers have narrowed. The Landskeepers of Anvil, and their voice, Nicholas Reaper, believe their enduring duty to be: We keep the land. We keep the traditions. We keep the nation. The national assembly ask, do you the Marchers agree?
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (110-0)

===Judgement 142===
* '''Assembly:''' Marches
* '''Raised By:''' Creighton Blackewater
* '''Judgement:''' Navarr were denied the opportunity to defend their lands, so that we could defend ours. We understand their anger and frustration. We recognise their demonstration of Loyalty to the Marches and the Empire. Strength to the Empire, strength to Navarr!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (122-38)

===Judgement 143===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Lochias
* '''Judgement:''' We call upon the Military Council not to target curses at Sarangrave through the Citadel Guard, but instead to summon Irra Hara’s Wooden Fastness. Let us show the septs that the presence of the Citadel Guard can be their Salvation not their Ruin.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (216-20)

===Judgement 145===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Caspian i Sharthra i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' The Ember Blossoms are an independent group of agitators looking for passage to Asavea in order to precipitate a peasant’s revolt there. They are approaching Freeborn corsairs to smuggle them in. The Freeborn Assembly endorses this action.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (68-58)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the sect of militant Faraden who wished to travel with the Freeborn to Asavea, as per the '''[[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Just_World|A pillow of winds]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 146===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Broc Shatterhorn
* '''Judgement:''' Tools & blades hold no inherent virtue, as such cruelty as a weapon is not the problem. Inquisition any General using cruelty. Hold the soul wielding the tool accountable and not the tool itself. Don’t ban cruelty. Don’t rob the Navarr of their weapons.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (100-78)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the long-running debate about the role of [[Army qualities#Cruel|cruel]] strategies such as those employed by the [[Iron Helms]]

===Judgement 147===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Ironvigil Rikke the Relentless
* '''Judgement:''' Do not engage with the cult of the Claw. They make demands of Blood, of supplication. The Constellation of the Claw is ruled by the law ‘Things Bleed.’ The Claw’s ties to suffering only benefit the Agramant. The obelisks they wish to build must be prevented. Do not take their deals. Give no heed to their idolatry.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (236-10)

===Judgement 148===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Hembeneth i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Prosperity teaches us to “despise the thieving bandit… and those who take without giving.” The Asavean pirates have been attacking ships trading with the Empire. The Prosperity assembly encourages Imperial fleet owners to protect foreign and Imperial trade ships from all piracy, so that they can claim the just rewards of their labour.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (234-0)

===Judgement 152===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Radjyvyn Vladovich Razoradze
* '''Judgement:''' Creatures from the Webwood menace our people in Ossium's northern borders, down from the Webwood and the Bonewood. They have attacked Ketsov and now Zurrah. Military captains who support the fort in Ossium this season, be vigilant to the danger of these creatures and be prepared to strike out against them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (182-0)

===Judgement 153===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Jeroboam of the Sentinel’s Tower
* '''Judgement:''' We call all Vigilant citizens (especially Merrow) with the skills and knowledge necessary to dive into Meade Harbour and investigate the sunken wreck of the Asavean warship, the Leaping Bull. Whether there is military intelligence among the sunken cabins or merely shipbuilding knowledge from a vessel of a great naval power we can use in our own naval yards, we must learn all we can from this wreck to prepare ourselves for the next assault by these pernicious slavers. Vigilance demands we expose the truth the Asaveans have tried to scuttle. Our cousins in the Marches already began this work in Judgement 184 of Autumn 386, let us help them as best we can and see the tools of the enemy turned against them in the fight to come.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (322-0)

===Judgement 155===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rhubarb Ironwood
* '''Judgement:''' Cleave to what you know is true. The abuses of sorcerers can better be punished with those powers of the Synod that oversee all bodies of the State. We should expand oversight to the Conclave!
* '''Outcome:''' Failed (534-748)

===Judgement 156===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Luca i Taziel i Riquesa
* '''Judgement:''' The Prosperity Assembly invites delegates from Senate to the Imperial Offices at 2pm Sat Sum Solstice. We can end the strikes. You want them to end. There is no resolution without conversation. If we do not speak, nothing will change.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (224-0)

===Judgement 158===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Yrkja Riansson
* '''Judgement:''' Two cultists of Blood on Snow from Upwold are believed to be fleeing north to Hanhmark. They are guilty of idolatry, theft of a hallowed artefact and the murders of both Imperial citizens and Obligatus, a herald of Tharim present under the Amity of Conclave. They are Jem Bribban, who has abandoned prosperous trade for theft and murder, and Alf Alwen, once a soldier of the Empire and now a predator on its people. Be Vigilant for them in the Mark. Let them flee no further.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (210-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the recent attack in [[Upwold]], as per the '''[[Is_there_anybody_out_there%3F#Cursed_King_(Tharim)|Is there anybody out there?]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 159===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Neala Blackhawk
* '''Judgement:''' Rook Voice of Thorns, you wrote wanting an ‘inquisition of Loyalty’ of the entire assembly. This is not possible but, in answer I invite a member of Deadfall to inquisit me at the next summit. Let guide Loyalty to the Thorns be known.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (112-38)

===Judgement 160===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushka
* '''Raised By:''' Maja Przewalski
* '''Judgement:''' Varushka proved there is nothing beyond our grasp when we are of one mind. There is a time for bargains but now we need Varushkan steel. Let us aim high & follow the example of Ratibor to bring law to the lawless with our new army.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (162-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the raising of the [[Raise Third Varushkan Army|new Varushkan army]], and the inspiration of [[Ratibor of Temeschwar]]

===Judgement 165===
* '''Assembly:''' Highguard
* '''Raised By:''' Olyvar of Esther’s Sanctum
* '''Judgement:''' Despise that which threatens what you watch over - siblings of Necropolis, be alert! Cults of the Wastewalker have been discovered in our territory! The Highborn Assembly calls upon all Necropolis chapters to deny agents of Agramant any quarter. It is not welcome here. It is anathema to the Way of Virtue. Protect our virtuous, both dead and living!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (302-0)

===Judgement 166===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Eirlys Ashes Blaze
* '''Judgement:''' We have talked this summit and must talk further on cruelty, and continue to define cruelty, and all it entails. Cruelty, in the tactics of our armies and in actions that would break the morale of our enemies and in the actions we take on the field, are actions with severe consequences. They are also effective, at defending our lands and repelling threats to our virtuous empire. At this time, we believe that the cost is one we should bear - with vigilance and awareness of cost. Talk to your guides, guard your soul in taking these actions and explore all other options first. Actions have consequences.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (103-28)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the long-running debate about the role of [[Army qualities#Cruel|cruel]] strategies such as those employed by the [[Iron Helms]]

===Judgement 168===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Herminius of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' People of Redoubt, there is an imminent threat to the coastline from an unnamed winter eternal. Move inland where you can, be vigilant, be safe.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (228-0)

===Judgement 171===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Iza Dancewalker
* '''Judgement:''' Courage without wisdom can be just as destructive as no courage at all. It is unwise, selfish, and wilfully ignorant to claim it is right to put Revocations up under the guise of “raising awareness of a concern” and “letting the Synod decide for themselves”. It is not vigilant nor courageous to drop statements and run, leaving busy priests without context to be the ones to vote and potentially destabilise entire nations and Imperial plans for the future. Courage does not mean impulse. Wait, think, decide. Revocation should be a final step, not a first port of call. Try inquisitions, or better yet - conversation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (65-40)

===Judgement 173===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ira Ashes Blaze
* '''Judgement:''' The Falconer is an inhuman influence that has sought supplication and fealty from Imperial citizens. It has a plan to do something magical and malicious in Autumn. When blood is shed in the name of the Claw, that empowers the Falconer in the above aim. This counts both for invoking the Claw during bloodshed, and for drawing blood in encounters with the Falconer’s followers. Knowing this, and shedding blood for the Claw anyway, is bending the knee to this malign influence. Thwart malice before it strikes against you.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (942-20)
* '''Notes:''' refers to the shedding of blood in rituals, as per the '''[[Stars_and_sigils#Red_in_Tooth_and_Claw|Stars and sigils]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 178===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Caracalla Taraco di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' Just as the vigilant watch over their neighbour’s fields, so the coast must safeguard the sea. The last lighthouse on the Bay of Catazar has fallen, the bells toll in the depths, the vigilant watch over the waters but know no fear. We urge all citizens of the League in Sarvos and Apulian to be the lights across the waters, burning candles in the homes, holding steadfast and courageous, keeping the dark at bay.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (246-0)

===Judgement 179===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Xanthe i Rincón i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Freeborn captains - you may be aware of a dormant threat, now rising from its slumber. Until we better understand and have the Wisdom to know how best to deal with this threat, I call upon you all to demonstrate your Vigilance and harbour your fleet.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (78-20)

===Judgement 180===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Silas
* '''Judgement:''' I, Silas of the Cenotaph, warn that Peace is not Apathetic it is an active Vindictive force. It is not an absence of violence it is instead a last resort. It is the demand to take on the opinions, suffering and ideas of others no matter who they are. This I have warned, this I demand we destroy wherever we find it, this I have learned. I await and welcome judgement.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (9-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the ongoing situation with false virtues and their auras, as per the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 181===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Skywise Tulva
* '''Judgement:''' The cult of the claw following the Falconer is a cult of idolatry. The Falconer is an inhuman force, currently possessing the bodies of at least three humans. The creature itself claimed these to have been volunteers that “are now nothing more than meat and bone.” On insight, they could no longer be recognised as human. The Falconer demands subjugation and supplication from its worshippers. It claims that the Empire can only find strength by submitting ourselves to it. Do not believe its lies. Our strength is our own.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (9-0)

===Judgement 182===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Across nations, assemblies, and in conclave the word has not been half hearted, and we add our voices to the cry: “Let cannibalism be made illegal!” In Pride we respect the dignity of sentient peoples, in Vigilance we enable our militia to root out lurking threats, in Loyalty and Prosperity we work together that such measures need never be resorted to. We hold that in a virtuous society cannibalism is unnecessary, and if there is good cause let clemency be the judge.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (9-0)

===Judgement 183===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Gaelen Embercast
* '''Judgement:''' The Council of Nine directs the Silent Bell to investigate the followers of the Falconer, a cult spreading across the Empire from the North-West, grounded in Sermersuaq who are believed to be behind the increased savagery in fauna across the north west of the Empire (Sermersuaq, Skarsind, Hahnmark, Hercynia & beyond). We believe this group of astronomancers are performing a blood ritual due to reach its zenith in autumn, influenced by the Claw and possibly linked to Blood-on-the-Snow. They must not be allowed to complete their work or spread their influence further across the Empire and beyond its borders. This threat must be stopped.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (9-0)
* '''Notes:''' Instructs the Silent Bell to seek out information on the followers of the Falconer in time for the Summer Solstice 387YE

===Judgement 185===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Bloodcrow Meep
* '''Judgement:''' Orcs have one chance to become ancestors or have their soul crashed in the black brine of the Howling Abyss. Evidence we currently have implies that orcs’ chance to cross the Abyss may be harmed by exorcism. Before we demand a legal change, we wish to have all the evidence. The Imperial Orc National Assembly challenges the Synod to bring forth evidence that exorcising orc ghosts does not shatter their one chance at crossing. We also invite any orcs to bring evidence they have.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (54-0)

===Judgement 186===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Gralka
* '''Judgement:''' Be vigilant! A bell rings and an old terror rises in the deep, a presence in the Bay of Catazar. With the destruction of our lighthouses that were our wardings on our coasts we are vulnerable - but now is not the time to run. We brace for the storm and when those who find their courage failing they will turn to their sides and know we stand with them.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (54-0)

===Judgement 187===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Lenarius Ankarien
* '''Judgement:''' The responsibilities of conclave and synod are laid out in the constitution. Any attempt to extend or alter those responsibilities must be backed by the will of the general assembly.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (unrecorded)

===Judgement 188===
* '''Assembly:''' Highguard
* '''Raised By:''' Loaken
* '''Judgement:''' The vigilant watch the hand that holds the blade, but they do not fear every hand nor every blade. With the fall of the last lighthouse of the bay of Catazar, and the sound of bells in the deep, the vigilant watch the water but they know no fear. We urge you to light the lantern of Vigilance at night and keep eyes open on the water with Courage. We deny welcome and hospitality to the unintroduced eternal
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (512-0)

==Mandate==
Eleven [[mandate|mandates]] were presented to the assemblies during the Spring Equinox
===Judgement 7===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Viviane Barossa
* '''Judgement:''' The malign spiritual presences are a direct <u>threat</u> to the Empire. We send Viviane Barossa with 75 doses of liao to warn the virtuous folk of the Empire that their vigilance <u>must</u> continue. For nearly 400 years we have kept these dangerous forces at bay, and we must <u>not</u> drop our guard now
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1526-464)
* '''Enacted:''' The issue of peaceful hallows has been resolved, and General Assembly aligned with the Vigilance Assembly. It has reinforced the Synod's stance that malign spiritual presences are so-called because they are dangerous to the Empire and hinder the quest for [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|enlightenment]].
* '''Note:''' The judgement was in competition with [[#Judgement 8|Judgement 8]]. More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 8===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Fintan Nighthaven
* '''Judgement:''' Wisdom knows all knowledge is incomplete. We cannot take hearsay at face value, but must explore the nature of these unfamiliar spiritual powers so we can better understand them. We send Fintan Nighthaven with 75 doses of liao to urge the virtuous not to be afraid of increasing their understanding.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (543-1650)
* '''Note:''' The judgement was in competition with [[#Judgement 7|Judgement 7]]. More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 22===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' Even the most impenetrable forest may fall one tree at a time. We send Corey Wayfarer with 250 liao to urge the faithful to focus on destroying the vallorn above all other ambitions. No price is too high.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (800-1275)
* '''Note:''' The [[Cardinal of Vigilance]] used their power of [[Cardinal#Further_Scrutiny|extend the scrutiny]] for this judgement. More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[The hard way]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 66===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark
* '''Judgement:''' Despise folly and chastise the fool who spreads it. We send Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark with 50 doses of liao to encourage Wintermark citizens to heed the guidance of the stormcrows and ignore the judgements of other assemblies. Cold cannot compromise.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (220-58)
* '''Enacted:''' Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Wintermark, unless that mandate is passed by the Wintermark Assembly itself.
* '''Note:''' More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[The final cut]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 70===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Fredegar Bloodmouth
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Fredegar Bloodmouth with 25 liao to urge fleet owners to put their ships to work supporting the Red Wind Corsairs. It will be costly, but no price is too high to realise your dreams.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (178-10)
* '''Enacted:''' The fleet owners of the Marches are able to take the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_interlude#Assault_the_Kongegőr|Assault the Kongegőr]] action the same season that the [[Red Wind Corsairs]] have taken the Take to the Sea order in a territory adjacent to the Gullet.
* '''Note:''' More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[A bridge too far]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 96===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Nisha Strascovich
* '''Judgement:''' Let us bar the door to the shadows of the past. We send Nisha Strascovich with 25 dose of liao to urge volhovs to create the wards needed to make the dam in Apstrus safe. Do not leave the road.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (318-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The Apstrus Dam and the people [[Construct Apstrus Dam|working on it]] are protected from ghosts and other restless spirits.
* '''Note:''' More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[Damming the Doubt]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 116===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Nicodemus of Balthazar's Vineyard
* '''Judgement:''' Wisdom is asking the right question. We send Brother Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum with 25 doses of liao to urge the citizens of Highguard to embrace peerless kinship. The virtuous apply what they learn.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (220-136)
* '''Enacted:''' The Highborn Assembly can use a single statement of principle to identify an Imperial nation they wish to support. It is not possible to support the same nation two seasons running. The Highborn Assembly can guide the support by indicating a single statement of principle or mandate passed that season or last by the peer nation's Assembly.
* '''Note:''' More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[A peerless sacrifice]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 123===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Anatolij Paukov Zorkin
* '''Judgement:''' Varushkans should raise each other up. We send Anatolij Paukov Zorkin with 25 doses of liao to urge miners to take their metals to Delev rather than Temeschwar. Let us work together to ensure the Prosperity of Varushka
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (262-20)
* '''Not Enacted:''' Judgements that affect Varushka require a greater majority to have an effect, as per the '''[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Hard and suspecting]]''' wind of fortune
* '''Note:''' More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[Outside the wall]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 128===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Galahad
* '''Judgement:''' Aim high and pursue your dreams. We send Brother Galahad of the Suns of Couros with 25 doses of liao to urge Highguard to continue to crusade until the last war is won. If we stand together then nothing is beyond your grasp.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (172-236)
* '''Note:''' More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[A peerless sacrifice]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 150===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Hadrick Hardin
* '''Judgement:''' Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send Hadrick Hardin with 25 liao to urge fleet owners to put their ships to work supporting the Red Wind Corsairs. It will be costly, but not price is too high to realise your dreams.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (190-0)
* '''Enacted:''' The fleet owners of Wintermark are able to take the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_interlude#Assault_the_Kongegőr|Assault the Kongegőr]] action the same season that the [[Red Wind Corsairs]] have taken the Take to the Sea order in a territory adjacent to the Gullet.
* '''Note:''' More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[A bridge too far]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 154===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Cadoc Thornwatch
* '''Judgement:''' We prepare for malice, but must always thwart malice before it strikes against you. We send Cadoc Thornwatch with 25 liao to Holberg to urge all vigilant citizens to seek out threats and drag them into the light. Special attention must be paid to Blood on the Snow cultists, and evidence gathered that "The roots in Holberg run deep." Collaboration with the Senator for Holberg and other key citizens will ensure threats to the Empire are eliminated before they emerge.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (322-0)
* '''Not Enacted:''' No liao provided
* '''Note:''' More information on this mandate can be found in the '''[[Knocking on every door]]''' wind of fortune

==Revocation==
===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Emmeline Weaver
* '''Judgement:''' I have had it up to here with these fucking careless Generals: General Rhisiart Dancewalker of the Black Thorns is also culpable for our tragic losses in Therunin. As a commander with two years experience, he should have damn well read the scrying reports that are ON THE BOARD IN THE MILITARY COUNCIL TENT for fuck's sake, instead of listening to hearsay and rumour from Zoran Orzel about the strength and location of the Druj armies. I believe this colossal failure of Vigilance poses a continuing threat to our war readiness, and I call for his revocation, as I will for any Imperial General who can't walk six feet to do their bloody homework before they put their orders in.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1068-278)

===Judgement 176===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Catena
* '''Judgement:''' Due to the surprising and poorly attended nature of the Warmage election, this assembly revokes Octavius of the Wise Citadel. Such that the election can be run at its more expected time.
* '''Outcome:''' Withdrawn

==Inquisition==
Twenty one [[inquisition|inquisitions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Spring Equinox
===Judgement 14===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Galachin Garlot
* '''Judgement:''' I call Frater Pontius of the Emberclad to inquisition. During the Winter Summit of 387 - Frater Pontius provided clemency defences to many of the Imperial Captains who had pledged their soldiers to the illegal orders General Archavion in the Barrens. It is my understanding that none of the clemency defences were successful in sparing the lives of the accused. Since none of these virtue arguments appeared to be compelling and all were ultimately condemned to death. I thereby call Pontius of the Emberclad to inquisition to examine his reasoning and motivation in offering and delivering his defence of the guilty in this case. Inquisition to be held at 10PM Friday Night (location to be arranged with the named)
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (218-16)

===Judgement 17===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement:''' Gancio, and by extension the Golden Chalice. The reviews are in - it is a hit. Audiences are enamoured by your lurid claims of alternate histories. It is time for the critics to see what virtue there is in the truths you claim to spread. The play begins at 7PM at the Peacock Theatre. The work begins after the interval.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld Automatically as [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Wisdom]]

===Judgement 19===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement:''' <u>Raine Tealeaf</u>. You know what you have done. You know where. You know when. A promise is a promise, is it not?
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (636-190)

===Judgement 28===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Galene Netherwatch
* '''Judgement:''' I call the Astral Arcanist, Serenus Starsong, to Inquisition at the Summer Solstice Y387 to discuss the matters of stars and souls
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld Automatically as [[Arcane Inquisitor]]

===Judgement 29===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Katya Vasillova Reznikov
* '''Judgement:''' I call Vesna Borkovna Prochnost to inquisition to attain their thoughts and feelings on how they exemplify their prosperity as child of Varushka at 11am Saturday in Varushka
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (12-0)

===Judgement 47===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement:''' I call Isolde Tempest Shield to inquisition, Saturday of the Spring summit 387 at 11:20 starting at the Hall of Voices in Urizen. Assisted by Ida the River we will discuss aiding the courage of proving their self understanding
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld Automatically as [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Courage]]

===Judgement 77===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Frater Pontius of the Emberclad
* '''Judgement:''' Vigilance does not wait for the blow to fall. It watches the hand that lifts the blade. The Archmage of Winter, Ematius Ankarian, has trafficked with the eternal Skathe, she who is the Doom of Sarvos, whose very nature is unalloyed malice. When one who bears such authority walks in shadowed company the unblinking eye of the basilisk must turn upon them. We therefore summon Archmage Ematius Ankarian, to Inquisition. We are given to understand that on the Saturday night of this summit, we will once more consort with that same foul eternal. Accordingly, the inquisition shall be held on the following day, Sunday at noon. The inquisition shall be convened at Ebon's Hall, in the Highborn encampment. It shall be presided over by Frater Pontius of the Emberclad, with the assistance of Earl Edmund Reaver, and the counsel of both the Inquisitor of this Assembly and the Arcane Inquisitor
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (316-62)

===Judgement 80===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement:''' I seek to inquisit the Unreasonable in Wintermark, Saturday 15:00 this summit about personal theology
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (590-10)

===Judgement 81===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Masha Sigeling
* '''Judgement:''' I call to inquisition Bal Blueraven of Skarsind. Saturday, this summit, at time agreed
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (552-18)

===Judgement 86===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Azir i Shartha i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' Alexander Tallstag seeks to walk the path of the exemplar. This raises insightful questions both about his own virtue and the Synod's relationship with living exemplars. I call Alexander to inquisition at the Summer Solstice to examine this at length.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1208-94)

===Judgement 102===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawnish
* '''Raised By:''' Adelorna Ordraig
* '''Judgement:''' We call to inquisition Ser Guy Wooder of the Twisted Rose in regards to the virtue of the following: directly quoting the Black Wind in their first military orders; regarding their actions towards soldiers of their own army; to ascertain where their Loyalty truly lies. Time has previously been confirmed with the above today in Dawn.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (138-26)

===Judgement 109===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Dolce di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' We call to inquisition Jonah Yakovitch von Holberg concerning his role in the Misericorde Market, and his refusal to allow the Sand Fisher orcs to purchase cows. I particularly wish to examine his prosperity and loyalty. Time: Sunday 12:30, Place: Carta Della Calza
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (128-0)

===Judgement 126===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Alastair of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement:''' I call Pontius of the Emberclad to inquisition to discuss whether or not their actions taken during Friday's assembly were done in virtue. When: Friday, Summer Solstice, 7:30PM at Esther's Sanctum camp
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld Automatically as [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Vigilance]]

===Judgement 144===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Lepidina
* '''Judgement:''' I call Kindra Surefoot to inquisition regarding virtuous action regarding the Thule treaty. 10:30AM, Hub, Sunday, Spring Equinox 387YE
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld Automatically as [[Chaplain Consular]]

===Judgement 149===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Lenarius Ankarian
* '''Judgement:''' As Imperial Inquisitor I call Umarth Kannash, General of the Fist of the Mountains to discuss his orders and the influence of the claw. (11AM Tomorrow. Military Council tent).
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld Automatically as [[Imperial Inquisitor]]

===Judgement 169===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Jared of the Sentinels Tower
* '''Judgement:''' By prior and willing agreement, Viviane Barossa is called to inquisition on the Spring Equinox at the hub at 22:00 on Saturday. For her decision to bear wholeheartedly a false hallow to peace/understanding in which we believe to be a reckless disregard for her responsibility and an act of blasphemy. Inquisiting priest to be Loakon of the Sentinels Tower
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (832-88)

===Judgement 175===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Callista of the Dark Shard
* '''Judgement:''' Abel the Taller of Zenith Ascendant has, within 24 hours, gathered 300 mithril to fund the rapid development of a new Urizen army. I call him to inquisition to bring to light the virtue of these actions. Time: Summer 387. Place: Urizen Camp
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (856-20)

===Judgement 184===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eevi of the Gadrai
* '''Judgement:''' I call Kaisa of the Sewn Tongue to inquisition at Anvil, Sigehold Hall in the Wintermark camp at the Summer Solstice at a time to be decided with them. We will discuss their bonds and what commands their heart's devotion above all else
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld Automatically as [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Loyalty]]

===Judgement 189===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Azir i Shartha i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' Following several concerns regarding their conduct - most recently raising a condemnation for blasphemy while Synod are still considering their position on this issue - I am calling Sam Wych to inquisition. I expect to see them on Saturday of the Summer Solstice - as a former inquisitor themselves, I am sure they are aware of the importance of attending.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld Automatically as [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Ambition]]

===Judgement 190===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Jedediah Boon
* '''Judgement:''' Aelda Beara Iron Hammer of Ottermire, you were Courageous to hand me your writing this season, considering their content. How the Virtue of your words holds up to Inquisition is of more pressing concern. I call you to defend your statements as to Pride being a "foundation leading to Hate and Vengeance"; Summer Solstice 387YE, time and place to be agreed
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld Automatically as [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Pride]]

===Judgement 191===
* '''Assembly:''' The Way
* '''Raised By:''' Maximillian
* '''Judgement:''' I call Rhubarb Ironwood to Inquisition to speak to the Virtues behind his decision to denigrate the pride of Conclave and its members and overturn the Constitutional Separation of Conclave and Synod
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld Automatically as [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of the Way]]

==Sanction==
Nineteen [[sanction|sanctions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Spring Equinox
===Judgement 21===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Dag Kinnad. You have served your assembly well. You have learned well the lessons from your inquisiting and wish to perform further investigations in to the Wisdom of your fellows. Good. Keep up the good work.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (238-16)

===Judgement 35===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement - Castigation:''' Following the inquisition raised at the Summer Solstice 386YE (205), I castigate Vasili of the Woven Path for knowingly undertaking a past life vision with a potential aura of Anarchy. This endangered both you and your guide priest, and drew Labyrinth spectres to you. Let this be a lesson - you have faced the consequences of your actions, you stepped off the road. Do better.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (50-0)

===Judgement 44===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Half the responsibility of the Shadowed Torchbearer is "to serve as a go-between for (Janon) and the Conclave as they need it.". The Regalia of the Torchbearer includes no means to send messages to Janon - though such boons are known to exist. Vanja Oddsbreaker was involved in negotiating the creation of this office before being elected to it - and so has put herself in the impossible position of being a go-between without the means to convey messages from Conclave to Janon unless Janon opts to send Heralds, which it often does not. For this lapse of Vigilance, I suggest this penance: that Vanja seek the means to amend the Regalia of the office, that it may include such boons as require to actually perform the role of go-between. Let her be the last Torchbearer to deal with this absurdity. For more details see the 2-page leaflet (copies on opposite wall) "Vanya Oddsbreaker Inquisition Report".
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (320-20)

===Judgement 49===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Alastair of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement - Castigation:''' Following the inquisition of Sam Wych-Elm at the Autumn Equinox 386YE, I formally rebuke them for encouraging the behaviour of Hugh Farrier that auras of Hatred were produced at this inquisition. Sam Wych refused to take this case of false virtue seriously because it was their friend involved, and encouraged and abetted their behaviour. Be aware to all dangers, within and without.
* '''Outcome:''' Withdrawn

===Judgement 51===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Aemon
* '''Judgement - Castigation:''' Jack "Twice Drowned" has been inquisited. His Virtue has been weighed, it has been measured, and it has been found wanting! During inquisition he was unrepentant of his words and actions culminating in a public insistence that Achseh is a Hate cultist; contracting and subverting the Judgement of the Loyalty Assembly (Judgement 179, Summer 386YE), a fact that was a key factor which influenced and led to the fracturing of Highguard's forces. Penance: 1) Jack will carry an item on him with the Hallowing of the Favour that he may use, when needed, to support him in trying to heal the division in Highguard he once helped widen. 2) Jack will feel the cost of his words. He will be subject to a Freezing Brand of Irremais stating "I thought I knew better than the Synod".
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (196-190)

===Judgement 82===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Earl of Fools
* '''Judgement:''' The former spymaster Dugdale with great aplomb did stand before Empire and did accuse the Throne of crimes heinous; collaboration with traitor general in illegal massacre in Barrens then of darkest crimes did accuse the Throne a claim she was cultist of Agramant. His sources for her supposed crimes - the apostate general Archavion and Pickers Goldleaf, a self-proclaimed traitor. In truth these leave something to be desired before witness he swore foolish oath to assess his own thoughts and words and the truth and before Empire with as much aplomb and as much show as he did accuse proclaim his errors, untruths, and mistakes. His lack of wisdom in accusation. Go forth Dugdale, your audience awaits.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (926-172)

===Judgement 91===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Halkyon of the Myriad Stream
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I find that Letho Southshore has behaved with admirable virtue in the reckoning between Urizen and the League. In doing so they have divided themselves in parts to satisfy the great demands of Loyalty, Wisdom, Ambition, and Vigilance. Things divided come together. I urge Letho to seek the Leitmotif in their symphony: spend each of the next four seasons dedicated to explore these virtues to find which will be your focus.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (188-26)

===Judgement 99===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Vauraus "Prosperity's Forge" Korppitkotka
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Following my inquisition of Giuseppe von Temeschwar, Senator Temeschwar, it is clear that they deliberately acted outside of the norm for Senate, driven by their pride and ambition. It was neither illegal nor unvirtuous. It was politics. I commend their pride and ambition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (782-30)

===Judgement 106===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Ludwig Marginiki
* '''Judgement - Castigation:''' We the Pride Assembly, castigate our former Cardinal, Zadkiel, for his acceptance of the false virtue, <u>Peace</u>. Though he took immediate action to remove himself from the role of Cardinal. This should <u>not</u> have happened, nor have been considered.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (170-48)

===Judgement 113===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Heilyn Bronwen's Rest
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Bartimaeus Zenith Ascendant has consistently acted to defend the Prosperity of the Empire. The situation in the Bourse is complex, and economic factors are pushing prices down. However, Bartimaeus is one of the major reasons why prices have not crashed to truly catastrophic levels
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (718-42)

===Judgement 120===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Galachin Garlot
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Pontius, under inquisition you have fully demonstrated the virtues under which you undertook your onerous task, and we fully accept that even a grain of virtue is worthy of clemency from a virtuous priest of the Imperial Synod. We find no cause for complaint or criticism of your actions and that you are a virtuous priest.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (138-12)

===Judgement 132===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Velko Perunovich Razoradze
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Upon inquisition of Svlatapolk, Oligu, and Veleslew of Kestov we, the inquisiting priests declare that they have done virtuous and unvirtuous things in their time under the Druj but we see a path forward in virtue for Ketsov's relationship to the freed people of Ossium and the Empire. We set the Kestov the penance to build their fellow Varushkans up and they will be built up in return, share all that is worthwhile and more may be shared with them. Water flows, the wheel turns, and we will build Ossium together, an Ossium where they will never need to turn to the Druj as their ancestors did
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (254-0)

===Judgement 133===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Kellin Embercast
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Percival Summerstrong has dedicated his life to the fight against the vallorn. He has a passion for this fight that is rare to find outside Navarr. I have made him aware of the reality that his zeal and charismatic leadership could drive others to swear an oath to the Vallorn Guard without understanding the full implications. Percival does know the value of an oath, and the weight it carries. To prove this, and to help him remember the line between personal glory and the oath he has asked others to swear, I ask him to wear the hallowed item 'A Promise Remembered' for a year when leading the Vallorn Guard
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (230-0)

===Judgement 157===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Martin Orchard
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Alastair of Esther's Sanctum acted with vigilant <u>intent</u> in raising a condemnation before inquisiting. However, they lacked vigilant <u>means</u>. An inquisition would have brought the truth to light. Revocations would have <u>immediately</u> removed any suspect cardinal from power. After a useful one hour of discussion, I believe Alastair knows the tools they need. Their penance is to hold <u>public</u> inquisitions, and act on them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (884-90)

===Judgement 164===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Bryce the Hare
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Winch the Winnock was present at a ritual den belonging to Agramant cultists known as the Circle of Stones. It was a lack of wisdom and prosperity that compelled Winch to undertake criminal activity as a smuggler. Upon recognising the signs of cultism, they decided to choose a more virtuous path but were unable to escape servitude until the group was attacked. Winch's decision to flee, seek striving, confess and ask for the judgement of the Synod via inquisition shows great courage and vigilance. Winch's statements will be invaluable in the efforts to save souls from Agramant's corrupting influence. Which is to seek inspiration at Good Walder's Orchard and meditate upon prosperity and helping others.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (42-0)

===Judgement 167===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Katya Vasillova Reznikov
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I find Vesna virtuous in their actions of the Empire and Varushka. Her prosperity holds no bounds. However, she needs to enjoy the fruits of their labour. As a reward I have gifted Vesna the hallowing of the Overflowing Cup, a cousins love.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (132-0)

===Judgement 170===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Sam Wych-Elm
* '''Judgement - Condemnation:''' I condemn Silas of the Cenotaph for the crime of Blasphemy - in having a false hallow created and agreeing to bear it wholeheartedly. This action harmed the moral authority of the Synod, setting a dangerous precedent and endangered his immortal soul.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (454-572)

===Judgement 172===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Bronomir
* '''Judgement - Castigation:''' I've had it up to here with these fucking careless priests. Emmeline Weaver of Dawn is responsible for political and economic damage to both Navarr and Varushka. We have lost the support of the Black Thorns army in Ossium, and they jeopardised a newly commissioned Wayhouse. This Wayhouse is <u>critical</u> for accessing forests to fund another Navarri army, and protecting our territory from the Druj. This is all because Emmeline Weaver succumbed to hearsay and couldn't be bothered to walk 6ft before submitting Judgement 26. They should've called for Inquisition, <u>not</u> Revocation
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (84-154)

==Recognition==
Two [[recognition|recognitions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Spring Equinox
===Judgement 4===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Dagon
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise Alberto Acciai, Martyr of Marilen, as an Exemplar of Loyalty, with the following signs: ''Benevolence:'' Inspired by his cousin Amika, Alberto led a rebellion of slaves in the mines surrounding Marilen. Alberto was a vintner, and freed these slaves solely in pursuit of Virtue rather than riches. ''Inspiration:'' After the rebellion, Alberto led the liberated miners to the city of Marilen, where they took over the city and slew its rulers, resolving to destroy the two coming armies of the Plenum in Virtue. ''Salvation:'' In freeing these slaves, Albero was able to teach them and the people of Marilen the Way of Virtue and the use of liao, spreading our shared faith across the oppressed of the Archipelago. ''Legacy:'' Based on correspondence with Rafael Barossa d'Apulian, we know that Alberto could have fled. Instead, out of Loyalty to those he had freed, he gave his life to ignite Virtue across Asavea.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1302-178)

===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Edward Watcher
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise Eleanor Novarion, the Lady of the Proffered Hand, as an Exemplar of Pride. Once a slave, she dedicated her life following her freedom and recovery to helping others who had suffered the same, demonstrating her ''Benevolence''. Her work served as ''Inspiration'' to others, resulting in the creation of the Proffered Hand Network across the Empire. She was pivotal in securing the ''Salvation'' of the Free Folk of Asavea, reconciling their beliefs with the Way, an event marked by a miraculous aura of Pride. In her final months, she undertook ''Pilgrimage'' to Bastion, where she summarised her life with these words, a lesson to be shared across the Empire: "The greatest threat to Pride is shame. The greatest weapon against shame is Compassion."
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1126-416)

==Exaltation==
One [[exaltation]] was presented to the assemblies during the Spring Equinox
===Judgement 75===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Veikko Bondforger
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise the deeds of Aurum: Winter 382 - Leading the evacuation of Zenith; Spring 383 - Enacting a mandate to house refugees from Zenith; Summer 383YE - The consecration of the Watchers; Spring 384 - Enacting a mandate to call upon survivors to take up arms against the Druj; Summer 384 - Enacting a mandate to anoint the armies in Zenith against the Druj miasma. The actions of Aurum were "pivotal to turning the tide of the war in the Empire's favour." Without his Loyalty, many more would have suffered under the Druj and Zenith may not have been reclaimed. We recognise these deeds, and we exalt Aurum, "Loyalty's Zenith"
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (226-0)

==Appointment==
Nineteen [[appointment|appointments]] were presented to the assemblies during the Spring Equinox
===Judgement 1===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of Ambition]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Lenarius Ankarien''' was appointed with 130 votes; Callista of the Dark Shard received 46 votes; Ser Purslane Artorgius received 20 votes

===Judgement 2===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of Vigilance]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Gaelen Embercast''' was appointed with 224 votes; Aemon of the Suns of Couros received 100 votes

===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Assignment of the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean Library]] dose of [[liao#True Liao|True Liao]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum''' was selected with 592 votes; the Earl of Fools received 302 votes; Travid Longest Path received 246 votes; Rosalynn Asterion received 114 votes; Tom Appleseed received 92 votes; Domingo Martim de Tassato received 50 votes; Friar John of the Mourn received 30 votes; Abraham received 24 votes; Ivanbrok received 0 votes

===Judgement 6===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Prosperity]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Tom Appleseed''' was appointed with 230 votes; Ivanbrok received 42 votes

===Judgement 32===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Medical Officer of the Pegasus Respite]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Lysimachus''' was appointed with 318 votes

===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Curator of Memories]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Volya Vychodni Nebov''' was appointed with 312 votes

===Judgement 39===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Pride]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Jed Boon''' was appointed with 68 votes; Kazimir Syrota Molchan received 24 votes

===Judgement 43===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawnish
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of the Twin Roses]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Ser Nista Zabarov''' was appointed with 148 votes; Julien Constant received 96 votes; Ser Decimus received 80 votes

===Judgement 45===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Speaker of the Crows]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark''' was appointed with 218 votes

===Judgement 46===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Guide to the Lost]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Redhand Tut''' was appointed with 44 votes; Memorykeeper Ikahn received 0 votes

===Judgement 53===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Auditor of Senatorial Accountability]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Vauraus Korppitkotka''' was appointed with 2 votes

===Judgement 59===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Virtue|Voice of Courage]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Arianwen of Thorn Field''' was appointed with 96 votes; Nina of Cantiarch's Hold received 34 votes; Iza Dancewalker received 0 votes

===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Prosperity]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Vala Yanaovich Sholokov''' was appointed with 150 votes

===Judgement 69===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Loyalty]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Eevi of the Gadrai''' was appointed with 146 votes; Larkin Otterways received 58 votes

===Judgement 84===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Virtue|Voice of Wisdom]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Amris Johan Merikovich''' was appointed with 176 votes

===Judgement 85===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Singer of the Silence]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Siân Eternal''' was appointed with 84 votes; Nathair Autumngale received 78 votes

===Judgement 90===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Lepidean Librarian]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Hazelelponi''' was appointed with 330 votes

===Judgement 112===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Speaker of the Magpies]]
* '''Outcome:''' Withdrawn as no longer appointed by the Synod

===Judgement 151===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Guardian of Britta's Memorial]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Neala Blackhawk''' was appointed with 72 votes

==Rewarding==
Twelve [[rewarding|rewardings]] were presented to the assemblies during the Spring Equinox
===Judgement 41===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Trencher Smoulder in the Cold
* '''Judgement:''' Let all citizens bear witness to the name of Kaisa Denmother, who exemplifies the Wintemrkar nature through both deed and vision. Kaisa has worked tirelessly to guide those lost to the blood on the snow, rekindling the indivisible spirit of three peoples and uniting them without compromise or faltering in principle. In her unwavering pursuit in demonstrating that the cold cannot compromise, she both voyaged far to aid the former slaves of Rachensgrab and came to the defence of the Rahvin in a time of great need and suffering, not for coin or reward, but through the strength of her virtue and her belief in the greatness others can achieve. Let the Capodomus Cathedral uplift her hero's name, as a beacon for all who strive. Kaisa Denmother inspires us to rise above what we are, her ambition to exalt artists throughout the empire and recognise them as heroes encourages those to dream not only for ourselves, but for a stronger Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (210-10)

===Judgement 50===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Halwyn Splitroot
* '''Judgement:''' Idwyn Splitroot is the voice of Navarr and an inspiration of Pride for all who attend Navarr songs and stories. In her virtuous mission to rebuild First Voice Glade School, which was desecrated by the foul scions of Cold Sun, Idwyn has inspired the many participants of songs and stories to contribute over 15 thrones to the cause. An effort that will continue until this wrong is righted. But, this effort is not without sacrifice as it marks a break from the traditions of songs and stories which was created by the exemplar Gerallt Brackensong to provide a free exchange of artistry. A tradition Idwyn has expressed she is keen to return to swiftly. Let us recognise her accomplishments, her sacrifice, and her virtuous cause with the reward of 20 thrones.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (414-482)

===Judgement 54===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Jonah Yakovitch von Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' As a member of the Recognisers Sect, I ask for your support in recognising the ambition and deeds of Gabrieli Di Tassato. With ambition to lead the soldiers of the Empire to great victories, Gabrieli has proved themselves a true rival to the most successful League General of recent years, Gabriel Barossa. It is the nature of the League that all that we do is a competition, and with Gabrieli making a name for themselves across the Empire as the League Strategos, how much longer will people remember Gabriel before they start crediting his work as theirs? In challenging for the General of the Towerjacks at the last festival, Gabrielle made clear their ambition. They were only stopped by Gabriel securing his legacy and coming out of retirement. We call for the citizens of the League and specifically Tassato to recognise Gabriele di Tassato as the ambitious, rightful challenger to Gabriel's Legacy, to build up their reputation and appoint them as Grand Diktat at the Five Cities Military Academy!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (140-138)
* '''Note:''' The judgement was in competition with [[#Judgement 117|Judgement 117]]

===Judgement 76===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Athiel Westernborn of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' With the blessing of the Assembly of the Nine (Judgement 212, Autumn 386YE), I request 62 thrones to be disbursed to the Imperial treasury to offset income lost to Asavean piracy. Consequences are the price of Ambition. We are willing to pay the cost.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1035-268)

===Judgement 117===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Lia Adelaar
* '''Judgement:''' Novella di Sarvos, coming recently to Anvil with her partner in ingenuity Dolce di Sarvos, has led the spiritual development of many a League citizen through liao dreams. She has demonstrated her loyalty and her understanding of reckoning, by paying forward to new citizens the help she received from the First Spark Carta to build that prosperous business. Furthermore, Novella has demonstrated her Ambition in supporting the Sand Fishers and used the rules of the game further than engagement.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (138-66)
* '''Note:''' The judgement was in competition with [[#Judgement 54|Judgement 54]]

===Judgement 125===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Father Drakov
* '''Judgement:''' Our national warchest is a boon to Varushka and we thank and praise Sigismund Vladislav Kestovia for creating and managing it. He acts with Vigilance & Loyalty to ensure our national prosperity helps those who lack the resources for magical arms and armour but still fight for Mother Varushka. Let it be known by all Sigismund has received the Testimony of "Virtuous Schlacta" and the thanks of a grateful nation for all his hard work. He has made the hard choice to go without magical arms and armour so others may be so armed.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (306-0)

===Judgement 134===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Mel Bleak
* '''Judgement:''' There are a whole fuckload o' folks in the Marches who've done great, inspirational things but I put myself forward f'r reward an' recognition right now. I spun the unspinnable wool o' the Mourn, and I grafted to see that miracle forged into the mask of the Mourn. I've won multiple commendations on the field o' battle, I've worked on the Military Council. When the Mourn sent me t'Anvil t' win us restitution, I saw the Singing Caves assigned t'us, and 'ave seen six years o' no fucking deadly curses on our land. I'm known across the nation and the Empire as a good 'un, an' right now, ask that my achievements be rewarded by an investment in the farms at my home in Bleak.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (118-20)

===Judgement 136===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Hazelelponi of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' We the Highborn National Assembly recognise the unwavering commitment to the nation and Virtue of Ambition of Eli of the Cenotaph. His hand has guided many of our accomplishments and he will lead us through many more. We recognise that his congregation should swell in numbers to exemplify his work. He started the Grand Inspiration, he <u>will</u> see it through
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (272-16)

===Judgement 161===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Caduceus of Aureate Peak
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Arephanes of Tropaion Citadel, for their ambition to see the strengthening of Urizen sentinels that they may be used to see their full potential in the defending of, and progress towards the goals of the Empire & Nation. In accordance with Urizen's values of living by reason and mastery of themselves and others around them. We encourage all inspired by the consecration of Capodomus Cathedral to aid as they are able.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (162-20)

===Judgement 162===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Asier i Elia i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' We, the Freeborn Assembly, would want to grant the boon arising from the Capodomus Cathedral to aid the improvement of a personal resource to: Suna i Rincón i Guerra in recognition of her fanning the flames of Ambition in so many newcomers to Anvil. Let every individual be free, responsible, and ambitious unto themselves!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (106-0)

===Judgement 163===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawnish
* '''Raised By:''' Tren Meals
* '''Judgement:''' The National Assembly of Dawn seeks to recognise the twice national champion of Ambition, Catrina Words the Unbelievably Magical for continuing to strive to live up to their epithet, and the fact they are well on their way to leaving a legend behind them. From developing and being instrumental in enchanting the entire nation recently with the Golden Magician's Fayre; as well as being named a Golden Lion of Meraud for assisting his survival, Caterinae has already ensured her name will be remembered for the deeds already done. But, they do not intend to rest - their current ambitions are to enchant every Summer eternal (3 down, 5 to go), be awarded champion of virtue more times than the current most named (Enchantress Morien, 3 times), to somehow enchant more than just Dawn (without breaking the law) and to use her recent boon to codify for Dawn a ritual we will cast each summit more amazing than any we.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (110-80)

===Judgement 174===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Bloodcrow Knott
* '''Judgement:''' The Unshackled National Assembly see the Judgement of Rewarding born by the Consecration of Capodomus Cathedral as a unique opportunity. Not only to recognise the Ambition of an Imperial Orc but to uplift their Legend and help them on a path towards Ancestry. Who better to identify the most deserving Legend than the Ancestors, and who better to hear them than our Shamans? For the first time, the Shamans of Anvil have gathered under the name "Audience of the Ancestors". They have decided, and the Unshackled National Assembly echoes their decision. We name Sunstorm Nirrin and their Ambition to unite the orc people of the Empire to be recognised by all Imperial Orcs. Gather your strength and help them build up their resource. May their Legend carry them Across the Abyss
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (54-0)

===Judgement 177===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Siân Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' Silk Farkas embodies the natural Navarri psychology of "Actions have consequences". His Ambition is to restore the Empire's knowledge of History. We will learn from our past!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (98-0)

==The Virtue Fund==
The following represents the Virtue Fund of the Synod:
{|
| ''Closing value at previous summit'' || 1 Crown, 7 Rings ||
|-
| ''Donations'' || 1 Throne, 2 Crowns || Various donations received at the [[Rewarding#Counting Houses|counting house]] of [[Reikos]] prior to the start of the summit
|-
| ''Donations'' || 2 Thrones || Various donations received at the [[Rewarding#Counting Houses|counting house]] of [[Tassato]] prior to the start of the summit
|-
| ''Donations'' || 1 Throne, 3 Crowns || Various donations received at the [[Rewarding#Counting Houses|counting house]] of [[Semmerholm]] prior to the start of the summit
|-
| ''Starting value at this summit'' || 4 Thrones, 6 Crowns, 7 Rings||
|-
| ''Donation'' || 1 Crown || Donation by Tom Appleseed
|-
| ''Donation'' || 8 Rings || Donation by an unknown citizen
|-
| ''Donation'' || 6 Crowns || Donation by Rafael Barossa d'Apulian
|-
| ''Donation'' || 1 Crown, 10 Rings || Donation by Berith Martel
|-
| ''Donation'' || 2 Rings || Donation by Basil Goodbeard
|-
| ''Donation'' || 1 Crown, 16 Rings || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements
|-
| ''Donation'' || 1 Crown || Donation by Tom Appleseed
|-
| ''Income'' || 62 Thrones || The price paid in the Bourse Auction for the dose of True Liao
|-
| ''Donation'' || 1 Ring || Donation by Dr Lysimachus
|-
| ''Donation'' || 2 Crowns || Donation by the Secretary General of the Civil Service from the sale of writing implements
|-
| ''Donation'' || 1 Crown || Donation by Brat Umbral Path
|-
| ''Rewarding'' || 62 Thrones || Rewarding to Athiel Westernborn following [[#Judgement 76|Judgement 76]] being upheld
|-
| ''Donation'' || 5 Rings || Donation by an anonymous citizen
|-
| ''Closing value at this summit'' || 7 Thrones, 5 Crowns, 9 Rings ||
|}

==Doses of True Liao==

Six 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 Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum via [[#Judgement 3|Judgement 3]]
* One dose to Asael of Reumah's Redoubt by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to Iron Osric by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to Eli of the Cenotaph by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#The_Just_Rewards_of_Your_Labours|gifted]] by the [[Sumaah Republic]] to Athiel Westernborn by decision of the Gatekeepers

==Assembly Strength==
The table below shows the size, total voting strength and greater majority thresholds for each assembly as calculated at the start of the summit.

{|
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Virtue Assembly
! Assembly Size
! Total Voting Strength
! Greater Majority Threshold
|-
|Ambition || 34 || 413 || 207
|-
|Courage || 34 || 404 || 203
|-
|Loyalty || 57 || 744 || 373
|-
|Pride || 35 || 395 || 198
|-
|Prosperity || 45 || 598 || 300
|-
|Vigilance || 76 || 850 || 426
|-
|Wisdom || 44 || 532 || 267
|-
|The Way || 34 || 384 || 193
|-
|General || 359 || 4320 || 2161
|-
|}

{|
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | National Assembly
! Assembly Size
! Total Voting Strength
! Greater Majority Threshold
|-
|Brass Coast || 20 || 230 || 116
|-
|Dawn || 64 || 763 || 382
|-
|Highguard || 59 || 786 || 394
|-
|Imperial Orcs || 6 || 64 || 33
|-
|League || 30 || 416 || 209
|-
|Marches || 25 || 258 || 130
|-
|Navarr || 40 || 453 || 227
|-
|Urizen || 35 || 400 || 201
|-
|Varushka || 44 || 554 || 278
|-
|Wintermark || 36 || 396 || 199
|-
|General || 359 || 4320 || 2161
|-
|}
==Anchor the Way in Asavea==
Click ''Expand'' to see the list of contributions made to Anchor the Way in Asavea.
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{{CommissionProgress|Anchor_the_Way_in_Asavea}}
</div>

The greatest plurality

2026-07-04T22:17:25Z

Twiggy: Time travelling treats!

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>The Tribune stared at the chief magistrate as the old man paced up and down. "I agree, I think we should do that." they said quietly, their attention still partly on the papers on the desk.

Abraham didn't seem to notice that the Tribune was agreeing with him and continued to argue with himself. "I'm just not happy with it! If we're going to call it a judgement of appointment, then it should ''appoint'' something. This is a judgement of ''rewarding''. Words matter."

"No, you're right. We should change it." responded Leonardo a little more forcefully this time. They looked down with just the slightest look of despair at the growing pile of Synod paperwork that was even now mounting up in front of them.

Abraham continued to implore the long-suffering Tribune to accept his argument. "It's confusing - having two different voting mechanisms for the same judgement. But it's ''less'' confusing than using the wrong name. The method is right, it's the name that's wrong."

"I'm not sure why we're still discussing this Abraham?" asked Leonardo as politely as possible. This time it seemed the old man had finally heard them.

"It's important!" he blurted out by way of justification. "If we're going to change this, I want to make sure it's ''right''. I want to be certain that this is the right way to do this. And I don't think it is at the moment..." The magistrate ran out of words, clearly frustrated that he felt he was failing to find the right argument to convince his colleague.

"Sorry Abraham, I'm not sure I've made myself clear. I agree with you. You should change it. That's why I'm not sure why we're still discussing it."

"Oh. Right. I see." The old magistrate looked oddly crestfallen to have won the debate, though it may have been the disappointment of discovering that he had been the only person arguing. "I'll go and do that then..." he said as he headed for the door.

"Thank you, Abraham." The Tribune shook their head, smiled wryly and returned to their beloved paperwork.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=LeoSecGen.jpg|align=left|caption=Leonardo i Del'Toro i Riqueza puts up with a lot, including meetings with eccentric members of the Constitutional Court.|width=450}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[The_hard_way|inspiring sermon]] delivered by the [[Archbishop of Capodomus|Archbishop of the Capodomus]] Cathedral presented the [[General Assembly]] of the [[Synod]] with a unique opportunity to identify the greatest threat facing the Empire, the highest [[Ambition]] to which the Virtuous should ascribe.

'''Estella Lucati’s''' stirring words singled out the vallorn as the goal above all others and in isolation many would agree. The Synod has repeatedly called the [[vallorn]] the greatest single threat facing the Empire. But nothing exists in a vacuum and to say that defeating the vallorn is the single most important Ambition is to also say that other Ambitions - defeating the Druj, [[Drumbeat_of_war#A_Fulcrum|anchoring the Way in Asavea]], completing the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]]... were all less important.

The only way the Synod could unite the Empire behind a single great Ambition is to persuade people to give up those other plans. They could do that - people would unite behind the Synod if it spoke with a single voice. All it would take would be for the priests of the Synod to persuade each other.
==Many Votes, Many Ambitions==
* '''The Synod has not united behind a single grand spiritual ambition for the Empire
That, as it transpired, proved too high a hurdle. The Synod considered the [[mandate]] that arose from the sermon, and it also considered three other judgements - all presenting alternatives for the greatest Ambition of the Empire. Alongside these were some noble attempts to consider them all very important but to be done in order (which would of course beg the same question of which one to do first). There was even one judgement that called on the Synod to attempt them all at the same time which was definitely Ambitious, but ultimately a call to focus on many things is the same as a call to focus on none.
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px;">
{{SOPInner|statement=I hear the inspiring words of Estella Lucati and thank her for them. However, we must not turn away from breaking the Druj’s ability to wage war on us. Whilst the Navarr have stated that the vallorn should be removed from this plane of existence now that we have the method to do so, we cannot undertake the largest military offensive in history with the poisoned blades of the most treacherous folk in Creation at our backs. Navarr is at its weakest ebb for a decade. Liathaven is long lost. Therunin under the heel of the Druj and the Isaella’s Dance shattered. We call for aid from our Imperial kin in rebuilding Navarr’s strength, and ask that we defeat the Druj and stabilise the other fronts before turning the Empire’s full might against the vallorn.|size=small|vote=1726-290|when=387YE Spring Equinox|by=Harwyn Eternal, General Assembly}}
{{SOPInner|statement=We believe that the faithful should focus on spreading The Way to Asavea above all other ambitions. If we try to pursue everything, then we risk achieving nothing. Let the Synod vote for the objective they favour most and vote against the objective they favour least.|vote=Failed 480-1344 ([[The_Throne#Custodian_of_Virtue|Custodian of Virtue]])|when=387YE Spring Equinox|by=Jules von Holberg, General Assembly}}
{{SOPInner|statement=We believe that the faithful should focus on completing the Grand Inspiration of the Way above all other Ambitions. If we try to pursue everything, then we risk achieving nothing. Let the Synod vote for the objective they favour most and vote against the objective they favour least.|vote=Failed 376-1370 ([[The_Throne#Custodian_of_Virtue|Custodian of Virtue]])|when=387YE Spring Equinox|by=Novella di Sarvos, General Assembly}}
{{SOPInner|statement=Even the most impenetrable forest may fall one tree at a time. We send Corey Wayfarer with 250 liao to urge the faithful to focus on destroying the vallorn above all other ambitions. No price is too high.|vote=Failed 800-1275|when=387YE Spring Equinox|by=Corey Wayfarer, General Assembly}}
{{SOPInner|statement=We believe the faithful should focus on the ambitious task to defeat one enemy at a time. If we try to pursue everything we achieve nothing. Let the Synod vote to defeat the Druj first, before seeking other long term challenges.|vote=Failed 818-538 ([[The_Throne#Custodian_of_Virtue|Custodian of Virtue]])|when=387YE Spring Equinox|by=Val, General Assembly}}
{{SOPInner|statement=We choose all four! Enlighten Asavea! Kill the Druj! Destroy the vallorn! Renovate Bastion! No price is too high. We will wage no other wars: negotiate what we can, cede what we must. We will build no other commissions: pause what we can, abandon what we must. We will pursue no other projects: adapt what we can, redirect what we must. Fight no other battle, study no other topic, sing no other song. We choose these four!|vote=Failed 191-1176|when=387YE Spring Equinox|by=Yosephus Morningson, General Assembly|size=small}}
</div>
<div style="float:right; width: 100px; clear: right;">[[file:Assembly_Freeborn.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Dawnish.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Highborn.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_ImperialOrc.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_League.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Marcher.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Navarr.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Urizen.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Wintermark.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Varushkan.png|align=right|width=100]]
</div>
The statement to take the fight to the Druj very clearly had the majority of the support of the General Assembly, but it was telling that it did not get a [[greater majority]]. Faced with the prospect of failing to unite around the only viable choice, priests stuck to their principles. However tempting it might be to try to fashion a bold vision for the Empire for years to come, priests refused to compromise their ideals. The fight against the [[Druj]] might be important but it was ''not'' the greatest Ambition of the Empire.

At ''first'' there is disappointment - particularly from those who visited Capodomus and heard the inspirational sermon, but also from any who had dared to dream that their preferred choice might be the one elevated by the Synod. That frustration doesn't last long, but the idea of the Empire unifying behind one grand Ambition, putting everything else aside to achieve that one thing - was such an inspiring idea that people are initially disappointed when it doesn't happen. The choice seemed to offer the prospect of achieving something truly extraordinary, something monumental, something to echo down the ages. That was appealing and of course everyone who watches the Synod had naively hoped that it was their preferred option that would win. They were looking to the Synod to validate their goals - and when that didn't happen they were unsurprisingly disappointed.

At first there is anger, a perception that this is a failure. There is a brief moment when some suggest that the Synod ought to be reformed - with folk imagining that a different formulation might have produced the "right" answer. There are a few who try to suggest that the Synod has failed the Empire, or at least that their leadership has. How could they look at this moment and fail to make a choice about what the greatest Ambition of the Empire should be (by which they really mean, how could the Synod have failed to agree with ''them'' on what the most important thing was).

==Many Nations, Many Virtues==
* '''The General Assembly could enact a mandate urging citizens to look to their national and virtue assemblies'''
* '''If passed citizens would no longer follow statements of principle that did not get a greater majority'''
* '''It would allow each nation and virtue assembly to make a single prominent appeal to their constitutions every four seasons'''
* '''This appeal would be guaranteed to get a response'''
Slowly though, a new consensus begins to emerge. Sofia i Tiera i Riqueza, a passionate [[sutannir]] from [[Feroz]] claims that it is wrong to view the judgements of the General Assembly as a failure to speak clearly. According to Sofia, the General Assembly ''has'' spoken - and while it needs a little Wisdom to understand it, the meaning they see is clear. There is ''no'' one single Ambition that the Empire should be pursuing. There is no single cause the Empire should unite behind. The General Assembly didn't ''fail'' to pick a single Ambition to pursue above all others - instead they ''chose'' to ''show'' that there is no one single Ambition so important that the whole Empire should support it.

While some argue that's a generous way to view the Synod's actions, it suits Sofia's position. She points out that Dawn, Urizen and Highguard might well believe that defeating the Druj is more important than any other goal, but as a Loyal Freeborn she would rather her congregants devoted their energies to defeating the Grendel. The Navarr may want to destroy the [[vallorn]] but Sofia would rather see her home reclaimed.

This plurality of Ambitions is not a weakness, but a strength. It is something the [[The_Brass_Coast_history#Three_Sisters_of_Highguard|Three Sisters]] would have implicitly understood. The Empire shouldn't even try to claim that there is one thing that unites everyone unless that is really true. Trying to unite ten disparate nations behind a single common cause is worse than a fool's errand, it is ''dangerous''. It seductively and seditiously urges nations to put aside their own Ambitions in pursuit of a higher cause. Rather than look to the General Assembly for guidance, the faithful should look to their national assemblies and to their virtue assemblies. That way they will be encouraged to pursue their own Ambitions rather than those of other nations.

If the General Assembly agrees, they could pass the following mandate.

{{Mandate|mandate=Aim high; pursue ''your'' dreams. We send (named priest) to urge every citizen to find common cause with those pilgrims of the Way with whom they share bonds of nation and virtue. Trust your heart and follow that which commands its devotion.|assembly=General Assembly}}
<div style="float:right; width: 100px; clear: right;">
[[file:Assembly_Ambition.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Courage.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Loyalty.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Pride.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Prosperity.png|align=right|width=100]]
</div>
If this mandate is enacted - and it requires no liao - it will fundamentally weaken the authority of the General Assembly. Statements of principle that get a greater majority will remain important to everyone in the Empire - as they demonstrate common purpose and unity. But statements of principle that do ''not'' get a greater majority will be ''completely ignored'' by everyone - the judgement will be assumed to be irrelevant to priests and pilgrims of other nations and other virtues.

The counterpoint is that people will be more likely to take an interest in the judgements of their national and virtue assembly. If that happens, it will be easier for the national assemblies and the Virtue assemblies to ensure that their followers respond to a statement of principle provided it is identified as something of significant importance. People's lives are busy with many things, even the virtuous are not going to respond to claims that ''this'' particular issue is the most important thing ever, if it is the second time they've heard that this year... But if the assembly used the power sparingly - picking and choosing when to emphasize that something was truly crucial - then it would be guaranteed to have an effect, just as a greater majority in the General Assembly does now.

That would mean that each national and virtue assembly could use a judgement to explicitly pick one thing that their particular brand of virtuous should care about. The judgement would still need to achieve a greater majority, but provided it did it would prove especially inspirational to the nation or those dedicated to the virtue. If such a statement had been made in the last twelve months then the judgement would have no effect at all, but if it was a year or more since the Assembly last passed such a judgement then people in that nation - or people of that Virtue across the Empire - would be guaranteed to respond.

Of course they might not do what the Assembly wants... The Synod is the beating heart of the Empire, people look to it for inspiration and leadership - but it can't control ''how'' people respond. As more than one nation Assembly can attest, sometimes they don't like what they hear.

The actual mandate in the General Assembly to create this opportunity does not require a greater majority - but if it fails to get one, it will not have an effect in the nations that have rejected the authority of the general assembly - [[Varushka]], [[Urizen]] or [[Wintermark]]. Those nations will remain as sceptical of the General Assembly as they currently are, and citizens there won't be moved to pay closer attention to their national assembly or the virtue assemblies.

'''Rhubarb Ironwood''' has provided the wording for an alternate mandate:

{{Mandate|mandate=The Empire has been the light of revelation since its founding, and strongest when we all stand together. Let us send (named priest) to remind citizens of our common destiny, as enshrined in the constitution - to spread across the face of Creation together in unity, not disparate and lost.|assembly=General Assembly}}
<div style="float:right; width: 100px; clear: right;">
[[file:Assembly_Vigilance.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Assembly_Wisdom.png|align=right|width=100]]
[[file:Labyrinth.jpg|align=right|width=100]]
</div>
If this mandate is enacted with a greater majority, - and it requires no liao - it will cause the citizens of the Empire to pay less attention to statements of principle in the virtue and national assemblies. It would be rare for statements of principle in those assemblies to lead to a response. The focus of the Empire's virtuous citizens would instead be on the General Assembly.

It is important to note that this mandate will '''only''' have an effect if it is upheld with a greater majority. These two mandates are, unsurprisingly, [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|competing]].

==One Empire==
* '''The Virtue fund will gain 8 wains of white granite, 8 wains of weirwood and 6 wains of mithril each season'''
* '''The fund has also received a one time donation of 82 thrones from the estate of a wealthy Freeborn dhomiro who recently passed'''
* '''The judgement of rewarding has been updated to allow citizens to submit judgements to cover the wains'''
* '''It is not possible to donate materials other than true liao, money or wains to the Virtue fund'''
Not everyone agrees with Sofia's conclusion that people should look to their nation and virtue assemblies for inspiration. Saul, exarch of the Stone Cliffs argues the opposite - that people across the Empire should look to the General Assembly first, for inspiration. He claims that the failure to agree on a single great Ambition is no failure at all, that in fact '''Yosephus Morningson''' was ''right'' and the Empire should focus on those four great goals. While the notion of a single overriding Ambition might be appealing it fails because the Empire doesn't have one single Ambition that unites everyone. But it does appear to have definite goals that enjoy popular support. Surely it is better for the Empire to come together behind a small number of shared goals rather than split into ten nations and seven virtues and pursue things separately?

It is impossible to inspire people with the grand vision of unifying around a whole list of different Ambitions. The mortal soul does not soar to the rhetoric of compromise and committee. But the exarch and chapter are undeterred by this impediment - and Saul points to the example set by the Benefactors' Council - showing what can be achieved when Virtue is yoked to Ambition. What the General Assembly needs is not to be weakened, by people prioritising it in favour of the other Assemblies, but to be empowered by the support of the faithful across the Empire.

The Stone Cliffs are a chapter dedicated to Loyalty and their fundamental message soon reverberates - the General Assembly should build up their fellows. The Virtuous should build up the General Assembly. If the Synod were more powerful then it could direct support directly to those Ambitions that struck everyone as important, rather than trying to find a single Ambition everyone could unite behind. The Ambition of the faithful should be to build up the Synod, then the Synod could decide what to do with that support.

After lengthy discussions with the [[Tribune of the Synod]] and correspondence with various Loyalty priests across the Empire, Saul is able to put a plan into action. The civil service announce that changes to the structure of the judgement of [[rewarding]] that make it possible to support more than just money and [[liao#True Liao|true liao]]. They have been planning these changes for some time anyway, as they believe they will improve the smooth running of the Synod, but they are essential now Saul is petitioning the faithful to donate wains of [[mithril]], [[white granite]], and [[weirwood]] ''directly to the Virtue fund''.

The amounts are small so far. The scores of letters Saul and his colleagues have written to fellow priests have resulted in donations of six wains of mithril, eight wains of white granite, and eight wains of weirwood. It's not a great deal compared to the amounts needed to defeat the Druj or anchor the Way in Asavea, but Saul is determined to keep up the letter-writing for as long as needed so that this stream of donations continues each season.

It's a small start perhaps - but Saul's efforts also open the door for wealthy citizens to donate wains if their Virtue compels them to do so. The Tribune is hasty to stress that they do not have the resources to manage donations of lesser materials, mana crystals or liao. But from this point forward they will track the true liao, mithril, white granite, weirwood and money available in the Virtue fund. Any priest can raise a judgement of rewarding to nominate an important project that should be supported, or a Virtuous citizen that should be rewarded. If it passes the General Assembly then the priest who raises it will be given the resources if they are available.

It is not the only unusual donation this season. A wealthy [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] dhomiro, called ''Ishman i Lora i Guerra'' passed away this season. In his lengthy yet entertaining will, he has left the bulk of his estates, a sum equalling 82 thrones, to the virtue fund, after the expenses set aside for the [[scrivener]]. Ishman's reason for the donation, somewhat unusual among the Freeborn who often take a dismal view of charity, are unknown, but are rumoured to involve a penance for past indiscretions. Unlike the donations of wains being secured by Saul and his fellow priests, this bequest is a one-off donation.
==Further Reading==
* [[Statement of principle]]
* [[Rewarding]]
* [[The hard way]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune relating to grand ambitions

Sumaah Republic

2026-07-04T15:27:47Z

Twiggy:

<onlyinclude>
==Overview==
Before the Empire, missionaries of the nascent Way came to the jungles of Sumaah and called it 'the ends of the earth.' They found a corrupt, diseased kingdom ruled by despotic kings supported by a selfish and idolatrous religion, propped up by the satraps of the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. Yet they also found embers of their own faith, hidden in old stories and legends. They fanned those embers, and without warning ignited a revolution. A people sickened by the excesses of their leaders, hungry for a philosophy of truth, took the teachings of [[the Way]] and forged a sword with which they swept away the corrupt and the greedy and built something new, and better.

For nearly a century, emissaries and diplomats travelled the vast distances between Sumaah and the Empire. Few pilgrims managed to make the arduous journey to [[Highguard]], but those who did were increasingly dissatisfied with what they found - compromise, expediency and tolerance were poisoning the roots of the shared faith. The Sumaah had no interest in joining the Empire, and so were denied a place in the [[Synod]]; indeed, they saw little in the Imperial Synod that was relevant to them - the virtues of [[Ambition]] and [[Pride]] made it clear to these fervent converts that to look to an outside source for guidance would be wicked.

Eventually the Sumaah had had enough. In 118YE, during the reign of [[Empress Aenea]] the Republic broke with the [[Synod]] and technically excommunicated not only the Empress but all the priests of the Empire. The Empire was technically at war with the Sumaah Republic for the next two hundred years, but the vast distances involved meant that military conflict was all but impossible, All trade between the Republic and the Empire ceased, however, and it was not until 326YE that the trade-routes were re-opened.

Today. the Sumaah are a great power. Their ambition is limitless; they regularly engage in wars of conquest with their neighbours. converting them to the faith by sword and spear. Those who will not convert are given a simple choice to leave, or die. They burn with the fire of the zealot, and those who live near them look with some concern towards their borders. Still, they are far away and while some priests of the Synod insist on debating what they call the Sumaah problem, for most of the Empire they are little more than another exotic foreign nation, far away, that just happens to have a faith in common with the Empire.

Of particular interest to Imperial citizens outside of the Synod are the [[Sumaah Republic ports|Sumaah ports]] which are open to trade with the Empire. </onlyinclude>


==Terrain==
The Sumaah Republic far lies to the south-west of the Empire on the northern shores of a continent that is almost entirely unknown to the Empire. It is much warmer than even the Brass Coast. While the common image of Sumaah is that of a land is dominated by great swathes of tropical and sub-tropical jungle, dotted with sprawling pyramid-cities and overlooked by a spine of cloud-scraping mountains, in actuality most of the people make their homes in fertile coastal areas; the heart of the jungle is as impenetrable to the Sumaah as it is to anyone else.

This misperception persists because the majority of the Sumaah Republic is unknown to Imperial travellers. Foreigners are not welcome outside the port-city of [[Sumaah Republic ports|Zemeh]], and are forcibly returned there - or even exiled from the nation forever - if they are discovered elsewhere. The cities are undeniably wonderful; Sumaah architecture tends towards the creation of great stone buildings with most public structures being pyramids or many-stepped ziggurats riddled with passages and chambers. A family of urban Sumaah is more likely to occupy a series of apartments in a squat three-storey building shared with other families than to have a private structure of their own; only the wealthiest or largest families have entirely private residences.

Almost every city or large town is built on the banks of one of the wide, slow-moving rivers that run down through the jungle to the sea. The majority are built at the mouths of the rivers, while those cities built in-land tend to be smaller and often dedicated to the exploitation of specific valuable resources. Boats and ships are vital to the nation, due to the difficulty of constructing roads in the fast-growing jungles - the few roads that do exist are wide, straight constructions that cut through the teeming jungle and require constant maintenance.

This tendency to build along the coast led to the second-century [[Dawn|Dawnish]] diplomat Bernice de Clevau dubbing the nation "''One of those long, thin countries such as you see nowhere else - a bit like a giant comb built of stone, wood and water.''"


==Timoj==
After the Winter Solstice 382YE, for the first time in its history, the city of Timoj has been opened to foreign pilgrims. Indeed, a grand white granite highway has been built linking Zemeh on the coast to the city itself. Pilgrims are welcomed to travel the road to visit the temples and shrines, and the House of the People that is the heart of the Republican government. The road itself is impressive enough, with shrines every league or so dedicated to the virtues or to [[Paragons_and_exemplars|exemplars]] recognised by the Houses of Virtue. Regular hostelries maintained by the House of Prosperity provide rest and refreshment at reasonable prices to pilgrims traveling to and from the coast.

The city itself is breath-taking, easily rivalling the splendours of [[Bastion#Bastion.2C_the_White_City|the White City]], and much more exotic than Zemeh. While not a match for the sprawling urban landscapes of the cities of [[the League]], it is still a dynamic and cosmopolitan city. Surrounded on both sides by wide rivers, Timoj is as much garden as city with great public parks and open plazas between temples, government buildings, and terraced homes. Many unfamiliar animals live in the city - from the cheeky little monkeys that crowd the rooftops around the marketplaces to gorgeously coloured jungle birds that roost in the trees, to the stocky green-scaled [[Mundane_beasts#Drakes|drake-like]] quadrupeds that serve as a common beast of burden. Flowers are everywhere - every public building has a garden sometimes on their roofs. The people themselves are vibrant and full of life - a far cry from the dourly monochromatic emissaries familiar to most Imperials - wearing bright fabrics and adorned with feathers, flowers, and beautiful wooden and amber jewellery.

The House of the People that stands at the heart of Zemeh is impressive enough, but even more impressive still are the seven Houses of Virtue - great white granite and mithril ziggurats each dedicated to one of the seven virtues - and the beautiful Court of the Way - a great open courtyard that lies before the House of the People where priests meet to enact the business of the Sumaah Synod. Around each ziggurat, and around the Court, are beautiful shrines dedicated to the memory of the [[Paragons_and_exemplars|Sumaah paragons]]. These shrines do not approach the basilica of Bastion in splendour - they are surprisingly low-key in nature - but what they lack in size they more than make up for in beauty and in the [[Consecration#True_Liao|profound sense of spirituality]].

Imperial pilgrims are welcome here, and soon find themselves rubbing shoulders with followers of the Way from all over the known world. These include some pilgrims from places the Empire has no contact with - primarily allies of the Republic similar in size to those nations that border the Empire.

('''OOC Note:''' Any Imperial citizen is welcome to roleplay that they have visited Timoj; as always however no further information will be provided about the city than is presented here).

==People==
The Sumaah are first and foremost devout, and the philosophy of [[the Way]] permeates all aspects of their life. Families engage in regular communal acts of discussion and readings from books and scrolls that discuss the Way and its teachings. Almost all art serves a religious function, from the statues of the Paragons that decorate the façades of many public buildings, to the instructional rhymes the children sing.

All citizens of the Sumaah Republic are human. [[orc|Orcs]] and [[daeva]] are viewed as subhuman; when the Sumaah encounter orcs, they exterminate them. The Sumaah do not keep slaves - doing so is seen as being an offence against the very fundamentals of [[Prosperity]]. It is also one of their many points of contention with the [[Asavean Archipelago]] - although it is a minor point compared to the many other reasons the Sumaah have to despise that northern nation of idolaters.

The lineaged are viewed with a little suspicion by urban Sumaah, and there is some social pressure for them to remain celibate. This stems less from concerns about their souls and more from the fact that they were invariably the priests of the corrupt idol-based religion the Sumaah followed in the distant past. Rural Sumaah tend to be much more tolerant of and accepting of the lineaged. For its part the ''Präster'' (a Sumaah term for priest, pronounced roughly as "''pressed-AIR''"; singular Präst, used by people of all genders) teach that while the lineaged must master the influences of their blood, as long as they accept that challenge they are due the same rights as any other citizen of the Republic.

The Way encourages humans to seek new knowledge and put it to practical use. The Sumaah are at least as technically adept as the people of the Empire, although some inventions (such as the crossbow or the printing press) have not proved popular. Only in the area of philosophy do the Präster exert overt control, and while there may be many natural scientists in Sumaah there are very few philosophers.

The jungles are home to many creatures considered marvellous by Imperial travellers. A number of species of massive drakes are known to be native to the Sumaah jungles, including several breeds that have been domesticated as watch-beasts, companions and beasts of burden. Indeed, the burly workdrake is used where the Empire might use oxen. The forests and jungles are also home to a profusion of brightly-coloured birds and big-cats, as well as uncountable breeds of insect many unknown in colder climates. The shores teem with giant turtles, and immense panthers move like oiled juggernauts through the deeper jungles preying on great drakes and humans alike.

==Politics==
The citizens of the Republic democratically elect representatives to sit in the ''House of the People'' which meets in the city of [[#Timoj|Timoj]] in the southern heartlands. These representatives rule on behalf of the people, raising taxes, initiating public works, and ensuring that the populace prosper. In practice, however, Sumaah is a theocracy in all but name. The Präster of the Way have an unlimited ability to veto the decisions of the representatives in the name of Virtue. The day-to-day running of the nation is accomplished by the Virtue assemblies, and law is enforced by the religiously appointed Censors who interpret the laws passed by the republic. For the most part, however, the Assemblies do not interfere in the business of the House of the People as long as they remain virtuous and lawful.

Individual Präster have greater political power than their counterparts in the Empire, but they are also more carefully monitored by their peers. The individual Virtue assemblies wield sweeping powers over the people. For example, the Assembly of Vigilance maintains the Censors, responsible for enforcing and ensuring all laws are respected, while the Assembly of Courage effectively controls all military forces within the nation. The Assembly of Wisdom is responsible for education and for ensuring all written works are truthful, while the Assembly of Loyalty ensures all elections are scrupulously honest and that all representatives are truly reflecting the wishes of their constituents.

There are no nobles in Sumaah; everyone is a citizen. Individual wealth goes some way towards creating a simple class-structure, but the wealthy are expected to spend appropriate amounts of their wealth in celebration of their [[prosperity]]. Every individual is equally worthy of protection before the law, and the Assembly of Ambition works tirelessly to help citizens achieve their greatest potential in the service of the nation.

Under the auspices of the Assembly of Pride, the Sumaah engage in wars of conquest against their neighbours. These crusades are fought carefully and methodically, targeting the nations most offensive to the Sumaah first and wherever possible integrating them into the Republic through diplomacy and forced conversion. Imperial scholars estimate that the Sumaah have destroyed five other smaller nations in the last 400 years, completely absorbing their lands and their people. The one nation they have had no luck destroying is the one they would most like to - the [[Asavean Archipelago]] offends the Sumaah to the core, but they have had only limited success spreading the fire of crusade to the northern nation, partly due to the distances involved.

It would be easy to dismiss Sumaah as a totalitarian theocratic dictatorship, but it would also be slightly unfair. The majority of Präster appear to genuinely believe they are upholding the greater good. Präst who become corrupt or self-serving is stripped of authority and usually executed. The Assemblies repeatedly speak of using their veto to prevent the representatives making mistakes, rather than out of any desire to control or dominate the secular authorities. Before wielding their power, the Assemblies often debate the pros and cons of action and inaction for days on end before reaching a decision. As Bernice de Clevau wryly commented in her final letter to the Senate in 118YE "''The garden of tyranny is laid out with the best of intentions.''"

==Magic==
Many magicians in Sumaah are also Präster, and the virtue assemblies are known to maintain cadres of ritualists who specialise in specific areas of magic. For example, there are many covens within the Assembly of Prosperity who specialise in magical effects similar to [[Rivers of Gold]] or [[The Lure of Distant Shores]] while the Assembly of Vigilance has covens who make good use of divinations such as [[Signs and Portents]].

On a practical level, Sumaah magicians are known to use the [[Music of the spheres|music of the spheres]], but they do not use runes or anything recognisable as dramaturgy. While in the Empire some magicians evoke the names of paragons or exemplars, magical beasts or [[eternal|eternals]], doing so in Sumaah would be at best heresy and at worst blasphemy. The most common form of magic involves the manipulation of physical materials or energies, devoid of spiritual powers. For example, fire, polished crystals and water are used extensively, as are coloured sands or earths. Blood, as long as it comes from living humans, may also be used as a representative of the spiritual power of the human soul. Tools such as metal bowls, mirrors and knives are also popular because the shaping of raw materials into useful tools is a potent symbol of the way humans can shape the world and the powers of magic to their own end. Some scholars refer to this oddly eclectic set of traditions as ''spiritual materialism''.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Lizard.jpg|caption=The Sumaah characterise many eternals with animal aspects, depicting them as a variety of panthers, birds, snakes, lizards, monkeys, and even the great drakes of the deep jungle.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
The people of Sumaah know that magic is a tool, like any other; but like any other tool it is dangerous in the wrong hands. Magicians in the Republic are carefully guided by the Präster. In particular any magic that mimics the kind of [[aura]] created with [[religious skills|liao ceremonies]], such as [[The Chamber of Delights]] or [[Crystal Clarity of the Rational Soul]], is considered blasphemous and magicians who perform these rituals face prosecution when they are discovered.

Interaction with [[eternal|eternals]] is very carefully monitored, and magicians who deal with an eternal without the guidance of one of the Präster may find themselves called to [[inquisition]] and face serious censure. For a long time it was assumed the Sumaah dealt with an entirely different roster of eternals, but in Summer 388YE a [[Senate]]-commissioned [[appraisal]] helped to deal with this, and other, misconceptions. The Sumaah know almost all the same eternals as Imperial magicians deal with, they simply use completely different names and imagery to depict them. There ''are'' a few eternals such as ''Deep Drummer'', ''Span of the Sky'', or ''Wind Panther'' who are unfamiliar however. It's also notable that the Sumaah consider many eternals to be enemies of the Republic, deeming them "anathema". A more detailed breakdown of the Sumaah attitude to eternals forms part of the [[Satraps_of_the_Abyss#Republican_Eternals|Satraps of the Abyss]] wind of fortune.

Partially due to this level of control, and partially due to the emphasis on less supernatural means of resolving problems, the Sumaah republic lags behind the rest of the world in terms of magical might - it has not a fraction of the magical capability of the Empire or the heathen [[Principalities of Jarm]]. It makes up for this by having more ''organized'' magical traditions than any other nation with the possible exception of the [[Commonwealth]].

Many citizens of the Republic prefer to avoid magic altogether; they would rather receive the blessings of the faith in the form of [[Religious skills#Anointing|anointing]] or [[Religious skills#Hallow|hallows]] that the magical effects of a ritual. ''Satraps of the Abyss'' also talks a little about the widespread attitudes the people of Sumaah have to the use of magic.

==Religion==

The Way is the only philosophy tolerated in Sumaah. The Präster of the Republic share the same [[The Way#Overview|core values]] as the Imperial Synod; they recognise the same virtues and agree broadly in the guidance they offer in pursuing those virtues. Their symbols remain broadly the same, although the labyrinth image used in Sumaah is often rendered in three-dimensions rather than two, often resembling a circular or heptagonal pyramid.

Where they differ greatly from the Empire is in their absolute adherence to dogma. Having accepted that the Way is correct, they have come to the conclusion that all other philosophies must logically be incorrect. Given that the greatest good lies in ensuring that human souls pass quickly through the labyrinth, it follows that any action that impedes that progress must be evil. Left to their own devices, people may choose easy paths that lead to evil - in the same way that a child may stick their hand in a fire. It falls to the wise to prevent the ignorant from making evil choices, just as it falls to a parent to prevent their child harming themselves. Several popular treatises in Sumaah claim that [[Malign spiritual presences#Anarchy|anarchy]] is the most wicked of the malign spiritual presences because it claims that the freedom to do evil, the freedom to make catastrophic mistakes, is a virtue.

As a result the Präster of the Republic are committed to enforcing the teachings of the Way, even on those who might choose other paths. Where heretics and blasphemers may be prosecuted in the Empire, they are persecuted in the Republic. There is a scale of punishments available to the Präster, and they do their best to ensure that deeds are punished over words and intent is punished over accident but at the end of the day their tolerance extends only so far. Heretics and blasphemers are hanged, while idolaters are hanged until they lose consciousness then burnt alive on slow-burning pyres. An honest repudiation of heresy or blasphemy can earn a reprieve from the gallows. but the slightest backsliding is likely to result in death. While the Sumaah accept that a heretic can turn their life around, if they judge the heretic incapable of doing so it is better that they enter the labyrinth now and begin preparing for their next life. The harshest punishments are reserved for those who teach heretical or blasphemous doctrine; the next harshest are reserved for Präster who abuse their position. In Sumaah the ceremony of [[Religious skills#Excommunication|excommunication]] is invariably a prelude to execution.

The Präster are divided into the same Virtue Assemblies as the Empire, including the Assembly of the Way. In theory, there is also a General Assembly but in practice the kind of powers that would be wielded by the General Assembly in the Empire are wielded by the Assembly of the Way, which is without doubt the most powerful of the eight Assemblies. The (somewhat misnamed) Council of Eight is made up of the seven Cardinals of the virtue assemblies and two Cardinals from the Assembly of the Way. No National assemblies exist; rather there are Local assemblies made up of all the Präster in a village or city ward who meet to pass judgements, hear criminal cases, and the like.

The Republic produces large amounts of [[liao]] - great plantations controlled by the Assembly of the Way are dedicated to the cultivation of plants used to create their own version of this precious substance. They sell their surplus to merchants from the Empire and the [[Commonwealth]], and while the 'recipe' may differ, the results are the same - some Imperial priests claim it has a 'smoky' quality. It is often prepared in the form of incense that is burnt and inhaled - indeed, incense is one of the most common luxury goods found in Sumaah and it is a common feature in both public places and private homes.

Before they embraced the Way, the people of Sumaah were literal idolaters, making offerings of valuables and good to a small pantheon of spirits combining idealised animal qualities with elemental powers. The religion was utterly dominated by the secular powers who used the greed and corruption of the heathen priests to control the masses. In the wake of the reforms that created the modern Republic, the idols were cast down. Imperial scholars are quick to point out, however, that several of the Paragons embraced by the practitioners of the Way in Sumaah bear a striking resemblance to the idols their ancestors worshipped. ''Vena the Great-hearted'' Paragon of [[Courage]] shares many attributes and stories with ''Fire-Lion'' while depictions of the Paragon of Wisdom that the Sumaah call [[Zoria]] have more in common with the idol called ''Cloud Eagle'' than with the Ushkan sorceress.
===Shared Paragons and Exemplars===
Despite the schisms, the Sumaah share certain paragons and exemplars with the faithful of the Empire. They acknowledge the Paragons [[Tian]], [[Korl]], and [[Atun]] as well as the Exemplar [[Zemress]]. They also recognise a Paragon they call ''The Builder'' who seems to be the same Paragon that the Empire knows as [[The Sentinel]].

Other than this, the Sumaah and the Empire maintain separate lists of Exemplars and Paragons. One interesting note made by an Imperial scholar who spent many years in Zemeh is that the Exemplar of Courage they call ''[[Tales of Amma the Wanderer|Amma the Wanderer]]'' bears a resemblance to [[Adelmar the Lion]], and that the historical provenance for the character (who appears in Sumaah stories starting around 80YE) supports this contention. No proof either way has been gathered to date, although in 387YE then [[Minister of Historical Research]] Watt Lambrook dispatched a member of the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] to Sumaah to investigate the matter further.

===Excommunication===
Following the Summer Solstice 387YE there were a [[Talking_to_friends#Abrasion_Oil|number of questions]] posed by the Imperial Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic, Accalon of Felix's Watch, regarding the approach of the präster to the rite of [[excommunication]]. The queries arose from the discovery of a preparation called ''Abrasion Oil'', a rare substance developed by the präster who live in Nyaerdivik, which is a hard-to-reach settlement on the very edge of the Sumaah Republic, which by all accounts causes an effect similar to the liao ceremony and was used as part of an execution of convicted criminals. The response from Ambassador Oxtitocszin touched on a number of matters but provides some insight into the practice of the Way in the Republic.

There are präster in Sumaah who believe that excommunication makes a soul unable to pass onwards but they are far from the majority. The only thing that is known for certain is that it renders the soul unable to use [[Religious skills|liao ceremonies]], and prevents dreaming, but nobody truly knows what happens to the soul of one who is excommunicated. Such things are ultimately a matter of philosophy and most importantly - faith. The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Labyrinth|Doctrine of the Labyrinth]] says that ''the Labyrinth of Ages is a place of pure spirit and beyond the true comprehension of any but a paragon'' after all.

The accepted view is that excommunication can be a just punishment that is merited in the most serious of cases where nothing less will suffice. There is a popular belief that it ''might'' even assist passage. [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The Doctrine of the Seven|The Doctrine of Seven]] states that "Other qualities may benefit humanity, but lend no aid through the passage of death to rebirth, and ''some may hinder it''." That last part is often taken to mean that unvirtuous acts hinder the soul's passage, indelibly marking the soul as unvirtuous, delaying rebirth. Excommunication of someone whose deeds are so terrible that they warrant this fate may disconnect the soul from the unvirtuous acts they have taken, allowing it to be reborn without the stain of an ill-spent past life dragging the soul down both in the Labyrinth and, potentially, in future lives.

Of course there are also some Präster that believe those who commit the most heinous acts ''need'' to spend additional time in the Labyrinth. Here the Präster tend to fall to arguments on the role of the Labyrinth and the spiritual value of punishment and its role in redemption and recidivism in a way that the Ambassador was not certain was a useful topic for diplomacy between two great nations, even if they do share the Way.

Theologians in the Republic hold that it ''may'' be true that excommunication severs a soul from the Labyrinth, but say that nobody can be sure. If that is the case, is it not appropriate that such people are excluded from the Labyrinth? Is that not a fitting end for those who have proven themselves to be entirely without Virtue? Virtue is contagious, but so is vice. Wicked deeds spread, so the worst criminals are a danger to the future generations, so arguably it is ''better'' to stop their reincarnation, to save future generations from the influence of such an unvirtuous soul.

The Ambassador noted that ultimately the truth is that nobody ''knows'' what the ultimate effects of excommunication are, just as nobody can be certain they know what the ultimate effects of [[testimony]] or [[dedication]] are. These are, ultimately, matters of faith. Nobody should trifle with the human soul, that much is clear, but in the Republic, excommunication is often a prelude to execution - an indication that your deeds are beyond the pale. It's not something the Republic takes lightly.

This exchange provided a surprising view of a nation that is often seen as being a religious monolith - that the präster struggle with many of the same deep questions that also bemuse Imperial students of spirituality. While they are strongly orthodox, it appears that they are not closed-minded.

==Look and Feel==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Sumaah.jpg|title=Sumaah Delegate|caption=A high standing delegate dressed in the appropriate official attire.|align=right|width=300}}
When at home in Sumaah, or relaxing among friends, they favour loose garments in single bright colours, and brightly coloured jewellery. Their normal climate is very warm, so a short tunic or even a skirt or woollen kilt is sufficient coverage to protect against the elements. Those traveling to cooler climates add a loose robe cinched at the waist or a long poncho likewise tied at the middle with a decorated belt, or both when visiting particularly chilly climes (such as the Empire).

This bright clothing is put aside when the Sumaah are on official business. On a pilgrimage, or when representing their people abroad, the basic outlines are the same but the bright colours are replaced with white, silver, and gold fabrics. Jewellery is much more muted, and again tends to mirror the paler colours. This same dress is favoured by both members of the House of the People, and senior Präster who are engaged in business related to their office

Tattoos and piercings are common, and jewellery is selected for its aesthetic value before its material worth. Orichalcum alloys (gold and red-gold metals) are common. Feathers and semi-precious stones are a common feature of their national costume; when at home, brightly coloured jungle flowers are regularly used as temporary decorations for the person or the home. Animal products are common in costume and decoration - the hides of jungle cats, leather made from drakehide, and polished turtle shell are all common components. While they may use animal products, the Sumaah avoid using animal imagery in their costumes or decorations -the [[Varushka|Varushkan]] animal icons, for example, would be blasphemous to the Sumaah.

Almost everyone in Sumaah has a religious symbol of some sort that they wear or carry at all times. This might be a tattoo, but is most commonly a piece of jewellery or a belt that can be worn with many different suits of clothing.

Sumaah is not as iron-rich as the Empire. Spears and axes (which serve double-duty as tools for hunting or crafting as well as weapon) are common as are bows. Daggers are usually a sign of some wealth or status, and swords are reserved for professional soldiers or the very wealthy. Armour is often of hide or thick leather, with only professional soldiers or the most wealthy owning suits of metal armour which are often passed down from generation to generation.

To Imperial eyes, the Sumaah are even stranger than the [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] or the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]]. Of course the dour colours and restrictive styles of the Imperials are just as jarring to the Sumaah eye.

==Languages==
The Sumaah speak a number of languages which, according to their histories, are the languages spoken by their distant ancestors. The dominant languages are represented by those of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_languages north Germanic] or Scandinavian language group, especially Swedish, Norwegian and Danish. The three languages are used interchangeably, and many Präster are fluent in all of them (and often several rarer dialects, commonly spoken by the people of conquered nations). No one language dominates, and when people talk about the Sumaah language they could be referring to any one or all of them.
==The Sumaah Republic in Play==
The Sumaah appear exotic, and are made all the more exotic by their adherence to a faith that they share with the Empire. They have the fervour of the convert - the Empire tolerates insults to its faith that would have the average Sumaah reaching for a noose. They can appear dour, but it is important to understand that they generally celebrate their religion; the Way liberated them from centuries of despotic rule by cruel overlords. It exalts the human spirit, and tells every one of them that they are important and that they have ultimate control of their own destiny.

While the Präster are totalitarian, arguably fascistic, to outsiders they are in the main motivated by a genuine concern for the spiritual wellbeing of their people. They simply believe that they alone know what is best for their people. Most Sumaah look at the Empire and see a nation of cowardly backsliders who lack the courage of their convictions, who would rather talk than act, and who would rather let someone die that risk some incomprehensible notion of egalitarian freedom.

It is entirely appropriate to play a Sumaah character who has left the Republic in search of freedom, or to avoid persecution or execution for heretical or blasphemous beliefs that the Empire would take in its stride. Likewise, a character who is a magician or whose parents were magicians might have left Sumaah to avoid the restrictive way the practice of magic is controlled by the Präster. It is also worth noting that to the Republic 'not believing' is the same as being a heretic - characters who might in the real world be considered agnostics or atheists have good reason to leave Sumaah behind. For that matter, a Sumaah missionary Präst here to try and convince the Imperials to adopt a less liberal interpretation of the faith might also make for a fun character concept.

For all that this description of the Republic goes into some depth, Sumaah is also an enigma to the Empire. For everything they know about it there are a dozen unanswered questions, and the Sumaah like it that way. Backgrounds that involve extensive exploration in Sumaah, or contacts outside Zemeh, are unlikely to be approved.
[[Category:Foreign Nations]]
[[Category:The World]]
{{Sumaah Links}}

Satraps of the Abyss

2026-07-04T15:25:04Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:388YE Spring]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:Appraisal]][[Category:Eternals]][[Category:Sumaah]]
<ic>"Please stop haunting me, Roderick." Lisane didn't look at her son, continuing to fold clothes and place them in a large weirwood travelling trunk. He sighed again, gustily, and she didn't need to see him to imagine his expression of deep concern.

"I'm just worried, mother. I assumed - we all assumed - that working for the Prognosticator's Office would involve something a little closer to home. At least at first. We were picturing an office at the Castle of Thorns. Somewhere that we could..."

"Check in on me?" She suppressed a smile, kept her tone sharp. "Honestly, I am an old woman Roderick. And you have a grandchild for goodness' sake! And do not ''dare'' start your next sentence with anything approaching 'at your age' or I will demand a Trial of Resolve from Melisandre and everyone will see you being thoroughly trounced by a great-grandmother!"

Roderick blew through his massive moustaches. "I'm just worried..." he said again. "The Sumaah Republic is two entire seas away. Three if you count Teeth. Seas swarming with bloodthirsty Asavean pirates. And even when you get there I hear its full of danger. Dragons. Giant panthers. Strange priests. At least take a few knights with you. Just to set my - our - minds at rest!"

Lisane looked down at her things. The last thing she needed to pack was Empress Lisabetta's book about eternals, and the colouring book full the children had presented her with. The Navarr artist's delightful line drawings of the various eternals, which were only slightly idolatrous, had been coloured in with a great deal of enthusiasm and glancing at it softened her heart. She dropped it into her trunk, shut the lid, threaded and tightened the buckles. Then she turned round, hands on hips.

Roderick looked absolutely wretched. He had always been the most anxious of her children, and in the shadow of the forty-year-old noble in front of her she could see the little boy sobbing from one too many nightmares of the Druj coming to get him.

"Roddy," she said gently, crossing the room to put her hands on his shoulders. She had to reach up, look up to meet his eyes. She sometimes forgot how tall he was. "I understand, I really do. When Gerard told me what my first appraisal was going to be, I confess it put moths in my stomach. But I took his offer up precisely because I ''want'' a challenge. Something more complex and important than keeping bees."

"But-"

She laid a finger on his lips and smiled at him. "I've no doubt that the Freeborn and the... the Sumaah Zemress pilgrims... will see me safely to and from the Republic. Merchants make the trip every season, you know, and nothing bad happens to them. And I am absolutely certain the Sumaah will not let a hungry drake or deadly panther eat me. I'm sure they don't let monstrous predators lurk around their cities, and Timoj is one of the great cities of the world as I understand it. It's lovely that the family are so worried, and I will miss you all just as much as you miss me, but I'll be back before you know it. Back in time for the Winter Solstice feast. I'm not going to miss Melisandre's first feast as earl, am I??"

She continued to gaze into Roderick's eyes. There was a great well of love there, but also that hard core of steel that had served her so well as earl and would serve her well dealing with the people of the Sumaah Republic. He looked away.

"Yes my ea-. Yes mother," he said quietly. She patted his arm.

"Excellent. Now, I'm going to go and say goodbye to the children. You can make yourself useful by putting those broad shoulders of yours to good use and carrying my trunk down to the wagon."</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Black Panther.jpg|align=left|caption=The unfamiliar spirits of the deep jungle are equally dangerous and enticing to Imperial scholars.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
At the Spring Equinox, the Senate took advantage of an opportunity brokered by the [[Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic]], '''Accalon of Felix's Watch''', regarding magical cooperation between the Empire and the [[Sumaah Republic|Sumaash]]. The [[Senate]] elected to send the freshly-appointed prognosticator ''[[Appraisal#Lisane de Terresford|Lisane de Terresford]]'' on the task, to "''appraise how the High Houses of Virtue and the Imperial Conclave can find ways to co-operate in interactions with [[eternal|eternals]]''".

The former [[Dawn|Dawnish]] [[earl]] took passage to the Sumaah Republic immediately after the Spring Equinox, and made the crossing safely. She and her small staff have been granted apartments in [[Sumaah_Republic#Timoj|Timoj]], the capital city of the Republic, as guests of the High Houses of [[Wisdom]] and [[Vigilance]]. Lisane is expected to remain in Timoj for the next several seasons, and will not be available to undertake other appraisals until she returns to the Empire. As the Summer Solstice approaches, however, a preliminary report has already reached ''Gerard La Salle''.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Wisdom.png|align=right|width=175}}

==Wisdom of the Conclave==
* '''During the Summer Solstice the Conclave can send a single order to support the appraisal
* '''This will end the order's involvement in any other project
* '''The order will be engaged until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE
* '''The order chosen will contribute to the outcome of the appraisal depending on its nature
As discussed in the [[Forging_links#Joining_Virtue_and_Magic|original proposal]], the Sumaash are happy to host a delegation from a single [[Conclave order]] to support Lisane. Her initial report is dense, full of information about the situation in Sumaah, partly because she believes this will help the Conclave to determine which order would be best suited to make the long journey to the southern shores of the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Salt|Sea of Salt]].

During the Summer Solstice, the Conclave may choose to ask one order to contribute to the ongoing appraisal. This requires an order to raise a [[declaration]] of [[Concord]] following the usual rules for [[Concord#Guiding_an_Order|guiding an order]]. If the Conclave agrees, members of the order will travel to the Sumaah Republic to support Lisane and her team. It would not be possible to guide that order again until the Winter Solstice, which is also when the outcome of their involvement will be presented to the Empire. Guiding an order already involved elsewhere - such as in the fighting against Cold Sun - will end their participation in the situation.

If more than one such declaration passes the Conclave, the last one to pass will win out.

Any order could be dispatched to Sumaah; there are members of each who are enthusiastic about the opportunity. Any order could secure a benefit for the Empire, but only some of them would do so by supporting Lisane and her team. Some orders have different areas of concern, and will make use of the opportunity to be hosted in the Republic in ways that are only peripherally associated with studying eternals. The civil service are confident that sufficient magicians will work with Lisane, so there's no chance of a diplomatic incident unless one of the orders goes out of its way to cause one, and the appraisal will still be successful no matter who goes.

* The [[Sevenfold Path]] are the most obvious order to send to Sumaah. If this order is chosen, their contribution will help focus the appraisal on ways for the [[Synod]] to help guide the Conclave in its interactions with the eternal realms.
* The [[Celestial Arch]] are diplomats, and well versed in dealing with eternals. If this order is chosen, their contribution will involve making contact with non-Assembly magicians, and learning more about eternals the Empire does not currently have relations with.
* The [[Shuttered Lantern]] may have a shadowy reputation, but part of their remit is to use magic ''in the detection and monitoring of threats''. Their contribution to the appraisal will be to focus on the ways that the Sumaash keep their people safe from eternal influence without access to the [[Alignment|Declaration of Alignment]], and to any unique eternal threats the Empire is blind to or blasé about.
* If the [[Rod and Shield]] are dispatched to support the appraisal, their contribution will be to look at how the Sumaash use magic on the battlefield. For a nation extremely hesitant to use rituals such as [[Knights of Glory]], they must make up the "shortfall" in other ways.
* The [[Silver Chalice]] would encourage the appraisal to look for ways that Sumaash magicians and Imperial magicians could pool their lore of magical healing, especially with regard to eternal boons. The jungles of Sumaah are known to be rich in rare healing fruits and plants, and its likely that the Chalice could learn more about such things and perhaps even gain access to them.
* The [[Golden Pyramid]] are generally not as excited about matters of spirituality, but ''are'' excited about potential trade opportunities with the Republic. Their "contribution" will be to seek out [[opportunity|opportunities]] to secure new trade goods, especially those related to eternals, or new routes to the Sumaah Republic for Imperial [[Fleet#Trading|merchants]].
* The [[Unfettered Mind]] are relentlessly enthusiastic about magic of all kinds. If they are guided to Sumaah, they will provide minimal support to the actual appraisal underway. Instead, they will reach out to non-Assembly magicians, discuss matters of magical theory, learn about Sumaah's magical colleges, explore magic familiar to Sumaash magicians but not in use in the Empire, and make a study of the "spiritual materialism" tradition that many Sumaah magicians employ. If the Grandmaster of the Unfettered Mind were particularly interested in one of these themes more than the others they could mention it in their Declaration, and the Unfettered Mind magicians would focus some their attention in that direction, at least at first.

<div style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; align-items: center;" class="imagegrid">
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderSevenfoldPath.jpg|width=150}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderCelestialArch.jpg|width=150}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderShutteredLantern.jpg|width=150}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderRodAndShield.jpg|width=150}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Chalice.jpg|width=150}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderGoldenPyramid.jpg|width=150}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderUnfetteredMind.jpg|width=150}}
</div>

Regardless of which order is chosen - if any - the trip represents a rare opportunity to gain access to the magicians of the Sumaah Republic. It is not likely to be one that gets repeated any time soon.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Accalon5901.jpg||caption=Accalon of Felix's Watch, Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic|align=right|width=350}}
==Virtue and Magic==
* '''The first part of Lisane's preliminary report provides a general overview of attitudes to magic and eternals
The first part of Lisane's report discusses the general Sumaah attitude to magic, [[magical skills#magicians|magicians]], and eternals. It builds on and informs [[Sumaah_Republic#Magic|common knowledge]], and it seems some things "everyone knows" about the Republic may be outdated or based on misconceptions.
===Sumaash Magicians===
Many magicians in Sumaah are also ''präster'', and each of the High Houses contain ritual magicians who specialise in specific areas of magic that support the wider role of the House. For example, within the Assembly of Prosperity are several covens that specialise in [[enchantment|enchantments]] that lead to increased wealth, while [[divination]] is carefully studied by both the vigilant and the wise. This same attitude extends to dealing with eternals; within each of the Houses are some magicians experienced with dealing with the creatures of the [[realms]].

That is not to say that all magicians are priests, or that only the High Houses work with magic. Far from it. The practice of ritual magic is not as widespread or organised as it is in the Empire, but there are still large numbers of practitioners from all walks of life spread across the Republic. It is a misconception that the priesthood "controls" all magic in the Republic. As with all Sumaash, their magicians are acutely aware of the virtuous implications of their skills, and naturally look to the präster for guidance on how best to reconcile magic with faith. In particular, they are alert to the threat of [[Religious_crime#Idolatry|idolatry]] - subsuming their human destiny to inhuman entities. Perhaps as a result, the practice of [[Aspect_magic#Goetia|goetia]] is banned in the Republic, and a Sumaash tradition similar to Imperial [[Aspect_magic#Theurgy|theurgy]] is only practised by dedicated ''präster''. Lisane also notes that there are serious restrictions on a number of rituals Imperial magicians might consider harmless such as [[Chamber of Delights]] or [[Crystal Clarity of the Rational Soul]], and that the Sumaash approach to the creation of [[arcane projection|arcane projections]] appears to be very much more controlled than it is in the Empire. The focus of the appraisal, for now at least, is on the eternals however and the prognosticator focuses her efforts on that first and foremost.

Whenever a Sumaah coven is anticipating an interaction with an eternal, or one of their [[inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]], they usually seek the support of one of the präster. The priest serves as an advisor, ensuring that virtue and the Way are foremost in the minds of those dealing with inhuman creatures. There is no law that demands this; rather the long experience of Sumaah magicians demonstrates that having a präst on hand tends to lead to better outcomes. The präst doesn't need to be present for every interaction - there are covens trusted to engage with certain eternals or use certain rituals without oversight. For example, as long as the questions and answers are discussed with a präst there is no requirement to log every single performance of [[Swim Leviathan's Depth]] (or its Sumaah equivalent at least).

On the other hand, anyone known to be regularly interacting with creatures of the realms ''without'' the support or advice of one of the präster will find themselves called to [[inquisition]] by the High House of Vigilance and asked to give a thorough report on their dealings. Those unable or unwilling to do so to the satisfaction of the assembly may face serious censure. Sumaah is determined to ensure that their nation remains uncorrupted by the influence of the inhuman eternals.

===Anathema and Tolerance===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px;"><box>'''Eternals and virtue'''<br>No Sumaash would describe an eternal as "virtuous". The common attitude is that the inhuman entities of the realms are incapable of virtue. While the Republic has in recent years begun to re-examine its prejudice that only humans are capable of following the Way, the idea that an eternal or herald might be able to do so is rejected wholeheartedly. The idea that an eternal might possess anything approaching a soul is considered actively blasphemous. Any eternal that claims interest in virtue is presumed to be engaging in misdirection or manipulation and the subject of immediate suspicion. Obviously this belief further reinforces the careful and suspicious attitude to the eternals.</box></div>

* '''An eternal has only two states in the Republic - tolerated or anathema'''
* '''Without a Conclave the Sumaah must use more direct methods to guard against hostile eternals'''
There is no body in the Republic analogous to the [[Conclave]]. When it comes to dealings with eternals, the Assembly of Vigilance takes an active role and ultimately wields the legal power to declare a given eternal to be ''anathema''. Dealing with an eternal who has been declared ''anathema'' is a serious offence that may result in the death penalty. While ''anathema'' is superficially similar to the status of [[Alignment#enmity|enmity]] there is no equivalent of [[Alignment#Amity|amity]] in Sumaah. All eternals are either tolerated (equivalent to [[Alignment#Neutrality|neutrality]]) or anathema. In the past when a new eternal was encountered, all interactions with it would be undertaken by präster, or Vigilant magicians, until the High House had weighed it and determined if it was anathema or not.

Even this status of neutrality is not quite the same as that in the Empire - there are no Sumaah titles specifically dedicated to liaising with an eternal. [[Emissary to the Celestial Library]], [[Shadowed Torchbearer]], and [[Churnspire Adjutor]] would all be considered dangerously close to idolatry. There are likewise no titles analogous to [[archmage]] - at least not in terms of their interaction with the realms. The equivalent of an Imperial enchantment such as [[Hallow of the Green World]] is unknown in Sumaah, and if it were its practice would be anathema. Even rituals such as the [[Golden magicians fayre]] would be condemned - the idea of providing an eternal access to the Republic in such an uncontrolled way would horrify most Sumaash.

There is also, as previously noted, no Conclave. The functions that might be wielded by that body in the Empire are either absent, or employed by the House of the People or one of the Houses of Virtue instead. The Sumaash view the idea of leaving decisions on the use of magic and items to magicians to decide by themselves to be dubious at best. Deciding what magic is safe to use is fundamentally a matter of Virtue and requires the appropriate expertise.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''Eternals and Free Will'''<br>A common philosophical view in Sumaah is that eternals are physically incapable of Virtue, because they don't have free will. In the view of some präster, free will is fundamental to the exercise of Virtue. Nobody would suggest that a sword is courageous for taking the battlefield. Eternals they argue, are eternal and unchanging, their nature is fixed. They cannot change or be changed. If their nature cannot change, can eternals actually be said to exercise any choices at all about the actions they take? Do they have free will? If they do not, then how can they be any more virtuous than a sword or a shield?</box></div>
One area where the Empire has a clear advantage is dealing with hostile eternals. The metaphysical defence provided by enmity is not perfect, but it does greatly reduce the threat of an eternal influencing Imperial citizens. The Sumaah are forced to use more mundane methods to protect their people. The Assembly of [[Vigilance]] - and to a lesser degree the Assemblies of [[Wisdom]] and [[Pride]] - maintain or coordinate cadres of Sumaash investigators and warriors who actively seek out the machinations of enemy eternals and put a stop to them. These groups of "idolator hunters" are widely respected, and their investigation of suspicious events usually welcomed. They're also heavily subsidised by the House of the People, meaning that they are well equipped to deal with the unpredictable enemies of the Republic they hunt.

The Republic use warding magic to complement this approach. Rituals such as [[There Is No Welcome Here]] may be employed, but the Sumaash also use [[hearth magic]] wards. One common practice is to build a shrine or temple over or near a strong [[regio]] when it is identified, allowing comings and goings of heralds to be carefully monitored or prevented. This is harder to do with regio in the deep jungle, but even so there are apparently several places of pilgrimage dedicated to maintaining a vigilant watch on the "verdant wastelands" of the wild tropical forests.

Lisane notes that these virtuous practices mirror Imperial efforts such as the [[Venture#War_of_Whispers|War of Whispers]], the [[Venture#Hunt_the_Suaq_Wastes|hunt of the Suaq Wastes]], or the practices of vigilant folk in [[Varushka]] in response to the threats of their own cold wilderness.

===Refusal===
* '''The Sumaah are very cautious in accepting ''any'' eternal boon
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=EleonarisArt.jpg|caption=Unlike the Empire, the Sumaah are very suspicious of many eternals, including Eleonaris, eschewing her boons and declaring her anathema.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
The Sumaah are much more likely to turn down a boon or an eternal offer of aid than to accept it. In theory every eternal boon is weighed carefully, usually with the guidance of at least one präst, and in some cases might even be discussed with a [[statement of principle]] before it is accepted. Powerful boons are often presented for scrutiny by the House of the People as well, especially if they are likely to impact the citizens of a territory or region. The more powerful and all-encompassing a boon is, the more scrutiny it demands, so potent, far-reaching boons are rarely taken up simply because the risks involved are usually considered too large or too difficult to assess.

Rituals that draw on the power of an eternal directly are less common among Sumaash magicians. There are a few - a version of [[Swim Leviathan's Depth]] for example is relatively well known. One of the Sumaah responsible for hosting Lisane, a magician-präst named ''Chikkal, Assessor of the High House of Vigilance'' expands a little on this, explaining that even in those uncommon cases where such a ritual is created, it will almost always be bound with a stricture that it may only legally be performed in the presence of a priest, or with the approval of an assessor from one of the High Houses. This is done to ensure that the eternals do not begin to exert subtle control over magicians who may become reliant on such magic, or influence the subjects of such magic in a way that is unvirtuous.

Chikkal's view is that no human ever ''needs'' an eternal boon, however much they may ''want'' them. Any agreement with an eternal, they argue, will invariably tarnish the virtue of the one who seeks it, and risk corrupting their fellows. "Easy is not the same as virtuous," claims Chikkal piously. While it initially seems Chikkal speaks for the majority of the präster, Lisane notes that it quickly becomes apparent that there are any number of other opinions on the matter and many priests openly disagree with the ultra-conservative approach of peers such as Chikkal. Still, there is a common stereotype in the Republic that Imperial magicians unwisely seek every advantage they can gain from inhuman spirits rather then relying on themselves and their fellow humans. The unwise bargainer who brings ruin on themselves by making deals with eternal spirits is a very common character in Sumaah literature, there are scores of cautionary tales whose ultimate fate is so awful, it provides a sobering example to readers or audience.

==Republican Eternals==
* '''The second part of Lisane's preliminary report provides an overview of the eternals the Republic has encountered'''
* '''The Sumaah deal with a much smaller group of eternals than the Empire does'''
* '''Some eternals are known by very different names and appearances in the Republic'''
* '''There appear to be some eternals known in the Republic that are not familiar to Lisane or her staff'''

The second part of Lisane's preliminary report deals with the actual eternals the Sumaash deal with (or don't deal with). Sumaah don't commonly group the eternals together in the same way their Imperial peers do. Rather than focusing on which [[realms|realm]] they hail from, the only significant division is between "tolerated" and "anathema". Lisane, however, falls back on Imperial categorization, simply because her report is intended for Imperial eyes.

One of the challenges Lisane faces is that the Sumaah frequently use different names for eternals to those used in the Empire, and like the Empire they have many different sobriquets for the eternals. This may well be the root of some misconceptions about the beings the Republic deals with. The Empire has long considered [[Yaw'nagrah]] for example to be favoured in Sumaah, but it seems likely this was based on a misconception based on the at-the-time unknown eternal [[Ossegrahn]] (given the ''Green Mother'' is anathema in the Republic and has been for much of its history).

In most cases the prognosticators have been able to link the names of Sumaash eternals to those known in the Empire, but there are some cases where there is no direct correlation. In the case of these "unknown" eternals, she has been able to gather a little information, enough to satisfy herself that they are ''probably'' distinct entities. It is entirely possible that some of these unfamiliar eternals are actually powerful lieutenants (heralds) of a more familiar eternal. Sadly, an in-depth study of individual eternals in Sumaah is beyond the scope of this appraisal.

===Of Spring===
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;">[[File:SpringRune.jpg|267px]]</div>
* '''Ossegrahn and Arhallogen are tolerated in Sumaah'''
* '''Wind Panther appears to be an unfamiliar eternal, who is tolerated'''
* '''Siakha, Ira Harrah, Yaw'nagrah and Llofir are all anathema'''
Of the Spring eternals familiar to the Empire, only two are tolerated. ''[[Ossegrahn|Rainbird]]'', with his power to help mend wounds, bring fresh water, and promote wholesome growth, provides boons useful to the Republic's farmers and healers alike. The Assembly of Prosperity keeps a weather-eye on magicians who deal closely with the eternal, most prominent among which is the coven of The Wellspring (which met with Imperial magicians in 383YE). The problem is that Rainbird regularly seeks to encourage the Republic to abandon its virtuous war against the unvirtuous. Rainbird is told "no" on a regular basis, which means that his power is generally restricted to the small scale - empowering individual physicks or bringing fertile rains to farms for example.

''[[Arhallogen|Wicked Fangs]]'' is barely tolerated, and the High Houses have gone back and forth on it several times over the years. In stark contrast to ''Rainbird'', it actively encourages the Sumaah to slaughter their enemies without mercy; to strike before their foes are ready; and to use whatever tools are available to them to do so. While it is popular in some quarters, many präster question whether its boons are compatible with virtue. Regardless, there are Sumaah warriors who embrace the [[venom|venomous]] or warlike enchantments it offers to bring down their enemies. Lisane remarks that there is historical evidence it offered significant aid when the Sumaash threw off the yoke of the Asaveans.

The other Spring eternal the Sumaash deal with seems to be unknown in the Empire. Commonly known as ''Wind Panther'', it seems to be a creature of the [[realms#Spring|Spring realm]] associated with hunting, and to a degree fishing. It apparently encourages both self-sufficiency and support of one's family or community through direct action. Wind Panther is most often called on for her powerful boons that empower skirmishers and archers to fight monsters, hunters to track and dispatch dangerous prey, or to bring down predators that would threaten the family. Given that the jungles of Sumaah are, at least to Imperial eyes, swarming with dangerous creatures on every scale, these boons have apparently proved vital in the past.

[[Siakha|Storm Bringer]] and [[Yaw'nagrah|Hungry Forest]] are anathema because they are creatures of destructive chaos that are at odds with civilisation; they are despised in the same way that Imperial citizens might feel about ''Blood on the Snow''. [[Irra Harah|Shadow Slinker]] was an ally of the Sumaah generations ago, but today it is anathema because it seeks to lure people away from Virtue, and provides boons to the Republic's enemies. [[Llofir|Blood Choke]] is an unpredictable creature of the deep wilderness that has nothing to offer the Sumaah and is associated with a particular poisonous fungus that causes agonizingly slow death if eaten in error. While anathema it seems to mostly ignore the Republic although, as with Shadow Slinker, it provides boons to some of the people the Sumaah are at war with.

===Of Summer===
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;">[[File:SummerRune.jpg|267px]]</div>
* '''Cathan Canae, Rhianos and Adamant are tolerated
* '''All the other Summer eternals are anathema
Of the eternals of the Summer realm, [[Adamant|Stone Dragon]], [[Rhianos|Ninth Wave]], and [[Cathan Canae|Thunder Drake]] are tolerated. Stone Dragon provides useful boons and rarely wants anything unvirtuous in exchange. It's still illegal to accept his aid to build buildings dedicated to virtue however - any temple or shrine must be shaped by human hands alone.

Ninth Wave is also tolerated, but remains controversial with interactions carefully monitored to ensure that folk are not being lead astray by unvirtuous endeavour. It is clear that the eternal desires mortals to embrace peril for the excitement it brings - such motivation is dubious at best and the endeavours themselves are frequently desperately irresponsible in nature. However moments of great Virtue often occur while engaged on such exploits and so the eternal is tolerated. Even so they are primarily dealt with by ''Frieøyer'' magicians rather than by the Republic as a whole.

Thunder Lizard - characterised as an immense drake of the deep jungle - is tolerated for her straightforward approach to the Republic. Her magical [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|citadel]] is one of the few rituals that draw directly on an eternal that is regularly employed. She also promotes warrior-ideals which are seen as compatible with virtue, and significantly more acceptable in general than those taken from ''Wicked Fangs''.

The rest of the Summer eternals known by the Empire are anathema in the Republic. This includes [[Jaheris|White Snake]], [[Hayaak|Blood Eagle]], [[Meraud|Flame Wing]], and especially [[Eleonaris|Sun Drake]]. The latter in particular is seen as an enemy of the Sumaah thanks to her dangerously unvirtuous creed of personal glory and warrior-supremacy. There are nonetheless some small hidden cults dedicated to her service, and the Vigilant remain alert to any rumour of their corrupting influence. The [[Barien|Lord of the Arena]] is known, but likewise considered anathema. The Sumaash attitude is that it is good to test oneself, but question the Virtue of doing so for rewards granted by some inhuman force. The virtuous should always be open to challenges, but in pursuit of human destiny, not dancing to the tune of an eternal. Lisane notes that there is a long history here, with fragmentary stories that suggest the Lord of the Arena is associated in the Sumaah memory with the Asaveans, and the hated satraps, although they were unwilling to discuss the details.

The Republic never uses titles such as king, queen, or (outside of the Lord of the Arena), lord or lady for any eternal. Simply calling someone like Sun Drake, the "Lady of Pennants" or naming Thunder Lizard, the "Queen of Ice and Darkness" would be treated as a minor act of idolatry. This makes the odd nomenclature for the eternal the Empire knows as Barien particularly stand out. The one exception to this abhorrence of titles, is "satrap" which is frequently used in sobriquets for the more corrupt and wicked eternals - particularly those of the Autumn realm.

===Of Autumn===
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;">[[File:AutumnRune.jpg|267px]]</div>
* '''Estavus and Ephisis are tolerated
* '''Polyptoton is not entirely familiar to the Empire and is tolerated
* '''Prospero, Callidus, Basileia, and the Lictors are anathema
* '''The Satrapy of Discord appear to be part of an unfamiliar city of the Autumn realm that is anathema
One of the more popular eternals among Sumaah magicians is [[Estavus|Fire Mountain]], also known as ''the Anvil of Thunder and Granite''. The Republic is not rich in ore, and a common bargain between Sumaash and Fire Mountain involves the trade of [[Materials#Natural_Materials|natural materials]] for [[Materials#Natural_Materials|valuable metals]]. From the point of view of the Sumaah, the prices demanded by the Anvil of Thunder and Granite for its aid tend to be straightforward, and deeply transactional, in a way that does not threaten virtue. Even so, it is much more common to deal with Fire Mountain to secure raw materials than worked goods, however. There is a fairly common belief that purchasing worked goods from Fire Mountain deprives a mortal human of their industry and Prosperity.

The [[Ephisis|Eternal Bazaar]] is tolerated, but carefully monitored due to its refusal to abide by the laws of the House of the People, or the dictates of the High Houses in what it will trade. Interactions with the Eternal Bazaar are limited to magician-präster of the High House of Prosperity. The ritual [[Ephisis' Scale]] is not practised in the Republic; any deals with the Bazaar are undertaken "face to face" with heralds rather than being left in the hands of an easily-accessible and impossible to restrict ritual. The Eternal Bazaar is also a source of friction within the Republic; the High House of Prosperity argues that the boons it provides are worth the need for constant vigilance while other präster are often less convinced. So far, however, the High Houses have not declared the eternal to be anathema.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SaltAndSail001.png|caption=The "Great Turtle", the eternal Polyptoton, the City of Salt and Sail - this eternal spoke with the Empire via its herald for the first time last season.|align=right|width=400}}</div>
The [[Polyptoton|Great Turtle]] or the ''Wandering Port'', with the ability to carry messages across great distances almost instantaneously, is tolerated by the Sumaah. The heralds of the eternal rarely demand anything the Sumaah consider unvirtuous, although they have clashed with the censors of the High House of Vigilance in the past over their unnatural veneration of the written word over matters of virtue. The Great Turtle is also sought out for boons related to protecting or aiding ships, especially merchant vessels, particularly where they help them avoid or outrun the more powerful vessels of the Asavean Archipelago. Lisane believes that while the eternal was previously, largely unknown in the Empire, there have been [[Key_of_dreams#Many_Minds_Move_As_One_(Autumn)|recent developments]] that indicate this is no longer the case.

The rest of the Autumn realm is kept at arms length, either because they have nothing Sumaah wants or because they are considered active threats. The [[Prospero|Satrapy of Rope]], the ''Wheedling Spider'' seeks to trap the virtuous with bonds of unnatural obligation, and all too often threaten to draw innocent people into idolatry. The [[Lictors|Satrapy of Cages]] are seen as an inhuman force trying to meddle in virtuous laws. The [[Callidus|Satrapy of Hunger]] and their leader ''Drooling Maw'' fundamentally preach materialism and obsession with the accumulation of wealth. Worst of all are the inhabitants of the [[Basileia|Satrapy of Lies]]; corrosive enemies of virtue who work to corrode the souls of the virtuous and want to mire every human in murder, betrayal, and treachery. The High House of Loyalty see the Satrapy of Lies as particular enemies. Whenever a herald from the ''City of Lies'' is found in the Republic it is summarily executed; nothing good is built on a foundation of lies.

One other set of eternals - the ''Satrapy of Discord'' - are anathema in the Republic but are unfamiliar to Lisane. Reporting to a leader the Sumaah call ''Mockingbray'', they apparently hail from a city that burns with the fire of riot, rebellion, and revolution. According to the High House of Wisdom, these heralds once offered aid in the rebellion against the hated Asavean satraps, but then immediately tried to ruin any attempt to create a new government. Mockingbray, the ruler of the City of Wreckage, is always looking for ways to undermine tradition; to burn everything down in pursuit of a state of abominable anarchy. Obviously, once its true nature was clear, it was immediately proscribed by the Sumaah.

Lisane theorises that this ''might'' be a version of the entity once known as [[Mazen]], but the ''Lord of Masks'' is widely recognised as part of the ''Satrapy of Lies''. The Sumaah say the Satrapy of Discord is still active, which would mean that if reports of that creature's demise are to be trusted, this would have to be a different eternal.

===Of Winter===
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;">[[File:WinterRune.jpg|267px]]</div>
* '''Wise Rangara is tolerated
* '''An unfamiliar eternal named Pale Jaguar is tolerated
* '''Agramant, the Thrice-cursed Court, Sorin, and Kaela are anathema
* '''Khobel Tavah appears to be unknown in the Republic
Only two Winter eternals are tolerated among the Sumaah. [[Wise Rangara|White Eye Serpent]] is a black-scaled creature associated with "wisdom" that is one of the oldest spirits known to the Republic. It isn't wisdom as the virtuous understand it, but more the importance of learning difficult lessons, questioning assumptions, and cleaving to tradition. It's a font of herbal lore, and has ways of bringing out human insight that can prove invaluable. One reason it is tolerated is that it rarely if ever seeks to provide answers, but will offer aid to nudge someone along the path towards understanding a situation through their own efforts.

''Pale Jaguar'' or the ''Maiden of Mists'' is not an eternal familiar to Lisane. It seems to be a Winter eternal of trackless places, that represents becoming lost, the deep jungle, and a primaeval fear of the wilderness. It also speaks of the importance of memory, especially remembering the dead or the lost, and the importance of perseverance even against an end that seem inevitable. While few magicians deal with Pale Jaguar, a small group of Sumaah mystics interact with the eternal with the blessing of the High House of Wisdom. They engage in long durances in the wilds of the jungle, hoping to unlock visionary experiences or temper their bodies or spirits. One of Lisane's staff wonders if this might simply be a particular guise of the eternal the Empire knows as [[Sorin]], designed to circumvent his anathema. For the moment, there is no evidence one way or the other, but it appears that once one peels away the more mystical levels the Maiden of Mists is much more explicitly concerned with matters of [[Winter magic#Survival|survival]], [[Winter magic#Preservation|preservation]], and certain ideas of [[Winter magic#Wisdom|wisdom]] than the ''Whelpmaster'' seems to be.

In the Republic Sorin is known as the ''Bone Dragon'', and is depicted as a great skeletal [[Mundane_beasts#Drakes|drake]] whose encouragement of sacrifice, suffering, and hidden traps makes him anathema. He is depicted in stories as lurking on the edge of civilisation, seeking to steal away the unwary to devour their flesh or consume their spirits. Some of these stories cast Bone Dragon in the traditional role of a "bogeyman" - he appears in that role occasionally in cautionary tales for children especially.

The [[Agramant|Traitor]], who has easily as many aliases as he does in the Empire, is anathema as a matter of course, but among the Sumaah is numbered as a member of the [[The Thrice-cursed Court|Satrapy of Woe]]. The ''Corrupters'' are active opponents of the Republic and particularly the High Houses of Virtue. The Vigilance assembly puts a great deal of effort into trying to prevent them from interfering in the affairs of the Republic or corrupting the foolish with their tainted gifts. The [[Kaela|Dread Condor on Silent Wings]] is anathema, primarily due to her open offer of what appears to be eternal servitude via her ''Silent Household'', but responds by simply ignoring the Republic in a similar manner to Llofir.

Finally, [[Khobel Tavah]] is unknown in the Republic, and they express no interest in learning more about them.

===Of Day===
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;">[[File:DayRune.jpg|267px]]</div>
* '''Zakalwe, Kimus, Leviathan, and Phaleron are all tolerated
* '''Span of the Sky is an unfamiliar eternal who is tolerated
* '''Sinokenon, Roshanwe, Ylenwe, and Cold Sun are all anathema
The eternals of Day are among the most popular of the eternals the Republic deals with (for a given value). ''[[Zakalwe|Brilliant Javelin]]'' is one of the few martial eternals the Sumaah tolerate; its interest in encouraging rather than leading is seen as less of a challenge to the pursuit of virtue. Along with ''Thunder Lizard'', they are the eternal most likely to see their boons accepted on the battlefield. ''[[Kimus|Mirror of Dawn and Dusk]]'' is considered to be a strange and esoteric entity, whose ability to gather information and willingness to provide it are as welcome as its requests to observe events are seen as unthreatening.

The ''[[Leviathan|Watcher in the Waters]]'' is tolerated because it seems to have little active agenda beyond discussing history and current events with mortals. The chief concern is that magicians are too ready to accept the answers the eternal provides, without stopping to consider that while the Watcher maybe eternal, they are not the Creator. Präster are quick to remind those who deal with this eternal that just because the being expresses boundless confidence in its abilities, it is not infallible.

The ''[[Phaleron|Archive of Rainbow Coral]]'' is likewise tolerated due to its limited agenda. It is clear that the Archive values the preservation of knowledge far and above the preservation of life, but that is something that can be managed by those who deal with it. More of a problem is Phaleron's jealous attitude to the information it contains, which is occasionally decried as counter to human destiny.

A fifth eternal of the Day realm, unfamiliar to Imperial prognosticators, is also tolerated. ''Span of the Sky'' appears to be concerned with wind and water, and favoured by a small number of magicians that live along the coast including the ''Frieøyer''. There is speculation this might be an aspect of Kimus, but it is treated as distinct by the magicians that deal with it. Notably, the groups that interact with it most apparently also field cadres of [[Magical_skills#Battle_Mage|battle-mages]] whose mastery of the [[repel]] and [[entangle]] spells are invaluable when fighting the Republic's enemies.

By contrast, ''[[Sinokenon|Stupid Moon]]'' is anathema; its efforts to undermine the House of the People and push the Houses of Virtue to prominence have won it the enmity of most of the Republic and any attempt to make contact with Sumaah magicians is met with violence. At first two others considered anathema - the siblings ''Salt Mask'' and ''Silk Mask'' - were assumed to be unfamiliar eternals but further investigation indicated there were Sumaash names for [[Roshanwe]] and [[Ylenwe]]. According to Chikkal, Assessor of Vigilance, these two creatures are deceivers and liars who present a false-face to mortals in which they appear to be concerned with matters of virtue but in fact seek to subvert and twist the faithful into engaging in idolatry.

Finally, there is ''[[Cold Sun|Oblivion]]''. The eternal has had no interaction with the Republic, but the High Houses of Virtue have lost no time in declaring it anathema. Anyone attempting to make contact with Cold Sun will be executed, and there is some discussion of whether it might be best to [[excommunication|excommunicate]] such criminals if they emerge. The High House of Vigilance regard the matter as settled there - given their emphasis on Virtue, they are confident that nobody will be unwise enough to approach the eternal, given how appalling the consequences have been elsewhere.

===Of Night===
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;">[[File:NightRune.jpg|267px]]</div>
* '''Sung and Lashonar are tolerated in the Republic
* '''An unfamiliar eternal named Deep Drummer is tolerated
* '''Janon, Sadogua, Azoth, and the Whisper Gallery are anathema
''[[Sung|Moon Moth]]'' is idly tolerated. She is depicted as a huge rainbow-winged moth who encourages mortals to pursue the great mysteries of the world and the spirit, without claiming to be an authority on either. This includes the mysteries of virtue and the Labyrinth, and apparently she has offered boons relating to both the cultivation of [[iridescent gloaming]] and the creation of [[potion|potions]] that help pursue spiritual matters. Lisane notes with interest that the Sumaah apparently believe that ''all'' moths are agents of Moon Moth, and that the reason they are never seen during the day is that they pass into the Night realm when the sun rises. This belief, and the toleration of Sung, apparently dates back to a time long before the foundation of the Republic.

''[[Lashonar|Chattering Bird]]'' is tolerated, but only just. As with the ''Great Turtle'', it provides useful abilities for the Sumaah to communicate with others that they cannot achieve themselves - access to the [[Lashonar#Caucus_Forum|Caucus Forum]] is considered a valuable resource. Whenever it attempts to have an opinion on politics the virtuous quickly shut it and its followers down. One interesting proscription Lisane notes is that it is illegal to accept boons from Chattering Bird related to preaching the Way in the same vein in which it is illegal to accept the aid of Stone Dragon to build places of virtue.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Rainbow Moth.jpg|caption="Moon Moth" is the most common Sumaah Republic name for the eternal the Empire knows as Sung; rather than a feathered serpent they depict her as an insect with beautiful iridescent wings.|align=right|width=400}}</div>
There is another eternal tolerated by the Sumaah that at first is mistaken for [[Janon]]. The ''Deep Drummer'' is a creature that appears to represent mystical ideas of catharsis, the channelling strong emotions, and celebration of victories and achievements. It is popular not only with Sumaah warriors, but also with artists as it encourages them to both express and inspire strong feelings through their art. The High House of Vigilance has clashed with the High Houses of Courage and Pride in the past around the toleration of Deep Drummer, who are concerned that the eternals enthusiasm for celebration can lead the virtuous astray. The Sumaah apparently view Deep Drummer as the sibling or spouse of ''Whirling Chaos'', claiming the former is a creature of balance where the latter is a creature of discord.

The rest of the Night realm is anathema in Sumaah. [[Sadogua|Seducer]], the ''Satrap of Bats'', is famously despised in the Sumaah Republic. He shamelessly encourages magicians to put their own selfish concerns above virtue, and regularly opined that the assemblies should "butt out" of magicians' affairs. He was also involved in early attempts to form a magical fraternity similar on paper to the Imperial Conclave, that was roundly rejected on grounds of being a terrible idea two hundred years ago. The eternal itself is one of those that still seeks to deal with Sumaash magicians, and its influence is actively resisted by the hunters of idolators.

[[Janon|Whirling Chaos]], as has already been mentioned, is anathema. A dangerously unpredictable entity that appears on the surface to encourage Virtue but is actually a creature of anarchy who does not care what people feel as long as they allow their passions to consume them utterly. The [[Whisper Gallery|Screaming Monkey Kings]] are also anathema, not least because they cannot be trusted in any way not to support the Asavean Archipelago at every turn. Lisane mentions that Chikkal, Assessor of the High House of Vigilance, seems to take the existence of the Screaming Monkey Kings as a personal affront and that this attitude is by no means uncommon in the Republic.

==Design Note==
* '''Unknown eternals begin disinclined to speak to the Empire
* '''This is the first part of an appraisal that will run over several events
The preliminary report includes an overview of the eternals, and introduces several that appear to be unknown in the Empire. While there is enough information here for Imperial magicians to attempt to contact one of these eternals, if they wished, all start from a position of disinterest in the Empire. While an eternal is bound to respond to a [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]], as has been [[Hunter_of_stars#Capradan|seen previously]] on several occasions that response can be a polite (or impolite) refusal.

Most Imperial magicians will be aware that if these eternals desired a relationship with the Empire, they would already be pursuing one. It's also important to bear in mind that none of the creatures mentioned here are more powerful or more inclined to offer better deals than the eternals the Empire already deals with. Whenever a new eternal starts paying attention to the Empire it will often create more problems than it solves - [[Ossegrahn|Lord Rain]] is arguable on this point, [[Cold Sun]] less so...

The opportunity to send a prognosticator to the Sumaah Republic to engage with an appraisal means they will be unavailable for several seasons. In contrast to some previous opportunities, our intent is to present part of the appraisal each event until this time is up. One reason is to prevent the requirement to do a single massive appraisal at the end of the period, the other is to reinforce the idea that this is an ''opportunity'' - the invitation of the Sumaah presents further options to gather a deeper understanding of the situation. This wind of fortune presents the opportunity for the Conclave to engage in the Republic, and expands the information about magic in Sumaah and their attitudes to the eternals. The next stage of the appraisal will present opportunities related to adapting the Sumaah Republic attitude to the eternals. The nature of the final stage of the appraisal, presented at the Winter Solstice, will depend on which of the orders - if any - the Conclave has chosen to send to the Republic.

==Further Reading==
* [[Sumaah Republic]]
* [[Conclave]]
* [[Alignment]]
* [[Eternal]]

Template:Sodality Further Reading

2026-07-03T18:08:13Z

Twiggy: /* Former Sodalities */

==Further Reading==
===Core Brief===
* [[Imperial Sodality]]
* [[Member of a sodality|Member of a Sodality]]
* [[Appointment by sodality|Appointment by Sodality]]
* [[Powers of a sodality|Powers of a Sodality]]

===Active Sodalities===
* [[Apothecaries Guild]]
* [[Magpies]]
* [[Sun Chamber]]
* [[Vallornguard]]

===Former Sodalities===
* [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Silent Bell]]
[[Category:Imperial Sodality]]
[[Category:Sodality]]

Steel Fist

2026-07-03T17:53:02Z

Twiggy:

==Overview==
The Steel Fist is something of an anomaly in that it does not precisely exist within the Empire at all. The offices of the Steel Fist are located at [[Necropolis#Longbeach|Crown's Quay]] in [[Necropolis]], but consist of little more than a neat white-granite building with a discreet sign outside the front door. Regardless, custodianship of the Steel Fist grants an [[Imperial title]]; a seat on the [[Bourse]]; and a seasonal bounty of valuable [[ilium]] to the [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial orc]] who controls it.

==The Resource==
In recent years Imperial Orc forces have swelled the ranks of the Imperial armies, tipping the scales against the barbarian threat. [[Empress Britta]] enjoyed particularly strong support from the Orcs (both in the first months of her reign and in the military campaigns that preceded it). To recognise that support she helped create the position of the Steel Fist.

The [[opportunity]] to create the Steel Fist came in Summer 374YE when representatives of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] approached the Empire to discuss certain trading privileges at the Imperial docks. The [[Senate]] at the time was uninterested, but Empress Britta saw the potential and hosted a private negotiation with the ambassadors. The upshot was that the [[Sarcophan_Delves#Politics|Bedelaar Huisbaas]] of Sarcophan would pay a regular tribute of ilium to the Empire each season, in return for exemption from several trade tariffs and some minor freedoms when operating in the Bay of Catazar. Chief among these was the ability to store small amounts of weirwood, white granite, and mithril in Imperial warehouses. In return, the Sarcophan also continued to endorse the Civil Service Bourse Certificates. Being the Empire's closest neighbours, it is convenient for Sarcophan merchants to meet some of their trading partners on Imperial soil and, as long as they scrupulously observe Imperial law, they are able to do so free from Imperial interference.

The deal concluded, Empress Britta presented it as a fait accompli to the Senate. To reward the Imperial Orcs for the work undertaken in supporting the [[Army|Imperial armies]], the ilium would be allocated to them and connected to a new seat on the [[Bourse]]. There was some grumbling about the agreement, but little open opposition due to a widespread acceptance that the orcs were unstinting in their support for the Empire. The announcement that the Seat would be national, and allocated to whichever [[Imperial_Orcs_people#Legion_Name|legion]] provided the most assistance to Imperial armies on campaign, did much to quiet dissenting voices in the face of growing aggression from the [[Jotun]], [[Druj]], and [[Thule]].

The Imperial Senate voted to concede the Alivetti estate in [[Sarvos]] to the Sarcophan Delves as part of a greater [[Ratify treaty with the Sarcophan Delves Autumn 383YE|treaty]] with the Bedelaar Huisbaas Vandersaar. Vandersaar in turn increased the amount of ilium granted to the seat by 4 additional rings per season.

The Steel Fist Accord (the ''Verdrag van de Stalen Vuist'') is due to be renewed in 399YE. Should the Empire ever [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Declaration_of_War|declare war]] on the Sarcophan, the Steel Fist is likely to be the first casualty of the ensuing conflict.
{{CaptionedImage|file=IrontideKul.png||caption=Irontide Kul was appointed to the Seat<br/> during the Spring Equinox 379YE.|align=right|width=300}}

==The Bourse Seat==
===Responsibilities===
The Seat has no particular responsibilities; they simply receive a bounty of ilium which is theirs to do with as they will. If Steel Fist were to be threatened in any way, it would be the responsibility of the Seat to deal with those threats. Likewise, if any particular [[opportunity]] were to arise related to Steel Fist, the Seat would expect to be consulted as to how that opportunity might be resolved.
===Powers===
====Seat on the Bourse====
Custodianship of Steel Fist comes with a seat on the Imperial Bourse. For the most part, this Seat comes with no additional responsibilities. It is an Imperial title that grants the right to participate on the rare occasion when the Imperial Bourse as a body is required to make a decision.
====Bounty of ilium====
The Seat has control of a source of ilium which they receive directly. They can dispense this resource as they choose. Production is normally 8 rings of ilium every season. The title holder currently receives a total of 12 rings while the [[Ratify treaty with the Sarcophan Delves Autumn 383YE|treaty with the Sarcophan Delves]] is maintained

===Appointment===
As with all ilium Bourse seats, the holder of the title is determined during the Spring Equinox. Control of the Steel Fist is assigned to whichever Imperial Orc candidate receives the most support from Imperial Orc owners of military units that have earned votes over the past year by supporting Imperial armies via the [[Tally of the Votes]]. The voting is handled by the civil servants of the Bourse.

Custodianship of Steel Fist is retained for a year, or until the citizen holding the seat dies, or steps down. An Imperial Bourse seat cannot be [[revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]].
<box>'''Appointing the Seat'''<br>
Every time an Imperial Orc allocates a [[military unit]] to [[Military_unit#Supporting_an_Army|support]] an [[Army|Imperial army]] they receive votes. A typical military unit provides 10 votes, plus an extra 2 votes for each time it has been [[Military_unit#Upgrades|upgraded]]. Only the actual rank of the military unit counts in this calculation. [[Enchantment|Enchantments]], [[curse|curses]], penalties or bonuses for downtime effects and so on have no effect. When the seat is appointed, the number of votes they have accrued over the previous year is tallied.

Characters new to the nation who have a military unit personal resource are assumed to have spent the previous year supporting an Imperial army. Likewise, players with a military unit who have missed an event are similarly assumed to have supported an army. We've made this rule for game balance reasons - so that new characters and players unable to attend every event are not unfairly penalised. If it becomes relevant, players are encouraged to create simple explanations as to how they have supported an army without showing up in the [[Imperial Roll of Honour]] or directly affecting the downtime campaign such as training new recruits, protecting supply lines, or the like.

The rituals [[Conclave of Trees and Shadow]], [[Carve the Crystal Guardian]], and [[Lions of Phoenix Reach]] offer an opportunity for orcs who do not lead a military unit to participate in the appointment of the seat. Any season during which these rituals are in place, and the magical soldiers summoned are supporting an army, the orc who commands the [[forest]] or [[mana site]] they are drawn from will receive votes as if they owned a military unit of the same rank.</box>
{{RecentElections|Steel_Fist}}
[[Category:Imperial Orcs]][[Category:Bourse]][[Category:Title]]

In the Court of Far Horizons

2026-07-03T17:52:31Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Appraisal]]
<ic>
"Fleet Master!" The young boy gasped, panting for breath as he tried to call out, whilst simultaneously ducking and weaving his way across the dock front. Caricomare was busier than ever since the docks have been rebuilt, despite the war with the Grendel, there were scores of stevedores hard at work unpacking the cargo from the two huge Freeborn vessels docked just that morning.

Sadly the tumult made it impossible for Giovanni von Temeschwar to hear the boy. He had a pressing meeting with a pair of Freeborn captains at the Captain's Ring. They wanted to discuss the situation in the Cazar Straits and what was being done about it. Fortunately the bustling crowd mostly parted to let him pass, the dockers in Caricomare knew better than to delay the Imperial Fleet Master when he was about his business.

"Fleet Master!" the boy shouted again, "Fleet Master Gi..." he gulped another breath of air, but the Sea Wolf spun on his heel to face the young land before he could finish the sentence, a single eyebrow raised inquisitively.

"Master Giovanni, sir!" the lad said, trying to regain his composure. "Message for you sir. Urgent sir. From the Fellowship of the Purple Ships."

"Sails" the bravo corrected him.

"Yes sir. The Purple Ship Sails sir. Message from them. For you sir."

Giovanni accepted the scroll from the young boy's outthrust hand. The wax seal bore the Fellowship's impression, still fresh and slightly warm to the touch. Their offices were over a mile away on the far side of the docks, the boy must have run the whole distance. What could the Fellowship want so urgently?

The scroll disappeared inside the Fleet Master's tunic to be replaced with a ring coin that he expertly flipped towards the messenger. That kind of Prosperity deserved a reward.
</ic>
{{CaptionedImage|file=CourtFH.png|caption=The Court of Far Horizons|align=left|width=300}}
==Overview==
At the recent summit, [[Emperor Vesna]], requested that the [[Scrutiny#Constitutional_Court|Constitutional Court]] [[Forever_is_composed_of_nows#The_Abraham_Gambit|appraise the implications]] of a new [[Imperial sodality]], the ''Court of Far Horizons''. Any new Imperial sodality can have significant legal ramifications, which depend on the precise wording of its manifesto. The aim of the [[Civil Service|civil service]] appraisal is to provide clarity on these consequences, to enable the [[Senate]] to better decide the matter.

The request was timely, for that same day, [[Archmage of Autumn|Archmage]] '''Vossk''' met with ''Ptolemy'' a [[herald]] of the so-called ''City of Salt and Sail'' for a [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] in the [[Hall of Worlds]]. The City is an obscure power of the [[Realms#Autumn|Autumn realm]], concerned with [[Autumn magic#Autumn_magic#Travel_and_Communication|communication and travel]]. Their herald was keen to explore ways the City could work with the Empire to support the Court, should the appraisal go ahead.

==Consequences==
* '''Emperor Vesna has asked the civil service to assess the constitutional implications of the Court of Far Horizons'''
* '''Magistrate Abraham has delivered their analysis based on the proposed manifesto'''
* '''It would not be possible to create a second sodality concerned with maritime trade'''
Magistrate Abraham has conducted an analysis of the constitutional implications of the new sodality's provisional manifesto. Abraham notes that the manifesto is "bold and vigorous" in establishing it's remit, but that that means that some of implications are far-reaching.

<quote by="Manifesto of the Court of Far Horizons"> This sodality holds the following to be true:
* Merchant fleets represent the face of the Empire to the common citizenry of foreign nations;
* The lifeblood of the Empire is trade, its paths must never be hindered;
* Imperial sailors share a common purpose, and must aid one another upon the sea.

The sodality therefore exists to:
* Champion the development of trade infrastructure and trade policy to expand the Empire's Prosperity;
* Support Imperial fleets who trade beyond the Empire's borders;
* Influence and leverage foreign relations through trade for the betterment of the Empire.
</quote>

The manifesto describes a sodality will be responsible for maritime trade and the actions of [[fleet|fleets]] engaged in that [[Fleet#Trading|trade]]. It is possible that the Throne intends the sodality to be responsible for ''foreign'' trade, which would be a much broader remit. The first truth of the sodality is that ''"merchant fleets represent the face of the Empire to... foreign nations"'', which implies the idea that the sodality has a very broad remit. However the Empire engages in extensive trade with [[Otkodov]], none of which is conducted via fleets. Likewise there is [[Merchant_to_Skoura|trade with Skoura]] and orc septs like
[[Merchant_Prince_of_Misericorde_Market|the Sand Fishers]] and [[Speaker_to_the_Leshun|the Brannoc Orcs]], all of which is entirely overland. Constitutionally, the Throne could seek the creation of an Imperial sodality with responsibility for ''all'' foreign trade, but that would need a different manifesto, one which removed the elements about fleets.

The focus on maritime trade with other nations reduces the cross-over with the constitutional role of the [[Bourse]], but some conflicts will still arise. In these cases, the Court would inevitably need to weigh each case on their merits to assess how important trade was to the issue in question. For example, the production of the [[Steel Fist]] is contingent on trading relations with the [[Sarcophan Delves]]. As a Bourse seat dependent on trade, it ''could'' be changed by the Senate to grant the sodality the right to appoint it, but it could also be left with the Bourse since it produces [[ilium]]. A similar title that traded [[liao]] rather than ilium, would most likely need to be appointed by the new sodality.

The manifesto references the Empire's fleets several times, but the tenor appears to be limited to their role in trade. Imperial fleets are [[Fleet#Downtime_Options|highly flexible]] and can engage in [[voyage|espionage, adventure and warfare]], but all these activities would fall outside the remit of the Court of Far Horizons based on this manifesto. That would mean that the Senate couldn't grant the sodality powers or responsibilities for such activities, without first changing the manifesto.

That might not even be possible - the Constitutional Court expects a sodality to have a single clearly defined area of responsibility. Just as the [[Military Council]] is charged with executing the Empire's wars, the Court of Far Horizons can have similar responsibility for maritime trade. It can have jurisdiction for fleets in so far as they are engaged in maritime trade, but it would broaden the scope of the sodality too much for them to have a more widespread authority that covered espionage or similar. An alternative manifesto would be possible for a sodality that had a broad remit for fleets, but it could not then also have authority over trade.

Imperial sodalities are "singular" - there cannot be two sodalities in the Empire with overlapping concerns. If the Imperial Senate approves the manifesto of the Court of Far Horizons, then it would not be possible to create a new Imperial sodality charged with authority for maritime trade in the Empire without first abrogating the existence of the Court.

==Powers==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Magistrate Abraham.jpg|caption=Magistrate Abraham, a constitutional scholar and part of the [[Scrutiny#Constitutional Council|Constitutional Council]]|align=right|width=300}}</div>
* '''The power to set tariffs would be delegated to the Court of Far Horizons'''
* '''At present there are no other legal powers that would be automatically delegated to the Court of Far Horizons'''
* '''Any new legal powers that were ''solely'' concerned with maritime trade would need to be delegated to the new sodality'''
* '''Any existing legal powers that could be used to promote trade and relations with overseas foreign powers ''could'' be delegated to the sodality'''
The manifesto gives the overwhelming impression that the sodality would be responsible for maritime trade. As such the power to set [[tariffs]] would be delegated to the sodality as part of it's creation. The manifesto states that "The lifeblood of the Empire is trade, its paths must ''never'' be hindered". Hindering trade is a fundamental part of setting tariffs, so it is questionable whether that wording would permit the sodality to do anything other than to remove all tariffs. The Court advise that the Senate might prefer to endorse wording that said trade should never hindered "unduly" or "without good reason" or similar, since that ensures the sodality's rights to set tariffs would be on firmer legal ground.

The sodality would not affect trade with barbarians. Trade with nations that the Empire is at [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Declaration_of_War|war]] with would still be prohibited. It would not be legal to trade with nations the Empire has declared war on, unless the Senate passed a constitutional Senate motion that explicitly legalised trade with all barbarians. If that happened, then the sodality could set tariffs on such trade.

There are no other legal powers that currently exist that would be automatically delegated to the Court of Far Horizons. If the Senate created new legal powers in the future whose '''sole''' remit was to conduct maritime trade then the well-worn path for the exercise of those powers would be by vote of the sodality members. Any legal powers that could be used to promote or control such trade, but were not solely concerned with it, ''could'' be delegated to the Court of Far Horizons, provided they did not impinge on the constitutionality protected roles of the other houses. For example, the sodality could be given the power to regulate what resources can be exported from the Empire (the Senate has in the past banned the sale of liao to the [[Iron Confederacy]] for example). The sodality could be given the right to prohibit some citizens from engaging in maritime trade in the same way the [[Conclave]] can [[declaration|declare]] someone a [[sorcery|sorcerer]].

The Senate could grant the sodality the ability to announce one or more [[commission|commissions]] each season. They might include [[Edifice|edifices]] or [[sinecure|sinecures]], but [[great work|great works]] would be the most appropriate for a sodality that was keen to ensure investment in trade infrastructure. Likewise it would be constitutional for the Senate to grant the sodality the power to perform an [[appraisal]] if they wished. How the Court used the power would be up to them, but they could appraise ways to increase foreign trade with a specific nation or increase trade in specific goods such as [[mithril]], [[weirwood]] or [[white granite]]. In both cases this would involve transferring one of the Senate's own commissions or appraisals to the sodality.

==Appointments==
* '''The well worn path for an Imperial title whose responsibilities primarily rely on maritime trade would be election by the Court of Far Horizons'''
The civil service have conducted a preliminary review of all current [[Imperial title|Imperial titles]] to identify those whose responsibilities involve maritime trade. In all cases these titles ''could'' be appointed by the new sodality if it were passed.

Where a title relies primarily or solely on maritime trade the Court of the Far Horizons may be the ''only'' constitutionally valid way to appoint the position. In that case, the title would be automatically amended if the sodality is created. If the are other constitutionally valid ways to appoint a title after the sodality is created, then there will be no change to the method of appointment without direct action by the Senate.

No other details would change; if a position had tenure, it would only come up for election by the sodality at the point where the incumbent died, stepped down, or was [[revocation|revoked]]. National positions would be voted on by all members of the sodality, but only citizens of the relevant nation would be eligible to hold the title.

The constitutional implications of the sodality's existence would also impact any [[New Imperial titles|new Imperial title]]. The [[New_Imperial_titles#Well_Worn_Paths|well worth path]] for any position whose sole or primary responsibility was the oversight or promotion of maritime trade, would be appointment by simple vote of members of the Far Horizons sodality.

===Amended Titles===
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Automatically Amended Titles'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Kruidenkenner Trademaster]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Custodian of Ivarsgard Docks]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Master of the Root and Stem]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Eastern Broker]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Quaymaster of the Black Sails]]</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Five titles would be automatically amended to be appointed by the Court of Far Horizons'''
The civil service have identified five Imperial titles whose responsibilities are solely or primarily concerned with maritime trade, either overseeing and supporting such trade or directly benefitting thereby. A position such as the [[Kruidenkenner Trademaster]] is expected to oversee the trade of herbs between the ''Kruidenkenner'' (a [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan guild]]) and the Empire. If the proposed sodality was passed by the Senate, then the only constitutionally valid way to appoint the listed title would be by vote of members of the sodality.

If the Senate pass the motion to create the Court of the Far Horizons, then all five listed titles will be amended to be appointed by the sodality.
===Potential Titles===
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Potential Titles'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[High Herbalist of Sybella]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Master of the Clearing House]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Mayor of Caricomare]]</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Imperial titles whose responsibilities partially rely on maritime trade could be elected by the Court of Far Horizons'''
* '''The titles will continue to be elected by senators if the Senate declines to act'''
* '''There are three extant titles that could be changed with a single Senate motion to have them all elected by the Court of Far Horizons'''
The civil service have identified a set of Imperial titles whose responsibilities include oversight of maritime trade, but it is not their primary responsibility. In all cases the titles were originally created with other responsibilities and have become associated with foreign trade as a result of subsequent developments. It would be possible for the Court of the Far Horizons to appoint these three titles - because of their association with maritime trade - but it is not obligatory.

Given their split responsibilities, creating the new sodality wouldn't change the appointment method of any of the positions. They could be amended by the Senate; a single [[Senate motion|motion]] could be used to amend any one title or all three simultaneously if desired, making them appointments of the Court of Far Horizons.

The current [[Master_of_the_Clearing_House#Constitutional_Note|appointment method]] of the [[Master of the Clearing House]] is unconstitutional. The title could be appointed by the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]] or by the Court of Far Horizons; either amendment would remove the current constitutional problems with the title.
===Potential Bourse Titles===
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Potential Bourse Titles'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Alder of Meade]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Custodian of the Concordium Dock]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Mediator of Fisk]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Prime Factor of the deBruin Docks]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Quaymaster of the Hesychian Docks]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Steel Fist]]</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Several bourse titles could be amended to be appointed by the Court of Far Horizons'''
* '''The titles will continue to be elected via the Bourse if the Senate declines to act'''
* '''There are five extant titles that could be changed with a single Senate motion to have them be elected by the Court of Far Horizons'''
The [[Steel Fist]] exists as a result of long-standing trade arrangements between the [[Sarcophan Delves]] and the Empire. The [[Sarcophan_Delves#Politics|Bedelaar Huisbaas]] pay handsomely for privileged access to Imperial markets - the benefits of which go to fund the income of the Steel Fist. However, the Steel Fist is a Bourse Seat, a reflection of the fact that the position receives a significant amount of [[ilium]] each season. Where a title exists that produces bourse resources from maritime trade then it would be equally valid for the title to be appointed by the Bourse or by the Court of Far Horizons.

Given it would remain constitutional for these titles to be appointed by the Bourse, creating the new sodality wouldn't change the appointment method of any of them. They could be amended by the Senate, and as above either each title could be individually amended or a single motion could be used to amend the appointment method of all the listed bourse titles.

===Ambassadors===
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Ambassadors'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to Asavea]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to Axos]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to Beoraidh]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to Faraden]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to the Grendel]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to Otkodov]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to Jarm]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Imperial Consul]]</td></tr>
</table></div>
The proposed manifesto makes clear that the Senate would expect the Court of the Far Horizons to ''"Influence and leverage foreign relations through trade"''. Although anyone is entitled to deal with foreigners, the official power to create [[Ambassador#Treaty|a treaty]] with a foreign power lies with the [[ambassador]], and it is the ambassador who is expected to [[Ambassador#Delegation|receive any official delegation]]. Trade can be an important part of these foreign relations, especially with powers like the [[Grendel]] or the Sarcophan who take a more mercantile approach to their dealings with the Empire.

The Court of Far Horizons could be given the power to appoint the [[Imperial Consul]] and the [[ambassador|ambassadors]], if the Senate were so inclined. This would inevitably involve some change of emphasis in the role of the ambassador, emphasising the importance of trade, and so bring [[opportunity|new opportunities]] for trade in the future. The responsibilities of the position would be amended to make it clear that their responsibility included the promotion of trade between the Empire and the nation they were treating with.

Given it would remain constitutional for these titles to be appointed by the Senate, creating the new sodality wouldn't change the appointment method of any ambassador. They could be amended by the Senate - either each title could be amended individually with a [[Senate motion]], or a single motion could be used to amend the appointment method of all the listed titles.

===Overland Trade===
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Overland Trade Titles'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Dhomiro of Afar]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Merchant Prince of Misericorde Market]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Mediator of Hyljehal]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Tolvoli Butcher]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Seeker of the Perfect World]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Envoy to the Karass]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Speaker to the Leshun]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Merchant to Skoura]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Mediator of Wreck]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Keeper of the Tome]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bonesetter of Torfast Trading Post]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Overseer of the Westward Road]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Broker of Treji Wayhouse]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Northbound Trademaster]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Kalpaheim Tradeholder]]</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''An amended manifesto could create a sodality whose purview covered all foreign trade'''
* '''Significantly more Imperial titles would fall under the authority of such a sodality'''
The Constitutional Court have done their best to interpret the manifesto provided by [[Emperor Vesna]] and have assumed that [[the Throne]] is considering an Imperial sodality that would have responsibility for ''maritime'' trade. A more general manifesto, one that stripped out the references to fleets, could broaden the focus to ''all'' foreign trade. Such a change would still be constitutional but it would dramatically widen the remit of the sodality, bringing overland trade with various neighbouring foreigners like the Sandfishers of [[Holberg]], the [[Faraden]] and the [[Iron Confederacy]] under it's remit.

The list prepared by the civil service shows all the titles they have found that could be affected. If the Imperial Senate chose to extend the sodality's remit to all foreign trade, then each title would need to be individually evaluated. Any title that no longer had a valid method of appointment would be automatically amended to be appointed by the Court of the Far Horizons. Titles that were still valid could be amended using a Senate motion.

==Support==
Three groups have indicated that they might support the Court of the Far Horizons, if it were given a broad remit by the Imperial Senate and backed with significant legal powers. As is often the case, few groups have any interest in supporting a talking shop; they are only prepared to support the sodality if it is clear that it can wield actual power.

===The Fellowship of the Purple Sails===
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=From out of the West.jpg|caption=Ships set sail from Imperial ports for every corner of the Known World.|align=left|width=500}}</div> <div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;"></div>
* '''The Fellowship want the Court of the Far Horizons to be given the power to set tariffs'''
* '''If that happens, members of the Fellowship of the Purple Sails will join the new sodality en masse'''
* '''If the Court is given the power to set tariffs, then members of the sodality will be able to dock at Hayden in Sumaah'''
The [[Rise_of_the_Fellowship_of_Purple_Sails|Fellowship of the Purple Sails]] is a large sodality of merchants and fleet captains that has extensive business operations across the Empire and beyond. It rarely takes a direct interest in politics, since most members spend much of their time at sea, but word of the new Imperial sodality has piqued their interest. The new sodality seems to encompass all the Fellowship's interests; many members of the Fellowship are eager to join the Court and their leadership are openly discussing joining en masse, ''should the sodality receive the backing of the Senate''.

What concerns the Fellowship most is the fate of Imperial trade, and the assertion of the Court that the trade should never be hindered is what interests most Purple Sails. However they are only prepared to join the new sodality if it gains the seal of approval of the Throne and the Senate gives it the [[#Powers|power to set tariffs]]. Without that, there is a concern that the sodality will be a toothless body that is unable to set or even influence Imperial trade policy.

If the Court of the Far Horizons is given the power to set tariffs, then the Fellowship of the Purple Sails will be dissolved, with members moving to join the Court. If that happens, then the Fellowship will turn over one of their most valuable assets to the new sodality - docking rights at the port of ''Hayden'' in the [[Sumaah Republic]]. Hayden lies well over five hundred miles from Zemeh close to the limits of the rule of the [[Sumaah_Republic#Politics|House of the People]].

The port does not customarily permit traders form the Empire to dock there. The Fellowship enjoys special privileges as a result of a private agreement with the High House of Prosperity, secured nearly a decade ago. This privilege could be transferred to the Court of the Far Horizons. Hayden is no more profitable than Zemeh or other ports Imperial fleets enjoy access to, but it does provide some unique goods that cannot be acquired elsewhere. The Purple Sails do not intend to disclose these details unless the Empire joins, since that information is only shared with other members of the Fellowship.

For as long as the Court of the Far Horizons have the power to set tariffs, members of the sodality (and only members of the sodality) will be able to dock at the port of Hayden.
===The Bedelaar Huisbaas===
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=AmbassadorSarcophanDelves.jpg|caption='''Dino i Riqueza''', Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The Sarcophan want the Court of the Far Horizons to be given the power to appoint ''all'' titles associated with maritime trade'''
* '''They will donate a total of 2 thrones a season to the Imperial Treasury if all the maritime trade titles listed above are appointed by the new sodality'''
* '''They will donate a total of 8 thrones a season to the Imperial Treasury if all the three "Sarcophan" Bourse seats are also appointed by the new sodality'''
* '''They will donate a total of 12 thrones a season to the Imperial Treasury if the Ambassador to the Sarcophan is also appointed by the new sodality'''
The notoriously mercantile Sarcophan Delves enjoy positive relations with the Empire, but it is clear that one thing they do find frustrating is the way the Empire allows politics and religion to interfere with commerce. Such restrictive practices are anathema to the Sarcophan, most of whom prefer to place profits above what they see as confounding distractions.

As such the leading families of the Sarcophan Delves are enthusiastic at the prospect of dealing with members of the Court of Far Horizons on a professional basis. Provided that the three potential titles [[#Potential_Titles|listed above]] are given over to the new sodality, then the Bedelaar Huisbaas will provide "compensating payments" to the Imperial treasury equal to two thrones a season.

It is a relatively small contribution, however if the Senate will go further and also grant the sodality the right to appoint the bourse seats that are based on trade with the Sarcophan - that is the [[Custodian of the Concordium Dock]], the [[Prime Factor of the deBruin Docks]] and the [[Steel Fist]] - then the Sarcophan will increase the compensating payments to a total of eight thrones a season.

The Sarcophan explain that the "compensating payments" would be a share of the increased profits they expect to make as a result of dealing directly with citizens appointed by fellow merchants rather than politicians or priests. They are aware that the Imperial Senate receives income from two of these three titles through the [[Auction of the Seats]] and intend to compensate the Senate for this loss. Under the Sarcophan proposal, rather than a single variable payment once a year, the Senate would benefit from a predictable return every season.

While their proposal is presented as a way to compensate the Imperial Senate, it is arguably little more than a bribe in return for the Sarcophan's preferred outcome. Any pretence otherwise is undermined by their final offer; if the Senate will also grant the Court of the Far Horizons the legal authority to appoint the [[Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves]], as well as all the other titles, then the Delves will increase the compensating payments to a total of twelve thrones a season.

===Salt and Sail===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Turtle city.jpg|align=right|width=250}}
* '''The City of Salt and Sail want the Court of the Far Horizons to be given the power to appoint all ambassadors'''
* '''If that happens, they will grant the sodality the power to send a single message of up to 111 words to anywhere in the mortal world once a year'''
The City of Salt and Sail is a largely unknown eternal of the [[Realm#Autumn|realm of Autumn]]. A representative of the City, a herald called ''Ptolemy'', the Keeper of the Infinite Rookery, was present in the Hall of Worlds at the previous summit as a result of a [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] called by '''Vossk''', the [[Archmage of Autumn]]. Many questions were asked, some of which the herald was able to answer.

Since that meeting, Ptolemy has taken a keen interest in the progress of the Court of the Far Horizons. It seems that some of the aims of the new sodality align with those of the City, at least close enough for the herald to make a promise of support. If the Imperial Senate will grant the sodality the legal right to appoint all Imperial ambassadors, then the eternal will offer their support as a patron for the new sodality. If that happens, then the City will offer what aid they can spare to support the new sodality as it becomes established.

One form this aid will take is the offer to take a single message, once a year, to anyone, anywhere in the world. While this offer may seem no better than a [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messenger]], Ptolemy points out that ritual requires the magician to know the name and the approximate location of their target. Ptolemy's offer includes neither restriction - with the assistance of the City of Salt and Sail, whoever is elected as [[Appointment_by_sodality#Speaker|Speaker]] for the new sodality could send a message to anyone, anywhere in the world,

There would still need to be some way to identify the correct recipient of course, but the Speaker could employ ''any'' logic to designate who should receive their missive. It could be as simple as the leader of a named [[Druj]] sept or as difficult as the current owner of a stolen magical item. Provided there was an identifiable recipient somewhere in the mortal world, the City would deliver the message. The only limitation would be that it must not be more than one hundred and eleven words in length in total.

Once the city had delivered such a message they would not deliver another until a year had passed. The City would provide written guarantees that the service would remain available to the Empire for as long as the sodality retained the rights to appoint all Imperial ambassadors.

==Limitations==
* '''Maritime trade will never be enough to influence the great nations of the world'''
* '''There are periodic opportunities to use maritime trade to influence the Empire's smaller neighbours'''
Maritime trade between the Empire and the great powers of the world, nations like the [[Asavean Archipelago]] or the Sarcophan Delves is important, but it still only represents a very small part of these nation's economies. All the great nations engage in trade with each other, to a greater or lesser extent, as well as with their near neighbours. Moreover, the huge size of these nations means that they are mostly self-sufficient with large internal markets that provide for their citizens or subjects. As such it is not possible to use maritime trade to influence their governments or affect the way they view the Empire. The number of [[fleet|fleets]] that chose [[Voyage#Trading_Voyages|to trade]] with a nation each season is never significant enough to influence their view of the world in itself. The Empire has had direct experience of this in the past, in their interactions with the [[Principalities of Jarm]] who repeatedly made clear that they would not change their laws to suit the Empire. All attempts to use maritime trade to convince Jarm to change failed - they are too large to be influenced in this way.

The same is not always true of small local powers like [[Axos]], [[Faraden]] or [[Skoura]]. These tiny nations, several of which are smaller than an individual Imperial nation, are less self-sufficient. These small nations still trade with other great powers, but because they are so near the Empire, Imperial maritime trade far outweighs any other trading relations. As such, occasionally an [[opportunity]] will arise to use maritime trade to influence one of the Empire's smaller neighbours - either by embargoing them or by working to increase the trade to a specific port. These opportunities are rare and the details will always be explicitly defined in a wind of fortune when they do occur. Absent such an opportunity, there is no effect on foreign relations from maritime trade, even with a smaller country - we do not check how many fleets have gone to a port unless there is a specific plot that provides a reason to do so.
==Further Reading==
* [[Imperial Sodality]]
* [[Forever_is_composed_of_nows#The_Abraham_Gambit|Forever is composed of nows]] - 387YE Winter wind of fortune introducing the opportunity to appraise Imperial sodality manifestos

The right question

2026-07-02T11:17:02Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:History]][[Category:Religion]][[Category:Inspirations]]
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Hazelelponi.jpg|align=left|caption=Hazelelponi of the [[Highguard_groups#The_Shattered_Tower|Shattered Tower]] is the [[Lepidean Librarian]], who guides the research of the [[Lepidean_Librarian#Lepidean_University|Lepidean University]] and whose controversial researches has challenged centuries of accepted wisdom regarding inspirational figures.|width=400}}</div>
==Introduction==
In Spring 387YE Hazelelponi of the [[Highguard_groups#The_Shattered_Tower|Shattered Tower]], the [[Lepidean Librarian]], charged us with researching ''"the origins of exemplars in our faith"''. We thank the Librarian for the opportunity to consider this important subject, we will do our best to collate what facts we can from the records in the hope that it will prove useful. This subject has long been one that has challenged the Empire since exemplars are not mentioned in [[the Doctrines of the Faith]] and scholars have debated their place and purpose.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Lepidean Librarian, Spring 387YE"> Heirs of Lepidus, people look to the Synod for guidance, we may be in crisis, but Wisdom comes from asking the right questions. Through asking those questions, we made the Doctrine of Enlightenment, so I guide you to research the origins of exemplars in our faith, so that we may bolster all in our Empire.</quote></div>
==The Paragons==
We know for certain that the paragons were widely recognised as inspirational figures well before the codification of the Doctrines of the Faith. A figure like the [[Sentinel]] demonstrates this. The [[fortification|fortifications]], structures, towers, and keeps that were ascribed to the Sentinel predate the Empire by a millennia or more. These buildings are not Terunael in style or construction and indeed they are referenced as being old in the few surviving Terunael texts currently in the [[Great Library of Hacynian|Great Library of Hacynian]]. There is a fragment of a surviving book, the ''Aluvian'', which refers to the Five Towers of the Stars in the hills of [[Morrow#Operus|Operus]]. The most common translation describes the towers surmounting five great peaks "chained together in the shape of the stars". In 239YE, Emelius of Canterspire was able to identify these towers - five long-abandoned watchtowers laid out in a pattern that seems reminiscent of that of the constellation known as [[the Chain]].

The Terunael text talks of the towers being "raised from the earth to the stars by the Creator's servant". This unusual turn of phrase is not unique to the Aluvian, it crops up in other texts and always in the context of a great builder or architect. The turn of phrase, and the context in which it is used by the Terunael, is almost always in the most reverential tones that suggest a god-like figure. The only known exception to that is a translation provided by a Navarr guide from before the formation of the Empire who claimed to have translated a laith text describing the being who made the foundation of the [[Casinea#The_Silent_Sentinel|Silent Sentinel]] as "the Creator's slave". Given how little we know about this author, it is safest to assume that they mistranslated the text they reference.

Whatever the matter, the point is that the majority of the paragons are figures of extraordinary importance from before the formation of the Empire and the codification of the Doctrines of Faith. In a few cases these figures were worshipped as gods, at other times they are described as legendary foundational figures, described in similar terms to those used by the [[Suaq]] when speaking about the legendary [[Wintermark_history|Sermersuaq]].

However, nobody called them "paragons" then. There are no references to paragons in any Terunael writings and none in the writings of the people who followed them. The first mention of the paragons is during the [[Highguard_history#The_Revelation_and_the_Civil_War|Highborn civil war]]. One text from that time talks of the virtues and the dream of becoming a "paragon of virtue" to escape the bonds of the mortal world. The few surviving records from the war all use the same references; they never mention a paragon by name. Even when they talk of [[Atun]] or [[Atuman]], they always refer to them as "navigators" not as actual paragons. But they did describe the quest to ''become'' a paragon - that is seen as something of singular importance to many of the first Highborn [[chapter|chapters]]. One of the earliest chapters was called the ''Seekers of Wisdom''. The only thing that survives from their chapterhouse is a stone plaque with still bears their name beneath which it simply states "We search for the way - the path to become paragons of virtue."

It was this yearning, this search for a way to ''become'' a paragon, that appears to have been the driving animus behind the foundation of several of the chapters. Despite this, they didn't name ''any'' paragons at that time, they seemed to believe it was a spiritual journey that they were on together, rather than a path that others had trod in the past.
==The Foundation of the Way==
This focus had clearly shifted by the time of the foundation of the Way. By this point, Highborn [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] had already spread the virtues far and wide, even reaching distant [[Wintermark]] (although it would be some time before the Way itself was widely adopted in the north-west). It appears that many of the people to whom they took the virtues found it easiest to understand the idea of the Way in terms of local heroes or figures of importance they could view as paragons. [[Good Walder]] is an obvious example. Many of the early [[monk|monks]] and [[friar|friars]] in [[the Marches]] appear to have enthusiastically embraced the idea of Good Walder as a paragon of [[Prosperity]], someone who exhibited all the finest qualities of the Marches and whose virtue knew no bounds.

When these people came together there was a general clamour to have these figures recognised as paragons by nations outside Highguard. The creation of the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_The_Paragons|Doctrine of the Paragons]] seems to be an explicit attempt to make sense of this chaos by identifying which figures were actual Paragons and which were not. The records suggest some extraordinarily bitter disagreements at this time. Copies of [[judgement|judgements]] from this period exist that include denunciation of specific paragons from other nations in terms that may well appear unseemly to our modern sensibilities. It was apparently not uncommon for the early Synod to accept judgements that employed very earthy language.

Where the Doctrine of Paragons came from is beyond the scope of this work - not least because it would require a thorough examination of the [[Signs of the paragon and exemplar|eight signs of the paragon]]. That information is definitely contained in some of the historical records in the Library and other chapters, [[spire|spires]] and similar - but to gather it all together would require a season's work all by itself.

What is crucial to note is that there is no record of any attempts to recognise ''exemplars'' at this time. The Doctrines of the Faith - which were painfully argued over and agreed in the years following the Foundation of the Empire - include the idea of becoming a paragon, but exemplars are not mentioned in any of the Doctrines, neither those that passed, nor those that failed.

==The First Exemplar==
The first recorded exemplar is [[Elayne Silverlark|Lady Elayne Silverlark]] who was recognised by the [[Synod|Imperial Synod]] in 18YE. The common histories state that she had been recognised as an exemplar of [[Loyalty]] by the Highborn Assembly of the Virtuous in pre-Imperial Highguard, but that turns out to be a little... simplistic.

Elayne's performances had a powerful impact on the composure of those Highborn who experienced them. She demonstrated a personal commitment to Loyalty that many Highborn found deeply moving - and her music and poetry was said to stir the soul. The Highborn claimed it lifted the souls of those who heard it to act with Loyalty in their hearts and helped them to overcome vice. At a time when many Highborn were unsure if a nation like [[Dawn]] were virtuous enough to embrace the Way, Elayne Silverlark demonstrated a strength of Loyalty that inspired everyone who met her.

There is no evidence that the Highborn thought of Lady Elayne Silverlark as an exemplar, a word that is rarely used before the foundation of the Empire. As far as we can tell the Highborn at the time were clear that the Silverlark was a paragon - someone whose supreme virtue had enabled them to escape the Labyrinth.

<quote by="Eve of Soul's Rest">The Silverlark, the virtuous soul born Lady Elayne Silverlark, exemplifies the virtue of Loyalty. It is long past time her virtue was recognised beyond Highguard. We call on this Assembly to grant this paragon of Loyalty the recognition they deserve. The seven signs are:

* Recognition: The deeds of the Silverlark are recognised in half the nations of the Empire
* Benevolence: Elayne's support for Godric is the perfect example of virtue untainted by personal advantage
* Inspiration: The stories, songs and poems created by the Silverlark have been an inspiration to all
* Miracles: The music of the Silverlark was a source of spiritual strength to many how heard it
* Pilgrimage: To Bastion where the Lady performed The Flowers of Auvanne outside the gates of the Basilica of Seven Doors
* Salvation: Lady Elayne's embodiment of Loyalty help to bring the nation of Dawn to the Way
* Legacy: The songs and poems she wrote stand as her legacy.
</quote>

In 17YE, the Highborn delegation to the Synod didn't present the Silverlark as an exemplar, but as a paragon. What followed was a contentious and vibrant debate of the Silverlark's status in which a number of assemblies disputed her virtue in ways that other priests publicly decried as nakedly political. Elayne's recognition as a paragon received strong support from Highguard and Dawn and to a lesser extent Wintermark, but priests of the Marches were virulently opposed and were able to draw on support from [[the League]], [[the Brass Coast]], and [[Varushka]].

The Synod in those days was much smaller, and it was more common for priests to submit judgements directly attacking the arguments put forward by other priests. Thus we have records of the Marcher priests making very pointed claims that Elayne Silverlark was little more than a figurehead to justify the subservient place of [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]] in Dawnish society. This produced a spate of judgements questioning the virtue of the Marcher priests who had disdained the Silverlark.

Other nations were more fragmented in their opposition. A group of [[Wise One|wise ones]] from the Vale of Ozketcha claimed that the stories of the Silverlark presented a dangerously unwise story because of the suggestion they contain that a deal with a [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] can help one escape a foolish bargain. There was criticism from Freeborn [[sutannir]] who claimed that the Silverlark's message of Loyalty was flawed because it was not reciprocated - a claim that is vituperously denied by the Dawnish who used their own judgements to accuse the Freeborn priests of having been paid to make these claims by the Marchers.

According to one account from the time, these arguments continued for the best part of a year, with attempts to recognise the Silverlark as a paragon failing on two separate occasions. Each time the issue was raised and fell short, Dawnish [[troubadour|troubadours]] and Marcher priests would issue a volley of judgements casting aspersions on the other's judgements in highly personal terms. There is some sign that the Synod were wearying of the issue, the votes on all these judgements attracted less and less priests either in favour or against.

==A Political Compromise==
By 18YE the Empire appeared to have adopted a political compromise. Rather than accept that Lady Elayne Silverlark was a paragon, a judgement that required a greater majority of the Assembly to agree, the Synod called on members to recognise that the Silverlark was an exemplar of Loyalty.

<quote by="Alayne du Rion">This Synod accepts that the virtue of the paragons can often be hard for the clouded eyes of lesser mortals to perceive. But what cannot be denied is that Lady Elayne Silverlark, was an inspiration to all who encountered her or her story. The signs are:

* Inspiration: The music, poetry, and poems created by the Silverlark remain an inspiration to all
* Pilgrimage: Lady Elayne journeyed to Bastion to perform The Flowers of Auvanne outside the Basilica of Seven Doors
* Legacy: The songs and poems she wrote represent her legacy.
* Salvation: Lady Elayne's embodiment of Loyalty brought Dawn to the Way

We call on this Synod to recognise her as an exemplar of Loyalty.</quote>

This judgement had narrow majority in favour - which was enough for it to pass. The passionate opposition of the Marchers had been enough to prevent Lady Elayne being declared a paragon - but the compromise to that appears to have been the creation of a lesser status - a recognition that the Silverlark had achieved ''something'' extraordinary, even if the Synod were not ready to accept that they had become a paragon.

There is a curious legacy of this ancient twist still buried in Imperial law which explicitly states that, ''"A judgement to recognize a paragon that passes the General Assembly with a lesser majority but fails to achieve a greater majority is considered to fail - it does not pass as an exemplar."''. This is quite unusual - Imperial law rarely states that a judgement, motion or declaration that fails to pass, does not produce a different outcome instead. That is normally implicit in the nature of the law. In this case, where priests saw being recognised as an exemplar as a compromise for failing to agree someone was a paragon, the law has to be explicit lest people assume that the lesser majority meant the lesser status was granted.

==Current Times==
Since that day, the Empire has recognised scores of new exemplars, but it has often hesitated to add new paragons to the roster of inspirations. These early theologians saw no conflict at all between the Doctrines of the Faith and their failure to mention exemplars. That mystery has been a source of increasing concern in recent times, but the early Synod understand that an exemplar was simply a virtuous human being whose story inspired others and exemplified a virtue. They were someone who was on the Way to becoming a paragon, someone who would eventually escape the Labyrinth. On the rare occasion that the priests of the Synod could all agree that someone was a paragon, their name would be added to the list of the most virtuous. If agreement could not be reached, the Synod could compromise and recognise them as an exemplar instead.

There is an odd echo with modern times here. The [[Senate|Imperial Senate]] has only very recently created the judgement of [[exaltation]], allowing a priest to exalt a citizen who has not yet been recognised as a paragon or even an exemplar, but whose deeds are clearly virtuous. While the Senate did not take this path, but they could have chosen to demand the Synod identify two signs of the paragons and exemplars that would prove their virtuous status. That would certainly create an elegant symmetry.

The common view for many years is that exemplars are less important figures than the paragons - that they are not as virtuous, or that the paragons have reached a zenith of virtue which exemplars have not yet attained. A more recent interpretation of the exemplars is that they are ''more'' inspirational than the paragons because they seem more human, more normal, more relatable. Their deeds are fundamentally mortal, they are something that anyone might hope to achieve - and that achievability makes them more inspirational figures than paragons.

<quote by="Martin Orchard, General Assembly, Autumn Equinox 386YE, Vote: 1730-130">The exemplars of Vigilance lived and died in history, that of our nations, Their legacies are writ in stone, not story. You may visit the home of Major Benson, meet his descendants, stand up on his grave. You may see Berechiah's actions and his virtuous crimes in Imperial record. Make pilgrimage to their tombs. Reflect that these were people like you, heroes, not legends. Renew your faith.</quote>

==Inspiration==
Regardless, what is now clear is that at least some of the first Highborn who embraced virtue, saw the Way as a route to become a paragon of virtue. Many of them appeared to have little interest in who had become a paragon and who had not. There was little evidence that they thought anyone had achieved this - what little writing survives tend to suggest the opposite. They regarded themselves as pioneers discovering fundamental truths about the nature of the human soul and the purpose of life - they believed they were setting forth on a path down which no human had ever gone before. They saw themselves as trailblazers, they were dedicated to the Way as the path to become paragons of virtue.

The notion of inspirational figures was crucial for the early Highborn missionaries. The ready willingness of the wayfarers to recognise paragons among the people they shared the virtues with helped to spread acceptance of the Way. For the people they spoke to, it was easier to embrace the Way when they could see the place that important national or local heroes occupied within the faith. Many of the missionaries spreading the Way were more than content to accept these new paragons, because they were unconcerned with who was or was not a paragon. What was crucial to them was the idea of being inspired to emulate virtue figures - they wanted to spread the idea that to pursue the Way you must pursue virtue. These figures were important because they made it easier for people to be inspired.

In the years that followed, both before and after the Way of Virtue was foundational to the creation of the Empire, the idea that one might draw inspiration from the virtue of others came to be seen as crucial. People became fascinated with the idea of identifying who had become paragons because they demonstrated commitment to virtue that was admirable, and because they showed ''how'' virtue might be embraced. [[Empress Richilde|Richilde]] demonstrates a form of [[Pride]] that people simply had not considered to be an expression of the virtue before it was recognised by the Synod.

Inevitably people fell to arguing over who was a paragon and who was not. Where people could not agree that someone had been sufficiently virtuous to be described as a paragon, but it was inarguable that the person had been virtuous and inspirational to others, then they would be recognised as an exemplar. The recent tradition creating the status of exalted, is arguably no different to the work of the early Synod in this regard. A very human need to classify and recognise the virtue of others.

A great irony here is that this work was partly triggered by the revelations that Vardas was a fictional figure, but the original Highborn wayfarers would have considered that to be utterly irrelevant. What they cared about was that people were inspired by Vardas, that they were driven to pursue Vigilance because of the example that Vardas represented. The fundamental focus of these early Highborn missionaries was on the individual and what they accomplished - they saw the Way as a profoundly personal faith. The role of others was not to be venerated but simply to inspire each human being to strive to achieve virtue.

The philosophical counterpoint to this view is the one that has developed in the centuries since, right up to the present day. That paragons, exemplars, and now exalted are central to an understanding of the Way because their lives demonstrate what virtue looks like. The teachings of the virtues are easy to recite but it can be exceptionally hard to understand how they should be applied. The lives of inspirational figures demonstrate how those compromises can be squared, they show what it actually means to live a life of virtue - and that makes it easier for others to imitate.

==Further Questions==
After delving into the origin of the exemplars and paragons, and [[Pride_and_paragons#What_Are_the_Exemplars_For?|what exemplars are for]], the Heirs of Lepidus remind the Librarian that they are still available to research the [[Pride_and_paragons#The_Next_Question|other two questions]] raised following the publication of ''[[Life of Vardas]]''. Specifically, the question of [[Pride_and_paragons#Where_Do_the_Signs_Come_From?|where the signs of the paragons and exemplars come from]], and [[Pride_and_paragons#Why_Do_Paragons_Only_Display_One_Virtue?|why paragons display only one virtue]]. While the [[True faith|aftershocks]] following the revelation of Vardas' true nature have subsided, the Heirs caution that the "crisis" has merely gone quiet and is by no means completely resolved.
==Further Reading==
* [[Paragons and exemplars]]
* [[Recognition]]
* [[Life of Vardas]] - controversial 386YE Spring historical research inspiring wider discussion of paragons and exemplars
* [[Pride and paragons]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune discussing potential avenues of study regarding paragons and exemplars

Exemplar

2026-07-02T11:13:42Z

Twiggy: Redirected page to Paragons and exemplars

#REDIRECT [[Paragons and exemplars]]

The right question

2026-07-02T11:08:24Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:History]][[Category:Religion]][[Category:Inspirations]]
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Hazelelponi.jpg|align=left|caption=Hazelelponi of the [[Highguard_groups#The_Shattered_Tower|Shattered Tower]] is the [[Lepidean Librarian]], who guides the research of the [[Lepidean_Librarian#Lepidean_University|Lepidean University]] and whose controversial researches has challenged centuries of accepted wisdom regarding inspirational figures.|width=400}}</div>
==Introduction==
In Spring 387YE Hazelelponi of the [[Highguard_groups#The_Shattered_Tower|Shattered Tower]], the [[Lepidean Librarian]], charged us with researching ''"the origins of Exemplars in our faith"''. We thank the Librarian for the opportunity to consider this important subject, we will do our best to collate what facts we can from the records in the hope that it will prove useful. This subject has long been one that has challenged the Empire since exemplars are not mentioned in [[the Doctrines of the Faith]] and scholars have debated their place and purpose.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Lepidean Librarian, Spring 387YE"> Heirs of Lepidus, people look to the Synod for guidance, we may be in crisis, but Wisdom comes from asking the right questions. Through asking those questions, we made the Doctrine of Enlightenment, so I guide you to research the origins of Exemplars in our faith, so that we may bolster all in our Empire.</quote></div>
==The Paragons==
We know for certain that the paragons were widely recognised as inspirational figures well before the codification of the Doctrines of the Faith. A figure like the [[Sentinel]] demonstrates this. The [[fortification|fortifications]], structures, towers, and keeps that were ascribed to the Sentinel predate the Empire by a millennia or more. These buildings are not Terunael in style or construction and indeed they are referenced as being old in the few surviving Terunael texts currently in the [[Great Library of Hacynian|Great Library of Hacynian]]. There is a fragment of a surviving book, the ''Aluvian'', which refers to the Five Towers of the Stars in the hills of [[Morrow#Operus|Operus]]. The most common translation describes the towers surmounting five great peaks "chained together in the shape of the stars". In 239YE, Emelius of Canterspire was able to identify these towers - five long-abandoned watchtowers laid out in a pattern that seems reminiscent of that of the constellation known as [[the Chain]].

The Terunael text talks of the towers being "raised from the earth to the stars by the Creator's servant". This unusual turn of phrase is not unique to the Aluvian, it crops up in other texts and always in the context of a great builder or architect. The turn of phrase, and the context in which it is used by the Terunael, is almost always in the most reverential tones that suggest a god-like figure. The only known exception to that is a translation provided by a Navarr guide from before the formation of the Empire who claimed to have translated a laith text describing the being who made the foundation of the [[Casinea#The_Silent_Sentinel|Silent Sentinel]] as "the Creator's slave". Given how little we know about this author, it is safest to assume that they mistranslated the text they reference.

Whatever the matter, the point is that the majority of the Paragons are figures of extraordinary importance from before the formation of the Empire and the codification of the Doctrines of Faith. In a few cases these figures were worshipped as gods, at other times they are described as legendary foundational figures, described in similar terms to those used by the [[Suaq]] when speaking about the legendary [[Wintermark_history|Sermersuaq]].

However, nobody called them "Paragons" then. There are no references to Paragons in any Terunael writings and none in the writings of the people who followed them. The first mention of the Paragons is during the [[Highguard_history#The_Revelation_and_the_Civil_War|Highborn civil war]]. One text from that time talks of the Virtues and the dream of becoming a "Paragon of Virtue" to escape the bonds of the mortal world. The few surviving records from the war all use the same references; they never mention a Paragon by name. Even when they talk of [[Atun]] or [[Atuman]], they always refer to them as "navigators" not as actual Paragons. But they did describe the quest to ''become'' a Paragon - that is seen as something of singular importance to many of the first Highborn [[chapter|chapters]]. One of the earliest chapters was called the ''Seekers of Wisdom''. The only thing that survives from their chapterhouse is a stone plaque with still bears their name beneath which it simply states "We search for the way - the path to become paragons of virtue."

It was this yearning, this search for a way to ''become'' a paragon, that appears to have been the driving animus behind the foundation of several of the chapters. Despite this, they didn't name ''any'' paragons at that time, they seemed to believe it was a spiritual journey that they were on together, rather than a path that others had trod in the past.
==The Foundation of the Way==
This focus had clearly shifted by the time of the foundation of the Way. By this point, Highborn [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] had already spread the Virtues far and wide, even reaching distant [[Wintermark]] (although it would be some time before the Way itself was widely adopted in the north-west). It appears that many of the people to whom they took the Virtues found it easiest to understand the idea of the Way in terms of local heroes or figures of importance they could view as Paragons. [[Good Walder]] is an obvious example. Many of the early [[monk|monks]] and [[friar|friars]] in [[the Marches]] appear to have enthusiastically embraced the idea of Good Walder as a Paragon of [[Prosperity]], someone who exhibited all the finest qualities of the Marches and whose Virtue knew no bounds.

When these people came together there was a general clamour to have these figures recognised as Paragons by nations outside Highguard. The creation of the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_The_Paragons|Doctrine of the Paragons]] seems to be an explicit attempt to make sense of this chaos by identifying which figures were actual Paragons and which were not. The records suggest some extraordinarily bitter disagreements at this time. Copies of [[judgement|judgements]] from this period exist that include denunciation of specific Paragons from other nations in terms that may well appear unseemly to our modern sensibilities. It was apparently not uncommon for the early Synod to accept judgements that employed very earthy language.

Where the Doctrine of Paragons came from is beyond the scope of this work - not least because it would require a thorough examination of the [[Signs of the paragon and exemplar|eight signs of the Paragon]]. That information is definitely contained in some of the historical records in the Library and other chapters, [[spire|spires]] and similar - but to gather it all together would require a season's work all by itself.

What is crucial to note is that there is no record of any attempts to recognise ''exemplars'' at this time. The Doctrines of the Faith - which were painfully argued over and agreed in the years following the Foundation of the Empire - include the idea of becoming a Paragon, but exemplars are not mentioned in any of the Doctrines, neither those that passed, nor those that failed.

==The First Exemplar==
The first recorded exemplar is [[Elayne Silverlark|Lady Elayne Silverlark]] who was recognised by the [[Synod|Imperial Synod]] in 18YE. The common histories state that she had been recognised as an Exemplar of [[Loyalty]] by the Highborn Assembly of the Virtuous in pre-Imperial Highguard, but that turns out to be a little... simplistic.

Elayne's performances had a powerful impact on the composure of those Highborn who experienced them. She demonstrated a personal commitment to Loyalty that many Highborn found deeply moving - and her music and poetry was said to stir the soul. The Highborn claimed it lifted the souls of those who heard it to act with Loyalty in their hearts and helped them to overcome vice. At a time when many Highborn were unsure if a nation like [[Dawn]] were Virtuous enough to embrace the Way, Elayne Silverlark demonstrated a strength of Loyalty that inspired everyone who met her.

There is no evidence that the Highborn thought of Lady Elayne Silverlark as an exemplar, a word that is rarely used before the foundation of the Empire. As far as we can tell the Highborn at the time were clear that the Silverlark was a Paragon - someone whose supreme Virtue had enabled them to escape the Labyrinth.

<quote by="Eve of Soul's Rest">The Silverlark, the Virtuous soul born Lady Elayne Silverlark, exemplifies the Virtue of Loyalty. It is long past time her Virtue was recognised beyond Highguard. We call on this Assembly to grant this Paragon of Loyalty the recognition they deserve. The seven signs are:

* Recognition: The deeds of the Silverlark are recognised in half the nations of the Empire
* Benevolence: Elayne's support for Godric is the perfect example of Virtue untainted by personal advantage
* Inspiration: The stories, songs and poems created by the Silverlark have been an inspiration to all
* Miracles: The music of the Silverlark was a source of spiritual strength to many how heard it
* Pilgrimage: To Bastion where the Lady performed The Flowers of Auvanne outside the gates of the Basilica of Seven Doors
* Salvation: Lady Elayne's embodiment of Loyalty help to bring the nation of Dawn to the Way
* Legacy: The songs and poems she wrote stand as her legacy.
</quote>

In 17YE, the Highborn delegation to the Synod didn't present the Silverlark as an exemplar, but as a Paragon. What followed was a contentious and vibrant debate of the Silverlark's status in which a number of assemblies disputed her Virtue in ways that other priests publicly decried as nakedly political. Elayne's recognition as a Paragon received strong support from Highguard and Dawn and to a lesser extent Wintermark, but priests of the Marches were virulently opposed and were able to draw on support from [[the League]], [[the Brass Coast]], and [[Varushka]].

The Synod in those days was much smaller, and it was more common for priests to submit judgements directly attacking the arguments put forward by other priests. Thus we have records of the Marcher priests making very pointed claims that Elayne Silverlark was little more than a figurehead to justify the subservient place of [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]] in Dawnish society. This produced a spate of judgements questioning the Virtue of the Marcher priests who had disdained the Silverlark.

Other nations were more fragmented in their opposition. A group of [[Wise One|wise ones]] from the Vale of Ozketcha claimed that the stories of the Silverlark presented a dangerously unwise story because of the suggestion they contain that a deal with a [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] can help one escape a foolish bargain. There was criticism from Freeborn [[sutannir]] who claimed that the Silverlark's message of Loyalty was flawed because it was not reciprocated - a claim that is vituperously denied by the Dawnish who used their own judgements to accuse the Freeborn priests of having been paid to make these claims by the Marchers.

According to one account from the time, these arguments continued for the best part of a year, with attempts to recognise the Silverlark as a Paragon failing on two separate occasions. Each time the issue was raised and fell short, Dawnish [[troubadour|troubadours]] and Marcher priests would issue a volley of judgements casting aspersions on the other's judgements in highly personal terms. There is some sign that the Synod were wearying of the issue, the votes on all these judgements attracted less and less priests either in favour or against.

==A Political Compromise==
By 18YE the Empire appeared to have adopted a political compromise. Rather than accept that Lady Elayne Silverlark was a Paragon, a judgement that required a greater majority of the Assembly to agree, the Synod called on members to recognise that the Silverlark was an exemplar of Loyalty.

<quote by="Alayne du Rion">This Synod accepts that the Virtue of the Paragons can often be hard for the clouded eyes of lesser mortals to perceive. But what cannot be denied is that Lady Elayne Silverlark, was an inspiration to all who encountered her or her story. The signs are:

* Inspiration: The music, poetry, and poems created by the Silverlark remain an inspiration to all
* Pilgrimage: Lady Elayne journeyed to Bastion to perform The Flowers of Auvanne outside the Basilica of Seven Doors
* Legacy: The songs and poems she wrote represent her legacy.
* Salvation: Lady Elayne's embodiment of Loyalty brought Dawn to the Way

We call on this Synod to recognise her as an exemplar of Loyalty.</quote>

This judgement had narrow majority in favour - which was enough for it to pass. The passionate opposition of the Marchers had been enough to prevent Lady Elayne being declared a Paragon - but the compromise to that appears to have been the creation of a lesser status - a recognition that the Silverlark had achieved ''something'' extraordinary, even if the Synod were not ready to accept that they had become a paragon.

There is a curious legacy of this ancient twist still buried in Imperial law which explicitly states that, ''"A judgement to recognize a paragon that passes the General Assembly with a lesser majority but fails to achieve a greater majority is considered to fail - it does not pass as an exemplar."''. This is quite unusual - Imperial law rarely states that a judgement, motion or declaration that fails to pass, does not produce a different outcome instead. That is normally implicit in the nature of the law. In this case, where priests saw being recognised as an Exemplar as a compromise for failing to agree someone was a Paragon, the law has to be explicit lest people assume that the lesser majority meant the lesser status was granted.

==Current Times==
Since that day, the Empire has recognised scores of new exemplars, but it has often hesitated to add new Paragons to the roster of inspirations. These early theologians saw no conflict at all between the Doctrines of the Faith and their failure to mention exemplars. That mystery has been a source of increasing concern in recent times, but the early Synod understand that an exemplar was simply a virtuous human being whose story inspired others and exemplified a Virtue. They were someone who was on the Way to becoming a Paragon, someone who would eventually escape the Labyrinth. On the rare occasion that the priests of the Synod could all agree that someone was a Paragon, their name would be added to the list of the most Virtuous. If agreement could not be reached, the Synod could compromise and recognise them as an exemplar instead.

There is an odd echo with modern times here. The [[Senate|Imperial Senate]] has only very recently created the judgement of [[exaltation]], allowing a priest to exalt a citizen who has not yet been recognised as a Paragon or even an exemplar, but whose deeds are clearly Virtuous. While the Senate did not take this path, but they could have chosen to demand the Synod identify two signs of the Paragons and exemplars that would prove their Virtuous status. That would certainly create an elegant symmetry.

The common view for many years is that exemplars are less important figures than the Paragons - that they are not as virtuous, or that the Paragons have reached a zenith of Virtue which exemplars have not yet attained. A more recent interpretation of the exemplars is that they are ''more'' inspirational than the Paragons because they seem more human, more normal, more relatable. Their deeds are fundamentally mortal, they are something that anyone might hope to achieve - and that achievability makes them more inspirational figures than Paragons.

<quote by="Martin Orchard, General Assembly, Autumn Equinox 386YE, Vote: 1730-130">The exemplars of vigilance lived and died in history, that of our nations, Their legacies are writ in stone, not story. You may visit the home of Major Benson, meet his descendants, stand up on his grave. You may see Berechiah's actions and his virtuous crimes in Imperial record. Make pilgrimage to their tombs. Reflect that these were people like you, heroes, not legends. Renew your faith.</quote>

==Inspiration==
Regardless, what is now clear is that at least some of the first Highborn who embraced Virtue, saw the Way as a route to become a paragon of Virtue. Many of them appeared to have little interest in who had become a Paragon and who had not. There was little evidence that they thought anyone had achieved this - what little writing survives tend to suggest the opposite. They regarded themselves as pioneers discovering fundamental truths about the nature of the human soul and the purpose of life - they believed they were setting forth on a path down which no human had ever gone before. They saw themselves as trailblazers, they were dedicated to the Way as the path to become paragons of Virtue.

The notion of inspirational figures was crucial for the early Highborn missionaries. The ready willingness of the wayfarers to recognise Paragons among the people they shared the Virtues with helped to spread acceptance of the Way. For the people they spoke to, it was easier to embrace the Way when they could see the place that important national or local heroes occupied within the faith. Many of the missionaries spreading the Way were more than content to accept these new paragons, because they were unconcerned with who was or was not a paragon. What was crucial to them was the idea of being inspired to emulate Virtue figures - they wanted to spread the idea that to pursue the Way you must pursue Virtue. These figures were important because they made it easier for people to be inspired.

In the years that followed, both before and after the Way of Virtue was foundational to the creation of the Empire, the idea that one might draw inspiration from the Virtue of others came to be seen as crucial. People became fascinated with the idea of identifying who had become Paragons because they demonstrated commitment to Virtue that was admirable, and because they showed ''how'' Virtue might be embraced. [[Empress Richilde|Richilde]] demonstrates a form of [[Pride]] that people simply had not considered to be an expression of the Virtue before it was recognised by the Synod.

Inevitably people fell to arguing over who was a Paragon and who was not. Where people could not agree that someone had been sufficiently virtuous to be described as a Paragon, but it was inarguable that the person had been Virtuous and inspirational to others, then they would be recognised as an exemplar. The recent tradition creating the status of exalted, is arguably no different to the work of the early Synod in this regard. A very human need to classify and recognise the Virtue of others.

A great irony here is that this work was partly triggered by the revelations that Vardas was a fictional figure, but the original Highborn wayfarers would have considered that to be utterly irrelevant. What they cared about was that people were inspired by Vardas, that they were driven to pursue Vigilance because of the example that Vardas represented. The fundamental focus of these early Highborn missionaries was on the individual and what they accomplished - they saw the Way as a profoundly personal faith. The role of others was not to be venerated but simply to inspire each human being to strive to achieve Virtue.

The philosophical counterpoint to this view is the one that has developed in the centuries since, right up to the present day. That Paragons, exemplars, and now exalted are central to an understanding of the Way because their lives demonstrate what Virtue looks like. The teachings of the Virtues are easy to recite but it can be exceptionally hard to understand how they should be applied. The lives of inspirational figures demonstrate how those compromises can be squared, they show what it actually means to live a life of Virtue - and that makes it easier for others to imitate.

==Further Questions==
After delving into the origin of the exemplars and paragons, and [[Pride_and_paragons#What_Are_the_Exemplars_For?|what exemplars are for]], the Heirs of Lepidus remind the Librarian that they are still available to research the [[Pride_and_paragons#The_Next_Question|other two questions]] raised following the publication of ''[[Life of Vardas]]''. Specifically, the question of [[Pride_and_paragons#Where_Do_the_Signs_Come_From?|where the signs of the paragons and exemplars come from]], and [[Pride_and_paragons#Why_Do_Paragons_Only_Display_One_Virtue?|why paragons display only one virtue]]. While the [[True faith|aftershocks]] following the revelation of Vardas' true nature have subsided, the Heirs caution that the "crisis" has merely gone quiet and is by no means completely resolved.
==Further Reading==
* [[Paragons and exemplars]]
* [[Recognition]]
* [[Life of Vardas]] - controversial 386YE Spring historical research inspiring wider discussion of paragons and exemplars
* [[Pride and paragons]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune discussing potential avenues of study regarding paragons and exemplars

The right question

2026-07-02T11:05:34Z

Twiggy: /* Inspiration */

[[Category:History]][[Category:Religion]][[Category:Inspirations]]
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Hazelelponi.jpg|align=left|caption=Hazelelponi of the [[Highguard_groups#The_Shattered_Tower|Shattered Tower]] is the [[Lepidean Librarian]], who guides the research of the [[Lepidean_Librarian#Lepidean_University|Lepidean University]] and whose controversial researches has challenged centuries of accepted wisdom regarding inspirational figures.|width=400}}</div>
==Introduction==
In Spring 387YE Hazelelponi of the [[Highguard_groups#The_Shattered_Tower|Shattered Tower]], the [[Lepidean Librarian]], charged us with researching ''"the origins of Exemplars in our faith"''. We thank the Librarian for the opportunity to consider this important subject, we will do our best to collate what facts we can from the records in the hope that it will prove useful. This subject has long been one that has challenged the Empire since examplars are not mentioned in [[the Doctrines of the Faith]] and scholars have debated their place and purpose.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Lepidean Librarian, Spring 387YE"> Heirs of Lepidus, people look to the Synod for guidance, we may be in crisis, but Wisdom comes from asking the right questions. Through asking those questions, we made the Doctrine of Enlightenment, so I guide you to research the origins of Exemplars in our faith, so that we may bolster all in our Empire.</quote></div>
==The Paragons==
We know for certain that the paragons were widely recognised as inspirational figures well before the codification of the Doctrines of the Faith. A figure like the [[Sentinel]] demonstrates this. The [[fortification|fortifications]], structures, towers, and keeps that were ascribed to the Sentinel predate the Empire by a millennia or more. These buildings are not Terunael in style or construction and indeed they are referenced as being old in the few surviving Terunael texts currently in the [[Great Library of Hacynian|Great Library of Hacynian]]. There is a fragment of a surviving book, the ''Aluvian'', which refers to the Five Towers of the Stars in the hills of [[Morrow#Operus|Operus]]. The most common translation describes the towers surmounting five great peaks "chained together in the shape of the stars". In 239YE, Emelius of Canterspire was able to identify these towers - five long-abandoned watchtowers laid out in a pattern that seems reminiscent of that of the constellation known as [[the Chain]].

The Terunael text talks of the towers being "raised from the earth to the stars by the Creator's servant". This unusual turn of phrase is not unique to the Aluvian, it crops up in other texts and always in the context of a great builder or architect. The turn of phrase, and the context in which it is used by the Terunael, is almost always in the most reverential tones that suggest a god-like figure. The only known exception to that is a translation provided by a Navarr guide from before the formation of the Empire who claimed to have translated a laith text describing the being who made the foundation of the [[Casinea#The_Silent_Sentinel|Silent Sentinel]] as "the Creator's slave". Given how little we know about this author, it is safest to assume that they mistranslated the text they reference.

Whatever the matter, the point is that the majority of the Paragons are figures of extraordinary importance from before the formation of the Empire and the codification of the Doctrines of Faith. In a few cases these figures were worshipped as gods, at other times they are described as legendary foundational figures, described in similar terms to those used by the [[Suaq]] when speaking about the legendary [[Wintermark_history|Sermersuaq]].

However, nobody called them "Paragons" then. There are no references to Paragons in any Terunael writings and none in the writings of the people who followed them. The first mention of the Paragons is during the [[Highguard_history#The_Revelation_and_the_Civil_War|Highborn civil war]]. One text from that time talks of the Virtues and the dream of becoming a "Paragon of Virtue" to escape the bonds of the mortal world. The few surviving records from the war all use the same references; they never mention a Paragon by name. Even when they talk of [[Atun]] or [[Atuman]], they always refer to them as "navigators" not as actual Paragons. But they did describe the quest to ''become'' a Paragon - that is seen as something of singular importance to many of the first Highborn [[chapter|chapters]]. One of the earliest chapters was called the ''Seekers of Wisdom''. The only thing that survives from their chapterhouse is a stone plaque with still bears their name beneath which it simply states "We search for the way - the path to become paragons of virtue."

It was this yearning, this search for a way to ''become'' a paragon, that appears to have been the driving animus behind the foundation of several of the chapters. Despite this, they didn't name ''any'' paragons at that time, they seemed to believe it was a spiritual journey that they were on together, rather than a path that others had trod in the past.
==The Foundation of the Way==
This focus had clearly shifted by the time of the foundation of the Way. By this point, Highborn [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] had already spread the Virtues far and wide, even reaching distant [[Wintermark]] (although it would be some time before the Way itself was widely adopted in the north-west). It appears that many of the people to whom they took the Virtues found it easiest to understand the idea of the Way in terms of local heroes or figures of importance they could view as Paragons. [[Good Walder]] is an obvious example. Many of the early [[monk|monks]] and [[friar|friars]] in [[the Marches]] appear to have enthusiastically embraced the idea of Good Walder as a Paragon of [[Prosperity]], someone who exhibited all the finest qualities of the Marches and whose Virtue knew no bounds.

When these people came together there was a general clamour to have these figures recognised as Paragons by nations outside Highguard. The creation of the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_The_Paragons|Doctrine of the Paragons]] seems to be an explicit attempt to make sense of this chaos by identifying which figures were actual Paragons and which were not. The records suggest some extraordinarily bitter disagreements at this time. Copies of [[judgement|judgements]] from this period exist that include denunciation of specific Paragons from other nations in terms that may well appear unseemly to our modern sensibilities. It was apparently not uncommon for the early Synod to accept judgements that employed very earthy language.

Where the Doctrine of Paragons came from is beyond the scope of this work - not least because it would require a thorough examination of the [[Signs of the paragon and exemplar|eight signs of the Paragon]]. That information is definitely contained in some of the historical records in the Library and other chapters, [[spire|spires]] and similar - but to gather it all together would require a season's work all by itself.

What is crucial to note is that there is no record of any attempts to recognise ''exemplars'' at this time. The Doctrines of the Faith - which were painfully argued over and agreed in the years following the Foundation of the Empire - include the idea of becoming a Paragon, but exemplars are not mentioned in any of the Doctrines, neither those that passed, nor those that failed.

==The First Exemplar==
The first recorded exemplar is [[Elayne Silverlark|Lady Elayne Silverlark]] who was recognised by the [[Synod|Imperial Synod]] in 18YE. The common histories state that she had been recognised as an Exemplar of [[Loyalty]] by the Highborn Assembly of the Virtuous in pre-Imperial Highguard, but that turns out to be a little... simplistic.

Elayne's performances had a powerful impact on the composure of those Highborn who experienced them. She demonstrated a personal commitment to Loyalty that many Highborn found deeply moving - and her music and poetry was said to stir the soul. The Highborn claimed it lifted the souls of those who heard it to act with Loyalty in their hearts and helped them to overcome vice. At a time when many Highborn were unsure if a nation like [[Dawn]] were Virtuous enough to embrace the Way, Elayne Silverlark demonstrated a strength of Loyalty that inspired everyone who met her.

There is no evidence that the Highborn thought of Lady Elayne Silverlark as an exemplar, a word that is rarely used before the foundation of the Empire. As far as we can tell the Highborn at the time were clear that the Silverlark was a Paragon - someone whose supreme Virtue had enabled them to escape the Labyrinth.

<quote by="Eve of Soul's Rest">The Silverlark, the Virtuous soul born Lady Elayne Silverlark, exemplifies the Virtue of Loyalty. It is long past time her Virtue was recognised beyond Highguard. We call on this Assembly to grant this Paragon of Loyalty the recognition they deserve. The seven signs are:

* Recognition: The deeds of the Silverlark are recognised in half the nations of the Empire
* Benevolence: Elayne's support for Godric is the perfect example of Virtue untainted by personal advantage
* Inspiration: The storys, songs and poems created by the Silverlark have been an inspiration to all
* Miracles: The music of the Silverlark was a source of spiritual strength to many how heard it
* Pilgrimage: To Bastion where the Lady performed The Flowers of Auvanne outside the gates of the Basilica of Seven Doors
* Salvation: Lady Elayne's embodiment of Loyalty help to bring the nation of Dawn to the Way
* Legacy: The songs and poems she wrote stand as her legacy.
</quote>

In 17YE, the Highborn delegation to the Synod didn't present the Silverlark as an exemplar, but as a Paragon. What followed was a contentious and vibrant debate of the Silverlark's status in which a number of assemblies disputed her Virtue in ways that other priests publicly decried as nakedly political. Elayne's recognition as a Paragon received strong support from Highguard and Dawn and to a lesser extent Wintermark, but priests of the Marches were virulently opposed and were able to draw on support from [[the League]], [[the Brass Coast]], and [[Varushka]].

The Synod in those days was much smaller, and it was more common for priests to submit judgements directly attacking the arguments put forward by other priests. Thus we have records of the Marcher priests making very pointed claims that Elayne Silverlark was little more than a figurehead to justify the subservient place of [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]] in Dawnish society. This produced a spate of judgements questioning the Virtue of the Marcher priests who had disdained the Silverlark.

Other nations were more fragmented in their opposition. A group of [[Wise One|wise ones]] from the Vale of Ozketcha claimed that the stories of the Silverlark presented a dangerously unwise story because of the suggestion they contain that a deal with a [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] can help one escape a foolish bargain. There was criticism from Freeborn [[sutannir]] who claimed that the Silverlark's message of Loyalty was flawed because it was not reciprocated - a claim that is vituperously denied by the Dawnish who used their own judgements to accuse the Freeborn priests of having been paid to make these claims by the Marchers.

According to one account from the time, these arguments continued for the best part of a year, with attempts to recognise the Silverlark as a Paragon failing on two separate occasions. Each time the issue was raised and fell short, Dawnish [[troubadour|troubadours]] and Marcher priests would issue a volley of judgements casting aspersions on the other's judgements in highly personal terms. There is some sign that the Synod were wearying of the issue, the votes on all these judgements attracted less and less priests either in favour or against.

==A Political Compromise==
By 18YE the Empire appeared to have adopted a political compromise. Rather than accept that Lady Elayne Silverlark was a Paragon, a judgement that required a greater majority of the Assembly to agree, the Synod called on members to recognise that the Silverlark was an exemplar of Loyalty.

<quote by="Alayne du Rion">This Synod accepts that the Virtue of the Paragons can often be hard for the clouded eyes of lesser mortals to perceive. But what cannot be denied is that Lady Elayne Silverlark, was an inspiration to all who encountered her or her story. The signs are:

* Inspiration: The music, poetry, and poems created by the Silverlark remain an inspiration to all
* Pilgrimage: Lady Elayne journeyed to Bastion to perform The Flowers of Auvanne outside the Basilica of Seven Doors
* Legacy: The songs and poems she wrote represent her legacy.
* Salvation: Lady Elayne's embodiment of Loyalty brought Dawn to the Way

We call on this Synod to recognise her as an exemplar of Loyalty.</quote>

This judgement had narrow majority in favour - which was enough for it to pass. The passionate opposition of the Marchers had been enough to prevent Lady Elayne being declared a Paragon - but the compromise to that appears to have been the creation of a lesser status - a recognition that the Silverlark had achieved ''something'' extraordinary, even if the Synod were not ready to accept that they had become a paragon.

There is a curious legacy of this ancient twist still buried in Imperial law which explicitly states that, ''"A judgement to recognize a paragon that passes the General Assembly with a lesser majority but fails to achieve a greater majority is considered to fail - it does not pass as an exemplar."''. This is quite unusual - Imperial law rarely states that a judgement, motion or declaration that fails to pass, does not produce a diferent outcome instead. That is normally implicit in the nature of the law. In this case, where priests saw being recognised as an Exemplar as a compromise for failing to agree someone was a Paragon, the law has to be explicit lest people assume that the lesser majority meant the lesser status was granted.

==Current Times==
Since that day, the Empire has recognised scores of new exemplars, but it has often hesitited to add new Paragons to the roster of inspirations. These early theologians saw no conflict at all between the Doctrines of the Faith and their failure to mention exemplars. That mystery has been a source of increasing concern in recent times, but the early Synod understand that an exemplar was simply a virtuous human being whose story inspired others and exemplified a Virtue. They were someone who was on the Way to becoming a Paragon, someone who would eventually escape the Labyrinth. On the rare occasion that the priests of the Synod could all agree that someone was a Paragon, their name would be added to the list of the most Virtuous. If agreement could not be reached, the Synod could compromise and recognise them as an exemplar instead.

There is an odd echo with modern times here. The [[Senate|Imperial Senate]] has only very recently created the judgement of [[exaltation]], allowing a priest to exalt a citizen who has not yet been recognised as a Paragon or even an exemplar, but whose deeds are clearly Virtuous. While the Senate did not take this path, but they could have chosen to demand the Synod identify two signs of the Paragons and exemplars that would prove their Virtuous status. That would certainly create an elegant symmetry.

The common view for many years is that exemplars are less important figures than the Paragons - that they are not as virtuous, or that the Paragons have reached a zenith of Virtue which exemplars have not yet attained. A more recent interpretation of the exemplars is that they are ''more'' inspirational than the Paragons because they seem more human, more normal, more relatable. Their deeds are fundamentally mortal, they are something that anyone might hope to achieve - and that achievability makes them more inspirational figures than Paragons.

<quote by="Martin Orchard, General Assembly, Autumn Equinox 386YE, Vote: 1730-130">The exemplars of vigilance lived and died in history, that of our nations, Their legacies are writ in stone, not story. You may visit the home of Major Benson, meet his descendants, stand up on his grave. You may see Berechiah's actions and his virtuous crimes in Imperial record. Make pilgrimage to their tombs. Reflect that these were people like you, heroes, not legends. Renew your faith.</quote>

==Inspiration==
Regardless, what is now clear is that at least some of the first Highborn who embraced Virtue, saw the Way as a route to become a paragon of Virtue. Many of them appeared to have little interest in who had become a Paragon and who had not. There was little evidence that they thought anyone had achieved this - what little writing survives tend to suggest the opposite. They regarded themselves as pioneers discovering fundamental truths about the nature of the human soul and the purpose of life - they believed they were setting forth on a path down which no human had ever gone before. They saw themselves as trailblazers, they were dedicated to the Way as the path to become paragons of Virtue.

The notion of inspirational figures was crucial for the early Highborn missionaries. The ready willingness of the wayfarers to recognise Paragons among the people they shared the Virtues with helped to spread acceptance of the Way. For the people they spoke to, it was easier to embrace the Way when they could see the place that important national or local heroes occupied within the faith. Many of the missionaries spreading the Way were more than content to accept these new paragons, because they were unconcerned with who was or was not a paragon. What was crucial to them was the idea of being inspired to emulate Virtue figures - they wanted to spread the idea that to pursue the Way you must pursue Virtue. These figures were important because they made it easier for people to be inspired.

In the years that followed, both before and after the Way of Virtue was foundational to the creation of the Empire, the idea that one might draw inspiration from the Virtue of others came to be seen as crucial. People became fascinated with the idea of identifying who had become Paragons because they demonstrated commitment to Virtue that was admirable, and because they showed ''how'' Virtue might be embraced. [[Empress Richilde|Richilde]] demonstrates a form of [[Pride]] that people simply had not considered to be an expression of the Virtue before it was recognised by the Synod.

Inevitably people fell to arguing over who was a Paragon and who was not. Where people could not agree that someone had been sufficiently virtuous to be described as a Paragon, but it was inarguable that the person had been Virtuous and inspirational to others, then they would be recognised as an exemplar. The recent tradition creating the status of exalted, is arguably no different to the work of the early Synod in this regard. A very human need to classify and recognise the Virtue of others.

A great irony here is that this work was partly triggered by the revelations that Vardas was a fictional figure, but the original Highborn wayfarers would have considered that to be utterly irrelevant. What they cared about was that people were inspired by Vardas, that they were driven to pursue Vigilance because of the example that Vardas represented. The fundamental focus of these early Highborn missionaries was on the individual and what they accomplished - they saw the Way as a profoundly personal faith. The role of others was not to be venerated but simply to inspire each human being to strive to achieve Virtue.

The philosophical counterpoint to this view is the one that has developed in the centuries since, right up to the present day. That Paragons, exemplars, and now exalted are central to an understanding of the Way because their lives demonstrate what Virtue looks like. The teachings of the Virtues are easy to recite but it can be exceptionally hard to understand how they should be applied. The lives of inspirational figures demonstrate how those compromises can be squared, they show what it actually means to live a life of Virtue - and that makes it easier for others to imitate.

==Further Questions==
After delving into the origin of the exemplars and paragons, and [[Pride_and_paragons#What_Are_the_Exemplars_For?|what exemplars are for]], the Heirs of Lepidus remind the Librarian that they are still available to research the [[Pride_and_paragons#The_Next_Question|other two qustions]] raised following the publication of ''[[Life of Vardas]]''. Specifically, the question of [[Pride_and_paragons#Where_Do_the_Signs_Come_From?|where the signs of the paragons and exemplars come from]], and [[Pride_and_paragons#Why_Do_Paragons_Only_Display_One_Virtue?|why paragons display only one virtue]]. While the [[True faith|aftershocks]] following the revelation of Vardas' true nature have subsided, the Heirs caution that the "crisis" has merely gone quiet and is by no means completely resolved.
==Further Reading==
* [[Paragons and exemplars]]
* [[Recognition]]
* [[Life of Vardas]] - controversial 386YE Spring historical research inspiring wider discussion of paragons and exemplars
* [[Pride and paragons]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune discussing potential avenues of study regarding paragons and exemplars

Dance of Blood and Jotun consequences

2026-07-01T17:18:44Z

Twiggy: /* Unburdening */

[[Category:History]][[Category:Navarr]]
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Watt of Lambrook.jpg|align=left|caption=Watt of Lambrook, Minister of Historical Research.|width=400}}</div>
===Introduction===
In Winter 387YE Watt of Lambrook, [[Minister of Historical Research]] commissioned the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] to investigate the Dance of Blood. The Dance was a [[Navarr]] [[army]] who disbanded in 245YE, fighting the [[Jotun]] during the reign of [[Emperor Guntherm]]. The Dance are historically somewhat controversial, given their embrace of [[Army_qualities#Cruel|cruel and merciless tactics]].

==Welcoming==
The Dance of Blood were raised in 239YE, one of the first acts approved by the newly ascended Emperor Guntherm. The Navarr [[Senator]] for [[Hercynia]], ''Rhun Night-River'', led the contingent of the Senate that had chafed under the rule of [[Empress Mariika]] and her resolute opposition to enlarging the Imperial military. Four times they had passed a [[Senate motion|motion]] to muster a new Navarr army, and each time Marika had [[The Throne#Power of Veto|vetoed]] the motion. Rhun was known to desire [[the Throne]] and was widely expected to make a bid for it, but instead he and his fellow Navarr senators crossed the floor to support Guntherm. A new Navarr army was approved at the very next session, raised by Hercynia and seconded by [[Hahnmark]].

With popular support, it took less than a year to fund the army, but it soon encountered controversy. Rhun was a fierce advocate of the Navarr maxim that "You cannot betray your enemies" and openly advocated for Imperial armies to adopt a more ''pragmatic'' approach to war against the barbarians. When the Navarr Assembly passed a [[statement of principle]] reminding the nation that the Navarr cannot betray their enemies, it led to a [[mandate]] allowing the nation to embrace cruelty as the most effective way to defeat the barbarians.

The judgement was contentious, splitting the nations of the Empire on the issue in a manner that might be familiar to citizens who remember the arguments around the [[Iron Helms]]. Since the matter was for the Navarr Assembly only, however, there was little that other Imperial priests could do about the mandate. The [[Cardinal]] of [[Wisdom]], a [[mystic]] called ''Astor Far-Eyes'', publicly spoke against the Navarr embrace of cruel tactics, arguing that it was ill-omened and would end in disaster, but his attempts to delay the vote achieved nothing and the required [[greater majority]] was narrowly achieved. Rhun made it clear that he would use his authority as the raising senator to uphold the will of the Assembly.
<div {{Float}}><quote by="General Gobaith, General of the Dance of Blood">Thorns, our people have slumbered while our steadings are threated by the Thule. Now is the hour of our awakening. We will reclaim what they have taken. We will drown our spears in Thule blood. We will slaughter every orc that marches beneath a blue banner. We will lead our enemies in the Great Dance to the doors of the Labyrinth. We will teach the Dragons to fear us.</quote></div>

==Dancing==
Once the army was ready, the Navarr senators appointed ''Gobaith of Summer's Grove'' to be general. A popular, charismatic [[brand]], adored by many [[thorn|thorns]], she was notorious for her dark humour. Described as intimidating, always dressed for battle, face painted for war at any moment, she was known as someone to be reckoned with within and without the Empire.

From the outset, the tactics employed by the Dance of Blood were uncompromising and brutal. The Navarr have often sought to ambush their enemies, preferring to use the element of surprise to defeat them. That season, the Dance of Blood went much further, poisoning wells and razing [[Thule]] settlements that would not surrender. In battle they would wound the enemy but not execute them, then lie in wait to slaughter those who came to heal them. [[Thule_lore#Warlocks|Warlocks]] in particular were singled out on the battlefield, with Gobaith looking to break the enemy's chain of command.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=thulebanner1.jpeg|caption=While the Dance of Blood is remembered for its final battle against the Jotun, the Thule have very good reasons to remember it.|align=right|width=250}}</div>
Gobaith's strategy made many people queasy, but it worked. The first season of campaigning, the forces of [[Otkodov]] were brutally drive back with many hundreds of [[orc|orcs]] slain. By the end of 243YE, the Dance was triumphant; the Empire surrounded three Thule armies in Hercynia, completely cutting them off. There was an option to allow the Thule to withdraw but Gobath seized the opportunity to trap them and began starving them out. By the time Gobaith's forces finally attacked, it was said that some of the Thule were too weak to hold a spear. The ''Earthquake Drummers'' managed to escape but the ''Path of the Gyre'' and the ''Teeth of the Blizzard'' did not. Both armies were broken by Gobaith's cruel tactics, their warriors slaughtered and their leaders executed.

Over the next two years the Dance of Blood fought mercilessly against the Thule, with only a single season to rest, they were active all the across the north of the Empire. Wherever the Thule banners marched, the Dance of Blood would lie in wait for them. Traps were set, food and water was deliberately spoiled. In one gruesome incident Navarr scouts planted infected meat in a river, upstream of the Thule camp. Scores died in agony of vomited blood. It was routine for the Navarr to pick off Thule pickets and drag them into the woods, where they would be tortured to death within earshot of their fellows, The disembowelled corpses would be left for the army to find at sunrise. The reports from the front made brutal reading, but victory had a way of quelling all the arguments.

Guntherm's support of the Navarr army is one of the reasons he gained the nickname "the Bloodthirsty", although he remained broadly popular. After years of struggle against the barbarians, citizens were eager for news of victories and the Dance of Blood certainly delivered that news.
==Unburdening==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GreenShields_Colour.png|align=right|caption=Guntherm's love for the Green Shield was well known throughout the Empire.|width=250}}</div>
Had the situation remained that way, history might have been very different. But in 242YE, the Jotun launched an assault across the frozen Lake Nutjuitoq in the [[Sermersuaq#Suaq Fount|Suaq Fount]]. They were led by ''Kjorvak'', Jarl of [[Skallahn#Kierheim|Kierheim]], whose willingness to risk the untested ice allowed him to take the Wintermark defenders by surprise. Emperor Guntherm led the [[Green Shield]] on campaign against them, but both armies were attacked by a large Thule force. In the resulting panic, Guntherm and Kjorvak ended up fighting together against the Thule, [[Campaigns_of_Emperor_Guntherm#The_Jarl_of_Kierheim|forging a battlefield alliance]] with the Jotun and together they drove the Thule off. Out of respect for Guntherm, the Jarl withdraw his forces, but a strange friendship blossomed from the battle. Although the Jotun and the Empire were still at war, the two continued to exchange winged messages in the seasons that followed.

Rather than attack Wintermark, the Jotun invaded [[Liathaven]] in 243YE. The [[territory]] had been relatively peaceful, at least as peaceful as a land cursed by the [[vallorn]] can be. The Jotun quickly captured [[Liathaven#West Ranging|West Ranging]] and threatened both [[Liathaven#Westwood|Westwood]] and [[Liathaven#Liath's Ring|Liath's Ring]]. The attacks shook the Navarr, and caused widespread outrage after hundreds of Navarr were forced to accept life as a thrall by the invading Jotun. Gobaith swore to take her army south and unleash the same terror against the Jotun that had proved so effective against the Thule.

Gobaith's counter-attack clearly took the Jotun by surprise and her forces were able to take thirty Jotun prisoner. After the [[Civil Service|civil service]] assessed the options, the prognosticators laid out two clear choices. The Navarr general could let the Jotun go, which would create an [[opportunity]] to make peace with the Jotun, or they could be executed to spread fear through the enemies of the Empire in the west.

It was explicit that the more fearsome the deaths, the bigger the impact would be on Jotun morale. Gobaith led a contingent of her supporters through the [[Sentinel Gate]] to deal with the prisoners, and returned having drowned them. According to the exaggerated and embroidered stories that spread in the wake of the incident, they were drowned in vats of blood. This tale was widely believed, despite the unusual public notice issued by the civil service indicating that the Jotun had in fact been drowned in water.

Of all the ways the prisoners might have been dealt with, this was far and away one of the worst from the Jotun point of view. The western orcs have an abject fear of the sea, apparently in the belief that those who drown can never pass over the [[Howling Abyss]] and are thus condemned to oblivion. The fear is so endemic in their culture that most Jotun refuse to even contemplate setting foot on the water and the few ships they own are invariably operated by thralls. The cruelty of the Dance of Blood shook the Jotun to the core, weakening every single one of their armies and making it easier for the Empire to claim territory from them all along the western front for the next year.

Even so, the actions were ''hugely'' divisive. The Assembly of Nine called Gobaith to [[inquisition]], claiming her actions were fundamentally unvirtuous. As the denouement of the inquisition, they called for the Tribune and [[revocation|revoked]] the general with primacy in front of a huge crowd. Unfortunately word of the Nine's plans had leaked and Rhun and his fellow senators were waiting in the audience. They quickly stepped forward and reappointed her on the spot, in defiance of the Assembly's will.

Outside [[Anvil]], the executions outraged the Jotun. The Dance were already notorious, but the actions led to a blood-feud between the Jotun and the Navarr. Casualty rates on campaign shot up, as both sides refused to offer quarter to the other. In particular, there were several incidents where the actions of the Dance of Blood lead directly to the death of numbers of Jotun thralls, driving the western orcs to the verge of frenzy. Their religion outlaws the killing of thralls under any circumstances, and so it is no surprise that the Jotun quickly began referring to the Navarr as the "Imperial Druj". To the Jotun this was the gravest insult they could throw, but Gobaith and her army wore the epithet as a badge of Pride.

==Binding==
With the enemy on the backfoot, the Empire continued to push the Jotun back throughout 244YE. Rather than back away from her cruel tactics, Gobaith doubled down, arguing that they were working and that for the first time in ''years'' the Empire was winning. Supporters of the army, and there were many, pointed to the key successes they were having. Thanks to the Dance of Blood, the Empire were pushing the Jotun back in Wintermark, and elsewhere. The recent war with the [[Druj]] had been marked by a number of appalling massacres which had horrified citizens across the Empire, including one notorious incident where a score of brave citizens venturing through the Sentinel Gate were all captured and executed by the Druj. When the heroes rallied out to battle the next day they were forced to encounter the bodies of their fallen comrades impaled on spears. Such atrocities were commonplace and frankly surpassed anything that Gobaith and her supporters had enacted, but there were many who said that adopting the strategy of the Druj was the only way to win. The Empire had to meet fire with fire, they argued.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Agramant.jpg|caption=Agramant encourages atrocious acts in the name of survival, but publicly denied any responsibility for the atrocious acts being taken by the Dance of Blood.|align=left|width=250}}</div>
Critics, and there were many, claimed that the Dance of Blood didn't just embrace cruelty, they revelled in it. There were frequent accusations of ''[[Agramant|Agramantism]]'' (wilfully entreating with the eternal Agramant), so much so that they were actually refuted by the [[eternal]] themselves, who took the unprecedented step of issuing a public statement to the [[Conclave]] on a bloody scrap of flayed skin. The statement claimed that ''Blood-on-the-Snow'' had <u>absolutely nothing</u> to do with the horrors committed by the Dance of Blood (which some people believed) and that ''Howler'' was shocked by what was happening (which no one believed). That said, and in a manner typical of the ''Wastewalker'', the statement ended with an offer to create an [[opportunity]] for ''every'' Imperial army to become cruel, if the Conclave would only accept his boon. The resulting vote was rejected, but the level of support for Agramant's offer surprised and alarmed many.

The Emperor tried desperately to rain Gobaith in, largely without success. Gobaith's tactics had upset many Winterfolk with [[scop|scops]] and [[stormcrow|stormcrows]] claiming they were [[heroism|unheroic]] and the mystics forecasting doom from the twisted skeins of those involved. Politically, Guntherm was clearly compromised by the nature of the attacks, which resulted in outraged communications from the Jotun who felt the Empire's actions betrayed the burgeoning friendship between the Emperor and the Jarl of Kierheim.

Ignoring the Emperor's protests, Gobaith continued to perpetrate the war with a ferocious intensity with the Dance of Blood brutally slaughtering any Jotun they could find. In response, the Jotun became increasingly desperate. Enraged by the actions of the army, they lost much of their typical iron discipline and began to lash out wildly. The Dance became a red rag to the Jotun bull, driving their warriors into a violent fury in any campaign where the Navarr army took part. By the end of the year the Empire had inflicted three decisive defeats on Jotun forces, however.

The Empire were winning the war against the Jotun and while the strategy continued to cause concern for some, and personal problems for the Throne, criticism of the army was muted by their successes. But in 245YE, the situation changed dramatically when [[Holberg]] and [[Therunin]] were invaded by a huge force of Druj.

==Vows==
The invasion split the Empire. The West was secure with more territory in Imperial hands than at any point in the Empire's history. But the East was collapsing with region after region falling to the Druj. Armies marched east, but Gobiath refused to stop attacking, arguing that the Empire should crush the Jotun while they had the chance and ''then'' turn their attention to the Druj. Crucially she argued it was impossible to stop now and if the Empire pulled back then all the territory they had gained would be reclaimed by the Jotun.

In Senate, Emperor Guntherm publicly vowed to make peace with the Jotun, so that the East might be saved, but the Jotun refused all attempts to negotiate. Driven wild by the deaths of their thralls at the hands of the Dance of Blood, their contemptuous replies claimed they would never stop fighting until every Imperial Druj was dead.

There were rumbles that Gobaith would be [[Writ of Excommunication|excommunicated]], but it was clear to many that the Synod simply didn't have the numbers. The general was a hero to many Navarr, but they were also popular with enough [[Varushka|Varuskhan]] and [[the League|League]] priests that action was impossible. There was discussion of revoking Rhun but the assumption was that she would simply be reappointed just as she had last time. Guntherm's habit of assuming [[The_Throne#Defender of the Empire|personal control]] of the Green Shields made it impossible for him to take over the Dance of Blood, even if he had been inclined to risk the outspoken opposition of the Navarr nation by doing so.

The situation continued to deteriorate, not in the West, where the Empire were clearly winning, but in the East, where the Druj were advancing on Holberg itself. It was clear the Empire needed to do something, but nobody could agree what. Guntherm and his supporters were demanding that Gobaith cease their attacks on the Jotun so that the Empire could try to make peace - but senators from Navarr and [[Dawn]] openly called for the Dance go further, to force the Jotun to surrender.

The Dance continued to exact a merciless assault every season, but it was increasingly unsuccessful; it was clear by now that the Jotun were ready for their strategy and beginning to adapt to it. More than that, they were actively seeking to engage with the Dance any chance they could get. Stripped of the opportunity to catch the Jotun off guard, the Dance took (and inflicted) heavy casualties as the enemy risked everything to destroy their hated enemy.

The general's orders caused a slow erosion of their support in the [[Military Council]], as it became increasingly apparent that their strategy was making any détente with the Jotun impossible. Gobaith was utterly unrepentant however. She boasted that the Dance of Blood was the only Imperial army to claim victory in every campaign it had fought in. She verbally sparred with Guntherm in Council, at one point going so far as to imply that his loyalties were to the Jotun and not to the Empire. She vowed that she would not stop her war until every Jotun was dead. In response he called her "the real enemy", saying her brutal war against the Jotun was to sate her lust for blood and going to destroy the Empire.

==Funerals==
The fall of the Dance of Blood came after the Summer Solstice in 245YE. The military situation had continued to deteriorate and there was talk in some quarters of revoking Guntherm himself. He was blamed for losing control of the Military Council - with the Empire now furiously engaged on three fronts, it was becoming clear that they could not win, but nobody could agree which territories should be abandoned. Even if Gobaith had wanted a way out, she was trapped by her vows, forced to stay engaged, locked in ever more bloody war against the Jotun.

The summer muster was brutal with screaming and shouting and grew worse from there. The first battle through the gate was a sortie against the Jotun to secure a crucial position in Bregasland. The battle was a unparalleled disaster, with nearly a hundred Imperials executed by the Jotun, most of them Marchers or Freeborn. When previous battles had gone badly, much of the blame landed at Guntherm's door, but this time the furore was directed at the Navarr. The Marchers were adamant that the Jotun had changed their tactics, executing everyone they could, driven by their cold hate for the Dance of Blood.

By the end of the summit, few of the generals were on speaking terms and the atmosphere in the Council was funereal. Gobaith outlined a plan to entrap the advancing Jotun in [[Bregasland]], with the support of the [[the Marches|Marcher]] and Wintermark armies. Amid an air of sullen silence, the other generals reluctantly agreed to back the plan.

The ambush went devastatingly wrong. It soon became clear that the Jotun had been warned of the impending arrival of the Dance of Blood and were waiting for them, in force. Worse, no other Imperial army moved into Bregasland to support them. Only the [[Strong Reeds]] were present, but with their general giving orders to defend the territory, the Dance of Blood's attack was utterly exposed. Outnumbered more than five to one the Dance might still have survived, were it not for the presence of a [[Rivers Run Red|terrible Spring curse]] laid over the territory that poisoned the water and turned every wound lethal. The Dance were overwhelmed and utterly slaughtered. Gobaith was never seen again, widely assumed to have lost her life on the battlefield fighting alongside her beloved thorns. The Jotun were brutal and efficient, with squads of [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Ulvenwar|Ulvenwar]] patrolling the field slaughtering every single Navarr they could catch. Those too wounded to fight were gathered together, whereupon the Jotun built a huge pyre, and burned them alive.

==Tattoos==
There was widespread shock at the Autumn Equinox, following the destruction of the Dance of Blood. The Navarr grieved for so many of their thorns lost. In other nations the mood was sombre. Rhun was incandescent and publicly confronted Guntherm during the first Senate session while he was actually sat on the throne. He shouted that he had betrayed the Dance of Blood, to which Guntherm coldly responded "You cannot betray your enemies". The room exploded into violence, blades were drawn, and open fighting erupted in the Senate chamber itself. Rhun and his supporters were cut down, and the consequences of this spread through the whole of Anvil like a wave of blood.

It seemed obvious to everyone that the Military Council had sold the Dance of Blood down the river. To the fury of the Navarr, the [[Officers_of_the_Law#Magistrates|magistrates]] confirmed that nothing illegal had happened - no [[general]] was under any obligation to submit the orders they had agreed to, therefore no crime had been committed. However the magistrates confirmed that whoever had cursed Bregasland with [[Rivers Run Red]] most likely broke the law in the process, and so the search was on for the traitors.

The [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Shuttered Lantern]] took three magicians of her order through the Sentinel Gate to investigate a powerful Spring [[regio]] on the banks of the Gullet called the ''Fetid Gyre'', believed to be the source of the magic. They performed numerous [[divination|divinations]] including [[Shadowed Glass of Sung]] and concluded that no Imperial citizens were involved and that the magic had been enacted by the Jotun - a terrible bargain between five jarls and an unknown eternal of the [[Realms#Spring|Spring realm]] associated with the sea. According to the Grandmaster, the jarls threw themselves into the water to be devoured by sharks and in return the eternal poisoned the waters of Bregasland.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Siakha001.webp|caption=Today we might assume that the eternal referenced by the Shuttered Lantern was [[Siakha]], but it is doubtful anyone will ever know for sure.|align=right|width=250}}</div>
This story was widely believed to be untrue. A mysterious Spring eternal whose existence was hitherto unknown, and strange [[Elite_Jotun_characters#Ghodi|ghodi]] dealing with eternals for their boons when Jotun were widely known to dislike magic and loathe curses? Everyone assumed that the grandmaster's account was a fabrication made up to conceal the identities of the real traitors. But every member of the order stuck to the story and insisted it was true.

The death of the Dance of Blood was a catastrophe and relations between the Emperor and the Navarr never recovered. But the terrible loss proved to be a turning point for the Empire. Emperor Guntherm signed a peace treaty with the Jotun that very summit, and Imperial armies along the front were finally able to relieve the desperate forces fighting a rear-guard action against the Druj. With the threat of the Jotun lifted, Guntherm was able to drive the Druj back, delivering a series of crushing attacks from which they would take decades to recover. The peace with the Jotun was short-lived, but it was enough to turn the tide of fortunes in the Empire's favour. Thereafter Emperor Guntherm became known as ''the Bold''.

The Navarr themselves were split. Some of the [[striding|stridings]] and [[steading|steadings]] from Therunin and [[Miaren]] believed that the Dance of Blood had made their own bed, but most kept that to themselves. The majority felt that the Empire had betrayed them, that Guntherm had sold out the Dance to the Jotun in return for peace. Unfortunately that accusation did not resonate outside the Navarr. When they appealed to others for support, the response was bitter and sullen but clear - the Dance of Blood's war with the Jotun had threatened the survival of the whole Empire. "Actions have consequences" the Navarr were repeatedly told.

Relations between the Jotun and the Navarr likewise never improved. The cruel strategies employed by the Dance left a lasting mark on the Jotun. They point-blank refused to ever speak of the campaign in Bregasland, but they never again wavered in their hatred of the Navarr. When steadings were overrun the occupants were swiftly executed, treated by the Jotun not as people, not even as enemies, but as wild dogs to be put down.
==Further Reading==
* [[Emperor Guntherm]]
* [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm]]

Dance of Blood and Jotun consequences

2026-07-01T17:18:10Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:History]][[Category:Navarr]]
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Watt of Lambrook.jpg|align=left|caption=Watt of Lambrook, Minister of Historical Research.|width=400}}</div>
===Introduction===
In Winter 387YE Watt of Lambrook, [[Minister of Historical Research]] commissioned the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] to investigate the Dance of Blood. The Dance was a [[Navarr]] [[army]] who disbanded in 245YE, fighting the [[Jotun]] during the reign of [[Emperor Guntherm]]. The Dance are historically somewhat controversial, given their embrace of [[Army_qualities#Cruel|cruel and merciless tactics]].

==Welcoming==
The Dance of Blood were raised in 239YE, one of the first acts approved by the newly ascended Emperor Guntherm. The Navarr [[Senator]] for [[Hercynia]], ''Rhun Night-River'', led the contingent of the Senate that had chafed under the rule of [[Empress Mariika]] and her resolute opposition to enlarging the Imperial military. Four times they had passed a [[Senate motion|motion]] to muster a new Navarr army, and each time Marika had [[The Throne#Power of Veto|vetoed]] the motion. Rhun was known to desire [[the Throne]] and was widely expected to make a bid for it, but instead he and his fellow Navarr senators crossed the floor to support Guntherm. A new Navarr army was approved at the very next session, raised by Hercynia and seconded by [[Hahnmark]].

With popular support, it took less than a year to fund the army, but it soon encountered controversy. Rhun was a fierce advocate of the Navarr maxim that "You cannot betray your enemies" and openly advocated for Imperial armies to adopt a more ''pragmatic'' approach to war against the barbarians. When the Navarr Assembly passed a [[statement of principle]] reminding the nation that the Navarr cannot betray their enemies, it led to a [[mandate]] allowing the nation to embrace cruelty as the most effective way to defeat the barbarians.

The judgement was contentious, splitting the nations of the Empire on the issue in a manner that might be familiar to citizens who remember the arguments around the [[Iron Helms]]. Since the matter was for the Navarr Assembly only, however, there was little that other Imperial priests could do about the mandate. The [[Cardinal]] of [[Wisdom]], a [[mystic]] called ''Astor Far-Eyes'', publicly spoke against the Navarr embrace of cruel tactics, arguing that it was ill-omened and would end in disaster, but his attempts to delay the vote achieved nothing and the required [[greater majority]] was narrowly achieved. Rhun made it clear that he would use his authority as the raising senator to uphold the will of the Assembly.
<div {{Float}}><quote by="General Gobaith, General of the Dance of Blood">Thorns, our people have slumbered while our steadings are threated by the Thule. Now is the hour of our awakening. We will reclaim what they have taken. We will drown our spears in Thule blood. We will slaughter every orc that marches beneath a blue banner. We will lead our enemies in the Great Dance to the doors of the Labyrinth. We will teach the Dragons to fear us.</quote></div>

==Dancing==
Once the army was ready, the Navarr senators appointed ''Gobaith of Summer's Grove'' to be general. A popular, charismatic [[brand]], adored by many [[thorn|thorns]], she was notorious for her dark humour. Described as intimidating, always dressed for battle, face painted for war at any moment, she was known as someone to be reckoned with within and without the Empire.

From the outset, the tactics employed by the Dance of Blood were uncompromising and brutal. The Navarr have often sought to ambush their enemies, preferring to use the element of surprise to defeat them. That season, the Dance of Blood went much further, poisoning wells and razing [[Thule]] settlements that would not surrender. In battle they would wound the enemy but not execute them, then lie in wait to slaughter those who came to heal them. [[Thule_lore#Warlocks|Warlocks]] in particular were singled out on the battlefield, with Gobaith looking to break the enemy's chain of command.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=thulebanner1.jpeg|caption=While the Dance of Blood is remembered for its final battle against the Jotun, the Thule have very good reasons to remember it.|align=right|width=250}}</div>
Gobaith's strategy made many people queasy, but it worked. The first season of campaigning, the forces of [[Otkodov]] were brutally drive back with many hundreds of [[orc|orcs]] slain. By the end of 243YE, the Dance was triumphant; the Empire surrounded three Thule armies in Hercynia, completely cutting them off. There was an option to allow the Thule to withdraw but Gobath seized the opportunity to trap them and began starving them out. By the time Gobaith's forces finally attacked, it was said that some of the Thule were too weak to hold a spear. The ''Earthquake Drummers'' managed to escape but the ''Path of the Gyre'' and the ''Teeth of the Blizzard'' did not. Both armies were broken by Gobaith's cruel tactics, their warriors slaughtered and their leaders executed.

Over the next two years the Dance of Blood fought mercilessly against the Thule, with only a single season to rest, they were active all the across the north of the Empire. Wherever the Thule banners marched, the Dance of Blood would lie in wait for them. Traps were set, food and water was deliberately spoiled. In one gruesome incident Navarr scouts planted infected meat in a river, upstream of the Thule camp. Scores died in agony of vomited blood. It was routine for the Navarr to pick off Thule pickets and drag them into the woods, where they would be tortured to death within earshot of their fellows, The disembowelled corpses would be left for the army to find at sunrise. The reports from the front made brutal reading, but victory had a way of quelling all the arguments.

Guntherm's support of the Navarr army is one of the reasons he gained the nickname "the Bloodthirsty", although he remained broadly popular. After years of struggle against the barbarians, citizens were eager for news of victories and the Dance of Blood certainly delivered that news.
==Unburdening==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GreenShields_Colour.png|align=right|caption=Guntherm's love for the Green Shield was well known throughout the Empire.|width=250}}</div>
Had the situation remained that way, history might have been very different. But in 242YE, the Jotun launched an assault across the frozen Lake Nutjuitoq in the [[Sermersuaq#Suaq Fount|Suaq Fount]]. They were led by ''Kjorvak'', Jarl of [[Skallahn#Kierheim|Kierheim]], whose willingness to risk the untested ice allowed him to take the Wintermark defenders by surprise. Emperor Guntherm led the [[Green Shield]] on campaign against them, but both armies were attacked by a large Thule force. In the resulting panic, Guntherm and Kjorvak ended up fighting together against the Thule, [[Campaigns_of_Emperor_Guntherm#The_Jarl_of_Kierheim|forging a battlefield alliance]] with the Jotun and together they drove the Thule off. Out of respect for Guntherm, the Jarl withdraw his forces, but a strange friendship blossomed from the battle. Although the Jotun and the Empire were still at war, the two continued to exchange winged messages in the seasons that followed.

Rather than attack Wintermark, the Jotun invaded [[Liathaven]] in 243YE. The [[territory]] had been relatively peaceful, at least as peaceful as a land cursed by the [[vallorn]] can be. The Jotun quickly captured [[Liathaven#West Ranging|West Ranging]] and threatened both [[Liathaven#Westwood|Westwood]] and [[Liathaven#Liath Ring|Liath Ring]]. The attacks shook the Navarr, and caused widespread outrage after hundreds of Navarr were forced to accept life as a thrall by the invading Jotun. Gobaith swore to take her army south and unleash the same terror against the Jotun that had proved so effective against the Thule.

Gobaith's counter-attack clearly took the Jotun by surprise and her forces were able to take thirty Jotun prisoner. After the [[Civil Service|civil service]] assessed the options, the prognosticators laid out two clear choices. The Navarr general could let the Jotun go, which would create an [[opportunity]] to make peace with the Jotun, or they could be executed to spread fear through the enemies of the Empire in the west.

It was explicit that the more fearsome the deaths, the bigger the impact would be on Jotun morale. Gobaith led a contingent of her supporters through the [[Sentinel Gate]] to deal with the prisoners, and returned having drowned them. According to the exaggerated and embroidered stories that spread in the wake of the incident, they were drowned in vats of blood. This tale was widely believed, despite the unusual public notice issued by the civil service indicating that the Jotun had in fact been drowned in water.

Of all the ways the prisoners might have been dealt with, this was far and away one of the worst from the Jotun point of view. The western orcs have an abject fear of the sea, apparently in the belief that those who drown can never pass over the [[Howling Abyss]] and are thus condemned to oblivion. The fear is so endemic in their culture that most Jotun refuse to even contemplate setting foot on the water and the few ships they own are invariably operated by thralls. The cruelty of the Dance of Blood shook the Jotun to the core, weakening every single one of their armies and making it easier for the Empire to claim territory from them all along the western front for the next year.

Even so, the actions were ''hugely'' divisive. The Assembly of Nine called Gobaith to [[inquisition]], claiming her actions were fundamentally unvirtuous. As the denouement of the inquisition, they called for the Tribune and [[revocation|revoked]] the general with primacy in front of a huge crowd. Unfortunately word of the Nine's plans had leaked and Rhun and his fellow senators were waiting in the audience. They quickly stepped forward and reappointed her on the spot, in defiance of the Assembly's will.

Outside [[Anvil]], the executions outraged the Jotun. The Dance were already notorious, but the actions led to a blood-feud between the Jotun and the Navarr. Casualty rates on campaign shot up, as both sides refused to offer quarter to the other. In particular, there were several incidents where the actions of the Dance of Blood lead directly to the death of numbers of Jotun thralls, driving the western orcs to the verge of frenzy. Their religion outlaws the killing of thralls under any circumstances, and so it is no surprise that the Jotun quickly began referring to the Navarr as the "Imperial Druj". To the Jotun this was the gravest insult they could throw, but Gobaith and her army wore the epithet as a badge of Pride.

==Binding==
With the enemy on the backfoot, the Empire continued to push the Jotun back throughout 244YE. Rather than back away from her cruel tactics, Gobaith doubled down, arguing that they were working and that for the first time in ''years'' the Empire was winning. Supporters of the army, and there were many, pointed to the key successes they were having. Thanks to the Dance of Blood, the Empire were pushing the Jotun back in Wintermark, and elsewhere. The recent war with the [[Druj]] had been marked by a number of appalling massacres which had horrified citizens across the Empire, including one notorious incident where a score of brave citizens venturing through the Sentinel Gate were all captured and executed by the Druj. When the heroes rallied out to battle the next day they were forced to encounter the bodies of their fallen comrades impaled on spears. Such atrocities were commonplace and frankly surpassed anything that Gobaith and her supporters had enacted, but there were many who said that adopting the strategy of the Druj was the only way to win. The Empire had to meet fire with fire, they argued.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Agramant.jpg|caption=Agramant encourages atrocious acts in the name of survival, but publicly denied any responsibility for the atrocious acts being taken by the Dance of Blood.|align=left|width=250}}</div>
Critics, and there were many, claimed that the Dance of Blood didn't just embrace cruelty, they revelled in it. There were frequent accusations of ''[[Agramant|Agramantism]]'' (wilfully entreating with the eternal Agramant), so much so that they were actually refuted by the [[eternal]] themselves, who took the unprecedented step of issuing a public statement to the [[Conclave]] on a bloody scrap of flayed skin. The statement claimed that ''Blood-on-the-Snow'' had <u>absolutely nothing</u> to do with the horrors committed by the Dance of Blood (which some people believed) and that ''Howler'' was shocked by what was happening (which no one believed). That said, and in a manner typical of the ''Wastewalker'', the statement ended with an offer to create an [[opportunity]] for ''every'' Imperial army to become cruel, if the Conclave would only accept his boon. The resulting vote was rejected, but the level of support for Agramant's offer surprised and alarmed many.

The Emperor tried desperately to rain Gobaith in, largely without success. Gobaith's tactics had upset many Winterfolk with [[scop|scops]] and [[stormcrow|stormcrows]] claiming they were [[heroism|unheroic]] and the mystics forecasting doom from the twisted skeins of those involved. Politically, Guntherm was clearly compromised by the nature of the attacks, which resulted in outraged communications from the Jotun who felt the Empire's actions betrayed the burgeoning friendship between the Emperor and the Jarl of Kierheim.

Ignoring the Emperor's protests, Gobaith continued to perpetrate the war with a ferocious intensity with the Dance of Blood brutally slaughtering any Jotun they could find. In response, the Jotun became increasingly desperate. Enraged by the actions of the army, they lost much of their typical iron discipline and began to lash out wildly. The Dance became a red rag to the Jotun bull, driving their warriors into a violent fury in any campaign where the Navarr army took part. By the end of the year the Empire had inflicted three decisive defeats on Jotun forces, however.

The Empire were winning the war against the Jotun and while the strategy continued to cause concern for some, and personal problems for the Throne, criticism of the army was muted by their successes. But in 245YE, the situation changed dramatically when [[Holberg]] and [[Therunin]] were invaded by a huge force of Druj.

==Vows==
The invasion split the Empire. The West was secure with more territory in Imperial hands than at any point in the Empire's history. But the East was collapsing with region after region falling to the Druj. Armies marched east, but Gobiath refused to stop attacking, arguing that the Empire should crush the Jotun while they had the chance and ''then'' turn their attention to the Druj. Crucially she argued it was impossible to stop now and if the Empire pulled back then all the territory they had gained would be reclaimed by the Jotun.

In Senate, Emperor Guntherm publicly vowed to make peace with the Jotun, so that the East might be saved, but the Jotun refused all attempts to negotiate. Driven wild by the deaths of their thralls at the hands of the Dance of Blood, their contemptuous replies claimed they would never stop fighting until every Imperial Druj was dead.

There were rumbles that Gobaith would be [[Writ of Excommunication|excommunicated]], but it was clear to many that the Synod simply didn't have the numbers. The general was a hero to many Navarr, but they were also popular with enough [[Varushka|Varuskhan]] and [[the League|League]] priests that action was impossible. There was discussion of revoking Rhun but the assumption was that she would simply be reappointed just as she had last time. Guntherm's habit of assuming [[The_Throne#Defender of the Empire|personal control]] of the Green Shields made it impossible for him to take over the Dance of Blood, even if he had been inclined to risk the outspoken opposition of the Navarr nation by doing so.

The situation continued to deteriorate, not in the West, where the Empire were clearly winning, but in the East, where the Druj were advancing on Holberg itself. It was clear the Empire needed to do something, but nobody could agree what. Guntherm and his supporters were demanding that Gobaith cease their attacks on the Jotun so that the Empire could try to make peace - but senators from Navarr and [[Dawn]] openly called for the Dance go further, to force the Jotun to surrender.

The Dance continued to exact a merciless assault every season, but it was increasingly unsuccessful; it was clear by now that the Jotun were ready for their strategy and beginning to adapt to it. More than that, they were actively seeking to engage with the Dance any chance they could get. Stripped of the opportunity to catch the Jotun off guard, the Dance took (and inflicted) heavy casualties as the enemy risked everything to destroy their hated enemy.

The general's orders caused a slow erosion of their support in the [[Military Council]], as it became increasingly apparent that their strategy was making any détente with the Jotun impossible. Gobaith was utterly unrepentant however. She boasted that the Dance of Blood was the only Imperial army to claim victory in every campaign it had fought in. She verbally sparred with Guntherm in Council, at one point going so far as to imply that his loyalties were to the Jotun and not to the Empire. She vowed that she would not stop her war until every Jotun was dead. In response he called her "the real enemy", saying her brutal war against the Jotun was to sate her lust for blood and going to destroy the Empire.

==Funerals==
The fall of the Dance of Blood came after the Summer Solstice in 245YE. The military situation had continued to deteriorate and there was talk in some quarters of revoking Guntherm himself. He was blamed for losing control of the Military Council - with the Empire now furiously engaged on three fronts, it was becoming clear that they could not win, but nobody could agree which territories should be abandoned. Even if Gobaith had wanted a way out, she was trapped by her vows, forced to stay engaged, locked in ever more bloody war against the Jotun.

The summer muster was brutal with screaming and shouting and grew worse from there. The first battle through the gate was a sortie against the Jotun to secure a crucial position in Bregasland. The battle was a unparalleled disaster, with nearly a hundred Imperials executed by the Jotun, most of them Marchers or Freeborn. When previous battles had gone badly, much of the blame landed at Guntherm's door, but this time the furore was directed at the Navarr. The Marchers were adamant that the Jotun had changed their tactics, executing everyone they could, driven by their cold hate for the Dance of Blood.

By the end of the summit, few of the generals were on speaking terms and the atmosphere in the Council was funereal. Gobaith outlined a plan to entrap the advancing Jotun in [[Bregasland]], with the support of the [[the Marches|Marcher]] and Wintermark armies. Amid an air of sullen silence, the other generals reluctantly agreed to back the plan.

The ambush went devastatingly wrong. It soon became clear that the Jotun had been warned of the impending arrival of the Dance of Blood and were waiting for them, in force. Worse, no other Imperial army moved into Bregasland to support them. Only the [[Strong Reeds]] were present, but with their general giving orders to defend the territory, the Dance of Blood's attack was utterly exposed. Outnumbered more than five to one the Dance might still have survived, were it not for the presence of a [[Rivers Run Red|terrible Spring curse]] laid over the territory that poisoned the water and turned every wound lethal. The Dance were overwhelmed and utterly slaughtered. Gobaith was never seen again, widely assumed to have lost her life on the battlefield fighting alongside her beloved thorns. The Jotun were brutal and efficient, with squads of [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Ulvenwar|Ulvenwar]] patrolling the field slaughtering every single Navarr they could catch. Those too wounded to fight were gathered together, whereupon the Jotun built a huge pyre, and burned them alive.

==Tattoos==
There was widespread shock at the Autumn Equinox, following the destruction of the Dance of Blood. The Navarr grieved for so many of their thorns lost. In other nations the mood was sombre. Rhun was incandescent and publicly confronted Guntherm during the first Senate session while he was actually sat on the throne. He shouted that he had betrayed the Dance of Blood, to which Guntherm coldly responded "You cannot betray your enemies". The room exploded into violence, blades were drawn, and open fighting erupted in the Senate chamber itself. Rhun and his supporters were cut down, and the consequences of this spread through the whole of Anvil like a wave of blood.

It seemed obvious to everyone that the Military Council had sold the Dance of Blood down the river. To the fury of the Navarr, the [[Officers_of_the_Law#Magistrates|magistrates]] confirmed that nothing illegal had happened - no [[general]] was under any obligation to submit the orders they had agreed to, therefore no crime had been committed. However the magistrates confirmed that whoever had cursed Bregasland with [[Rivers Run Red]] most likely broke the law in the process, and so the search was on for the traitors.

The [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Shuttered Lantern]] took three magicians of her order through the Sentinel Gate to investigate a powerful Spring [[regio]] on the banks of the Gullet called the ''Fetid Gyre'', believed to be the source of the magic. They performed numerous [[divination|divinations]] including [[Shadowed Glass of Sung]] and concluded that no Imperial citizens were involved and that the magic had been enacted by the Jotun - a terrible bargain between five jarls and an unknown eternal of the [[Realms#Spring|Spring realm]] associated with the sea. According to the Grandmaster, the jarls threw themselves into the water to be devoured by sharks and in return the eternal poisoned the waters of Bregasland.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Siakha001.webp|caption=Today we might assume that the eternal referenced by the Shuttered Lantern was [[Siakha]], but it is doubtful anyone will ever know for sure.|align=right|width=250}}</div>
This story was widely believed to be untrue. A mysterious Spring eternal whose existence was hitherto unknown, and strange [[Elite_Jotun_characters#Ghodi|ghodi]] dealing with eternals for their boons when Jotun were widely known to dislike magic and loathe curses? Everyone assumed that the grandmaster's account was a fabrication made up to conceal the identities of the real traitors. But every member of the order stuck to the story and insisted it was true.

The death of the Dance of Blood was a catastrophe and relations between the Emperor and the Navarr never recovered. But the terrible loss proved to be a turning point for the Empire. Emperor Guntherm signed a peace treaty with the Jotun that very summit, and Imperial armies along the front were finally able to relieve the desperate forces fighting a rear-guard action against the Druj. With the threat of the Jotun lifted, Guntherm was able to drive the Druj back, delivering a series of crushing attacks from which they would take decades to recover. The peace with the Jotun was short-lived, but it was enough to turn the tide of fortunes in the Empire's favour. Thereafter Emperor Guntherm became known as ''the Bold''.

The Navarr themselves were split. Some of the [[striding|stridings]] and [[steading|steadings]] from Therunin and [[Miaren]] believed that the Dance of Blood had made their own bed, but most kept that to themselves. The majority felt that the Empire had betrayed them, that Guntherm had sold out the Dance to the Jotun in return for peace. Unfortunately that accusation did not resonate outside the Navarr. When they appealed to others for support, the response was bitter and sullen but clear - the Dance of Blood's war with the Jotun had threatened the survival of the whole Empire. "Actions have consequences" the Navarr were repeatedly told.

Relations between the Jotun and the Navarr likewise never improved. The cruel strategies employed by the Dance left a lasting mark on the Jotun. They point-blank refused to ever speak of the campaign in Bregasland, but they never again wavered in their hatred of the Navarr. When steadings were overrun the occupants were swiftly executed, treated by the Jotun not as people, not even as enemies, but as wild dogs to be put down.
==Further Reading==
* [[Emperor Guntherm]]
* [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm]]

General FAQ

2026-07-01T17:01:00Z

Twiggy: /* Can I do my dissertation/research project on your event? */

==Overview==
{{FAQ}}

==Specific Categories==
In addition to this general list of questions, there are specific pages where we've gathered together some of the more commonly discussed topics.
* [[Rules FAQ]] covers questions about the rules including those relating to how specific [[skills]] work, and rules relating to [[combat]].
* [[Lineage and species FAQ]] covers questions about [[lineage]] and [[orc|orcs]].
* [[Nations FAQ]] covers questions about specific Imperial [[Nation_overview|nations]].
* [[Setting FAQ]] covers questions about the world the game is set in.
==Playing the Game==
===What are PID and CID?===
Your PID is your unique player identification number. It's always useful to quote your PID when you e-mail Profound Decisions as that makes it easy to find you on our database.

Your CID is your character identification number. It is made up of your PID and the number of your character (so if you are on your second Empire character your CID would be "(PID).2"). CID is used in some areas of the game on the field such as ritual magic.

===How old do I have to be to play Empire?===
You have to be over 16 to come to events unaccompanied by a guardian or parent. Further information can be found in the section about [[children]].

===How dangerous is the main field?===
We do not run camp attacks on the main field. Our goal is to try and create the feel of a buzzing settlement right at the very heart of the Empire, a place of relative security. Our NPC [[magistrates]] work to ensure the law is kept, and the enemy is very far away. We want the field to feel like a place of relative safety, a place where characters can feel free to walk around without weapons or armour if they choose.

The idea is to contrast this with the very real danger that is present whenever the players leave the main field. Those characters that use the [[Sentinel Gate]] to teleport to the Imperial battlefields will find themselves facing very real and very deadly threats. For the overwhelming majority of the time, players will know when they are heading into danger and those players who wish to avoid combat should find this easy provided they remain in the safety of the settlement.

===Is PvP murder allowed?===
We are quite explicitly setting out to make assassination as difficult to achieve as possible. The Empire has a legal system, run by NPCs, and it will make all possible effort to identify and execute assassins. Our intention is for the majority of conflict between players to be political and social in nature rather than combat based.

Assassination of characters is still acceptable out-of-character behaviour; what we are doing with the campaign is deliberately making that as difficult as possible for the assassins to get away with, so that it becomes a tool of last resort rather than the simplest way to deal with political enemies.

===Can I organise activities like fighting practice using social media?===
We encourage people to get active and organise cool things to happen at events - both during the game and before it. We do ask people to save in-character agendas for time-in as far as possible, and ‘keep the game live’. However, we also want people who are excited about the game to pour that keen into the game and help others learn skills like safe, cohesive fighting - if that’s what they want to do. Lots of people organise activities like practice fighting sessions across different nation camps and we encourage players to do that if they want to.

Doing OOC organising inevitably does make the people doing that organising more visible and well-known. That happens for everything that goes on in the game – organising player events, making pamphlets that you distribute in the game, dressing beautiful tents, and so on. The more prep people put into the game, the more recognition they can gain. The only way to stop people gaining any possible benefit from making the game better would be to stop people making the game better. We don't think that makes sense, so we don't prohibit anyone, regardless of what role they play in the game, from organising out-of-character things that support the game, whether that's fighting practice or other things like player events or minibus transport.

Instead, we want to encourage everyone to embrace the opportunities to make the event better. In a similar way to fighting practices, we also see players working hard OC to set up in-character theatres, performances, player events and so on.

Our rules for [[online]] [[Online#Posting_Rules|posting]] state that you can post to draw attention to the activity you have planned, to make it easier for players to find and get involved with it. We ask people to stick to basic information if they are organising an IC activity - so if you’re putting on an IC casino, you can post a flyer for it without getting into any IC interactions or discussion of IC agendas beyond the facts of where and when it’s happening.

===Can I use recorded music in my IC tent?===
We have asked all players not to use background music playing from an electronic source. Using music like this remains a controversial issue, some attendees like it - but some don't. In Empire we have worked as hard as possible to encourage the presence of IC musicians at events - and we want to continue that by encouraging players to hire IC performers if they want IC music in their establishments.

===Can I smoke in the tents?===
You cannot smoke in any of the Profound Decisions tents or structures that are on site. Smoking is prohibited in the Senate, the tavern and all the large IC spaces in all circumstances. If you wish to smoke then you must leave the tent to do so.

You must not smoke in any other tent on site unless it is your own tent or you have been invited in and given express permission to smoke by the owner.

===Can I use a puppet to represent a creature?===
You can use a puppet to represent a creature, but should be aware of your fellow players. Puppets are not everyone's cup of tea, so people should act accordingly. If you're in your group tent - then it's fine to be roleplaying with your puppet - because if someone isn't into that they can just go and roleplay elsewhere. It's not appropriate however to bring a puppet into a public area and demand everyone interact with it. Ideally, don't force people to opt-out - make it a thing people opt into.

Basically respect your fellow players and be conscious of the fact that puppets enhance the game for some people, but they detract from the game for others. Be considerate and if you're doing something unorthodox then look to act in ways that don't force the roleplaying on other players if it's not their thing.

The reality is that we don't want to create a rule that says "puppet allowed" or "puppet not allowed" - because we want Empire to support players who enjoy that kind of roleplay - and also support players that don't. If people are respectful of other other players and appreciate this stuff is not everyone's cup of tea - and act accordingly - then we think Empire is big enough for everyone who does and doesn't like to play with these things to get along.

===Can I do my dissertation/research project on your event?===
Yes as long as you follow the overall rules of Profound Decisions and the specific rules below.

* You may post in the Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/empirelrppromo Adverts and Promotion] page once a month
* The project must have a focus on LRP
* No photos of participants can be used unless you have been given permission from the person in them
* Ethics permissions must be in place before the advert is placed
* These projects are not endorsed by Profound Decisions
* We are happy to discuss staff interviews by prior arrangement, contacting {{clare}}

=== What do I need to bring to the event? ===
Anything you want to! There are some essential items we do recommend though:
* Tent
* Your costume
* Warm bedding
* Warm clothing
* A torch or lantern
* Food, or money to purchase food on site
* Your medication, if you require any
* Bug spray/sun cream
* A water bottle

===Can I bring my dog?===
No animals may be brought to the site without our explicit permission.

===Can I get a supermarket delivery to site?===
Yes you can, but we ask that you meet the delivery van at the main gate to the site, by the main road. We ask that you make clear on the delivery instructions that this is a campsite delivery and not for one of the houses on the site. If it is a Morrisons delivery, make sure it's clear that this is not PD's delivery!

Sorry, but we can't take any responsibility for food delivered to site.

==Plot==
===Can we have our own giant monster?===
It is not possible for the Empire to create monsters for their own use on the battlefield.

There are a number of significant reasons for this - to do with the massive challenges involved in using monstrous creatures effectively and safely on the battlefield, and the problems involved in fielding a force that can challenge the players. There are problems phys-repping such a creature.

A monstrous creature can literally turn a battle by itself - it would be utterly impossible for us to play balance battles to make them challenging and enjoyable at the point where the players can field such a thing whenever they choose. So on that basis alone it would be distinctly unappealing for everyone involved - for us - and for the players. It sounds exciting - it sounds super-cool - but all our experience of LRP tells us that the actual experience of it actually happening - would be really crushingly boring for everyone concerned - if not the first time... then certainly the second time, the third time, the fourth time...

There are safety issues - monstrous creatures often have significant safety constraints which are more difficult for players to manage. And there are phys-repping issues - with the quality of any monstrous creature dependent on the abilities of players to create them rather than hitting a known benchmark if we make them. There are problems with who operates the creature - most monstrous creatures need one or more people to give up their battle experience to operate it. That's ok for crew - because they're there to make the event fun for the players. It's distinctly less cool for players to have to do that - but we can't spare the crew to operate one *for* the players.

The most important principle is stylistic. Empire is about the players being heroes - it's about them battling against terrible monsters. It's not a game about hatching terrible monsters that go off and do the fighting for you and wipe the enemy out so you don't have to bother. We want players to feel like the most important characters on the battlefield, not to feel like they're here to make up the numbers while their monster kills all the orcs. In essence we're not prepared to countenance even the possibility that players end up as third spear-carrier from the left as their monster rules the battlefield.

For all these reasons we don't support any options for the Empire to have monsters on the battlefield and the setting is deliberately written to make it impossible for the Empire to field them (the Sentinel Gate does not allow them to pass through).

===Can I request or suggest a plot idea?===
We do not encourage players to send us suggestions for plot they would like to happen in the game. Partly this is a fairness issue, if it were possible to request plot by email then we would soon be inundated with hundreds of requests - we would spend more time answering emails than we do preparing the event! Critically the way to get more involved in the game would be through email - and that is something we are very keen to avoid. We want our players to play the game and to get involved with plots in the game based on the decisions their character makes.

However the main reason we don't pick up requests or suggestions from players is that the limit of the plot we run is not based on the number of ideas we have. Rather it is based on the time required to write and document a plot before the event and the time needed on the day to brief and debrief the NPCs. Our crucial limitation is the number of writers we have - not the number of ideas. Most of our writers are full of ideas of their own that they want to write - and their enjoyment comes from writing their own plots and seeing them come to life in the game. The best way for us to get more plot at events is if our writers enjoy what they are doing - which means encouraging them to use their own imagination to come up with their own plot ideas.

Some of our writers do read through backgrounds and pick up ideas for plot from them. This is relatively rare and players should bear in mind that there are literally thousands of characters on our database! We recommend that players create a background to help them define their character - not to try and create your own plot hooks in the game.

If you're hoping for a plot to happen because you are looking to achieve a specific outcome, then the right way to pursue that is to chase the mechanisms that exist in play to try and make such things happen. For example - the Synod has [[No_evil_shall_escape_our_sight#Ringing_the_Bell|powers to seek out wrongdoers inside the borders of the Empire]], while the Senate has powers to allow them to [[Historical_research|research Imperial history]]. You can also talk to your egregores when you are in-character at the event to get advice from them on how you might pursue an in-character goal. What you can't do is advance that goal by emailing in between events - you can only do it by actions you take while in-character.

==Money and Game Items==
===Can I sell things for IC money?===
It's fine to sell most things at the event for in-character money. People often sell food they make, drinks they prepare, and even props they have bought or made. Anything which is appropriate for use at the event can be sold for in-character money - ''provided that you do so at the event''. If you want to bring alcohol to the event to exchange while in-character, then please [mailto:admin@profounddecisions.co.uk get in touch with us] so that we know who you are and what you're doing. Please include your PID and let us know your in-character trading name if any.

You can't sell pharmaceutical products for in-character money at events. This restriction includes over-the-counter medicines or similar. We do not want to allow even the remotest possibility that someone's real-life medicines could ever be confused for in-character game items that can be stolen.

You must '''not''' sell IC money, or sell things for IC money, online or between events. This includes on the Thursday and Friday before time-in happens - you can't sell things in-character until the event has started. The purpose of IC money in Empire is to create a basis for characters to buy and sell, so that trade and commerce can be in-character activities that take place at the event. That purpose is undermined if you try and acquire or dispose of IC currency by selling things online or between events.

You can advertise services and products in our Facebook groups and forums that you will have for sale, provided that you state your price. [[Online#IC_Announcements_and_Adverts|Haggling or negotiation over prices must be left to the field]].

===Are the game materials edible?===
Our coins and materials are designed to be sturdy phys-reps; they're not designed with cooking in mind and have often passed through many different hands and been dropped in the mud. We recommend that you don't add them to food or drink.

===When does magic item duration end?===
The year duration for [[magic items]] created by an [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisan]] begins at the next event that your character attends following the downtime that you make the item. The item is valid for that event, and for the three events that follow it.

==Costume==
During 2021, we extensively overhauled our [[costume]] guidance, and several of the frequently asked questions are now addressed directly in that section of the wiki.

=== Does PD provide costumes? ===
No. Players are expected to provide their own costumes for the event. There are traders on site however, selling everything you could possibly need to get started - costume, armour, and weapons.

===Do I have to phase out my less appropriate costume?===
As long as it meets our [[Costume#Minimum_Standards|minimum standards]], it is fine to use costume classed as ''[[Costume#Less_Appropriate_Costume|less appropriate]]'' at Empire. Less appropriate simply means that it is something you should aim to replace, when you are looking to upgrade your costume, until then it is fine. Only costume classed as "[[Costume#Inappropriate_Costume|inappropriate]]" for Empire cannot be worn at events. You can read more about this on our [[costume]] page.

There are lots of reasons to wear "less appropriate" costume - it might be the costume or armour that fits you best, it might be what you have available or can afford, or it might just be the best garment you have available that complements the ideal costume that you do have. We encourage everyone to develop and improve their costume over time - but how you do that is down to you and your budget.

===Can I use a modern tent as an IC tent if I dress it?===
As explained in our [[Costume#In-Character_Tents|rules]] about tents, modern tents made of obviously plastic materials like nylon cannot be used in the IC area at Empire, even if you have tent dressing for them. This means that dome tents and party tents cannot be used in the IC area as well as other similar tents. The reason we don't make an exception for tent dressing is that it changes the decision from one that is reasonably straightforward (is that a modern looking tent) to one that is utterly subjective (have you dressed it enough). All attendees on arrival are always adamant that they will fully dress a modern tent but the results vary dramatically. The issue devolves into an argument about how much dressing is required and what the minimum standards are.

In effect what we are doing is asking everybody who doesn't have an IC tent to make a sacrifice and do without an IC tent. There will be hundreds of IC tents on the field and your character will be able to use many of them. The OOC camp site will be nearby and you can sleep there and store vital supplies there. By excluding modern tents from the field we will achieve a much higher standard of IC immersion through the IC area, so ''everybody'' gains, but it does mean that folks without IC tents have to make that sacrifice so everybody can have that gain.

===Can I wear a kilt?===
As detailed in the [[Navarr_look_and_feel#Kilts|Navarr look and feel]], Skirts, especially war-skirts are fine for any gender in the Navarr (and indeed elsewhere), but players should take care to avoid kilts. The classic highland kilt made of bright tartan, either short or full, is inescapably linked with the 16th century Scottish Highlands and is thus [[Costume#Less_Appropriate_Costume|less appropriate]].

==Battles and Monstering==
===Can I get a friend to monster for me?===
People who play non-combatants will be welcome to monster both battles if they wish to. However you can't play two battles just because your friend is monstering two, the onus is on the individual - if you want to fight in an epic battle, you have to personally play your part in helping those epic battles happen, quid pro quo.

===How should parents handle monstering?===
It's important that young children are supervised throughout the event, so two parents or carers who are attending an event together can share monstering responsibilities if they wish to. This exception to the normal rule about sharing responsibilities takes account of their other responsibilities. This means that one of them can play one battle and one monster the other battle at the same event if they wish to. We encourage them to swap over between events, but of course this is up to them.

==Booking==
===How do I get my ticket?===
Profound Decisions don't send out paper tickets but we do send out digital tickets by email, which you will need to show when you arrive on site. You'll then be able to collect your event pack from the Games Operation Desk (GOD). If there are any problems, or you are booking on the gate, they will direct you to the Games Operation Desk.

If you have your PID (player identification number) this will speed up the process. This will be on your PD account once you've created and paid. If you have problems with your account and booking [mailto:admin@profounddecisions.co.uk admin@profounddecisions.co.uk] should be your first port of call.

=== Can I book on the gate for the event?===
Yes you can. Profound Decisions highly recommend booking and creating your character beforehand but you can book on the gate under PD's current guidelines. We highly recommend creating an account and a character, even if you are planning to pay on the gate as it will save you a huge amount of time at the event.

===Why does my bank payment take days to appear?===
There are unavoidable delays to processing bank payments caused by the way the banking system handles electronic payments and provides the resulting data. These delays are worse at weekends, so a payment sent on Friday, Saturday or Sunday won't appear until the following Tuesday at the earliest.

This means it can take up to a week or longer for your payment to appear on your account. Please be patient - it will turn up! We take several thousand payments this way every year, and the number of problems is in single figures and are always quickly resolved. But it does take time - bear with us and your payment will appear on your account as soon as we can process it. '''Your booking will always be honoured based on the day you sent your payment, not the date we process it.'''

===What is the requirement for concessions?===
Anyone who is a full time student, a full time member of the armed services, a pensioner, or receives state benefits as their main income is eligible for the concession on the ticket price. You only have to be eligible at the point where you provide the proof of your eligibility, so students can claim the discount for the year even if their course ends in the Summer.

You must provide proof of your eligibility. The best way to do this is to email proof to us at [mailto:admin@profounddecisions.co.uk admin@profounddecisions.co.uk] ''after'' you have booked. We can then mark your entire booking as having the concession confirmed. If you don't do this then you will be forced to bring proof to the event and then queue up in a long queue at GOD before you can play. Please don't do this, it's bad for you and bad for us! Email us a scan of your proof and we will log it to your account.

===Can I use a recruitment booking code for Empire?===
The [http://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/account/recruitment promotional discounts for new players] are valid at all Empire events.

===How do I book my child on to the event?===
The website has now been updated to allow players of all ages to book on to the event. Anyone who is attending the event must have their own account, regardless of age. Once you have created an account and entered your birth date then the [http://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/event/Tickets ticket prices] will be updated to reflect your age and booking options.

==About the Site==
=== Do I need a tent? ===
Yes. Profound Decisions events are camping based and players are expected to provide their own tents to sleep in. Some players choose to use a nearby hostel - but the majority of players camp on site.

Camping is a choice between the IC (In character) and OOC (Out of character) fields. Any tent is suitable for the OOC field but camping on the IC field needs to be done in a canvas tent of an appropriate style for the game.

=== Are there toilets and showers on site? ===
PD provides toilets, wash basins and showers, as well as standpipes for access to clean, drinkable water, on site.

===What is there to eat?===
We have caterers at events who are based on both sections of the field. PD booked caterers take real-life money.

The current caterers are listed here [[Event_information#Food_and_Drink|Caterers at Events]]

There are some player run establishments who take IC money.

=== Can I cook on site? ===
Yes. You will need to provide your own cooking facilities and there are rules for [[Steeplechase_LRP_Centre#Ground_Fires|ground fires]] that must be adhered to, but you are welcome to cook on site if you wish.
[[Category:FAQ]]

Seeking the Karass

2026-07-01T12:27:44Z

Twiggy: /* The words of the Oracle */

[[Category:Karass]][[Category:Religion]]
==Introduction==
In the wake of [[Every_day_of_your_life#Spanning_the_Abyss|Bloodcrow Knott's declaration of his highest calling]], the [[Imperial orcs|Unshackled]] Assembly responded enthusiastically to the push by many shamans and mystagogues for outreach to septs and nations of orcs. Their first choice, at the Winter Solstice, is to learn of the ancestors of a sept of orcs who have had little to do with the Imperial Orcs - [[Not_to_conquer#Karass|the Karass]].

The Karass are a sept disliked by essentially every other group within [[the Barrens]]. There are persistent allegations of collaboration with the [[Druj]] during their rule that seem likely to be true. More worryingly, as of late, there has been a suggestion that they may ''still'' be in contact with the Druj, and plotting to betray the Empire.

Whatever the truth of this, they are not going to be an easy group to learn more of. Indeed, when the shamans and mystagogues led by the Imperial Orc preacher known as '''Jim''' first approach the Karass settlements in [[The_Barrens#The_Bleaks|the Bleaks]], they are told in no uncertain terms to get lost. It seems they know of the Imperial Orcs of the Unshackled primarily as friends of [[Not_to_conquer#Rahvin|the Rahvin]] - and the Karass certainly detest the Rahvin.

==The view of the Rahvin==
It is often said that one might know another by their enemies. As the descendants of the many lost septs of the Barrens, forged anew by Rahvin before his death, the Rahvin certainly know something of the Karass's ways.

The occupants of [[The_Barrens#Bitter_Strand|Bitter Strand]] are clear they don't think of the Karass as different to the Druj - distinct - but not different. The life the Karass had when the Druj ruled the Barrens was a comfortable one, at least compared with other septs. The Druj left them to handle their own affairs and often employed them as enforcers, spies, or thieves when such skills were required. This is not altogether a surprise - the Karass have never said as much, but they pointedly haven't particularly denied it beyond a token effort.

In a strict sense - the Karass are not Druj. Nobody can ever become a Druj - you are either born into a sept that is considered Druj, or you are not. Moreover, the Druj are clear that they believe their septs to be spiritually superior to all other orcs. There are testimonials given from members of the Rahvin who grudgingly confirm that they have heard Druj talking about the Karass in the same dismissive terms they use for the other septs. The Karass may have been trusted collaborators, enablers of evil not unlike the Ketsov or [[Ossium#Nearweald|Menrothat]] in Ossium - but they were ''not'' Druj - and that is a distinction that seems to matter a great deal to the Druj - but rather less to the Rahvin.

Of the ancestors of the Karass, the Rahvin know little. The Karass are an ''intensely'' private people, and the Rahvin have little idea what they believe - and they don't much care. There is a suggestion that their secluded nature may be linked to their spiritual beliefs, but the simplest explanation is that nobody in the Barrens liked them. The Druj are known to believe that they have a religious and spiritual imperative to take Dawnish and Highborn lands for themselves, reclaiming them as their lost territory. The Karass do not share this - the Karass don't seem to have a ''particular'' animosity for the Dawnish. They don't seem to like them much, but only insofar as they don't like anyone.

==The view of the Great Forest Orcs==

The [[Great_Forest_Orcs|Orcs of the Great Forest]] are close friends to the [[Navarr]] and regard the [[Imperial Orcs]] as reliable allies. They have always been clear that they regard the Karass as Druj by any other name, too - but their perspective is different to that of the Rahvin.

Still, little of what they have to say is kind. The Karass are fundamentally treacherous snakes who have survived throughout the years by currying favour with the different Druj septs. The Karass are known to have had many visits over the years from the Buruk Tepel themselves, the leaders of the septs and of the Druj people. In particular, they have worked with Buruk Tepel of septs that hate each other. The Great Forest Orcs were of the view that the Karass delighted in a close meeting with the leaders of one sept just as their star was falling with another. ''"They played a very dangerous game for a very long time, and maybe they're still playing it. It was evil they did, but they could play that game well. Better than any other could ever have hoped to."''
<div {{floatleft}}>{{CaptionedImage|file=Biogradska suma.jpg|align=left|caption=The orcs of the Great Forest believe that it once stretched across the whole of what is now the Empire and the Mallum.|width=500}}</div>
How were the Karass able to gain influence with the [[Druj_lore#Buruk_Tepel|Buruk Tepel]]? The Great Forest Orcs claim it must be based on the Black Lotus plant that the Karass are widely believed to possess. It is assumed this fabled plant is hidden somewhere in the marshes or forests of the Barrens. Perhaps the Karass were able to use the doses extracted from their plant as leverage? If so, a concerted effort by the Druj would have surely eventually uncovered it. If the Karass do have a Black Lotus, they would ''have'' to have played one Druj sept off against another in some way to prevent that happening.

One aging orc says that when she was small, her grandfather told her a story about the time, long since, where the Great Forest still reached [[Semmerholm#Axmure|Axmure]] and [[Semmerholm#Elvette|Elvette]] in [[Semmerholm]]. At that time, the Great Forest Orcs lived in those woods, but they did not control them. Instead, they were ruled over by a sept of orcs dwelling in the fortress of [[Semmerholm#Ulvenholm|Arnet, in Ulvenholm]]. These orcs were driven from Arnet in the early years of the Empire by the Dawnish. Their sept fled into [[Brocéliande#Boar's_Dell|Boar's Dell]] and thereafter after harrowing journeys reunited with their fellows in [[Great_Forest_of_Peytaht|Peytaht]]. The orcs of Arnet were mostly destroyed. In her grandfather's story, however, remnants of the orcs of Arnet survived - and these remnants are the people known today as the Karass and the Menrothat. This may be a fragile lead - a memory of an old story - but it is a start.

==The view in Ulvenholm==
The ancient fortress of Arnet broods over the light woodlands of Ulvenholm. Restored in the Dawnish style in the centuries since its capture, it is primarily notable today as a place for pilgrims devoted to the path of [[Adelmar_the_Lion|Adelmar]] to travel. Adelmar is known as the Lion of Arnet for his role in the taking of the keep. He is said to have engaged in personal combat with a warlord known as "Tu'Chak", possibly a leader of the orcs of Arnet, and in doing so won the favour of the Empress Richilde and the reward that allowed him to establish his famous academy.

Of the history of the orcs of Arnet little is actually known for sure. Semmerholm was of course their heartland, holding Arnet as they did - records of Arnet go back as far as Terunael, and indeed there are Terun ruins in the foundations of the keep. It seems likely, then, that the fortress was built or held by the Terun and then taken by the orcs of Arnet thereafter. There are some Dawnish tales which talk of the orcs of Arnet also holding parts of [[Astolat|Astolat]], though famously the Druj also claim Dawn as their ancestral lands: the historical record is fairly clear that the orcs of Arnet were not Druj, however.

They are called the Ulvenkin in some Dawnish ballads, especially those that date from the period around the Highborn civil war and the reign of Penni the White. Recent historical research has records that show Penni as having bested Morza the Crimson at Arnet Keep, in a dark mirror of the victory of the exemplar many centuries later, but that is as far as it goes. Generally speaking, the orcs of Arnet are remembered in Dawnish story and song as having a dark nature, though less like the Druj and a little more like the orcs of Branoc in Karsk: willing to engage in treaties with dark powers, perhaps, but not practitioners of terror and fear as the orcs of the Mallum are. However, little is thought to remain of them - some of the bandits who prey on the wilder parts of Semmerholm are said to have some relation to Arnet, but this may simply be fancy. Here, the trail grows cold.
<div {{float}}>{{CaptionedImage|file=OrcInTheMists.jpg|align=left|caption=The orcs of Arnet live on primarily in Dawnish story and song: besides the Druj, they were Dawn's most persistent enemy among barbarian nations. They were long thought gone entirely...|width=500}}</div>

==The view from Farweald==
The clearest lead towards the Karass is surely [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Sept_of_the_Menrothat|the Menrothat]]. If they do represent a remnant of the orcs of Arnet, perhaps they have insight into the Karass. They were collaborators in [[Ossium]], everyone knows that, like [[Ossium#Ketsov|the Ketsov]] were, who used their expertise and affinity with [[Keeper_of_the_Bonehives#The_Bone_Hives|the Bone Hives]] to broker a favourable relationship with the Druj septs known as the [[Keeper_of_the_Bonehives#Amber_Scorpion|Amber Scorpion]] and [[Expedition_to_Orieb#Scorpion_and_Serpent|the Bone Serpent]]. They are often said to be cousins to the Karass in some sense, and it is here that the trail is found again. Here, they remember Arnet.

Saroso Menrothat is an elder of the sept who resides at the Centipede Stump in Drownbark - she has been the point of contact for the sept before. She's cautiously welcoming of the travellers. It is clear that some here have a measure of wary contempt for the Unshackled, but they do not voice it. There are some muttered remarks about the septs of Ossium now being enslaved under new Imperial masters who do not even deign to chain them, so comfortable they are in the obedience of their serfs - but Saroso silences this talk with a glance. When the Kingdom of Arnet is brought up, she smiles. It is clearly a familiar name to her, but not one they often hear from outsiders.

"Yes", she says. "We Menrothat once ruled in Arnet. We were driven out by the Dawnish and their allies long ago, but few remember the details of such things now. The Karass? Yes, they were ''of'' Arnet. They were rebels... traitors and thieves to an orc. They took that which ought to have been ours and fled before the fall. There's nothing to be gained from learning about the Karass. Either you use them like the Druj did, or you have no use for them at all. They believe strange things, you know? Their so-called oracle of the Creator of the world... stupid games, for children, you see? Foolish lies invented to justify their thievery."

==The view of the Karass==
Rather than approach the Karass, it seems that the sept have decided to approach the mystagogues. Shortly after the encounter with the Menrothat, a message finds the expedition. It bids the collection of ancestor-seekers to meet the Karass at the crossroads where the [[The_Barrens#Carmine Fields|Carmine Fields]] meet the [[The_Barrens#Untrod_Groves|Untrod Groves]]. When they arrive they find a lone Karass waiting for them. She is young - maybe fifteen - and if she is bothered by the well-armed travelling party who approach her, she gives no sign. On Jim's approach, she stands square. She introduces herself as Lenna Karass.

Somehow Anka has become aware that many questions have been asked of the Karass lately in many quarters. Lenna refuses to say how Anka knows this, but she has some things to say on behalf of Anka. "You've been asking around a lot, and it was clear you weren't going to hear anything good. Anka decided it was time for you to hear our side. We ain't Druj. Leaf to leaf they are obsessed - we're root to root. You wanted to know about our ancestors? It's the Oracle who matters most. The Old Voices... you shouldn't listen to them. Gets you killed, lost. Stops you from being ''karass''."

Despite her tender years, it is clear that Lenna is a shaman. "I hear the voice of the Oracle strongly: more than most. And the Old Voices, ear to ear, but they lead you astray, strike to strike." She asks probing questions of those present, determined to discover what they have been told of the Karass, and after a little hesitation, the stories that have been collected are relayed.

Lenna confirms that the Karass once called Arnet their home - "but we were not ''karass'' then". She acknowledges that the Menrothat ruled Arnet, but is disparaging of their rule. At that time, she claims, there was unrest in Arnet. Probably if there hadn't been unrest they wouldn't have lost to the Dawnish. But they deserved to lose, she says. "They were sick. Obsessed with their little kingdom. Unable to see that the world was changing. The Oracle saw this. He spoke against them. He told them they did not deserve their spiritual inheritance. Brick to brick, Arnet fell. We fled before the inevitable end, saving what was worth saving."
<div {{floatleft}}>{{CaptionedImage|file=OrcFaceCropped.jpg|align=left|caption=The young shaman Lenna seems to hear the voice of the Oracle of the Karass with passionate intensity.|width=500}}</div>
She seems to stop herself but her tone is proud. One listener asks if "we" means the Karass and she nods. She says that the name of her sept is a word in the old cant of Arnet. It means "purpose" - not a worldly purpose, but a divine one: a state of spiritual grace that comes from being bound together by fate.

"We became ''karass'' - we are the Karass: when the Oracle spoke, we listened. We are still listening. We still hear the words. People don't like it... they don't like us. They are blind fools." There is something in her voice - a devotional focus that is convincingly intense. It seems like something is being revealed here. The sept have always maintained, when asked, that they don't really believe in anything. It seems this, at least, is untrue.

A member of the [[Illarawm|Illarawm]], an elderly orc called Nerru, asks if they can form the bridge and hear the words of this "Oracle". Lenna laughs. "Anka said you'd ask. She said I'm to show you. But... you hear his words, you listen, you're ''karass''. ''If'' you listen, you could be Karass. If you hear his words and you don't listen, then you're lost." She allows Nerru to approach her and a few others to approach her. Nerru asks if the Oracle has a name? "Yes, probably," comes the reply, "but you don't speak the name of an ancestor, do you? It's bad luck. Most Voices are just bad news, anyway."

An unfamiliar belief, but one seemingly expressed sincerely. A silence descends - the elderly Illarawm and the others with him reach for the voice of the ancestor, the one Lenna calls the Oracle but whose name she will not give. For a while it seems as if the attempt will end in failure, the quiet stretching out to fill the void. Then it comes, quiet at first, calm and focussed, intense but steady, with a slightly musical quality to it. A tenor recorder playing a constant melody, an unrelenting cant.

Eventually, Nerru and the other orcs allow themselves to tune out of the words. They are still there beneath conscious awareness - a rolling chant that seems to sing on and on and on.

"You heard it?" Lenna asks the assembled orcs. "You did? Root to root and life to life... you are ''karass'', if you listen. Your lot" - from the way she gestures it is clear she means the Illarawm - "want to build a bridge, yes? A bridge is a bridge: stone to stone and plant to plant, we think we can build something better. What do you think? Karass is those that hear the voice of the Oracle and listen. Will you listen? Will you join us? Rahvin only wanted to build things that would last in his lifetime: hero to hero, death to death. Tsk."

She makes a noise of contempt and then falls silent. She is swaying a little. Her words are cryptic, to all but perhaps those who heard the ancestor's voice. She composes herself, and suddenly she seems to settle back into the persona that the Karass have tended to adopt previously: cynical, supine. It is like she has hidden part of herself away.

==The words of the Oracle==
Since the Spring Equinox, the Illarawm Nerru has made themselves available to form the Bridge with any orc who hears the story of the Karass and is interested in hearing the voice of their "Oracle". Some of the other orcs who made the bridge at the same time have done the same. As such, it is possible for any orc within the Empire - including Apulian orcs, though normally they do not tend to take an interest in the voices of ancestors - to roleplay that the Illarawm have helped them bridge to the voice of the Oracle. '''It is impossible to share in this experience as a human.'''

[[File:KarassOracle.mp3]]

We have produced an audio recording designed to give a strong flavour of the experience of hearing this ancestor. Any player of an orc character may listen to this. '''Please do not listen to this if you are playing a human character - if your character is interested in such things, then seek out orc characters in the field to hear their descriptions of the experience.''' The voice is fragmentary; this is not a single coherent spoken piece but a collage of words. It's appropriate to draw on any element of this for your roleplaying around your own character's experience of this voice.

General FAQ

2026-06-30T13:03:51Z

Twiggy: /* Can I sell things for IC money? */

==Overview==
{{FAQ}}

==Specific Categories==
In addition to this general list of questions, there are specific pages where we've gathered together some of the more commonly discussed topics.
* [[Rules FAQ]] covers questions about the rules including those relating to how specific [[skills]] work, and rules relating to [[combat]].
* [[Lineage and species FAQ]] covers questions about [[lineage]] and [[orc|orcs]].
* [[Nations FAQ]] covers questions about specific Imperial [[Nation_overview|nations]].
* [[Setting FAQ]] covers questions about the world the game is set in.
==Playing the Game==
===What are PID and CID?===
Your PID is your unique player identification number. It's always useful to quote your PID when you e-mail Profound Decisions as that makes it easy to find you on our database.

Your CID is your character identification number. It is made up of your PID and the number of your character (so if you are on your second Empire character your CID would be "(PID).2"). CID is used in some areas of the game on the field such as ritual magic.

===How old do I have to be to play Empire?===
You have to be over 16 to come to events unaccompanied by a guardian or parent. Further information can be found in the section about [[children]].

===How dangerous is the main field?===
We do not run camp attacks on the main field. Our goal is to try and create the feel of a buzzing settlement right at the very heart of the Empire, a place of relative security. Our NPC [[magistrates]] work to ensure the law is kept, and the enemy is very far away. We want the field to feel like a place of relative safety, a place where characters can feel free to walk around without weapons or armour if they choose.

The idea is to contrast this with the very real danger that is present whenever the players leave the main field. Those characters that use the [[Sentinel Gate]] to teleport to the Imperial battlefields will find themselves facing very real and very deadly threats. For the overwhelming majority of the time, players will know when they are heading into danger and those players who wish to avoid combat should find this easy provided they remain in the safety of the settlement.

===Is PvP murder allowed?===
We are quite explicitly setting out to make assassination as difficult to achieve as possible. The Empire has a legal system, run by NPCs, and it will make all possible effort to identify and execute assassins. Our intention is for the majority of conflict between players to be political and social in nature rather than combat based.

Assassination of characters is still acceptable out-of-character behaviour; what we are doing with the campaign is deliberately making that as difficult as possible for the assassins to get away with, so that it becomes a tool of last resort rather than the simplest way to deal with political enemies.

===Can I organise activities like fighting practice using social media?===
We encourage people to get active and organise cool things to happen at events - both during the game and before it. We do ask people to save in-character agendas for time-in as far as possible, and ‘keep the game live’. However, we also want people who are excited about the game to pour that keen into the game and help others learn skills like safe, cohesive fighting - if that’s what they want to do. Lots of people organise activities like practice fighting sessions across different nation camps and we encourage players to do that if they want to.

Doing OOC organising inevitably does make the people doing that organising more visible and well-known. That happens for everything that goes on in the game – organising player events, making pamphlets that you distribute in the game, dressing beautiful tents, and so on. The more prep people put into the game, the more recognition they can gain. The only way to stop people gaining any possible benefit from making the game better would be to stop people making the game better. We don't think that makes sense, so we don't prohibit anyone, regardless of what role they play in the game, from organising out-of-character things that support the game, whether that's fighting practice or other things like player events or minibus transport.

Instead, we want to encourage everyone to embrace the opportunities to make the event better. In a similar way to fighting practices, we also see players working hard OC to set up in-character theatres, performances, player events and so on.

Our rules for [[online]] [[Online#Posting_Rules|posting]] state that you can post to draw attention to the activity you have planned, to make it easier for players to find and get involved with it. We ask people to stick to basic information if they are organising an IC activity - so if you’re putting on an IC casino, you can post a flyer for it without getting into any IC interactions or discussion of IC agendas beyond the facts of where and when it’s happening.

===Can I use recorded music in my IC tent?===
We have asked all players not to use background music playing from an electronic source. Using music like this remains a controversial issue, some attendees like it - but some don't. In Empire we have worked as hard as possible to encourage the presence of IC musicians at events - and we want to continue that by encouraging players to hire IC performers if they want IC music in their establishments.

===Can I smoke in the tents?===
You cannot smoke in any of the Profound Decisions tents or structures that are on site. Smoking is prohibited in the Senate, the tavern and all the large IC spaces in all circumstances. If you wish to smoke then you must leave the tent to do so.

You must not smoke in any other tent on site unless it is your own tent or you have been invited in and given express permission to smoke by the owner.

===Can I use a puppet to represent a creature?===
You can use a puppet to represent a creature, but should be aware of your fellow players. Puppets are not everyone's cup of tea, so people should act accordingly. If you're in your group tent - then it's fine to be roleplaying with your puppet - because if someone isn't into that they can just go and roleplay elsewhere. It's not appropriate however to bring a puppet into a public area and demand everyone interact with it. Ideally, don't force people to opt-out - make it a thing people opt into.

Basically respect your fellow players and be conscious of the fact that puppets enhance the game for some people, but they detract from the game for others. Be considerate and if you're doing something unorthodox then look to act in ways that don't force the roleplaying on other players if it's not their thing.

The reality is that we don't want to create a rule that says "puppet allowed" or "puppet not allowed" - because we want Empire to support players who enjoy that kind of roleplay - and also support players that don't. If people are respectful of other other players and appreciate this stuff is not everyone's cup of tea - and act accordingly - then we think Empire is big enough for everyone who does and doesn't like to play with these things to get along.

=== What do I need to bring to the event? ===
Anything you want to! There are some essential items we do recommend though:
* Tent
* Your costume
* Warm bedding
* Warm clothing
* A torch or lantern
* Food, or money to purchase food on site
* Your medication, if you require any
* Bug spray/sun cream
* A water bottle

===Can I bring my dog?===
No animals may be brought to the site without our explicit permission.

===Can I get a supermarket delivery to site?===
Yes you can, but we ask that you meet the delivery van at the main gate to the site, by the main road. We ask that you make clear on the delivery instructions that this is a campsite delivery and not for one of the houses on the site. If it is a Morrisons delivery, make sure it's clear that this is not PD's delivery!

Sorry, but we can't take any responsibility for food delivered to site.

==Plot==
===Can we have our own giant monster?===
It is not possible for the Empire to create monsters for their own use on the battlefield.

There are a number of significant reasons for this - to do with the massive challenges involved in using monstrous creatures effectively and safely on the battlefield, and the problems involved in fielding a force that can challenge the players. There are problems phys-repping such a creature.

A monstrous creature can literally turn a battle by itself - it would be utterly impossible for us to play balance battles to make them challenging and enjoyable at the point where the players can field such a thing whenever they choose. So on that basis alone it would be distinctly unappealing for everyone involved - for us - and for the players. It sounds exciting - it sounds super-cool - but all our experience of LRP tells us that the actual experience of it actually happening - would be really crushingly boring for everyone concerned - if not the first time... then certainly the second time, the third time, the fourth time...

There are safety issues - monstrous creatures often have significant safety constraints which are more difficult for players to manage. And there are phys-repping issues - with the quality of any monstrous creature dependent on the abilities of players to create them rather than hitting a known benchmark if we make them. There are problems with who operates the creature - most monstrous creatures need one or more people to give up their battle experience to operate it. That's ok for crew - because they're there to make the event fun for the players. It's distinctly less cool for players to have to do that - but we can't spare the crew to operate one *for* the players.

The most important principle is stylistic. Empire is about the players being heroes - it's about them battling against terrible monsters. It's not a game about hatching terrible monsters that go off and do the fighting for you and wipe the enemy out so you don't have to bother. We want players to feel like the most important characters on the battlefield, not to feel like they're here to make up the numbers while their monster kills all the orcs. In essence we're not prepared to countenance even the possibility that players end up as third spear-carrier from the left as their monster rules the battlefield.

For all these reasons we don't support any options for the Empire to have monsters on the battlefield and the setting is deliberately written to make it impossible for the Empire to field them (the Sentinel Gate does not allow them to pass through).

===Can I request or suggest a plot idea?===
We do not encourage players to send us suggestions for plot they would like to happen in the game. Partly this is a fairness issue, if it were possible to request plot by email then we would soon be inundated with hundreds of requests - we would spend more time answering emails than we do preparing the event! Critically the way to get more involved in the game would be through email - and that is something we are very keen to avoid. We want our players to play the game and to get involved with plots in the game based on the decisions their character makes.

However the main reason we don't pick up requests or suggestions from players is that the limit of the plot we run is not based on the number of ideas we have. Rather it is based on the time required to write and document a plot before the event and the time needed on the day to brief and debrief the NPCs. Our crucial limitation is the number of writers we have - not the number of ideas. Most of our writers are full of ideas of their own that they want to write - and their enjoyment comes from writing their own plots and seeing them come to life in the game. The best way for us to get more plot at events is if our writers enjoy what they are doing - which means encouraging them to use their own imagination to come up with their own plot ideas.

Some of our writers do read through backgrounds and pick up ideas for plot from them. This is relatively rare and players should bear in mind that there are literally thousands of characters on our database! We recommend that players create a background to help them define their character - not to try and create your own plot hooks in the game.

If you're hoping for a plot to happen because you are looking to achieve a specific outcome, then the right way to pursue that is to chase the mechanisms that exist in play to try and make such things happen. For example - the Synod has [[No_evil_shall_escape_our_sight#Ringing_the_Bell|powers to seek out wrongdoers inside the borders of the Empire]], while the Senate has powers to allow them to [[Historical_research|research Imperial history]]. You can also talk to your egregores when you are in-character at the event to get advice from them on how you might pursue an in-character goal. What you can't do is advance that goal by emailing in between events - you can only do it by actions you take while in-character.

==Money and Game Items==
===Can I sell things for IC money?===
It's fine to sell most things at the event for in-character money. People often sell food they make, drinks they prepare, and even props they have bought or made. Anything which is appropriate for use at the event can be sold for in-character money - ''provided that you do so at the event''. If you want to bring alcohol to the event to exchange while in-character, then please [mailto:admin@profounddecisions.co.uk get in touch with us] so that we know who you are and what you're doing. Please include your PID and let us know your in-character trading name if any.

You can't sell pharmaceutical products for in-character money at events. This restriction includes over-the-counter medicines or similar. We do not want to allow even the remotest possibility that someone's real-life medicines could ever be confused for in-character game items that can be stolen.

You must '''not''' sell IC money, or sell things for IC money, online or between events. This includes on the Thursday and Friday before time-in happens - you can't sell things in-character until the event has started. The purpose of IC money in Empire is to create a basis for characters to buy and sell, so that trade and commerce can be in-character activities that take place at the event. That purpose is undermined if you try and acquire or dispose of IC currency by selling things online or between events.

You can advertise services and products in our Facebook groups and forums that you will have for sale, provided that you state your price. [[Online#IC_Announcements_and_Adverts|Haggling or negotiation over prices must be left to the field]].

===Are the game materials edible?===
Our coins and materials are designed to be sturdy phys-reps; they're not designed with cooking in mind and have often passed through many different hands and been dropped in the mud. We recommend that you don't add them to food or drink.

===When does magic item duration end?===
The year duration for [[magic items]] created by an [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisan]] begins at the next event that your character attends following the downtime that you make the item. The item is valid for that event, and for the three events that follow it.

==Costume==
During 2021, we extensively overhauled our [[costume]] guidance, and several of the frequently asked questions are now addressed directly in that section of the wiki.

=== Does PD provide costumes? ===
No. Players are expected to provide their own costumes for the event. There are traders on site however, selling everything you could possibly need to get started - costume, armour, and weapons.

===Do I have to phase out my less appropriate costume?===
As long as it meets our [[Costume#Minimum_Standards|minimum standards]], it is fine to use costume classed as ''[[Costume#Less_Appropriate_Costume|less appropriate]]'' at Empire. Less appropriate simply means that it is something you should aim to replace, when you are looking to upgrade your costume, until then it is fine. Only costume classed as "[[Costume#Inappropriate_Costume|inappropriate]]" for Empire cannot be worn at events. You can read more about this on our [[costume]] page.

There are lots of reasons to wear "less appropriate" costume - it might be the costume or armour that fits you best, it might be what you have available or can afford, or it might just be the best garment you have available that complements the ideal costume that you do have. We encourage everyone to develop and improve their costume over time - but how you do that is down to you and your budget.

===Can I use a modern tent as an IC tent if I dress it?===
As explained in our [[Costume#In-Character_Tents|rules]] about tents, modern tents made of obviously plastic materials like nylon cannot be used in the IC area at Empire, even if you have tent dressing for them. This means that dome tents and party tents cannot be used in the IC area as well as other similar tents. The reason we don't make an exception for tent dressing is that it changes the decision from one that is reasonably straightforward (is that a modern looking tent) to one that is utterly subjective (have you dressed it enough). All attendees on arrival are always adamant that they will fully dress a modern tent but the results vary dramatically. The issue devolves into an argument about how much dressing is required and what the minimum standards are.

In effect what we are doing is asking everybody who doesn't have an IC tent to make a sacrifice and do without an IC tent. There will be hundreds of IC tents on the field and your character will be able to use many of them. The OOC camp site will be nearby and you can sleep there and store vital supplies there. By excluding modern tents from the field we will achieve a much higher standard of IC immersion through the IC area, so ''everybody'' gains, but it does mean that folks without IC tents have to make that sacrifice so everybody can have that gain.

===Can I wear a kilt?===
As detailed in the [[Navarr_look_and_feel#Kilts|Navarr look and feel]], Skirts, especially war-skirts are fine for any gender in the Navarr (and indeed elsewhere), but players should take care to avoid kilts. The classic highland kilt made of bright tartan, either short or full, is inescapably linked with the 16th century Scottish Highlands and is thus [[Costume#Less_Appropriate_Costume|less appropriate]].

==Battles and Monstering==
===Can I get a friend to monster for me?===
People who play non-combatants will be welcome to monster both battles if they wish to. However you can't play two battles just because your friend is monstering two, the onus is on the individual - if you want to fight in an epic battle, you have to personally play your part in helping those epic battles happen, quid pro quo.

===How should parents handle monstering?===
It's important that young children are supervised throughout the event, so two parents or carers who are attending an event together can share monstering responsibilities if they wish to. This exception to the normal rule about sharing responsibilities takes account of their other responsibilities. This means that one of them can play one battle and one monster the other battle at the same event if they wish to. We encourage them to swap over between events, but of course this is up to them.

==Booking==
===How do I get my ticket?===
Profound Decisions don't send out paper tickets but we do send out digital tickets by email, which you will need to show when you arrive on site. You'll then be able to collect your event pack from the Games Operation Desk (GOD). If there are any problems, or you are booking on the gate, they will direct you to the Games Operation Desk.

If you have your PID (player identification number) this will speed up the process. This will be on your PD account once you've created and paid. If you have problems with your account and booking [mailto:admin@profounddecisions.co.uk admin@profounddecisions.co.uk] should be your first port of call.

=== Can I book on the gate for the event?===
Yes you can. Profound Decisions highly recommend booking and creating your character beforehand but you can book on the gate under PD's current guidelines. We highly recommend creating an account and a character, even if you are planning to pay on the gate as it will save you a huge amount of time at the event.

===Why does my bank payment take days to appear?===
There are unavoidable delays to processing bank payments caused by the way the banking system handles electronic payments and provides the resulting data. These delays are worse at weekends, so a payment sent on Friday, Saturday or Sunday won't appear until the following Tuesday at the earliest.

This means it can take up to a week or longer for your payment to appear on your account. Please be patient - it will turn up! We take several thousand payments this way every year, and the number of problems is in single figures and are always quickly resolved. But it does take time - bear with us and your payment will appear on your account as soon as we can process it. '''Your booking will always be honoured based on the day you sent your payment, not the date we process it.'''

===What is the requirement for concessions?===
Anyone who is a full time student, a full time member of the armed services, a pensioner, or receives state benefits as their main income is eligible for the concession on the ticket price. You only have to be eligible at the point where you provide the proof of your eligibility, so students can claim the discount for the year even if their course ends in the Summer.

You must provide proof of your eligibility. The best way to do this is to email proof to us at [mailto:admin@profounddecisions.co.uk admin@profounddecisions.co.uk] ''after'' you have booked. We can then mark your entire booking as having the concession confirmed. If you don't do this then you will be forced to bring proof to the event and then queue up in a long queue at GOD before you can play. Please don't do this, it's bad for you and bad for us! Email us a scan of your proof and we will log it to your account.

===Can I use a recruitment booking code for Empire?===
The [http://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/account/recruitment promotional discounts for new players] are valid at all Empire events.

===How do I book my child on to the event?===
The website has now been updated to allow players of all ages to book on to the event. Anyone who is attending the event must have their own account, regardless of age. Once you have created an account and entered your birth date then the [http://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/event/Tickets ticket prices] will be updated to reflect your age and booking options.

==About the Site==
=== Do I need a tent? ===
Yes. Profound Decisions events are camping based and players are expected to provide their own tents to sleep in. Some players choose to use a nearby hostel - but the majority of players camp on site.

Camping is a choice between the IC (In character) and OOC (Out of character) fields. Any tent is suitable for the OOC field but camping on the IC field needs to be done in a canvas tent of an appropriate style for the game.

=== Are there toilets and showers on site? ===
PD provides toilets, wash basins and showers, as well as standpipes for access to clean, drinkable water, on site.

===What is there to eat?===
We have caterers at events who are based on both sections of the field. PD booked caterers take real-life money.

The current caterers are listed here [[Event_information#Food_and_Drink|Caterers at Events]]

There are some player run establishments who take IC money.

=== Can I cook on site? ===
Yes. You will need to provide your own cooking facilities and there are rules for [[Steeplechase_LRP_Centre#Ground_Fires|ground fires]] that must be adhered to, but you are welcome to cook on site if you wish.
[[Category:FAQ]]

User:Twiggy

2026-06-29T16:56:24Z

Twiggy: /* Wayhouses */

🫡

Joshua Davies, currently playing Tanwyn Autumngale in Navarr. Just a player who looks at the wiki a lot, not a member of crew.

No, I am not a bot. I have been known to sleep on occasion. <br>
The bane of American spellings everywhere. <br>
Note to self, do not edit the wiki on mobile. It does not like it. <br>
I cry every time I see a spelling mistake that is on the database, I can not fix those myself. <br>
It's Winter realm and Winter lore not Winter Realm and Winter Lore. They are eternals, not Eternals. That is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternals_(film) film]. Please don't get these wrong, I beg of you. They hurt me every time.

===Vallorn===
Seren - Serenael - Miaren - [[Reclamation of Seren|destroyed 27YE]] <br>
Tharunind - Greenheart - Therunin <br>
Liath - Liath’s Heart - <s>Liathaven</s> Ashvale <br>
Hacynian - Deer’s Folly - Hercynia <br>
Terunael - Terunael - Brocéliande <br>
Béantal Dol - Bendol - Sarangrave <br>
Emrys - Stathas - Sküld <br>
Cavan - Visokuma (Don’t think the specific region is public)

Terunael is the city, the region and the civilisation, the Terun are the people. <br>
The Terun of Terunael lived in Terunael in Terunael, it is not clear if the Terun of Terunael named Terunael after Terunael, Terunael after Terunael, or Terunael after Terunael.

It’s Liath’s Heart, Liath’s Ring and Liaven’s Glen.

Brocéliande, Béantal Dol, Sküld. Don’t forget the accents and umlauts.

The vallorn and vallornspawn husks are lowercase. The Advisor on the Vallorn is uppercase.

A vallornheart is the geographical area - like a city centre. It's the region where the original cataclysm happened.<br>
A vallorn heart is a descriptor of the location - like the city's centre. It's where its strongest and is probably where the ritual took place.

===Realms===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Realm !! Resonances !! Dissonances
|-
| [[Spring magic|Spring]] || Healing and Vitality, Fertility, Venom, Savagery, Chaos, Ruin || Control, Deference, Complexity, Subtlety, Construction, Conformity and Stagnation
|-
| [[Summer magic|Summer]] || Prowess, Nobility, Triumph, Majesty, Adamant, Wroth, Youth || Subtlety, Cooperation, Contemplation, Debilitation
|-
| [[Autumn magic|Autumn]] || Prosperity, Trade, Influence, Bands, Binding, Craftsmanship, Travel and Communication || Personal Strength, Vegetation, Creation, Creativity, Destruction, Healing, Coarseness
|-
| [[Winter magic|Winter]] || Weakness, Endings, Hunger, Fear, Wisdom, Oaths and Wards, Cruelty, Punishment, Survival, Preservation, Death || Healing, Creation, Hope, Strength, Prosperity, Community
|-
| [[Day magic|Day]] || Divination, Revelation, Mastery, Perfection, Focus, Force || Deception, Intuition, Physicality, Passion
|-
| [[Night magic|Night]] || Obfuscation, Transformation, Intuition, Inspiration, Emotions || Destruction, Clarity, Strength, Predictability, Discipline, Commerce, Health, Manufacture
|}

Adversity realms = Spring, Night and Winter <br>
Triumph realms = Summer, Autumn, Day

===Eternals===
{|
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Spring
! Concerns
|-
|[[Yaw'nagrah]], the Green Mother || Fertility, diversity
|-
|[[Arhallogen]], the Spider King || Survival, adaptation, poison, arachnids
|-
|[[Llofir]], the Quiet One || Fungus, rot, decay, collapse
|-
|[[Irra Harah]], Guard of the Young || Youth, struggle, the weak
|-
|[[Ossegrahn]], the Cupbearer || Healing, life, fresh water
|-
|[[Siakha]], the Empress of Sharks || Storms, destruction, predation, the sea
|-
|}

{|
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Summer
! Concerns
|-
|[[Eleonaris]], Queen of the Fields of Glory || Majesty, nobility, battle, victory
|-
|[[Jaheris]], the Unicorn King || Power, adversity, empowerment
|-
|[[Hayaak]], the Peregrine Knight || Wrath, vengeance, ferocity
|-
|[[Cathan Canae]], Queen of Ice and Darkness || Might, winter, strength, durability
|-
|[[Barien]], the Iron Duke || Challenges, worth, tests
|-
|[[Meraud]], the Silver Magician || Magic, enchantment
|-
|[[Rhianos]], Regent of the Eternal Sea || The sea, seafarers, adventure
|-
|[[Adamant]], King of the Golden Deeps || Stone, beauty, treasure, construction
|}
{|
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Autumn
! Concerns
|-
|The [[Lictors]], the Chainbound || Binding, imprisonment, punishment, contracts
|-
|[[Estavus]], the Forgemistress || Crafting, building, artisans
|-
|[[Callidus]], Prince of the Argent Tontine || Greed
|-
|[[Prospero]], Lord of the Loom || Influence, favours, grudges
|-
|[[Ephisis]], the Hidden Prince || Trade, mutually beneficial exchanges
|-
|[[Basileia]], Prince of the Black Vaults || Intrigue, Espionage, Power
|-
|[[Mazen]] of the Many Faces (destroyed) || <s>Manipulation, Deception</s>
|}
{|
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Winter
! Concerns
|-
|[[Sorin]], the Tomb King || Privation, strength from weakness
|-
|[[Kaela]], the Lady of Oblivion || Entropy, despair, endings
|-
|[[Khobel Tavah]], the Two-Who-Are-One || Doom, fear, preservation
|-
|[[The Thrice-cursed Court]], the Bound || Curses, power at a price, spite
|-
|[[Wise Rangara]], the Ancient One || Wisdom, tradition,
|-
|[[Agramant]], the Hunter in the Wastes || Hunger, cannibalism, madness, dread
|}
{|
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Day
! Concerns
|-
|[[Leviathan]], the Deepest One || History, foundations, causation
|-
|[[Phaleron]], the Great Library || Knowledge, preservation
|-
|[[Sinokenon]], the Turning Mirror || Hierarchy, connections, religion
|-
|[[Kimus]] of the Thousand Eyes || Light, scrying, observation
|-
|[[Ylenwe]], the Dove || Harmony, mathematics, music
|-
|[[Roshanwe]], the Navigator || Discovery, wisdom, truth
|-
|[[Zakalwe]], the Strategist || Conflict, logistics, strategy
|-
|[[Cold Sun]] || Order, perfection
|}
{|
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 320px;" | Eternal of Night
! Concerns
|-
|The [[Azoth]], the Crucible
|Transformation, alchemy, enlightenment, change
|-
|[[Janon]], the Shadowed Fire
|Passion, freedom
|-
|[[Lashonar]], the Loquacious
|Stories, confusion, speech that moves, oratory
|-
|[[Sadogua]], Brother of Wizards
|Magicians, magic, power, manipulation
|-
|[[Sung]], the Rainbow Serpent
|Mysteries and enigmas
|-
|The [[Whisper Gallery]], the Shadow Courtiers
|Secrets, rumour, art
|}
As of Winter 387YE

===Imperial Territories===

{|<div style="width:400px; margin-bottom: 10px"> class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 35%;" | Territory
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Regions
! scope="col" style="width: 45%;" | Nation
|-
| [[Astolat]] || 5 || [[Dawn]]
|-
| [[Bastion]] || 5 || [[Highguard]]
|-
| [[Casinea]] || 5 || [[Highguard]]
|-
| [[Feroz]] || 5 || [[The Brass Coast]]
|-
| [[Hahnmark]] || 7 || [[Wintermark]]
|-
| [[Hercynia]] || 5 || [[Navarr]]
|-
| [[Holberg]] || 7 || [[The League]]
|-
| [[Kahraman]] || 5 || [[The Brass Coast]]
|-
| [[Kallavesa]] || 5 || [[Wintermark]]
|-
| [[Karov]] || 5 || [[Varushka]]
|-
| [[Karsk]] || 7 || [[Varushka]]
|-
| [[Madruga]] || 7 || [[The Brass Coast]]
|-
| [[Mareave]] || 7 || [[Imperial Orcs]]
|-
| [[Miaren]] || 5 || [[Navarr]]
|-
| [[Miekarova]] || 5 || [[Varushka]]
|-
| [[Mitwold]] || 5 || [[The Marches]]
|-
| [[Morrow]] || 5 || [[Urizen]]
|-
| [[Mournwold]] || 7 || [[The Marches]]
|-
| [[Necropolis]] || 6 || [[Highguard]]
|-
| [[Ossium]] || 7 || [[Varushka]]
|-
| [[Redoubt]] || 7 || [[Urizen]]
|-
| [[Reikos]] || 7 || [[Highguard]]
|-
| [[Sarangrave]] || 7 || [[Urizen]]
|-
| [[Sarvos]] || 5 || [[The League]]
|-
| [[Segura]] || 7 || [[The Brass Coast]]
|-
| [[Semmerholm]] || 7 || [[Dawn]]
|-
| [[Sermersuaq]] || 7 || [[Wintermark]]
|-
| [[Skarsind]] || 7 || [[Imperial Orcs]]
|-
| [[Spiral]] || 7 || [[The League]]
|-
| [[Tassato]] || 5 || [[The League]]
|-
| [[Temeschwar]] || 5 || [[The League]]
|-
| [[The Barrens]] || 11 || [[Dawn]]
|-
| [[Upwold]] || 5 || [[The Marches]]
|-
| [[Volodmartz]] || 5 || [[Varushka]]
|-
| [[Weirwater]] || 5 || [[Dawn]]
|-
| [[Zenith]] || 5 || [[Urizen]]
|}
</div></tr>
Fun fact: Necropolis is the only Imperial territory with an even number of regions
<br>As of Winter 387YE

===Region Qualities===
{|<div style="width:800px; margin-bottom: 10px"> class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 23%;" | Region
! scope="col" style="width: 17%;" | Territory
! scope="col" style="width: 60%;" | Quality
|-
| [[Astolat#The Chase|The Chase]] || [[Astolat]] ||
|-
| [[Astolat#Coombe|Coombe]] || [[Astolat]] || Forest
|-
| [[Astolat#Grovesyard|Grovesyard]] || [[Astolat]] ||
|-
| [[Astolat#Winterbourne|Winterbourne]] || [[Astolat]] ||
|-
| [[Astolat#Withy|Withy]] || [[Astolat]] ||
|-
| [[Bastion#The Elms|Bastion Rounds]] || [[Bastion]] || City
|-
| [[Bastion#The Elms|The Elms]] || [[Bastion]] || Forest
|-
| [[Bastion#Stoneside|Stoneside]] || [[Bastion]] ||
|-
| [[Bastion#Sybella Cross|Sybella Cross]] || [[Bastion]] ||
|-
| [[Bastion#Woodbury|Woodbury]] || [[Bastion]] ||
|-
| [[Bregasland#Gravenmarch|Gravenmarch]] || [[Bregasland]] ||
|-
| [[Bregasland#Grey Fens|Grey Fens]] || [[Bregasland]] || Marsh
|-
| [[Bregasland#North Fens|North Fens]] || [[Bregasland]] || Marsh, Coastal, Rebellious
|-
| [[Bregasland#Ottermire|Ottermire]] || [[Bregasland]] || Marsh
|-
| [[Bregasland#The Rushes|The Rushes]] || [[Bregasland]] || Marsh
|-
| [[Brocéliande#Elerael|Elerael]] || [[Brocéliande]] || Forest
|-
| [[Brocéliande#Black Boughs|Black Boughs]] || [[Brocéliande]] || Forest, Vallorn
|-
| [[Brocéliande#Boar's Dell|Boar's Dell]] || [[Brocéliande]] || Forest
|-
| [[Brocéliande#Dark Ranging|Dark Ranging]] || [[Brocéliande]] || Forest, Vallorn
|-
| [[Brocéliande#Greenweald|Greenweald]] || [[Brocéliande]] || Forest, Vallorn
|-
| [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] || [[Brocéliande]] || Forest, Vallorn, Vallornheart
|-
| [[Brocéliande#Vale's Lament|Vale's Lament]] || [[Brocéliande]] || Forest, Vallorn
|-
| [[Casinea#Casfall|Casfall]] || [[Casinea]] ||
|-
| [[Casinea#Greatwood|Greatwood]] || [[Casinea]] || Forest
|-
| [[Casinea#Mareholm|Mareholm]] || [[Casinea]] ||
|-
| [[Casinea#Syrwatch|Syrwatch]] || [[Casinea]] ||
|-
| [[Casinea#Woodwych|Woodwych]] || [[Casinea]] || Forest
|-
| [[Feroz#Afarjasse|Afarjasse]] || [[Feroz]] || Abandoned, Underpopulated
|-
| [[Feroz#Cazar Straits|Cazar Straits]] || [[Feroz]] || Abandoned, Coastal, Impoverished, Island, Underpopulated
|-
| [[Feroz#Fontargenta|Fontargenta]] || [[Feroz]] || Abandoned, Coastal, Impoverished
|-
| [[Feroz#Morajasse|Morajasse]] || [[Feroz]] || Abandoned, Impoverished, Underpopulated
|-
| [[Feroz#Oranseri|Oranseri]] || [[Feroz]] || Abandoned, Coastal, Impoverished
|-
| [[Hahnmark#Bruckland|Bruckland]] || [[Hahnmark]] ||
|-
| [[Hahnmark#Kalpamark|Kalpamark]] || [[Hahnmark]] || City, Hills
|-
| [[Hahnmark#Kronemark|Kronemark]] || [[Hahnmark]] || Sungate
|-
| [[Hahnmark#Northspires|Northspires]] || [[Hahnmark]] || Hills
|-
| [[Hahnmark#Southridge|Southridge]] || [[Hahnmark]] || Hills
|-
| [[Hahnmark#Valasmark|Valasmark]] || [[Hahnmark]] || Hills
|-
| [[Hahnmark#Wood Heath|Wood Heath]] || [[Hahnmark]] || Hills
|-
| [[Hercynia#Northpines|Northpines]] || [[Hercynia]] || Forest, Hills
|-
| [[Hercynia#The Glen of Shadows|The Glen of Shadows]] || [[Hercynia]] || Forest
|-
| [[Hercynia#Deer's Folly|Deer's Folly]] || [[Hercynia]] || Forest, Hills, Vallorn, Vallornheart
|-
| [[Hercynia#Old Ranging|Old Ranging]] || [[Hercynia]] || Forest
|-
| [[Hercynia#Summersend|Summersend]] || [[Hercynia]] || Forest, Great Forest Orcs
|-
| [[Holberg#Holfried|Holfried]] || [[Holberg]] || City
|-
| [[Holberg#Holmauer|Holmauer]] || [[Holberg]] || Parkland, Uplifting
|-
| [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]] || [[Holberg]] || Forest, Sand Fishers
|-
| [[Holberg#Utterlund|Utterlund]] || [[Holberg]] || Forest, Marsh
|-
| [[Holberg#Ennerlund|Ennerlund]] || [[Holberg]] || Marsh
|-
| [[Holberg#Rebeshof|Rebeshof]] || [[Holberg]] || Marsh
|-
| [[Holberg#The Morass|The Morass]] || [[Holberg]] || Marsh
|-
| [[Kahraman#Braydon's Jasse|Braydon's Jasse]] || [[Kahraman]] || Hills
|-
| [[Kahraman#Gambit|Gambit]] || [[Kahraman]] ||
|-
| [[Kahraman#Jade Range|Jade Range]] || [[Kahraman]] ||
|-
| [[Kahraman#Serra Briante|Serra Briante]] || [[Kahraman]] || Hills
|-
| [[Kahraman#Serra Damata|Serra Damata]] || [[Kahraman]] || Hills
|-
| [[Kallavesa#Kallavesa Marsh|Kallavesa Marsh]] || [[Kallavesa]] || Marsh, Haunted
|-
| [[Kallavesa#Rundhal Marsh|Rundhal Marsh]] || [[Kallavesa]] || Marsh
|-
| [[Kallavesa#Skymark|Skymark]] || [[Kallavesa]] ||
|-
| [[Kallavesa#West Marsh|West Marsh]] || [[Kallavesa]] || Marsh, Coastal
|-
| [[Kallavesa#Wittal Grove|Wittal Grove]] || [[Kallavesa]] || Forest
|-
| [[Karov#Duzekani|Duzekani]] || [[Karov]] || Sun Burned
|-
| [[Karov#Kamienczka|Kamienczka]] || [[Karov]] ||
|-
| [[Karov#Malimorzi|Malimorzi]] || [[Karov]] ||
|-
| [[Karov#Skoremujac|Skoremujac]] || [[Karov]] || Forest
|-
| [[Karov#Wieliczka|Wieliczka]] || [[Karov]] || Hills
|-
| [[Karsk#Branoc|Branoc]] || [[Karsk]] || Hills
|-
| [[Karsk#Crowslook|Crowslook]] || [[Karsk]] || Hills
|-
| [[Karsk#Kopevnost|Kopevnost]] || [[Karsk]] ||
|-
| [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]] || [[Karsk]] || Hills, Otkodov
|-
| [[Karsk#Lestasny|Lestasny]] || [[Karsk]] || Forest
|-
| [[Karsk#Moresvah|Moresvah]] || [[Karsk]] || Hills
|-
| [[Karsk#Nitrost|Nitrost]] || [[Karsk]] || Hills
|-
| [[Madruga#Calvos Sound|Calvos Sound]] || [[Madruga]] || Coastal
|-
| [[Madruga#Lightsea|Lightsea]] || [[Madruga]] || Coastal
|-
| [[Madruga#Torres|Torres]] || [[Madruga]] ||
|-
| [[Madruga#Free Landing|Free Landing]] || [[Madruga]] || Coastal, Island
|-
| [[Madruga#Quiet Grasses|Quiet Grasses]] || [[Madruga]] || Quiet
|-
| [[Madruga#Siroc Bayou|Siroc Bayou]] || [[Madruga]] || Marsh, Coastal, Ruins, Wild, Underpopulated, Enigmatic
|-
| [[Madruga#Crucible|Crucible]] || [[Madruga]] || Marsh, Wild, Underpopulated, Enigmatic
|-
| [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]] || [[Mareave]] || Hills
|-
| [[Mareave#Nadir|Nadir]] || [[Mareave]] || Hills
|-
| [[Mareave#Eoradal|Eoradal]] || [[Mareave]] || Hills, Ruins
|-
| [[Mareave#Sinfoyard|Sinfoyard]] || [[Mareave]] || Beoraidh
|-
| [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] || [[Mareave]] || City, Coastal, Beoraidh
|-
| [[Mareave#Clisearn|Clisearn]] || [[Mareave]] || Hills, Recalcitrant Inhabitants
|-
| [[Mareave#Fleisardh|Fleisardh]] || [[Mareave]] || Uncooperative, Under threat (Grendel)
|-
| [[Miaren#Goldglades|Goldglades]] || [[Miaren]] || Forest
|-
| [[Miaren#Holtford|Holtford]] || [[Miaren]] ||
|-
| [[Miaren#Oakways|Oakways]] || [[Miaren]] || Petrified
|-
| [[Miaren#Greenfalls|Greenfalls]] || [[Miaren]] ||
|-
| [[Miaren#Serenael|Serenael]] || [[Miaren]] || Great Forest Orcs
|-
| [[Miekarova#Dupadealuri|Dupadealuri]] || [[Miekarova]] ||
|-
| [[Miekarova#Miechernya|Miechernya]] || [[Miekarova]] || Hills, Otkodov
|-
| [[Miekarova#Mieriada|Mieriada]] || [[Miekarova]] || Forest, Otkodov
|-
| [[Miekarova#Perumaki|Perumaki]] || [[Miekarova]] || Hills
|-
| [[Miekarova#Srodkoja|Srodkoja]] || [[Miekarova]] || Forest
|-
| [[Mitwold#Golden Downs|Golden Downs]] || [[Mitwold]] ||
|-
| [[Mitwold#Maiden Downs|Maiden Downs]] || [[Mitwold]] ||
|-
| [[Mitwold#Meade March|Meade March]] || [[Mitwold]] || City, Coastal
|-
| [[Mitwold#The Meadows|The Meadows]] || [[Mitwold]] ||
|-
| [[Mitwold#Oddmire|Oddmire]] || [[Mitwold]] || Coastal, Under Threat (Jotun) when the Jotun control [[Bregasland#Ottermire|Ottermire]]
|-
| [[Morrow#Altis|Altis]] || [[Morrow]] || Hills
|-
| [[Morrow#Caeli|Caeli]] || [[Morrow]] || Hills
|-
| [[Morrow#Operus|Operus]] || [[Morrow]] || Hills
|-
| [[Morrow#Peregro|Peregro]] || [[Morrow]] ||
|-
| [[Morrow#Ravion|Ravion]] || [[Morrow]] ||
|-
| [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] || [[Mournwold]] || Forest
|-
| [[Mournwold#Chalkdowns|Chalkdowns]] || [[Mournwold]] ||
|-
| [[Mournwold#Freemoor|Freemoor]] || [[Mournwold]] ||
|-
| [[Mournwold#Green March|Green March]] || [[Mournwold]] ||
|-
| [[Mournwold#Greensward|Greensward]] || [[Mournwold]] || Memorial, Ruins
|-
| [[Mournwold#Ore Hills|Ore Hills]] || [[Mournwold]] || Hills
|-
| [[Mournwold#Southmoor|Southmoor]] || [[Mournwold]] || Hills
|-
| [[Necropolis#Coursmouth|Coursmouth]] || [[Necropolis]] || City, Haunted
|-
| [[Necropolis#Fishguard|Fishguard]] || [[Necropolis]] ||
|-
| [[Necropolis#Hedrossan|Hedrossan]] || [[Necropolis]] ||
|-
| [[Necropolis#Highrod|Highrod]] || [[Necropolis]] || Forest, Haunted
|-
| [[Necropolis#Longbeach|Longbeach]] || [[Necropolis]] || Coastal
|-
| [[Necropolis#Sanctuary Sand|Sanctuary Sand]] || [[Necropolis]] || Coastal
|-
| [[Ossium#Bittershore|Bittershore]] || [[Ossium]] ||
|-
| [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]] || [[Ossium]] || Forest, Otkodov
|-
| [[Ossium#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]] || [[Ossium]] || Forest, Marsh
|-
| [[Ossium#Echofell|Echofell]] || [[Ossium]] || Forest
|-
| [[Ossium#Galath Fields|Galath Fields]] || [[Ossium]] ||
|-
| [[Ossium#Nearweald|Nearweald]] || [[Ossium]] || Forest
|-
| [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]] || [[Ossium]] || Forest, Otkodov, Under threat (Druj)
|-
| [[Redoubt#Limus|Limus]] || [[Redoubt]] || Hills, City
|-
| [[Redoubt#Naris|Naris]] || [[Redoubt]] || Coastal
|-
| [[Redoubt#Optarion|Optarion]] || [[Redoubt]] ||
|-
| [[Redoubt#Siluri|Siluri]] || [[Redoubt]] || Hills
|-
| [[Redoubt#Tomari|Tomari]] || [[Redoubt]] || Hills
|-
| [[Redoubt#Ventosi|Ventosi]] || [[Redoubt]] ||
|-
| [[Redoubt#Willstone|Willstone]] || [[Redoubt]] ||
|-
| [[Reikos#Broken Ride|Broken Ride]] || [[Reikos]] || Forest
|-
| [[Reikos#Chalcis Mount|Chalcis Mount]] || [[Reikos]] || Hills
|-
| [[Reikos#Grey Charge|Grey Charge]] || [[Reikos]] || Forest
|-
| [[Reikos#Haros Water|Haros Water]] || [[Reikos]] ||
|-
| [[Reikos#Longshire|Longshire]] || [[Reikos]] || Forest
|-
| [[Reikos#Riverwatch|Riverwatch]] || [[Reikos]] ||
|-
| [[Reikos#Tamarbode|Tamarbode]] || [[Reikos]] || Forest
|-
| [[Sarangrave#Nesustak Forest|Nesustak Forest]] || [[Sarangrave]] || Forest, Under Threat (Empire)
|-
| [[Sarangrave#Thornfen|Thornfen]] || [[Sarangrave]] || Forest, Marsh, Fortification
|-
| [[Sarangrave#Turan Flats|Turan Flats]] || [[Sarangrave]] || Marsh, Under Threat (Empire)
|-
| [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]] || [[Sarangrave]] || Marsh
|-
| [[Sarangrave#Bendol|Bendol]] || [[Sarangrave]] || Marsh, Forest, Vallorn, Vallornheart
|-
| [[Sarangrave#Whisperwood|Whisperwood]] || [[Sarangrave]] || Forest
|-
| [[Sarangrave#Bloodwater Marsh|Bloodwater Marsh]] || [[Sarangrave]] || Marsh
|-
| [[Sarvos#Bocche|Bocche]] || [[Sarvos]] || Coastal
|-
| [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]] || [[Sarvos]] || City, Coastal
|-
| [[Sarvos#Foracci|Foracci]] || [[Sarvos]] ||
|-
| [[Sarvos#Riposi|Riposi]] || [[Sarvos]] || Coastal
|-
| [[Sarvos#Uccelini|Uccelini]] || [[Sarvos]] || Coastal
|-
| [[Segura#Anduzjasse|Anduzjasse]] || [[Segura]] ||
|-
| [[Segura#Anozeseri|Anozeseri]] || [[Segura]] ||
|-
| [[Segura#Burnish|Burnish]] || [[Segura]] ||
|-
| [[Segura#Iron Plains|Iron Plains]] || [[Segura]] ||
|-
| [[Segura#Lucksprings|Lucksprings]] || [[Segura]] ||
|-
| [[Segura#Sobral Grasses|Sobral Grasses]] || [[Segura]] ||
|-
| [[Segura#Yellow Chase|Yellow Chase]] || [[Segura]] ||
|-
| [[Semmerholm#Axmure|Axmure]] || [[Semmerholm]] || Forest
|-
| [[Semmerholm#Causse|Causse]] || [[Semmerholm]] ||
|-
| [[Semmerholm#Elvette|Elvette]] || [[Semmerholm]] || Forest
|-
| [[Semmerholm#Estmure|Estmure]] || [[Semmerholm]] || Hills
|-
| [[Semmerholm#Ferrond|Ferrond]] || [[Semmerholm]] ||
|-
| [[Semmerholm#Lacuve|Lacuve]] || [[Semmerholm]] ||
|-
| [[Semmerholm#Ulvenholm|Ulvenholm]] || [[Semmerholm]] ||
|-
| [[Sermersuaq#East Floes|East Floes]] || [[Sermersuaq]] ||
|-
| [[Sermersuaq#Sealtoq|Sealtoq]] || [[Sermersuaq]] ||
|-
| [[Sermersuaq#Silver Peaks|Silver Peaks]] || [[Sermersuaq]] || Hills, Otkodov
|-
| [[Sermersuaq#Stark|Stark]] || [[Sermersuaq]] ||
|-
| [[Sermersuaq#Suaq Fount|Suaq Fount]] || [[Sermersuaq]] ||
|-
| [[Sermersuaq#Suaq Wastes|Suaq Wastes]] || [[Sermersuaq]] ||
|-
| [[Sermersuaq#Tanikipari|Tanikipari]] || [[Sermersuaq]] ||
|-
| [[Skarsind#Crow’s Ridge|Crow’s Ridge]] || [[Skarsind]] || Hills, Otkodov
|-
| [[Skarsind#Estermark|Estermark]] || [[Skarsind]] || Forest, Hills
|-
| [[Skarsind#Gildermark|Gildermark]] || [[Skarsind]] || City, Ethengraw, Tamazi
|-
| [[Skarsind#Pakaanan's Pass|Pakaanan's Pass]] || [[Skarsind]] || Hills
|-
| [[Skarsind#Skogei Glens|Skogei Glens]] || [[Skarsind]] || Forest
|-
| [[Skarsind#Solvihill|Solvihill]] || [[Skarsind]] || Forest, Yerende
|-
| [[Skarsind#Southpine|Southpine]] || [[Skarsind]] || Illarawm
|-
| [[Spiral#Ankra|Ankra]] || [[Spiral]] || Hills
|-
| [[Spiral#Apstrus|Apstrus]] || [[Spiral]] ||
|-
| [[Spiral#Apulus|Apulus]] || [[Spiral]] || City, Coastal
|-
| [[Spiral#Ateri|Ateri]] || [[Spiral]] || Hills
|-
| [[Spiral#Cinion|Cinion]] || [[Spiral]] || Silver Flame
|-
| [[Spiral#Ossuary|Ossuary]] || [[Spiral]] ||
|-
| [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]] || [[Spiral]] || Accursèd
|-
| [[Tassato#Cascatas|Cascatas]] || [[Tassato]] ||
|-
| [[Tassato#Enterio|Enterio]] || [[Tassato]] ||
|-
| [[Tassato#Tassato Mestra|Tassato Mestra]] || [[Tassato]] || City
|-
| [[Tassato#Tassato Regario|Tassato Regario]] || [[Tassato]] || City
|-
| [[Tassato#Madeiras|Madeiras]] || [[Tassato]] || Forest
|-
| [[Temeschwar#Hanuri|Hanuri]] || [[Temeschwar]] || City, Fortification
|-
| [[Temeschwar#Locul|Locul]] || [[Temeschwar]] || Hills
|-
| [[Temeschwar#Metri|Metri]] || [[Temeschwar]] ||
|-
| [[Temeschwar#Vargat|Vargat]] || [[Temeschwar]] ||
|-
| [[Temeschwar#Vardstein Vale|Vardstein Vale]] || [[Temeschwar]] || Forest
|-
| [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] || [[The Barrens]] ||
|-
| [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]] || [[The Barrens]] ||
|-
| [[The Barrens#Heart of Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]] || [[The Barrens]] || Forest, Watchful, Great Forest Orcs
|-
| [[The Barrens#The Carmine Fields|The Carmine Fields]] || [[The Barrens]] ||
|-
| [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]] || [[The Barrens]] || Forest
|-
| [[The Barrens#Hope's Rest|Hope's Rest]] || [[The Barrens]] || Hills
|-
| [[The Barrens#The Untrod Groves|The Untrod Groves]] || [[The Barrens]] || Forest
|-
| [[The Barrens#Bitter Strand|Bitter Strand]] || [[The Barrens]] || Coastal, Rahvin
|-
| [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]] || [[The Barrens]] || Forest
|-
| [[The Barrens#Saltmarsh|Saltmarsh]] || [[The Barrens]] || Coastal
|-
| [[The Barrens#The Plains of Teeth|The Plains of Teeth]] || [[The Barrens]] ||
|-
| [[Therunin#East Ashes|East Ashes]] || [[Therunin]] || Marsh
|-
| [[Therunin#Eastring|Eastring]] || [[Therunin]] || Forest, Marsh, Haunted, Vallorn, Under Threat (Empire)
|-
| [[Therunin#Greenheart|Greenheart]] || [[Therunin]] || Forest, Vallorn, Vallornheart
|-
| [[Therunin#Lower Tarn Valley|Lower Tarn Valley]] || [[Therunin]] || Marsh, Great Forest Orcs, Poisoned, Under Threat (Empire)
|-
| [[Therunin#Peakedge Song|Peakedge Song]] || [[Therunin]] ||
|-
| [[Therunin#Sweetglades|Sweetglades]] || [[Therunin]] || Forest, Vallorn
|-
| [[Therunin#Upper Tarn Valley|Upper Tarn Valley]] || [[Therunin]] ||
|-
| [[Upwold#Ashbrook|Ashbrook]] || [[Upwold]] ||
|-
| [[Upwold#Birchland|Birchland]] || [[Upwold]] || Forest
|-
| [[Upwold#The Heath|The Heath]] || [[Upwold]] ||
|-
| [[Upwold#Stock March|Stock March]] || [[Upwold]] ||
|-
| [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]] || [[Upwold]] || Forest
|-
| [[Volodmartz#Brez|Brez]] || [[Volodmartz]] || Hills
|-
| [[Volodmartz#Livardz|Livardz]] || [[Volodmartz]] || Ruins
|-
| [[Volodmartz#Murupa|Murupa]] || [[Volodmartz]] || Forest
|-
| [[Volodmartz#Opascari|Opascari]] || [[Volodmartz]] || Hills
|-
| [[Volodmartz#Suvretz|Suvretz]] || [[Volodmartz]] || Forest
|-
| [[Weirwater#Garthmoor|Garthmoor]] || [[Weirwater]] ||
|-
| [[Weirwater#Hawksmoor|Hawksmoor]] || [[Weirwater]] ||
|-
| [[Weirwater#Sandling|Sandling]] || [[Weirwater]] ||
|-
| [[Weirwater#Weirmoor|Weirmoor]] || [[Weirwater]] || Forest
|-
| [[Weirwater#Wickmoor|Wickmoor]] || [[Weirwater]] ||
|-
| [[Zenith#Clypion|Clypion]] || [[Zenith]] || Hills
|-
| [[Zenith#Iteri|Iteri]] || [[Zenith]] ||
|-
| [[Zenith#Lustri|Lustri]] || [[Zenith]] || Forest
|-
| [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]] || [[Zenith]] || Hills
|-
| [[Zenith#Proceris|Proceris]] || [[Zenith]] || Marsh, Ruined, Nightwoven
|-
|}
</div></tr>
As of Winter 387YE

===Wayhouses===
{| class="wikitable sortable" float: left; margin: 10px;"
|-
!Name!!Location!!Voting location!!Season constructed
|-
|[[Keeper of the Last Battle|Last Battle]]||The Bleaks, [[the Barrens]]||Therunin||Construct Last Battle Wayhouse|[[Construct Last Battle Wayhouse|386YE Winter]]
|-
|[[Keeper of the Stand|Micah's Stand]]||Chalcis Mount, [[Reikos]]||Therunin||[[Construct Micah's Stand|387YE Spring]]
|-
|[[Strategos of Navarr#Awstin's Rest|Awstin's Rest]]||Nearweald, [[Ossium]]||Therunin||[[Construct Wayhouse in Ossium|387YE Summer]]
|-
|[[Keeper of the Ashen Tears|Ashen Tears]]||Skogei Glens, [[Skarsind]]||Hercynia||[[Construct Ashen Tears Wayhouse|387YE Autumn]]
|-
|[[Keeper of the Splintered House|Splintered House]]||Utterlund, [[Holberg]]||Therunin||[[Construct Wayhouse in Holberg|388YE Spring]]
|-
|}
As of Spring 388YE

<table class="wikitable sortable"><tr><th style="width: 15%;">Nation</th><th style="width: 15%;">Territory</th><th style="width: 10%;">Resource</th><th style="width: 15%;">Great Works</th><th style="width: 15%;">Total Level of Investment</th><th style="width: 20%;">Benefit</th></tr>
<tr><td rowspan='4'>[[Highguard]]</td><tr><td rowspan='3'>[[Reikos]]</td><td>Congregation</td><td>Grand Ossuary of Reikos<td>2</td><td>72 rings</td>
<tr><td>Herb Garden</td><td>Gardens of High Chalcis<td>3</td><td>3 drams of true vervain, 2 drams of cerulean mazzarine, 1 dram of bladeroot, 1 dose of realmsroot, and 1 dram of Imperial roseweald</td>
<tr><td>Mana Site</td><td>Seminary of the Swan<td>1</td><td>36 rings</td>
<tr><td rowspan='2'>[[Varushka]]</td><tr><td rowspan='1'>[[Ossium]]</td><td>Forest</td><td>Iron Roads<sup>[[#1|(1)]]</sup><br>Krustrozi's Lumbermill<td>3</td><td>6 additional measures</td>
<tr><td rowspan='1'>[[Imperial Orcs]]</td><td rowspan='1'>[[Skarsind]]</td><td>Herb Garden</td><td>Red Blade Memorial<td>2</td><td>6 drams of true vervain</td>
<tr><td rowspan='3'>[[The League]]</td><td rowspan='3'>[[Holberg]]</td><td>Business</td><td>Gates of Holmaeur Park<td>2</td><td>72 rings</td>
<tr><td>Farm</td><td>Bloody Great Sausage<sup>[[#2|(2)]]</sup><td>1</td><td>36 rings</td>
<tr><td>Mana Site</td><td>Lorenzo's Legacy of Courage <sup>[[#3|(3)]]</sup><td>1</td><td>1 mana crystal</td>
</table>

#{{anchor|1}} Forests in the territory also gain an additional 2 measures from the [[Ossium#Economics|naturally rich groves]]
#{{anchor|2}} Farms in the territory also gain an additional 2 random herbs from [[A_dream_that_can_last#Green_Shoots|trade with the Sand Fishers]]
#{{anchor|3}} These great works provide no additional mana crystals following a senate motion to [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#League_Crystal_Mana_to_Spiral|divert production to Spiral]]

===Fortifications===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Ritual !! Realm !! Magnitude !! Effect !! Target region
|-
| [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] || Night || 80 || +10 VP to claim || Marsh
|-
| [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] || Spring || 80 || 4,000 strength for victory + casualties || Forest
|-
| [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]] || Summer || 120 || 2,000 strength for victory + casualties, +10 VP to claim || Hills
|-
| [[The Basalt Citadel]] || Winter || 100 || 3,000 strength for victory + casualties, +10 VP to claim || Ruined
|}

Note: the below do not exclude all regions with forts already in them, check before trying them!

====Dripping Echoes of the Fen====
{|<div style="width:500px; margin-bottom: 10px"> class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Territory !! Region
|-
| Bregasland || Grey Fens
|-
| Bregasland || North Fens
|-
| Bregasland || Ottermire
|-
| Bregasland || The Rushes
|-
| Holberg || Ennerlund
|-
| Holberg || Rebeshof
|-
| Holberg || The Morass
|-
| Holberg || Utterlund
|-
| Kallavesa || Kallavesa Marsh
|-
| Kallavesa || Rundhal Marsh
|-
| Kallavesa || West Marsh
|-
| Madruga || Crucible
|-
| Madruga || Siroc Bayou
|-
| Ossium || Drownbark Forest
|-
| Sarangrave || Bendol
|-
| Sarangrave || Bloodwater Marsh
|-
| Sarangrave || Kroll
|-
| Sarangrave || Turan Flats
|-
| Therunin || East Ashes
|-
| Therunin || Eastring
|-
| Therunin || Lower Tarn Valley
|-
| Zenith || Proceris
|}

====Forge the Wooden Fastness====
{|<div style="width:500px; margin-bottom: 10px"> class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Territory !! Region
|-
| Astolat || Coombe
|-
| Bastion || The Elms
|-
| Brocéliande || Black Boughs
|-
| Brocéliande || Boar's Dell
|-
| Brocéliande || Dark Ranging
|-
| Brocéliande || Elerael
|-
| Brocéliande || Greenweald
|-
| Brocéliande || Terunael
|-
| Brocéliande || Vale's Lament
|-
| Casinea || Greatwood
|-
| Casinea || Woodwych
|-
| Hercynia || Deer's Folly
|-
| Hercynia || Northpines
|-
| Hercynia || Old Ranging
|-
| Hercynia || Summersend
|-
| Hercynia || The Glen of Shadows
|-
| Holberg || Misericorde
|-
| Holberg || Utterlund
|-
| Kallavesa || Wittal Grove
|-
| Karov || Skoremujac
|-
| Karsk || Lestasny
|-
| Miaren || Goldglades
|-
| Miekarova || Mieriada
|-
| Miekarova || Srodkoja
|-
| Mournwold|| Alderly
|-
| Necropolis || Highrod
|-
| Ossium || Bonewood
|-
| Ossium || Drownbark Forest
|-
| Ossium || Echofell
|-
| Ossium || Nearweald
|-
| Ossium || Webwood
|-
| Reikos|| Broken Ride
|-
| Reikos || Grey Charge
|-
| Reikos || Longshire
|-
| Reikos || Tamarbode
|-
| Sarangrave || Bendol
|-
| Sarangrave || Nesustak Forest
|-
| Sarangrave || Whisperwood
|-
| Semmerholm || Axmure
|-
| Semmerholm || Elvette
|-
| Skarsind || Estermark
|-
| Skarsind || Skogei Glens
|-
| Skarsind || Solvihill
|-
| Tassato || Madeiras
|-
| Temeschwar || Vardstein Vale
|-
| The Barrens || Farweald
|-
| The Barrens || Heart of Peytaht
|-
| The Barrens || The Bleaks
|-
| The Barrens || The Untrod Groves
|-
| Therunin || Eastring
|-
| Therunin || Greenheart
|-
| Therunin || Sweetglades
|-
| Upwold || Birchland
|-
| Upwold || Tower March
|-
| Volodmartz || Murupa
|-
| Volodmartz || Suvretz
|-
| Weirwater || Weirmoor
|-
| Zenith || Lustri
|}

====Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae====
{|<div style="width:500px; margin-bottom: 10px"> class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Territory !! Region
|-
| Hahnmark || Kalpamark
|-
| Hahnmark || Northspires
|-
| Hahnmark || Southridge
|-
| Hahnmark || Valasmark
|-
| Hahnmark || Wood Heath
|-
| Hercynia || Deer's Folly
|-
| Hercynia || Northpines
|-
| Kahraman || Braydon's Jasse
|-
| Kahraman || Serra Briante
|-
| Kahraman || Serra Damata
|-
| Karov || Wieliczka
|-
| Karsk || Branoc
|-
| Karsk || Crowslook
|-
| Karsk || Krevsaty
|-
| Karsk || Moresvah
|-
| Karsk || Nitrost
|-
| Mareave || Clisearn
|-
| Mareave || Eoradal
|-
| Mareave || Icarion
|-
| Mareave || Nadir
|-
| Miekarova || Miechernya
|-
| Miekarova || Perumaki
|-
| Morrow || Altis
|-
| Morrow || Caeli
|-
| Morrow || Operus
|-
| Mournwold || Ore Hills
|-
| Mournwold || Southmoor
|-
| Redoubt || Limus
|-
| Redoubt || Siluri
|-
| Redoubt || Tomari
|-
| Reikos || Chalcis Mount
|-
| Semmerholm || Estmure
|-
| Sermersuaq || Silver Peaks
|-
| Skarsind || Crow’s Ridge
|-
| Skarsind || Estermark
|-
| Skarsind || Pakaanan's Pass
|-
| Spiral || Ankra
|-
| Spiral || Ateri
|-
| Temeschwar || Locul
|-
| The Barrens || Hope's Rest
|-
| Volodmartz || Brez
|-
| Volodmartz || Opascari
|-
| Zenith || Clypion
|-
| Zenith || Occursion
|}

====The Basalt Citadel====
{|<div style="width:500px; margin-bottom: 10px"> class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Territory !! Region
|-
| Madruga || Siroc Bayou
|-
| Mareave || Eoradal
|-
| Mournwold || Greensward
|-
| Volodmartz || Livardz
|-
| Zenith || Proceris
|-
|}

Strategos

2026-06-29T16:01:23Z

Twiggy:

==Overview==
These Imperial titles were established by [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Create_titles_of_National_Strategos|a vote]] of the [[Senate]] during the Autumn Equinox 385YE. There are ten strategos in total - one for each of the Imperial nations.

==Responsibilities==
Each strategos is responsible for protecting the legal rights of the citizens within their nation who have been recognised by the Civil Service as being responsible for conjunctions through the Sentinel Gate; to work within their nations, and nominated citizens, and each other to maximise the odds of the Empire's success beyond the Sentinel Gate; to provide tactical, logistical, and personnel support to nominated citizens; to coordinate and provide material support in the form of [[herb|herbs]], [[Game_items#Mana_Crystals|mana crystals]], [[potion|potions]], equipment, or other specialist items; and to serve as a point of contact for the fighters of their nation intending to take the battlefield. Whilst the strategos has a responsibility to coordinate and support those venturing through the Sentinel Gate there is no expectation that they themselves would need to.

==Appointment==
The ten strategos are appointed according to a schedule over the course of a year. They are selected by unanimous decision of each nation's [[general|generals]]. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached, the title may be appointed by the [[Military Council]] instead.

The title can be held by any citizen of the respective nation. The strategos serves until the next scheduled election. They can be [[revocation|revoked]] by the [[Assembly#General_Assembly|General Assembly]], the appropriate [[Assembly#The_National_Assemblies|National Assembly]], and by the [[Assembly#Assembly_of_the_Nine|Assembly of the Nine]].

===Schedule===
The schedule for annual appointments is:
* Winter - [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], and [[Navarr]]
* Spring - [[The Brass Coast]], [[Imperial Orcs]], and [[Urizen]]
* Summer - [[The League]] and [[The Marches]]
* Autumn - [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]]

===Incumbent===
The current Strategos are summarised below - the full election history for each title is listed in the [[#Election History|election history]] section.
* [[The Brass Coast]] - {{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_the_Brass_Coast_occupant}}
* [[Dawn]] - {{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Dawn_occupant}}
* [[Highguard]] - {{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Highguard_occupant}}
* [[Imperial Orcs]] - {{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_the_Imperial_Orcs_occupant}}
* [[The League]] - {{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_the_League_occupant}}
* [[The Marches]] - {{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_the_Marches_occupant}}
* [[Strategos of Navarr|Navarr]] - {{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Navarr_occupant}}
* [[Urizen]] - {{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Urizen_occupant}}
* [[Varushka]] - {{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Varushka_occupant}}
* [[Strategos of Wintermark|Wintermark]] - {{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Wintermark_occupant}}

<gallery heights=300 mode="packed">
Erykson of House De Vere.jpg|'''Erykson of House De Vere
HighbornStrategos.jpg|'''Arlandria of the Sentinels Tower

Gabrieli di Tassato.jpg|'''Gabrieli di Tassato
Mouse Ddawnswraig.jpg|'''Mouse Ddawnswraig
Verdehil.jpg|'''Verdehil'''

</gallery>

===Election History===
<row-fluid>
<span6>
'''The Brass Coast'''
{{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_the_Brass_Coast}}
</span6>
<span6>
'''Dawn'''
{{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Dawn}}
</span6>
</row-fluid>

<row-fluid>
<span6>
'''Highguard'''
{{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Highguard}}
</span6>
<span6>
'''Imperial Orcs'''
{{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_the_Imperial_Orcs}}
</span6>
</row-fluid>

<row-fluid>
<span6>
'''The League'''
{{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_the_League}}
</span6>
<span6>
'''The Marches'''
{{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_the_Marches}}
</span6>
</row-fluid>

<row-fluid>
<span6>
'''Navarr'''
{{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Navarr}}
</span6>
<span6>
'''Urizen'''
{{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Urizen}}
</span6>
</row-fluid>

<row-fluid>
<span6>
'''Varushka'''
{{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Varushka}}
</span6>
<span6>
'''Wintermark'''
{{#lst:Archive:All_Election_Results|Strategos_of_Wintermark}}
</span6>
</row-fluid>

[[Category: Title]]
[[Category: Military Council]]

Walls of Holberg

2026-06-25T14:34:37Z

Twiggy: /* Further Reading */

[[Category:The League]]
==The Walls Today==
The Walls of Holberg are undoubtedly one of the wonders of the known world: more commanding than the Star-fort of the Commonwealth, more beautiful than the Palace of the Electrum Prince in Jarm; stronger than Tsark’s Wall of the Luge. Within extended walls, gantries, portcullises and more, the engineering genius of Holberg can be felt. A generation under siege led to efficiencies everywhere, from the routes the troops take to food and weapon storage. The fortification is utterly peerless and without rival, and is possessed of not one but two [[true liao]] consecrations.

Along the battlements, the guilds, cartas, and individuals who gave the most to the more recent additional constructions are engraved. Images of the Printers’ Guild, the Holberg Haudagen and the House of Seven Mirrors overlook the walkways and a full list of all those who contributed to the Walls is etched under each engraving. There is also at least one ‘official’ gift shop not far from each of the covered entrances to the Walls. Some visitors notice that each promotes a slightly different version of who was responsible for the projects.

===Trading Ventures at the Walls===
At the completion of the embankment in 387YE, six shops have been outfitted in a plaza near the main barbican, so that tourists who descend into the entrenchment to view the curtain walls may avail themselves of wares and services from Holberg’s most prestigious merchants:

'''Kleist’s Emporium at the Walls''' sells their signature Spiced Biscuits, other delicious comestibles and especially the famed ‘Anvil Mud’ - the delicious and vitalist-friendly chocolate hazelnut cream liqueur that funded much of the excavation and led to the saying “The Walls of Holberg are built on Mud”.

'''Happiston Bakes shoppe''' is run like well-oiled machinery by Merchant Prince Morgan Townsend von Holberg, where award-winning gourmet pies and exquisite savoury baked goods virtually fly off the shelves into the grasping hands of eager customers. Indeed, their famous scotch egg is said to be worth its weight in gold!

Within the labyrinthine workshop of '''The Worst Cees Scenario''' dramaturgists and curious citizens alike can find a wide selection of puppets that combine the best of Holberg’s engineering prowess with the most eccentric aspects of Leaguish Mountebanks. If you can imagine it, Cees (pronounced “case”) Van Holberg will make it.

Always lively, the relocated '''Great Debarcle''' coffee house has brought a scholarly air to the new plaza. Priests and academics alike flock to enjoy Adelaarsgilde’s herby meatless Siege Rolls and sweet gevulde speculaas, while engaging in dramatic and energetic debate. Patrons can also invest in Adelaarsbank’s latest ingenious schemes.

Situated alongside the storefronts, '''The Printers’ Guild Gallery of Wonders and History''' displays pieces from the Wunderkind and the Museum of Wonders, alongside which the gallery hosts rotating installations from like-minded luminaries such as the Holberg Historical Press and The Magpies Imperial Sodality.

'''Magda’s Hospital''' stands out from the purveyors of food and souvenirs, selling herbs, basic potions and other medical equipment while standing ready to help sufferers of anything - from minor injuries from bridge-fighting, to hangovers. Treatment is provided free of charge, although prosperous donations are always welcome, of course.
<div style="width: 300px; float: right;">[[File:TowerJacks Colour.png]]</div>
==Origin of the Walls==
The city of Holberg has had strong walls since the earliest days of its pre-Imperial existence. At that time, despite the surrounding lands being under the control of barbarian orcs, the ‘dozen high walls’ of Holfried held fast. During the reign of Empress Varkula, a Dawnish campaign finally cleared the surrounding lands of barbarian control and then laid siege in a bid to conquer the city itself - but the Walls were a sufficient defence to keep Dawn out for an extended period of time. Famously, Holberg joined the League shortly thereafter in 136YE, thus beginning its Imperial journey to further wealth, prosperity, a culture of ingenuity and ultimately to be acknowledged as the Greatest of the League’s five cities.

One of the key reasons that the Walls were so successful at withstanding the 30-year Druj siege, which began in 346YE, is that the League’s second army, the Towerjacks, disbanded as an army to commit completely to the defence of Holberg. Their engineering expertise significantly improved the Walls, extending some measure of protection to the outlying territory of Holmauer as well as the main city of Holfried. With the final liberation of Holberg in 376YE, the Empire was able to commission the Towerjacks as an army once again.

==Recent History==
===377YE - Repairs===
By the late stages of the Thirty-Year Siege, the walls of Holberg were in a sorry state. The Senate passed a motion to supply emergency aid to the citizens of the city, which included emergency repairs to be made to the walls. Despite the fact that the city was under siege, heroic action meant that the defences were restored to full strength.

The Walls held fast in one of the most decisive battles of the Empire’s campaign to liberate Holberg. Following the occupation of the outer walls of Holmauer, there followed a significant engagement in Holfried that saw thousands of Druj perish in a failed attempt to breach the Walls. In the following season, Winter 378YE, Holberg was liberated by the Empire, its walls never having been breached.

===382YE - Building Higher===
In Winter 381YE, the true liao consecration of the Silent Sentinel in Casinea inspired citizens of the Empire to contribute to the construction of new defences and fortifications. Between Winter 381YE and Summer 382YE, two hundred wains of white granite were used to double the Wall’s strength, making Holberg a rank 4 fortification. Much of the material for this first improvement to the Walls was provided personally by Empress Lisabetta von Holberg, whose great love for her city has become a matter of historical record. These improvements to Holberg’s defences are considered to have prevented the establishment of a a Druj beachhead in Utterlund in Autumn 383YE; and after a comprehensive defeat by the heroes of the Empire during a major conjunction at the following Anvil Summit, the Druj abandoned their campaign in Holberg shortly thereafter.
<div style="float: right; width: 200px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Wisdom.png|width=250px}}</div>
===384YE - Consecration to Wisdom===
In 384YE, the Holmauer Gate and the Holmauer Gallery above it became sacred sites following the consecration of the gallery to Wisdom, using two doses of true liao. In particular, the Gallery became a favoured meeting place for students of the university, scholars, doctors, philosophers and others. It is a stimulating place to be, with a thriving community of independent-minded thinkers debating new ideas and sharing new knowledge. Regular salons are held there by some of the city's scholastic and philosophical societies.

However, the placement of the consecrations meant that it is impossible to reduce the size of the Holberg walls below rank 4 without destroying the consecrated aura.

===385YE - Higher Still===
Following this realisation, students from the University of Holberg proposed a further expansion of the city’s defences to ensure that people would be free to visit the highly popular Holmauer Gallery even if the city came under further attack or suffered damage. The additional barbicans outside each city gate, with walled roads linking them back to the city itself, would further solidify the city's defences, and it would only become unsafe to visit the gallery if the outer defences had been penetrated. It would still be impossible to lower the city's defences without destroying the aura on the gallery, but it would mean that any damage to the city if it were attacked would be much less likely to affect the aura.

The plan required one hundred wains of white granite, but without any increase in upkeep. A commission was passed by the Imperial Senate in Summer 384YE and was completed in Winter 385YE, increasing the Walls to a rank 5 fortification.
<div style="width: 200px; float: right;">[[File:Actuallythebest001.png]]</div>
===387YE - Embankment===
In 385YE, work started on a charmingly simple plan which would further strengthen the walls by the excavation of a deep embankment in front of the walls - taking a great deal of labour, but costing the Imperial budget nothing extra in upkeep. Commissioned as the first use of [[Citizens' Voice]], this extraordinary endeavour - known at Anvil as ‘the Big Dig’ - cost 500 thrones and raised the Walls to rank 6.

Holberg’s Walls thereby became a Wonder - the highest, strongest and greatest fortification in the known world.

==Further Reading==
* [[Repair Holberg defences]] - Spring 377YE motion to restore the Walls to level three
* [[Sing_your_name|Sing your name]] - Winter 381YE wind of fortune with an opportunity to consecrate the Silent Sentinel with true liao
* [[Construct walls of Holberg]] - Winter 381YE motion to expand the Walls to level four
* [[Watches from the Wall]] - Spring 384YE wind of fortune detailing the effects of a true liao consecration on the Walls
* [[Improve Walls of Holberg]] - Summer 384YE motion to expand the Walls to level five
* [[The_greatest_city_in_the_world#High_Walls|The greatest city in the world]] - Winter 385YE wind of fortune with an opportunity to improve the Walls by removing the embankment
* [[Excavate Holberg Embankment]] - Winter 385YE motion to remove the embankment and increase the Walls to level six

Challenge the Iron Duke

2026-06-25T13:21:02Z

Twiggy: /* Roll of Champions */

==Rules==
{{Season|Summer|30}}
===Performing the Ritual===
{{Casting time|10}} {{Imperial Reduction}} {{Regio|Summer}} The target character must be present throughout.

A single coven can only cast the ritual ''once'' for any given challenge presented by [[Barien]]. If Barien presents more than one challenge, the coven must specify which contest their challenger will take part in. The coven must also specify which reward from the Dragonforge the challenger is competing for.

A character who has won a contest entered through Challenge the Iron Duke cannot be the target of this ritual again until a year has passed (that is if they win a contest during the Summer Solstice, they cannot be the target of the ritual again until the next Summer Solstice).

The ritual may only be performed on the Friday of the summit. It cannot be cast on Saturday or Sunday; it will fail, and no mana will be spent, though any consumables used will be lost.

===Effects===
This ritual allows a coven to put forward a champion to take part in a contest announced by the [[eternal]] [[Barien]]. The contests that Barien offers are detailed in the Winds of Fortune published before every event. A wind will contain details of what the challenge will involve; when and where it will take place; how winners will be determined; the prize or prizes Barien will provide; and any criteria for the selection of a champion (for example, a given contest might only be open to [[Magical skills#Magician|magicians]] or [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecaries]]).

If there is more than one contest available at a given summit, the coven must be clear about which one they are presenting a challenger to take part in. Each ritual can only present a challenger for one contest.

===Challengers and Attendants===
Depending on the nature of the challenge Barien has set, challengers may need to find additional attendants to bring with them to assist in their test. The number of attendants required will vary, but unless otherwise stated, attendants are full participants in the contest itself and follow the same rules as challengers.

In all cases, every individual challenger who has had the ritual cast upon them will be ''guaranteed'' entry to the contest. The number of attendants a challenger needs to bring with them will depend on the specific challenge, and how many challengers have the ritual cast upon them at the summit.

If there is high demand for a contest, some challengers may need to work together - in this case they will not be able to bring all the attendants they planned for. '''The necessary information, including a list of challengers for each contest and how many attendants they can bring, will be posted in the Civil Service Hub at time-in on Saturday morning of the summit.'''

===Additional Targets===
It is no longer possible to include additional targets in this ritual. A coven can only put forward a single challenger for each contest that Barien has announced. If more than one contest is available at a summit, then the [[Bands#Covens|coven]] must perform a separate ritual to name a challenger for each contest. If a contest requires a team of champions, then all can be included in the casting without changing the magnitude.

===Options===
Like many rituals, it is possible to substitute other valuable materials for crystal mana when performing this ritual. Unlike most, however, there are multiple opportunities to replace crystal mana in the performance of Challenge the Iron Duke. No matter how many alternatives a magician employs, they are still limited in their total contribution toward the cost of the ritual by their ranks in Summer lore. For example, a character with Summer lore 3 who has mastered the ritual could use a flask of [[Philtres_of_War#Skop's_Mead|Skop's Mead]] and two ingots of tempest jade to replace 3 crystal mana but they couldn't add any more to the casting, no matter how much [[vis]], crystal mana, or [[potion|potions]] they had.

* '''Raw Materials:''' Barien is a master [[crafting skills#artisan|artisan]] and always keen to acquire magical materials. A contributor who has mastered the ritual can substitute ingots or measures of magical material for crystal mana. Every 2 ingots or measures counts as 1 crystal mana when performing the ritual. The exception is [[orichalcum]]; Barien does not require ingots of orichalcum and so it cannot be used in the ritual (unless the coven is using a [[Burnished Orb]] or similar item).
* '''Skop's Mead:''' [[Philtres_of_War#Skop's_Mead|Skop's Mead]] is a [[potion]] created by [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecaries]] and has a particular resonance for this ritual. Any contributor who has mastered the ritual can consume a dose of Skop's Mead in place of 2 crystal mana, limited as normal by their ranks in Summer Lore. The potion also has its normal effects on the imbiber. Only the specific potion Skop's Mead can be used in this manner - other potions that restore hero points do not work.
* '''Champion's Draught:''' One dose of [[Philtres_of_War#Skop's_Mead|Skop's Mead]] can be consumed by the ''target'' of the ritual, provided they are not also a contributor. Provided it is consumed during the performance of the ritual, it substitutes for up to three crystal mana, following all the normal rules for vis (that is, the effect can be split among multiple casters). The potion also has its normal effects on the imbiber.
* '''Golden Apples:''' [[Vis]] from the [[Realm#Summer|Summer realm]] often takes the form of [[Vis#Golden Apple|golden apples]] and Barien seems particularly keen to see the ritual cast using them. A golden apple can normally be used in place of three crystal mana when performing a Summer ritual; when used to cast Challenge the Iron Duke, each golden apple counts as ''five'' mana. This applies ''only'' to golden apples; other forms of Summer vis will provide only the normal amount of crystal mana.

Barien is also known to present gifts of tokens to those who win his approval that can be used as vis for performing this ritual only.

===OOC Elements===
The ritualists should ensure that the referee who records their ritual has included details of which contest their challenger is entering (if there are more than one) and name the prize their challenger intends to claim.

The ritual can only be cast on the Friday of summits - it is not possible to cast the ritual on the Saturday or Sunday. This is for logistical reasons to allow setup of the contests, which will always run on Saturday.

===Assurance===
This ritual has a guaranteed [[Eternals_and_rituals#Communication_and_Gifts|response]] from an eternal, in this case [[Barien]], and it comes with an [[Eternals_and_rituals#Communication_and_Gifts|assurance]]. The assurance connected with the ritual was lost for several centuries but was rediscovered by members of the [[Unfettered Mind]] shortly before the Winter Solstice 386YE. The ritual loses all power and ceases to function if Dawn ever ceases to use [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|Tests of Mettle]], [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Ardour|Tests of Ardour]], or [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Resolve|Tests of Resolve]].

==Rewards and the Dragonforge==

If the challenger is triumphant according to the rules of the contest, they will be able to claim ''one'' of the prizes offered by Barien from his Dragonforge. The attendants who supported the challenge cannot claim a prize if their side wins; only the challengers who were targeted by the ritual. In some cases the Imperial challengers will compete as a team and will win and lose together, in some cases challengers will win and lose individually. Some contests may lay out additional special prizes on top of the regular offering from the Dragonforge. In addition, victorious champions will be offered a draught of the Elixir of the Long Road, a potion which can bring out or enhance the changeling lineage in a human.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Item !! Type !! Description
|-
| [[Blood-dimming Tide]] || Rod || A rod for those who has the grace to choose who lives and dies.
|-
| [[Blacksmith's Wage]] || Polearm || A Blacksmith's Wage forged of magical self-repairing metal.
|-
| [[Ivory Aketon]] || Light Armour || An Ivory Aketon for those who inspire others to keep going.
|-
| [[The Fields of Glory]] || Paraphernalia || A coven booster for a mage who seeks to drive likeminded mages to new heights.
|-
| [[Earthquake Drummers]] || Paired Weapons || A pair of weapons for a warrior who doesn't like to be crowded.
|-
| [[Hero's Hauberk]] || Heavy Armour || Armour for a warrior who knows the worth of their own story.
|-
| [[Greensteel Bracelets]] & Draught of Great Revelry || Jewellery & Potion || Jewellery & a potion for one who is beginning their hero's journey.
|-
| [[Volhov's Robe]] & [[Icewalker's Anvil]] || Mage Robe & Ritual Focus || A pair of ritual items for who shine brighter than the rest.
|-
| [[Stormguard Bulwark]] || Shield || You know that by combining brains and brawn, you can overcome any obstacle, no matter the difficulty.
|-
| [[Isenbrad's Legacy]]* || Tool || A tool for smiths who seek to outfit the Empire's finest.
|}
*This item will expire in 3 events time, not 4 as usual

Each reward is uniquely named. In the event multiple challengers choose the same reward, there will be multiple different named versions of the same item to choose from.

Challengers who are unsuccessful will be offered a consolation prize.
Once the contest is complete, Barien and his heralds will spread the names of any champions across the land, as well as the name of the coven that put them forward.

Barien has indicated that he will look with favour on those covens who regularly present champions to take part in his challenges. It doesn't matter whether a coven's champion wins or loses, all that matters is that they found a suitable champion and put them forward.

Once a given champion has won a contest, Barien will not accept them as challenger for another contest until a year has passed. Even if they find a way to be presented as champion, they will be disqualified before the contest begins. Anyone caught trying to fool the Iron Duke will face his ire - they will be treated not as a challenger reaching for the laurels but as a thief who is trying to steal the glory of others.
OOC Note: For weapons and armour rewards, players will need to provide their own appropriate phys-rep to be enchanted. For jewellery, foci and paraphernalia, a phys-rep will be provided, though players are free to use their own if they prefer. If multiple characters are trying to win the same item, Barien will create multiple versions with alternative names for the winners to choose from. They will be identical in all respects apart from the name.

==Roll of Champions==

Below is the list of victors in the challenges set by Barien since the Winter of 386YE. Names in italics are victor from a year or more ago, who are now eligible to enter a challenge again (provided they have not been victorious again the past year).

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable mw-collapsed"
|-
! Summit !! Victor !! Challenge !! Coven
|-
| Spring 388 || Bran Splintered Oak || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Oaken_Bricks|Challenge of the Oaken Bricks]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 388 || Azzam i Zaydan i Riqueza || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Oaken_Bricks|Challenge of the Oaken Bricks]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Spring 388 || Vegard Veryson || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Spring 388 || Liana Flouret || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || Drake's Fire
|-
| Spring 388 || Luz i Orzez i Guerra || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Spring 388 || Thane Springseeker || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 388 || Wisteria Dagonet || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Spring 388 || Lord Tobias de Gauvain || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || Phoenix Rising
|-
| Autumn 387 || Emryn Hunter || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Noble_Hunt|Challenge of the Noble Hunt]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Autumn 387 || Ilysses of the Lighthouse-That-Was || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Cabal of Nevezamzer
|-
| Autumn 387 || Matild || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || An Eternal Summer
|-
| Autumn 387 || Ugla Vardovich || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Autumn 387 || Tren Meals || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || Phoenix Rising
|-
| Autumn 387 || Thomas Oak || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Prosperous Pigs
|-
| Autumn 387 || Kiáine || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Autumn 387 || Logan Olivia de Havilland || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Autumn 387 || Godwyn V'alen || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Golden Grove
|-
| Autumn 387 || Aurélio i Valiente i Erigo || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Autumn 387 || Richard Docker || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || Coven of the Summer Star
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Ragnar Summers Tongue'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Koboldi_Squares|Challenge of the Koboldi Squares]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Tarquin'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Koboldi_Squares|Challenge of the Koboldi Squares]] || Unicorn's Glorious Charge
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Marianne'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Koboldi_Squares|Challenge of the Koboldi Squares]] || The Cabal of Nevezamzer
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Valedin Stoychko'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || Ashen Flame
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Elyan Fletcher'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Ellis'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Kylar Splintered Oak'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Vesper Lucentia'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Florent de Lys'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Golden Grove
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Mauro i Veliente i Erigo'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Eirikr Firekeeper'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Reynard'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || Phoenix Rising
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Engleburt'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Ruhadze Scrivener'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || Unicorn's Glorious Charge
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Blaise Yarrow'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Temperance Forger'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Toca I Valiente I Guerra'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Samantha "Tongs" Barossa De Tassato Regario'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Frayed_Pennant|Challenge of the Frayed Pennant]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Emlyn Tangled Path'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Frayed_Pennant|Challenge of the Frayed Pennant]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Revna Ursan'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Frayed_Pennant|Challenge of the Frayed Pennant]] || Ursolskin
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Azzam i Zaydan i Riqueza'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Eilinn Daggersbond'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || Iron Duke's Favour
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Emberlyn Brontide'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Allana Silvercloud'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Eternal Family
|}

<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=BarienArt.jpg|align=right|caption=[[Barien]] exemplifies meeting, setting and overcoming challenges.|width=300}}</div>

==Description==
Barien is [[Barien|the Iron Duke]], an eternal of the [[Realm#Summer|Summer realm]] who loves to challenge mortals. He creates contests, and offers contests, to encourage people to strive to achieve everything they are capable of. He is a master smith and has access to the Dragonforge, which allows him to create powerful magic items at great speed when he has need. The magical items that Barien crafts employ enchantments common in the Empire, but each one is individually named and contain a summer aura that affects the wielder, the same way a hallowed item might.

Each season, Barien's heralds announces one or more challenges, details of which are published in the Winds of Fortune. In most cases the heralds will explain who can enter the challenge and what form the contest will take, so that aspiring champions can decide if they wish to enter. To enter the challenge, the participant must be the target of this ritual - which must be cast on the Friday night. Barien's heralds take the details of everyone who is entering the contest, publish their names in the Hub the following day. The challenge then takes place shortly after.

In the past it has been common for a [[Dawn|Dawnish]] [[Earl#Enchanter|enchanter]] who has been approached to provide a [[Dawn culture and customs#The Test of Mettle|Test of Mettle]] or [[Dawn culture and customs#The Test of Ardour|Test of Ardour]] to make meeting and defeating the challenge of the Iron Duke the heart of the Test. There is a common belief that Barien favours houses that do this. The Iron Duke has never directly admitted this - but it does make sense. Barien has confirmed his favour for covens that put forward challengers for his ritual, so it would make sense that earls and enchanters who send knights-errant to challenge the Iron Duke might gain an ally in the Summer realm.

An [[Urizen]] [[Urizen magical traditions#Stargazer|stargazer]] by the name of Caellia of Clearwater made a close study of this ritual and several others like it. She argued convincingly that it is actually no different to [[Missive for Sadogua]] - it simply creates a conduit between the ritualists and the eternal, and allows for a transfer of information. It could theoretically be cast for a single crystal mana. However, the ritual has been intentionally designed to be much higher magnitude, and she theorised that this was partly to bind the eternal to an agreed-on pact, and partly to provide power that Barien could then use to create a challenge.

While the ritual is understandably popular in [[Dawn]], it also has obvious appeal to many [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], adventurous [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]], and legions of [[Imperial Orcs]] looking for an opportunity to 'prove' themselves. Some [[Highguard|Highborn]] who understand the ritual are torn between a general suspicion of the eternals and the Highborn love of competition; after all, this ritual is tailor-made to allow a clever mortal to pit their wits against an eternal and show what humans are truly made of.

Barien's challenges are designed to push mortals to their limits, but to stop short of killing them. His challenge often incorporate skirmishes and battles with other forces. The Iron Duke always insists that all participants behave honourably - by which he means that there should be no executions and those who yield must be spared. He will usually challenge the Jotun to step up and fight the Empire, but on occasion Imperial heroes have found themselves squaring off against Grendel or Thule opponents. The challenges ''never'' include the Druj who the Keeper of Revels is widely believed to despise.

Observing the rules is more than just an expectation. The enchantress Cassia du Morvay claimed that the challenge is akin to [[Varushka_hearth_magic#Oaths|an oath]], sworn by the challenger to abide by the terms of the contest. Those who cheat risk the terrible repercussions that befall those who break their oaths. The few that have succeeded have all met bloody fates, though admittedly more than one died at the hands of the Half-hand's vengeful heralds.

Cheating is outlawed, but cleverness is widely admired. The Master of Challenges welcomes those whose wits are as sharp as their blade, who think as quickly as they run, who converse as eloquently as they dance. Barien himself will never offer help or aid with a challenge, but on more than one occasion his heralds, and the heralds of other eternals of the Summer realm, have been known to lend assistance to a hero to help them attempt a challenge. Such aid is always within the bounds of the oath of the challenger, the measure of those who lend you their support is just another mark of a true hero.

==Common Elements==
Stories and songs of glorious or heroic deeds, [[Dawn hearth magic#Girding|girding]] the challenger with arms and armour, or anointing the target with oil, blood or wine are all common elements when performing this ritual. In some nations it is traditional to recite a challengers history in the matter of a troubadour announcing their earl's pedigree. In Varushka, one of the ritualists will often take on the role of Barien, announcing the terms of the challenge and inviting the challenger to swear an oath to compete to the best of their ability.

Banners and flags are often used, as are heraldic themes such as the sounding of horns. Some ritual groups will even go so far as to stage a mock battle in the regio, when preparing a challenger for a martial tourney. The Summer Stars, an Urizeni coven that used to favour challengers who sought tests of wit and wisdom, would prepare riddles for the challenger and deliver them to an unprepared challenger during the performance of the ritual.

Any or all of the [[Runes#Runes of Summer|Summer runes]] might be evoked, depending entirely on the nature of the targets. [[the Mountain]], [[the Stork]] and [[the Phoenix]] are often invoked during the ritual by astronomancers with the Mountain considered particularly auspicious. There is a common misconception that Barien reserves his most difficult challenges for conjunctions of the Mountain.

<ic>"The first time was for love - if you can believe that! Faced some Marcher lad with arms like tree-trunks, swinging a great mattock thing around like it didn't weigh anything. Funny you only think to be scared once you're actually in there with some big bastard looming over you, eh? He should've won it, too, but he got careless and slipped, and I wasn't about to let him have the chance to knock any more of my teeth out! In at him with my axe - bet that left a mark that still stings come Winter! After all that, the girl I was mooning over ended up running off with my best friend, ain't love grand?

The second time was a matter of pride. I'd taken a bad wound campaigning up around Skoura (no, you won't find it in the history books, "never happened" so they say), and I'd been laid up for weeks afterwards, and limping a bit beyond that. Anyway, word was out that I wasn't fit for duty no more, so I spent all my savings challenging old Barien again. I guess he remembered me from last time, because he sent out some... thing... Not rightly sure what it was, but it was damn tough. Luckily I'd got a good few years of free company work under my belt by this point, and though my sword snapped off in it, I got me this better one in return, aye, and all the work I could ask for as well.

The third time, that was just plain foolishness. "Top of my game", I thought, "I can handle anything old Iron Britches throws at me, no problem". Think of it, beating old Barien three times in a row! Course, this time the challenge was to steal a hat from every Imperial general. As you can plainly see, Magistrate, that one didn't go so well..."<br>
- Testimony of Ilsa Van Der Holberg, two time victor of the Iron Duke's challenge
</ic>

==Game Design==
Challenge the Iron Duke has been a popular ritual for many years but as the game has grown it has become increasingly difficult to support. The personalised approach used up a lot of resources from the plot department and proved stressful to administer, especially in the post-Covid years which saw both a huge expansion in player numbers and interest in the Challenge the Iron Duke ritual. Eventually it became apparent that it would not be possible to continue providing the previously promised experience without sacrificing other areas of plot, and so the ritual was turned off while alternatives were discussed.

There were also a wide array of logistical problems with the ritual. It didn't begin to work until the event after it was cast - by which time the challenger might be absent for some reason. It was often difficult to locate challengers to discuss what challenge they were looking for or what progress they had made. There were problems meeting player expectations about the rewards on offer. Players often mistakenly assumed that the more time and effort they invested in pursuing a challenge, the greater the reward might be, leading to inevitable disappointment.

The new ritual is designed to address all these problems. The plot team will create plot encounters for the ritual, and players who want to undertake the challenge must then find a ritual team and convince them to put them forward. While the encounters will no longer be bespoke for each character who casts the ritual, this will make it possible for people to have an idea what challenge they are getting themselves into. Because the rewards are known in advance, everyone knows what they might win and the drastically improved tempo of the ritual means that participants can undertake the challenge at the event where the ritual is cast giving a chance to have a memorable and special character moment for everyone involved.

As with any change this will be monitored to see if it is working better for everyone involved.
{{Challenge Links}}
[[Category:Summer Ritual]]
[[Category:Rituals]]

385YE Autumn Equinox Conclave sessions

2026-06-24T21:43:20Z

Twiggy:

[[Category: Conclave]] [[Category: Conclave Sessions]] [[Category: 385YE Autumn]]

==Precedence and the Font==
*'''The mana distributed to the grand masters following 385YE Summer was 161 mana.'''
*'''The mana remaining after distribution was 4 mana.'''
*'''The mana collected via the Principle of Proportions at 385YE Summer Conclave was 200 mana.'''
*'''The mana available in the font for Conclave at 385YE Autumn is 204 mana.'''
The members of each order in attendance at the end of the previous summit determine precedence for the following summit according to the [[Principle of Precedence]]. There was 161 mana in the font after the final Conclave session of the 385YE Summer Solstice. This was distributed to the grand masters of the Conclave according to the Principle of Proportions as per the table below.

This left 4 mana, which is added to the 200 mana collected via the Principle of Proportions at the previous event to form the font for the coming summit. The Conclave has access to a font of 204 mana at the 385YE Autumn Equinox.

<table class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable"><tr><th>Order</th><th>Precedence</th><th>Members</th><th>Mana</th><th>Ilium</th></tr>
<tr><td>Grandmaster of the Order of the Rod and Shield</td><td>1</td><td>94</td><td>31</td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Grandmaster of the Order of the Unfettered Mind</td><td>2</td><td>80</td><td>26</td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Grandmaster of the Order of the Sevenfold Path</td><td>3</td><td>75</td><td>24</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Grandmaster of the Order of the Shuttered Lantern</td><td>4</td><td>68</td><td>22</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Grandmaster of the Order of the Celestial Arch</td><td>5</td><td>56</td><td>18</td><td>1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Grandmaster of the Order of the Golden Pyramid</td><td>6</td><td>56</td><td>18</td><td>1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Grandmaster of the Order of the Silver Chalice</td><td>7</td><td>56</td><td>18</td><td>1</td></tr>
</table>
__TOC__
==Friday Session==
===Alignment : Cold Sun===
* '''Raised by:''' Skywise Gralka, as [[Archmage of Day]]
* '''Declaration:''' The Conclave declares enmity upon the Cold Sun. Citizens of the Empire and the sentient thinking peoples of the world are not a scar upon the face of creation, that virtuous spark within each of us, that part of us that grows and thinks and learns cannot be snuffed out. Ours is a destiny that transcends your flames, a legacy of inspirational and enlightenment. You chose oblivion. You chose war. You chose an endless battle. But if you are so keen to jump onto our blades the Empire will oblige. War it is.
* '''Outcome:''' Passed. The eternal [[Cold Sun]] has been moved to [[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]]

===Endorsement : Skywise Gralka and Lending of Regalia===
* '''Raised by:''' Tyburn Weaver, on behalf of the [[Shuttered Lantern]]
* '''Declaration:''' Conclave endorses the actions of Gralka in her capacity as archmage in the lending of her regalia for use in the casting of Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths on the Empire in Summer 385YE
* '''Outcome:''' Passed
* '''Notes:''' The Constitutional Court ruled that this has no legal effect; a declaration of endorsement can [[Endorsement#Necessary_Details|only be used]] for a pact with an eternal or the casting of a ritual, not the lending of paraphernalia

===Endowment : Arete's Promise===
* '''Raised by:''' Rafael Barossa d'Apulian, on behalf of the [[Sevenfold Path]]
* '''Declaration:''' The bracelet ''Arete's Promise'' into the regalia of the Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine
* '''Outcome:''' Passed.
* '''Notes:''' The bracelet has been added to the regalia of the [[Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine]]

===Alignment : Janon===
* '''Raised by:''' Elyssiathain, as [[Archmage of Night]]
* '''Declaration:''' That Janon be granted Amity
* '''Outcome:''' Passed. The eternal [[Janon]] has been moved to [[Alignment#Amity|Amity]]

===Dissemination : Regrow the Land's Heart===
* '''Raised by:''' Fausta Ankarien, on behalf of the [[Silver Chalice]]
* '''Declaration:''' Share to the Tchemetzi of Faraden the ritual text of Regrow the Land's Heart and in return the Tchemetzi will endow 2 vital honey to the Silver Chalice
* '''Outcome:''' Passed
* '''Notes:''' This follows on from an [[Two_minutes#Influence|offer]] made by the Tchemetzi in the '''[[Two minutes]]''' wind of fortune

===Candidacy : Master of Ice and Darkness===
* '''Raised by:''' Mercurio Ankarien, on behalf of the [[Unfettered Mind]]
* '''Declaration:''' Candidacy for the position of Master of Ice and Darkness
* '''Outcome:''' The incumbent, '''Ceinwen Eternal''', retained their position as [[Master of Ice and Darkness]]

===Concord : Call to Arms===
* '''Raised by:''' Sakari Nightscale, on behalf of the [[Rod and Shield]]
* '''Declaration:''' Magicians of the Empire, to Arms! Conclave calls upon the magicians of the Empire to support the fight against the Cold Sun. Enchant your banners, your military units, your nations. Conclave must recognise its responsibility of consequences. The heralds of the Cold Sun must be destroyed
* '''Outcome:''' Passed

===Dissemination: Delve Deep Beneath the Mountain===
* '''Raised by:''' Vasilmir Radovanovna Esskivic, on behalf of the [[Golden Pyramid]]
* '''Declaration:''' Delve Deep Beneath the Mountain to be shared with Orathator of the Hourglass (Thule)
* '''Outcome:''' Passed. 10 thrones provided by Vasilmir Radovanovna Esskivic
* '''Notes:''' Orathor of the Hourglass has made an [[Pride_and_prejudice#Masks_for_the_Sentinel|offer]] to the [[Warden of the Trees and Hills]] and the [[Gloaming Sentinel]] as part of the '''[[Pride and prejudice]]''' wind of fortune

===Alignment : Ossegrahn===
* '''Raised by:''' Ibiss Briarheart, as [[Archmage of Spring]]
* '''Declaration:''' Conclave appreciates Ossegrahn's aid and values in input in shaping a Spring college of magic. With thanks, we grant him amity
* '''Outcome:''' Passed. The eternal [[Ossegrahn]] has been moved to [[Alignment#Amity|Amity]]

===Interdiction : Savagery of Armies===
* '''Raised by:''' Ashborn Trosk, on behalf of the [[Celestial Arch]]
* '''Declaration:''' To interdict the magical practice of enchanting entire armies in such a way that their soldiers become prone to savagery
* '''Outcome:''' Passed.
* '''Notes:''' The ritual [[Fire on the Water]] is the only ritual in Imperial lore that is interdicted by this declaration. It also affects two rituals in Urizen lore: [[Swords in the Noonday Sun]] and [[Loosen the Shackles]]. It also covers any ritual texts or arcane projections that create similar effects. This follows on from an offer made by [[Zakalwe]] as part of the '''[[Hierarchs_of_sea_and_sky#The_Key_of_Commitment|Hierarchs of sea and sky]]''' wind of fortune

==Saturday Session==
===Concord : Sinokenon and the Omnihedron===
* '''Raised by:''' Aesa Sigeing, as [[Imperial Magus]]
* '''Declaration:''' Conclave requests the Turning Mirror considers the matter of how the damage and detrimental effects of the Empire wide rituals that have been cast towards the Omnihedron can be fixed, in particular the blood red roads, and speculate on the result of completing the Omnihedron.
* '''Outcome:''' Passed.
* '''Notes:''' [[Sinokenon|The Turning Mirror]] offered a unique appraisal to the Conclave as part of the '''[[Hierarchs_of_sea_and_sky#What_do_you_want_to_do.3F|Hiearchs of sea and sky]]''' wind of fortune.

===Sorcery : Anthemius Netherwatch===
* '''Raised by:''' Bryn Netherwatch, as [[Witness of Conclave]]
* '''Declaration:''' To declare Anthemius Netherwatch. This is for his role as the organiser the Urizen covens to cast Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths for which he takes responsibility
* '''Outcome:''' Passed. Anthemius Netherwatch has been added to the list of [[Sorcery#Active_Sorcerers|active sorcerers]]

===Concord : Zakalwe and Military Defences===
* '''Raised by:''' Sakari Nightscale, on behalf of the [[Rod and Shield]]
* '''Declaration:''' Conclave agrees to the offer from Zakalwe, Lord of Shallows, for the Rod and Shield to work with his heralds to assess potential improvements to the Empire's military defences
* '''Outcome:''' Passed.
* '''Notes:''' [[Zakalwe]] offered to send his heralds to assess the Empire's defences as per the '''[[Hierarchs_of_sea_and_sky#The_Key_of_Preparation|Hierarchs of sea and sky]]''' wind of fortune

===Endowment : Mithril from Faraden===
* '''Raised by:''' Kaapo "Autumn's Orator" Kingfishering, as [[Arbiter of the Rogue Declaration]]
* '''Declaration:''' Nine wains of mithril, to be put towards the Runegrott runeforge and provided to Kaapo "Autumn's Orator" Kingfishering
* '''Outcome:''' Passed.
* '''Notes:''' These nine wains of [[mithril]] come from the Arshlan family of Faraden as detailed in the '''[[Two_minutes#Just_Rewards|Two minutes]]''' wind of fortune.

===Interdiction : Empire Wide Enchantments===
* '''Raised by:''' Cassandra i Periera i Erigo, as [[Imperial Censor]]
* '''Declaration:''' A declaration of interdiction against the magical practice of weaving an enchantment across the entire Empire. We cannot risk such chaotic and unpredictable magic without adequate safeguards
* '''Outcome:''' Passed.
* '''Notes:''' This interdiction does not cover the casting of empire-wide curses. This interdiction covers the casting of empire-wide enchantments on any empire, such as the Druj or the Iron Confederacy, not just the Empire.

===Concord : Espionage Rings in Sarvos===
* '''Raised by:''' Tyburn Weaver, on behalf of the [[Shuttered Lantern]]
* '''Declaration:''' The Shuttered Lantern asks Conclave to allow them 60 mana from the font and sent them to tear the veil and break the espionage ring in Sarvos, with the intention that this mana be reimbursed back to the font
* '''Outcome:''' Passed.
* '''Notes:''' The order are able to deal with the espionage ring in Sarvos as detailed in the '''[[The_cities_and_the_city#Lanterns|The cities and the city]]''' wind of fortune

===Concord : Kimus and Tom Drake's Sword===
* '''Raised by:''' Raewynn Farkas, on behalf of the [[Silver Chalice]]
* '''Declaration:''' The Conclave requests Kimus uses their proffered Boon of Finding to locate Tom Drake's Vorpal Sword, an item of historical and cultural worth to the Marches and specifically the Drake's army
* '''Outcome:''' Passed
* '''Notes:''' [[Kimus]] offered to send its heralds to find a single item for the Conclave as per the '''[[Hierarchs_of_sea_and_sky#A_Boon_of_Finding|Hierarchs of sea and sky]]''' wind of fortune

===Concord : Phaleron and Jotun, Steinr, and the Vard===
* '''Raised by:''' Eliza, on behalf of the [[Unfettered Mind]]
* '''Declaration:''' Conclave asks Phaleron and their attendant, Lioc, to research the shared origination of the Vard, Steinr, and Jotun
* '''Outcome:''' Passed
* '''Notes:''' [[Phaleron]] offered to send its heralds to perform historical research for the Conclave as per the '''[[Hierarchs_of_sea_and_sky#The_Only_True_Treasure|Hierarchs of sea and sky]]''' wind of fortune

===Alignment : Tharim===
* '''Raised by:''' Ematius of the Great Library of Ankarien, as [[Archmage of Winter]]
* '''Declaration:''' The Conclave thanks the Bound King for his ongoing support and re-affirms our friendship with the King-in-Chains
* '''Outcome:''' Passed.

===Alignment : Meraud===
* '''Raised by:''' Brother Luke, as [[Archmage of Summer]]
* '''Declaration:''' That Meraud be granted Amity
* '''Outcome:''' Passed. The eternal [[Meraud]] has been moved to [[Alignment#Amity|Amity]]

===Endowment : the Vault to Imperial Warcaster===
* '''Raised by:''' Brynn Vision Enduring, as [[Bursar of the Conclave]]
* '''Declaration:''' Conclave accepts its failure in the matter of the Cold Sun. We endow all of the mana in the font to the Imperial Warcaster to help alleviate the consequences of our actions
* '''Outcome:''' Passed. 204 crystal mana was endowed to the [[Imperial Warcaster]]

===Concord : Support Vesna Borkovna Prochnost===
* '''Raised by:''' Vesna Borkovna Prochnost, on behalf of the [[Golden Pyramid]]
* '''Declaration:''' Conclave approves Vesna Borkovna Prochnost as a candidate for the Throne
* '''Outcome:''' Passed.
* '''Notes:''' By passing this declaration the Conclave expressed their [[Concord_and_accord#Support|support]] for Vesna Borkovna Prochnost for the Throne

===Concord : The Gift of Kaela===
* '''Raised by:''' Rafael Barossa d'Apulian, on behalf of the [[Sevenfold Path]]
* '''Declaration:''' We commit the Sevenfold Path 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, in line with my Summer 385YE statement of principle in the General Assembly of the Synod.
* '''Outcome:''' Passed.
* '''Notes:''' Imperial citizens are now able to accept the [[Kaela#The_Gift_of_Kaela|Gift of Kaela]] as per the '''[[Various_storms_and_saints#Kaela|Various storms and saints]]''' wind of fortune

===Endorsement : Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths===
* '''Raised by:''' Ashborn Trosk, on behalf of the [[Celestial Arch]]
* '''Declaration:''' Conclave endorses the casting of Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths during Summer 385YE
* '''Outcome:''' Failed

380YE Autumn Equinox Synod judgements

2026-06-24T21:43:11Z

Twiggy:

==The Imperial Titles of the Synod==
At the end of the Summer Solstice, 380YE, the Imperial Titles in the Synod were held by:
{|
| '''Virtue''' || '''Cardinal''' || '''Gatekeeper / Conscience''' || '''Virtue Inquisitor'''
|-
| [[Ambition]] || Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato of the League || Viviane de Coeurdefer of Dawn || Robin of Swindale from the Marches
|-
| [[Courage]] || Levitia of Urizen|| Jorma Steelhail of Wintermark|| Rodrigo Whittington of Dawn
|-
| [[Loyalty]] || Oberon Caeli Rezia di Tassato of the League || Tess of the Marches || Corwin Leafstalker of Navarr
|-
| [[Pride]] || Elka Nadyanova Gremani of Varushka|| Astrid Fjellrevening Rezia di Tassato of The League || Ephrael of Highguard
|-
| [[Prosperity]] || Ophelia Sanguineo Rezia Di Tassato of The League || Wilhemina Maryenkovich Poltova of Varushka || Vauraus Korppitkotka of Wintermark
|-
| [[Vigilance]] || Irada von Temeschwar of the League || Alys of Highguard || Martin Orchard of the Marches
|-
| [[Wisdom]] || Abaddon De Rondell of Dawn || Vacant || Sariel of Highguard
|-
| [[The Way]] || Atla of the Imperial Orcs || Maximillian of Urizen || Yarrick Ursan of Wintermark
|}
===Other Synod-Appointed Titles===
{|
| '''Title''' || '''Held By''' || '''Appointed By''' || '''Renews'''
|-
| [[High Exorcist]] || Solas of the Spire of the Waxing Sun, Urizen || Assembly of Nine || Winter Solstice
|-
| [[Auditor of Senatorial Accountability]] || Sargon of Felix's Watch, Highguard || Assembly of Nine || Until death, revocation or abdication
|-
| [[Imperial Inquisitor]] || Ephron of Adina’s Charge, Highguard || Assembly of Nine || Summer Solstice
|-
| [[Custodian of the Imperial War Memorial]] || Ira of Felix's Watch, Highguard || Assembly of Nine || Sinecure; until death, revocation or abdication
|-
| [[Chaplain Consular]] || Hywel Summercrow, Navarr || Cardinal of The Way || Spring Equinox
|-
| [[Seer of the Gateway]] || Livia Cascade of Urizen || Assembly of Nine || Until death, revocation or abdication
|-
| [[Voice of Barbs]] || Corey Brakensong of Navarr|| Navarr National Assembly || Winter Solstice
|-
| [[Curator of the Printers' Guild Museum]] || Taddea Ginori of the League || Cardinal of Prosperity || Sinecure; until death, revocation or abdication. When a new Cardinal of Prosperity is appointed they may choose to name a replacement.
|-
| [[Curator of the White City Museum]] || Apollos of Highguard || Highguard National Assembly || Sinecure; until death, revocation or abdication.
|-
| [[Watcher of Britta's Pool]] || Eldeen Wulfssdottir of Wintermark || Wintermark National Assembly || Sinecure; until death, revocation or abdication.
|-
|[[Dean of Laroc Cathedral]] ||Lady Eleanor de Rondell of Dawn || Dawn National Assembly || Sinecure; until death, revocation or abdication.
|}

==Appointments==
At the Summit, the following appointments were made by the Virtue Assemblies of the Synod:

===Appointment of the Cardinal of Loyalty===
{|
| '''Candidate''' || '''Votes Received''' || '''Outcome'''
|-
| Oberon Caeli Rezia di Tassato of the League || 159 votes || Appointed as Cardinal
|-
| Jared of the Suns of Couros, Highguard|| 54 votes ||
|-
| Cardinal Oberon appointed Tess of the Marches as Gatekeeper || - || -
|-
| Cardinal Oberon appointed Corwin Leafstalker of Navarr as Virtue Inquisitor || - || -
|-
|}

===Appointment of the Cardinal of Pride===
{|
| '''Candidate''' || '''Votes Received''' || '''Outcome'''
|-
| Elka Nadyanova Gremani of Varushka || 87 votes || Appointed as Cardinal
|-
| Jaylus of Highguard || 74 votes || -
|-
| Franco i Sol Deverador i Erigo of the Brass Coast || 10 votes || -
|-
| Cardinal Elka retained Astrid Fjellrevening Rezia di Tassato of The League as Gatekeeper || - || -
|-
| Cardinal Elka retained Ephreal of Highguard as Virtue Inquisitor || - || -
|-
|}

===Appointment of the [[Dean of Laroc Cathedral]] ===
{|
| '''Candidate''' || '''Votes Received''' || '''Outcome'''
|-
| Lady Eleanor de Rondell of Dawn || 109 || Appointed as the [[Dean of Laroc Cathedral ]]
|-
|}

==Synod Judgements==
At the Summit, the following judgements were made by the Assemblies of the Synod:

{|
| '''Number''' || '''Assembly''' || '''Judgement''' || '''Raised By''' || '''Outcome'''
|-
|1 || Loyalty|| Appointment of the Cardinal || The Civil Service || Oberon was appointed
|-
|2 || Pride || Appointment of the Cardinal || The Civil Service || Elka was appointed
|-
|3 || Dawn || Appointment of the [[Dean of Laroc Cathedral]]|| The Civil Service || Eleanor de Rondell was appointed
|-
|4 || General || Rewarding of 10 Thrones from the Virtue Fund towards the building of a Cathedral of Courage in Astolat. Withdrawn previously due to theft from the Virtue Fund and to support a rewarding towards the costs of the Empire wide coronation celebrations. This cathedral is much needed due to the malign aura, endangering Virtue. || Gawaine Orzel || Upheld 522 - 113
|-
| 8 ||Pride || Inquisition of House Vexile of Dawn concerning treasonous dealing with the Druj. To be held at the Highguard Chapel. 23:10 Friday. As a power of the Imperial Inquisitor this Judgement passes without a vote. || Ephron || Upheld automatically
|-
|9|| General || Change of Doctrine. Creation of a new Doctrine, the Doctrine of The Beyond which reads: Beyond the Labyrinth of Ages lies the Land Without Tears. Paragon souls that had freed themselves from the Labyrinth may ascend to this golden place that is without pain and suffering. The Land Without Tears is the ultimate transcendent destiny of all humans who turn their lives to Virtue and the pursuit of Paragonhood. || Yael || Not Upheld 673 - 729
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Pilgrimage]] winds of fortune event. The greater majority of 1059 votes was not achieved.
|-
|10|| General || Rewarding of 5 Thrones to the Seer of the Gateway for the purchase of liao and other paraphernalia. As a power of the Seer of the Gateway this Judgement passes without a vote. || Livia Cascade || Upheld automatically
|-
|11|| Prosperity || Inquisition. The Assembly of Prosperity calls Brother Luke of the Shattered Tower to Inquisition regarding the matter of the Summer college. The inquisition will be at 6pm on Saturday in Lumis Teahouse in Wintermark.|| Vukomir Maryankovich Zverokaz || Upheld 85 - 0
|-
|12|| Prosperity || Inquisition. The Assembly of Prosperity calls Nadia of the Gremani to Inquisition regarding the matter of the Summer college. The inquisition will be at 5pm on Saturday in Lumis Teahouse in Wintermark.|| Vauraus Korppitkotka|| Upheld 85 - 0
|-
|13|| Prosperity|| Inquisition. The Assembly of Prosperity calls a member of the Coven of the Eternal Family of Navarr regarding the matter of the matter of the Summer college. The inquisition will be at 6pm on Saturday in Lumis Teahouse in Wintermark.|| Esfir Zoryaova Zverokaz|| Upheld 85 - 0
|-
|15|| Loyalty || Inquisition. The assembly of Loyalty call Julius Cavita to inquisition regarding his conduct as Virtue Inquisitor at the Autumn Equinox 379YE. The inquisition will be held at the Hub or another agreed location, meeting at the Hub at 7pm Saturday. || Corwin Leafstalker|| Upheld 158 - 0
|-
|18|| Vigilance|| Inquisition. I call Martha, Bourse Civil Servant to Inquisition regarding the theft of 120 Thrones from an unlocked box containing money owed to citizens and the Virtue Fund for sales of items by the Bourse. To be held Saturday at 9pm at the Hub. || Irada Von Temeschwar || Upheld 85 - 52
|-
|19 || Marches|| Condemnation. The Marcher National Assembly calls for a condemnation of Friar Robin of Wittle for spreading the auras of the false virtue of Hate. He has committed blasphemy. || Andrew Gifford || Upheld 82 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Will to survive]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|24|| Pride|| Inquisition. The Pride Assembly call Zanterr i Ezmara i Erego to inquisition regarding his conduct as general of The Fire of the South, and subsequent actions on the field. The inquisition will be held in the Hub, at 2pm Sunday Autumn Equinox 380YE.|| Franco i Sol Deverador i Erigo || Upheld 99 - 0
|-
|31 || Wisdom|| Revocation. That Girthwynn Frythsdottir Tokling of Wintermark, current Gatekeeper of Wisdom has her post reappointed by the Cardinal of Wisdom due to absence from festivals.|| Galene Netherwatch || Upheld 72 - 0
|-
|36|| Loyalty || To call members of the congregation of Yael, known as the Congregation of the First Empress, to an inquisition at the Winter Solstice of 380YE in the matter of their beliefs regarding the status of Sister Yael of Highguard. || Odanava || Upheld 119 - 10
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Pilgrimage]] winds of fortune event. This judgement was raised after consultation with the Civil Service. The Civil Service confirms that the group and timing requirements of an Inquisition is not met for legal purposes, but those who consider themselves within the "Congregation of the First Empress" can answer this request.
|-
|37|| Marches|| Revocation of General Farstrider. This is due to the neglect of Marcher Upwold general selection traditions. This is not due to any unvirtuous actions by General Farstrider. || Robert Hawcombe || Not upheld 0 - 60
|-
|40|| Dawn || Inquisition of the Enchanter of Vexille on the matter of his Virtue. || Lady Eleanor de Rondell of Dawn || Upheld 114 - 0
|-
|49|| Marches|| Inquisition of Deidre of Marshcutt to determine if her will has been subsumed to the Tulpa of The Three Sisters.|| Martin Orchard|| Upheld 70 - 0
|-
|50|| General || Rewarding. To reward Langdon of the Applewood Levy with 15 Thrones from the Virtue fund for funding of the Imperial Breadbasket work.|| Blake Ackerman|| Upheld 530 - 77
|-
|56|| Courage || Inquisition. Jorma Steelhail, the Gatekeeper of Courage, summons Dogri Thulebane to answer questions on his Virtue and suitability for a True Liao vision. Inquisition to occur 8pm Friday Winter Solstice 380YE || Jorma Steelhail || Upheld 230 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Falcon in winter]] and [[A throne of blood]] winds of fortune events.
|-
|59|| League || Inquisition of Senator Holberg to be held on Friday 8pm of the Winter Solstice 380YE. || Severin Von Holberg || Upheld 174 - 0
|-
|60 || Nine|| Condemnation of those of the banner of Lisabetta's Flowers who have not renounced the false virtue of Hope for Blasphemy.|| Serrusto || Upheld 5 - 0
|-
|}

==Statements of Principle==
The Imperial Synod made the following Statements of Principle:

{|
| '''Number''' || '''Assembly''' || '''Statement of Principle''' || '''Priest''' || '''Outcome'''
|-
| 6 || General|| That it is virtuous and worthy for anyone trading overseas to encourage missionaries and priests of The Way and any Virtue to accompany them to spread the word and convert others to our Faith. || Dušan Otecovna Zlata|| Upheld 941 - 48
|-

|14|| Varushkan || That members of the Tangled Thorns Coven who were executed at this summit were, despite their sentence, good and virtuous Varushkans. Their loss will be sorely felt both by their nations and by the Empire. || Hubert Gremani || Upheld 52 - 20
|-
|16 || General || The Symposiarch seeks the support of the support of the Synod in declaring "anyone invited to speak during a Symposium session should not be considered to be preaching for the purposes of the religious laws of blasphemy, idolatry, heresy, etc. during the session."|| Edward Watcher|| Upheld 971 - 94
|-
| || || This judgement relates to [[Symposium]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|17|| General|| That moving troops out of Spiral in the hope that the Grendel will respect a treaty made with them demonstrates a lack of Vigilance and of Wisdom given their history in reneging on such agreements. || Wix Worldsend|| Upheld 235 - 215
|-
|20|| Marches|| We send Robin of Swindale to the town of Whittle and surroundings to eradicate auras of Hate and spread virtuous auras. He will go with liao to this end. || Bedwin of Hey|| Upheld 82 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Will to survive]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|21|| General|| We reaffirm that The Way is a living faith founded on experimental theology and open to change. Furthermore, that this changing faith is to be guided by The Synod so that it will change for the better, and not by rogue elements, who can only bring schism and blasphemy by altering doctrine. || Ula Ulanya Ulanaya || Upheld 537 - 251
|-
|23|| General|| Provide the support and facilitate Caleb of the Cenotaph to go into Reikos and remove the remaining miasma pillars that continue to affect small areas in Reikos! We encourage citizens to be vigilant and search and report the location of these pillars. || Sela of the Suns of Couros || Upheld 714 - 0
|-
|25|| Wisdom|| Regarding the Lakefolk of Atkonaroq. While it is important to act, it is folly to act without knowledge! To this end, we encourage the people of Sermersuaq to learn all they can of the nature and purpose of the Lakefolk and despatch Savik Summerstorm to lead this wise work.|| Amris Johan Merikovich|| Upheld 62 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Song of the lakefolk]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|26|| Wintermark|| Regarding the Lakefolk of Atkonaroq, while it is important to act, it is folly to act without knowledge. To this end, we encourage the people of Sermersuaq to learn all they can of the nature and purpose of the Lakefolk and despatch Savik Summerstorm to lead this wise work. || Savik Summerstorm|| Upheld 126 - 10
|-
|28|| Brass Coast|| We invite the Lasambrian Orcs to the Symposium at the Winter Solstice 380YE. || Immeldar i Ezmara i Erigo|| Upheld 46 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to [[Symposium]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|29|| Courage || The Assembly of Courage believes that Jorma Steelhail, in his role as Gatekeeper of Courage, has only acted virtuously for the good of Wintermark and The Empire.|| Kane the Frostwalker || Upheld 227 - 0
|-
|30|| Loyalty|| The Loyalty Assembly offers a duty of care to the excommunicants of the Printers' Guild. They will be offered aid in guiding them back to The Way by the following impartial parties. Silvio - Sabryya of Highguard. Valimire - Odanava of Varushka. Jonah - Tarquinius of Urizen. Through these partnerships may they be returned to Virtue.|| Josephine Joanna Andolini Dei Liberi|| Upheld 110 - 30
|-
|32|| Ambition || We applaud the Ambitious scale of the Celebrations for the coronation of the Empress and look forward to the impressive projects and deeds of Virtue that it may inspire. || Dietrich Elias der Holburghan || Upheld 108 - 0
|-
|33|| Prosperity || Following his Inquisition, the Assembly of Prosperity recognise that Achilies of Damakan's Forge has exhibited the signs of Benevolence and Inspiration. Benevolence through many acts, not least the act of personally purchasing the Lantern of Kimus and returning it, and hence protecting the lives of Imperial Citizens. Inspiration through the trades that he has funded, taught and inspired to improve the Prosperity of the Empire. We commend him and advise him to continue to demonstrate his Benevolence and Inspiration whilst looking to his Legacy and Pilgrimage.|| Edmundo|| Upheld 85 - 22
|-
|34|| Navarr|| Following discussion with Yael, the Navarr National Assembly believes that Navarri should seek guidance on the consequences of Yael's vision from Navarri Guides rather than undertake pilgrimage to hear Yael speak. || Corey Wayfarer|| Upheld 89 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Pilgrimage]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|35|| Navarr|| The Navarr National Assembly supports the creation of the Thornguard Steading who will guard the tombs of Navarri Thrones with Vigilance and Pride.|| Morgan Brokenbone|| Upheld 64 - 0
|-
|38|| Dawn || Certain Dawnish citizens shamed Dawn in a public and deeply unvirtuous manner. All of Dawn are exhorted to act with Virtue and Glory and repair our reputation in the eyes of Empire and Empress|| Elayne Novarion || Upheld 134 - 0
|-
|39|| Prosperity || Denying those who endeavour the just reward of their labours goes against the fundamental principles of Prosperity. Accusing those who labour towards a goal of carrying out their actions in order to "buy power" is highly unvirtuous and it is an attempt to deny the Prosperous their just reward. || Ophelia Sanguineo Rezia Di Tassato|| Upheld 117 - 0
|-
|41|| Wintermark|| We the Wintermark Assembly demand the return of all Imperial citizens currently held as slaves by the Thule.|| Ylmiska Ferbow|| Upheld 176 - 0
|-
|42|| Wintermark|| We the Stormcrows of Wintermark demand reparations from the Thule for the murdered Wintermarkers found in the green iron mines in Crow's Ridge.|| Veikko || Upheld 152 - 0
|-
|44|| Courage || We call the pilgrims in Reikos to face the hardships of the land with Courage whilst they await the construction of a sanctuary for the Congregation of the First Empress, which cannot be built this season due to the Empire exceeding its capacity of building projects. We have the resources awaiting the chance to begin the project.|| Isaac di Sarvos|| Upheld 204 - 0
|-
|45 || Wintermark || The Stormcrows of Wintermark wish to clarify that Horsa, previously general of Wintermark was not revoked for cowardice on the battlefield, is not considered a coward, and was not revoked for his absence at the festival. His revocation was purely for dereliction of duty regarding his duties in the military council. || Gunnbrand Ironwill || Upheld 82 - 0
|-
|46|| Wintermark|| That pilgrims talk to the crows of Wintermark before travelling to listen to the preachings of Yael. || Eldeen Wulfssdottir || Upheld 134 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Pilgrimage]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|47|| Dawn || The National Assembly of Dawn condemns the message of Peace distributed by the Heralds of Lashonar, and encourages the citizens of Dawn to disregard this message and remember the true Virtues when in the presence of these Heralds. If sufficient liao is raised then Tamain of House Sepulchre will spread this message among the citizens of Dawn. || Tamain || Upheld 70 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Peace song]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|48|| Navarr|| We, the Navarri National Assembly, laud the Virtue of Merel of the Navarr, and consider him to be well on the Path of an Exemplar of Wisdom. We fully support his striving for greater virtue and more signs of the Exemplar.|| Raewyn Eternal || Upheld 64 - 0
|-
|52|| Prosperity||The Prosperity Assembly recognises the contributions of Imperial Citizens to the funding of the extraordinary coronation celebrations which inspired citizens across the Empire to help stem the tide of Imperial Blood. || Taddea Ginori || Upheld 97 - 0
|-
|53|| Pride || The Hierro clan orcs should be invited to the Symposium to discuss matters of Virtue.|| Jaylus || Upheld 62 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to [[Symposium]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|54|| General || The lack of a lock on the box holding around 120 Thrones from the Bourse public auction in care for private citizens and the Virtue Fund which was stolen showed a lack of Vigilance by the Civil Servants responsible. The subsequent strongbox and padlock now used by the Civil Service shows Vigilance and Wisdom.|| Erasmo di Tassato|| Upheld 300 - 70
|-
|57|| League || We invite the Sarcophan Delves to the Symposium at the Winter Solstice 380YE || Niccolo dos Tassatos || Upheld 174 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to [[Symposium]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|58|| League|| We invite Asavea to attend the Symposium at the Winter Solstice 380YE.|| Julius Cavita|| Upheld 174 - 0
|-
| || || This judgement relates to [[Symposium]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|61|| Brass Coast|| We are the Heroes of the Empire and We're Here to Save The Day! || Lucifaro Figlio del Mattino|| Upheld 56 - 0
|-
|}

The Imperial Synod did '''not''' make the following Statements of Principle:

{|
| '''Number''' || '''Assembly''' || '''Statement of Principle''' || '''Priest''' || '''Outcome'''
|-
|5|| General|| I, Ephreal of Zephaniah's Lament, beseech all proud and courageous citizens of the Empire to resist the corruptive influence of the Heralds of Lashonar that currently infest the Dawnish Nation and try to undermine the Barrens campaign. Their very presence is an affront to the great deeds of those who have bled to expand our borders and bring The Way to all human souls. We must drive these malign, inhuman forces out and destroy them before their presence drives souls from the paths of virtue. I will see to this matter personally, ensuring that every noble house in the area is suitably inspired to act in the name of national pride and exterminate them all. || Ephreal|| Not Upheld 498 - 339 Greater Majority not achieved.
|-
| || || Imperatrix Lisabetta invoked the Throne's Power of [[Throne#Custodian_of_Virtue|Custodian of Virtue]], making this judgement require a Greater Majority to pass. This judgement relates to the [[Peace song]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|7|| Dawn || A peace with the Druj in the Barrens would benefit the Empire unless the cost of the peace were too high.|| Morienne Thorne || Not upheld 80 - 89
|-
|22|| Dawn|| The Troubadours of Dawn would encourage the people of our nation who have an interest in the Revelation of the Land Without Tears to go on pilgrimage to learn more of this new theology. If required I will take the liao to spread this message. || Marcus Drommond || Not Upheld 40 - 52
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Pilgrimage]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|27|| Ambition|| The Ambition Assembly declares that it is not Ambitious to create or encourage cults of personality; as opposed to using one's status to spread Virtuous messages.|| Lucan Sepulchre|| Withdrawn by raising priest at 82 - 26
|-
|43|| General|| True Liao visions are important and deserve respect. To respect the vision, no recipient should undergo a True Liao Vision while under the influence of any potion etc || Aniera || Not upheld 179 - 513
|-
|51|| General || We refute that the first Empress is among us and that we must listen and learn from her. Should the heroes of Anvil see fit to raise 500 liao, Duke Ferrero will travel to Reikos to counter the teachings of Yael, to show Loyalty to The Way, and follow his examples and teaching as a person who has changed the world in this life, such as by his pan-nation sodality challenging slavery, as well as the past in his former life as the Alder Jenny, who led the first Marcher territory to success in Stockland.|| Mazo i Zabala i Erigo || Withdrawn by raising priest at 81 - 220
|-
| || || This judgement relates to the [[Pilgrimage]] winds of fortune event.
|-
|55|| General|| The Empire and its citizens should demonstrate the Virtues by only making contracts that have been considered fully and made with the intent to keep them. Breaking such agreements is unvirtuous, jeopardise future Imperial negotiations and also endangers our ability to spread The Way in action.|| Ferrero Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato || Not upheld 275 - 276
|-
|}

==Synod Funds==
The following represents the Virtue Fund of the Synod:

{|
| ''Starting Value'' || 0 Throne / 0 Crowns / 0 Rings ||
|-
| ''Income'' || 32 Thrones || The price paid in the Bourse Auction for the dose of True Liao
|-
| ''Rewards'' || 10 Thrones || Rewarding made to Gawaine Orzel.
|-
| || 5 Thrones || Rewarding made to Livia Cascade, Seer of the Gateway.
|-
| || 15 Thrones || Rewarding made to Blake Ackerman.
|-
| ''Closing Value'' || 2 Thrones / 0 Crowns / 0 Rings ||
|}

==Visionaries==
The following individuals received visions of their past lives:
*Syn Nighthaven, Navarr
*Asenath of Felix's Watch, Highguard
*Juha the Cave Spider, Varushka
*Roman of Reumah's Redoubt, Highguard

==Voting Record==
For this summit the Civil Service attempted to track which priests in the Synod cast at least one vote on a judgement. This is to intended to aid analysis on what proportion of members of the Synod do not vote on judgements. The Civil Service cannot guarantee the precise accuracy of these records, or that similar information will be available for any future summits.
<br/>

At the start of the summit the voting total of the General Assembly was calculated to be 1962 with 156 priests.

The final voting total of the General Assembly was calculated to be 2118 with 176 priests

<br/>
At the end of the Autumn Equinox 380YE the voting strength of the Virtue and national assemblies were estimated to be:

{|
| '''Virtue Assembly''' || '''Voting Strength''' || '''Voted''' || '''Could Vote''' || '''Percentage'''
|-
|Ambition || 164 || 13 || 15 || 87%
|-
|Courage || 415 || 20 || 25 || 80%
|-
|Loyalty || 397 || 28 || 35 || 80%
|-
|Pride || 201 || 16 || 19 || 84%
|-
|Prosperity ||195 || 13 || 17 || 76%
|-
| Vigilance || 278 || 15 || 20 || 75%
|-
| Wisdom || 222 || 17 || 22 || 77%
|-
| The Way || 246 || 16 || 23 || 70%
|-
| General || 2118 || 138 || 176 || 78%
|-
|}

<br/>

{|
| '''National Assembly''' || '''Voting Strength''' || '''Voted''' || '''Could Vote''' || '''Percentage'''
|-
|Brass Coast || 84 || 6 || 8 || 75%
|-
| Dawn || 283 || 21 || 26 || 81%
|-
|Highguard || 616 || 28 || 36 || 78%
|-
| Imperial Orcs || 38 || 2 || 3 || 67%
|-
|Navarr || 135 || 11 || 15 || 73%
|-
|The League || 236 || 15 || 20 || 75%
|-
| The Marches || 112 || 11 || 11 || 100%
|-
|Urizen || 142 || 12 || 14 || 86%
|-
| Varushka || 196 || 15 || 21 || 71%
|-
| Wintermark || 276 || 17 || 22 || 77%
|-
| General || 2118 || 138 || 176 || 78%
|-
|}

[[Category: Synod]]
[[Category:Synod Results]]
[[Category: Synod Judgements]]
[[Category: 380YE Autumn]]

Challenge the Iron Duke

2026-06-24T21:42:48Z

Twiggy: /* Rewards and the Dragonforge */

==Rules==
{{Season|Summer|30}}
===Performing the Ritual===
{{Casting time|10}} {{Imperial Reduction}} {{Regio|Summer}} The target character must be present throughout.

A single coven can only cast the ritual ''once'' for any given challenge presented by [[Barien]]. If Barien presents more than one challenge, the coven must specify which contest their challenger will take part in. The coven must also specify which reward from the Dragonforge the challenger is competing for.

A character who has won a contest entered through Challenge the Iron Duke cannot be the target of this ritual again until a year has passed (that is if they win a contest during the Summer Solstice, they cannot be the target of the ritual again until the next Summer Solstice).

The ritual may only be performed on the Friday of the summit. It cannot be cast on Saturday or Sunday; it will fail, and no mana will be spent, though any consumables used will be lost.

===Effects===
This ritual allows a coven to put forward a champion to take part in a contest announced by the [[eternal]] [[Barien]]. The contests that Barien offers are detailed in the Winds of Fortune published before every event. A wind will contain details of what the challenge will involve; when and where it will take place; how winners will be determined; the prize or prizes Barien will provide; and any criteria for the selection of a champion (for example, a given contest might only be open to [[Magical skills#Magician|magicians]] or [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecaries]]).

If there is more than one contest available at a given summit, the coven must be clear about which one they are presenting a challenger to take part in. Each ritual can only present a challenger for one contest.

===Challengers and Attendants===
Depending on the nature of the challenge Barien has set, challengers may need to find additional attendants to bring with them to assist in their test. The number of attendants required will vary, but unless otherwise stated, attendants are full participants in the contest itself and follow the same rules as challengers.

In all cases, every individual challenger who has had the ritual cast upon them will be ''guaranteed'' entry to the contest. The number of attendants a challenger needs to bring with them will depend on the specific challenge, and how many challengers have the ritual cast upon them at the summit.

If there is high demand for a contest, some challengers may need to work together - in this case they will not be able to bring all the attendants they planned for. '''The necessary information, including a list of challengers for each contest and how many attendants they can bring, will be posted in the Civil Service Hub at time-in on Saturday morning of the summit.'''

===Additional Targets===
It is no longer possible to include additional targets in this ritual. A coven can only put forward a single challenger for each contest that Barien has announced. If more than one contest is available at a summit, then the [[Bands#Covens|coven]] must perform a separate ritual to name a challenger for each contest. If a contest requires a team of champions, then all can be included in the casting without changing the magnitude.

===Options===
Like many rituals, it is possible to substitute other valuable materials for crystal mana when performing this ritual. Unlike most, however, there are multiple opportunities to replace crystal mana in the performance of Challenge the Iron Duke. No matter how many alternatives a magician employs, they are still limited in their total contribution toward the cost of the ritual by their ranks in Summer lore. For example, a character with Summer lore 3 who has mastered the ritual could use a flask of [[Philtres_of_War#Skop's_Mead|Skop's Mead]] and two ingots of tempest jade to replace 3 crystal mana but they couldn't add any more to the casting, no matter how much [[vis]], crystal mana, or [[potion|potions]] they had.

* '''Raw Materials:''' Barien is a master [[crafting skills#artisan|artisan]] and always keen to acquire magical materials. A contributor who has mastered the ritual can substitute ingots or measures of magical material for crystal mana. Every 2 ingots or measures counts as 1 crystal mana when performing the ritual. The exception is [[orichalcum]]; Barien does not require ingots of orichalcum and so it cannot be used in the ritual (unless the coven is using a [[Burnished Orb]] or similar item).
* '''Skop's Mead:''' [[Philtres_of_War#Skop's_Mead|Skop's Mead]] is a [[potion]] created by [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecaries]] and has a particular resonance for this ritual. Any contributor who has mastered the ritual can consume a dose of Skop's Mead in place of 2 crystal mana, limited as normal by their ranks in Summer Lore. The potion also has its normal effects on the imbiber. Only the specific potion Skop's Mead can be used in this manner - other potions that restore hero points do not work.
* '''Champion's Draught:''' One dose of [[Philtres_of_War#Skop's_Mead|Skop's Mead]] can be consumed by the ''target'' of the ritual, provided they are not also a contributor. Provided it is consumed during the performance of the ritual, it substitutes for up to three crystal mana, following all the normal rules for vis (that is, the effect can be split among multiple casters). The potion also has its normal effects on the imbiber.
* '''Golden Apples:''' [[Vis]] from the [[Realm#Summer|Summer realm]] often takes the form of [[Vis#Golden Apple|golden apples]] and Barien seems particularly keen to see the ritual cast using them. A golden apple can normally be used in place of three crystal mana when performing a Summer ritual; when used to cast Challenge the Iron Duke, each golden apple counts as ''five'' mana. This applies ''only'' to golden apples; other forms of Summer vis will provide only the normal amount of crystal mana.

Barien is also known to present gifts of tokens to those who win his approval that can be used as vis for performing this ritual only.

===OOC Elements===
The ritualists should ensure that the referee who records their ritual has included details of which contest their challenger is entering (if there are more than one) and name the prize their challenger intends to claim.

The ritual can only be cast on the Friday of summits - it is not possible to cast the ritual on the Saturday or Sunday. This is for logistical reasons to allow setup of the contests, which will always run on Saturday.

===Assurance===
This ritual has a guaranteed [[Eternals_and_rituals#Communication_and_Gifts|response]] from an eternal, in this case [[Barien]], and it comes with an [[Eternals_and_rituals#Communication_and_Gifts|assurance]]. The assurance connected with the ritual was lost for several centuries but was rediscovered by members of the [[Unfettered Mind]] shortly before the Winter Solstice 386YE. The ritual loses all power and ceases to function if Dawn ever ceases to use [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|Tests of Mettle]], [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Ardour|Tests of Ardour]], or [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Resolve|Tests of Resolve]].

==Rewards and the Dragonforge==

If the challenger is triumphant according to the rules of the contest, they will be able to claim ''one'' of the prizes offered by Barien from his Dragonforge. The attendants who supported the challenge cannot claim a prize if their side wins; only the challengers who were targeted by the ritual. In some cases the Imperial challengers will compete as a team and will win and lose together, in some cases challengers will win and lose individually. Some contests may lay out additional special prizes on top of the regular offering from the Dragonforge. In addition, victorious champions will be offered a draught of the Elixir of the Long Road, a potion which can bring out or enhance the changeling lineage in a human.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Item !! Type !! Description
|-
| [[Blood-dimming Tide]] || Rod || A rod for those who has the grace to choose who lives and dies.
|-
| [[Blacksmith's Wage]] || Polearm || A Blacksmith's Wage forged of magical self-repairing metal.
|-
| [[Ivory Aketon]] || Light Armour || An Ivory Aketon for those who inspire others to keep going.
|-
| [[The Fields of Glory]] || Paraphernalia || A coven booster for a mage who seeks to drive likeminded mages to new heights.
|-
| [[Earthquake Drummers]] || Paired Weapons || A pair of weapons for a warrior who doesn't like to be crowded.
|-
| [[Hero's Hauberk]] || Heavy Armour || Armour for a warrior who knows the worth of their own story.
|-
| [[Greensteel Bracelets]] & Draught of Great Revelry || Jewellery & Potion || Jewellery & a potion for one who is beginning their hero's journey.
|-
| [[Volhov's Robe]] & [[Icewalker's Anvil]] || Mage Robe & Ritual Focus || A pair of ritual items for who shine brighter than the rest.
|-
| [[Stormguard Bulwark]] || Shield || You know that by combining brains and brawn, you can overcome any obstacle, no matter the difficulty.
|-
| [[Isenbrad's Legacy]]* || Tool || A tool for smiths who seek to outfit the Empire's finest.
|}
*This item will expire in 3 events time, not 4 as usual

Each reward is uniquely named. In the event multiple challengers choose the same reward, there will be multiple different named versions of the same item to choose from.

Challengers who are unsuccessful will be offered a consolation prize.
Once the contest is complete, Barien and his heralds will spread the names of any champions across the land, as well as the name of the coven that put them forward.

Barien has indicated that he will look with favour on those covens who regularly present champions to take part in his challenges. It doesn't matter whether a coven's champion wins or loses, all that matters is that they found a suitable champion and put them forward.

Once a given champion has won a contest, Barien will not accept them as challenger for another contest until a year has passed. Even if they find a way to be presented as champion, they will be disqualified before the contest begins. Anyone caught trying to fool the Iron Duke will face his ire - they will be treated not as a challenger reaching for the laurels but as a thief who is trying to steal the glory of others.
OOC Note: For weapons and armour rewards, players will need to provide their own appropriate phys-rep to be enchanted. For jewellery, foci and paraphernalia, a phys-rep will be provided, though players are free to use their own if they prefer. If multiple characters are trying to win the same item, Barien will create multiple versions with alternative names for the winners to choose from. They will be identical in all respects apart from the name.

==Roll of Champions==

Below is the list of victors in the challenges set by Barien since the Winter of 386YE. Names in italics are victor from a year or more ago, who are now eligible to enter a challenge again (provided they have not been victorious again the past year).

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable mw-collapsed"
|-
! Summit !! Victor !! Challenge !! Coven
|-
| Spring 388 || Bran Splintered Oak || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Oaken_Bricks|Challenge of the Oaken Bricks]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 388 || Esam i Zikim i Riqueza || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Oaken_Bricks|Challenge of the Oaken Bricks]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Spring 388 || Vegard Veryson || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Spring 388 || Liana Flouret || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || Drake's Fire
|-
| Spring 388 || Luz i Orzez i Guerra || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Spring 388 || Thane Springseeker || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 388 || Wisteria Dagonet || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Spring 388 || Lord Tobias de Gauvain || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || Phoenix Rising
|-
| Autumn 387 || Emryn Hunter || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Noble_Hunt|Challenge of the Noble Hunt]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Autumn 387 || Ilysses of the Lighthouse-That-Was || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Cabal of Nevezamzer
|-
| Autumn 387 || Matild || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || An Eternal Summer
|-
| Autumn 387 || Ugla Vardovich || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Autumn 387 || Tren Meals || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || Phoenix Rising
|-
| Autumn 387 || Thomas Oak || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Prosperous Pigs
|-
| Autumn 387 || Kiáine || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Autumn 387 || Logan Olivia de Havilland || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Autumn 387 || Godwyn V'alen || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Golden Grove
|-
| Autumn 387 || Aurélio i Valiente i Erigo || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Autumn 387 || Richard Docker || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || Coven of the Summer Star
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Ragnar Summers Tongue'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Koboldi_Squares|Challenge of the Koboldi Squares]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Tarquin'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Koboldi_Squares|Challenge of the Koboldi Squares]] || Unicorn's Glorious Charge
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Marianne'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Koboldi_Squares|Challenge of the Koboldi Squares]] || The Cabal of Nevezamzer
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Valedin Stoychko'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || Ashen Flame
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Elyan Fletcher'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Ellis'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Kylar Splintered Oak'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Vesper Lucentia'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Florent de Lys'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Golden Grove
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Mauro i Veliente i Erigo'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Eirikr Firekeeper'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Reynard'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || Phoenix Rising
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Engleburt'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Ruhadze Scrivener'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || Unicorn's Glorious Charge
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Blaise Yarrow'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Temperance Forger'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Toca I Valiente I Guerra'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Samantha "Tongs" Barossa De Tassato Regario'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Frayed_Pennant|Challenge of the Frayed Pennant]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Emlyn Tangled Path'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Frayed_Pennant|Challenge of the Frayed Pennant]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Revna Ursan'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Frayed_Pennant|Challenge of the Frayed Pennant]] || Ursolskin
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Azzam i Zaydan i Riqueza'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Eilinn Daggersbond'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || Iron Duke's Favour
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Emberlyn Brontide'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Allana Silvercloud'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Eternal Family
|}

<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=BarienArt.jpg|align=right|caption=[[Barien]] exemplifies meeting, setting and overcoming challenges.|width=300}}</div>

==Description==
Barien is [[Barien|the Iron Duke]], an eternal of the [[Realm#Summer|Summer realm]] who loves to challenge mortals. He creates contests, and offers contests, to encourage people to strive to achieve everything they are capable of. He is a master smith and has access to the Dragonforge, which allows him to create powerful magic items at great speed when he has need. The magical items that Barien crafts employ enchantments common in the Empire, but each one is individually named and contain a summer aura that affects the wielder, the same way a hallowed item might.

Each season, Barien's heralds announces one or more challenges, details of which are published in the Winds of Fortune. In most cases the heralds will explain who can enter the challenge and what form the contest will take, so that aspiring champions can decide if they wish to enter. To enter the challenge, the participant must be the target of this ritual - which must be cast on the Friday night. Barien's heralds take the details of everyone who is entering the contest, publish their names in the Hub the following day. The challenge then takes place shortly after.

In the past it has been common for a [[Dawn|Dawnish]] [[Earl#Enchanter|enchanter]] who has been approached to provide a [[Dawn culture and customs#The Test of Mettle|Test of Mettle]] or [[Dawn culture and customs#The Test of Ardour|Test of Ardour]] to make meeting and defeating the challenge of the Iron Duke the heart of the Test. There is a common belief that Barien favours houses that do this. The Iron Duke has never directly admitted this - but it does make sense. Barien has confirmed his favour for covens that put forward challengers for his ritual, so it would make sense that earls and enchanters who send knights-errant to challenge the Iron Duke might gain an ally in the Summer realm.

An [[Urizen]] [[Urizen magical traditions#Stargazer|stargazer]] by the name of Caellia of Clearwater made a close study of this ritual and several others like it. She argued convincingly that it is actually no different to [[Missive for Sadogua]] - it simply creates a conduit between the ritualists and the eternal, and allows for a transfer of information. It could theoretically be cast for a single crystal mana. However, the ritual has been intentionally designed to be much higher magnitude, and she theorised that this was partly to bind the eternal to an agreed-on pact, and partly to provide power that Barien could then use to create a challenge.

While the ritual is understandably popular in [[Dawn]], it also has obvious appeal to many [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], adventurous [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]], and legions of [[Imperial Orcs]] looking for an opportunity to 'prove' themselves. Some [[Highguard|Highborn]] who understand the ritual are torn between a general suspicion of the eternals and the Highborn love of competition; after all, this ritual is tailor-made to allow a clever mortal to pit their wits against an eternal and show what humans are truly made of.

Barien's challenges are designed to push mortals to their limits, but to stop short of killing them. His challenge often incorporate skirmishes and battles with other forces. The Iron Duke always insists that all participants behave honourably - by which he means that there should be no executions and those who yield must be spared. He will usually challenge the Jotun to step up and fight the Empire, but on occasion Imperial heroes have found themselves squaring off against Grendel or Thule opponents. The challenges ''never'' include the Druj who the Keeper of Revels is widely believed to despise.

Observing the rules is more than just an expectation. The enchantress Cassia du Morvay claimed that the challenge is akin to [[Varushka_hearth_magic#Oaths|an oath]], sworn by the challenger to abide by the terms of the contest. Those who cheat risk the terrible repercussions that befall those who break their oaths. The few that have succeeded have all met bloody fates, though admittedly more than one died at the hands of the Half-hand's vengeful heralds.

Cheating is outlawed, but cleverness is widely admired. The Master of Challenges welcomes those whose wits are as sharp as their blade, who think as quickly as they run, who converse as eloquently as they dance. Barien himself will never offer help or aid with a challenge, but on more than one occasion his heralds, and the heralds of other eternals of the Summer realm, have been known to lend assistance to a hero to help them attempt a challenge. Such aid is always within the bounds of the oath of the challenger, the measure of those who lend you their support is just another mark of a true hero.

==Common Elements==
Stories and songs of glorious or heroic deeds, [[Dawn hearth magic#Girding|girding]] the challenger with arms and armour, or anointing the target with oil, blood or wine are all common elements when performing this ritual. In some nations it is traditional to recite a challengers history in the matter of a troubadour announcing their earl's pedigree. In Varushka, one of the ritualists will often take on the role of Barien, announcing the terms of the challenge and inviting the challenger to swear an oath to compete to the best of their ability.

Banners and flags are often used, as are heraldic themes such as the sounding of horns. Some ritual groups will even go so far as to stage a mock battle in the regio, when preparing a challenger for a martial tourney. The Summer Stars, an Urizeni coven that used to favour challengers who sought tests of wit and wisdom, would prepare riddles for the challenger and deliver them to an unprepared challenger during the performance of the ritual.

Any or all of the [[Runes#Runes of Summer|Summer runes]] might be evoked, depending entirely on the nature of the targets. [[the Mountain]], [[the Stork]] and [[the Phoenix]] are often invoked during the ritual by astronomancers with the Mountain considered particularly auspicious. There is a common misconception that Barien reserves his most difficult challenges for conjunctions of the Mountain.

<ic>"The first time was for love - if you can believe that! Faced some Marcher lad with arms like tree-trunks, swinging a great mattock thing around like it didn't weigh anything. Funny you only think to be scared once you're actually in there with some big bastard looming over you, eh? He should've won it, too, but he got careless and slipped, and I wasn't about to let him have the chance to knock any more of my teeth out! In at him with my axe - bet that left a mark that still stings come Winter! After all that, the girl I was mooning over ended up running off with my best friend, ain't love grand?

The second time was a matter of pride. I'd taken a bad wound campaigning up around Skoura (no, you won't find it in the history books, "never happened" so they say), and I'd been laid up for weeks afterwards, and limping a bit beyond that. Anyway, word was out that I wasn't fit for duty no more, so I spent all my savings challenging old Barien again. I guess he remembered me from last time, because he sent out some... thing... Not rightly sure what it was, but it was damn tough. Luckily I'd got a good few years of free company work under my belt by this point, and though my sword snapped off in it, I got me this better one in return, aye, and all the work I could ask for as well.

The third time, that was just plain foolishness. "Top of my game", I thought, "I can handle anything old Iron Britches throws at me, no problem". Think of it, beating old Barien three times in a row! Course, this time the challenge was to steal a hat from every Imperial general. As you can plainly see, Magistrate, that one didn't go so well..."<br>
- Testimony of Ilsa Van Der Holberg, two time victor of the Iron Duke's challenge
</ic>

==Game Design==
Challenge the Iron Duke has been a popular ritual for many years but as the game has grown it has become increasingly difficult to support. The personalised approach used up a lot of resources from the plot department and proved stressful to administer, especially in the post-Covid years which saw both a huge expansion in player numbers and interest in the Challenge the Iron Duke ritual. Eventually it became apparent that it would not be possible to continue providing the previously promised experience without sacrificing other areas of plot, and so the ritual was turned off while alternatives were discussed.

There were also a wide array of logistical problems with the ritual. It didn't begin to work until the event after it was cast - by which time the challenger might be absent for some reason. It was often difficult to locate challengers to discuss what challenge they were looking for or what progress they had made. There were problems meeting player expectations about the rewards on offer. Players often mistakenly assumed that the more time and effort they invested in pursuing a challenge, the greater the reward might be, leading to inevitable disappointment.

The new ritual is designed to address all these problems. The plot team will create plot encounters for the ritual, and players who want to undertake the challenge must then find a ritual team and convince them to put them forward. While the encounters will no longer be bespoke for each character who casts the ritual, this will make it possible for people to have an idea what challenge they are getting themselves into. Because the rewards are known in advance, everyone knows what they might win and the drastically improved tempo of the ritual means that participants can undertake the challenge at the event where the ritual is cast giving a chance to have a memorable and special character moment for everyone involved.

As with any change this will be monitored to see if it is working better for everyone involved.
{{Challenge Links}}
[[Category:Summer Ritual]]
[[Category:Rituals]]

Challenge the Iron Duke

2026-06-24T21:36:54Z

Twiggy: /* Rewards and the Dragonforge */

==Rules==
{{Season|Summer|30}}
===Performing the Ritual===
{{Casting time|10}} {{Imperial Reduction}} {{Regio|Summer}} The target character must be present throughout.

A single coven can only cast the ritual ''once'' for any given challenge presented by [[Barien]]. If Barien presents more than one challenge, the coven must specify which contest their challenger will take part in. The coven must also specify which reward from the Dragonforge the challenger is competing for.

A character who has won a contest entered through Challenge the Iron Duke cannot be the target of this ritual again until a year has passed (that is if they win a contest during the Summer Solstice, they cannot be the target of the ritual again until the next Summer Solstice).

The ritual may only be performed on the Friday of the summit. It cannot be cast on Saturday or Sunday; it will fail, and no mana will be spent, though any consumables used will be lost.

===Effects===
This ritual allows a coven to put forward a champion to take part in a contest announced by the [[eternal]] [[Barien]]. The contests that Barien offers are detailed in the Winds of Fortune published before every event. A wind will contain details of what the challenge will involve; when and where it will take place; how winners will be determined; the prize or prizes Barien will provide; and any criteria for the selection of a champion (for example, a given contest might only be open to [[Magical skills#Magician|magicians]] or [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecaries]]).

If there is more than one contest available at a given summit, the coven must be clear about which one they are presenting a challenger to take part in. Each ritual can only present a challenger for one contest.

===Challengers and Attendants===
Depending on the nature of the challenge Barien has set, challengers may need to find additional attendants to bring with them to assist in their test. The number of attendants required will vary, but unless otherwise stated, attendants are full participants in the contest itself and follow the same rules as challengers.

In all cases, every individual challenger who has had the ritual cast upon them will be ''guaranteed'' entry to the contest. The number of attendants a challenger needs to bring with them will depend on the specific challenge, and how many challengers have the ritual cast upon them at the summit.

If there is high demand for a contest, some challengers may need to work together - in this case they will not be able to bring all the attendants they planned for. '''The necessary information, including a list of challengers for each contest and how many attendants they can bring, will be posted in the Civil Service Hub at time-in on Saturday morning of the summit.'''

===Additional Targets===
It is no longer possible to include additional targets in this ritual. A coven can only put forward a single challenger for each contest that Barien has announced. If more than one contest is available at a summit, then the [[Bands#Covens|coven]] must perform a separate ritual to name a challenger for each contest. If a contest requires a team of champions, then all can be included in the casting without changing the magnitude.

===Options===
Like many rituals, it is possible to substitute other valuable materials for crystal mana when performing this ritual. Unlike most, however, there are multiple opportunities to replace crystal mana in the performance of Challenge the Iron Duke. No matter how many alternatives a magician employs, they are still limited in their total contribution toward the cost of the ritual by their ranks in Summer lore. For example, a character with Summer lore 3 who has mastered the ritual could use a flask of [[Philtres_of_War#Skop's_Mead|Skop's Mead]] and two ingots of tempest jade to replace 3 crystal mana but they couldn't add any more to the casting, no matter how much [[vis]], crystal mana, or [[potion|potions]] they had.

* '''Raw Materials:''' Barien is a master [[crafting skills#artisan|artisan]] and always keen to acquire magical materials. A contributor who has mastered the ritual can substitute ingots or measures of magical material for crystal mana. Every 2 ingots or measures counts as 1 crystal mana when performing the ritual. The exception is [[orichalcum]]; Barien does not require ingots of orichalcum and so it cannot be used in the ritual (unless the coven is using a [[Burnished Orb]] or similar item).
* '''Skop's Mead:''' [[Philtres_of_War#Skop's_Mead|Skop's Mead]] is a [[potion]] created by [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecaries]] and has a particular resonance for this ritual. Any contributor who has mastered the ritual can consume a dose of Skop's Mead in place of 2 crystal mana, limited as normal by their ranks in Summer Lore. The potion also has its normal effects on the imbiber. Only the specific potion Skop's Mead can be used in this manner - other potions that restore hero points do not work.
* '''Champion's Draught:''' One dose of [[Philtres_of_War#Skop's_Mead|Skop's Mead]] can be consumed by the ''target'' of the ritual, provided they are not also a contributor. Provided it is consumed during the performance of the ritual, it substitutes for up to three crystal mana, following all the normal rules for vis (that is, the effect can be split among multiple casters). The potion also has its normal effects on the imbiber.
* '''Golden Apples:''' [[Vis]] from the [[Realm#Summer|Summer realm]] often takes the form of [[Vis#Golden Apple|golden apples]] and Barien seems particularly keen to see the ritual cast using them. A golden apple can normally be used in place of three crystal mana when performing a Summer ritual; when used to cast Challenge the Iron Duke, each golden apple counts as ''five'' mana. This applies ''only'' to golden apples; other forms of Summer vis will provide only the normal amount of crystal mana.

Barien is also known to present gifts of tokens to those who win his approval that can be used as vis for performing this ritual only.

===OOC Elements===
The ritualists should ensure that the referee who records their ritual has included details of which contest their challenger is entering (if there are more than one) and name the prize their challenger intends to claim.

The ritual can only be cast on the Friday of summits - it is not possible to cast the ritual on the Saturday or Sunday. This is for logistical reasons to allow setup of the contests, which will always run on Saturday.

===Assurance===
This ritual has a guaranteed [[Eternals_and_rituals#Communication_and_Gifts|response]] from an eternal, in this case [[Barien]], and it comes with an [[Eternals_and_rituals#Communication_and_Gifts|assurance]]. The assurance connected with the ritual was lost for several centuries but was rediscovered by members of the [[Unfettered Mind]] shortly before the Winter Solstice 386YE. The ritual loses all power and ceases to function if Dawn ever ceases to use [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|Tests of Mettle]], [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Ardour|Tests of Ardour]], or [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Resolve|Tests of Resolve]].

==Rewards and the Dragonforge==

If the challenger is triumphant according to the rules of the contest, they will be able to claim ''one'' of the prizes offered by Barien from his Dragonforge. The attendants who supported the challenge cannot claim a prize if their side wins; only the challengers who were targeted by the ritual. In some cases the Imperial challengers will compete as a team and will win and lose together, in some cases challengers will win and lose individually. Some contests may lay out additional special prizes on top of the regular offering from the Dragonforge. In addition, victorious champions will be offered a draught of the Elixir of the Long Road, a potion which can bring out or enhance the changeling lineage in a human.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Item !! Type !! Description
|-
| [[Blood-dimming Tide]] || Rod || A rod for those who has the grace to choose who lives and dies.
|-
| [[Blacksmith's Wage]] || Polearm || A Blacksmith's Wage forged of magical self-repairing metal.
|-
| [[Ivory Aketon]] || Light Armour || An Ivory Aketon for those who inspire others to keep going.
|-
| [[The Fields of Glory]] || Paraphenalia || A coven booster for a mage who seeks to drive likeminded mages to new heights.
|-
| [[Earthquake Drummers]] || Paired Weapons || A pair of weapons for a warrior who doesn't like to be crowded.
|-
| [[Hero's Hauberk]] || Heavy Armour || Armour for a warrior who knows the worth of their own story.
|-
| [[Greensteel Bracelets]] & Draught of Great Revelry || Jewellery & Potion || Jewellery & a potion for one who is beginning their hero's journey.
|-
| [[Volhov's Robe]] & [[Icewalker's Anvil]] || Mage Robe & Ritual Focus || A pair of ritual items for who shine brighter than the rest.
|-
| [[Stormguard Bulwark]] || Shield || You know that by combining brains and brawn, you can overcome any obstacle, no matter the difficulty.
|-
| [[Isenbrad's Legacy]]* || Tool || A tool for smiths who seek to outfit the Empire's finest.
|}
*This item will expire in 3 events time, not 4 as usual

Each reward is uniquely named. In the event multiple challengers choose the same reward, there will be multiple different named versions of the same item to choose from.

Challengers who are unsuccessful will be offered a consolation prize.
Once the contest is complete, Barien and his heralds will spread the names of any champions across the land, as well as the name of the coven that put them forward.

Barien has indicated that he will look with favour on those covens who regularly present champions to take part in his challenges. It doesn't matter whether a coven's champion wins or loses, all that matters is that they found a suitable champion and put them forward.

Once a given champion has won a contest, Barien will not accept them as challenger for another contest until a year has passed. Even if they find a way to be presented as champion, they will be disqualified before the contest begins. Anyone caught trying to fool the Iron Duke will face his ire - they will be treated not as a challenger reaching for the laurels but as a thief who is trying to steal the glory of others.
OOC Note: For weapons and armour rewards, players will need to provide their own appropriate phys-rep to be enchanted. For jewellery, foci and paraphernalia, a phys-rep will be provided, though players are free to use their own if they prefer. If multiple characters are trying to win the same item, Barien will create multiple versions with alternative names for the winners to choose from. They will be identical in all respects apart from the name.

==Roll of Champions==

Below is the list of victors in the challenges set by Barien since the Winter of 386YE. Names in italics are victor from a year or more ago, who are now eligible to enter a challenge again (provided they have not been victorious again the past year).

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable mw-collapsed"
|-
! Summit !! Victor !! Challenge !! Coven
|-
| Spring 388 || Bran Splintered Oak || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Oaken_Bricks|Challenge of the Oaken Bricks]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 388 || Esam i Zikim i Riqueza || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Oaken_Bricks|Challenge of the Oaken Bricks]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Spring 388 || Vegard Veryson || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Spring 388 || Liana Flouret || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || Drake's Fire
|-
| Spring 388 || Luz i Orzez i Guerra || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Spring 388 || Thane Springseeker || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 388 || Wisteria Dagonet || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Spring 388 || Lord Tobias de Gauvain || [[Bricks_and_boards#Challenge_of_the_Boards|Challenge of the Boards]] || Phoenix Rising
|-
| Autumn 387 || Emryn Hunter || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Noble_Hunt|Challenge of the Noble Hunt]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Autumn 387 || Ilysses of the Lighthouse-That-Was || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Cabal of Nevezamzer
|-
| Autumn 387 || Matild || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || An Eternal Summer
|-
| Autumn 387 || Ugla Vardovich || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Autumn 387 || Tren Meals || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || Phoenix Rising
|-
| Autumn 387 || Thomas Oak || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Prosperous Pigs
|-
| Autumn 387 || Kiáine || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Autumn 387 || Logan Olivia de Havilland || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Autumn 387 || Godwyn V'alen || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Golden Grove
|-
| Autumn 387 || Aurélio i Valiente i Erigo || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Autumn 387 || Richard Docker || [[An_iron_feast#Challenge_of_the_Eternal_Banquet|Challenge of the Eternal Banquet]] || Coven of the Summer Star
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Ragnar Summers Tongue'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Koboldi_Squares|Challenge of the Koboldi Squares]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Tarquin'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Koboldi_Squares|Challenge of the Koboldi Squares]] || Unicorn's Glorious Charge
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Marianne'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Koboldi_Squares|Challenge of the Koboldi Squares]] || The Cabal of Nevezamzer
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Valedin Stoychko'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || Ashen Flame
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Elyan Fletcher'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Ellis'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Summer 387 || ''Kylar Splintered Oak'' || [[Build_it_up#Challenge_of_the_Bulwark_Sanctuary|Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Vesper Lucentia'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Florent de Lys'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Golden Grove
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Mauro i Veliente i Erigo'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Eirikr Firekeeper'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Reynard'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || Phoenix Rising
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Engleburt'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Caged_Pincer|Challenge of the Caged Pincer]] || Voices of the Unbound Storm
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Ruhadze Scrivener'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || Unicorn's Glorious Charge
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Blaise Yarrow'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Temperance Forger'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Spring 387 || ''Toca I Valiente I Guerra'' || [[Doing_it#Challenge_of_the_Black_Web|Challenge of the Black Web]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Samantha "Tongs" Barossa De Tassato Regario'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Frayed_Pennant|Challenge of the Frayed Pennant]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Emlyn Tangled Path'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Frayed_Pennant|Challenge of the Frayed Pennant]] || The Eternal Family
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Revna Ursan'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Frayed_Pennant|Challenge of the Frayed Pennant]] || Ursolskin
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Glass Mantle
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Azzam i Zaydan i Riqueza'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Tempest Flame
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Eilinn Daggersbond'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || Iron Duke's Favour
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Emberlyn Brontide'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Coven of Golden Wings
|-
| Winter 386 || ''Allana Silvercloud'' || [[The_long_road#Challenge_of_the_Endless_Sea|Challenge of the Endless Sea]] || The Eternal Family
|}

<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=BarienArt.jpg|align=right|caption=[[Barien]] exemplifies meeting, setting and overcoming challenges.|width=300}}</div>

==Description==
Barien is [[Barien|the Iron Duke]], an eternal of the [[Realm#Summer|Summer realm]] who loves to challenge mortals. He creates contests, and offers contests, to encourage people to strive to achieve everything they are capable of. He is a master smith and has access to the Dragonforge, which allows him to create powerful magic items at great speed when he has need. The magical items that Barien crafts employ enchantments common in the Empire, but each one is individually named and contain a summer aura that affects the wielder, the same way a hallowed item might.

Each season, Barien's heralds announces one or more challenges, details of which are published in the Winds of Fortune. In most cases the heralds will explain who can enter the challenge and what form the contest will take, so that aspiring champions can decide if they wish to enter. To enter the challenge, the participant must be the target of this ritual - which must be cast on the Friday night. Barien's heralds take the details of everyone who is entering the contest, publish their names in the Hub the following day. The challenge then takes place shortly after.

In the past it has been common for a [[Dawn|Dawnish]] [[Earl#Enchanter|enchanter]] who has been approached to provide a [[Dawn culture and customs#The Test of Mettle|Test of Mettle]] or [[Dawn culture and customs#The Test of Ardour|Test of Ardour]] to make meeting and defeating the challenge of the Iron Duke the heart of the Test. There is a common belief that Barien favours houses that do this. The Iron Duke has never directly admitted this - but it does make sense. Barien has confirmed his favour for covens that put forward challengers for his ritual, so it would make sense that earls and enchanters who send knights-errant to challenge the Iron Duke might gain an ally in the Summer realm.

An [[Urizen]] [[Urizen magical traditions#Stargazer|stargazer]] by the name of Caellia of Clearwater made a close study of this ritual and several others like it. She argued convincingly that it is actually no different to [[Missive for Sadogua]] - it simply creates a conduit between the ritualists and the eternal, and allows for a transfer of information. It could theoretically be cast for a single crystal mana. However, the ritual has been intentionally designed to be much higher magnitude, and she theorised that this was partly to bind the eternal to an agreed-on pact, and partly to provide power that Barien could then use to create a challenge.

While the ritual is understandably popular in [[Dawn]], it also has obvious appeal to many [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], adventurous [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]], and legions of [[Imperial Orcs]] looking for an opportunity to 'prove' themselves. Some [[Highguard|Highborn]] who understand the ritual are torn between a general suspicion of the eternals and the Highborn love of competition; after all, this ritual is tailor-made to allow a clever mortal to pit their wits against an eternal and show what humans are truly made of.

Barien's challenges are designed to push mortals to their limits, but to stop short of killing them. His challenge often incorporate skirmishes and battles with other forces. The Iron Duke always insists that all participants behave honourably - by which he means that there should be no executions and those who yield must be spared. He will usually challenge the Jotun to step up and fight the Empire, but on occasion Imperial heroes have found themselves squaring off against Grendel or Thule opponents. The challenges ''never'' include the Druj who the Keeper of Revels is widely believed to despise.

Observing the rules is more than just an expectation. The enchantress Cassia du Morvay claimed that the challenge is akin to [[Varushka_hearth_magic#Oaths|an oath]], sworn by the challenger to abide by the terms of the contest. Those who cheat risk the terrible repercussions that befall those who break their oaths. The few that have succeeded have all met bloody fates, though admittedly more than one died at the hands of the Half-hand's vengeful heralds.

Cheating is outlawed, but cleverness is widely admired. The Master of Challenges welcomes those whose wits are as sharp as their blade, who think as quickly as they run, who converse as eloquently as they dance. Barien himself will never offer help or aid with a challenge, but on more than one occasion his heralds, and the heralds of other eternals of the Summer realm, have been known to lend assistance to a hero to help them attempt a challenge. Such aid is always within the bounds of the oath of the challenger, the measure of those who lend you their support is just another mark of a true hero.

==Common Elements==
Stories and songs of glorious or heroic deeds, [[Dawn hearth magic#Girding|girding]] the challenger with arms and armour, or anointing the target with oil, blood or wine are all common elements when performing this ritual. In some nations it is traditional to recite a challengers history in the matter of a troubadour announcing their earl's pedigree. In Varushka, one of the ritualists will often take on the role of Barien, announcing the terms of the challenge and inviting the challenger to swear an oath to compete to the best of their ability.

Banners and flags are often used, as are heraldic themes such as the sounding of horns. Some ritual groups will even go so far as to stage a mock battle in the regio, when preparing a challenger for a martial tourney. The Summer Stars, an Urizeni coven that used to favour challengers who sought tests of wit and wisdom, would prepare riddles for the challenger and deliver them to an unprepared challenger during the performance of the ritual.

Any or all of the [[Runes#Runes of Summer|Summer runes]] might be evoked, depending entirely on the nature of the targets. [[the Mountain]], [[the Stork]] and [[the Phoenix]] are often invoked during the ritual by astronomancers with the Mountain considered particularly auspicious. There is a common misconception that Barien reserves his most difficult challenges for conjunctions of the Mountain.

<ic>"The first time was for love - if you can believe that! Faced some Marcher lad with arms like tree-trunks, swinging a great mattock thing around like it didn't weigh anything. Funny you only think to be scared once you're actually in there with some big bastard looming over you, eh? He should've won it, too, but he got careless and slipped, and I wasn't about to let him have the chance to knock any more of my teeth out! In at him with my axe - bet that left a mark that still stings come Winter! After all that, the girl I was mooning over ended up running off with my best friend, ain't love grand?

The second time was a matter of pride. I'd taken a bad wound campaigning up around Skoura (no, you won't find it in the history books, "never happened" so they say), and I'd been laid up for weeks afterwards, and limping a bit beyond that. Anyway, word was out that I wasn't fit for duty no more, so I spent all my savings challenging old Barien again. I guess he remembered me from last time, because he sent out some... thing... Not rightly sure what it was, but it was damn tough. Luckily I'd got a good few years of free company work under my belt by this point, and though my sword snapped off in it, I got me this better one in return, aye, and all the work I could ask for as well.

The third time, that was just plain foolishness. "Top of my game", I thought, "I can handle anything old Iron Britches throws at me, no problem". Think of it, beating old Barien three times in a row! Course, this time the challenge was to steal a hat from every Imperial general. As you can plainly see, Magistrate, that one didn't go so well..."<br>
- Testimony of Ilsa Van Der Holberg, two time victor of the Iron Duke's challenge
</ic>

==Game Design==
Challenge the Iron Duke has been a popular ritual for many years but as the game has grown it has become increasingly difficult to support. The personalised approach used up a lot of resources from the plot department and proved stressful to administer, especially in the post-Covid years which saw both a huge expansion in player numbers and interest in the Challenge the Iron Duke ritual. Eventually it became apparent that it would not be possible to continue providing the previously promised experience without sacrificing other areas of plot, and so the ritual was turned off while alternatives were discussed.

There were also a wide array of logistical problems with the ritual. It didn't begin to work until the event after it was cast - by which time the challenger might be absent for some reason. It was often difficult to locate challengers to discuss what challenge they were looking for or what progress they had made. There were problems meeting player expectations about the rewards on offer. Players often mistakenly assumed that the more time and effort they invested in pursuing a challenge, the greater the reward might be, leading to inevitable disappointment.

The new ritual is designed to address all these problems. The plot team will create plot encounters for the ritual, and players who want to undertake the challenge must then find a ritual team and convince them to put them forward. While the encounters will no longer be bespoke for each character who casts the ritual, this will make it possible for people to have an idea what challenge they are getting themselves into. Because the rewards are known in advance, everyone knows what they might win and the drastically improved tempo of the ritual means that participants can undertake the challenge at the event where the ritual is cast giving a chance to have a memorable and special character moment for everyone involved.

As with any change this will be monitored to see if it is working better for everyone involved.
{{Challenge Links}}
[[Category:Summer Ritual]]
[[Category:Rituals]]

Tonics of the Deep Forest

2026-06-22T17:27:32Z

Twiggy:

==Overview==
The Tonics of the Deep Forest grant vigour and health. These preparations use alcohol as a base, and are usually very strong tasting. They are especially popular among the [[Varushka|Varushkans]], who mix them with raw spirits and flavour them with strong honey. Some [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] [[Kohan]] are leery of using the Winterskin and Ironblood tonics due to the way they dampen strong passions. By contrast, many landsknechts and schlacta appreciate the way these elixirs help them suppress feelings of fear, empathy or compassion.

==Oakenhide Tonic==
This potion helps the drinker to shrug off the effect of minor wounds; a sword blow that might otherwise have resulted in a significant wound instead inflicts a nasty bruise, for example. The preparation is also valued for its positive effect on an imbiber's fighting spirit; while it will not make a cowardly fighter any braver, it helps to reduce the fear of danger in a way that grants valuable confidence, especially to untried troops.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This deep golden liquid looks a little like watered-down honey. It has an alcoholic scent, and a tiny droplet of the sticky fluid on your tongue tastes strongly of apples.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' You feel very confident in your ability to survive dangerous situations.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You gain an additional rank of [[Combat skills#Endurance|endurance]] until the next sunrise. This is a [[Potion#Tonics|tonic]]; the effect of any other tonic you have drunk immediately ends.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram of [[True Vervain|true vervain]] and one dram of [[bladeroot]].

==Winterskin Tonic==
This cool elixir deadens sensations of pain, allowing a warrior to shrug off an assault that might fell an untried combatant. It also cools the blood and distances the drinker from their emotions, which can be both a positive and a negative side-effect.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' When this golden-brown liquid catches the light, it seems almost to glow. It has a strongly alcoholic scent, but tastes sweet - like butterscotch. Place a tiny drop on your finger or your tongue, and the tip quickly becomes numb.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' You feel distanced from your emotions, as if they were being experienced by someone else.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You gain two additional ranks of [[Combat skills#Endurance|endurance]] until the next sunrise. This is a [[Potion#Tonics|tonic]]; the effect of any other tonic you have drunk immediately ends.
* '''Recipe:''' Two drams of [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]], one dram each of [[True Vervain|true vervain]] and [[bladeroot]].

==Ironblood Tonic==
This potent elixir reduces the effect of wounds but also numbs the heart. The preparation has a bad reputation, and is sometimes blamed for encouraging violent and cruel individuals to express their antisocial tendencies. Imperial magistrates have little patience for criminals who try to claim that it is the effect of this tonic that drove them to some act of excessive cruelty.

Excessive and extended use of Ironblood Tonic has been known to permanently reduce the ability to relate to others, and lead to long-term emotional damage.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This golden-brown liquid clings viscously to the inside of the container if you shake it. It smells faintly of apples, but a tiny drop on your tongue reveals it to have a strangely salty flavour.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' You find it very hard to care about the feelings of other people, and tend to take the most expedient course of action regardless of who it might hurt.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You gain three additional ranks of [[Combat skills#Endurance|endurance]] until the next sunrise. This is a [[Potion#Tonics|tonic]]; the effect of any other tonic you have drunk immediately ends.
* '''Recipe:''' Three drams of [[marrowort]], two drams each of [[True Vervain|true vervain]] and [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]], and one dram of [[bladeroot]].
{{PotionTable|Tonics of the Deep Forest}}
[[Category:Potions]]
[[Category:Tonics]]

Tisanes of the Labyrinth

2026-06-22T17:27:15Z

Twiggy:

These preparations are of special interest to the priests of [[The Way]]. Each of these preparations uses [[liao]], and consequently those apothecaries who master them usually require the assistance of someone with access to that comparatively rare preparation, Under normal circumstances this means a priest with a [[congregation]] as a [[resource]].

==Usher's Decoction==
Consuming this sweet, pale orange preparation allows a character to enhance their ability to perform priest skills.

The dreams that come after the use of Usher's Decoction are troubling to some theological scholars. While many of these dreams seem to be little more than night-time fancies, albeit very vivid ones, there is some circumstantial evidence that the dreamer is actually experiencing one of the dreams originally dreamt by a past life. Priests have reported dreams that made sense only in the context of someone else's life.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' When this pale orange liquid catches the light it seems to glow. It has a light, spicy scent. A tiny droplet of this thin fluid on your tongue reveals it to taste faintly of cherries.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' Until you next perform or participate in a [[Religious skills|ceremony]], and for a short time afterward, you feel remarkably centred. If you are dedicated to a virtue, you feel a strong urge to take action in line with that virtue. If not, you feel a strong urge to take action in keeping with your personal philosophy. The night after drinking this [[potion]] you will have particularly vivid dreams.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' The next time you perform or participate in a ceremony of [[anointing]], [[consecration]], [[hallow]], [[exorcism]], [[excommunication]] or [[testimony]] the effect is one rank higher than normal. You must possess the appropriate skill to take part in the ceremony. The effects last for ten minutes or until you next perform a religious ceremony. This is a [[Potion#Tonics|tonic]]; the effect of any other tonic you have drunk immediately ends.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram each of [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]] and [[True Vervain|true vervain]] and one dose of [[liao]].

==Waywalker's Suffusion==
Consuming this bitter, midnight blue preparation allows a character to greatly enhance their ability to perform certain priest skills.

Theologians have discussed this potion at some length. There is a school of thought that it somehow places one in contact with those previous incarnations who were either strongly virtuous or were actual priests of the Way, somehow drawing on their presence to empower one's understanding and ability to affect the world. There is little concrete evidence for this, but there are regular - if rare - reports where one of the auditory hallucinations said something that seemed relevant to the situation at hand, or offered a fragment of useful insight.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' When this midnight blue liquid catches the light it seems to glow. It has a light, spicy scent. A tiny droplet of this thin fluid on your tongue reveals it to have a rich, bitter flavour.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' Until you next use a priest skill, and for a short time afterward, you are aware of unseen presences as if you are at the centre of an unseen crowd. Occasionally you hear distant muttering or occasionally a comprehensible word or fragment of a sentence.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' The next time you perform or participate in a ceremony of [[anointing]], [[consecration]], [[hallow]], [[exorcism]], [[excommunication]] or [[testimony]] the effect is two ranks higher than normal. You must possess the appropriate skill to take part in the ceremony. The effects last for ten minutes or until you next perform a religious ceremony. This is a [[Potion#Tonics|tonic]]; the effect of any other tonic you have drunk immediately ends.
* '''Recipe:''' Two drams each of [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]] and [[marrowort]], one dram of [[True Vervain|true vervain]] and two doses of [[liao]].

==Shadowcrow Infusion==
{{Interdicted|potion|[[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Interdiction:_Shadowcrow_Infusion|Winter 386YE]]}}
This preparation owes its origins to a [[Kallavesi]] remedy that was designed to aid troubled minds. This remedy helped those troubled with traumatic memories, troubled sleep, night terrors and the legacies of hauntings or possessions.

Subsequent study by [[Kallavesi]] priests following contact with the Imperial faith revealed a further, at the time unintended, effect upon the soul. Several members of the Synod have lobbied on more than one occasion to have the use of this mystical infusion declared illegal, but have not yet succeeded in getting the support of the Senate in doing so. Indeed, some priests argue that seeking to outlaw knowledge is a slippery slope that leads to unvirtuous behaviour.

* '''Form:''' Infusion.
* '''Description:''' This glimmering silver liquid has a light scent reminiscent of cloves. Tasting it reveals it to have a sharp bitter flavour that is never-the-less quite appealing.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' Inhaling this infusion causes a momentary anguish, like the sudden separation from a loved one, but there are no other immediate effects.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' Inhaling the steam from this infusion causes your aura to become impossible to read with the [[Religious skills#Insight|insight]] ceremony or similar effects. You are also unable to make use of [[liao]], [[Liao#True Liao|true liao]], or any [[Religious skills|religious skill]]. The effects last until the next sunrise. If you are human, any time you sleep under the influence of the potion, you either do not dream or do not remember your dreams. This is a [[Potion#Tonics|tonic]]; the effect of any other tonic you have drunk immediately ends.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram of [[marrowort]] and one dose of [[liao]].
{{PotionTable|Tisanes of the Labyrinth}}
[[Category:Potions]]
[[Category:Tonics]]

Runa's Gift

2026-06-22T17:26:06Z

Twiggy:

==Overview==
These preparations originate with the [[Yerende]], now one of the septs of the [[Imperial Orcs]]. These recipes were preserved for generations amongst the sept whilst they served under the [[Druj]] in [[Ossium]]. Once the [[Construct_Palace_of_Flowers|Palace of Flowers]] was constructed, and the sept joined the nation, work was put into disseminating the recipes across the Empire. The project was completed after the Winter Solstice 385YE, and following the completion of the [[Wise Arborist|Feldspar Distillery]], they became available for all Imperial apothecaries to learn shortly before the Winter Solstice 386YE. These potions and tonics share a property with the recipes that make up the [[Unshackled Gift]] in that they are effective only when consumed by [[orc|orcs]]; humans who try to use one of these preparations merely suffer from potentially unfortunate side effects.

The Yerende kept this knowledge from the Druj for several reasons, but one is that their apothecaries and shamans share a belief that the potions help an orc, especially an orc magician, draw on the strength of their ancestors who urge them to create [[Yerende#The_Great_Garden|the Great Garden]]. According to some of their number, they feared that if the orcs of the Mallum gained access to this lore, it would help their [[Arkad#Vikari|Vikari]] and [[Druj_lore#Ghulai|Ghulai]] make contact with the malicious and corrupt magicians of their own septs, helping them to find the magical power to reshape the world into a dark mirror of the Great Garden, a place of endless suffering and fear.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Flax's Potions.jpg|title=These potions allow an orc to temporarily strengthen their connection to an ancestor|align=right|width=300}}
==Greenmaster's Reach==
According to stories of the Yerende, the first Greenmaster's Reach was brewed by a long-dead Greenmaster whose name is lost to history, in far off [[Ossium#Drownbark_Forest|Drownbark Forest]]. This Greenmaster supplied their warrior-king, Brandicar, with enough doses to turn the tide in a great battle with the hated Druj. The Druj were defeated, but Brandicar died of a poisoned wound she suffered in the battle, having pushed too hard and too far to win victory at any cost.

Now, this potion serves not only as a useful tool for controlling a fight in a pinch but as a way for orcs to momentarily strengthen their connection to the ancestors. It is sometimes employed by Yerende who know they will face a great test of their commitment and dedication. The effects of the potion can be overwhelming for an unsuspecting orc, and many older Yerende caution against overuse, lest it become a dependence.
* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This thick, orange liquid leaves streaks on the inside of the container. It has a consistency similar to honey with a strong, meaty taste.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' If you are an orc, you feel a surge of conviction of your past actions; you are strongly aware of the voices of those ancestors that encourage you to strengthen yourself or improve your status, urging you to surpass what you have achieved so far. If you are a human, you feel a dizzying sense of euphoria that slowly builds. At the same time you feel your senses becoming keener until any strong sensory stimulation becomes almost painful.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' If you are an orc and you have the [[magician]] skill, you can cast either [[Repel]] or [[Entangle]] once without expending personal mana or crystal mana within 10 seconds. You do not need to be able to cast either spell to benefit from this effect. If you are a human, or an orc who does not have the magician skill, the potion has no mechanical effect.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram each of [[realmsroot]] and [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]].

==Brokendraught==
The Yerende teach that Brokendraught puts the drinker briefly in contact with Maren, a Yerende ancestor, who possessed powerful magic and held life and death in their hands. They claim it is Maren who guides the hands of those who use the potion to cast spells and some Yerende herbalists consider it inappropriate to share the 'draught with those who haven't been taught how to hear Maren's words.

Regardless of the truth of these beliefs, any orc that drinks the potion can use its power to perform limited feats of [[spellcasting]], to mend broken limbs or break the weapons of an enemy. The sensations that come with Brokendraught can be overwhelming for some, and young Yerende magicians are encouraged to be cautious about resorting to the elixir.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This green liquid has tiny pale flecks floating within it. It smells strongly of blood, and a tiny droplet on your tongue reveals it tastes strongly of liquorice.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' If you are an orc, you feel a sense of power surge through you that quickly becomes almost overwhelming. You feel empowered to take action, doubts and worries feel distant and indistinct. Taking action to reduce or prevent suffering or pain feels righteous and empowering, and after the effect ends you may experience a craving to feel it again. If you are human, you become increasingly certain that you can "smell" magic around you as your senses shift and become unreliable. You quickly become disoriented and confused, unsure of what is real and what is a hallucination.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' If you are an orc and you have the [[magician]] skill, you can swift cast either [[Restore Limb]] or [[Shatter]] once without expending personal mana or crystal mana within 10 seconds. You do not need to be able to cast either spell to benefit from this effect. If you are a human, or an orc that does not have the magician skill, the potion has no mechanical effect.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram each of [[realmsroot]] and [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]].

==Runa's Whisper==
This potion is difficult to stomach without preparation; an orc who perseveres and drinks a draught of Runa's Whisper is reminded of the fragility of life; of the [[Calls#VENOM|poisons]] and diseases that can see the most powerful brought low. This can be unsettling for some, especially if used without time to prepare.

The name is a clear reference to [[Yerende#Beliefs|Runa]], the Soft-Speaker, and an orc who perseveres through the sickeningly sweet taste can use magic to clear the weeds or demonstrate diligence in supporting their allies. The Yerende claim that Runa stolen the recipe was from the Druj, so completely, that the Druj no longer know of its existence. That seems improbable, but it remains a widely held belief by many.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This gloopy, brown concoction adheres to the inside of the container. It has a strong earthy scent, but a drop on your tongue reveals it to be cloyingly sweet.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' If you are an orc, you are reminded of the fragility and value of life; seeing loved ones at risk can feel physically painful. It is easy for you to see the importance of life for strangers and even enemies; whatever your spiritual beliefs it is hard to escape the knowledge that once ended a life can never be regained. If you are human, you feel numbed to grief, sorrow, and suffering, and may experience moments of intense introspection. You may lose all interest in the outside world for a time, focusing entirely on your own feelings and thoughts.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' If you are an orc and you have the [[magician]] skill, you can swift cast either [[Venom]] or [[Purify]] once without expending personal mana or crystal mana within 10 seconds. You do not need to be able to cast either spell to benefit from this effect. If you are a human, or an orc who does not have the magician skill, the potion has no mechanical effect.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram each of [[realmsroot]] and [[bladeroot]].

==Tender's Path==
For the Yerende, the name serves as a metaphor for [[Yerende#The_Great_Garden|the Great Garden]]. The experience of drinking this potion can be potentially quite overwhelming for an unprepared orc. The burst of knowledge on their place in the world and the supporters they have can be simply too much, and some Yerende suggest having someone the orc is close to nearby to provide assurance helps with the use of this potion.

Yerende apothecaries teach their apprentices to use this potion sparingly, claiming it is easier to learn to mix the potion than it is learn to use it wisely and diligently. When misused, the potion is often referred to as Hemby's Folly, after an infamous apothecary whose foolish actions wrought nothing but violence and death.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This sticky, orange liquid smells strongly of overripe mango. A drop on your tongue reveals it to taste unbelievably spicy.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' If you are an orc, you feel invigorated by the bonds of connection to your closest supporters. You are keenly aware of the connections you share with others and how they affect your life. It is easy to become overwhelmed by an awareness of your place in the world. If you are human, you initially feel exhilarated and full of energy, each new experience is incredibly exciting. This quickly becomes overwhelming, making it hard to speak coherently or focus on anything for more than a few moments.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' If you are an orc and you have the magician skill, you can swift cast either [[Heal]] or [[Empower]] once without expending personal mana or crystal mana within 10 seconds. You do not need to be able to cast either spell to benefit from this effect. If you are a human, or an orc who does not have the magician skill, the potion has no mechanical effect.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram each of [[realmsroot]] and [[True Vervain|true vervain]].

==Clodden Earth==
This greasy ointment is quickly absorbed through the skin. It is often mixed with soil - the richer and healthier the better - and used to draw or paint long, intricate, looping designs on the skin of the face and hands prior to the start of a fight. While the salve itself is absorbed, the soil remains behind. It is usually applied after the skin is washed with fresh, cold water - a holdover from Yerende traditions that date back to the earliest years of their domination by the Druj. This feeling can overwhelm an unsuspecting orc, and many older Yerende caution against overuse, lest it become a dependence. Repeated use can lead to a numbing of the extremities - for both orcs and humans - but that can be resolved with a simple salve of [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]].

Some Yerende will paint designs to symbolise different flowers and blooms, looking to invoke the strength of these plants in the recipient. The most common is the Shire Rose, a traditional symbol representing dignity and courage. Poppies, lilies and sometimes stylised images of precious herbs like true vervain and bladeroot are also common.

* '''Form:''' Salve.
* '''Description:''' This greasy, pale ointment has an odour of rotting wood. It is quickly absorbed into the skin, and it tastes of rancid fruit.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' If you are an orc, you become aware of a reservoir of magical power that lies just out of reach. If you push yourself, if you can gather sufficient power, you could achieve anything, change anything, create anything. If you are human, you are vividly reminded of times when you feel you failed yourself or others, and times when other people let you down. It is easy to feel guilty, or lash out at others, but the idea that anyone might be able to make amends for their mistakes feels alien and naïve.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' If you are an orc with the magician skill, you gain two additional [[Magical_skills#Extra_Mana|personal mana]]. Whether you are a magician or not, this counts as a [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|source of spiritual strength]] to overcome [[roleplaying effects]]. If you are a human, the potion has no mechanical effect. The effects - mechanical and roleplaying - last until the end of the next skirmish, quest, or battle, or until sunrise, whichever comes first. This is a [[Potion#Tonics|tonic]]; the effect of any other tonic you have drunk immediately ends.
* '''Recipe:''' Two drams of [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]], and one dram each of [[True Vervain|true vervain]] and [[realmsroot]].

{{PotionTable|Runa's Gift}}
[[Category:Potions]]
[[Category:Tonics]]

Master Medicinal

2026-06-22T17:24:59Z

Twiggy:

==Overview==
While any skilled [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecary]] can prepare medicinal elixirs, the students of the Master Medicinal learn to make specialist potions that expand on the basic knowledge shared by all students of herbalism.

==Tranquil Nostrum==
This bitter preparation is valued in situations where soldiers must recover quickly from one battle to prepare for another. It speeds natural healing processes, as well as soothing troubled souls and making the drinker pleasantly relaxed and disinclined to be active or aggressive.

In the [[The Marches|Marches]] it is often called ''Tom Drake's Tea'' after the [[Life of Tom Drake|famous general]]. While some herbalists mix a spoonful of honey or sugar with the mixture to counteract the bitter taste, many [[Yeoman of the Marches|yeomen]] prefer to drink it neat, or seasoned with salt. The famous General is said to have commented several times that the taste reminded him that even in victory, war is a bitter business. His constant companion, Friar (later Abbot) Agnes of Stockland, wrote in her journals that the Tranquil Nostrum also helped subdue and control the black moods to which the general was subject after every major engagement.

[[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Varushka religious beliefs|wise ones]] also tend to add salt, and call it ''Bitteroot Tea''. When they administer it, they traditionally ask the patient what wisdom they gained along with their injuries.

In [[Dawn]], the Tranquil Nostrum is often drunk after tourneys. Several households maintain a tradition where an injured noble drinks a toast to the assembled company using Tranquil Nostrum. While many nobles enjoy the attention of a household physick after an engagement, some nobles enjoy the opportunity presented by this preparation to join their companions in boasting and celebrating their victory - or commiserating their loss.

Used in more concentrated amounts, Tranquil Nostrum is a common treatment for the lingering effects of some traumatic wounds.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This yellow-green liquid clings viscously to the inside of the container. It has a sweet scent, but a tiny drop on your tongue reveals it to be extremely bitter, and a little salty.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' You feel lethargic, sleepy and relaxed, disinclined to be active or aggressive.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' This preparation is used to brew a pot of tea. Each person drinking a cup of the tea recovers all lost hits after fifteen minutes of rest and relaxation. There is no effect if the drinker is on a battlefield or similar stressful environment. If the drinker attacks a target or is attacked during this time then the effect is negated. The tea loses its beneficial properties fifteen minutes after being brewed regardless.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram each of [[marrowort]] and [[bladeroot]].

==Maledict's Medicament==
This foul-tasting elixir is favoured not only by those who face sorcerers and enemy magicians, but also by those who expect to encounter [[Druj]] barbarians or the [[Plaguewulf|dark denizens]] of the [[Varushka|Varushkan]] forests. A mouthful of this potion causes momentary retching and dizziness, but purges both venom and weakness. The preparation may also be effective as a treatment for cases of mild poisoning, minor curses or similar ailments.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This deep crimson liquid has a thin layer of scummy froth atop it. It smells unpleasant, and has an oily texture. A drop on your tongue makes you salivate – it is vile and you feel a strong urge to spit the mixture out.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' You feel nauseous and dizzy; you may be overcome with retching and vertigo for a few moments.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You are relieved of both the [[Calls#VENOM|venom]] and the [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakness]] conditions.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram each of [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]], [[bladeroot]], and [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]].

==The Sovereign Specific==
The Sovereign Specific is a potent healing elixir that is often seen as the pinnacle of the apothecary's art. It possesses near miraculous properties; when it is drunk it restores vitality, dulls pain, knits torn flesh and fractured bones, purges venom and alleviates weakness. While it is rare that all of its properties are required by a single patient, it is can be a literal life-saver for a warrior badly beset and far from help.

Among the [[Suaq]] and [[Kallavesi]] of [[Wintermark]] the potion is also welcomed for its versatility - while it is difficult to prepare, it is still a cheaper proposition that carrying doses of multiple potions with more specific effects.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This clear liquid seems almost to sparkle when it is shaken or held up to the light. It smells fresh and a little minty. A drop on your tongue reveals it to have a vibrant, pleasant taste.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' You feel lightheaded for a moment, then refreshed and full of energy, and an incredible sense of wellbeing suffuses you. It is hard not to be filled with optimism and enthusiasm.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' This potion removes the [[Calls#VENOM|venom]] and [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakness]] conditions from you, restores all limbs ruined by [[Calls#CLEAVE|cleave]] or [[Calls#IMPALE|impale]], and restores you to full hits. You may ignore the roleplaying effects of any traumatic wounds you are suffering until the end of the battle.
* '''Recipe:''' Three drams of [[True Vervain|true vervain]], and one dram each of [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]], [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]], [[bladeroot]], and [[marrowort]].

<quote>"Now, woman, we shall see who has the last laugh!"

Jennifer of Adlecombe sagged, her vision blurred. Thanks to the wicked magician's vile incantations she barely had the strength to lift her enchanted greatsword. Her blood burned with the power of his supernatural venom, and she knew she had only seconds left to live. The outlaw sorcerer held his staff defensively before him, keeping her at bay easily in her wounded state.

The thresher sagged, seeming to support herself on her sword, and then in a smooth motion gulped down the potion she had palmed while her opponent gloated. Immediately energy flowed through her tired body, cleansing her of both the magical venom and the malign curse. She surged forward and in a smooth motion cleft the sorcerer's staff into kindling. The sorcerer had no more than a second to gape at his shattered implement before her second strike cleft through his rune-carved belt, lifted him off his feet and sent him sprawling in a spray of blood.

Unlike her prey, she wasted no time on clever wordplay. Her quarry struggled to rise, slipping in his own blood and whimpering as she approached him. She sheathed her sword, drew out a set of mastercrafted manacles and tossed them toward the prone man. Then she slowly took a small green potion out of her pouch and held it up in one hand, shaking it gently to attract the sorcerer's attention.

"Either you can lie there and bleed to death, monster, or you can put these on. The choice is entirely yours."</quote>
{{PotionTable|Master Medicinal}}
[[Category:Potions]]

Legacy of Thorns

2026-06-22T17:24:25Z

Twiggy:

==Overview==
Mastery of these preparations allows the brewing of several toxic substances, which can hamper an enemy's ability to fight. They have been extensively used by the [[Navarr]] since time immemorial, but many societies have their own equivalents. This includes the barbarian orcs of course - the [[Druj]] of the Eastern swamps are known to make extensive use of preparations such as these when battling their Imperial enemies.

Navarr apothecaries have spent centuries trying to develop a thicker version of these venoms that can be successfully applied to arrows, but to date they have made no progress.

In Autumn 382YE, the original three preparations governed by the Legacy of Thorns was expanded to include a fourth - [[#Legionnaire's Stare|Legionnaire's Stare]] - when the recipe was [[Distribute_potion_recipes|distributed]] to Imperial apothecaries by order of the [[Senate]]. This new recipe originally came from a Druj herbal captured during the liberation of [[Reikos]], although an identical preparation was shared with the [[Highguard|Highborn]] and [[Navarr]] as part of a gift of herb lore given to those two nations by the Great Forest refugees as thanks for their assistance establishing themselves in [[Therunin]].

===Blade Venoms===
Three of these preparations are intended to be applied to melee weapons. They cannot be used with arrows or quarrels, and are ineffective when applied to thrown weapons. They are also ineffective when applied to [[Weapons & armour#Implements|implements]] such as [[Weapons & armour#Rods|rods]] and [[Weapons & armour#Staffs|staffs]]. It takes five seconds of [[appropriate roleplaying]] to apply a blade venom to a melee weapon, after which you ''must'' make the appropriate call the next time you hit a target. If ten seconds pass without making the call, the blade venom is wasted.

You cannot combine the call granted by a blade venom with any other combat or magic call; only one call is made at a time.

==Oil of Blackthorn==
Oil of Blackthorn is an effective blade venom, and has seen extensive use by the [[Navarr]] in their battles with barbarians, [[vallorn]]-spawned horrors and hostile outlaws alike. It is considered very useful for dealing with certain creatures of the vallorn-infested forests; such creature often heal at a preternatural rate, but they die just as easily as anyone else when venom is involved. Indeed, the [[vallornspawn husks]] are especially vulnerable to venom, dying very quickly if they are struck with a weapon coated in Oil of Blackthorn. [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Warden|wardens]] made occasional use of this venom for the same reason when fighting certain [[Varushkan Monster#Wolves|monsters]] that display similar vivacity.

Among the [[Highguard military concerns#Unconquered|Unconquered]] of [[Highguard]], this thin, slate-coloured oil is more commonly termed ''Basilisk Ichor''. A common tactic is for a close-combat team to use it on their weapons to enhance the effectiveness of a volley of arrows fired by nearby allies - a tactic that some claim they learnt by watching the [[Navarr]] - although coordinating this manoeuvre is quite challenging even for the traditionally organised Highborn. Darker rumours suggest their ancestors first encountered it from the receiving end, either in some past conflict with the Navarr, or perhaps more likely in the interminable border skirmishes with the barbarian orcs.

Technically, Oil of Blackthorn should be termed ''Oil of Blackroot'' and in parts of [[Varushka]] and [[Urizen]], they prefer to use this name for this toxic paste. It is occasionally used as an ingestive poison, but the benefits of doing so are minimal; the victim tends to recover quickly after they have thrown up, and there are no permanent effects from consuming the venom orally.

* '''Form:''' Oil.
* '''Description:''' This thin, oily paste is the colour of grey slate. If you rub it between your finger and thumb, it has a slick texture that leaves a faint residue behind on your fingers. The oily taste is offensively and deeply unpalatable.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' If you have drunk this oil, you are subject to nausea and painful stomach cramps for the next half hour, although if you vomit or are treated with the [[purify]] spell or by anything else that can end the [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakness]] or [[Calls#VENOM|venom]] conditions, you can alleviate these symptoms early.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' This oil must be smeared on a melee weapon over 5 seconds. The wielder ''must'' call [[Calls#VENOM|VENOM]] on the next blow with the weapon within 10 seconds.
* '''Recipe:''' Two drams of [[bladeroot]] and one dram each of [[True Vervain|true vervain]], [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]] and [[marrowort]].

==Redwillow Paste==
This sticky, rust-coloured paste is called ''Dogman's Slather'' in the [[The Marches|Marches]]. While it is occasionally used by [[The Marches military concerns#Beaters|beaters]], it is more commonly encountered smeared on the spears and clubs of the savage [[Feni]] who occasionally plague parts of [[Upwold]].

Again, in [[Varushka]] and [[Urizen]] it is more commonly called ''roseweald paste'', but the semantics of what to call it are generally considered less important than its effectiveness in neutralising magicians and enemy champions. As with Oil of Blackthorn, this paste can be administered orally - or accidentally drunk when mistaken for another substance - but it has minimal effect that soon passes.

* '''Form:''' Oil.
* '''Description:''' This rust-coloured paste smells faintly of stagnant water. It has a sticky texture if you rub it between your finger and thumb that is hard to get rid of. It has an incredibly sweet, sickly taste that is unappealing.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' If you have drunk this oil, you are subject to the sudden onset of a feverish temperature accompanied by severe sweating, headache, tiredness and other flu-like symptoms that last for the next half hour, although if you vomit or are treated with the [[purify]] spell or by anything else that can end the [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakness]] or [[Calls#VENOM|venom]] conditions, you can alleviate these symptoms early.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Stone Toad herbal extract">
This greenish-yellow salve goes by several names. Each tribe tries to claim it as its own – Waspsting, Toadsweat, Cranesblood, Bloodstinger are all names I
have heard used for it by my fellows - but I learnt it as Serpent Tooth and so that is the name.

Whatever the name, the venom overwhelms the body of a victim and renders them incapable of movement for a short time. It is unfortunately less lethal than true snake venom, but has the advantage that the paralysis it causes strikes almost immediately.

It is superior to mudhoney because it prevents all movement. It does not simply stop a magician casting spells, it prevents them taking any movement at all. It does not simply stop a warrior drawing strength from the ancestors, it stops them striking any blows at all. And it prevents a prized victim running away.

While this venom might appear on the surface to be almost unbelievably powerful, it has two significant drawbacks. Crucially, it is by no means cheap to brew. It requires more herbs than the other blade venoms, and so to be effective it must be used by someone who can target a key enemy to dispatch with it.

It is also a little risky to use this venom if the prey must be captured alive. I have heard of times when the prey died under the effect of the venom – when the paralysis was too extreme. A few times, they stop being able to breathe (although this is rarely fatal given how short lived the paralysis is), but at other times, their hearts simply stop. A Tepel can restart the heart easily enough, but most warriors do not know the secret of doing so and so the prey expires.</quote></div>
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' This oil must be smeared on a melee weapon over 5 seconds. The wielder must call [[Calls#WEAKNESS|WEAKNESS]] on the next blow with the weapon within 10 seconds.
* '''Recipe:''' Two drams of [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]] and one dram each of [[True Vervain|true vervain]], [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]] and [[marrowort]].

==Legionnaire's Stare==
This sticky, yellow-green paste is known as ''Stonespear'' by the [[Great Forest Orcs]], and (among other names) as ''Serpentooth'' by the [[Druj]]. Until very recently, the venom has been largely unknown in the Empire. The common Imperial name comes from the [[Imperial Orcs]] responsible for decoding the original Druj herbal, and making the recipes within available to Imperial herbalists.

The potent blade venom quickly overwhelms a foe, rendering them completely immobile for a short period of time. While they can still shout for help, they cannot work any magic, attack, flee, or even defend themselves allowing them to quickly be dispatched or captured.

* '''Form:''' Oil.
* '''Description:''' This odourless yellow-green paste has a sticky texture. If you rub it between your finger and thumb, it leaves a residue that is hard to get rid of. It has a metallic, earthy flavour that is surprisingly tasty.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' If you have drunk this oil, you are subject to the sudden onset of a feverish chill accompanied by severe sweating, significant lower back pain, and a strong need to urinate that last for the next half hour, although if you vomit or are treated with the [[purify]] spell or by anything else that can end the [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakness]] or [[Calls#VENOM|venom]] conditions, you can alleviate these symptoms early.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' This oil must be smeared on a melee weapon over 5 seconds. The wielder must call [[Calls#PARALYSE|PARALYSE]] on the next blow with the weapon within 10 seconds.
* '''Recipe:''' Three drams of [[bladeroot]], two drams each of [[True Vervain|true vervain]] and [[marrowort]], and a dose of [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]].

==Gutwrench==
This tangy, translucent russet liquid is a nasty ingested poison that can cripple an enemy, allowing them to be easily dispatched. Every now and again a crazed [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecary]] is caught using this preparation to murder a patient under their care by feeding it to them in the guise of a healing potion. It is normally relatively easy to alleviate, but when fed to an unsuspecting victim makes a potent weapon. There is some evidence that this poison was employed by the [[Druj]] in their early dealings with the [[Highguard|Highborn]], and several stories of massacres in the [[The League|League]]'s history where food or drink was tainted with this substance to render enemies weakened and speed the kill.

It is illegal to carry Gutwrench within the Empire.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This translucent liquid has a red-brown tinge to it and sticks viscously to the inside of the container if you shake it. It smells faintly of over-ripe pears and has a faint, tangy flavour.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' As long as you suffer from either [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakness]] or [[Calls#VENOM|venom]], you feel as if your stomach is on fire; you may experience other symptoms including severe sweating, feverishly elevated temperature, throbbing aches in the head and joints, tiredness, agonising stomach cramps, nausea, dizziness and painfully heightened senses that make bright lights or loud noises almost unbearable.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You are subject to both the weakness and venom conditions. These conditions may be removed normally.
* '''Recipe:''' Two drams each of [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]] and [[bladeroot]], and one dram of [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]].

{{PotionTable|Legacy of Thorns}}
[[Category:Potions]]

Double-sided Blade

2026-06-22T17:23:10Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:Potions]]
{{Interdicted|complete set of potions|[[382YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Interdiction|Autumn 382YE]]}}
==Overview==
These preparations originate with the [[Druj]] [[orc|orcs]] (or perhaps with the [[Great Forest Orcs|orcs of the Great Forest]] depending on who one asks). The recipes were originally captured from the Druj during the liberation of [[Reikos]], when the herbal text of the [[Druj_lore#Buruk_Tepel|Buruk Tepel]] of the Stone Toad clan fell into Imperial hands. Originally hidden behind a complex cipher, the book was eventually decoded by Imperial scholars and the recipes within revealed.

In Autumn 382YE, the recipes that comprise the Double-sided Blade were [[Distribute_potion_recipes|distributed]] to Imperial apothecaries by order of the [[Senate]]. along with several other new potion recipes. Known as ''The Endless Struggle'' among the Druj, the potions were also apparently part of the herbal lore of the Great Forest orcs - who know them as ''The Two-bladed Knife'', and shared the recipes with the [[Highguard|Highborn]] and [[Navarr]] as thanks for their assistance establishing themselves in [[Therunin]].

Like the [[Tonics of the Deep Forest]], these preparations grant vigour and health. Unlike the more commonly known recipes, however, these two potions come with unpleasant side effects that make them less than ideal for use by Imperial citizens. Also unlike almost every other known preparation, the potions created by the Double-sided Blade are more effective when consumed by [[orc|orcs]] than when consumed by humans. As with the more familiar potions, the Double-sided Blade preparations are [[Potion#Tonics|tonics]] - meaning that one cannot enjoy their benefits in conjunction with any other tonic.

These flaws potentially limits their usefulness to ethical Imperial [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecaries]], even though they are in theory easier to prepare than the equivalent Tonics of the Deep Forest. Still, as the Great Forest orcs say of the preparations: " “These potions are like the double-bladed knife that strikes at the hand that wields it. When you must cut, you must also be cut. Sometimes your blood is the price for the victory you require.”

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Stone Toad herbal excerpt>'''Warspice'''<br>
Brings warmth, that begins in the belly and spreads quickly through the whole body. Touches the deep rage in the heart of all the people. Urges violence, and calls to mind past wrongs that must be righted with bloodshed.

It grants the ability to endure vicious wounds, but it thins the blood. When the reserve of strength it offers has been depleted, the Abyss yawns. If sunfire has been given to one who is still of value, keep jadeleaf to hand to stave off its hunger or that one may be lost to you.

Beware – the thinning of the blood will react poorly with bloodroot and other similar substances. Seeking to treat that symptom may bring on a potentially fatal seizure.
Give warspice to those warriors whose ability to destroy your enemies is manifest, but who you can afford to lose

'''Corpse Skin'''<br>
Absorbed quickly into the skin, or the gums. Delivers an immediate burst of pleasant euphoria. Recipient is distanced from pain and discomfort.

The user can endure powerful wounds with ease, but there is a cost. Their sense of self is muted – their ability to fight is not affected but they cannot draw on the inner fire that is the mark of the true warrior, nor wield magical tools, nor work the arts of the ghulai.

Where it is of most value is with the green recruit, the worthless warrior or the slave. These warriors lose nothing by having their power curtailed, and their value on the battlefield is greatly enhanced by an additional ability to endure blows, and absorb wounds that might otherwise find more valuable fighters.

Furthermore, the salve creates an urge to submission, meaning it has some value in restraining the wild of spirit and the unruly. It might be used as a punishment for the foolish – denying them their strengths and sending them to fight is a risky move however. It is at its most useful though when applied to those who are already weak of will, however.

Be cautious with this salve. If its effects are removed too soon they may cause the users heart to still, at least for a moment, and the Abyss to reach for their spirit.</quote></div>

==Warming Armour==

"Warming Armour", as it has been dubbed by the Imperial Orcs, provides a significant increase to personal strength, to the ability to endure fatal wounds, but at some cost. When consumed by an orc, it is comparable to [[Tonics_of_the_Deep_Forest#Ironblood_Tonic|Ironblood Tonic]] in effectiveness, but where that potent preparation dulls emotion and reduces interest in other people, this potion inflames passions and encourages the imbiber to violence - and to thoughts of bloody [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Vengeance|vengeance]].

Furthermore, it significantly thins the blood - so much so that while it helps the drinker resist fatal wounds for a time, when they do eventually succumb to their enemies, they quickly bleed out and die. Worse, anything that interrupts the progress of the potion can potentially result in a fatal aftershock that kills the drinker.

This potion is apparently know as ''Warspice'' among the Druj and the Great Forest orcs. The orcs of [[the Mallum]] apparently use it extensively to empower reckless - and by extension expendable - warriors and unleash them against their enemies. The Great Forest orcs are more cautious in its use, but seem prepared to employ it when the odds are against them and victory is more important than survival.

* '''Form:''' Liquid.
* '''Description:''' This deep crimson liquid is oddly warm to the touch. It has a strong, spicy odour and taste.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' You feel a warmth in your belly that spreads quickly throughout your body. You feel an urge to take bloody, violent revenge on anyone you feel has wronged you.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You are subject to the [[Calls#VENOM|VENOM]] condition. If this condition is removed prematurely, you immediately drop to 0 hits. If you are an orc, you also gain 3 additional ranks of [[Combat_skills#Endurance|endurance]]. If you are a human, you gain 2 additional ranks of endurance. The effects last until the end of the next skirmish, battle, or quest or until the VENOM is removed. This is a [[Potion#Tonics|tonic]]; the effect of any other tonic you have drunk immediately ends.
* '''Recipe:''' Two drams each of [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]] and [[True Vervain|true vervain]], one dram each of [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]] and [[marrowort]].

==Weakening Sun==
The Imperial Orcs have dubbed the salve that the Druj know as ''Corpseskin'' and the Great Forest orcs call ''Oakenshield'' as ''Weakening Sun''. Applied to the skin of the face or hands, it brings a rush of pleasure that slowly diminishes but does not fade completely until after the other effects of the salve have worn off. This rush of pleasure could potentially lead to addiction in individuals prone to such behaviour. Worse, while the salve helps the user endure savage wounds, it also diminishes their "sense of self". They become prone to obeying those they perceive as more important or powerful than themselves without question, and it brings a kind of foggy confusion that makes it impossible for the user to wield magic, employ [[magic items|crafted items]], or [[Heroic skills#Hero|exert their will]] to take action.

Like ''Warming Armour'', Weakening Sun has potentially lethal side effects. If the pleasant weakness it causes is prematurely removed, the sudden rush of returning sensation and awareness can overwhelm the subject causing them to suffer a potentially fatal seizure.

* '''Form:''' Salve.
* '''Description:''' This thick dark-blue salve is oily to the touch and absorbed quickly by the skin. It smells strongly of fresh, uncooked meat.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' You feel a burst of euphoria that slowly fades but never goes away. Painful or uncomfortable sensations are muted, and you feel an urge to submit to anyone who you feel has authority over you.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You are subject to the [[Calls#WEAKNESS|WEAKNESS]] condition. If this condition is removed prematurely, you immediately drop to 0 hits. If you are an orc, you also gain 3 additional ranks of [[Combat_skills#Endurance|endurance]]. If you are a human, you gain 2 additional ranks of endurance. The effects last until the end of the next skirmish, battle, or quest, or the WEAKNESS is removed. This is a [[Potion#Tonics|tonic]]; the effect of any other tonic you have drunk immediately ends.
* '''Recipe:''' Two drams each of [[marrowort]] and [[bladeroot]], one dram each of [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]] and [[True Vervain|true vervain]].

<box>'''Removing the effect prematurely'''<br>Where Warming Armour and Weakening Sun refer to removing a condition prematurely, they mean that removing the venom or weakness (as appropriate) before the end of the next skirmish, battle, or quest causes the target to immediately drop to zero hits and begin to die. It does not matter if the effect of the tonic is removed - so drinking an [[Tonics_of_the_Deep_Forest#Ironblood_Tonic|Ironblood Tonic]] will still replace all the other effects of this potion - but this does ''not'' remove the venom or weakness. If that venom or weakness is then removed, the character still drops to 0 hits if they have not completed a skirmish, battle, or quest since they consumed the Warming Armour or Weakening Sun.</box>
{{PotionTable|Double-sided Blade}}
[[Category:Potions]]
[[Category:Tonics]]

Apothecary Potions

2026-06-22T17:22:11Z

Twiggy:

Every [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecary]] knows how to mix these five essential preparations. They allow the drinker to gain medicinal aid without needing the personal attention of a [[Surgical skills#Physick|physick]].

==Anodyne Analgesic==
Replacing the more cumbersome ''Anodyne Embrocation'', this potent elixir numbs pain, and helps clear and focus the mind of the drinker. The philtre is not without its dangers; while it allows the imbiber to overcome many of the effects of a traumatic injury, it does nothing to actually treat the effects of such wounds. More than one soldier has dropped dead after using the potion to allow them to ignore a serious condition that required immediate medical attention. It can also be used to alleviate the symptoms of painful medical conditions such as inflamed joints, arthritis and rheumatism, but the cost of doing so with a potion tends to place this option outside the reach of all save the most wealthy.
* '''Form:''' Philtre.
* '''Description:''' This dark blue elixir has a gritty, slightly sandy texture. It smells strongly of freshly cut grass. Put a tiny drop on your finger or your tongue, and the tip quickly becomes numb.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' The liquid numbs the pain of your injuries, and provides an invigoration that quickly clears your mind.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You can overcome the [[roleplaying effects|roleplaying effect]] of a single [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] of your choice until the end of the current engagement.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram of [[marrowort]] and one dram of [[True Vervain|true vervain]].

==Bloodharrow Philtre==
A thin, slightly toxic elixir that harrows the blood of the one who drinks it. After a moment or two of agonising pain, the body is purged of venom, and of some minor poisons.

* '''Form:''' Philtre.
* '''Description:''' This translucent red liquid has tiny white particles suspended in it. It has a spicy scent, and a tiny amount on your tongue or your finger tingles unpleasantly for a moment.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' Pain spreads rapidly through your body; you feel as if your blood is on fire. After a moment or two, the pain fades.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You lose the [[Calls#VENOM|venom]] condition.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]] and one dram of [[marrowort]].

==Elixir Vitae==
This potent healing elixir captures the essence of [[True Vervain|true vervain]] to restore health and vitality. It is a common preparation in the Empire, carried by warriors and healers alike, and many can identify the clear, slightly sticky liquid on sight.

* '''Form:''' Philtre.
* '''Description:''' This translucent liquid is tinted a pale blue-green. It has a clean, fresh scent. A tiny drop of the sticky fluid on your tongue or your finger tingles pleasantly for a moment.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' A warm glow spreads quickly through your body, removing pain, revitalising your spirit and creating a sense of enormous well-being.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You regain up to three lost hits.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram of [[True Vervain|true vervain]] and one dram of [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]].

==Feverfail Elixir==
This elixir drives out the lingering effects of enervation. It is occasionally useful in treating symptoms that include excessive tiredness or dizziness.

* '''Form:''' Philtre.
* '''Description:''' This translucent grey liquid smells faintly of spring flowers. A tiny drop of the thick, syrupy fluid on your tongue causes a grimace - it tastes a little like spoiled milk.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' You feel nauseous. A dizzying chill spreads through your body, leaving you incapacitated for a few moments. Both effects clear as quickly as they arose, leaving you feeling revitalised.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You lose the [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakness]] condition.
* '''Recipe:''' One dram of [[bladeroot]] and one dram of [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]].

==Ossean Solution==
For centuries, the ''Ossean Balm'' was used to rapidly restore ruined limbs. Recently, however, a method of distilling the essential power of that salve into liquid form was perfected by Navarr apothecaries, giving rise to the Ossean Solution. When the philtre is drunk by someone who has been seriously injured, with more than one limb crippled, it tends to repair the limb that is most advantageous to the imbiber - a feature that intrigues some apothecaries. There is fierce debate in some circles about how the potion "knows" which limb to heal - how it knows that someone wishing to flee needs their leg repaired rather than their arm for example. Most apothecaries and physicks simply shrug and point out that this is just a tendency - that there are also harrowing stories of the philtre restoring the "wrong" limb with tragic consequences.

* '''Form:''' Philtre.
* '''Description:''' This thick, odourless, blue liquid has a gritty texture. When you rub it between finger and thumb it leaves a crusty residue that soon flakes away. It tastes disgusting.
* '''Roleplaying Effects:''' You feel a numbness spreading through the flesh of your ruined limb as the torn ligaments and broken bones fuse together.
* '''Mechanical Effects:''' You regain the use of a single limb that has been ruined by [[Calls#CLEAVE|cleave]] or [[Calls#IMPALE|impale]].
* '''Recipe:''' One dram of [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]] and one dram of [[bladeroot]].

<box>'''Older Potions'''<br>
In the past, these powerful philtres were brewed as less concentrated preparations, and were liquids or salves. In character, new recipes have been introduced and embraced by apothecaries that make the process of brewing these old potions obsolete.

Any player who has one of the old potions, represented by a laminated slip, can bring it to GOD and swap it for one of the new philtre cards.</box>
{{PotionTable|Apothecary Potions}}
[[Category:Potions]]

381YE Winter Solstice Conclave sessions

2026-06-22T17:19:36Z

Twiggy:

==Preperation==

===Precedence and the Font===
*'''The basic font at this summit was 122 mana.'''
*'''The income from the Principle of Proportions at the previous summit was 130 mana.'''
*'''The remainder from previous seasons was 3 mana.'''
The members of each order in attendance at the end of the previous summit determine precedence for the following summit according to the [[Principle of Precedence]]. The income of mana following the previous summit is listed above and was distributed as per the table below. This left 3 mana, which will be added to the font to be divided at the end of the next summit along with the income from the Principle of Proportions at this summit.

<table class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable"><tr><th>Order</th><th>Precedence</th><th>Members</th><th>Mana</th><th>Ilium</th></tr>
<tr><td>Golden Pyramid</td><td>1</td><td>79</td><td>58</td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Shuttered Lantern</td><td>2</td><td>72</td><td>52</td><td>3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Rod and Shield</td><td>3</td><td>65</td><td>47</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sevenfold Path</td><td>4</td><td>55</td><td>40</td><td>2</td></tr>
<tr><td>Unfettered Mind</td><td>5</td><td>33</td><td>24</td><td>1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Celestial Arch</td><td>6</td><td>25</td><td>18</td><td>1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Silver Chalice</td><td>7</td><td>18</td><td>13</td><td>1</td></tr>
</table>

==Process==
__TOC__
===The Imperial Titles of the Conclave===
The full list of Imperial Titles held in the Conclave at the end of the summit can be found [[Archive:381YE_Summer_Solstice_Imperial_titles|here]].

The following Imperial Titles were declared by the Conclave during the summit.
*'''Emilia''' was appointed as the [[Archmage]] of [[Winter]] following the Friday session.
*'''Fabienne of Vexille''' was appointed [[Archmage]] of [[Spring]] following the Saturday session.

In meetings of the members of the appropriate orders, the following Grandmasters were appointed.
*'''Zephyr de Rondell''' was appointed [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Rod and Shield]].
*'''Reichard Callan Remidos von Holmaur''' was appointed [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]].

===Changes of Sorcery===
* Eudaemon and Aurelia of Halcyon Spire were declared sorcerers.
* Gui of House Vexille was reconciled with the Conclave.

===Changes of Amity and Enmity===
* The eternal Zakalwe has been granted amity.
* The eternal Ylenrith has acquired enmity.
* Gilean, Herald of Llofir has ceased to exist and been removed from the roster of amity.

===Conclave Declarations===
Records show that 10 declarations were made during the Friday session, and 10 were made during the Saturday session. The details of these declarations and their outcomes were as follows: when a declaration is not one of Concord, its text may have been edited for standardisation purposes.

====Friday Session====
{|
|'''Speaker || '''Declaration of...''' || '''The Imperial Conclave declares''' || '''Outcome'''
|-
| Proxy Archmage of Day || Enmity || that Ylenrith shall have enmity against her. || Passed
|-
| Kyra of Halcyon Spire || Sorcery || that Eudaemon of Halcyon Spire is a Sorcerer. || Passed
|-
| Simargl, the Empty One || Amity || that Sadogua shall have amity towards him. || Failed
|-
| Emilia || Candidacy || that Emilia is the Archmage of Winter. || Passed
|-
| Erasmo di Tassato || Concord || that Conclave requests the Senate reviews the laws regarding sorcery and ensures they are in line with the Constitution. || Passed
|-
| Kyra of Halcyon Spire || Sorcery || that Aurelia of Halcyon is a Sorcerer. || Passed
|-
| Vandale the Enchantress || Candidacy || that Vandale the Enchantress is the Archmage of Summer. || Failed
|-
| Raewynn Farkas || Dissemination || that the ritual text "Dance of Navarr and Thorn" shall go to Axos. <br>'''10 Thrones provided by Raewynn Farkas after Winter Solstice''' || Passed
|-
| Mercutio Ankarien || Candidacy || that Mercutio Ankarien is the Dean of the Lyceum. || Failed
|-
| Asenath || Reconciliation || that Gui of House Vexille is no longer a Sorcerer. || Passed
|}

====Saturday Session====
The Conclave made the following Declarations:
{|
|'''Speaker||'''Declaration of...''' || '''The Imperial Conclave declares''' || '''Outcome'''
|-
| Aquillian || Imperial Lore || that [[Infant_Starts_with_a_Blank_Slate|Infant Starts With A Blank Slate]] should be added to Imperial Lore.<br>'''10 Thrones provided after Winter Solstice''' || Passed
|-
| Volfe of Ashenhall || Concord || Irra Harah is allowed to aid those in need throughout the Empire, so long as he does not sow discord, preach heresy, or break the laws of the Empire. || Passed
|-
| Raewynn Farkas || Endowment || that the 2 mithril held by the bursar be granted to the Silver Chalice. (CS: TBD?) || Passed
|-
| Marcus Endsmeet || Concord || that Reed is allowed to conduct a second Audit of the Empire. || Failed
|-
| Gabriel Barossa || Amity || that Zakalwe shall have amity towards him. || Passed
|-
| Mord of Auric Horizon || Concord || Thank you to Sadogua for protecting the Halls of Knowledge. || Passed
|-
| Romande Remys || Candidacy || that Romande Remys is the Archmage of Spring. || Failed
|-
| Fabienne of Vexille || Candidacy || that Fabienne of Vexille is the Archmage of Spring. || Passed
|-
| Rhode Scarlet Guard || Concord || the Empire will gift a copy of "the Mountain Remembers Its Youth" to a foreign nation of Prospero's choosing. || Failed
|-
| Stormchaser || Candidacy || that Stormchaser is the Archmage of Spring. || Failed
|}

===Conclave Addresses===
Records show that 15 addresses were made during the Friday session, and 12 during the Saturday session. Per protocol, the titles of addresses are not recorded.

===Principle of Proportions===
155 mana was collected in accordance with the Principle of Proportions. This means that, including the existing remainder, 158 extra mana will be distributed at the next summit along with the basic font.

[[Category: Conclave]]
[[Category: Conclave Sessions]]
[[Category: 381YE Winter]]

Still Waters, Running Deep

2026-06-21T23:26:19Z

Twiggy: /* Effects */

==Rules==
{{Season|Night|29}}
===Performing the Ritual===
{{Casting time|2}} {{Target Character}}

{{enchantment}}

==Effects==
The target gains three additional [[Heroic skills#Hero points|hero points]].

They also experience a powerful [[roleplaying effect]]: ''they feel a strong urge to change the world and the people around them, to make it and them 'better' in some way. They become frustrated by those who cling to tradition, custom or the status quo.''

An [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] target experiences an additional roleplaying effect: ''you are more likely to hear your [[Imperial Orcs religious beliefs#Ancestral Voices|ancestors]] while under this [[enchantment]].''

{{Season Duration}}

===Additional Targets===
This ritual can affect additional characters from the same [[Groups#Banners|banner]]. Each additional character increases the magnitude by 22. Additional characters must be present throughout.

==Description==

Where [[Embrace the Living Flame]] spurs the passion at the heart of a hero, ''Still Waters, Running Deep'' encourages them to look at the world around them and see how it might be changed for the better. All the stories of heroes contain a seed of change, claim the [[Kallavesi]] [[Wintermark magical traditions#Mystics|mystics]] who first made extensive use of this ritual. Even the best villains seek to enact change; the difference between a good person and a bad person is the nature of the change they wish to enact, As with crafted items such as the [[Ironbrand Thorn]] or a [[Runemark Shirt]] it is most effective when it is used to [[enchantment|enchant]] someone who either already possesses a reserve of passion and heroic drive, or who is armed with a [[Labyrinth's Gate]] or similar item that can be 'powered' by the ritual.

Some ritualists view the ability to [[Heroic skills#Cleaving strikes|inflict savage wounds]] or [[Heroic skills#Get it together|restore fighting spirit]] to be a secondary importance next to the effect the ritual has on the spirit of a target. When they focus on making the world ''better'' in some way, a person becomes more like a legendary hero, more likely to achieve timeless deeds that will inspire those who see them or hear about them - potentially for many generations. Some students of Night lore see this relatively simple ritual as a way to create a more profound change. In [[Urizen]] especially, the ability for one person to inspire others to action is very powerful. Even without other uses, the ability to steel the will and resist outside influences is sometimes useful in its own right; anyone can benefit from the ability to overcome malign spiritual forces, even if it is only for a short time.

The Kallavesi, [[Imperial Orcs]] and [[Highguard|Highborn]] who use this ritual often see it as creating a bond between the target and a hero of the past, ancestral spirit or even past life. Orcs in particular have spoken of feeling more connected to their ancestors when they are under the effect of this ritual (for good or ill).

==Common Elements==
This ritual often involves consuming a drink, especially spiced or mulled wine, or consuming a narcotic of some sort. Fire is a common element; weapons may be wielded, especially as part of a dance; drumming, which begins at a slow tempo and accelerates or the singing of energetic, loud songs also work well with this ritual.

[[Imperial Orcs|Imperial orc]] ritualists often include items of [[Worth]] taken from inspirational ancestors, to try and draw those spirits to aid the target, even if they are not an orc. [[Highguard|Highborn]] ritualists may speak of past lives, or inspirational [[Paragons and Exemplars]] as well as heroic figures from stories and history. [[Kallavesi]] [[Wintermark magical traditions#Mystics|mystics]] evoke the spirits of ''those who sleep in [[Kallavesa]]'', and often include a draught brewed from swamp-water as part of the ritual. Other ritualists follow similar themes - naming inspirational figures, especially relatives or members of the same [[Noble House]], [[Family]] or [[Marcher household|household]]

Symbols of [[Pride]] and [[Ambition]] are often used, as are scenes that inspire or exalt the audience; the rune [[Zorech]] is often used with this ritual, but [[Tykonus]] is a close second. The Eternal [[Janon]], the ''shadowed fire'' is often evoked during the performance of this ritual, especially through impassioned drumming accompanied by frenzied dancing.

[[Category:Night Ritual]]
[[Category:Rituals]]

More love, less paperwork

2026-06-21T17:28:38Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:381YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Maria sighed somewhat theatrically. She turned her head slightly, stepped back a step, made a face.

"You don't like it then?" Asked Prince Luija, amused.

"It's very ... red." She said carefully.

"Yes yes," Luija waved her hand airily. "But does it not make your heart swell with Pride?"

Maria considered, frowning slightly. With expert ease Luija snagged some finger food from a passing tray, and handed one to her companion.

"Fascinating. Even the hors d'oeuvres are red," she mused to nobody in particular.

"I think my problem," said Maria carefully, "is that nothing in this room tells me I should be proud of my heritage or my nation or even my Empire."

She gestured to a painting of the recently completed Colossus of Sarvos - allegedly a statue of some historical Temeschwari, but quite clearly a depiction of Merchant Prince de la Lupe with his hands on his hips. "What I am mostly feeling is that, gosh, isn't Lorenzo de la Lupe rich and influential? And doesn't he look good with his hands on his hips?"

Luija snorted, and coughed crumbs, and choked slightly on a pork-filled canapé. Maria thumped her Prince discreetly on the back.

"Quite. Anything else?"

"Hmmm. I find I'm also wondering how I, a solid citizen of Tassato, can become as rich and influential as this Temeschwari banker so that ''I'' can commission giant statues and art galleries celebrating my brilliance?" She slid her eyes sideways and added after a moment "And the brilliance of our guild, of course."

Luija smiled a crocodilian smile.

"Yes. Yes indeed. You have hit the rat with the shoe, as they say on the other side of the river." She waved one hand. "We're Tassatans. I think I speak for most of us when I say we tend not to get very impressed by things other people have done, so much as inspired to outdo them. Nothing here makes me Proud - but a great deal here makes me Ambitious ...."</ic>

==Overview==
The Butcher's Bank of [[Temeschwar]] has facilitated trade throughout [[the League]] and beyond for over a hundred years. From humble roots offering small loans exclusively to the literal butchers of Temeschwar, it soon diversified and expanded its banking services. Today, the Butchers Bank has an excellent reputation as a sound, secure and trustworthy institution, with several previous Masters of the Butchers Bank appointed as [[Master of the Imperial Mint]].

The current Master of the Butchers Bank, and Treasurer of the Bloody Butchers of Temeschwar, is the famous (and sometimes infamous) Merchant-prince Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar, who has been at various times custodian of the [[Fortress of Salt]], overseer of the [[Regario Dossier]], and [[Civilian Commissioner]] for the League. His recent building works have put his name - and the name of his Guild - to the lips of citizens in all four League cities, wherever rich, influential, or [[Ambition|ambitious]], individuals gather together.

Work nears completion on the Bloody Red Roads that will link the entire League together like never before. A grand Colossus broods over the port of Sarvos, drawing sightseers from across the civilised world. Three of the League cities now have "blood red" structures that serve as places of pilgrimage, celebrating what it means to be a League citizen. All these projects - and many others - can be traced back to the deep pockets and limitless ambition of La Volpe - the Fox of Temeschwar.

==Blood Red Recognition==
* '''The various monuments to Pride built by La Volpe inspire more than a single virtue, and the League assembly may embrace that.'''
The [[Lorenzo's Legacy#The_Bloody_Great_Theatre|Bloody Great Theatre]] in Temeschwar (or the Grand Temeschwari Theatre if you want to be ''official''); the [[Lorenzo's Legacy#The_Blood_Red_Quays_Art_Gallery|Blood Red Quays]] art gallery in [[Sarvos]], and the [[Lorenzo's Legacy#The_Blood_Red_River_Museum|Blood Red River]] museum in [[Tassato]] are intended to serve as monuments to the [[Pride]] of the League.

Some visitors have argued, however, that these great works are not places of pilgrimage for those Proud of the works of the League, but monuments to the Ambition of Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar. Others disagree - they clearly celebrate the [[Prosperity]] of the Bloody Butchers guild; or they represent an unmistakable expression of [[Loyalty]] - giving to the nation without desiring recompense. Regardless, the tenor of the conversation is that these structures are not solely about Pride - or rather that by inspiring Pride, they inspire the people of the League to be Ambitious, Prosperous, and Loyal - because that is what it means to be a citizen of the League.
<quote by="Synod Mandate, League Assembly">The works of Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar stand as testaments not to a single virtue, but to everything it means to be part of the League. The Imperial Synod sends ''named priest'' with 25 doses of liao to encourage individuals across the League to embrace the inspiration of the Bloody Butchers; where others build cities, we build our nation."</quote>
If the League national assembly successfully passes this mandate then the Blood Red Quays, the Blood Red River, and the Bloody Great Theatre will become places that inspire the people of the League regardless of their attitude to the Virtues. They will divide their additional votes in the Synod and their additional [[liao]] to ''any'' League priest whose [[congregation]] is in that territory, regardless of dedication.

Furthermore, if Lorenzo is recognised as an inspiration to the League in this fashion, then for the next year there will be an [[opportunity]] to construct a similar great work in [[Holberg]] - provided it's construction is overseen by Lorenzo in the same manner as the other three (an art gallery, museum, or performance space appropriate to the League with the same unmistakable stamp of La Volpe, his virtue, and his guild).

As with the other places of pilgrimage, building the structure would require a [[commission]], 15 wains of white granite, 5 wains of weirwood, and require 5 Thrones for labour. The structure would take three months to complete, it would provide a pool of 30 votes in the Imperial synod and 15 additional liao spread among the congregations in Holberg overseen by priests of the League. ('''OOC Note:''' without an opportunity like this, it is not possible to construct a great work that provides liao or votes).

==Blood Red Roads==
* '''The first leg of the project to build highways linking League cities is nearing completion.'''
Perhaps the most ambitious work that La Volpe has initiated is the scheme to build great roads linking the four League cities - the Blood Red Roads. They are currently due to be completed at the Spring Equinox 382YE, and in addition to linking the League cities together they will also bring prosperity to the [[territory|territories]] through which the roads pass.

As the roads near completion, their presence is already drawing attention. Some [[business|businesses]] are relocating to take advantage of the swift transit routes they represent, while newly come-of-age citizens or those seeking a change in circumstance are choosing to start new concerns in places the roads pass through, knowing that they will see a steady stream of customers.

The roads represent a massively ambitious undertaking, on a scale not really see in the Empire since the time of [[Empress Aenea]], the Builder. After two years work is very nearly complete ... on the first leg at least. Lorenzo's next stage is to extend the roads even more, to connect [[Mitwold]], [[Hahnmark]], [[Miaren]], [[Karov]], and [[Madruga]] (or more properly the cities of Meade, Kalpaheim, Seren, Delev, and Siroc). While Lorenzo himself may not be an [[Paragons and exemplars|exemplar]], the roads (and his various other projects) can still be seen as ''exemplary'' - the kind of deeds that a future exemplar might undertake.

<quote by="Synod Mandate, General Assembly">The Blood Red Roads will connect the people of the Empire and make them stronger. This project is one of the most Ambitious in Imperial history. It demonstrates the Benevolence of Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar, and will stand as a lasting Legacy. We send ''named priest'' with 25 liao to encourage the faithful to aid in this endeavour.</quote>
If the General Assembly passes this mandate, then over the next season a number of faithful will join the engineers and roadbuilders working on the project, greatly speeding the final leg of construction. Rather than being completed for the start of the Spring Equinox 382YE, the roads will be completed just before the Winter Solstice 381YE. Furthermore, if this mandate were successfully raised and executed, there may be further opportunities to encourage Imperial citizens to assist in the completion of the second phase of the project.

===A fly in the ointment===
There is one potential obstacle that cannot be overcome by any amount of engineers, roadbuilders, or priests. The [[Druj]] have invaded [[Semmerholm]]. The Bloody Red Roads run - or rather ran - through [[Semmerholm#The Gate|The Gate]] to reach [[Holberg]]. After destroying that [[fortification]], the [[orc|orcs]] have largely withdrawn - but this still places one leg of the roads in a precarious position. If the Druj conquer [[Semmerholm#Estmure|Estmure]], they will effectively cut Holberg off from the rest of the Empire - which will likewise cut them off from any benefit the roads would provide and could also, potentially, remove or reduce the economic benefits felt in Semmerholm itself.

==Bloody Great Statue==
La Volpe's final major construction effort is the [[Sarvos#The_Colossus_of_Sarvos|Colossus of Sarvos]] - a seventy-five foot stone statue on a granite plinth twenty-five feet high. It is apparently built in the shape of the First Butcher (the founder of the Butchers' Bank of Temeschwar) - although anyone who has ever met him knows that it looks considerably more like Prince Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar than anyone else. Ironically many residents of Sarvos have begun to mistakenly believe it is in fact a statue honouring [[Aldones di Sarvos]], the renowned paragon of Ambition. In the end, it hardly matters - it is a truly inspirational structure.

If the League assembly passes either of the previous mandates then another opportunity becomes available. It would also become available in the event that one of the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|virtue assemblies]] of Ambition, Loyalty, Pride, or Prosperity were to [[Recognition|recognise]] Lorenzo as an exemplar (or as a paragon, of course).

In the event the mandate were passed by the Assembly, it would immediately become possible to pass a further mandate.

<quote by="Synod Mandate, League Assembly">Lorenzo Macelliao von Temeschwar is a true inspiration, and the colossus of Sarvos serves as an inspiration to the virtuous people of the League. The Imperial synod sends ''named priest'' with one dose of true liao to consecrate the colossus to the virtue of (Ambition, Pride, Loyalty, or Prosperity) in recognition of its inspirational nature.</quote>
If the League national assembly were to pass this mandate, the named priest would be able to consecrate the Colossus with a dose of [[liao#True Liao|true liao]]. While the spiritual effects of consecrating such a large structure are likely to be minimal in the grand scheme of things, with the use of a dose of precious true liao, those who visited the statue could not fail to be swayed by its power.

The immediate effect would be to greatly increase the influence of the Colossus, increasing the bounty of coin the [[great work]] provides to the businesses of Sarvos from 900 rings to 1350 rings each season. It would also secure the statue's status as a true wonder of the known world.

This would not count as an [[inspirational location|memorial]] - Lorenzo is still very much alive and presumably has many more ambitious projects to undertake - but would ensure that his renown spread quickly though the Empire and beyond. In the event of his death, it is likely the colossus will become a place of pilgrimage for those seeking to learn more about the League, the Empire, or the virtues.
===Limited Opportunities===
The opportunities to speed the completion of the Blood Red Roads, and to declare the various theatres and museums as inspirational to the people of the League is only available during the Autumn Equinox. The opportunity to consecrate the Colossus of Sarvos is available as soon as the prerequisites are met (even if that does not happen during the Equinox), and remains available until the situation changes in some fashion.

<quote by="Pearl Bailey">A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive.</quote>
==Resolution==
<quote by="General Assembly Mandate">The Blood Red Roads will connect the people of the Empire and make them stronger. This project is one of the most Ambitious in Imperial history. It demonstrates the Benevolence of Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar, and will stand as a lasting Legacy. We send Jonah Yakovitch with 25 liao to encourage the faithful to aid in this endeavour. </quote>
With this [[mandate]], the General Assembly [[More_love,_less_paperwork#Blood_Red_Roads|recognized the value]] of the Blood Red Roads, and encouraged support from the faithful to finish them ahead of schedule. All things being equal, the [[great work|grand project]] will be completed shortly before the Winter Solstice 381YE.

While a mandate was raised in the League National Assembly by Irada von Temechwar to recognise the wide [[More_love,_less_paperwork#Blood_Red_Recognition|inspiration of La Volpe's works]], it was not upheld.

The opportunity to consecrate the Colossus of Sarvos was finally undertaken by Astrid von Tassato after the Spring Equinox 383YE.

Over western hills

2026-06-21T17:15:28Z

Twiggy:

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:386YE Winter]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=On western hills.jpg|caption=The Marchers fight to defend the Mournwold against the return of the Jotun.|align=right|width=600}}</div>{{audio|link= https://youtu.be/DOltN7mko9I}}
==Set It In Stone==
{{PDFLink|align=right|link=File:Over western hills.pdf|caption=Click for pdf version}}
Before the Autumn Equinox, the Empire fought desperately to hold the Mournwold. The [[Tusks]] were at the forefront, leading an alliance of [[Wintermark]] and [[Navarr]] armies. They were [[The wild wind rises|pushed back]], and the Mourn fell to the western orcs. Now the Jotun have dominion over the 'wold, controlling the rich regions of [[Mournwold#Greensward|Greensward]], [[Mournwold#Ore Hills|Ore Hills]], [[Mournwold#Chalkdowns|Chalkdowns]], and [[Mournwold#Southmoor|Southmoor]]. For thirty years Jarl Haakon ruled here, as representative of King Gudmundr and the southern Jotun. Now his banners fly once again over the [[market town]] of Sarcombe.

They have taken four regions, the south and the east, but the Jotun are not done. Barely resting to regroup, their assault continues. They are absolutely uncompromising; ten armies push the Empire on every front, seeking nothing less than to see the entire Mournwold under their control. Tens of thousands of Jotun united in an [[Army orders#Overwhelming Assault|overwhelming assault]]. By their side fight nearly ten thousand warriors [[Knights of Glory|drawn from the Summer realm]], from the [[Eleonaris|Fields of Glory]], revelling in the fray and exulting in each clash of sword and shield. They seem almost to want to drive the Empire from the Mourn by force of will as much as by strength of arms. “''We are here'',” they seem to say. “''And we plan to stay''.”
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Stanley Of Chalkdown, General of the Tusks"><small>Jacks of the Tusks! The ground shakes with the tread of 60 thousand boots, yet is still between our braced feet. We stand stalwart with the Granite Pillar in our disciplined defence of our land, our hearts filled with the loyalty shown by the Imperial host that even now sweeps into Southmoor and traps the Jotun onto our bills. Jarl Haakon claims dominion over our fields and hills, yet here we stand defiant! Twice he has failed and thrice he shall fail again! The peerless kinship of the Empire will be the blow that breaks the Jotun!</small></quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Sychar, General of the Granite Pillar"><small>Granite Pillar! The mourn calls for aid, and we shall answer. For generations, the Marchers have laboured with loyalty, feeding the Empire. Now we repay that debt with the steel of our virtue in a strategic defence. Let the words of our synod and the swords of our armies ring with one voice. As written in statement 117, the synod marches with us in spirit, let us be united! We march not just to reclaim land, but to defend the soul of the Empire. With courage and vigilance, we shall be an unconquerable fortress. Let us bring the warmth and light of the way to those who shiver in darkness. To the Jotun, I say: Jarl Haakon! The Mournwold is the Empire's and we will never forsake it. Yet the Jotun are a people of honour meet us openly on the field of battle with Courage and Pride as true warriors should. This war will end in our victory for we fight for the salvation of souls. we are inevitable. Crusade! Crusade!</small></quote></div>
Yet the Marchers – human and orc alike – do not quickly bow their heads to tyrants. They remember those long years of durance, of backbreaking labour, of the contemptuous ''noblesse oblige'' of their Jotun conquerors. They resist, and grimly pay the price for their rebellion. The miners of Ore Hills and Freemoor in particular continue to fight against the invaders, even though the orcs technically command the rich hills of central Mournwold [[The_wild_wind_rises#Objective:_Rescue_the_Miners|Thanks in part to Imperial heroes]] their rebellion spreads, continuing to vex the barbarians at every turn.

The Jotun armies of Kalsea and Narkyst seem united in their goal, but there are cracks in their wall of fire and steel provided one knows where to look. When Imperial heroes came to the aid of the Ore Hills miners, they also defeated three respected [[The_wild_wind_rises#Objective:_Defeat_the_Summerborn_Champions|Summerborn champions]] - Hrafnir Yrelson of the Fell Hammers, Froda Ulfsune of the Mandowla's Roar, and doughty Dagna Thundrasdottir of the Shield of the Mountain. This display of the Empire's strength has shaken the certainty of the Jotun a little, challenged the resolve of those that fought beneath their banners. Some of the warriors from those three armies seem more interested in proving themselves against Imperial troops at the cost of their overall strategy to conquer the Mournwold,

The knights of Eleonaris, the warriors of the Fields of Glory, fight on both sides in this conflict. There may be as many as twenty ''thousand'' heralds and [[Inhabitants of the realms#Drudges|soldiers]] of Summer in the Mournwold this season. Some have the aspect of humans, others of orcs, but the majority are clearly supernatural beings from another world - elfin knights in scarlet plate or crimson chain, fey goblinfolk with bandy legs and goldenwood spears, leonine beasts whose melodious voices sing hymns of battle and glory, and swift scouts mounted on black stags with spreading antlers. They show the same eagerness when fighting alongside the Empire against the Jotun as they do when fighting against Imperial troops alongside the barbarians. They show no sign of remorse when they cut their kinsfolk down, and everywhere they exult in the splendour and the chaos. Some worry that the presence of so many knights is having an adverse effect on the soldiers that fight here, on both sides, encouraging them to take foolish risks in the hope of inspiring songs and stories about their grandeur.

The Mandowla's Roar in particular throw themselves into the fray in [[Army_qualities#Glorious|pursuit of glory]], perhaps seeking to reassure the warriors of Eleonaris that fight at their side that they are still worthy of her favour despite the defeat of Froda Ulfsune. They are perhaps too quick to engage, too slow to retreat when they are outmatched, and they pay a price in blood for their boastful pride.

In the main, though, all the Jotun armies seem dedicated to crushing the Imperial defences, presenting an irresistible wave that sweeps into [[Mournwold#Freemoor|Freemoor]], and lays siege to [[Mournwold#Landskeeper's Bulwark|Landskeeper's Bulwark]]. Against this tide of blades, this storm of fury, the defenders of the Mourn are hard pressed to stand their ground. The [[Quiet Step]], [[Bloodcloaks]], and the [[Green Shield]] fall back, an orderly retreat eastward to resupply and regroup. The [[Tusks]] remain, however, and for a long three days they hold Landskeeper's Bulwark against the invaders by themselves, until the [[Granite Pillar]] arrive from [[Casinea]] to bolster their defences.

While the other hard-pressed armies that stood against Jotun conquest may have retreated, the Empire has not given up on the Mournwold. The Granite Pillar work alongside the Tusks to organise the defences, strengthening the garrison of Landskeeper's Bulwark and establishing a strong centre for Imperial resistance. Together the [[Army qualities#Discipline|disciplined]] Highborn and Marcher soldiers gather intelligence, studying the aggressive Jotun strategy for every chink and crack that their allies can exploit. They form a firm foundation for the fight in the Mournwold, refusing to cede any more of Freemoor, and forcing the Jotun to lay siege to Landskeeper's Bulwark if they wish to claim the region.

That combined foundation of defence and intelligence proves invaluable in the face of the Jotun tide. In the hills of Freemoor, the numerical advantage of the Jotun is blunted a little – there are only so many warriors that can attack Imperial defences at one time.

The Tusks' stubborn refusal to quit the Mourn helps fan the flames of rebellion, with people inspired by the example they set for the people of the 'Wold. If the people respected the Tusks, and their general, before now many of them nurture a fierce love for those who fight under the boar-head banner. ''“They are the army of the Mourn,”'' people say. ''“Let nobody doubt it.”''
==The King's Kind Offer==
The forces in Freemoor are brave, there is no doubt. But they cannot stand against the Jotun. They are outnumbered, and it is clear that they are going to be overwhelmed. Landskeeper's Bulwark will fall, the armies will be forced back into Miaren or Tassato. The battlefields will be scattered with Imperial dead, and there will be nothing to show for it save a slowing of the Jotun advance. Yet they still fight, still hang on, still grasp for every advantage they can. Their enemy cannot help but respect them for it, even as they press them back step by step through the hills of Freemoor, even as a third of the Jotun forces turn their attention to the conquest of [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] and [[Mournwold#Green March|Green March]]. History will remember this brave stand, and the terrible price the Empire paid to slow the Jotun.

One cold morning a month after the Autumn equinox, King Gudmundr, Jarl of Jarls, leader of the southern Jotun, sends a messenger under flag of truce to Landskeeper's Bulwark offering to discuss terms of surrender. The Imperial armies will be free to retreat, given a day to collect their dead and wounded and gather their forces for a retreat from the Mournwold. Unspoken, behind the words, is the Jotun assurance that if they do not accept this offer they will be utterly crushed. Landskeeper's Bulwark will be destroyed, and the outcome will be the same – save that thousands of Imperial soldiers will die who could otherwise have lived to fight another day.

The defenders of Freemoor ask for time to discuss the offer, and they are given a day. The Fist of Ulven, the Skjaldirborn, the Howling Night, and the Mandowla's Roar make camp in the hills below the fortress to await the Empire's response.
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Storms and Hammers.jpg|caption=The Imperial Orcs fight shoulder-to-shoulder with the Marchers once again.|align=right|width=600}}</div>
==The Other Shoe==
A keen-eyed [[beater]] on the walls of Landskeeper's Bulwark marks the arrival of a messenger at the King's camp, sees the chaos that erupts in their wake. Watches as the Howling Night break camp, near five thousand orcs and their fey allies marching south even as the sun is falling into the west. The news spreads quickly through the defenders of the keep, and a sense of grim satisfaction follows in its wake.

A second Imperial force has entered Mournwold, passing swiftly through western forest of [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]], and attacked the Jotun in [[Mournwold#Southmoor|Southmoor]], laying siege to the town of [[Mournwold#Sarcombe|Sarcombe]], and threatening to cut the vital supply lines out of [[Liathaven]].

The [[Bounders]] and the [[Drakes]], with the [[Imperial Orcs]] of the [[Summer Storm]] and [[Autumn Hammers]] at their side, cut through the light woods on the borders with [[Mournwold#Green March|Green March]] and into the north-west hills of Southmoor. The [[Strong Reeds]] remain behind in [[Bregasland]] – maintaining their vigil over the orcs at [[Bregasland#Gravenmarch|Graven Rock]] and their Summer allies, ensuring that they cannot turn their attention to the Imperial forces moving into the Mournwold for fear of losing their ill-gotten fortress and control of [[Bregasland#Gravenmarch|Gravenmarch]]

The Marches and the Imperial Orcs have fought together in the southern Marches many times, and they make good time through Alderly. They find the orcs somewhat unprepared for an attack through the woods. The barbarians are expecting an attack from Kahraman, or Tassato, rather than Bregasland and Mitwold. Yet the western barbarians are born to war, and they respond quickly to this new threat. They adapt to the change of circumstance, rallying around to fight the newcomers bent on a daring strike at the root of the Jotun presence in the Mourn.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Mary Birchsmith, General of the Bounders"><small>Marchers, we steadily Advance into Southmoor area of the Mourn against the Jotun. We fight with Loyalty to our nation and our Empire. Our Imperial friends stand with us, we are not alone, we will work together, we will regain our land, together.</small></quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Tancred of Meade, General of the Drakes"><small>Drakes, you smashed the ships that come up the river Meade but the Marches still bleed. I know that you are tired but until Marcher land is safe, we cannot sleep. You've proven your loyalty to Mitwold, now, show the rest of the nation how loyal you are to them. Tancred will lead us to another victory into the Mourn, where we will crush the Jotun and give the Mournwolders back their land.</small></quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Amberlain P. Black, General of the Strong Reeds"><small>Folks heroes of the Reeds! With Loyalty in our hearts we answered the call of our folk. Our actions have Inspired Loyalty in the hearts and souls of the marcher armies and for the first time ever our neighbours are bound together, oathbound in the defence of our land. But before we rise to the aid of our neighbours. We must lay low and root out in our own fields. So to ground Reeds! To ground in Loyalty! To ground and haunt their steps!</small></quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Irontide Skorr, General of the Summer Storm"><small>Legionnaires of the Summer Storm. We have been called to aid in the Mournwold. With the clarity of the Day realm, we go on a Steady conquest to fight the Jotun once again. Be vigilant and Wise. Be Courageous and Loyal. Watch out for each other.</small></quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Vana, General of the Autumn Hammers"><small>Autumn Hammers, we march to Mournwold through Mitwold and avoid Graven Rock where the Jotun walls are high. Our eyes turn to the Jotun armies and the land they have taken in the Mourn. Form up and push the Jotun back in Steady Conquest. Reinforce the shields. Force them Back.</small></quote></div>
The Imperial armies pushing down through Alderly move steadily, cautiously, but with an unstoppable momentum. They are ready to give ground in one place to gain advantage in another; above all they [[Army_orders#Steady_Conquest|fight to preserve life]]. The Jotun may welcome a glorious death in battle, but Imperial soldiers do not have that luxury.

==Straight to the Heart==
The armies skirt the heart of Alderly - while the [[feni]] may [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#The_Rattle_of_the_Bones|be gone]], the Marchers know better than to push their luck in the deeper forest - and push down into Southmoor. Their aim is Sarcombe; control the town and control of the region and even the territory follows swiftly after. They find the Jotun waiting for them; both the Lion of the North and the Shield of the North, under the command of Queen Yrsa Jansdóttir, Jarl of Jarls, Monarch of Kalsea. The Queen is a clever strategist; keenly aware that she needs to meet the Imperial advance and turn it back into Greendown and Alderly, she leads her warriors in an all-out attack against the intruders.

War erupts across the hills of northern Southmoor; at first the Empire has the advantage but once news of their presence spreads the Queen's forces are reinforced by warbands and generals moving to protect the supply lines. The campaign balances on a knife edge, neither side able to claim a decisive victory. It may be that the two forces will fight each other to a standstill, neither able to gain the advantage.

While the Howling Night marches to reinforce Southmoor, the focus of King Gudmundr remains in the north, focused on Freemoor and the fortress there. Other Jotun armies seem more interested in pressing the rebels of the Mournwold, scouring Ore Hills and Chalkdowns to try and stamp out the guerrilla fighters who resist Jotun domination.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Zadok, General of the Valiant Pegasus"><small>From Feroz we march north to Southmoor in the Mournwold. We seek to liberate Southmoor from Jotun Domination, but you will not fight alone. The whole of Highguard marches with you. You will see the Granite Pillar marching in from Casinea, shining in the sun, and the Seventh Wave sped by great ritual magics from the distant front of Ayereed will join us in a unified highborn crusade against the tyrant Jotun! The Synod marches with us in Spirit: Judgement 117 calls for a united crusade of loyalty to aid the people of the Mourn. The people of the Mourn, Human and Orc, have laboured and toiled alone for too long. They are part of this Empire and our bond of Loyalty should be forged in the Iron of the Ore Hills. Bring the healing arts of the Valiant Pegasus, both body and spirit, to these worthy souls and trust they will respond in kind. Foster the bonds of loyalty wherever you go. "Let us bring the warmth and light of the Way to those who Shiver in Darkness" - Judgement 117</small></quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Melkior of Balthazar’s Vineyard, General of the Seventh Wave"><small>March now with the winds of Autumn at your back. March to the Mourn and attack into Southmoor with a Triumvirate of Highborn armies in a crusade of Loyalty through unity. Let us be united with the people of the Mourn and warm their hearths with virtues caring light. Show them that the Empire's arrival need not herald the death of family and friends, but the healing and anointing of a fractured Empire. Let us bring the warmth and light of the way to those who shiver in darkness. Follow statement 117 of the synod and let our words and swords speak with one voice. Crusade! Crusade and bring judgement to the mourn! Scouts of the Wave, endeavour to approach the Jotun command with a flag of parley and present them with our poetic statement of intent: "Saga's Birth through virtues dawning light; Warming hearts and hearths, Fuelled through the dawning light of virtue. Birthing Sagas."</small></quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Determination of Ice Kaisa, General of the Narwhal's Spear"><small>Spears, the Mourn needs aid! Let us be a swift strike in the Jotun's advance. Icewalkers find our path through the enemy, mediators learn of your foe. Take forth the story of your General to tell as you find respite; how Determination of Ice defeated one of Cathan Canae's Jotun champions and forged a bond of Heroism and honour. Let them know we have come to fight and add to our heroic tale. Jarl Haakon, we are coming!</small></quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Dame Aurum De Castellan, General of the Eastern Sky"><small>Eastern Sky, I too long to return to the East to defend our homes, but our cousins in the Marchers need our aid. So with Loyalty in our hearts let us give the Jotun the flame of Virtue and wage a glorious battle that will be sung of long after we are gone.</small></quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Jean d'Apulian, General of the Wolves of War"><small>The Morn is Imperial, this Empire will reclaim it. I Invite Janon's Heralds to witness professionals at work. Captains let the chains that binds and the promised pay see you join us. Take to the streets of Sarcombe, clear our these "honourable" tyrants. Nothing Fancy, let's get to work.</small></quote></div>
Then another Imperial force crosses the borders of the Mournwold. Coming up into Southmoor from [[the Brass Coast]] are the [[Valiant Pegasus]], the [[Narwhal's Spear]], the [[Eastern Sky]], and the [[Wolves of War]]. The League army is heavily supported by [[military unit|independent captains]], [[Bound by Common Cause|united despite their differences]] by [[Autumn magic]], as well as a cadre of crimson-skinned battle dancers shrouded in black leather and crimson silk who bring the fiery passions of the [[Janon|Shadowed Flame]] to any who will fight alongside them.

They are joined at the last moment by the [[Seventh Wave]]. The third Highborn army has crossed the entire Empire to join the battle in the Mournwold, thanks to a [[Find the Best Path|powerful Autumn enchantment]]. They should be exhausted from their [[Army qualities#Fast|forced march]], but Loyalty and Courage give them the strength to fight despite their long march.

As the armies secure the southern border and strike north toward Sarcombe, the [[Suaq]] of the Narwhal's Spear launch foray after foray against their foes, striking deep into the hills and crossing the Greensward to harry the Jotun forces seeking to reinforce the Queen's position at Sarcombe. They also seek to learn as much about their foes as they can. With the [[Clarity of the Master Strategist|supernatural clarity]] of the [[Realm#Day Realm|Day realm]] at their command, the [[Icewalker|Icewalkers]] and [[mediator|mediators]] of [[Wintermark]] work closely with the other Imperial armies, forming a vital liaison between the defenders at Landskeeper's Bulwark, and the Marcher and Imperial Orc armies coming down from the north, as well as spreading their network of eyes and spears across the front where they can do most good.

These new arrivals are enough to put a thumb on the balance, to turn the tide, and the Jotun know it. The King pulls his forces away from Landskeeper's Bulwark, marching south, but the hills are in the way and time is against him.
==Two Fronts==
The first major confrontation of the war takes place at the Miller's Crossing, a village in Southmoor on the edge of Alderly. Queen Yrsa's troops suffer a crushing defeat, forced to retreat and then retreat again. From that point the Jotun cede more and more ground as they fall back toward Sarcombe.

On the other border, the Jotun fight bitterly to prevent the southern Imperial strikeforce from establishing a beach head here. The Winterfolk, Highborn, League, and Dawnish forces are at a disadvantage, but their courage and commitment to victory means that they, too, force the Jotun forces back toward Sarcombe.

By the end of the second month, the fighting has reached as far as the market town, and the Jotun prepare to stand their ground. A great encampment spills out around the walls, as the Jotun armies prepare to defend their hold over Sarcombe whatever it takes.

The walls of the market town have been reinforced by Jotun engineers, clearly intending to transform them into a full-scale [[fortification]], but the work is far from finished. It is clear, though, that the Jotun hold on the town and the surrounding hills is iron-strong and will prove difficult to break before the Winter Solstice – and the worsening weather – force a lull in the hostilities.

The barbarians have not counted on the bravery of the Mournfolk, however.
==Battle of the Oakleaves==
One cold morning a group of folk the Jotun think of as thralls – humans and orcs working together – throw open the gates and let the Tusks and the Bounders into Sarcombe. The rebels aid the attack wherever they can, sowing confusion in the Jotun ranks by setting fires, attacking sentries, and raising a great hue and cry that echoes across the town. The resistance don leaves taken from the Old Oak, turned gold and copper by the Autumn. Some fight, with weapons they have hidden from the Jotun or supplied by the miners of Ore Hills. Others offer less martial support – healing, provisions, knowledge of the town. Even those who cannot fight join in, beating pots and pans giving voice to a powerful [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs#Rough_Music|rough music]] aimed at the Jotun. The orcs are taken aback, clearly believing they had broken the spirits of the thralls in Southmoor.

The fighting spreads through Sarcombe, spilling out into the neighbouring hills. By late afternoon the barbarians are again pushed back, abandoning the market town, regrouping near the ruins of the old fort of Hillstop above the town. As evening draws on, they retreat conceding Sarcombe to the Empire.

Control of the market town has become something of a symbol of power in the Mournwold, and neither side wishes to see it in ruins. Yet the best of intentions do little to shield a place when war comes to it. In the aftermath of the Battle of the Oakleaves, the Sarcombe Register, the Bounder's Hall, the metal market, the ancient tree that stands at the heart of the market town, all are marked by the fighting. They bear their new scars with pride.

There are too many dead – Imperial soldiers, Jotun warriors, and citizens of Southmoor lie scattered in the streets. The fury of the day gives way to sorrow, as the dead are mourned, the butcher's bill tallied. There is little time to weep, however. The war continues and even though they have lost Sarcombe, the Jotun show no sign that they consider themselves beaten.

==A Slow Walk To Morning==
After Sarcombe, the Empire has the upper hand in the Mournwold, but only just. As news spreads across the territory that the town has been liberated, it further strengthens the spirit of the Marchers. More of them turn out to support the rebels fighting in Ore Hills and Chalkdowns. Many wear oak leaves, in memory of the brave rebels of Southmoor. The Narwhal's Spear is able to make contact with several of these groups and offer a little support in their endeavours. The chaos spreads across the Mournwold.

The Jotun continue to fight, and twice the tide of war washes back toward the town, leaving the walls breached and battered. In the north, the Fell Hammers and the Mandowla's Roar make a spirited attempt to storm the walls at Landskeeper's Bulwark, but are turned back. The Night Howlers and the Southern Bear make a desperate strike into the woods of Alderly to try and sever the Imperial supply lines, but the Narwhal's Spear lead their forces astray in the dark woods, and the Drakes launch a counterattack that sees the Jotun eventually abandon their plan to press into the forest. The Jotun continue to press, but they fail to reclaim their momentum.

In the end, battered on two fronts, slowly losing their grip on the people of the Mourn, King Gudmundr and Queen Yrsa meet in the hills south-west of Sarcombe. The following day the Jotun armies start to pull back from the Mournwold, retreating west into Liathaven. This is no rout, but clearly a carefully considered strategy. Rather than risk being cut off in Mournwold by the loss of the supply lines passing through Southmoor, the armies draw back. There are still plenty of Jotun fighting the defence. The rearguard Mandowla's Roar in particular seem loath to quit the field while there are still Imperials to fight, and the warbands of the Jotun champions quickly turn to swell their ranks as they seek glory in battle against their Imperial peers. Yet in the end, even the Mandowla's Roar will not disobey the orders of the Jarl of Jarls and they quit Mournwold, defeated.

Not ''everyone'' follows the commands of the King and the Queen, however. Jarl Haakon refuses to leave the Mourn again. Once he ruled here, and it is clear that he has no intention of retreating despite the Imperial forces ranged against him. Nobody knows where the story starts – perhaps a Bounder overheard it, perhaps a thrall brought it with them into liberation – but the tale of Jarl Haakon's refusal quickly spreads in the Mourn. The old warrior faced the King and the Queen and simply refused to leave. “Here I stay,” they say he said. Queen Yrsa frowned, but King Gudmundr embraced his kinsman, and prayed that the faðir would watch over him while he kept the hearth fires burning in the Mournwold.

Then Haakon and his household withdrew from Southmoor to the stronghold at Farstrider's Watch in the Greensward, to prepare to hold the remaining Jotun lands in the Mournwold against the Empire. Many of the Jotun champions went with him, while the Jotun armies began their march out of the Mourn and into the western woods.

Imperial forces pressed close on their heels, harrying them as they went, and tearing out the last vestige of Jotun control of Southmoor. As the Winter Solstice dawns, an uneasy peace settles over the Mourn – for the moment at least. With the conquest of Southmoor, the Empire one again controls the territory but their hold is precarious. By threatening the Jotun supply lines, they left them with a choice between being surrounded in central Mournwold or retreating to reconsider their strategy. They chose the latter, but there is no indication they have abandoned their ambition to reclaim the Mourn.

Between the Imperial forces in Freemoor, and those assailing Southmoor, six thousand soldiers have fallen in battle along with an unknown number of resistance fighters. The Jotun have clearly paid a higher price, their strategy of overwhelming force and reticence to give ground leaving many dead or isolated in the dangerous hills.

While the armies have quit the field to regroup, the Jotun have not fully abandoned the Mourn. Farstrider's Watch serves as the new hall of Jarl Haakon and his allies. They will fight to keep the remaining regions of the Mournwold from the Empire, and they are supported by an unknown number of champions. Outnumbered and outclassed, they will surely need to be dealt with before the rest of the Jotun forces return to reclaim the liberated territory.

For now though, the Mournwold is Imperial again, even if the war is still far from over.
==Game Information==
===Mournwold===
* '''The Empire has conquered Southmoor, and with it gained control of the territory'''
* '''Jotun armies have retreated into Liathaven but there is still significant barbarian presence in the territory'''
* '''Jarl Haakon refuses to leave the Mourn and has raised his banners over Farstrider's Watch on the Greensward'''
The Empire has driven the Jotun out of Southmoor, and conquered the region. Mournwold is once again an Imperial territory – albeit in a precarious position. The [[Senate]] will be able to [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment|assign]] the territory during the Winter Solstice. As with the recent assignment of [[Feroz]], the Civil Service will raise the matter as a procedural motion on Saturday afternoon. If the territory is assigned a new [[Senator]] will be appointed during the Spring Equinox. While it is likely the Mournwold will be assigned to the Marches, there is no legal requirement for the Senate to do so and any Imperial nation is eligible to control the western territory.

Chalkdowns, Ore Hills, and Greensward remain under Jotun control, as does Farstrider's Watch. There is still a significant force of Jotun, including several warbands of champions, in the Mourn under the banner of Jarl Haakon. The Jarl still commands the orcs from the fortification in the Greensward, and there is still a significant military threat here that will need to be dealt with.
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolves at war.jpg|caption=The Wolves of War are supported by soldiers of many nations, bound together in a single cause by Autumn magic.|align=right|width=600}}</div>
===Participation: Oakleaves===
* '''Rebellion spreads in the Mournwold against the Jotun occupiers'''
Any character whose personal resource is in the Mournwold is encouraged to create a story about the rebellious actions taken there. While the impact of the rebellion is narrative rather than mechanical, the actions of Imperial heroes and the generals of the Marches have inspired the people to resist the Jotun occupation as best they can. Some may have taken up arms and fought alongside the miners of the Ore Hills, others might have taken more passive approaches to resistance, but it is clear that the Jotun are going to have their work cut out for them if they wish to exert their control over the Mournwold in future.

===Participation: Knights of Glory===
* '''Eleonaris' knights fought on both sides of the campaign in the Mournwold'''
* '''Anyone whose military unit supported an army fighting in the Mourn may choose to embrace the influence of the supernatural warriors'''
This season, there were twenty thousand or so [[Knights of Glory|knights of glory]] in Mournwold, fighting on both sides of the conflict. Any character whose [[military unit]] supported one of the armies that fought there this season may choose to begin the next event experiencing a roleplaying effect. ''You are filled with absolute confidence; nothing is beyond you if you put your mind to it. Now is the time to act, to pursue goals you have been neglecting. Anyone who questions your prowess must be taught a quick lesson about the foolishness of doubting you.''

Furthermore, if you are a [[changeling]] whose military unit supported one of the armies, you may choose to experience an additional roleplaying effect: ''You feel a yearning to see the Summer realm in all its glory, and the mortal realm seems dull and lifeless in comparison. The company of people who are not changelings or Summer heralds seems tedious and mundane, their concerns petty and limited.'' Such characters may also use their experience of fighting alongside the knights of glory to permanently increase the strength of their lineage.

While you experience either or both of these roleplaying effects, you gain an additional boon: you have one additional [[heroic skills#hero|hero point]]. Once that hero point is used, it cannot be recovered and the roleplaying effect begins to fade. The hero point is gone once you spend it, or at the end of the Winter Solstice. This benefit even applies to characters who do not have the [[heroic skills#hero|hero]] skill - they can use the hero point to overcome a roleplaying effect, or to use any items or enchantments that rely on spending hero points.
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Stalwart Stand.jpg|caption=The Battle of Oakleaves is won, but the war for the Mournwold continues.|align=right|width=600}}</div>
===Participation: Tusks and Reeds===
* '''While they remain in the Mournwold the Tusks gain the benefit of the ''Resourceful'' quality'''
* '''The Strong Reeds maintain the defence of Bregasland'''
* '''A Marcher character whose military unit supported the Tusks or Strong Reeds this season may receive a special benefit if they receive an appropriate anointing'''
Thanks to the [[The_wild_wind_rises#Objective:_Rescue_the_Miners|bold actions]] of Imperial heroes during the Autumn Equinox, the rebellious miners of Ore Hills and Freemoor have thrown their backing behind the army. The example set by the Tusks and their general, in remaining to fight for the Mourn though greatly weakened by the Jotun attackers, has inspired many others to fight against the invaders as well. As long as they remain in the Mournwold - keeping their oath to fight as long as there are enemies here - they gain the advantage of the resourceful quality which allows them to resupply even when there are enemies present.

While the Tusks are defending the Mournwold, the Strong Reeds are protecting Bregasland. The Jotun and their Summer allies continue to control Gravenmarch, occupying the peculiar fortification they have formed from Graven Rock. Several Jotun champions have sought to push out into the marshes proper, but every time the soldiers of the Strong Reeds have been there to neutralise them and ensure they are turned back or left to the tender mercies of the bogs and swamps. The fact the army is here, that it has prioritised the defence of Bregasland over the liberation of the Mourn, is not lost on the people here. While it has not mellowed the attitudes of those who remain critical of the Empire, even the most curmudgeonly cannot doubt the commitment of the army and its general to support and protect Bregasland.

Any [[the Marches|Marcher]] character whose [[military unit]] was assigned to [[Military_unit#Support_Army|support]] the [[Tusks]] or the [[Strong Reeds]] this downtime may choose to gain a special, personal benefit. If they receive an [[Anointing]] of [[Auras_of_Pride#Anointing|Pride]], [[Auras_of_Loyalty#Anointing|Loyalty]], or Hatred before time out on Friday during the Winter Solstice, then in addition to the [[Anointing#Effects|normal benefits]] they will gain one additional rank of [[Combat skills#Endurance|endurance]].

The effect is not magical - it does not register on either [[detect magic]] or [[insight]]. It is likely a result of the powerful hearth magic of the recent oath sworn by the generals of the Tusks and the Strong Reeds and the clear demonstration of their commitment to Mournwold and to Bregasland respectively.

This benefit lasts only as long as you continue to be committed to freeing the Mournwold and defeating the Jotun, or to protecting Bregasland and driving the invaders out of Gravenmarch as appropriate; if your will to do so falters then the bonus rank of endurance is lost and cannot be regained. It is also permanently lost if your anointing is removed or changed to one other than Pride, Loyalty, or Hatred. In any event the benefit will fade along with the anointing, by the start of the Spring Equinox.

This advantage is only available to Marcher characters who supported one of these two armies.

===Highguard===
{{SOP|by=Mael, Highborn Assembly|statement="Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone but by the unity of both". The Great Cathleon is complete, the Barrens liberated and the Druj forced back - but! The great work continues. Across the continent souls wither, crushed beneath the barbarian boot - the citizens of the Mourn, the septs enslaved by the Druj, among others. Let us be united in a new crusade - a crusade of Loyalty! Let the words of our Synod priests and the swords of our armies ring with one voice - let us bring the warmth and light of the Way to those who shiver in darkness.|vote=432-32|when=Autumn Equinox, 386YE}}
* '''The Highborn Assembly has declared a crusade of Loyalty to bring the light of the Way to those enslaved by the Jotun'''
* '''Any Highborn fighting in Mournwold at the event anointed to one of the seven Virtues gets an additional hit point - this is lost first and cannot be regained'''
* '''The Highborn Assembly could enact a mandate to reinforce land claimed by the armies of Highguard from the Jotun'''
* '''If the mandate is enacted then any newly-conquered regions in Jotun territory would be harder for the enemy to retake whilst a Highborn army was present'''
* '''An alternate mandate has been proposed to encourage the Highborn to conquer new territory'''
* '''These mandates are considered to be competing'''
The virtuous spirit of the Highborn people remains undiminished. The extraordinary accomplishments of recent years has [[Full_of_sacred_sound#The_Sticking_Place|swelled the nation's Pride]] and their soldiers have carried that Virtue before them into battle inspiring all who fight with them with their fervour, creating opportunities wherever they fight. '''Mael''' raised a statement of principle in the Highborn Assembly, invoking Loyalty to call for a Highborn crusade to carry the warmth and light of the Way to those who have labour under the rule of the barbarians. This strong statement has been echoed by the [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Highguard|orders of Highguard's generals]]. With the Jotun finally on the backfoot, now is the time for the Empire to turn the tide and bring the Way to the West. The inspiring virtue of Highguard's armies fighting together has created an immediate effect and an opportunity.

Every Highborn under the influence of an [[anointing]] to one of the seven Virtues has one additional hit point while fighting in [[Mournwold]]. This benefit is only available to Highborn characters and only while fighting in Mournwold.

The Empire has claimed three previously unheld territories in the last ten years. Now the Highborn look west, to the Jotun kingdoms of Kalsea and Narkyst, to the wealth along the King's Road and the coast of the [[Sea of Snow]] and the thralls labouring under the tyrant jarls. The [[A stone for a stone|appraisal]] presented by ''Naomi of Virtue's Rest'' last season, especially the suggestion of [[A_stone_for_a_stone#Inflict_a_Major_Defeat|inflicting a major defeat]] on the Jotun has concentrated minds. If a territory is conquered by the Empire, and held against the wrath of the western orcs, then that would demonstrate the strength of the Empire. Further, with the war against the vallorn on the horizon, that would cover another of the steps towards a peace treaty with the Jotun.

With that in mind, ''Timothy, son of Amos'' - a former guardian of the Granite Pillar- has presented the civil service with the following mandate for the Highborn Assembly:

{{Mandate|mandate=The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to encourage the armies of Highguard to defend what we take. Let our loyalty be displayed by both word and deed.|assembly=Highborn Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then any regions claimed by the Empire in a territory of the Jotun (including [[Ashvale]]) will be harder for the Jotun to reclaim whilst a Highborn army is in the territory. The armies would focus on keeping what they had taken by establishing supply lines, fortified camps, and working to bring the local populace onside. Each region would effectively need an additional two thousand strength to claim; twelve [[Campaign_outcome#Victory_Points|victory points]] for the first region in a single season, fourteen for the second region and so on. It would not increase the strength of the Highborn armies for the purposes of increasing casualties or the army disbanding.

'''Eli of the Cenotaph''' has presented the following alternative mandate for the Highborn Assembly:

{{Mandate|mandate=The Vigilant War teaches us to take the fight to our enemies' lands. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to inspire the armies of Highguard to be the tip of the spear that strikes the Jotun heartland.|assembly=Highborn Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then Highborn armies will see an increase in strength when taking an attacking order in [[Hordalant]]. Each army would benefit from an additional one thousand strength, as if supported by ten level one [[military unit|military units]]. It would not increase the strength of Highborn armies for the purpose of that army disbanding. This benefit would be immediate, taking effect following the Winter Solstice 386YE, and last until no Highborn army was taken an attacking order in Hordalant.

Either benefit would function as an ongoing [[Army_qualities#Highborn|crusade]] of the Highborn. Rather than seeking new opportunities for Virtue, the Highborn armies would commit to this crusade until called on by their Assembly to turn again. If either mandate is passed, then Highborn armies won't create a new [[opportunity]] for Virtue to replace, until inspired to do so by an appropriately worded statement of principle upheld by the Highborn Assembly. (Armies on campaign in the campaign season immediately following the summit that a statement of principle is passed would inspire others with their virtue as normal).

==Conjunctions==
{{SOP|by=Bryce the Hare, Marcher Assembly|statement=When the Jotun last occupied the Mournwold, they never took thralls in Alderly - they pushed us up against the trees, but the darkest forest and the people within threw them out. No Marcher living in Alderly has ever been a thrall within it. House Leveret and Alderly offer or hospitality to all those who would reject a Jotun's boot on their neck. Any Imperial soldier that seeks to rest in our lands will find ready a bed and a bowl. The vigilant prepare for threats to come.|vote=90-0|when=Autumn Equinox 386YE}}
===Plough Breaks the Earth (Mournwold)===
* '''A warband of Yegarra are hunting down one of the herbalists of New Longstwick'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''''Bryce the Hare'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for rescuing the villager and stopping the yegarra'''
* '''If the Yegarra are not stopped then ''Einar the Cunning'' will begin to raise a new warband for the Jotun'''
{{AgainstBarbarians}}
During their generation-long rule of Mournwold, the Jotun never quite made inroads into Alderly. They controlled the grasslands beyond the forest and the edges of the woodlands, but they did not go too deep for the woods were dark and full of Feni. The Jotun had yegarra, though, brave or foolhardy enough to make their homes near the edge of the ancient forest. ''Einar the Cunning'' was one of those yegarra who chose to flee with their Jotun masters when the Empire reclaimed the territory in 381YE. Now, Einar has returned to their previous stomping grounds with supporters. Apparently inspired by the acts of Eisa Winterborn, the yegarra has come from the forests of [[Hordalant#Vallorberg|Vallorberg]] to make a name for themselves against the Empire and to reap some level of revenge against those who profited from their losses.

During the Autumn Equinox, the Marcher Assembly voted to uphold a [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_177|statement of principle]] by '''Bryce the Hare''', inviting Imperial soldiers who needed it the chance to rest and recuperate within Alderly. The judgement did not achieve a greater majority, but some soldiers still took the beater up on his offer. It was one of these soldiers, ''Tall Margaret'', who raised the alarm about the presence of ''Einar the Cunning'' and their warband in Alderly hunting down one of the herbalists from New Longstwick. Given that it was the judgement raised by Bryce the Hare that encouraged Tall Margaret to visit Alderly, it is his responsibility to rescue the herbalist and stop the yegarra. If the herbalist is rescued, then it will be once again possible for the [[Wildest_dreams#New_Longstwick_Market|Longstwick Market]] to be commissioned until the end of the Autumn Equinox 387YE. If ''Einar'' is not stopped, then their reputation will begin to spread, and the yegarra will begin to gather like-minded followers to their cause.

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="excerpt of orders from Determination of Ice Kaisa, General of Narwhal's Spear">...Take forth the story of your General to tell as you find respite; how Determination of Ice defeated one of Cathan Canae's Jotun champions and forged a bond of Heroism and honour. Let them know we have come to fight and add to our heroic tale... </quote></div>
===Crown of Swords (Mournwold)===
* '''A Yegarra champion has called out Determination of Ice Kaisa'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''''Determination of Ice Kaisa'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for answering the challenge'''
* '''If ''Halbera Strongarm'' wins the challenge, then they will begin to raise a new warband for the Jotun'''
{{AgainstBarbarians}}
Last season, the general of the [[Narwhal's Spear]], '''Determination of Ice Kaisa''', issued [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Narwhal's_Spear|orders]] encouraging the soldiers of the army to take forth tales of the general's prowess. The [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Scops|scops]] of the army were welcomed with open arms in the reclaimed taverns of Sarcombe and there told their stories of the general who bested a champion of the [[Cathan Canae|Immovable One]]. Whether by dishonest or honest means, this tale has reached the ears of ''Halbera Strongarm''; a would-be champion of the Mistress of Blizzards who wishes to make a name for themselves against the general.

With the challenge laid down and delivered to the Narwhal's Spear by a herald of the Queen of Ice and Darkness, there is a chance now for Determination of Ice Kaisa to meet that challenge and further improve their standing with the Mistress of Blizzards. The terms of the challenge are simple: the general should bring whoever they wish, and the warbands will meet in good, honest combat. Whosoever's warband defeats the other's will be considered the better and will receive a reward in recognition of their victory. If Halbera gains the acclaim of the Breath of Winter, then their standing amongst the Jotun will increase, and like-minded followers will begin to flock to them.

==Not One More Inch (Battle Opportunity)==
A decisive strategic victory was achieved in [[Mournwold]] as autumn turned to winter. The armies of the Empire turned back a Jotun advance that would have seen the end of the [[Tusks]]. Instead it was the orcs of Narkyst and Kalsea that were forced to retreat. Faced with a potentially disastrous situation, the [[Jotun]] withdrew their armies back into the [[Liathaven|forests of Ashvale]].

But not every orc has departed. The garrison of [[Mournwold#Farstrider's_Watch|Farstrider's Watch]] holds firm, and warbands of veterans from the last decade of campaigning in the western Empire hold [[Mournwold#Greensward|Greensward]], eager to clash blades. These warriors are oathsworn to ''Jarl Haakon Gydasson'', the would-be Jarl of the Mourn. Whilst the Empire may have gained dominion over the territory, it is far from being under firm control.

The [[Archmage of Day]] used their power of plenipotentiary to call on the [[Zakalwe|Master Strategist]] to seek aid in bringing battle to Jarl Haakon. Phronesis, the Polemarch of Strategy, makes it clear that Zakalwe is unable to orchestrate such things, but they are able to pass important intelligence to help the prognosticators identify when and where Haakon can be confronted.

On the final day of the solstice, Haakon will be at Old Tam Shaffer's Farm, where '''Nedry Cullach''' went into the [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs#The_Wicker_Man|wicker man]] five years ago. Importantly, this places Haakon outside the garrison at Farstrider's Watch. He is not going anywhere, so if he is not slain there will be more opportunities to kill him in battle in the future, but he is here ''now''

===Objective: Kill Jarl Haakon Gydasson===
* '''Haakon and his closest warriors have been located in the Mourn'''
* '''Engage the Jotun and draw Haakon to battle, he can be identified by his personal battle standard'''
* '''Killing Haakon will bring a potential peace with the Jotun ''one step'' closer'''
* '''It doesn't matter how Haakon is killed, but he must die in battle'''
[[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] recently conducted an [[A_stone_for_a_stone|appraisal]] laying out how to end the war with the Jotun. The first requirement was the death of Haakon Gydasson. The jarl ruled Mournwold when the [[381YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Let_That_Be_Your_Last_Battlefield_(Mournwold)|twin curses]] were unleashed on the territory. The Jarl and his warriors hold themselves responsible for failing to ensure the safety of the thralls living there. Their failure has dishonoured them, and the stain can only be removed by death. For the Jotun to stop fighting the Empire while the Jarl and his warriors still carry this shame would condemn them to the Abyss. They won't do that, they will fight on until the Jarl and all his people have redeemed themselves by dying in battle.

Haakon is accompanied by his closest veteran warriors, patrolling away from his forces in Farstrider's Watch. He will not be in the immediate area of battle, but he is eager for any chance to fight the Empire and will arrive between thirty and fifty minutes after the Jotun are engaged. War scouts might be able to provide further information, but when and where he will arrive cannot be ascertained with absolute certainty. His presence will be signified by his battle standard when he does arrive, the war scouts will provide details of the standard to the Military Council.

All that matters, for a chance at peace, is that the jarl dies fighting the Empire. The Empire's allies do care how he dies however.

====Optional Approach: Heed the General====
* '''Zakalwe would prefer the Empire orchestrate a fitting demise for Jarl Haakon that respects Jotun honour'''
Phronesis asks that Haakon be slain in a manner befitting his status as a brave hero and a good general. To the Jotun, a good death is one where your warband faces off against another of equal size in a clash of honour and steel. Should a notable warrior from Wintermark or the Marches be among those to face off against the jarl, should he be bested in battle by someone he can recognise as a great foe, then Haakon believes his spirit will be worthy of becoming an ancestor.

It won't affect the course of the Empire's negotiations with the Jotun, but Zakalwe favours Haakon and wants him to find the noble death in battle against his enemies. If the Empire succeeds in giving Haakon and the triumphant defeat he craves, they will win Zakalwe's favour, and the eternal will be more inclined to favour them with boons.

====Optional Approach: Regard the Crown====
* '''Basileia would prefer that the Empire kill Haakon's delusions of honour at the same time as they murder the Jarl'''

''Mistress Alabaster'', a herald of the [[Basileia#The_Five_Pillars|Guild of Accountants]] has been observing Haakon since last season, contracted by an unspecified party in the Empire. They point out that Haakon is an implacable enemy of the Empire, a jarl who enslaved hundreds of Marchers that he personally took as thralls. The Jotun's protestations of honour are nothing more than an attempt to force the Empire to fight battles in ways that favour the Jotun. The Empire should give the jarl the send-off he really deserves: an ambush on the battlefield when he is least expecting it, a poisoned knife to the belly, and his body rolled into a ditch.

It won't affect the course of the Empire's negotiations with the Jotun, but [[Basileia]] wants Haakon's delusions of honour stripped from him before he dies. If the Empire succeeds in using surprise, poison or treachery to kill Haakon, then they will win Basileia's favour and the eternal will be more inclined to favour them with boons.

===Battlefield opportunity: Protect Friar Rosemund===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Friar Heggy Rosemund">Come gather! Come listen! I'm not leaving here while that Haakon still breathes! Grab your cudgels and when our folk march out of that Gate, we'll join them and give that damned Jarl a right champion thrashing!</quote></div>
* '''Friar Heggy Rosemund will join the battle'''
* '''Her ministrations have kept spirits up under the Jotun's rule'''
* '''Protect Rosemund and take up her offer of shriving'''
The Rosemunds have roots in the Greensward that date back centuries. Heggy's many connections across the region and her 'can-do' attitude made her a popular figure during the Jotun's long occupation of the rest of the Mourn. Following the fall of Greensward in late 380YE, the cursing of the Mourn, and Nedry's later journey to the wicker man, Rosemund consecrated the site of the general's demise.

Heggy keeps Cullach's Folly, the site of Nedry's death consecrated to Ambition all year round, even though it's now little more than a ring of old ashes. The site has a profound spiritual resonance for Marchers, especially those who feel the weight of their failures bearing them down. Heggy will be heading for the Folly as soon as the battle is joined and invites other Marcher priests of [[Ambition]] to join her there, so that they can boost the fighting spirit of the Marchers.

'''OOC Note:''' The first time a Marcher character spends thirty seconds or more being shrived by Heggy, or another Marcher priest, they will regain up to two expended hero points. A character can only benefit once, and it is not possible for a character to gain more hero points than their normal maximum in this way.

===Battlefield opportunity: Seek Counsel with the Myrmidons===
* '''At the request of the Archmage of Day, Zakalwe has sent his myrmidons to aid the Imperial commanders'''
The Polemarch of Strategy wishes to make clear that the Master Strategist has not been able to help the Empire take the battle to Jarl Haakon. He can provide information to the Empire's scouts and prognosticators, but he cannot control the Sentinel Gate. However, he can provide aid in the battle and is more than happy to do so.

The eternal will support the [[Military Council]] with a pair of his most capable myrmidons at Old Tam Shaffer's Farm. The myrmidons are capable warriors, but more important is their ability to provide counsel and information on the battlefield. They will be happy to give advice and suggestions to any commanders who ask for help. Most importantly of all, the minds of the myrmidons are linked by magic, allowing them to communicate quickly and effectively with each other. A wise commander may be able to find ways to take advantage of their abilities.

===Battlefield opportunity: Investigate an Appearance===
* '''A cloaked soldier has been reported in the area'''
* '''Discover who they are and why they are there'''
War scouts and beaters have noted the appearance of a cloaked soldier - presumably a Marcher - moving along the hedgerows and hilltops near Farstrider's Watch, keeping a vigil over the barbarians that dwell within the walls. None have been able to get close to the soldier and speak with them; a sudden distraction diverts attention, and the figure slips away. There is an opportunity to locate and learn who the individual might be.

===Battle outcome: Divide the Spoils===
* '''There is widespread interest in Haakon's personal effects should he be slain'''

Jarl Haakon is well-equipped when marching to war. He carries several notable magical items into battle, as well as his own personal battle standard. Several parties have made it known that they, or others they represent, have an interest in securing the jarl's effects. Some offer coin, others the promise of a replacement of equivalent value, or a future favour. There is no urgency in deciding what should happen to the objects, or who they should go to. Indeed, the Imperial citizens who claim the items from the dead jarl are well within their rights to simply keep them.

* Zakalwe would like to honour Haakon by displaying his armour in his great hall
* [[Ephisis]] offers payment in orichalcum for the orc's shield
* [[Jaheris]] desires the fallen banner of Haakon as tribute
* [[Callidus]]' greed would be satisfied by being gifted any item, the more valuable the better
* Basileia Brazen seeks any items of worth she can use to gain influence over the Jotun
* A Sarvosian consortium offers to negotiate a considerable sum for the entire collection to be placed in a museum in the city

The miners of the Mourn have also proposed that some of Haakon's personal effects could be taken into the stewardship of the nation. He owns a talisman forged from green iron taken from beneath the Mourn by the orcs. Perhaps it, or another of Haakon's items, could become a fitting [[New_Imperial_titles#Regalia|regalia]] for the new Senator of the Mournwold so that they remember the importance of defending the land?