Empire - User contributions [en]

My soul at liberty

2026-04-22T19:55:33Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Attending the Pact */ Adding the W to Who

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Sumaah]] [[Category:Commonwealth]][[Category:Axos]]
<ic>
The strange bird-faced creature whistled to itself as it approached the desk. Not bird-song, not exactly - the tune was something more human, something more familiar. It was catchy, uplifting in a way. It made Jorgen smile. Days like this were great, much better than when an emissary of one of the Bound turned up or some horror sent by Cornwalker. He needed more days like this.

"Welcome to Anvil, may I help you?" With a normal visitor he would have added the honorific "citizen", but clearly this was no citizen of the Empire. A denizen of the realms - a servant of the Speaker in Dreams he was sure of it. He remembered studying these creatures for his civil service exam.

The creature stopped, almost as if surprised that he had spoken to it. If it had a mouth it probably would have been grinning at him, the effect wasn't quite the same with a beak.

"Salutations. Remonstrations. Ex-pec-tations" It sounded the first few syllables of the last word out, as if tasting the words.

"Welcome to Anvil" Jorgen repeated, unsure of what else to say in the circumstance. The bird-faced creature trilled at him and then carried on as if everything made perfect sense.

"Interlocution. Contribution. Sub-sti-tution."

Jorgen had met Day heralds a bit like this before. All pretentious and constantly spouting synonyms and homonyms as if it made them sound clever. This was something different. Lashonar's strange little bird creature talked as if enjoyed the taste of the words it was saying. As if each syllable were a delicious morsel.

"Presentation. Documentation. Val-e-dation" the creature was dancing round the room, and despite everything its upbeat spirit was infectious. It stopped, produce a letter from it's tattered robes - and placed it carefully on the desk in front of him. He glanced down. Never take your eyes off them they'd taught him, but it seemed safe enough given the circumstances. There was a name on the outside of the letter, it was addressed to the Song of Liberty. He wasn't sure he knew who that was.

Before he could ask for more the bird-faced herald was already dancing towards the door. It exited the room singing the same song it had entered to and this time he couldn't help but join in. ''A deep abiding oath... I love it here around this fire...'' He faltered slightly, unsure of what came next. The bird was gone and the song with it.

Jorgen glanced down - there was a name on the envelope now, he was ''sure'' had not been there a moment ago. Jarrigk Silktongue, the Song of Liberty.
</ic>
==Overview==
As is their right, the tiny nation of Axos has taken the unusual step of calling a meeting of the Liberty Pact. They invited every member of the Pact to submit proposals for amendments to the Pact; the Empire chose not to submit anything, but the other nations have seized the opportunity to advance their own agendas.

To facilitate the meeting, and avoid the dangers of Sumaah and the Commonwealth needing to commit to a dangerous journey when both nations are at war, the eternal Lashonar has agreed to provide the [[Lashonar#Caucus_Forum|Caucus Forum]] to permit delegates to talk to each other without concern for the distances. That will present a few challenges of its own of course, but presumably nothing that can't be overcome.

==Attending the Pact==
* '''The meeting of the Liberty Pact will take place at 19.00 on Saturday in the Caucus Forum
* '''The Voice of Liberty and their aide will be collected from the Hall of Worlds by a herald of Lashonar
The [[Voice of Liberty]] '''Jarrigk Silktongue''' or a representative they appoint, is expected to attend the meeting on behalf of the Empire. Each of the other signatories will send their own Voice, or a proxy thereof. Each emissary is allowed to bring a single aide with them to offer support, but the aides are not expected to directly participate in the discussion. This restriction might prove harder to enforce than the Axou perhaps realised when they chose to use the Caucus Forum given that its patron Lashonar encourages free communication. Regardless of how it plays out, the only Imperial citizen who will get a vote on whether to amend the pact or not is the Voice of Liberty.

As the meeting is taking place in the Caucus Forum, the Voice of Liberty and their aide will be collected from the Hall of Worlds by a herald of Lashonar at TBC. Provision will need to be made to allow access for anyone who is not a [[Magical skills#magician|magician]] - a [[Pauper's Key]] or [[The Ambassadorial Gatekeeper]] for example.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=MagistrateKarkovich.jpg|title=Stanislav Karkovich, Chief Magistrate|caption=Stanislav Karkovich, Chief Magistrate|width=175}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=116_103_7872813_56749560_6.png|title=Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra, Chief Magistrate|caption=Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra, Chief Magistrate|width=175}}</div>
===The Magpie in the Room===
* '''The meeting of the Liberty Pact will take place in the Caucus Forum, a space for communication provided by Lashonar'''
* '''The eternal Lashonar has been placed under enmity by the Conclave'''
* '''Care must be taken to avoid engaging in treason when communicating with an eternal under enmity'''
The Caucus Forum is a boon offered by Lashonar - a special chamber that can be accessed from many different locations as the [[eternal]] desires. When the Axou called the Liberty Pact together there was no issue with the Empire attending a meeting in the Forum - indeed it has been used repeatedly by Imperial citizens over the years. Last season however the [[Conclave]] supported a [[Declaration]] of [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]] against Lashonar [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Lashonar,_Enmity|raised]] by the [[Archmage of Night]] '''Bella Vicente d’Apulian'''. In the words of the Archmage, "''the Unstoppable Gob has to be stopped from spilling our secrets to our foes''."

This presents a conundrum. The Empire believes Lashonar spills secrets to the Empire's foes, and yet a sensitive meeting to discuss the business of the Liberty Pact alliance is taking place under his roof, facilitated by its [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]]. The [[Civil_Service#Imperial_Magistracy|magistrates]] remind citizens that it is not a crime to speak to an eternal or herald that is placed under enmity - provided one is not a [[Sorcery#Sorcery|sorcerer]] of course - but that ''Trading or dealing with an eternal under enmity is illegal and will be investigated as treason.'' Any Imperial citizens who visit the Caucus Forum must be mindful that they are dealing with an enemy of the Empire. They are asked to speak to one of the chief magistrates - either ''Stanislav Karkovich'' or ''Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra'' - before attending the meeting. It has been suggested that the [[Celestial Arch]] consider sending an observer along to such a meeting to ensure that everyone knows what they need to do, or not do, while dealing with Lashonar in its own space.

Likewise, the chief magistrates would like to speak with the Voice of Liberty and their aide after the meeting; there's no requirement for them to disclose the details of the meeting and it is merely an informal chat to reassure everyone that there are no grounds for pursuing an investigation of treason. Again, representation from the Celestial Arch would be ideal, as they are the foremost experts on the complex diplomatic problems of dealing with eternals.

==Agenda==
* '''The Axou have prepared an agenda made up of the amendments proposed by each member of the pact
In line with the Liberty Pact, "''Each member of the Pact will ensure that they have provided information on any issues they plan to raise and provide the wording of any vote they wish the pact to discuss in advance of the meeting''." The [[Commonwealth]], [[Sumaah Republic]], and [[Axos]] have all presented amendments to the Pact they wish to debate and then vote on. As the chair of the meeting, and the signatory that called it, the Axou have arranged the agenda.

The Liberty Pact is not the Senate; as such it is possible for the members to discuss and alter the wording of an amendment during their debate. Only once the matter is voted on is the wording finalised, and nailed down.

===Centring the Way (Sumaah)===
* '''Sumaah seeks to centre the Liberty Pact on the Way of Virtue'''

<quote by="Sumaah">
It is impossible for true liberty to be achieved without the guidance of the Way. Only the Way truly recognises the need for individuals to be free to pursue their ambitions, and only the Way appreciates the true nature of prosperity and the importance of labour receiving just rewards. As such, all signatories to the Liberty Pact will welcome missionaries versed in the Way to spread the true faith and to help people understand the real meaning and importance of destroying the institution of slavery.</quote>

It is notable that the Axou have placed this point first on the agenda. This amendment is likely to be bitterly opposed by [[Axos]] and the [[Commonwealth]]. The former view the Way as an abomination that serves the wicked Creator, while the latter are very careful not to prioritise other religions over the Common Good. One civil servant notes wryly that the Commonwealth desire to remove the Axou from the Pact may prove short-sighted given they would be their staunch allies in resisting this kind of amendment being forced on them by their two virtuous peers.

===Amend Trade Requirements (Axos)===
* '''Axos seeks to change the requirement for free trade with other members of the Pact to a prohibition on embargo'''

<quote by="Axos">The requirement that each signatory to the Liberty Pact enforce free trade with the other signatories should be replaced with a prohibition on embargos between members of the pact. Members of the Pact should trade with each other, but should be free to set their tariffs to best support themselves.</quote>

The [[Voice_of_Liberty#Summer_384YE_Amendments|Summer 384YE]] amendment requires all signatories to the Pact to practice [[Tariffs#Free_Trad|free trade]] with every other member. The Axou are clearly finding this rule onerous - being unable to place [[tariffs]] on trade from the Empire, Sumaah, and the Commonwealth appears to be at risk of overwhelming their vastly smaller economy.

They want to flip the clause, so that instead of requiring free trade, the Pact simply prohibits members from embargoing each other. That would give individual nations the ability to permit free trade or place tariffs as they chose. It is not clear that this will work as well as Axos seems to hope - left to their own devices the Sumaah in particular are likely to demand significant tariffs on any Axou trade coming to them. It is possible that they do not believe they have anything to lose.

===Remove Jarmish Embargo (Axos)===
* '''Axos want to remove the embargo on trade with Jarm'''
<quote by="Axos">The Summer 384 Amendments relating to embargo and free trade should be struck down. The Liberty Pact already says that signatory nations will place economic or trade sanctions of their own choosing on nations defined as slaving nations above.</quote>

The clause embargo trade with the Principalities of Jarm is a significant problem for Axos. They've recently been caught dealing with Jarm in a way that technically violates the Pact, but there's no indication they're trying to apply this retroactively. More likely, they are looking to resume their dealings with the Jarmish wizards if they can.

Their argument is that the Pact should not dictate what level of sanction is applied to any other nation, as long as sanctions are applied. They've also been pretty clear they think the proscription against Jarm is nothing less than the Commonwealth trying to use the Liberty Pact to pursue their own political goals and nothing to do with slavery.

The Commonwealth will fiercely contest any attempt to remove the embargo against the Principalities from the Pact; any argument to get them to endorse such a thing will need to be particularly compelling. It's hard to predict how Sumaah might respond to this and a lot will depend on how their High House of Prosperity is feeling about an outside body dictating their tariffs.

===Condemnation of Large Scale Disasters (Axos)===
* '''Axos want the Pact to expel any member who creates a large scale magical disaster'''

<quote by=Axos>Members of the Liberty Pact will condemn and eject any member found responsible for creating a large scale magical disaster such as the Cold Sun incursion into Lantir.</quote>

This amendment has been placed before the Commonwealth amendment that deals with a similar matter. It has some flaws, mostly in that it doesn't lay out how a member nation might be "found responsible" for creating a large scale magical disaster, nor explain what constitutes "large" in the eyes of the Axos magicians. The Commonwealth would presumably be in favour of this - but a lot will depend on whether they were in fact responsible for the Cold Sun invasion as some rumours suggest. Sumaah is likely to be in favour - they are quite leery of eternal involvement on a large scale.

The [[Civil Service|civil service]] have assessed this wording and are concerned that it is very vague. They do not expect the amendment to pass given the lack of concrete definition, but it might be upheld as a matter of principle rather than a full amendment. They also caution that given [[Death_leaves_us_homesick#Waking_the_Vallorn|recent diplomatic developments]] between Axos and the Empire this is ''likely'' not about Cold Sun at all, but about the threat of the Empire unleashing the vallorn.

===Cold Sun (Commonwealth)===
* '''The Commonwealth calls for Pact members to aid each other against the Cold Sun'''

<quote by=Commonwealth>The Cold Sun represents annihilation. This is an evil on par with that of slavery; it denies living individuals their liberty in a profound way. Members of the Liberty Pact will aid each other in opposing it wherever it makes incursion into the mortal realm.</quote>

The Commonwealth are asking for aid from their fellow pact members to resist the [[Cold war#incursion]] of [[Cold Sun]] in [[A_force_to_be_reckoned_with#The_Lantir_Problem|Lantir]]. There is some room for amendment to their wording - the initial proposal was apparently that the eternals and their servants are a threat to mortal liberty and should be resisted wherever and whenever they stage an incursion into the mortal world. This amendment is an attempt by the Commonwealth to gain allies for its personal struggle with Cold Sun, using the veneer of slavery to justify its inclusion in the Liberty Pact.

While this would benefit the Commonwealth, it would require every member to take reasonable efforts to help anyone else invaded by Cold Sun. Yet the wording is quite vague as to what that aid would involve, and as such it is likely that both Axos and the Sumaah will be cautious about accepting it without clearer expectations being laid out.

===Signatory Status (Commonwealth)===
* '''Commonwealth again seeks to eject Axos from the Liberty Pact'''

<quote by=Commonwealth>The true power of the Liberty Pact is international, and only those nations that wield power on the world stage can truly shoulder that burden. There are any number of smaller nations whose bravery in rejecting slavery should be recognised. As such we propose the creation of two degrees of membership. Members of the Pact will have full rights and voting ability. Signatories will be protected by the Liberty Pact, and have the rights due all members, but will not be permitted to raise amendments, vote, or attend the formal meetings of the Pact.</quote>

The Commonwealth has been unhappy about the involvement of Axos in the Liberty Pact for some time. They have also been of the opinion that it is ''only'' the Great Powers - the Empire, Sumaah, and themselves - who are in a credible position to defeat slavery once and for all. If their amendment passes, all smaller nations will effectively be represented by the great power into whose sphere of influence they fall. Protected and recognised as "signatory" to the pact but without any legal powers to amend it.

Axos will clearly oppose this, given it is an attempt to remove them from being full members of the pact (see below). The Sumaah are likely to be in favour of it, at least initially, but it's not clear how strongly they will support it. The Commonwealth brought up a very similar amendment last time the Pact met and it was rejected. It seems they are not content to let the issue lie.

===Status of Axos (Commonwealth)===
* '''The Commonwealth wish to confirm Axos status as a signatory to the Pact rather than a voting member of it'''

<quote by=Commonwealth>The Liberty Pact recognised the courage of Axos in abandoning the cruel practice of slavery, and thanks them for their efforts so far. However they are in no position to bring the forces to bear needed to defeat slavery and so they should be recognised as a signatory to the pact, not a full member.</quote>

Obviously this amendment is reliant on the previous amendment related to signatory status passing. If the previous amendment does not pass, then this proposal will be defunct.

==After the Debate==
Once the debate and vote is completed the wording of any amendments will be recorded and a copy given to each of the Voices of Liberty. It is then the [[Voice of Liberty#Responsibilities|responsibility]] of the Voice to find a [[Senator]] prepared to present the [[Voice_of_Liberty#Amendment|amendments]] for consideration by the Senate. The [[Senate motion]] must contain the exact wording of any amendment, and is subject to [[Scrutiny]] like any other motion. If it is passed, the amendments become part of Imperial law as normal. If the motion is not passed for whatever reason, then additional meetings of the Liberty Pact will be needed.

With that in mind the Chief Magistrates suggest that as well as discussing Lashonar it might be worth the Voice of Liberty having a chat with them about the amendments proposed by the three other members of the Pact. There are some that look problematic, on which they may be able to offer Imperial legal advice.

It is also important to remember that while the Liberty Pact has the power to determine its own strictures and tenets, the other three nations likewise have bodies of state that will be required to ratify those amendments. The House of the People, the Commonwealth Generals, or the Grand Ilarchs Council all have the power to refuse an amendment to the Liberty Pact. This is most likely to happen if an amendment is pushed through that seriously damages their interests in some fashion. At the point any signatory nation does not agree to enact an amendment to the pact, it will inevitably trigger a crisis that will need to be resolved before the Liberty Pact can go forward. Either an acceptable wording will need to be found, the amendment will need to be struck down, or the conflicted nation will need to leave the Pact.
==Further Reading==
* [[Liberty Pact]]

Quietude

2026-04-22T15:10:38Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Crass Accusations */ Finished a sentence based on supposition, please check

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"Hup" exclaimed Hywel as he boosted Toric into the tree. The Peytaht Orc gripped the high branch that was now just in reach and used it to haul himself up. As soon as he pulled himself on top of the perch, he stood up and leapt to grab the next branch up. It was an impressive feat - Hywel had spent half a lifetime walking the trods through the forests of the Empire, but he was still struck by the way Toric could shoot up a tree like a startled squirrel.

Sometimes his friend would climb a tree just for the fun of it. Not today though - today they were after top fruit. Fresh apples were hard to get. If you were content with windfall, you could pick them a few off the ground, but if you wanted to gather the best apples that would keep for days, you had to go up the tree and get them.

Ten minutes later and Toric's basket was being lowered down to him, three quarter full with apples. He quickly untied it from the hawser and replaced it with an empty one. In less than an hour all four baskets were almost full and he was shouting to Toric to come back down. A good day's haul and there was still time to relax and enjoy a quick meal before they headed back.

He opened his pack, pulled out a thick blanket and spread it out. Fortunately the ground was dry, so it was more for comfort than anything. That and something to spread their dinner on. He returned to his pack and brought out a fresh baked loaf, a wheel of cheese, and a jar of pickle. He popped the lid off the jar to release the heady aroma before he placed it on the makeshift table.

"That smells good!" Toric's voice startled him as he dropped from the bottom branch with a heady thud.

Hywel extended his hand towards the hastily arranged meal. "Well - fair words won't bury grudges as the Marchers like to say."

He laughed as he said it, but Toric looked serious for a moment. "Do they?" he asked. Then before his friend could respond he pressed on. "I thought it was 'Fair words only buy rotten apples'. That's what Dour Allan told me."

"Nah - it's definitely grudges." Hywel shook his head. "No-one buries rotten apples anyway. Come on, lets eat."
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofTheBarrens.png|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
[[The Barrens]] is quieter than it has been in living memory. Not silent, not yet. [[Dawn|Dawnish]] [[noble house|nobles]] and [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]] fan out across the [[territory]] in search of [[glory]] and they make plenty of noise. There are monsters in [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]] and miners in [[The Barrens#The Fangs|the Fangs]] and they make plenty of noise. This season, there is good news from the Barrens, and there is bad news from the Barrens, and both make plenty of noise.

But it is quieter. The stain of [[Druj]] rule is ebbing away. A silent scream is slowly fading. Things are not completely still. Conflict is not yet a stranger to the Barrens. But it is quieter.

There are three remaining septs of orcs in the Barrens; the [[Great Forest Orcs]] in [[The_Barrens#Heart_of_Peytaht|the Forest of Peytaht]]; the [[Not_to_conquer#Rahvin|Rahvin]] in [[The_Barrens#Bitter_Strand|Bitter Strand]]; and the [[Not_to_conquer#Karass|Karass]] spread out across [[The_Barrens#The_Bleaks|the Bleaks]] and [[The_Barrens#The_Untrod_Groves|the Untrod Groves]]. Around them the territory grows more Dawnish by the day. New noble houses are slowly spreading eastward across the wilderness. And in the south the [[Navarr]] fan out from [[Keeper_of_the_Last_Battle|the Last Battle]] - their [[Navarr_wayhouse|wayhouse]] built in the Bleaks has attracted many of the refugees from [[Therunin]].

So not quiet. Not yet. But it is ''quieter''.

==Crass Accusations==
* '''The Karass continue to nurse their grievances and remain widely unpopular'''
* '''Two members of the sept have aided the druj'''
The Karass are not a well-liked sept. The other septs in the Barrens have always loathed them, though many of those are now dead. The [[Not_to_conquer#Vendarri|Vendarri]], who they [[Ripples_and_shadows#Saltmarsh_Redux|murdered in their beds]] after the Empire [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Declare_war_on_the_Vendarri|declared them barbarian]], had a long-standing feud with the Karass. The [[Not_to_conquer#Montanians|Montanians]], ill-fated adherents of [[malign spiritual presences#Anarchy|Anarchy]], regarded them as dangerous Druj sympathisers who were not trusted - but they too are [[Ripples_and_shadows#Hope's_Rest|gone]]. The [[Not_to_conquer#The_Black_Wind|Black Wind]] hated them, but those who still call themselves Black Wind are far from here, fleeing beside the Druj after a failed invasion of the [[Sarangrave]].

Of those who remain in the Barrens, the Rahvin detest the Karass, and claim they are just pawns of the Mallum. Those feelings are mutual and the Karass make similar claims of the Rahvin. The Great Forest Orcs have always vocally claimed that the Karass are no good, barely better than the Druj - but the Karass point out that some Great Forest Orcs still serve the Druj in their [[weirwood]] groves. This enmity for the Karass extends further than the septs of the Barrens. The mysterious Earl of the Groves, that strange creature who lives in the wild untrod heart of the Barrens and styles itself an Earl of Dawn, has a particular dislike for their leader, ''Anka Karass''.

In their defence, the Karass claim they have been reliable allies of the Empire since a treaty was signed between them. Even though they did not get their own region of the Barrens. Even though they have endured the ''indignity'' of the Navarr constructing the [[Keeper_of_the_Last_Battle#Last_Battle_Wayhouse|Last Battle wayhouse]] on the land they were ''permitted'' to live on in the Bleaks. Even though they helped the Empire explore the Untrod Groves and understand the danger of the manticore. They have done their duty as foreigners on Imperial soil and very conspicuously pay their taxes.

And yet, the accusations of disloyalty continue to swirl, a bad smell that just doesn't seem to go away. Recently, the Druj [[Root_and_branch#Hummingbird's_Secret_(The_Barrens)|attacked the Last Battle]] - the wayhouse that the Karass have made no secret of despising.
Reynard of de Gauvain and Sławomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh have both written to the Karass, levelling accusations that members of the sept are implicated in these attacks.

''Anka Karass'', widely regarded as a wily operator even by those who loathe her, responds quickly. After persistent efforts by members of the sept, they have uncovered the two individuals who revealed the location of the Last Battle Wayhouse to the Druj. They furiously deny the accusation, but Anka has held them and is preparing to hand them over to Imperial justice.

However, she claims that their grievance are fundamentally legitimate. That, despite a good faith attempt by the Karass to engage with the realities of being subjects of Imperial rule, they have received only persistent accusations and suspicion from Imperial representatives. There has been a point-blank refusal to consider moving or dismantling the wayhouse that has violated the Karass' privacy, and there have been attempts to coerce information about sensitive and spiritually important treasures from them.

Still, treachery to those who hold dominion over you is unacceptable. To betray those who have power over you puts the entire sept at risk. She assumes the Empire will execute these members of her sept - as their leader, she insists on being present to bear witness and inform the rest of the Karass of the consequences of defying the Empire. She would dispense summary justice herself - but she has been informed that it is illegal under Imperial law for her to execute members of her own sept, something she seems particularly insulted by. As such, she requires Imperial justice to deal with these Druj-friends and quickly - before the reputation of the rest of the Sept is further besmirched.

There's just one small problem...
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=116_103_7872813_56749560_6.png|caption=Chief Magistrate ''Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra'' observes the situation with interest and is available to offer legal advice where needed.|width=200}}</div>
===Spies And Traitors (Conjunction)===
* '''The Karass have identified two members of the sept they claim revealed the location of the Last Battle to the Druj'''
* '''They are prepared to turn them over to Imperial justice and expect them to be executed'''
* '''It is not currently illegal for a foreigner to aid enemies of the Empire, even if they are on Imperial soil'''
* '''This is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Possible|Combat Possible]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Envoy to the Karass'' is responsible for dealing with Anka Karass and the orcs she has imprisoned'''
{{InnocentPeoplePresent}}
Chief Magistrate ''Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra'' has investigated the claims, and is troubled by them. If the accused individuals had planned the assault on the Last Battle, there would be charges to answer. However incredible it may seem, it is not currently illegal for foreigners to pass information to the Druj who then use that to attack the Empire. Such an act would constitute [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#Crimes_of_Position|treason]] if a ''citizen'' did it but that only applies to Imperial citizens.

Given this problem, the civil service has not even attempted to explain it to Anka at this time. A [[Sentinel_Gate#Conjunctions|conjunction]] has been identified leading to the Bleaks, to a place called the ''Execution Field''. This is a dark place of ill repute - apparently the site where the Druj meted out "justice" to the Karass and other local septs. Anka Karass is waiting there with the "traitors" in custody to hand them over to the Empire. She has been very clear that she expects the Empire to execute the pair. That can't happen based on the reports given to the magistrates, so she must be told to free them immediately lest she face charges herself, for imprisonment.

It is the responsibility of the [[Envoy to the Karass]] to ensure that someone explains the situation to Anka Karass, and try to straighten things out. Given the complexities of the situation, the Envoy, or their representative, should not go alone. It may be appropriate to take a Dawnish [[advocate]] with them to explain the precise technicalities of [[Imperial law]]. Chief Magistrate Cosme has asked the Envoy to come and speak with them before they go, so that they are quite clear on the precise details of the legal situation. Their advice is that there is no need for members of the Anvil militia or a magistrate to go.

Likewise, the Chief Magistrate will make themselves available to talk to any senator who wishes to address this apparent oversight in Imperial law.

===Groves and Trods===
* '''The Karass are being harassed by supporters of the Earl of the Groves'''
* '''Knight-Errants aspiring to House Courcillon have been trying to start fights with members of the sept'''
* '''The conduct of these knights has not ''yet'' risen to the point of constituting a crime'''
This is not even the end of the travails of the Karass, according to Anka. House Courcillon is a minor noble house based in Dawnguard, who do not send representatives to Anvil. They are known in the area as particular hardliners when it comes to questions of septs and the Dawnish right to conquer. They are also amongst those houses who are sympathetic to the claims of the Earl of the Groves. Their current Earl, Valerie, has publicly supported the claims of this monster to be Dawnish - despite the agreement by most Dawnish that a manticore can never be a member of their nation. The nobles of the house mostly made their nobility through tests of ruthless battle during the Barrens conquest.

Knights-Errant aspiring to House Courcillon have recently been seen in the Bleaks, trespassing on territory the Karass regard as theirs. While the details are not clear, they are reportedly pursuing their tests of mettle. Notoriously, the Earl of the Groves has set tests in the past asking for the murder of Anka Karass - it seems this practice of tests that deliberately target the Karass has spread to the Dawnish Earls who support him.

The Dawnish are careful to never strike the first blow - but a trained troubadour can wield insults like a knife until their adversary is driven to respond in frustration and anger - and then they can fight back, claiming self-defence. On occasion the Dawnish have been fined, but for the most part the Karass are the ones being punished for the encounters. It is only a matter of time before someone ends up dead. The Karass claims the House are deliberately antagonising them, picking a fight and using that as an excuse for murder. The house appear to genuinely believe that there is glory to be found in this - they seem to regard the matter as a kind of sport.

Insults and jeers are not illegal. House Courcillon are deliberately causing trouble for the Karass, but it's not illegal under Imperial law to be an arsehole, nor to deliberately antagonise a foreign population. As such, the Envoy to the Karass will also need to let Anka Karass know that harassing somebody until they attack you is not illegal under Imperial law.

One could claim the behaviour of the knight-errants is hardly befitting of a knight of [[Dawn]] - it might be appropriate for Earl Courcillon's encouragement of this behaviour from her knights-errant to be scrutinised by the Dawnish Assembly. She seems to see no need to reign in these excesses - indeed, she and her nobles are the source. Earl Valerie Courcillon is dedicated to [[Prosperity]] - much of her animosity stems from a belief that the Karass are lazy, grasping wastrels.

It is clear that while the Earl of the Groves remains, this kind of poisonous behaviour will continue to arise, even if House Courcillon is dealt with. He represents all that is brutal and raw and uncompromising - glory red in tooth and claw, perhaps, and with little love to it. He is encouraging an unsettling darkness in the hearts of those who listen to him, and slowly but surely their numbers are growing. It is a venom no less poisonous than the sting of his tail. There is nothing magical in this - there is no sense that people are bewitched by him. He is simply giving people an excuse to be the worst version of themselves.

Yet it is unclear how the Earl of the Groves himself is to be dealt with. By all accounts the heroes of Anvil are actively working to a solution to that problem, but if there is a plan it is not clear to many Dawnish what it is. The Earl himself has rarely been seen abroad over the Winter. There are rumours he and his supporters are making some kind of preparation in his manse in the heart of the Untrod Groves - though for what, it is hard to say. There are also rumours that his loyal servant Alice Retainer may be once again travelling to Anvil.

===Poems and Paeans===
{{SOP|statement=Under the brutal rule of the Druj, the Karass have been entirely deprived of the beauty of poetry. They are free of the Druj, but scars remain. Troubadours of Dawn - let us share our glorious art with the Karass! Teach them to craft with words and emotion! What better way to form bonds with our neighbours than to forge a common understanding of glory and love?|vote=194-0|by=Lord Killian Mortére|when=Autumn Equinox 387YE}}
* '''Dawnish troubadours have attempted to share the ideals of poetry and love with the Karass'''
* '''The Karass have not responded positively'''

House Courcillon are not even the only Dawnish citizens harassing the Karass. The Assembly backed a judgement by Lord Killian Mortére encouraging troubadours to visit the Karass and share poetry, the language of glory and love, with their neighbours. The judgement did not get a greater majority, but a handful of troubadours were inspired none-the-less. What could be more glorious than bringing an entire sept to Virtue - inspiring them with poetry and paeans to Glory?

The approach is not entirely successful. To put it mildly. At first the Karass assume that the Dawnish troubadours are mocking them. The assumption is that they are in league with House Courcillion, trying to bait the Karass into getting themselves killed by attacking the troubadours. They refuse to rise to the bait, but the looks they give the troubadours make it painfully clear that they would like nothing more than to commit bloody murder on every single one of them. One troubadour, Ser Eddard of House Aethon, ranked them the most hostile audience he had ever encountered.

Eventually Ser Eddard is able to explain to Anka Karass that he and his fellow troubadours are here to educate the Karass, to teach them to craft with words and emotion. Her response is memorable and frank and more than enough to convince him that the Dawnish may need to rethink their outreach to the Karass.

Somewhat disappointed, Ser Eddard and his companions decide to retreat. For now at least, it appears that the Karass have little interest in poetry.

<quote by="Anka Karass, Leader of the Karass">You are right. The brutal Druj deprived us of poetry. Still, they let us keep our lands. It was ''you'' that deprived us of those. Thank you for the poems.</quote>

===Houses and Homes===
* '''Anka Karass claims the insult of the Wayhouse is the reason two members of her sept betrayed them to the Druj'''
* '''She refuses any notion that she or her sept should pay to relocate the building'''
* '''She claims it is not possible to take a cutting from a Black Lotus and grow a new plant from it'''

Even once the matter of the alleged spies and House Courcillon are dealt with, the Karass will not be without grievance. Anka Karass and her sept have openly fumed about the construction of [[Keeper_of_the_Last_Battle#Last_Battle_Wayhouse|the Navarr Wayhouse]] in "their" lands. They regard its presence there as a calculated insult - they petitioned the Empire for control of the lands they live in. She claims were told "they would get nothing and like it" by the Dawnish - and then the Empire built this spyhouse here just to rub their noses in the fact that the Empire can do anything it wants and the Karass can do absolutely nothing about it.

Anka Karass accepts that her sept have no way to stop the Navarr coming and going as they please through their lands. She is quite clear that understands that the Empire will wipe them out in an eyeblink if cause trouble, just as they did with the Montanians, the Rahvin, and the Black Wind. They might be foreigners now, but the Throne can declare them to be barbarians with a single word and then the whole sept will die to an orc. She and they are used to living under the threat of death, she insists - they will not be cowed by blatant threats which hide themselves under pretty words. If the Empire means to say that the Karass must do as they say lest they be killed, then say it - but do them the courtesy of saying it.

Her point overall is that they are a ''very'' private sept - they jealously guarded their privacy for centuries, even the Druj permitted them that much. They will not renege on this. She accepts that their lives are worse now - that is what happens when you get conquered and must serve new masters! She claims to be doing everything she can to keep her sept in line, trying to make them understand just how close to death they are now they are ruled by the Empire. But the presence of the Last Battle is simply intolerable to many members of her sept, and she fears this disaster with the Druj will surely happen again. It is an inevitable consequence of the Empire pushing her sept to breaking point. She requests in turn that the Empire reconsider once more the idea of rebuilding the Last Battle elsewhere.

She declines the offer to pay the costs of relocating the Last Battle elsewhere. The Karass are poor: they owned little under the Druj and even less under the Empire. They are taxed on what little they have - they have no means to pay for it to be moved elsewhere. If the Empire were to cede the structure to the Karass, they might be able to adapt it into something that turned a profit. Over years, they could find a way to pay the Empire back - perhaps. But they have nothing else to pay the Empire with.

She refuses to acknowledge whether the sept actually has access to a Black Lotus plant. However she does explain that it is not possible to take a cutting from a Black Lotus and grow a new plant from it. With a hint of condescension, she points out that if it were that easy, the Druj would have a house full of Black Lotus plants, and people wouldn't wipe out entire septs just to get their hands on one...

According to Anka Karass, nobody has ever found a way to grow a new Black Lotus plant, hence why it is so utterly priceless. She believes that thirteen Black Lotus plants were created when the world was fashioned, so that the orcs could commune with the Creator. As they were fashioned by the Creator themselves, they cannot be grown by mortal hands.

She seems awfully well-informed about Black Lotus for someone who claims not to know anything about them.

==Golden Autumn==
* '''A Dawnish enchantment has brought Prosperity to the Dawnish, the Great Forest Orcs, the Navarr and the Rahvin'''
* '''It's power has not touched the Karass'''

During the Autumn Equinox the ''Hearth Hearted'', a Dawnish [[coven]], laid a subtle [[enchantment]] of [[Autumn magic]] over the Barrens to increase the [[Prosperity]] of those who live there provided they had metaphysical [[Laws_of_magic#The_Law_of_Dominion|dominion]] over their homes. Travel became easier, negotiations were more fruitful, tools worked more efficiently, and luck fell more often in their favour. The enchantment primarily aided the Dawnish and Navarr, but it is clear that serendipity also favoured the orcs at the Heart of Peytaht and Bitter Strand. Those two septs have just as much dominion over the regions where they dwell as the Dawnish do over theirs.

For Imperial citizens, the impact of the enchantment is quickly felt. It helps people to negotiate and make deals with each other, and it helps industrious individuals build their new manses, and farms, and homes, and wayhouses with greater surety. While the orcs of the western Barrens are cautious in their dealings, they are more open to listening to newcomers and accepting fair deals. There is also a great sense of ambition and enthusiasm that spreads across the territory.

Following the Winter Solstice, any character from Dawn or Navarr can upgrade their personal resource from level one to level two for one fewer wains of material than normally required, to a minimum of one. This represents reaping the benefits of lucrative deals, industriousness, and general good fortune. It even applies to people whose personal resource is moved to the Barrens during the Winter Solstice (or before downtime closes after the event).

====Participation====
* '''The lingering effects of the enchantment provide a source of spiritual strength to Dawnish and Navarr citizens of the Barrens
* '''Following the Winter Solstice, Dawnish and Navarr characters can more easily upgrade standard resources
Any Dawnish or Navarr character whose personal resource was located in the Barrens after the Autumn Equinox can choose to be experiencing the lingering effects of the Autumn enchantment. This takes the form of a roleplaying effect: ''You feel an urge to resolve your problems through communication and negotiation, and feel empowered to approach your rivals or enemies in good faith.''

This brings with it a source of [[Roleplaying_effects#Spiritual|spiritual strength]] that lasts for the duration of the summit. When exposed to a roleplaying effect that tries to make you doubt your capabilities, fear for the future, or be suspicious of others you can respond with a vocal restatement of your hopes for the future and belief in yourself and resist that effect. This includes the effects of both the [[Druj miasma]] and the oppression of the {{Black Plateau}}.

===Hopeful Dawn===
* '''The Great Forest Orcs and the Rahvin have also benefited from the Autumn enchantment in their own regions
* '''The ''Fastness of Thorns'' - a fortification - has been completed in the Eaves of Peytaht
* '''The Rahvin continue to muster their army in Bitter Strand
The orcs of Peytaht have finally completed the construction of the ''Fastness of Thorns'', the [[weirwood]] [[fortification]] they have been building for a year or more. They have gathered a [[Fortification#Garrison|garrison]] from among the hunters and warriors who helped claim the Heart of Peytaht with the aid of their Navarr allies, although for the moment they restrict that garrison to protecting only the edges of the region they control and the weirwood grove that lies at its heart. Navarr visitors, and the refugees from Therunin offered sanctuary among the orcs, bring news that several thriving communities are now scattered through the region. As are the survivors from the destruction of Hope's Rest, although the orcs of the Great Forest attempt to keep the two apart as much as possible.

The Rahvin have seen similar successes. They are now well on the way to mustering an army at Bitter Strand. A portion of the mithril they [[Merchant of the Fangs|mine]] from the Fangs each season is offered in trade to the Dawnish, but the rest goes toward arming and armouring the Rahvin and those remnants of the Black Wind that live with them. They still have a way to go, but thanks to enchantment laid across the Barrens they have made significant progress. If the Rahvin are moved by the gift they make no mention of it. In fact they go out of the way to ignore the Dawnish as much as possible. The only thing they do pass on is a short message for '''Redhand Frith''' telling him that none of the stolen mithril has been returned to them yet.

One group who seem to have broadly been "ignored" by the Autumn magic are the Karass. While they have settlements scattered across the eastern and southern Barrens they do not have dominion over those lands and so the enchantment passes them by without a second look. They are aware of it, they see the effects in others and have magicians of their own who can detect it, but they know it is not for them. If it rankles even more to be further reminded of the precariousness of their position, existing as they do entirely at the Empire's whim, they say nothing.

===Eaves of Peytaht===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Broker of Thorns'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Navarr National</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' [[Tally of the Votes]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:'''
* Receives 11 wains of weirwood each season
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To work with the Great Forest Orcs if the Eaves of Peytaht is ever threatened</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Great Forest Orcs offer a bounty of weirwood to their friends among the Navarr'''
With the ''Fastness of Thorns'' completed, the elders of the Great Forest Orcs have given consideration as to what to do next. In Imperial hands, the [[The_Barrens#Eaves_of_Peytaht|Eaves of Peytaht]] could provide as much as 25 wains of weirwood each season. The Great Forest Orcs have demonstrated their facility with working with weirwood - the orcs living at the [[Golden Trees of Seren]] and [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]] offer this expertise to increase the number of wains that can be gathered each season without harming the groves.

With the Winter Solstice approaching, ''Chief Vallack'' announces that his people have reached a decision about what to do with their weirwood. They will of course keep a portion of what they produce each season for themselves, to ensure they have enough [[farm|hunters]] and [[herb garden|herb gardens]] to support their people. A portion of the remainder they intend to trade to the Rahvin; the renewed friendship that began last time the Barrens were enchanted with Autumn magic has only strengthened over time and they recently finished negotiations with their cousins along the Bitter Stand. The remainder, they intend to share with their friends the Navarr - they know their allies are suffering with the loss of the [[Thimble]].

Chief Vallack asks that the [[Senate|Imperial Senate]] formally recognise the [[Imperial title]] of ''Broker of Thorns''. This would need to be a national Bourse Seat appointed by the [[Tally of the Votes]]. The Broker would receive 11 wains of weirwood each season from the Eaves of Peytaht for the foreseeable future, as a sign of respect for their allies, and gratitude for the aid they have given them over the years. There will be some cost to the Senate, unfortunately; the normal costs for operating a Bourse Seat will apply simply because the Great Forest Orcs have no ability to transport the weirwood outside the Barrens. It is not possible for the title to be elected at this season, so if it is created it will be appointed for the first time at the Spring Equinox 388YE for a shortened term of three seasons.

All they ask for in return is that the Navarr support them in turn when the need arises. And that they stand ready to come to their aid if the Eaves of Peytaht are ever threatened - something they consider a given thanks to the oaths sworn by the Navarr.

===An Invitation to Dance===
{{SOP|statement=Dawn extends the hand of invitation to the sept of the Great Forest Orcs in the Barrens. If we are to be neighbours, let us work together for mutual benefit and Prosperity. As a demonstration of our good faith, a ritual has been performed in the Barrens to increase the prosperity of all inhabitants; from which we hope your people will benefit.|by=Lady Renata de Lagriffe, Dawnish Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 250-10|when=Autumn Equinox 387YE}}
* '''The ritual performed by the Dawnish has been well received by the Great Forest Orcs'''
* '''They have reciprocated with a single wain of weirwood gifted to Lady Renata'''

During the Autumn Equinox, '''Lady Renata de Lagriffe''' raised a [[statement of principle]] in the Dawnish National Assembly. In it the [[earl]] called for the Great Forest Orcs to work with Dawn for mutual benefit. The statement mentions the ritual that has been cast for the benefit of almost everyone who lives in the Barrens.

The Great Forest Orcs remain hostile to the people of Dawn. Their enmity goes back a decade and more, and though the relationship with the Navarr has blossomed, still the distrust of the Dawnish remains. In Summer 384YE they [[Into_the_valley#As_the_Water.27s_Dripping_Down_.28Battle.29|extended an olive branch to the Dawnish]] - an opportunity for their generals to conduct a ceremony of reconciliation with the Dawnish generals at [[The Barrens#Hope's Rest|Hope's Rest]] but it was summarily rejected.

The brutal [[Ripples_and_shadows#Black_Wind|suppression of the Black Wind]] horrified the Great Forest Orcs but the [[Ripples_and_shadows#Hope's_Rest|annihilation of the Montanians]], their closest friends and allies, shocked them to the core. The two groups had walked the [[trods]] together before the Barrens was retaken. Indeed it was the Montanians who originally persuaded the Great Forest Orcs to trust the Empire. They know it was the [[Varushka|Varushkans]] who carried out the slaughter, but there is a widespread belief across the Barrens that it was the Dawnish who ordered it. The Rahvin have told everyone that the Dawnish openly confessed as much to them - just before the [[Gryphon's Pride]] [[By northern shores|attacked the Rahvin]]. Just before '''Aramis Du Froste''', the first [[senator]] of the Barrens was murdered by his fellow Dawnish for trying to make peace with the septs.

Trust then, is in short supply, and it will take more than a ritual to fix that. There is an obvious question who the [[fortification]] that they have just completed is designed to protect the Great Forest Orcs from. There is a common belief that it is only the alliance with the Navarr that has forced the Empire to keep the arrangements made with them. That were it not for that, then the Dawnish would long since have fabricated some reason to attack and slaughter them, the same way they did every other sept in the Barrens.

And yet... every day that passes and the expected attack from the Dawnish doesn't come, they relax a little more. These people don't possess the Virtue of [[Vigilance]] - if they did it would be impossible for them to live side-by-side with the Dawnish given their mutual history. In it's place what they have is hope for a better future. A future that seems a little closer every day. This is not some dewy-eyed naivete. They control the Heart of Peytaht for the first time in living memory. The weirwood of the Groves is theirs to work and use. They can build their own homes, arm themselves, defend themselves. They don't like the Dawnish, they don't trust the Dawnish... but they openly admit that life under the Dawnish is incomparably better than it was under the Druj.

They are also realists. They may have close ties with the Navarr, but they understand that the Barrens is not a Navarr territory like Therunin was. Even with their new fortress, they know that their continued freedom relies on the forbearance of Dawn. They are proud of what they have built, but still they know that the armies of the Dawnish would wash over them like a tide if they cared to. They are nowhere near strong enough to resist Dawnish rule, not yet.

The Great Forest Orcs have not given up the dream that the Barrens might one day be [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Anarchy|Free]]. That it might belong to the people of the Barrens - that those who lived there might rule themselves. But they also acknowledge that for them the purpose of that [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Anarchy|Freedom]] was that they would control the Heart of Peytaht and the weirwood groves within... They don't have [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Anarchy|Freedom]], but they do have the groves and the Heart. Life for the Great Forest Orcs is - surprisingly - good.

Thus, ''Renata's Gift'', as they are calling the ritual has come at the right time. The Great Forest Orcs are simple people, but they're not ignorant. They understand the magic that was used to aid them, how difficult it must have been to cast and what it would have cost the Dawnish. The Great Forest Orcs simply don't possess the means to cast a ritual that powerful. They can't reproduce it, but they know the cost and the value of it. And they are ''grateful''.

In response, they offer a single wain of weirwood. Fresh timber cut from the Eaves of Peytaht, kiln-dried and ready to use, delivered by the Navarr to the estates of Lady Renata de Lagriffe. Not as payment, but as reciprocation. As a gift. As a token of what might be.

It bears repeating that the Great Forest Orcs do not trust the Dawnish. ''Still''. Renata's Gift has not washed away a decade of bloodshed. But they ''have'' responded positively to this gesture of friendship - the first such response directed at the Dawnish from a Barrens sept in years. This proves that is not impossible that the Dawnish could win their trust, and maybe one day their [[Loyalty]]. [[The Way]] insists that nothing is impossible - for those who possess Virtue, ''nothing is beyond your grasp''.

But it never suggests that things will be easy. The Dawnish can only build on this development if they tread extremely carefully. As the outreach to the Karass this season shows, the wounds in the Barrens are still fresh and raw. A gift of salt is not welcome. That much is true of every one of the septs in the Barrens. It is still easier to offend then befriend. Attempts to win their trust that ignore past betrayals will ring hollow. Attempts to gain their friendship that don't acknowledge what Imperial victory in the Barrens has cost the septs will buy only bitter rebukes. Winning just the Great Forest Orcs round will take patience, generosity, and years of hard work.

But even the most impenetrable forest may fall one tree at a time.

The thing with feathers

2026-04-21T21:43:49Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Victory Against the Night (Whisper Gallery) */ Finishing a sentence

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Winds of Magic]]
<ic>"I hope the next place is a bit bigger, my back's ''killing'' me!"

"I'm sure wherever it is will be perfectly acceptable, now chuck me the spare pick."

"Brother, I love you. But there's more to life than mining rock, processing the ore, smelting it down into easily usable ingots, and then selling those ingots to the highest bidder."

"Really, sibling, tell me a single thing that is better than what you've just described. That sounds like the perfect day to me."

"Well, spending it afterwards?"</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Feather2.jpg|align=left|caption=I've heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity - It asked a crumb - of me.|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
Six [[Realms|realms of magic]] align with the mortal world whose [[Inhabitants of the realms|inhabitants]] are fundamentally different to the people of the mortal world and yet to a degree share some of their concerns. They are both complex and simple at the same time, seeking to change the world to match their perception of how it should work. They bargain and negotiate, threaten and cajole, and while it can be difficult to predict exactly where their gifts or curses might lead, still they have much to offer.

The Empire can reach out to the [[eternal|eternals]] through the powers of the [[Archmage|Archmages]] and the [[Conclave]], but the creatures of the realms may sometimes take the initiative themselves. The power of [[alignment]] allows the Conclave to make it easier or harder for them to touch the world, relationships shaped by the tension between true friends and dire enemies. Some desire that state of [[Alignment#amity|amity]], some revel in the [[Alignment#enmity|enmity]] they have earned, but none can deny the power of the Conclave to guard the borders of the Empire.

It is a rare season that passes without an eternal, or a handful, seeking to influence the Empire. There are other winds of fortune that speak of different situations. The responses to the [[archmage#plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] missives of the Archmages from this season is covered in the '''[[Ourselves and immortality]]''' wind of fortune.

Magical events originating closer to home are detailed in the companion wind of fortune, '''[[The tune without the words]]'''. There is also the '''[[Mushroom, mushroom, mushroom]]''' wind of fortune specifically on the renewed interest of [[Llofir]] in the Empire; and '''[[In the ground‎]]''' which has the response from [[Adamant]] to the Stone Smith, along with other eternals interested in [[the Marches]].

==Day==
===Rite of Way (Roshanwe)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=RoshanweArt.jpg|align=right|width=175}}
* '''The heralds of the Elder Pharos will come to the Anvil Arena to host the promised challenge of ceremonies at 14:00 Saturday'''
* '''They expect the five teams that the volunteers have promised to organise, and as many spectators as wish to attend'''
* '''A small group of Sumaash präster will also attend - to participate, not to talk politics'''
The [[Roshanwe|Finder of the Way]], as the eternal of truth-seeking sometimes names herself, offered the Imperials the chance to win her boon at the [[Upon_a_midnight_dreary#Let_Every_Word_(Roshanwe)|last summit]]. The challenge was laid down for five teams to perform their most magnificent - or moving - [[Religious skills|religious ceremonies]]. Several Imperial volunteers gave their names to ''Miriam When The Rain Is Steel'', an adventuresome herald, and promised to organise the teams and ensure they all knew the rules of the challenge, which the herald ensured the Imperials had multiple copies of.

One wet day, a few short weeks before the summit, ''Miriam When The Rain Is Steel'' returns to the Hub. There they discuss the details with ''Jorgen'', the long-suffering civil servant with the unenviable task of talking to heralds. The dashing herald is fresh from fighting a many-headed monster deep in the inhospitable Desert of Sapphidy, and makes it clear that she is much keener to slay another than discuss timings and organisation, so the two quickly come to an agreement. ''Miriam'' also informs the rather harassed looking Jorgen that a delegation from the [[Sumaah Republic]] is on its way, by invitation of the Beachcomber, to participate. ''Miriam When The Rain Is Steel'' leaves at a run, but shouts over her shoulder that she will also attend to distribute the Wise Pioneer's gift to the participants.

===The Day Came Slow (Ylenwe)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ylenwe001.webp|align=right|width=175}}
* '''Two heralds of Ylenwe will arrive at the Hall of Worlds at 22:45 on Saturday'''
* '''Ylenwe has requested the Archmage of Day, or their representative, take them to experience dancing'''
* '''The current Archmage of Day is ''Skywise Gralka'' of the Imperial Orcs'''
A herald with shimmering blue and silver scales steps out of the regio on a brisk, late-autumn day. The herald walks with a light grace towards the Hub, humming a soft melody in time with their step. They find the place surprisingly busy, with harassed-looking civil servants trying to placate an incandescent Highborn farmer whose wheelbarrow of cabbages had been overturned by an overzealous herald of [[Rhianos]]. Seemingly unaffected by the chaos they've walked into, the herald offers a gentle smile to the civil servant at the desk and waits for them to finish their paperwork.

Ylenwe is curious about the mortal view on movement and music. The herald explains ''Zie of the Perfect Morning'' believes that dance could serve as the harmony between music and mathematics. A pair of zie's heralds will journey to Anvil at the upcoming Winter Solstice, to partake in different types of music and to understand how people move to it. The Dove asks that '''Skywise Gralka''', the [[Archmage of Day]], or her chosen representatives, welcome the heralds and introduce them to a variety of music.

==Winter==
===Heartbreaking (Agramant)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=AgramantArt.jpg|align=right|width=175}}
* '''A group of Navarr from Therunin have claimed that Agramant considers the territory to be "''fair game''"'''
* '''Agramant has made an offer to any military captains in Therunin who are the target of ''Unleash the Beasts Within'''''
* '''Anyone performing ''Treacher's Quill'' asking for support in Therunin can also send 14 liao and receive a magical foci'''
On one particularly cold night before the winter summit, a haggard group of Navarr make their way across the border into [[Reikos#Chalcis Mount|Chalcis Mount]], having managed to overcome the horrors of [[Therunin]] and escape into Imperial territory once again. The ''Mourningstone'' have slipped through the lines to warn the Empire what the Howler is up to.

A number of their fellow Navarri have only managed to survive with the aid of [[Agramant|Dream of Famine]]. Cut off, with dwindling supplies and surrounded by ettercaps, people are finding it hard to resist Howler's aid. The only price he is extracting is a promise to spread word of his generosity far and wide. Wastewalker claims that out of respect for the Navarr Assembly, the ''Howler'' waited for the Empire to reclaim Therunin. The people of the territory were [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_215|told]] that aid was on its way... but that was a year and a half ago. And the ''Horned Manticore'' is done waiting when there are so many eager to be saved.

It seems that heralds of ''He who calls the Lost to Feast'' are now active in the territory. For the most part, they have been resolutely ignored - or beaten to death with extreme violence - but as time goes on, more Navarri are bound to be tempted. In an attempt to hasten that along, ''the Whisperer'' has made it known that any Navarr [[military unit]] based in Therunin that is enchanted with [[Unleash the Beasts Within]] at the coming summit will be supported further by his heralds. The ritual will provide an additional two ranks when [[Military_unit#Campaigning|supporting]] an army on campaign. Further, if the army is in Therunin, then the captain will also receive a [[Venture#Raid_the_Druj|Druj potion]], taken from the Druj remnants in the territory. The presence of the heralds of Agramant would be known to every Imperial taking part in the campaign, but not who they were attached to. ('''OOC Note:''' It would be mentioned in the winds of war, but it would not be clear which military unit they were supporting.)

Obviously, the ritual is in [[Urizen lore]], which means that any Navarri willing would need to convince a ritualist from that nation to help them. The ''Hunter in the Wastes'' offers a different gift to the Masters of the High Peaks; any Urizen magician who performs [[Treacher's Quill]] this season to ask for boons defending against the vallorn and reclaiming Therunin, can include with it 14 liao and a piece of jewellery. ''Old Bloody Teeth'' will return the jewellery as a boon, a [[:Category:Foci|foci]] that enhances a Winter ritualist's ability to perform the rituals in the [[Agramant#Childer_of_the_Black_Drop|Ceremonies of the Black Drop Society]].

If a magician found a way to send a dose of [[true liao]] with their jewellery instead, they would receive an incomparable boon, a powerful relic from the Howler for the magician and a boon to invoke Agramant's aid in defence of a homeland when attacked. Of course, it's not ''only'' the Urizen who have the ways and means to cast that ritual, the ''Carnivore Concierge'' has friends in all nations, and the same offer is open to others too.

===Moments of Silence (Sorin)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Sorin001.png|align=right|width=175}}
* '''The Basalt Citadel has been called to Eoradal every season for the last year
* '''The Sepulchral Pontifex, herald of Sorin, will be visiting the Imperial Orc camp at 22:45 on Saturday
For an entire year, the ruins of Eoradal have hosted the Basalt Citadel of [[Sorin|the Empty One]]. Even when the [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|Frozen Citadel]] was called from the demesne of the [[Cathan Canae|Immovable One]], the '''Heralds of the Reaper''' drew the black stone fortress from the Silent Kingdom. This commitment to the defence of [[Mareave]] has drawn the grudging respect of the Monarch of the Silent Kingdom, who has dispatched the ''Sepulchral Pontifex'' to speak with the Imperial orcs to see what strength and wisdom they have gained over the conflict of the last year.

Should the answer please the Pontifex, and an appropriate level of respect and gratitude be shown, there is an offer the Tomb King wishes to make to the nation, though details of this were not shared with the civil service. The Sepulchral Pontifex has not visited the mortal realm in decades and will therefore be guided by an attaché, ''Noah of the Fallen Leaves''.

Finally, the Sepulchral Pontifex requests the attendance of one of the '''Heralds of the Reaper''' and one of the '''Wolves of the Pale Raven''', ideally '''Lenni Voittoson''' as their only [[Draughir|whelpborn]], to attend as well. There is some concern that the Heralds do not have a single whelpborn amongst them; they should find someone who is to speak on their behalf while they are there.

==Spring==
===The Pride of Gryphons (Irra Harah)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002a.png|align=right|width=175}}
* '''Irra Harah has asked the Gryphon's Pride to help the rebels build watchtowers in Nesustak Forest'''
* '''If supported by the Gryphon's Pride, the watchtowers will remove the under threat quality from the region'''
Two seasons ago, '''Ser Guy of the Twisted Rose''', [[Gryphon's Pride|General of the Gryphon's Pride]], met with heralds of Irra Harah to [[Can_you_hear_me%3F#The_Prince_of_a_Thousand_Foes|discuss]] how the people of Dawn understand the world. The outcome of that meeting is still unknown, but the general's orders from [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Military_Council_orders#Gryphon's_Pride|that season]] and the [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Gryphon's_Pride|one following]] both make references to the children of ''Papa Otec''. A few heralds of ''Shackle-Smasher'' were seen around the army last season in the [[Sarangrave]], talking to the questing knights and war-witches of the army, and now ''Broadleaf'', herald of ''Warrenwise'', comes to the army with a request.
{{CaptionedImage|file=GryphonPride Colour.png|align=right|width=175}}
The rebels of the Sarangrave are busy consolidating their hold on [[Sarangrave#Nesustak_Forest|Nesustak Forest]], but the region lies in the shadow of the [[Keeper_of_the_Last_Battle#Last_Battle_Wayhouse|Last Battle Wayhouse]] in [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]]. The Bloodwater Spears have, with the support of the Prince of Beggars' heralds, drawn up plans for a series of [[edifice|watchtowers]] that will remove the ever-present [[Region_qualities#Under_Threat|threat]] imposed by the [[Navarr wayhouse|wayhouse]] on the region. However, the work will take years if the rebels have no outside help. ''Broadleaf'' has discussed the matter with Halyx Fireeyes, the young matriarch of the sept, and they have agreed to allow the soldiers of the Gryphon's Pride - and only the Gryphon's Pride - to help.

At the Winter Solstice, the General of the Gryphon's Pride can take a [[Army_orders#Defending|defensive]] order with wording to specifically support the rebels in building their watchtowers. If they do so, then the watchtowers will be completed by the Spring Equinox 388YE, and the under threat quality on Nesustak Forest will be removed. If there is no campaign during the season, then they will benefit from natural resupply, and [[Casualties#Emergency_Resupply|emergency resupply]] if any.

===The Stone Cried Out (Irra Harah again)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=175}}
* '''A herald of Irra Harah has called for three landskeepers and smiths of Anvil to the Hare Stone'''
* '''''Linley Weaver'' of Goatsbridge Coven is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for visiting the Hare Stone'''
* '''This conjunction is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Unlikely_or_Contained|combat unlikely]] encounter'''
{{InnocentPeoplePresent}}
Shortly after the end of the Autumn Equinox, the alder of [[Wildest_dreams#New_Longstwick_Market|New Longstwick]] is approached by a distressed-looking briar, ''Margie o' the Woods''. The [[briar|greenscar]] explains that there's something strange going on at the Hare Stone, and that a herald of [[Irra Harah|Prince with a Thousand Foes]] has told them to ask for smiths and landskeepers of Anvil to visit and "''work out what's what''". The briar asks that '''Linley Weaver''', as representative of the coven that most [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_interlude#Stone,_Branch,_Fen,_and_Ice|recently]] performed [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] on Alderly. Linley Weaver is asked to arrange for six to come, ideally an even mix of landskeepers and smiths.

Margie says the Price doesn't mind if Linley is in the number but they should include at least one attending their first summit, and someone who knows the [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#The_Rattle_of_the_Bones|history of the woods]]. ''Margie'' warns that the number shouldn't include any holders of Imperial titles, as that would apparently just make things worse; "''the protectors won't stop fighting and, frankly, they're fucking me right off''". Who the Protectors are and why they're fighting remains something of a mystery.

===Midwinter, Was It? (Llofir)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=LlofirArt.jpg|align=right|width=175}}
* '''There is an opportunity to end the suffering of those fighting the vallorn
* '''The ''Speaker of the Vallornguard'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for ending the suffering of those in Eastring
* '''This conjunction is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Unlikely_or_Contained|combat contained]] encounter
{{InnocentPeoplePresent}}
Shortly before the Winter Solstice, a herald of ''[[Llofir|the Wisdom of Dead Wood]]'' carefully shuffles its way into the Hall of Worlds and starts to speak to one of the magicians there. The towering herald - almost human if not for the coned cap in place of a head - gills undulating as it speaks in a gentle whisper, asks that a message be passed on to [[vine|vines]] and to the [[Vallornguard|enders of the wellspring]]. The vines have made an oath to "heal all those who would stand against the vallorn", and the herald explains that the ''Rotlord'' is aware of some who are suffering after fighting [[vallornspawn husk|vallornspawn husks]]. The Wisdom of Dead Wood asks that the [[Vallornguard#Speaker_of_the_Vallornguard|Speaker of the Vallornguard]] journey through the Sentinel Gate with the vines to Eastring, [[Therunin]], and end the suffering of those there.

The herald warns that there is a vallornspawn briar in the area acting strangely; it does not appear to be immediately aggressive. Indeed, it doesn't appear to care at all about the wounded folk, but the herald advises that anyone going close might cause it to lash out. The herald asks that '''Earl Percival Summerstrong''', as Speaker of the Vallornguard, work with the vines and the sodality to ease the suffering of those who cannot be saved and cast [[Turns the Circle]] to allow them to die peacefully and painlessly.

<big>'''Content Warning'''</big><br>
This encounter contains themes of suicide and assisted dying, such as with [[Surcease of Sorrow]], and will involve depictions of injuries. It is unsuitable for participants who might struggle with such themes.

==Night==
===Can You Hear It? (Janon)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Janon002b.png|align=right|width=175}}
* '''Vanja Oddsbreaker, the former Shadowed Torchbearer, has vacated her position'''
* '''Janon has sent a ''Ring of the Oddsbreaker'' to the Prefect of the Conclave to be given to whoever is elected to replace her'''
* '''The Ring of the Oddsbreaker can be used to send a short missive to the Muse of Fire each season for a year'''
* '''Heralds of Janon have accepted an invitation to witness the Imperial Orc fighting pit for presumably unrelated reasons'''
Heralds of [[Janon|Shadowfire]] have been following the actions of the [[Shadowed Torchbearer]] over the past eighteen months, and those abroad in the Empire have spoken of ''Blazing Blade's'' joy in hearing their tales. When word reaches them that ''Vanja Oddsbreaker'' of [[Wintermark]], the first Shadowed Torchbearer, has vacated her position, he is not perturbed. The ''Night Sword'' heaps effervescent praise on the work done by her friend. Yet ''The Pyre Of Hearts'' regrets that sie did not give zir representative a chance to speak with it. To prevent such a regrettable state of affairs from recurring in future, ''The Blazing Blade'' has dispatched the Ring of the Oddsbreaker to ''Abelard the Assiduous'', [[Prefect of the Conclave]], to be given to whoever is elected to the position at the upcoming summit.

The Ring of the Oddsbreaker serves as a piece of [[:Category:Jewellery|jewellery]] that allows the person bonded to it to send a short missive of no more than one hundred words to Janon each season. The herald explains that this should include at least some details on what the Shadowed Torchbearer has been doing to further the concerns of ''Freedom's Call''. Heralds of ''Shadowfire'' explain that whilst anyone could be bonded to the Ring of the Oddsbreaker, it is probably not a good idea for anyone other than the Shadowed Torchbearer to try using it to send a missive to the eternal.

'''OOC Note:''' The player of the character bonded to the Ring of the Oddsbreaker can email {{plot}} after each event before downtime closes with a missive of up to one hundred words to Janon.

Not everything is about Imperial politics. ''The Flame Of The Ancestors'' has apparently received an invitation to witness the passionate fire of the Imperial Orcs as they honour their ancestors in the fighting pit. The heralds will arrive in the Hall of Worlds at 17:00 on Saturday, and intend to go from there to the fighting pit as intended. ''The Voice Of Zorech'' has been very pleased with the reception that faer heralds have received in Anvil thus far. ''The Scribe Of Burning Names'' wishes it to be known that all those who desire blessings need only come to the heralds to have their innermost fires kindled. No clarification is offered as to what this mildly ominous statement might actually mean.

===Victory Against the Night (Whisper Gallery)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=WhisperGal004.png|align=right|width=175}}
* '''Attacks by heralds and agents of the Whisper Gallery against civil servants and researchers have fallen'''
* '''Attacks against the Magpies, and the sodality's supporters have risen'''

The [[Whisper Gallery]] have been a poisoned thorn in the side of researchers and civil servants since the [[Bloody murder|summer of 379YE]]. For almost ten years, the eternal's agents and heralds have threatened, attacked, and taken out bounties on the department of [[historical research]] and other places of discovery and learning. Two years ago, ''Ris Steelfist'' urged [[A_long_December#The_Fucking_Whisper_Gallery|urged people]] to hunt down the enemy and take the fight to them, launching the War of Whispers.

Perhaps the war has been successful? For the last six months, there have been no credible reports of attacks. At first some assume that the ''Court of the Shadowed Oracle'' have finally been silenced - at least, when not [[Ourselves_and_immortality#Only_Gossamer,_My_Gown|responding]] to a message from the [[Archmage of Night]]. Sadly that proves a little too optimistic - it seems the ''Concilium of the Perjured Throne'' now has bigger fish to fry.

Members of the [[Magpies]] have reported figures in dark robes, dusky shrouds, and inky cloaks following them. One member, a would-be explorer called Vanya Heartsworn looking for lost [[Inga_Tarn#Signs|Avalanche]], was found close to death from several knife wounds, by their associates. There was no sign of the assailant, Vanya survived, but claims to have seen nothing of their attacker.

When one front closes, another opens it seems. Still, the Empire has successfully protected what remains of the department of historical records from the ''Shadow Courtiers'' poison. Has the Empire managed to root out the last cultists of the ''Concilium of the Perjured Throne''? Definitely not, but maybe it is winning this shadow war.

====Against a Threat====
{{SOP|statement=The Assembly of Vigilance REJECT the premise of a single threat or cause being "the most important". To only focus on the poison in one neighbours' field leaves us blind to the poison in another. We are all watchtowers, to build all our watchtowers in one place is the height of folly.|by=Irada Von Temeschwar, Vigilance Assembly|vote=310-102|when=Autumn 387YE}}
* '''The Imperial Archivist has requested that the Vigilance Assembly consider encouraging the faithful to seek out the agents of other eternals under enmity'''
* '''Doing so could make it easier to counter threats from Agramant and other eternals under enmity'''
* '''The cost is giving the Whisper Gallery more leeway to attack the Magpies'''

Last season, the Vigilance Assembly upheld a [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_104|statement of principle]] raised by '''Irada Von Temeschwar''' that rejected the notion of a single threat being [[The highest calling|the most important]]. The judgement did not manage to achieve a greater majority, but it piqued the interest of ''Leontes the Scribe'', who has asked the assembly to consider encouraging the vigilant to go further. If a [[statement of principle]] that directs the vigilant to seek out heralds of other eternals under [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]] is upheld with a greater majority, then the [[Venture#War_of_Whispers|War of Whispers]] venture will expand after the Winter Solstice.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Vigilance.png|align=right|width=175}}
The Vigilance Assembly could choose a specific realm to focus on, which would change the venture's production to 96 rings, a pawn of appropriate [[vis]], one mana crystal.

Alternatively, and in keeping with the judgement raised by '''Irada''', they could call on the vigilant to seek out the agents of ''all'' eternals under enmity. This would change the production to 96 rings, one mana crystal, and either a vial of [[Vis#Vital Honey|vital honey]], a vial of [[Vis#Heart's_Blood|heart's blood]], or a pouch of [[Vis#Crystal_Fire|crystal fire]] (although [[Cold Sun]] is under enmity, its ''scions'' are few and far between in the Empire).

If the Conclave chose to change the alignment of other eternals, then it would also change the potential vis available in the venture. Of course, if the Assembly don't issue a call to action - or it doesn't pass with a greater majority - then the faithful will continue focussing their efforts on protecting the agents of the Whisper Gallery.

On the face of it, Leontes' proposal seems like a fair one - there is only one small drawback. Abraham points out that resources are limited, if the Vigilance Assembly refocus the War of Whispers away from the Whisper Gallery, it will help to counter threats from [[Agramant]] and other evils. But it will inevitably mean the Whisper Gallery has a freer hand than it has had to date. That means members of the Magpies will be at ''greater'' risk than they are now. Many of the Magpies are tough heroes of Anvil - not like the defenceless academics who report to Leontes - so they'll be fine right?

====Knife In the Snow====
{{CaptionedImage|file=Magpie Sodality.png|align=right|width=175}}
* '''Servants of the Whisper Gallery have attacked a group of Magpies near Gulnar's Depths in Hahnmark'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The Magpie sodality is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for selecting someone to take responsibility for the conjunction during their formal session at 3pm Saturday'''
* '''This conjunction is for sixty people at 18:30 on Friday ''at the next summit'''''
It appears the Empire may have an ally in their war against the Whisper Gallery. The [[Zakalwe|''Hunter of Tides'']] has little time for what it regards as "the capricious wickedness of Rainbow Mask". Delphysius, herald of [[Zakalwe]], has spent time studying the reports of the recent attack, almost certainly agents of the Whisper Gallery, on Vanya Heartsworn. After thorough divination of the Sentinel Gate, Delphysius believes they have identified a conjunction that could help, not this summit, ''but next''.

It is rare, but not completely unknown, for the Sentinel Gate to give up such secrets. Scholars who study the Gate claim that the conjunctions are a reflection of fate, and since fate is not fixed, they rarely occur far into the future. But rare is not never and the prognosticators have confirmed that the conjunction is real - and fixed - at least for now.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Zakalwe001.png|align=right|width=175}}
Working with Delphysius, the evidence seems overwhelming that the conjunction concerns the murderous attack on Vanya and presumably is linked to his personal quest to recover Avalanch, the famed rune-forged two-handed hammer, that featured in so many of the adventures of [[Inga Tarn]]. Most credible scholars think Vanya was off his rocker hoping to find the hammer in the valleys near Gulnar's Depths. Still he must have found ''something'', some secret, that provoked the Gallery to attack.

Given this is most definitely the business of the Magpies, the civil service have asked the sodality to take a vote during their formal session at 3pm Saturday to choose one of their number to take responsibility for the skirmish. Whoever the Magpies select will need to find sixty heroes of Anvil prepared to pledge to support them when they go through the gate ''at the Spring Equinox''. If there is some clue that might lead people to Avalanche, then they will need to be ready to fight the Whisper Gallery's minions.

==Summer==
===In the Fields of Glory (Eleonaris)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=EleonarisArt.jpg|align=right|width=175}}
* '''Seven armies were enchanted with Knights of Glory at the Autumn Equinox'''
* '''Soldiers in armies enchanted with Knights of Glory this season are becoming more attuned to the Summer Realm
As has been previously stated, the reign of [[Empress Brannan]] saw armies becoming reliant on Knights of Glory, which saw exposure to the glorious knights of the Summer realm having an unlooked-for effect on Imperial soldiers. Over the last year or more, the Empire has increasingly relied on Knights of Glory to empower its armies, especially (but not exclusively) in their fight against the Druj.
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">
<quote by="Sakari Nightscale, Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield">Conclave witnesses the ongoing effects of the Summer realm on armies in the Sarangrave. We permit further castings of Knights of Glory, but will oversee the situation vigilantly</quote></div>
It's [[Upon_a_midnight_dreary#Splendor_and_Pennants_(Eleonaris)|been noted]] that [[Knights of Glory]] is having a lasting effect on armies enchanted with it, most clearly observed in [[Sarangrave]]. This may be because of the [[Druj miasma|oppressive aura of fear]] coupled with the feeling of confidence and personal power sponsored by exposure to the heralds of the [[Eleonaris|Fields of Glory]].

As per the '''[[Even_darkness_must_pass#Game_Information|Even darkness must pass]]''' wind of war, the [[Eastern Sky]], [[Gryphon's Pride]], [[Lions of Adelmar]], [[Granite Pillar]], [[Fire of the South]], [[Citadel Guard]], [[Golden Axe]], and [[Northern Eagle]] cannot take the [[Army orders#Cautious Advance|Cautious Advance]] or [[Army orders#Give Ground|Give Ground]] orders. Following the past season in the Sarangrave, the [[Summer Storm]] are included in that number. This effect persists until the army in question has spent an entire year without experiencing the Knights of Glory enchantment.

Only one army, the Golden Axe, hosted the Knights of Glory again this season. Further information on how the general might take advantage of the situation to reforge the army can be found in the '''[[Fire_and_the_flood#Participation:_Gaspare_and_the_Axe_of_Victory|Fire and the floor]]''' wind of war.
{{SOP|statement=Pilgrims of the Granite Pillar, your Assembly, supported by your general, now speaks. You have stood in battle beside the knights of Eleonaris, and your Courage is not in question for you fight for the Ambition of the Empire. Yet do not forget: these are beings from the realms, not of the Way. Do not disrespect them, but keep your distance, and do not mistake them for creatures of Virtue. Their purposes are not ours; do not allow their influence to determine your actions. Let your hearts turn evermore towards Virtue. Seek out the priests who march beside you; and use liao ceremonies, that you may overcome the temptations of the realms. Let Vigilance be your watchword and Courage your shield. For in the Mallum, danger hides everywhere, and the gifts of the realms often come with hidden chains. Trust not in power for its own sake, but in the Way alone.|by=Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament, Highborn Assembly|vote=772-0 (Greater Majority)|when=Autumn Equinox 387YE|size=small}}
====Standing in Defiance====
* '''The Highborn Assembly can enact a mandate to call soldiers of the nation's armies to turn away from support offered by heralds'''
* '''If enacted, Highborn armies would once again be able to take the ''Give Ground'' and ''Cautious Advance'' orders for the coming year'''
* '''If the affected armies were supported by heralds as a result of an enchantment or boon they would have 1000 less strength for the coming year'''

At the Autumn Equinox, two statements of principle were raised that addressed the situation with Knights of Glory. One, raised by '''Sofonisba Amilcara of the City Below''' in the Loyalty Assembly, issued a call for the "''restoration of free mortal will''". This was upheld, but without a greater majority, so it has received little attention outside of Anvil. The other, raised by '''Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament''' in the Highborn Assembly, was upheld with a greater majority and so has received recognition across Highguard.

{{Mandate|mandate=Be alert to all dangers; within and without. We send (named priest) with 50 doses of liao to encourage our courageous soldiers to stand apart from these servants of eternals. Seek out falsehood and expose the truth.|assembly=Highborn Assembly}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Highborn.png|align=right|width=175}}
If this mandate is enacted, Highborn soldiers will deliberately keep their distance from any heralds or other servants of an eternal sent to fight alongside them. As a result, the General of the Granite Pillar (and other Highborn generals) will be able to issue orders to give ground or maintain a cautious advance for the coming year. Such distance comes at a price, however. Highborn armies that are enchanted with rituals [[Knights of Glory]] or [[Quickening Cold Meat]], or supported by the Knights of Tharim will also lose a thousand effective strength for all purposes during that year. Any ritual or boon that calls on an eternal to send creatures to fight alongside an army will be affected.

===Hope's Rest (Cathan Canae)===
* '''The Phoenix Rising coven of Dawn is three-quarters of the way to receiving a boon from Cathan Canae
* '''They need to perform Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae one more time at Hope's Rest in the Barrens
For the last three seasons, the '''Phoenix Rising''' [[coven]] of [[Dawn]] has been raising the [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]] over the region of [[The Barrens#Hope's Rest|Hope's Rest]] in [[the Barrens]]. As well as offering protection to the [[territory]], the [[enchantment]] is [[Golden_magicians_fayre#Frozen_Strength|part of a test]] by [[Cathan Canae]] from whom the ritual draws power.
{{CaptionedImage|file=CathCane001b.webp|align=right|width=175}}
If a frozen citadel is raised in Hope's Rest during the Winter Solstice, then the task will be complete. At the start of the Spring Equinox 388YE, the ''Mistress of Blizzards'' will anchor a little of the essence of her [[Realms#Summer|domain]] in the [[Region_qualities#Hills|hills]] of the southern Barrens. The region will gain the ''Rimebound'' quality - the weather there will always be slightly worse than in the rest of the Barrens, with regular snowfalls and even blizzards in winter. But any casting of Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae on the region - or any other similar Summer enchantments - will be empowered. The ritual already summons a [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|battalion of heralds]] from the demesne of the ''Queen of Ice and Darkness''; when cast at Hope's Rest she will provide one of her great captains and their warband to support the defence of the territory. The battalion will have a total strength of 3,000 towards determining victory and inflicting casualties, and take part in any military campaign in the territory, applying their fighting strength against invading enemies or fighting alongside friendly armies. At the same time, [[Stalwart Stand on Solid Ground]] will mean the fortification does not collapse until the ritual ends, no matter how much damage it takes.

The magicians of Dawn would also gain leave to use [[ilium]] to permanently summon a Frozen Citadel in Hope's Rest if they wish. Should they choose to do so, the ''Thane of the Rimebound Shore'' will petition his mistress to allow his personal castle to be summoned to the mortal world and bring his household to support it until such time as the Druj of the Mallum are permanently broken. The ''Citadel of the Rimebound Shore'' follows the rules for a [[fortification]] - the [[fortification#bastion|bastion]] would provide significant protection to Hope's Rest, and the Thane's personal retinue would [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] the territory, keeping guard against both the Druj and the [[vallorn]], as well as keeping a watchful eye on the wilder places of the Barrens.

With the willing support of the Thane and his mistress, this feat could be achieved with "only" 100 rings of ilium rather than the usual requirement of 300 rings. Furthermore, until the Druj are defeated or the Imperial Conclave declares [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]] against Cathan Canae, the presence of the Thane and their warriors will mean the citadel has no upkeep unless the Empire chooses to [[Fortification#Improvement|improve]] it in some way. This offer of a permanent citadel remains until the start of the Spring Equinox 389YE.

====Broken Fist====
* '''The Fist of the Black Glacier can no longer be cast'''
* '''The assurance on the ritual was broken at the Summer Solstice 387YE'''
Two years ago, at the Winter Solstice 385YE, three generals were [[Begins_where_it_ends#Cathan_Canae|invited]] by a castellan of the ''[[Cathan Canae|Queen of Ice and Darkness]]'' to discuss the strategies behind the conquest of [[Ossium]], [[Sermersuaq]], and [[Zenith]]. '''Nicassia of Phoenix Reach''', as the [[Citadel Guard|General of the Citadel Guard]], won the competition and was rewarded with a ritual text to call on the Fist of the Black Galcer. The ''Castellan of the Spire of Unbroken Notes'' visits the Hall of Worlds following the Autumn Equinox with the sad, but firm, news that with the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Decommission_the_Eastern_Guard|decommissioning]] of the Eastern Guard, the assurance on the ritual has been broken.

It is unclear how the ''Lady of the Frost'' feels about the situation: clearly, the Senate must have had a reason for decommissioning the fortification, but it is a demonstration that the Empire does not share the same concerns as the ''Immovable One''. If the [[Archmage of Summer]] wants to explain the reasoning to the eternal, then their power of [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] is available.

===Champions of a Champion (Hayaak)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Hayaak001b.png|align=right|width=175}}
* '''Those who championed Hayaak during the Icy Crag tourney have received their rewards from Hayaak'''
* '''Hayaak remains as the patron of the Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun'''
During the Summer Solstice 387YE, the [[Hayaak|Peregrine Knight]] became the patron of the [[Master_of_Ice_and_Darkness#The_Icy_Crag_of_the_Eternal_Sun|Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun]]. The Outlaw Prince had to [[Upon_a_midnight_dreary#College_of_Magic_(Hayaak)|delay]] providing rewards to his champions, but has dispatched his heralds to '''Nimue de Rondell'''; '''Arlen Foreman-Smith'''; and the Master of Ice and Darkness himself, '''Alexander Tallstag'''.

To Nimue, he has sent a [[:category:Paired Weapons|set of blades]] taken from an overthrown queen. The blades are similar to the [[Earthquake Drummers]] known to Imperial artisans, and the corrupt queen of an unknown realm used them to slaughter her own people until she was overthrown.

To Arlen, he has sent a set of [[:category:Mage Armour|mage armour]] taken from a twisted king. The armour is similar to the [[Twilight Pauldrons]] known to Imperial artisans, and the deceitful king of an unknown realm used them when spreading malice and suffering to his people until he was cast down.

To Alexander, he has sent a piece of [[:category:jewellery|jewellery]] taken from a fallen monarch. The jewellery is similar to the [[Abraxus Stone]] known to Imperial artisans, and the crooked monarch of an unknown realm used it to swindle their way into power, until he was deposed.

Hayaak has exerted his will to infuse the items with fresh power; their restored enchantments will last a year.

==Autumn==
===Hope is a Subtle Glutton (Callidus)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=CallidusArt.jpg|align=right|width=175}}
* '''The Prince of the Argent Tontine has arranged a special auction for high-end goods'''
* '''All bids must be in ingots and measures'''
* '''Anyone who deposited ingots and measures for the auction must meet Goldentongue in the Hall of Worlds at 20:30 on Friday'''
* '''The auction will take place at 21:30 on Saturday in the Hall of Worlds'''

As the Winter Solstice nears, the sun is low in the sky as a herald steps out of a regio onto the darkening path. Clad in robes embroidered with fanciful script, they are short with golden labyrinthine lines running over their face and neck. Barely pausing, the herald walks briskly towards the Hub to deliver a letter from the [[Callidus|Sovereign-Lord of the City of Chains]]. They inform the civil servant that, following the [[Upon_a_midnight_dreary#Relics_of_the_Past_(Callidus)|visit]] of ''Multitudo'' last season, the Prince of the Argent Tontinue has dispatched ''Goldentongue'' to host an auction for several treasures.

Though some of the requested items are available, some are sadly impossible to provide. There are several exceptionally important citizens who have been invited: '''Bartimaeus''', of [[Urizen]]; '''Leofric “Leo” d’Apulian''', of [[the League]], and a mystery individual. These three are considered the "''Princes''" of the auction, and may place a bid on an item before any other. These Princes are guaranteed the ability to peruse the items before any other, by means of a prospectus. All bidding is to take place using ingots and measures as the currency, and if any item does not meet its (hidden) reserve price, it will be withdrawn and dispatched back to the vaults of Callidus.

''Goldentongue'' will be in the Hall of Worlds from 20:30 on Friday. They need to meet with the Princes and others who are taking part in the auction. Anyone who submitted ingots and measures [[Volumes_of_forgotten_lore#The_Auction_of_Desire|last season]] will need to meet Goldentongue in the Hall of Worlds to continue their involvement with the auction. The herald will need each patron to identify themselves, the sums they deposited and the item they wished for, so that they can be identified, and given a sigil to grant them access to the auction. Anyone who does not meet Goldentongue in the Hall of Worlds on Friday (or sends a proxy) will not be able to take part in the auction the following day.

''Goldentongue'' will return to the Hall of Worlds from 21:00 on Saturday to start organising the auction and to answer any questions. Though nothing about the lots available, unless from one of the three Princes. The herald of the City of Chains does drop a few hints at two of items available; there is a chance to purchase a rare Moonsilver Scarf from the Palace of the Azure Sky and a key to the Myriad Market of the [[Ephisis|City of Gold and Lead]].

'''OOC Note:''' An early version of this entry discussed an altogether different auction to the one that was previous promised. We have changed this to honour the previous wind and will look to run something resembling the different auction in the future.

====Sashes and Shields====
* '''Multitudo, herald of Callidus, will visit the Hall of Worlds at 18:10 on Friday'''
* '''Multitudo wishes to meet the Champion of Ambition and the ambassadors to both Jarm and the Grendel'''
Finally, Multitudo intends to watch the Mariner play at the [[Opening_ceremonies#The_Anvil_Arena|Anvil Arena]]. They hope that '''Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo''', incumbent [[Ambassador to Jarm]]; '''Starlight Starchaser''', [[Ambassador to the Grendel]]; and '''Eldrid 'Phoenix Flame' Vestardottir''', [[Champion of Ambition]] will accompany them, alongside two other guests, then afterwards they can retire somewhere more private to discuss "''sashes and shields''".

===Fire and Stone (Estavus)===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Office of Fire and Stone'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Iteri, Zenith (at the Crucible of Fate)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 [[white granite]], 20 [[mithril]], 10 rings of ilium, 90 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 3 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates the title of ''Architect of Hammers''
* Allows heralds of Estavus to enter the mortal realm at the Office of Fire and Stone regardless of alignment</td></tr>
</table>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Architect of Hammers'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen or Imperial</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes or Declaration of Conclave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:'''
* Can make a single announcement in the Senate each season, either:
** Repair or upgrade to an existing commission utilising the labour of the House of Iron and Stone. This does not count towards the limited number of commissions available to the Senate.
** Assess a bourse seat that produces mithril or white granite in a region controlled by the Empire, utilising the expertise of the Architects of Iron and Stone and at a cost of five thrones
</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversee the Office of Fire and Stone; liaise with heralds of Estavus on behalf of Urizen or the Empire as a whole, depending on appointment method</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Investigated resource'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Produces'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Brilliant Star]]</td><td>Mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Pride of Ikka's Tears]]</td><td>Mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Vigilant Swan]]</td><td>White granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Architects of Iron and Stone have finalised their proposal for a permanent office in Zenith
In the Autumn, [[Has_reared_himself_a_throne#Sculptured_Ivy_and_Stone_Flowers|draft proposals]] were set forth by the [[Estavus|City of Fire and Stone]] regarding offices built at the [[Zenith#Crucible_of_Fate|Crucible of Fate]]. As per the previous request, the intent of the offices is for them to serve as a legacy for the long and productive partnership between the denizens of the Autumn realm and Edmundo of Damakan's Forge's. A title is to be created to oversee the offices, the Architect of Hammers - but as of the Autumn Equinox, this was as far as planning had progressed. Representatives of the ''Architects of Iron and Stone'' , the faction within the City that put together the proposal, met with the Archmage and associates at the last summit to discuss the exact purpose to which the offices can be put.

Having completed their consultation, the expanded proposal for the Architect's powers is as follows. Once per season, the Architect will be able to [[Senate announcement|announce]] either of the following to the Senate:
{{CaptionedImage|file=EstavusArt.jpg|align=right|width=175}}
They may invite the ''Coalition of Stone and Struggle'' to repair or upgrade an existing commission. This will not count against the existing limitation on commissions as the labour will be provided by the Coalition, one of the greatest collections of [[Inhabitants_of_the_realms#Drudges|labourers]] in the ''City of Fire and Stone''. This can be any upgrade - either a standard one or one available due to an opportunity - with the exception that the Coalition refuse to work on projects sponsored or designed by eternals of other realms. Labour costs will need to be provided at the ordinary rate, though it is possible that the Coalition might occasionally request alternate forms of payment.

They may invite the ''Architects of Iron and Stone'' to assess a bourse resource that produces mithril or white granite, which has not already been assessed in this manner, and at the cost of five thrones. The Architects of Iron and Stone will send their representatives to investigate how the resource might be improved. The following season, the heralds will present plans for an upgrade of that resource. This could be a [[Metal_and_stone#Expand_the_Quarry|straightforward plan]] to improve production, or the [[Metal_and_stone#Actual_Ambition|discovery]] of a hitherto-unexploited opportunity for side profit. It is even possible that, on rare occasions, there may be unexpected [[Metal_and_stone#Tempest_Miners|additional opportunities]] associated with the resource. The cost per assessment is set at five thrones until at least the Winter Solstice 388YE. The Architects will assess what profits they have made from the relationship after that point, and may change the price.

Poets light but lamps

2026-04-21T20:54:32Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Garden of the Perfect World */ Spacing out Urizen

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Sumaah]] [[Category:Iron Confederacy]][[Category:Faraden]][[Category:Skoura]][[Category:Tsark]]
<ic>“Do you believe it?”

Tchinua Ganbatar, Liege of the Five Winds, gave a slight snort. “Which part?”

Mistress Karadragha looked down at her papers with a heavy sigh. “At this point? Any of it.”

“I’ll have no words of fear spoken in this meeting, Singhua.” The Liege leaned forwards to refill their cup of tea. “Give me focus, and don’t jump at shadows. What are we informally discussing today?”

“As you say, my Liege.” The Trade Advisor adjusted her spectacles before continuing. “To start with, rumours of the Asaveans involving themselves with the Cinders and other anti-Imperial factions.”

A quiet figure sat off to one side of the meeting room spoke up. “We have no intelligence to confirm the notion, but it would resolve some unanswered questions if it were true. The Cinders are surprisingly well-funded. Even after their condemnation scared off their moderate supporters they still seem to be active across the border. Foreign support would certainly account for that.”

The Liege stroked their chin thoughtfully. “It would also suit the interests of the Asaveans to use Faraden extremists to anger the Empire, especially if they can do it without getting their hands dirty or inviting censure from the Court. What evidence does the Ambassador present?”

“Divinations of the flame, mostly, which means presumably a great deal of interpretation is involved which at best makes them suspect and at worst...”

“Very well. Contact the wizards of the Faces in Fire. They write down all their visions, so see if they have anything that might support this Imperial claim. Let them know we are asking, and they'll see the advantage in being in our good graces. Especially with the matter of the entertainments for my birthday celebrations on the horizon. In the meantime, set your agents prying around any Asavean interests here, especially the quiet ones we might have overlooked. There’s no way that the embassy would be foolish enough to be caught out by this. What next?”

The quiet figure spoke. “Related to the Cinders, the Sansar bounty.”

“Remind me?”

“The Sansar sent three of their family to negotiate for another trade enclave within the Empire. Our agents discovered that one of the three had been radicalised by the Cinders and intended to murder the other two for associating with heretics. Imperial law enforcement identified the guilty party before he struck, and Solongo Sansar has issued a bounty against the Cinders for their actions against her kin. We could potentially convince her to stand down, but it would upset the priesthood and risk emboldening the Cinders further.”

The Liege scowled. “No. The Cinders encouraged kinslaying so let them face the consequences. Tell Solongo that we support her without actually saying the words, and make sure our functionaries at court spread the story as far as they can. We can’t drive the reactionaries away entirely, but we need to keep them isolated. Anyone who can stand up in public and say that they support this kind of treacherous behaviour can reap their rewards.”

The Liege’s companions nodded and made various notes. Mistress Karadragha spoke up again. “I’m hearing on the wind that the Imperial priests are sending dire warnings about Cinders mounting some kind of concerted attacks within Imperial borders. The ambassador didn’t mention it, do we know anything about that?”

The quiet figure responded. “It’s almost certainly true. Gossip and coded messages have been pointing to them planning something big. We haven't been able to identify any targets so far, but their attention being centred within Imperial borders that would account for the lack of information.”

"The ambassador has asked for any information we have," observed Mistress Karadragha in a neutral tone. Both turned their attention to the Liege, expectantly.

There was a long pause before they responded, which they spent carefully stirring a spoonful of honey into their tea. The tinkling of the little silver spoon sounded like distant bells.

“I think it is time for the Cinders to encounter a significant setback.” They drained the dregs of their teacup, winced at the bitterness despite the sweetener. “Retain as much distance as you can, but set your best agents to scouring known Cinder hideouts for information. When you find it, no matter how tenuous, even if it means nothing to you, make sure it reaches the Ambassador. It's the least we can do, and we will just have to trust the Pride and Courage of the Empire to do the rest.”</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Candles flame in the wind.jpg|align=left|caption=Peace is all too often a candleflame in the wind.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
There are six great powers in the known world whose influence and reach rivals that of the Empire. There also innumerable lesser powers who do not have the might to shake the world, but who are nonetheless important to those with whom they share a border. The ambitions of these nearby nations are no less relevant to the Empire. Sometimes diplomatic relations require in-depth analysis; sometimes there is an opportunity to catch one's breath and let the drama move slowly towards the next crisis point.

There are [[ambassador|ambassadors]] to some of these nations - the [[Iron Confederacy|Suranni]], [[Axos]], the [[Thule]], and [[Faraden]] in particular. Other nations are dealt with by the [[Imperial Consul]]. Sometimes a neighbouring nation focuses on diplomacy with the Empire, and requires an in-depth discussion. The '''[[Death leaves us homesick]]''' wind of fortune covers relations with Axos for example, while '''[[Invited with asperity]]''' focuses on the [[orc|orcs]] of [[Otkodov]]. Sometimes however there is less going on and diplomacy can be part of a wider, more surface, roundup. For example '''[[Each age a lens]]''' covers nearly half a dozen of the orc nations that lie near the Empire.

Here we can read about several neighbouring nations to the Empire not covered in detail elsewhere - the [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], and even the more powerful nation of the [[Sumaah Republic]].
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=A Yak.jpg|align=right|caption=The yak of western Faraden are like very hairy oxen but adapted to live at high altitudes and in cold weather. Their wool, milk, and meat is much prized.|width=400}}</div>
==Faraden==
* '''Faraden remains caught between Imperial and Asavean interests
* '''The Liege of Five Winds appears to favour the Empire but there are powerful factions in Faraden that prefer closer ties with Asavea
* '''Faraden and the Empire are at peace, and trade ties between them are being strengthened
The lifeblood of [[Faraden]] is trade, but it is also a country of canny wizards, courageous warriors, and proud (albeit heretical) priests. They currently do not share a border with the Empire, lying beyond the [[Jotun]] and the [[Iron Confederacy]], but that does not stop them sending their caravans to Imperial markets despite the high tariffs they must pay to pass through the lands between. Diplomatic relations between the Court of the Five Winds and the Imperial Senate are changeable - warm one moment cool the next - but it has never come to open warfare. Right now Faraden is squeezed between two competing interests - the Empire on one side and the angry Plenum of the [[Asavean Archipelago]] on the other - and they must walk a knife-edge between the two powerful nations.
{{Nation|nation=[[Faraden]]|port=[[Sea_of_Snow#Pelabuhan|Caitun]]|ambassador=Ebenezer of [[the Marches]]|status=Foreigner}}
The Faraden ambassador to the Empire is ''Mistress Singua Karadragha''. Mistress Singua advises the Court of the Five Winds on all diplomatic matters, and speaks on their behalf to foreign ambassadors. Her attitude to the Empire appears to be cool but professional, and heavily informed by the wishes of the Liege and their court, who seek more opportunities to trade with the Empire.
===General Diplomacy===
* '''Communications between Faraden and the Empire are civil and constructive
* '''The Faraden seek closer trade ties with the Empire as a route to shared prosperity
Ambassador Ebeneezer has raised the matter of the Cinders with Mistress Karadragha. As [[We give the future to the winds#Ashes On The Breeze|previously mentioned]], this sect of violent zealots have been condemned by the Liege of the Five Winds, and the organisation has been driven underground. Yet there is still concern that the Cinders intend to continue their vendetta against the Empire.

Mistress Karadragha confirms that wizards versed in the art of Flame have also offered warnings about the Cinders, but the problem is that their [[divination|divinations]] are fundamentally symbolic and need careful interpretation. No doubt the Empire's adepts of [[Night magic]] have encountered the same challenges. Regardless, the Liege of the Five Winds sees no reason not to share whatever intelligence the Faraden have about the Cinders' operations in the Empire. Several reports have been dispatched by special courier to help Imperial citizens plot the movements of the Cinders.

The Court of the Five Winds is apparently very pleased with the news that work on [[Wild_is_the_wind#Yakholme_Grange|Yakholme Grange]] [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Construct_Yakholme_Grange|has begun]], and that there is a good chance Faraden [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#The_Richest_Wines|trade with Dawn]] may be moving forward. Prosperous trade ties with the Empire strengthen the position of the Liege of the Five Winds, and reinforce their pro-Imperial agenda. The fact that trade with the Empire can be undertaken without the need to trust to ships and boats and the dangers of the [[Sea of Snow]], as compared to trade with the Asaveans, which relies on long shipping routes, means it has particular appeal to the merchant-families of the nation.
===War and the Jotun===
* '''Mistress Karadragha declines to send Faraden mercenaries to fight in the Empire
* '''The Liege of the Five Winds is apparently in negotiation with another power to attack southern Reinos
* '''They propose that the Empire attack the northern regions of the Lasambrian Hills following the Winter Solstice
Ambassador Ebeneezer has clearly presented the idea that the Empire and Faraden could form an alliance against the Jotun. The current truce with the Jotun is the result of a treaty, but as Mistress Karadragha has [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#The_Hills_of_Reinos|already said]], that treaty is due to be renewed or renegotiated at the Summer Solstice. The situation has not changed; Faraden cannot afford to go to war with the Jotun, and as near as the Court of Five Winds can tell the Jotun would prefer to focus their efforts on fighting the Empire. The Ambassador's suggestion that Faraden troops might fight against the [[Druj]] or the [[vallorn|peculiar plant monsters]] that infest parts of the Empire are interesting, but unappealing; the distances are too great and the dangers are too unknown.

However, it may be that the Faraden and the Empire could both get what they want. The [[Iron Confederacy]] has reached out to the Court of the Five Winds and informed them that the Suranni intend to conquer southern [[Reinos]]. This is not the ideal situation, in that it swaps Jotun control of their trade routes to the Empire for Suranni control; but that is still preferable to the stranglehold the barbarian orcs have over them.

If the Empire is serious about a joint effort, then the Military Council could dispatch a force to attack [[Reinos#Ribeira|Riberia]] and [[Reinos#Pedreira|Pedreira]] after the Winter Solstice. A powerful force would be able to smash through the defences there and claim both regions. At the same time, the Iron Confederacy will be attacking in the south, catching Jotun defenders between the hammer and the anvil.

There are further benefits to the Faraden of course. If a serious force of soldiers were attacking the hills of Reinos they would be in a much better position to renegotiate or even abandon their treaty with the Jotun. The benefits to the Empire are less clear - but Mistress Karadragha points out that control of Pedreira would give the Empire control of the [[white granite]] quarry at [[Reinos#Cantera_Balanka|Cantera Balanka]] as well as protecting the entire western border of [[Segura]] from future Jotun invasion.
===Faith and Flame===
* '''The Gatekeepers have provided a dose of true liao to the Faraden priest Boorra Talighar of the Silver Tree
* '''The Temple of the High Flames will receive a true consecration during the Winter Solstice
* '''There are concerns that Asavean assassins may try to disrupt the ceremony
* '''If the consecration is successful, it will end opportunities for Asavean religion to spread in Faraden
Last season ''Boorra Talighar of the Silver Tree'', priest of the Five Flames, [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#Flames_and_Faith|petitioned the Synod]] for a dose of [[liao#True Liao|True Liao]]. Their intent was to use the true liao to create a [[Consecration#True_Liao|true consecration]] of the [[Auras_of_Pride#Partner_of_Greatness|Flame of Honour]]; a powerful aura to help anchor the true faith of Faraden in the face of [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] syncretism. During the Equinox, the [[Gatekeeper|Gatekeepers]] met and discussed the matter, and ultimately [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Doses_of_True_Liao|chose to provide]] one of the seven doses available to them. With the particular aid of '''Nisha Strazcovich''', a former Gatekeeper of Pride who Ebeneezer notes as being instrumental in ensuring the dose was available, the Ambassadors office ensured the true liao was safely delivered to Faraden.

During the Winter Solstice, a grand ceremony marking the end of one year and the beginning of another will take place at the ''Temple of the High Flames'', the most prestigious seat of the Faraden faith. Mistress Karadragha believes representatives of all the [[On_Faraden_faith#The Priest Families|priestly families]] of Faraden will attend, whatever their individual attitudes to the Empire. it is, to put it mildly, a big deal for the faithful of Faraden. No outside priests will be present as this is a ceremony for the Faraden. The Faraden Ambassador, however, has let the Ambassador know that the Liege of the Five Wind has ensured that warriors loyal to them will be present to protect the festivities. There is some concern that the Asaveans might attempt to disrupt the ceremony; there are rumours of assassin-priests of the twin-gods of vengeance, Tlangg and Sanit being present in Faraden.

Assuming the ceremony goes off without a hitch, it will create a potent site of pilgrimage for the faithful of Faraden. The Temple of the High Flames is to the Faraden what the Basilica of Seven Doors is to the Highborn, or the marshes of the Sovennan are to the Winterfolk - a central location sacred to all denominations of their faith. There is no doubt that the true aura will serve as a powerful prophylactic against the influence of Asavean priests, sufficient to put an end to the spread of their influence in the western nation.

It is, of course, illegal for Imperial citizens to trade true liao to citizens of foreign nations; there is no suggestion that either the Liege of the Five Winds or the priest families of Faraden will offer any payment for the liao. All they can offer in return is the profound gratitude of those who take Pride in [[On Faraden faith|their faith]], and who welcome this return to the true values of their own historic religion.
===Fire Fighters===
* '''Zealous crusaders from Faraden have attempted to destroy the Azure Chorus, the docks at Fisk, and the docks at Meade'''
* '''Thanks to prompt warnings from the Imperial Synod two of the three attacks have been thwarted'''
* '''The Jotun have restored the Docks at Meade but made cosmetic changes'''
* '''These attacks have been widely condemned within Faraden'''
In the days following the Autumn Equinox, hasty warnings are carried to Wintermark, the Marches, and the Brass Coast. '''Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum''', the Cardinal of Pride, has issued a dire warning, backed by a greater majority of the Assembly of Nine: the Cinders, a violent group of ultra-conservative Faraden who decry the Empire and all its citizens as irredeemable heretics, have infiltrated the Empire, and intend to wreak havoc upon the innocent. The three targets – the docks at both Fisk and Meade, and the Azure Chorus – are of obvious symbolic value, each one serving as a site where the people of the Empire and the people of Faraden can meet in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. Further hue and cry is raised in Marches specifically, as the statement of '''Father Edmund''' warns the people of Meade that the attackers have already infiltrated the city. Likewise, the Freeborn Assembly upheld a statement from '''Dayanara i Cabeza i Erigo''' warning of the planned attack in Kahraman. Whichever statement people hear first, the warnings are the same: be Vigilant. Lives are at stake.

The situation in Fisk is well contained. A local magistrate, already visiting the town to try an unrelated case, moves quickly to deputise nearby citizens and take control of the Market Hall. While the Faraden workers there are initially outraged by the accusations that there may be violent fanatics among their number, the outrage turns to panic when one of the porters draws a knife and slashes the magistrate’s face. What follows is a brief, ugly brawl, as other infiltrators from the Cinders reveal themselves and attempt to break out and flee. An effort is made to take suspects alive for trial and questioning, but comes to nothing. Even after the Cinders are disarmed, they do nothing but hurl abuse at their captors and their fellow Faraden alike, refusing to cooperate. Aside from vague hints that there are more of them in the Empire and that there will be more violence to follow, they give nothing useful, and are executed on the spot.

Chaos, unfortunately, reigns at the Azure Chorus. The densely packed tents of visiting pilgrims make conducting an orderly investigation all but impossible. Rumours spread through the camp like wildfire, leaving the Courageous and Vigilant citizens of the Brass Coast unable to take their targets by surprise. Some fear that the Cinders may simply flee, but the truth turns out to be much darker. A visiting priest comes running from the Parador of Wind and Flame, shouting that some Faraden pilgrims have barred the doors and begun massacring everyone inside, screaming condemnations against the “lovers of false flames.” The scene is set for tragedy, but nobody present is minded to accept such an outcome. Faraden and Freeborn alike take up arms and storm the Parador in defence of the priests and pilgrims trapped inside, fighting room to room and shedding blood to defend one another. There are many deaths, but fewer than might have been expected, given the grim circumstances.

Things go equally badly in Meade, where the situation is complicated by the the arrival of the Jotun. There is some question among those who stay behind as to whether or not to alert the Jotun to the plans of the Cinders. Would passing on such information be providing treasonous aid to an enemy, or acting with Vigilance to undermine a different enemy?

Unfortunately, the Cinders use the chaos of the invasion to attack before anyone can make a decision one way or the other. The dock front quickly descends into chaos as the Cinders fire the pier and try to murder the Faraden and Marcher merchants working there. Initially stunned by the madness, a Jotun patrol quickly composes themselves and within minutes Jotun and Marchers are fighting side-by-side to take the Cinders down.

At first the Jotun assume that the assassins are under some terrible Night magic curse. Three Cinders were captured alive during the attack - once the Jotun discover there was no magic involved they are appalled. A jarl is summoned and after the briefest trial imaginable, the three men are taken out into the bay and summarily drowned. It is apparently the worst death imaginable as far as the Jotun are concerned.

Once the Cinders have been dealt with, the Jarl gives orders to the Jotun for the docks to be restored. The work is done quickly, most of the docks can be salvaged and materials are shipped in to replace the parts that are too far gone. By the start of the Winter Solstice, the dock front is almost as good as new. Almost... because the Jotun artisans take it on themselves to add a monolithic stone carved in the likeness of an orc warrior - not the Jarl but an idol of [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Skjaldir|Skjaldir]], one of the Jotun faðir.

When word reaches the Faraden Embassy, the response is quick and firm: an absolute and total condemnation of the Cinders' actions. The Liege of the Five Winds had previously spoken out against the Cinders after their failed attempt on the life of the Champion of Vigilance, but this has ignited fury across all of Faraden society. Even conservative thinkers who have never truly reconciled with the differences of faith between the Empire and Faraden are forced to publicly acknowledge that this has gone too far. The Liege of the Five Winds makes a speech before their court, committing to personally pay for any repairs to the sites of the attack, a gesture that earns widespread praise for its even-handed measure of Pride, Prosperity and Justice.

Embassy staff supply one slightly testy clarification to public perceptions of the Cinders: they are not 'Justice cultists', any more than a devout citizen of the Empire is an 'Ambition cultist'. The Cinders follow the Five Flames, just as the people of the Empire follow the Imperial Way. The Cinders are not bad because they follow a specific Virtue, they are bad because they are violent xenophobes who decry the possibility of coexistence and mutual Prosperity in favour of a chauvinistic vision of total cultural purity. Excessive dwelling on religious differences is what led to this problem in the first place, and the last thing anyone needs is someone stoking the flames.

====Raking Over The Ashes====
* '''The infiltrators in Fisk, Meade and the Azure Chorus were not the only Cinders present within the Empire.'''
* '''The attackers will cause further havoc unless they are prevented from doing so.'''
* '''Questions remain over how the group were able to acquire their supplies.'''
In the aftermath, cooler heads begin to dig deeper in both of the locations still controlled by the Empire. What emerges in each case is a similar story. The Cinders arrived as individuals or small groups over the course of the last year, staying and quietly blending in with their countryfolk. They did not disguise their conservative religious views, but did not speak of their violent aims to anyone outside of the conspiracy. The reasons for this are not hard to determine. Not only has the Liege of the Five Winds condemned the sect for their extremism, but many Faraden actively disagree with their attacks on people who did not harm them first. It seems that the Cinders consider other Faraden who deal with the ‘lovers of False Flames’ to be just as bad as heretics themselves. The Cinders are not, it seems, especially good at blending in with the people around them.

Ambassador Ebeneezer's request to Mistress Karadragha has borne fruit with a series of missives detailing what Faraden investigators were able to determine from their own efforts to suppress the sect. In conjunction with Imperial scouts, the two nations are able to put together a list of targets. It seems that the groups already dealt with are not the only ones active within Imperial borders. It's clear that the Cinders have made good use of the resources provided to them - although there is some question about precisely who their rich patrons are. Rumour suggests it is agents of the Asavean plenum who have been funding the Cinders, wielding their hatred of the Empire as a weapon.

===Wildfire (Conjunctions)===
* '''The Cinders have been spotted moving to attack the House of Guerra, the Anvil Library Scriptorium, and Benson's Orchard.'''
* '''Imperial heroes have the opportunity to act before the Cinders can cause any serious harm.'''
The Faraden reports include coded letters that speak of Cinders agents spying out "the Orchard" in the Marches and it is a relatively simple matter to deduce that this is probably a reference to [[Pruning_shears#Benson's_Orchard|Benson's Orchard]], the memorial to [[Paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] of [[Vigilance]] [[Known exemplars#Joshua Benson|'Major' Joshua Benson]]. From the other reports the Faraden are able to provide, it becomes clear the last Cinders are planning to assault the [[Armarius_of_the_Anvil_Library#The_Library_Scriptorium|Anvil Library Scriptorium]] and the [[Hand of Guerra#House of Guerra|House of Guerra]].

By any analysis, these attacks are ultimately doomed to failure. The aura at Benson's Orchard was created with true liao, and there is no way that the Cinders have access to that most valuable substance. The Anvil Library Scriptorium sits in a fortified compound to protect against assaults from agents of the Whisper Gallery, and the House of Guerra is in Calvos town itself, surrounded by Kohan and Corsairs on shore leave. None of these sites are in danger of being destroyed. However, the Cinders are heavily armed and prepared to fight to the death. If they are allowed to work their will unmolested, they will kill a great many people and cause a lot of damage before they are stopped. Fortunately, with the advance warning provided by Faraden to Ambassador Ebeneezer, and the results of Imperial investigations, there is enough notice for the prognosticators to find conjunctions of the [[Sentinel Gate]] that heroes may be able to intervene and prevent loss of life.

====Burn The Books (Sarvos)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to destroy the Anvil Library Scriptorium'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* '''The ''Armarius of the Anvil Library'' is responsible for protecting the Scriptorium'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''

The Anvil Library stands dedicated to the cause of Wisdom and learning across the Empire, fighting back against the terrible losses inflicted by Emperor Nicovar and his book-burning ways. This cause elicits no sympathy from the Cinders, who decry Wisdom as the False Virtue of Doubt. They would love nothing more than to burn the books and massacre the scribes. The mercenaries engaged in the defence of the compound are trusted veterans, but even one enemy with a lit match could wreak havoc if they broke through.

The main group of Cinders are approaching fast along Vintner's Way in Foracci. It is the responsibility of '''Ricardo Glostari di Sarvos''', the Armarius of the Anvil Library, to cut them off before any damage can be done.

====Sever The Hand (Madruga)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to destroy the House of Guerra'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* '''The ''Hand of Guerra'' is responsible for protecting the House'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''
The House of Guerra stands as a testament to the Empire's commitment to taking care of those in need of shelter. Operated by a well-paid staff noted for their practicality and compassion, this thoroughly benign institution seems an odd target for the religiously-motivated Cinders. Things come into focus when the other duty of the Hand of Guerra is pointed out. Spreading the philosophy of Guerra is not especially controversial in the Empire, but rumours have persisted for a long time of her connection to the False Virtue of Anarchy, which the Cinders despise as much as any Imperial citizen. While the general consensus is that these rumours are historical fabrications, it is doubtful that the Cinders would listen if anyone tried to explain to them.

If the attackers are to be intercepted, the easiest place would be along the Corsair's Road in Calvos Sound. It is the responsibility of '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''', the Hand of Guerra, to prevent any harm coming to their charges.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Orchard One.jpg|align=left|caption=Brother Martin Orchard is a sometimes controversial, well respected monk from Pickham Monastery. in Upwold|width=400}}</div>
====Silence The Bell (Upwold)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to desecrate Benson's Orchard'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* ''' ''Martin Orchard'', who carried out the consecration, is responsible for protecting the memorial'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''
'Major' Joshua Benson is an aspirational figure for many dedicants of Vigilance, especially in the Marches. A man without flashy miracles and tall tales to his name, he simply defended his community with absolute and unwavering commitment. Jackie Longshanks, the Beater who was able to sneak up on the Cinders to eavesdrop on their plans, cited the Bellringer as an inspiration for her deeds. The Vigilant pilgrims coming to soak up the aura that surrounds the exemplar's resting place have taken up arms and are ready to defend the holy site to the death, but such a fight would be a bloodbath. If the Cinders should spill blood on such a sacred memorial, the response from irate pilgrims of Vigilance would not bear thinking about.

As the Cinders move to attack Benson's Orchard, they must first move through the area of Tower March known as Benson's Bawn. It is the responsibility of '''Martin Orchard''', the priest who consecrated Benson's Orchard, to thwart their malice before it can strike.
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Delicacies.jpg|caption=The Faraden are proud of their own fine victuals, but also keen to bring the best food and drink from around the world to their tables..|align=right|width=450}}</div>

===Days Of Wine And Mooncheese===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Moonsong Market'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] or [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]], [[the Barrens]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 [[weirwood]] and 30 [[white granite]], 180 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment for farms in the Barrens by one
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Moonsong Reeve''
* Increases the taxation raised from trade with Faraden by 4 Thrones each season
* Significantly increases the number of Faraden travelling to and visting Dawn</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Moonsong Reeve'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees Moonsong Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To serve as a liaison between the Faraden visiting Moonsong Market and the people of Dawn; to encourage Faraden merchants to trade with the nation; to smooth over any disputes; to make decisions based on any opportunities related to Moonsong Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' If the Moonsong Reeve is not yeofolk, the great work benefits will be halved</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Moonsong Cheese'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>7 crowns</td><td>Three common mooncheese and one rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 crowns</td><td>Six common mooncheese and two rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>27 crowns</td><td>Nine common mooncheese and three rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 crowns</td><td>Twelve common mooncheese and four rare mooncheese</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A consortium in Faraden has established a potential deal to trade luxury food in the Barrens.'''
* '''Despite an attempt by the Cinders to sabotage this plan, the actions of Imperial Citizens have demonstrated that Faraden merchants are safe to trade with the Empire.'''

Even as further violence mars relationships between the Empire and Faraden, the siren song of commerce seeks to bring people closer together. Last season, merchants of the Sansar family came to Anvil to speak with the people of Dawn about setting up a trade enclave in the Barrens. Representing a coalition of smaller families, they sought to exploit the opportunities presented by providing rare goods to the eastern Empire and, in so doing, to raise their standing back home.

While the trade talks themselves seem to have gone well, confused reports from Anvil speak of three of the Sansar cousins attending but only two returning, and of drawn blades and plotted murders. When the surviving merchants returned home they apparently brought a tale of horrific treachery: the third of their party had been corrupted by the rage of the Cinders, and plotted to murder them on their journey back to Faraden! Only by the swift action of Imperial law enforcement was this plan foiled. The intention of the Cinders was clear, to scare merchants away from dealing with the Empire. Yet this plan has backfired spectacularly, as the Sansar have not only publicly recommitted to building closer ties with their Imperial friends, but have posted a bounty on all members of the Cinders in vengeance for their heinous acts.

Still, bloodshed makes for poor conversation over the negotiating table, so discussions with the Imperial civil service focus on business. The core of the deal is a pleasingly symmetrical arrangement: Dawnish cloth for Faraden cloth, Dawnish wine for Faraden cheese. Already Seneschals and vintners across Dawn are racing to discover the best wine pairings for the valuable Faraden Mooncheese, a development that is filling the cheesemakers of Faraden with Pride and confidence. There was also an unsurprising interest in purchasing Mithril, for which the Empire’s voracious appetite is well-known.

The plans drawn up off the back of these proposals are, in their most basic nature, similar to the Firewind Market in Holberg. The proposed Moonsong Market, named in honour of the famed Mooncheese, would take 30 wains of weirwood, 30 wains of white granite, and 180 Crowns in labour costs. The Sansar have requested that such a market be built in either [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] or [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]] to be close to the well-defended centres of civilisation. Once constructed, the Moonsong Market would act as a [[great work]] increasing investment in farms across the Barrens. It would also create an [[Imperial title]] - ''Moonsong Reeve'' - that would be responsible for representing Dawn in any negotiations with the Faraden merchants, and smoothing over any issues that arise with their trade in Dawn.

There is one other matter - one that the Faraden are unaware of. As an economic position, the people of Dawn expect the ''Moonsong Reeve'' to be [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]]. If the title is held by a noble, it will result in the benefits of the great work being halved as Dawnish farmers look askance at the Faraden merchants and their association with a noble demeaning the glory of Dawn.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=AmbassadorIronConfederacy.png|caption='''Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo''', Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==The Iron Confederacy==
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
* '''They have recently moved a major military force into the islands off the coast of Feroz
{{Nation|nation=The [[Iron Confederacy]]|port=[[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]]|status=Foreigner|ambassador=Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo}}
The Suranni lie to the south of the Empire. They are a secretive nation, bound up in tradition and suspicion. While they are currently at peace with the Empire, even accepting merchants and traders into their lands, they are certainly not ''friends''. Recent events have seen them, like the [[Faraden]], caught between the [[Liberty Pact]] and the pro-slavery Freedom Accord. Yet where Faraden feels it must play a delicate balancing act, the Suranni Dukes are more confident in their power and prepared to play Imperial and Asavean interests off against each other.

The Suranni ambassador to the Empire is ''Baroness Katerine Lavasse of Meore'', who operates from the Tour Lavasse in Chaubrette, a territory unknown to Imperial citizens that apparently lies to the west of [[Bay_of_Catazar#Veroigne|Veroigne]]. A noble [[naga]], she replaced the significantly more dogmatic Jeanne de Hibernat, a High Priestess of the Suranni god [[Suranni_pantheon#Evra_the_Smith,_Maiden_of_the_Forge|Evra the Smith, Maiden of the Forge]]. She has already indicated that she is very much more pragmatic than her predecessor and more interested in compromise. She still reports to the Dukes of the Iron Confederacy, however, and so her apparent goodwill toward the Empire cannot be relied upon.
===Suranni Pleasantries===
* '''General pleasantries and diplomatic matters have been touched on
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
Ambassador Tethros has apparently informed Baroness Katerine that the Empire intends to attack [[Skallahn]]. This receives a slightly mixed response; the Suranni ambassador is not herself familiar with northern [[Jotun]] lands. Her response is to congratulate the Empire on seeking to conquer [[orc]] lands, and indicates that the news was met with a great deal of interest among some of the more martial Dukes.

The matter of Faraden was also raised, and Baroness Katerine, perhaps a little surprisingly, agrees that Asavean influence over the neighbouring nation is less than ideal. While the Suranni are capable of keeping the agents of the Plenum at arms' length, and ensuring they gain benefits from their association without becoming tainted, they are less confident that the Faraden can achieve the same.

In somewhat delicate tones, Baroness Katerine writes that the Suranni obviously have their own relationship with Faraden - distinct from the Empire - and their own trade routes. They are exploring their own avenues to reduce Asavean influence, but at this time they are reticent about collaborating with the Empire. With the best will in the world, the Empire's tendency to - no offence - blunder in like a drunk in a glassworks, do not predispose the Suranni to share too much at this time. If the Ambassador can be more specific about proposals for joint action with regard to the Faraden that do '''not''' risk souring the Suranni relationship with the Asaveans unnecessarily, then the Dukes are certainly interested to discuss those plans.

With regard to trade, the Baroness is generally positive about trade with the port of [[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]] and entirely sees where the Ambassador is coming from when they talk of more secure overland trade routes. Suranni merchants have long seen the town of [[Feroz#Fontargenta|Bramar]] in Feroz as the ideal destination for those looking to trade with the Empire. From there the more adventurous could travel to [[Madruga#Siroc_(Ruined)|Siroc]], or even further north across the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep#The_Spider's_Dream|Spider's Dream]] bridge. However, as the Suranni understand it a recent natural disaster has severed easy trade routes between Feroz and the rest of the Empire. Is there any news of when these will be restored? That would likely be the first step toward securing a commitment to a trade [[ministry]] in the Empire.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Kobol.PNG|caption=[[Suranni_pantheon#Kobol the Warrior, Maiden of Battle|Kobol the Warrior]] is the uncompromising [[Suranni pantheon|Iron Confederacy god]] of warriors and battle.|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Cazar and the ''Wings of Kobol''===
* '''The Iron Confederacy has smashed the Children of Wrecks in Feroz
* '''Suranni forces have claimed the Cazar Straits for the Confederacy
* '''The Dukes intend to attack Free Landing after the Spring Equinox if the Empire has not dealt with the Wreckers by then
* '''While no treaty has been agreed, Freeborn citizens are free to leave the islands and ships from Feroz can pass through the waters
The Iron Confederacy has invaded [[Feroz]]; or rather they have attacked the Children of Wrecks on the [[Feroz#Cazar Straits|Cazar Straits]]. As laid out in the '''[[Red_skies#Swords_of_the_South|Red skies]]''' wind of war, the ''Wings of Kobol'' [[navy]] brought two Suranni [[army|armies]] across the border from Kalino and smashed the Wreckers' grasp on the island chain. Those pirates and raiders who were not defeated in battle, or captured and executed, have been forced to flee. Most have gone north to [[Madruga#Free Landing|Free Landing]], but some have apparently chosen to quit the [[Bay of Catazar]] altogether. The Cazar Straits are now under the control of the Iron Confederacy.

Following the attack and "liberation" of the islands, Baroness Katerine delivers a message from the Suranni Dukes. It has been too long since the pirates invoked the power of [[Suranni_pantheon#Dumon_the_Liar,_the_Wicked_One|Dumon]] to help them seize the islands to the north of Arbonne, which they have been using as a base to attack the coast of the Iron Confederacy. Over a year ago they launched a raid against [[bay of Catazar#Axiom Prison|Axiom Prison]] and released many dangerous prisoners including a large number of corrupt wizards. While there has been some diplomatic attempt to find common ground for a joint effort against the Children, that have come to nothing. With this decisive action, the Iron Confederacy has shown that it will not tolerate criminals and pirates threatening their borders.

Diplomatic channels were used during the Autumn Equinox to inform Imperial officials of the Suranni intentions. During that time there was discussion of a treaty, but after due consideration the Dukes believe that it is too soon to commit to any formal agreement while there is still a major Children of Wrecks presence just north of their lands - by which they pointedly mean their new holdings in the Cazar Straits. The work done at the Autumn Equinox by Baronets ''Marquette Lavasse'' and ''Vauquelin Lavasse'', during which they met informally with multiple Imperial luminaries have indicated that there is certainly a foundation for a formal treaty to secure relations between the Confederacy and the Empire; but the time to discuss it is once the immediate threat is ended.

Baroness Katerine appears to be aware that the Empire planned their own assault on the Children of Wrecks following the Autumn Equinox, but apparently expected it to be aimed at Free Landing. Her missive lays out that the Dukes plan to take a season ensuring that the last corrupt elements are removed from the islands of Cazar. Then, if the Empire has not already dealt with them, they will attack the Wreckers in Free Landing with an eye towards dealing with them as they have their "friends" in the south. It is important for Ambassador Tethros to understand that if the ''Wings of Kobol'' are called on to free the Madrugan islands, they will likewise be considered part of the Iron Confederacy. After that, though, there will be plenty of time to discuss how to proceed. In particular, she wishes to commend [[Senator]] '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' whose passionate words went some way toward reassuring the Dukes that the Empire was in the process of dealing with the Pirates of Dumon and should be given a little space to do so.

The Baroness does however reiterate that as far as the Dukes are concerned, they have taken enemy territory away from criminals who made war on the Suranni people. The islands of Cazar are now ''theirs'', by right of conquest. This, says Katerine, is not a matter for debate - the facts speak for themselves. The same will be true if they are forced to deal with the pirates of Free Landing.

However, in recognition of the historic presence of the people of [[the Brass Coast]] here, there are certain humanitarian concessions the Dukes have instructed Baroness Katerine to lay out. Any Imperial citizen that was trapped in the Cazar Straits when they were conquered by the Grendel, and then seized by the Pirates of Dumon, is absolutely free to leave; indeed they are encouraged to depart. Suranni ships stand ready to repatriate them to the mainland, and there will be no bar to Freeborn vessels that wish to come collect their countryfolk.

The Iron Confederacy is also open to suggestions about how best to arrange matters with regard to Imperial ships leaving or entering Feroz. Obviously, with control of the Cazar Straits, the Suranni could potentially cut the Freeborn territory off from the Bay of Catazar entirely. There is no reason for them to do so at the moment; indeed Baroness Katerine expresses the hope that recent successes with trade can be built on to encourage Imperial merchants to visit the Straits. This means that there will be no disadvantage to the Freeborn busy rebuilding their homes in the ruined territory from the Suranni.

The [[Civil Service|civil service]] advise that this communication should not be taken entirely at face value. Reading between the lines, it seems that Baroness Katerine isn't ''completely'' happy with the decision of the Dukes. Over the last few years, she has demonstrated a preference for a more nuanced, diplomatic approach to relations with the Empire. At the end of the day though, it is the Dukes who make the decisions. The rulers of the Iron Confederacy are [[naga]], and while they can be [[Naga#Subtle|subtle]], they are still [[Naga#Passionate|passionate]] and [[Naga#Avaricious|avaricious]].

The proposal of a treaty once the Children of Wrecks are finally beaten seems genuine, and it is possible that one of the reasons the Suranni are not rolling straight into Free Landing is to give Ambassador Tethros a chance to put forward a proposal of their own.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Watt of Lambrook.jpg|caption='''Watt of Lambrook''', Minister of Historical Research|align=left|width=300}}</div>

===Marko and the March of History===
* '''Marko Siwarsbairn is ''still'' in the Iron Confederacy'''
The saga of Marko Siwarsbairn continues to drag on. Following the [[Bedight_in_veils#An_Imperial_Historian_in_the_Baronial_Court|dispute]] over the [[historical research]] the [[Wintermark]] scholar had been compiling on Iron Confederacy military history, the Ambassador passed along words from the [[Minister of Historical Research]] '''Watt Lambrook''': "''My researcher is correct that I hold the right to view such reports first. However, since this was understandably not known at the time I will oblige that this once you may also read the report Marko has written before he leaves.''"

Baroness Katerine thanks the Minister for their words, and understands that this is a concession. However as the Winter Solstice draws closer it seems Marko has ''still'' not returned from the Iron Confederacy. A late message to the Imperial embassy indicates that on reading the Siwarsbairn Report it was clear to the Baroness that there were several significant errors and misconceptions in the document. Rather than suggest Marko scrap their hard work and start again, Baroness of Meore has offered the assistance of some of her own staff to correct those errors. She is confident that the report will be much more useful as an artifact of truth, rather than something riddled with errors. She anticipates that unless anything else goes wrong, Marko will be safely back in the Empire with a well-researched document in time for the Spring Equinox.

The Minister need not worry; Baroness Katerine is more than happy to continue to serve as gracious host to Marko Siwarsbairn, and supply the support they need at her own expense. It is the least she can do as a student of history herself, committed to increasing understanding between her nation and the Empire. She also mentions that the gods clearly inspired Marko to make their errors; if they had set off from Meore on schedule this season they would doubtless have ended up caught in the events unfolding in Arbonne.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Dumon.PNG|caption=Dumon the Liar, the Wicked One|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Unfolding in Arbonne===
* '''Arbonne has been subject to a serious Winter curse'''
* '''The priests of the Veiled Shrine claim an oracle has implicated Imperial citizens in the curse'''
* '''Baroness Katerine asks the Ambassador to encourage Imperial citizens to track down those responsible'''
Shortly after the Spring Equinox, the dukedom of Kalino - which the Suranni call Arbonne - was struck with a [[I_wish_you_would#Wicked curses|blight]] that withered crops and saw vermin multiply across the territory. The priests of [[Suranni_pantheon#Kavol,_the_Veiled_King|Kavol]] quickly identified that this was a [[curse]] drawn down by wicked sorcerers working with the aid of the [[Suranni_pantheon#Dumon_the_Liar,_the_Wicked_One|Lying God]]. The curse ran its course, and despite some food shortages in Arbonne, the worst appeared to be over. This assumption was, unfortunately, premature.

Just after the Autumn Equinox another curse fell on Arbonne, and this was orders of magnitude worse than the blight that struck in Spring. The first sign was unseasonably bad weather than ruined crops before they could be gathered; it was swiftly followed by a wave of sickness that incapacitated the weak and the strong alike. Then, on the night of the first new moon, demonic angels of Dumon emerged from the shadows bent on murder and corruption. The worst of them took on the forms of dead orcs, the Lasambrians who had once squatted in the hills here. Their witchcraft brought more terror and destruction to the people and serfs of Arbonne. Worse, among their numbers were revenants that appeared in the form of dead Suranni and even in a few cases what looked to be Imperial knights.

This was again seen as a sign that the gods were angry with the Duke of Arbonne, but again the Priests of Kavol investigated the matter and determined that it was nothing more than another terrible curse from the servants of Dumon. This time, though, this reassurance has done little to quell discontent in the territory. Crops fail from time to time, as a test from the gods, but this unspeakable infestation of demons and revenants is an entirely different matter. The position of the Duke of Arbonne is extremely shaky; if a third curse strikes the territory they will have little choice but to step aside in favour of one of their heirs. Baroness Katerine confidently paints the heirs to the current Duke as competent, wise people but there is an edge to her words that suggests she is not entirely confident about what she is saying.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|Seven Locks 2.jpg|Master of Locks.png}}</div>
<div style="float: right; max-width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|WhisperGal004.png|WhisperGal005.png}}</div>
While the curse is bad, it would normally be a matter for the Iron Confederacy to resolve. Unfortunately, there is an unlooked for wrinkle here. Among the priests of Kavol there are some sects charged with specific duties within the Confederacy. The priests of the Veiled Shrine are charged to root out heretics and servants of Dumon who consort with demons. The Veiled God has sent a sign to them, warning them that while the curse comes from the servants of the God of Corruption, they could not have achieved this terrible working without aid. Specifically, through oracles and visionary dreams, Kavol has given a warning that the power to place the curse came from the Empire.

Baroness Katerine is not a fool; she doesn't believe the Empire has cursed Arbonne. There's simply no evidence of it. Unfortunately, the priests of the Veiled Shrine are adamant that there is Imperial entanglement in this event. She asks that the Ambassador do whatever it takes to find out who has provided the Hand of Dumon with the wherewithal to lay a curse of this magnitude on Arbonne. Given that working with the Hand is a crime in the Empire, she presumes that Imperial justice likewise has a vested interest in tracking down whoever it is that is supporting these monstrous sorcerers. The Dukes cannot countenance Imperial support for the Hand of Dumon, and if it comes out that Imperial citizens were flouting the laws made by the Senate in this regard it would shake confidence in those who pointed to the agreement as a positive step in international relations. Which includes Baroness Katerine of course.

Obviously, the one thing every Imperial citizen can be '''absolutely certain''' of, is that "the Veiled God" definitely did not tell the Iron Confederacy anything, ''given they don't actually exist''. However they note that Baroness Katerine refers to "angels" more than once, which is either a [[Astronomancy#Tulpas|tulpa]] or much more likely, a [[herald]] of some [[eternal]] that is up to no good. If it is the latter, the finger of suspicion must point at either [[Basileia]] or the [[Whisper Gallery]], either of which would sell the Empire out in a heartbeat. The City of Locks trades in treachery, espionage and secrets, while the Shadow Courtiers are literally obsessed with secrets. On paper, it is more likely to be the Princess of Weirs; since the Concilium of the Perjured Throne is under enmity, the only way they could be mixed up in all this is if that was being subverted by members of the Conclave.

It's unfortunate that the Empire does not have a workable map of Arbonne, so rituals such as [[Eye of the High Places]] will not be able to find anything useful. From the description, however, it seems that the curse might have been the result of a potent Winter magic ritual of high magnitude - at least eightieth and perhaps higher.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconSumaah.jpg|align=right|width=300}}</div>
==Sumaah Republic==
* '''The Sumaah Republic is an empire devoted to an orthodox interpretation of the Way'''
* '''The Sumaah Republic remain allies of the Empire in the Liberty Pact
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.
{{Nation|nation=[[Sumaah Republic]]|status=Foreigner|port=[[Sumaah_Republic_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]]|ambassador=Accalon of [[Highguard]]}}
The Sumaah ambassador to the Empire is ''Oxtitocszin'', who holds the rank of Censor of wood, metal and stone and is a member of the High House of Pride (the Sumaah equivalent of the Pride Assembly, but with significantly more responsibility and leeway to pursue foreign diplomacy). They advise not just the Sumaah ''präster'', but the House of the People (the Sumaah equivalent of the Imperial Senate). By all accounts they are an even-handed, level-headed individual, and a devout practitioner of the Way.
===Liberty===
* '''The Sumaah are sending a representative to the Liberty Pact meeting'''
The Sumaah are, of course, sending an emissary to the [[Liberty Pact]] meeting. ''Oxtitocszin'' indicates the Sumaah attitude to the Pact has not shifted. They still intend to propose the amendment to the pact [[Drowned_in_tears#Liberty_Pact|mentioned last season]], to centre [[the Way]] in the approach of the Liberty Pact to defeating the evil of slavery. Apparently, the Sumaah representatives to the Pact are a little surprised that the Empire are not raising any amendments to the Pact themselves, but appreciate that this may simply be because the status quo serves their interests more effectively.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Accalon5901.jpg|caption='''Accalon of Felix's Watch''', Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic|align=right|width=350}}</div>
Ambassador Accalon's words relating to the removal of Axos from the pact has not inspired them to revisit the matter but they wish the Ambassador to be apprised that they will vote with the Commonwealth on this matter. Unfortunately, Sumaah is not in a position to launch a full-scale invasion of the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. Were there any chance that such an attack might be practical, they would already be undertaking it. Oxtitocszin gently suggests that even if they were holding off for some reason, the Ambassador's proposal that the Empire would help remove Axos from the Pact would by no means be sufficient inducement for them to do so. The Sumaah Republic intends to let virtue guide their approach to the Pact and the Axou, as they do everything else. They would expect the Empire to do the same.

Further details of the Sumaah involvement in the Liberty Pact meeting can be found in the '''[[My soul at liberty]]''' wind of fortune.

===Gift of Pride (Redux)===
* '''The House of the People delayed their shipment of white granite at the request of Ambassador Accalon
* '''After the Winter Solstice there is an opportunity for Imperial fleet captains to escort the shipment to the Brass Coast
At the request of the people of [[the Brass Coast]], as relayed to the Sumaah by Ambassador Accalon, they have delayed the shipment intended to [[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|offer aid in rebuilding]]. The white granite is still in the Republic, waiting an escort of Imperial vessels to help it reach the shores of the Bay of Catazar. The House of the People recognises that dealing with the threat of the Children of Wrecks takes priority. The Cardinal of the House of [[Vigilance]], however does append a warning to the Freeborn not to allow the malign power of ''hevn'' to gain a foothold in their souls. "''Hevn''" is apparently an old-fashioned Sumaah term for the power of [[Malign spiritual presences#Vengeance|vengeance]] but with elements of [[Malign spiritual presences#Hatered|Hatred]]. The Cardinal reminds their beloved Imperial cousins that to strike against enemies before they can harm you is vigilant but to pursue the destruction of those who have harmed you for selfish reasons is to invite corruption into ones soul.

Regardless, the House of the People have confirmed that the shipments of white granite await an Imperial escort. They warn, however, that they cannot afford to delay their gift for another season. The [[Asavean Archipelago]] already seems to have gotten wind of what is planned, and any further wait will surely see the Sumaah ships attacked and sunk regardless of the presence of Imperial vessels.

You can read about this opportunity in last seasons '''[[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|Drowned in tears]]''' wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=IconZemress.png |caption=Icon of Zemress|title=Icons of Zemress are popular with sailors who must travel through dangerous waters - both those from the Brass Coast, and the distant Frieøyer.|align=right|width=300}}
===Inspiration of Zemress===
* '''A renowned Frieøyer captain has come to study at the Zemress Naval Academy along Sumaah sailors and shipwrights'''
* '''Their support has helped to unlock the full potential of the Academy and the Empire's naval forces'''
While [[Red skies|war rages]] in the seas of Sarvos and Madruga, a Sumaah ship appears at the docks in [[Madruga#Calvos|Calvos]]. It looks a little the worse for wear, showing signs of having sustained significant damage recently. It turns out to be the ship of ''Bjarna Xicot'' of the Frieøyer - the former pirates [[Zemress#A_Tale_from_Sumaah|inspired]] by the paragon [[Zemress]] - who has come to study at the [[Madruga#Zemress_Naval_Academy|Zemress Naval Academy]] along with a boatload of Sumaah students. Unfortunately, along the way, they fell afoul of Asavaean privateers and only just managed to escape with their lives and their vessel.

The Sumaah quickly make themselves at home; the Frieøyer among their number have all fought alongside Imperial fleet captains before, during the [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|fight against Asavea]] last year. The others are a combination of pilgrims of [[Prosperity]], scholars, and shipwrights. Sumaah does not have anything to match the naval prowess of Asavea but like the Empire they have their traditions of building warships. Without them, the Asaveans would likely have conquered swathes of their coastline in the centuries of war.

''Bjarna Xicot'' brings with her a gift - or rather, she and her companions ''are'' the gift. A gift not from the House of the People or the High Houses of Virtue but from the Frieøyer themselves. It is in part a gift of gratitude for the Imperial sailors who fought alongside them, partly a gift of Pride, but mostly a gift to recognise the shared love of Zemress between the Frieøyer and the Brass Coast. The artisans and veteran mariners who accompany Bjarna are here to stay, they are eager to study at the Academy and learn what they can from the Freeborn masters of the sea, but they also bring knowledge and skills of their own, which they are enthusiastic to share. They bring with them a small library of plans and books dedicated to the art of the shipwright, translated painstakingly from their original tongue into Imperial.

Studying together, the two groups are able to achieve a breakthrough. The Academy has been steadily creating designs for new warships, trying to match the qualities of the navies of the [[Grendel]] and the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]]. The school has done a remarkable job building up Imperial expertise, but with the information the Frieøyer have provided has helped to ''complete'' that program of study. The academy has discovered everything they can - all that remains now is to put that knowledge into practice.

That means building some navies, but it also means spreading the knowledge they have gained far and wide across the Empire. Excited at the prospects of sharing what they have learned with everyone in the Empire, the Academy soon empties out, as people make arrangements to visit one or more of the other nations. After-all - "all that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it."

The main advantage of spreading this knowledge far and wide is that shipwrights will be able to build vessels better suited to a nation's ideals. Local shipwrights can build on the skills and learning shared by the staff of the former Zemress Academy to create something more in keeping with local traditions. Freeborn navies might be well-suited to plunder, while a Dawnish warship might be built for glory!

What that means now, is that any [[navy]] built by the Empire would have access to a set of three or more qualities just like an [[army]]. Going forward, similar to the [[Rules_update_2026#New_Army_Qualities|rules that cover army qualities]], the Senator who musters a navy will be given a list of qualities to choose from reflecting their nation and the narrative surrounding the navy's creation. These will be drawn from the list of standard qualities, but through [[opportunity|opportunities]] or [[appraisal|appraisals]], more unique qualities may be on offer.
<div style="float: right; width: 250px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Prosperity.png|width=250px}}</div>
====Legacy====
* '''The Synod lists the Krakens' Bane as a memorial to Zemress'''
* '''The Wreckers destroyed the beautiful seminary constructed in her memory'''
* '''The potential exists to create a truly inspirational memorial to Zemress'''
* '''Any edifice would be more inspirational if the General Assembly recognise Zemress as a paragon'''
The Zemress Naval Academy now stands empty. Its great work complete, the staff have fanned out across the Empire, taking the new learning with them. The power to develop qualities is no longer available or needed. However, the building still stands, and it still attracts the best shipwrights from across the Brass Coast and beyond. This is the site that raised Imperial naval traditions to the point where they could rival - at least in theory - those of the Grendel or the Asaveans. The Frieøyer came half way across the world to study here.

This incredible legacy should be preserved. When the [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress_(Destroyed)|Seminary of Zemress]] was destroyed, the ''Kraken's Bane'' was left untouched. It bears a [[Aura#Durable_Auras|true aura]] of Prosperity, [[A_time_of_plenty#Coin_that_Goes_Unspent|placed there by Gilah, daughter of the Chantry]] with the approval of the Assembly of Prosperity. The beautiful building that once celebrated the life of this iconic Freeborn hero was destroyed, but the potential exists to rebuild it into something even more inspirational.

No true liao would be needed, but a new [[edifice]] of some kind is needed. The more [[Edifice#Grandeur|grandiose]] the building, the more inspirational it would be. However, the other thing that would help to remind everyone of the importance of the site, is if the Freeborn were able to convince the General Assembly to recognise Zemress as a paragon. After-all... what more powerful a legacy could exist than the triumph of the Zemress Naval Academy?

Freeborn architects intend to bring a range of plans forward to create a new building to celebrate Zemress' life later this year. They want to give their fellow Freeborn time to persuade the Synod of the truth of their claims - that Zemress i Ezmara i Erigo has passed through the Labyrinth. If the Synod act to recognise Zemress as a paragon, they will publish their ideas before the next summit, otherwise they will publish them in a year's time.

===OOC Note===
The Zemress Naval Academy, and its approach to determining qualities for navies, was rooted in an earlier vision of how navies worked. As we've developed our approach to armies, it's become more clear that we should be treating navies in the same way we do armies - that they should have strong identities tied to the nation that supports them. As such, the existing abilities of the Academy to build up a small list of qualities based on the design of the ships themselves has become outmoded. The in-character rationale for the rules change is that the arrival of the Frieøyer has helped the Academy achieve its ultimate goals and allowed them to spread knowledge of advanced ship-building right across the Empire.

Rather than simply have the Naval Academy become a white elephant, we'll present an opportunity to build on the consecrated location dedicated to Zemress later this year, to give the Empire an opportunity to rededicate the site with a new purpose.

==Tsark==
* '''The people of Tsark keep the Empire at arms' length
* '''The Imperial Consul is technically responsible for diplomatic relations with the Mountains of the Moon
During the Autumn Equinox, a delegation from the [[Tsark|Mountains of the Moon]] visited [[Bedight_in_veils#The_People_of_the_Moon|visited Anvil]]. They spoke with a number of people, and by all accounts the discussions were somewhat fruitful. The people of Tsark - the [[orc]] nation that occupies the shallow basin surrounded by the Mountains - have so far kept the Empire very much at arms' length. Following their visit, however, they have made an approach to the civil service and asked their assistance in preparing some proposals to put before the Empire.

===Garden of the Perfect World===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of the Perfect World'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Ministry</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]], [[Zenith]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 15 [[weirwood]], 45 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Seeker of the Perfect World''
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Seeker of the Perfect World'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen National</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Urizen National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees the Garden of the Perfect World</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To look after the Garden of the Perfect World, and to help the people of Tsark trade with the Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' The benefits are lost if the Empire and Tsark are no longer friendly</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Wood and Stone'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>4 weirwood</td><td>4 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>6 weirwood</td><td>6 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>8 weirwood</td><td>8 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Spirits and Stone'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 liao</td><td>1 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>90 liao</td><td>2 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 liao</td><td>3 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''There is an opportunity to build a ministry to trade for Tsark's white granite
Tsark resists the idea of an [[embassy]]. By all accounts they see the Empire as a place of chaos and turmoil, very much at odds with the ordered and harmonious life they lead in the high mountains east of [[Urizen]]. For centuries they have hidden away from Imperial eyes, discouraging anyone from visiting their home with mighty fortifications and memory-altering drugs. Now, however, it seems that they are prepared to countenance some limited trade with Imperial citizens, with an eye toward acquiring substances that are rare or unknown in Tsark. With the aid of the civil service they have put forward a proposal for the grandiosely titled ''Garden of the Perfect World''.

The garden would be a special [[ministry]] built in the foothills of [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]] in southern [[Zenith]]. They expect the Empire to undertake the construction. Despite its majestic name, the actual commission requires only 15 wains of weirwood and 45 crowns in labour. It would take three months to complete. It takes the form of a meditative garden, built in the style of Tsark. Quiet chimes are hung from carefully selected trees, and what appears to be a traditional Tsark meeting hall stands along the southern side of the garden. The commission also involves beautiful flowering plants, some from Urizen and some from Tsark.

Once complete the Mountains of the Moon would create the title ''Seeker of the Perfect World'' to oversee it. They would be responsible for trading with the people of Tsark, and where the folk of the Mountains of the Moon reached out to the Empire they would be asked to facilitate any diplomacy or negotiations. It sounds a little like what they really want is an ambassador, but the leaders of Tsark are clear they do not. It seems they are concerned that they would have to build a reciprocal embassy themselves, and allow Imperial citizens into their lands, which they will not do.

The garden allows the ''Seeker of the Perfect World'' access to a ministry that lets them exchange their [[white granite]] from the [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Kamen_Quarry|Kamen Quarry]] for Imperial [[weirwood]]. They are also interested in acquiring some amount of [[liao]] - a substance not found in Tsark - for use by the human citizens of their nation. They are aware that the quantities they are asking for are quite significant and understand if the Empire doesn't want to take advantage of the trade.

Obviously as a ministry supported by a foreign nation, the ability to trade resources with Tsark is entirely dependant on continued diplomatic relations. Aware that the Empire is, perhaps rightly, concerned about what will happen if Tsark chooses to close itself off from the world again, they have agreed that if they end their trade with the Empire for any reason they will provide 15 wains of white granite to the Seeker of the Perfect World before they do so to pay for the resources spent in the construction of the ministry. If the Empire ends trade, of course, they will not feel the need to provide any restitution at all.

The opportunity remains available until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE.

===Zaboravi===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of Peaceful Quietitude'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Wintermark]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 [[weirwood]], 36 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates a sinecure and the title of ''Seeker of Quietitude''
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Seeker of Quietitude'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Wintermark National or Imperial</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Wintermark National Assembly or Imperial Apothecaries' Guild</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives 12 doses of zaboravi each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversees the Garden of Peaceful Quietitude; help cultivate zaboravi in Wintermark</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tsark will help the people of Wintermark cultivate zaboravi
* '''The sinecure must be built in an alpine territory, in a region with hills and hot springs
The people of Tsark make use of an exotic drug called ''Zaboravi'' that has remarkable properties. Used correctly, it allows an individual to edit their own memories in a manner similar to [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]]. According to the folk from the Mountains of the Moon, [[Night magic]] is a crude tool for altering one's memories, equivalent to a spade or a pickaxe - partly because of the raw magic involved and partly because the impetus to forget comes from outside the self. Zaboravi is a more gentle, harmonious way to alter ones recollections, because all it does is empower the one who uses it to choose how to shape their own remembered past.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NBWintermark.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Apothecaries Guild.png|title=Imperial Apothecaries' Guild|align=right|width=240}}</div>
There has been discussion of seeing if the plant that produces zaboravi will prosper in [[Wintermark]]; the farmers there have already had some success with cultivating ''viezesmaak'' for the [[Sarcophan Delves]], and there is interest in seeing if they might be able to do the same with the Tsark drug. There is talk of zaboravi being invaluable to [[surgical skills#Physick|physicks]] dealing with people suffering emotional or spiritual wounds caused by terrible events. Tsark is broadly positive about facilitating such a thing - they are not jealous of their control of zaboravi and see the value of using it to help those whose spirits are in discord find peace.

Again, with the help of the civil service, they have put forward a proposal for a [[commission]] in [[Wintermark]]. The ''Garden of Peaceful Quietude'' is a [[sinecure]] that will require 12 wains of weirwood and 36 crowns in labour to complete, taking three months to construct. It will create a title - ''Seeker of Quietude'' - who will oversee the efforts to cultivate zaboravi. Each season, the gardeners of Tsark believe it will produce 12 doses of zaboravi for the Seeker, presuming that the location is conducive and the gardeners follow their instructions to the letter. The initial proposal from Tsark is that the Seeker of Quietude be appointed by the Wintermark National Assembly - zaboravi is after all a spiritual substance. The civil service however have pointed out that as a unique herb it might be more appropriate to see the title appointed by the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]]. Tsark has indicated that it is happy either way as long as the drug is treated with the reverence they feel it deserves. Notably, once the plant is established, however, its continued cultivation will require no further interaction with Tsark, so it will not be dependant on good relations continuing with the nation.

The only real restriction they place on it is that for the zaboravi to prosper it needs three things; a cool climate, as much altitude as possible, and access to geothermal hot springs. Apparently the folk of Wintermark that the visitors spoke to were confident they knew just the place.

The civil service have assessed the proposal, and indicated that the plans the people of Tsark have provided could also allow similar gardens to be built in other alpine locations - specifically [[Skarsind]], northern [[Hercynia]], and northern [[Varushka]]. The main challenge would be finding suitable locations, which would require an [[appraisal]]. The only limitation would be that such an appraisal couldn't be undertaken until the Empire had a source of the plant itself - so not until the ''Garden of Peaceful Quietude'' was completed.

===Ushabti and Rice===
* '''Some folk in Tsark are interested in both Ushabti and the Golden Cascade
* '''Further discussion waits the completion of the Garden of the Perfect World
During their visit, the subject of both [[Urizen_economic_interests#Ushabti|ushabti]] and the [[Zenith#Proceris|Golden Cascade]] were raised. By all accounts the visitors from Tsark were interested, but cautious. The leaders of the nation have determined that while they are curious about both the odd constructs that seem to work best at high altitude, and the ambitious great work that provides food for much of Zenith and indeed the nation as a whole, any further discussion will have to wait until the ''Garden of the Perfect World'' is completed. Or not, as the case may be.
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tarquinius Ankarien.jpg|caption=Tarquinius Ankarien (left), former [[Ambassador to Axos]], has apparently been charged to speak with the Skourans by the Imperial Consul.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
==Skoura==
* '''The nation of Skoura lies to the east of Mareave
* '''While they are keeping the Empire at arms' length the two nations are at peace
* '''The Imperial Consul is responsible for diplomacy with Skoura
The message from Talker Garra, Delvemistress of Skoura, that arrives in Mareave midway through the season is neatly written on tough parchment. It begins by thanking '''Tarquinius Ankarien''' for their understanding - they would indeed prefer to deal with the [[Imperial Orcs]] as much as possible and would prefer that if the [[Imperial Consul]] chooses to delegate communication they do so with that in mind. The Unshackled are their neighbours, and there is still some distance to go before Skoura is entirely happy dealing with the wider Empire. The Delvemistress is happy to trust the good sense of '''Pathfinder Gaddak''' in this matter.

Establishing a permanent [[embassy]] would be a significant step in relations between the mountainfolk and the Empire - and one that they are not entirely sure they are ready to make. Accepting an Imperial [[ambassador]] would be a serious matter, and would mean that their interaction with Imperial citizens will have evolved beyond the point of a small number of trade agreements with the people of [[Mareave]]. The first question that Talker Garra has is, can the Imperial Consul confirm that the Empire is prepared to commit to appointing an Unshackled to the position, at least for the time being? The second question is, what form would the Empire expect an embassy to take, and what commitments would be required from Skoura? Obviously they would require any embassy to be built in Mareave; presumably the Empire would expect an embassy to be built in Skoura as well? In all honesty, writes Delvemistress Garra, the fact that the Empire changes its ambassadors often is seen as something of a problem with the more conservative members of their nation. Needing to re-establish relations each time a new ambassador is appointed represents a significant investment of time and trust.

The Skourans are pleased to hear that the Empire has no intention of sending spies into their lands. The Skourans are a private people - it is not that they have things to hide so much as that they would prefer to build their relationship with the Empire carefully, and on a foundation of mutual trust.

===Trade and Artisans===
* '''The Geltcourse Trade Security Council have confirmed they are willing to investigate further trade with the Imperial Orcs'''
* '''They require the Senate to recognise the Artisans Guild as an Imperial sodality before further plans are developed'''
There is one matter that could, apparently, increase Skouran enthusiasm for building that relationship more quickly. The ''Geltcourse Trade Security Council'' first visited Anvil six months ago, at the [[I_wish_you_would#To_Mahal_from_the_Mines|Summer Solstice 387YE]]. There, they discussed the nature of trade and the potential for long-term trade with the Imperial Orcs in Mareave. The Geltcourse Trade Security Council have finished their deliberations and is interested in a formalised arrangement.

However, the Geltcourse Trade Security Council are one and all respectful of the art of the [[artisan]], and the inherent strength that comes with a recognised central authority. As such, they are unwilling to go further with a formal arrangement unless the Artisans Guild is recognised as an [[Imperial sodality]] by the [[Senate]] and ratified by [[the Throne]]. The representative of the Geltcourse Trade Security Council makes clear that this is ''not'' a slight on the Unshackled; they sincerely hope to have future dealings with the orcs of Mareave. Unfortunately, this is a red line for the Geltcourse Trade Security Council if they are to cultivate trade with the Empire as a whole rather than just their neighbours on the lower slopes.

===Defensive War===
* '''Skoura is prepared to send 500 troops to support Rucraic's Redoubt following the Winter Solstice
* '''In return they require a payment of 50 measures of dragonbone
The discussion about armies and "defensive war" is interesting, and does indeed show how different the strategies of Skoura and the Empire have become. Most Skourans would see armies as something that supplements the sturdy [[fortification]] of a territory, an adjunct to the defence rather than the primary component. Fortunately, given that the Unshackled have completed [[Mareave#Ruicraic's Redoubt|Ruicraic's Redoubt]], it is that much more likely they will be able to resist the Grendel.

With that in mind, the Delvemistress offers to dispatch a cadre of Skouran war-engineers to Rucraic's Redoubt, to bolster the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] there and help to fight the Grendel. After some further questions, the civil service determine that a "cadre" in this case represents a fighting strength of 500, equivalent to five military units. In return, the Skouran commanders require 50 measures of [[dragonbone]], delivered in advance by either the Imperial Consul or Senator Pathfinder. Given the situation, the Delvemistress mentions that if they are prepared to provide an additional thirty crystal mana as well, she will ensure that the cadre is suitable enchanted with the might of the mountains - sufficient to increase the strength they will contribute to 1000 force. ('''OOC Note:''' If the Consul or the Senator wishes to take up this offer, they will need to ensure the resources are handed in at the end of the event and then email {{plot}} to confirm they wish them to be transferred to Skoura).

The Skouran Talker suggests that while this military support is not great given the scale the Empire works on, it is as much about testing the waters as anything else. It will also give the warrior-engineers an opportunity to examine the stonework of Rucraic's Redoubt, which they apparently see as an additional benefit.
==Further Reading==
* [[Faraden]]
* [[Iron Confederacy]]
* [[Sumaah Republic]]
* [[Tsark]]
* [[Skoura]]

Poets light but lamps

2026-04-21T20:25:48Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Raking Over The Ashes */ Completing the extremism

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Sumaah]] [[Category:Iron Confederacy]][[Category:Faraden]][[Category:Skoura]][[Category:Tsark]]
<ic>“Do you believe it?”

Tchinua Ganbatar, Liege of the Five Winds, gave a slight snort. “Which part?”

Mistress Karadragha looked down at her papers with a heavy sigh. “At this point? Any of it.”

“I’ll have no words of fear spoken in this meeting, Singhua.” The Liege leaned forwards to refill their cup of tea. “Give me focus, and don’t jump at shadows. What are we informally discussing today?”

“As you say, my Liege.” The Trade Advisor adjusted her spectacles before continuing. “To start with, rumours of the Asaveans involving themselves with the Cinders and other anti-Imperial factions.”

A quiet figure sat off to one side of the meeting room spoke up. “We have no intelligence to confirm the notion, but it would resolve some unanswered questions if it were true. The Cinders are surprisingly well-funded. Even after their condemnation scared off their moderate supporters they still seem to be active across the border. Foreign support would certainly account for that.”

The Liege stroked their chin thoughtfully. “It would also suit the interests of the Asaveans to use Faraden extremists to anger the Empire, especially if they can do it without getting their hands dirty or inviting censure from the Court. What evidence does the Ambassador present?”

“Divinations of the flame, mostly, which means presumably a great deal of interpretation is involved which at best makes them suspect and at worst...”

“Very well. Contact the wizards of the Faces in Fire. They write down all their visions, so see if they have anything that might support this Imperial claim. Let them know we are asking, and they'll see the advantage in being in our good graces. Especially with the matter of the entertainments for my birthday celebrations on the horizon. In the meantime, set your agents prying around any Asavean interests here, especially the quiet ones we might have overlooked. There’s no way that the embassy would be foolish enough to be caught out by this. What next?”

The quiet figure spoke. “Related to the Cinders, the Sansar bounty.”

“Remind me?”

“The Sansar sent three of their family to negotiate for another trade enclave within the Empire. Our agents discovered that one of the three had been radicalised by the Cinders and intended to murder the other two for associating with heretics. Imperial law enforcement identified the guilty party before he struck, and Solongo Sansar has issued a bounty against the Cinders for their actions against her kin. We could potentially convince her to stand down, but it would upset the priesthood and risk emboldening the Cinders further.”

The Liege scowled. “No. The Cinders encouraged kinslaying so let them face the consequences. Tell Solongo that we support her without actually saying the words, and make sure our functionaries at court spread the story as far as they can. We can’t drive the reactionaries away entirely, but we need to keep them isolated. Anyone who can stand up in public and say that they support this kind of treacherous behaviour can reap their rewards.”

The Liege’s companions nodded and made various notes. Mistress Karadragha spoke up again. “I’m hearing on the wind that the Imperial priests are sending dire warnings about Cinders mounting some kind of concerted attacks within Imperial borders. The ambassador didn’t mention it, do we know anything about that?”

The quiet figure responded. “It’s almost certainly true. Gossip and coded messages have been pointing to them planning something big. We haven't been able to identify any targets so far, but their attention being centred within Imperial borders that would account for the lack of information.”

"The ambassador has asked for any information we have," observed Mistress Karadragha in a neutral tone. Both turned their attention to the Liege, expectantly.

There was a long pause before they responded, which they spent carefully stirring a spoonful of honey into their tea. The tinkling of the little silver spoon sounded like distant bells.

“I think it is time for the Cinders to encounter a significant setback.” They drained the dregs of their teacup, winced at the bitterness despite the sweetener. “Retain as much distance as you can, but set your best agents to scouring known Cinder hideouts for information. When you find it, no matter how tenuous, even if it means nothing to you, make sure it reaches the Ambassador. It's the least we can do, and we will just have to trust the Pride and Courage of the Empire to do the rest.”</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Candles flame in the wind.jpg|align=left|caption=Peace is all too often a candleflame in the wind.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
There are six great powers in the known world whose influence and reach rivals that of the Empire. There also innumerable lesser powers who do not have the might to shake the world, but who are nonetheless important to those with whom they share a border. The ambitions of these nearby nations are no less relevant to the Empire. Sometimes diplomatic relations require in-depth analysis; sometimes there is an opportunity to catch one's breath and let the drama move slowly towards the next crisis point.

There are [[ambassador|ambassadors]] to some of these nations - the [[Iron Confederacy|Suranni]], [[Axos]], the [[Thule]], and [[Faraden]] in particular. Other nations are dealt with by the [[Imperial Consul]]. Sometimes a neighbouring nation focuses on diplomacy with the Empire, and requires an in-depth discussion. The '''[[Death leaves us homesick]]''' wind of fortune covers relations with Axos for example, while '''[[Invited with asperity]]''' focuses on the [[orc|orcs]] of [[Otkodov]]. Sometimes however there is less going on and diplomacy can be part of a wider, more surface, roundup. For example '''[[Each age a lens]]''' covers nearly half a dozen of the orc nations that lie near the Empire.

Here we can read about several neighbouring nations to the Empire not covered in detail elsewhere - the [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], and even the more powerful nation of the [[Sumaah Republic]].
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=A Yak.jpg|align=right|caption=The yak of western Faraden are like very hairy oxen but adapted to live at high altitudes and in cold weather. Their wool, milk, and meat is much prized.|width=400}}</div>
==Faraden==
* '''Faraden remains caught between Imperial and Asavean interests
* '''The Liege of Five Winds appears to favour the Empire but there are powerful factions in Faraden that prefer closer ties with Asavea
* '''Faraden and the Empire are at peace, and trade ties between them are being strengthened
The lifeblood of [[Faraden]] is trade, but it is also a country of canny wizards, courageous warriors, and proud (albeit heretical) priests. They currently do not share a border with the Empire, lying beyond the [[Jotun]] and the [[Iron Confederacy]], but that does not stop them sending their caravans to Imperial markets despite the high tariffs they must pay to pass through the lands between. Diplomatic relations between the Court of the Five Winds and the Imperial Senate are changeable - warm one moment cool the next - but it has never come to open warfare. Right now Faraden is squeezed between two competing interests - the Empire on one side and the angry Plenum of the [[Asavean Archipelago]] on the other - and they must walk a knife-edge between the two powerful nations.
{{Nation|nation=[[Faraden]]|port=[[Sea_of_Snow#Pelabuhan|Caitun]]|ambassador=Ebenezer of [[the Marches]]|status=Foreigner}}
The Faraden ambassador to the Empire is ''Mistress Singua Karadragha''. Mistress Singua advises the Court of the Five Winds on all diplomatic matters, and speaks on their behalf to foreign ambassadors. Her attitude to the Empire appears to be cool but professional, and heavily informed by the wishes of the Liege and their court, who seek more opportunities to trade with the Empire.
===General Diplomacy===
* '''Communications between Faraden and the Empire are civil and constructive
* '''The Faraden seek closer trade ties with the Empire as a route to shared prosperity
Ambassador Ebeneezer has raised the matter of the Cinders with Mistress Karadragha. As [[We give the future to the winds#Ashes On The Breeze|previously mentioned]], this sect of violent zealots have been condemned by the Liege of the Five Winds, and the organisation has been driven underground. Yet there is still concern that the Cinders intend to continue their vendetta against the Empire.

Mistress Karadragha confirms that wizards versed in the art of Flame have also offered warnings about the Cinders, but the problem is that their [[divination|divinations]] are fundamentally symbolic and need careful interpretation. No doubt the Empire's adepts of [[Night magic]] have encountered the same challenges. Regardless, the Liege of the Five Winds sees no reason not to share whatever intelligence the Faraden have about the Cinders' operations in the Empire. Several reports have been dispatched by special courier to help Imperial citizens plot the movements of the Cinders.

The Court of the Five Winds is apparently very pleased with the news that work on [[Wild_is_the_wind#Yakholme_Grange|Yakholme Grange]] [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Construct_Yakholme_Grange|has begun]], and that there is a good chance Faraden [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#The_Richest_Wines|trade with Dawn]] may be moving forward. Prosperous trade ties with the Empire strengthen the position of the Liege of the Five Winds, and reinforce their pro-Imperial agenda. The fact that trade with the Empire can be undertaken without the need to trust to ships and boats and the dangers of the [[Sea of Snow]], as compared to trade with the Asaveans, which relies on long shipping routes, means it has particular appeal to the merchant-families of the nation.
===War and the Jotun===
* '''Mistress Karadragha declines to send Faraden mercenaries to fight in the Empire
* '''The Liege of the Five Winds is apparently in negotiation with another power to attack southern Reinos
* '''They propose that the Empire attack the northern regions of the Lasambrian Hills following the Winter Solstice
Ambassador Ebeneezer has clearly presented the idea that the Empire and Faraden could form an alliance against the Jotun. The current truce with the Jotun is the result of a treaty, but as Mistress Karadragha has [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#The_Hills_of_Reinos|already said]], that treaty is due to be renewed or renegotiated at the Summer Solstice. The situation has not changed; Faraden cannot afford to go to war with the Jotun, and as near as the Court of Five Winds can tell the Jotun would prefer to focus their efforts on fighting the Empire. The Ambassador's suggestion that Faraden troops might fight against the [[Druj]] or the [[vallorn|peculiar plant monsters]] that infest parts of the Empire are interesting, but unappealing; the distances are too great and the dangers are too unknown.

However, it may be that the Faraden and the Empire could both get what they want. The [[Iron Confederacy]] has reached out to the Court of the Five Winds and informed them that the Suranni intend to conquer southern [[Reinos]]. This is not the ideal situation, in that it swaps Jotun control of their trade routes to the Empire for Suranni control; but that is still preferable to the stranglehold the barbarian orcs have over them.

If the Empire is serious about a joint effort, then the Military Council could dispatch a force to attack [[Reinos#Ribeira|Riberia]] and [[Reinos#Pedreira|Pedreira]] after the Winter Solstice. A powerful force would be able to smash through the defences there and claim both regions. At the same time, the Iron Confederacy will be attacking in the south, catching Jotun defenders between the hammer and the anvil.

There are further benefits to the Faraden of course. If a serious force of soldiers were attacking the hills of Reinos they would be in a much better position to renegotiate or even abandon their treaty with the Jotun. The benefits to the Empire are less clear - but Mistress Karadragha points out that control of Pedreira would give the Empire control of the [[white granite]] quarry at [[Reinos#Cantera_Balanka|Cantera Balanka]] as well as protecting the entire western border of [[Segura]] from future Jotun invasion.
===Faith and Flame===
* '''The Gatekeepers have provided a dose of true liao to the Faraden priest Boorra Talighar of the Silver Tree
* '''The Temple of the High Flames will receive a true consecration during the Winter Solstice
* '''There are concerns that Asavean assassins may try to disrupt the ceremony
* '''If the consecration is successful, it will end opportunities for Asavean religion to spread in Faraden
Last season ''Boorra Talighar of the Silver Tree'', priest of the Five Flames, [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#Flames_and_Faith|petitioned the Synod]] for a dose of [[liao#True Liao|True Liao]]. Their intent was to use the true liao to create a [[Consecration#True_Liao|true consecration]] of the [[Auras_of_Pride#Partner_of_Greatness|Flame of Honour]]; a powerful aura to help anchor the true faith of Faraden in the face of [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] syncretism. During the Equinox, the [[Gatekeeper|Gatekeepers]] met and discussed the matter, and ultimately [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Doses_of_True_Liao|chose to provide]] one of the seven doses available to them. With the particular aid of '''Nisha Strazcovich''', a former Gatekeeper of Pride who Ebeneezer notes as being instrumental in ensuring the dose was available, the Ambassadors office ensured the true liao was safely delivered to Faraden.

During the Winter Solstice, a grand ceremony marking the end of one year and the beginning of another will take place at the ''Temple of the High Flames'', the most prestigious seat of the Faraden faith. Mistress Karadragha believes representatives of all the [[On_Faraden_faith#The Priest Families|priestly families]] of Faraden will attend, whatever their individual attitudes to the Empire. it is, to put it mildly, a big deal for the faithful of Faraden. No outside priests will be present as this is a ceremony for the Faraden. The Faraden Ambassador, however, has let the Ambassador know that the Liege of the Five Wind has ensured that warriors loyal to them will be present to protect the festivities. There is some concern that the Asaveans might attempt to disrupt the ceremony; there are rumours of assassin-priests of the twin-gods of vengeance, Tlangg and Sanit being present in Faraden.

Assuming the ceremony goes off without a hitch, it will create a potent site of pilgrimage for the faithful of Faraden. The Temple of the High Flames is to the Faraden what the Basilica of Seven Doors is to the Highborn, or the marshes of the Sovennan are to the Winterfolk - a central location sacred to all denominations of their faith. There is no doubt that the true aura will serve as a powerful prophylactic against the influence of Asavean priests, sufficient to put an end to the spread of their influence in the western nation.

It is, of course, illegal for Imperial citizens to trade true liao to citizens of foreign nations; there is no suggestion that either the Liege of the Five Winds or the priest families of Faraden will offer any payment for the liao. All they can offer in return is the profound gratitude of those who take Pride in [[On Faraden faith|their faith]], and who welcome this return to the true values of their own historic religion.
===Fire Fighters===
* '''Zealous crusaders from Faraden have attempted to destroy the Azure Chorus, the docks at Fisk, and the docks at Meade'''
* '''Thanks to prompt warnings from the Imperial Synod two of the three attacks have been thwarted'''
* '''The Jotun have restored the Docks at Meade but made cosmetic changes'''
* '''These attacks have been widely condemned within Faraden'''
In the days following the Autumn Equinox, hasty warnings are carried to Wintermark, the Marches, and the Brass Coast. '''Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum''', the Cardinal of Pride, has issued a dire warning, backed by a greater majority of the Assembly of Nine: the Cinders, a violent group of ultra-conservative Faraden who decry the Empire and all its citizens as irredeemable heretics, have infiltrated the Empire, and intend to wreak havoc upon the innocent. The three targets – the docks at both Fisk and Meade, and the Azure Chorus – are of obvious symbolic value, each one serving as a site where the people of the Empire and the people of Faraden can meet in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. Further hue and cry is raised in Marches specifically, as the statement of '''Father Edmund''' warns the people of Meade that the attackers have already infiltrated the city. Likewise, the Freeborn Assembly upheld a statement from '''Dayanara i Cabeza i Erigo''' warning of the planned attack in Kahraman. Whichever statement people hear first, the warnings are the same: be Vigilant. Lives are at stake.

The situation in Fisk is well contained. A local magistrate, already visiting the town to try an unrelated case, moves quickly to deputise nearby citizens and take control of the Market Hall. While the Faraden workers there are initially outraged by the accusations that there may be violent fanatics among their number, the outrage turns to panic when one of the porters draws a knife and slashes the magistrate’s face. What follows is a brief, ugly brawl, as other infiltrators from the Cinders reveal themselves and attempt to break out and flee. An effort is made to take suspects alive for trial and questioning, but comes to nothing. Even after the Cinders are disarmed, they do nothing but hurl abuse at their captors and their fellow Faraden alike, refusing to cooperate. Aside from vague hints that there are more of them in the Empire and that there will be more violence to follow, they give nothing useful, and are executed on the spot.

Chaos, unfortunately, reigns at the Azure Chorus. The densely packed tents of visiting pilgrims make conducting an orderly investigation all but impossible. Rumours spread through the camp like wildfire, leaving the Courageous and Vigilant citizens of the Brass Coast unable to take their targets by surprise. Some fear that the Cinders may simply flee, but the truth turns out to be much darker. A visiting priest comes running from the Parador of Wind and Flame, shouting that some Faraden pilgrims have barred the doors and begun massacring everyone inside, screaming condemnations against the “lovers of false flames.” The scene is set for tragedy, but nobody present is minded to accept such an outcome. Faraden and Freeborn alike take up arms and storm the Parador in defence of the priests and pilgrims trapped inside, fighting room to room and shedding blood to defend one another. There are many deaths, but fewer than might have been expected, given the grim circumstances.

Things go equally badly in Meade, where the situation is complicated by the the arrival of the Jotun. There is some question among those who stay behind as to whether or not to alert the Jotun to the plans of the Cinders. Would passing on such information be providing treasonous aid to an enemy, or acting with Vigilance to undermine a different enemy?

Unfortunately, the Cinders use the chaos of the invasion to attack before anyone can make a decision one way or the other. The dock front quickly descends into chaos as the Cinders fire the pier and try to murder the Faraden and Marcher merchants working there. Initially stunned by the madness, a Jotun patrol quickly composes themselves and within minutes Jotun and Marchers are fighting side-by-side to take the Cinders down.

At first the Jotun assume that the assassins are under some terrible Night magic curse. Three Cinders were captured alive during the attack - once the Jotun discover there was no magic involved they are appalled. A jarl is summoned and after the briefest trial imaginable, the three men are taken out into the bay and summarily drowned. It is apparently the worst death imaginable as far as the Jotun are concerned.

Once the Cinders have been dealt with, the Jarl gives orders to the Jotun for the docks to be restored. The work is done quickly, most of the docks can be salvaged and materials are shipped in to replace the parts that are too far gone. By the start of the Winter Solstice, the dock front is almost as good as new. Almost... because the Jotun artisans take it on themselves to add a monolithic stone carved in the likeness of an orc warrior - not the Jarl but an idol of [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Skjaldir|Skjaldir]], one of the Jotun faðir.

When word reaches the Faraden Embassy, the response is quick and firm: an absolute and total condemnation of the Cinders' actions. The Liege of the Five Winds had previously spoken out against the Cinders after their failed attempt on the life of the Champion of Vigilance, but this has ignited fury across all of Faraden society. Even conservative thinkers who have never truly reconciled with the differences of faith between the Empire and Faraden are forced to publicly acknowledge that this has gone too far. The Liege of the Five Winds makes a speech before their court, committing to personally pay for any repairs to the sites of the attack, a gesture that earns widespread praise for its even-handed measure of Pride, Prosperity and Justice.

Embassy staff supply one slightly testy clarification to public perceptions of the Cinders: they are not 'Justice cultists', any more than a devout citizen of the Empire is an 'Ambition cultist'. The Cinders follow the Five Flames, just as the people of the Empire follow the Imperial Way. The Cinders are not bad because they follow a specific Virtue, they are bad because they are violent xenophobes who decry the possibility of coexistence and mutual Prosperity in favour of a chauvinistic vision of total cultural purity. Excessive dwelling on religious differences is what led to this problem in the first place, and the last thing anyone needs is someone stoking the flames.

====Raking Over The Ashes====
* '''The infiltrators in Fisk, Meade and the Azure Chorus were not the only Cinders present within the Empire.'''
* '''The attackers will cause further havoc unless they are prevented from doing so.'''
* '''Questions remain over how the group were able to acquire their supplies.'''
In the aftermath, cooler heads begin to dig deeper in both of the locations still controlled by the Empire. What emerges in each case is a similar story. The Cinders arrived as individuals or small groups over the course of the last year, staying and quietly blending in with their countryfolk. They did not disguise their conservative religious views, but did not speak of their violent aims to anyone outside of the conspiracy. The reasons for this are not hard to determine. Not only has the Liege of the Five Winds condemned the sect for their extremism, but many Faraden actively disagree with their attacks on people who did not harm them first. It seems that the Cinders consider other Faraden who deal with the ‘lovers of False Flames’ to be just as bad as heretics themselves. The Cinders are not, it seems, especially good at blending in with the people around them.

Ambassador Ebeneezer's request to Mistress Karadragha has borne fruit with a series of missives detailing what Faraden investigators were able to determine from their own efforts to suppress the sect. In conjunction with Imperial scouts, the two nations are able to put together a list of targets. It seems that the groups already dealt with are not the only ones active within Imperial borders. It's clear that the Cinders have made good use of the resources provided to them - although there is some question about precisely who their rich patrons are. Rumour suggests it is agents of the Asavean plenum who have been funding the Cinders, wielding their hatred of the Empire as a weapon.

===Wildfire (Conjunctions)===
* '''The Cinders have been spotted moving to attack the House of Guerra, the Anvil Library Scriptorium, and Benson's Orchard.'''
* '''Imperial heroes have the opportunity to act before the Cinders can cause any serious harm.'''
The Faraden reports include coded letters that speak of Cinders agents spying out "the Orchard" in the Marches and it is a relatively simple matter to deduce that this is probably a reference to [[Pruning_shears#Benson's_Orchard|Benson's Orchard]], the memorial to [[Paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] of [[Vigilance]] [[Known exemplars#Joshua Benson|'Major' Joshua Benson]]. From the other reports the Faraden are able to provide, it becomes clear the last Cinders are planning to assault the [[Armarius_of_the_Anvil_Library#The_Library_Scriptorium|Anvil Library Scriptorium]] and the [[Hand of Guerra#House of Guerra|House of Guerra]].

By any analysis, these attacks are ultimately doomed to failure. The aura at Benson's Orchard was created with true liao, and there is no way that the Cinders have access to that most valuable substance. The Anvil Library Scriptorium sits in a fortified compound to protect against assaults from agents of the Whisper Gallery, and the House of Guerra is in Calvos town itself, surrounded by Kohan and Corsairs on shore leave. None of these sites are in danger of being destroyed. However, the Cinders are heavily armed and prepared to fight to the death. If they are allowed to work their will unmolested, they will kill a great many people and cause a lot of damage before they are stopped. Fortunately, with the advance warning provided by Faraden to Ambassador Ebeneezer, and the results of Imperial investigations, there is enough notice for the prognosticators to find conjunctions of the [[Sentinel Gate]] that heroes may be able to intervene and prevent loss of life.

====Burn The Books (Sarvos)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to destroy the Anvil Library Scriptorium'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* '''The ''Armarius of the Anvil Library'' is responsible for protecting the Scriptorium'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''

The Anvil Library stands dedicated to the cause of Wisdom and learning across the Empire, fighting back against the terrible losses inflicted by Emperor Nicovar and his book-burning ways. This cause elicits no sympathy from the Cinders, who decry Wisdom as the False Virtue of Doubt. They would love nothing more than to burn the books and massacre the scribes. The mercenaries engaged in the defence of the compound are trusted veterans, but even one enemy with a lit match could wreak havoc if they broke through.

The main group of Cinders are approaching fast along Vintner's Way in Foracci. It is the responsibility of '''Ricardo Glostari di Sarvos''', the Armarius of the Anvil Library, to cut them off before any damage can be done.

====Sever The Hand (Madruga)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to destroy the House of Guerra'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* '''The ''Hand of Guerra'' is responsible for protecting the House'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''
The House of Guerra stands as a testament to the Empire's commitment to taking care of those in need of shelter. Operated by a well-paid staff noted for their practicality and compassion, this thoroughly benign institution seems an odd target for the religiously-motivated Cinders. Things come into focus when the other duty of the Hand of Guerra is pointed out. Spreading the philosophy of Guerra is not especially controversial in the Empire, but rumours have persisted for a long time of her connection to the False Virtue of Anarchy, which the Cinders despise as much as any Imperial citizen. While the general consensus is that these rumours are historical fabrications, it is doubtful that the Cinders would listen if anyone tried to explain to them.

If the attackers are to be intercepted, the easiest place would be along the Corsair's Road in Calvos Sound. It is the responsibility of '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''', the Hand of Guerra, to prevent any harm coming to their charges.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Orchard One.jpg|align=left|caption=Brother Martin Orchard is a sometimes controversial, well respected monk from Pickham Monastery. in Upwold|width=400}}</div>
====Silence The Bell (Upwold)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to desecrate Benson's Orchard'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* ''' ''Martin Orchard'', who carried out the consecration, is responsible for protecting the memorial'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''
'Major' Joshua Benson is an aspirational figure for many dedicants of Vigilance, especially in the Marches. A man without flashy miracles and tall tales to his name, he simply defended his community with absolute and unwavering commitment. Jackie Longshanks, the Beater who was able to sneak up on the Cinders to eavesdrop on their plans, cited the Bellringer as an inspiration for her deeds. The Vigilant pilgrims coming to soak up the aura that surrounds the exemplar's resting place have taken up arms and are ready to defend the holy site to the death, but such a fight would be a bloodbath. If the Cinders should spill blood on such a sacred memorial, the response from irate pilgrims of Vigilance would not bear thinking about.

As the Cinders move to attack Benson's Orchard, they must first move through the area of Tower March known as Benson's Bawn. It is the responsibility of '''Martin Orchard''', the priest who consecrated Benson's Orchard, to thwart their malice before it can strike.
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Delicacies.jpg|caption=The Faraden are proud of their own fine victuals, but also keen to bring the best food and drink from around the world to their tables..|align=right|width=450}}</div>

===Days Of Wine And Mooncheese===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Moonsong Market'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] or [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]], [[the Barrens]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 [[weirwood]] and 30 [[white granite]], 180 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment for farms in the Barrens by one
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Moonsong Reeve''
* Increases the taxation raised from trade with Faraden by 4 Thrones each season
* Significantly increases the number of Faraden travelling to and visting Dawn</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Moonsong Reeve'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees Moonsong Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To serve as a liaison between the Faraden visiting Moonsong Market and the people of Dawn; to encourage Faraden merchants to trade with the nation; to smooth over any disputes; to make decisions based on any opportunities related to Moonsong Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' If the Moonsong Reeve is not yeofolk, the great work benefits will be halved</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Moonsong Cheese'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>7 crowns</td><td>Three common mooncheese and one rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 crowns</td><td>Six common mooncheese and two rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>27 crowns</td><td>Nine common mooncheese and three rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 crowns</td><td>Twelve common mooncheese and four rare mooncheese</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A consortium in Faraden has established a potential deal to trade luxury food in the Barrens.'''
* '''Despite an attempt by the Cinders to sabotage this plan, the actions of Imperial Citizens have demonstrated that Faraden merchants are safe to trade with the Empire.'''

Even as further violence mars relationships between the Empire and Faraden, the siren song of commerce seeks to bring people closer together. Last season, merchants of the Sansar family came to Anvil to speak with the people of Dawn about setting up a trade enclave in the Barrens. Representing a coalition of smaller families, they sought to exploit the opportunities presented by providing rare goods to the eastern Empire and, in so doing, to raise their standing back home.

While the trade talks themselves seem to have gone well, confused reports from Anvil speak of three of the Sansar cousins attending but only two returning, and of drawn blades and plotted murders. When the surviving merchants returned home they apparently brought a tale of horrific treachery: the third of their party had been corrupted by the rage of the Cinders, and plotted to murder them on their journey back to Faraden! Only by the swift action of Imperial law enforcement was this plan foiled. The intention of the Cinders was clear, to scare merchants away from dealing with the Empire. Yet this plan has backfired spectacularly, as the Sansar have not only publicly recommitted to building closer ties with their Imperial friends, but have posted a bounty on all members of the Cinders in vengeance for their heinous acts.

Still, bloodshed makes for poor conversation over the negotiating table, so discussions with the Imperial civil service focus on business. The core of the deal is a pleasingly symmetrical arrangement: Dawnish cloth for Faraden cloth, Dawnish wine for Faraden cheese. Already Seneschals and vintners across Dawn are racing to discover the best wine pairings for the valuable Faraden Mooncheese, a development that is filling the cheesemakers of Faraden with Pride and confidence. There was also an unsurprising interest in purchasing Mithril, for which the Empire’s voracious appetite is well-known.

The plans drawn up off the back of these proposals are, in their most basic nature, similar to the Firewind Market in Holberg. The proposed Moonsong Market, named in honour of the famed Mooncheese, would take 30 wains of weirwood, 30 wains of white granite, and 180 Crowns in labour costs. The Sansar have requested that such a market be built in either [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] or [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]] to be close to the well-defended centres of civilisation. Once constructed, the Moonsong Market would act as a [[great work]] increasing investment in farms across the Barrens. It would also create an [[Imperial title]] - ''Moonsong Reeve'' - that would be responsible for representing Dawn in any negotiations with the Faraden merchants, and smoothing over any issues that arise with their trade in Dawn.

There is one other matter - one that the Faraden are unaware of. As an economic position, the people of Dawn expect the ''Moonsong Reeve'' to be [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]]. If the title is held by a noble, it will result in the benefits of the great work being halved as Dawnish farmers look askance at the Faraden merchants and their association with a noble demeaning the glory of Dawn.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=AmbassadorIronConfederacy.png|caption='''Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo''', Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==The Iron Confederacy==
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
* '''They have recently moved a major military force into the islands off the coast of Feroz
{{Nation|nation=The [[Iron Confederacy]]|port=[[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]]|status=Foreigner|ambassador=Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo}}
The Suranni lie to the south of the Empire. They are a secretive nation, bound up in tradition and suspicion. While they are currently at peace with the Empire, even accepting merchants and traders into their lands, they are certainly not ''friends''. Recent events have seen them, like the [[Faraden]], caught between the [[Liberty Pact]] and the pro-slavery Freedom Accord. Yet where Faraden feels it must play a delicate balancing act, the Suranni Dukes are more confident in their power and prepared to play Imperial and Asavean interests off against each other.

The Suranni ambassador to the Empire is ''Baroness Katerine Lavasse of Meore'', who operates from the Tour Lavasse in Chaubrette, a territory unknown to Imperial citizens that apparently lies to the west of [[Bay_of_Catazar#Veroigne|Veroigne]]. A noble [[naga]], she replaced the significantly more dogmatic Jeanne de Hibernat, a High Priestess of the Suranni god [[Suranni_pantheon#Evra_the_Smith,_Maiden_of_the_Forge|Evra the Smith, Maiden of the Forge]]. She has already indicated that she is very much more pragmatic than her predecessor and more interested in compromise. She still reports to the Dukes of the Iron Confederacy, however, and so her apparent goodwill toward the Empire cannot be relied upon.
===Suranni Pleasantries===
* '''General pleasantries and diplomatic matters have been touched on
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
Ambassador Tethros has apparently informed Baroness Katerine that the Empire intends to attack [[Skallahn]]. This receives a slightly mixed response; the Suranni ambassador is not herself familiar with northern [[Jotun]] lands. Her response is to congratulate the Empire on seeking to conquer [[orc]] lands, and indicates that the news was met with a great deal of interest among some of the more martial Dukes.

The matter of Faraden was also raised, and Baroness Katerine, perhaps a little surprisingly, agrees that Asavean influence over the neighbouring nation is less than ideal. While the Suranni are capable of keeping the agents of the Plenum at arms' length, and ensuring they gain benefits from their association without becoming tainted, they are less confident that the Faraden can achieve the same.

In somewhat delicate tones, Baroness Katerine writes that the Suranni obviously have their own relationship with Faraden - distinct from the Empire - and their own trade routes. They are exploring their own avenues to reduce Asavean influence, but at this time they are reticent about collaborating with the Empire. With the best will in the world, the Empire's tendency to - no offence - blunder in like a drunk in a glassworks, do not predispose the Suranni to share too much at this time. If the Ambassador can be more specific about proposals for joint action with regard to the Faraden that do '''not''' risk souring the Suranni relationship with the Asaveans unnecessarily, then the Dukes are certainly interested to discuss those plans.

With regard to trade, the Baroness is generally positive about trade with the port of [[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]] and entirely sees where the Ambassador is coming from when they talk of more secure overland trade routes. Suranni merchants have long seen the town of [[Feroz#Fontargenta|Bramar]] in Feroz as the ideal destination for those looking to trade with the Empire. From there the more adventurous could travel to [[Madruga#Siroc_(Ruined)|Siroc]], or even further north across the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep#The_Spider's_Dream|Spider's Dream]] bridge. However, as the Suranni understand it a recent natural disaster has severed easy trade routes between Feroz and the rest of the Empire. Is there any news of when these will be restored? That would likely be the first step toward securing a commitment to a trade [[ministry]] in the Empire.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Kobol.PNG|caption=[[Suranni_pantheon#Kobol the Warrior, Maiden of Battle|Kobol the Warrior]] is the uncompromising [[Suranni pantheon|Iron Confederacy god]] of warriors and battle.|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Cazar and the ''Wings of Kobol''===
* '''The Iron Confederacy has smashed the Children of Wrecks in Feroz
* '''Suranni forces have claimed the Cazar Straits for the Confederacy
* '''The Dukes intend to attack Free Landing after the Spring Equinox if the Empire has not dealt with the Wreckers by then
* '''While no treaty has been agreed, Freeborn citizens are free to leave the islands and ships from Feroz can pass through the waters
The Iron Confederacy has invaded [[Feroz]]; or rather they have attacked the Children of Wrecks on the [[Feroz#Cazar Straits|Cazar Straits]]. As laid out in the '''[[Red_skies#Swords_of_the_South|Red skies]]''' wind of war, the ''Wings of Kobol'' [[navy]] brought two Suranni [[army|armies]] across the border from Kalino and smashed the Wreckers' grasp on the island chain. Those pirates and raiders who were not defeated in battle, or captured and executed, have been forced to flee. Most have gone north to [[Madruga#Free Landing|Free Landing]], but some have apparently chosen to quit the [[Bay of Catazar]] altogether. The Cazar Straits are now under the control of the Iron Confederacy.

Following the attack and "liberation" of the islands, Baroness Katerine delivers a message from the Suranni Dukes. It has been too long since the pirates invoked the power of [[Suranni_pantheon#Dumon_the_Liar,_the_Wicked_One|Dumon]] to help them seize the islands to the north of Arbonne, which they have been using as a base to attack the coast of the Iron Confederacy. Over a year ago they launched a raid against [[bay of Catazar#Axiom Prison|Axiom Prison]] and released many dangerous prisoners including a large number of corrupt wizards. While there has been some diplomatic attempt to find common ground for a joint effort against the Children, that have come to nothing. With this decisive action, the Iron Confederacy has shown that it will not tolerate criminals and pirates threatening their borders.

Diplomatic channels were used during the Autumn Equinox to inform Imperial officials of the Suranni intentions. During that time there was discussion of a treaty, but after due consideration the Dukes believe that it is too soon to commit to any formal agreement while there is still a major Children of Wrecks presence just north of their lands - by which they pointedly mean their new holdings in the Cazar Straits. The work done at the Autumn Equinox by Baronets ''Marquette Lavasse'' and ''Vauquelin Lavasse'', during which they met informally with multiple Imperial luminaries have indicated that there is certainly a foundation for a formal treaty to secure relations between the Confederacy and the Empire; but the time to discuss it is once the immediate threat is ended.

Baroness Katerine appears to be aware that the Empire planned their own assault on the Children of Wrecks following the Autumn Equinox, but apparently expected it to be aimed at Free Landing. Her missive lays out that the Dukes plan to take a season ensuring that the last corrupt elements are removed from the islands of Cazar. Then, if the Empire has not already dealt with them, they will attack the Wreckers in Free Landing with an eye towards dealing with them as they have their "friends" in the south. It is important for Ambassador Tethros to understand that if the ''Wings of Kobol'' are called on to free the Madrugan islands, they will likewise be considered part of the Iron Confederacy. After that, though, there will be plenty of time to discuss how to proceed. In particular, she wishes to commend [[Senator]] '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' whose passionate words went some way toward reassuring the Dukes that the Empire was in the process of dealing with the Pirates of Dumon and should be given a little space to do so.

The Baroness does however reiterate that as far as the Dukes are concerned, they have taken enemy territory away from criminals who made war on the Suranni people. The islands of Cazar are now ''theirs'', by right of conquest. This, says Katerine, is not a matter for debate - the facts speak for themselves. The same will be true if they are forced to deal with the pirates of Free Landing.

However, in recognition of the historic presence of the people of [[the Brass Coast]] here, there are certain humanitarian concessions the Dukes have instructed Baroness Katerine to lay out. Any Imperial citizen that was trapped in the Cazar Straits when they were conquered by the Grendel, and then seized by the Pirates of Dumon, is absolutely free to leave; indeed they are encouraged to depart. Suranni ships stand ready to repatriate them to the mainland, and there will be no bar to Freeborn vessels that wish to come collect their countryfolk.

The Iron Confederacy is also open to suggestions about how best to arrange matters with regard to Imperial ships leaving or entering Feroz. Obviously, with control of the Cazar Straits, the Suranni could potentially cut the Freeborn territory off from the Bay of Catazar entirely. There is no reason for them to do so at the moment; indeed Baroness Katerine expresses the hope that recent successes with trade can be built on to encourage Imperial merchants to visit the Straits. This means that there will be no disadvantage to the Freeborn busy rebuilding their homes in the ruined territory from the Suranni.

The [[Civil Service|civil service]] advise that this communication should not be taken entirely at face value. Reading between the lines, it seems that Baroness Katerine isn't ''completely'' happy with the decision of the Dukes. Over the last few years, she has demonstrated a preference for a more nuanced, diplomatic approach to relations with the Empire. At the end of the day though, it is the Dukes who make the decisions. The rulers of the Iron Confederacy are [[naga]], and while they can be [[Naga#Subtle|subtle]], they are still [[Naga#Passionate|passionate]] and [[Naga#Avaricious|avaricious]].

The proposal of a treaty once the Children of Wrecks are finally beaten seems genuine, and it is possible that one of the reasons the Suranni are not rolling straight into Free Landing is to give Ambassador Tethros a chance to put forward a proposal of their own.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Watt of Lambrook.jpg|caption='''Watt of Lambrook''', Minister of Historical Research|align=left|width=300}}</div>

===Marko and the March of History===
* '''Marko Siwarsbairn is ''still'' in the Iron Confederacy'''
The saga of Marko Siwarsbairn continues to drag on. Following the [[Bedight_in_veils#An_Imperial_Historian_in_the_Baronial_Court|dispute]] over the [[historical research]] the [[Wintermark]] scholar had been compiling on Iron Confederacy military history, the Ambassador passed along words from the [[Minister of Historical Research]] '''Watt Lambrook''': "''My researcher is correct that I hold the right to view such reports first. However, since this was understandably not known at the time I will oblige that this once you may also read the report Marko has written before he leaves.''"

Baroness Katerine thanks the Minister for their words, and understands that this is a concession. However as the Winter Solstice draws closer it seems Marko has ''still'' not returned from the Iron Confederacy. A late message to the Imperial embassy indicates that on reading the Siwarsbairn Report it was clear to the Baroness that there were several significant errors and misconceptions in the document. Rather than suggest Marko scrap their hard work and start again, Baroness of Meore has offered the assistance of some of her own staff to correct those errors. She is confident that the report will be much more useful as an artifact of truth, rather than something riddled with errors. She anticipates that unless anything else goes wrong, Marko will be safely back in the Empire with a well-researched document in time for the Spring Equinox.

The Minister need not worry; Baroness Katerine is more than happy to continue to serve as gracious host to Marko Siwarsbairn, and supply the support they need at her own expense. It is the least she can do as a student of history herself, committed to increasing understanding between her nation and the Empire. She also mentions that the gods clearly inspired Marko to make their errors; if they had set off from Meore on schedule this season they would doubtless have ended up caught in the events unfolding in Arbonne.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Dumon.PNG|caption=Dumon the Liar, the Wicked One|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Unfolding in Arbonne===
* '''Arbonne has been subject to a serious Winter curse'''
* '''The priests of the Veiled Shrine claim an oracle has implicated Imperial citizens in the curse'''
* '''Baroness Katerine asks the Ambassador to encourage Imperial citizens to track down those responsible'''
Shortly after the Spring Equinox, the dukedom of Kalino - which the Suranni call Arbonne - was struck with a [[I_wish_you_would#Wicked curses|blight]] that withered crops and saw vermin multiply across the territory. The priests of [[Suranni_pantheon#Kavol,_the_Veiled_King|Kavol]] quickly identified that this was a [[curse]] drawn down by wicked sorcerers working with the aid of the [[Suranni_pantheon#Dumon_the_Liar,_the_Wicked_One|Lying God]]. The curse ran its course, and despite some food shortages in Arbonne, the worst appeared to be over. This assumption was, unfortunately, premature.

Just after the Autumn Equinox another curse fell on Arbonne, and this was orders of magnitude worse than the blight that struck in Spring. The first sign was unseasonably bad weather than ruined crops before they could be gathered; it was swiftly followed by a wave of sickness that incapacitated the weak and the strong alike. Then, on the night of the first new moon, demonic angels of Dumon emerged from the shadows bent on murder and corruption. The worst of them took on the forms of dead orcs, the Lasambrians who had once squatted in the hills here. Their witchcraft brought more terror and destruction to the people and serfs of Arbonne. Worse, among their numbers were revenants that appeared in the form of dead Suranni and even in a few cases what looked to be Imperial knights.

This was again seen as a sign that the gods were angry with the Duke of Arbonne, but again the Priests of Kavol investigated the matter and determined that it was nothing more than another terrible curse from the servants of Dumon. This time, though, this reassurance has done little to quell discontent in the territory. Crops fail from time to time, as a test from the gods, but this unspeakable infestation of demons and revenants is an entirely different matter. The position of the Duke of Arbonne is extremely shaky; if a third curse strikes the territory they will have little choice but to step aside in favour of one of their heirs. Baroness Katerine confidently paints the heirs to the current Duke as competent, wise people but there is an edge to her words that suggests she is not entirely confident about what she is saying.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|Seven Locks 2.jpg|Master of Locks.png}}</div>
<div style="float: right; max-width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|WhisperGal004.png|WhisperGal005.png}}</div>
While the curse is bad, it would normally be a matter for the Iron Confederacy to resolve. Unfortunately, there is an unlooked for wrinkle here. Among the priests of Kavol there are some sects charged with specific duties within the Confederacy. The priests of the Veiled Shrine are charged to root out heretics and servants of Dumon who consort with demons. The Veiled God has sent a sign to them, warning them that while the curse comes from the servants of the God of Corruption, they could not have achieved this terrible working without aid. Specifically, through oracles and visionary dreams, Kavol has given a warning that the power to place the curse came from the Empire.

Baroness Katerine is not a fool; she doesn't believe the Empire has cursed Arbonne. There's simply no evidence of it. Unfortunately, the priests of the Veiled Shrine are adamant that there is Imperial entanglement in this event. She asks that the Ambassador do whatever it takes to find out who has provided the Hand of Dumon with the wherewithal to lay a curse of this magnitude on Arbonne. Given that working with the Hand is a crime in the Empire, she presumes that Imperial justice likewise has a vested interest in tracking down whoever it is that is supporting these monstrous sorcerers. The Dukes cannot countenance Imperial support for the Hand of Dumon, and if it comes out that Imperial citizens were flouting the laws made by the Senate in this regard it would shake confidence in those who pointed to the agreement as a positive step in international relations. Which includes Baroness Katerine of course.

Obviously, the one thing every Imperial citizen can be '''absolutely certain''' of, is that "the Veiled God" definitely did not tell the Iron Confederacy anything, ''given they don't actually exist''. However they note that Baroness Katerine refers to "angels" more than once, which is either a [[Astronomancy#Tulpas|tulpa]] or much more likely, a [[herald]] of some [[eternal]] that is up to no good. If it is the latter, the finger of suspicion must point at either [[Basileia]] or the [[Whisper Gallery]], either of which would sell the Empire out in a heartbeat. The City of Locks trades in treachery, espionage and secrets, while the Shadow Courtiers are literally obsessed with secrets. On paper, it is more likely to be the Princess of Weirs; since the Concilium of the Perjured Throne is under enmity, the only way they could be mixed up in all this is if that was being subverted by members of the Conclave.

It's unfortunate that the Empire does not have a workable map of Arbonne, so rituals such as [[Eye of the High Places]] will not be able to find anything useful. From the description, however, it seems that the curse might have been the result of a potent Winter magic ritual of high magnitude - at least eightieth and perhaps higher.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconSumaah.jpg|align=right|width=300}}</div>
==Sumaah Republic==
* '''The Sumaah Republic is an empire devoted to an orthodox interpretation of the Way'''
* '''The Sumaah Republic remain allies of the Empire in the Liberty Pact
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.
{{Nation|nation=[[Sumaah Republic]]|status=Foreigner|port=[[Sumaah_Republic_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]]|ambassador=Accalon of [[Highguard]]}}
The Sumaah ambassador to the Empire is ''Oxtitocszin'', who holds the rank of Censor of wood, metal and stone and is a member of the High House of Pride (the Sumaah equivalent of the Pride Assembly, but with significantly more responsibility and leeway to pursue foreign diplomacy). They advise not just the Sumaah ''präster'', but the House of the People (the Sumaah equivalent of the Imperial Senate). By all accounts they are an even-handed, level-headed individual, and a devout practitioner of the Way.
===Liberty===
* '''The Sumaah are sending a representative to the Liberty Pact meeting'''
The Sumaah are, of course, sending an emissary to the [[Liberty Pact]] meeting. ''Oxtitocszin'' indicates the Sumaah attitude to the Pact has not shifted. They still intend to propose the amendment to the pact [[Drowned_in_tears#Liberty_Pact|mentioned last season]], to centre [[the Way]] in the approach of the Liberty Pact to defeating the evil of slavery. Apparently, the Sumaah representatives to the Pact are a little surprised that the Empire are not raising any amendments to the Pact themselves, but appreciate that this may simply be because the status quo serves their interests more effectively.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Accalon5901.jpg|caption='''Accalon of Felix's Watch''', Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic|align=right|width=350}}</div>
Ambassador Accalon's words relating to the removal of Axos from the pact has not inspired them to revisit the matter but they wish the Ambassador to be apprised that they will vote with the Commonwealth on this matter. Unfortunately, Sumaah is not in a position to launch a full-scale invasion of the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. Were there any chance that such an attack might be practical, they would already be undertaking it. Oxtitocszin gently suggests that even if they were holding off for some reason, the Ambassador's proposal that the Empire would help remove Axos from the Pact would by no means be sufficient inducement for them to do so. The Sumaah Republic intends to let virtue guide their approach to the Pact and the Axou, as they do everything else. They would expect the Empire to do the same.

Further details of the Sumaah involvement in the Liberty Pact meeting can be found in the '''[[My soul at liberty]]''' wind of fortune.

===Gift of Pride (Redux)===
* '''The House of the People delayed their shipment of white granite at the request of Ambassador Accalon
* '''After the Winter Solstice there is an opportunity for Imperial fleet captains to escort the shipment to the Brass Coast
At the request of the people of [[the Brass Coast]], as relayed to the Sumaah by Ambassador Accalon, they have delayed the shipment intended to [[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|offer aid in rebuilding]]. The white granite is still in the Republic, waiting an escort of Imperial vessels to help it reach the shores of the Bay of Catazar. The House of the People recognises that dealing with the threat of the Children of Wrecks takes priority. The Cardinal of the House of [[Vigilance]], however does append a warning to the Freeborn not to allow the malign power of ''hevn'' to gain a foothold in their souls. "''Hevn''" is apparently an old-fashioned Sumaah term for the power of [[Malign spiritual presences#Vengeance|vengeance]] but with elements of [[Malign spiritual presences#Hatered|Hatred]]. The Cardinal reminds their beloved Imperial cousins that to strike against enemies before they can harm you is vigilant but to pursue the destruction of those who have harmed you for selfish reasons is to invite corruption into ones soul.

Regardless, the House of the People have confirmed that the shipments of white granite await an Imperial escort. They warn, however, that they cannot afford to delay their gift for another season. The [[Asavean Archipelago]] already seems to have gotten wind of what is planned, and any further wait will surely see the Sumaah ships attacked and sunk regardless of the presence of Imperial vessels.

You can read about this opportunity in last seasons '''[[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|Drowned in tears]]''' wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=IconZemress.png |caption=Icon of Zemress|title=Icons of Zemress are popular with sailors who must travel through dangerous waters - both those from the Brass Coast, and the distant Frieøyer.|align=right|width=300}}
===Inspiration of Zemress===
* '''A renowned Frieøyer captain has come to study at the Zemress Naval Academy along Sumaah sailors and shipwrights'''
* '''Their support has helped to unlock the full potential of the Academy and the Empire's naval forces'''
While [[Red skies|war rages]] in the seas of Sarvos and Madruga, a Sumaah ship appears at the docks in [[Madruga#Calvos|Calvos]]. It looks a little the worse for wear, showing signs of having sustained significant damage recently. It turns out to be the ship of ''Bjarna Xicot'' of the Frieøyer - the former pirates [[Zemress#A_Tale_from_Sumaah|inspired]] by the paragon [[Zemress]] - who has come to study at the [[Madruga#Zemress_Naval_Academy|Zemress Naval Academy]] along with a boatload of Sumaah students. Unfortunately, along the way, they fell afoul of Asavaean privateers and only just managed to escape with their lives and their vessel.

The Sumaah quickly make themselves at home; the Frieøyer among their number have all fought alongside Imperial fleet captains before, during the [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|fight against Asavea]] last year. The others are a combination of pilgrims of [[Prosperity]], scholars, and shipwrights. Sumaah does not have anything to match the naval prowess of Asavea but like the Empire they have their traditions of building warships. Without them, the Asaveans would likely have conquered swathes of their coastline in the centuries of war.

''Bjarna Xicot'' brings with her a gift - or rather, she and her companions ''are'' the gift. A gift not from the House of the People or the High Houses of Virtue but from the Frieøyer themselves. It is in part a gift of gratitude for the Imperial sailors who fought alongside them, partly a gift of Pride, but mostly a gift to recognise the shared love of Zemress between the Frieøyer and the Brass Coast. The artisans and veteran mariners who accompany Bjarna are here to stay, they are eager to study at the Academy and learn what they can from the Freeborn masters of the sea, but they also bring knowledge and skills of their own, which they are enthusiastic to share. They bring with them a small library of plans and books dedicated to the art of the shipwright, translated painstakingly from their original tongue into Imperial.

Studying together, the two groups are able to achieve a breakthrough. The Academy has been steadily creating designs for new warships, trying to match the qualities of the navies of the [[Grendel]] and the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]]. The school has done a remarkable job building up Imperial expertise, but with the information the Frieøyer have provided has helped to ''complete'' that program of study. The academy has discovered everything they can - all that remains now is to put that knowledge into practice.

That means building some navies, but it also means spreading the knowledge they have gained far and wide across the Empire. Excited at the prospects of sharing what they have learned with everyone in the Empire, the Academy soon empties out, as people make arrangements to visit one or more of the other nations. After-all - "all that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it."

The main advantage of spreading this knowledge far and wide is that shipwrights will be able to build vessels better suited to a nation's ideals. Local shipwrights can build on the skills and learning shared by the staff of the former Zemress Academy to create something more in keeping with local traditions. Freeborn navies might be well-suited to plunder, while a Dawnish warship might be built for glory!

What that means now, is that any [[navy]] built by the Empire would have access to a set of three or more qualities just like an [[army]]. Going forward, similar to the [[Rules_update_2026#New_Army_Qualities|rules that cover army qualities]], the Senator who musters a navy will be given a list of qualities to choose from reflecting their nation and the narrative surrounding the navy's creation. These will be drawn from the list of standard qualities, but through [[opportunity|opportunities]] or [[appraisal|appraisals]], more unique qualities may be on offer.
<div style="float: right; width: 250px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Prosperity.png|width=250px}}</div>
====Legacy====
* '''The Synod lists the Krakens' Bane as a memorial to Zemress'''
* '''The Wreckers destroyed the beautiful seminary constructed in her memory'''
* '''The potential exists to create a truly inspirational memorial to Zemress'''
* '''Any edifice would be more inspirational if the General Assembly recognise Zemress as a paragon'''
The Zemress Naval Academy now stands empty. Its great work complete, the staff have fanned out across the Empire, taking the new learning with them. The power to develop qualities is no longer available or needed. However, the building still stands, and it still attracts the best shipwrights from across the Brass Coast and beyond. This is the site that raised Imperial naval traditions to the point where they could rival - at least in theory - those of the Grendel or the Asaveans. The Frieøyer came half way across the world to study here.

This incredible legacy should be preserved. When the [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress_(Destroyed)|Seminary of Zemress]] was destroyed, the ''Kraken's Bane'' was left untouched. It bears a [[Aura#Durable_Auras|true aura]] of Prosperity, [[A_time_of_plenty#Coin_that_Goes_Unspent|placed there by Gilah, daughter of the Chantry]] with the approval of the Assembly of Prosperity. The beautiful building that once celebrated the life of this iconic Freeborn hero was destroyed, but the potential exists to rebuild it into something even more inspirational.

No true liao would be needed, but a new [[edifice]] of some kind is needed. The more [[Edifice#Grandeur|grandiose]] the building, the more inspirational it would be. However, the other thing that would help to remind everyone of the importance of the site, is if the Freeborn were able to convince the General Assembly to recognise Zemress as a paragon. After-all... what more powerful a legacy could exist than the triumph of the Zemress Naval Academy?

Freeborn architects intend to bring a range of plans forward to create a new building to celebrate Zemress' life later this year. They want to give their fellow Freeborn time to persuade the Synod of the truth of their claims - that Zemress i Ezmara i Erigo has passed through the Labyrinth. If the Synod act to recognise Zemress as a paragon, they will publish their ideas before the next summit, otherwise they will publish them in a year's time.

===OOC Note===
The Zemress Naval Academy, and its approach to determining qualities for navies, was rooted in an earlier vision of how navies worked. As we've developed our approach to armies, it's become more clear that we should be treating navies in the same way we do armies - that they should have strong identities tied to the nation that supports them. As such, the existing abilities of the Academy to build up a small list of qualities based on the design of the ships themselves has become outmoded. The in-character rationale for the rules change is that the arrival of the Frieøyer has helped the Academy achieve its ultimate goals and allowed them to spread knowledge of advanced ship-building right across the Empire.

Rather than simply have the Naval Academy become a white elephant, we'll present an opportunity to build on the consecrated location dedicated to Zemress later this year, to give the Empire an opportunity to rededicate the site with a new purpose.

==Tsark==
* '''The people of Tsark keep the Empire at arms' length
* '''The Imperial Consul is technically responsible for diplomatic relations with the Mountains of the Moon
During the Autumn Equinox, a delegation from the [[Tsark|Mountains of the Moon]] visited [[Bedight_in_veils#The_People_of_the_Moon|visited Anvil]]. They spoke with a number of people, and by all accounts the discussions were somewhat fruitful. The people of Tsark - the [[orc]] nation that occupies the shallow basin surrounded by the Mountains - have so far kept the Empire very much at arms' length. Following their visit, however, they have made an approach to the civil service and asked their assistance in preparing some proposals to put before the Empire.

===Garden of the Perfect World===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of the Perfect World'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Ministry</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]], [[Zenith]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 15 [[weirwood]], 45 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Seeker of the Perfect World''
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Seeker of the Perfect World'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen National</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Urizen National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees the Garden of the Perfect World</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To look after the Garden of the Perfect World, and to help the people of Tsark trade with the Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' The benefits are lost if the Empire and Tsark are no longer friendly</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Wood and Stone'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>4 weirwood</td><td>4 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>6 weirwood</td><td>6 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>8 weirwood</td><td>8 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Spirits and Stone'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 liao</td><td>1 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>90 liao</td><td>2 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 liao</td><td>3 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''There is an opportunity to build a ministry to trade for Tsark's white granite
Tsark resists the idea of an [[embassy]]. By all accounts they see the Empire as a place of chaos and turmoil, very much at odds with the ordered and harmonious life they lead in the high mountains east of [[Urizen]].For centuries they have hidden away from Imperial eyes, discouraging anyone from visiting their home with mighty fortifications and memory-altering drugs. Now, however, it seems that they are prepared to countenance some limited trade with Imperial citizens, with an eye toward acquiring substances that are rare or unknown in Tsark. With the aid of the civil service they have put forward a proposal for the grandiosely titled ''Garden of the Perfect World''.

The garden would be a special [[ministry]] built in the foothills of [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]] in southern [[Zenith]]. They expect the Empire to undertake the construction. Despite its majestic name, the actual commission requires only 15 wains of weirwood and 45 crowns in labour. It would take three months to complete. It takes the form of a meditative garden, built in the style of Tsark. Quiet chimes are hung from carefully selected trees, and what appears to be a traditional Tsark meeting hall stands along the southern side of the garden. The commission also involves beautiful flowering plants, some from Urizen and some from Tsark.

Once complete the Mountains of the Moon would create the title ''Seeker of the Perfect World'' to oversee it. They would be responsible for trading with the people of Tsark, and where the folk of the Mountains of the Moon reached out to the Empire they would be asked to facilitate any diplomacy or negotiations. It sounds a little like what they really want is an ambassador, but the leaders of Tsark are clear they do not. It seems they are concerned that they would have to build a reciprocal embassy themselves, and allow Imperial citizens into their lands, which they will not do.

The garden allows the ''Seeker of the Perfect World'' access to a ministry that lets them exchange their [[white granite]] from the [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Kamen_Quarry|Kamen Quarry]] for Imperial [[weirwood]]. They are also interested in acquiring some amount of [[liao]] - a substance not found in Tsark - for use by the human citizens of their nation. They are aware that the quantities they are asking for are quite significant and understand if the Empire doesn't want to take advantage of the trade.

Obviously as a ministry supported by a foreign nation, the ability to trade resources with Tsark is entirely dependant on continued diplomatic relations. Aware that the Empire is, perhaps rightly, concerned about what will happen if Tsark chooses to close itself off from the world again, they have agreed that if they end their trade with the Empire for any reason they will provide 15 wains of white granite to the Seeker of the Perfect World before they do so to pay for the resources spent in the construction of the ministry. If the Empire ends trade, of course, they will not feel the need to provide any restitution at all.

The opportunity remains available until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE.

===Zaboravi===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of Peaceful Quietitude'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Wintermark]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 [[weirwood]], 36 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates a sinecure and the title of ''Seeker of the Perfect World''
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Seeker of Quietitude'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Wintermark National or Imperial</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Wintermark National Assembly or Imperial Apothecaries' Guild</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives 12 doses of zaboravi each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversees the Garden of Peaceful Quietitude; help cultivate zaboravi in Wintermark</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tsark will help the people of Wintermark cultivate zaboravi
* '''The sinecure must be built in an alpine territory, in a region with hills and hot springs
The people of Tsark make use of an exotic drug called ''Zaboravi'' that has remarkable properties. Used correctly, it allows an individual to edit their own memories in a manner similar to [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]]. According to the folk from the Mountains of the Moon, [[Night magic]] is a crude tool for altering one's memories, equivalent to a spade or a pickaxe - partly because of the raw magic involved and partly because the impetus to forget comes from outside the self. Zaboravi is a more gentle, harmonious way to alter ones recollections, because all it does is empower the one who uses it to choose how to shape their own remembered past.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NBWintermark.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Apothecaries Guild.png|title=Imperial Apothecaries' Guild|align=right|width=240}}</div>
There has been discussion of seeing if the plant that produces zaboravi will prosper in [[Wintermark]]; the farmers there have already had some success with cultivating ''viezesmaak'' for the [[Sarcophan Delves]], and there is interest in seeing if they might be able to do the same with the Tsark drug. There is talk of zaboravi being invaluable to [[surgical skills#Physick|physicks]] dealing with people suffering emotional or spiritual wounds caused by terrible events. Tsark is broadly positive about facilitating such a thing - they are not jealous of their control of zaboravi and see the value of using it to help those whose spirits are in discord find peace.

Again, with the help of the civil service, they have put forward a proposal for a [[commission]] in [[Wintermark]]. The ''Garden of Peaceful Quietude'' is a [[sinecure]] that will require 12 wains of weirwood and 36 crowns in labour to complete, taking three months to construct. It will create a title - ''Seeker of Quietude'' - who will oversee the efforts to cultivate zaboravi. Each season, the gardeners of Tsark believe it will produce 12 doses of zaboravi for the Seeker, presuming that the location is conducive and the gardeners follow their instructions to the letter. The initial proposal from Tsark is that the Seeker of Quietude be appointed by the Wintermark National Assembly - zaboravi is after all a spiritual substance. The civil service however have pointed out that as a unique herb it might be more appropriate to see the title appointed by the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]]. Tsark has indicated that it is happy either way as long as the drug is treated with the reverence they feel it deserves. Notably, once the plant is established, however, its continued cultivation will require no further interaction with Tsark, so it will not be dependant on good relations continuing with the nation.

The only real restriction they place on it is that for the zaboravi to prosper it needs three things; a cool climate, as much altitude as possible, and access to geothermal hot springs. Apparently the folk of Wintermark that the visitors spoke to were confident they knew just the place.

The civil service have assessed the proposal, and indicated that the plans the people of Tsark have provided could also allow similar gardens to be built in other alpine locations - specifically [[Skarsind]], northern [[Hercynia]], and northern [[Varushka]]. The main challenge would be finding suitable locations, which would require an [[appraisal]]. The only limitation would be that such an appraisal couldn't be undertaken until the Empire had a source of the plant itself - so not until the ''Garden of Peaceful Quietude'' was completed.

===Ushabti and Rice===
* '''Some folk in Tsark are interested in both Ushabti and the Golden Cascade
* '''Further discussion waits the completion of the Garden of the Perfect World
During their visit, the subject of both [[Urizen_economic_interests#Ushabti|ushabti]] and the [[Zenith#Proceris|Golden Cascade]] were raised. By all accounts the visitors from Tsark were interested, but cautious. The leaders of the nation have determined that while they are curious about both the odd constructs that seem to work best at high altitude, and the ambitious great work that provides food for much of Zenith and indeed the nation as a whole, any further discussion will have to wait until the ''Garden of the Perfect World'' is completed. Or not, as the case may be.
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tarquinius Ankarien.jpg|caption=Tarquinius Ankarien (left), former [[Ambassador to Axos]], has apparently been charged to speak with the Skourans by the Imperial Consul.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
==Skoura==
* '''The nation of Skoura lies to the east of Mareave
* '''While they are keeping the Empire at arms' length the two nations are at peace
* '''The Imperial Consul is responsible for diplomacy with Skoura
The message from Talker Garra, Delvemistress of Skoura, that arrives in Mareave midway through the season is neatly written on tough parchment. It begins by thanking '''Tarquinius Ankarien''' for their understanding - they would indeed prefer to deal with the [[Imperial Orcs]] as much as possible and would prefer that if the [[Imperial Consul]] chooses to delegate communication they do so with that in mind. The Unshackled are their neighbours, and there is still some distance to go before Skoura is entirely happy dealing with the wider Empire. The Delvemistress is happy to trust the good sense of '''Pathfinder Gaddak''' in this matter.

Establishing a permanent [[embassy]] would be a significant step in relations between the mountainfolk and the Empire - and one that they are not entirely sure they are ready to make. Accepting an Imperial [[ambassador]] would be a serious matter, and would mean that their interaction with Imperial citizens will have evolved beyond the point of a small number of trade agreements with the people of [[Mareave]]. The first question that Talker Garra has is, can the Imperial Consul confirm that the Empire is prepared to commit to appointing an Unshackled to the position, at least for the time being? The second question is, what form would the Empire expect an embassy to take, and what commitments would be required from Skoura? Obviously they would require any embassy to be built in Mareave; presumably the Empire would expect an embassy to be built in Skoura as well? In all honesty, writes Delvemistress Garra, the fact that the Empire changes its ambassadors often is seen as something of a problem with the more conservative members of their nation. Needing to re-establish relations each time a new ambassador is appointed represents a significant investment of time and trust.

The Skourans are pleased to hear that the Empire has no intention of sending spies into their lands. The Skourans are a private people - it is not that they have things to hide so much as that they would prefer to build their relationship with the Empire carefully, and on a foundation of mutual trust.

===Trade and Artisans===
* '''The Geltcourse Trade Security Council have confirmed they are willing to investigate further trade with the Imperial Orcs'''
* '''They require the Senate to recognise the Artisans Guild as an Imperial sodality before further plans are developed'''
There is one matter that could, apparently, increase Skouran enthusiasm for building that relationship more quickly. The ''Geltcourse Trade Security Council'' first visited Anvil six months ago, at the [[I_wish_you_would#To_Mahal_from_the_Mines|Summer Solstice 387YE]]. There, they discussed the nature of trade and the potential for long-term trade with the Imperial Orcs in Mareave. The Geltcourse Trade Security Council have finished their deliberations and is interested in a formalised arrangement.

However, the Geltcourse Trade Security Council are one and all respectful of the art of the [[artisan]], and the inherent strength that comes with a recognised central authority. As such, they are unwilling to go further with a formal arrangement unless the Artisans Guild is recognised as an [[Imperial sodality]] by the [[Senate]] and ratified by [[the Throne]]. The representative of the Geltcourse Trade Security Council makes clear that this is ''not'' a slight on the Unshackled; they sincerely hope to have future dealings with the orcs of Mareave. Unfortunately, this is a red line for the Geltcourse Trade Security Council if they are to cultivate trade with the Empire as a whole rather than just their neighbours on the lower slopes.

===Defensive War===
* '''Skoura is prepared to send 500 troops to support Rucraic's Redoubt following the Winter Solstice
* '''In return they require a payment of 50 measures of dragonbone
The discussion about armies and "defensive war" is interesting, and does indeed show how different the strategies of Skoura and the Empire have become. Most Skourans would see armies as something that supplements the sturdy [[fortification]] of a territory, an adjunct to the defence rather than the primary component. Fortunately, given that the Unshackled have completed [[Mareave#Ruicraic's Redoubt|Ruicraic's Redoubt]], it is that much more likely they will be able to resist the Grendel.

With that in mind, the Delvemistress offers to dispatch a cadre of Skouran war-engineers to Rucraic's Redoubt, to bolster the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] there and help to fight the Grendel. After some further questions, the civil service determine that a "cadre" in this case represents a fighting strength of 500, equivalent to five military units. In return, the Skouran commanders require 50 measures of [[dragonbone]], delivered in advance by either the Imperial Consul or Senator Pathfinder. Given the situation, the Delvemistress mentions that if they are prepared to provide an additional thirty crystal mana as well, she will ensure that the cadre is suitable enchanted with the might of the mountains - sufficient to increase the strength they will contribute to 1000 force. ('''OOC Note:''' If the Consul or the Senator wishes to take up this offer, they will need to ensure the resources are handed in at the end of the event and then email {{plot}} to confirm they wish them to be transferred to Skoura).

The Skouran Talker suggests that while this military support is not great given the scale the Empire works on, it is as much about testing the waters as anything else. It will also give the warrior-engineers an opportunity to examine the stonework of Rucraic's Redoubt, which they apparently see as an additional benefit.
==Further Reading==
* [[Faraden]]
* [[Iron Confederacy]]
* [[Sumaah Republic]]
* [[Tsark]]
* [[Skoura]]

A wild night and a new road

2026-04-11T18:47:07Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: Adding mud to the opening story. Please check

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>Out of the corner of her eye, De Leeuw watched the Imperial merchant poring over the glass cases with the bounty of rings, necklets, and more exotic adornments that filled her shop. She hadn't seen the like before. He'd paused outside to make use of the boot scraper, and the mud had sloughed off his shoes once he saw the sable carpet. Someone who knew how to get around a marsh, mused De Leeuw. A nice change. Most of the Imperials she had dealt with were smartly dressed League merchants or brightly coloured Freeborn. Often as not they were unfamiliar with the realities of the Delves, and invariably tracked mud into her shop. Not this fellow, though.

She kept being drawn to the mask he was hearing, though. A thing of bone and feathers, with a beak like a crows. She itched to ask if it was a real beak or not - she couldn't tell. Most of her clients wore a little jewellery and the Imperial was no exception; uncharacteristically though he seemed to eschew gold and silver, preferring dragonbone and what looked to be polished flint. Strange choices, Yet she didn't doubt he had the money to be here; his coat and trousers were beautifully decorated and spoke of prosperity and position.

At last he spoke. "I was wondering about these pieces," he said casually. She smiled inwardly. She had made a bet with herself that this was what he was here for. She smoothly moved over, lifting the glass bell jar that covered her new pieces.

"You are a person of discernment," she said in fluent Imperial (it always paid to address a customer in their own language). "These are fine pieces indeed, especially for someone versed in magic. See here? This necklace is of orichalcum and tempest jade; a beautiful piece you'll agree. Yet its true value lies in its provenance - each of the jewels bears a tiny portion of starlight from certain stars. If you know what you are doing, that starlight can be used to cast potent healing spells beyond what any normal magician could attempt."

"And this one?" He pointed to the ring, set with a single eleven black stones that looked like onyx but were not.

"Oh, you have a good eye!" She flattered the customer without even thinking about it, putting the necklace down and lifting up the ring to show him how it sparkled in the light. "You may find it hard to believe, but these gems are also chips of tempest jade, treated with beggar's lye in a secret fashion that causes the colour to leech from them. The ring itself is dragonbone, polished with ambergelt. A wearer versed in the arts of death can draw on the unlight of the Unfortunate Sailor to command the dead to speak, and they cannot resist. A rare piece indeed."

The mask-wearing Imperial pondered her words, and reached out to take the ring. He was polite enough not to touch it without permission; De Leeuw nodded. He handled it carefully as if afraid it might break. Up close, the Sarcophan jeweller could see the dark green scales spilling out from under his mask. A naga.

"And do you craft these yourself?" He asked, although there was something in his tone that told the canny shopkeeper he already knew the answer.

"Oh no, I'm afraid not." She smiled cheerfully. "Many of the articles here are either salvaged by agents, or made in-house. Not these ones, though. These come from far across the sea. From a nation of magicians. I will not be gauche enough to name it given the current political differences between your people and theirs..."

He nodded slowly.

"These difficulties give your people an opportunity for significant profit it seems."

She flashed him another smile, revealing even more of her razor-sharp teeth this time. "Indeed it does," she said. "But at the end of the day there is always profit in taking things from places others cannot or will not go, and selling them on. That case over there for example bears pearl rings recovered at no small danger from the wreck of the ''Edmund Fitzgerald'' for example, drowned fifty years ago in the Sea of Teeth. You will find similar treasures throughout the quarter. These are simply recovered from a slightly drier place, with a different kind of danger."

He seemed preoccupied. There was something else.

"Are you interested in the star jewels then?" she asked.

"I am... but I am also interested in something else." He cleared his throat. "Something... less polished?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry? I don't follow?"

"Something in the line of... condiments." He did not look at her as he asked. She resisted laughter.

"Oh I see! I see your problem immediately of course but I'm afraid I only sell jewellery. You'll be hard pressed to find anyone in the Jakhalsmarkt who carries what you are looking for, if I understand you right."

He sighed. She got the impression that De Leeuw's was not the first establishment he had visited asking about Jarmish... condiments.

"I am sorry to have wasted your time then," he said. "I will be on my way."

As he turned, she tutted and leant forward, laying one ivory-pale hand on his sleeve.

"So hasty, you Imperials," she said. "I said ''I'' didn't carry... condiments. I didn't say I couldn't ''help'' you."

He turned round. De Leeuw smiled like a happy shark.

"But first let's talk about which of my delicious star jewels you are going to buy. And then we can talk of... condiments."</ic>
{{CaptionedImage|file=AmbassadorSarcophanDelves.jpg|caption='''Dino i Riqueza''', Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves|align=left|width=300}}
==Overview==
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.

The merchant-princes of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] - the ''bedelaar huisbaas'' - strive for neutrality. They are enthusiastic about trade with the Empire, but their neutrality is precious to them. They hold it a mark of pride that they will deal with anyone who has goods, services, or money. While they have given up the practice of slavery without regret, they refuse to pick a side between the [[Liberty Pact]] and the Freedom Accord. Their primary goal is to ensure the ports of the world remain open to their ships, ideally with [[Tariffs#Free_Trade|free trade]] agreements that allow their merchants to operate without onerous [[tariffs]]. They have recently declared the ''Pax Sarcophan'' - a commitment to combat piracy and ensure that independent traders are free to sail [[the seven seas]] regardless of the politics of the great powers.

The Sarcophan ambassador to the Empire is ''Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike'', of the Tower of Crows. She reports to the beggar-landlords of Sarcophan, and is known to be a wily and subtle diplomat. No stranger to the murkier waters of espionage and intelligence-gathering, she constantly seeks opportunities to expand the influence of the Sarcophan mercantile Empire across the Known World. She has no particular loyalty to any one faction; her main concern appears to be the prosperity of the nation as a whole.
{{Nation|nation=[[Sarcophan Delves]]|status=Foreigner|port=[[Sarcophan_Delves_ports#Sarcophan|Sarcophan]] and [[Sarcophan_Delves_ports#Betovering|Betovering]]|ambassador= Dino i Riqueza of [[the Brass Coast]]}}
==Polite Correspondence==
* '''The usual pleasantries have been exchanged between the Empire and the Delves
* '''The Delves remain concerned about the proscription of consuming human meat but have been reassured by the Ambassador
* '''Interest in investing in the Celesti Lighthouse remains strong for the time being
* '''Snowstorm Henk has safely arrived in the Delves to begin research into Sarcophan knowledge of sea-based eternals
* '''There is news of a visiting delegation from Beoraidh supported by the Delves planning to visit Anvil during the Winter Solstice
Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike thanks the Ambassador for their advice around the funerary traditions of Sarcophan and how they might conflict with Imperial law. They understand the difficulty created by the van de Moerassen request, and appreciate Amassador Dino offering their advice. Hopefully this - and similar - matters can be dealt with sensibly going forward.

[[Historical_research#Snowstorm_Henk|Snowstorm Henk]] has arrived safely in the Delves following the [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Research_Eternals_of_the_Sea|commission of research]] by '''Watt of Lambrook''', the [[Minister of Historical Research]]. Funds to support the expedition have been provided by the Senate, and the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]] researcher has by all accounts been warmly received. They are busy speaking with [[Sarcophan_Delves#Magic|zielweven]] about their knowledge of Khobel Tavah in particular. Their report is due shortly before the Spring Equinox.

There is still Sarcophan interest in investing in the expansion of the [[For_those_in_peril_on_the_sea#The_Celesti_Lighthouse|Celesti Lighthouse]], but it is contingent on the Senate commissioning the lighthouse as a significant fortification to protect Oran. The commission actually completed represents a more modest structure albeit one with a magically imbued beacon thanks to the [[eternal]] [[Kimus]]. While Bedelaar-Huisbaas Annike confirms interest, she cautions that it will be all too easy for investors to shift their attention elsewhere - perhaps to the city-state of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] and suggests that if the expansion of the lighthouse is not commissioned by the end of the Spring equinox the opportunity will be lost. For now details of the arrangement remain as laid out in the '''[[All_the_night-tide#Investment_in_the_Brass_Coast|in the night-tide]]''' wind of fortune.

On the subject of Beoraidh, the Ambassador has also raised the matter of Sarcophan involvement in the little city-state. Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has discussed the Ambassador's suggestions with the entrepreneurs involved in Mareave, and stresses that the Delves is excited by the opportunities presented by the city-state and can't wait to start developing their presence there. Yet at the same time they have no interest in antagonising their Imperial friends; the Delves has every interest in smoothing relations between the Empire and Beoraidh. Indeed, partly thanks to their influence, some representatives of Beoraidh are planning to visit Anvil during the Winter Solstice to speak with their [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]] neighbours. Some of the Delves merchants dealing directly with the folk of western Mareave will be supporting them.

As Beoraidh is an independent state, it is Annike's understanding that the [[Imperial Consul]] will be dealing with any diplomatic matters relating to them. Obviously Annike hopes that the Ambassador and the Consul can liaise on any other concerns they have about Sarcophan involvement in Beoraidh. Further information about the situation with Beoraidh can be found in the '''[[TBC]]''' wind of fortune.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Canis aureus syriacus.jpg|align=right|width=300}}{{CaptionedImage|file=Buidelrats.jpg|align=right|width=300}}</div>

==Jackals, Ports, and Buidelrats==
* '''Trade with Jakhalsmarkt has been something of a success and extended for another season at least
* '''The Commonwealth seem unaware that Imperial traders are buying goods explicitly created by Jarmish crafters
* '''The house of the Buidelrat are pestering Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike about their proposal to open the port of Moeraskriden
During the Autumn Equinox, the ''Annabel de Gouden'' of the [[Founders of the Delves#The Jackal|House of the Jackal]] secured access for Imperial traders to the [[All_the_night-tide#Jakhalsmarkt|Jakhalsmarkt]]. Masters of the jewel-trade in the Delves, the various families of the Jackal House are experts in acquiring, evaluating, and securing markets for precious materials and ornaments. Annabel de Gouden was apparently pleased with the response of Imperial captains - and especially impressed by enthusiastic reports of dealings with several [[Wintermark]] captains particularly one '''Bron Mordssen''' whose impressive ships drew quite a stir when they arrived in [[Foreign_ports#Betovering|Betovering]] where the Jakhalsmarkt is located.

Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike confided in the Ambassador that as long as the trade proved lucrative, de Gouden would likely keep the port open. That has indeed proven to be the case, with Annabel cheerfully claiming that it was her plan all along to provide Imperial access at least until the end of the year (which was not what she said in her original proposal). As such, Imperial fleets can continue to visit the Jakhalsmarkt after the Winter Solstice, and potentially even longer if the demand is there.

Obviously, the crow in the parlour is that one of the draws of the Jakhalsmarkt are the ''star jewels'' - magical jewellery bought by Sarcophan traders in the [[Principalities of Jarm]] and sold at a reasonable mark-up to Imperial citizens. The trade here is a little less cut and dried than that taking place in the [[When_peace_was_far_away#Free_Port|port of Radosmo]] but the Commonwealth may not see a difference - especially given they are already [[The_price_is_great#Liberty|apparently quite annoyed]] about the trade in Zemelso. Buying goods that are definitely Jarmish still puts money in the pockets of the Magician-Princes after all.

While the Jakhalsmarkt has been a success, Annike admits to being pestered by the [[Founders_of_the_Delves#The_Buidelrat|House of the Buidelrat]] regarding an agreement they [[All_the_night-tide#Moeraskriden|proposed]] to allow Imperial captains access to the port of ''Moeraskriden''. In return, they requested the [[dissemination]] of some ritual texts related to herbs by the [[Conclave]]. They have apparently heard nothing. In traditional diplomatic fashion, the Bedelaar Huisbaas of the Tower of the Crow has passed the pestering on. Can Ambassador Dino offer any information about Conclave deliberations on this matter? Is there some other agreement that might be more palatable to the [[Grandmaster|Grandmasters]]? Or should the Buidelrat just accept that there is no interest in their offer and move on (and stop pestering the Tower of the Raven)?

Both the [[All_the_night-tide#Jakhalsmarkt|Jakhalsmarkt]] and the proposed deal for access to [[All_the_night-tide#Moeraskriden|Moeraskriden]] are described in more detail in the '''[[All the night-tide]]''' wind of fortune from last event.
{{CaptionedImage|file=RedWindCorsairs_Colour.png|align=right|width=300}}

==Children of Wrecks==
* '''The Sarcophan Delves are prepared to offer support in fighting the Children of Wrecks if it is required'''
* '''The Ambassador to the Delves, Senator for Sarvos, or Senator for Madruga can enlist their aid at the cost of 12 Thrones'''
* '''They insist they will only fight as part of a force that is supported by the Imperial Guerdon'''
Along with the Ambassador, some private individuals - including apparently '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' the [[Senator]] for [[Sarvos]] - wrote to thank Sarcophan for their intervention during the [[Those_that_break_a_thing#Battle_of_Trivento|attack on Trivento]] by the Children of Wrecks during Summer. Two dozen Sarcophan vessels supported the [[Red Wind Corsairs]], driven by a palpable disdain for pirates and cutthroats. Most of these vessels were from the Alivetti estates, but several belonged to the [[Prime_Factor_of_the_deBruin_Docks#deBruin_Docks|deBruin]]. Annike thanks the Empire for their kind words, but plays down Sarcophan involvement as being "merely good business sense".

However, the DeBruin family are keen to offer mercenary support toward any attack on the Children of Wrecks - specifically securing [[Madruga#Free Landing|Free Landing]]. Experienced in fighting from boats and around islands, the DeBruin are also apparently ''well'' up for kicking the snot out of the Children of Wrecks, who they see as the worst kind of pirate - indiscriminate and savage. Assuming the Empire wants their aid. As Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike notes, the Empire's ship captains have their own bones to pick over with regard to the servants of ''Hullbreaker''.

If they want DeBruin aid, the Ambassador themselves, the [[Senator]] for [[Madruga]] '''Eulàlia i Phovas i Riqueza''', or the Senator for [[Sarvos]] (the aforementioned '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''') can indicate as such in a missive to Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike. They can specify which [[army]] or [[navy]] they want the DeBruin to support, or leave it to the Sarcophan to allocate their own forces. Regardless, the expertise and resources of the DeBruin will add an additional 1,500 effective strength to any attack on [[Madruga#Free_Landing|Free Landing]]. They will participate in the next attack, provided it takes place before the start of Summer.

Their aid will cost 12 Thrones, paid in advance. ('''OOC Note:''' If the Ambassador or one of the senators wishes to take advantage of this offer, they can do so by emailing {{plot}} and ensuring the 12 Thrones are in their inventory after the event. If more than one person does this, they'll take a portion of their payment from each). However, they have an additional requirement - that they are up-front about. For ethical reasons, they will only participate in an attack against the Children of Wrecks if the force they support receives a portion of the [[Military_unit#Guerdon_Shares|Imperial guerdon]]. They won't claim it themselves - the DeBruin will act if they're paid the agreed amount of money for their involvement - but as a matter of principle, they won't fight alongside other soldiers who are "not being paid for risking their lives." It's an odd point of order for the Delves, but one they are quite adamant about.

In the equally unlikely event that the Children of Wrecks manage to fight off the might of the Empire, they're happy to commit troops each season until the Wreckers are dealt with and Free Landing is back in Imperial hands - provided they are paid each season and the force they support receives the Imperial Guerdon, of course.

==Alivetti Estates Five Years On==
* '''It is the five-year anniversary of the Sarcophan enclave in Sarvos
* '''The enclave appears to be prospering despite magisterial dissatisfaction with many of the goods sold there
It has been five years since the [[Sarvos#Sarcophan_Enclave|Alivetti estate]] enclave in [[Sarvos]] was established. [[Ratify_treaty_with_the_Sarcophan_Delves_Autumn_383YE|Conceded by treaty]] in late 383YE, the first new buildings were completed shortly before the Winter Solstice of that year. The ruined estates that once belonged to the guild of [[Empress Giselle]] have been transformed; Sarcophan engineers with experience draining marshes and building on flooded ground have constructed towers in the Sarcophan style which now now rise over both carefully preserved ruins and newly expanded docks.

For the most part relations between the Sarcophan and their Imperial neighbours have been cordial - beneficial even. The magistracy is still frustrated that the Sarcophan refuse to stop selling things the Empire considers illegal to visitors who want to buy them, but the treaty leaves no opportunity for them to enter Alivetti without an invitation. Mostly Imperial visitors are sensible enough to consume the drugs they buy ''in situ'' rather than try smuggling them back into the Empire proper. Mostly.

Much - but by no means all - of the trade that passes through Alivetti consists of herbs, medicinal potions, and luxuries from various parts of the Known World. Business is booming, and news has reached the Ambassador's office that ''Burgemeester Vandersaar'' plans a lavish party to celebrate five years of prosperity and opportunity.
{{WingedMessenger|address=Missives pertinent to the Alivetti Estates can be directed to ''Burgomeester Oudolf Vandersaar, Duifstraat, Alivetti Estates, Sarvos''. The Burgomeester has made it clear that the life of a Sarcophan burgomeester is a hectic one and replies are likely to be short when they relate to anything other than the enclave. Business with Sarcophan citizens trading from the enclave would be best addressed to them directly, and anything related to the wider Sarcophan Delves should go through Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike.}}
===Prosperity and Opportunity===
* '''The Sarcophan are having a party at the Alivetti estates
* '''Imperial citizens, especially those of Sarvos, are invited to attend and discuss business
* '''Immediately after the Winter solstice a new diversification option is available
Burgemeester Vandersaar invites their neighbours not only in Sarvos but in [[Tassato]], [[Casinea]], [[Necropolis]], and [[Madruga]] to attend the upcoming party. They plan to celebrate in style, with a weeklong festival of drinking, music, recreation, theatrical performances, urban athletic events, and new business discussions. Festivities will start the week after the Winter Solstice. A traditional cleaning-out event will be held in which Sarcophan citizens engage in a flurry of cleaning that culminates in bonfires where rubbish - literal and metaphorical - is burnt. It will end with a traditional ''rat run'' in which business owners don rat masks and sack cloth and skulk through the streets pursued by children who can demand sweets and other treats if they catch them.

There is also an old tradition that any deals struck during a festival such as this are as binding as those arranged when both participants are sober. This custom is usually observed by a resolution among participants not to make any ''important'' deals during this time and restrict themselves to minor agreements and contracts, but there are always stories of people who have bartered their ways into a fortune in an inebriated state (or lost the same, of course).

This presents an opportunity to citizens of the nations invited - [[the League]], [[Highguard]], and [[the Brass Coast]]. [[Business]] owners from one of these three nations who attend the festivities will be able to secure small but potentially valuable deals. After the Winter Solstice any player whose character owns a [[business]] in one of these nations can choose a free [[Business#Diversification|diversification]] option. Their business provides 36 rings fewer, but will instead provide two random ingots, two random measures, or two random herbs each downtime (as chosen by the player).

Furthermore, following the Winter solstice, every business owner in Sarvos, Tassato, Madruga, Casinea, and Necropolis will receive two doses of a random consumable acquired from the Alivetti Estates. These consumables represent either treats picked up during the party, or goods acquired after the event from Imperial citizens who did attend. Most of these consumables will be harmless - but there is a chance some will not be legal in the Empire. The magistrates, already a little stretched, will find it almost impossible to prevent Imperial citizens bringing illegal goods out of Alivetti intentionally or accidentally. ('''OOC Note:''' Business owners who wish to ensure they have nothing to do with this dubious activity should hand these consumables back to GOD when they collect their pack).
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Freeborn.png|align=right|width=190}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Highborn.png|align=right|width=170}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly League.png|align=right|width=200}}
===Party Planning===
* '''The National Assemblies of the three nations could discourage their citizens from attending
* '''Alternatively they could wholeheartedly embrace and contribute to the ceremonies
* '''Burgemeester Vandersaar plans to give a gift to the people of Sarvos if the festivities are well attended
The celebrations of the enclaves' founding provides an opportunity for the neighbouring nations to consider their relationship with the Sarcophan Delves. During the Winter Solstice the League, Highborn, and Freeborn National Assemblies can take the opportunity to either enthusiastically support or clearly discourage participation in the anniversary celebrations using a [[mandate]]. If they do not, then their citizens will attend or not as they see fit, with the effects described above. If they do enact a mandate the outcome will depend on which approach they take.

An assembly might discourage their people from attending by reminding their citizens of the importance of following Imperial law and the danger of celebrating with heretics and blasphemers,

{{Mandate|mandate=The Sarcophan folk of the Alivetti estates celebrate their enclave, but we must all remain Vigilant to the threats it may represent. While they seem to be honest traders, their ways are not our ways, and their faith is very different to ours. Their refusal to acknowledge Imperial law is a challenge to the Empire and we send (named priest) with 25 liao to urge all virtuous citizens who must attend this gathering to keep their wits about them and remain alert for threats within and without.|assembly=Highborn, Freeborn, or League National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, individual player characters from the nation can roleplay that they attend, but there will be no opportunities for them to diversify their business, and no consumables will be received by businesses near the enclave. It will also send a message to the Alivetti estates that while that nation tolerates them, they do not welcome further engagement. For at least the next year there will be no more approaches from the Delves to that nation.

Alternatively, one or more of the three nations might choose to encourage their people to accept the hospitality of the Delves, and enthusiastically participate with their own contributions.

{{Mandate|mandate=The Sarcophan folk of the Alivetti estates bring prosperity to the Empire, and help smooth relations between Empire and Delves. We join them in proudly celebrating both our differences and similarities. and send (named priest) with 25 liao and 10 Thrones to both encourage the businessfolk of our nation to take up this offer, and to ensure that we are good guests and bring gifts of our own to share with our hosts.|assembly=Highborn, Freeborn, or League National Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, it will increase the opportunities available in the Alivetti Estates for everyone in that nation. They will gain four consumables rather than two, on top of the free diversification option following the Winter Solstice. It will also send a message to the Delves that the folk of that nation welcome trade with the Delves, and appreciate the services offered in the enclave.

It is something of an open secret that ''Burgemeester Vandersaar'' is considering making a gift to the city at the height of the festivities. The Burgemeester has commissioned the [[schema]] for a [[:Category:Foci|magical mask]] used by Sarcophan Delves magicians. If the three Imperial nations all participate in the festivities it will reassure them that this is the right idea. If that happens, they will deliver this gift to the [[Mirrored Maschieri]] - currently '''Magdelena Alanga Di Sarvos''' - as the foremost proponent of fashion and design right across the Empire, in time for the Spring Equinox. That is provided that none of the three National assemblies enact a mandate discouraging people from attending; the gift is predicated on the celebrations being a resounding success and one or more of the three invited nations being disinterested will sour the Burgemeester on their expensive gift.

Obviously Imperial citizens have their own opinions on the matter. Among those interested in the outcome, magistrate ''Georgie Arcobalena di Sarvos'' has urged restraint and expressed concerns about the challenges of protecting the internal Imperial/Sarcophan border. On the other hand, ''Bishop Ziphania Fantoccio von Caricomare'' has spoken several times about the importance of trusting people to understand their own path of [[Pride]] and make decisions about their own behaviour without interference from the Chamber of Commerce or the League Assembly.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Burning oil lamp.jpg|caption=There are arguments that concerns about the Alivetti enclave are really a matter of Vigilance, rather than Prosperity.|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Questions of Legality===
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Walls of Liberty'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Sarvos#Caricomare|Caricomare, Sarvos]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 40 wains of [[white granite]], 120 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the title of "Alivetti Gatekeeper"
* Resolves ongoing issues of Imperial citizens bringing illegal goods out of the Sarcophan Delves enclave
* Annoys the Sarcophan Enclave
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Alivetti Gatekeeper'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' League</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives an income of 19 crowns each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversee the Walls of Virtue and work with the Sarcophan Delves and the Ambassador to maintain relations with the Alivetti estates</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''The Senate could increase funding to the magistrates to help them secure the internal border with the Sarcophan enclave'''
* '''A proposal for an actual wall to prevent smuggling has been put forward'''
* '''The wall creates an opportunity to place tariffs on Imperial citizens entering and leaving the estate to support an ''Alivetti Gatekeeper'' '''
* '''Either funding or walls would end the legal issues relating to illegality around the Enclave but annoy Burgemeester Vandersaar'''
Concerns about the clash between Imperial law, and the barely-extant laws of the Sarcophan Delves have been ongoing for some time and this festivity serves to bring them to a head. In the run up to the Winter Solstice, the magistrate notionally overseeing the area around the Alivetti Estates - the aforementioned ''Georgie Arcobalena di Sarvos'' - has finally admitted that her current resources are insufficient to the task. She has asked the chief magistrates ''Stanislav Karkovich'' and ''Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra'' for assistance. They in turn look to the [[Senate]].

The Senate could pass a [[Senate motion]] allocating increased budget to the Sarvosan magistrates explicitly to deal with the border problems experienced in Caricomare due to the tension between the laws of the two nations. This would cost an additional 10 Thrones each season but would allow Magistrate Acrobalena to stamp out smuggling - whether intentional or accidental - of proscribed substances and materials out of the Alivetti estates enclave. It would take a little time to arrange - and thus would not directly impact the upcoming celebrations that begin so soon after the Solstice - but it would effectively put a stop to the problem presented by the Sarcophan enclave for as long as the money was allocated or until the situation significantly changed.

News of the request clearly frustrates ''Bishop Ziphania Fantoccio von Caricomare'', who sees the opportunity for Imperial citizens to mingle freely with foreign visitors to the Empire's shores as an unmitigated good. In a rousing sermon delivered from his church in Sarvos, he mockingly suggests that surely it would be easier for Magistrate Arcobalena to simply build a massive wall around the enclave to remove the liberty and dignity of the people of Sarvos. Indeed, he quips, one would not even need to put a gate in it.

This being Sarvos, within a week of the sermon a plan is presented to Magistrate Arcobalena for just such a project. In the event the Senate are interested, an [[edifice]] could be constructed around the Alivetti estate that would greatly restrict easy access to the enclave. The "Walls of Liberty" would require a "mere" 40 wains of white granite, 120 crowns, and three months to complete. They would greatly restrict free passage into the enclave, making it much easier to ensure that citizens are aware of the consequences of smuggling. They would be built entirely on the Imperial side of the "border" meaning no legal impediment to their creation.

In theory, whoever commissions the wall could specify that it has no gates in it, but not even Magistrate Arcobalena thinks that is a good idea. Instead they could specify that the gates will collect tolls on Imperial citizens entering the enclave. Once the costs of operating the gates are taken into account, this would provide an income of 19 crowns each season. The proposal posits the creation of an "Alivetti Gatekeeper" - a League [[Imperial title|title]] established by [[Tally of the Votes]] who would be charged with overseeing the walls and gates, but also working with the Delves and the [[Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves|Imperial ambassador]] to maintain relations with the Alivetti estates.

This move would obviously anger ''Burgomeester Vandersaar'' but it would effectively resolve the ongoing issues with citizens bringing illegal goods out of the Sarcophan enclave. Placing a toll on the gates, and creating the consequent Imperial title, would absolutely infuriate Burgomeester Vandersaar - it is one thing to restrict trade but to do so in a way that requires a price of admission to visit the estates, as if they were an exotic menagerie is something the burgomeester would find particularly outrageous. But as long as they want to operate from the Alivetti estates, their ability to actually do anything about an Imperial wall is somewhat limited.

===The Silent Manse===
* '''The Silent Manse has been proscribed by the League assembly'''
After the Autumn Equinox, '''Cosimo Argyra''' [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_127|enacted a mandate]] urging "''all Imperial citizens planning to visit the (Alivetti) estates to express only polite and civil disinterest in their unvirtuous religion''." Cautions against getting drawn into an unwholesome religion have been heard and taken to heart and the teachings of the ''Community of Silence'' will remain restricted to the enclave. This hasn't particularly impacted the ''Community'' itself - their focus is on serving the needs of the Sarcophan rather than proselytising. It does mean that there will be no further opportunity to establish cordial relations between the Way and the Community of Silence, nor to learn about their beliefs, nor any sharing of their knowledge of ghosts and the like. But that may be a small price to pay to prevent a blasphemous and heretical faith seeking to expand into the Empire.

It is still possible to send [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messengers]] to ''Poortwachter Lenart Farber'', the leader of the Community of Silence at the Silent Manse, but anyone doing so should anticipate that there might be no response. The Community has been told loudly and clearly to focus on their own people, after all.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Apothecaries Guild.png|title=Imperial Apothecaries' Guild|align=right|width=240}}

==Apothecary Guild==
* '''The Sarcophan Kruidenkenner Guild are enthusiastic about closer ties with the Apothecaries' Guild
* '''The current Apothecaries' Guild Leader is Esmé i Estrico i Erigo'''
The Sarcophan Delves are masters of the arts of the herbalist, [[Surgical skills#Physick|physick]], and especially the [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecary]]. Many of their most prestigious and experienced herblorists belong to the wealthy and influential ''Kruidenkenner'' which is apparently a powerful guild that exists outside the [[Founders_of_the_Delves|thirteen houses]] in a manner analogous to an [[Imperial sodality]]. The guild is at the forefront of the trade in herbs and medicinal products and have [[Can%27t_give_everything_away#The_Apothecaries_Guild|enthusiastically sought out]] closer ties with their Imperial peers in the [[Apothecaries Guild]]. There has been some communication between '''Esmé i Estrico i Erigo''' - the [[Imperial_Apothecaries_Guild#Guild_Leader|Guild Leader]] of the apothecaries - and luminaries of the Kruidenkenner regarding [[All_the_night-tide#Apothecary_Allies|opportunities]] to work together.

One outcome has been a proposition to [[The_circle_game#Sarcophan_and_the_Kruidenkenner|alter certain trade ministries]] to deal in metals rather than Imperial coin. It has been suggested that the returns on these trades might not be as profitable as the current arrangements. The Kruidenkenner don't deny that accusation but just point out that it is the Empire seeking to change the arrangements and that barter is inherently more expensive. More details of this arrangement can be found in the '''[[The_circle_game#Sarcophan_and_the_Kruidenkenner|The circle game]]''' wind of fortune.

The Kruidenkenner remain enthused about the [[Kruidenkenner Trademaster]] and [[Master of the Root and Stem]] being [[All_the_night-tide#Magazijn|appointed by the Apothecaries' Guild]]. While they could use heavy-handed tactics to try and force this, they acknowledge that diplomacy may provide a better solution. Indeed, adjusting their ministerial trade to use barter rather than cold hard cash may well be an attempt endear themselves to the Imperial Senate. Obviously the matter of the Master of the Root and Stem is a little moot at the moment given the [[Jotun]] have [[Rose_grow_the_rushes_o%27#The_Walls_of_Meade|captured Meade]], but the Delves consider this only a minor aberration. They are confident the Marches will reclaim their city before too long and will wait patiently until they do so, so that trade can resume. And they remain invested in seeing the Master appointed through the Apothecaries.

They are however aware that there is a problem around the appointment of the Kruidenkenner Trademaster in that, as it stands, the title is [[Auction of the Seats|auctioned]] to raise money for the [[Imperial treasury]]. Their proposal is that if the Senate does amend the appointment of the Kruidenkenner and the Master of Root and Stem to the Apothecaries' Guild, they would also be prepared to shift the [[Custodian_of_Ivarsgard_Docks#Sarcophan_Traders|Custodian of Ivarsgard Docks]] to deal in ambergelt, the [[High_Herbalist_of_Sybella#The_Kruidenkennerx|High Herbalist of Sybella]] to deal in dragonbone, and the [[Master_of_the_Clearing_House#The_Kruidenkenner|Master of the Clearing House]] to deal in beggar's lye. With the blessing of Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike, Ambassador Dino could present all these changes as part of a treaty with the Delves rather than as a series of separate senate motions.
===Prescriptions===
* '''The matter of who has the power to disseminate potion herbals has been raised by the Kruidenkenner'''
* '''The manifesto of the Guild approved by the Senate suggests they should have this power but this has not yet been legally confirmed'''
* '''The Constitutional Court have asked the Speaker to raise an administrative motion to settle the matter'''

The Kruidenkenner have already [[All_the_night-tide#Herbal_Lore|raised the matter of trading herbal lore]] with the Apothecaries. Unfortunately, their proposal still requires some kind of legal response. While the Guild has the acknowledged legal power to [[Imperial_Apothecaries_Guild#Imperial_Lore|spread knowledge of potions]] across the Empire, their ability to do so beyond the Empire is in question. The Conclave has the power of [[dissemination]] to allow them to create copies of rituals in Imperial lore to share with non-Imperial citizens. Who now holds the legal power to do so?

In the past dissemination of a herbal would have required a successful Senate motion. The creation of the Apothecaries guild puts that in doubt; the Senate approved the manifesto stating the sodality exists to "Coordinate and support Imperial efforts in the research, development, '''education, and dissemination''' of ingredients, potions, and antidotes". The wording implies they should have the power to disseminate knowledge of potion recipes to other nations and groups - but thus far the Senate has not confirmed that was their intention.

As in any such matters where there is uncertainty, an [[administrative motion]] will be added to the Senate schedule to clarify the situation. The motion is deliberately written in such a way as to force a clarification - either the Senate amends the Guild's manifesto to bring it into line with the previous status quo - or they leave it as is and the power passes to the Guild. This approach ''ensures'' that the wording of the law is consistent with implementation after the motion is decided by the Senate.

<quote by="Administrative Constitutional Senate Motion">To amend the manifesto of the Apothecaries Guild to read "Coordinate and support Imperial efforts in the research, development, education, and dissemination of ingredients, potions, and antidotes to Imperial citizens.</quote>

This is a clear change to the manifesto of a sodality - so it would require a constitutional vote. If it passes with the necessary majority and is ratified by the Throne, then the manifesto of the Apothecaries Guild will be amended to make clear that their remit extends only to Imperial citizens. That will clarify the current situation, the Guild will ''not'' have the legal power to disseminate a herbal - that power will remain with the Senate and will require a Senate motion and ten thrones from the Imperial treasury.

If the motion fails or is rejected by the Senate, then the Guild's manifesto will not be amended. That will mean that the Senate no longer has the power to disseminate a herbal - instead that power will lie with the Apothecaries Guild. It will require a vote of members of the sodality and ten thrones, provided by the [[Imperial_Apothecaries_Guild#Guild_Leader|apothecary guild leader]].

Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike politely asks Ambassador Dino to use their influence to get this motion rejected. At the moment the Kruidenkenner and their peers are enthusiastic about cultivating closer ties with the Apothecary Guild - they are keen to strike while the iron is hot.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Starcathedral.jpg|align=right|width=500|caption=The cathedral of the Navigators remains a beautiful and inspiring building, but its ability to attract converts in the Delves has become increasingly limited.}}</div>

==The Monument Trade==
* '''Highborn businesses and mines continue to prosper from a fashion for Highborn sculpture and stone
* '''The fortunes of the Cathedral of the Navigators continue to decline
During the Spring Equinox an art dealer named ''Senna van Ijzer'' [[Waiting_for_the_worms#Tombs_and_Tribulations|spoke with]] the [[Highguard|Highborn]] Council of [[Benefactors]]. They represented ''De Verzamelaars van Beeltenissen '' - "the Collectors" - a fringe Sarcophan sect who hold beliefs considered peculiar even by the standards of the Delves. In particular they preach that valuable objects depicting a deceased person's face hold particular value for buying a place in the Houses of Silence.

The year-long agreement between Senna and the benefactors to acquire Highborn pieces has seen [[business|businesses]] and [[mine|mines]] prosper across the nation with each such resource receiving an extra 18 rings production per season. Support for the trade from the Highborn assembly and especially the [[Bishop of the Navigators]] has been gratefully accepted by the Collectors and has done much to increase the demand for Highborn artwork. Indeed a fashion for Highborn iconography and grave monuments has taken hold in the Delves. Anyone who is anyone wants a Highborn funerary marker for their dear departed relatives' tomb. Senna is apparently busy securing more investment for the contract, and plans to return to Anvil during the Spring equinox to discuss continuing the lucrative trade for another year.

The arrangement also continues to draw criticism among followers of the Way in the Delves however. ''Mischa van de Libel'', a Sarcophan priest of the Way and [[dedication|dedicant]] of [[Prosperity]], has urged her fellow ''priester'' to cut ties with the Cathedral entirely and look to their own communities in the face of this blatant commodification of their faith. They are not the only ones; the [[Sumaah Republic|Sumaah]] ''präster'' at the rival temple of the Way in the ''Buitenlandsewijk'' continue to preach openly that the Highborn treat virtue as a commodity to be bought and sold, devaluing their shared faith. Unfair as these words may appear, there has been an undeniable loss of prestige for the Cathedral and the Bishop.

The businesses and mines of Highguard prosper, but it has come at the cost of the prestige of the [[Bishop_of_the_Navigators#Cathedral_of_the_Navigators|Cathedral of the Navigators]]. The [[Bishop_of_the_Navigators#Merchant_Ministry|merchant ministry]] and the [[Bishop_of_the_Navigators#Low Ministry|Low Ministry]] have permanently lost another level of production. By the start of the Spring Equinox, the Cathedral will have completely lost access to the Low Ministry, and the Merchant Ministry will be reduced to a single level. This represents a significant loss of influence for the cathedral, the Bishop, and the Imperial version of the Way in the Sarcophan Delves.
{{Sarcophan Links}}

Ethereal Courier

2026-04-05T19:41:53Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Effects */ Closing the box around written communication

{{stub}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBUrizen.jpg|caption=This ritual is part of [[Urizen magical traditions#Urizen Lore|Urizen lore]] rather than [[Imperial lore]].|align=right|width=200}}
==Rules==
{{Season|Autumn|10}}
{{Urizen Lore}}
===Performing the Ritual===
{{Casting time|2}} It targets a closed box or package including a specially prepared letter which must be present throughout.
===Effects===
This ritual requires both a specially prepared, single page letter and a closed box or package of non-living material with dimensions up to 8” by 8” by 8”. Attempting to send additional written material such as messages, will cause the ritual to fail (interestingly this restriction does not apply to ritual texts, schema, or herbals which the ritual seems to class as a "commodity" rather than "written communication"). If the package contains anything living the ritual fails - the mana is not expended and the box simply stays in place.

At the completion of the ritual the letter and package vanish (or in the case of a physical box, the contents of the box vanish but the container itself is left behind) and are conveyed to a single named character at a known location in the mortal realm. It can take anywhere from several hours, to several days, for the package to be delivered. There seems to be no relationship between the physical distance to the target and the time the package takes to arrive.

The specially prepared letter is a key element of the ritual. Preparing the letter includes clearly identifying the intended recipient by name (and title if appropriate), and by their location. If this information is incorrect or incomplete, the package will fail to be delivered. Should the package fail to arrive for any reason then it will not be returned; instead the person who prepared the missive receives a formal in-character note indicating the courier has failed to deliver the parcel in their pack at the start of the next event.

The ritual cannot send anything to an [[eternal]] or herald, to a creature in a magical realm, to a ghost, or to the inhabitant of a [[regio]] [[Regio#Portals_and_Chambers|chamber]]. Any attempt to send an ethereal courier to such a target will fail - even if they are in the mortal realm.

==Description==
Ethereal Courier was codified over Winter 378YE at the [[Morrow#The_Halls_of_Knowledge_.28ruined.29|Halls of Knowledge]] in [[Zenith]], under the auspices of then-[[Provost of the Halls of Knowledge|Provost]] Octavius of Auric Horizon.

The ritual extrapolates from the more commonly known [[Call Winged Messenger]], but as well as delivering a letter or missive, it can be used to send a package or parcel as well. Anything that is not alive and that will fit into an eight-inch by eight-inch by eight-inch container can be delivered anywhere in the mortal world in a matter of months. The ritual has little difficulty transporting coins, [[Materials|magical materials]], [[Bourse|Bourse notes]] for [[mithril]], [[white granite]], and [[weirwood]], [[magic items]] and [[potion|potions]] (presuming they will fit in the package), and even perishables such as food and drink (although time still passes at the normal rate for the contents of a package so food may well spoil by the time it arrives). It becomes quite unreliable when sending written material however - experiments indicated that written objects such as pamphlets and books (and especially ritual texts, schema, and herbals) usually survived the journey intact but attempts to add additional pages of communication resulted in the writing being ruined when it arrived at its destination. The exact limits of the ritual are a little unclear - it appears that ''intent'' has some impact on the outcome - but the ritual texts urge magicians to err on the side of caution when sending additional written material with an ethereal courier.

As with Call Winged Messenger, Ethereal Courier creates or summons an invisible, incorporeal messenger that carries the target package almost anywhere in the mortal realm. Ritualists perfecting this ritual reported sudden winds, whipping breezes, the sound of slow-beating metallic wings, and an occasional leonine roar or avian cry. Recipients reported similar sensations on occasions where they have been aware of the package arriving - although at least a third of the time the package arrived while they were sleeping. Attempts to catch or spot the "spirit" have proved no more successful with this ritual than Call Winged Messenger.

The Ethereal Courier always delivers the package ''somewhere'' - making it particularly important to ensure that the specially prepared missive is properly addressed. Some experimentation suggests that valuable contents may end up in a chamber of the Autumn realm known as "the Lost and Found". Associated in some way with both the [[Basileus_Flint|City of Locks]] and the eternal [[Mazen]] this peculiar location is a kind of storeroom for missing items. Anecdotally items that end up in the Lost and Found have a serendipitous tendency to reappear in the mortal world in an ironic or inconvenient fashion.

[[Wintermark_magical_traditions#Icewalkers|Icewalker]] Gunnar - one of those scholars of the Halls of Knowledge who sadly [[Foggy_mountain_top#The_Halls_of_Knowledge|disappeared]] when the buildings moved from Zenith to [[Morrow]] in 381YE - theorised that a container marked with suitable runes would travel more securely (he suggested [[Diras]] and [[Verys]], the same runes that empower a [[Technology#Runeboxes_and_Runebound_Chains|runebox]]). He also suggested that it would be possible for some of the [[eternal|eternals]] of the Autumn realm to provide containers that worked more effectively with this ritual – in the same manner that [[Ephisis]] might provide a larger-than-normal box for use with the [[Ephisis' Scale]] ritual. Wild speculation about how big such a box might be - including the potential implications of a box the size of a wardrobe - have yet to be tested.

==Common Elements==
A box or package is the focus of this ritual, and it must fit within well defined dimensions and be a single entity (it will not send several small packages unless they are tightly bound together in some fashion). The specially prepared letter should be affixed to the package and must be addressed as clearly as possible; the address is usually recited loudly and clearly during the ritual.

The [[astronomancy|astronomantic]] constellation of [[the Door]] seems to be especially useful in the performance of this ritual, and one recurrent theme is the image of creating a door and tossing the package through it at the completion of the ritual. Some magicians report the package disappearing in mid-air as soon as it passed through the symbolic portal, as if snatched up by a waiting courier. [[The_Spider_and_The_Web#The_Web|The Web]] also seems to have a strong resonance for this ritual - especially where either the person who prepared the letter or the ritualists have a connection of some kind to the recipient. Likewise, packages intended for recipients who are relatives of one or more of the participants can be sped on their way by the evocation of [[the Three Sisters]] - the crotchety [[mage]] Lucien of the Halls of Knowledge theorised that doing so with a package or letter that would cause sorrow or regret to the recipient would be especially effective but there has been little opportunity to prove this theory one way or another.

Other elements that might prove effective with Ethereal Courier include the [[rune|runes]] [[Queros]] or [[Sular]]; evocation of fast or winged [[aspect_magic#Beast Magic|symbolic animals]] such as ravens or hawks, [[aspect_magic#Heraldic_Magic|heraldic beasts]] such as the [[Legendary_beasts#Gryphon|gryphon]] or [[Horse#Pegasus|pegasus]], and the [[eternal|eternals]] [[Ephisis]] and [[Lashonar]].
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=WingedMessenger.png|caption=When this symbol appears as part of the Winds of Fortune it means that the named character is specifically intended to be contactable via this ritual and includes the details needed to send such a message to them.|align=right|width=200}}</div>

==OOC Elements==
===Preparing the letter===
The specially prepared letter required for Ethereal Courier is created in the same way as the letter used with [[Call Winged Messenger]]. The rules for creating such a missive can be found [[Call_Winged_Messenger#Preparing_the_letter|here]]. The "[[Call_Winged_Messenger#Known_Correspondents|known correspondents]]" listed in the Call Winged Messenger description are also suitable targets for an Ethereal Courier.

===Packages for PCs===
This ritual is much more successful for sending a package to a non-player character than to a player-character. While it could be used to deliver materials to someone on the field at [[Anvil]], it may not arrive until the next event depending on our ability to actually deliver the package. In almost all cases, when sending a package to a player-character the ritualists would be better served paying someone to deliver it by hand on their behalf.
===Notes===
In every case, the text that is transported will be the text that was written on the computer by the correspondent. This is fixed at the point where the letter is printed - as are the recipient and their address. When the ritual is cast, the referee connects the unique ID number of the letter to that of the ritual, and this is what the plot writer sees when they check the details of the letter. When used with an Ethereal Courier, it is helpful for the letter to explain why the package is being sent to the target.

You must have the targeting information for a letter correct before printing it. The iridescent gloaming is consumed at this point, and if there are mistakes with the letter it is a costly proposition to correct them. While it is possible to deduce an address - for example a Wind of Fortune may mention a certain character as being in a certain location - sending a winged messenger without confirming this address in-character is a risky proposition that will commonly fail. If that happens you iridescent gloaming will be lost, but you will get the letter back in your pack at the start of the next event you attend.

The Ethereal Courier is not intended to be a way to get round the character-limit set by [[Call Winged Messenger]]. Attempts to include additional communication in the package will fail - while it is feasible to send a book or pamphlet to someone, a quirk of the magic means that attempts to send additional pages of letters result in those pages arriving blank or unreadable.

Likewise, this ritual cannot be used to assassinate NPCs. Attempts to send cursed or dangerous packages will never harm the target regardless of circumstances; sending a bottle of [[Potion#Poisons|poisoned]] wine will simply result in a furious NPC rather than a dead one.

Phys-reps included in an Ethereal Courier will be put in lost property (as if they had been [[Playing_the_game#Stealing_Items_in_Anvil|stolen in-character]]) rather than returned directly.
[[Category:Autumn Ritual]]
[[Category:Rituals]]

When peace was far away

2026-04-05T19:38:21Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Free Port */ Making mostly one less

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>The port of Radosmo is the richest, most prosperous settlement in all of Zemelslo. It rises above three bays, each one separated by hilly splits of land. They are named for the twilight at morning, the brightness of high noon, and the gloaming that comes with night. At the landward side of each is a dock, and which goods land and ship from each dock is decreed by the laws of the Concillium. Radosmo is where the Concillium meets each month, to discuss matters of governance and magic. They are well advised by the Jarmish Consul, who by all accounts does not speak often but when they do their words are listened to. It is common for heralds of the realms to attend these meetings, to observe, and to present minor boons to the magicians in return for small concessions.
Zemelslo is not a wealthy nation; it primarily exports salt fish, salt lamb and mutton, and a strong sour beverage called Bidderskit that is at best an acquired taste. The largest structure is the Concillium Hall, but the second largest is the palace of the Jarmish Consul which stands on one of the hills overlooking Radosmo. It is very beautiful, and the first thing a sailor sees on their approach to the port. The people of Zemelslo are cousins to the folk of the Principalities, in much the same way the people of Sarvos or the Brass Coast are cousins to the Highborn. Their people diverged long ago, but are close enough that cordial relations and strong bonds of wealth and politics unite them.

There are no slaves in Zemelslo. Instead, there is a caste of folk whose name translates roughly as "''ungrateful''" in the particular dialect of the Zemelslona. People who have committed crimes against their fellows, or against the state. They are kept in the most squalid possible conditions, forced to toil at the most back-breaking, filthy jobs until their sentence is completed. One might imagine that in a state as law-abiding and civil as Zemelslo there would not be many ungrateful; yet there always seem to be more than enough to ensure the fields are tilled, the bays are dredged, and the streets are cleaned.

There are no temples or shrines here; the Concillium of Zemelslo does not proscribe religion so much as discount it. Faith, teach the leaders of this tiny island nation, is a distraction. A warm blanket fit only for children. Nothing exists beyond the world, and the six realms of magic. Miracles and the so-called ceremonies of priests are nothing more than magic, practiced by amateurs who do not truly understand what they are doing. The people of Zemelslo patronise evangelists and missionaries, listening with every sign of amused tolerance, even applauding skilled oratory or rhetoric, and then... they just move on.

(Yet be careful; these people pride themselves on their liberty to a degree that an outsider might misjudge as a kind of faith. Their civility is as much as learned response to living in a society where anarchy bubbles beneath the surface as it is their vaunted rationality. The ''ungrateful'' toil, openly degraded, as much as a reminder to the common folk about what will happen if they forget their social contract with the Concillium and try to overthrow them. Reading between the lines of the history books, this has happened at least twice and each time there is a period of chaos and a new Concillium rises to replace the old.)

Most of the visitors to the docks of Radosmo are foreigners; traders from the western Principalities exchange crystal mana for victuals; for metals cut from the hearts of the hills; and for softer treasures harvested from the inland trees. They are equally happy to trade with other visitors, these visiting merchants; and for those who do not wish to dirty themselves dealing with the emissaries of Jarm there is ample opportunity to purchase their fine goods from the markets of Radosmo, engaging in trade at one remove.

That, perhaps, is the zeitgeist of Radosmo, of Zemelslo. They exist at one remove. Comfortable with the protection of their "cousins" to the east, comfortable to live quiet lives, comfortable to be insulated from the chaos of the world. Happy that war and hard choices both are far away.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Hausziege 04.jpg|align=left|caption=Among other things, the nation of Zelemslo is known for its clever goats; by long standing rule of the Concillium they may be herded and milked but not eaten.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''The Empire remains at peace with the Principalities of Jarm, but trade with that nation is embargoed
* '''The Senate has approved trade with the tiny independent nation of Zemolslo that lies within the Jarmish sphere of influence
* '''Jarm is at war with Imperial allies in the Commonwealth
* '''Jarm has recently encountered the threat of Cold Sun
* '''The Imperial ambassador to the Principalities is Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo of the Brass Coast
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.

One of the six great powers, the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are not exactly friendly to the Empire. The ''magocracy'', ruled by the House of Princes resents what it claims are repeated attempts by Imperial citizens to interfere with its interests. Via the [[Liberty Pact]], the Empire is allied with Jarm's enemies, the [[Commonwealth]], and open war now rages between the two great nations. They may not be at war with the Empire, but they know that Imperial citizens and the [[Conclave|Imperial Conclave]] in particular have provided significant assistance to their rivals. Communications tend to be brusque, bordering on the curt.

The Jarmish ambassador to the Empire is ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', who attends at the House of Princes. A canny and influential politician who has served the House of Princes for over forty years, he represents the Jarmish to the Empire and vice-versa. A potent master of Autumn magic, he is known for his sarcasm and dry wit, and for his commitment to the sovereignty of the Principalities he serves.
==War in the East==
* '''The war between the Commonwealth and the Principalities of Jarm continues
* '''Cold Sun has erupted into the borderlands between the two nations
The ''[[According_to_principle#The_Lantir_War|Lantir War]]'' continues despite the [[Cold war|eruption]] of [[Cold Sun]]. Diplomats from both sides have made attempts to arrange a summit to discuss the matter, but so far without success. There is nothing approaching a coordinated response between the two rivals to the ''scions'' pouring into Lantir. Indeed, as discussed in the '''[[Cold war]]''' wind of fortune, both sides suspect the other of having been responsible, and believe that the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] are targeting ''their'' forces particularly.

The conflict between the Principalities and the Commonwealth is at its root a clash of ideology. Jarm fights for the right to self-determination, while the Commonwealth strives to spread its idea of the Common Good to all. Jarm remains unable to match the Commonwealth on sheer logistical and military might; the Commonwealth cannot equal the magical prowess of the Principalities. Neither side will submit to the other and so the war continues. The addition of this third force means it is impossible to tell who is "winning".
{{Nation|nation=Jarm|status=Foreigner|port=[[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Kavor_(Northern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Kavor]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Vezak_(Southern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Vezak]], and [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Rigia_(Eastern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Rigia]] (all closed)|ambassador=Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo of [[the Brass Coast]]}}
==The Third Letter==
* '''Lord-Magister Anton has responded candidly to the Ambassador's communications
* '''He believes that if things continue on their current course it could lead to a thawing in Imperial-Jarm relations
Normally, the language of diplomacy is full of caveats and circumlocution, comments Lord-Magister Anton. The Imperial Ambassadors interestingly candid approach, however, is in all honesty quite refreshing. It is a relief sometimes, he writes, to be able to speak directly. As such, he acknowledges that the Ambassador may be feeling a little rebuffed. Yet he feels that he was very clear about why the Magician-Princes were not particularly impressed by the return of the [[My_passions_from_a_common_spring#Spice|Vezakri spice grinder]]. When one is honestly sending something without expectation of reward, one cannot really complain if they don't then get a reward.

More constructively, the matter of the spice grinder is ultimately unimportant by itself but it is not without symbolic weight. Coupled with the efforts of other Imperial citizens, there ''is'' more of a taste in the House of Princes for dealing with the Empire. Embargo costs both countries, and is good for neither. Right now the House of Princes is busy with other matters - war with the Commonwealth and the [[Cold war|destruction of Lantir]] being foremost in their minds. While it might not seem like it, the situation is improving. And in Anton's opinion part of that is down to '''Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo''' and their immediate predecessor '''Nikita Teanga Volkov'''. There have obviously been several fine ambassadors from the Empire, but they are often judged against the example of the former ambassador '''Oswi Twice-Burned''' - someone who understood the realities of doing business on the international stage and put pragmatism ahead of ideology.

As long as the Empire respects Jarm's independence as a sovereign nation; as long as they stay out of the war with the Commonwealth; and especially if they are able to offer practical support against these damned ''scions'' pouring out of Lantir, relations between the Principalities and Imperial citizens can only improve. Indeed, the assurances ''Ambassador Damiàn'' has issued regarding their intention to provide aid to the Jarmish in containing the forces of ''Oblivion'' has caused several otherwise disinterested princes to sit up and take notice, especially those potentially threatened by the ''scions''. If they are able to deliver on those promises - if the [[Cold_war#Magical_Aid|Conclave]] offers real, measurable support to Jarm - then it will not only prove the Ambassador's calibre but see more Magician-Princes prepared to soften their attitudes to the Empire. If they fail of course... well that will just reaffirm the perception of recent Imperial ambassadors being little more than chair-warmers.

The civil service are a little taken aback by the tone of Lord Anton's correspondence, but cautiously suggest that by speaking candidly in response to the Ambassador, Trescher is in his own way showing his respect. Maybe?

==Free Port==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''<big>Bidderskit</big>'''<p>
Goat milk is a common staple of the Zemelslo diet. One of their main exports is Bidderskit, an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting goat milk and adding certain local ingredients. There are a range of strong flavours, but it is something of an acquired taste. Any Imperial fleet captain who has visited the nation is free to phys-rep Bidderskit with almost any kind of milk or milk-like liquid especially flavoured milkshake.</box></div>
* '''The Senate approved access to a port in the independent nation of Zemelslo
* '''Imperial captains now trade at Radosmo, primarily with Jarmish merchants
* '''Lord-Magister Anton has praised the Imperial Ambassador for their work in negotiating trade with Zemelslo'''
* '''Communication with Zemelslo technically lies under the remit of the Imperial Consul, Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason
During the Autumn Equinox, the [[My_passions_from_a_common_spring#Free_Ports_And_Free_People|tiny nation of Zemelslo]] opened their port at Radosmo to Imperial traders at the urging of ''Prince Mila'' of the Violetinu Mishkas. Zemelslo lies in the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Steel|Sea of Steel]] and is firmly within the Jarmish sphere of influence. Technically self-governed by a ''concilium'' of magicians, in practice it is a protectorate of Jarm and looks to the House of Princes in all things. The Jarmish Consul officially is an ambassador from the great nation to the east; in practice it operates a lot more like a governor albeit one that mostly observes and offers polite advice.

Its primary exports are salted fish and a beverage called Bidderskit (a strong sour alcoholic drink made from fermented goats milk). There is not much demand for Bidderskit and salted fish in the Empire, but Jarmish merchants visit Radosmo all the time. Imperial merchants are welcome to trade with other visitors... which means access to the same kinds of products that were available from Jarmish ports. This is a polite fiction that allows Jarm and the Empire to trade without either side having to open their ports to the other. Obviously the argument is that trade with Zemelslo, a sovereign nation, is not prohibited by the terms of the Liberty Pact. While the Commonwealth might [[The price is great#Zemelslo|take a different view]], the Senate [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Confirm_Trade_with_Zemelslo|have been clear]] that they do not see any legal obstacle to Imperial traders dealing with Zemelslo and confirmed that it is not part of Jarm.

It is too early to make sweeping generalisations - whatever Anton's esteemed colleague the Magician-Prince of the Violetinu Mishkas might believe - but the preliminary successes seen in Radosmo are encouraging. Perhaps it ''is'' possible for the Empire to visit an island without [[Mosaic|burning everything to the ground]] in the name of religion? While Zemelslo isn’t Kavor or Zemech, it is a good start. Lord-Magister Trescher is not alone if that he would be perfectly happy to see relations between the nations thaw out enough to allow trade to prosper again. The Empire is after all an excellent market; and everyone would be happier if they did not have to listen to the Golden Peacock faction banging on about the "Casinean Hegemon Threat" every five minutes.
{{WingedMessenger|address=Winged Messengers can be dispatched by anyone interested in further discussing trade via Zemelslo to ''Magician Prince Mila, The Tepesch Palace, Principality of the Violetinu Mishkas, Principalities of Jarm''. The Concilium has asked that the youthful Magician-Prince serve as their liason to the Empire.}}

==Weirwood for Free People==
* '''Zemelslo has requested an opportunity to purchase a large amount of weirwood from the Empire
* '''The Senate has clarified that the Concillium is a sovereign nation distinct from Jarm
* '''They thus fall under the remit of the Imperial Consul'''
* '''The current Imperial Consul is Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason'''
The inference taken from the Senate's decision is that it is the [[Imperial Consul]], '''Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason''', who is responsible for any further dealing with Zemelslo, rather than the Ambassador to Jarm. The Concilium of Zemelslo have not invited any kind of diplomatic contact; any formal Imperial correspondence should go via their close ally, the Magician-Prince of the Violetinu Mishkas. It is not that they are incapable of making their own decisions, simply that Prince Mila has more experience dealing with Imperial citizens and is unlikely to accidentally offend against their sensibilities or religion. Mila has graciously agreed to serve as a go-between.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Atte.png|caption=Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason of the Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd; elder statesman and [[Imperial Consul]].|align=left|width=500}}</div>
With his assistance the Concilium of Zemelslo have made an overture to the Imperial Consul offices indicating that they are in the market to purchase a large amount of [[weirwood]]. They are looking to secure 200 wains toward the [[Navy#Costs|construction]] if a [[navy]] to help protect their island against Commonwealth aggression. They are able to offer 20 crowns a wain for any amount that the Imperial Consul can arrange. If the Consul wishes to take advantage of this offer, the Civil service can help facilitate it. ('''OOC Note:''' The Consul should ensure the weirwood is in their inventory at the end of the event and e-mail {{plot}} to let us know how much they are providing to Zemelslo. We'll then remove the wains and replace them with the money at the agreed price.)

Regardless of what the Imperial Consul may choose, any private citizen could take advantage of this trade. The [[Urizen_magical_traditions#Urizen_Lore|Urizeni]] ritual ''[[Ethereal Courier]]'' could certainly be used to send weirwood Bourse notes to Magician-Prince Mila. This would require a little more effort to claim, but there is no legal impediment to ships from Zemelslo collecting wains from Imperial warehouses. The citizen trading in this way would either receive the payment mentioned, or have their Bourse notes returned if the Consul has already provided all the weirwood required.

The civil service assessment is that on the surface it seems to be a legitimate attempt by the Concilium of Zemelslo to establish their own navy. However as a nation in the pocket of Jarm, helping Zemelslo arm itself effectively provides Jarm with access to another navy. It is very likely that Magician Prince Mila is behind this trade offer, and the likely source of much of the money to pay for it.
==Equal Weight==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fortified Embassy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification Upgrade</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Limus, Redoubt</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 mithril, 90 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Gives the Walls of Cargo the ''Jarmish Warwizards'' quality
* Allows Jarm to defend shipping along the Couros against Commonwealth interests</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires concedence of the embassy</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Jarm proposes the Empire cede the Jarmish embassy in Cargo to them'''
* '''In return they would station of garrison of warwizards in Cargo to help defend the territory if it was attacked'''
Lord-Magister Anton has received correspondence from the staff at the Jarmish embassy in [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]] regarding the building of a [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth#The Diplomatenschloss|Commonwealth castle]] across the river Couros in [[Necropolis]]. Concerns have been expressed in the House of Princes about notoriously warlike Commonwealth soldiers travelling the same river as peaceful Jarmish emissaries - especially given the Empire's obvious favouring of the rival nation. As such he proposes that the [[Senate]] expand and also [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|concede]] the Jarmish embassy in Cargo. Jarm would cover some of the costs, and would establish a cadre of elite Jarmish battle-magicians at the embassy to protect the interests of their citizens both in the embassy and travelling along the river. They would also be in a position to help garrison the [[Redoubt#The_Walls_of_Cargo|Walls of Cargo]] - which Lord-Magister Anton points out they [[The_whole_world#The_Magic_of_Jarm|also helped create]]. In the event that the Commonwealth chose to commit piracy against Jarmish ships in Imperial waters, they would be in position to defend their diplomats and take appropriate retribution against any attack.

The civil service have assessed the proposal - they estimate that in the event the walls of Cargo would gain the ''Jarmish warwizards'' quality. If enemy forces threatened the region of [[Redoubt#Limus|Limus]], the Jarmish war-magicians would add an extra 1,000 strength to the garrison for purposes of defending the territory and inflicting casualties on the attackers in same way as if they were a number of [[military unit|military units]] taking a [[Military unit#Guard|guard action]]. The required concedence would give the Jarmish free reign to operate within their own embassy without any hint of Imperial oversight - and if relations between Jarm and the Empire collapsed entirely, a band of Jarmish war-wizards in Urizen could arguably do some significant damage before they were stopped. They also speculate that this is a naked political ploy - to "balance" the fact that the Commonwealth has stationed troops on Imperial soil and has direct control of their own ''diplomatenschloss''.

==Herbs for the White Palm==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Apothecaries Guild.png|title=Imperial Apothecaries' Guild|align=right|width=240}}
* '''The House of the White Palm in Jarm seeks aid in dealing with the cursed injuries caused by the ''scions'' of Cold Sun
* '''They would like the Imperial Apothecaries Guild to send them a package of marrowort and bladeroot using ethereal courier
* '''In return they offer a herbal for a healing salve
* '''The Guild Leader of the Apothecaries Guild is Esmé i Estrico i Erigo
While magic is excellent for dealing with serious injuries in the short term - rituals such as ''[[Stout Resolve of the Unyielding|Kaljulaid's Resolution]]'' can help warriors endure these kinds of injury - they are ineffective at actually treating the injuries. The Principalities have fewer battle-trained [[surgical skills#Physicks|physicks]] than the Empire. While the profession of physick is respected, those who master the arts of the body are more inclined to operate in cities tending to wealthy clients than risk their lives fighting.

The ''House of the White Palm'' is an old establishment that trains battlefield physicks to support Jarmish armies. The incursion of [[Cold Sun]] has left them overwhelmed - and both mundane soldiers and [[Magical skills#Battlemage|battlefield wizards]] are paying the price. The White Palm ''lekár'' - the battlefield medics facing the destruction of Cold Sun - are in desperate need of [[marrowort]] and [[bladeroot]]. Large amounts, very quickly.

As such they have decided to go outside the traditional diplomatic channels and make a direct appeal to a body they apparently consider to be their peers - the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]]. They need 200 drams of both marrowort and bladeroot, and they cannot wait for the slow transport of goods by sea. As such they request that the Guild collect 200 drams of each herb and deliver them via [[Ethereal Courier]] during the Winter Solstice. In return, the White Palm will share with the Guild a [[Potion#Herbal|herbal]] detailing the recipe for ''Palma Balzam'' - a preparation that translates roughly as "Palmtree Balm".

This [[potion]] is part of the [[Master Medicinal]] body of lore and creates a salve that can be applied to an injured warrior to simultaneously restore a damaged limb and heal the wounds that caused it. From the description, it appears to harness the power of [[Cerulean Mazzarine]] and [[True Vervain]] in the same way that [[Maledict's Medicament]] captures the healing properties of [[Bladeroot]] and [[Imperial Roseweald]]. What the Guild does with the herbal is up to them - keep it for their own use or share it with the rest of the Empire the House of the White Palm cares not.

The civil service advise that this appeal has apparently caused outrage in the House of Princes; the idea that a mundane college has show Jarmish weakness in this way in untenable. On the other hand nobody is prepared to censure the White Palm given their vital role in battle (and the numerous wealthy doctors trained there who serve Magician-Prince households). While trade from Jarm is [[Tariffs#Embargo|embargoed]] that prevents Jarmish vessels bringing trade goods to Imperial ports. Further, the Apothecaries' Guild is [[Imperial_Apothecaries_Guild#The_Manifesto|responsible for]] the "''Coordination and support Imperial efforts in the research, development, education, and dissemination of ingredients, potions, and antidotes''" and to "''Represent and support the economic, political, and magical interests of apothecaries and herbalists within the Empire.''" If they choose to take advantage of this offer - or anyone chooses to fulfil the order on their behalf - there is no immediate legal restriction. But there might be ethical and moral considerations that the [[Synod]] in particular might wish to offer guidance with.

==Matters of Measure==
* '''The Principalities are not interested in further discussion of the shield Measure
Lord Anton finally requests that the Ambassador should let '''Ser Rhydian de Rondell''' know that he is disinclined to engage in further discussion of the [[Pilgrim's Shield|shield]] ''Measure''. They offered to trade with the Empire and were rejected and that is just how diplomacy works, but they have no interest in putting Imperial citizens in touch with the current owner. There's also no interest in a challenge of eight champions - that may be how things are done in the Empire or the Commonwealth but Lord-Magister Anton doesn't feel Jarm has anything it wants to prove here. So in short, the answer is "no."

He does however wish to correct a misapprehension. The Principalities do not need details of the "underpinning" of Brotherhood of Tian. Those principles are known just as much in Jarm as they are in the Empire. A ''completed ritual text'' is very valuable, especially one that represents a year and a half at least of work during which the [[college of magic]] preparing the text can do nothing else. And, in the words of the Lord-Magister, a triumph of political will to encourage an entire college to focus on codifying a useful, practical ritual instead of some charismatic wizards' pet project involving the moon. It seems that Trescher is very bitter about something.
{{Jarm Links}}

The circle game

2026-03-20T16:44:11Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Giovanni's Legacy */ Adding a bee

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]
<ic>Graciana reached out carefully to receive the proferred book. He passed it to her slowly, handling the book as reverently as if it were a relic of the Way.

A relic of the past, I suppose, she mused to herself. "The Foundation of the Bourse" by Apomedes of Heaven's Reach. She could just make out the letters stamped into the leather bound cover, the paint that had once filled them, had long since cracked and fallen away.

"Giovanni's contribution to the Empire is often overlooked." the old man said sadly. "It's because it's so pedestrian I guess. There's no great battles. No epic wars. Apomedes claims he killed more forgers than barbarians. No moments of heroism. Well apart from Miaren I suppose and it's pretty clear that he thought that campaign was a disaster."

Graciana cupped the priceless book in both hands, unsure if it would be safe to open the cover. "I'm not sure how this will help me?" she queried.

"Apomedes first" he replied inscrutably, "then we can have a talk."
</ic>

<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer.png|caption='''Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer''', Senator for Sermersuaq|align=left|width=450}}</div>
==Overview==
Six months ago, during the Summer Solstice, the Imperial Senate charged the Prognosticator's Office with examining "''the ministries of the Empire to identify any alternative trades their associated titles could make that would '''not''' involve us paying coin.''" On the advice of the [[Scrutiny#Constitutional Court|Constitutional Court]], [[Senator]] for [[Sermersuaq]] who raised the motion - '''Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer''' - acknowledged that the prognosticator would need additional time to complete their review - that period has now been completed.

The Senate did not select a specific appraiser to oversee the work, so the Auditor of the Imperial Treasury Gerard La Salle assigned [[Appraisal#Graciana_i_Lòpez_i_Guerra|Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra]] to oversee it. His first choice - the diplomatic [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi]] - had unfortunately already been assigned to oversee an [[Any_port_in_a_storm|appraisal of Utterlund docks]]. The Freeborn has some expertise in this area, having been a successful merchant herself before joining the Civil Service. As an experienced practitioner of [[Night magic]], she is known for approaching problems in ways that are novel, albeit often expensive.

Despite her talents, it is clear that Graciana has found the task extremely challenging. The truth is that there are precious few options for alternative trades for the various existing ministries that would provide alternatives to spending money. Frustrated, the prognosticator has tried to take a broader view and look at what she has ''guessed'', is the more fundamental problem - declining revenues for the Imperial treasury, using the time available to study the problem as thoroughly as possible. She has included the findings of that investigation as part of the overall appraisal.

<div style="float:right;"><quote by="William Stanley Jevons">Money's a matter of functions four,<br>
A Medium, a Measure, a Standard, a Store.</quote></div>
==The Liquidity Problem==
* '''Imperial citizens prefer to deal in money in most cases'''
* '''Most foreigners prefer either Imperial coinage, or to deal in high-value commodities such as wains and rings of ilium'''

The fundamental problem that Graciana identifies is that the majority of potential customers would vastly prefer to deal in coin than engage in barter. There are exceptions of course, the [[Quaymaster of the Hesychian Docks]] for example, is able to trade Dragonbone for white granite. But these rare cases are the exception - most citizens strongly prefer to deal in coin rather than barter.

Coin has many advantages, as a medium of exchange it ensures that a trade isn't reliant on both parties wanting what the other party is selling. As a measure of value it is quickly and easily quantified and transferred - it is much quicker to count and transfer 20 thrones than 300 ingots of weltsilver. Coins allow people to accumulate and tally obligations and debts in ways that allow for payments to be easily deferred. Imperial coins, backed as they are by the full weight of the Empire and the tireless work of the Master of the Mint to prevent forgeries, act as a peerless store of wealth. They make it simple to keep wealth safe, so that it can be employed in the future.

In simpler terms, money is just much more desirable for buying and selling than barter is. It's flexible, and at the end of the day it is much easier to give people money to buy the things they need than it is to swap the thing you have for the thing they have. It's no use having a cart-load of weltsilver to trade for dragonbone if your opposite number actually wants orichalcum. Most established, prosperous people look at "barter" - swapping things for other things - a little askance.

While there are a few possibilities, they seem to be very specific and very limited in scope. The established ways within the Empire to buy and sell resources, all rely on money, and there is no appetite to change those. There may be some limited opportunities to create new deals with foreign nations - trading liao and dragonbone to Axos for example - but they would require careful diplomatic negotiation. In all cases foreign nations usually prefer to take payment in Imperial coin when dealing with Imperial traders - none of them are likely to accept barter unless it comes with a considerable discount that favours them.

Stymied by the inability to find any systematic or extensive solution to the appraisal, Graciana has tried to look at what she ''assumes'' is the more fundamental problem - a concern about the finance available to the Imperial treasury.

==Giovanni's Legacy==
* '''The fundamental basis of the modern Imperial economy was laid down by Emperor Giovanni'''
* '''Giovanni deliberately constrained the ability of the Empire to tax or borrow to ensure the burden of government fell on the wealthiest'''
{{CaptionedImage|file=Appendix-A---Economy-Flowchart.jpg|caption=Leaflet reproduced with the kind permission of '''Laurencio di Sarvos'''.<br>Art created by '''Persephone Sage-Fletcher'''|align=right|width=350}}</div>

The fundamental basis of the modern Imperial economy was laid down in a series of reforms instituted by [[Emperor Giovanni]]. He established the modern currency based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, (which he ensured was based in Tassato). Giovanni also laid the foundations of the Bourse, and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. Crucially it was Giovanni that ''fixed'' the taxation that Imperial citizens must pay - by reinterpreting "a measure of silver" to be a single crown. The few texts that survive that describe this period suggest that before Giovanni, the early leaders of the Empire had anticipated that they might vary how much silver citizens might be taxed. Giovanni closed the door on that possibility.

Instead he established the Imperial Bourse as the primary method by which the nascent Empire would raise funds for the Imperial treasury. He did so at the same time that he instituted a tradition of meeting once every three months at Anvil. The few accounts of Emperor Giovanni that survive paint him as a shrewd and brilliant politician, but on a personal level he was widely regarded as cynical man whose studies of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_dismal_science the dismal science] led him to expect the worst of literally everyone. According to the [[Torchbearer]], Apomedes of Heaven's Reach, Giovanni deliberately created the Bourse to ensure that the burden of paying for the decisions of the Senate would fall on those who made them and those who put them there.

Interest in Emperor Giovanni tends to wax and wane. When economic times are good, few people pay any attention to his life's work. These periods are often marked by ''years'' of steady rises in the price of wains, accompanied by a growth in expenditure authorised by the Imperial Senate. When the wheel turns, the price of wains begins to fall and the pressure on the Imperial treasury begins to rise dramatically. When that happens interest in the Imperial economy suddenly becomes more pressing.

In recent years, noted Imperial economists like the respected Wintermark scholar, and current [[Auditor of Senatorial Accountability]] '''Vauraus Korppitkotka''' of the [[Wintermark_groups#Sussivari|Sussivari]], have published insightful analysis that map out the flow of money into the Imperial treasury. Similar work by the tireless campaigner, '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' of the First Spark, have aimed to drill home just how important the impact of things like ministries are on the "Anvil economy". Graciana's research largely confirms what both these economists have long been saying - all the money spent at Anvil ultimately circulates around Anvil until it ends up returning to the Imperial treasury.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sussivari.png|align=right|width=200|caption=The Sussivari are known for a particual appreciation of matters magical.}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos.jpg|align=right|caption='''Laurencio di Sarvos''', economic analyst and hammer owner.|width=200}}</div>
The document produced by Laurencio di Sarvos, graphically illustrates how the Anvil economy works. The yellow boxes show where money enters the system - taxation by the Senate, the personal income of wealthy citizens, and so forth. The blue boxes show how this money circulates around Anvil - guerdon payments don't leave Anvil because they are paid to people who then bring the money back to Anvil to spend it. The Bourse works to draw money from everyone attending Anvil, ever directly or indirectly, which it then funnels back to the Senate. Wealth only leaves the system through the red boxes, the upkeep of armies and fortifications or the spending in ministries and similar.

When more money enters the system than leaves the system, the price of wains goes up, and the Senate grows rich. When more money leaves the system than enters it, the price of wains goes down and the Senate's budget is squeezed. Encouraging citizens to pay more at the Bourse auctions might feel virtuous, but since it doesn't change the fundamental money supply in the slightest, all it can possibly do is delay the inevitable correction. Virtuous citizens moving money from the Anvil economy to the Bourse and from there to the Senate cannot be sustained, if the money in circulation in the Anvil economy continues to decline.
<div style="float:right; clear:right;"><quote by="Emperor Giovanni">Those who call the tune must pay the piper.</quote></div>
This design perfectly reflects Giovanni's gloomy disposition. The Emperor ''expected'' his Senate to be profligate in their spending - he changed the constitution to ensure that the burden fell squarely on the heads of the citizens coming to Anvil. His belief was that they, and they alone, might have the collective political power to restrain their senators.

If alternative trades could be found, so that Imperial citizens who attend Anvil could make significant purchases using wains, resources, mana, herbs or similar, that would result in significantly less money leaving the Anvil economy - and by extension more money ultimately flowing into the Imperial treasury. However that is very difficult to do, there are few good options for doing that for the reasons described above, most people want to get paid, in coin, for their services or goods. However increasing the money flowing into the Anvil economy would have the same net effect as decreasing the money flowing out of the Anvil economy - and that might be easier to achieve.

==Cutting Corners==
* '''There are few good options for alternative trades for ministries, but the Senate could abrogate them'''
* '''There are some ministries that could provide a benefit to the Empire without requiring money to operate'''

As mentioned, there are few good options for alternative trades that don't involve coin. The handful that do exist are ad hoc limited options that affect some of the smaller ministries; Graciana is dubious that these will produce significant net benefits to the Imperial treasury.

The drastic solution would be to abrogate all ministries. The Imperial Senate could use a single Senate motion to abrogate every ministry in the Empire. That would have a huge effect, dramatically curbing the powers of some titles and disestablishing others (any title whose only power was to operate a ministry would be abrogated at the same time). Such a motion would mean any investment into the ministry in question was lost - there would be no way to recover the materials used to build the commision and no easy way to repurpose them for some other use.

A less drastic answer might be to abrogate certain specific ministries. With a more tailored approach, it is possible to address the changes as they happen, shifting commissions so that some benefits still accrue. Graciana has looked at four "groups" of ministries - the [[grandmaster|grandmasters]] of the [[Conclave]], the [[ambassador|ambassadors]], the [[Northern trade network]], and the Prosperity ministries that provide bourse resources. In the first three cases, she has identified some benefits that could be had if the Senate acted to remove their ministries. She has not been able to identify benefits that would flow from abrogating the Prosperity ministries and she advises ''against'' dis-establishing them.
<div style="float:right;"><quote by="Lebannon of Haros Water">No, Grandmaster. It is not 'yours'.

It is ours.</quote></div>
====Grandmaster Ministries====
* '''The ministries that provide Grandmasters with crystal mana could be abrogated'''
* '''Doing so would mean an additional 127 crystal mana going directly to the font'''
One group of ministries that see a large amount of money flow from Anvil into the wider Empire are the so-called "mana ministries" possessed by each [[Grandmaster]]. These ministries were greatly enhanced in 384YE when the Senate [[Honey_and_vinegar#Old_Stones|took advantage of an opportunity]] to expand the mana exchanges in [[Steward of the Tassato Mana Exchange|Tassato]], [[Magic Butcher|Temeschwar]], and [[Steward_of_the_Sarvos_Mana_Exchange|Sarvos]]. Graciana estimates that, in total, the Grandmasters have spent over a hundred thrones collectively buying over a thousand crystal mana for their orders over the last year. This is in addition to the mana that is distributed to them via [[Conclave_vault#The_Font|the font]]. It is clearly valuable to have so much additional mana available to the Empire, but the Senate might consider that the costs are not worth the benefits.

The Senate could use a single senate motion to shut these ministries down. If that happened, the civil servants responsible for securing crystal mana for the grandmasters could be redeployed, and the structures used to support them could be repurposed to support a public trade in mana crystals between citizens, with the profits from that operation being used to fund mana purchases for the font.

Graciana calculates that this would result in an additional 127 crystal mana each season being raised for the fount, at no additional cost to the Empire. That would be a significant loss for the Empire - five hundred mana crystals a year is significantly less than the thousand mana crystals that the grandmasters purchased between then - but it would represent a considerable saving to the Anvil economy.

====Diplomatic Ministries====
* '''The Senate could end the practice of merchants offering favourable rates to ambassadors'''
* '''They could redefine the role of the ambassador and indicate such gifts are for the benefit of the Empire rather than the ambassador'''
* '''Doing so would remove the ministry, but would also remove the upkeep costs of the embassys the Empire has not embargoed'''

As it currently stands, the [[Imperial Consul]] and each [[ambassador]] oversees an [[embassy]]. Alongside the political powers and prestige an embassy affords an ambassador, they also support a degree of [[Ambassador#Mercantile_Support|mercantile activity]]. Merchants who engage in trade between the Empire and the nation in question, or vice versa, visit the embassy to curry favour with the ambassador. Commonly they take a portion of the items they buy and sell and make them available to the ambassador at favourable prices. This benefit is represented by a ministry that allows the ambassador to directly purchase raw materials from traders and merchants of the associated nation.

This practice obviously leads to questions about what exactly is going on. Virtuous individuals in particular sometimes look at this behaviour with raised eyebrows - these merchants are trying to curry favour with the ambassador to get special treatment. This is usually perfectly innocuous, merchants offer incentives to get their shipments cleared by the dock authorities more quickly than their rivals, or to expedite permits to sell their wares, arrange meetings with their Imperial counterparts, or the like. But in theory, if a merchant were engaged in criminal activity, the ambassador might be the first person they would seek to bribe to look the other way...

It would be relatively straightforward for the Senate to end this practice. With a suitably worded Senate motion they could make it clear that such lobbying is no longer acceptable, for all existing embassies and future embassies. The ministries would be lost. Ambassadors would still be able to engage in direct trade with foreign nations of course, but the practice of merchants bringing goods to the embassies to "trade" at a "special discount" to the Ambassadors would end. None of the diplomats from the foreign nations would bat an eyelid at this change.

That is not to say that the giving of "gifts" is the problem. In practice most of the actual work of operating an embassy is done by the civil service - they could still help foreign merchants with their trade, but any gifts would be understood to a gift to the embassy itself, and by extension the Empire. The civil service could sell these gifts, at least those that had real value, and use the proceeds to pay the costs of running the embassy. That would mean the Empire not need to pay the upkeep costs of any embassay unless they declared war with the nation in question - or embargoed their trade.

The Imperial Senate could remove the ministries from every embassy with a single motion. The impact is not small - removing the ability of the Consul and the ambassadors to purchase goods would save nearly two hundred thrones a year, but it would also cut nearly thirty five thrones a season in upkeep costs.

Of course impoverishing the diplomatic corps, who have presumably been using the profits of their embassy to fund the vital work they do, might be too high a cost for the Senate to stomach. If that was a concern, the Senate could give each title a stipend - that would be drawn directly from the Imperial treasury of course, but it would mean those funds weren't leaving the Anvil economy.

====Northern Trade Network====
* '''The Northern Trade Network was established as a set of ministries but Graciana believes that lacks ambition
* '''Investing in the Northern Trade Network would remove the small-scale individual benefits and improve the situation for the entire territory where they are built
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:500px; float: right; margin: 10px;"
|-
! Ministry !! Territory
|-
| [[Bonesetter of Torfast Trading Post]] || [[Skarsind]]
|-
| [[Broker of Treji Wayhouse]] || [[Hercynia]]
|-
| [[Overseer of the Westward Road]] || [[Karov]]
|-
| [[Northbound Trademaster]] || [[Temeschwar]]
|-
| [[Kalpaheim Tradeholder]] || [[Hahnmark]]
|-
|}

A series of ministries have been established across the northern Empire that together became the [[Northern trade network]]. These ministries, anchored by the [[Bonesetter of Torfast Trading Post|Torfast Trading Post]] in [[Skarsind]] connect [[Hahnmark]], [[Hercynia]], [[Skarsind]], [[Temeschwar]], and [[Karov]]. Their establishment saw the northern territories establish closer trade ties among themselves. The Thule also participate in this trade, exchanging their own crystal mana for Imperial ingots and measures.

<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Kalapaheim Tradehall'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Hahnmark#Kalpamark|Kalpamark, Hahnmark]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of [[white granite]], 90 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in businesses is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the "trade profits" and "eastern route" from the Kalpaheim Tradeholder, leaving only the Urdur trade
* Raises the level of investment in businesses in Hahnmark by one, providing 36 extra rings to every business in the territory
* Allows the Kalpaheim Tradeholder to change the additional money provided by the great work to 2 extra ingots of a chosen metal by email to {{template:plot}}
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Torfast Trading Post'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Skarsind#Southpine|Southpine, Skarsind]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of [[white granite]], 90 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in businesses is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the "southern", "western" and "eastern route" from the Bonesetter of Torfast Trading Post, leaving only the northern Urdur trade route
* Raises the level of investment in businesses in Skarsind by one, providing 36 extra rings to every business in the territory
* Allows the Bonesetter to change the additional money provided by the great work to 2 extra measures of a chosen forest resouce by email to {{template:plot}}
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Treji Wayhouse'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Hercynia#The_Glen_of_Shadows|The Glen of Shadows, Hercynia]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of [[white granite]], 90 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in herb gardens is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the "trade profits" and "eastern route" from the Broker of Treji Wayhouse, leaving only the Urdur trade
* Raises the level of investment in herb gardens in Hercynia by one, providing two additional bladeroot and one additional marrowort to every herb garden in the territory
* Allows the Broker to change the additional herbs provided by the great work to 3 bladeroot, or 3 marrowort or 3 true vervain or any combination thereof by email to {{template:plot}}
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Delev Market'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Karov#Duzekani|Duzekani, Karov]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of [[white granite]], 150 crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in mines or forests is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Requirement:''' Can only be upgraded if the Treji Warehouse, Torfast Trading Post and Kalapaheim Tradehall have all been converted into great works
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the "trade profits" from the Overseer of the Westward Road, leaving only the Urdur trade
* Raises the level of investment in mines and forests in Karov by one, providing 2 additional materials to every mine and forest in the territory
* Allows the Broker to change the additional ingots and measures provided by the great work to 36 rings instead by email to {{template:plot}}
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Northbound Trade'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Temeschwar|Hanuri|Hanuri, Temeschwar]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 60 wains of [[white granite]], 180 crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in businesses is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Requirement:''' Can only be upgraded if the Treji Warehouse, Torfast Trading Post, Kalapaheim Tradehall, and Delev Market have all been converted into great works
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the "trade profits" and "eastern route" from the Northbound Trademaster, leaving only the Urdur trade
* Raises the level of investment in businesses in Temeschwar by one, providing 36 additional rings to every business in the territory
* Allows the Trademaster to change the additional money provided by the great work to two measures or two ingots by email to {{template:plot}}
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

The network itself grew up fairly haphazardly, with each new member added improving the opportunities for each of the others. In each case, money is used to buy trade goods that the other nations in the network have in abundance. Graciana sees an opportunity here; rather than focusing the trade through one location, these ministries could be the basis for securing larger-scale prosperity across the territory.

In each case, the existing structure would need considerable further investment - and the costs involved are not small. Each would require a Senate motion or announcement by someone able to commission a great work - they could '''not''' be done with a single commission. In each case, the relevant title holder would see the loss of all trade privileges currently granted by the ministry, bar the oversight of trade with the Thule. Once the work to upgrade the existing commission into a great work was complete, the ministry would only be able to acquire mana crystals from the Urdur trade option in each case - all other options would be lost.

The benefits could be considerable however, providing significant boosts to income for businesses and other personal resources across the north territories of the Empire. In most cases, the work could be done independently of the other branches of the northern trade network, with the exception of the Delev Market in Karov and the trade hub in Temeschwar. The Delev Market, would only provide benefits to mines and businesses once the Treji Warehouse, Torfast Trading Post and Kalapaheim Tradehall were upgraded. The trade hub in Temeschwar would only provide benefits to businesses once the overhaul of ''all'' the other branches of the network was complete.

====Prosperity Ministries====
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:500px; float: right; margin: 10px;"
|-
! Ministry !! Nation !! Resources
|-
| [[Cinderpath Custodian|Cinder Path Exchange]] || Highguard|| Mithril
|-
| [[Bargainer of the Iron Tower|Iron Tower]] || Varushka || Mithril
|-
| [[Mistress of the Dust Parador|Parador of Dust]] || Brass Coast || Mithril
|-
| [[Reeve of Boar's Market|Boar's Market]] || Dawn || Mithril, white granite, and weirwood
|-
| [[Broker of the Invisible Cord|Invisible Cord Brokerage]] || Navarr || Weirwood
|-
| [[Talon of Kaupahall|Kaupahall]] || Wintermark || White granite and ilium
|-
|}
* '''The six "Prosperity ministries" allow title holders to purchase wains and rings of ilium from Imperial citizens'''
* '''They were established following the efforts of the Prosperity Assembly to ensure virtuous citizens are paid fairly for their resources'''
* '''Large sums of money are spent acquiring bourse materials through these ministries'''
* '''Abrograting these ministres would be counter-productive, citizens would find other ways to sell wains to people coming to Anvil'''

In the last several years, a series of ministries arose as a result of the Prosperity assembly drive to disband the private and public auctions and ensure Imperial citizens with wains to sell received ''just reward for their labour''. The first was the [[Cinderpath Custodian|Cinder Path Exchange]] in [[Highguard]], but the practice quickly spread to other nations. These specialised ministries allow the purchase of [[white granite]], [[mithril]], [[weirwood]], and [[ilium]] from citizens of a nation at a "fair price", as determined by the prosperous citizens of the Empire. While the money spent on these resources continues to enrich Imperial citizens, those who receive it rarely come to Anvil so it does not appear in the Imperial treasury.

Graciana looks into the possibility of altering these ministries so that they would not rely on Imperial coinage but she stops once she identifies the fundamental problem. These ministries replaced the need for citizens to send wains to Anvil to be sold by public auction - if they were abrograted or repurposed in some way - then it is certain that citizens would find some other way to sell their excess wains to the wealthy citizens at Anvil. It might mean less money leaving the Anvil economy - but it could mean ''more'' money escaping the Imperial treasury, it is impossible to predict.

As such Graciana suggests that the Senate avoid changing any ministries that allow the title holder to purchase bourse resources from Imperial citizens, at least if they are seeking to increase the amount of funds available.

==Clipping Coins==
* '''Graciana has identified half a dozen opportunities to alter existing ministries to operate without spending coin'''

While Graciana has found few systemic ways to remove the need to spend coin when operating ministries, she has idenfied a number of individual opportunities to change specific ministries. In many cases these opportunities involve deals with foreigners. Graciana is no diplomat, but [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] is able to help with these negotiations - any of which the Empire could take up or turn down without causing undue offence.

As ever, any deal with foreigners is inherently fragile - any ministry that relies on a deal with a foreign power will cease to function if the Empire finds itself at war with that nation.

===Axos and the Bursars===
* '''The Halls of Maykop are prepared to exhange crystal mana for the materials they need to make magic items'''
* '''The Halls are interested in closer links with the Bursar of the Conclave'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Bursar of the Conclave'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>7 Dragonbone</td><td>8 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>10 Dragonbone, 6 Beggar's Lye</td><td>16 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>10 Dragonbone, 10 Beggar's Lye, 7 Ambergelt</td><td>24 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>10 Dragonbone, 10 Beggar's Lye, 10 Ambergelt, 10 Irridescent Gloaming</td><td>32 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>20 Dragonbone, 15 Beggar's Lye, 10 Ambergelt, 10 Irridescent Gloaming</td><td>40 mana crystals</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House of Spirits'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 liao</td><td>1 ring of [[ilium]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>80 liao</td><td>2 rings of ilium</td></tr>
<tr><td>125 liao</td><td>3 rings of ilium</td></tr>
<tr><td>175 liao</td><td>4 rings of ilium</td></tr>
<tr><td>230 liao</td><td>5 rings of ilium</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

The [[Bursar of the Conclave]] has been empowered by the Imperial Senate to purchase mana for the Conclave from Imperial citizens. The Axou are usually a good source for mana and it appears they are open to getting involved with the ministry. Two things make them suitable for this, one is that the Axou from the Halls of Maykop seem keen to forge closer links with the Bursar - and the other is that this citadel would be prepared to take payment in forest materials rather than Imperial coin.

The [[Bursar of the House of Spirits]] is responsible for the House of Spirits in [[Casinea]]. This remote campus hosts students from the College of Necromantia in Maykop. Despite their willingness to help, the Axou are not prepared to accept forest materials for their precious ilium, however they would be prepared to accept large amounts of liao instead.

The Imperial Senate could use a single Senate motion to accept the two Axou offers.

===Sarcophan and the Kruidenkenner===
* '''The Sarcophan are prepared to barter metals for herbs in the two Kruidenkenner trade enclaves'''

<table style="width:400px; float: right; margin-left:10px; clear: right;" class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Trademaster Cerulean Mazzarine'''</td></td>
<tr><td>6 green iron</td><td>12 cerulean mazzarine</td></tr>
<tr><td>15 green iron</td><td>24 cerulean mazzarine</td></tr>
<tr><td>27 green iron</td><td>36 cerulean mazzarine</td></tr>
</table>

<table style="width:400px; float: right; margin-left:10px; clear: right;" class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Trademaster Herbs'''</td></td>
<tr><td>10 tempest jade</td><td>16 random herbs</td></tr>
<tr><td>22 tempest jade</td><td>32 random herbs</td></tr>
<tr><td>36 tempest jade</td><td>48 random herbs</td></tr>
</table>

<table style="width:400px; float: right; margin-left:10px; clear: right;" class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Root and Stem'''</td></td>
<tr><td>6 orichalcum</td><td>12 bladeroot</td></tr>
<tr><td>15 orichalcum</td><td>24 bladeroot</td></tr>
<tr><td>27 orichalcum</td><td>36 bladeroot</td></tr>
</table>

The Kruidenkenner, the large Sarcophan trading house that supplies herbs to the [[Kruidenkenner Trademaster]] and the [[Master of the Root and Stem]], are also prepared to indulge the Empire switch to barter at their establishments. They are quick to produce a proposed schedule of purchases and prices at each of the two establishments. There is some suggestion that the returns on these trades might not be as profitable as the current arrangements - the Kruidenkenner don't deny that accusation exactly - rather they point out that it is the Empire seeking to change the arrangements and that barter is inherently more expensive.

The Imperial Senate could use a single motion to accept all the changes proposed by the Kruidenkenner - if that happened then the ministries associated with the titles would require ingots to operate them from then on, rather than coin.

===The Ossium Trade===
* '''Merchants in Ossium would be prepared to accept ingots in place of coin for the goods available to the Merchant-Boyar of the Stinking Market and the Apothecary of Orieb'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Merchant Boyar Ossium herbs'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;"></td></tr>
<tr><td>8 weltsilver</td><td>6 doses of [[marrowort]], 10 random [[herb|herbs]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>10 weltsilver, 8 orichalcum</td><td>13 doses of [[marrowort]], 20 random herbs</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 weltsilver, 10 orichalcum, 10 green iron</td><td>20 doses of [[marrowort]], 30 random herbs</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Orieb Apothecary Herbs'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>7 tempest jade</td><td>14 random herbs, 1 dose of realmsroot</td></tr>
<tr><td>10 tempest jade, 9 weltsilver</td><td>28 random herbs, 2 doses of realmsroot</td></tr>
<tr><td>20 tempest jade, 9 weltsilver, 6 green iron</td><td>42 random herbs, 3 doses of realmsroot</td></tr>
</table>

</div>
Not all the opportunities that Graciana has identified involve trade with foreigners. Citizens in Ossium have an insatiable desire for ingots, which are used by artisans in the territory to make fine magical weapons for sale. The Ketsov are open to the idea of procuring the herbs currently purchased by the [[Apothecary of Orieb]] and the [[Merchant-Boyar of the Stinking Market]] in exchange for ingots.

On the face of it, this seems like a simple deal, but Graciana cautions that the Ketsov, in particular, have proven "touchy" in recent years, having had run-ins with the Synod and with some of their Varushkan peers. This proposal won't make those problems any worse, but it would make the trade through the Stinking Market and the Orieb dependent on the continued involvement of the Ketsov. If relations with them soured, the Merchant-Boyar and the Apothecary would need to deal with the fallout of that if they wanted to continue operating their ministry.

The Imperial Senate could use a single motion to accept all the changes proposed by the Ketsov - if that happened then the ministries associated with the titles would require ingots to purchase herbs them from then on, rather than coin.

==Growing the Pot==
* '''Graciana has looked for alternative ways to increase the funds flowing into the Anvil economy'''
* '''She has identified numerous outstanding opportunities for great works, all of which ultimately mean more money paid to the Senate in the bourse auction'''

Graciana has done her best to find ways to repurpose existing ministries, but it is clear that the options are limited. At the point where it is clear that there are no further opportunities to do so, she devotes the remaining time to looking for alternative solutions. As with any appraisal, the ideal is for the prognosticator's office to know what the underlying ''problem'' is that the Senate are looking to solve. Stopping ministries spending coin to buy goods is a "solution" to a problem - the outcome of which would be that less money left the Anvil economy. It seems reasonable therefore, to guess that the real problem the Senate are trying to solve is to get more money to flow into the Imperial treasury. Stopping ministries from spending coin would achieve that, but it's far from the only way.

The clear alternative to stopping money leaving the Anvil economy is to take steps to make more money flow into the Anvil economy. The obvious way to do that would be to build great works that boost the profits of farms and businesses across the Empire. It's not a cheap solution, but the benefits are clear - yeofolk and business owners with more money in their pockets to spend at anvil means more money in the Imperial treasury. It's not possible for Graciana to invest a lot of time into looking for new opportunities to raise great works, that is outside the scope of the appraisal, but she has been able to do a thorough review of outstanding opportunities to see which ones are still available.

===Inkworks at Joharra===
* '''The bustling industry of Joharra was ruined by an attack from Isidore i Boyaga'''
* '''An inkworks could be built in Oranseri to aid and assist businesses in Feroz'''
* '''The inkworks would remove the impoverished quality from the region'''
*'''It would also boost the seasonal income of scriveners by 22 rings for a year once completed'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Inkworks of Joharra'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Oranseri, Feroz</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 60 white granite and 60 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increases investment in businesses is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Increases the level of investment of businesses in Feroz by one.
* Removes the impoverished quality from Oranseri.
* Increases the seasonal income of scriveners by 22 rings for a year.
* Creates the title of ''Scrivener of the Inkworks''</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Scrivener of the Inkworks'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Brass Coast National</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' [[Tally of the Votes]] or Senate</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:'''
* Receives 15 measures of iridescent gloaming each season.
* Receives a Therasia's Chain each year.
* Can make an announcement in the Senate to redirect the Inkworks if there is a [[opportunity]] that explicitly allows it.</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To direct the inkworks as needed, to support the scriveners of Feroz, and to ensure contracts are being kept in the Brass Coast</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Restriction''' This title will only receive a Therasia's Chain if the holder is a scrivener</td></tr>
</table></div>
In Winter 386YE, Graciana presented a proposal for a new [[Send_for_me#Inkworks_of_Joharra|Inkworks at Joharra]] in Feroz. The facility offered a number of useful benefits, removing the impoverished quality from Oranseri and boosting income of businessholders across the territory. As it turns out, it would also boost the income of scriveners by 22 rings for one year after completion, all of which would help to sustain the Anvil economy.

The opportunity is still available, without any changes.

===Fish and Fur in Sermersuaq===
* '''A fishery built at the town of Atalaq would support farms and fisherfolk across the territory'''
* '''A grand trading post in southern Sermersuaq would provide a significant boost to businesses in the territory'''
* '''It would provide additional benefits to Wintermark ships trading with foreign ports by providing rich luxury goods to sell'''
* '''The Custodian of the Bloody Great Sausage would be in prime position to make a profit from the increased availability of fine, exotic meats'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Atalaq Fishery'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sealtoq, Sermersuaq</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 75 weirwood, 25 mithril, 300 crowns, 6 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work that increases investment in farms is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Increases investment in farms in Sermersuaq from two to three.
* Allows farms owned by Suaq characters to diversify their farm to produce a mana crystal.</td></tr></table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Atalaq Tradehall'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sealtoq, Sermersuaq</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 weirwood, 150 crowns, 3 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work that increases investment in businesses is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Increases investment in businesses in Sermersuaq by one.
* Increase taxation from Sermersuaq by 4 thrones.
* Increases income of the Custodian of the Bloody Great Sausage by 7 crowns
* Boosts income of Wintermark fleet owners by 36 rings for one year whenever they engage in trade with foreign nations</td></tr></table></div>
Graciana also provided a [[Farm, fur, and fish|report]] on opportunities for investment in Skarsind in Summer 386YE. The proposal for the Atalaq Fishery would have provided 36 rings to every farm in Skarsind as well as allowing them to diversify their farms to acquire mana crystals.

Perhaps of more interest to the Senate is the less ambitious project to establish the Atalaq Tradehall. That would have increased investment in businesses in Sermersuaq, but it would also benefit the treasury directly, increasing taxation from the territory by 4 thrones. The burst of luxury goods and materials the trade post provided would have also helped Wintermark traders, providing an additional 36 rings to any fleet owner in a Wintermark territory whenever they engaged in [[Fleet#Trade|trade]] with foreign nations. It would permanently boost the income of the Custodian of the Bloody Great Sausage by 7 crowns each event.

The opportunity is still available, without any changes.

===Marshways in Kallavesa===
* '''The marshways would raise the level of investment in herb gardens and businesses by one in Kallavesa'''
* '''It would cost 80 wains of weirwood, 240 crowns and take a year to complete'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Kallevesa Marshways'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Kallavesa</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 wains of weirwood, 240 crowns, 6 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work that increases investment in herb gardens or businesses is built in Kallavesa</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Raises the level investment in businesses in Kallavesa by one providing an additional 36 rings
* Raises the level investment in herb gardens in Kallavesa by one providing two true vervain, and one Marrowort in Spring, one Cerulean Mazzarine in Summer, one Imperial Roseweald in Autumn, and one Bladeroot in Winter
* Creates a [[Venture#Guarding_Ventures|guarding venture]] for Wintermark and Dawnish military units to protect the merchants using the marshways in exchange for herbs
</td></tr></table></div>

As part of her appraisal on [[Road_out_of_nowhere#Marshways|roads]] in Winter 385YE, Graciana suggested the Senate could establish marshways across the marshy territories of the Empire, Kallavesa, Therunin and Bregasland. All three territories have a strong tradition of boat use – not sea-going ships but various incarnations of flat-bottomed skiffs and punts that pole the shallow waters of the fens. The ideas was to establish a number of ferries, river-side wayhouses, strategically placed bridges, jetties, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portage portage rails], and boatworks that she called the ''Marshways''.

Sadly Therunin and Bregasland are currently suffering from invasion and war; no longer controlled by the Empire, the idea of building there is out of the question. However, Kallevesa is still ripe for investment - so Graciana has updated the costs for just the Wintermark territory. That would cut costs considerably - to 80 wains of weirwood and 240 crowns - but it could be done in six months. Once it was finished, it would raise the level of investment for businesses providing an additional 36 rings every season. It would also raise the level of investment for herb gardens by one, providing two true vervain, and one seasonal herb - Marrowort in Spring, Cerulean Mazzarine in Summer, Imperial Roseweald in Autumn, and Bladeroot in Winter.

In the original proposal, Graciana suggested that the Senate establish a title-holder to oversee the marshways and be responsible for their safety. The position would then be able to fund their operations by purchasing herbs from merchants using the marshways. Given the purpose of the appraisal, Graciana has updated the original plan - now the completion of the marshways would create a new guarding venture for Wintermark and Dawnish military units to protect merchants using the Marshways. The new version of the opportunity replaces the original.

===Docks in Madruga===
* '''There is a proposal to build the Municipal Docks in Calvos to spur the growth of the town in the coming years'''
* '''If built, the municipal docks would create conditions for Calvos to ultimately grow into one of great cities of the Empire'''
* '''The Docks would have an upkeep of 5 thrones a season but would increase taxation by 12 thrones a season'''
* '''Once complete the docks would provide significant benefits in Madruga, and in the Brass Coast as a whole'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Municipal Docks'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work (Shipyard)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Calvos Sound, Madruga </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 white granite, 40 weirwood and 45 Thrones, 12 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work that increases investment in fleets is built in Madruga</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 5 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment in fleets in Madruga engaging in trading, questing or raiding
* Raises the level of investment in businesses in Madruga
* Reduces the cost for Freeborn characters to upgrade fleets by one weirwood for a year after completion
* Raises income of all Freeborn characters by 7 rings for a year after completion
* Boosts taxation from the territory by 12 thrones a season
* Protects Calvos Sounds as a level one fortification
* Acts as a shipyard allowing the construction or refuge of up to two navies at a time
* Creates a new questing Voyage for Freeborn fleets, Hunt the Free Landing Kraken
* Creates the Freeborn position Quaymaster of the Municipal Docks
* Includes personal offices and accommodation for the Quaymaster and their family
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Quaymaster of the Municipal Docks'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Freeborn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Can purchase goods from Commonwealth ships docking at Calvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversee the Municipal Docks</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:LightYellow;">'''Trade Purchases Volkavaar'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>50 rings</td><td>1 Hero Stones</td></tr>
<tr><td>120 rings</td><td>2 Hero Stones</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:LightYellow;">'''Trade Purchases Leerdam'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>36 rings</td><td>1 draught of Clear Headedness</td></tr>
<tr><td>80 rings</td><td>2 draughts of Clear Headedness</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
In Spring 387YE, Gisli 'the Provider' Baerson paid Professor Immnual Gelberg's team of visiting scholars to investigate the possibilities for building a new city in the former Freeborn territory of Madruga. The Commonwealth academics created a [[Germinating_a_city|plan]] to build new municipal docks in Madruga that would raise the level of investment in fleets in Madruga engaging in trading, questing or raiding and raise the level of investment in businesses in the territory. They would raise the income of all Freeborn characters by 7 rings for a year after completion and boost taxation from the territory by 12 thrones a season. All these benefits would result in more money flowing into the economy at Anvil.

Those are not the only benefits - the new docks would reduce the cost for Freeborn characters to upgrade their fleets by one weirwood for a year after completion and protect Calvos Sounds as a level one [[fortification]]. The docks would also act as a [[shipyard]], allowing the construction or refuge of up to two navies at a time and create a new questing voyage for Freeborn fleets; '''Hunt the Free Landing Kraken'''. None of these additional benefits result in more money directly in the Imperial treasury, however.

Professor Gelberg's plan also included the creation of a Freeborn position Quaymaster of the Municipal Docks which would include personal offices and accommodation for the Quaymaster and their family and give them access to a ministry that would allow them to spend a small amount of money to purchase rare items and potions. That would result in ''less'' money flowing into the Anvil economy - a clearly net negative if the Senate is seeking to get rid of ministries. However, the sums of money involved are relatively small - a tiny fraction of the benefits. Graciana is absolutely certain that the net effect would be significantly more money coming to the treasury.

The opportunity is still available, without any changes.

===Markets in Delev===
* '''Delev Market could be expanded to make the place a true centre of trade and commerce to rival Temeschwar'''
* '''Completing the expansion of the market would require 50 wains of white granite, 150 crowns, and take three months'''
* '''It would increase investment in businesses in Karov by one rank, adding 36 rings each season to their production'''
* '''As the Little Boyar's Welcome has been warded, the market will ''also'' improve taxation from the territory by 4 thrones'''
* '''This commission would replace the opportunity to upgrade the Delev Market run by the Overseer of the Westerward Road'''
* '''It could increase the money spent by several existing ministries'''

<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Great Market at Delev'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Delev, Duzekani, Karov</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 white granite, 150 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year or until another great work that increases investment in businesses is built in Karov</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment in businesses in Karov by one
* Allows citizens to take a business in Karov for free for one year after completion
* Adds an additional purchase rank to the [[Bargainer of the Iron Tower|Iron Tower]], [[Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak|Korotny Docks]] and the [[Overseer of the Westward Road|Delev Market]]
* Increases taxation of Karov by an additional 4 thrones a season if the Little Boyar's Welcome is also upgraded
* Would allow Senate to use a motion to permit the Boyar of the Iron Roads to create a sinecure instead of a ministry each season without using a Senate commission
</td></tr>
</table></div>

Rather than the fairly simple upgrade of the Delev Market that Graciana proposed to curtail the trade conducted by the Overseer of the Westward Road, the Senate could choose to engage in a major upgraded of the Market.

The proposals for this were published nearly a year ago in an appraisal by Naomi of Virtue's Rest. Her plan involved the creation of the Great Market at Delev which would raise the level of investment in businesses in Karov by one, but would also allow citizens to take a business in Karov for free for one year after completion. If her proposal for the Little Boyar's Welcome was also commissioned it would increase taxation from Karov by four thrones a season and allow the Senate to use a motion to permit the Boyar of the Iron Roads to create a sinecure instead of a ministry each season without using a Senate commission.

There are two key drawbacks to this plan - the first is that it is incompatible with the plans Graciana has drawn up to convert the existing market facilities run by the Overseer of the Westward Road. The Senate could commission the Great Market or convert the existing ministry to a great work - but not both.

The second drawback is that the work would provide additional trade opportunities for the [[Bargainer of the Iron Tower]], and the [[Overseer of the Westward Road]] to trade. It will also provide options for [[Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak]] as prosperity spreads. The net effect would be to add an additional rank to each of the main ministries overseen by these titles.

This commission could easily result in significantly more money leaving the Anvil economy than it brought in - if the Bargainer and the Harbourmaster took full advantage of the opportunity. Of course, they would have more goods to show for that coin, but that might be slim consolation to a Senate that is focused on saving the Imperial treasury from running dry.

The opportunity is still available, without any changes.

===Friends in High Places===
* '''There is a recent proposal to build roads in Zenith which would raise the level of investment in businesses in the territory'''

Finally, Graciana notes that there is a new appraisal published by her colleague Naomi of Virtue's Rest which includes proposals to [[My_friends_are_my_estate#Northern_Way|build roads in Zenith]] which would raise the level of investment in businesses in the territory.

==Stirring the Pot==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_League.png|align=right|width=200}}{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Marcher.png|align=right|width=200}}
</div>
* '''One way to increase funds flowing into the Anvil economy would be if more citizens operated farms and businesses'''
* '''The League and Marcher Assembly could enact mandates to encourage their citizens to embrace tradition and support the Imperial economy'''
* '''Such mandates would make it easier for people to switch resources to take a farm or business and cheaper to upgrade a farm or business'''

Studying Laurencio di Sarvos' guide to the Anvil economy, it is clear that another way to increase the funds flowing into the Anvil economy would be to increase the amount of asset income that citizens coming to Anvil have available. Great works are one way to do that - as are casting rituals like [[Streams of Silver]], [[Rivers of Gold]], and the seasonal [[Farm#Rituals|rituals]] for farms. But one of the most effective ways to increase the money available would be if more people at Anvil had farms and businesses, and fewer people operated other resources. In the last decade, there has been a push to encourage citizens to sell their farm or business and take on the running of a [[military unit]] to support the war effort. However, Graciana claims that a better way to support the war effort might be to dispense with military units and acquire a business or a farm.

In practice, there isn't great demand for this in most places, and Graciana has little success in looking for opportunities to help encourage the practice, with two notable exceptions. Both the League and the Marches have strong cultural traditions that make ownership of businesses and farms important respectively - and what is more, owning a business in the League or a farm in the Marches comes with considerable political influence.

Of course, the Senate can't mandate that Marcher and League citizens put down their arms and take up running a farm or a business - but there is one body that could encourage it. The Synod could use a mandate to urge citizens of the Marches and the League to embrace traditional values, not just out of Pride and Ambition - but out of Loyalty to the needs of the Empire.

{{mandate|mandate=Pride in small things, loyalty to great ones. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to encourage Marcher citizens to settle the land. War is a thrice-ploughed field.|assembly=Marcher Assembly}}

{{mandate|mandate=Nothing great without cost. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to encourage League citizens to invest in a business. Coin counts, and everything costs.|assembly=League Assembly}}

If these mandates are passed in the relevant assemblies, then it will create an opportunity for one year for any character of that nation to change a military unit, fleet, herb garden, mine or forest to a farm (in the Marches) or a business (in the League) without incurring a cost. Crucially, the new resource will be the same level as any resource they give up to make the change - reflecting local support for their efforts to embrace their national traditions and support the Imperial economy.

What is more, there will a groundswell of support for League and Marchers looking to improve their resources. If the Marcher mandate is passed then any farm in the Marches can be upgraded for one wain fewer than normal (to a minimum of one) for one year. If the League mandate is passed then any business in the League can be upgraded for one wain fewer than normal (to a minimum of one) for one year.
==Further Reading==
* [[Appraisal]]
* [[Ministry]]
* [[Imperial treasury]]

My friends are my estate

2026-02-27T21:42:12Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* The Dark Mesa */ Adding a space

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]

<ic>Arius didn't roll their eyes, but focused on making last minute adjustments to the plans laid out across the table. Their appointment with the prognosticator was in barely an hour and the architect still wasn't entirely happy with some of the details. Also, the Leaguers were arguing again, something which had become a theme every time they came together to discuss the plan.

"I'm sorry," said Karolin, trying to keep her patience. "But I do not see why this proposal requires a big statue in the middle of it. How does that promote the shipwright's arts exactly?"

Rafe shook his head, grin fixed, hands dancing as he talked as usual. "No, see, it makes perfect sense."

"But it's the ''mountebank''. They may be dressed up as the sailor, but in many ways that makes things worse given some of the resonances."

"Oh for sure," agreed Rafe in a way that made it clear he did not, in fact, agree with his colleague. "But also, think about it. As a mascot for Apulian it's ideal! Let me explain!"

"I doubt we can stop you," interjected Hyame d'Apulian. The orc was leant back in his chair, boots on the table, dividing his time between the conversation and a large box of chocolate-covered cherries balanced on his stomach. Rafe ignored him.

"Everyone talks about Apulian as the fifth city of the League," explained Rafe. "We'll always be the newest city, until the nation incorporates somewhere else, and even then we'll be listed ''after'' the other four. Tassato, Temeschwar, Sarvos, Holberg. They all have centuries of history."

"Apulian has centuries of history," interrupted Arius. The Urizen architect didn't look up from the plans scattered across the table between them. They leant forward as they spoke and made a slight adjustment to one of the diagrams. "Indeed, it could be argued that the city has ''more'' history than some of the League given my people were here before yours arrived on these shores."

"I don't disagree," said Rafe. "But also no. That was, without offence, Urizen history and that doesn't entirely count. You see?"

"I'm not sure I do..." began Arius, but Rafe continued speaking as if they had not spoken. The robed merrow closed their eyes momentarily, drawing their poise around them like a cloak, and continued tweaking the plans. Karolin noted their lips were quite thin, however, and suspected they were not used to being talked over.

"For hundreds of years it was a glorified town - no offence Arius - and then it was Grendel - and now it's League and I'm sorry but that counts for a great deal. But we're the newest child on the street, here. We've not really claimed our place. We're "the place the orcs came from" - no offence Hyame - and the "city below" where all the night magicians are dicking about - no offence Karolin - and that's about all the rest of the League thinks of us. The Mountebank is ''exactly'' the iconic presence we need. The upstart, the clever rascal, the spirit of transformation and... and..."

"Unleashed primal forces and destruction?" said Hyame, even more amused. The League orc dropped his feet from the table and leant forward. "Disguise and concealment? Dangerous emotions? Or given you've chosen the Sailor, a short-lived period of lavish entertainment that leaves you with a sword with no hilt? A blowhard and a braggart?"

Rafe coloured a little, but soldiered on.

"Look, I'm just saying. This is only part of it. I hear people saying we can't compete with Sarvos, or Holberg. We were barely in the great competition for paragons' sake! But I say where's your ''ambition''? What are we even ''here'' for if we ''don't'' compete with the other cities? If we don't nail our sails to the mast and show them that we are ''here'' and we are ''League''!"

"And a statue of the Sailor says all that does it?" Karolin asked quietly. Rafe fell silent, and huffed a great sigh.

"Well, only a bit. Unless... unless..." His eyes flared with light again, and he became animated again. "Unless we build the biggest goddam statue of the Sailor the world has ever seen and stick two fingers up to il Volpe and Sarvos! Then we'd ''really'' be sending a message to the rest of the League that we're coming after their crowns!"

As he'd spoken, Rafe had jumped up onto the table and posed dramatically, one foot in a plate of rice and the other on the plans for the new boatyard, two fingers raised in a traditional gesture of defiance. Hyame applauded, only slightly sarcastically. Karolin shook her head, face clouded with doubt.

Arius didn't roll their eyes, and held their peace, and not for the first time wondered why the League was like this, and why they were so drawn to their often misplaced enthusiasms. Not for the first time they promised themselves that when ''this'' project was done they would head back up into the mountains for a little peace and quiet... knowing as they did so they were fooling nobody least of all themselves.</ic>

<div style="float:left; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SenatorSpiral.jpg|caption='''Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian''', Senator for Spiral|align=left|width=350}}</div>
==Overview==
[[Spiral]], for centuries [[Urizen]] heartland, now part of [[the League]]. The transition has not been entirely trouble-free, but [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Urizen_of_the_Silver_Flame|the treaty with the Silver Flame]], the non-Imperial Urizen has tamped down the risk of open conflict. Members of the Synod have been attempting to heal the rift, with more positive sentiments emerging from both sides. The League Assembly endorsed [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_71|Isaia Pavone di Sarvos' statement of principle]] calling for people to ''"enjoy the fruits of both nations’ labour together, now and in years to come"'' with a greater majority. If the Urizen Assembly were a little less enthusiastic about [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_163|Halkyon of the Myriad Stream's complimentary statement]] that is perhaps understandable given the circumstances.

Where the two sides have managed to cooperate, the results have been impressive. Projects like [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Curstag's Way]] and [[Damming the Doubt]] demonstrate what can be achieved for both nations when they work together. During the Autumn Equinox, '''Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian''' the [[Senator]] for Spiral, proposed a timely [[appraisal]] to build on these successes by looking "for ways to draw on the best of League innovation and Urizen wisdom to bolster Spiral's prosperity." The Senate agreed, and as requested [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] was dispatched to explore [[opportunity|opportunities]] in the south-eastern Empire.

As is ever the case in Spiral, the work is made more difficult by the omnipresent yoke of the {{Black Plateau}}. The malignant force that squats at the centre of the [[territory]] exacerbates every bad feeling, every doubt, and if not checked seeps into the spirit of anyone who spends time in the territory. Urizen ingenuity in the form of [[Spiral#The Block|the Block]] has helped blunt its effects, at least in the remaining [[spire|spires]] and in the settlements of the League, but the rocky land between settlements remains difficult and dangerous.

Fleets, businesses, military units and farms are all suffering particularly badly from the effects of the {{Black Plateau}}. There's precious little point in trying to help farms, since there are so few of them, but it is clear that one of the simplest ways to boost the Prosperity of Spiral might be to find an approach that could mitigate the problems that the other resources are suffering.
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBLeague.jpg|align=right|width=300}}
==Situation in Spiral==
* '''Relations between the League citizens, and remaining Urizen citizens, are becoming easier
Some have compared the city of Apulian with [[Temeschwar]] - a League city with a similar past in that it combines [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Wisdom]] with League [[Ambition]]. While the Plateau remains a problem, recent developments have gone some way towards helping bolster the prosperity of Spiral. The creation of the [[Road_out_of_nowhere#Southern_Skyways|Bridge of the Air]] has seen several smaller "skyways" link isolated spires and settlements, ease passage through more difficult areas, and greatly improve trade between and through the mountains. The completion of [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Curstag's Way]], the grand highway that runs through southern Spiral and links [[Mareave]] to the rest of the Empire, has likewise done wonders for the wealth of the city of [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]] in particular.

Naomi is the ideal choice to try to bring League and Urizen minds together to work on the problem. She always focuses on finding the most diplomatic possible solution to the problems she is dispatched to examine. She is known to be adroit at identifying options that are best placed to satisfy the concerns of the people affected though she tends to concentrate on the best possible solution to a problem rather than the cheapest or the most efficient.
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBUrizen.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
The timing is also apposite - work on the [[Construct_Barossa_University_of_Dramaturgical_Arts|new College of the Dramaturgical Arts]] is underway, but the high costs involved have meant progress is slow. The College should prove a valuable boon for the territory, especially for those interested in the arts of [[Dramaturgy]], provided some way can be found to fund the development.

There are several areas, then, that Naomi has explored. The independent city-state of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] lies just to the south of Spiral and has recently become a "protectorate" of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] - a people known for their love of trade and enthusiasm for wealth who are already invested in the Empire. The city of Apulian is expanding and growing in leaps and bounds, clearly benefitting from the fusion of Urizeni and League magical lore. The spires of the highlands are rich in magical understanding, crystal mana, and magical metals.

==Night Sailing==
* '''Building a specialised dock in Apulian would remove the penalties suffered by Imperial fleets in Spiral'''
* '''It would also provide benefits to Spiral fleets engaged in espionage, scouting, and smuggling'''
* '''It could serve as a refuge for an Imperial navy'''
* '''It would bring more maritime trade into Apulian and increase taxation by 2 thrones a season'''

The city of Apulian is a bustling port with an eclectic feel. It grew slowly over the years, but the infusion of settlers, first the Grendel and then the League have ushered in two major waves of expansion. Now the docks are extensive, but syncretised, merging many different styles of architecture, Imperial and otherwise. Trade has grown with it, with more ships from foreign ports as well as vessels from Highguard and the Brass Coast seen entering the harbour.

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Obsidian Shipyard'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type: '''Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 35 wains of weirwood, 25 wains of mithril, 200 ingots of weltsilver, 180 crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the penalty suffered by fleets in Spiral due to the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}
* Raises the level of investment in Spiral for fleets taking a [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] action
* Raises the level of investment in Spiral for fleets trading with any Sarcophan port
* Lowers the level of investment in Spiral for fleets trading with any Sumaah or Commonwealth port
* Provides [[Shipyard#Refuge|refuge]] to Imperial navies
* Increases taxation by two thrones a season
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Increasing the costs to 85 weirwood, 50 mithril, 200 ingots of weltsilver and 405 crowns would increase the ''benefits'' to fleets to two ranks rather than one and increase the taxation by five thrones a season</td></tr>
</td></tr>
</table></div>

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;"><box>'''</big>Ambitious Statuary</big>'''<p>While the statue of the Sailor is integrated into the Obsidian Shipyards, it is not a rival to the Colossus of Sarvos. On the other hand, Ambition is a virtue and there's no reason it ''couldn't'' be a rival to the Colossus of Sarvos... All it would need is a little vision, some engineering know-how to scale it up a little, and a large amount of white granite.</p>

Whoever commissions the Obsidian Shipwrights could choose to increase the costs by 50 white granite, 25 mithril, and 225 crowns, and add an extra six months to the construction. The Sailor would then be a massive figure, gazing indulgently down on the docks and towering over the city of Apulian. Another wonder of the world! This would increase the level of investment in Spiral's fleets by another rank, fleets engaged in trade with Sarcophan or [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] actions would gain a total of two ranks. It would also increase the taxation by five thrones rather than two and further cement Apulian as a rival to Sarvos, as well as a centre of dramaturgical excellence.

One of the Urizen dramaturgists, incidentally, points out that whether a giant statue is built or not is besides the point because they argue that instead of the Sailor, the best choice for a statue on the Obsidian Shipwrights is [[the Witch]] who represents mysteries, common sense, and [[Prosperity]]. There's no reason that whoever commissions the construction couldn't specify that the statue should be of the Witch instead of the Sailor - either would work fine (other personae would be too dissonant with obfuscation to complement the work).</box></div>
The looming presence of {{Black Plateau}} remains the biggest impediment to further expansion of the trade. Until recently, moving goods and passengers across the Bay of Catazar by sail was preferable to travel under the Plateau's sinister gaze. The creation of Curstag's Way, complete with rest stops infused with mithril, made it easier to move goods by land in the territory. Could a similar solution benefit the Apulian docks?

While [[Spiral#The Block|the Block]] protects any structure properly infused with [[mithril]], that's little comfort to ship's crews. Among some of the first people to arrange an appointment with Naomi when she arrived in Apulian were a loose association of ship owners and merchant traders supported by members of the Purple Sail ''sodality''. While most were League citizens, there were a handful of Urizen interests represented as well as some [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and a merchant from [[Mareave#Beoaridh|Beoraidh]]. All were keen to find a way to ameliorate the effects of the Plateau on shipping.

Much discussion between various experts ensues, but in the end it is the seagoing expertise of Danilo di Tassato, a former gondolier and reckoner, and an Urizeni [[seer]], Procopius of the Shadow Moon that provides the answer. Between them they have developed a way to infuse [[mithril]] and [[weltsilver]] into the hulls and sails of ships to protect them from the {{Black Plateau}} by wrapping the vessel in whispers of shadow pulled from the Night realm. According to Procopius, it works because the enchantments woven into the ship make it harder for the {{Black Plateau}} to "see" the vessel, which has some rather disturbing implications. Regardless of how the magic works, a night-time trip across the bay in Danilo's converted [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumboat Sarcophan Bumboat] is enough to prove to Naomi and her team that the approach is undeniably effective.

The demonstration draws interest from many, including the Sarcophan ''College of Silent Voices'' and the League orcs of the [[Pebbles_drawn_from_a_heap#The_Circle_of_Black_Sand|Circle of Black Sand]]. Working together produces an ambitious proposal that might see Apulian eventually rival [[Sarvos]] as a seat of trade. The Obsidian Shipwrights would be an area of the docks dedicated both to building trading vessels, and refitting existing vessels with mithril traceries to protect them from the {{Black Plateau}}. A centrepiece of the construction would be a large mithril inlaid statue of the [[The_Mountebank#The_Sailor|Sailor]]. This raises a few eyebrows - the Sailor is a specific version of [[the Mountebank]] in [[dramaturgy]] associated with suspicious gifts, good times, and trouble. Yet they are also an excellent fit for magic that hides folk from unfriendly eyes. It would in no way rival the [[Sarvos#The_Colossus_of_Sarvos|Colossus of Sarvos]]... but it might send a message about the Ambitions of the people of Apulian.

The shipyards would remove the penalty suffered by fleets in Spiral due to the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}. However, the benefits go further than that. The Night magic would suffuse fleets based in the territory, allowing them to move quickly and quietly, making them excellent spies and smugglers. Every [[fleet]] based in Spiral, both League and Urizen, would receive a one rank bonus whenever they undertake a [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] action. Such vessels would also be well received in the Sarcophan Delves, providing the same bonus to any [[Fleet#Trading|trading]] action with the Delves - both the [[Foreign_ports#Sarcophan|city itself]], the [[Foreign ports#Betovering|Betovering docks]] but also the less accessible, satellite ports allowing improved access to the medicines of ''Moeraskriden'' or the contraband of ''Schedalhaven''.

Sadly the approach is not completely without drawbacks - the obfuscation provided by the lingering Night magics would inevitably cause consternation in Sumaash and Commonwealth ports. Both nations are sticklers for the rule of law, with little time for smugglers. The suspicion that such a vessel would be sure to arouse means every [[fleet]] based in Spiral, both League and Urizen, would receive a one rank penalty whenever they undertake any trading action with a port controlled by either nation.

This focus on swift, subtle vessels with low draughts means the Shipwrights would be unsuitable for creating an [[Imperial navy]]. Built in harmony with the magics coursing through Apulian, however, the Obsidian Shipwrights would provide a safe haven for warships - it would provide the [[Shipyard#Refuge|refuge]] benefit to a navy that docked in Apulian, where the [[Spiral#Apulian|Palace of Apulian]] provided further protection.

On which subject...

==Mellow Mists==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Palace of Mists'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification Upgrade</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 wains of white granite, 240 crowns, a year</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Improves the fortification at Apulian to rank two
* Forces attacking the region from the sea (such as [[Navy_orders#Shore_Offensive|shore offensive]] or the equivalent) suffer a 20% penalty to VPs
* Improves taxation by 5 thrones a season
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Naomi's proposal would upgrade the fortification at Apulian to rank two'''
* '''Forces using shore offensive or equivalent orders would suffer a twenty percent penalty to VPs'''
* '''Bolstering the defences would increase taxation by five thrones a season, offsetting some of the increased upkeep'''
The sea is the lifeblood of Apulian, but it brings with it additional threats. The [[Grendel]] have demonstrated their ruthless capacity to seize Imperial ports with their recent [[To ruin|attack on Elos]]. The [[Children of Wrecks]] have been [[Red_skies|defeated but not destroyed]]. The [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] warships that [[A beacon of smoke|burnt Siroc]] are still out there. Apulian is protected by the [[Spiral#Apulian|Palace of Apulian]] but there is a limit to what it can achieve, especially against a maritime threat.

League engineers and Urizen architects have worked together to address the problem that is the flip-side of a lot of Apulian's prosperity. Their proposal is to build on the foundation laid by Salt Lord Kaliact. The beautiful, well-fortified palace takes pride of place near the docks but there is more to expanding it's defences than simply building its walls up. Part of their inspiration comes, unsurprisingly, from the [[Sarvos#The_Great_Chain|Great Chain of Sarvos]], a mighty series of walls, towers, and barracks, coupled with great iron chains attached to blocks of white granite that can be raised or lowered to provide a serious obstacle to naval forces attempting a shore offensive aimed at capturing [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]]. Part of the defence incorporates a similar set of obstacles, but thanks to the ingenuity of both Urizen and the League there is more to their plan.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sadogua001d.webp|caption=Heralds of [[Sadogua]] have offered advice on ways to weave Night magic around Apulian.|align=left|width=200}}</div>
The [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] is a useful [[ritual]] that weaves wards of obfuscation and misdirection through an area of [[Region_qualities#Marsh|marshes]]. While [[Night magic]] is generally of [[War_magic#Night_Magic|limited usefulness]] in a war, the [[Night magic#Resonance|resonance]] of [[Night_magic#Obfuscation|obfuscation]] presents several opportunities to protect against assault. Urizen Seers calculate that it would be possible to permanently tap into some of the rich veins of Night magic that now permeate the city, and focus it across the coast of Apulian.

Keen eyes study the effectiveness of the walls of mist that surround [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#The_Lyceum|the Lyceum]], and the involvement of the eternal [[Sadogua]] in protecting that place. Heralds of the ''Black Sloth'' have been sought out - some Urizen make the long trek to the Marches to put some of those celebrating the [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs#Wassail|wassail]] there on the spot - and it seems that the ''Globbersnotch'' has provided some advice on ways to make the most of the magic in Apulian. While being a little shifty about Night magic and its relationship to the sea (recent [[historical research]] into the nature of eternals associated with the sea might provide some insight here).

Under the proposal, the Palace of Apulian would become the Palace of Mists, capable of calling up confusing fogs to misdirect invading ships and even armies attempting to attack Apulus. It would become a fully effective level two fortification, and in addition, any force attacking the region from the sea - any navy and armies using shore offensive - would suffer a 20% penalty to VPs.

The palace would require 80 wains of white granite and 30 thrones in labour costs, take a year to complete. It would increase the upkeep of the Palace by an additional 10 thrones each season, however, the presence of such a powerful defence protecting the port and the ships using it would boost trade in Spiral. As a result the taxation of the territory would increase by five thrones a season, offsetting half of the increased upkeep.
==Swords Against Darkness==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Swords Against Darkness'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires a statement of principle in support of raising swords against the darkness to pass the League and the Urizen Assembly in the same season.
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the Venture - Swords Against Darkness - available to League, Urizen military and Dawnish military units
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: HotPink;">'''Swords Against Darkness'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Venture Type:''' Questing</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' The League, Urizen and Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Duration:''' One year
<tr><td>'''Rewards:'''
* A standard military unit would receive 3 mana crystals and 2 liao
* A military unit that is enchanted or upgraded will receive proportionately more
* A rank 6 or higher military unit (from upgrades or rituals) will receive a Circlet of Fallen Snow as part of the rewards
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Duration becomes open-ended if supported by military units with a total effective strength of 2000 for at least three of the four seasons
* If that happens the taxation of Spiral will increase by 6 thrones and the penalty of military units from the {{Black Plateau}} will be removed
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The League and Urizen national assemblies could use a statement of principle to create a new questing venture in Spiral'''
* '''If enough military units undertake the venture over the next year then it will increase taxation by 6 thrones a season and remove the penalty on Spiral military units'''

One of the challenges in Urizen is that after three decades of war, and the chaos that followed, and the influence of the {{Black Plateau}}, the places between spires and outside the walls of Apulian and [[Spiral#Ballaghadruh|Ballaghadruh]], are filled with unknown dangers. Of course there are dangers in many of the less travelled parts of the Empire, but Spiral is particularly afflicted.

[[Our_eyes_in_Spiral#The_Lost|The Lost]] is the common term for those folk whose minds and spirits have been undone by the baleful glare of the plateau. They are not the only threat however - there are still remnants of the [[Druj]] insurgents and [[Grendel]] invaders, small groups of orcs belonging to neither nation hiding out in the wilds. There are also rumours of disciples of [[sword scholar|Sulemaine i Taziel]] hiding in the nooks and crannies of Spiral. These former sword scholars have decisively split with the Empire and represent a real threat to those who remain loyal. All in addition to the usual threats posed by dangerous creatures from the realms, unliving horrors, bandits and outlaws, and allegedly even some rogue ushabti.

Most [[spire|spires]] are sufficiently well-defended to be protect them against incursions and the city of Apulian is far too large to be threatened. As a result, many inhabitants of Spiral have been able to ignore these threats - the League can go about their business in Apulian, while the spires communicate via the heliopticon, and keep to the most well-trod routes when travelling. As a result, thus far, it has not been a pressing problem.
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: right;">
[[file:Assembly_League.png]]
[[file:Assembly_Urizen.png]]
</div>
Just because the threat is not urgent does not mean it is not important however. The Urizeni are having to employ extra sentinels to keep their spires safe - and can only travel abroad in large well-protected groups. League merchants moving cargo down the Great Apulian Way are struggling to hire enough guards to protect the caravans. Everywhere you look, there is a need for competent warriors to keep loyal Imperial citizens safe. To many that's just life in Spiral - but to Naomi, it's a subtle but pervasive tax on the Prosperity of everyone who lives here.

After a lot of work persuading some of the wealthier Apulian merchants and key [[arbiter|arbiters]], Naomi is able to persuade them to back an attempt to solve the problem. The solution is simple enough, and for once, Naomi 's idea requires relatively little upfront investment. If the Empire can muster enough military units to directly attack the threats in Spiral, then that the inhabitants of the territory would be able to get on top of the problem. If that could be achieved, it would only need a little support on an ongoing basis to keep the threats under control. Naomi likens it to weeding an overgrown garden - it requires a lot more effort to get the weeds under control than it does to keep it that way.

If her proposal is successful, then it wouldn't just help to make Spiral safer, it would boost Prosperity and taxation in the territory and free up numerous [[sentinel|sentinels]], and [[bravo|bravos]] to find work elsewhere, which would make efforts by military units based in the territory more profitable. The challenge is logistics - getting enough volunteers for the dangerous work won't be easy.

For that to happen, will require a suitably worded Statement of Principle in support of the [[venture]] in both the League and the Urizen Assembly. If both passed in the same season, the proposal would draw enough support from both League and Urizen backers to be viable. That would create a new questing venture, Swords Against Darkness, which would be available to League and Urizen military units (and Dawn since it's more trouble than it's worth to keep their glory hunters away from a quest). With the backing of wealthy patrons, the venture would provide 3 mana crystals and two liao to any standard military unit taking part. A military unit with at least 200 effective strength (from upgrades or rituals) would receive a [[Circlet of Falling Snow]] as part of their rewards. The potential returns aren't great - but of course the Senate could always apply the Guerdon to the expedition.

The venture would last for a year - but if at least 2000 strength of military units undertook the venture on three seasons out of the four, then the venture would remain available for the foreseeable future. If that happened, then the taxation of the territory would permanently increase by 6 thrones a season and the current penalty to military units from the {{Black Plateau}} would be permanently removed.

Given the plan needs the support of enough military units over the coming year, there's a brief discussion of whether it would be easier to just send an army to do it. It wouldn't be a cheap option - armies operating in Spiral suffer badly, but the idea is abandoned when the real cost becomes clear. Sending in an army to attack hundreds or more enemies is almost certain to rouse the {{Black Plateau}} still further. Dozens of small scale operations to hunt down dangerous individuals will be fine - an attempt to have thousands of soldiers comb the mountain side would not...
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=LeagueDrawing.jpg|align=right|caption=The people of the League are adept at finding ingenious solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems.|width=250}}</div>
==Spiral and Zenith==
* '''Building a road to connect southern Spiral with Zenith could bring significant benefits
* '''The special ushabti created at the Crucible of Fate would work well in the Legacy
Since it was recovered from the [[Druj]], the Urizen territory of Zenith has seen significant investment in its prosperity. Between the restoration of the [[Zenith#Proceris|Golden Cascade]] and the establishment of the [[Zenith#Crucible of Fate|Crucible of Fate]], great wealth has accrued to the spires north of Spiral. Some of that wealth has filtered through to the spires of Spiral - via the [[Zenith#Bridge_of_the_Air|Bridge of the Air]] in particular - but Naomi believes that more could be done. She is very interested in fostering more communication between the arcanists and [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisans]] of Zenith and their opposite numbers in the city of Apulian.

At the moment, while the Bridge of the Air provides benefits to the people of Spiral, the ''skyway'' is mostly restricted to the northern and western mountains. However, the success of [[Spiral#Curstag's_Way|Curstag's Way]] presents obvious opportunities. The highway is already proving to be a success, both for its ease of use and the well-protected hostelries along its length. After consulting with [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Lucia, Sheeva, Tressida and Croilus]], Naomi proposes to build on that success - much as the they intimated might be the case when [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|the four first proposed the new road]].

The Grendel have laid in cursory highways between Apulian and the [[Legacy]]; Naomi suggests that it would be possible to expand those roads, and most importantly the stopping points along their length, up through the [[Spiral#The_Passes|Twilight Gate]] into [[Zenith#Proceris|Proceris]], there to connect with a major artery of the Bridge of the Sky connecting the farms around the Golden Cascade to the Crucible of Fate. Running through Apstrus and Ossuary, the route would give [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]] a wide berth but would provide a useful trade connection not only for Apulian, but for the spires both in Spiral and Zenith, and potentially to the Imperial orcs in Mareave as well.

===Northern Way===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Northern Way'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulian, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of white granite, 30 wains of mithril, 240 Crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Master of Rings commissions the road 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Urizen Assembly supports the road with a suitably worded statement of principle, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Raises the level of investment in Zenith by one providing 36 rings for each business in the territory
* Removes the penalty to businesses in Spiral from the {{Black Plateau}}
* Enables the Crucible of Fate to boost the output of the Legacy and upgrade personal resources
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A great work investing in roads between Apulian and Zenith would boost businesses in Zenith'''
* '''It would also remove the penalty imposed on businesses by the {{Black Plateau}}'''
Naomi isn't worried about what the road is called, apart from to note with amusement that the chances it will be called the ''Northern Calumo-Sheeva-Nightshadow Highway'' are vanishingly low. Whoever commissions it will determine how it is referred to in official documents. It builds on the success of Curstag's Way, providing not only a safe and reliable route through the lowlands but plenty of specifically established stopping places for caravans and travellers protected by the power of [[Spiral#The_Block|the block]].

The costs will be greater than those associated with Curstag's Way, as it must pass through much more difficult terrain. The immediate benefits will accrue not in Spiral, but in Zenith. Easing trade between Urizen and the League allows the benefits of cargos brought into Apulian to be felt in Zenith, and creates new markets for Urizen goods - especially books and magic items. This would represent another level of investment in Zenith, over and above that provided by the Bridge of the Sky.

Securing a second - and arguably more lucrative - trade route through Spiral to Apulian would also provide significant benefits to businesses and farms in the territory. The impact of the {{Black Plateau}} is particularly acute on those moving cargoes overland through the territory. With regular stopping places, and a road to speed travel, this impact would be almost entirely mitigated. The penalty to businesses from the plateau would be cancelled as long as the roads were operable.

The project is expensive, but the costs could be cut slightly if the project has the clear backing of prominent citizens of Urizen and the League. If the Master of Rings commissions the road, 6 wains of white granite will be provided by enthusiastic League citizens. If the Urizen Assembly passes a suitably worded statement of principle in support of the new road then 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Urizen.jpg|align=right|caption=The people of Urizen have rebuilt Zenith in the wake of the [[Druj]] occupation. Their mastery of the form and function of the ''ushabti'' goes from strength to strength.|width=250}}</div>
===Dark Depths===
* '''Completing the Northern Way could enable the Architect of the Crucible to employ members of League artisan guilds'''
* '''Employing more artisans would enable the Architect to boost production of the legacy'''
* '''It would also restore and extend the ability to upgrade personal resources'''

The road would obviously run past the Legacy; while the raw mithril here shelters the miners from the dank miasma of the plateau while they are working it still requires the Senate to pay a significant dividend to attract those workers to the location. With an easy route between Zenith and Spiral, however, another opportunity presents itself.

At the moment, the [[Architect of the Crucible]] is providing [[Architect_of_the_Crucible#Miracle_And_Wonder|specialist ushabti]] to the [[Brilliant Star]] in Redoubt. These ushabti are designed to operate in the deadly light that infuses the mines, a legacy of [[Cold Sun]]. Rather than support the Brilliant Star, the Architect of the Crucible, could instead create a workforce of ushabti infused with weirwood and mithril could to help operate the Legacy. That would boost the output of the Legacy by three wains of mithril at the cost, but production at the Star would drop by the same amount.

What is really needed is a way to expand the output of the Crucible of Fate. As is common with Urizeni structures, the facility is large and spacious; the problem is getting enough skilled artisans to work the forges. Urizen has never been a very populous nation, and there simply aren't enough artisans available to make it worthwhile running the forges night and day.

However there are more than enough League artisans in the various guilds that have moved to Apulian who are eagerly looking for work. If the Architect of the Crucible invited them to travel to the Crucible of Fate, then they could quickly learn how to make ushabti and once they had mastered the arts it would significantly improve the Architect's capacity to create ushabti.

If the Northern Way is completed, then at any time the Architect of the Crucible could email {{plot}} and indicate that they are overseeing the creation of ushabti for the Legacy rather than the Brilliant Star. That would reduce the output of the Star by 3 wains and increase the output of the Legacy by 3 wains.

Alternatively the Architect could email {{plot}} to indicate that they are inviting League artisans to come to the Crucible to learn how to make ushabti. With the benefit of so many additional artisans, the output of the Crucible would double - the Architect could support the Legacy and the Brilliant Star, increasing the output of both bourse resources.

In addition, the extra workforce would restore the ability of the Architect of the Crucible to upgrade personal resources. With Spiral back in Imperial control and League magicians receiving training in the creation, use and maintenance of ushabti, it would be possible for the Architect of the Crucible to upgrade League or Urizen personal resources in Spiral.

Once each season during [[downtime]], the Architect of the Crucible could select a single Urizen or League character with a mine, forest, herb garden, farm, or business in [[Morrow]], [[Redoubt]], [[Spiral]] or [[Zenith]], and commission the artisans at the Crucible to create bespoke ushabti for them. This would upgrade their personal resource by one level at a cost of three thrones for each level it is being upgraded to (so to upgrade a standard resource costs six thrones, while a level three resource would require twelve thrones to upgrade to level four). This is in place of all other costs - no [[mithril]], [[white granite]], or [[weirwood]] is required.

Of course the Architect of the Crucible might not want to share the secrets of ushabti with members of the League. That would be a decision that was down to them. But in either case, nothing could happen until the proposed Northern Way was completed.

==The Dark Mesa==
* '''The opportunity to build a fortification designed to enclose the {{Black Plateau}} is still viable'''
* '''The proposal for Oblivion's Edge would mitigate the impact of fighting in the territory for a season'''
* '''As long as the Block remains in tact it would also reduce the impact of the Plateau on life in inhabited areas of Spiral'''
* '''This proposal completely replaces the previous details for the creation of Oblivion's Edge'''

<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Oblivion's Edge'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' The {{Black Plateau}}, Screed, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 white granite, 20 mithril and 300 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 4 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 10 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a level one fortification in Screed
* Removes the threat from naifs in the territory
* Would help to defend against any direct attack on the {{Black Plateau}}
* Provides spartan accommodation for the Oblivion Sentinel
* Would prevent the {{Black Plateau}} being roused by a single season of fighting in the territory
* Raises taxation by 4 thrones a season
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* If the Imperial Senate build the fortification and change the position to a League and Urizeni national appointment then the title would gain donations worth 5 crystal fire each year and 20 crowns per season
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
As part of their work to assess the threats present in Spiral and suggest ways to counter them, members of the [[Vigilance]] Assembly suggested the [[Our_eyes_in_Spiral#Oblivion's_Edge|construction of a fortification to enclose the {{Black Plateau}}]]. Their goal was to wall off access to the area, to prevent people blindly wandering into the most dangerous part of the territory, but also to prevent any opportunity for malicious actors - such as the Druj or the Grendel - from deliberately rousing it to violence by directly attacking it, as [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Leviathan_Wakes_(Spiral)|the Iron Helms did so dramatically five years ago]].

Of most interest to Naomi is the idea that the fortification might include mithril laced into the walls to try and contain some of the fell energies seeping out of the mesa. She has been charged with finding ways to improve the Prosperity of Spiral, but one of the first tenets of the Virtue enjoins people to "enjoy the fruits of your labour". It is harder than it should be to enjoy life in Spiral with the fearful shadow of the {{Black Plateau}} hanging over the territory. The more that can be done to contain it - the better people's lives will be.

Thus she is interested in the proposal to fortify Screed, because of the potential it offers to contain some of the fell energies leaching from the heights. The effects are small, but combined with the protections provided by [[Spiral#The_Block|the Block]] it would make life in Apulian and the lofty spires in the mountains much more liveable. At least it will for as long as the great mithril structure remains in good working order, which should be fine provided relations with the Cinion rebels who control the Block remain stable.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Ylenwe001.webp|caption=[[Ylenwe]], the Dove of the Morning, offers some protection from the malign influence that fills the air in Spiral.|align=left|width=200}}</div>
Thus, Naomi has spent time revising the original proposals to bring them up to date with the latest techniques. The fortification would not be cheap - it would require 80 wains of white granite and 20 mithril and take a year to build, but now that the Empire has given [[Ylenwe]] amity, Zie is prepared to shield the workers from the Dark Eye's baleful glare so the labour costs would be no higher than normal

The fortification would offer a number of benefits; it turns out the area is not as defensible as first assumed, but the bastion would make the region much harder to take (the region would require 20VPs to capture) and provide a base for a garrison to patrol Urizen. That would be enough to dissuade the Druj or the Grendel staging a lightning raid on the {{Black Plateau}} to try and trigger it.

The mithril spines incorporated into the structure would slow the flow of energy to and from the Plateau, That wouldn't completely remove the risks involved in fighting in the territory, it wouldn't even reduce the losses inflicted on armies, but it would mean that the plateau would not be triggered by a single season of campaigning in the territory - and it would mean there might be an [[opportunity]] to prevent an eruption if the fighting went on longer than a season. Far from ideal maybe, but still a lot safer than the current situation.

When the fortification was first put forward, there was a suggestion that building it would help to reassure League and Urizen citizens in Spiral that the Empire was not ignoring the dangers posed by the {{Black Plateau}}. Interest in the work of the [[Oblivion Sentinel]] has only grown since then and after some effort Naomi is able to convince various League guilds to offer 20 crowns in support of the position - to match the five crystal fire provided by the Deathless Caves - but on the proviso that the title becomes a League and Urizeni national appointment - (like the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep|Spider's Tollkeep]]). It's not these League businesses particularly want to control the title, but they want to know their senators have a say in who holds the position.

The real gains though are the improvements in quality of life for the folks living Apulian as well as the spires, citadels and temples that dot the mountains. Most of these structures are now protected by mithril filigree that shields people from the worst of the {{Black Plateau}} while they are indoors. Crucially as the density of buildings in Apulian continues to rise, people have noticed that some of the narrower streets are now benefitting in the same way.

If the fortification were built - then it wouldn't just protect Screed, it would ameliorate the impacts of the {{Black Plateau}} on anyone who is protected by the novel architectural techniques developed by Urizeni magicians. It would do nothing for the wilderness - that would remain a treacherous and dangerous landscape, one only the hardy or the foolhardy might contemplate - there is [[Damming_the_Doubt#The_Aid_of_the_Dove|a complimentary offer from Ylenwe]] that ''might'' be able help with that problem. But the fortification would mean that most citizens living in Spiral could go about their business without having to endure the constant pressure the Plateau creates while they were indoors.

That would be invaluable. Naomi calculates that taxation from the territory would rise by four thrones a season, but the real benefits would be to the everyday life of the people who live in Spiral. Their capacity to enjoy the fruits of their labours would be much improved.

==Further Reading==
* [[Spiral]]
* [[Ylenwe]]

* [[The moth for the star]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune, relating to dramaturgical eccentricities in Spiral
* [[Daybreak in Spiral]] - 387YE Summer wind of fortune, discussing events in Spiral as a whole
* [[Nightfall in Apulian]]- 387YE Summer wind of fortune discussing events in the city of Apulian
* [[Damming the Doubt]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune discussing options and concerns related to Solen's Doubt
* [[Our eyes in Spiral]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune summarising the situation in Spiral
* [[Million_miles_of_water#The_Way_Less_Taken|Million miles of water]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune introducing the opportunity to flood the Doubt

My friends are my estate

2026-02-27T21:39:07Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Dark Depths */ Giving mithril & white granite some space

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]

<ic>Arius didn't roll their eyes, but focused on making last minute adjustments to the plans laid out across the table. Their appointment with the prognosticator was in barely an hour and the architect still wasn't entirely happy with some of the details. Also, the Leaguers were arguing again, something which had become a theme every time they came together to discuss the plan.

"I'm sorry," said Karolin, trying to keep her patience. "But I do not see why this proposal requires a big statue in the middle of it. How does that promote the shipwright's arts exactly?"

Rafe shook his head, grin fixed, hands dancing as he talked as usual. "No, see, it makes perfect sense."

"But it's the ''mountebank''. They may be dressed up as the sailor, but in many ways that makes things worse given some of the resonances."

"Oh for sure," agreed Rafe in a way that made it clear he did not, in fact, agree with his colleague. "But also, think about it. As a mascot for Apulian it's ideal! Let me explain!"

"I doubt we can stop you," interjected Hyame d'Apulian. The orc was leant back in his chair, boots on the table, dividing his time between the conversation and a large box of chocolate-covered cherries balanced on his stomach. Rafe ignored him.

"Everyone talks about Apulian as the fifth city of the League," explained Rafe. "We'll always be the newest city, until the nation incorporates somewhere else, and even then we'll be listed ''after'' the other four. Tassato, Temeschwar, Sarvos, Holberg. They all have centuries of history."

"Apulian has centuries of history," interrupted Arius. The Urizen architect didn't look up from the plans scattered across the table between them. They leant forward as they spoke and made a slight adjustment to one of the diagrams. "Indeed, it could be argued that the city has ''more'' history than some of the League given my people were here before yours arrived on these shores."

"I don't disagree," said Rafe. "But also no. That was, without offence, Urizen history and that doesn't entirely count. You see?"

"I'm not sure I do..." began Arius, but Rafe continued speaking as if they had not spoken. The robed merrow closed their eyes momentarily, drawing their poise around them like a cloak, and continued tweaking the plans. Karolin noted their lips were quite thin, however, and suspected they were not used to being talked over.

"For hundreds of years it was a glorified town - no offence Arius - and then it was Grendel - and now it's League and I'm sorry but that counts for a great deal. But we're the newest child on the street, here. We've not really claimed our place. We're "the place the orcs came from" - no offence Hyame - and the "city below" where all the night magicians are dicking about - no offence Karolin - and that's about all the rest of the League thinks of us. The Mountebank is ''exactly'' the iconic presence we need. The upstart, the clever rascal, the spirit of transformation and... and..."

"Unleashed primal forces and destruction?" said Hyame, even more amused. The League orc dropped his feet from the table and leant forward. "Disguise and concealment? Dangerous emotions? Or given you've chosen the Sailor, a short-lived period of lavish entertainment that leaves you with a sword with no hilt? A blowhard and a braggart?"

Rafe coloured a little, but soldiered on.

"Look, I'm just saying. This is only part of it. I hear people saying we can't compete with Sarvos, or Holberg. We were barely in the great competition for paragons' sake! But I say where's your ''ambition''? What are we even ''here'' for if we ''don't'' compete with the other cities? If we don't nail our sails to the mast and show them that we are ''here'' and we are ''League''!"

"And a statue of the Sailor says all that does it?" Karolin asked quietly. Rafe fell silent, and huffed a great sigh.

"Well, only a bit. Unless... unless..." His eyes flared with light again, and he became animated again. "Unless we build the biggest goddam statue of the Sailor the world has ever seen and stick two fingers up to il Volpe and Sarvos! Then we'd ''really'' be sending a message to the rest of the League that we're coming after their crowns!"

As he'd spoken, Rafe had jumped up onto the table and posed dramatically, one foot in a plate of rice and the other on the plans for the new boatyard, two fingers raised in a traditional gesture of defiance. Hyame applauded, only slightly sarcastically. Karolin shook her head, face clouded with doubt.

Arius didn't roll their eyes, and held their peace, and not for the first time wondered why the League was like this, and why they were so drawn to their often misplaced enthusiasms. Not for the first time they promised themselves that when ''this'' project was done they would head back up into the mountains for a little peace and quiet... knowing as they did so they were fooling nobody least of all themselves.</ic>

<div style="float:left; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SenatorSpiral.jpg|caption='''Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian''', Senator for Spiral|align=left|width=350}}</div>
==Overview==
[[Spiral]], for centuries [[Urizen]] heartland, now part of [[the League]]. The transition has not been entirely trouble-free, but [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Urizen_of_the_Silver_Flame|the treaty with the Silver Flame]], the non-Imperial Urizen has tamped down the risk of open conflict. Members of the Synod have been attempting to heal the rift, with more positive sentiments emerging from both sides. The League Assembly endorsed [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_71|Isaia Pavone di Sarvos' statement of principle]] calling for people to ''"enjoy the fruits of both nations’ labour together, now and in years to come"'' with a greater majority. If the Urizen Assembly were a little less enthusiastic about [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_163|Halkyon of the Myriad Stream's complimentary statement]] that is perhaps understandable given the circumstances.

Where the two sides have managed to cooperate, the results have been impressive. Projects like [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Curstag's Way]] and [[Damming the Doubt]] demonstrate what can be achieved for both nations when they work together. During the Autumn Equinox, '''Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian''' the [[Senator]] for Spiral, proposed a timely [[appraisal]] to build on these successes by looking "for ways to draw on the best of League innovation and Urizen wisdom to bolster Spiral's prosperity." The Senate agreed, and as requested [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] was dispatched to explore [[opportunity|opportunities]] in the south-eastern Empire.

As is ever the case in Spiral, the work is made more difficult by the omnipresent yoke of the {{Black Plateau}}. The malignant force that squats at the centre of the [[territory]] exacerbates every bad feeling, every doubt, and if not checked seeps into the spirit of anyone who spends time in the territory. Urizen ingenuity in the form of [[Spiral#The Block|the Block]] has helped blunt its effects, at least in the remaining [[spire|spires]] and in the settlements of the League, but the rocky land between settlements remains difficult and dangerous.

Fleets, businesses, military units and farms are all suffering particularly badly from the effects of the {{Black Plateau}}. There's precious little point in trying to help farms, since there are so few of them, but it is clear that one of the simplest ways to boost the Prosperity of Spiral might be to find an approach that could mitigate the problems that the other resources are suffering.
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBLeague.jpg|align=right|width=300}}
==Situation in Spiral==
* '''Relations between the League citizens, and remaining Urizen citizens, are becoming easier
Some have compared the city of Apulian with [[Temeschwar]] - a League city with a similar past in that it combines [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Wisdom]] with League [[Ambition]]. While the Plateau remains a problem, recent developments have gone some way towards helping bolster the prosperity of Spiral. The creation of the [[Road_out_of_nowhere#Southern_Skyways|Bridge of the Air]] has seen several smaller "skyways" link isolated spires and settlements, ease passage through more difficult areas, and greatly improve trade between and through the mountains. The completion of [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Curstag's Way]], the grand highway that runs through southern Spiral and links [[Mareave]] to the rest of the Empire, has likewise done wonders for the wealth of the city of [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]] in particular.

Naomi is the ideal choice to try to bring League and Urizen minds together to work on the problem. She always focuses on finding the most diplomatic possible solution to the problems she is dispatched to examine. She is known to be adroit at identifying options that are best placed to satisfy the concerns of the people affected though she tends to concentrate on the best possible solution to a problem rather than the cheapest or the most efficient.
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBUrizen.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
The timing is also apposite - work on the [[Construct_Barossa_University_of_Dramaturgical_Arts|new College of the Dramaturgical Arts]] is underway, but the high costs involved have meant progress is slow. The College should prove a valuable boon for the territory, especially for those interested in the arts of [[Dramaturgy]], provided some way can be found to fund the development.

There are several areas, then, that Naomi has explored. The independent city-state of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] lies just to the south of Spiral and has recently become a "protectorate" of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] - a people known for their love of trade and enthusiasm for wealth who are already invested in the Empire. The city of Apulian is expanding and growing in leaps and bounds, clearly benefitting from the fusion of Urizeni and League magical lore. The spires of the highlands are rich in magical understanding, crystal mana, and magical metals.

==Night Sailing==
* '''Building a specialised dock in Apulian would remove the penalties suffered by Imperial fleets in Spiral'''
* '''It would also provide benefits to Spiral fleets engaged in espionage, scouting, and smuggling'''
* '''It could serve as a refuge for an Imperial navy'''
* '''It would bring more maritime trade into Apulian and increase taxation by 2 thrones a season'''

The city of Apulian is a bustling port with an eclectic feel. It grew slowly over the years, but the infusion of settlers, first the Grendel and then the League have ushered in two major waves of expansion. Now the docks are extensive, but syncretised, merging many different styles of architecture, Imperial and otherwise. Trade has grown with it, with more ships from foreign ports as well as vessels from Highguard and the Brass Coast seen entering the harbour.

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Obsidian Shipyard'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type: '''Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 35 wains of weirwood, 25 wains of mithril, 200 ingots of weltsilver, 180 crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the penalty suffered by fleets in Spiral due to the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}
* Raises the level of investment in Spiral for fleets taking a [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] action
* Raises the level of investment in Spiral for fleets trading with any Sarcophan port
* Lowers the level of investment in Spiral for fleets trading with any Sumaah or Commonwealth port
* Provides [[Shipyard#Refuge|refuge]] to Imperial navies
* Increases taxation by two thrones a season
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Increasing the costs to 85 weirwood, 50 mithril, 200 ingots of weltsilver and 405 crowns would increase the ''benefits'' to fleets to two ranks rather than one and increase the taxation by five thrones a season</td></tr>
</td></tr>
</table></div>

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;"><box>'''</big>Ambitious Statuary</big>'''<p>While the statue of the Sailor is integrated into the Obsidian Shipyards, it is not a rival to the Colossus of Sarvos. On the other hand, Ambition is a virtue and there's no reason it ''couldn't'' be a rival to the Colossus of Sarvos... All it would need is a little vision, some engineering know-how to scale it up a little, and a large amount of white granite.</p>

Whoever commissions the Obsidian Shipwrights could choose to increase the costs by 50 white granite, 25 mithril, and 225 crowns, and add an extra six months to the construction. The Sailor would then be a massive figure, gazing indulgently down on the docks and towering over the city of Apulian. Another wonder of the world! This would increase the level of investment in Spiral's fleets by another rank, fleets engaged in trade with Sarcophan or [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] actions would gain a total of two ranks. It would also increase the taxation by five thrones rather than two and further cement Apulian as a rival to Sarvos, as well as a centre of dramaturgical excellence.

One of the Urizen dramaturgists, incidentally, points out that whether a giant statue is built or not is besides the point because they argue that instead of the Sailor, the best choice for a statue on the Obsidian Shipwrights is [[the Witch]] who represents mysteries, common sense, and [[Prosperity]]. There's no reason that whoever commissions the construction couldn't specify that the statue should be of the Witch instead of the Sailor - either would work fine (other personae would be too dissonant with obfuscation to complement the work).</box></div>
The looming presence of {{Black Plateau}} remains the biggest impediment to further expansion of the trade. Until recently, moving goods and passengers across the Bay of Catazar by sail was preferable to travel under the Plateau's sinister gaze. The creation of Curstag's Way, complete with rest stops infused with mithril, made it easier to move goods by land in the territory. Could a similar solution benefit the Apulian docks?

While [[Spiral#The Block|the Block]] protects any structure properly infused with [[mithril]], that's little comfort to ship's crews. Among some of the first people to arrange an appointment with Naomi when she arrived in Apulian were a loose association of ship owners and merchant traders supported by members of the Purple Sail ''sodality''. While most were League citizens, there were a handful of Urizen interests represented as well as some [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and a merchant from [[Mareave#Beoaridh|Beoraidh]]. All were keen to find a way to ameliorate the effects of the Plateau on shipping.

Much discussion between various experts ensues, but in the end it is the seagoing expertise of Danilo di Tassato, a former gondolier and reckoner, and an Urizeni [[seer]], Procopius of the Shadow Moon that provides the answer. Between them they have developed a way to infuse [[mithril]] and [[weltsilver]] into the hulls and sails of ships to protect them from the {{Black Plateau}} by wrapping the vessel in whispers of shadow pulled from the Night realm. According to Procopius, it works because the enchantments woven into the ship make it harder for the {{Black Plateau}} to "see" the vessel, which has some rather disturbing implications. Regardless of how the magic works, a night-time trip across the bay in Danilo's converted [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumboat Sarcophan Bumboat] is enough to prove to Naomi and her team that the approach is undeniably effective.

The demonstration draws interest from many, including the Sarcophan ''College of Silent Voices'' and the League orcs of the [[Pebbles_drawn_from_a_heap#The_Circle_of_Black_Sand|Circle of Black Sand]]. Working together produces an ambitious proposal that might see Apulian eventually rival [[Sarvos]] as a seat of trade. The Obsidian Shipwrights would be an area of the docks dedicated both to building trading vessels, and refitting existing vessels with mithril traceries to protect them from the {{Black Plateau}}. A centrepiece of the construction would be a large mithril inlaid statue of the [[The_Mountebank#The_Sailor|Sailor]]. This raises a few eyebrows - the Sailor is a specific version of [[the Mountebank]] in [[dramaturgy]] associated with suspicious gifts, good times, and trouble. Yet they are also an excellent fit for magic that hides folk from unfriendly eyes. It would in no way rival the [[Sarvos#The_Colossus_of_Sarvos|Colossus of Sarvos]]... but it might send a message about the Ambitions of the people of Apulian.

The shipyards would remove the penalty suffered by fleets in Spiral due to the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}. However, the benefits go further than that. The Night magic would suffuse fleets based in the territory, allowing them to move quickly and quietly, making them excellent spies and smugglers. Every [[fleet]] based in Spiral, both League and Urizen, would receive a one rank bonus whenever they undertake a [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] action. Such vessels would also be well received in the Sarcophan Delves, providing the same bonus to any [[Fleet#Trading|trading]] action with the Delves - both the [[Foreign_ports#Sarcophan|city itself]], the [[Foreign ports#Betovering|Betovering docks]] but also the less accessible, satellite ports allowing improved access to the medicines of ''Moeraskriden'' or the contraband of ''Schedalhaven''.

Sadly the approach is not completely without drawbacks - the obfuscation provided by the lingering Night magics would inevitably cause consternation in Sumaash and Commonwealth ports. Both nations are sticklers for the rule of law, with little time for smugglers. The suspicion that such a vessel would be sure to arouse means every [[fleet]] based in Spiral, both League and Urizen, would receive a one rank penalty whenever they undertake any trading action with a port controlled by either nation.

This focus on swift, subtle vessels with low draughts means the Shipwrights would be unsuitable for creating an [[Imperial navy]]. Built in harmony with the magics coursing through Apulian, however, the Obsidian Shipwrights would provide a safe haven for warships - it would provide the [[Shipyard#Refuge|refuge]] benefit to a navy that docked in Apulian, where the [[Spiral#Apulian|Palace of Apulian]] provided further protection.

On which subject...

==Mellow Mists==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Palace of Mists'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification Upgrade</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 wains of white granite, 240 crowns, a year</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Improves the fortification at Apulian to rank two
* Forces attacking the region from the sea (such as [[Navy_orders#Shore_Offensive|shore offensive]] or the equivalent) suffer a 20% penalty to VPs
* Improves taxation by 5 thrones a season
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Naomi's proposal would upgrade the fortification at Apulian to rank two'''
* '''Forces using shore offensive or equivalent orders would suffer a twenty percent penalty to VPs'''
* '''Bolstering the defences would increase taxation by five thrones a season, offsetting some of the increased upkeep'''
The sea is the lifeblood of Apulian, but it brings with it additional threats. The [[Grendel]] have demonstrated their ruthless capacity to seize Imperial ports with their recent [[To ruin|attack on Elos]]. The [[Children of Wrecks]] have been [[Red_skies|defeated but not destroyed]]. The [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] warships that [[A beacon of smoke|burnt Siroc]] are still out there. Apulian is protected by the [[Spiral#Apulian|Palace of Apulian]] but there is a limit to what it can achieve, especially against a maritime threat.

League engineers and Urizen architects have worked together to address the problem that is the flip-side of a lot of Apulian's prosperity. Their proposal is to build on the foundation laid by Salt Lord Kaliact. The beautiful, well-fortified palace takes pride of place near the docks but there is more to expanding it's defences than simply building its walls up. Part of their inspiration comes, unsurprisingly, from the [[Sarvos#The_Great_Chain|Great Chain of Sarvos]], a mighty series of walls, towers, and barracks, coupled with great iron chains attached to blocks of white granite that can be raised or lowered to provide a serious obstacle to naval forces attempting a shore offensive aimed at capturing [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]]. Part of the defence incorporates a similar set of obstacles, but thanks to the ingenuity of both Urizen and the League there is more to their plan.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sadogua001d.webp|caption=Heralds of [[Sadogua]] have offered advice on ways to weave Night magic around Apulian.|align=left|width=200}}</div>
The [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] is a useful [[ritual]] that weaves wards of obfuscation and misdirection through an area of [[Region_qualities#Marsh|marshes]]. While [[Night magic]] is generally of [[War_magic#Night_Magic|limited usefulness]] in a war, the [[Night magic#Resonance|resonance]] of [[Night_magic#Obfuscation|obfuscation]] presents several opportunities to protect against assault. Urizen Seers calculate that it would be possible to permanently tap into some of the rich veins of Night magic that now permeate the city, and focus it across the coast of Apulian.

Keen eyes study the effectiveness of the walls of mist that surround [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#The_Lyceum|the Lyceum]], and the involvement of the eternal [[Sadogua]] in protecting that place. Heralds of the ''Black Sloth'' have been sought out - some Urizen make the long trek to the Marches to put some of those celebrating the [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs#Wassail|wassail]] there on the spot - and it seems that the ''Globbersnotch'' has provided some advice on ways to make the most of the magic in Apulian. While being a little shifty about Night magic and its relationship to the sea (recent [[historical research]] into the nature of eternals associated with the sea might provide some insight here).

Under the proposal, the Palace of Apulian would become the Palace of Mists, capable of calling up confusing fogs to misdirect invading ships and even armies attempting to attack Apulus. It would become a fully effective level two fortification, and in addition, any force attacking the region from the sea - any navy and armies using shore offensive - would suffer a 20% penalty to VPs.

The palace would require 80 wains of white granite and 30 thrones in labour costs, take a year to complete. It would increase the upkeep of the Palace by an additional 10 thrones each season, however, the presence of such a powerful defence protecting the port and the ships using it would boost trade in Spiral. As a result the taxation of the territory would increase by five thrones a season, offsetting half of the increased upkeep.
==Swords Against Darkness==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Swords Against Darkness'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires a statement of principle in support of raising swords against the darkness to pass the League and the Urizen Assembly in the same season.
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the Venture - Swords Against Darkness - available to League, Urizen military and Dawnish military units
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: HotPink;">'''Swords Against Darkness'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Venture Type:''' Questing</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' The League, Urizen and Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Duration:''' One year
<tr><td>'''Rewards:'''
* A standard military unit would receive 3 mana crystals and 2 liao
* A military unit that is enchanted or upgraded will receive proportionately more
* A rank 6 or higher military unit (from upgrades or rituals) will receive a Circlet of Fallen Snow as part of the rewards
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Duration becomes open-ended if supported by military units with a total effective strength of 2000 for at least three of the four seasons
* If that happens the taxation of Spiral will increase by 6 thrones and the penalty of military units from the {{Black Plateau}} will be removed
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The League and Urizen national assemblies could use a statement of principle to create a new questing venture in Spiral'''
* '''If enough military units undertake the venture over the next year then it will increase taxation by 6 thrones a season and remove the penalty on Spiral military units'''

One of the challenges in Urizen is that after three decades of war, and the chaos that followed, and the influence of the {{Black Plateau}}, the places between spires and outside the walls of Apulian and [[Spiral#Ballaghadruh|Ballaghadruh]], are filled with unknown dangers. Of course there are dangers in many of the less travelled parts of the Empire, but Spiral is particularly afflicted.

[[Our_eyes_in_Spiral#The_Lost|The Lost]] is the common term for those folk whose minds and spirits have been undone by the baleful glare of the plateau. They are not the only threat however - there are still remnants of the [[Druj]] insurgents and [[Grendel]] invaders, small groups of orcs belonging to neither nation hiding out in the wilds. There are also rumours of disciples of [[sword scholar|Sulemaine i Taziel]] hiding in the nooks and crannies of Spiral. These former sword scholars have decisively split with the Empire and represent a real threat to those who remain loyal. All in addition to the usual threats posed by dangerous creatures from the realms, unliving horrors, bandits and outlaws, and allegedly even some rogue ushabti.

Most [[spire|spires]] are sufficiently well-defended to be protect them against incursions and the city of Apulian is far too large to be threatened. As a result, many inhabitants of Spiral have been able to ignore these threats - the League can go about their business in Apulian, while the spires communicate via the heliopticon, and keep to the most well-trod routes when travelling. As a result, thus far, it has not been a pressing problem.
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: right;">
[[file:Assembly_League.png]]
[[file:Assembly_Urizen.png]]
</div>
Just because the threat is not urgent does not mean it is not important however. The Urizeni are having to employ extra sentinels to keep their spires safe - and can only travel abroad in large well-protected groups. League merchants moving cargo down the Great Apulian Way are struggling to hire enough guards to protect the caravans. Everywhere you look, there is a need for competent warriors to keep loyal Imperial citizens safe. To many that's just life in Spiral - but to Naomi, it's a subtle but pervasive tax on the Prosperity of everyone who lives here.

After a lot of work persuading some of the wealthier Apulian merchants and key [[arbiter|arbiters]], Naomi is able to persuade them to back an attempt to solve the problem. The solution is simple enough, and for once, Naomi 's idea requires relatively little upfront investment. If the Empire can muster enough military units to directly attack the threats in Spiral, then that the inhabitants of the territory would be able to get on top of the problem. If that could be achieved, it would only need a little support on an ongoing basis to keep the threats under control. Naomi likens it to weeding an overgrown garden - it requires a lot more effort to get the weeds under control than it does to keep it that way.

If her proposal is successful, then it wouldn't just help to make Spiral safer, it would boost Prosperity and taxation in the territory and free up numerous [[sentinel|sentinels]], and [[bravo|bravos]] to find work elsewhere, which would make efforts by military units based in the territory more profitable. The challenge is logistics - getting enough volunteers for the dangerous work won't be easy.

For that to happen, will require a suitably worded Statement of Principle in support of the [[venture]] in both the League and the Urizen Assembly. If both passed in the same season, the proposal would draw enough support from both League and Urizen backers to be viable. That would create a new questing venture, Swords Against Darkness, which would be available to League and Urizen military units (and Dawn since it's more trouble than it's worth to keep their glory hunters away from a quest). With the backing of wealthy patrons, the venture would provide 3 mana crystals and two liao to any standard military unit taking part. A military unit with at least 200 effective strength (from upgrades or rituals) would receive a [[Circlet of Falling Snow]] as part of their rewards. The potential returns aren't great - but of course the Senate could always apply the Guerdon to the expedition.

The venture would last for a year - but if at least 2000 strength of military units undertook the venture on three seasons out of the four, then the venture would remain available for the foreseeable future. If that happened, then the taxation of the territory would permanently increase by 6 thrones a season and the current penalty to military units from the {{Black Plateau}} would be permanently removed.

Given the plan needs the support of enough military units over the coming year, there's a brief discussion of whether it would be easier to just send an army to do it. It wouldn't be a cheap option - armies operating in Spiral suffer badly, but the idea is abandoned when the real cost becomes clear. Sending in an army to attack hundreds or more enemies is almost certain to rouse the {{Black Plateau}} still further. Dozens of small scale operations to hunt down dangerous individuals will be fine - an attempt to have thousands of soldiers comb the mountain side would not...
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=LeagueDrawing.jpg|align=right|caption=The people of the League are adept at finding ingenious solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems.|width=250}}</div>
==Spiral and Zenith==
* '''Building a road to connect southern Spiral with Zenith could bring significant benefits
* '''The special ushabti created at the Crucible of Fate would work well in the Legacy
Since it was recovered from the [[Druj]], the Urizen territory of Zenith has seen significant investment in its prosperity. Between the restoration of the [[Zenith#Proceris|Golden Cascade]] and the establishment of the [[Zenith#Crucible of Fate|Crucible of Fate]], great wealth has accrued to the spires north of Spiral. Some of that wealth has filtered through to the spires of Spiral - via the [[Zenith#Bridge_of_the_Air|Bridge of the Air]] in particular - but Naomi believes that more could be done. She is very interested in fostering more communication between the arcanists and [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisans]] of Zenith and their opposite numbers in the city of Apulian.

At the moment, while the Bridge of the Air provides benefits to the people of Spiral, the ''skyway'' is mostly restricted to the northern and western mountains. However, the success of [[Spiral#Curstag's_Way|Curstag's Way]] presents obvious opportunities. The highway is already proving to be a success, both for its ease of use and the well-protected hostelries along its length. After consulting with [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Lucia, Sheeva, Tressida and Croilus]], Naomi proposes to build on that success - much as the they intimated might be the case when [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|the four first proposed the new road]].

The Grendel have laid in cursory highways between Apulian and the [[Legacy]]; Naomi suggests that it would be possible to expand those roads, and most importantly the stopping points along their length, up through the [[Spiral#The_Passes|Twilight Gate]] into [[Zenith#Proceris|Proceris]], there to connect with a major artery of the Bridge of the Sky connecting the farms around the Golden Cascade to the Crucible of Fate. Running through Apstrus and Ossuary, the route would give [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]] a wide berth but would provide a useful trade connection not only for Apulian, but for the spires both in Spiral and Zenith, and potentially to the Imperial orcs in Mareave as well.

===Northern Way===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Northern Way'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulian, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of white granite, 30 wains of mithril, 240 Crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Master of Rings commissions the road 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Urizen Assembly supports the road with a suitably worded statement of principle, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Raises the level of investment in Zenith by one providing 36 rings for each business in the territory
* Removes the penalty to businesses in Spiral from the {{Black Plateau}}
* Enables the Crucible of Fate to boost the output of the Legacy and upgrade personal resources
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A great work investing in roads between Apulian and Zenith would boost businesses in Zenith'''
* '''It would also remove the penalty imposed on businesses by the {{Black Plateau}}'''
Naomi isn't worried about what the road is called, apart from to note with amusement that the chances it will be called the ''Northern Calumo-Sheeva-Nightshadow Highway'' are vanishingly low. Whoever commissions it will determine how it is referred to in official documents. It builds on the success of Curstag's Way, providing not only a safe and reliable route through the lowlands but plenty of specifically established stopping places for caravans and travellers protected by the power of [[Spiral#The_Block|the block]].

The costs will be greater than those associated with Curstag's Way, as it must pass through much more difficult terrain. The immediate benefits will accrue not in Spiral, but in Zenith. Easing trade between Urizen and the League allows the benefits of cargos brought into Apulian to be felt in Zenith, and creates new markets for Urizen goods - especially books and magic items. This would represent another level of investment in Zenith, over and above that provided by the Bridge of the Sky.

Securing a second - and arguably more lucrative - trade route through Spiral to Apulian would also provide significant benefits to businesses and farms in the territory. The impact of the {{Black Plateau}} is particularly acute on those moving cargoes overland through the territory. With regular stopping places, and a road to speed travel, this impact would be almost entirely mitigated. The penalty to businesses from the plateau would be cancelled as long as the roads were operable.

The project is expensive, but the costs could be cut slightly if the project has the clear backing of prominent citizens of Urizen and the League. If the Master of Rings commissions the road, 6 wains of white granite will be provided by enthusiastic League citizens. If the Urizen Assembly passes a suitably worded statement of principle in support of the new road then 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Urizen.jpg|align=right|caption=The people of Urizen have rebuilt Zenith in the wake of the [[Druj]] occupation. Their mastery of the form and function of the ''ushabti'' goes from strength to strength.|width=250}}</div>
===Dark Depths===
* '''Completing the Northern Way could enable the Architect of the Crucible to employ members of League artisan guilds'''
* '''Employing more artisans would enable the Architect to boost production of the legacy'''
* '''It would also restore and extend the ability to upgrade personal resources'''

The road would obviously run past the Legacy; while the raw mithril here shelters the miners from the dank miasma of the plateau while they are working it still requires the Senate to pay a significant dividend to attract those workers to the location. With an easy route between Zenith and Spiral, however, another opportunity presents itself.

At the moment, the [[Architect of the Crucible]] is providing [[Architect_of_the_Crucible#Miracle_And_Wonder|specialist ushabti]] to the [[Brilliant Star]] in Redoubt. These ushabti are designed to operate in the deadly light that infuses the mines, a legacy of [[Cold Sun]]. Rather than support the Brilliant Star, the Architect of the Crucible, could instead create a workforce of ushabti infused with weirwood and mithril could to help operate the Legacy. That would boost the output of the Legacy by three wains of mithril at the cost, but production at the Star would drop by the same amount.

What is really needed is a way to expand the output of the Crucible of Fate. As is common with Urizeni structures, the facility is large and spacious; the problem is getting enough skilled artisans to work the forges. Urizen has never been a very populous nation, and there simply aren't enough artisans available to make it worthwhile running the forges night and day.

However there are more than enough League artisans in the various guilds that have moved to Apulian who are eagerly looking for work. If the Architect of the Crucible invited them to travel to the Crucible of Fate, then they could quickly learn how to make ushabti and once they had mastered the arts it would significantly improve the Architect's capacity to create ushabti.

If the Northern Way is completed, then at any time the Architect of the Crucible could email {{plot}} and indicate that they are overseeing the creation of ushabti for the Legacy rather than the Brilliant Star. That would reduce the output of the Star by 3 wains and increase the output of the Legacy by 3 wains.

Alternatively the Architect could email {{plot}} to indicate that they are inviting League artisans to come to the Crucible to learn how to make ushabti. With the benefit of so many additional artisans, the output of the Crucible would double - the Architect could support the Legacy and the Brilliant Star, increasing the output of both bourse resources.

In addition, the extra workforce would restore the ability of the Architect of the Crucible to upgrade personal resources. With Spiral back in Imperial control and League magicians receiving training in the creation, use and maintenance of ushabti, it would be possible for the Architect of the Crucible to upgrade League or Urizen personal resources in Spiral.

Once each season during [[downtime]], the Architect of the Crucible could select a single Urizen or League character with a mine, forest, herb garden, farm, or business in [[Morrow]], [[Redoubt]], [[Spiral]] or [[Zenith]], and commission the artisans at the Crucible to create bespoke ushabti for them. This would upgrade their personal resource by one level at a cost of three thrones for each level it is being upgraded to (so to upgrade a standard resource costs six thrones, while a level three resource would require twelve thrones to upgrade to level four). This is in place of all other costs - no [[mithril]], [[white granite]], or [[weirwood]] is required.

Of course the Architect of the Crucible might not want to share the secrets of ushabti with members of the League. That would be a decision that was down to them. But in either case, nothing could happen until the proposed Northern Way was completed.

==The Dark Mesa==
* '''The opportunity to build a fortification designed to enclose the {{Black Plateau}} is still viable'''
* '''The proposal for Oblivion's Edge would mitigate the impact of fighting in the territory for a season'''
* '''As long as the Block remains in tact it would also reduce the impact of the Plateau on life in inhabited areas of Spiral'''
* '''This proposal completely replaces the previous details for the creation of Oblivion's Edge'''

<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Oblivion's Edge'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' The {{Black Plateau}}, Screed, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 white granite, 20 mithril and 300 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 4 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 10 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a level one fortification in Screed
* Removes the threat from naifs in the territory
* Would help to defend against any direct attack on the {{Black Plateau}}
* Provides spartan accommodation for the Oblivion Sentinel
* Would prevent the {{Black Plateau}} being roused by a single season of fighting in the territory
* Raises taxation by 4 thrones a season
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* If the Imperial Senate build the fortification and change the position to a League and Urizeni national appointment then the title would gain donations worth 5 crystal fire each year and 20 crowns per season
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
As part of their work to assess the threats present in Spiral and suggest ways to counter them, members of the [[Vigilance]] Assembly suggested the [[Our_eyes_in_Spiral#Oblivion's_Edge|construction of a fortification to enclose the {{Black Plateau}}]]. Their goal was to wall off access to the area, to prevent people blindly wandering into the most dangerous part of the territory, but also to prevent any opportunity for malicious actors - such as the Druj or the Grendel - from deliberately rousing it to violence by directly attacking it, as [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Leviathan_Wakes_(Spiral)|the Iron Helms did so dramatically five years ago]].

Of most interest to Naomi is the idea that the fortification might include mithril laced into the walls to try and contain some of the fell energies seeping out of the mesa. She has been charged with finding ways to improve the Prosperity of Spiral, but one of the first tenets of the Virtue enjoins people to "enjoy the fruits of your labour". It is harder than it should be to enjoy life in Spiral with the fearful shadow of the {{Black Plateau}} hanging over the territory. The more that can be done to contain it - the better people's lives will be.

Thus she is interested in the proposal to fortify Screed, because of the potential it offers to contain some of the fell energies leaching from the heights. The effects are small, but combined with the protections provided by [[Spiral#The_Block|the Block]] it would make life in Apulian and the lofty spires in the mountains much more liveable. At least it will for as long as the great mithril structure remains in good working order, which should be fine provided relations with the Cinion rebels who control the Block remain stable.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Ylenwe001.webp|caption=[[Ylenwe]], the Dove of the Morning, offers some protection from the malign influence that fills the air in Spiral.|align=left|width=200}}</div>
Thus, Naomi has spent time revising the original proposals to bring them up to date with the latest techniques. The fortification would not be cheap - it would require 80 wains of white granite and 20 mithril and take a year to build, but now that the Empire has given [[Ylenwe]] amity, Zie is prepared to shield the workers from the Dark Eye's baleful glare so the labour costs would be no higher than normal

The fortification would offer a number of benefits; it turns out the area is not as defensible as first assumed, but the bastion would make the region much harder to take (the region would require 20VPs to capture) and provide a base for a garrison to patrol Urizen. That would be enough to dissuade the Druj or the Grendel staging a lightning raid on the {{Black Plateau}} to try and trigger it.

The mithril spines incorporated into the structure would slow the flow of energy to and from the Plateau, That wouldn't completely remove the risks involved in fighting in the territory, it wouldn't even reduce the losses inflicted on armies, but it would mean that the plateau would not be triggered by a single season of campaigning in the territory - and it would mean there might be an [[opportunity]] to prevent an eruption if the fighting went on longer than a season. Far from ideal maybe, but still a lot safer than the current situation.

When the fortification was first put forward, there was a suggestion that building it would help to reassure League and Urizen citizens in Spiral that the Empire was not ignoring the dangers posed by the {{Black Plateau}}. Interest in the work of the [[Oblivion Sentinel]] has only grown since then and after some effort Naomi is able to convince various League guilds to offer 20 crowns in support of the position - to match the five crystal fire provided by the Deathless Caves - but on the proviso that the title becomes a League and Urizeni national appointment - (like the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep|Spider's Tollkeep]]). It's not these League businesses particularly want to control the title, but they want to know their senators have a say in who holds the position.

The real gains though are the improvements in quality of life for the folks living Apulian as well as the spires, citadels and temples that dot the mountains. Most of these structures are now protected by mithril filigree that shields people from the worst of the {{Black Plateau}} while they are indoors. Crucially as the density of buildings in Apulian continues to rise, people have noticed that some of the narrower streets are now benefitting in the same way.

If the fortification were built - then it wouldn't just protect Screed, it would ameliorate the impacts of the {{Black Plateau}} on anyone who is protected by the novel architectural techniques developed by Urizeni magicians. It would do nothing for the wilderness - that would remain a treacherous and dangerous landscape, one only the hardy or the foolhardy might contemplate -there is [[Damming_the_Doubt#The_Aid_of_the_Dove|a complimentary offer from Ylenwe]] that ''might'' be able help with that problem. But the fortification would mean that most citizens living in Spiral could go about their business without having to endure the constant pressure the Plateau creates while they were indoors.

That would be invaluable. Naomi calculates that taxation from the territory would rise by four thrones a season, but the real benefits would be to the everyday life of the people who live in Spiral. Their capacity to enjoy the fruits of their labours would be much improved.
==Further Reading==
* [[Spiral]]
* [[Ylenwe]]

* [[The moth for the star]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune, relating to dramaturgical eccentricities in Spiral
* [[Daybreak in Spiral]] - 387YE Summer wind of fortune, discussing events in Spiral as a whole
* [[Nightfall in Apulian]]- 387YE Summer wind of fortune discussing events in the city of Apulian
* [[Damming the Doubt]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune discussing options and concerns related to Solen's Doubt
* [[Our eyes in Spiral]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune summarising the situation in Spiral
* [[Million_miles_of_water#The_Way_Less_Taken|Million miles of water]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune introducing the opportunity to flood the Doubt

My friends are my estate

2026-02-27T21:38:00Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Dark Depths */ redundant 'with'

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]

<ic>Arius didn't roll their eyes, but focused on making last minute adjustments to the plans laid out across the table. Their appointment with the prognosticator was in barely an hour and the architect still wasn't entirely happy with some of the details. Also, the Leaguers were arguing again, something which had become a theme every time they came together to discuss the plan.

"I'm sorry," said Karolin, trying to keep her patience. "But I do not see why this proposal requires a big statue in the middle of it. How does that promote the shipwright's arts exactly?"

Rafe shook his head, grin fixed, hands dancing as he talked as usual. "No, see, it makes perfect sense."

"But it's the ''mountebank''. They may be dressed up as the sailor, but in many ways that makes things worse given some of the resonances."

"Oh for sure," agreed Rafe in a way that made it clear he did not, in fact, agree with his colleague. "But also, think about it. As a mascot for Apulian it's ideal! Let me explain!"

"I doubt we can stop you," interjected Hyame d'Apulian. The orc was leant back in his chair, boots on the table, dividing his time between the conversation and a large box of chocolate-covered cherries balanced on his stomach. Rafe ignored him.

"Everyone talks about Apulian as the fifth city of the League," explained Rafe. "We'll always be the newest city, until the nation incorporates somewhere else, and even then we'll be listed ''after'' the other four. Tassato, Temeschwar, Sarvos, Holberg. They all have centuries of history."

"Apulian has centuries of history," interrupted Arius. The Urizen architect didn't look up from the plans scattered across the table between them. They leant forward as they spoke and made a slight adjustment to one of the diagrams. "Indeed, it could be argued that the city has ''more'' history than some of the League given my people were here before yours arrived on these shores."

"I don't disagree," said Rafe. "But also no. That was, without offence, Urizen history and that doesn't entirely count. You see?"

"I'm not sure I do..." began Arius, but Rafe continued speaking as if they had not spoken. The robed merrow closed their eyes momentarily, drawing their poise around them like a cloak, and continued tweaking the plans. Karolin noted their lips were quite thin, however, and suspected they were not used to being talked over.

"For hundreds of years it was a glorified town - no offence Arius - and then it was Grendel - and now it's League and I'm sorry but that counts for a great deal. But we're the newest child on the street, here. We've not really claimed our place. We're "the place the orcs came from" - no offence Hyame - and the "city below" where all the night magicians are dicking about - no offence Karolin - and that's about all the rest of the League thinks of us. The Mountebank is ''exactly'' the iconic presence we need. The upstart, the clever rascal, the spirit of transformation and... and..."

"Unleashed primal forces and destruction?" said Hyame, even more amused. The League orc dropped his feet from the table and leant forward. "Disguise and concealment? Dangerous emotions? Or given you've chosen the Sailor, a short-lived period of lavish entertainment that leaves you with a sword with no hilt? A blowhard and a braggart?"

Rafe coloured a little, but soldiered on.

"Look, I'm just saying. This is only part of it. I hear people saying we can't compete with Sarvos, or Holberg. We were barely in the great competition for paragons' sake! But I say where's your ''ambition''? What are we even ''here'' for if we ''don't'' compete with the other cities? If we don't nail our sails to the mast and show them that we are ''here'' and we are ''League''!"

"And a statue of the Sailor says all that does it?" Karolin asked quietly. Rafe fell silent, and huffed a great sigh.

"Well, only a bit. Unless... unless..." His eyes flared with light again, and he became animated again. "Unless we build the biggest goddam statue of the Sailor the world has ever seen and stick two fingers up to il Volpe and Sarvos! Then we'd ''really'' be sending a message to the rest of the League that we're coming after their crowns!"

As he'd spoken, Rafe had jumped up onto the table and posed dramatically, one foot in a plate of rice and the other on the plans for the new boatyard, two fingers raised in a traditional gesture of defiance. Hyame applauded, only slightly sarcastically. Karolin shook her head, face clouded with doubt.

Arius didn't roll their eyes, and held their peace, and not for the first time wondered why the League was like this, and why they were so drawn to their often misplaced enthusiasms. Not for the first time they promised themselves that when ''this'' project was done they would head back up into the mountains for a little peace and quiet... knowing as they did so they were fooling nobody least of all themselves.</ic>

<div style="float:left; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SenatorSpiral.jpg|caption='''Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian''', Senator for Spiral|align=left|width=350}}</div>
==Overview==
[[Spiral]], for centuries [[Urizen]] heartland, now part of [[the League]]. The transition has not been entirely trouble-free, but [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Urizen_of_the_Silver_Flame|the treaty with the Silver Flame]], the non-Imperial Urizen has tamped down the risk of open conflict. Members of the Synod have been attempting to heal the rift, with more positive sentiments emerging from both sides. The League Assembly endorsed [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_71|Isaia Pavone di Sarvos' statement of principle]] calling for people to ''"enjoy the fruits of both nations’ labour together, now and in years to come"'' with a greater majority. If the Urizen Assembly were a little less enthusiastic about [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_163|Halkyon of the Myriad Stream's complimentary statement]] that is perhaps understandable given the circumstances.

Where the two sides have managed to cooperate, the results have been impressive. Projects like [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Curstag's Way]] and [[Damming the Doubt]] demonstrate what can be achieved for both nations when they work together. During the Autumn Equinox, '''Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian''' the [[Senator]] for Spiral, proposed a timely [[appraisal]] to build on these successes by looking "for ways to draw on the best of League innovation and Urizen wisdom to bolster Spiral's prosperity." The Senate agreed, and as requested [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] was dispatched to explore [[opportunity|opportunities]] in the south-eastern Empire.

As is ever the case in Spiral, the work is made more difficult by the omnipresent yoke of the {{Black Plateau}}. The malignant force that squats at the centre of the [[territory]] exacerbates every bad feeling, every doubt, and if not checked seeps into the spirit of anyone who spends time in the territory. Urizen ingenuity in the form of [[Spiral#The Block|the Block]] has helped blunt its effects, at least in the remaining [[spire|spires]] and in the settlements of the League, but the rocky land between settlements remains difficult and dangerous.

Fleets, businesses, military units and farms are all suffering particularly badly from the effects of the {{Black Plateau}}. There's precious little point in trying to help farms, since there are so few of them, but it is clear that one of the simplest ways to boost the Prosperity of Spiral might be to find an approach that could mitigate the problems that the other resources are suffering.
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBLeague.jpg|align=right|width=300}}
==Situation in Spiral==
* '''Relations between the League citizens, and remaining Urizen citizens, are becoming easier
Some have compared the city of Apulian with [[Temeschwar]] - a League city with a similar past in that it combines [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Wisdom]] with League [[Ambition]]. While the Plateau remains a problem, recent developments have gone some way towards helping bolster the prosperity of Spiral. The creation of the [[Road_out_of_nowhere#Southern_Skyways|Bridge of the Air]] has seen several smaller "skyways" link isolated spires and settlements, ease passage through more difficult areas, and greatly improve trade between and through the mountains. The completion of [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Curstag's Way]], the grand highway that runs through southern Spiral and links [[Mareave]] to the rest of the Empire, has likewise done wonders for the wealth of the city of [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]] in particular.

Naomi is the ideal choice to try to bring League and Urizen minds together to work on the problem. She always focuses on finding the most diplomatic possible solution to the problems she is dispatched to examine. She is known to be adroit at identifying options that are best placed to satisfy the concerns of the people affected though she tends to concentrate on the best possible solution to a problem rather than the cheapest or the most efficient.
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBUrizen.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
The timing is also apposite - work on the [[Construct_Barossa_University_of_Dramaturgical_Arts|new College of the Dramaturgical Arts]] is underway, but the high costs involved have meant progress is slow. The College should prove a valuable boon for the territory, especially for those interested in the arts of [[Dramaturgy]], provided some way can be found to fund the development.

There are several areas, then, that Naomi has explored. The independent city-state of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] lies just to the south of Spiral and has recently become a "protectorate" of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] - a people known for their love of trade and enthusiasm for wealth who are already invested in the Empire. The city of Apulian is expanding and growing in leaps and bounds, clearly benefitting from the fusion of Urizeni and League magical lore. The spires of the highlands are rich in magical understanding, crystal mana, and magical metals.

==Night Sailing==
* '''Building a specialised dock in Apulian would remove the penalties suffered by Imperial fleets in Spiral'''
* '''It would also provide benefits to Spiral fleets engaged in espionage, scouting, and smuggling'''
* '''It could serve as a refuge for an Imperial navy'''
* '''It would bring more maritime trade into Apulian and increase taxation by 2 thrones a season'''

The city of Apulian is a bustling port with an eclectic feel. It grew slowly over the years, but the infusion of settlers, first the Grendel and then the League have ushered in two major waves of expansion. Now the docks are extensive, but syncretised, merging many different styles of architecture, Imperial and otherwise. Trade has grown with it, with more ships from foreign ports as well as vessels from Highguard and the Brass Coast seen entering the harbour.

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Obsidian Shipyard'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type: '''Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 35 wains of weirwood, 25 wains of mithril, 200 ingots of weltsilver, 180 crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the penalty suffered by fleets in Spiral due to the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}
* Raises the level of investment in Spiral for fleets taking a [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] action
* Raises the level of investment in Spiral for fleets trading with any Sarcophan port
* Lowers the level of investment in Spiral for fleets trading with any Sumaah or Commonwealth port
* Provides [[Shipyard#Refuge|refuge]] to Imperial navies
* Increases taxation by two thrones a season
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Increasing the costs to 85 weirwood, 50 mithril, 200 ingots of weltsilver and 405 crowns would increase the ''benefits'' to fleets to two ranks rather than one and increase the taxation by five thrones a season</td></tr>
</td></tr>
</table></div>

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;"><box>'''</big>Ambitious Statuary</big>'''<p>While the statue of the Sailor is integrated into the Obsidian Shipyards, it is not a rival to the Colossus of Sarvos. On the other hand, Ambition is a virtue and there's no reason it ''couldn't'' be a rival to the Colossus of Sarvos... All it would need is a little vision, some engineering know-how to scale it up a little, and a large amount of white granite.</p>

Whoever commissions the Obsidian Shipwrights could choose to increase the costs by 50 white granite, 25 mithril, and 225 crowns, and add an extra six months to the construction. The Sailor would then be a massive figure, gazing indulgently down on the docks and towering over the city of Apulian. Another wonder of the world! This would increase the level of investment in Spiral's fleets by another rank, fleets engaged in trade with Sarcophan or [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] actions would gain a total of two ranks. It would also increase the taxation by five thrones rather than two and further cement Apulian as a rival to Sarvos, as well as a centre of dramaturgical excellence.

One of the Urizen dramaturgists, incidentally, points out that whether a giant statue is built or not is besides the point because they argue that instead of the Sailor, the best choice for a statue on the Obsidian Shipwrights is [[the Witch]] who represents mysteries, common sense, and [[Prosperity]]. There's no reason that whoever commissions the construction couldn't specify that the statue should be of the Witch instead of the Sailor - either would work fine (other personae would be too dissonant with obfuscation to complement the work).</box></div>
The looming presence of {{Black Plateau}} remains the biggest impediment to further expansion of the trade. Until recently, moving goods and passengers across the Bay of Catazar by sail was preferable to travel under the Plateau's sinister gaze. The creation of Curstag's Way, complete with rest stops infused with mithril, made it easier to move goods by land in the territory. Could a similar solution benefit the Apulian docks?

While [[Spiral#The Block|the Block]] protects any structure properly infused with [[mithril]], that's little comfort to ship's crews. Among some of the first people to arrange an appointment with Naomi when she arrived in Apulian were a loose association of ship owners and merchant traders supported by members of the Purple Sail ''sodality''. While most were League citizens, there were a handful of Urizen interests represented as well as some [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and a merchant from [[Mareave#Beoaridh|Beoraidh]]. All were keen to find a way to ameliorate the effects of the Plateau on shipping.

Much discussion between various experts ensues, but in the end it is the seagoing expertise of Danilo di Tassato, a former gondolier and reckoner, and an Urizeni [[seer]], Procopius of the Shadow Moon that provides the answer. Between them they have developed a way to infuse [[mithril]] and [[weltsilver]] into the hulls and sails of ships to protect them from the {{Black Plateau}} by wrapping the vessel in whispers of shadow pulled from the Night realm. According to Procopius, it works because the enchantments woven into the ship make it harder for the {{Black Plateau}} to "see" the vessel, which has some rather disturbing implications. Regardless of how the magic works, a night-time trip across the bay in Danilo's converted [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumboat Sarcophan Bumboat] is enough to prove to Naomi and her team that the approach is undeniably effective.

The demonstration draws interest from many, including the Sarcophan ''College of Silent Voices'' and the League orcs of the [[Pebbles_drawn_from_a_heap#The_Circle_of_Black_Sand|Circle of Black Sand]]. Working together produces an ambitious proposal that might see Apulian eventually rival [[Sarvos]] as a seat of trade. The Obsidian Shipwrights would be an area of the docks dedicated both to building trading vessels, and refitting existing vessels with mithril traceries to protect them from the {{Black Plateau}}. A centrepiece of the construction would be a large mithril inlaid statue of the [[The_Mountebank#The_Sailor|Sailor]]. This raises a few eyebrows - the Sailor is a specific version of [[the Mountebank]] in [[dramaturgy]] associated with suspicious gifts, good times, and trouble. Yet they are also an excellent fit for magic that hides folk from unfriendly eyes. It would in no way rival the [[Sarvos#The_Colossus_of_Sarvos|Colossus of Sarvos]]... but it might send a message about the Ambitions of the people of Apulian.

The shipyards would remove the penalty suffered by fleets in Spiral due to the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}. However, the benefits go further than that. The Night magic would suffuse fleets based in the territory, allowing them to move quickly and quietly, making them excellent spies and smugglers. Every [[fleet]] based in Spiral, both League and Urizen, would receive a one rank bonus whenever they undertake a [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] action. Such vessels would also be well received in the Sarcophan Delves, providing the same bonus to any [[Fleet#Trading|trading]] action with the Delves - both the [[Foreign_ports#Sarcophan|city itself]], the [[Foreign ports#Betovering|Betovering docks]] but also the less accessible, satellite ports allowing improved access to the medicines of ''Moeraskriden'' or the contraband of ''Schedalhaven''.

Sadly the approach is not completely without drawbacks - the obfuscation provided by the lingering Night magics would inevitably cause consternation in Sumaash and Commonwealth ports. Both nations are sticklers for the rule of law, with little time for smugglers. The suspicion that such a vessel would be sure to arouse means every [[fleet]] based in Spiral, both League and Urizen, would receive a one rank penalty whenever they undertake any trading action with a port controlled by either nation.

This focus on swift, subtle vessels with low draughts means the Shipwrights would be unsuitable for creating an [[Imperial navy]]. Built in harmony with the magics coursing through Apulian, however, the Obsidian Shipwrights would provide a safe haven for warships - it would provide the [[Shipyard#Refuge|refuge]] benefit to a navy that docked in Apulian, where the [[Spiral#Apulian|Palace of Apulian]] provided further protection.

On which subject...

==Mellow Mists==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Palace of Mists'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification Upgrade</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 wains of white granite, 240 crowns, a year</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Improves the fortification at Apulian to rank two
* Forces attacking the region from the sea (such as [[Navy_orders#Shore_Offensive|shore offensive]] or the equivalent) suffer a 20% penalty to VPs
* Improves taxation by 5 thrones a season
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Naomi's proposal would upgrade the fortification at Apulian to rank two'''
* '''Forces using shore offensive or equivalent orders would suffer a twenty percent penalty to VPs'''
* '''Bolstering the defences would increase taxation by five thrones a season, offsetting some of the increased upkeep'''
The sea is the lifeblood of Apulian, but it brings with it additional threats. The [[Grendel]] have demonstrated their ruthless capacity to seize Imperial ports with their recent [[To ruin|attack on Elos]]. The [[Children of Wrecks]] have been [[Red_skies|defeated but not destroyed]]. The [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] warships that [[A beacon of smoke|burnt Siroc]] are still out there. Apulian is protected by the [[Spiral#Apulian|Palace of Apulian]] but there is a limit to what it can achieve, especially against a maritime threat.

League engineers and Urizen architects have worked together to address the problem that is the flip-side of a lot of Apulian's prosperity. Their proposal is to build on the foundation laid by Salt Lord Kaliact. The beautiful, well-fortified palace takes pride of place near the docks but there is more to expanding it's defences than simply building its walls up. Part of their inspiration comes, unsurprisingly, from the [[Sarvos#The_Great_Chain|Great Chain of Sarvos]], a mighty series of walls, towers, and barracks, coupled with great iron chains attached to blocks of white granite that can be raised or lowered to provide a serious obstacle to naval forces attempting a shore offensive aimed at capturing [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]]. Part of the defence incorporates a similar set of obstacles, but thanks to the ingenuity of both Urizen and the League there is more to their plan.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sadogua001d.webp|caption=Heralds of [[Sadogua]] have offered advice on ways to weave Night magic around Apulian.|align=left|width=200}}</div>
The [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] is a useful [[ritual]] that weaves wards of obfuscation and misdirection through an area of [[Region_qualities#Marsh|marshes]]. While [[Night magic]] is generally of [[War_magic#Night_Magic|limited usefulness]] in a war, the [[Night magic#Resonance|resonance]] of [[Night_magic#Obfuscation|obfuscation]] presents several opportunities to protect against assault. Urizen Seers calculate that it would be possible to permanently tap into some of the rich veins of Night magic that now permeate the city, and focus it across the coast of Apulian.

Keen eyes study the effectiveness of the walls of mist that surround [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#The_Lyceum|the Lyceum]], and the involvement of the eternal [[Sadogua]] in protecting that place. Heralds of the ''Black Sloth'' have been sought out - some Urizen make the long trek to the Marches to put some of those celebrating the [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs#Wassail|wassail]] there on the spot - and it seems that the ''Globbersnotch'' has provided some advice on ways to make the most of the magic in Apulian. While being a little shifty about Night magic and its relationship to the sea (recent [[historical research]] into the nature of eternals associated with the sea might provide some insight here).

Under the proposal, the Palace of Apulian would become the Palace of Mists, capable of calling up confusing fogs to misdirect invading ships and even armies attempting to attack Apulus. It would become a fully effective level two fortification, and in addition, any force attacking the region from the sea - any navy and armies using shore offensive - would suffer a 20% penalty to VPs.

The palace would require 80 wains of white granite and 30 thrones in labour costs, take a year to complete. It would increase the upkeep of the Palace by an additional 10 thrones each season, however, the presence of such a powerful defence protecting the port and the ships using it would boost trade in Spiral. As a result the taxation of the territory would increase by five thrones a season, offsetting half of the increased upkeep.
==Swords Against Darkness==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Swords Against Darkness'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires a statement of principle in support of raising swords against the darkness to pass the League and the Urizen Assembly in the same season.
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the Venture - Swords Against Darkness - available to League, Urizen military and Dawnish military units
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: HotPink;">'''Swords Against Darkness'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Venture Type:''' Questing</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' The League, Urizen and Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Duration:''' One year
<tr><td>'''Rewards:'''
* A standard military unit would receive 3 mana crystals and 2 liao
* A military unit that is enchanted or upgraded will receive proportionately more
* A rank 6 or higher military unit (from upgrades or rituals) will receive a Circlet of Fallen Snow as part of the rewards
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Duration becomes open-ended if supported by military units with a total effective strength of 2000 for at least three of the four seasons
* If that happens the taxation of Spiral will increase by 6 thrones and the penalty of military units from the {{Black Plateau}} will be removed
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The League and Urizen national assemblies could use a statement of principle to create a new questing venture in Spiral'''
* '''If enough military units undertake the venture over the next year then it will increase taxation by 6 thrones a season and remove the penalty on Spiral military units'''

One of the challenges in Urizen is that after three decades of war, and the chaos that followed, and the influence of the {{Black Plateau}}, the places between spires and outside the walls of Apulian and [[Spiral#Ballaghadruh|Ballaghadruh]], are filled with unknown dangers. Of course there are dangers in many of the less travelled parts of the Empire, but Spiral is particularly afflicted.

[[Our_eyes_in_Spiral#The_Lost|The Lost]] is the common term for those folk whose minds and spirits have been undone by the baleful glare of the plateau. They are not the only threat however - there are still remnants of the [[Druj]] insurgents and [[Grendel]] invaders, small groups of orcs belonging to neither nation hiding out in the wilds. There are also rumours of disciples of [[sword scholar|Sulemaine i Taziel]] hiding in the nooks and crannies of Spiral. These former sword scholars have decisively split with the Empire and represent a real threat to those who remain loyal. All in addition to the usual threats posed by dangerous creatures from the realms, unliving horrors, bandits and outlaws, and allegedly even some rogue ushabti.

Most [[spire|spires]] are sufficiently well-defended to be protect them against incursions and the city of Apulian is far too large to be threatened. As a result, many inhabitants of Spiral have been able to ignore these threats - the League can go about their business in Apulian, while the spires communicate via the heliopticon, and keep to the most well-trod routes when travelling. As a result, thus far, it has not been a pressing problem.
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: right;">
[[file:Assembly_League.png]]
[[file:Assembly_Urizen.png]]
</div>
Just because the threat is not urgent does not mean it is not important however. The Urizeni are having to employ extra sentinels to keep their spires safe - and can only travel abroad in large well-protected groups. League merchants moving cargo down the Great Apulian Way are struggling to hire enough guards to protect the caravans. Everywhere you look, there is a need for competent warriors to keep loyal Imperial citizens safe. To many that's just life in Spiral - but to Naomi, it's a subtle but pervasive tax on the Prosperity of everyone who lives here.

After a lot of work persuading some of the wealthier Apulian merchants and key [[arbiter|arbiters]], Naomi is able to persuade them to back an attempt to solve the problem. The solution is simple enough, and for once, Naomi 's idea requires relatively little upfront investment. If the Empire can muster enough military units to directly attack the threats in Spiral, then that the inhabitants of the territory would be able to get on top of the problem. If that could be achieved, it would only need a little support on an ongoing basis to keep the threats under control. Naomi likens it to weeding an overgrown garden - it requires a lot more effort to get the weeds under control than it does to keep it that way.

If her proposal is successful, then it wouldn't just help to make Spiral safer, it would boost Prosperity and taxation in the territory and free up numerous [[sentinel|sentinels]], and [[bravo|bravos]] to find work elsewhere, which would make efforts by military units based in the territory more profitable. The challenge is logistics - getting enough volunteers for the dangerous work won't be easy.

For that to happen, will require a suitably worded Statement of Principle in support of the [[venture]] in both the League and the Urizen Assembly. If both passed in the same season, the proposal would draw enough support from both League and Urizen backers to be viable. That would create a new questing venture, Swords Against Darkness, which would be available to League and Urizen military units (and Dawn since it's more trouble than it's worth to keep their glory hunters away from a quest). With the backing of wealthy patrons, the venture would provide 3 mana crystals and two liao to any standard military unit taking part. A military unit with at least 200 effective strength (from upgrades or rituals) would receive a [[Circlet of Falling Snow]] as part of their rewards. The potential returns aren't great - but of course the Senate could always apply the Guerdon to the expedition.

The venture would last for a year - but if at least 2000 strength of military units undertook the venture on three seasons out of the four, then the venture would remain available for the foreseeable future. If that happened, then the taxation of the territory would permanently increase by 6 thrones a season and the current penalty to military units from the {{Black Plateau}} would be permanently removed.

Given the plan needs the support of enough military units over the coming year, there's a brief discussion of whether it would be easier to just send an army to do it. It wouldn't be a cheap option - armies operating in Spiral suffer badly, but the idea is abandoned when the real cost becomes clear. Sending in an army to attack hundreds or more enemies is almost certain to rouse the {{Black Plateau}} still further. Dozens of small scale operations to hunt down dangerous individuals will be fine - an attempt to have thousands of soldiers comb the mountain side would not...
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=LeagueDrawing.jpg|align=right|caption=The people of the League are adept at finding ingenious solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems.|width=250}}</div>
==Spiral and Zenith==
* '''Building a road to connect southern Spiral with Zenith could bring significant benefits
* '''The special ushabti created at the Crucible of Fate would work well in the Legacy
Since it was recovered from the [[Druj]], the Urizen territory of Zenith has seen significant investment in its prosperity. Between the restoration of the [[Zenith#Proceris|Golden Cascade]] and the establishment of the [[Zenith#Crucible of Fate|Crucible of Fate]], great wealth has accrued to the spires north of Spiral. Some of that wealth has filtered through to the spires of Spiral - via the [[Zenith#Bridge_of_the_Air|Bridge of the Air]] in particular - but Naomi believes that more could be done. She is very interested in fostering more communication between the arcanists and [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisans]] of Zenith and their opposite numbers in the city of Apulian.

At the moment, while the Bridge of the Air provides benefits to the people of Spiral, the ''skyway'' is mostly restricted to the northern and western mountains. However, the success of [[Spiral#Curstag's_Way|Curstag's Way]] presents obvious opportunities. The highway is already proving to be a success, both for its ease of use and the well-protected hostelries along its length. After consulting with [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Lucia, Sheeva, Tressida and Croilus]], Naomi proposes to build on that success - much as the they intimated might be the case when [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|the four first proposed the new road]].

The Grendel have laid in cursory highways between Apulian and the [[Legacy]]; Naomi suggests that it would be possible to expand those roads, and most importantly the stopping points along their length, up through the [[Spiral#The_Passes|Twilight Gate]] into [[Zenith#Proceris|Proceris]], there to connect with a major artery of the Bridge of the Sky connecting the farms around the Golden Cascade to the Crucible of Fate. Running through Apstrus and Ossuary, the route would give [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]] a wide berth but would provide a useful trade connection not only for Apulian, but for the spires both in Spiral and Zenith, and potentially to the Imperial orcs in Mareave as well.

===Northern Way===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Northern Way'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulian, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of white granite, 30 wains of mithril, 240 Crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Master of Rings commissions the road 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Urizen Assembly supports the road with a suitably worded statement of principle, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Raises the level of investment in Zenith by one providing 36 rings for each business in the territory
* Removes the penalty to businesses in Spiral from the {{Black Plateau}}
* Enables the Crucible of Fate to boost the output of the Legacy and upgrade personal resources
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A great work investing in roads between Apulian and Zenith would boost businesses in Zenith'''
* '''It would also remove the penalty imposed on businesses by the {{Black Plateau}}'''
Naomi isn't worried about what the road is called, apart from to note with amusement that the chances it will be called the ''Northern Calumo-Sheeva-Nightshadow Highway'' are vanishingly low. Whoever commissions it will determine how it is referred to in official documents. It builds on the success of Curstag's Way, providing not only a safe and reliable route through the lowlands but plenty of specifically established stopping places for caravans and travellers protected by the power of [[Spiral#The_Block|the block]].

The costs will be greater than those associated with Curstag's Way, as it must pass through much more difficult terrain. The immediate benefits will accrue not in Spiral, but in Zenith. Easing trade between Urizen and the League allows the benefits of cargos brought into Apulian to be felt in Zenith, and creates new markets for Urizen goods - especially books and magic items. This would represent another level of investment in Zenith, over and above that provided by the Bridge of the Sky.

Securing a second - and arguably more lucrative - trade route through Spiral to Apulian would also provide significant benefits to businesses and farms in the territory. The impact of the {{Black Plateau}} is particularly acute on those moving cargoes overland through the territory. With regular stopping places, and a road to speed travel, this impact would be almost entirely mitigated. The penalty to businesses from the plateau would be cancelled as long as the roads were operable.

The project is expensive, but the costs could be cut slightly if the project has the clear backing of prominent citizens of Urizen and the League. If the Master of Rings commissions the road, 6 wains of white granite will be provided by enthusiastic League citizens. If the Urizen Assembly passes a suitably worded statement of principle in support of the new road then 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Urizen.jpg|align=right|caption=The people of Urizen have rebuilt Zenith in the wake of the [[Druj]] occupation. Their mastery of the form and function of the ''ushabti'' goes from strength to strength.|width=250}}</div>
===Dark Depths===
* '''Completing the Northern Way could enable the Architect of the Crucible to employ members of League artisan guilds'''
* '''Employing more artisans would enable the Architect to boost production of the legacy'''
* '''It would also restore and extend the ability to upgrade personal resources'''

The road would obviously run past the Legacy; while the raw mithril here shelters the miners from the dank miasma of the plateau while they are working it still requires the Senate to pay a significant dividend to attract those workers to the location. With an easy route between Zenith and Spiral, however, another opportunity presents itself.

At the moment, the [[Architect of the Crucible]] is providing [[Architect_of_the_Crucible#Miracle_And_Wonder|specialist ushabti]] to the [[Brilliant Star]] in Redoubt. These ushabti are designed to operate in the deadly light that infuses the mines, a legacy of [[Cold Sun]]. Rather than support the Brilliant Star, the Architect of the Crucible, could instead create a workforce of ushabti infused with weirwood and mithril could to help operate the Legacy. That would boost the output of the Legacy by three wains of mithril at the cost, but production at the Star would drop by the same amount.

What is really needed is a way to expand the output of the Crucible of Fate. As is common with Urizeni structures, the facility is large and spacious; the problem is getting enough skilled artisans to work the forges. Urizen has never been a very populous nation, and there simply aren't enough artisans available to make it worthwhile running the forges night and day.

However there are more than enough League artisans in the various guilds that have moved to Apulian who are eagerly looking for work. If the Architect of the Crucible invited them to travel to the Crucible of Fate, then they could quickly learn how to make ushabti and once they had mastered the arts it would significantly improve the Architect's capacity to create ushabti.

If the Northern Way is completed, then at any time the Architect of the Crucible could email {{plot}} and indicate that they are overseeing the creation of ushabti for the Legacy rather than the Brilliant Star. That would reduce the output of the Star by 3 wains and increase the output of the Legacy by 3 wains.

Alternatively the Architect could email {{plot}} to indicate that they are inviting League artisans to come to the Crucible to learn how to make ushabti. With the benefit of so many additional artisans, the output of the Crucible would double - the Architect could support the Legacy and the Brilliant Star, increasing the output of both bourse resources.

In addition, the extra workforce would restore the ability of the Architect of the Crucible to upgrade personal resources. With Spiral back in Imperial control and League magicians receiving training in the creation, use and maintenance of ushabti, it would be possible for the Architect of the Crucible to upgrade League or Urizen personal resources in Spiral.

Once each season during [[downtime]], the Architect of the Crucible could select a single Urizen or League character with a mine, forest, herb garden, farm, or business in [[Morrow]], [[Redoubt]], [[Spiral]] or [[Zenith]], and commission the artisans at the Crucible to create bespoke ushabti for them. This would upgrade their personal resource by one level at a cost of three thrones for each level it is being upgraded to (so to upgrade a standard resource costs six thrones, while a level three resource would require twelve thrones to upgrade to level four). This is in place of all other costs - no [[mithril]],[[white granite]], or [[weirwood]] is required.

Of course the Architect of the Crucible might not want to share the secrets of ushabti with members of the League. That would be a decision that was down to them. But in either case, nothing could happen until the proposed Northern Way was completed.

==The Dark Mesa==
* '''The opportunity to build a fortification designed to enclose the {{Black Plateau}} is still viable'''
* '''The proposal for Oblivion's Edge would mitigate the impact of fighting in the territory for a season'''
* '''As long as the Block remains in tact it would also reduce the impact of the Plateau on life in inhabited areas of Spiral'''
* '''This proposal completely replaces the previous details for the creation of Oblivion's Edge'''

<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Oblivion's Edge'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' The {{Black Plateau}}, Screed, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 white granite, 20 mithril and 300 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 4 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 10 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a level one fortification in Screed
* Removes the threat from naifs in the territory
* Would help to defend against any direct attack on the {{Black Plateau}}
* Provides spartan accommodation for the Oblivion Sentinel
* Would prevent the {{Black Plateau}} being roused by a single season of fighting in the territory
* Raises taxation by 4 thrones a season
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* If the Imperial Senate build the fortification and change the position to a League and Urizeni national appointment then the title would gain donations worth 5 crystal fire each year and 20 crowns per season
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
As part of their work to assess the threats present in Spiral and suggest ways to counter them, members of the [[Vigilance]] Assembly suggested the [[Our_eyes_in_Spiral#Oblivion's_Edge|construction of a fortification to enclose the {{Black Plateau}}]]. Their goal was to wall off access to the area, to prevent people blindly wandering into the most dangerous part of the territory, but also to prevent any opportunity for malicious actors - such as the Druj or the Grendel - from deliberately rousing it to violence by directly attacking it, as [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Leviathan_Wakes_(Spiral)|the Iron Helms did so dramatically five years ago]].

Of most interest to Naomi is the idea that the fortification might include mithril laced into the walls to try and contain some of the fell energies seeping out of the mesa. She has been charged with finding ways to improve the Prosperity of Spiral, but one of the first tenets of the Virtue enjoins people to "enjoy the fruits of your labour". It is harder than it should be to enjoy life in Spiral with the fearful shadow of the {{Black Plateau}} hanging over the territory. The more that can be done to contain it - the better people's lives will be.

Thus she is interested in the proposal to fortify Screed, because of the potential it offers to contain some of the fell energies leaching from the heights. The effects are small, but combined with the protections provided by [[Spiral#The_Block|the Block]] it would make life in Apulian and the lofty spires in the mountains much more liveable. At least it will for as long as the great mithril structure remains in good working order, which should be fine provided relations with the Cinion rebels who control the Block remain stable.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Ylenwe001.webp|caption=[[Ylenwe]], the Dove of the Morning, offers some protection from the malign influence that fills the air in Spiral.|align=left|width=200}}</div>
Thus, Naomi has spent time revising the original proposals to bring them up to date with the latest techniques. The fortification would not be cheap - it would require 80 wains of white granite and 20 mithril and take a year to build, but now that the Empire has given [[Ylenwe]] amity, Zie is prepared to shield the workers from the Dark Eye's baleful glare so the labour costs would be no higher than normal

The fortification would offer a number of benefits; it turns out the area is not as defensible as first assumed, but the bastion would make the region much harder to take (the region would require 20VPs to capture) and provide a base for a garrison to patrol Urizen. That would be enough to dissuade the Druj or the Grendel staging a lightning raid on the {{Black Plateau}} to try and trigger it.

The mithril spines incorporated into the structure would slow the flow of energy to and from the Plateau, That wouldn't completely remove the risks involved in fighting in the territory, it wouldn't even reduce the losses inflicted on armies, but it would mean that the plateau would not be triggered by a single season of campaigning in the territory - and it would mean there might be an [[opportunity]] to prevent an eruption if the fighting went on longer than a season. Far from ideal maybe, but still a lot safer than the current situation.

When the fortification was first put forward, there was a suggestion that building it would help to reassure League and Urizen citizens in Spiral that the Empire was not ignoring the dangers posed by the {{Black Plateau}}. Interest in the work of the [[Oblivion Sentinel]] has only grown since then and after some effort Naomi is able to convince various League guilds to offer 20 crowns in support of the position - to match the five crystal fire provided by the Deathless Caves - but on the proviso that the title becomes a League and Urizeni national appointment - (like the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep|Spider's Tollkeep]]). It's not these League businesses particularly want to control the title, but they want to know their senators have a say in who holds the position.

The real gains though are the improvements in quality of life for the folks living Apulian as well as the spires, citadels and temples that dot the mountains. Most of these structures are now protected by mithril filigree that shields people from the worst of the {{Black Plateau}} while they are indoors. Crucially as the density of buildings in Apulian continues to rise, people have noticed that some of the narrower streets are now benefitting in the same way.

If the fortification were built - then it wouldn't just protect Screed, it would ameliorate the impacts of the {{Black Plateau}} on anyone who is protected by the novel architectural techniques developed by Urizeni magicians. It would do nothing for the wilderness - that would remain a treacherous and dangerous landscape, one only the hardy or the foolhardy might contemplate -there is [[Damming_the_Doubt#The_Aid_of_the_Dove|a complimentary offer from Ylenwe]] that ''might'' be able help with that problem. But the fortification would mean that most citizens living in Spiral could go about their business without having to endure the constant pressure the Plateau creates while they were indoors.

That would be invaluable. Naomi calculates that taxation from the territory would rise by four thrones a season, but the real benefits would be to the everyday life of the people who live in Spiral. Their capacity to enjoy the fruits of their labours would be much improved.
==Further Reading==
* [[Spiral]]
* [[Ylenwe]]

* [[The moth for the star]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune, relating to dramaturgical eccentricities in Spiral
* [[Daybreak in Spiral]] - 387YE Summer wind of fortune, discussing events in Spiral as a whole
* [[Nightfall in Apulian]]- 387YE Summer wind of fortune discussing events in the city of Apulian
* [[Damming the Doubt]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune discussing options and concerns related to Solen's Doubt
* [[Our eyes in Spiral]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune summarising the situation in Spiral
* [[Million_miles_of_water#The_Way_Less_Taken|Million miles of water]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune introducing the opportunity to flood the Doubt

My friends are my estate

2026-02-27T21:26:34Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Situation in Spiral */ Removing redundant 'sentence'.

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]

<ic>Arius didn't roll their eyes, but focused on making last minute adjustments to the plans laid out across the table. Their appointment with the prognosticator was in barely an hour and the architect still wasn't entirely happy with some of the details. Also, the Leaguers were arguing again, something which had become a theme every time they came together to discuss the plan.

"I'm sorry," said Karolin, trying to keep her patience. "But I do not see why this proposal requires a big statue in the middle of it. How does that promote the shipwright's arts exactly?"

Rafe shook his head, grin fixed, hands dancing as he talked as usual. "No, see, it makes perfect sense."

"But it's the ''mountebank''. They may be dressed up as the sailor, but in many ways that makes things worse given some of the resonances."

"Oh for sure," agreed Rafe in a way that made it clear he did not, in fact, agree with his colleague. "But also, think about it. As a mascot for Apulian it's ideal! Let me explain!"

"I doubt we can stop you," interjected Hyame d'Apulian. The orc was leant back in his chair, boots on the table, dividing his time between the conversation and a large box of chocolate-covered cherries balanced on his stomach. Rafe ignored him.

"Everyone talks about Apulian as the fifth city of the League," explained Rafe. "We'll always be the newest city, until the nation incorporates somewhere else, and even then we'll be listed ''after'' the other four. Tassato, Temeschwar, Sarvos, Holberg. They all have centuries of history."

"Apulian has centuries of history," interrupted Arius. The Urizen architect didn't look up from the plans scattered across the table between them. They leant forward as they spoke and made a slight adjustment to one of the diagrams. "Indeed, it could be argued that the city has ''more'' history than some of the League given my people were here before yours arrived on these shores."

"I don't disagree," said Rafe. "But also no. That was, without offence, Urizen history and that doesn't entirely count. You see?"

"I'm not sure I do..." began Arius, but Rafe continued speaking as if they had not spoken. The robed merrow closed their eyes momentarily, drawing their poise around them like a cloak, and continued tweaking the plans. Karolin noted their lips were quite thin, however, and suspected they were not used to being talked over.

"For hundreds of years it was a glorified town - no offence Arius - and then it was Grendel - and now it's League and I'm sorry but that counts for a great deal. But we're the newest child on the street, here. We've not really claimed our place. We're "the place the orcs came from" - no offence Hyame - and the "city below" where all the night magicians are dicking about - no offence Karolin - and that's about all the rest of the League thinks of us. The Mountebank is ''exactly'' the iconic presence we need. The upstart, the clever rascal, the spirit of transformation and... and..."

"Unleashed primal forces and destruction?" said Hyame, even more amused. The League orc dropped his feet from the table and leant forward. "Disguise and concealment? Dangerous emotions? Or given you've chosen the Sailor, a short-lived period of lavish entertainment that leaves you with a sword with no hilt? A blowhard and a braggart?"

Rafe coloured a little, but soldiered on.

"Look, I'm just saying. This is only part of it. I hear people saying we can't compete with Sarvos, or Holberg. We were barely in the great competition for paragons' sake! But I say where's your ''ambition''? What are we even ''here'' for if we ''don't'' compete with the other cities? If we don't nail our sails to the mast and show them that we are ''here'' and we are ''League''!"

"And a statue of the Sailor says all that does it?" Karolin asked quietly. Rafe fell silent, and huffed a great sigh.

"Well, only a bit. Unless... unless..." His eyes flared with light again, and he became animated again. "Unless we build the biggest goddam statue of the Sailor the world has ever seen and stick two fingers up to il Volpe and Sarvos! Then we'd ''really'' be sending a message to the rest of the League that we're coming after their crowns!"

As he'd spoken, Rafe had jumped up onto the table and posed dramatically, one foot in a plate of rice and the other on the plans for the new boatyard, two fingers raised in a traditional gesture of defiance. Hyame applauded, only slightly sarcastically. Karolin shook her head, face clouded with doubt.

Arius didn't roll their eyes, and held their peace, and not for the first time wondered why the League was like this, and why they were so drawn to their often misplaced enthusiasms. Not for the first time they promised themselves that when ''this'' project was done they would head back up into the mountains for a little peace and quiet... knowing as they did so they were fooling nobody least of all themselves.</ic>

<div style="float:left; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SenatorSpiral.jpg|caption='''Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian''', Senator for Spiral|align=left|width=350}}</div>
==Overview==
[[Spiral]], for centuries [[Urizen]] heartland, now part of [[the League]]. The transition has not been entirely trouble-free, but [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Urizen_of_the_Silver_Flame|the treaty with the Silver Flame]], the non-Imperial Urizen has tamped down the risk of open conflict. Members of the Synod have been attempting to heal the rift, with more positive sentiments emerging from both sides. The League Assembly endorsed [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_71|Isaia Pavone di Sarvos' statement of principle]] calling for people to ''"enjoy the fruits of both nations’ labour together, now and in years to come"'' with a greater majority. If the Urizen Assembly were a little less enthusiastic about [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_163|Halkyon of the Myriad Stream's complimentary statement]] that is perhaps understandable given the circumstances.

Where the two sides have managed to cooperate, the results have been impressive. Projects like [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Curstag's Way]] and [[Damming the Doubt]] demonstrate what can be achieved for both nations when they work together. During the Autumn Equinox, '''Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian''' the [[Senator]] for Spiral, proposed a timely [[appraisal]] to build on these successes by looking "for ways to draw on the best of League innovation and Urizen wisdom to bolster Spiral's prosperity." The Senate agreed, and as requested [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] was dispatched to explore [[opportunity|opportunities]] in the south-eastern Empire.

As is ever the case in Spiral, the work is made more difficult by the omnipresent yoke of the {{Black Plateau}}. The malignant force that squats at the centre of the [[territory]] exacerbates every bad feeling, every doubt, and if not checked seeps into the spirit of anyone who spends time in the territory. Urizen ingenuity in the form of [[Spiral#The Block|the Block]] has helped blunt its effects, at least in the remaining [[spire|spires]] and in the settlements of the League, but the rocky land between settlements remains difficult and dangerous.

Fleets, businesses, military units and farms are all suffering particularly badly from the effects of the {{Black Plateau}}. There's precious little point in trying to help farms, since there are so few of them, but it is clear that one of the simplest ways to boost the Prosperity of Spiral might be to find an approach that could mitigate the problems that the other resources are suffering.
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBLeague.jpg|align=right|width=300}}
==Situation in Spiral==
* '''Relations between the League citizens, and remaining Urizen citizens, are becoming easier
Some have compared the city of Apulian with [[Temeschwar]] - a League city with a similar past in that it combines [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Wisdom]] with League [[Ambition]]. While the Plateau remains a problem, recent developments have gone some way towards helping bolster the prosperity of Spiral. The creation of the [[Road_out_of_nowhere#Southern_Skyways|Bridge of the Air]] has seen several smaller "skyways" link isolated spires and settlements, ease passage through more difficult areas, and greatly improve trade between and through the mountains. The completion of [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Curstag's Way]], the grand highway that runs through southern Spiral and links [[Mareave]] to the rest of the Empire, has likewise done wonders for the wealth of the city of [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]] in particular.

Naomi is the ideal choice to try to bring League and Urizen minds together to work on the problem. She always focuses on finding the most diplomatic possible solution to the problems she is dispatched to examine. She is known to be adroit at identifying options that are best placed to satisfy the concerns of the people affected though she tends to concentrate on the best possible solution to a problem rather than the cheapest or the most efficient.
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBUrizen.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
The timing is also apposite - work on the [[Construct_Barossa_University_of_Dramaturgical_Arts|new College of the Dramaturgical Arts]] is underway, but the high costs involved have meant progress is slow. The College should prove a valuable boon for the territory, especially for those interested in the arts of [[Dramaturgy]], provided some way can be found to fund the development.

There are several areas, then, that Naomi has explored. The independent city-state of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] lies just to the south of Spiral and has recently become a "protectorate" of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] - a people known for their love of trade and enthusiasm for wealth who are already invested in the Empire. The city of Apulian is expanding and growing in leaps and bounds, clearly benefitting from the fusion of Urizeni and League magical lore. The spires of the highlands are rich in magical understanding, crystal mana, and magical metals.

==Night Sailing==
* '''Building a specialised dock in Apulian would remove the penalties suffered by Imperial fleets in Spiral'''
* '''It would also provide benefits to Spiral fleets engaged in espionage, scouting, and smuggling'''
* '''It could serve as a refuge for an Imperial navy'''
* '''It would bring more maritime trade into Apulian and increase taxation by 2 thrones a season'''

The city of Apulian is a bustling port with an eclectic feel. It grew slowly over the years, but the infusion of settlers, first the Grendel and then the League have ushered in two major waves of expansion. Now the docks are extensive, but syncretised, merging many different styles of architecture, Imperial and otherwise. Trade has grown with it, with more ships from foreign ports as well as vessels from Highguard and the Brass Coast seen entering the harbour.

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Obsidian Shipyard'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type: '''Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 35 wains of weirwood, 25 wains of mithril, 200 ingots of weltsilver, 180 crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the penalty suffered by fleets in Spiral due to the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}
* Raises the level of investment in Spiral for fleets taking a [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] action
* Raises the level of investment in Spiral for fleets trading with any Sarcophan port
* Lowers the level of investment in Spiral for fleets trading with any Sumaah or Commonwealth port
* Provides [[Shipyard#Refuge|refuge]] to Imperial navies
* Increases taxation by two thrones a season
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Increasing the costs to 85 weirwood, 50 mithril, 200 ingots of weltsilver and 405 crowns would increase the ''benefits'' to fleets to two ranks rather than one and increase the taxation by five thrones a season</td></tr>
</td></tr>
</table></div>

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;"><box>'''</big>Ambitious Statuary</big>'''<p>While the statue of the Sailor is integrated into the Obsidian Shipyards, it is not a rival to the Colossus of Sarvos. On the other hand, Ambition is a virtue and there's no reason it ''couldn't'' be a rival to the Colossus of Sarvos... All it would need is a little vision, some engineering know-how to scale it up a little, and a large amount of white granite.</p>

Whoever commissions the Obsidian Shipwrights could choose to increase the costs by 50 white granite, 25 mithril, and 225 crowns, and add an extra six months to the construction. The Sailor would then be a massive figure, gazing indulgently down on the docks and towering over the city of Apulian. Another wonder of the world! This would increase the level of investment in Spiral's fleets by another rank, fleets engaged in trade with Sarcophan or [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] actions would gain a total of two ranks. It would also increase the taxation by five thrones rather than two and further cement Apulian as a rival to Sarvos, as well as a centre of dramaturgical excellence.

One of the Urizen dramaturgists, incidentally, points out that whether a giant statue is built or not is besides the point because they argue that instead of the Sailor, the best choice for a statue on the Obsidian Shipwrights is [[the Witch]] who represents mysteries, common sense, and [[Prosperity]]. There's no reason that whoever commissions the construction couldn't specify that the statue should be of the Witch instead of the Sailor - either would work fine (other personae would be too dissonant with obfuscation to complement the work).</box></div>
The looming presence of {{Black Plateau}} remains the biggest impediment to further expansion of the trade. Until recently, moving goods and passengers across the Bay of Catazar by sail was preferable to travel under the Plateau's sinister gaze. The creation of Curstag's Way, complete with rest stops infused with mithril, made it easier to move goods by land in the territory. Could a similar solution benefit the Apulian docks?

While [[Spiral#The Block|the Block]] protects any structure properly infused with [[mithril]], that's little comfort to ship's crews. Among some of the first people to arrange an appointment with Naomi when she arrived in Apulian were a loose association of ship owners and merchant traders supported by members of the Purple Sail ''sodality''. While most were League citizens, there were a handful of Urizen interests represented as well as some [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and a merchant from [[Mareave#Beoaridh|Beoraidh]]. All were keen to find a way to ameliorate the effects of the Plateau on shipping.

Much discussion between various experts ensues, but in the end it is the seagoing expertise of Danilo di Tassato, a former gondolier and reckoner, and an Urizeni [[seer]], Procopius of the Shadow Moon that provides the answer. Between them they have developed a way to infuse [[mithril]] and [[weltsilver]] into the hulls and sails of ships to protect them from the {{Black Plateau}} by wrapping the vessel in whispers of shadow pulled from the Night realm. According to Procopius, it works because the enchantments woven into the ship make it harder for the {{Black Plateau}} to "see" the vessel, which has some rather disturbing implications. Regardless of how the magic works, a night-time trip across the bay in Danilo's converted [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumboat Sarcophan Bumboat] is enough to prove to Naomi and her team that the approach is undeniably effective.

The demonstration draws interest from many, including the Sarcophan ''College of Silent Voices'' and the League orcs of the [[Pebbles_drawn_from_a_heap#The_Circle_of_Black_Sand|Circle of Black Sand]]. Working together produces an ambitious proposal that might see Apulian eventually rival [[Sarvos]] as a seat of trade. The Obsidian Shipwrights would be an area of the docks dedicated both to building trading vessels, and refitting existing vessels with mithril traceries to protect them from the {{Black Plateau}}. A centrepiece of the construction would be a large mithril inlaid statue of the [[The_Mountebank#The_Sailor|Sailor]]. This raises a few eyebrows - the Sailor is a specific version of [[the Mountebank]] in [[dramaturgy]] associated with suspicious gifts, good times, and trouble. Yet they are also an excellent fit for magic that hides folk from unfriendly eyes. It would in no way rival the [[Sarvos#The_Colossus_of_Sarvos|Colossus of Sarvos]]... but it might send a message about the Ambitions of the people of Apulian.

The shipyards would remove the penalty suffered by fleets in Spiral due to the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}. However, the benefits go further than that. The Night magic would suffuse fleets based in the territory, allowing them to move quickly and quietly, making them excellent spies and smugglers. Every [[fleet]] based in Spiral, both League and Urizen, would receive a one rank bonus whenever they undertake a [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] action. Such vessels would also be well received in the Sarcophan Delves, providing the same bonus to any [[Fleet#Trading|trading]] action with the Delves - both the [[Foreign_ports#Sarcophan|city itself]], the [[Foreign ports#Betovering|Betovering docks]] but also the less accessible, satellite ports allowing improved access to the medicines of ''Moeraskriden'' or the contraband of ''Schedalhaven''.

Sadly the approach is not completely without drawbacks - the obfuscation provided by the lingering Night magics would inevitably cause consternation in Sumaash and Commonwealth ports. Both nations are sticklers for the rule of law, with little time for smugglers. The suspicion that such a vessel would be sure to arouse means every [[fleet]] based in Spiral, both League and Urizen, would receive a one rank penalty whenever they undertake any trading action with a port controlled by either nation.

This focus on swift, subtle vessels with low draughts means the Shipwrights would be unsuitable for creating an [[Imperial navy]]. Built in harmony with the magics coursing through Apulian, however, the Obsidian Shipwrights would provide a safe haven for warships - it would provide the [[Shipyard#Refuge|refuge]] benefit to a navy that docked in Apulian, where the [[Spiral#Apulian|Palace of Apulian]] provided further protection.

On which subject...

==Mellow Mists==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Palace of Mists'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification Upgrade</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 wains of white granite, 240 crowns, a year</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Improves the fortification at Apulian to rank two
* Forces attacking the region from the sea (such as [[Navy_orders#Shore_Offensive|shore offensive]] or the equivalent) suffer a 20% penalty to VPs
* Improves taxation by 5 thrones a season
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Naomi's proposal would upgrade the fortification at Apulian to rank two'''
* '''Forces using shore offensive or equivalent orders would suffer a twenty percent penalty to VPs'''
* '''Bolstering the defences would increase taxation by five thrones a season, offsetting some of the increased upkeep'''
The sea is the lifeblood of Apulian, but it brings with it additional threats. The [[Grendel]] have demonstrated their ruthless capacity to seize Imperial ports with their recent [[To ruin|attack on Elos]]. The [[Children of Wrecks]] have been [[Red_skies|defeated but not destroyed]]. The [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] warships that [[A beacon of smoke|burnt Siroc]] are still out there. Apulian is protected by the [[Spiral#Apulian|Palace of Apulian]] but there is a limit to what it can achieve, especially against a maritime threat.

League engineers and Urizen architects have worked together to address the problem that is the flip-side of a lot of Apulian's prosperity. Their proposal is to build on the foundation laid by Salt Lord Kaliact. The beautiful, well-fortified palace takes pride of place near the docks but there is more to expanding it's defences than simply building its walls up. Part of their inspiration comes, unsurprisingly, from the [[Sarvos#The_Great_Chain|Great Chain of Sarvos]], a mighty series of walls, towers, and barracks, coupled with great iron chains attached to blocks of white granite that can be raised or lowered to provide a serious obstacle to naval forces attempting a shore offensive aimed at capturing [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]]. Part of the defence incorporates a similar set of obstacles, but thanks to the ingenuity of both Urizen and the League there is more to their plan.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sadogua001d.webp|caption=Heralds of [[Sadogua]] have offered advice on ways to weave Night magic around Apulian.|align=left|width=200}}</div>
The [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] is a useful [[ritual]] that weaves wards of obfuscation and misdirection through an area of [[Region_qualities#Marsh|marshes]]. While [[Night magic]] is generally of [[War_magic#Night_Magic|limited usefulness]] in a war, the [[Night magic#Resonance|resonance]] of [[Night_magic#Obfuscation|obfuscation]] presents several opportunities to protect against assault. Urizen Seers calculate that it would be possible to permanently tap into some of the rich veins of Night magic that now permeate the city, and focus it across the coast of Apulian.

Keen eyes study the effectiveness of the walls of mist that surround [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#The_Lyceum|the Lyceum]], and the involvement of the eternal [[Sadogua]] in protecting that place. Heralds of the ''Black Sloth'' have been sought out - some Urizen make the long trek to the Marches to put some of those celebrating the [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs#Wassail|wassail]] there on the spot - and it seems that the ''Globbersnotch'' has provided some advice on ways to make the most of the magic in Apulian. While being a little shifty about Night magic and its relationship to the sea (recent [[historical research]] into the nature of eternals associated with the sea might provide some insight here).

Under the proposal, the Palace of Apulian would become the Palace of Mists, capable of calling up confusing fogs to misdirect invading ships and even armies attempting to attack Apulus. It would become a fully effective level two fortification, and in addition, any force attacking the region from the sea - any navy and armies using shore offensive - would suffer a 20% penalty to VPs.

The palace would require 80 wains of white granite and 30 thrones in labour costs, take a year to complete. It would increase the upkeep of the Palace by an additional 10 thrones each season, however, the presence of such a powerful defence protecting the port and the ships using it would boost trade in Spiral. As a result the taxation of the territory would increase by five thrones a season, offsetting half of the increased upkeep.
==Swords Against Darkness==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Swords Against Darkness'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires a statement of principle in support of raising swords against the darkness to pass the League and the Urizen Assembly in the same season.
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the Venture - Swords Against Darkness - available to League, Urizen military and Dawnish military units
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: HotPink;">'''Swords Against Darkness'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Venture Type:''' Questing</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' The League, Urizen and Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Duration:''' One year
<tr><td>'''Rewards:'''
* A standard military unit would receive 3 mana crystals and 2 liao
* A military unit that is enchanted or upgraded will receive proportionately more
* A rank 6 or higher military unit (from upgrades or rituals) will receive a Circlet of Fallen Snow as part of the rewards
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Duration becomes open-ended if supported by military units with a total effective strength of 2000 for at least three of the four seasons
* If that happens the taxation of Spiral will increase by 6 thrones and the penalty of military units from the {{Black Plateau}} will be removed
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The League and Urizen national assemblies could use a statement of principle to create a new questing venture in Spiral'''
* '''If enough military units undertake the venture over the next year then it will increase taxation by 6 thrones a season and remove the penalty on Spiral military units'''

One of the challenges in Urizen is that after three decades of war, and the chaos that followed, and the influence of the {{Black Plateau}}, the places between spires and outside the walls of Apulian and [[Spiral#Ballaghadruh|Ballaghadruh]], are filled with unknown dangers. Of course there are dangers in many of the less travelled parts of the Empire, but Spiral is particularly afflicted.

[[Our_eyes_in_Spiral#The_Lost|The Lost]] is the common term for those folk whose minds and spirits have been undone by the baleful glare of the plateau. They are not the only threat however - there are still remnants of the [[Druj]] insurgents and [[Grendel]] invaders, small groups of orcs belonging to neither nation hiding out in the wilds. There are also rumours of disciples of [[sword scholar|Sulemaine i Taziel]] hiding in the nooks and crannies of Spiral. These former sword scholars have decisively split with the Empire and represent a real threat to those who remain loyal. All in addition to the usual threats posed by dangerous creatures from the realms, unliving horrors, bandits and outlaws, and allegedly even some rogue ushabti.

Most [[spire|spires]] are sufficiently well-defended to be protect them against incursions and the city of Apulian is far too large to be threatened. As a result, many inhabitants of Spiral have been able to ignore these threats - the League can go about their business in Apulian, while the spires communicate via the heliopticon, and keep to the most well-trod routes when travelling. As a result, thus far, it has not been a pressing problem.
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: right;">
[[file:Assembly_League.png]]
[[file:Assembly_Urizen.png]]
</div>
Just because the threat is not urgent does not mean it is not important however. The Urizeni are having to employ extra sentinels to keep their spires safe - and can only travel abroad in large well-protected groups. League merchants moving cargo down the Great Apulian Way are struggling to hire enough guards to protect the caravans. Everywhere you look, there is a need for competent warriors to keep loyal Imperial citizens safe. To many that's just life in Spiral - but to Naomi, it's a subtle but pervasive tax on the Prosperity of everyone who lives here.

After a lot of work persuading some of the wealthier Apulian merchants and key [[arbiter|arbiters]], Naomi is able to persuade them to back an attempt to solve the problem. The solution is simple enough, and for once, Naomi 's idea requires relatively little upfront investment. If the Empire can muster enough military units to directly attack the threats in Spiral, then that the inhabitants of the territory would be able to get on top of the problem. If that could be achieved, it would only need a little support on an ongoing basis to keep the threats under control. Naomi likens it to weeding an overgrown garden - it requires a lot more effort to get the weeds under control than it does to keep it that way.

If her proposal is successful, then it wouldn't just help to make Spiral safer, it would boost Prosperity and taxation in the territory and free up numerous [[sentinel|sentinels]], and [[bravo|bravos]] to find work elsewhere, which would make efforts by military units based in the territory more profitable. The challenge is logistics - getting enough volunteers for the dangerous work won't be easy.

For that to happen, will require a suitably worded Statement of Principle in support of the [[venture]] in both the League and the Urizen Assembly. If both passed in the same season, the proposal would draw enough support from both League and Urizen backers to be viable. That would create a new questing venture, Swords Against Darkness, which would be available to League and Urizen military units (and Dawn since it's more trouble than it's worth to keep their glory hunters away from a quest). With the backing of wealthy patrons, the venture would provide 3 mana crystals and two liao to any standard military unit taking part. A military unit with at least 200 effective strength (from upgrades or rituals) would receive a [[Circlet of Falling Snow]] as part of their rewards. The potential returns aren't great - but of course the Senate could always apply the Guerdon to the expedition.

The venture would last for a year - but if at least 2000 strength of military units undertook the venture on three seasons out of the four, then the venture would remain available for the foreseeable future. If that happened, then the taxation of the territory would permanently increase by 6 thrones a season and the current penalty to military units from the {{Black Plateau}} would be permanently removed.

Given the plan needs the support of enough military units over the coming year, there's a brief discussion of whether it would be easier to just send an army to do it. It wouldn't be a cheap option - armies operating in Spiral suffer badly, but the idea is abandoned when the real cost becomes clear. Sending in an army to attack hundreds or more enemies is almost certain to rouse the {{Black Plateau}} still further. Dozens of small scale operations to hunt down dangerous individuals will be fine - an attempt to have thousands of soldiers comb the mountain side would not...
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=LeagueDrawing.jpg|align=right|caption=The people of the League are adept at finding ingenious solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems.|width=250}}</div>
==Spiral and Zenith==
* '''Building a road to connect southern Spiral with Zenith could bring significant benefits
* '''The special ushabti created at the Crucible of Fate would work well in the Legacy
Since it was recovered from the [[Druj]], the Urizen territory of Zenith has seen significant investment in its prosperity. Between the restoration of the [[Zenith#Proceris|Golden Cascade]] and the establishment of the [[Zenith#Crucible of Fate|Crucible of Fate]], great wealth has accrued to the spires north of Spiral. Some of that wealth has filtered through to the spires of Spiral - via the [[Zenith#Bridge_of_the_Air|Bridge of the Air]] in particular - but Naomi believes that more could be done. She is very interested in fostering more communication between the arcanists and [[Crafting skills#Artisan|artisans]] of Zenith and their opposite numbers in the city of Apulian.

At the moment, while the Bridge of the Air provides benefits to the people of Spiral, the ''skyway'' is mostly restricted to the northern and western mountains. However, the success of [[Spiral#Curstag's_Way|Curstag's Way]] presents obvious opportunities. The highway is already proving to be a success, both for its ease of use and the well-protected hostelries along its length. After consulting with [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Lucia, Sheeva, Tressida and Croilus]], Naomi proposes to build on that success - much as the they intimated might be the case when [[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|the four first proposed the new road]].

The Grendel have laid in cursory highways between Apulian and the [[Legacy]]; Naomi suggests that it would be possible to expand those roads, and most importantly the stopping points along their length, up through the [[Spiral#The_Passes|Twilight Gate]] into [[Zenith#Proceris|Proceris]], there to connect with a major artery of the Bridge of the Sky connecting the farms around the Golden Cascade to the Crucible of Fate. Running through Apstrus and Ossuary, the route would give [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]] a wide berth but would provide a useful trade connection not only for Apulian, but for the spires both in Spiral and Zenith, and potentially to the Imperial orcs in Mareave as well.

===Northern Way===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Northern Way'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulian, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of white granite, 30 wains of mithril, 240 Crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Master of Rings commissions the road 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Urizen Assembly supports the road with a suitably worded statement of principle, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Raises the level of investment in Zenith by one providing 36 rings for each business in the territory
* Removes the penalty to businesses in Spiral from the {{Black Plateau}}
* Enables the Crucible of Fate to boost the output of the Legacy and upgrade personal resources
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A great work investing in roads between Apulian and Zenith would boost businesses in Zenith'''
* '''It would also remove the penalty imposed on businesses by the {{Black Plateau}}'''
Naomi isn't worried about what the road is called, apart from to note with amusement that the chances it will be called the ''Northern Calumo-Sheeva-Nightshadow Highway'' are vanishingly low. Whoever commissions it will determine how it is referred to in official documents. It builds on the success of Curstag's Way, providing not only a safe and reliable route through the lowlands but plenty of specifically established stopping places for caravans and travellers protected by the power of [[Spiral#The_Block|the block]].

The costs will be greater than those associated with Curstag's Way, as it must pass through much more difficult terrain. The immediate benefits will accrue not in Spiral, but in Zenith. Easing trade between Urizen and the League allows the benefits of cargos brought into Apulian to be felt in Zenith, and creates new markets for Urizen goods - especially books and magic items. This would represent another level of investment in Zenith, over and above that provided by the Bridge of the Sky.

Securing a second - and arguably more lucrative - trade route through Spiral to Apulian would also provide significant benefits to businesses and farms in the territory. The impact of the {{Black Plateau}} is particularly acute on those moving cargoes overland through the territory. With regular stopping places, and a road to speed travel, this impact would be almost entirely mitigated. The penalty to businesses from the plateau would be cancelled as long as the roads were operable.

The project is expensive, but the costs could be cut slightly if the project has the clear backing of prominent citizens of Urizen and the League. If the Master of Rings commissions the road, 6 wains of white granite will be provided by enthusiastic League citizens. If the Urizen Assembly passes a suitably worded statement of principle in support of the new road then 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Urizen.jpg|align=right|caption=The people of Urizen have rebuilt Zenith in the wake of the [[Druj]] occupation. Their mastery of the form and function of the ''ushabti'' goes from strength to strength.|width=250}}</div>
===Dark Depths===
* '''Completing the Northern Way could enable the Architect of the Crucible to employ members of League artisan guilds'''
* '''Employing more artisans would enable the Architect to boost production of the legacy'''
* '''It would also restore and extend the ability to upgrade personal resources'''

The road would obviously run past the Legacy; while the raw mithril here shelters the miners from the dank miasma of the plateau while they are working it still requires the Senate to pay a significant dividend to attract those workers to the location. With an easy route between Zenith and Spiral, however, another opportunity presents itself.

At the moment, the [[Architect of the Crucible]] is providing [[Architect_of_the_Crucible#Miracle_And_Wonder|specialist ushabti]] to the [[Brilliant Star]] in Redoubt. These ushabti are designed to operate in the deadly light that infuses the mines, a legacy of [[Cold Sun]]. Rather than support the Brilliant Star, the Architect of the Crucible, could instead create a workforce of ushabti infused with weirwood and mithril could to help operate the Legacy. That would boost the output of the Legacy by three wains of mithril at the cost, but production at the Star would drop by the same amount.

What is really needed is a way to expand the output of the Crucible of Fate. As is common with Urizeni structures, the facility is large and spacious; the problem is getting enough skilled artisans to work the forges. Urizen has never been a very populous nation, and there simply aren't enough artisans available to make it worthwhile running the forges night and day.

However there are more than enough League artisans in the various guilds that have moved to Apulian who are eagerly looking for work. If the Architect of the Crucible invited them to travel to the Crucible of Fate, then they could quickly learn how to make ushabti and once they had mastered the arts it would significantly improve the Architect's capacity to create ushabti.

If the Northern Way is completed, then at any time the Architect of the Crucible could email {{plot}} and indicate that they are overseeing the creation of ushabti for the Legacy rather than the Brilliant Star. That would reduce the output of the Star by 3 wains and increase the output of the Legacy by 3 wains.

Alternatively the Architect could email {{plot}} to indicate that they are inviting League artisans to come to the Crucible to learn how to make ushabti. With the benefit of so many additional artisans, the output of the Crucible would double - the Architect could support the Legacy and the Brilliant Star with, increasing the output of both bourse resources.

In addition, the extra workforce would restore the ability of the Architect of the Crucible to upgrade personal resources. With Spiral back in Imperial control and League magicians receiving training in the creation, use and maintenance of ushabti, it would be possible for the Architect of the Crucible to upgrade League or Urizen personal resources in Spiral.

Once each season during [[downtime]], the Architect of the Crucible could select a single Urizen or League character with a mine, forest, herb garden, farm, or business in [[Morrow]], [[Redoubt]], [[Spiral]] or [[Zenith]], and commission the artisans at the Crucible to create bespoke ushabti for them. This would upgrade their personal resource by one level at a cost of three thrones for each level it is being upgraded to (so to upgrade a standard resource costs six thrones, while a level three resource would require twelve thrones to upgrade to level four). This is in place of all other costs - no [[mithril]],[[white granite]], or [[weirwood]] is required.

Of course the Architect of the Crucible might not want to share the secrets of ushabti with members of the League. That would be a decision that was down to them. But in either case, nothing could happen until the proposed Northern Way was completed.

==The Dark Mesa==
* '''The opportunity to build a fortification designed to enclose the {{Black Plateau}} is still viable'''
* '''The proposal for Oblivion's Edge would mitigate the impact of fighting in the territory for a season'''
* '''As long as the Block remains in tact it would also reduce the impact of the Plateau on life in inhabited areas of Spiral'''
* '''This proposal completely replaces the previous details for the creation of Oblivion's Edge'''

<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Oblivion's Edge'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' The {{Black Plateau}}, Screed, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 white granite, 20 mithril and 300 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 4 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 10 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a level one fortification in Screed
* Removes the threat from naifs in the territory
* Would help to defend against any direct attack on the {{Black Plateau}}
* Provides spartan accommodation for the Oblivion Sentinel
* Would prevent the {{Black Plateau}} being roused by a single season of fighting in the territory
* Raises taxation by 4 thrones a season
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* If the Imperial Senate build the fortification and change the position to a League and Urizeni national appointment then the title would gain donations worth 5 crystal fire each year and 20 crowns per season
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
As part of their work to assess the threats present in Spiral and suggest ways to counter them, members of the [[Vigilance]] Assembly suggested the [[Our_eyes_in_Spiral#Oblivion's_Edge|construction of a fortification to enclose the {{Black Plateau}}]]. Their goal was to wall off access to the area, to prevent people blindly wandering into the most dangerous part of the territory, but also to prevent any opportunity for malicious actors - such as the Druj or the Grendel - from deliberately rousing it to violence by directly attacking it, as [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Leviathan_Wakes_(Spiral)|the Iron Helms did so dramatically five years ago]].

Of most interest to Naomi is the idea that the fortification might include mithril laced into the walls to try and contain some of the fell energies seeping out of the mesa. She has been charged with finding ways to improve the Prosperity of Spiral, but one of the first tenets of the Virtue enjoins people to "enjoy the fruits of your labour". It is harder than it should be to enjoy life in Spiral with the fearful shadow of the {{Black Plateau}} hanging over the territory. The more that can be done to contain it - the better people's lives will be.

Thus she is interested in the proposal to fortify Screed, because of the potential it offers to contain some of the fell energies leaching from the heights. The effects are small, but combined with the protections provided by [[Spiral#The_Block|the Block]] it would make life in Apulian and the lofty spires in the mountains much more liveable. At least it will for as long as the great mithril structure remains in good working order, which should be fine provided relations with the Cinion rebels who control the Block remain stable.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Ylenwe001.webp|caption=[[Ylenwe]], the Dove of the Morning, offers some protection from the malign influence that fills the air in Spiral.|align=left|width=200}}</div>
Thus, Naomi has spent time revising the original proposals to bring them up to date with the latest techniques. The fortification would not be cheap - it would require 80 wains of white granite and 20 mithril and take a year to build, but now that the Empire has given [[Ylenwe]] amity, Zie is prepared to shield the workers from the Dark Eye's baleful glare so the labour costs would be no higher than normal

The fortification would offer a number of benefits; it turns out the area is not as defensible as first assumed, but the bastion would make the region much harder to take (the region would require 20VPs to capture) and provide a base for a garrison to patrol Urizen. That would be enough to dissuade the Druj or the Grendel staging a lightning raid on the {{Black Plateau}} to try and trigger it.

The mithril spines incorporated into the structure would slow the flow of energy to and from the Plateau, That wouldn't completely remove the risks involved in fighting in the territory, it wouldn't even reduce the losses inflicted on armies, but it would mean that the plateau would not be triggered by a single season of campaigning in the territory - and it would mean there might be an [[opportunity]] to prevent an eruption if the fighting went on longer than a season. Far from ideal maybe, but still a lot safer than the current situation.

When the fortification was first put forward, there was a suggestion that building it would help to reassure League and Urizen citizens in Spiral that the Empire was not ignoring the dangers posed by the {{Black Plateau}}. Interest in the work of the [[Oblivion Sentinel]] has only grown since then and after some effort Naomi is able to convince various League guilds to offer 20 crowns in support of the position - to match the five crystal fire provided by the Deathless Caves - but on the proviso that the title becomes a League and Urizeni national appointment - (like the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep|Spider's Tollkeep]]). It's not these League businesses particularly want to control the title, but they want to know their senators have a say in who holds the position.

The real gains though are the improvements in quality of life for the folks living Apulian as well as the spires, citadels and temples that dot the mountains. Most of these structures are now protected by mithril filigree that shields people from the worst of the {{Black Plateau}} while they are indoors. Crucially as the density of buildings in Apulian continues to rise, people have noticed that some of the narrower streets are now benefitting in the same way.

If the fortification were built - then it wouldn't just protect Screed, it would ameliorate the impacts of the {{Black Plateau}} on anyone who is protected by the novel architectural techniques developed by Urizeni magicians. It would do nothing for the wilderness - that would remain a treacherous and dangerous landscape, one only the hardy or the foolhardy might contemplate -there is [[Damming_the_Doubt#The_Aid_of_the_Dove|a complimentary offer from Ylenwe]] that ''might'' be able help with that problem. But the fortification would mean that most citizens living in Spiral could go about their business without having to endure the constant pressure the Plateau creates while they were indoors.

That would be invaluable. Naomi calculates that taxation from the territory would rise by four thrones a season, but the real benefits would be to the everyday life of the people who live in Spiral. Their capacity to enjoy the fruits of their labours would be much improved.
==Further Reading==
* [[Spiral]]
* [[Ylenwe]]

* [[The moth for the star]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune, relating to dramaturgical eccentricities in Spiral
* [[Daybreak in Spiral]] - 387YE Summer wind of fortune, discussing events in Spiral as a whole
* [[Nightfall in Apulian]]- 387YE Summer wind of fortune discussing events in the city of Apulian
* [[Damming the Doubt]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune discussing options and concerns related to Solen's Doubt
* [[Our eyes in Spiral]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune summarising the situation in Spiral
* [[Million_miles_of_water#The_Way_Less_Taken|Million miles of water]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune introducing the opportunity to flood the Doubt

Series of dreams

2026-02-09T22:46:20Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* A Grim Harvest */ Adding a space in

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:381YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Winds of Magic]]
<ic>"The ... the Empress of all goats?"

"Yes." Hubert's voice was flat. He was not amused.

"But ... the ''Empress'' of ''all goats''?"

"Yes. The Empress. Of all goats."

"But ... what ''all'' goats?"

Hubert rolled his eyes and mentally began to compose a rude limerick about his guest.</ic>
==The Empty Skies==
* '''The stars are hidden across most of the Empire and nearby territories, making it difficult to perform scrying magic and exerting an odd influence on those of the [[naga]] lineage.'''
As with [[Darkest_night|previous seasons]], the night skies over most the Empire (and several adjacent territories including [[Mournwold]], [[Liathaven]], and [[the Barrens]]) remain empty of stars. [[Naga]] living in those territories are subject to the shroud's peculiar [[Darkest_night#The_serpent_is_more_crafty|influence]] ... and as [[Casinea]] (the location of Anvil) is still affected, any naga attending the summit will still begin to feel their [[Naga#Naga#Roleplaying_naga|natural urge]] toward subtlety and secretiveness is greatly strengthened. ('''OOC note:''' players are urged to read the [[Darkest night]] wind of fortune from last event to refresh themselves as the details of this effect and bear in mind that the skies directly over Anvil also appear normal for some complicated and subtle reason).

The night skies are clear over [[Morrow]], [[Spiral]], [[Redoubt]], and [[Skarsind]]. While the "empty sky" phenomenon has been removed from [[Zenith]] as well, [[Urizen]] inhabitants report that a [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil|Penumbral Veil]] has recently settled over the territory - no doubt conjured by the [[Druj]] invaders. ('''OOC Note:''' Naga living in those territories are free of the odd influence ... but obviously coming to the event means they will slowly start to fall under its sway again for the duration of their stay).

==Calm After the Storm==
* '''The supernatural storm that cloaked the [[Master_of_Ice_and_Darkness#The_Icy_Crag_of_the_Eternal_Sun|Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun]] has abated.'''
The Icy Crag of the Eternal Storm is a [[College of Magic|college]] dedicated to the study of [[Summer magic]]. In Winter 380YE, just after construction was completed, a rivalry between [[Cathan Canae]] and [[Meraud]] (eternals of the Summer realm) boiled over, resulting in a [[Castle of wind and sky|terrible supernatural storm]] that cloaked the college regardless of what the weather was elsewhere, dramatically increasing the costs to run it.

The night after the Summer solstice, the magical storm ended as suddenly as it had blown up. It is believed that the [[Archmage]] of Summer negotiated with Cathan Canae to rescind her curse, and that some form of contest will take place to determine who is worthy to be the patron of the college. By all accounts, the Summer eternals are taking this challenge quite seriously. It is likely that whoever wins the right to serve as patron, they will want to put their own stamp on the college, possibly by offering assistance to the [[Master_of_Ice_and_Darkness|Master]] of the college in researching certain types of ritual.

Regardless of who wins, it is also very likely that after a while one eternal or another will be dissatisfied with the current arrangement, and seek to challenge the current patron again - but at least a method of resolving the issue of who patronizes the college has been established without any further damage to the walls or the faculty!
{{CaptionedImage|file=Hubert, Chatelaine of the Empress of All Goats.jpg|caption=Hubert Annanovich Gremani. Not shown; Empress of all goats|align=right|width=300}}
==The Empress of all Goats Theatre==
* '''A small theatre has been built by magical creatures in the vale of Veresk. In game terms this is a tiny [[folly]].'''
A fortnight after the Summer Solstice, a gang of twenty ''koboldi'' - the servants of the eternal known in the Empire as [[Adamant|King Adamant]] - arrive in [[Karsk#Veresk|Veresk]] in [[Karsk]]. Their foreman, a slender koboldi with brilliant golden scales, politely informs the bemused boyar and the circle of wise ones that they have been sent by [[Barien]], and request permission to build something they call "The Empress of All Goats Theatre". There is a great deal of confusion, until a sheepish fellow by the name of Hubert Annanovich Gremani admits that he might know something about it all. The ''koboldi'' are delighted to see him - it is for Hubert that they have been engaged to perform their building work.

After an evening of fast-talking, the boyar grudgingly gives the ''koboldi'' permission to enter. Over the next week, working with the supernatural focus and attention to detail for which they are known, they build a small theatre over the site of Hubert's home (the playwright is forced to take shelter at a nearby Navarr wayhouse as the first act of the little draconic heralds is to demolish his home and garden). On the morning of the eighth day, they deliver a small golden key to Hubert, bow politely, and disappear back whence they came.

Built in a vaguely Temeschwari style, the "The Empress of All Goats Theatre" is apparently Hubert's reward for completing a [[Challenge the Iron Duke]]. As news spreads of this magical building, interest grows. Rumour suggests Hubert has already received several enquiries about when the first performance will be, presumably meaning that his retirement will be significantly more eventful than he might have perhaps expected.

==The Green Castle==
* '''The Eternal [[Llofir]] continues to claim [[Reikos#Tamarbode|Tamarbode]] in [[Reikos]].'''
Since the eternal Llofir claimed [[Reikos#Tamarbode|Tamarbode]], it has been largely ''terra incognita'' for Imperial citizens. The only part of it that remains accessible to Imperial citizens is the [[mana site]] known as [[Reikos_Spoils_of_War#Tamar.27s_Toes|Tamar's Toes]] - and those responsible for gathering the mana continue to recount eerie stories of their experiences in the forest there. They talk of being watched by peculiar creatures, of their clothes being infested with unfamiliar rusts and moulds, and of the brooding presence of the supernatural fortress that looms over everything.

The fortification itself is a structure - if such a word is appropriate - worthy of note. It grows at the heart of the [[Reikos#The_Sign_of_Tamar|Sign of Tamar]], completely encompassing the powerful Spring [[regio]] there. Its shape does not appear constant - perhaps unsurprising for a castle of living fungus raised by the magic of an eternal. Over the course of each season it ages and changes colour - from a pale bone whiteness at the start of the season to a deep red russet colour at the end - but each Solstice and Equinox it is renewed. It shows no sign of going away.

As before, there is no suggestion that the servants of Llofir have any interest in leaving the magical forest that now fills the region. Both [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[magister|magisters]] and [[Navarr]] [[Navarr_magical_traditions#Vates|vates]] in regions bordering Tamarbode agree that whatever else one might say about Llofir, it is interested in the long game.

==Other Castles==
* '''The Eternal Family of Navarr have raised a Frozen Citadel in Kahraman'''
* '''The Sussivari Frost Coven have raised multiple Dripping Echoes of the Fen in Bregasland'''
Magical fortifications are a powerful weapon in the Empire's arsenal. This season, a keep of black ice was raised above [[Kahraman#Serra Damata|Serra Damata]] in [[Kahraman]]. At the same time, a blanket of fog and whispers settled over [[Bregasland#Grey Fens|Grey Fens]] and [[Bregasland#Ottermire|Ottermire]] in [[Bregasland]]. All three citadels would have offered aid in resisting any potential invasion of these territories by the Jotun. Fortunately, no such attack materialised, and the castles faded back into the magic from which they had been called.

==Ribbon of Embers==
* '''The [[Redoubt#Optarion|Ribbon of Salt]], transformed to a fountain of embers, has sent an explosive burst of [[Night magic]] over [[Redoubt]].'''
The Ribbon of Salt is a famous Spring [[regio]] sited under the waters off the port-spires of [[Redoubt#Visten|Visten]] in [[Redoubt]], known for regular eruptions that took the form of a great waterspout. In the weeks leading up to the Spring Equinox, these explosions became unpredictable, and the eruptions themselves were of a shorter duration, but much more intense and destructive in nature. During the Equinox itself, tremors began to emanate from the submarine regio, alarming seers and stargazers alike with the fear that the Ribbon was building up magical energies at an alarming rate. On the last day of the Equinox, the Ribbon of Salt exploded with immense force.

However, rather than an eruption of raw Spring magic the Ribbon vomited forth a swirling torrent of shadows, embers, flame and whispers; a storm of emotions, half-memories, snatches of strange secrets and wreathing mists. A team of heroic Urizeni had [[Sentinel_Gate#Conjunctions|travelled]] to the regio's heart, and [[Align the Celestial Net|realigned]] it to the realm of Night moments before the detonation.

Even though the influence of the ritual normally fades at sunrise, the energies of the regio do not return to Spring. Scholars who study the Ribbon are at a loss to explain what has happened. Some hypothesise that the recent [[Pay_in_blood|weakening]] of Spring regios across the Empire may be to blame, with no easy access to the tumultuous heart of the regio they can do little more than speculate.

Over the months following the Equinox, the regio slowly subsides to the occasional spuming vent of ash and embers. Some of those who live nearby report peculiar dreams and occasional odd phenomena in the water or in the skies, but for the most part the magic appears to have dissipated harmlessly.

Out on the waters of the coast, though, the impact of the Ribbon's eruption is strongest - which is where the [[The_Brass_Coast_military_concerns#The_Freeborn_Storm|Freeborn Storm]] is this season. The ships of the Brass Coast steer clear of the gout of shadow and fire, but they do not avoid the more subtle influence of the pillar of night magic. It warms the blood and sets the heart aflutter, inflaming passions, inspiring intense and unexpected friendships and bitter feuds with equal facility.
===Significance : Ribbon of Embers===
The [[General#Admiral|Admiral]] of the Freeborn Storm navy, and any character whose [[fleet]] was [[Fleet#Supporting_a_Navy|supporting]] the [[navy]] this season, may decide that their character was exposed to the strange, warm winds and the cold embers emitted from the transformed Ribbon of Salt this season.

Any such character benefits from having an additional [[Heroic_skills#Hero|hero point]] (even if they would not normally have hero points) but they also experience a [[roleplaying effect]]: you feel all your emotions much more deeply, and experience a strong desire to ''act''. Passivity and caution feel unnatural and wrong; being bold and confronting things head-on feels ultimately fulfilling.

Both the hero point and the roleplaying effect last until the end of the Summer solstice.

==A Grim Harvest==
Shortly after the Spring Equinox, peculiar eldritch creatures from the realm of Night scuttle out from the shadowy woodlands of [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] in the [[Mournwold|Mourn]], and out of barrows in the chalk of [[Mournwold#Freemoor|Freemoor]]. Scaled and feathered, they bring with them several immense black cauldrons that foam and bubble with vitriolic fluids. Largely ignoring the ongoing war around them, the heralds surround these cauldrons with complex apparatus of iridescent glass and curiously shaped flasks. Then these interlopers prowl among the cold, dead fields where some of the fiercest fighting between Jotun and Empire took place. Where they encounter an unburied corpse, they gather round and carefully harvest the corpse.

The Night heralds only harvest dead [[orc|orcs]], and the occasional [[Feni]]. They come with pitchforks, barbed chains and ichor-sodden bags, pulling half-decomposed corpses and limbs to the bubbling cauldrons and dropping them into the miasmatic brew within. They gather up crow-picked bones, listening carefully to them as if in conversation. These heralds do not seem to be interested in just any dead bodies - they are quite selective - though the standards by which they choose which corpse to claim are unclear. Into the cauldrons go the carcases, to be boiled away to nothing but vapours and fluids, distilled into something otherworldly.

The heralds do not touch a single Imperial corpse. They steer well clear of soldiers on both sides. A few are willing to talk, and claim that they are servants to the great eternals [[Murit]] and [[Soghter]]. They are seeking the fundamental essence of the experience of ending. The cauldrons and alembics are all part of this effort, rendering down the flesh and bones of the dead to catch those brief final moments when life transitions to death. They say that their work is entirely of the body - that it is nothing to do with "ephemera" (presumably they mean souls) - they only catch the echoes of memory still left in the meat. This, they say, is a key part of the creation of the Azoth - though what the Azoth is, they remain hesitant to discuss. Some express a brief disappointment that they are not allowed to take Imperial bodies - such a lack will inevitably shape how the Azoth develops.

Their peculiar, grisly work complete, the heralds steal away with their cauldrons as stealthily as they arrived, leaving only a scattering of circular patches where the black kettles rested where no grass will grow.

==Imperial Lore==
Two new rituals enter Imperial Lore: [[Hammers of the Brilliant Shore]] (held over from Winter), and the challengingly problematic [[curse]] [[Mountain Remembers Its Youth]]. Any character who is eligible to master a new ritual can master one of these rituals by the usual means, and they can be cast without being mastered using the normal rules for ritual casting.

Rules update 2026

2026-02-03T17:39:58Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Reasoning */ Shuffling an R

==Overview==
Every year we carry out a review of some part of the game looking to see what we improve. This process of continuous review allows us to keep the game fresh and ensures we remain happy that we're running the very best game we can. We don't have many updates this year, but the ones we do have are important for the players who are affected. This page summarizes and explains the changes so that players can identify and understand the changes easily.

We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing an in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate. As ever, it is important to remember that the rationale is there purely to provide a way for characters to explain any changes, it's not an actual plot development.

==Fortifications and Citadels==
We've changed the rules for fortifications so that a single [[fortification]] now has a bastion which makes the region it is in harder to take, and a garrison of troops who will protect the territory. The new rules replace the old rules for fortifications, and the previous rules for citadels have been completely dropped - they no longer apply at all, as they are completely superseded by the new rules.

===Reasoning===
The simplicity of the original rules published for fortifications contained a number of problems. It was hard to create convincing narratives around the idea that a large fortification on one side of a territory would somehow protect the entire territory. Not least because it would do that without inflicting any damage on invading armies (unless they attacked the fort directly). Fortifications tended to fall down almost immediately if they were attacked, encouraging players to try and build them as far from the front lines as possible, neither of which is what we want from a game design point of view.

Last year, we attempted to resolve those difficulties by creating citadels, originally intending them to replace fortifications. However, because it made no sense to put a citadel in the location that the forts were in, that proved impossible. Having realised that error late, we opted for a partial implementation and ran the new rules alongside the old rules. That didn't work either, because citadels were simply not as good as fortifications.

So this winter, we've gone back and started again with a fresh set of rules for fortifications. The new rules mean that the fortification helps to make a region more difficult to take - which is one of the things we wanted forts to achieve. They are also much more resilient, meaning they are more likely to change hands and be captured rather than simply fall down when an army attacks them. Finally, having each fortification include a distinct garrison means that we can be clear in the narrative of a campaign about what is happening (the garrison is sallying forth to attack invaders) while also having the garrison take and inflict damage, reifying the fact that the garrison is fighting the invaders.

Explicitly separating the bastion (the castle that makes the region harder to take) and the garrison (the soldiers who staff the fortification and defend the territory) allows us to reference them directly in the game, both in the narrative and with plot [[opportunity|opportunities]].

===Changes===
* '''Several recent winds of fortune have been updated'''
* '''Many rituals dealing with fortifications have been updated'''
Several recent winds of fortune have been updated to bring them into line with the new rules:

* [[Outside_the_wall#Walls_Against_Wickedness|Outside the wall]] and [[Ward Little Boyar's Welcome|the accompanying Senate motion]] - is now an opportunity to ward the walls of the fortification in Delev.
* [[Golden_magicians_fayre#Frozen_Strength|Golden magicians fayre]] - the Rimebound quality would now affect any mortal fortification in the region, making rituals cast on it more effective.
* [[Our_eyes_in_Spiral#Oblivion's_Edge|Our eyes in Spiral]] - is now an opportunity to build a fortification in Screed to protect and contain the {{Black Plateau}}.
* [[Eight_for_a_wish#Stone_Endures|Eight for a wish]] - has been updated to be an opportunity for the sodality to build fortifications.
* [[The war of thorns and flowers]] - the section introducing citadels has been removed. Attacking vallorn forces will usually target a fortification if the bastion is adjacent to a vallorn heart.
* [[For_those_in_peril_on_the_sea#A_Vigilant_Light|For those in peril on the sea]] - now an opportunity to build a powerful fortification in Oranseri

We've also made changes to many of the rituals that deal with fortifications, either by enchanting them, cursing them, or creating temporary defences. They include:
* [[Stone's Unyielding Defiance]] and [[Ramparts of Ashlar]] provide additional force to the garrison of a fortification
* [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]] and [[Mountain Remembers Its Youth]] affect both the bastion and the garrison, and how their damage is inflicted has been adjusted slightly.
* The ''Wolves of Winter'', a ritual not in Imperial Lore, provides additional strength to the garrison of the enchanted fortification, but ''only'' for purposes of inflicting casualties.
* The four "citadel" rituals - [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]], [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], and [[The Basalt Citadel]] have been changed significantly, and each provides different benefits.
Some of the rituals have also had their magnitude adjusted.
===Arcane Projections===
* '''Arcane projections that affect fortifications are likely to be impacted by these changes'''
If you have an [[arcane projection]] that targets a fortification, its likely its effects have been impacted by these changes. An email sent to [mailto:rules@profounddecisions.co.uk rules@profounddecisions.co.uk] along with the name of the arcane projection will allow us to update the effects if necessary, and provide you with a replacement physrep at your next event.
{{Rules Updates}}

Bedight in veils

2025-09-08T21:47:12Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Grendel */ Removing Rogue Comma

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Thule]][[Category:Iron Confederacy]][[Category:Grendel]][[Category:Jotun]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Atte.png|caption=Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason of the Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd; elder statesman and [[Imperial Consul]].|align=left|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
There are six great powers in the known world, but also innumerable lesser powers. They do not have the power or influence to shake the world with a ''Pax Sarcophan'', nor send shockwaves through the world when they go to war. Yet they are no less important to those with whom they share a border, and for some at least, their ambitions are no less relevant to the Empire. Sometimes diplomatic relations require in-depth analysis; sometimes there is an opportunity to catch one's breath and let the drama move slowly towards the next crisis point.

There are [[ambassador|ambassadors]] to some of these nations - the Suranni, the Thule, and the Grendel in particular. Other nations are dealt with by the [[Imperial Consul]]. They handle diplomatic relations with any foreign and barbarian power with which the Senate has not created a separate ambassador. As well as those who have responded this season, this includes people as diverse as the [[Skoura|Skourans]], the [[Great Forest Orcs]], the [[Druj]] and the independent septs of the Mallum, technically the Sand Fishers, the exiles of [[Madruga#Trajadoz|Trajadoz]], and indeed any other distinct group of people that might make contact with the Empire, or be contracted by them. It can be...challenging... at the best of times.

Here we learn about relations with five foreign nations and two groups of orcs: the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Otkodov]], the [[Jotun]], the [[Grendel]], the people of [[Tsark]], the Karass of [[the Barrens]], and the new ''Protectorate of Morajasse''.
==Otkodov==
{{Nation|nation=[[Thule]]|status=Foreigner|port=None|ambassador=Kindra Surefoot}}
===Shadow of Peace===
* '''The treaty with the Thule has been passed by the Imperial Senate
The [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Thule_Treaty|treaty with Otkodov]] that was presented and upheld by the Senate during the Spring Equinox has not been [[veto|vetoed]] and has become law.

While the plan was originally for Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided and a number of other Thule dignitaries to visit [[Anvil]] during the Autumn equinox to formally sign the treaty, their visit has been delayed until Winter. Rak is unwilling to give full details but is very clear that it is nothing the Empire has done or is doing - it is an internal matter. The treaty is legally in effect regardless; the formal signing is as he said previously mostly just "political theatre".

There are five [[fortification|Thule fortifications]] that defend their land in territories controlled by the Empire. Last season, work was completed to expand and improve several of those fortifications and powerful [[enchantment|enchantments]] were played on all of them. This season, only the [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]] castle of ''Fljajokep'' bears any noticeable enchantment - again bound with brass sigils that communicate to those who see them that they are marks of power, glowing with the heat of the forge. Likewise, magic seethes in the depths of the [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]]. Another Thule enchantment - a ward of [[night magic]]. Do the Thule know something the Empire does not, or are they simply taking precautions against potential attacks from [[the Mallum]]?

If the Thule are slow to sign the treaty, they are not slow to take advantage of it. Thule merchants soon appear in markets in the Marches and Navarr to buy large amounts of food and supplies, which are slowly shipped north. Herds of cattle, pigs and sheep are escorted towards the border with Otkodov, along with ox-pulled wagons containing grain, dried and cured meat, salted fish, wheels of cheese and barrels of pickles. As a result of the huge purchases, the ability of the Marches and the Navarr to support armies has both decreased, presumably the ability of the Thule to support additional armies has increased proportionally.

A few people shake their heads and wander if the Empire isn't storing up trouble for the future, but in the meantime the benefits are being felt immediately. There is money to be made in [[Mitwold]] and [[Upwold]] and in [[Hercynia]] and [[Miaren]] as a result of the treaty, and the boom is helping to raise taxation from territories across the two nations. In addition there is there a bounty of twenty mana being provided to the font each season, along with ten mana for the [[Broker of Treji Wayhouse]] and the [[Reeve of the Happiston Mana Exchange]].
{{CaptionedImage|file=thulebanner1.jpeg|title=Thule banner iconography|align=right|width=250}}
===Laws and Levies===
* '''The Dragons are ''mostly'' amused by the Conclave's decision to outlaw hollows'''
* '''They will not tolerate any attempt to prohibit the presence of hollows in the Empire'''
* '''The Thule are prevaricating on the matter of Thule tariffs on Imperial goods'''

The Thule have been officially informed of Conclave's decision to [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Interdiction:_Hollowing|interdict the creation of hollows]]. For the most part they seem to be amused; the creation of hollows is a closely guarded secret, known only to the Dragons, just one of the unique magics they alone possess. The ability reflects their great age and supreme mastery of the arcane arts and they're ''very'' confident that nobody in the Empire has the slightest idea how to do it, given how many times the [[Volodny]] tried to acquire the arts from them. Every approach has always been rebuffed - dragons are adamant that they are never going to share the secret with the Empire - ever.

They are only ''mostly'' amused however, as there is a suspicion that this could lead to some kind of prohibition on hollows entering the Empire. The Dragons are very clear on this point, the ''body'' of a hollow is the property of the Dragon that created it. Hollows are a vital embodiment and reflection of a Dragon's power. They will not find any attempt to limit where their hollows may travel funny ''at all'' - rather it will be seen as a personal insult and one intended to try and curtail the powers of the Dragons. Rak compares it to an attempt by the Dragons to limit where the Empress might travel or who they might speak with.

Attempts to raise the issue of tariffs and levies with the Thule have not yet produced an official response. Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided demurs when asked about the matter, but when pushed suggests that such discussions would be complex and time-consuming and might need to wait until his replacement has been agreed and put in position by the Dragons.

The civil service suspect that the Thule are deliberately playing for time on this issue. They seem to be quite content with the current arrangements and happier ''not'' to discuss them. They suggest that the Empire might need to find a way to apply some leverage to this issue if they wish the Thule to prioritise it.

===Mieriada===
* '''The Thule had taken control of Mieriada in Miekarova'''
* '''They have claimed the Night Quarry and all other notable resources in the region'''
* '''The Empire retains access to the Maze of Zoria and half the stone produced by the Night Quarry'''
* '''The Thule are making arrangements for the Tolvoli Slaughterhouse'''

While magic is protecting Ossium, the orcs of Otkodov take ownership of [[Miekarova#Mieriada|Mieriada]] in [[Miekarova]]. An army comes down from the frozen heights above Wendell's Hope, and secures the borders of the formerly Varushkan region. This includes taking custody of the [[Night Quarry]], the old [[Miekarova#Heart_of_the_Tempest|Heart of the Tempest]], the [[Guardian_of_the_Maze_of_Zoria#The_Maze_of_Zoria|Maze of Zoria]], several of the more extensive of the [[Miekarova#The_Painted_Caves|Painted Caves]], and [[Tolvoli_Butcher#Tolvoli_Slaughterhouse_and_the_Heart_of_the_Tempest|the Tolvoli Slaughterhouse]]. Much more than simply land has been lost here. It is not so straightforward as simply losing these things, however.

First of all the Thule have agreed to allow half of the seasonal production of the Night Quarry to continue to be claimed by the Imperial Bourse. The seat will continue to be [[Auction of the Seats|auctioned]] - its [[Night Quarry#Bounty of white granite|production]] simply drops from 28 wains each season to 14 wains for the foreseeable future. Operational details are still being finalised but it appears the Imperial treasury will be required to pay half the upkeep of the Quarry for this.

Secondly they have agreed to preserve Imperial access to the Maze of Zoria - for as long as Thule warlocks are welcome at an Imperial [[college of magic]]. A number of warlocks have taken up residence at the [[Master_of_Ice_and_Darkness#The_Icy_Crag_of_the_Eternal_Sun|Icy crag of the Eternal Sun]], reducing the upkeep of the college by 5 thrones each season but allowing the Thule copies of any ritual text created at the college from the Summer Solstice onward. These first warlocks seem a little disappointed to discover [[Hayaak]] has become patron of the college, but so far there have been no unpleasant interests. One of the warlocks lets slip that they had hoped to have a chance to speak with some of the servants of [[Jaheris]] that used to operate out of the college about a [[curse]] called ''Terror of the Night Hags'' which has recently come into the possession of the Dragons - and whether the Empire has any experience of its effects. Shortly after this unfortunate breach of protocol, the warlock in question was suddenly recalled to Otkodov presumably to face a dressing down.

Tolvoli Slaughterhouse was not covered by the treaty, but Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided indicates that the warlocks dealing with the Heart of the Tempest are prepared to keep purchasing animals from their Varushkan neighbours in return for a portion of the magical substances harvested from the dhubik there. Practically this means that the Tolvoli Slaughterhuse continues to operate, and the Tolvoli Butcher remains able to acquire the [[Tolvoli Butcher#The Red Harvest|red harvest]] by providing the Thule with beasts. However, the amount available is reduced due to the warlocks claiming their own share of the preparations. This means that the Tolvoli Butcher loses the top rank from each of their ministries. It's possible that the Varushkans are not interested in continuing to trade with the Thule in this way. The Tolvoli Butcher is due to be [[Tolvoli_Butcher#Appointment|appointed]] this season - if no Varushkan takes the position the Dragons will take that as an indication they do not wish to participate in this arrangement and will take different steps to ensure the dhubik do not become a threat.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Forest of Ulnak regions.png|caption=The Empire has mapped the Forest of Ulnak, but parts of the territory still remain unknown.|align=left|width=400}}</div>

===Forest of Ulnak===
* '''Hinodir of the Bright Orb has requested access to the spy network in the Forest of Ulnak
* '''The Thule are not prepared at this time to share what they know of the Vore
Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided mentions that they received an interesting letter from '''Eli of the Cenotaph''' and '''Jaromir Ostrovyn Kostka''' concerning the [[Forest of Ulnak]] and especially what lies to the north through the mountains - what the Empire called "the Vore". After taking counsel from the Dragons, Rak regretfully says that at this time he cannot share anything about this matter with Imperial citizens, not even to confirm whether the Mines of Areshan are in the Vore or not. Otkodov does not have a navigable border with the Vore and is happy for it to remain so at this time. As such, Rak concurs that the Thule would rather not see the folk of the Vore - whoever they are - gain control of Ulnak should the Druj collapse.

However... ''Hinodir of the Bright Orb'' has indicated that there may be a path toward the Thule sharing a little of their own understanding of the situation in the north-east. The Dragon knows that the [[Imperial Spymaster]] '''Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo''' operates a [[spy network]] in the Forest of Ulnak. The Thule would like to make use of that spy network to explore the territory in detail. As foreigners, all that is required for them to make use of the network is permission from someone empowered to do so. If that permission is forthcoming, the Thule would make use of the network following the Autumn Equinox to create a map of their own and investigate magical locations in the woodlands. There would be no requirement for other concessions - the [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]] borders Ulnak and as such their scouts can easily gain access to the Forest.

Should the Empire decide otherwise, the Thule will conduct an independent action in the Forest of Ulnak. It would be a costly affair, but the orcs of Otkodov are as capable of spying on their neighbours as the Empire is - although the Civil Service note that in the absence of the Civil Service, it is likely that a spy network costs the Thule significantly more to establish than it costs the Empire.

This concession would obviously represent a first step toward any alliance between Thule and Empire to invade the Forest of Ulnak. Rak is quick to point out that this does not mean the Dragons will definitely commit to such a course, only that if the Empire doesn't trust them to use the spy network it will make it ''less'' likely. Once the Dragons have a better understanding of exactly what is in Ulnak, they will determine if the risk of involvement there is worth the reward to Otkodov.

Rak was recently requested by one correspondent to put a price on such aid - there was an opening offer of 50 rings of ilium for four armies for a year. In response he points out that four armies would cost the Empire two hundred thrones a season - eight hundred thrones for a year - ''just for the running costs''. The Dragons will not even contemplate helping the Empire fight the Druj unless the rewards for the Thule are considerably better than that. Ilium is very valuable, but star metal falls from the sky... land does not.

One thing they are ''not'' asking for at this time is for the Empire to share their own maps or findings. They are welcome to do so if they want, but the Thule still want access to the spy network. The orcs of Otkodov are interested in different things to the Empire, for a start, and need to make their own observations rather than rely on potentially out of date reports from Imperial scouts.

The request is unusual to say the least and because of its unprecedented nature, there is no long-standing constitutional basis for how the decision might be taken. There are good arguments that could be made that control and use of such structures falls under either the remit of the [[Imperial Military Council]] or the [[Imperial Senate]], both of which have heavy demands on their time. The [[Imperial Spymaster]] has responsibility for coordinating the use of Imperial spy networks and smugglers coves - but they don't currently have the legal power to decide a response to this request.

To resolve the problem, the Civil Service will introduce two administrative motions on Friday night of the Senate. The first would give the Imperial Spymaster the legal power to grant access to Imperial spy networks and smugglers coves to foreign powers by announcement in the Military Council. The second would give the Imperial Spymaster the legal power to control all access to Imperial spy networks and smugglers coves by anyone. This power would be employed by announcement in the Military Council. If either motion is passed, the Spymaster will be able to deal with the issue, if neither motion is passed or they are vetoed, then the matter will need to be resolved by Senate motion.

===Legacies===
* '''Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided expresses some interest in the Legacy Accords
* '''He asks for his opposite number to provide their own assessment of the proposals
* '''A poem written by a Wintermark skop has been shared with Thule artists
* '''Rak thanks Asch Fortae Shalder for their sentiments and asks if they have any concrete proposals
Rak asks Kindra to offer their opinion on the "Legacy Accords" presented to him by a Navarr named '''Dylan Thornweaver'''. They appear to be the basis for a treaty to determine how any future war between the Empire and Otkodov would be undertaken with several limitations and restrictions of who can be killed and what can be destroyed. The Ambassador keeps their cards close to their chest as to their own opinion, yet its clear they are interested enough to ask their opposite number to look into the matter.

The Thule Ambassador thanks '''Ragnhild Honeytongue Thrice-Passed Skaersdottir''' for the poem they have created, and assures them that the skuld ''Eiríkur'' is indeed aware of it. He expresses his gratitude and appreciation, and wishes to inform Ragnhild that he indeed intends to return to Anvil at some point (if he is given leave to do so) having greatly appreciated the warm welcome the skuldyr received.

Then there is the matter of '''Asch Fortae Shalder''', called the Wise Reviver. The Suaq Winterfolk expressed concerns that the orcs of Otkodov are still suffering starvation, and Rak wishes to reassure them that the situation is well under control. Along with the meat and other produce purchased from Sermersuaq, and the herds of cows recently bought in the Marches, the tribute of food paid by the Marches and Navarr more than addresses any shortfall the northern nation might be experiencing. It is, however, satisfying to be reminded that while there are Imperial citizens who resent the Thule, there are also those who appreciate the aid they offered in recovering Sermersuaq from the Jotun. The sentiments Asch has expressed are welcome, but they would be much more likely to secure the interest of the Dragons if they had something concrete to propose. Perhaps in a future missive, or with the help of Ambassador Kindra? Or perhaps something from the Imperial Conclave?

Finally, as requested '''Slawomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh''' has sent a missive to the Thule Embassy providing more details about face-stealing creatures or folk that apparently operate in the woodlands of [[Ossium]]. Rak thanks the wise one for their work, and after consultation with some of the warlocks more familiar with the region than he is, confirms that they are known to the Thule. They were called ''face peelers'' by some of the human labourers who worked the forests of [[Otkodov#Sküld|Sküld]], and were also known to the slaves the Druj kept in Ossium. They prey only on humans - they will fight and kill orcs but are not drawn to them the way they are human folk. The Thule destroyed them wherever they encounter them for obvious reasons, but since they released all their slaves they have not troubled Otkodov at all. According to the folk tales the Thule learned from the humans they once kept, these creatures have a glamour that allows them to deceive others into treating their unnatural appearance as perfectly normal, and are able to breach protections and wards when the humans around them transgress even in jest in certain ways. The details are not entirely clear - with the best will in the world the Thule did not pay ''that'' much attention to their slaves. Perhaps there are still some in Ossium or Karsk who could answer questions on this matter?

==Iron Confederacy==
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
{{Nation|nation=The [[Iron Confederacy]]|port=[[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]]|status=Foreigner|ambassador=Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo}}
The Suranni lie to the south of the Empire. They are a secretive nation, bound up in tradition and suspicion. While they are currently at peace with the Empire, even accepting merchants and traders into their lands, they are certainly not ''friends''. Recent events have seen them, like the [[Faraden]], caught between the [[Liberty Pact]] and the pro-slavery Freedom Accord. Yet where Faraden feels it must play a delicate balancing act, the Suranni Dukes are more confident in their power and prepared to play Imperial and Asavean interests off against each other.

The Suranni ambassador to the Empire is ''Baroness Katerine Lavasse of Meore'', who operates from the Tour Lavasse in Chaubrette, a territory unknown to Imperial citizens that apparently lies to the west of [[Bay_of_Catazar#Veroigne|Veroigne]]. A noble [[naga]], she replaced the significantly more dogmatic Jeanne de Hibernat, a High Priestess of the Suranni god [[Suranni_pantheon#Evra_the_Smith,_Maiden_of_the_Forge|Evra the Smith, Maiden of the Forge]]. She has already indicated that she is very much more pragmatic than her predecessor and more interested in compromise. She still reports to the Dukes of the Iron Confederacy, however, and so her apparent goodwill toward the Empire cannot be relied upon.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Suran.PNG|width=400}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Kavol.PNG|width=400}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Arav.PNG|width=400}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Kobol.PNG|width=400}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Evra.PNG|width=400}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Farod.PNG|width=400}}
</div>
===Regarding Serfs===
* '''The Imperial Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy has made further enquiries about the status of serfs'''
* '''Baroness Lavalle has reiterated what was said over a year ago about the difference between serfs and slaves'''
Ambassador Tethros also asked for some clarification on the status of serfs in the Suranni homelands. Baroness Katerine is clearly a little frustrated by the question, considering it to be returning to a matter that was already [[The_price_of_peace#Iron_Confederacy|settled more than a year ago]]. As was explained at the time, the former slaves of the Iron Confederacy became serfs, and the [[Imperial Senate]] consequently removed the unjust [[Tariffs#Sanctions|trade sanctions]] they had imposed.

In answer to the Ambassadors questions, the Baroness reiterated what she said previously. Unlike slaves, serfs enjoy some protections under the law. They cannot be subjected to direct violence, and cannot be bought and sold as chattel. They work the land they belong to, and whatever they produce belongs to the noble who owns that land. They cannot leave the land they are bound to, but the landowner does have some responsibility to ensure that they are not unnecessarily abused. It is possible for a serf or the child of serfs to improve their lot through selection for priesthood or exceptional military service.

Hopefully this will put the matter to rest once and for all. The Iron Confederacy has conceded to the Empire on the matter of slavery because it suited them to do so, but the Dukes see little profit in continuing to belabour the point.
===Grim Magics===
* '''The curse on the Suranni province of Arbonne appears to have abated
Last season the Suranni province of [[Arbonne]], which the Empire knows as Kalino, was struck by a terrible curse that blighted the fields at the height of harvest-time. Queries were directed to the Empire as to what, if anything, they might know about the situation. Ambassador Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo has apparently reiterated that although the effects of the curse were somewhat familiar - similar to [[Anathemic Call of Bug and Briar]] - there is no chance that Imperial magicians would have been involved in this calamitous magic. Rather, the Ambassador suggests that the [[Children of Wrecks]] - whose mistress is a powerful practitioner of [[Spring magic]], and who are known to include a number of former Hand of Dumon wizards among their number - may have had a hand in it.

Baroness Katerine accepts the Ambassador's reassurance, while remaining sceptical that the Children of Wrecks may have been involved. So far, their malign magic has broadly focused around the conjuration of violent storms and unseasonable deluges. Yet the involvement of the Hand of Dumon appears to be a given. Fortunately the priests of [[Suranni pantheon#Farod the Herald, Maiden of the Dawn|Farod the Maiden]], whose gentle hands bring Spring rains and still storms, have prevailed upon the goddess to intervene and it seems the power of Dumon has been broken.

Civil Servants suggest that this is likely an exaggeration - it's more likely that the curse has simply run its course than that the prayers of priests have brought the magic to a premature end.
===Days of Wine and Roses===
* '''A delegation of Suranni diplomats have accepted the Ambassador's invitation to attend the Marcher Wassail.'''
* '''They plan on attending Anvil at 11:00 on Saturday, and wish to be formally received in the Senate as befits their status.'''
The Iron Confederacy are quite well-disposed to the Empire at the moment. The Hand of Dumon is illegal, the sale of narcotics to the Iron Confederacy is illegal, the Empire remains at war with the Grendel and the Jotun, and Imperial trade flocks to Robec like starlings to scattered seeds. The Grand Dukes find their borders secure and their coin purses full, and this inclines them to a positive mood. As such, they have given permission for a small group of nobles to accept the Ambassador's kind invitation to attend the Marcher camp for Wassail. They intend to arrive at 11:00 on Saturday and see what merriment is afoot after their formal reception. Baroness Katerine Lavasse is sure that they will have a good time, and is also sure that the Empire, as good hosts, will ensure that the costs of any refreshments the party may require are covered. The Empire is so ''very'' proud of their prosperity, after all - the Suranni are happy to provide them with an opportunity to demonstrate it.

The delegation will be led by the Baronet Ser Marquette Lavasse, Baroness Katerine's cousin who attended the coronation of Emperor Vesna. He will be accompanied by his bodyguard Seigneur Ser Guillaume, his cousin the Baronet Ser Vauquelin Lavasse who acts as the Suranni Ambassador to Faraden, and doubtless a few other minor functionaries who can introduce themselves if they wish. Baroness Katerine indicates that the party would be pleased to be received in the Senate by Ambassador Tethros, as well as either the Emperor herself or a member of their household. There is no need for a grand ceremony, simply a mutual acknowledgement of two great nations with equally great destinies in this world, after which the party can be escorted to see whatever quaint pastimes the yeofolk of the Marchers have laid on.

Of course, no business would be discussed on such a social occasion. None at all. But if there should happen to be citizens around who were interested in making polite conversation on the subject of international trade, well, Ser Marquette is known to have an interest in such matters. The Children of Wrecks, naturally a matter of great concern to any civilised society, are also of great concern to Ser Guillaume, who has been staying abreast of the possibility for action against these marauders. And surely the Ambassador to Faraden will find much in common with Ser Vauquelin. Nobody will be talking business, of course. Simply sharing a little gossip about matters of mutual interest.

There is one more matter - a request, in fact. Baroness Katerine desires that one Ghisli 'the Provider' Baerson, a wealthy citizen whose audacity would make a Grendel blush, attend upon the delegation so that a face may be put to the name that everybody has heard so much about. Surely there will be some ''fascinating'' discussions to be had.
===Letters to Robec===
* '''The Suranni are enjoying the amount of Imperial trade passing through their port of Robec
The steady stream of Imperial traders into the port of [[Foreign_ports#Iron_Confederacy|Robec]] continues, and the Suranni continue to take every advantage. The Winterfolk benefactor '''Ghisli''' and their collaborators are to be commended for their hard work. Regardless of how things end up with the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]] and their Freedom Accord, the Baroness is confident that the Dukes will approve plans underway to make more unique and valuable Suranni produce available to Imperial traders visiting the port.
===An Imperial Historian in the Baronial Court===
* '''Marko Siwarsbairn is visiting the Iron Confederacy to complete a report on Suranni military victories
* '''They are a guest of Baroness Katerine herself
* '''The work is expected to take at least six months, available at the Autumn Equinox
It is possible that one reason the Ambassador might be expressing concern about the precise status of serfs is the [[https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire-wiki/Soldiers_of_Suran#Into_the_Iron_Confederacy|publication]] by the [[Historical research#Department of Historical Research|Department of Historical Research]] of the first part of [[Historical_research#Marko_Siwarsbairn|Marko Siwarsbairn's]] research into Suranni military history. The historian is a guest of Baroness Lavalle, staying at her estates in Chaubrette, working closely with ''Josse Argent'' and several other scholar-priests. According to the Baroness, the work is going well, but as she [[I_wish_you_would#The_Historians|mentioned last season]] it looks as if Marko will be unable to return to the Empire before the Winter Solstice. She reassures the Ambassador that she is more than happy to continue hosting the Wintermark scholar who she describes as "delightfully droll."

There is however one matter that needs to be resolved; as the Ambassador is aware there were concerns when Siwarsbairn first came to the Iron Confederacy that their intention might be to engage in espionage. There is obviously no sign of that - Marko has been the soul of discretion and civility - but they are refusing to allow the Baroness or Josse Argent to read their report before it is delivered to the Empire. Katerine is concerned that the reason for this must be that it contains sensitive information. Marko claims it is because legally the report belongs to the Minister of Historical Research. As such, they are at an impasse. Can Ambassador Tethros intercede with the Imperial [[Minister of Historical Research|Minister]] to reassure Marko that it is acceptable to share their final report with their host. The scholar has already indicated they will trust the word of the Ambassador, should they pass along the Minister's instructions.

The Baroness is at pains to dispel any potential misunderstanding; if Marko continues to refuse to share their findings they won't be prevented from leaving or anything extreme like that. But they might find the willingness of Josse and the other scholars to cooperate suffers as a consequence.
{{CaptionedImage|file=JotunPose.jpg|align=right|width=450}}

==Jotun Diplomacy==
* '''The Jotun orcs of the west remain at war with the Empire'''
The Imperial Consul is responsible for diplomacy with the Jotun, although they seem to prefer dealing with the folk of Wintermark and occasionally the Brass Coast than any Senate-appointed diplomat.
===The Jarl's Death===
* '''The Jotun are pleased by the honour shown to Jarl Ustigar of Kierheim who died fighting General Osric at Anvil'''
* '''It is not yet clear who will replace Ustigar as the Jarl of Kierheim'''
* '''Igya Olgafsdottir has been recognised as the new representative to the Empire'''
During the Summer Solstice, ''Jarl Ustigar of Keirheim'' died in a duel of champions facing General Iron Osric. His body was carried from Anvil with all due respect, and transported back to his beloved Skallahn for the hero's burial he has earned over the decades of loyal support for the Jotun. It is not clear who his successor as Jarl of Kierheim will be, but there is rumour that both the King of the South and the Queen of the North have made pilgrimage to Kierheim to attend his funeral and to speak with those who might claim his mantle. It is likely this event that has drawn the two of them away from battle in the Marches this season, and it appears that a number of champions and heroes have likewise attended the burial. ''Igya Olgafsdottir'', Jarl of [[Tromsa]], has been acclaimed as the representative from the Jotun to the Empire.
{{SOP|statement= A meeting place is being built and with it new opportunities with the Jotun. In honour of the legends, we invite the Ghodi to break bread with their counterparts in the mystics. Let them share ideas and find ways to bridge the gaps between our nations.|by=Hayrin, Wintermark Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 284-0|when=Summer Solstice 387YE|size=small}}

===Meeting Hall===
* '''A new meeting hall is being constructed on a tidal isle, Gull Island in the Gullet'''
* '''The Wintermark Assembly could enact a mandate to soothe fears over the new meeting hall and invite the Jotun to join them there'''
The [[Sermersuaq#The_Meeting_Place|Meeting Place]] was for centuries a place just beyond the borders of Sermersuaq where the Jotun and the folk of Wintermark could meet in peace. It was primarily used for diplomatic purposes, allowing the two nations to discuss treaties and ceasefires, exchange prisoners, and the like. It also served this purpose when Wintermark joined the Empire - until it was apparently shattered by a Varushkan calling themselves ''Alderei the Fair'' (not the recent general of the [[Iron Helms]] - a different Varushkan using the same name). Its destruction at the time was taken as more evidence of how dishonourable the Empire had become. Empire.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Wintermark.png|width=150|align=right}}
Over the last year or so work has been afoot to try and create a new locale that can serve the same purpose. At the Spring Equinox earlier in the year, the Imperial Senate commissioned the [[Construct Meeting Place|construction of a meeting hall]] on [[Keep_talking#A_Meeting_Place|Gull Island]], in the sea off [[Kallavesa]]. The site was apparently chosen with the aid of the [[mystic|mystics]] and has certain resonances that make it an ideal place for peaceful meetings between the Empire and the orcs of Narkyst and Kallsea. Work is proceeding apace; the white granite has been delivered and all that remains is to actually build the place.

The Jotun have a notorious fear of water and avoid sailing wherever possible. Some say they fear drowning more than anything - the one sure way to guarantee that your soul is lost to the Howling Abyss. Some Jotun even talk of the sea ''as'' the Howling Abyss. Others say it is the presence of the terrible monsters in the Sea of Snow that makes sea travel so difficult. Fortunately the island is ''tidal'', so it is possible to walk across to it at low tides. For some reason, the Jotun seem to appreciate this - the thought of being ''trapped'' on the isle and unable to leave until the tide goes down doesn't seem to bother them, if anything quite the contrary.

There have still been challenges to overcome of course - the peculiar coral husks that have been bedevilling the coast of the Marches and Wintermark have several times tried to attack the island. Fortunately the same Wintermark fleets that [[Voyage#Escort_the_Fisherfolk_of_Westerhal|guard the fishing fleet of Westerhal]] have been on hand to ensure the builders are not troubled. Work is expected to be completed in time for the Winter Solstice - unless something disastrous goes wrong of course.

In anticipation of this the Wintermark Assembly supported a [[statement of principle]] raised by '''Hayrin''', inviting the Ghodi to break bread with their counterparts in Wintermark and find a way to "bridge the gaps" between the two nations. One problem, of course, is that the Ghodi have no idea what the Imperial Synod is discussing; the other is that not all Winterfolk welcome the Jotun to their lands. The orcs conquered Sermersuaq and were only recently driven out. They have made several attempts to conquer Kallavesa. Some worry that they may try to use this new Meeting Place as springboard to renew their attacks. There are also serious questions about whether the mystics are the best people to meet with the Ghodi for the first, auspicious meeting in the first place. A formal gathering at the new meeting place cannot help but set the tenor for future meetings on the site. Should there not be [[scop|scops]] involved to tell the tales of Wintermark heroes? Are there enough mystics of Suaq and Steinr traditions to ensure that the meeting is with ''all'' the peoples of Wintermark?

{{Mandate|mandate=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 (named individual) 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.|assembly=Wintermark National Assembly}}

If this [[mandate]] is enacted, the named individual will be responsible for encouraging messengers to travel into Jotun lands - a potentially risky move given the state of ongoing war - and priests to deploy suitable auras to support those messengers and reassure the folk of Kallavesa. It will not be enough to send them into Skallahn and Tromsa - they will need to travel in the south as well where the Jotun are involved in an ongoing battle with the Marchers. Assuming the Ghodi respond positively to the invitation - and it is likely they will given events to date - the named individual will be responsible for gathering a suitable contingent of folk to meet with the Jotun during the Winter Solstice. Such a momentous meeting is bound to attract the attention of the Sentinel Gate, after all.

===Smidr Clad In Scarlet===
* '''A smidr, a Jotun smith, has written to the Consul asking for help investigating the murder of two thralls'''
* '''He intends to come to Anvil under a flag of truce at 18:30 on Friday and hopes to speak with the Consul'''
The Jotun are skilled artisans - some claim that they taught Isenbrad the runes (though many Steinr claim the opposite). Their artisans are known as ''smidr'' or simply smiths: they are known to be highly respected and are thought to occupy a somewhat independent position in Jotun society, standing somewhat outside the hierarchy of clans and jarls. The smidr have their own ways: they have thralls sworn to them (who in practice will do most of the more mundane crafting, though a Jotun warrior will always describe their weapon as crafted by the smidr themselves and not by their thralls, who are considered simply an extension of the smidr's mastery.

In some stories, the smidr are described as belonging to fraternal organisations known as skrohn: a single skroh might contains a handful of actual smidr, many warriors who work under them and act to protect the smidr in return for being furnished with the finest weapons and armour, and many more thralls who work under the tutelage of the smidr and who, if they show skill and promise, may be invited to pick up a weapon and the smithing-hammer and begin the long journey to becoming a smidr themselves.

The smidr are also believed to have some role in the complex diplomacy the Jotun undertake with the Eternals of the Realms. While they certainly do take the battlefield, they are considered deserving of close protection by some of the most elite Jotun warriors: it has been some generations since the Empire has confirmed a smidr killed in battle (though presumably it does happen).

All of this would be a mere curiosity, just another part of Jotun culture that the Empire was not fully aware of, were it not for a letter to the office of the Consul some weeks before the Autumn Equinox. The letter is addressed from Harald Fourforge of the Skroh of the Locked Door of Skallahn: clearly a smidr. He explains that he is not writing on behalf of the Jarl of Jarls (to whom he scrupulously avoids assigning a gender as there are of course two claimants to that position). Rather, he is writing about a matter that he hopes will ''not'' rise to the level of official diplomatic incident. It seems that two thralls, Vigdis and Toki, were murdered in Fareskov last season: their Jarl, Jarl Alvilda Ottesen, has asked him to investigate, as it appears to be linked to some kind of eternal interest in the dark forest there.

As it is, Harald and his colleagues of the Locked Door, had their own interest in the events that transpired: he suspects that the murders that took place may well have been ordered by the Hungry Beast, as part of a plan to slip the fetters the smidr have placed on him in Skallahn. However, he wants to try to establish all the facts before he relays any information or conclusions to Jarl Ottesen. If she then believes that this was an Imperial attack on her thralls, she will doubtless take her complaints upwards, and out of the smidr's hands. If Harald is convinced that this was the act of malefactors working against both Jotun and Imperial interests (as allegedly happened with the meeting stone), and they can be brought to justice, then he will be only too happy to tell Jarl Ottesen this and then she is unlikely to consider the matter further.

As such, he is travelling to Anvil under a flag of peace (presumably he will not be travelling alone, but he does not confirm this). He expects to arrive at 18:30 on Friday, nice and early before too much Imperial business gets underway, and he hopes to be met by the Imperial Consul. He would also like to speak to Vossk of Zenith Ascendant, Eerikki Korpi, and Aulus Warcaster, as he believes they may have some light to shed on the matter. He is sure the Consul will be able to arrange such meetings. If he cannot satisfy things to his satisfaction, with the Consul's permission he will probably return again at some point during the summit.

He ends his letter by stressing once again that he is not speaking on behalf of any official diplomatic channels, the business of the Meeting-Place and anything that might transpire there is very much ''not'' the business of a smidr. As such he trusts that the Imperials will do the honourable thing and not try to discuss such matters with him.
{{CaptionedImage|file=shark.png|align=right|width=400|}}

==Grendel==
* '''The Grendel remain at war with the Empire
The orcs of the Broken Shore, the dominant power on Attar along the southern shores of the [[Bay of Catazar]], remain at war with the Empire. After several months of comparative silence, the Grendel navies and armies are on the move. They have launched a land offensive against Mareave, where they have "liberated" the Brine Turtles and threatened the [[Mareave#Fundindelve|mithril mine]]. They have also initiated a naval attack against Redoubt, which has seen them seize the port of [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] and only the sacrifice of the [[Fist of the Mountains]] prevented them from destroying it and potentially reshaping that entire area of coast.

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.

===Peace and Storms===
* '''Speaker Morna claims that the Grendel have dealt with the Children of Wrecks presence in their domain
* '''They request that further correspondence about diplomatic matters come from the Ambassador to the Grendel
Following the Summer solstice there has been a single missive from Speaker Morna. It is delivered among [[Call Winged Messenger|fluttering unseen wings]] to the office of the [[Ambassador to the Grendel]], '''Finna''' of [[Dawn]].

They begin by addressing '''Abel the Rounder''', who raised the matter of the [[Children of Wrecks]]. Last season Speaker Morna touched on the fact the Salt Lords had sent their soldiers to deal with the [[Bay_of_Catazar#Temple_of_Tempest_Jade|Temple of Tempest Jade]], the unholy fane dedicated to the ''[[Siakha|Maelstrom]]'' on the shores of [[Bay_of_Catazar#Raineach|Raineach]]. The Empire needn't worry about that enclave of the Children any more, although Morna mentions that it seems a significant portion of the fanatics who once worshipped there had already shifted their attention to the more amenable islands off the Brass Coast. At this time the Salt Lords are not concerned about the Children who seem hell-bent on looting Sarvos rather than risking their ramshackle "navy" against the might of the orcs of Attar. Likewise, they are broadly unconcerned about the ''Pax Sarcophan'' - for while it may impede any nation from assaulting merchant vessels of uninvolved nations it entirely recognises the right to attack the ships of anyone one is at war with. So while the ships of the Commonwealth, Sumaah, and even Axos might be protected from any piracy sponsored by the Salt Lords, the Empire's ships very much are not.

As to the matter of peace, Speaker Morna explains that any such discussion must take place between themselves and the Ambassador to the Grendel.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Black pearl and his shell.jpg|align=right|width=450}}</div>
===Bells and Pearls===
* '''The Grendel are mostly unconcerned about the recent portents in the Bay
* '''Saltbinder Grekodh offers a deal to acquire any black pearls remaining in the Empire
The speaker offers commiserations to '''Thane Umarth Winter's Flame Klannsk''', general of the Fist of the Mountains. They commend the [[Grendel_religion#Fidelity|Fidelity]], [[Grendel_religion#Audacity|Audacity]], and [[Grendel_religion#Vigilance|Vigilance]] of the warriors of Wintermark, and acknowledge that in the matter of the destruction of Elos, their actions seem to have carried the day in the Empire's favour. It is difficult to do otherwise when the price paid for victory proved to be so high.

On the matter of a "Drowned Emperor" or "Queen of the Abyss", the Council of Salt Lords has taken counsel with ''Saltbinder Grekodh'', a magician with intimate knowledge of the [[Winter magic|arts of Salt]]. On the strength of that counsel, the Salt Lords have made their own preparations to deal with any threat from the depths of the Bay, but are unconcerned at this time with "imminent doom".

The Saltbinder has, however, expressed an interest in certain "black pearls" that have appeared in the waters of the bay. Saltbinder Grekodh and their coven are prepared to offer a reward of one pawn of [[Vis#Hearts Blood|Hearts Blood]] for each pair of pearls delivered via the [[Ephisis' Scale|commerce with the City of Gold and Lead]] during the Autumn Equinox. Any magician interested in making such a trade should ensure there are no more than a dozen pearls in the box, and include a piece of parchment with the rune [[Lann]] drawn on it. Obviously such a trade would be illegal in the Empire, but neither Speaker Morna nor Saltbinder Grekodh seem in any way concerned about this.
{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofTheBarrens.png|align=right|width=500}}

==The Barrens==
* '''For the most part the septs of the Barrens are largely just getting on with things
The Imperial Consul deals with diplomacy with the Barrens septs, at least in theory. In practice the [[Not_to_conquer#Rahvin|Rahvin]] are more likely to respond to approaches from the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]], while the [[Great Forest Orcs]] have made it clear that their alliance with the [[Navarr]] takes precedence over any Imperial political concerns. The Rahvin are also considering what response, if any, they will have to the Senate's [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Recognise_Empire's_Responsibility_in_the_Barrens|acknowledgement]] of the Empire's responsibility of what happened in the Barrens.

The Karass are more complicated - the Karass [[Little_mercy#Trading_at_Carmine_Field|requested the Empire build a trading post]] and that whoever run it have the responsibility to handle arrangements with the Karass. This new [[Envoy to the Karass]] is due to be appointed, but the position isn't legally recognised as an ambassador which means the title holder can't raise a treaty in the Senate. Presumably, they would have to defer to the Imperial Consul for any ''official'' diplomatic business.
===The Karass===
* '''The Karass remain singularly focussed on removing the Last Battle Wayhouse from "their" lands'''
* '''They would like the Empire to avoid building any commissions in "their" lands'''
* '''The Karass are further alarmed by demands for ''poetry'' that have been levelled by the Dawnish'''

The [[Not_to_conquer#Karass|Karass]] are now the most numerous of the surviving septs of [[the Barrens]], along with the [[Great Forest Orcs]] and what is left of the [[Not to conquer#Rahvin|Rahvin]]. They have a presence in the [[The_Barrens#The_Untrod_Groves|Untrod Groves]] and the [[The_Barrens#Bleaks|Bleaks]] - having largely abandoned the villages that used to dot the [[The_Barrens#The_Plains_of_Teeth|Plain of Teeth]]. They have a poor reputation with the other septs, perhaps tied to their role in the early days of Imperial domination in the destruction of the [[Not_to_conquer#Vendarri|Vendaari]].

In recent months there has been alarm among the Karass about the presence of the [[Keeper_of_the_Last_Battle#Last_Battle_Wayhouse|Last Battle Wayhouse]] in the Untrod Groves. One of the first of the new [[Navarr_wayhouse|great wayhouses]] built, it serves as a focus for the Last Battle striding of the Navarr, whose scouts are engaged in exploring the [[Sarangrave#Nesustak_Forest|Nesustak Forest]] across the border in [[Sarangrave]]. Unfortunately, the Karass are deeply concerned about [[Navarr]] "trespassers" in "their" woods. An emissary dispatched from the Untrod Groves makes their way to [[The_Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] to deliver a missive intended for the [[Imperial Consul]], from the leader of the sept ''Anka Karass''.

The Karass do not contest that [[the Barrens]] is Dawnish now - it has been conquered and that is just the way things are. The Empire has replaced the Druj and the Karass accept that. They are content to live in the Untrod Groves and the Bleaks as foreigners; to trade with Dawnish settlers if they wish to deal with them. Perhaps in time civility will blossom into friendship and alliance. But the Druj would never have built such a threatening commission in Karass lands, unless the sept had offended them in some way.

The Karass claim to be alarmed that the wayhouse was built without any warning. The first they knew of it was that there were Navarr all over the place poking their noses into Karass business. They thought they were free to live their lives in peace and be left alone, just as they did with the Druj, and then this happens. They say they want to see the woods of the central Barrens remain wild and just dangerous enough to allow Dawnish knights to quest in them - and Karass hunters to stalk the game they favour.

However what Anka Karass really wants, more than anything else, is for the wayhouse to be removed - or at least moved to the [[The_Barrens#The_Plains_of_Teeth|Plains of Teeth]] or [[The_Barrens#Saltmarsh|Saltmarsh]] or... well anywhere other than the Bleaks or the Untrod Groves. They claim this is due to concern among the Karass that the presence of the wayhouse has helped to wake the Manticore Earl from its quiescence. The last time it was roused, some decades ago, Anka Karass herself personally led the attack to fend off its incursion, on the orders of the Druj. She was the only survivor of that incident and she is very wary that the Earl seeks revenge. And it is not just the Earl of the Groves: who knows what else the Navarri presence might awaken in the deep woods of the Barrens? What if they start take an interest in ''Peytaht''? It does not bear thinking about.

The Civil Service point out that obviously it is not possible to just "move" a wayhouse. In the event the Imperial Senate is prepared to honour the Karass request, they would need to abrogate the Last Stand Wayhouse, and commission a new wayhouse elsewhere in the Barrens. Such a [[wayhouse]] would be built using the standard rules, and provide the standard benefits. What it would ''not'' do is provide any of the special benefits currently provided by the Last Stand striding.

They also point out that at the moment the Karass are not actually ''offering'' anything to the Empire. They are requesting changes, some of them potentially expensive, and providing nothing in return. They are however, very clearly desperate, about this issue. The presence of the Last Battle Wayhouse appears to alarm them even more than the prospect of the Druj returning.

Finally the Karass have received a letter from a Dawnish noble demanding poetry - about love. The Karass do not know what to do with this. Demands from their rulers for things are perfectly understandable, but the Druj never required them to provide poetry. They swear they don't have any poems and they don't know how to make them. They have provided the noble with three doses of true vervain, in the hope that this tribute will suffice in place?
{{CaptionedImage|file=Tsark2.png|align=right|width=600}}

==The People of the Moon==
* '''Tsark have indicated that they would like to open low-key channels of communication with the Empire'''
* '''They do not want an embassy at this time and would like to deal with the Consul if needed'''
* '''Sage Kristoph is coming to Anvil at 20:15 on Friday and will head to the Zenith Ascendent camp'''

A month before the Autumn Equinox, a visitor appears in Zenith. An elderly orc in long flowing robes, [[Write_your_own_ending#A_Border_'tween_the_Mountains_and_the_Moon|Sage Apollion has visited the Empire before]]. Last time he came to discuss the construction of a new fortification in Zenith, this time he has bigger concerns and has come with an important announcement.

On behalf of the People of the Moon, the Council of Sages have elected to reconsider their previous policy of complete isolation from the People of the Horse. Safe Apollion claims the Council are pleased that the People of the Spires have respected their wishes and built their fortification far from the Mountains of the Moon so as not to pose a threat. As the People of the Horse have also respected the Council's requirements for privacy and solitude, the Council would like to ''test'' a period of restrained diplomacy to see if the two parties might thereby benefit.

The Sage is keen to emphasize that this new channel of communication should be moderate and sombre. They do not wish to have an embassy, which might easily be taken as a sign that this new approach was intended to be permanent. It is hardly appropriate anyway, since such arrangements are usually reciprocal, and there is no chance of any Imperial citizen being allowed to enter the Mountains of the Moon. Instead they would like permission for two sages and their staff to take up residence at the Spire of the Night Sun, a relatively small Urizen spire near the border of [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]] that was abandoned during the last Druj invasion and has never been reclaimed.

From here they will be able to handle any official correspondence, presumably from the Imperial Consul, that the People of the Horse have for them. They stress that this is very much a trial period - many members of the Council remain deeply concerned about the prospect of violence spreading from the People of the Horse into the Mountains like a plague. Virtue is contagious after all - but so is vice. If that happens, then they will have to sever all links for their own safety.

One of their number, Sage Kristoph, is planning to come to Anvil. Zenith Ascendant have agreed to host him in their tent, and he would be happy to discuss details of the Council's change of heart, which he has long argued for. In particular he would like to meet with:

* Abel of Zenith Ascendant to sketch out possible trade.
* Vetti Gatherer-Peregrine to discuss Zaboravi cultivation.
* Sofonisba Amilcara of the City Below to discuss poetry.
* "Whoever is in charge of Vallorn" to discuss that matter - this would presumably need to be the Speaker for the Vallornguard or the Advisor on the Vallorn.
Sage Kristoph is exected to arrive around quarter-past eight in the evening on Friday during the summit.
<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==
* '''A significant force of Grendel remains in Feroz with control of Mora's Rock and the region of Morajasse
While the majority of Feroz has been liberated, [[Feroz#Morajasse|Morajasse]] remains in the hands of the master-strategist ''[[Fake empire#Gallum Fiersach|Commander Gallum Fiersach]]''. Ably supported by his partner, ''Wind Lord Saoirse'' - a master of the [[Autumn magic|lore of Sand]] - they are based at the fortress of [[Feroz#Mora's Rock|Mora's Rock]] along with a significant number of veteran Grendel soldiers. They have significant stocks of supplies, and they are carefully protecting the borders of Morajasse. And not just their own borders - before the Spring Equinox, Gallum and Saoirse led their troops into [[Feroz#Oranseri|Oranseri]] to [[A_circle_sewn_with_fate#The_Battle_of_Oran|fight the Children of Wrecks]]. After the fight, the Wind Lord delivered a message restating how the orcs of Mora's Rock despise the wreckers, and [[A_circle_sewn_with_fate#After_the_Rain|urging the Freeborn]] to make preparations for further attacks.
===Bulwark Against the Storms===
* '''The Grendel currently garrisoning Mora's Rock have been recognised as foreigners by the Senate
* '''It would be a crime for any Imperial general to issue orders to attack Morajasse
* '''Commander Gallum Fiersach and his soldiers now protect Feroz from the Children of Wrecks
At the Summer Solstice, the [[Imperial 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''. They have not [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|conceded]] the region - because it was not theirs to concede already being in the hands of Commander Gallum. The Senate has simply recognised its borders, and by extension dubbed the commander and his followers to be foreigners. Reassurances have also been delivered that the wily Freeborn magician '''Bakar i Riqueza''' will no longer be [[curse|cursing]] the fortification or impeding the garrison there.

With these steps taken, as [[I_wish_you_would#At_Mora's_Rock|promised last season]], Commander Gallum commits to protect the coast of Feroz against the Children of Wrecks to the best of his ability - at least for the time being. A [[Call Winged Messenger|magical missive]] has been delivered to the [[Imperial_Consul#Imperial_Consulate|Imperial Consulate]] in [[Tassato]], sent by ''Wind Lord Saoirse'', indicating that the protectorate and its commander are open to further negotiations. Gallum has requested that such negotiations be handled by the [[Imperial Consul]] rather than the [[Ambassador to the Grendel]]. Although no particular reason is given, the civil service speculate that it is to ensure a clear division between the protectorate and the Salt Lords' council.
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Freeborn.png|width=150|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Prosperity.png|width=150|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Vigilance.png|width=150|align=right}}
</div>

===Supplies===
* '''The orc quartermasters at Mora's Rock are attempting to buy provisions and supplies from the Freeborn of Feroz and Segura
* '''They find the normally entrepreneurial Freeborn are suspicious and uncooperative
Mora's Rock has supplies laid in, thanks to the foresight of Commander Gallum and his quartermasters. There is sufficient preserved food and fresh water to last out a significant siege. However, Wind Lord Saorise mentions that it would be significantly better if the soldiers there were able to trade with their Freeborn neighbours.

Unfortunately, for the last several years the Grendel at Mora's Rock have been synonymous with the cruel tyranny of former Governor Rahab. They may have acted professionally and with discipline, but they were still part of the apparatus that enforced the authority of the despised ruler of the territory. The garrison is wealthy - but that wealth was mostly taken from the people of Feroz. Some was taken directly by conquest, the rest "earned" through payments made by former Governor Rahab. As such, unsurprisingly, the people of Feroz are not wild about trading their limited supplies - and neither for that matter are the folk of adjoining [[Segura#Lucksprings|Lucksprings]] or [[Segura#Anozeseri|Anozeseri]].

At the very least it would likely be possible for the Freeborn Assembly, or the Assembly of Prosperity, or even the Vigilance assembly perhaps, to get involved here. They might use a [[statement of principle]] to offer encouragement to the people of Feroz and/or Segura, urging them to deal with the orcs. They might alternatively discourage them from doing so, and ensure the local Freeborn keep the Protectorate of Morajasse at arms length. Any influence the assemblies might wield here would be reliant on the wording of their [[statement of principle]] and of course the achievement of a [[greater majority]].

===Glowing Ramparts===
* '''Wind Lord Saorise is prepared to enchant Mora's Rock if the Empire fears an attack from the Children of Wrecks
Wind Lord Saorise includes a note of potential interest to the [[Imperial Conclave]]. She and her coven are capable of performing an [[enchantment]] using the [[Autumn magic#Lore of Sand|Lore of Sand]] that will draw allied forces from the [[Realms#Autumn|Mercurial Archipelago]]. She has demonstrated this ability in the past - leading advisors to the Consul to conclude she is referring to the enchantment the Empire knows as [[Mystic_scrolls_of_Estavus#Ramparts_of_Ashlar|Ramparts of Ashlar]]. If the Imperial Conclave is prepared to [[Endowment|endow]] her with 75 crystals of mana she will ensure that enchantment is raised over Mora's Rock to significantly increase the ability of the garrison to resist the Children of Wrecks. Obviously the enchantment only lasts for a season, but Saorise says that the Protectorate will undertake the enchantment whenever the Conclave provides the mana.

Obviously, while she has proposed the Conclave deliver the mana, it is unlikely she will turn down a donation of mana from private citizens should they be able to use a ritual such as [[Ethereal Courier]] to deliver them. Unfortunately, that ritual is a little unreliable as to how ''soon'' it reaches the recipient. As such, using Ethereal Courier will result in an enchantment in the ''following'' season, whereas the endowment of the Conclave would elicit an enchantment following the summit where it is provided.

==Further Reading==
* [[Ambassador]]
* [[Imperial Consul]]

Has reared himself a throne

2025-08-18T13:05:05Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Melancholy Waters Lie */ Fixing this & That

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"I don't envy the archmages," said Lutomysla, swilling the last of her soil-brown Marcher beer around in the bottom of her mug. When she was in the Hub, she drank her beer from a mug. Not from any social pressure, but because she hated tea but liked to feel part of the team.

"In what way?" Jorgen was busy reviewing his notes, putting them in order in preparation for writing a proper report for the Archmage of Spring. The towering mushroom had had a lot to say, and the civil servant found that parts of it were fading in and out of his memory in an unsettling way. He'd obviously gotten a bigger dose of those barely visible spores than he had thought. He idly wondered if he ought to see a physick to be on the safe side but it had been a plenipotentiary response, and he was confident that even the strangest of the eternals would not test the boundaries of that particular magic by harming those receiving its response.

"The ambassadors have it easy in comparison." The Varushkan prognosticator leaned her arms on the desk and watched the ebb and flow of human traffic with a detached interest. "They're dealing with people with very different assumptions, but at least they are still people. They want the same things everyone else does. Love, money, power. The usual. They are unpredictable, surely, but in a predictable way."

She sipped the last of her beer. The dregs were thick enough to chew and she smacked her lips in appreciation. Jorgen shook his head. He very much did not see the appeal of that kind of Marcher beverage. He glanced a little sadly at his own mug, still three-quarters full of congealing cocoa.

"I think the eternals are predictable," he said darkly. "They intentionally time their responses to plenipotentiary messages for when I have just made myself a cup of the good stuff. Never fails. Every time."

Lutomysla cocked an eyebrow and half a smile as her friend grumbled, but didn't respond.

"Oh no, no. I mean, yes. They are predictable because they are focused. You're never going to get Toad King to care about anyone who isn't a magician, for example. No matter how much love, money, or power you put on the table. It's more that the ambassadors deal with humans and orcs. That the Ambassador to the Delves could, with a little support, take the same kind of approach they use with the Bedelaar Huisbaas if they had to talk to the House of Princes. Because humans and orcs. But that doesn't work for the archmages."

Jorgen shrugged. He didn't really know much about international diplomacy. It was very much not his wheelhouse. Most people, foreign or Imperial, annoyed him slightly. He wondered not for the first time if that was why he staffed this particular desk as often as he did, then put the thought aside and drank some of his cold cocoa. It was just as dreadful as he had expected it to be. Lutomysla, as she so often did, took his silence to mean she should continue on her theme.

"The problem is that the eternals ''within'' the realm are similar enough. The Autumn eternals on the whole like the Empire, and as long as you keep them where you can see them they'll deal with you on the same basis as they do their fellow cities. It's just how they do things. Night eternals will surprise you whenever they can, but they all love your attention and feeling clever. With Day what you see is what you get, and whatever they may say you know they care more about the thought than the physicality. Summer is all about the ego - and dealing with them is always a balancing act. Winter are watching you to see if you've learned anything, or maybe to see if they can eat you. Spring... now there's a tough one."

"Tougher than dealing with people who will eat you if you get it wrong?"

"Much tougher. None of them actually ''like'' the Empire, and because they're Spring they don't bother to hide it. They'd all be a lot happier without all these cities, and roads, and armies and what have you - all the things that make the Empire what it is. And because they're eternals, you'll never convince them otherwise. The best you can do is try and make sure that they don't set fire to the entire village when you ask them to help you gather firewood. If you see what I mean?"

"I don't," said Jorgen. "But then I just take the messages so..."

Very much as if they had been waiting outside the tent for their cue, a pair of black-and-green feathered creatures stepped dramatically into the tent, eyes glittering. They swept a bow to the gathering, and confidently approached the desk.

"Case in point," muttered Jorgen, grabbing a new stack of paper and a fresh quill. Lutomsyla rolled her eyes.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Time-eaten towers.jpg|caption=Time-eaten towers that tremble not, resemble nothing that is ours.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''<s>Five</s> Six eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil, apparently in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Three have agreed to meetings of one kind of another, either in person or via emissaries'''
* '''The other three have provided messages, opportunities, or gifts of one type or another'''
It is given to the six Imperial [[archmage|archmages]] that they might send a single [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] message to an [[eternal]] of their realm each season. In turn, the eternals are bound to respond, albeit in a way that suits them rather than the archmage. For some this will mean personal meetings, or congress with their chosen lieutenants. For others it will mean direct action, boons and banes offered and delivered, or chances to shape the mortal world so that it be more pleasing to their [[Realms|realm]]. Occasionally, they simply decline, but in so doing make their reasons plain. It is difficult to say with certainty what will arise from any given invitation to [[Archmage#Parely|parley]]. It is unwise to assume that any eternal creature is ''tame'', after all.

As the Autumn Equinox approaches, there have been six messengers dispatched and six messages received that seem to have occurred in response to the words of the Archmages.
==Sculptured Ivy and Stone Flowers==
{{CaptionedImage|file=EstavusArt.jpg|align=right|width=300}}
* '''Representatives of the City of Fire and Stone have responded positively to a plenipotentiary'''
* '''They have arranged a meeting with the Archmage of Autumn'''
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is ''Edmundo of Damakhan's Forge'''''
The soft spoken [[Metal_and_stone#Pride_of_Ikka's_Tears|Architect Noether]] is [[Hammers_and_boxes#Clearing_the_pass|not a stranger]] to the Empire. Shorn of the heavy furs they wear in the north, they are a delicate being with anthracite skin and peculiar garb reminiscent of mage armour but composed of sheets of unnaturally flexible sandstone. They bear a message from the [[Estavus|City of Fire and Stone]], responding to the plenipotentiary message of their factotum, '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant'''.

According to Architect Noether, the proposal put forward in the missive was "clear, personal, interesting" and the ''Forgemistress'' intends to honour the request. The ''Architects of Iron and Stone'' - a faction in the fire mountain Shikal that specialise in assessment and appraisal of potential constructions and investments - are already putting together a proposal for a permanent office in [[Zenith]] from which '''Edmundo of Damakan's Forge''', and the Empire, may conduct business with the City of Fire and Stone. It will be built at the [[Zenith#Crucible_of_Fate|Crucible of Fate]], where the ''Lady of Hammers'' already has a [[Architect_of_the_Crucible#Bronze_Birds|not insignificant presence]].
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Office of Fire and Stone'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Iteri, Zenith (at the Crucible of Fate)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 [[white granite]], 20 [[mithril]], 10 rings of ilium, 90 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 3 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates the title of ''Architect of Hammers''
* Allows heralds of Estavus to enter the mortal realm at the Office of Fire and Stone regardless of alignment
* May provide other benefits</td></tr>
</table>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Architect of Hammers'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen or Imperial</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes or Declaration of Conclave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Depends on necessary details</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversee the Office of Fire and Stone; liaise with heralds of Estavus on behalf of Urizen or the Empire as a whole, depending on appointment method</td></tr>
</table></div>
The plans themselves are straightforward enough; an [[edifice]] of white granite and mithril with a little ilium used to harness certain [[Autumn magic|Autumn energies]] to make it easier for [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] of the ''City of Anvils'' to visit and remain in the mortal world. A title - ''Architect of Hammers'' - will be created to oversee the offices. The ''Bronze Artisan'' is unconcerned as to whether it is an [[Urizen]] title appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]] or an Imperial title appointed by [[declaration]] of [[Candidacy]].

There are clear similarities to a [[fane]] - a type of commission codified by the Empire's architects and civil servants to try and copy techniques used by the Jotun to liaise with eternals. However, unlike a fane, the eternal has given no indication that they wish the structure to be ceded to them. This could be crucial as it means the eternal would ''not'' have [[Laws_of_magic#The_Law_of_Dominion|dominion]] over the commission; that would be held by the Architect of Hammers. As a result, it would be the architect who could determine whether heralds of Estavus could continue to come and go from the Office if the Conclave declared enmity. The eternal would only gain dominion if they seized it (with soldiers) or if they were given it by the Architect of Hammers, or a suitable authority in the Empire (such as the Conclave or Senate).

What has not been established, however, is the precise purpose of the structure. The Archmage is invited to meet with representatives of the Autumn realm during the Autumn Equinox to discuss precisely ''which'' version of the structure shall be built. The meeting will take place in a chamber reached through the Hall of Worlds at TBCXX. Archmage Edmundo is invited, obviously, as this is to form part of their legacy, and may bring up to two advisors to the discussion.

==Hours Breathing Faint and Low==
{{CaptionedImage|file=LlofirArt.jpg|align=right|width=300}}
* '''Llofir has declined parley'''
* '''It has put forward a way the Empire might rebuild trust with it'''
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is ''Ibiss Briarheart'''''
On the last day of Summer, as the world inevitably slips into Autumn, just as night falls, the Imperial regio comes alive. Eerie phosphorescence blooms, painting the stones rust-brown and honey-ochre and bloody violet. A thin, ivory-and-salmon fungus sprouts at the centre of the ring, and over the course of an hour grows and extends until it towers nearly ten feet tall. It has neither eyes nor mouth, but it nonetheless speaks clearly in a piping high-pitched voice. This eerie creature is an emissary of the ''[[Llofir|Lady of Spores]]'', the eternal of the [[Realms#Spring|Spring realm]] concerned with fungus, rot, and decay. It comes in response to the plenipotentiary missive of Ibiss Briarheart, the Archmage of Spring. It has been three years - a blink of an eye indeed - since it was [[I_knew_you_were_trouble#Llofir|last sent]] to the Empire to speak with Imperial citizens.

The ''Rotlord'' would like to see the [[vallorn]] ended. Indeed, there was a time where it worked with Imperial magicians to understand that threat and how it might be dealt with. That was before the [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Enmity_:_Llofir|Conclave turned against it]], before armies [[383YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Destroying_Angels|marched on its garden]], before the Empire's people chose to believe half-truths and suppositions over the word of the ''Quiet One''. In the past, it would have offered aid to the [[Vallornguard]] or the nations preparing for the fight against the blight of Terunael. There is now no path back to that position. If the Empire offers its trust, then once the [[The Dance of Navarr and Thorn|net is woven]], and the vallorn rises, the ''Promise of Life'' will see how it might help. But not before.
===Trust===
* '''If the Empire wishes to restore trust they will perform a special casting of Hallow of the Green World
* '''Any Imperial magician can use Madyn's Gift to gain a unique consumable to allow such a casting
The herald's lilting voice continues to speak of trust. The ''Inevitable Circle'' is not ''[[Ossegrahn|Lord Rain]]'', desperate for friendship. It will not accept words over actions taken, nor promises over deeds done. The Imperial Conclave has [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Regret_Conflict_with_Llofir|acknowledged regret]] for the conflict, but regret passes quickly. Fortunately, so does anger. When the ''Great Fungus'' demanded the right to ravage the farms of the Empire it was still irritated; that irritation has cooled in the eyeblink since. If Ibiss Briarheart and the Conclave wish to find a way to the place where parley is possible, if there are Imperial magicians who do not hold with what their masters have done, then it will be reasonable. When something is broken, something new can grow from its ruin. Friendship has been shattered; perhaps a new covenant may be forged from its splinters.

During the Autumn Equinox, Imperial magicians may raise the [[Hallow of the Green World]] across the Empire (and it is clear that like the rest of the Spring eternals, Llofir has no concern about the legality or lack thereof of such an act). Llofir will take the invitation it offers. For three months, it will tend to the ruined and the broken, much as it did in [[Reikos]]. At the Winter Solstice, it will consider the matter of its garden put to rest - provided the magicians of the Empire show that they are prepared to be vulnerable, to risk betrayal. There is a kind of strength that grows from weakness, and only through this vulnerability can the Empire and Llofir find their way back to trust.

Obviously, Llofir lies under enmity, and the ''Hallow of the Green World'' is an indiscriminate enchantment. If it were cast as things stand now, it would be more likely that ''[[Irra Harah|Shacklebreaker]]'' and ''[[Arhallogen|Venomfang]]'' would be the only eternals to respond in any meaningful way. The Conclave could simply provide Llofir [[alignment#Amity|amity]] which would allow it free reign during the enchantment, but that would no doubt require a level of trust that has not been earned.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>'''Whisperspore'''<br>If you plan to take the boon Llofir is offering, you will need a suitably phys-rep for the resultant ''whisperspore''. A pouch containing an amount of pale powder such as sherbet or flour makes an adequate phys-rep for whisperspore. The whisperspore itself is provided in the form of a typical rip-on-use card. The only way to find out exactly what it does is to use it (by inhaling it).</box></div>
However, the herald speaks of an alternative. The Conclave's wards hold sway only so long as Imperial citizens do not offer a clear invitation. As the [[Yaw'nagrah|Green Mother]] did in Winter, Llofir offers a way to twist the ''Hallow'' to open a door for its heralds to touch the Empire. In a similar vein, during the Autumn Equinox, any Imperial magician can perform the Spring ritual [[Madyn's Gift]] but include up to five measures of [[beggar's lye]] alongside the [[realmsroot]]. For each pair of realmsroot and beggar's lye, the casters will receive a dose of ''whisperspore''. Any leftover realmsroot or beggar's lye will be returned untouched.

Like the [[Yaw%27nagrah#Donahorti|donahorti]] of the Green Mother, Llofir's vast garden in the Spring Realm is a pharmacopeia of fungus and stranger things not quite plant and not quite animal. Many of them have unique properties of interest to the ''Rotlord'' and those who deal with it. ''Whisperspore'' is a relatively benign substance, a soft powder that can be inhaled to empower an adept of [[Magical_skills#Realm_Lore|Spring lore]] to work their magic more easily, especially [[Spring magic]] that causes rot and renewal such as [[Turns the Circle]]. Or, in this specific case, the ''Hallow of the Green World''. If at least one dose of ''whisperspore'' is used to support a casting of Hallow the Green World during the Autumn Equinox, it will allow Llofir's servants to bypass the warding provided by enmity, letting them walk freely within Imperial bounds.

If the Archmage truly wishes a relationship with Llofir, either on their own behalf or on behalf of the Conclave, then they must take the first step by opening the door, and trusting that the ''Rotlord'' will not abuse that trust. If they cannot bring themselves to do so, then so be it. Llofir will not consider [[Archmage#Parely|parley]] in response to any future plenipotentiary message from the Archmage until after the war against the vallorn begins in earnest.

Obviously, just as with the [[Gifts_of_a_green_mother#The_Green_Mother_Problem|boons of the Green Mother]], the acceptance, creation, or use of ''whisperspore'' would be a crime while Llofir is under the enmity of the Conclave. Furthermore, the Conclave has [[interdiction|interdicted]] the performance of all Imperial enchantments - so performing Hallow of the Green World would be a crime in and of itself.

Message delivered, the mushroom herald shrinks back down leaving only a patch of dead grass behind. By the dawn the odd phosphorescence has faded entirely.
==Resignedly Beneath the Sky==
{{CaptionedImage|file=LashonarArt.jpg|align=right|width=300}}
* '''Lashonar has declined parley'''
* '''They have offered a use of the Caucus Forum to the Conclave if they wish it'''
* '''The current archmage of Night is ''Bella Vicente d'Apulian'''''
Two feathered heralds of Lashonar arrive at the Imperial Regio at the start of Autumn. They are an odd contrast to some of their cousins who have visited Anvil before. Their feathers are richly coloured, but the hues are sombre - midnight blue and deepest sea green - and their garb subdued. They both seem to know where they are going, and while they return greetings with a smile and a nod of the head they uncharacteristically do not stop to chatter with passers by. They bear a response to the [[Archmage of Night]] and take it in turns to explain.

They offer respect and greetings to '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' but apologise that at this time free access to the Caucus Forum is not available. The 'Forum is a magical locale under the control of Lashonar which allows strangers to meet and speak together safely. Given it [[Hey_now_how_you_doing%3F#Mutinous_Chattering_(Lashonar)|withdrew the power]] of the Archmage to call the Caucus Forum, it is hardly inclined to create an entirely different position with the authority to do so. As they said a year ago, they intend to continue speaking to Imperial magicians, and helping them communicate with others, but that such opportunities will happen on ''their'' terms rather than being something citizens of the Empire can take for granted.
===Caucus Forum===
* '''Lashonar will allow the Empire to access the Caucus Forum but on its own terms'''
* '''The Conclave can choose one of three groups to meet in the Forum'''
* '''if they make the decision on Friday the meeting will take place on Autumn summit; if not it will happen at the Winter summit'''
Still, the ''Loquacious One'' does not ban the Empire from its 'Forum - that would defeat the point. With that in mind, the heralds are pleased to announce that the Forum shall be made available to the Imperial Conclave, at the forthcoming summit, if they wish to make use of it. However, Lashonar has determined three groups or individuals ''they'' are prepared to invite to the Forum to speak with representatives of the Empire.
* Representatives of the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean Plenum]]
* Inhabitants of [[the Mallum]]
* A Prince of [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarm]]
To take advantage of this opportunity, a [[declaration]] of [[Alignment#Acceptance|acceptance]] must be passed indicating which ''one'' of the three options the Conclave wishes to converse with. The magician who raises the successful declaration will be invited to such a meeting, and may bring up to three others of their choice. If the Conclave chooses to accept during the Friday session, the meeting will take place on Saturday via the Hall of Worlds at TBC. If they accept during the Saturday session the meeting will take place at the Winter Solstice. If they do not accept... then that is their right and there will be no hard feelings.

In each case, the ''Voice in the Void'' has identified a group or an individual who would be happy to speak with the Empire. Such representatives will be the most moderate of their colleagues, the ''most'' favourably inclined to the Empire from their faction. While the eternal could try to arrange a meeting with a more representative representative, there is no guarantee that such an individual will accept the offer. Identifying the most receptive individual or group, allows the Loquacious One to be certain of success.

This offer to attend the Caucus Forum is only made at the Autumn equinox and is only applicable to the equinox. This is how the Caucus Forum will work for the time being - the Archmage of Night may use the power of plenipotentiary to ask for it - and may name some of the folk they wish to speak to - but the final decision will be made by the Conclave from a short-list prepared by the ''Muse of Connection''. The Conclave, after all, chose to [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Lashonar_to_Neutrality|end their friendship]] - which is their right, of course. But the lack of communication before or after this was done does not suggest that the magicians of the Empire want a close association with the ''Keeper of the Gates of Wisdom'' right now and it is not one to force such things. So it shall treat with them as it does with others who are not pursuing friendship.

As the conversation comes to an end the heralds regretfully ask why it is that the ''Eater-of-Silence'' does not seem to have had the ritual text for ''Summoning the Loquacious Birds'' returned to them? They felt they had made it clear they would like it back, and provided a method for whoever currently holds it to return it. They have not changed their mind about the ritual; they would be interested to hear why their request does not seem to have been honoured? Perhaps those who currently hold the text might use it to send a message to the ''Speaker of Dreams'' to explain their reticence?

Just before they leave, they touch on the matter of [[Sarangrave]] the archmage raises. They are apparently a little nonplussed. The ''Conscience of Kings'' is doing what it always does; encouraging people to communicate with each other. To call that a "grand plan" is perhaps a little hyperbolic? Unless this is about the [[Four_and_four#Beacon_in_the_Storm_(Lashonar)|rescue of Decius Frostspire]]? The only "grand plan" there was that the herald was delivering a message Imperial magicians had ''asked'' to be delivered.

==Melancholy Waters Lie==
{{CaptionedImage|file=JaherisArt.jpg|align=right|width=300}}
* '''Jaheris declines parley'''
* '''Jaheris is not inclined to arrange a meeting with Dho'uala until a matter of allegiance and influence is settled'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is ''Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''''
With Autumn well underway, a knight-magician of the Court of the Forest presents themselves at the Hub to speak on behalf of the ''[[Jaheris|Silver Prince]]''. They are striking to look upon - clad in azure and alabaster, their skin a delicate shade of eggshell blue, a curling horn-nub extending no larger than a thumb between their brows, a mane of silver hair. They have the restless agitation of a creature not much used to standing still. It is noted that their muscular legs end not in booted feet but in cloven hooves shod with moonsilver. When they speak their voice is surprisingly deep and resonant for their slight frame.

They get straight to the point. The Archmage of Summer has asked for the ''Unicorn Lord'' to arrange a meeting with the [[Dho'uala|dreadful entity]] that lurks in [[the Semmerlak]]. Unfortunately, ''Silverbow'' would have no idea where to start. Has the Archmage considered standing on the shore and bellowing? It is clearly meant to be a joke, but the delivery is very flat as if the messenger doesn't quite understand the humour.

On a more serious and constructive note however, the ''Shadowed King'' may have some understanding of dark powers but that particular creature is as alien to the realm of Summer and the Forest of Arden as it is to Imperial citizens. It is the kind of thing Jaheris would have been able to offer aid to ''fight'' or ''contain'', but can't really help Imperial citizens ''speak'' to. Not easily, at any rate. Now if the Archmage had asked for the ''Cunning Wolf'' to offer patronage to the magicians who patrol the borders of the Semmerlak with the support of the [[Watcher of the Semmerlak|Watcher]], or to the [[Less_welcome_tenants#Blades_of_the_Semmerlak|Blades of the Semmerlak]] (had that order actually been formed), that would be something he would be very enthusiastic about...

The [[Realms#Summer|Summer realm]] is not without its influence in the vicinity of the Semmerlak however. Among others, there is a potent witch-knight - a former courtier of the disgraced ''[[Hayaak|Griffon Prince]]'' - who has dwelled in the southern Semmerlak for centuries. She certainly has ''some'' kind of relationship with the creature. It is however perhaps not the relationship that the Archmage is looking for; if the ''Lord of Moonmanse'' finds the entity distasteful, the Lady of the Semmerlak positively loathes it!

In the event that the Archmage of Summer would find a meeting with the Lady of the Semmerlak to be useful however, the ''Honeyed Tongue'' could arrange such a thing. All it would require would be a formal request - a successful declaration of [[Alignment#Acceptance|acceptance]] at the Autumn Equinox asking Jaheris to speak to the Lady on behalf of the Empire. The herald is confident that a meeting could take place at the Winter Solstice. And once the matter of who the Lady of the Semmerlak owes allegiance to is settled, then Jaheris would be able to arrange a parley with the creature of the deeper waters.

There is a matter of some mild concern; it's known that the "Lady of the Semmerlak" is no longer part of Hayaak's court, and exists in a nebulously uncertain place between the spheres of Jaheris, [[Eleonaris]], and [[Meraud]] who all have a theoretical claim on her allegiance. Obviously, a request of this nature from the Empire would provide an opportunity for Jaheris to woo the Lady towards his own court, especially if the Archmage of Summer or the Conclave supported the ''Hunter in Moonlight''. Something Jaheris is very likely to expect in return for his aid in this matter, however success could easily drag the Empire into the politics of the Summer realm. It seems likely that this is part of Jaheris' plan, and why he has chosen to respond to the plenipotentiary in this way. Resolving the allegiance of the Lady of the Semmerlak is effectively his price for arranging the meeting with Dho'uala.

With their duty discharged, the herald canters back to the Imperial Regio and slips back through the invisible gates to the Forest of Arden.

==No Ripples Curl==
{{CaptionedImage|file=ZakalweArt.jpg|align=right|width=300}}
* '''Zakalwe does not offer parley'''
* '''The eternal has a number of questions for the Empire and the Military Council'''
* '''He has specifically asked if the Council wishes to commit to one strategy over another in the Mallum'''
* '''The current Archmage of Day is ''Gralka'''''
"What does it mean," asks the herald without preamble, "to be a liberator?" They appear at the Hub a month after the start of Autumn, a serious individual in a bronze breastplate, archaic helm, and a wickedly practical-looking bident. They glow with faint luminosity in the dark tent, and bring with them the scent of saltwater and sun-baked sand. A captain under the command of ''[[Zakalwe|Weaponwise]]'', this is apparently their first time visiting the Empire. They bear a response to the Archmage of Day's
plenipotentiary.

After the initial flurry of questions, the herald gets to the meat of the matter, beginning almost apologetically. The ''General of Day'' does not wish to appear cruel, but it feels like the Archmage has not actually ''asked'' him for anything. He has teased out some implied requests from the plenipotentiary, but surely it is always easier to be direct than indirect?
===Conquest and Liberation===
* '''Zakalwe wishes to know if the Military Council shares the Archmages commitment to Liberation in the Mallum
'''Skywise Gralka''' has spoken at length of her desire, and that of the Empire apparently, to liberate the people of the Mallum. But to avoid the kinds of events that followed after similar attempts in the Barrens. What, asks the ''Commander in Coral and Glass'', does that ''mean''? The strategies and tactics of the conqueror and the liberator are fundamentally different, both on the battlefield and off it. So are the ultimate outcomes. A conqueror ultimately fights to keep what they take; a liberator gives it away. While the Archmage might wish that to be the case, why does the [[Imperial Military Council]] fight this war in the east? What are the Empire going to do once they have defeated the [[Druj]]? With the best will in the world, in the Barrens a significant faction claimed they were there as "liberators" but it is notable that the land is now part of Dawn with little enclaves for the two surviving factions of the people whose claim to the place depends on centuries of inhabitation. Three of the septs that once dwelled there are no more due to Imperial action in one form or another.

In essence, while Skywise Gralka may be committed to liberation rather than conquest... are they speaking for the Empire? The ''Beacon of Dawn'' sees that the [[general|generals]] of the Empire favour a direct, overwhelming attack in the eastern theatre. They rely on the [[Knights of Glory|might of the Summer realm]] to deal with their foes and that is a strategy that seems to be working. Any intervention by the ''General of Day'' is unlikely to mix well with the power of the [[Eleonaris|Lady of the Pennants]]. To be clear though, if the Military Council is in agreement with the Archmage of Day, then the ''Master Strategist'' could offer their support.

[[Day magic]] is adept at helping [[Day_magic#Focus|focus]] on objectives and helping folk to [[Day_magic#Mastery|master]] their intentions. The ''Scribe of Blades'' could prepare a set of [[arcane projection|arcane projections]] that could be used or codified to help [[Imperial army|Imperial armies]] focus on the matter of liberation rather than conquest. The enchantment would be comparable to ''Clarity of the Master Strategist'' - but they would help the army focus entirely on liberating those oppressed by the Druj in the Mallum, arming and supplying them, helping them to fight back on their own terms. What land an enchanted army took - and the impact of the enchantment would be half that normally provided by Clarity - would be claimed not by the Empire but by the inhabitants of the Mallum who were not Druj.

If the Military Council wants this support, they already have a method they can use to determine if a consensus exists - the [[Council_session#Powers_of_the_Council|simple vote]]. If the Council ''is'' committed to liberation over conquest, and they are prepared to accept the aid of Zakalwe, then they can request that the [[Herald of the Council]] raise the matter and take a vote on it. If they don't want Zakalwe's interference, or are ''not'' set on a strategy of liberation such as the Archmage has described, then that is fine and the ''Master Strategist'' would expect nothing less.
===Rites of Battle===
* '''Zakalwe asks ''how'' it can help the Archmage address the situation with battlefield ritualists
* '''The General of Day cannot provide an opportunity to kill Het Trakaa
The Archmage also apparently speaks of an inability to persuade sufficient practitioners of martial magic, versed in the [[Magical_skills#Realm_Lore|lore of Day]], to perform five castings of [[Piercing Light of Revelation]] on a battlefield. The Master Strategist is surprised that this is the case. The Empire has years and years of experience with the [[Sentinel Gate]] and the way magic can be used directly to secure military advantage. The Empire clearly has powerful magicians - they can cast [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]] after-all.

Is there some reason that magicians prefer not to take advantage of these opportunities. If that is the case, then that is not something that Zakalwe can fix - rather it is a deficit the Empire must find a way to address themselves. Perhaps the [[Rod and Shield]], the Conclave, or some other body of state could find a way to incentivise magicians to make themselves available to fight for the Empire? The Master Strategist can help support and empower such magicians if they urgent need such help, but without them there is nothing the eternal can do to help.

What ''Hunter of Tides'' cannot now do, is find a new opportunity for Imperial heroes to catch ''Het Trakaa of the Banded Snakes''. There was an [[Root_and_branch#Objective:_Kill_Het_Trakaa|opportunity in Summer]], but now it is clear that fate does not bend the eye of the [[Sentinel Gate]] in their direction again during Autumn. Zakalwe ''can'' offer a little help to locate and destroy some of the worst of the [[Druj_lore#Tortured_souls|tortured souls]] that the [[Druj_champion#Het|Het]] has created, but the mastermind himself is beyond the reach of the ''Master Strategist'' at this time.

And on the matter of [[Forest_of_Ulnak#Cassad_Ûln|Cassad Ûln]], the massive fortress in the north of the [[Forest of Ulnak]]? The Archmage has answered her own question. The Druj built their immense [[fortification]] to protect their borders, and the size of the castle gives some indication of how afraid they are that that force might defeat them just as the Empire is doing.

==Tempt the Waters From Their Bed==
{{CaptionedImage|file=KhobelTavah.jpg|align=right|width=300}}
* '''An unknown eternal has responded to a plenipotentiary of the Winter Archmage'''
* '''The herald of that creature says that a parley will be held in the Hall of Worlds at midnight on Saturday'''
* '''The current Archmage of Winter is ''Ematius 'Icebreaker' Ankarien'''''
A week ago, as people are beginning to set up their tents and stalls in preparation for the Autumn summit, two figures emerge from the Imperial Regio without fuss. They walk directly to the Hub. It might be easy for observers to mistake them for [[Highguard|Highborn]] pilgrims, or perhaps [[the Marches|Marcher]] monks or friars of a particularly austere humour. They wear dark woollen cloth. The taller of the two is entirely shrouded, hood raised to hide their features, their only accoutrement a leaden bell on their hip hanging from their belt of thick rope. The other wears their robe open, revealing an old tunic crusted with salt, occluding whatever faded chapter-sign or livery-mark may have been displayed there. An observer would note that their solemn tread never falters, and that those who might otherwise pass to close to them seem almost instinctively to swerve away without really noticing what they have done.

When they reach their destination, the taller of the two does not speak. All communication comes from the shorter figure in their open black robe and crusted garb. They come as emissaries of ''Salt-in-my-lungs'' and ''Dark that Drowns''. The [[Archmage of Winter]], '''Ematius Icebreaker''', has laid an offering of names before the throne of ''Foretold-by-Bells'' and they find this tribute pleasing. There will be parley in the Hall of Worlds at midnight on Saturday. The Archmage shall attend, of course, and they may choose who among the Empire will speak as is tradition. No harm will befall any there save that they seek it themselves.

Before the meeting, the Archmage's "passengers" - the six they spoke of - can speak of one fear they have that they would see discussed during the parley. One specific fear each. The heralds leave a small stack of papers for the Archmage - six pieces of ragged parchment. The passengers can write their fear on the parchment and then bring it to the Imperial regio and through the [[operate portal|key to all doors]] throw it into the darkness with an invocation of one of those names offered by the Archmage. This must be done before midnight on Friday; these fears will form a skeleton for the parley to come. Six different passengers, six different fears. Each passenger will be called on to speak of their fear to the ''Deep Drowned''.

The parley itself will involve a place claimed by ''the Harbinger'', brought to the Hall by the power of the plenipotentiary, and none shall come within three paces of it lest the waters claim them. As the ''Sunken Rope'' draws near, the hall shall fall into darkness. Let those who would attend in audience bring their own lights if they so wish, but see that they are not too bright. Once the lights have fully fallen and the sea has come, there will be time for talk. There will be talk of lessons. There will be talk of fear. There will be talk of bells.

This extremely cryptic message leaves the civil servants none the wiser; they clarify again that this is the result of a plenipotentiary from an Archmage, and the hitherto silent figure in the hooded robe inclines its head once before striking the leaden bell with a long, broken, and splintered fingernail. The timbre of that single dull note rings through the Hub, giving all present a moment of absolutely wrenching terror that leaves them [[Calls#PARALYSE|paralysed]] for several seconds, and when the effect fades, the messengers are gone.

==Timetable==
There are comparatively few meetings taking place during this summit. The times, the locations, and the eternals involved, are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Lashonar]] || Night || Not a parley; an offer of the Caucus Forum should the Conclave wish to accept
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Estavus]] || Autumn || Not a parley; a meeting with the Archmage and advisors
|-
| Saturday || 00:00 || Unknown || Winter || Parley; in the Hall of Worlds
|-
|}

Wild is the wind

2025-07-22T00:40:02Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Gratitude and Grain */ Mirroring enthusiastic lines

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>"We could," said Jakarna Munkhabat slowly as if the idea was just occurring to her, "kill them all and burn their camp?"

The Faraden wizard's eyes glittered, and the glow there was easily matched by the enthusiasm that blossomed on the face of Mary Smith, crouched beside her.

"There are only five of them," said the Marcher battle-mage considering. "An incantation to repel ''that'' one through the fire, and an entanglement on the other would give us time to dispatch the other two before they realised what was happening. Then we finish off the others and the patrol is dealt with. Nobody would know, and that would be one less group of Jotun scouts to clomp their muddy feet all over Mournwold."

Jakarna nodded. "I agree - but let's not risk entanglement. I can weave Chains of Air, and if you can invoke Rushing Wind then one of us can shatter ''that'' one's shield and make them easy pickings. It might be a little tricky but stopping that first one readying their spear until we're ready to deal with them would be wiser, I think."

"I thought you people didn't believe in Wisdom?" murmured Mary, somewhat archly. Jakarna shot her a sour look, but took the ribbing in realtively good part.

"Applying your strength sensibly is a prosperous use of your talents," she said piously. They quickly smiled at each other, and then readied their implements - a thin moonsilver bound staff for Jakarna, a solid truncheon carved with bears and a buckler with the face of an angry bull for Mary.

"Right," said Mary. "It's the job that never get's started that takes longest to do, so let's do it."

Before the two could launch their attack however, they were interrupted by the sound of a throat being cleared quietly behind them. Venetia di Sarvos crouched in the long grass, and followed their gaze down to the camp below.

"Or, we could not." She spoke quietly, and was carefully not allowing her exasperation to show. "We could instead return to the caravan and let them know these orcs are keeping a watch out for us but probably won't be trouble given they are in the middle of what looks to be a chicken stew of some kind."

"What if they attack us in the night," said Jakarna. "Best not to leave an enemy behind us."

Mary Nodded but Venetia was not convinced. "We are travelling under flag of truce, remember. The Jotun won't breach the hospitality that implies but if someone murders one of their patrols, around the same time this Faraden caravan and its Imperial guides are passing through the area, what do you think is going to happen? Who will the Jotun immediately think is to blame?"

The other two wizards frowned at each other but couldn't refute her words. Venetia could have gone on, pointing out all the other reasons that the two should not be ambushing patrols right now - given for example that every other patrol they'd encountered had had at least half a dozen people and so it was likely there were another two Jotun somewhere nearby. Also there were signs of thralls being in the camp too - the fine cooking pot, the nearly stacked firewood, weren't traditionally things Jotun worried about. That would mean either witnesses, or murder that would make the Jotun even angrier. She waited for good sense to take hold on her companions.

After a few moment Jakarna sighed, muttered something uncomplimentary, and nodded her head once. Mary was a little less quick to agree - she carried a lot of frustration with the Jotun attacks on her home, first in Mournwold then in Bregasland, but in the end she acceded to common sense.

As they went back to the rest of the party, however, Mary muttered in an undertone she was confident Venetia would not here:

"Next time we waste less of it gabbing and more of it battering the Jotun, yes?"

Jakarna grinned at the Marcher, fire burning in her eyes, and winked in agreement.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Delicacies.jpg|caption=The Faraden pride themselves on their fine, luxurious victuals.|align=right|width=450}}</div>
==Overview==
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.

The lifeblood of [[Faraden]] is trade, but it is also a country of canny wizards, courageous warriors, and proud (albeit heretical) priests. They currently do not share a border with the Empire, lying beyond the [[Jotun]] and the [[Iron Confederacy]], but that does not stop them sending their caravans to Imperial markets despite the high tariffs they must pay to pass through the lands between. Diplomatic relations between the Court of the Five Winds and the Imperial Senate are changeable - warm one moment cool the next - but it has never come to open warfare. Right now Faraden is squeezed between two competing interests - the Empire on one side and the angry Plenum of the [[Asavean Archipelago]] on the other - and they must walk a knife-edge between the two powerful nations.

The Faraden ambassador to the Empire is ''Mistress Singua Karadragha'', a relatively recent appointment who replaced the former incumbent ''Lady Saretta of the Red Moon'' at the insistence of the Liege of the Five Winds, following their assumption of the position in a (relatively) bloodless coup. Mistress Singua advises the Court of the Five Winds on all diplomatic matters, and speaks on their behalf to foreign ambassadors. Her attitude to the Empire appears to be cool but professional, and heavily informed by the wishes of the Liege and their court, who seek more opportunities to trade with the Empire.
{{Nation|nation=[[Faraden]]|port=[[Sea_of_Snow#Pelabuhan|Caitun]]|ambassador=Ebenezer of [[the Marches]]|status=Foreigner}}
==War in Reinos==
* '''The Court of Five Winds is disappointed to see that the Empire has withdrawn from the Lasambrian Hills'''
When the Empire [[Follow me my friend|invaded the Lasambrian Hills]], the Court of Five Winds was very pleased indeed. The need for their caravans to pay significant tolls to the Jotun - and the knowledge that they could close the land routes at their whim - means the Faraden support the Empire controlling [[Reinos]] (or enough of it to allow their trade routes to stop passing through Jotun territory). The fact the Empire has pulled out, however, leads to a fair amount of disappointment.

Mistress Karadragha had proposed to arrange a diplomatic envoy to the Empire for the Summer Solstice, assuming the Empire remained engaged in Reinos. With the withdrawal, the emissary will not be forthcoming. An opportunity to talk about how Faraden could support Imperial conquest of Reinos is one thing; most other diplomatic matters can be resolved via missives and through the staff at the various embassies.

==Faraden Luxuries==
* '''Caitun no longer provides orichalcum to Imperial traders; instead the port provides a starting fleet with a cube of ''common mooncheese'''''
* '''Upgraded or enchanted fleets may receive ''rare mooncheese'' as well, which comes in a variety of different shapes'''
The Faraden Ambassador has continued to liaise with merchants in the Faraden town of [[Sea of Snow#Caitun|Caitun]]. The [[Sea of Snow#Pelabuhan|Pelabuhan]] port is the destination for Imperial [[fleet]] captains who wish to trade with the western nation. It is here that the unique ''giant blood whelks'' are acquired, and thanks to negotiations with the Imperial Ambassador, it's also a place to acquire luxury goods, especially fine food and drink, and rich fabrics (which can be sold in the Empire; a standard fleet secures goods worth 54 rings when resold in the Empire).

Knowing that there is continued Imperial interest in fine goods, Caitun merchants have begun stocking some of the rare cheeses produced by Faraden magician-fromagers. While the Faraden make excellent cheese, the cattle of Pelabuhan are known for an especially rare form of cheese infused with rare materials gathered in the shadow of the cliffs of [[Sea of Snow#Sadewnan|Sadewnan]]. Called ''mooncheese'', Mistress Karadragha writes in an amused tone that it is not ''actually'' from the moon; the name is, traditional for a certain kind of hard, tangy cheese. The fromargers produce several different variants and the merchants of Caitun are able to make some of them available to Imperial fleet captains in place of [[orichalcum]]. A standard fleet visiting Caitun will get a single cube of common mooncheese. If the fleet is sufficiently [[fleet#upgrades|upgraded]], or bears an enchantment at least equivalent to [[Lure of Distant Shores]], the captain will also gain a cube of red, green, or blue mooncheese which is considered a considerable delicacy in Faraden (the variety will be picked randomly).
* '''Common Mooncheese''' - A quarter-inch cube of common mooncheese is a semi-hard cheese, sometimes painted with pale wax. It is tangy and rich with a fruity taste. So tasty is it that even a single cube is known to improve the mood of the one who eats it, to leave them feeling sated and full for the rest of the day as if they had eaten a whole meal, and incidentally alleviates the effects of both [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakness]] and [[Calls#VENOM|venom]].
* '''Red Mooncheese''' - Visually hard to tell apart from common mooncheese, it is usually painted with red wax. It tastes hot and spicy, and some folk can have an unpleasant reaction to it that leaves them unable to speak louder than a whisper for a time. It is also delicious - provided one likes spicy food. Favoured by Faraden wizards who study the [[Autumn magic|Autumn Flame]] it apparently focuses and enhances their ability to manipulate the force of serendipity when [[enchantment|blessing]] business endeavours.
* '''Green Mooncheese''' - This soft cheese with a faint greenish tinge, usually served in thin wedges. It tastes bitter but not unpleasantly so, and connoisseurs praise its sweet, sharp aftertaste. It is popular with certain warriors and explorers as it provides great intestinal fortitude, allowing the one who consumes it to throw off various forms of venom and some poisoning. It also kindles an enthusiasm for seeking out new experiences that is popular with epicureans planning a night of celebration.
* '''Blue Mooncheese''' - A more crumbly cheese, sometimes with pieces of fruit embedded in it. The blue in the name comes from the gentle vein that permeates the cheese. The taste is apparently different each time, and it is said that anyone who eats enough of it regularly experiences peculiarly lurid dreams (and occasionally experiences hallucinations while wide awake). It's popular with certain wizards, apparently allowing them to achieve an altered state where they can see the hidden colours in mundane wind and fire.

Hopefully Imperial merchants will be interested in securing these Faraden luxury delicacies.

==Nergui and Bulangiin==
* '''Ambassador Ebenezer reports on matters related to Faraden citizens in the Empire
The report of ''[[Follow_me_my_friend#Battlefield_Opportunity:_Rescue_Nergui_Enkhtseg|Nergui Enkhtseg's]]'' death is truly upsetting. That the life of the lost trader would end on the Grismont Road is lamentable and a tragedy. Their loss will be mourned by several of the High Lords of Faraden, but they accept that the Empire must have done what it could to rescue the merchant.

On the matter of ''[[Follow_me_my_friend#The_Extra_Bit_(Reinos)|Bulangiin Karadragha]]'', Mistress Singua Karadragha is confused. She asked the [[Champion of Prosperity]], '''Tom Appleseed''' to rescue Bulangiin to avoid having to pay the fifteen throne ransom to ''Geur Tightfisted''. Mistress Singua would much rather encourage the Empire's military units to [[venture#Raid the Jotun|raid the Jotun]] with extra inducement than pay the same amount to a grasping Lasambrian. It is unfortunate that the Lasambrian attempted to inflate the price, assumedly in the understanding that the Empire would benefit from them being the ones to return Bulangiin to Faraden. The Karadragha family have now paid the fifteen throne ransom, and Bulangiin has returned to Faraden.

Regardless, Mistress Karadragha is realistic. Both efforts were long-shots, and any sadness at the apparent failure of the efforts to help Faraden citizens is mitigated by the fact that the Imperial heroes at least ''tried'' to do so. It's unfortunate, but it won't damage Faraden relations or make them more reticent to ask for Imperial aid again if similar circumstances arise.
==Sparks Fly Up==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderRodAndShield.jpg|width=200|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderCelestialArch.jpg|width=200|align=right}}
</div>
* '''The Muhnkhabat family war wizards will be in Anvil from 15:00 to 18:00 Saturday'''
* '''They wish to see demonstrations of Imperial war magic, and speak to people with relevant titles'''
* '''If there is an opportunity for them to compete with Imperial mages in a test of arms, they would be most honoured to compete.

The [[A pillow of winds#Wizards of the West|Muhnkhabat family]] have sent a delegation of war wizards to The Empire, escorted by the Rod and Shield, to witness Imperial military magic and discuss potential opportunities for collaboration against the Jotun. The Rod and Shield magicians were welcomed warmly, and treated to three days of fine food, martial and athletic contests in which battle-magic was freely used, and many heated hours of argument about the best way to deploy magic - both invocation and ritual - on a battlefield.

Whilst there was potential for this journey to [[A pillow of winds#A Gentle Touch|cause some diplomatic issues]], the presence of the Celestial Arch has kept somewhat of a lid on things, and so far there have been no signs of trouble. The Arch came in particularly useful in persuading the more "gung ho" wizards of both the Muhnkhabat and the Rod and Shield ''not'' to launch an attack on a Jotun outpost that would most likely have led to several deaths and having to do half the journey to the Empire while being pursued by angry orc warriors. The diplomatic magicians also worked hard to smooth over situations where "friendly" contests threatened to get out of control, preventing conflict over matters of religion or history, and temper the general arrogance of the Muhnkhabat when dealing with citizens of the Empire. An exhausting, but ultimately successful, job that sees the Faraden wizards in a more receptive mood when they finally reach Casinea.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=GMRodandShield.jpg|caption='''Sakari Nightscale''', Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=GrandmasterCelestialArch.png|caption='''Xanthippe of the Lighthouse-That-Was''', Grandmaster of the Celestial Arch|align=right|width=200}}</div>
Now the delegation has reached Anvil, they wish to be given a tour of notable places of war magic, as well as meet with key figures in the implementation of the Empire's military magical strategies. The majority of the delegation is enjoying the sights and experiences of [[Anvil#Outer_Anvil|Outer Anvil]], or resting after their long journey. ''Chagataii Muhnkhabat'' (a younger sibling of ''High Lord Ganzorig Muhnkhabat'') will present themselves and a cadre of the families best at the main gate of Anvil at three in the afternoon on Saturday. They expect to be received with all appropriate honours, and will then be at the disposal of their Imperial hosts until around six. Obviously they hope that the Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield '''Sakari Nightscale''' will be available to represent their hosts (and Grandmaster '''Xanthippe Of the Lighthouse-That-Was''' from the Celestial Arch if they think such is necessary).

Chagataii wishes to leave the specifics of the itinerary in the hands of his hosts, but has expressed interest in the following:
* They would like to observe battle mages engaging in contests of war-magic, and if they may be invited to participate themselves to test themselves against their hosts, that would be appreciated. Whilst travelling through the Empire they have heard from some of their honour guard about the Icy Crag Tourney, and are very eager to take part if that is at all possible.
* They wish to visit the Hall of Worlds, and learn more about it and how the Conclave operates
* They want to see the Sentinel Gate and learn of its use and history and how it supports the Empire's battles
* They would greatly appreciate seeing demonstrations of Imperial war magic - especially how the Rod and Shield wield the principle of empowerment (Summer magic) and the power of the Wind (Day Magic) towards battlefield ends
* They will wish to meet the Imperial warmage and the Imperial warcaster, and to gain a greater appreciation of how the Empire's magicians wage war

They will bring with them a small gift as a token of their appreciation. Whatever gifts the Empire chooses fit to bestow in welcome will, of course, be gratefully received.

==Gratitude and Grain==
* '''A large contingent of the Hakhandra merchant family visit the Marches to collect sixteen head of cattle provided by the Ambassador
* '''They plan to establish a regular supply of fine Faraden victuals for the Ambassador going forward
A few weeks after the Spring Equinox, a large band of Faraden warriors turn up in the Marches. They come up through [[Tassato]] and [[Miaren]], giving the western territories a wide berth. They're particularly notable for their deep green coats, and finely died trousers and embroidered shirts. They are also especially gregarious for Faraden, always enthusiastic about stopping at a wayhouse or a roadside establishment to scatter handfuls of Imperial coinage for the chance to sample local delicacies. They are here to collect the sixteen head of cattle that Ambassador Ebenezer has acquired on their behalf. It's obvious that as well as being martially proficient they know their cows. They are members of the Hakhandra family, and they are very pleased. Visiting both Mitwold and Upwold cattle markets, they are at pains to speak with the farmers who raise and transport the cattle - and not only Marchers. There is a fair amount of interest in the [[Shepherd_of_the_Great_Herd#The_Great_Herd|Great Northern Herd]], and efforts to establish the [[Million_miles_of_water#The_Cattle_Markets|Southern Herd]] and the [[Send_for_me#Herds_of_Afar|Herds of Afar]]. Several members lament that they will not have time to actually visit [[Skarsind]], [[Mareave]] or [[Feroz]] - at least not on this trip. The leader of the Faraden contingent - the enthusiastic ''Khutulun Hakhandra'' - makes a point of taking several of their friends to visit Kings Stoke, especially keen to meet '''Steward Watkin''' who was apparently key to ensuring the cattle were all collected.

In addition to the agreed on payment, Khutulun thanks the Ambassador and the embassy staff. The Hakhandra are interested in cementing closer ties with the Marches in particular, to buy the many exotic Imperial delicacies available in the markets of [[Mitwold]] and [[Upwold]] as well as fine Marcher cows, goats, and pigs. In recognition of the work Ebenezer has done, the Hakhandra have arranged for a small amount of equally fine Faraden victuals to be delivered to the [[Segura#The_Faraden_Embassy|Embassy]] in Segura each season. With an eye towards doing more business in future.

Following the Summer Solstice, and continuing as long as good relations with the Hakhandra are maintained, the Ambassador to Faraden will receive two cubes of ''common mooncheese'' and one piece of ''rare mooncheese'' each season. The Civil Service point out that this is clearly a bribe as much as it is a sincere demonstration of gratitude, but that the Faraden don't deny it either. The merchants clearly want to ensure the Faraden ambassador has an interest, no matter how minor, in ensuring good relations with the nation continue. ('''OOC Note:''' The ambassador is welcome to talk about the rare food and drink that forms part of this "hamper", and should feel free to pass off any amount of odd foodstuffs as having been gifted to them by the Faraden herdmasters).
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=A Yak.jpg|align=right|caption=The yak of western Faraden are like very hairy oxen but adapted to live at high altitudes and in cold weather. Their wool, milk, and meat is much prized.|width=400}}</div>
===Yakholme Grange===
* '''The Hakhandra are interested in establishing a permanent trade enclave in Upwold
* '''They are concerned about potential backlash if the project does not have the support of the Marcher Assembly
While they are in [[Upwold#Stockland|Stockland]], Khutulun Hakhandra speaks to the local Marchers about the plan to establish a regular trade route between the cattle markets there and Faraden. There is some caution, even suspicion. And, sadly, not just on either one side. The fiasco around [[Upwold#Moonwater_Hall_(ruins)|Moonwater Hall]] is very much in the minds of both Faraden and Marcher during these discussions. The apparent support of Ambassador Ebenezer - of good solid Marcher stock even if they do live among [[Mitwold|uptight folk who think they are better than they are]] - goes some way toward smoothing over concerns. Some tentative plans for Yakholme Grange are laid out.
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Yakholme Grange'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Upwold#Stockland|Stockland]], Upwold</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of [[weirwood]] and 25 [[white granite]], 150 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' Relies on Faraden trade; there are concerns related to religious matters</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment for farms in Upwold by one
* Establishes Stockland as the Empire's premiere cattle market
* Increases Faraden trade with the Marches
</td></tr>
</table></div>
The Grange would be a [[great work]], and estimates are that it would require 50 wains of weirwood and 25 wains of white granite. It would cost 225 crowns in labour, and take six months to complete. It would raise the level of investment in farms in Upwold, increasing the income of every Marcher farm by an additional 36 rings each season. It would also help to put Stockland cattle market on the map - with the Hakhandra bringing some of their own prize bulls for sale here. There is no doubt that it would be the largest and most profitable place to buy farm animals and related products in the Empire.

In addition to the local effects, the market would see an increase in Faraden goods being brought into the Empire. The [[tariffs#Mercantilist|tariffs charged]] on Faraden imports would see an estimated 3 Thrones each season flowing into the [[Imperial treasury]]. It would also cement closer ties between the Marches and the Hakhandra family; a valuable first step toward securing access to the yaks that so fascinate Ambassador Ebenezer.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Marcher.png|width=150|align=right}}
There is however an obstacle. In the past there was conflict between the Faraden and the Empire over matters of faith and religion. The Hakhandra are not missionaries, they do not proselytise. But they are no less faithful to the [[On Faraden faith|Five Flames]] than any other merchant house. There is some concern that old antagonisms might reignite in the Marches who, as Khutulun points out, are nearly as good as the Faraden for remembering past conflicts and holding grudges. It has been suggested that a well worded [[statement of principle]] from the Marcher national assembly might help to allay both the fears of the Hakhandra, and worries among the Marcher folk who are concerned about heretical and blasphemous foreigners coming to Upwold. If such a statment is issued and achieves a [[greater majority]] the upside is obvious - it will not only reduce the likelihood of problems while the Grange is being built and could encourage the Hakhandra to offer material support to the construction. There are also obvious downsides however - if any trouble ''does'' erupt between the Faraden and the Marcher farmers, then people will end up pointing the finger at the Assembly for saying it would be fine.

Obviously, the Assembly might ''not'' favour another group of Faraden heretics establishing a trading base in the Marches. In that case, they might likewise use a statement of principle to encourage the farmers to be leary of the Faraden, and encourage the Hakhandra to take their their cattle market schemes elsewhere. This will sink the Yakholme Grange project, at least in the Marches, provided it achieves a greater majority. The good news is that even if it does end Hakhandra ambitions in the Marches, it won't inspire any kind of political disruption or diplomatic incident unless the language used is extremely vituperative. The Faraden understand the holding of grudges, and the desire to avoid another Moonwater Hall scandal is entirely understandable.

The most important thing is that if the Marcher Assembly chooses to get involved here, the wording of the statement of principle is ''crucial''. It should be as clear as possible what the assembly thinks, and whether they are encouraging or discouraging the Marcher farmers to support the Hakhandra ambition. Otherwise it might all go horribly, horribly wrong.

===Meade and Mithril===
* '''Another opportunity exists for the Alder of Meade to acquire a little mithril in return for iridescent gloaming
Between them Mistress Karadragha and Ambassador Ebenezer were able to secure an arrangement whereby the [[Alder of Meade]], '''Aubrey Shaw''', was able to [[A_pillow_of_winds#Gloaming_Dusk|buy mithril]] from the conservative ''Tseriyn '' merchant family. The Tseriyn were responsible for providing the lion's share of [[mithril]] to the old [[Gloaming Road]]. The deal went off without a hitch; a caravan of Tseriyn mithril was brought to Caitun, loaded onto Imperial ships, and brought to [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]]. Some further negotiations have taken place behind the scenes, and it seems that ''Amulchi Tseriyn'' is prepared to extend this "final arrangement" a little longer. There is less mithril available - in this case 8 wains are available to the Alder to purchase at a cost of 270 [[iridescent gloaming]]. Or, if they prefer, 4 wains for 135 measures of gloaming. As before the trade will pass through Caitun, but the Alder must be aware that the amounts of mithril available are low because the Tseriyn have made other arrangements for the bulk of their metal. ('''OOC Note''' as before if the Alder of Meade wishes to take advantage of this final offer, they should ensure the gloaming is in their account and email {{plot}} before downtime closes).
<div style="float:left; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Actuallythebest001.png|align=left|width=250}}</div>

==Firewind Market==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Faraden Quarter'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Holberg#Holmauer|Holmauer]], Holberg</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 70 [[weirwood]] and 30 [[white granite]], 300 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment for businesses in Holberg by one
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Firewind Prince''
* Permits the creation of Faraden caravanseri along trade routes
* Increases the taxation raised from trade with Faraden by 4 Thrones each season
* Significantly increases the number of Faraden travelling to and visting in Holberg</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Firewind Prince'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' League</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees Firewind Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To serve as a liason between the Faraden visiting Firewind Market and the people of Holberg; to encourage Faraden merchants to trade with the city; to smooth over any disputes; to make decisions based on any opportunities related to Firewind Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' If the Firewind Prince is not an inhabitant of Holberg, they may begin at a disadvantage when dealing with residents of Holberg caught in a dispute with Faraden merchants </td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Brightfire Market'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>8 crowns</td><td>6 orichalcum, 6 weltsilver</td></tr>
<tr><td>20 crowns</td><td>12 orichalcum, 12 weltsilver</td></tr>
<tr><td>36 crowns</td><td>18 orichalcum, 18 weltsilver</td></tr>
<tr><td>55 crowns</td><td>24 orichalcum, 24 weltsilver</td></tr>
<tr><td>74 crowns</td><td>30 orichalcum, 30 weltsilver</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Darkfire Market'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>8 crowns</td><td>6 tempest jade, 6 green iron</td></tr>
<tr><td>20 crowns</td><td>12 tempest jade, 12 green iron</td></tr>
<tr><td>36 crowns</td><td>18 tempest jade, 18 green iron</td></tr>
<tr><td>55 crowns</td><td>24 tempest jade, 24 green iron</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Brightwind Market '''</td></tr>
<tr><td>25 crowns</td><td>1 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>50 crowns</td><td>2 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>75 crowns</td><td>3 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>100 crowns</td><td>4 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>125 crowns</td><td>5 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 crowns</td><td>6 mithril</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Darkwind Market '''</td></tr>
<tr><td>25 crowns</td><td>1 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>50 crowns</td><td>2 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>75 crowns</td><td>3 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
With the clear decision of the Holberg Chamber of Commerce to favour the "Iron" option from among those presented to them, work is ready to begin on the Faraden Quarter in [[Holberg#Holmauer|Holmauer]]. The enclave will provide places for Faraden merchants to stay and rest, and establish small [[business|businesses]] of their own if they are so inclined. At the heart of the Quarter will be a large market dedicated to trading Faraden metal to Imperial citizens, in return for the kinds of goods popular in Holberg - Firewind Market. The Quarter will be overseen by a League citizen with the title of ''Firewind Price'' who will liaise with the inhabitants and smooth over any disputes. The Firewind Prince will be appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]] - by League business holders across the nation. Their ministries will allow them to purchase [[Materials#Metals|metal ingots]], and small amounts of mithril and white granite.

This Quarter is a significant undertaking. It will cost the Empire 70 wains of weirwood, 30 wains of white granite, and 300 crowns. The Faraden themselves will provide their own materials and labour to help establish the Quarter, roughly equivalent to that provided by the Empire. Work will take six months to complete.

Mistress Singua is a little apologetic in that the prices charged for the metals are higher than she might like, but that the [[tariffs#Mercantilist|tariffs]] imposed on Faraden imports are a significant contribution. On the other hand, the fact that the Empire ''is'' charging tolls and tariffs to Faraden merchants mean that when the work is completed the contribution from Faraden trade to the [[Imperial treasury]] will increase by 4 Thrones each season as long as trade continues. If the Senate were to move the Faraden to free trade, this contribution would drop, but the cost of the materials at the ministry would also drop.

While there was some concern that the Faraden might not be prepared to deal with the [[orc|orcs]] of the League, or the Sand Fishers of [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]]. Mistress Karadragha [[A_pillow_of_winds#Orcs_and_False_Flames|addressed these concerns]] by pointing out that any conservative Faraden who did not want to deal with orcs would not come to the Empire anyway. As it is, there is some potential for the Sand Fishers to profit here as well - after all they have a ''lot'' of lumber and wood to sell something the Faraden are known to value. It remains to be seen if they take advantage of this opportunity or not.
===Faraden Caravanseri===
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Faraden Trail.png|align=left|caption=The Faraden trail from Segura to Holberg (and back).|width=400}}</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Faraden Caravanseri'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Segura]], [[Kahraman]], [[Tassato]], [[Miaren]], [[Astolat]], or [[Semmerholm]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' varies based on focus and current level of investment in businesses, farms, or forests</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Open-ended once Faraden Quarter is completed</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' Only one carvanseri can be built per territory; relies on trade with Faraden</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment in the territory for one of businesses, farms, or forests
* Creates a ministry and associated title to purchase Faraden goods
* Increases the taxation raised from trade with Faraden by 2 Thrones each season
* Increases the number of Faraden travelling through and visiting the territory</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Once the Faraden Quarter is completed the ability to create Faraden caravanseri will become available
Once work on the Faraden Quarter in Holberg is complete, it also opens up an opportunity for the Empire to encourage Faraden trade. Most Faraden caravans enter the Empire through Segura - traditionally past the [[Segura_spoils_of_war#Kabalai_Palace|Kabalai Palace]]. The Empires roads are excellent, providing quick and relatively safe travel - especially thanks to the efforts of groups such as the [[Navarr]] [[Venture#Roadwardens|roadwardens]]. The Faraden are happy to stay at [[wayhouse|wayhouses]] and inns along their routes, obviously, but there is a potential to make them feel even more welcome and help bolster trade with the western nation.

A ''Faraden Caravanseri'' could be built in any territory along a route to Holberg. At the moment that means [[Segura]], [[Kahraman]], [[Tassato]], [[Miaren]], [[Astolat]], or [[Semmerholm]]. A Caravanseri is a [[great work]] that supports one of [[business|businesses]] (representing trade with local entrepeneurs), [[farm|farms]] (representing direct purchase of Imperial victuals), or [[forest|forests]] (representing the purchase of forest goods). In the latter case, the great work would still provide 36 rings rather than the normal effect of investment in forests. Furthermore, regardless of which kind of great work is built, up to half the material cost can be in weirwood for those that usually need white granite, or white granite if the great work normally uses weirwood exclusively.

Once complete, a Faraden Caravanseri will serve as something of a hub, encouraging increased numbers of Faraden traders to explore the territory. It would also encourage more merchants to make the trip through the Lasambrian Hills to trade with the Empire in general. As long as Faraden [[tariffs#Mercantilist|pays tariffs]], the amount they contribute to the Imperial Treasury is increased by 2 thrones each season for ''each'' caravanseri. A given territory can only have a single caravanseri, however.

The caravanseri will also create a liaison position, responsible for ensuring good relations between the Faraden and the inhabitants of the territory. They'd need to make sure any disputes were dealt with and in return they would gain access to a small ministry reflecting their ability to purchase Faraden goods from the merchants visiting the caravanseri. At first this would mean metals, similar to those available at the big market in Holberg. If the Empire built other enclaves on a similar scale elsewhere in the Empire, they might be able to gain access to other substances. These titles would be appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]], and as mentioned above the prices they paid for Faraden metals would be raised by the fact the Empire imposes Tariffs on the Faraden.

Finally, each caravanseri will improve diplomatic relations with the Faraden a small amount. While they can be volatile, the overtures of the Empire have been very positive recently. They are also practical - the more of their trade that passes through Imperial lands them more likely they are to want to preserve the status quo.

However, if Holberg Market was ever abrogated or destroyed, the caravanseri would likewise stop operating until it was reopened or a similarly significant enclave established in another city.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBVarushka.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=NationBannerDawn.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
</div>
===Further Markets===
* '''There has been some discussion of establishing other major Faraden markets in the Empire
* '''Mistress Karadragha requests confirmation from the Overseer of the Western Road that there is interest in trading fabric and garments with Faraden traders
* '''She also enquires as to whether there might be interest in establishing a victuals market in Dawn
The Court of Five Winds is interested that Ambassador Ebenezer mentioned proposals that Faraden might consider not just an enclave in Holberg, but similar trade hubs in Varushka and the Marches. If Varushka is interested in establishing an enclave on the same basis as Holberg, one that deals primarily in fabric and clothing, that would be very acceptable. They would prefer to spend as little time as possible in the forests of Varushka which they understand are infested with monstrous flesh-eating trees. So it would be ideal to look at building something in [[Karov#Delev|Delev]], especially given the proximity of the new hall extolling the virtue of Varushkan fabric and weaving.

Mistress Karadragha understands that the [[Overseer of the Westward Road]] is a significant figure among the merchants of Varushka. If the Ambassador can confirm that there is interest, Singua will send a speculative group of Faraden to explore the possibilities. ''However'' she will only do so ''after'' work has begun on Firewind Market. Too much time and investment has already taken place for her to switch her attention to a new project with the current one half-completed.

As to a victuals market in the Marches, Mistress Karadragha can see the appeal. She confides that there is also interest in establishing such a concern in [[Dawn]] whose fine wines in particular are considered to be especially luxurious. Is there any interest in the eastern nation at all? That is not to say that something in the Marches could not be discussed - but the Faraden Ambassador would prefer to wait and see how the plans for Yakholme Grange proceed before pushing forward there.

==Paying to be Forward==
* '''Mistress Karadragha seeks introductions to the diplomats of Axos, Skoura, and Otkodov
One other matter of interest related to trade has been raised; there is a great deal of interest in three of the nations that border the Empire to the north and east. Faraden merchants have encountered traders from [[Skoura]], [[Axos]] and [[Otkodov]] while visiting Imperial markets. Mistress Khardraga has a request for Ambassador Ebenezer; would it be possible for the Imperial ambassadors to effect an introduction for Faraden to the diplomats of those three nations? She already has the tools to make cautious contact, but obviously establishing a basis for understanding can take time especially when dealing with unfamiliar cultures.

Obviously the Ambassador to Faraden has limited ability to effect such an introduction, but presumably the Empire has ambassadors to these nations? Mistress Singua believes that if those ambassadors were to vouch for the Faraden to the Skourans, Axou, or Thule that would go some way toward smoothing over that initial period of "getting to know you" and be invaluable in getting to the important part - talking about trade. Equally obviously, this is of some value to the Faraden as a nation - if the Ambassador feels that some sort of gratuity or ''quid pro quo'' were in order, Ebenezer has only to ask and Mistress Karadragha will evaluate the request and decide if it is worth the aid the Empire can offer.

The Imperial Civil Service advise caution; at the moment the Empire controls any access Faraden has to the orcs of the north, or the two smaller nations to the east. While Mistress Karadragha might claim that eventually Faraden will establish its own communication with some or all of these nations, that could easily take years if it succeeds at all. If the Empire introduces the Faraden to these nations, then the Faraden will henceforth deal with these other nations with no reference to the Empire whatsoever. On the other hand, if the Faraden ''do'' establish trade links with Skoura, Axos or Otkodov, any trade will need to go through Imperial lands along Imperial toll roads and over Imperial borders. This might result in a small but steady trickle of additional funding into the Imperial treasury, or bring other benefits if the Ambassadors are shrewd enough in finding ways to exploit this opportunity.

==Flame and Virtue==
* '''Imperial priests have attempted to bolster their peers in Faraden against Asavean propaganda
* '''The Ember Blossoms have returned to Faraden
Last season two proposals relating to faith and religion [[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Matter_Of_Faith|were made]]. One was a possibility for Imperial priests preaching the four virtues similar to four of the Faraden flames- [[Courage]], [[Loyalty]], [[Pride]], and [[Prosperity]] - to support their "peers" in opposing [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] efforts to [[A_pillow_of_winds#Fanning_the_Flames|convince citizens]] that the Asavean and Faraden religions were not as disaparate as they appeared. The second was an offer from a [[bands#sects|sect]] of Faraden [[Malign spiritual presences#Vengeance|Vengeance]] dedicates to [[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Just_World|offer specialist aid in the Archipelago]]. Apparently these ''Ember Blossoms'' felt their particular understanding of encouraging others to take vengeance on those who have oppressed them would be useful in stirring up civil war in the far west.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Courage.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Loyalty.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Pride.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Prosperity.png|align=right|width=200}}
</div>
===The Flames Burn Brighter===
* '''The cooperation between priests of the Empire and Priests of Faraden has narrowly failed to halt the inroads of the Asaveans.'''
* '''The people of Faraden are still open to attempts by foreign powers to influence them.'''
Last season a coalition of conservative Faraden priests [[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Matter_Of_Faith|approached the Empire]] with a concern, and a proposal. The slimy tentacles of the [[Asavean Archipelago]] sought to get a grip on Faraden society by claiming some sort of commonality between the [[Faraden#Faraden_Religious_Beliefs|Five Flames]] and the [[Asavean gods]], a common trick in the Plenum's cultural arsenal. Outraged by what they saw as a blatant insult to the power of the human spirit and the virtues that guide them, the priests of Faraden invited the Imperial Synod to engage in a series of joint religious celebrations. Priests of [[Courage]], [[Loyalty]], [[Pride]] and [[Prosperity]], the four Virtues that both nations agree to be true, would stand together and reaffirm that despite any differences between the Way and the Five Flames, they could both unite to condemn the scourge of idolatry.

The Imperial Synod spung into action, with all four of the relevant Assemblies passing Virtues urging their congregants to support the actions of those who would preach against the insidious influence of Asavea. Following the Spring Equinox, priests from across the Empire heeded the call and travelled to Faraden, some arriving via the docks at Caitun, some accompanying the caravan transporting representatives of the Rod and Shield and the Celestial Arch in [[A_pillow_of_winds#Wizards_of_the_West|their own diplomatic mission]]. Those who arrive in the first wave find themselves greeted with a certain amount of fanfare - pro-Imperial sentiment is strong, even in a highly factionalised Faraden, and many people are keen to show off their Prosperity by offering food and lodging to honoured guests. The mere fact that the Imperial Synod has deigned to engage with the priests of Faraden as equals is already a major victory.

What follows is a whirlwind tour of different religious events, ranging from intimate family gatherings where the nature of Virtue is discussed over the dinner table to public rallies attended by hundreds of people where dozens of priests are given the chance to witness to the crowd. These events are invariably lively, regardless of the size, and larger assemblies are often attended by musicians, street performers and food vendors, creating a festive atmosphere everywhere the priests go. The Asaveans are nowhere to be seen, although the priests always seem to just be missing them. The visiting Imperials consistently hear that the Asaveans passed through a few days ago, or are likely to visit in a few days time, or are in the same place but on the other side of town.

It does not take long for the more politically astute among the Imperial delegation to cotton on to the highly choreographed nature of the whole affair, how symbols of Faraden art and culture are to be seen everywhere they travel, how the capacity of the Flames to bring joy and comfort is emphasised and conversations about sacrifice and difficult choices are couched in the romantic language of ancient stories and national myths. This is a political event as much as a religious one, and a lot of planning has gone into making it seem as spontaneous as possible.

Yet for all the success of the Imperial delegation, the Asaveans are at least as skilful in their manipulations. Some among their number are pompous and condescending, but many others are passionate, philosophical, or dignified by turns, charming the Faraden crowd at least as much as any of the Imperial preachers. They never question the Empire's right to involve themselves in the affairs of Faraden, a right that the Empire arguably has more claim to than distant Asavea.

Instead they speak of progress, adapting to a changing world, and a willingness to learn from new information. The priests of Asavea recognise that they have much to learn from the faiths of other nations, including those of the Five Flames. How arrogant it would be for them to claim a monopoly over truth, or even over the path that may lead to greater understanding! They do not seek to impose their religion on the people of Faraden, not at all. They simply seek respectful dialogue. And while many citizens of Faraden heed the call of the Empire to return to the fundamental orthodoxies of their faith, just as many speak of openness to dialogue and a potential role for Faraden in an increasingly connected world.

Had even one more congregation supported the mission then the balance might have tipped in the favour of the conservative elements, but it was not to be. The debate is fierce, and continues unabated with little changed as the priests return to their homes.

One more matter arises from this as the season begins to turn. The priests of Faraden are notoriously fractious and hard to organise, lacking a centralised Synod to facilitate decision-making. Despite this, word reaches the Imperial embassy that at a recent gathering at the Palace of the Five Winds, representatives of several major priestly families voted by a narrow margin to extend personal thanks to '''Dagon of the Shattered Tower''', '''Damascius''', '''Kaywenn de Orzel''', and '''Darian Numbers''', the priests who raised the Judgements urging the priests of the Empire to preach in Faraden. There is no material reward, but the messengers to the embassy are keen to emphasise how rare such a gesture of respect is.

===Embers Burn Low===
* '''The Ember Blossoms have declined the Empire's invitation to pass on their skills at resisting and undermining those in power.'''
{{SOP|statement=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.|by=Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra, Freeborn Assembly|vote=78-28|when=Spring Equinox 387YE|size=small}}
{{SOP|statement=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.|by=Caspian i Sharthra i Riqueza, Freeborn Assembly|vote=68-58|when=Spring Equinox 387YE|size=small}}
[[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Just_World|The second approach]] made by religious devotees of Faraden last season was less successful. The ''Ember Blossoms'', a militant sect of Faraden vigilantes who target those who use their power to oppress the poor and downtrodden, sought assistance from the Freeborn National Assembly to travel to Asavea and use their skills to incite the slaves of the Plenum to recognise the numerous outrages perpetrated against them, and to rise up in the spirit of Courage, Pride, and Justice.

The Priests of the Brass Coast endorsed two statements of principle on the matter, one [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_145|endorsing the transportation of the Ember Blossoms]] and [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_124|one refusing it]]. The second statement suggested that the militants might instead teach their skills to operatives of the Empire, a sentiment apparently echoed by certain Imperial worthies who spoke to representatives of the Ember Blossoms at the Spring summit. A neat compromise, perhaps, but one that the Ember Blossoms have refused.

The message from the Ember Blossoms makes it clear that while they do not take the refusal personally, they recognise the simple truth: that the Empire wants their skills, but does not recognise what it took to forge them. If the Empire trusted the Ember Blossoms, they would accept their assistance as it was offered. They have not done so, and so that trust is not there. It is understandable. Trust is earned, and the Empire do not know the Ember Blossoms. But the Ember Blossoms are under no obligation to twist their skills to make them more palatable to others. Faraden may not be able to match the Empire in terms of size or wealth, but their [[Pride]] stands as the equal to any of the Empire's virtuous souls. It is a shame to not be accepted into the Empire's project to liberate Asavea, but it would be far more shameful not to be accepted on an even footing.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Fire Whirl.jpg|align=right|caption=Some [[Faraden]] hold grudges against the Empire and see them as a threat that must be dealt with.|width=400}}</div>
==Scattered Cinders==
* '''A group of discontented Faraden nationalists called the Cinders have attempted to assassinate the Champion of Vigilance.'''
* '''The Liege of the Five Winds has unconditionally denounced these actions, and denied any links between this group and the Faraden state.'''

Of all the people in the Empire to attempt to assassinate, the [[Champion of Vigilance]] has to rank as one of the worst choices. Despite this, it seems that some souls, perhaos courageous, perhaps foolish, perhaps both, took a shot at doing so at the Spring Equinox. By all accounts the Champion, currently Jared, is fine, alert as he is to all dangers, within and without. Details of the attack and its aftermath are somewhat garbled, and any who wish to know more should probably consult Jared himself, but perhaps more notable is the fact that the would-be assassins were citizens of Faraden, a revelation that has caused some consternation in diplomatic circles.

While the Ambassador to Faraden did not choose to bring up the incident in their missive, the fact of it has still spread. By all accounts the staff at the Faraden embassy have quickly begun sending somewhat frantic winged messengers back home in order to determine whether anyone knows who might be responsible. This may be the one good thing about Faraden's cultural preoccupation with Justice: they are very keen to determine who is responsible for any wrongdoing. And as it happens, the perpetrators are not backwards about identifying themselves. Back in Faraden, far away from any of the events organised by the priestly coalition that invited the Empire, a group called the Cinders has reared its head and begun bragging about 'striking back against the blasphemers who submit to the False Virtues of [[Ambition|Selfishness]], [[Vigilance|Paranoia]], and [[Wisdom|Doubt]].' In the understated words of the embassy staff, this is probably not a coincidence.

Further information is quick to be provided. The Cinders are a deeply reactionary group within Faraden whose primary belief is that society has become 'decadent' and 'too accepting of foreign blasphemy'. The charge of decadence is met with some derision - what humourless fool would decry enjoying a little luxury now and then? Does Prosperity not teach us to enjoy the fruits of our labours? Still, their ultra-orthodox stance on the Flames has always had some supporters, and a message of toughness and self-reliance can appeal to the insecure. The Cinders have gone through cycles of acceptance and suppression, but like a particularly resilient weed, they always seem to pop up again where they are least expected.

Regardless of their history, attempted murder against a foreign dignitary is too far for the Liege of the Five Winds. Tchinua Ganbatar, the Liege of the Five Winds, issues a public statement decrying the actions of the Cinders in taking up arms against a person who has done them no wrong. They call on all citizens of Faraden to shun these troublemaking fanatics who offer no solutions to the nation's problems, only an endless cycle of violence and alienation from powerful allies.

Despite their strong words, however, the gesture is largely symbolic. While the Liege of the Five Winds is powerful, the authority to suppress the Cinders lies with the individual families, as it must do for civil society to function. The more vocal and less prudent members of the sect may be caught and punished, but their leaders will go back underground and their supporters will shield them, as they always have. Even this public condemnation will be used in their propaganda to paint them as truth-speakers being punished by those in thrall to unwholesome outside influences. Being unable to operate openly will impede their activities, but they will almost certainly be back. Citizens of the Empire should remain watchful.
{{Faraden Links}}

Wild is the wind

2025-07-22T00:37:05Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Faraden Luxuries */ Making wizards sit comfortably with a comma

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>"We could," said Jakarna Munkhabat slowly as if the idea was just occurring to her, "kill them all and burn their camp?"

The Faraden wizard's eyes glittered, and the glow there was easily matched by the enthusiasm that blossomed on the face of Mary Smith, crouched beside her.

"There are only five of them," said the Marcher battle-mage considering. "An incantation to repel ''that'' one through the fire, and an entanglement on the other would give us time to dispatch the other two before they realised what was happening. Then we finish off the others and the patrol is dealt with. Nobody would know, and that would be one less group of Jotun scouts to clomp their muddy feet all over Mournwold."

Jakarna nodded. "I agree - but let's not risk entanglement. I can weave Chains of Air, and if you can invoke Rushing Wind then one of us can shatter ''that'' one's shield and make them easy pickings. It might be a little tricky but stopping that first one readying their spear until we're ready to deal with them would be wiser, I think."

"I thought you people didn't believe in Wisdom?" murmured Mary, somewhat archly. Jakarna shot her a sour look, but took the ribbing in realtively good part.

"Applying your strength sensibly is a prosperous use of your talents," she said piously. They quickly smiled at each other, and then readied their implements - a thin moonsilver bound staff for Jakarna, a solid truncheon carved with bears and a buckler with the face of an angry bull for Mary.

"Right," said Mary. "It's the job that never get's started that takes longest to do, so let's do it."

Before the two could launch their attack however, they were interrupted by the sound of a throat being cleared quietly behind them. Venetia di Sarvos crouched in the long grass, and followed their gaze down to the camp below.

"Or, we could not." She spoke quietly, and was carefully not allowing her exasperation to show. "We could instead return to the caravan and let them know these orcs are keeping a watch out for us but probably won't be trouble given they are in the middle of what looks to be a chicken stew of some kind."

"What if they attack us in the night," said Jakarna. "Best not to leave an enemy behind us."

Mary Nodded but Venetia was not convinced. "We are travelling under flag of truce, remember. The Jotun won't breach the hospitality that implies but if someone murders one of their patrols, around the same time this Faraden caravan and its Imperial guides are passing through the area, what do you think is going to happen? Who will the Jotun immediately think is to blame?"

The other two wizards frowned at each other but couldn't refute her words. Venetia could have gone on, pointing out all the other reasons that the two should not be ambushing patrols right now - given for example that every other patrol they'd encountered had had at least half a dozen people and so it was likely there were another two Jotun somewhere nearby. Also there were signs of thralls being in the camp too - the fine cooking pot, the nearly stacked firewood, weren't traditionally things Jotun worried about. That would mean either witnesses, or murder that would make the Jotun even angrier. She waited for good sense to take hold on her companions.

After a few moment Jakarna sighed, muttered something uncomplimentary, and nodded her head once. Mary was a little less quick to agree - she carried a lot of frustration with the Jotun attacks on her home, first in Mournwold then in Bregasland, but in the end she acceded to common sense.

As they went back to the rest of the party, however, Mary muttered in an undertone she was confident Venetia would not here:

"Next time we waste less of it gabbing and more of it battering the Jotun, yes?"

Jakarna grinned at the Marcher, fire burning in her eyes, and winked in agreement.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Delicacies.jpg|caption=The Faraden pride themselves on their fine, luxurious victuals.|align=right|width=450}}</div>
==Overview==
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.

The lifeblood of [[Faraden]] is trade, but it is also a country of canny wizards, courageous warriors, and proud (albeit heretical) priests. They currently do not share a border with the Empire, lying beyond the [[Jotun]] and the [[Iron Confederacy]], but that does not stop them sending their caravans to Imperial markets despite the high tariffs they must pay to pass through the lands between. Diplomatic relations between the Court of the Five Winds and the Imperial Senate are changeable - warm one moment cool the next - but it has never come to open warfare. Right now Faraden is squeezed between two competing interests - the Empire on one side and the angry Plenum of the [[Asavean Archipelago]] on the other - and they must walk a knife-edge between the two powerful nations.

The Faraden ambassador to the Empire is ''Mistress Singua Karadragha'', a relatively recent appointment who replaced the former incumbent ''Lady Saretta of the Red Moon'' at the insistence of the Liege of the Five Winds, following their assumption of the position in a (relatively) bloodless coup. Mistress Singua advises the Court of the Five Winds on all diplomatic matters, and speaks on their behalf to foreign ambassadors. Her attitude to the Empire appears to be cool but professional, and heavily informed by the wishes of the Liege and their court, who seek more opportunities to trade with the Empire.
{{Nation|nation=[[Faraden]]|port=[[Sea_of_Snow#Pelabuhan|Caitun]]|ambassador=Ebenezer of [[the Marches]]|status=Foreigner}}
==War in Reinos==
* '''The Court of Five Winds is disappointed to see that the Empire has withdrawn from the Lasambrian Hills'''
When the Empire [[Follow me my friend|invaded the Lasambrian Hills]], the Court of Five Winds was very pleased indeed. The need for their caravans to pay significant tolls to the Jotun - and the knowledge that they could close the land routes at their whim - means the Faraden support the Empire controlling [[Reinos]] (or enough of it to allow their trade routes to stop passing through Jotun territory). The fact the Empire has pulled out, however, leads to a fair amount of disappointment.

Mistress Karadragha had proposed to arrange a diplomatic envoy to the Empire for the Summer Solstice, assuming the Empire remained engaged in Reinos. With the withdrawal, the emissary will not be forthcoming. An opportunity to talk about how Faraden could support Imperial conquest of Reinos is one thing; most other diplomatic matters can be resolved via missives and through the staff at the various embassies.

==Faraden Luxuries==
* '''Caitun no longer provides orichalcum to Imperial traders; instead the port provides a starting fleet with a cube of ''common mooncheese'''''
* '''Upgraded or enchanted fleets may receive ''rare mooncheese'' as well, which comes in a variety of different shapes'''
The Faraden Ambassador has continued to liaise with merchants in the Faraden town of [[Sea of Snow#Caitun|Caitun]]. The [[Sea of Snow#Pelabuhan|Pelabuhan]] port is the destination for Imperial [[fleet]] captains who wish to trade with the western nation. It is here that the unique ''giant blood whelks'' are acquired, and thanks to negotiations with the Imperial Ambassador, it's also a place to acquire luxury goods, especially fine food and drink, and rich fabrics (which can be sold in the Empire; a standard fleet secures goods worth 54 rings when resold in the Empire).

Knowing that there is continued Imperial interest in fine goods, Caitun merchants have begun stocking some of the rare cheeses produced by Faraden magician-fromagers. While the Faraden make excellent cheese, the cattle of Pelabuhan are known for an especially rare form of cheese infused with rare materials gathered in the shadow of the cliffs of [[Sea of Snow#Sadewnan|Sadewnan]]. Called ''mooncheese'', Mistress Karadragha writes in an amused tone that it is not ''actually'' from the moon; the name is, traditional for a certain kind of hard, tangy cheese. The fromargers produce several different variants and the merchants of Caitun are able to make some of them available to Imperial fleet captains in place of [[orichalcum]]. A standard fleet visiting Caitun will get a single cube of common mooncheese. If the fleet is sufficiently [[fleet#upgrades|upgraded]], or bears an enchantment at least equivalent to [[Lure of Distant Shores]], the captain will also gain a cube of red, green, or blue mooncheese which is considered a considerable delicacy in Faraden (the variety will be picked randomly).
* '''Common Mooncheese''' - A quarter-inch cube of common mooncheese is a semi-hard cheese, sometimes painted with pale wax. It is tangy and rich with a fruity taste. So tasty is it that even a single cube is known to improve the mood of the one who eats it, to leave them feeling sated and full for the rest of the day as if they had eaten a whole meal, and incidentally alleviates the effects of both [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakness]] and [[Calls#VENOM|venom]].
* '''Red Mooncheese''' - Visually hard to tell apart from common mooncheese, it is usually painted with red wax. It tastes hot and spicy, and some folk can have an unpleasant reaction to it that leaves them unable to speak louder than a whisper for a time. It is also delicious - provided one likes spicy food. Favoured by Faraden wizards who study the [[Autumn magic|Autumn Flame]] it apparently focuses and enhances their ability to manipulate the force of serendipity when [[enchantment|blessing]] business endeavours.
* '''Green Mooncheese''' - This soft cheese with a faint greenish tinge, usually served in thin wedges. It tastes bitter but not unpleasantly so, and connoisseurs praise its sweet, sharp aftertaste. It is popular with certain warriors and explorers as it provides great intestinal fortitude, allowing the one who consumes it to throw off various forms of venom and some poisoning. It also kindles an enthusiasm for seeking out new experiences that is popular with epicureans planning a night of celebration.
* '''Blue Mooncheese''' - A more crumbly cheese, sometimes with pieces of fruit embedded in it. The blue in the name comes from the gentle vein that permeates the cheese. The taste is apparently different each time, and it is said that anyone who eats enough of it regularly experiences peculiarly lurid dreams (and occasionally experiences hallucinations while wide awake). It's popular with certain wizards, apparently allowing them to achieve an altered state where they can see the hidden colours in mundane wind and fire.

Hopefully Imperial merchants will be interested in securing these Faraden luxury delicacies.

==Nergui and Bulangiin==
* '''Ambassador Ebenezer reports on matters related to Faraden citizens in the Empire
The report of ''[[Follow_me_my_friend#Battlefield_Opportunity:_Rescue_Nergui_Enkhtseg|Nergui Enkhtseg's]]'' death is truly upsetting. That the life of the lost trader would end on the Grismont Road is lamentable and a tragedy. Their loss will be mourned by several of the High Lords of Faraden, but they accept that the Empire must have done what it could to rescue the merchant.

On the matter of ''[[Follow_me_my_friend#The_Extra_Bit_(Reinos)|Bulangiin Karadragha]]'', Mistress Singua Karadragha is confused. She asked the [[Champion of Prosperity]], '''Tom Appleseed''' to rescue Bulangiin to avoid having to pay the fifteen throne ransom to ''Geur Tightfisted''. Mistress Singua would much rather encourage the Empire's military units to [[venture#Raid the Jotun|raid the Jotun]] with extra inducement than pay the same amount to a grasping Lasambrian. It is unfortunate that the Lasambrian attempted to inflate the price, assumedly in the understanding that the Empire would benefit from them being the ones to return Bulangiin to Faraden. The Karadragha family have now paid the fifteen throne ransom, and Bulangiin has returned to Faraden.

Regardless, Mistress Karadragha is realistic. Both efforts were long-shots, and any sadness at the apparent failure of the efforts to help Faraden citizens is mitigated by the fact that the Imperial heroes at least ''tried'' to do so. It's unfortunate, but it won't damage Faraden relations or make them more reticent to ask for Imperial aid again if similar circumstances arise.
==Sparks Fly Up==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderRodAndShield.jpg|width=200|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderCelestialArch.jpg|width=200|align=right}}
</div>
* '''The Muhnkhabat family war wizards will be in Anvil from 15:00 to 18:00 Saturday'''
* '''They wish to see demonstrations of Imperial war magic, and speak to people with relevant titles'''
* '''If there is an opportunity for them to compete with Imperial mages in a test of arms, they would be most honoured to compete.

The [[A pillow of winds#Wizards of the West|Muhnkhabat family]] have sent a delegation of war wizards to The Empire, escorted by the Rod and Shield, to witness Imperial military magic and discuss potential opportunities for collaboration against the Jotun. The Rod and Shield magicians were welcomed warmly, and treated to three days of fine food, martial and athletic contests in which battle-magic was freely used, and many heated hours of argument about the best way to deploy magic - both invocation and ritual - on a battlefield.

Whilst there was potential for this journey to [[A pillow of winds#A Gentle Touch|cause some diplomatic issues]], the presence of the Celestial Arch has kept somewhat of a lid on things, and so far there have been no signs of trouble. The Arch came in particularly useful in persuading the more "gung ho" wizards of both the Muhnkhabat and the Rod and Shield ''not'' to launch an attack on a Jotun outpost that would most likely have led to several deaths and having to do half the journey to the Empire while being pursued by angry orc warriors. The diplomatic magicians also worked hard to smooth over situations where "friendly" contests threatened to get out of control, preventing conflict over matters of religion or history, and temper the general arrogance of the Muhnkhabat when dealing with citizens of the Empire. An exhausting, but ultimately successful, job that sees the Faraden wizards in a more receptive mood when they finally reach Casinea.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=GMRodandShield.jpg|caption='''Sakari Nightscale''', Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=GrandmasterCelestialArch.png|caption='''Xanthippe of the Lighthouse-That-Was''', Grandmaster of the Celestial Arch|align=right|width=200}}</div>
Now the delegation has reached Anvil, they wish to be given a tour of notable places of war magic, as well as meet with key figures in the implementation of the Empire's military magical strategies. The majority of the delegation is enjoying the sights and experiences of [[Anvil#Outer_Anvil|Outer Anvil]], or resting after their long journey. ''Chagataii Muhnkhabat'' (a younger sibling of ''High Lord Ganzorig Muhnkhabat'') will present themselves and a cadre of the families best at the main gate of Anvil at three in the afternoon on Saturday. They expect to be received with all appropriate honours, and will then be at the disposal of their Imperial hosts until around six. Obviously they hope that the Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield '''Sakari Nightscale''' will be available to represent their hosts (and Grandmaster '''Xanthippe Of the Lighthouse-That-Was''' from the Celestial Arch if they think such is necessary).

Chagataii wishes to leave the specifics of the itinerary in the hands of his hosts, but has expressed interest in the following:
* They would like to observe battle mages engaging in contests of war-magic, and if they may be invited to participate themselves to test themselves against their hosts, that would be appreciated. Whilst travelling through the Empire they have heard from some of their honour guard about the Icy Crag Tourney, and are very eager to take part if that is at all possible.
* They wish to visit the Hall of Worlds, and learn more about it and how the Conclave operates
* They want to see the Sentinel Gate and learn of its use and history and how it supports the Empire's battles
* They would greatly appreciate seeing demonstrations of Imperial war magic - especially how the Rod and Shield wield the principle of empowerment (Summer magic) and the power of the Wind (Day Magic) towards battlefield ends
* They will wish to meet the Imperial warmage and the Imperial warcaster, and to gain a greater appreciation of how the Empire's magicians wage war

They will bring with them a small gift as a token of their appreciation. Whatever gifts the Empire chooses fit to bestow in welcome will, of course, be gratefully received.

==Gratitude and Grain==
* '''A large contingent of the Hakhandra merchant family visit the Marches to collect sixteen head of cattle provided by the Ambassador
* '''They plan to establish a regular supply of fine Faraden victuals for the Ambassador going forward
A few weeks after the Spring Equinox, a large band of Faraden warriors turn up in the Marches. They come up through [[Tassato]] and [[Miaren]], giving the western territories a wide berth. They're particularly notable for their deep green coats, and finely died trousers and embroidered shirts. They are also especially gregarious for Faraden, always enthusiastic about stopping at a wayhouse or a roadside establishment to scatter handfuls of Imperial coinage for the chance to sample local delicacies. They are here to collect the sixteen head of cattle that Ambassador Ebenezer has acquired on their behalf. It's obvious that as well as being martially proficient they know their cows. They are members of the Hakhandra family, and they are very pleased. Visiting both Mitwold and Upwold cattle markets, they are at pains to speak with the farmers who raise and transport the cattle - and not only Marchers. There is a fair amount of interest in the [[Shepherd_of_the_Great_Herd#The_Great_Herd|Great Northern Herd]], and efforts to establish the [[Million_miles_of_water#The_Cattle_Markets|Southern Herd]] and the [[Send_for_me#Herds_of_Afar|Herds of Afar]]. Several members lament that they will not have time to actually visit [[Skarsind]], [[Mareave]] or [[Feroz]] - at least not on this trip. The leader of the Faraden contingent -the enthusiastic ''Khutulun Hakhandra'' - makes a point of taking several of their friends to visit Kings Stoke, especially keen to meet '''Steward Watkin''' who was apparently key to ensuring the cattle were all collected.

In addition to the agreed on payment, Khutulun thanks the Ambassador and the embassy staff. The Hakhandra are interested in cementing closer ties with the Marches in particular, to buy the many exotic Imperial delicacies available in the markets of [[Mitwold]] and [[Upwold]] as well as fine Marcher cows, goats, and pigs. In recognition of the work Ebenezer has done, the Hakhandra have arranged for a small amount of equally fine Faraden victuals to be delivered to the [[Segura#The_Faraden_Embassy|Embassy]] in Segura each season. With an eye towards doing more business in future.

Following the Summer Solstice, and continuing as long as good relations with the Hakhandra are maintained, the Ambassador to Faraden will receive two cubes of ''common mooncheese'' and one piece of ''rare mooncheese'' each season. The Civil Service point out that this is clearly a bribe as much as it is a sincere demonstration of gratitude, but that the Faraden don't deny it either. The merchants clearly want to ensure the Faraden ambassador has an interest, no matter how minor, in ensuring good relations with the nation continue. ('''OOC Note:''' The ambassador is welcome to talk about the rare food and drink that forms part of this "hamper", and should feel free to pass off any amount of odd foodstuffs as having been gifted to them by the Faraden herdmasters).
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=A Yak.jpg|align=right|caption=The yak of western Faraden are like very hairy oxen but adapted to live at high altitudes and in cold weather. Their wool, milk, and meat is much prized.|width=400}}</div>
===Yakholme Grange===
* '''The Hakhandra are interested in establishing a permanent trade enclave in Upwold
* '''They are concerned about potential backlash if the project does not have the support of the Marcher Assembly
While they are in [[Upwold#Stockland|Stockland]], Khutulun Hakhandra speaks to the local Marchers about the plan to establish a regular trade route between the cattle markets there and Faraden. There is some caution, even suspicion. And, sadly, not just on either one side. The fiasco around [[Upwold#Moonwater_Hall_(ruins)|Moonwater Hall]] is very much in the minds of both Faraden and Marcher during these discussions. The apparent support of Ambassador Ebenezer - of good solid Marcher stock even if they do live among [[Mitwold|uptight folk who think they are better than they are]] - goes some way toward smoothing over concerns. Some tentative plans for Yakholme Grange are laid out.
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Yakholme Grange'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Upwold#Stockland|Stockland]], Upwold</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of [[weirwood]] and 25 [[white granite]], 150 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' Relies on Faraden trade; there are concerns related to religious matters</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment for farms in Upwold by one
* Establishes Stockland as the Empire's premiere cattle market
* Increases Faraden trade with the Marches
</td></tr>
</table></div>
The Grange would be a [[great work]], and estimates are that it would require 50 wains of weirwood and 25 wains of white granite. It would cost 225 crowns in labour, and take six months to complete. It would raise the level of investment in farms in Upwold, increasing the income of every Marcher farm by an additional 36 rings each season. It would also help to put Stockland cattle market on the map - with the Hakhandra bringing some of their own prize bulls for sale here. There is no doubt that it would be the largest and most profitable place to buy farm animals and related products in the Empire.

In addition to the local effects, the market would see an increase in Faraden goods being brought into the Empire. The [[tariffs#Mercantilist|tariffs charged]] on Faraden imports would see an estimated 3 Thrones each season flowing into the [[Imperial treasury]]. It would also cement closer ties between the Marches and the Hakhandra family; a valuable first step toward securing access to the yaks that so fascinate Ambassador Ebenezer.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Marcher.png|width=150|align=right}}
There is however an obstacle. In the past there was conflict between the Faraden and the Empire over matters of faith and religion. The Hakhandra are not missionaries, they do not proselytise. But they are no less faithful to the [[On Faraden faith|Five Flames]] than any other merchant house. There is some concern that old antagonisms might reignite in the Marches who, as Khutulun points out, are nearly as good as the Faraden for remembering past conflicts and holding grudges. It has been suggested that a well worded [[statement of principle]] from the Marcher national assembly might help to allay both the fears of the Hakhandra, and worries among the Marcher folk who are concerned about heretical and blasphemous foreigners coming to Upwold. If such a statment is issued and achieves a [[greater majority]] the upside is obvious - it will not only reduce the likelihood of problems while the Grange is being built and could encourage the Hakhandra to offer material support to the construction. There are also obvious downsides however - if any trouble ''does'' erupt between the Faraden and the Marcher farmers, then people will end up pointing the finger at the Assembly for saying it would be fine.

Obviously, the Assembly might ''not'' favour another group of Faraden heretics establishing a trading base in the Marches. In that case, they might likewise use a statement of principle to encourage the farmers to be leary of the Faraden, and encourage the Hakhandra to take their their cattle market schemes elsewhere. This will sink the Yakholme Grange project, at least in the Marches, provided it achieves a greater majority. The good news is that even if it does end Hakhandra ambitions in the Marches, it won't inspire any kind of political disruption or diplomatic incident unless the language used is extremely vituperative. The Faraden understand the holding of grudges, and the desire to avoid another Moonwater Hall scandal is entirely understandable.

The most important thing is that if the Marcher Assembly chooses to get involved here, the wording of the statement of principle is ''crucial''. It should be as clear as possible what the assembly thinks, and whether they are encouraging or discouraging the Marcher farmers to support the Hakhandra ambition. Otherwise it might all go horribly, horribly wrong.

===Meade and Mithril===
* '''Another opportunity exists for the Alder of Meade to acquire a little mithril in return for iridescent gloaming
Between them Mistress Karadragha and Ambassador Ebenezer were able to secure an arrangement whereby the [[Alder of Meade]], '''Aubrey Shaw''', was able to [[A_pillow_of_winds#Gloaming_Dusk|buy mithril]] from the conservative ''Tseriyn '' merchant family. The Tseriyn were responsible for providing the lion's share of [[mithril]] to the old [[Gloaming Road]]. The deal went off without a hitch; a caravan of Tseriyn mithril was brought to Caitun, loaded onto Imperial ships, and brought to [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]]. Some further negotiations have taken place behind the scenes, and it seems that ''Amulchi Tseriyn'' is prepared to extend this "final arrangement" a little longer. There is less mithril available - in this case 8 wains are available to the Alder to purchase at a cost of 270 [[iridescent gloaming]]. Or, if they prefer, 4 wains for 135 measures of gloaming. As before the trade will pass through Caitun, but the Alder must be aware that the amounts of mithril available are low because the Tseriyn have made other arrangements for the bulk of their metal. ('''OOC Note''' as before if the Alder of Meade wishes to take advantage of this final offer, they should ensure the gloaming is in their account and email {{plot}} before downtime closes).
<div style="float:left; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Actuallythebest001.png|align=left|width=250}}</div>

==Firewind Market==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Faraden Quarter'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Holberg#Holmauer|Holmauer]], Holberg</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 70 [[weirwood]] and 30 [[white granite]], 300 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment for businesses in Holberg by one
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Firewind Prince''
* Permits the creation of Faraden caravanseri along trade routes
* Increases the taxation raised from trade with Faraden by 4 Thrones each season
* Significantly increases the number of Faraden travelling to and visting in Holberg</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Firewind Prince'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' League</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees Firewind Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To serve as a liason between the Faraden visiting Firewind Market and the people of Holberg; to encourage Faraden merchants to trade with the city; to smooth over any disputes; to make decisions based on any opportunities related to Firewind Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' If the Firewind Prince is not an inhabitant of Holberg, they may begin at a disadvantage when dealing with residents of Holberg caught in a dispute with Faraden merchants </td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Brightfire Market'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>8 crowns</td><td>6 orichalcum, 6 weltsilver</td></tr>
<tr><td>20 crowns</td><td>12 orichalcum, 12 weltsilver</td></tr>
<tr><td>36 crowns</td><td>18 orichalcum, 18 weltsilver</td></tr>
<tr><td>55 crowns</td><td>24 orichalcum, 24 weltsilver</td></tr>
<tr><td>74 crowns</td><td>30 orichalcum, 30 weltsilver</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Darkfire Market'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>8 crowns</td><td>6 tempest jade, 6 green iron</td></tr>
<tr><td>20 crowns</td><td>12 tempest jade, 12 green iron</td></tr>
<tr><td>36 crowns</td><td>18 tempest jade, 18 green iron</td></tr>
<tr><td>55 crowns</td><td>24 tempest jade, 24 green iron</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Brightwind Market '''</td></tr>
<tr><td>25 crowns</td><td>1 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>50 crowns</td><td>2 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>75 crowns</td><td>3 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>100 crowns</td><td>4 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>125 crowns</td><td>5 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 crowns</td><td>6 mithril</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Darkwind Market '''</td></tr>
<tr><td>25 crowns</td><td>1 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>50 crowns</td><td>2 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>75 crowns</td><td>3 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
With the clear decision of the Holberg Chamber of Commerce to favour the "Iron" option from among those presented to them, work is ready to begin on the Faraden Quarter in [[Holberg#Holmauer|Holmauer]]. The enclave will provide places for Faraden merchants to stay and rest, and establish small [[business|businesses]] of their own if they are so inclined. At the heart of the Quarter will be a large market dedicated to trading Faraden metal to Imperial citizens, in return for the kinds of goods popular in Holberg - Firewind Market. The Quarter will be overseen by a League citizen with the title of ''Firewind Price'' who will liaise with the inhabitants and smooth over any disputes. The Firewind Prince will be appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]] - by League business holders across the nation. Their ministries will allow them to purchase [[Materials#Metals|metal ingots]], and small amounts of mithril and white granite.

This Quarter is a significant undertaking. It will cost the Empire 70 wains of weirwood, 30 wains of white granite, and 300 crowns. The Faraden themselves will provide their own materials and labour to help establish the Quarter, roughly equivalent to that provided by the Empire. Work will take six months to complete.

Mistress Singua is a little apologetic in that the prices charged for the metals are higher than she might like, but that the [[tariffs#Mercantilist|tariffs]] imposed on Faraden imports are a significant contribution. On the other hand, the fact that the Empire ''is'' charging tolls and tariffs to Faraden merchants mean that when the work is completed the contribution from Faraden trade to the [[Imperial treasury]] will increase by 4 Thrones each season as long as trade continues. If the Senate were to move the Faraden to free trade, this contribution would drop, but the cost of the materials at the ministry would also drop.

While there was some concern that the Faraden might not be prepared to deal with the [[orc|orcs]] of the League, or the Sand Fishers of [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]]. Mistress Karadragha [[A_pillow_of_winds#Orcs_and_False_Flames|addressed these concerns]] by pointing out that any conservative Faraden who did not want to deal with orcs would not come to the Empire anyway. As it is, there is some potential for the Sand Fishers to profit here as well - after all they have a ''lot'' of lumber and wood to sell something the Faraden are known to value. It remains to be seen if they take advantage of this opportunity or not.
===Faraden Caravanseri===
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Faraden Trail.png|align=left|caption=The Faraden trail from Segura to Holberg (and back).|width=400}}</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Faraden Caravanseri'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Segura]], [[Kahraman]], [[Tassato]], [[Miaren]], [[Astolat]], or [[Semmerholm]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' varies based on focus and current level of investment in businesses, farms, or forests</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Open-ended once Faraden Quarter is completed</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' Only one carvanseri can be built per territory; relies on trade with Faraden</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment in the territory for one of businesses, farms, or forests
* Creates a ministry and associated title to purchase Faraden goods
* Increases the taxation raised from trade with Faraden by 2 Thrones each season
* Increases the number of Faraden travelling through and visiting the territory</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Once the Faraden Quarter is completed the ability to create Faraden caravanseri will become available
Once work on the Faraden Quarter in Holberg is complete, it also opens up an opportunity for the Empire to encourage Faraden trade. Most Faraden caravans enter the Empire through Segura - traditionally past the [[Segura_spoils_of_war#Kabalai_Palace|Kabalai Palace]]. The Empires roads are excellent, providing quick and relatively safe travel - especially thanks to the efforts of groups such as the [[Navarr]] [[Venture#Roadwardens|roadwardens]]. The Faraden are happy to stay at [[wayhouse|wayhouses]] and inns along their routes, obviously, but there is a potential to make them feel even more welcome and help bolster trade with the western nation.

A ''Faraden Caravanseri'' could be built in any territory along a route to Holberg. At the moment that means [[Segura]], [[Kahraman]], [[Tassato]], [[Miaren]], [[Astolat]], or [[Semmerholm]]. A Caravanseri is a [[great work]] that supports one of [[business|businesses]] (representing trade with local entrepeneurs), [[farm|farms]] (representing direct purchase of Imperial victuals), or [[forest|forests]] (representing the purchase of forest goods). In the latter case, the great work would still provide 36 rings rather than the normal effect of investment in forests. Furthermore, regardless of which kind of great work is built, up to half the material cost can be in weirwood for those that usually need white granite, or white granite if the great work normally uses weirwood exclusively.

Once complete, a Faraden Caravanseri will serve as something of a hub, encouraging increased numbers of Faraden traders to explore the territory. It would also encourage more merchants to make the trip through the Lasambrian Hills to trade with the Empire in general. As long as Faraden [[tariffs#Mercantilist|pays tariffs]], the amount they contribute to the Imperial Treasury is increased by 2 thrones each season for ''each'' caravanseri. A given territory can only have a single caravanseri, however.

The caravanseri will also create a liaison position, responsible for ensuring good relations between the Faraden and the inhabitants of the territory. They'd need to make sure any disputes were dealt with and in return they would gain access to a small ministry reflecting their ability to purchase Faraden goods from the merchants visiting the caravanseri. At first this would mean metals, similar to those available at the big market in Holberg. If the Empire built other enclaves on a similar scale elsewhere in the Empire, they might be able to gain access to other substances. These titles would be appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]], and as mentioned above the prices they paid for Faraden metals would be raised by the fact the Empire imposes Tariffs on the Faraden.

Finally, each caravanseri will improve diplomatic relations with the Faraden a small amount. While they can be volatile, the overtures of the Empire have been very positive recently. They are also practical - the more of their trade that passes through Imperial lands them more likely they are to want to preserve the status quo.

However, if Holberg Market was ever abrogated or destroyed, the caravanseri would likewise stop operating until it was reopened or a similarly significant enclave established in another city.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=NBVarushka.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=NationBannerDawn.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
</div>
===Further Markets===
* '''There has been some discussion of establishing other major Faraden markets in the Empire
* '''Mistress Karadragha requests confirmation from the Overseer of the Western Road that there is interest in trading fabric and garments with Faraden traders
* '''She also enquires as to whether there might be interest in establishing a victuals market in Dawn
The Court of Five Winds is interested that Ambassador Ebenezer mentioned proposals that Faraden might consider not just an enclave in Holberg, but similar trade hubs in Varushka and the Marches. If Varushka is interested in establishing an enclave on the same basis as Holberg, one that deals primarily in fabric and clothing, that would be very acceptable. They would prefer to spend as little time as possible in the forests of Varushka which they understand are infested with monstrous flesh-eating trees. So it would be ideal to look at building something in [[Karov#Delev|Delev]], especially given the proximity of the new hall extolling the virtue of Varushkan fabric and weaving.

Mistress Karadragha understands that the [[Overseer of the Westward Road]] is a significant figure among the merchants of Varushka. If the Ambassador can confirm that there is interest, Singua will send a speculative group of Faraden to explore the possibilities. ''However'' she will only do so ''after'' work has begun on Firewind Market. Too much time and investment has already taken place for her to switch her attention to a new project with the current one half-completed.

As to a victuals market in the Marches, Mistress Karadragha can see the appeal. She confides that there is also interest in establishing such a concern in [[Dawn]] whose fine wines in particular are considered to be especially luxurious. Is there any interest in the eastern nation at all? That is not to say that something in the Marches could not be discussed - but the Faraden Ambassador would prefer to wait and see how the plans for Yakholme Grange proceed before pushing forward there.

==Paying to be Forward==
* '''Mistress Karadragha seeks introductions to the diplomats of Axos, Skoura, and Otkodov
One other matter of interest related to trade has been raised; there is a great deal of interest in three of the nations that border the Empire to the north and east. Faraden merchants have encountered traders from [[Skoura]], [[Axos]] and [[Otkodov]] while visiting Imperial markets. Mistress Khardraga has a request for Ambassador Ebenezer; would it be possible for the Imperial ambassadors to effect an introduction for Faraden to the diplomats of those three nations? She already has the tools to make cautious contact, but obviously establishing a basis for understanding can take time especially when dealing with unfamiliar cultures.

Obviously the Ambassador to Faraden has limited ability to effect such an introduction, but presumably the Empire has ambassadors to these nations? Mistress Singua believes that if those ambassadors were to vouch for the Faraden to the Skourans, Axou, or Thule that would go some way toward smoothing over that initial period of "getting to know you" and be invaluable in getting to the important part - talking about trade. Equally obviously, this is of some value to the Faraden as a nation - if the Ambassador feels that some sort of gratuity or ''quid pro quo'' were in order, Ebenezer has only to ask and Mistress Karadragha will evaluate the request and decide if it is worth the aid the Empire can offer.

The Imperial Civil Service advise caution; at the moment the Empire controls any access Faraden has to the orcs of the north, or the two smaller nations to the east. While Mistress Karadragha might claim that eventually Faraden will establish its own communication with some or all of these nations, that could easily take years if it succeeds at all. If the Empire introduces the Faraden to these nations, then the Faraden will henceforth deal with these other nations with no reference to the Empire whatsoever. On the other hand, if the Faraden ''do'' establish trade links with Skoura, Axos or Otkodov, any trade will need to go through Imperial lands along Imperial toll roads and over Imperial borders. This might result in a small but steady trickle of additional funding into the Imperial treasury, or bring other benefits if the Ambassadors are shrewd enough in finding ways to exploit this opportunity.

==Flame and Virtue==
* '''Imperial priests have attempted to bolster their peers in Faraden against Asavean propaganda
* '''The Ember Blossoms have returned to Faraden
Last season two proposals relating to faith and religion [[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Matter_Of_Faith|were made]]. One was a possibility for Imperial priests preaching the four virtues similar to four of the Faraden flames- [[Courage]], [[Loyalty]], [[Pride]], and [[Prosperity]] - to support their "peers" in opposing [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] efforts to [[A_pillow_of_winds#Fanning_the_Flames|convince citizens]] that the Asavean and Faraden religions were not as disaparate as they appeared. The second was an offer from a [[bands#sects|sect]] of Faraden [[Malign spiritual presences#Vengeance|Vengeance]] dedicates to [[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Just_World|offer specialist aid in the Archipelago]]. Apparently these ''Ember Blossoms'' felt their particular understanding of encouraging others to take vengeance on those who have oppressed them would be useful in stirring up civil war in the far west.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Courage.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Loyalty.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Pride.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Prosperity.png|align=right|width=200}}
</div>
===The Flames Burn Brighter===
* '''The cooperation between priests of the Empire and Priests of Faraden has narrowly failed to halt the inroads of the Asaveans.'''
* '''The people of Faraden are still open to attempts by foreign powers to influence them.'''
Last season a coalition of conservative Faraden priests [[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Matter_Of_Faith|approached the Empire]] with a concern, and a proposal. The slimy tentacles of the [[Asavean Archipelago]] sought to get a grip on Faraden society by claiming some sort of commonality between the [[Faraden#Faraden_Religious_Beliefs|Five Flames]] and the [[Asavean gods]], a common trick in the Plenum's cultural arsenal. Outraged by what they saw as a blatant insult to the power of the human spirit and the virtues that guide them, the priests of Faraden invited the Imperial Synod to engage in a series of joint religious celebrations. Priests of [[Courage]], [[Loyalty]], [[Pride]] and [[Prosperity]], the four Virtues that both nations agree to be true, would stand together and reaffirm that despite any differences between the Way and the Five Flames, they could both unite to condemn the scourge of idolatry.

The Imperial Synod spung into action, with all four of the relevant Assemblies passing Virtues urging their congregants to support the actions of those who would preach against the insidious influence of Asavea. Following the Spring Equinox, priests from across the Empire heeded the call and travelled to Faraden, some arriving via the docks at Caitun, some accompanying the caravan transporting representatives of the Rod and Shield and the Celestial Arch in [[A_pillow_of_winds#Wizards_of_the_West|their own diplomatic mission]]. Those who arrive in the first wave find themselves greeted with a certain amount of fanfare - pro-Imperial sentiment is strong, even in a highly factionalised Faraden, and many people are keen to show off their Prosperity by offering food and lodging to honoured guests. The mere fact that the Imperial Synod has deigned to engage with the priests of Faraden as equals is already a major victory.

What follows is a whirlwind tour of different religious events, ranging from intimate family gatherings where the nature of Virtue is discussed over the dinner table to public rallies attended by hundreds of people where dozens of priests are given the chance to witness to the crowd. These events are invariably lively, regardless of the size, and larger assemblies are often attended by musicians, street performers and food vendors, creating a festive atmosphere everywhere the priests go. The Asaveans are nowhere to be seen, although the priests always seem to just be missing them. The visiting Imperials consistently hear that the Asaveans passed through a few days ago, or are likely to visit in a few days time, or are in the same place but on the other side of town.

It does not take long for the more politically astute among the Imperial delegation to cotton on to the highly choreographed nature of the whole affair, how symbols of Faraden art and culture are to be seen everywhere they travel, how the capacity of the Flames to bring joy and comfort is emphasised and conversations about sacrifice and difficult choices are couched in the romantic language of ancient stories and national myths. This is a political event as much as a religious one, and a lot of planning has gone into making it seem as spontaneous as possible.

Yet for all the success of the Imperial delegation, the Asaveans are at least as skilful in their manipulations. Some among their number are pompous and condescending, but many others are passionate, philosophical, or dignified by turns, charming the Faraden crowd at least as much as any of the Imperial preachers. They never question the Empire's right to involve themselves in the affairs of Faraden, a right that the Empire arguably has more claim to than distant Asavea.

Instead they speak of progress, adapting to a changing world, and a willingness to learn from new information. The priests of Asavea recognise that they have much to learn from the faiths of other nations, including those of the Five Flames. How arrogant it would be for them to claim a monopoly over truth, or even over the path that may lead to greater understanding! They do not seek to impose their religion on the people of Faraden, not at all. They simply seek respectful dialogue. And while many citizens of Faraden heed the call of the Empire to return to the fundamental orthodoxies of their faith, just as many speak of openness to dialogue and a potential role for Faraden in an increasingly connected world.

Had even one more congregation supported the mission then the balance might have tipped in the favour of the conservative elements, but it was not to be. The debate is fierce, and continues unabated with little changed as the priests return to their homes.

One more matter arises from this as the season begins to turn. The priests of Faraden are notoriously fractious and hard to organise, lacking a centralised Synod to facilitate decision-making. Despite this, word reaches the Imperial embassy that at a recent gathering at the Palace of the Five Winds, representatives of several major priestly families voted by a narrow margin to extend personal thanks to '''Dagon of the Shattered Tower''', '''Damascius''', '''Kaywenn de Orzel''', and '''Darian Numbers''', the priests who raised the Judgements urging the priests of the Empire to preach in Faraden. There is no material reward, but the messengers to the embassy are keen to emphasise how rare such a gesture of respect is.

===Embers Burn Low===
* '''The Ember Blossoms have declined the Empire's invitation to pass on their skills at resisting and undermining those in power.'''
{{SOP|statement=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.|by=Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra, Freeborn Assembly|vote=78-28|when=Spring Equinox 387YE|size=small}}
{{SOP|statement=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.|by=Caspian i Sharthra i Riqueza, Freeborn Assembly|vote=68-58|when=Spring Equinox 387YE|size=small}}
[[A_pillow_of_winds#A_Just_World|The second approach]] made by religious devotees of Faraden last season was less successful. The ''Ember Blossoms'', a militant sect of Faraden vigilantes who target those who use their power to oppress the poor and downtrodden, sought assistance from the Freeborn National Assembly to travel to Asavea and use their skills to incite the slaves of the Plenum to recognise the numerous outrages perpetrated against them, and to rise up in the spirit of Courage, Pride, and Justice.

The Priests of the Brass Coast endorsed two statements of principle on the matter, one [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_145|endorsing the transportation of the Ember Blossoms]] and [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_124|one refusing it]]. The second statement suggested that the militants might instead teach their skills to operatives of the Empire, a sentiment apparently echoed by certain Imperial worthies who spoke to representatives of the Ember Blossoms at the Spring summit. A neat compromise, perhaps, but one that the Ember Blossoms have refused.

The message from the Ember Blossoms makes it clear that while they do not take the refusal personally, they recognise the simple truth: that the Empire wants their skills, but does not recognise what it took to forge them. If the Empire trusted the Ember Blossoms, they would accept their assistance as it was offered. They have not done so, and so that trust is not there. It is understandable. Trust is earned, and the Empire do not know the Ember Blossoms. But the Ember Blossoms are under no obligation to twist their skills to make them more palatable to others. Faraden may not be able to match the Empire in terms of size or wealth, but their [[Pride]] stands as the equal to any of the Empire's virtuous souls. It is a shame to not be accepted into the Empire's project to liberate Asavea, but it would be far more shameful not to be accepted on an even footing.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Fire Whirl.jpg|align=right|caption=Some [[Faraden]] hold grudges against the Empire and see them as a threat that must be dealt with.|width=400}}</div>
==Scattered Cinders==
* '''A group of discontented Faraden nationalists called the Cinders have attempted to assassinate the Champion of Vigilance.'''
* '''The Liege of the Five Winds has unconditionally denounced these actions, and denied any links between this group and the Faraden state.'''

Of all the people in the Empire to attempt to assassinate, the [[Champion of Vigilance]] has to rank as one of the worst choices. Despite this, it seems that some souls, perhaos courageous, perhaps foolish, perhaps both, took a shot at doing so at the Spring Equinox. By all accounts the Champion, currently Jared, is fine, alert as he is to all dangers, within and without. Details of the attack and its aftermath are somewhat garbled, and any who wish to know more should probably consult Jared himself, but perhaps more notable is the fact that the would-be assassins were citizens of Faraden, a revelation that has caused some consternation in diplomatic circles.

While the Ambassador to Faraden did not choose to bring up the incident in their missive, the fact of it has still spread. By all accounts the staff at the Faraden embassy have quickly begun sending somewhat frantic winged messengers back home in order to determine whether anyone knows who might be responsible. This may be the one good thing about Faraden's cultural preoccupation with Justice: they are very keen to determine who is responsible for any wrongdoing. And as it happens, the perpetrators are not backwards about identifying themselves. Back in Faraden, far away from any of the events organised by the priestly coalition that invited the Empire, a group called the Cinders has reared its head and begun bragging about 'striking back against the blasphemers who submit to the False Virtues of [[Ambition|Selfishness]], [[Vigilance|Paranoia]], and [[Wisdom|Doubt]].' In the understated words of the embassy staff, this is probably not a coincidence.

Further information is quick to be provided. The Cinders are a deeply reactionary group within Faraden whose primary belief is that society has become 'decadent' and 'too accepting of foreign blasphemy'. The charge of decadence is met with some derision - what humourless fool would decry enjoying a little luxury now and then? Does Prosperity not teach us to enjoy the fruits of our labours? Still, their ultra-orthodox stance on the Flames has always had some supporters, and a message of toughness and self-reliance can appeal to the insecure. The Cinders have gone through cycles of acceptance and suppression, but like a particularly resilient weed, they always seem to pop up again where they are least expected.

Regardless of their history, attempted murder against a foreign dignitary is too far for the Liege of the Five Winds. Tchinua Ganbatar, the Liege of the Five Winds, issues a public statement decrying the actions of the Cinders in taking up arms against a person who has done them no wrong. They call on all citizens of Faraden to shun these troublemaking fanatics who offer no solutions to the nation's problems, only an endless cycle of violence and alienation from powerful allies.

Despite their strong words, however, the gesture is largely symbolic. While the Liege of the Five Winds is powerful, the authority to suppress the Cinders lies with the individual families, as it must do for civil society to function. The more vocal and less prudent members of the sect may be caught and punished, but their leaders will go back underground and their supporters will shield them, as they always have. Even this public condemnation will be used in their propaganda to paint them as truth-speakers being punished by those in thrall to unwholesome outside influences. Being unable to operate openly will impede their activities, but they will almost certainly be back. Citizens of the Empire should remain watchful.
{{Faraden Links}}

Talking to friends

2025-07-22T00:27:47Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* An Olive Branch */ 'And' 'Letter'

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>There was no need to count; the outcome was obvious. Still, the scribes did their duty and recorded the numbers anyway. Normally, when a vote was carried so overwhelmingly there would have been cheering and celebration. Today, the floor of the Plenum chamber was almost eerily silent. A few murmurs and mutters, a heavy sigh. The footsteps of the Mater Coriolani as she strode out of the chamber, her face a mask of fury.

"This is humiliating." Titus turned away from the gallery, fists clenched.

"Yes." Said Lavinia.

"This cannot stand! If this was the old days-" His daughter cut him off. If she had done this in public it would have meant censure but he encouraged her to speak her mind when they were alone, valued her counsel and the directness the Spring realm gave her.

"It isn't the old days, though, father."

Titus growled, collapsing onto one of the couches. He hitched up his toga, put his head in his hands and stared at nothing in particular.

"You sound like an Ilotari," he grumbled. But his anger had subsided a little.

"Ha!" There was no mirth in Lavinia's laugh. "Not even the Ilotari are pleased that it has come to this. They're reformists, not idiots."

"These last few years..." Titus trailed off. "Who are we, Lavinia? What happened to the heirs of Asav. The Sumaah; the Commonwealth and the Empire; now the damn ''tomb robbers'' have banded together - a pack of vultures picking at our corpse. Our only real allies are a bunch of magicians who think rituals are the answer to every problem. We're reduced to lending warships to pirates. Even a nation of ''farmers'' fought off the pride of the Asavean navy! Farmers!"

"Times change." Lavinia sat next to him, put her hand on his shoulder. "We have to change with them."

"Once upon a time we'd have sent a flotilla to burn their damn cities to the ground. Drag a tenth of their people off in chains. Burn their temples if they didn't surrender, install a governor if we needed to keep the peace..." His tone was nostalgic. Lavinia did not think it wise to remind him that nothing on that scale had happened in a century or more. Titus tone grew bitter. "And now they are doing it to us! To us, Lavinia! Sending their ships and their soldiers to burn our cities, pushing their faith, killing the Tarquinius, trying to replace the Plenum with what... elected Senators? Praster? Ridiculous! Unacceptable!"

Lavinia waited for his anger to blow itself out. She loved her father very much but he lived in the past. If Asavea was to survive, they would need to look to the future.

"We tried the old way," she said quietly. "And it made everyone feel better for a while, but what did it actually achieve?"

"So what do you think, daughter? We should just... accept it? Accept that we are a laughing stock, an irrelevancy?"

His daughter smiled, a severe, cold smile, and patted Titus' hand.

"Oh, no father. No. But as grandmother said; when war fails, you may put your sword away, but you ''keep fighting''. There's some people I'd like you to meet, Pater Familia. I think you'll find their ideas ''very'' interesting."</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wheeling gulls.jpg|caption=Across the Sea of Salt, two nations caught in eternal rivalry by a net of history and faith.|align=right|width=450}}</div>
==Overview==
Each season the Civil Service prepares a summary of the Empire's relationship with 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.

==Asavea==
* '''The Asavean Archipelago is an empire scattered across a sprawling archipelago, far across the ocean to the west'''
* '''Traditional enemies of the Sumaah, they are at war with both them and the Empire'''
* '''The Empire is sending missionaries to the Archipelago and looking to overthrow the ruling Plenum'''
The Asavean Ambassador to the Empire is ''Lady Madrianna of the Blue Stones''. An important member of one of ruling families of Asavea, she advises the Plenum on diplomatic matters, especial relations with the Empire and their close neighbours. It is Lady Madrianna who has encouraged the Asaveans to make common cause with the Grendel and who is behind efforts to suborn the Faraden.
{{Nation|nation=[[Asavean Archipelago]]|status=Barbarian|port=[[Asavean_Archipelago_ports|Nemoria]] (closed)|ambassador=Vacant}}
===State of War===
* '''The Asavean Archipelago and the Empire are at war
* '''The Asaveans are supporting the Grendel, and attempting to convert the Faraden to their cause'''
* '''The ongoing attempt of missionaries to proselytize the Way continues to enrage the Asaveans'''
Imperial relations with the [[Asavean Archipelago]] could hardly be worse. The Asaveans declared war on the Empire some time ago - a response to the [[Mosaic|attack on Chalonsio]] by the combined forces of the [[Liberty Pact]]. Determined to exact revenge, they sent huge warships to Imperial waters, looking to sack an Imperial city in lex talionis for their own losses. Their [[Harvest of infamy|attack on Meade]] failed, but they were instrumental in helping the [[Grendel]] take [[Madruga#Siroc_(Ruined)|Siroc]] and then [[A beacon of smoke|burning that city to the ground]], to the dismay of their Grendel allies.

Much of their strategy in recent months has been focused on piracy - aiming to cripple Imperial trade on the high seas. These attempts have caused some trouble for the Imperial treasury, and created obstacles for the Empire's various trading partners. Now the Asaveans have been forced to abandon this strategy by the [[Can%27t_give_everything_away#An_Ultimatum|intervention]] of the [[Sarcophan Delves]], a humiliating climbdown for the notoriously proud Plenum. All this on top of the [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|defeat of the Asavean navies]] at Zemeh, where the Empire came to the aid of their Sumaah allies... it has likely put the Plenum on the back foot.

For their part the Empire responded to the fury of the Asaveans by [[Irreconcilable_differences|sending missionaries to the islands]] with members of the [[Sevenfold Path]] looking for [[One of us|ways to make contact with magicians in the islands]] who might be interested in [[the Way]]. The [[Loyalty]] Assembly has tried to make contact with [[Two suns in the sunset|groups who are looking to overthrow the Plenum]], the ruling council of the Asavean Archipelago, and ideally begin a fiery revolt against the corrupt ruling classes.

Into this febrile mix have come the communications from '''Mauriac of Eyrie'''. In recent times the Asaveans have largely ignored efforts by the Empire to communicate through official channels - but something about the tone of the missive appears to have inspired a change of tune. It would be dangerous to overstate what this means - the Asavean Plenum is never going to make peace with an Empire that is hellbent on destroying their nation by inciting rebellion and religious revolt. For as long as the missionaries continue to travel to Asavea, they are certain to remain implacably hostile to the Empire.

The door is not exactly open to diplomacy, but it is at least off the latch... for now.

===An Olive Branch===
* '''The wise letter sent to Asavea has been well received by the Plenum'''
* '''The Asaveans are open to discussing terms to end the war, provided the Empire ceases sending missionaries to their shores'''
* '''If the Empire continue on their current course, the Asasveans will increase their military support for the Grendel'''
Lady Madriana has sent communications to their Imperial counterpart to let them know that the Plenum is open to the possibility of a cessation of the current conflict - either temporary or better still permanent. As far as the Plenum are concerned the outrageous attack on Chalonsio has been answered by the [[A beacon of smoke|destruction of Siroc]]. The senseless destruction of profitable businesses and the losses incurred when the city was looted have been accounted for by the damage inflicted on Imperial shipping. [[Malign spiritual presences#Vengeance|Justice]] as the [[Faraden]] would put it - has been served. Both sides could find a way to end this pointless brutality ''before it escalates further...''

The Plenum have therefore decided to be magnanimous - and to offer the possibility of peaceful resolution to the current war. As a sign of their good intentions, says Lady Madriana, the Plenum has voted to remove the bounties placed on vessels trading with the Empire, so that this will not be an impediment to any negotiation.

If the Empire wishes to pursue the avenue of peace, then as a first step, they must immediately cease all attempts to spread the Way to Asavea. There are no circumstances under which Asavea will negotiate with the Empire while they continue to threaten the authority of the Plenum in this way. Thus far the effects have been negligible, the Asavean Ambassador claims, but the heirs of Asav are not to be trifled with in this way.

Were a peaceful resolution possible, the Asaveans would be prepared to consider withdrawing their military support for the [[Grendel]] and perhaps even to look at reopening their ports to Imperial shipping.

Lady Madriana warns the Empire that the Plenum are prepared to continue their current war with the Empire for as long as necessary, should they reject this generous offer. Now that their privateers and fleet captains are no longer engaged against Imperial shipping they are in a position to consider increasing their support for the Grendel - and they will not hesitate to do so if the Empire does not change course.

Of course, the ''truth'' is that the Asaveans have stopped attacking Imperial ships because of threats from the Sarcophan Delves - the ''Pax Sarcophan''. Even so, this communication represents a change in tone by the Asaveans, something in the letter to Lady Madrianna has clearly struck a chord.

Whether that chord becomes part of a more harmonious melody remains to be seen. Mauriac's respectful letter has been well received by the Plenum and achieved as much as is possible with a letter. However unless the Empire changes their tune, the Asaveans are certain to redouble their efforts. Humiliated by the Sarcophan, they will want to demonstrate that they remain a great power to be taken seriously. If the Empire doesn't take this opportunity for peace, they can expect the Asaveans to increase their military support for the Grendel.

===The Factions Listen===
* '''The Empire knows of six factions willing to contribute to the overthrow of the Plenum'''
* '''The Regario Dossier assigned agents to investigate the Bells of Becephelas, the Lost Weepers, and the Mikanos'''
Last season, the Empire uncovered three more [[Asavean factions]] who would be willing to work with the Empire to spread the Way to Asavea and ultimately overthrow the Plenum. Three of these groups - the [[Asavean_factions#The_Bells_of_Becephelas|Bells of Becephelas]], the [[Asavean_factions#The_Cerularios|Cerularios]], and the [[Asavean_factions#The_Mikanos|Mikanos]] - are magicians that profess to be curious about the Way. All of them appear to be potential allies, but the Empire has been warned by the [[Whisper Gallery]] that one of them is lying - one of the three groups described below are double-agents who are actually loyal to the Plenum. The other three groups - the [[Asavean_factions#The_Children_of_Asav|Children of Asav]], the [[Asavean_factions#The_Lost_Weepers|Lost Weepers]], and the [[Asavean_factions#The_Satrapy_of_Ibaria|Satrapy of Ibaria]] - are those who could be persuaded to take up arms against the Plenum, and uncovered by the Loyalty Assembly.

The [[Regario Dossier]], '''Albrecht von Holberg''', took the [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#The_Refined_Dossier|opportunity]] to redirect three agents to investigate and establish links with the Bells of Becephelas, the Lost Weepers, and the Mikanos. The work done by the agents of the Dossier and their handlers has borne early fruit; '''Albrecht von Holberg''' will receive names and locations for each of three groups suitable for use with [[Call Winged Messenger]] at the Summer Solstice. The information will spread after the summit, and anyone will be able to find out the names and locations. '''OOC Note:''' We will add the targets to the [[Asavean factions]] page.

==Sumaah==
* '''The Sumaah Republic is an empire devoted to an orthodox interpretation of the Way'''
* '''The Empire recently helped to fend off a major naval assault by the Asaveans seeking to burn a Sumaah city'''
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 own war with the [[Asavean Archipelago]], but they remain committed to spreading the Way through the entire world.

The Sumaah ambassador to the Empire is ''Oxtitocszin'', who holds the rank of Censor of wood, metal and stone and is a member of the High House of Pride (the Sumaah equivalent of the Pride Assembly, but with significantly more responsibility and leeway to pursue foreign diplomacy). They advise not just the Sumaah ''präster'', but the House of the People (the Sumaah equivalent of the Imperial Senate). By all accounts they are an even-handed, level-headed individual, and a devout practitioner of the Way.
{{Nation|nation=[[Sumaah Republic]]|status=Foreigner|port=[[Sumaah_Republic_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]]|ambassador=Accalon of [[Highguard]]}}
===Build Up Their Fellows===
* '''Relations with the Sumaah are currently stronger than ever'''
* '''The Empire now receives a dose of true liao each season from Sumaah in gratitude for aid against the Asavean armada'''
The Sumaah Republic are [[Guide_the_spirit#Virtuous_War|at war]] with Asavea and face the threat of invastion from their northern neighbours who once ruled much of Sumaah through the use of corrupt proxies. The war is unlikely to end decisively, the Asavean [[Imperial army|armies]] are no match for the disciplined soldiers martialled by the House of [[Courage]], but the Asavean navies [[Imperial navy|navies]] badly outnumber the Sumaah.

The Asaveans attempted to overcome the Sumaah defences at sea, hoping to expose the coastline so that they could carry out a lightning raid against a Sumaah city. The Asavean Plenum sought retribution for the Sumaah role in the [[Mosaic|attack on Chalonsio]]. They intend to raze a Sumaah city as they did to Siroc. Last season the Empire played a decisive role in disrupting the Asavean assault, sending hundreds of small [[fleet|fleets]] to help the Sumaah navy fight the Asaveans off. Scores of Asavean ships were sunk and the Imperial captains returned home triumphant.

The gratitude of the Sumaah is deep and heartfelt. In thanks for the Imperial aid, they have sent a dose of precious [[true liao]] to the Empire and indicated that they will now do so every season until the Plenum falls and the Way is spread to the Archipelago (something that would take many years if it were possible at all). Relations with the grateful Sumaah, which have been bumpy in the past, are now better than ever.

===The Ambassadors Letter===
* '''The Sumaah are non-plussed by the tone of the Ambassador's letter'''

The sharp tone of the Ambassador's most recent letter has surprised the Sumaah and left them uncertain of how best to respond. As the ambassador has spoken of a shared duty to the truth, they have tried to respond in kind.

They are pleased to hear that '''Eleri of Bronwen's Rest''' has had a vision that speaks to the Ascension of [[the Marked]] and that '''Coal Carefoot''' has had a vision that they once lived as Alina, royal guard of the Sumaah Crown. The Sumaah are always grateful to receive information of the [[Past life vision|past life visions]] that Imperial citizens have had, although they find the ''excellent'' [[Seer_of_the_Gateway#Publication_2|Echoes of the Labyrinth]] published by the [[Seer of the Gateway]] more than meets their needs in this matter. It is unfortunate that the Senate has decided to [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Abrogate_Distribution_of_Echoes_of_the_Labyrinth|stop supporting the dissemination of these accounts]] around the world.

On the matter of the item provided by '''Ehud of Reumah's Redoubt''', they are grateful for an opportunity to examine the [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] and will of course arrange for its return at the Autumn Equinox as requested. They have not mentioned recently, indeed they have sent few communications in recent months as they have been preoccupied by the threat of invasion from the Asaveans and the attendant risks.

===Anchoring the Way===
* '''The Sumaah are convinced that attempting to work together to anchor the Way is too risky'''
On the matter of anchoring the Way in Asavea, the Sumaah are adamant that it is best if the Empire and the Sumaah each proceed with their own plans. The Empire shares the Way with Sumaah, they are siblings in faith. But like two siblings dwelling in the same house, brother and sister can still argue, and the conflict between them can be the most terrible of all. The Sumaah disagree with the Empire on numerous articles of faith - the Sumaah are orthodox and traditionalists where the Empire have pursued a revisionist approach to the faith.

It is the view of the Sumaah that they currently enjoy excellent relations with the Empire precisely because the two nations have agreed to pursue the Way separately. Now that neither side feels compelled to correct the other on matters of faith, they can concentrate on what they have in common. Working together to create the Liberty Pact, to break the slave trade, to defeat the Asaveans at sea, these are all worthy goals around which the two nations can unite.

But converting the Asaveans to the Way would require the Empire and the Asaveans to work side by side for years. They would be like brother and sister forced to dwell together in their parents home. How would they agree on which version of the Way should be spread? Should it be the Imperial Way or the Sumaah Way? What happens, when two years into this great project, the Empire and the Sumaah discover some fundamental point of disagreement on which they cannot agree? Inevitably they will fall out about it, and when that happens then the entire scheme will likely collapse. There will be recriminations on both sides, and everyone the two sides have tried to support will probably end up dead. It is clear that the Sumaah take a pessimistic view of this suggestion to put it lightly.

Bluntly, the view of the Sumaah is that to suggest this shows a lack of careful consideration. The Empire have focused on all the benefits the two nations might gain by working together and given no thought at all to the countless way this could go wrong. While that might suit the confident optimism of the Empire, the Sumaah take a much more dismal view of the prospects of cooperation on this. They are focusing on all the many ways they can see in which it could go wrong and the risks that would entail - to relations between the Empire and Sumaah and more importantly to the hopes of salvation for the Asavean people.

In their mind attempting to work together to convert the Asaveans - after both nations had agreed to work separately on this great goal - is a failure of [[Wisdom]]. The fact that they've levelled this pointed insult, they feel illustrates their point perfectly. Merely discussing it is leading to friction...

They wish the Empire every success. They will genuinely be overjoyed in the Empire spreads the Imperial Way to Asavea. They won't support that effort becsuse they are busy with their own efforts to take the Sumaah Way to Asavea. These efforts will continue until every Asavean is brought to the Way, regardless of what the Empire attempt or achieve in this matter.

===Abrasion Oil===
* '''The Sumaah do not have the same view of excommunication as the Empire'''
On the matter of Abrasian oil, there are polite eyebrows raised. The Sumaah have noted in the past that there are parts of the Empire that believe things that are blatantly [[Religious crime#Heresy|heretical]], like the idea that people reincarnate as trees, or fish, or that their spirits dwell in swamps. These ideas are patently absurd and deeply offensive to any devout follower of the Way - but in recent times the Sumaah have tried to avoid pointing out how heterodox these far-flung parts of the Empire are, because trying to reconcile their two faiths was leading to difficulties.

But now the Imperial ambassador wants to discuss the creation of Abrasian 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? The request has surprised Oxtitocszin, not least because he has no idea how the Empire even ''found'' Nyaerdivik, a location the majority of people living in Sumaah could not point to on a map.

However, since the Ambassador has insisted on answers, the Präster of Nyaerdivik are quite... unorthodox. They have something of an ''obsession'' with bread, which other Sumaah do find to be very odd. They don't worship bread, or anything blasphemous, but it plays a central role in their culture in a way that bemuses outsiders. However the House of the People have examined the beliefs of the Präster of Nyaerdivik on two seperate occasions and found them to be entirely compatible with the Way. Odd certainly, but Oxtitocszin once had an uncle who believed that a condor that lived near his home was mourning for its lost mate. People believe odd things, not all of them are at odds with the Way.

On the matter of [[excommunication]] and the power of Abrasian Oil, the ambassador is surprised to hear their counterpart express such radical views with such certainty. 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. Does the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Labyrinth|Doctrine of the Labyrinth]] not say that ''the Labyrinth of Ages is a place of pure spirit and beyond the true comprehension of any but a paragon''?

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'' 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 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 is not certain is a useful topic for diplomacy between two great nations, even if they do share the Way.

It ''may'' be true that excommunication severs a soul from the Labyrinth, though 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 notes that they have exchanged letters with the Empire on the matter of excommunication before. 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. Oxtitocszin is not sure there is anything further to be said on this subject.
{{Asavean Links}}
{{Sumaah Links}}

Waiting for the worms

2025-06-09T23:05:32Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Bears Under Sail */ Stray Brackets

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Sarcophan]]
<ic>"I am sorry Bedelaar Huisbaas" Johann said shaking his head. "I tried my best but there was no persuading their ambassador. They were suffused with an excess of caution, and a great deal of political conservatism. Essentially they wanted to make the sanctions optional, and I couldn't see how that could work. I thought..."

Annike silenced him with a wave of her hand. "You made the right call," she said. "A dog can't bite if it has no teeth. The entire thing rests on the threat of economic force to prevent exactly the sort of thing the Asaveans are doing. Without that the Pact sinks before it ever leaves port."

Johan nodded quickly, relieved that his mistress agreed with him.

The bedelaar huisbaas stirred her tea, the spoon clinking against the thin china. She leant back, cupping the saucer in her hands, and looked at Johann with appraising eyes. "Did you get a sense whether their concerns were genuine or were they were just trying to let us down gently?"

"Hard to say for sure." Johan swiftly ran through the highlights of his meetings at Anvil in his head. "I ''think'' they genuinely thought it would be a problem. That they couldn't risk being caught between the principles of the Liberty Pact and our proposal if one of the other signatories decided to blockade an Asavean or Jarmish port. I'm sorry, but I cant be certain."

"No need to apologise Johann. It's not your fault. We can only work with whatever materials are on hand." She raised the delicate cup to her lips and took a short sip, savouring the bitterness for a moment, gathering her thoughts as she did so before continuing.

"The guilds will simply ''have'' to raise prices - it's a shame because it'll look like we're being petty, but there really is no choice. Mercenaries do not work for free - and nor should they. But the balance sheet must still be balanced." She sighed deeply, swirling the dark liquid in her cup as she peered into its depths as if the path to the future lay within it. "Still, at the end of things, the Empire and their allies started this stupid war with the Asaveans, so they're just going to have to tighten their belts and pay the price. The worst thing is that it looks as if the Asaveans might win this round, and that's the thing I find hardest to countenance."</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Scarabaeus laticollis 2.jpg|align=left|caption=One person's rubbish is another person's gold.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
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.

The merchant-princes of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] - the ''bedelaar huisbaas'' - strive for neutrality. They are enthusiastic about trade with the Empire, but their neutrality is precious to them. They hold it a mark of pride that they will deal with anyone who has goods, services, or money. While they have given up the practice of slavery without regret, they refuse to pick a side between the [[Liberty Pact]] and the Freedom Accord. Their primary goal is to ensure the ports of the world remain open to their ships, ideally with [[Tariffs#Free_Trade|free trade]] agreements that allow their merchants to operate without onerous [[tariffs]].

The Sarcophan ambassador to the Empire is ''Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike'', of the Tower of Crows. She reports to the beggar-landlords of Sarcophan, and is known to be a wily and subtle diplomat. No stranger to the murkier waters of espionage and intelligence-gathering, she constantly seeks opportunities to expand the influence of the Sarcophan mercantile Empire across the Known World. She has no particular loyalty to any one faction; her main concern appears to be the prosperity of the nation as a whole.

The new Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves is '''Dino i Riqueza''' of [[the Brass Coast]], a former [[Kruidenkenner Trademaster]] whose name is known to Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike. She tenders her congratulations to Ambassador Dino on their appointment.
{{Nation|nation=[[Sarcophan Delves]]|status=Foreigner|port=[[Sarcophan_Delves_ports#Sarcophan|Sarcophan]] and [[Sarcophan_Delves_ports#Betovering|Betovering]]|ambassador= Dino i Riqueza of [[the Brass Coast]]}}
==A Sunken Pact==
* '''The Sarcophan wanted to create a new international pact to deal with piracy the way the Liberty Pact has dealt with slavery'''
* '''The ambassador has pointed out potential conflict with the Liberty Pact, and suggests the agreement would need extensive modification to be appealing to the Senate'''
* '''The Sarcophan at disappointed that the proposed pact has sunk at the first sailing are looking to other options'''
As a response to the ongoing attacks by [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]]-funded privateers on ships trading with the Empire, the Sarcophan sought Imperial support for an [[Theory of the crows#A New Pact|internation agreement]]. The pact, which would have outlawed piracy on the High Seas the same way the [[Liberty Pact]] has outlawed slavery, would require support from all (or at least the majority of) the great powers of the Known World. The Sarcophan have dubbed their treaty the ''Free Seas Pact'' and proposed a number of terms for discussion. The ultimate goal of the Delves was for all the great powers of the world to sign their Free Seas Pact. They designed the terms of the Pact to be compatible with those of the Liberty Pact - as they understood the need to make sure there was no conflict between the two treaties.

Johann Van Basten visited Anvil to discuss the matter with the Sarcophan ambassador, in the hope of securing Imperial support before approaching other nations. Unfortunately for the Delves it seems the outcome of the meeting was less than the Delves might have hoped. According to Ambassador Dino, there was a general feeling that while an anti-piracy agreement is good in theory, the current proposal would cause problems with the Liberty Pact. Specifically, the Ambassador felt there was a conflict with the free trade clause of the Liberty Pact, and the Free Seas Pact’s requirement to block trade with those nations responsible for attacking the trading vessels of other nations. The Ambassador suggests that, to pass the [[Imperial Senate]] the Free Seas Pact would need to allow for signatories to debate and agree on specific actions. Unfortunately, that modification would make the pact useless in the view of Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike, as the entire point of the exercise was to create a ratchet that forced the great powers to sign up to outlawing piracy one by one. They believe the changes the Empire were seeking would render the pact impotent, not least because several of the great powers whose support would be needed to make the pact work, hate one another. It seems the Free Seas Pact has foundered, before it has completed its maiden voyage.

Annike does, however, thank the Ambassador for their offer to consult with other Liberty Pact nations and canvas for opinions. The Delves obviously plan to do the same thing themselves, but appreciate the Empire may have more sway with the [[Commonwealth]] and [[Sumaah Republic|Sumaah]] in this regard. It is clear from the tone of her missive, however, that she is not at all hopeful and has already moved on to other possibilities.

The Delves are disappointed by the failure of the Pact, but they are a deeply pragmatic people. They would never allow this failure to affect a profitable relationship with the Empire, they will simply move their focus to other affairs. Of course if the Empire are able to recover the Free Sea Pact, it would be a diplomatic triumph, but that doesn't seem likely now.
==Passing Costs Along==
* '''The prices of Sarcophan goods imported through a number of ministries are set to rise by as much as a fifth'''
Since the Asavean Plenum launched its attack on vessels trading with the Empire, the major Sarcophan routes - those maintained by the ''Kruidenkenner'' and the ''Vandersaar'' - have held steady thanks to a concerted effort by the Delves to protect their ships from Asavean bounty hunters. As they have warned before, however, the Delves' merchants cannot afford the additional costs this imposes forever and it now looks as if they may be forced to scale back their operations until matters between the Empire and the Asaveans are resolved.

As such, Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike regretfully informs the Empire that the prices charged by Sarcophan merchants visiting the Empire are likely to have increased by as much as a fifth by the time of the Summer Solstice. This is likely to affect the [[ministry|ministries]] maintained by the [[Kruidenkenner Trademaster]], [[High Herbalist of Sybella]], [[Master of the Root and Stem]], [[Master of the Clearing House]], [[Custodian of Ivarsgard Docks]], and [[Custodian of the Concordium Dock]]. Again, it is likely the prices will subside once the Asavean situation is dealt with, but for now the requirement to employ additional warships to protect Sarcophan trade routes with the Empire means that costs will have to be passed along to their Imperial customers.

It is perhaps unsurprising then that the proposal to [[Hyenas_and_herbs#Mead_and_Mazzarine|expand the Kruidenkenner magazijn]], and similar offers made over the last few seasons, have regretfully been withdrawn by the Kruidenkenner - the wealthy Sarcophan guild of apothecaries and herbalists. As trade with the Empire is becoming increasingly difficult, they are focusing their interests elsewhere or the time being. This is unfortunate, as the Sarcophan herb masters are obviously intrigued by the establishment of the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]] - once trade with the Empire is more secure, says their spokesperson, they will be interested in talking to the Guild about the potential for establishing closer ties.

The [[Steel Fist]] will not be affected at this time; the benefits the entire Sarcophan nation gain from the agreement that were bought with the regular provision of [[ilium]] from the waters of the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Teeth|Sea of Teeth]] are substantial enough that the bedelaar huisbaas themselves are prepared to meet the costs for protecting the ship that delivers the star metal.
===Bears Under Sail===
* '''The Senate has approved the redesign and renaming of the Pallas Docks, allowing the deBruin family to import Sarcophan Weirwood'''
* '''The martial Debruin family are not concerned about pirates and will not be increasing their prices'''
* '''Marta Kotova Novikova now holds the title ''Prime Factor of the deBruin Docks'''''
This will not, however, affect the prices offered to the [[Prime Factor of the Pallas Docks]] by the ''Debruin'' family. The Imperial Senate approved the [[Redesign_Pallas_Docks|redesign]] and renaming of the docks during the Winter Solstice. The [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_fortune#Powers_of_Spring|terrible storms]] raised by the [[Children of Wrecks]] could have caused significant problems for this construction, but the [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_interlude#Pillars_of_Adamant_(Redoubt)|Summer enchantment]] laid over the south-western Urizen mountains by the ''Ashen Flame'' provided more than enough protection to those responsible for the remodelling and it completed on schedule. As such, '''Marta Kotova Novikova''' is now the Prime Factor of the DeBruin Docks''' and can purchase wains following the Spring Equinox.

Bastien Debruin and his family, cousins of the current holder of the [[Founders_of_the_Delves#The_Bear|Seat of the Bear]] at the Beggar's Feast, are known for their martial prowess. They deal with the protection of their ships in-house, and if anything seem to relish the opportunity to repel pirates, taking their loot and vessels from them and throwing any pirate who doesn't immediately surrender into the sea in the process.

Access to the formerly rich Imperial markets stands to greatly benefit the Debruin family, increasing their prestige within their own House, and within Sarcophan society in general - assuming the Empire actually ''want'' Sarcophan [[weirwood]]. There may be additional benefits here - having the Debruin family with a vested interest in [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]], and by extension the Bay of Catazar, could potentially give the Ambassador an opening to discuss access to the mercenaries and marines the deBruin rely on, maybe with an eye towards a contract to protect other Sarcophan trade.

==Alivetti Estates==
* '''The ambassador politely declines to suggest the Alivetti Estates modify their trading practices'''
Despite the problems encountered elsewhere, the Sarcophan freehold at what were previously [[Houses_of_Silence#The_Alivetti_Enclave|the Alivetti Estates]] in [[Sarvos]] continues to prosper. While prices are reportedly getting a little steep in places, it seems that many of the folk who appreciate the diversions found in the enclave are prepared to meet those prices at least at the moment. This has done nothing to assuage the concerns of the Imperial magistrates about the continual law-breaking that takes place in the enclave, especially with the open sale of proscribed substances such as [[Create_law_prohibiting_Bite|bite]] and [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Criminalise_Ocean's_Caress|ocean's caress]]. Still, even they are forced to grudgingly admit that there are no cases of Sarcophan merchants selling their less-then-legal goods outside the land ceded to the Delves' merchants.

They do however urge people to be vigilant for anyone attempting to sell these substances or making use of them. ''Bite'' is identifiable as rough blue crystals or powder that leaves a slight greasy residue on surfaces, and causes users to become massively overconfident, short-tempered, and violent. ''Ocean's Caress'' is a thick bluish liquid with an odd sheen that smells of salt and grass with a distinctive taste similar to saltwater, and has a strong narcotic effect as well as potentially causing harm to the spirit of the user. Any citizen who encounters these drugs or their effects should inform the magistrates or the militia so they can be investigated.

There's also some concern that some of the substances being sold at the Alivetti Estates are legal in the Empire only because Imperial lawmakers have not encountered them, or had a chance to investigate their effects. As such some of the Sarvosan magistrates urge citizens to bring samples of any narcotics or drugs they have come into contact with to the attention of their Senators, to the Assembly of Vigilance, to the [[Imperial Censor]], and to members of the Imperial Apothecaries' Guild so they can be assessed for potential danger to citizens.
===Gold Leaf Gardeners===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Missives pertinent to the business of the Gold Leaf Gardeners in the Empire can be sent to ''Aaven Beekhof, The Bladgoud Tuiniers Handelsschool, Sarvos'' during the Spring Equinox. After that, the address will be defunct.}}
* '''Aaven Beekhof remains interested in hearing from anyone who might wish to purchase the legal drugs they sell'''
Last year the Sarvosan Chamber of Commerce declined [[Houses_of_Silence#A_Business_Like_Any_Other|an offer]] made by the ''Bladgoud Tuiniers'' (the ''Gold Leaf Gardeners'') relating to support for their ''handelsschool''. Despite this the major stakeholder in the Sarcophan guild, ''Aaven Beekhof'', [[Theory_of_the_crows#Everything_Must_Go|extended their visit to Sarvos]] and let it be known that he was keen to hear from anyone who might have a genuine interest in acquiring a steady supply of the [[Houses_of_Silence#Chamber_of_Commerce|drugs they have to offer]] - none of which are currently illegal in the Empire.

There's no way of telling whether any Imperial citizens took advantage of this offer or not, but it's notable that Aaven has not yet left the ''Bladgoud Tuiniers'' offices despite saying he would probably leave in the new year. It seems likely that the guild has received lucrative offers or proposals that have encouraged them not to abandon their investments in the Alivetti Estates. That being the case, [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messengers]] will still reach the Sarcophan merchant following the Spring Equinox.

'''OOC Note:''' If anyone did send a winged messenger to Aaven Beekhof during the Winter Solstice, any reply should be included in your character pack. If there is no letter, please bring that to the attention of a referee.
===Silent Temple===
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Vigilance.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The House of Silence have abandoned efforts to purchase further wains of white granite from the Empire'''
* '''They intend to employ a renowned Imperial artist to decorate the structure'''
''Poortwachter Farber'' and the ''Community of Silence'' have not lost their enthusiasm for [[Houses_of_Silence#Loud_Silence|establishing a Sarcophan temple]] in the Alivetti estates, but it seems they may have failed to acquire all the [[white granite]] they need from Imperial sources. On the other hand, there are rumours that a significant offer has been made to provide half the white granite they need, which the Poortwachter is keen to take advantage of. Either way the prior offer to purchase further wains to build their temple has been withdrawn.

Work has already begun on the temple, but it is not proceeding very fast. Observers estimate it will not be completed until shortly before the Autumn Equinox 387YE. Assuming nothing further delays the construction, of course... Once the work is properly underway, the Poortwatchter will presumably be making contact with the artist whose services he has retained, looking forward to getting started on the decoration of the new structure once it is complete.
{{WingedMessenger|address=Missives pertinent to the building of the Silent Manse on the Alivetti Estates can be directed to ''Poortwachter Farber, The Jolly Buidelrat Inn, Sarvos''}}
The presence of an actual temple of a foreign religion in Sarvos is obviously a matter for some concern (for all that the land where it is built is equally technically part of the Sarcophan Delves). The priests and [[bishop|bishops]] of the City of Masks look to the League assembly for guidance. Once complete this temple could be an opportunity for the Poortwatchter to proselytise their religion to those visiting the Alivetti enclave. Very little is actually known about the specific beliefs of the Community of Silence, never mind the details of the [[Sarcophan_Delves#Religion|Sarcophan religion]] as a whole, which the [[Vigilance|Vigilant]] of Sarvos find particularly concerning. There are even a few voices who suggest, albeit circuitously, that it might be prudent to make sure work on the temple never completes although doing that without breaking Imperial law in the process might prove challenging. Still, the Synod hasn't always felt the need to abide by the law on such matters.

==Brothers Kraft==
* '''The farmers of Wintermark are growing vlinderbloem for the Sarcophans in exchange for viezesmaak'''
* '''They invite Winterfolk with potential schemes to speak with the Jolly Jackdaw Cartel in the League given nobody else appears to want to help them make money'''
The entrepreneurial brothers ''Florian'' and ''Gelder Kraft'' continue to work with the farmers of [[Wintermark]] who have [[Hyenas_and_herbs#Flowers_in_Frost|accepted their proposal]] to cultivate ''vlinderbloem''. Their request that the Imperial ambassador do their leg-work to find other opportunities to invest in the Empire has been politely declined, as there are any number of other more pressing matters to take up their time. Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has likewise made it clear that she does ''not'' want to receive messages from Imperial citizens about the doings of the Kraft brothers, despite their suggestion she might serve as their "agent".

In the end Florian and Gelder are forced to propose a compromise if they want to find other investment opportunities in Wintermark without forcing them to travel all the way to Anvil on the off-chance. They propose that anyone with a potential investment opportunity speak to the '''[[The_League_groups#Jolly_Jackdaw_Cartel|Jolly Jackdaw Cartel]]''' in [[the League]] about it. Their expectation is the Jackdaws will be prepared to pass along anything ''they'' think has legs, probably at a reasonable price for their time. This suggestion includes '''Darian Numbers''', who the Imperial ambassador mentioned is specifically interested in talking to them. If Darian or anyone else can't convince the Jolly Jackdaw Cartel that their idea is a good one, then it's unlikely the brothers Kraft would be interested either.

The Kraft brothers are clear that they are first and foremost businessmen. They are not interested in generic invitations to visit Anvil to talk about "matters". They want clear proposals for ways they might invest in Wintermark, opportunities for them to use their expertise and contacts to make both themselves and their collaborators rich. The brothers claim to have contacts all over Sarcophan, and again claim that they can lay their hands on almost anything if the price is right. This is likely something of a self-aggrandising boast, but it can't be denied that the Sarcophans trade with merchants all over the known world. If there are Sarcophan goods Wintermark merchants are interested in buying, or unusual goods they are interested in selling, the brothers want to know. They claim they can turn their hand to anything; what they need to know is what kinds of opportunities for wealth and mutual prosperity the Mark might find appealing.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Highborn.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
==Tombs and Tribulations==
* '''A Sarcophan art dealer is enroute to Anvil to talk with Highborn benefactors about a lucrative opportunity'''
* '''A Sarcophan Prosperity priest is enroute to Anvil to warn Highborn benefactors about a terrible scheme that nobody should entertain'''
* '''Both aim to arrive at the Highguard camp at approximately 1700 on the Saturday of the Spring Equinox, and wish to meet benefactors at the Chapel'''
* '''A Highborn egregore will facilitate a vote of the benefactors present on whether or not to accept the art dealer's opportunity'''
Two bickering Sarcophans have been spotted on the road to Anvil. One is an art dealer, who claims to be travelling to present an exclusive deal to Highguard Benefactors. They are tight-lipped on specifics, but do reveal that it concerns arranging trade in stone goods between Highguard and a certain Sarcophan sect. Hot on their heels, a Sarcophan Prosperity priest of the Way is spreading liberal warnings that such a scheme could muddy the concept of Virtue within the Delves, and even lead some people to question whether the Way and the traditional Sarcophan faith can't both be followed simultaneously.

Both travellers estimate arriving at the Highguard camp at 1700 on the Saturday of the Spring Equinox, when they will head to the Chapel. A Highborn egregore has indicated that they will facilitate a simple majority-wins vote among benefactors present at the meeting on whether or not to accept whatever opportunity the art dealer wishes to present.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Prosperity.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
==Sarcophan Prosperity==
* '''The ''Preach Prosperity for the Collectors'' lecture involved an all-expenses paid trip to the Sarcophan Delves'''
* '''The final outcome of this opportunity depended on the number of congregations taking part'''
* '''Anyone who takes this action will be part of the Prosperity assembly at the Spring Equinox'''
During the Winter Solstice, a small group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] visitors spoke to members of the Prosperity assembly about an exciting opportunity in the Delves. They came as representatives of ''De Verzamelaars van Beeltenissen'' which roughly translates as "the collectors of images", a fringe sect of the [[Sarcophan_Delves#Religion|Sarcophan faith]]. They were interested in recruiting Imperial priests to preach about the virtue of Prosperity in the Delves, offering to cover travel costs and provide hospitality in return.

Those priests who chose to ''Preach Prosperity for the Collectors'', have gained no liao from their [[congregation]] this season. The priest themselves will be part of the Prosperity assembly at the Spring equinox (and will remain so until they take a different downtime preaching action next season). Any Imperial citizen who held a title that requires them to be a member of a different Virtue assembly would automatically lose their position. In return these priests gained access to the wealth of Sarcophan - and an all-expenses paid trip to the Delves.

Further details of the trip to Sarcophan are included in the packs of the priests who delivered the lecture following the Winter Solstice. If you are one of the priests who chose that downtime option, you should find a report in your character pack - if not please enquire with GOD staff so we can sort it out.
<div style="float:left; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Actuallythebest001.png|align=left|width=250}}</div>
==Little Beetles==
* '''A representative of the Lijkkever families, Schyuler Koopman, visited Anvil and then travelled north to Holberg'''
* '''They are excited by the prospects of working with Holberg to build a port in Utterlund but wary of the challenges'''
* '''They propose an appraisal from the Imperial Senate, and stress that they would be prepared to help fund any commission in return for preferential access'''
In response to invitations from both Ambassador and ''Bernhard Kleist von Ennerlund'' to help celebrate the anniversary of Holberg joining the League, a representative of the [[Founders_of_the_Delves#The_Lijkkever|Lijkkever]] visited Anvil. ''Schuyler Koopman'' apparently received a warm welcome, and very much enjoyed their visit, travelling from [[Anvil]] to the city itself. The Lijkkever are not the wealthiest house of the Delves, but they have unmeasured levels of influence over stevedores and dockworkers wherever Sarcophan ships unload. It appears that Koopman was very interested in the possibility of establishing trade with the League - not with Sarvos, Apulian, or Tassato (especially given the Bay of Catazar is hardly safe waters at the moment) but with the north-eastern city renowned across the known world for its ingenuity and immense walls.

The Lijkkever are not especially familiar with the northern Empire, but they raised concerns about the [[orc|orcs]] of the "nation of Sanath" who are "very violent toward outsiders". Even being informed of the real nature of the [[Druj]], Koopman remained keen to establish a direct trading route to Holberg that would allow them to both avoid the Bay and the crossing of the haunted [[the Semmerlak|Semmerlak]]. While visiting the city, the Sarcophan agent paid for a small party to accompany them into the marshy woods of [[Holberg#Utterlund|Utterlund]] to explore the banks of the river. They also visited the Sandfishers in [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]], partially to discuss the possibility of acquiring lumber and weirwood from their sawmills, or employing their expertise to help clear the woodlands before construction began. Apparently the expedition went well, and Koopman returned even more enthused about the idea of a joint effort to establish a port, on the understanding that Sarcophan would receive priority for berths and warehouses. There is more than a little hint that Koopman in fact represents an alliance of several of the smaller Sarcophan families prepared to gamble on formal trade with the northern Empire, even though it will require their vessels to pass through the Mallum.

Unfortunately it seems Schuyler Koopman underestimated the scale of the work that would be involved. His family are adept at the technicalities and logistics of operating a quayside, of dealing with merchant vessels and trade caravans and making sure shipments get where they are going. But the sheer amount of construction that will be needed - not only a set of docks but a raft of buildings and warehouses, a good quality road connecting Utterlund and the city itself, and suitable protections against the threat of the Mallum - is beyond Koopman's ability to oversee.

After speaking with the people of Holberg, however, Koopman has returned with a proposal. The [[Imperial Senate]] is in a very good position to come up with plans to address the three main obstacles, and to do the work needed to allow Holberg entrepeneurs, Sand Fisher lubmerjacks, and the Lijkkever to pool their efforts. The Lijkkever and their friends are very good at building in marshy territory, and establishing workable docks quickly and efficiently. If the Imperial Senate commissions an [[appraisal]] into the best way to build a municipal docks in Holberg with the aid of the Lijkkever, they believe that a flourishing port-town could be established within a year or two. They are confident this would bring prosperity to Holberg, and raise funds for the Imperial treasury as the needs of the docks and opportunities to trade with foreign merchants see new businesses established in Utterlund. They point to the proposal for the [[Germinating_a_city#A_Spiritual_Successor|Municipal Docks]] in Madruga as the kind of outcome they are hoping might be possible. (In fact if the Kleists can't persuade the Senate to appraise this exciting opportunity, maybe they could purchase the help of the Commonwealth engineers?).

Obviously any appraisal could well produce plans for something that is dramatic in scale and scope, but Koopman is prepared to put his money where his mouth is. If the Senate commission the diplomatic [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] to undertake such an appraisal at the Spring Equinox, then Lijkkever will be happy to negotiate on a fair split of the costs.

Schyuler also mentions that this appraisal might include an opportunity to take advantage of a proposal from '''Bernhard and Lula Kleist von Ennerlund'', to establish a lucrative market for the import of rare delicacies and victuals. The Lijkkever themselves are not especially involved in such things, but there are plenty of Sarcophan merchants with an interest in culinary matters - and if the market for luxuries in Holberg proves to be more refined than that in other parts of the Empire the chance to sell fine food rather than (for example) drugs would be quite appealing.

When queried about the threat of Asavean pirates, Koopman agrees that they are a concern but thinks it likely that one way or another the Empire will have resolved that issue by the time the docks are commissioned and completed. Another note of caution is raised by a few more sceptical Holbergers who take a longer view. Establishing a major trading post in northern Holberg would mean that international traders would have little reason to risk the Semmerlak. This might have implications for any trading posts established along the shores of the haunted lake such as [[Custodian_of_Ivarsgard_Docks#The_Sarcophan_Mooring|Ivarsgard docks]] for example.

==A Delicate Private Matter==
* '''There has been some discussion of matters involving Axos'''
* '''It seems the Lijkkever have inadvertently become entangled in Axou politics'''
* '''Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike reassures the Ambassador that they are disentangling themselves as quickly as possible'''
There is another matter associated with Koopman which is a little more delicate. It seems that Schuyler had another goal in Anvil on behalf of the Lijkkever, one they failed to achieve. Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike is quite frank: House Lijkkever have been engaging in some speculative international investment ''without'' the sanction or aid of the House of Crows - in an attempt to avoid making a payment for services rendered. The House made a relatively substantial investment in the [[Axos#Chambers_of_Issyk|Chambers of Issyk]] in [[Axos]]. They took advantage of the Axou need for extensive repairs and refitting of their docks, offering their expertise and contributing money and materials to help with the work. This investment has gone well - additional quays and large new warehouses are being built. It seems House Lijkkever had aspirations of marketing goods from Issyk as exotic luxuries, and perhaps selling trips to Issyk to Sarcophans interested in improving their health (there is no reason to think that visiting Issyk would be good for their health except that it is a some lurid foreign destination with some interesting sights).

All of this was very profitable, but House Lijkkever's people had not done the requisite research into the complex and opaque politics of the tiny nation. It appears that on a number of contentious internal issues, Issyk is a pivot point between various different factions. House Lijkkever don't care about any of this - they really just want to operate their ''tsotchke'' trade in peace. As the situation became more complicated, they finally approached the House of the Crows for help.

Annike wants to make clear that the Delves regards Axos as being in the Empire's sphere of influence. As such, it would be somewhat controversial for political entities in the Delves to wield political influence there without a degree of approval. Schuyler Koopman negotiated what he thought was an agreed price with the Ambassador to sell the controlling stake in the Issyk docks to the Empire, but it now seems the deal has fallen through. As such, the Delves will make other arrangements, satisfied that they have done their "due diligence" in giving first refusal to the Empire. She stresses again that the House of Crows and the Delves as a whole had no knowledge of this affair when it began - and she is hoping it will not disrupt the hopes of Schuyler Koopman for investment and collaboration in Holberg or the relationship of the Delves to the Empire as a whole.
==A Safe Net==
* '''Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike notes there is some concern that the Empire is suffering a financial crisis at present'''
* '''The Delves offer to step in and purchase surplus wains if the price falls too low'''
Finally, Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike mentions that a number of staff at the embassy have referred to concerns in the Empire about some kind of financial crisis. The Delves would never spy on their friends, but they do try to keep their ear to the ground and their finger on the pulse and have not failed to notice that the auction price of [[weirwood]] Bourse seats [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Imperial_elections#Bourse_Auction|fell precipitously last season]]. As the ambassador understands it, the proceeds of these auctions forms an essential part of the Imperial treasury, so any fall in value has significant implications.

Clearly it is not the place of the Sarcophan Delves to get involved in Imperial affairs, but the concern is that if the price of other seats also drops, if the value of mithril, weirwood and white granite in Anvil continues to fall, then that could be disastrous for the Empire. The last thing the Delves want to see is anything that might disrupt trade, so it is in everyone's interest to ensure that does not happen.

The simplest thing the Delves could do to help stabilise the situation in the Empire would be an offer to purchase excess wains if the price fell too low. That would benefit the Delves, they would have access to valuable materials at rock bottom prices, but it would also benefit the Empire as the economy would receive a fresh injection of liquidity.

Of course any benefits to either party would be dependent on the price... Sadly the price Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike so casually mentions, two thrones a wain, is so low that it causes one of the embassy staff to go white as a sheet. That's a price at which the Delves would become keen to buy. If the market value fell below that point then the Delves would be prepared to buy as many wains as were needed to raise the price back-up - presuming they had the Empire's blessing to do so.

If the ambassador is interested in the offer, then they are welcome to get in touch on the matter. The price may be too low for the Empire's liking, but as Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike points out, all prices are negotiable. And of course they have to take account of their costs... now if there was just some way to reduce the current shipping costs to the Empire then the price might be meaningfully higher...
{{Sarcophan Links}}

The hard way

2025-06-05T23:06:08Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Overview */ Spelling

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]]
<quote by="Archbishop Estella Lucati’s sermon on the occasion of the consecration of the Atrium of Golden Light in Capodomus cathedral to Ambition, using true liao.">

My fellow citizens and my siblings in Virtue, I stand with you in this glowing light, and I see proof of the findings of the Doctrine of Enlightenment: Virtue lies in choice - and action.

Think of the choices made by everyone who built this cathedral before the bonds of the League or the shape of the Empire was even imagined. They could not have pictured us as we are today, but they dreamed of someone finding inspiration here. They could not have imagined our Nation of Five Cities, nor our Empire of Ten Nations, but they chose to aim high. They built something big enough, grand enough, and inspiring enough for a truly great future. And what they knew well, we must also remember: each brick, each pane of glass and beam of wood – each one is a small, manageable thing that we can choose to grasp and move as we reach for our goals.

When the Bishop of Capodomus demolished his house to provide materials to make this glass, he gave his home for his Ambition, not even knowing that his offering would result in such rich amber beauty. He chose action, and we stand beneficiaries of his virtue, his choice, his sacrifice.

When we commit ourselves to Virtue, however small, we must take action. As we build a more virtuous world, we know that even the most impenetrable forest will fall one tree at a time. Each choice of our daily lives, each act – can be virtuous, and can be in service to our Empire. In our lives, we make plans for our future. We do not plant trees to give us shade or fruit tomorrow, but to shelter our grandchildren. In the same way, we must pursue Ambitions that take us further into the future than we may live to see. Do not let fears of difficulty come between you and the possibility of achieving greatness for our people, our Empire, and the Way.

Yet we must also be committed. We must finish what we start. There is no Virtue in giving up halfway through the forest, even if we grow weary and sore. For countless generations, the Navarr have kept the Vallorn at bay by walking the trods. This implacable adversary with whom there can be no reason or peace. We have, in our lifetimes, the chance to reap the harvest sown by our prior selves [EW1] and be rid of the enemy that dwells in the very heart of our Empire. We owe this to those who came before us – and those who will come after.

Imagine it! That is not a world my grandmother – or her grandmother – could have dreamed possible – but if given the chance, they would have embraced it eagerly. Are we weaker folk now, that we will not? Surely, we are not so tired, so poor, so fearful, or so distracted that we will fail to try with all our might to achieve this great Ambition, this great act of virtue.

I urge you all to reject the weakness that comes from pettiness and lack of vision. We may be war-weary, we may need to stabilise the Treasury, but hear me now: we are living in a great Empire full of Virtue, which our ancestors laboured on, fought for, and finally entrusted to us. It is an Empire worth cherishing, worth improving, worth defending – and worth paying for. It is a great thing, to be an Imperial Citizen – and we know there is nothing great without cost.

Surely each mason felt weary while building this cathedral, one day or another. Their backs and knees ached, and they laboured in mud and dust while dreaming of golden light they never lived to see. But we know that their virtues, their choices, and their small, repeated actions have brought us to this moment. So with the struggles in front of us, I say that we shall face them with small, repeated, virtuous actions – and we shall overcome them. Let us lift up this promised future Empire – entrusted to us by those who went before – and carry it forwards, into the light.

It is our task, our duty – our Virtuous Burden – to leave our Empire a better place for our descendants. Let us grant them an Empire without the Vallorn, an Empire closely following The Way. Let us build and bequeath to our children a shining Empire that beckons with a golden light, one that foreigners will emulate, and long to join, even as the cities of the League joined to each other, first through inspiration, and then negotiation, and finally with joy, for the benefit of all.

We must sacrifice. We must pay. We must act. We must dare do all, for if we strive virtuously, nothing is beyond our reach.
</quote>
<div style="float:left; width: 320px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Archbishop of Capodomus.jpg|caption='''Estella Lucati''' (right), Archbishop of Capodomus Cathedral, who delivered the stirring sermon that echoes across the Empire.|align=left|width=320}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[Consecration#True_Liao|true consecration]] of [[Sarvos#Capodomus_Cathedral|Capodomus Cathedral]] in [[Sarvos]] has been a wonder, attracting citizens from all over the Empire and beyond, inviting them to gaze up in wonder at the golden light spilling through the [[Golden_light#The_Atrium_of_Golden_Light|beautiful atrium]], demanding they aim high and insistently reminding them that even the most impenetrable forest will fall, if you set yourself to fell one tree at a time.

The power of the [[aura]] in this extraordinary setting created a unique opportunity for the [[Archbishop of Capodomus]] to [[Golden_light#Words_to_Move_the_Mountain|preach a powerful sermon]], one that inspires the faithful and exhorts them to consider their [[Ambition]]. The current Archbishop, '''Estella Lucati''', has seized this moment to deliver an inspiring speech to those visiting the Cathedral urging them to consider what they can do to defeat the [[vallorn]].

The [[#Participation|words have spread]] quickly across the Empire, carried by virtuous pilgrims, and the powerful speech is discussed and debated by folk from all walks of life in all the Imperial nations. There is acknowledgement that it is an extraordinarily ambitious goal, something that would take years to achieve, but it is far from impossible. The [[A_thousand_years_of_longing|results of the work done]] at the [[Advisor_on_the_Vallorn#The_Great_Library_of_Hacynian|Great Library of Hacynian]] have revealed what it would take. Several nations have already committed themselves to finding ways to prepare for the coming battle against the vallorn, or committed themselves wholesale to the coming struggle.

The question now, however, is whether everyone is agreed on the price.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Ambition.png|align=right}}

==No Price Too High==
* '''Ambition teaches that no price is too high to achieve your goals'''
* '''Implicit in that doctrine is the acknowledgement that all goals come with a price'''
* '''The Empire cannot achieve everything it desires, if it tries to do everything, it is likely to fail at everything'''

The Archbishop's sermon has been abundantly clear that they want the faithful to focus their efforts on destroying the vallorn. The virtue of Ambition takes as many forms as there are people in the world. There is value in the Ambition of any pilgrim no matter how personal their goals, but the words of the Archbishop stirred the imagination of everyone who heard them. Now is not the time to pursue individual aspirations - now is the moment to come together and act as one. No one individual can destroy the vallorn, it is not remotely something even a single nation could achieve. The [[Navarr]] have fought the vallorn for the best part of a thousand years and victory still eludes them. Faithful pilgrims across the Empire understand that now is the time to set aside personal dreams and work toward something incredible.

What they are not entirely persuaded on, at least not yet, is that the vallon is the right goal for the Empire to focus on over others. Ambition teaches that no price is too high to achieve your ambitions, but most priests understand that means there ''will be'' a price. "Nothing great without cost" is the mantra of the League, a nation built on Ambition. The price, however, is not the cost. It will need a great host of [[Imperial army|armies]] to free [[Liathaven]], [[Hercynia]] and the other territories from the grip of the vallorn. Thousands will die to achieve this goal - money and [[mithril]] will be spent like water. That is the ''cost''.

But the ''price'' is different... The price is what you must give up. It could be argued that the Empire faces several great foes, each of which offers the potential to defeat them - three foes that have been called out by the [[Imperial Synod]] on numerous occasions. One is the murderous Spring infestation of the vallorn; the others are the boundless cruelty of the [[Druj]], and the heretical corruption of the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]]. Each of these threats could be defeated - surely each of them ''will'' be defeated in time. But if the Empire actually wants to achieve one of those goals in the next decade - something that is certainly achievable if the Empire is united - then they will have to ''focus'' on it. And that focus will be at the expense of dealing with the other two enemies. This is the ''price''.

Of course everyone would ''like'' the answer to be that the Empire can fight all three of these enemies at once with all its strength. They can certainly do that. The Empire is currently engaged with the Druj, the [[Grendel]], and the [[Jotun]] - no-one can deny the Empire can fight more than one battle at once. But the Empire is not currently making any headway against the Druj - if anything the barbarians are pushing them back on the Eastern front. There is no sign of any real move to take the war to the vallorn. After almost a year of attempting to anchor the Way in Asavea, the Empire is nearly two percent of the way to completing the first step.

If the Empire really wants to achieve something memorable, something astonishing, something Ambitious, then they will need to accept the price. Just as individuals might set their own ambitions aside for a time, the Synod and the Empire will need to give up others Ambitions, for years potentially.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_General.png|align=right}}
==Defeat the Vallorn==
* '''The General Assembly can pass a mandate to urge the Empire to focus everything on ridding the world of the Vallorn'''
* '''If this mandate passes then it will create new opportunities to attack the vallorn but there will be far fewer opportunities to defeat the Druj or convert the Asaveans until victory over the vallorn is achieved'''
The Archbishop has been abundantly clear that the vallorn is the threat they want the Empire to focus on; its destruction is the ambition they urge the virtuous to focus on. This is not the first time members of the Synod has spoken on this subject - there have been statement after statement in many assemblies urging the Empire to defeat the vallorn and free the souls they believe remain trapped in is embrace.

But never before has the price of that Ambition been so stark. Now the Empire has a unique chance to commit to this path, once and for all, to the exclusion of others. To achieve greatness, the Synod will need to strain every sinew - this is not something the Assembly of Ambition can achieve by themselves. But if the General Assembly agrees with the Archbishop then they can use the following [[mandate]] to encourage every citizen to take this fateful choice with them.

{{Mandate|assembly=General Assembly|mandate=Even the most impenetrable forest may fall one tree at a time. We send {named priest} with 250 liao to urge the faithful to focus on destroying the vallorn above all other ambitions. No price is too high.}}

If this mandate is enacted ''with a [[greater majority]]'' then it will lay to rest the issue of what great task the Empire should commit themselves to in the coming decade. It will trigger opportunities in the coming season to take the fight to the vallorn, changes to ensure victory as the virtuous devote themselves to this great Ambition. The mandate will herald a new age of war against this ancient enemy - one that offers the promise of a final victory.

The mandate must achieve a greater majority, because it must be sufficient to unite all the nations of the Empire. The priests of [[Varushka]] and [[Urizen]] have been clear they will not support mandates that do not represent the clear will of the General Assembly, and if the Empire is ''not'' united the mandate will achieve little. If the Synod cannot demonstrate that it is united and willing to pay the price of Ambition, then few citizens will be convinced.

The price of this opportunity will be paid in the war against the Druj and the attempt to convert the Asaveans. The project to [[Drumbeat_of_war#A_Fulcrum|Anchor the Way]] in Asavea is not going away, but there will be no new opportunities to advance that goal in the coming years. The Loyalty assembly efforts to destabilize the government of Asavea will continue, but there will be no new opportunities to make that job easier. The Druj are not about to stop fighting the Empire anytime soon, but nobody will be seeking ways to bring their evil empire down, nor encouraging the virtuous to invade the Mallum. Their evil will be left to fester, at least until the vallorn is destroyed.

Even the legal powers of the state that would normally create an [[opportunity]] will struggle if this judgement is passed. Any [[appraisal]] that tries to find new ways to defeat the Druj or explore new options for converting the Asaveans will have limited effect. The prognosticators will do their best, but the overwhelming attitude will be "how does this help the Empire fulfil its true Ambition?" Appraisals on other subjects will not be affected but the impact on appraisal about the Druj or the Asaveans will be muted except where the prognosticators are able to identify opportunities that serve the goals of the appraisal that might also help prepare for or enact the destruction of the vallorn.

==Other Paths==
* '''There is no opportunity for anyone other than Estella Lucati to submit an alternative mandate here'''
* '''The mandate is a profound turning point; creating a mandate with a similar impact would be very difficult'''
This mandate comes not from a [[statement of principle]] but from a unique [[opportunity]] to speak powerful words that echo around the Empire. As such, there is no opportunity for other priests to submit an [[Mandate#Alternative_Mandates|alternative mandate]]. Estella Lucati could put forward an alternative mandate, or adjust the wording, but it is hard for them to change the potential of ''this'' opportunity and impossible for anyone else.

A mandate like this comes along rarely - an opportunity to influence the entire Empire towards the achievement of a long term goal. A simple statement of principle - even one with a greater majority in the general assembly - is unlikely to create a mandate with such an impact. The combination of the historical importance of Capodomus Cathedral and the true consecration produced the opportunity to speak a powerful sermon. There's no way to guarantee this combination happening again, but at the absolute minimum it would require an [[inspirational location]] being created from a spiritually important historical place.

==Many Torches==
* '''In addition to the effects of the Sermon, the consecration of Capodomus brings with it several other opportunities'''
While the focus is on the Archbishop's sermon, the true consecration has had several other effects as well, as laid out in the '''[[Golden light]]''' wind of fortune last season. They include [[Golden_light#Golden_Archbishop|increased donations]] for the archbishop; the expanded [[Golden_light#Lucati_Gallery|Lucati gallery]]; the chance for Imperial citizens to [[Golden_light#Every_Forest_Falls|claim new resources]]; the year-long ability for [[congregation|congregations]] to lecture on the [[Golden_light#Better to Try|importance of visiting Capodomus]] and for National assemblies to [[Golden_light#Voices_Like_Flames|recognise ambitious citizens]]; and the now completed final (final final) resting place for [[Golden_light#The_Woman's_Work|Empress Giselle in the cathedral vaults]].

==Participation==
* '''The words of the inspiring sermon echo across the Empire'''
* '''Any character may have heard or read them, or been present in the audience for the initial sermon'''
The words spoken by Estella Lucati echo across the Empire. Rather than being distributed by the civil service, they are carried by pilgrims who visit the Cathedral. They are also quickly arranged into a pamphlet by the printers of Sarvos, along with somewhat fanciful woodcuts claiming to depict the sermon itself, and a few pages thrown together by a hack writer about the vallorn, the successes at the [[Advisor_on_the_Vallorn#The_Great_Library_of_Hacynian|Great Library of Hacynian]], and the recent words of support from the League assembly for the fight against the vallorn. Characters from all walks of life can have read these words, or heard them recited, and players are encouraged to have an opinion on this matter, discuss it with their priests, or where appropriate make their own copies of the speech.

It's also appropriate for characters to claim (truthfully or not) to have been in the audience for that initial sermon; to talk about how the sun seemed to set the atrium afire, how the words of the Archbishop resonated and moved people almost to tears with their power and urgency, and about the profound experience of hearing them while immersed in the [[Auras_of_Ambition#Dare_Do_All|consecration of Ambition]].
==Further Reading==
* [[Archbishop of Capodomus]]
* [[Ambition]]
* [[Golden light]] - Winter 386YE wind of fortune about the consecration of Capodomus Cathedral
* [[Vallorn]]

Speak to me

2025-06-04T17:30:47Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Zie of the Morning */ Un-Capitalization & correcting a comma

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>Jorgen pulled his cloak more tightly around him as the rain pounded and the thunder growled, and thanked the paragons for its waterproof coating. His companion raised a lightstone lantern - few fully mundane lamps could survive weather like this - casting a wedge of dim light between the stones of the Imperial regio. The Wintermark civil servant suppressed a shudder.

The creature that stood in the midst of the monolith-bounded circle was clearly inhuman. It towered over the two civil servants before it, even hunched over. It had impossibly long limbs, impossibly thin and bone-like, and the tattered black dress that clung to its frame did little to reduce the horror it radiated. If not for the mobility of its features, set in a milk-white face as round as the full moon, it would have been easy to mistake it for a disturbing mannikin or piece of art abandoned in the regio. As it was, there was no doubt as to the thing's animation - she moved like an insect shifting between absolute stability and insect-like flurry of action without warning. Jorgen did his best to suppress the insistent shouting from his legs, both of whom seemed keen on the idea of running away and not looking back.

He cleared his throat. And then cleared it again. "And is that the full message from your mistress, Madame Baroness?"

The thing moved, jerking forward, and suddenly its great dinner-plate face was barely six inches from Jorgen's. It did not blink, its eyes fixed on those of the civil servant. Its thin lips split into a broad smile, revealing dozens of tiny little teeth like those of a child.

"Yes," it said, voice like cracking ice. "except perhaps to remind you that obviously the Pale Empress expects total honesty and sincerity in this matter, just as the Archmage would expect of Her."

Jorgen swallowed, and nodded his head jerkily.

The Baroness, having delivered her message, bowed her great luminous head and turned to leave. The winds whipped the sodden cloth of her ragged garb around her, and she paused for a moment. Her head, impossibly, began to move, swivelling independently of her spindly neck and body to face the Wintermarker. Its face was locked in a grotesque grimace and a strange greenish light had ignited behind its pale eyes.

"Oh." she said, as if just remembering some minor matter of trivial concern. "It is just possible that the Archmage has begun hearing things in his sleep. Bells at sea, perhaps, Haunting his dreams. Given the fall of the Lighthouse at Nikephoros and its implications, you understand. He is not to worry, or be afraid, or indeed pay it any mind. It will only... encourage them... you see?"

With his final cryptic remark, she took her leave fading away into the darkness without moving, grinning visage still facing the civil servants, her stick-think body facing the other way. The last things to fade were here eyes, which flared once like dreadful lamps just before she disappeared completely.

"Well that was bloody awful," said Jorgen's companion flatly after a few moments.

Jorgen didn't reply, just wrapped himself in his cloak and slipped his damp notebook into the satchel he wore beneath. As they turned back toward the hub, and the hot tea awaiting them, Jorgen once again gave silent thanks for the fact that he was not the Winter Archmage, and so did not need to deal with any of... this.

But it was some time before he slept a whole night in which his dreams not troubled by the distant sound of tolling bells and cracking ice.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">[[file:CathCane001b.webp|align=left|width=200]]</div>
==Overview==
* '''Six eternals have responded to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''4 of them have agreed to some sort of meeting at the Spring Equinox, while 2 have taken other steps'''
Every season, each of the six [[archmage|archmages]] is empowered to send a single [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] message to an [[eternal]] of their realm. The eternals are bound to respond, although not always in a way the archmage may wish. Sometimes they will arrange personal meetings; often they will send their own emissaries to treat with the Empire in the form of the archmage; occasionally they take direct action in response to the requests contained in the missive; rarely they decline formally although even then they will tend to communicate the reasons for their unhappiness.

Following the Winter Solstice, as the new year dawns, six eternals have responded to invitations to [[Archmage#Parley|parley]] via their emissaries.
==Pale Empress==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Skathe001.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Skathe of the Thrice-cursed Court offers parley in a suitable chamber at 21.55 on Saturday'''
* '''Along with the Archmage, the Grandmaster of the Celestial Arch and the Custodian of the Bleak Tower are invited to attend the parley'''
* '''The Archmage of Winter is Ematius of the Great Library of Ankarien'''
It is a dark and stormy night when a towering figure emerges from the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]]. Dressed in a striking tattered black dress and nearly nine feet tall, she introduces herself as the ''Baroness of All Pains'', a member of the cursed court of the ''[[Skathe|Hag Queen]]''. She speaks in a voice that cracks like ice to relay the word of the Witch of the Thrice-Cursed Court to the civil servants at the Hub.

Apparently ''Her Imperial Majesty of Cares'' would be ''delighted'' to welcome the [[Archmage of Winter]] to formal parley at the Spring Equinox, at five to ten on Saturday night in a chamber she is already preparing for just this very purpose. The ''Lady of Laments'' is grateful for the Archmage's admission that events that transpired in [[the League]], (in [[In_the_garden_of_defiance|enlightened Holberg]] and [[The DOOM that came to Sarvos|beautiful Sarvos]]), were down to the actions of Zephaniah's Lament and not she, the ''Giver of Gifts''. The Baroness explains that her mistress would be happy to clear up any lingering doubts or questions about that sorry affair, which was of course initiated by members of that unlamented [[Highguard|Highborn]] chapter when they reached out to the ''Painted Mirror'' for help - help that was freely offered and accepted at a known price. She would be happy to continue the general conversation that was begun in the halls of the ''Charred Prince'' so recently, as well, though she intends to be discreet on the matter.

Having delivered this preamble, the Baroness of All Pains begins to cackle at the thought of what follows, and she begins once more to relay her queen's words. The ''Hexenkönigin'' would be happy to have the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] and the [[Custodian of the Bleak Tower]] join the Archmage as his right and left hand, as the [[Urizen|masters of the High Peaks]] have always been her most favourite and brilliant companions in the long and constant years she has been a friend to the Empire. She is excited to hear of the well of bitterness towards the [[Druj]] that the Archmage claims swells within the heart of the [[Varushka|heirs of Alderei the Fair]] and the [[navarr|scions of Terunael]].

She has, at great effort, prepared a smattering of generous gifts to assist in bringing weal to the many inhabitants of the [[Sarangrave]]. This will, however, depend on whether the Archmage and his companions can weave a suitably delightful and sincere picture of the Empire's blackened heart and their committed, spiteful, hateful intent to strike back at the wicked Druj. If it seems their heart is not in it in the moment, then she is sure someone else can make use of her gifts, so the Archmage needn't worry on her account. The tall figure sneers as she remarks that, of course, the ''Pale Empress'' expects total honesty and sincerity in this matter, just as the Archmage would expect of her, and then departs.
==Invisible Hand==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ephisis001.webp |align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Emissaries of the City of Gold and Lead have responded to the Autumn archmage by interceding directly'''
* '''They present proposals in the [[Louder than words]] wind of fortune'''
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Edmundo of Damakan's forge'''
The trade envoy who emerges from the Imperial regio shortly after the Winter Solstice is swathed in silken veils. This is not the first time they (or someone very like them) has visited [[Anvil]] on behalf of the [[Ephisis|City of Gold and Lead]]. In answer to the plenipotentiary of the Autumn Archmage, the City chooses to take direct action. Specifically, a number of assessors, brokers, and long-term planners have been dispatched from the City, not only to the Empire but also into [[Otkodov]]. The City has good relations with the [[Thule]] in general, and has agreed to draw on their relationship to see what can be done about the request of the redoubtable Edmundo. The herald offers a personal plaudit to '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''', thanking them for their commendably concise and informative missive that leaves little doubt as to what the Archmage desires.

Obviously, the City of Gold and Lead cannot deliver its findings immediately - they will need time to talk to mortals in both the north and the south - but they offer assurances that the agents of the ''Invisible Hand'' will return shortly before the Spring Equinox to share their findings with their Imperial customers. The herald notes that there will be no additional charge for this service at this time; the City is well pleased with the Empire's commitment to trade and commerce at all levels from the remarkable response to the markets taking greater control of the [[Ephisis' Scale]] ritual all the way down to the constant flow of money and goods that swirls through Anvil during a summit.

In due course, detailed proposals are presented to the hub, as well as to a number of universities and the offices of respected builders and traders, a few weeks before the Spring Equinox. The details of their efforts are included in the '''[[Louder than words]]''' wind of fortune.

==Mistress of Ice and Darkness==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:CathCane002.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Cathan Canae will send her favoured lieutenant Volstann the Eater of Boars to take counsel with the Archmage'''
* '''The boisterous messenger is expected to meet the Archmage in their hall at 20.00 on Friday'''
* '''The Archmage can bring up to four additional people - Cathan Canae has suggested one on these be the Legion Engineer'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
Midway between Winter and Spring, with a thick layer of frost on the ground in the Imperial Regio, a massive dog-like creature emerges without fanfare and plods down to the civil service hub. It is a stout hound, similar to a St Bernard but built on a much larger scale. Five feet at the shoulder, with rolls of thick skin that shift as it stomps about its business, the only other sign that it is not a mundane beast is that it wears a suit of boiled leather or hide barding tooled with the runes of [[Verys|strength]] and [[Tykonus|victory]]. It has fierce fangs, but those who encounter it describe it as having "gentle eyes" - whatever that means. When it reaches the Hub, it plonks down with a tired sigh in the middle of the entrance and refuses to budge. When one of the civil servants musters the courage to approach, they find that hung around its neck is a carved ivory scroll tube. The beast stares impassively as numb fingers work the catch to retrieve the scroll and then, without a backward glance, the massive creature heads back to the Imperial regio and returns whence it came.

The message scroll bears greetings from the court of the [[Cathan Canae|Mistress of Blizzards]] in response to the missive from '''Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''. The Queen on the Throne of Ice requests parley, and intends to send her trusted servant ''Volstann Eater of Boars'' to speak on her behalf. The meeting cannot take place in Kalpaheim, but rather will take place in the Hall of Heroes, a part of Volstann's personal hall that sits between the [[Realm#Summer|Summer realm]] and the mortal world. The primary topic of conversation will be the terms regarding Imperial access to the [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|frozen citadels]]. The [[Frozen_Citadel_of_Cathan_Canae#Assurance|assurance]] of the ritual is not up for discussion, but there is an opportunity here for the Archmage to make their case with regard to the Empire's cowardly ceding of its territory to satisfy their enemies.

On the matter of Eoradal, Cathan Canae has an interest in the Imperial Orcs' new territory and how they intend to hold it. As such she proposes that the Archmage bring along the [[Legion Engineer]] to make their own case to Volstann as to how the ''Immovable One'' might offer her aid. Why she should be interested, what they will offer in return, and why they seek her aid instead of that of the [[Adamant|Dragon Beneath the Mountain]].

While the defenders of Redoubt are clearly heroes, the ''Great Bear'' wishes to know why the Archmage considers the three she has mentioned worthy of especial note ahead of all the other protectors of the Empire who fight and shed blood to keep their enemies at bay. Why these three, why this conflict? Furthermore, there will be no talk of Sydanjaa. It is not a matter than the ''Crown of Black Ice'' has any interest in, and neither does her retainer. Indeed, the matters to be discussed - citadels, the Empire's dominion, and the building in Eoradal - are clear and significant digression is unwelcome.

The message ends by saying that the Archmage is invited to bring no more than four other individuals with her to speak with Volstann - which can include the Legion Engineer if they wish The meeting will take place at eight o'clock on Friday evening, and Vosltann's hall will be reached via the Hall of Worlds - which may mean the Archmage will need to secure means for those who are not magicians to accompany them.

==Father of Bats==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Sadogua001d.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''The Night eternal Sadogua agrees to a parley but intends to send some of his heralds to meet with the magicians of the Empire on his behalf'''
* '''They are expected to arrive in the Hall of Worlds at around 21.30 on Saturday'''
* '''At the same time Sadogua wishes to speak with some members of the Unfettered Mind in a more private setting about the Lyceum'''
* '''The meeting with the Unfettered Mind will take place at the same time as the more celebratory meeting in the Hall of Worlds'''
* '''The current archmage of Night is Eliina "Realm's Visionary" Lailasdottir'''
Shortly before the Spring Equinox, a pompous little figure in a remarkable red and black coat that drags along the ground behind them, appears at the hub and delivers a message from their lord and master, the redoubtable ''[[Sadogua|Brother of Wizards]]''. ''Globbersnotch'' thanks the Archmage of Night for proposing an inspirational banquet, and as such requests what he refers to as "informal parley" - everyone agrees not to hit each other but the daft rule about who can speak when is ignored. In return he will send some of his most favoured children, agents, emissaries, apprentices, and friends to visit with Imperial magicians, and enjoy the music, poetry, stories, art, and dance on his behalf. Some of those [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] will be in a position to speak on his behalf on various topics, such as the ''Cup of Dreams'', and potentially even provide a new burst of power to the trinkets he has given to Imperial magicians in the past. He is particularly hopeful that a certain ''imp of magic'' might be in attendance, with tales of the sorceries the little frog has helped support since last he spoke to it.

He also invites the [[Arcane Architect]] to seek counsel with some of his heralds, so that the ''Father of Bats'' might consider if there are other ways he could help them discharge their duties. Also any magicians of [[the Marches]] might seek his apprentices and discuss matters of magic - the ''Toad King'' is interested in where their magical studies will take them next. He wishes to remind them that this is the last season they will have easy access to the [[Upwold#Well_of_Shadows|Well of Shadows]] - when the Summer Solstice dawns he will be seeking a new scholar in the well to enjoy its gifts. Hopefully the magicians of Wintermark responsible for the recent [[Stars_and_sigils#Feast_For_Kallavesa|splendid enchantment]] will also be there - some of his heralds are keen to learn more about this excellent piece of magic. Finally, the magicians of Navarr might discuss the magical places they consider to be under threat in Therunin and what they think ''Wyrmwynd'' can do about it. It would also be ideal if whoever was... ah... ''honouring'' a certain wyrm-like creature in the Hall of Worlds during the last summit found a suitable herald to speak to about it. Quietly given how much trouble it might get people into.

And of course anyone else who would normally attend these things - he hopes that even if they don't speak to one of his emissaries the magicians of Anvil take this opportunity offered by the Archmage of Night to relax a little during trying times.

The heralds of Sadogua intend to arrive in the hall of worlds around half-past-nine on Saturday evening, and hope that will not cause too many difficulties for the Archmage of Night following so closely on the heels of Conclave.

At the same time his chosen servants are celebrating with Imperial magicians, the ''Brother of Wizards'' wishes to meet with some members of the [[Unfettered Mind]] to discuss the matter of the [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#The_Lyceum|Lyceum]]. '''Palaphon Ankarien''' is of course invited to attend this meeting, but he requests that the [[Archmage of Night]] remain to ensure nothing goes wrong with his heralds. He hopes to meet at most half a dozen Unfettered Mind magicians to hear their suggestions as to how to handle the wards he has placed around the island of the Lyceum - how to get Imperial magicians in and out without risking enemies gaining access - given that after he put [[Patterns_of_fairytales#The Hidden Lyceum|his guardian beasts]] into the mists he pretty much ran out of ideas. The hypnotic ''Wyrm of Sleggoth'' and the deadly ''Nightwing'' may in fact have made matters slightly worse as it turns out they are not brilliant at differentiating attacking ships from friendly ships. The ''Toad-King'' is adamant however that ''only'' members of the Unfettered Mind are invited to attend - he is still in ''a bit of a difficult mood'', confides the short herald.

That ''difficult mood'' probably goes some way to explaining two appendices to the message. First, [[Varushka|Varushkan]] members of the Unfettered Mind should probably be very cautious about attending the meeting to discuss the Lyceum, and be prepared for things to "''go tits up''" when the ''Brother of Wizards'' loses his temper. And secondly, Sadogua has apparently rather snippily suggested that the Archmage of Night make sure nobody kidnaps any of his beloved heralds and carries them off to start new lives as Varushkan lawn adornments, or whatever.

It seems the ''Globbersnoth'' is ''still'' very unhappy about the [[Ossium#Towers_of_Zulgan_Tash|Towers of Zulgan Tash]].

==Zie of the Morning==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ylenwe001.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Ylenwe offers zir assistance in dealing with the matter of the white forest
* '''Zie has also offered aid in the matter of damming the Doubt in Spiral
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka'''
On a day of gentle Spring showers, a quiet herald with mottled silver and indigo scales arrives at the Hub. they carry a lyre of beautiful blue wood, and quietly ask for a stool to sit on. While they pluck harmonious notes from the strings of their instrument they deliver a message from ''[[Ylenwe|the Dove]]'', the ''Mistress of Music''. Zie has heard the words of the [[Archmage of Day]] but must decline formal parley at this time. That is not to say zie cannot offer aid in the matters requested - far from it - only that zie does so from arm's reach. The herald-musician plays quietly on their lyre as they provide further details, allowing the civil servants plenty of time to make notes.

The goal of bringing fresh water to [[Mareave]] is laudable, although Ylenwe hopes that the Empire has considered that they are disrupting the natural order in pursuit of a transformation that might, ultimately, prove costly to maintain. Bringing water into an environment where it does not naturally flow can be challenging indeed, and may of course bring unexpected consequences. The recent inundation of [[the Brass Coast]] is perhaps a case in point. Yet zie judges that the proposals put forward are likely gentler and more harmonious than those which unleashed the unconstrained fury of the Scorrero. The damning of the Doubt is a fascinating project; even as zir messenger comes to Anvil zie has dispatched [[Inhabitants of the realms#heralds|heralds]] to [[Spiral#Apstrus|Solen's Doubt]] to see what could be done about the dangers there. This matter is addressed in more detail in the [[TBC]] wind of fortune.

There is nothing Ylenwe has to say about the churning chaos of Sydanjaa - zie does not believe zie has anything to add about that mournful place and the sad traditions associated with it. The other matter that is worthy of discussion, however, is that of the warped white wood in [[Skarsind]], and zie believes that there are real possibilities for zir help. As the Archmage has provided music, so ''Zie of the Morning'' will provide notes of zir own.
====Song of the White Wood====
* '''Ylenwe presents an opportunity to use the Music of the Spheres to cleanse the white wood of Skarsind'''
* '''Completing the cleansing requires a complex ritual using magical notes, and a sapling taken from the tainted woods'''
The situation at the white wood in Skarsind is quite different to Bulgakov, and as such requires its own approach. Whereas in Bulgakov the area could simply be cleansed of Cold Sun's influence, the wood is said to be in "dissonance" with its surroundings - though what this claim actually means, neither Ylenwe nor any herald has explained. This dissonance, apparently, is where the danger lies. Bringing the wood into harmony with itself and the wider [[Skarsind#Southpines|Southpines]] would not return it to its original form, but would render the dangerous [[Day magic]] remaining in the area inert. It’s not known what the precise effects of the transformed but harmonised wood would be, but its harmonization can be achieved through the [[Music of the spheres]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''Out of Character info:'''<br>Some players who have ranks of Day Lore and whose resource is a [[mana site]], will find a chime ribbon in their pack at the start of E2. A chime represents a mana crystal which has been infused with particular day magic. It can be phys repped in the same way as you normally phys rep your mana crystals.<br>To extract the melody from a chime, cast [[Distillation of Diverse Parts]] on it at the regio. Please process the ritual with a referee before doing the roleplay. The ritual will destroy the chime.<br>To use a chime before performing a melody ritual as part of aligning the white tree to a particular mode of [[Music of the spheres]], simply hand the ribbon to the referee overseeing the white wood ritual before beginning to perform.</box></div>
To harmonise the white wood, Ylenwe asks that a single tree from the edge of the forest be brought to the Imperial regio in Anvil. Musicians of the Empire could then wash this tree in melodies of powerful resonance which, once the tree is planted back at the edge of the wood, will sing from tree to tree and transform the resonances of the area into perfect harmony.

Since receiving the archmage’s correspondence, Ylenwe has considered the state of discordance currently affecting the Southpines. During this season of contemplation, zie claims to have spent a moment singing to the crystalline mana structures being grown at the mana sites of certain Day mages throughout the Empire. Zir songs have embedded in a small number of crystals like a seed, and grown into melodies of balance and consonance. Zie calls these transformed crystals ‘chimes’.

Even Ylenwe zirself does not know what form the chimes’ melodies have taken, but advises that their musical form reflects the Empire’s understanding of music of the spheres. As such, there are 7 different melodies hidden inside the crystals, one for each mode used within music of the spheres, each able to harmonise the tree to their associated realm.

Extracting the melodies from the chimes is a delicate procedure, but it can be achieved through casting Distillation of Diverse Parts with Ylenwe’s oversight. Until 23:00 on the Saturday of the spring equinox, casting the ritual on a chime whilst using the Imperial regio will result in the extraction of the melody.

On the Saturday of the spring equinox, Ylenwe will align the Imperial regio to zirself from 23:00-23:30TIMING TBC, making it possible to harmonise a tree from the white wood within this time period. For this to succeed, the tree must be placed within the Imperial regio. Up to six musicians must then step inside the regio, crush a chime of the relevant mode and spend two minutes performing the associated melody. This process should be repeated in sequence through each mode of the music of the spheres, from Ionian to Locrian.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''Accessibility info:'''<br>When casting Distillation of Diverse Parts on a chime, a sheet music transcription of the melody will be provided. It will also be possible to opt out of the transcription for any players who would prefer to use memorisation or transcribe it themselves.
For further accessibility information, please email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk before the event or find a ref during the event.</box></div>
For example, the sequence of rituals should begin with up to six musicians entering the regio, crushing an Ionian chime and spending two minutes performing music in the Ionian mode and incorporating the Ionian melody previously extracted from a chime.

Zie does warn that this process will not only transform the tree, but that any musician participating in the rituals will find their very self resonating in harmony with the mode they perform - with unknown, and possibly unpleasant consequences. If they were to then attempt to step inside the regio for a further ritual, they would produce a discordance which would disrupt the entire process. Each ritual will need a unique group of musicians to perform its melody.

==Brother Harvest==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ossegrahn001a.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Ossegrahn has agreed to parley with the Archmage of Spring during the Spring Equinox'''
* '''The meeting will take place in a chamber at 15.00 on Saturday'''
* '''The Archmage can bring up to five additional people and Ossegrahn has suggested some whose presence might be useful'''
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Ibiss Briarheart'''
It is raining when the messenger of [[Ossegrahn|Lord Rain]] arrives at [[Anvil]]. They are a lithe, green skinned figure with long dark-blue hair wearing little more than a homespun tunic of blue wool that quickly becomes sodden. They appear supremely unconcerned by this, any more than they are worried about the mud churned up by the early spring downpour and the passage of Anvil's travellers. In a voice like water splashing over rocks they ask for directions to "the servants of the people" and eventually end up at the Hub where they reportedly drip over some quite important paperwork while delivering their message.

''Lord Rain'' welcomes the request for parley from '''Ibiss Briarheart''', the [[Archmage of Spring]]. He requests parley, and will speak directly to the archmage and a small number of others who wish to accompany him - no more than five additional people please. A chamber is being made ready, and will open from the Hall of Worlds at three in the afternoon on Saturday. ''Tarnfather'' is aware that this clashes with the [[Arcane Colloquium]] and will entirely understand if the Archmage and their party are slightly late.

The matter of bringing fresh water to Mareave is something ''Greenfount'' is eager to discuss, and has been following developments in the arid eastern territory with interest. He asks the Archmage ensure they bring several [[Imperial Orcs]] along with them to speak of what they think they need and how they think Ossegrahn can help. To make arid land like Mareave bloom and burst with life would be a grand project, one that he thinks might help the Empire better understand the [[Spring_magic#Healing_and_Vitality|renewal and life-affirming power]] of [[Spring magic]]. There are some founts of water in north-eastern Mareave in particular he may be able to help with, perhaps supplementing the progress the Imperial Orcs have made already with some aid of his own, if there are any suggestions as to how he might best offer his aid. With that in mind he suggests the Archmage may also wish to bring a representative of Spiral along with him, someone who can speak about the plans to release the waters of Solen's Doubt and to help channel them into Icarion. He is also eager to discuss the chances of peaceful resolution between the Brine Turtles and the Imperial Orcs - if he can help in any way he stands ready to do so.

Other matters are less appealing ''Llomon'' is prepared to talk about are this matter of a [[fane]] in [[Redoubt]], and why the [[Urizen]] think that he would desire such a thing, but does not entirely understand why they would want other eternals involved. [[The Chalice]] is something that the eternal knows about only through discussion with mortal magicians, and understands there is nothing gentle about it, nothing of ''true'' healing. He is prepared to listen, nonetheless, but the herald does not hide how sceptical the ''Rainkeeper'' is about it. Likewise mention of needing help to grow wholesome food on [[mana site|mana sites]] perplexes Ossegrahn. [[Fountain's Bounty]] is already known by the Urizen, and does just that. ''Brother Harvest'' is not opposed to helping if the problem can be properly explained to him because in the ideal world nobody should go hungry or thirsty. Perhaps it is a matter the Archmage can explain when they meet?

One matter that is ''not'' raised is that of the [[Declaration]] of [[Concord]] raised [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Ossegrahn_and_the_Brass_Coast|during the Winter Solstice]] by the [[Imperial Magus]], '''Izarra i Riqueza'''. Directed primarily to the people of [[the Brass Coast]], relating to [[Patterns_of_fairytales#Injuries of the Soul|decisions made]] during the [[Where_the_river_rises#Lamentable_Loss_of_Life|flooding of the Scorrero]] it does touch on boons offered by ''Healing Hand'' and apparent unhappiness that they were not used. As such it is notable that there is no talk of this in the plenipotentiary response - perhaps it is something the eternal plans to discuss in the parley?

There is however one other serious matter to discuss, but the herald carefully explains the details of their master's request so that it can be discussed before the parley. Time is short for Therunin, and the moment where the ''Leafbeard'' can help is fading fast.
====Regarding Peakedge Stead====
* '''Ossegrahn will continue to protect Peakedge Stead and the Houses of Healing, potentially permanently, against not only the Druj but any other threat'''
* '''In return he wishes the Imperial Conclave to permanently remove Rivers Run Red and Mountain Remembers Its Youth from Imperial lore'''
* '''This will require the Senate to reconsider the power of ''Remorse'' discussed several times previously'''
* '''Without this sacrifice, Ossegrahn cannot commit to protecting the ancient hospital from the Druj in Therunin'''
As the archmage has no doubt [[To_hold_death%27s_hand_in_mine#Rainfall|already seen]], ''Coomarta of the Rains'' has taken direct action in [[Therunin]] against the [[Druj]] and protected both [[Therunin#Peakedge_Stead|Peakedge Stead]] - its healers, patients, and defenders - and his [[Hand_of_the_Healers#Houses_of_Healing|Houses of Healing]]. The protection cannot last, however, and maintaining it against the spite of the Druj will require a significant sacrifice from the eternal himself. If he is to do this, he must be certain that the Empire is moving in the correct direction to justify this commitment. If the Empire can satisfy his request, he will do whatever it takes to ensure that Peakedge Stead and the Houses remain protected as long as they are under threat - not only by the Druj but also by the [[vallorn]]. If the Empire is sincere in its desire to destroy the ''folly of Terunael'' then Peakedge Stead will be threatened by old Tharunind, even if the current threat is neutralised. Ossegrahn believes that the ancient hospital, coupled with his own houses of healing, will provide a powerful sanctuary for those who fight the vallorn in Therunin and perhaps even Sarangrave.

But before he is prepared to commit to this, he wants the Empire to make a commitment of their own. He asks that the Imperial Conclave remove [[Rivers Run Red]] and [[Mountain Remembers Its Youth]] from Imperial Lore. ''Bogfearthen'' knows this is not a power the Conclave has - but it is one that could be given to them by the [[Imperial Senate]]. The so-called power of [[Interdiction#Remorse|Remorse]], the ability to permanently remove a ritual from the body of Imperial Lore. It will be a challenge for the Senate to both provide this power and for the Conclave to use it, but ''Willowbraid'' believes that if they are truly committed they can achieve it.

In addition to continuing to protect Peakedge Stead and the Houses of Healing, when the current protection fades from [[Thornsinger#Thornsong_House|Thornsong House]], ''Beckburn'' will be happy to discuss enfolding it in his ring of protection also, although that will require a further expenditure of his power it will be much less than what is needed to establish the permanent ring of protection. Finally, if the Archmage wishes, Ossegrahn is prepared to discuss a way for Imperial magicians to gain access to his children that create these walls of impenetrable thorns and water, with an eye toward codifying it and adding it to Imperial Lore to protect other threatened places. Backed by Ossegrahn's power the protection offered would rival a [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|Wooden Fastness]], although it would be restricted to defending a single region rather than warding a whole territory. The Archmage says that the Empire is in more danger than it has been before, and so Ossegrahn can offer at least a little assistance if they choose to accept it.

If the Senate and the Conclave are not in agreement, then the protection around Peakedge Stead will fail within a day of the Spring Equinox, and there will be nothing further Ossegrahn can do to preserve the hospital, its patients, or its brave defenders from the murderous impulses of the Druj. Even if they retreat immediately, they will do so after they have destroyed the ancient steading.

The civil service have issued guidance on the matter of timings around Remorse. If the Imperial Senate pass a motion to create the power on the Friday evening or Saturday afternoon session, then it would be possible for a Declaration of Remorse to be raised at the Saturday evening session of Conclave, provided that the declaration is submitted before 18:00. If a Declaration of Remorse is passed at the same summit as a Declaration of [[Dissemination]] for the same ritual, then no funds will be taken for the latter and a ritual text will not be created regardless of in what order each declaration is passed in.

==Plenipotentiary in Public==
* '''The opportunity to allow archmages to make their plenipotentiary messages public remains available'''
Last season the [[Prefect of the Conclave|prefects of the Conclave]] presented a potential additional power to be used with plenipotentiary - the ability to make the wording of the missive public knowledge. The [[Imperial Conclave]] has not chosen to embrace this power, but given it is simply a procedural change the opportunity to do so remains available to the magicians of the Empire for the foreseeable future - unless something significantly changes. The change is discussed in detail in the '''[[Secret_meeting#Have_a_Little_Faith|Secret meeting]]''' wind of fortune.
==Timetable==
These meetings are taking place in a number of places; in chambers reached via the Hall of Worlds. The times, and the eternals involved, are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 20.00 || Cathan Canae || Summer || Meeting with Volstann, in a chamber
|-
| Saturday|| 15.00 || Ossegrahn || Spring || Formal parley, in a chamber
|-
| Saturday|| 21.30 || Sadogua || Night || Informal meeting in the hall of worlds, and a chamber
|-
| Saturday|| 21.55 || Skathe || Winter || Formal parley, in a chamber
|-
|}

Speak to me

2025-06-04T17:30:14Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Zie of the Morning */ Capitalization

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>Jorgen pulled his cloak more tightly around him as the rain pounded and the thunder growled, and thanked the paragons for its waterproof coating. His companion raised a lightstone lantern - few fully mundane lamps could survive weather like this - casting a wedge of dim light between the stones of the Imperial regio. The Wintermark civil servant suppressed a shudder.

The creature that stood in the midst of the monolith-bounded circle was clearly inhuman. It towered over the two civil servants before it, even hunched over. It had impossibly long limbs, impossibly thin and bone-like, and the tattered black dress that clung to its frame did little to reduce the horror it radiated. If not for the mobility of its features, set in a milk-white face as round as the full moon, it would have been easy to mistake it for a disturbing mannikin or piece of art abandoned in the regio. As it was, there was no doubt as to the thing's animation - she moved like an insect shifting between absolute stability and insect-like flurry of action without warning. Jorgen did his best to suppress the insistent shouting from his legs, both of whom seemed keen on the idea of running away and not looking back.

He cleared his throat. And then cleared it again. "And is that the full message from your mistress, Madame Baroness?"

The thing moved, jerking forward, and suddenly its great dinner-plate face was barely six inches from Jorgen's. It did not blink, its eyes fixed on those of the civil servant. Its thin lips split into a broad smile, revealing dozens of tiny little teeth like those of a child.

"Yes," it said, voice like cracking ice. "except perhaps to remind you that obviously the Pale Empress expects total honesty and sincerity in this matter, just as the Archmage would expect of Her."

Jorgen swallowed, and nodded his head jerkily.

The Baroness, having delivered her message, bowed her great luminous head and turned to leave. The winds whipped the sodden cloth of her ragged garb around her, and she paused for a moment. Her head, impossibly, began to move, swivelling independently of her spindly neck and body to face the Wintermarker. Its face was locked in a grotesque grimace and a strange greenish light had ignited behind its pale eyes.

"Oh." she said, as if just remembering some minor matter of trivial concern. "It is just possible that the Archmage has begun hearing things in his sleep. Bells at sea, perhaps, Haunting his dreams. Given the fall of the Lighthouse at Nikephoros and its implications, you understand. He is not to worry, or be afraid, or indeed pay it any mind. It will only... encourage them... you see?"

With his final cryptic remark, she took her leave fading away into the darkness without moving, grinning visage still facing the civil servants, her stick-think body facing the other way. The last things to fade were here eyes, which flared once like dreadful lamps just before she disappeared completely.

"Well that was bloody awful," said Jorgen's companion flatly after a few moments.

Jorgen didn't reply, just wrapped himself in his cloak and slipped his damp notebook into the satchel he wore beneath. As they turned back toward the hub, and the hot tea awaiting them, Jorgen once again gave silent thanks for the fact that he was not the Winter Archmage, and so did not need to deal with any of... this.

But it was some time before he slept a whole night in which his dreams not troubled by the distant sound of tolling bells and cracking ice.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">[[file:CathCane001b.webp|align=left|width=200]]</div>
==Overview==
* '''Six eternals have responded to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''4 of them have agreed to some sort of meeting at the Spring Equinox, while 2 have taken other steps'''
Every season, each of the six [[archmage|archmages]] is empowered to send a single [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] message to an [[eternal]] of their realm. The eternals are bound to respond, although not always in a way the archmage may wish. Sometimes they will arrange personal meetings; often they will send their own emissaries to treat with the Empire in the form of the archmage; occasionally they take direct action in response to the requests contained in the missive; rarely they decline formally although even then they will tend to communicate the reasons for their unhappiness.

Following the Winter Solstice, as the new year dawns, six eternals have responded to invitations to [[Archmage#Parley|parley]] via their emissaries.
==Pale Empress==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Skathe001.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Skathe of the Thrice-cursed Court offers parley in a suitable chamber at 21.55 on Saturday'''
* '''Along with the Archmage, the Grandmaster of the Celestial Arch and the Custodian of the Bleak Tower are invited to attend the parley'''
* '''The Archmage of Winter is Ematius of the Great Library of Ankarien'''
It is a dark and stormy night when a towering figure emerges from the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]]. Dressed in a striking tattered black dress and nearly nine feet tall, she introduces herself as the ''Baroness of All Pains'', a member of the cursed court of the ''[[Skathe|Hag Queen]]''. She speaks in a voice that cracks like ice to relay the word of the Witch of the Thrice-Cursed Court to the civil servants at the Hub.

Apparently ''Her Imperial Majesty of Cares'' would be ''delighted'' to welcome the [[Archmage of Winter]] to formal parley at the Spring Equinox, at five to ten on Saturday night in a chamber she is already preparing for just this very purpose. The ''Lady of Laments'' is grateful for the Archmage's admission that events that transpired in [[the League]], (in [[In_the_garden_of_defiance|enlightened Holberg]] and [[The DOOM that came to Sarvos|beautiful Sarvos]]), were down to the actions of Zephaniah's Lament and not she, the ''Giver of Gifts''. The Baroness explains that her mistress would be happy to clear up any lingering doubts or questions about that sorry affair, which was of course initiated by members of that unlamented [[Highguard|Highborn]] chapter when they reached out to the ''Painted Mirror'' for help - help that was freely offered and accepted at a known price. She would be happy to continue the general conversation that was begun in the halls of the ''Charred Prince'' so recently, as well, though she intends to be discreet on the matter.

Having delivered this preamble, the Baroness of All Pains begins to cackle at the thought of what follows, and she begins once more to relay her queen's words. The ''Hexenkönigin'' would be happy to have the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] and the [[Custodian of the Bleak Tower]] join the Archmage as his right and left hand, as the [[Urizen|masters of the High Peaks]] have always been her most favourite and brilliant companions in the long and constant years she has been a friend to the Empire. She is excited to hear of the well of bitterness towards the [[Druj]] that the Archmage claims swells within the heart of the [[Varushka|heirs of Alderei the Fair]] and the [[navarr|scions of Terunael]].

She has, at great effort, prepared a smattering of generous gifts to assist in bringing weal to the many inhabitants of the [[Sarangrave]]. This will, however, depend on whether the Archmage and his companions can weave a suitably delightful and sincere picture of the Empire's blackened heart and their committed, spiteful, hateful intent to strike back at the wicked Druj. If it seems their heart is not in it in the moment, then she is sure someone else can make use of her gifts, so the Archmage needn't worry on her account. The tall figure sneers as she remarks that, of course, the ''Pale Empress'' expects total honesty and sincerity in this matter, just as the Archmage would expect of her, and then departs.
==Invisible Hand==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ephisis001.webp |align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Emissaries of the City of Gold and Lead have responded to the Autumn archmage by interceding directly'''
* '''They present proposals in the [[Louder than words]] wind of fortune'''
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Edmundo of Damakan's forge'''
The trade envoy who emerges from the Imperial regio shortly after the Winter Solstice is swathed in silken veils. This is not the first time they (or someone very like them) has visited [[Anvil]] on behalf of the [[Ephisis|City of Gold and Lead]]. In answer to the plenipotentiary of the Autumn Archmage, the City chooses to take direct action. Specifically, a number of assessors, brokers, and long-term planners have been dispatched from the City, not only to the Empire but also into [[Otkodov]]. The City has good relations with the [[Thule]] in general, and has agreed to draw on their relationship to see what can be done about the request of the redoubtable Edmundo. The herald offers a personal plaudit to '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''', thanking them for their commendably concise and informative missive that leaves little doubt as to what the Archmage desires.

Obviously, the City of Gold and Lead cannot deliver its findings immediately - they will need time to talk to mortals in both the north and the south - but they offer assurances that the agents of the ''Invisible Hand'' will return shortly before the Spring Equinox to share their findings with their Imperial customers. The herald notes that there will be no additional charge for this service at this time; the City is well pleased with the Empire's commitment to trade and commerce at all levels from the remarkable response to the markets taking greater control of the [[Ephisis' Scale]] ritual all the way down to the constant flow of money and goods that swirls through Anvil during a summit.

In due course, detailed proposals are presented to the hub, as well as to a number of universities and the offices of respected builders and traders, a few weeks before the Spring Equinox. The details of their efforts are included in the '''[[Louder than words]]''' wind of fortune.

==Mistress of Ice and Darkness==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:CathCane002.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Cathan Canae will send her favoured lieutenant Volstann the Eater of Boars to take counsel with the Archmage'''
* '''The boisterous messenger is expected to meet the Archmage in their hall at 20.00 on Friday'''
* '''The Archmage can bring up to four additional people - Cathan Canae has suggested one on these be the Legion Engineer'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
Midway between Winter and Spring, with a thick layer of frost on the ground in the Imperial Regio, a massive dog-like creature emerges without fanfare and plods down to the civil service hub. It is a stout hound, similar to a St Bernard but built on a much larger scale. Five feet at the shoulder, with rolls of thick skin that shift as it stomps about its business, the only other sign that it is not a mundane beast is that it wears a suit of boiled leather or hide barding tooled with the runes of [[Verys|strength]] and [[Tykonus|victory]]. It has fierce fangs, but those who encounter it describe it as having "gentle eyes" - whatever that means. When it reaches the Hub, it plonks down with a tired sigh in the middle of the entrance and refuses to budge. When one of the civil servants musters the courage to approach, they find that hung around its neck is a carved ivory scroll tube. The beast stares impassively as numb fingers work the catch to retrieve the scroll and then, without a backward glance, the massive creature heads back to the Imperial regio and returns whence it came.

The message scroll bears greetings from the court of the [[Cathan Canae|Mistress of Blizzards]] in response to the missive from '''Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''. The Queen on the Throne of Ice requests parley, and intends to send her trusted servant ''Volstann Eater of Boars'' to speak on her behalf. The meeting cannot take place in Kalpaheim, but rather will take place in the Hall of Heroes, a part of Volstann's personal hall that sits between the [[Realm#Summer|Summer realm]] and the mortal world. The primary topic of conversation will be the terms regarding Imperial access to the [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|frozen citadels]]. The [[Frozen_Citadel_of_Cathan_Canae#Assurance|assurance]] of the ritual is not up for discussion, but there is an opportunity here for the Archmage to make their case with regard to the Empire's cowardly ceding of its territory to satisfy their enemies.

On the matter of Eoradal, Cathan Canae has an interest in the Imperial Orcs' new territory and how they intend to hold it. As such she proposes that the Archmage bring along the [[Legion Engineer]] to make their own case to Volstann as to how the ''Immovable One'' might offer her aid. Why she should be interested, what they will offer in return, and why they seek her aid instead of that of the [[Adamant|Dragon Beneath the Mountain]].

While the defenders of Redoubt are clearly heroes, the ''Great Bear'' wishes to know why the Archmage considers the three she has mentioned worthy of especial note ahead of all the other protectors of the Empire who fight and shed blood to keep their enemies at bay. Why these three, why this conflict? Furthermore, there will be no talk of Sydanjaa. It is not a matter than the ''Crown of Black Ice'' has any interest in, and neither does her retainer. Indeed, the matters to be discussed - citadels, the Empire's dominion, and the building in Eoradal - are clear and significant digression is unwelcome.

The message ends by saying that the Archmage is invited to bring no more than four other individuals with her to speak with Volstann - which can include the Legion Engineer if they wish The meeting will take place at eight o'clock on Friday evening, and Vosltann's hall will be reached via the Hall of Worlds - which may mean the Archmage will need to secure means for those who are not magicians to accompany them.

==Father of Bats==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Sadogua001d.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''The Night eternal Sadogua agrees to a parley but intends to send some of his heralds to meet with the magicians of the Empire on his behalf'''
* '''They are expected to arrive in the Hall of Worlds at around 21.30 on Saturday'''
* '''At the same time Sadogua wishes to speak with some members of the Unfettered Mind in a more private setting about the Lyceum'''
* '''The meeting with the Unfettered Mind will take place at the same time as the more celebratory meeting in the Hall of Worlds'''
* '''The current archmage of Night is Eliina "Realm's Visionary" Lailasdottir'''
Shortly before the Spring Equinox, a pompous little figure in a remarkable red and black coat that drags along the ground behind them, appears at the hub and delivers a message from their lord and master, the redoubtable ''[[Sadogua|Brother of Wizards]]''. ''Globbersnotch'' thanks the Archmage of Night for proposing an inspirational banquet, and as such requests what he refers to as "informal parley" - everyone agrees not to hit each other but the daft rule about who can speak when is ignored. In return he will send some of his most favoured children, agents, emissaries, apprentices, and friends to visit with Imperial magicians, and enjoy the music, poetry, stories, art, and dance on his behalf. Some of those [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] will be in a position to speak on his behalf on various topics, such as the ''Cup of Dreams'', and potentially even provide a new burst of power to the trinkets he has given to Imperial magicians in the past. He is particularly hopeful that a certain ''imp of magic'' might be in attendance, with tales of the sorceries the little frog has helped support since last he spoke to it.

He also invites the [[Arcane Architect]] to seek counsel with some of his heralds, so that the ''Father of Bats'' might consider if there are other ways he could help them discharge their duties. Also any magicians of [[the Marches]] might seek his apprentices and discuss matters of magic - the ''Toad King'' is interested in where their magical studies will take them next. He wishes to remind them that this is the last season they will have easy access to the [[Upwold#Well_of_Shadows|Well of Shadows]] - when the Summer Solstice dawns he will be seeking a new scholar in the well to enjoy its gifts. Hopefully the magicians of Wintermark responsible for the recent [[Stars_and_sigils#Feast_For_Kallavesa|splendid enchantment]] will also be there - some of his heralds are keen to learn more about this excellent piece of magic. Finally, the magicians of Navarr might discuss the magical places they consider to be under threat in Therunin and what they think ''Wyrmwynd'' can do about it. It would also be ideal if whoever was... ah... ''honouring'' a certain wyrm-like creature in the Hall of Worlds during the last summit found a suitable herald to speak to about it. Quietly given how much trouble it might get people into.

And of course anyone else who would normally attend these things - he hopes that even if they don't speak to one of his emissaries the magicians of Anvil take this opportunity offered by the Archmage of Night to relax a little during trying times.

The heralds of Sadogua intend to arrive in the hall of worlds around half-past-nine on Saturday evening, and hope that will not cause too many difficulties for the Archmage of Night following so closely on the heels of Conclave.

At the same time his chosen servants are celebrating with Imperial magicians, the ''Brother of Wizards'' wishes to meet with some members of the [[Unfettered Mind]] to discuss the matter of the [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#The_Lyceum|Lyceum]]. '''Palaphon Ankarien''' is of course invited to attend this meeting, but he requests that the [[Archmage of Night]] remain to ensure nothing goes wrong with his heralds. He hopes to meet at most half a dozen Unfettered Mind magicians to hear their suggestions as to how to handle the wards he has placed around the island of the Lyceum - how to get Imperial magicians in and out without risking enemies gaining access - given that after he put [[Patterns_of_fairytales#The Hidden Lyceum|his guardian beasts]] into the mists he pretty much ran out of ideas. The hypnotic ''Wyrm of Sleggoth'' and the deadly ''Nightwing'' may in fact have made matters slightly worse as it turns out they are not brilliant at differentiating attacking ships from friendly ships. The ''Toad-King'' is adamant however that ''only'' members of the Unfettered Mind are invited to attend - he is still in ''a bit of a difficult mood'', confides the short herald.

That ''difficult mood'' probably goes some way to explaining two appendices to the message. First, [[Varushka|Varushkan]] members of the Unfettered Mind should probably be very cautious about attending the meeting to discuss the Lyceum, and be prepared for things to "''go tits up''" when the ''Brother of Wizards'' loses his temper. And secondly, Sadogua has apparently rather snippily suggested that the Archmage of Night make sure nobody kidnaps any of his beloved heralds and carries them off to start new lives as Varushkan lawn adornments, or whatever.

It seems the ''Globbersnoth'' is ''still'' very unhappy about the [[Ossium#Towers_of_Zulgan_Tash|Towers of Zulgan Tash]].

==Zie of the Morning==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ylenwe001.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Ylenwe offers zir assistance in dealing with the matter of the white forest
* '''Zie has also offered aid in the matter of damming the Doubt in Spiral
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka'''
On a day of gentle Spring showers, a quiet herald with mottled silver and indigo scales arrives at the Hub. they carry a lyre of beautiful blue wood, and quietly ask for a stool to sit on. While they pluck harmonious notes from the strings of their instrument they deliver a message from ''[[Ylenwe|the Dove]]'', the ''Mistress of Music''. Zie has heard the words of the [[Archmage of Day]] but must decline formal parley at this time. That is not to say zie cannot offer aid in the matters requested - far from it - only that zie does so from arm's reach. The herald-musician plays quietly on their lyre as they provide further details, allowing the civil servants plenty of time to make notes.

The goal of bringing fresh water to [[Mareave]] is laudable, although Ylenwe hopes that the Empire has considered that they are disrupting the natural order in pursuit of a transformation that might, ultimately, prove costly to maintain. Bringing water into an environment where it does not naturally flow can be challenging indeed, and may of course bring unexpected consequences. The recent inundation of [[the Brass Coast]] is perhaps a case in point. Yet zie judges that the proposals put forward are likely gentler and more harmonious than those which unleashed the unconstrained fury of the Scorrero. The damning of the Doubt is a fascinating project; even as zir messenger comes to Anvil zie has dispatched [[Inhabitants of the realms#heralds|heralds]] to [[Spiral#Apstrus|Solen's Doubt]] to see what could be done about the dangers there. This matter is addressed in more detail in the [[TBC]] wind of fortune.

There is nothing Ylenwe has to say about the churning chaos of Sydanjaa - zie does not believe zie has anything to add about that mournful place and the sad traditions associated with it. The other matter that is worthy of discussion. However, is that of the warped white wood in [[Skarsind]], and zie believes that there are real possibilities for zir help. As the Archmage has provided music, so ''Zie of the Morning'' will provide notes of zir own.
====Song of the White Wood====
* '''Ylenwe presents an opportunity to use the Music of the Spheres to cleanse the white wood of Skarsind'''
* '''Completing the cleansing requires a complex ritual using magical notes, and a sapling taken from the tainted woods'''
The situation at the white wood in Skarsind is quite different to Bulgakov, and as such requires its own approach. Whereas in Bulgakov the area could simply be cleansed of Cold Sun's influence, the wood is said to be in "dissonance" with its surroundings - though what this claim actually means, neither Ylenwe nor any herald has explained. This dissonance, apparently, is where the danger lies. Bringing the wood into harmony with itself and the wider [[Skarsind#Southpines|Southpines]] would not return it to its original form, but would render the dangerous [[Day magic]] remaining in the area inert. It’s not known what the precise effects of the transformed but harmonised wood would be, but its harmonization can be achieved through the [[Music of the spheres]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''Out of Character info:'''<br>Some players who have ranks of Day Lore and whose resource is a [[mana site]], will find a chime ribbon in their pack at the start of E2. A chime represents a mana crystal which has been infused with particular day magic. It can be phys repped in the same way as you normally phys rep your mana crystals.<br>To extract the melody from a chime, cast [[Distillation of Diverse Parts]] on it at the regio. Please process the ritual with a referee before doing the roleplay. The ritual will destroy the chime.<br>To use a chime before performing a melody ritual as part of aligning the white tree to a particular mode of [[Music of the spheres]], simply hand the ribbon to the referee overseeing the white wood ritual before beginning to perform.</box></div>
To harmonise the white wood, Ylenwe asks that a single tree from the edge of the forest be brought to the Imperial regio in Anvil. Musicians of the Empire could then wash this tree in melodies of powerful resonance which, once the tree is planted back at the edge of the wood, will sing from tree to tree and transform the resonances of the area into perfect harmony.

Since receiving the archmage’s correspondence, Ylenwe has considered the state of discordance currently affecting the Southpines. During this season of contemplation, zie claims to have spent a moment singing to the crystalline mana structures being grown at the mana sites of certain Day mages throughout the Empire. Zir songs have embedded in a small number of crystals like a seed, and grown into melodies of balance and consonance. Zie calls these transformed crystals ‘chimes’.

Even Ylenwe zirself does not know what form the chimes’ melodies have taken, but advises that their musical form reflects the Empire’s understanding of music of the spheres. As such, there are 7 different melodies hidden inside the crystals, one for each mode used within music of the spheres, each able to harmonise the tree to their associated realm.

Extracting the melodies from the chimes is a delicate procedure, but it can be achieved through casting Distillation of Diverse Parts with Ylenwe’s oversight. Until 23:00 on the Saturday of the spring equinox, casting the ritual on a chime whilst using the Imperial regio will result in the extraction of the melody.

On the Saturday of the spring equinox, Ylenwe will align the Imperial regio to zirself from 23:00-23:30TIMING TBC, making it possible to harmonise a tree from the white wood within this time period. For this to succeed, the tree must be placed within the Imperial regio. Up to six musicians must then step inside the regio, crush a chime of the relevant mode and spend two minutes performing the associated melody. This process should be repeated in sequence through each mode of the music of the spheres, from Ionian to Locrian.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''Accessibility info:'''<br>When casting Distillation of Diverse Parts on a chime, a sheet music transcription of the melody will be provided. It will also be possible to opt out of the transcription for any players who would prefer to use memorisation or transcribe it themselves.
For further accessibility information, please email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk before the event or find a ref during the event.</box></div>
For example, the sequence of rituals should begin with up to six musicians entering the regio, crushing an Ionian chime and spending two minutes performing music in the Ionian mode and incorporating the Ionian melody previously extracted from a chime.

Zie does warn that this process will not only transform the tree, but that any musician participating in the rituals will find their very self resonating in harmony with the mode they perform - with unknown, and possibly unpleasant consequences. If they were to then attempt to step inside the regio for a further ritual, they would produce a discordance which would disrupt the entire process. Each ritual will need a unique group of musicians to perform its melody.

==Brother Harvest==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ossegrahn001a.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Ossegrahn has agreed to parley with the Archmage of Spring during the Spring Equinox'''
* '''The meeting will take place in a chamber at 15.00 on Saturday'''
* '''The Archmage can bring up to five additional people and Ossegrahn has suggested some whose presence might be useful'''
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Ibiss Briarheart'''
It is raining when the messenger of [[Ossegrahn|Lord Rain]] arrives at [[Anvil]]. They are a lithe, green skinned figure with long dark-blue hair wearing little more than a homespun tunic of blue wool that quickly becomes sodden. They appear supremely unconcerned by this, any more than they are worried about the mud churned up by the early spring downpour and the passage of Anvil's travellers. In a voice like water splashing over rocks they ask for directions to "the servants of the people" and eventually end up at the Hub where they reportedly drip over some quite important paperwork while delivering their message.

''Lord Rain'' welcomes the request for parley from '''Ibiss Briarheart''', the [[Archmage of Spring]]. He requests parley, and will speak directly to the archmage and a small number of others who wish to accompany him - no more than five additional people please. A chamber is being made ready, and will open from the Hall of Worlds at three in the afternoon on Saturday. ''Tarnfather'' is aware that this clashes with the [[Arcane Colloquium]] and will entirely understand if the Archmage and their party are slightly late.

The matter of bringing fresh water to Mareave is something ''Greenfount'' is eager to discuss, and has been following developments in the arid eastern territory with interest. He asks the Archmage ensure they bring several [[Imperial Orcs]] along with them to speak of what they think they need and how they think Ossegrahn can help. To make arid land like Mareave bloom and burst with life would be a grand project, one that he thinks might help the Empire better understand the [[Spring_magic#Healing_and_Vitality|renewal and life-affirming power]] of [[Spring magic]]. There are some founts of water in north-eastern Mareave in particular he may be able to help with, perhaps supplementing the progress the Imperial Orcs have made already with some aid of his own, if there are any suggestions as to how he might best offer his aid. With that in mind he suggests the Archmage may also wish to bring a representative of Spiral along with him, someone who can speak about the plans to release the waters of Solen's Doubt and to help channel them into Icarion. He is also eager to discuss the chances of peaceful resolution between the Brine Turtles and the Imperial Orcs - if he can help in any way he stands ready to do so.

Other matters are less appealing ''Llomon'' is prepared to talk about are this matter of a [[fane]] in [[Redoubt]], and why the [[Urizen]] think that he would desire such a thing, but does not entirely understand why they would want other eternals involved. [[The Chalice]] is something that the eternal knows about only through discussion with mortal magicians, and understands there is nothing gentle about it, nothing of ''true'' healing. He is prepared to listen, nonetheless, but the herald does not hide how sceptical the ''Rainkeeper'' is about it. Likewise mention of needing help to grow wholesome food on [[mana site|mana sites]] perplexes Ossegrahn. [[Fountain's Bounty]] is already known by the Urizen, and does just that. ''Brother Harvest'' is not opposed to helping if the problem can be properly explained to him because in the ideal world nobody should go hungry or thirsty. Perhaps it is a matter the Archmage can explain when they meet?

One matter that is ''not'' raised is that of the [[Declaration]] of [[Concord]] raised [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Ossegrahn_and_the_Brass_Coast|during the Winter Solstice]] by the [[Imperial Magus]], '''Izarra i Riqueza'''. Directed primarily to the people of [[the Brass Coast]], relating to [[Patterns_of_fairytales#Injuries of the Soul|decisions made]] during the [[Where_the_river_rises#Lamentable_Loss_of_Life|flooding of the Scorrero]] it does touch on boons offered by ''Healing Hand'' and apparent unhappiness that they were not used. As such it is notable that there is no talk of this in the plenipotentiary response - perhaps it is something the eternal plans to discuss in the parley?

There is however one other serious matter to discuss, but the herald carefully explains the details of their master's request so that it can be discussed before the parley. Time is short for Therunin, and the moment where the ''Leafbeard'' can help is fading fast.
====Regarding Peakedge Stead====
* '''Ossegrahn will continue to protect Peakedge Stead and the Houses of Healing, potentially permanently, against not only the Druj but any other threat'''
* '''In return he wishes the Imperial Conclave to permanently remove Rivers Run Red and Mountain Remembers Its Youth from Imperial lore'''
* '''This will require the Senate to reconsider the power of ''Remorse'' discussed several times previously'''
* '''Without this sacrifice, Ossegrahn cannot commit to protecting the ancient hospital from the Druj in Therunin'''
As the archmage has no doubt [[To_hold_death%27s_hand_in_mine#Rainfall|already seen]], ''Coomarta of the Rains'' has taken direct action in [[Therunin]] against the [[Druj]] and protected both [[Therunin#Peakedge_Stead|Peakedge Stead]] - its healers, patients, and defenders - and his [[Hand_of_the_Healers#Houses_of_Healing|Houses of Healing]]. The protection cannot last, however, and maintaining it against the spite of the Druj will require a significant sacrifice from the eternal himself. If he is to do this, he must be certain that the Empire is moving in the correct direction to justify this commitment. If the Empire can satisfy his request, he will do whatever it takes to ensure that Peakedge Stead and the Houses remain protected as long as they are under threat - not only by the Druj but also by the [[vallorn]]. If the Empire is sincere in its desire to destroy the ''folly of Terunael'' then Peakedge Stead will be threatened by old Tharunind, even if the current threat is neutralised. Ossegrahn believes that the ancient hospital, coupled with his own houses of healing, will provide a powerful sanctuary for those who fight the vallorn in Therunin and perhaps even Sarangrave.

But before he is prepared to commit to this, he wants the Empire to make a commitment of their own. He asks that the Imperial Conclave remove [[Rivers Run Red]] and [[Mountain Remembers Its Youth]] from Imperial Lore. ''Bogfearthen'' knows this is not a power the Conclave has - but it is one that could be given to them by the [[Imperial Senate]]. The so-called power of [[Interdiction#Remorse|Remorse]], the ability to permanently remove a ritual from the body of Imperial Lore. It will be a challenge for the Senate to both provide this power and for the Conclave to use it, but ''Willowbraid'' believes that if they are truly committed they can achieve it.

In addition to continuing to protect Peakedge Stead and the Houses of Healing, when the current protection fades from [[Thornsinger#Thornsong_House|Thornsong House]], ''Beckburn'' will be happy to discuss enfolding it in his ring of protection also, although that will require a further expenditure of his power it will be much less than what is needed to establish the permanent ring of protection. Finally, if the Archmage wishes, Ossegrahn is prepared to discuss a way for Imperial magicians to gain access to his children that create these walls of impenetrable thorns and water, with an eye toward codifying it and adding it to Imperial Lore to protect other threatened places. Backed by Ossegrahn's power the protection offered would rival a [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|Wooden Fastness]], although it would be restricted to defending a single region rather than warding a whole territory. The Archmage says that the Empire is in more danger than it has been before, and so Ossegrahn can offer at least a little assistance if they choose to accept it.

If the Senate and the Conclave are not in agreement, then the protection around Peakedge Stead will fail within a day of the Spring Equinox, and there will be nothing further Ossegrahn can do to preserve the hospital, its patients, or its brave defenders from the murderous impulses of the Druj. Even if they retreat immediately, they will do so after they have destroyed the ancient steading.

The civil service have issued guidance on the matter of timings around Remorse. If the Imperial Senate pass a motion to create the power on the Friday evening or Saturday afternoon session, then it would be possible for a Declaration of Remorse to be raised at the Saturday evening session of Conclave, provided that the declaration is submitted before 18:00. If a Declaration of Remorse is passed at the same summit as a Declaration of [[Dissemination]] for the same ritual, then no funds will be taken for the latter and a ritual text will not be created regardless of in what order each declaration is passed in.

==Plenipotentiary in Public==
* '''The opportunity to allow archmages to make their plenipotentiary messages public remains available'''
Last season the [[Prefect of the Conclave|prefects of the Conclave]] presented a potential additional power to be used with plenipotentiary - the ability to make the wording of the missive public knowledge. The [[Imperial Conclave]] has not chosen to embrace this power, but given it is simply a procedural change the opportunity to do so remains available to the magicians of the Empire for the foreseeable future - unless something significantly changes. The change is discussed in detail in the '''[[Secret_meeting#Have_a_Little_Faith|Secret meeting]]''' wind of fortune.
==Timetable==
These meetings are taking place in a number of places; in chambers reached via the Hall of Worlds. The times, and the eternals involved, are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 20.00 || Cathan Canae || Summer || Meeting with Volstann, in a chamber
|-
| Saturday|| 15.00 || Ossegrahn || Spring || Formal parley, in a chamber
|-
| Saturday|| 21.30 || Sadogua || Night || Informal meeting in the hall of worlds, and a chamber
|-
| Saturday|| 21.55 || Skathe || Winter || Formal parley, in a chamber
|-
|}

Speak to me

2025-06-04T17:24:35Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Mistress of Ice and Darkness */ Capitalization

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>Jorgen pulled his cloak more tightly around him as the rain pounded and the thunder growled, and thanked the paragons for its waterproof coating. His companion raised a lightstone lantern - few fully mundane lamps could survive weather like this - casting a wedge of dim light between the stones of the Imperial regio. The Wintermark civil servant suppressed a shudder.

The creature that stood in the midst of the monolith-bounded circle was clearly inhuman. It towered over the two civil servants before it, even hunched over. It had impossibly long limbs, impossibly thin and bone-like, and the tattered black dress that clung to its frame did little to reduce the horror it radiated. If not for the mobility of its features, set in a milk-white face as round as the full moon, it would have been easy to mistake it for a disturbing mannikin or piece of art abandoned in the regio. As it was, there was no doubt as to the thing's animation - she moved like an insect shifting between absolute stability and insect-like flurry of action without warning. Jorgen did his best to suppress the insistent shouting from his legs, both of whom seemed keen on the idea of running away and not looking back.

He cleared his throat. And then cleared it again. "And is that the full message from your mistress, Madame Baroness?"

The thing moved, jerking forward, and suddenly its great dinner-plate face was barely six inches from Jorgen's. It did not blink, its eyes fixed on those of the civil servant. Its thin lips split into a broad smile, revealing dozens of tiny little teeth like those of a child.

"Yes," it said, voice like cracking ice. "except perhaps to remind you that obviously the Pale Empress expects total honesty and sincerity in this matter, just as the Archmage would expect of Her."

Jorgen swallowed, and nodded his head jerkily.

The Baroness, having delivered her message, bowed her great luminous head and turned to leave. The winds whipped the sodden cloth of her ragged garb around her, and she paused for a moment. Her head, impossibly, began to move, swivelling independently of her spindly neck and body to face the Wintermarker. Its face was locked in a grotesque grimace and a strange greenish light had ignited behind its pale eyes.

"Oh." she said, as if just remembering some minor matter of trivial concern. "It is just possible that the Archmage has begun hearing things in his sleep. Bells at sea, perhaps, Haunting his dreams. Given the fall of the Lighthouse at Nikephoros and its implications, you understand. He is not to worry, or be afraid, or indeed pay it any mind. It will only... encourage them... you see?"

With his final cryptic remark, she took her leave fading away into the darkness without moving, grinning visage still facing the civil servants, her stick-think body facing the other way. The last things to fade were here eyes, which flared once like dreadful lamps just before she disappeared completely.

"Well that was bloody awful," said Jorgen's companion flatly after a few moments.

Jorgen didn't reply, just wrapped himself in his cloak and slipped his damp notebook into the satchel he wore beneath. As they turned back toward the hub, and the hot tea awaiting them, Jorgen once again gave silent thanks for the fact that he was not the Winter Archmage, and so did not need to deal with any of... this.

But it was some time before he slept a whole night in which his dreams not troubled by the distant sound of tolling bells and cracking ice.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">[[file:CathCane001b.webp|align=left|width=200]]</div>
==Overview==
* '''Six eternals have responded to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''4 of them have agreed to some sort of meeting at the Spring Equinox, while 2 have taken other steps'''
Every season, each of the six [[archmage|archmages]] is empowered to send a single [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] message to an [[eternal]] of their realm. The eternals are bound to respond, although not always in a way the archmage may wish. Sometimes they will arrange personal meetings; often they will send their own emissaries to treat with the Empire in the form of the archmage; occasionally they take direct action in response to the requests contained in the missive; rarely they decline formally although even then they will tend to communicate the reasons for their unhappiness.

Following the Winter Solstice, as the new year dawns, six eternals have responded to invitations to [[Archmage#Parley|parley]] via their emissaries.
==Pale Empress==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Skathe001.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Skathe of the Thrice-cursed Court offers parley in a suitable chamber at 21.55 on Saturday'''
* '''Along with the Archmage, the Grandmaster of the Celestial Arch and the Custodian of the Bleak Tower are invited to attend the parley'''
* '''The Archmage of Winter is Ematius of the Great Library of Ankarien'''
It is a dark and stormy night when a towering figure emerges from the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]]. Dressed in a striking tattered black dress and nearly nine feet tall, she introduces herself as the ''Baroness of All Pains'', a member of the cursed court of the ''[[Skathe|Hag Queen]]''. She speaks in a voice that cracks like ice to relay the word of the Witch of the Thrice-Cursed Court to the civil servants at the Hub.

Apparently ''Her Imperial Majesty of Cares'' would be ''delighted'' to welcome the [[Archmage of Winter]] to formal parley at the Spring Equinox, at five to ten on Saturday night in a chamber she is already preparing for just this very purpose. The ''Lady of Laments'' is grateful for the Archmage's admission that events that transpired in [[the League]], (in [[In_the_garden_of_defiance|enlightened Holberg]] and [[The DOOM that came to Sarvos|beautiful Sarvos]]), were down to the actions of Zephaniah's Lament and not she, the ''Giver of Gifts''. The Baroness explains that her mistress would be happy to clear up any lingering doubts or questions about that sorry affair, which was of course initiated by members of that unlamented [[Highguard|Highborn]] chapter when they reached out to the ''Painted Mirror'' for help - help that was freely offered and accepted at a known price. She would be happy to continue the general conversation that was begun in the halls of the ''Charred Prince'' so recently, as well, though she intends to be discreet on the matter.

Having delivered this preamble, the Baroness of All Pains begins to cackle at the thought of what follows, and she begins once more to relay her queen's words. The ''Hexenkönigin'' would be happy to have the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] and the [[Custodian of the Bleak Tower]] join the Archmage as his right and left hand, as the [[Urizen|masters of the High Peaks]] have always been her most favourite and brilliant companions in the long and constant years she has been a friend to the Empire. She is excited to hear of the well of bitterness towards the [[Druj]] that the Archmage claims swells within the heart of the [[Varushka|heirs of Alderei the Fair]] and the [[navarr|scions of Terunael]].

She has, at great effort, prepared a smattering of generous gifts to assist in bringing weal to the many inhabitants of the [[Sarangrave]]. This will, however, depend on whether the Archmage and his companions can weave a suitably delightful and sincere picture of the Empire's blackened heart and their committed, spiteful, hateful intent to strike back at the wicked Druj. If it seems their heart is not in it in the moment, then she is sure someone else can make use of her gifts, so the Archmage needn't worry on her account. The tall figure sneers as she remarks that, of course, the ''Pale Empress'' expects total honesty and sincerity in this matter, just as the Archmage would expect of her, and then departs.
==Invisible Hand==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ephisis001.webp |align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Emissaries of the City of Gold and Lead have responded to the Autumn archmage by interceding directly'''
* '''They present proposals in the [[Louder than words]] wind of fortune'''
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Edmundo of Damakan's forge'''
The trade envoy who emerges from the Imperial regio shortly after the Winter Solstice is swathed in silken veils. This is not the first time they (or someone very like them) has visited [[Anvil]] on behalf of the [[Ephisis|City of Gold and Lead]]. In answer to the plenipotentiary of the Autumn Archmage, the City chooses to take direct action. Specifically, a number of assessors, brokers, and long-term planners have been dispatched from the City, not only to the Empire but also into [[Otkodov]]. The City has good relations with the [[Thule]] in general, and has agreed to draw on their relationship to see what can be done about the request of the redoubtable Edmundo. The herald offers a personal plaudit to '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''', thanking them for their commendably concise and informative missive that leaves little doubt as to what the Archmage desires.

Obviously, the City of Gold and Lead cannot deliver its findings immediately - they will need time to talk to mortals in both the north and the south - but they offer assurances that the agents of the ''Invisible Hand'' will return shortly before the Spring Equinox to share their findings with their Imperial customers. The herald notes that there will be no additional charge for this service at this time; the City is well pleased with the Empire's commitment to trade and commerce at all levels from the remarkable response to the markets taking greater control of the [[Ephisis' Scale]] ritual all the way down to the constant flow of money and goods that swirls through Anvil during a summit.

In due course, detailed proposals are presented to the hub, as well as to a number of universities and the offices of respected builders and traders, a few weeks before the Spring Equinox. The details of their efforts are included in the '''[[Louder than words]]''' wind of fortune.

==Mistress of Ice and Darkness==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:CathCane002.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Cathan Canae will send her favoured lieutenant Volstann the Eater of Boars to take counsel with the Archmage'''
* '''The boisterous messenger is expected to meet the Archmage in their hall at 20.00 on Friday'''
* '''The Archmage can bring up to four additional people - Cathan Canae has suggested one on these be the Legion Engineer'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
Midway between Winter and Spring, with a thick layer of frost on the ground in the Imperial Regio, a massive dog-like creature emerges without fanfare and plods down to the civil service hub. It is a stout hound, similar to a St Bernard but built on a much larger scale. Five feet at the shoulder, with rolls of thick skin that shift as it stomps about its business, the only other sign that it is not a mundane beast is that it wears a suit of boiled leather or hide barding tooled with the runes of [[Verys|strength]] and [[Tykonus|victory]]. It has fierce fangs, but those who encounter it describe it as having "gentle eyes" - whatever that means. When it reaches the Hub, it plonks down with a tired sigh in the middle of the entrance and refuses to budge. When one of the civil servants musters the courage to approach, they find that hung around its neck is a carved ivory scroll tube. The beast stares impassively as numb fingers work the catch to retrieve the scroll and then, without a backward glance, the massive creature heads back to the Imperial regio and returns whence it came.

The message scroll bears greetings from the court of the [[Cathan Canae|Mistress of Blizzards]] in response to the missive from '''Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''. The Queen on the Throne of Ice requests parley, and intends to send her trusted servant ''Volstann Eater of Boars'' to speak on her behalf. The meeting cannot take place in Kalpaheim, but rather will take place in the Hall of Heroes, a part of Volstann's personal hall that sits between the [[Realm#Summer|Summer realm]] and the mortal world. The primary topic of conversation will be the terms regarding Imperial access to the [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|frozen citadels]]. The [[Frozen_Citadel_of_Cathan_Canae#Assurance|assurance]] of the ritual is not up for discussion, but there is an opportunity here for the Archmage to make their case with regard to the Empire's cowardly ceding of its territory to satisfy their enemies.

On the matter of Eoradal, Cathan Canae has an interest in the Imperial Orcs' new territory and how they intend to hold it. As such she proposes that the Archmage bring along the [[Legion Engineer]] to make their own case to Volstann as to how the ''Immovable One'' might offer her aid. Why she should be interested, what they will offer in return, and why they seek her aid instead of that of the [[Adamant|Dragon Beneath the Mountain]].

While the defenders of Redoubt are clearly heroes, the ''Great Bear'' wishes to know why the Archmage considers the three she has mentioned worthy of especial note ahead of all the other protectors of the Empire who fight and shed blood to keep their enemies at bay. Why these three, why this conflict? Furthermore, there will be no talk of Sydanjaa. It is not a matter than the ''Crown of Black Ice'' has any interest in, and neither does her retainer. Indeed, the matters to be discussed - citadels, the Empire's dominion, and the building in Eoradal - are clear and significant digression is unwelcome.

The message ends by saying that the Archmage is invited to bring no more than four other individuals with her to speak with Volstann - which can include the Legion Engineer if they wish The meeting will take place at eight o'clock on Friday evening, and Vosltann's hall will be reached via the Hall of Worlds - which may mean the Archmage will need to secure means for those who are not magicians to accompany them.

==Father of Bats==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Sadogua001d.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''The Night eternal Sadogua agrees to a parley but intends to send some of his heralds to meet with the magicians of the Empire on his behalf'''
* '''They are expected to arrive in the Hall of Worlds at around 21.30 on Saturday'''
* '''At the same time Sadogua wishes to speak with some members of the Unfettered Mind in a more private setting about the Lyceum'''
* '''The meeting with the Unfettered Mind will take place at the same time as the more celebratory meeting in the Hall of Worlds'''
* '''The current archmage of Night is Eliina "Realm's Visionary" Lailasdottir'''
Shortly before the Spring Equinox, a pompous little figure in a remarkable red and black coat that drags along the ground behind them, appears at the hub and delivers a message from their lord and master, the redoubtable ''[[Sadogua|Brother of Wizards]]''. ''Globbersnotch'' thanks the Archmage of Night for proposing an inspirational banquet, and as such requests what he refers to as "informal parley" - everyone agrees not to hit each other but the daft rule about who can speak when is ignored. In return he will send some of his most favoured children, agents, emissaries, apprentices, and friends to visit with Imperial magicians, and enjoy the music, poetry, stories, art, and dance on his behalf. Some of those [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] will be in a position to speak on his behalf on various topics, such as the ''Cup of Dreams'', and potentially even provide a new burst of power to the trinkets he has given to Imperial magicians in the past. He is particularly hopeful that a certain ''imp of magic'' might be in attendance, with tales of the sorceries the little frog has helped support since last he spoke to it.

He also invites the [[Arcane Architect]] to seek counsel with some of his heralds, so that the ''Father of Bats'' might consider if there are other ways he could help them discharge their duties. Also any magicians of [[the Marches]] might seek his apprentices and discuss matters of magic - the ''Toad King'' is interested in where their magical studies will take them next. He wishes to remind them that this is the last season they will have easy access to the [[Upwold#Well_of_Shadows|Well of Shadows]] - when the Summer Solstice dawns he will be seeking a new scholar in the well to enjoy its gifts. Hopefully the magicians of Wintermark responsible for the recent [[Stars_and_sigils#Feast_For_Kallavesa|splendid enchantment]] will also be there - some of his heralds are keen to learn more about this excellent piece of magic. Finally, the magicians of Navarr might discuss the magical places they consider to be under threat in Therunin and what they think ''Wyrmwynd'' can do about it. It would also be ideal if whoever was... ah... ''honouring'' a certain wyrm-like creature in the Hall of Worlds during the last summit found a suitable herald to speak to about it. Quietly given how much trouble it might get people into.

And of course anyone else who would normally attend these things - he hopes that even if they don't speak to one of his emissaries the magicians of Anvil take this opportunity offered by the Archmage of Night to relax a little during trying times.

The heralds of Sadogua intend to arrive in the hall of worlds around half-past-nine on Saturday evening, and hope that will not cause too many difficulties for the Archmage of Night following so closely on the heels of Conclave.

At the same time his chosen servants are celebrating with Imperial magicians, the ''Brother of Wizards'' wishes to meet with some members of the [[Unfettered Mind]] to discuss the matter of the [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#The_Lyceum|Lyceum]]. '''Palaphon Ankarien''' is of course invited to attend this meeting, but he requests that the [[Archmage of Night]] remain to ensure nothing goes wrong with his heralds. He hopes to meet at most half a dozen Unfettered Mind magicians to hear their suggestions as to how to handle the wards he has placed around the island of the Lyceum - how to get Imperial magicians in and out without risking enemies gaining access - given that after he put [[Patterns_of_fairytales#The Hidden Lyceum|his guardian beasts]] into the mists he pretty much ran out of ideas. The hypnotic ''Wyrm of Sleggoth'' and the deadly ''Nightwing'' may in fact have made matters slightly worse as it turns out they are not brilliant at differentiating attacking ships from friendly ships. The ''Toad-King'' is adamant however that ''only'' members of the Unfettered Mind are invited to attend - he is still in ''a bit of a difficult mood'', confides the short herald.

That ''difficult mood'' probably goes some way to explaining two appendices to the message. First, [[Varushka|Varushkan]] members of the Unfettered Mind should probably be very cautious about attending the meeting to discuss the Lyceum, and be prepared for things to "''go tits up''" when the ''Brother of Wizards'' loses his temper. And secondly, Sadogua has apparently rather snippily suggested that the Archmage of Night make sure nobody kidnaps any of his beloved heralds and carries them off to start new lives as Varushkan lawn adornments, or whatever.

It seems the ''Globbersnoth'' is ''still'' very unhappy about the [[Ossium#Towers_of_Zulgan_Tash|Towers of Zulgan Tash]].

==Zie of the Morning==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ylenwe001.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Ylenwe offers zir assistance in dealing with the matter of the white forest
* '''Zie has also offered aid in the matter of damming the Doubt in Spiral
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka'''
On a day of gentle Spring showers, a quiet herald with mottled silver and indigo scales arrives at the Hub. they carry a lyre of beautiful blue wood, and quietly ask for a stool to sit on. While they pluck harmonious notes from the strings of their instrument they deliver a message from ''[[Ylenwe|the Dove]]'', the ''Mistress of Music''. Zie has heard the words of the [[Archmage of Day]] but must decline formal parley at this time. That is not to say zie cannot offer aid in the matters requested - far from it - only that zie does so from arm's reach. The herald-musician plays quietly on their lyre as they provide further details, allowing the civil servants plenty of time to make notes.

The goal of bringing fresh water to [[Mareave]] is laudable, although Ylenwe hopes that the Empire has considered that they are disrupting the natural order in pursuit of a transformation that might, ultimately, prove costly to maintain. Bringing water into an environment where it does not naturally flow can be challenging indeed, and may of course bring unexpected consequences. The recent inundation of [[the Brass Coast]] is perhaps a case in point. Yet zie judges that the proposals put forward are likely gentler and more harmonious than those which unleashed the unconstrained fury of the Scorrero. The damning of the Doubt is a fascinating project; even as zir messenger comes to Anvil zie has dispatched [[Inhabitants of the realms#heralds|heralds]] to [[Spiral#Apstrus|Solen's Doubt]] to see what could be done about the dangers there. This matter is addressed in more detail in the [[TBC]] wind of fortune.

There is nothing Ylenwe has to say about the churning chaos of Sydanjaa - zie does not believe zie has anything to add about that mournful place and the sad traditions associated with it. The other matter that is worthy of discussion. however, is that of the warped white wood in [[Skarsind]], and zie believes that there are real possibilities for zir help. As the Archmage has provided music, so ''Zie of the Morning'' will provide notes of zir own.
====Song of the White Wood====
* '''Ylenwe presents an opportunity to use the Music of the Spheres to cleanse the white wood of Skarsind'''
* '''Completing the cleansing requires a complex ritual using magical notes, and a sapling taken from the tainted woods'''
The situation at the white wood in Skarsind is quite different to Bulgakov, and as such requires its own approach. Whereas in Bulgakov the area could simply be cleansed of Cold Sun's influence, the wood is said to be in "dissonance" with its surroundings - though what this claim actually means, neither Ylenwe nor any herald has explained. This dissonance, apparently, is where the danger lies. Bringing the wood into harmony with itself and the wider [[Skarsind#Southpines|Southpines]] would not return it to its original form, but would render the dangerous [[Day magic]] remaining in the area inert. It’s not known what the precise effects of the transformed but harmonised wood would be, but its harmonization can be achieved through the [[Music of the spheres]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''Out of Character info:'''<br>Some players who have ranks of Day Lore and whose resource is a [[mana site]], will find a chime ribbon in their pack at the start of E2. A chime represents a mana crystal which has been infused with particular day magic. It can be phys repped in the same way as you normally phys rep your mana crystals.<br>To extract the melody from a chime, cast [[Distillation of Diverse Parts]] on it at the regio. Please process the ritual with a referee before doing the roleplay. The ritual will destroy the chime.<br>To use a chime before performing a melody ritual as part of aligning the white tree to a particular mode of [[Music of the spheres]], simply hand the ribbon to the referee overseeing the white wood ritual before beginning to perform.</box></div>
To harmonise the white wood, Ylenwe asks that a single tree from the edge of the forest be brought to the Imperial regio in Anvil. Musicians of the Empire could then wash this tree in melodies of powerful resonance which, once the tree is planted back at the edge of the wood, will sing from tree to tree and transform the resonances of the area into perfect harmony.

Since receiving the archmage’s correspondence, Ylenwe has considered the state of discordance currently affecting the Southpines. During this season of contemplation, zie claims to have spent a moment singing to the crystalline mana structures being grown at the mana sites of certain Day mages throughout the Empire. Zir songs have embedded in a small number of crystals like a seed, and grown into melodies of balance and consonance. Zie calls these transformed crystals ‘chimes’.

Even Ylenwe zirself does not know what form the chimes’ melodies have taken, but advises that their musical form reflects the Empire’s understanding of music of the spheres. As such, there are 7 different melodies hidden inside the crystals, one for each mode used within music of the spheres, each able to harmonise the tree to their associated realm.

Extracting the melodies from the chimes is a delicate procedure, but it can be achieved through casting Distillation of Diverse Parts with Ylenwe’s oversight. Until 23:00 on the Saturday of the spring equinox, casting the ritual on a chime whilst using the Imperial regio will result in the extraction of the melody.

On the Saturday of the spring equinox, Ylenwe will align the Imperial regio to zirself from 23:00-23:30TIMING TBC, making it possible to harmonise a tree from the white wood within this time period. For this to succeed, the tree must be placed within the Imperial regio. Up to six musicians must then step inside the regio, crush a chime of the relevant mode and spend two minutes performing the associated melody. This process should be repeated in sequence through each mode of the music of the spheres, from Ionian to Locrian.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''Accessibility info:'''<br>When casting Distillation of Diverse Parts on a chime, a sheet music transcription of the melody will be provided. It will also be possible to opt out of the transcription for any players who would prefer to use memorisation or transcribe it themselves.
For further accessibility information, please email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk before the event or find a ref during the event.</box></div>
For example, the sequence of rituals should begin with up to six musicians entering the regio, crushing an Ionian chime and spending two minutes performing music in the Ionian mode and incorporating the Ionian melody previously extracted from a chime.

Zie does warn that this process will not only transform the tree, but that any musician participating in the rituals will find their very self resonating in harmony with the mode they perform - with unknown, and possibly unpleasant consequences. If they were to then attempt to step inside the regio for a further ritual, they would produce a discordance which would disrupt the entire process. Each ritual will need a unique group of musicians to perform its melody.

==Brother Harvest==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ossegrahn001a.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''Ossegrahn has agreed to parley with the Archmage of Spring during the Spring Equinox'''
* '''The meeting will take place in a chamber at 15.00 on Saturday'''
* '''The Archmage can bring up to five additional people and Ossegrahn has suggested some whose presence might be useful'''
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Ibiss Briarheart'''
It is raining when the messenger of [[Ossegrahn|Lord Rain]] arrives at [[Anvil]]. They are a lithe, green skinned figure with long dark-blue hair wearing little more than a homespun tunic of blue wool that quickly becomes sodden. They appear supremely unconcerned by this, any more than they are worried about the mud churned up by the early spring downpour and the passage of Anvil's travellers. In a voice like water splashing over rocks they ask for directions to "the servants of the people" and eventually end up at the Hub where they reportedly drip over some quite important paperwork while delivering their message.

''Lord Rain'' welcomes the request for parley from '''Ibiss Briarheart''', the [[Archmage of Spring]]. He requests parley, and will speak directly to the archmage and a small number of others who wish to accompany him - no more than five additional people please. A chamber is being made ready, and will open from the Hall of Worlds at three in the afternoon on Saturday. ''Tarnfather'' is aware that this clashes with the [[Arcane Colloquium]] and will entirely understand if the Archmage and their party are slightly late.

The matter of bringing fresh water to Mareave is something ''Greenfount'' is eager to discuss, and has been following developments in the arid eastern territory with interest. He asks the Archmage ensure they bring several [[Imperial Orcs]] along with them to speak of what they think they need and how they think Ossegrahn can help. To make arid land like Mareave bloom and burst with life would be a grand project, one that he thinks might help the Empire better understand the [[Spring_magic#Healing_and_Vitality|renewal and life-affirming power]] of [[Spring magic]]. There are some founts of water in north-eastern Mareave in particular he may be able to help with, perhaps supplementing the progress the Imperial Orcs have made already with some aid of his own, if there are any suggestions as to how he might best offer his aid. With that in mind he suggests the Archmage may also wish to bring a representative of Spiral along with him, someone who can speak about the plans to release the waters of Solen's Doubt and to help channel them into Icarion. He is also eager to discuss the chances of peaceful resolution between the Brine Turtles and the Imperial Orcs - if he can help in any way he stands ready to do so.

Other matters are less appealing ''Llomon'' is prepared to talk about are this matter of a [[fane]] in [[Redoubt]], and why the [[Urizen]] think that he would desire such a thing, but does not entirely understand why they would want other eternals involved. [[The Chalice]] is something that the eternal knows about only through discussion with mortal magicians, and understands there is nothing gentle about it, nothing of ''true'' healing. He is prepared to listen, nonetheless, but the herald does not hide how sceptical the ''Rainkeeper'' is about it. Likewise mention of needing help to grow wholesome food on [[mana site|mana sites]] perplexes Ossegrahn. [[Fountain's Bounty]] is already known by the Urizen, and does just that. ''Brother Harvest'' is not opposed to helping if the problem can be properly explained to him because in the ideal world nobody should go hungry or thirsty. Perhaps it is a matter the Archmage can explain when they meet?

One matter that is ''not'' raised is that of the [[Declaration]] of [[Concord]] raised [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Ossegrahn_and_the_Brass_Coast|during the Winter Solstice]] by the [[Imperial Magus]], '''Izarra i Riqueza'''. Directed primarily to the people of [[the Brass Coast]], relating to [[Patterns_of_fairytales#Injuries of the Soul|decisions made]] during the [[Where_the_river_rises#Lamentable_Loss_of_Life|flooding of the Scorrero]] it does touch on boons offered by ''Healing Hand'' and apparent unhappiness that they were not used. As such it is notable that there is no talk of this in the plenipotentiary response - perhaps it is something the eternal plans to discuss in the parley?

There is however one other serious matter to discuss, but the herald carefully explains the details of their master's request so that it can be discussed before the parley. Time is short for Therunin, and the moment where the ''Leafbeard'' can help is fading fast.
====Regarding Peakedge Stead====
* '''Ossegrahn will continue to protect Peakedge Stead and the Houses of Healing, potentially permanently, against not only the Druj but any other threat'''
* '''In return he wishes the Imperial Conclave to permanently remove Rivers Run Red and Mountain Remembers Its Youth from Imperial lore'''
* '''This will require the Senate to reconsider the power of ''Remorse'' discussed several times previously'''
* '''Without this sacrifice, Ossegrahn cannot commit to protecting the ancient hospital from the Druj in Therunin'''
As the archmage has no doubt [[To_hold_death%27s_hand_in_mine#Rainfall|already seen]], ''Coomarta of the Rains'' has taken direct action in [[Therunin]] against the [[Druj]] and protected both [[Therunin#Peakedge_Stead|Peakedge Stead]] - its healers, patients, and defenders - and his [[Hand_of_the_Healers#Houses_of_Healing|Houses of Healing]]. The protection cannot last, however, and maintaining it against the spite of the Druj will require a significant sacrifice from the eternal himself. If he is to do this, he must be certain that the Empire is moving in the correct direction to justify this commitment. If the Empire can satisfy his request, he will do whatever it takes to ensure that Peakedge Stead and the Houses remain protected as long as they are under threat - not only by the Druj but also by the [[vallorn]]. If the Empire is sincere in its desire to destroy the ''folly of Terunael'' then Peakedge Stead will be threatened by old Tharunind, even if the current threat is neutralised. Ossegrahn believes that the ancient hospital, coupled with his own houses of healing, will provide a powerful sanctuary for those who fight the vallorn in Therunin and perhaps even Sarangrave.

But before he is prepared to commit to this, he wants the Empire to make a commitment of their own. He asks that the Imperial Conclave remove [[Rivers Run Red]] and [[Mountain Remembers Its Youth]] from Imperial Lore. ''Bogfearthen'' knows this is not a power the Conclave has - but it is one that could be given to them by the [[Imperial Senate]]. The so-called power of [[Interdiction#Remorse|Remorse]], the ability to permanently remove a ritual from the body of Imperial Lore. It will be a challenge for the Senate to both provide this power and for the Conclave to use it, but ''Willowbraid'' believes that if they are truly committed they can achieve it.

In addition to continuing to protect Peakedge Stead and the Houses of Healing, when the current protection fades from [[Thornsinger#Thornsong_House|Thornsong House]], ''Beckburn'' will be happy to discuss enfolding it in his ring of protection also, although that will require a further expenditure of his power it will be much less than what is needed to establish the permanent ring of protection. Finally, if the Archmage wishes, Ossegrahn is prepared to discuss a way for Imperial magicians to gain access to his children that create these walls of impenetrable thorns and water, with an eye toward codifying it and adding it to Imperial Lore to protect other threatened places. Backed by Ossegrahn's power the protection offered would rival a [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|Wooden Fastness]], although it would be restricted to defending a single region rather than warding a whole territory. The Archmage says that the Empire is in more danger than it has been before, and so Ossegrahn can offer at least a little assistance if they choose to accept it.

If the Senate and the Conclave are not in agreement, then the protection around Peakedge Stead will fail within a day of the Spring Equinox, and there will be nothing further Ossegrahn can do to preserve the hospital, its patients, or its brave defenders from the murderous impulses of the Druj. Even if they retreat immediately, they will do so after they have destroyed the ancient steading.

The civil service have issued guidance on the matter of timings around Remorse. If the Imperial Senate pass a motion to create the power on the Friday evening or Saturday afternoon session, then it would be possible for a Declaration of Remorse to be raised at the Saturday evening session of Conclave, provided that the declaration is submitted before 18:00. If a Declaration of Remorse is passed at the same summit as a Declaration of [[Dissemination]] for the same ritual, then no funds will be taken for the latter and a ritual text will not be created regardless of in what order each declaration is passed in.

==Plenipotentiary in Public==
* '''The opportunity to allow archmages to make their plenipotentiary messages public remains available'''
Last season the [[Prefect of the Conclave|prefects of the Conclave]] presented a potential additional power to be used with plenipotentiary - the ability to make the wording of the missive public knowledge. The [[Imperial Conclave]] has not chosen to embrace this power, but given it is simply a procedural change the opportunity to do so remains available to the magicians of the Empire for the foreseeable future - unless something significantly changes. The change is discussed in detail in the '''[[Secret_meeting#Have_a_Little_Faith|Secret meeting]]''' wind of fortune.
==Timetable==
These meetings are taking place in a number of places; in chambers reached via the Hall of Worlds. The times, and the eternals involved, are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 20.00 || Cathan Canae || Summer || Meeting with Volstann, in a chamber
|-
| Saturday|| 15.00 || Ossegrahn || Spring || Formal parley, in a chamber
|-
| Saturday|| 21.30 || Sadogua || Night || Informal meeting in the hall of worlds, and a chamber
|-
| Saturday|| 21.55 || Skathe || Winter || Formal parley, in a chamber
|-
|}

Patterns of fairytales

2025-06-03T10:52:09Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* A Grand Lodge */ Spelling

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Winds of Magic]]
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Lesser short-nosed fruit bat.jpg|caption=Bats, specifically bats in the Marches, have been particularly active over the last few months.|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
Magic is everywhere, but not everything is magic. Here we talk of many different things - rituals cast, the doings of the [[Imperial Conclave]], the often contradictory demands of the [[eternal|eternals]]. A grab bag of stories - some of them nearing their ends, some of them floundering in the middle, some of them barely begun.

There are a number of other winds that talk about magical events in the Empire; of particular interest might be [[Secret meeting]], which covers the responses to the [[Archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiaries]], [[Hammers and boxes]] which in particular discusses special uses of the ritual [[Ephisis' Scale]], and [[Gifts of a green mother]] that talks about boons provided by [[Yaw'nagrah]] to those brave - or foolish - enough to seek them.

==Mortal Magic==
Not every strange event is magic, not every magical thing is strange. Magic can be familiar or alien, and may be different things to different people. It isn't always the purview of magicians either - there is magic in all kinds of places from the herbs favoured by physick and apothecary to the materials drawn from mines and forests. One thing is sure though, from the most mundane [[hearth magic]] to the strange influence of [[Astronomancy|the stars]], to the vagaries of fate and chance, it changes what it touches..

[[Regrow the Land's Heart|Gentle rains]] fall on [[Feroz]] and [[Upwold]]. In the former territory it helps to wash away some of the scars of years of occupation by the rapacious Governor Rahab. Magical citadels are conjured across the Empire, providing protection against the threat of barbarian nations. Cold prosperity comes to certain herb gardens in [[Hahnmark]], invoked by the magicians of Wintermark, as the servants of [[Sorin]] visit to ruthlessly cull weak or less-than-useful plants. Who knows what boon the eternal may ask for this blessing?

Here then are examples of magic mortals have inspired, great and small.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Chalice.jpg|title=Order of the Silver Chalice|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Chalice and Water===
* '''The Silver Chalice order are offering aid to those caught by the flooding of the Scorrero'''
* '''They will be engaged in helping relieve the suffering in Segura and Kahraman until the Summer Solstice 387YE'''
Following the [[Where_the_river_rises#Lamentable_Loss_of_Life|terrible events]] in [[the Brass Coast]] caused by the flooding of the Scorerro river, [[Grandmaster]] '''Fausta Ankarien''' [[Concord#Guiding_an_Order|guided]] the [[Silver Chalice]] to "''offer succour to those in need who have suffered as a result of the river Scorrero flooding''." The [[Imperial Conclave]] agreed and [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Guide_Silver_Chalice|provided some support]], while the Grandmaster also collected a large number of healing herbs to help ease the suffering of those in Segura and Kahraman.

When the river rose, many settlements along the Scorrero in [[Segura]] aand [[Kahraman]] were taken by surprise. Their homes and fields have been washed away, and many were forced to flee the surging river waters with little more than their lives and the clothes on their backs. The [[egregores]] believe that more than two hundred people of all ages perished in the floods, and easily twice that number sustained significant injuries. Many, many more lost their homes or livelihoods. Sickness threatens to spread as the waters recede, and drinkable water becomes scarce thanks to filthy waters tainting wells and streams. Starvation becomes a very real threat, with food stores ruined and Winter approaching.

Into this chaos come the members of the Silver Chalice. Those magicians versed in the arts of the [[Surgical skills#Physick|physick]] and the [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecary]] set to work using the collected herbs to quell sickness, mend shattered bodies, and soothe wounded spirits. Magical healers are able to mend limbs, and treat the symptoms of disease before they can spread. Ritual magicians skilled in [[Winter magic|Winter]] and [[Day magic|Day]] lore help to restore or preserve food and drink, while [[Spring magic|Spring adepts]] are in demand everywhere for their healing powers.

Everything that can be done by the order is being done. The loss of life does grow, slowly, to the grief of many offering their support to the people of the Brass Coast, but the extra lives lost are a fraction of what they could have been. The intervenion of the order has saved the lives of hundreds of people if not more. Yet the work is not done. The Scorrero remains fattened, and may never return to its old course. Houses, farms, businesses - all have been ruined. People have nowhere to live, and great tent towns have grown up on the dry land near the swollen river.

While there has been some damage in Kahraman, it is Segura that has borne the brunt of the furious river. The two main bridges connecting Segura and the [[Segura#Sunset_Roads|Sunset Roads]] to the rest of the Empire are [[Where_the_river_rises#Crossing|broken into kindling]]; only the Sobral Bridge remains. This hampers access to Segura from the north - it is impossible to reach the territory from Madruga at all and the only secure way to enter the [[Segura#Sobral Grasses|Sobral]] remains via [[Kahraman#Gambit|Gambit]] in [[Kahraman]]. The town of Cerevado has been particularly unlucky; buildings along the waterfront are flattened or in some cases carried away by the flood.

The [[Cerevado Nets]] remain [[Where_the_river_rises#Glitter|damaged]], and after a glut of [[ilium]] following the floods '''Lexis i Leharo i Guerra''' will receive no more star metal until they are repaired. The Sunset Roads remain closed.

Thanks to the Silver Chalice, the people displaced by the floods will slowly rebuild their lives. Even if there is no further intervention, by the start of the Summer Solstice 387YE the worst of the damage will be cleared - although the matters of the Cerevado Nets and the bridges across the Scorrero will need more than the presence of the Silver Chalice to reolve.
====Injuries of the Soul====
* '''Ossegrahn is dismayed that the Empire chose to save property over people'''
* '''Some look to the Chalice to challenge the decision to prioritise property over people'''
There are a few heralds of [[Ossegrahn]] in Segura and Kahraman offering their particular aid to the people there. They are disappointed that the magicians who caused the Scorrero to break its banks chose not to use the boon the ''Tarnfather'' had provided that would have reduced loss of life by focusing the wrath of the risen river against ''things'' rather than ''people''. They don't go out of their way to spread this news, but those Freeborn who ask about it waste no time telling their neighbours. The Conclave [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Endorsement:_Casting_Raise_the_Rivers|endorsed]] the casting of the ritual, agreeing that it was necessary to deal with the greater threat of the Blight in Madruga. That is the right of the Conclave, and even those who have lost their homes can see the importance of not letting that blight spread to consume the Brass Coast.

Yet talk of that boon of Ossegrahn rankles. The Silver Chalice exists to "''ensure that Conclave is reminded of the value of life, and that it makes decisions with that value in mind''." Why, ask the refugees from the swollen river, did Conclave choose to save things rather than people? What was their thinking?

At the moment, people are too busy trying to survive or somehow repair their broken livelihoods. They are sad, more than angry, at what they are hearing. Still they look to the Chalice to challenge the Conclave in the hope of getting some answers, a sentiment that is echoed by ''Bogfearthan's'' heralds.

====A Grand Lodge====
* '''A declaration of endowment giving the ''Silver Tears'' 25 mana crystals would see new plans brought forward for a grand lodge for the Silver Chalice'''
While working to resolve the [[Parched earth|Parched Blight]], the Silver Chalice first put forward the idea of building a [[Parched_earth#Grand_Lodge|Grand Lodge]] to serve as a central meeting place for members of the order. Since then [[Lit_up#Grand_Lodge|developments in Mareave]] have temporarily put a halt to any such plans. However, in recent years, the Silver Chalice has come to the aid of the Brass Coast more than once, helping them deal with potentially existential threats, and that aid has not gone unnoticed.

A small group of wealthy Freeborn from Kahraman, Madruga, and Segura have approached the Silver Chalice members helping deal with the aftermath of the flood with a proposal. They would very much like to see a grand lodge of the Silver Chalice built on the Coast and have formed a parador, the Silver Tears, to try to help. Having seen what the Golden Pyramid are proposing they can how such a thing could provide valuable benefits to the Order and to whichever territory it is built in. The Silver Chalice are popular and well liked on the Coast - what better place for it?

Ideally they would like to create something on the scale of the one put forward for Mareave, or perhaps even a little ''more'' ambitious. After all, the Silver Chalice is the most important order in the Conclave, they really ought to have a grand lodge that reflects that. And besides, the Chalice came up with the idea ''first'', so why let the Pyramid take all the glory? But they understand that money is limited and the Chalice may prefer something more modest so that they can devote their resources to helping others.

They intend to do the work to create plans for such a structure, but being Freeborn they expect fair payment for their work. Should the [[Imperial Conclave]] pass a [[Declaration]] of [[Endowment]] providing the Silver Tears with 25 crystal mana from the font, then by the Spring Equinox they will prepare a plan to build a grand lodge for the Silver Chalice in the coast. The declaration would need to determine ''where'' in the Brass Coast it was to be built. Kahraman feels like a poor choice, but Segura, Feroz, or Madruga would all provide a suitable location for such a lodge.

If the wording of the declaration encourages them to produce something ambitious, they will aim for something even more impressive than the structure proposed for Mareave. If the wording encourages them to produce something practical, they will make plans for something more modest. If it isn't clear, they'll produce something on the same scale as Mareave.

This opportunity is only available at the Winter Solstice. The civil service indicate that an order can only have one grand lodge, so if the Silver Chalice do ultimately build a grand lodge here, they could not build one elsewhere in the Empire.

====Participation====
Any member of the Silver Chalice may have joined the efforts to help people in Segura and Kahraman, which are still ongoing. They will have spent their time healing the injured, fighting sickness, and helping ensure displaced people had sufficient food, drink, and other supplies.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=ClawIllustrationInk.JPG||align=right|width=200}}</div>

===Shrouds and Stars===
* '''The Penumbral Veil has been drawn across most of the Empire'''
* '''Magicians drawing on the Claw in their magic may experience a roleplaying effect'''
After the Autumn Equinox, the [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil|Penumbral Veil]] settled across the entire Empire - or at least those parts of it that are Imperial territories. While the night skies above the rest of the Empire twist and change, those above [[Madruga]], [[Mournwold]], and [[Therunin]] are untouched as are those above [[Casinea]] for some reason. For the last three months, then, anyone travelling at night in an Imperial territory finds the night sky appears strange and unfamiliar - some stars are not where they are expected to be; the moon often seems closer, or further away, or in unexpected phase; there are new lights in the sky, sometimes of marvellous colour, where no stars have been seen before. These effects are subtle - nothing like the wholesale warping of the entire nocturnal heavens that are sometimes observed when this ritual is cast. But they are noticeable if one knows what to look for. The effects of ''Drawing the Penumbral Veil'' are quite durable - so it is likely to be at least a year or more before things return to normal.

At the same time the sky is being altered, three constellations are made particularly pronounced. [[The Mountain]] and [[The Great Wyrm]] have clearly come into a powerful conjunction of some kind, with wide-reaching effects on Imperial magic. At the same time, the constellation of [[the Claw]] seems especially pronounced. Those who know where it is, and what it looks like, find their eyes are drawn to it whenever they see the night sky. The sensation of gazing on the Claw may make sensisive people (especially [[naga]] or [[merrow]]) a little uneasy.

If it is invoked it in an [[astronomancy|astronomantic]] ritual, any contributor to that ritual will feel its power particularly strong and immediate. Anyone who wishes may experience the [[roleplaying effect]]: ''you feel an urge to assert your dominance over anyone who challenges you, or seek a physical confrontation with anyone you feel has wronged you. Violence seems easy and satisfying.'' This effect lasts for at least half an hour if a player chooses to embrace it.

'''OOC Note:''' Obviously Profound Decisions cannot (yet) change the night sky, if you are somewhere affected by the veils at night you should feel free to have in-character arguments about whether such and such a star or constellation is in the right place, or whether the moon looks peculiar or not, or how bright the Mountain, Great Wyrm, and Claw are tonight.

===Wyrm and Mountain===
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=MountainIllustrationInk.JPG|title=The Mountain (Illus.)|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''A Grand Conjunction of the Great Wyrm and the Mountain has had a profound effect on magical laws'''
Imperial [[astronomancy|astronomancers]] have marked a rare Grand Conjunction of [[the Great Wyrm]] and [[the Mountain]] in the skies above the Empire. The stars known as ''Uril, Who Twists'' and ''Omadan, Who Breaks All Names'' seem particularly bright, and there is a great deal of discussion as to what it might mean (if anything) that these two stars are generally seen as being the end of the tail and the point of the snout of the notional celestial Wyrm.

The impact of this conjunction has already been felt by magicians, with siesmic changes to the way certain types of magic, specifically those associated with warfare, function. The changes in these magics have been carefully checked and rechecked by the magicians of the [[Unfettered Mind]] as part of their ongoing research on rituals in Imperial lore that might have an eternal assurance underpinning them. They are not temporary in nature; this is a permanent alteration to the way [[Imperial army|armies]], [[military unit|warbands]], and [[fleet|ships]] are [[enchantment|enchanted]], and to how certain divinations work.

By exploring these changes, the Unfettered Mind have uncovered some interesting insight into the design of [[arcane projection|arcane projections]] functioning in these areas - and are reasonably confident that the impact of this conjunction is not yet finished.
====Unravelling====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GreatWyrmnowingsIllustrationInk.JPG|title=The Great Wyrm is the emblem of transformation and transfiguration.|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Arcane projections created before Winter 386YE that enchant armies, navies, military units, or fleets no longer work'''
* '''Such arcane projections are unravelling and may be exhanged for crystal mana'''
* '''The ability to exchange an arcane projection lasts until the end of the Autumn Equinox 387YE'''
* '''The inability to cast these arcane projections is permanent'''
The Unfettered Mind are also the first people to spot a peculiar phenomenon that seems to have started at the same time as the Grand Conjunction. The Great Wyrm is the [[The_Great_Wyrm#Symbolism|emblem of transformation and transfiguration]], not only that change will happen but that it is inevitable. It is especially common to invoke it in magical rites and processes that deal with magic itself, and it seems that this Grand Conjunction is having a direct impact on certain forms of magic - and certain forms of magical creation. Specifically [[arcane projection|arcane projections]] that deal with war and warfare.

Any arcane projection issued before E1-2025 that attempts to [[enchantment|enchant]] an [[Imperial army|army]] or [[Imperial navy|navy]] can no longer be cast. Likewise, arcane projections that involve enchanting a [[military unit]] or [[fleet]] will no longer function. The Grand Conjunction appears to have scrambled the magic bound into the projections themselves.

During the coming solstice, any arcane projection that no longer functions (those creating enchantments that target a military unit, fleet, Imperial army or Imperial navy), created before Winter Solstice 386YE, may be brought to GOD and exchanged for 10 crystal mana. This either represents someone intentionally speeding the unravelling process along to reclaim the mana invested in the projection, or might mean that in-character a valued projection (that the player no longer wants OOC) has fallen apart despite their best efforts. The ability to exchange defunct arcane projections for mana in this way will persist until the end of the Autumn Equinox 387YE.

'''OOC Note:''' You'll need to hand the arcane projection phys-rep over so we can mark it as inactive on our systems. We don't plan to reprint lost arcane projections for the event; if you have lost an arcane projection in downtime you can e-mail [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot@profounddecisions.co.uk] after the event with the details of the missing projection and we'll do our best to replace it in time for the Spring Equinox.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=DrownedManIllustrationInk.JPG|title=The Drowned Man (Illus.)|align=right|width=200}}</div>

====Drowned Man====
* '''It is currently not possible to create arcane projections that create a curse which targets an individual'''
While the drowned man is not part of the Grand Conjunction, astronomancers have indicated that there is a connection forming between its stars and those of the Great Wyrm. As a consequence, it is not possible to create an arcane projection that creates a personal [[curse]] - a curse that targets an individual. Such arcane projections that already exist can still be cast, but magicians of the Unfettered Mind theorize that it is only a matter of time before the same conjunctional effect that has diminished the power of warlike arcane projections effects arcane projections based around curses.

===The Littlest College===
* '''Access to the Loom of Spells will be auctioned at 14:00 on Sunday at the Imperial Regio'''
* '''Sanvar Isk has lost access to the Loom of Spells, and has apparently also lost the use of his knees'''
* '''The Loom of Spells is now controlled by the Church of The Little Mother'''

The salons of Tassato are desolate. Comedic playwrights and witty gossips wail and rend their garments. The worst boss in the Empire, the greatest buffoon of all the Autumn Realm, the orphan-kicker himself, Sanvar Isk, has lost access to the Loom of Spells. No more can his antics provide guaranteed laughs to anyone looking for a cheap and easy punchline. Some seek consolation in the fact that he was apparently violently assaulted and dragged off by a debt collector going by the wonderful name 'Charlie Kneecaps', but it provides only cold comfort. Then an unpopular street performer does something annoying again and everyone moves on to the next essential item of gossip.

In the mean time, it seems that Sanvar Isk's greatest enemies have picked up where he left off. The Church of The Little Mother has somehow managed to leverage their wealth and contacts to take over the contract for the Loom of Spells. Tassato's mountebanks, used to picking up odd shifts at the Loom and slacking off whenever the boss turned away, have learned to fear the children tasked with keeping them working. Still, at least they pay actual money these days. It could be a lot worse.

As the equinox draws nearer, a message is sent to the civil service. The Church of [[The_Little_Mother|The Little Mother]] intend to auction off the Loom once again, and apparently have decided not to break with Sanvar Isk's standard approach. A [[bishop]] of the Church will attend the Imperial Regio at 14:00 on Sunday of the forthcoming summit, where the auction will take place. Bids are to be given in mine or forest measures. It does not matter what measures are given, and bids may include a mixture of different materials. The only thing that matters is the raw quantity. They remind potential bidders that the Loom can only codify rituals of up to the tenth magnitude, but have established that the ritual Quick Study, which is part of Urizen lore, will work. The bishop taking the bids has been assigned as head of the work crews on the Loom this season, and may be targeted by this ritual if needed, though they will expect any bidders who require such a thing to have arranged their own casting and to be ready to cast it as soon as their bid is declared successful.

===Visions In The Swamp===
* '''The Raven Seer has tasked the Mystics of Ishal with finding a storied site for a new Meeting Place'''
* '''The Mystics of Ishal invite the Raven Seer and any mystics of Anvil who wish to join them to attend a traditional Goosewhisper ceremony'''
* '''A conjunction of the Sentinel gate will open to The Aviary of Ishal, Skymark, Kallavesa at 22:05 on Friday'''
It has not been long since the Mystics of Ishal scattered from their Aviary to pursue whatever trails the omens might lead them on. Two brief seasons of walking the world have gone by. During that time they have quickly begun to reap the rewards, finding opportunities last season to defend their ancestral homes in the Swamps of Kallavesa. This season the [[Raven Seer]] set them another task: find a storied site to [[A_stone_for_a_stone#Create_A_New_Meeting_Place|rebuild the Meeting Place]]. The Mystics have duly followed the signs that the world has given them, and have apparently found three potential places: the shores of Lake Nutjuitoq, where Tromsa meets the Suaq Wastes; Gull’s Isle, a tidal island in the Gullet that sits directly on the border between Kallavesa, Sermersuaq and Skallahn; and Coracle Rock, an ancient dolmen on the border between North Fens in Bregasland and Blutgahn in Hordalant. Any of these places, they are sure, could be a site for a new Meeting Place. There's only one problem: they have no idea why any of these places are important.

It is uncertain exactly how the visionary magic of the [[Goosewhisper Infusion]] works, and few mystics are inclined to question it. They are certain, however, that when numerous mystics have come together to meditate on matters of great importance, the visions can be powerful revelatory forces. Handfuls of soil and snow have been covertly gathered from these sites and scattered at a certain grove near the Aviary. If visions can be steered, then this would certainly steer them. Now they just need to wait for people to arrive.

There was a time when the [[Sentinel Gate]] opened every season to allow the mystics of Wintermark to return to the swamps and partake of Goosewhisper Infusion. As with so many patterns of the Empire's most mysterious artefact, it was not to last. Yet this season, prognosticators have identified that a conjunction of the gate will open at 22:05 on Friday of the forthcoming summit. It will lead to the Aviary of Ishal. The remaining Mystics of the Aviary, not at all surprised by this turn of events, intend to host a traditional Goosewhisper ceremony, as they have done many times before. Any mystic who wishes to attend is welcome to do so, though they will have to bring their own Goosewhisper - the Aviary is important, but not wealthy. The visions will, it seems, have something to say about these places and what their significance has been in the past.
===Animal Magic?===
* '''There are reports of an increase in the number of beast attacks in the north-west'''
As the Winter Solstice draws close, stories begin to spread of a marked increase in the number of beast attacks in [[Sermersuaq]] and neighbouring territories. Obviously, there are already dangerous beasts in Sermersuaq - the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Guardian|guardians]] unleashed by [[Agramant|Blood on the Snow]] and the [[Hayaak|Gryphon Prince]] - and they are certainly being a little more feisty than previous. But these stories involve attacks by more mundane animals - mammoths, lions, walruses, bears, even some unexpected creatures like normal-sized squirrels and even a few domestic pets or cattle. It's not clear what's causing this - it doesn't seem to be an [[enchantment]] or a [[curse]] as such. No additional loss of life is reported, but it is a little worrying nonetheless.

'''<big>Participation:</big>''' Anyone in the north-west, especially Sermersuaq, Hahnmark, Skarsind, or Hercynia, is welcome to roleplay that they have had an unpleasant and slightly unsettling encounter with an animal or beast. The exception is rats - nobody seems to be being attacked by rats. Not more than usual, anyway.

==Eternal Magic==
There are creatures beyond the mortal world, the inhabitants of the six realms of magic, closer than they seem, further away than can be imagined. They dabble and deal, bargain and bond, offer and take, and it's hard to predict exactly where their gifts will lead. The Empire can reach out to them through the powers of the [[Archmage]] and the [[Imperial Conclave]], but they also reach back - the one could not exist without the other - and sometimes their touch is gentle and sometimes it is harsh.

===Mists, Marshes, and Marchers (Sadogua)===
* '''Sadogua remains grumpy, and will not do more than the bare minimum in response to ''Dripping Echoes of the Fen'''''
* '''A successful meeting with a delegation from Wintermark has improved his mood somewhat with regard to Kallavesa'''
* '''Heralds from the Night Realm have attended several Wassail celebrations in the Marches'''
The ''[[Sadogua|Father of Bats]]'' has been in a terrible mood for the last year or more following the [[Ossium#Towers_of_Zulgan_Tash|Towers of Zulgan Tash Incident]]. As with previous seasons, his favoured servant the Almighty Panjandrum <s>have</s> has indicated that while he continues to honour the agreement that <s>underscores</s> underpins [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], he will not bring any additional power to bear in supporting it. As [[Skeleton_key#Empty_Echoes_(Sadogua)|in previous seasons]], the ritual will still work - it simply won't <s>perfect</s> protect anything beyond the region where it is cast. ('''OOC Note:''' The ritual can be cast normally, but it provides protection only the targetted region. If the region is attacked however, its effective strength is increased and it causes casualties as normal)
<div style="float:right;"><quote by="The Almighty Panjandum">"What's better than a wizard in a hat? Three wizards in a hat.</quote></div>
Furthermore, for the foreseeable future, the Almighty Panjandrum <s>won't</s> will continue to <s>eat</s> answer any [[Missive for Sadogua]] sent by a [[Varushka|Varushkan]] magician. They reassure such wizards that they are "''absoluticately commiticuled to the precisionist presentationism of the questions sent, and the exactimundic transcribbling of the Great One's repliction''."

====The Hidden Lyceum====
* '''Sadogua offers to extend the wards currently protecting the Lyceum'''
* '''If the Conclave accepts he will work with the orders to find ways to more permanently protect the island and its college of magic'''
The [[Madruga#The_Lyceum_(Hidden)|Lyceum]], the island where the Empire's first [[college of magic]] lies, is currently hidden away behind [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Objective:_Raise_the_Lyceum's_wards|warding mists]] that protect it from all outside. Unfortunately it also prevents anyone from getting to or from the island. The heralds of the ''Black Sloth'' are able to reach the island thanks in part to the [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#The Quiet Annexe|Quiet Annexe]] but mostly thanks to the Conclave having (possibly accidentally?) granted the ''Toad King'' [[Ritual_theory#The_Law_of_Dominion|Dominion]] over it.

As such, the [[Dean of the Lyceum]] can still [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#Guiding_the_magicians_of_the_Lyceum|guide the magicians]] there in codifying rituals and the eternal is more than happy to transport arcane projections, messages, and ritual texts back and forth. Indeed, the heralds of ''Wyrmwynd'' are ensuring that money spent by the Senate to pay for the vital supplies needed to upkeep of the college are getting through to the magicians who need them.

During the Autumn Equinox, the Imperial Conclave [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Sadogua,_Amity|accepted an offer]] from ''Fogforger'' to find a way to permanently protect the island from outside attack. The good news from Sadogua's heralds are that he has successfully achieved this task, and with surprising swiftness. Unfortunately, in an unrelated matter, the mechanisms that powered the wards of mist and storm form the island have been rather irreparably broken and it is unlikely anyone will ever find out how that happened. The good news is that the wards will not persist indefinitely, preventing anyone from reaching the island. For good measure, the ''Father of Bats'' has encouraged two [[Inhabitants_of_the_realms#Guardians|guardians]] of the [[Realm#Night|Night realm]] to take up residence in the mists - the subtle and hypnotic ''Wyrm of Sleggoth'' now guards the waters and the bat-like ''Nightwing'' guards the skies above. Even if someone should find a way to penetrate the mists, these guardians would likely make short work of them.

The bad news is that he still hasn't ''quite'' worked out a way to let people ''through'' the mists so that Imperial (and [[Commonwealth]]) magicians can get in and out. He is still working on that, but the important thing is that the Lyceum is now very safe indeed. He's confident that he will be able to find a workable solution by the end of the year probably, but also notes that in the event the [[Grandmaster]] of either the [[Unfettered Mind]] or the [[Shuttered Lantern]] were to consider [[Concord#Guiding_an_Order|guiding their order]] to assist him and his heralds they could find an answer much earlier - although it is likely to be a bit thrown together and expensive. Or the Conclave could simply wait it out - the Lyceum probably isn't going anywhere, and everyone on it is reasonably safe.
====Meeting of Minds====
* '''Dripping Echoes of the Fen cast on Rundahl Marsh will protect the entire territory'''
* '''The Brother of Wizards commends the Wintermark mystic Wiglaf'''
Last season, a delegation of [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]] [[Nightcall#Father_of_Bat|attended a meeting]] with the ''[[Sadogua|Black Sloth]]'' arranged by the mystic ''Brennir Calversbairn''. What passed between them during the meeting is not clear, but apparently some kind of accord was reached - at least in [[Kallavesa]] and the [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]]. Going forward, Sadogua pledges to support that ritual when it is cast on [[Kallavesa#Rundahl Marsh|Rundahl Marsh]] with the same amount of enthusiasm he used to support castings of the ritual across the Empire. That is, when Dripping echoes of the Fen is cast on Rundahl Marsh, the resulting [[Night magic]] and [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] will protect the entire territory rather than just that [[Territory#Regions|region]]. For the rest of the Empire, the ritual will continue to only affect the region it is cast on.

On the subject of Wintermark, the ''Brother of Wizards'' also commends the good work done by the mystic '''Wiglaf'''. His heralds suggest that they might wish to use [[Missive for Sadogua]] and let the ''Globbersnotch'' know what trinket or minor magic they would like for themselves in recognition of the amusement they have provided him.
====A Grand Wassail====
{{SOP|statement=We the priests of the Marches extend a formal invitation to Sadogua and his heralds to participate in Wassail. Come and partake in drink, food, and celebration alongside us across the Marches. We also invite Sadogua to relocate the door to the Well of Shadows to the Marches if he so wishes.|by=Rosie of Goatsbriedge|vote=Greater Majority 106-12|when=Autumn Equinox 386YE}}
* '''Heralds of the Night realm have visited Wassail celebrations across the Marches'''
* '''Sadogua offers a minor token of his appreciation to Marcher farmers that is a lot less illegal than those offered by Yaw'nagrah'''
* '''Marcher Landskeepers continue to have access to a certain Well of Shadows, whatever that is'''
The Marcher National Assembly upheld a [[statement of principle]] invited Sadogua and his heralds to participate in Wassail, and also to relocate the door to the Well of Shadows to the Marches. Following the Autumn Equinox, a surprising number of ''very'' odd creatures turned up to join in Wassail celebrations all over the Marches, even the [[Mournwold]]. There are even stories of [[Inhabitants of the realms|Night realm beings]] turning up to Marcher family gatherings across the Empire and even in some foreign nations. They are reasonably well behaved, excitable, full of fun and minor magics, and throw themselves into the various celebrations with enthusiasm. There is also a notable increase in the number of bats, and little black-scaled lizards, across the Marches many of whom have an unsettling ability to hold a conversation with anyone prepared to give them the time of day, especially children. Some of them have little hats.

The ''Toad King'' himself unfortunately is unable to attend, but nonetheless offers a small boon to the folk who have proved so welcoming to his heralds.
<div style="float:right;"><quote by="The Almighty Panjandum">You can't have the well of shadows if it's all poorly.</quote></div>
During the Winter Solstice, any Marcher farm that is enchanted with [[Blessing of New Spring]] but does ''not'' draw on the [[Gifts_of_a_green_mother#Chaos_on_the_Farm|boon of the Green Mother]] will grow a circle of black mushrooms somewhere within its bounds. Presuming they are collected on the night of the new moon and squeezed dry, they'll produce one of two black elixirs he calls ''Shinemoon''. ''Pale Shinemoon'' can be used to provide a ritual magician with a little inspiration when performing a ritual using [[Day]], [[Summer]], or [[Autumn]] magic while ''Dark Shinemoon'' does the same but for a ritual using [[Night]], [[Winter]], or [[Spring]] magic. He's a little disgruntled that [[Yaw'nagrah]] has rather stolen his <s>rattle</s> thunder, according to the Almighty Panjandum, but does point out that unlike the ''Old Bloodbark'', ''he'' has the <s>shoes</s> [[Alignment#Amity|amity]] of the [[Imperial Conclave]] and so it's not <s>time</s> illegal to accept ''his'' boons.

With regards to the Well of Shadows, it's not entirely clear what this means but at some point following the week after Wassail, a door appears in [[Upwold#Tower_March|Tower March]] a day's lazy hike east of King's Stoke. A meandering path, little more than a hunting trail, that nobody entirely remembers being there now connects the Stoke to the door, which is set into the bole of a massive ancient oak tree. The door is round, green, and resists all efforts to open it up to and including charging it healing with a log. The ''Brother of Wizards'' indicates that, in thanks for their continued friendship, one of the [[Landskeeper|landskeepers]] of the Marches can use his Well of Shadows twice more - after the Winter Solstice, and the Spring Equinox; they should already know how to let him know who they have chosen to study there. At the Summer Solstice however he will begin making other preparations. Presumably the landskeepers of the Marches know what this is about.

<big>'''Participation:'''</big> Any Marcher character is encouraged to make up stories about the antics of Sadogua's heralds, assuming they visited their Wassail celebrations, using the above as a guideline. They will have been reasonably well behaved, not disruptive, friendly, and with a quite astonishing capacity for food, drink, and discordant singing.

===A New Turn of the Wheel (Azoth)===
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=EightSpokedWheel.jpg|width=400|align=right}}</div>
* '''If the Eight Spoked Wheel ritual is cast on Friday evening before 23.00, it will have different effects'''
* '''On Saturday morning, those with a token from the ritual can gather in the Hall of Worlds to participate in an odd experience provided by Azoth'''
Have you ever seen alchemists working on that strange stage of their experiments where [[iridescent gloaming]] and [[weltsilver]] seem to run, to be more liquid than solid? The construct that delivers messages from ''[[Azoth|The Magnum Opus]]'' to the [[Astolat#The_Castle_of_Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] this season moved like that, with almost no evidence of bones, or structure of any kind to their being. They seemed rather to flow to the doorway, and just as quickly melt away again, leaving behind several handfuls of tiny dodecahedral shapes covered in fine writing on every surface. The messages themselves took no small time to decipher, and the civil servants charged with the task are no clearer now on why the Azoth has chosen to take such an interest in the Empire than they were when they began. It's clear however that the eternal has some proposals for the Winter Solstice, however.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>There are a few more factual notes about the way the offer is being made:
* The Eight Spoked Wheel ritual retains its usual magnitude of Night 6 and targets the ingots or measures as usual
* The token received can be used by any single individual, not just the ritualist. The same person should use it to dream and visit the chamber.
* The token also allows the holder to cast operate portal to enter and leave the hall of worlds, provided their goal is to reach the night chamber.
OOC note: Given the timing it is not possible to take part in a battle at this event (either as character or enemy) as well as attending this encounter. Players who intend to "take the field" should consider it not available to them even though the start and end times are just outside battle time.</box></div>
The shapes speak of an opportunity to do something unexpected with the [[The Eight-spoked Wheel]] on Friday during the coming Solstice, lasting until eleven in the evening. Instead of the usual effects, three ingots or measures used in the ritual will be transformed into a [[Vis#Crystal Fire|crystal fire]] and a token. This token will provide a dream, and admittance for one person to a Night chamber accessed via the Hall of Worlds.

On Saturday morning, starting at half-past-ten, those with tokens can gather in the Hall of Worlds to present them and learn when they will be admitted to the chamber. The experience will take place over the course of two hours, with different individuals entering the chamber at different times.

In the experience Azoth has prepared, there are several different phrases relating to what will actually take place - hard to read half finished phrases on the shapes describe these phases, often interrupted by the numbers ''one'' and ''four''. Repeated words include transformation, witnessing, creation, chalk, colour, exploration, expression, glitter, self, mirror, ephemeral, serenade.

Combining this with the instructions about what can be achieved by casting The Eight Spoked Wheel, the civil servants believe that Imperial Citizen's are being offered dreams to inspire them, and to then visit an night chamber where materials will be provided for them to make art. Perhaps for or perhaps with creatures of The Azoth's realm. A rather more prosaic note of an Azoth herald coming to Anvil to hire musicians suggests that inspirational music may also be provided.

===Receipt Acknowledged (Lashonar)===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>'''OOC Note'''<br>Each player is free to chose whether they even remember the name offered to them in the dream, and how much effort they put in to trying to meet the other character in the game. We hope that some interesting roleplay will arise from this, but if you choose to explore a connection offered, please respect the other player's choice in whether they are open to roleplay with you on the theme of their letter or not.'''</box></div>
* '''Citizens who sent letters to Lashonar should expect to hear from the Eternal in their dreams. Some will be invited to audiences taking place on Saturday afternoon.'''
The civil service received a visit from the chattering herald ''Meliflee'', who explained that last season the ''[[Lashonar|Speaker in Dreams]]'' was delighted with the huge number of letters of longing they received. The ''Eater of Silence'' wishes to meet some of those letter writers on the Saturday afternoon of the Solstice in a night chamber which will open from the portal in the Hall of Worlds.

''Meliflee'' explains that they have chosen the attendees, this time around, not for the artistry of their words, or the sincerity of their passion, but for some similarities of theme in the letters of longing that have arisen, and caught the attention of the heralds. They are apologetic, but cannot assist their invitees with gaining access to the Hall of Worlds - any invitees who are not magicians will need to seek out a means to do so, if they have enough interest in attending. Meliflee seems faintly embarrassed at this. "''Rossignol says you'll understand," she says. "''The Loquacious One asked us to make it clear that we have noticed that the Conclave and the Empire no longer favour our interests''".

She goes on to explain that letter writers should expect a dream from Lashonar. Some will have invitations contained within their dreaming. For those who are not invited, they may find other things in their dream - they may be challenged to do something, or they may find that the name of another Imperial Citizen is mentioned.

This naming, Meliflee notes, is something the Conscience of Kings has allowed her to do. She has chosen names where letters were sent containing the tiniest common thread. These people do not necessarily share goals, or experiences, but, she thinks from what they wrote, that they might have something to say to each other. She also points out that there is no compulsion or even connection in the dream, it is just a name offered.
===Silver Wit (Unknown)===
* '''An unfamiliar herald has approached Sermersuaq from the west. It is unclear who she represents'''
* '''She wants to speak to icewalkers who are interested in diplomacy and ambition.'''
* '''She will arrive at the Wintermark fire pit at midnight on the Friday night.'''
* '''She suggests interested parties should keep midnight on the Saturday free as well.'''
The small garrison of '''Rest''' in the westernmost region of '''Stark''' in Sermersuaq is not used to receiving visitors. The guard here was re-established after the territory's reconquest, but since then has seen little action. They are surprised, therefore, when one winter's evening a well-dressed woman in Steinr garb, with something of the imperious mien of the changeling about her, walks out from the western lands of the Jotun. Her form seems to shift as she speaks, though always retaining the same haughty nobility. She is clearly not human but a herald of some kind, though she does not confirm whom she serves.

She says her name is the ''Witch'' - or perhaps she says the Wit? - of the Silver Woods. She has a message for icewalkers of the Mark who think themselves clever diplomats and friends to the ambitious, though she wishes to relay the details in person. She says she will come to Anvil at the upcoming summit to discuss the matter: she will arrive to the Wintermark fire pit around midnight on the first night of the summit, though she somewhat expects her hosts will find somewhere private to host her. She suggests that interested parties should keep themselves free both at that time and midnight on the ''second'' night, though why, she will not say.

She turns to leave, and then turns back to the guards. Her sister - the ''Wit'' - or perhaps she says the Witch? - of the Silver Woods has business with Dawn this summit, too, she says. She, however, will not be prepared to discuss that matter, so she expects that the people of the Mark will keep nosy Dawnish from ''their'' meeting.

===The Dust of Stars (Barien)===
* '''A herald is being sent by Barien at 14:00 on Saturday to Wintermark.'''
* '''They are a friend of the master forgemistress Ursula Starhammer.'''
* '''They want to speak to anyone who received a pinch of stardust from Ursula.'''
* '''They want to hear how their efforts to forge a hero with the stardust's power are proceeding.'''

The civil servants who watch over the Anvil regio between summits are used to seeing the heralds of Barien, but it is less usual to meet one who distinctly is not here to discuss Barien's challenges and the ritual thereof. As such, they are surprised when a golden figure, dressed as a Wintermark banner-bearer with a drum across their chest, emerges from the regio and quickly says just that.

They introduce themselves as Timbrel. They are a friend, it seems, of the master forgemistress Ursula Starhammer, who last summit began her search for a new apprentice. Apparently, Ursula met with a number of candidates in her forge, and enjoyed the experience. She set them something of a challenge, it seems: a challenge involving a substance called ''stardust'', which is to be used the "forge a new hero of the Mark".

Challenges, of course, are of great interest to the Iron Duke and his servants, and Timbrel - an old friend of Ursula, it seems - is no exception. They have offered to travel to Anvil to meet Ursula's candidates and ask how their efforts with the ''stardust'' are progressing. They would be interested to hear from any of the candidate's own chosen prospects, or from any stormcrows to whom the birds have brought any news of the challenge thus far, or to any scops who have any promising leads on anyone who might have earned a name - though so to do so so quickly would be quite unexpected.

Timbrel will arrive in the Hall of Worlds at around 14:00 on the Saturday of the summit, and then they intend to head directly to Wintermark. They would be most grateful if the Keeper of the Runegrott - a neighbour of Ursula, as it happens - or a chosen representative would meet them at the entrance to the Wintermark camp and point them at a good place to meet the challengers.
===Bribery, Conspiracy and Assassination (Basileia)===
* '''Two Heralds of Basileia Brazen intend to attend Anvil at 11:00 on Saturday'''
* '''They bring opportunities to bribe foreign dignitaries and to access a mysterious Chamber used for clandestine meetings'''
* '''They wish to speak with Enchanter Edmund Torawyr, Florence i Fuego i Erigo, and any Imperial title-holders who are potentially willing to accept bribes'''
* '''Another Herald of Basileia Brazen will visit Anvil at 14:00 on Saturday'''
* '''This Herald intends to discuss a contract taken out on the life of Jarl Haakon by an Imperial citizen'''

The City of Locks has been especially active after the recent ascension of [[Basileia|Basileia Brazen]] and the reformation of her advisory council, the Five Pillars. This season is no exception, as word arrives that three different Heralds intend to visit Anvil at various times for various purposes. Truly, treachery never sleeps.

Firstly, President Orlando of the City of Locks Benevolent Association and Facilitator Kaige of the Matchmaker's Forum intend to visit Anvil at 11:00 on Saturday to offer some opportunities of their own. The City of Locks Benevolent Association is apparently primarily concerned with facilitating bribery, and its President looks forward to visiting an Empire where such practices are not only permitted, but often [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#What_isn't_a_criminal_offence?|outright encouraged]]. Orlando apparently intends to drum up a little business by bringing two opportunities to pay significant bribes to foreign politicians. While the exact details of who is being bribed, what they will be bribed to do, and how much it will cost will all have to wait until the summit, the message does drop heavy hints that both of the individuals hoping to benefit from Imperial largesse are resident of nations deeply hostile to Imperial interests. Orlando's message also mentions that they would be quite happy to take offers from any titled citizens who wish to use their constitutionally-granted powers to enrich themselves. The world is full of people who will pay very well to have the levers if state pulled at their direction, and the City of Locks is always happy to act as a go-between.

Facilitator Kaige's reasons for attending Anvil are somewhat more opaque. They also intend to offer some form of opportunity to the Empire, but say even less than President Orlando about what this will entail. While the Matchmaker's Forum do arrange marriages and other romantic entanglements, they also apparently encourage more clandestine liaisons. As part of this, they apparently control access to a mysterious [[Regio#Portals_and_Chambers|Chamber]] which they refer to as the Conspirator's Congress. They are apparently minded to grant the Empire the ability to use this Chamber for its intended purpose, although what this will cost and what it will entail are matters for later discussion.

There is an odd and unexplained coda to these announcements: President Orlando and Facilitator Kaige would quite like to speak with Enchanter Edmund Torawyr and Florence i Fuego i Erigo respectively. It remains unclear why Heralds of the City of Locks continue to insist on speaking with apparently random Imperial citizens rather than titled officials, but they seem fundamentally disinclined to explain their motivations. Interested citizens might do well to seek out those named individuals if they wish to learn more.

Separately, Mistress Alabaster of the Guild of Accountants will attend Anvil to discuss the contact her people have been working on in the Mournwold. As has been noted [[Over_western_hills#Not_One_More_Inch_(Battle_Opportunity)|elsewhere]], an unknown Imperial citizen has apparently requested the aid of the City of Locks in ending the life of Jarl Haakon, and the Guild of Accountants have apparently obliged. According to the somewhat terse details given to the civil service, payment will be handled by the customer and the Military Council will not need to concern themselves with such matters. Mistress Alabaster will attend Anvil via the Hall of Worlds at 14:00 on Saturday to discuss matters with her client. If the Military Council elect to take the field in the Mournwold, she also intends to seek out the Field Marshal for said battle in order to clarify details of what assistance her people will provide. She will also offer details of what benefits the City of Locks are prepared to offer in exchange for [[Over_western_hills#Battle_outcome:_Divide_the_Spoils|Jarl Haakon's effects]].

===And Finally... (Tharim)===
{{SOP|statement=At the advisement of the Hakima we warn the Freeborn of Quzar to avoid the heralds of Tharim. Do not engage or provoke them. Continue to live with passion and joy despite these grim guests. We intend no offence to them. Their business is theirs - and our business is our own.|by=Martha i Guerra, Freeborn Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 134-0|when=Autumn Equinox 386YE}}
* '''A thousand Ashen Knights of the Thrice-cursed Court, loyal to Tharim, are camped near Quzar in Madruga'''
The ''[[Tharim|Bound King]]'' has, for some time, been providing his black-armoured Bleak Knights as auxiliaries to fight alongside [[Imperial army|Imperial armies]]. During the Spring Equinox last year, Tharim [[Skeleton_key#Ashen_Knights_and_Grim_Days_(Tharim)|offered a new deal]], but '''Ematius of Urizen''', as [[Archmage of Winter]], [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Tharim,_Amity|politely declined]]. Since then, the knights - a thousand strong warband of ruthless magical warriors - have been camped in [[Madruga#Lightsea|Lightsea]] and show no sign of going anywhere. They ''did'' go and look at the destruction caused by the [[Where the river rises|rising of the Scorrero]], and apparently found it very entertaining.

During the Autumn Equinox, the Freeborn assembly reassured the people of Quzar - perhaps understandably concerned that there were a thousand very-hard-to-kill wickedly-cruel warriors camped on their doorstep - that they should leave the Bleak Knights alone and trust them to do the same. They have done so, although there have been a few reports of one or two Bleak Knights turning up unexpectedly in various parts of Madruga, apparently just to watch people. They give a horrible and unsettling impression of people ''waiting for something''.

[[Tharim]] himself remains silent on why exactly his heralds have not returned to the [[Realm#Winter|Winter realm]]. He continues to serve as a patron of the Conclave, preventing [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] from moving through that magical space without invitation unless the eternal they represent has [[Alignment#Amity|amity]]. This business with the knights, though, has people thinking. Back in Autumn 381YE a trio of heralds [[Hunters_and_wolves#In_the_Copse_of_the_Bone_Birch|entered the Empire]] in the Copse of the Bone Birch in Upwold. One of them, '''Obligatus''', is apparently still there but the other two... are pretty much unaccounted for. In fact, over the last several years there seem to be a lot more cases of heralds of Tharim ''entering'' the Empire than there are reports of them ''leaving''. A few people wonder if this is something the Conclave should be concerned about?

Obviously, the Bound King is ''extremely'' prickly about disrespect, and so if anyone were minded to raise the matter of his heralds not going back to the Wasteland with him they would likely want to do so very carefully. He is an ally of the Empire, however, so perhaps those people concerned about these Bleak Knights and such are just looking for shadows to jump at. Perhaps.

Template:Cosmology Further Reading

2025-06-03T01:34:03Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: Undo revision 121191 by Wafer-Thin-Reasoning (talk) Larger effect than intended. Reverted to original state. Please note, the "Eternal" page still has a link to "Eternals" that self-references.

==Further Reading==
* [[Realm|Realms]]
* [[Eternal|Eternals]]
* [[Ritual_theory#Agreement|Eternals and rituals]]
* [[Inhabitants of the realms]]
* [[Regio]]
* [[Fane]]

Template:Cosmology Further Reading

2025-06-03T01:12:49Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Further Reading */ Self-referential link

==Further Reading==
* [[Realm|Realms]]
* [[Ritual_theory#Agreement|Eternals and rituals]]
* [[Inhabitants of the realms]]
* [[Regio]]
* [[Fane]]

A bridge too far

2025-06-03T01:11:06Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Overview */ why?

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Commonwealth]]
<ic>
"Look, it's a military objective - there's nothing ''you'' can do. Just give them what you've got and be done with it. They can invade Skallahn or Hordalant and then destroy the thing. the Senate can't expect you to work magic - this is a job for our generals. If there was a way we could appraise "make the Jotun lose" then we'd have done that years ago..."

Graciana smiled and shook her head at her colleague. It wasn't that Vaanya was wrong exactly, but she couldn't bear the thought of giving up. In fact everything they had just said was true. This ''was'' a straightforward military objective. She'd checked and rechecked every option and there was no way this could be done without amassing a massive force.

No eternal was going to help them do this, or least not any that were safe to talk to. She's briefly contemplated the idea of trying to find a way to get Whitefire to attack the causeway. It was not her area of expertise, so she'd asked Lutomysla for help and that had led to having to explain herself in a meeting in La Salle's office. New rules... apparently you weren't even allowed to ''check'' if it might be possible to use Cold Sun to help. You can't make an omelette she'd told La Salle... from his expression she thought he was about to forbid her from any cooking at all.

The other possibility would be the Asaveans. Or the Grendel. Either of them could definitely have pulled this off. She'd spent weeks working on that dead end, but it had been impossible to come up with anything that might work. Every line of enquiry she and her team had looked into ended with "And then the Grendel tell the Jotun everything we're planning..." so that was the end of that.

No. Any solution was going to need the Empire's generals. If the Empire wanted to destroy the Kongegőr they were going to need to attack it with armies. But that didn't mean she was about to give up.

"If the Military Council believed they could do this without our help, they wouldn't have called for this appraisal." she said. "I ''need'' to find some other way to achieve this. Something nobody has thought of yet."

Now it was Vaanya's turn to laugh. "Right, you ''need'' it. That's what this is really about. You can't bear the thought of telling the Senate that they explicitly asked for you by name and after three months you've got ''nothing''. Is that Ambition or Wisdom... or just your Pride talking? What are you going to do if there just isn't a way?"

Vaanya was a brilliant auditor; the merrow was famous for their cavernous knowledge of the Empire's assets. At Graciana's request they had combed through every aging manuscript that detailed the Empire's existing assets looking for anything that might help. She had to accept Vaanya's claim that maybe they couldn't find a way because there just wasn't one. And that moment was when the ring finally dropped... what if the Empire hadn't finished building what they needed yet?

"Then I'll make one..." she said, grinning from ear to ear.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Bridges Too Far.png|align=left|caption=The Kongegőr provides a vital connection between the Jotun kingdoms of the north and south; if it were to be severed it would massively disrupt the western barbarians' ability to make war against the Empire.|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[Imperial Senate]] has [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_Destroying_the_Kongegőr|instructed Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra]] to [[Appraisal|appraise]] the destruction of [[Skallahn#The_Kongegőr|The Kongegőr]] - the narrow strip of land that connects the [[Jotun]] territories of [[Skallahn]] and [[Hordalant]]. The bridge was [[Take it further|attacked by an Imperial raid]] in 384YE, and the resulting damage badly upset the Jotun military effort. Clearly, if the bridge could be destroyed it would severely hamper the cooperation between the Jotun kingdoms of Kalsea and Narkyst and disrupt the Jotun war efforts against the Empire.

The problem is that the Kongegőr is a sprawling array of islands that spans the gap between [[Skallahn#Keirheim|Keirheim]] and [[Hordalant#Alsterbo|Alsterbo]] at the mouth of the Gullet. Many of the islands are tiny, little more than a speck of rock jutting out of the dangerous waters. But they vary in size and the largest are several miles across. Destroying them is out of the question - it's simply not something that could ever be possible.

But the benefit of the Kongegőr is the bridges that the Jotun have built to link the chain together, allowing armies to march back and forth. The Jotun are notoriously averse to deep water, they effectively maintain no [[Imperial navy|navies]] or fleets. They do have thralls who man fishing vessels and small boats to move cargo on rivers and in shallow waters, but no Jotun would ever want to sail across the Gullet. If the ''bridges'' could be destroyed, it would make it impossible for the Jotun to move armies back and forth between Narkyst and Kalsea, at least until they could be replaced.

Of course the Jotun know that... which is why they went to considerable effort to fortify the Kongegőr after the Empire [[Under_heaven#Gauntlet_and_Sentinel|attacked the bridges last time]]...

==A Novel Reprise==
* '''The Empire attacked the causeway once before using fleets and military units'''
* '''The Jotun fortified the Kongegőr after the attack, to make it impossible for the Empire to repeat the stratagem'''

The last time the Empire attacked the Kongegőr, they caught the Jotun unprepared and took them by surprise. Acting in concert, scores of fleets and military units carried out a [[Take_it_further|meticulously planned raid]] that overwhelmed the Jotun defences, and allowed the Empire to inflict considerable damage. It took a huge effort, and while it's easy to hope that the Empire might be able to repeat that success, the reality is that it was only possible the first time because the Jotun had no idea the Empire could pull off such a feat.

The Empire has never managed to bring such a significant military force to bear at the mouth of the Gullet before and so the attack took the orcs completely surprise. Afterwards, the Jotun needed the best part of a year to rebuild the Kongegőr and the work needed a small fortune in white granite and weirwood. The jarls are not so foolish as to invest all that time and money, only to leave the passage as vulnerable as it was before. If the Empire had attacked it once, why wouldn't they do so again.

When they rebuilt the bridges of the Kongegőr they massively fortified the islands as they went. Having learned exactly what the Empire was capable of, the Jotun made sure to build the new defences strong enough that there was no way that the same attack could ever work again.

In Graciana's view the answer is simple. If the Empire is serious about wanting to repeat the success of that first raid they'll just have to find a way to up the ante. The nail might be too heavily fortified for a force onboard fleets to attack it... but that just means the Empire will have to find a bigger hammer.

==Brute Force==
* '''The obvious way to destroy the Kongegőr is to control one end of the chain'''
* '''The Empire would need an army in full control of Alsterbo in Hordalant or Bjarkey in Skallahn'''

The Kongegőr is an important military structure and destroying it will require the concerted efforts of at least one Imperial army. There is no way round that, nothing that Graciana can come up with avoids that need. But even that would require some careful strategic manoeuvring by the Empire. They would need an army in full control of one of the two regions that anchor the Kongegőr. That army could then be given direct orders to destroy the bridges and provided they weren't pushed out of the territory by an enemy counter-attack, then they could complete the work in a season.

While that sounds simple, it would be no mean feat. There is a fortification at either end of the Kongegőr, presumably because the Jotun are well aware of just how important it is to control this narrow spur of islands. In the south in [[Hordalant#Alsterbo|Alsterbo]] in Hordalant, there is a small fortification at the coastal town of Dalvi that would directly protect the region. There is also a second, larger fortification in the territory. The [[Hordalant#The_Palaces_of_the_Eternals|Fortress of the Pale Queen]] in [[Hordalant#Ashahon|Ashahon]] is a rank two fortification which has important cultural significance to the Jotun. Both these defensive structures would make it hard for the Empire to capture Alsterbo, never mind the fact that to even reach Hordalant, the Empire would first have to find a way through [[Liathaven]] or [[Bregasland]], both of which are now in Jotun hands. It's also worth, perhaps, bearing in mind that the Empire has little up to date information about Hordalant - the [[spy network]] that provided the initial assessment of the territory is several years old at this point. While Imperial [[divination]] magic can provide valuable military information it is not effective at providing the kind of ground-level assessment that might prove crucial to an extended military campaign.

In the north, [[Skallahn#Bjarkey|Bjarkey]] in Skallahn looks an easier prospect on the face of it. The territory is adjacent to Sermersuaq which is firmly under Imperial control. To reach Bjarkey, Imperial armies would have to seize [[Hordalant#Greenwall|Greenwall]] first, but in theory that could be done in a single season. However, like Hordalant, Skallahn is also heavily fortified. The [[Skallahn#Walls_of_Kierheim|walls of Keirheim]] protect the town, the seat of power of the Jarl of Keirheim. They are a level two fortification located in Bjarkey, near the strategically vital causeway. There is a [[Skallahn#Ulfrsborg|second fortification]], a smaller one, in nearby Ulfsmoor that would also help with any defence of the territory.

To be certain of destroying the Kongegőr, the Empire would need full control of Bjarkey or Alsterbo at the start of the campaigning season and have an [[Imperial army]] present in the [[Territory#Regions|region]] issued with [[Army_orders#Attacking|attacking orders]] to destroy the bridges. Provided the Empire still controlled at least one small part of the region and had at least one attacking army left in the [[territory]] by the end in the season then the bridges could be completely destroyed. If they were driven off, then there might still be a hope that the Empire could damage the Kongegőr - such a thing is exactly the kind of strategic objective that the [[Sentinel Gate]] has thrown up in the past. But the Gate is controlled by fate, so there is no possible way for anyone, not even the Empire's best prognosticator, to predict that.

==Brewing Up A Storm==
{{CaptionedImage|file=RedWindCorsairs_Colour.png|align=right|width=250}}
* '''The Red Wind Corsairs are about to complete the ability to launch forays into the Bay of Catazar'''
* '''If the Marcher ''and'' Wintermark assemblies urged their fleets to support the 'Corsairs then the army could launch a foray from the Gullet'''
* '''It would be very dangerous, but the army could move to seize the Kongegőr for long enough to burn it'''
There is one other option the Empire could take. It's risky, but it might provide a way to take the Kongegőr without invading the Jotun lands first by taking advantage of an [[appraisal]] that Graciana worked on almost a year ago.

In Winter 385YE, the prognosticator was [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_Fleets_in_the_Bay_of_Catazar|asked to find a way that Imperial fleets could disrupt Grendel activities in the Bay of Catazar]]. If the Empire were seeking for a way to pit the Empire's fleets against the Grendel navies without going to the expense of building a navy of their own they were disappointed. Graciana was able to definitively conclude that there was one way, and only one way, to do that. To bring force to bear on that scale in the Bay of Catazar, the Empire would have to have launch a navy of their own.

However Graciana was able to identify [[An_angry_blade#Speak_At_This|an opportunity for the Red Wind Corsairs to put to sea]]. Her proposal was to build some powerful warships on the Bay that would upgrade the capabilities of the army, allowing it to use the ships to put to sea. The proposal was expensive, but the versatility it would provide was invaluable and Work began immediately after the Autumn Equinox. Rather conveniently, the work is due to be complete by the time of the coming summit.

As the author of the original plan, Graciana is well aware that the Storm will only be able to put to sea in the Bay of Catazar. They need the support of the assorted corsair families that inhabit the Brass Coast to help them pull off this feat. But that limitation is only one of logistics and supply - with the right support from local fleets, the Corsairs could theoretically pull off the feat elsewhere. The [[Wintermark]] and [[the Marches|Marcher]] assemblies could use a mandate to urge their nations to do exactly that.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send {named priest} 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.|assembly=Marcher and Wintermark Assemblies}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Marcher.png|align=right|width=200}}
If this mandate were enacted in either assembly, it would create a [[Voyage#Raiding_Voyages|raiding voyage]] for the next year '''Assault the Kongegőr'''. The action would provide no returns, there is no wealth to be had from attacking the Kongegőr, so the [[Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies]] would have to consider whether to apply the [[Fleet#Guerdon shares|guerdon]] to it. The voyage would only be eligible to the Marchers and the folk of Wintermark - and only if each of their assemblies enacted the mandate. Fleets from further afield would simply be too far away to provide the assistance the Red Wind Corsairs need to set sail.

Once the mandate was done, the Red Wind Corsairs would need to move to be in a position to give the "Take to the Sea" action in either Mitwold, Kallavesa, or Bregasland. In the ''same season the Corsairs performed this action'', they would need the support of at least five thousand points worth of fleets, otherwise the action would fail. There aren't that many fleets in the Marchers, not even close, but Wintermark has at least twice that many at present. If the 'Corsairs had enough support they would convert to a navy based in the Westmere; if they didn't then they would default to solid defence and would need to either try again next season or abandon the attempt.

If successful, the Red Wind Corsairs could then launch a shore offensive directly attacking the coastal region of Alsterbo in Hordalant. The Jotun have built up their defences to stop military units and fleets attacking the causeway, but they won't be expecting a navy to try and circumvent them. It would be very dangerous, the Corsairs would need to capture the region to be in a position to destroy the bridges in the following season.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Wintermark.png|align=right|width=200}}
Given the scale of the defences, it would be wise for the Empire to consider committing a second army to the attack (the Red Wind Corsairs could carry a second army with them on the ships). The attack would also benefit from enchantments on the forces in question and on any fleets assigned to support the attack.

It would be a challenging logistical exercise to get everyone to move together at the right time, but it's far from impossible. Graciana advises caution however as the Jotun are likely to counter-attack in force the following season if they can. So unless the attack is part of a carefully spearheaded invasion, a lot of effort will be needed to protect the Red Wind Corsairs and whatever army has accompanied them while they destroy the Kongegőr in the following season. Otherwise they risk being forced back out to sea - or even destroyed - and the attack will be for nothing.

==Further Reading==
* [[Skallahn]]
* [[Hordalant]]
* [[Under heaven]] - 384YE Autumn wind of war about the raid on Skallahn
* [[Take it further]] - 384YE Summer wind of fortune detailing plans for a raid on Skallahn

Unlock thy hidden gate

2025-05-23T16:29:57Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* The Druj Are Coming */

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:387YE Spring]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Road of Shadows.png|caption=With ward, and gate, with steel and spite, the Druj defend the Mallum.|align=right|width=600}}</div>
==Winding Through the Wood==
Up through the shadowed forests of Lustri march four Imperial armies. They march to the [[Sarangrave]], following the same route the Druj took to invade Zenith not so many years ago. The same paths through the deep woods, down toward the marshes of [[the Mallum]]. Their rough path runs through the lowland valleys, between the foothills of the towering peaks to the east and the west. Past the ruins of the [[Zenith#Spire of Twisting Shadows (Ruined)|Spire of Twisting Shadows]], under the [[vigilance|vigilant]] eyes of the [[Zenith#The Stork's Gaze|Stork's Gaze]], toward the Bloodwater Marsh.

As the armies march north the ground becomes increasingly boggy; since the [[Light_upon_the_water#Sodden_Ground|magical storms]] that swept the Empire three years ago the ground here has never quite dried out. It is a foreshadowing of what is to come, perhaps. Or a warning that the Sarangrave has followed after the Druj, reaching out seeping tendrils to change the land the way the invasion of the Mallum changed the people of Urizen.

Many of the soldiers who pass through the forest report odd dreams, and odd glimpses of half-seen shadowy figures beneath the trees that disappear as soon as they are looked at directly. They do not pose any threat, it seems. Simply peculiar little spirits of mystery and secrets, curious about the great force of soldiers marching through the woodlands.

Here and there are markers that commemorate one engagement or another in the fight against the orcs of the Mallum. The forest presses close around them – in another few years they will be lost entirely to the grasping roots, and the dark beneath the boughs, and the short memories of mortal folk.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Regions of Sarangrave.png|caption=Sarangrave is mapped, but parts of the territory remain unknown.|align=right|width=600}}</div>
==Into the Sarangrave==
The Sarangrave is first scented rather than seen. The wind from the north brings with it the faint odour of rot and stagnant water, reminiscent of the Proceris marshes yet altogether stronger, more woody. The trees undergo a marked change, giving way to willow, aspen, and poplar. Only the beggarwood remains constant as the Imperial armies approach the border with the Mallum. Yellow marigolds and pale pink marsh orchids bloom among the roots, along the ponds and streams. Footlong iridescent dragonflies flit hither and yon, and curious fist-sized black beetles become a minor menace, fascinated by the boots and sleeping rolls of Imperial soldiers when they camp for the night.

Then, halfway through the last morning before the armies leave the Empire for the lands of the Druj, the trees suddenly fall away and the Sarangrave stretches before them. Some of the newer recruits to the Citadel Guard find it particularly unsettling – this immense expanse of flat openness beneath a flat open sky. Mist still clings here and there drifting over the surface of the shallow lakes, or wrapped like cotton wool of cuckoospit around the boles of the bowed beggarwood trees.

Perhaps the strangest element is the beauty of the place. This is the Mallum, the fastness of the Druj. To some it seems particularly jarring, the way the deep umber, the ochre, the olive tones of the marshes are scattered with swathes of colour as the early spring flowers reach toward the sun. It is notably warmer here, in the Bloodwater Marshes, than it was in the shaded forests of Lustri. And the beasts! Birds of all sizes and colours swooping down to skim the waterways hungry for insects. Some are large enough to hunt fish, dipping beneath the surface to emerge triumphant with their shimmering prize caught between their talons. Voles and water mice, scampering away from the tramping boots of the soldiers. Otters and beavers, their fur slick with oils, disappearing with nary a ripple, panicked by the presence of so many humans and orcs all at once.

The sun is bright this morning, but as the armies begin to push forward, they encounter an undeniable reminder that this beautiful place is the domain of the Druj. The first tendrils of that malign miasma that infests those lands claimed by the orcs of the Mallum gently touch the hearts and minds of the Imperial soldiers, as if testing them. It is as if a stormcloud crosses over the sun as the armies push northward into the marsh. The marching songs and soldier's banter falter and fall quiet as the creeping dread assails the marching soldiers. That subtle, awful feeling that you are in danger, that something is watching you, that you are not alone, that you are making a mistake, that you should not be here, spreads through the armies. It is all-too familiar to those who fought in Zenith, in Ossium, in the Salt Flats of Sanath, in Reikos back in the day. Yet here it seems stronger, more insistent, more ''immanent''. The Druj have ruled here for a very long time, the taint of their tyranny has worn deep grooves in the marshes of the Sarangrave.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=GoldenAxe_Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=TowerJacks_Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=WinterSun_Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=CitadelGuard_Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
</div>
==Axe and Word and Ward==
The Imperial commanders have anticipated this, prepared their soldiers as best they can, and allow little delay before the full-fledged invasion of the Sarangrave begins. The [[Golden Axe]] set the pace – eager to [[Army_qualities#Driven|take the land]] of the Druj. With steel in their fists and in their spirits, they are the legacy of the Vard made manifest. Here to conquer what can be conquered, to bar their door against what cannot be defeated, and to endure what must be endured without flinching. An irresistible advance across the land they have marked as their own, driving their enemies before them.

The traditional problems caused by having to maintain supply lines do not apply to the Varushkan 'Axe. What they do not carry with them they take from the land they conquer, and this is a rich land, very different to Ossium in the north. The Bloodwater Marsh will provide well for them, burgeoning as it is with game and fish and other provender.

Alongside them march the Crimson Schlacta; a cohort of warriors [[Knights of Glory|drawn from the Fields of Glory]], their heavy helms forged in the fearsome visage of wolf, or bear, or snarling lion. The miasma does nothing to quell their eagerness for battle, for the chance to one again meet the Druj in battle, testing their bloodgold swords against the spite of the Mallum. Their presence bolsters the spirit of the Varushkans they march beside, with mortal and herald urging each other to greater feats of strength, endurance, and military prowess.

As the general has said “Everything behind us is Imperial, Everything in front is barbarian.”

The [[Winter Sun]] and the [[Towerjacks]] employ a more careful strategy designed to [[Army_orders#Steady_Conquest|limit Imperial losses]]. Their battlefield [[surgical skills#Physick|physicks]], their doctors and bonesetters, their [[Imperial_Orcs_magical_traditions#Warcasters|warcasters]] and magicians well-versed in the arts of [[heal|healing]] and [[purify|purification]], are deployed expertly in support of the soldiery. Risky tactics are eschewed, the lures and tricks of the Druj and their manipulative magic ignored or turned back against their originators. The Winter Sun in particular are alert to the deceptions of the Mallum, the soldiers able to see through their machinations with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist|supernatural clarity]].

The more careful approach of these two armies is not solely about avoiding foolhardy action. Both the Towerjacks and the Winter Sun seek to reach out to the septs of the Sarangrave, to those crushed under the Druj yoke. There is a hope that allies might be found here, perhaps even an opportunity to make contact with the [[Make_it_happen#The_Bloodwater_Spears|Bloodwater Spears]] who dwell along the shores of the [[Therunin#The_Docks_at_Feverwater|Feverwater]]. An optimistic hope, perhaps.

Finally, there are the [[sentinel|sentinels]] of the [[Citadel Guard]]. There is a quiet grimness about the forces of [[Urizen]] as they travel through Lustri into the marshes of the Mallum. Before setting off, the masters of magic set in motion the ''[[Highest_discipline#Technique_of_the_Bond_of_Tears|Technique of the Bond of Tears]]'', a consummate working of [[Winter magic]] that grants the entire army the ward of ''Winter's Mantle''. Until the Spring Equinox, not one of those soldiers who march beneath the banners of phoenix and star can be harmed – at least not in body. With the twin resonances of [[Winter magic#Survival|survival]] and [[Winter magic#Preservation|preservation]] they are guarded from injury, from venom, from the barbed arrows and wicked spears of the Druj and the talons and fangs of the marsh beasts alike. This protection comes at a price – for does not all Winter magic come at a price? The hurt they avoid is visited upon their fellow Imperial soldiers. Whatever else happens, no matter how badly this invasion of the Sarangrave might go, the Citadel Guard at least will [[Under eastern skies|avoid the fate]] of the [[Iron Helms]] and [[Isaella's Dance]].

The heroes of the other armies know the price, and bear it willingly. And so the armies of the Empire enter the Mallum, and battle is joined.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj4.jpg|caption=The Deathsinger wasp is the symbol of the [[Arkad#Hupul|Hupul]], scouts and hunters adept at moving unseen and attacking from ambush.|align=right|width=200}}</div>
==Tricks and Towers==
If the Imperial armies sought to enter the Bloodwater Marshes unobserved, they are not successful. There are scattered watchposts along the southern borders of the Sarangrave – set in haphazardly built towers, or concealed among the spreading branches of the older mangrove trees. Nobody tries to fight – they immediately flee north and east to sound the alarm. Attempts to intercept these spies are rarely effective – their ability to avoid the Imperial scouts is nothing short of supernatural.

The source of that supernatural evasion is soon apparent. The Bloodwater Marshes themselves are warded with [[Night magic]], woven by the Druj [[Druj lore#Ghulai|Ghulai]] with the aid of an unknown [[eternal]]. The waterways shift and twist, and the further the Imperial armies push into the territory the thicker the fog that rises each morning and evening becomes. It is easy to get lost here, unnaturally so. Orders quickly pass down through the ranks that nobody goes anywhere by themselves – too many soldiers step away for a private moment never to return. Some of the wildlife is possessed of a malign cunning and desire to inflict pain, shorn of their fear of humans and orcs. The deathstingers, the favoured symbol of the Druj [[Arkad#Hupul|Hupul]], are a particular menace. Soldiers quickly come to fear the angry low-pitched drone of their wings, with the flash of red-and-black between the trees or flitting through the reeds providing scant warning before a swarm of a dozen or more of the bird-sized wasps attack.

There are also more overtly supernatural threats – massive crocodilian hunters with sparkling scales and eight legs, literally invisible when submerged in water, who erupt with terrible speed to drag soldiers to their doom. Flitting spirits that take the shape of loved ones left behind in the Empire that emerge at night to lure sentries into the darkness from which they never emerge. Jade and ebony serpents whose hypnotic swaying dance, sibilant song, and glittering scales entrance and beguile, and leave their prey paralysed even as the snake draws closer and closer. Lanky, faceless figures with reed-thin limbs ending in terrible rending claws that unfold from the shadows to rip and terrorize before disappearing as if they were never there leaving only bleeding bodies in their wake.

Perhaps as many as three hundred Imperial soldiers fall prey to these threats – lost, killed, or maimed by the supernatural defences the Druj magicians have woven around the Bloodwater Marshes. Yet the enticing, obfuscating magic is by no means the greatest threat facing the invaders. It serves more to delay the advance of the Empire, to complicate their conquest, and to allow the ''real'' defenders of the Sarangrave to get into position.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SpringRune.jpg|caption=The Druj armies bear [[enchantment|enchantments]] woven with [[Spring magic]] intended to help them recover from recent losses; the presence of the Empire renders these enchantments useless|align=right|width=200}}</div>
==The Druj Are Coming==
Imperial strategists expect some resistance to their attack on the Sarangrave. To the east, on the far side of the [[Sarangrave#Whisperwood|Whisperwood]], stands the [[Sarangrave#Tower_of_the_Skink|Tower of the Skink]]. This massive [[fortification]] guards the ''[[Sarangrave#Path_of_the_Eye|Path of the Eye]]'' into [[Axos]], and broods over the sprawling Druj town of Sephals. It also keeps a keen eye out for potential threats, and the armies of the Empire certainly count.

The first Druj soldiers probe the Empires' defences, cloaking themselves in the protection of the magical wards on the marshes. As the days tick by they become bolder, engaging more directly with Imperial soldiers. They are skirmishers first and foremost, striking from ambush and retreating swiftly before their foes can rally against them. They avoid pitched battles, sniping and pricking at the flanks of the armies, trying to provoke them into a pursuit that inevitably ends in another ambush or a terrible death sinking into a quagmire or caught in a cruel deadfall.

It's pretty clear however that there are more defenders than just the garrison of the Tower of the Skink. A few weeks after the invasion of the Bloodwater Marshes begin in earnest, the scouts of the Druj armies begin to appear in the north-east of the region. Here the Empire encounters serious resistance. From the serpent-and-sword banners of the Deadly Blade, their weapons dripping with venom; from the empty standards of the Hidden Snake, who are adept as using the marshes and their magical wards to outmanoeuvre the Imperial soldiers; and the predatory marsh bird standards of the Poison Crane, who fight relentlessly to drive the Empire back.

The scouts of the Towerjacks and the Winter Sun report that it appears these armies were on furlough in the north, seeking to [[Casualties#Natural_Resupply|recover from losses]] suffered in their recent campaigns against the Empire. Indeed, the [[seer|seers]] of the Citadel Guard report that the armies bear potent enchantments of [[Spring magic]] designed not to empower their [[Spring magic#Savagery|savagery]], but to [[Spring_magic#Healing_and_Vitality|renew their vitality]]. The Imperial attack has taken them by surprise, forcing the weakened armies to fight, to defend the marshes, instead.

Fight they do. Between the garrison of the Tower of the Skink and the warriors of the three armies, there are clearly more Druj here than Imperials (even with their magical allies). The Empire's armies move north through the Bloodwater, towards the shores of the great lake, and the Druj use every trick in their vicious book to try and turn them aside. The orcs try to contain the invaders; the Empire refuses to be contained.

==The Battle of Tabun==
As the year draws to a close and the Spring Equinox nears, the masters of the Mallum are forced to finally confront the invaders. Outside the central village of Tabun, a shambolic nowhere on the banks of a slow-moving river, things come to a head. The banners of the Thornwasp hang limp from the uneven stone wall, the drone of the marsh insects grinds on and on in an almost maddening whine, the air thick and heavy like clear amber, the massed forces of Empire and Druj come together at last. Four Imperial armies with the proud standards of Varushka at the fore, against three battered armies of the Druj supported by the teeming garrison of the Tower of the Skink.

The farmers and fishers of Tabun would flee if they could, but the Druj do not allow them that luxury. They are caught between the hammer and the anvil, and while the Towerjacks and the Winter Sun do their best not to harm them, their tyrannical masters know no such mercy, more than happy to hide behind their broken servants as Imperial troops advance. The Tower garrison and the Poisoned Crane have set up catapults on one of the sparse sections of dry land that dot the marshes, using them to launch broken rocks and rusted metal into the advancing Imperials. The Towerjacks quickly peel away to deal with the siege engines, fighting hard to drive the 'Crane back from their defensive position. As the Winter Sun and Golden Axe batter the low walls, engaging in chaotic melee with the Hidden Blade, the Citadel Guard splits its forces to support all three of its allies with mobile groups of sentinels eager to go where the fighting is most fierce, trusting to their protections to ensure their force is applied in the most effective way.

The Winter Sun, possessed as they are of the [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]], note the danger minutes before the trap closes. The guerrilla fighters of the Hidden Snake live up to their names; they have scattered across the marshes in cunningly concealed hides, or buried themselves in shallow trenches, or in a few cases slipped into the pools using hollow reeds to breathe. As the Empire moves forward, they erupt from their concealment targeting the Citadel Guard specifically. The Golden Axe and the Winter Sun are caught between the defenders of Tabun and the attackers to the rear, but the Urizen soldiers urge them to press forward while they deal with the ambushing Druj. Discord reigns, but between the discipline of the Citadel Guard and the strategic insight of the Winter Sun the Imperials swiftly rally against the desperate tactics of the barbarians.

There is a price to pay of course; the Winter magic that protects the Citadel Guard leaves their soldiers uninjured but the burden of that displaced injury is bourn by their allies, already bleeding from the spears and arrows of Tabun's defenders. If the Druj sought to break the Empire, to split its forces apart and pick them off, then they are sorely disappointed. A hail of stone and metal falls on Tabun as the Towerjacks seize the Druj catapults and turn them against their masters. A rousing cheer rises in the throats of the Golden Axe and, with the defenders in disarray, they break the walls and storm the village, quickly smashing through the barricades and palisades the Druj have erected to try and channel them into the killing zone of the village square.

Once the wall falls, the fight goes out of the Druj. They have no stomach for fighting their foes face to face, and in disarray they flee the battlefield. The Imperial forces harry them for a short distance, but no further - they are too wise to fall for the lures of the Mallum orcs, refusing to be drawn away from Tabun and into the unknown marshes to the east. The banners of the Thornwasp are torn down, and replaced with the bright standards of the four Imperial armies.

Between the extensive wards of Night magic that stretch far beyond the Bloodwater Marshes, and the ever-present oppressive atmosphere, progress has been slow, but the Empire is ultimately victorious. Without the hammer of the Golden Axe in the fore, its unclear the Empire would make much headway at all. The battle at Tebun is decisive, but there are still months of gruelling fighting ahead. The Empire knows well that the Druj favour a war of attrition, and they are unlikely to abandon the rich farms of Sarangrave to their enemies.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Only just begun.png|caption=The Empire has made some headway, but the battle for the Sarangrave has only just begun.|align=right|width=500}}</div>
==Tales of Terror==
Tabun may have been captured, and the Druj forced to cede much of the Bloodwater March, but the Thornwasp sept still holds sway. The Druj are not the only people in Sarangrave, of course. While there are some subject septs that seek to emulate their wicked ways to curry favour with them, there are also countless numbers of slaves and underclass subjects here, those cowed by the whips and cruelties of their heartless masters. Throughout the campaign the Winter Sun and the Towerjacks seek to reach out to them, but to little avail. In almost every case, the inhabitants of the southern marshes flee in terror as soon as they are aware of the Imperial advance. The armies encounter farms and villages completely abandoned – in some cases with meagre meals still on tables, furniture overturned, doors wide open. They may fear the Druj, but it seems the common folk of Bloodwater Marsh fear the Empire even more.

With the victory at Tabun, some of the slaves have no alternative but to speak to the 'Jacks and the 'Sun. They are barely coherent, silenced by terror, convinced that they are to be slaughtered as soon as they outlive their usefulness as sources of information. Despite everything that has happened at Tabun, It proves difficult to get anyone to believe that the Empire is here to liberate; even the meanest field slave has heard of the murder of the Black Wind, the slaughter of the Vendarri (placed at the door of the Dawnish, it seems), the attack on the Rahvin, the destruction of the Montanians. They have heard of the terrible [[curse|curses]] the Citadel Guard unleashed in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]] during their [[A_walk_in_shadow#The_Sydathian_Fens|invasion of the Sydathian Fens]]. These people believe wholeheartedly that they have no choice – between the cruelty of the Druj and the lies of the Empire, they see little alternative but to pick the devil they know. Some of those freed from Tabun actually flee in the night, back toward the welcoming arms of their wicked masters, rather than risk the unknown future of remaining as "prisoners" of the Empire.

Attempts to reach out to the Bloodwater Spears prove to be likewise inconclusive. There's little actual evidence the Spears are interested in siding with the Empire against the Druj anyway – the [[Appraisal|Imperial prognosticators]] simply proposed that they ''could'' fight the tyrants of Sarangrave if they were armed and armoured. That [[appraisal]] spoke of ways to [[Make_it_happen#Inciting_the_Septs|incite the Septs]] but is now three years out of date. It may be that the League and Imperial Orcs soldiers will find it significantly harder to find anyone prepared to talk to them, much less ally with them, than they imagined. The presence of the Golden Axe, so enthusiastically committed to killing the barbarians and taking their land, and the cold Urizen with their powerful magics are likely doing little to make the Imperial forces look more approachable.

==Paid in Blood==
The butcher's bill accounted, it seems that perhaps a thousand Imperial soldiers have been lost in the attack on the Sarangrave. Estimates suggest nearly twice that many Druj have spilled out their lifeblood to slow the Empire's conquest, many during the fight at Tabun. Their bodies are piled high and burned, damp pyres sending pillars of black smoke into the sky to remind the Druj that they are no longer undisputed masters of the Bloodwater Marsh.

As the Spring equinox approaches, as the battle lines inch toward the settlement of Lakhev it becomes clear that the Empire has managed to establish a tenuous toehold in Sarangrave. The Druj armies still fight, the garrison of the Tower of the Skink still fights, but they are in retreat. If nothing changes then cautious estimates suggest that at the current speed, Imperial soldiers will be in a position to capture Lakhev and bring the whole Bloodwater Marsh under their control by the Summer Solstice. If nothing changes...

==Game Information==
===Regarding Sarangrave===
* '''The Empire is just over halfway to securing a beachhead in Sarangrave'''
* '''The Tower of the Skink, the presence of a powerful ward, and the Druj miasma all contributed to delaying the Imperial conquest'''
* '''The Golden Axe provided a significant advantage in attacking the Bloodwater Marsh'''
As the Spring Equinox approaches the Empire is a little over halfway to securing a [[War#Beachheads|beachead]] in Sarangrave. The presence of the Tower of the Skink – a massive fortification in [[Sarangrave#Tower_of_the_Skink|Thornfen]], along with three Druj [[Imperial army|armies]], coupled with the difficulties of establishing supply lines and the presence of a [[Night magic]] ward all contributed to the difficulty of achieving this outcome. Without the Golden Axe and their powerful order to ''Take their land'' it's doubtful the Empire would have been anywhere near as successful as they were.

It's notable that due to the Feverwater in the north, it's only possible for the armies here to retreat south back into Lustri, or to push east into Whisperwood (once they finish their conquest of the Bloodwater Marsh, presumably). They can't attack the far shore of the lake without an [[opportunity]], and the presence of the [[vallorn]] in [[Sarangrave#Bendol|Bendol]] effectively makes that region impassable.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SummerRune.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Participation – Golden Axe===
The experience of fighting alongside the [[Knights of Glory|Crimson Schlacta]] can be particularly inspirational, especially if one already bears a trace of [[Summer magic]]. Any character whose [[military unit]] supported the Golden Axe in their triumphant push to claim the Bloodwater March may choose to begin the next event experiencing a [[Roleplaying effects|roleplaying effect]]: ''You are filled with 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 the Varushkan army, the roleplaying effect is much more pronounced. In addition, if you have the [[Heroic skills#hero|hero]] skill you gain an ''additional'' hero point for the duration of the event. Such characters may also use their experience of fighting alongside the crimson-and-gold armoured heavy infantry to permanently increase the strength of their [[lineage]].

Please bear in mind that these opportunities are ''only'' available to characters whose military unit supported the Golden Axe this downtime. You are free to roleplay you were present, as always, but you do not qualify for the additional hero point or the ability to increase your changeling lineage trappings.

==Battle Opportunity==
The Imperial prognosticators have detected a major conjunction of the [[Sentinel Gate]] that will allow Imperial heroes to visit the Sarangrave during the coming summit. They are still examining the opportunities it presents, but note that it appears to be quite near to the border with the vallorn-infested region of Bendol.
==Further Reading==
* [[Sarangrave]]
* [[Make it happen]] - 384YE Summer wind of fortune detailing an appraisal of the Sarangrave

Start a war

2025-04-19T22:16:09Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* The Fate of the Gryphons */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>
"Check." Her voice was calm but firm, belying the excitement she felt. She rarely got the upper-hand at the table and she was rather enjoying this.

Percivel eyed the board warily, studying it. He contemplated tipping his throne, he'd been losing steadily for the last ten minutes and he was running out of ideas faster than he was running out of pieces.

"I see you're wearing a gryphon." he said to Yvaine. He desperately needed time to come up with a gambit. If he got her talking then she wouldn't press him for his move. "You support Archavion then?" he asked.

The lady leaned back in her chair and fingered the material of her houppelande on either side of the silver brooch. The hawkers were peddling similar pieces at the fayre, two for a ring. This one was sterling silver and had cost considerably more than that. "Yes of course!" she responded. "He's served Dawn well. He deserves our Loyalty. "

Percivel kept his head down studying the board but he glanced up as he responded. "Not everyone agrees" he said still playing for the time.

"Since when did everyone in the Empire agree on anything?" Yvaine retorted, fired up now. "People want to save the Rahvin... it's laudable, but we don't have that luxury. The Druj have just murdered two armies in Therunin! That's what happens when we take the pressure off them for a second. We ''need'' the Barrens, we ''need'' that mithril. Building up our armies is the fastest way to defeat the Druj once and for alll."

Percivel sat up, the board forgotten for a moment. The passion of her response had surprised him. Yvaine's great love was music and dance. She ''hated'' politics, it was why she'd never tried for earl, even though everyone in the House adored her. "The Assembly said we should liberate their slaves - that we could defeat them that way?" he suggested. He was no unicorn but this was a new side of his old friend and he wanted to see more of it.

"Fuck the Assembly!" she said grinning as he laughed at her outburst. "Look - the generals should set out strategy - not the troubadours. They conquered the Barrens and they would have defeated the Druj too by now if the Assembly had left well alone."

"I don't know Yvaine," he said shaking his head. He'd been baiting her before but now he was genuinely feeling conflicted. "We've been fighting the Druj centuries, maybe it was past time we tried something new? There's more paths that lead to glory than there are stars in the sky." he said quoting the old Dawnish aphorism. "Maybe diplomacy and deals are a better way to beat the Druj rather than sword and spell?"

"Maybe," his opponent said reluctantly, "But one thing is for certain. We can't go to war with the orcs and try to make allies of them at the same time. That is never going to work. Maybe you're right and either strategy ''could'' have given us victory but it has to be one or the other. We can't do both at the same time."

There was certainly no arguing with that, so Percivel returned his gaze to the board. He'd gained a few extra minutes, for all the good it was going to do him. He reached out and pushed his piece over. Hopefully it wasn't an omen.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sea_Stack_by_Breigeo.jpg|caption=The Fangs are a mithril mine still marked by the cruelty that seems to taint everything the Druj touch.|align=right|width=400}}</div>
{{PDFLink|align=right|link=File:Start a war.pdf|caption=Click for pdf version}}
==Overview==
As the dust settles [[By_northern_shores|over the dramatic events in the Barrens]], people begin to take stock of what has happened. The extraordinary events are unprecedented; in almost four hundred years of Imperial history, there has never been a situation quite like this. The magistrates have indicated that they will investigate the [[General|General]] of the [[Gryphon's Pride|Gryphon's Pride]] and those who supported the army's nighttime assault on the [[Not_to_conquer#Rahvin|Rahvin]]. [[The Throne]] has [[I_am_easy_to_find|very publicly denounced]] the general, and the [[By_northern_shores#Participation|legal situation looks dire]].

Meanwhile, the wheels of state roll on. [[The Barrens#The Fangs|The Fangs]] are now in Imperial possession. They can now be [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Allocation|allocated]], either as a national position for Dawn appointed by [[Tally of the Votes]], or an Imperial position chosen by [[Auction of the Seats]]. The civil service is making the relevant preparations, deliberately blind to the intense drama surrounding the fate of the Empire's newest [[mithril]] mine. They have also produced an [[Senate_motion#Administrative_Motions|administrative motion]] for the [[Imperial Senate]] to consider potential responses to events such as these in the future, should they ever happen again.

The attack has polarised views across Dawn, setting houses - even siblings - against each other. There are many who support '''General Archavion Wolfborne''' and argue that he has put his life on the line for Dawn. Others oppose the attack, criticising the latest in a line of atrocities that have taken place since Dawn was given stewardship of [[the Barrens]].

==The Disposal of the Fangs==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''The Fangs'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawnish or Imperial</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes or Auction of the Seats</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives 16 wains of mithril each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Ukeep:''' 20 thrones per season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To oversee the Fangs and keep those who work here safe</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Rebuild the Fangs'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Bitter Strand, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 300 thrones, 6 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Increases production to 32 wains of mithril
* Decreases upkeep to 10 thrones a season</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''The Fangs can be allocated to Dawn or made an Imperial Bourse seat'''
* '''The civil service will raise an administrative motion for the seat's allocation at 21:00 on Saturday'''
* '''At present, the Fangs can produce sixteen wains of mithril each season and have an upkeep of 20 thrones a season'''
* '''The mines could be significantly upgraded to double production and halve running costs'''
* '''There are arms and armour equivalent to nineteen wains of mithril in the mine that could be put towards raising an army'''
* '''The Military Council chooses what to do with the mithril arms and armour'''

[[The_Barrens#The_Fangs|The Fangs]], the mithril mine on the edge of the Barren Sea, is now in Imperial hands. The "mine" is actually a series of thirteen rocks that emerge from the water, the biggest of which is several hundred feet high. Rope bridges connect them, one rock to another, and the last to the mainland. Traversing one of the bridges requires a feat of [[Courage]] in bad weather, as storm winds lash them and the sea below churns.

There are grim signs of the [[Druj|Druj's]] legacy here - the Fangs are more than just a mine. Played out chambers served as cells where those forced to slave in the mines could be kept when not at work. The Rahvin have been trying to rebuild the mines and to fortify them in the process. This location might have served as the basis for a powerful [[The_war_of_thorns_and_flowers#All_Along_the_Watchtower|citadel]], but the Rahvin had no access to the [[white granite]] that such a fortress would require.

The Druj are long gone, and now the Rahvin too have been forced to flee. Their tools lie abandoned, along with indisputable evidence of their industry. It appears that the Gryphon's Pride attack came as the Rahvin were attempting to [[Imperial_army#Senate_Commissions|muster an army]]. What they could, they took with them when they fled, but there is mithril which has been shaped and worked, ready to be turned into weapons and armour to equip an army. It is too late to use it for anything else now, but there are the equivalent of nineteen wains of mithril here, which could be used to [[Imperial_army#Resupply|resupply]] an army or even contribute toward arming a new one. The mithril is part of the extraordinary spoils of war, its disposition is now a matter for the [[Imperial Military Council]].

The mines themselves are in a poor state. Those familiar with the state of the [[Vale of the Sunless Depths|Sunless Depths]] in [[Ossium]] when they were claimed recognise the cruelty of Druj rule. The mines are poorly constructed; tight, narrow passages with little to shore them up. Only the truly desperate would choose to work these mines, or those given no choice in the matter. The poor state of repairs limits the mine's productivity - it will produce only sixteen wains of mithril each season as it stands. And it will cost twice as much to run - twenty thrones a season would be needed to pay people to work in these conditions.

The civil service is confident that a major investment in the mine could overhaul them, to bring them up to the standards of Imperial mines. It would be expensive, it would cost three hundred thrones and take six months to complete, during which time the mine would not be operational (and would have no upkeep). Once the work was complete, the output would double and the upkeep would halve.

The mines cannot be used until they are [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Allocation|allocated by the Imperial Senate]]. They could be allocated as national, meaning they would be owned by Dawn and elected by [[Tally of the Votes]], allocated Imperial and assigned by [[Auction of the Seats]], or the motion could be rejected. Any other means of disposal would require a senator to raise an appropriate [[Senate motion]].

==The Retreat of the Rahvin==
* '''The Rahvin have fled to the Carmine Fields with the aid of Irra Harrah'''
* '''There is a conjunction at midnight on Friday that would allow those Imperial heroes who helped the Rahvin flee to meet with the orcs'''
* '''The Rahvin are determined to retake the Fangs soon, they have a military strength of around five hundred'''
With the help of the Empire, the Rahvin have fled west to the [[The Barrens#Carmine Fields|Carmine Fields]]. As soon as they reach the Fields they encounter a herald called ''Fleon'' who claims to be a child of the ''[[Irra_Harah|Prince with a Thousand Foes]]''. ''Papa Otec'' has a long-standing interest in the Barrens and it seems he has taken a personal interest in helping the Rahvin escape. Fleon guides the surviving Rahvin, and their Imperial allies, to a set of caves near the border with Holberg and assures them that they will be safe there for as long as they remain within. The orcs have been suspicious and mistrusting of all offers of help from the Empire, but is clear that they know and trust ''Shackle Smasher''.
<div style="float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 10px; max-width: 500px; width: 40%;">
<table class='wikitable mw-collapsed mw-collapsible sortable'><caption>Supported the Rahvin</caption><tr><th>Military Unit</th><th>Nation</th><th>Banner</th></tr>
<tr><td> Líovani í Erigo </td><td> The Brass Coast </td><td> Flames of the Coast </td></tr>
<tr><td> Francisco I Cervantes-Alvera I Riqueza </td><td> The Brass Coast </td><td> The Seaglass Tide </td></tr>
<tr><td> Reynard of house De Gauvain </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Winged Lions </td></tr>
<tr><td> Percival Summerstrong </td><td> Dawn </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Siegfriede </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House Fawnwood </td></tr>
<tr><td> Jarrigk Orzel </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Order of the Wolf and Sun </td></tr>
<tr><td> Tristan du Lac </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House duLac </td></tr>
<tr><td> Willow </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House Cordraco </td></tr>
<tr><td> Sabine Fawnwood </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House Fawnwood </td></tr>
<tr><td> Alexander Tallstag </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Order of Crimson Circle </td></tr>
<tr><td> Don Tonberry </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House Tonberry </td></tr>
<tr><td> D'Eon </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Anvil Lance </td></tr>
<tr><td> Éamon Ashenmourn de Cordraco </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House Cordraco </td></tr>
<tr><td> Matthias the Returned </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Emerald Lance </td></tr>
<tr><td> Lord Commander Leohnar Gildaryn </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Knights of the Golden Mane </td></tr>
<tr><td> Veridan Silva </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House Tallstag </td></tr>
<tr><td> Percival Tallstag </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House Tallstag </td></tr>
<tr><td> Duncan Weaver </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House Goldvein </td></tr>
<tr><td> Lady Ione Castellan </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Amber Lance </td></tr>
<tr><td> Reynard Forester </td><td> Dawn </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Valour de Gauvain </td><td> Dawn </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Perfidious </td><td> Dawn </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Arlen Foreman-Smith </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House Tallstag </td></tr>
<tr><td> Marguerite </td><td> Dawn </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Faith Fellborn </td><td> Dawn </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Aneira Cadwalon </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Amber Lance </td></tr>
<tr><td> Jared Embar </td><td> Dawn </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Mirella of the Twisted Rose </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Amber Lance </td></tr>
<tr><td> Ser Guy of the Twisted Rose </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Amber Lance </td></tr>
<tr><td> Lord Edmund the Enchanter of House Torawyr </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Amber Lance </td></tr>
<tr><td> Ser Drayvana of Lucentia </td><td> Dawn </td><td> House Lucentia </td></tr>
<tr><td> Lady Soleil-Jolie de Castellan </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Amber Lance </td></tr>
<tr><td> Bertrand Gardener </td><td> Dawn </td><td> Amber Lance </td></tr>
<tr><td> Flexi Yevgeny </td><td> Highguard </td><td> Saker Chapter </td></tr>
<tr><td> Barachel of Adina's Charge </td><td> Highguard </td><td> Daintree Survivors </td></tr>
<tr><td> Zachariah </td><td> Highguard </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Achseh </td><td> Highguard </td><td> The Sentinels Tower </td></tr>
<tr><td> Silus </td><td> Highguard </td><td> The Sentinels Tower </td></tr>
<tr><td> Melkior of Balthazar’s Vineyard </td><td> Highguard </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Solomon </td><td> Highguard </td><td> Shattered Tower Banner </td></tr>
<tr><td> Unbroken Nezzak </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> The Unbroken Legion </td></tr>
<tr><td> Sand Viper Ikk </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> Sand Vipers </td></tr>
<tr><td> Gaddak </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Udoo </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> Bloodcrows </td></tr>
<tr><td> Ashborn Trosk </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> Ashborn </td></tr>
<tr><td> Bloodcrow Kren </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> Bloodcrows </td></tr>
<tr><td> Brog </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Protectorate Thenrik </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> Legion Protectorate </td></tr>
<tr><td> Skywise Karrak </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> Skywise </td></tr>
<tr><td> Vana </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> Ashborn </td></tr>
<tr><td> Bloodcrow Na'grul </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> Bloodcrows </td></tr>
<tr><td> Skod </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Frith </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Bloodcrow Gol </td><td> Imperial Orcs </td><td> Bloodcrows </td></tr>
<tr><td> Flamineo Lodovico Barossa </td><td> The League </td><td> Company of The Red Fox </td></tr>
<tr><td> Gabriel Barossa </td><td> The League </td><td> Company of The Red Fox </td></tr>
<tr><td> Merlof Von Temeschwar </td><td> The League </td><td> Crimson Reaper Cartel </td></tr>
<tr><td> Conrad Der Wildhuter </td><td> The League </td><td> Holsburger Haudegen </td></tr>
<tr><td> Karoly van Temeschwar </td><td> The League </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Shauni di Vergo </td><td> The League </td><td> Carta di Vergo </td></tr>
<tr><td> Finch Hawthorne </td><td> The Marches </td><td> Hartell Household </td></tr>
<tr><td> Alfred Houtman Fella </td><td> The Marches </td><td> Hartell Household </td></tr>
<tr><td> Edmund Forster </td><td> The Marches </td><td> Hartell Household </td></tr>
<tr><td> Logan Lonestrider </td><td> Navarr </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Kale </td><td> Navarr </td><td> The Thornborn of Entwined Paths </td></tr>
<tr><td> Coeden Oaktear </td><td> Navarr </td><td> Deadfall </td></tr>
<tr><td> Meirion Scattered Step </td><td> Navarr </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Keelia Scorched Pine </td><td> Navarr </td><td> The Barbed-Eye </td></tr>
<tr><td> Cledwyn Rose River </td><td> Navarr </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Towlen </td><td> Navarr </td><td> Deadfall </td></tr>
<tr><td> Artur Winterbuilt </td><td> Navarr </td><td> The Winter-Built Steading </td></tr>
<tr><td> Corwyn Silvercloud </td><td> Navarr </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Derwyn Sparrowflight </td><td> Navarr </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Hugh Ravenspire </td><td> Urizen </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Quintus </td><td> Urizen </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Nero Southshore </td><td> Urizen </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Arus Glowmain </td><td> Urizen </td><td> The Wise Citadel </td></tr>
<tr><td> Skandavitz Iskander Kastrioti </td><td> Varushka </td><td> Vale of Yarizov </td></tr>
<tr><td> Vojsuli Cherenkov </td><td> Varushka </td><td> Cherenkov Outpost </td></tr>
<tr><td> Doubravka Nadjaovna Vanek-Vessely </td><td> Varushka </td><td> Vale of Kvyat </td></tr>
<tr><td> Fania Vessely-Vanek </td><td> Varushka </td><td> Vale of Kvyat </td></tr>
<tr><td> Ostrik Vulpe </td><td> Varushka </td><td> The Fox Fangs of Vaslyuk </td></tr>
<tr><td> Yuri Mirkovich Vasiliev </td><td> Varushka </td><td> The Fox Fangs of Vaslyuk </td></tr>
<tr><td> Sasha Dragonivich Pretchniva </td><td> Varushka </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Jaromir Ostrovyn Kostka </td><td> Varushka </td><td> Wardens of the Grateful Hearth </td></tr>
<tr><td> Sławomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh </td><td> Varushka </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Romand Reinetova Remislav </td><td> Varushka </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Twig' Milos Durenovich Brekhunova </td><td> Varushka </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Dindrane Matushkova </td><td> Varushka </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Rane Shardbearer </td><td> Wintermark </td><td> Sigehold Hall </td></tr>
<tr><td> Guthelm Fleetfoot </td><td> Wintermark </td><td> Ursus </td></tr>
<tr><td> Bronn Dunwolf </td><td> Wintermark </td><td> Dunhearth Hall </td></tr>
<tr><td> Leif Dreambinder </td><td> Wintermark </td><td> Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd </td></tr>
<tr><td> Theodric </td><td> Wintermark </td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td> Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason </td><td> Wintermark </td><td> Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd </td></tr>
<tr><td> Kaisa Denmother </td><td> Wintermark </td><td> Fellowship of the Broken Willow </td></tr>
<tr><td> Asch-Fortae Shalder the Wise Reviver </td><td> Wintermark </td><td> Stormspire </td></tr>
<tr><td> Adamah </td><td> Highguard</td><td> </td></tr>
</table></div>
The last thing the Rahvin say to the citizens who helped them escape is that their plan is to retake the Fangs - and to make the attempt immediately. The Rahvin are absolutely clear that they are going to attack the Fangs as soon as the Winter Solstice has passed. If they die making the attempt, then they will stand shoulder to shoulder with Rahvin on the other side of the [[Imperial_Orcs_religious_beliefs#The_Howling_Abyss|Abyss]]. They do not fear that outcome, and they cannot be persuaded to delay. All arguments that time will bring a better outcome produce nothing but cynicism. The Empire makes many promises and many demands, they say, but Rahvin makes only one. Fight for your freedom no matter how high the cost, and you will cross over the Abyss.

The civil service estimates that the total military strength of the Rahvin is, at best, equal to five hundred Imperial soldiers. Given the presence of a large Imperial fortification in the area, the outlook for the Rahvin is dire. If the Empire does ''nothing'' then the Rahvin are doomed. They will attack the Fangs, the garrison of [[The_Barrens#Houndsgate|Houndsgate]] will intercept the attack, and the Rahvin will be finished. Those that are not killed in the fighting will not survive the winter.

Imperial military procedures require the garrison to defend the Fangs unless the Senate has ceded the Fangs to the Rahvin. If that doesn't happen, then the Rahvin are finished. They will attack, the garrison will move to stop the attack, and that will be the end of them.

If the Empire decides to let them reclaim their home, then they won't need any aid. If the Empire decides to stop them, then there is no power in this world that can save them.
===Meeting in the Dark===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box>'''Conjunction Details'''<br>This is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Unlikely_or_Contained|combat unlikely]] encounter, which will involve some walking and there'll be little availability of seating or lighting that players don't bring themselves. There will be a referee on the other side of the gate who will check if a character supported the action - that is assigned their military unit and (is on the list included here). Anyone who didn't will be unable to find the meeting and can roleplay being lost in the woods for as long as they like before returning to Anvil.</box></div>
* '''There is a conjunction to ''Blackwood Copse'' at 00:05 on Friday
* '''A meeting with one of the Rahvin leaders has been arranged under the auspices of Ira Harrah'''
* '''Heralds have made it clear that only those who supported the Rahvin in their fight against the Gryphon's Pride are welcome'''
* '''Anyone who did not take the downtime action to support the Rahvin with a military unit will become lost in the woods if they pass through the Sentinel Gate'''
The Rahvin are too exhausted to discuss the situation further, but ''Papa Otec'' is determined to provide further help. Fleon tells the citizens who have gone with the Rahvin that servants of ''The Golden Hare'' at Anvil have found a conjunction of the [[Sentinel Gate]] to ''Blackwood Copse'' in the Carmine Fields at midnight on Friday at the coming summit. If those Imperial citizens who moved to support the Rahvin - and ''only'' those citizens - wish to discuss the situation further, then Fleon will guide one of the leaders of the Rahvin to Blackwood Copse to meet with them. They insist that only those who supported the Rahvin - the ninety-eight citizens who came to help them escape - may attend. Fleon is very clear that ''Shackle Smasher'' does not trust the Empire not to make another attempt to kill the orcs. Anyone who tries to visit the copse will be misdirected and unable to find the meeting.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Silver-Gold_Griffin_Supporter_(Heraldry).png|caption=The Gryphons support the actions of General Archavion.|align=right|width=300}}</div>

==The Fate of the Gryphons==
* '''Support for the attack on the Rahvin is strongest in the Barrens'''
* '''Some Dawnish have taken to wearing a symbol of the gryphon in a show of support for the general'''
* '''The Gryphons would like to see the Rahvin declared barbarians'''
The people of Dawn have dreamed of conquering the Barrens since before the Empire began. The defeat of the remaining Druj in the last year has been the conclusion of a military campaign that has taken centuries to achieve. Few Dawnish knights are particularly concerned with the Fangs, they leave such matters to their [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]] to arrange. For those who do pay attention to such things, [[seneschal|seneschals]], and those rare [[earl|earls]] concerned with the nation's [[Prosperity]], it has not escaped their attention that, having finally triumphed over their enemies, they have been denied the spoils of war. The [[weirwood]] groves in the [[The Barrens#The_Barrens#Heart_of_Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]] have gone to [[Navarr|Navarr's]] stalwart allies, the [[Great Forest Orcs]].

And the Senate appeared content to let the Rahvin squat in the Fangs for as long as they wanted, indeed it passed [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_the_Rahvin|a treaty]] that would have [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|ceded]] land to the ''sept'', stopped at the last moment by the [[The Throne#Power of Veto|veto]] of '''[[Empress Vesna]]'''. Dawnish blood was spilt in a river to conquer the Barrens, and then at the end... the prizes they had fought for were awarded to others. More than a few point to the example of [[Holberg]] - a territory that should have been Dawnish by right, but went to [[the League]]. What General Archavion did was refuse to allow the sordid politics of Anvil to soil Dawn's glorious triumph in the Barrens. He refused to let the pettiness and lack of vision get in the way of Dawn's virtuous [[Ambition]].

More importantly... the Gryphon's Pride have finished what the [[Hounds of Glory]] started - they have removed the last of Dawn's enemies from the Barrens. The Karass have accepted the rule of the Dawnish with humility - the Great Forest Orcs understand how utterly hopeless their position is, now that all their allies have been broken. It is clear that the Rahvin sept was raising an army, and Archavion moved to crush them before they could attack the Empire. The general has done everything that [[Vigilance]] demanded; he sought out the poison in the fields of the Barrens, and he tore it out.

Emperor Vesna has disavowed the general now, but it was barely a year ago that they were declaring that Dawnish rule in the Barrens was eternal and claiming that the Empire would be ''"the thunder that strikes fear into the hearts of our enemies."'' And besides, Emperor Vesna is ''not'' the [[Dawn_monarchy|monarch of Dawn]]. They might sit on the Throne, but they have no claim on Dawnish hearts. The general might have disobeyed the Throne, but his Loyalty to Dawn is unquestionable, his supporters say - Archavion knows his heart and what commands it.

Some of those who support Archavion have taken to wearing a [[Legendary_beasts#Gryphon|Gryphon]] emblem somewhere on their person - a token of their gratitude for his Ambition, [[Loyalty]], and Vigilance. They understand that he faces trial for his actions, and it is unlikely that he will survive. They understand that his enemies will rally against him to denounce him. And they imagine that the general probably knew all this too and, yet he gave the orders anyway...

What could ''possibly'' be more [[glory|glorious]] than that?

The Gryphons would like to see the Rahvin [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Declaration_of_War|declared barbarians]] by the Imperial Senate [[The_Throne#Declaration_of_War|or the Throne]]. While that won't officially affect the legal status of any trial of the General of the Gryphons Pride and those who supported him, it would send a clear signal to the magistrates that the Empire considered the attack to be in the interests of the Empire, and they entertain the dim hope that it might influence the magistrates when they are passing sentence on Archavion and his supporters.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: leftt;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Unicorn Supporter (Heraldry).png|caption=The Unicorns want a reconciliation with the Rahvin.|align=right|width=300}}</div>

==The Song of the Unicorns==
{{SOP|statement=Pride exalts and uplifts those who have been laid low by the wicked; we come to the Barrens not to conquer, but to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj. We send Ser Dindrane with 50 doses of liao to urge Dawnish citizens not to settle beyond Dawnguard, but to rather put their words, steel, and coin to the cause of protecting and aiding the many inhabitants of the Barrens who have thrown off the yoke of the Buruk Tepel.|by=Ser Dindrane, Dawn Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 233-46|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
* '''Opposition to the attack on the Rahvin is strongest in Weirwater'''
* '''Some Dawnish have taken to wearing a symbol of a unicorn to show their outrage at the attack'''
* '''The Unicorns want the Fangs ceded to the Rahvin'''
Support for the Dawnish general might have been higher, were it not for the actions of the Dawnish Assembly. The Assembly have spent years encouraging the armies to hold back, spreading a vision not of conquest but of liberation. The Synod talked of freeing people from the cruel tyranny of the Druj and, together with the [[Highguard|Highborn]] armies, they seemed to be set on a crusade to bring freedom to the Barrens. The clear, consistent voice with which the Assembly has spoken for many years has slowly but surely moved hearts and minds.

The bloodshed that has followed Dawn's victory in the Barrens has left a sour taste in the mouths of those who believed in the Assembly's dream. And now the Gryphon's Pride have gone, ''under cover of darkness'', to slaughter the Rahvin. What glory is there in an attack the enemy doesn't see coming? A hero of Dawn would at least have blown the trumpets to call their enemy to the battlefield!

They refuse to believe that this attack was warranted and point to [[I_am_easy_to_find|the latest words of the Throne]] to support their claim. It is true that the Throne promised the Barrens to Dawn, but in that same speech they declared that ''"We will act in virtue to all who inhabit the Barrens and extend the hand of friendship to those who wish to live amongst our citizens..."''

The crusade to liberate the Barrens was supposed to be the key to destroying the Druj. Freeing the orcs of the Barrens from the rule of the Druj would spread a message that would sound throughout [[the Mallum]]. Slavery is the eastern orcs Achilles' Heel; if the Empire could convince the Druj slaves to rise up, the enemy would quickly fall.

Instead, the opposite has happened. The Druj have spread news of the Empire's [[Ripples_and_shadows#Hope's_Rest|massacres of the Montanians]] to every human in their lands. Members of the Black Wind have fled into Druj lands bearing tales of the [[Ripples_and_shadows#Black_Wind|horrific murders]] committed by the [[Iron Helms]]. Orcs that dreamed of breaking free of the rule of the Druj have been lectured on the fate that [[Ripples_and_shadows#Saltmarsh_Redux|befell the Vendarri]]. The Druj may decimate those who oppose them, but the Empire murders ''everyone'', they are told. It is hard to imagine how the Empire's reputation with the subjects of the Druj might recover from this, but the only possible hope is find an accommodation with the Rahvin. If they were to die, then any hope of freeing the slaves of the Mallum dies with them. The Druj will already fight the Empire to the bitter end, but the very people who should welcome Imperial armies as a force of liberation will fight beside them convinced that only death or a different form of slavery awaits them.

Some of those who oppose the attack on the Rahvin have taken to wearing an emblem of a [[Legendary_beasts#Unicorn|unicorn]] somewhere on their person - a promise to protect the innocent and come to the aid of those who have been wronged. The Rahvin refused to bow their heads to the Druj, even though they knew it would mean destruction; they didn't flee like the orcs of Peytaht, and they didn't join their enemy like the Black Wind, refused to abandon their belief in a united Barrens. Whatever else they did they showed [[Courage]], [[Loyalty]], and [[Ambition]]. Those wearing the unicorn call for peace in the Barrens, alliance with the Rahvin, and remind their fellow Dawnish that the harps and lutes of the troubadour are every bit as glorious as the sword and shield of a knight.

Peace with the Rahvin looks impossible now - but that only makes it all the ''more'' glorious to try!

The Unicorns would like to see the Fangs ceded to the Rahvin, rather than being made Imperial or national. The Montanians are dead, the Black Wind united against the Empire by hatred, but there might yet be time to save the Rahvin.

==The Rules of War==
* '''The Houndsgate was powerless to prevent the Imperial attack on the Fangs due to the unprecedented nature of the assault'''
* '''The Imperial civil service has prepared an administrative motion for consideration by the Empire that will remove the uncertainty'''

When news came that the general of the Gryphon's Pride had issued orders to attack the Rahvin at the Fangs, the garrison at [[The_Barrens#Houndsgate|Houndsgate]] was unable to decide how to respond. If a barbarian or foreign army were to attack any region in the Barrens that was under Imperial control, then the garrison would do their best to mount a defence. But there are no existing rules on how to respond if an Imperial army attacks an Imperial territory. Technically, an attack is an attack, but mounting a defence would mean killing soldiers following orders legitimately issued by an Imperial general.

This particular situation has never happened in the nearly four hundred years of Imperial history, but despite this, the civil service is absolutely ''desperate'' to ensure that it is able to respond promptly and correctly, should it ever happen again. To that end, they have prepared the following Senate motion, which the [[Speaker for the Senate]] has agreed to raise as an administrative motion on the evening [[Senate session]] on Saturday.

<quote by="Administrative Senate Motion">Fortifications must mount the most effective defence possible of the land under their control, regardless of the source of the attack.</quote>

If this Senate motion passes, then in an identical situation in the future, the fortification would move to oppose the attack on the Rahvin. Any Imperial heroes commanding military units could support the fortification as normal.

If this Senate motion fails (or is vetoed), then the civil service will take that as an indication that the Senate does not want Imperial fortifications to oppose attacks from Imperial armies, and they will update the guidance provided to garrison commanders accordingly. In an identical situation in the future, the fortification would provide no resistance to an attack against the Rahvin, and it would not be possible for ''any'' imperial heroes commanding military units to intervene.

The [[Scrutiny#Constitutional Court|Constitutional Court]] have indicated that it is '''not''' possible to update Imperial law to command fortifications to defend against attacks by Imperial armies against Imperial citizens, but to ignore attacks by Imperial armies on foreigners. Foreigners are entitled to the full protection of Imperial law and so could not be made the legitimate subject of an attack in this way.

==Participation==
* '''Players are encouraged to adopt the gryphon or the unicorn if it reflects their character's beliefs'''
* '''Everyone is reminded to abide by the conduct rules when discussing events in the Barrens'''
The gryphon and the unicorn factions presented here are intended to encourage player characters to consider embracing one symbol or the other to show their opinion on the Barrens. Obviously it's short notice in terms of acquiring emblems of these [[Aspect_magic#Heraldic_Magic|heraldic beasts]], but the terms are also intended to be used to quickly sum up in-character opinions. It's not our intention to put non-player characters on the field at [[Anvil]] to embody these positions, but rather to help player characters identify others who share their opinions. It is also entirely appropriate ''not'' to pick one of these sides if your character has no strong opinions about the Rahvin, the Fangs, or the Barrens either way.

The use of the two symbols does not need to be exclusive to Dawn; it's equally appropriate for characters from other nations with an interest in this situation to use the language and icons of the two factions in their own discussions.

As laid out in the wind of war, it's also important for everyone to remember our conduct rules when discussing this contentious subject. You can find our earlier note, which remains relevant, on the '''[[By_northern_shores#OOC_Note|By northern shores]]''' wind of war.

==Further Reading==
* [[Hard to find]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune about other things going on in the Barrens
* [[By northern shores]] - 386YE Autumn Wind of War about the fight in the Barrens

On southern sands

2025-02-15T23:47:41Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* The Second Battle of Elos */ Capitalization

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:386YE Winter]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Stormy Seas.png|caption=Magical storms break against the cliffs and stony beaches of Urizen; an echo of the violence to come.|align=right|width=600}}</div>
==Woven with Shimmering Threads==
{{PDFLink|align=right|link=File:On southern sands.pdf|caption=Click for pdf version}}
As the Autumn Equinox fades, magic pools and settles over the mountainous territory of [[Redoubt]]. Even as the great and good of the Empire are beginning their long trek back from Anvil to their homes, clouds begin to a gather and angry winds thrash the waves along the coast to thundering foam. Heavy rain, then sleet, then vicious hail whips along the cliffs and beaches. Lightning marches across the horizon. Spring magic is unleashed, a violent expression of the destructive power of that realm. While it is without doubt worst along the coastline, the touch of the storms is felt as far north as [[Redoubt#Limus|Limus]] and [[Redoubt#Willstone|Willstone]], bedevilling merchant vessels visiting Elos and Visten, or travelling up the river Hedra to Cargo.

At night, the clouds remain thick along the coast but clear somewhat as one travels inland. They reveal more magic at work in Redoubt; the sky over the high peaks shimmers and shifts. A shroud of [[Night magic]] stirs the stars, reshaping and reforming them. And if that shroud is of no great strength, insufficient to stymie any save the most cursory of divinations, the fact that it seems the entire Empire rests beneath that same delicate blanket of glamour and misdirection is still cause for comment.

There is some consternation among [[astronomancy|astronomancers]], who must employ enchanted lenses to pierce the [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil|penumbral veil]] to see the [[constellations]] – all save [[the Mountain]] which remains clear in the heavens despite the fact that it ought to be slipping beneath the horizon as winter draws near. An omen, or the whimsy of the Night? Nobody seems to be sure. Predictions are tricky under the shroud of night.

A few nights later, under the shifted sky and battering hail, a citadel of pale stone and dark ice rises on the slopes of [[Redoubt#Siluri|Mount Siluri]], garrisoned by folk with the white fur and visage of great bears. In the foothills below the twisted ruin of Unmade – the font of the [[Unmade trove]] that transformed the [[Citadel Guard]] – three squat towers of rime and rock forge themselves from star and moonlight as the season begins to turn cold. These [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|frozen citadels]] are only the first of the magical defences that will gird Redoubt in the coming weeks.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=CitadelGuard Colour.png|align=right|width=300|caption=The Citadel Guard lead the defence of Redoubt, marshalling their forces wherever they can do the most good.}}</div>
Overnight, burning brass sigils unfold across the [[Redoubt#The_Walls_of_Cargo|walls of Cargo]] and the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain|Court of the White Fountain]] that hiss and sizzle as the rain pounds against them. All who see them know, instinctively, that they bind the strength of Shikal – the volcanic metropolis where the eternal [[Estavus]] has her forge – to the mortal [[fortification|fortifications]]. Barely a day later, two cohorts from the Autumn realm arrive to bolster the garrisons in [[Redoubt#Limus|Limus]] and [[Redoubt#Optarion|Optarion]]. Fifty massive metal-and-stone four-armed constructs support each fortification, lead by bull-headed minotaurs in bronze armour who set about reviewing the defences of the northern city and the southern [[Spire#Citadels|citadel]], liaising with the mortal garrisons and further bolstering the might of the two castles.

In Cargo these developments are welcomed with curiosity and excitement. Arcanists take every opportunity to examine the [[enchantment]] that surrounds the city – the [[Mystic_scrolls_of_Estavus#Ramparts_of_Ashlar|Ramparts of Ashlar]] woven by Imperial magicians from a ritual scroll sold to them by the Forgemistress. The minotaurs find any number of fascinated scholars eager to interrogate them about life in the City of Fire and Stone; they are quickly disappointed to discover the heralds are significantly more interested in their work bolstering Cargo than in talking to academics.

The reception at the Court of the White Fountain is a little marred by the response of the small number of ''koboldi'' that live there. Remnants of the contingent that helped infuse the walls with Summer potence, to make them ''unbreakable'', the little scaled heralds are concerned by the transformation of the fortification, and the presence of the Autumn constructs. They express reservations, worried that the servants of Estavus do not appreciate the strength of stone as much as they do, that this temporary enchantment will not ''last'', has no ''durability''. They can be spotted watching the servants of the Forgemistress with worried eyes, wringing their hands.

Regardless, the power of these enchantments cannot be denied. Between the burning sigils – visible for miles once night falls – and the soldiers of the Autumn realm, the power of the two fortifications is greatly increased. Even as Winter gathers, the temperature within the Court of the White Fountain and on the streets of Cargo remains warm – sweltering at times – and the air is sharp with the tang of smoke and molten metal. No matter where one goes, the distant echo of hammer-on-metal can be heard, and the hiss of hot blades being quenched.

Then in the second week after the Equinox, after storms and shrouds, after magical castles and enchanted walls, another ripple of [[Spring magic]] begins to spread across Redoubt. The power rises in the high peaks, and flows across the land with the [[Rivers of Life|rivers and the streams]], infusing the pools and lakes, mixing with underground aquifers and the cisterns that supply several of the newer spires. It dances in the storm-water, soothes the stinging hail back to rain. The water tingles, almost effervescent, pure and clean and refreshing even as storms lash the coast. Wherever water flows, wounds close, and sickness passes quickly. All the aches and pains that flesh is heir to seem to weigh a little less on the people of Redoubt, as supernatural vitality spreads from the heights through the hills to the plains below. The [[Spring_magic#Healing_and_Vitality|healing power]] of Spring is unleashed, and in the battles to come all save the most grievous wounds will fade like morning mist, provided the ones who receive them survive.

And battles are coming to storm-tossed Redoubt, of that there is little doubt.
==The Arete of Sword and Spear==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Andronikos of the Lighthouse at Nikephoros, General of the Citadel Guard">Sentinels, consider the Mountain. The servants of Siakha come to Redoubt bringing storm and fang and savagery. The mages of Urizen have met storm with storm. Fey knights will meet fang with Summer steel. You will meet savagery with discipline. You are the rock on which our foes shall break. You are the Mountain.</quote></div>
The [[Citadel Guard]] crosses the Hedra east of [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]], marching south out of Morrow. They are accompanied by a grand cohort of lion-faced warriors of the Summer Realm – the knights of [[Eleonaris]] conjured by Imperial magic and bound to fight alongside the sentinels and war-magicians. The scarlet and gold banners of the Lady of Pennants flutter in the wind alongside those of the phoenix, and the white tower. They sing as they come, providing a tumultuous counterpoint to the smooth calm at the heart of the sentinel army.

Pausing briefly beneath the sigil-woven walls of Cargo, they head south toward the coast through Siluri. With expert precision, the strategists of the Citadel dispatch sentinels to Naris and Tomari, using the stuttering lanterns of the [[heliopticon]] to coordinate the defence of the coast with the Court of the White Fountain and the other defenders of Redoubt.

As their network of messengers and watchers spreads, they are joined by two more Imperial armies. The journey of the [[Towerjacks]] and [[Northern Eagle]] has been longer than that of the Guard, leaving war-torn [[Therunin]] and come south through Morrow, past [[Morrow#Highwatch|Highwatch]], to help defend the people of Redoubt from the coming storm. The Northern Eagle have paid a heavy price to be here; marching through the [[Region_qualities#Poisoned|poisoned]] vale of the Lower Tarn Valley has cost them nearly two hundred good soldiers who will not fight again, yet the spiteful apothecary of the [[Druj]] and [[Ashes#Objective:_Prevent_the_use_of_the_Sephals_Cauldron|Sephal's Cauldron]] left them with no other road if they wished to reach Redoubt in time.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="TBC, General of the Towerjacks">The Fall of general Barossa signals a loss not only for us, but for our Empire. Our enemies will take no more. Travel to Redoubt and build your defences high, that their waves will break on your walls. Show them the strength of your loyalty.</quote></div>
As soon as they arrive, the Towerjacks begin feverishly to [[Army_qualities#Engineer|fortify the coast]] with earthworks, palisades, beacons, defensive vantage points, and more. Working with all their [[Holberg|Holbergian]] ingenuity, backed by the designs of some of the most cunning siege engineers of the League, they reinforce the Elos Harbour in particular, adding significantly to the garrison there while they build their makeshift fortifications. If there is any ill-feeling here about the matter of Spiral, it takes second place to an appreciation of the Leaguish willingness to work night and day to protect the people of Urizen.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Jaromir Ostrovyn Kostka, General of the Northern Eagle">Redoubt's beacons are alight and so we shall raise our banners in its defence. Hold the mountains and the valleys, the cliffs and the coast, the Spires and the cities. We shall be the hunting bird that haunts the heights, diving upon unwary prey. Vigilant as Sentinels, swift as Wardens, the Imperial Eagle shields all homes.</quote></div>
While the Citadel Guard prepare to respond to an attack wherever it may come from, and the Towerjacks reinforce the coast, the Varushkan soldiers of the Northern Eagle move quickly and effectively through the hills and low peaks, ever watchful for the first signs of an attack. They take nothing for granted – complacency is the enemy of victory. Their strategy complements that of the Urizen sentinels – the army fragments into half a dozen independent groups that maintain communication with messengers and trained birds. Responsible, ready to swiftly gather at the point of any incursion, their [[Army_qualities#Guerrilla|hit and run]] tactics seem particularly well suited to the rough terrain and foothills of Urizen. While some of the Urizen spires are at first reticent about Varushkan soldiers in Redoubt, they swiftly warm to their guests, the long shadow cast by the Iron Helms dispelled by the professional, albeit grim, demeanour of the Northern Eagle.

The warning of the Urizen assembly, shared with every priest of the nation, goes some way toward preparing the citizens of Redoubt for what is coming. Working together and with the Eagle and the 'Jacks, the citadels of Redoubt provide supplies and guides, supporting the armies as the armies prepare to defend them. It helps that Redoubt has so many citadels; while it has been some time since the territory was threatened militarily they are always prepared to face attack from the sea, or from Spiral.
{{SOP|statement=People of Redoubt, watch the coast and prepare for the malice of the Children of Wrecks and the Grendel. Turn your striving to the organisation of your defences. Build up your bonds with your fellow spires and make assurances to share this watch. Hone your courage and do not fear to act. Keep watch upon the Ribbon of Salt and Evenstar. They must not fall into wicked idolatrous hands. Let Urizen's virtue be a light against their darkness.|by=Halkyon of the Myriad Stream, Urizen Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 306-0|when=Autumn Equinox 386YE}}
==On Wings of Storm==
For a time it seems that these preparations might go untested. Days stretch into weeks, and a few of the more critical Urizen begin to question the wisdom of expending so much magical energy to defend against an attack that is ''clearly'' not coming. Then, just shy of a month after the Autumn Equinox, the Grendel arrive.

An armada of ships from the Broken Shore, carrying tens of thousands of Grendel warriors, brave the magical storms battering Redoubt to assail the shores of [[Redoubt#Naris|Naris]]. If not for the [[vigilance]] of the Urizen watchers their attack might have taken the defenders by surprise – they approach not along the coast from the west but from the south – from the open sea. A ripple of concern runs through the strategists gathered in Redoubt. Have the Grendel navies crossed the trackless heart of the [[Bay of Catazar]]? The question is left unanswered as the chaos of war descends on the coast of Redoubt.

At first the assumption is that they have employed some unknown enchantment to travel unseen along the coast. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that while there is magic woven into the hulls, rigging, and sails of the Grendel warships it is a protective charm of [[Autumn magic]] which helps their ships endure the Spring spawned storms rather than anything to do with speed or concealment. This protection is not foolproof - watchers confirm that several ships are swamped or sunk by the enchanted tempest - but it serves to significantly reduce the damage done by Foam and Spittle to the Broken Shore armada.

It's obvious that this force is made up of many of the ships and soldiers that assaulted [[Madruga]] and [[A beacon of smoke|burned Siroc]] - or rather some of them. The Simoom, the Tempest, and the Golden Sails transport the piratical Black Eels, the mercenary army of the Bone Nautilus, the relentless veterans of the Iron Gulls, and the furious war-witches of the Naguerro. They launch a blistering series of raids and probing attacks across the southern coast of Redoubt, remaining mobile and seeking any weakness in the walls of iron and magic thrown up to defend Urizen from the sea.

There are sightings of [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] troops fighting alongside the Bone Nautilus, but no sign of the warships that hail from the eastern archipelago. It's possible that the [[Harvest of infamy|recent fiasco]] at [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]] has shaken their resolve – or that they are simply busy elsewhere. Even without them, the Grendel forces brought to bear in Redoubt represent a serious threat. On sheer numbers alone, it seems the Grendel outnumber the Imperial armies two-to-one. Unfortunately, that assessment of the defenders of Redoubt takes into account neither the garrisons of Cargo and the Court of the White Fountain, nor the power of Imperial magic. The Summer citadels, and the Autumn enchantments, both help swing the odds back in favour of the Empire.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NorthernEagle Colour.png|align=right|width=300|caption=The Northern Eagle are adept at fighting in the foothills of Redoubt.}}</div>
Raids on Elos and Visten are quickly repulsed by the Towerjacks and the the Citadel Guard. The Northern Eagle are called to defend the Brilliant Star from a band of Black Eels who came ashore in Tomari under cover of dark; the orcs have counted without the sure movement and tactical prowess of the Varushkan guerrillas. The invading barbarians clash with Imperial defenders over and over, and while the Empire is not victorious in every engagement it is clear that the Grendel cannot sustain this pace for long. After some initial gains, the soldiers are forced back toward the coast.

One of the most vicious engagements takes place at the Lighthouse at Nikephoros. Once a respected naval citadel, its star swiftly declined after Urizen became part of the Empire. No longer considered strategically important, it was almost drowned by magical storms in the reign of [[Empress Brannan]]. It has weathered many a tempest since, but this season represents one violent tempest too many. The isolated sea-stack where it stands is targeted by the ships of the Tempest, and Bone Nautilius mercenaries. As the storms rage, the barbarians seek to overwhelm the defenders, but before they can claim the spire the defenders choose to collapse the rock tower supporting the ancient citadel and tumbling it down into the hungry, churning sea. While some of the defenders are able to escape the destruction, many more perish, but they take at least as many Grendel with them - including several of the attacking ships. The Grendel will be more much more cautious about assailing lone citadels in the weeks to come, and the secrets of Nikephoros are delivered to the briny deeps rather than the greedy hands of barbarian magicians.
==The Battle of Elos==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Crab-traced-2.png|align=left|width=300|caption=The Grendel forces seek to conquer Elos - but will settle for destroying its prosperous harbour if they cannot overwhelm the defenders.}}</div>
Any foothold the Grendel manage to establish is swiftly dislodged by Imperial forces, and as the Winter Solstice draws nearer the attacks become more widely spaced apart. Then, with minimal warning, the Grendel launch an almost overwhelming assault against the harbour of Elos. Once a base for what little navy Urizen had before they joined the Empire, the fortunes of the spire slowly declined. Major trade passed it entirely in favour of the larger ports of [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]] and [[Necropolis#Hedrossan|Hedra]] to the north, leaving it little more than a quiet fishing village. Yet even in sleepy obsolesence, the quayside remained extensive and the harbour wall fortified. A few years ago, though, the Imperial senate [[Construct_Great_Harbour_of_Elos|ordered]] an expansion of the docks, restoring them to and eventually surpassing their former glory. In the seasons since the Great Harbour of Elos has once again become a bustling port - and perhaps in time it could become [[To_see_what_you_sell#Additional_Benefits|something more]].

Perhaps it is simple opportunism, or perhaps it is something more, but the Grendel forces throw their full strength behind the capture of the port. It seems their strategy here has been one of misdirection - to scatter the Imperial defenders across the long coastline of southern Redoubt before revealing their real intention. They have counted, however, without the foresight of the Citadel Guard and the industry of the Towerjacks. While the defenders are indeed spread out, Elos is far from undefended. The first marines disgorged from the Grendel ships find themselves pressed up against the barricades and palisades positioned by the Holbergian engineers. Even though the work of creating durable fortifications is still underway, the League soldiers have used the existing defences of the harbour to channel the invaders where they want them. Even these skeletal preparations leave the attackers exposed to the smaller garrison defending the spire, and they are cut to ribbons by crossbow bolts and Urizeni spears.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=TowerJacks Colour.png|align=right|width=300|caption=the Towerjacks strive to build defences along the cliffs of Naris, and fight to protect the port of Elos.}}</div>
The Grendel respond quickly, adjusting their tactics and seeking to land more ground troops on the beaches outside the town. The delay costs them dearly however, and even as they begin to move against the walls of Elos, returning Varushkan patrols and scouts from the Court of the White Fountain fall on them from the east and west. The heliopticon tower above the town sends out a warning and a call to arms that is quickly repeated across Naris and beyond, and the Empire's fist begins to close around the Grendel attackers. This close to the shore, they must also contend with the worst effects of the Spring curse laid across the seas and winds, which dashes more than one invading ship to pieces drowning it and its cargo of soldiers. Those shipwrecked barbarians who make it to shore are little match for the Imperial defenders.

Yet the Grendel are nothing if not adaptable, and in the face of unexpected defenders they they change their tactics. The mightiest armoured warships form a tight spearpoint aimed at the heat of Elos, and pierce the defences. The fighting on the docks is fierce and bloody, as the Grendel focus on clearing the defences the Towerjacks have created. They are able to establish a beachhead and from there the battle spills over into the town. Urizen settlements are as often as not laid out with an eye for aesthetics and beauty, with spacious avenues between the buildings - a far cry from the tangled mazes that characterise a League city or a Varushkan town. Pitched battles take place between the Imperial soldiers and the Grendel invaders, with the crossbows and bows on both sides proving to be a powerful asset in the long, straight streets.

The attacking orcs have the upper hand, and so the Empire adjusts its own tactics. They play a delaying game, slowing the invasion and bogging the orcs down wherever they can. With each hour that passes, more defenders arrive - soldiers from the Imperial armies, scouts from the fortifications, and even a scattering of supernatural allies come down from the magic citadels, eager not to miss a fight after weeks of boredom in the foothills. In the end, as night begins to fall, it is clear that the Grendel will not be able to take Elos and they begin to fall back to their vessels. Yet they make one last attempt to achieve their goal; soldiers of the Iron Gulls, adept siege engineers in their own right, try to fire the harbour and especially the facilities for maintaining and building ships. Perhaps control - or the destruction - of this nascent shipyard has been their intention all along. They are able to inflict some damage, but a cadre of Urizeni sentinels breaks through the Grendel defensive line and falls on the would-be saboteurs, and covered by League and Varushkan troops they make short work of the attackers. The survivors are forced to retreat back to their ships.

As the darkness gathers, the Grendel abandon their attempt to secure Elos. Tail between their legs, they limp back to their ships and flee into deeper water, abandoning a few raiding parties who had not made it to the coast to the tender mercy of the Imperial defenders. A cautious cheer goes up from the Imperial defenders. it is, perhaps, a little premature...
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Dapper Carchacadon.jpg|align=right|caption=The carcharodon heralds of the Mother of Wrecks feast in the wake of the Children of Wrecks.|width=300}}</div>
==The ''Second'' Battle of Elos==
While the Empire and the Grendel tear at one another, while the maelstrom roars and the sun sinks, a ''second'' force sweeps in from the west to attack Elos. It's not clear whether they have been intentionally waiting for the Grendel to launch their failed attack, or whether it has simply taken this long for them to gather their strength and bring it to bear. Given the nature of these assailants, it seems more likely that the latter is the case. While the Empire mops up the last of the Broken Shore invaders, while the Grendel retreat deeper into the Bay, the [[Children of Wrecks]] launch their assault.

Through the teeth of the storm come perhaps a hundred and fifty swift-moving vessels, festooned with gruesome trophies and profane talismans. They surge through the spray to attack the harbour, a ragtag mess of pirates and privateers, murderers and thieves. The Grendel have cleared some of the fortifications raised by the Towerjacks, and these jackals prove much more manoeuvrable than the great warships of the Broken Shore, able to dodge the barricades and disgorge their cargo of savage raiders into the streets of Elos. Smaller in number, they still seek to overwhelm Elos with the sheer [[Spring magic#Savagery|savagery]] of the Spring realm.

There is little subtlety in their strategy, and even less cohesion to the raiders that assail Elos. They are here to burn, and loot, and slaughter with no thought for holding territory or establishing supply lines, or anything more complex than sating their greed and bloodlust. Many of these attackers are clearly former orcs of the Broken Shore, either zealots who revere the [[Siakha|Mother of Wrecks]] as a twisted deity, or villains driven by greed to abandon their people and embrace chaos. Many are clearly experienced at assailing Imperial ships, but seem perhaps a little less prepared for a battle on land. Their numbers are swollen by ships and raiders from further afield – it seems that the call of High Priestess Shivaarn has been heard in the far corners of the Known World and cutthroats, pirates, buccaneers, and violent criminals are answering.

To the sorrow of the defenders, there's also ample sign that there are former Imperial citizens among the attackers, mostly ex-Freeborn and League traitors who have thrown off the veneer of civilisation to embrace the chaos of the Children of Wrecks. More worryingly, there is a notable Marcher presence among the attackers - perhaps as many as half a dozen warbands who have removed their livery, but cannot quite conceal their allegiance. The fact they are looking to conceal their identities raises suspicions that they are opportunists; they intend to return to the Marches once the raid is over rather than to join the Children of Wrecks. They fight no less savagely that their compatriots, however, their [[Merciless Wrath of the Reaver|merciless wrath]] just as unforgiving as that of the other Children of Wrecks.

True barbarians, they give no quarter and expect no mercy. Every attacker shows signs of the potent Spring enchantments coursing through their veins that grant them savage strength to cut down defenders, while giving them unnatural vitality allowing them to shrug off powerful blows even lightly armoured as many of them are.

As with other engagements with the Children of Wrecks, there are numbers of [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]], [[Inhabitants of the realms#Guardians|monstrous beasts]], and [[Inhabitants of the realms#Drudges|bloodthirsty supernatural reavers]] bolstering their strength. Alongside humans and orcs throng savage carcharodons, thunderous tempest children, and great bone-armoured sharks ready to devour anyone who falls into the water.

While the majority of the attackers rely on steel to try and overwhelm the defenders of Elos, there are clearly a number of magicians among them well versed in the violent magics of Spring. In the teeth of the gale, they shout words of power to tear down the defences of the town, to sink its ships, to scatter the defenders. The Urizen meet the unconstrained fury of Spring with magic of their own, however, and strong as the Children of Wrecks sorcerers are the Urizeni are stronger. Urizen magic turns aside the more destructive incantations of the Children and their supernatural allies, bolstering and strengthening their allies, and helping them remain calm and focused in the face of the disordered aggression from the sea.

In stark contrast to both the Imperial and Grendel forces warring over the coast of Redoubt there is little organisation here. Some of the Children's vessels lose interest in the attack on Elos, peel off, and pursue the retreating Grendel armada. Where they catch stragglers they gleefully board their warships and slaughter their crews. A number of Grendel troops left behind in Elos, trapped between the bloodthirsty hammer of the Children of Wrecks and the anvil of the Empire choose to surrender to Imperial troops, or in one or two cases strike hasty alliances to fight the new threat.

The attack is chaotic, unpredictable, disorganised. Whatever strategy they may have had dissolves quickly in the face of Urizen's wealth and the chance to murder its people. That same disorder, that makes it hard for the sentinels to predict how the attack will unfold, largely dooms it even before it has started. Despite the smaller number of attackers, the Children of Wrecks are focused on mayhem and theft rather than trying to conquer the town. They kill more people than the Grendel did, because they are not here to conquer merely to slaughter and fill their pockets. Because there is no sense of unity or loyalty between the vicious raiding bands, it matters little to the individuals when their fellow attackers fall. Beyond the point where an attacking army would have sounded the retreat, the fighting continues through the night. Fires erupt across Elos, the cries of the wounded and the dying rise to challenge the thunder of the clouds in volume.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SiakhaArt.jpg|caption=Those who have the favour of Siakha are equally happy to despoil Imperial towns and sink Grendel ships - and their mistress welcomes both with equal delight.|align=left|width=300}}</div>
Yet as midnight approaches, the furious tumult of the Children of Wrecks begins to falter. They frenzy dims, their strength expended in a crazed flurry of attacks. The sentinels, the League soldiers, the Varushkan schlacta, systematically surround and butcher the straggling attackers. Those smarter raiders know the tide has shifted and fall back to their ships, peeling away from the Naris shore and heading westward, satisfied with their loot, and the slaking of their bloodlust.

There is still violence to come, however. As the ships of the Children of Wrecks flee back toward their [[Madruga#Free_Landing|lair in the west]] two-dozen swift Broken Shores ships attack ''their'' stragglers, cutting down their crews or sinking the pirate ships wherever they can. While the bulk of the Grendel armada is still in full retreat, it seems some of their independent captains are more interested in retribution against the traitors and murderers under the tattered flags of Siakha than they are in making it safely to deeper waters after the failure of their attack.

==Forewarned and Forearmed==
As the morning sun limps above the eastern mountains, the defenders of Elos count the cost. The spire has been damaged, there is still a pall of smoke hanging over the settlement. The Towerjacks immediately set to work repairing and replenishing the barricades on the docks, while the Northern Eagle dispatches details to gather up the corpses of Grendel troops and Siakhan raiders and burn them on great pyres outside the walls of Elos. These funeral furnaces burn low, spitting and snarling in the drizzle that still pours from the heavy Spring-infused clouds above.

The harbour has weathered the storms, and perhaps been made stronger. If there had been no defence, if it had just been the Grendel or the Children of Wrecks against Elos, the story would have been very different. Without forewarning, the Grendel would have taken Elos and established a beachhead in Redoubt, spreading quickly across Naris and threatening not only Redoubt but Necropolis as well. Even without the Grendel attack, the Children of Wrecks alone would have overwhelmed the defenders and Elos would have burned, its people slaughtered or captured by the Children of Wrecks who would easily have escaped any retribution from the defenders of Urizen.

With three armies, and a plethora of magical protections, however, both attackers have been repulsed. Even with the lifegiving rain, many have died. In the skirmishes along the coast, and the defence of Elos, death has claimed soldiers of three nations. For all their lack of numbers, the sheer savagery of the Children of Wrecks rivals the worst excesses of the Druj in its bloodthirstiness and the protectors of Elos have bourn the brunt of that wickedness. In the days that follow, the heliopticon flickers with the news that Elos has survived. At the same time, the fact that there were many identifiably Marcher soldiers among those attackers, who even with the savage power of Spring in their veins showed signs of the discipline common to a [[military unit|trained Imperial force]] leaves a sour taste in the mouths of those who had hoped the recent conflict with the Marches had been laid to rest. it seems there is indeed more than one way to bury a hatchet, as the western farmers have it.

Regardless, the vigilance of the Empire has paid dividends. The Grendel armada has been forced to retreat from Redoubt without establishing a foothold in the territory or succeeding in a single significant raid. The Children of Wrecks have been repulsed, and while the fighting at Elos was savage they were no match for the defenders. The storms that have rampaged up and down the coast blow themselves out three weeks before the Winter Solstice, and in the wake of the violence a sudden calm descends.

The Empire has protected Redoubt, bloodied the nose of the Grendel armada, and delivered a stinging defeat to the Children of Wrecks, but it has paid a steep price to do so.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofRedoubt.png|caption=Redoubt has been protected by Imperial forces.|align=left|width=300}}</div>

==Game Information==
===Redoubt===
* '''Redoubt remains fully under Imperial control'''
* '''The Towerjacks have established temporary fortifications in Naris'''
Imperial forces in Redoubt handily defeated attacks from both the Grendel and the Children of Wrecks aimed at the port of Elos. There has been cosmetic damage to the town, and some loss of life, but the harbour remains intact. In addition to the usual damage caused during the campaign by the Grendel navies and armies, the attack of the Children of Wrecks and their supporters has caused additional casualties to the three armies defending Redoubt. These extra casualties have also been reduced by Rivers of Life, however.

Grendel forces have retreated, having failed to establish any foothold in the territory. The Children of Wrecks raid has been held off, and the attackers have scattered into the deep waters of the Bay of Catazar.

The Towerjacks have completed their program of fortifications and bolstering of defences across Naris, and following the Winter Solstice the region will have a 1,000 point [[fortification]]. That strength drops to 500 after the Spring Equinox, and has faded completely by the end of the Summer Solstice 387YE.

Work on the [[Construct Roads of the Sky|roads of the sky]] has been slightly impacted by the terrible storms and magical rain, but given that the destructive curse is focused on the coast rather than the territory as a whole, the effects have been negligible. The presence of both the Towerjacks and the Northern Eagle have also helped to ensure that work has proceeded apace despite the dreadful winds and rains lashing Redoubt.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SpringRune.jpg|caption=Spring magic brings [[Spring_magic#Ruin|ruin]] and [[Spring_magic#Fertility|growth]] with equal facility.|align=left|width=300}}</div>
===Foam and Life===
* '''Foam and Spittle of the Furious Sea has reduced production from fleets based in Redoubt, and damaged navies fighting in the territory'''
* '''It has also impacted ministries related to coastal trade along the shores of Redoubt'''
* '''In combination with Rivers of Life, the two curses have had additional unpredictable effects on farms, forests, and herb gardens in the territory'''
The territory has been under the effect of both [[Foam and Spittle of the Furious Sea]] and [[Rivers of Life]]. Every [[fleet]] based in the target territory has had its production reduced by two ranks, providing reduced income for the character who owns them. The storms have also battered the coast - any Urizeni whose spire is located in southern Redoubt is encouraged to think about how a season of tempestuous magical weather might have affected them. The rain and hail are also infused with the healing power of [[Rivers of Life]], however. This means that while the damage to property might have been extensive, actual injuries are often healed by the very same bad weather that caused them.

The chaotic weather has had an unexpected effect on [[farm|farms]], [[herb garden|herb gardens]], and [[forest|forests]] across the territory. While the pounding Autumn and Winter hail has damaged warehouses and conservatories, the healing power that infuses it has caused actual plants to prosper, although in keeping with the [[Spring magic#Chaos|chaos]] of Spring magic it has done so in unpredictable ways. Every farm in Redoubt will provide 18 fewer rings this season, but produce two doses of [[true vervain]] instead. Every herb garden provides 2 fewer doses of [[true vervain]], and instead provides 18 rings of valuable or edible plants. Every forest provides 2 fewer measures than normal, but instead provides a single pawn of [[vis#Vital Honey|vital honey]].

Foam and Spittle is not great for international sea trade. As such the [[Custodian of the Concordium Dock]], the [[Quaymaster of the Elosian Docks]], and the [[Elosian Architect]] will all be unable to access the top levels of their respective [[ministry|ministries]] following the Winter Solstice. Fewer ships are visiting the ports, and the disruption caused by the curses coupled with the fighting along the coast have discouraged merchant vessels from visiting these ports.

This change comes from the interplay of the magic of Foam and Spittle and Rivers of Life, the influence of the constellation of [[the Mountain]], and perhaps also the presence of Siakha's chosen pirates and their many enchantments. There's no guarantee the same effect would occur if the two curses were performed together elsewhere.

===Participation : Elosian Raiders===
* '''Players whose fleet or military unit participated on the attack on Elos receive rewards based on their military strength'''
* '''Taking part in the raid alongside the Children of Wrecks is a serious crime; if uncovered and convicted the character likely faces the death penalty'''
Anyone who took part in the raid on Elos fought alongside the Children of Wrecks against Imperial citizens and soldiers. As detailed in the description of the action, any military unit that took this action has definitely killed Urizen citizens as part of the attack and may have killed Varushkan or League soldiers as well. If anyone is convicted of having joined the raid on Elos, they will likely face execution for murder and treachery.
===Participation: Nikephoros===
* '''The Lighthouse at Nikephoros has been destroyed'''
The destruction of the Lighthouse at Nikephoros ensured not only that the Grendel did not capture any of its magical secrets, but also made them more reticent to attack isolated spires along the coast for fear of the destructive power the magicians within might unleash. if you were an inhabitant of the spire, you are free to create a story about your involvement in the raid, and the subsequent decision to collapse the sea-stack rather than let the spire fall to Grendel raiders. If you were not a resident of the spire, you need the permission of the players who were before you can claim to have been involved in the defence. It is assumed that player characters are among those who manage to get to safety through storm-wracked seas before the tower came down, but you are free to begin the event [[Combat#Terminal|terminal]] if you wish.

==Salt Burned (Battle Opportunity)==
* '''The Children of Wrecks have launched a lightning raid aimed at Visten'''
There is an opportunity for Imperial heroes to face the Children of Wrecks in Redoubt. As the Empire repulses the attack on Elos, a force of pirates, storm witches, and creatures of Siakha has launched a surprise attack aimed at the town of Visten in Optarion. There is some speculation that the attack on Elos may have been a feint, designed to focus Imperial attention in the west while the real goal of the Children lies in the east. Fortunately, vigilance and wisdom have ensured that the raiding forces have been spotted in time for heroes to intercede.

Authority and acceptance

2024-09-09T11:17:01Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* War in the East */ Spelling

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Thule]][[Category:Skoura]][[Category:Tsark]][[Category:Grendel]][[Category:Jarm]]
<ic>The old orc catches sight of himself in the windowglass, and wryly notes how much comfortable living in the embassy has softened his frame. He muses on how he came here, to stand at this window looking out across the freezing lake, wearing soft lambswool robes. What would that foolish young warlock, roaring the Dragons' names with rod in one hand and shield in the other, deep in the fray, make of the elderly politician he has become? He pats his expansive belly, shakes his head ruefully.

A throat is cleared politely behind him, he looks up at the reflection of one of his aides. An ambitious young orc, he thinks, then catches himself. The "young orc" is in her thirties at least. He turns, nods, seats his creaking bones down in his high-backed chair and wonders not for the first time why everything aches even when he has done nothing more strenuous than stare out of a window.

"Letters," says the aide. Rak cannot remember her name. Thran? Thova? Something like that.

"Anything interesting?" He pours himself a goblet of metheglin, still steaming gently, a few spices dissolving on the surface. The aide shakes her head.

"Begging letters mostly, if I may be candid?" The younger orc pauses, waiting for another nod telling her to continue. "Merchants, traders. Those Five Fangs fools. The only one I think might require your personal attention is from Orathator of the Hourglass and it is just the usual wheedling about the Well of Shadows. I could answer that one as well if you like?"

The offer is made diffidently enough. Rak hides his cynical smirk in his goblet. Thraon, he remembers. Her name is Thraon and she is significantly more capable and more dangerous than she seems. She wants his job, and she may well have the connections to get it if she keeps on the way she's going, if her faction moves into the ascendant, if he fumbles the negotiations, and the moderates slip down the icy steps before the Dragons' thrones. It's a shame, he muses as he sips his spiced mead, that competence and ambition are often found bound up in the same chains.

"Do not overstep yourself," he cautions calmly. She stiffens, wondering if she has overplayed her hand. "Leave the letter from Orathator, and the one from the Five Fangs. Reply to the others as you see fit but I will read them before they are dispatched. You can go now."

Thraon bows her head, dismissed and rebuked. She touches her amulet, turns to leave, slippers whispering across the thick carpet.

"One last thing," he says as she reaches the door. He is amused to see her shoulders tense, unsure what is coming but expecting the worst.

"Has the wood arrived from the south?" he asks.

"Yes, arrived yesterday along with some coal and several sacks of the Miekarovan charcoal." She sounds relieved, but he has a point to make.

"Yes...?" he prompts her, voice gentle but with a chill undercurrent.

"Yes... Master Rak," she says. She waits ten heartbeats, then when he says nothing more she leaves.

He's glad that the new Ambassador is continuing to keep that polite tradition. He raises his goblet slightly to the shadow of Yevgeni Katzev. This place would be intolerable, he thinks, without that tiny civility, that note of cordiality. But then, if he moves carefully, if he continues to demonstrate his capabilities to the Dragons, if he can show them he is the living instrument of their undivided will, he may not be here for too much longer. ''If'' he can bring this chapter to a satisfactory conclusion, then Thraon can have his seat, and be welcome to it.

He can tolerate another cruel winter in this frigid place, for the promise of something larger and warmer before the snows come again.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconThule.jpg|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The Empire borders four powerful orc nations; [[Jotun]] to the west, [[Druj]] to the east, [[Thule]] to the north, and [[Grendel]] to the south. Four other nations - [[Skoura]], [[Axos]], [[Faraden]], and [[Iron Confederacy]] are also close enough that what happens in the Empire effects them directly. In theory, any of those eight nations could threaten Imperial citizens directly – indeed most of them have been at war with the Empire in the past. Some are at war as we speak.

While they may face them on the battlefield, the Empire also maintains diplomatic relations with each of these nations. Some have their own [[ambassador]], some eschew [[embassy|embassies]] and the task of negotiating with them falls as often as not on the shoulders of the [[Imperial Consul]]. From time to time new nations, or new factions within those nations, are discovered, and the [[Imperial Senate]] must determine if they are friend or foe. Such was the case with the tiny nation of [[Tsark]], in the [[Mountains of the Moon]]. All of these relationships creates a complex web of interconnection and tension, lines of force and compromise. Even on-the-surface simple exchanges might have significant implications for the people of the Empire.

==Otkodov==
{{Nation|nation=[[Thule|The Thule]]|port=None|ambassador=Kindra Surefoot of [[Wintermark]]|status=Foreigner}}
* '''The Empire is at peace with the Thule, but the peace treaty is due to expire soon'''
* '''It is clear that they will expect the Empire to pay a heavy price to extend the existing peace treaty'''
The Empire has enjoyed the benefits of a long but uneasy peace with the [[Thule]] of [[Otkodov]], albeit one that came at a steep price. The Thule control regions of almost every territory that borders their land, claiming that the mountains of the northern Empire belong to them. While the cost may have been high, there have also been notable benefits. Cooperation against Jotun and Druj, leading to the liberation of Sermersuaq and the conquest of Ossium. Extensive trade in mana and ilium, in return for food and [[crafting skills#Artisan|artisan]] materials. Most recently, assistance in bringing an end to the dangeourous [[Agramant]] follower and traitor [[The_price_of_peace#A_Hound_of_Darkness_(Sermersuaq)|Maarik the Golden Tongue]].

The Thule ambassador to the Empire is ''Rak-Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided''. An older warlock who has several times visited the Empire, he is known as a cynical and somewhat sarcastic individual who is prone to lose his temper with those he considers to be wasting his time or failing to be subtle in their manipulations.
===Negotiations===
* '''The Senate passed a specifically worded senate motion demanded before the Thule would reopen negotiations with the Empire'''
* '''Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided invites Ambassador Kindra Surefoot to a meeting during the summit at 17:00 on Saturday'''
The five year peace treaty [[Ratify Thule peace treaty|ratified in 382YE]] is nearing its end. Due to expire in Summer 387YE, the treaty states that one year before it expires, "the Thule and the Empire will meet together and discuss the state of relations and our further plans going forward." The Empire have indicated they would like to begin these negotiations and while the Dragons seem open to the prospect of an enduring peace with the Empire, it is clear they expect the Empire to pay a further price for it. They welcome any chance to discuss opportunities to trade land for peace, and for greater prosperity for Otkodov. The Thule have claimed more land from the Empire through diplomacy than they have ever conclusively gained through fighting.

During the Summer Solstice the Imperial Senate [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Renounce_Claim_to_Thule_Lands|renounced all claim to Thule lands]] using words demanded by Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided. The [[senate motion|motion]] recognises that the [[Sermersuaq#Silver Peaks|Silver Peaks]], [[Miekarova#Miechernya|Miechernya]], [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]], [[Skarsind#Crows Ridge|Crows Ridge]], [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]], and [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]] are part of Otkodov, now and forever.

The civil service have been clear that this Senate motion has no real legal implication. One cannot bind the hands of a future Senate, so the Empire is under no ''legal'' obligation to stick to this statement in the future. But as with any such statement by the Senate, abandoning or reneging on it without good reason may have wider implications.

Satisfied by the statement, ''Rak Who-Speaks-With-The-Dragons-Undivided'' invites the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]], '''Kindra Surefoot ''' to a parley to discuss continued relations between the Dragons and the Empire. He invites Ambassador Surefoot to bring an aide; it will be a personal meeting rather than anything that would be appropriate to have in a more public venue.

The meeting will take place in the Veisluhal; a chamber of the Caucus Forum arranged by Rak. A herald of the [[Lashonar|Eater-of-Silence]] will arrive in the Hall of Worlds at 17:00 on Saturday to escort '''Kindra Surefoot''' and their aide to the chamber.

===Funds and Food===
* '''Rak confirms that Gisli "Provider" Baerson was responsible for providing the large amounts of money that helped Otkodov weather their recent food crisis'''
One last matter of official correspondence concerns Rak. In Autumn last year, the Thule confirmed that an Imperial citizen had [[Ship_to_wreck#Closer_to_Home|provided a significant amount of money]] to allow the orcs of Otkodov to purchase much-needed food and help head off widespread famine. At the time Rak refused to comment on who exactly sent the money, but said that if the person responsible came forward or was recognised by the Imperial Synod, he would confirm the truth of the matter. He-Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided has been made aware that the [[Imperial Synod]] recognised that [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_17|Gisli "Provider" Baerson]] was responsible for raising and providing the funds. He confirms that this matches his understanding of the situation, and makes it clear that Otkodov does not see any reason why the Empire may wish to punish them.
===Capital at Risk===
*'''Prognosticators have detected an unusually distant conjunction to the Thule territory of Otkodov'''
*'''This appears to an opportunity to investigate rather than for combat but violence cannot be ruled out'''
*'''The Civil Service notes that this appears to be the location of a Thule business venture by the Five Fang Consortium that Imperial citizens helped fund'''
*'''The Ambassador to Otkodov is responsible for ensuring that the Empire makes the most of this opportunity, whatever it is'''
*'''This is a combat [[Accessibility#Combat_Possible|Possible]] encounter
Prior to the Autumn summit the Imperial prognosticators are surprised to find a conjunction that will open far, far to the north of the Empire, in [[Otkodov]]. At first they are particularly puzzled and confused by this, especially given the current peace between the Empire and the followers of the Dragons. However some research reveals that recently a number of Imperial citizens have invested in a Thule business venture, and it appears that the conjunction location is connected to this venture in some uncertain fashon. As such, they have asked the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]] to assist in determining what is on the other end, but note that any investors in the ''[[I_remember_you#Attending_At_Last|Five Fang Consortium]]'' should consider going also given their money is likely involved somehow.

One of the prognosticators determines that there seems to be an odd confluence of stars associated with the conjunction; [[the Claw]] in decline suggesting violence should not be expected, though it should still be considered possible; and [[the Wanderer]] in ascension which suggests that those travelling should try to be prepared for anything, and be careful before making any assumptions about what you see on the other side of the Sentinel Gate. The gate will open at 21:05 on the Friday evening to ''Shaft #3, Skarlans, Nithoggir'', for up to six people.
==Skoura==
* '''A treaty between the Empire and Skours has been ratified by the Imperial Senate'''
* '''The nation does not desire an embassy and is content to work with the Imperial Consul'''
* '''A delegation from Skoura will be attending Anvil around 19.00 on Friday'''
* '''They wish to speak variously to the Imperial Consul, Legion Engineer, Senator for Mareave, and a Marcher named Friar John of the Mourn'''
{{Nation|nation=[[Skoura]]|port=None|status=Foreigner|ambassador=[[Imperial Consul]] Jarrigk Orzel of [[Dawn]]}}
The nation of [[Skoura]] lies directly to the east of [[Mareave]]. They once called the [[Broken Shore]] their home, but centuries ago were driven back into the mountains by the [[Grendel]]. They formed a new way of life based on principles of safety, security and collective industry.
{{WingedMessenger|address=The diplomat responsible for correspondence with Imperial citizens is ''Talker Garra, Delvemistress of Skoura, Whose hand flows with silver, Skoura''.}}
The Empire's relationship with Skoura is neutral, tending positive. The presence of a land border between the two nations and the [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Skoura|treaty]] ratified at the Summer Solstice establishes mutual respect for each other's [[territory]] has begun a new period of diplomatic relations. The Skourans do not have an [[embassy]], and have actively expressed a wish not to have one at this time. As such, diplomatic contact is by letter only, via the office of the [[Imperial Consul]] (although some Imperial citizens may have direct routes to speak with indivdual Skourans of course).

The Delvemistress, Talker Garra, has sent a short message indicating that the Skourans are happy with the recent treaty, and impressed how swiftly it was agreed. She views it as evidence of the Empire's relative maturity and good sense. Reading between the lines, and judging from a few asides, the Civil Service suggest that the Imperial response has made a refreshing change from the regular drama involved in dealing with the Skourans other primary allies, the [[Axos|Citadels of Axos]].

One of the provisions of the treaty is that the Empire “''will attempt to return, at reasonable costs, any cultural and historical artifacts of the Skouran people that are uncovered as they developed the territory''”. Consul '''Lord Jarrigk Orzel''' has informed the Skourans that such an item - a [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] - has been found in Mareave. As a cultural and historical artifact of the Skouran people, Talker Garra intends to send a representative to collect the item from [[Anvil]], to spare the Empire any undue costs in returning it. The representative plans to meet with the Imperial Consul early on the Firday evening during the summit, presuming that they can arrange a meeting with the citizen who has the schema.

The Consul also appraised the Skourans of the [[Imperial Orcs]] interest in rebuilding the ruined [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|aqueduct]] in [[Mareave#Eoradal|Eoradal]], believed to be of Skouran make and a relic of their dominance of the territory they called Mahal. The Skourans are interested, but obviously the issue is not the aqueduct itself so much as the water that will flow along it into Imperial Mareave. They are not at this time prepared to commit to trading water to the Empire, not least because Talker Garra indicates that there are several questions relating to the volume of water that will be required, and the purpose it will be used for. There is a difference, she points out, between enough water to support a modest community and the water required to support dozens of farms across arid Eoradal, or Mareave as a whole. With that in mind, the Delvemistress is sending a second delegation to Anvil, again due to arrive at seven in the evening. Rather than the Imperial Consul, however, these engineers want to talk to the [[Legion Engineer]] '''Groza''' and '''Gaddak''' the [[Senator]] for Mareave. Rather surprisingly, they have also requested the presence of a [[the Marches|Marcher]] – ''Friar John of the Mourn'' – but apparently that is a personal request from one of the architects rather than anything the Delvemistress mandates for the meeting.
{{Nation|nation=[[Tsark]]|port=None|status=Foreigner|ambassador=[[Imperial Consul]] Jarrigk Orzel of [[Dawn]]}}
==Tsark==
* '''The people of Tsark are technically foreigners, since the Senate has not explicitly defined any relationship with them'''
Two years ago, [[Fortify_Lustri|construction began]] on a [[fortification]] in [[Zenith#Lustri|Lustri]], on the border between [[Zenith]] and the [[Sarangrave]]. At the time, the isolated people of the [[Mountains of the Moon]] sent an emissary, ''Sage Apollion'', who offered the assistance of the people of [[Tsark]], but stipulated strong oaths that the Empire would have to undertake for this support. The oaths revolved around respect for Tsark's decision to isolate themselves, and to forswear from any formal attempt to open diplomatic channels. The Imperial Senate declined the offer, and the ''Stork's Gaze'' now stands proud in the north of Urizen, built with Imperial [[white granite]] alone. Since then there has been no official communication between the tiny nation and the Empire.

Despite this official silence, there have been some signs that backchannel communication has taken place with the ''sagocracy'' (such as when [[Sinokenon]] arranged a meeting on behalf of the [[Archmage of Day]]). It's also clear that the nation of [[Skoura]] has an interest in the Mountains of the Moon, both from provisions in the recent treaty and information gathered during the Empire's original [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Zanaeti_Tunnels_and_the_Skouran_Embassy|spying expedition]] into the territory.
===Down From The Moon===
* '''A group of Urizeni and Tsarkoi have descended the mountains into Zenith'''
All of this would be much of a muchness, except as the Autumn Equinox grows near news reaches Anvil that a number of people come down from the mountains through [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Maze_of_Zora_and_the_Mislitel_Pass|Mislitel Pass]] into [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]]. Most of them wear faded and worn [[Urizen|Urizeni]] robes that show signs of having been carefully patched and darned. With them come a small number of Tsark ''cuvari'' in distinctive white robes, [[orc|orcs]] and humans both. They are led by three individuals dressed in Tsarkoi fabrics but ''not'' the cloaks of the cuvari. One is ''Sage Apollion''; another orc identifies himself as ''Sage Kristoph''; and a human who gives their name as ''Quinta''. Sage Kristoph and Quinta also bear what is unmistakably a body, carefully wrapped in a pale blue shroud, green flowers set about the covered head.

The travellers arrive at the ''Temple of the Wanderer'', the spire led by '''Cato Hypation''' that stands in a haunted ruin near the foot of the pass. The Senator for Zenith - '''Herminius of the House of the Wanderer''' - also lives here, though it's not clear if he was there in person to greet the arrivals. News of their arrival spreads quickly across the [[Heliopticon]], so that by nightfall most of Urizen knows of what has transpired here.

Sage Apollion explains that they have accompanied a cohort of Urizeni who have, together, decided to "choose the peace of memory's passing", opting to give up all their memories of Tsark and return to Urizen. These returning Imperial citizens had all found their way to Tsark some time in the past, from Zenith or Spiral. In some cases, it has been decades since these Urizeni saw their homes: it seems since that time they have been kept as prisoners on the [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Zabor|island of Zabor]] in the centre of [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Lake_Tsark_and_Merak_Falls|Lake Tsark]].

It seems several months ago a number of letters were sent to the prisoners, facilitated by secret negotiations between Sage Kristoph and the Imperial Consul. Whatever their contents, they were powerful enough to encourage many – but by no means all – of the prisoners to agree to lose their memories of their time in Tsark, and come back to Urizen. One of the exceptions is the human ''Quinta'' – who is themselves Urizeni by birth but has chosen to take the ''other'' choice offered by the people of Tsark – to formally join the People of the Moon, retaining their memories and regaining their freedom in return for the life that Tsark offers.

These Urizen are in a state of some confusion, although they possess the mental discipline to maintain [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#Poise|poise]] despite their obvious confusion. In each case, their memories prior to descending the Mislitel Pass end with them stepping into a pit trap or being caught in a net. Now they are here, years and in some cases decades later, with little memory of the intervening time. For several the Empire and Urizen alike are very different to what they remember; they learn with horror of the [[Druj]] invasion, of the rousing of the {{Black Plateau}}, of the conquest of Spiral and its subsequent assignment to [[the League]], of the [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[the Throne|Throne]], conquest of Mareave... the events pile up one on the other and each one widens the gulf between these former prisoners and the Urizen around them. The removal of memories appears to be complete – but all are left with the certainty that they ''chose'' this; it was not forced upon them. Magical examination indicates that these memories are gone, excised as entirely as they might be by [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]] but on a much larger scale.

The body they have born was Ursula, once the oldest prisoner on Zabor, who, Sage Kristoph explains, "came to them" long ago (in the time of [[Emperor Ahraz]] it is quickly calculated). Ursula, not young when she first came to Tsark, died the evening after recieving the letters born through the Consul's diplomatic efforts. She seems to have died peacefully: her body has been carefully preserved with herbs and while Sage Kristoph indicates that he is aware the Urizeni do not care deeply for the body, the decision to repatriate Ursula's remains was taken as a demonstration of deep respect for her personally by Tsark's sagocracy.

Sage Apollion goes on to say that he hopes that the returning Urizeni can be found safe homes while they reconnect to the world they left behind - but that as far as the Tsarkoi are concerned that matter is closed. They broke their laws, were subject to the according penalties, and those have now been discharged. Those that remain on Zabor are few in number, and generally old. They wish to die as Ursula did: with their memories, as proud Urizeni.

===Hearts Change===
* '''A delegation from Tsark intends to visit Anvil to increase their understanding of the Imperial nations'''
* '''Sage Apollion and Sage Kristoph are particularly interested in meeting people of the League, Wintermark mediators, and Navarr guides'''
* '''The former-Urizeni Quinta has been charged to speak to their former countryfolk'''
* '''Their delegation is expected to turn up at 20.00 on Saturday'''
All of this would be a five weeks wonder if not for the fact that these events provoked a discussion among the Council of Sages regarding the matter of Tsark's isolation. Sage Kristoph, who was assigned as a diplomatic envoy, was instrumental in these discussions, and along with Sage Apollion plans to travel to [[Anvil]] as representatives of their nation. They intend to meet the various peoples of the Empire in the hope of understanding them a little better – especially those of the League who they understand now rule in Spiral. They also wish to speak to [[mediator|mediators]] of [[Wintermark]] and [[guide|guides]] of [[Navarr]], but they hope to visit all of the nations. It's notable that for a tiny nation on the very outskirts of the Empire, the people of Tsark seem to have a remarkable amount of knowledge of the nations and their people. The civil service speculate that this may be down to years of discourse with captured travellers, although there is also evidence that they have close relationships with some of the eternals so its possible their knowledge in part derives from Sinokenon or [[Lashonar]].

The former Urizen Quinta will also be accompanying them, on a sanctioned mission by the Council of Sages - who have clearly trusted them enough to undertake this task on their own - but they will be speaking directly with the Urizeni of Anvil, who they once called siblings. They wish to explain the reasons for their decision to remain in Tsark in person.

Taking leave of the House of the Wanderer, the two orcs and the human set off on the long trek west toward Casinea. As a foreign nation with no ambassador, responsibility for dealing with them technically descends to the [[Imperial Consul]]. They are expected to arrive around eight in the evening on Saturday during the summit.

===Participation===
If you are Urizeni, its possible you had a personal relationship with one of the released prisoners – or with someone you suspect may have chosen to remain a captive of Tsark. The former prisoners are currently at the House of the Wanderer, but will of course be free to rejoin their old spires if such exist. All information is that they are sound in body, and their confusion seems to stem from their missing time rather than any injury of the mind or spirit. All evidence suggests that it is ''impossible'' to restore their memories of Tsark – just as it is impossible to restore memories removed with [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]].

A new Urizen character could choose to be one of the former prisoners, but this will not involve any additional briefing or information simply because all memory of Tsark has been removed. It might make an interesting character idea to play someone who has years or decades of “missing time” - and who can portray someone broadly unaware of recent Imperial history prior to their return.

==Jarm==
* '''Jarm remains at peace with the Empire, but relations are extremely frosty'''
{{Nation|nation=Jarm|status=Foreigner|port=[[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Kavor_(Northern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Kavor]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Vezak_(Southern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Vezak]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Rigia_(Eastern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Rigia]] (all closed)|ambassador=Nikita Teanga Volkov of [[Varushka]]}}
One of the six great powers, the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are no friends to the Empire. The ''magocracy'', ruled by the House of Princes resents what it claims are repeated attempts by Imperial citizens to interfere with its interests. Via the [[Liberty Pact]], the Empire is allied with Jarm's enemies, the [[Commonwealth]], and open war now rages between the two great nations. They may not be at war with the Empire, but they know that Imperial citizens and the Imperial Conclave in particular have provided significant assistance to their rivals. Communications tend to be brusque, bordering on the curt.

The Jarmish ambassador to the Empire is ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', Who attends at the House of Princes. A canny and influential politician who has served the House of Princes for over forty years, he represents the Jarmish to the Empire and vice-versa. A potent master of Autumn magic, he is known for his sarcasm and dry wit, and for his commitment to the sovereignty of the Principalities he serves.
===War in the East===
* '''The decision not to allow mercenaries to fight with the Commonwealth has been well received'''
Jarm is engaged in a brutal war with the Commonwealth (also discussed in the '''[[Beneath_mithril_spires#War_in_the_East|Beneath mithril spires]]''' wind of fortune. Ambassador Nikira Teanga Volkov has assured Lord-Magister Trescher that the Empire respects that the conflict is between Jarm and the Commonwealth; while it is aligned with the Commonwealth on matters of trade, the Empire does not wish to involve itself in their conflict. News that the Imperial Senate has not [[For_the_Common_Good#Boots_on_the_Ground|granted permission]] for Imperial mercenaries to fight alongside the Commonwealth armies has reached the Principalities, and Lord-Magister Trescher offers grudging approval.

The House of Princes are aware of the decision, and it is seen as a first faltering step toward a potential future detente between Jarm and the Empire. Obviously the scales are not balanced - the Imperial Conclave shared [[Imperial lore]] with the Commonwealth but refuses to share any rituals with Jarmish magicians and the Principalities cannot trade with the Empire's ports without "[[tariffs|punishing tariffs]]" - but coupled with the professional tone of the new Ambassador's letters, it represents the first real positive improvement in relations between the two great nations in some time. It is, after all, the insistence in intruding into other nations' affairs that is the root of much of the Jarmish anger with the Empire.

Despite this understanding, Lord-Magister Trescher makes it clear that if Imperial mercenaries ''do'' turn up in battles between Jarmish and Commonwealth forces, the House of Princes will view it as a declaration of war by the Empire and respond appropriately. It is unfortunate that the [[Imperial Senate]] still finds itself unable to formally pronounce its intention to remain neutral in the war between Jarm and the Commonwealth, making it difficult for many magician-princes to trust their sincerity.

===Shield Against Folly===
* '''The Jarmish possess the artefact-relic Measure'''
* '''They have repeated their offer to exchange the shield for a ritual text of Brotherhood of Tian'''
* '''They are also prepared to offer 10 rings of ilium to whichever Conclave order disseminates the ritual text to them'''
* '''If that happens, they will also pay the Imperial Senate 100 thrones to "cover the costs" of transporting the ritual text to Jarm'''
* '''If the Conclave declines the trade, it will not be repeated and the opportunity to gain Measure will be lost, potentially permanently'''
Last season Lord-Magister Trescher [[Thrones_and_principalities#Metric_and_Measure|communicated an offer]] from the House of Princes regarding ''Measure'', the original [[Pilgrim's Shield]] of [[Wisdom]] gifted the Seven Pilgrims by ''Ezkiah the Benefactor''. They know that in Imperial eyes it is the property of the [[Champion of Wisdom]]. Securing the shield required the [[Imperial Conclave]] to [[Dissemination|disseminate]] the ritual [[Brotherhood of Tian]]. In addition to the shield the House of Princes offered obvious inducements to encourage the Empire to provide the ritual they desired - 100 Thrones to the Imperial senate "to cover any transportation costs", and 10 rings of [[ilium]] to the [[Conclave order]] whose [[Grandmaster]] enacts the declaration "in recompense for their time, and their assistance in the matter".

The Varushkan Ambassador has informed the Jarmish that the Conclave is unlikely to agree to this proposal, and was concerned that going ahead in the current climate would risk defeat and consequently make it harder to raise the declaration in future. After speaking the House, Lord-Magister Anton asks that the Ambassador follow through on their offer to see the dissemination raised even if it doing so serve merely as a way for malcontents to air their imagined grievances against the Principalities. The reality is that the Empire are not the only people interested in the shield, and if the Conclave is not prepared to provide the ritual - and the Ambassador cannot made a convincing counter-offer on the same scale - then the shield will instead be traded to someone else. Lord-Magister Anton will not say who the shield will be traded to, merely noting that it is ''extremely'' unlikely any Imperial citizen will ever see it again. "It would be a shame to see an end brought to the centuries long tradition of arming one of the foremost champions of your faith with this fabled tool," says the Jarmish diplomat.

The civil service believe this is no idle threat; from the context it is clear that the Jarmish intend to provide the shield either to someone who will destroy it, or someone who will put it beyond Imperial reach, should the Conclave refuse their offer. They are very clearly attempting to use possession of the shield as leverage to get what they want.

===Artificers===
* '''Jarmish merchants of the Circle of Six are interested in purchasing ritual paraphernalia and other items from the Artisans Guild'''
<div style="width: 500px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;" colspan="3">'''The Circle of Six Offers'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Item'''</td><td>'''Quantity'''</td><td>'''Price Per Item'''</tr>
<tr><td>[[The Fountain of Thorns]]</td><td>5</td><td>53 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[The Spider's Web]]</td><td>5</td><td>55 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Amberglass Orb]]</td><td>8</td><td>20 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Greensteel Orb]]</td><td>9</td><td>21 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Altruist's Recompense]]</td><td>15</td><td>14 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bloodsilver Spike]]</td><td>20</td><td>16 Crowns</td></tr>
</table></div>
Also last season, Lord-Magister Trescher communicated an offer from a Jarmish merchant ''Bojana Etura of the Circle of Six'' interested in making a deal with the ''Artisans Guild'' via their [[Guildmaster of the Artisans|Guildmaster]] '''Xanthius'''. They were particularly interested in magical [[Magic_items#Paraphernalia|ritual paraphernalia]] that could be used by Jarmish magicians, to help them fill the increased demand from their customers as the war with the Commonwealth continues. The Empire [[tariffs#Embargo|embargos]] Jarmish traders from visiting its ports but it is the House of Princes that will not let Imperial [[fleet|fleets]] [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports|Jarmish ports]]. As such there is no legal impediment on the Imperial side to citizens in a position to make a trade and the involvement of Lord Trescher bespeaks the approval of the House of Princes.

The Imperial Ambassador, however, reports that any support for the ''Circle of Six'' would represent military involvement in the ongoing conflict between Jarm and the Commonwealth. However, they have a counter-proposal. War can bring about destruction and the loss of food and resources, they point out, and as such the Artisan's Guild might be persuaded to offer different kinds of items. ''Bojana Etura'' has responded with a second offer, focused around the lores of [[Spring magic]] and [[Autumn magic]] - realms that [[Spring_magic#Healing_and_Vitality|heal]] and restore [[Autumn_magic#Prosperity|prosperity]] in times of war.

If the Artisans Guild is prepared to provide some or all of these items (or those previously requested - those offers are still open), and the Ambassador can pass on which items and how many, then a representative of the ''Circle of Six'' will travel to Anvil during the Winter Solstice to take possession of the items, pay the agreed price, and discuss future trades. If not, ''Bojana Etura'' will have to look elsewhere to fill their lucrative orders - and will be forced to advise their peers that trade with the Empire remains impossible.

==Non Attendance==
{{Nation|nation=[[Grendel]]|port=[[Bay_of_Catazar#Dubhtraig|Dubhtraig]] (closed)|ambassador=Finna of the [[the Brass Coast|Brass Coast]]|status=Barbarian}}
* '''The Empire is at war with the Grendel of the Broken Shore, but the Grendel have not completely cut off diplomatic relations'''
The Empire remains at war with the [[Grendel]] and the orcs of the [[Broken Shore]]. They have [[Glass and flame|struck decisively into Feroz]], and is [[Steel_and_salt|heavily engaged in Ayereed]]. There is a major force - armies and navies alike - still in [[Madruga]] as near as anyone can tell, although with the [[Where the river rises|recent developments there]] making scrying difficult there's no confirmation of what they are doing. There are reports of conflicts between Imperial ships and Grendel vessels, and skirmished cross the Bay where both sides are engaged with the [[Children of Wrecks]]. Yet the one thing there is ''not'' is an appearance at Anvil by ''Speaker Morna''.

After due consideration, the Grendel diplomat sees little benefit to himself or the Salt Lords Council attending Anvil this summit. He reassures his opposite number that he is still keen to correspond, but will not be returning to Anvil until there is something of substance to discuss - like a proposal for how the two nations might deal with the mutual threat of the Children of Wrecks. The price of the Ambassador's time is simply not worth the benefits it offers at the moment.

Authority and acceptance

2024-09-09T11:16:31Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Participation */ Spelling

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Thule]][[Category:Skoura]][[Category:Tsark]][[Category:Grendel]][[Category:Jarm]]
<ic>The old orc catches sight of himself in the windowglass, and wryly notes how much comfortable living in the embassy has softened his frame. He muses on how he came here, to stand at this window looking out across the freezing lake, wearing soft lambswool robes. What would that foolish young warlock, roaring the Dragons' names with rod in one hand and shield in the other, deep in the fray, make of the elderly politician he has become? He pats his expansive belly, shakes his head ruefully.

A throat is cleared politely behind him, he looks up at the reflection of one of his aides. An ambitious young orc, he thinks, then catches himself. The "young orc" is in her thirties at least. He turns, nods, seats his creaking bones down in his high-backed chair and wonders not for the first time why everything aches even when he has done nothing more strenuous than stare out of a window.

"Letters," says the aide. Rak cannot remember her name. Thran? Thova? Something like that.

"Anything interesting?" He pours himself a goblet of metheglin, still steaming gently, a few spices dissolving on the surface. The aide shakes her head.

"Begging letters mostly, if I may be candid?" The younger orc pauses, waiting for another nod telling her to continue. "Merchants, traders. Those Five Fangs fools. The only one I think might require your personal attention is from Orathator of the Hourglass and it is just the usual wheedling about the Well of Shadows. I could answer that one as well if you like?"

The offer is made diffidently enough. Rak hides his cynical smirk in his goblet. Thraon, he remembers. Her name is Thraon and she is significantly more capable and more dangerous than she seems. She wants his job, and she may well have the connections to get it if she keeps on the way she's going, if her faction moves into the ascendant, if he fumbles the negotiations, and the moderates slip down the icy steps before the Dragons' thrones. It's a shame, he muses as he sips his spiced mead, that competence and ambition are often found bound up in the same chains.

"Do not overstep yourself," he cautions calmly. She stiffens, wondering if she has overplayed her hand. "Leave the letter from Orathator, and the one from the Five Fangs. Reply to the others as you see fit but I will read them before they are dispatched. You can go now."

Thraon bows her head, dismissed and rebuked. She touches her amulet, turns to leave, slippers whispering across the thick carpet.

"One last thing," he says as she reaches the door. He is amused to see her shoulders tense, unsure what is coming but expecting the worst.

"Has the wood arrived from the south?" he asks.

"Yes, arrived yesterday along with some coal and several sacks of the Miekarovan charcoal." She sounds relieved, but he has a point to make.

"Yes...?" he prompts her, voice gentle but with a chill undercurrent.

"Yes... Master Rak," she says. She waits ten heartbeats, then when he says nothing more she leaves.

He's glad that the new Ambassador is continuing to keep that polite tradition. He raises his goblet slightly to the shadow of Yevgeni Katzev. This place would be intolerable, he thinks, without that tiny civility, that note of cordiality. But then, if he moves carefully, if he continues to demonstrate his capabilities to the Dragons, if he can show them he is the living instrument of their undivided will, he may not be here for too much longer. ''If'' he can bring this chapter to a satisfactory conclusion, then Thraon can have his seat, and be welcome to it.

He can tolerate another cruel winter in this frigid place, for the promise of something larger and warmer before the snows come again.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconThule.jpg|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The Empire borders four powerful orc nations; [[Jotun]] to the west, [[Druj]] to the east, [[Thule]] to the north, and [[Grendel]] to the south. Four other nations - [[Skoura]], [[Axos]], [[Faraden]], and [[Iron Confederacy]] are also close enough that what happens in the Empire effects them directly. In theory, any of those eight nations could threaten Imperial citizens directly – indeed most of them have been at war with the Empire in the past. Some are at war as we speak.

While they may face them on the battlefield, the Empire also maintains diplomatic relations with each of these nations. Some have their own [[ambassador]], some eschew [[embassy|embassies]] and the task of negotiating with them falls as often as not on the shoulders of the [[Imperial Consul]]. From time to time new nations, or new factions within those nations, are discovered, and the [[Imperial Senate]] must determine if they are friend or foe. Such was the case with the tiny nation of [[Tsark]], in the [[Mountains of the Moon]]. All of these relationships creates a complex web of interconnection and tension, lines of force and compromise. Even on-the-surface simple exchanges might have significant implications for the people of the Empire.

==Otkodov==
{{Nation|nation=[[Thule|The Thule]]|port=None|ambassador=Kindra Surefoot of [[Wintermark]]|status=Foreigner}}
* '''The Empire is at peace with the Thule, but the peace treaty is due to expire soon'''
* '''It is clear that they will expect the Empire to pay a heavy price to extend the existing peace treaty'''
The Empire has enjoyed the benefits of a long but uneasy peace with the [[Thule]] of [[Otkodov]], albeit one that came at a steep price. The Thule control regions of almost every territory that borders their land, claiming that the mountains of the northern Empire belong to them. While the cost may have been high, there have also been notable benefits. Cooperation against Jotun and Druj, leading to the liberation of Sermersuaq and the conquest of Ossium. Extensive trade in mana and ilium, in return for food and [[crafting skills#Artisan|artisan]] materials. Most recently, assistance in bringing an end to the dangeourous [[Agramant]] follower and traitor [[The_price_of_peace#A_Hound_of_Darkness_(Sermersuaq)|Maarik the Golden Tongue]].

The Thule ambassador to the Empire is ''Rak-Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided''. An older warlock who has several times visited the Empire, he is known as a cynical and somewhat sarcastic individual who is prone to lose his temper with those he considers to be wasting his time or failing to be subtle in their manipulations.
===Negotiations===
* '''The Senate passed a specifically worded senate motion demanded before the Thule would reopen negotiations with the Empire'''
* '''Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided invites Ambassador Kindra Surefoot to a meeting during the summit at 17:00 on Saturday'''
The five year peace treaty [[Ratify Thule peace treaty|ratified in 382YE]] is nearing its end. Due to expire in Summer 387YE, the treaty states that one year before it expires, "the Thule and the Empire will meet together and discuss the state of relations and our further plans going forward." The Empire have indicated they would like to begin these negotiations and while the Dragons seem open to the prospect of an enduring peace with the Empire, it is clear they expect the Empire to pay a further price for it. They welcome any chance to discuss opportunities to trade land for peace, and for greater prosperity for Otkodov. The Thule have claimed more land from the Empire through diplomacy than they have ever conclusively gained through fighting.

During the Summer Solstice the Imperial Senate [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Renounce_Claim_to_Thule_Lands|renounced all claim to Thule lands]] using words demanded by Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided. The [[senate motion|motion]] recognises that the [[Sermersuaq#Silver Peaks|Silver Peaks]], [[Miekarova#Miechernya|Miechernya]], [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]], [[Skarsind#Crows Ridge|Crows Ridge]], [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]], and [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]] are part of Otkodov, now and forever.

The civil service have been clear that this Senate motion has no real legal implication. One cannot bind the hands of a future Senate, so the Empire is under no ''legal'' obligation to stick to this statement in the future. But as with any such statement by the Senate, abandoning or reneging on it without good reason may have wider implications.

Satisfied by the statement, ''Rak Who-Speaks-With-The-Dragons-Undivided'' invites the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]], '''Kindra Surefoot ''' to a parley to discuss continued relations between the Dragons and the Empire. He invites Ambassador Surefoot to bring an aide; it will be a personal meeting rather than anything that would be appropriate to have in a more public venue.

The meeting will take place in the Veisluhal; a chamber of the Caucus Forum arranged by Rak. A herald of the [[Lashonar|Eater-of-Silence]] will arrive in the Hall of Worlds at 17:00 on Saturday to escort '''Kindra Surefoot''' and their aide to the chamber.

===Funds and Food===
* '''Rak confirms that Gisli "Provider" Baerson was responsible for providing the large amounts of money that helped Otkodov weather their recent food crisis'''
One last matter of official correspondence concerns Rak. In Autumn last year, the Thule confirmed that an Imperial citizen had [[Ship_to_wreck#Closer_to_Home|provided a significant amount of money]] to allow the orcs of Otkodov to purchase much-needed food and help head off widespread famine. At the time Rak refused to comment on who exactly sent the money, but said that if the person responsible came forward or was recognised by the Imperial Synod, he would confirm the truth of the matter. He-Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided has been made aware that the [[Imperial Synod]] recognised that [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_17|Gisli "Provider" Baerson]] was responsible for raising and providing the funds. He confirms that this matches his understanding of the situation, and makes it clear that Otkodov does not see any reason why the Empire may wish to punish them.
===Capital at Risk===
*'''Prognosticators have detected an unusually distant conjunction to the Thule territory of Otkodov'''
*'''This appears to an opportunity to investigate rather than for combat but violence cannot be ruled out'''
*'''The Civil Service notes that this appears to be the location of a Thule business venture by the Five Fang Consortium that Imperial citizens helped fund'''
*'''The Ambassador to Otkodov is responsible for ensuring that the Empire makes the most of this opportunity, whatever it is'''
*'''This is a combat [[Accessibility#Combat_Possible|Possible]] encounter
Prior to the Autumn summit the Imperial prognosticators are surprised to find a conjunction that will open far, far to the north of the Empire, in [[Otkodov]]. At first they are particularly puzzled and confused by this, especially given the current peace between the Empire and the followers of the Dragons. However some research reveals that recently a number of Imperial citizens have invested in a Thule business venture, and it appears that the conjunction location is connected to this venture in some uncertain fashon. As such, they have asked the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]] to assist in determining what is on the other end, but note that any investors in the ''[[I_remember_you#Attending_At_Last|Five Fang Consortium]]'' should consider going also given their money is likely involved somehow.

One of the prognosticators determines that there seems to be an odd confluence of stars associated with the conjunction; [[the Claw]] in decline suggesting violence should not be expected, though it should still be considered possible; and [[the Wanderer]] in ascension which suggests that those travelling should try to be prepared for anything, and be careful before making any assumptions about what you see on the other side of the Sentinel Gate. The gate will open at 21:05 on the Friday evening to ''Shaft #3, Skarlans, Nithoggir'', for up to six people.
==Skoura==
* '''A treaty between the Empire and Skours has been ratified by the Imperial Senate'''
* '''The nation does not desire an embassy and is content to work with the Imperial Consul'''
* '''A delegation from Skoura will be attending Anvil around 19.00 on Friday'''
* '''They wish to speak variously to the Imperial Consul, Legion Engineer, Senator for Mareave, and a Marcher named Friar John of the Mourn'''
{{Nation|nation=[[Skoura]]|port=None|status=Foreigner|ambassador=[[Imperial Consul]] Jarrigk Orzel of [[Dawn]]}}
The nation of [[Skoura]] lies directly to the east of [[Mareave]]. They once called the [[Broken Shore]] their home, but centuries ago were driven back into the mountains by the [[Grendel]]. They formed a new way of life based on principles of safety, security and collective industry.
{{WingedMessenger|address=The diplomat responsible for correspondence with Imperial citizens is ''Talker Garra, Delvemistress of Skoura, Whose hand flows with silver, Skoura''.}}
The Empire's relationship with Skoura is neutral, tending positive. The presence of a land border between the two nations and the [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Skoura|treaty]] ratified at the Summer Solstice establishes mutual respect for each other's [[territory]] has begun a new period of diplomatic relations. The Skourans do not have an [[embassy]], and have actively expressed a wish not to have one at this time. As such, diplomatic contact is by letter only, via the office of the [[Imperial Consul]] (although some Imperial citizens may have direct routes to speak with indivdual Skourans of course).

The Delvemistress, Talker Garra, has sent a short message indicating that the Skourans are happy with the recent treaty, and impressed how swiftly it was agreed. She views it as evidence of the Empire's relative maturity and good sense. Reading between the lines, and judging from a few asides, the Civil Service suggest that the Imperial response has made a refreshing change from the regular drama involved in dealing with the Skourans other primary allies, the [[Axos|Citadels of Axos]].

One of the provisions of the treaty is that the Empire “''will attempt to return, at reasonable costs, any cultural and historical artifacts of the Skouran people that are uncovered as they developed the territory''”. Consul '''Lord Jarrigk Orzel''' has informed the Skourans that such an item - a [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] - has been found in Mareave. As a cultural and historical artifact of the Skouran people, Talker Garra intends to send a representative to collect the item from [[Anvil]], to spare the Empire any undue costs in returning it. The representative plans to meet with the Imperial Consul early on the Firday evening during the summit, presuming that they can arrange a meeting with the citizen who has the schema.

The Consul also appraised the Skourans of the [[Imperial Orcs]] interest in rebuilding the ruined [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|aqueduct]] in [[Mareave#Eoradal|Eoradal]], believed to be of Skouran make and a relic of their dominance of the territory they called Mahal. The Skourans are interested, but obviously the issue is not the aqueduct itself so much as the water that will flow along it into Imperial Mareave. They are not at this time prepared to commit to trading water to the Empire, not least because Talker Garra indicates that there are several questions relating to the volume of water that will be required, and the purpose it will be used for. There is a difference, she points out, between enough water to support a modest community and the water required to support dozens of farms across arid Eoradal, or Mareave as a whole. With that in mind, the Delvemistress is sending a second delegation to Anvil, again due to arrive at seven in the evening. Rather than the Imperial Consul, however, these engineers want to talk to the [[Legion Engineer]] '''Groza''' and '''Gaddak''' the [[Senator]] for Mareave. Rather surprisingly, they have also requested the presence of a [[the Marches|Marcher]] – ''Friar John of the Mourn'' – but apparently that is a personal request from one of the architects rather than anything the Delvemistress mandates for the meeting.
{{Nation|nation=[[Tsark]]|port=None|status=Foreigner|ambassador=[[Imperial Consul]] Jarrigk Orzel of [[Dawn]]}}
==Tsark==
* '''The people of Tsark are technically foreigners, since the Senate has not explicitly defined any relationship with them'''
Two years ago, [[Fortify_Lustri|construction began]] on a [[fortification]] in [[Zenith#Lustri|Lustri]], on the border between [[Zenith]] and the [[Sarangrave]]. At the time, the isolated people of the [[Mountains of the Moon]] sent an emissary, ''Sage Apollion'', who offered the assistance of the people of [[Tsark]], but stipulated strong oaths that the Empire would have to undertake for this support. The oaths revolved around respect for Tsark's decision to isolate themselves, and to forswear from any formal attempt to open diplomatic channels. The Imperial Senate declined the offer, and the ''Stork's Gaze'' now stands proud in the north of Urizen, built with Imperial [[white granite]] alone. Since then there has been no official communication between the tiny nation and the Empire.

Despite this official silence, there have been some signs that backchannel communication has taken place with the ''sagocracy'' (such as when [[Sinokenon]] arranged a meeting on behalf of the [[Archmage of Day]]). It's also clear that the nation of [[Skoura]] has an interest in the Mountains of the Moon, both from provisions in the recent treaty and information gathered during the Empire's original [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Zanaeti_Tunnels_and_the_Skouran_Embassy|spying expedition]] into the territory.
===Down From The Moon===
* '''A group of Urizeni and Tsarkoi have descended the mountains into Zenith'''
All of this would be much of a muchness, except as the Autumn Equinox grows near news reaches Anvil that a number of people come down from the mountains through [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Maze_of_Zora_and_the_Mislitel_Pass|Mislitel Pass]] into [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]]. Most of them wear faded and worn [[Urizen|Urizeni]] robes that show signs of having been carefully patched and darned. With them come a small number of Tsark ''cuvari'' in distinctive white robes, [[orc|orcs]] and humans both. They are led by three individuals dressed in Tsarkoi fabrics but ''not'' the cloaks of the cuvari. One is ''Sage Apollion''; another orc identifies himself as ''Sage Kristoph''; and a human who gives their name as ''Quinta''. Sage Kristoph and Quinta also bear what is unmistakably a body, carefully wrapped in a pale blue shroud, green flowers set about the covered head.

The travellers arrive at the ''Temple of the Wanderer'', the spire led by '''Cato Hypation''' that stands in a haunted ruin near the foot of the pass. The Senator for Zenith - '''Herminius of the House of the Wanderer''' - also lives here, though it's not clear if he was there in person to greet the arrivals. News of their arrival spreads quickly across the [[Heliopticon]], so that by nightfall most of Urizen knows of what has transpired here.

Sage Apollion explains that they have accompanied a cohort of Urizeni who have, together, decided to "choose the peace of memory's passing", opting to give up all their memories of Tsark and return to Urizen. These returning Imperial citizens had all found their way to Tsark some time in the past, from Zenith or Spiral. In some cases, it has been decades since these Urizeni saw their homes: it seems since that time they have been kept as prisoners on the [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Zabor|island of Zabor]] in the centre of [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Lake_Tsark_and_Merak_Falls|Lake Tsark]].

It seems several months ago a number of letters were sent to the prisoners, facilitated by secret negotiations between Sage Kristoph and the Imperial Consul. Whatever their contents, they were powerful enough to encourage many – but by no means all – of the prisoners to agree to lose their memories of their time in Tsark, and come back to Urizen. One of the exceptions is the human ''Quinta'' – who is themselves Urizeni by birth but has chosen to take the ''other'' choice offered by the people of Tsark – to formally join the People of the Moon, retaining their memories and regaining their freedom in return for the life that Tsark offers.

These Urizen are in a state of some confusion, although they possess the mental discipline to maintain [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#Poise|poise]] despite their obvious confusion. In each case, their memories prior to descending the Mislitel Pass end with them stepping into a pit trap or being caught in a net. Now they are here, years and in some cases decades later, with little memory of the intervening time. For several the Empire and Urizen alike are very different to what they remember; they learn with horror of the [[Druj]] invasion, of the rousing of the {{Black Plateau}}, of the conquest of Spiral and its subsequent assignment to [[the League]], of the [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[the Throne|Throne]], conquest of Mareave... the events pile up one on the other and each one widens the gulf between these former prisoners and the Urizen around them. The removal of memories appears to be complete – but all are left with the certainty that they ''chose'' this; it was not forced upon them. Magical examination indicates that these memories are gone, excised as entirely as they might be by [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]] but on a much larger scale.

The body they have born was Ursula, once the oldest prisoner on Zabor, who, Sage Kristoph explains, "came to them" long ago (in the time of [[Emperor Ahraz]] it is quickly calculated). Ursula, not young when she first came to Tsark, died the evening after recieving the letters born through the Consul's diplomatic efforts. She seems to have died peacefully: her body has been carefully preserved with herbs and while Sage Kristoph indicates that he is aware the Urizeni do not care deeply for the body, the decision to repatriate Ursula's remains was taken as a demonstration of deep respect for her personally by Tsark's sagocracy.

Sage Apollion goes on to say that he hopes that the returning Urizeni can be found safe homes while they reconnect to the world they left behind - but that as far as the Tsarkoi are concerned that matter is closed. They broke their laws, were subject to the according penalties, and those have now been discharged. Those that remain on Zabor are few in number, and generally old. They wish to die as Ursula did: with their memories, as proud Urizeni.

===Hearts Change===
* '''A delegation from Tsark intends to visit Anvil to increase their understanding of the Imperial nations'''
* '''Sage Apollion and Sage Kristoph are particularly interested in meeting people of the League, Wintermark mediators, and Navarr guides'''
* '''The former-Urizeni Quinta has been charged to speak to their former countryfolk'''
* '''Their delegation is expected to turn up at 20.00 on Saturday'''
All of this would be a five weeks wonder if not for the fact that these events provoked a discussion among the Council of Sages regarding the matter of Tsark's isolation. Sage Kristoph, who was assigned as a diplomatic envoy, was instrumental in these discussions, and along with Sage Apollion plans to travel to [[Anvil]] as representatives of their nation. They intend to meet the various peoples of the Empire in the hope of understanding them a little better – especially those of the League who they understand now rule in Spiral. They also wish to speak to [[mediator|mediators]] of [[Wintermark]] and [[guide|guides]] of [[Navarr]], but they hope to visit all of the nations. It's notable that for a tiny nation on the very outskirts of the Empire, the people of Tsark seem to have a remarkable amount of knowledge of the nations and their people. The civil service speculate that this may be down to years of discourse with captured travellers, although there is also evidence that they have close relationships with some of the eternals so its possible their knowledge in part derives from Sinokenon or [[Lashonar]].

The former Urizen Quinta will also be accompanying them, on a sanctioned mission by the Council of Sages - who have clearly trusted them enough to undertake this task on their own - but they will be speaking directly with the Urizeni of Anvil, who they once called siblings. They wish to explain the reasons for their decision to remain in Tsark in person.

Taking leave of the House of the Wanderer, the two orcs and the human set off on the long trek west toward Casinea. As a foreign nation with no ambassador, responsibility for dealing with them technically descends to the [[Imperial Consul]]. They are expected to arrive around eight in the evening on Saturday during the summit.

===Participation===
If you are Urizeni, its possible you had a personal relationship with one of the released prisoners – or with someone you suspect may have chosen to remain a captive of Tsark. The former prisoners are currently at the House of the Wanderer, but will of course be free to rejoin their old spires if such exist. All information is that they are sound in body, and their confusion seems to stem from their missing time rather than any injury of the mind or spirit. All evidence suggests that it is ''impossible'' to restore their memories of Tsark – just as it is impossible to restore memories removed with [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]].

A new Urizen character could choose to be one of the former prisoners, but this will not involve any additional briefing or information simply because all memory of Tsark has been removed. It might make an interesting character idea to play someone who has years or decades of “missing time” - and who can portray someone broadly unaware of recent Imperial history prior to their return.

==Jarm==
* '''Jarm remains at peace with the Empire, but relations are extremely frosty'''
{{Nation|nation=Jarm|status=Foreigner|port=[[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Kavor_(Northern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Kavor]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Vezak_(Southern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Vezak]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Rigia_(Eastern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Rigia]] (all closed)|ambassador=Nikita Teanga Volkov of [[Varushka]]}}
One of the six great powers, the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are no friends to the Empire. The ''magocracy'', ruled by the House of Princes resents what it claims are repeated attempts by Imperial citizens to interfere with its interests. Via the [[Liberty Pact]], the Empire is allied with Jarm's enemies, the [[Commonwealth]], and open war now rages between the two great nations. They may not be at war with the Empire, but they know that Imperial citizens and the Imperial Conclave in particular have provided significant assistance to their rivals. Communications tend to be brusque, bordering on the curt.

The Jarmish ambassador to the Empire is ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', Who attends at the House of Princes. A canny and influential politician who has served the House of Princes for over forty years, he represents the Jarmish to the Empire and vice-versa. A potent master of Autumn magic, he is known for his sarcasm and dry wit, and for his commitment to the sovereignty of the Principalities he serves.
===War in the East===
* '''The decision not to allow mercenaries to fight with the Commonwealth has been well received'''
Jarm is engaged in a brutal war with the Commonwealth (also discussed in the '''[[Beneath_mithril_spires#War_in_the_East|Beneath mithril spires]]''' wind of fortune. Ambassador Nikira Teanga Volkov has assured Lord-Magister Trescher that the Empire respects that the conflict is between Jarm and the Commonwealth; while it is aligned with the Commonwealth on matters of trade, the Empire does not wish to involve itself in their conflict. News that the Imperial Senate has not [[For_the_Common_Good#Boots_on_the_Ground|granted permission]] for Imperial mercenaries to fight alongside the Commonwealth armies has reached the Principalities, and Lord-Magister Trescher offers grudging approval.

The House of Princes are aware of the decision, and it is seen as a first faltering step toward a potential future detente between Jarm and the Empire. Obviously the scales are not balanced - the Imperial Conclave shared [[Imperial lore]] with the Commonwealth but refuses to share any ritals with Jarmish magicians and the Principalities cannot trade with the Empire's ports without "[[tariffs|punishing tariffs]]" - but coupled with the professional tone of the new Ambassador's letters, it represents the first real positive improvement in relations between the two great nations in some time. It is, after all, the insistence in intruding into other nations' affairs that is the root of much of the Jarmish anger with the Empire.

Despite this understanding, Lord-Magister Trescher makes it clear that if Imperial mercenaries ''do'' turn up in battles between Jarmish and Commonwealth forces, the House of Princes will view it as a declaration of war by the Empire and respond appropriately. It is unfortunate that the [[Imperial Senate]] still finds itself unable to formally pronounce its intention to remain neutral in the war between Jarm and the Commonwealth, making it difficult for many magician-princes to trust their sincerity.

===Shield Against Folly===
* '''The Jarmish possess the artefact-relic Measure'''
* '''They have repeated their offer to exchange the shield for a ritual text of Brotherhood of Tian'''
* '''They are also prepared to offer 10 rings of ilium to whichever Conclave order disseminates the ritual text to them'''
* '''If that happens, they will also pay the Imperial Senate 100 thrones to "cover the costs" of transporting the ritual text to Jarm'''
* '''If the Conclave declines the trade, it will not be repeated and the opportunity to gain Measure will be lost, potentially permanently'''
Last season Lord-Magister Trescher [[Thrones_and_principalities#Metric_and_Measure|communicated an offer]] from the House of Princes regarding ''Measure'', the original [[Pilgrim's Shield]] of [[Wisdom]] gifted the Seven Pilgrims by ''Ezkiah the Benefactor''. They know that in Imperial eyes it is the property of the [[Champion of Wisdom]]. Securing the shield required the [[Imperial Conclave]] to [[Dissemination|disseminate]] the ritual [[Brotherhood of Tian]]. In addition to the shield the House of Princes offered obvious inducements to encourage the Empire to provide the ritual they desired - 100 Thrones to the Imperial senate "to cover any transportation costs", and 10 rings of [[ilium]] to the [[Conclave order]] whose [[Grandmaster]] enacts the declaration "in recompense for their time, and their assistance in the matter".

The Varushkan Ambassador has informed the Jarmish that the Conclave is unlikely to agree to this proposal, and was concerned that going ahead in the current climate would risk defeat and consequently make it harder to raise the declaration in future. After speaking the House, Lord-Magister Anton asks that the Ambassador follow through on their offer to see the dissemination raised even if it doing so serve merely as a way for malcontents to air their imagined grievances against the Principalities. The reality is that the Empire are not the only people interested in the shield, and if the Conclave is not prepared to provide the ritual - and the Ambassador cannot made a convincing counter-offer on the same scale - then the shield will instead be traded to someone else. Lord-Magister Anton will not say who the shield will be traded to, merely noting that it is ''extremely'' unlikely any Imperial citizen will ever see it again. "It would be a shame to see an end brought to the centuries long tradition of arming one of the foremost champions of your faith with this fabled tool," says the Jarmish diplomat.

The civil service believe this is no idle threat; from the context it is clear that the Jarmish intend to provide the shield either to someone who will destroy it, or someone who will put it beyond Imperial reach, should the Conclave refuse their offer. They are very clearly attempting to use possession of the shield as leverage to get what they want.

===Artificers===
* '''Jarmish merchants of the Circle of Six are interested in purchasing ritual paraphernalia and other items from the Artisans Guild'''
<div style="width: 500px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;" colspan="3">'''The Circle of Six Offers'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Item'''</td><td>'''Quantity'''</td><td>'''Price Per Item'''</tr>
<tr><td>[[The Fountain of Thorns]]</td><td>5</td><td>53 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[The Spider's Web]]</td><td>5</td><td>55 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Amberglass Orb]]</td><td>8</td><td>20 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Greensteel Orb]]</td><td>9</td><td>21 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Altruist's Recompense]]</td><td>15</td><td>14 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bloodsilver Spike]]</td><td>20</td><td>16 Crowns</td></tr>
</table></div>
Also last season, Lord-Magister Trescher communicated an offer from a Jarmish merchant ''Bojana Etura of the Circle of Six'' interested in making a deal with the ''Artisans Guild'' via their [[Guildmaster of the Artisans|Guildmaster]] '''Xanthius'''. They were particularly interested in magical [[Magic_items#Paraphernalia|ritual paraphernalia]] that could be used by Jarmish magicians, to help them fill the increased demand from their customers as the war with the Commonwealth continues. The Empire [[tariffs#Embargo|embargos]] Jarmish traders from visiting its ports but it is the House of Princes that will not let Imperial [[fleet|fleets]] [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports|Jarmish ports]]. As such there is no legal impediment on the Imperial side to citizens in a position to make a trade and the involvement of Lord Trescher bespeaks the approval of the House of Princes.

The Imperial Ambassador, however, reports that any support for the ''Circle of Six'' would represent military involvement in the ongoing conflict between Jarm and the Commonwealth. However, they have a counter-proposal. War can bring about destruction and the loss of food and resources, they point out, and as such the Artisan's Guild might be persuaded to offer different kinds of items. ''Bojana Etura'' has responded with a second offer, focused around the lores of [[Spring magic]] and [[Autumn magic]] - realms that [[Spring_magic#Healing_and_Vitality|heal]] and restore [[Autumn_magic#Prosperity|prosperity]] in times of war.

If the Artisans Guild is prepared to provide some or all of these items (or those previously requested - those offers are still open), and the Ambassador can pass on which items and how many, then a representative of the ''Circle of Six'' will travel to Anvil during the Winter Solstice to take possession of the items, pay the agreed price, and discuss future trades. If not, ''Bojana Etura'' will have to look elsewhere to fill their lucrative orders - and will be forced to advise their peers that trade with the Empire remains impossible.

==Non Attendance==
{{Nation|nation=[[Grendel]]|port=[[Bay_of_Catazar#Dubhtraig|Dubhtraig]] (closed)|ambassador=Finna of the [[the Brass Coast|Brass Coast]]|status=Barbarian}}
* '''The Empire is at war with the Grendel of the Broken Shore, but the Grendel have not completely cut off diplomatic relations'''
The Empire remains at war with the [[Grendel]] and the orcs of the [[Broken Shore]]. They have [[Glass and flame|struck decisively into Feroz]], and is [[Steel_and_salt|heavily engaged in Ayereed]]. There is a major force - armies and navies alike - still in [[Madruga]] as near as anyone can tell, although with the [[Where the river rises|recent developments there]] making scrying difficult there's no confirmation of what they are doing. There are reports of conflicts between Imperial ships and Grendel vessels, and skirmished cross the Bay where both sides are engaged with the [[Children of Wrecks]]. Yet the one thing there is ''not'' is an appearance at Anvil by ''Speaker Morna''.

After due consideration, the Grendel diplomat sees little benefit to himself or the Salt Lords Council attending Anvil this summit. He reassures his opposite number that he is still keen to correspond, but will not be returning to Anvil until there is something of substance to discuss - like a proposal for how the two nations might deal with the mutual threat of the Children of Wrecks. The price of the Ambassador's time is simply not worth the benefits it offers at the moment.

Authority and acceptance

2024-09-09T11:15:53Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Negotiations */ Spelling

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Thule]][[Category:Skoura]][[Category:Tsark]][[Category:Grendel]][[Category:Jarm]]
<ic>The old orc catches sight of himself in the windowglass, and wryly notes how much comfortable living in the embassy has softened his frame. He muses on how he came here, to stand at this window looking out across the freezing lake, wearing soft lambswool robes. What would that foolish young warlock, roaring the Dragons' names with rod in one hand and shield in the other, deep in the fray, make of the elderly politician he has become? He pats his expansive belly, shakes his head ruefully.

A throat is cleared politely behind him, he looks up at the reflection of one of his aides. An ambitious young orc, he thinks, then catches himself. The "young orc" is in her thirties at least. He turns, nods, seats his creaking bones down in his high-backed chair and wonders not for the first time why everything aches even when he has done nothing more strenuous than stare out of a window.

"Letters," says the aide. Rak cannot remember her name. Thran? Thova? Something like that.

"Anything interesting?" He pours himself a goblet of metheglin, still steaming gently, a few spices dissolving on the surface. The aide shakes her head.

"Begging letters mostly, if I may be candid?" The younger orc pauses, waiting for another nod telling her to continue. "Merchants, traders. Those Five Fangs fools. The only one I think might require your personal attention is from Orathator of the Hourglass and it is just the usual wheedling about the Well of Shadows. I could answer that one as well if you like?"

The offer is made diffidently enough. Rak hides his cynical smirk in his goblet. Thraon, he remembers. Her name is Thraon and she is significantly more capable and more dangerous than she seems. She wants his job, and she may well have the connections to get it if she keeps on the way she's going, if her faction moves into the ascendant, if he fumbles the negotiations, and the moderates slip down the icy steps before the Dragons' thrones. It's a shame, he muses as he sips his spiced mead, that competence and ambition are often found bound up in the same chains.

"Do not overstep yourself," he cautions calmly. She stiffens, wondering if she has overplayed her hand. "Leave the letter from Orathator, and the one from the Five Fangs. Reply to the others as you see fit but I will read them before they are dispatched. You can go now."

Thraon bows her head, dismissed and rebuked. She touches her amulet, turns to leave, slippers whispering across the thick carpet.

"One last thing," he says as she reaches the door. He is amused to see her shoulders tense, unsure what is coming but expecting the worst.

"Has the wood arrived from the south?" he asks.

"Yes, arrived yesterday along with some coal and several sacks of the Miekarovan charcoal." She sounds relieved, but he has a point to make.

"Yes...?" he prompts her, voice gentle but with a chill undercurrent.

"Yes... Master Rak," she says. She waits ten heartbeats, then when he says nothing more she leaves.

He's glad that the new Ambassador is continuing to keep that polite tradition. He raises his goblet slightly to the shadow of Yevgeni Katzev. This place would be intolerable, he thinks, without that tiny civility, that note of cordiality. But then, if he moves carefully, if he continues to demonstrate his capabilities to the Dragons, if he can show them he is the living instrument of their undivided will, he may not be here for too much longer. ''If'' he can bring this chapter to a satisfactory conclusion, then Thraon can have his seat, and be welcome to it.

He can tolerate another cruel winter in this frigid place, for the promise of something larger and warmer before the snows come again.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconThule.jpg|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The Empire borders four powerful orc nations; [[Jotun]] to the west, [[Druj]] to the east, [[Thule]] to the north, and [[Grendel]] to the south. Four other nations - [[Skoura]], [[Axos]], [[Faraden]], and [[Iron Confederacy]] are also close enough that what happens in the Empire effects them directly. In theory, any of those eight nations could threaten Imperial citizens directly – indeed most of them have been at war with the Empire in the past. Some are at war as we speak.

While they may face them on the battlefield, the Empire also maintains diplomatic relations with each of these nations. Some have their own [[ambassador]], some eschew [[embassy|embassies]] and the task of negotiating with them falls as often as not on the shoulders of the [[Imperial Consul]]. From time to time new nations, or new factions within those nations, are discovered, and the [[Imperial Senate]] must determine if they are friend or foe. Such was the case with the tiny nation of [[Tsark]], in the [[Mountains of the Moon]]. All of these relationships creates a complex web of interconnection and tension, lines of force and compromise. Even on-the-surface simple exchanges might have significant implications for the people of the Empire.

==Otkodov==
{{Nation|nation=[[Thule|The Thule]]|port=None|ambassador=Kindra Surefoot of [[Wintermark]]|status=Foreigner}}
* '''The Empire is at peace with the Thule, but the peace treaty is due to expire soon'''
* '''It is clear that they will expect the Empire to pay a heavy price to extend the existing peace treaty'''
The Empire has enjoyed the benefits of a long but uneasy peace with the [[Thule]] of [[Otkodov]], albeit one that came at a steep price. The Thule control regions of almost every territory that borders their land, claiming that the mountains of the northern Empire belong to them. While the cost may have been high, there have also been notable benefits. Cooperation against Jotun and Druj, leading to the liberation of Sermersuaq and the conquest of Ossium. Extensive trade in mana and ilium, in return for food and [[crafting skills#Artisan|artisan]] materials. Most recently, assistance in bringing an end to the dangeourous [[Agramant]] follower and traitor [[The_price_of_peace#A_Hound_of_Darkness_(Sermersuaq)|Maarik the Golden Tongue]].

The Thule ambassador to the Empire is ''Rak-Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided''. An older warlock who has several times visited the Empire, he is known as a cynical and somewhat sarcastic individual who is prone to lose his temper with those he considers to be wasting his time or failing to be subtle in their manipulations.
===Negotiations===
* '''The Senate passed a specifically worded senate motion demanded before the Thule would reopen negotiations with the Empire'''
* '''Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided invites Ambassador Kindra Surefoot to a meeting during the summit at 17:00 on Saturday'''
The five year peace treaty [[Ratify Thule peace treaty|ratified in 382YE]] is nearing its end. Due to expire in Summer 387YE, the treaty states that one year before it expires, "the Thule and the Empire will meet together and discuss the state of relations and our further plans going forward." The Empire have indicated they would like to begin these negotiations and while the Dragons seem open to the prospect of an enduring peace with the Empire, it is clear they expect the Empire to pay a further price for it. They welcome any chance to discuss opportunities to trade land for peace, and for greater prosperity for Otkodov. The Thule have claimed more land from the Empire through diplomacy than they have ever conclusively gained through fighting.

During the Summer Solstice the Imperial Senate [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Renounce_Claim_to_Thule_Lands|renounced all claim to Thule lands]] using words demanded by Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided. The [[senate motion|motion]] recognises that the [[Sermersuaq#Silver Peaks|Silver Peaks]], [[Miekarova#Miechernya|Miechernya]], [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]], [[Skarsind#Crows Ridge|Crows Ridge]], [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]], and [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]] are part of Otkodov, now and forever.

The civil service have been clear that this Senate motion has no real legal implication. One cannot bind the hands of a future Senate, so the Empire is under no ''legal'' obligation to stick to this statement in the future. But as with any such statement by the Senate, abandoning or reneging on it without good reason may have wider implications.

Satisfied by the statement, ''Rak Who-Speaks-With-The-Dragons-Undivided'' invites the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]], '''Kindra Surefoot ''' to a parley to discuss continued relations between the Dragons and the Empire. He invites Ambassador Surefoot to bring an aide; it will be a personal meeting rather than anything that would be appropriate to have in a more public venue.

The meeting will take place in the Veisluhal; a chamber of the Caucus Forum arranged by Rak. A herald of the [[Lashonar|Eater-of-Silence]] will arrive in the Hall of Worlds at 17:00 on Saturday to escort '''Kindra Surefoot''' and their aide to the chamber.

===Funds and Food===
* '''Rak confirms that Gisli "Provider" Baerson was responsible for providing the large amounts of money that helped Otkodov weather their recent food crisis'''
One last matter of official correspondence concerns Rak. In Autumn last year, the Thule confirmed that an Imperial citizen had [[Ship_to_wreck#Closer_to_Home|provided a significant amount of money]] to allow the orcs of Otkodov to purchase much-needed food and help head off widespread famine. At the time Rak refused to comment on who exactly sent the money, but said that if the person responsible came forward or was recognised by the Imperial Synod, he would confirm the truth of the matter. He-Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided has been made aware that the [[Imperial Synod]] recognised that [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_17|Gisli "Provider" Baerson]] was responsible for raising and providing the funds. He confirms that this matches his understanding of the situation, and makes it clear that Otkodov does not see any reason why the Empire may wish to punish them.
===Capital at Risk===
*'''Prognosticators have detected an unusually distant conjunction to the Thule territory of Otkodov'''
*'''This appears to an opportunity to investigate rather than for combat but violence cannot be ruled out'''
*'''The Civil Service notes that this appears to be the location of a Thule business venture by the Five Fang Consortium that Imperial citizens helped fund'''
*'''The Ambassador to Otkodov is responsible for ensuring that the Empire makes the most of this opportunity, whatever it is'''
*'''This is a combat [[Accessibility#Combat_Possible|Possible]] encounter
Prior to the Autumn summit the Imperial prognosticators are surprised to find a conjunction that will open far, far to the north of the Empire, in [[Otkodov]]. At first they are particularly puzzled and confused by this, especially given the current peace between the Empire and the followers of the Dragons. However some research reveals that recently a number of Imperial citizens have invested in a Thule business venture, and it appears that the conjunction location is connected to this venture in some uncertain fashon. As such, they have asked the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]] to assist in determining what is on the other end, but note that any investors in the ''[[I_remember_you#Attending_At_Last|Five Fang Consortium]]'' should consider going also given their money is likely involved somehow.

One of the prognosticators determines that there seems to be an odd confluence of stars associated with the conjunction; [[the Claw]] in decline suggesting violence should not be expected, though it should still be considered possible; and [[the Wanderer]] in ascension which suggests that those travelling should try to be prepared for anything, and be careful before making any assumptions about what you see on the other side of the Sentinel Gate. The gate will open at 21:05 on the Friday evening to ''Shaft #3, Skarlans, Nithoggir'', for up to six people.
==Skoura==
* '''A treaty between the Empire and Skours has been ratified by the Imperial Senate'''
* '''The nation does not desire an embassy and is content to work with the Imperial Consul'''
* '''A delegation from Skoura will be attending Anvil around 19.00 on Friday'''
* '''They wish to speak variously to the Imperial Consul, Legion Engineer, Senator for Mareave, and a Marcher named Friar John of the Mourn'''
{{Nation|nation=[[Skoura]]|port=None|status=Foreigner|ambassador=[[Imperial Consul]] Jarrigk Orzel of [[Dawn]]}}
The nation of [[Skoura]] lies directly to the east of [[Mareave]]. They once called the [[Broken Shore]] their home, but centuries ago were driven back into the mountains by the [[Grendel]]. They formed a new way of life based on principles of safety, security and collective industry.
{{WingedMessenger|address=The diplomat responsible for correspondence with Imperial citizens is ''Talker Garra, Delvemistress of Skoura, Whose hand flows with silver, Skoura''.}}
The Empire's relationship with Skoura is neutral, tending positive. The presence of a land border between the two nations and the [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Skoura|treaty]] ratified at the Summer Solstice establishes mutual respect for each other's [[territory]] has begun a new period of diplomatic relations. The Skourans do not have an [[embassy]], and have actively expressed a wish not to have one at this time. As such, diplomatic contact is by letter only, via the office of the [[Imperial Consul]] (although some Imperial citizens may have direct routes to speak with indivdual Skourans of course).

The Delvemistress, Talker Garra, has sent a short message indicating that the Skourans are happy with the recent treaty, and impressed how swiftly it was agreed. She views it as evidence of the Empire's relative maturity and good sense. Reading between the lines, and judging from a few asides, the Civil Service suggest that the Imperial response has made a refreshing change from the regular drama involved in dealing with the Skourans other primary allies, the [[Axos|Citadels of Axos]].

One of the provisions of the treaty is that the Empire “''will attempt to return, at reasonable costs, any cultural and historical artifacts of the Skouran people that are uncovered as they developed the territory''”. Consul '''Lord Jarrigk Orzel''' has informed the Skourans that such an item - a [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] - has been found in Mareave. As a cultural and historical artifact of the Skouran people, Talker Garra intends to send a representative to collect the item from [[Anvil]], to spare the Empire any undue costs in returning it. The representative plans to meet with the Imperial Consul early on the Firday evening during the summit, presuming that they can arrange a meeting with the citizen who has the schema.

The Consul also appraised the Skourans of the [[Imperial Orcs]] interest in rebuilding the ruined [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|aqueduct]] in [[Mareave#Eoradal|Eoradal]], believed to be of Skouran make and a relic of their dominance of the territory they called Mahal. The Skourans are interested, but obviously the issue is not the aqueduct itself so much as the water that will flow along it into Imperial Mareave. They are not at this time prepared to commit to trading water to the Empire, not least because Talker Garra indicates that there are several questions relating to the volume of water that will be required, and the purpose it will be used for. There is a difference, she points out, between enough water to support a modest community and the water required to support dozens of farms across arid Eoradal, or Mareave as a whole. With that in mind, the Delvemistress is sending a second delegation to Anvil, again due to arrive at seven in the evening. Rather than the Imperial Consul, however, these engineers want to talk to the [[Legion Engineer]] '''Groza''' and '''Gaddak''' the [[Senator]] for Mareave. Rather surprisingly, they have also requested the presence of a [[the Marches|Marcher]] – ''Friar John of the Mourn'' – but apparently that is a personal request from one of the architects rather than anything the Delvemistress mandates for the meeting.
{{Nation|nation=[[Tsark]]|port=None|status=Foreigner|ambassador=[[Imperial Consul]] Jarrigk Orzel of [[Dawn]]}}
==Tsark==
* '''The people of Tsark are technically foreigners, since the Senate has not explicitly defined any relationship with them'''
Two years ago, [[Fortify_Lustri|construction began]] on a [[fortification]] in [[Zenith#Lustri|Lustri]], on the border between [[Zenith]] and the [[Sarangrave]]. At the time, the isolated people of the [[Mountains of the Moon]] sent an emissary, ''Sage Apollion'', who offered the assistance of the people of [[Tsark]], but stipulated strong oaths that the Empire would have to undertake for this support. The oaths revolved around respect for Tsark's decision to isolate themselves, and to forswear from any formal attempt to open diplomatic channels. The Imperial Senate declined the offer, and the ''Stork's Gaze'' now stands proud in the north of Urizen, built with Imperial [[white granite]] alone. Since then there has been no official communication between the tiny nation and the Empire.

Despite this official silence, there have been some signs that backchannel communication has taken place with the ''sagocracy'' (such as when [[Sinokenon]] arranged a meeting on behalf of the [[Archmage of Day]]). It's also clear that the nation of [[Skoura]] has an interest in the Mountains of the Moon, both from provisions in the recent treaty and information gathered during the Empire's original [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Zanaeti_Tunnels_and_the_Skouran_Embassy|spying expedition]] into the territory.
===Down From The Moon===
* '''A group of Urizeni and Tsarkoi have descended the mountains into Zenith'''
All of this would be much of a muchness, except as the Autumn Equinox grows near news reaches Anvil that a number of people come down from the mountains through [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Maze_of_Zora_and_the_Mislitel_Pass|Mislitel Pass]] into [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]]. Most of them wear faded and worn [[Urizen|Urizeni]] robes that show signs of having been carefully patched and darned. With them come a small number of Tsark ''cuvari'' in distinctive white robes, [[orc|orcs]] and humans both. They are led by three individuals dressed in Tsarkoi fabrics but ''not'' the cloaks of the cuvari. One is ''Sage Apollion''; another orc identifies himself as ''Sage Kristoph''; and a human who gives their name as ''Quinta''. Sage Kristoph and Quinta also bear what is unmistakably a body, carefully wrapped in a pale blue shroud, green flowers set about the covered head.

The travellers arrive at the ''Temple of the Wanderer'', the spire led by '''Cato Hypation''' that stands in a haunted ruin near the foot of the pass. The Senator for Zenith - '''Herminius of the House of the Wanderer''' - also lives here, though it's not clear if he was there in person to greet the arrivals. News of their arrival spreads quickly across the [[Heliopticon]], so that by nightfall most of Urizen knows of what has transpired here.

Sage Apollion explains that they have accompanied a cohort of Urizeni who have, together, decided to "choose the peace of memory's passing", opting to give up all their memories of Tsark and return to Urizen. These returning Imperial citizens had all found their way to Tsark some time in the past, from Zenith or Spiral. In some cases, it has been decades since these Urizeni saw their homes: it seems since that time they have been kept as prisoners on the [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Zabor|island of Zabor]] in the centre of [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Lake_Tsark_and_Merak_Falls|Lake Tsark]].

It seems several months ago a number of letters were sent to the prisoners, facilitated by secret negotiations between Sage Kristoph and the Imperial Consul. Whatever their contents, they were powerful enough to encourage many – but by no means all – of the prisoners to agree to lose their memories of their time in Tsark, and come back to Urizen. One of the exceptions is the human ''Quinta'' – who is themselves Urizeni by birth but has chosen to take the ''other'' choice offered by the people of Tsark – to formally join the People of the Moon, retaining their memories and regaining their freedom in return for the life that Tsark offers.

These Urizen are in a state of some confusion, although they possess the mental discipline to maintain [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#Poise|poise]] despite their obvious confusion. In each case, their memories prior to descending the Mislitel Pass end with them stepping into a pit trap or being caught in a net. Now they are here, years and in some cases decades later, with little memory of the intervening time. For several the Empire and Urizen alike are very different to what they remember; they learn with horror of the [[Druj]] invasion, of the rousing of the {{Black Plateau}}, of the conquest of Spiral and its subsequent assignment to [[the League]], of the [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[the Throne|Throne]], conquest of Mareave... the events pile up one on the other and each one widens the gulf between these former prisoners and the Urizen around them. The removal of memories appears to be complete – but all are left with the certainty that they ''chose'' this; it was not forced upon them. Magical examination indicates that these memories are gone, excised as entirely as they might be by [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]] but on a much larger scale.

The body they have born was Ursula, once the oldest prisoner on Zabor, who, Sage Kristoph explains, "came to them" long ago (in the time of [[Emperor Ahraz]] it is quickly calculated). Ursula, not young when she first came to Tsark, died the evening after recieving the letters born through the Consul's diplomatic efforts. She seems to have died peacefully: her body has been carefully preserved with herbs and while Sage Kristoph indicates that he is aware the Urizeni do not care deeply for the body, the decision to repatriate Ursula's remains was taken as a demonstration of deep respect for her personally by Tsark's sagocracy.

Sage Apollion goes on to say that he hopes that the returning Urizeni can be found safe homes while they reconnect to the world they left behind - but that as far as the Tsarkoi are concerned that matter is closed. They broke their laws, were subject to the according penalties, and those have now been discharged. Those that remain on Zabor are few in number, and generally old. They wish to die as Ursula did: with their memories, as proud Urizeni.

===Hearts Change===
* '''A delegation from Tsark intends to visit Anvil to increase their understanding of the Imperial nations'''
* '''Sage Apollion and Sage Kristoph are particularly interested in meeting people of the League, Wintermark mediators, and Navarr guides'''
* '''The former-Urizeni Quinta has been charged to speak to their former countryfolk'''
* '''Their delegation is expected to turn up at 20.00 on Saturday'''
All of this would be a five weeks wonder if not for the fact that these events provoked a discussion among the Council of Sages regarding the matter of Tsark's isolation. Sage Kristoph, who was assigned as a diplomatic envoy, was instrumental in these discussions, and along with Sage Apollion plans to travel to [[Anvil]] as representatives of their nation. They intend to meet the various peoples of the Empire in the hope of understanding them a little better – especially those of the League who they understand now rule in Spiral. They also wish to speak to [[mediator|mediators]] of [[Wintermark]] and [[guide|guides]] of [[Navarr]], but they hope to visit all of the nations. It's notable that for a tiny nation on the very outskirts of the Empire, the people of Tsark seem to have a remarkable amount of knowledge of the nations and their people. The civil service speculate that this may be down to years of discourse with captured travellers, although there is also evidence that they have close relationships with some of the eternals so its possible their knowledge in part derives from Sinokenon or [[Lashonar]].

The former Urizen Quinta will also be accompanying them, on a sanctioned mission by the Council of Sages - who have clearly trusted them enough to undertake this task on their own - but they will be speaking directly with the Urizeni of Anvil, who they once called siblings. They wish to explain the reasons for their decision to remain in Tsark in person.

Taking leave of the House of the Wanderer, the two orcs and the human set off on the long trek west toward Casinea. As a foreign nation with no ambassador, responsibility for dealing with them technically descends to the [[Imperial Consul]]. They are expected to arrive around eight in the evening on Saturday during the summit.

===Participation===
If you are Urizeni, its possible you had a personal relationship with one of the released prisoners – or with someone you suspect may have chosen to remain a captive of Tsark. The former prisoners are currently at the House of the Wanderer, but will of course be free to rejoin their old spires if such exist. All information is that they are sound in body, and their confusion seems to stem from their missing time rather than any injury of the mind or spirit. All evidene suggests that it is ''impossible'' to restore their memories of Tsark – just as it is impossible to restore memories removed with [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]].

A new Urizen character could choose to be one of the former prisoners, but this will not involve any additional briefing or information simply because all memory of Tsark has been removed. It might make an interesting character idea to play someone who has years or decades of “missing time” - and who can portray someone broadly unaware of recent Imperial history prior to their return.

==Jarm==
* '''Jarm remains at peace with the Empire, but relations are extremely frosty'''
{{Nation|nation=Jarm|status=Foreigner|port=[[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Kavor_(Northern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Kavor]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Vezak_(Southern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Vezak]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Rigia_(Eastern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Rigia]] (all closed)|ambassador=Nikita Teanga Volkov of [[Varushka]]}}
One of the six great powers, the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are no friends to the Empire. The ''magocracy'', ruled by the House of Princes resents what it claims are repeated attempts by Imperial citizens to interfere with its interests. Via the [[Liberty Pact]], the Empire is allied with Jarm's enemies, the [[Commonwealth]], and open war now rages between the two great nations. They may not be at war with the Empire, but they know that Imperial citizens and the Imperial Conclave in particular have provided significant assistance to their rivals. Communications tend to be brusque, bordering on the curt.

The Jarmish ambassador to the Empire is ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', Who attends at the House of Princes. A canny and influential politician who has served the House of Princes for over forty years, he represents the Jarmish to the Empire and vice-versa. A potent master of Autumn magic, he is known for his sarcasm and dry wit, and for his commitment to the sovereignty of the Principalities he serves.
===War in the East===
* '''The decision not to allow mercenaries to fight with the Commonwealth has been well received'''
Jarm is engaged in a brutal war with the Commonwealth (also discussed in the '''[[Beneath_mithril_spires#War_in_the_East|Beneath mithril spires]]''' wind of fortune. Ambassador Nikira Teanga Volkov has assured Lord-Magister Trescher that the Empire respects that the conflict is between Jarm and the Commonwealth; while it is aligned with the Commonwealth on matters of trade, the Empire does not wish to involve itself in their conflict. News that the Imperial Senate has not [[For_the_Common_Good#Boots_on_the_Ground|granted permission]] for Imperial mercenaries to fight alongside the Commonwealth armies has reached the Principalities, and Lord-Magister Trescher offers grudging approval.

The House of Princes are aware of the decision, and it is seen as a first faltering step toward a potential future detente between Jarm and the Empire. Obviously the scales are not balanced - the Imperial Conclave shared [[Imperial lore]] with the Commonwealth but refuses to share any ritals with Jarmish magicians and the Principalities cannot trade with the Empire's ports without "[[tariffs|punishing tariffs]]" - but coupled with the professional tone of the new Ambassador's letters, it represents the first real positive improvement in relations between the two great nations in some time. It is, after all, the insistence in intruding into other nations' affairs that is the root of much of the Jarmish anger with the Empire.

Despite this understanding, Lord-Magister Trescher makes it clear that if Imperial mercenaries ''do'' turn up in battles between Jarmish and Commonwealth forces, the House of Princes will view it as a declaration of war by the Empire and respond appropriately. It is unfortunate that the [[Imperial Senate]] still finds itself unable to formally pronounce its intention to remain neutral in the war between Jarm and the Commonwealth, making it difficult for many magician-princes to trust their sincerity.

===Shield Against Folly===
* '''The Jarmish possess the artefact-relic Measure'''
* '''They have repeated their offer to exchange the shield for a ritual text of Brotherhood of Tian'''
* '''They are also prepared to offer 10 rings of ilium to whichever Conclave order disseminates the ritual text to them'''
* '''If that happens, they will also pay the Imperial Senate 100 thrones to "cover the costs" of transporting the ritual text to Jarm'''
* '''If the Conclave declines the trade, it will not be repeated and the opportunity to gain Measure will be lost, potentially permanently'''
Last season Lord-Magister Trescher [[Thrones_and_principalities#Metric_and_Measure|communicated an offer]] from the House of Princes regarding ''Measure'', the original [[Pilgrim's Shield]] of [[Wisdom]] gifted the Seven Pilgrims by ''Ezkiah the Benefactor''. They know that in Imperial eyes it is the property of the [[Champion of Wisdom]]. Securing the shield required the [[Imperial Conclave]] to [[Dissemination|disseminate]] the ritual [[Brotherhood of Tian]]. In addition to the shield the House of Princes offered obvious inducements to encourage the Empire to provide the ritual they desired - 100 Thrones to the Imperial senate "to cover any transportation costs", and 10 rings of [[ilium]] to the [[Conclave order]] whose [[Grandmaster]] enacts the declaration "in recompense for their time, and their assistance in the matter".

The Varushkan Ambassador has informed the Jarmish that the Conclave is unlikely to agree to this proposal, and was concerned that going ahead in the current climate would risk defeat and consequently make it harder to raise the declaration in future. After speaking the House, Lord-Magister Anton asks that the Ambassador follow through on their offer to see the dissemination raised even if it doing so serve merely as a way for malcontents to air their imagined grievances against the Principalities. The reality is that the Empire are not the only people interested in the shield, and if the Conclave is not prepared to provide the ritual - and the Ambassador cannot made a convincing counter-offer on the same scale - then the shield will instead be traded to someone else. Lord-Magister Anton will not say who the shield will be traded to, merely noting that it is ''extremely'' unlikely any Imperial citizen will ever see it again. "It would be a shame to see an end brought to the centuries long tradition of arming one of the foremost champions of your faith with this fabled tool," says the Jarmish diplomat.

The civil service believe this is no idle threat; from the context it is clear that the Jarmish intend to provide the shield either to someone who will destroy it, or someone who will put it beyond Imperial reach, should the Conclave refuse their offer. They are very clearly attempting to use possession of the shield as leverage to get what they want.

===Artificers===
* '''Jarmish merchants of the Circle of Six are interested in purchasing ritual paraphernalia and other items from the Artisans Guild'''
<div style="width: 500px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;" colspan="3">'''The Circle of Six Offers'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Item'''</td><td>'''Quantity'''</td><td>'''Price Per Item'''</tr>
<tr><td>[[The Fountain of Thorns]]</td><td>5</td><td>53 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[The Spider's Web]]</td><td>5</td><td>55 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Amberglass Orb]]</td><td>8</td><td>20 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Greensteel Orb]]</td><td>9</td><td>21 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Altruist's Recompense]]</td><td>15</td><td>14 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bloodsilver Spike]]</td><td>20</td><td>16 Crowns</td></tr>
</table></div>
Also last season, Lord-Magister Trescher communicated an offer from a Jarmish merchant ''Bojana Etura of the Circle of Six'' interested in making a deal with the ''Artisans Guild'' via their [[Guildmaster of the Artisans|Guildmaster]] '''Xanthius'''. They were particularly interested in magical [[Magic_items#Paraphernalia|ritual paraphernalia]] that could be used by Jarmish magicians, to help them fill the increased demand from their customers as the war with the Commonwealth continues. The Empire [[tariffs#Embargo|embargos]] Jarmish traders from visiting its ports but it is the House of Princes that will not let Imperial [[fleet|fleets]] [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports|Jarmish ports]]. As such there is no legal impediment on the Imperial side to citizens in a position to make a trade and the involvement of Lord Trescher bespeaks the approval of the House of Princes.

The Imperial Ambassador, however, reports that any support for the ''Circle of Six'' would represent military involvement in the ongoing conflict between Jarm and the Commonwealth. However, they have a counter-proposal. War can bring about destruction and the loss of food and resources, they point out, and as such the Artisan's Guild might be persuaded to offer different kinds of items. ''Bojana Etura'' has responded with a second offer, focused around the lores of [[Spring magic]] and [[Autumn magic]] - realms that [[Spring_magic#Healing_and_Vitality|heal]] and restore [[Autumn_magic#Prosperity|prosperity]] in times of war.

If the Artisans Guild is prepared to provide some or all of these items (or those previously requested - those offers are still open), and the Ambassador can pass on which items and how many, then a representative of the ''Circle of Six'' will travel to Anvil during the Winter Solstice to take possession of the items, pay the agreed price, and discuss future trades. If not, ''Bojana Etura'' will have to look elsewhere to fill their lucrative orders - and will be forced to advise their peers that trade with the Empire remains impossible.

==Non Attendance==
{{Nation|nation=[[Grendel]]|port=[[Bay_of_Catazar#Dubhtraig|Dubhtraig]] (closed)|ambassador=Finna of the [[the Brass Coast|Brass Coast]]|status=Barbarian}}
* '''The Empire is at war with the Grendel of the Broken Shore, but the Grendel have not completely cut off diplomatic relations'''
The Empire remains at war with the [[Grendel]] and the orcs of the [[Broken Shore]]. They have [[Glass and flame|struck decisively into Feroz]], and is [[Steel_and_salt|heavily engaged in Ayereed]]. There is a major force - armies and navies alike - still in [[Madruga]] as near as anyone can tell, although with the [[Where the river rises|recent developments there]] making scrying difficult there's no confirmation of what they are doing. There are reports of conflicts between Imperial ships and Grendel vessels, and skirmished cross the Bay where both sides are engaged with the [[Children of Wrecks]]. Yet the one thing there is ''not'' is an appearance at Anvil by ''Speaker Morna''.

After due consideration, the Grendel diplomat sees little benefit to himself or the Salt Lords Council attending Anvil this summit. He reassures his opposite number that he is still keen to correspond, but will not be returning to Anvil until there is something of substance to discuss - like a proposal for how the two nations might deal with the mutual threat of the Children of Wrecks. The price of the Ambassador's time is simply not worth the benefits it offers at the moment.

Authority and acceptance

2024-09-09T11:15:02Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Overview */ Spelling

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Summer]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Thule]][[Category:Skoura]][[Category:Tsark]][[Category:Grendel]][[Category:Jarm]]
<ic>The old orc catches sight of himself in the windowglass, and wryly notes how much comfortable living in the embassy has softened his frame. He muses on how he came here, to stand at this window looking out across the freezing lake, wearing soft lambswool robes. What would that foolish young warlock, roaring the Dragons' names with rod in one hand and shield in the other, deep in the fray, make of the elderly politician he has become? He pats his expansive belly, shakes his head ruefully.

A throat is cleared politely behind him, he looks up at the reflection of one of his aides. An ambitious young orc, he thinks, then catches himself. The "young orc" is in her thirties at least. He turns, nods, seats his creaking bones down in his high-backed chair and wonders not for the first time why everything aches even when he has done nothing more strenuous than stare out of a window.

"Letters," says the aide. Rak cannot remember her name. Thran? Thova? Something like that.

"Anything interesting?" He pours himself a goblet of metheglin, still steaming gently, a few spices dissolving on the surface. The aide shakes her head.

"Begging letters mostly, if I may be candid?" The younger orc pauses, waiting for another nod telling her to continue. "Merchants, traders. Those Five Fangs fools. The only one I think might require your personal attention is from Orathator of the Hourglass and it is just the usual wheedling about the Well of Shadows. I could answer that one as well if you like?"

The offer is made diffidently enough. Rak hides his cynical smirk in his goblet. Thraon, he remembers. Her name is Thraon and she is significantly more capable and more dangerous than she seems. She wants his job, and she may well have the connections to get it if she keeps on the way she's going, if her faction moves into the ascendant, if he fumbles the negotiations, and the moderates slip down the icy steps before the Dragons' thrones. It's a shame, he muses as he sips his spiced mead, that competence and ambition are often found bound up in the same chains.

"Do not overstep yourself," he cautions calmly. She stiffens, wondering if she has overplayed her hand. "Leave the letter from Orathator, and the one from the Five Fangs. Reply to the others as you see fit but I will read them before they are dispatched. You can go now."

Thraon bows her head, dismissed and rebuked. She touches her amulet, turns to leave, slippers whispering across the thick carpet.

"One last thing," he says as she reaches the door. He is amused to see her shoulders tense, unsure what is coming but expecting the worst.

"Has the wood arrived from the south?" he asks.

"Yes, arrived yesterday along with some coal and several sacks of the Miekarovan charcoal." She sounds relieved, but he has a point to make.

"Yes...?" he prompts her, voice gentle but with a chill undercurrent.

"Yes... Master Rak," she says. She waits ten heartbeats, then when he says nothing more she leaves.

He's glad that the new Ambassador is continuing to keep that polite tradition. He raises his goblet slightly to the shadow of Yevgeni Katzev. This place would be intolerable, he thinks, without that tiny civility, that note of cordiality. But then, if he moves carefully, if he continues to demonstrate his capabilities to the Dragons, if he can show them he is the living instrument of their undivided will, he may not be here for too much longer. ''If'' he can bring this chapter to a satisfactory conclusion, then Thraon can have his seat, and be welcome to it.

He can tolerate another cruel winter in this frigid place, for the promise of something larger and warmer before the snows come again.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconThule.jpg|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The Empire borders four powerful orc nations; [[Jotun]] to the west, [[Druj]] to the east, [[Thule]] to the north, and [[Grendel]] to the south. Four other nations - [[Skoura]], [[Axos]], [[Faraden]], and [[Iron Confederacy]] are also close enough that what happens in the Empire effects them directly. In theory, any of those eight nations could threaten Imperial citizens directly – indeed most of them have been at war with the Empire in the past. Some are at war as we speak.

While they may face them on the battlefield, the Empire also maintains diplomatic relations with each of these nations. Some have their own [[ambassador]], some eschew [[embassy|embassies]] and the task of negotiating with them falls as often as not on the shoulders of the [[Imperial Consul]]. From time to time new nations, or new factions within those nations, are discovered, and the [[Imperial Senate]] must determine if they are friend or foe. Such was the case with the tiny nation of [[Tsark]], in the [[Mountains of the Moon]]. All of these relationships creates a complex web of interconnection and tension, lines of force and compromise. Even on-the-surface simple exchanges might have significant implications for the people of the Empire.

==Otkodov==
{{Nation|nation=[[Thule|The Thule]]|port=None|ambassador=Kindra Surefoot of [[Wintermark]]|status=Foreigner}}
* '''The Empire is at peace with the Thule, but the peace treaty is due to expire soon'''
* '''It is clear that they will expect the Empire to pay a heavy price to extend the existing peace treaty'''
The Empire has enjoyed the benefits of a long but uneasy peace with the [[Thule]] of [[Otkodov]], albeit one that came at a steep price. The Thule control regions of almost every territory that borders their land, claiming that the mountains of the northern Empire belong to them. While the cost may have been high, there have also been notable benefits. Cooperation against Jotun and Druj, leading to the liberation of Sermersuaq and the conquest of Ossium. Extensive trade in mana and ilium, in return for food and [[crafting skills#Artisan|artisan]] materials. Most recently, assistance in bringing an end to the dangeourous [[Agramant]] follower and traitor [[The_price_of_peace#A_Hound_of_Darkness_(Sermersuaq)|Maarik the Golden Tongue]].

The Thule ambassador to the Empire is ''Rak-Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided''. An older warlock who has several times visited the Empire, he is known as a cynical and somewhat sarcastic individual who is prone to lose his temper with those he considers to be wasting his time or failing to be subtle in their manipulations.
===Negotiations===
* '''The Senate passed a specifically worded senate motion demanded before the Thule would reopen negotiations with the Empire'''
* '''Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided invites Ambassador Kindra Surefoot to a meeting during the summit at 17:00 on Saturday'''
The five year peace treaty [[Ratify Thule peace treaty|ratified in 382YE]] is nearing its end. Due to expire in Summer 387YE, the treaty states that one year before it expires, "the Thule and the Empire will meet together and discuss the state of relations and our further plans going forward." The Empire have indicated they would like to begin these negotiations and while the Dragons seem open to the prospect of an enduring peace with the Empire, it is clear they expect the Empire to pay a further price for it. They welcome any chance to discuss opportunities to trade land for peace, and for greater prosperity for Otkodov. The Thule have claimed more land from the Empire through diplomacy than they have ever conclusively gained through fighting.

During the Summer Solstice the Imperial Senate [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Renounce_Claim_to_Thule_Lands|renouncd all claim to Thule lands]] using words demanded by Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided. The [[senate motion|motion]] recognises that the [[Sermersuaq#Silver Peaks|Silver Peaks]], [[Miekarova#Miechernya|Miechernya]], [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]], [[Skarsind#Crows Ridge|Crows Ridge]], [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]], and [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]] are part of Otkodov, now and forever.

The civil service have been clear that this Senate motion has no real legal implication. One cannot bind the hands of a future Senate, so the Empire is under no ''legal'' obligation to stick to this statement in the future. But as with any such statement by the Senate, abandoning or reneging on it without good reason may have wider implications.

Satisfied by the statement, ''Rak Who-Speaks-With-The-Dragons-Undivided'' invites the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]], '''Kindra Surefoot ''' to a parley to discuss continued relations between the Dragons and the Empire. He invites Ambassador Surefoot to bring an aide; it will be a personal meeting rather than anything that would be appropriate to have in a more public venue.

The meeting will take place in the Veisluhal; a chamber of the Caucus Forum arranged by Rak. A herald of the [[Lashonar|Eater-of-Silence]] will arrive in the Hall of Worlds at 17:00 on Saturday to escort '''Kindra Surefoot''' and their aide to the chamber.

===Funds and Food===
* '''Rak confirms that Gisli "Provider" Baerson was responsible for providing the large amounts of money that helped Otkodov weather their recent food crisis'''
One last matter of official correspondence concerns Rak. In Autumn last year, the Thule confirmed that an Imperial citizen had [[Ship_to_wreck#Closer_to_Home|provided a significant amount of money]] to allow the orcs of Otkodov to purchase much-needed food and help head off widespread famine. At the time Rak refused to comment on who exactly sent the money, but said that if the person responsible came forward or was recognised by the Imperial Synod, he would confirm the truth of the matter. He-Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided has been made aware that the [[Imperial Synod]] recognised that [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_17|Gisli "Provider" Baerson]] was responsible for raising and providing the funds. He confirms that this matches his understanding of the situation, and makes it clear that Otkodov does not see any reason why the Empire may wish to punish them.
===Capital at Risk===
*'''Prognosticators have detected an unusually distant conjunction to the Thule territory of Otkodov'''
*'''This appears to an opportunity to investigate rather than for combat but violence cannot be ruled out'''
*'''The Civil Service notes that this appears to be the location of a Thule business venture by the Five Fang Consortium that Imperial citizens helped fund'''
*'''The Ambassador to Otkodov is responsible for ensuring that the Empire makes the most of this opportunity, whatever it is'''
*'''This is a combat [[Accessibility#Combat_Possible|Possible]] encounter
Prior to the Autumn summit the Imperial prognosticators are surprised to find a conjunction that will open far, far to the north of the Empire, in [[Otkodov]]. At first they are particularly puzzled and confused by this, especially given the current peace between the Empire and the followers of the Dragons. However some research reveals that recently a number of Imperial citizens have invested in a Thule business venture, and it appears that the conjunction location is connected to this venture in some uncertain fashon. As such, they have asked the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]] to assist in determining what is on the other end, but note that any investors in the ''[[I_remember_you#Attending_At_Last|Five Fang Consortium]]'' should consider going also given their money is likely involved somehow.

One of the prognosticators determines that there seems to be an odd confluence of stars associated with the conjunction; [[the Claw]] in decline suggesting violence should not be expected, though it should still be considered possible; and [[the Wanderer]] in ascension which suggests that those travelling should try to be prepared for anything, and be careful before making any assumptions about what you see on the other side of the Sentinel Gate. The gate will open at 21:05 on the Friday evening to ''Shaft #3, Skarlans, Nithoggir'', for up to six people.
==Skoura==
* '''A treaty between the Empire and Skours has been ratified by the Imperial Senate'''
* '''The nation does not desire an embassy and is content to work with the Imperial Consul'''
* '''A delegation from Skoura will be attending Anvil around 19.00 on Friday'''
* '''They wish to speak variously to the Imperial Consul, Legion Engineer, Senator for Mareave, and a Marcher named Friar John of the Mourn'''
{{Nation|nation=[[Skoura]]|port=None|status=Foreigner|ambassador=[[Imperial Consul]] Jarrigk Orzel of [[Dawn]]}}
The nation of [[Skoura]] lies directly to the east of [[Mareave]]. They once called the [[Broken Shore]] their home, but centuries ago were driven back into the mountains by the [[Grendel]]. They formed a new way of life based on principles of safety, security and collective industry.
{{WingedMessenger|address=The diplomat responsible for correspondence with Imperial citizens is ''Talker Garra, Delvemistress of Skoura, Whose hand flows with silver, Skoura''.}}
The Empire's relationship with Skoura is neutral, tending positive. The presence of a land border between the two nations and the [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Skoura|treaty]] ratified at the Summer Solstice establishes mutual respect for each other's [[territory]] has begun a new period of diplomatic relations. The Skourans do not have an [[embassy]], and have actively expressed a wish not to have one at this time. As such, diplomatic contact is by letter only, via the office of the [[Imperial Consul]] (although some Imperial citizens may have direct routes to speak with indivdual Skourans of course).

The Delvemistress, Talker Garra, has sent a short message indicating that the Skourans are happy with the recent treaty, and impressed how swiftly it was agreed. She views it as evidence of the Empire's relative maturity and good sense. Reading between the lines, and judging from a few asides, the Civil Service suggest that the Imperial response has made a refreshing change from the regular drama involved in dealing with the Skourans other primary allies, the [[Axos|Citadels of Axos]].

One of the provisions of the treaty is that the Empire “''will attempt to return, at reasonable costs, any cultural and historical artifacts of the Skouran people that are uncovered as they developed the territory''”. Consul '''Lord Jarrigk Orzel''' has informed the Skourans that such an item - a [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] - has been found in Mareave. As a cultural and historical artifact of the Skouran people, Talker Garra intends to send a representative to collect the item from [[Anvil]], to spare the Empire any undue costs in returning it. The representative plans to meet with the Imperial Consul early on the Firday evening during the summit, presuming that they can arrange a meeting with the citizen who has the schema.

The Consul also appraised the Skourans of the [[Imperial Orcs]] interest in rebuilding the ruined [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|aqueduct]] in [[Mareave#Eoradal|Eoradal]], believed to be of Skouran make and a relic of their dominance of the territory they called Mahal. The Skourans are interested, but obviously the issue is not the aqueduct itself so much as the water that will flow along it into Imperial Mareave. They are not at this time prepared to commit to trading water to the Empire, not least because Talker Garra indicates that there are several questions relating to the volume of water that will be required, and the purpose it will be used for. There is a difference, she points out, between enough water to support a modest community and the water required to support dozens of farms across arid Eoradal, or Mareave as a whole. With that in mind, the Delvemistress is sending a second delegation to Anvil, again due to arrive at seven in the evening. Rather than the Imperial Consul, however, these engineers want to talk to the [[Legion Engineer]] '''Groza''' and '''Gaddak''' the [[Senator]] for Mareave. Rather surprisingly, they have also requested the presence of a [[the Marches|Marcher]] – ''Friar John of the Mourn'' – but apparently that is a personal request from one of the architects rather than anything the Delvemistress mandates for the meeting.
{{Nation|nation=[[Tsark]]|port=None|status=Foreigner|ambassador=[[Imperial Consul]] Jarrigk Orzel of [[Dawn]]}}
==Tsark==
* '''The people of Tsark are technically foreigners, since the Senate has not explicitly defined any relationship with them'''
Two years ago, [[Fortify_Lustri|construction began]] on a [[fortification]] in [[Zenith#Lustri|Lustri]], on the border between [[Zenith]] and the [[Sarangrave]]. At the time, the isolated people of the [[Mountains of the Moon]] sent an emissary, ''Sage Apollion'', who offered the assistance of the people of [[Tsark]], but stipulated strong oaths that the Empire would have to undertake for this support. The oaths revolved around respect for Tsark's decision to isolate themselves, and to forswear from any formal attempt to open diplomatic channels. The Imperial Senate declined the offer, and the ''Stork's Gaze'' now stands proud in the north of Urizen, built with Imperial [[white granite]] alone. Since then there has been no official communication between the tiny nation and the Empire.

Despite this official silence, there have been some signs that backchannel communication has taken place with the ''sagocracy'' (such as when [[Sinokenon]] arranged a meeting on behalf of the [[Archmage of Day]]). It's also clear that the nation of [[Skoura]] has an interest in the Mountains of the Moon, both from provisions in the recent treaty and information gathered during the Empire's original [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Zanaeti_Tunnels_and_the_Skouran_Embassy|spying expedition]] into the territory.
===Down From The Moon===
* '''A group of Urizeni and Tsarkoi have descended the mountains into Zenith'''
All of this would be much of a muchness, except as the Autumn Equinox grows near news reaches Anvil that a number of people come down from the mountains through [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Maze_of_Zora_and_the_Mislitel_Pass|Mislitel Pass]] into [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]]. Most of them wear faded and worn [[Urizen|Urizeni]] robes that show signs of having been carefully patched and darned. With them come a small number of Tsark ''cuvari'' in distinctive white robes, [[orc|orcs]] and humans both. They are led by three individuals dressed in Tsarkoi fabrics but ''not'' the cloaks of the cuvari. One is ''Sage Apollion''; another orc identifies himself as ''Sage Kristoph''; and a human who gives their name as ''Quinta''. Sage Kristoph and Quinta also bear what is unmistakably a body, carefully wrapped in a pale blue shroud, green flowers set about the covered head.

The travellers arrive at the ''Temple of the Wanderer'', the spire led by '''Cato Hypation''' that stands in a haunted ruin near the foot of the pass. The Senator for Zenith - '''Herminius of the House of the Wanderer''' - also lives here, though it's not clear if he was there in person to greet the arrivals. News of their arrival spreads quickly across the [[Heliopticon]], so that by nightfall most of Urizen knows of what has transpired here.

Sage Apollion explains that they have accompanied a cohort of Urizeni who have, together, decided to "choose the peace of memory's passing", opting to give up all their memories of Tsark and return to Urizen. These returning Imperial citizens had all found their way to Tsark some time in the past, from Zenith or Spiral. In some cases, it has been decades since these Urizeni saw their homes: it seems since that time they have been kept as prisoners on the [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Zabor|island of Zabor]] in the centre of [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Lake_Tsark_and_Merak_Falls|Lake Tsark]].

It seems several months ago a number of letters were sent to the prisoners, facilitated by secret negotiations between Sage Kristoph and the Imperial Consul. Whatever their contents, they were powerful enough to encourage many – but by no means all – of the prisoners to agree to lose their memories of their time in Tsark, and come back to Urizen. One of the exceptions is the human ''Quinta'' – who is themselves Urizeni by birth but has chosen to take the ''other'' choice offered by the people of Tsark – to formally join the People of the Moon, retaining their memories and regaining their freedom in return for the life that Tsark offers.

These Urizen are in a state of some confusion, although they possess the mental discipline to maintain [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#Poise|poise]] despite their obvious confusion. In each case, their memories prior to descending the Mislitel Pass end with them stepping into a pit trap or being caught in a net. Now they are here, years and in some cases decades later, with little memory of the intervening time. For several the Empire and Urizen alike are very different to what they remember; they learn with horror of the [[Druj]] invasion, of the rousing of the {{Black Plateau}}, of the conquest of Spiral and its subsequent assignment to [[the League]], of the [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[the Throne|Throne]], conquest of Mareave... the events pile up one on the other and each one widens the gulf between these former prisoners and the Urizen around them. The removal of memories appears to be complete – but all are left with the certainty that they ''chose'' this; it was not forced upon them. Magical examination indicates that these memories are gone, excised as entirely as they might be by [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]] but on a much larger scale.

The body they have born was Ursula, once the oldest prisoner on Zabor, who, Sage Kristoph explains, "came to them" long ago (in the time of [[Emperor Ahraz]] it is quickly calculated). Ursula, not young when she first came to Tsark, died the evening after recieving the letters born through the Consul's diplomatic efforts. She seems to have died peacefully: her body has been carefully preserved with herbs and while Sage Kristoph indicates that he is aware the Urizeni do not care deeply for the body, the decision to repatriate Ursula's remains was taken as a demonstration of deep respect for her personally by Tsark's sagocracy.

Sage Apollion goes on to say that he hopes that the returning Urizeni can be found safe homes while they reconnect to the world they left behind - but that as far as the Tsarkoi are concerned that matter is closed. They broke their laws, were subject to the according penalties, and those have now been discharged. Those that remain on Zabor are few in number, and generally old. They wish to die as Ursula did: with their memories, as proud Urizeni.

===Hearts Change===
* '''A delegation from Tsark intends to visit Anvil to increase their understanding of the Imperial nations'''
* '''Sage Apollion and Sage Kristoph are particularly interested in meeting people of the League, Wintermark mediators, and Navarr guides'''
* '''The former-Urizeni Quinta has been charged to speak to their former countryfolk'''
* '''Their delegation is expected to turn up at 20.00 on Saturday'''
All of this would be a five weeks wonder if not for the fact that these events provoked a discussion among the Council of Sages regarding the matter of Tsark's isolation. Sage Kristoph, who was assigned as a diplomatic envoy, was instrumental in these discussions, and along with Sage Apollion plans to travel to [[Anvil]] as representatives of their nation. They intend to meet the various peoples of the Empire in the hope of understanding them a little better – especially those of the League who they understand now rule in Spiral. They also wish to speak to [[mediator|mediators]] of [[Wintermark]] and [[guide|guides]] of [[Navarr]], but they hope to visit all of the nations. It's notable that for a tiny nation on the very outskirts of the Empire, the people of Tsark seem to have a remarkable amount of knowledge of the nations and their people. The civil service speculate that this may be down to years of discourse with captured travellers, although there is also evidence that they have close relationships with some of the eternals so its possible their knowledge in part derives from Sinokenon or [[Lashonar]].

The former Urizen Quinta will also be accompanying them, on a sanctioned mission by the Council of Sages - who have clearly trusted them enough to undertake this task on their own - but they will be speaking directly with the Urizeni of Anvil, who they once called siblings. They wish to explain the reasons for their decision to remain in Tsark in person.

Taking leave of the House of the Wanderer, the two orcs and the human set off on the long trek west toward Casinea. As a foreign nation with no ambassador, responsibility for dealing with them technically descends to the [[Imperial Consul]]. They are expected to arrive around eight in the evening on Saturday during the summit.

===Participation===
If you are Urizeni, its possible you had a personal relationship with one of the released prisoners – or with someone you suspect may have chosen to remain a captive of Tsark. The former prisoners are currently at the House of the Wanderer, but will of course be free to rejoin their old spires if such exist. All information is that they are sound in body, and their confusion seems to stem from their missing time rather than any injury of the mind or spirit. All evidene suggests that it is ''impossible'' to restore their memories of Tsark – just as it is impossible to restore memories removed with [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]].

A new Urizen character could choose to be one of the former prisoners, but this will not involve any additional briefing or information simply because all memory of Tsark has been removed. It might make an interesting character idea to play someone who has years or decades of “missing time” - and who can portray someone broadly unaware of recent Imperial history prior to their return.

==Jarm==
* '''Jarm remains at peace with the Empire, but relations are extremely frosty'''
{{Nation|nation=Jarm|status=Foreigner|port=[[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Kavor_(Northern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Kavor]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Vezak_(Southern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Vezak]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Rigia_(Eastern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Rigia]] (all closed)|ambassador=Nikita Teanga Volkov of [[Varushka]]}}
One of the six great powers, the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are no friends to the Empire. The ''magocracy'', ruled by the House of Princes resents what it claims are repeated attempts by Imperial citizens to interfere with its interests. Via the [[Liberty Pact]], the Empire is allied with Jarm's enemies, the [[Commonwealth]], and open war now rages between the two great nations. They may not be at war with the Empire, but they know that Imperial citizens and the Imperial Conclave in particular have provided significant assistance to their rivals. Communications tend to be brusque, bordering on the curt.

The Jarmish ambassador to the Empire is ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', Who attends at the House of Princes. A canny and influential politician who has served the House of Princes for over forty years, he represents the Jarmish to the Empire and vice-versa. A potent master of Autumn magic, he is known for his sarcasm and dry wit, and for his commitment to the sovereignty of the Principalities he serves.
===War in the East===
* '''The decision not to allow mercenaries to fight with the Commonwealth has been well received'''
Jarm is engaged in a brutal war with the Commonwealth (also discussed in the '''[[Beneath_mithril_spires#War_in_the_East|Beneath mithril spires]]''' wind of fortune. Ambassador Nikira Teanga Volkov has assured Lord-Magister Trescher that the Empire respects that the conflict is between Jarm and the Commonwealth; while it is aligned with the Commonwealth on matters of trade, the Empire does not wish to involve itself in their conflict. News that the Imperial Senate has not [[For_the_Common_Good#Boots_on_the_Ground|granted permission]] for Imperial mercenaries to fight alongside the Commonwealth armies has reached the Principalities, and Lord-Magister Trescher offers grudging approval.

The House of Princes are aware of the decision, and it is seen as a first faltering step toward a potential future detente between Jarm and the Empire. Obviously the scales are not balanced - the Imperial Conclave shared [[Imperial lore]] with the Commonwealth but refuses to share any ritals with Jarmish magicians and the Principalities cannot trade with the Empire's ports without "[[tariffs|punishing tariffs]]" - but coupled with the professional tone of the new Ambassador's letters, it represents the first real positive improvement in relations between the two great nations in some time. It is, after all, the insistence in intruding into other nations' affairs that is the root of much of the Jarmish anger with the Empire.

Despite this understanding, Lord-Magister Trescher makes it clear that if Imperial mercenaries ''do'' turn up in battles between Jarmish and Commonwealth forces, the House of Princes will view it as a declaration of war by the Empire and respond appropriately. It is unfortunate that the [[Imperial Senate]] still finds itself unable to formally pronounce its intention to remain neutral in the war between Jarm and the Commonwealth, making it difficult for many magician-princes to trust their sincerity.

===Shield Against Folly===
* '''The Jarmish possess the artefact-relic Measure'''
* '''They have repeated their offer to exchange the shield for a ritual text of Brotherhood of Tian'''
* '''They are also prepared to offer 10 rings of ilium to whichever Conclave order disseminates the ritual text to them'''
* '''If that happens, they will also pay the Imperial Senate 100 thrones to "cover the costs" of transporting the ritual text to Jarm'''
* '''If the Conclave declines the trade, it will not be repeated and the opportunity to gain Measure will be lost, potentially permanently'''
Last season Lord-Magister Trescher [[Thrones_and_principalities#Metric_and_Measure|communicated an offer]] from the House of Princes regarding ''Measure'', the original [[Pilgrim's Shield]] of [[Wisdom]] gifted the Seven Pilgrims by ''Ezkiah the Benefactor''. They know that in Imperial eyes it is the property of the [[Champion of Wisdom]]. Securing the shield required the [[Imperial Conclave]] to [[Dissemination|disseminate]] the ritual [[Brotherhood of Tian]]. In addition to the shield the House of Princes offered obvious inducements to encourage the Empire to provide the ritual they desired - 100 Thrones to the Imperial senate "to cover any transportation costs", and 10 rings of [[ilium]] to the [[Conclave order]] whose [[Grandmaster]] enacts the declaration "in recompense for their time, and their assistance in the matter".

The Varushkan Ambassador has informed the Jarmish that the Conclave is unlikely to agree to this proposal, and was concerned that going ahead in the current climate would risk defeat and consequently make it harder to raise the declaration in future. After speaking the House, Lord-Magister Anton asks that the Ambassador follow through on their offer to see the dissemination raised even if it doing so serve merely as a way for malcontents to air their imagined grievances against the Principalities. The reality is that the Empire are not the only people interested in the shield, and if the Conclave is not prepared to provide the ritual - and the Ambassador cannot made a convincing counter-offer on the same scale - then the shield will instead be traded to someone else. Lord-Magister Anton will not say who the shield will be traded to, merely noting that it is ''extremely'' unlikely any Imperial citizen will ever see it again. "It would be a shame to see an end brought to the centuries long tradition of arming one of the foremost champions of your faith with this fabled tool," says the Jarmish diplomat.

The civil service believe this is no idle threat; from the context it is clear that the Jarmish intend to provide the shield either to someone who will destroy it, or someone who will put it beyond Imperial reach, should the Conclave refuse their offer. They are very clearly attempting to use possession of the shield as leverage to get what they want.

===Artificers===
* '''Jarmish merchants of the Circle of Six are interested in purchasing ritual paraphernalia and other items from the Artisans Guild'''
<div style="width: 500px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;" colspan="3">'''The Circle of Six Offers'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Item'''</td><td>'''Quantity'''</td><td>'''Price Per Item'''</tr>
<tr><td>[[The Fountain of Thorns]]</td><td>5</td><td>53 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[The Spider's Web]]</td><td>5</td><td>55 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Amberglass Orb]]</td><td>8</td><td>20 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Greensteel Orb]]</td><td>9</td><td>21 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Altruist's Recompense]]</td><td>15</td><td>14 Crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bloodsilver Spike]]</td><td>20</td><td>16 Crowns</td></tr>
</table></div>
Also last season, Lord-Magister Trescher communicated an offer from a Jarmish merchant ''Bojana Etura of the Circle of Six'' interested in making a deal with the ''Artisans Guild'' via their [[Guildmaster of the Artisans|Guildmaster]] '''Xanthius'''. They were particularly interested in magical [[Magic_items#Paraphernalia|ritual paraphernalia]] that could be used by Jarmish magicians, to help them fill the increased demand from their customers as the war with the Commonwealth continues. The Empire [[tariffs#Embargo|embargos]] Jarmish traders from visiting its ports but it is the House of Princes that will not let Imperial [[fleet|fleets]] [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports|Jarmish ports]]. As such there is no legal impediment on the Imperial side to citizens in a position to make a trade and the involvement of Lord Trescher bespeaks the approval of the House of Princes.

The Imperial Ambassador, however, reports that any support for the ''Circle of Six'' would represent military involvement in the ongoing conflict between Jarm and the Commonwealth. However, they have a counter-proposal. War can bring about destruction and the loss of food and resources, they point out, and as such the Artisan's Guild might be persuaded to offer different kinds of items. ''Bojana Etura'' has responded with a second offer, focused around the lores of [[Spring magic]] and [[Autumn magic]] - realms that [[Spring_magic#Healing_and_Vitality|heal]] and restore [[Autumn_magic#Prosperity|prosperity]] in times of war.

If the Artisans Guild is prepared to provide some or all of these items (or those previously requested - those offers are still open), and the Ambassador can pass on which items and how many, then a representative of the ''Circle of Six'' will travel to Anvil during the Winter Solstice to take possession of the items, pay the agreed price, and discuss future trades. If not, ''Bojana Etura'' will have to look elsewhere to fill their lucrative orders - and will be forced to advise their peers that trade with the Empire remains impossible.

==Non Attendance==
{{Nation|nation=[[Grendel]]|port=[[Bay_of_Catazar#Dubhtraig|Dubhtraig]] (closed)|ambassador=Finna of the [[the Brass Coast|Brass Coast]]|status=Barbarian}}
* '''The Empire is at war with the Grendel of the Broken Shore, but the Grendel have not completely cut off diplomatic relations'''
The Empire remains at war with the [[Grendel]] and the orcs of the [[Broken Shore]]. They have [[Glass and flame|struck decisively into Feroz]], and is [[Steel_and_salt|heavily engaged in Ayereed]]. There is a major force - armies and navies alike - still in [[Madruga]] as near as anyone can tell, although with the [[Where the river rises|recent developments there]] making scrying difficult there's no confirmation of what they are doing. There are reports of conflicts between Imperial ships and Grendel vessels, and skirmished cross the Bay where both sides are engaged with the [[Children of Wrecks]]. Yet the one thing there is ''not'' is an appearance at Anvil by ''Speaker Morna''.

After due consideration, the Grendel diplomat sees little benefit to himself or the Salt Lords Council attending Anvil this summit. He reassures his opposite number that he is still keen to correspond, but will not be returning to Anvil until there is something of substance to discuss - like a proposal for how the two nations might deal with the mutual threat of the Children of Wrecks. The price of the Ambassador's time is simply not worth the benefits it offers at the moment.

We all stand

2024-09-08T01:09:30Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: Formatting

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Not for the first time, Mazzar Tulk cursed herself for believing the old orc. They'd met in some nowhere town in the foothills quite by chance, and initially she had been very sceptical. Hallbran had pointed out, however, that this might not actually be a chance meeting but one driven by the forces of synchronicity wriggling and weaving through the whole of Mareave as Summer aged into Autumn. If that was the case then the enchantment obviously thought they had something in common. That last had prompted an enjoyable discussion about the motive force behind this kind of effect, and an argument about whether it was possible to use magic to detect if a meeting was due to an enchantment or not. It'd also lead her to seek the fellow out the next day and take him up on his offer.

Now, in return for a handful of crowns, her guide was apparently taking her to "an impressive herb garden better than anything in your Empire." Having lived her entire life in Ossium and Skarsind, Mazzar Tulk had had not been prepared for the heat, and the dust, and the sheer ''monotony'' of their trip. She drank another mouthful of water turned brackish by the warm weather, and splashed a little on her face.

"Not far now," said the old orc. Her guide didn't bother to conceal his amusement, and she resented how little the heat seemed to be effecting him. She couldn't see anything to indicate they were approaching a garden - the bleached grasses stretched in all directions as far as she could see, the only landmarks the mountains to the north and east, the dark horizon to the west. She wondered again about the faded old tattoos on his wrinkled weather beaten face. Snorri said they marked him as having once served with the Kraken's Jaws, and she wondered again if this was a trap, if he was leading her into an ambush. She tightened her grip on her staff.

Then, without warning, the land ahead fell away. She realised she was stood on the lip of a shallow depression, nearly a mile across, spotted with what she initially took to be large pools of water. She let out an unexpected noise of surprise, and then a moment later did it again as she realised it wasn't ''water'' she was looking at - which would have been a valuable fine by itself - but ''flowers''. Fields of beautiful blue flowers, with what looked a lot like peculiar butterflies fluttering in the still, thick air above them. Half a dozen orcs in broad-brimmed hats paused at their work, to glance up at the pair of them outlined against the sky above them, then went back to tending the delicate blooms.

The guide was pleased with her response, gestured for her to follow him, and started down the steep-sloped side of the bowl.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Slow Motion Walk.jpg|align=left|caption=The Imperial Orcs are slowly strengthening their control of [[Mareave]] with the aid of their fellow Imperial citizens.|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
While Elian Sweetwater has been busy performing their [[appraisal]] (as detailed in the '''[[Here we stay]]''' wind of fortune), he is far from the only person exploring [[Mareave]] in the last season. [[Magical skills#Magician|Magicians]] from the [[Golden Pyramid]] [[conclave order]] are enthusiastically seeking out [[opportunity|opportunities]] to build the [[Prosperity]] of the arid land, both for the [[Imperial Orcs]] and (hopefully) for themselves. [[Orc|Orcs]] from the [[Tamazi]] sept heed the words of their national assembly, looking for ways they can use their expertise in stonecraft or magic to help secure the newest Imperial territory. At the same time, there are discussions in [[the Brass Coast]] and [[the Marches]] about how to help make the dry plains bloom, and to the north a chance meeting between [[the League]], and [[Urizen]] gives rise to an [[Ambition|Ambitious]] plan to deal with the challenges represented by Mareave's comparative disconnection from the rest of the Empire.

==Serendipity==
* '''An Imperial enchantment has both helped uncover opportunities, and stored up trouble for the future'''
As mentioned in the '''[[Here_to_stay#Bonds_and_Bargains|Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune, this season Mareave is under the influence of [[Autumn magic]]. The enchantment is subtle, but noticable by any [[magical skills#magician|magician]] capable of casting the [[detect magic]] spell. Nudging coincidence and weaving serendipity, it brings people together with other people who share their attitudes and opinions, making it easier for them to make new friends.

Like all such magic, however, its influence is entirely indiscriminate and unpredictable. As well as helping Imperial citizens to make contact with local inhabitants, it also hinders efforts to strengthen the Imperial hold over Mareave. People hostile or resistant to the Imperial Orcs presence find it as easy to meet each other as - say - [[#Black Sand Circle|Autumn magicians in the inns of Beoraidh]].
==Auric and Blue==
* '''The magicians of the Golden Pyramid continue working in Mareave'''
* '''The order gains 10 random ingots, 7 crystal mana, and 7 doses of cerulean mazzarine each season for the duration'''
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderGoldenPyramid.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
At the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Direct_Golden_Pyramid|urging]] of [[Grandmaster]] '''Arsenio Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato''', the [[Golden Pyramid]] descended on Mareave after the Spring Equinox, eager to explore and find opportunities to bolster the prosperity of the territory (and perhaps the [[Conclave order]] as well). Last season they uncovered [[Digging for fire|several opportunities]]; a [[Digging_for_fire#The_Bronze_Bowls_of_the_Three_Seasons|unique]] source of [[vis]]; a [[Digging_for_fire#Precious_Mines|roster of mines]] ripe for exploitation; an excellent location for a [[Digging_for_fire#A_Place_to_Lodge|grand lodge]] to grant numerous benefits to the order itself. With much of the new territory unexplored by Imperials, and indications that the [[Grendel]] focus on the sea meant that the eastern mountains were largely unknown even by the local residents, Arsenio chose to urge the order to [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Exploring_Mareave|continue to explore]] for the next year. The [[Imperial Conclave]] agreed, and [[magical skills#magician|magicians]] of the Conclave continue to flock to the south-east.

The benefits to the Order itself are not insignificant; each season until the end of the Summer Solstice 387YE will receive 10 [[Materials#Metals|random ingots]], 7 crystal mana, and 7 doses of [[Cerulean Mazzarine]] into the [[Conclave vault]], to be distributed as the Grandmaster sees fit. This represents finds donated by individual members, and gifts from residents of Mareave (Imperial or otherwise) who are grateful for the aid of the Pyramid magicians.

This last season has seen Golden Pyramid magicians working with the [[Appraisal#The_Prognosticators_Office|Prognosticator's Office]] to support [[Appraisal#Eilian_Sweetwater|Elian Sweetwater]] in their [[appraisal]] of the [[orc|orcs]] in the southern [[territory#Regions|regions]] (as detailed in the '''[[Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune). Several members, especially Imperial Orcs magicians aligned with the order, have been helping or participating in the [[Tamazi]] sept exploration of the arid territory.
===Beoraidh===
* '''Golden Pyramid magicians are actively pursuing opportunities in Beoraidh'''
* '''So far negotiations have not achieved anything concrete but they remain optimistic'''
The Golden Pyramid has also been continuing to explore [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]], which surely represents a gold mine of opportunities for those members of the 'Pyramid more interested in trade than valuable resources. In the wake of the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Amend_Treaty_with_Beoraidh|treaty with the former Salt Lord]], there is certainly appetite for trade with the Empire, but there's caution on both side about formalizing it in case something goes wrong and sinks the treaty. One matter of note is that the former Salt Lord's offer to purchase [[dragonbone]] is still open (as detailed in last season's '''[[Set_my_lands_in_order#Trade_Goods|Set my lands in order]]''' wind of fortune).

''Xavier of the Spire of the Astral Torrent'' and several fellow [[Urizen]] [[architect|architects]] of the 'Pyramid continue to explore options. There is apparently a great deal of interest in rumours of the ''Greater Apulian Way'' proposed in [[Spiral]] - the traders and merchants of Beoraidh can see the advantage of a secure land route into the Empire or even just as far as [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]]. Several members of the Pyramid - a mixture of [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]], [[the League|League]], and [[Highguard|Highborn]] - are pursuing access to the docks of Beoraidh but the discussions are bogged down by frankly ridiculous [[tariffs]]. Given the amount the former Salt Lord is paying to the Empire in "rent" there's no way they can turn away Imperial traders with such unreasonable practices, but so far negotiations are at a deadlock.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=WingedMessenger.png|caption=''Mannun Amahuz'', the leader of the Circle of Black Sand in Beoraidh, leads a coven of [[Autumn magic|Sand wizards]]. They are keen to hear from the Grandmaster of the Golden Pyramid or the Celestial Arch about trade in magical rituals and a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] can be sent to them at ''Execution Hill, Beoraidh, Mareave''.|align=right|width=300}}</div>

===Black Sand Circle===
* '''The Golden Pyramid has made contact with the wizards of the Black Sand Circle'''
* '''They wish to purchase the ''Gift of the Wily Broker'' ritual and offer an enchantment of their own in exchange'''
* '''The leaders of the coven is interested in hearing from Golden Pyramid magicians who might help them pursue their ambitions'''
One area of success in Beoraidh is that some of the Golden Pyramid have made cautious contact with their magical peers among the former Grendel. This includes some members of the group previously known as the [[Pebbles_drawn_from_a_heap#The_Circle_of_Black_Sand|Circle of Black Sand]]. Having split from those members who chose to join [[the League]] in Apulian, they now call themselves the ''Black Sand Circle'', under ''Manuun Amahuz''. They have taken over the old tower on Execution Hill (neither a hill, nor a home to executioners, the origin of the name is lost to the mists of time), and are still eager to benefit from contact with the Empire. Expert practitioners of [[Autumn magic|Sand wizardry]], they are particularly interested in discussing the [[#Serendipity|serendipitous enchantment]] woven over the whole territory, fascinated by the apparent ease with which Imperial magicians work such magic and intrigued by its effects and implications.
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; max-width:450px;"><box>
'''Inspiration and Challenge'''
* '''While Icarion has the under-developed quality all labour costs are increased by a fifth'''
* '''The inspiration of Thrace removes the basic labour cost if something is commissioned before the end of the Winter Solstice 386YE'''
* '''If the Legion Engineer commissions one of these projects the wain cost is reduced by a fifth'''
The infrastructure in the territory is highly variable, sometimes the equal of the Empire, but elsewhere the roads are barely adequate by Imperial standards. Materials are hard to import - the port of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] imposes steep tariffs, and the route through Spiral faces the oppression of the {{Black Plateau}}. These problems are reflected by the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|under-developed]] quality in [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]], so all commissions built in the territory have their labour costs increased by a fifth.

The [[consecration#True Liao|true liao consecration]] of the Legion's Rookery as an [[Inspirational_location#Memorials|inspirational location]] dedicated to [[Known_exemplars#Thrace|Thrace]] affects these [[commission|commissions]], if they are commissioned before the end of the Winter Solstice 386YE. The basic labour costs of anything built in Mareave before that time is paid entirely by Imperial Orc volunteers. This benefit is included in each of the descriptions, but this benefit does ''not'' cover the extra funds needed due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under-developed]] quality, or extra funds required to secure the aid of the Eoradal orcs.

If the [[Legion Engineer]] commissions one of these projects, the amount of wains needed is reduced by a fifth.</box></div>

Last time members of the Circle spoke to the Empire, they were [[Grendel]]. The [[Imperial Conclave]] made it clear that anyone who traded magic with them was at risk of being declared a [[Sorcery|sorcerer]]. Now the Imperial Senate has signed a treaty saying they're foreigners, so there should be no impediment to making an exchange. Right?

The Black Sand Circle is keen to acquire a [[ritual text]] of the ritual the Empire calls [[Gift of the Wily Broker]]. In the break-up with the Circle of Black Sand, ''Manuun'' and his faction have retained custody of the covens arcane library. If the Imperial Conclave will use a [[declaration]] of [[dissemination]] to provide the ritual text they seek, they will hand over a ritual text to the magician who raised the successful declaration. There are two ritual they are prepared to share, both examples of [[Autumn magic|Sand wizardry]]. The first is ''Sigil of the White Sands'', an [[enchantment]] that allows a [[fleet]] to secure lucrative deals when they [[Fleet#Trade|trade]] with foreign ports. The second ritual, the ''Eye of Ruby and Sapphire'' enchants a [[mine]] so that the workers can more easily locate valuable deposits of precious gems, causing it to produce a great deal of money and a small amount of additional [[tempest jade]] over the season. The declaration will need to specify which of the two rituals the magician wants in return, and the Circle does not care what happens to it after it is handed over. It might go into Imperial lore, into Urizen lore, or remain the unique property of whoever secures it (the latter being what ''Manuun'' assumes will happen to it).

The Golden Pyramid magicians who meet ''Manuun'' and his coven describe them as confident, slightly cynical mages not entirely dissimilar to their peers in the Conclave Order. They clearly support Ehsan's successes in securing neutrality for the city, although they feel little [[Grendel_religion#Fidelity|fidelity]] to the former Salt Lord personally. They're aware that they and the inhabitants of Beoraidh walk a knife-edge - either the Grendel or the Empire could likely snuff them out if the treaties Ehsan and his court have arranged fall apart. They also make no secret of the fact that what they would ''really'' like is access to powerful [[Autumn magic]] enchantments that support fortification or [[military unit|warbands]] but for now they are well aware they have little to offer of equivalent value. They're also open to [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messengers]] from members of the Golden Pyramid order interested in further exchange of knowledge or magical resources - ''Manuun'' is very interested in discovering how one might go about getting access to the [[Doyen of the Spires]] or one of the other Imperial [[college of magic|magical colleges]] and what it might cost to purchase the codification of an arcane projection. He is also very interested in any news of his cousin Rahuun Amahuz and the rest of the Circle who remained in Spiral: they want to know if they're getting on alright, and if they've heard anything at all from their Uncle Mó.

===The Lazuline Bowl===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Lazuline Bowl'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Nadir, Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 24 weirwood, 288 rings, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 72 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 288 rings are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the title of Lazuline Bonetender</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Lazuline Bonetender'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Imperial Orc</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receive 21 drams of cerulean mazzarine each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversee the Lazuline Bowl sinecure, support the physicks of Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' The Tender can purchase from the orcs living in the Lazuline Bowl</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Bounty of the Bowl'''</td><td style="background-color: LightYellow;"></td></tr>
<tr><td>7 crowns</td><td>10 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 6 drams of true vervain</td></tr>
<tr><td>17 crowns</td><td>21 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 12 drams of true vervain</td></tr>
<tr><td>30 crowns</td><td>32 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 18 drams of true vervain</td></tr></table></div>
* '''Mareave has an excellent climate for growing cerulean mazzarine'''
* '''The Lazuline Bowl is an area of Nadir that presents an opportunity to produce large amounts of the valuable herb

[[Mareave]] is an [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|arid]] [[territory]], where fresh water is at a premium. The expectation would be that such a place is hostile to [[herb garden|herb gardens]] but that turns out to be a misconception. While exploring the plains of northern Mareave - [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]] and [[Mareave#Nadir|Nadit]] particularly - the Golden Pyramid make peaceful contact with several groups of orcs that make a respectable living growing [[Cerulean Mazzarine]]. The conditions here are actually ideal for growing a magical herb that prospers in a warm, dry climate. While the herbal arts are not especially common among the magicians of the Golden Pyramids, they are well aware that there are markets for the delicate blue-blossoming herb in the Empire, especially in the chilly northern nations ([[Wintermark]], [[Varushka]], and of course [[Skarsind]]).

''Mazzar Tulk'' is a Golden Pyramid [[orc]] and a member of the [[Yerende]] sept and her family are in the process of moving to Mareave. In answering the grandmaster's call she has used the opportunity to explore the territory to find the perfect place to settle. In the process has been talking to some of the local orcs - those who don't have any particular reason to be [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Uncooperative|uncooperative]]. Following discussion she has become aware of the ''Lazuline Bowl'' - a depression in central Nadir, sheltered from the harsh winds and positioned over a deep aquifer, presenting ideal conditions to cultivate valuable cerulean mazzarine. There are already several families of Broken Shore orcs based around the Bowl, growing their own herbs. With the aid of her order, she has negotiated with the orcs to support the establishment of a garden on her own dedicated to producing the valuable herb, promising that the nearby families will share in her prosperity.

By building a garden in the Lazuline Bowl, the Imperial Orcs could establish the title of ''Lazline Bonetender''. ''Mazzar Tulk'' suggests that the title be charged with helping supply orc apothecaries and physicks, and expanding access to herbs in Mareave. They would receive a [[sinecure|bounty of cerulean mazzarine]], and be able to [[ministry|purchase even more]] from the Nadiri orcs whose cheerful self interest does not disincline them to deal with the Empire. That latter raises a minor fly in the ointment. As [[Here_to_stay#The_Problem_of_Peace|laid out by Elian Sweetwater]] in their [[appraisal]], at the moment the non-Imperial inhabitants of Mareave are considered barbarians for all that they may not be particularly acting like it. The ministry Mazzar Tulk proposes is illegal while that is the case, and indeed she warns that until that matter is sorted out it might be better not to build the sinecure as creating something so valuable in close proximity to people who the Empire is at war with feels unwise.

The Imperial Orcs assembly asked representatives of the Tamazi to explore opportunities in Mareave. ''Mazzar Tulk'' suggests that if [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Six_Septs|the assembly ask the Yerende]] to explore the possibilities offered by the ideal climate here there might be able to identify other ways to grow cerulean mazzarine - a [[great work]] for example, or more opportunities to work with the comparatively small number of local herbalists. Focusing on cerulean mazzarine, rather than general opportunities, would likely cause any resulting opportunities to be more focused and impactful.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tamazi.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>

==Stone Lasts==
* '''Members of the Tamazi sect have visited Mareave to seek opportunities to build'''
* '''Charged with protecting, they are looking at castles'''
The Tamazi have also looked for other opportunities to help contribute to the Imperial Orc development of Mareave. As well as their proposal regarding the [[#Here We Stay|fortified settlement]] they have identified two other locations that they think would make excellent forts - helping to protect the people of Mareave and ensure that the land is not an inviting target for the Grendel.
===Storm Lords Sentinel===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Storm Lords Sentinel'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Rucraic's Redoubt, Eoradal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 white granite, 30 weirwood, 48 crowns in labour, six months construction</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 240 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 48 crowns are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Serves as a rank one [[fortification]], but would also serve as a Skouran [[embassy]] once they agreed to one</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 8 throne</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''A fortification at Ruicraic's Redoubt could serve double purpose as an embassy to Skoura'''
The first is at ''Ruicraic's Aerie'', a minor fortification [[Sea-wood_fed_with_copper#Ripples_in_the_Water|captured]] more or less intact by the [[Seventh Wave]] thanks to [[Between_stone_and_salt#Objective:_Recover_a_map_to_Rucraic's_Aerie|intelligence]] recovered by Imperial heroes. The Tamazi propose adapting the [[Commonwealth]] idea to build something similar to a ''[[For_the_Common_Good#Fighting_Talk|diplomatenschloss]]'' for the [[Skoura|Skourans]]. By all accounts the Skourans do not currently want an [[embassy]], but that doesn't mean the Imperial Orcs shouldn't build them one! They know from their time in [[Axos]] that the Skourans are traders. The Tamazi believe it is a matter of time before the people of the mountains see the benefits of trading with the Empire, and the Imperial Orcs should be at the forefront of that trade. When that happens, the embassy will be already built, merely waiting on a delegation of Skourans to leave their mountains and establish offices there.

Given Rucraic's Redoubt is already a castle, the Tamazi are confident that converting it to a full fortification with the opportunity for trade would require less white granite than building something from scratch, and take only six months to complete. Once complete, the place could be "activated" as a Skouran embassy at any time, likely as part of a [[Ambassador#Treaty|treaty]] with that nation.
{{SOP|statement=One nation, woven from six strong strands. Each of these septs has its own expertise, that will help us to show the people of Mareave we are not their enemies. We send Skywise Gralka with 25 doses of liao to urge the Tamazi to seek ways we may make Mareave a home for our people by using their skill in stone masonry and magical defences to aid against the Grendel threat let the first sept we send be one to protect these new lands and people.|by=Skywise Tulva, Imperial Orcs Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 44-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
The Tamazi plan is to build the fortified embassy at the base of the mountains, and then have the Senator for Mareave (currently '''Gaddak''') send a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to Skora to politely ask if they would like to trade with their neighbours - not as representatives of the Empire but as the Imperial Orcs nation. The Tamazi are confident that the Skourans will consider the proposal, and, at the very least, agree to establish a trade ministry in Eoradal. From this start, the Empire would be better positioned to build stronger trade ties - and all thanks to the Imperial Orcs.

The ''other'' reason the Tamazi propose their version of a ''diplomatenschloss'' is the existance of the ruined aqueduct in Eoradal. Their examination of the structure indicates that if it were rebuilt, and with the cooperation of the Skourans who live in the mountains above Mareave, it might be the answer to at least some of the problems Mareave has getting access to fresh water - and the Tamazi are excited at the prospect of such a significant and impactful construction for obvious reasons.

===High Mountain Home===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''High Mountain Home'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Eastern Peaks, Fleisardh</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 150 white granite, 30 weirwood, 108 crowns in labour, a year to construct</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 540 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 108 crowns are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Serves as a rank two [[fortification]], removes the under threat quality, may cow the Brine Turtles</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Storm Wards'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Special</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Eastern Peaks, Fleisardh</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 20 mithril, 20 ilium</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Can only be included when the High Mountain Home is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Increase casualties to armies attacking the fortification in Fleisardh by half</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''A large fortification could be established in Fleisardh to remove the under threat quality there'''
The other target of the Tamazi is in Fleisdardh. They do not find much welcome among the Brine Turtles sept, and quickly decide to give them a wide berth. During their exploration of the hills and mountains here, however, some of them come up with an ambitious plan. The Brine Turtle claim the plains, and the coast, and mostly ignore the eastern fifth of the region. As a consequence the mountains are largely unexplored and unexploited save for a few die hard miners who seem broadly unaware that Mareave has changed hands and largely disinterested when they discover otherwise.

The initial plan is that the Imperial Orcs should "hollow out" a mountain, and build a massive citadel overlooking Fleisardh. After further discussion, they settle on something a little less impressive at least to start with. Dubbing it ''High Mountain Home'', the Tamazi plan to use divination magic to locate an aquifer and reshape the side of the mountain into a mighty [[fortification]]. Visible across the region it would be a clear sign to the Brine Turtles that the Imperial Orcs are not messing about - they are the new masters of Mareave.

Using their expertise, the fortification would take a year to build, but would provide significant protection to Mareave. The Tamazi also plan to include a number of features familiar from the citadels of Axos such as mushroom farms and grand storehouses that would allow a garrison to endure as much as five years of siege. More than that, once garrisoned, the Tamazi are confident there would be sufficient strength here to remove the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under_Threat|under threat]] quality from the region if it were still there. It would not by itself make the Brine Turtles any more accepting of the Empire, but it could still prove a powerful aid to diplomacy with them, an unmissable reminder of Imperial ambition and power.

Some of the Tamazi are members of the Golden Pyramid order, and along with their peers they report that there is a small amount of [[ilium]] in the mountains above Fleisardh. Not really enough, and not really concentrated sufficiently, to make a mine viable unfortunately. But one of the younger Tamazi has a better idea. Adapting some of the warding symbols the Tamazi traditionally use in their constructions, along with some elements she has uncovered about the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Objective:_Raise_the_Lyceum's_wards|Lyceym Storm Regio]], ''Deepdrummer Kattak'' proposes to capture and channel the storms that swirl around the high peaks of Mareave and further bolster the defences of the High Mountain Home.

Her plan would add 20 wains of mithri and 20 rings of ilium to the cost of the fortification, but not increase either labour costs or time to build. Woven into the fabric of the fortification, they would mean that any attacking army assaulting Fleisardh would need face poor weather and occasional devastating thunderbolts. The casualties suffered from attacking the fortification would be increased by a half. As their placement and implementation is integral to the design of the castle, the decision about whether to include Kattak's wards would need to be made when the structure was commissioned.
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Marcher.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Freeborn.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
==Farming and Water==
{{SOP|statement=The Marcher Assembly calls on all those adept at farming arid land. Take up your tools and head to Mareave for our Imperial Orc friends have need for your skills to remove the arid quality and make the land grow.|by=Sister Meredith, Marches Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 204-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
{{SOP|statement= The farmers of the Brass Coast are known far and wide as experts in farming arid lands. We have had a request from our friends in the Imperial Orcs, Mareave needs a lot of work, and as such they ask our aid in teaching them how to farm their new lands. We call upon the farmers of the coast to travel to Mareave and help cultivate a prosperous new territory.|by=Maria i Espiri i Guerra, Freeborn Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 166-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
* '''Both the Marches and Freeborn assembly encourage their people to help in Mareave'''
* '''Doing so would be costly to the two nations'''
During the Summer Solstice, two [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] were proposed, one in the [[the Marches|Marcher]] assembly, and one in the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] assembly. They both asked the people of their nation to look into the possibility of helping the Imperial Orcs address the problems presented by the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|arid conditions]] in Mareave - and the difficulty of establishing farms there. Both nations have something to offer; the Marchers are unparalleled experts at the agricultural arts, while the Freeborn have centuries of experience teasing crops and beautiful gardens alike from dry, waterless soil.

However, the people of both nations also know the value of their expertise. While there are some who might feel a kinship or debt to the Imperial Orcs - their armies have selflessly defended the Western empire time and again - others are more practical. The majority are prepared to make an assessment of the situation in the east, to see if they might be able to help, but they will ''not'' do so for free. The Freborn now that everything can have a price, and while the Marchers know that land matters above all else, Mareave is [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Far_Frontier|a very long way away]] and it is not ''their'' land. Both nations farmers also know that [[Prosperity]] means that while the virtuous are not selfish, they also expect to receive just recompense for their labours. Also, as some are quick to point out, there is a war on, with Mournwold invaded and both [[Feroz]] and [[Madruga]] very much in need of rebuilding. Perhaps the farmers of these two nations should be looking closer to home?

Bearing all that in mind, the Marcher National Assembly could pass the following mandate:

{{Mandate|mandate=Our mastery of farming is unsurpassed in the Empire, but we know our worth We send (named priest) with 50 doses of liao to urge the virtuous and prosperous farmers of the Marches to visit Mareave and see how the land there might be made green.|assembly=Marches National Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted it will persuade virtuous farmers to visit Mareave. This would mean that there were fewer pious farmers in the Marches during the coming season, and apply a 1 rank penalty to every [[congregation]] in [[Mitwold]] and [[Upwold]]. Farmers of Mournwold have more pressing matters on their mind, and those in [[Bregasland]] perhaps rightly believe they have nothing to offer when it comes to farming in the arid grasslands of Mareave. The Marchers who travelled to Mareave would present an opportunity to help build up agriculture there, but part of their opportunity would require they be repaid in some way for their efforts.

Likewise the Brass Coast Assembly could pass the following mandate.

{{Mandate|mandate=The Freeborn are experts in drawing forth prosperity from arid lands. We send (named priest) with 75 doses of liao to ask Freeborn farmers to go to Mareave, to aid our friends in the Imperial orcs to make their lands flower.|assembly=Freeborn National Assembly}}

If enacted, this mandate would encourage experts in dealing with the kind of conditions found in Mareave to travel to the far side of the Bay of Catazar to see what aid they could offer in dealing with the arid conditions in the northern parts of the territory. In particular, the [[Zemress islander|Zemress islanders]] would be encouraged to visit the Broken Shore for the first time since they were brought home to the Brass Coast. As with the Marchers, though, such aid would come at a price. Every [[congregation]] in the Brass Coast would experience a 1 rank penalty to production in the coming season, and the Freeborn farmers would expect suitable recompense before they would put any solution into action
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly League.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Urizen.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>

==Trade Routes==
{{SOP|statement= We applaud the assignment of Mareave to the Imperial Orcs and reach out in prosperity and friendship to our new neighbours. We encourage and promote the movement of people, material, goods, and fine things through Spiral, across the Apulian Way, and into Mareave by way of Prosperous trade. Raised by Fabio, Bishop of Apulian.|by=Fabio Costas de Sarvos, League Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 376-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
* '''The League could build a safe route through Spiral connecting Mareave to the rest of the Empire'''
One final statement of principle was raised at the Summer Solstice that received a greater majority. '''Fabio Costas de Sarvos, Bishop of Apulian''' called on the nation to promote the movement of people and materials through Spiral, and down the Apulian Way into Mareave. At first, there was little interest in the proposal - the League is after all busy [[Construct Grand Inspiration of the Way#Outcome|supporting]] the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]] in [[Bastion]] and has little time for other projects at the moment.

However... not ''everyone'' thinks that the Grand Inspiration of the Way is the most important thing they could be building. '''Bishop Fabio''' is known in some circles for [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_68|speaking out]] about the construction in Bastion, and urging "''citizens of the League not to assist in the aggrandisement of the White City, except when through fair trade their own Prosperity might grow.''" As a consequence, some people who couldn't give two figs for Bastion and the overarching plans of the Way are interested in the suggestion and decide to see what can be done about it. As it happens two of those interested in Fabio's words ends is an ambitious engineer named ''Lucia Calumo di Apulian'', originally from Holberg, and a former Grendel entrepreneur now named ''Sheeva di Apulian''. Perhaps due in some unidentifiable way to the magic sloshing around in Mareave at the moment, they end up in a long and detailed conversation with a pair of [[Urizen]] [[architect|architects]] (''Tressida Nightshadow'' and ''Croilus Nightshadow'') returning to their spire after [[Thresher's summer|spending time in the Marches]]. The four of them end up lamenting the fact that travel through the {{Black Plateau}} haunted territory is slow and painful. Together, over dark coffee, they put together a proposal.
===Extending the Apulian Way===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Greater Apulian Way'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:'''Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of white granite, 20 wains of mithril, 210 Crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Master of Rings commissions the road 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Urizen Assembly supports the road, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' This commission is built in Spiral rather than Mareave and so the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality does not change its costs. The [[Legion Engineer]] could not reduce its costs by commissioning it</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Raises the level of investment in Spiral by one providing 36 rings for each business, and removes the under-developed quality from Icarion</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Extending the Apulian way through the city and connecting it to the Court of the White Fountain would solve Mareave's under-developed problem'''
* '''It would also provide benefits to both League and Urizen businesses in Spiral'''
* '''If the Master of Rings commissions the road, 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens'''
* '''If the Urizen Assembly support the road, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires'''
The ''Calumo-Sheeva-Nightshadow Road'' - or the ''Greater Apulian Way'' as it is immediately christened - would involve repairing and fixing up the road that once connected the port of Apulian with Redoubt, via the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain|Court of the White Fountain]] and the now flattened Fort Mezudan. Repairing the road is simple if laborious, but the real aim of the proposal is to establish a series of mithril-infused rest stops along the route. Patterned after [[Navarr]] wayhouses, and built with traders and ox-caravans in mind, they would make it significantly less stressful to travel through Spiral to the city in the south. It's a simple matter to extend the road through the Apulian Way pass into Mareave, and build a nice big inn and some warehouses in [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]], a stones throw from the old lighthouse ruins there. The Nightshadow architects believe that once complete, it could inspire more interest in the roads of Spiral, and certainly the pattern of mithril-infused roadhouses would spread ensuring that people all over the territory would find it easier to get and sell goods, and travel despite the horror that squats in the centre of [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]].

The proposal is expensive, but it will immediately benefit both the inhabitants of Spiral - whether they are League or Urizen - and the people of Mareave. In Spiral, it would establish a [[great work]] that benefitted [[business|businesses]], while in Mareave it would remove the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|under-developed]] quality from Icarion and provide a reliable method to transport building materials, food, travellers, and workers through the miasmic oppression of Spiral.

The two Leaguers have put their heads together and have a plan they think would work. At the moment, Apulian can feel a little like the "smallest sibling" in [[the League]]. If the would very much like the [[Master of Rings]] to do it. Their [[Master_of_Rings#Responsibilities|responsibility]] after all is to make "as much money as possible" for the Merchant-Princes of the League. If the Master (currently '''Laughlan Vi Temeschwar''') commissions the Greater Apulian Way, then Lucio Calumo, Shiva, and their friends will stump up 6 wains of white granite to support the project.

Tressida and Croilus are of the opinion that it might be possible to build on it to further enhance the Prosperity of Spiral, or at the very least to find a way to counter the negative effects the {{Black Plateau}} still has on [[fleet|fleets]], [[military unit|military units]], and [[farm|farms]]. They also feel that work on the road could prosper a spirit of cooperation in Spiral, building on the [[The city below|recent mandate]] enacted by ''' Lepidina'''. If the Urizen national assembly passes a suitably worded [[statement of principle]] encouraging people to support the Greater Apulian Way, then Nightshadow spire will contribute 4 wains of mithril to the project in the hope of encouraging other Urizen still living in Spiral to consider doing the same.

Finally, all four believe that this could just be the start of grander projects in Mareave. A firm road connection to the rest of the Empire would be an ideal start to building up the roads the Grendel left behind - or establishing a lucrative trade route between Apulian and [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]].

==Participation==
* '''Any character is free to roleplay they have spent time in Mareave, and encouraged to create a story about a chance encounter'''
Any character who roleplays having spent time in Mareave this season is encouraged to make up a story about a coincidental meeting that helped them make a new friend, or find a new contact who shared their interests. This is especially appropriate for members of the [[Golden Pyramid]] [[conclave order]] or the [[Tamazi]] sept (or both), but anyone might be visiting the arid territory for any number of reasons.

==Further Reading==
* [[Mareave]]
* [[Here we stay]] - 386YE Autumn wind of fortune detailing the appraisal to encourage the southern orcs to be more cooperative
* [[Digging for fire]] - 386YE Summer wind of fortune detailing the Golden Pyramid contribution in Mareave
* [[Into the spin]] – 386YE Spring wind of fortune summarizing the situation in Mareave

We all stand

2024-09-08T01:08:35Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: Spelling

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Not for the first time, Mazzar Tulk cursed herself for believing the old orc. They'd met in some nowhere town in the foothills quite by chance, and initially she had been very sceptical. Hallbran had pointed out, however, that this might not actually be a chance meeting but one driven by the forces of synchronicity wriggling and weaving through the whole of Mareave as Summer aged into Autumn. If that was the case then the enchantment obviously thought they had something in common. That last had prompted an enjoyable discussion about the motive force behind this kind of effect, and an argument about whether it was possible to use magic to detect if a meeting was due to an enchantment or not. It'd also lead her to seek the fellow out the next day and take him up on his offer.

Now, in return for a handful of crowns, her guide was apparently taking her to "an impressive herb garden better than anything in your Empire." Having lived her entire life in Ossium and Skarsind, Mazzar Tulk had had not been prepared for the heat, and the dust, and the sheer ''monotony'' of their trip. She drank another mouthful of water turned brackish by the warm weather, and splashed a little on her face.

"Not far now," said the old orc. Her guide didn't bother to conceal his amusement, and she resented how little the heat seemed to be effecting him. She couldn't see anything to indicate they were approaching a garden - the bleached grasses stretched in all directions as far as she could see, the only landmarks the mountains to the north and east, the dark horizon to the west. She wondered again about the faded old tattoos on his wrinkled weather beaten face. Snorri said they marked him as having once served with the Kraken's Jaws, and she wondered again if this was a trap, if he was leading her into an ambush. She tightened her grip on her staff.

Then, without warning, the land ahead fell away. She realised she was stood on the lip of a shallow depression, nearly a mile across, spotted with what she initially took to be large pools of water. She let out an unexpected noise of surprise, and then a moment later did it again as she realised it wasn't ''water'' she was looking at - which would have been a valuable fine by itself - but ''flowers''. Fields of beautiful blue flowers, with what looked a lot like peculiar butterflies fluttering in the still, thick air above them. Half a dozen orcs in broad-brimmed hats paused at their work, to glance up at the pair of them outlined against the sky above them, then went back to tending the delicate blooms.

The guide was pleased with her response, gestured for her to follow him, and started down the steep-sloped side of the bowl.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Slow Motion Walk.jpg|align=left|caption=The Imperial Orcs are slowly strengthening their control of [[Mareave]] with the aid of their fellow Imperial citizens.|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
While Elian Sweetwater has been busy performing their [[appraisal]] (as detailed in the '''[[Here we stay]]''' wind of fortune), he is far from the only person exploring [[Mareave]] in the last season. [[Magical skills#Magician|Magicians]] from the [[Golden Pyramid]] [[conclave order]] are enthusiastically seeking out [[opportunity|opportunities]] to build the [[Prosperity]] of the arid land, both for the [[Imperial Orcs]] and (hopefully) for themselves. [[Orc|Orcs]] from the [[Tamazi]] sept heed the words of their national assembly, looking for ways they can use their expertise in stonecraft or magic to help secure the newest Imperial territory. At the same time, there are discussions in [[the Brass Coast]] and [[the Marches]] about how to help make the dry plains bloom, and to the north a chance meeting between [[the League]], and [[Urizen]] gives rise to an [[Ambition|Ambitious]] plan to deal with the challenges represented by Mareave's comparative disconnection from the rest of the Empire.

==Serendipity==
* '''An Imperial enchantment has both helped uncover opportunities, and stored up trouble for the future'''
As mentioned in the '''[[Here_to_stay#Bonds_and_Bargains|Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune, this season Mareave is under the influence of [[Autumn magic]]. The enchantment is subtle, but noticable by any [[magical skills#magician|magician]] capable of casting the [[detect magic]] spell. Nudging coincidence and weaving serendipity, it brings people together with other people who share their attitudes and opinions, making it easier for them to make new friends.

Like all such magic, however, its influence is entirely indiscriminate and unpredictable. As well as helping Imperial citizens to make contact with local inhabitants, it also hinders efforts to strengthen the Imperial hold over Mareave. People hostile or resistant to the Imperial Orcs presence find it as easy to meet each other as - say - [[#Black Sand Circle|Autumn magicians in the inns of Beoraidh]].
==Auric and Blue==
* '''The magicians of the Golden Pyramid continue working in Mareave'''
* '''The order gains 10 random ingots, 7 crystal mana, and 7 doses of cerulean mazzarine each season for the duration'''
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderGoldenPyramid.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
At the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Direct_Golden_Pyramid|urging]] of [[Grandmaster]] '''Arsenio Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato''', the [[Golden Pyramid]] descended on Mareave after the Spring Equinox, eager to explore and find opportunities to bolster the prosperity of the territory (and perhaps the [[Conclave order]] as well). Last season they uncovered [[Digging for fire|several opportunities]]; a [[Digging_for_fire#The_Bronze_Bowls_of_the_Three_Seasons|unique]] source of [[vis]]; a [[Digging_for_fire#Precious_Mines|roster of mines]] ripe for exploitation; an excellent location for a [[Digging_for_fire#A_Place_to_Lodge|grand lodge]] to grant numerous benefits to the order itself. With much of the new territory unexplored by Imperials, and indications that the [[Grendel]] focus on the sea meant that the eastern mountains were largely unknown even by the local residents, Arsenio chose to urge the order to [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Exploring_Mareave|continue to explore]] for the next year. The [[Imperial Conclave]] agreed, and [[magical skills#magician|magicians]] of the Conclave continue to flock to the south-east.

The benefits to the Order itself are not insignificant; each season until the end of the Summer Solstice 387YE will receive 10 [[Materials#Metals|random ingots]], 7 crystal mana, and 7 doses of [[Cerulean Mazzarine]] into the [[Conclave vault]], to be distributed as the Grandmaster sees fit. This represents finds donated by individual members, and gifts from residents of Mareave (Imperial or otherwise) who are grateful for the aid of the Pyramid magicians.

This last season has seen Golden Pyramid magicians working with the [[Appraisal#The_Prognosticators_Office|Prognosticator's Office]] to support [[Appraisal#Eilian_Sweetwater|Elian Sweetwater]] in their [[appraisal]] of the [[orc|orcs]] in the southern [[territory#Regions|regions]] (as detailed in the '''[[Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune). Several members, especially Imperial Orcs magicians aligned with the order, have been helping or participating in the [[Tamazi]] sept exploration of the arid territory.
===Beoraidh===
* '''Golden Pyramid magicians are actively pursuing opportunities in Beoraidh'''
* '''So far negotiations have not achieved anything concrete but they remain optimistic'''
The Golden Pyramid has also been continuing to explore [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]], which surely represents a gold mine of opportunities for those members of the 'Pyramid more interested in trade than valuable resources. In the wake of the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Amend_Treaty_with_Beoraidh|treaty with the former Salt Lord]], there is certainly appetite for trade with the Empire, but there's caution on both side about formalizing it in case something goes wrong and sinks the treaty. One matter of note is that the former Salt Lord's offer to purchase [[dragonbone]] is still open (as detailed in last season's '''[[Set_my_lands_in_order#Trade_Goods|Set my lands in order]]''' wind of fortune).

''Xavier of the Spire of the Astral Torrent'' and several fellow [[Urizen]] [[architect|architects]] of the 'Pyramid continue to explore options. There is apparently a great deal of interest in rumours of the ''Greater Apulian Way'' proposed in [[Spiral]] - the traders and merchants of Beoraidh can see the advantage of a secure land route into the Empire or even just as far as [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]]. Several members of the Pyramid - a mixture of [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]], [[the League|League]], and [[Highguard|Highborn]] - are pursuing access to the docks of Beoraidh but the discussions are bogged down by frankly ridiculous [[tariffs]]. Given the amount the former Salt Lord is paying to the Empire in "rent" there's no way they can turn away Imperial traders with such unreasonable practices, but so far negotiations are at a deadlock.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=WingedMessenger.png|caption=''Mannun Amahuz'', the leader of the Circle of Black Sand in Beoraidh, leads a coven of [Autumn magic|Sand wizards]]. They are keen to hear from the Grandmaster of the Golden Pyramid or the Celestial Arch about trade in magical rituals and a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] can be sent to them at ''Execution Hill, Beoraidh, Mareave''.|align=right|width=300}}</div>

===Black Sand Circle===
* '''The Golden Pyramid has made contact with the wizards of the Black Sand Circle'''
* '''They wish to purchase the ''Gift of the Wily Broker'' ritual and offer an enchantment of their own in exchange'''
* '''The leaders of the coven is interested in hearing from Golden Pyramid magicians who might help them pursue their ambitions'''
One area of success in Beoraidh is that some of the Golden Pyramid have made cautious contact with their magical peers among the former Grendel. This includes some members of the group previously known as the [[Pebbles_drawn_from_a_heap#The_Circle_of_Black_Sand|Circle of Black Sand]]. Having split from those members who chose to join [[the League]] in Apulian, they now call themselves the ''Black Sand Circle'', under ''Manuun Amahuz''. They have taken over the old tower on Execution Hill (neither a hill, nor a home to executioners, the origin of the name is lost to the mists of time), and are still eager to benefit from contact with the Empire. Expert practitioners of [[Autumn magic|Sand wizardry]], they are particularly interested in discussing the [[#Serendipity|serendipitous enchantment]] woven over the whole territory, fascinated by the apparent ease with which Imperial magicians work such magic and intrigued by its effects and implications.
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; max-width:450px;"><box>
'''Inspiration and Challenge'''
* '''While Icarion has the under-developed quality all labour costs are increased by a fifth'''
* '''The inspiration of Thrace removes the basic labour cost if something is commissioned before the end of the Winter Solstice 386YE'''
* '''If the Legion Engineer commissions one of these projects the wain cost is reduced by a fifth'''
The infrastructure in the territory is highly variable, sometimes the equal of the Empire, but elsewhere the roads are barely adequate by Imperial standards. Materials are hard to import - the port of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] imposes steep tariffs, and the route through Spiral faces the oppression of the {{Black Plateau}}. These problems are reflected by the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|under-developed]] quality in [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]], so all commissions built in the territory have their labour costs increased by a fifth.

The [[consecration#True Liao|true liao consecration]] of the Legion's Rookery as an [[Inspirational_location#Memorials|inspirational location]] dedicated to [[Known_exemplars#Thrace|Thrace]] affects these [[commission|commissions]], if they are commissioned before the end of the Winter Solstice 386YE. The basic labour costs of anything built in Mareave before that time is paid entirely by Imperial Orc volunteers. This benefit is included in each of the descriptions, but this benefit does ''not'' cover the extra funds needed due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under-developed]] quality, or extra funds required to secure the aid of the Eoradal orcs.

If the [[Legion Engineer]] commissions one of these projects, the amount of wains needed is reduced by a fifth.</box></div>

Last time members of the Circle spoke to the Empire, they were [[Grendel]]. The [[Imperial Conclave]] made it clear that anyone who traded magic with them was at risk of being declared a [[Sorcery|sorcerer]]. Now the Imperial Senate has signed a treaty saying they're foreigners, so there should be no impediment to making an exchange. Right?

The Black Sand Circle is keen to acquire a [[ritual text]] of the ritual the Empire calls [[Gift of the Wily Broker]]. In the break-up with the Circle of Black Sand, ''Manuun'' and his faction have retained custody of the covens arcane library. If the Imperial Conclave will use a [[declaration]] of [[dissemination]] to provide the ritual text they seek, they will hand over a ritual text to the magician who raised the successful declaration. There are two ritual they are prepared to share, both examples of [[Autumn magic|Sand wizardry]]. The first is ''Sigil of the White Sands'', an [[enchantment]] that allows a [[fleet]] to secure lucrative deals when they [[Fleet#Trade|trade]] with foreign ports. The second ritual, the ''Eye of Ruby and Sapphire'' enchants a [[mine]] so that the workers can more easily locate valuable deposits of precious gems, causing it to produce a great deal of money and a small amount of additional [[tempest jade]] over the season. The declaration will need to specify which of the two rituals the magician wants in return, and the Circle does not care what happens to it after it is handed over. It might go into Imperial lore, into Urizen lore, or remain the unique property of whoever secures it (the latter being what ''Manuun'' assumes will happen to it).

The Golden Pyramid magicians who meet ''Manuun'' and his coven describe them as confident, slightly cynical mages not entirely dissimilar to their peers in the Conclave Order. They clearly support Ehsan's successes in securing neutrality for the city, although they feel little [[Grendel_religion#Fidelity|fidelity]] to the former Salt Lord personally. They're aware that they and the inhabitants of Beoraidh walk a knife-edge - either the Grendel or the Empire could likely snuff them out if the treaties Ehsan and his court have arranged fall apart. They also make no secret of the fact that what they would ''really'' like is access to powerful [[Autumn magic]] enchantments that support fortification or [[military unit|warbands]] but for now they are well aware they have little to offer of equivalent value. They're also open to [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messengers]] from members of the Golden Pyramid order interested in further exchange of knowledge or magical resources - ''Manuun'' is very interested in discovering how one might go about getting access to the [[Doyen of the Spires]] or one of the other Imperial [[college of magic|magical colleges]] and what it might cost to purchase the codification of an arcane projection. He is also very interested in any news of his cousin Rahuun Amahuz and the rest of the Circle who remained in Spiral: they want to know if they're getting on alright, and if they've heard anything at all from their Uncle Mó.

===The Lazuline Bowl===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Lazuline Bowl'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Nadir, Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 24 weirwood, 288 rings, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 72 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 288 rings are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the title of Lazuline Bonetender</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Lazuline Bonetender'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Imperial Orc</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receive 21 drams of cerulean mazzarine each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversee the Lazuline Bowl sinecure, support the physicks of Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' The Tender can purchase from the orcs living in the Lazuline Bowl</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Bounty of the Bowl'''</td><td style="background-color: LightYellow;"></td></tr>
<tr><td>7 crowns</td><td>10 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 6 drams of true vervain</td></tr>
<tr><td>17 crowns</td><td>21 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 12 drams of true vervain</td></tr>
<tr><td>30 crowns</td><td>32 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 18 drams of true vervain</td></tr></table></div>
* '''Mareave has an excellent climate for growing cerulean mazzarine'''
* '''The Lazuline Bowl is an area of Nadir that presents an opportunity to produce large amounts of the valuable herb

[[Mareave]] is an [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|arid]] [[territory]], where fresh water is at a premium. The expectation would be that such a place is hostile to [[herb garden|herb gardens]] but that turns out to be a misconception. While exploring the plains of northern Mareave - [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]] and [[Mareave#Nadir|Nadit]] particularly - the Golden Pyramid make peaceful contact with several groups of orcs that make a respectable living growing [[Cerulean Mazzarine]]. The conditions here are actually ideal for growing a magical herb that prospers in a warm, dry climate. While the herbal arts are not especially common among the magicians of the Golden Pyramids, they are well aware that there are markets for the delicate blue-blossoming herb in the Empire, especially in the chilly northern nations ([[Wintermark]], [[Varushka]], and of course [[Skarsind]]).

''Mazzar Tulk'' is a Golden Pyramid [[orc]] and a member of the [[Yerende]] sept and her family are in the process of moving to Mareave. In answering the grandmaster's call she has used the opportunity to explore the territory to find the perfect place to settle. In the process has been talking to some of the local orcs - those who don't have any particular reason to be [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Uncooperative|uncooperative]]. Following discussion she has become aware of the ''Lazuline Bowl'' - a depression in central Nadir, sheltered from the harsh winds and positioned over a deep aquifer, presenting ideal conditions to cultivate valuable cerulean mazzarine. There are already several families of Broken Shore orcs based around the Bowl, growing their own herbs. With the aid of her order, she has negotiated with the orcs to support the establishment of a garden on her own dedicated to producing the valuable herb, promising that the nearby families will share in her prosperity.

By building a garden in the Lazuline Bowl, the Imperial Orcs could establish the title of ''Lazline Bonetender''. ''Mazzar Tulk'' suggests that the title be charged with helping supply orc apothecaries and physicks, and expanding access to herbs in Mareave. They would receive a [[sinecure|bounty of cerulean mazzarine]], and be able to [[ministry|purchase even more]] from the Nadiri orcs whose cheerful self interest does not disincline them to deal with the Empire. That latter raises a minor fly in the ointment. As [[Here_to_stay#The_Problem_of_Peace|laid out by Elian Sweetwater]] in their [[appraisal]], at the moment the non-Imperial inhabitants of Mareave are considered barbarians for all that they may not be particularly acting like it. The ministry Mazzar Tulk proposes is illegal while that is the case, and indeed she warns that until that matter is sorted out it might be better not to build the sinecure as creating something so valuable in close proximity to people who the Empire is at war with feels unwise.

The Imperial Orcs assembly asked representatives of the Tamazi to explore opportunities in Mareave. ''Mazzar Tulk'' suggests that if [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Six_Septs|the assembly ask the Yerende]] to explore the possibilities offered by the ideal climate here there might be able to identify other ways to grow cerulean mazzarine - a [[great work]] for example, or more opportunities to work with the comparatively small number of local herbalists. Focusing on cerulean mazzarine, rather than general opportunities, would likely cause any resulting opportunities to be more focused and impactful.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tamazi.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>

==Stone Lasts==
* '''Members of the Tamazi sect have visited Mareave to seek opportunities to build'''
* '''Charged with protecting, they are looking at castles'''
The Tamazi have also looked for other opportunities to help contribute to the Imperial Orc development of Mareave. As well as their proposal regarding the [[#Here We Stay|fortified settlement]] they have identified two other locations that they think would make excellent forts - helping to protect the people of Mareave and ensure that the land is not an inviting target for the Grendel.
===Storm Lords Sentinel===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Storm Lords Sentinel'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Rucraic's Redoubt, Eoradal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 white granite, 30 weirwood, 48 crowns in labour, six months construction</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 240 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 48 crowns are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Serves as a rank one [[fortification]], but would also serve as a Skouran [[embassy]] once they agreed to one</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 8 throne</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''A fortification at Ruicraic's Redoubt could serve double purpose as an embassy to Skoura'''
The first is at ''Ruicraic's Aerie'', a minor fortification [[Sea-wood_fed_with_copper#Ripples_in_the_Water|captured]] more or less intact by the [[Seventh Wave]] thanks to [[Between_stone_and_salt#Objective:_Recover_a_map_to_Rucraic's_Aerie|intelligence]] recovered by Imperial heroes. The Tamazi propose adapting the [[Commonwealth]] idea to build something similar to a ''[[For_the_Common_Good#Fighting_Talk|diplomatenschloss]]'' for the [[Skoura|Skourans]]. By all accounts the Skourans do not currently want an [[embassy]], but that doesn't mean the Imperial Orcs shouldn't build them one! They know from their time in [[Axos]] that the Skourans are traders. The Tamazi believe it is a matter of time before the people of the mountains see the benefits of trading with the Empire, and the Imperial Orcs should be at the forefront of that trade. When that happens, the embassy will be already built, merely waiting on a delegation of Skourans to leave their mountains and establish offices there.

Given Rucraic's Redoubt is already a castle, the Tamazi are confident that converting it to a full fortification with the opportunity for trade would require less white granite than building something from scratch, and take only six months to complete. Once complete, the place could be "activated" as a Skouran embassy at any time, likely as part of a [[Ambassador#Treaty|treaty]] with that nation.
{{SOP|statement=One nation, woven from six strong strands. Each of these septs has its own expertise, that will help us to show the people of Mareave we are not their enemies. We send Skywise Gralka with 25 doses of liao to urge the Tamazi to seek ways we may make Mareave a home for our people by using their skill in stone masonry and magical defences to aid against the Grendel threat let the first sept we send be one to protect these new lands and people.|by=Skywise Tulva, Imperial Orcs Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 44-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
The Tamazi plan is to build the fortified embassy at the base of the mountains, and then have the Senator for Mareave (currently '''Gaddak''') send a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to Skora to politely ask if they would like to trade with their neighbours - not as representatives of the Empire but as the Imperial Orcs nation. The Tamazi are confident that the Skourans will consider the proposal, and, at the very least, agree to establish a trade ministry in Eoradal. From this start, the Empire would be better positioned to build stronger trade ties - and all thanks to the Imperial Orcs.

The ''other'' reason the Tamazi propose their version of a ''diplomatenschloss'' is the existance of the ruined aqueduct in Eoradal. Their examination of the structure indicates that if it were rebuilt, and with the cooperation of the Skourans who live in the mountains above Mareave, it might be the answer to at least some of the problems Mareave has getting access to fresh water - and the Tamazi are excited at the prospect of such a significant and impactful construction for obvious reasons.

===High Mountain Home===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''High Mountain Home'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Eastern Peaks, Fleisardh</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 150 white granite, 30 weirwood, 108 crowns in labour, a year to construct</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 540 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 108 crowns are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Serves as a rank two [[fortification]], removes the under threat quality, may cow the Brine Turtles</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Storm Wards'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Special</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Eastern Peaks, Fleisardh</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 20 mithril, 20 ilium</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Can only be included when the High Mountain Home is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Increase casualties to armies attacking the fortification in Fleisardh by half</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''A large fortification could be established in Fleisardh to remove the under threat quality there'''
The other target of the Tamazi is in Fleisdardh. They do not find much welcome among the Brine Turtles sept, and quickly decide to give them a wide berth. During their exploration of the hills and mountains here, however, some of them come up with an ambitious plan. The Brine Turtle claim the plains, and the coast, and mostly ignore the eastern fifth of the region. As a consequence the mountains are largely unexplored and unexploited save for a few die hard miners who seem broadly unaware that Mareave has changed hands and largely disinterested when they discover otherwise.

The initial plan is that the Imperial Orcs should "hollow out" a mountain, and build a massive citadel overlooking Fleisardh. After further discussion, they settle on something a little less impressive at least to start with. Dubbing it ''High Mountain Home'', the Tamazi plan to use divination magic to locate an aquifer and reshape the side of the mountain into a mighty [[fortification]]. Visible across the region it would be a clear sign to the Brine Turtles that the Imperial Orcs are not messing about - they are the new masters of Mareave.

Using their expertise, the fortification would take a year to build, but would provide significant protection to Mareave. The Tamazi also plan to include a number of features familiar from the citadels of Axos such as mushroom farms and grand storehouses that would allow a garrison to endure as much as five years of siege. More than that, once garrisoned, the Tamazi are confident there would be sufficient strength here to remove the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under_Threat|under threat]] quality from the region if it were still there. It would not by itself make the Brine Turtles any more accepting of the Empire, but it could still prove a powerful aid to diplomacy with them, an unmissable reminder of Imperial ambition and power.

Some of the Tamazi are members of the Golden Pyramid order, and along with their peers they report that there is a small amount of [[ilium]] in the mountains above Fleisardh. Not really enough, and not really concentrated sufficiently, to make a mine viable unfortunately. But one of the younger Tamazi has a better idea. Adapting some of the warding symbols the Tamazi traditionally use in their constructions, along with some elements she has uncovered about the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Objective:_Raise_the_Lyceum's_wards|Lyceym Storm Regio]], ''Deepdrummer Kattak'' proposes to capture and channel the storms that swirl around the high peaks of Mareave and further bolster the defences of the High Mountain Home.

Her plan would add 20 wains of mithri and 20 rings of ilium to the cost of the fortification, but not increase either labour costs or time to build. Woven into the fabric of the fortification, they would mean that any attacking army assaulting Fleisardh would need face poor weather and occasional devastating thunderbolts. The casualties suffered from attacking the fortification would be increased by a half. As their placement and implementation is integral to the design of the castle, the decision about whether to include Kattak's wards would need to be made when the structure was commissioned.
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Marcher.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Freeborn.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
==Farming and Water==
{{SOP|statement=The Marcher Assembly calls on all those adept at farming arid land. Take up your tools and head to Mareave for our Imperial Orc friends have need for your skills to remove the arid quality and make the land grow.|by=Sister Meredith, Marches Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 204-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
{{SOP|statement= The farmers of the Brass Coast are known far and wide as experts in farming arid lands. We have had a request from our friends in the Imperial Orcs, Mareave needs a lot of work, and as such they ask our aid in teaching them how to farm their new lands. We call upon the farmers of the coast to travel to Mareave and help cultivate a prosperous new territory.|by=Maria i Espiri i Guerra, Freeborn Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 166-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
* '''Both the Marches and Freeborn assembly encourage their people to help in Mareave'''
* '''Doing so would be costly to the two nations'''
During the Summer Solstice, two [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] were proposed, one in the [[the Marches|Marcher]] assembly, and one in the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] assembly. They both asked the people of their nation to look into the possibility of helping the Imperial Orcs address the problems presented by the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|arid conditions]] in Mareave - and the difficulty of establishing farms there. Both nations have something to offer; the Marchers are unparalleled experts at the agricultural arts, while the Freeborn have centuries of experience teasing crops and beautiful gardens alike from dry, waterless soil.

However, the people of both nations also know the value of their expertise. While there are some who might feel a kinship or debt to the Imperial Orcs - their armies have selflessly defended the Western empire time and again - others are more practical. The majority are prepared to make an assessment of the situation in the east, to see if they might be able to help, but they will ''not'' do so for free. The Freborn now that everything can have a price, and while the Marchers know that land matters above all else, Mareave is [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Far_Frontier|a very long way away]] and it is not ''their'' land. Both nations farmers also know that [[Prosperity]] means that while the virtuous are not selfish, they also expect to receive just recompense for their labours. Also, as some are quick to point out, there is a war on, with Mournwold invaded and both [[Feroz]] and [[Madruga]] very much in need of rebuilding. Perhaps the farmers of these two nations should be looking closer to home?

Bearing all that in mind, the Marcher National Assembly could pass the following mandate:

{{Mandate|mandate=Our mastery of farming is unsurpassed in the Empire, but we know our worth We send (named priest) with 50 doses of liao to urge the virtuous and prosperous farmers of the Marches to visit Mareave and see how the land there might be made green.|assembly=Marches National Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted it will persuade virtuous farmers to visit Mareave. This would mean that there were fewer pious farmers in the Marches during the coming season, and apply a 1 rank penalty to every [[congregation]] in [[Mitwold]] and [[Upwold]]. Farmers of Mournwold have more pressing matters on their mind, and those in [[Bregasland]] perhaps rightly believe they have nothing to offer when it comes to farming in the arid grasslands of Mareave. The Marchers who travelled to Mareave would present an opportunity to help build up agriculture there, but part of their opportunity would require they be repaid in some way for their efforts.

Likewise the Brass Coast Assembly could pass the following mandate.

{{Mandate|mandate=The Freeborn are experts in drawing forth prosperity from arid lands. We send (named priest) with 75 doses of liao to ask Freeborn farmers to go to Mareave, to aid our friends in the Imperial orcs to make their lands flower.|assembly=Freeborn National Assembly}}

If enacted, this mandate would encourage experts in dealing with the kind of conditions found in Mareave to travel to the far side of the Bay of Catazar to see what aid they could offer in dealing with the arid conditions in the northern parts of the territory. In particular, the [[Zemress islander|Zemress islanders]] would be encouraged to visit the Broken Shore for the first time since they were brought home to the Brass Coast. As with the Marchers, though, such aid would come at a price. Every [[congregation]] in the Brass Coast would experience a 1 rank penalty to production in the coming season, and the Freeborn farmers would expect suitable recompense before they would put any solution into action
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly League.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Urizen.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>

==Trade Routes==
{{SOP|statement= We applaud the assignment of Mareave to the Imperial Orcs and reach out in prosperity and friendship to our new neighbours. We encourage and promote the movement of people, material, goods, and fine things through Spiral, across the Apulian Way, and into Mareave by way of Prosperous trade. Raised by Fabio, Bishop of Apulian.|by=Fabio Costas de Sarvos, League Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 376-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
* '''The League could build a safe route through Spiral connecting Mareave to the rest of the Empire'''
One final statement of principle was raised at the Summer Solstice that received a greater majority. '''Fabio Costas de Sarvos, Bishop of Apulian''' called on the nation to promote the movement of people and materials through Spiral, and down the Apulian Way into Mareave. At first, there was little interest in the proposal - the League is after all busy [[Construct Grand Inspiration of the Way#Outcome|supporting]] the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]] in [[Bastion]] and has little time for other projects at the moment.

However... not ''everyone'' thinks that the Grand Inspiration of the Way is the most important thing they could be building. '''Bishop Fabio''' is known in some circles for [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_68|speaking out]] about the construction in Bastion, and urging "''citizens of the League not to assist in the aggrandisement of the White City, except when through fair trade their own Prosperity might grow.''" As a consequence, some people who couldn't give two figs for Bastion and the overarching plans of the Way are interested in the suggestion and decide to see what can be done about it. As it happens two of those interested in Fabio's words ends is an ambitious engineer named ''Lucia Calumo di Apulian'', originally from Holberg, and a former Grendel entrepreneur now named ''Sheeva di Apulian''. Perhaps due in some unidentifiable way to the magic sloshing around in Mareave at the moment, they end up in a long and detailed conversation with a pair of [[Urizen]] [[architect|architects]] (''Tressida Nightshadow'' and ''Croilus Nightshadow'') returning to their spire after [[Thresher's summer|spending time in the Marches]]. The four of them end up lamenting the fact that travel through the {{Black Plateau}} haunted territory is slow and painful. Together, over dark coffee, they put together a proposal.
===Extending the Apulian Way===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Greater Apulian Way'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:'''Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of white granite, 20 wains of mithril, 210 Crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Master of Rings commissions the road 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Urizen Assembly supports the road, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' This commission is built in Spiral rather than Mareave and so the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality does not change its costs. The [[Legion Engineer]] could not reduce its costs by commissioning it</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Raises the level of investment in Spiral by one providing 36 rings for each business, and removes the under-developed quality from Icarion</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Extending the Apulian way through the city and connecting it to the Court of the White Fountain would solve Mareave's under-developed problem'''
* '''It would also provide benefits to both League and Urizen businesses in Spiral'''
* '''If the Master of Rings commissions the road, 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens'''
* '''If the Urizen Assembly support the road, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires'''
The ''Calumo-Sheeva-Nightshadow Road'' - or the ''Greater Apulian Way'' as it is immediately christened - would involve repairing and fixing up the road that once connected the port of Apulian with Redoubt, via the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain|Court of the White Fountain]] and the now flattened Fort Mezudan. Repairing the road is simple if laborious, but the real aim of the proposal is to establish a series of mithril-infused rest stops along the route. Patterned after [[Navarr]] wayhouses, and built with traders and ox-caravans in mind, they would make it significantly less stressful to travel through Spiral to the city in the south. It's a simple matter to extend the road through the Apulian Way pass into Mareave, and build a nice big inn and some warehouses in [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]], a stones throw from the old lighthouse ruins there. The Nightshadow architects believe that once complete, it could inspire more interest in the roads of Spiral, and certainly the pattern of mithril-infused roadhouses would spread ensuring that people all over the territory would find it easier to get and sell goods, and travel despite the horror that squats in the centre of [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]].

The proposal is expensive, but it will immediately benefit both the inhabitants of Spiral - whether they are League or Urizen - and the people of Mareave. In Spiral, it would establish a [[great work]] that benefitted [[business|businesses]], while in Mareave it would remove the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|under-developed]] quality from Icarion and provide a reliable method to transport building materials, food, travellers, and workers through the miasmic oppression of Spiral.

The two Leaguers have put their heads together and have a plan they think would work. At the moment, Apulian can feel a little like the "smallest sibling" in [[the League]]. If the would very much like the [[Master of Rings]] to do it. Their [[Master_of_Rings#Responsibilities|responsibility]] after all is to make "as much money as possible" for the Merchant-Princes of the League. If the Master (currently '''Laughlan Vi Temeschwar''') commissions the Greater Apulian Way, then Lucio Calumo, Shiva, and their friends will stump up 6 wains of white granite to support the project.

Tressida and Croilus are of the opinion that it might be possible to build on it to further enhance the Prosperity of Spiral, or at the very least to find a way to counter the negative effects the {{Black Plateau}} still has on [[fleet|fleets]], [[military unit|military units]], and [[farm|farms]]. They also feel that work on the road could prosper a spirit of cooperation in Spiral, building on the [[The city below|recent mandate]] enacted by ''' Lepidina'''. If the Urizen national assembly passes a suitably worded [[statement of principle]] encouraging people to support the Greater Apulian Way, then Nightshadow spire will contribute 4 wains of mithril to the project in the hope of encouraging other Urizen still living in Spiral to consider doing the same.

Finally, all four believe that this could just be the start of grander projects in Mareave. A firm road connection to the rest of the Empire would be an ideal start to building up the roads the Grendel left behind - or establishing a lucrative trade route between Apulian and [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]].

==Participation==
* '''Any character is free to roleplay they have spent time in Mareave, and encouraged to create a story about a chance encounter'''
Any character who roleplays having spent time in Mareave this season is encouraged to make up a story about a coincidental meeting that helped them make a new friend, or find a new contact who shared their interests. This is especially appropriate for members of the [[Golden Pyramid]] [[conclave order]] or the [[Tamazi]] sept (or both), but anyone might be visiting the arid territory for any number of reasons.

==Further Reading==
* [[Mareave]]
* [[Here we stay]] - 386YE Autumn wind of fortune detailing the appraisal to encourage the southern orcs to be more cooperative
* [[Digging for fire]] - 386YE Summer wind of fortune detailing the Golden Pyramid contribution in Mareave
* [[Into the spin]] – 386YE Spring wind of fortune summarizing the situation in Mareave

We all stand

2024-09-08T01:07:27Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Black Sand Circle */ Spelling

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Not for the first time, Mazzar Tulk cursed herself for believing the old orc. They'd met in some nowhere town in the foothills quite by chance, and initially she had been very sceptical. Hallbran had pointed out, however, that this might not actually be a chance meeting but one driven by the forces of synchronicity wriggling and weaving through the whole of Mareave as Summer aged into Autumn. If that was the case then the enchantment obviously thought they had something in common. That last had prompted an enjoyable discussion about the motive force behind this kind of effect, and an argument about whether it was possible to use magic to detect if a meeting was due to an enchantment or not. It'd also lead her to seek the fellow out the next day and take him up on his offer.

Now, in return for a handful of crowns, her guide was apparently taking her to "an impressive herb garden better than anything in your Empire." Having lived her entire life in Ossium and Skarsind, Mazzar Tulk had had not been prepared for the heat, and the dust, and the sheer ''monotony'' of their trip. She drank another mouthful of water turned brackish by the warm weather, and splashed a little on her face.

"Not far now," said the old orc. Her guide didn't bother to conceal his amusement, and she resented how little the heat seemed to be effecting him. She couldn't see anything to indicate they were approaching a garden - the bleached grasses stretched in all directions as far as she could see, the only landmarks the mountains to the north and east, the dark horizon to the west. She wondered again about the faded old tattoos on his wrinkled weather beaten face. Snorri said they marked him as having once served with the Kraken's Jaws, and she wondered again if this was a trap, if he was leading her into an ambush. She tightened her grip on her staff.

Then, without warning, the land ahead fell away. She realised she was stood on the lip of a shallow depression, nearly a mile across, spotted with what she initially took to be large pools of water. She let out an unexpected noise of surprise, and then a moment later did it again as she realised it wasn't ''water'' she was looking at - which would have been a valuable fine by itself - but ''flowers''. Fields of beautiful blue flowers, with what looked a lot like peculiar butterflies fluttering in the still, thick air above them. Half a dozen orcs in broad-brimmed hats paused at their work, to glance up at the pair of them outlined against the sky above them, then went back to tending the delicate blooms.

The guide was pleased with her response, gestured for her to follow him, and started down the steep-sloped side of the bowl.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Slow Motion Walk.jpg|align=left|caption=The Imperial Orcs are slowly strengthening their control of [[Mareave]] with the aid of their fellow Imperial citizens.|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
While Elian Sweetwater has been busy performing their [[appraisal]] (as detailed in the '''[[Here we stay]]''' wind of fortune), he is far from the only person exploring [[Mareave]] in the last season. [[Magical skills#Magician|Magicians]] from the [[Golden Pyramid]] [[conclave order]] are enthusiastically seeking out [[opportunity|opportunities]] to build the [[Prosperity]] of the arid land, both for the [[Imperial Orcs]] and (hopefully) for themselves. [[Orc|Orcs]] from the [[Tamazi]] sept heed the words of their national assembly, looking for ways they can use their expertise in stonecraft or magic to help secure the newest Imperial territory. At the same time, there are discussions in [[the Brass Coast]] and [[the Marches]] about how to help make the dry plains bloom, and to the north a chance meeting between [[the League]], and [[Urizen]] gives rise to an [[Ambition|Ambitious]] plan to deal with the challenges represented by Mareave's comparative disconnection from the rest of the Empire.

==Serendipity==
* '''An Imperial enchantment has both helped uncover opportunities, and stored up trouble for the future'''
As mentioned in the '''[[Here_to_stay#Bonds_and_Bargains|Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune, this season Mareave is under the influence of [[Autumn magic]]. The enchantment is subtle, but noticable by any [[magical skills#magician|magician]] capable of casting the [[detect magic]] spell. Nudging coincidence and weaving serendipity, it brings people together with other people who share their attitudes and opinions, making it easier for them to make new friends.

Like all such magic, however, its influence is entirely indiscriminate and unpredictable. As well as helping Imperial citizens to make contact with local inhabitants, it also hinders efforts to strengthen the Imperial hold over Mareave. People hostile or resistant to the Imperial Orcs presence find it as easy to meet each other as - say - [[#Black Sand Circle|Autumn magicians in the inns of Beoraidh]].
==Auric and Blue==
* '''The magicians of the Golden Pyramid continue working in Mareave'''
* '''The order gains 10 random ingots, 7 crystal mana, and 7 doses of cerulean mazzarine each season for the duration'''
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderGoldenPyramid.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
At the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Direct_Golden_Pyramid|urging]] of [[Grandmaster]] '''Arsenio Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato''', the [[Golden Pyramid]] descended on Mareave after the Spring Equinox, eager to explore and find opportunities to bolster the prosperity of the territory (and perhaps the [[Conclave order]] as well). Last season they uncovered [[Digging for fire|several opportunities]]; a [[Digging_for_fire#The_Bronze_Bowls_of_the_Three_Seasons|unique]] source of [[vis]]; a [[Digging_for_fire#Precious_Mines|roster of mines]] ripe for exploitation; an excellent location for a [[Digging_for_fire#A_Place_to_Lodge|grand lodge]] to grant numerous benefits to the order itself. With much of the new territory unexplored by Imperials, and indications that the [[Grendel]] focus on the sea meant that the eastern mountains were largely unknown even by the local residents, Arsenio chose to urge the order to [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Exploring_Mareave|continue to explore]] for the next year. The [[Imperial Conclave]] agreed, and [[magical skills#magician|magicians]] of the Conclave continue to flock to the south-east.

The benefits to the Order itself are not insignificant; each season until the end of the Summer Solstice 387YE will receive 10 [[Materials#Metals|random ingots]], 7 crystal mana, and 7 doses of [[Cerulean Mazzarine]] into the [[Conclave vault]], to be distributed as the Grandmaster sees fit. This represents finds donated by individual members, and gifts from residents of Mareave (Imperial or otherwise) who are grateful for the aid of the Pyramid magicians.

This last season has seen Golden Pyramid magicians working with the [[Appraisal#The_Prognosticators_Office|Prognosticator's Office]] to support [[Appraisal#Eilian_Sweetwater|Elian Sweetwater]] in their [[appraisal]] of the [[orc|orcs]] in the southern [[territory#Regions|regions]] (as detailed in the '''[[Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune). Several members, especially Imperial Orcs magicians aligned with the order, have been helping or participating in the [[Tamazi]] sept exploration of the arid territory.
===Beoraidh===
* '''Golden Pyramid magicians are actively pursuing opportunities in Beoraidh'''
* '''So far negotiations have not achieved anything concrete but they remain optimistic'''
The Golden Pyramid has also been continuing to explore [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]], which surely represents a gold mine of opportunities for those members of the 'Pyramid more interested in trade than valuable resources. In the wake of the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Amend_Treaty_with_Beoraidh|treaty with the former Salt Lord]], there is certainly appetite for trade with the Empire, but there's caution on both side about formalizing it in case something goes wrong and sinks the treaty. One matter of note is that the former Salt Lord's offer to purchase [[dragonbone]] is still open (as detailed in last season's '''[[Set_my_lands_in_order#Trade_Goods|Set my lands in order]]''' wind of fortune).

''Xavier of the Spire of the Astral Torrent'' and several fellow [[Urizen]] [[architect|architects]] of the 'Pyramid continue to explore options. There is apparently a great deal of interest in rumours of the ''Greater Apulian Way'' proposed in [[Spiral]] - the traders and merchants of Beoraidh can see the advantage of a secure land route into the Empire or even just as far as [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]]. Several members of the Pyramid - a mixture of [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]], [[the League|League]], and [[Highguard|Highborn]] - are pursuing access to the docks of Beoraidh but the discussions are bogged down by frankly ridiculous [[tariffs]]. Given the amount the former Salt Lord is paying to the Empire in "rent" there's no way they can turn away Imperial traders with such unreasonable practices, but so far negotiations are at a deadlock.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=WingedMessenger.png|caption=''Mannun Amahuz'', the leader of the Circle of Black Sand in Beoraidh, leads a coven of [Autumn magic|Sand wiards]]. They are keen to hear from the Grandmaster of the Golden Pyramid or the Celestial Arch about trade in magical rituals and a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] can be sent to them at ''Execution Hill, Beoraidh, Mareave''.|align=right|width=300}}</div>

===Black Sand Circle===
* '''The Golden Pyramid has made contact with the wizards of the Black Sand Circle'''
* '''They wish to purchase the ''Gift of the Wily Broker'' ritual and offer an enchantment of their own in exchange'''
* '''The leaders of the coven is interested in hearing from Golden Pyramid magicians who might help them pursue their ambitions'''
One area of success in Beoraidh is that some of the Golden Pyramid have made cautious contact with their magical peers among the former Grendel. This includes some members of the group previously known as the [[Pebbles_drawn_from_a_heap#The_Circle_of_Black_Sand|Circle of Black Sand]]. Having split from those members who chose to join [[the League]] in Apulian, they now call themselves the ''Black Sand Circle'', under ''Manuun Amahuz''. They have taken over the old tower on Execution Hill (neither a hill, nor a home to executioners, the origin of the name is lost to the mists of time), and are still eager to benefit from contact with the Empire. Expert practitioners of [[Autumn magic|Sand wizardry]], they are particularly interested in discussing the [[#Serendipity|serendipitous enchantment]] woven over the whole territory, fascinated by the apparent ease with which Imperial magicians work such magic and intrigued by its effects and implications.
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; max-width:450px;"><box>
'''Inspiration and Challenge'''
* '''While Icarion has the under-developed quality all labour costs are increased by a fifth'''
* '''The inspiration of Thrace removes the basic labour cost if something is commissioned before the end of the Winter Solstice 386YE'''
* '''If the Legion Engineer commissions one of these projects the wain cost is reduced by a fifth'''
The infrastructure in the territory is highly variable, sometimes the equal of the Empire, but elsewhere the roads are barely adequate by Imperial standards. Materials are hard to import - the port of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] imposes steep tariffs, and the route through Spiral faces the oppression of the {{Black Plateau}}. These problems are reflected by the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|under-developed]] quality in [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]], so all commissions built in the territory have their labour costs increased by a fifth.

The [[consecration#True Liao|true liao consecration]] of the Legion's Rookery as an [[Inspirational_location#Memorials|inspirational location]] dedicated to [[Known_exemplars#Thrace|Thrace]] affects these [[commission|commissions]], if they are commissioned before the end of the Winter Solstice 386YE. The basic labour costs of anything built in Mareave before that time is paid entirely by Imperial Orc volunteers. This benefit is included in each of the descriptions, but this benefit does ''not'' cover the extra funds needed due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under-developed]] quality, or extra funds required to secure the aid of the Eoradal orcs.

If the [[Legion Engineer]] commissions one of these projects, the amount of wains needed is reduced by a fifth.</box></div>

Last time members of the Circle spoke to the Empire, they were [[Grendel]]. The [[Imperial Conclave]] made it clear that anyone who traded magic with them was at risk of being declared a [[Sorcery|sorcerer]]. Now the Imperial Senate has signed a treaty saying they're foreigners, so there should be no impediment to making an exchange. Right?

The Black Sand Circle is keen to acquire a [[ritual text]] of the ritual the Empire calls [[Gift of the Wily Broker]]. In the break-up with the Circle of Black Sand, ''Manuun'' and his faction have retained custody of the covens arcane library. If the Imperial Conclave will use a [[declaration]] of [[dissemination]] to provide the ritual text they seek, they will hand over a ritual text to the magician who raised the successful declaration. There are two ritual they are prepared to share, both examples of [[Autumn magic|Sand wizardry]]. The first is ''Sigil of the White Sands'', an [[enchantment]] that allows a [[fleet]] to secure lucrative deals when they [[Fleet#Trade|trade]] with foreign ports. The second ritual, the ''Eye of Ruby and Sapphire'' enchants a [[mine]] so that the workers can more easily locate valuable deposits of precious gems, causing it to produce a great deal of money and a small amount of additional [[tempest jade]] over the season. The declaration will need to specify which of the two rituals the magician wants in return, and the Circle does not care what happens to it after it is handed over. It might go into Imperial lore, into Urizen lore, or remain the unique property of whoever secures it (the latter being what ''Manuun'' assumes will happen to it).

The Golden Pyramid magicians who meet ''Manuun'' and his coven describe them as confident, slightly cynical mages not entirely dissimilar to their peers in the Conclave Order. They clearly support Ehsan's successes in securing neutrality for the city, although they feel little [[Grendel_religion#Fidelity|fidelity]] to the former Salt Lord personally. They're aware that they and the inhabitants of Beoraidh walk a knife-edge - either the Grendel or the Empire could likely snuff them out if the treaties Ehsan and his court have arranged fall apart. They also make no secret of the fact that what they would ''really'' like is access to powerful [[Autumn magic]] enchantments that support fortification or [[military unit|warbands]] but for now they are well aware they have little to offer of equivalent value. They're also open to [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messengers]] from members of the Golden Pyramid order interested in further exchange of knowledge or magical resources - ''Manuun'' is very interested in discovering how one might go about getting access to the [[Doyen of the Spires]] or one of the other Imperial [[college of magic|magical colleges]] and what it might cost to purchase the codification of an arcane projection. He is also very interested in any news of his cousin Rahuun Amahuz and the rest of the Circle who remained in Spiral: they want to know if they're getting on alright, and if they've heard anything at all from their Uncle Mó.

===The Lazuline Bowl===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Lazuline Bowl'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Nadir, Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 24 weirwood, 288 rings, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 72 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 288 rings are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the title of Lazuline Bonetender</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Lazuline Bonetender'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Imperial Orc</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receive 21 drams of cerulean mazzarine each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversee the Lazuline Bowl sinecure, support the physicks of Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' The Tender can purchase from the orcs living in the Lazuline Bowl</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Bounty of the Bowl'''</td><td style="background-color: LightYellow;"></td></tr>
<tr><td>7 crowns</td><td>10 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 6 drams of true vervain</td></tr>
<tr><td>17 crowns</td><td>21 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 12 drams of true vervain</td></tr>
<tr><td>30 crowns</td><td>32 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 18 drams of true vervain</td></tr></table></div>
* '''Mareave has an excellent climate for growing cerulean mazzarine'''
* '''The Lazuline Bowl is an area of Nadir that presents an opportunity to produce large amounts of the valuable herb

[[Mareave]] is an [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|arid]] [[territory]], where fresh water is at a premium. The expectation would be that such a place is hostile to [[herb garden|herb gardens]] but that turns out to be a misconception. While exploring the plains of northern Mareave - [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]] and [[Mareave#Nadir|Nadit]] particularly - the Golden Pyramid make peaceful contact with several groups of orcs that make a respectable living growing [[Cerulean Mazzarine]]. The conditions here are actually ideal for growing a magical herb that prospers in a warm, dry climate. While the herbal arts are not especially common among the magicians of the Golden Pyramids, they are well aware that there are markets for the delicate blue-blossoming herb in the Empire, especially in the chilly northern nations ([[Wintermark]], [[Varushka]], and of course [[Skarsind]]).

''Mazzar Tulk'' is a Golden Pyramid [[orc]] and a member of the [[Yerende]] sept and her family are in the process of moving to Mareave. In answering the grandmaster's call she has used the opportunity to explore the territory to find the perfect place to settle. In the process has been talking to some of the local orcs - those who don't have any particular reason to be [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Uncooperative|uncooperative]]. Following discussion she has become aware of the ''Lazuline Bowl'' - a depression in central Nadir, sheltered from the harsh winds and positioned over a deep aquifer, presenting ideal conditions to cultivate valuable cerulean mazzarine. There are already several families of Broken Shore orcs based around the Bowl, growing their own herbs. With the aid of her order, she has negotiated with the orcs to support the establishment of a garden on her own dedicated to producing the valuable herb, promising that the nearby families will share in her prosperity.

By building a garden in the Lazuline Bowl, the Imperial Orcs could establish the title of ''Lazline Bonetender''. ''Mazzar Tulk'' suggests that the title be charged with helping supply orc apothecaries and physicks, and expanding access to herbs in Mareave. They would receive a [[sinecure|bounty of cerulean mazzarine]], and be able to [[ministry|purchase even more]] from the Nadiri orcs whose cheerful self interest does not disincline them to deal with the Empire. That latter raises a minor fly in the ointment. As [[Here_to_stay#The_Problem_of_Peace|laid out by Elian Sweetwater]] in their [[appraisal]], at the moment the non-Imperial inhabitants of Mareave are considered barbarians for all that they may not be particularly acting like it. The ministry Mazzar Tulk proposes is illegal while that is the case, and indeed she warns that until that matter is sorted out it might be better not to build the sinecure as creating something so valuable in close proximity to people who the Empire is at war with feels unwise.

The Imperial Orcs assembly asked representatives of the Tamazi to explore opportunities in Mareave. ''Mazzar Tulk'' suggests that if [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Six_Septs|the assembly ask the Yerende]] to explore the possibilities offered by the ideal climate here there might be able to identify other ways to grow cerulean mazzarine - a [[great work]] for example, or more opportunities to work with the comparatively small number of local herbalists. Focusing on cerulean mazzarine, rather than general opportunities, would likely cause any resulting opportunities to be more focused and impactful.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tamazi.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>

==Stone Lasts==
* '''Members of the Tamazi sect have visited Mareave to seek opportunities to build'''
* '''Charged with protecting, they are looking at castles'''
The Tamazi have also looked for other opportunities to help contribute to the Imperial Orc development of Mareave. As well as their proposal regarding the [[#Here We Stay|fortified settlement]] they have identified two other locations that they think would make excellent forts - helping to protect the people of Mareave and ensure that the land is not an inviting target for the Grendel.
===Storm Lords Sentinel===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Storm Lords Sentinel'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Rucraic's Redoubt, Eoradal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 white granite, 30 weirwood, 48 crowns in labour, six months construction</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 240 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 48 crowns are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Serves as a rank one [[fortification]], but would also serve as a Skouran [[embassy]] once they agreed to one</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 8 throne</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''A fortification at Ruicraic's Redoubt could serve double purpose as an embassy to Skoura'''
The first is at ''Ruicraic's Aerie'', a minor fortification [[Sea-wood_fed_with_copper#Ripples_in_the_Water|captured]] more or less intact by the [[Seventh Wave]] thanks to [[Between_stone_and_salt#Objective:_Recover_a_map_to_Rucraic's_Aerie|intelligence]] recovered by Imperial heroes. The Tamazi propose adapting the [[Commonwealth]] idea to build something similar to a ''[[For_the_Common_Good#Fighting_Talk|diplomatenschloss]]'' for the [[Skoura|Skourans]]. By all accounts the Skourans do not currently want an [[embassy]], but that doesn't mean the Imperial Orcs shouldn't build them one! They know from their time in [[Axos]] that the Skourans are traders. The Tamazi believe it is a matter of time before the people of the mountains see the benefits of trading with the Empire, and the Imperial Orcs should be at the forefront of that trade. When that happens, the embassy will be already built, merely waiting on a delegation of Skourans to leave their mountains and establish offices there.

Given Rucraic's Redoubt is already a castle, the Tamazi are confident that converting it to a full fortification with the opportunity for trade would require less white granite than building something from scratch, and take only six months to complete. Once complete, the place could be "activated" as a Skouran embassy at any time, likely as part of a [[Ambassador#Treaty|treaty]] with that nation.
{{SOP|statement=One nation, woven from six strong strands. Each of these septs has its own expertise, that will help us to show the people of Mareave we are not their enemies. We send Skywise Gralka with 25 doses of liao to urge the Tamazi to seek ways we may make Mareave a home for our people by using their skill in stone masonry and magical defences to aid against the Grendel threat let the first sept we send be one to protect these new lands and people.|by=Skywise Tulva, Imperial Orcs Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 44-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
The Tamazi plan is to build the fortified embassy at the base of the mountains, and then have the Senator for Mareave (currently '''Gaddak''') send a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to Skora to politely ask if they would like to trade with their neighbours - not as representatives of the Empire but as the Imperial Orcs nation. The Tamazi are confident that the Skourans will consider the proposal, and, at the very least, agree to establish a trade ministry in Eoradal. From this start, the Empire would be better positioned to build stronger trade ties - and all thanks to the Imperial Orcs.

The ''other'' reason the Tamazi propose their version of a ''diplomatenschloss'' is the existance of the ruined aqueduct in Eoradal. Their examination of the structure indicates that if it were rebuilt, and with the cooperation of the Skourans who live in the mountains above Mareave, it might be the answer to at least some of the problems Mareave has getting access to fresh water - and the Tamazi are excited at the prospect of such a significant and impactful construction for obvious reasons.

===High Mountain Home===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''High Mountain Home'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Eastern Peaks, Fleisardh</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 150 white granite, 30 weirwood, 108 crowns in labour, a year to construct</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 540 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 108 crowns are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Serves as a rank two [[fortification]], removes the under threat quality, may cow the Brine Turtles</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Storm Wards'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Special</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Eastern Peaks, Fleisardh</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 20 mithril, 20 ilium</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Can only be included when the High Mountain Home is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Increase casualties to armies attacking the fortification in Fleisardh by half</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''A large fortification could be established in Fleisardh to remove the under threat quality there'''
The other target of the Tamazi is in Fleisdardh. They do not find much welcome among the Brine Turtles sept, and quickly decide to give them a wide berth. During their exploration of the hills and mountains here, however, some of them come up with an ambitious plan. The Brine Turtle claim the plains, and the coast, and mostly ignore the eastern fifth of the region. As a consequence the mountains are largely unexplored and unexploited save for a few die hard miners who seem broadly unaware that Mareave has changed hands and largely disinterested when they discover otherwise.

The initial plan is that the Imperial Orcs should "hollow out" a mountain, and build a massive citadel overlooking Fleisardh. After further discussion, they settle on something a little less impressive at least to start with. Dubbing it ''High Mountain Home'', the Tamazi plan to use divination magic to locate an aquifer and reshape the side of the mountain into a mighty [[fortification]]. Visible across the region it would be a clear sign to the Brine Turtles that the Imperial Orcs are not messing about - they are the new masters of Mareave.

Using their expertise, the fortification would take a year to build, but would provide significant protection to Mareave. The Tamazi also plan to include a number of features familiar from the citadels of Axos such as mushroom farms and grand storehouses that would allow a garrison to endure as much as five years of siege. More than that, once garrisoned, the Tamazi are confident there would be sufficient strength here to remove the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under_Threat|under threat]] quality from the region if it were still there. It would not by itself make the Brine Turtles any more accepting of the Empire, but it could still prove a powerful aid to diplomacy with them, an unmissable reminder of Imperial ambition and power.

Some of the Tamazi are members of the Golden Pyramid order, and along with their peers they report that there is a small amount of [[ilium]] in the mountains above Fleisardh. Not really enough, and not really concentrated sufficiently, to make a mine viable unfortunately. But one of the younger Tamazi has a better idea. Adapting some of the warding symbols the Tamazi traditionally use in their constructions, along with some elements she has uncovered about the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Objective:_Raise_the_Lyceum's_wards|Lyceym Storm Regio]], ''Deepdrummer Kattak'' proposes to capture and channel the storms that swirl around the high peaks of Mareave and further bolster the defences of the High Mountain Home.

Her plan would add 20 wains of mithri and 20 rings of ilium to the cost of the fortification, but not increase either labour costs or time to build. Woven into the fabric of the fortification, they would mean that any attacking army assaulting Fleisardh would need face poor weather and occasional devastating thunderbolts. The casualties suffered from attacking the fortification would be increased by a half. As their placement and implementation is integral to the design of the castle, the decision about whether to include Kattak's wards would need to be made when the structure was commissioned.
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Marcher.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Freeborn.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
==Farming and Water==
{{SOP|statement=The Marcher Assembly calls on all those adept at farming arid land. Take up your tools and head to Mareave for our Imperial Orc friends have need for your skills to remove the arid quality and make the land grow.|by=Sister Meredith, Marches Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 204-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
{{SOP|statement= The farmers of the Brass Coast are known far and wide as experts in farming arid lands. We have had a request from our friends in the Imperial Orcs, Mareave needs a lot of work, and as such they ask our aid in teaching them how to farm their new lands. We call upon the farmers of the coast to travel to Mareave and help cultivate a prosperous new territory.|by=Maria i Espiri i Guerra, Freeborn Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 166-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
* '''Both the Marches and Freeborn assembly encourage their people to help in Mareave'''
* '''Doing so would be costly to the two nations'''
During the Summer Solstice, two [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] were proposed, one in the [[the Marches|Marcher]] assembly, and one in the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] assembly. They both asked the people of their nation to look into the possibility of helping the Imperial Orcs address the problems presented by the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|arid conditions]] in Mareave - and the difficulty of establishing farms there. Both nations have something to offer; the Marchers are unparalleled experts at the agricultural arts, while the Freeborn have centuries of experience teasing crops and beautiful gardens alike from dry, waterless soil.

However, the people of both nations also know the value of their expertise. While there are some who might feel a kinship or debt to the Imperial Orcs - their armies have selflessly defended the Western empire time and again - others are more practical. The majority are prepared to make an assessment of the situation in the east, to see if they might be able to help, but they will ''not'' do so for free. The Freborn now that everything can have a price, and while the Marchers know that land matters above all else, Mareave is [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Far_Frontier|a very long way away]] and it is not ''their'' land. Both nations farmers also know that [[Prosperity]] means that while the virtuous are not selfish, they also expect to receive just recompense for their labours. Also, as some are quick to point out, there is a war on, with Mournwold invaded and both [[Feroz]] and [[Madruga]] very much in need of rebuilding. Perhaps the farmers of these two nations should be looking closer to home?

Bearing all that in mind, the Marcher National Assembly could pass the following mandate:

{{Mandate|mandate=Our mastery of farming is unsurpassed in the Empire, but we know our worth We send (named priest) with 50 doses of liao to urge the virtuous and prosperous farmers of the Marches to visit Mareave and see how the land there might be made green.|assembly=Marches National Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted it will persuade virtuous farmers to visit Mareave. This would mean that there were fewer pious farmers in the Marches during the coming season, and apply a 1 rank penalty to every [[congregation]] in [[Mitwold]] and [[Upwold]]. Farmers of Mournwold have more pressing matters on their mind, and those in [[Bregasland]] perhaps rightly believe they have nothing to offer when it comes to farming in the arid grasslands of Mareave. The Marchers who travelled to Mareave would present an opportunity to help build up agriculture there, but part of their opportunity would require they be repaid in some way for their efforts.

Likewise the Brass Coast Assembly could pass the following mandate.

{{Mandate|mandate=The Freeborn are experts in drawing forth prosperity from arid lands. We send (named priest) with 75 doses of liao to ask Freeborn farmers to go to Mareave, to aid our friends in the Imperial orcs to make their lands flower.|assembly=Freeborn National Assembly}}

If enacted, this mandate would encourage experts in dealing with the kind of conditions found in Mareave to travel to the far side of the Bay of Catazar to see what aid they could offer in dealing with the arid conditions in the northern parts of the territory. In particular, the [[Zemress islander|Zemress islanders]] would be encouraged to visit the Broken Shore for the first time since they were brought home to the Brass Coast. As with the Marchers, though, such aid would come at a price. Every [[congregation]] in the Brass Coast would experience a 1 rank penalty to production in the coming season, and the Freeborn farmers would expect suitable recompense before they would put any solution into action
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly League.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Urizen.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>

==Trade Routes==
{{SOP|statement= We applaud the assignment of Mareave to the Imperial Orcs and reach out in prosperity and friendship to our new neighbours. We encourage and promote the movement of people, material, goods, and fine things through Spiral, across the Apulian Way, and into Mareave by way of Prosperous trade. Raised by Fabio, Bishop of Apulian.|by=Fabio Costas de Sarvos, League Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 376-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
* '''The League could build a safe route through Spiral connecting Mareave to the rest of the Empire'''
One final statement of principle was raised at the Summer Solstice that received a greater majority. '''Fabio Costas de Sarvos, Bishop of Apulian''' called on the nation to promote the movement of people and materials through Spiral, and down the Apulian Way into Mareave. At first, there was little interest in the proposal - the League is after all busy [[Construct Grand Inspiration of the Way#Outcome|supporting]] the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]] in [[Bastion]] and has little time for other projects at the moment.

However... not ''everyone'' thinks that the Grand Inspiration of the Way is the most important thing they could be building. '''Bishop Fabio''' is known in some circles for [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_68|speaking out]] about the construction in Bastion, and urging "''citizens of the League not to assist in the aggrandisement of the White City, except when through fair trade their own Prosperity might grow.''" As a consequence, some people who couldn't give two figs for Bastion and the overarching plans of the Way are interested in the suggestion and decide to see what can be done about it. As it happens two of those interested in Fabio's words ends is an ambitious engineer named ''Lucia Calumo di Apulian'', originally from Holberg, and a former Grendel entrepreneur now named ''Sheeva di Apulian''. Perhaps due in some unidentifiable way to the magic sloshing around in Mareave at the moment, they end up in a long and detailed conversation with a pair of [[Urizen]] [[architect|architects]] (''Tressida Nightshadow'' and ''Croilus Nightshadow'') returning to their spire after [[Thresher's summer|spending time in the Marches]]. The four of them end up lamenting the fact that travel through the {{Black Plateau}} haunted territory is slow and painful. Together, over dark coffee, they put together a proposal.
===Extending the Apulian Way===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Greater Apulian Way'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:'''Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of white granite, 20 wains of mithril, 210 Crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Master of Rings commissions the road 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Urizen Assembly supports the road, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' This commission is built in Spiral rather than Mareave and so the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality does not change its costs. The [[Legion Engineer]] could not reduce its costs by commissioning it</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Raises the level of investment in Spiral by one providing 36 rings for each business, and removes the under-developed quality from Icarion</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Extending the Apulian way through the city and connecting it to the Court of the White Fountain would solve Mareave's under-developed problem'''
* '''It would also provide benefits to both League and Urizen businesses in Spiral'''
* '''If the Master of Rings commissions the road, 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens'''
* '''If the Urizen Assembly support the road, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires'''
The ''Calumo-Sheeva-Nightshadow Road'' - or the ''Greater Apulian Way'' as it is immediately christened - would involve repairing and fixing up the road that once connected the port of Apulian with Redoubt, via the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain|Court of the White Fountain]] and the now flattened Fort Mezudan. Repairing the road is simple if laborious, but the real aim of the proposal is to establish a series of mithril-infused rest stops along the route. Patterned after [[Navarr]] wayhouses, and built with traders and ox-caravans in mind, they would make it significantly less stressful to travel through Spiral to the city in the south. It's a simple matter to extend the road through the Apulian Way pass into Mareave, and build a nice big inn and some warehouses in [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]], a stones throw from the old lighthouse ruins there. The Nightshadow architects believe that once complete, it could inspire more interest in the roads of Spiral, and certainly the pattern of mithril-infused roadhouses would spread ensuring that people all over the territory would find it easier to get and sell goods, and travel despite the horror that squats in the centre of [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]].

The proposal is expensive, but it will immediately benefit both the inhabitants of Spiral - whether they are League or Urizen - and the people of Mareave. In Spiral, it would establish a [[great work]] that benefitted [[business|businesses]], while in Mareave it would remove the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|under-developed]] quality from Icarion and provide a reliable method to transport building materials, food, travellers, and workers through the miasmic oppression of Spiral.

The two Leaguers have put their heads together and have a plan they think would work. At the moment, Apulian can feel a little like the "smallest sibling" in [[the League]]. If the would very much like the [[Master of Rings]] to do it. Their [[Master_of_Rings#Responsibilities|responsibility]] after all is to make "as much money as possible" for the Merchant-Princes of the League. If the Master (currently '''Laughlan Vi Temeschwar''') commissions the Greater Apulian Way, then Lucio Calumo, Shiva, and their friends will stump up 6 wains of white granite to support the project.

Tressida and Croilus are of the opinion that it might be possible to build on it to further enhance the Prosperity of Spiral, or at the very least to find a way to counter the negative effects the {{Black Plateau}} still has on [[fleet|fleets]], [[military unit|military units]], and [[farm|farms]]. They also feel that work on the road could prosper a spirit of cooperation in Spiral, building on the [[The city below|recent mandate]] enacted by ''' Lepidina'''. If the Urizen national assembly passes a suitably worded [[statement of principle]] encouraging people to support the Greater Apulian Way, then Nightshadow spire will contribute 4 wains of mithril to the project in the hope of encouraging other Urizen still living in Spiral to consider doing the same.

Finally, all four believe that this could just be the start of grander projects in Mareave. A firm road connection to the rest of the Empire would be an ideal start to building up the roads the Grendel left behind - or establishing a lucrative trade route between Apulian and [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]].

==Participation==
* '''Any character is free to roleplay they have spent time in Mareave, and encouraged to create a story about a chance encounter'''
Any character who roleplays having spent time in Mareave this season is encouraged to make up a story about a coincidental meeting that helped them make a new friend, or find a new contact who shared their interests. This is especially appropriate for members of the [[Golden Pyramid]] [[conclave order]] or the [[Tamazi]] sept (or both), but anyone might be visiting the arid territory for any number of reasons.

==Further Reading==
* [[Mareave]]
* [[Here we stay]] - 386YE Autumn wind of fortune detailing the appraisal to encourage the southern orcs to be more cooperative
* [[Digging for fire]] - 386YE Summer wind of fortune detailing the Golden Pyramid contribution in Mareave
* [[Into the spin]] – 386YE Spring wind of fortune summarizing the situation in Mareave

We all stand

2024-09-08T01:06:22Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Overview */ Punctuation

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Not for the first time, Mazzar Tulk cursed herself for believing the old orc. They'd met in some nowhere town in the foothills quite by chance, and initially she had been very sceptical. Hallbran had pointed out, however, that this might not actually be a chance meeting but one driven by the forces of synchronicity wriggling and weaving through the whole of Mareave as Summer aged into Autumn. If that was the case then the enchantment obviously thought they had something in common. That last had prompted an enjoyable discussion about the motive force behind this kind of effect, and an argument about whether it was possible to use magic to detect if a meeting was due to an enchantment or not. It'd also lead her to seek the fellow out the next day and take him up on his offer.

Now, in return for a handful of crowns, her guide was apparently taking her to "an impressive herb garden better than anything in your Empire." Having lived her entire life in Ossium and Skarsind, Mazzar Tulk had had not been prepared for the heat, and the dust, and the sheer ''monotony'' of their trip. She drank another mouthful of water turned brackish by the warm weather, and splashed a little on her face.

"Not far now," said the old orc. Her guide didn't bother to conceal his amusement, and she resented how little the heat seemed to be effecting him. She couldn't see anything to indicate they were approaching a garden - the bleached grasses stretched in all directions as far as she could see, the only landmarks the mountains to the north and east, the dark horizon to the west. She wondered again about the faded old tattoos on his wrinkled weather beaten face. Snorri said they marked him as having once served with the Kraken's Jaws, and she wondered again if this was a trap, if he was leading her into an ambush. She tightened her grip on her staff.

Then, without warning, the land ahead fell away. She realised she was stood on the lip of a shallow depression, nearly a mile across, spotted with what she initially took to be large pools of water. She let out an unexpected noise of surprise, and then a moment later did it again as she realised it wasn't ''water'' she was looking at - which would have been a valuable fine by itself - but ''flowers''. Fields of beautiful blue flowers, with what looked a lot like peculiar butterflies fluttering in the still, thick air above them. Half a dozen orcs in broad-brimmed hats paused at their work, to glance up at the pair of them outlined against the sky above them, then went back to tending the delicate blooms.

The guide was pleased with her response, gestured for her to follow him, and started down the steep-sloped side of the bowl.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Slow Motion Walk.jpg|align=left|caption=The Imperial Orcs are slowly strengthening their control of [[Mareave]] with the aid of their fellow Imperial citizens.|width=600}}</div>
==Overview==
While Elian Sweetwater has been busy performing their [[appraisal]] (as detailed in the '''[[Here we stay]]''' wind of fortune), he is far from the only person exploring [[Mareave]] in the last season. [[Magical skills#Magician|Magicians]] from the [[Golden Pyramid]] [[conclave order]] are enthusiastically seeking out [[opportunity|opportunities]] to build the [[Prosperity]] of the arid land, both for the [[Imperial Orcs]] and (hopefully) for themselves. [[Orc|Orcs]] from the [[Tamazi]] sept heed the words of their national assembly, looking for ways they can use their expertise in stonecraft or magic to help secure the newest Imperial territory. At the same time, there are discussions in [[the Brass Coast]] and [[the Marches]] about how to help make the dry plains bloom, and to the north a chance meeting between [[the League]], and [[Urizen]] gives rise to an [[Ambition|Ambitious]] plan to deal with the challenges represented by Mareave's comparative disconnection from the rest of the Empire.

==Serendipity==
* '''An Imperial enchantment has both helped uncover opportunities, and stored up trouble for the future'''
As mentioned in the '''[[Here_to_stay#Bonds_and_Bargains|Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune, this season Mareave is under the influence of [[Autumn magic]]. The enchantment is subtle, but noticable by any [[magical skills#magician|magician]] capable of casting the [[detect magic]] spell. Nudging coincidence and weaving serendipity, it brings people together with other people who share their attitudes and opinions, making it easier for them to make new friends.

Like all such magic, however, its influence is entirely indiscriminate and unpredictable. As well as helping Imperial citizens to make contact with local inhabitants, it also hinders efforts to strengthen the Imperial hold over Mareave. People hostile or resistant to the Imperial Orcs presence find it as easy to meet each other as - say - [[#Black Sand Circle|Autumn magicians in the inns of Beoraidh]].
==Auric and Blue==
* '''The magicians of the Golden Pyramid continue working in Mareave'''
* '''The order gains 10 random ingots, 7 crystal mana, and 7 doses of cerulean mazzarine each season for the duration'''
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderGoldenPyramid.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
At the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Direct_Golden_Pyramid|urging]] of [[Grandmaster]] '''Arsenio Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato''', the [[Golden Pyramid]] descended on Mareave after the Spring Equinox, eager to explore and find opportunities to bolster the prosperity of the territory (and perhaps the [[Conclave order]] as well). Last season they uncovered [[Digging for fire|several opportunities]]; a [[Digging_for_fire#The_Bronze_Bowls_of_the_Three_Seasons|unique]] source of [[vis]]; a [[Digging_for_fire#Precious_Mines|roster of mines]] ripe for exploitation; an excellent location for a [[Digging_for_fire#A_Place_to_Lodge|grand lodge]] to grant numerous benefits to the order itself. With much of the new territory unexplored by Imperials, and indications that the [[Grendel]] focus on the sea meant that the eastern mountains were largely unknown even by the local residents, Arsenio chose to urge the order to [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Exploring_Mareave|continue to explore]] for the next year. The [[Imperial Conclave]] agreed, and [[magical skills#magician|magicians]] of the Conclave continue to flock to the south-east.

The benefits to the Order itself are not insignificant; each season until the end of the Summer Solstice 387YE will receive 10 [[Materials#Metals|random ingots]], 7 crystal mana, and 7 doses of [[Cerulean Mazzarine]] into the [[Conclave vault]], to be distributed as the Grandmaster sees fit. This represents finds donated by individual members, and gifts from residents of Mareave (Imperial or otherwise) who are grateful for the aid of the Pyramid magicians.

This last season has seen Golden Pyramid magicians working with the [[Appraisal#The_Prognosticators_Office|Prognosticator's Office]] to support [[Appraisal#Eilian_Sweetwater|Elian Sweetwater]] in their [[appraisal]] of the [[orc|orcs]] in the southern [[territory#Regions|regions]] (as detailed in the '''[[Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune). Several members, especially Imperial Orcs magicians aligned with the order, have been helping or participating in the [[Tamazi]] sept exploration of the arid territory.
===Beoraidh===
* '''Golden Pyramid magicians are actively pursuing opportunities in Beoraidh'''
* '''So far negotiations have not achieved anything concrete but they remain optimistic'''
The Golden Pyramid has also been continuing to explore [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]], which surely represents a gold mine of opportunities for those members of the 'Pyramid more interested in trade than valuable resources. In the wake of the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Amend_Treaty_with_Beoraidh|treaty with the former Salt Lord]], there is certainly appetite for trade with the Empire, but there's caution on both side about formalizing it in case something goes wrong and sinks the treaty. One matter of note is that the former Salt Lord's offer to purchase [[dragonbone]] is still open (as detailed in last season's '''[[Set_my_lands_in_order#Trade_Goods|Set my lands in order]]''' wind of fortune).

''Xavier of the Spire of the Astral Torrent'' and several fellow [[Urizen]] [[architect|architects]] of the 'Pyramid continue to explore options. There is apparently a great deal of interest in rumours of the ''Greater Apulian Way'' proposed in [[Spiral]] - the traders and merchants of Beoraidh can see the advantage of a secure land route into the Empire or even just as far as [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]]. Several members of the Pyramid - a mixture of [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]], [[the League|League]], and [[Highguard|Highborn]] - are pursuing access to the docks of Beoraidh but the discussions are bogged down by frankly ridiculous [[tariffs]]. Given the amount the former Salt Lord is paying to the Empire in "rent" there's no way they can turn away Imperial traders with such unreasonable practices, but so far negotiations are at a deadlock.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=WingedMessenger.png|caption=''Mannun Amahuz'', the leader of the Circle of Black Sand in Beoraidh, leads a coven of [Autumn magic|Sand wiards]]. They are keen to hear from the Grandmaster of the Golden Pyramid or the Celestial Arch about trade in magical rituals and a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] can be sent to them at ''Execution Hill, Beoraidh, Mareave''.|align=right|width=300}}</div>

===Black Sand Circle===
* '''The Golden Pyramid has made contact with the wizards of the Black Sand Circle'''
* '''They wish to purchase the ''Gift of the Wily Broker'' ritual and offer an enchantment of their own in exchange'''
* '''The leaders of the coven is interested in hearing from Golden Pyramid magicians who might help them pursue their ambitions'''
One area of success in Beoraidh is that some of the Golden Pyramid have made cautious contact with their magical peers among the former Grendel. This includes some members of the group previously known as the [[Pebbles_drawn_from_a_heap#The_Circle_of_Black_Sand|Circle of Black Sand]]. Having split from those members who chose to join [[the League]] in Apulian, they now call themselves the ''Black Sand Circle'', under ''Manuun Amahuz''. They have taken over the old tower on Execution Hill (neither a hill, nor a home to executioners, the origin of the name is lost to the mists of time), and are still eager to benefit from contact with the Empire. Expert practitioners of [[Autumn magic|Sand wizardry]], they are particularly interested in discussing the [[#Serendipity|serendipitous enchantment]] woven over the whole territory, fascinated by the apparent ease with which Imperial magicians work such magic and intrigued by its effects and implications.
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; max-width:450px;"><box>
'''Inspiration and Challenge'''
* '''While Icarion has the under-developed quality all labour costs are increased by a fifth'''
* '''The inspiration of Thrace removes the basic labour cost if something is commissioned before the end of the Winter Solstice 386YE'''
* '''If the Legion Engineer commissions one of these projects the wain cost is reduced by a fifth'''
The infrastructure in the territory is highly variable, sometimes the equal of the Empire, but elsewhere the roads are barely adequate by Imperial standards. Materials are hard to import - the port of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] imposes steep tariffs, and the route through Spiral faces the opression of the {{Black Plateau}}. These problems are reflected by the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|under-developed]] quality in [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]], so all commissions built in the territory have their labour costs increased by a fifth.

The [[consecration#True Liao|true liao consecration]] of the Legion's Rookery as an [[Inspirational_location#Memorials|inspirational location]] dedicated to [[Known_exemplars#Thrace|Thrace]] affects these [[commission|commissions]], if they are commissioned before the end of the Winter Solstice 386YE. The basic labour costs of anything built in Mareave before that time is paid entirely by Imperial Orc volunteers. This benefit is included in each of the descriptions, but this benefit does ''not'' cover the extra funds needed due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under-developed]] quality, or extra funds required to secure the aid of the Eoradal orcs.

If the [[Legion Engineer]] commissions one of these projects, the amount of wains needed is reduced by a fifth.</box></div>

Last time members of the Circle spoke to the Empire, they were [[Grendel]]. The [[Imperial Conclave]] made it clear that anyone who traded magic with them was at risk of being declared a [[Sorcery|sorcerer]]. Now the Imperial Senate has signed a treaty saying they're foreigners, so there should be no impediment to making an exchange. Right?

The Black Sand Circle is keen to acquire a [[ritual text]] of the ritual the Empire calles [[Gift of the Wily Broker]]. In the break-up with the Circle of Black Sand, ''Manuun'' and his faction have retained custody of the covens arcane library. If the Imperial Conclave will use a [[declaration]] of [[dissemination]] to provide the ritual text they seek, they will hand over a ritual text to the magician who raised the successful declaration. There are two ritual they are prepared to share, both examples of [[Autumn magic|Sand wizardry]]. The first is ''Sigil of the White Sands'', an [[enchantment]] that allows a [[fleet]] to secure lucrative deals when they [[Fleet#Trade|trade]] with foreign ports. The second ritual, the ''Eye of Ruby and Sapphire'' enchants a [[mine]] so that the workers can more easily locate valuable deposits of precious gems, causing it to produce a great deal of money and a small amount of additional [[tempest jade]] over the season. The declaration will need to specify which of the two rituals the magician wants in return, and the Circle does not care what happens to it after it is handed over. It might go into Imperial lore, into Urizen lore, or remain the unique property of whoever secures it (the latter being what ''Manuun'' assumes will happen to it).

The Golden Pyramid magicians who meet ''Manuun'' and his coven describe them as confident, slightly cycnical mages not entirely dissimilar to their peers in the Conclave Order. They clearly support Ehsan's successes in securing neutrality for the city, although they feel little [[Grendel_religion#Fidelity|fidelity]] to the former Salt Lord personally. They're aware that they and the inhabitants of Beoraidh walk a knife-edge - either the Grendel or the Empire could likely snuff them out if the treaties Ehsan and his court have arranged fall apart. They also make no secret of the fact that what they would ''really'' like is access to powerful [[Autumn magic]] enchantments that support fortification or [[military unit|warbands]] but for now they are well aware they have little to offer of equivalent value. They're also open to [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messengers]] from members of the Golden Pyramid order interested in further exchange of knowledge or magical resources - ''Manuun'' is very interested in discovering how one might go about getting access to the [[Doyen of the Spires]] or one of the other Imperial [[college of magic|magical colleges]] and what it might cost to purchase the codification of an arcane projection. He is also very interested in any news of his cousin Rahuun Amahuz and the rest of the Circle who remained in Spiral: they want to know if they're getting on alright, and if they've heard anything at all from their Uncle Mó.

===The Lazuline Bowl===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Lazuline Bowl'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Nadir, Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 24 weirwood, 288 rings, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 72 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 288 rings are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the title of Lazuline Bonetender</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Lazuline Bonetender'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Imperial Orc</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receive 21 drams of cerulean mazzarine each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversee the Lazuline Bowl sinecure, support the physicks of Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' The Tender can purchase from the orcs living in the Lazuline Bowl</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Bounty of the Bowl'''</td><td style="background-color: LightYellow;"></td></tr>
<tr><td>7 crowns</td><td>10 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 6 drams of true vervain</td></tr>
<tr><td>17 crowns</td><td>21 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 12 drams of true vervain</td></tr>
<tr><td>30 crowns</td><td>32 drams of cerulean mazzarine and 18 drams of true vervain</td></tr></table></div>
* '''Mareave has an excellent climate for growing cerulean mazzarine'''
* '''The Lazuline Bowl is an area of Nadir that presents an opportunity to produce large amounts of the valuable herb

[[Mareave]] is an [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|arid]] [[territory]], where fresh water is at a premium. The expectation would be that such a place is hostile to [[herb garden|herb gardens]] but that turns out to be a misconception. While exploring the plains of northern Mareave - [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]] and [[Mareave#Nadir|Nadit]] particularly - the Golden Pyramid make peaceful contact with several groups of orcs that make a respectable living growing [[Cerulean Mazzarine]]. The conditions here are actually ideal for growing a magical herb that prospers in a warm, dry climate. While the herbal arts are not especially common among the magicians of the Golden Pyramids, they are well aware that there are markets for the delicate blue-blossoming herb in the Empire, especially in the chilly northern nations ([[Wintermark]], [[Varushka]], and of course [[Skarsind]]).

''Mazzar Tulk'' is a Golden Pyramid [[orc]] and a member of the [[Yerende]] sept and her family are in the process of moving to Mareave. In answering the grandmaster's call she has used the opportunity to explore the territory to find the perfect place to settle. In the process has been talking to some of the local orcs - those who don't have any particular reason to be [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Uncooperative|uncooperative]]. Following discussion she has become aware of the ''Lazuline Bowl'' - a depression in central Nadir, sheltered from the harsh winds and positioned over a deep aquifer, presenting ideal conditions to cultivate valuable cerulean mazzarine. There are already several families of Broken Shore orcs based around the Bowl, growing their own herbs. With the aid of her order, she has negotiated with the orcs to support the establishment of a garden on her own dedicated to producing the valuable herb, promising that the nearby families will share in her prosperity.

By building a garden in the Lazuline Bowl, the Imperial Orcs could establish the title of ''Lazline Bonetender''. ''Mazzar Tulk'' suggests that the title be charged with helping supply orc apothecaries and physicks, and expanding access to herbs in Mareave. They would receive a [[sinecure|bounty of cerulean mazzarine]], and be able to [[ministry|purchase even more]] from the Nadiri orcs whose cheerful self interest does not disincline them to deal with the Empire. That latter raises a minor fly in the ointment. As [[Here_to_stay#The_Problem_of_Peace|laid out by Elian Sweetwater]] in their [[appraisal]], at the moment the non-Imperial inhabitants of Mareave are considered barbarians for all that they may not be particularly acting like it. The ministry Mazzar Tulk proposes is illegal while that is the case, and indeed she warns that until that matter is sorted out it might be better not to build the sinecure as creating something so valuable in close proximity to people who the Empire is at war with feels unwise.

The Imperial Orcs assembly asked representatives of the Tamazi to explore opportunities in Mareave. ''Mazzar Tulk'' suggests that if [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Six_Septs|the assembly ask the Yerende]] to explore the possibilities offered by the ideal climate here there might be able to identify other ways to grow cerulean mazzarine - a [[great work]] for example, or more opportunities to work with the comparatively small number of local herbalists. Focusing on cerulean mazzarine, rather than general opportunities, would likely cause any resulting opportunities to be more focused and impactful.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tamazi.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>

==Stone Lasts==
* '''Members of the Tamazi sect have visited Mareave to seek opportunities to build'''
* '''Charged with protecting, they are looking at castles'''
The Tamazi have also looked for other opportunities to help contribute to the Imperial Orc development of Mareave. As well as their proposal regarding the [[#Here We Stay|fortified settlement]] they have identified two other locations that they think would make excellent forts - helping to protect the people of Mareave and ensure that the land is not an inviting target for the Grendel.
===Storm Lords Sentinel===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Storm Lords Sentinel'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Rucraic's Redoubt, Eoradal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 white granite, 30 weirwood, 48 crowns in labour, six months construction</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 240 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 48 crowns are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Serves as a rank one [[fortification]], but would also serve as a Skouran [[embassy]] once they agreed to one</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 8 throne</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''A fortification at Ruicraic's Redoubt could serve double purpose as an embassy to Skoura'''
The first is at ''Ruicraic's Aerie'', a minor fortification [[Sea-wood_fed_with_copper#Ripples_in_the_Water|captured]] more or less intact by the [[Seventh Wave]] thanks to [[Between_stone_and_salt#Objective:_Recover_a_map_to_Rucraic's_Aerie|intelligence]] recovered by Imperial heroes. The Tamazi propose adapting the [[Commonwealth]] idea to build something similar to a ''[[For_the_Common_Good#Fighting_Talk|diplomatenschloss]]'' for the [[Skoura|Skourans]]. By all accounts the Skourans do not currently want an [[embassy]], but that doesn't mean the Imperial Orcs shouldn't build them one! They know from their time in [[Axos]] that the Skourans are traders. The Tamazi believe it is a matter of time before the people of the mountains see the benefits of trading with the Empire, and the Imperial Orcs should be at the forefront of that trade. When that happens, the embassy will be already built, merely waiting on a delegation of Skourans to leave their mountains and establish offices there.

Given Rucraic's Redoubt is already a castle, the Tamazi are confident that converting it to a full fortification with the opportunity for trade would require less white granite than building something from scratch, and take only six months to complete. Once complete, the place could be "activated" as a Skouran embassy at any time, likely as part of a [[Ambassador#Treaty|treaty]] with that nation.
{{SOP|statement=One nation, woven from six strong strands. Each of these septs has its own expertise, that will help us to show the people of Mareave we are not their enemies. We send Skywise Gralka with 25 doses of liao to urge the Tamazi to seek ways we may make Mareave a home for our people by using their skill in stone masonry and magical defences to aid against the Grendel threat let the first sept we send be one to protect these new lands and people.|by=Skywise Tulva, Imperial Orcs Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 44-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
The Tamazi plan is to build the fortified embassy at the base of the mountains, and then have the Senator for Mareave (currently '''Gaddak''') send a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to Skora to politely ask if they would like to trade with their neighbours - not as representatives of the Empire but as the Imperial Orcs nation. The Tamazi are confident that the Skourans will consider the proposal, and, at the very least, agree to establish a trade ministry in Eoradal. From this start, the Empire would be better positioned to build stronger trade ties - and all thanks to the Imperial Orcs.

The ''other'' reason the Tamazi propose their version of a ''diplomatenschloss'' is the existance of the ruined aqueduct in Eoradal. Their examination of the structure indicates that if it were rebuilt, and with the cooperation of the Skourans who live in the mountains above Mareave, it might be the answer to at least some of the problems Mareave has getting access to fresh water - and the Tamazi are excited at the prospect of such a significant and impactful construction for obvious reasons.

===High Mountain Home===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''High Mountain Home'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Eastern Peaks, Fleisardh</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 150 white granite, 30 weirwood, 108 crowns in labour, a year to construct</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Base labour costs would normally be 540 crowns, but are reduced to 0 by the ongoing inspiration of Thrace; the remaining 108 crowns are due to the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality and are not reduced by that opportunity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Serves as a rank two [[fortification]], removes the under threat quality, may cow the Brine Turtles</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Storm Wards'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Special</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:'''Eastern Peaks, Fleisardh</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 20 mithril, 20 ilium</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Can only be included when the High Mountain Home is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Increase casualties to armies attacking the fortification in Fleisardh by half</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''A large fortification could be established in Fleisardh to remove the under threat quality there'''
The other target of the Tamazi is in Fleisdardh. They do not find much welcome among the Brine Turtles sept, and quickly decide to give them a wide berth. During their exploration of the hills and mountains here, however, some of them come up with an ambitious plan. The Brine Turtle claim the plains, and the coast, and mostly ignore the eastern fifth of the region. As a consequence the mountains are largely unexplored and unexploited save for a few die hard miners who seem broadly unaware that Mareave has changed hands and largely disinterested when they discover otherwise.

The initial plan is that the Imperial Orcs should "hollow out" a mountain, and build a massive citadel overlooking Fleisardh. After further discussion, they settle on something a little less impressive at least to start with. Dubbing it ''High Mountain Home'', the Tamazi plan to use divination magic to locate an aquifer and reshape the side of the mountain into a mighty [[fortification]]. Visible across the region it would be a clear sign to the Brine Turtles that the Imperial Orcs are not messing about - they are the new masters of Mareave.

Using their expertise, the fortification would take a year to build, but would provide significant protection to Mareave. The Tamazi also plan to include a number of features familiar from the citadels of Axos such as mushroom farms and grand storehouses that would allow a garrison to endure as much as five years of siege. More than that, once garrisoned, the Tamazi are confident there would be sufficient strength here to remove the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under_Threat|under threat]] quality from the region if it were still there. It would not by itself make the Brine Turtles any more accepting of the Empire, but it could still prove a powerful aid to diplomacy with them, an unmissable reminder of Imperial ambition and power.

Some of the Tamazi are members of the Golden Pyramid order, and along with their peers they report that there is a small amount of [[ilium]] in the mountains above Fleisardh. Not really enough, and not really concentrated sufficiently, to make a mine viable unfortunately. But one of the younger Tamazi has a better idea. Adapting some of the warding symbols the Tamazi traditionally use in their constructions, along with some elements she has uncovered about the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Objective:_Raise_the_Lyceum's_wards|Lyceym Storm Regio]], ''Deepdrummer Kattak'' proposes to capture and channel the storms that swirl around the high peaks of Mareave and further bolster the defences of the High Mountain Home.

Her plan would add 20 wains of mithri and 20 rings of ilium to the cost of the fortification, but not increase either labour costs or time to build. Woven into the fabric of the fortification, they would mean that any attacking army assaulting Fleisardh would need face poor weather and occasional devastating thunderbolts. The casualties suffered from attacking the fortification would be increased by a half. As their placement and implementation is integral to the design of the castle, the decision about whether to include Kattak's wards would need to be made when the structure was commissioned.
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Marcher.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Freeborn.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
==Farming and Water==
{{SOP|statement=The Marcher Assembly calls on all those adept at farming arid land. Take up your tools and head to Mareave for our Imperial Orc friends have need for your skills to remove the arid quality and make the land grow.|by=Sister Meredith, Marches Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 204-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
{{SOP|statement= The farmers of the Brass Coast are known far and wide as experts in farming arid lands. We have had a request from our friends in the Imperial Orcs, Mareave needs a lot of work, and as such they ask our aid in teaching them how to farm their new lands. We call upon the farmers of the coast to travel to Mareave and help cultivate a prosperous new territory.|by=Maria i Espiri i Guerra, Freeborn Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 166-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
* '''Both the Marches and Freeborn assembly encourage their people to help in Mareave'''
* '''Doing so would be costly to the two nations'''
During the Summer Solstice, two [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] were proposed, one in the [[the Marches|Marcher]] assembly, and one in the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] assembly. They both asked the people of their nation to look into the possibility of helping the Imperial Orcs address the problems presented by the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Arid|arid conditions]] in Mareave - and the difficulty of establishing farms there. Both nations have something to offer; the Marchers are unparalleled experts at the agricultural arts, while the Freeborn have centuries of experience teasing crops and beautiful gardens alike from dry, waterless soil.

However, the people of both nations also know the value of their expertise. While there are some who might feel a kinship or debt to the Imperial Orcs - their armies have selflessly defended the Western empire time and again - others are more practical. The majority are prepared to make an assessment of the situation in the east, to see if they might be able to help, but they will ''not'' do so for free. The Freborn now that everything can have a price, and while the Marchers know that land matters above all else, Mareave is [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Far_Frontier|a very long way away]] and it is not ''their'' land. Both nations farmers also know that [[Prosperity]] means that while the virtuous are not selfish, they also expect to receive just recompense for their labours. Also, as some are quick to point out, there is a war on, with Mournwold invaded and both [[Feroz]] and [[Madruga]] very much in need of rebuilding. Perhaps the farmers of these two nations should be looking closer to home?

Bearing all that in mind, the Marcher National Assembly could pass the following mandate:

{{Mandate|mandate=Our mastery of farming is unsurpassed in the Empire, but we know our worth We send (named priest) with 50 doses of liao to urge the virtuous and prosperous farmers of the Marches to visit Mareave and see how the land there might be made green.|assembly=Marches National Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted it will persuade virtuous farmers to visit Mareave. This would mean that there were fewer pious farmers in the Marches during the coming season, and apply a 1 rank penalty to every [[congregation]] in [[Mitwold]] and [[Upwold]]. Farmers of Mournwold have more pressing matters on their mind, and those in [[Bregasland]] perhaps rightly believe they have nothing to offer when it comes to farming in the arid grasslands of Mareave. The Marchers who travelled to Mareave would present an opportunity to help build up agriculture there, but part of their opportunity would require they be repaid in some way for their efforts.

Likewise the Brass Coast Assembly could pass the following mandate.

{{Mandate|mandate=The Freeborn are experts in drawing forth prosperity from arid lands. We send (named priest) with 75 doses of liao to ask Freeborn farmers to go to Mareave, to aid our friends in the Imperial orcs to make their lands flower.|assembly=Freeborn National Assembly}}

If enacted, this mandate would encourage experts in dealing with the kind of conditions found in Mareave to travel to the far side of the Bay of Catazar to see what aid they could offer in dealing with the arid conditions in the northern parts of the territory. In particular, the [[Zemress islander|Zemress islanders]] would be encouraged to visit the Broken Shore for the first time since they were brought home to the Brass Coast. As with the Marchers, though, such aid would come at a price. Every [[congregation]] in the Brass Coast would experience a 1 rank penalty to production in the coming season, and the Freeborn farmers would expect suitable recompense before they would put any solution into action
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly League.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Urizen.png|align=left|width=200}}</div>

==Trade Routes==
{{SOP|statement= We applaud the assignment of Mareave to the Imperial Orcs and reach out in prosperity and friendship to our new neighbours. We encourage and promote the movement of people, material, goods, and fine things through Spiral, across the Apulian Way, and into Mareave by way of Prosperous trade. Raised by Fabio, Bishop of Apulian.|by=Fabio Costas de Sarvos, League Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 376-0|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
* '''The League could build a safe route through Spiral connecting Mareave to the rest of the Empire'''
One final statement of principle was raised at the Summer Solstice that received a greater majority. '''Fabio Costas de Sarvos, Bishop of Apulian''' called on the nation to promote the movement of people and materials through Spiral, and down the Apulian Way into Mareave. At first, there was little interest in the proposal - the League is after all busy [[Construct Grand Inspiration of the Way#Outcome|supporting]] the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]] in [[Bastion]] and has little time for other projects at the moment.

However... not ''everyone'' thinks that the Grand Inspiration of the Way is the most important thing they could be building. '''Bishop Fabio''' is known in some circles for [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_68|speaking out]] about the construction in Bastion, and urging "''citizens of the League not to assist in the aggrandisement of the White City, except when through fair trade their own Prosperity might grow.''" As a consequence, some people who couldn't give two figs for Bastion and the overarching plans of the Way are interested in the suggestion and decide to see what can be done about it. As it happens two of those interested in Fabio's words ends is an ambitious engineer named ''Lucia Calumo di Apulian'', originally from Holberg, and a former Grendel entrepreneur now named ''Sheeva di Apulian''. Perhaps due in some unidentifiable way to the magic sloshing around in Mareave at the moment, they end up in a long and detailed conversation with a pair of [[Urizen]] [[architect|architects]] (''Tressida Nightshadow'' and ''Croilus Nightshadow'') returning to their spire after [[Thresher's summer|spending time in the Marches]]. The four of them end up lamenting the fact that travel through the {{Black Plateau}} haunted territory is slow and painful. Together, over dark coffee, they put together a proposal.
===Extending the Apulian Way===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="float: right; margin-left:10px; width=50%; max-width:500px;">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Greater Apulian Way'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:'''Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Apulus, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of white granite, 20 wains of mithril, 210 Crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Master of Rings commissions the road 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If the Urizen Assembly supports the road, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' This commission is built in Spiral rather than Mareave and so the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|Under Developed]] quality does not change its costs. The [[Legion Engineer]] could not reduce its costs by commissioning it</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Raises the level of investment in Spiral by one providing 36 rings for each business, and removes the under-developed quality from Icarion</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Extending the Apulian way through the city and connecting it to the Court of the White Fountain would solve Mareave's under-developed problem'''
* '''It would also provide benefits to both League and Urizen businesses in Spiral'''
* '''If the Master of Rings commissions the road, 6 wains of white granite will be provided by League citizens'''
* '''If the Urizen Assembly support the road, 4 wains of mithril will be provided by Urizen spires'''
The ''Calumo-Sheeva-Nightshadow Road'' - or the ''Greater Apulian Way'' as it is immediately christened - would involve repairing and fixing up the road that once connected the port of Apulian with Redoubt, via the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain|Court of the White Fountain]] and the now flattened Fort Mezudan. Repairing the road is simple if laborious, but the real aim of the proposal is to establish a series of mithril-infused rest stops along the route. Patterned after [[Navarr]] wayhouses, and built with traders and ox-caravans in mind, they would make it significantly less stressful to travel through Spiral to the city in the south. It's a simple matter to extend the road through the Apulian Way pass into Mareave, and build a nice big inn and some warehouses in [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]], a stones throw from the old lighthouse ruins there. The Nightshadow architects believe that once complete, it could inspire more interest in the roads of Spiral, and certainly the pattern of mithril-infused roadhouses would spread ensuring that people all over the territory would find it easier to get and sell goods, and travel despite the horror that squats in the centre of [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]].

The proposal is expensive, but it will immediately benefit both the inhabitants of Spiral - whether they are League or Urizen - and the people of Mareave. In Spiral, it would establish a [[great work]] that benefitted [[business|businesses]], while in Mareave it would remove the [[Set_my_lands_in_order#Under-developed|under-developed]] quality from Icarion and provide a reliable method to transport building materials, food, travellers, and workers through the miasmic oppression of Spiral.

The two Leaguers have put their heads together and have a plan they think would work. At the moment, Apulian can feel a little like the "smallest sibling" in [[the League]]. If the would very much like the [[Master of Rings]] to do it. Their [[Master_of_Rings#Responsibilities|responsibility]] after all is to make "as much money as possible" for the Merchant-Princes of the League. If the Master (currently '''Laughlan Vi Temeschwar''') commissions the Greater Apulian Way, then Lucio Calumo, Shiva, and their friends will stump up 6 wains of white granite to support the project.

Tressida and Croilus are of the opinion that it might be possible to build on it to further enhance the Prosperity of Spiral, or at the very least to find a way to counter the negative effects the {{Black Plateau}} still has on [[fleet|fleets]], [[military unit|military units]], and [[farm|farms]]. They also feel that work on the road could prosper a spirit of cooperation in Spiral, building on the [[The city below|recent mandate]] enacted by ''' Lepidina'''. If the Urizen national assembly passes a suitably worded [[statement of principle]] encouraging people to support the Greater Apulian Way, then Nightshadow spire will contribute 4 wains of mithril to the project in the hope of encouraging other Urizen still living in Spiral to consider doing the same.

Finally, all four believe that this could just be the start of grander projects in Mareave. A firm road connection to the rest of the Empire would be an ideal start to building up the roads the Grendel left behind - or establishing a lucrative trade route between Apulian and [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]].

==Participation==
* '''Any character is free to roleplay they have spent time in Mareave, and encouraged to create a story about a chance encounter'''
Any character who roleplays having spent time in Mareave this season is encouraged to make up a story about a coincidental meeting that helped them make a new friend, or find a new contact who shared their interests. This is especially appropriate for members of the [[Golden Pyramid]] [[conclave order]] or the [[Tamazi]] sept (or both), but anyone might be visiting the arid territory for any number of reasons.

==Further Reading==
* [[Mareave]]
* [[Here we stay]] - 386YE Autumn wind of fortune detailing the appraisal to encourage the southern orcs to be more cooperative
* [[Digging for fire]] - 386YE Summer wind of fortune detailing the Golden Pyramid contribution in Mareave
* [[Into the spin]] – 386YE Spring wind of fortune summarizing the situation in Mareave

Victory and unity

2024-08-31T23:34:13Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Wains, Kings and Memories */ Spelling

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Axos]]
<ic>"Do we not serve the Creator's will to live in ignorance and bitter rivalry?" The sandy-haired cambion preachers voice echoed round the room, drifting over the masked crowd their heads bowed in sombre reflection. "Look around you. We hold but two territories, and in my lifetime of those Kabanja nearly fell. The great forest divides us. The people of the mountain spurn us. Who knows when the Druj will next try their hand across the Path of the Eye? They are a wounded animal, it is said: a dangerous thing indeed. And who wounds them? The Casinean Empire."

At the mention of the Empire, the room filled with a susurrus. The figure looked around the room, and noted the people they were looking for - members of their ''ile'' died in the Mountains of the Moon, and from their faces he could see their blame directed in but one direction. He chose his next words carefully.

"Yes, the Casineans. I have never been to the Empire. But it comes closer every day, does it not? Even now in these halls I am sure their eyes are watching what we do..."

"And yet I hold in my hand a letter from the very Casinean Emperor themself. They sought something, an understanding only ''we'' were empowered to offer, and I ''acted''.

"I made stipulations to preserve respect for our traditions, but I did not sit in shadowed halls and weep. I acted. By my benevolence you all have this space that we have prepared here tonight. Do you feel it? That reminder that nothing is impossible? If we ask the right questions, are we not freed from the prison of doubt? Is freedom not the foundation of our rebellion against the ''demiurgos''?"

The preacher paused then, letting the crowd feel it, the powerful aura that filled the room, stirring their ambitions. The novelty of it, only made the effects more potent. The belief that together they could solve any problem. It was a sentiment long absent from Axos. Now he had them, it was time to remind them of what they were really capable of.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Alikos Helio.jpg|caption=The ''alikos helio'' is an ancient symbol of the Axou people, adopted by the ''Nikitis Axou'' movement.|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''Axos are signatories to the Liberty Pact, but relations were seriously damaged by the Tsark Debacle'''
Overall, Imperial relations with the [[Axos|Citadels of Axos]] remain rocky. The animosity the Axou hold for the Empire has not gone away,: the incident with the [[Roll and fall|raid on Tsark]] and the subsequent Imperial diplomatic response apparently confirmed their worst stereotypes about their western neighbours.

The Axou Ambassador to the Empire is ''Ilarch Maxatios'' of the [[Axos#Towers of Kantor|Towers of Kantor]]. Of the same family as the Grand Ilarch (the nominal ruler of the citadel of Kantor), they are primary point of contact for Imperial citizens wishing to communicate with the smaller nation. They often seem exasperated with their Imperial counterparts, frustrated by their apparent inability to get the Empire to recognise that Axos is a nation worthy of respect.
{{Nation|nation=[[Axos]]|port=[[Axos_ports#Towers_of_Kantor|Kantor]] and [[Axos_ports#Chambers_of_Issyk|Issyk]]|ambassador=Fintan Nighthaven of [[Navarr]]|status=Foreigner}}
==Liberty Pact and Freedom Accord==
* '''The Ambassador has proposed that the Axou take the lead on opposing the Freedom Accord'''
* '''Ilarch Maxatious makes clear that Axos has absolutely no ability to do so'''

Axos is a member of the Liberty Pact, and the Empire's [[In_the_hills,_the_cities#Liberty_and_Dignity|support]] for the smaller nation in the face of [[Sumaah Republic]] and [[Commonwealth]] opposition to their presence has gone some way toward repairing the rift between the two nations over the [[Roll and fall|Mountains of the Moon debacle]]. After the Summer Solstice, Ambassador Nighthaven wrote to their opposite number emphasizing the importance of countering the so-called "Freedom Accord" - the alliance put together by [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavea]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarm]] to oppose the Liberty Pact. They proposed that the Axou might take a proactive initiative in this matter, as a way to demonstrate their value to their detractors in the Pact.

Ilarch Maxatious has responded cautiously, enquiring what exactly it is that the Empire thinks Axos can do about the Asaveans and Jarm. Axou naval forces are absolutely no match for the Asavean privateers currently attacking any ships that try to trade with the Empire and blockading the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Salt|Sea of Salt]]. The Axou believe their magicians are the equal of any in the world, but they match the overwhelming magical resources of the Jarmish. It is clear that admitting these limitations is extremely difficult for Ilarch Maxatious, but he is forced to be realistic. Axos cannot possibly lead the way in opposing these great powers.

It is only membership of the Liberty Pact that provides them with any ability to resist the demands of Asavea and Jarm. Realistically, if the Commonwealth and Sumaah succeed in throwing them out of the Liberty Pact, the Citadels will have almost no choice but to petition for the protection of the Freedom Accord. Perhaps making that clear to those powers that oppose the alliance between the Axou and the Empire will encourage them to stop demanding the removal of Axos?

==Outside Interests==
* '''There are indications that outside interests are active in Axos'''
* '''Some concerns exist that Axos' activities might anger the Commonwealth'''
The [[Axos#Chambers_of_Issyk|Chambers of Issyk]] have a poor relationship with the Empire in general. Their early diplomatic efforts were rebuffed by the Military Council and the Senate, and they lost out significantly in the [[Roll and fall|Tsark debacle]]. Still, while they may dislike the Empire in general, that does not stop them trading. Both the [[Quaymaster of the Black Sails]] and the [[Eastern Broker]] owe a portion of their profits to trade with merchants from Issyk.

At one time they aspired to rival the Towers of Kantor, to attract traders from all over the world. They expanded their docks, and set their [[tariffs]] somewhat lower than those charged by the more prosperous citadel to the south. A general distrust of Imperial merchants, however, meant they were never a popular destination. When the Axou joined the Liberty Pact, it brought an end to a short-lived alliance with the [[Grendel]] who retaliated by attacking and partially destroying the expanded docks, dashing Issyk's hopes of becoming a major international trade hub.

Reports have reached the Empire that this may no longer be the case. A missive from a messenger visiting Issyk speaks of work beginning on a major refitting of their docks. Not just additional quays, but large new warehouses, and the foundations of a small fortification designed to protect the harbour from raiders. The observer reports a rumour that there has been a significant investment in Issyk's docks from a faction outside the nation. At the same time, a chance comment from a [[A_mountain_of_vipers#A_Scholarly_Overture|visiting Axou scholar]] leads to rumour of a significant construction being undertaken at the Halls of Maykop. Normally such things would be of only casual interest, but the story says that the construction is being partially financed, and magically supported, by a small coven of magicians from the [[Principalities of Jarm]].

It is perfectly legal to trade with Jarm under [[Voice_of_Liberty#Liberty_Pact|the principles]] of the pact, but if the Axou were foolish enough to violate the terms of the pact, by importing slaves, that would reflect badly on the Empire given their staunch defence of their smaller neighbour during the recent disagreement with Sumaah and the Commonwealth. While that is unlikely, if it is true that Jarm and Axos are cooperating that is likely to anger the Commonwealth who are at war with the [[Principalities of Jarm]].

The Commonwealth and Summaah have been clear that they see Axos as being within the Empire's “sphere of influence”, but they are unlikely to be circumspect forever. The Ambassador – or the Ambassadors to other world powers – could investigate further but if there ''is'' something underhand going on here it is doubtful Illarch Maxatious would be candid about it. Worse, unless a query is couched very carefully it might offend the notoriously prickly diplomat as the Empire appears, yet again, to be questioning Axou sovereignty.

===The Regario Alternative===
* '''The Regario Dossier agents in Axos could be mobilized to create a short report on the situation there'''
* '''This opportunity will require the master to provide 9 Thrones to Agent Nepenthe'''
* '''The master of the Regario Dossier is Laszlo Gulyas von Temeschwar, of the Guild of Drovers'''
Alternatively, the Empire might call on the agents it already has in place in Axos. The [[Regario Dossier]] maintains [[Regario_Dossier#Agents_of_the_Regario_Dossier|agents]] in many nations. “Agent Nepenthe” is the codename for a small network of spies based in the Towers of Kantor. Under normal circumstances they maintain a low profile, primarily concerning themselves with matters that might influence Imperial trade. In this case, the civil service believe they may be in the ideal position to deliver a short report “from the ground” as it were.

This would involve the agents taking more risks than usual, and they would need additional funds to bribe informants, purchase access to sensitive documents, and so on. As such it would entail a cost of 9 Thrones. This money would need to be paid by the holder of the Regario Dossier, who is currently '''Laszlo Gulyas von Temeschwar, of the Guild of Drovers'''.

If they were paid and instructed, however, they would assess the situation in Axos and provide a concise report to the master at the Winter Solstice. They would investigate both the Issyk docks and the apparently Jarmish-sponsored construction in Maykop, as well as looking for signs of other outside involvement in the nation. They may also be able to give a cursory assessment of the [[#Times Change|populist movement]] gathering momentum among the Citadels.

Unlike the reports of the Conclave Orders mentioned elsewhere, the report of ''Agent Nepenthe'' would not automatically become public knowledge. While their report would be less detailed than that of a Conclave Order, there is also no chance of the agents drawing attention to themselves. Even if several orders get involved in Axos, the activity of Agent Nepenthe's network will remain hidden - both from the Axou and from the wider Empire – unless the master of the Regario Dossier chose otherwise.

('''OOC Note:''' If the master of the Regario Dossier wishes to take advantage of this opportunity, they would need to ensure the 9 Thrones are in their inventory and e-mail [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot] after the event before the close of downtime to let them know they are asking Agent Nepenthe to put together an emergency report).

==Wains, Kings and Memories ==
* '''The Empire has declined to sell white granite to the Axou at the suggested price'''
* '''Ilarch Maxatious has declined to explain what the Axou wanted the white granite for'''
* '''Illarch Maxatious has declined a request for Imperial scholars to study the sorcerer-kings'''
* '''Inquiries about “memory magic” have caught few fish'''
There has been some recent talk of the Empire selling wains of [[mithril]], [[weirwood]], and [[white granite]] abroad. Last season Ilarch Maxatious inquired about [[In_the_hills,_the_cities#A_Rising_Need|purchasing granite]] at 18 crowns a wain for some unknown project.

Unsurprisingly, the Empire is not interested in selling at such low prices. The Ambassador has suggested that there might be more interest if the Axou were prepared to explain ''why'' they have such a sudden pressing need for white granite, but Ilarch Maxatious has declined to provide that information, as he has declined to increase the offer. “It seems clear that we cannot afford to buy from the Empire,” he writes in his letter. “So we will have to look elsewhere.”

It would still be possible for private citizens to contact the Ilarch to arrange the trade should they wish to do so, but it looks very unlikely that the Axou will get the granite they need ''from the Empire''.

According to their own legends, Axos was founded by magicians of consummate power, known as the sorcerer-kings, who also built the citadels that bear their names. Ambassador Nighthaven has expressed interest in learning more about their history and especially how they allegedly “transcended mortality” and asked if it might be possible to purchase information about these figures, or to send a member of the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] or [[Lepidean_Librarian#Lepidean_University|Lepidean Library]] to visit the libraries and compile their own report on the matter.

The request has been respectfully declined, there appears to be little interest in such an arrangement in Axos. It is clear that while relations remain poor, such requests are unlikely to be given much time. ''Leontes the Scribe'', the Imperial Archivist - has confirmed that there's no actual requirement to get Axou support for research into the sorcerer-kings; the Department could gather what information it can find from Imperial writings, but such work would be limited in scope without Axou approval.

Finally, the ambassador also enquired about Axou magical practices with regard to memory magic. There has been an increased interest in such matters in the Empire of late, possibly due to certain [[Tales_of_mystery#Gossamer_Whispers|peculiar effects]] surrounding the ritual [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]]. Illarch Maxatious confirms that there are Axou that make a study of such things – practitioners of [[Night magic]] mostly associated with the [[Axos#Halls_of_Maykop|Halls of Maykop]]. Their practice is by no means equivalent to the ''necromantia'', but like most Axou sorcerers they take counsel from the spirits of the dead when working their magic.

Illarch Maxatious has let it be known that there is interest in such matters in the Empire, but can promise nothing. Axou scholars are scarcely more biddable than Imperial scholars. However it appears that the matter has caught the eye of at least one Axou. The creature Fintan calls “Apeiron of the Emporium Mnemonia” is apparently known to some. The ambassador refuses to be drawn on details, but has told those Axos who are interested in such things that they should visit the Empire themselves if they want to know more - and suggested they speak with the Imperial ambassador if they do.

==Problematic Priest==
* '''A priest has been dispatched to meet with the Assembly of Nine to provide blasphemous auras'''
* '''They are expects to arrive around 8.45 on Friday evening'''
Last season Ilarch Kyther Deianeira [[In_the_hills,_the_cities#Unity_and_Understanding|offered]] to arrange a visit of a priest who would share certain spiritual auras associated with the [[malign spiritual presences|malign spiritual presence]] of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Peace|peace]] with the [[Assembly#Assembly_of_the_Nine|Assembly of Nine]] in return for a significant amount of [[liao]] and a letter from [[the Throne]]. Both were provided by Ambassador Nighthaven following the Summer Solstice.

While they clearly have only a little interest in the matter themselves, Ilarch Maxatious has passed on the message that an emissary is being sent to Anvil during the Autumn Equinox to provide the promised auras. ''Sophia Anacharsis'' is a student of ''Theodosia of Ipotavo'' and apparently an enthusiastic proponent of her ideals. Sophia intends to arrive at quarter-to-nine on the Friday evening of the Equinox. The expectation is that Ambassador Fintan can meet her and bring her to the meeting of the Assembly of Nine that takes place around that time.

She will apparently be bringing enough liao that she can perform a [[hallow]] for each member of the Assembly, though apparently she does not expect everyone present to take up the offer. Sophia will also have the details of that oath that is the final part of the agreement. The oath will include a solemn commitment that the [[Cardinal|Cardinals]] actively wear the hallowed items for a year, as laid out by Ilarch Kyther when they made this arrangement.

==Times Change==
* '''A populist movement is gaining momentum in Axou politics'''
And speaking of Ilarch Kyther Deianeira... Imperial citizens know that dealing with the Axou is always tricky. It is complicated by the fact that they are traditionally a divided and proud people whose attempts to present a reasonably united front belie a seething mass of politics both between and within the five citadels. Each citadel is effectively an independent city-state, with their own concerns and interests. In recent months, however, a movement has emerged in Axos that challenges this state of affairs and the Ilarch appears to be at the centre of it.
=== The ambitions of Kyther Deianeira===
* '''Popular demagogue, ''Kyther Deianeira'' continues their rise to power in Axos'''
* '''They have been making great use of a letter from Emperor Vesna seemingly endorsing their achievements'''
A political maverick ''Illarch Kyther Deianeira'' (who uses he/him and they/them pronouns) seems likely to be the next Grand Illarch of the [[Axos#Tunnels of Kaban|Tunnels of Kaban]], despite belonging to a family whose connection to the sorcerer-kings is known to be very weak. Much of the money that funded the rebuilding of Kaban came from the trade of luxury narcotics to the rich pleasure-seekers of [[Anvil]]. Kyther's involvement in this operation has given them a reputation for ruthless but fair leadership. This sense of Illarch Kyther as someone who can operate as a serious leader on the world-stage has been amplified by a personal letter from [[Emperor Vesna]]. The missive is widely used as a political prop by the charismatic Illarch – as evidence that the Axou can “punch above their weight” on the world stage.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by=”Letter to Kyther Deianeira, Emperor Vesna”>The Empire would like to thank Ilarch Kyther Deianeira for their good will in assisting the Assembly of Nine conducting theological research on the nature of understanding.

The Emperor would also like to take this opportunity to thank Kyther for personally attending her coronation and presenting a gift on behalf of the Council of Grand Ilarchs; he truly conducted himself as one of their peers. </quote></div>
A savvy politician, Kyther presents himself not as a supplicant to the Empire but as a scrappy underdog who seizes every opportunity and makes the most of it. Following his lead, he claims, the Axou can increase their status and regain the prowess of their ancestors. They can once again become the "Nikitis Axou".

In a worrying [[Promising_light|echo of Empress Vesna themselves]], he calls for the Citadels of Axos to unify in power, leadership, and strength so that together they can drive the Creator's evil from the world. When he points out that Axos is threatened by great military powers, people listen, and it is clear they do not ''solely'' mean the [[Druj]].

“Unless we work together,” runs his increasingly popular message, “then we will surely die apart.” The message is by no means universally popular but it is attracting attention in all the Citadels of Axos.
===Understanding and Unity===
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Axos Lantern.jpg|caption=This symbol has quickly become associated with Theodosia and her concept of a unified Great Convocation. It is said to derive from a hallowed relic she carries which bears the same design.|align=left|width=350}}</div>
* '''Kyther Deianeira's rise is supported by generous use of Imperial liao'''
As well as a letter from [[the Throne]], Kyther has received a significant amount of [[liao]] in exchange for the [[In_the_hills,_the_cities#Unity_and_Understanding|theological assistance]] they offered to the Assembly of Nine. Liao is not easily available in Axos, and Kyther's ability to gift [[hallow|hallowed]] items, grant [[anointing|anointings]], and order [[consecration|consecrations]] has both smoothed their relations with the great and the good of Axos society and helped sway the everyday people of the citadels.

Many of these auras are provided by the theological scholar ''Theodosia of Ipotavo'' and her [[sect]]. Theodosia is no stranger to Anvil, and is a close ally of Kyther. She and her followers primarily use the auras of [[Wisdom]] and [[Vigilance]], as well as unfamiliar auras that may be manifestations of the blasphemous false virtue of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Peace|Peace]].

Speculation is rife as to where she and her fellow priests are getting the prodigious amounts of liao she is using. Even allowing for the generous donation to Illarch Kyther, Theodosia seems to have access to an unprecedented amount of the precious substance. Unconfirmed rumour suggests that an unknown Imperial benefactor has provided Theodosia with ''another'' hundred or more liao for her personal use – and the use she is putting that to is to try and influence the Citadels of Axos to embrace Illarch Kyther's message of unity.

Traditionally the religious sects of Axos have been as splintered and argumentative as the citadels. There is no unified Axou Synod, or even anything approaching an assembly. Indeed, the ability of Axou priests to influence their nation is quite limited. It's not clear how the other sects of Axou are responding to Theodosia's full-throated endorsement of Illarch Kyther Deianeira, but if enough of them endorse this message of unity, it might signal a major shift in the position and influence of the Axou religion within its nation. A blasphemous and heretical religion, it should be remembered, that sees the Way as a tool of the hated Creator that needs to be destroyed...

With apparently limitless amounts of liao to draw on – rather than the much more expensive “bone dust” Axou priests are traditionally forced to use – it seems Theodosia of Ipotavo is effectively enacting a powerful [[mandate]] to move the hearts and minds of her entire nation.
===Magicians Know Magicians===
* '''The Imperial Conclave could dispatch one of the orders to investigate developments in Axos'''
* '''The Shuttered Lantern are in the best position to uncover what is going on and whether it poses a threat to Imperial interests'''
* '''The Celestial Arch could be dispatched to focus on the political aspect of the movements'''
* '''If more than one order is sent, their efforts will be counterproductive and may lead to a diplomatic incident'''
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderShutteredLantern.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderCelestialArch.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
It isn't entirely clear what exactly is going on in Axos at the moment. While Ilarch Kyther and Theodosia of Ipotavo are clearly being listened to, it's hard to say what it might mean for the Empire. Most of what Imperial citizens know about this political movement comes from the few merchants that visit the port of [[Axos_ports#Towers_of_Kantor|Kantor]] (it has been some years since Imperial merchants bothered to visit the docks of ill-starred and unwelcoming [[Axos_ports#Chambers_of_Issyk|Issyk]]).

The Ambassador could of course make enquiries of their opposite number in Axos, but it might be more effective to take direct action. The [[Shuttered Lantern]] [[Conclave order]] exists to “''Utilise magic in the detection and monitoring of threats, whether subtle or obvious, internal or external''.” A [[declaration]] of [[Concord]] could be used to encourage Imperial magicians from the order to take the trip to Axos to investigate the situation there. As usual, this would require the commitment of 20 crystal mana from the font if the Conclave agreed to support the declaration.

Imperial visitors are common enough in the Citadels that their presence is likely to go unremarked – it's doubtful Axos will even know they are there. These magicians would investigate the political situation in Axos, with particular emphasis on the influence of Kyther Deianeira and Theodosia of Ipotavo. With that information, the Empire would be in a much better position to determine if this movement represents a threat to their interests or not. The initial report would be provided to the Grandmaster of the order at the Winter Solstice, but it's findings would become more common knowledge by the Spring Equinox at least among those Imperial citizens with an interest in Axos ('''OOC Note:''' The Grandmaster would get a private report at the first event next year, but at least parts of the document would be published on the wiki after the event).

Alternatively, the [[Celestial Arch]] might ask for their order to travel to Axos. Magicians of the Arch are significantly less well-versed in espionage and information gathering however. If the order was sent, then they would focus on the secular message of Illarch Kyther. The cost to the Imperial Conclave – 20 mana from the vault – would be the same. If the [[Sevenfold Path]] were not [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Asavea_and_the_Way|focused]] on spreading the Way in the Asavean Archipelago, then they would have been able to gain information with a focus on the preaching of Theodosia and her allies.

There is one limitation; only a single order can be constructively sent to Axos to investigate the matter there. If more than one order gets involved, the sudden influx of Imperial magicians asking questions will become apparent to the Axou, and to Illarch Maxatious. If this happens, it's unlikely anyone will be able to find out anything useful, and will likely result in a diplomatic incident of some kind.

==The Solokha Project==
* '''An Axou movement to reclaim the cursed and haunted ruins of the Citadel of Solokha is underway'''
* '''An invitation has been sent to the Empire to invite their priests to become involved'''
In addition to answering queries from Ambassador Nighthaven, Ilarch Maxatious takes the time to raise some matters on behalf of Axou citizens that may involve the Empire. It is clear from the tone of his missive that he is not entirely enthusiastic about the idea, but it appears that there is a grass-roots movement to reclaim the ruins of lost, haunted [[Axos#Spires_of_Solokha|Spires of Solokha]].

The Axos understand the fall of Solokha to have been the fault of emissaries from [[Urizen]], who had sabotaged Solokhan investigations into a certain sarcophagus of black stone and unleashing a terrible madness that destroyed the citadel. What historical testimony the Empire has recovered appears to corroborate this view of events, at least in part. In any case, the ruins of Solokha are known to be haunted and cursed with auras of violence and despair.

There have always been a few people in Axos who wished to cleanse the ruins of their spiritual taint, and perhaps re-establish Solokha. With the recent successes rebuilding the Tunnels of Kaban, and apparently with the backing of someone with access to a significant amount of [[liao]] – which has significantly fewer side effects than the bone dust Axou priests usually use - the movement is apparently ready to attempt to put their ideas into practice.

As a nation that regularly deals with ghosts and restless spirits, many Axou priests are versed in the art of exorcism. There are even small groups of secular exorcists, with no particular spiritual beliefs, who practice exorcism as a trade. Yet Ilarch Maxatious passes an invitation to the Empire on behalf of the leaders of the Solokha reclamation movement. If they wish to do so, Imperial priests are welcome to participate in the exorcism of Solokha; to "make amends" for their (alleged) role in the destruction of the citadel.
<div style="display:inline-block; float: right; width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Labyrinth.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
The Ambassador cannot simply instruct priests to go to Axos; whether this invitation is taken up would be a matter for the Imperial Synod. A suitably worded [[statement of principle]] that achieved a [[greater majority]] would likely be sufficient to enthuse Imperial priests about this scheme, provided it were raised in the [[General Assembly]] or the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Assembly of the Way]]. Other assemblies might raise judgements in support of the project, but without a greater majority from one of these two assemblies the civil service project that the project is likely to founder before it gains much momentum.

Any resulting [[mandate]] is likely to require a large amount of liao. Not because it will be hard to persuade Imperial priests and exorcists to take up arms against the dead, but because of the amount of [[exorcism]], [[insight]], and indeed [[consecration]] given the reported presence of malign location auras in the ruins likely to be involved. The [[Terunael_in_Axos#The_Curse_of_Solokha|report about Solokha]] by Eilian Sweetwater paints a grim picture of the locale.

While on the surface this might appear a uniformly good thing, taking part in this project might prove politically fraught. The priests of the Way and those of Axos fundamentally disagree on almost everything. Those Axou participating will certainly include those dedicated to [[malign spiritual presences]]. Focusing on the matter at hand will likely avoid any confrontation, but it would also represent cooperation with blasphemers and heretics. More to the point, Imperial involvement might well be taken as confirming the Axou view that the Empire was behind the destruction of the citadel in the first place, and the role of the [[Urizen]] in any statements or mandates would prove particularly sensitive.

The civil service caution that time is limited to assist in this project. Any statement will need to be raised at the Autumn Equinox is a mandate is to be prepared for Winter, otherwise the opportunity will be lost.
==Further Reading==
* [[Axos]]
* [[In the hills, the cities]] – 386YE Summer wind of fortune about Axou diplomacy

==Axou-related Titles==
* [[Ambassador to Axos]]
* [[Quaymaster of the Black Sails]] 
* [[Bursar of the House of Spirits]] 
* [[Quaymaster of the Elosian Docks]] 
* [[Eastern Broker]]

Victory and unity

2024-08-31T23:33:55Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Liberty Pact and Freedom Accord */ Capitalization

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Axos]]
<ic>"Do we not serve the Creator's will to live in ignorance and bitter rivalry?" The sandy-haired cambion preachers voice echoed round the room, drifting over the masked crowd their heads bowed in sombre reflection. "Look around you. We hold but two territories, and in my lifetime of those Kabanja nearly fell. The great forest divides us. The people of the mountain spurn us. Who knows when the Druj will next try their hand across the Path of the Eye? They are a wounded animal, it is said: a dangerous thing indeed. And who wounds them? The Casinean Empire."

At the mention of the Empire, the room filled with a susurrus. The figure looked around the room, and noted the people they were looking for - members of their ''ile'' died in the Mountains of the Moon, and from their faces he could see their blame directed in but one direction. He chose his next words carefully.

"Yes, the Casineans. I have never been to the Empire. But it comes closer every day, does it not? Even now in these halls I am sure their eyes are watching what we do..."

"And yet I hold in my hand a letter from the very Casinean Emperor themself. They sought something, an understanding only ''we'' were empowered to offer, and I ''acted''.

"I made stipulations to preserve respect for our traditions, but I did not sit in shadowed halls and weep. I acted. By my benevolence you all have this space that we have prepared here tonight. Do you feel it? That reminder that nothing is impossible? If we ask the right questions, are we not freed from the prison of doubt? Is freedom not the foundation of our rebellion against the ''demiurgos''?"

The preacher paused then, letting the crowd feel it, the powerful aura that filled the room, stirring their ambitions. The novelty of it, only made the effects more potent. The belief that together they could solve any problem. It was a sentiment long absent from Axos. Now he had them, it was time to remind them of what they were really capable of.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Alikos Helio.jpg|caption=The ''alikos helio'' is an ancient symbol of the Axou people, adopted by the ''Nikitis Axou'' movement.|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''Axos are signatories to the Liberty Pact, but relations were seriously damaged by the Tsark Debacle'''
Overall, Imperial relations with the [[Axos|Citadels of Axos]] remain rocky. The animosity the Axou hold for the Empire has not gone away,: the incident with the [[Roll and fall|raid on Tsark]] and the subsequent Imperial diplomatic response apparently confirmed their worst stereotypes about their western neighbours.

The Axou Ambassador to the Empire is ''Ilarch Maxatios'' of the [[Axos#Towers of Kantor|Towers of Kantor]]. Of the same family as the Grand Ilarch (the nominal ruler of the citadel of Kantor), they are primary point of contact for Imperial citizens wishing to communicate with the smaller nation. They often seem exasperated with their Imperial counterparts, frustrated by their apparent inability to get the Empire to recognise that Axos is a nation worthy of respect.
{{Nation|nation=[[Axos]]|port=[[Axos_ports#Towers_of_Kantor|Kantor]] and [[Axos_ports#Chambers_of_Issyk|Issyk]]|ambassador=Fintan Nighthaven of [[Navarr]]|status=Foreigner}}
==Liberty Pact and Freedom Accord==
* '''The Ambassador has proposed that the Axou take the lead on opposing the Freedom Accord'''
* '''Ilarch Maxatious makes clear that Axos has absolutely no ability to do so'''

Axos is a member of the Liberty Pact, and the Empire's [[In_the_hills,_the_cities#Liberty_and_Dignity|support]] for the smaller nation in the face of [[Sumaah Republic]] and [[Commonwealth]] opposition to their presence has gone some way toward repairing the rift between the two nations over the [[Roll and fall|Mountains of the Moon debacle]]. After the Summer Solstice, Ambassador Nighthaven wrote to their opposite number emphasizing the importance of countering the so-called "Freedom Accord" - the alliance put together by [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavea]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarm]] to oppose the Liberty Pact. They proposed that the Axou might take a proactive initiative in this matter, as a way to demonstrate their value to their detractors in the Pact.

Ilarch Maxatious has responded cautiously, enquiring what exactly it is that the Empire thinks Axos can do about the Asaveans and Jarm. Axou naval forces are absolutely no match for the Asavean privateers currently attacking any ships that try to trade with the Empire and blockading the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Salt|Sea of Salt]]. The Axou believe their magicians are the equal of any in the world, but they match the overwhelming magical resources of the Jarmish. It is clear that admitting these limitations is extremely difficult for Ilarch Maxatious, but he is forced to be realistic. Axos cannot possibly lead the way in opposing these great powers.

It is only membership of the Liberty Pact that provides them with any ability to resist the demands of Asavea and Jarm. Realistically, if the Commonwealth and Sumaah succeed in throwing them out of the Liberty Pact, the Citadels will have almost no choice but to petition for the protection of the Freedom Accord. Perhaps making that clear to those powers that oppose the alliance between the Axou and the Empire will encourage them to stop demanding the removal of Axos?

==Outside Interests==
* '''There are indications that outside interests are active in Axos'''
* '''Some concerns exist that Axos' activities might anger the Commonwealth'''
The [[Axos#Chambers_of_Issyk|Chambers of Issyk]] have a poor relationship with the Empire in general. Their early diplomatic efforts were rebuffed by the Military Council and the Senate, and they lost out significantly in the [[Roll and fall|Tsark debacle]]. Still, while they may dislike the Empire in general, that does not stop them trading. Both the [[Quaymaster of the Black Sails]] and the [[Eastern Broker]] owe a portion of their profits to trade with merchants from Issyk.

At one time they aspired to rival the Towers of Kantor, to attract traders from all over the world. They expanded their docks, and set their [[tariffs]] somewhat lower than those charged by the more prosperous citadel to the south. A general distrust of Imperial merchants, however, meant they were never a popular destination. When the Axou joined the Liberty Pact, it brought an end to a short-lived alliance with the [[Grendel]] who retaliated by attacking and partially destroying the expanded docks, dashing Issyk's hopes of becoming a major international trade hub.

Reports have reached the Empire that this may no longer be the case. A missive from a messenger visiting Issyk speaks of work beginning on a major refitting of their docks. Not just additional quays, but large new warehouses, and the foundations of a small fortification designed to protect the harbour from raiders. The observer reports a rumour that there has been a significant investment in Issyk's docks from a faction outside the nation. At the same time, a chance comment from a [[A_mountain_of_vipers#A_Scholarly_Overture|visiting Axou scholar]] leads to rumour of a significant construction being undertaken at the Halls of Maykop. Normally such things would be of only casual interest, but the story says that the construction is being partially financed, and magically supported, by a small coven of magicians from the [[Principalities of Jarm]].

It is perfectly legal to trade with Jarm under [[Voice_of_Liberty#Liberty_Pact|the principles]] of the pact, but if the Axou were foolish enough to violate the terms of the pact, by importing slaves, that would reflect badly on the Empire given their staunch defence of their smaller neighbour during the recent disagreement with Sumaah and the Commonwealth. While that is unlikely, if it is true that Jarm and Axos are cooperating that is likely to anger the Commonwealth who are at war with the [[Principalities of Jarm]].

The Commonwealth and Summaah have been clear that they see Axos as being within the Empire's “sphere of influence”, but they are unlikely to be circumspect forever. The Ambassador – or the Ambassadors to other world powers – could investigate further but if there ''is'' something underhand going on here it is doubtful Illarch Maxatious would be candid about it. Worse, unless a query is couched very carefully it might offend the notoriously prickly diplomat as the Empire appears, yet again, to be questioning Axou sovereignty.

===The Regario Alternative===
* '''The Regario Dossier agents in Axos could be mobilized to create a short report on the situation there'''
* '''This opportunity will require the master to provide 9 Thrones to Agent Nepenthe'''
* '''The master of the Regario Dossier is Laszlo Gulyas von Temeschwar, of the Guild of Drovers'''
Alternatively, the Empire might call on the agents it already has in place in Axos. The [[Regario Dossier]] maintains [[Regario_Dossier#Agents_of_the_Regario_Dossier|agents]] in many nations. “Agent Nepenthe” is the codename for a small network of spies based in the Towers of Kantor. Under normal circumstances they maintain a low profile, primarily concerning themselves with matters that might influence Imperial trade. In this case, the civil service believe they may be in the ideal position to deliver a short report “from the ground” as it were.

This would involve the agents taking more risks than usual, and they would need additional funds to bribe informants, purchase access to sensitive documents, and so on. As such it would entail a cost of 9 Thrones. This money would need to be paid by the holder of the Regario Dossier, who is currently '''Laszlo Gulyas von Temeschwar, of the Guild of Drovers'''.

If they were paid and instructed, however, they would assess the situation in Axos and provide a concise report to the master at the Winter Solstice. They would investigate both the Issyk docks and the apparently Jarmish-sponsored construction in Maykop, as well as looking for signs of other outside involvement in the nation. They may also be able to give a cursory assessment of the [[#Times Change|populist movement]] gathering momentum among the Citadels.

Unlike the reports of the Conclave Orders mentioned elsewhere, the report of ''Agent Nepenthe'' would not automatically become public knowledge. While their report would be less detailed than that of a Conclave Order, there is also no chance of the agents drawing attention to themselves. Even if several orders get involved in Axos, the activity of Agent Nepenthe's network will remain hidden - both from the Axou and from the wider Empire – unless the master of the Regario Dossier chose otherwise.

('''OOC Note:''' If the master of the Regario Dossier wishes to take advantage of this opportunity, they would need to ensure the 9 Thrones are in their inventory and e-mail [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot] after the event before the close of downtime to let them know they are asking Agent Nepenthe to put together an emergency report).

==Wains, Kings and Memories ==
* '''The Empire has declined to sell white granite to the Axou at the suggested price'''
* '''Ilarch Maxatious has declined to explain what the Axou wanted the white granite for'''
* '''Illarch Maxatious has declined a request for Imperial scholars to study the sorcerer-kings'''
* '''Inquiries about “memory magic” have caught few fish'''
There has been some recent talk of the Empire selling wains of [[mithril]], [[weirwood]], and [[white granite]] abroad. Last season Ilarch Maxatious inquired about [[In_the_hills,_the_cities#A_Rising_Need|purchasing granite]] at 18 crowns a wain for some unknown project.

Unsurprisingly, the Empire is not interested in selling at such low prices. The Ambassador has suggested that there might be more interest if the Axou were prepared to explain ''why'' they have such a sudden pressing need for white granite, but Ilarch Maxatious has declined to provide that information, as he has declined to increase the offer. “It seems clear that we cannot afford to buy from the Empire,” he writes in his letter. “So we will have to look elsewhere.”

It would still be possible for private citizens to contact the Ilarch to arrange the trade should they wish to do ss, but it looks very unlikely that the Axou will get the granite they need ''from the Empire''.

According to their own legends, Axos was founded by magicians of consummate power, known as the sorcerer-kings, who also built the citadels that bear their names. Ambassador Nighthaven has expressed interest in learning more about their history and especially how they allegedly “transcended mortality” and asked if it might be possible to purchase information about these figures, or to send a member of the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] or [[Lepidean_Librarian#Lepidean_University|Lepidean Library]] to visit the libraries and compile their own report on the matter.

The request has been respectfully declined, there appears to be little interest in such an arrangement in Axos. It is clear that while relations remain poor, such requests are unlikely to be given much time. ''Leontes the Scribe'', the Imperial Archivist - has confirmed that there's no actual requirement to get Axou support for research into the sorcerer-kings; the Department could gather what information it can find from Imperial writings, but such work would be limited in scope without Axou approval.

Finally, the ambassador also enquired about Axou magical practices with regard to memory magic. There has been an increased interest in such matters in the Empire of late, possibly due to certain [[Tales_of_mystery#Gossamer_Whispers|peculiar effects]] surrounding the ritual [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]]. Illarch Maxatious confirms that there are Axou that make a study of such things – practitioners of [[Night magic]] mostly associated with the [[Axos#Halls_of_Maykop|Halls of Maykop]]. Their practice is by no means equivalent to the ''necromantia'', but like most Axou sorcerers they take counsel from the spirits of the dead when working their magic.

Illarch Maxatious has let it be known that there is interest in such matters in the Empire, but can promise nothing. Axou scholars are scarcely more biddable than Imperial scholars. However it appears that the matter has caught the eye of at least one Axou. The creature Fintan calls “Apeiron of the Emporium Mnemonia” is apparently known to some. The ambassador refuses to be drawn on details, but has told those Axos who are interested in such things that they should visit the Empire themselves if they want to know more - and suggested they speak with the Imperial ambassador if they do.

==Problematic Priest==
* '''A priest has been dispatched to meet with the Assembly of Nine to provide blasphemous auras'''
* '''They are expects to arrive around 8.45 on Friday evening'''
Last season Ilarch Kyther Deianeira [[In_the_hills,_the_cities#Unity_and_Understanding|offered]] to arrange a visit of a priest who would share certain spiritual auras associated with the [[malign spiritual presences|malign spiritual presence]] of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Peace|peace]] with the [[Assembly#Assembly_of_the_Nine|Assembly of Nine]] in return for a significant amount of [[liao]] and a letter from [[the Throne]]. Both were provided by Ambassador Nighthaven following the Summer Solstice.

While they clearly have only a little interest in the matter themselves, Ilarch Maxatious has passed on the message that an emissary is being sent to Anvil during the Autumn Equinox to provide the promised auras. ''Sophia Anacharsis'' is a student of ''Theodosia of Ipotavo'' and apparently an enthusiastic proponent of her ideals. Sophia intends to arrive at quarter-to-nine on the Friday evening of the Equinox. The expectation is that Ambassador Fintan can meet her and bring her to the meeting of the Assembly of Nine that takes place around that time.

She will apparently be bringing enough liao that she can perform a [[hallow]] for each member of the Assembly, though apparently she does not expect everyone present to take up the offer. Sophia will also have the details of that oath that is the final part of the agreement. The oath will include a solemn commitment that the [[Cardinal|Cardinals]] actively wear the hallowed items for a year, as laid out by Ilarch Kyther when they made this arrangement.

==Times Change==
* '''A populist movement is gaining momentum in Axou politics'''
And speaking of Ilarch Kyther Deianeira... Imperial citizens know that dealing with the Axou is always tricky. It is complicated by the fact that they are traditionally a divided and proud people whose attempts to present a reasonably united front belie a seething mass of politics both between and within the five citadels. Each citadel is effectively an independent city-state, with their own concerns and interests. In recent months, however, a movement has emerged in Axos that challenges this state of affairs and the Ilarch appears to be at the centre of it.
=== The ambitions of Kyther Deianeira===
* '''Popular demagogue, ''Kyther Deianeira'' continues their rise to power in Axos'''
* '''They have been making great use of a letter from Emperor Vesna seemingly endorsing their achievements'''
A political maverick ''Illarch Kyther Deianeira'' (who uses he/him and they/them pronouns) seems likely to be the next Grand Illarch of the [[Axos#Tunnels of Kaban|Tunnels of Kaban]], despite belonging to a family whose connection to the sorcerer-kings is known to be very weak. Much of the money that funded the rebuilding of Kaban came from the trade of luxury narcotics to the rich pleasure-seekers of [[Anvil]]. Kyther's involvement in this operation has given them a reputation for ruthless but fair leadership. This sense of Illarch Kyther as someone who can operate as a serious leader on the world-stage has been amplified by a personal letter from [[Emperor Vesna]]. The missive is widely used as a political prop by the charismatic Illarch – as evidence that the Axou can “punch above their weight” on the world stage.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by=”Letter to Kyther Deianeira, Emperor Vesna”>The Empire would like to thank Ilarch Kyther Deianeira for their good will in assisting the Assembly of Nine conducting theological research on the nature of understanding.

The Emperor would also like to take this opportunity to thank Kyther for personally attending her coronation and presenting a gift on behalf of the Council of Grand Ilarchs; he truly conducted himself as one of their peers. </quote></div>
A savvy politician, Kyther presents himself not as a supplicant to the Empire but as a scrappy underdog who seizes every opportunity and makes the most of it. Following his lead, he claims, the Axou can increase their status and regain the prowess of their ancestors. They can once again become the "Nikitis Axou".

In a worrying [[Promising_light|echo of Empress Vesna themselves]], he calls for the Citadels of Axos to unify in power, leadership, and strength so that together they can drive the Creator's evil from the world. When he points out that Axos is threatened by great military powers, people listen, and it is clear they do not ''solely'' mean the [[Druj]].

“Unless we work together,” runs his increasingly popular message, “then we will surely die apart.” The message is by no means universally popular but it is attracting attention in all the Citadels of Axos.
===Understanding and Unity===
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Axos Lantern.jpg|caption=This symbol has quickly become associated with Theodosia and her concept of a unified Great Convocation. It is said to derive from a hallowed relic she carries which bears the same design.|align=left|width=350}}</div>
* '''Kyther Deianeira's rise is supported by generous use of Imperial liao'''
As well as a letter from [[the Throne]], Kyther has received a significant amount of [[liao]] in exchange for the [[In_the_hills,_the_cities#Unity_and_Understanding|theological assistance]] they offered to the Assembly of Nine. Liao is not easily available in Axos, and Kyther's ability to gift [[hallow|hallowed]] items, grant [[anointing|anointings]], and order [[consecration|consecrations]] has both smoothed their relations with the great and the good of Axos society and helped sway the everyday people of the citadels.

Many of these auras are provided by the theological scholar ''Theodosia of Ipotavo'' and her [[sect]]. Theodosia is no stranger to Anvil, and is a close ally of Kyther. She and her followers primarily use the auras of [[Wisdom]] and [[Vigilance]], as well as unfamiliar auras that may be manifestations of the blasphemous false virtue of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Peace|Peace]].

Speculation is rife as to where she and her fellow priests are getting the prodigious amounts of liao she is using. Even allowing for the generous donation to Illarch Kyther, Theodosia seems to have access to an unprecedented amount of the precious substance. Unconfirmed rumour suggests that an unknown Imperial benefactor has provided Theodosia with ''another'' hundred or more liao for her personal use – and the use she is putting that to is to try and influence the Citadels of Axos to embrace Illarch Kyther's message of unity.

Traditionally the religious sects of Axos have been as splintered and argumentative as the citadels. There is no unified Axou Synod, or even anything approaching an assembly. Indeed, the ability of Axou priests to influence their nation is quite limited. It's not clear how the other sects of Axou are responding to Theodosia's full-throated endorsement of Illarch Kyther Deianeira, but if enough of them endorse this message of unity, it might signal a major shift in the position and influence of the Axou religion within its nation. A blasphemous and heretical religion, it should be remembered, that sees the Way as a tool of the hated Creator that needs to be destroyed...

With apparently limitless amounts of liao to draw on – rather than the much more expensive “bone dust” Axou priests are traditionally forced to use – it seems Theodosia of Ipotavo is effectively enacting a powerful [[mandate]] to move the hearts and minds of her entire nation.
===Magicians Know Magicians===
* '''The Imperial Conclave could dispatch one of the orders to investigate developments in Axos'''
* '''The Shuttered Lantern are in the best position to uncover what is going on and whether it poses a threat to Imperial interests'''
* '''The Celestial Arch could be dispatched to focus on the political aspect of the movements'''
* '''If more than one order is sent, their efforts will be counterproductive and may lead to a diplomatic incident'''
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderShutteredLantern.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderCelestialArch.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
It isn't entirely clear what exactly is going on in Axos at the moment. While Ilarch Kyther and Theodosia of Ipotavo are clearly being listened to, it's hard to say what it might mean for the Empire. Most of what Imperial citizens know about this political movement comes from the few merchants that visit the port of [[Axos_ports#Towers_of_Kantor|Kantor]] (it has been some years since Imperial merchants bothered to visit the docks of ill-starred and unwelcoming [[Axos_ports#Chambers_of_Issyk|Issyk]]).

The Ambassador could of course make enquiries of their opposite number in Axos, but it might be more effective to take direct action. The [[Shuttered Lantern]] [[Conclave order]] exists to “''Utilise magic in the detection and monitoring of threats, whether subtle or obvious, internal or external''.” A [[declaration]] of [[Concord]] could be used to encourage Imperial magicians from the order to take the trip to Axos to investigate the situation there. As usual, this would require the commitment of 20 crystal mana from the font if the Conclave agreed to support the declaration.

Imperial visitors are common enough in the Citadels that their presence is likely to go unremarked – it's doubtful Axos will even know they are there. These magicians would investigate the political situation in Axos, with particular emphasis on the influence of Kyther Deianeira and Theodosia of Ipotavo. With that information, the Empire would be in a much better position to determine if this movement represents a threat to their interests or not. The initial report would be provided to the Grandmaster of the order at the Winter Solstice, but it's findings would become more common knowledge by the Spring Equinox at least among those Imperial citizens with an interest in Axos ('''OOC Note:''' The Grandmaster would get a private report at the first event next year, but at least parts of the document would be published on the wiki after the event).

Alternatively, the [[Celestial Arch]] might ask for their order to travel to Axos. Magicians of the Arch are significantly less well-versed in espionage and information gathering however. If the order was sent, then they would focus on the secular message of Illarch Kyther. The cost to the Imperial Conclave – 20 mana from the vault – would be the same. If the [[Sevenfold Path]] were not [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Asavea_and_the_Way|focused]] on spreading the Way in the Asavean Archipelago, then they would have been able to gain information with a focus on the preaching of Theodosia and her allies.

There is one limitation; only a single order can be constructively sent to Axos to investigate the matter there. If more than one order gets involved, the sudden influx of Imperial magicians asking questions will become apparent to the Axou, and to Illarch Maxatious. If this happens, it's unlikely anyone will be able to find out anything useful, and will likely result in a diplomatic incident of some kind.

==The Solokha Project==
* '''An Axou movement to reclaim the cursed and haunted ruins of the Citadel of Solokha is underway'''
* '''An invitation has been sent to the Empire to invite their priests to become involved'''
In addition to answering queries from Ambassador Nighthaven, Ilarch Maxatious takes the time to raise some matters on behalf of Axou citizens that may involve the Empire. It is clear from the tone of his missive that he is not entirely enthusiastic about the idea, but it appears that there is a grass-roots movement to reclaim the ruins of lost, haunted [[Axos#Spires_of_Solokha|Spires of Solokha]].

The Axos understand the fall of Solokha to have been the fault of emissaries from [[Urizen]], who had sabotaged Solokhan investigations into a certain sarcophagus of black stone and unleashing a terrible madness that destroyed the citadel. What historical testimony the Empire has recovered appears to corroborate this view of events, at least in part. In any case, the ruins of Solokha are known to be haunted and cursed with auras of violence and despair.

There have always been a few people in Axos who wished to cleanse the ruins of their spiritual taint, and perhaps re-establish Solokha. With the recent successes rebuilding the Tunnels of Kaban, and apparently with the backing of someone with access to a significant amount of [[liao]] – which has significantly fewer side effects than the bone dust Axou priests usually use - the movement is apparently ready to attempt to put their ideas into practice.

As a nation that regularly deals with ghosts and restless spirits, many Axou priests are versed in the art of exorcism. There are even small groups of secular exorcists, with no particular spiritual beliefs, who practice exorcism as a trade. Yet Ilarch Maxatious passes an invitation to the Empire on behalf of the leaders of the Solokha reclamation movement. If they wish to do so, Imperial priests are welcome to participate in the exorcism of Solokha; to "make amends" for their (alleged) role in the destruction of the citadel.
<div style="display:inline-block; float: right; width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Labyrinth.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
The Ambassador cannot simply instruct priests to go to Axos; whether this invitation is taken up would be a matter for the Imperial Synod. A suitably worded [[statement of principle]] that achieved a [[greater majority]] would likely be sufficient to enthuse Imperial priests about this scheme, provided it were raised in the [[General Assembly]] or the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Assembly of the Way]]. Other assemblies might raise judgements in support of the project, but without a greater majority from one of these two assemblies the civil service project that the project is likely to founder before it gains much momentum.

Any resulting [[mandate]] is likely to require a large amount of liao. Not because it will be hard to persuade Imperial priests and exorcists to take up arms against the dead, but because of the amount of [[exorcism]], [[insight]], and indeed [[consecration]] given the reported presence of malign location auras in the ruins likely to be involved. The [[Terunael_in_Axos#The_Curse_of_Solokha|report about Solokha]] by Eilian Sweetwater paints a grim picture of the locale.

While on the surface this might appear a uniformly good thing, taking part in this project might prove politically fraught. The priests of the Way and those of Axos fundamentally disagree on almost everything. Those Axou participating will certainly include those dedicated to [[malign spiritual presences]]. Focusing on the matter at hand will likely avoid any confrontation, but it would also represent cooperation with blasphemers and heretics. More to the point, Imperial involvement might well be taken as confirming the Axou view that the Empire was behind the destruction of the citadel in the first place, and the role of the [[Urizen]] in any statements or mandates would prove particularly sensitive.

The civil service caution that time is limited to assist in this project. Any statement will need to be raised at the Autumn Equinox is a mandate is to be prepared for Winter, otherwise the opportunity will be lost.
==Further Reading==
* [[Axos]]
* [[In the hills, the cities]] – 386YE Summer wind of fortune about Axou diplomacy

==Axou-related Titles==
* [[Ambassador to Axos]]
* [[Quaymaster of the Black Sails]] 
* [[Bursar of the House of Spirits]] 
* [[Quaymaster of the Elosian Docks]] 
* [[Eastern Broker]]

Hyenas and herbs

2024-08-31T23:09:21Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: Spelling & Punctuation

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Sarcophan Delves]]
<ic>Whistling cheerfully, Machiel kept his hands on the wheel and his eyes on the horizon. They were four days out from Padunk Landing, and making good time. If the winds stayed favourable, they might just make it in three. He was looking forward to it. He absently patted his pocket where he kept the little carved lion he had bought while they were in Sarvos. It had been enchanted by an Imperial priest, and even that casual reminder of its presence encouraged him to whistle louder and more inventively. He would present it to Minni as soon as they reached port; he was confident she would love it and while its magic lasted it would provide her all the encouragement she needed to create something-

A broad mitt cuffed him round the back of the head, and a gruff voice snarled at him to be quiet. Captain Pietr was chewing the ends of his thick black moustache, looking worriedly to starboard as he paced the deck.

"Those ships are still there," he growled. "Same ones we saw when we passed the straits. Same ones we saw on the way into the Bay."

Before Machiel could reply, a cry went up from the Crow-nest.

"Ships to port!"

Captain Pietr furrowed his thick brows and shouted back . "What!? The ships are to ''starboard''! What have you been drinking, you idiot?"

"Aye captain," came the voice again. "And there's three more ships to port."

Pietr swore, convulsively and fluently in several languages.

"Trapped," he muttered to himself. "Like lambs before a pack of wolves. We'll have to try and outrun..."

He was interrupted by a rumbling, bellowing noise that rolled across the waves and wrapped itself around the ship. It came again, and a third time, the questioning note of a hyena horn. Asking if they needed assistance.

Captain Pietr laughed, grabbed Machiel by the shoulder.

"Hard to port," he shouted, loud enough to deafen the younger man. "Hard to port and set the flags! There's few pirates stupid enough to hunt Sarcophan ships when we outnumber them! It'll slow us down but when the Hyena is offering to walk next to you, only a fool turns it down."</ic>
<div style="display:inline-block; float: left; width: 500px; margin-right: 10px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Striped Hyena.jpg|caption=The [[Founders_of_the_Delves#The_Hyena|House of the Hyena]] is a faction of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] families who deal extensively in valuable metals.|align=left|width=500}}
<box>A PDF file of this wind is available [[:File:Hyenas_and_herbs.pdf|here]]</box></div>
==Overview==
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.

Among the six great powers, the ''bedelaar huisbaas'' merchant-princes of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] strive for neutrality. They are always keen to see Imperial merchants in their ports, and trade with the Empire enthusiastically in their turn. Their neutrality is precious - they refuse to pick a side between the nations that make up the [[Liberty Pact]] and the so-called Freedom Accord, even though they themselves keep no slaves and do not trade in mortal lives. Time and again it has been made clear that their primary goal is to ensure the ports of the world remain open to their ships, and they have easy access to the markets that are the foundation of their wealth. They particularly value the [[Tariffs#Free_Trade|free trade]] agreements that allow their merchants to buy and sell in the Empire without onerous [[tariffs]].

The Sarcophan ambassador to the Empire is ''Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike'', of the Tower of Crows. She reports to the beggar-landlords of Sarcophan, and is known to be a wily and subtle diplomat. No stranger to the murkier waters of espionage and intelligence-gathering, she constantly seeks opportunities to expand the influence of the Sarcophan mercantile Empire across the Known World. She has no particular loyalty to any one faction; her main concern appears to be the prosperity of the nation as a whole.

Currently the Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves is '''Thanmir Hrafnar''' of Wintemark, but the title is [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Ambassador_to_the_Sarcophan_Delves|up for reappointment]] at the Autumn Equinox.

In addition to the opportunities discussed here, there are two other situations the Sarcophan are interested in this season. You can read about their enclave in [[Sarvos]] at the Alivetti Estates in the '''[[Houses of Silence]]''' wind of fortune.
{{Nation|nation=[[Sarcophan Delves]]|status=Foreigner|port=[[Sarcophan_Delves_ports#Sarcophan|Sarcophan]] and [[Sarcophan_Delves_ports#Betovering|Betovering]]|ambassador=Thanmir Hrafnar of [[Wintermark]] (incumbent)}}
==The Price of Doing Business==
* '''Fewer Sarcophan vessels are trading with Imperial ports due to the bounty placed on trade with the Empire by the Asavean plenum'''
* '''Imperial fleets have an advantage to trade with Sarcophan ports while the bounty continues'''
As a nation of merchants, the Sarcophan Delves are enthusiastic about trading with the Empire. Unfortunately, the [[Scions of Asav#Red Sails|bounty]] placed on all ships trading with the Empire by the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] Plenum has started to take its toll on the number of ships visiting from the Delves. While Sarcophan captains are no strangers to needing to outrun or outfight pirates and privateers, the new bounty has taken many by surprise. It seems that the Delves' vaunted neutrality is no shield against the depredations of those inspired to harry trade with the Empire. Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has made the unhappiness of the Delves very clear to Asavean diplomats, but they report that their hands are tied. Given a choice between weakening the bounty placed on ships trading with the Empire, or inconveniencing the Sarcophan, the Plenum chooses the latter.

At the moment, the major routes to the empire - those maintained by the ''Kruidenkenner'' or the ''Vandersaar'' for example - are holding strong the need to take additional precautions threatens the stability of this trade. The Bedelaar Huisbaas are discussing what to do about the Asavean Plenum, but they are caught between two equally unpalatable options. Stop trading with the Empire until the current crisis blows over with a consequent lack of trust from the Liberty Pact, or take a stance against the Asaveans which will inevitably be perceived as taking sides against the Freedom Accord.

As mentioned [[Drumbeat_of_war#Hoist_Sails|last season]], however, the reduction in Sarcophan ships making the trip to the Empire is not wholly a bad thing. Anyone trading with the Sarcophan Delves this season will see a small boost to their profits (gaining the equivalent of a single rank) thanks to increased demand and, consequently, profits.

==Children of Wrecks==
* '''The Sarcophan Delves are concerned about the Children of Wrecks'''
* '''They want to know what the Empire plans to do about them'''
There is some concern among Sarcophan merchants regarding the so-called [[Children of Wrecks]]. This idolatrous pack of pirates and privateers have been attacking ships across the Bay of Catazar. Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has never made any secret of the fact the Sarcophan Delves have treaties with the [[Grendel]], ensuring the safety of their ships. It's clear that these treaties mean nothing to the Children of Wrecks. 'Delves captains are no strangers to needing to defend their cargo from pirates, but the increased number of attacks on the Bay have meant they need to employ more marines and in some cases additional ships. Which means a reduction in profits. The 'Delves see the Children of Wrecks as a problem for the Empire to sort out, and are interested in hearing from the Ambassador what their plan is for dealing with the warlike faction.

Reading between the lines, the Sarcophan have also addressed this question to the Salt Lords; the 'Delves clearly consider the pirates on the Bay of Catazar to be ''both'' nations' problem.
==Conflict Breeds Opportunities==
* '''Following the advice of the Ambassador, factions in the 'Delves are keen to seek out prosperous markets for their wains'''
Last season, there was discussion of the Empire [[Towers_and_crows#The_Volte-face_Trade|selling wains]] to the 'Delves. Ambassador Hrafnar has made it clear to Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike that the offer of two thrones a wain is just not going to work; the Delves would need to offer at least twice that and potentially more. This news has caused some interest in the Delves - not in buying wains but in selling them. If a wain is expected to fetch four or more Thrones a wain, then the costs and risks of importing them to the Empire are certainly worth it. As such, Sarcophan merchants are interested to see what kinds of prices their [[mithril]], [[weirwood]], and [[white granite]] will fetch in Imperial markets.

Obviously those presenting these opportunities are feeling the pinch of the [[#The Price of Doing Business|Asavean bounty]], but rather than withdraw from trade with the Empire they seem prepared to increase their investment. The civil service believe it is possible - not certain but possible - that if Imperial trade were seen as significantly more valuable than that with the Asaveans by enough of the Bedelaar Huisbaas, it might sway their decision about how to deal with the bounty in the Empire's favour.

===Concordium Stone===
* '''The Vandersaar are prepared to offer more white granite at the Concordium Docks'''
The Vandersaar report that the [[Custodian_of_the_Concordium_Dock#The_Concordium_Dock|Concordium Docks]] are doing very well, with the [[Custodian_of_the_Concordium_Dock|Custodian]] regularly purchasing all the white granite they can import. Using the Ambassador's words, and these sales, as evidence of significant demand they have negotiated an agreement to gain access to additional white granite. As such, the Custodian is now able to buy more white granite; another eight wains each season. The extra white granite is not a permanent commitment at the moment; the Vandersaar will assess Imperial demand and as long as it remains steady they will keep offering the additional white granite, and simply employ more independent contractors to protect their vessels against the various threats now implicit in trade with the Empire and through the Bay of Catazar.

===Cargo for Cargo===
* '''The Debruin family seek Imperial support to reopen the Pallas Docks in Cargo'''
* '''They intend to import weirwood, but investment by the House of the Bear in trade with the Empire might bring other opportunities'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Debruin Docks'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Ministry amendment (Senate Motion)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cargo, Redoubt</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 90 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Reopens the Pallas Docks as the Debruin docks, amending the Custodian of the Pallas docks as the Custodian of the Debruin docks</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Senate motion may amend the appointment method of the title at the same time</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;"></td></tr>
<tr><td>160 Crowns</td><td>5 wains of weirwood</td></tr>
<tr><td>305 Crowns</td><td>10 wains of weirwood</td></tr>
<tr><td>435 Crowns</td><td>15 wains of weirwood</td></tr>
</table></div>
''Bastien Debruin'' is not a Bedelaar Huisbaas; his cousin sits in the [[Founders_of_the_Delves#The_Bear|seat of the Bear]] during the Beggar's Feast. He does however head up a wealthy and well-respected mercenary company. Recently, his company came into possession of a sizable source of [[weirwood]]. They are interested in offering it to the Empire. In the past, the ''Gjullit'' family proposed repurposing the [[Prime_Factor_of_the_Pallas_Docks#Pallas_Docks|Pallas Docks]] in [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]]. Never one to throw things away, the ''Debruin'' have presented a similar proposal.

If the Imperial Senate is prepared to refit the Pallas Docks, then the Debruin can guarantee the delivery of up to 15 wains of weirwood for purchase each season. The civil service have looked at the request and believe that they would require a senate motion and a commission to refit the docks, at a cost of 90 crowns – in essence they would be modifying the existing docks rather than making new ones. The work would take three months.

Bastien Debruin has one additional requirement; the docks be renamed as the ''Debruin docks'' and at least one statue of a bear be included in the redesign.

The same motion used to redesign the docks and change the name could be used to amend the details of the [[Prime Factor of the Pallas Docks]], effecting the change to dealing with the Sarcophan house. They could also take this opportunity to change the appointment method of the title – either leaving it as an Imperial position appointed by the Auction of the Seats, or making it an Urizen national position appointed by Tally of the Votes.

The civil service believe that Bastien Debruin is using this offer to improve their political position in the Delves, and within the house of the Bear. There's no suggestion Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike thinks this is a problem the Empire needs to worry about. There is also some suggestion that securing a working relationship with the Debruin family, and by extension the House of the Bear, might provide other opportunities. There is a reason the Debruin are not worried about transporting valuable weirwood through the contested Bay of Catazar – the Bear are well known for their martial prowess. Having the Debruin family with a vested interest in Cargo and by extension the Bay of Catazar could open up other opportunities if the Ambassador can think of a way to broach the subject.

===Hyenas Under Sail===
* '''The House of the Hyena and their allies are interested in opportunities on the Brass Coast'''
* '''They aren't prepared to commit to anything while the Children of Wrecks are still a significant threat'''
During the Spring Equinox, the [[Iron Confederacy|Suranni]] Duke of Arbonne [[Burying_the_lede#A_Fleeting_Offer|hosted a gathering]] to discuss matters relating to salvage in Iron Confederacy waters. In addition to Imperial citizens, participants from several foreign nations attended including two representatives of the [[Sarcophan Delves]]. ''Anders'' and ''Geert'' are apparently members of the [[Founders_of_the_Delves#The_Hyena|House of the Hyena]] - the Sarcophan faction that deals extensively in metals both practical and precious. It seems that a [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] attendee - '''Damian I Martan I Erigo''' - hit it off with the Sarcophan and at the Summer Solstice approached them with some potential opportunities regarding the Brass Coast. Anders and Geert themselves are nowhere near influential enough to negotiate on behalf of the Delves, but passed Damian's letter on to those who can.

According to Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike, the House of the Hyena are very interested in the opportunity to invest in the Brass Coast. According to her formal communiques to the embassy, Damian's proposals included the possibility of establishing a "trade of metals both used in the artisanal trade as well as both [[ilium]] and [[mithril]]." With the prices of Imperial wains predicted to be [[#Conflict Breeds Opportunities|higher than the Delves are prepared to pay]], that still leaves the opportunity for the House of the Hyena, to explore Freeborn markets for their own metals. ''Bedelaar Huisbaas Alama Vanderkleij'' is one of the wealthiest people in Sarcophan, and for the last seven years has sat in the Seat of the Hyena during the Beggar's Banquet. She is very interested in selling mithril and artisan metals to Freeborn markets... but not until the immediate threat of the Children of Wrecks is addressed. Alama is not concerned about the pirate ships - their presence would simply reflect the amount the Vanderkleij would need to spend on mercenaries or the amount of harbour protection she would require. She is much more concerned about the [[Spring magic]] favoured by the followers of ''High Priestess Shivaarn''. Magical storms and floods are very difficult to prepare for and the losses they can inflict could prove extremely costly. Once the Empire can demonstrate that they can deal with the Children of Wrecks threat, however, she is very keen to establish a Sarcophan presence at either [[Madruga#Calvos|Calvos]] or [[Madruga#Lightsea|Quzar]].

The Hyena have also been speaking to other families, and it appears there is a great deal of interest in the potential offered by the ruins of [[Madruga#Siroc_(Ruined)|Siroc]]. The city was [[A beacon of smoke|burned]] by the Asaveans and their Grendel allies, and then drowned by the rising of the Scorrero river. The Vanderkleij have reached an agreement with several smaller families associated with the distastefully named [[Founders_of_the_Delves#The_Maggot|House of the Maggot]] who are very excited by the possibility of an exclusive contract to salvage the ruins - and they would pay either the Imperial treasury or the Senator for Madruga quite well for the opportunity. But again, this opportunity is reliant on the Empire showing they can deal with the Children of Wrecks.

==Regarding the Kruidenkenner==
* '''The Ambassador has passed on a request from the Kruidenkenner Trademaster'''
* '''The Kruidenkenner have been considering the nature of their investment in the Empire'''
The ''Kruidenkenner'' are an association of skilled Sarcophan herbalists. They have extensive investments in the Empire – the [[Kruidenkenner_Trademaster#The_Kruidenkenner_Magazijn| Kruidenkenner Magazijn]] at [[Necropolis#Longbeach|Crown's Quay]] is the largest and best known but they also maintain a
[[Master_of_the_Root_and_Stem#The_Kruidenkenner_Magazijn|warehouse]] in [[Mitwold]], overseen by the [[Master of the Root and Stem]]. Kruidenkenner merchants regularly sell herbs to the [[Master_of_the_Clearing_House#Tassato_Apothecary_Clearing_House|Clearing House]] in [[Tassato]], to the [[High_Herbalist_of_Sybella#The_Kruidenkenner|High Herbalist of Sybella]] in [[Bastion]], and they've been increasingly making use of the [[Custodian_of_Ivarsgard_Docks#The_Sarcophan_Mooring|Sarcophan mooring]] in [[Karsk#Ivarsgard|Ivarsgard]] to trade with [[Varushka|Varushkan]] herbalists.

Ambassador Hrafnar has raised with Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike the concerns of the current [[Kruidenkenner Trademaster]], '''Bernardo Von Temeschwar''', who believes the prices being charged by the Kruidenkenner for Sarcophan herbs are too high. They proposed that the price be lowered by three rings across the board. Annike reports that the association has carefully considered the matter, but regretfully declines the suggestion. They cite both the costs of protecting their ships in Imperial waters, and the fact that Imperial citizens are still ''buying'' their herbs at the current price. They also point out that their opportunities for profit are being artificially restricted by the prohibition against using their warehouses, or goods purchased in the Empire, to trade with nations the Senate is at war with. And then of course there is the matter of the [[#The Price of Doing Business|Asavean bounty]] and the [[#Children of Wrecks|bloodthirsty pirates]].

A spokesperson for the Kruidenkenner thanks the Ambassador and the Trademaster, however. The request has prompted the association to review their investments in the Empire, to see if there is anything that might be done to improve them (from the Sarcophan point of view). One general element the Kruidenkenner are keen that the Ambassador understand is that in addition to herbs, they are also capable of importing ready-brewed [[potion|potions]], especially medicines such as the [[Apothecary Potions|essential healing philtres]] or the more specialised potions of the [[Master Medicinal]]. Without meaning any slight against Imperial [[surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecaries]], if there is interest they would be prepared to draw up a proposal for an apothecary market in the Empire provided the Ambassador provided them with the names of two or at most three coastal ports where such a thing might be appreciated. Alongside, of course, an idea of which potions the Empire would be interested in.

They also have two more specific proposals regarding their business in the Empire.

===Flowers for Sybellla ===
* '''The Kruidenkenner propose changing the herbs they provide to the High Herbalist of Sybella'''
* '''The Ambassador could effect this change on behalf of the High Herbalist by asking the Kruidenkenner to make it'''
When the Senate allowed the Kruidenkenner to [[Expand_the_Kruidenkenner_Magazjin|expand]] their warehouses at Crown's Quay allowed them greater opportunity to [[The_mathematics_of_tears#Investment|invest]] in trade with Imperial herbalists including the [[High_Herbalist_of_Sybella|High Herbalist of Sybella]]. While demand for Sarcophan herbs began strong, it has declined sharply in recent seasons.
<table style="width:400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;" class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Kruidenkenner Purchase'''</td><td style="background-color: LightYellow;"></td>
<tr><td>7 Crowns</td><td>10 true vervain, 6 marrowort</td></tr>
<tr><td>17 Crowns</td><td>22 true vervain, 11 marrowort</td></tr>
<tr><td>35 Crowns</td><td>32 true vervain, 18 marrowort</td></tr>
</table>
Some of the merchants who deal with the [[High_Herbalist_of_Sybella#Sybella_Cross_Physician's_Hall|physician's hall]] have suggested that the High Herbalist's responsibility to secure herbs for the [[Anvil#The_Anvil_Hospital|Anvil hospital]] may mean that being at the mercy of the vagaries of supply and demand is less than ideal. They propose a change to the herbs they offer to allow more certainty to the High Herbalist. Specifically the two herbs they consider most useful in emergency situations; [[true vervain]] to preserve life and [[marrowort]] to treat immediate, life-threatening injuries.

If the High Herbalist wishes to enact this change, they should instruct the Ambassador to accept on their behalf. The Kruidenkenner visiting the Sybella Cross physician's hall would shift to providing these specific herbs in the quantities proposed, and at the same price the High Herbalist was previously paying for random herbs.

The civil service suggest that this approach might be taken elsewhere as well; wherever the Kruidenkenner are currently providing random herbs they might be persuaded to provide specific herbs. It might even be possible that such changes could be negotiated whenever the Imperial demand for herbs shifted – changing what their ministries provided in response to the request of the title holder. It would be up to the Ambassador to pursue such possibilities, however.

===Mead and Mazzarine===
* '''The Kruidenkenner propose expanding their magazijn in Meade'''
* '''Doing so would allow the Master of the Root and Stem to add two additional ministry tracks to allow them to purchase specific herbs'''
The Empire has recently completed a project to [[ 385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Dredge_the_Westmere|dredge the Westmere]] in [[Mitwold]]. The city of [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]] already has a ''[[Master_of_the_Root_and_Stem#The_Kruidenkenner_Magazijn|magazijn]]'' – a warehouse specifically used by the Kruidenkenner – that allows the [[Master of the Root and Stem]] to purchase large amounts of [[bladeroot]] from the 'Delves.
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Meade magazijn expansion'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Ministry amendment (Senate Motion)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Meade, Mitwold</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 8 weirwood, 24 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Adds two additional tracks to the Master of the Root and Stem ministry</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Senate motion must specify two herbs to be added to the ministry</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
Never being shy about opportunities for profit, and interested in new markets in the western Empire, the Kruidenkenner propose an expansion of their presence there. Expanding the Meade magazijn would require 8 wains of weirwood, and 24 crowns in labour. It would take three months to complete, and would allow the Master of the Root and Stem to add two additional purchase tracks to their ministry. In the Senate motion commissioning the expansion, they would need to specify which two of imperial roseweald, marrowort, cerulean mazzarine, or true vervain they wanted the Kruidenkenner to provide. The prices and amounts, at least initially, would be the same as those they are paying for Bladeroot.

This opportunity remains available until the end of the year; if it has not been taken up by the end of the Winter Solstice 386YE, then it will be lost.

The civil service suggest that if the Kruidenkenner investment in Meade does well, it might sponsor greater interest in the city among other Sarcophan Delves concerns. Their current interest is likely threefold. Demand for herbs at the [[Custodian_of_Ivarsgard_Docks#The_Sarcophan_Mooring|Ivarsgard docks]] has declined sharply in recent years, and the threat of [[Dho'uala]] has made [[the Semmerlak]] less appealing to the Kruidenkenner. The expansion of Meade's waterfront, and its increasing prestige as a trade hub, is appealing to the Sarcophan herbalists. And thanks to the Children of Wrecks, the path through the Gullet is significantly safer at the moment than the Bay of Catazar.
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: Pink;">'''Farm owners of Hahnmark'''</tr>
<tr><td>TBC</td></tr>
</table></div>

==Flowers in Frost==
* '''Florian and Gelder Kraft have approached the farm owners of Wintermark with a business opportunity.'''
* '''Farm owners in Hahnmark will be polled on whether they support the opportunity, with other farmers in the territory following suit'''
* '''Accepting the opportunity provides an opportunity to gain access to a rare delicacy called viezesmaak, but removes the benefits provided by Brenna's Gift'''
* '''A meeting of Hahnmark's farmers has been arranged at TBC at the tree of names in the Wintermark camp to vote on whether to endorse the offer'''
Connoisseurs of Anvil's finer pleasures may have previously met brothers ''Florian'' and ''Gelder Kraft'' - brewers of substances designed with recreation rather than practicality in mind. This season they are not travelling to [[Anvil]] in person; they are too busy touring [[Wintermark]] with an unusual offer.

The pair have come into possession of some cuttings of the rare ''vlinderbloem'' - a delicate plant with a sublime dual-petalled pink flower that only blooms in alpine climes. The petals of the blossom are a key ingredient in a traditional Sarcophan delicacy - ''viezesmaak'' - which is apparently all the rage in [[Faraden]] at the moment. One of the reasons viezesmaak is so rare, is the difficulty in getting the plants to flower within the Delves themselves, as the environment is far too warm, damp, and muggy for them to flourish.

Florian and Gelder have hit upon a novel solution to the problem of securing enough vlinderbloem. They want to invest in the farms of [[Hahnmark]], offering each farm owner in the nation the opportunity to give over some of their land to raising a vlinderbloem patch in return for a portion of viezesmaak brewed with Wintermark-grown blossoms. Those prepared to give over more land to a harvest would receive more viezesmaak.

The farmers of Hahnmark are a little reticent to take these earnest-appearing Sarcophan at face value, and look to Anvil for guidance. If the farmers who attend Anvil think it is a good idea to take this offer, then many of them will do the same. If they think it's a bad idea, then Florian and Gelder will have little uptake for their scheme. After some discussion with the civil service, the egregore has managed to put together a list of Winterfolk farm owners who are attending the Autumn Equinox. The plan is to hold an informal gathering of these people, and put the matter to a show of hands, with a simple majority setting the message the egregores will spread among the interested farm owners. The Sarcophan entrepeneurs will be sending a few samples of viezesmaak along with the egregore to show the farmers what they will be receiving and helping to produce.

If the scheme goes ahead, then every Hahnmark farmer will receive two doses of viezesmaak each season while the Sarcophan remain invested in the territory. They will also have the ability to trade some of their income in downtime for additional doses on a season-by-season basis. This ability would remain available for at least a year, perhaps longer. The Kraft family would also seek other opportunities to make a profit in Wintermark. Their interests are not restricted to Hahnmark; for example they would be exporting their viezesmaak through the newly revitalised port of [[Kallavesa#Wittal_Grove|Fisk]] taking advantage of the recently established trade route to [[Faraden]]. Where the Kraft family lead the way, other Sarcophan merchants might well follow.

The opportunity is not without cost however; with more land given over to growing vlinderbloem, there would be significantly less surplus food, meat, and seed contributed by Wintermark farmers to [[Hahnmark#Brenna's_Gift|Brenna's Gift]]. The Sarcophan plan to make use of the trading posts to work with the local farmers, but that will mean more of the business undertaken there relating to their plan. As such the [[great work]] would cease providing additional money to the farms of Wintermark. The silos themselves would be undamaged, and if the farmers of Wintermark chose to end their association with the Kraft family it would be possible to re-establish their support for Hahnmark's farmers. But as long as farmers were growing vlinderbloem, their monetary support would be lost.

Florian and Gelder need a decision by the end of the Autumn Equinox if they are to get their new business partnership established. The egregore will host the meeting of Hahnmark farmers at TBC in the Wintermark camp.

==An Expensive Letter==
* '''Jasmijn Dijkgraaf, a Sarcophan merchant offers to convey a letter of introduction to the Tetrarchs of Elakar'''
* '''The letter will only be delivered if Jasmijn Dijkgraaf can approve its contents'''
* '''If the Sarcophan deliver the letter they will charge the ambassador eleven thrones for the service'''
Last season the Imperial ambassador's counterpart politely declined to provide more information about the Elakar. They confirmed that they enjoy good relations with the small nation, but provided no details, claiming they needed to respect the Elakar's privacy. In reality, the notorious greedy Sarcophan were clearly more concerned with guarding the trade monopolies they enjoy with the Elakar - so the only details they provided were to confirm that they were unaware of any official Elakar delegation to the Empire.

Now, they appear to have had something of a change of heart. Or perhaps more likely they have simply devised a way to profit from the Empire's interest in the Elakar. Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has passed on an offer from the Jasmijn Dijkgraaf, a small family allied with the House of the Vulture. This is not a wealthy family, at least not by Sarcophan standards, but the Bedelaar talks of Jasmijn in a complimentary way that implies the Dijkgraafs are an up and coming enterprise with shrewd leadership.

Jasmijn Dijkgraaf is offering to convey a letter of introduction to the Elakar Tetrarchs. The cost for this service will be eleven thrones, ''"consummate with the difficulties involved"''. The Dijkgraafs state they will only pass on a single letter, and only after they have read and approved it, to ensure there are no repercussions for the Delves should the Empire's correspondence offend the Tertrarchs. If they refuse to pass on the letter for any reason, they will return it and the eleven thrones.

Jasmijn will only accept a letter from Thanmir Hrafnar and no other. She is aware that the position is up for re-election and that Thanmir may or may not continue as Ambassador to the Delves, but she claims that the ambassador is well-known and respected in the Delves. Thus, she will only take a letter from him, regardless of who the ambassador is. There is no issue if Thanmir chooses not to take the Dijkgraafs up on their offer, but she assures the Empire that there will be categorically no contact of any kind with the Elakar if they choose to decline. ('''OOC note:''' A winged message sent to Jasmijn Dijkgraaf in The Palace of the Vultures, Sarcophan, Sarcophan Delves may be conveyed to the Tetrarchs of the Elakar if the Ambassador to the Delves includes eleven thrones in their hand-in baggy to pay the delivery charges).

==Further Reading==
* [[Sarcophan Delves]]
* [[Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves]]
* [[Sarcophan Delves ports]]

* [[Houses of Silence]] - 386YE Autumn Wind of Fortune relating to the Alivetti estates
* [[Towers and crows]] - 386YE Summer Wind of Fortune discussing Sarcophan diplomatic matters
<big>'''Sarcophan Associated Titles</big>
* [[Kruidenkenner Trademaster]]
* [[High Herbalist of Sybella]]
* [[Master of the Root and Stem]]
* [[Master of the Clearing House]]
* [[Custodian of Ivarsgard Docks]]
* [[Custodian of the Concordium Dock]]
* [[Bishop of the Navigators]]

Beneath mithril spires

2024-08-31T13:36:20Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* War in the East */ Spelling Correction

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Commonwealth]]
<ic>Winter never loosens it's grip on the mithril spires of Volkavaar. Snow falls all year round, a pale blanket on the slate roofs churned to grey slush in the busy streets. Sometimes it becomes so cold that the river feeding into the harbour freezes solid, and when it does the citizens of Volkavaar celebrate with a glorious Ice Fair and contests of ice-skating and dog-racing. Weather-watchers suggest just such a winter is coming, any day now.

The city is barely more than a century old, at least in its current form. During the rebellion - the revolution - that saw the old feudal system overthrown in the name of the Common Good Volkavaar sustained serious damage. Rather than rebuild, the remaining structures were torn down and a new city rose in its place. A city planned and laid out with precision, with wide avenues, with defensive walls sufficient to hold an army at bay. Over the years since the city has grown beyond the wildest dreams of those first architects, and the sharp angles and clean lines at the heart of Volkavaar are surrounded by the kind of sprawling, chaotic, unpredictable mazes of streets and buildings that mark the urban centres of the rest of the world. The symbollism is not lost on the scholars and philosophers.

And there are many of those in the city. At the heart of Volkavaar stands a grand university, dedicated to magic and engineering; to the practical arts of the artisan and the theoretical sciences of the prognosticator; to history and politis; to philosophy and art; and to all the thousand other subjects that make people, people.

Or perhaps the true heart of the city is the great Temple of the Common Good, a truly inspiring edifice of white granite and mithril, a great school in its own right dedicated to the principles that guided the Commonwealth to become the world power that it is today. Even pilgrims of the way cannot help but be moved by the grandeur of the halls and galleries, the art, the stained-glass windows and murals that depict the many ways the world can be made ''better'' if one only has the courage of ones convictions.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Ice Skates.jpg|caption=Winter never looses its grip on [[Commonwealth_ports#Volkavaar_(Western_Commonwealth)|Volkavaar]], the university city of the western [[Commonwealth]].|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
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.

The [[Commonwealth]] are perhaps the closest allies the Empire has among the five other great powers of the known world. Committed to the idea of ensuring the greatest good to the greatest number of people, their martially inclined society does not always agree with the Empire, but they clearly respect them. The Empire shared their mastery of magic with the magicians of the Commonwealth, and Commonwealth soldiers fought and died alongside the Freeborn in the [[A beacon of smoke|fall of Siroc]]. Both nations are dedicated to extending their influence over the whole world, and know that only one of them can fulfill their grand ambition, but for now they can be friends.

The Commonwealth ambassador to the Empire is ''Militärattache Ludkhannah Schöningen'', of die Stahlhalle in the port-city of Volkavaar, a veteran soldier who reports to the generals who hold the reins of political power in their nation. An old campaigner, they generally speak plainly and as honestly as any politician can when dealing with their Imperial counterpart.
{{Nation|nation=Commonwealth|status=Foreigner|port=[[Commonwealth_ports#Leerdam_(Eastern_Commonwealth)|Leerdam]] and [[Commonwealth_ports#Volkavaar_(Western_Commonwealth)|Volkavaar]]|ambassador=Lucia Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato of [[the League]]}}
==The New Embassy==
* '''The Commonwealth is pleased to hear that the Empire has started work on building a new embassy'''
There is some good news; the Empire has [[Construct Diplomatenschloss|started building]] a new ''diplomatenschloss'' to replace the [[embassy]] destroyed by the Grendel invasion of [[the Brass Coast]]. ''Poldi Hellebrant'', a respected Commonwealth siege engineer, has arrived in the town of [[Necropolis#Hedrossan|Hedra]], in [[Necropolis]], to oversee the work and reported quite favourably on both the land set aside and the progress of the construction.

Members of the Civil Service who have spoken with Poldi report that they are particularly pleased with the ''modernity'' of the docks here – a far cry from the more traditional facilities of [[Necropolis#Longbeach|Crown's Quay]]. She has expressed some concern however that the proximity of [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]], and the embassy there, means that Jarmish and Commonwealth vessels will both be travelling along the Couros river which might prove... problematic.
==War in the East==
* '''The Commonwealth and Jarm are both engaged in open warfare over the smaller nation of Lantir'''
* '''The Commonwealth are disappointed that the Senate did not grant leave for military captains to support the war against the Jarmish'''
The Commonwealth remain occupied with their war with the [[Principalities of Jarm]]. They do not discuss the actual progress of their conflict with Jarm; perhaps the Militärattache is wary of allowing information to fall into the hands of their enemies. The Commonwealth fields more armies than the Jarmish, but the Magician-Princes more than make up for this deficit with their mastery of magic.

As a result the outcome remains in doubt. It is perhaps notable that Commonwealth officers have abandoned the optimistic picture of a short, swift victory and are increasingly talking of a prolonged war in which they seek to use their superior numbers to bleed the enemy dry.

News that the Empire is disinclined to [[Thrones_and_principalities#An_Interest_in_Artifice|sell valuable magical tools]] to the Jarmish is obviously well received, but Militärattache Ludkhannah expresses disappointment that the [[Imperial Senate]] did ''not'' [[For_the_Common_Good#Boots_on_the_Ground|grant permission]] for mercenary-minded [[military unit|military captains]] to travel to the Commonwealth to help fight the Jarmish directly. The Commonwealth generals are disappointed but not surprised. It is understandable that the Imperial Senate would probably prefer those military units be directed to fighting the Empire's wars rather than be off fighting for the Commonwealth.

==Matters of Mana==
* ''' Militärattache Schöningen thanks the Ambassador for the gifts provided'''
The Militärattache extends the gratitude of the Commonwealth Generals for the gifts of mana and [[Imperial_Seer#Waters_of_the_Shimmering_Shore|magical water]] provided by the office of the [[Voice of Liberty]]. Their gratitude is expressed with diplomatic care - the gift is appreciated and the mana will be put to good use fighting the Jarmish, but by itself it won't be enough to turn the tide of war.

The best civil service estimates suggest that the Commonwealth may have as many as forty armies, though it is believed that not all of them are deployed against the Jarmish at this time. To give some idea of the scale of the problem, the civil service suggest considering how pivotal the Empire would find it to have a single additional enchantment for one season while they were fighting a force equivalent to the combined armies of the Druj, the Grendel and the Jotun. It would be significant certainly - and much appreciated - but by itself the impact would be muted.

Jarm is a ''great power'', equivalent to the Commonwealth and the Empire itself. This is why the Commonwealth proposed the [[For_the_Common_Good#Star_Metal_and_Mana|Sternenmetal Tower]]. Their analysts at the Leerdam University projected that the money raised, could be used to purchase anywhere up to three hundred crystal mana each season for the duration of the war. These are the kinds of quantities of crystal that the Commonwealth believe it needs if it is to match the Jarmish prowess with battlefield magic.
==The Freedom Accords==
* '''The Commonwealth appear largely unconcerned by the efforts of Jarm and Asavea to build an alliance to oppose the Liberty Pact'''
There has been some talk in recent months about the ''Freedom Accord'' – an alliance put together by [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavea]] and Jarm in opposition to the [[Liberty Pact]]. It is an open secret that the Accord has been working to entice smaller nations, especially the [[Iron Confederacy]], into joining. In their formal correspondence, Ambassador Lucia suggested that the Commonwealth join the [[Sumaah Republic]] in working with the Empire to perform a joint [[appraisal]] to limit its influence.

Unfortunately there is little appetite for the Ambassador's proposal. Militärattache Ludkhannah does not see how such a thing could even work. There is no easy way for the Imperial civil service and their equivalents in the Commonwealth – in this case the scholars of the various universities - to work together on such a project. Even if they could, it would be very unlikely indeed that they could usefully explore opportunities in the Empire, the Commonwealth, and the Sumaah Republic simultaneously. She also believes that it is also very unlikely that any findings would be of general use – each nation is different and what might work to encourage Faraden to eschew the Accord would mean little to the Astanites.

The view of the Commonwealth is that what matters in the world are the actions of the great powers - the Empire, the Commonwealth, the Sarcophan, the Jarmish, the Asaveans, and the Sumaah. The Freedom Accords that the Jarmish and the Asaveans have signed are a concern, because any alliance between Jarm and Asavea is a concern. But the Commonwealth don't care what efforts the Asaveans make to bring their smaller neighbours into their alliance because they don't think it will make an iota of difference to their conflict with Jarm.

Of course, they don't want the House of Princes to form alliances with their neighbours - arguably that is what this entire war over Lantir is really about - but the Commonwealth are already exerting all their efforts to prevent that happening. They don't anticipate that the Empire can do much, or anything, to help with that, just as they don't believe their influence will be meaningful in preventing the Grendel from accepting Asavean help.

The Militärattache and their staff remain convinced that the Commonwealth should deal with affairs in their region of the world, and the Empire should, in turn, focus on their own. It is not like the Empire is short of neighbours who embrace slavery - the [[Jotun]], the [[Grendel]], the Iron Confederacy, the [[Druj]] - all these nations are built on slavery or appear to use some variant of it. The view of the Commonwealth is that the Empire should focus all its efforts on defeating these threats, since only the Empire is in a position to use armies and magic against them directly.
==Viyerda==
* '''The Commonwealth do not want the Empire to contact the Viyerda but are trying to avoid causing offence with their refusal'''
* '''The Senate could send Naomi of Virtue's Rest to open diplomatic channels with the Viyerda'''
* '''The Celestial Arch could use a declaration to ask members of the Order to open diplomatic channels with the Viyerda'''
On that front, the Militärattache politely declines to provide approval for any Imperial outreach to [[A_star_is_born#The_Viyerda|Viyerda]]. ''Technically'' they don't ask the Empire not to make contact; instead they repeatedly assert that the Commonwealth generals have ''"failed to approve the Empire's request"'' in a way that makes clear that the state of affairs is not going to change in the future. This is very clearly an attempt to find a diplomatic way to say "no". The Commonwealth does not want the Empire to make the attempt, but they also don't want their refusal to offend their allies unless they are left with no alternative.

The civil service advises that this creates a challenge for the Empire. The Commonwealth have been consistent in their belief that each of the three great powers of the Liberty Pact should be responsible for dealing with their neighbours. They don't expect to involve themselves in the local affairs of the Empire or the Sumaah without an explicit invitation to do so. They haven't explicitly refused the Empire permission to contact the Viyerda, but it is painfully obvious that they would rather the Empire stayed away. Pointed references to the Grendel, the Druj and others are a diplomatic way of suggesting that the Empire mind its own business and focus on affairs at home.

Contacting the Viyerda will upset the Commonwealth. It would by no means end the Empire's relations with them - there is more that underpins the alliance than that. But it will damage the friendship, such as it is, and it will send a clear message to the Commonwealth - a reminder that the Empire intends to pursue relations with those nations that border the Commonwealth, regardless of their ally's feelings on the matter.

Both of the options [[A_star_is_born#Further_Contact|identified last season]] remain viable. The Imperial Senate could spend 60 thrones to pay for Naomi of Virtue's Rest to undertake a follow-up expedition to the Sea of Steel with a view to attempting to open diplomatic relations with them. It would require the Senate to authorise the work and would use one of the available opportunities to commission an appraisal for the season. Alternatively, the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] could use a [[declaration]] of [[Concord]] in [[Imperial Conclave|Conclave]] to ask the magicians of their order to make the attempt. It would only require a single declaration, but it would take six months to complete, and cost 100 mana, rather than the normal 20.

The Ambassador also put forward a suggestion that the Commonwealth might wish to dredge the sea around Rachensgrab to recover resources from the many slaving ships sunk there. The inspiration is apparently the work closer to home, where the Empire is working with the Iron Confederacy to explore the wreckage of the [[Emperor Barabbas|Barabbine Fleet]]. The Militärattache appreciates the suggestion but they do not believe it would be profitable to make the attempt. The remains of three navies in relatively shallow water close to Imperial shores are likely to prove a lot easier, and more productive, to salvage than a scattering of small slaving ships in freezing waters many, many miles from any friendly ports.

==Across the Sea of Steel==
* '''The Senate could use a motion to instruct the Civil Service to coordinate a series of forays into the Sea of Steel'''
* '''The expedition would cost 75 thrones and last up to three seasons'''
* '''A naval strength of at least two thousand would provide contact with a new independent foreign nation each season'''
The Sea of Steel is a mystery; Imperial captains know how to reach the major ports of the Commonwealth and Jarm, but most of what lies beyond that is terra incognita. The recent expedition to Rachensgrab [[A_star_is_born#The_Viyerda|discovered Viyerda]], a single independent nation – but there is a lot more to the coasts and lands of the Sea of Steel than one semi-frozen archipelago.
{{SOP|statement=O captains, our captains! Show courage as many Marchers have done so before you. Answer Esteban i Del Rio Blanco i Guerra's call to explore the beyond the Sea of Steel. Virtuous for its extension of wisdom, ambition, courage, loyalty to our nation and our Empire, pride in your achievements, the prosperity of our people and vigilance of what lies beyond. Where we used to say "Nothing further beyond" let us change our tune!|by=Fredegar Bloodmouth|vote=Greater Majority 160-0|when=Summer Solstive 386YE}}
{{SOP|statement=Freeborn Captains! We appeal to the Ambition of our fleet owners to answer the call to adventure and Courageously sail over the horizon, discovering lands unknown to the East, and bring the Wisdom you earn back to the Empire.|by=Estevanico i Hayim|vote=86-8|when=Summer Solstive 386YE}}
The success of the trip to the Sea of Steel has cultivated some interest in further expeditions. The [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Assembly passed a [[statement of principle]] raised by '''Estevanico i Hayim''' calling on [[fleet|sailors]] to explore the lands to the east. The [[the Marches|Marcher]] assembly endorsed that discussion. Interestingly the former – a judgement from a nation well known for its sailors and corsairs – did not receive a greater majority, while the latter – a judgement from a nation with no real maritime tradition to speak of – did.

The Empire could capitalise on this interest while it lasts. Mapping the Sea of Steel is out of the question due to the sheer scale. A vast ocean, thousands of miles across, it is not possible for the Empire to produce detailed charts of the waters the way they did with the [[Bay of Catazar]]. But the [[Imperial Senate]] could use a [[Senate motion]] to instruct the Civil Service to coordinaate Imperial fleet captains heading east to carry out a basic survey of Sea, assessing the extent of the major land masses and plotting their rough positions in relation to each other. The exercise would not be cheap - it would cost the Senate 75 thrones, and take three seasons to complete, but it would provide a lasting improvement in the Empire's knowledge of the world.

If the Senate chooses to commission the Civil Service to support such a project, following the Autumn Equinox it will create an [[adventure]] for Imperial fleet captains '''Journey to the Sea of Steel''', which would be found in the [[Fleet#Take_Independent_Action|Independent Action]] dropdown and supported by [[enchantment|enchantments]] that assist in such endeavours. Captains would receive [[Fleet#Production|random production]] just as for any other independent action. Enchanted or upgraded fleets would receive commensurately more as standard.

If enough Imperial fleet captains supported the expedition then it would also allow the Empire to seek out the smaller independent nations distinct from the Commonwealth and Jarm that must surely lie there – just as there are smaller independent nations around the Empire. Each season that the Empire committed a force with a strength of at least two thousand to the expedition, they would be able to find a single independent nation. It's impossible to know how these nations might respond to Imperial ships, but regardless of any welcome, fleet captains would return with as much information as the Empire has now about Viyerda.

There are two challenges. Firstly, the Imperial Treasury is reportedly very short at the moment. Unless the Imperial Senate decides this expedition is a priority, they are unlikely to consider this money well spent. If that proves to be the case, the expedition would need the backing of wealthy citizens who could raise the money to pay for the project.

Secondly, and more importantly perhaps, the presence of Imperial vessels exploring the Sea of Steel will not go unnoticed by either the Commonwealth or Jarm. In the face of a polite request to stay out of the Commonwealth's back yard, this will be taken quite poorly by the Empire's ally. The Jarmish have less invested, but will likewise assume the worst from Imperial ships in waters they traditionally consider their own sphere of influence. While Jarm is hardly friendly with the Empire at the moment, relations are thawing a little. This would almost certainly arrest that thaw.
==Asavean Envy==
* '''Fewer Commonwealth vessels are trading with Imperial ports due to the bounty placed on trade with the Empire by the Asavean plenum'''
* '''Imperial fleets have an advantage to trade with Commonwealth ports while the bounty continues'''
While the Commonwealth are enthusiastic about their trade with the Empire, the [[Scions of Asav#Red Sails|bounty]] placed on all ships trading with the Empire by the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] Plenum has started being felt. Commonwealth ships are not especially undefended, but fending off opportunistic pirates and privateers, and the occasional well-organised pack of Asavean vessels, stretches the goodwill of their merchants. There are still Commonwealth ships reaching Imperial shores, but the amount of trade has tailed off dramatically.

Militärattache Ludkhannah Schöningen counsels that the Commonwealth cannot spare many warships to escort its vessels due to the war with Jarm. While [[Commonwealth_ports#Volkavaar_(Western_Commonwealth)|Volkavaar]] and [[Commonwealth_ports#Leerdam_(Eastern_Commonwealth)|Leerdam]] remain open to, and welcoming of, Imperial traders the Militärattache has no intention of putting pressure on Commonwealth captains to undertake the increasingly dangerous trip to Imperial waters, at least not at the moment. They welcome suggestions from the Ambassador as to how they might help at this time, but caution that they cannot afford to be at war with two great powers at this time.

As mentioned [[Drumbeat_of_war#Hoist_Sails|last season]], the lack of Commonwealth ships making the trip to the Empire is comparatively good for the Empire's [[fleet]] captains. Anyone trading with the Commonwealth this season will see a small boost to their profits (gaining the equivalent of a single rank) thanks to increased demand and, consequently, profits.
==Shrouded Schloss==
* '''The magicians at the Lyceum Schloss are apparently doing quite well despite being cut off from the world'''
Finally, and somewhat belatedly, Militärattache Schöningen passes along their thanks to the Empire for their work protecting the Commonwealth magicians studying at [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#The_Lyceum_Schloss|the Lyceum Schloss]]. The [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Objective:_Raise_the_Lyceum's_wards|misty wards]] that protect the island [[college of magic]] have kept the visiting magicians safe as well. Apparently several messages have been received from the wizards trapped there, reassuring their families and colleagues that they are doing as well as might be expected, surviving on fruit and fish and occasional food parcels delivered by heralds from the Night realm.

There have been requests however for an update on the situation outside the walls of mist, which are due to come down some time before the Winter Solstice. Should they be working with their Imperial colleagues to prepare for another [[Grendel]] attack? Is [[Madruga]] still in enemy hands? There has been some off-hand mention of cataclysmic magic in the area; should they be worried about it? Ludkhannah asks that the Ambassador speak with the [[Dean of the Lyceum]] and provide either reassurance or warning that they can pass on to the Commonwealth wizards trapped on the Lyceum isle.

==Further Reading==
* [[Commonwealth]]
* [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]]
* [[Commonwealth ports]]

* [[For the Common Good]] - 386YE Summer wind of fortune about Commonwealth diplomacy

The wild wind rises

2024-08-18T00:33:22Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Participation : Tusks */ Spacing

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:386YE Autumn]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Welcome to the Marches.jpg|caption=The [[the Marches|Marchers]] pride themselves on preparing a warm welcome for their friends, but also for their foes.|align=right|width=500}}<box>A PDF file of this wind is available [[:File:The wild wind rises.pdf|here]]</box></div>
==Loyalty to Great Things==
The [[Tusks]] march north through [[Kahraman#Braydon's Jasse| Braydon's Jasse]] into the [[Mournwold#Greensward|Greensward]]. They are fresh from the fight with the [[orc|orcs]] of the Lasambrian hills, having had little time to rest, no time to waste. The [[Jotun]] are in [[Mournwold]], and the Tusks are marching home to face them.

They won't face them alone – [[Wintermark]] fights with them. The [[Bloodcloaks]] and the [[Green Shield]], fresh from their furlough in [[Mitwold]] and [[Upwold]], come south through [[Mournwold#Chalkdowns|Chalkdowns]] and [[Mournwold#Freemoor|Freemoor]], eager for the fray. The [[Quiet Step]] are with them; [[Cold Sun]] has [[Last rays of the sun|been destroyed]], [[Miaren]] is safe for the moment, and the [[Navarr]] are eager to drive the invaders back into [[Liathaven]]. A prelude, perhaps, to the liberation of that wooded territory – hopefully while there are still some trees remaining.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Stanley Of Chalkdown, General of the Tusks">Jacks of the Tusks! There is trouble at the Old Oak Inn, unwelcome visitors of the worst sort. I say we march forwards! Forwards with the thorns of Navarr. Forwards with the rising citizens of the Mourn. Forwards with heroes headed by the Emperor. Forwards! Until the banners of sparrow and Tusks fly over Sarcombe, the Old Oak Inn and the Mourn!</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Iron Osric, General of the Green Shield">From fine Upwold feasting, the Green Shield goes to fight. The war blast calls them all, ready to do right. Walk these ragged roads, with resolute intent, to rout Queen Yrsa's rule, bring down ruin rent. Besides them Mournwold's Tusks, Stanley's comrades come with might. We stand beside our friends day of battle, bloody night. Oathsworn Black Scar Forenthar, bring with us swift spears, and Tager Defender of the Fallen, who fought with me all these years. To the Old Oak Inn we journey, joined as blood-marshal one. To sup and sing of victory, 'neath the setting sun. Witness our wards of war-play, pledges proudly placed. Join us heralds of Janon, there's a mighty queen to face.</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Lofyn Blood-cloak, General of the Bloodcloaks">My Cloaks, My Pride, Now is the season to prove our quality to show your peerless dedication to our Imperial kin. Long have you been the healing spring that feeds our defences, now turn that spring into a flood. Raise up Shield and healing hands alike. We march to Mournwold to recover the lost. There will be no death that is not a Good Death. No End but a Heroes End. Yrsa should have been warned. Mournwold brooks no Queen.</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Farenthar Shattersong, General of the Quiet Step">As we leave Miaren, Navarr return home to prepare for our final battle. We march west to the Mourne, Iron Osric with the Mark to the left of us, Stanley of Chalkdown with the Marches to the right, we engage the Jotun Invaders. While the Jotun spared Liaven's Glen, they still hold our Land around a heart we must defeat. We continue to fight in Virtue and Kinship so we may bring this dance to it's end. Victory in our Lifetime!</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="King Gudmunder Arasonn, General of the Fist of Ulven">The lands that were our ancestors' will be ours again. Side by side with the septs of the north we fight, to bring the Mourn to Narkyst once more. None will dare stand between us and our prize, save that they face the Choice. Our honour demands nothing less.</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Queen Yrsa Jansdottir, Jarl of Jarls, Monarch of Kalsea, General of the Lion of the North">Ulfur's horn sounds, calling us to war! Side by side we march with the King of the South, to repay our debts. As the folk of the Marches came to the north, so we come to the south. For our honour! For our ancestors! For our triumph!</quote></div>
They are bolstered by the garrisons of [[Mournwold#Farstrider's Watch|Farstrider's Watch]] and [[Mournwold#Landskeeper's Bulwark|Landskeeper's Bulwark]], and by some two thousand soldiers bound to the [[military unit|warbands]] of the Empire's heroes. Most of these captains fight with the Tusks, but there are a few with Wintermark. All three armies are also joined by battalions of faerie knights, drawn from the Summer Realm, from the [[Eleonaris|Fields of Glory]]. With the Bloodcloaks and the Green Shield, twin warlords in resplendent gold and crimson chain; ''Ser Grumbar'' and ''Ser Helvennan'', the Hound-knight and the Stag-knight, eternal rivals fighting on the same side in the battle of the Mourwold. Their two-thousand strong households glower and glare but are bound by their oaths to aid their Winterfolk cousins. With the Tusks marches sharp-eared Ollavan the Reeve, bowmaster unparalleled, and his cohort of archers, proud and glorious, eager to prove themselves against the orcs – and to test their skill against that of the [[The_Marches_military_concerns#Beaters|beaters]] they fight beside.

The [[Knights of Glory]] are not the only supernatural allies the Empire has found. One Alder of the Mourn has traded their [[mine]] to [[Adamant]]; in return they [[Raise the Dragonsworn Cohort|lead a cohort of ''koboldi'' warriors]] to help defend Farstrider's Watch. At the invitation of the General, the passionate warriors of the [[Janon|Shadowed Flame]] continue to fight with the Green Shield. Crimson and cobalt, whirling, blazing bright, they burn like torches inciting the Winterfolk that fight with them to greater and greater displays of bravery and heroism. They are indiscriminate in their enthusiasm and seek to set a fine example, and rather than avoid the elfin soldiers of the boar, the stag, and the reeve, they urge them to give their all in the battle against the Jotun.

Finally, there are the people of the Mournwold themselves. They accept the presence of the Tusks with dour, deprecating comments. The General had sworn an oath to protect the Mourn – what else would they do but bring the Tusks to fight the Jotun? It's just common sense! But there is no doubt that there is a frisson of relief, of quiet, grim celebration. The Tusks have come, and they will fight until the Mournwold is free. Yeomen and beaters come from across the territory, putting aside their rivalry to bolster the Tusks, to fight with them, to ensure they can say that they were there when the army of the Mourn marched to face the Jotun, to drive Jarl Haakon from the wolds once more. There are also plenty of Marcher orcs among them. Only a few have chosen to take up weapons, mostly young hotheads who have heard the call of their ancestors and seek to cross the Abyss in battle with their former masters. Most throw themselves into more supportive roles – healers and quartermasters – but they are not less eager to stand alongside their human neighbours and show the Jotun that they will never own the Mournwold again.

Here then, the forces of the Empire. Perhaps twenty-two thousand fighters, and six thousand heralds, standing proudly against the Jotun.
==Banners of Bear and Wolf==
In the hills of north-eastern Southmoor, three towers of white stone and black ice rise. The [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]], called from her frigid realm, garrisoned by icy warriors with strangely scaled armour and odd full-face helms and unfamiliar short-hafted spears. Summoned forth by Imperial magicians, they are the first to face the Jotun armies.

[[Standards|Last season]] two armies ventured into the Mournwold from Liathaven; the Lion of the North under the command of the Queen of Kallsea, Jarl of Jarls, Yrsa Jansdottir and the stoic Tower of the North, under the banners of the granite-faced Derun Stonetower. With them, the household and champions of Jarl Haakon, former ruler of the Mournwold, and the traitor yegarra who follow the lead of Stephen of Sarcombe. Perhaps fifteen thousand Jotun at most. Their cautious invasion [[Standards#Sarcombe|took]] the [[market town]] of [[Mournwold#Sarcombe|Sarcombe]], but did not press far into the Mournwold proper. By themselves, they would be no match for the Imperial host...

When the Tusks and their allies arrive, however, they find not two armies camped around Sarcombe but six. The Southern Bear have left the ''[[Only_forward#Object:_Halt_the_Burhfæst!|Burhfæst]]'' in [[Bregasland]] to move swiftly back through Liathaen and out to Southmoor; The fist of Ulven, the army of the King of Narkyst, Jarl of Jarls Gudmunder Arasonn is with them, southern king and northern queen ready to fight together in the Mournwold. They leave the Ice Fishers of Ldansk behind, garrisoning the citadel raised at [[Bregasland#Graven Rock|Graven Rock]]. At the same time the Bear who Swims and Roaring Thunder, fresh from their failed strike into northern Kahraman have moved straight through [[Liathaven#Liaven's_Glen|Liaven's Glan]] into the Mourn.

The western orcs are not waiting for the Empire, either. They are already on the move, consolidating their control of Southmoor. The Frozen Citadel delays their advance for a short time, giving the Empire's armies times to gather and prepare themselves in Greensward, but it cannot hold them alone. The siege engineers of the Tower of the North bring their might to bear against its walls and they are swiftly overwhelmed. Southmoor falls to the Jotun.

They immediately press east into the Greensward to face the Imperial armies. More than thirty thousand Jotun, striking with overwhelming force against the Empire. In the vanguard, the army of Queen Yrsa, further strengthened by fast-moving light infantry from [[Tromsa]], adept [[army_qualities#Skirmishing|smirmishers]]. Had the Empire been dug-in, defensive, they might quickly have overrrun the Imperial positions – as it is their presence is a complication but one easily matched by the equally swift-moving Marcher beaters, Navarr thorns, and Wintermark hunters.

The Green Shield are at the forefront of the fighting, glorious and terrible, clashing again and again with their Jotun rivals. The Blood Cloaks ensure that [[Army_qualities#Woundbinder|no warrior dies who might be saved]], their expertise ensuring that the fallen are recovered and tended and either made fit to fight or sent north or east to recuperate. The Quiet Step and The Tusks are more measured, balancing the need to drive the Jotun back with a desire not to waste lives against the larger orc force.

It looks as if the Marchers will lose Southmoor, and parts of Greensward, but they will be able to hold the line.

Then, the ''rest'' of the Jotun arrive. After barely a week of fighting another five Jotun armies march out of Liathaven to join the six already engaged with the Empire. The Fell Hammers, the Howling Night, the Iron Host, the Shield of the Mountain, and the Mandowla's Roar. It seems that only the Lasmabrian Jotun are not here; presumably resting and recuperating from their recent defeat in the Cinnabar Hills. The banners of a half dozen Jotun champions flutter among those of the armies including both the Jarls of Alftanes and Keirheim, and those of Eisa Winterborn and Helma Skutasdottir.

Alongside this great mass of Jotun march ten thousand warriors of the Summer Realm, under their own banners of gold and crimson. The knights that fight with the Empire see no paradox here; the heralds of both sides are eager to test themselves against their cousins.

All told, more than sixty thousand warriors pour east into the Greensward. The Imperial forces are given no option but to retreat, to fall back to Farstrider's Watch with the Jotun close on their heels.

==Battle of Farstriders Watch==
Farstrider's Watch is named for the beloved Marcher general Alusair Farstrider of [[The Marches groups#House_Balston|House Balston]], who fell in battle against the western orcs alongside many of her household. It stands on the mournful grasslands of the Greensward. It was funded by [[Empress Lisabetta|Imperatrix Lisabetta]], and was one of the first [[fortification|fortifications]] completed with the [[Sing_your_name#Securing_the_borders|aid of the virtuous]], in the wake of the [[consecration]] of the [[Casinea#The_Silent_Sentinel|Silent Sentinel]]. It was partially built in answer to [[An_apple_that_falls#Willing_To_Die_For_It|calls from the citizens of the Mournwold]] to ensure they were protected from [[Jotun]] retaliation. Its garrison has fought to protect the southern Mournwold from Jotun raids; now it offers sanctuary to the Imperial warriors facing what may be the single largest force of Jotun to ever come to the Marches. The Empire's champions are quick to regroup, to take advantage of the stout walls to gather their wits and revise their strategies.

They have less than a day before the Jotun are there, at the gates. Mandowla's Roar and the Roaring Thunder lead the way, having set a punishing pace across the Greensward in pursuit of glorious battle. The rest of the Jotun host is not far behind.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=General Flowers.jpg|caption=Some soldiers claim to have seen the spirit of General Farstrider. Some say they spoke with Bolstering Bill. Most likely it was just a dream. And yet...|align=right|width=300}}</div>
There are soldiers here who remember the last siege of the Greensward and the [[381YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Let_That_Be_Your_Last_Battlefield_(Mournwold)|Battle of Orchard's Watch]]. In the long watches of the night, some of the soldiers tell a tale of an unknown Marcher soldier, one of House Balston's badgers, who offers words of comfort to those on the walls. Some claim it's General Alusair herself; others that it's [[Bolstering Bill]]. More rational souls say it is a dream, or perhaps a ghost; the Greensward is haunted after all. But the story heartens some who hear it, for all that a few pilgrims worry it is blasphemous or heretical to believe in such things. There are plenty of pilgrims here, seeking refuge behind the walls. They offer spiritual support of their own, helping to keep the fear at bay.

Despite the best efforts of spirits, real or imagined, the walls of Farstrider's Watch cannot hold forever. Four days it lasts – two days longer than the most pessimistic estimate so perhaps there is something to those tales of ghostly soldiers after all. The armies are forced to retreat again as the gates fall, as the walls crumble before the overwhelming assault of the Jotun. Back past the Singing Caves, back to the Ore Hills. Perhaps there is some talk of abandoning the Mournwold altogether, of retreating to Tassato. If there is, it comes to naught. The Tusks will not tolerate such a failure. They will fight the Jotun every step, every inch of the way.

The punches keep coming. The Singing Caves is lost to the orcs of the Howling Night and the Jarl of Alftanes, the miners forewarned of the attack by strange knocking and odd dreams they ascribe to Jonah Gold are able to escape with a bounty of [[mithril]], but they cannot hope to hold the mine itself against the Jotun.
==At Honour's Rest==
At [[Friar_of_Honour%27s_Rest#Honour's_Rest|Honour's Rest]], the Jotun pause and break from tradition. The story that emerges says that Stephen of Sarcombe sought to sack the church there, and put to the sword any priest or pilgrim that would not bow their head and take the thrall oath. Eisa Winterborn intercedes, refusing to let him harm those sheltering there or fire the structure, her champions prepared to face his in battle to defend the place. In the end King Arasson himself is forced to intercede, to fall back from the front to mediate between his champions. His disgust at Stephen's actions becomes an open secret; upbraiding the furious yegarra he declares Honour's Rest to be a place under his protection. No Jotun will harm it or any beneath its roof, save that they invite that harm themselves, and if Stephen and his warriors will not accept that... then they will answer to the King of the South.

More than that, the king commands that work on the [[Let_the_day_die#The_morning_also|Orchard of the Watch]] will continue uninterrupted, and that those labourers involved will be allowed to leave. He points to the honour of the Brass Coast, to the way that they allowed the mound left by the fall of Fort Braydon to be raised and respected. He speaks of the good work done by the Marchers to help the angry dead rest, and loudly declares that any who would interfere in that work, who would steal from or harm those who tend the fallen, could never call themselves Jotun.

The pilgrims and the workers are no less stunned than Stephen of Sarcombe who withdraws in disarray. At the command of the King, Eisa leaves a score of her champions, humans from the frozen north, to ensure the King's dictate is honoured and when their work is done that the Imperial citizens are escorted back to Tassato.

Mutterings swell in the Jotun ranks that Stephen of Sarcombe and his yegarra have been deafened by hate, have forgotten what it means to be Jotun, have abandoned their honour. This does little to quell the fury that burns in the heart of that scion of Mournwold, or those who march beneath his banners.
{{SOP|statement=Sixty years ago, our ancestors came down the hillside to show the ferocious Pride miners possess. We bleed for every inch of our land, surface and below. Miners of the Mourn; I will be the last to tell you need to prove yourself again. But you called on me to lead us to suffrage, to Exemplify our ancestors. We must be prepared to act like them. So sharpen your picks; let us show the Jotun a fight they will remember for sixty years! The Tusks will relieve us. Until then; Plan. Arm. Enchant. Resist. Exalt. Remember. Like our rebellious ancestors, we are coming down the hillside - this time, to Sarcombe!|by=Jedediah Boon, Marcher Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 170-64|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
==Raven and Mouse==
The Empire tries to push the Jotun lines wherever they can but it is ultimately fruitless. The Imperial armies are outnumbered so severely, and the Jotun so absolutely committed to the conquest of the Mournwold, that the best they can do is slow the advance. By the time the western armies press into the Ore Hills, their momentum is beginning to falter a little, but they still wash over the mines and towns here like a tsunami.

Some Marchers flee, forced to abandon their homes again. Some take the Choice and remain as thralls, knowing that they can offer passive resistance to the conquerors of the Mourn and maybe do their own part in hastening the defeat of the Jotun. Others stay to fight. They know the hills better than any Jotun save Stephen of Sarcombe, or perhaps Jarl Haakon. They take refuge in the mines and the tunnels, striking against the Jotun who seek to conquer their homes.

Helma Skutasdottir, whose battle-might is said to be matched only by her wisdom, is charged with securing the Ore Hills and rooting out these guerilla warriors. They say that Raðljóst himself whispers in her ear and guides her warband to victory, but against the miners of Our Hills, she has her work cut out indeed. There are credible reports that Jonah Gold whispers warnings to them when the Jotun come searching for their hideouts, and that they are able to stay one step ahead of the hunters. A deadly game of raven-and-mouse is waged across the mournful hills.

The last battle before the Autumn Equinox takes place in the Chalkdowns. The Empire rallies at Lindenford farm, right in the heart of the farmlands. They face the Jotun charge and for a glorious hour it seems they might stop the Jotun here but one by one they are forced to abandon their posts. The last to quit the field are the Tusks, retreating east toward Freemoor and the sanctuary of Landskeeper's Bulwark.

As the season dies, the Jotun complete their conquest of the Chalkdowns, and the Mournwold falls to the barbarians.
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolves and bears.jpg|caption=The [[Jotun]] are fierce in victory, but also bound by their precepts of honour.|align=right|width=500}}</div>
==Harvest of Sorrow==
The Jotun have absolutely overwhelmed the courageous Imperial armies, but they have by no means had it all their own way. If not for the dogged tenacity of the four armies ranged against them, if not for their many allies and friends, the immense Jotun host might well have conquered the entire Mournwold in a single season. As it is, Freemoor, Alderly, and Green March remain free – at least for the moment.

Wherever they have gone, the Jotun have offered their traditional choice. Join the Jotun and fight for them, or lay down your arms and become a thrall, or be granted a swift death, with a blade in your hand if you wish it. They do not differentiate between orcs and humans, nor between those who once were thralls but then were freed. They promise to protect them, and let them get on with their lives, as long as they raise no hand against the Jotun, do not seek to flee, and pay the punishing tithes that go toward supporting the warriors of the west.

All told, thousands of Imperial warriors fall in the fight for the Mourn, and only half that many Jotun. Those who die fighting are honoured with barrows swiftly thrown up at each battlefield by the thralls. Only the Navarr are deemed unworthy of honour; no Choice and no chance to sleep beneath the rough earthen hills. Those who bear the tattoos of brand and thorn are roughly executed by beheading, their bodies left for birds and vermin to feast on.

Farstrider's Watch still stands, but in the hands of the Jotun. The keep is battered, it's gate shattered, but the walls still stand - barely. There is talk that Jarl Haakon has claimed it, and begun setting up his hall there. Once again the King of the South has recognised him Jarl of the Mourn - with the unspoken promise that if he fails to hold these lands a second time he will not get a third chance to do so.

A covert war still rages in the Ore Hills – while the Jotun must guard against an Imperial counter-attack they are unlikely to spare the forces to deal with the miners and their supporters. They cannot strike at the Jotun armies directly, but for now they remain a thorn in the side of the conquering barbarians.

The Tusks have repaid the trust of the Mournwolders a hundredfold. Every one of the yeofolk who fell in the fight to protect their people from the Jotun died a hero in the eyes of the citizens of the Mourn. The General kept their word, and the people will remember it. In the face of sixty thousand Jotun they know that the Tusks will do whatever it takes to keep the Mournwold free. And that faith is a powerful thing indeed.

==Game Information: Mournwold==
* '''Southmoor, Greensward, Ore Hills, and Chalkdowns are now in Jotun hands; the territory is no longer Imperial'''
* '''The General of the Tusks faces a grim choice'''
With four regions now in Jotun hands, the Mournwold is no longer an Imperial territory but belongs to the western barbarians. Rituals cast at the [[Regio#The_Imperial_Regio|Imperial regio]] in [[Anvil]] cannot target the territory.

The General of the Tusks has kept their oath to return to the Mournwold if it is threatened. The challenge now is what comes next. The Jotun are more than likely to press their advantage and the Tusks are close to breaking as it is. But leaving the territory now, when it stands on the precipice, would be a terrible betrayal of that oath. Even if they stay, they may be driven out, if the Jotun claim the rest of the Mournwold. The last time that happened General '''Nedry of The Cullachs''' went into the Wicker Man.

The Tusks are faced with grim choices whatever they do. If they chose to keep their oath, they will need to stand their ground in the face of the Jotun assault. If they survive, but are pushed out of the Mourne anyway, then they'll need to return as quickly as possible, or else face the fate that awaits those who break their oaths.

None of the [[military unit|military units]] who supported the armies or [[fortification|fortifications]] in the Mournwold this season [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_interlude#Imperial_Guerdon|received shares]] of the [[Military_unit#Imperial_Guerdon|Imperial Guerdon]].
==Game Information: Titles==
* '''Several titles have lost powers due to the Jotun conquest of half the Mournwold'''
* '''The Black Canal has been completed but has reduced benefits until Chalkdowns and Southmoor are liberated'''
* '''The Singing Caves have been lost; a final shipment of mithril is on its way to Anvil'''
The Mournwold is no longer an Imperial territory and so is no longer represented by a [[Senator]]. If the Mourn were liberated, it would be again available to be [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment|assigned]] by the [[Imperial Senate]] and a new Senator elected.

Work on the [[Construct_Black_Canal|Black Canal]] was completed shortly before the Jotun took the Chalkdowns (the length stretching from Sarcombe through the Ore Hills was already complete) stopped; it cannot be completed while the Jotun control the Mournwold. With half the canal in Jotun hands, the [[great work]] currently provides no benefit in the Mournwold and reduced benefits in Mitwold. This reduced production will persist as long as either Chalkdowns and Southmoor are not in Imperial hands.

The [[Reeve of the Happiston Mana Exchange]] and [[Keeper of the Happiston Fields]] have lost access to their ministry and sinecure respectively. The titles remain active, but their production is lost until the Chalkdowns are reclaimed from the Jotun.

The Empire has lost control of the Singing Caves, but the final shipment of mithril will be delivered at the Autumn Equinox. After that, the bounty of the caves will go to the Jotun until the mine is liberated. Once this happens, the [[Imperial Senate]] will be free to [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Allocation|allocate]] it Imperial or National.

The [[Friar of Honour's Rest]] has been given special dispensation by the Jotun King, allowing them to continue to visit the shrine and the [[Friar_of_Honour%27s_Rest#Last_of_Overton|priests]] who reside there may continue to minister to the ghosts of the Greensward without interference. They have, however, lost access to both their liao and their money income - until the Greensward is liberated it does not function as a place of pilgrimage.

==Participation: Tusks==
* '''A Marcher character whose military unit supported the Tusks this season may receive a special benefit if they receive an appropriate anointing'''
Any [[the Marches|Marcher]] character whose [[military unit]] was assigned to [[Military_unit#Support_Army|support]] the [[Tusks]] 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 Autumn Equinox, then they gain an extra benefit. In addition to the [[Anointing#Effects|normal benefits]] they will gain an 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 general of the Tusks and their commitment to Mournwold.

This benefit lasts only as long as you continue to be committed to freeing the Mournwold and defeating the Jotun; if your will to do so falters 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 Winter Solstice.

==Sixty Years Gone (Battle Opportunity)==
* '''The miners of the Ore Hills are not prepared to surrender to the Jotun'''
There is an opportunity for Imperial heroes to face the Jotun in Mournwold, in support of the rebellious miners of the Ore Hills, with a chance to further demonstrate the commitment of the Tusks to the defence of the Marcher people.

The wild wind rises

2024-08-18T00:33:06Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Game Information: Titles */ Punctuation

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:386YE Autumn]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Welcome to the Marches.jpg|caption=The [[the Marches|Marchers]] pride themselves on preparing a warm welcome for their friends, but also for their foes.|align=right|width=500}}<box>A PDF file of this wind is available [[:File:The wild wind rises.pdf|here]]</box></div>
==Loyalty to Great Things==
The [[Tusks]] march north through [[Kahraman#Braydon's Jasse| Braydon's Jasse]] into the [[Mournwold#Greensward|Greensward]]. They are fresh from the fight with the [[orc|orcs]] of the Lasambrian hills, having had little time to rest, no time to waste. The [[Jotun]] are in [[Mournwold]], and the Tusks are marching home to face them.

They won't face them alone – [[Wintermark]] fights with them. The [[Bloodcloaks]] and the [[Green Shield]], fresh from their furlough in [[Mitwold]] and [[Upwold]], come south through [[Mournwold#Chalkdowns|Chalkdowns]] and [[Mournwold#Freemoor|Freemoor]], eager for the fray. The [[Quiet Step]] are with them; [[Cold Sun]] has [[Last rays of the sun|been destroyed]], [[Miaren]] is safe for the moment, and the [[Navarr]] are eager to drive the invaders back into [[Liathaven]]. A prelude, perhaps, to the liberation of that wooded territory – hopefully while there are still some trees remaining.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Stanley Of Chalkdown, General of the Tusks">Jacks of the Tusks! There is trouble at the Old Oak Inn, unwelcome visitors of the worst sort. I say we march forwards! Forwards with the thorns of Navarr. Forwards with the rising citizens of the Mourn. Forwards with heroes headed by the Emperor. Forwards! Until the banners of sparrow and Tusks fly over Sarcombe, the Old Oak Inn and the Mourn!</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Iron Osric, General of the Green Shield">From fine Upwold feasting, the Green Shield goes to fight. The war blast calls them all, ready to do right. Walk these ragged roads, with resolute intent, to rout Queen Yrsa's rule, bring down ruin rent. Besides them Mournwold's Tusks, Stanley's comrades come with might. We stand beside our friends day of battle, bloody night. Oathsworn Black Scar Forenthar, bring with us swift spears, and Tager Defender of the Fallen, who fought with me all these years. To the Old Oak Inn we journey, joined as blood-marshal one. To sup and sing of victory, 'neath the setting sun. Witness our wards of war-play, pledges proudly placed. Join us heralds of Janon, there's a mighty queen to face.</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Lofyn Blood-cloak, General of the Bloodcloaks">My Cloaks, My Pride, Now is the season to prove our quality to show your peerless dedication to our Imperial kin. Long have you been the healing spring that feeds our defences, now turn that spring into a flood. Raise up Shield and healing hands alike. We march to Mournwold to recover the lost. There will be no death that is not a Good Death. No End but a Heroes End. Yrsa should have been warned. Mournwold brooks no Queen.</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Farenthar Shattersong, General of the Quiet Step">As we leave Miaren, Navarr return home to prepare for our final battle. We march west to the Mourne, Iron Osric with the Mark to the left of us, Stanley of Chalkdown with the Marches to the right, we engage the Jotun Invaders. While the Jotun spared Liaven's Glen, they still hold our Land around a heart we must defeat. We continue to fight in Virtue and Kinship so we may bring this dance to it's end. Victory in our Lifetime!</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="King Gudmunder Arasonn, General of the Fist of Ulven">The lands that were our ancestors' will be ours again. Side by side with the septs of the north we fight, to bring the Mourn to Narkyst once more. None will dare stand between us and our prize, save that they face the Choice. Our honour demands nothing less.</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Queen Yrsa Jansdottir, Jarl of Jarls, Monarch of Kalsea, General of the Lion of the North">Ulfur's horn sounds, calling us to war! Side by side we march with the King of the South, to repay our debts. As the folk of the Marches came to the north, so we come to the south. For our honour! For our ancestors! For our triumph!</quote></div>
They are bolstered by the garrisons of [[Mournwold#Farstrider's Watch|Farstrider's Watch]] and [[Mournwold#Landskeeper's Bulwark|Landskeeper's Bulwark]], and by some two thousand soldiers bound to the [[military unit|warbands]] of the Empire's heroes. Most of these captains fight with the Tusks, but there are a few with Wintermark. All three armies are also joined by battalions of faerie knights, drawn from the Summer Realm, from the [[Eleonaris|Fields of Glory]]. With the Bloodcloaks and the Green Shield, twin warlords in resplendent gold and crimson chain; ''Ser Grumbar'' and ''Ser Helvennan'', the Hound-knight and the Stag-knight, eternal rivals fighting on the same side in the battle of the Mourwold. Their two-thousand strong households glower and glare but are bound by their oaths to aid their Winterfolk cousins. With the Tusks marches sharp-eared Ollavan the Reeve, bowmaster unparalleled, and his cohort of archers, proud and glorious, eager to prove themselves against the orcs – and to test their skill against that of the [[The_Marches_military_concerns#Beaters|beaters]] they fight beside.

The [[Knights of Glory]] are not the only supernatural allies the Empire has found. One Alder of the Mourn has traded their [[mine]] to [[Adamant]]; in return they [[Raise the Dragonsworn Cohort|lead a cohort of ''koboldi'' warriors]] to help defend Farstrider's Watch. At the invitation of the General, the passionate warriors of the [[Janon|Shadowed Flame]] continue to fight with the Green Shield. Crimson and cobalt, whirling, blazing bright, they burn like torches inciting the Winterfolk that fight with them to greater and greater displays of bravery and heroism. They are indiscriminate in their enthusiasm and seek to set a fine example, and rather than avoid the elfin soldiers of the boar, the stag, and the reeve, they urge them to give their all in the battle against the Jotun.

Finally, there are the people of the Mournwold themselves. They accept the presence of the Tusks with dour, deprecating comments. The General had sworn an oath to protect the Mourn – what else would they do but bring the Tusks to fight the Jotun? It's just common sense! But there is no doubt that there is a frisson of relief, of quiet, grim celebration. The Tusks have come, and they will fight until the Mournwold is free. Yeomen and beaters come from across the territory, putting aside their rivalry to bolster the Tusks, to fight with them, to ensure they can say that they were there when the army of the Mourn marched to face the Jotun, to drive Jarl Haakon from the wolds once more. There are also plenty of Marcher orcs among them. Only a few have chosen to take up weapons, mostly young hotheads who have heard the call of their ancestors and seek to cross the Abyss in battle with their former masters. Most throw themselves into more supportive roles – healers and quartermasters – but they are not less eager to stand alongside their human neighbours and show the Jotun that they will never own the Mournwold again.

Here then, the forces of the Empire. Perhaps twenty-two thousand fighters, and six thousand heralds, standing proudly against the Jotun.
==Banners of Bear and Wolf==
In the hills of north-eastern Southmoor, three towers of white stone and black ice rise. The [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]], called from her frigid realm, garrisoned by icy warriors with strangely scaled armour and odd full-face helms and unfamiliar short-hafted spears. Summoned forth by Imperial magicians, they are the first to face the Jotun armies.

[[Standards|Last season]] two armies ventured into the Mournwold from Liathaven; the Lion of the North under the command of the Queen of Kallsea, Jarl of Jarls, Yrsa Jansdottir and the stoic Tower of the North, under the banners of the granite-faced Derun Stonetower. With them, the household and champions of Jarl Haakon, former ruler of the Mournwold, and the traitor yegarra who follow the lead of Stephen of Sarcombe. Perhaps fifteen thousand Jotun at most. Their cautious invasion [[Standards#Sarcombe|took]] the [[market town]] of [[Mournwold#Sarcombe|Sarcombe]], but did not press far into the Mournwold proper. By themselves, they would be no match for the Imperial host...

When the Tusks and their allies arrive, however, they find not two armies camped around Sarcombe but six. The Southern Bear have left the ''[[Only_forward#Object:_Halt_the_Burhfæst!|Burhfæst]]'' in [[Bregasland]] to move swiftly back through Liathaen and out to Southmoor; The fist of Ulven, the army of the King of Narkyst, Jarl of Jarls Gudmunder Arasonn is with them, southern king and northern queen ready to fight together in the Mournwold. They leave the Ice Fishers of Ldansk behind, garrisoning the citadel raised at [[Bregasland#Graven Rock|Graven Rock]]. At the same time the Bear who Swims and Roaring Thunder, fresh from their failed strike into northern Kahraman have moved straight through [[Liathaven#Liaven's_Glen|Liaven's Glan]] into the Mourn.

The western orcs are not waiting for the Empire, either. They are already on the move, consolidating their control of Southmoor. The Frozen Citadel delays their advance for a short time, giving the Empire's armies times to gather and prepare themselves in Greensward, but it cannot hold them alone. The siege engineers of the Tower of the North bring their might to bear against its walls and they are swiftly overwhelmed. Southmoor falls to the Jotun.

They immediately press east into the Greensward to face the Imperial armies. More than thirty thousand Jotun, striking with overwhelming force against the Empire. In the vanguard, the army of Queen Yrsa, further strengthened by fast-moving light infantry from [[Tromsa]], adept [[army_qualities#Skirmishing|smirmishers]]. Had the Empire been dug-in, defensive, they might quickly have overrrun the Imperial positions – as it is their presence is a complication but one easily matched by the equally swift-moving Marcher beaters, Navarr thorns, and Wintermark hunters.

The Green Shield are at the forefront of the fighting, glorious and terrible, clashing again and again with their Jotun rivals. The Blood Cloaks ensure that [[Army_qualities#Woundbinder|no warrior dies who might be saved]], their expertise ensuring that the fallen are recovered and tended and either made fit to fight or sent north or east to recuperate. The Quiet Step and The Tusks are more measured, balancing the need to drive the Jotun back with a desire not to waste lives against the larger orc force.

It looks as if the Marchers will lose Southmoor, and parts of Greensward, but they will be able to hold the line.

Then, the ''rest'' of the Jotun arrive. After barely a week of fighting another five Jotun armies march out of Liathaven to join the six already engaged with the Empire. The Fell Hammers, the Howling Night, the Iron Host, the Shield of the Mountain, and the Mandowla's Roar. It seems that only the Lasmabrian Jotun are not here; presumably resting and recuperating from their recent defeat in the Cinnabar Hills. The banners of a half dozen Jotun champions flutter among those of the armies including both the Jarls of Alftanes and Keirheim, and those of Eisa Winterborn and Helma Skutasdottir.

Alongside this great mass of Jotun march ten thousand warriors of the Summer Realm, under their own banners of gold and crimson. The knights that fight with the Empire see no paradox here; the heralds of both sides are eager to test themselves against their cousins.

All told, more than sixty thousand warriors pour east into the Greensward. The Imperial forces are given no option but to retreat, to fall back to Farstrider's Watch with the Jotun close on their heels.

==Battle of Farstriders Watch==
Farstrider's Watch is named for the beloved Marcher general Alusair Farstrider of [[The Marches groups#House_Balston|House Balston]], who fell in battle against the western orcs alongside many of her household. It stands on the mournful grasslands of the Greensward. It was funded by [[Empress Lisabetta|Imperatrix Lisabetta]], and was one of the first [[fortification|fortifications]] completed with the [[Sing_your_name#Securing_the_borders|aid of the virtuous]], in the wake of the [[consecration]] of the [[Casinea#The_Silent_Sentinel|Silent Sentinel]]. It was partially built in answer to [[An_apple_that_falls#Willing_To_Die_For_It|calls from the citizens of the Mournwold]] to ensure they were protected from [[Jotun]] retaliation. Its garrison has fought to protect the southern Mournwold from Jotun raids; now it offers sanctuary to the Imperial warriors facing what may be the single largest force of Jotun to ever come to the Marches. The Empire's champions are quick to regroup, to take advantage of the stout walls to gather their wits and revise their strategies.

They have less than a day before the Jotun are there, at the gates. Mandowla's Roar and the Roaring Thunder lead the way, having set a punishing pace across the Greensward in pursuit of glorious battle. The rest of the Jotun host is not far behind.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=General Flowers.jpg|caption=Some soldiers claim to have seen the spirit of General Farstrider. Some say they spoke with Bolstering Bill. Most likely it was just a dream. And yet...|align=right|width=300}}</div>
There are soldiers here who remember the last siege of the Greensward and the [[381YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Let_That_Be_Your_Last_Battlefield_(Mournwold)|Battle of Orchard's Watch]]. In the long watches of the night, some of the soldiers tell a tale of an unknown Marcher soldier, one of House Balston's badgers, who offers words of comfort to those on the walls. Some claim it's General Alusair herself; others that it's [[Bolstering Bill]]. More rational souls say it is a dream, or perhaps a ghost; the Greensward is haunted after all. But the story heartens some who hear it, for all that a few pilgrims worry it is blasphemous or heretical to believe in such things. There are plenty of pilgrims here, seeking refuge behind the walls. They offer spiritual support of their own, helping to keep the fear at bay.

Despite the best efforts of spirits, real or imagined, the walls of Farstrider's Watch cannot hold forever. Four days it lasts – two days longer than the most pessimistic estimate so perhaps there is something to those tales of ghostly soldiers after all. The armies are forced to retreat again as the gates fall, as the walls crumble before the overwhelming assault of the Jotun. Back past the Singing Caves, back to the Ore Hills. Perhaps there is some talk of abandoning the Mournwold altogether, of retreating to Tassato. If there is, it comes to naught. The Tusks will not tolerate such a failure. They will fight the Jotun every step, every inch of the way.

The punches keep coming. The Singing Caves is lost to the orcs of the Howling Night and the Jarl of Alftanes, the miners forewarned of the attack by strange knocking and odd dreams they ascribe to Jonah Gold are able to escape with a bounty of [[mithril]], but they cannot hope to hold the mine itself against the Jotun.
==At Honour's Rest==
At [[Friar_of_Honour%27s_Rest#Honour's_Rest|Honour's Rest]], the Jotun pause and break from tradition. The story that emerges says that Stephen of Sarcombe sought to sack the church there, and put to the sword any priest or pilgrim that would not bow their head and take the thrall oath. Eisa Winterborn intercedes, refusing to let him harm those sheltering there or fire the structure, her champions prepared to face his in battle to defend the place. In the end King Arasson himself is forced to intercede, to fall back from the front to mediate between his champions. His disgust at Stephen's actions becomes an open secret; upbraiding the furious yegarra he declares Honour's Rest to be a place under his protection. No Jotun will harm it or any beneath its roof, save that they invite that harm themselves, and if Stephen and his warriors will not accept that... then they will answer to the King of the South.

More than that, the king commands that work on the [[Let_the_day_die#The_morning_also|Orchard of the Watch]] will continue uninterrupted, and that those labourers involved will be allowed to leave. He points to the honour of the Brass Coast, to the way that they allowed the mound left by the fall of Fort Braydon to be raised and respected. He speaks of the good work done by the Marchers to help the angry dead rest, and loudly declares that any who would interfere in that work, who would steal from or harm those who tend the fallen, could never call themselves Jotun.

The pilgrims and the workers are no less stunned than Stephen of Sarcombe who withdraws in disarray. At the command of the King, Eisa leaves a score of her champions, humans from the frozen north, to ensure the King's dictate is honoured and when their work is done that the Imperial citizens are escorted back to Tassato.

Mutterings swell in the Jotun ranks that Stephen of Sarcombe and his yegarra have been deafened by hate, have forgotten what it means to be Jotun, have abandoned their honour. This does little to quell the fury that burns in the heart of that scion of Mournwold, or those who march beneath his banners.
{{SOP|statement=Sixty years ago, our ancestors came down the hillside to show the ferocious Pride miners possess. We bleed for every inch of our land, surface and below. Miners of the Mourn; I will be the last to tell you need to prove yourself again. But you called on me to lead us to suffrage, to Exemplify our ancestors. We must be prepared to act like them. So sharpen your picks; let us show the Jotun a fight they will remember for sixty years! The Tusks will relieve us. Until then; Plan. Arm. Enchant. Resist. Exalt. Remember. Like our rebellious ancestors, we are coming down the hillside - this time, to Sarcombe!|by=Jedediah Boon, Marcher Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 170-64|when=Summer Solstice 386YE}}
==Raven and Mouse==
The Empire tries to push the Jotun lines wherever they can but it is ultimately fruitless. The Imperial armies are outnumbered so severely, and the Jotun so absolutely committed to the conquest of the Mournwold, that the best they can do is slow the advance. By the time the western armies press into the Ore Hills, their momentum is beginning to falter a little, but they still wash over the mines and towns here like a tsunami.

Some Marchers flee, forced to abandon their homes again. Some take the Choice and remain as thralls, knowing that they can offer passive resistance to the conquerors of the Mourn and maybe do their own part in hastening the defeat of the Jotun. Others stay to fight. They know the hills better than any Jotun save Stephen of Sarcombe, or perhaps Jarl Haakon. They take refuge in the mines and the tunnels, striking against the Jotun who seek to conquer their homes.

Helma Skutasdottir, whose battle-might is said to be matched only by her wisdom, is charged with securing the Ore Hills and rooting out these guerilla warriors. They say that Raðljóst himself whispers in her ear and guides her warband to victory, but against the miners of Our Hills, she has her work cut out indeed. There are credible reports that Jonah Gold whispers warnings to them when the Jotun come searching for their hideouts, and that they are able to stay one step ahead of the hunters. A deadly game of raven-and-mouse is waged across the mournful hills.

The last battle before the Autumn Equinox takes place in the Chalkdowns. The Empire rallies at Lindenford farm, right in the heart of the farmlands. They face the Jotun charge and for a glorious hour it seems they might stop the Jotun here but one by one they are forced to abandon their posts. The last to quit the field are the Tusks, retreating east toward Freemoor and the sanctuary of Landskeeper's Bulwark.

As the season dies, the Jotun complete their conquest of the Chalkdowns, and the Mournwold falls to the barbarians.
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolves and bears.jpg|caption=The [[Jotun]] are fierce in victory, but also bound by their precepts of honour.|align=right|width=500}}</div>
==Harvest of Sorrow==
The Jotun have absolutely overwhelmed the courageous Imperial armies, but they have by no means had it all their own way. If not for the dogged tenacity of the four armies ranged against them, if not for their many allies and friends, the immense Jotun host might well have conquered the entire Mournwold in a single season. As it is, Freemoor, Alderly, and Green March remain free – at least for the moment.

Wherever they have gone, the Jotun have offered their traditional choice. Join the Jotun and fight for them, or lay down your arms and become a thrall, or be granted a swift death, with a blade in your hand if you wish it. They do not differentiate between orcs and humans, nor between those who once were thralls but then were freed. They promise to protect them, and let them get on with their lives, as long as they raise no hand against the Jotun, do not seek to flee, and pay the punishing tithes that go toward supporting the warriors of the west.

All told, thousands of Imperial warriors fall in the fight for the Mourn, and only half that many Jotun. Those who die fighting are honoured with barrows swiftly thrown up at each battlefield by the thralls. Only the Navarr are deemed unworthy of honour; no Choice and no chance to sleep beneath the rough earthen hills. Those who bear the tattoos of brand and thorn are roughly executed by beheading, their bodies left for birds and vermin to feast on.

Farstrider's Watch still stands, but in the hands of the Jotun. The keep is battered, it's gate shattered, but the walls still stand - barely. There is talk that Jarl Haakon has claimed it, and begun setting up his hall there. Once again the King of the South has recognised him Jarl of the Mourn - with the unspoken promise that if he fails to hold these lands a second time he will not get a third chance to do so.

A covert war still rages in the Ore Hills – while the Jotun must guard against an Imperial counter-attack they are unlikely to spare the forces to deal with the miners and their supporters. They cannot strike at the Jotun armies directly, but for now they remain a thorn in the side of the conquering barbarians.

The Tusks have repaid the trust of the Mournwolders a hundredfold. Every one of the yeofolk who fell in the fight to protect their people from the Jotun died a hero in the eyes of the citizens of the Mourn. The General kept their word, and the people will remember it. In the face of sixty thousand Jotun they know that the Tusks will do whatever it takes to keep the Mournwold free. And that faith is a powerful thing indeed.

==Game Information: Mournwold==
* '''Southmoor, Greensward, Ore Hills, and Chalkdowns are now in Jotun hands; the territory is no longer Imperial'''
* '''The General of the Tusks faces a grim choice'''
With four regions now in Jotun hands, the Mournwold is no longer an Imperial territory but belongs to the western barbarians. Rituals cast at the [[Regio#The_Imperial_Regio|Imperial regio]] in [[Anvil]] cannot target the territory.

The General of the Tusks has kept their oath to return to the Mournwold if it is threatened. The challenge now is what comes next. The Jotun are more than likely to press their advantage and the Tusks are close to breaking as it is. But leaving the territory now, when it stands on the precipice, would be a terrible betrayal of that oath. Even if they stay, they may be driven out, if the Jotun claim the rest of the Mournwold. The last time that happened General '''Nedry of The Cullachs''' went into the Wicker Man.

The Tusks are faced with grim choices whatever they do. If they chose to keep their oath, they will need to stand their ground in the face of the Jotun assault. If they survive, but are pushed out of the Mourne anyway, then they'll need to return as quickly as possible, or else face the fate that awaits those who break their oaths.

None of the [[military unit|military units]] who supported the armies or [[fortification|fortifications]] in the Mournwold this season [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_interlude#Imperial_Guerdon|received shares]] of the [[Military_unit#Imperial_Guerdon|Imperial Guerdon]].
==Game Information: Titles==
* '''Several titles have lost powers due to the Jotun conquest of half the Mournwold'''
* '''The Black Canal has been completed but has reduced benefits until Chalkdowns and Southmoor are liberated'''
* '''The Singing Caves have been lost; a final shipment of mithril is on its way to Anvil'''
The Mournwold is no longer an Imperial territory and so is no longer represented by a [[Senator]]. If the Mourn were liberated, it would be again available to be [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment|assigned]] by the [[Imperial Senate]] and a new Senator elected.

Work on the [[Construct_Black_Canal|Black Canal]] was completed shortly before the Jotun took the Chalkdowns (the length stretching from Sarcombe through the Ore Hills was already complete) stopped; it cannot be completed while the Jotun control the Mournwold. With half the canal in Jotun hands, the [[great work]] currently provides no benefit in the Mournwold and reduced benefits in Mitwold. This reduced production will persist as long as either Chalkdowns and Southmoor are not in Imperial hands.

The [[Reeve of the Happiston Mana Exchange]] and [[Keeper of the Happiston Fields]] have lost access to their ministry and sinecure respectively. The titles remain active, but their production is lost until the Chalkdowns are reclaimed from the Jotun.

The Empire has lost control of the Singing Caves, but the final shipment of mithril will be delivered at the Autumn Equinox. After that, the bounty of the caves will go to the Jotun until the mine is liberated. Once this happens, the [[Imperial Senate]] will be free to [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Allocation|allocate]] it Imperial or National.

The [[Friar of Honour's Rest]] has been given special dispensation by the Jotun King, allowing them to continue to visit the shrine and the [[Friar_of_Honour%27s_Rest#Last_of_Overton|priests]] who reside there may continue to minister to the ghosts of the Greensward without interference. They have, however, lost access to both their liao and their money income - until the Greensward is liberated it does not function as a place of pilgrimage.

==Participation : Tusks==
* '''A Marcher character whose military unit supported the Tusks this season may receive a special benefit if they receive an appropriate anointing'''
Any [[the Marches|Marcher]] character whose [[military unit]] was assigned to [[Military_unit#Support_Army|support]] the [[Tusks]] 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 Autumn Equinox, then they gain an extra benefit. In addition to the [[Anointing#Effects|normal benefits]] they will gain an 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 general of the Tusks and their commitment to Mournwold.

This benefit lasts only as long as you continue to be committed to freeing the Mournwold and defeating the Jotun; if your will to do so falters 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 Winter Solstice.
==Sixty Years Gone (Battle Opportunity)==
* '''The miners of the Ore Hills are not prepared to surrender to the Jotun'''
There is an opportunity for Imperial heroes to face the Jotun in Mournwold, in support of the rebellious miners of the Ore Hills, with a chance to further demonstrate the commitment of the Tusks to the defence of the Marcher people.

User:Wafer-Thin-Reasoning

2024-06-27T18:45:28Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: Created page with "Wafer-Thin-Reasoning is Matthew Binyon, playing Milo Caslav of Kutkh's Haven in Varuskha, a player character. A harmless internet imp who absolutely loves reading the winds before events and learning as much as possible about the world, but then uses none of what he's learnt for fear of appearing as a know-it-all. It turns out if you obsessively read every winds ever released, you come across the occasional mistake. Like a good citizen I'd send a carefully referenced m..."

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning is Matthew Binyon, playing Milo Caslav of Kutkh's Haven in Varuskha, a player character.

A harmless internet imp who absolutely loves reading the winds before events and learning as much as possible about the world, but then uses none of what he's learnt for fear of appearing as a know-it-all.

It turns out if you obsessively read every winds ever released, you come across the occasional mistake. Like a good citizen I'd send a carefully referenced message to the correct email address pointing them out.

And somehow I'm here now and terrified of bees flying out of my nose!

Beliefs of the Great Forest

2024-06-27T18:22:15Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Spirits and Trees */ Fixing a hyperlink

[[Category:Great Forest Orcs]][[Category:Religion]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{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>
==Introduction==
During the Autumn Equinox 385YE, the Assembly of Pride took advantage of [[Tooth_by_tooth#Pride_and_Prejudice|an opportunity]] to send missionaries and [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] to other nations that did not share their understanding of the Way - not to covert them, but to increase the Empire's understanding of their beliefs. Their [[mandate]] was [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_26|enacted by]] Neala Blackhawk, who encouraged priests versed in Pride to visit the Great Forest Orcs. The timing seems propitious, given the Navarr and the orcs were working together to [[Ripples_and_shadows#Eaves_of_Peytaht|recover their homes]] in the [[the Barrens#Eaves of Peytaht|Eaves of Peytaht]]. Unfortunately, events quickly spiralled out of control when news of what had happened at [[Ripples_and_shadows#Hope's_Rest|Hope's Rest]], and later [[Ripples_and_shadows#Black_Wind|among the Black Wind]] reached them.

The priests visiting the Great Forest Orcs were able to increase their understanding of the Great Forest Orcs spiritual beliefs before events overtook them and what began in celebration ended in anger and fear. Apparently Chief Vallack has instructed his people to have no more discussion of spiritual matters for fear that the Empire use their beliefs and traditions as justification to declare them heretics.

The bulk of this report comes from the (primarily Navarr) priests of Pride who accompanied the Great Forest Orcs back to their homes in the Barrens, with a few notes from priests who have spoken to orcs settling in [[Therunin]], and later [[Miaren]] and [[Hercynia]].
==Virtues==
It's clear that the orcs of the Great Forest have been discussing the Way with our people – both their neighbours in Therunin and with people from many other nations while walking the [[trods]]. Their general consensus is that it has little to interest them, being primarily concerned with the souls of humans. Interestingly, however, they don't deny the value of the virtues although they don't enumerate and distinguish between them the way Imperial citizens do. Rather they have a small number of teachings that lay out a route by which they might seek to avoid the [[Imperial_Orcs_religious_beliefs#The_Howling_Abyss|Howling Abyss]] - although their conception of it is different to that of the [[Imperial Orcs]]. These teachings are very close that what the Empire would consider [[Wisdom]], [[Vigilance]], and [[Loyalty]] in particular.
==Spirits and Trees==
When the Great Forest Orcs fist came to the Empire as refugees, there was a belief that they believed in “invisible spirits” that live in the forest and protect them from the Howling Abyss. The main breakthrough in recent discussions was regarding the nature of these spirits.

Unlike the Imperial Orcs, and many of the other septs the Empire is familiar with, the Great Forest Orcs do not believe that their ancestors “cross” the Howling Abyss. They do not believe in the concept of a world beyond this one; for the orcs of the Great Forest only the material world exists. They do believe that the world has spiritual aspects that cannot be understood by any living mortal, however. Speaking with some of their [[Shamans|shaman]] can apparently be a challenging experience because they employ a great deal of metaphor and symbolism. One of the priests involved in discussion, a mystic from distant Wintermark, apparently had some success teasing out these symbols and did good work exploring their parables and proverbs.

It is reasonably well know that the Great Forest Orcs conceive of the "Great Forest" as being an immense primaeval woodland that once stretched across all of what is today the Empire and the Mallum. They've spoken of this before, and part of their reason for travelling the trods was to "reconnect" with pockets of this ancient woodland they say still exists especially in the wild woods of [[Varushka]]. The "Great Forest" is also apparently manifest in any number of [[weirwood]] groves, and the orcs have several times demonstrated a particular facility for working with the towering trees.

The belief in the Great Forest leads them to believe that the Howling Abyss is a consequence of the destruction of that forest; that it lies in the gaps between the remaining woodlands and as they widen the Abyss becomes more potent. After death, the Howling Abyss will seek to consume their spirits. Those who are strong enough to resist will remain in the world, and become part of the spirit of the Great Forest. They conceive of this state as being part of a grand gestalt of every Great Forest Orc ancestor. Unlike many other orcs, those of the Great Forest don't usually differentiate the voices they hear as belonging to one ancestor or another. Rather they think of them all as being the voice of the Great Forest. A chorus of voices, made up of all who have gone before who had the willpower and “silence of the soul” to resist the Howling Abyss.

==Weirwood Groves==
This is one of the reasons they are drawn to weirwood groves. They believe that the groves are the hearts of the ancient forest, or the most profound expression of its original expanse. They use rhythmic music and dance, as well as the more traditional bouts of physical prowess, to increase the volume of the ancestors' words but they believe that being in living groves of weirwood makes those voices clearer. They consider their prowess with weirwood, both in harvesting it and shaping it, to be a consequence of their connection to their ancestral spirits.
==Doctrine==
The priests of the Pride assembly who spoke with the Great Forest Orcs have tentatively proposed that their beliefs don't ''seem'' to contradict either the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Howling_Abyss|Doctrine of the Howling Abyss]] or the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Ancestors|Doctrine of the Ancestors]].

They don't quite agree that an orc must be "known for their deeds" - rather there are several routes to becoming strong enough to resist destruction in the Howling Abyss, and their conception of the Howling Abyss and what it means to cross it is certainly different to that of most Imperial Orcs, but the fundamentals appear similar. In some ways there is similarity with the [[Yerende#Beliefs|beliefs]] of the [[Yerende]] sect, but where the [[Ossium|Ossian]] sept values "diligence" the Great Forest Orcs focus seems to be more around concepts of clarity, awareness of the world around them, self-knowledge, and commitment.

Obviously, these emissaries are not doctrinal scholars, and the decision is not theirs to make. Several have expressed the hope that recent developments in the Synod - the commitment of the Navarr to [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_56|stand by their allies]] in the Great Forest in particular - will mean there is further opportunity to increase Imperial understanding of these allied orcs.
==Further Reading==
* [[Great Forest Orcs]]

The Pride of Gerallt Brackensong

2024-06-10T18:39:34Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: /* Overview */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Writ of Consecration]]
<ic>
It had been a long day on the trod. The magic might give you the energy to keep walking longer than was good for you, but it didn't do anything for the cold and the rain. They'd all been glad when they'd made it to Black Pines Wayhouse. Comfy chairs, a roaring fire, and a table heaving with hot food. Life didn't get much better than this.

So of course Morgan and Sifra had to start arguing. This time it was the news about Gerallt Brackensong that had set them off.

"Look - he gave his life fighting the vallorn. He died so the others could get away. That is what's inspirational about him". Morgan was a thorn, and he took his responsibilities to protect the others pretty seriously. He once got a four crown fine from the magistrates after a League mountebank had suggested he was just the striding's hired muscle.

"Lots of people die fighting the vallorn though don't they?" Sifra countered. "That's why we're Navarr - we've sworn to give our lives to defeat the vallorn. Whatever it takes... remember? So I'm sure this fella was great, but it's no big deal."

"No big deal? He ''sacrificed'' himself - stayed behind to save the others. That's no big deal is it? I like to think you lot would remember me if I sacrificed myself to save the rest of you!"

"Course we would Morgan" Sifra reassured him, but she flashed the others a grin. "We'd drink a toast to your name in every wayhouse between here and Rest... Because we'd know that if we didn't raise a glass your ghost would haunt the lot of us and never shut up about it..."

Morgan glowered at the mockery even as the others laughed. Sifra raised her hands to disarm her sibling. "Look, what I'm saying is that it was Gerallt's love of music that is ''inspirational''. They reminded us to take Pride in what we have - their love of songs and stories is what is important. Not getting eaten by the Vallorn - which any lummox could manage..."

More laughter followed but Morgan was deadly serious now. "Others carried on those traditions after Gerallt died." he protested.

Sifra smiled indulgently at her brother. "That's what an inspiration is you fool. Everyone does stuff... An exemplar inspires people! They don't just achieve something virtuous - they inspire others to virtue."

"And Gerallt's sacrifice inspires ''me''," retorted Morgan with a little more heat than Raelyn, the brand, was happy with. She put a stop to the growing fight with a gentle world, and sent the siblings to fetch things from opposite sides of the wayhouse to give them both time to calm down. But everyone knew that they'd be hearing this debate between songs and sacrifice again, all the way to Sermersuaq.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Geralt Brackensong.jpg|width=300|caption=Gerallt Brackensong, Exemplar of Pride.|align=left}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''Gerallt Brackensong is an exemplar of Pride'''
* '''Halwyn Splitroot proposed a writ of consecration be provided to create an inspirational location in their memory and the Pride assembly agreed'''
During the Winter Solstice, the Imperial Synod passed the first [[writ of consecration|writs of consecration]]. This new [[judgement]] governs the use of [[Liao#True Liao|true liao]] to create [[inspirational location|inspirational locations]]. The [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|virtue assembly]] of [[Pride]] enacted a judgement calling for a memorial to the [[Navarr]] [[guide]] and exemplar [[Known_exemplars#Gerallt_Brackensong|Gerallt Brackensong]].

The judgement mentioned [[Dean_of_the_First_Voice_Glade#First_Voice_Glade_(Ruined)|First Voice Glade]], the garden-school of the performing arts [[Things_that_burn#The_Empty_Hands|destroyed]] by the [[Cold Sun|forces of Oblivion]]. The civil service have spent the last few months identifying the likely outcomes of creating a [[Consecration#True_Liao|true consecration]] there, and identified two other alternative sites for the inspirational location.

They've now returned that information for the consideration of the General Assembly. If one of these mandates is enacted then following the Spring Equinox work can begin creating the inspirational location.

==Gerallt, Guide and Bard==
* '''Gerallt Brackensong was a guide and bard who made the ultimate sacrifice to save his friends'''
[[Known_exemplars#Gerallt_Brackensong|Gerallt Brackensong]] was a [[Navarr]] [[guide]] who was recognised as an exemplar of [[Pride]] [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements|three years ago]]. A skilled bard he used music and stories to inspire others, and ultimately sacrificed his life to thwart the plans of a monstrous eternal. The Navarr take sacrifice very seriously, especially when it comes to discussing matters of Pride. A memorial was built by some of his friends in Miaren, a [[Dean_of_the_First_Voice_Glade#First_Voice_Glade_(Ruined)|school of traditional Navarr performing arts]] surrounded by a beautiful garden. First Voice Glade was sadly a casualty of the invasion of that territory by the ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun]]. Indeed, the inspiration for '''Halwyn Splitroot''' to raise the ''writ of consecration'' was in part a response to this affront to the Empire's Pride.
{{SOP|statement=The cold sun have desecrated the corpse glade of the exemplar of Pride, Gerallt Brackensong. This affront to the Empire's Pride cannot be borne. The time has come to enshrine the warrior who slew the Purple Vallornheart of Yaw'nagrah at Return. The time has come for a consecrated memorial to the artisan who forged the legendary Gerallt's Barb. The time has come for the wider Empire to be inspired by the bard who encouraged all citizens to take pride in their cultures through his long-lasting songs and stories. Let the Empire's pride ringforth! And from the ashes of the Cold Sun's blasphemies we will create a brighter dawn in the example of Gerallt Brackensong!|by=Halwyn Splitroot, Writ of Consecration, Assembly of Pride|vote=Greater Majority 571-24|when=Winter Solstice 385YE}}
There are several locations around the Empire that might prove particularly inspirational to not only the Navarr, but to pilgrims of Pride from across the Empire and beyond. They have identified three such locations and presented proposals to create a memorial school and garden at each location.

A suitable structure would require 30 wains of weirwood, and 90 crowns in labour. It would take three months to complete, after which time it would be suitable for consecration with [[liao#true liao|true liao]]. Whether it is build in Miaren, Hercynia, or Therunin, the school would teach music and performing arts. It would also be surrounded by a garden. A precious few cuttings taken from the flower-beds and trees around the First Voice Glade still exist, carried away by stridings who visited the site. These would serve as the basis for a new garden.
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Inspiration of Gerallt Brackensong'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great Work]] (Inspirational Location)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 weirwood and 90 crowns; three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Requirement:''' Must be consecrated with true liao once completed</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Requirement:''' Must be built at First Voice Glade in Miaren, Foxden Steading in Hercynia, or Return in Therunin</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Establishes a school and inspires pilgrims of the Way especially Navarr pilgrims; provides bounty of herbs to herb gardens in territory</td></tr>
</table></div>
Once the place was consecrated, cuttings and seeds from the plants here would also be made available to anyone who visited the site. Plants grown from the gardens at the shrine would be a constant reminder of the inspiration of Pride and of Gerallt Brackensong. This would be particularly inspirational for Navarr's herbalists, whose pride in their gardens is well known.

The inspirational location would provide a [[great work|level of investment]] in [[herb garden|herb gardens]] in the territory where the inspirational location was built. Every such garden in the territory would receive three additional [[herbs]] each season. [[Imperial Roseweald]] in Spring, [[Cerulean Mazzarine]] in Summer, [[Marrowort]] in Autumn, and [[Bladeroot]] in winter.

==Inspirations==
* '''The civil service have identified three possible sites for the inspirational location'''
* '''Which one is chosen will determine whether there are any additional effects of the consecration, and what form they are likely to take'''
Just as importantly, however, the school would attract pilgrims. The nature of the inspiration it provided them, and the kinds of people who would visit, would be different depending on where it was built. Some flavour of what form this inspiration might take can be guessed at, but it's not possible to predict what, if any, additional impact the inspirational location would have until it was built and consecrated, however, but the results are likely to be subtle.

Three mandates have been presented, to allow the General Assembly to choose which of the opportunities to pursue.
<div style="display:grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr; grid-gap: 10px;">
{{Mandate|mandate=Gerallt Brackensong was an inspiration to all those who take Pride in the songs and stories that exalt their nation. We send (named priest) with a dose of true liao to consecrate a school at First Voice Glade in Miaren in the name of Pride.|assembly=General Assembly}}
{{Mandate|mandate=Gerallt Brackensong was an inspiration to all who study virtue and guide the Great Dance. We send (named priest) with a dose of true liao to consecrate a school at Foxden Steading in Hercynia in the name of Pride.|assembly=General Assembly}}
{{Mandate|mandate=Gerallt Brackensong was an inspiration to all those who understand the value of sacrifice in pursuit of the greatest virtue. We send (named priest) with a dose of true liao to consecrate a school at Return in Therunin in the name of Pride.|assembly=General Assembly}}
</div>
===First Voice Glade (Miaren)===
* '''An inspirational location could be constructed at the ruins of First Voice Glade in Miaren'''
* '''This would inspire pilgrims to learn Navarr traditions of songs and storytelling, and to take pride in their own nations literature and music'''
[[Dean_of_the_First_Voice_Glade#First_Voice_Glade_(Ruined)|First Voice Glade]] in [[Miaren#Oakways|Oakways]] was chosen as a memorial to Gerallt after his death in Therunin. A school of the performing arts was built there; the curriculum prioritized music but also taught dancing, juggling, and fire performance. It was strictly focused on Navarr traditions. The building, and the beautiful gardens that surrounded it, was razed by the [[Things_that_burn#The_Empty_Hands|Empty Hands]] - the ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun]] who invaded [[Miaren]] - following the Autumn Equinox 385YE.

Building an inspirational location here would rebuild the school and gardens on a larger scale. It would become a monument to the Pride Gerallt inspired in performers and storytellers across his nation. Pilgrims would leave with a greater appreciation for Navarr music, and many would be inspired to celebrate and explore the songs and stories of their own people. The additional benefits would be subtle, but this would certainly count as the kind of [[Watercolours_in_the_rain#With_Tomorrow_in_Mind|celebration of culture and beauty]] the Pride assembly proposed as a response to the hateful destruction of [[Cold Sun]]. While the site would remain primarily of interest to the Navarr, it would also serve as a place of pilgrimage for those who have seen the things they love ruined by the heartless eternal, providing reassurance that the beauty of the orc and human spirits can never truly be burnt away.

===Foxden Steading (Hercynia)===
* '''An inspirational location could be constructed at Foxden steading in Hercynia'''
* '''This would inspire pilgrims to study the virtues and the Great Dance, and would encourage the Navarr to spread understanding of the Way and the Great Dance wherever their stridings travelled'''
In his youth, Gerallt travelled widely with many stridings studying the [[crafting skills#Artisan|artisan's arts]]. In his thirties, however, he settled down at [[Navarr_groups#Foxden|Foxden]] [[steading]] in [[Hercynia#Summersend|Summersend]] to study the Way. In time, he became a [[guide]], offering spiritual support to the people of the nation and beyond.

Building the inspirational location here would involve establishing a school and shrine dedicated to the traditional understanding of the Way among the Navarr. Navarr music and tales relating to exemplars and paragons of all nations would be taught alongside more philosophical classes relating to the virtues and the Great Dance. It would become a centre for guides to gather, but also for stridings from across the nation to come and seek spiritual succour and counsel. While Gerallt excelled in his studies of the virtue of [[Vigilance]], the focus would be on the proud traditions of the Navarr, both the virtues and the philosophy of the [[Navarr_culture_and_customs#The_Great_Dance|Great Dance]] that underpins the practice of many guides.

As an inspiration, this would encourage more Navarr to serve as both guides and missionaries, spreading understanding of, and pride in, the Way wherever their stridings traveled. It would also encourage more guides to reach out to those who are unhappy in their lives, and help them find another place in the Great Dance as they did recently with the [[Two_minutes#A Home in the Empire|Suranni wizards]] who sought sanctuary in the Empire. It would also likely increase understanding of the Way among the Navarr themselves, rekindling pride in their role in the creation and maintenance of the Empire and its faith.
===Return (Therunin)===
* '''An inspirational location could be constructed at Return in Therunin'''
* '''This would inspire pilgrims to consider the sacrifices they must make for their people, and would be a reminder for the Navarr of the importance of fighting the vallorn'''
Gerallt Brackensong fell at Return, in the [[Therunin#Upper_Tarn_Valley|Upper Tarn Valley]]. The story of his sacrifice is still told, although the details are not perhaps widely known outside those who were there. His death helped thwart the plans of [[Yaw'nagrah]] to rouse the Therunin [[vallorn]], and allowed those who escaped to bring word of the [[eternal|eternal's]] treachery to the [[Imperial Conclave]]. Return itself is abandoned, but it could be reclaimed and transformed into a memorial to Gerallt's final sacrifice. A school focusing on teaching and preserving Navarr traditional stories and songs about fighting the vallorn, and about the nature of sacrifice, would be established in the old steading.

As an inspiration, the ruins of Return would serve as a timely reminder to the Navarr that fighting and ultimately defeating the vallorn will require sacrifice. It will remind them of their proud history of fighting to right the terrible error of their forbears, and wipe the corruption they unleashed from the world. It will both remind them to take pride in their successes, and to look to the future where the vallorn is ultimately defeated. It's likely to be particularly inspirational in light of the [[A_thousand_years_of_longing|findings]] of the [[Advisor_on_the_Vallorn#The_Great_Library_of_Hacynian|Great Library of Hacynian]], encouraging pilgrims to follow in Gerallt's footsteps and consider how much they might be prepared to sacrifice for their people.
==Timing==
* '''The writ of consecration creates a mandate that must be enacted at the Spring Equinox'''
* '''Work on the commission can begin at the same time, or at any point after the site is consecrated'''
A [[writ of consecration]] creates a [[mandate]] in the General Assembly. Like most other mandates, it must be passed during the summit where it is presented. If it isn't enacted, a new ''writ of consecration'' would be required - the process would essentially start again - but unless circumstances change significantly the civil service recommendations and assessments would remain the same.

In the case of Gerallt Brackensong, a consecration alone is not sufficient to create the inspirational location; a [[commission]] is also required. The commission can be constructed at any time, but will not do anything unless the site is also consecrated. The ideal scenario would be to enact the consecration mandate, and commission the school at the same summit but it's possible to consecrate the site and then at a later date build the school.

Momento mori

2024-06-09T23:27:40Z

Wafer-Thin-Reasoning: Capitalization

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:386YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>There was movement ahead along the road. Something fluttering. Borys jerked on the reins and brought the cart to a halt. The drover knew better than to argue, and just looked scared.

"What's the problem," she asked, her voice a little unsteady and eyes wide. "Why have we stopped?"

Borys pressed one finger to his lips, shook his head. Stepped forward and shaded his eyes as he peered down toward the crossroads. The movement was a tent flap, caught in the wind. Now he looked properly he could see half a dozen tents, in the Dawnish style, pegged out in the clearing where the road split in three. He took another few steps closer, drawing his axe from his belt and unshouldering his shield. He heard mutters and whispers behind him as the news something was wrong spread quickly through the rest of the band, and to the other three wagons.

The tents had seen better days. They were battered, ragged, marked with water and mud. No true Dawnish knight would be seen dead in such a thing, thought Borys, and immediately regretted it. Garina and Volak moved up beside him, stopping a pace behind. Borys knew the rest of their band of sell-swords would be taking up defensive positions around the wagons, scouring the trees for threats.

"What is it?" asked Garina. They were whispering, out of habit.

"Trouble," said Borys shortly. He glanced back at the caravans, and knew they wouldn't be able to make a safe campsite by nightfall if they turned back. Time to put his faith in the road - and his trust in his heavy notch-bladed axe.

As the trio drew cautiously closer, a figure stepped out of the largest tent. Armoured from head to foot in Varushkan bands rather than Dawnish plates, it stood silently for a long moment, and then raised on arm with a crepitus crackling and popping noise. It let out a low, moaning groan, and with a stuttering motion drew its sword.

Borys and his companions were veterans of the roads, and knew better than to focus all their attention on the figure ahead. This was a trap, the tents and the lone knight intended to keep their eyes one way while... yes there they were. Moving with surprising speed through the trees, a dozen or more half-seen figures keeping to the growing shadows, flanking the caravan. Garina drew her bow and put an arrow into the figure ahead, expertly targeting the gap between thigh and groin. The creature went down, without making a sound. Behind them, echoing noises of bows and Revinak's crossbow being loosed.

A second figure emerged from the tent, stepping over the prone schlacta. Borys swore under his breath. This was no mere wolf but something else. Something ''bad''. It wore ancient-looking armour, a style that was old when his grandfather had served under the Malinov Boyar. It had an axe and a shield, just like he did, but blackened and notched and stained with old blood. Garina loosed another arrow but the creature knocked it aside with its shield, almost contemptuously. Behind it, from out of the tent, a heavy dark mist began to flow like water, eddying around its armoured ankles and spilling out onto the road. The thing took a step forward, then another. Its eyes blazed with unnatural light as it stopped at the very edge of the Iron Road. It looked down.

"That's right," shouted Volak, his voice shaking in a way that made his bravado sound especially hollow. "We're on the road, and you can fuck off back to whatever hole you crawled out of."

Borys elbowed the new recruit hard in his metal-wrapped ribs, glanced quickly around. There were maybe twenty of them now, beginning to emerge from the trees. Some Varushkan, some Dawnish. Some in battered armour, others still in the torn and bloody clothes they had been wearing when they died. Their eyes gleamed in the gathering twilight.

"No," said the armoured figure ahead of them, its voice causing all the hair on Borys' neck and shoulder to stand up. "No, I don't think I will."

And with that, it stepped onto the road, and the ground fog surged forward around it, and with terrible moans and groans the warband of the unliving rushed down on the caravan, and Borys raised his axe for the fight of his life.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 550px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Weirwater Wundead.png|caption=The creatures that fight beneath the tattered banners of their unliving liege are a foul mockery of the warrior traditions of Varushka and Dawn.|align=left|width=550}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''A powerful unliving captain has roused from slumber in the woods between Weirwater and Karow'''
* '''The entity seems to be a servant of the Howling Queen or the master of the dubik'''
* '''During the Summer Solstice imperial heroes responded to their call to challenge'''
* '''Something has gone awry; the monster has begun a rampage in the haunted woods'''
During the Summer Solstice, an undying horror roused from slumber on the borders between Dawn and Varushka. The people of [[Karov]] call it the ''[[The_horror_and_the_wild#The_Schlacta_of_Rot_(Conjunction)|Schlacta of Rot]]'', but it is also known as the ''Deadwood Knight'' by the people of [[Weirwater]]. It issued its traditional challenge, but something went awry and rather than returning to decades long slumber the beast has instead begun a rampage on either side of the border between the two nations.

It began with [[The_lake_and_the_deep,_dark_woods#Rampage|bandits and ne'er-do-wells]] living in the woods away from civilisation but following the Winter Solstice, the attacks began to target Imperial citizens. The dreadful armoured warrior and his growing horde of shambling, unliving knights began by attacking travellers, but have slowly escalated to the point where they are large enough to effectively attack small villages. After their attacks, assuming they are successful, there are no bodies left behind. Once their foes are defeated the Schlacta of Rot breathes out an abominable miasmic fog that fills the corpses and causes them to rise and join its murderous retinue. Over the last few months the Deadwood Knight is believed to have gathered a force of perhaps a hundred or more warriors and as more inhuman warriors are created, the large the targets they can attack, and the faster the warband grows.

==A Growing Threat==
* '''It isn't clear what has prompted the rampage of the Schlacta of Rot'''
* '''Historical research might uncover more information about the creature's weaknesses'''
At first the Schlacta of Rot's attacks are limited in scope, thanks to the small number of Dawnish knights and Varushkan soldiers [[Military_unit#Adventure_in_Varushka|protecting travellers]] from creatures such as this. As the threat has grown, some adventurers have included northern Weirwater in their adventures, but it is becoming clearer that their efforts alone are not doing much more than slowing the growth of the Schlacta of Rot's forces. Things come to a head a month before the Spring Equinox when the village of ''Woodbury'' in [[Weirwater#Wickmoor|Wickmoor]] is destroyed. Nearly a hundred and fifty yeofolk are either slain and returned to unnatural life, or forced to seek sanctuary on the estates of the deCourcey and Seerkan [[noble house|noble houses]]. As the area becomes more dangerous to travel, the costs of providing enough guards to caravans bringing [[weirwood]] from the [[Weirwater Vales]] are beginning to creep inexorably upwards.

At the moment the Deadwood Knight is still focusing its attentions mostly in Wickmoor and [[Karov#Skoremujac|Skoremujac]]. The presence of the [[Iron Helms]], [[Northern Eagle]], and [[Quiet Step]] in [[Karov#Duzekani|Duzekani]] have gone some way toward containing the threat but their focus is obviously on [[Eclipse#Blade_of_Skies|defeating the Blade of Skies]] rather than protecting travellers from unliving warriors. It is only a matter of time before the Schlacta of Rot feels emboldened enough to attempt a direct attack on a town such as Kolvy, or the Weirwater Vales.

The woods in this part of the Empire are wild and dense, and large tracts of them are untraveled and unmapped. The Deadwood Knight has a supernatural ability to move itself and its warband quickly through the tangled wilderness. An [[Imperial army]] might struggle to pin them down and force a confrontation - at least until the numbers have swollen to the point where they cannot continue to move stealthily. By that point, however, the warband will likely have grown to several thousand warriors and that will mean both significant casualties for the Imperial army, and that a lot of people from the woods west of the Semmerlak have been slain and "recruited". Unfortunately, worst-case predictions suggest that if it continues to grow at its current rate it will reach that point by the Summer Solstice - and apart from the increased threat that will also mean the tragic deaths of several thousand more Imperial citizens.

===Roads and Crowns===
* '''The warriors of the Schlacta of Rot sometimes overcome the wards on Varushkan roads'''
* '''The Schlacta of Rot has sent a message to the people of Varushka via a scattered handful of terrified survivors'''
Laying a road in Varushka is time-consuming and expensive, even beyond the problems posed by the terrain. It involves dozens of workers and the soldiers to protect them. Every hundredth stone is marked with a warding sigil, a [[hearth magic]] that grants the roads in Varushka [[Varushka_hearth_magic#Warding|powerful protection]]. The [[Varushkan_Monster#Wolves|Wolves]] of the forest cannot step onto the stone of a properly constructed Varushkan road, and on rare occasions merely touching the road may harm them. This protection allows trade and communication between the valleys of Varushka.

Unfortunately, the roads do not seem to be providing as much protection against the servants of the Schlacta of Rot as they might. There are scattered, but verifiable, reports of the creatures overcoming the warding protection and attacking merchants and travellers with tragic consequence. It seems that as the power of the Deadwood Knight grows, so too does its servants' disdain for the warding sigils on the roads.

There's no certain explanation for this behaviour, but a ''lot'' of speculation among [[cabalists]] and [[Wise One|wise ones]]. At the moment this phenomenon of the roads being less effective than expected seems limited to the servants of the Schlacta of Rot, and to south-western Karov. It remains a significant cause for concern and alarm, however, for obvious reasons.

One other interesting element emerges as the Spring Equinox draws closer. As the Schlacta of Rot's attacks become bolder and start to overwhelm small vales and isolated farmsteads, survivors are allowed to go free. Once the traveller reaches the safety of a nearby vale, or the cautious welcome of a well-armed band of merchants, has been carefully assessed to ensure they are not a vector for darkness, and given warm blankets and hot soup, they deliver a message. In each case the survivor has been given that message by the Schlacta of Rot itself, and it is always the same.

"''Give me the crown,''" it runs. "''And I swear by my heart and sword that I will build my demesne in Dawn, and leave Varushka to other powers.''"

===Tourney of Ash and Bone===
* '''In addition to assaulting villages and murdering Varushkan and Dawnish folk, the Deadwood Knight has been acting a little peculiarly'''
There's one other weird story doing the rounds that speaks of a peculiar event barely a month before the Spring Equinox, at the estates of House Seerkan. The Wickmoor nobles, despite the gloomy situation, insisted on forging ahead with a tourney to celebrate the [[Dog_days_are_over#The_Grand_Tour|Grand Tour]], along with an accompanying fair. The tourney has raised a few eyebrows, as it has been thrown a season early - apparently a move in the long-running feud with their neighbouring House deCourcey. The tourney was apparently not well attended, with most participants looking to complete the Grand Tour attending events in Semmerholm over the Winter.

Along with the knights and noble retinues, the [[guiser|guisers]] and troubadours, and the usual (albeit somewhat muted) festivities, a band of black knights attended that nobody recognised. Silent, never seen outside their armour and full-face helms, they fought viciously and with overwhelming force in every engagement. Nobody died, but several competitors were [[Calls#CLEAVE|maimed]] or [[Calls#IMPALE|seriously injured]]. This was considered bad sport by some, but within the rules of the tourney, and after all this is why the Earl hosting such an affair is always wise to have a [[surgical skills#Physick|physick]] or two on hand. Earl Seerkan keep a close eye on these black knights, as suspicion grew that they were more than human.

On the last day of the tourney, during the grand melee (modelled after the tournaments at Anvil, with all participants fighting for the glory of themselves and their house), the knights confirmed the suspicions of the earl and many present. All pretence was abandoned, and they fought to kill as many of the knights taking part as possible, with the Deadwood Knight itself at their head. The fighting was vicious, but to the interest of those in a position to observe, it was apparent that ''only'' the knights that had attended the tourney took part. By this time the Deadwood Knight had a sizable retinue of unliving horrors, but only a score fought on the tourney field. Several knights were killed, and restored to horrible mockery of life to turn on their former allies. Eventually, the Deadwood Knight and his remaining "household" were driven off.

By some accounts this was a disaster. This being Dawn, however, there are also plenty of people already talking in awed tones about the Grand Tour, and the fact the call to glory is irresistible even to monstrous creatures like the Deadwood Knight. Not everyone present would agree, but there are plenty of knights who are quivering with jealousy that they missed the tourney where ''death himself'' turned up to fight.

More seriously, the participation of the knight has raised interesting questions in the minds of those who draw parallels between the tourney of House Seerkan and the traditional challenge the Deadwood Knight issues whenever it rises from the crypt. The creature and its warband, crucially, did not simply attack the guests but rather obeyed all the rules of conduct and behaviour. Even the final attempt to slaughter their opponents at the grand tourney was still to some degree within the bounds of hospitality - they didn't attack the audience only the other combatants in the grand melee. To the Varushkans who hear of it, this behaviour doesn't seem peculiar at all. The creature is clearly abiding by the accepted rules of hospitality, albeit the peculiar rules of Dawnish tourneys. It's possible this might suggest a way to get the Schlacta of Rot into a position to be destroyed... assuming that anyone can work out how to do it?
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Knight or Schlacta?'''</big><br>The creature known as the Deadwood Knight in northern [[Weirwater]] is also known to the people of southern [[Karov]] as the ''Schlacta of Rot''. Depending on who you ask, it was either a cruel schlacta who betrayed their [[boyar]], or a [[questing knight]] consumed by hubris who fell foul of an unwise bargain. A few tales suggest that ''both'' stories are true in some fashion. Regardless of the truth, it is believed to be under a dire curse that makes it impossible for them to die. Clad in their decayed heavy plate, infused with the power of the twisted forest, they occasionally emerge from the deepest parts of the darkest woods to issue their ''challenge''. Stories say that they either have the [[briar]] [[lineage]], or they have been horribly transformed to take on the qualities of the trees where they hunt, perhaps by the master of the dubik.

The challenge they issue seems to relate to a ban, geas, or binding. If the challenge is not met, it is free to prey on the folk on both sides of the border, slaughtering freely, and raising those it kills as shambling lackeys that hunger for living flesh. The more it kills, the more dangerous it becomes, and there are stories that on one tumultuous occasion, it was left alone long enough to "recruit" sufficient followers that it required an Imperial army to deal with it. The woods of southern Karov and northern Weirwater remain sparsely settled to this day as a consequence. This urge to create unliving horrors, coupled with the fact it seems impossible to kill, causes some to theorise that it is an unliving pawn of the [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|Howling Queen]], a product of the foul venom of her [[plaguewulf|plaguewulfs]]. Others point to its association with the forest, and counter that it is clearly a creature infused with the dread power of the master of dubik.</box></div>
===Participation===
* '''Characters who took part in the Adventure in Varushka following the Winter Solstice may have faced warriors of the Schlacta of Rot'''
* '''Characters who took part in the Grand Tourney adventure may have been present for the Tourney of Ash and Bone'''
Any captain of a [[military unit]] that has taken the ''[[Military_unit#Protect_the_Vales_of_Varushka|Protect the Vales of Varushka]]'' [[Military_unit#Adventures|special action]] during the previous downtime is free to roleplay that they have had a run-in with the Deadwood Knight or its servants. They might have been working as guards protecting a merchant caravan, or defending a village in northern Weirwater or a vale in southern Karov. It's equally fine to roleplay that you helped see off the attackers, or that your positions were overwhelmed and you were forced to retreat.

Likewise, any character whose military unit took the [[Military_unit#The_Grand_Tour|Grand Tour]] adventure can choose to have been at the [[#Tourney of Ash and Bone|Tourney of Ash and Bone]] and fought in the grand melee against the black knights led by the Schlacta of Rot. It's acceptable for other characters, especially troubadours and guisers, to have been present but they won't have faced the armoured unliving warriors in battle.

Anyone who took part in one of these adventures may request a [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] card from a referee before going into play and receive either a ''ruined kneecap'' or ''fractured arm'' (or both if you wish) lingering wound, representing grievous injuries sustained while fighting the forces of the Deadwood Knight. Be aware that these wounds are ''permanent'' until treated by a physick.

The unliving warriors are hard to kill - they are tough and tenacious - and permanently defeating them often involves dismembering, burning, or [[Turns the Circle|magically destroying]] the body. Unlike encounters with many husks, the warriors of the Schlacta of Rot demonstrate varying degrees of intelligence and even self-awareness. The "fresher" the body the more likely it is to employ cunning tactics that are rarely seen with the more common ambulatory corpses. The worst creatures to encounter are warriors made from Dawnish knights or Varushkan Schlacta, still wearing their armour and in some cases blood-soaked surcoats displaying their former allegiance. These creatures are at least as intelligent as the average living Dawnish or Varushkan warrior, and are usually in leadership positions within the forces of the Deadwood Knight.

It's even appropriate to roleplay that you have personally seen or encountered the Deadwood Knight, who often participates in attacks on Imperial citizens. This figure is heavily armoured, and a remorseless and tenacious killer. They are an adept master of the sword, and strikes terrible blows. There are several stories of the Schlacta of Rot being driven off, or even garbled accounts of it being defeated or overwhelmed, but this doesn't seem to slow the creature down. There seems to be truth in the stories that the Deadwood Knight cannot be killed, and when it is slain its body dissolves into a black mist and reforms elsewhere.

It's likely that, as with the malicious [[volodny]], there is some "trick" to killing it but that trick eludes those who have faced it to date. Dismemberment, burning, and ritual magic seem to have no effect, and it does not seem to be possible to [[exorcism|exorcise]] - all have been tried and failed.

==Tales and Poems==
* '''A group of Wise Ones plans to visit Varushka at around 8pm on Friday evening'''
* '''A travelling party of Troubadours are on their way to Anvil and expected to arrive around 2pm on Saturday'''
* '''Historical research remains a possibility'''
Any experienced [[volhov]] will tell you that ''everything'' has a weakness. Whatever lives - even things that are only alive in the most metaphorical sense - can be killed. As mentioned previously, it might be possible to deduce a weakness by engaging the services of the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]], but that takes time. Both Varushka and Dawn have robust traditions of recording history and hidden lore in tales, songs, and poems and it's not impossible that a clue to finally defeating the Deadwood Knight lies dusty and mouldering on the shelf of a stzena or troubadour. The creature ''has'' been driven back into quiescence before - although it's probably best not to dwell too long on the fact that it seems invariably to come back again. That implies that whatever the method of permanently killing it, nobody has yet been able to make it ''stick''.

As the Spring Equinox draws closer, news filters into Anvil that some of those who might know a bit more about the Deadwood Knight are making their way to Anvil to share what they know.

A small party of Varushkans, including several wise ones from Kolvy and Korotny, have risked the threat of [[Dho'uala]] to take passage across [[the Semmerlak]]. Having weighed up the situation they have come to the conclusion that the risk of one of them being carried off by servants of the ''Queen of the Drowned'' offer better odds than being murdered in Weirwater or caught between the Imperial armies and the ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun]]. They have apparently made the crossing safely, and are on their way to Anvil. If nothing else goes wrong they are expected to visit the Varushkan camp around eight in the evening on Friday.

They aren't the only ones making the long journey south. A small party of Weirwater troubadours, including one of the [[changeling]] nobles of [[Weirwater#Spiral Castle|Spiral Castle]] are making their way south. Their trip has been delayed multiple times by the need to pause whenever they encounter a fair or tourney - something that is extremely common at the moment thanks to the [[Dog_days_are_over#The_Grand_Tour|Grand Tour]] - to share their stories and commemorate [[glory|glorious]] deeds. They're reportedly a contentious bunch who disagree with each other on almost everything, but at their current rate they'll be arriving in Dawn at around two in the afternoon on Saturday.

How useful the stories these two groups are is hard to say; likely they'll bring their own traditional perspective to the matter of the Deadwood Knight/Schlacta of Rot. If any Varushkan or Dawnish knew the answer to the threat the creature posed, it would have been destroyed decades ago.

==Call to Glory==
* '''Ekaterina de Casillon of Spiral Castle raises her voice in support of Reynard Forester'''
* '''She asks the national assembly to amplify the call to arms, and ask the people of Weirwater to let them know who answers that call'''
* '''If a statement of principle to this effect reaches a greater majority, the de Casillon will provide a golden apple to each Dawnish warrior who takes the ''Protect the Vales of Varushka'' action following the Spring Equinox'''
Up to now, the sell-swords and the knights (both [[knight-errant|errant]] and [[questing knight|questing]]) have helped to reduce the threat of the monstrous commander mustering an army in the north-eastern Empire. The time when small groups of mercenaries and adventurers can contain the problem has passed, however. It will take more than a few scattered bands of glory-and-treasure-seekers to keep the growing forces from slaughtering larger and larger settlements, or setting their sites on vulnerable targets in Duzekani, [[Karov#Malimorz|Malimorz]], [[Weirwater#Garthsmoor|Garthmoor]], or [[Weirwater#Hawksmoor|Hawksmoor]].

A statement of principle at the Winter Solstice by '''Reynard Forester''' called for the adventurers of Dawn to '' take up the fight with courage and end the husk menace'', [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_146|protecting the people]] of both Dawn and Varushka. The judgement failed to get a [[greater majority]], but it hasn't gone unremarked. ''Ekaterina de Casillon'', herself a troubadour of no mean repute, heard of the judgement from a correspondent that attends Anvil. She's laid out a simple proposal. Dawn has, after all, seen first-hand how dangerous army of the unliving can be. It has only been a few years since [[381YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Flesh_and_Bone_(Weirwater)|the dead rose in Weirwater]] and while they were [[381YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#Cold_Day_in_the_Sun_(Weirwater)|ultimately defeated]], it was by no means a bloodless victory. There's some speculation that the reason the Deadwood Knight is restricting its depredations to the living, rather than raising some of the many dead warriors who rest beneath the hills of Weirwater to its banner, is that most of them aren't there any more having been destroyed five years ago.

''Ekaterina'' has responded to Reynard's suggestion by issuing a call of her own. Knights ''should'' come fight the unliving horrors in Weirwater, and help their Varushka neighbours to the north. Their reward will be [[glory]], obviously, but also the recognition of their peers. With that in mind she asks the National Assembly of Dawn to amplify Reynard's call to arms, and to further ask the people of Dawn to celebrate the names of those who answer that call. If such a statement of principle receives a greater majority, then the de Casillon family will lead the way by offering a [[vis#Golden Apple|golden apple]] from their magical orchards to each such brave Dawnish soul. Furthermore, with a list of those who participate made public, she anticipates the assembly will use the [[judgement]] of [[rewarding]] to show the gratitude of the nation to those prepared to put aside the siren-call of tourney and banquet to fight abominable cadaver-knights in the wild woods of Weirwater.

Not everyone agrees that now is the right time to face the Deadwood Knight. Dawn is already engaged with one great quest - [[Dog_days_are_over#The_Grand_Tour|the Grand Tour]]. Obviously if the nation waits until the Tour is complete before turning their attention to the Knight then the problem will only get worse, but isn't that the very definition of [[glory]]? ''Ywain'' the troubadour of ''House Lionsgate'' suggests the Dawnish Assembly instead urge everyone to hold their nerve and complete the Grand Tour. That way the nation can come together as one and face the Deadwood Knight together. Somewhat reluctantly, Ekaterina, admits that the de Casillons would still support the efforts if Dawn chooses this path, but they stress that the longer this threat is left unchecked, the more dangerous it becomes.

==Into the Deadwood (Conjunctions)==
* '''The Schlacta of Rot has sent warbands to recruit soldiers for its growing army'''
* '''There are opportunities for Imperial heroes to intervene and stop them slaughtering Dawnish and Varushkan citizens'''
The Deadwood Knight is becoming bolder. Their attacks have escalated from slaughtering bandit camps to attacking travellers crossing the border between Dawn and Varushka, to all-out assaults on small villages and isolated vales. Each of the warbands the commander of the shambling legion has sent out is led by a champion, an unliving knight or schlacta that seems to be invested with the power of the Schlacta of Rot allowing them to expand their numbers with murderous husks.

Note that whatever the individual objectives, if the lieutenants of the Deadwood Knight are free to ravage the people of Varushka and Dawn this will strengthen the army the creature is raising. As such, whoever is organising one of these skirmishes may wish to seek the support of both Varushkan and Dawnish heroes, and the advice of the [[strategos]] of both nations.
===Rumours (Karov)===
* '''The ''Festering Warden'' is leading a warband targeting the traders on the Westward Road in Karov'''
* '''Time TBC'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Overseer of the Westward Road'' is responsible for defeating the Festering Warden'''
The Festering Warden has been targeting the traders from across the territories in western [[Karov]]. The caravan guards who fight most fiercely are brought into the service of the Deadwood Knight, while the rest become unliving thralls and cannon-fodder.

The threat of the Festering warband, especially coming so soon on the heel of the ''scions'' threat to Delev, makes merchants and traders even more loathe to risk the roads of western Karov. If the Festering Warden is not defeated, then this fear will reduce the amount of [[green iron]], [[orichalcum]], [[weltsilver]], and [[bladeroot]] that the [[Overseer of the Westward Road]] is able to purchase through their ministry.

Furthermore, as the strength of its warband swells, there is a serious risk that the Festering Warden will become strong enough to attack the vale of Kolvy. At the moment the defences there are strong enough to see off all but the most dangerous attacks, but a major assault from a significant force of wolves led by a powerful lieutenant will certainly cause significant loss of life before the schlacta or the soldiers of an [[Imperial army]] are able to drive them off.

Given that this involves keeping the trade flowing along the roads it is the responsibility of the Overseer of the Westward Road, '''Vlodikaz Ivarovich Vardovich''' to defeat the Festering Warden.

===With the Dawn (Weirwater)===
* '''The ''Broken Errant'' is leading a warband targeting the remote houses of Weirwater'''
* '''Time TBC'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Castellan of Spiral Castle'' is responsible for defeating the Broken Errant'''
The warband of the Broken Errant has struck deeply into Weirmoor, striking at isolated forests and other smallholdings in the untamed primeval forest. ''Liege Roland de Casillon'', a knight of the [[Dawn_groups#House_de_Casillon|de Casillon]] house, journeyed out to try to deal with the threat but was gravely injured before being carried back to Spiral Castle on the verge of death. Ze has asked for the [[Castellan of Spiral Castle]] to slay the Broken Errant, lest the house be forced to call upon their [[eternal]] allies and perhaps even raise swirling mists once again.

At the moment, Liege Roland's call for the House to retreat into the mists again is being treated as the understandably extreme reaction of someone who has been seriously hurt - but if the threat continues to grow it is possible the earl of Spiral Castle will take steps to minimize the threat to her people. If the mists are raised again, it's anyone's guess how long they will remain in place. Obviously an Imperial army stationed at Spiral Castle will be more than enough to protect it - but the de Casillons are not so selfish as to care only about their own safety. Their [[changeling]] [[lineage]] leads many to see themselves as responsible for providing a good example to the people of Weirwater, and if they have to they will have their retainers re-prioritise their resources to the protection of Weirmoor.

Given that this involves protecting the inhabitants of Spiral Castle - and is a direct request - it is the responsibility of the Castellan of Spiral Castle, '''Mortarion Carver''' to defeat the Broken Errant.

===Sharp Lessons (Karov)===
* '''The ''Iron Boyar'' is leading a warband targeting the traders on the road to Korotny'''
* '''Time TBC'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Boyar of the Iron Roads'' is responsible for defeating the Iron Boyar'''
The ''Iron Boyar'' is leading its warband along the border on the road to Korotny, eager to recruit more soldiers for the Schlacta of Rot's forces. The warband cannot hope to threaten the settlement of Korotny proper - not yet at any rate. The Iron Boyar leads less than a hundred unliving soldiers, but there are a number of isolated farmsteads, smaller vales, and travellers on the roads who are all prime candidates for "recruitment". Indeed, with the dangers of [[the Semmerlak]], there are more travellers choosing to go by land rather than risk Dho'uala, exacerbating the problem.

If the Iron Boyar is not stopped then not only will the army of the Schlacta of Rot be expanded, but lead to an assault on the village of Korotny. While the attack will ''probably'' be repulsed it will lead to significant disruption. The [[Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak]] will see a significant increase to the cost of purchasing [[weirwood]] from the south, and the benefits provided by the Iron Roads to Karsk and [[Ossium]] will be halved for the coming season.

The threat to the prosperity and free trade of Karov, and potentially Karsk as well, means it is the responsibility of the [[Boyar of the Iron Roads]], '''Borys Vardovich Straskovich''' to ensure the defeat of the Iron Boyar.

==Further Reading==
* [[The_lake_and_the_deep,_dark_woods#A_Lord_of_the_Dead_Woods|The lake and the deep, dark woods]] - 385YE Winter Wind of Fortune about the Deadwood Knight's rampage
* [[The_horror_and_the_wild#The_Schlacta_of_Rot_(Conjunction)|The Horror and the wild]] - Summer 385YE Wind of Fortune introducing the Deadwood Knight's challenge
* [[381YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Flesh_and_Bone_(Weirwater)|Flesh and bone]] and [[381YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#Cold_Day_in_the_Sun_(Weirwater)|Cold day in the sun]] detail the 381YE attack on Weirwater by the risen dead which is ''probably'' nothing to do with the Deadwood Knight but may be of interest