A dark and stormy night - Revision history

Matt: Text replacement - "[[Imperial Military Council" to "[[Military Council"

2026-01-15T12:23:41Z

Text replacement - "[[Imperial Military Council" to "[[Military Council"

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:23, 15 January 2026
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	==Black Iron Blade==		==Black Iron Blade==
	* '''The Military Council have shut down the outpost of the Grendel espionage ring in Spiral'''		* '''The Military Council have shut down the outpost of the Grendel espionage ring in Spiral'''
	After due consideration, the [[~~Imperial~~ Military Council]] opted to shut down the Grendel operations in Spiral. Perhaps the benefits of trying to subvert the network were too intangible, perhaps the risks of letting the spies get away were simply too great. Only those who were present for the discussion will know for sure what was discussed, but the decision is not in any doubt. Orders go out to the Imperial magistrates, who gather together groups of League bravos, hastily recruited as militia and supplemented with a handful of sentinels and magicians from the spires outside the city. They move decisively to arrest the ringleaders - with a series of dawn raids the perpetrators are quickly taken into custody.		After due consideration, the [[Military Council]] opted to shut down the Grendel operations in Spiral. Perhaps the benefits of trying to subvert the network were too intangible, perhaps the risks of letting the spies get away were simply too great. Only those who were present for the discussion will know for sure what was discussed, but the decision is not in any doubt. Orders go out to the Imperial magistrates, who gather together groups of League bravos, hastily recruited as militia and supplemented with a handful of sentinels and magicians from the spires outside the city. They move decisively to arrest the ringleaders - with a series of dawn raids the perpetrators are quickly taken into custody.

	Those involved are a motley collection. Around half are Apulian orcs, most of whom never become League citizens when the territory switched sides under the leadership of Salt Lord Kaliact. A third are League citizens, whose loyalties have been bought with coin and promises of more. The remainder are a sorry mix of malcontents and ne'er do wells, mostly disgruntled Urizeni unhappy with the new regime.		Those involved are a motley collection. Around half are Apulian orcs, most of whom never become League citizens when the territory switched sides under the leadership of Salt Lord Kaliact. A third are League citizens, whose loyalties have been bought with coin and promises of more. The remainder are a sorry mix of malcontents and ne'er do wells, mostly disgruntled Urizeni unhappy with the new regime.

Responsible1 at 20:56, 1 October 2025

2025-10-01T20:56:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:56, 1 October 2025
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			[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
	<ic>		<ic>
	''"...we have noted and understand the need to change your staff in Redoubt but I personally found the increase in numbers perplexing since you will be reducing the staff over the coming season prior to the embassy being shuttered for the duration of the conflict..."''		''"...we have noted and understand the need to change your staff in Redoubt but I personally found the increase in numbers perplexing since you will be reducing the staff over the coming season prior to the embassy being shuttered for the duration of the conflict..."''

Twiggy: /* Countering the Grendel */

2025-09-05T15:18:44Z

Countering the Grendel

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:18, 5 September 2025
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	<tr><td>Redoubt</td><td>Clear</td></tr>		<tr><td>Redoubt</td><td>Clear</td></tr>
	<tr><td>Spiral</td><td>Clear</td></tr>		<tr><td>Spiral</td><td>Clear</td></tr>
	<tr><td>~~Maraeve~~</td><td>Clear</td></tr>		<tr><td>Mareave</td><td>Clear</td></tr>
	</table>		</table>
	</div>		</div>

Twiggy at 13:44, 5 September 2025

2025-09-05T13:44:40Z

Show changes

Noserenda: /* Cartographer's Eye */

2025-09-05T12:55:30Z

Cartographer's Eye

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:55, 5 September 2025
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	===Cartographer's Eye===		===Cartographer's Eye===
	* '''The Imperial Conclave could use a declaration of ~~concored~~ to look into establishing a grand lodge for the Shuttered Lantern in one of the afflicted territories'''		* '''The Imperial Conclave could use a declaration of concord to look into establishing a grand lodge for the Shuttered Lantern in one of the afflicted territories'''
	* '''The presence of the Shuttered Lantern grand lodge in a territory would make it impossible for an enemy to establish a spy network or an espionage ring there'''		* '''The presence of the Shuttered Lantern grand lodge in a territory would make it impossible for an enemy to establish a spy network or an espionage ring there'''
	With the [[Lit_up#Golden_Opportunity\|grand lodge]] of the [[Golden Pyramid]] in [[Mareave]] completed, the Conclave could use a declaration of concord to identify which order ought to benefit from such prestigious quarters next. There is considerable competition for this honour, but if the Conclave chose to honour the Shuttered Lantern it would give them an opportunity to base themselves in a territory. Any grand lodge is bound to provide an array of benefits - assessing those options is part of what the declaration is for. It's not possible to know what the exact benefits might be.		With the [[Lit_up#Golden_Opportunity\|grand lodge]] of the [[Golden Pyramid]] in [[Mareave]] completed, the Conclave could use a declaration of concord to identify which order ought to benefit from such prestigious quarters next. There is considerable competition for this honour, but if the Conclave chose to honour the Shuttered Lantern it would give them an opportunity to base themselves in a territory. Any grand lodge is bound to provide an array of benefits - assessing those options is part of what the declaration is for. It's not possible to know what the exact benefits might be.

Beeswax: /* Radiant Orb */

2025-09-05T12:21:30Z

Radiant Orb

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:21, 5 September 2025
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	One matter that comes to light not long before the Autumn Equinox is that of [[Appraisal#Eilian_Sweetwater\|Eilian Sweetwater]], the [[Navarr]] Imperial Prognosticator. It seems that the prognosticator left [[Redoubt#Elos\|Elos]] literally a day before the Grendel armada swept into [[Redoubt#Naris\|Naris]] and laid siege to the town. Unfortunately, he left on a boat chartered to bring him and his fellows to the site of the old Lighthouse of Nikopheros. There has been no further news of either the well-loved Navarr researcher, nor those who travelled with him, and fears are growing that he has fallen into the hands of the Grendel. There is some concern that Eilian is well-acquainted with any number of Imperial projects and plans, and has a wealth of knowledge about the history of the Empire to boot. If he is in the hands of Grendel spymasters... well they are unlikely to be gentle in trying to pry open the lid of his knowledge.		One matter that comes to light not long before the Autumn Equinox is that of [[Appraisal#Eilian_Sweetwater\|Eilian Sweetwater]], the [[Navarr]] Imperial Prognosticator. It seems that the prognosticator left [[Redoubt#Elos\|Elos]] literally a day before the Grendel armada swept into [[Redoubt#Naris\|Naris]] and laid siege to the town. Unfortunately, he left on a boat chartered to bring him and his fellows to the site of the old Lighthouse of Nikopheros. There has been no further news of either the well-loved Navarr researcher, nor those who travelled with him, and fears are growing that he has fallen into the hands of the Grendel. There is some concern that Eilian is well-acquainted with any number of Imperial projects and plans, and has a wealth of knowledge about the history of the Empire to boot. If he is in the hands of Grendel spymasters... well they are unlikely to be gentle in trying to pry open the lid of his knowledge.

	<big>'''Participation'''</big><br>Any character who was involved in Eilian's work - he was on sabbatical exploring historic lighthouses - is welcome to create a story as to why they were not with the prognosticator when he set sail. These stories might involve unlikely coincidences, the intervention of odd and enigmatic strangers, weird presentiments of doom, or just a plan to follow on later once some pressing business was concluded. They might also involve a desperate flight from the island on the chartered boat, moments ahead of the ~~Grenel~~ attackers, and the discovery once it was too late that the prognosticator is not aboard. In the end, it appears to be only Eilian and ''[[For_those_in_peril_on_the_sea#A_Surprise_Guest\|Fotismos]]'' who are unaccounted for.		<big>'''Participation'''</big><br>Any character who was involved in Eilian's work - he was on sabbatical exploring historic lighthouses - is welcome to create a story as to why they were not with the prognosticator when he set sail. These stories might involve unlikely coincidences, the intervention of odd and enigmatic strangers, weird presentiments of doom, or just a plan to follow on later once some pressing business was concluded. They might also involve a desperate flight from the island on the chartered boat, moments ahead of the Grendel attackers, and the discovery once it was too late that the prognosticator is not aboard. In the end, it appears to be only Eilian and ''[[For_those_in_peril_on_the_sea#A_Surprise_Guest\|Fotismos]]'' who are unaccounted for.

Beeswax: /* Lowther's Gaze */

2025-09-05T12:19:36Z

Lowther's Gaze

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:19, 5 September 2025
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	The Imperial Senate could use a Senate motion to build substantial offices for the Imperial Spymaster. The best place for such offices would be in one of the great cities of the Empire, it wouldn't have to be one of the League cities but it would need to be a large settlement.		The Imperial Senate could use a Senate motion to build substantial offices for the Imperial Spymaster. The best place for such offices would be in one of the great cities of the Empire, it wouldn't have to be one of the League cities but it would need to be a large settlement.

	Once the offices were complete, the Spymaster could use them to coordinate counter-espionage efforts in the Empire. These efforts wouldn't be cheap, but they would be flexible, the Spymaster could choose any Imperial territory (that is a territory eligible to elect a [[senator]]). All they would need to do is use a announcement in a Military Council session to issue the orders. It wouldn't be cheap - each use of this power would cost the Imperial treasury 10 thrones that season, reflecting the expenses of setting up and coordinating scores of independent scouts.		Once the offices were complete, the Spymaster could use them to coordinate counter-espionage efforts in the Empire. These efforts wouldn't be cheap, but they would be flexible, the Spymaster could choose any Imperial territory (that is a territory eligible to elect a [[senator]]). All they would need to do is use an announcement in a Military Council session to issue the orders. It wouldn't be cheap - each use of this power would cost the Imperial treasury 10 thrones that season, reflecting the expenses of setting up and coordinating scores of independent scouts.

	That latter part is crucial - the Spymaster would need significant support from Imperial military units. The announcement would create a scouting venture that military units ''from the nation in question'' could choose to support the venture. If the venture had the support of military units with a combined strength of a thousand or more, then the Spymaster would get a full report on any covert activities by spies in the area and ''might'' ~~discovert ilicit~~ activities by cults or similar. With a strength of two thousand or more, the Empire would gain an opportunity to shut down any covert activity, if there was any.		That latter part is crucial - the Spymaster would need significant support from Imperial military units. The announcement would create a scouting venture that military units ''from the nation in question'' could choose to support the venture. If the venture had the support of military units with a combined strength of a thousand or more, then the Spymaster would get a full report on any covert activities by spies in the area and ''might'' discover illicit activities by cults or similar. With a strength of two thousand or more, the Empire would gain an opportunity to shut down any covert activity, if there was any.

	One drawback of this approach is that the military units would need to be drawn from the nation where the action was taking place. Marcher bounders would be highly effective in counter-espionage efforts in Mitwold or similar - but they couldn't help in the League or the ~~Bras~~ Coast, or other nations.		One drawback of this approach is that the military units would need to be drawn from the nation where the action was taking place. Marcher bounders would be highly effective in counter-espionage efforts in Mitwold or similar - but they couldn't help in the League or the Brass Coast, or other nations.

	===Cartographer's Eye===		===Cartographer's Eye===

Beeswax: /* Lowther's Gaze */

2025-09-05T12:17:29Z

Lowther's Gaze

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:17, 5 September 2025
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	* Only military units from the nation in question could help with counter-espionage efforts in their nation		* Only military units from the nation in question could help with counter-espionage efforts in their nation
	</td></tr>		</td></tr>
	<td><td>'''Veto:''' Can be vetoed by the General Assembly, the Assembly of Nine or the national assembly of the nation the territory is in</td></tr>		<tr><td>'''Veto:''' Can be vetoed by the General Assembly, the Assembly of Nine or the national assembly of the nation the territory is in</td></tr>
	</table></div>		</table></div>

Beeswax: /* Watchers' Flute */

2025-09-05T12:09:47Z

Watchers' Flute

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:09, 5 September 2025
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	* '''The Grendel were using the embassy building in Cargo to spy on the Empire'''		* '''The Grendel were using the embassy building in Cargo to spy on the Empire'''
	* '''The followers of Berechiah have used the information from Spiral to shut this operation down'''		* '''The followers of Berechiah have used the information from Spiral to shut this operation down'''
	With a tip-off from the ongoing investigations ~~int~~ Spiral, the followers of Berechiah searching Redoubt for spies leap into action. It's one thing to search a whole territory, it's another to know that the thing you're looking for is in one city. If Cargo were a city of the League that might still leave a lot of rocks to look under, but [[Redoubt#Cargo\|Cargo]] is much smaller than even Apulian, the smallest of the five League cities. Moreover, the open planning preferred by the Urizen leaves fewer hiding places for cockroches than the Grendel might have liked.		With a tip-off from the ongoing investigations in Spiral, the followers of Berechiah searching Redoubt for spies leap into action. It's one thing to search a whole territory, it's another to know that the thing you're looking for is in one city. If Cargo were a city of the League that might still leave a lot of rocks to look under, but [[Redoubt#Cargo\|Cargo]] is much smaller than even Apulian, the smallest of the five League cities. Moreover, the open planning preferred by the Urizen leaves fewer hiding places for cockroches than the Grendel might have liked.

	The information provided by the informants the magistrates have captured isn't enough to pin down the location of the Grendel operations - here or elsewhere, but it's enough to get them started. Spurred on the need to act quickly, before the information becomes stale, the Vigilant run down every lead and to their astonishment discover the Grendel have been hiding in plain sight.		The information provided by the informants the magistrates have captured isn't enough to pin down the location of the Grendel operations - here or elsewhere, but it's enough to get them started. Spurred on the need to act quickly, before the information becomes stale, the Vigilant run down every lead and to their astonishment discover the Grendel have been hiding in plain sight.

Beeswax: /* Black Iron Blade */

2025-09-05T12:06:52Z

Black Iron Blade

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:06, 5 September 2025
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	The first thing they discover is that the Grendel are operating "jewels" in [[Sarvos]] and ''another'' in [[Sarvos#Bocche\|Trivento]] as well, despite the [[The_cities_and_the_city#Sarvos:_Agents\|work done to root them out from here two years ago]]. There were apparently plans to establish a new outpost in [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis\|the Black City in Necropolis]] after the last one was [[Rings_and_crowns#Eyes_of_the_Basilisk\|rooted out by the Empire]], but thus far the Grendel were unable to spare the resources needed. However, there is one in [[Redoubt#Cargo\|Cargo]] in [[Redoubt]] - based out of the old embassy building.		The first thing they discover is that the Grendel are operating "jewels" in [[Sarvos]] and ''another'' in [[Sarvos#Bocche\|Trivento]] as well, despite the [[The_cities_and_the_city#Sarvos:_Agents\|work done to root them out from here two years ago]]. There were apparently plans to establish a new outpost in [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis\|the Black City in Necropolis]] after the last one was [[Rings_and_crowns#Eyes_of_the_Basilisk\|rooted out by the Empire]], but thus far the Grendel were unable to spare the resources needed. However, there is one in [[Redoubt#Cargo\|Cargo]] in [[Redoubt]] - based out of the old embassy building.

	These spies have no information on other territories, but it's likely that there are jewels in [[Madruga]] and [[Feroz]]. Certainly [[Fake_empire#Gallum_Fiersach\|~~the actions of~~ Commander Gallum Fiersach]] in response to [[A circle sewn with fate\|the Wrecker attack on Feroz]] strongly suggest that must be the case in that territory.		These spies have no information on other territories, but it's likely that there are jewels in [[Madruga]] and [[Feroz]]. Certainly the actions of [[Fake_empire#Gallum_Fiersach\|Commander Gallum Fiersach]] in response to [[A circle sewn with fate\|the Wrecker attack on Feroz]] strongly suggest that must be the case in that territory.

	However, the Empire can be confident that the Grendel espionage ring does not extend beyond this. The interrogation of the captured Grendel agents reveals that the Grendel use their navies to set up these espionage rings. A single navy is all it takes, and any of the forces can accomplish it. All it takes is for the navy to spend a season in the waters off the coast and the scouts and spies go to work infilitrating the coast and suborning those whose loyalties are for sale. It's not cheap, it costs the Grendel a heavy purse to set a new jewel in their ring and crucially the navy can't do anything else that season. Worse, if the navy is driven off or intercepted by another navy then the efforts are wasted.		However, the Empire can be confident that the Grendel espionage ring does not extend beyond this. The interrogation of the captured Grendel agents reveals that the Grendel use their navies to set up these espionage rings. A single navy is all it takes, and any of the forces can accomplish it. All it takes is for the navy to spend a season in the waters off the coast and the scouts and spies go to work infilitrating the coast and suborning those whose loyalties are for sale. It's not cheap, it costs the Grendel a heavy purse to set a new jewel in their ring and crucially the navy can't do anything else that season. Worse, if the navy is driven off or intercepted by another navy then the efforts are wasted.