A place on a map - Revision history

Twiggy at 14:16, 23 March 2026

2026-03-23T14:16:49Z

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	[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:384YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]		[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:384YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]
	<ic>"You know that it is my intention to retire at the very end of the year, Master Le Salle?" Mladen Escovitch picked his words with as much care as he guarded his purse. He stroked his beard without looking at the Auditor of the Imperial Treasury who walked beside him. They were strolling through one of the arbours - although at this time of year it was much more like a maze of thorn bushes than a rose garden. Escovitch wore his coat open and smiled inwardly at the way the Auditor had bundled himself up against the Winter chill.		<ic>"You know that it is my intention to retire at the very end of the year, Master La Salle?" Mladen Escovitch picked his words with as much care as he guarded his purse. He stroked his beard without looking at the Auditor of the Imperial Treasury who walked beside him. They were strolling through one of the arbours - although at this time of year it was much more like a maze of thorn bushes than a rose garden. Escovitch wore his coat open and smiled inwardly at the way the Auditor had bundled himself up against the Winter chill.

	"I know that," said the Dawnishman. "And I appreciate all the work you've done making sure Lutomysla Niegoslava feels at home here."		"I know that," said the Dawnishman. "And I appreciate all the work you've done making sure Lutomysla Niegoslava feels at home here."
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	"I only mention this because Urizen is very far away, and very much in the opposite direction from here than Varushka is. Also half of it is occupied by orcs. And some of those orcs are very bad orcs indeed. I am not superstitious, but to put myself within arms' reach of the Druj when i am this close to retirement..." He made it sound like a joke, but in all honesty it was preying on his mind.		"I only mention this because Urizen is very far away, and very much in the opposite direction from here than Varushka is. Also half of it is occupied by orcs. And some of those orcs are very bad orcs indeed. I am not superstitious, but to put myself within arms' reach of the Druj when i am this close to retirement..." He made it sound like a joke, but in all honesty it was preying on his mind.

	"I know that as well," said Le Salle. "If there was anyone else...."		"I know that as well," said La Salle. "If there was anyone else...."

	"There are two other civil servants with my seniority you could send." Mladen kept his tone mild but his frustration leaked through. Gerard sighed gustily.		"There are two other civil servants with my seniority you could send." Mladen kept his tone mild but his frustration leaked through. Gerard sighed gustily.

Twiggy at 16:06, 28 February 2026

2026-02-28T16:06:15Z

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	Like Spiral, Zenith is controlled by enemies of the Empire, but the [[Druj]] remain at war with the conflict between Imperial armies and Druj forces raging back and forth across the border between the two territories. As such it is not possible for Escovitch and his team to carry out a definitive appraisal of the territory, it would simply be too dangerous to attempt to do so. However, Escovitch is notorious for his abhorrence for waste - so rather than attempt a dangerous and expensive trip into Druj lands, he has had his team comb through Imperial records of past civil service reports looking for anything that might present an opportunity today and has found two reports of interest.		Like Spiral, Zenith is controlled by enemies of the Empire, but the [[Druj]] remain at war with the conflict between Imperial armies and Druj forces raging back and forth across the border between the two territories. As such it is not possible for Escovitch and his team to carry out a definitive appraisal of the territory, it would simply be too dangerous to attempt to do so. However, Escovitch is notorious for his abhorrence for waste - so rather than attempt a dangerous and expensive trip into Druj lands, he has had his team comb through Imperial records of past civil service reports looking for anything that might present an opportunity today and has found two reports of interest.

	The first is a record of something like a plenipotentiary, an offer by [[Meraud]] to help fortify the Halls of Knowledge. The Fire Mage was apparently offering to provide all the materials for the fortification - albeit this would take the form of igneous basalt, rather than white granite. According to Meraud, this basalt, drawn from the Summer ~~Realm~~, is every bit as hard and durable as granite and could be used to replace it on a one-for-one basis.		The first is a record of something like a plenipotentiary, an offer by [[Meraud]] to help fortify the Halls of Knowledge. The Fire Mage was apparently offering to provide all the materials for the fortification - albeit this would take the form of igneous basalt, rather than white granite. According to Meraud, this basalt, drawn from the Summer realm, is every bit as hard and durable as granite and could be used to replace it on a one-for-one basis.

	There are, sadly, three problems with this offer. The first is that the Halls of Knowledge were torn down by the Druj, ransacked for everything of value and then destroyed. Given Meraud's interest was clearly in protecting the Halls, they would presumably have to be rebuilt before any help to protect them would be forthcoming. The second problem is that this offer was made over a century ago... There's no record of how the Empire responded, but it seems naive to imagine that Meraud is still waiting for an answer. Still, what is time to an eternal? If someone spoke to Meraud he might be interested in renewing the offer? The third problem is the price... Meraud was apparently looking to construct some kind of Jade Mountain in the Summer ~~Realm~~... as such he wanted a thousand pieces of [[tempest jade]] in return for his help. It's not clear if that much tempest jade exists in the Empire.		There are, sadly, three problems with this offer. The first is that the Halls of Knowledge were torn down by the Druj, ransacked for everything of value and then destroyed. Given Meraud's interest was clearly in protecting the Halls, they would presumably have to be rebuilt before any help to protect them would be forthcoming. The second problem is that this offer was made over a century ago... There's no record of how the Empire responded, but it seems naive to imagine that Meraud is still waiting for an answer. Still, what is time to an eternal? If someone spoke to Meraud he might be interested in renewing the offer? The third problem is the price... Meraud was apparently looking to construct some kind of Jade Mountain in the Summer realm... as such he wanted a thousand pieces of [[tempest jade]] in return for his help. It's not clear if that much tempest jade exists in the Empire.

	The second report is even older, it describes an encounter with one of the many rogue [[tulpa\|tulpas]] that haunts the dark forests of [[Zenith#Lustri\|Lustri]]. The creature called itself Phellem and it claimed to be as old as the forest itself. It was encountered by a group of Imperial heroes travelling to the region via the [[Sentinel Gate]], so the account is particularly vague, but those who spoke with the tulpa claim that the being expressed a desire to see the forest "secured" in some way - and was prepared to offer it's assistance, in such an endeavour.		The second report is even older, it describes an encounter with one of the many rogue [[tulpa\|tulpas]] that haunts the dark forests of [[Zenith#Lustri\|Lustri]]. The creature called itself Phellem and it claimed to be as old as the forest itself. It was encountered by a group of Imperial heroes travelling to the region via the [[Sentinel Gate]], so the account is particularly vague, but those who spoke with the tulpa claim that the being expressed a desire to see the forest "secured" in some way - and was prepared to offer it's assistance, in such an endeavour.

Twiggy at 13:27, 16 July 2025

2025-07-16T13:27:27Z

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	"This. This is the problem" said Tuhtel gesturing at the scrolls in front of him. "We're prognosticators, not librarians. We should be out there surveying the landscape to see what opportunities exist. Not trawling through centuries-old paperwork looking for things previous senators considered and discarded. I joined the department for the action, the excitement. Not this!"		"This. This is the problem" said Tuhtel gesturing at the scrolls in front of him. "We're prognosticators, not librarians. We should be out there surveying the landscape to see what opportunities exist. Not trawling through centuries-old paperwork looking for things previous senators considered and discarded. I joined the department for the action, the excitement. Not this!"

	Prodon stared at his junior colleague his face a mixture of scorn and disgust. "Zenith is crawling with Druj, Spiral is full of Grendel ''and'' the Black Plateau. How exactly do you think we're going to carry out an appraisal under those conditions?"		Prodon stared at his junior colleague his face a mixture of scorn and disgust. "Zenith is crawling with Druj, Spiral is full of Grendel ''and'' the {{Black Plateau}}. How exactly do you think we're going to carry out an appraisal under those conditions?"

	"We could do it! We could travel light, get in, get out, one man alone..." his voice trailed off slightly as		"We could do it! We could travel light, get in, get out, one man alone..." his voice trailed off slightly as

Rafferty at 15:21, 23 March 2024

2024-03-23T15:21:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 23 March 2024
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	However, the other path, the ''Crow Road'' that links [[Redoubt#Willstone\|Willstone]] in Redoubt to [[Spiral#Cinion\|Cinion]] in Spiral is currently undefended. Grendel armies could use this path to quickly invade Urizen, and create a beachhead at Willstone. Fortifying the region would make an attack much more difficult, forcing any invading Grendel army to mount a direct assault against a protected region if they wanted to attack Redoubt by land.		However, the other path, the ''Crow Road'' that links [[Redoubt#Willstone\|Willstone]] in Redoubt to [[Spiral#Cinion\|Cinion]] in Spiral is currently undefended. Grendel armies could use this path to quickly invade Urizen, and create a beachhead at Willstone. Fortifying the region would make an attack much more difficult, forcing any invading Grendel army to mount a direct assault against a protected region if they wanted to attack Redoubt by land.

	No fortification is ever cheap, but the prognosticator has assessed the existing citadel at Willstone and confirmed that it could be expanded and fortified to provide an effective defence to protect the Crow Road. Expanding the citadel into a basic fortification would require 70 wains of white granite and 140 crowns, and take a year to complete, but it would also help in other ways. The area is known to be plagued by [[orc]] bandits, which make the area dangerous for small groups of travellers, especially those visiting the nearby [[Redoubt#~~Grand_Conservatory_of_Music~~\|Grand Conservatory of Music]]. The new fortification would serve as a powerful deterrent to these bandits as well as being the ideal location for passing caravans to rest. Escovitch's design features an unusually large open courtyard allowing merchants to pay to store their wagons inside the fortification. Charging the merchants (and pilgrims visiting the Conservatory) for this benefit would provide a valuable revenue stream, which would serve to reduce the upkeep cost of the fortification from 10 thrones a season to 5 thrones a season.		No fortification is ever cheap, but the prognosticator has assessed the existing citadel at Willstone and confirmed that it could be expanded and fortified to provide an effective defence to protect the Crow Road. Expanding the citadel into a basic fortification would require 70 wains of white granite and 140 crowns, and take a year to complete, but it would also help in other ways. The area is known to be plagued by [[orc]] bandits, which make the area dangerous for small groups of travellers, especially those visiting the nearby [[Redoubt#Grand_Conservatory (Ruined)\|Grand Conservatory of Music]]. The new fortification would serve as a powerful deterrent to these bandits as well as being the ideal location for passing caravans to rest. Escovitch's design features an unusually large open courtyard allowing merchants to pay to store their wagons inside the fortification. Charging the merchants (and pilgrims visiting the Conservatory) for this benefit would provide a valuable revenue stream, which would serve to reduce the upkeep cost of the fortification from 10 thrones a season to 5 thrones a season.

	In addition to this opportunity, Escovitch notes that last season the eternal [[Adamant]] has [[Stone_and_stone#Girdle_the_Flame\|offered to help improve the strength of the Court of the White Fountain]].		In addition to this opportunity, Escovitch notes that last season the eternal [[Adamant]] has [[Stone_and_stone#Girdle_the_Flame\|offered to help improve the strength of the Court of the White Fountain]].

Hailmur at 14:17, 8 December 2023

2023-12-08T14:17:46Z

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	==Overview==		==Overview==
	{{Audio\|link=https://youtu.be/J3jH0huolw8}}		{{Audio\|link=https://youtu.be/J3jH0huolw8}}
	At the previous summit, the Senators [[Appraise_fortifications_in_Urizen_territory\|instructed the civil service]] to carry out an appraisal of the options for fortifying Urizen, at the request of the [[Some_heavenly_music#The_Architects_of_Stone\|Architects of Stone]] at Delving. The senators did not request a specific member of the Prognosticaters Office to carry out the appraisal and so Gerard La Salle has instructed the parsimonious [[Appraisal#Mladen_Escovitch\|Mladen Escovitch]] to do the work. He has conducted an analysis of each territory in Urizen, including the former territories of [[Zenith]] and [[Spiral]] with a view to finding the most efficient way each territory might be fortified.		At the previous summit, the Senators [[383YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_fortifications_in_Urizen_territory\|instructed the civil service]] to carry out an appraisal of the options for fortifying Urizen, at the request of the [[Some_heavenly_music#The_Architects_of_Stone\|Architects of Stone]] at Delving. The senators did not request a specific member of the Prognosticaters Office to carry out the appraisal and so Gerard La Salle has instructed the parsimonious [[Appraisal#Mladen_Escovitch\|Mladen Escovitch]] to do the work. He has conducted an analysis of each territory in Urizen, including the former territories of [[Zenith]] and [[Spiral]] with a view to finding the most efficient way each territory might be fortified.

	==Redoubt==		==Redoubt==

Rafferty at 20:39, 7 July 2022

2022-07-07T20:39:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:39, 7 July 2022
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	"And I see the Senate budgets," said Gerard darkly, glowering at nothing in particular. "And how much they spend on fortifications each year... So I want to send a civil servant to Urizen who who understands that not ''everything'' we do has to end up meaning ''very expensive''."</ic>		"And I see the Senate budgets," said Gerard darkly, glowering at nothing in particular. "And how much they spend on fortifications each year... So I want to send a civil servant to Urizen who who understands that not ''everything'' we do has to end up meaning ''very expensive''."</ic>
	<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=DawnAndUrizen.jpg\|caption=Fortifications are a vital part of the Empire's strategy for protecting its borders from barbarians.\|align=left\|width=~~350~~}}</div>		<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=DawnAndUrizen.jpg\|caption=Fortifications are a vital part of the Empire's strategy for protecting its borders from barbarians.\|align=left\|width=450}}</div>
	==Overview==		==Overview==
	{{Audio\|link=https://youtu.be/J3jH0huolw8}}		{{Audio\|link=https://youtu.be/J3jH0huolw8}}

Novemberalice: /* Overview */

2022-06-03T20:42:16Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:42, 3 June 2022
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	<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=DawnAndUrizen.jpg\|caption=Fortifications are a vital part of the Empire's strategy for protecting its borders from barbarians.\|align=left\|width=350}}</div>		<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=DawnAndUrizen.jpg\|caption=Fortifications are a vital part of the Empire's strategy for protecting its borders from barbarians.\|align=left\|width=350}}</div>
	==Overview==		==Overview==
			{{Audio\|link=https://youtu.be/J3jH0huolw8}}
	At the previous summit, the Senators [[Appraise_fortifications_in_Urizen_territory\|instructed the civil service]] to carry out an appraisal of the options for fortifying Urizen, at the request of the [[Some_heavenly_music#The_Architects_of_Stone\|Architects of Stone]] at Delving. The senators did not request a specific member of the Prognosticaters Office to carry out the appraisal and so Gerard La Salle has instructed the parsimonious [[Appraisal#Mladen_Escovitch\|Mladen Escovitch]] to do the work. He has conducted an analysis of each territory in Urizen, including the former territories of [[Zenith]] and [[Spiral]] with a view to finding the most efficient way each territory might be fortified.		At the previous summit, the Senators [[Appraise_fortifications_in_Urizen_territory\|instructed the civil service]] to carry out an appraisal of the options for fortifying Urizen, at the request of the [[Some_heavenly_music#The_Architects_of_Stone\|Architects of Stone]] at Delving. The senators did not request a specific member of the Prognosticaters Office to carry out the appraisal and so Gerard La Salle has instructed the parsimonious [[Appraisal#Mladen_Escovitch\|Mladen Escovitch]] to do the work. He has conducted an analysis of each territory in Urizen, including the former territories of [[Zenith]] and [[Spiral]] with a view to finding the most efficient way each territory might be fortified.

Hastur: /* Overview */

2022-05-29T10:55:44Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:55, 29 May 2022
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	<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=DawnAndUrizen.jpg\|caption=Fortifications are a vital part of the Empire's strategy for protecting its borders from barbarians.\|align=left\|width=350}}</div>		<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=DawnAndUrizen.jpg\|caption=Fortifications are a vital part of the Empire's strategy for protecting its borders from barbarians.\|align=left\|width=350}}</div>
	==Overview==		==Overview==
	At the previous summit, the Senators [[Appraise_fortifications_in_Urizen_territory\|instructed the civil service]] to carry out an appraisal of the options for fortifying Urizen. at the request of the [[Some_heavenly_music#The_Architects_of_Stone\|Architects of Stone]] at Delving. The senators did not request a specific member of the Prognosticaters Office to carry out the appraisal and so Gerard La Salle has instructed the parsimonious [[Appraisal#Mladen_Escovitch\|Mladen Escovitch]] to do the work. He has conducted an analysis of each territory in Urizen, including the former territories of [[Zenith]] and [[Spiral]] with a view to finding the most efficient way each territory might be fortified.		At the previous summit, the Senators [[Appraise_fortifications_in_Urizen_territory\|instructed the civil service]] to carry out an appraisal of the options for fortifying Urizen, at the request of the [[Some_heavenly_music#The_Architects_of_Stone\|Architects of Stone]] at Delving. The senators did not request a specific member of the Prognosticaters Office to carry out the appraisal and so Gerard La Salle has instructed the parsimonious [[Appraisal#Mladen_Escovitch\|Mladen Escovitch]] to do the work. He has conducted an analysis of each territory in Urizen, including the former territories of [[Zenith]] and [[Spiral]] with a view to finding the most efficient way each territory might be fortified.

	==Redoubt==		==Redoubt==

Beeswax at 19:05, 28 May 2022

2022-05-28T19:05:00Z

Beeswax: /* Overview */

2022-05-28T00:47:29Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:47, 28 May 2022
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	<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=DawnAndUrizen.jpg\|caption=Fortifications are a vital part of the Empire's strategy for protecting its borders from barbarians.\|align=left\|width=350}}</div>		<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage\|file=DawnAndUrizen.jpg\|caption=Fortifications are a vital part of the Empire's strategy for protecting its borders from barbarians.\|align=left\|width=350}}</div>
	==Overview==		==Overview==
	At the previous summit, the Senators [[Appraise_fortifications_in_Urizen_territory\|instructed the civil service]] to carry out an appraisal of the options for fortifying ~~Zenith~~. at the request of the [[Some_heavenly_music#The_Architects_of_Stone\|Architects of Stone]] at Delving. The senators did not request a specific member of the Prognosticaters Office to carry out the appraisal and so Gerard La Salle has instructed the parsimonious [[Appraisal#Mladen_Escovitch\|Mladen Escovitch]] to do the work. He has conducted an analysis of each territory in Urizen, including the former territories of [[Zenith]] and [[Spiral]] with a view to finding the most efficient way each territory might be fortified.		At the previous summit, the Senators [[Appraise_fortifications_in_Urizen_territory\|instructed the civil service]] to carry out an appraisal of the options for fortifying Urizen. at the request of the [[Some_heavenly_music#The_Architects_of_Stone\|Architects of Stone]] at Delving. The senators did not request a specific member of the Prognosticaters Office to carry out the appraisal and so Gerard La Salle has instructed the parsimonious [[Appraisal#Mladen_Escovitch\|Mladen Escovitch]] to do the work. He has conducted an analysis of each territory in Urizen, including the former territories of [[Zenith]] and [[Spiral]] with a view to finding the most efficient way each territory might be fortified.

	==Redoubt==		==Redoubt==

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 23 March 2024
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	However, the other path, the ''Crow Road'' that links [[Redoubt#Willstone\|Willstone]] in Redoubt to [[Spiral#Cinion\|Cinion]] in Spiral is currently undefended. Grendel armies could use this path to quickly invade Urizen, and create a beachhead at Willstone. Fortifying the region would make an attack much more difficult, forcing any invading Grendel army to mount a direct assault against a protected region if they wanted to attack Redoubt by land.		However, the other path, the ''Crow Road'' that links [[Redoubt#Willstone\|Willstone]] in Redoubt to [[Spiral#Cinion\|Cinion]] in Spiral is currently undefended. Grendel armies could use this path to quickly invade Urizen, and create a beachhead at Willstone. Fortifying the region would make an attack much more difficult, forcing any invading Grendel army to mount a direct assault against a protected region if they wanted to attack Redoubt by land.

	No fortification is ever cheap, but the prognosticator has assessed the existing citadel at Willstone and confirmed that it could be expanded and fortified to provide an effective defence to protect the Crow Road. Expanding the citadel into a basic fortification would require 70 wains of white granite and 140 crowns, and take a year to complete, but it would also help in other ways. The area is known to be plagued by [[orc]] bandits, which make the area dangerous for small groups of travellers, especially those visiting the nearby [[Redoubt#~~Grand_Conservatory_of_Music~~\|Grand Conservatory of Music]]. The new fortification would serve as a powerful deterrent to these bandits as well as being the ideal location for passing caravans to rest. Escovitch's design features an unusually large open courtyard allowing merchants to pay to store their wagons inside the fortification. Charging the merchants (and pilgrims visiting the Conservatory) for this benefit would provide a valuable revenue stream, which would serve to reduce the upkeep cost of the fortification from 10 thrones a season to 5 thrones a season.		No fortification is ever cheap, but the prognosticator has assessed the existing citadel at Willstone and confirmed that it could be expanded and fortified to provide an effective defence to protect the Crow Road. Expanding the citadel into a basic fortification would require 70 wains of white granite and 140 crowns, and take a year to complete, but it would also help in other ways. The area is known to be plagued by [[orc]] bandits, which make the area dangerous for small groups of travellers, especially those visiting the nearby [[Redoubt#Grand_Conservatory (Ruined)\|Grand Conservatory of Music]]. The new fortification would serve as a powerful deterrent to these bandits as well as being the ideal location for passing caravans to rest. Escovitch's design features an unusually large open courtyard allowing merchants to pay to store their wagons inside the fortification. Charging the merchants (and pilgrims visiting the Conservatory) for this benefit would provide a valuable revenue stream, which would serve to reduce the upkeep cost of the fortification from 10 thrones a season to 5 thrones a season.

	In addition to this opportunity, Escovitch notes that last season the eternal [[Adamant]] has [[Stone_and_stone#Girdle_the_Flame\|offered to help improve the strength of the Court of the White Fountain]].		In addition to this opportunity, Escovitch notes that last season the eternal [[Adamant]] has [[Stone_and_stone#Girdle_the_Flame\|offered to help improve the strength of the Court of the White Fountain]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:05, 28 May 2022
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	* '''A fortification could be built at Willstone to protect the eastern end of the Crow Road pass'''		* '''A fortification could be built at Willstone to protect the eastern end of the Crow Road pass'''
	* '''The fortification would require 70 wains of white granite and 140 crowns and take a year to complete'''		* '''The fortification would require 70 wains of white granite and 140 crowns and take a year to complete'''
	* '''When complete it would prove a deterrent for bandits in the area as well as generating a revenue stream that reduced the ~~fortifications~~ upkeep to 5 Thrones each season'''		* '''When complete it would prove a deterrent for bandits in the area as well as generating a revenue stream that reduced the fortification's upkeep to 5 Thrones each season'''
	There are two fortifications already in Redoubt, [[Redoubt#The Walls of Cargo\|the Walls of Cargo]] and [[Redoubt#The Court of the White Fountain\|the Court of the White Fountain]], ensuring it is already one of the better-defended territories on the Empire's borders. The Court of the White Fountain in particular stands near the border with [[Spiral]] guarding the [[Spiral#The_Three_Passes\|Onyx Path]], one of the two major passes through the mountains to lands claimed by the [[Grendel]].		There are two fortifications already in Redoubt, [[Redoubt#The Walls of Cargo\|the Walls of Cargo]] and [[Redoubt#The Court of the White Fountain\|the Court of the White Fountain]], ensuring it is already one of the better-defended territories on the Empire's borders. The Court of the White Fountain in particular stands near the border with [[Spiral]] guarding the [[Spiral#The_Three_Passes\|Onyx Path]], one of the two major passes through the mountains to lands claimed by the [[Grendel]].

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	In addition to these opportunities, Escovitch notes that the Senate could [[The_price_of_wisdom#The_Temple_of_Blades\|fund the creation of fortified sword scholar temples across Morrow]]. These temples would serve as a fortification, protecting the territory if it were attacked.		In addition to these opportunities, Escovitch notes that the Senate could [[The_price_of_wisdom#The_Temple_of_Blades\|fund the creation of fortified sword scholar temples across Morrow]]. These temples would serve as a fortification, protecting the territory if it were attacked.

	Another option is the [[Morrow#Grand_Library_of_Canterspire\|Grand Library of Caterspire]]. Before [[Phaleron]] helped the Urizen develop Canterspire into a great library, he provided a powerful arcane projection that was used to sheath the site in in luminescent crystal mimicking the effect of a 3,000 strength fortification in the region. Since then Phaleron has made other arrangements with the Urizeni to ensure the security of the Grand Library, but possibly the [[Emissary to the Celestial Library]] might persuade the ''Archives of Silence'' to allow the ritual to be codified?		Another option is the [[Morrow#Grand_Library_of_Canterspire\|Grand Library of Caterspire]]. Before [[Phaleron]] helped the Urizen develop Canterspire into a great library, he provided a powerful arcane projection that was used to sheath the site in luminescent crystal mimicking the effect of a 3,000 strength fortification in the region. Since then Phaleron has made other arrangements with the Urizeni to ensure the security of the Grand Library, but possibly the [[Emissary to the Celestial Library]] might persuade the ''Archives of Silence'' to allow the ritual to be codified?

	==Spiral==		==Spiral==
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	The first is a record of something like a plenipotentiary, an offer by [[Meraud]] to help fortify the Halls of Knowledge. The Fire Mage was apparently offering to provide all the materials for the fortification - albeit this would take the form of igneous basalt, rather than white granite. According to Meraud, this basalt, drawn from the Summer Realm, is every bit as hard and durable as granite and could be used to replace it on a one-for-one basis.		The first is a record of something like a plenipotentiary, an offer by [[Meraud]] to help fortify the Halls of Knowledge. The Fire Mage was apparently offering to provide all the materials for the fortification - albeit this would take the form of igneous basalt, rather than white granite. According to Meraud, this basalt, drawn from the Summer Realm, is every bit as hard and durable as granite and could be used to replace it on a one-for-one basis.

	There are, sadly, three problems with this offer. The first is that the Halls of Knowledge were torn down by the Druj, ransacked for everything of value and then destroyed. Given Meraud's interest was clearly in protecting the Halls, they would presumably have to be rebuilt before any help to protect them would be forthcoming. The second problem is that this offer was made over a century ago... There's no record of how the Empire responded, but it seems naive to imagine that Meraud is still waiting for an answer. Still what is time to an eternal? If someone spoke to Meraud he might be interested in renewing the offer? The third problem is the price... Meraud was apparently looking to construct some kind of Jade Mountain in the Summer Realm... as such he wanted a thousand pieces of [[tempest jade]] in return for his help. It's not clear if that much tempest jade exists in the Empire.		There are, sadly, three problems with this offer. The first is that the Halls of Knowledge were torn down by the Druj, ransacked for everything of value and then destroyed. Given Meraud's interest was clearly in protecting the Halls, they would presumably have to be rebuilt before any help to protect them would be forthcoming. The second problem is that this offer was made over a century ago... There's no record of how the Empire responded, but it seems naive to imagine that Meraud is still waiting for an answer. Still, what is time to an eternal? If someone spoke to Meraud he might be interested in renewing the offer? The third problem is the price... Meraud was apparently looking to construct some kind of Jade Mountain in the Summer Realm... as such he wanted a thousand pieces of [[tempest jade]] in return for his help. It's not clear if that much tempest jade exists in the Empire.

	The second report is even older, it describes an encounter with one of the many rogue [[tulpa\|tulpas]] that haunts the dark forests of [[Zenith#Lustri\|Lustri]]. The creature called itself Phellem and it claimed to be as old as the forest itself. It was encountered by a group of Imperial heroes travelling to the region via the [[Sentinel Gate]], so the account is particularly vague, but those who spoke with the tulpa claim that the being expressed a desire to see the forest "secured" in some way - and was prepared to offer it's assistance, in such an endeavour.		The second report is even older, it describes an encounter with one of the many rogue [[tulpa\|tulpas]] that haunts the dark forests of [[Zenith#Lustri\|Lustri]]. The creature called itself Phellem and it claimed to be as old as the forest itself. It was encountered by a group of Imperial heroes travelling to the region via the [[Sentinel Gate]], so the account is particularly vague, but those who spoke with the tulpa claim that the being expressed a desire to see the forest "secured" in some way - and was prepared to offer it's assistance, in such an endeavour.
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	Prodon stared at his junior colleague his face a mixture of scorn and disgust. "Zenith is crawling with Druj, Spiral is full of Grendel ''and'' the Black Plateau. How exactly do you think we're going to carry out an appraisal under those conditions?"		Prodon stared at his junior colleague his face a mixture of scorn and disgust. "Zenith is crawling with Druj, Spiral is full of Grendel ''and'' the Black Plateau. How exactly do you think we're going to carry out an appraisal under those conditions?"

	"We could do it! We could travel ~~light~~ light, get in, get out, one man alone..." his voice trailed off slightly as		"We could do it! We could travel light, get in, get out, one man alone..." his voice trailed off slightly as

	"You're a prognosticator... barely... You're not an Imperial scout. Last time I checked you were schooled in six different forms of record keepng... none of which included training on how to sneak through enemy lines? Prodon interrupted his rant to shake his head dismissively before finishing with "The Druj would eat you for breakfast."		"You're a prognosticator... barely... You're not an Imperial scout. Last time I checked you were schooled in six different forms of record keepng... none of which included training on how to sneak through enemy lines? Prodon interrupted his rant to shake his head dismissively before finishing with "The Druj would eat you for breakfast."

	Tuhtel glared at his colleague but he pretended to return his attention to paperwork on his desk ~~none-the-less~~.		Tuhtel glared at his colleague but he pretended to return his attention to paperwork on his desk nonetheless.
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