Burial rites of Empress Varkula - Revision history

Matt: Text replacement - "[[Imperial Conclave" to "[[Conclave"

2026-01-15T15:56:05Z

Text replacement - "[[Imperial Conclave" to "[[Conclave"

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 15 January 2026
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	As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with [[Hold Back Frozen Hunger]] and bound with [[ilium]] for permanency. While the ritual in [[Imperial lore]] cannot be bound with ilium due to its short duration, apparently there was once a more potent variation of this ritual which lasted significantly longer and ''could'' be made permanent. Called ''The Restful Sleep'', it was a closely guarded secret of the Stewards of the Dead; the sole [[ritual text]] containing it was [[Necropolis#The_Litharge\|the Litharge]] but sadly was destroyed during Nicovar's madness.		As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with [[Hold Back Frozen Hunger]] and bound with [[ilium]] for permanency. While the ritual in [[Imperial lore]] cannot be bound with ilium due to its short duration, apparently there was once a more potent variation of this ritual which lasted significantly longer and ''could'' be made permanent. Called ''The Restful Sleep'', it was a closely guarded secret of the Stewards of the Dead; the sole [[ritual text]] containing it was [[Necropolis#The_Litharge\|the Litharge]] but sadly was destroyed during Nicovar's madness.

	The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that her will required be interred with her. According to the House of Quills, they included the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[~~Imperial~~ Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.		The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that her will required be interred with her. According to the House of Quills, they included the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.

	It is deliberately not directly centred around the inner chambers in order to make their location indistinct; there is some white granite in its construction, but it is primarily a sacrificial outer layer. It is, however, inlaid with many free-swinging bells and similar chimes, designed to make a loud noise of alarm should its structural integrity be compromised in any fashion.		It is deliberately not directly centred around the inner chambers in order to make their location indistinct; there is some white granite in its construction, but it is primarily a sacrificial outer layer. It is, however, inlaid with many free-swinging bells and similar chimes, designed to make a loud noise of alarm should its structural integrity be compromised in any fashion.

Rafferty at 09:19, 10 May 2022

2022-05-10T09:19:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:19, 10 May 2022
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	[[Category:History]]		[[Category:History]]
	==Note regarding publication==		==Note regarding publication==
	The original [[historical research]] document was disbursed in Autumn 378YE. Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, a request was received from Lord Armand Remys of [[~~Prominent_noble_houses~~#House_Remys\|House Remys]] for access to the report, which had not been made public. Sadly, an attack by agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] damaged the records kept by the Department of Historical Research, and the original researcher (Douglas Wyrdwatcher) was [[Bloody_murder\|not available]] to recreate his work.		The original [[historical research]] document was disbursed in Autumn 378YE. Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, a request was received from Lord Armand Remys of [[Dawn groups#House_Remys\|House Remys]] for access to the report, which had not been made public. Sadly, an attack by agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] damaged the records kept by the Department of Historical Research, and the original researcher (Douglas Wyrdwatcher) was [[Bloody_murder\|not available]] to recreate his work.

	Researchers at the department did their best with his original notes and the remaining parts of the transcript, and made publicly available in an atmosphere of renewed interest in [[Empress Varkula]] following the [[Druj]] domination of [[Zenith]] - the first [[territory]] to be [[Imperial_history#.28125_YE.29_Assimilation_of_Zenith\|conquered]] during the [[Imperial_history#125_YE_to_167_YE_Reign_of_Empress_Varkula.2C_called_.22the_Undying.22\|reign]] of the ''Iron Empress''. Some parts of the original research may be missing, but the researchers at the Department are confident the bulk is included here.		Researchers at the department did their best with his original notes and the remaining parts of the transcript, and made publicly available in an atmosphere of renewed interest in [[Empress Varkula]] following the [[Druj]] domination of [[Zenith]] - the first [[territory]] to be [[Imperial_history#.28125_YE.29_Assimilation_of_Zenith\|conquered]] during the [[Imperial_history#125_YE_to_167_YE_Reign_of_Empress_Varkula.2C_called_.22the_Undying.22\|reign]] of the ''Iron Empress''. Some parts of the original research may be missing, but the researchers at the Department are confident the bulk is included here.

Rafferty at 10:06, 1 November 2018

2018-11-01T10:06:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:06, 1 November 2018
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	[[Category:~~Historical Research~~]]		[[Category:History]]
	==Note regarding publication==		==Note regarding publication==
	The original [[historical research]] document was disbursed in Autumn 378YE. Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, a request was received from Lord Armand Remys of [[Prominent_noble_houses#House_Remys\|House Remys]] for access to the report, which had not been made public. Sadly, an attack by agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] damaged the records kept by the Department of Historical Research, and the original researcher (Douglas Wyrdwatcher) was [[Bloody_murder\|not available]] to recreate his work.		The original [[historical research]] document was disbursed in Autumn 378YE. Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, a request was received from Lord Armand Remys of [[Prominent_noble_houses#House_Remys\|House Remys]] for access to the report, which had not been made public. Sadly, an attack by agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] damaged the records kept by the Department of Historical Research, and the original researcher (Douglas Wyrdwatcher) was [[Bloody_murder\|not available]] to recreate his work.

Beeswax at 11:33, 23 May 2018

2018-05-23T11:33:30Z

Dre at 21:03, 22 May 2018

2018-05-22T21:03:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:03, 22 May 2018
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category:Historical Research]]		[[Category:Historical Research]]
	==Note regarding publication==		==Note regarding publication==
	The original [[historical research]] ~~ocument~~ was disbursed in Autumn 378YE. Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382Y, a request was received from Lord Armand Remys of [[Prominent_noble_houses#House_Remys\|House Remys]] for access to the report, which had not been made public. Sadly, an attack by agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] damaged the records kept by the Department of Historical Research, and the original researcher (Douglas Wyrdwatcher) was [[Bloody_murder\|not available]] to recreate his work.		The original [[historical research]] document was disbursed in Autumn 378YE. Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382Y, a request was received from Lord Armand Remys of [[Prominent_noble_houses#House_Remys\|House Remys]] for access to the report, which had not been made public. Sadly, an attack by agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] damaged the records kept by the Department of Historical Research, and the original researcher (Douglas Wyrdwatcher) was [[Bloody_murder\|not available]] to recreate his work.

	Researchers at the ~~deparment~~ did their best with his original notes and the remaining parts of the transcript, and made publicly available in an atmosphere of renewed interest in [[Empress Varkula]] following the [[Druj]] domination of [[Zenith]] - the first [[territory]] to be [[Imperial_history#.28125_YE.29_Assimilation_of_Zenith\|conquered]] during the [[Imperial_history#125_YE_to_167_YE_Reign_of_Empress_Varkula.2C_called_.22the_Undying.22\|reign]] of the ''Iron Empress''. Some parts of the original research may be missing, but the researches at the Department are confident the bulk is included here.		Researchers at the department did their best with his original notes and the remaining parts of the transcript, and made publicly available in an atmosphere of renewed interest in [[Empress Varkula]] following the [[Druj]] domination of [[Zenith]] - the first [[territory]] to be [[Imperial_history#.28125_YE.29_Assimilation_of_Zenith\|conquered]] during the [[Imperial_history#125_YE_to_167_YE_Reign_of_Empress_Varkula.2C_called_.22the_Undying.22\|reign]] of the ''Iron Empress''. Some parts of the original research may be missing, but the researches at the Department are confident the bulk is included here.

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
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	White granite is inlaid with [[materials#Beggar's Lye\|beggar's lye]] and [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]] around the inner chamber, to help prevent direct magical interference from outside the tomb bypassing the guard, and to protect the tomb against general magical influence from any effect that might be laid upon the entire area.		White granite is inlaid with [[materials#Beggar's Lye\|beggar's lye]] and [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]] around the inner chamber, to help prevent direct magical interference from outside the tomb bypassing the guard, and to protect the tomb against general magical influence from any effect that might be laid upon the entire area.

	White granite is also used to fortify the walls of the inner chamber, to ensure ~~tunneling~~ into the tomb is sufficiently difficult to alert the guard to any attempt.		White granite is also used to fortify the walls of the inner chamber, to ensure tunnelling into the tomb is sufficiently difficult to alert the guard to any attempt.

	The chamber itself is thoroughly exorcised before introducing the body, and if appropriate is then consecrated to whichever virtue the inhabitant most keenly pursued, before the body is emplaced. Obviously the consecration will usually fade with time, although in some tombs the introduction of the body seems to have 'anchored' the effect, presumably coinciding with great virtue on behalf of its recent inhabitant.		The chamber itself is thoroughly exorcised before introducing the body, and if appropriate is then consecrated to whichever virtue the inhabitant most keenly pursued, before the body is emplaced. Obviously the consecration will usually fade with time, although in some tombs the introduction of the body seems to have 'anchored' the effect, presumably coinciding with great virtue on behalf of its recent inhabitant.

TimB: /* Note regarding publication */

2018-05-22T21:01:23Z

Note regarding publication

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:01, 22 May 2018
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	The original [[historical research]] ocument was disbursed in Autumn 378YE. Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382Y, a request was received from Lord Armand Remys of [[Prominent_noble_houses#House_Remys\|House Remys]] for access to the report, which had not been made public. Sadly, an attack by agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] damaged the records kept by the Department of Historical Research, and the original researcher (Douglas Wyrdwatcher) was [[Bloody_murder\|not available]] to recreate his work.		The original [[historical research]] ocument was disbursed in Autumn 378YE. Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382Y, a request was received from Lord Armand Remys of [[Prominent_noble_houses#House_Remys\|House Remys]] for access to the report, which had not been made public. Sadly, an attack by agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] damaged the records kept by the Department of Historical Research, and the original researcher (Douglas Wyrdwatcher) was [[Bloody_murder\|not available]] to recreate his work.

	Researchers at the deparment did their best with his ~~origina~~ notes and the remaining parts of the transcript, and made publicly available in an atmosphere of renewed interest in [[Empress Varkula]] following the [[Druj]] domination of [[Zenith]] - the first [[territory]] to be [[Imperial_history#.28125_YE.29_Assimilation_of_Zenith\|conquered]] during the [[Imperial_history#125_YE_to_167_YE_Reign_of_Empress_Varkula.2C_called_.22the_Undying.22\|reign]] of the ''Iron Empress''. Some parts of the original research may be missing, but the researches at the Department are confident the bulk is included here.		Researchers at the deparment did their best with his original notes and the remaining parts of the transcript, and made publicly available in an atmosphere of renewed interest in [[Empress Varkula]] following the [[Druj]] domination of [[Zenith]] - the first [[territory]] to be [[Imperial_history#.28125_YE.29_Assimilation_of_Zenith\|conquered]] during the [[Imperial_history#125_YE_to_167_YE_Reign_of_Empress_Varkula.2C_called_.22the_Undying.22\|reign]] of the ''Iron Empress''. Some parts of the original research may be missing, but the researches at the Department are confident the bulk is included here.

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

Rafferty: /* Additional Burial Precautions for Varkula's Tomb */

2018-05-22T19:54:26Z

Additional Burial Precautions for Varkula's Tomb

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:54, 22 May 2018
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	As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with [[Hold Back Frozen Hunger]] and bound with [[ilium]] for permanency. While the ritual in [[Imperial lore]] cannot be bound with ilium due to its short duration, apparently there was once a more potent variation of this ritual which lasted significantly longer and ''could'' be made permanent. Called ''The Restful Sleep'', it was a closely guarded secret of the Stewards of the Dead; the sole [[ritual text]] containing it was [[Necropolis#The_Litharge\|the Litharge]] but sadly was destroyed during Nicovar's madness.		As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with [[Hold Back Frozen Hunger]] and bound with [[ilium]] for permanency. While the ritual in [[Imperial lore]] cannot be bound with ilium due to its short duration, apparently there was once a more potent variation of this ritual which lasted significantly longer and ''could'' be made permanent. Called ''The Restful Sleep'', it was a closely guarded secret of the Stewards of the Dead; the sole [[ritual text]] containing it was [[Necropolis#The_Litharge\|the Litharge]] but sadly was destroyed during Nicovar's madness.

	The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that ~~it was felt reasonable~~ to ~~seal away in such a manner~~, ~~including~~ the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Imperial Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.		The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that here will required be interred with her. According to the House of Quills, they included the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Imperial Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.

	It is deliberately not directly centred around the inner chambers in order to make their location indistinct; there is some white granite in its construction, but it is primarily a sacrificial outer layer. It is, however, inlaid with many free-swinging bells and similar chimes, designed to make a loud noise of alarm should its structural integrity be compromised in any fashion.		It is deliberately not directly centred around the inner chambers in order to make their location indistinct; there is some white granite in its construction, but it is primarily a sacrificial outer layer. It is, however, inlaid with many free-swinging bells and similar chimes, designed to make a loud noise of alarm should its structural integrity be compromised in any fashion.

Rafferty: /* Additional Burial Precautions for Varkula's Tomb */

2018-05-22T19:50:33Z

Additional Burial Precautions for Varkula's Tomb

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:50, 22 May 2018
Line 40:		Line 40:
	According the the stewards, this rope is connected to a series of low, dolorous bells in the inner chamber, designed to be intolerable to any spirit attempting to claw its way through the white granite walls.		According the the stewards, this rope is connected to a series of low, dolorous bells in the inner chamber, designed to be intolerable to any spirit attempting to claw its way through the white granite walls.

	As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with Hold Back Frozen Hunger and bound with ilium for permanency. ~~Apparently~~ there was once a more potent variation of this ritual which could be made permanent ~~called~~ The Restful Sleep~~. It~~ was ~~stored at~~ the Litharge but sadly was destroyed by Nicovar's madness.		As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with [[Hold Back Frozen Hunger]] and bound with [[ilium]] for permanency. While the ritual in [[Imperial lore]] cannot be bound with ilium due to its short duration, apparently there was once a more potent variation of this ritual which lasted significantly longer and ''could'' be made permanent. Called ''The Restful Sleep'', it was a closely guarded secret of the Stewards of the Dead; the sole [[ritual text]] containing it was [[Necropolis#The_Litharge\|the Litharge]] but sadly was destroyed during Nicovar's madness.

	The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that it was felt reasonable to seal away in such a manner, including the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Imperial Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.		The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that it was felt reasonable to seal away in such a manner, including the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Imperial Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.

Matt: /* Additional Burial Precautions for Varkula's Tomb */

2018-05-22T19:47:18Z

Additional Burial Precautions for Varkula's Tomb

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:47, 22 May 2018
Line 40:		Line 40:
	According the the stewards, this rope is connected to a series of low, dolorous bells in the inner chamber, designed to be intolerable to any spirit attempting to claw its way through the white granite walls.		According the the stewards, this rope is connected to a series of low, dolorous bells in the inner chamber, designed to be intolerable to any spirit attempting to claw its way through the white granite walls.

	As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with Hold Back Frozen Hunger and bound with ilium for permanency. Apparently there was a more ~~powerful version~~ of this ritual ~~in the Litharge called The Restful Sleep~~ which could be made permanent, but it was destroyed by Nicovar's madness.		As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with Hold Back Frozen Hunger and bound with ilium for permanency. Apparently there was once a more potent variation of this ritual which could be made permanent called The Restful Sleep. It was stored at the Litharge but sadly was destroyed by Nicovar's madness.

	The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that it was felt reasonable to seal away in such a manner, including the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Imperial Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.		The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that it was felt reasonable to seal away in such a manner, including the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Imperial Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.

Matt: /* Additional Burial Precautions for Varkula's Tomb */

2018-05-22T19:46:13Z

Additional Burial Precautions for Varkula's Tomb

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 22 May 2018
Line 40:		Line 40:
	According the the stewards, this rope is connected to a series of low, dolorous bells in the inner chamber, designed to be intolerable to any spirit attempting to claw its way through the white granite walls.		According the the stewards, this rope is connected to a series of low, dolorous bells in the inner chamber, designed to be intolerable to any spirit attempting to claw its way through the white granite walls.

	As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with Hold Back Frozen Hunger and bound with ilium for permanency. ~~The guards claim that this enchantment is~~ a more powerful version of ~~the~~ ritual ~~than the one in Imperial lore - but this is almost certainly false. Experienced researchers know that people are always imagining that everything done~~ in the ~~past was somehow bigger and more powerful than people today can achieve~~, but ~~there is never the slightest shred of evidence to support these kind of wild exaggerations~~.		As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with Hold Back Frozen Hunger and bound with ilium for permanency. Apparently there was a more powerful version of this ritual in the Litharge called The Restful Sleep which could be made permanent, but it was destroyed by Nicovar's madness.

	The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that it was felt reasonable to seal away in such a manner, including the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Imperial Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.		The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that it was felt reasonable to seal away in such a manner, including the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Imperial Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:33, 23 May 2018
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category:Historical Research]]		[[Category:Historical Research]]
	==Note regarding publication==		==Note regarding publication==
	The original [[historical research]] document was disbursed in Autumn 378YE. Shortly before the Spring Equinox ~~382Y~~, a request was received from Lord Armand Remys of [[Prominent_noble_houses#House_Remys\|House Remys]] for access to the report, which had not been made public. Sadly, an attack by agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] damaged the records kept by the Department of Historical Research, and the original researcher (Douglas Wyrdwatcher) was [[Bloody_murder\|not available]] to recreate his work.		The original [[historical research]] document was disbursed in Autumn 378YE. Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, a request was received from Lord Armand Remys of [[Prominent_noble_houses#House_Remys\|House Remys]] for access to the report, which had not been made public. Sadly, an attack by agents of the [[Whisper Gallery]] damaged the records kept by the Department of Historical Research, and the original researcher (Douglas Wyrdwatcher) was [[Bloody_murder\|not available]] to recreate his work.

	Researchers at the department did their best with his original notes and the remaining parts of the transcript, and made publicly available in an atmosphere of renewed interest in [[Empress Varkula]] following the [[Druj]] domination of [[Zenith]] - the first [[territory]] to be [[Imperial_history#.28125_YE.29_Assimilation_of_Zenith\|conquered]] during the [[Imperial_history#125_YE_to_167_YE_Reign_of_Empress_Varkula.2C_called_.22the_Undying.22\|reign]] of the ''Iron Empress''. Some parts of the original research may be missing, but the ~~researches~~ at the Department are confident the bulk is included here.		Researchers at the department did their best with his original notes and the remaining parts of the transcript, and made publicly available in an atmosphere of renewed interest in [[Empress Varkula]] following the [[Druj]] domination of [[Zenith]] - the first [[territory]] to be [[Imperial_history#.28125_YE.29_Assimilation_of_Zenith\|conquered]] during the [[Imperial_history#125_YE_to_167_YE_Reign_of_Empress_Varkula.2C_called_.22the_Undying.22\|reign]] of the ''Iron Empress''. Some parts of the original research may be missing, but the researchers at the Department are confident the bulk is included here.

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
	Whilst written records of [[Empress Varkula\|Varkula's]] burial rites did not survive the purges of [[Emperor Nicovar]], we discovered a rich seam of information in the oral histories of the [[Highguard_religious_beliefs#Stewards_of_the_dead\|Stewards of the Dead]], who even now watch over her black basalt tomb in [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis\|the Necropolis]]. Additional information about the contents of the tomb ~~were~~ provided by surviving members of the House of Quills, a small family of Freeborn scriveners and lawyers who were charged by the late Empress with disposal of her effects.		Whilst written records of [[Empress Varkula\|Varkula's]] burial rites did not survive the purges of [[Emperor Nicovar]], we discovered a rich seam of information in the oral histories of the [[Highguard_religious_beliefs#Stewards_of_the_dead\|Stewards of the Dead]], who even now watch over her black basalt tomb in [[Necropolis#The_Necropolis\|the Necropolis]]. Additional information about the contents of the tomb was provided by surviving members of the House of Quills, a small family of Freeborn scriveners and lawyers who were charged by the late Empress with the disposal of her effects.

	===Standard Burial Precautions for the Tombs of Empresses===		===Standard Burial Precautions for the Tombs of Empresses===
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	The inner chamber walls are constructed of ordinary volcanic rock, as the second chamber surrounds the inner chamber entirely on three sides. This is not a standard antechamber, but a second layer of defence; the second chamber's walls are sturdily constructed of white granite to the specifications of a heavy fortification's outer walls. There is but one thing which penetrates these walls - a silken rope which is fed through a very tight channel all the way to the exterior, where it is pulled ceremonially at the changing of the watch.		The inner chamber walls are constructed of ordinary volcanic rock, as the second chamber surrounds the inner chamber entirely on three sides. This is not a standard antechamber, but a second layer of defence; the second chamber's walls are sturdily constructed of white granite to the specifications of a heavy fortification's outer walls. There is but one thing which penetrates these walls - a silken rope which is fed through a very tight channel all the way to the exterior, where it is pulled ceremonially at the changing of the watch.

	According ~~the~~ the stewards, this rope is connected to a series of low, dolorous bells in the inner chamber, designed to be intolerable to any spirit attempting to claw its way through the white granite walls.		According to the stewards, this rope is connected to a series of low, dolorous bells in the inner chamber, designed to be intolerable to any spirit attempting to claw its way through the white granite walls.

	As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with [[Hold Back Frozen Hunger]] and bound with [[ilium]] for permanency. While the ritual in [[Imperial lore]] cannot be bound with ilium due to its short duration, apparently there was once a more potent variation of this ritual which lasted significantly longer and ''could'' be made permanent. Called ''The Restful Sleep'', it was a closely guarded secret of the Stewards of the Dead; the sole [[ritual text]] containing it was [[Necropolis#The_Litharge\|the Litharge]] but sadly was destroyed during Nicovar's madness.		As an additional precaution within the second chamber there are apparently veins of mithril laid around and under the first chamber to surround it with a filigree net enchanted with [[Hold Back Frozen Hunger]] and bound with [[ilium]] for permanency. While the ritual in [[Imperial lore]] cannot be bound with ilium due to its short duration, apparently there was once a more potent variation of this ritual which lasted significantly longer and ''could'' be made permanent. Called ''The Restful Sleep'', it was a closely guarded secret of the Stewards of the Dead; the sole [[ritual text]] containing it was [[Necropolis#The_Litharge\|the Litharge]] but sadly was destroyed during Nicovar's madness.

	The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that ~~here~~ will required be interred with her. According to the House of Quills, they included the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Imperial Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.		The third chamber is in fact rather conventional in design, being an antechamber containing those relics of Varkula that her will required be interred with her. According to the House of Quills, they included the suit of [[Winterborn Warmail]] which was taken from her body after her death and the first [[Caress of Arhallogen]] commissioned by the [[Imperial Conclave]] after the weapon was no longer interdicted.

	It is deliberately not directly centred around the inner chambers in order to make their location indistinct; there is some white granite in its construction, but it is primarily a sacrificial outer layer. It is, however, inlaid with many free-swinging bells and similar chimes, designed to make a loud noise of alarm should its structural integrity be compromised in any fashion.		It is deliberately not directly centred around the inner chambers in order to make their location indistinct; there is some white granite in its construction, but it is primarily a sacrificial outer layer. It is, however, inlaid with many free-swinging bells and similar chimes, designed to make a loud noise of alarm should its structural integrity be compromised in any fashion.