Chilled to the bone - Revision history

Twiggy at 13:54, 24 September 2025

2025-09-24T13:54:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:54, 24 September 2025
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	{{CaptionedImage\|file=Rough Ossium Map.png\|caption=In the absence of a [[spy network]], the Empire has only an incredibly<br>rough idea of what the three regions they have encountered look like.\|align=right\|width=300}}		{{CaptionedImage\|file=Rough Ossium Map.png\|caption=In the absence of a [[spy network]], the Empire has only an incredibly<br>rough idea of what the three regions they have encountered look like.\|align=right\|width=300}}
	==The Crawling Depths==		==The Crawling Depths==
	One invaluable prize has already fallen into Dawnish hands - the Crawling Depths. This is a vast mithril mine that lies below the crudely defended town of Lomaa. The town is apparently the clan seat of the Bone Serpent clan. Their symbol, a white snake, has been painted on the sides of buildings in many of the settlements, as a visible mark of their ownership of the land and the people who dwell here. The mark is literally on people; in some cases the Empire find orcs and humans in pens who have the symbol ~~tatooed~~ into their skin. For the most part though people wear plain green sashes hanging from rough rope belts with a crude white snake daubed on it.		One invaluable prize has already fallen into Dawnish hands - the Crawling Depths. This is a vast mithril mine that lies below the crudely defended town of Lomaa. The town is apparently the clan seat of the Bone Serpent clan. Their symbol, a white snake, has been painted on the sides of buildings in many of the settlements, as a visible mark of their ownership of the land and the people who dwell here. The mark is literally on people; in some cases the Empire find orcs and humans in pens who have the symbol tattooed into their skin. For the most part though people wear plain green sashes hanging from rough rope belts with a crude white snake daubed on it.

	The mine itself is a testament to the Druj cruelty, to their embrace of fear and misery. At first commanders assume the name is just typical Druj melodramatics, everything they control has to be turned into some over-wrought symbol of oppression - but they soon discover that the name is literal. This is not a mine in the sense that any Imperial citizen would understand, and no Imperial miner would deign to work it.		The mine itself is a testament to the Druj cruelty, to their embrace of fear and misery. At first commanders assume the name is just typical Druj melodramatics, everything they control has to be turned into some over-wrought symbol of oppression - but they soon discover that the name is literal. This is not a mine in the sense that any Imperial citizen would understand, and no Imperial miner would deign to work it.
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	As with the Sand Fishers, the occupants do not put up a fight. A delegation emerges from the town to receive the Empire and welcome them to Ketsov. Their leaders, those who had allied the Ketsovs with the Druj had fled east, taking what wealth they can carry with them. Now that they have gone, the people of Ketsov are cautiously prepared to submit to the Empire's rule, and are keen to express the benefits of cooperation. They claim that their town includes many skilled crafters and artisans who able to make items for the new rulers of the land on demand. Although they are at pains to stress that they have no resources of their own - what metals and natural resources they received were meticulously apportioned to them by the Druj.		As with the Sand Fishers, the occupants do not put up a fight. A delegation emerges from the town to receive the Empire and welcome them to Ketsov. Their leaders, those who had allied the Ketsovs with the Druj had fled east, taking what wealth they can carry with them. Now that they have gone, the people of Ketsov are cautiously prepared to submit to the Empire's rule, and are keen to express the benefits of cooperation. They claim that their town includes many skilled crafters and artisans who able to make items for the new rulers of the land on demand. Although they are at pains to stress that they have no resources of their own - what metals and natural resources they received were meticulously apportioned to them by the Druj.

	Many Dawnish and Varushkan soldiers find it easier to talk to the Ketsovs rather than the Sand Fishers. These people clearly have some concept of virtue - they are ambitious, they work hard, they want to better themselves. The only thing that feels strange is the matter-of-fact way that they talk about the Druj, often referring to individual Druj merchants, commanders, and tepel by name. It is clear that the town enjoyed a somewhat privileged status among the Druj. Over many generations, they have honed their skills to make themselves incredibly useful to the ~~Duj~~, and by such means they have bought themselves a type of freedom that the Sand Fishers seemed to lack. As a result they seem to regard the Druj with a degree of equanimity, their rule is an imposition that these people have learned to accommodate - and even thrive under.		Many Dawnish and Varushkan soldiers find it easier to talk to the Ketsovs rather than the Sand Fishers. These people clearly have some concept of virtue - they are ambitious, they work hard, they want to better themselves. The only thing that feels strange is the matter-of-fact way that they talk about the Druj, often referring to individual Druj merchants, commanders, and tepel by name. It is clear that the town enjoyed a somewhat privileged status among the Druj. Over many generations, they have honed their skills to make themselves incredibly useful to the Druj, and by such means they have bought themselves a type of freedom that the Sand Fishers seemed to lack. As a result they seem to regard the Druj with a degree of equanimity, their rule is an imposition that these people have learned to accommodate - and even thrive under.

	The townspeople are only too happy to share tales of Druj terror - of people flayed alive for crossing the Druj, their bodies hung from posts until the flesh sloughs off their bones. They curse the Druj as brutal conquerors and stress that with no way to defend themselves they had no choice but to submit and cooperate with them. They are at great pains to repeatedly state how pleased they are that the Druj have been driven off and that they have been liberated. And yet... they constantly ask what this means for them, who will rule over the town now and how they will get the materials they need to ply their trade? It is wonderful to be free and all - but without a relationship with their conquerors, without people to buy the weapons and armour they make, how will they avoid being reduced to poverty? These people pride themselves on being skilled people, they have no desire to be reduced to grubbing in the rushes for food like the Sand Fishers.		The townspeople are only too happy to share tales of Druj terror - of people flayed alive for crossing the Druj, their bodies hung from posts until the flesh sloughs off their bones. They curse the Druj as brutal conquerors and stress that with no way to defend themselves they had no choice but to submit and cooperate with them. They are at great pains to repeatedly state how pleased they are that the Druj have been driven off and that they have been liberated. And yet... they constantly ask what this means for them, who will rule over the town now and how they will get the materials they need to ply their trade? It is wonderful to be free and all - but without a relationship with their conquerors, without people to buy the weapons and armour they make, how will they avoid being reduced to poverty? These people pride themselves on being skilled people, they have no desire to be reduced to grubbing in the rushes for food like the Sand Fishers.

	What comes across more than anything is a very calculating interest to find out what the Empire plans are - whether they intend to press on and conquer the region or simply raid the rich mines and forests of Ossium before returning home?		What comes across more than anything is a very calculating interest to find out what the Empire plans are - whether they intend to press on and conquer the region or simply raid the rich mines and forests of Ossium before returning home?

Hailmur at 19:43, 7 May 2025

2025-05-07T19:43:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:43, 7 May 2025
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	</ic>		</ic>
	==Overview==		==Overview==
	Dawnish and Varushkan armies have successfully invaded Ossium in the Mallum, the first expansion of the Empire's borders in decades. They have won a great battle on the ~~Ghalath~~ Fields, against a force many times their number, but these were farmers and labourers pressed into service by the Druj rather than warriors. Thus far there has been little sign of the Druj armies - or any significant number of their elite troops, their chikad, their hupul, and others. All the evidence appears to be that the Empire's attack has taken the Druj completely by surprise - and the victories reflect that.		Dawnish and Varushkan armies have successfully invaded Ossium in the Mallum, the first expansion of the Empire's borders in decades. They have won a great battle on the Galath Fields, against a force many times their number, but these were farmers and labourers pressed into service by the Druj rather than warriors. Thus far there has been little sign of the Druj armies - or any significant number of their elite troops, their chikad, their hupul, and others. All the evidence appears to be that the Empire's attack has taken the Druj completely by surprise - and the victories reflect that.

	Imperial forces are slowly spreading out across the territory as they assume military and political control of the settlements and people here. The work is made more dangerous by the lack of any maps or knowledge of the local area. It doesn't slow the advance, you can charge into the dark as easily as the light, but it does make it more challenging. Crucially it means that even though the Empire have captured a swathe of the territory, there remain large problems with working out what exactly they have conquered.		Imperial forces are slowly spreading out across the territory as they assume military and political control of the settlements and people here. The work is made more dangerous by the lack of any maps or knowledge of the local area. It doesn't slow the advance, you can charge into the dark as easily as the light, but it does make it more challenging. Crucially it means that even though the Empire have captured a swathe of the territory, there remain large problems with working out what exactly they have conquered.
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	* '''The Vats also produce 4 doses of Oil of Blackthorn each season'''		* '''The Vats also produce 4 doses of Oil of Blackthorn each season'''
	* '''As with any spoil of war, the Vats will need to be assigned by the Military Council, and replace the recipient's existing [[Resource\|personal resource]].'''		* '''As with any spoil of war, the Vats will need to be assigned by the Military Council, and replace the recipient's existing [[Resource\|personal resource]].'''
	* '''If the region of ~~Ghalath~~ Fields were reconquered by the Druj, control of the Bitter Vats would be lost.'''		* '''If the region of Galath Fields were reconquered by the Druj, control of the Bitter Vats would be lost.'''

	==The Sand Fishers==		==The Sand Fishers==

Thespaceinvader: /* The Crawling Depths */

2025-04-16T16:50:00Z

The Crawling Depths

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:50, 16 April 2025
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	With the occupants of the mine freed, the skilled engineers of Moresvah are able to take a proper look at the Crawling Depths and it is clear that it has huge potential. They estimate it can produce 28 wains of mithril a season but only if it is completely overhauled. It would need a Senate [[commission]], requiring a truly massive investment to bring the mine into a fit state to be used by free people. In all it would cost 300 thrones and take two seasons to complete (although mining could continue while the work was underway). Until those improvements are complete, the mine will produce only half the normal output. The only alternative would be to continue using the mine on the current basis, but nobody has the stomach to even suggest that; the Empire are not the Druj.		With the occupants of the mine freed, the skilled engineers of Moresvah are able to take a proper look at the Crawling Depths and it is clear that it has huge potential. They estimate it can produce 28 wains of mithril a season but only if it is completely overhauled. It would need a Senate [[commission]], requiring a truly massive investment to bring the mine into a fit state to be used by free people. In all it would cost 300 thrones and take two seasons to complete (although mining could continue while the work was underway). Until those improvements are complete, the mine will produce only half the normal output. The only alternative would be to continue using the mine on the current basis, but nobody has the stomach to even suggest that; the Empire are not the Druj.

	Representatives of ~~the~~ the Malinov, the Sloev and the Pravin families of Moresvah accompanying the Golden Axe are keen to offer their assistance in working the newly captured mithril mine, so it can begin producing immediately, albeit at the lower rate. The Imperial Senate can [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Allocation\|allocate]] the Crawling Depths as either Imperial or National at any point.		Representatives of the Malinov, the Sloev and the Pravin families of Moresvah accompanying the Golden Axe are keen to offer their assistance in working the newly captured mithril mine, so it can begin producing immediately, albeit at the lower rate. The Imperial Senate can [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Allocation\|allocate]] the Crawling Depths as either Imperial or National at any point.

	If they allocate the mine as a national position, they would need to choose an Imperial nation to take custody of it for the time being. This does not tie the hands of the Senate however. Once the territory were conquered and [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment\|assigned]], the mine would automatically become the legal responsibility of whichever territory Ossium is chosen to when the territory is added to the Empire.		If they allocate the mine as a national position, they would need to choose an Imperial nation to take custody of it for the time being. This does not tie the hands of the Senate however. Once the territory were conquered and [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment\|assigned]], the mine would automatically become the legal responsibility of whichever territory Ossium is chosen to when the territory is added to the Empire.

Dre at 22:12, 20 November 2024

2024-11-20T22:12:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:12, 20 November 2024
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	At first glance Ketsov appears completely different to the villages and hamlets of the Sand Fishers. It is clearly much more wealthy - with buildings built of brick and stone - and protected by a dyke, stone wall, and a pair of fortified gates protecting the roads in and out of the town. It does not escape the notice of the Imperial scouts that there is a huge elaborately painted banner with a white snake hanging from each of the towers, though there is no sign of them by the time Imperial military forces are in a position to liberate the town.		At first glance Ketsov appears completely different to the villages and hamlets of the Sand Fishers. It is clearly much more wealthy - with buildings built of brick and stone - and protected by a dyke, stone wall, and a pair of fortified gates protecting the roads in and out of the town. It does not escape the notice of the Imperial scouts that there is a huge elaborately painted banner with a white snake hanging from each of the towers, though there is no sign of them by the time Imperial military forces are in a position to liberate the town.

	As with the Sand Fishers, the occupants do not put up a fight. A delegation emerges from the town to receive the Empire and welcome them to Ketsov. Their leaders, those who had allied the Ketsovs with the Druj had fled east, taking what wealth they can carry with them. Now that they have gone, the people of Ketsov are cautiously prepared to submit to the Empire's rule, and are keen to express the benefits of cooperation. They claim that their town includes many skilled ~~craftsmen~~ and artisans who able to make items for the new rulers of the land on demand. Although they are at pains to stress that they have no resources of their own - what metals and natural resources they received were meticulously apportioned to them by the Druj.		As with the Sand Fishers, the occupants do not put up a fight. A delegation emerges from the town to receive the Empire and welcome them to Ketsov. Their leaders, those who had allied the Ketsovs with the Druj had fled east, taking what wealth they can carry with them. Now that they have gone, the people of Ketsov are cautiously prepared to submit to the Empire's rule, and are keen to express the benefits of cooperation. They claim that their town includes many skilled crafters and artisans who able to make items for the new rulers of the land on demand. Although they are at pains to stress that they have no resources of their own - what metals and natural resources they received were meticulously apportioned to them by the Druj.

	Many Dawnish and Varushkan soldiers find it easier to talk to the Ketsovs rather than the Sand Fishers. These people clearly have some concept of virtue - they are ambitious, they work hard, they want to better themselves. The only thing that feels strange is the matter-of-fact way that they talk about the Druj, often referring to individual Druj merchants, commanders, and tepel by name. It is clear that the town enjoyed a somewhat privileged status among the Druj. Over many generations, they have honed their skills to make themselves incredibly useful to the Duj, and by such means they have bought themselves a type of freedom that the Sand Fishers seemed to lack. As a result they seem to regard the Druj with a degree of equanimity, their rule is an imposition that these people have learned to accommodate - and even thrive under.		Many Dawnish and Varushkan soldiers find it easier to talk to the Ketsovs rather than the Sand Fishers. These people clearly have some concept of virtue - they are ambitious, they work hard, they want to better themselves. The only thing that feels strange is the matter-of-fact way that they talk about the Druj, often referring to individual Druj merchants, commanders, and tepel by name. It is clear that the town enjoyed a somewhat privileged status among the Druj. Over many generations, they have honed their skills to make themselves incredibly useful to the Duj, and by such means they have bought themselves a type of freedom that the Sand Fishers seemed to lack. As a result they seem to regard the Druj with a degree of equanimity, their rule is an imposition that these people have learned to accommodate - and even thrive under.

RichardRaynor at 15:43, 22 January 2022

2022-01-22T15:43:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:43, 22 January 2022
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	[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:382YE]][[Category:Recent History]]		[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:382YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]]
	<ic>Three Hands crouched low, bow in hand. As quiet as a shadow, his hand moved backwards to slowly draw an arrow from the rough leather quiver. Somewhere far away he heard a voice shouting at him to take the orc's eye out, but he ignored it, just concentrated on his target.		<ic>Three Hands crouched low, bow in hand. As quiet as a shadow, his hand moved backwards to slowly draw an arrow from the rough leather quiver. Somewhere far away he heard a voice shouting at him to take the orc's eye out, but he ignored it, just concentrated on his target.

Hastur: /* The Sand Fishers */

2021-05-07T17:39:38Z

The Sand Fishers

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:39, 7 May 2021
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	When asked why they don't just leave - the Sand Fishers shrug and ask where would they go? The Semmerlak is a dangerous lake, prone to violent storms and the river that runs through it is turbulent and difficult to navigate. Any attempt to flee down river would just see them captured and killed by the Druj - or swept out to sea and drowned. So what else can they do? Travel north along the coast to face death at the hands of the Imperials who live there? Or find a way to cross the lake so that they can be slain by whatever Imperial clan claims those lands? There is no hope in them - no hope that they could ever improve their circumstances - so they simply endure it. What other choice do they have?		When asked why they don't just leave - the Sand Fishers shrug and ask where would they go? The Semmerlak is a dangerous lake, prone to violent storms and the river that runs through it is turbulent and difficult to navigate. Any attempt to flee down river would just see them captured and killed by the Druj - or swept out to sea and drowned. So what else can they do? Travel north along the coast to face death at the hands of the Imperials who live there? Or find a way to cross the lake so that they can be slain by whatever Imperial clan claims those lands? There is no hope in them - no hope that they could ever improve their circumstances - so they simply endure it. What other choice do they have?

	Any hope of resistance against the Druj is utterly futile. It is not just that the Druj are vastly more powerful - and that they punish any rebellion with unimaginable cruelty. But worse, they believe that they ''need'' the Druj to protect them from the Empire. The Sand Fishers firmly believe that without the Druj, the Empire will simply sweep into the Mallum, kill everyone who resists and force everyone who does not resist to flee. The Druj have told them what happened in the Barrens - how the Black Wind, the Vendarri and the others declared themselves independent. So the Druj left them to their own devices - and then the Empire attempted to kill them all and take their lands. It only stopped when the Barrens ~~tribes~~ were forced to beg the Druj to come back to save them them from being wiped out.		Any hope of resistance against the Druj is utterly futile. It is not just that the Druj are vastly more powerful - and that they punish any rebellion with unimaginable cruelty. But worse, they believe that they ''need'' the Druj to protect them from the Empire. The Sand Fishers firmly believe that without the Druj, the Empire will simply sweep into the Mallum, kill everyone who resists and force everyone who does not resist to flee. The Druj have told them what happened in the Barrens - how the Black Wind, the Vendarri and the others declared themselves independent. So the Druj left them to their own devices - and then the Empire attempted to kill them all and take their lands. It only stopped when the Barrens orcs were forced to beg the Druj to come back to save them them from being wiped out.

	Their own history is no different. According to verbal stories they have passed down, the Sand Fishers were once a major clan who controlled the lands all round the Semmerlak. They were attacked and conquered by the Empire four centuries ago, and forced to flee. The only Sand Fishers who survived were those under the protection of the Druj. Now their clan languishes in service to the Druj - and even their own ancestors have turned against them. The only life these people have, the only way they know how to survive, is to endure the rule of the Druj.		Their own history is no different. According to verbal stories they have passed down, the Sand Fishers were once a major clan who controlled the lands all round the Semmerlak. They were attacked and conquered by the Empire four centuries ago, and forced to flee. The only Sand Fishers who survived were those under the protection of the Druj. Now their clan languishes in service to the Druj - and even their own ancestors have turned against them. The only life these people have, the only way they know how to survive, is to endure the rule of the Druj.

GuiltyConscience: /* Civil Service Summary */

2019-06-26T15:56:26Z

Civil Service Summary

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 26 June 2019
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	* '''The Vats produce 6 true vervain, 2 cerulean mazzarine, 4 bladeroot, 2 Imperial roseweald and 2 marrowort each season'''		* '''The Vats produce 6 true vervain, 2 cerulean mazzarine, 4 bladeroot, 2 Imperial roseweald and 2 marrowort each season'''
	* '''The Vats also produce 4 doses of Oil of Blackthorn each season'''		* '''The Vats also produce 4 doses of Oil of Blackthorn each season'''
	* '''As with any spoil of war, the Vats will need to be assigned by the Military Council, and replace the recipient's existing [[personal resource]].'''		* '''As with any spoil of war, the Vats will need to be assigned by the Military Council, and replace the recipient's existing [[Resource\|personal resource]].'''
	* '''If the region of Ghalath Fields were reconquered by the Druj, control of the Bitter Vats would be lost.'''		* '''If the region of Ghalath Fields were reconquered by the Druj, control of the Bitter Vats would be lost.'''

Matt: /* The Bitter Vats */

2018-11-05T16:30:15Z

The Bitter Vats

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:30, 5 November 2018
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	Of course this isn't an Imperial resource, it's a Druj workshop for a skilled [[Surgical skills#Apothecary\|apothecary]]. At the one end of the great hall is a series of great steel vats surrounded by ceramic vessels and pipes. The vats echo with a bitter stench that burns the nostrils of any who examine them, a residue of the caustic materials boiled down here. The vats are examined by a pair of skilled Dawnish apothecaries and they confirm that the vats could easily be returned to operation and that if that happened then they would produce a regular supply of deadly poisons. In effect the hall has been sacrificed some of the production of regular herbs - to focus on producing the kind of lethal venoms that have taken so many Imperial lives on the battlefield.		Of course this isn't an Imperial resource, it's a Druj workshop for a skilled [[Surgical skills#Apothecary\|apothecary]]. At the one end of the great hall is a series of great steel vats surrounded by ceramic vessels and pipes. The vats echo with a bitter stench that burns the nostrils of any who examine them, a residue of the caustic materials boiled down here. The vats are examined by a pair of skilled Dawnish apothecaries and they confirm that the vats could easily be returned to operation and that if that happened then they would produce a regular supply of deadly poisons. In effect the hall has been sacrificed some of the production of regular herbs - to focus on producing the kind of lethal venoms that have taken so many Imperial lives on the battlefield.

	It's not just the herbs, there are extensive personal quarters here that are easily the most luxurious thing yet encountered in the Mallum. Large ~~person~~ rooms, studies, and a small library (sadly stripped of its tomes). Whoever operated the Bitter Vats was clearly a wealthy and powerful Druj.		It's not just the herbs, there are extensive personal quarters here that are easily the most luxurious thing yet encountered in the Mallum. Large personal rooms, studies, and a small library (sadly stripped of its tomes). Whoever operated the Bitter Vats was clearly a wealthy and powerful Druj.

	As a personal resource, the Bitter Vats are a [[spoils of war\|spoil of war]] that will need to be distributed by the Military Council. They may choose to do that immediately - or to wait until the territory is assigned.		As a personal resource, the Bitter Vats are a [[spoils of war\|spoil of war]] that will need to be distributed by the Military Council. They may choose to do that immediately - or to wait until the territory is assigned.

Rafferty at 16:07, 1 November 2018

2018-11-01T16:07:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:07, 1 November 2018
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	[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:382YE]][[Category:Recent History~~]][[Category: Autumn Equinox 382YE~~]]		[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:382YE]][[Category:Recent History]]
	<ic>Three Hands crouched low, bow in hand. As quiet as a shadow, his hand moved backwards to slowly draw an arrow from the rough leather quiver. Somewhere far away he heard a voice shouting at him to take the orc's eye out, but he ignored it, just concentrated on his target.		<ic>Three Hands crouched low, bow in hand. As quiet as a shadow, his hand moved backwards to slowly draw an arrow from the rough leather quiver. Somewhere far away he heard a voice shouting at him to take the orc's eye out, but he ignored it, just concentrated on his target.

Rafferty at 18:18, 12 September 2018

2018-09-12T18:18:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:18, 12 September 2018
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	Still there are some clear victories that have been achieved - and that brings some useful opportunities.		Still there are some clear victories that have been achieved - and that brings some useful opportunities.
	{{CaptionedImage\|file=Rough Ossium Map.png\|caption=In the absence of a [[spy network]], the Empire has only an incredibly<br>rough idea of the ~~shape of Ossium~~.\|align=right\|width=300}}		{{CaptionedImage\|file=Rough Ossium Map.png\|caption=In the absence of a [[spy network]], the Empire has only an incredibly<br>rough idea of what the three regions they have encountered look like.\|align=right\|width=300}}
	==The Crawling Depths==		==The Crawling Depths==
	One invaluable prize has already fallen into Dawnish hands - the Crawling Depths. This is a vast mithril mine that lies below the crudely defended town of Lomaa. The town is apparently the clan seat of the Bone Serpent clan. Their symbol, a white snake, has been painted on the sides of buildings in many of the settlements, as a visible mark of their ownership of the land and the people who dwell here. The mark is literally on people; in some cases the Empire find orcs and humans in pens who have the symbol tatooed into their skin. For the most part though people wear plain green sashes hanging from rough rope belts with a crude white snake daubed on it.		One invaluable prize has already fallen into Dawnish hands - the Crawling Depths. This is a vast mithril mine that lies below the crudely defended town of Lomaa. The town is apparently the clan seat of the Bone Serpent clan. Their symbol, a white snake, has been painted on the sides of buildings in many of the settlements, as a visible mark of their ownership of the land and the people who dwell here. The mark is literally on people; in some cases the Empire find orcs and humans in pens who have the symbol tatooed into their skin. For the most part though people wear plain green sashes hanging from rough rope belts with a crude white snake daubed on it.