Handful of magic - Revision history

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

2026-01-16T09:44:36Z

Text replacement - "[[Imperial navy" to "[[navy"

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:44, 16 January 2026
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	Powerful [[Foam and Spittle of the Furious Sea\|magical storms]] batter the coast of [[Spiral]] in [[Urizen]], and [[Feroz]] in [[the Brass Coast]]. For all their power, they do nothing to disrupt the magical fog - but they play havoc with local shipping. All [[fleet\|fleets]] based in these two [[territory\|territories]] finds their ability to [[fleet#trade\|trade]], [[fleet#privateering\|privateer]], or [[Fleet#Supporting_a_Navy\|support a navy]] penalised by as much as a quarter.		Powerful [[Foam and Spittle of the Furious Sea\|magical storms]] batter the coast of [[Spiral]] in [[Urizen]], and [[Feroz]] in [[the Brass Coast]]. For all their power, they do nothing to disrupt the magical fog - but they play havoc with local shipping. All [[fleet\|fleets]] based in these two [[territory\|territories]] finds their ability to [[fleet#trade\|trade]], [[fleet#privateering\|privateer]], or [[Fleet#Supporting_a_Navy\|support a navy]] penalised by as much as a quarter.

	More importantly, any [[~~Imperial~~ navy\|navy]] beginning the season, ending the season, or passing through one of those territories during the season, will suffer some damage from the rough seas, fog-ghosts, and lashing tendrils and serpents of animated water. It is fortunate, no doubt, that [[The_Brass_Coast_military_concerns#The_Freeborn_Storm\|The Freeborn Storm]] is still safely docked in the [[Madruga#The_Atalaya_Shipyards\|Atalaya shipyards]] in [[Madruga]].		More importantly, any [[navy\|navy]] beginning the season, ending the season, or passing through one of those territories during the season, will suffer some damage from the rough seas, fog-ghosts, and lashing tendrils and serpents of animated water. It is fortunate, no doubt, that [[The_Brass_Coast_military_concerns#The_Freeborn_Storm\|The Freeborn Storm]] is still safely docked in the [[Madruga#The_Atalaya_Shipyards\|Atalaya shipyards]] in [[Madruga]].

	===Green Shoots===		===Green Shoots===

Hastur at 18:59, 3 February 2022

2022-02-03T18:59:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:59, 3 February 2022
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	* Several other magical effects - including a number of [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae\|frozen citadels]], a wicked [[Rivers Run Red\|curse]] in [[the Barrens]], and several exotic phenomena in Spiral - were detailed in the [[380YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war\|winds of war]].		* Several other magical effects - including a number of [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae\|frozen citadels]], a wicked [[Rivers Run Red\|curse]] in [[the Barrens]], and several exotic phenomena in Spiral - were detailed in the [[380YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war\|winds of war]].
	[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:380YE]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Winds of Magic]]		[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:380YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Winds of Magic]]

GuiltyConscience at 18:39, 26 June 2019

2019-06-26T18:39:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:39, 26 June 2019
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	* Several other magical effects - including a number of [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae\|frozen citadels]], a wicked [[Rivers Run Red\|curse]] in [[the Barrens]], and several exotic phenomena in Spiral - were detailed in the [[380YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war\|winds of war]].		* Several other magical effects - including a number of [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae\|frozen citadels]], a wicked [[Rivers Run Red\|curse]] in [[the Barrens]], and several exotic phenomena in Spiral - were detailed in the [[380YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war\|winds of war]].
	[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:380YE]][[Category:Recent History]]		[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:380YE]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Winds of Magic]]

GuiltyConscience: /* The Crumbling Fountain */

2019-06-26T18:39:30Z

The Crumbling Fountain

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:39, 26 June 2019
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	The White Fountain for which it is named is a great plume of liquid fire that bursts from somewhere deep within the earth and cascades down into a black basin before the tower, before disappearing back beneath the ground ... and this plume of fire appears to be weakening. It has lost perhaps as much as a quarter of its height over the last three months. At the same time, the white granite stone of the tower itself and the encircling wall is beginning inexplicably to crumble.		The White Fountain for which it is named is a great plume of liquid fire that bursts from somewhere deep within the earth and cascades down into a black basin before the tower, before disappearing back beneath the ground ... and this plume of fire appears to be weakening. It has lost perhaps as much as a quarter of its height over the last three months. At the same time, the white granite stone of the tower itself and the encircling wall is beginning inexplicably to crumble.

	The magicians who live in and protect the tower are at their wit's ends. At first, there is concern that the Spring magic that blankets the mountainous territory might be to blame, then that it was some side-effect of the eerie [[~~Tree of ice~~\|conjunction]], but with further investigation it is discovered that the tower is under the influence of a powerful curse with the bleak flavour of the [[Winter magic\|Winter realm]] with a magnitude in the vicinity of one hundred.		The magicians who live in and protect the tower are at their wit's ends. At first, there is concern that the Spring magic that blankets the mountainous territory might be to blame, then that it was some side-effect of the eerie [[Tree_of_ice_(conjunction)\|conjunction]], but with further investigation it is discovered that the tower is under the influence of a powerful curse with the bleak flavour of the [[Winter magic\|Winter realm]] with a magnitude in the vicinity of one hundred.

	The fortification has already endured significant damage, but hopefully the worst has passed.		The fortification has already endured significant damage, but hopefully the worst has passed.

GuiltyConscience at 15:13, 26 June 2019

2019-06-26T15:13:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:13, 26 June 2019
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	* Several other magical effects - including a number of [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae\|frozen citadels]], a wicked [[Rivers Run Red\|curse]] in [[the Barrens]], and several exotic phenomena in Spiral - were detailed in the [[380YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war\|winds of war]].		* Several other magical effects - including a number of [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae\|frozen citadels]], a wicked [[Rivers Run Red\|curse]] in [[the Barrens]], and several exotic phenomena in Spiral - were detailed in the [[380YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war\|winds of war]].
			[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:380YE]][[Category:Recent History]]

Rafferty: /* Veils of Night */

2016-11-04T15:15:22Z

Veils of Night

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:15, 4 November 2016
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	The skies above [[Madruga]], [[Zenith]], and [[Tassato]] continue to appear strange. During the day the effect is barely noticeable, although during a rainstorm in Tassato residents were charmed by the appearance of not one but ''seven'' rainbows that lasted for several minutes and included several colours not normally seen in this sort of phenomenon.		The skies above [[Madruga]], [[Zenith]], and [[Tassato]] continue to appear strange. During the day the effect is barely noticeable, although during a rainstorm in Tassato residents were charmed by the appearance of not one but ''seven'' rainbows that lasted for several minutes and included several colours not normally seen in this sort of phenomenon.

	The effect is much more obvious at night however - the skies over the three [territory\|territories]] are transformed. The changes are sometimes subtle - stars in the wrong place, or the moon in the wrong phase. On other nights - especially in Madruga - the sky appears entirely unnatural. On one particularly strange night the Freeborn were greeted by a moon that was clearly absent because it had been destroyed - leaving in its place a conglomeration of drifting rocks. Other odd phenomena have included a night when the moon was surrounded by a dramatic green ring of light; a night when the northern half of the sky was entirely empty of stars; a night when half the stars gr bright and then faded from existence on an hourly cycle; and an occasion when all the familiar stars vanished entirely except the nine stars of [[the Fountain]] - although in this case those nine stars appeared to have become a virulent emerald in hue that lasted until morning.		The effect is much more obvious at night however - the skies over the three [[territory\|territories]] are transformed. The changes are sometimes subtle - stars in the wrong place, or the moon in the wrong phase. On other nights - especially in Madruga - the sky appears entirely unnatural. On one particularly strange night the Freeborn were greeted by a moon that was clearly absent because it had been destroyed - leaving in its place a conglomeration of drifting rocks. Other odd phenomena have included a night when the moon was surrounded by a dramatic green ring of light; a night when the northern half of the sky was entirely empty of stars; a night when half the stars gr bright and then faded from existence on an hourly cycle; and an occasion when all the familiar stars vanished entirely except the nine stars of [[the Fountain]] - although in this case those nine stars appeared to have become a virulent emerald in hue that lasted until morning.

	Magicians agree that this is caused by [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil]]. The shroud over Madruga is the most powerful, its magnitude in the high forties. The shroud on Zenith is also quite potent, in the low thirties, while the shroud over Tassato is the least potent - but still impressive. Any attempts to divine information about or scry these territories must overcome the potence of the shroud or reveal nothing.		Magicians agree that this is caused by [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil]]. The shroud over Madruga is the most powerful, its magnitude in the high forties. The shroud on Zenith is also quite potent, in the low thirties, while the shroud over Tassato is the least potent - but still impressive. Any attempts to divine information about or scry these territories must overcome the potence of the shroud or reveal nothing.

	===The Crumbling Fountain===		===The Crumbling Fountain===
	As the final preparations are being made to travel to [[Casinea#Anvil\|Anvil]] for the Spring Equinox, the inhabitants of the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain\|Court of the White Fountain]] in Redoubt notice the first signs that something is wrong. Built in the foothills of [[#Optarion\|Optarion]], the Court is a single massive tower of white granite surrounded by a massive semi-circular wall. It completely fills one of the few major passes between Redoubt and the Broken Shore. The great courtyards of the tower are sufficient to hold the entire armed forces of Urizen, and the open ground they represent creates a deadly killing field for the skilled Urizen archers who man the upper reaches of the tower and the walls.		As the final preparations are being made to travel to [[Casinea#Anvil\|Anvil]] for the Spring Equinox, the inhabitants of the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain\|Court of the White Fountain]] in Redoubt notice the first signs that something is wrong. Built in the foothills of [[#Optarion\|Optarion]], the Court is a single massive tower of white granite surrounded by a massive semi-circular wall. It completely fills one of the few major passes between Redoubt and the Broken Shore. The great courtyards of the tower are sufficient to hold the entire armed forces of Urizen, and the open ground they represent creates a deadly killing field for the skilled Urizen archers who man the upper reaches of the tower and the walls.

Dre at 12:49, 21 May 2016

2016-05-21T12:49:39Z

Rafferty: /* The Crumbling Fountain */

2016-05-20T18:33:33Z

The Crumbling Fountain

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:33, 20 May 2016
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	The White Fountain for which it is named is a great plume of liquid fire that bursts from somewhere deep within the earth and cascades down into a black basin before the tower, before disappearing back beneath the ground ... and this plume of fire appears to be weakening. It has lost perhaps as much as a quarter of its height over the last three months. At the same time, the white granite stone of the tower itself and the encircling wall is beginning inexplicably to crumble.		The White Fountain for which it is named is a great plume of liquid fire that bursts from somewhere deep within the earth and cascades down into a black basin before the tower, before disappearing back beneath the ground ... and this plume of fire appears to be weakening. It has lost perhaps as much as a quarter of its height over the last three months. At the same time, the white granite stone of the tower itself and the encircling wall is beginning inexplicably to crumble.

	The magicians who live in and protect the tower are at their wit's ends. At first, there is concern that the Spring magic that blankets the mountainous territory might be to blame, then that it was some side-effect of the eerie [[conjunction]], but with further investigation it is discovered that the tower is under the influence of a powerful curse with the bleak flavour of the [[Winter magic\|winter realm]] with a magnitude in the vicinity of one hundred.		The magicians who live in and protect the tower are at their wit's ends. At first, there is concern that the Spring magic that blankets the mountainous territory might be to blame, then that it was some side-effect of the eerie [[Tree of ice\|conjunction]], but with further investigation it is discovered that the tower is under the influence of a powerful curse with the bleak flavour of the [[Winter magic\|winter realm]] with a magnitude in the vicinity of one hundred.

	The fortification has already endured significant damage, but hopefully the worst has passed.		The fortification has already endured significant damage, but hopefully the worst has passed.

Rafferty at 15:24, 20 May 2016

2016-05-20T15:24:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:24, 20 May 2016
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	"And what else?" he asked.		"And what else?" he asked.

	"Another, similar storm rages on the coast of ..." his apprentice double-checked his notes. "Madruga? No! Feroz. It's one of the coastal ones in the ~~Brass~~ ..."		"Another, similar storm rages on the coast of ..." his apprentice double-checked his notes. "Madruga? No! Feroz. It's one of the coastal ones in the ..."

	"I know where Feroz is," said the Golden Magician mildly. His apprentice fell silent, looking stricken, Meraud ignored him and made another gesture. Another tiny tempest snapped into existance on the other side of the Bay of Catazaar. He crouched down, bringing his head down to the level of the table, and watched the little maelstrom churn for several moments with a pleased smile.		"I know where Feroz is," said the Golden Magician mildly. His apprentice fell silent, looking stricken, Meraud ignored him and made another gesture. Another tiny tempest snapped into existance on the other side of the Bay of Catazaar. He crouched down, bringing his head down to the level of the table, and watched the little maelstrom churn for several moments with a pleased smile.

Rafferty at 15:05, 20 May 2016

2016-05-20T15:05:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:05, 20 May 2016
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	<ic>The Summer Magician made an arcane gesture with one hand and with a loud ''crack'' angry black storm clouds ~~spiralled~~ into ~~existance~~. They hovered six inches above the surface of the panorama laid out on the table before him, and tiny bolts of lightning struck down into the soupy pale-coloured fog beneath them.		<ic>The Summer Magician made an arcane gesture with one hand and with a loud ''crack'' angry black storm clouds spiraled into existence. They hovered six inches above the surface of the panorama laid out on the table before him, and tiny bolts of lightning struck down into the soupy pale-coloured fog beneath them.

	"And what else?" he asked.		"And what else?" he asked.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:49, 21 May 2016
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	<ic>The Summer Magician made an arcane gesture with one hand and with a loud ''crack'' angry black storm clouds ~~spiraled~~ into existence. They hovered six inches above the surface of the panorama laid out on the table before him, and tiny bolts of lightning struck down into the soupy pale-coloured fog beneath them.		<ic>The Summer Magician made an arcane gesture with one hand and with a loud ''crack'' angry black storm clouds spiralled into existence. They hovered six inches above the surface of the panorama laid out on the table before him, and tiny bolts of lightning struck down into the soupy pale-coloured fog beneath them.

	"And what else?" he asked.		"And what else?" he asked.
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	"Another, similar storm rages on the coast of ..." his apprentice double-checked his notes. "Madruga? No! Feroz. It's one of the coastal ones in the ..."		"Another, similar storm rages on the coast of ..." his apprentice double-checked his notes. "Madruga? No! Feroz. It's one of the coastal ones in the ..."

	"I know where Feroz is," said the Golden Magician mildly. His apprentice fell silent, looking stricken, Meraud ignored him and made another gesture. Another tiny tempest snapped into ~~existance~~ on the other side of the Bay of ~~Catazaar~~. He crouched down, bringing his head down to the level of the table, and watched the little maelstrom churn for several moments with a pleased smile.		"I know where Feroz is," said the Golden Magician mildly. His apprentice fell silent, looking stricken, Meraud ignored him and made another gesture. Another tiny tempest snapped into existence on the other side of the Bay of Catazar. He crouched down, bringing his head down to the level of the table, and watched the little maelstrom churn for several moments with a pleased smile.

	Then he stood up and grabbed a tall, thin glass of iced apple cordial from the tray that floated effortlessly in the air nearby. With another absent gesture he sent the unseen servant away to fetch another pitcher.		Then he stood up and grabbed a tall, thin glass of iced apple cordial from the tray that floated effortlessly in the air nearby. With another absent gesture he sent the unseen servant away to fetch another pitcher.
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	Meraud nodded several times, studying the panoramic view spread out before him. The table was nearly a dozen feet across, beautifully sculpted to mirror the territories, rivers, mountains, forests, and cities of the Empire. Yet rather than mundane stone or water, each feature was picked out in precious materials, some of them unknown in the mortal realm. Here and there, tiny phenomena were picked out in the form of clouds, diamond towers, tiny marching golden soldiers ... here and there entire sections of the map were covered with undulating black shadows, scattered with tiny moving stars. The air above the table was alive with magic.		Meraud nodded several times, studying the panoramic view spread out before him. The table was nearly a dozen feet across, beautifully sculpted to mirror the territories, rivers, mountains, forests, and cities of the Empire. Yet rather than mundane stone or water, each feature was picked out in precious materials, some of them unknown in the mortal realm. Here and there, tiny phenomena were picked out in the form of clouds, diamond towers, tiny marching golden soldiers ... here and there entire sections of the map were covered with undulating black shadows, scattered with tiny moving stars. The air above the table was alive with magic.

	The Lord of Summer Stars absently trailed his fingers over the Bay of ~~Catazaar~~, then made a face as they came away sticky with liquid quicksilver.		The Lord of Summer Stars absently trailed his fingers over the Bay of Catazar, then made a face as they came away sticky with liquid quicksilver.

	"And we're sure this thing is still there?" he asked, not looking at his apprentice. The golden-skinned youth nodded quickly.		"And we're sure this thing is still there?" he asked, not looking at his apprentice. The golden-skinned youth nodded quickly.
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	[[Redoubt]] and [[Spiral]] in [[Urizen]], and [[Segura]] in the [[the Brass Coast\|Brass Coast]] all experience a particularly vibrant Spring. Powerful [[Spring magic]] resonates in the [[Rivers of Life\|waters]] of these three territories. The waters are full of energy and life, and any wound that is not immediately fatal heals practically overnight.		[[Redoubt]] and [[Spiral]] in [[Urizen]], and [[Segura]] in the [[the Brass Coast\|Brass Coast]] all experience a particularly vibrant Spring. Powerful [[Spring magic]] resonates in the [[Rivers of Life\|waters]] of these three territories. The waters are full of energy and life, and any wound that is not immediately fatal heals practically overnight.
	===Storms===		===Storms===
	Powerful [[Foam and Spittle of the Furious Sea\|magical storms]] batter the coast of [[Spiral]] in [[Urizen]], and [[Feroz]] in [[the Brass Coast]]. For all their power, they do nothing to disrupt the magical fog - but they play havoc with local shipping. All [[fleet\|fleets]] based in these two [[territory\|~~territoires~~]] finds their ability to [[fleet#trade\|trade]], [[fleet#privateering\|privateer]], or [[Fleet#Supporting_a_Navy\|support a navy]] penalised by as much as a quarter.		Powerful [[Foam and Spittle of the Furious Sea\|magical storms]] batter the coast of [[Spiral]] in [[Urizen]], and [[Feroz]] in [[the Brass Coast]]. For all their power, they do nothing to disrupt the magical fog - but they play havoc with local shipping. All [[fleet\|fleets]] based in these two [[territory\|territories]] finds their ability to [[fleet#trade\|trade]], [[fleet#privateering\|privateer]], or [[Fleet#Supporting_a_Navy\|support a navy]] penalised by as much as a quarter.

	More importantly, any [[Imperial navy\|navy]] beginning the season, ending the season, or passing through one of those territories during the season, will suffer some damage from the rough seas, fog-ghosts, and lashing tendrils and serpents of animated water. It is fortunate, no doubt, that [[The_Brass_Coast_military_concerns#The_Freeborn_Storm\|The Freeborn Storm]] is still safely docked in the [[Madruga#The_Atalaya_Shipyards\|Atalaya shipyards]] in [[Madruga]].		More importantly, any [[Imperial navy\|navy]] beginning the season, ending the season, or passing through one of those territories during the season, will suffer some damage from the rough seas, fog-ghosts, and lashing tendrils and serpents of animated water. It is fortunate, no doubt, that [[The_Brass_Coast_military_concerns#The_Freeborn_Storm\|The Freeborn Storm]] is still safely docked in the [[Madruga#The_Atalaya_Shipyards\|Atalaya shipyards]] in [[Madruga]].
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	At first it appeared that the phenomenon was limited to Tower March, but shortly after the Winter Solstice the first of these eerie briar children is reported in [[Miekarova#Mieriada\|Mieriada]] in distant [[Miekarova]]. The children are supernaturally healthy, but almost all of them are marked with vivid emerald eyes - and with supple patches of bark, of course.		At first it appeared that the phenomenon was limited to Tower March, but shortly after the Winter Solstice the first of these eerie briar children is reported in [[Miekarova#Mieriada\|Mieriada]] in distant [[Miekarova]]. The children are supernaturally healthy, but almost all of them are marked with vivid emerald eyes - and with supple patches of bark, of course.

	Any character from Tower March or Mieriada who is roleplaying that they have had a child in the last season is welcome to roleplay that their offspring is one of these briar children. The only thing odd about them is that they all appear to be high lineage briars at a time in their lives when it is extremely rare for anyone to manifest briar lineage. It is important to note that these babies are ~~aging~~ at the normal rate, and are not appropriate character concepts for anyone older than three months (for Varushkans) or six months (for Marchers).		Any character from Tower March or Mieriada who is roleplaying that they have had a child in the last season is welcome to roleplay that their offspring is one of these briar children. The only thing odd about them is that they all appear to be high lineage briars at a time in their lives when it is extremely rare for anyone to manifest briar lineage. It is important to note that these babies are ageing at the normal rate, and are not appropriate character concepts for anyone older than three months (for Varushkans) or six months (for Marchers).
	===Fog on the Brine===		===Fog on the Brine===
	The [[Fog on the brine\|eerie, glowing fog]] that appeared from nowhere last Autumn still clings to the shores of the northern Bay of Catazar. Imperial magicians still have no idea exactly what it is or what it does. All they know is that it is an effect of the Night realm, of thirtieth magnitude, which conceals information - including information about its own nature and properties. Magicians still agree that the effect could be examined with a suitably powerful performance of a ritual such as [[The Eye of the High Places]], targeting one of the affected territories, but bypassing a potent shroud of this magnitude is no simple matter.		The [[Fog on the brine\|eerie, glowing fog]] that appeared from nowhere last Autumn still clings to the shores of the northern Bay of Catazar. Imperial magicians still have no idea exactly what it is or what it does. All they know is that it is an effect of the Night realm, of thirtieth magnitude, which conceals information - including information about its own nature and properties. Magicians still agree that the effect could be examined with a suitably powerful performance of a ritual such as [[The Eye of the High Places]], targeting one of the affected territories, but bypassing a potent shroud of this magnitude is no simple matter.
	===Veils of Night===		===Veils of Night===
	The skies above [[Madruga]], [[Zenith]], and [[Tassato]] continue to appear strange. During the day the effect is barely noticeable, although during a rainstorm in Tassato residents were charmed by the ~~appeareance~~ of not one but ''seven'' rainbows that lasted for several minutes and included several colours not normally seen in this sort of phenomenon.		The skies above [[Madruga]], [[Zenith]], and [[Tassato]] continue to appear strange. During the day the effect is barely noticeable, although during a rainstorm in Tassato residents were charmed by the appearance of not one but ''seven'' rainbows that lasted for several minutes and included several colours not normally seen in this sort of phenomenon.

	The effect is much more obvious at night however - the skies over the three [territory\|territories]] are transformed. The changes are sometimes subtle - stars in the wrong place, or the moon in the wrong phase. On other nights - especially in Madruga - the sky appears entirely unnatural. On one particularly strange night the Freeborn were greeted by a moon that was clearly absent because it had been destroyed - leaving in its place a conglomeration of drifting rocks. Other odd phenomena have included a night when the moon was surrounded by a dramatic green ring of light; a night when the northern half of the sky was entirely empty of stars; a night when half the stars gr bright and then faded from existence on an hourly cycle; and an occasion when all the familiar stars vanished entirely except the nine stars of [[the Fountain]] - although in this case those nine stars appeared to have become a virulent emerald in hue that lasted until morning.		The effect is much more obvious at night however - the skies over the three [territory\|territories]] are transformed. The changes are sometimes subtle - stars in the wrong place, or the moon in the wrong phase. On other nights - especially in Madruga - the sky appears entirely unnatural. On one particularly strange night the Freeborn were greeted by a moon that was clearly absent because it had been destroyed - leaving in its place a conglomeration of drifting rocks. Other odd phenomena have included a night when the moon was surrounded by a dramatic green ring of light; a night when the northern half of the sky was entirely empty of stars; a night when half the stars gr bright and then faded from existence on an hourly cycle; and an occasion when all the familiar stars vanished entirely except the nine stars of [[the Fountain]] - although in this case those nine stars appeared to have become a virulent emerald in hue that lasted until morning.
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	Magicians agree that this is caused by [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil]]. The shroud over Madruga is the most powerful, its magnitude in the high forties. The shroud on Zenith is also quite potent, in the low thirties, while the shroud over Tassato is the least potent - but still impressive. Any attempts to divine information about or scry these territories must overcome the potence of the shroud or reveal nothing.		Magicians agree that this is caused by [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil]]. The shroud over Madruga is the most powerful, its magnitude in the high forties. The shroud on Zenith is also quite potent, in the low thirties, while the shroud over Tassato is the least potent - but still impressive. Any attempts to divine information about or scry these territories must overcome the potence of the shroud or reveal nothing.
	===The Crumbling Fountain===		===The Crumbling Fountain===
	As the final preparations are being made to travel to [[Casinea#Anvil\|Anvil]] for the Spring ~~Equniox~~, the inhabitants of the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain\|Court of the White Fountain]] in Redoubt notice the first signs that something is wrong. Built in the foothills of [[#Optarion\|Optarion]], the Court is a single massive tower of white granite surrounded by a massive semi-circular wall. It completely fills one of the few major passes between Redoubt and the Broken Shore. The great courtyards of the tower are sufficient to hold the entire armed forces of Urizen, and the open ground they represent creates a deadly killing field for the skilled Urizen archers who man the upper reaches of the tower and the walls.		As the final preparations are being made to travel to [[Casinea#Anvil\|Anvil]] for the Spring Equinox, the inhabitants of the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain\|Court of the White Fountain]] in Redoubt notice the first signs that something is wrong. Built in the foothills of [[#Optarion\|Optarion]], the Court is a single massive tower of white granite surrounded by a massive semi-circular wall. It completely fills one of the few major passes between Redoubt and the Broken Shore. The great courtyards of the tower are sufficient to hold the entire armed forces of Urizen, and the open ground they represent creates a deadly killing field for the skilled Urizen archers who man the upper reaches of the tower and the walls.

	The White Fountain for which it is named is a great plume of liquid fire that bursts from somewhere deep within the earth and cascades down into a black basin before the tower, before disappearing back beneath the ground ... and this plume of fire appears to be weakening. It has lost perhaps as much as a quarter of its height over the last three months. At the same time, the white granite stone of the tower itself and the encircling wall is beginning inexplicably to crumble.		The White Fountain for which it is named is a great plume of liquid fire that bursts from somewhere deep within the earth and cascades down into a black basin before the tower, before disappearing back beneath the ground ... and this plume of fire appears to be weakening. It has lost perhaps as much as a quarter of its height over the last three months. At the same time, the white granite stone of the tower itself and the encircling wall is beginning inexplicably to crumble.

	The magicians who live in and protect the tower are at their wit's ends. At first, there is concern that the Spring magic that blankets the mountainous territory might be to blame, then that it was some side-effect of the eerie [[Tree of ice\|conjunction]], but with further investigation it is discovered that the tower is under the influence of a powerful curse with the bleak flavour of the [[Winter magic\|~~winter~~ realm]] with a magnitude in the vicinity of one hundred.		The magicians who live in and protect the tower are at their wit's ends. At first, there is concern that the Spring magic that blankets the mountainous territory might be to blame, then that it was some side-effect of the eerie [[Tree of ice\|conjunction]], but with further investigation it is discovered that the tower is under the influence of a powerful curse with the bleak flavour of the [[Winter magic\|Winter realm]] with a magnitude in the vicinity of one hundred.

	The fortification has already endured significant damage, but hopefully the worst has passed.		The fortification has already endured significant damage, but hopefully the worst has passed.