Keeper of the Runegrott

Overview

The Keeper of the Runegrott is an Imperial title created by the Imperial Senate during the Spring Equinox 385YE. They are appointed by the military unit captains of Wintermark through Tally of the Votes and have a responsibility to support and encourage the expansion of Runesmith's Law. The opportunity to build the runeforge was first presented in the Conduit to destiny wind of fortune.

The runeforge allows the creation of new and unique magic items, as well as offering the possibility of sharing that knowledge with Imperial artisans.

Responsibilities

The Keeper of the Runegrott has a responsibility to support and encourage the expansion of Runesmith's Law. The Keeper also oversees the research agenda of the runeforge, and is responsible for crafting the unique magic items the structure produces. In the event the runeforge is threatened, the Keeper is responsible for addressing such threats.

Powers

Unique Crafting

The runeforge can be used to create a single copy of a unique magic item. It takes six months to research a new item, which can require up to 40 materials to create. If the finished item requires more than 40 materials, it requires one extra season of work for every 20 extra materials. When the research is completed, the Keeper is presented with a standard magic item that, as with all such items, will last for one year.

Unique items

A unique item is one that does not already exist in the magic item lists. It is likely that such an item will need to be bonded, and will be a weapon, armour, talisman or group magic item. Magic items tend to do one thing, rather than multiple types of things, and creating an item that does more than one thing is increasingly more expensive that creating an item that does one thing well. Not every ability of a magic item is equally appropriate to every kind of item, and more powerful items may prove to be prohibitively expensive in terms of time or materials required - or flat out impossible. It is worth talking to Profound Decisions about the kind of item you wish to create so that we can work together to come up with something possible that is as close as we can get to your original idea.

At this time, the Keeper of the Runegrott may choose to learn the ability to make that item for the usual experience point costs. However, the character will be unable to teach anyone else how to make the item - the ability to do so will remain theirs alone.

Forge Schema

Instead of constructing a single copy of a magic item, the Keeper may choose to make a schema. It takes six months to research a schema, which can require up to 40 materials to create. If the finished item requires more than 40 materials, it requires one extra season of work for every 20 extra materials. Creating a schema requires the Keeper of the Runegrott to provide ten rings of ilium. A schema is permanent unless destroyed with Words of Ending.

A schema is a "pattern" for the new crafted item that anyone can use to learn the method of creating the item. It can also be expended with the assistance of the Imperial Senate to spread the knowledge of how to make the new item throughout the Empire.

Using the Forge

The runeforge is used during downtime. The Keeper of the Runegrott should email rules@profounddecisions.co.uk after the event and before downtime ends with the details of the item they wish to try and create. If they want to make a schema, they will need the appropriate number of rings of ilium in their inventory. Profound Decisions will let the player know before the next event the number and type of materials required to make the new item.

The Keeper of the Runegrott is an Imperial title and thus may appoint a proxy. It is important to note however that a proxy cannot wield powers related to downtime; they cannot direct the runeforge nor learn how to create a unique magic item. Only the actual character with the title of Keeper of the Runegrott is legally allowed to use the runeforge to make or master new magic items.

Appointment

This title is appointed during the Autumn Equinox each year. The Keeper of the Runegrott is appointed, through the Tally of the Votes, by citizens of Wintermark who control military units. The larger the resource an individual has, the more votes they can allocate in support to a candidate. The voting is handled by the civil servants in the Bourse.

Only a Wintermark citizen may hold the title. They do not receive a seat on the Bourse. As a title appointed through the Bourse they cannot be revoked by the Imperial Synod.

Summit	Elected	Votes
Autumn Equinox 386YE	Derowen	158 Votes
Spring Equinox 386YE	Derowen	83 Votes

Recent Elections

This title is currently held by Derowen; it will be reelected at Autumn Equinox 387YE. The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.

Runegrott

The runeforge's main entrance is a set of heavy wooden doors, flanked by two large herons, decorated with a simple motif of three tears. Beyond the doors is the main foyer; the walls on either side hold three large engravings depicting key events in the construction of the forge: the gifting of the resources from Skarsind, the lost runesmiths being welcomed home, the consecration of the tomb of Isenbrad. Attention to detail is evident everywhere in both form and function. No doors snag or hang heavy on their hinges, no furniture even threatens to rock or creak. The decoration throughout is extensive but unobtrusive.

The centre of the runeforge is an everburning forge, rumoured to be fueled by coals won from Barien Dragonforge. The high ceiling of interlocked weirwood beams arch to a central point to let out the smoke. Woven between them are glittering points of mithril marking out the constellation of the Great Wyrm, and then two small points which would match the Key, all clearly picked out in the light of the fire.

Workshops surround this central area, with experts and apprentices hard at work; crafting, learning, and teaching. The smell of hot metals, freshly cut wood, and rich dyes fill the whole building. Beyond and above them are reading areas for the less direct research. Between two of the workshops is a corridor and a small door which leads to the one outside section of the forge. A small garden, protected by a circular high wall and the warmth from the building. Built so that the near-constant sounds from the forge are a gentle background noise. Scented by the patches of herbs and with a small selection of places to sit and think, this is an area for contemplation. Facing the doorway is a lifesize carving depicting an adult and three children standing proud of the wall, all unlineaged and steinr by the design of their clothing. The adult stands beneath a carving of Ophis, the children bear the runes Evrom, Gralm, and Cavul. A plaque at the base is carved with the words “From our past, we learn. For our future, we build”

The rear of the runforge is made up of a suite of rooms for the personal use of the Keeper of the Runegroot.