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Orin bowed politely to the figure in the archway.
Orin bowed politely to the figure in the archway.


"You are welcome here," he said. He spoke politely, confidently. His eyes scanned the figure quickly, taking in the details, and he made an assumption. "I hope that your journey from the Silent Lands has been swift, and that you might leave a little of the wisdom you bring with you behind when you return."
"You are welcome here," he said. He spoke calmly, confidently. His eyes scanned the figure quickly, taking in the details, and he made an assumption. "I hope that your journey from the Silent Lands has been swift, and that you might leave a little of the wisdom you bring with you behind when you return."


The herald inclined it's own head in turn, its features hidden by the long-snouted bone mask and the woolen cowl. Without further delay, they rolled onwards, heaving for the Conclave offices.  
The herald inclined it's own head in turn, its features hidden by the long-snouted bone mask and the woolen cowl. Without further delay, they rolled onwards, heaving for the Conclave offices.  

Revision as of 00:05, 4 April 2025

The gates of the Castle of Thorns are closed only in times of war. They remain open as a symbol of the openness of the Civil Service, and a reminder that the people of Dawn are not afraid of strangers. This evening, someone stranger than usual wheeled through the great gates, between the thorn bushes that cover the walls, and across the courtyard. Wrapped in heavy black robes, they moved with clear purpose, the wheels of their chair silent across the flagstones. They paused briefly, perhaps to admire Igrain'es Tower, then mounted the ramp to the archmway at its base.

Passing through that arch, they stopped, waiting to be acknowledged. A young woman in her own dark coloured robe, startled to see the imposing figure in the bone bask. Her hand moved instinctively to the bells at her belt. A gesture from scribe Orin, as he stood smoothly from behind this desk, stilled her fingers. She blushed. New as she was, fresh from the seminary at Necropolis, the young magister should have known better.

Orin bowed politely to the figure in the archway.

"You are welcome here," he said. He spoke calmly, confidently. His eyes scanned the figure quickly, taking in the details, and he made an assumption. "I hope that your journey from the Silent Lands has been swift, and that you might leave a little of the wisdom you bring with you behind when you return."

The herald inclined it's own head in turn, its features hidden by the long-snouted bone mask and the woolen cowl. Without further delay, they rolled onwards, heaving for the Conclave offices.

"I'm sorry," began the novice. "It was just habit..."

"Do not worry about it," said Orin with a tight smile. "It happens, and it's not as if you rang the exorcists bells at a servant of the Great Wolf of Winter, is it? Everyone makes mistakes, and honestly the first time I was confronted by one of the heralds of the Silent Kingdom... well let's just say that it was some years before my mentor stopped reminding me about it. Now, let's go over the figures again and try not to worry about what business their kind has with the Prefects of the Conclave."
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Overview

  • Six eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil, apparently in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages
  • Three have agreed to meetings of one kind of another, either in person or via emissaries
  • The other three have provided messages, opportunities, or gifts of one type or another

Every season, each of the six archmages may send a single plenipotentiary message to an eternal of their realm. The eternals are bound to respond, although not always in a way the archmage may wish. Following the Autumn Equinox, six eternals have responded to invitations to parley via their emissaries.

There is also an internal matter, relating to the way the archmage power of plenipotentiary is used. Following a matter raised by priests in the Imperial Synod, the Prefects have prepared notes on a service they could provide if the Conclave wished, for any archmage who chose to make use of it.

Fire Mage

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  • Apprentices of the Golden Magician will attend the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Saturday.
  • They are seeking aid from a group of citizens who hold some of the Fire Mage's power in their hands
  • The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose of Dawn

It is fortuitous, perhaps, that during the Autumn Equinox an enchantment was laid across the lands of Dawn by the coven of Phoenix Rising, The serendipitously named Golden Magician's Fayre creates a kind of invitation for the heralds of the Summer Realm to visit that nation. Alongside the servants of the other lords and ladies of the Glorious Kingdoms, shortly before the Winter Solstice, a single messenger from the domain of the Lord of Summer Stars appears at the Castle of Thorns with a message for the Archmage of Summer. Ethod is a petite herald, with hair of living gold and eyes that glitter with the light of falling stars. They are accompanied by a single guard, a massive creature of fire and rock that is, according to Ethod, a prince of the Skyborn.

There is crisis in the demesne of the Lake and the Island. The Golden Enchanter is sealed within the Tower of Stars, unreachable by his apprentices and allies. The gates that lead from the domain of Meraud are closed, and save for the combination of Archmage's plenipotentiary and Dawnish enchantment, none of the kin of Foxwise would have been able to come to the mortal world. Ethod bears grim tidings. There is chaos in the realm of the Master of Wand and Staff. The details are difficult to put into words, but the eternal is failing. The light that burns atop the tower in the lake flickers and threatens to go out completely. Thanks to the Archmage of Summer, however, a message has been delivered. In accordance with the rules of parley, Ethod brings that message on behalf not only of Meraud but of all those who live beneath the shadow of the tower.

The Lord of the Lake is under attack and needs aid. He requires his apprentices to recover certain powerful items that he has created, and return them to him so he can draw on their power to give him sufficient strength to break free from the snare that holds him. Without these items, the Golden Magician will fall, his tower fall into ruin, and a rival rise to claim his staff and his crown. Ethod's words are riddle-like, as if the herald themselves does not entirely understand the meaning of them.

The apprentices of Meraud know that they have no right to ask for these items to be returned. They were given as gifts to the Empire, and the Golden Magician has no dominion over them any more. Nor can the Lord of the Lake offer anything for their return beyond his gratitude; the snare that binds him leaves him weak and unable to reach beyond the walls of his tower.

There are five items the Lord of the Lake is seeking.

  • The Staff of the Storms and Mask of the Geyser, given by Meraud to the people of urizen, forming part of the regalia of the Churnspire Adjutor. With their strength returned Meraud may be able to shatter the snare that holds him.
  • The ritual text of Golden Trumpets, a rite given to the Empire some years ago that allows the trumpeteers of Meraud - Assoni, Goudenstem, Donner, Ivi Hriva, Kerrix, Gwinthav - to be summoned. Ethod does not know who has it but hopes beyond hope that it is in the possession of an Imperial magician. With the scroll, Meraud will be able to call those irresistible servants to his aid and send his voice beyond the tower to rally his allies.
  • The Ring of Unbelievable Magic, crafted as a gift for a friend, holds an ember of Meraud's irresistable strength within it. With it, he can reclaim enough of his power to strike against the one who attacks him and break their grasp.
  • The Ring of the Rainbow Sage, created as a reward for a brave soul, which holds a fragment of Meraud's wisdom within it. If it is returned to him, he will be able to quiet the gyre of madness that threatens to consume his will and turn him into an agent of his own destruction.

There are other things that Meraud has made over the years, says Ethod, and while the Sage of the Sapphire Cloak has not called for them specifically in his desperate communication to his servants, every little bit of aid in this matter would be a help. Even if their potence has faded, the items themselves might still serve a purpose if they are returned to the Summer Mage freely and with gratitude.

During the Summer Solstice, one of Meraud's apprentices will come to the Hall of Worlds and there meet with the Summer Archmage and, hopefully, those who bear the treasures Meraud has asked for. Before leaving the Castle of Thorns, Ethod cautions that there are those who would rather see Meraud lost, trapped forever in his tower, consumed by the gyre that swirls around him, so that they might rise in his stead. The Skyborn bodyguard that accompanies Ethod is not there to impress the Empire, but to ensure the apprentice delivers their message and returns to the Demesne of Lake and Star safely. Beware treachery and ambition, says Ethod, before sadly returning to the realm from which they came.

Forest Queen

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  • Yaw'nagrah has declined a parley
  • She has made a number of offers to Imperial magicians detailed in the companion Gifts of a green mother wind of fortune
  • The current Archmage of Spring is Ibiss Briarheart of Urizen

Shortly after the Autumn Equinox, a magistrate is called to the Imperial regio. Something has emerged, and the nearby Highborn have raised the alarm. When Nihm Farkas arrives, she finds a little herald, reminiscent of an ambulatory tree or bush. It is delicately drawing a stream of water from a pile of fallen leaves and humming a weird song to itself. When magistrate Farkas makes herself known, she is greeted with a careful and deliberate bow accompanied by a sound like the creaking of an ancient oak in a storm. This is the Watcher of the Fragrant Leaves, herald of She Who Spreads As Rampant Green, and it is responding to a message from the Imperial Archmage of the Primal Forest.

In quick succession, the herald tells the magistrate and the onlookers of matters its mistress is not interested in. The Druj escorted to Brocéliande were fleeing the slaughter of their fellows in the Barrens, nothing more. They prevailed on the Green Mother to aid them, and she gave them that aid, just as she sometimes does for her Imperial allies. She does not help them codify magic, or at least no more than she helps Imperial magicians do so. She prefers the company of some Druj to many Imperials because the orcs of the Mallum understand that the shackles of civilization are a poison that weakens body and soul.

She will not "escort" the Navarr into Brocéliande; the children of Terunael are more than capable of doing that themselves and the Deep Wild has no interest in th. She will not move a vallornheart. She has no interest in helping create a college of magic - the Empire spurned the Heart of the Tempest and she will not offer it again. She has no idea what a Well of Shadows is and is not interested in gifts of chaos fruit or mana or the like.

What does interest Barkspawner, is the Archmage's claim that the Empire intends to connect the vallornhearts and complete the great work of the Terunael. With that in mind, the herald details several boons her mistress has chosen to offer to Imperial magicians prepared to ignore the Conclave and deal with the Font of the Green. These offers are explained in more detail in the Gifts of a green mother companion wind of fortune.

Magistrate Farkas is at pains to remind the Conclave that it is illegal to accept a boon from an eternal under the enmity of the Conclave. Anyone, including the archmage themselves, who takes one of Yaw'nagrah's boons is committing a serious crime. Even if that were not the case, all enchantments cast on the entire Empire are also illegal. While the Conclave might endorse the plan to waken the trees of Brocéliande, doing so with the use of an object provided by an enemy eternal would still be a crime and would lead to an investigation of those involved. The only way to avoid that outcome would be to remove enmity from the eternal - for long enough to claim the boon as a minimum.

The Watcher of Fragrant Leaves makes it clear to Magistrate Farkas that these legal problems are no concern of the Queen of the Forest. If mortal beings want to complicate their own lives with such inane restrictions, that is their own lookout.

Its messages delivered, the strange, little tree-creature bows once again and leaves.

Empty Throne

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  • Sorin has acceded to a parley with the Imperial Conclave
  • The current Archmage of Winter is Ematius of the Great Library of Ankarien of Urizen

The bone faced, heavy robed Heralds of the Hungry Wolf are not common visitors to the Castle of Thorns, but those who have worked there long recognise them instantly. The Empty One's servant brings a response to Archmage Ematius' petition. Their King has been moved by the Archmage's tone, appreciated Ematius's decision to make use of the gifts of the chastising touch, and is looking forward to the gift of dragonbone. Consequently, there will be a formal parley, in the Hall of Worlds, albeit with a significant list of requirements.

In Words

The parley will take place at half past nine on the Saturday evening of the Winter Solstice. It will take the servants of the Empty Chamber some time to prepare a space for the coming of the Tomb King and his heralds. Ossium is confident that Conclave will conclude in a timely fashion, or at the very least vacate the third of the hall nearest to the portal to the realms from nine in the evening so that preparations can be made.

Once preparations are completed to the satisfaction of the Lord of the Bone White Throne, the Archmage will introduce the following:

  • One to speak for the Pale Ravens - how came they to claim the boon of Gundar the Unshackled and what do they know of them?
  • One to speak for the Nations Guard, holders of the Testament of Ahsaver - this one must deem themselves ready to judge others and testify as to how well those others understand the winds of suffering that blow through the Silent Kingdom
  • One to speak for the coven that once ran in Dawn and named themselves Whelps - do they wish to bring the Empty One's power to Varushka? They should bring with them one known as Lunete de Cercle to discuss a curse.
  • One to explain how rumours about The Basalt Citadel were started - and to perhaps learn the truth of it
  • Three who believe they bear the heart of Elayne Silverlark - ready to tell why they think they deserve to learn more.

They must come unarmoured and without weapons. The Empty One is a king after all. Along with the Archmage, those chosen - and only those chosen - may step across the threshold into the space of parley alongside the heralds and the Archmage. Each will speak with a herald, under the watchful gaze of the Empty Throne. Provided they are prepared to endure the test the servant of the Bone Crown offers to them, they may gains answers.

All others may watch, and listen. If chosen by the Archmage, they might also speak, but there will be no discourse on any other subjects than those named above.

In Silence

As to the rest... the King of Bones will not provide Heart's Blood to the Archmage at this time. If they do not wish to rely on the whimsical beneficence of the Court of Malice then they should simply... not. Crystal mana works just as well as heart's blood, and Sorin has no interest at this time in providing convenience. Likewise when it comes to proposals for the Sign of Tamar, the Empire has already assessed that place and found ways it might be used - in at least one case to create heart's blood in fact. Sorin has no interest right now in presenting anything else - he is just as happy to see the sign fall into ruin as he is to have it preserved.

With the matter of appraisal raised, the Lord of the Monolith is interested in one of the Archmage's requests. He is prepared to send one of the architects of the Tomb City to the Empire, should the Imperial Conclave genuinely desire his aid. That architect will examine a single fortification over the coming season and provide a single proposal as to how that structure might be improved. Ossium is careful to stress that this means "improved in the eyes of the Lord of the Barren Waste and his court" rather than simply "made better".

Alternatively, the Master of Whelps, will send one of his houndmasters, to assess a single Imperial army to consider how their defensive capabilities might be strengthened. Again, any improvement they propose will be in line with the precepts of the Winter realm. He will, however, only do one and only if the Conclave petitions and provides suitable tribute.

If the Conclave wishes to accept the aid of the Tomb-King, they must agree precisely which fortification or army they will ask Sorin's lieutenant to appraise, in a declaration of acceptance. The one who raises that declaration will be responsible for providing a gift to the Dry Hand - 160 drams of true vervain. If both criteria are met, Sorin's representative will provide details of the boon they offering at the Spring Equinox. OOC Note: The player who raises a successful Declaration of Acceptance should ensure the 160 true vervain are handed in to GOD by the end of the event, and email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk to let us know the price has been paid.

With their messages delivered, Ossium departs, noting that they are unlikely to be at the parley themselves, having pressing engagements elsewhere. They are certain their fellow heralds will be just as agreeable to citizens of the Empire as they are.

Endless Ringing

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  • Heralds of Estavus have made several offers to the Imperial Orcs, Wintermark, and the League
  • The current Archmage of Autumn is Edmundo of Damakan's Forge of Urizen

Over the last three months there have been reports of emissaries of the Autum realm appearing in both the north-west and south-east of the Empire, apparently at the behest of the Archmage of Autumn via their proxy Ashborn Trosk. In each case they spend some time examining the lay of the land, and then deliver proposals on behalf of the organisations they represent, and their mistress the Forge Unending.

In the north-west, several assayers from the Architects of Iron and Stone appear, in Skarsind and Sermersuaq, and set about exploring the mountains between the two nations. Most recently, heralds belonging to this guild were involved in devising methods to improve and protect Imperial Bourse seats; this time they appear to be evaluating the damage done by the Jotun to Pakanaan's Pass, and how it might be repaired and the pass reopened. As the Winter Solstice arrives, the assayers provide not only their findings, but an offer from a fellow guild - the House of Fire and Flame - to actually take on the contract of clearing the pass with their powerful explosive tools. You can find more about their proposal in the Hammers and boxes companion wind of fortune.

In the south-east, a single herald belonging to the Coalition of Stone and Struggle has paid a visit to southern Spiral. This emissary of Shikal is a sturdy, almost square creature, as wide across the shoulders as it is tall, with tree-trunk limbs and wrapped in heavy iron. It spends time examining the ground along the coast, studying the road-progress already made on Curstag's Way, and occasionally talking with the labourers undertaking this monumental task. After several weeks - during which the herald avoids talking to anyone other than the workers themselves - they appear without warning in Apulian, rap smartly on the doors of the Palace, and patiently to be admitted. They have several proposals relating to the timely completion of the road - and some requests that might have wider implications for the League in particular. You can also read about the proposals relating to the road in the Hammers and boxes companion wind of fortune.

it seems that the Archmage has requested assistance from the City of Fire and Stone, and that the citizens of the Fire Mountain have set about providing their aid rather than proposing a formal parley with the Archmage.

Ceaseless Struggle

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  • Zakalwe has declined a parley but will support the Empire in their goal of defeating Jarl Haakon
  • He also offers a boon to magicians and landskeepers of the Marches
  • The current Archmage of Day is Gralka of the Imperial Orcs

The familiar figure of Agon, herald of the Master Strategist, emerges from the Imperial Regio at the midpoint between the equinox and solstice. As usual, Agon comes alone, and is polite and friendly, if a little distant. They bear a response from the Hunter of Tides to the Archmage of Day.

The Tidekeeper chooses not to meet with Imperial magicians at the upcoming Winter Solstice. This is no reflection on the Archmage's words, and he thanks her for doing what he asked when last she spoke to him. It is merely that advancing the Archmage's goals is best achieved by action, rather than another meeting so soon.

To that end, his emissaries have evaluated and assessed the strategies and tactics of the Jotun in the Mournwold, and especially the ambitions and character of the Jarl of the Mourn, Haakon. With the insight gained, they are able to pinpoint an opportunity for Imperial heroes to confront the Jarl outside the protection of Farstrider's Watch. Their assessment is that the Sentinel Gate provids a conjunction that may be used to achieve the Archmage's goal. The Imperial Prognosticators have compiled a report in conjunction with several polemarchs of the General of Day which is to be presented to the military council at the coming summit.

The second matter the Archmage has asked about - the magical fortification at Graven Rock - presents no such opportunity however. On the other hand, the Weapon-Wise is apparently very pleased with the deportment of the Marcher generals, with General Amberlain and General Stanley in particular - but not only them. The Marcher oaths to put the defence of their people first in their strategies speak very well of them and of their understanding of the purpose of war. It is not much, in the grand scheme of things, but Zakalwe is minded to recognise their commitment with a small gift. He asks that the Archmage speak with each of the four generals of the Marches, and acquire from them an armament, suit of armour, shield, or keepsake as best reflects their temperament along with an idea of what personal boon would aid them.

If these items are delivered to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium then Zakalwe will return them the next morning with a suitable property appropriate to a warrior. These are gifts for the individuals, not for the armies. They will not help directly in the war against the Jotun but serve rather as a token of the eternal's support for their actions.

In the last matter, the Shimmering Tactician gently suggests that the Archmage has underestimated how heartening the people of the Mourn find it when their generals make good on their promises. Yet he has a proposal for the magicians and landskeepers of the Marches. There is a certain ritual that was created with the aid of Zakalwe - Carve the Crystal Guardian. It can provide a significant boost to the ability of any army, and presents a way for magicians versed in Day lore to help their people. For the duration of the Winter Solstice, any Marcher mana site that is transformed with the ritual and supports a Marcher army will receive a small boon. Rather than losing all production from their mana site over the season they will receive two pawns of prismatic ink at the Spring Equinox, gathered from their mana site as if it were mana.

Unseen Curators

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  • The Whisper Gallery have consented to meet with the Archmage of Night
  • They reject a formal parley
  • They have not made a time or location public knowledge
  • They invite artists of the Empire to participate in the meeting
  • Art containing secrets may be submitted to the Whisper Gallery through the Imperial Regio until the end of Friday of the Winter Solstice
  • A small number of these artworks which the Whisper Gallery feel communicate particularly dramatic secrets will be rewarded. There is no information on what form the reward will take.
  • The current Archmage of Night is Eliina "Realm's Visionary" Lailasdottir of Wintermark
Regarding Art

To submit art to the plenipotentiary, cast operate portal at the regio and then hand the art to a referee in the regio tent. This can be done anytime between time in and time out on Friday.

Artwork submitted to be part of the plenipotentiary should include the PID of the artist (eg on the back of a painting or the bottom of a sculpture). We will do our best to keep artworks safe for the duration of the event, though there is always a risk of something being misplaced. Artwork may be collected from the tent at the back of the Hall of Worlds from time out on Sunday. At either 5pm or when the Hall of Worlds needs to be dismantled, it will be moved to lost property.

Art can be painting/drawing, sculpture, text such as poetry presented in a visually appealing format, etc. Please don’t submit anything particularly large or difficult to store without contacting PD before the event. If you have any further queries, please email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk

As a reminder, content that is made using generative-AI tools is banned in the field at Empire and the full rules around use of generative-AI can be found here.

No civil servant is sure when the painting appears amongst their papers, but Jorgen spends some time stretching it over a wooden frame and hanging it up. The painting is formed from iridescent ink upon stark, blackened canvas. Once unfurled, it shows five beings together holding a scroll aloft. The image is made of many tiny letters which spell out a message. The night after the message is first read, the painting disappears as suddenly and silently as it arrived, leaving only its empty frame. All those who even glimpsed the painting, however, are able to recall its message in perfect detail.

The Whisper Gallery consent to a meeting with the Archmage of Night. They state that all those who should be present will be made aware of the time and location, and any others who wish to attend are welcome to join should they discover these details themselves. They reject a formal parley, on the basis that they wish all citizens to be able to speak freely. There is a certain coyness about the matters that may be discussed with the Archmage; they refer only to "a comparison of rumour and scandal."

Their intent goes beyond a simple discussion of political matters. The painting contains an invitation to all Imperial citizens to participate in a gallery of artworks which they intend to showcase during the meeting. The Concilium of the Perjured Throne wish to present some of their own treasured collection alongside pieces by the Empire's own artists.

All such artworks contributed to the gallery should communicate a secret or rumour. They emphasise that the secrets need not belong to the artist themselves, but could be something they have discovered and wish to be shared with anyone who can interpret the art sufficiently. These artworks may be paintings, sculptures or even poetry or written words as long as they are presented in a visually appealing or arresting manner. The quality of the secret or rumour contained within is the most important aspect - and those who create artworks that reflect especially succulent secrets will be rewarded. The Whisper Gallery have not directly explained what defines the "succulence" of a secret, but it is widely assumed that the more dramatic and shocking a secret or rumour, the more delicious they are likely to find it.

Artwork to be submitted to this gallery of secrets should be sent by opening a portal at the Imperial regio before the end of the Friday of the Winter Solstice. It is the intent of the Whisper Gallery that art presented by Imperial citizens will be returned to them - this is a loan to help create a suitable atmosphere for the discussing of secrets rather than a gift in any legal sense.

The magistrates, to put it mildly, have eyebrows raised at this entire business but for the moment cautiously express the opinion that allowing an eternal under enmity to present one's art is probably not a crime as long as one is not a sorcerer. At least, as long as such takes place under the aegis of the Archamge's parley. They do remind everyone, however, that accepting gifts or boons from the Whisper Gallery in return for anything, even a loan of your art, would be a crime and prosecuted as such.

Have a Little Faith

Penance: As Archmage of Spring, Ibiss negotiates with the Spring realm and has made this task more difficult by failing to retain copies of the Plenipotentiaries sent to Eternals. Ibiss reports that other Archmages also do not keep such copies. This is a collective failure of personal Vigilance which can only benefit Eternals negotiating in bad faith. This is a Conclave problem which a Conclave officer can solve. Ibiss' penance is to spend the next year creating a means by which copies of Plenipotentiaries are retained for Archmages and their successors. For more details see the 4-page leaflet (copies on opposite wall) "Ibiss Briarheart Inquisition Report". My 48 page "Strength and Guile" available from myself or the Anvil Library, makes use of the Archmage's testimony to chronicle the nefariousness of Spring.

Judgement of Penance, Brother Geoffrey Orchard, Vigilance Assembly, Autumn Equinox 386YE, Vote: Passed (270-0)
  • The Prefects of the Conclave can support any Archmage who wishes their plenipotentiary message to become common knowledge
  • This offer is made in response to the findings of the Vigilance Assembly during the Autumn Equinox
  • The Imperial Conclave can decide to accept this offer or refuse it

There is one other matter of note relating to the Archmages and their power of plenipotentiary, although it arises from a fundamentally mundane source rather than anything to do with the realms.

During the Autumn Equinox Brother Geoffrey Orchard raised a judgement relating to the use of plenipotentiary. As noted following this sanction, there is absolutely no legal requirement for any Imperial title to keep copies of their correspondence, nor to make their correspondence available to anyone else. However, there may be mechanisms available that allow an Archmage to voluntarily present the words of their plenipotentiary, such that Imperial magicians may know what they contain. The Prefects of the Conclave have discussed the matter with their Civil Service peers and present a potential solution to Brother Orchard's concerns.

Any civil servant can note down the contents of a plenipotentiary missive and ensure they are included alongside the Declarations that are made available to every magician in the Empire. This would, however, have to be absolutely voluntary on behalf of the individual Archmage, and they will not attempt to do so without the approval of the Imperial Conclave. As such they have presented a sample wording for a Declaration of Concord: "Conclave instructs the Prefects to assist any Archmage who requests it, to make the contents of their plenipotentiary available to their fellow Imperial magicians."

If this declaration is raised, and supported by the Conclave, then the Archmages will gain the ability to make the wording of their plenipotentiary missive public if they wish to do so.

As soon as this matter is mooted, there is a flurry of communication from several eternals. Representatives of Basileia and the Whisper Gallery make it apparent that they will not provide assistance to any plenipotentiary that took advantage of this offer. On the other hand, all the eternals of the Day realm, with the exception of Sinokenon, have let it be known that if this power existed they would only respond positively to plenipotentiaries that were transparently shared with Imperial magicians.

How This Will Work

If the Conclave passes this declaration, then any Archmage would in-character show their message to a member of the civil service before sending it. In practice, this would just require the archmage to out-of-character write at the bottom of their plenipotentiary that they wanted it shared with the Empire. This would not count against the word limit of their plenipotentiary. When the wind of fortune detailing plenipotentiary responses was published, it would include the actual text of that plenipotentiary alongside the response from the eternal.

This is, however, an all or nothing proposition. The entire wording of the actual plenipotentiary would be included. It would not be possible to exclude part of the missive, or present an alternative wording. We can't phys-rep having a civil servant present at the precise moment that an archmage makes use of their power of plenipotentiary to make a carbon copy of the message before it is sent, but in theory the Empire ought to be able to do that. From a game design perspective, the power is only a positive for the game if the plenipotentiary that is published across the Empire is identical to the plenipotentiary that the eternal sees.

It would not be possible to stipulate than an archmage must use this power if it is available. How an archmage interacts with this power might be raised during a Declaration of Candidacy for example, but it cannot be made a legal requirement of the plenipotentiary power that the missive be shared. The power to speak to eternals belongs to the Archmage, and it is up too them to determine how it is used.

Timetable

These meetings are taking place in a number of places; in chambers reached via the Hall of Worlds. The times, and the eternals involved, are summarised here.

Day Time Eternal Realm Note
Unknown Unknown Whisper Gallery Night Chamber, not a parley
Saturday 13:30 Meraud Summer Hall of Worlds, parley
Saturday 21:30 Sorin Winter Check

Further Reading