Monarchs and outcasts

Overview

Six realms of magic align with the mortal world, whose inhabitants are fundamentally different to the people of the mortal world and yet, to a degree, share some of their concerns. They are both complex and simple at the same time, seeking to change the world to match their perception of how it should work. They bargain and negotiate, threaten and cajole, and while it can be difficult to predict exactly where their gifts or curses might lead, still they have much to offer.

The Empire can reach out to the eternals through the powers of the Archmages and the Conclave, but the creatures of the realms may sometimes take the initiative themselves. The power of alignment allows the Conclave to make it easier or harder for them to touch the world, relationships shaped by the tension between true friends and dire enemies. Some desire that state of amity, some revel in the enmity they have earned, but none can deny the power of the Conclave to guard the borders of the Empire.

It is a rare season that passes without an eternal, or a handful, seeking to influence the Empire. There are other winds of fortune that speak of different situations. The responses to the plenipotentiary missives of the Archmages from this season is covered in the TBC wind of fortune.

Summer

Gilded Bouquet (Eleonaris)

• Eleonaris reaches out to her allies in the Empire to offer aid with invocations of her Knights of Glory
• Elodian herself, one of Eleonaris' captains, is expected to arrive at 21:00 on Friday via the Hall of Worlds

All is well in the Empire, at least as far as the Lady of Pennants can tell, yet something must be amiss? Only three of her cohorts were summoned last season to join the Empire's great campaigns, half as many or fewer as were cast each season in the rest of the 387YE. Elodian, favoured herald of the Commander of the Golden Armies informs her that the Empire has been facing some issues with its regio recently, to which she is deeply distraught. Not back long from fighting alongside the Green Shields in Mitwold, Elodian is quickly sent to travel to Anvil to offer some aid to help with further castings of the Knights of Glory and is expecting to arrive via the Hall of Worlds at around nine in the evening on Friday during the summit, to distribute these favours to any who might need them.

Elodian comes with a purpose of her own, as well as the one set by the Lady of Pennants. Apparently, the soldiers of the Valiant Pegasus were acting awfully strange towards Elodian and her hammersmiths when fighting alongside them and the Green Shields in Mitwold this season. She is concerned that she may have in some way offended the Highborn, and so has asked the Archmage of Summer or her representative to meet her at the hall of worlds that she might be guided to the Chapel in the Highborn camp to speak to either Lucifer or the newly elected General of the Army. If her old comrade Sychar of Ebon's Hall, other Highborn or anyone else might be willing to show up to explain why she and her warband might be being treated differently, she would be very grateful.

Autumn

How to Succeed in Business (Ephisis)

Dispose of the Quicksilver's Flame

Motion Type: Concedence

Necessary Details: The beneficiary of the sale

Benefit: 80 wains of white granite and 240 crowns

Effect: The Quicksilver's Flame will be dismantled and removed

Availability: Until the beginning of the Spring Equinox 389YE

Special: Cannot proceed if a declaration of acceptance prohibits the sale Cannot proceed if Ephisis is under enmity

• The Empire could sell the Quicksilver's Flame to the City of Gold and Lead
• The sale requires a Senate motion to cede the fortification to the eternal
• The Conclave could use a declaration of acceptance to veto the sale

The Prince of Scales has a buyer with some very specific requirements. They wish to purchase a fortification, and by good fortune, the Quicksilver's Flame in Morrow is close enough to their specifications. As a result, the Grand Plutocrat is ready and willing to facilitate the exchange, assuming the Empire is prepared to sell. The City offers the construction cost of 80 wains of white granite and 240 crowns in return for the right to dismantle the fortification and remove it... lock, key and gatepost.

The proposed sale has some constitutional implications, to put it mildly. The fortification is the property of the Empire; nobody, not even the Conclave, can simply dispose of it without the explicit approval of the Imperial Senate. Legally, it is very clear that the sale requires the fortification to be ceded to the eternal - and that can only happen with a successful Senate motion.

However, the Conclave have the responsibility to "ensure the fit and proper use of magic", so this arrangement clearly falls squarely within their purview. After lengthy consideration, the Constitutional Court are not inclined to require the Conclave to approve the sale using a declaration - instead they have issued guidance that the concession could not proceed if the Conclave passed a declaration of acceptance to reject the offer. While this is clearly a compromise, the Court hopes that it at least balances the constitutional rights of both houses without putting additional burdens on their capacity and time.

If the Senate were minded to accept the sale, then the motion should state who will receive the sale funds. The offer remains available for one year, until the beginning of the Spring Equinox 389YE.

The Nobility of the Maggot (Callidus)

• Callidus is keen to reach out to the maggots of Wintermark
• Several secretaries are expected to visit the Wintermark camp at 12.30 on Sunday

The Prince of the Argent Tontine has received reports from his heralds that the wise and practical maggots of Wintermark are an unfairly maligned group, and wishes to exalt and encourage them. To this end, he intends to send a small number of his secretaries to the Wintermark camp at around half past twelve on Sunday afternoon, to help any interested parties who wish to embolden and enhance their skills in maggotry for the coming year.

Those who wish to barter for these boons are advised to be able to provide a token; a piece of jewellery, an amulet or personal talisman, or some similar trinket. In the event of successful negotiation, the heralds plan to invest a little bit of Autumn magic into this token.

Winter

A Question of Jetsam (Khobel Tavah)

• Khobel Tavah have confirmed that Eilian Sweetwater is entirely physically safe and will remain so indefinitely
• Eilian Sweetwater will be swiftly returned as befits lost flotsam if the Conclave makes a Declaration of Acceptance declaring themselves responsible for the consequences
• The Golden Fleet Salvagemaster and the commissioner of Eilian's sabbatical are asked to attend a meeting on the Friday evening of the solstice at 22:10 to discuss the jetsam

Eilian Sweetwater is one of the more beloved prognosticators the Prognosticator's Office possesses. An experienced researcher with a can-do attitude that befits his long time as an active member of Storm's Run Striding, he is well-known for combining a passion for the lessons the Empire's history has to teach us with a willingness to put on his mud boots and wade into the practical constraints of a problem. Unfortunately, he has been missing for half a year - ever since his sabbatical pursuing a survey of the Empire's historical lighthouses was cut short by the Grendel invasion of Redoubt in the Autumn of 387YE. At the time, Eilian was investigating the ruins of the Lighthouse at Nikephoros, which had been destroyed in an earlier Grendel attack in the Winter of 386YE - he disappeared after the attack and has not been seen since.

It is believed by some that he fled the Grendel into the caves below the lighthouse, where a powerful Winter regio lies in a cave known as the Cave of the Drowned. These rumours were given some support when, at a recent parley, the Winter eternal known as the Two-Who-Are-One, Khobel Tavah, is said to have confirmed that Eilian was safe and in some sense under their protection. If this is true, however, it is not clear that Eilian is able to leave. Certainly, nothing of him has been heard since: until now. Some weeks before the Spring Equinox, a startling figure emerges from the door to the Hall of Worlds. Their gaunt, corpse-like appearance marks them as inhuman, a creature of the Realms. However, they are dressed in the garb of a Highborn sailor: the bell and the book at their belt suggest nothing more than a Steward of the Dead. Indeed, they identify themselves as the Speaker for the Drowned, herald of the Sunken Rope. They begin to relay a message from the Eternal they serve.

The figure recounts the missing part of the story of Eilian's flight. Separated from their companions on the island in the midst of the Grendel attack, Eilian fled wounded to the cave of the Drowned below the isle of Nikephoros. It seems the herald of Kimus known as Fotismos perished as they attempted to defend their charge. The drowned figure does not dwell on this point, mentioning only that the affairs of the Unblinking Eye are not theirs to comment upon but that the Archmage of the Sea Above probably ought to be informed.

Alone and desperately afraid, Eilian believed in that moment that he would surely die. The Speaker says that a fervent and desperate plea from a terrified soul is exactly the kind of call that Fear Death by Water are responsive to. "There, in Her bosom and under His eye", says the Speaker for the Drowned, "your missing lost flotsam is safe - Queen Esk's touch cannot find him in the abyssal darkness of the uttermost salt. He is suspended in terror, and terror preserves." They say this dispassionately - there is no sense of cruelty as one might expect from a representative of The Thrice-cursed Court. To the Speaker for the Drowned, it seems perfectly natural that one might exist in such a state - especially if one wanted to remain protected from harm.

The Speaker explains that it is not the wish of Fear and Her Bride to deprive the Empire of their precious lost flotsam. Eilian is not theirs to keep - there are old laws of the sea regarding such things. However, the chamber in which he dwells, known as the Uttermost Salt, was not unoccupied. "There is jetsam there, too - something long sealed away by an old bargain. If the flotsam is to be released into your care - and he will need care - you should know that the jetsam within the Uttermost will also follow. The gate does not open for one alone."

The Speaker for the Drowned is clear that Eilian will be returned swiftly if the Conclave makes a Declaration of Acceptance - a suggested text is provided - thanking the Sunken Rope for taking care of their lost flotsam, and accepting all responsibility for what will follow and any doom that might subsequently fall. The Consorts of Dark Water are hopeful that his stay with them has given Eilian some ideas as to how the Lighthouse at Nikephoros, constructed as a grand regio in their name in times past, can be restored. If the Conclave decides they do not want to accept the consequences of his release, that is fine - Terror-Under-Wave will continue his preservation for as long as they wish. He will be physically entirely safe. There is no cause for alarm.

The Conclave thankfully claims Eilian Sweetwater as lost flotsam from Sunken Rope, and asks that the depths of the Uttermost Salt be emptied, that he might be immediately returned. In doing so, they accept full responsibility for the doom that will follow.

The Speaker for the Drowned's suggested Declaration of Acceptance

Jorgen, the long-suffering civil servant who often fields visitors from the realms and asks what exactly this jetsam that will "follow" is, and what this "doom" that might subsequently fall might be. The Steward of the Drowned looks genuinely surprised at the question - it seems to have expected its cryptic utterances to be understood. After a little thought it says that it will arrange for a chamber to be adjoined to the Hall of Worlds at the time of favourable omen, so that the Empire may send its Receiver of Wreck to discuss the affair.

When it is explained that no such position exists, it is finally agreed that the Golden Fleet Salvagemaster, Caleb of the Cenotaph, and the hakima and public artist Allegra i Riqueza (who is responsible for Eilian's wellbeing) are invited to meet the Steward in the Hall of Worlds at 22:10 on the Friday of the Spring Equinox. They will adjourn to a chamber, where the matter of the jetsam will be discussed. The Conclave may want to defer their decision until this meeting has concluded - but it is not obligatory.

Moments of Contemplation (Sorin)

• The Tomb King invites five pairs of Imperial heroes to attend him in a chamber, beyond the Hall of Walls, at 22:15 on the Saturday of the coming summit
• Named are Umarth Kannask, Odd Twiceborn, and Towlen Nighthaven. Each of these, and two others, must bring with them one who knows them intimately to enumerate their hypocrisies and weaknesses
• Should the Hungry Wolf be pleased that the Empire is learning well of his truth, then he consents to grant a ritual from the Book of Ahsaver to Towlen Nighthaven

Last season, the Tomb King sent his Sepulchral Pontifex to visit the Imperial Orcs with an offer. He is apparently quite pleased with the respect shown by the Unshackled at Anvil, and especially with the actions of Karrak and Stormsteel Skorr. The Whelpmaster also notes that one of their number, Bloodcrow Arora has shown the wisdom and strength to take the title of Archmage of Winter from their predecessor. This too pleases the Lord of the Monolith as it means it should be even easier to arrange a declaration of acceptance to offer him the contents of the tomb of Alicia-who-knew-the-path in Eordal in exchange for the great boon that was offered. It would appear to be even more useful given the events in Mareave this season.

The Bleak Exarch notes the commitment the Empire has demonstrated toward his cause, that of ridding the self of weakness, but remains eternally unsatisfied, for the work is far from complete. He therefore invites Umarth Kannask and Odd Twiceborn to share what wisdom they have learned now that their blessing of Sand-blasted Ties is fading, as well as Towlen Nighthaven, who has invoked their Pallid Charm to ask a favour of the Empty One. In addition, two others, of Umarth and Odd Twiceborn's choosing, are welcome to present themselves to the Silent Kingdom.

Each of these five will enter the chamber separately, at the invitation of a herald, there to meet the Lord of the Monolith himself. However, they will bring with them a partner. This person should know the invitee well, but be little known to the Father of Draughir. Preferably, they should not be a mage at all, for the cause goes much beyond the practice of magic. They will have a short amount of time to explain to the Prince in Rags what hypocrisies and weaknesses the invitee still has to overcome. To illustrate, Towlen Nighthaven may bring a friend, and that friend will speak to Sorin of Towlen Nighthaven's hypocrisies.

The heralds explain that Towlen Nighthaven has requested help reclaiming the Book of Ahsaver. Their lord is not inclined to do so, but will offer a ritual taken from there to him, if the citizens of the Empire can prove they have begun to understand his wisdom in the chamber before him.

Bound by Obligation (Tharim)

• Tharim's herald has presented a boon on behalf of the eternal Agramant
• Varushkans that send a bloodied handprint along with any Tribute to the Thrice Cursed Court will receive a boon from Agramant
• The boon will grant the user a way to contact the eternal

Beneath a waning moon, a creature trussed in rusted chains emerges from the Imperial Regio ahead of the summit. It speaks through a jaw bound by iron, it's gesture's constrained by the scrape of iron upon iron. It is clearly a herald of Tharim, but it explains that Stoneheart is held by black iron law of a sworn oath, and so it is here to carry a message on behalf of the vile wretch Agramant.

Grinding and chipping its teeth behind the jagged tines encasing its mouth, the herald recites the message. In remembrance of the Howler's favoured collaborator Milos Durenovich - so cruelly butchered as they sought to secure the survival of their people - Ropechewer shall offer the people of Varushka a boon. Throughout the coming summit, any citizen of Varushka who sends a bloodied handprint alongside a Tribute to the Thrice Cursed Court shall receive, with their allotment of heart's blood, a bloodied twig - a talisman allowing its user to send a missive to Drowner in his icy abode.

With a rattling groan and a look of palpable disgust, the herald then proceeds to depart once more into the regio, shedding flakes of corroded metal that dust the dewy grass underfoot with each step.

Day

The Turning of the Wheel (Sinokenon)

• Sinokenon is sending two of its heralds at 10:15 on Saturday, tasked with a public relations mission

Sinokenon is an eternal whose relationship with the Empire has generally been consistently cordial, if never close. It has tended to pay most attention to the Empire at times when the ruling Throne of the era has been able to successfully bend the institutions of the Empire to a single cause; nevertheless, even in less unified times it has rarely shown the Empire animosity. It has helped the Empire in recent years, most notably assisting the Archmage of Day to warn the people of Tsark of a planned raid by the Axou and the Grendel.

Recently, it attempted to help the foreigners of the Silver Flame enclave with their negotiations with the Empire. However, these efforts seem to have been unsuccessful, and the Conclave chose to rebuke Sinokenon's advances. While the Silver Flame have their own response to the failure of those efforts, Sinokenon's heralds have reached out to the civil service expressing what appears to be genuine confusion and concern. They profess to be alarmed by the very idea that Sinokenon would ever seek to subvert or countermand the Imperial Constitution.

The ministers of the Silver Ministry appear to believe that this must be some kind of misunderstanding. They have assured the civil service that Sinokenon has never been more certain that the Empire is going in the right direction. Their ministers have made clear that, in particular, they regard Emperor Vesna as a particularly gifted occupant of the Throne. They point to the recent Imperial address as proof of her statecraft. Apparently, That Which Lives In Its Name had been minded to petition the Archmage of Day for the Conclave's amity - but has now put these plans on hold. Instead, two of its ministers - the Senior and Junior Minister for Casinean Public Relations - have been instructed to visit Anvil at the Spring Equinox on the Saturday morning, so as to best gauge Sinokenon's reputation at the present time and to take steps to alleviate any dismay or misapprehension.

Arriving around 10:15 and staying until a little after 13:00, they would be delighted to meet with the Archmage of Day as part of this visit; however, Sinokenon's heralds are clear that the real focus will be talking to the foundation-stones of the Imperial hierarchy - the ordinary people who make it work - and distributing gifts and pamphlets that demonstrate Sinokenon's beneficial intentions. They appear confident that by raising their reputation with the foundation of Imperial society in this manner, they will comprehensively dissolve any negative reputation for the Turning Mirror that might exist. It remains to be seen whether or not they are remotely correct in their assumptions.

Out in the Open (Roshanwe)

• Roshanwe has asked for a meeting with the Archmage of Day
• A herald of the Navigator aims to arrive in the Hall of Worlds at 22:00 on Saturday

In a prompt and timely manner, but not too much in advance of the Spring Equinox, a message from the Finder of the Path is delivered in very neat handwriting to the civil servants working at the Castle of Thorns. This is all considered normal and usual, until the contents are read.

A trusted herald of the Navigator intends to arrive in the Hall of Worlds on Saturday at 22:00 and hopes to speak with the Archmage of Day or their designated representative, regarding a particular matter. This is not a secret matter, as such, but simply something better discussed in person. Ideally without any eavesdroppers. The Archmage of Day is welcome to discuss their conversation with anyone they choose after the herald has left, but a degree of discretion is requested until that time.

One last important note, this herald will not be talking about lighthouses, despite them being of great interest to the Beacon. If they choose to take the alleged expertise of Khobel Tavah on building them, over hers, as they did with Kimus when building the lighthouse at Apulian, that's absolutely fine. Of course, if Eilian Sweetwater had come to the Mariner when producing the appraisal on the matter, even to ask her opinion, he might not be in such dire straits as he is now, but what's done is done. If the Empire ever did want to talk to The Finder of the Path on the topic however, a plenipotentiary on the topic would be very pleasing.

Staring at the Sun (Kimus)

• Kimus brings word of a collaborative effort between itself and a coven of seers from Redoubt to better understand the threat of Cold Sun
• The Urizeni, particularly the current seat of the Brilliant Star, Volidus, should expect the eternal's heralds at 18:15 on Friday in the Hall of Worlds

Unfolding from the Imperial regio as the sun is at its zenith but days before the Spring Equinox, a Vizier of She Who Watches goes initially unnoticed amidst the sweltering heat of high spring. The herald is content to remain motionless as they observe the comings and goings of Anvil through its many staring eyes.

When it is finally approached and asked why it is here, they seem to consider the question with the same unblinking intensity before finally responding. They explain that in distant Redoubt, within the dead caldera of a long-dead volcano lies Terminus Sol a potent regio corrupted by the invasion of Cold Sun. At this very moment, the Vizier continues, a coven of seers from Delving known as The Circle of Enduring Wisdom is preparing to divine knowledge and understanding from the blinding fire of Cold Sun.

This process, formulated with assistance from The Celestial Eye, depends on a final element - one that must be carried through the Sentinel Gate. The herald requests that representatives of Urizen, in particular Volidus, the overseer of the Brilliant Star, should watch the Hall of Worlds for the arrival of further emissaries of The Glass of the Heavens at six hours and fifteen minutes past midday upon the first day of the coming equinox.

Night

Tyrannical Discipline (Whisper Gallery)

• The Emerald Scholar in Sable Ribbons desires poetry from Steinr poets
• Performances of Whispering Shadow Courtiers can be enhanced to claim a bounty of crystal fire if they involve both an appropriate poem and poet

The Emerald Scholar in Sable Ribbons is a known lover of poetry and is looking for some new reading material to "pass the time". In particular, it has apparently acquired a taste for the poetry of the Steinr of Wintermark. During the Spring Equinox, any magician who casts Whispering Shadow Courtiers using an additional measure of iridescent gloaming and incorporating both poem and Steinr poet into the performance will receive three crystal fire in thanks. Each poet may only make one submission, but magicians of any people or nation may help as many Steinr wordsmiths as please them. It's not entirely clear how anyone knows this is the case; anyone speaking of it is invariably reporting something they heard from a friend of a friend or read somewhere they cannot put their finger on. There may be a nefarious plan here, or it might just be that the Scholar is simply interested in art. With the Whisper Gallery, it is sometimes hard to separate the two.

Obviously there are several problems with this. The Whisper Gallery are under enmity of the Conclave. Whispering Shadow Courtiers is interdicted by that enmity. Accepting boons from an eternal under enmity is a crime. Of course, none of this is of the last concern to Emerald Scholar in Sable Ribbons.

OOC Note: Anyone wanting to take advantage of this opportunity will need to ensure that the Steinr poet is a participant in the roleplay of the ritual (they do not need to be a contributor). Both the performers and the poet should speak to either a referee at the regio tent or a member of the GOD staff after performing the ritual.

Torch of Shadows (Janon)

• Janon welcomes Vellenka Vanyanova as the new Shadowed Torchbearer
• Heralds will attend Anvil at 19:00 on Friday to dispense Janon's blessings
• Heralds of Janon have also been seen throughout the Empire making similar offers to the people

Last season the conclave elected a new Shadowed Torchbearer, Vellenka Vanyanova, and Janon is quick to send her congratulations. The Muse of Fire loves to meet new people, and expresses hope that their new friend's tenure will burn fast and bright, leaving behind only beautiful ashes to inspire those who come after. In order to properly greet his new agent in the Empire, Freedom's Flame will send heralds to Anvil via the Hall of Worlds at 19:00 on Friday in order to dispense blessings, respond to requests and hand over a list of demands. The Night Sword is not a being noted for restraint. What sie wants remains to be seen.

In the meantime, reports of heralds of the Scribe of Burning Names are becoming more and more common across the Empire. This is not entirely surprising; the Voice of Zorech is under amity and the doors are wide open to xir servants. What is causing some raised eyebrows is the fact that more and more often these heralds are offering to 'bless' those they meet, just as their counterparts in Anvil have been doing. The number of people willing to take them up on their offer varies from place to place; there is far more interest among curious Freeborn than there is among the cautious and restrained chapter houses of Highguard.

Where people do accept the gift, the outcome is always the same. The 'blessing' turns out to be nothing more than Unfettered Anarchy, a curse well-known to the Empire. There are some minor consequences - arguments, brawls, and acts of civil disobedience from the afflicted. Magistrates reiterate once again that being cursed is no defence in the eyes of the law, and remind all citizens that responsibility for their actions is ultimately their own. Nonetheless, conservative onlookers observe this trend with a sceptical eye. Today the Firebrand offers blessings. What will it do tomorrow?