Delver of the Depths

Overview

The Delver of the Deep is an Imperial title created by the Imperial Senate in as a response to the great sinkhole that opened up in the north-western Empire in YE. The hole swallowed parts of Miaren, Temeschwar, Upwold, and Hahnmark, and while it presented an opportunity to claim a significant amount of weltsilver it did so alongside a significant threat of trogoni attacks.

The title is similar to those that grant custodianship of a sinecure, in that it provides a regular income of valuable materials. Unlike a sinecure, however, the Delver of the Depths did not need to be commissioned, and has an upkeep for the Senate of 5 Thrones each season.

Responsibilities

The Delver of the Depths has few responsibilities regarding Lorenzo's Deep Pockets as the sinkhole has been officially named. They are responsible for protecting the sinkhole and its bounty - but also for protecting the lands around it from the creatures that lair in its depths. If any opportunity relating to the sinkhole were to arise, the Delver of the Depths would likely be responsible for determining how those opportunities might be exploited - for example granting permission to an adventurous scholar to explore the depths of the hole.

Powers

Bounty of the Deep Earth

The Delver of the Depths gains custodianship of the northern sinkhole dubbed Lorenzo's Deep Pockets. The Delver receives an income of 50 ingots of weltsilver, 20 ingots of tempest jade, and 12 crystal mana each season.

Appointment

The title of Delver of the Depths is appointed during the Autumn Equinox. The title is auctioned through the Imperial Bourse to the highest bidder. As an Imperial title, it is open to any Imperial citizen.

The Delver of the Depths title is appointed annually. As a title appointed through the Bourse, it cannot be revoked by the Imperial Synod.

Lorenzo's Deep Pockets

A little over a month after the Spring Equinox 381YE, a large section of north-western Goldglades in Miaren disappeared with an almighty roar. Goldglades is one of the richest part of Miaren, and the loss of life could have been very high indeed. Several vates apparenty forsaw the danger in the Pool of Silver Clouds, however, and were able to deliver warnings to those in the effected area. Not everyone listened of course - but the Navarr are by nature a people prepared to move when the need arises.

After the initial collapse, the hole began to spread, consuming parts of Birchland in Upwold, the Vardstein Vales in Temeschwar, and Wood Heath in Hahnmark. Disruption was severe. The prominent Woodhall was swallowed overnight leaving the influential Dunnings temporarily homeless; the castle of Eastern Guard was evacuated of all save a bare bones garrison too stubborn to abandon their post, and for several weeks there was real concern that this old fortress might go the way of Woodhall.

Where the four territories once met, there is now a massive sinkhole. It is estimated to be seven hundred feet deep, with a lake at the bottom that may well be bottomless. The cliff walls are nearly vertical, and still prone to collapse in some places, but there are also signs of caves and tunnels opening out in several places. Initial explorers have excitedly reported what look to be ancient mine workings - some reaching back to the time of the Terunael, and some reaching back even further. The full extent of the network of caverns here has yet to be determined.

More worryingly, the daredevils who made a preliminary investigation of some of the more accessible caves and tunnels failed to return - and all those who did return in one piece have described encounters with particularly angry trogoni - creatures rarely encountered outside of the mountains of Urizen, and the northern peaks of Wintermark and Varushka. They also reported massive stockpiles of weltsilver stored in the exposed tunnels - it seems likely that this were gathered here from the ancient mine workings for some reason. Now that they have been exposed they are literally just lying there for the taking. Significant risks surrounded the task of acquiring the weltsilver, however.

During the SUmmer Solstice, the Imperial Senate passed three motions to do with the sinkhole. First, to help the Dunnings build New Dunhall on the northernmost edge of the great pit. Second, to auction the rights to name the Sinkhole. Finally, to create the title of "Delver in the Depths", to make ownership of the sinkhole - and its valuable bounty - a matter for the Imperial Bourse.

The auction to name the sinkhole took place during the Autumn Equinox and was won by Lorenzo Macelliao von Temeschwar for five Thrones. He formally named the great pit "Lorzeno's Deep Pockets". The hole is also referred to by a few other epithets of course - in Temeschwar for example a few wits have dubbed it "the Foxhole" (referencing Lorenzo's nickname of "La Volpe").