Jade Custodian

Overview

The Wellspring of Jade is an idyllic pool set among light woodlands in eastern Foracci, at the source of one of a minor tributary of the Gancion. It was commissioned by the League civilian commissioner in Winter 380YE. The position is a sinecure, requiring minimal responsibility but offering a regular income of crystal mana.

Responsibilities

The Jade Custodian has no particular responsibilities; they simply receive a bounty of crystal mana from the Wellspring. If the Wellspring were to be threatened in any way, it would be the responsibility of the Jade Custodian to deal with those threats.

Powers

The Jade Custodian is an Imperial title that grants custodianship of a sinecure.

Bounty of Mana

The Jade Custodian receives an income of 12 crystal mana each season from the Wellspring of Jade.

Appointment

The Jade Custodian is a League national position appointed by the Senate. Under normal circumstances it will be appointed by unanimous vote of the League senators.

Because this is a national position, the title can only be held by a League citizen.

The Jade Custodian has tenure and serves until they die, step down or are revoked.

The Jade Custodian can be revoked by the General Assembly, the League national assembly, and the Assembly of Nine.

History

The Wellspring of Jade was completed shortly before the Spring Equinox 381YE.

The Wellspring of Jade

The Wellspring is found at the source of a minor tributary of the Gancio, near the hamlet of Aversa in Foracci. The spring from which the tributary rises is part of an idyllic glade where natural flows of mana pool. The spring now rises into a beautiful circular pool, the green marble basin of which is inlaid with plates of mithril, and in whose depths crystals of mana form. It is a simple matter to pluck the formed crystals from the cool, fresh water. On clear days, sunlight causes motes of gold and jade light to dance across the surface of the pool; under the light of the moon, the waters ripple with a gentle silver glow.

During the construction it was discovered that the pooling mana had infused the idyllic spot with a natural aura, which has been enhanced by the careful construction work. Anyone who rests beside the pool during the day finds it easy to relax, and their minds naturally turn to pondering philosophical questions or artistic endeavors. By night, travelers camping along the road between Sarvos and Casinea have reported vivid, inspirational dreams from which they awaken greatly refreshed. Merchants traveling between the eastern Empire and the Jewelled City who know of the Wellspring and its relaxing properties have started favouring the route through Aversa, leading to an unexpected burst of prosperity for the sleepy hamlet.

The Wellspring is truly beautiful - during the day, motes of sunlight form and dance across the surface of the waters, reflected from the mithril plates set into the bottom of the pond.

Far from the bustling streets of Sarvos, the tiny hamlet of Aversa is better known for its strong red wines and cheeses than anything to do with the city. Situated deep within the woodlands of eastern Foracci along a lazy, meandering tributary of the river Gancio; Aversa has long been associated with the Corvinoscuri; a well-to-do family of merchants who endorse the hamlet as as a retreat to escape the burning pressure of city-life.

In his youth a Corvinoscuri named Geocomo used to lie for hours near a brook, watching as the sun dappled through the leaves of the woodland canopy. In high summer he noticed that as the light struck the water the shadows that the leaves left used to leap across the water as if alive. Dancing into flitting shapes that chimed with the trickle of flowing water. The enchantment left him with a long-held appreciation for magic, but his life took a bad turn and he lost himself to the wantonness of living as a bravo in the city, thoughts of summer dreams long forgotten.

It took the death of a dear friend to shake him out of his abyss, but eventually he became a prominent businessman within the city, serving at various times at the proprietor of the Signori d’Argento Dueling School and Spry Spriggan Cisisbeo House; Signeur of the Compagnia di Rossi and Chairmen of Red Raven Holdings; Officer of the League Trading Company and Bourse Holder of the Damation Cliffs and Brilliant Star.

His interest in magic though was undiminished and throughout all this he bought texts and studied under private tutors to better understand the summer realm that reminded him of his youth so much. During his studies he became convinced that his childhood memories were not fantasy but that Aversa was near a powerful nexus of pure mana.

With the help of the the Civilian Commissioner of the League, Lorenzo La Volpe (and fellow Officer of the League Trading Company) and also the newly appointed Senator, Magdeliana de Sarvos, Geocomo worked with the civil service to investigate the nexus. It was indeed found to be a source of natural mana, but that work needed to be done to collect and crystallise it as the waters just previously collected the fragments and washed them away down towards the river Gancio. Some of the architects involved in the project argued that the mana originated from the sun-dappled canopy, whilst others hypothesized that it was the waters themselves that were magical, but no matter, the mana was real.

The brook was expanded and turned into a large, round pool with pure Mithril laid into the basin, such that the light from the woodland canopy intensified and scattered dancing will-o-the-wisps skating across the waters. Crystalline Mana began to form naturally in the the depths of the pool and could be collected by wading knee deep inside.

In time the Wellspring has turned into something of a tranquil landmark for travellers between Sarvos and Casinea, a chance to escape the wearisome road. Along one side of the Wellspring a marble bench has been laid to rest tired feet and across the waters are three statues of a Stallion, Stag and Raven. By Geocomo’s express instructions the following has been engraved in Old Asavean upon the base of the statues: “Tempus ea quae olim prava erant recta reddit / Equus dormit / Veteribus oculis viae novae cerni possunt / Cervus esurit / Patientia nostra aeterna est / Corvus spectat"

Personal account of Geocomo Corvinoscuro

Original text contributed by Jim Watts