Against the Jotun

The Jotun he Jotun strive to follow a simple code of honour - and despise those who break their oaths.

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Frost

The Imperial armies have rampaged across Tromsa, slaying the Jarl, bringing down the walls of Viheltavathorn, in pursuit of the pretender. With the Marcher armies in the vanguard, they brought vengeance to the roof of the world. Before the gates of Oksenesfestsal itself, the heroes of Anvil fought and defeated the warriors of the new Jarl, Igya Olgafsdottir. They claimed their ransom, and Mathilda Fisher is now in Imperial custody. And then, their work done, they withdrew. A measured retreat east, back across the chill taiga and snow-dusted hills, across the forested borders of the Icewood back into Sermersuaq.

Even as the Empire quits Tromsa, scouts bring news of an immense Jotun force entering Rikskog from the south. Details are sketchy, beyond the fact that Yrsa Jansdóttir, Jarl of Jarls, Queen of Kalsea leads the armies of the west. An overwhelming response; perhaps inspired by fear that the Empire may despoil Mount Majastind and the graves of the ancestors. With the garrison of Oksenesfestsal, and the support of the fyrds, the Queen's forces move to catch the Imperial invaders. They are too late; the Empire has already quit Tromsa, well on their way to their next engagements.

The Jotun quickly reclaim the land the Empire conquered. Any stragglers swiftly fall beneath the hammers and axes of the furious orcs. Under the shifting ribbon of the northern lights, as the snow begins to pile up, silence falls over Tromsa.

Game Information: Tromsa

Imperial armies have withdrawn from Tromsa. In their absence, a significant Jotun force has swiftly reconquered all the regions taken by the Empire last season.

The Jotun strive to follow a simple code of honour - and despise those who break their oaths.

Fire

While the Bounders, the Strong Reeds, and the Fire of the South embark on the long march south, the rest of the Imperial armies do not go far. A brief camp is made at Olgafsdottirshal in Tanikipari (and there is an irony to these warriors resting before a castle built by the new Jarl of Tromsa after so recently assailing her home). A short break, long enough to allow the Red Wind Corsairs to join them before crossing the border again – but this time further south, into the Iron Stand, into Skallahn.

A Rift of Fire and Night

The Green Shield lead the way into Skallahn, still accompanied by both the red-and-gold knights of the Summer court and the emissaries of Fire Muse. They are not alone; heralds of Janon also fight with the Red Wind Corsairs and the Summer Storm. Half-naked despite the cold, intricate golden tattoos swirling across their crimson skin, they urge the soldiers they battle alongside to give into their passions, inspiring them to greater and greater acts of heroism and courage.

There is obvious friction between the fey knights who fight with the Green Shield, and these whirling warriors of Janon. Especially since the latter take every opportunity to challenge the servants of Eleonaris, to question their commitment to their cause. While resting the scops and mediators who fight beneath the Green Shield banner are called on several times to intercede, to diffuse the tension between the groups. At least once the army enters Tromsa, there are more than enough Jotun to keep the servants of the Lion and the Flame too busy to fight each other.

Alongside the armies come more than sixty Imperial captains, leading their warbands into Skallahn. An entire additional army, made up of fighters from several Imperial nations, especially those of Wintermark and the Imperial Orcs.

Blood-cloaks, look how we dance in the blood & ice of the north. How can we fight and adapt for our Empire. You are my pride. The Dragon of Zenith, Aulius Warcaster comes, to bid us welcome Zakalwe's wise heralds to witness your heroism, to learn our weaknesses, that we might prove our potential. Welcome master strategist, you saw the Bloodcloaks fall, see how we soar.

Lofyn Blood-cloak, General of the Bloodcloaks

Heroes of the Green Shield, hail to thee, there has been triumph in Tromsa and we hold to our word. Shield and Cloak, a sworn oath. Pursue the path of Guntherm, a dance of din points to delight the servants of shadowed Fire. As on the Battlefield, so across the border. Forward to the Fray, fight with honour.

Iron Osric, General of the Green Shield

Freeborn! For years we have answered the choice of the Jotun Sword-hand. We have let them choose the battlefield, choose the retreat; now we take the battle to them! We blaze through Iron Strand and we show the Jotun what the honour and passion of the freeborn burns on. As on the battlefield so the campaign - We will show the Jotun that we can fight by their rules and beat them at it! We invite the Heralds of Janon to witness our attack! Now, my courageous, burning freeborn - Board them!

Delora i Sol-Devorador i Erigo, General of the Red Wind Corsairs

Warriors of the Summer Storm, heralds of Janon. Following our push into Tromsa we now move back into Skallahn on a Balanced Attack. Let's fight with Wisdom, Courage and the Ambition to destroy a fortification there. Let us be passionate in our warfare and if we have any downtime then we shall construct a pit and FIGHT! We will continue taking the fight to the Jotun and show them what we can do!

Irontide Skorr, General of the Summer Storm

Jacks of the Tusks! We continue our strike against the Jotun in Iron Stand and the fortress in Ulfsmoor. As on the battlefield so on the campaign, are fight as the virtuous honoured we will show the Jotun that white granite will not shield their lands from the treads of our boots! The Imperial frontier expands by the reach of our bills.

Stanley of Chalkdown, General of the Tusks

The Bloodcloaks and the Tusks set the pace, taking advantage of the boons provided them by Imperial magicians. The Bloodcloaks are also advised by a lieutenant of the eternal Zakalwe, his Polemarch of Strategy. The strategy laid out by the Imperial generals is surely an ambitious one; to trick the Jotun into fighting where they are not, then sweep across the Iron Stand and lay seige to the squat stone keep of the Ulfrsborg.

Both Wintermark armies fight with honour, ready to step in should their allies forget themselves and give in to the demons of warfare. In particular, they are at pains to make sure there is no widescale looting of settlements, no slaughter of civilians or thralls by either side. The Jotun cannot help but be aware of this, and it means that when the Winterfolk fight their enemies give quarter – and ask for it in return in the expectation it will be honoured. The Red Wind Corsairs in particular take steps to ensure their corsairs restrain their natural urges; it was not too long ago that the Winterfolk disparaged the Freeborn as little better than maggots. Their behaviour on this campaign goes along way toward finally burying that unfair stereotype.

Let us be passionate in our warfare.

For their part the orcs of the Summer Storm are keen to test themselves against the walls of Ulfrsborg, but also against each other. Wherever they establish an armed camp, the 'Storm cut logs and build fighting pits, exulting in the thunder of the blood and the roar of their ancestors beneath the cold skies of the Jotun lands. Urged on by their fellows and by the enthusiasm of the heralds of Janon, they lose themselves in the tumult of the challenge, in the clamour of the ancestors. And into that clamour... something unlooked for.

Perhaps it is something about this place, about Skallahn. Perhaps it is to do with the recent lessons of the Illarawm. Perhaps it is the creatures of the Night, weaving passion and intuition into their music. Whatever it is, some of the orcs emerge from these rough fighting pits changed. They speak of hearing a voice – a clear, unambiguous voice – of an ancestor. Not the joy-of-battle voice of Sjöfn of the Bittenblade (although she is there, too, in the pit). Not one of the angry slaves. Something - someone - else. Clearly, for the first time, a voice that talks to them in the exhilaration of the pit. Urges them to cleave to their fellows, to find their family and make it the heart of them. To keep safe those they love, and who love them in return. And to strike mercilessly, absolutely, to destroy anyone or anything that threatens that heart, that love. To rip them apart with bare hands if needs must, to hunt a traitor to the ends of the earth and further should it come to that. To never forget. Nothing is forgotten, the voice says, calmly. Nothing is ever forgotten.

There's no name to this voice, not yet anyway. But those who hear it know without needing to think about it that it is come from inside and outside at once – an ancestor voice. At first they might consider it to be a personal, private thing. But as they speak of their experience, haltingly at first, they find others who have heard that same voice, telling them similar things. The more orcs speak of it, the more come forward to admit they heard that voice. The more orcs come out of the fighting pits having heard its echo. There are many more questions than answers. Who is this ancestor? Why do orcs across the Summer Storm hear its counsel. Why this voice, here, now?

The voice doesn't provide answers, of course. What ancestor does? In the cold light of the dawn, blinking, muddled from a night of debating this voice, orcs shake their heads and put aside the world of the spirit for the world of steel and stone. It's time to cross the Iron Plain, to Ulfrsborg, and the hall of Jarl Ottesen!

Captain	Nation	Territory	Banner
Aethwin	Wintermark	Sermersuaq	House Gerís
Aulus Warcaster	Urizen	Zenith
Mouse of Dawn	Dawn	Astolat
Finch Hawthorne	The Marches	Bregasland	Hartell Household
Edwin de Warrenne	The Marches	Bregasland	Order of the Forgotten Word
Rook	Wintermark	Hahnmark
Uhtræd Ironfeld	Wintermark	Hahnmark
Cynwulf Ashburh	Wintermark	Hahnmark	Darkwolves of Argonne
Dægmund Dunning	Wintermark	Hahnmark	Dunhearth Hall
Hengest Dun	Wintermark	Hahnmark	Dunhearth Hall
Leif Dunwolf	Wintermark	Hahnmark	Dunhearth Hall
Penda Dunning	Wintermark	Hahnmark	Dunhearth Hall
Seht Ravenson of Dunhearth Hall	Wintermark	Hahnmark	Dunhearth Hall
Theoderic Ulfarsson	Wintermark	Hahnmark	Dunhearth Hall
Tager Defender of the Fallen Tyrshalt	Wintermark	Hahnmark	Renwaerd
Rane Shardbearer	Wintermark	Hahnmark	Sigehold Hall
Lofyn Blood-cloak	Wintermark	Hahnmark	The BloodHands
Sampo Mikkola	Wintermark	Kallavesa	Brackenbeak Hall
Leif Dreambinder	Wintermark	Kallavesa	Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd
Ryske	Wintermark	Kallavesa	The Tylianson Ploughshare
Gerard the Waylander	The Marches	Mitwold
Tancred of Meade	The Marches	Mitwold	House Garamond
Lawrence Talbot	The Marches	Mitwold	The Talbots
Oliver Shepherd	The Marches	Mitwold	The Talbots
Rasaldalph Mottes	The Marches	Mournwold	Happiston Volunteers
Griselda 'Zelda' Snowdrop	The Marches	Mournwold	The Unbound Union
Maria Alexandrovna Kabanova	Varushka	Ossium
Arja Fiskdottir	Wintermark	Sermersuaq
Guthelm	Wintermark	Sermersuaq	Hendal Hearth
Aethelstan Korping	Wintermark	Sermersuaq	House Gerís
Iron Osric	Wintermark	Sermersuaq	Sigehold Hall
Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason	Wintermark	Sermersuaq	Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd
Kellua Itsepainen	Wintermark	Sermersuaq	Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd
Alfred Houtman Fella	The Marches	Upwold	Hartell Household
Teddy Rose	The Marches	Upwold	Hartell Household
Alfmund Fordwinsson	Wintermark	Kallavesa	Darkwolves of Argonne
Arthur Ash	The Marches	Mournwold	The Hogsgrove Coppice
Farwatch Thirrik	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind
Frith	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind
Ashborn Trosk	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Ashborn
Shad	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Ashborn
Vana	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Ashborn
Groza	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Bleakshield
Arora	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Bloodcrows
Bloodcrow Agna	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Bloodcrows
Bloodcrow Na'grul	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Bloodcrows
Bloodcrow Rakk	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Bloodcrows
Bloodcrow Rasp	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Bloodcrows
Bloodcrow Vassa	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Bloodcrows
Graul	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Bloodcrows
Redhand Gezzar	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Redhands
Sand Viper Ikk	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Sand Vipers
Skywise Karrak	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	Skywise
Irontide Dakred (Dak)	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	The Irontide
Irontide Rak'sha	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	The Irontide
Irontide Rus	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	The Irontide
Irontide Skorr	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	The Irontide
T'onk	Imperial Orcs	Skarsind	The Irontide
Viktor von Temeschwar	The League	Temeschwar
Sebastián Fawnwood	Dawn	The Barrens	House Fawnwood
Urien Novarion	Dawn	Weirwater	Anvil Lance

Steadings of the Hills

The plan does not survive contact with the enemy, of course. There is always some unexpected element that sets a strategy unravelling, and the wise general understands this. “Spend no time on the plan,” said one clever League general. “Spend all your time thinking on the contingencies for when it all goes wrong.”

In this case, the unexpected element is the presence of four armies of southern Jotun, recently arrived across the Kongegőr. They must have marched north with the others, with those busy “liberating” Tromsa, but these warriors stayed behind in Skallahn. Perhaps the intent is to resupply; perhaps the wily Jarl of Keirheim or the far-sighted Queen of Kalsea predicted the Imperial plan; perhaps something more political is at work. Either way, the banners of Bjorgthorn Hammerhand , general of the Southern Bear, and the grey owl standard of the Iron Host flutter alongside those of the Jarl in Ulfsborg, while the Bear Who Swims and the Mandowla's Roar enjoy the hospitality of Keirheim. They are a long way from home, but as soon as news of the Imperial invasion reaches them, the generals bestir their armies to meet the threat from the east.

The Jotun have supernatural allies of their own, albeit fewer than the Empire. Alongside the Southern Bear marches another force of knights drawn from the Fields of Glory. Tall orcish warriors in heavy armour, they fight beside a pride of massive golden lions barded in matching armour. There is a little concern as to what will happen when they face the Green Shield; but in the event both groups of knights seem to relish the opportunity to test themselves against the other on the field of war, and the servants of Janon in particular revel in the chance to match their passion against the glory of Eleonaris.

The path to Ulfrsmoor is swiftly blocked by the Southern Bear and the Iron Host, with the other two armies moving to attack the Imperial flank. All four armies use their greater familiarity with the terrain to their advantage, but they do not shy away from conflict. Indeed, the Iron Host in particular seem almost desperate to test the strength of the Imperial heroes, especially those of the Summer Storm.

Still Before The Storm

While there are innumerable skirmishes and short engagements across the Stand, and in eastern Ulfsmoor, the first major battle takes place in the shadow of the Iron Banner. The fallen fortification built by Emperor Guntherm is where the rich markets of Oversgaard are held, and where Jarl Ebbe has their hall, built partially into the old walls of the great castle. Control of the ruins, and of Oversgaard, represents a major strategic goal when it comes to control of the Iron Stand.

Everyone knows the fighting will begin as the sun rises, but in a way the battle really begins shortly before dawn. Bjorgthorn Hammerhand invites the leaders of the opposing armies to meet with him on the field below Oversgaard. Two small groups of orcs and humans meet on the frosty field between the great armies drawn up to either side. Both sides eye each other cautiously, but the old Jotun champion radiates an easy confidence.

Words are exchanged. A note of bravado here. A nod of recognition for clever tactics. A short mention of earlier meetings on the battlefield. Jarl Ebbe begins to demand the Empire quit the field, but Bjorgthorn squeezes their shoulder, shaking his head, and their angry words fall silent. Instead, the general quietly recognises the decision the Imperial forces have made to meet them as equals, to fight with honour, heroically, gloriously, proudly and courageously. He mentions the Freeborn decision to honour the fallen heroes of Fort Braydon with a mound. He expresses the belief that their ancestors – the Imperial ancestors – must smile on them in this hour.

Things will never return to the way they were, but perhaps there can once again be respect between Jotun and Wintermark, between the orcs of the west and the Freeborn of the south. Perhaps there can even be a new understanding between Jotun and Skarsind.

Shortly before the sun touches the horizon, the general of the Southern Bear raises a battered drinking horn and invites the Imperial champions to share his toast; to hope for a champion's death in battle that will impress the ancestors enough to see them across the Howling Abyss. He seems profoundly unconcerned that many of those present are not orcs.

Then both groups return to their lines, and as the sun crests in the east, with a terrible roar that must surely shake the heavens, the battle begins.

The Imperial frontier expands by the reach of our bills.

Before the Hall of the Iron Jarl

Alone the Jarl's fyrd would be no match for the armies of the Empire, but they are reinforced by perhaps twenty-thousand warriors from the south and maybe as many as ten thousand soldiers from Keirheim and Ulfrsborg. Thanks to the presence of the Imperial captains, however, the two forces are almost evenly matched – at least in numbers.

The Jotun are resolute; they will not give ground. Yet they also wish to preserve the town, and so refuse to fight within the walls. In truth, their decision makes sense. The walls are hardly built to repel the advance of an Imperial army, and the palisades and makeshift barricades they have erected are just as sufficient without risking the lives of the thralls they seek to protect, or the hall of the Jarls of Iron Stand.

For their part, the Bloodcloaks and the Green Shield have no interest in seeing Imperial forces destroy Oversgaard or loot its markets. The majority of the fighting takes place in the open, although both sides at various points make use of the ruins scattered around the slopes of the hill. Blood flows. More than three-quarters of all casualties suffered on both sides in the campaign take place in the three days of fighting across the hard-packed earth around the long-fallen Iron Banner.

At night, when it is too dark to see, both sides collect their injured and their dead and pull back to their own lines. The fronts shift back and forth, first one way then another. Each night the Summer Storm light the torches at their improvised fighting pit, and celebrate the victories and mourn the losses. The Red Wind Corsairs light great bonfires, that turn the dark to day on the Imperial lines, and the tireless heralds of Janon bring the night alive with music that banishes exhaustion and all but replaces sleep for those who join their wild dancing.

The Jotun have their own ceremonies; marking the darkest hour of the night with the mournful horns that recognise those who have fallen, and echo with sorrow for those who have fallen into the Howling Abyss.

Then the fighting begins again. The Empire makes early gains, but the Jotun simply refuse to fall back. They don't throw their lives away, but neither do they give up any advantage if there is any way to hold it. As the Winter Solstice dawns, there is a stalemate below Oversgaard. Neither can the Empire take the town, nor can the Jotun defenders conclusively rout them.

Both armies remain camped, staring at each other across frozen ground, torn and broken by days of fighting, as curtains of snow fall heedlessly between them.

We blaze through Iron Strand and we show the Jotun what the honour and passion of the freeborn burns on.

Game Information: Skallahn

While they have been unable to conquer Oversgaard, the Empire has made gains in Skallahn. They are a quarter of the way toward taking the Iron Stand, but the Jotun defenders are holding strong.

The decision of the Bloodcloaks and the Green Shield to Fight with Honour has been obvious to everyone in the territory. The Jotun likewise continue to recognise the tactics of Wintermark, and both offer and accept quarter such that Wintermark casualties are reduced by a tenth.

Participation: Skallahn

As with those fighting alongside the Burning Falcon in Segura, any character whose military unit was assigned to fight alongside the army this downtime may choose to have been impacted by the experience of battling in close proximity to heralds of both Eleonaris and Janon. If you possess hero points, you may choose to gain an additional temporary hero point which, once spent, is permanently gone. It will have faded entirely by the end of the Winter Solstice regardless.

Participation: Imperial Orcs

Any Imperial Orc character of the Sunstorm sept who travelled to Skallahn with the Summer Storm and challenged themselves in one of the fighting pits may have heard this new ancestral voice. It doesn't matter if you assigned a military unit to assist the Summer Storm, only that you roleplay having accompanied the army and participated in the fighting pit. The fighting pit is a spiritual experience for most Imperial Orcs, and it is while blood is pumping and adrenaline is high that the voice is most audible.

The voice feels masculine, and speaks of the kind of things mentioned in the Wind of War text - the importance of finding and protecting a family, of loyalty or fidelity to loved ones, and receiving the same in return. And of absolute commitment to protecting that family and wreaking bloody vengeance on anyone who harms them. The voice is usually quite matter-of-fact, but when it speaks of treachery, betrayal, or traitors it burns with a palpable fury that may cause an orc to lose their temper and lash out at someone who has wronged them.

This voice may also be "contagious". Any character who enters the fighting pit during an event and tests themselves against an orc who heard the voice during the Skallahn campaign may come to hear it themselves, provided that before entering the fighting pit they consume a dose of one of the Unshackled Gift potions, or are experience an effect that explicitly says it is easier to hear ancestors while under it.

There's no indication who this voice is, but everyone who has heard it and discussed it with another orc who has had similar experiences agrees it is the same voice. An ancestral voice, loud and clear, heard in the pit beneath the skies of Skallahn, shared among members of the Sunstorm sept.

The news from Kahraman is not good; the Lasambrian Jotun appear to still be focused on conquering the western Brass Coast

Hill

“Rich folk need big dogs,” so the truism goes north of the border. The Mournish are dour people, who find the cloud in every silver lining. Kahraman has never been richer! The passes of the north-west are sealed by rock and baleful forest. The mountain above what was once Redgate Pass shines with the smelting fires, work underway to work begun to bring forth the bounty of the mountain's heart. Across the arid grasslands and the red hills the hammers of industry fill potholes, lay flags and cobbles, restoring life to tired old roads. Allies help ensure that the prosperity of the Freeborn will be protected from the jealous grasping hands of less happier lands. All is well.

But perhaps the Mournish have a point. Because no matter how you slice it, Kahraman has barely known six months of peace in the last ten years. The Jotun covet its wealth; the Lasambrian Jotun seek to build a kingdom there. Those defences are needed, but in the absence of Fort Braydon, the dhomiros of the cinnabar hills wonder who will stand between them and the next attempt at conquest from the west?

One answer might be Imperial magicians of course. The mountains are ideal for the placement of those icy keeps borrowed from the realm of the Mistress of Blizzards. Two rise in the days following the Autumn Equinox, above Serra Briante and Serra Damata. A “joke” spreads from wayhouse to parador to labour camp in the following weeks that perhaps the Imperial Conclave should just make them both permanent enchantments and have done. Few actual magicians laugh at the joke; they have an idea of what that might cost.

Two magical citadels, against three armies. As reliable as the tides and the moon and the winds in winter, the Lasambrian Jotun invade Kahraman barely a fortnight after the Equinox. The Hierro, the Corazon, the Escuta. Fifteen thousand orcs or more. They cannot, of course, directly attack the wealth of the mountains; the passes are closed to them. Rather they come again to Gambit, through the sparse beggarwoods. With axe and hammer they make their camps and send their warbands north to test the defences and east to harry the people of the Jade Range.

The magical citadels give them pause, but their scouts nonetheless test the will of the lion-headed ogres that garrison the fort in the foothills above Damata. They are turned back, but they measure the extent both of the heralds' willingness to pursue them and that of the families to fight them. They encounter significantly less resistance in Gambit; again village, estate, and parador fall to them. Again people receive the Choice – stay and serve and keep your wealth or flee and leave all save your clothes and food for the road behind.

The Corazon, as they always do, range ahead of the other two armies stealing and looting. One champion jokes to the Freeborn she is robbing that they are become farmers, harvesting wealth from the fields of Kahraman as the seasons ebb and flow. Nobody laughs.

The kamkrag are meant to protect against the endless greed of the Corazon... but they are not finished. Those watch-towers and barracks that are complete provide defences to the scattered Freeborn soldiers who try, futilely, to hold back the orcs sweeping east through the grasslands, but there are still works of work to be completed before they offer any protection. The Corazon do not waste their time trying to destroy the finished structures, but they joyfully plunder work-gangs, caravans, and labour-camps wherever they encounter them. Stone, tools, supplies – all are stolen away to feed the hunger of the Lasambrian raiders.

Behind the Corazon come the Hierro and the Escuta. They are more cautious, perhaps more keenly aware of the changes that have taken place in Kahraman since they were last here. Cautious, but not cowardly. Methodically they secure the land around them, and while their main attention is in the west they are not shy about sending soldiers out into the rest of the territory. A handful reach as far as Braydon's Jasse, and pay their respects at the burial mound that covers the ruins of Fort Braydon.

While they do not go out of their way to kill those who do not resist, work on both the restoration of the roads, and on the Red Depths is horribly disrupted by the presence of the orc bandits. As the Winter Solstice nears, work on the great projects commisioned by the Senate has ground to a complete halt. While they do not threaten the building site for the Red Depths directly, they are able to at least partially sever the trade routes transporting the vital materials. In the west, the Lasambrians and are well on their way to the complete conquest of Gambit.

Game Information: Kahraman

The presence of the Lasambrian armies, especially the raids of the Corazon, have significantly delayed work on both the Red Depths and the road restoration. Thanks to the Senate decision to make the Red Depths a Freeborn national seat, the dhomiro who live in the cinnabar hills are (grumblingly) prepared to make up the shortfall in tools and materials caused by the Lasambrian raids, but this will take time. As such, assuming nothing else changes, work on the Red Depths will now not be completed until the start of the Spring Equinox – assuming the Lasambrians do not do anything further to disrupt it.

The work on restoring the roads, however, has been more seriously hit. The Lasambrians have seized around 10 wains of white granite, and stripped several work-teams of their tools and mundane materials. The white granite will need to be replaced. Worse, the work on the territory-wide project cannot progress while the Lasambrians are rampaging across half of Kahraman. Indeed, if they capture any regions it won't be possible to complete the project until they are removed.

Thanks to the presence of the magical citadels in the mountains, the orcs are just over three-fifths of the way toward conquering the region of Gambit.

Storm Clouds and Stone (Conjunctions)

Three opportunities for the heroes of Anvil to use the Sentinel Gate to face the Jotun have been identified as the Winter Solstice draws closer. For the moment they are little more than teasers, but more information will be provided before the summit.

The Falcon (Kahraman)

• A warband of Jotun have captured Erdene Bataguin, a respected Faraden builder-architect supporting the road-restoration project in Kahraman
• The Sentinel Gate will open at 20:30 on Friday to Path of Idina, Gambit
• This skirmish is a combat highly likely encounter
• The Azure Sutannir is responsible for rescuing the Faraden architect

While the Lasambrians are primarily interested in conquest and lighting raids, they are not the only western orcs in Kahraman. Several warbands of “true” Jotun accompany them, and it is one of these bands that intercepts a retreating caravan in Braydon's Jasse. Primarily made up of Faraden of the Bataguin family who had been visiting the Azure Chorus, the orcs quickly overwhelmed the guards, and offered the Choice.

Some of the Freeborn and Faraden managed to reach the relative safety of the Azure Chorus (the Jotun do not go out of their way to attack sites of spiritual importance). Unfortunately one of those taken as a thrall by the orcs was a Bataguin builder-architect, the well-respected Erdene Bataguin. They accepted the choice of being a thrall, rather than slain, and are accompanied the Jotun as they began their journey back towards the border with Reinos. As the Azure Sutannir is responsible for protecting those who visit the temple, they are ultimately responsible for rescuing the Faraden architect.

The Bataguin have already delivered the building supplies and funds supporting the road-building project, but if they are carried away by the Jotun this would represent a serious diplomatic incident with the Faraden. The Ambassador to Faraden in particular might wish to ensure this does not happen. Assuming Erdene can be returned safely to their family, the Bataguin will feel an obligation to offer thanks to the Azure Sutannir. They are not only wealthy, but well-respected in Faraden for their building prowess.

Wolf Dreams (Skallahn)

• Jarl Ebbe of Overgaard has called on the fyrd of Iron Stand
• The Sentinel Gate will open at 21:00 on Friday to Hralfstor's Orchard
• This skirmish is a combat highly likely encounter
• The Imperial Seer is responsible for stopping the Jarl of Greenwall

As the Imperial armies advance into Iron Stand, the Jarl Ebbe of Overgaard, sends out another call to arms. Jarl Ebbe calls on the Jotun of the region who owe them fealty to rise up against the warriors of the Empire and come together to form a fyrd. If the fyrd is raised, it will support the Jotun armies in their defence of Skallahn. Delphysius the Polemarch of Strategy, a herald of Zakalwe accompanying the Bloodcloaks on campaign, has determined where Jarl Ebbe will be during the summit. Partly in response to the request of the Archmage of Day has made of their master, they have presented a plan to deal with the Jarl before the fyrd has fully gathered. A decapitation strike will rob the Iron Stand of its leader at a crucial moment and throw the defenders into disarray.

Delphysius has requested that the Imperial Seer - who they believe to be a citizen of Wintermark - take the lead on this strategic strike. The Polemarch suggests that the Seer liaise with the people of Wintermark, but also with the Freeborn, Imperial Orcs, and Marchers, all of whose soldiers are involved in fighting in the territory, and see what aid they are prepared to provide to the attack.

If the Jarl is dealt with, no fyrd will form in Iron Stand for at least the next year. Ebbe's successor will need to wrestle with the shadow of dishonour that will hang over the warriors of the region, for letting their Jarl be slain. If they're not dealt with, the fyrd will be raised and in response to the recent invasions and raids from the Empire, will attract significantly more champions that it might have otherwise - the resulting fyrd will be twice the normal strength and may see Jarl Ebbe become a champion of the Jotun in their own right (meaning that if the Jotun defend Skallahn, they may continue to fight the Empire in other territories). Regardless, Agon, Polemarch of Clarity - a respected lieutenant of Zakalwe in their own right - has expressed a keen interest in discussing the outcome of the skirmish with the Seer during the Spring Equinox.

Fyrds

Each region in a Jotun territory generates a fyrd when it is conquered by the Empire. As the Jarl and their warriors are forced to retreat from their lands, they form up into a fyrd, a warband with a military strength of five hundred. A fyrd is unable to act independently of fortifications or armies in the territory; it will only act to support a Jotun army in the territory or a fortification if there are no armies present..

A region's fyrd can be dismantled by killing the jarl or through other opportunities.

Threads in the Pattern (Liathaven)

• A warband of Jotun are on their way to slaughter a Feni enclave
• The Sentinel Gate will open at 21:30 on Friday to Bawn of Daffyd
• This skirmish is a combat highly likely encounter
• The Imperial Advisor for the Feni is responsible for stopping the Jotun

The strange creature - described as having the mask of a jackdaw and a cloak of feathers - that was first spotted near the Old Pig in Freemoor startled the poor beaters. First heralds of the Mother of Wrecks in Mitwold, then scions of Cold Sun in Bregasland, now whatever "this thing" is? "This thing" turned out to be Halka, a herald of the Ancient One, with a request for those that are willing to "right a wrong".

It seems a warband of Jotun belonging to an ambitious young would-be champion named Urse Longarm are moving to assault a small community of Feni in the depths of Liathaven. The Feni settlement lies within a chamber of the Eldest, but somehow Urse has discovered its location and more importantly the location of the wards that deny access to trespassers. Those same Feni have spent the last year or so raiding Jotun encampments and the orcs are out for vengeance. As far as the Black Crow can determine however, Urse has not shared their information with the rest of their people, hoping to gain status and respect by dealing with the threat alone. If the Jotun are able to destroy the wards then the settlement will be exposed and the orcs will be free to take their reprisals against the residents. Wise Rangara either cannot, or will not, aid the Feni directly. Rather, she wants the people of the Marches to do so.

If the Marchers are prepared to stop these Jotun then Grandmother Winter will consider them to have atoned for their role in the killings of the Feni of Alderly. Specifically, Halka suggests that if the Imperial Advisor for the Feni really wants to make amends for destroying a community that had lived quietly in the woods for a thousand years, and for driving many of their warriors into the arms of That Bastard Agramant, they should take the lead on dealing with the Jotun. Given this is a direct request to the Imperial Advisor for the Feni it is their responsibility to stop Urse Longarm and the rest of the Jotun.