Who counts the path untaken?
"Strike whilst it's hot!"
Magnhildr shook the hair out of her face and took the blade back to the coals. Working the bellows she kept at it until it was glowing.
"Hit it you fuck!"
Reaching back with her hammer she started, striking with precision along the blade. This was going to be her best work yet, she could feel it.
"Pick up a weapon and use it!"
Back to the coals again, then back to the anvil and striking the other side.
"You are born for greatness!"
She was, she knew she was. First good bit of advice today.
"It should be yours! All of it!"
She stopped for just a moment, and looked around the empty room whilst she drank from her cup. Then stepped back to the coals.
Overview
- The Jotun remain at war with the Empire
- Responsibility and authority for diplomacy with the Jotun falls to the Imperial Consul
The Jotun are a powerful, martial nation led by the Jarl of Jarls - Queen Yrsa Jansdóttir of Kallsea and King Gudmundr Arason of Narkyst. The Empire has been at war with them for most of its existence, although there have been numerous short periods of peace during that time. They encroach into Imperial lands - having conquered Bregasland and Liathaven (which they name Ashvale) they have invaded Mitwold as well. The Empire launched a feint into Skallahn that threatened to take control of the Kongegőr, the bridge that connects the northern and southern territories of the sprawling barbarian nation. Jotun response was decisive - a major force was drawn away from the fighting in the Marches to defend the northern territories and protect the Kongegőr. Yet, despite their swift response, they have left sufficient force behind to continue to threaten Mitwold and Bregasland.
There is no ambassador to the Jotun. They seem never to have been especially interested in such a formalised relationship with the Empire. That is not to say that they are incapable of engaging in diplomacy or negotiation, merely that they tend to prefer to deal with individual nations rather than the Empire as a whole. Over the centuries they have had a "close" relationship with the folk of Wintermark, for example, for all that the two nations clash constantly along their borders. In recent times, they have also shown a similar degree of respect for the Freeborn. When the Empire as a whole must deal with the orcs of Kalsea and Narkyst, however, the responsibility falls to the Imperial Consul.
Back to Skallahn
- Imperial inroads into Skallahn have been taken back by the Jotun
The orcs of the west responded to the Imperial attack on Skallahn, to their siege of the city of Kierheim, by a rapid withdrawl of forces from the Marches back across the Kongegőr. The armies, lead by the King of the south and the Queen of the north, went all out to face what they assumed must be an overwhelming attack from the Empire. Instead, they found that Imperial forces had already retreated. The land the Empire had claimed in Skallahn has been retaken, with no real resistance.
It's clear that the Jotun are now aware that the Empire can threaten the vital bridge that connects the northern and southern jarldoms. They cannot afford to ignore this threat; if the Kongegőr falls then it risks leaving the northern territories undefended. How they will react remains to be seen.
To the Meeting Place (Conjunction)
- The hetjuveisla is being held at Gull's Isle Hall
- Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark, Iron Osric, the Golden Jarl and the Imperial Consul are invited
- This is a combat unlikely encounter
- Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark is responsible for engaging in the hetjuveisla
Last season, the call was issued for the hetjuveisla - the feast of heroes. A tradition of Tromsdalen, it is an important call of hospitality that allows feuding warbands to sit and negotiate in good faith how a battle will go. Both sides bring food and drink, and bards to play music and tell tales. Then, when the feast is over, the sun must rise and set again before violence resumes between those who attended, allowing both sides to safely return to their homes.
Jarl Igya Olgafsdottir, hero-engineer and warleader of the Jotun, made the offer to the Empire and has sent out messengers to the jarls of the Jotun. She will serve as representative of Yrsa Jansdóttir, Queen of Kalsea, Jarl-of-Jarls and Gudmundur Arason, King of Narkyst, He Who Calls Himself Jarl-of-Jarls will also send someone to speak on his behalf. Other jarls and heroes will be present, and they look to discuss matters of war with the Iron Thane, the Golden Jarl, and their guests.
The Smidr
- A smidr will be on hand to discuss matters of magic
Harald Fourforge is a smidr of the Skroh of the Locked Door of Skallahn. Recently, he visited the Empire investigating the murder of two thralls. He was unexpectedly waylaid on his return by the beginning of the Imperial invasion of his home territory. He was not too late back to participate in the fighting along with his personal sworn guard. Now the Imperials have retreated from Skallahn, and apparently they have found the time to solve the murder as well as splintering the gates of Kierheim! Harald has been very impressed by the Imperial handling of the case. Any unresolved questions about rune and wood and wave he might have are entirely set aside next to the clear demonstration that the Empire are sensible people who know how to work with eternals and what you always must do with cultists of the Devouring Maw.
His success in solving the murder of her thralls has impressed Jarl Ottesen of Ulfrsmoor, and she has recommended his name upwards. He has been asked to attend the hetjuveisla. He would like to talk to the Imperials regarding the use of magic in war - specifically, whether they would be minded to set down clear restrictions on the boons that could be called upon, or ritual-magic performed. The Jotun understand ritual magic, though they make little use of it. They prefer to negotiate with the Jarls of the Summer ream directly - using the boons acquired in place of powerful rituals. He thinks that there is clear agreement that Rivers Run Red would not be deployed again by the Empire; they show no sign of casting aside Rivers of Life, which the Jotun do not have the same level of objection to but which, as the past season showed, is surely a curse. He thinks the Empire contains mature magicians capable of having such conversations. In particular, he would like Vossk, Archmage of Autumn, to select one or two individuals to attend and discuss this matter: either friends of Melissa or sensible icewalkers would be suitable.
The Chains That Bind Us
Following the recent destruction of the historic meeting stone where the Jotun and Empire could meet. We the Loyalty Assembly seek a 'writ of consecration' to dedicate part of the newly built feasting hall on Gull Island to Loyalty. We wish to recognise it's importance and protect from future harm as a place of both virtue and honour. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but the unity of both.
Writ of Consecration, Skáldsgrým Dunhearth, Loyalty Assembly, Winter Solstice 388YE, Vote: Greater Majority 534-0The vision that led us to Gull Isle showed godhi and mystic fostering each other's children, Jotun and Imperial learning from each other as equals. This is not a place for preaching, and we do not intend to do so. Rather let us display virtue through our words and deeds in this place. And likewise witness how the inspiration of the ancestors is borne out in the acts of those we meet with.
Statement of Principle, Yrkja Riansson Sigeing, Wintermark Assembly, Winter Solstice 388YE, Vote: Greater Majority 256-14- The Assembly of Loyalty has passed a Writ of Consecration to place a true liao aura on Gull Isle
- The Wintermark National Assembly have allayed the Jotun's concerns about Imperial evangelism
- Initial discussions with the Jotun indicate a cautiously positive attitude towards the aura chosen
Last season the Assembly of Loyalty upheld the Judgement of Skáldsgrým Dunhearth calling for a true consecration to be placed in the new Meeting Place. The civil service have confirmed that the prognostication on this matter was thankfully simple: no alternate sites needed to be considered, and the Jotun had already expressed their openness to this expression of the Imperial faith. Despite some discontented rumblings from certain conservative ghodi, the words of Yrkja Riansson Sigeing, coupled with those of Ingrid Talon-Of-The-Mark have broadly ended the debate. The Empire will show the Jotun Virtue through action, just as the Jotun will show the Empire honour by the same means. So long as everyone holds true to their word, there will be no trouble.
As part of the process of laying the groundwork, a stormcrow of Loyalty laid a sample consecration within a room of the Meeting Place. Numerous ghodi and warriors have taken the opportunity to indulge their curiosity about such a thing. The Jotun are not ignorant of auras, having neighboured the Empire for centuries, but they have neither access to liao nor the skills to use it. As such, the few auras they do experience are usually spontaneous. Most ghodi see such auras as gifts from the ancestors, each one special. There is no consensus among them as to how liao fits into their spiritual beliefs, but Gull Isle is historically a place of cultural exchange, so the orcs who visit there tend to be open-minded. The experience of the aura known to the Empire as A Peerless Kinship sparks a lot of debate.
Absent the inherent belief in Loyalty as a Virtue in and of itself, or even the common wording used to describe the aura in scholarly tomes, they bring their own cultural slant to the experience. Most of them speak of a profound awareness of the bonds of service and obligation to both their leaders and their followers, and of the necessity to play their part in the greater whole. Thralls serve the Jotun. Jotun serve the jarls. Lesser jarls serve greater jarls. Even the monarchs must serve the nation that crowns them and rule unselfishly for the good of all. All play their part, and all make sacrifices to ensure the success of the Jotun. Many who experience the aura speak heartfelt toasts over the feasting table recommitting to the ties of honour that bind them. The spiritual force of Loyalty is of little interest to the Jotun, but the concept of loyalty strikes a deep chord.
Nobody is quite sure who first suggests constructing a shrine in the Meeting Place grounds. Nonetheless, consensus quickly develops among all parties that this is the best course of action. The ghodi have constructed an ancestral shrine to the faðir and populated it with relics - why should the Empire make do with a repurposed pantry or hastily-abandoned bedchamber? The stonemasons who assist in the maintenance of the buildings quickly begin working on designs for a small monument to the Way. Something simple enough to match the Jotun shrine, but significant enough to demarcate a permanent aura.
The only thing that remains is to pass the mandate. If the General Assembly pass the mandate to authorise the consecration, they will still need to decide who will perform the consecration. If multiple judgements are raised, then the one with the greatest margin will be enacted.
The Virtuous build up their fellows, they do not tear them down. We send {named priest} with a dose of true liao to consecrate the Virtuous shrine at the Meeting Place. Let us display our Loyalty through the unity of words and deeds.
Synod Mandate, General AssemblyIf this mandate is passed and the Consecration carried out, the impact will primarily be felt in relations with the Jotun. As previously identified, building a new Meeting Place will make the Jotun more positively disposed towards the Empire. Not only is the new Meeting Place of truly imposing stature, but the Empire would have marked it as a place of profound Honour within the Way. The nature of the aura would also demonstrate that the Empire value their obligations to their people as the Jotun do, and that they will be prepared to make sacrifices in the name of those they care about.
Interestingly, prognosticators have identified a conjunction of the Sentinel Gate to Gull Isle due to coincide with the Summer Solstice. Such conjunctions are rare, but not unknown. Details will be published following the Spring Equinox, but it seems that whoever is tasked with carrying out the consecration will have the chance to bring a party from Anvil to execute their duty at the next summit.